This National Black Business Month, there’s plenty of programming to help Bostonians support local Black-owned businesses. Here’s how to get involved.
Hosting a local Black Business Month event? Submit it to our calendar. | Photo by @one_day_photo
🛍️ Shop in the Seaport Thanks to a partnership betweenthe Boston Seaport + Black Owned Bos, the next edition of The Current will feature nine small businesses, including:
Plus, expect a flower shop, adorable baby gear + a snack company. See the full list of vendors andattendtheopening celebrations on Wed., Aug. 17 with live music and Italian ice to help you stay cool.
Don’t worry, this won’t replace theSeaport x Black Owned Bos. Market. There are three more weekends to shop the Seaport Common pop-up.
You can also browse the digital merch collection. | Image via Black Owned Bos.
🔍 Search business directories Black Owned Bos. manages a free directory of 1500+ Black-owned businesses, with descriptions, locations, and social media contact information. Want to add your business? Fill out this form.
The City of Boston’s Small Business Development page also has a directory, broken down by neighborhood and type of business. You can submit a Black-owned organization to be featured via email.
📱Check out social media spotlights The City of Boston’s Office of Economic Development is highlighting various businesses on social media throughout August, from Allan’s Formal Wear in Dorchester to Mattapan’sLe Foyer Bakery. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram for future features.
If you find yourself across the river, check out the Cambridge Community Development Department’sInstagram and Facebook feeds to find Black-owned businesses you can support in the neighboring city.
Share this story with friends and family to support Black-owned businesses this month + every month.
Concerts in the Courtyard | Fri., Aug. 12 | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Central Library, 700 Boylston St. | Free | Join the BPL every Friday for an afternoon of music in the courtyard — featuring composer Peter Bufano. 🎤
Fan Expo | Fri., Aug. 12-Sun., Aug. 14 | Times vary | Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St. | $42+ | Single day tickets are still available for the three-day fan culture event — City Editor Jess’ weekend pick.
Saturday
90s Pride Bar Crawl | Sat., Aug. 13 | 2 p.m. | Wild Rover, 61-63 Chatham St. | $20 | The 90s-themed night around Faneuil Hall at various participating bars is back after a two year hiatus.
Spectacle Summer Nights | Sat., Aug. 13 | 4:30-8:30 p.m. | Spectacle Island | $38 | Enjoy a spectacular summer night on Spectacle Island with music, games + views — City Editor Sara’s weekend pick. 🏝️
Animals Like Us | Sun., Aug. 14 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Boston Conservatory at Berklee, 31 Hemenway St. | Free | Join Boston Conservatory to watch performances from violinists, pianists + singers.
Be Free By the Bridge | Sun., Aug. 14 | 12-8 p.m. | Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Dr., Cambridge | Donations recommended | Stop by the outdoor gathering with soulful house music + dance performances.
Monday
East Boston Movie Night | Mon., Aug. 15 | 7:45-9 p.m. | East Boston Memorial Park, 143 Porter St. | Free | Join Mayor Wu’s movie night to watch “Luca.” 🎥
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Flatiron School’s specialized programming is designed for anyone who wants to revamp their resume (andpotentially boost their career). Here’s a peek at the four specialized courses Flatiron offers:
Students get a feel for what working on large-scale projects is really like while completing a course at Flatiron. | Photo provided by Flatiron School
This course covers everything from government compliance to the core ideas in network security. For their final capstone project, students focus on summarizing what they learned through a detailed analysis of data, simulated and live-action scenarios, and more.
Students gain hands-on UX/UI (akauser experience and user interface) design skills using modern tools like Figma + Webflow. They graduate with a professional portfolio intentionally crafted to catch hiring managers’ eyes.
This four-part curriculum focuses on specific areas of software engineering, including front- and back-end development, back-end web API (read: Application Programming Interface),and more. Students complete a group project during each phase to gain real-world experience on a software engineering team.
This program explores everything from data analysis and engineering to machine learning fundamentals and Python programming (no snakes involved). Students complete a large-scale data science project at the conclusion of the program to demonstrate their learning accomplishments.
