THE DONUT HOLE IN ALLSTON’S HEART
“We couldn’t find a good enough reason to renew the lease,” commented Catherine Taing, a member of the family who managed Twin Donuts since 2001. I met her at Brighton Cafe, another establishment owned by the Taing family’s restaurant group, where we had iced coffees and chicken sandwiches.
shifts are clear symptoms of the phenomenon. According to a 2021 article in the Harvard Crimson, Allston’s median household income swelled from $37,487 in 2011 to $62,614 in 2019—a 67% increase; this percentage suggests an influx of high-income earners into the neighborhood, or the departure of low-income residents. At the same time, housing prices rose by 43% and median rent increased by 36%.
also expressing her humility and consideration for the next building’s inhabitant.
The wind was knocked from my lungs when I heard that Twin Donuts, the beloved family-owned diner in Allston, was closing on March 23. Open since 1955, the donut shop served 70 years’ worth of glazed donuts, sugary iced coffee, and sweet customer service to Boston residents. Families, neighbors, Jackson/Mann K-8 teachers, and rowdy local rock stars all fit the clientele bill sustained by a breakfast at Twin Donuts. The closure marked the end of a delicious chapter in Allston history.
According to Taing, the shop’s lease with the Hamilton Company had steadily increased each year. While the decision to close was emotional, it didn’t come as a surprise. Although Twin Donuts only paused its operations for one month at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, their sales never returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“Donut business is dying, it’s not just us,” Taing shared while brewing a fresh pot of coffee.
Donuts, she specified, have become less popular in Massachusetts, where they once held a unique significance to the community. Twin Donuts does seem to follow a trend of small business donut shops closing in the last ten years, and even the comically abundant Dunkin’ dropped the “Donuts” from their name in 2019.
Taing noted that changes in the neighborhood impacted Twin Donuts’ business as well. While she didn’t explicitly name gentrification, these
As a wealthier population moved into Allston’s pricier homes, it seems that appetites have also shifted. In the same week that Twin Donuts closed, Blank Street Coffee, a venture capitalbacked, TikTok-trendy chain, opened a new location in Brookline, less than a mile away.
Despite its shinier competition, Twin Donuts’ closure outraged the Allston community. From the cafe’s iconic isosceles structure to its beckoning neon signage welcoming all who were weary, withered, or wrecked, if you’ve seen Twin Donuts, you know Twin Donuts. The donut shop’s image is so sacred that local residents launched a petition to declare the sign a historical landmark, obligating the town to preserve its structure. The petition, which accumulated nearly 700 signatures, describes the sign defining the neighborhood character: “This is our Citgo Sign, our North Star.”
“I’m all for it,” Taing responded when asked if she would like the sign to remain. “But, I have to wonder, if a hot pot restaurant went in, would they want to work under the Twin Donuts sign?” She appreciated the community’s action, while
Taing has worked with her family’s diners for over 20 years, so long that it has become second nature to her. During our conversation, I watched her coordinate DoorDash deliveries, refill sodas, and take no less than 15 orders with ease. When I asked her what she enjoyed most about the job, she immediately said, “the regulars.” Their clientele have an outstanding loyalty, according to Taing, with regulars continuing to dine at her family’s establishments as they moved from lease to lease. In an appreciation card she offered to every patron, she wrote that she regarded her guests as “more of friends and family than just patrons.”
Twin Donuts’ departure has prompted me to examine my own spending habits, and who I want to support when the people in power destabilize our communities. I would encourage you, dear reader, and myself to spend our money at small, local, family-run establishments when we can. Enjoy a meal at Brighton Cafe, Cafe Mirror, and any other small business that you love.
Thank you to Catherine Taing and her family, for feeding bellies, hearts, and the Allston neighborhood.
KELSEY DEEMER
Photo Credit: Lauren Miller Photography
MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE
$ean Wire is Back to “Work”
It can be difficult for artists to establish any type of continuity or longevity— especially considering the climate of today’s music industry. We live in a time where internet trends, public image, and quantity of releases outweigh true artistry, leading many to prioritize marketing and social media virality over the evolution of their sound. Despite how negative these sentiments may appear, it’s precisely these feelings that make us hopeful when we stumble across an artist who defies these standards. One artist who is doing exactly that is $ean Wire. Following the recent release of his new single “Work” featuring Najee Janey, it’s clear that $ean is more determined than ever to bring the focus back onto the music.
