The city of Boston is officially adopting a new Massachusetts law that lets restaurants and bars serve alcohol until 3 a.m. amid World Cup celebrations this summer.
Mayor Michelle Wu said businesses that are currently licensed to stay open until 2 a.m. can now apply through the city’s Licensing Board to extend alcohol and entertainment hours through 3 a.m. Places that usually close earlier than 2 a.m. can also apply to push back their operating times by another hour.
The new law gives cities and towns the power to decide whether or not to allow a later “last call” through July 31. It also authorizes municipalities to designate outdoor spaces on streets or at parks where public drinking is allowed if drinks are bought from licensed establishments within the special zones.
Boston said Wednesday it will also soon reveal “a designated social district where public consumption of alcohol will be permitted.”
According to Wu, applicants for a later last call can get same-day approval to push back closing hours.
“We’re eager for Boston’s small businesses to share in the economic opportunities created by this summer’s special events, building on our recent progress expanding nightlife and late-hour activity,” the mayor said in a statement.
While the prospect of keeping the party going later in Boston is exciting for soccer fans, some restaurants and bars have told WBZ-TV they aren’t sure it will work for their business.
The first World Cup match at “Boston Stadium” in Foxboro is scheduled for Saturday when Haiti plays Scotland. Boston is hosting a FIFA Fan Festival on City Hall Plaza, as well as six free neighborhood watch parties around the city.
Nick Martinez gave up six hits over seven innings, Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes hit RBI doubles, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Martinez (6-2) allowed three runs while striking out two. Kevin Kelly added a hitless eighth, and Bryan Baker pitched the ninth for his 18th save.
Ryan Vilade had three hits and scored the Rays’ first run in the fourth inning. Williamson and Fortes each had two hits, and Tampa Bay managed 12 overall while going 5 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle (3-3) went six innings, allowing nine hits and four runs while striking out three. His streak of eight consecutive starts with three or fewer runs allowed came to an end.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa was 2 for 3 with two runs and Marcelo Mayer drove in two runs with an eighth-inning double that pulled Boston within 4-3.
The Red Sox threatened to tie the game in the eighth but Kelly entered and forced three straight groundouts to escape the inning.
Jarren Duran’s RBI single in the third inning opened the scoring.
The Rays scored three in the fourth inning to take the lead, and added an insurance run in the sixth on Richie Palacios’ single.
Up next
Tampa Bay RHP Drew Rasmussen (5-2, 3.00 ERA) starts in the series finale. Boston has not named a starter.
With another loss on Monday, the Boston Red Sox are now 10 games below .500 at 27-37 on the season with two more games scheduled against the Tampa Bay Rays before heading back to Fenway Park to face the Texas Rangers on Friday.
On one hand, it’s pretty clear that the Red Sox don’t want to wave the white flag. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has made it clear that he is looking around trying to make a move. On Monday, reports surfaced from ESPN’s Buster Olney indicating that the trade talks have elevated to the point that ownership has gotten involved. It’s clear that Boston wants to add. But will the performance on the field warrant that? It’s the big question right now. Being 10 games below .500 on June 9 isn’t completely insurmountable, but it is a big hole to get out of. It’s not going to be easy.
Boston is in a tricky spot, so naturally, rumors and speculation have also popped up about various guys the club could look to offload. The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey reported that the team has fielded calls on Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, and Justin Slaten, but has told teams that they aren’t willing to move their relievers yet. McCaffrey also reported that the Red Sox are shopping Connor Wong. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale took the Chapman noise further and said he’s “expected” to get traded this season. Arguably, a bit far for this point in the season, especially with the Red Sox clearly trying to add, not subtract. But something to watch.
But how does Chapman feel? He made it clear on Monday that his hope is to stay in Boston and turn things around, as shared by MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith.
“My mentality is to stay here and win here,” Chapman said through a translator, as transcribed by Smith. “Try to turn things around. … I don’t have the control over that.”
Chapman made his point clear. Now, it’s going to be very interesting to see what the club does. He has a 0.46 ERA in 20 appearances with 13 saves. The reigning Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award winner has a conditional option for the 2027 season that will be unlocked when he reaches 40 innings pitched and he passes a physical at the end of the year. He’s just under halfway to the innings goal.
At the end of the day, the best-case scenario would be Boston getting hot and shutting down all of this noise. Chapman clearly would bring a solid return, but winning is much better than that. Hopefully, things will change soon. But if the club can’t turn things around, the Red Sox hold the cards and could easily find a taker. Chapman made his point clear. What will Boston do?
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BOSTON (WHDH) – Boston homicide detectives are investigating the death of a child in the South End.
First responders received a call Monday night for a cardiac event at a home on Shawmut Avenue.
The child was taken to the hospital where they died.
The circumstances surrounding the death have not been released.
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