🏅😤 This NEW Olympic event is in Boston

🤤 We’re eating GOOD today, B-Siders. Friends of the Public Garden are dolling out these fat Bon Me sammies and ice cream for FREE today on the Common from 12 to 2 p.m. Plus, the Hood ice cream truck will be slinging free scoops at Charlestown’s Hood Park from 5 to 7 p.m. 

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

Forget everything you know about the Head of the Charles. ‘Cause from July 25 to 27, the swanky regatta is trading in white tents and blazers for choppy waves and beach party vibes. Introducing: The Boston Beach Sprints.

Here’s what to know: 

🚣 Think of Beach Sprints as traditional rowing’s faster, grittier sibling. Picture this: A head-to-head, knockout-style series of races where athletes sprint to their boat, row 250 meters out and back through choppy, open water, then sprint back to the finish line, all in about three minutes. Here’s a visual. Beach sprint rowing has only been on the scene since the 2010’s, but will make its Olympics debut in L.A. come 2028.

🌊 It’s coming to Boston for the first time ever this week. And it’s starting off with a BANG. With around 115 entries, the Boston Beach Sprints are poised to be the largest beach sprint event ever in the U.S., right here at Southie’s Carson Beach. The athletes will range from national and international pros to folks who have literally never competed before.

🥳 If this sounds more fun than a standard regatta … it is. The head-to-head knockout format, shorter races, and unpredictable conditions make Beach Sprints “a little more engaging and fun to watch” than traditional rowing, said Brendan Mulvey, the HOCR’s race director. To put in bluntly, traditional rowing “pales in comparison to the vibes that are out on the beach,” said Beach Sprinter Christine Cavallo. “My family does not come to flat water races anymore. They will tailgate my beachfront races.” 

🏅 Here’s how it’ll go down: The actual racing will be on July 26 and 27. Most athletes will compete first in time trials, then those who advance head into knockout rounds, where they’ll toe the line several more times in less than an hour until only one winner remains. Imagine: “Your forearms are on fire. You need to go sit down. It's probably blazing hot on the beach … all sorts of stuff that isn't normal … in any other form of rowing,” Cavallo said. 

🤔 The goal? To get pumped for the Olympics … and get folks in the water. Yes, the goal is to promo the Olympic-bound event, but Mulvey and Cavallo both hope it helps folks see the discipline as a more accessible point of entry into rowing for spectators and athletes alike. “If you're even thinking about trying the sport, this could be a beautiful entry point,” Cavallo said.

👀 Ready to row — we mean, GO? Great news, it’s totally free to spectate, no tickets required. You can find all the event info here.

😬 Josh Kraft has a LOT of work to do. Because according to a new Suffolk University/Globe poll, Mayor Michelle Wu is currently up 30 points in this year’s mayoral race, and has the approval of two-thirds of voters, compared to Kraft’s 36%. The takeaway? Some of Wu's perceived vulnerabilities (think: bike lanes or housing) may matter less to voters than her W’s, like prioritizing climate issues or responding to the Trump administration. That said, polling is far from airtight, and Kraft has time to catch up.

🎁 The “big, beautiful bill” is the gift that keeps on … taking. The bill’s latest local impacts: Rollbacks in federal support for clean energy technology could cost Mass. up to 30,000 jobs and $3 billion in wages over the next decade … not to mention set the state back in meeting its lofty climate goals. Needless to say, the industry is bracing for impact. Meanwhile, the bill’s cuts also pose a problem for Allston’s I-90 megaproject by clawing back $327 million of its grant money, which could mean it ends up a little less “mega.”

📲 This year’s TIME100 Creators list is full of Massholes. Among the local legends: “Call Her Daddy’s” Alex Cooper; beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira, who first popped off in 2020 thanks to her real(?) thick Boston accent; and Heather Cox Richardson, the 62-year-old Boston College history professor whose newsletter comparing America’s current and historical political landscapes has 2.6 million Substack subscribers. Check out all the local honorees here.

😋 Our latest cravings: Eastie beer and Allston egg tarts. It’s foodie news time! Democracy Brewing has expanded to a second location in East Boston’s Maverick Square (yes, there’s a patio!). The menu takes cues from the hood’s rich Latin American heritage, so expect dishes like tacos, aguachile, and Mexican tortas. Bonus: They’ll be making wine in-house, which hopefully = house Sangria! Plus, we have to mention Allston’s new Diamond Tart, where they’re doing God’s work, a.k.a. selling gorgina croissant egg tarts for ~$3.50 a pop.

When Market Basket says “more for your dollar,” apparently, they really mean it. 

Amid the company’s recent *family drama*, the Globe set out to put its iconic slogan to the test. Reporters compared the prices of a 10-item grocery list at MB with other popular chains like Star Market, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, and Wegmans, to see if Market Basket is putting its money where its mouth is. Spoiler: It totally is.

The list, including When Pigs Fly sourdough bread, Oatly oatmilk, russet potatoes, and a dozen white eggs, came out to $40.01 at Wegmans, $44.40 at Stop & Shop, $45.20 at Star Market, and, shocker, $50 at Whole Foods. But our girl Market Basket trumped them all with a $38.28 bill. 

Translation: If this were your weekly shopping list, you’d save $90 a year at Market Basket over Wegmans, or more than $600 over Whole Foods. 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🛒 Thanks for reading! If they opened a location just a *little* closer to Gia’s apartment, she’d seriously consider breaking up with Trader Joe’s. 

😭 The results are in: You guys are too smart. 45% of B-Siders correctly guessed that the median price of a single-family home in Greater Boston is a cool $1 million. One reader said, “I just refuse to click on anything higher than $1 million.” Fair enough!

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

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].