Pro tip: Don’t wait to apply — there are only a few spots left for each program, which start Mon., Aug. 29.*
The NBA will honorBill Russell’s legacy by permanently retiring uniform No. 6. The Celtics legend + Basketball Hall of Famer will be the first player to have their number retired across the association, and all players will wear a commemorative patch on their jerseys throughout the upcoming season. 🏀
Environment
Gov. Baker signed a major climate bill into law yesterday, advancing the development of clean energy projects. The bill permits some cities and towns to ban the use of fossil fuels in new buildings + allows the Bay State to join other New England states in bidding for renewable energy. (Boston Globe)
Traffic
The City of Boston is hosting multiple parades this weekend — the India Day Parade, the August Moon Festival + the Dominican Parade — so be prepared for some busy city streets. Event attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or take public transit. See the full traffic advisory.
Coming Soon
The owner of District Kitchenis opening a new Malden restaurant in October — Bam Bam Chicken, which is taking over a former Dunkin’ location. The eclectic spot will serve everything from crispy chicken sandwiches to fried oreos, with both dine in and take out options available. 🍗 (Eater Boston)
Answered
Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s guessing game, and congratulations to reader Amanda L. for being the first to send in the correct answer — Bill Burr. Tickets are still available to catch the comedian from Canton at Fenway Park on Sun., Aug. 21.
Sports
New England Patriots running back James Whiteannounced that he’s retiring from the NFL. He was drafted by the Patriots in 2014 + won three titles during his time with the team. See his official statement on Twitter. 🏈 (Boston Globe)
Health
MIT researchershave developed a COVID-19 immunity test, which measures the level of neutralizing antibodies in a blood sample. The team is currently working on manufacturing + FDA approval. The test will likely be administered by health professionals first before people can take it at home. (Boston.com)
Arts
Local artists can submit original work for the chance to be displayed in City Hall during the Fay Chandler Emerging Artist Exhibition Awards. The exhibition will be held from Thurs., Sept. 15-Fri., Oct. 28 withthree prize categories, ranging from $1,000-$2,500. Learn more here. 🎨
Drink
Greystone in the South End has reopened its indoor space. Orders will still need to be placed at the walk up window, but visitors can bring food and drink inside and sit in the newly decorated space. Stop by 123 Appleton St. from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. ☕
Ranked
No. 4. Boston moved down to the fourth spot on a ranking of cities with the highest one-bedroom rents in the country. Our city was previously the third most expensive — after New York + San Francisco — and is now just below San Jose, CA. (Boston Magazine)
Community
By becoming a BOStoday member, you’ll directly support our mission of offering our newsletter, social content, and website access for free to all Bostonians (read: no pesky paywalls). Learn more + sign up. 💻
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Grab a stamp from Donut Villa Diner on Prospect Street. | Photo by @foreverforkinghungry
Taste of Cambridge is back this fall, with more than 50 of the city’s top eateries participating in the passport program. Here’s how to participate + support Cambridge’s restaurants:
Purchase your dining passport for $30 before the deadline of Fri., Aug. 26.
Visit anyfour of the participating restaurants before Fri., Sept. 16+ spend more than $25 to get a stamp.
Once you’ve chowed down and gathered four stamps, submit your passport via email. before Sept. 30and voila — you’ve earned four $25 vouchers from randomly selected restaurants.
Those vouchers will be good through February 2023 — so you’ve got plenty of time to put them to use.
Check out the mouth-watering lineup of venues on the website + stay updated with announcements on Instagram.
Editor’s pick:You never know who you’re going to see biking around Boston. This week alone, Robert Downey Jr.was spotted biking around MIT campus, and Mayor Wu heldoffice hours on wheels during her commute to City Hall Plaza yesterday. 🚲
It seems like taking up biking has dual benefits — dealing with MBTA closures and spotting some familiar faces around town.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Fill your plate with new restaurants around Boston (and a few spots coming soon).
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