😉🍕 This new restaurant is ... freaky

😭 Let’s be real: The job market is brutal right now. So Emily is sitting down with Larry Edelman, longtime Globe business journalist and Trendlines newsletter writer, to answer your burning questions about unemployment, job hunting, and navigating this mess.

🙋 What do you want to know? Drop your Qs here! Or RSVP to be notified when the content drops.

🥳 Happy birthday to B-Side Member Cilla Dunphy! This year, we’re giving you the gift of *advice*. Hope you like it!

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

It’s a new month, and you know what that means … new restaurants! March’s lineup is looking HOT, and per usual, Boston magazine has the roadmap.

Here’s what’s worth a bite:

🍔 Eastern Edge, Kendall Square. Whoever said fancy food halls were on the way out clearly didn’t tell Eastern Edge, the new 11,000-square-foot concept with nine fast-casual eateries to pick from. Think: Korean BBQ from Perillas, fabulous fried chicken from Everybody Gotta Eat, maki, sashimi, and nigiri from Fuji Sushi, and hearty vegetarian bites from Clover. That’s not to mention the bar, outdoor seating, and soon-to-come entertainment center. 

Things to try:

🍕 Willie’s, Beacon Hill. The latest creation from the team behind Zurito, Somaek, and Sushi @ Temple Records: A Beacon Hill pizza joint where they can let their “food freak flag fly.” The full menu is TBD, but expect pies, pastas, small plates, and a smattering of “whatever they damn well please,” as Boston put it. That may or may not include bucatini amatriciana spiked with gochujang, bone-marrow pizza, and/or sea urchin. It’s set to open mid-March.

🥐 Wildgrain Bakehouse, Somerville. For the first time ever, Somerville-founded company Wildgrain is offering its baked goods with no subscription required at this new brick-and-mortar bakery. That said, subscribers do get free coffee every single day(!). There’s no official menu yet, but expect their cookies, croissants, and gorgeous bread in a bright, airy cafe, plus a selection of coffee and tea. Bonus: The goodies will be available frozen for you to buy and bake later. 

🐟 Sanbada, Allston. We finally know what’s next for Allston’s former Tavern in the Square space: A trio of Korean concepts. First up is Sanbada, which means “mountain and sea.” The menu focuses on wood-fired meat and fish plus an assortment of banchan. Rumor has it they’re offering a $26 deal with all-you-can-eat banchan, soup, and ice cream (though we couldn’t get ahold of them to confirm). Keep your eyes peeled for its siblings: KBBQ joint Jinjee, and cocktail lounge Bomb Bada.

🤤 Still hungry? You can check out Boston’s full roundup here.

🩰⚡ If you think all ballets are tutus and tiaras, meet Crystal Pite’s “The Seasons’ Canon.” This mind-bending performance features 54 dancers moving in such tight unison it almost looks unreal, set to Max Richter’s dramatic, goosebump-inducing take on Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” It’s powerful, a little hypnotic, and the opposite of your typical sugarplum fairy tale. After a highly successful run last year, it’s back March 5–15 at Citizens Opera House (and already in high demand), so buy tickets directly for the best prices and experience ballet that feels alive, urgent, and completely unforgettable.

🤑 Boston’s highest paid employee list just dropped. Spoiler: It’s mostly cops. Of the city’s top 100 earners in 2025, 92 were from the Boston Police Department, mostly thanks to hefty overtime pay. In fact, nearly 200 BPD workers made over $100,000 in overtime, totaling about $101.7 million. Police Captain Timothy Connolly made $228,924 in OT alone — more than Mayor Wu’s entire $207,000 salary. Besides cops, firefighters, special education, and Boston Public Library departments took home the most pay. Feeling snoopy? Here’s the full list.

📊 This local neighborhood data is JUICY. A new analysis by the Globe revealed all sorts of population, wealth, age, and immigration patterns across Boston neighborhoods. A few interesting tidbits: Dorchester has the highest population by far at 126,527 residents, dwarfing Bay Village’s 1,623; the Seaport has the highest share of top earners, with 44.2% of households earning over $200,000; and Chinatown has the most renters, with a whopping 92% of its units renter-occupied. Dive into all the data here.

