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Massachusetts Casinos and Other Large Venues Can Begin to Reopen

Plus, the Mike & Patty’s/Hot Box team debuts a burrito shop this week, and more news

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Exterior view of the Encore casino near Boston, a shiny bronze-colored building on a river.
Encore Boston Harbor in Everett is allowed to reopen as early as July 6 but plans to do so on July 12
Barbara Kraft/Encore Boston Harbor

Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the week.

Phase Three Begins: Massachusetts Casinos and Other Large Venues Can Reopen

Today, July 6, marks the start of phase three of Massachusetts’ reopening plan (except in the city of Boston, which will embark on phase three on July 13): Casinos, gyms, museums, and some other large indoor venues can begin to reopen, with various restrictions in place. Boston’s closest casino, Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, plans to reopen on July 12, with rules about distancing, masks, and more. Some, but not all, of the restaurants within the casino will reopen at the same time.

When Gov. Charlie Baker announced the move into phase three last week, he also noted that it could be quite a while before phase four, the “new normal,” begins — a COVID-19 vaccine and/or effective treatments must be in place first. That means that a lot of businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industry will have to remain closed for now, including beer gardens, breweries, wineries, and distilleries that do not provided seated food service. (Those that do were able to reopen in some capacity in phase two, which began on June 8.) Bars (that don’t have seated food service) and nightclubs are also included in phase four.

Street festivals, agricultural festivals, and parades are also on hold until phase four; some of Massachusetts’ large food festivals have already officially announced their 2020 cancellations, including the Big E. Next year’s event has been set for September 17 through October 3, 2021. The Boston Local Food Festival, which would have taken place on September 20, 2020, on the Greenway, has also been canceled.

Seis Pies Burrito Joint Pops Up This Week

The Mike & Patty’s and Hot Box team is collaborating with chef Tim Maslow (Ribelle, Whaling in Oklahoma) on a burrito joint called Seis Pies — Spanish for six feet. A social distancing reference, perhaps?

Seis Pies makes its debut as a pop-up at Hot Box (1 Bow Market Way, Bow Market, Union Square, Somerville) this Wednesday and Thursday, July 8 and 9, from 5 to 8 p.m. or until sellout. The team plans to release the opening menu later today; watch Instagram for any pertinent updates.

Meanwhile, Hot Box continues to serve its North Shore-style roast beef and South Shore-style bar pizza daily, with takeout and delivery options available. There are some new items on the menu, too, like steak and cheese egg rolls. And over in Boston’s Bay Village, tiny sandwich shop Mike & Patty’s is also open for takeout and delivery daily.

In Other News...

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Mike & Patty's

12 Church Street, , MA 02116 (617) 423-3447 Visit Website

Hot Box

1 Bow Market Way, , MA 02143 (617) 284-9600 Visit Website

Bow Market

1 Bow Market Way, , MA 02143 Visit Website