$ean Wire is a cornerstone of Boston’s music community. With nearly a decade of releases under his belt, $ean has made a name for himself as one of the area’s most capable hip-hop and R&B talents. Over the years, a great number of releases have cemented his role as a local favorite. Initially making an impact with singles like “Máscara” and “Sincerely,” $ean’s early drops confirmed his insane musical prowess. This recognition only developed further following the 2019 release of Dear
which ultimately resulted in a nomination for R&B Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards. A few years, three albums, and a long list of singles later, $ean continues to bless the world with his music, and only appears to get better with time.
“Work” is the first single of the year for $ean Wire. Centered around his promise to out-hustle the competition and fully realize his creative ambitions, this release is an outward manifestation of his unrelenting, dedicated mentality. The last ten years have been filled with moments of growth, learning, and experimentation. Now, $ean is set to achieve everything he’s been working towards. Not only does this single underline the artistic prowess of the Boston native, it also highlights the music capabilities of another one of the city’s talents—Najee Janey. An incredibly gifted hip-hop MC and longtime friend and collaborator of $ean, Najee’s verse polishes “Work” and helps $ean get his 2025 off to a bright start. Though this is the first we’ve heard from the Boston native this year, it certainly won’t be the last. As we wait for what’s next in line for $ean Wire, give this track a spin.
------------------------------------------------ SHAMUS HILL
LIKE CARRIE BRADSHAW Show
Me Your Spatterdashes
I got a five on the AP U.S. History test (casual flex, I know) and have always recognized that Boston has a kink for history. Between the Freedom Trail, the shooting sites for Good Will Hunting, and random houses with faded plaques that say, “Aerosmith started here,” there truly is something for everyone here. As I started my daily doomscroll, I came across a video that piqued my attention—a 250th anniversary reenactment of Paul Revere’s ride. And the caption underneath? “Paul Revere was one sexy bitch.”
New England tourism thrives on both the educational and romanticized idea of people fighting for “freedom,” powdered wigs and all. Despite the fact that the real history of the U.S. is not romantic in the slightest, and with the government’s desire to push propaganda, I wondered: What is it about this colonial aesthetic that people find sexy?
I reached out to a longtime friend, Jo, who is an experienced living history actor at a museum in the city. Over the phone they spilled to me, like tea in the harbor: “Oh… it’s a thing. People still hit on me after I tell them my character has a billion kids, but they just love the fantasy of it all.”
History buffs and romance novel enthusiasts alike seem to crave the fantasy of rebelling against a tyrant, raw-dogging it in a vast and endless field, and ripping off the shirt of a sexy sweaty man. We giggled over the concept as Jo drove home from work.
We dove into their knowledge of the fashion of the time and how it differs from today. “The way gender is presented so differently in this era is what’s fascinating to me, and I could see that being a turn on for people,” Jo said. “The idea of the ‘feminine’ silhouette is somewhat similar—
people had their titties out and it wasn’t super uncommon for people to wear their shifts (colonial underwear) around with a skirt, corset, and apron…but the “masculine” aesthetic was very different from today. I’m talking glitter buckles on shoes, long luscious wigs and ponytails, bright colored clothes, and high heels.”
This fascinated me, as I pondered how the mainstream image of the Revolutionary Hunk, our classic Paul Revere type with a rip-torn blouse riding on the wind to save the day, felt more reflective of our idea of masculinity today. I personally found myself yearning for more glittery-buckle representation.
In light of this adornment, the act of getting undressed in colonial times was essentially an extended foreplay. Unwinding a corset, having to unbutton 500 little buttons from the foot cover—termed a spatterdash—of a man in uniform, and gently removing the powder wig from a balding lover’s head took a long time. But that’s part of the fun. The act of getting freaky had to be a slow burn… because there was a lot more to take off.
All of that said, the sexiness of the colonial era continues to perplex me. One thing is certain: my high-level U.S. history course could not have prepared me to unpack all of the lusciousness of the past. As someone who leans toward androgyny and slow burn romances, I found myself resonating with the fantasies created in this type of historic play, while also acknowledging the differences between fact and fiction. The next time you see a reenactor in the streets, just know the British aren’t the only ones coming—there are desires out there for everything.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- A. FLIRT
LOW CRINGE TOLERANCE
The Boston-based “nerd-drag” troupe Low Cringe Tolerance asks provocative questions, like: What if Sonic and Shadow got married? What if Sonic was Catholic? What if they got divorced? What if they had a kid and were both awful fathers? What if they had a custody battle?
Much like how Old Hollywood and musical theater have inspired generations of drag, producers Shean King and Ladyboy George of Low Cringe Tolerance gleefully pay tribute to the video games and internet fandoms that formed their characters. Their most recent show, “Homostuck,” played at Jacques Cabaret on April 13. It was a draggy love letter to the webcomic Homestuck, which took Tumblr by storm in the 2010s (you had to be there).
