APRIL 2018 BEST BARTENDER’S ISSUE: COVER STORY
27 Apps to help you study abroad!
6 Central Mass.’s Best Bartenders
ART+CULTURE
ENTERTAINMENT
28 Art Week comes to Worcester
12 Dirty Laundry rocking with a purpose 13 GAMEON: Dragon Ball FighterZ brings back the fighting spirit
FOOD+DRINK
25
30 DINING REVIEW: This comfort food leaves a legacy
14 THE CENTRAL SCENE
30
31 HOT & NOW
15 PULSEBOOKS: Important lessons from unexpected places
16 NOWSTREAMING:
32 NEW AROUND THE WOO: STIX Noodle Bar
Brian Sances / Fischerspooner / Underoath
SPORTS+FITNESS
18 CLUB, PUB + GRUB LISTINGS
33 FINDINGBALANCE: The Thaw
22 PULSESHOTS
LIFESTYLE 24 The Woo is not so bad, students say
STYLE+BEAUTY
READ PULSE ONLINE:
34 Spring beauty and style solutions
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
35 STEAL THE STYLE:
25 OUT+ABOUT: Worcester embraces Love Your Labels
Make a faux wall
26 THE LUXE LIST:
37 STYLESAVY:
5 spring beauty saviors
Macy’s Backstage
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Paul Giorgio, Publisher Donna Roberson, Editor Vanessa Herbold, Art Director David Simone, Vice President, Sales Chris Reddy, Account Executive Kati Nalbandian, Marketing & Event Manager
Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Jennifer Russo, Lifestyle Editor Kimberly Dunbar, Jennifer Russo, Jason Savio, Bernie Whitmore, Michael Wood, Paul Giorgio, Audra Brackett, Merilee Kern, John Trobaugh, Sloane Perron, Jamie Burke, Rachel Shuster, Writers
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central mass.’s
WE ASKED, AND YOU TOLD US WHO YOU LIKE TO MAKE YOUR DRINKS. SO WE BROKE IT DOWN, BY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND HERE ARE THE BEST BARTENDERS IN CENTRAL MASS. STOP IN, SAY HI AND ASK THEM TO MIX UP YOUR FAVORITE DRINK!
BEST BARTENDERS AT WORMTOWN BREWERY @WORMTOWNBREWERY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT WRIGHT @MATTWRIGHTPHOTO
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Age: 25. Hometown: Millis. (Yes, that’s a town.) Current town: Worcester. Why do you think you won your category? I think I won my category because I’m a pretty memorable person. Everywhere I go, people always say, “Hey, don’t I know you from (insert random location here).” What makes you a great bartender? My personality. I can go from really mellow to over-the-top fun depending on the crowd. What else do you do besides bartend? I manage hip-hop artists, and I also help local recording artists understand how the music business works. What do you love about being a bartender? I love meeting new people and figuring out what they’re all about. You never know who you’re going to meet while you’re bartending. What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? This guy reached over the bar and tried touching my hair. That’s a big no-no. What is your super power behind the bar? Definitely making customers laugh. I sing and dance a lot while I’m working, and guests usually laugh at that. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I make some pretty funky gin drinks. I think gin is a super underrated spirit. What do you do on your time off? I spend a lot of time in recording studios working with artists on their projects, or I’m at home reading and writing about music. Or traveling. I travel a lot. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? That I’ve never had a haircut in my life (yes, all 25 years) or that I have a bachelor’s in business.
aaron
HUNTER
SHREWSBURY ST.
BRITISH BEER COMPANY
What do you drink when you go out? Either gin and tonic (Noletes gin) or any IPA. Visit Aaron at the British Beer Company, 225 Shrewsbury St., Worcester. His hours change each week, so you’ll have to take your chances!
