🍝😮‍💨 Carbo loading starts NOW

Happy Friday, Boston!

💸 Want some free money? Well, we can’t promise anything, but Find The Cash Boston is about as close as you can get. The IG account hides free money — anywhere from a $50 to $250  — around the city, and posts video hints at its location.

👀 What’s on tap today:

• The semiquincentennial is coming!

• How to get a Real ID, real quick

• Do you know a Michael Smith?

Up first…

BOSTON MARATHON

Your guide to marathon weekend

The unicorns are out to play, which can only mean one thing … It’s marathon weekend, baby! On Monday, 30,000 runners will make the iconic trek from Hopkinton to Boston. But the celebrations start NOW.

Here’s how to do marathon weekend right:

🏃 Visit the Marathon Expo and Fan Fest. Running or not, these two events are the heartbeat of marathon weekend. The Expo at Hynes Convention Center will be chock-full of shopping and marathon swag as well as panels and fireside chats from industry experts, pro runners, and Boston champions. Then head to the Fan Fest at City Hall Plaza for music, food trucks, yoga classes, pro athlete appearances, and generally good vibes.

🤑 Take advantage of some DEALS. And no, they’re not just for runners. $10 will get anyone all-you-can-eat pancakes at South Street Diner on Sunday from 4 to 11 p.m. And for $26.20, you can gorge on all-you-can-eat pasta on Sunday at Bambara Kitchen and Bar. As for runners, there’s a LOT more where that came from. Here’s a roundup of freebies and deals for you.

😉 Want more marathon foodie deals? This week’s B-Side membership newsletter has a whole list of ‘em — claim your free two weeks here!

🎉 Map out your cheering plans. Our two cents: Consult this list of marathon-related street closures and parking restrictions, then check out the B.A.A.'s extremely thorough spectator guide, which includes runner ETAs at major viewing points and detailed info about each town on the course. Pro tip: If you’re looking for a relatively quiet spot, setting up shop between Washington Square and Coolidge corner has never failed Gia before.

👀 Don’t want to deal with crowds? Try a watch party. For $7, this one at the Painted Burro in Brookline is directly on the route (with margs); or you can stake out a spot on the course with Oiselle in Coolidge Corner for free. If you want a little more energy (read: chaos), try Citgo’s one mile to go block party at Kenmore; or for less viewing and more *vibes*, head to Time Out’s free marathon afterparty with music, raffle prizes, and drinks.

👟 Still have some free time? Fill your schedule with these marathon-themed events:

• Learn from running pros. Professional runners Emma Bates, Allie Ostrander, and Keira D’Amato are all doing Q&As throughout the weekend.

• Test your marathon knowledge. CITIUS Mag and Puma are hosting a marathon themed trivia night tonight.

• Carbo load to your heart’s content. Running app Runna is teaming up with Best Day Brewing for a pasta party tonight.

• Show other races some love. The Boston Marathon may be the main event, but the epic athletes running the B.A.A. 5k, Invitational Mile, and the 26.TRUE marathon on April 19 deserve just as much cheering.

• Go for a normal-length run. Comedian and runner Laura Green is hosting a 2.62-mile run/walk on April 19. Every participant gets to try NOBULL sneaks. 

QUICK QUESTION!

👀 Are you going to watch the marathon? 

TOGETHER WITH SONSIE AND DOORDASH

Enter your “romanticize everything era” 

🍷 ✨ POV: You’re sipping a cocktail on Newbury and pretending you live in Paris. Sonsie has been doing chic sidewalk dining for over 30 years, with breezy French doors that open right onto Newbury Street and an eclectic menu that mixes American comfort with European flair. Think: brick oven pizzas, fresh seafood, and a wine and cocktail list that elevates every bite. Whether you’re meeting friends for brunch, having a sultry date night, or just treating yourself to a main character solo moment, reserve your table or order now on DoorDash. 

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

🇺🇸 The semiquincentennial is coming! A.k.a. the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. And Mass. is throwing down all week long in commemoration. Here in Boston, the main event is tonight, marking the anniversary of Paul Revere’s iconic midnight ride. Think: A lantern service at the Old North Church, a drone show in Charlestown, plus a reenactment of the ride (but at around 9 p.m., not midnight). And for real history buffs, there’s even more going on in Lexington and Concord. Check out a full list of festivities here.

