Axios Boston

September 12, 2025
Made it to Friday. Your reward? News. And maybe turkey legs and corndogs.
☀️ Sunny, 71°/52°
🎂 Happy early birthday to Axios Boston members Lydia Bogar, Robert Falter and Kit Murphy!
Today's newsletter is 1,129 words — a 4.5-minute read.
1 big thing: The Big E is New England's Epcot
If you've never made the trip from Boston to West Springfield for the Big E, this might be the year to try it.
Why it matters: It's not just another state fair; it's six state fairs in one, packed into a 17-day showcase of New England's culinary chops, cultural identity and agricultural output.
- Embrace the New Englandcore vibes.
Driving the news: The Big E opens today in West Springfield and runs through Sept. 28.
- It's about an hour and 45 minutes from Boston. Just take the Pike to West Springfield.
By the numbers: The Big E — aka the Eastern States Exposition — is the largest agricultural event on the East Coast.
- 1.6 million visitors set an attendance record last year, according to the Big E.
- 39 local vendors are selling their wares in the newly renovated Massachusetts Building, one of six state-specific sites showcasing the best made-in-New England products.
- The strip of replica statehouse buildings and the quaint Storrowton Village recreation basically make it Yankee Epcot.
Stunning stat: The Big E is apparently the third-largest fair in the country by attendance after Texas and Minnesota.
- That makes our fair bigger than those famous rural, corndog fests in Iowa, Wisconsin, Arizona and Oklahoma.
Of course, the food is a highlight.
- Check out over 90 new fairground food options and food-adjacent fried monstrosities.
What to try: The deep-fried chile rellenos, Dubai chocolates, and the Big E's signature cream puffs, turkey legs and famous one-pound meatballs.
- For the back-to-the-land 4H influencers out there, check out the livestock competitions featuring animals from dozens of states.
- And you know Vermont isn't showing up without some extravagant dairy art like a butter cow or a giant Birkenstock made of cheddar.
Cheapskate tips: "Bargain Bites Monday" on Sept. 15 has $3 specials at some vendors.
- Sunday-Thursday has $11 admission after 5pm.
The music: Gov't Mule opens the fair Friday night, and Busta Rhymes and Rick Ross headline Saturday, Sept. 13.
- TLC with Big Boi are Sept. 19.
- Foreigner is on Sept. 21.
- Train stops by Sept. 27.
- And ZZ Top closes things out Sept. 28.
And no multistate fair would be complete without second-stage musical acts from 25 years ago that you think you kind of remember.
- Well, get ready to jog your memory with acts like Tonic, the Marshall Tucker Band, Five for Fighting, Sister Hazel, Finger Eleven and Queensrÿche.
The bottom line: Eat some deep-fried-whatever and revel in New England exceptionalism.
2. 🗳️ Kraft drops out
Josh Kraft is out of the race for mayor after a devastating loss to Mayor Michelle Wu in Tuesday's preliminary election.
Why it matters: The nonprofit leader and son of New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft came in 48 percentage points behind the incumbent.
- Wu now has an uncontested path to a second term.
What they're saying: "When I kept looking at the next eight weeks, the negativity, and all that it was going to be about. I realized, wow, I can do more. I can make a better impact for the residents of the city of Boston," Kraft told WCVB in an interview.
Between the lines: Kraft's decision yesterday ends a campaign that never fully took off, despite him pouring millions of his own money into it.
What's next: Kraft said he plans to donate $3 million in campaign funds to fight homelessness and substance use disorder.
3. 🍺 First Look: Fenway vendors' new "beer robot" attack
The Fenway Park concession workers who've been striking over wage and automation disputes are taking their message straight to Boston sports fans — and possibly Red Sox ownership — with new ads on sports radio.
Why it matters: They've timed the ads to coincide with a series against the Yankees, and workers are threatening additional strikes if negotiations stall out.
State of play: Aramark concession workers want to pressure Red Sox principal owner John Henry to address wage concerns with the team's food and beverage contractor.
Driving the news: The ads feature worker testimonials criticizing the "beer robot" self-checkout kiosks they claim inadequately verify age.
- The campaign will run through September on sports radio stations, directing fans to JohnHenryDotheRightThing.com.
What they're saying: "Beer robots are a bad idea. They can't check IDs and they definitely can't keep fans safe," longtime beerman Bob White says in one ad.
The other side: Aramark has said the kiosks improve service and wait times for fans.
Catch up quick: Unite Here Local 26 members launched a three-day strike in July during a Dodgers home stand.
- Workers want better pay and less automation at Fenway.
- Aramark has contingency plans to maintain vending services at the ballpark and say they're still working toward a settlement.
4. 🔙 Back that Mass. Up: BPD on ICE
🚔 Boston's police accountability office is tracking what it calls "questionable" ICE tactics as Mayor Michelle Wu faces criticism from Trump border czar Tom Homan over an enforcement surge. (Boston Herald)
💼 Massachusetts' new economic development secretary, Eric Paley, believes it's inevitable that OpenAI will move to the Bay State because of our "ultimate brain power." (BBJ)
🚇 The Red Line lost power near South Station just before 8:30am yesterday, forcing T riders onto shuttle buses between Broadway and Park Street during rush hour. (Universal Hub)
🏥 Bay Staters say they're satisfied with the quality of health care they receive despite some access and cost barriers, according to a new MassINC poll. (CommonWealth Beacon)
- One-third of residents say they delayed or skipped care due to costs, while 20% waited months for appointments.
5. 🚅 Pic du jour
The MBTA started issuing citations for fare evasion Monday.
- Gate-jumpers will get a warning first, then a $50 fine for a first offense.
- After that, it's $100.
6. 📺 Our favorite Emmy nominees
Emmy nominees "The Bear" and "The White Lotus" were the most-searched titles among Roku users in Massachusetts.
State of play: Roku found the top-searched Emmy candidates in the Best Drama Series, Best Comedy Series and Best Limited Series categories.
The intrigue: "The Penguin," a spinoff of the 2022 film "The Batman," was the top-searched show in the Best Limited Series category in all 50 states.
What's next: The Emmys, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, air on CBS4 and Paramount+ Sunday.
7. ⁉️ News Quiz
Ready to test your knowledge of the week's news?
- Click here to take our quiz and tell us how you did!
Send a screenshot of your perfect score to [email protected] for the glory of a shoutout next week!
Deehan wants more intense New England cuisine/fair food hybrids like stuffies on a stick and deep fried clams casino.
Steph wonders if this will be the year they actually go to the Big E.
This newsletter was edited by Kristen Hinman.
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