✈️ Spring break? In this economy? Hear us out! Southwest just launched a sale on one-way flights in the continental U.S. starting at just $59. Out of Logan, you can snag a $59 flight to Chicago, $104 flights to Nashville, and $149 trips to Tampa and Orlando. The deal is good for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between March 24 and May 20. There’s just one catch: You gotta book soon, because it's only valid through March 5 at 11:59 p.m. Peruse the deals here.

🌭 Today in foodie news: Strong drinks and glizzys. Tonight, sexy North End speakeasy Extra Dirty Cocktail Club is opening its doors to walk-ins for the first time! Usually, this B-Side Certified spot is reservation-only, but from 5 to 11 p.m., you can join the waitlist IRL or by adding your name here. Warning: Don’t go with an empty stomach. Meanwhile, Harpoon recently announced a new chef-curated food program at its Seaport location, and they’re kicking it off with a menu of six gourmet hot dogs. Say less!

Below are some of the hottest local things to do. This month, B-Side Members can save more than $150 across our events, in addition to over 60 other awesome perks.

🎸 Stereophonic | March 10 | 7:00 PM | Emerson Colonial Theater | $80+ regular; $49 for B-Side Members | We’re hosting a B-Side Night at the March 10, 7 p.m. showing of the record-breaking Tony winner Stereophonic (think: $49 tix and a free drink at the bar!). Expect Fleetwood Mac drama and original songs by Arcade Fire's Will Butler. 

💆 Win A Kelo Spa Gift Card | Enter today | Kelo Spa | $100 value | Redeem anytime | Swap your to-do list for a robe and pure relaxation. B-Side Members can enter our giveaway for a chance at winning a $100 gift card to Kelo Steam and Spa. Start a free trial to enter!

🍀 Irish Soda Drop Biscuits Baking Class | March 14 | 11:00 AM | Rebel's Guild | $7 off for B-Side Members | The luck of the Irish meets Rebel's Guild's culinary expertise this Saturday at 11 a.m. Learn traditional drop biscuit-making techniques in the tavern while sipping complimentary mimosas. Members save $7. Book here.

🍫 SOLD OUT: Taza Chocolate Factory Tour | March 14, 2:30 p.m. | Somerville | FREE for B-Side Members | Members score an exclusive peek inside Taza Chocolate's Somerville operation. Learn the whole bean-to-bar process, and enjoy an exclusive tasting. Stay tuned for our next members-only tour!

🔑 P.S. After you sign up to become a member, we’ll email you promo codes for these events. 

👀 Want to feature your upcoming event above? Click here.

Every state has its quirks … but Massachusetts might take the cake. Recently, the Globe rounded up 10 of the wackiest, weirdest (but totally true) local stories. So obviously, we have to share:

At first glance, The Quabbin Reservoir might seem unsuspecting. But did you know that underneath the 412 billion gallons of water lie the remains of four whole towns? Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott, Mass. effectively disappeared in 1938 after being seized by eminent domain.

Another underground mystery: During the renovation of Government Center station back in 2015, crews found these two terrifying masks stitched to star cloaks which were encased in concrete for 60 years. To this day, nobody knows what they are, or where they came from.

And we couldn’t leave without mentioning the legend of the Boston Garden Monkey. It’s too long to fit here, but you should read it for yourself.

— Written by Gia Orsino

💀 Thanks for reading! We didn’t even mention the collection of items pulled out of kids’ noses.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Boston Ballet, for supporting local journalism and proving that ballet can come in all shapes, styles, and levels of jaw-dropping.

🐟 The results are in: Trendy or not, 46% of B-Siders are OUT on tinned fish. One reader said: “Sardines in a can are cute on decor but not cute in my stomach.” Fair enough, girl!

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