“Drag is being your truest, most authentic, most vulnerable self,” Ladyboy said in an interview with the Boston Compass, “and at my core I am a transsexual obsessed with Sonic the Hedgehog, Homestuck, and being silly in a non-self-deprecating way, and I want other people to see that and maybe spark a little something in them to be a little more real.”
Even in an art form as inclusive as drag, Ladyboy felt pressure to be “normal.” Then he met Shean at the Boston Drag Gauntlet.
“I remember really admiring that his drag was distinctly different from the drag of all the other performers,” Ladyboy said.
Shean King’s dragsona started as a comic book he made at age 19, which he reported was inspired by his love of scene kings and queens “in all their maximalist, neon, gender-nonconforming glory.”
“I got to make myself taller, louder, edgier, more colorful, and funnily enough, more of a jerk,” he said. “Shean’s a bit of an asshole!” Ladyboy was planning a Sonic drag show with fellow performer Audrey Hartburn. All they needed was a Sonic, and Ladyboy thought Shean could embody the character. Together, they brainstormed ideas to make the campy fanfiction of their dreams. Their shows aren’t meant to be nostalgic or ironic—they’re simply paying tribute to
the things they’ve always loved. Being a self-described “freaky little internet nerd,” the writer’s references in the first couple shows went over many heads. While he was tempted to go mainstream, he’s now proud to stand out.
“I see my work as tossing a life preserver out into the world and saying ‘If you’re like me, grab on, we need each other,’” Shean said.
Reflecting on coming out to his family and friends at a young age, Shean said that feeling like an outsider for his sexuality and gender identity was no different than how he felt wearing Homestuck cosplay to class.
“My attitude has always been, ‘If you’re going to stare at me and judge, I’ll give ya something to look at!’” he said.
The name Low Cringe Tolerance came from a young aspiring drag performer who Ladyboy encouraged to attend amateur drag shows. They declined, saying they had “a really low cringe tolerance.”
“I thought this was such a mean thing to say about people expressing themselves, but I also thought it was really funny,” Ladyboy said. “I don’t think anyone should change the way they express themselves because of what people with a ‘low cringe tolerance’ think!”
The term “low cringe tolerance” became an inside joke for him and Shean.
“We feel it embodies all that we stand for with our work, which is to foster a space for authentic self expression, regardless of what the world at large thinks,” Shean said.
After “Homostuck,” Shean, Ladyboy, and a gaggle of Homestucks (the term for fans of the comic) gathered at Taco Bell for dinner after the show. They hung out and chatted about their favorite characters while eating nacho fries.
“We have the sweetest and coolest fans,” Shean said. “I’ve honestly never had a drag experience so intimate.”
MASS SOUNDS
Western Massachusetts-based band Bubble Scary’s second EP, released in late March, is anything but Featherweight Formed in the aftershocks of the pandemic, the band is composed of Brookline natives Chuka Stergios (vocals/lyrics) and Jackson Payne (guitar), along with their UMass Amherst peers Corey Cash (bass) and Miguel Gomba (drums). In these early days, the group would just jam for hours on end, unaware of the impending transformation that would turn them into Bubble Scary. I sat down with the band to discuss the EP, their evolution as a band, and where the next few months will take them. In Bubble Scary’s own words, Featherweight stands in contrast to their 2023 self-titled EP as a more evolved, intentional, and aesthetically cohesive piece of work.
Bubble Scary, their first EP, was an amalgamation of songs pieced together from the group’s early jam sessions. It reflects the group finding their footing as both a band and individual musicians, and learning what music they want to make along the way. Featherweight is the culmination of that journey, showing off the band’s musical prowess and refined direction.
“We’ve always had the same goal to create really emotional music, but I think we achieved it way better this time around,” said Payne.
The band’s transformation is most evident when performing. At a recent album release party in March, the band performed songs from the first and second EP back-to-back. Playing the old EP, Gomba found himself brought back to a time when the band was “less confident in the music we were trying to craft and present to people,” and when he felt more shaky while performing. Now, according to the drummer, the vision is clearer, and they “know what [they’re] trying to do and how [they’re] gonna do it.”
This growth is evident: the record starts off strong with “Erased,” featuring a bass line that steadily builds and explodes into Gomba’s chaotic drums, overlaid by Stergios: “Oh, I can’t / I can’t erase / Eats me away / I can’t erase.” The song falls and rises once again, culminating in a final rush of action, leaving the listener breathless. The rest of the EP quiets down, but is no less emotional. “What’s Done” starts soft, with Stergios voice restrained and low, and then bursts into action once again. As the unofficial interlude, “Can’t You Hear Me” offers some respite, with Cash and Payne switching instruments and Stergios’ voice hypnotically asking us, “Can’t you hear? Let me in / Ruin me carefully / I can’t breathe, heaven help me.” Then, “I Can Be Honest” interjects the trance we’ve been lulled into with a flurry of cathartic turmoil, bringing us back to the chaos and excitement of the first song.
