Pulse Magazine

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april 2017 In this issue COVER story 6 Central mass's best bartenders

entertainment

26 the luxe list: Gadgets that can improve your health

FOOD+DRINK 28 new around the woo: The Ballot Box

12 Cloutier’s new album

offers a cold beauty

29 Pulsebrew: New beer arrivals

13 pulsebooks: Lessons in friendship

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30 dining review: Sandwiches at The Usual are anything but usual

14 THE central scene 15 gameon: Dragonball Xenoverse 2 powers up

31 hot & now

16 nowstreaming: Billie Marten / Billy Porter / Shallow Side

art+culture 32 local photographer succumbs

18 Club, Pub + grub Listings

to wanderlust

22 PulseShots

sports+fitness

lifestyle

33 findingbalance: Creating space

24 Central Mass goes green to

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beauty+style

25 out+about: LGBTQ Caring Families

34 Eco-friendly beauty products 33 steal the style: Sneaker edition

32 read pulse Online

celebrate Mother Earth

26 The best of college pranking

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PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 88 Winter St., Worcester, MA 01604. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2015 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

Paul Giorgio, Publisher Donna Roberson, Editor Vanessa Herbold, Art Director Chris Reddy, Alex Theisen, Kyle Sullivan Account Executives Mitchell Perry, Event Manager

Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Jennifer Russo, Lifestyle Editor Kimberly Dunbar, Jennifer Russo, Jason Savio, Bernie Whitmore, Michael Wood, Paul Giorgio, SAudra Brackett, Merilee Kern, Kerry Cyganiewicz, John Trobaugh, Sloane Perron, Jamie Burke, Rachel Shuster Writers

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cover story

photographer: matt wright mattwrightphoto.com

Location: The pint

58 shrewsbury street, worcester, ma


Morgan Long

Nicholas Patchen

Whiskey On Water

The Hangover Pub

Why do you think you won the category? What makes you a great bartender? I think I won the category because I present myself well. I was raised southern, and we’re always taught to put ourselves together and keep an appropriate demeanor. I think I’m a great bartender because I’m attentive; I like to watch for cues and signals that people give off. You can learn a lot about a customer from observing.

Why do you think you won your category? What makes you a great bartender? Being a great bartender is more than creating delicious drinks. I like to talk and connect with the guests at my bar and create a comfortable atmosphere where anybody can come enjoy great drinks and feel like they are at home. As far as drinks go, I take pride in each and every one of my cocktails that I put out. Building a cocktail has become an art form to me, and nothing is better than seeing the look on the people’s faces when you put the perfect cocktail in front of them.

What else do you do? I like to keep myself busy. In addition to bartending at Whiskey On Water, I tend bar at a couple others as a fill-in around the Springfield area. I work as a promotional model for various liquor and event companies. I’m signed to a modeling agency out in the city and most of my days consist of castings.

What else do you do besides bartend? My favorite hobby of all is going to new places, walking around and finding cool things to do. My ideal day is going to a hip new town/city that I’ve never been to and just walking around all day popping in and out of stores and bars. What do you love about being a bartender? I honestly really just enjoy meeting new people, whether it’s going to bartender events and meeting some of the greatest bartenders in the world or having some average Joe sit at my bar. Everyone is so unique with their own story. What’s the most annoying thing a customer has done? What annoys me is when one guest at my bar starts to bother a different group of guests. When that happens, it just takes away from the atmosphere and their experience isn’t the same. What is something most people don’t know about you? When I was 20, I packed up all of my things and bought a one-way ticket to Denver, Colo. I moved out there with zero dollars in my pocket and landed my first restaurant job within the first day of being out there. That is where my passion for the industry began.

What do you love most about being a bartender? In general, I just enjoy talking to others. I love hearing war stories about bad dates. As long as you want to talk, I’ll lean and listen in. The most annoying thing a customer can do? I absolutely dread an unhappy customer. Please, do not go to any bar if you’re in a bad mood. Often people think ,”I’m having a bad day, I’ll go out to cheer myself up.” The truth is you walk in unhappy thinking about your day and you’re not able to let it go most of the night. What is your super power behind the bar? Sometimes it feels like there’s two of me. I try my best to get everything multiple customers need in a few moves. I’m always trying to improve on speed and efficiency behind the bar. What do you do on your time off? I honestly don’t have to much time off. I try to pack in as much work as I can, so I can get away for a week every couple of months. I’ve been spending a lot of this year traveling and just came back from celebrating Mardi Gras in Louisiana. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? I would say the most surprising thing customers find out about me is that I’m originally from the South. I’ve been in Massachusetts for a couple years now and most of my accent has faded. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I backpacked through Europe two summers ago. I learned a few tricks and drink recipes from bartenders I met along the way. I have a few special drinks I make for regulars, but what makes a cocktail so special is not to reveal the ingredients. What do you drink when you go out? Jameson.

Bartender You’d Most Like to Date

What is your super power behind the bar? I feel like I can put a smile on anybody’s face. What do you do on your time off? I am an art nerd. Anything from photography to painting to architecture to tattoos. I love it all. That and the Patriots and Tom Brady. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I really like to make bourbon/whiskey drinks. What do you drink when you go out? This is the toughest question so far. I am all over the place when it comes to drinking. It all depends on where I am going and what my purpose for the night is. But my favorite cocktail to sit down and enjoy is a well made Old Fashioned.


DEREK GRIMM deadhorse hill / the pint

Why do you think you won your category? What makes you a great bartender? I really enjoy the hospitality aspect of bartending. When someone comes in and is a little confused or stumped by our cocktail or beer list, it’s nice to get a few details about what they like and go from there. It’s super cool making or pouring something insane for someone who came in looking for something more normal and having them light up and totally crush it. What else do you do besides bartend? I love to travel. I try to get out of town once a month. Chicago has been a regular destination of mine, but I’m also heading to New Orleans, Asheville and Sweden this year. Apart from that, I do a lot of geeky stuff – retro video games, comic books (really, any kind of super hero or Star Wars collectible) and read. What do you love about being a bartender? Helping people enjoy what little time they have away from the real world is pretty rad. While we may take this time for granted, most people work their whole week to be able to sit down for two hours and try to forget the stress of the work week. It’s awesome taking someone who comes in and is upset that we don’t carry a certain spirit or beer, and by the time they leave, they’ve Instagramed the four drinks you’ve gotten them. Being creative in a medium that is universally appreciated is pretty damn fulfilling. The international sense of community that comes with the title is amazing, as well.

Bartender You’d Most Likely Take a Drink Recommendation From

What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? Meh. Annoying is very relative. People have requests and idiosyncrasies that may be annoying to you but totally normal to them. That’s not to say I’m a super huge fan of people grazing off the garnish tray or telling (not asking) me to pour more booze in their drink, but that’s just kind of comes with the title. What is your super power behind the bar? Dad jokes. What do you do on your time off? Travel. Study. I try to visit other places and support the bartending community. I really like competing in cocktail competitions, and any excuse to get out of town is welcomed. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? My middle name is Sven; I’m mostly Swedish; and I really enjoy classical music. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I don’t have a specialty, per se. I really enjoy tiki drinks, and I think rum is an underrated spirit here in Worcester. If I find myself asking what a cocktail needs, I’m usually thinking rum! What do you drink when you go out? Depends on the day. Some days you’ll find me at breweries sampling flights; some days I’ll be at Moynagh’s hammering down Pabst and shots of Jameson; some days drinking cocktails. If I had to pick a favorite drink of all time? The Vieux Carre.


Kait Flynn VIA Italian Table

Why do you think you won your category? What makes you a great bartender? I think one of the things that has helped in my success as a bartender is my willingness to really connect with my customers. I tend to have a full house, and I think that projecting a sense of calm while operating with a sense of urgency is also key. It seems to be working for me – there are a lot of familiar faces around my horseshoe. What else do you do besides bartend? I love to fill my days with anything active – yoga, creating art of any kind. I love to read, and I am sort of a foodie, so whether it’s dining out or finding an awesome new healthy cookbook, food is usually involved. What do you love about being a bartender? I love so much about bartending. You never know what the day is going to bring! Every customer that has ever sat at my bar has been interesting in one way or another. I also love the challenge of keeping customers satisfied while multitasking to no end. What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? I would have to say the most annoying thing a customer could do is to disrespect my career by asking me what my “real job” is. Many people don’t see bartending as a career, but it is for me and I love it. What is your super power behind the bar? My super power is totally reading people, making them feel comfortable and knowing when to use discretion. What do you do on your time off? On my days off, you usually can’t find me because I am playing in the mountains or on the beach with my dog, fiance and little girl. We love to be outside! I also love to travel. I think it is one of life’s greatest joys. So if I am not behind the bar for a stretch, I’ll be back soon with some awesome stories to tell. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? People are usually pretty surprised that at my age (28), I have a 10-year-old stepdaughter that I absolutely adore. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? It depends on the season and my mood, but I do love working with bourbon. What do you drink when you go out? It’s funny, I go through phases. On rotation, I’ve got Double IPAs; a good Old Fashioned; oaky chardonnays; a big, bold red; and just recently, I’ve been feeling the extra dirty martini with a ton of olives to help me along.

