🛍️🤑 This weekend? Treat yo’ self.

Happy Friday, Boston!

🎓 PSA for college grads: If you show up to either Levain location on May 18 in your cap and gown, they’ll give you one of their famous cookies for FREE! Trust us — the gooey chocolate chip walnut is worth any social anxiety.

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Gov. Healey puts Trump on blast

• Free ferry weekend!

• Mass.’ most wanted Airbnb

Up first…

THINGS TO DO

Shop ‘till you drop

We’re claiming this weekend as Treat Yo’ Self 2025. It’s small business appreciation month, which means shopping the weekend’s massive lineup of free markets, fests, fairs, and flings is, in fact, a good deed. 

Here’s what’s going on:

👖 If you need a wardrobe refresh … On May 17, Select Markets is taking over Harvard Square for a block party and vintage market with over 100 vendors, music, and free drinks. It’s free, but $23 gets you access to the curated “fill-a-bag” pile. Meanwhile, just down the road, Sustainable Swaps will be throwing their own vintage market with 50 vendors, ice cream, temporary tats, and even a 2012-themed afterparty. 

🛍️ If you want to shop but your closet is FULL … Boston Women’s Market is hosting its Assembly Row Market on May 18, with 30+ women-owned businesses selling their artisan goods and jewelry. On the same day, the city is putting on a Queer Artist’s Market on Sumner Street Plaza with handmade art and goods, and live music. The rain date is June 1! 

📚 If your TBR list is looking a little light … The Greater Roxbury Book Fair on May 17 can fix that. Stop by for tons of books, local author spotlights, panels, food, music, and good vibes.

😋 If you’d rather fill your stomach than a shopping bag … Here’s your May 17 itinerary: Start at the Seaport’s Spring Fling to sample some of the neighborhood’s best bites for FREE (think: Van Leeuwen, Levain, Lakon Paris Patisserie). Then, make your way to the Greenway for its annual Spring Fest with over 15 food trucks, free fitness classes, and live music. Still got time? It’s also the debut weekend for First Street Market (Cambridge’s indoor farmer’s market). It’ll be open May 16 to 18.

🎸 If shopping isn’t in the cards … No problem! Fill your Saturday with free concerts and block parties instead at Watertown’s Porchfest on May 17 (here’s the performance schedule). Then, head to WCA-TV for a Mario Kart afterparty featuring course music played IRL by MIT’s Video Game Orchestra. Then on May 18, head to Boston’s ninth annual Polish Fest, for Polish food, music, culture, dance, and more.

QUICK QUESTION!

🛍️ When it comes to clothes, are you team retail or team thrift?

TOGETHER WITH BOSTON POPS 

Boston Pops is popping off

🎻🎼Springtime Pops concerts are SO back. Whether you're channeling your inner Elsa at “Disney’s Frozen in Concert,” experiencing the movie magic of John Williams, or catching stars like Orville Peck and Cody Fry live, this Boston Pops spring season is basically its own Boston Calling (minus the sunburns and porta potties). Book your tickets now and, while you’re at it, show a little love to conductor Keith Lockhart — who happens to be celebrating 30 years at Symphony Hall on June 6! 

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

📉 Gov. Maura Healey is putting Trump’s funding cuts on blast. On Wednesday, Healey launched a public website tracking the ~$350 million President Donald Trump has cut in direct funding to Mass.’ state government. So far, Health and Human Services have faced the biggest cuts ($118 million), including an $84 million loss to the state’s public health lab; followed by education ($106 million), mostly thanks $106 million in cuts to COVID relief grants; and public safety and security ($90 million). But, those numbers could change as AG Andrea Campbell tries to block some cuts.

🗳️ Boston’s City Council wants to change the way we vote. Enter: Ranked Choice Voting. On Wednesday, the council passed a resolution 8-4 to swap our current election system for ranked choice voting, a growing election style which has voters rank their list of preferred candidates. If no one wins 50% of the vote, it goes to an elimination-style runoff, and the candidate most voters prefer wins (here’s an explainer). But the resolution is far from becoming law: It’ll need OKs from Mayor Wu, the State Legislature, and the people of Boston.