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THE CANAL DISTRICT 8
Apr il 2018
THE COVE MUSIC HALL Age: 41. Hometown: Somerset. Current town: Dudley. Why do you think you won your category? I’d like to think because I’m a great bartender *wink.* What makes you a great bartender? What makes any great bartender, I believe, is customer service – without your customers, it’s pretty hard to be a great bartender! I learned at a very young age the customer is always right, and these are words of wisdom I’ve grown to understand and appreciate through the years in the industry. What else do you do besides bartend? I love to have fun — always! New adventures — there’s something exciting about getting into your car with no particular destination and finding yourself in random places and among new, interesting people! I also love to travel as often and as much as possible. In fact, I’m off to Florida in two weeks to visit my BFF, and while there, we are booking a trip to Thailand in 2019! In addition, I love concerts — any and all genres of music, but particularly I love the ’80s! I LOVE LOVE LOVE animals. Lastly, anytime I spend with my family/fiancé and 9-year-old stepdaughter always puts a smile on my face — they are my favorite sidekicks. What do you love about being a bartender? It’s never a dull moment! What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? Do I have to pick only one? LOL … Actually, snapping the fingers comes to mind — that’s always fun!! And honestly, the most annoying might have to be the question, “So what’s your real job?” Need I say more? What is your super power behind the bar? My smile. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I’ll have to poll the customers *wink.* What do you do on your time off? Enjoy life.
CRYSTAL
pannoni
What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? I love poker and have been playing since I was a kid! I’ve had the privilege of playing alongside — and beat — some who have played in the World Series of poker — pretty exciting! My nickname at the table is Black Widow!
What do you drink when you go out? I am a prosecco/mamosa all day kind of girl! But don’t be fooled — I like it in a plastic cup with ice. Nothing fancy here *wink.* Visit Crystal at The Cove Music Hall, 89 Green St., Worcester, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Age: 30.
Hometown: Worcester. Current town: Paxton. Why do you think you won your category? I always try to do my part in providing the best customer experience possible. What makes a great experience varies from person to person. So being able to identify what brought people out and then catering the experience to suit their wants and needs. If its a date, recommending they share some Nutella crepes as a dessert while they finish their bucket of bubbles. Or if it’s talking sports with someone coming in for a Tito’s Bloody Mary after finishing a long night shift. What makes you a great bartender? I pride myself on contributing to a positive experience for every customer. What else do you do besides bartend? I’m a big sports fan, so I watch all the New England teams when I can. I like to go to the gym to unwind and let loose a bit. I’m also the proud “stepfather in training” to four children. So with all of their activities — karate, Cub Scouts, piano, Little League in the spring — I keep a pretty busy schedule. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. What do you love about being a bartender? I love meeting new and interesting people. Bartending has provided me with the pleasure of meeting some really genuine, kind and interesting people from all walks of life. There is something really refreshing about connecting with someone I never would’ve had the chance to speak to if it weren’t for my profession. What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? Most things I’ll usually just get a good laugh at. But I guess one pet peeve I have is someone asking for hot water, milk, lemon, honey...oh, and sweetner... for their own tea bag they brought. LOL. What is your super power behind the bar? Being able to read people and how they are doing. Definitely a helpful skill.
ken
LAGUE
PARK AVENUE
ALTEA’S EATERY
What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? A spicy Bloody Mary with our house jalapeno-infused vodka and a perfect crushed red pepper rim. What do you do on your time off? When my girlfriend and I aren’t doing something with the kids, we like to go out to all of the great restaurants in the Worcester area. I love to eat, so whether its steak or sushi I’m craving, I can always find something good and close by. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? That I don’t drink alcohol anymore. What do you drink when you go out? Well, seeing my drinking days are behind me, I’m a bit of a coffee connoisseur these days. But I always have a good mixed drink or craft beer recommendation for my friends depending on where we are. Visit Ken at Altea’s Eatery, 259 Park Ave., Worcester, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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SUBURBS
THE OTHER PLACE PUB BOYLSTON, MA Age: 28. Hometown: West Boylston. Current town: North Oxford. Why do you think you won your category? To be honest, I’m not sure! LOL — I was kind of surprised. People love that I always have something sarcastic to say and am a bit of a smart aleck. What makes you a great bartender? I think it would be that I’ve never changed who I am. Behind the bar and outside, I’ve always been myself. Sassy and mischievous. (And also) my ability to interact with my customers and remember how they want their drinks and food cooked! What else do you do besides bartend? I love spending time with my son, who’s the best human being ever, and spending time with my boyfriend and friends. The gym has always been a passion of mine, as I compete in bodybuilding and enjoy the shooting range. Other hobbies include movies, being outside and snowboarding. What do you love about being a bartender? What I love about being a bartender is the interaction I get with my regulars and also new customers that come in. They’re always ragging on me, and we’re always having fun. It’s like I get paid to hang out with friends. What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? I would have to say having a Keno caddy thrown at me or when someone snaps their fingers at me. What is your super power behind the bar? Making a pretty awesome drink and making someone laugh when I say something ridiculous. People are always impressed I remember what they drink and how they like their food cooked.
