PULSE MARCH 2021

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PULSE MAGAZINE: MARCH 2021 COVER STORY Bringing New Life To Worcester’s Old Spaces

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LIFESTYLE

ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & CULTURE

New in the Woo: Bem Bonita Boutique

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Glue Man Group

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Out and About

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Dirtylaundry Gives Worcester Music to Chew On

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420 in 508

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Style Savvy

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NowStreaming: 11 Bruce Springstten Letter to You PulseShots 13

DINING REVIEW Dining Review: Thai Corner

SPORTS + FITNESS Bruce Marchand Jr. 21 Head Coach for the Worcester Majors Finding Balance

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Hot & Now 15 PulseBrew 16

17 Paul Giorgio, Publisher pgiorgio@pagioinc.com Kevin La, Art Director kla@pagioinc.com Josh Lyford, Editior jlyford@pagioinc.com David Simone, Vice President, Sales dsimone@pagioinc.com

READ PULSE ONLINE: THEPULSEMAG.COM

13 Bernie Whitemore, Ryan Cashmen, Maria Connors, Josh Lyford, Travis Duda, Jason Savio, Paul Giorgio, Rachel Shuster, Giuliano D’Orazio, April Goddard, and Jennifer Russo, Writers

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER @WORCESTERPULSE • INSTAGRAM @WORCESTERPULSE • FACEBOOK.COM/THEPULSEMAGAZINE PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 134 Gold St., Worcester, MA 01608. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2020 All rights reserved. Pagio, Inc. does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in Pulse reflect the views of the author(s) and not the official policy of the Pagio, Inc., unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement

by Pagio, Inc. unless so stated. Material printed in Pulse is covered by copyright. No copyright is claimed to any work of the U.S. government. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission. For information on permissions, reprints and other services, contact Pagio, Inc. Also by Pagio Inc.: Worcester Medicine, Vitality Magazine, Thepulsemag.com, Thevitalitymag.com, & TasteWorcester.com

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BRINGING NEW LIFE TO WORCESTER’S OLD SPACES JENNIFER RUSSO

First settled by the Nipmuc tribe, and then by the English who settled in 1674, Worcester is rich in history. In the 1800’s the city became a manufacturing and transportation hub with a new railroad, attracting immigrants from European countries looking for work. It became the center of machinery and construction and was a booming business area for some time. After some decline after the two World Wars, it picked back up again in the mid 1900’s with the building of two large hospitals, biomedical buildings, Route 290 and some of the area’s top colleges and universities.

Fast forward to today. Investors and visionaries have been collaborating to renew the area and breathe into it a new life, realizing the true potential of the city. Renovations of Hanover Theater, Saint Vincent Hospital and Union Station in recent years, and newer structures like the convention center and Assumption’s new academic buildings. Many designers are looking at modernizing buildings that will change the architectural face of the city and provide more opportunity for an enhanced lifestyle, while still maintaining its historic charm.

Courthouse Post Card

VINCENT PACIFICO - TURNING GREAT PASSION INTO GREAT IDEAS Vincent Pacifico believes that historic buildings only add to the aesthetic of our New England towns and cities, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be rehabilitated for a more modern use.

For Vincent, love of architecture and design began with building and carpentry. Being very into skateboarding when he was young and creating his own ramps to skate on sparked something in him. After a neighbor suggested he look into the architecture field, that spark turned into a flame.

He later went to Roger Williams School of Architecture in Rhode Island, getting his Masters degree in the discipline. His graduate thesis included a reuse design for the vacant Goldstein Scrap Metal building located on Harding Street, down in the Canal district.

Vincent Pacifico, photo by Antoinette Pacifico

“I started to be very passionate about solving the complex problem of what to do with all of our vacant industrial buildings from the manufacturing days. We live in an area where our cities and towns are full of vacant and abandoned brownfield industrial sites with no current use and have since become dangerous structures prone to fires. Likewise, the areas are more prone to crime because there are no eyes on the street watching over our neighborhoods. This avenue of architecture is something that I decided I wanted to go down and tackle, living in the heart of it in New England,” says Vincent.

With this as a major driver for him personally, Pacifico also believes strongly in networking of like-minded individuals. In 2019, he founded the Adaptive Buildings Network, a social space for designers, architects, city planners and urban advocates to come together and share ideas on urban redevelopment and adaptive reuse. He hosted his first event in Novem 6 M A RCH 20 21

The vacant Goldstein building on Harding St

Pacifico’s proposed exterior rendering

Pacifico’s proposed interior rendering (upper floor)

ber of that year, presenting his thesis project. He hopes to continue events like this once we can gather as groups, bringing in guest speakers to present reuse project ideas to inspire the designer community and so that Worcester area designers can build meaningful connections.

In addition to his passion for repurposing historic commercial buildings, Vincent and his business partner Peter Fauci started a small design practice called Pacific-Visions Studio LLC. The business focuses on small residential design, but specifically the rehabilitation and renovation of single-family homes in the Central Massachusetts region down into Rhode Island. One of their current projects is an extensive renovation of a home in the Grafton Hill neighborhood. The business believes strongly in the sustainability that renovation brings.

“It is often said that the greenest building is the building that is already built,” shares Vincent. “Just like my ideas on urban adaptive reuse and saving and repurposing industrial buildings, homes need to be repurposed and reconfigured for 21st century living conditions. I believe it’s better to reuse a building the best you can instead of completely demolishing it and adding it to the landfill - our buildings have so much embodied energy already in them, it’s better to reuse them.”

Grafton Hill existing home

Being from the area, Vincent sees enormous potential in Worcester, calling it a “new frontier that has amazing existing building stock, transportation lines, and booming industries that are still very alive in the city” and determining that “it is just the start of its Renaissance.” He has an idea for a potential project that he knows would be amazing, repurposing a vacant site in the city into a mixed-use development hosting commercial boutique stores geared toward small business, office space for start ups trying to have success in the city, and affordable housing options.

“I like to reference back to the teachings of Jane Jacobs and the ideas that the city is a place for all people to live, enjoy and work in,” says Vincent.

“It shouldn’t just be for the upper class but a place where everyone can contribute and that they can take part in.”

