Happy Friday, Boston!
π£ Red and Green Liners, listen up! We told you once, weβll tell you twice: Parts of the Red Line and GLX are getting the shuttle bus treatment this weekend, and letβs just say the MBTA isnβt making things simple. Brush up on the best alternate routes here. Good luck!
π Whatβs on tap today:
Bostonβs best of the best
Beacon Hill bigwigs ball out
Taylor Swift β¦ in New Hampshire?
Up firstβ¦
SUMMER FRIDAYS
Bikes, blooms, and beach days

Image: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe
The only thing hotter than this weekβs weather is Bostonβs event scene. So consider this list our way of cranking up the heat.
Hereβs whatβs going down this weekend:
πΌ See hydrangeas in full bloom. If you havenβt heard, these flowers are having an absolutely banner season, (causing what some are calling βhydrangea hysteria.β). Want to see them yourself (looking at you, Insta baddies)? Here are some of the best places to spot them around Boston and beyond.
π Take your tastebuds on a world tour. Between Bostonβs 11th annual Caribbean JerkFest celebration in Allston and Dorchesterβs Little Saigon night market, youβll be able to sample some of the best food (not to mention music and entertainment) the city has to offer.
π«π· Say βoui!β for the weekend. Bastille Day, a celebration of the French Revolutionβs beginning, is this weekend. And you can celebrate at the MFAβs Boston French Film Fest, which runs through August 4, or at this Bastille Day celebration at Noir in Harvard Square, featuring music, bites, and a traditional βwaitersβ raceβ on Sunday.
π Get a little saucy. The Heinz βSauce Swapβ truck is coming to the Greenway as part of a pitch to launch their new funky flavored ketchups (think: pickle, chipotle, and habanero). The best part? If you bring in an old sauce bottle from your fridge, theyβll give you a bottle of said fancy ketchup in exchange.
π² Get to know Boston on two wheels. Femmechanics is hosting its 7th annual Babes Bike Boston βAlleycatβ this Sunday, which is basically a citywide scavenger hunt on two wheels for femme, trans, non-binary, and women cyclists. Beginners (and Bluebikes!) are welcome.Β
π΄ Bring your torches to Allston. Calling all βSurvivorβ superfans! Aeronaut Allston is hosting a βSurvivorβ night this Saturday. Make a team with your pals and compete for hidden idols and prizes, and mingle with Season 41 cast member Evvie.
πΏ Put on your dancing shoes in the Seaport. This Friday is the first of this monthβs βVinyl Nightsβ at the ICA, where you can dance, chill, and sip on some coffee or wine at the museum while listening to some of the cityβs best all-vinyl DJs (for free!).
ποΈ Support a small biz. The Attic in Cambridge is taking over Arrow St. on Saturday for a Vintage Block Party with tons of vendors, music, bites, and sips. And you can run it back the next day at the Sunday Bazaar in Brighton, where over 100 small local businesses will pop up.
πΌ (Block) party hard. This event in Kendall Square on Sunday isnβt a normal block party, itβs a roller skating block party. So reserve a skating slot, lace up, and get rollinβ. Or, hang out and play some lawn games on your own two feet.
ποΈ Spend a day basking on the beach. Every body is a beach body, and thatβs what Bigger Bodies Bostonβs Fat Beach Day on Saturday in Eastie is all about. Just donβt forget to reserve your spot and bring a towel.
B-SIDE FOODIEβS CHOICE AWARDS SPONSORED BY TOAST
πΎπ Another year = another roundup of new restaurants to try! Which new spot has won your heart (and your taste buds)?
Let us know below!
Poll nominees have been selected by Toast and B-Sideβs branded content team
TOGETHER WITH FLEXCAR
Not today, Uber

π Tired of waiting around for a $60 rideshare? Or a train that may or may not show up? Take control of your commute with Flexcar. With monthly plans that include insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance, maintenance, and more, Flexcar gives you the freedom to take the wheel β zero down payments or multi-year contracts required. Just pick a car that fits you (you can even swap it out later), get qualified, and hit the road without the hassle using code BSIDE200.Β
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines

The Glitter Boys, one of the best of the best winners. Image: Nathan Klima for The Boston Globe.
π€© These Boston spots are the best of the best. You know the feeling. Someone asks you: βWhatβs the best (food, coffee, club, shop) in Boston?β And you totally blank. Well, those days are over. The Boston Globe just dropped its best of the best lists for this year, with categories from pizza, to bookstores, to comedy clubs. And we have to say, definitely itβs B-Side Certified. Need a place to start? The lists for the best bookstores, nightlife, cheap eats, and games are worth a scan. Enjoy perusing!
π€ Beacon Hill bigwigs are balling out β¦ with campaign funds. According to The Boston Globe, manyΒ of the stateβs most powerful lawmakers routinely use large chunks of their fundraised campaign money to fund their lavish lifestyles. Weβre talking $34,000 for a leased Audi, a collective $16,000 on a suite at the Beanpot, or $1 in every $3 spent on dining out among the most elite ranks. How? Mass. campaign finance rules are vague, allowing lawmakers to use the cash on anything for the βenhancement of [their] political futureβ thatβs not βprimarily for personal use.βΒ
ποΈ Should local news get a cash boost from the public? Thatβs the question before the Cambridge City Council right now. Itβs no secret that local news has had it rough these past few years, with about two newspapers disappearing per week on average since 2005. But a policy order before the council proposes giving some of these organizations $100,000 of taxpayer money per year to help them out. And while the funds are sorely needed, concern over the ethics of a government-funded news organization has made some officials and advocates balk.Β
MEDIA SPONSORSHIP
Fest like a local.Β
B-Side is a proud sponsor of NICE, a fest music and art festival, the four-day local talent extravaganza coming to Davis Square from Thursday, July 25 to Sunday, July 28. NICE, a fest is a prime opportunity to support local makers of music and art as you bop from stage to stage. Give the (super stacked) lineup a look, get excited, and grab your tickets fast!Β
ONE LAST THING
Taylor Swift in β¦ New Hampshire?

Illustration: Gia Orsino
Canβt fly to Europe to see the Eras Tour this summer? We have great news: You can see a live Taylor concert for less than $100 at an intimate venue in New Hampshire all summer long β¦ kind of.
We truly couldnβt believe our eyes (or ears) when we saw this TikTok of a Taylor Swift tribute concert performing numbers from the Eras Tour at New Hampshireβs Canobie Lake Theme Park. This Taylor Swift impersonator is good. Like, almost too good.Β
From the dance moves, to the outfits, to the facial expressions and choreography, this performance of βBejeweledβ had us almost completely fooled. And TBH, for around $50 β¦ you could do a lot worse.
β Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario
β Thanks for reading! As one commenter said, sheβs giving Ashley a run for her money.
π Special shoutout to todayβs sponsor, Flexcar, for supporting local journalism and making transportation more affordable and accessible in Boston.Β
π Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].