ana
What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I would have to say what people consider my specialty — and that would be my Lemon Drop Martini or my Red Sangria!
MARTEL
What do you do on your time off? I usually end up at the gym, hanging out with my son, boyfriend, friends and find something fun to do. I love trying out new restaurants. I LOVE FOOD. What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? That I have an almost 6-year-old son and that I do bodybuilding shows.
What do you drink when you go out? Tito’s and soda water. I know, I know — so plain and simple. Visit Ana at The Other Place Pub, 72 Shrewsbury St., Boylston on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
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Age: 26. Hometown: Sarasota, Fla. Current town: Leominster. Why do you think you won? Because I’m very personable with people. What makes you a great bartender? I spend a lot of my bartending time focused on what makes a great time for everyone... that’s the key. What else do you do besides bartend? I spend a lot of time with my kids, and if I’m not doing that, I’m at the gym daily. I play basketball a lot. I also have a obsession with reading; it dosent matter what it is, I just like to read. What do you love about being a bartender? I love people. I love to get to know them because being behind a bar is way more then serving drinks. You become people’s best friend, and I feed off that because people just want to hang out and unwind and I’m am the one who makes that happen. What is the most annoying thing a customer has done? Honestly, I know it might sound crazy, especially from a fiveyear bartender, but people don’t annoy me. I like the weird request. I like a challenge. Call me crazy, but hey, everyone is different. What is your super power behind the bar? My super power is to understand what people like, and I can adapt ,not to just one but the entire bar. Also, in my opinion, I’m very fast. What drink do you make that you consider your specialty? I would say Red Sangiria — not too sweet, not too sour — and it’s good for all seasons. And being behind a bar, people drink to the season.
BO
langelier
NORTH COUNTY
THE GAZBAR LEOMINSTER, MA
What do you do on your time off? I like to travel, shop, learn anything new, and I’m very into hanging with my kids.
What is something people are usually surprised to find out about you? That I have three kids (haha). What do you drink when you go out? I’m easy and also casual. I can drink for the string, but my go-to is Belvedere and soda — no straw, no fruit. Visit Bo at the GazBar, 1045 Central St., Leominster, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
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ENT ERTA IN M E N T
DIRTY LAUNDRY rocking with a purpose Jason Savio When they’re not performing in front of a live audience, the members of Dirty Laundry can be found handing out McChickens or donuts to homeless people. That’s because Dirty Laundry isn’t your normal up-and-coming Worcester band. Instead, these four Woo Town natives strive to be something more. With a little less than a year of local shows to their credit, Dirty Laundry are already making a name for themselves, having played a sold-out gig at Bull Mansion and hitting the stage at other locations around the city with their brand of alternative rock originals. Singer and rhythm guitarist Shane O’Dwyer, lead guitarist Jacob Beaumont, bassist Joshua Ladroga and drummer Garret Moore embody the hungry spirit you expect from young musicians in their early 20s. But what’s unexpected is their charity work with Basement Candy. Described as an “underground, nonprofit, private organization of all art” on its Instagram page, Basement Candy focuses on helping the community through art and benefit shows. It’s an extension of Dirty Laundry and run by the band. “I see so much potential in Worcester as a music scene,” said O’Dwyer when explaining the genesis of Basement Candy. “I feel like a lot of people gave up on it in the past 10 years.” O’Dwyer’s wish to publish his own local arts magazine (also titled Basement Candy) was the initial push that got the nonprofit effort rolling. He needed content to fill its pages, he said, which has led to a growing list of benefit and charity shows with Dirty Laundry on the bill. The first benefit show was a “wrap up” at Hotel Vernon for underprivileged children around Christmastime, which required guests to bring a wrapped gift to donate in order to enter. The toys were later taken to the Boys and Girls Club along with $260 raised for art supplies.
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“We had so many toys,” said O’Dwyer. “A car packed full.” Their second benefit show raised money for medical expenses for their friend’s father, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and they were able to collect a total of $1,200, according to O’Dwyer. Most recently, they had a benefit show at Ralph’s Diner for their friend Timothy Plouffe, who recently passed away, with proceeds going to his family. The members of Dirty Laundry aren’t afraid to put in the footwork, either. They also go out doing what they call “homeless hunting,” in which they hand out food to those in need, like snacks from McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts. “It’s not always the healthiest thing, but it’s a quick and small little action that puts something in their stomach for the day,” said Moore. They can’t do it alone, however. There is a list of people who help out with Basement Candy in some form or another, creating a network that has become a reliable source of energy for the band. Among them is graphic design artist and photographer for Dirty Laundry and Basement Candy, Daniel MarcAurele. “The Basement Candy idea really hit me,” said MarcAurele, who also donates his time and talent to other charity organizations like Veterans, Inc. in Worcester. “So, if I can help them out by taking a couple pictures, why not?” The hard work that others have put in to help make Basement Candy what it is and, in turn, guide Dirty Laundry, isn’t lost on the band. “Basement Candy would be nothing without the little family community that we’ve got,” said O’Dwyer.
With Basement Candy doing well, the guys in Dirty Laundry are hoping that their music will also gain some recognition. So far, the experience has been “like a movie” they said, following a fateful meeting with Grouplove’s Hannah Hooper, in which she named their band and provided some encouragement. “The drive that they’ve given us is huge,” O’Dwyer said of Grouplove. “It’s like gasoline to a car.” “It’s a straight up trip,” added Moore. They plan to keep that momentum going with a big year planned. First, they have their sights set on getting into a studio and recording an album, something that has been brewing since their first show in July of last year. “We just started out with two or three songs and a show, and now, we’re up to eight or nine songs,” said Moore. And all of those songs are originals, except for their cover of Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog.” As for the magazine, that is still in the works and will be published sometime in the near future, said Basement Candy Vice President Haley Benoit. There are also plans to expand gigs to not only Boston and Providence, but the entire east coast and potentially the west coast. They expect California-based band Same Girls to partner with them on those extended runs. “We just want to make music that people believe in like we do,” said O’Dwyer. “We want to inspire people the way our heroes have inspired us.” For more information, visit instagram.com/dirtylaundrymusic. Photo by Daniel Marc-Aurele.
GAMEON: Dragon Ball FighterZ brings back the fighting spirit
Jason Savio One of the all-time best fighting animes deserves a strong and worthy game to match it punch for punch, or, in this case, Kamehameha. Dragon Ball FighterZ continues the Dragon Ball gaming franchise on the heels of a couple of lackluster releases and adds a much-needed power boost that will delight fans of the popular television show, as well as fighting game aficionados. It’s worth mentioning right up front that Dragon Ball FighterZ is what you make it. It can easily become a typical button-masher if you’re lazy and never get it off the ground. But, if you take your time and go through the training option — however frustrating it can often be (more on this in a minute) — FighterZ becomes more about finesse and timing than straight up brawling. The controls aren’t too difficult to master for a fighting game, and you’ll find yourself enjoying the technique and the rewarding experience of laying the smackdown as a Saiyan badass. In order to do this, however, you’ll need some patience. The training mode in FighterZ can at times be a laborious experience. Different aspects of the game are divided into separate training sessions, so you’ll have your defense, offense, special moves, etc. But you’ll be forced to go through each individual session from top to bottom, and if you can’t get one particular move down, you can’t progress. This may sound like small potatoes and a common part of many fighting games, but it needs to stop. If you can’t nail down a super dragon kick (that’s not really in the game), then your training session won’t proceed and you can’t learn the rest of what you need to know. To make matters worse, these training exercises will appear in the middle of fights during story mode, causing distractions while you try to put together a solid win and earn experience points. Why bother adding that into the main gameplay when there is already a separate training mode for it? It’s unnecessary and takes away from the story. And that story is something that will have you scratching your head, too. (Important point: I actually really liked this game, even if right now it doesn’t seem like it. Just bear with me.) The Old Red Ribbon Army from the early days of Dragon Ball is back, and that means there is also a new android to cause our favorite Z Fighters a major headache: The voluptuous Android 21. What’s really interesting — and weird — about the story mode is how the characters break down the fourth wall and talk directly to you. There is a lot of strange talk about a “soul” (you, the dear gamer) linking up with each fighter in an attempt to explain how you’re controlling them in the game. Goku will look straight at the screen and talk to you. It gets bizarre and awkward. Despite those stumbles, FighterZ is a great fighting game. It brings back the classic back-and-forth, side-to-side style of the genre and includes an all-star lineup of characters from the series to play as: Super Saiyan Goku, Frieza, Super Saiyan Vegeta and more. Some of the new characters from the current television show and manga, Dragonball Super, are here as well. You’ll put together a team of three fighters of your choosing and can take part in either the aforementioned story mode or arcade mode. The spirit of Dragon Ball Z runs strong in FighterZ, with a fast-paced and intense fighting experience that will have your blood pumping. You won’t be disappointed as there are plenty of colorful blasts and fits of over-the-top yelling to go around. Dragon Ball FighterZ has come along at the perfect time. With Injustice 2 having lost steam and no new Mortal Kombats on the horizon, we were in need of something to get excited about. FighterZ delivers for loyal DBZ fans while still being fun and accessible to those who may not know what a Goku is. For more information, visit bandainamcoent.com/games/dragon-ball-fighterz.
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THINGS TO DO: APRIL 2018 WORCESTER MUSIC AWARDS The time has come to honor and showcase the best of the best from Worcester’s local music scene! Head over to The Cove Music Hall to enjoy a night of performances from local bands and celebrate Worcester’s local talent. This event is 21+. 7 p.m. April 11; The Cove Music Hall, 89 Green St., Worcester; free; thepulsemag.com.
RENT 20th ANNIVERSARY TOUR Head over to the Hanover Theatre and see this Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece! Follow the lives of seven struggling artists following their dreams. Varying times, April 5-8; The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester; tickets start $40; thehanovertheatre.org.
ARBOR DAY COMMUNITY CELEBRATION Bring the entire family over to Institute Park to celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees. Go green and get out in nature through guided tours, tree-planting trainings and other naturerelated activities. 10 a.m. April 27; Institute Park, Salisbury Street and Park Avenue, Worcester; free; institutepark.org.
NEW ENGLAND VEG FEST You don’t have to be vegan to attend this festival! New England Veg Fest is a free food festival that highlights vegetarian and vegan vendors from across New England. Bring the entire family out to enjoy sustainable and healthy food choices and learn more about animal advocacy. April 29; DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester; free; vegfest.org.
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION Rain or shine, this event is not to be missed! Worcester’s annual Earth Day Celebration will feature lots of indoor and outdoor Earth-friendly events, hands-on activities and entertainment. Local eco-friendly organizations and food vendors will be there. 10 a.m. April 20; Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester; tickets start at $7; ecotarium.org.
DAY OF HOPE Hope for Worcester, a nonprofit that aims to bring hope to people’s lives by mobilizing local businesses, churches and community agencies to make a difference for the community, will host a Day of Hope. The night will include live music from Dezi Garcia, a dinner buffet catered by Meze Greek Tapas and raffles donated by local businesses, sport teams and restaurants. 6-8:30 p.m. April 9, The Ballot Box, 11 Kelley Square; $40 in advance, $45 at the door; facebook. com/hopeforworcester.