Best Therapist Behind the Bar


Joe Stake Funky Murphy’s

Why do you think you won your category? What makes you a great bartender? I never expected this. My ability to see when someone’s drink is empty and ask if they would like another makes me a great bartender. What else do you do besides bartend? I like to golf and also workout as little as possible. What do you love about being a bartender? Meeting new people. What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? Ask if we have Tito’s. What is your super power behind the bar? The ability to read lips when someone whispers in a crowded bar. What do you do on your time off? Sample new and innovative cocktails. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? My age (24). What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? Tito’s and soda. What do you drink when you go out? Four Loko.

most entertaining bartender


jeremy kielar clintons bar & grill

Why do you think you won your category? What makes you a great bartender? I’m knowledgeable and teachable. Also maybe my personality. Maybe... What else do you do besides bartend? I have so many hobbies I couldn’t list them all. I’d describe myself as a constant learner, though. Learning is a hobby to me. I’m a musician and an artist, I guess. Creating anything really is a hobby to me. What do you love about being a bartender? I enjoy being creative and working with my hands. I enjoy the conversations with customers and co-workers. Mostly co-workers. It takes a certain type of crazy to be in this industry. What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? The verbal tip is the most annoying thing ever. I’ve found that the more a person openly praises you as a bartender/ server, the less they tip. Thanks for nothing. What is your super power? My super power? LOL. Being a good listener. You can’t learn anything if you never listen – about things or people. What do you do on your time off? Right now, I’d say my passion is to be my own boss. I want to be independent. Like I said, I am a creator and a thinker. I’m passionate about being myself. Music is a passion of mine in a lot of different ways, as well. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? Most people don’t know that I have a bad temper. I never yell and I never get upset. I’m a very calm and passive person. But I’ve learned to be that way; it doesn’t come naturally to me. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I don’t think there is anything special about the drinks I make. I just put a lot of pride and attention into cocktails in general. Presentation, smell, taste, texture and ingredients. They are all important. But I’ve been told I make the best sazerac outside of New Orleans. I don’t believe that, though.

most creative cocktail crafter


entertainment

Cloutier’s new album offers a cold beauty Adam Campbell After five years, Dan Cloutier has released another album. The Battle of Greenland was released in January. In the five years since his last album, Blind Willie’s Lighthouse, Cloutier has had two children and faced his share of hardships. When his son was born five years ago, he was born with a tumor that required him to stay in the hospital. During that time, as well, both his grandfather and uncle passed away. That time of hardship defines this new album. “I feel that the reason that cold remote places such as Greenland make the perfect setting for this collection of songs is simply the feeling of the unknown,” Cloutier said. “Before we had kids, my wife and I traveled to places like that a lot, and we found a lot of beauty there.” Cloutier said while he was with his son in the hospital room, the dimly lit fluorescent lights combined with his feelings of fear gave him the feeling of being back on the Greenland tundra and staring into the unknown.

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“I was able to fund this album through a very successful Kickstarter campaign. To thank people, I’m going to be allowing people to download the album for free or for a donation to Charity Water at noisetrade.com/dancloutier,” he said.

“I feel like this is my best album yet; it’s without a doubt my most thought-out album.” Cloutier said. “I feel like I expressed everything I wanted to get across in this album, but I’m sure in a year there will be something I wish I did differently. You’re always the most critical on yourself after a few years pass.”

The first and last songs on the album (“Cold Puzzle” and “Days of Resurrection”) are the most personally meaningful. Cloutier said, despite the tundra theme veneer, the album is based on real experiences. Whether it be about his son in the hospital or losing his uncle and grandfather, each song on this album has a special meaning to him.

And, Cloutier said, he appreciates the support of the music community of Central Massachusetts. “Being a singer in Central Massachusetts, rather than in larger cities such as Boston, gives a better sense of community. Less people trying to just make a career out of it and more people making it a life commitment. No one trying to one-up each other; it’s all for the love of music.” Now Cloutier is working on getting to work with his new band, The Great Molasses Flood, which he started with his friends Kim Jennings and Ricardo Barraza. “Amazing songs, well thought-out harmonies and great energy,” is how Cloutier described the new project. “It’s so great to work with these people.” When asked if he could give any advice to upcoming musicians, he offered this: “The best advice I can give is simply to go out there. Find a like-minded community of young musicians. You can’t become great in your basement.” For more information, visit dancloutier.com or greatmolassesflood.com.


pulsebooks: Lessons in friendship Kimberly Dunbar

This month marks the fourth anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, and while we’ll pause to remember those lost and injured, we’ll continue about our daily lives. As it seems with many tragedies, for those who are not directly affected, the memories of how we felt that day seem to fade with time. However, for survivors like Roseann Sdoia, who lost her right leg above the knee that day, they’ll forever be affected and forced to adjust to a new normal. In her first book, Perfect Strangers: Friendship, Strength, and Recovery After Boston’s Worst Day (PublicAffairs), Sdoia (and contributor Jennifer Jordan) documents how four perfect strangers were brought together by tragedy and how three of them – college student Shores Salter, Boston Police officer Shana Cottone and Boston firefighter Mike Materia – saved her life that day on Boylston Street. Sdoia paints a moving portrait of how close she came to losing her life and learning to carry on – and leave anger behind – after losing her leg. You may think you’ve heard this story already, but I promise, you haven’t, at least not from Sdoia’s point of view and definitely not with her humor and positive attitude despite being “blown up.” Readers also get a front-row seat as Sdoia and “her firefighter” Materia develop a romance and how the four strangers became family, despite meeting under the worst of circumstances (Materia and Sdoia are now engaged). Perfect Strangers is about so much more than 4-15-13; it is about love, courage and friendship.

Moving into the world of fiction, Karen White’s latest novel, The Night the Lights Went Out (Berkley), is also about unexpected friendship among strangers. When recently divorced Merilee Dunlap moves across the affluent suburb of Sweet Apple, Ga., she is thrown into an unfamiliar world. Merilee, who is attempting to move on from her adulterous husband, faces the challenges of starting over as a single parent of two young children under the watchful eyes of the other mothers at her children’s private school. Merilee begins to blossom and make friends in her new neighborhood, including her prickly 93-year-old landlady Sugar Prescott and Heather Blackford, the queen bee among the mothers of the school. Heather takes Merilee under her glamorous and seemingly perfect wing as her “project,” and despite driving a Honda Odyssey while the other stay-at-home moms pilot shiny SUVs around town, Merilee and Heather get closer. As she becomes more comfortable in her new skin, Merilee finds herself the topic of the town’s anonymous gossip blog. When things fall apart, Merilee learns who she can trust, while Sugar learns to let others into the spot where her heart used to be. Unbeknownst to them, the two women have much in common – including dark secrets that have haunted them for decades and will change everything once revealed.

The Night the Lights Went Out hits shelves April 11; Perfect Strangers is available now.

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The Worcester Music Awards The Worcester Music Awards are back again to honor the musicians of Central Massachusetts. Free admission includes performances by local bands and giveaways. Come and see for yourself the local musicians who have been chosen by fans as the best of the best. 7 p.m. April 12; The Cove Music Hall, 89 Green St., Worcester; free; worcestermusicawards.com.

WEC’appella WEC’appella, Worcester’s premier a cappella competition, pits five high school and five college groups in a sing-off for a truly gaudy trophy and bragging rights as best a cappella group in the city. Emceed by Noah Lis, a Season 6 contestant on The Voice, WEC’appella is a fundraiser for Worcester Education Collaborative. 7:30 p.m. April 8; Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester; $20; mechanicshall.org.

Star Wars Day at WAM An event for fans of all ages. Come and celebrate Star Wars. Cosplay as your favorite character and enjoy the festivities, including watching the comparison of a storm trooper’s armor to that of a real knight, lightsaber battles, create-your-own Star Wars art and so much more! The galaxy awaits; may the force be with you! 10 a.m.5 p.m. April 16; Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester; free with museum admission; worcesterart.org.

MegaSlam Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Worcester Public Library with this raucous and fun poetry slam with poets competing from local organizations. 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 26; Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room, 3 Salem Square, Worcester; free; mywpl.org.

New England VegFest An event that’s not just for vegans and vegetarians. Explore a lifestyle that’s meat-free and committed to animal welfare. Complete with vegetarian-friendly food and vendors who promote a sustainable environment, you’ll enjoy cooking demos, raffles, speakers and kids’ activities. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 30; DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester, free; newenglandvegfest.com.

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Billie Marten /

Writing of Blues and Yellows Jennifer Russo It’s refreshing to see someone so young take the bull by its horns and make a name for herself so quickly. Billie Marten, born Isabella Sophie Tweddle, is a mere 17 and has already been making waves in the music scene’s ocean of artists. I had actually heard her song “Bird” in an airport and had no idea who was singing it, but I thought it was beautiful. I then heard it again in an episode of Shadowhunters and looked up the artist and was shocked that someone with such a mature and defined sound could be a teenager from a little town in England. Marten’s coffeehouse, acoustic style is calm and reflective, emotional and true to heart. She is the female version of well-known bands such as Coldplay, Radiohead and Muse. If you like those bands, give her a listen. She also reminded me a bit of Tori Amos, but with a raspier and more relaxed and youthful vibe. She has mastered the art of “good things take time” with her music, never rushing and allowing the note to resonate before moving onto the next. I found the album to be unassuming and yet impactful. My favorite song on the album is “Bird,” but that may be because it was the song that caused me to be interested in her in the first place. I also really like “Hello Sunshine,” something that immediately brings to mind waking up slowly on a Sunday morning. “Heavy Weather” is a thought-provoking song, with a quiet and cool melody paired with some interesting changes. This is a perfect album to download if you are just looking for some quiet time and stress relief or a mellow weekend day at home, sitting in the yard or relaxing on a beach. For more information, visit BillieMarten.com.

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Billy Porter /

Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers Mike Wood When it comes to easy listening music that won’t make you actually snooze, nothing is more soul-soothing than some R&B. Mix that in with some classic Broadway, and you get Tony and Grammy Award-winner Billy Porter’s new album featuring R&B-infused renditions of classic Richard Rodgers songs. You might be asking: Richard Rodgers who? Well, you’ve heard of Rodgers and Hammerstein, right? He’s one half of the prolific musical team behind such showstoppers as The King and I, Carousel, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. And while Rodgers was a composer for almost 50 Broadway musicals, with more than 900 songs, we’re only going to get 12 of them here. This album is not Porter’s alone, either. He shares the honors with some of Broadway’s brightest new stars, including Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) and Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), as well Grammy Award nominees Deborah Cox and Ledisi. It’s hard to pick favorites from the list, but some of the more familiar titles given knew interpretations that stick are Cynthia Erivo’s take on “My Funny Valentine” and “Carefully Taught,” sung by India Arie and Porter himself. If you’re a fan of Rodgers’ litany of hits, you’ll be transfixed by “Bewitched” and “The Lady is a Tramp” and find – like it or not – that a politically-charged “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” is speaking directly to POTUS. Only Porter’s take on “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music – though modernized and matching the sound of the previous 11 tracks – seems somehow out of place, even if Porter offers his own spoken-word reasoning for its inclusion beyond its mere existence as part of Rodger’s songbook. For more information, visit billyporter.com.

Shallow Side / One Jason Savio Shallow Side’s One is a slick package of ready-to-go rock. It combines a unique hybrid of new-century radio rock with hints of familiar tropes that work to the band’s advantage on this quick six-song release. Whereas some of the record tiptoes dangerously close to generic sludge rock, those moments are few and far between, making One worth a listen. Shallow Side favors the 21st-century alternative rock edge, but if you listen closely, you can hear shades of blues stomps and classic rock DNA. Shallow Side doesn’t necessarily make an effort to hide it either, most notably in the safe cover of “Renegade.” While this is a welcomed addition and one that fits right in the band’s wheelhouse, you’d rather hear a young band perform its own originals. Shallow Side ends up doing that with songs like “We Roll” and the memorable “Fight or Flight.” Most numbers here sound made for radio, including “Start a Fire,” but when singer Eric Boatright drops an F-bomb in the gleaming “Rebel,” it seems counterproductive despite the rogue title. Although it is relatively short, One gives enough of a good impression to make you curious to hear more from Shallow Side. These guys are sophisticated enough to catch some of their own original twists while having a familiar quality that successfully sucks you in. For more information, visit shallowside.net.


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Club+Pub+GRUB Listings

Entertainment at clubs, bars, pubs & other select venues vher435 Bar & Grill 435 Lancaster St., Leominster

Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg

American Graffiti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg

Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton

Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc. danceranchandsaloon.com

B-Man’s 140 Tavern 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Sterling 140pub.com

Brew City 104 Shrewsbury St., Worc. brew-city.com

Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford daysendtavern.com

The Banner Bar & Grille 112 Green St., Worc. thebannerbar.com

Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Road, Shirley bullrunrestaurant.com

Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens devensgrill.com

Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester barberscrossingrestaurant.com

Cafe Destare 320 Main St., Fitchburg destare.com

Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Road, Sterling barberscrossingrestaurant.com Thursdays: Open Mic Fridays: Bill McCarthy

Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St., Worc. Fridays, Saturdays: DJ (21+) Apr. 6: PaintNite Apr. 7: Gretchen Brostrom & Silvertone Steve Apr. 8: Mychael David & Howie Swett Apr. 14: Ron Jones Apr. 15: Lisa Marie & Johnny Juxo Apr. 21: New England Weather Apr. 22: Amanda Cote Apr. 28: Brett & Lisa Brumby Apr. 29: Round Midnight

Electric Haze 26 Millbury St, Worc. Sundays: Almost Acoustic Sundays Mondays: Open Mic Tuesdays: Twister Tuesdays

Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc. beatniksbeyou.com Apr. 5: Wednesday Night Mayhem Apr. 6: DJ Dance Party Apr. 7: Good Question Band Apr. 8: Hit The Bus Apr. 12: Beatnik’s Open Mic Night Apr. 13: Quick! Look Busy Apr. 14: Jessa Potts Apr. 15: The Cogs Apr. 19: Wednesday Night Mayhem Apr. 20: DJ Dance Party Apr. 21: Hamburger Midnight Apr. 22: Matt Brodeur Trio Apr. 26: Beatnik’s Open Mic Night Apr. 27: Nate Chung Project & 3 Piece Meal Apr. 28: Tokyo Tramps Apr. 29: April’s Fools Beemer’s Pub & Grill 310 Main St., Fitchburg beemerspub.com Billy’s Pub 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Road, Sterling Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worc. blackstonetap.com Blue Plate Lounge 661 Main St., Holden Thursdays: Open Mic Night Blueprint New American Bar & Grill 9 Village Square, Westminster Apr. 6: Dave Harrington Apr. 8: Our Buddy Carl Apr. 13: Dan Cormier Apr. 14: Gale County Apr. 20: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr. 21: Scott Babineau Apr. 22: Kevin Shields Apr. 27: Darren Bessette Apr. 29: Tim & Lou Bolton Street Tavern 587 Bolton St., Marlborough boltonstreettavern.com

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Chopstick’s Restaurant & Lounge 21 Commercial Road, Leominster chopsticksleominster.com Christopher’s Pub 7 Pleasant St., Leominster Cicero’s Cafe 17 Suffolk St., Worc. Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster classicspub.net Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: Karaoke April 5: Russell Watts and Atlantic Avenue April 19: Russell Watts and Atlantic Avenue The Columbia Tavern 28 Manning Ave., Leominster Compass Tavern 90 Harding St., Worc. thecompasstavern.com Fridays, Saturdays: DJs Apr. 7: Mike Melendez Apr. 14: Amanda Cote Apr. 21: Ken Macy Apr. 28: Brian Richard Cosmopolitan Club 96 Hamilton St., Worc. The Cove Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc. thecovemusichall.com Thursdays: Subterra Apr. 7: Slip-Not (Slipknot tribute) Apr. 8: Through the Doors (Doors tribute) & The Cosby Sweaters Apr. 12: Worcester Music Awards Apr. 14: Death Rattle, Destiny Never Dies & Single Bullet Theory Apr. 15: Marc Rizzo, IDAK, Tester & Leaving

Eden

Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc. aohworcester.com

Greendale’s Pub 404 W. Boylston St., Worc. greendalespub.com Tuesdays: Open Mic with Bill McCarthy; Local Musicians Showcase Apr. 8: No Alibi Apr. 9: The Sunday Jam with Roberto Morbioli Apr. 14: Ed Sullivans Apr. 15: Silverbacks Apr. 16: The Sunday Jam with Brett Brumby Apr. 21: Aunti Trainwreck Apr. 22: 9Teen Apr. 23: The Sunday Jam with Lisa Marie Apr. 28: Trigger Apr. 29: Desolate Highway Apr. 30: The Sunday Jam with Johnny Juxo Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn halliganssportsbarandmore.com

Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden flipflopsma.com Apr. 7: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell

Happy Jack’s 785 North Main St., Leominster Apr. 7: Lizzy Marquis Apr. 8: The City Boys Apr. 14: Dave Harrington Apr. 15: Amanda Cote Apr. 21: Topher Brew Apr. 22: Ken Macy Apr. 28: Dave Malouin Apr. 29: Zack Slik

Flying Rhino Cafe 278 Shrewsbury St., Worc. flyingrhinocafe.com

Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/Kelley Square Yacht Club 1 Millbury St., Worc.