This last song is also the one that the band is most proud of. “It’s loud, but it’s not too esoteric. It’s exactly how we wanted it to be,” said Cash. According to Stergios, both the intentionality the songwriting took and its emotional release have turned the EP into something precious, with the last song being the “crux” of it.
Above all, Featherweight sticks out to Stergios as something that “anyone can listen to and connect with.” Emphasizing the preciousness, Stergios comments, “The whole thing does feel like a part of me, like my arm or something,” she said.
Catch Bubble Scary at Moon Base One in Salem on May 24, and follow the band on Instagram at @bubble.scary for more updates on their East Coast tour in late July.
5/23 campfire. festival Memorial Day Weekend
5/3 Spontaneous
Celebrations presents: The 47th Annual Wake Up the Earth Festival! Mark your calendars for a long-standing festival rooted in activism, community and the arts. Enjoy local food and craft vendors, public art and parades, and live performances. All on the Southwest Corridor in JP between Stonybrook and Green St. @ 12pm-5pm All Ages FREE @spontaneouscelebrations
5/3 New England Synth Fest
A full day of performances, lectures, vendors, a DIY workshop, and a petting zoo! @ Ryder Hall at Northeastern University 12pm-6pm FREE @nesynthfest
5/4 State Park's Western World presents: Both Kinds Country AND Western DJ Night with DJ Groan Man. Every first Sunday of the month from 3-6pm @ State Park Bar 21+ FREE
5/5 Illegally Bind Presents TAKAAT (of Mdou Moctar), (New England) Patriots, Ohio State Fair @ O'Briens Pub 7:30pm-11:30pm 18+ $20 @illegallyblindpresents
5/6 The B-Sidez presents: Afroverse A late-night celebration of sound and culture inspired by the the wave Africa helped spark @ SOJUba 10pm 21+ $10
5/9 Sound On: Boston Calling Night feat Latrell James, sidebody, Battlemode and more. A special evening of local music ahead of this year’s Festival! @ WBUR City Space 7pm 18+ $30
5/10 The 4th Wall Presents: Upnow!, Warmachine, and Moss Boy w/ visuals by Digital Awareness @ The Capitol Theatre 9pm 18+ $10
5/11 Harmony Grove @ The Square Root Cafe 4pm-6pm 21+ FREE
5/21 Jazz Night @ The Square Root Cafe 7:30pm 21+ FREE
2025 One-room intimate music festival going all weekend long. Free for students @ Club Passim 6pm $15-$30
5/24 Illegally Blind presents Fat Creeps Reunion Show @ Faces Brewing Co 9pm All Ages $15/$18
5/25 Karaoke Night @ The Square Root Cafe 8pm 21+ FREE
5/8 Grrl Haus Cinema: Experimental Echoes Live music meets Silent Film & Experimental Shorts @ Brattle Theater 8pm $15 @grrlhauscinema
5/8 Cycles & Change — Listening Party An intimate evening celebrating the release of Naomi Westwater’s new album! We’ll experience the album in full, followed by a rich and reflective conversation with the artist, album producer Don Mitchell, and musicians Cooper Evello and Talia Rose, moderated by Arielle Grey. @ Just Book-ish 6pm-8pm @naomiwestwater
5/1 A May Day Poetry Reading + Open Mic hosted by Kristin Kelley with Josette Akresh-Gonzales, Jim Dunn, E.A. Greymoire, and Jennifer Martelli @ The Square Root Cafe 8pm-11pm 21+ FREE
5/1 to 5/18 Theater Mitu's Utopian Hotline Envision our future at our local planetarium as ArtsEmerson joins the Museum of Science to bring this incredible theatrical experience to Boston @ Boston Museum of Science $27.50 @artsemerson
5/2 Kingdom Drag King Showcase The legacy of the Kingdom lives on as class #10 makes their stage debuts! @ The Foundry 8pm-10pm 18+ $25
5/4 Boston Theatre Marathon XXVII Buckle up for the annual showcase featuring 50 ten minute plays by New England playwrights @ Boston Playwrights' Theatre 11am-10pm $30
5/5 Prince Yudith's Comedy Revue Boston's Weirdest Comedy Show! @ Caffe dello Sport 8pm-9:30pm FREE
5/5 Vera Chytilova's Daisies (1966) This avant garde Czech classic explores two young, hedonistic girls pushing pleasure as far as they can. @ Coolidge Corner Theater 7pm $17 adult/$14 student
5/8 The Head is Not the Star of the Body A Boston Dancemakers Residency Showcase! ft. choreography
5/9 Jean Luc Godard's A Woman is a Woman (1961) A French New Wave classic, packed with famous faces of the era and music by Michel Legrand @ Brattle Theater $15