⛴️ This weekend, you can hit the sea for FREE. It’s free ferry weekend, y’all! To celebrate the kickoff of Boston Harbor Islands’ ferry season, free ferries will be running to and from Spectacle Island on Saturday and Sunday (which boasts stunning views, walking trails, and a swimmable beach, BTW). But if you want in, you’ll have to work for it: Tickets are first come, first served, and only available IRL at 8 a.m. at the Boston Harbor City Cruises Ferry Center at Long Wharf North.

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Month might not be ‘till June … But in Boston, it starts NOW. Well, tomorrow. May 17 marks BAGLY’s Massachusetts Youth Pride, a huge Pride celebration by and for under 25-year-olds in the LGBTQ+ community. You can expect a march (which you’ll need to register for), a festival and community resource fair (with a super cute accessories swap station!), and a stage show of LGBTQ+ artists. It’s all going down at City Hall Plaza, and the festivities kick off at 10 a.m.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Don’t miss out on this deal!

B-Side members get 60+ discounts to some of Boston’s best experiences, including 15% off snacks and merch at Long Live Roxbury, the brewery bringing hop-forward beers, classic pilsners, fruited sours, and stouts to Boston beer lovers at their vibrant Hampden Street location.

THINGS TO DO

(Even more) Weekend plans

🤠 Have a real live hoedown throwdown. 617 Country is bringing a night of (beginner friendly) line dancing to the Huntington Theatre for its birds and the bees spring fling tonight. Grab tickets here!

🤣 Laugh through the pain. Porter Square Books: Boston edition is hosting a “dark” comedy show tonight where the silly material is … IRL family trauma. Make sure to grab tickets.

🍺 Raise a glass (in a beer garden). Aeronaut Allston is back in Zone 3 for its final season. And you know they’re going out with a bang … starting with its season launch with live music tonight. 

🧘 Cancel your $50 yoga class. Because on May 17, Assembly Row is hosting a FREE riverfront yoga flow. Don’t forget to bring your mat! Tickets drop at noon here.

🫘 Celebrate National Hummus Day. How does one do that? Stop by Beacon Hill’s The Hummus Shop on May 17. It’ll be giving away free mini hummus bowls and pita all day long. 

📚 Give a book, and get a book. Don’t drop $30 on a new book: The Somerville Community Growing Center is hosting a free book swap on May 17, open to all ages and all genres. 

⛵ Start your yacht girl summer. Or … sailboat girl summer. You can set sail for free at Community Boating’s open house on May 17 (weather permitting). No sailing experience necessary!

🐶 Downward dog … with actual dogs! We’re teaming up with Puppysphere on June 8 for a Sunday afternoon of FREE puppy yoga. Tickets, which are normally $60, drop on 5/23. Become a member to be first in line!

ONE LAST THING

Mass.’ most wanted Airbnb

It looks like Massholes are dreaming of a “Hansel and Gretel”-style getaway. 

Airbnb just dropped its list of the most wish-listed properties in every state, and Mass.’ is … a gingerbread house. Actually, the Gingerbread House — that’s its name. 

From the tower “bedchamber” to the all-wood exterior and lush garden to the whimsical shape, the Gingerbread House, located in teeny Berkshires town Tyringham, is straight out of a fairy tale. And if the glowing reviews are any indication, it might actually be magical. 

The listing offers a peek at the inside (including the tower bedroom), which we’d describe as bohemian witchy chic. And if you like what you see: It’s available after Memorial Day weekend!

— Written by Gia Orsino

🧙 Thanks for reading! That said, for a $795 two-night stay minimum, it’d better be magical.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, the Boston Pops, for supporting local journalism and bringing unforgettable musical experiences to our community.

🎶 The results are in: 78% of B-Siders say they’re ALL in on the 2010 recession pop music vibes. One reader said: “my recession pop playlist > my SSRI tbh.”

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