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A guide to Boston's hidden gem restaurants

Food and Drink

Chris Evans' Boston wedding brings the Avengers to town

Chris Evans' nuptials brought Downey, Johansson, Hemsworth and Renner to Boston

Culture

Massachusetts' peak fall foliage schedule

When and where the good leaf peeping will be.

Things to Do

MBTA saw slower summer service as repairs mount

Slow zones on the MBTA led to longer delays this summer.

Transit

It's a good time to be a Boston moviegoer as Alamo opens, theaters expand

Moviegoers will see new features at Coolidge Corner and the Brattle, alongside the Texas chain's arrival.

Business

A new outpost of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alamo Drafthouse" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/21/alamo-drafthouse-barbie-oppenheimer" data-vars-content-id="a6354760-a283-4bd2-813c-00e27399e0e3" data-vars-headline="It&#x27;s a good time to be a Boston moviegoer as Alamo opens, theaters expand" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/21/alamo-drafthouse-barbie-oppenheimer" target="_self">Alamo Drafthouse</a> movie theater chain opens in the Seaport next month, bringing Boston cinephiles another movie house to see new and classic films.Why it matters: The opening, along with the expansion of the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, are signs that movie theaters aren&#x27;t dying — at least not in Boston.

Illustration of a seagull wearing 3D movie glasses. 

Resubmitted Seaport plans propose movie studio, arboretum, library

In this second round, both proposals feature new amenities for local residents.

Real Estate

Two developers resubmitted competing proposals this week to build out 6.2 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unused acres of the Seaport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2023/01/31/seaport-diversify-boston" data-vars-content-id="64d35c97-b8ff-470e-9246-b1c899791719" data-vars-headline="Resubmitted Seaport plans propose movie studio, arboretum, library" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2023/01/31/seaport-diversify-boston" target="_self">unused acres of the Seaport</a> — one of the final empty spaces in the city&#x27;s recently redeveloped, affluent district.Why it matters: Hopeful developers for the site near the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center must deliver amenities and programs that benefit local residents, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="request for proposals" data-vars-click-url="https://rfp.massconvention.com/rfpnew/attachments/Amended%20and%20Restated%20RFP%20DEVELOPMENT%20OPPORTUNITY%20D%20AND%20E%20STREET.pdf" data-vars-content-id="64d35c97-b8ff-470e-9246-b1c899791719" data-vars-headline="Resubmitted Seaport plans propose movie studio, arboretum, library" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rfp.massconvention.com/rfpnew/attachments/Amended%20and%20Restated%20RFP%20DEVELOPMENT%20OPPORTUNITY%20D%20AND%20E%20STREET.pdf" target="_blank">request for proposals</a>.

Boston startup hopes to remedy the nursing shortage with international students

InSpring plans to admit 20-30 international students into its first cohort this winter.

While hospitals struggle with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nursing shortages" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/01/nursing-shortages-survey-amn-hospitals" data-vars-content-id="dbd9a459-f53c-409f-883f-86edf275821f" data-vars-headline="Boston startup hopes to remedy the nursing shortage with international students" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/01/nursing-shortages-survey-amn-hospitals" target="_self">nursing shortages</a>, a Massachusetts startup is preparing to train hundreds of foreign-born students to fill those roles.Driving the news: Boston-based InSpring plans to admit its first cohort of 20-30 international students with bachelor&#x27;s degrees in the U.S. and other countries this winter, co-founder and CEO Chris Hoehn-Saric tells Axios.

Illustration of a caduceus wearing a graduation cap.

Newest federal agency ARPA-H picks Cambridge for new hub

The agency is tasked with making breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer's and other diseases.

The federal government named Cambridge as one of three sites to comprise the newest federal agency, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/06/the-national-bidding-war-for-arpa-h" data-vars-content-id="6db244f0-d942-4cee-9347-c29ab2a90a52" data-vars-headline="Newest federal agency ARPA-H picks Cambridge for new hub" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/06/the-national-bidding-war-for-arpa-h" target="_self">Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)</a>.Driving the news: Hadley-based nonprofit VentureWell will run the Massachusetts &quot;investor catalyst hub,&quot; state officials announced Tuesday.

Boston's still a remote work hub, for now

The city's share of remote workers fell above last year's national average of 15%, but lower than other cities.

One-fifth of Boston metro area residents worked from home in 2022, down from a peak of nearly 27% a year earlier, new census figures show.What&#x27;s happening: Boston remains a remote work hub, like many other major U.S. cities, but remote tech workers joined the exodus of people leaving Massachusetts in 2022, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao told state lawmakers earlier this year.

