Plus, Matria + Butterbird are now open.
 
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Today’s Forecast

75º | 60% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:12 a.m. | Sunset 8:25 p.m.
 

Harborfest 🤝 Navy Week

Your guide to Harborfest in Boston
Crowds walking through Downtown Crossings during Harborfest celebrations.
Scenes from Downtown Boston Harborfest 2023. | Photo by Michael J. Clarke courtesy of Downtown Boston BID
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” that every Bostonian will find something fun to check out at Harborfest this year.

Boston Harborfest is back, and this year not only will our city celebrate the Fourth of July with the country’s largest Independence Day celebration, it will also recognize the ties to Boston’s rich maritime history with a Navy Week collaboration — including special events, demonstrations, and performances. Fun fact: This is the first Navy Week in Boston since 2012.

There’s a lot going on during the four-day-long event (Monday, July 1-Thursday, July 4) with live music performances, kid-friendly activities, historical re-enactments, and two nights of fireworks. Here’s what not to miss during the patriotic party.

Three people holding an American flag in the Harborfest parade.

The parade will begin at City Hall and make a stop at the Granary Burying Ground.

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Photo by @downtownbostonbid

Monday, July 1
  • Navy Week kicks off at City Hall Plaza at 10 a.m. with the Navy Band performing the National Anthem and remarks from the Coast Guard.
  • Celebrations continue at 12 p.m. with a ceremonial cake-cutting and Navy Band performance.
Tuesday, July 2
  • Sample clam chowder from local restaurants at Chowderfest from 2 to 4 p.m.
  • Listen to the Navy Band’s pre-fireworks performance at Christopher Columbus Park at 7:45 p.m.
  • Grab a spot for the big booms launched from Long Wharf at 9:15 p.m. Pro tip: The top watch spots include Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Fan Pier + LoPresti Park in East Boston.
Wednesday, July 3
  • History will strut its stuff at Macy’s Great American Fashion Show at 2 p.m.
  • Say hello to members of the Navy at the 21+ Shore Leave Block Party at 6 p.m.
Thursday, July 4
  • Watch the Independence Day parade from City Hall Plaza to the Old State House beginning at 9 a.m. Stick around for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Listen to a reading of Frederick Douglass’ abolitionist speech at 1:30 p.m. and grab a sweet treat from the ice cream social.
  • Cap off the celebrations with the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
Asked

Speaking of clam chowder — let’s play two truths and a lie.
Select which of the following options is the lie.

A. Manhattan clam chowder recipes contain tomatoes, which caused a Maine legislator to draft a fake ban in 1939.
B. There are more than 15,000 species of clams, and all are edible.
C. The first written record of adding clams to a chowder recipe dates back to 1832.
Don't clam up
 
Events
Monday, July 1
  • Boston Navy Week at the Charlestown Navy Yard | Monday, July 1-Sunday, July 7 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown | $5-$15 | Celebrate the history and legacy of the US Navy, and try your hand at the custom built mini-golf course.
  • Michter’s Bourbon Dinner | Monday, July 1 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Sonsie, 327 Newbury St., Boston | $100 | Your ticket will get you a five-course dinner by Chef Gilvandro Barreto, each paired with with one of Michter’s bourbon specialties.
Tuesday, July 2
  • Outlaw Music Festival | Tuesday, July 2 | 5 p.m. | Xfinity Center, 885 S. Main St., Mansfield | Prices vary | Listen to music legends Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, and Alison Krauss at this festival.
  • Seaport Sweat: Total Body Triumph | Tuesday, July 2 | 5:30 p.m. | Seaport Common, 85 Northern Ave., Boston | Free | This bootcamp-style class combines mobility, cardio, and strength.
Wednesday, July 3
  • Monthly Free Bike Repair | Wednesday, July 3 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Boston Public Library — Mattapan, 1350 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | Free | Head to the Mattapan library for basic bike repairs like flat tire patches, brake alignments, and gear adjustments.
Thursday, July 4
  • Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular | Thursday, July 4 | 7-11 p.m. | DCR Hatch Shell, 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston | Free | The Boston Pops will be perform for the Fourth of July celebration on the Charles River Esplanade.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Development
  • Suffolk University purchased an 11-story office building on Tremont Street for $30 million with plans to transform the property into ~290 student residences. The Beantown Pub is on the building’s ground floor and plans to remain. Upon city approval, construction is expected to be completed by fall 2026. (Boston Business Journal)
Coming Soon
  • PLNT Burger is opening its first Boston location in Coolidge Corner at 297 Harvard St. — across from the Coolidge Corner Theatre — by late July. This is the 14th location for the 100% plant based, quick casual restaurant.
Open
  • Downtown hotel InterContinental Boston recently opened three new food + bev concepts. Italian steakhouse Matria, cocktail bar and lounge Bar Fellini, and speakeasy The Loyall Counting Room are all now open to the public.
Sports
  • Welcome to Boston. The Bruins made four picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, including center Dean Letourneau with the No. 25 pick + later added defenseman Elliott Groenefold. Check out the full recap of draft weekend from Las Vegas. (NBC Sports Boston)
Biz
  • Hue, a Boston-based tech company, received an award from Google’s 2024 Black and Latino Founders Fund. The beauty e-commerce brand that shares user-generated video content from every day people with brands is taking home $150,000 in cash awards + $100,000 in Google Cloud credits to support growth. (Boston Business Journal)
Community
  • The library system completed a feasibility study for the South End branch and approved a ~$30 million budget for the proposed update. The branch has been closed since 2022 after a flood. Plans include a children’s area + community space for up to 100 on the first floor, with a dedicated adult and teen space on the second floor. (Boston.com)
Eat
  • “Happy Oyster Hour” is returning to Legal Sea Foods for the summer. Guests can enjoy $2 oysters from 2 to 5 p.m. daily.
 
Try This

Crossword challenge accepted

ICYMI: June Crossword Puzzle
A Back Bay street on a sunny morning.
We’re looking forward to more sunny Sundays in Back Bay in July. | Photo by @juansurface
Summer is fully underway with disco parties, outdoor movie screenings, and major festivals like Pride + Juneteenth. We’re ready to keep the summer celebrations going in July. Before we get started, try this crossword puzzle featuring clues from things we shared about in the newsletter and on our social channels from the last ~30 days.

Ready to take on the challenge? Complete our June crossword puzzle, then take a peek at the answer key.
Pencil in your answer
The Buy

The Buy 7.01.24 (Affiliate)
A five-star rated swimsuit from Nordstrom — we like this lace-up back one-piece for an adjustable fit or this v-wire one-piece for a dipped neckline with support.
Answered

You know your “Hot Stuff”
What song did Donna Summer win her first Grammy for? Here’s how you answered:

Donna Summer wearing a white dress while performing.

The “Queen of Disco” is a Boston native.

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Photo via Wikimedia Commons

51.2% “Last Dance” | 22.8% “Bad Girls” | 20.5% “Hot Stuff” | 5.5% “He’s a Rebel”
 
The Wrap
 
Jess Burton in a blue shirt and gold necklace

Today’s edition by:
Jessica
From the editor
Speaking of new restaurants — Celebrity Chef Jason Santos has a new spot to check out in Watertown. Butterbird is now open in Arsenal Yards and is serving up breakfast and lunch seven days a week.
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