Frank’s 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc. Apr. 8: Girls on Girls Apr. 14: Sam James Apr. 15: Blue Light Bandits Apr. 21: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr. 29: Good Question

Indian Ranch 200 Gore Road, Webster indianranch.com

Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 E. Main St., Marlborough fireflysbbq.com

Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill 305 Shrewsbury St., Worc. funkymurphys.com Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner gardnerale.com Mondays: Blue Mondays Thursdays: Audio Wasabi Fridays, Saturdays: Live music Apr. 8: Toddamy The GazBar Sports Grill 1045 Central St., Leominster thegazbar.com Wednesdays: Trivia Night Apr. 7: Ed McCarron Apr. 8: Jim Weeks Apr. 13: Danielle Lessard Apr. 14: Heather & Joe Apr. 15: Kevin Shields Apr. 20: Dustin Brideau Apr. 21: Dave Malouin Apr. 22: Dan Kirouac - solo/acoustic Apr. 28: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr. 29: Ari Band GD Lounge Union Station, 2 Washington Square, Worc. facebook.com/GDloungeandtapas

Industry Bar Room 109 Water St., Worc. industrybarroom.com Ixtapa Cantina 308 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg ixtapacantina2.com JC Fenwick’s 37 Mechanic St., Leominster JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough jbag.biz Apr. 7: Ed Sullivans Apr. 21: Whiskey Church Apr. 22: WCUW Blues Benefit Legends Airport Road, Fitchburg Leitrim’s Pub 265 Park Ave., Worc. leitrimspub.com Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc. loft266.com Tuesdays: Karaoke Wednesdays: Ladies Night Thursdays: Sam James, DJ XKALIBER Fridays: DJ Joe T Apr. 7: Ken Macy Apr. 8: Dave Mack Apr. 14: Drunken Uncles Apr. 15: Dave O’Brien Apr. 21: Dave O’Brien Continued on Page 21


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Continued from Page 18 Apr. 22: Mike Melendez Apr. 28: Jay Graham Apr. 29: Dezi Garcia Mahoney’s Pub 413 Park Ave., Worc. Marty’s Pub 225 Cantebury St., Worc. martyspub.com MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc. mblounge.com Michael’s Cigar Bar 1 Exchange Place, Worc. michaelscigar.com Apr. 5: Mike Melendez Apr. 6: Jodee & Brian Apr. 7: Jim Devlin Trio Apr. 8: Blue Light Bandits Apr. 9: Royal Furs Apr. 12: Guiliano D’Orazio Apr. 13: Niki’s Fix Apr. 14: Testify Apr. 15: No Alibi Apr. 16: Blue Light Bandits Apr. 19: Brett Brumby Apr. 20: Russo Brothers Apr. 21: Navy Train Apr. 22: Tequila Bonfire Apr. 23: Royal Furs Apr. 26: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr. 27: Jim Devlin Apr. 28: HooDoo Revelator Apr. 29: Abraxas Apr. 30: Blue Light Bandits Mickey Sheas 324 Electric Ave., Lunenburg The Mill 185 185 W. Boylston St., W. Boylston themill185.com Apr. 6: Night Train Apr. 7: Guiliano D’Orazio Apr. 8: Katie O’Brien Duo Apr. 13: Mark & Anthony Apr. 14: Jay Graham Apr. 15: Sean Ryan Apr. 20: Chad Clements Apr. 21: Brian Chaffee Apr. 22: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr. 28: Jodee & Brian Apr. 29: Bill McCarthy Mill Street Brews (@ The Artist Development Complex) 18 Mill St., Southbridge millstreetbrews.com Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc. The Muse 536 Main St., Worc. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc. Fridays: Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc. Oak Barrel Tavern 229 Grove Ave., Worc. oakbarreltavernworcester.com Olde Post Office Pub 1 Ray St., N. Grafton On The Rocks Sports Bar & Grill

96 Lakefront Ave., Lunenburg Oxford Tavern 314 Main St., Oxford Padavano’s Place 358 Shrewsbury St., Worc. padavanosplace.com Tuesdays: Mauro DePasquale’s Jazzed Up Duo Apr. 21: Tony Soul Project Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster The Palladium 261 Main St., Worc. thepalladium.net Park Grill and Spirits 257 Park Ave., Worc. Fridays, Saturdays: Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg partnerspub.com Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Karaoke Apr. 8: One50One Apr. 15: Ben Cote Band Apr. 22: Sean Daly & The Hooligans Patsie Dugan’s 49 Millbury St., Worc. patsiedugans.com Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worc. The Pint 58 Shrewsbury St., Worc. Point Breeze On the Lake 114 Point Breeze Road, Webster pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com Press Box 536 Lincoln St., Worc. Quinn’s Irish Pub 715 W. Boylston St., Worc. quinnsirishpub.com Apr. 5: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr. 7: Josh Briggs Apr. 8: Sam James Apr. 9: Kevin Shields Apr. 12: Lizzy Marquis Apr. 13: John Brazile Apr. 14: Kevin Shields Apr. 15: Terry Brennan Apr. 16: John Brazile Apr. 19: Little Black Dress Apr. 20: Tim Pacific Apr. 22: Sam James Apr. 23: Kevin Shields Apr. 27: John Brazile Apr. 28: Guiliano D’Orazio Apr. 30: John Brazile

Rocky’s 139 Water St., Worc. Rumors 371 Park Ave., Worc. clubuniverseworcester.com Rye & Thyme 14 Monument Square, Leominster ryeandthyme.com Apr. 6: Scott Babineau Apr. 7: Neon Alley Apr. 8: Sweet Green Apr. 9: Zack Slik Brunch Apr. 13: The Captain Apr. 14: Keith McLinden Band Apr. 15: Doctor Robert Apr. 20: Jay Graham Apr. 21: Soulstice Apr. 22: Brian Chaffee & The Players Apr. 23: Brunch with Big Jon Short Apr. 27: Dan Cormier Apr. 28: The City Boys Apr. 29: Caves on Mars Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worc. sakura-tokyo.com Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant 494 Electric Ave., Lunenburg seanpatricksrestaurant.com South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 W. Broadway, Gardner southsidemargaritafactory.com Apr. 7: Topher Brew Apr. 8: Max Recoil Apr. 14: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr. 15: Whitney Doucette Apr. 21: Brett Casavant Apr. 22: Neon Alley Apr. 28: Dan Leblanc Apr. 29: Go Gadget Go Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough speakersnightclub.net Fridays: Original rock bands Apr. 8: Time Warp Spruce Street Tavern 68 Spruce St., Clinton sprucestreettavern.com Stagecoach Inn and Tavern 128 Main St., Groton grotonstagecoachinn.com Sunset Tiki Bar/The Outlook 79 Powers Road, Westford The Tavern on Central 3 Central St., Ashburnham

thetavernoncentral.com Apr. 7: Fern & Rita Apr. 8: Brian Chaffee Apr. 14: Darren Bessette Band Apr. 15: A Fine Connection Apr. 21: A Ton of Blues Apr. 22: Dave Harrington Apr. 29: Kevin Shields Three G’s Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc. 3gs-sportsbar.com Union Tavern 65 Green St., Worc. Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grille 377 Stetson Road, Barre upperdecksportsbarandgrille.com Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc. victorycigarbar.com Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc. Tuesdays: Boogie Chillin’ Whiskey Hookah Lounge 316 Main St., Worc. Whiskey on Water 97 Water St., Worc. whiskeyonwater.com Sundays, Wednesdays: Karaoke with DJ Soup Thursdays: DJ Cuzn Kev Fridays, Saturdays: DJ Tec Threat Apr. 7: Tequila Bonfire Apr. 8: Boombox Apr. 14: Radio Honey Apr. 15: Backyard Swagger Apr. 21: Eric Narwahl & The Manatees Apr. 22: The Flat Five Apr. 28: The Grand Central Apr. 29: The Dino-Mites Whistle Stop Bar & Grill 85 Main St., Oxford StopByTheWhistle.com White Eagle Polish Club 112 Green St., Worc. William’s Restaurant & Tavern 184 Pearson Blvd., Gardner williamsrestaurantandtavern.com Apr. 28: Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory Wonder Bar Restaurant 121 Shrewsbury St., Worc. Ye Olde Tavern 7 E. Main St., W. Brookfield westbrookfieldtavern.com

Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc. 508-753-9543 ralphsrockdiner.com Apr. 6: Metal Thursday CCCXXXVII (Dainsleif, Vivisepulture, Framework & The Offering) Apr. 15: The Sort of Late Show with Shaun Connolly Apr. 20: Metal Thursday CCCXXXVIII (Pink Mass, Locus Mortis, Upheaval & Death State) Apr. 22: Death Metal At Ralph’s (Scorched, Sentient Horror, Incontinence, Bacterial Husk & Boarcorpse) The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc.

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flying rhino CAFE – worcester

By Justin perry

funky murphy’s – worcester

quinn’s irish pub – worcester

press box – worcester

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gazbar sports grill – leominster

rye & thyme – leominster

the mill 185 – west boylston

park grill & spirits – worcester

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lifestyle

Central Mass goes green to

celebrate Mother Earth

Adam Campbell Earth Day (April 22) is coming. This is the one day that we put aside every year in order to celebrate and thank Mother Earth for all she gives us. While we should be working to protect and preserve the Earth each and every day, Earth Day is a day of awareness. Earth Day was started in 1970, when Sen. Gaylord Nelson, of Wisconsin, after seeing the damaged caused by the Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969, got together with a group of political and government officials and held protests across the country, demanding environmental discussion and focus.

In Central Massachusetts, Earth Day events – at colleges and museums – are a tradition.