5/9-10Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's Macbeth Head to Dorchester's legendary theater for this epic tragedy of jealousy and ambition @ Strand Theatre $20 Adults/ $15 Students @commshakes
5/10 Comedy Night ft. Rami Abushhab @ Boston Liberation Center 8pm-10pm $25
5/11 Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) Celebrate Mother's Day at the Bates Motel @ Brattle Theater 2:30pm-5pm $13
5/12 Jean Luc Godard's 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (1967) A beautifully short, tangential meditation on consumerism, sex, war, fashion and more by the king of the French New Wave @ Coolidge Corner Theater 7pm $17 Adult/$14 Student
5/16 to 6/8 Gaven D. Trinidad's Learning How to Read by Moonlight Company One is a sure bet for interesting, new and diverse theater including this multilingual, musical journey on an undocumented Filipino immigrant family in NYC and their uncertain future. Pay what you can @ Boston Center for the Arts
5/17 Ron Howard's Willow (1988) This fun '80s fantasy hits the big screen as part of the Kilmer Forever: Remember Val Kilmer series @ Brattle Theater $15
5/20 Wong Kar Wai's Happy Together (1997) This sexy international, Queer '90s gem takes you on a sultry rollercoaster relationship in Argentina. Part of Queering the Screen series @ Coolidge Corner Theater 7pm $17 Adult/ $14 Student
5/20 Frederick Wiseman's Public Housing (1997) Don't miss the ongoing Wiseman Retrospective Series happening throughout Boston featuring the local legendary documentarian's work. Each film focuses on one kind of institution. This one follows a housing project in '90s Chicago @ Somerville Theatre 6:30pm $16
5/22 DotStories: Everybody has a story to tell DotOut is proud to present a brand new public speaking and storytelling program for Dorchester's LGBTQIA+ community and their allies. @ Just Book-ish 6pm-7:30pm
5/28 Masaaki Yuasa's Inu-oh (2021) An anime rock-opera from the visionary director as part of the Ani-mania! series happening all month @ Coolidge Corner Theater 7pm $17 Adult/$14 student
5/29 David Wain's Wet Hot American Summer (2001) The nostalgically engineered Summer Camp cult classic comedy with a mindblowing cast @ Coolidge Corner Theater 9:30pm $17 Adult/$14 Student
community
5/3 The Big Annual BAR Party Celebrating Boston Art Review's Issue #14! Dance Party ft. Dee Diggs. In the former Uniqlo space @ Quincy Market 6:30pm 21+ $35 @bostonartreview
5/3 TEDxRoxbury 2025 @ Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center 9am-4pm $28
5/3 Boston's Only Slavic Queer Party Dance all night to iconic Belarusian, Ukrainian & Russian pop hits. @ Sunset Cantina 10pm 21+ $17.85
5/8 Life Painting with Lainie! Decompress and paint life nude models with support from an experienced artist. @ 72 Joy St, Somerville, MA @ 6:30pm-9:00pm 21+ $30
5/8 Social Making Thursdays: Clothes Mending and Repair as a Radical Practice Explore the art of clothes repair and mending. No prior experience is needed—just bring 2 to 3 garments to mend. Thursdays from 6-9pm @ Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI)
5/8 Birding 101 Learn how to look and listen for wildlife using binoculars! This program is co-hosted by Mass Audubon Magazine Beach Park Nature Center. There will be four 30-minute sessions starting at 5:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm, and 6:30pm. @ 5pm-7pm FREE
5/10 Small Mart is back at the Crystal Ballroom for a special PorchFest Saturday edition! Come shop 40+ vendors & grab a drink. @ Crystal Ballroom Somerville 11am-4pm FREE @highenergyvintage
5/14 Pub Quiz @ The Square Root Cafe 8pm 21+ FREE
5/15 Pigment Spells Opening Reception A solo exhibition by Lucy Kim @ Praise Shadows Gallery 6pm-8pm All Ages FREE
5/16 Harvard Book Store presents: Ocean Vuong Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive. @ First Parish Church Cambridge 7pm-10pm $42.99
5/17 Green Living Fair Mother's Out Front presents their annual fair featuring a kids clothing swap, composting workshops, mending, electric bike test rides and more! @ Curtis Hall Community Center 11am-1pm All Ages FREE
5/17 National Parks Poster Pop-Up Art Show Fifty-Nine Parks & The National Poster Retrospecticus are bringing over 50 screenprinted posters by artists like Shepard Fairey, Aaron Draplin, Kim Smith, and Dan McCarthy @ Topo Designs 11am-6pm FREE
5/17 Emma's Birthday! Cheers to BCN's longtime volunteer + ops nerd— we love you!