Vincent, with all his big ideas and dreams, does one day hope to open a small design office in Worcester and contribute to the community through the lens of architecture.

Grafton Hill renovation rendering

THE OLD COUNTY COURTHOUSE TURNED LUXURY LIVING

Back in 1845, the Greek Revival style county courthouse was built, with a series of additions and renovations in the later part of the century. Back in 1897, there was even a competition run to craft a redesign of the building, with the criteria of keeping the front columns as part of the design, with the winning entry being worked into the next renovation.

The Old County Courthouse

Because the building no longer suited the needs of the growing city, all court proceedings and activities moved in 2007. Since then, the building had gone up for auction and ultimately ended up being purchased by the city itself, where it lay dormant for years. In 2017, Trinity Financial purchased the building and hired out The Architectural Team (TET), a firm which has experience in working on historic structures, to begin work on the new Courthouse Lofts complex. The new structure is a modern residential building boasting expertly designed spaces, from studios to three-bedroom apartment units.

“The original building was incredibly important to the history of Worcester, so it was critical to find a way to reuse it and bring life back to it and the northern part of Main Street” says Michael Lozano of Trinity Financial.

“It was a complicated and challenging project, but clearly worth the effort. We kept as many original details as we could (like jury boxes, for example), which really contributes to the uniqueness and coolness factor of our new living spaces.” he shared.

“There’s nothing around like it, and every single unit in the building has something cool and different about it, offering soaring ceilings, huge windows, custom kitchens, in-unit washers and dryers and lots of quirky and cool details.”

Courthouse Lofts are now offering tours and accepting applications for residence – learn more at courthouselofts.net

A rendering of a living space at Courthouse Lofts (courtesy of Trinity)

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DAN BENOIT – BRINGING WORCESTER FORWARD WITH A CREATIVE EDGE On a lot of land on Grafton Street near Union Station, once stood the Osgood Bradley building, a former rail car manufacturer. Today, a very different kind of building takes up the square footage.

The Edge at Union Station was designed, working alongside building manager Vision Development, by architect Dan Benoit, and houses over 200 students off campus. It is an upscale approach to design and gives a sense of the modern comfort you may find in a starred hotel, complete with common areas for lounging, studying, fitness and even playing some old-fashioned arcade or a game of pool.

With all its modern conveniences, there are still elements of history that reveal themselves in the design, like exposed brick or other original parts of the structure.

“For historic projects, I look at the story the building has to tell about what it was used for in the past or the significance of the products they produced on the overall history of the city. Also, how the building relates to the site or the evolution of the site over the years,” Dan shares. “Those old elements are what usually give you the character of the building, so we try to save them whenever possible. Sometimes things could be beyond repair though, so we might have to reinterpret that particular detail.”

Daniel Benoit, Benoit Design Group

The Osgood Bradley Building

The Edge at Union Station

One of the Lounge Spaces at Edge

Dan also worked on the Printer’s Building located on Portland St, an almost 100-year old building which once housed two printing companies, and is now used for several different businesses today, including a well-loved art gallery and WICN radio.

Dan is currently working on what he says is his favorite project so far, a mixed-use facility at the Table Talk site in Kelley Square. Since Table Talk has moved on to another location, Dan says the building offers a great “opportunity to redefine a significant urban area that can contribute to the continued revitalization of the city.”

Dan tells us that his journey into architecture began with being exposed to blueprints of houses as a child. With a father who was an electrical contractor, these were easy to come by, and Dan loved to look at them and try to design his own houses. He also loved building models. Some things were just meant to be. Now, having lived in Worcester most of his adult life, he has a strong sense of purpose to keep the city moving forward.

“I believe that this city has great architectural bones and proud residence, and with perseverance this city could reinvent itself for the next generation,” he says.

We couldn’t agree more.

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WICN Lobby

Art Gallery

ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & CULTURE

Death Defier by Matthew Lavergne.

Death Defier by Truong Lam.

GLUE MAN RECORDS JASON SAVIO

A burgeoning record label is picking up traction in its hometown of Worcester and it’s being spearheaded by one of the local music community’s very own.

A.J. Pottle, drummer in the hardcore band Death Defier, is making an impact with his newly created Glue Man Records, a label specializing in bands from Worcester’s punk and hardcore scene.

“What it comes down to is that I want to provide a support for my friends,” Pottle says. “I’ve learned a lot about different record labels, especially (in) the punk realm, and what a lot of them have been able to do is create a mechanism for a bunch of different bands that you know and that you’re friends with and you think are really good and put (them) all in one place.”

Keeping community at the forefront of Glue Man Records, all proceeds from digital sales and streaming revenue of Vol. 1 Rage: Sounds of a Riot over the course of 2020 will be donated to Stone Soup and Abby’s House in January of 2022 and continuously each following year. Stone Soup is a volunteer-based community center that functions as meeting space for organizations and work space for artists. Abby’s House is a nonprofit organization that helps provide shelter, affordable housing, and support services for homeless, battered and low-income women.

“We wanted to hook them up a little bit because we knew they were hurting,” Pottle says about Stone Soup, citing a recent break-in there in September. He says funds will be split 50/50 between Stone Soup and Abby’s House.

Pottle describes Glue Man Records as a “DIY” venture and a landing pad for Woo Town’s punk and hardcore bands. So far, he has worked with 14 different groups, the majority being featured on Glue Man’s first official release, a compilation entitled Vol. 1 Rage: Sounds of a Riot. The compilation was a team up with his bandmate and Death Defier vocalist Jake Lutter and features Worcester bands like Mountain Man, High Command, Foxfires and more.

Pottle started Glue Man Records in 2019. The first band he says he was able to “quote-unquote ‘sign,’” was Central Mass’ Sevan, whose album Guide Me Holy Ararat, made available on January 6, was the second release for Glue Man, following Vol. 1 Rage: Sounds of a Riot in December 2020. Guide Me Holy Ararat is available digitally as well as on tape and CD. Pottle says that he is working with a distributor in Seattle to release future titles on vinyl.

