⚽️😎 Boston's going full Mr. Worldwide

🍦 This sweat sesh comes with a free treat. Don’t forget to grab a ticket to our pilates class at EMBODI in Union Square next Wednesday, June 17. After class, we'll take a stroll to Gracie’s Ice Cream for a free toasted marshmallow Fluff cone. It’s about balance, people! 

🥳 And let’s all scream HBD to B-Side Member Jean-Luc! We hope it’s a dessert first, pilates second kind of day.

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

These balls are *literally* in our court (pitch?). The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11, and with eight teams coming to town, it’s about to get WILD. So we put together the ultimate cheat sheet just for you.

Here’s what to know: 

🤔 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Every team plays each other within its group to earn points (three for a win, one for a tie). Then, the top 32 teams move onto a single-elimination knockout round. Got it?

⚽ These are the matches we’re tuning in for. Yes, we’re obv rooting for the U.S. — they’re playing on June 12, 19, and 25 (FWIW, they’re expected to do … fine). But you should absolutely watch out for top-ranked teams like Spain, France, Portugal, England, and Argentina. 

👀 Our sports reporter friend said that if he could only watch only six games, it would be: 

See the full schedule here. 

🍻 Wanna watch with the diehards? This is basically the Super Bowl for local soccer bars. Hit up the Banshee, Dubliner, Phoenix Landing, and Parlor Sports for lots of yelling at the TV (in a fun way).

🥳 But there are plenty of community watch parties, too. This list is a great start. But don’t forget to check out the free Fan Fest at City Hall (just register in advance!). For the Haiti-Scotland game, check out these in Central Square, Back Bay, and Fenway, and if you’re rooting for Scotland, head to The Anchor in Charlestown or The Haven in JP.

🙏 Thoughts and prayers for our commuter railers. There will be reduced service on most lines for the next five weeks … BUT most peak-hour service will be business as usual. Starting June 13, there will be even more changes on World Cup match days affecting all lines out of South Station, with some having no service at all. The bright side? There will be extended evening hours for all T lines and buses for every match day until 2 a.m. (and 4 a.m. after the Haiti-Scotland game). See all of the changes here.

😛 Just in it for the snacks? You’re in luck. J.P. Licks just launched World Cup-inspired flavors like Sticky Toffee Pudding. Plus, Chipotle and Luxor Cafe are running their own sweet BOGO deals June 11. And you can get a free sandwich at Faneuil Hall on June 16 before the game.

💭 More questions? Check out this handy guide on all things World Cup. Or if you’re an expert already, take this fun quiz Kelly put together.

🥃🕯️ No one wants another awkward happy hour in a too-loud bar. Chattermark Distillers’ private tasting room gives your next birthday, team outing, or celebration actual personality — with craft cocktails, speakeasy vibes, and enough mood lighting to make everyone look good in photos. Reach out to [email protected] and give your private event the backdrop it deserves. 

🥳 Good news, party people: 3 a.m. last call is a go! We did it, Joe: Gov. Maura Healey signed a proposal allowing bars to serve alcohol until 3 a.m. and permit designated outdoor drinking areas (as long as said drinks are purchased from businesses in those zones). Woo! We’ll now have to wait and see which communities opt in, but FWIW, Boston seems very down. Quick reminder: This change is effective now through July 31. And depending on how it goes, we could see it get revived for future big events …

🚬 The local Nicotine-Free Generation movement could go up in smoke. Remember when a bunch of other Mass. communities passed lifetime bans on nicotine and tobacco sales for some young people? Well, that movement appears to be losing steam. Many cities and towns have punted on the issue to see if similar changes could be taken up at the state level. And the tobacco and convenience store industries have come out swinging, pulling together two industry-supported bills in the legislature that could repeal all bans. 

💪 Disability rights: 1. Offensive language: 0. State lawmakers just passed a bill that would remove words in the state’s General Laws like “handicapped,” “crippled,” and the “r-word” with person-first language. For example, the phrase “disabled person” will instead be “person with a disability.” Why? Because these are much more inclusive, placing emphasis on people, not their conditions. Next steps? All it needs is Healey’s John Hancock.

🍻 This new spot is fit for a finance bro. Enter: The Alley in Post Office Square, a new all-day venue designed for a post-work hang. Think: Grabbing a glass from a snazzy pour-your-own-beer-and-wine machine, then challenging your coworkers to ping pong, shuffleboard, or one of its Jeopardy! bar league trivia nights. Craving something specific? It’s probably on the menu. They're serving everything from breakfast and brunch to cocktails, beer pretzels, and salmon.

This month, B-Side Members can save more than $100 across our events!

🍤 June 13: B-Side Supper Club at ReelHouse, $30. Take in the views, meet new people, and enjoy fresh dishes picked specifically for us — the menu looks BOMB. Bonus: You can take the water taxi for free with our special voucher! 

🟢 June 18: B-Side x Rooftop @ Revere Stoplight Party, $25. Let red, yellow, and green wristbands do the talking at our first-ever stoplight party. Your ticket includes a drink (and Members save $10). Reserve your spot here — it’s selling fast!

🌶️ July 10-12: Boston JerkFest, $55. Head to Ohiri Field in Allston for three days of Caribbean cuisine, Soca music, local vendors, and good vibes. Members save $5 on Friday and Saturday tickets — and don’t miss the free soccer fest on Sunday! Get tickets here.

👀 Want to feature your upcoming event above? Click here.

This summer, hike for a cause with Wilderness Heals, an all-women pledge hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Join us from July 17-19 for a one- or three-day hike to raise $200,000 for Stone House and domestic violence survivors. Registration ends June 14 — sign up or donate today!

How do you get from LA to Boston? Well, this man is walking it. Why? To watch Scotland play in the World Cup.

Meet Craig Ferguson, a 22-year-old Scotsman who’s already trekked through Death Valley, the Rockies, and Appalachian trails — all in a kilt. And a few days ago, he made it to New Jersey.

How long is this journey? Oh, you know, just 3,200 miles (the length of 122 marathons). And he’s literally been walking since FEBRUARY. 

The idea of mega-long-distance walking started out as a joke with his best friend, but Craig took it very seriously, walking 1,000 miles from Glasgow to Munich to watch Scotland’s soccer team play in Germany.

His goal? Raise a million pounds (about $1.34 million) for the Scottish Action for Mental Health. And of course, to watch his home country play in Boston.

Watch him finish his journey on June 12 at 2 p.m. in the Boston Common.

— Written by Kelly Chan and Emily Schario

🧈 Thanks for reading! But did you churn butter while you did it, Craig?!?

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Chattermark Distillers, for supporting local journalism and proving Boston still knows how to do drinks right.

🍽️ The results are in: Most of y’all want us to go to Kowloon Tiki on the Beach! (That was our pick, too hehe). One reader read our minds: “Beachside mai thais?? Hell yeah.” Hell yeah is RIGHT!

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and X. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] and [email protected].