Worcester’s EcoTarium will hold a weeklong series of events and activities dedicated to celebrating the planet, culminating on its Earth Day celebration April 21. The events will be taking place during the week of April vacation to give students the opportunity to learn about the natural beauty of the world. This year’s theme is How Does Your Garden Grow? Students will learn how plants grow, the difference between dirt and soil and how plants pollinate and reproduce and what causes plants to decompose. Students will also learn how to grow their own gardens at home and how gardens can benefit the planet. Every year, the Regional Environmental Council (REC) of Worcester Massachusetts partners with the EcoTarium to help with the Earth Day celebration. This year, to go along with the garden theme, the REC will bring its mobile market to sell seedlings. “Our goal is to create experiences that all ages can enjoy,” said EcoTarium’s Manager of Education Christina Chappell. “However, during school vacation weeks, we do design our programs with school-aged children and their families in mind.”

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“We feel that our Earth Day events really make a difference. Our programs and activities are designed to be interactive and engaging and to promote our mission to inspire a passion for science and nature.” Chappell said. “April is also a time of year that our 55 acres of grounds come to life and people really get into exploring our nature trails and enjoy playing in our Nature Explore Outdoor Exhibit, so it’s really a great day to see all the EcoTarium has to offer, indoors and outdoors.” Becker College students will also be getting out there to help the environment on Earth Day. On April 21, the Earth Day Pledge Board will ask Becker College students to measure their carbon footprint and pledge to lower it for next year. This will be the highlight in a series of events, which includes a cleanup of the Leicester Town Common on April 17, a recycling drive April 18 and a discussion about the effects of marine pollution April 19. On Earth Day, students will work with their food hall to figure how much food waste they produce and discuss ways to reduce it. “We haven’t done a weeklong series of events before; it always just used to be one day,” said Dexter Viator, Becker College’s Assistant Director of Campus Activities and Leadership Development. “But I feel like our students are committed to sustainable practices and leaving the earth better than they found it.” If you want to get into the act, the Regional Environmental Council is welcoming volunteers for its 28th annual Earth Day cleanup, a citywide cleanup of parks, gardens and neighborhoods involving more than 1,000 volunteers who will pick up more than 50 tons of trash at more than 60 locations throughout Worcester. This cleanup is from 8 a.m.-noon April 8. Volunteers may create their own teams or join an existing team. Visit recworcester.org/volunteer for more information about REC’s annual Earth Day cleanup. Towns around Central Massachusetts are scheduling town wide cleanups in April. Visit your town’s website for details.


OUT+ABOUT: LGBTQ Caring Families John Trobaugh “I knew about Gay Adoptive Fathers of New England (GAFNE) several months before I

met the group. I was nervous and wasn’t sure what to expect, as I was afraid of being judged,” said Chip LaRiviere, married father of five in Shrewsbury and member of GAFNE.

As a gay adoptive father, I can really relate. I have been to several of the GAFNE outings, too. It does require a leap of faith to go, but since we knew there was at least one common identity, I was willing to take that leap.

Chip went on to say, “My family can be a handful. When my family went to the first

meeting, it was at Elm Park, and I just remember leaving feeling how wonderfully accepting the other dads were of my family. Over the past almost two years, other dads comment on the GAFNE page and share personal information and ask a lot of questions. I would urge

other dads to join us. If not at get-togethers, then simply on the Facebook page sharing their life experiences, stories and pictures of their families. Other dads need to know that they are

not alone. Most of us have adopted children through the state or are in the process. We all have a story or experience to share in a safe and nonjudgmental environment!”

Several gay dads started GAFNE, but Joe Sandagato and Richard Benoit were really the

driving force. I have known Joe almost since we moved here eight years ago because he is also active in the Pride community, which I led for more than five years. Joe is a real adoption

advocate, in addition to his many other hats. He and his husband of 23 years have adopted seven children over the span of their relationship.

We spoke recently about the new direction and name the group is taking. Joe said that the

GAFNE group has grown, but also the community has broadened in such a way that they saw it was necessary to evolve to meet the current needs of the community. Joe founded

Caring Families Together to bring together various aspects of his volunteer outreach and

community support initiatives to meet the growing demands of the LGBTQ+ community. Richard, co-founder of GAFNE, has been a community advocate for more than two decades

in the areas of child welfare, family education and mental health support services. He has been involved in numerous LGBTQ+ support initiatives over the course of his service.

GAFNE is now Caring Families Together! Caring Families Together was founded to promote social connectivity, education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ families and LGBTQ+-

friendly families Today, more than ever, we need a supportive community where LGBTQ+

and LGBTQ+-friendly fathers, mothers and supportive family members can come together

to share stories of hope, liaise with other like-minded people for support and meet other parents who share the same LGBTQ+ unique life experiences. Join a group for online and in-person support in the Meet-Up and Community Education and Support groups.

The new website caringfamiliestogether.org outlines not just the gay dads group, but it

highlights other groups, including a mother’s forum and an LGBTQ+ family forum for

those families who want a more diverse atmosphere. Joe is available through the website or at jsandagato-cft@outlook.com.

Have an idea for a new column topic? Email John@JohnArt.com.

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The best of college prankinG Jennifer Russo

Ah, April Fool’s Day … the day when, for some reason, people think it is hilarious to pull pranks on others, say things that aren’t true and post phony Facebook posts to see if anyone will remember that it’s April 1. It got us to thinking about the legacy of college pranking, and we found some of what we think are the best ever done. Let’s begin with the local favorite, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. WPI actually has a long history of pranking, some of which actually spilled over to borderline criminal activity. In 1884, pranksters were able to get a horse into the Boynton Hall chapel, and it was found sitting in a pew when students came in for devotional in the morning. The entire junior class was convicted except one person. In 1925, someone stole the clock hands off the clock in Boynton Hall. Their replacements were stolen again in 1950 and not returned until 2000. In1940, the freshman class was able to get a car into the dormitory. In 1975, someone climbed Washburn Tower and stole the arm-shaped weather vane, leaving a ransom note. The arm had to be recreated as the original was never found. The College of the Holy Cross also has some prank history. In the late 1940s, someone parked a Worcester bus on the Dinand Library steps. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is historically one of the best when it comes to the pranks. Students have been able to install a solarpowered subway car that could ride around the perimeter of the great dome of their building and, more recently, were able to get an entire room of furniture to hang on the ceiling of their Media Arch, complete with chairs, a tree, a pool table (and all its accessories), a lamp and a fake cat sleeping on one of the chairs. Speaking of cats, MIT students also engineered one of the best Internet hoaxes of all time when they convinced millions of people that there was such a thing as “Bonsai Kittens.” These kittens were reportedly put into different shaped bottles and fed through tubes to keep them alive, causing them to take the shape of the bottles they were in. The photos were so convincing, outraged people and animal rights activists filed report after report with the FBI. Lesson No. 2: If someone asks you to flip a card over while you are sitting in the bleachers watching an event, be sure you know what the overall message will say. One great instance of this prank happened

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in 2004, when Yale University students convinced unsuspecting Harvard University fans to hold red and white signs that ended up forming the words “We Suck” at a Harvard-Yale game. California Institute of Technology students did this in the 1961 Rose Bowl, only the signs made up the school name. They weren’t even playing. CalTech also was able to exploit a McDonald’s sweepstakes back in 1975 with a computer program which allowed them to fill in the names of students on over a million sweepstakes forms. The rules of the sweepstakes said that people could enter as many times as they wanted, a mistake McDonald’s has never made again. Harvard has some thieves, too. The staff of the Harvard Lampoon school paper was able to successfully steal the “sacred cod,” a big wooden fish which hangs over the door of the Massachusetts House of Representatives room. State officials actually dragged through the Charles River to find it, but it was safely hidden elsewhere. Though I can’t imagine having to do every assignment of my homework, every test and every paper twice for the sake of a gag, William Edgar Smith, a student at Georgia Institute of Technology, did just that. When he received two enrollment applications for the school, he thought it would be funny to have a fictitious person enroll alongside him and named him George P. Burdell. During his time at the school, he did all of his work plus the work of “Burdell,” and each of them were awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in 1931. Down in Texas at Rice University, 10 students were able to make the iconic William Marsh Rice statue at the school face the other direction back in 1988. The statue is 2,000 pounds, and after two failed attempts at the prank, they were ultimately successful. In 2008, some of the pranksters even established the Willy Revolution Engineering Undergraduate Innovation and Excellence Fund for the school. In the 1960s, a group of University of Arizona students were able to create UFOs out of laundry bags, candles and gas, which they proceeded to fly over Tucson, completely fooling the media and the citizens of the area into believing aliens had made an appearance. In 1978, Jim Mallon and Leon Varjian led the student council. One of their campaign promises was to move the Statue of Liberty to Lake Mendota. In 1979, they were able to fool people with a paper mache replica of the statue’s head and torch sticking out of the lake. Disclaimer: Pulse Magazine does not condone breaking the law or causing physical or emotional harm for foolery purposes. This article was written to share historical pranks for the purposes of your reading entertainment.


the luxe list:

Gadgets that can improve your health

Merilee Kern The marketplace is teeming with gadgets, appliances and other tech-driven solutions aimed at

improving our health and well-being. With this in mind, here are a few innovative solutions that’ll benefit both kids and adults.