Pottle curated the bands and released the compilation as a package with a tape cassette and a zine produced by Lutter and his Cellar Door imprint that highlights skateboarding culture in Worcester and the local hardcore music scene. The paper used for the zines was outsourced from Glasgow, Scotland, but once they were printed and shipped to Pottle, he and his team assembled them, cutting the paper and packaging the final product to their specifications with personalized messages and numbering.

Cassette tape packaging for Glue Man’s music releases have also been done entirely in-house, living up to Pottle’s DIY creed.

Pottle has a tight-knit support group helping him with Glue Man. Bandmate and Death Defier guitarist Jon Bicchieri has helped with streaming and Lutter does “a lot of the in-house design stuff,” such as the zine. Pottle says it’s mostly the three of them with “plenty of help along the way.”

“I feel like in punk and hardcore right now there are a lot of really cool people making a lot of really cool zines, literature, poetry, all that sort of stuff, and I don’t feel like there’s a one-stop shop for it,” Pottle says. In addition to music, Pottle envisions Glue Man Records becoming a source for both digital and physical zines that help spread the word on Worcester’s up and coming acts and even some outside of the area.

Pottle and his crew also organized a pre-recorded stream on February 6, featuring Dragweed, Mountain Man, and Blood Tythe, which is still available to watch on Glue Man’s YouTube page. More streams are possibly on the way, he says.

2021 is looking like a busy year for Pottle and Glue Man Records. He’s currently working on releasing an album from Foxfires and one for Death Defier. A record from Marrow is in the works, too.

“I would love to grow and put things out from people all over the country, but initially I hope to do whatever I can to help my friends put out good music and make sure other people know about it,” he says. “That’s the goal.”

For more, visit: Gluemanrecords.bandcamp.com.

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DIRTYLAUNDRY GIVES WORCESTER MUSIC TO CHEW ON MARIA CONNORS

While the opportunity to perform live has been lost, the artists that used to be center-stage in Worcester’s concert scene have remained hard at work—and Dirtylaundry is no exception. Dirtylaundry has been making waves in Worcester since 2016, playing the kind of old-fashioned rock and roll that feeds off of the symbiotic energy of live shows. It might be easy, then, for a group like Dirtylaundry to be left in limbo during a global pandemic, but the band has been anything but unproductive. They released their newest single “Bubblegum” on Jan. 21. Bubblegum is available on all streaming platforms with a music video in the works and a highly anticipated debut album arriving in the coming months.

Dirtylaundry is composed of frontman and guitar player Shane O’Dwyer, lead guitarist Owen Foster, Garret Moore on drums and bassist Daniel Tabojka. O’Dwyer and Moore are the two original members of Dirtylaundry, performing together since the band’s inception in 2016. Foster joined the group two years ago, with Tabojka following in the summer of 2020, already a longstanding member of Clock Out, a Worcester-based hardcore punk band. The evolution of Dirtylaundry has culminated in what O’Dwyer describes as a recent “rebranding” under new management, marked publicly by the release Bubblegum. Bubblegum is the lead single off of their debut album, which has an anticipated release sometime in the late spring or early summer. O’Dwyer and Foster describe quarantine as having been a period of valuable reflection, giving the band time to gain more focus and direction as they delve into a newer and larger project. “Coming together to play has been an escape,” O’Dwyer muses, countering this sentiment by saying, “financially, it sucks. These songs don’t pay for themselves.”

The band’s current income is entirely dependent on streams from their single, now that the opportunity to perform live has been lost. The pandemic has also put the involved community of the Worcester music scene on hold, a disappointing reality to Dirtylaundry because, as O’Dwyer states, “the relationship we have with other local bands is phenomenal.”

The band reflects nostalgically on the excitement of hosting house shows and the burgeoning dive bar scene that put them on the map. Artists are nothing if not adaptable, and this lack of physical connection between local musicians has inspired

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the creation of a zine to showcase the city’s bands. This project will have Dirtylaundry working in in collaboration with Wisdom & War, a Worcester-based hardcore band, to release a zine every two months with the hope of connecting local talent during a time of isolation.

Despite many setbacks, Dirtylaundry is only looking to the future. O’Dwyer expresses, “we get to write as much as we can, so by the time Covid is over we’ll have a lot to offer.” The band is taking this time to grow closer as collaborators, particularly important with the newer arrangement of members. The slower pace of life has allowed them space to align their individual passions to create a more powerful, unified sense of artistic direction. Bubblegum is the ideal song to commemorate a new era of Dirtylaundry. The song is a thoughtful rock anthem reflecting on the illusion of sustained satisfaction, marked by a powerful chorus full to the brim with frustration and a sense of timely desperation, that melts into a steady, almost dragging drumbeat and echoing guitar riff that welcomes softer, more contemplative verses. Bubblegum is the perfect reintroduction for Dirtylaundry—meaningful lyrics, a melody that makes you move, and a sentiment that resonates with a deeply disillusioned generation.

“The only way that we can truly identify ourselves is through our music,” O’Dwyer asserts, a promise that the passion behind Dirtylaundry’s work is steadfast. The band isn’t only interested in exploring their own creative impulses but is deeply concerned with the relationships created with their audience. O’Dwyer meditates on this sentiment, saying, “hopefully, someone can take what I put out and digest it the way that I did with the people that I look up to.”

“That one song that gives you goosebumps is going to be ours someday,” adds Moore.

Dirtylaundry is in the business of giving back to music what it gave to them, keenly aware of how their musical heroes have influenced the art they make. Dirtylaundry’s love for the music that raised them is love they are putting back into their own work, an artistic journey they are determined to continue for the rest of their careers.

NOW STREAMING: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - LETTER TO YOU JASON SAVIO

Letter to You, Bruce Springsteen’s newest release with the E Street Band since 2014’s High Hopes, captures the aging rocker being perhaps more introspective than ever before. Throughout the record Springsteen, 71, ponders the concept of faith and what it leads to. He touches on faith rewarded, faith misplaced, and the places and individuals desperate people put their faith in when there’s nowhere else to turn. But, it’s clear by the album’s end where Springsteen has his own faith cemented, and it’s sure to be an everlasting gift for his listeners.

