Plus, an important reminder for pet parents. đŸ¶
6AM City In-house

Walk along the Black Heritage Trail 👟

Visit these Black history landmarks in Boston
The Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial in Boston
Learn more about this bronze memorial on Beacon Street. | Photo by @buildingsofnewengland
We all know Boston has no shortage of walking tours — in addition to the Freedom Trail, our city is home to a 1.6-mile Black Heritage Trail with 10 sites that tell the stories of Boston’s 19th century Black community.

Before you grab your walking shoes, we’re sharing the legacies of a few of the stops you’ll pass on a self-guided stroll past these Beacon Hill landmarks.

📍 Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial

This bronze memorial by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens honors one of the first Black regiments of the American Civil War. Robert Gould Shaw served as the colonel, and abolitionists like Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the regiment. The monument was restored and celebrated during a re-dedication event in June 2022.

📍 Lewis and Harriet Hayden House

This home served as the most active Underground Railroad safe house in our city, sheltering hundreds of people journeying toward freedom. The Phillips Street home was owned by the Haydens, two abolitionists who moved to Boston in 1846 after escaping slavery in Kentucky. Learn more about the Hayden family legacy.

📍 Museum of African American History

The last stop on the trail is New England’s largest African American history museum. The Abiel Smith School + the African Meeting House are both part of the museum. The school is the first building in the country created for the main purpose of educating Black children. The meeting house, designated a National Historic Landmark, is considered the oldest surviving Black church building in the nation.

Pro tip: Make plans to walk the trail again in the summer with a National Parks Service tour guide to learn more about pre-Civil War Black history in Boston.

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Feb. 6
  • Frost Fit: Monday Mornings with November Project | Monday, Feb. 6 | 6:30-7:30 a.m. | Fiedler Field, Charles River Esplanade, Boston | Free | Wake up bright and early for a workout with November Project, a Boston-based fitness movement.
  • “Build Your Own Flatbread” | Monday, Feb. 6 | 3-10 p.m. | Telegraph Hill Kitchen & Bar, 289 Dorchester St., Boston | $4 | Be the architect of your pizza dreams and build your own creation at the Southie restaurant.
  • Lower Roxbury Pop-Up | Monday, Feb. 6 | 4-5 p.m. | Tremont Street at Hammond Street, Boston | Free | The City of Boston is hosting a pop-up session to share plans and designs for transportation-related changes to Lower Roxbury.
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Wednesday, Feb. 8
  • Romance Novel Book Fair | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 5-9 p.m. | Sam Adam Boston Taproom, 60 State St., Boston | Free to attend | Celebrate Valentine’s Day and stock your to-be-read pile with romance reads.
Thursday, Feb. 16
Monday, Feb. 20
  • February Vacation Week at Boston Children’s Museum | Monday, Feb. 20-Sunday, Feb. 26 | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston | $20 | Kick February Vacation Week off to a playful start with a full week of activities at Boston Children’s Museum, including sock skating, creative STEAM and Art Lab projects + more.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS

This billion-dollar startup wants to help you retire
Portrait of businesswoman standing against a wooden wall in office.
SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. | Photo by Dean Mitchell
This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement. 👀

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors serving our local area.

In just a few minutes, you can get matched with up to three financial advisors, each legally bound to work in your best interest. Now that’s service.*
TAKE THE FREE QUIZ

Weather
  • 46Âș | Sunny | 10% chance of rain
Stat
  • 4-5%. That’s the decrease in monthly gas bills that Bay State residents should see starting this billing period. National Grid estimated savings of ~$11 per month for the average household + Eversource predicts users will see bills decrease by ~$33. 💰 (WBUR)
Transit
  • The parking garage at Alewife Station in Cambridge is currently closed as MBTA crews repair damage from a collision over the weekend. Shuttle buses are currently replacing Red Line service between Davis + Alewife stations.
Health
  • The emergency room at Boston Medical Center is closed until Tuesday due to a burst pipe. Community members in need of urgent care are encouraged to go to other area hospitals. (WCVB 5)
Pets
  • Calling all pet parents. The annual deadline for licensing pets in the city is Friday, March 31, and dogs require a new license each year. The city also shared Boston’s most popular dog names in 2022 — Charlie and Luna. đŸ¶
Arts
  • The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced its 2023 Tanglewood season. The summer lineup includes 48 debut artists, an episode of NPR’s “Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me!,” and a concert film presentation of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 9. đŸŽ”
Regional
  • New England’s second Great Wolf Lodge location will open in 2025. Last week, the company broke ground on a $300 million Connecticut resort, featuring a hotel, indoor water park + family entertainment center. (Boston.com)
Number
  • $200,000. That’s the amount of American Rescue Plan funds that a Somerville City Councilor wants to use to pay off medical debt for residents. A nonprofit would help purchase the debt for 5,000 low-income households. (NBC 10)
Asked
  • Is there a Boston street name that’s got you curious? Perhaps you’ve always wondered how Batterymarch Street got its name, or wanted to know the story behind Joy Street. Email us the street name that’s piqued your interest + we’ll look into its history for an upcoming story. đŸ™ïž
Shop
  • From chocolates to candles and cards, we’ve got you covered with all things loveable in our online shop, Six & Main. Explore our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide to start shopping for sweet presents such as this bonbon gift box by Marble & Steel Craft Chocolates. đŸ«
Travel
  • Dreaming of a tropical summer vacation? Us too. We’re eyeing this romantic villa with pristine views in Costa Rica and this charming beachfront cottage in St. Kitts. Or maybe we’ll splurge on a trip to Tahiti and stay in this beach house with a private pool. đŸïž *
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The battle for hockey bragging rights 🏒

Beanpot tournament returns to TD Garden
Aerial view of TD Garden stadium and Interstate 93
It’s a big day for local hockey fans. | Photo by @katiee_max
It’s Beanpot time. The 70th annual college hockey tournament kicks off tonight at 5 p.m., with the finals scheduled for Monday, Feb. 13.

Why’s it called The Beanpot?

The tournament was previously named the New England Hockey Invitational. Then, Boston Globe editor Leonard Fowle referred to it as the “so-called ‘Bean Pot’ tournament” and it was renamed before the inaugural event in 1952. There’s even a silver bean pot as the trophy.

As of this year, the official title is The Dunkin’ Beanpot, thanks to a partnership with the first title sponsor in the event’s history.

Who’s playing?

The same college teams step up to the puck each year — Harvard University, Boston College, Boston University + Northeastern University.

Fun fact: BU has the most Beanpot trophies of any school, with 31 titles in the bag. Yes, this is City Editor Sara showing her Terrier pride.

While tickets have sold out, you can catch the action live on NESN.

Who’s taking home the trophy? 🏆
A. Harvard University
B. Boston University
C. Boston College
D. Northeastern University
CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sara.

Editor’s pick: This local florist might just be my new favorite person in Boston. Chris from Robin’s Flower Shop was featured in a TikTok by Matt Shearer, and he has a bit of a unique perspective on love. 💐

Chris, if you’re reading this, I hope you find your type (someone “with money”) this cuffing season.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We shared ideas for events to attend and dinners to reserve for Valentine’s Day.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

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