🍂☕ Your cozy fall drinks lineup

🍸 Get in, loser, we’re going to the hottest cocktail bar in town. And no, you don’t need a res, ‘cause it’s Walk-In Wednesday! You can drop by Extra Dirty Cocktail Club on the first Wednesday of the month, no reservations required! We need their pumpkin pie bev STAT!

🥳 And a big, ol’ b-day smooch to Member Annie Kramer! Make it a double tonight.

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

We need a PSL like the Pats needed Sunday’s win. So for this month’s small-biz telephone tag, we called up some of Boston’s most beloved cafes to ask who makes the best fall sips — when they’re not sipping their own, ofc. 

Here’s what they said:

💭 Cannonball Cafe sips at Kid Dream Coffee Co. Cannonball owner Rachel Lazar can’t get enough of this Beverly cafe, which, btw, is worth the Commuter Rail ride. Kid Dream’s “heavenly” fall dream iced latte has a house-made syrup with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, and vanilla, plus spiced cream and spices on top. YUM. Not an iced coffee girlie? Go for their hot fall spice latte, which uses the same syrup. 

🐺 Kid Dream is a Little Wolf stan. This is “one of the best coffee roasters in the country,” according to Kid Dream co-owner Kavin Reynolds. And we’re lucky they just expanded to Boston from their Ipswich location. Reynolds said their signature Little Wolf latte is a must-try: It’s got smoked maple syrup, homemade oleo saccharum (orange syrup), and wolf dust (smoked sea salt, black pepper, and cinnamon) for a rich, smoky-sweet combo.

🎃 Little Wolf gets a pick-me-up from 3 Little Figs. We love that Little Wolf co-owner Melissa Bartz chose the other local “little” cafe. Bartz said she and her husband typically go for a cortado or cappuccino at this cozy Somerville spot, BUT they also make a mean, not-too-sweet PSL. The drink uses an in-house syrup with cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, and sugar. Note: This PSL def leans more on the spice than the sugar, if that’s your thing!

🍎 3 Little Figs drinks at Clear Flour Coffee Bar. You’ve definitely heard of Clear Flour Bread for their epic chocolate chip cookies, but don’t sleep on their coffee next door. Kalynne A., a barista at 3LF (who preferred to keep her last name private), is obsessed with Clear Flour’s apple miso caramel syrup. The best part? You can add it to any drink, from hot lattes to cold brews. They’ve also got a honey cinnamon syrup this fall that we’re dying to try.

☕ Clear Flour is Team Newbery Street Coffee Roasters. Sarah Whitcher, a part-time baker at Clear Flour (who also bakes salt bread at Newbery Street), went for Newbery’s *spookiest*-colored bevs: a black sesame matcha and “the most authentic Thai tea you can find in Boston.” Heads up: They’re still a weekend pop-up at Merai in Brookline, but are opening up a brick-and-mortar soon!

📞 ❤️‍🩹 Don’t ask Google. Ask someone who does this for a living. When you’re not sure where to go for care, the BCBSMA 24/7 Nurse Care Line connects you with a registered nurse anytime, day or night, at no extra cost. Call or email to talk through your symptoms and get guidance on whether you need a doctor, urgent care, the ER, or can manage things at home. Knowing where to go for care can help you avoid unnecessary trips — and unnecessary costs.

⚖️ Get ready for another big murder trial. Former Stoughton detective Matthew Farwell is standing trial for the murders of Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. Here’s what to know: Birchmore was found dead in 2021, and her death was initially ruled a suicide. Federal prosecutors later charged Farwell, alleging that he began a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was 15 and he was 27 and later killed her after learning she was pregnant. The defense claims she committed suicide after Farwell ended their yearslong affair. Get the full deets. 

🚌 Say goodbye to the MBTA’s center bus lane plan. No, not the one for Blue Hill Ave. — yet. The city just scrapped its long-standing plan to extend the one on Columbus Ave, and instead will install side-running bus lanes between Jackson Square and Ruggles. ICYMI, there’s been significant backlash against these center lanes, with critics arguing that they’ll make traffic and parking much worse. But the city said they’ve dramatically sped up bus times and reduced injuries on Columbus.

🎭 Theatre kids: Catch a Shakespeare play at the library. Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is bringing pop-up-style performances to the BPL ft. scenes from different Willy Shakes works throughout the McKim Building. It starts with a prologue from “Henry V” in the front plaza, then moves inside to the “to be or not to be” speech from “Hamlet” and a hilarious moment from “Twelfth Night.” It ends with the iconic “Romeo and Juliet” balcony scene in the courtyard. See it Oct. 8 at 3 or 6 p.m., or from Oct 13-14.

🤑 Get these two $2 food deals TOMORROW. First for a late lunch, Gary’s Pizza in the South End is offering $2 slices from 2 to 5 p.m. in honor of National Pizza Month. In case you’re new here, Gary’s is known for some fire Roman-style pies with toppings like spicy soppressata and prosciutto di parma. Then top it off with a sweet treat from Van Leeuwen in Harvard Square, Seaport, or Chestnut Hill, where they’re offering a scoop of ice cream + a froyo topper for just $2.

Below are some of the hottest local things to do. This month, B-Side Members can save more than $100 across our events, plus more monthly deals!

🧘 Oct. 13: Wellness in Motion x BCBS, FREE. Head to Big Night Live for a yoga sound bath, mini facials from GLOWBAR, and freebies from a whole fleet of wellness vendors. Register here.

🎪 Oct. 23: Night in the Stacks, $220. The Boston Public Library’s McKim Building is transforming into the Midnight Circus from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, with live music, dancing, circus acts, an open bar, small plates, and more. The Member giveaway is closed, and winners have been chosen.

🎨 Oct. 22–25: The Affordable Art Fair, $10+. Shop original art starting at $100 at the SoWa Power Station in just two weeks. B-Siders can get $10 single-day tickets or $30 weekend passes. 

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

🏝️ From Oct. 10-12, Boston Harbor Now is celebrating the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park’s 2026 season with $5 ferry tickets to Spectacle Island or Peddocks Island. Tickets purchased in person are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so book now before they’re swept up! Get yours here.

Our message to everyone who thinks NYC is better than Boston: Eat this.

Table Mercato in the North End just opened its second location, this one in NYC — andddddd it sold out during its first two weekends. Naturally, Bostonians have also been doubling the lines for the OG shop, obv showing New Yorkers who’s boss.

In case you’re new here, Table Mercato is a cult favorite, slinging some of the biggest, most stuffed sammies in the city. It was even named Boston mag’s Best Sandwich of 2025 AND Boston’s No. 1 sandwich shop on Beli. 

So, of course, NYC foodies have been RUNNING to try it and are already rightfully *obsessed*, especially with their iconic, massive chicken cutlet sandos. I mean, look at this vodka chicken parm.

We swear, no one better dare call Boston a bad food city again … or else.

— Written by Kelly Chan and Emily Schario

😐 Thanks for reading! Smh we get Blank Street, and they get Table Mercato. 

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, for supporting local journalism and helping members access the right care at the right cost. 

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 The results are in: 56% of B-Siders are sick of the apps and considering dating events. One reader wrote: “A girl's gotta breathe some pheromones.” Get a good whiff, babe!

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