Vol. 4, No. 1 DECEMBER 2021 FREE
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE FEATURING MILL No. 5
on the
FIFTH FLOOR
MILL NO. 5 AT
THE
FAR M MARKET
FROM THE EDITOR
HOWL www.howlmag.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rita Savard PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jim Lichoulas III PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Tory Wesnofske
It’s beginning to look a lot like… We’re back, baby! The holidays are back to normal—at least closer to “normal” than we’ve managed since 2019. And, after a brief hiatus for HOWL—the past two years leaving us feeling a bit Rip Van Winkled—one thing is certain: Personal contact and socialization play a bigger part in all our lives than many of us ever understood. When our besties at Mill No. 5 reached out and asked HOWL to join them in celebrating all things local for the holidays, we didn’t think twice about diving in and joining the creators, crusaders, rabble-rousers, and risk-takers who awe, inspire, and show us what it means to live and love as a “localist.”
CONTIRBUTERS Pizzuti Photography INDUSTRY 11 Amelia Tucker
Stepping off the elevators at 250 Jackson Street and back into the magical Daigon Alley-esque world of Mill No. 5’s indoor streetscapes, we are reminded that there is always something new to discover in this ever-evolving creative community— which is the core of this wonderland assortment of carefully curated shops, delicious food, and entertainment in downtown Lowell.
HEADQUARTERS Mill No. 5 250 Jackson Street, No. 401 Lowell, MA 01852
We love buying local and we know you do, too. So once again we present our Homegrown Holiday guide, chock-full of options for the best gifts around. From vinyl records and kitchen widgets to books, games, clothes, and more for creatures on two legs or four, you’ll find a little something for everybody on your nice list.
MULTIMEDIA ART DIRECTOR Richard Francey
CONNECT WITH US hello@howlmag.com ON THE COVER Melissa Fedorchuck, production manager of Red Antler Apothecary (also on P. 6). Melissa hand forges many of the natural products available at Red Antler. Photo by Tory Wesnofske.
When it’s time to recharge after all your adventures in shopping, noshing, and sipping, make sure to stop into some of Lowell’s best galleries and artist studios to peruse and purchase one-of-akind works of art and treasures (see p. 22-23). May your holiday season be filled with joy, health, friends, and family, as well as the finest goods and gifts our unique small businesses have to offer. Locally yours, The HOWL Street Team XO howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 3
Did you know...
SOUND & SCENE A NEW ROOM WITH A VIEW
Lowell was America’s first planned industrial city. By 1850, the city’s textile mills produced enough cloth annually to encircle the earth twice. Moxie soda was created here in 1876 and was the first mass produced soft drink in the U.S. In 1879 Lowell became the first place in the world to use phone numbers. The Ymittos Candle Co., is a huge Hollywood movie supplier and manufactured candles for Pirates of The Caribbean, Lincoln and The Lone Ranger. The Aiken Street bridge holds the record for longest lenticular truss bridge in the country at 155 feet, and also ranks first place for most lenticular spans — a whopping five. Johnny Depp visited Lowell to learn more about Jack Kerouac. Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and countless other big bands all played in Lowell at the former Commodore Ballroom, also known as Mr. C’s.
Raise a glass to spectacular views and elevated libations at Butterfield Park. With a central location on Mill No. 5’s 5th floor, this new indoor green space aims to bring the outdoors inside year-round and provide unique opportunities for community gatherings, celebration, and relaxation. Featuring gorgeous natural light, greenery galore, a birdseye view of downtown Lowell, a stage for entertainment, and a bar for refreshments, the park can be utilized for anything from live concerts to meetups to farmers’ markets and more.
THE RETURN OF LUNA SESSIONS Jazz fans rejoice. You won’t need to look any farther than the Luna Theater for live jazz on a theater stage. Have a seat in a plush armchair, sip a local craft brew and enjoy the jam from some of the most talented players in the area, kicking of Thursday, Dec. 23.
TASTE OF HOME Who says you can’t eat local and fresh all winter long? Every Sunday come sun, rain, or snow, the Farm Market on the
SPIN THIS Vinyl Destination becomes Cupcake Records for December
fifth floor of Mill No. 5 features a wide variety of greens and produce along with meats, cheeses, eggs, artisanal jellies and jams, honey, chocolates, wine, and so much more from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CUPCAKE RECORDS HONORS LORIE SKELTON PERRY For the second year in a row, Vinyl Destination will change its name to Cupcake Records for the month of December to honor the late Lorie Skelton Perry, a beloved family member who made the world a better place by sharing her love, light, and profound baking skills. Proceeds made through Cupcake Records during this time will benefit the Life Raft Group, a nonprofit with a mission to enhance the survival and quality of life for people living with the same type of stomach cancer that ended Lorie’s life too soon. T-shirts designed by local artist Eyeformation ($20), totes ($18), and stickers ($2) make great gifts for a great cause—now that’s music to our ears!
Visit the calendar at millno5.com for more
BUTTERFIELD PARK The next big thing at Mill No. 5
MORE PLEASE The Farm Market Mill No. 5 | Every Sunday
FEELING GROOVY Luna Sessions The Luna Theater | Dec. 23 howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 5
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DECK THE HALLS STANDOUT SHOTS FROM OUR INSTAGRAM COMMUNITY
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FULL BLEED RED ANTLER
The Gang’s All Here: Team Red Antler. Photo by Tory Wesnofske. 8 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com
THE CURE How Rachel Chandler launched a thriving apothecary business in Mill No. 5
Red Antler Apothecary is
making magic. The all-natural, 100-percent toxin free kind. Greater Lowell’s popular herbal pharmacy is committed to creating safe and sensory enhancing products from food-grade vegetable oils, shea and cocoa butters, organic spices, herbs, flowers, and more sourced from local growers and their own sprawling farm. The word “apothecary” is derived from the Latin apotheca, meaning a place where wines, spices, and herbs, were stored for medicinal purposes. During the 13th century it came into use to describe a person who made and kept stock of these commodities, which were sold from a shop or street cart. Fast-forward to today, where Red Antler’s founder and chief apothecarist, Rachel Chandler— one part scientist and all parts social-impact entrepreneur—is combining nature’s potency with personalized care for handforged elixers that feed the mind, body, and soul. Where did the idea for Red Antler come from? I have always been deeply concerned with our impact on our world, philosophically and physically. Red Antler Apothecary, from soap to herbal medicine, is a manifestation of our family values.
I love the idea of beauty and utility being genuinely married, and even more than that, I’m interested in the “impact of temporary” as much as I am interested in that which lasts generations. Largely, everything is temporary to some degree in this form or that. We (as well as our stuff ) may live on in different molecular makeup—but we shall not remain. Our soap is beautiful and purposeful and yet it treads lightly while it is here with us. You can follow the molecules through their lifecycle from the day they were born as a seed in the soil, to being harvested as a plant, processed into oil, and then again into soap. That beautiful bar is used to care for a human harmlessly and gently, or an animal, and then it washes down the drain where is can be accepted back into the earth, through the soil and waters, without harm. How is Red Antler different today than when you opened in 2014? We started in our little kitchen and growing in our backyard garden, and then gathering it all up in mismatched packaging, we’d hustle out to any farmer’s market that would take us. I went to herbal school through all of it to develop a better chemistry understanding of what I knew from mentors and family. I have been lucky enough over the years to successfully talk very
special people into getting on board and starting new additional adventures with me. Today we are a team of 12 sustaining three stores—two businesses and a farm. What sets Red Antler apart from other personal care? Red Antler is really a different category than personal care. We are an actual herbal apothecary, or herbal pharmacy. My herbalist education and experience informs our recipes, and our recipe writing policies, as well as what we will—and will not—do. We have a deep understanding for how we use ingredients and their impacts. Additionally, we strive to either grow it or get it locally, for all of the ethical reasons, but also to keep ourselves free from the supply chain web of woes. What is your personal motto? “One will never get what is the most sweetly sun-kissed by allowing oneself to just pick the low hanging fruit.” —Rachel Chandler. What has been a major turning point in your journey as an entrepreneur? This isn’t really a major turning point, but it’s a memorable part of the journey: We had cut major personal costs in order to take a shot at being business owners,
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and I had found a little pickup for $1,000 to get around to farmer’s markets. It was a 1988 Jeep Comanche with barely even a floor left. The road could be seen below the clutch and break. It took me to farmers markets and held lots of gear and product. The Comanche has a sad ending, but Enterprise Bank gave me a business loan that allowed me to buy a nice, big Silverado with low miles, which is still in the fleet. The faith that Enterprise Bank had in us, and the ability to make good on that loan felt confirming—and was a needed shot in the arm. Shortly after, my husband, Rick (Stec), joined me full time and Melissa Fedorchuck (our production manager) was next. It felt like we were off and running!
I was sure I would be a Broadway star. Additionally, I had created a story around a fictitious souvenir shop that I made things for, stocked, and dealt with customers and marketed. What is on your nightstand? The book, Herbal Medic, by Sam Coffman. I’m preparing myself.
What do you do to shake off the workday and find your Zen? I have not yet figured out how to do this. It’s a work in progress. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
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Perhaps our soap that we make from ocean flat mud. It’s a very special type of mud and the end result is like absolutely no other soap I’ve ever tried in my life. It’s a bit exfoliating, incredibly invigorating, and deep cleaning. My next favorite is an herbal base blend called “Calm & Collected.” This is a collection of anxiolytic and nervine herbs, grown almost exclusively by us. It can be used to make tea, tincture, soak, or smoke. It smells lovely and is incredibly effective. What is Red Antler’s No. 1 seller?
What is the biggest lesson you have learned as a business owner? I learned in my years as a director in social services that ignoring something hard doesn’t make it go away, and I have had to remind myself of that in business also. When something goes wrong or doesn’t meet my expectations, I try to spend time thinking about whether I knew if it was coming down the line—and did I respond accordingly? On the other hand, when I feel a twinge of concern about something, I try to spend five minutes with it and think about what the risks and benefits are.
What are your favorite Red Antler products?
Where do you go to find inspiration? The place I go to find inspiration is a little island off the coast of Maine. My grandparents lived in this little fishing village/artist community and my family is buried there. My understanding of herbal medicine started there, and we return multiple times a year to forage, breath, and press reset. The bridge to the island feels like stepping through the wardrobe and entering another world. Listening to fisherman talk about the warming seas has been troubling.
It depends on the time of year, but Knot Sauce is always at the top—or close to it—as well as our Day & Night cream, and our Equilibrium Tincture. Knot Sauce is a typical sore muscle, arthritis pain, headache and recovery stick made with or without CBD, and always with a collection of analgesics, inflammation reducers, and blood flow support oils and herbs. I usually recommend pairing it with an internal willow bark or additional support. Do you have a dream project? We have ongoing planning sessions and have had the opportunity to render a picture of a place where we can continue to grow medicine, make things, and be the stewards of the land and our community. There will be animals. And there will be learning. It will be a retreat to some, and a jump-off point for others. But either way, it will be for all. What’s next for Red Antler? This winter, we are building the
best version of our kitchen ever at Mill No. 5. We will be building an “all herbs” room and expanding out herbal reach. In summer 2022, the Red Antler Medicine
Farm at Mill No. 5 will be expanding to include some more rare and endangered herbs for sustainability purposes.
Red Antler on Instagram @redantlerapothecary
Finish these sentences… I am… hopeful. The future is… unknown, but we are prepared. Life is… challenging, but hard work makes muscles. There is not enough… listening. Before I go to bed… I take stock of what the next day’s challenges and goal are. Happiness is… coffee, early morning sunshine, and hanging out in our personal garden with the bees, birds, and other critters. In the end… I hope that I’ve left it all better than I found it. And I hope that they will feel that it is worth continuing what we started. howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 11
SEASON’S EATINGS Brendan Pelley’s creative comfort food celebrates fresh local flavor
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Home. Warmth. Family. Culture. The definition of comfort food can change depending on who you ask but visit the cozy kitchen at Coffee & Cotton— where rich soups and grilled cheeses warm the soul—and Chef Brendan Pelley will undoubtedly have you craving bread and pizza for days. The culinary director of Mill No. 5, Pelley knows the secret to serving nostalgia and love on a plate is sourcing only the best local ingredients—well, that, and a surprise or two (hello house made cashew butter and blueberry compote with salted brie on sourdough; and BLT with a kick of miso mayo). Using the ingredients available to him from New England farms, Pelley takes pride in putting his creative spin on comfort food season after season.
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When did you know you wanted to focus your career around food? I had always loved food and cooking and had worked at cafes and small restaurants as a teen, but when I was in college at UMass Lowell, I got my first line cook job at an upscale restaurant and I fell in love with the restaurant industry as a whole and dove in. Who has influenced you most when it comes to food? I’ve been influenced by so many people at different stages of my career that it’s really hard to say. The chef that mentored me early in my career probably had the most influence. His name is Peter Capalbo and he had a very rustic flavor-forward style that leaned heavily on French and Italian techniques. With a good foundation of classic technique, I’ve been able to explore and experiment throughout my career and now I like to cook the food that I want to eat everyday—good bread, fresh produce, 14 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com
doughnuts, whole grains, pizza—the good stuff. Describe your cooking style in three words: Rustic. Honest. Delicious. What brought you to Mill No. 5? When I came across Mill No. 5, I was blown away by the space here and the spirit of creativity and community. I was running a high-volume fine dining restaurant in the back bay of Boston at the time but when I heard the mill was looking for cooks, I ended up coming on board as a consultant for a while. After consulting for a bit, I went on to run the kitchen at Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton. What happened next was, well, a pandemic. At some point during the shutdown, Jim Lichoulas (developer and owner of Mill No. 5) and I started talking about how to get the mill back open for business incrementally and I came back full time as general manager with a big job to do.
What do you want people to know about the menu at Coffee & Cotton? We make everything we can from scratch at Coffee and Cotton. The menu is simple, but there’s a lot of love in everything we do. We have lots of vegetarian and vegan options (both sweet and savory). How much of your menu is sourced with local ingredients? As much as possible all the time. I use the same farmers and purveyors here that I’ve cultivated relationships with throughout my career in fine dining. The same care in sourcing applies to our beverage program as well. We use locally roasted coffee from Barismo in Cambridge, locally brewed beers, Pigeon Cove Ferments kombucha from Gloucester, and our teas are from White Heron tea Co in Portsmouth.
We will be reopening Dow’s Soda Fountain with new, expanded ice cream offerings. Mill Ghost Pizza will be popping up here and there while it finds its permanent home. Look for new salads and grab-and-go items at Coffee and Cotton. We also offer a variety of catering options for small and large gatherings at Coffee and Cotton, The Luna Theater, and a new event space on the 5th floor of the mill (Butterfield Park, see p. 4) that we are still finishing construction on.
Follow Coffee & Cotton on Instagram and learn more at millno5.com.
Your personal favorite dish on the menu and why? Definitely the cruller doughnut. It’s a doughnut that is made with pate au choux dough that puffs up when you fry them, making it light and airy. Then we dip it in a vanilla glaze. So good with a cup of coffee. As far as savory items go, the vegan lentil and white bean chili. It’s my go-to lunch when I’m at work. It’s healthy, hearty, and loaded with flavor. Tell us about your latest endeavor, otherwise known as Mill Ghost Pizza. I’ve been perfecting a Sicilian slab-style pizza dough and sauce since my days at Gibbet Hill, where I would make it for the staff meal all the time. I just love pizza—it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t. I think pizza is a perfect complement to the other offerings and events at the mill. I’ll be offering the classic cheese pizza, pepperoni, and definitely a vegan pizza as well. The star of the Sicilian slab pizza is the dough and we’ll be using my sourdough starter, really good olive oil from my friend’s farm in Greece, and an overnight slow rise to develop lots of flavor. What new culinary adventures are you looking forward to at Mill No. 5 in 2022? howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 15
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HOMEGROWN HOLIDAY a a Little
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WHETHER YOU’RE AN EARLY BIRD OR LAST MINUTE SHOPPER, TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF GIFTING THIS SEASON WITH THESE FRESH (AND OH SO LOCAL) PRESENT IDEAS.
CHECK IT OUT
A UNIQUE INDOOR SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM | 250 JACKSON ST., 4TH FL., LOWELL
THE SHOPS AT MILL No. 5
Star Trek USS Enterprise Model with Lego Characters Priced in Store POP CULTURED
Pokemon Crochet Kit $20 POP CULTURED Dragon Keepers Handbook $16 POP CULTURED
Handpressed Lowell Greeting Cards $5.50 SWEET PIG PRESS
Plush Dragons $12-22 POP CULTURED
Tarot Cards $35 HIVE & FORGE
Knitted Baby Beanie $24 DRIFT KNITWEAR
Knitted Pom Hat $48 DRIFT KNITWEAR
Rare & Vintage Books Prices Vary HIVE & FORGE
Love Lowell Poster Print $40 CURATION250
Men’s London Fog Trench Coat $88 VICTORY GARDEN
Vintage Polka Dot Secretary Dress $24.00 VICTORY GARDEN
Vintage Burgendy Corduroy Blazer $42 VICTORY GARDEN
THE SHOPS AT MILL No. 5
Vintage Leather Messenger Bag $50 VICTORY GARDEN
Art is for Everyone Hoodie $40 CURATION250
A UNIQUE INDOOR SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM | 250 JACKSON ST., 4TH FL., LOWELL
Decorative Pillows $30-40 CURATION250
A UNIQUE INDOOR SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM | 250 JACKSON ST., 4TH FL., LOWELL
THE SHOPS AT MILL No. 5
Portrait Photography Prices Vary PIZZUTTI STUDIO
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus $25 VINYL DESTINATION
Bowie at the Beeb $65 VINYL DESTINATION Beardo Moisturizer & Groomer $22 RED ANTLER APOTHECARY
Turntable Prices Vary VINYL DESTINATION
Sanitizer & Pine Tar Wash $6-17 RED ANTLER APOTHECARY
Lip and Cheek Tints $12 RED ANTLER APOTHECARY
Hand Forged Soaps $7-9 RED ANTLER APOTHECARY
Tea Steeper with Crystal $17 OVER THE SPOON
Crystals of All Shapes & Sizes Prices Vary ONE URBAN TRIBE
Pieces from Muddy Girl Studios Prices Vary OVER THE SPOON
Assorted Vintage Cameras Prices Vary 250th CAMERA Torywesnofske.com
Ferm Portal Print $60 High Priestess Print $20 STRANGE PINE
THE SHOPS AT MILL No. 5
Assorted Books Prices Vary LOWELL BOOK COMPANY
A UNIQUE INDOOR SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM | 250 JACKSON ST., 4TH FL., LOWELL
No. 3 Quilted Dog Coat with Scarf $50 SITZENS
KITCHEN WISHES
Hello Taco Tuesday! Handmade tortilla warming basket, fair trade $30 Authentic cast iron tortilla press with tradtional napkin and recipe book $50 OVER THE SPOON
Guitar Cutting Board by local artist Kevin’s Creations $55 OVER THE SPOON
Kilner Manual Coffee Grinder $45 OVER THE SPOON
Bialetti Mocha Pot $35-55 OVER THE SPOON
Rocks Shot Glasses Set $40 OVER THE SPOON
Mexican Hot Chocolate Kit $50 ONE URBAN TRIBE
Salty Raven Stemless Wine Glasses $11 each OVER THE SPOON
Fun Dish Towels $13 - $15 OVER THE SPOON
Kraken Pint Glasses $23 2pc set OVER THE SPOON?
KITCHEN WISHES
Painted Serving Spoons $12 Ice Cream Scoop $25 OVER THE SPOON
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THINGS TO DO IN GREATER LOWELL FOR UNDER By The Howl Street Team | Photo by Allegra Boverman
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BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! But winter doesn’t have to be all about hibernating. There are plenty of free and inexpensive activities to make the season fun. So grab your warmest coat and come out and play. 1. EAT SNOW (BUT NOT THE YELLOW KIND) Whether you’re 6 or 60, nothing brings out your inner kid in winter like flying down a white fluffy hillside. Some of our favorite sledding spots: The Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest is accessible from Trotting Park Road in Lowell, with 1,000 acres spread across three towns and plenty of room for free sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and snowball fights; Shedd Park, 453 Rogers St., has been a popular free local sledding spot since the early 1900s (proof some things never change); and Roby Park in Nashua, NH (126 Spitbrook Rd.) serves up fantastic free sledding at a steep and long hill. 2. WATCH COLLEGE HOCKEY The amazing UMass Lowell River Hawks will give you plenty of reasons to have a blast at the ice rink. Ticket prices start around $10. Visit tsongascenter.com for schedule. 3. FIND YOUR SONIC BLISS Downtown Lowell is filled with the sounds of stellar musicians every weekend and most places have no cover charge. Our no-fail favorites include Warp & Weft (197 Market St.), a downhome pub with good eats, craft beer on tap, and a rockin’ lineup of local musicians; The Worthen Attic (141 Worthen St.), a historic watering hole that boasts a reputation of serving literary legends like Edgar Allen Poe and Jack
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Kerouac also happens to host year-round live music from rap to punk to rock inside its upstairs bar—Monday open mic nights and many performances are free, while cover charges typically range from $5-$10; Coffee & Cotton and The Luna Theater inside Mill No. 5 (250 Jackson St.) serve up the area’s best acoustic and jazz performances for the all-ages set. Visit millno5.com for schedules.
where ticket prices are around $10. Visit lunalowell.com
4. VISIT A FARMER’S MARKET
8. GET A HISTORY LESSON
Snow and cold doesn’t mean you have to forgo farm fresh fare. Every Sunday from 10am to 2:30pm you’ll find a treasure trove of locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, organic beauty products and more at The Farm Market in Mill No. 5 (250 Jackson St.); and every Saturday from 10am to 2pm until February, Maxwell’s Indoor Winter Farmer’s Market (24 Maple Road) will be packed with mouth watering local offerings.
Lowell led the charge in America’s industrial revolution. Explore the city’s rich and storied past on one of the many free daily tours. Visit www.nps.gov/lowe/ for schedules.
7. PLAY AT LOWELL WINTERFEST Every February experience hot chocolate and soup competitions, marshmallow roasting, fireworks, and heated tents with live rock bands turn downtown Lowell into one big weekend-long party. Lowellwinterfest.com
9. UNLEASH YOUR INNER ROCK STAR, KARAOKE GOD OR POET
Whether it’s $2.88 Tuesdays where games, tacos, and drink specials are just $2.88 each from 9 to 11pm, or After Party Fridays when $16 gets you unlimited bowling starting at 10 p.m., Bowlero (647 Pawtucket Blvd., Lowell).
Be bold and take center stage at an open mic: Musicians of all ages can find their voice on The Worthen stage Monday nights at 7 p.m. (141 Worthen St.); or belt out a favorite tune during the city’s longest running Karaoke night (Mondays) at The Blue Shamrock (105 Market St., Lowell); and test out your poetry and original songs on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus (61 Market St., Lowell) beginning at 6:30pm.
6. SEE A CLASSIC
10. SCORE SOMETHING VINTAGE
Grab some popcorn, slide into a cushy lounge chair and settle in for a black and white classic, or the latest indie release, at The Luna Theater (250 Jackson St.)
On the first Saturday of every month, the marketplace at Mill No. 5 attracts vendors from all over New England offering up new and gently used wares from decades
5. CHANNEL YOUR INNER LEBOWSKI
past including clothes, home goods, vinyl records, jewelry, artwork, toys and more. millno5.com 11. WALK ALONG THE MERRIMACK Whether you’re on the Pawtucket Boulevard side of the Merrimack or taking in the scenery behind Lowell’s old mill buildings along the Riverwalk at the foot of John Street behind the Boott Mills, a brisk jaunt by the water at morning or dusk will get your blood pumping and clear your mind. 12. GET YOUR GEEK ON Test your “smahts” Tuesdays at 7:30pm with pub trivia at The Old Court (29 Central St., Lowell). 13. WARM YOUR BELLY Breaking bread with friends is always fun, but it’s even better when you have a bowl of hearty soup to dunk your bread in. We recommend the spicy and cilantro laced Tom Yum from Viet Thai (368 Merrimack St., Lowell); hearty Tonkotsu ramen at 1981 (129 Merrimack St.); tomato soup with mini artisan grilled cheeses at Gibbet Hill Grill (61 Lowell Road, Groton); and pretty much everything at the Chowder Factory (101 Phoenix Ave., Lowell). 14. SKI UNDER THE FULL MOON Great Brook Ski Touring in Carlisle (1018 Lowell St.) provides some of the most scenic trails for cross country skiing day or night, but we especially love the after dark skiing by lantern light offered Tuesdays and Thursdays on the one-mile Lantern Loop from sunset until 9pm. Best of all, it’s super affordable—around $15 for an adult trail pass. 15. TAKE AN ART TOUR Lowell is full of amazing original artists. On the first Saturday of every month, Western Avenue Studios—a converted mill building that’s home to more than 350 artists (and one brewery cat)—opens its doors to the public for exploring from noon to 5pm (122 Western Ave.). You’ll also want to add the following galleries and museums to your list: Arts League of Lowell (307 Market St.); Brush Art Gallery (256 Market St.); The Whistler House Museum of Art (243 Worthen St.); and the Ayer Lofts Gallery (172 Middle St.); and Gallery Z (167 Market St.). 16. IMAGINE YOU’RE IN A VIDEO GAME Ever wonder what it’s like to be in Halo? Give it a whirl with laser tag at Roller Kingdom (355 Middlesex Road) in Tyngsboro where live-action laser tag costs about $5 per person.
17. FIND YOUR ZEN
24. EXPERIENCE LIVE THEATER
Take a yoga class. You can try many styles of this ancient mind and body melding exercise for around $25 per class at Sutra Studio or a new-to-Sutra special—$30 for 14 days—(250 Jackson St., 5th fl. at Mill No. 5, Lowell). sutrastudio.com
The Lowell Merrimack Repertory Theatre has a posh, newly renovated performance space. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Tickets start around $21. mrt.org
18. CATCH THE BIG ONE
Take a 20-minute drive via Route 3 South and land at an indoor mountain, sort of. The Boston Rock Gym (78 Olympia Ave.) in Woburn serves as a climber’s sanctuary, providing indoor rock walls with a wide variety of well graded climbing trails. Adult day passes $28.
When temperatures hit freezing and our local waterways turn to solid ice, head to Lake Mascuppic on the Tyngsboro/ Dracut border, where you’ll find some of the area’s best and most plentiful ice fishing. 19. TAKE IN SOME ACTION RINGSIDE Catch the future champions of the boxing world—and see where it all began for some of Lowell’s boxing legends, like Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund—at the annual Golden Gloves in Lowell Memorial Auditorium (50 E. Merrimack St.) from Jan.- Feb. Tickets start around $20. 20. SIP SINGLE MALT WHISKEY MADE IN NEW ENGLAND Nashoba Winery in Bolton (100 Wattaquadock Hill Rd.) offers daily tastings Mon-Fri from 11:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., reservations required. Blueberries, apples, pears, strawberries, rhubarb, and more are all grown and harvested at the winery and used to make their delicious fruit wines. Open year round, there’s a $17 fee for the tasting bar. If wine isn’t your thing, you’ll find plenty of flavorful ales and lagers, as well as spirits on tap from vodka to brandy, and, of course, their signature whiskey. 21. PAMPER YOURSELF Put your feet up at Daisy’s Nails & Spa (168 Middlesex Road, Unit 2) in Tyngsboro where a classic pedicure, including soaking, shaping, cuticle care, hot towel, and moisturizing costs around $30. 22. GLIDE LIKE DOROTHY HAMILL (MINUS THE HAIR-DO) You don’t have to wait for temperatures to dip below freezing to hit the ice. Indoor rinks like Janas Rink (382 Douglas Rd., Lowell) and the Chelmsford Forum (2 Brick Kiln Rd, Chelmsford), offer public skating for around $5. 23. LEARN SOME SWEET MOVES Steppin’ Out Dance Studio (1201 Westford St.) in Lowell has been teaching the young and young-at-heart swing, latin, and ballroom dancing for more than 40 years. Classes are around $20 per person and Saturday night dance socials are $10.
25. GO ROCK CLIMBING
26. SIT FIRESIDE Channel your inner Brit and indulge in afternoon tea or a nice glass of wine by a crackling fire at the Bull Run Restaurant’s taproom (215 Great Road) in Shirley. 27. SIP SOMETHING SWEET Sweet Lydia’s (160 Merrimack St., Lowell) has been the crowning champion of Lowell’s annual hot chocolate competition. Experience why by scooping up her signature dark chocolate mix with vanilla and peppermint marshmallows and share it with some you love—or not. 28. LAUGH UNCONTROLLABLY Catch Boston’s best comics every Saturday night at Lots of Laughs (946 Osgood St.) in North Andover where most shows are around $25—prepare to crack up. 29. FORGET ABOUT WINTER The Butterfly Place (120 Tyngsboro Rd., Westford) offers an indoor garden set at summertime temperatures and is filled with hundreds of free flying butterflies. The butterfly sanctuary opens on February 14th. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for kids, and free for kids 2 and under. Can’t wait until February? Snag a $25 daily pass for the indoor wave pool at Cape Codder Resort & Spa (1225 Lyannough Road, Hyannis) from 3-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 30. GO FROM TAP TO TABLE When winter finally winds down, take a trip to an authentic sugar shack. The Warren Farm in Brookfield (31 Warren St., North Brookfield) opens its annual Maple Sugaring Tours every weekend in March. Free sap and syrup tastings and hot drinks available while farm hands share stories about the science and nature behind their syrup. In the meantime, their farm stand is open year-round. Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4p.m.
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DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF
VICTORY GARDEN
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Remember the scene in Pulp
Fiction when “Ringo” (Tim Roth) gets a look inside the infamous briefcase? Recall the awed expression on his face? The self-satisfied gleam in his eyes? You can find that exact same expression on the faces of people perusing racks at Victory Garden. While they may not be unearthing Marcellus Wallace’s soul— or whatever was in that mysterious case—isn’t a gently worn designer evening dress for under $200 just as good? Everything in Sean Mackenzie’s secondhand clothing boutique (aka the best vintage shop in downtown Lowell) is all killer and no filler. The regularly refreshed inventory fits a variety of tastes and budgets with luxury labels, the work of local designers, shoes, bags, and one-of-a kind-preloved and vintage pieces. Describe your personal style. It depends on my mood, the season, where I’m going, and other factors, but generally I like to mix casual and dressy.
For example, I might wear a light hooded sweatshirt under a nice sport coat. Currently I am “Mr. Autumn Man Walking Down the Street With Cup of Coffee, Wearing Sweater Over Plaid Collared Shirt” (search The Onion article for context). Describe Victory Garden in three words. Friendly. Honest. Accommodating. On building your boutique. We opened four months before Massachusetts ordered nonessential businesses to close in mid-March 2020 due to the pandemic. It’s been hard to form a vision of the shop’s future—the primary goal has been to stay afloat during a time when people weren’t having parties or going into the office. The outlook seems to be improving, but there’s still so much uncertainty (and anxiety). Currently, I’m just happy to be in Mill No. 5. I don’t think we would have survived if we were elsewhere. The community here is wonderful.
Why secondhand is best. Buying secondhand is more affordable than bung new. It helps fight climate change (although demanding more eco-friendly practices from the fashion industry is vital). Exploring secondhand shops leads to more creative personal style. If the clothing is vintage, often the quality is superior to many contemporary brands. And an older item has a story to tell. Your most prized find. I found a black, stretchy jumpsuit with a sparkly upper half. It had such a Saturday Night Fever vibe. (It may have been an outfit for figure skating, given the style and exaggerated length of the legs). It was far from the most elegant item I’ve found, but it was so fun! Favorite tip for buying vintage and preloved. If you find something in great condition and in your size, search that section more. Often a person will donate multiple items, which means there’s a greater chance you’ll find more quality pieces from the same person. howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 27
13 Wonderful Facts About
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ T he Luna Theater brings back Frank Capra’s tear-jerking, life-af-
firming Christmas classic for a weekend-long run Saturday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 19 It’s a Wonderful Life is fine on TV, sure, but it’s downright spectacular on the big screen when the film’s anticorporate message runs without commercial interruption.
5. A COPYRIGHT LAPSE AIDED THE FILM’S POPULARITY
Though it didn’t make much of a dent at the box office, It’s a Wonderful Life found a whole new life on television — particularly when its copyright lapsed in 1974 due to a clerical error, making it available royalty-free for anyone who wanted to show it for the next 20 years. It became a frequently aired movie during the holiday season. The free-for-all ended in 1994. NBC now owns the TV licensing rights.
6. IT TOOK TWO MONTHS TO BUILD BEDFORD FALLS 1. IT ALL BEGAN WITH A CHRISTMAS CARD
After years of successfully trying to shop his short story, The Greatest Gift, to publishers, Philip Van Doren Stern decided to give the gift of words to his closest friends for the holidays when he printed up 200 copies of the story and sent them out as a 21-page Christmas card. David Hempstead, a producer at RKO Pictures, ended up getting a hold of it, and purchased the movie rights for $10,000.
2. CARY GRANT WAS SET TO PLAY GEORGE BAILEY
When RKO purchased the rights, they did so with the plan of having Cary Grant in the lead. But, as so often happens in Hollywood, the project went through some ups and downs in the process. In 1945, after a number of rewrites, RKO sold the movie rights to Frank Capra who quickly recruited Jimmy Stewart to play George Bailey.
3. DOROTHY PARKER LENT HER WRITING TALENTS TO THE SCRIPT
Prior to shooting, poet Parker did an uncredited rewrite of the script.
4. THE MOVIE BOMBED AT THE BOX OFFICE
Though it has become a quintessential American classic, It’s a Wonderful Life was not an immediate hit with audiences. In fact, it put Capra $525,000 in the hole, which left him scrambling to finance his production company’s next picture, State of the Union.
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Shot on a budget of $3.7 million (a whopping amount by mid-1940s standards), Bedford Falls — which covered a full four acres of RKO’s Encino Ranch in California — was one of the most elaborate sets ever built up to that time, with 75 stores and buildings, 20 fully-grown oak trees, residential areas, and a 300-yard-long Main Street.
7. SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK IS “THE REAL BEDFORD FALLS”
Bedford Falls is a fictitious place but the town of Seneca Falls, New York, swears that they’re the real-life inspiration for George Bailey’s charming hometown. And each year they host a full lineup of holiday themed events to put locals and visitors in the holiday spirit.
8. THE GYM FLOOR-TURNEDSWIMMING POOL WAS REAL
Though the bulk of the movie was filmed on pre-built sets, the dance at the gym was shot at the real Beverly Hills High School and the retractable floor was no set piece.
9. ALFALFA IS THE TEEN BEHIND THE SWIMMING POOL PRANK Freddie Othello, the little prankster who pushes the button that opens the pool up at the dance, is played by Carl Switzer, a.k.a., Alfalfa of the Little Rascals.
duced a new kind of movie snow during the making of the film. For years, Hollywood used bleached cornflakes for snow, which produced a lot of crunching under actors’ feet, and a lot of sound problems that had to be overcome. Capra and special effects supervisor Russell Shearman opted to mix foamite (the stuff you find in fire extinguishers) with sugar and water to create a less noisy, and more realistic option.
11. THE MOVIE’S BERT AND ERNIE HAVE NO RELATION TO SESAME STREET
Yes, the cop and cab driver in It’s a Wonderful Life are named Bert and Ernie, respectively. But Jim Henson’s longtime writing partner, Jerry Juhl, insists that it’s by coincidence only that they share their names with Sesame Street’s striped-shirt buds.
12. THE ROCK THAT BROKE THE WINDOW OF THE GRANVILLE HOUSE WAS ALL REAL.
Though Capra had a stuntman at the ready in order to shoot out the window of the Granville House in a scene that required Donna Reed to throw a rock through it, his services weren’t necessary. Reed threw the rock herself and broke the window on the first try.
13. THE FILM’S ENDURING LEGACY WAS SURPRISING TO CAPRA
On the film’s classic status, Capra noted: “It’s the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen. The film has a life of it’s own now and I can look at it like I had nothing to do with it. I’m like a parent whose kid grows up to be president. I’m proud…but it’s the kid who did the work. I didn’t even think of it as a Christmas story when I first ran across it. I just liked the idea.”
10. THE FILM WAS SHOT DURING A HEAT WAVE
It may be an iconic Christmas movie, but It’s a Wonderfrul Life was actually shot during the summer of 1946 in the middle of a heat wave. Capra, who trained as an engineer, intro-
The Luna Theater is located at Mill No. 5, 250 Jackson St., 4th flr. Buy tickets at lunalowell.com.
Holiday Portraits Booking through Dec. 12th
pizzutiphotography.com
Y L L HO LY JOLTHE
SO FESTI YOUR VE HE MIGH ART GROWT
ON REEN SC G I B
THE LUNA THEATER’S
HOLIDAY CLASSICS LUN
.C O
M
$10 S TICKET AT A L O W ELL
ELF
FRIDAY, 11/26 SUNDAY, 11./28
WHITE CHRISTMAS SUNDAY 12/12
HOME ALONE ITʼS A WONDERFUL LIFE SUNDAY 12/5
SATURDAY 12/18 SUNDAY, 12/19