😅📍 This spot was supposed to be secret

😭 “That sounds like a disease.” We asked Scottish soccer fans to try and pronounce the names of Mass. towns, and let’s just say … we’re naming our firstborn “Bellarrica.”

🎟️ BTW … have you bought your Best Day Ever tickets yet? Imagine: Double-fisting a byChae matcha and a slice from Bardo's Pizza, all while shopping sweet vintage deals at Select Markets. Get your tickets now!

🥳 And a happy belated to B-Side Members Michael Simons and Shannon Keegan! As the Scots say, gie it laldy! (Translation: Go all out!) 

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

Ring ring! Boston’s best kept secrets are calling. B-Sider Rhiannon wanted to know the coolest spots to show friends/family beyond the usual tourist traps. So for this month’s edition of B-Side Hotline, we asked our team, our experts, and our wonderfully picky readers to give us their B-Side Certified hidden gems that make your out-of-town bestie feel like a local. 

Here’s what they said:

YOUR PICKS

🌎 Mapparium, Back Bay. Yes, we obv love the Pru and the reflecting pool, but this exhibit tucked inside the Christian Science Center nearby is simply *magical*. One B-Sider said it best: “You literally get to walk THROUGH a three-story, stained glass globe of the world — frozen in time before WWII.” And that walk also includes a dazzling light and sound show about how the world’s changed since then. Not to mention, it’s only $6 per ticket (or free if you reserve a pass through the BPL).

OUR PICKS

🍤 Drydock Cafe, Seaport. This unassuming Seaport office building might not scream New England seafood staple … But if you look past the finance bro facade, this no-frills, casual spot is the real deal. They’ve got all the classics like fish and chips and whole clam bellies, but in Kelly’s opinion, the best thing on the menu is the fisherman’s platter: a heaping, enough-for-two, fried plate of clams, haddock, shrimp, AND scallops. The fresh fish + light batter = *chef’s kiss*. 

🚃 Mattapan Trolley, Dorchester, Mattapan, and Milton. Oh, you haven’t spent an afternoon riding these old-school, orange street cars through a cemetery? That’s a shame. But seriously, this T line is packed with some of Boston’s coolest corners. Want shopping and bopping? Hop off at Milton to hunt for treasure at Dark Horse Antiques. Craving an outdoorsy detour? Grab a Bluebike at Butler and cruise along the gorgeous Neponset River Greenway. Need a bite (or four)? Emily’s Mattapan Trolley food crawl hits everything from ice cream to Jamaican food. 

EXPERT PICKS

This month’s experts are Dave O’Donnell, VP of strategic comms at Meet Boston, and Colleen Blair, local travel content creator (@travellikealocalma).  

🎨 Underground at Ink Block, South End. A hangout spot underneath I-93? Hear Dave out. Massive street murals + a dog park + a pickleball court + occasional food and beer pop-ups = one of THE coolest urban spaces in the city. Plus, Dave calls the spot “a great Boston story,” giving props to how “an underpass that traditionally separated two neighborhoods could instead be transformed into a culturally vibrant connection point for South Boston and the South End.” 

🍵 Broken Cup Teahouse, Cambridge. Colleen is *obsessed* with this traditional Asian teahouse (the first and only in Boston!) that just opened last summer. You can get tea by the pot or try Gongfu service (a.k.a. a mini tasting with a hands-on brewing tutorial). Pro tip: Sit at a floor table with Gongfu service, and preferably, a Bento box. Her tea pick: The Hummingbird’s Dream oolong. And FYI: You must sign up for a membership to get in (it’s free), AND don’t forget to book a res in advance!

🥃❄️  At a certain point, summer drinks stop being fun and start being humid. That's where Chattermark comes in. Hidden beneath the Tobin in Charlestown, this speakeasy-style cocktail lounge is serving creative spins on classic drinks, World Cup watch parties, and enough air conditioning to qualify as self-care. Stop by for a drink, stay for whatever event is happening that week, and follow Chattermark on Instagram so you can keep tabs on the fun.

🍺 Open those containers, Boston! The city just announced two downtown social districts where you can drink outdoors: Union-Marshall Street (outside White Bull and Hennessy’s) and Temple Place (by Democracy Brewing). The rules: 1. These zones have hours, but are open nearly all day every day through July 31 (Sunday hours are shorter, BTW.) And 2. No BYOB. Similar to Cambridge’s public drinking zones, you can only drink alcohol out of specific clear cups from an approved bar in the area. Cheers!