FREE SPACE

The opening “One Minute You’re Here” begins a theme that runs throughout Letter To You about the passing of time and those who have come before us. “One Minute You’re Here” tells of someone living in the past and unable to move forward, they feel hopeless and lacking any positive reinforcement. After seeing a “Big black train comin’/Down the track” at the start of the song, and “Stars vanish in a sky/As black as stone” in its final verse, the narrator gives up by laying their body down and repeating over and over “One minute you’re here/Next minute you’re gone.”

This grief twists and turns throughout Letter To You, depending largely on the faith of the character who is dealing with it that Springsteen channels in each song. While the narrator in “If I Was The Priest” is clearly bitter as he says “Me, I’ve got scabs on my knees from kneeling way too long/It’s about time I played the man and took/A stand where I belong,” the person whose point of view we’re seeing through in “The Power of Prayer” is optimistic--perhaps foolishly--as he takes solace in the small miracles of everyday life that help get him through, whether it’s seeing that special someone waiting for him or hearing a certain song play at just the right time.

And it’s that power of music that Springsteen argues is the saving grace--the ultimate wellspring of faith--for the lost and weary.

Springsteen’s study of faith and the passage of time coalesce in the musician’s own affinity for his craft; if Letter To You is a letter to anything or anyone, it’s a love letter to the connecting power of music and all those who have experienced it.

That connecting power of music—that communal experience--transcends the living in “Ghosts,” a powerful number in which Springsteen reflects on his own past, those he’s lost and those who paved the way, as sings, “I shoulder your Les Paul and finger that fretboard/I make my vows to those who’ve come before/I turn up the volume, let my spirits be my guide/Meet you brother and sister on the other side.” It’s not all melancholy for Springsteen, though; he recalls the good times and adrenaline he felt as a young musician and still to this day, shouting defiantly, “I’m alive!” in the chorus.

Springsteen wants us to know that when someone is gone, their spirit lives on through the music they played and the music they listened to. For musicians who have dedicated their lives to the craft, that’s their faith and their dedication to it being rewarded.

It’s a connecting fabric that is passed down from generation to generation. Springsteen is no doubt contemplating his own mortality in Letter To You and how he’ll live on through his own music after he’s gone.

“I’ll See You in My Dreams” ends the album on a positive note, albeit tinged with sadness. Springsteen describes a friend who has passed, their guitar and favorite records all left behind. But Springsteen’s faith isn’t shaken, because, he sings, “I’ll see you in my dreams/Up around the riverbend/For death is not the end.”

For more, visit: Brucespringsteen.net.

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ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS

PULSE MAGAZINE ENTERTAINMENT LISTING NOTE For years, Pulse has been your go-to publication for all things entertainment. Whether that is by reading our writers’ excellent stories, or flipping back here to the entertainment listings to plan your weekend or night on the town. Things have been tough for the amazing bars, restaurants, venues and public spaces throughout Central Massachusetts since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many businesses have already closed and more may close in the future.

Regulations for spaces have changed several times and it has become increasingly difficult to plan our entertainment listings accordingly. Regulations and guidelines are evolving as new information regarding the pandemic is discovered and the numbers of sick and dying increase. Naturally, making sure dates and times of things like live music events are far from the top of the list for businesses struggling to stay afloat. As we can’t be sure of event information accuracy a month in advance, we are not publishing our usual entertainment listings. We hope Pulse is a publication you trust and if we can’t be positive that our entertainment information is correct, we will not include it. We hope that you understand. Rest assured that we will continue to be your go-to magazine for all things entertainment as we as a community make strides toward a happy and healthy future.

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DINING DINING REVIEW REVIEW

THAI CORNER

120 JUNE ST, WORCESTER, MA 01602 WWW.THAICORNERWORCESTER.COM PHONE: (508) 459-2289 BERNIE WHITMORE Pandemic precautions: When we visited Thai Corner, they were takeout only and would, presumably, remain that way for weeks to come. Once approved, they appear ready for indoor dining with limited tables spread far apart in spotlessly clean dining areas. People arriving to pick up their takeout orders – and there was a steady stream doing so – are greeted by a happy host and face a wellequipped handwashing station.

My friend and I grabbed a couple of glossy full-color menus and began to plot our order. The list of 20 appetizers contained some interesting items such as Crispy Garlic Chive Dumplings and Crispy Brussel Sprouts. We chose their ‘Corner Platter’ to get a sampling of five different appetizers; two or three units of each made it perfect for sharing.

I thought the real standout in our combo was the Curry Puff. Shaped like a large cherrystone clam, a thick pastry dough had been rolled out and folded around a mixture of ground chicken and potato flavored with mild curry powder. Then the puff had been deepfried, giving it a crumbly surface texture over the pillowy-soft center.

I started with Shrimp Satay; a long thin shrimp impaled on a skewer, coated with spices and charcoal grilled. I’d feared that the high heat would yield it tough; surprisingly, the flesh was moist and tender with deep shrimp flavor that really came alive when dipped in their spicy peanut sauce. Its combo-companion was Chicken Satay, a flattened chicken tender that had received a similar spice-grilling satay treatment. Much larger than the shrimp, it delivered a very mild flavor experience.

I paired my meal with a glass of Wachusett Brewery’s Larry, a DIPA. Its multi-hop bitter profile reawakened my senses when needed and complemented the mellow Thai Corner flavor experience.

My next selection was a Thai Crispy Roll deep-fried golden brown and stuffed with minced vegetables. Its rice paper wrapper cracked with each bite. I dipped it in a bright cucumber sauce.

From there I moved to a Crab Rangoon that hewed to the standard formula of wonton wrapper pinched around a small pocket of crabby cream cheese and fried to a thin crispy crunch. Rangoon people should approve, yet not rave.

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On an initial visit to Thai restaurants, it’s customary to sample one of the cuisine’s basics; pad thai.

We chose Thai Corner’s spicy version, Country Pad Thai. Rice noodles stir-fried with ground peanuts, big chunks of red and green sweet peppers and thick crinkle-cut carrots had been coated with bits of fried egg and strewn with wilted basil leaves.

