💌🫢 We read your love letters ...

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👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

It’s time to talk about love! I’m Meredith Goldstein of Love Letters and the Love Letters Podcast from the Globe and Boston.com, filling in for Gia and Emily for today’s top story. 

As you can imagine, Valentine’s Week is kind of like my Super Bowl. (Sorry to bring up unpleasant topics), not because the holiday means very much, but because on Feb. 14 we’re asked by the world to think about love. So … we do.

Today, I’m going to answer two questions that came in from B-Side readers. I’ll keep it short. 

❓Q: I had a summer situationship with a guy who lives over six hours away from me. I’m going to see him in a month and I’m nervous because I haven’t seen him since July and I don’t want to seem desperate but I miss being with him. Do I just act casual since we’ll be in a group setting, or should I let things go further, like it did over the summer? Thanks! - SUMMER SITUATIONSHIP

💬 A: Don’t make any rules or decisions before you go. You have no idea what you’ll want when you see him. Go into this event casual, but also CURIOUS. Remember, it’s February; that means you haven’t seen this guy in months. It’s possible you’ve built him up in your head because there hasn’t been anyone else who’s grabbed your attention. Consider this a fact-finding mission. Do you still like him? Maybe. Let yourself find out. No need to figure it all out before you get there. 

❓Q: What are some tips you have for meeting people in person? I feel like so many people use apps for dating, and that just hasn't worked for me! – IN PERSON

💬 A: Continue the apps because you never know. Ask for Zoom or Facetime dates, because I do believe it’s easier to get a sense of someone onscreen than it is to message back and forth forever. As for in-person events, sign up for anything that requires real discussion with a stranger. Bars are tough, but this Thursday’s B-Side/Love Letters event at WBUR’s CitySpace? It’s literally made for this. Remember, human connection takes patience and listening. A lot of people who tell me they have trouble dating also admit that they’re moving through every social experience way too quickly. SLOW DOWN.

❤️ To the rest of you, I say: Happy Valentine’s Week. The holiday doesn’t mean much, but if it’s an excuse to treat ourselves and anyone we care about, why wouldn’t we? 

💌 P.S. You can always write to Love Letters with questions about breakups, mixed signals, friendships, crushes, and dating fatigue. It’s anonymous, and the form is easy to fill out.

🏈📊 If the Super Bowl yesterday had you spiraling over Drake Maye’s EPA per dropback, you’re already thinking like an analyst. Turn that instinct into a career with Brandeis University’s Master of Science in Business Analytics. Ranked #6 in the U.S., this 12- or 16-month program delivers hands-on experience through internships, field projects, or faculty-led research — with concentrations in sports analytics, AI, healthcare, and marketing. Fall 2026 students automatically get a $10,000 scholarship, with more financial aid available. Learn more and apply by March 1.

😭 Well … the Super Bowl happened. The Pats’ Cinderella story of a season ended with a thud Sunday night when they took a 29-13 L to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX — but the score doesn’t quite capture just how demoralizing it felt. The Seahawks led all game thanks to a slow and steady stream of field goals, and put the nail in the coffin with a big play late in the game. As for Drake Maye … we’d rather not talk about it. On the bright side, at least Drake Maye Lover gets to rest. Mark our words, we’ll see you next year!!!

🧊 Greater Boston is OUT on ICE. On Thursday, the cities of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Lynn, Newton, and Chelsea joined forces to drop a series of coordinated measures to protect residents from “unconstitutional and violent” ICE operations, as Mayor Wu put it. All six cities banned ICE agents from using city property, created new safeguards for protestors, directed police to investigate claims of agents breaking the law, and more. The moves, which follow similar action from Gov. Healey, come after months of pressure from activists, but could prove tricky to enforce.

🚘 Self-driving cars are coming back to town. Waymo’s fleet of robocars will be back in Boston for another round of testing — driven by humans, for now — despite pushback from local officials. The company’s initial tests last year caused quite a stir, with many questioning whether self-driving cars could handle Boston’s *ahem* unique traffic patterns, narrow roads, and snow; and spurred two bills on Beacon Hill that seek to ban them altogether. That said, Waymo doesn’t seem too worried, saying the tests will “lay the groundwork” for full-scale deployment. 

🎡 February just got a little more fun. Thanks to the Frostival Ferris Wheel and Lodge, the two most recent activations from Boston’s new winter events series. The ferris wheel is officially spinning on the Greenway, and is open to ride Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. for $4 a pop (here’s a peek!). Meanwhile, Copley Square's Frostival Lodge is open daily through Feb 28, putting on cozy events like silent headphone movie nights and pizza-making classes. Check out the lineup here.

☕ Cure your Super Bowl hangover. Hot tip: Today, Dunkin is doling out nearly two million free coffees of any size with code GOODWILLDUNKIN in the app.

🀄 Take up a hot girl hobby. You already know we’re talking about mahjong. Specifically, Aeronaut Brewing’s Wednesday Tile Club on Feb. 11. Beginners and experts are welcome!

😉 Mingle at a singles party. Join 100 singles in a series of flirty, fast-paced games and curated conversations designed to help you find your person at Big Valentine’s Singles Bash on Feb. 11.

💋 Talk about sex, baby! Long Live Roxbury is back with a Valentine’s-themed Sex Trivia night on Feb. 11. You’ll make a team, flex your knowledge, and compete for sexy prizes.

⛸️ Skate on your lunch break. Admission and skate rentals are FREE from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 as part of Frog Pond’s mid-day skating series.

👠 Stay up (fashionably) late. The Liberty Hotel’s weekly free fashion show is taking a sensual Valentine’s Day twist on Feb. 12, with sultry looks from up-and-coming local designers.

🥟 Dip. Eat. Repeat. $32 will get you as many dumplings as you can eat at Mei Mei’s Southie location on Feb. 12 — dipping sauces and toppings included!

🍸 Sip cocktails with the gals. Show some love to your Galentines at Trillium’s Galentine’s cocktail class on Feb. 13. Each ticket comes with two drinks and the know-how to make them at home. 

For some New England Olympians, the Super Bowl posed a tough choice: Get a full night of sleep during the single most important competition of their lives … or stay up and watch the Pats.

In Italy’s Central European Time, the Super Bowl kicked off at 12:30 a.m. Monday, which gets you in bed at around 4:30 a.m. — not exactly ideal for peak performance. But these are Patriots fans we’re talking about, so for many, the choice wasn’t easy.

Alpine skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle, a Vermont native, struggled with the call. Leading up to the game, he’d been talking about the Pats more than skiing, his teammates say. Though he ultimately chose to skip it and get some Z’s, he couldn’t help but find a way to show his support.

“I’ll probably just be sleeping in my Drake Maye jersey,” he told the Globe.

— Written by Gia Orsino

😴 Thanks for reading! Honestly … he was better off.

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Special shoutout to today's sponsor, Brandeis University, for supporting local journalism and giving Boston students the tools they need to build better futures. 

🏈 The results are in: 70% of B-Siders said the Pats would win the Super Bowl, and, well, we know how that ended. Anyways … here are some cute puppies!

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