These were the wildest local stories of 2025, according to Boston.com readers
A cuckoo couple. Pierogi problems. A ubiquitous Ed. These were among the weirdest developments of the year, readers say — but they weren't the only ones.
Was there any news in 2025 that wasn’t weird? This was a year that saw Katy Perry going to space, an entire company and multiple marriages almost toppled by the Coldplay kiss cam, and (checks notes) … the East Wing of the White House demolished to build a big honkin’ ballroom. Let’s face it, we’ve entered the Twilight Zone.
With that in mind, we asked Boston.com readers which weird, wacky, and offbeat local stories garnered their attention most during 2025, in Massachusetts, the rest of New England, and in the world of celebrity residents and visitors. They didn’t disappoint, with almost 300 responses to our poll — and as for the top pick, it wasn’t even close. (Hint: We’re on to Cincinnati.)
You can see the top finishers below and, while you’re at it, you may want to pray for the future of humanity.
Massachusetts:
1. Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson, just everything
First of all, yes, we know Bill Belichick — the winningest Patriots coach ever — is no longer in Massachusetts. But you don’t win us that many Super Bowls without being an honorary Bay Stater in perpetuity.
However, we figured at this point we’d be discussing an illustrious post-Patriots career, not his dysfunctional foray into collegiate athletics. And we really didn’t think we’d be discussing, ad nauseum, his relationship with a woman many decades younger, aspects of which seeped into the sidelines at UNC, “CBS Sunday Morning,” People and Us magazines, the “Pablo Finds Out” podcast, the sands of Jupiter Beach, a Dunkin’ commercial, and (checks notes) … the “Miss Maine” pageant.
“This whole situation is just sad,” wrote Conor from the North End. “This shouldn’t be tarnishing his football legacy, but somehow it is … C’mon, Bill — she clearly isn’t into you as a person (or your looks).” (Ouch.) And Abyrnes from Boston wrote, “It’s like reading a bad romance novel!”
But even though a whopping 64% of respondents picked the Bill Belichick/Jordon Hudson show as the head-scratchingest story of the year, not everyone has given up on Bill: “Coach Belichick will always be part of New England, the winningest with the Pats. He’s our guy,” wrote another reader, who, notably, elected to remain anonymous.
2. Pierogi vendor vs. Alan Dershowitz
It’s not every day that a pierogi vendor gets “thrust into the national spotlight.” (Actually, we’re guessing it almost never happens.) But that’s exactly what occurred with one on Martha’s Vineyard, who — after denying Alan Dershowitz pierogi privileges — pushed back on the celebrity lawyer’s “one-sided, mythical storyline” about the subsequent viral exchange.
You’ll recall that Dershowitz wrote on social media, “Bigoted vendor @ Martha’s Vineyard Farmer’s Market refused to sell to me for political reasons. I’m suing.” But to hear Good Pierogi co-owner Krem Miskevich tell it, the move wasn’t anti-Zionist but rather in response to Dershowitz choosing to represent Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. (Yes, that Jeffrey Epstein.) “Mr. Dershowitz consciously decided to befriend and defend men who have been accused of abusing and harming women,” Miskevich said. “In our minds and hearts, selling to Alan Dershowitz was the equivalent to supporting his decisions and statements.”
As one reader from Somerville noted, the conflict offers “a real specific insight into a hyperlocal community issue that also reflects on broader trends.” Bridget from Berwick, Maine, was not quite as contemplative: “I wanted to see Dershowitz have to eat frozen perogies!” she wrote.
Regardless, it’s probably just us, but we’re starting to think Alan Dershowitz likes being the center of attention.
3. Lexington’s 250th commemorative arch did not go according to plan
The first mistake the Lex250 Commission made was inviting “Saturday Night Live” alum and Lexington native Rachel Dratch to host the unveiling of its 250th anniversary arch, because there was no way that ceremony wasn’t going to be hilarious.
But rather than garnering entertainment value solely through the wit of Ms. Dratch, the event drew guffaws (and not a few gasps) when the top of the arch almost immediately toppled over. “Everyone will get a piece of the souvenir arch to take home,” was Dratch’s impromptu response to the fiasco.
Fortunately for all of us, and posterity, the entire thing was captured on video.
Honorable mentions:
- “Dunkin’ desert no longer: Stow is renaming itself after beloved coffee brand,” which is an actual thing that happened (for a day, at least).
- “Men accused of buying sex at Boston-area brothels named,” including an unfortunate Cambridge city councilor.
New England:
1. Swingers club vs. Connecticut church
Pastor David Townsley knew something was up when he had to give directions to people who showed up at his church looking for directions to naked karaoke. Not that he didn’t have suspicions before that.
People would arrive around 9 p.m. and linger into the early hours in the suburban Connecticut lot Riverside Baptist Church shares with the office building next door. “It just seemed unusual, because what business is open during that time?” Townsley told Boston.com. “And the only thing I can think of was that it was some kind of sex club or something.”
And guess what? It was! Billing itself as “the ultimate seductive escape,” the Wicked Fun Club was quietly doing its own thing before Townsley started looking into the reason behind all those late-night visits. Once that caused a hubbub, the social club blamed the backlash on the pastor for “snooping.” As for the ensuing brouhaha, Boston.com readers were there for it.
2. Marauding seagull becomes social media star
There was no shortage of weird local animal stories in 2025, from the bat-in-mouth incident to the shark-bait influencers to the turkey that met its unfortunate demise at a drive-in movie theater. But the creature that really stole readers’ hearts was the high-flying career criminal Cecil the seagull, who went viral terrorizing beachgoers in Connecticut.
Granted, he had good marketing help from Waterford Recreation & Parks, which publicized his antics on social media and declared, “His determination is amazing and of course his love of sandwiches has to be respected.” Ain’t it the truth.
3. Foul-smelling spray the culprit in Conn. carnival kerfuffle
We’re not sure what’s going on in Connecticut — we always thought it was so staid and respectable. But here is yet another offbeat Constitution State story that made Boston.com readers’ radar. And it’s one that involves (checks notes) … fart spray.
Apparently, the foul odor at the carnival caused “small groups to scream and run,” Fairfield police reported. “Toward the end of the evening, a larger reaction occurred, triggering a ripple effect as others began running without knowing the cause,” they added.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, and it allowed us to quote the following Amazon.com description for “Liquid A**”: “Once unleashed, this power-packed, super-concentrated liquid begins to evaporate, filling the air with a genuine, foul butt-crack smell with hints of dead animal and fresh poo.”
Honorable mentions:
- “Man, 40, rescued by fire, police, EMS after getting stuck in tube slide,” WHICH ALSO HAPPENED IN CONNECTICUT!
- “Asked to name a New England state, ‘Family Feud’ contestants answer ‘New York’ and ‘Spain.’” We get Spain, but New York??
The most buzz-worthy celebrity sightings of 2025:
Boston.com readers rated these as the top local celebrity interactions of the year.
- Conan O’Brien spotted riding bus in Cambridge
- Ed Sheeran is everywhere
- Charlie Day plays “Dayman” at Boston bar
- Donnie Wahlberg filming “Boston Blue” on Common
- Bill Nye turns up at Celtics Media Day
Check out the full results below:
Credits for photo illustration: Bill Nye by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe; Donnie Wahlberg by John Paul Filo/CBS; Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for the American Museum of Natural History; Dunkin’ sign by Charles Krupa for the AP; Ed Sheeran by Una Whyte; seagull by Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe, file; pierogis by Anna Liminowicz; Charlie Day courtesy of 88 Club.
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com