5/17 The Haitian Flag Festival
A vibrant celebration of Haitian culture and heritage, marking the creation of the Haitian flag. @ Somerville City Hall 2pm-6pm
5/20 Paint After Dark with MassNFCA May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and MassNFCA is celebrating alumni of foster care. What better way to connect with other alumni and people who have experienced all forms of out-of-home placement than with art, music, and food?
@ Canvas Studio Boston
7pm-9:30pm FREE
5/20 Tourmaline at the Cambridge Public Library
Join the Harvard Book Store and The History Project to welcome Tourmaline for a discussion of her new book Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson. @ Cambridge Public Library
6pm-9pm FREE
5/21 Knit Club & Fiber Arts
Night Bring your knitting, crocheting, embroidery, felting, hand stitching, or any other fiber art project! @ Somerville Public Library
7pm-8:30pm FREE
5/23 Bota's Birthday!
Sometimes being BCN editorin-chief has its perks... Here's to turning 25 in Boston!!
5/23 LokBros Studios presents: Electric Toucan
You're invited to an electric jungle where creativity and community collide. As you enter, you'll find yourself in an event space turned bioluminescent jungle. You might be jamming to the DJ's house beats on a reactive dance floor that responds to sound and motion. Or making ephemeral light creations with LightPaint and taking pixelly portraits in the Assimilation Photo Booth. Bringing together Boston's local artists, DJs, and community lovers, Electric Toucan is more than a musical and artsy event, it’s a collaborative canvas where
everyone becomes part of the magic. @ 72 Joy St. Somerville @ 8pm-11:30pm $15
5/24 Brighton Bazaar presents: Memorial Day Weekend Bazaar Over 100 small local businesses are popping up to sell art, vinyl, vintage, & more! @ Charles River Speedway 11am All Ages FREE
5/25 2nd Annual Multicultural Fair & Clothing
Boutique Join Julia Mejia, Bogosplit and Heritage Market for a celebration featuring local vendors, small business owners, cultural performances, and community talent. @ Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building 12pm-5pm All Ages FREE
our city's diverse flavors! @ Arts at the Armory 6:30pm $45
5/17 Punk Rock Aerobics Class Fundraiser for MassTransPoliticalCoalition Get ready to work out to some punk rock while supporting an important cause! Special guest DJ SitNSpin! @ Midway Cafe 12pm-2:30pm $17.85 @punk_rock_aerobics
5/17 MA Youth Pride 2025
The oldest youth-led, adultsupported LGBTQ+ Youth Pride celebration in the country! Ft. a march, festival, community partner resource fair, and a live stage show produced by LGBTQ+ youth @ Boston City Hall Plaza 10am-4pm
Massachusetts. Visit masstpc. org for more information.
opportunities
5/7 A Publishing Industry Community Event Come join the Boston Chapter of the Women's National Book Association for an event to learn about the publishing field and network with publishing professionals! @ Cambridge Public Library 5:30pm-7:30pm FREE
innovative, community-driven projects in partnership with organizations. Learn more at nativeartsandcultures.org/ programs/shift. Deadline to apply is 5/15
By 5/18 City Hall Galleries Open Call for Art The City of Boston invites artists, collectives and arts organizations living, working, or creating in the Greater Boston area to submit proposals for 2D and 3D installations in the Mezzanine Gallery at Boston City Hall. Selected applicants will receive one stipend of $700 per exhibition. Deadline to apply is 5/18
5/3 Eviction Defense Canvass
Let your neighbors know about their rights in the face of eviction! Location TBD, sign up at gbtu.xyz/canvass @ 12pm-2pm
5/8 Voices of EdQuity Annual Breakfast A powerful breakfast rallying support for Boston’s schools. No waiting— just action. @ Hibernian Hall 7:30am-10:30am FREE
5/10 Paint-Your-Own-Pet with Positive Paint Parties & Boston's Forgotten Felines! Unleash your inner artist while painting a custom portrait of your beloved pet—all while helping us rescue and care for Boston’s forgotten felines! @ Margaritaville - Boston 4pm-6pm $45 per pet portrait of one pet | $55 for two pets on one canvas
5/15 YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City Learn about and support The Welcome Project and its work to support the immigrant communities of the Metro North, and experience a culinary journey celebrating advocacy
5/18 Moving Forward, Never Backward Join NAICOB in celebrating our activist comrades who've put in decades of radical organizing work, and plan collectively for our movement's future in Boston and beyond @ North American Indian Center of Boston 5pm-8pm
5/30 2025 Youth Bike
Summit Join co-hosts Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) and Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC) for 3 days of fun, education, and youth empowerment, both on and off the bike! Learn more at youthbikesummit.org
@ Roxbury Community College ALL AGES
Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration This resource provides general information on what to do if you or someone you know is stopped, arrested, or detained by immigration or other law enforcement. Visit www.nilc.org/resources for more info
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition MTPC works to ensure the wellbeing, safety, and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community members in
5/7 Understanding an Artist's Personal Finances In this workshop, stage performers and tax specialists Amy Smith and Akeem Davis bring a class- and race-based analysis of our economic structures and dive into the financial building blocks necessary for artists to thrive. This is a four-part series on May 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 6-8pm. Attend all or select sessions. Learn more at assetsforartists.org/workshops
@ FREE
By 5/15 Transformative Change and Indigenous Arts Grant This program provides two-year awards of $100K for Native artists, curators, and collectives to develop
WBCA Presents This community radio show is looking for music from local artists to play! To learn more + submit your music, visit bnnmedia.org/tv-showsvideos/wbca-radio-2.
