- The B-Side
- Posts
- šŗ Make Boston fun again
šŗ Make Boston fun again
Plus: š The sky is falling.
It's Monday, Boston.
šŖ PSA: Crumbl Cookies just opened its first Boston location in Brighton. Which means itās your time to become the cityās first Crumbl Cookie review TikToker. Or, you can just get a good cookie.
š Whatās on tap today:
The sky is falling
Extra restaurant fees
In a pickle(ball)
Up firstā¦
CITY HALL
Make Boston fun again
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/cfc666b9-0d6f-4d9d-9941-cdc8864f9f89/Big_Story__40_.png)
Image via City of Boston. Illustration: Katie Cole
Corean Reynolds, Bostonās first-ever director of nightlife economy, starts today. And while she has arguably one of the most interesting city job titles, being in charge of sprucing up Bostonās buttoned-up late-night scene is no small order.
Hereās what you need to know:
š Her plans. During a press conference last month, Reynolds said sheād prioritize increasing the amount of nighttime options across all Boston neighborhoods, improving after-hours transportation, and boosting public safety for those who are out and about at night (for both work and play). She is also tasked with advancing the cityās post-pandemic recovery efforts and Wuās vision for a 24-hour neighborhood downtown.
šø What the people want. We asked B-Side followers on Instagram: Whatās the first thing theyād do to improve Bostonās nightlife scene? The responses were overwhelmingly two things: make the T run later and bring back Happy Hour drink specials.
š What businesses want. The T and alcohol are also top of mind. Scott Feldman, the marketing manager for City Winery, told the Globe that if the T stays open later, people will stay out later, meaning they could double book shows and boost alcohol sales. Olrie Roberts, owner of ZaZ Restaurant in Hyde Park, told the Globe that he hopes Reynolds will elevate the voices of BIPOC residents and business owners in conversations about expanding liquor licensing (a report found that only 2% of on-premise liquor license holders identify as Black).
š¤ What can she actually do? When it comes to the requests listed above, not a whole lot. Expanding liquor licenses and the Tās operating hours fall under Beacon Hillās purview. And Happy Hour drink specials have been banned statewide since the 80s. But even though Reynolds canāt fix those big-ticket items on her own, she can still start the conversation. Plus, Segun Idowu, the cityās chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, said sheāll also be focused on how āweāre redefining nightlife to be something that's more than clubs and more than restaurants and bars.ā
But letās not get ahead of ourselves. Itās only her first day.
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/4cdc92a4-6e01-46dd-8293-0e603fe1b49b/Quick_and_Dirty__26_.png)
Image via MBTA.
š The sky is falling at Harvard Station. Or at least the ceiling is. New video released on Friday shows a corroded, 25-pound ceiling panel nearly landing on a rider. While they passed inspection in 2021, these ceiling panels arenāt spring chickens, as theyāve been in place since 1978. Since the incident, the MBTAās interim GM has ordered the removal of several other ceiling panels at Harvard station and others to ensure it doesnāt happen again. So if you see a bunch of holes in the ceilings at your T stop, thatās why.
š Rent control advocates donāt think Wuās plan is enough. Advocates voiced support for a stronger rent control policy to counter Bostonās affordability problem during the Boston City Councilās second public hearing on Wuās rent stabilization plan. Wuās current proposal caps rent hikes at 10% each year and exempts new buildings from the cap for 15 years. But advocates are asking her to cap it at 5% and shorten that exemption period. The council is set to hold a session to propose any tweaks to the policy this week.
š Have you noticed those extra fees on your restaurant bills? Some local joints are adding a single-digit tax as a way to boost pay for the dishwashers, line cooks, and other back-of-house workers who canāt receive tips. Others are adding a 20% āfair wage surchargeā to the bill to ensure that every staff member gets paid at least $17. But no matter how itās done, itās the restaurant industryās way of trying to fix a broken system. And these extra fees appear to be here to stay.
š Mac Jones may have some competition for starting QB. And his name is Bailey Zappe. Jones is still expected to be the Pats starting quarterback this fall, but Zappe will at least have a chance to push Jones for the job, according to The Athletic. Thereās hope that Jonesā lackluster performance last season can be fixed with a more experienced offensive coordinator. But at the end of next season, the Pats will have to decide if they want to stick with Jones again. And if the answer is āno,ā we could see more Zappe Hour in our future.
THINGS TO DO
Weekly checklist
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0bd43f1f-2693-42cb-b861-462bb00d9299/Things_to_do__5_.png)
Image courtesy of Emily Saul
š Try a different workout. The November Project runs the stairs at Harvard Stadium every Wednesday at 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. rain or shine. And itās free.
š Catch up on a good book. Porter Square Books is hosting its monthly silent reading party, where you literally just read your book for an hour then chat about it. BYOB (books).
šæ Watch something new. Boston.com has a great list of five must-watch movies and TV shows streaming right now.
ONE LAST THING
In a pickle(ball)
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/a15fbe8e-e9b9-46a1-afcf-cf422daff077/One_Last_Thing__23_.png)
Image: Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Some Mass. residents are getting tired of the āpop pop popā of pickleball.
So much so, that some towns are getting noise complaints of the sound of the plastic ball getting smacked back and forth on the court. The Wellesley Recreation Commission even held a hearing on Friday to listen to complaints about the popping sport. Which somehow feels very on brand for Wellesley.
Pickleball has grown quickly over the past few years, with Mass. players having a particular love for the sport. Bostonians Googled āpickleball near meā more than nearly any other city in the U.S. last year. So it looks like the āpop pop popā could be here to stay.
š¬ Thanks for reading! As someone who frequents the deafeningly loud Boylston T stop, I have little sympathy for these Wellesley residents.
š Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected].