Massachusetts: There Have Only Been 5 Rain-Free Weekends Since Memorial Day

You might not recognize the shining orange thing you see in the sky today. We haven't seen it in a while, but it's called the sun. After another rain-soaked Saturday, there have only been five rain-free weekends in the Boston area of Massachusetts since Memorial Day.

We've gotten to the point where this has been an expected weekend circumstance to adjust your plans around. The good news is organizations like youth sports have pivoted from canceling weekend games to finding a way to endure the rain and play. That is, in part, because there is not much flexibility in remaining fall weekends to play with.

The frustration New Englanders have been expressing is certainly justified when you look at the numbers behind the weather patterns we have endured.

The Boston Globe reported that the summer of 2023 was the second rainiest in recent history. There was roughly 20 inches of rain during this time in the greater-Boston area. In addition, NBC Boston explained this was a common occurrence throughout the state, saying, "Worcester, Massachusetts, has its second wettest summer on record, at more than ten inches beyond the norm."

Climate change could also play a part in only having five rain-free weekends in  Massachusetts since Memorial Day. "For every 1 degree Fahrenheit of temperature increase, Earth’s atmosphere holds 4 percent more water vapor," NBC Boston explained.

"The meteorological summer (June-August) average temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 73.0°F, 1.6°F above average, ranking 15th warmest on record," the NCEI (the National Centers for Environmental Information) explained.

For now, we have a few days of sunny weather to enjoy. In fact, Tuesday is forecasted to be a high of 82 degrees, and Wednesday's high is 81. By Thursday, we may start to see some clouds and partly sunny skies. Then, Friday the five-day forecast shows a cloudy day in the mid-70s.

As of now it looks like we will remain at only five rain-free weekends in Massachusetts. Yes, it's New England, and the weather can change in an hour, but this coming weekend shows a high chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday.

Okay, let me get right to the point. I'm from New Jersey and grew up about twenty miles from Manhattan. So, I've been on the hunt for the perfect bagel ever since I moved to New England 12 years ago, and have been pleasantly surprised to find a few Massachusetts chain restaurants that actually have great bagels.

I'm also always on the run driving to various events or tournaments across the state. Regardless of what county I am in, a good bagel and coffee breakfast is something I am always looking for. Time is usually of the essence so my preference is typically a quick grab-and-go.

I've compiled a short list of bagel chains that really deliver. To clarify, this list excludes any local bakery or privately owned single bagel shop. Many of those remain among my favorite places to grab an everything, extra-toasted, and lightly buttered. In fact, this past weekend I even tripped across one that cooks a "New Jersey Pork Roll" bagel sandwich. The proper term is Taylor Ham, but back to the point.

The bagel restaurants selected here don't have to be specific to Massachusetts only. They do, however have multiple locations throughout the state. So, If I'm en route to an early morning lacrosse tournament in Devens and stop in to grab breakfast at a Newton franchise, I can expect their other location in Milton will have a similar offering, when I'm there for a sunrise hockey game in the winter.

In full transparency, Dunkin' Donuts is not on this list. With all due respect,  it's called Dunkin "Donuts" for a reason. Throw a sausage, egg, and cheese on one of their bagels and I'm OK, but I'm still not going out of my way specifically for their bagels. However, if this were a coffee chain feature, Dunkin' would be standing strong towards the top.

Without further ado, let's hop in the car, roll down Route 3, 24, or take a sharp exit off 93, and pull into a few Massachusetts small chain restaurants that are cooking up some great bagels.

There are five Gunther Tooties locations from Foxborough down to the South Shore. The owner of this chain worked in a New York bagel shop before taking over the first location in Pembroke. Moreover, a few of their spots offer drive-through. The "French Toast" bagel listed under the New York Style portion of the menu is always hard to resist.

Sometimes known as "The Bagel Shop" (like their Chatham location), this is a family operated chain business that has a significant presence in eastern Massachusetts and in Florida. Everything is baked fresh onsite. If you've ever wondered what Chocolate Chip Cookie flavored Iced Coffee takes like, they have 22 different variations here. And it tastes as good as it sounds.

There are five Cafe Fresh Bagel restaurants all within about 30 minutes of each other. This is my bagel breakfast sandwich spot. I  keep it simple when I go there, with a classic: bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel.

There are 14 Bruegger's in Massachusetts. Each one is a combination of its own character and consistent taste. The menu is the same everywhere, which is a good thing because their bagels contiguously deliver an essential bagel flavor whether you are in a Bruegger's on School St. in Boston or stopping in on your way to their Route 3a South Shore location on your way to the highway. Plus, their bagels are relatively small, so you can eat two.