Plus, the buzz on a food pop-up in Brighton
 
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Today’s Forecast

62º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:18 a.m. | Sunset 8:05 p.m.

 
Breaking down Boston’s ADU Program
An aeriel shot of the Charlestown neighborhood at sunset.
Any of these homes in Charlestown could qualify to apply for an attic conversion, basement conversion, or a carve out unit.  | Photo by @oschapov
Are you familiar with ADUs? These expandable housing options have been a hot topic around our city lately. Let’s have a quick lesson about what these are and how you might add one to your home.

What is an ADU?
The Additional Dwelling Unit — aka an ADU — is a self-contained residential unit, located within an existing building. These “hidden gems” can provide additional income for homeowners + a flexible, separate living space for families to age in place, or support children.

These spaces must meet specific building code and design requirements:
  • Designs must be a full unit, including a bathroom and kitchen.
  • There must be two forms of egress, or two exits.
  • The water and electricity shutoff valves have to be accessible to all units.
  • Plan for compliant ceiling height, specifically for basement and attic units.
Did you know you can apply with the City of Boston for loans for ADUs?

The Additional Dwelling Unit Program allows owner occupants in the City of Boston to carve out a new space within their homes. They can create smaller, independent units, known as Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) once the design has been approved. For those who qualify, we offer loans to build approved ADU designs.

Do you qualify for the city’s ADU Program?

Good news — if you own and live in a one-, two-, or three-family home within the city of Boston you’re already ahead of the game. You must plan to build the ADU in the same home, and if your home is in a FEMA Flood Zone, there are special considerations as well.

Learn more + check out the application.
 
Asked
 
Would you consider adding an ADU to your property?
A. Yes — I’m applying today.
B. I might now.
C. No — This isn’t a good fit for me.
D. No — I don’t own my home.
 
 
Events
 
Monday, May 20
Tuesday, May 21
  • Urban League’s Women’s Empowerment Breakfast | Tuesday, May 21 | 7:30-9 a.m. | Fenway Park, 4 Jersey St., Boston | $75 | This event commemorates a year marked by historic challenges and transformative moments in politics, public health, social justice, grassroots activism, and the arts.
  • PWAP x In Good Company: Build-a-Boob Pot Pottery Class | Tuesday, May 21 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar, 412 W. Broadway, Boston | $75 | Sculpt a personalized boob pot during this beginner-friendly workshop.
Wednesday, May 22
  • Ulysses Quartet | Wednesday, May 22 | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St., Boston | Free | Hear music from the first performance of quartet-in-residence The Ulysses Quartet.
  • Vino & Vintage | Wednesday, May 22 | 5-8 p.m. | Boston Landing, 123 Guest St., Boston | Free entry | Thrift and sip from 10 local vintage collectors, artists, and upcyclers while enjoying a complimentary wine tasting.
Thursday, May 23
  • Uncle Lim’s Singaporean Pop Up | Thursday, May 23 | 5-9 p.m. | Lamplighter Broadway, 284 Broadway, Cambridge | Free entry | Grab a local brew and enjoy a taste of Singaporean cuisine from Uncle Lim’s.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
News Notes
 
Development
  • The new 17-story tower at One Boston Wharf Road, which Amazon has leased, is the first to use Somerville startup Sublime Systems low-carbon cement. Boston’s largest “net-zero” building is expected to open later this year. (Boston Business Journal)
Playoffs
  • The Bruins Stanley Cup Playoffs run has come to end after a Game Six loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday. The Celtics playoffs efforts will continue as they face the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden in Game One tomorrow, May 21 at 8 p.m.
Eat
  • Beginning today, Buzz Bodega will pop-up inside Pizza Project’s kitchen at the Charles River Speedway. Stop by today, May 20 + tomorrow, May 21 at 11 a.m. for a limited menu featuring a Beerwurst sausage served with beet kraut and rhubarb mostarda on a brioche bun.
Drink
  • Night Shift Brewing and Boston Proud have brewed up a special release called Fruity with a Booty. This 5.5% raspberry grapefruit wheat ale celebrates unity and diversity in every sip + proceeds will support Boston Proud. Stay tuned for more Pride Month event details coming soon.
Active
  • Get moving during Boston Landing’s inaugural Community Fitness Festival on Saturday, June 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A variety of indoor and outdoor fitness classes will be offered in addition to contests, giveaways, and live entertainment at Athletes Park in Brighton.
Plan Ahead
  • Kowloon is hosting an outdoor summer music series at the iconic Saugus location at 948 Broadway, Route 1 North. “The Final Countdown! Rockin’ Through the Decades” will kick off at 8 p.m. on June 22.
Ranked
  • No. 7. That’s where Boston has ranked on a recent report for the best public transportation systems in the US, according to ConsumerAffairs. The study reported that 78% of the stations are ADA-compliant + the safety score is 14.57 out of 20.
Finance
  • Ah, the art of the balance transfer. This card offers not one, not six, but 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers, giving you nearly two years to save big. (Plus, you can earn 2% cash back on purchases with no annual fee.) Learn more and apply.*
Home
  • You deserve beautiful, energy-efficient windows and doors. Renewal by Andersen® is offering buy one, get one 40% off + $200 off your order for a limited time.*
 
 
Arts
 
Inspiring new mural in Boston’s Seaport
A new mural in the Seaport that reads "Remember: going through it is often how we get to the other side of it."
The new mural from poet Cleo Wade is titled “A Small & Mighty Truth.” | Photo provided by Seaport Boston
Boston Seaport has a wide variety of large-scale, colorful public art works. Now there is a new addition, thanks to New York Times–bestselling author and poet Cleo Wade.

The new mural titled “A Small & Mighty Truth” features a rainbow of painted letters that reads, “Remember: Going through it is often how we get to the other side of it.” The title might say small, but this mural is actually 51 ft by 17 ft and ironically is at the end of a tunnel entering the Seaport neighborhood. The inspiring words are located at the intersection of I-90 and Congress Street, next to 400 Summer St.

If you want to check out more murals around the Boston area, feast your eyes on our round up of 13 local murals.
 
The Buy
 
An excellent summer hydration bottle: Hydro Flask’s 32-oz. stainless bottle with a flex straw lid. Color “Sugar Crush” is only available for a limited time, and it’s so cute and summery, we’ve got all the heart eyes for it.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Jess Burton in a blue shirt and gold necklace Today’s edition by:
Jessica
From the editor
Speaking of new murals — The Pao Arts Center has put a call out for visual artists for Experience Chinatown 2024. This year, the artists are asked to create their murals in response to the prompt, “What are collective actions we can take for a healthy Chinatown?”

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, June 4.
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