Itβs Monday, Boston.
π How blessed are we to exist in the same city as Jayson Tatum? We hope your Monday feels as good as these Celtics fans after Tatum nailed this game-winning 3-pointer Saturday at TD Garden. Apologies to my downstairs neighbor for the screams β¦ Go, Cβs!
π Whatβs on tap today:
Red Line DOWN
Half-off Sullyβs glizzies
The sweetest advent calendar
Up firstβ¦
GOOD NEWS
Seawalls, snails, and satire β¦ oh my!

Image: Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe. Illustration: Emily Schario.
We wouldnβt blame you for feeling like this month has been full of bad news. But amidst the headlines, dark nights, and whatever else has got you down, trust us, good things were still happening.Β
Here are the feel-good stories you mightβve missed this month:
π This Boston seawall doubles as a home for snails. Let us explain. Due to the changing climate, seawalls are becoming a more common tool to protect against flooding (including on about seven miles of the cityβs coastline). But most are essentially concrete slabs β inhospitable for marine life β until now. Local scientists are experimenting with βliving seawallsβ in Eastie, which can provide habitats for snails, mussels, fish, and others. And just one day after installation, there were already some tiny new inhabitants.
π² Two Eastie kids made it BIG on TikTok. Chronic Boston TikTok users (guilty) probably already know Prosciutto Papi, a.k.a. Chad McDonough Jr. and Tommy Guarino. But maybe you donβt know that McDonough was raised by his grandmother in low-income Eastie housing and met Guarino, who he now considers a βbrother,β at five years old. These days, they have a combined 2 million followers, a successful production company, collabs with Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg, and ambition for more.
πΈ A satire news site and Sandy Hook parents did the most iconic thing. The Onion, the satirical news site famous for headlines like β¦ this, purchased conspiracy-theorist Alex Jonesβ website Infowars. The move was backed by the families of Sandy Hook victims, who won over $1 billion in defamation judgments from Jones after he called the tragedy a βhoax.β Now, his site is in the hands of The Onion (and its Mass. native CEO) who plans to reboot it into more satire β with Everytown for Gun Safety as the exclusive launch advertiser.
π¦ This beloved Cambridge UPS worker got a neighborhood-wide sendoff. Sajid Bhatti is a local legend. Heβs (almost) never taken a day off in 15 years, gaining a cult-like group of friends and fans for his kind demeanor and over-the-top generosity (think: throwing catered, open-bar parties for customers and community). When he announced he was leaving for St. Croix, his community did the same for him, throwing him a block party with over 200 guests, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren.Β
π A half-century overdue library book was returned. Presumably in the spring of 1973, someone checked out βThe Early Work of Aubrey Beardsleyβ β which was added to the Worcester Public Libraryβs collection in 1899 β with a May 22 due date. Last week, over 51 years later, the book was returned. No, the library doesnβt charge late fees, the staff are just happy that the book is back in its βrightful home.β And the book? You can read it at the library, but, due to its age, it canβt be checked out. Probably for the best.
TOGETHER WITH FLEXCAR
Baby itβs cold outside β¦ but your Flexcar is toasty
π₯Άπ Why brave the harsh Boston winters when you could be cruising through them in style? With Flexcar, swap out your ride for a snow-slaying SUV, built to handle every flurry, drift, and icy street. Forget car loans and down payments β Flexcarβs one monthly payment covers everything: insurance, maintenance, and 24/7 roadside assistance. No need to stress about seasonal upkeep or surprise repairs β Flexcars got you covered. Plans start at just $199/month, meaning youβre set to drive warm and worry-free all season. Use code BSIDE for 200 free miles and let the car do the snow shoveling for you.
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines

Image: Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe
π Reminder: This weekβs Red Line commute looks awful. Bad news: Itβs shuttle bus city between Harvard and Broadway now through Nov. 24. Buses will make most of the lineβs usual stops, but instead of hitting Park Street, theyβll stop at Haymarket and State, where riders can transfer to the Green, Orange, and Blue lines. Also, Downtown Crossing service will be indirect (this MBTA explainer lays out all the dirty details). Good news: Itβs looking like the last Red Line shutdown of the year. Everyone say βthanks, Phillip Eng!β
π The Question 1 drama is heating up. Youβd think the tea surrounding Question 1 would be over after 70+% of Mass. voters gave state auditor Diana DiZoglio the greenlight to audit the state legislature. But youβd be wrong. The house approved a rule change last week that would make DiZoglio pick an independent audit firm to conduct the audit of the legislature, rather than having the authority to do it herself. She argued the move would sidestep the more incisive work she's hoping to do, βeffectively slapping voters in the face.
π· PSA: That cough you have might be a lilβ more serious. If state health officials had a nickel for every young person theyβve seen contract whooping cough or pneumonia recently, theyβd have β¦ a lot of nickels. Thereβs been an increase in both this sick season, with Mass. clinicians reporting more pneumonia cases among children and young adults than usual (symptoms include: persistent cough, fever, and fatigue). One doctor said βweβre seeing common pre-pandemic illnesses return with a bit of a vengeance,β but why itβs happening is unclear.Β
π The glizzy fairy came early this year. Sullivanβs Castle Island plans to close up shop for the season on Sunday, Dec. 1. And in what might be the best early Christmas present, theyβre saying βthanks for another great seasonβ to customers by offering half-priced hot dogs through closing. In case youβre new here: Sullyβs hot dogs are a Southie mainstay, where hundreds line up for one at the start of every season. So take this as a sign to grab a cheap glizzy and walk around Castle Island.
QUICK QUESTION
π€ How many times have you had COVID-19?
Let us know below!
THINGS TO DO
Weekday plans

π Meet someone the old-fashioned way. Delete the apps for just one night and head down to Tiki Rock on Wednesday for its Boston singles mixer. The vibe will be chill and casual (no speed dating!).Β
π§ Learn the grazing table ropes. If youβre a sucker for meat, cheese, and hosting, this charcuterie board-making class at Super Bien on Wednesday is for you.Β
π€ Trade LinkedIn for linking up IRL. Wednesday night = networking night for young professionals at Cosmica in the South End. Expect lots of snacks, handshakes, and the chance to flex your resume.Β
π Toast to the holidays at Bostonβs jolliest bar. The Holly Jolly Bar at Harpoon Brewery opens for biz on Friday. The halls will be decked with floor-to-ceiling tinsel, trimmings, and ornaments.
π¦ Skip Friendsgiving at home β¦ And go to Capo instead! The Southie restaurant has a three-course Friendsgiving dinner on Friday starring a delicious fall-themed menu. Bonus: No clean-up required.Β
π Watch a blind date unfold on stage. The βItβs a dateβ comedy show is back Thursday at Dorchester Brewing, where four blindfolded singles will take the stage and let their charms do the seducing (oh, and thereβs audience participation, too).Β
π§Έ Cheer on the lady Crimson (with teddy bears!). Harvardβs womenβs hockey team takes on Providence College this Friday. Donβt forget to bring a stuffed animal to throw onto the ice for the annual Teddy Bear Toss.
βΈοΈ Dust off your ice skates. The Frog Pond may not be open for skating just yet, but you can still hit the ice at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton (fun fact: itβs where the Bruins skate for practice!).
TOGETHER WITH THE FENWAY FOODIES CLUB
This weekβs foodie deal sponsored by The Fenway Foodies Club
Basho Sushi is serving up daily lunchtime deals until 3 PM, turning your midday break into a mini celebration! Enjoy bento boxes, Basho bowls, sushi specials, and more, with dishes priced between $16 and $25. And thatβs not all, to discover all The Fenway Foodies Club latest dining deals and secrets, sign up for their newsletter or check out their blog
ONE LAST THING
The sweetest advent calendar

Illustration: Emily Schario
Not to be dramatic, but β¦ This might be the greatest advent calendar weβve ever seen.
Gracieβs Ice Cream in Somervilleβs Union Square is known for its signature toasted fluff cone and lineup of wacky flavors. But the shop can now add βcreator of this iconic ice cream advent calendarβ to the list.
Owner Aaron Cohen didnβt grow up with advent calendars, but he liked the idea of opening up a little treat every day. So to celebrate Gracieβs 10th b-day this year, he launched an ice cream advent calendar.Β
Over the course of the calendar's 24 days, youβll get to indulge in the obvious tasty stuff, including a scoop of 24 different Gracie's flavors. But youβll also find a numbered envelope each day, featuring an additional surprise and delight, plus a daily task of gratitude. (We donβt want to spoil them, but from what we've seen, theyβre v doable and important reminders we could all use.)Β
You can grab yours here.
β Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario
π Thanks for reading! Eating ice cream everyday in the name of gratitude? Weβre there.Β
π Correction: The newsletter was updated to reflect that Saj
π Special shoutout to today's sponsor, Flexcar, for supporting local journalism and making transportation more affordable and accessible in Boston.Β
π₯ The results are in: Watching TV and movies are the go-to comfort activities for 31% of B-Siders. One proclaimed, βHello 1000th rewatch of gilmore girls.β
π Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].