Itβs Tuesday, Boston.
π Calling all Gen Z-ers! Do you collect DVDs, Blu-rays, or 4K films? Globe reporter Aidan Ryan wants to hear from you for an upcoming piece. If youβre interested, fill out this survey, and reach out to [email protected] with any Qβs.
π Whatβs on tap today:
Itβs raining liquor licensesΒ
The Gulf of Weymouth
Rejected vanity plates
Up firstβ¦
TRANSPORTATION
New analysis of the MBTAβs shutdowns

Image: Erin Clark/The Boston Globe. Illustration: Gia Orsino.
Was the MBTAβs year of shutdowns worth it? A new analysis from transit advocacy group TransitMatters has some insights as to whether the millions of dollars and torturous shuttle bus shleps paid off.
Hereβs what they found:
π Green Liners arguably took the biggest L. Thanks to its mostly above-ground operation and more frequent stops, the Green Line is naturally slow. But despite 13 diversions in 2024, the lineβs B, C, D, and E branches saw βminimalβ speed improvements. Plus, the line missed the mark on promised service increases, with the T running just 65% of scheduled trips. On the bright side, times did improve on the trunk. Rides between Kenmore and Government Center are around a minute faster now than in Nov. 2023.Β
π€© But the Orange Line is βdoing amazing,β sweetie. Thatβs according to Seth Kaplan, labs co-lead at TransitMatters. After years of being crippled by various issues, 15 diversions later, the line is killing it. Since Jan. 2024, trip time between Forest Hills and Oak Grove has improved by a whopping seven minutes and 40 seconds (18%) southbound and nine minutes and 10 seconds (20%) northbound. Another positive sign: Service is more frequent, with the line running 91% of scheduled trips last month.
π The Red Line is faster, but problems persist. Red Liners were arguably the No. 1 victims of the MBTAβs shutdown era, seeing 16 diversions, including one that lasted 24 days. Thankfully, it paid off in terms of speed and frequency. Every single section of the line is faster than it was in Jan. 2024 (trips from Alewife to Braintree are nearly 20 minutes faster), leading to a 40% bump in scheduled service. That said, the line often still sees worse delays and less frequent service than others.
π And the Blue Line β¦ never really had issues to begin with. Well, compared with the rest of the T. Blue Liners saw just three diversions which shaved trip times by around one minute inbound and four minutes outbound. 90% of scheduled trips went out, and weekday service frequency got better. Our unproblematic queen.Β
π¬ The million dollar question: Was it all worth it? According to TransitMatters, mostly, yes. While the shutdowns sucked and didnβt always make things much faster *cough* Green Line, the MBTA delivered on most of its promises, and weβre on a much better track (lol) now than we were pre-shutdowns.
π Want to see the numbers for yourself? Check out the analysis here.
QUICK QUESTION!
π Do you think the Tβs year of shutdowns was worth it?
Let us know below!
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines

Image: Barry Chin/The Boston Globe
πΈ Raise a glass to Bostonβs 37(!) new liquor licenses. Bostonβs licensing board has doled out its first batch of 37 FREE liquor licenses of the 225 total that the city has to give. The new licenses are thanks to landmark legislation passed last fall, and are mostly restricted to 13 underserved zip codes that couldnβt otherwise afford the $500k-plus price tag. Recipients include Dorchesterβs justBook-ish, Eastieβs The Smoke Shop BBQ, JPβs Jadu, Brightonβs From Scratch, and even the Franklin Park Zoo. But before the drinks start flowing, the spots need final approval.
ποΈ Bostonβs City Council passed a (kind of) rent control measure. A.k.a. the βgood landlordβ tax break, which would offer property tax breaks to landlords who keep rent affordable for lower-income tenants. Thereβs just one little snag: The idea is the centerpiece of mayoral candidate Josh Kraftβs housing platform β¦ which Mayor Michelle Wu called βfake rent control.β Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, who sponsored the legislation, said the timing has nothing to do with Kraft (though Kraftβs campaign begs to differ). Once the bill is refined by WuβsΒ office, itβll get a final vote.
π Hingham Bay? Thatβs the Gulf of Weymouth to you. At least, according to Weymouth Mayor Bob Hedlund, who satirically proposed the name change in a Facebook post, taking a page out President Trumpβs playbook. The post, which included a very-DIY version of the βnewβ map, argues that three harbor islands are territorially part of Weymouth, which was also settled 11 years earlier than Hingham. Unsurprisingly, chaos ensued on FB. See: An official from Hingham responded by planting a flag on the beach, and Hedlund made a strange video montage. At least theyβre having fun.
π¦ͺ Babka, bagels, and a raw bar, oh my! Three new bites are coming to Greater Boston. Bakey, a local babka and coffee spot, officially opened its fourth location in Kendall Square. You can check out the new digs here. Meanwhile, The Pearl opened its second seafood locale at Boston Landing, with a raw bar, brunch, and more. Plus: PopUp Bagels isnβt wasting any time expanding in Mass., announcing its second location at Somervilleβs Assembly Row sometime this year, weeks after debuting in the Seaport.Β
THINGS TO DO
Weekday plans

πͺ‘ Get the craft juices flowing. Weβre obsessed with punch needle art, but not-so-much with the prices. The solution? Learn to DIY at Bow Marketβs punch needle workshop tonight.
π Trade DiGiorno for a real pizza pie. Itβs not delivery, itβs this pizza-making class with Lalaβs at Time Out Market on Feb. 19. Expect a hands-on class where youβll knead, spread, and sprinkle all your ingredients, and enjoy a complimentary pie.Β
π Theater kids, ASSEMBLE! If your favorite Broadway musical and a tasty dinner had a baby, it might be this Broadway supper club performance on Feb. 20. Think: 54 Below vibes, just in Somerville.
π Enjoy a pasta-making class under $100? In this economy!? Learn to make carbonara from soups to nuts (and enjoy the fruits of your labor) in this pasta-making class on Feb. 20.Β
π¨ Paint and sip your problems away. Keep the Valentineβs vibes going at this cupidβs canvas paint and sip event on Feb. 21. Enjoy a live DJ, a guided painting sesh, and complimentary sweet treats.
πΏ Apres ski β¦ at a Mexican restaurant? Weβre trading mountain tops for roof tops at this apres ski-themed party at Felipe's rooftop on Feb. 21. Shout out to Harvard Business Schoolβs Canadian club for hosting!
π€ Swing your partner βround and βround. Get ready to kick up your cowboy boots and chow down on some BBQ at Sweet Cheeks Qβs boot scootinβ line-dancing bash on Feb. 21.
π Practice your best βsmizeβ for Tyra. If you grew up on βAmericaβs Next Top Model,β youβre gonna to love this βNext Top Modelβ-inspired drag show on Feb. 21 at Jacqueβs Cabaret. Yes, there will be Cover Girl commercials. IYKYK.
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ONE LAST THING
Vanity plate rejects

Illustration: Kirkland An/The Boston Globe; Gia Orsino.
Picture this: Youβre driving on I-93 when the car in front of you slams on its breaks. Youβre mad, but not nearly as mad as when you notice that their license plate says βSHART5.βΒ
Thankfully, the good people at the Mass. RMV wonβt let that happen. In fact, there are hundreds of vanity plate applications that get denied for one reason or another. To name a few: βSTAWHP,β βHOTBOX,β βSTRIP,β and βPISOFF.β But trust us, there are a lot worse than that in this video by NBC10.
β Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario
π Thanks for reading! Be honest, should Emily and Gia get B-Side vanity plates?Β
π€ The results are in: 47% of B-Siders are 1,000% against the proposed $15 increase on rideshares to and from Logan. Judging by the write-ins, itβs mostly because we canβt really trust the T to get there. One reader said: βIβm all for decreasing car usage, but Massport seems to constantly forget that you canβt use the T to catch a 6 AM flightβ¦β
π Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].