🚚 Forgot to hire 9/1 movers? Sam Adams is here to help. They’ll be rolling through town with a truck full of movers on Sept. 1 to do some of the (literal) heavy lifting for you. If you comment on this post with your new hood and #SamMovingDay, they might stop by your place!

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

It’s beginning to look a lot like (Allston) Christmas! And by that, we mean there’s garbage *everywhere.* Boston’s streets are set to transform into a bona fide thrift shop come Sept. 1. So, we asked local thrifting pros for their tips to find the treasures hiding in all that trash. 

Here’s what they said:

✍️ Make a list, but *don’t* check it twice. Thrifting is like dating, said Ellie Biscoe, founder of antique pop-up Biscbro & Co., you want to go in knowing what you’re looking for, but prepared to be pleasantly surprised. A list of wants is good, but leave the “scarcity mindset” at home, she said. If you spend your whole hunt laser-focused on finding a lamp, you might miss out on the perfect knickknack or shelf.

👭 Enlist your pals as Allston Christmas elves. The window between something epic appearing on the sidewalk and when it gets picked up is SHORT. So putting your specific ISOs on your friends’ radars can help you cover more ground. “My friends will send me texts being like … on 8th Street, there's a pile of free stuff,” Biscoe said. 

🔧 Be realistic about your DIY skills. When you’re shopping on the streets, it’s not uncommon to find items that need a little love. Don’t underestimate the power of a good scrub, Biscoe said, or a little bit of Feed-N-Wax on wooden items. But for legit projects, Sadie MacIver, owner of Allston’s own Groovy Thrifty, asks herself: Do I already know how to fix it? And if not, do I already own the items I need to fix it? If it’s a no for both, she’ll usually pass. 

🛋️ … And maybe skip that musty futon. Remember: Bed bugs are real! So are Allston rats. So if you’re looking for mattresses, couches, pillows, or blankets … skip the sidewalk. “Think about what your mom would say,” MacIver said.

📲 Use Facebook Marketplace like a pro. To be really savvy, pop in your settings and set up notifications for listings with key words, in specific locations (bougie neighborhoods are key), or at certain pricepoints to get notified as soon as the perfect item drops. Gia has seen at least 30 free couches.

🎄 Not shopping but still want to get in on the fun? The Silhouette Lounge is throwing an Allston Christmas Eve party Aug. 31 with $1 weenies and holiday-themed cocktails. Or, ask for the “Allston Christmas special” at The Half Cookie on Sept. 1 for a sweet deal.

🏃❤️‍🩹 Some races end with medals. This one ends with meaning — and a complimentary breakfast by the river. On Sunday, Sept. 14, join the Mass General Brigham Eversource Cancer 5k Run-Walk along the scenic Charles River Esplanade for a morning that’s more about impact than finish times. Every step fuels cancer research, honors loved ones, and celebrates survivors. After crossing the line, enjoy breakfast from the Four Seasons, giveaways, and community spirit that lasts longer than any race clock. Register now and run for something bigger.

🚗 Spoiler: Labor Day traffic is gonna be ROUGH. According to AAA’s annual traffic forecast, here in Boston, the week’s worst congestion is projected on I-93 N on Monday, Sept. 1 (shocker!), which will see a 101% traffic increase *shudders*. Saturday traffic will also be gnarly all day, so if you must travel then, earlier is better. Otherwise, expect some pesky slowdowns Thursday through Monday. The best times to drive will be before lunch, and the worst will be pretty much any time after noon. Good luck out there!

🚇 The Orange Line is officially in turbo mode. She might be known for catching fire, but these days, the only thing blazing on the Orange Line is its speed: It hit 55 mph for the first time in decades on Sunday. Although the stretch between Assembly and Oak Grove was originally designed to handle that pace, safety concerns capped them at 40 mph. But thanks to tons of infrastructure work (read: shutdowns) and major Ted Lasso energy from Train Daddy Eng, the line is going full throttle. And apparently, there’s more where that came from.

🍂 New England’s fall forecast outlook: Hot and dry. No matter when the culture decides it’s fall, meteorologically speaking, it’s Sept. 1, and all signs point to a hot and dry season. With the absence of a profound La Niña or El Niño in place, fall forecasts are trending warm across the country, but particularly in New England. And those warm temps will likely contribute to a lack of rain, especially in the first half of the season. Long story short: Don’t unpack your sweaters and boots just yet.

😋 Boston may be a college town, but its food prices are giving full-time salary. So, with back-to-school season in full swing, Boston.com scoured social media and surveyed its interns for the most beloved (and cheap!) spots to eat and drink across the city. Highlights include: Chinatown’s Pho Pasteur, where $17.40 will get you an “extra large” bowl; Brighton’s Yamato I and II for cheap all-you-can-eat sushi; T. Anthony’s Pizzeria for $13 pies; and Sunset Cantina on Comm. Ave for $5 marg Tuesdays (IYKYK). Check out the whole list here.

Mass. asked the public for new state flag and motto ideas. And of the over 1,100 suggestions, some were really good. Others were … not. 

Of that second group, our favorites included a seal in sunglasses surfing on a board that says “freedom,” our state dinosaur, Podokesaurus holyokensis, holding a Dunkin' coffee (see above), and one featuring a North Shore roast beef sandwich, a South Shore bar pizza, and … a sea turtle(?). But we’d highly recommend spending some time scrolling through them all.

In addition to dropping the full list, the selection committee also announced the ~100 submissions that made it to round two, and are working on narrowing them down. Stay tuned!

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🏳️ Thanks for reading! One motto that didn’t make the cut: “The Gateway to New Hampshire.” Get outta here!

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Mass General Brigham, for supporting local journalism and their commitment to defying cancer.

🏘️The results are in: 45% of B-Siders say that although they’d like to own a home in Mass., it’s probably never gonna happen. And judging by the sheer volume of write-ins we got, this is a major sore spot. One reader said: “Seeing my friends in other states with mortgages that are half of my current rent is very tempting.” 

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