😅 When normal isn’t normal anymore

🥩 New ranking alert: Two Back Bay restaurants made OpenTable’s list of best restaurants in America. Here’s a hint: One’s known for its steaks, the other for its seafood. 

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

“Students are still finding their footing.” 

That’s how Dr. Laura De Veau, a higher education consultant and adjunct professor at BU and BC in higher education administration, described this past semester on campus. 

This may seem surprising given that this academic year has arguably been the most normal one since 2019 — masks are gone, mandated COVID testing has ended, and classes are taking place in the classroom again. But what used to be considered “normal” may now feel more rigid. 

“What you saw last year was more flexibility,”  De Veau said. “Campuses were saying, ‘look, if you need extra time on that test, take that time,’ or ‘I’m going to give you a little grace on this and extend your deadline.’” 

But those days are over. More institutions are reverting back to hard and fast assignment deadlines and requiring in-person test-taking. 

Working in hybrid environments has made students more agile, according to De Veau, but “this year, they don’t always get to choose” where and how they learn, adding a new layer of anxiety and tension, especially during a hyper-scheduled finals week. 

For most students, the discomfort from this adjustment is only temporary, but for others, it may be a result of something more clinical. 

“We’re still trying to figure out what long COVID and some of the ramifications of COVID exposure have had on students' learning and their ability to do testing,” De Veau said. There are students who have never asked for accommodations in their lives before, but now are considering it. 

With that said, if you’re a student who has had COVID and don’t think you’re “learning and retaining, and able to deliver” in a way you could pre-COVID, De Veau has one piece of advice: 

Head to your campus’s office of disability and accessibility services. 

“You need to advocate for yourself … This is where you have to get your swagger on and say ‘I need this from my institution,’” De Veau said. 

You are, quite literally, paying for them to help you.

⚖️ Governor-elect Maura Healey has started building out her squad. She announced her first three Cabinet picks this week as she starts filling more positions in the executive branch ahead of her January inauguration. Matthew Gorzkowicz will be the state’s top budget official, serving as Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance; Kate Cook will be her Chief of Staff; and Gabrielle Viator will be her Senior Advisor. All three have ties to Deval Patrick’s administration — the last time Mass. had a democratic governor. 

🗳️ Boston is considering giving voting rights to some immigrants in local elections. If a measure like this passed, it would only apply to “immigrants with legal status,” but how they would define “immigrants with legal status” is still TBD. During a hearing, City Councilors defined the term with specific categories of non-citizens including lawful permanent residents, DACA recipients, and more. Officials estimate that as many as 68,000 immigrants in Boston would be able to participate in municipal elections if a measure like this passed. 

🌳 Boston’s largest green space is getting a face-lift. City officials unveiled a $28 million dollar plan to improve Franklin Park, a 500-acre plot that touches Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and Mattapan. The plan proposes upgrades to trails, picnic and play areas, and more. It also calls for the removal of invasive plants and the addition of new native species and trees. The best part is the city wants to know what you think of the plan. Leave your thoughts and comments here by Feb. 10 for them to be considered.

🕯 Grab White Claw candles from Boston’s first zero-waste store. More of a cider fan? They have Downeast versions too. $25.

👂 Snag a pair of stunning wire earrings from earrings from Airi. Earrings start at $20 a pair. 

🌶 Spice up gift giving with Boston-based Hillside Harvest Hot Sauce. Individual bottles are $9.99, a gift set of three flavors is $29.97. 

🍹 Get ready-made craft cocktails (just add alcohol) with Vena's Fizz House Sippers. Find them in person or online at On Centre in JP. $19.95 a cocktail. 

🧤 Cozy up with your favorite hockey team while still being able to use your phone with these Bruins Gloves. $25.

Boston.com asked their readers what Mass. should name the new state-owned snowplows and the results were hilarious. 

A bit of background: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is asking Mass. schoolchildren to name 12 new state-owned snowplows, but Boston.com wanted to get in on the fun. The creativity of the Commonwealth came out in full force to suggest names for the fleet of plows. Some of our personal favorites are ‘No More Mr. Ice Guy,’ ‘Sleet Caroline,’ and ‘Light Dustin’ Pedroia.’

Even actor and Newton native B.J. Novak endorsed the puns on Boston.com’s Instagram, commenting: “I support all these names.”

🍩 Thanks for reading! If you need an excuse to ride the new Green Line extension to Medford, check out these places to eat and drink along the new route. You can spot me getting off at Gilman Square to finally try Sarma.

💃 Keep up with other B-Side tomfoolery on IG, TikTok, and Twitter @BostonBSide. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected].