🤑💰Healey’s makin’ money moves

🍪 We need this injected into our veins STAT! Levain just launched a cookie milk latte that’s making our inner child SCREAM. 

🌊 Pssst! Your most scenic Saturday night awaits. Hop the ferry from Long Wharf to Spectacle Island on July 18 for Spectacle Summer Nights, an after-hours ~island takeover~. Think: Live music, beach s'mores, hiking, and skyline views that’ll definitely make your next photo dump. Get tickets here!

 👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

Wake up, babe! The new budget just dropped. Gov. Maura Healey signed off on a *$63.4 billion* budget for next year, with no new taxes or fees (woo!) AND shockingly, no vetoes. 

Here’s what’s inside: 

🏠 Housing is a BIG priority. The budget calls for policy reforms that’ll make it easier to build more houses + bring costs down. That means things like streamlining permit processes and less red tape for housing development. Not to mention, more than $1 billion will be used to support housing programs, services, and shelters.

👏 The spotlight is on sexual crime accountability. Healey launched two new policies on this front: 1. Removing the statute of limitations for rape kits with DNA evidence, and 2. making it illegal for mandated reporters (think: teachers, police officers, coaches) to have sex with anyone 16 or 17 years old. And this has not been a crime before since the age of consent in Mass. is 16 …

🛑 Wrong-way driving safety mode: ON. With the rise of collisions across the state, the budget is backing a new program to roll out wrong-way detection technology, including warning devices for drivers and real-time alerts to the police.

🩺 Affordable healthcare is getting a boost. Healey extended the ConnectorCare insurance program, which has little or no monthly premiums, low out-of-pocket costs, and no deductibles. This comes as new rules around Medicaid could put 300,000 people in Mass. at risk of losing coverage. Another bonus: Insurance companies will continue to be required to cover HIV prevention medication.

🚃 The MBTA is getting another fat check. $465 million is dedicated toward public transit as the agency still faces financial struggles. FYI, this is on top of the $595 million the legislature gave it earlier this spring. Plus, this year’s budget continues to support fare-free regional transit and invest in MassDOT service. 

🎓 UMass campuses are now included in SUCCESS. The SUCCESS program, which provides wraparound support and resources for underserved students at public colleges, just received another $38 million in funding — and for the first time ever, applies to UMass schools. Oh, and free community college and free school lunches are still included. :)

🙌 A new panel is coming to address gaps in disability support. Healey is launching a new commission with one goal in mind: find solutions to improve transition services for young adults with disabilities who are turning 22 and aging out of special education. 

👀 Wait, there’s more. See every line of the budget here.

🎶🤩 Somerville’s annual indie music celebration, NICE, a Fest, is returning July 24-26 after a hiatus in 2025. This year, the fest is pulling artists from all six New England states and launching their first-annual Thursday night party, MIX'R. $12 gets you entry at Arts@The Armory featuring a vinyl marketplace, live sets, and DJs. For access to the Davis Square takeover during the day, purchase Friday and Saturday tickets. Finally, late-night programming runs 11 p.m. til late at Dragon's Lair both nights — don’t miss emo night on Saturday! Wear comfortable shoes, bring ear plugs, and we’ll see you there.

📲 Kids, say goodbye to doomscrolling. The state Senate JUST passed a bill that requires social media companies to turn off addictive features for minors, like autoplay and infinite scroll (which lowkey we could use, too …). Instead of a blanket age restriction, this bill targets the tech itself and aims to return to the OG days of social media (think: life updates and maybe sliding into your crush’s DMs). It also enforces screen time reminders, privacy filters for messaging, and restrictions on sharing location data. Now, it’s headed to the House for approval. 

🍃 These advocates really said, “Don’t touch grass.” Translation: A ballot Q to make recreational marijuana illegal again is gaining steam. While repeal supporters are focused on high potencies and youth safety, the pot industry argues that the market will be back in the hands of unregulated, illegal dealers. If it passes, this would be the first time a state has ever reversed weed legalization, AND the state could lose $300 million in yearly sales taxes. Plus, businesses would have to liquidate their supply or become medical dispensaries, and anyone in possession could face fines …

🍽️ Beli users <3 Boston’s new eats. Based on *40 million* rankings this year, Zebra Room, a.k.a. the gorg steakhouse tucked beneath Yvonne’s, won gold for Beli’s highest-rated new restaurant in the city. The other two on the podium are Jinjee and Sanbada, the hot new Korean sister restaurants in Allston (more on those later), followed by Dalia and Mesob. Looking for a new watering hole? Boston’s best new bar on Beli is Rocco’s Sports & Rec in Seaport. Or a little treat? Beli users say Third Time Together, Fuful Bakery, and Arwa are top-tier. 