Joovv Light Mini Portable Red Light Therapy Skip those inconvenient spa sessions. Instead, treat your entire body with powerful, medical-

grade, red light therapy in just a few minutes per day with the Joovv Light Mini. Designed to hang on the back of an interior door, the Joovv Light Mini delivers powerful, therapeutic, red

light energy at 660 nanometers. This type of red light has been clinically proven to rejuvenate

the body in a number of ways, including improving skin tone and texture; diminishing wrinkles, acne and other skin blemishes; and reducing joint pain and muscle inflammation. With this nifty gadget, you can experience the incredible health benefits of red light therapy in the convenience of your home. $395, joovv.com.

The Nolah Air Foam Mattress After testing hundreds of foam formulations and mattress constructions, Nolah created its flagship Air Foam mattress. This marvelous mattress is 100 percent temperature neutral and reportedly

sleeps cooler than any other memory foam mattress on the market, with or without cooling gel. Performance tests also showed four times less peak pressure on the sleeper’s hip and back areas, as compared with traditional memory foam mattresses. Also cause-conscious, for every mattress

sold, Nolah will adopt an endangered American wildlife through its wildlife conservation partner, Defenders of Wildlife. Customers can choose from more than 20 endangered animals like bald

eagles, snowy owls and dolphins and are then sent an official wildlife adoption certificate as proof that their contribution helped protect American wildlife. $519, nolahmattress.com.

‘Healthy’ Headphones by Puro Sound Labs How loud is too loud? Did you know that one in five teenagers and adults suffer from some type

of hearing loss? Sound is measured in decibels, andat 85 dB and above, long or repeated exposure can cause hearing loss, which is 100 percent preventable! Because people are being exposed at

a younger age with the increased use of electronics, noise-induced hearing loss has reportedly

increased 31 percent since the ’90s. Puro’s BT2200 headphones have a unique approach to

safe listening. First, block out 82 percent of the background noise (comparable to some of best active noise-cancelling headphones on the market). Second, limit volume to 85 dB. This is the maximum safe listening level as recommended by audiologists. And third, offer studio-grade

audio quality with Puro’s patent-pending Balanced Response curve. $99-$109.99, purosound.com.

Kids Making Healthy Choices There’s a new tech tool available to help kids get, and stay, fit and trim! Kids Making Healthy Choices, based on the award-winning children’s book, Making Healthy Choices – A Story to Inspire Fit, Weight-Wise Kids, seeks to motivate and empower children to get, and stay, on a healthy

track while also supporting and enabling parents, teachers and other caregivers and educators with helpful resources. The app, which is designed for both iPhone and iPad, serves to motivate all kids to make wise lifestyle choices and better understand and empathize with peers currently

struggling with a weight problem, which can lessen the all-too-common incidence of bullying in schools and elsewhere. There are six distinct sections, including the full text of Making Healthy

Choices – A Story to Inspire Fit, Weight-Wise Kids (with a boys’ and a girls’ edition), story discussion and question prompts, fun activities, healthy kid-friendly recipes, free online tools and resources and research, information and news resources. $1.99, kidsmakinghealthychoices.com.

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food+drink

new around the woo

The Ballot Box

Rachel Shuster Located at 11 Kelley Square in Worcester, The Ballot Box is no ordinary bar. Owner and former state representative, state senator and Worcester County sheriff, Guy Glodis, has combined his personal and professional passions to create a unique experience for patrons in Worcester and beyond. Before you even walk into the space, which opened Jan. 20, you notice the front door, which reads, “District office hours, held daily,” so you know you’re in for a good time. Walk in and embark on a historic and exciting political journey from years past and present.

“There is paraphernalia from the past 70 years, all the way back from the 1930s,” Glodis said. “There are over 100 artifacts in the bar from signs, buttons, stickers and newspaper articles.” As a kid, Glodis’ father, who served as state representative in the ’80s and ’90s, took him to many political events, and along the way, Glodis collected memorabilia. Glodis himself has been a part of politics for a good portion of his life. “I have been a public safety lobbyist, campaign consultant … it’s all come full circle,” he said. “I have seen politics from so many different angles and perspectives, and with The Ballot Box, I see it now as an entrepreneurial effort. I want to share these artifacts and the unique stories behind each one. It’s a tribute to local history.”

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views together. “Whether you’re a rightwinged conservative or a Democrat, you’ll find something here to connect with,” he said. Besides the amazing historic artifacts, you could very well rub elbows with various local politicians who visit The Ballot Box regularly for some pretty great drinks and light appetizers! “We have a fully stocked liquor bar. We have many signature cocktails, which are named after political events or people. Our best seller is the Trumptini, which is a bit of a spoof – it is made with the highest-grade Mexican tequila,” Glodis laughed. Other signature cocktails include The Lobbyist, The Roll Call, The Constituent and The Activist. The Ballot Box also has light appetizers, such as cheese trays, German pretzels, and during the day, the amazing signature sandwich special that is a throwback to the Campy Special from Campy’s Deli. “It is a spicy Italian grinder, which was popular in Worcester during the ’80s,” Glodis said. The Italian grinder, bag of chips and a 16-ounce cold beer are all yours for $5.75. What?! The prices are low, with draft beers running you $2.75, bottled beers between $4 and $5, and martinis $7. Light bar appetizers will run you $5 to $8. The Ballot Box has live entertainment on Thursday nights, a DJ on Saturday nights and periodically has other bands. Be sure to check out the shuffleboard, Keno and function room, which you can use for free!

Glodis got the idea for The Ballot Box at UMass in 1991. “There were a lot of politics at the time with the Gulf War. I was in student government, and we would meet and have arguments about what was going on, but after meetings, everything became civil again,” Glodis said. “We would get together in the student lounge and things were amicable. That’s when I got this idea.”

“The room holds about 50-60 people, so it’s perfect for birthday parties, luncheons, private parties, etc.,” Glodis said.

He emphasized that The Ballot Box is a place that can bring people with opposing

For more information, be sure to check The Ballot Box on Facebook.

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The Ballot Box is usually open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.; however, closing varies by day.


pulsebrew: New beer arrivals

Kerry Cyganiewicz Every time I visit an area restaurant, bar or retail store, I am faced with a new brewery or a new offering by an established brewery. I keep saying to myself that the craft beer market in Central Massachusetts cannot possibly support much more in the way of breweries or variety, but I am continually proven wrong by you rabid fans of the craft suds! But I am not complaining. Cheers!

Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine, 8% ABV

There was a time, not long ago, when you had to travel upwards of four hours to Vermont to find this beer. It wasn’t just the travel, but only certain places stocked it and it sold out almost immediately, so you had to plan your trip around obtaining this beer. With expansion, distribution was increased, first to Connecticut, now to Massachusetts. This is one of the finest New England IPAs on the market. Unlike most of the style, it’s not hazy, but nearly transparent. The aroma is filled with grapefruit, tropical fruit, orange and a bit of pine. Careful with this one, it goes down easy. If you prefer a lighter IPA, Super Session #2 should be on the shelves, and it packs less of a wallop at 4.8% ABV. You cannot go wrong with either.

Wachusett Brewing Company Wally, 7.0% ABV

I have been a huge fan of Larry from Wachusett and was pleasantly surprised to hear that this local pioneer brewery had joined the New England IPA trend with Wally. It’s hazy, filled with the flavors of orange, tropical fruit and a touch of pine. This is another one that will sneak up on you if you are not careful. I must admit, this is my favorite beer from Wachusett. Wachusett also makes a lesser version, appropriately named Wally Jr., with a similar flavor profile at 4.5% ABV.

Lefty’s Brewing Company

Up until recently, only a handful of retailers nearby carried this Greenfield brewer’s offerings. It was primarily seen in the western part of the state or at poured at events like Brew Woo. If you were to find it in a package store, you were limited to 22-ounce bottles. That is about to change. By the time you read this, Lefty’s will be canning. I’ve gone over the benefits of canning in previous articles. What this means to you is that more retailers will be receptive to carrying these beers. Bean’s Brew Coffee Stout, Mystery Box IPA and the Irish Style Stout are some of my favorites, but if you get the chance, mix a Chocolate Oatmeal Stout and a Graham Cracker Stout in a glass 50/50. You’ll have yourself a delicious S’mores beer!

New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire, 5.2% ABV

We all have that friend that just wishes IPAs were just a little less hoppy. This is a great beer for them to try. New Belgium recently began distributing to Massachusetts. There will be other beers coming I am sure, such as Citradelic and Ranger IPA, but Fat Tire is the flagship beer. It is an amber Ale, so it has a stronger malt profile and a lesser hop profile than IPAs.

Stone Cow Brewery

Located at the same address (500 West St., Barre) is Carter and Stevens Farm. At this location, you have a farm stand selling farm-fresh meats, raw milk, deli items, seasonal vegetables and fruits, an ice cream stand in season, and an outdoor wood-fired barbecue in season. Oh, by the way, there’s a kick-ass brewery here, too! You can get full 16-ounce pours or growlers to go. The IPAs are absolutely on par with the best in the area. The burger I had, as well as the ice cream cone after, were impeccable. Take a cooler and stock up; there will be things here you didn’t know you needed.

