Behind the methodology

Key themes

• Vehicle miles traveled — the largest contributor to a city’s emission levels — bounced back since taking a dip in 2020.
• Biking sustained popularity, but pedestrian activity “dropped significantly.”
• The number of electric vehicles per 100 people is still relatively low. We’re still not seeing a large saturation of EVs; most cities saw fewer than one EV per 100 people.

How we ranked

• VMT: No. 24
• Fuel economy: No. 8
• Transit ridership: No. 3
• EV penetration: No. 23
• Biking activity: No. 19
• Pedestrian activity: No. 5
• Truck miles traveled: No. 3
• VMT change: No. 16

• The Night Bazaar | Wednesday, April 24 | 5-10 p.m. | The Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton | Free entry | Shop from 100+ small local businesses selling art, vinyl, vintage, and more.
• An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr. | Wednesday, April 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St., Boston | $39-$109 | Spend an evening with the Tony and Grammy Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, actor, and bestselling author.

• A Conversation with Celeste Ng and Professor Ju Yon Kim | Thursday, April 25 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Virtual | $0-$75 | This GBH Studios event celebrating the role that AANHPI artists play in their communities will feature “Little Fires Everywhere” author Celeste Ng + Harvard University Professor Ju Yon Kim.

• Earth Month Collab Party: Bark & Bite Release | Friday, April 26 | 6-9 p.m. | Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, 30 Germania St., Boston | Free entry | Celebrate the release of a new collaboration maibock with Vermont-based Kraemer & Kin, including live music and a special food pairing.
• The Eras Party - Taylor Swift Inspired Dance Night | Friday, April 26 | 9 p.m. | Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub, 472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge | $20 | Shake it off at this party with a DJ spinning Taylor’s tunes, costume contest, lip sync Battle, themed photo areas, and bracelet trading.

• Japan Festival Boston | Saturday, April 27-Sunday, April 28 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Boston Common, 16 Charles St., Boston | Free | The popular festival is back — enjoy a weekend filled with music, food, games, Japanese goods, and more.

• The perfect opportunity to escape the daily grind + immerse yourself in nature.
• Plenty of pre-planned contests and games (think: Slip and Slide Flip Cup, waterfront activities, a camp-wide relay race, as well as leisure time to yourself).
• A place to meet new friends or enjoy a weekend getaway with old ones.
• Activities like yoga, archery, pickleball, frisbee, kickball, tie-dyeing, and more.

• The organization behind Boston Triathlon announced a new Global Professional Race in Southie. Supertri Boston — an event where athletes compete in three continuous rounds of swim-bike-run — will take place on Sunday, Aug. 18 and include Olympic athletes + a live, global TV broadcast.

• The City of Boston will host its annual Disability Community Forum on Wednesday, May 1 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The hybrid event is open to the public for residents with disabilities to build community, connect with city services, and provide feedback. RSVP in advance.

• Somerville’s Bow Market will get five new retailers + several new restaurants as part of its expansion. Retailers Dark Mode, Ko Kyoto, The Den, The Verdant Maiden, and Side Quest Books and Games are set to open this spring. (Boston Business Journal)

• Boston’s new F1 Arcade is now open at 87 Pier 4 Blvd. The arcade bar features the first F1 racing simulator in the US — check out our sneak peek of the spot on Instagram.

• After an onboard fire last year, Boston Harbor City Cruises’ newly renovated Spirit of Boston vessel will make its debut during a dockside showcase today at Commonwealth Pier. The ribbon cutting + showcase will begin at 4:30 p.m.

• Actors’ Shakespeare Project recently announced its 2024-2025 season lineup. Jane Austen’s “Emma” will debut in November 2024 while August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” will kick off in January 2025, followed by Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in April 2025.

• In yesterday’s newsletter, we gave a brief guide to the Esplanade and incorrectly said that the Community Day on Hatch Shell Lawn would take place on May 10. The event will actually take place on Sunday, May 19.

The details

• Date | Weekends, May 11-June 30 + Aug. 24-Sept. 22
• Time | 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Location | 88 Seaport Blvd. (near Seaport Common)
• Price | Free entry

The fun stuff

• Vendors | Each weekend will feature 80+ vendors from a rotating collection selling everything from plants to dog-friendly cookie dough.
• Food + Drink | An outdoor dining area will feature Cheese Louise, Bocadillos, North East of the Border, ZaZ Food Truck, Blanche’s, Downeast, and 90+ Cellars.
• For Kids | The Boston Children’s Museum’s outdoor extension, “Dinos in Space,” will return.
• Entertainment | Lawn games, DJs, and an instrument petting zoo — an opportunity for kids to see and touch musical instruments — are on the lineup.