Intersectional
Environmentalist is looking for Artivists! to spotlight lessons + learnings of impactful eco-focused artists on the East Coast. Get Involved by joining their Substack at intersectionalenvironmentalist. com.
$15K FOR 15 YEARS!
March 1 marked 15 years since this lil’ ole newspaper was first published, and we launched a fundraising campaign to celebrate our anniversary. THANK YOU to all of our generous donors, patrons, readers, and sponsors for supporting the rag!
We are excited to share that we received over 100 donations made to the future of the Boston Compass, for a total of almost $7k! We also secured a new sponsorship from The Goods during his time (go support them in Davis Square!) and grew our number of Patreon supporters to 60. We weren’t sure what to expect, and although we did not quite reach our goal of $15k for 15 years, our expectations as a part-time crew of volunteers were definitely surpassed. We remain incredibly grateful to our beautiful, artistic community.
We wanted to give a big shout out to PomPoison, one of our current comic artists, who inspired and supported the BCN to launch this campaign. From reaching out to pitch his idea to
designing the donation tier illustrations to bringing snacks to our package packing party, Pom was definitely the heart of this campaign. Thank you, Pom!
All in all, the future of BCN is a little brighter. We intend to use these funds to print more issues, and to continue paying local creatives to illustrate and write for the eight pages we distribute around Boston. We are continuing our efforts to fundraise by applying to grants, promoting our Patreon subscription, and securing more partnerships with local businesses. If you have ideas on how to help out, contact sponsorship@brain-arts.org. We intend to stay active as long as we can—so thank you for being a part of that effort!
It Feels to Drink Iced Coffee by MAXFOSTER
Halcyon by E.B. Hutchins
The Snork Opaque by Adam Green
The Boomerang Gang by Joe Bortner
@joeb draws
Bird Crimes: Not for Figging by PomPoison How
MEET THE ARTIST
Hello! My name is Lisa Gorelik (they/them) and I’m an Allston-based designer, community organizer, and artist.
I am a co-founder of Terra Soma Collective, an inclusive, accessible collective exploring the self and community care potential of art and nature for BIPOC, Queer, & Trans folks. We have been dreaming up co-creative, joyful spaces with our Boston community for over two years now. See our work @terrasomacollective on Instagram!
EATING LIKE GODS
Lunchtime at Trident Booksellers
Trident Booksellers has a curative charm. Their shelves house many tales and their tables feed hungry travelers. When my best friend from high school came to visit the city, I had to take her there. Hana is a voracious reader—her comfort read is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, that twisted experiment on the human body. She always shares her favorite pieces with me, so I wanted to share my favorite bookstore with her.
We took off work on a Monday, skipping class like we were 16 again. Trident has a petite entryway, so we wiggled inside like wrestling on skinny jeans. We nestled into the dining area at a four-top. Perhaps the table was bigger than we needed, but we are learning to take up space. Hana began to order, the dishes coming out of her mouth going on and on. It sounded like a Shel Sylverstein poem, a lengthy laundry list that started with eggs and toast and ended in the magical land of monte cristo sandwiches. Half the menu came to life before us, an image deserving of a Caldecott medal. Dishes hung off the edge of the table, threatening to plummet and shatter our french toast dreams. There was a time when I thought sharing a meal like this, with Hana, was unimaginable.
