🏳️‍🌈🥳 The gays are coming!

🏖️ This is your excuse to play hooky today: Lincoln Tavern is offering a special “beach day box” with a sammy or wrap, chips, and a drink for $20. It’s available IRL or on Doordash, UberEats, and Toast. Now set your Slack status to OOO and go get your tan on.

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

The crown jewel of Pride Month is *almost* here! Boston’s annual Pride parade, festival, and block party is going down June 14.

So whether you’re partying all day long, just popping by (or trying to avoid traffic), here’s what to know: 

🌈 Boston Pride for the People is running the show. The group took over the parade and celebrations back in 2023 with a mission to empower, celebrate, commemorate, and educate about the LGBTQ+ community. 

🪧 This year’s festivities will double as a “No Kings” protest. ICYMI: June 14 is going to see a huge day of nationwide protests to counter President Trump’s military parade. Courtesy of Mass 50501 and the Indivisible Mass Coalition, Boston’s protest will go down at Pride, aptly called “No Kings but Yaaas, Queen!” The two groups — both official Boston Pride sponsors — will be marching and tabling with a vibe of “joyous defiance.” Here’s the info.

🎉 The ~1.5 mile parade route takes a windy path from Copley to the Common. Things kick off at Copley Square, and marchers will head down Clarendon Street, swing a left on Tremont and another on Berkeley. Then, a right on Boylston and a final left on Charles street will bring them to the Common.

🚗 Don’t even THINK about driving there. Unless you enjoy navigating a maze of road closures and parking restrictions. If you must, the parade has a link to nearby Spothero listings. Otherwise, just take the T to Copley, Back Bay, Arlington, or Boylston.

🏳️‍🌈 The parade is just the beginning of the action. Afterward, the party will continue on the Common, where there’s gonna be a festival with a full lineup of queer performers from 12 to 6 p.m., and a 21+ block party at City Hall Plaza from 2 to 8 p.m. with even more(!) performers, plus beer, wine, and seltzer.

🪩 And then there’s the after-after parties. Some of our faves: Rebel Rebel’s Guy Fieri-themed Diners, Drive-ins, and PRIDE bash with tie-dye, tarot, hot dogs, and a Fieri lookalike contest, and Dani’s Queer Bar’s first-ever massive Pride block party with vendors, drag artists, and DJs from 1 to 6 p.m. … and then a regular party ‘til LATE.

🤝 It’s (still!) not too late to lend a helping hand. You can get a free front-row seat to the action (and a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart) by signing up to volunteer at the festivities. 

🤔 Any other questions? Here’s where to find answers.

👩‍💼 💼 Ready to level-up your career? Whether you're stepping into leadership, expanding your influence, or aiming for the C-suite, the Women’s Leadership Program from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Simmons University Leadership Institute is designed to get you to your next step. Join this 10-session program starting Sept. 17 and gain real-world strategies, lasting confidence, and a powerful network that can help you lead with clarity and purpose. Pass it along to your manager or team lead and learn more today.

🎓 Harvard v. Trump isn’t just a Harvard problem. Per a new analysis, cuts to Harvard’s federal funding could deal some MAJOR blows to the entire Greater Boston economy. Worst case scenario: The $2.2 billion in funding cuts = a $2.9 billion hit to metro Boston’s GDP and impact 15,500 jobs. And that’s not including the potential losses of nixing the school’s ~7,000 international students. That said, the impacts would take a year or so to feel, and likely won’t be as bad if Trump’s cuts are blocked in court.

💸 The millionaire’s tax might not be around forever. Gov. Maura Healey indicated she may be willing to walk back Mass.’ 4% surtax on high earners at the Globe’s Tech Summit this week. The tax has brought in billions for education and transit-related projects since being voted into law via Ballot Q in 2022, but has gotten pushback for allegedly running rich residents out of the state (though FWIW, that seemingly hasn’t happened). Healey said Mass. should re-examine “what we need to do within our existing tax regime” to attract folks here.

⚽ This time next year, Gillette Stadium will be … Boston Stadium. Translation: We’re one year out from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring an estimated two million people and $1.1 billion in spending to Greater Boston. Believe it or not, planning it is a pretty massive undertaking, so most major preparations (think: stadium renos, security, and a Boston proper fan fest) are still in the works. But the city took advantage of the milestone to cover South Station in World Cup decor and unveil a futuristic countdown clock at Faneuil Hall. 

✈️ THIS is your sign to book a spontaneous getaway. OK, actually, Jet Blue’s “vacation anticipation” sale is your sign. Through June 12 (today!), travelers can book cheap flights for Tuesday and Wednesday travel between June 24 and Nov. 19 (minus July 2 to 7). Think: One-way tickets to Nashville for $59, Miami for $69, and NOLA for $89. Not into flying? Amtrak is offering 20% off Downeaster fares through June. Maine here we come!

There are two types of Bostonians: Those who see a 28-ounce lobster roll and a 15-minute timer and think “gross,” and those who think “I could eat.” 

The latter showed up to Pauli’s in the North End on Tuesday to take on the WILD “Lobstitution Challenge.” The rules: Finish a massive two-foot-long lobster roll (with 28 ounces of lobster) within 15 minutes, or pay for said lobster roll … which costs $110. 

A solid group of people stepped up to the (literal) plate, but only a few managed to complete the challenge — and one very impressive(?) contestant finished with over seven minutes to spare. 

Check out the winners (and losers) here.

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🦞 Thanks for reading! The only thing worse than eating 28 ounces of lobster in 15 minutes has gotta be eating 27 ounces of lobster in 15 minutes … and then coughing up $110. 

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, for supporting local journalism and connecting Boston’s movers, shakers, and spreadsheet-makers. 

🍺 The results are in: 35% of B-Siders are IPA haters. One reader said: “Nothing ruins a night out quicker than realizing the most fun-named beer on the menu is an IPA.” 

😳 🎟 Don't forget to grab your tickets to Best Day Ever, our Aug. 2 food, music, and shopping extravaganza at Artists for Humanity!

🔑 Members: Here’s the link to your perks!

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