Happy Friday, Boston!
π¦ And happy parade day! If youβre one of the million or so people heading out to bask in the Cβs victory this morning, hereβs everything you need to know going in, and hereβs a great guide to spots on the route to grab a bite or brew (just make sure to get there early!)
π And in case you missed it: This is your final reminder that the Orange Line shutdown we told you about yesterday is kicking off tomorrow. Good luck and godspeed.
π Whatβs on tap today:
Pro-Palestinian protestors are far from finishedΒ
A record-breaking heatwave
Mazzulla hits the town
Up firstβ¦
SUMMER FRIDAYS
Scoops, shucks, and β¦ Shrek?

Illustration: Gia Orsino
We made it to another summer Friday, Boston! If staying inside to avoid the heat has got you itching to leave the house, we've got you covered.
πΆ Hit the open road (on your feet!). Open Streets Boston is coming to Roxburyβs Blue Hill Avenue this Saturday for a day full of walking, shopping, community engagement, and absolutely zero car traffic.
πΊ Get down with Donkey. If Riverdaleβs Lili Reinhart can look hot at a Shrek rave, so can you. And as luck would have it, Big Night Live is hosting one tonight. Lord Farquaad fits are highly encouraged.
π§ Get zen (on the cheap). You can take your pick of workout classes this Saturday: This B/Spoke strength/yoga class at Castle Island brewery in the a.m., or this FREE yoga class by Healthworks later in the afternoon (just donβt forget your mat for either!)
π₯³ Celebrate Time Outβs 5th b-day. On Saturday afternoon, theyβre throwing themselves a birthday bash with a pig roast (!), dessert cart, beer tastings, and music. And the only gift you need to bring is your lovely self.
π³οΈβπ Have a weekend-long Pride party. Youβve got plenty of options. See: Lamplighter Broadwayβs drag story hour, Lamplighter Cambridge Crossingβs Pride patio party or the Somerville Arts Councilβs big gay dance party on Saturday, and the NAAAPβs queer AAPI karaoke prom Sunday night.
π¦ Scream for making your own ice cream. A $50 ticket to this ice cream making workshop by Gerlyβs Ice Cream tonight might seem steep, but itβll get you a home-made pint, ice cream samples, a six-scoop ice cream flight, and a beverage. Now thatβs a sweet deal.
ποΈ Revamp your wardrobe. Vintage fanatics, this weekend is your Super Bowl. On Saturday, head to Cambridge for this city-wide clothing swap at FOUND Marketβs inaugural summer block party. And on Sunday, go back again for this $5 βscaffolding saleβ at The Attic.
π¦ͺ Say βshucks!β at the BPM. Boston Public Market is putting on an oysterfest this Sunday on their patio, accompanied by music, brews, exclusive merch, and most importantly, freshly shucked oysters.
πΌ Dance like itβs 1990-something. Whether youβre old enough to actually have any memories of the 90s or not (guilty), youβre welcome at More Than Wordsβ 90s themed bash on Saturday night. And yes, there will be a costume contest.
π¨ Get artsy with some new pals. Do you like arts and crafts? Do you want to meet new people? How about (free) snacks on the beautiful Cambridge Commons? Well, this arts and crafts spring picnic on Saturday has it all.
TOGETHER WITH MOUNT HOLYOKE
Leading with prideΒ

ππ Ready to level up your education in an environment that embraces you? For almost 200 years, Mount Holyoke College has been committed to making higher education more accessible for those who have been historically marginalized, and its changemaking legacy continues today. Whether working to overturn drag bans, teaching classes on the Supreme Court and civil rights, or winning fellowships for inclusive filmmaking, the collegeβs vibrant community is leading the way toward a more just and equitable world. Learn more about how Mount Holyoke fosters a sense of community and belonging.
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines

Image: Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press
π₯΅ Say βthank youβ to your AC. Because we know itβs been working overtime in what has been a record-breaking heat wave here in Boston. While stepping outside has felt like getting blasted with a hairdryer pretty much non-stop since Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdayβs temps were particularly spicy. Wednesday saw a high of 98 degrees (with a mind-boggling 107 degree heat index value) that broke a 101- year- old record for the city, and temperatures stayed just as miserably hot into Thursday. The good news: Today will be a lot better, with a projected high of just 81 degrees, but not without some potential for rain later in the day.
π Revenge porn is finally a punishable crime in Mass. On Thursday, Gov. Maura Healey signed a long-awaited ban on βrevenge porn,β or the non-consensual sharing of explicit images β including those that are AI generated β into law. This makes Mass. the 49th state in the country to adopt this type of legislation, which up until now, has held no specific criminal penalty here (yikes, we know). This news comes after years of activism, and a good amount of bureaucratic stalling on Beacon Hill, as the State House and Senate struggled to hammer out a compromise.
πͺ§ Pro-Palestinian protestors arenβt done yet. The campus encampments that made headlines for weeks on end this spring might be gone, but activists across local colleges agree that their work is far from done, according to The Boston Globe. Not only are students already using the time away from campus to focus their attention on protests in more public spaces, but theyβre also spending time coordinating future plans, both in-person and on social media, to keep their momentum going, and, as some say, figure out how to be even more disruptive moving forward.
QUICK QUESTION
π‘οΈ How did you keep cool in your house/apartment this week?
Let us know below!
MEDIA SPONSORSHIP
Pizza lovers, rejoice!Β
B-Side is a proud sponsor of the Boston Pizza Festival being held this weekend on June 22 and June 23. Held at City Hall Plaza, this two-day event features Bostonβs top pizzerias serving up their best slices. Enjoy multiple slices of pizza, from classic Neapolitan to creative gourmet, alongside live music andΒ activities. Get tickets today and secure your spot at this tasty celebration!
ONE LAST THING
A North End trophy tour

AP Photo/Charles Krupa. Illustration: Gia Orsino
Youβve heard of a North End food tour β¦ but how about a North End Larry OβBrien Championship Trophy tour?Β
Well, if you happened to be in the neighborhood last night, you wouldβve gotten a front row seat to one, when Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla very publicly restaurant-hopped with the trophy (which, might we add, is about 30 pounds) in hand.
He and his team of security made the rounds to several restaurants in the area including Carmelinaβs, Arya, Umbria, and Strega, taking pictures, hanging out, and even allowing a few lucky fans to touch the trophy.Β
β Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario
π Thanks for reading! Special shoutout to Giaβs roommate, who was on a Hinge date in the area and had no idea why everyone else in the restaurant got up and started taking pictures.Β
π Quick correction: Thursdayβs newsletter incorrectly stated that there had been two days without answers about the 911 outageβs cause, there had been about one.
π Special shoutout to todayβs sponsor, Mount Holyoke, for supporting local journalism and providing higher education to diverse communities.
π The results are in: It was a mixed bag of results, but most B-Siders (30%) feel good about the shutdowns overall, although it should be noted that another 25% feel explicitly bad. One reader said: βThere's never been a worse time to live at Forest Hills.β
π Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].