A line graph showing 20.8% of Boston-area people work from home, lower than 2021 but higher than 2019. It's also higher than the national share, 15.2%

There's a business bounceback around Boston

It's a good measure of economic sentiment.

More than 700 new businesses were registered on Yelp across the Boston metro area in July 2023, per the company, up 21.5% year over year.Why it matters: New business openings are a good measure of economic sentiment — people generally don&#x27;t take the risk of spinning up a new venture if they foresee economic peril ahead.

A data visualization showing that the number of business openings on Yelp in the Boston metro area was 729 in July 2023, up from the previous month and up from 2022 year-over-year. 

Gaming is on the rise in Boston's nightlife scene

An inclusive nightlife industry also speaks to locals who are into gaming, escape rooms and more.

🎙️ This story is part of Axios&#x27; collaboration with GBH News about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boston&#x27;s nightlife" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wgbh.org/tags/nightlife-in-boston" data-vars-content-id="16423a7f-0838-483e-aead-0a16174df9da" data-vars-headline="Gaming is on the rise in Boston&#x27;s nightlife scene" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wgbh.org/tags/nightlife-in-boston" target="_blank">Boston&#x27;s nightlife</a>. The Boston area has seen a rise in nightlife options for gamers and other hobbyists in the last decade.

Illustration of a disco ball shaped like a 20-sided die.

First Massachusetts NFL season with legal sports betting kicks off

It's the first NFL season with legal betting in Massachusetts

Sports

This NFL season will not only be a major test for New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, but also for sportsbooks in Massachusetts.Why it matters: The gaming industry is closely watching how the pro football season influences Massachusetts&#x27; first year of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="legalized sports betting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2023/01/30/sports-betting-massachusetts-guide" data-vars-content-id="90519036-1fde-403e-9473-89b6734e786d" data-vars-headline="First Massachusetts NFL season with legal sports betting kicks off" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2023/01/30/sports-betting-massachusetts-guide" target="_self">legalized sports betting</a>.

Animated illustration of two flying football helmets colliding and leaving behind a smoky dollar sign.

Massachusetts' biotech job boom

Massachusetts is competitive in the sector despite layoffs.

Despite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="layoffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/fierce-biotech-layoff-tracker-2022" data-vars-content-id="9ef48ba5-1810-4543-910a-ce6b3e4d3497" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts&#x27; biotech job boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/fierce-biotech-layoff-tracker-2022" target="_blank">layoffs</a> and economic concerns, the life sciences sector&#x27;s workforce in Massachusetts saw more growth than nearly all other states last year, according to an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="industry report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.massbio.org/industry-snapshot/" data-vars-content-id="9ef48ba5-1810-4543-910a-ce6b3e4d3497" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts&#x27; biotech job boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.massbio.org/industry-snapshot/" target="_blank">industry report</a> released Wednesday.Why it matters: MassBio&#x27;s industry snapshot shows that Massachusetts remains competitive in the life sciences sector despite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="concerns" data-vars-click-url="https://massinc.org/research/sizing-up-massachusetts-looming-skilled-worker-shortage/" data-vars-content-id="9ef48ba5-1810-4543-910a-ce6b3e4d3497" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts&#x27; biotech job boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://massinc.org/research/sizing-up-massachusetts-looming-skilled-worker-shortage/" target="_blank">concerns</a> about losing skilled workers to lower-cost states.

Illustration of a hand holding a microscope slide with a liquid sample forming a dollar sign.

Electrolyte powders are popular in Boston, but not proven

The salty powders may not be helping as much as you think.

Electrolyte supplements have become a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" shockingly big market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/electrolyte-mix-market-to-reach-30-1-billion-globally-by-2032-at-5-2-cagr-allied-market-research-301850813.html" data-vars-content-id="68d2f6cb-c799-438d-b662-07d7264aec4b" data-vars-headline="Electrolyte powders are popular in Boston, but not proven" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/electrolyte-mix-market-to-reach-30-1-billion-globally-by-2032-at-5-2-cagr-allied-market-research-301850813.html" target="_blank"> shockingly big market</a> in Greater Boston, even though they&#x27;re supported by limited scientific evidence.Why it matters: Although influencers and marketers consider electrolyte powders hydration hacks, doctors say that regularly drinking them instead of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plain water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/america-drinking-water-dehydration-effects" data-vars-content-id="68d2f6cb-c799-438d-b662-07d7264aec4b" data-vars-headline="Electrolyte powders are popular in Boston, but not proven" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/america-drinking-water-dehydration-effects" target="_self">plain water</a> is a waste of money.

Business 🏦