5 Things You Should Know This Week – June 23rd

Have a great week, Ctown!

The City of Boston has declared a heat emergency beginning June 22nd – June 24th

Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a heat emergency in the City of Boston beginning June 22, 2025 through June 24, 2025. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s with a feels-like temperature of up to 100 degrees. Cooling centers will be open at Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) community centers Sunday through Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A full list of centers, other available resources, and heat safety tips can be found online at boston.gov/heat. Residents are encouraged to call 311 with any questions about available city services and look out for each other. If you see someone out in the heat who appears in distress and needs help, call 911 immediately.

Want to cool off? Check out the 2024 Beach Season Water Quality Report Card or find your local pool or splash pad. 

It’s also important to remember how to keep your furry friends safe during heat emergencies. Crate Escape in Charlestown has great recommendations, from avoiding midday walks to offering frozen treats, these tips will help protect your furry friend from the heat.

Asana’s got a new summer schedule

New classes, new teachers! Check out their new summer schedule online. And don’t forget, they offer a new student special – 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $49.

Luau in Paradise: Pig Roast at Pier 6

Get ready to say “aloha” to summer in the best way possible—right on the Charlestown waterfront. On Thursday, June 26th at 7PM, Pier 6 is transforming into a tropical escape for Luau in Paradise, a festive pig roast packed with island vibes and seaside charm. Pull out your best Hawaiian shirt and head to the pier for a night filled with live music from the Island Boys Steel Pan Band, specialty tiki cocktails, tropical bites, island swag, and photo booth fun. Your ticket includes a mouthwatering pig roast and a drink ticket for one of Pier 6’s signature tropical drinks.

Back for a new season – Charlestown Farmers Market

The Charlestown Farmers Market is back for the 2025 season on Wednesdays from 2pm-6pm through October.  Shoppers will find fresh, seasonal ingredients and products from local vendors offering produce, meat, seafood, bread, prepared food, cheese, honey, and more.

The farmers market is located at Thompson Square. Corner of Main & Austin Street next to the bike stand. Bonus Vendor:  Junebug will be popping up at the market this season, selling their Junebug bouquets!

This week’s history lesson: remembering the lives lost in the Vendome Fire

The Hotel Vendome was built as a luxury hotel in 1871 at 160 Commonwealth Ave. In 1972, an extensive renovation of the building was underway to convert it into luxury condos, shops, and restaurants. On June 17, 1972, around 2:30 pm, a worker noticed a fire between the third and fourth floors and alerted the fire department. According to the Boston Public Library, a total of 16 engine companies, five ladder companies, two aerial towers, and a heavy rescue company responded to the 4-alarm fire. The fire was knocked down by 4:30 pm.

“Several crews were at the building doing clean-up at around 5:30 pm when the entire southeast corner of the building collapsed without warning, burying 25 firefighters and a ladder truck in a pile of debris. Nine of the firefighters died, making it the greatest loss of life in a single incident in the history of the Boston Fire Department.”

Read more in our full article, here.