I sat at the table and watched as Hana went to investigate the bestsellers. She picked one up, and turned it over gently in her hands. She used to do this with food. She would peel the skin off chicken nuggets, exposing their pale flesh. As this became a pattern, her own skin began to wear thin, and it shrank like plastic wrap around her
bones. I worried her hunger would run dry and she would crumble. I hunted for a way to help her as she faded. I wished I could go out and find her a new healthy beating heart and sew it into her chest, just like Frankenstein. But we both knew that is not how healing works.
In lieu of food, she devoured stories. She would wish to become characters that she admired, and escape her own life for a while. She resonated with the pain written by Sue Zhao and Andrea Gibson, and absorbed the strength that they poured into their memoirs. She built a staircase out of her books and let her mind climb, learning it was okay to follow her cravings. Like Amanda Lovelace wrote, “The princess saves herself in this one.”
In high school we read the Odyssey. The weight of the book alone was intimidating, so we tried to mock Poseidon’s wrath, calling it PMS. Tragedies never scared Hana. She was comforted by their depth. Just as pages are woven into the spine of a book, she learned that she deserved a strong frame to embody the vastness of her mind. She came back to the table and ceremoniously poured syrup onto our pancakes. With our forks, tiny tridents themselves, we ate the stack together. After lunch, we left the library. With our new books tucked under our arms, close to our hearts, we walked home together, just as we did when we were girls.
ESTELLE HAMILTON
My personal creative practice explores the roomy corners of my queer identity and family history. Traversing Soviet-Jewish folklore, trans-masculine presentation, chronic illness, first-generation identity, and many other dynamic ideas of self (phew!), I experiment with different mediums like digital illustration, graphic design, ceramics, music, and placemaking. To learn about me & see more of my work, visit my website at lisagorelik.com
BOSTON’S FIRST EVER SEX WEEK!
“Where were you during the first Sex Week Boston?” is a question you’ll get for decades to come. Now’s the time to make sure you have a good answer!
From May 11 to 18, Sex Week Boston is hitting the city with a vibrant lineup of events that celebrate community based sex education, queer and trans joy, and sexual liberation. Each day of the week has multiple events, so clear your schedule!
Here’s a teaser of the week’s events: Pleasure is Revolutionary: G-spots and Squirting—A queer & trans-affirming vulva pleasure workshop.
Boston’s Lesbian History: Zine Making Workshop—A free space to learn how you can make your own zine and distribute it in Boston.
Sex Trivia: Masturbation May—A playful trivia night where you’ll learn fascinating sex facts and have a chance to win sex toys.
Mr. Tampon Man’s Menstrual Show—A period-themed comedy night.
Let’s Talk Hanky: History, Communication & PrEp—A conversation on the history of the hanky code, featuring free STI testing.
This is just the tip of the clitberg! You can find the full event lineup at sexweekbos.com
Where are the events?
They are all over Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. Check each event’s blurb on the website to see where it’s at and whether there’s an admission cost.
Who is this for?
Most of the events are for adults of all ages (18+), though some are for younger folks. If the thought of being in a room with people who value pleasure-affirming, consent-centered sex education sounds good to you, we want you there!
Sex Week Boston events are affirming of queerness, trans ness, kink, asexuality, monogamy, non-mo nogamy, and the amazing diversity of hu man sexuality. Some events are going to be more relevant for specific communities, but that should be clear from reading the event name/description.
What is sexual liberation?
Sexual liberation is the freedom to ex press your authentic sexuality—without shame, oppression, or other barriers. It means having access to 1) the resources
you need to care for your sexual wellbeing (like sexual healthcare) and 2) the information you need to live a sexually empowered life (like how to find and navigate the types of connections you desire).
Sexual liberation is one part of intersectional liberation. It involves acknowledging how systems like racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia shape our sexual lives—and actively working against them.
Who’s behind Sex Week Boston?
Sex Week Boston was dreamed up by the Boston-based sex educator and pleasure advocate Goddess Cecilia. Cecilia has been teaching Bostonians about sex and pleasure for almost 20 years now. Her approach to sex ed is anchored in liberation, community, and advocacy.
The other half of the Sex Week Boston team is Pleasure Pie, a sex-positive education organization in Boston, established in 2014. They create zines on sexual liberation and lead sex ed workshops for colleges and organizations.
Why have a Sex Week?
Boston already has so many people and organizations doing important sexual wellness and advocacy work. Sex Week is a way to bring all of this together and create something bigger than each of us can alone.
In a country where sex education, queer and trans rights, reproductive rights, and so many freedoms are under attack, we have power in community.
NICOLE MAZZEO
LISA GORELIK