👋 Say goodbye to the income tax cut ballot Q. Mass.’ Supreme Judicial Court just nixed a proposal looking to slash the state income tax from 5% to 4% from November ballots. Why? A judge ruled the ballot question summary was “significantly misleading,” as it failed to mention it would also reduce long-term capital gains to 4%. (AG Andrea Campbell’s office wrote that it wouldn’t.) But it turns out, many voters didn’t like it anyway, after learning its benefits for wealthier residents and the likely cuts to education, healthcare, and public services …

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Tartans and Bostonians are sisters for life. Though we wish the Scots would never leave, Mayor Michelle Wu is making sure we keep our LDR going. She signed a letter of intent last week for Glasgow and Boston to be sister cities next year (at The Haven, of course). Together, they’ll establish a trans-Atlantic partnership, investing resources for joint initiatives, likely related to innovation, education, climate, and the arts. City leaders still have to smooth out the details before making it official … but we’ve already carved B+G on a tree. <3

🚶 No more pahking the cah near Hahvard Yahd (for now). ‘Cause a one-block section of Bow Street (by the Sea Hag) just shut down to vehicles to transform into a pedestrian-only haven. Woo! This new pilot program is trying to create more outdoor hangout spots and jazz up the neighborhood. The city of Cambridge will also phase in ~aesthetic enhancements~ along with other elements that invite people to connect, play, and enjoy the space. And if all goes well, Cambridge may even keep it car-free all year long.

⚽ Live it up for the World Cup. Watch this week’s biggest local matches at Lawn on D — England v. Ghana on June 23 and Norway v. France on June 26 — where the vibes look *immaculate*. We’re talkin’ food, drinks, and bangers for a BIG community event.

🎉 Party with your Cambridge neighbors. MIT Open Space is hosting a Summer Party on June 24 to kick off the season with dance performances, herb planting, craft-making, sweet treats, and more. 

🎨 Use nature as your canvas. Your next craft night is set: 1. Meet at the MassArt Art Museum on June 24. 2. Find fun leaves and natural textures in the Fens. 3. Learn to make your own cyanotype prints! Register here.

👀 Enter the villa Bow Market. ALL the eligible baddies are gathering there on June 24 for a Big Singles Bash, featuring a night of fast and flirty games, and hopefully some new sparks.

🎥 Cuddle up under the big screen. Grab your blankets and a box of Junior Mints because outdoor movie nights are BACK. Start with “50 First Dates” at Boston Landing on June 25. Bonus: It’s free!

🏕️ Heal your cabin fever. The Boston Children’s Museum is hosting a summer camp-themed night on June 26 … just for adults. Think: Tug-of-war, friendship bracelets, building tents, and more.

💎 DIY the ultimate World Cup memento. Head to Fan Fest this week to create these ADORABLE personalized World Cup charm bracelets with beads like this lobster and teapot. Just get there early — the lines can get loooong.

🚢 Sip and sail to live music.* Fun fact: Sofar Sounds and Dogfish Head are teaming up for a concert on a boat! Your ticket includes a drink, a boat ride, and a chill night of tunes from up-and-coming artists. B-Side Members get $10 off! Grab your ticket here.

*This listing is presented in partnership with Sofar Sounds.

🎸 Berklee’s inaugural Homecoming Block Party is Sept. 19. And tickets are live! Expect famous artists like Susan Tedeschi, Tiwa Savage, Fabiola Méndez, Dreion, and more. We have a feeling Homecoming Block Party is the cultural event Boston music heads have been waiting for, and seats are moving FAST. Get your tickets here before they sell out!

This is 100% your look, Plymouth baby. After a tense last season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” the gang is back filming for the movie sequel — and this time, they’re in Massachusetts. (Finally!)

If you’re new here, much of TSITP takes place in Boston and in a fictional town on the Cape, with most filming taking place in North Carolina. But last week, they brought production up to New England in Plymouth, Mass., and the locals were ALL over it. 

We’ve seen videos of Belly Conklin and Conrad Fisher (played by Lola Tung and Chris Briney) strolling around downtown Plymouth and driving in their Mini Cooper along the coast. Someone even caught a clip of Chris messing up his lines in 4K. 

While it looked like they stayed on the South Shore, it seemed like Chris was spotted in Back Bay a few days ago … so if you see them, our inboxes are open …

— Written by Kelly Chan and Emily Schario

🍿 Thanks for reading! Hopefully, we DON’T have to see Jeremiah.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Chattermark Distillers, for supporting local journalism and proving Boston still knows how to do drinks right.

🦄 The results are in: 52% of you knew that Scotland’s national animal is a unicorn! One B-Sider pointed out: “Just take a look at the Old State House …”  Big brain energy right there — there IS indeed a silver unicorn on top that represents Great British rule.

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