😵‍💫🥦 Pot cafes are coming to town

🏘️ Two things we know B-Siders LOVE: Fancy houses and being nosy. So please enjoy the three most expensive homes sold in Mass. last year, all of which top $20 million. *Cries in three roommates.*

🀄 Calling all Mahjong players! If you’re under 30, live in Greater Boston, and love to play Mahjong, we want to talk to you for an upcoming story. Shoot Gia an email at [email protected]. 

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

The most exciting part of a new year? New state laws! OK, that might be a stretch. But this year’s slate of new laws will have important impacts on you, your community, and your health.

Here are the biggies you’ll want to know:

🥦 Cannabis cafes are *technically* legal. Last month, the Cannabis Control Commission (puff puff) passed a measure to create new “social consumption” licenses for businesses and events where folks can light up legally (think: concerts, yoga studios, lounges). But don’t grab your lighters just yet: It could take up to 18 months for a cannabis cafe to actually open while the CCC works with local governments to issue licenses.

🏥 Mass. doubled down on abortion protections. In response to President Trump’s rollbacks, Gov. Healey beefed up Mass.’ Shield Act last summer, strengthening protections for folks seeking and providing abortions and gender-affirming care. The law requires hospitals to provide medically necessary emergency abortions, bans local officials from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into health care services, and protects the identities of patients and providers.

👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏼 Demographic data will get more detailed. Instead of broad buckets like Asian, Black, or white, state agencies will begin collecting data on more specific local populations this year. The goal: To help them understand the niche needs and challenges of each group. So, the next time you have to check a box identifying your race, you’ll likely see dozens more options like Chinese, Jamaican, French, and Native Hawaiian.

❤️‍🩹 The emergency shelter system keeps shrinking. As of Dec. 31, Gov. Healey has lowered the cap on the number of families allowed in Mass.’ emergency shelter system to 4,000 coming off of 2023’s emergency shelter crisis. That said, since the number in the system has already been under the threshold for months, not much will change.

🚇 Transit workers (will) get extra protection. Bad news: Assaults on public transit operators have tripled in the last 15 years. Good news: Mass. is ramping up punishments for folks who mess with them. Starting March 3, anyone who does could face a sentence of up to two-and-a-half years, and a fine up to $5,000. 

📝 Wanna know more? Check out more new local laws here.

🏈 Days since the Patriots won a playoff game: ONE! After a six-year drought, the Pats snagged a postseason win against the LA Chargers on Sunday night, 16-3. After a slog of a first half, they popped off in the fourth quarter with this gorgina touchdown, and the rest was history. And let’s just say, Gillette was LIT. Next: The Pats will host either the Houston Texans or the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday next week in the divisional round, depending on who wins their matchup tonight. So … Super Bowl or bust?!

🧊 Local protestors are icing out ICE. On Saturday, hundreds of Bostonians gathered Downtown to protest recent shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon. It was Boston’s third protest — and one of hundreds across the country — since Wednesday when Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot in her car. On the scene, organizers urged folks to continue standing up for their neighbors targeted by ICE, and some protestors called for strikes or government shutdowns. Here’s a peek at the crowd.

💰 Wanna get rich quick? Work at UMass. We’re serious! The comptroller’s office just dropped Mass.’ 2025 public payroll, and a whopping $1.82 billion went to UMass employees. That’s ~17% of the $10.89 billion payroll, which BTW, is a 6% uptick from 2024, and a 33% jump from 2020. As for who’s at the top, it’s UMass Amherst men’s basketball coach Frank Martin for the third year in a row. He raked in $2.18 million (over seven times what the women’s head coach made, just sayin’!). Here’s the full list.

🤤 This is your sign to try a new restaurant. And you have tons to pick from! There’s First Watch, the trendy brunch chain that just opened its doors in Back Bay (and brought its all-day breakfast menu with it); Boxfish, Watertown’s new eclectic seafood spot serving up tuna tacos and brown butter lobster toast; or Si Cara’s new Southie location with a moody basement lounge. They’re currently serving up their classic Neapolitan pies for dinner, but stay tuned for brunch and late night bites. You’re welcome! <3

🤑 Holler for $1 bites. We’re talking $1 micro-sized ice creams at Rancatore’s every Monday in January, and $1 chowder cups at Legal Sea Foods on Jan. 15. Sold!

📚 Hit up the chillest party of the year. A.k.a. this silent reading party at Porter Square Books on Jan. 13. Just grab your current read, show up, and pipe down! There will be an (optional) discussion after.

🤩 Grab your Bravoholic besties. ‘Cause Summer House’s very own Carl Radke is coming to Harvard Book Store on Jan. 13 for a signing of his new memoir, “Cake Eater.” 

💬 Turn strangers into friends. Skip the Small Talk is hosting an event for 20-somethings at Trident on Jan. 13! Think: Speed friending, minus the awkward chit chat.

🧋 Sip a FREE bubble tea from the Boston Legacy. On Jan. 14, anyone can get a free bev from Bon Me’s brick-and-mortar spots on the team’s dime. Hey, strawberry matcha bubble tea!

👀 Watch Downtown get … weird. Winteractive, Boston’s wacky public art exhibit, is BACK (see: eye emojis on buildings). Get a first look (plus free refreshments) at the Jan. 14 kickoff party.

🎶 Catch some tunes at the MFA. The museum’s iconic “Art in Tune” event is going down on Jan. 15 with live music playing throughout the galleries. Even better: Entry is just $5!

❤️‍🩹 Get caught up in an 1800s love triangle. We’re talking about Trident’s free screening of Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” on Jan. 15 … duh! 

Sunday was a good day to be a Maye. And no, we’re not just talking about the Patriots’ first playoff win in six years. We’re also talking about the premiere of “Beyond Bakemas” with Ann Michael Maye. 

ICYMI: Maye (who’s married to Patriots QB Drake Maye) went viral on TikTok this December for her “Bakemas” series — and its shockingly non-toxic comments section. But on Friday, NBC10 Boston announced it had officially picked it up as a baking show.

Episode one dropped on Sunday with special guest Dave Portnoy. Ann Michael coaches him through some M&M cookies while they chitchat about her growing stardom, Cardi B, and Drake Maye’s MVP campaign.

You can check out the episode here.

— Written by Gia Orsino

🍪 Thanks for reading! OK, power couple!

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