Itβs Wednesday, Boston.
πΈ Dying to hop on the print vending machine trend? For five quarters, this new mini art vending machine in Porter Square Booksβ Seaport location will spit out a pint-sized print of Boston thatβd be perfect on your mirror, in your phone case, or as a tiny postcard.
πΆπ§ And donβt miss our FREE PUPPY YOGA class. This Friday, weβre dropping 34 members-only tickets to a free Puppy Yoga session. Become a member to snag your spot!
π Whatβs on tap today:
Norβeaster, incoming!
30% off flights to Europe
Mass.β most popular baby names
Up firstβ¦
COMMENCEMENT 2025
What would Jennifer Coolidge do?

Image: Christopher McIntosh. Illustration: Gia Orsino.
Why are hordes of celebs and CEOs descending upon Boston this week? Itβs graduation season, baby! And one perk of living in a huge college town is the incredible array of commencement speakers.
Hereβs a sampling of the best life advice from this yearβs addresses:
π βJust frigging go for it,β Norwell native and iconic actor Jennifer Coolidge said to Emersonβs graduating class. Coolidgeβs speech pulled from a hilarious childhood anecdote (she even dropped a spot-on Boston accent), but the central message was serious: Donβt spend your life worrying about what other people think, even if it requires being a little delusional. When you find the thing you want to do, βyou really have to psych yourself up into believing [in] absurd possibilities,β she said. βBe your own champion.β
βΎ βFollow your dreams with a sobering element of realism,β legendary Red Sox announcer Joe Castiglione said at Stonehillβs commencement. After a storied career at Fenway,Β Castiglione emphasized the importance of reaching for a career βyou can reflect on later years and say, βI did pretty much what I said I wanted to do,ββ but also recognizing that it often doesnβt come easy. βIt is not always a linear path to success,β he said, but donβt underestimate the sheer power of βstaying the course and persevering,β and showing up at your best every day.Β
π€ βEmpathy is essential,β actor and BU alumnae Emily Deschanel said to BUβs class of 2025. Empathy, including self-empathy, is βone of the most important tools we have,β to face the world, especially as a new grad (or, in her case, on season one of Bones). βYou are a human being who will make mistakes, you will fail,β she said, but growth will only come if youβre βgentle with yourself.β She continued: βEmpathy isn't weakness β¦ Itβs about understanding what led to those choices so you can respond from a place of authenticity.β
πΆ βKeep telling your truth to the world,β said musician Sara Bareilles. Her and AndrΓ© 3000βs speeches to Berkleeβs graduating class had similar takeaways: Great art requires the truth. Art is not about βlet me take your order,β AndrΓ© said. βYour job is to stay true to what youβre feeling, stay true to your instincts,β whether the crowd is booing or screaming your name. Why? In an increasingly chaotic world, truth βis the medicineβ that will guide us, Bareilles said. If you dedicate your life to finding and telling the truth, βyou can trust it will guide you to the next right thing.β
QUICK QUESTION!
π If you couldβve had just one of these stars give an address at your graduation, who would you pick?Β
Let us know below!
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines

Image: David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe
π§οΈ Itβs a bird, itβs a plane, itβs a β¦ norβeaster. And itβs coming in HOT tonight. As of Tuesday evening, forecasters are expecting up to two inches of rain and 50 mph wind gusts across much of Southern New England, including Boston. Itβs all going to start late tonight, and it likely wonβt slow down until well into Thursday. The good news? The worst of it will be over before the long weekend. Then, weβll see some spotty showers and temps in the low 50s before things clear and warm up for Memorial Day. Keep up with the latest here.
ποΈ Mass.β shelter crisis is winding down. On Monday, Gov. Healey announced that all the hotels and motels Mass. is using for its emergency shelter system will be shut down by summerβs end β six months ahead of schedule. Since the peak of Mass.β shelter emergency, when there were over 100 in use statewide, shelter hotels have seen their fair share of controversy. Now, thanks in part to a series of crackdowns on shelter stay limits and more stringent application requirements, there are just 32 left. That said, advocates warn the needs of homeless families remain high.
βοΈ Calling all thrifty travelers: Low-cost airline PLAY is offering a 30% off sale on some summer European flights from Boston until May 27. Hereβs the deal: The discount applies to flights to Iceland, Aalborg, Berlin, Billund, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, and Paris, from June through October, but only during certain windows. Ex: From July 23 to 31, Wednesday flights to Copenhagen and Dublin are on sale, but from Sept. 2 to Oct. 14., itβs Tuesday flights to Iceland, Copenhagen, London, Berlin, Paris, and Dublin. Grab your tickets here!
πΆ The Hatch Shell is getting groovy tonight. The Esplanade Associationβs GroundBeat Concert Series is BACK at the iconic outdoor venue tonight with a free hip-hop, neo-soul, and R&B concert at 6 p.m. And if the music doesnβt entice you, maybe the free empanadas from Bocadillos for the first 100 customers, plus complimentary lawn games and picnic blankets will! Canβt make it tonight? Theyβll be back for three more concerts through June 5. Hereβs the schedule.
THINGS TO DO
Mid-week plans
π $1 Wings x B-Side Trivia | Wednesday, May 28 | Sam Adams Boston Brewery | Get $1 wings and play free trivia with us, hosted by the B-Side team! B-Side Members get a free beer!
π B-Side x Weβre Not Really Runners | Wednesday, June 4 | Charles River Esplanade | Weβre meeting up with WNRR for a 3-mile run (or walk!) and drinks at Night Shift to follow. B-Side Members get a free drink and a B-Side sweat towel! Registration link coming soon.Β
π¨ββ€οΈβπβπ¨ The Dating Game Live | Friday, June 6 | Aeronaut Somerville | B-Side is teaming up with Aeronaut to host a modern version of the classic 60's game show The Dating Game! B-Side Members get a free drink.
At B-Side events like the ones above, members get perks like discounted entry, free drinks, B-Side swag, and more. Stay tuned for more meetups, and become a member to get your perks!
ONE LAST THING
Mass.β most popular baby names

Illustration: Gia Orsino
If youβre reading this and your name is Olivia or Noah: Sorry to say it, but ya basic!Β
Mass.β annual list of its most popular baby names just dropped, and Olivia and Noah topped the 2024 edition, with 339 Olivias and 514 Noahs born.
This is big news for Olivias: It marks the nameβs return to the top spot after βCharlotteβ disrupted its four-year streak in 2023. Meanwhile, Noah has held onto the crown since 2020. As for runner-ups, Liam, Oliver, James, and Henry round out the maleβs top five, while Charlotte, Emma, Sophia, and Amelia snagged the top female spots.Β
For next year, keep an eye on names like Willow, Rose, Elena, Lillian, Ayla, Thiago, Carter, and Elias, which all saw jumps up the list of 20+ spots since 2023.
β Written by Gia Orsino
πΌ Thanks for reading! Thankfully, Giaβs name still isnβt on the list, which means her unique name complex remains intact for another year. <3
πΈ The results are in: 60% of B-Siders say they want to learn more about investing and wealth building. One reader said, βIβm interested in learning how to ruin rich people's lives.β Talk about a dream assignment.Β
π Members: Hereβs the link to your May perks!
π Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].