Itβs Tuesday, Boston.
π If youβre looking for some extremely wholesome Valentineβs plans β¦ The Scituate Animal Shelter is opening its doors tomorrow for visitors to cuddle with their new litter of husky puppies(!) as well as other adoptable dogs for $20 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
π Whatβs on tap today:
Snowmergency updates
Beanpot champs
The DunKings dynasty
Up firstβ¦
LOVE IN BOSTON
The speed dating renaissance

Illustration: Gia Orsino
Striking out with Hinge? Donβt sweat it. Speed dating is having a comeback.Β
Hereβs what to know:
π The numbers donβt lie: Bostonβs dating scene is on fire. According to data from Eventbrite, dating and singles events in the area saw an 80% increase in attendance from 2022 to 2023, with speed dating events seeing a 52% bump during that same period.Β
π± Whatβs behind the IRL dating demand? The apps are killing us, Smalls. Whether itβs seeing the same faces again and again, in-app banter that leads to nowhere, or ghosting, βpeople are still getting dating fatigue,β said Jill Vandor, executive matchmaker at LunchDates. Plus, spending money (whether itβs on a speed dating ticket or a matchmaker) can show you mean business, especially βif they're taking the time, and they're getting dressed up, and they're showing up,β Vandor said.
π And thereβs something comforting about doing things old school. Beyond speed dating, Eventbrite also saw a 55% bump in attendance at Boston area βnostalgia eventsβ (think: 80s, 90s, and 2000s themes) from 2022 to 2023. Jon Strother, a data analyst at Eventbrite thinks that by reliving the βcarefree daysβ of those eras, βpeople find a relaxed atmosphere that fosters authentic connections and offers a welcome break from the pressures of modern dating.β
π But speed dating has come a long way from the 90s. A quick Google search of speed dating events in the area delivers a laundry list of outings for 20-somethings to septuagenarians, straight to LGBTQ singles, monogamous to polyamorous couples, and more. Strotherβs also seen more unique dating events, including Harpoonβs βPitch a Palβ event, where you promote your single buddy via PowerPoint, and HIIT workout speed dating (both this week).Β
π― And the happily ever after looks different for everyone. Just take Skip the Small Talk, a speed dating series known for leading conversations with more vulnerable questions. Although participants come with the intention of finding bae, founder Ashley Kirsner often hears stories of folks meeting their now best friend or roommate. βWhen people are open to more options for where the relationships are gonna go, they end up with cool stuff that they might not have otherwise predicted,β she said.Β
π¬ But some folks are still sus β¦ We asked B-Side readers if theyβve ever tried or would try speed dating, and nearly 50% of respondents gave a big fat βno.β Several were open to the idea, but intimidated, while others had tried it and were unsuccessful. That said, some havenβt completely closed the door on it. One said: β[Iβm] trying to meet more people in person this year after being burned by the apps one too many times!β
QUICK QUESTION
π How did you meet your significant other?
Let us know below!
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines

Image: David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
βοΈ Thereβs been a plot twist in todayβs snowstorm. The norβeasterβs track has shifted south, so Boston will likely see only two to five inches of snow, instead of the originally predicted eight to twelve. That said, Boston is still technically under a snow emergency, meaning weβre all encouraged to stay home, school is canceled for BPS students, and parking bans have been implemented on most major streets and throughways (break out the space savers!). For all your need-to-know snowmergency info, check out the cityβs snow page here.
πΈ The MBTA is officially strapped for cash. And by strapped, we mean, a $628 million budget gap plus debt from as far back as the Big Dig. For years, the MBTA hasnβt been performing well financially, an effect that was exacerbated by the pandemic, and until now, legislators have pretty much been kicking the can down the road in terms of creating effective, implementable solutions. But recent data on the budget gapsβ especially bleak state has some transit advocates and MBTA board members hoping that change will come sooner rather than later.
π« Your new menβs Beanpot champions are β¦ The Huskies! The 71st annual Beanpot championship (a.k.a. Bostonβs iconic college hockey tournament) was last night, and after a very competitive game, Northeastern defeated BU 4-3 to take home the trophy. Senior Gunnarwolfe Fontaine scored the game-winning goal with just under 30 seconds left in OT for the teamβs fifth Beanpot victory in six years, although they still have some work to do to catch up to BUβs record 31 Beanpot wins (this year brings NU to nine).
π± Bostonβs newest cat cafe is on the way. A Sanctuary Cafe, a combination bookstore, cat cafe, and coffee shop, is set to open in Beacon Hill later this month. A Sanctuary will be Bostonβs only currently operating cat cafe (the last stab at opening one didnβt go too well) and will feature several cats adopted from local shelters who will live permanently in the space, as well as locally sourced food, drinks, and a small selection of books hand-picked by the staff. Weβre there.
ONE LAST THING
The DunKings dynastyΒ

Image courtesy of Dunkin. Illustration: Gia Orsino.
Dunkinβ knows what we want, and theyβre delivering. ICYMI: Dunkinβ dropped the most Boston commercial imaginable during the Super Bowl in which Ben Affleck pursues his dreams of becoming a pop star by creating a band, the DunKings, with none other than Matt Damon and Tom Brady. Unsurprisingly, the whole thing prompted a truly unhinged online response from Massholes.Β
But jokes aside, the commercial served as an announcement for some new Dunkinβ merch, including the truly wild Dunkinβ/Boston themed tracksuits worn in the commercial (which immediately sold out, weβre sorry to say.)Β
It also gave us a new DunKings drink, which is apparently modeled after Ben Affleckβs go-to order with notes of vanilla, a sweet cream cold foam, and a cinnamon sprinkle which honestly, sounds really good.
β Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario
π© Thanks for reading! Although, after the Ice Spice drink, our standards are kind of low.
π The results are in: In one of the tightest votes in B-Side history, chips and dips were voted the No. 1 super bowl snack over wings by a margin of just one vote, with many specifying that it has to specifically be Buffalo chicken dip.
π Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].