🚆 PSA: Hop on another Amtrak deal train! From now through July 15, you can get 30% off of Amtrak trains for all your August and September travels. The sale applies to business class tickets on Acela, plus coach fares on the Northeast Regional and other eligible trains between Boston and D.C. And right now, we’re already seeing one-way tickets to NYC for as low as $35 … so it sounds like a summer weekend getaway is calling your name. ;) You’re welcome!

🐮 Beef up your wardrobe. For Cow Appreciation Day on July 14, the Chick-fil-A in Copley is giving away free entrees to any customers who literally dress up like a cow.

🎆 Light up your Hump Day. Add a *dazzling* touch to your mid-week plans with Sail Boston’s final fireworks display over Fan Pier Park on July 15. Pro tip: Snag a spot by the Boston Harbor Hotel before it starts, so you can enjoy a free concert AND a stunning waterfront view of the fireworks.

🀄 Clack ‘em and stack ‘em. Practice your mahjong skills on July 15 at Cafe Zing, whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player. They’ll supply a couple sets, but BYOT (bring your own tiles) if you’ve got some!

💋 Ditch the dating apps. Meet your match at Mingle Mayhem’s Big Singles Bash on July 15 at Bow Market. 100 single baddies + flirty games + cheeky banter = the *perfect* formula for some chemistry.

🍷 Channel your inner sommelier. Rebel Rebel is putting your palate to the test in a ~blindfolded~ wine tasting class on July 16. Get ready to try three different wines and learn how to taste and sniff out every note.

☕ Let the brew-haha begin. Enter: The Cafecito Crawl. From now through July 31, you can embark on a local coffee shop crawl, where you can download a digital passport and get special deals and offers at participating cafes across the city. Bonus: It’s free!

🍞 Get your starter started. Head to the Somerville Growing Center’s sourdough workshop on July 16 for all the best tips and tricks. But get there early — there's limited starter available!

🎸Catch this free patio concert series.* Patiopalooza at Aeronaut Brewing is underway, with sets from Clifford, Tiberius, and Makeout Palace coming in hot this Saturday, July 18. It’s free to attend, with no registration needed, but B-Side Members, don't forget to flash that skip-the-line ticket!

*This listing is presented in partnership with Aeronaut Brewing.

😋 Feast your eyes on Best Day Ever. Sample bites and drinks from 15+ local restaurants at our HUGE summer party at PKL Boston on Aug. 1. Think: Pizza from Si Cara, tacos from El Barco, pastries from Niveaux Patisserie. Then wash it all down with pours from Loyal Nine, Sun Cruiser, Chattermark Distillers, Magners Irish Cider, and more! Oh, and did we mention, that’s all included with your ticket? Get tickets now!

As always, Joey Chestnut ATE. The competitive-eating GOAT — who, BTW, just won his 18th title at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest AND holds the world record for inhaling 76 glizzies in 10 minutes — just took on Kowloon’s first annual Saugus Wings eating competition. 

In case you’re new here, Saugus Wings are a New England cult classic from Kowloon, where their chicken wings are doused in their signature sweet, sticky, garlicky sauce.

Over the weekend, he competed at the Brook Casino in Seabrook, N.H., and nearly matched his personal record, eating 241 (!) wings in 10 minutes (his best was 242). That’s one wing every ~2.5 seconds!!!

But even so, Joey was just shy of first place, losing to James Webb, another world-ranking eater from Australia who devoured 249 wings, a.k.a. 7.7 lbs. of meat.

Godspeed to your digestive systems …

— Written by Kelly Chan

😴 Thanks for reading! We just know that food coma HIT.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, NICE, a Fest for supporting local journalism. We’ll see you in Davis!

⚾ The results are in: 65% of you like the Boston Hunters as our new women’s pro baseball team name. Though, One B-Sider said, “I can just see the headlines during a losing streak … ‘hunting for a win.’” Respectfully, that sounds like Red Sox-induced trauma.

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