🏆 The quest for Banner 19 is officially ON. As if we didn’t have enough to do this weekend … it's playoff season! Our No. 2 seed Celtics tip off against their first round opponent, the No. 7 Orlando Magic, on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Though the pressure is HIGH for another banner, the C’s had a strong season, finishing second in the East with a 61-21 record, behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers. And though they’re one-in-three against the Magic this season, the odds for the series are heavily in their favor — literally. 

🪪 Need a Real ID real bad? Sorry to anyone who spent hours trying to schedule a REAL ID upgrade (us) because the RMV is now offering walk-in appointments to folks who have "imminent" travel plans. Seriously, if you need a REAL ID before the May 7 deadline, all you have to do is show up (with the required paperwork, of course!) and they’ll squeeze you in ASAP. Remember: After the deadline, regular driver’s licenses won’t be accepted as identification for domestic travel without a passport, or when entering federal buildings.

🍺 It’s a great weekend to get a beer. And we’re not talking about the marathon. Or the semiquincentennial. Or … the playoffs. Today marks the opening of Cisco Brewing’s beloved Seaport beer garden, with live music, food, and games (and its new Fenway space should follow soon). And tomorrow, Eastie’s Tall Ship, the boat which moonlights as a floating event space and bar, will join in the fun. Though not beer related, while we’re talking openings, we should also give the Swan Boats a shout, which will be back April 19.

THINGS TO DO

(Non-marathon) weekend plans

🍅 Grab some farm fresh goodies. The Yard in Eastie is hosting the first of a few spring pop-up farmer’s markets on April 19 with tons of locally made treats.

🏳️‍🌈 Dance the night away. But make it … gay! Fruitstand, a queer nightlife event group, is hosting a “Now That’s What I Call Gay” dance party on April 19. 

🍳 Hit the brunch club. At Capo’s Primavera brunch party on April 19 where you can grab brunch, day drink, and dance to some sick beats all at the same time. B-Side members get 20% off tickets (check your April perks for the code!).

🌷 Show your spring spirit. Dorchester Brewing is hosting its annual spring fling on April 19 with music, a golf simulator, drag karaoke, and free brunch tasters. 

🍹 Celebrate Aperol Spritz szn. At Remnant Brewing’s spritz party on April 19! Expect “day drinking energy,” garden party decor, and lots and lots of spritzes.

👖 Refresh your closet for spring. Select Markets is back with another GIANT vintage market on April 19 with 60+ vendors, $10 piles, food trucks, temporary tattoos, and free drinks!

🍦Make yourself a sweet treat. The Foundry is putting on an ice cream making class April 20 where you’ll go home with two pints! Tickets are $55, but if you bring your bestie, there’s a two-for-one deal for $33. 

🐦 Have a grannycore Sunday morning. A.k.a. Birding! The Boston Birding Festival is hosting an Earth Day bird walk in Danehy Park. At the end, participants can write postcards to local political reps.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Rooftop tequila dinner ticket drop!

Omni Seaport’s rooftop restaurant Lifted is hosting tequila pairing dinner Alma Del Jaguar Tequila & Terroir on April 24. Tickets are $135, but we’ve got 20 B-Side Member tickets priced at $50. The deal is live, so join the membership and check your welcome email for a link to your codes! 

ONE LAST THING

The “average” Boston marathoner

Do you know someone running the Boston Marathon? Is he a 40-something Masshole named Michael Smith? Because, statistically, that’s the runner you’re talking about.

The Globe analyzed all of the marathon’s 30,000 entries to compile all sorts of information about this year’s field. What did they find? 21,000 of the runners are from the U.S., and 1,189 of them are from Boston. But NYC, Chicago, Canada, and the U.K. also put up big numbers.

As for the runners themselves, 9,519 are between 40 and 49 years old, with just 5,006 runners under 30. And,  in terms of names, the most popular one is Michael Smith — there are 421 Michaels and 141 Smiths running this year.

— Written by Gia Orsino

🏃 Thanks for reading! New cheering game: Yell “go Michael!” at the runners and see how long it takes to get a response.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsors, Sonsie and DoorDash, for supporting local journalism and bringing top-tier dining experiences to Boston. 

🎶 The results are in: 81% of B-Siders say they always exercise with music. One reader said: “Exercising without headphones is basically pre-crime behavior.” Hot take!

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