😅 Got family holiday drama? Read this.

It’s Wednesday, Boston.

🎶 Spotify wrapped who? The Globe’s music writers just dropped their 50 favorite albums of 2023 and dare we say … It's kind of fire. We’d like to add our B-Side endorsement to their Chappell Roan rec, in particular. 

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Holiday traffic incoming

• Mass.’ giant hole

• THC beverages 

Up first...

12 DAYS OF B-SIDE

You asked, we answered

Nothing says “happy holidays” like a tense family dinner ... So, we asked YOU to share your burning Q’s about how to navigate the unavoidable family drama this season. We picked a few of our faves and got you some expert answers.

Questions have been edited for length and clarity.

Q. My family has very different political beliefs than I do and seem to derive sick glee from picking political arguments. Any suggestions?

A. Sometimes directly communicating boundaries can be an intimidating task, especially since we “tend to revert back to our old parent-child roles around the holidays,” said Dr. Frank Anderson, a psychiatrist and trauma specialist. But often the only way to address this kind of issue is to “name it explicitly,” he said. Consider this framework: ‘It’s in everyone’s best interest to have a happy holiday and I want to avoid any topics that are going to put that in jeopardy.’ And if your family really won’t let the topic go, there’s zero shame in simply removing yourself from the situation.

Q: How do you decide how to divide up the holidays if you’re in a committed relationship? And then once you decide … How do you break the news?

A: There are several things you should take into consideration, said Dr. Alexandra Gold, a psychologist at MGH: How your families will react, what your partner wants, and most importantly, “what feels most comfortable for you,” she said. Taking both emotions and logistics into consideration, have an honest conversation with your partner and get on the same page before you deliver the news. “You don't have to please everyone,” said Anderson. In fact, these kinds of choices can actually be “good practice to learn … how to disappoint others” in service of yourself, he said.

Q:  I’m planning on coming out to my mom when I go home for the holidays. How should I tell her? And most importantly, how should I prepare her for this information?

A: “As someone who is gay himself, my first suggestion is: Don’t do it over the holidays!” said Anderson. The holidays are a time that is defined by stress, and throwing this conversation into the mix can be a recipe for disaster. But if you’re set on this time, planning is your best friend, Gold said. This is not the moment for spontaneity, and there are a few things to take into consideration, like when and where makes the most sense to have the conversation (Anderson recommends the end of the trip, and somewhere isolated like on a walk), and how you’d like the followup conversations to be managed (a.k.a. whether you want to stick around for them or not).

QUICK QUESTION

👪 What are you most dreading about going home for the holidays?

TOGETHER WITH BLUE MAN GROUP

Something old, something new, and something BLUE 

 💙🥁 Your favorite blue-skinned music-heads have extra shows this holiday season! Blue Man Group’s iconic show at the Charles Playhouse is leveling up with new acts, exclusive Boston tunes, and revamped visuals that give the performance a fresh vibe. But don’t worry, all of the colorful and classic moments you know and love are still there too — making it a must-see for long-time fans and newbies alike. Grab your tickets (students, families, and military get special savings) and don’t miss this one-of-a-kind spectacle.

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

🚗 Holiday traffic is comin’ in hot. If you’re planning to drive home for Christmas, prepare yourself for major delays (seriously, drivers may see their rides taking 20% longer this season). The very worst times to drive are (predictably) projected to be Dec. 23 in the afternoon, with Dec. 26 through Dec. 30 not looking too hot either. As far as the best times to drive, the earlier, the better is the rule of thumb, both in terms of days and times. You can find all the nitty gritty travel predictions here.

💸 Mass. has a giant hole to plug. Yep, we’re talking about the state’s emergency shelter budget. According to a new report from Gov. Healey’s admin, the state may spend up to $2 billion to support emergency shelter assistance for homeless families and migrants through the end of the next fiscal year. So they’re proposing to dip into the state’s surplus account to help cover the mounting costs. Healey’s admin argues the emergency shelter system has been pushed to its limits, and that at the current pace, nearly 13,500 families could be in the shelter system by the end of June (it’s currently maxed out at 7,500 families, with hundreds on the waitlist).

🍃 Go “California sober” right here in Mass. Hi5, Mass.’ first “beverage dispensary” is officially set to open in early 2024. The store, from Theory Wellness (a cannabis company), will be dedicated to THC beverages, a.k.a drinks that’ll get you high, which is apparently a hugely untapped market. The bevs are marketed as being a great way to make smoking marijuana a more social activity, and a good entrypoint for novice THC-users. Plus — unexpectedly — the shop will share a space with the Medford Center for the Arts. Nice! 

🐋 Have you noticed something … different in Downtown Crossing? This weekend, a new giant whale sculpture popped up right in front of Old Navy. The sculpture, “Echoes” by artist Mathias Gmachl, is made of steel and features sound and light elements that actually respond to passersby, and is actually the first in a series of 19 installations called “Winteractive,” which will be open across Downtown Boston by mid-January. This sculpture in particular is meant to be a commentary on humans’ impact on the natural environment. 

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway alert!

Enter our 12 Days of B-Side Giveaway (worth $1,000!+). We’ll be giving away items from some of Boston's favorite brands (Rev’d Cycling, Big Night Entertainment, New England Inns and Resorts and more!). One entry will give you eligibility to all prizes, so the earlier you enter, the more prizes you can win. Refer a friend before 12/21 at 11:59pm to be eligible. If you have already referred a friend to B-Side (and they’ve accepted), you're already enrolled!
21+. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Limit one entry per person. See Official Rules & an additional entry option here.

ONE LAST THING

Boston ninja warrior

If you’re thinking about re-upping your gym membership in January, may we suggest a Ninja Warrior gym? 

Amplify Fitness has all of the obstacles you’ve seen on “American Ninja Warrior,” only the stakes are low, there’s other fitness equipment if you’re not in the mood, and if you fall, you won’t get soaked. Trust us, even if your upper body strength is lacking (I’m talking about myself, here) you’ll still have a ball. Seriously, I can’t do a pull up, yet somehow, I was doing this … 

Not convinced? Take a look at this quick video we made trying all the obstacles. It’s an adult playground on steroids. 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🧗 Thanks for reading! Is anyone else in awe of Emily and Segun’s upper body strength? I literally can’t do a single push up … 

💜 Special shoutout to today's sponsor, Blue Man Group, for supporting local journalism and adding to Boston’s vibrant music and entertainment scene. 

🏘️ The results are in: B-Siders have spoken loud and clear: Their wish for 2024 is cheaper rent, with a whopping 60% of the votes. One reader said: “I don't need to be paying over 2k a mo for 70s cabinets and a tiny oven.”

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