Worcester’s Three Breweries

Instead of looking for the next big thing, save some time and some gas and stay close to home. Everyone knows that Wormtown Brewing is at 72 Shrewsbury St. Not many folks know that Worcester has three breweries. There is also 3Cross Brewing at 26 Cambridge St. and Flying Dreams at 455 Park Ave. All three have taprooms that you can visit. All three have seasonal and special offerings that are difficult to predict. I would recommend Be Hoppy or Bottle Rocket from Wormtown, Green Dreams from Flying Dreams, and Single Speed from 3Cross. If there is something that catches your eye, by all means order it. Above all else, these three are quality local breweries and you owe it to yourself to give them a try. You just might find a new favorite close to home.

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dining review

Sandwiches at The Usual are anything but usual

chicken & waffles

Bernie Whitmore If you’ve been waiting for chicken ’n waffles to come to Worcester, your time has arrived! But wait a sec. Is it breakfast? Or dinner? The Usual’s got the answer and has brought it to Shrewsbury Street. This alone was enough to put The Usual on the musttry list. Luck was not with us on our first attempt to get a table; the wait time seemed intolerable. But on a Sunday afternoon, we were finally able to get in. Mo, our server, welcomed us with large glasses of water she would be destined to refill over and over. After scanning the dining room and sizing up the menu, I’ll admit to mistaking The Usual for a Niche Hospitality product – it has a similar premium-tatertot-cum-craft-brew ethos going, this time applied to the dining genre one might classify simply as “The Sandwich.” Occupying the same location as The Fix, it would seem logical to look at one as a spinoff of the other, kind of like those sitcoms from the Golden Age of TV. But this is the Golden Age of Worcester dining, and The Usual is set to elevate the humble sandwich with something it calls “creative sandwiching.” With that lofty mission statement in mind, I decided to leave waffles to one of my dining companions and dive right into one of the “Unusual” sandwiches, the Bahn Mi. The name suggested Vietnamese, but with sliced turkey being the dominant protein, I was really challenging the chef. The last time I ordered a turkey sandwich, I was served mushy deli loaf. It was a total

turkey Bahn mi

nightmare of misbegotten food technology. Mo assured me The Usual’s was real turkey. And she was spot-on. The Bahn Mi loaded up a long hoagie bun with multiple layers of sliced turkey meat – the real thing – and topped it with strips of crispy pork belly and cucumber and jalapeño pepper slices. Fresh cilantro leaves, a taste I love, dominated one side of the sandwich more than the other, and pho aioli credentialed it Vietnamese. Just don’t ask me what pho aioli is – I was too busy working on my sandwich to ask. Creative sandwiching has to start with quality bread, right? My hoagie bun was just that – rich in flavor and moist inside, with a deep-brown crispy exterior. I ordered my Bahn Mi with spicy fries; there were plenty for sharing and so tasty none were left behind. The Usual’s menu also has a “Build Your Usual” section, where you get to specify each of your sandwich’s components from sub-menus listing bread, protein and topping selections. A friend built his own with Philly Style Steak on a ciabatta roll with sautéed onions and peppers. First, let’s be clear – the flavor of the meat was delicious. But even I, a lifelong New Englander, know how proud and particular Philadelphia is about its sandwich. First and foremost, the steak must be sliced thin – paper thin. The Usual could more accurately have called its chunky sandwich meat “steak tips.” Here in Worcester, we’d call it a good steak sandwich.

philly cheesesteak

From the non-sandwich “Knife & Fork” section of the menu, let’s turn our attention, finally, to Chicken and Waffles. This dish is a major construction project. The base was composed of one thick Belgian waffle; no skimpy Eggo’s at The Usual. Level 2 featured spicy, battered deep-fried chicken wings and drumsticks. And finally, it was all topped with creamy coleslaw topped with bread-and-butter pickle chips. Someone had to order this dining decadence, and I’m glad Mitch was there to oblige. It came with a cup of warm bourbon maple syrup that he poured over the entire stack; it served to unite these contrasting flavors with elegance. “The chicken has a flavorful spiciness that plays well with the sweetness of the vanilla bourbon maple syrup,” my friend enthused. “The tender chicken is piled on a fluffy waffle and topped with crispy slaw and sliced pickles, creating a nice balance of textures.” Elegance. I realize that’s a stretch when we’re talking Chicken and Waffles. But at The Usual, all bets are off. Anyone can slap together an air-bread sandwich. I grew up on mass-produced bologna and cheese sandwiches, never dreaming of “creative sandwiching.” I suspect that’s true of legions of people who have packed a lunch to make it through the school or work day. We have a lot of catching-up to do, and people at The Usual are happy to assist.

The Usual • 166 Shrewsbury St., Worcester • 774-243-7750 • theusualworcester.com

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hotandnow: What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene Paul Giorgio

Do Italians play hockey? The Niche Hospitality Group will open a pizzeria inside the Canal District’s new hockey rink. The 120-seat Nonna’s Pizza & Pasta will also redefine how we look at Italian cuisine, with two-floors and a full liquor license. While eating at Nonna’s will be like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house, it will also cater to the fast-casual aspect of Italian cuisine with a to-go component. Finding a new niche. Niche will own and run the Railers Tavern, scheduled to

open in October when the Railers begin their season. Niche will work with Railers owner Cliff Rucker to make the tavern a gathering place for hockey fans before and after games

Now you don’t have to bring your own wine. Worcester’s Café Espresso, 395 Chandler St., will be serving alcohol shortly. The Italian eatery has given up its BYOB status in favor of having a full liquor license.

More wings. Wingstop, a national chain, will open its fourth New England store at 542 Southbridge St., Worcester, in the late spring. It will be located in the Price Rite Plaza, just a stone’s throw from The College of the Holy Cross. Goodbye Jillian’s, hello Shooters. Shooters Bar and Billiards will soon open at the location of the former London Billiards, 70 James St. Jillian’s has long been a fixture on Worcester’s Grove Street, but owner Dan Nigro decided to give up the franchise and move across town. The new place comes with a parking lot that holds almost 300 cars. Now, that’s a bank shot that is easy. The American dream. Two cousins, both Iraqi immigrants, will open a hookah lounge at 250 Commercial St. in downtown Worcester. The space was occupied for a long time by Eric’s LaPatissire. Habaibna Hookah Lounge will open in early summer. More candles on the cake. A.J. Tomaiolo’s recently celebrated 30 years in

business. Tony Tomaiolo first opened in Shrewsbury in 1987 in Fairlawn Plaza. The business moved to its current Northborough location some years ago, where Tony’s children still run the day-to-day operation.

New brewery in Milford. Craft Roots, a new brewery, recently opened in southern Worcester County’s Milford. The brewery is owned by Maureen Fabry and her wife, Ronin. According to the owners, Craft Roots is a play on the word “grassroots.” Fabry has had a long career in the brewing business, stretching back to the early 1990s. Her most recent job was at Berkshire Brewing in South Deerfield. The taproom is located on Industrial Way in Milford. Beer with me. Worcester farm-to-table restaurant Armsby Abbey is the Top Beer

Bar in Massachusetts, according to the website CraftBeer.com. The honor for the bar at 144 N. Main St., owned by husband-and-wife team Alec Lopez and Sherri Sadowski, came from readers who submitted votes to the site. CraftBeer.com said it asked readers to nominate their favorite craft beer bars in their state and fill out a short survey that included questions about atmosphere, staff, beer selection and special events. More than 7,000 votes were cast last November and December.

O’Connor’s comes in at 14. O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar on Worcester’s

West Boylston Street was listed in the Top 25 Irish Pubs in America, according to Forsquare.com. In fact, the Worcester pub, owned by Brendan and Claire O’Connor, came in at 14. Now that is the luck of the Irish.

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art+CULTURE

Local photographer succumbs to wanderlust Audra Brackett “I love taking pictures. When I ask myself, do I want to pursue a job I have no passion for or do I want to pursue something I love? I choose to chase my passion over the rest.” Passion, in every sense of the word, is central to 27-year-old photographer, traveler and entrepreneur Brian Cunningham’s life. Born and raised in Berlin, Cunningham has been taking photos since he was 13. However, he didn’t start getting serious about his craft until a decade later. “I got a job doing school day photography in New Hampshire. I was working as a landscaper the summer before I got the job. I was so thrilled to not have to do landscaping anymore and even more thrilled to be behind a camera for my job!” Cunningham recalled. “Since I worked hard and was eager to learn more, the managers there sort of took me under their wing and taught me everything they know.”

Now at the helm of his own Altered Vision Photography, Cunningham said he has found inspiration in capturing his two favorite things – “landscapes and my wife, Victoria.” Although Cunningham has never formally studied photography (he studied telecommunications in high school), he has learned his craft from photographers that came before him, such as Ansel Adams. “He inspired me and still does. Chris Burkard is another photographer that influences me to be better and grow as a photographer. Chris Burkard has a studio in California and has written books and directed some of his own films. He is a big inspiration to me.”