From a list of proteins, we selected pork to go with our pad thai. The kitchen was very generous, layering plenty of wide strips of lean meat throughout. Spicy heat? A hint of it was there, but tame by most measures. We recommend you request ‘extra spicy.’

Typically, I find Thai cuisine to be an invigorating, spicy-hot affair. As a soothing counterpoint, I like to order a bowl of massaman curry for its creamy-rich

texture and flavor profile that’s enhanced with the sweetness of coconut milk. At Thai Corner, our order of Massaman Curry was certainly sweet and much less creamy than most. It contained carrot slices, a handful of peanuts and big lumps of white potato.

We’d ordered our curry with seafood. Again, the kitchen lavishly responded with several large in-shell mussels, generous handfuls of shrimp and thick squid slices incised with Thai flower flair. The seafood, curry and coconut milk mixture was pungent and flavorful.

A major concern throughout the pandemic has been its financial impact upon local restaurants. Many of us have supported them through take-out dining. We’ve learned that some meals make the trip home in good shape; others, such as fried foods, have disappointed.

Thai Corner’s meals, even the fried appetizer combo, made it home in fine shape. But with one issue. Meals were packed into the standard lidded plastic trays and stacked in a brown paper bag. The top container was over-filled with seafood curry and its lid had pried off.

The sticky-rich sauce had drenched the rest of the order and, soon enough, everything on the kitchen table.

Object lesson: inspect your takeout order before leaving the restaurant.

HOT & NOW What’s hot and happening now in the restaurant scene PAUL GIORGIO

WHEN THE MOVIES STOP. Mi Cocina Mexicana has opened at the site of the former Leicester Drive-In on Route 9. The Mexican eatery is owned by Ricardo & Carolina De Segura. The Couple also owns another restaurant in Framingham and plans on a third in Orange. All food is made from scratch.

NAPOLI FINALLY PROCEEDING. Shrewsbury’s Napoli Deli will be opening a second location on Worcester’s Plantation Street once they get final approval from the city. Napoli, which serves copious amounts of food at reasonable prices has a large following, is owned by Rod Haddad.

FLY AWAY. It appears that Flying Dreams Brewery, once located on Worcester’s Park Ave. in the space owned by Peppercorn’s, has temporarily moved to Marlboro after its lease was not renewed. The 1200 sq. ft. space was once home to Wormtown, before they moved to Shrewsbury Street.

Dave Richardson, Flying Dreams owner said he hopes to move back to the city.

IT’S TACO TIME. A Maine restaurant chain, Luchador Tacos will be opening soon at the corner of Main & Chandler Streets in Worcester. The 4-year-old company, owned by Katherine Mitchell started in Paris, Maine. All food is made on the premises. The menu is simple-tacos, Burritos and bowls.

FITCHBURG PIZZERIA WILL OPEN IN LINCOLN PLAZA. It’s actually no longer based in Fitchburg, having closed down in the pandemic, but Fratelli’s Corner Crust Pizzeria does have a second location on Worcester’s Stafford Street, so I guess it really is a city based mini chain.

FRANKIE IS THE NEW BOY IN TOWN. Frankie’s Pizzeria on Worcester’s Providence Street continues to get rave reviews. We wrote about this place last year, but it seems it is now catching on with the trendy set. They offer a 24-inch pie, which can literally cover a small table.

WOOSOX ANNOUNCE STARTING FOOD LINEUP. The WooSox, whose home opener will be April 13 has announced a group of Iconic Worcester restaurants that will be offering food in the park on a rotating basis. Among them is Coney Island, The Wonder bar, Russo’s, the Miss Worcester Diner and more. Look for some great ethnic food that represents the city. This includes food from Ghana, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands.

BAKE ME A CAKE. It appears that a new cake bakery is opening on Worcester’s Park Ave. in the space that formerly housed Blue Shade next to El basha. The Keebler Elf told us that a spring opening is planned.

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PULSEBREW RYAN CASHMAN On size alone, you wouldn’t think that Rhode Island has a quiet, rural corner, but there are a remarkable number of tiny, hidden nooks that make the Ocean State a bit of a diamond in the rough.

I know that I am technically supposed to keep my search for beer inside Worcester County, but Bravo Brewing Co. in Pascoag, RI, was recommended to me by my father-in-law, and that is not a recommendation I could turn down.

Pascoag is one of the eight villages that make up the town of Burrillville, RI, which is just over the MA border at Douglas. Part of the Blackstone Valley industrial boom, Pascoag was a sawmill and textile town. Bravo, itself, operates inside of, what appears to be, an old shop along Main St., which itself is a maze of one-way streets that loop around back into RI 107. It’s an open, welcoming space, even with pandemic restrictions. Tables are spaced well apart and there are plenty of water bowls for those inclined to bring their canine companions along for a brew. The style is Earth-meets-Industrial: starkly colored walls that bring in the natural light from the large front windows, steel tables and chairs, and a long wooden bar with a natural edge. It’s simultaneously welcoming and alien.

As for the beer, there is a wide selection. There are eight beers on tap at a time, ranging across the spectrum. There are IPA’s, stouts, sours, and lagers.

My wife and I visited in February. Sitting down to drink a flight of four beers was something we hadn’t done in over a year. We’d almost forgotten how good it felt to get out of the house and enjoy a few brews.

Here was our flight: The MayDay New England IPA: not exceedingly hoppy, but crisp with an aftertaste of pine; the Passionfruit Sour: surprisingly light, flavorful, and not altogether sour; the Parachute Helles: a refreshing, hoppy lager; and the Union Jack English Pub Ale. I’m going to spend a bit more time on the Union Jack, as we liked it so much we took a Howler of it home. A brief side note on Howlers: they are better than Growlers. A 32oz Howler is the perfect size for two people to share over dinner. Back to the Union Jack. It’s caramel in color, slightly malty and contains just a hint of chocolate, and is divine when paired with steak.

Despite brewing up some darn good beer, Bravo Brewing also has a mission: donating one percent of annual sales to the Taunton-based non-profit Home for Our Troops, which builds and donates homes to severely injured post9/11 veterans and their families. That’s a mission to be proud of, in this writer’s opinion.

So if you find yourself in the sleepy little corner that is northwestern Rhode Island, swing by Bravo Brewing Co. for a drink and a chat. There is something on tap for everyone.

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LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE

BEM BONITA BOUTIQUE RACHEL SHUSTER

Located at 103 East Central St. in Worcester, Bem Bonita Boutique is a stylish spot to visit when you want the latest fashion, a taste of Brazil, and a personalized experience from a store owner whose passion for her business is bigger than you can imagine.

“We opened the first store location in 2015 at 734 Grafton St. in Worcester, then in the middle of the pandemic in August of last year, I had the opportunity and moved to a new location,” says owner Amelia Pereira.

“I feel lucky that I was able to grow in the middle of an unprecedented time.”

Fashion has always been a huge part of Pereira’s life, and her passion for it started at a young age. “I’ve loved the fashion world since I was little,” she says. “That was the reason to start working on a fashion business – I love to help people find the perfect outfit. When I do, and then they call or message me saying that they felt good, that the dress was the most beautiful dress at the whole party or that was the night they received so many compliments, it’s an amazing feeling. I am thankful that I do what I do for a living.”

Pereira was born in a city called Anápolis in Brazil and came to the United States in 1998 to stay for one year, and I loved the country so much that she never left. “I’m still here!” she laughs.

“In Brazil, I just had started law school,” Pereira says. “When I came to the US, I went to Harvard University for two semesters and while I ended up not finishing college, my passion for fashion grew stronger and I felt it calling me.”

Pereira started selling to and styling friends, coworkers, her hairdresser and more. “In a few months, my cell phone was ringing off the hook with people asking me for clothes, so I made a room in my house, a makeshift boutique with clothes, shoes and accessories organized and put together,” she says Things went so well for Pereira and her makeshift boutique that she had to expand and open a brick and mortar store!

At Bem Bonita Boutique, Pereira keeps her Brazilian roots close. “Everything I sell is from Brazil,” she says. “We have items from high-end brands, leather goods and jewelry.”

Pereira’s business model relies heavily on social media. “While we have in-person shopping, we sell a lot on Instagram and Facebook,” she says.

“We also do a lot of business on What’s App. We have customers from all over and ship our products many places.”

Another aspect that makes Pereira and her boutique special is the personalized treatment she gives her customers. “Right now, we don’t have a website and use our social media platforms to provide a more personal experience,” she says. “I even do video chats with customers who don’t want to shop in person at the store.”

Pereira feels very fortunate to be able to do what she loves. “I am a very blessed and grateful woman. My goal is to continue to do what I love, make people feel good and see my business grow.”

For more information, visit Bem Bonita Boutique on social media.

Instagram: @BemBonitaBoutiqueWorcester Facebook: facebook.com/bembonitaboutiqueworcester

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OUTGIULIANO AND ABOUT D’ORAZIO Food is Love - My Go-To Pasta Meal Like most folks, I feel changed by the pandemic in major ways, some good, others not so much.

Let’s focus on the ‘good’ column today, shall we? I’d probably have to place my newfound love of home cooking at the top of that list. I was blessed to grow up in a home where most of what we ate was very fresh, very homemade, and generally pretty good for you… in moderation!

As you may have deciphered from my not-so-ambiguous name, I grew up in an Italian home -well, half. My dad is Italian (off-the-boat as they say, and quite literally in his case, at three years old), and my mom is an Irish/Scandanavian Central Mass girl born and bred. They both know their way around a kitchen, and many of the home-style old-world food traditions my dad inherited became the staples of our dinner table. I never felt like I could hold a candle to my dad’s homemade sauce, until recently, when I’ve had ample time to hone my process. You know, sometimes it takes a pandemic.

I think food is one of the most powerful ways we can share love, so in the spirit of the hunky and fabulous Antoni Porowski, I’m going to share with you my recipe for a red sauce you can make with or without meat, and share with your partner, friends, family, or quarantine bubble!

Preparation: Chop ½ an onion. Mince three cloves of garlic. Chop a nice handful of fresh, Italian flat-leaf parsley. In a large bowl, empty an entire can of whole, peeled San Marzano tomatoes. Crush them with your hands and remove any tough stemmy bits.

Start by bringing a medium sauce pot to medium/high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

When the oil is hot, add your meat (ground pork/beef/sausage) season with salt and pepper, unless already seasoned (like sausage). Skip this part if you don’t use meat, just start with the next step. Let the meat sit without moving for a minute or two, then stir it around, browning on all sides.

Remove the browned meat and set aside on a plate. Leave any juices in the pot.

Add chopped onion to the pot. Let cook for about 2 mins, letting them soften.

Add the minced garlic. Allow to cook for about another minute with the onions.

Add parsley and crushed red pepper, stir into onion/garlic mixture.

HINT: If at any time things are getting too dry or starting to smoke a bit -- use the damn knobs, turn it down! Everyone’s stove is different so use your judgement. You don’t want burnt garlic and onions in your sauce.

Add an anchovy or two and mix it up with everything until dissolved. Trust me, you might not think you like these, but they really add some savory depth to the sauce’s flavor. I’ve had people who don’t like fish rave about my sauce, little do they know the secret ingredient … (insert maniacal laugh here).

Add a splash of dry red wine (Chianti works great) to deglaze the pan and scrape up the browned bits on the bottom.

Move everything in the pot over to one side, position that part slightly off the heat.

Add a can of tomato paste (regular small can) directly to the exposed bottom of the pot.

You want the paste to caramelize just a little bit, maybe for 30-45 seconds.

Then fill the empty can of tomato paste with water, and add that to the pot.

Mix everything back together.

If you used meat, now you can add it back to the pot, stirring it up with everything.

Cook on medium for a couple minutes.

Reduce heat to the lowest setting and let everything calm down a bit.

Add the bowl of tomatoes that you’ve crushed by hand. Stir it up baby!

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. This should be just enough to cut the acidity of the tomatoes. Taste as you go! If it is too acidic, add a tiny bit more sugar.

Grate some cheese into the sauce. This is going to melt in and just make it more delicious and a bit creamy. I like to use a mixture of Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano, with slightly more of the Pecorino. Use your judgement but in total it’s probably about ¼ cup of finely grated cheese. Stir it up until you don’t see it anymore.

Taste the sauce. Depending on whether or not you used anchovies, seasoned meat, salty cheese, etc, you may not need salt. If the sauce doesn’t have a ton of flavor, try adding some salt to bring everything out. Don’t over do it. You can always add more. Add some black pepper too, you don’t need a ton.

Let it simmer on very low heat.

Now for the pasta. You can use any style of pasta for this. I really recommend using imported Italian pasta. Anything that says “copper cut” is usually a good sign. It will absorb the sauce better. Delverde is a great brand, I love their tagliatelle. Use a tall pot of water, put salt in it until it tastes like the ocean! I guarantee this is probably why most people complain their pasta at home doesn’t taste like it does at a restaurant. Bring the water to a gentle boil.

Add the pasta and follow the instructions on the packaging. I like to undercook by a few minutes of the recommended time, because the pasta will finish cooking in the sauce. You don’t want mushy, you want al dente (some bite).

Strain the pasta and add to the saucepan, or you can transfer directly to the sauce using tongs.

Usually, adding about ½ cup of the starchy pasta water will help the sauce’s consistency and make it stick to the pasta better.

That’s it! Serve it up, add some grated cheese and crushed red pepper if that’s your thing. I hope you and anyone you’re sharing with will love this sauce as much as I do.

And remember, you can call it sauce, you can call it gravy (it’s sauce), just as long as it doesn’t come out of a jar!

The Evening of April 9th, 2021

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TRAVIS DUDA

How Do You Do Fellow Kids?

So as a guy in my 30s it may be a little surprising to read that I’m enjoying the heck out of TikTok. The amount of information and ideas available from this very useful app is astounding, especially when it comes to cannabis. I think it only took a day or two for the digital sorting hat to put me in StonerTok, where I belong. There are lots of people translating the science of cannabis for casual consumption, while others are MacGyvering some new smoking apparatus. However, the trend that caught my attention this month was the theory that EmergenC helps get you higher. At least once a day my FYP shows me another user telling me to try a dose 15 minutes before I take a toke.

The logic being that EmergenC supposedly lowers your tolerance, allowing you to get higher. So as a man of science I had to try it for myself. For those keeping track, yes this is a “TikTok made me buy it”.

Here are my honest results. I’ve tried it three different times, with varying results. I’ve also had a couple friends give it a whirl as well and give me their feedback. Our consensus is that it’s most effective the first time you try it, with a less noticeable result on subsequent attempts. What I’m suggesting is that this is probably just a placebo effect but more experimentation is needed. If you feel brave enough to try it, please let me know how it goes. I’ll probably just stick to mango slices.

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There HAS To Be A Better Way One of the things I miss most about pre-pandemic days was sitting around with my friends and passing a bowl. A good session with friends can emotionally repair better than any clinical prescription.

I’ve tried to replicate it using video conferencing technology, but something about not actually passing the piece, or only seeing my friends on a screen, just doesn’t have the same effect. Throughout history many great leaders have met in these types of sessions and have shared world changing thoughts and ideas. I’m not suggesting that anything that happens during our sessions has this much gravity, however it does certainly have a positive impact for all those involved.

That being said, I understand public safety supersedes my need for a traditional blaze sesh. I’m just asking for someone to come up with a clever and safe way for us to do it again sooner.

Home of the Free 2021 has been a doozy so far. With Biden taking over the White House, there has already been a wave of Executive Orders undoing the previous administration’s efforts. Now that the Democrats control the House and Senate there are a lot of people speculating that we will see National Decriminalization within the year, and possibly Federal legalization soon after. Chuck Schumer has publicly stated that there are bills in the works. Bills that will ideally federally decriminalize marijuana, reinvest tax revenue into the areas most affected by the war on drugs, and fund programs to release and expunge people sentenced with cannabis related crimes. It just makes sense. We see a growing number of States updating their laws, so it would appear that it’s only a matter of time. A path to national legalization is in sight, and it’s my belief that now that the Senators have finished dealing with the impeachment hearings, they could cleanse the Nation’s palette with a little legal weed. It’d be unifying and would help raise morale, but I may be biased.

Thanks for reading, and happy trails!

-Travis

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STYLE Savvy STYLE SAVVY APRIL GODDARD Hello readers! Spring has sprung, and we are (finally) starting to make it out of the woods of winter 2021. So much has both changed (and stayed the same) in this last year, and as we look ahead to the summer season, we watch the trends change with it. Not sure what the up-and-coming fashion forecast is for the warmer weather? Not ready to give up the quarantine look? No worries, we’ve got you covered for all of spring/ summer 2021’s fashions do’s-and don’ts.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW… Okay, so I have to say as far as the middle versus side part war, I believe that the middle part wins and has been winning for some years now. So it should come as no surprise that trending for spring/summer 2021 is the middle part. Trending even more strongly is how to wear the middle part, which is down with lots of length and super wavy. That’s right folks, break out the crimper that your mom neglected to throw away in the year 2000; it’s coming back. Loose beach waves are also a timeless go-to that can accentuate the face-framing middle part.

CARTE BLANCHE Literally translating to “blank or white paper” this nail trend has been everywhere for months, and will be going strong through the summer. Not falling far from the oh so classic french manicure, the all white nail trend is a modern take on a beauty classic. While the pop of white is eye-catching and clean, the color (or lack of) stands to be universally flattering, not to mention complimentary to virtually any clothing color you wear.

My favorite nail shape to wear the white trend in is a short squoval, but a white nail looks equally as elegant with a lengthy almond-shaped nail.

TO SKINNY OR NOT TO SKINNY? Ugh. This takes me to my final and most grudgingly-difficult point that I have been resistant to, yet must ultimately, admit. Yes, It’s true: Skinny jeans, the ride-or die for any self-respecting and fashion forward millennial are no longer. That is, they are no longer “trending”, no longer a wardrobe “essential”; they are old news, out of style, and some might even say, dead. For my peers, who like me are finding this a difficult pill to swallow, never fear. I refuse to believe that they are totally dead, and that much like high-waisted jeans that our mothers wore in the 80’s, they will come back around again. Although the take on denim stating “the looser the better” is reminiscent of last April’s quarantine’s sweatsuits, all is not lost: Just as fabulous and “on trend” are the high waisted straight leg jean, which unlike it’s skinnier cousin are a lot more comfortable to sit in. This is what I recommend to all my people who still love a well-fitted jean. But hey, if you are still into the quarantine swag, rock the super-baggy denim while it lasts. Until we meet skinny jeans.

