Plus: š āLove Is Blindā in Boston
By Gia Orsino, The B-Side and Emily Schario, The B-Side
Itās Wednesday, Boston.
šLooking for love?Or, letās face it ā¦ do you just want to become an influencer? Great news: āLove Is Blindā is casting a batch of contestantsright here in New England, and all you have to do to throw your hat in the ring isfill out this application.
šWhatās on tap today:
- An iconic music venue returns
- Upcoming MBTA service changes
- Team USAās new star
Up firstā¦
TRANSPORTATION
The MBTAās tap-to-pay era
Image: Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe. Illustration: Gia Orsino.
Thursday marks the beginning of a new era for the MBTA.On Aug. 1, the agencyās newtap-to-pay system officially goes live, meaning the days of empty CharlieCard panic will be a thing of the past as the MBTAfinallyenters the 21st century.
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Hereās what to know:
š²You wonāt need a CharlieCard to ride the T anymore.The update will allow riders to pay their MBTA fare with a tappable debit or credit card, or by using Apple, Samsung, or Google Pay on your phone or smartwatch. The system will be available across the T ā that goes for all underground stations, plus the Green Line, Mattapan trolleys, and all buses. Sorry, commuter rail and ferry riders ā youāll have towait until spring 2026.
š«That said, you can still use one.CharlieCardsandcash will still be accepted as payment per usual. So if youāre on a weekly or monthly plan, get a pass from school or work, or just enjoy the CharlieCard lifestyle, you do you! If youāre on reduced fare plans (like senior, youth, or TAP), you can go either way.
šSetupshouldbe a breeze.If youāre already using tap-to-pay on your devices or card, all you have to dois tap awayat thenew readers in stations or on the bus or trolley. If not, here are tutorials on how to set up onApple Pay,Samsung Pay, andGoogle Pay. For those on reduced fare plans, you can link those accounts to the tap-to-pay system using theāCharlie Digital Assistantā here.
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šBut if you want to go the extra set-up mile ā¦You can alsomake a new āCharlie accountā hereand link your cards and devices to it (not required though!). The perks? Riders with registered accounts will be able to see more detailed information about their trips, and set their own language and accessibility preferences systemwide.
ā ļøJust a quick note if you plan to tap-to-pay with your phone:Thereās an option in your phoneās contactless payment settings called āexpress transitā on iPhones, and āverification requiredā on Androids and Samsung, which can enable you to pay your farewithoutunlocking your phone. But be warned: If you have that setting enabled, your phone canaccidentally pay for tripsjust by being near the reader (Emilyās card kept popping up when it was near the card reader on the bus). So if that makes you nervous, maybe keep it disabled.
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TOGETHER WITH THE CONNECTICUT SUN
The WNBA is heating up Boston
ššMove over JB, JT, and Big Al, itās the ladiesā turn to shine.TheConnecticut Sun take on the Los Angeles Sparksat TD Garden on Aug. 20. And this game is extra special ā itās the first time in league history that the WNBA will play at TD Garden! Before you watch the hoops, enjoy live music, food trucks, and activities at thepregame block partyon Canal Street orhead to the Youth Sports Festivalon Aug. 17 for a day packed with fun for the whole family.Grab your tickets today!
CITY
Quick & dirty headlines
Image: Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe
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š¶Great news for Great Scott fans:After shutting its doors in 2020 due to the pandemic (and infamouslybecoming a Taco Bell), beloved Allston music hallGreat Scott is officially reopening. The opening date is still TBD, but we do know the new 300-person venue will be just down the road at 1 Harvard Avenue, combining with next-door neighbor OāBrienās pub. And while there will be some back-of-house upgrades in the new space, itāll be sure to retain the ācharming, dive-bar vibesā that we know and love.
š August MBTA service changes, incoming!Buckle up Green, Orange, Red, and Mattapan Trolley riders, this oneāsgoing to be a doozy. Here we go: Green liners have a 10-day shutdown on the B branch, Red liners have a seven-day shutdown on the trunk (which is reallyjust an amuse bouche), and Orange Line and Mattapan Trolley riders can expect a weekend shutdown or two. But before you lose all faith, we should also remind you that these shutdowns are working, see: the recentremoval of nine speed restrictionson the Red Line, including the behemoth between Harvard and Central.
š„Yet another Steward disappointment.ICYMI: Steward Health Care has been in somehot financial waterlately,to put it lightlyā declaring bankruptcy in May and planning to sell eight in-state hospitals. But after an unsuccessful hunt for buyers, the group hasannounced plans to closeCarney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer āon or aroundā Aug. 31. If that impacts you: The state launchedan interactive featurethat allows you to see all of the hospitals near you, and what services they provide.
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š„Another Olympic W for New Englanders.Everyoneās faveTikTok iconslash rugby star Ilona Maher and Franklin native Kristi Kirshe helpedlead Team USA to its first-ever medalin rugby on Tuesday, upsetting the Australian team in the sevens bronze medal match after a truly iconic run. Beyond the medal, Maher, a Vermont native, is also responsible for bringing the team newfound attention on social media, going completely viralthis week alone for her stiff-arm moves. And while there arenāt any Mass. connections on the womenās gymnastics team, we still gotta shout them out for theirteam all-around gold.
ONE LAST THING
Team USAās new star
Images: Jamie Squire/Getty Images, Abbie Par/AP. Illustration: Gia Orsino.
A nerdy kid from Worcester who can ride a pommel horse like a cowboy becoming Americaās sweetheart was not on our 2024 bingo card.And then,Worcester gymnast Stephen Nedoroscikhappened.
ICYMI: Team USA took home a bronze medal in the menās all-around on Monday, largely thanks to Nedoroscikās clutch performance.
Unlike his teammates, Nedoroscik is a specialist, meaning he only trains and competes in one area, the pommel horse, versus the total six. So as the closer in this yearās team finals, he had one job and one job only: To pommel that horse.
And pommel he did. Not only washis performance stellar, clinching the teamās medal, but it caused him to go viral,sprouting endless memesabout his Clark Kent looks, hispre-game drill, and overall adorably nerdy vibe.
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ā Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario
š„Thanks for reading!Needless to say, weāre obsessed.
šSpecial shoutout to todayās sponsor,theConnecticut Sun, for supporting local journalism and giving basketball fans in Boston a team to cheer for over the summer.
š¦ The results are in:52% of B-Siders say that movers are the move for a Sept. 1 move-in. One reader, who is ostensibly not hiring movers, said: āNope, a 12 pack of Miller & my boys. You know the drill.ā
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