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Now, Cunningham and his wife are traveling throughout the U.S., capturing the varied landscape of the country. “I wanted to feel freedom, and I wanted to experience new things. I am a person who loves change. I blame it on the fact that I’m a Gemini, but for whatever reason, I don’t like routine.” As the couple makes their way across the country, Cunningham is finding plenty of fodder for his camera. “I love the mountains. Colorado is a fun place to photograph. I am looking forward to getting back to Utah (Arches National Park); Sedona, Ariz.; Joshua Tree National Park in California; Yosemite. Those are a few of my favorites. My plans are always pretty loose. I would like to go to Indonesia, Thailand, Norway, Japan, Switzerland.” In 2015, while on a road trip with Victoria, Cunningham was inspired to create VanLife Clothing, which the couple sells out of their van as they travel the country. “I’ve always loved to create. I love art; I love design; I want to inspire,” Cunningham said. “So when the idea popped into my head [to] sell shirts from our van as we travel around the country, I was all for it.” Cunningham is still exploring the western part of the U.S., then may head to Canada before returning to New England to pursue his dreams locally. “I will be 37 in 10 years, so by then, I guess I’d like to have a house, preferably a cabin in the woods, maybe a few kids, my own studio/store where I can sell my photos and VanLife Clothing and Victoria can sell her stones, gems and crystals. Or I can see myself living in the Philippines, preparing for a trip through Southeast Asia. I don’t know. There are so many places to see! I hope to see them all.” As for advice to photographers, Cunningham said, “Just keep shooting what you love. Keep studying about photography and use every avenue you can to share your photos with people. Social media is a good platform to display your work, but also don’t forget about galleries, coffee shops, boutiques, etc. There is definitely a lot of talent in Massachusetts. I don’t have any names for upcoming talent, but they are out there, so shout out to them.” For more information, visit alteredvision.photography or vanlifeclothing.com.


findingbalance: Creating space Jennifer Russo

Spring is springing. The flowers are starting to push their way up through the ground; the trees are budding; we can open the windows and get all that stale air out of our houses and cars; and we don’t need to feel suffocated in our heavy coats and scarves anymore. It is an excellent opportunity to create some space in our bodies, our minds and our physical surroundings. Buddha said, “When you let go, you create space for better things to enter your life.” Let’s start with what is around us – there are three categories of “spring cleaning” we can focus on: Tossing, Cleaning and Organizing. We tend to go into somewhat of a hoarding mode in the winter months. What can you get rid of immediately? Old magazines, winter clothes you don’t really like or wear, expired food, old blankets you may replace next year, all those freebie things you’ve accumulated from job fairs, old class papers you know you won’t need again … think about what you can throw away or donate to clear out the area. Once you have done that, clean everything really well with some furniture spray, glass cleaner and Clorox wipes. Viruses like the flu can live on surfaces for a day or two, and dust causes a lot of allergy-like symptoms in spring because with the windows open, the dust blows around. Make everything shiny and dirt-free, vacuum and sweep, do all the laundry and pack away winter items in order to bring in some brighter colors. Organization has never been easier, even in smaller spaces, with all of the storage solution options you can get these days. Under-the-bed storage containers, cubby cubes with fabric drawers, closet organizers … these are all great ways to organize your space. Organize your items by type and purpose. What do you really need near your computer? What do you need to access quickly every day?

Once the space is clean and open, which actually does amazing things for your subconscious, you can work on creating space within yourself. This is important, because you cannot evolve if you don’t create enough space mentally and physically for change. In the mind, meditating and breathing and allowing time for stillness and quiet allows us to be mindful of the current moment and let go of the worries of past and future. Doing this allows for our creative brain to do its work. It releases stress and helps us to center. In the body, we can use a yoga practice to open up tense areas and create flexibility. For instance, reach your hands up as high as you can get them. Now, reach them higher. You can actually do it. We limit ourselves more than we realize. Try to touch your toes. Check in with your body and realize you are probably tensing your upper back without even knowing it … release it. Space. The pure light in me honors and respects the same in you. Namaste.

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beauty+style

Eco-friendly beauty products

BioClarity Feel fresh and renewed with products uniquely formulated with the help of nature and science. BioClarity is a crueltyfree acne and skin company that has been found to be highly effective and clinically proven to improve and rejuvenate skin. BioClarity is differentiating itself with its ingredient, Floralux. Floralux is a naturally derived ingredient that utilizes the power of chlorophyll to refresh skin while attacking the bacteria that causes acne. Use the Clear Skin System twice a day with three powerful steps: Cleanse, Treatment and Restore. Your skin will be feeling clear and soothed with the powerful, all-natural ingredients, and you’ll be ready to show off your new, confident skin! bioclarity.com.

True Natural

In celebration of Earth Day, we’ve rounded up some eco-friendly beauty products. These are natural, crueltyfree and meet all your beauty needs!

Ariana Pierce Nail Polish

Find the perfect shade to match your fabulous personality with the vegan-friendly, toxin-free nail lacquer from Ariana Pierce. From the office to a night out, feel and look like a superstar with the fast-drying and formaldehyde-free nail polish. The young entrepreneur Pierce launched her popular nail polish line as an 18-year old college student with the idea that every woman should experience “rich-girl beauty on a real girl’s budget” without harm to animals. With fun, long-lasting colors like Uptown Girl, Socialite Pink or Oscar Bronze, you’ll be certain to stay in style with the latest fashion trends. arianapierce.com.

Frownies

Get healthy skin with Frownies, a cruelty-free, anti-aging product designed to make you feel confident and beautiful. The company’s entire line uses natural ingredients and never uses harsh chemicals or toxins. Try out the Aroma Therapy Body Lotion, Immune Perfect Organic Lipid Facial Moisturizer, Immune Shield Serum (100 percent plant-based) and the pH Balanced Complexion Wash, made with organic oils and botanicals. Feel fresh after a long stressful day and pamper yourself. frownies.com.

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Looking to make a switch to natural beauty products? Check out True Natural’s award-winning collection. True Natural offers skin-loving must-haves such as sunscreens, self-tanners and anti-aging products. The company also has a second and third collection, the Benecos and Lavera lines, which offer a large range of 100 percent natural makeup products suited for all skin types. The company is committed to providing highperforming beauty tools that are chemical-free, cruelty-free and are safe for both you and the environment. truenatural.com.

French Studio Imports

Keep your skin glowing, smooth and pampered with highend personal care products imported from Europe! French Studio Imports offers niche luxurious skin products that are all inspired by European history and culture. Try out Madame LA LA Tan, a beauty product line that gives you an envious Californian glow and beautifully develops into an even, deep golden color within three hours. Take some time out of a busy week and pamper yourself with luxury bath products from Waterl’eau. The products are made from all-natural, organic ingredients. frenchstudioimports.com.


stealthestyle: Sneaker edition #1

#3

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Jamie Burke I have tons of crappy old sneakers. Most times I just throw them out and get a new pair. But some sneakers I have are worth hanging on to, even if they are not in the best of shape. My brother, a sneakerhead, had to assist me on this craft. I have tried numerous times to upscale or recycle old sneakers. I have never once been successful. This time, I was determined to make it happen. I used a pair of Nike Air Jokuls from 1999. They were white, dirty and discolored. You need a lot of time, patience and a list of supplies. It is worth it. The end product, if done correctly, is a pair of upcycled couture sneakers.

Supplies:

Sole Sauce Angelus Acrylic Paints for leather Paint tape Paint brushes New laces Acetone and cotton swabs

Supplies:

Wash the sneakers and remove any dirt or debris. Let them air dry. Take Sole Sauce, apply to affected area and cover with clear plastic wrap. Put it in the sunlight for a few hours. Wash off and pat dry. Repeat if necessary! Make sure shoes are completely dry. Wipe them down with acetone and a cotton swab. This will make sure paint really stays on the surface. Go lightly. Then you need to map out what you want to paint. Use the paint tape to tape off areas. Make sure to use a fingernail or credit card to really press down on the tape so nothing leaks through. Remove laces and really cover all areas you don’t want to paint on. I recommend getting paint that matches the base color of sneakers, in case there is some bleeding through and to use in areas of wear and tear and discoloration on leather. Once you have taped everything off, apply the paint. Spray on the paint with a handheld airbrush sprayer. If you don’t have one, use a small brush. I sprayed mine and then did touchups freehand with a small-tip, acrylic, firm brush. If completely hand-painting, you will want to either use a stencil brush or even foam. Angelus paint you can purchase online, but it’s also carried at mainstream craft stores. I used bronze metallic. Any metallic paint is harder to keep even, so keep that in mind. I gave it three thin coats, waiting about three hours in between coats. I let the sneakers cure for 24 hours before removing the tape. When you remove tape you will most likely have a little bleed through. Correct by using the base-colored paint and a small-tip brush. I waited about 12 more hours and then added my new laces. Now, you can enter into a sneaker contest and dedicate your win to me.

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N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g





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