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SPORTS SPORTS&& FITNESS FITNESS

BRUCE MARCHAND JR. – HEAD COACH FOR THE WORCESTER MAJORS RACHEL SHUSTER An Uxbridge, MA native, Bruce Marchand Jr. grew up with a passion in his heart for sports, including basketball, but furthermore, goals of coaching others to be the best they can be. It wasn’t always easy for Marchand growing up, but with great determination and focus, he has not only reached his goals, but crushed them. Marchand has recently been named Coach for Worcester’s incoming professional basketball team, the Worcester Majors.

“Basketball saved my life,” Marchand says. “I had a rough time when I was younger. I was bullied a lot in middle and high school, was getting bad grades and could have gone down a dark path – but I found my outlet in basketball. It brought me into a team atmosphere with others with similar interests. It was something I became so passionate about – not only playing the game and being around it, but the idea of coaching. I felt at home. I’ve never felt that way anywhere else.”

Marchand’s time at Blackstone Valley Technical High School, specifically with the basketball team and his time as team manager, allowed him to learn how to coach and ingrain himself in the game. “Coaching is my passion,” Marchand says. “By getting the opportunity to coach in high school, I was able to help others with their future dreams and make a huge difference.”

Marchand graduated from Nichols College with a sports management degree and saw his coaching career take off from there. “I began coaching year-round, including with the AAU team, the Boston Warriors,” Marchand says.

After some time, Marchand found himself in a bit of a funk. “About six months ago, a lot in my life fell apart and I was in a funk,” he says. “I saw the Worcester Majors head coach job online, and it immediately piqued my interest. I didn’t know if I’d get it, but I took a chance and applied.”

Marchand’s luck turned around, as Worcester Majors General manager, A.J. “Beast” Stephens found himself very impressed with Marchand and offered him the job two days after Marchand interviewed.

“I think I bring a lot of passion for the game, knowledge and a sense of loyalty, which is what stuck with him [Stephens],” Marchand says. “He could tell how much the game and coaching means to me. I’m someone who wants to build a program and not just a team from year to year.”

Taking on this exciting role doesn’t come without its challenges. “I think because I am young, it’s getting the respect of opponent coaches,” Marchand says.

“I am younger than some guys I may coach! In addition to that – I know a lot about the game, but my skills aren’t as good. With that and considering my age, I earn respect and trust, and that’s the kind of standard that I hold myself to as a coach – earn it, not expect it.”

While the Worcester Majors season doesn’t officially kick off until later this year in October, Marchand’s coaching gig is off and running. “I officially started my role as of Feb. 1. Right now, we are having tryouts and are in the early stages,” he says.

The Worcester Majors name is an homage to Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, who became the second Black athlete to win a world championship in cycling.

The name was chosen by the Worcester community and instills a great sense of pride. “This is about building a team, a hometown team,” Marchand says.

The Worcester Majors conference is on the east coast and will play primarily New England teams as well as some from New York and New Jersey. “Our home games will be played at Worcester State University and we should have about 10 at home, but the schedule is still being worked out,” Marchand adds.

In addition to focusing on playing basketball, Marchand plans to have the Worcester Majors engage with the community as much as possible. “Once we finalize the team in the spring, we are going to get out there, go to schools, the library where there’s a statue of the man who inspired our team name, and make this team known in the city,” he says.

As the team takes shape, Marchand has big goals and dreams for himself and the future of the Worcester Majors. “I want to build a brotherhood,” he says.

“We want this to be a team that fills the stands with people from Worcester and offers the opportunity for guys who went to college and didn’t go to the NBA, for example, who are looking for a place to play and belong.”

One could say that it’s all for the love of the game, but for Marchand and his team, it’s all for the love of the city. “I love the city of Worcester, and the city deserves a team to be proud of,” he says.

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FINDING YOUR GRACE JENNIFER RUSSO Recently, someone I know broke down, calling herself a failure because she was struggling with balancing her now work-from-home job, her children’s online learning, a sick family member and the loss of her pet. The year has been rough on us all, some perhaps a little more so than others, but what struck me most was her use of the word “failure”. That she truly was thinking of herself this way broke my heart. In these unprecedented times, with everything going haywire around us it seems, there are those who are taking it very personally.

There are people who are digitally fatigued from Zoom calls and feel guilty about complaining because they do still have a job. There are parents doing everything they can to help their children navigate online learning, but when they can’t help with a math problem or their child has a breakdown, they take the blame for it. There are people who feel guilty because they can’t see a sick family member, thinking they are letting that person down. There are people who may have an anxiety attack because life is incredibly stressful at the moment, and then feel badly about that. And on the flip side, maybe someone has had good things happen for them during the pandemic and yet because there are so many people suffering, they feel like they can’t celebrate or share it.

This is temporary. I’ll say it again…this is TEMPORARY. First, know you are not alone. There are a lot of people feeling that sense of failing one way or another right now. It’s ok. Accept that you are feeling the way you are and honor that, and realize it is absolutely normal.

Now, change the narrative. You are handing an enormous amount of pressure and added responsibilities, along with a lot of emotions over a predicament that you did not expect. You are TOUGH. You will get through it. You aren’t failing, you are simply working it out and doing the best you can under the circumstances.

Then, show yourself that grace. Don’t be too hard on yourself. If a friend or loved one came to you and told you they felt like they were a failure, what would you tell them? Show the same level of compassion for yourself.

Lastly, do something for yourself that makes you feel relaxed and happy. Is it watching a funny movie, having a glass of wine or a bubble bath (or both), taking a drive or walk or buying yourself that trinket you’ve been eyeing? Do it. Selfcare is critical.

You’ve got this. Peace & Light.

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