What will entertainment look like in kidsap if people can't gather

The silver screens at theaters across Kitsap darkened weeks ago. Employees have been laid off, the wafting smells of popcorn have faded, releases have been delayed as coronavirus restrictions tightened. Netflix is your best bet for entertainment these days. Jeff Brein, the managing partner of Far Away Entertainment, which operates several theaters around Puget Sound, including Bainbridge Cinemas and the Lynwood Theatre on Bainbridge Island, and the Roxy Theatre in Bremerton, notes that there is, of course, no take-out option for a movie theater. For now, he’s relegated to keeping in touch with creditors, applying for funding lines and trying to plan for what’s ahead as COVID-19 subsides. Entertainment venues will have to wait for Phase 3 of the state’s reopening, potentially still weeks off. “We’re just sitting here waiting, watching TV like everybody else, waiting to hear what (Gov. Jay Inslee) says,” Brein said. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis perform Wednesday, Aug. 31, at the Admiral Theatre. Photo by Eric Morgensen/Admiral Theater. No credit Even as entertainment venues beef up their cleaning procedures and put new safety policies in place, they can only do so much. The experience entertainment industry relies on its customers being comfortable with being around other people for extended periods of time, and as venues eventually reopen, they’ll have to grapple with the challenge of drawing consumers back out of their homes after weeks of being told to stay home and avoid gatherings for fear of passing along the virus. The Suquamish Tribe’s Clearwater Casino Resort, Kitsap’s first large entertainment venue to reopen after widespread coronavirus closures, welcomed back guests on May 18, offering a picture for what’s ahead for recreation and amusement venues like movie theaters, playhouses and others in the days ahead. The facility opened its doors with Port Madison Enterprises, the tribe's economic development arm, saying the property would allow a limited number of visitors inside and only if those guests were from select nearby counties. Guests would have to wear masks and maintain distances between themselves and other players. Limited dining options would be available for small groups and individuals. More: Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort reopens after weeks of COVID-19 closure Port Madison Enterprises CEO Rion Ramirez said the first few days since the reopening have gone smoothly and that while business has been steady, it hasn’t been over-the-top busy. “I think it’s going to be a gradual thing,” he said of visitors coming back to the facility, “but I think the new norm is going to be a little bit different in terms of how we all approach things and how we are all paying attention to social distancing and how we are all working to get back to a responsible way of doing things in this new era. It’s going to be something that continues to evolve, but at the end of the day, I think ultimately, it’s going to be a little bit different than it was previously.