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PULSEBOOKS: Important lessons from unexpected places Kimberly Dunbar I once read somewhere that, every so often, it is a good thing for adults to pick up a children’s book or revisit a childhood favorite as a respite from their busy adult lives. Why? Well, children’s books often tackle tough issues in a basic way (designed to help young readers grasp complex situations) and offer lessons for readers of all ages. Therefore, when Vester Stamper’s What the Night Sings (Knopf Books for Young Readers) landed in my mailbox, I decided to put the theory into practice. In this novel, which takes place in the aftermath of the Holocaust, Stamper tells the story of Gerta, a 16-year-old girl living in a displaced persons camp after being liberated from a Nazi concentration camp, where she was imprisoned for two years. The lone survivor of her family, Gerta must figure out who she is and what her future looks like after everything she has ever known has been stripped away — including her voice. Once a budding opera star, Gerta cannot access her voice and no longer finds joy in music, figuring it as just one more thing she lost in the war. While living in the camp, Gerta befriends a fellow survivor, Lev, who also lost his family in the Holocaust. Together, they attempt to come to terms with their pasts, presents and futures. Both the story and the illustrations that fill the book are beautiful and pack an emotional punch. While the writing is simple, the topic is anything but, making What the Night Sings one of those books for young readers that’s also a must-read for adults. The lessons of keeping the faith in hopeless situations, and having the courage to go on when you have lost everything, is ageless. Shifting back to adult fiction, Abbi Waxman’s new novel Other People’s Houses (Berkley) also offers an important lesson: People’s lives are not as perfect as they seem. Frances Bloom is the all-star mom of the neighborhood, running the school carpool and helping everyone whenever and wherever she is needed. Though she tries her best, Frances is often privy to the inner workings of the other four families on her street — she knows her cousin secretly wants a baby and Bill’s wife no longer lives at home. One fateful morning, Frances walks in on Anne Porter engaged in an extramarital affair. When Anne’s indiscretions go public, the neighborhood is rattled as the not-so-perfect parts of four families are revealed, with Frances — and her own imperfections — stuck right in the middle and threatening her marriage. Through Frances, Anne and the rest of the gang, Waxman is able to once again create relatable characters in moral dilemmas that leave the reader thinking, “That could be me.” In an added bonus, fans of Waxman’s first book, The Garden of Small Beginnings, are reunited with its leading lady Lilian Girvan, as she is one of Frances’s friends. This fun fact left this reader wondering whether Waxman would continue the stories of these new characters in her future books.
thepulsemag.com
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BRIAN SANCES / FLYING COLORS
FISCHERSPOONER / SIR
UNDEROATH / ERASE ME
Jason Savio
Mike Wood
Jennifer Russo
There’s something to be said about an artist who can cover the whole emotional spectrum on one album and do it with a real sense of being genuine. Such is the case with Flying Colors, the new effort by the Cape Cod-based Brian Sances. This 12-song collection is one that will have you bouncing your head in carefree bliss before hitting you with a number that resonates on a much deeper level.
The much-hyped music video for the album’s first single, “TopBrazil,” is a steamy, erotic, man-centric collage of bodies meant to signify more than just a cozy cuddle puddle amongst buddies and bros. It’s a bold statement about blurring the lines between masculine and feminine and promoting a sex-positive society for all genders, no matter your inclinations. The duo has always pushed buttons and envelopes, and Sir, Fischerspooner’s first album in almost a decade, is as in-your-face an entry one’s bound to get. This synth-heavy album is produced by Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), and you won’t likely hear its songs popping up on your Spotify mixes. The music you’ll hear is akin to the pulsating gyrations one might experience while wandering through a dark and labyrinthine barroom/playroom.
You know when there is a band you really dig and you know every song they have ever written, but then they don’t release a new album for a really long time? Thankfully, after years of hoping they would surprise me, they did. Erase Me, Underoath’s first album since 2010, was worth the wait. The album is a great balance of soft and heavy as it treks through the emotional struggles the band has faced.
From the get-go, it’s clear that Sances wants to have some fun. How could you not with “Blue ’92,” an ode to the one-of-a-kind 1992 Buick Century Wagon? It’s an upbeat and funky jam — a key component in the DNA of Flying Colors — and features stellar guitar work from Sances, who also plays bass, keyboards and drums on many of the tracks. Sances easily switches gears more than once from electric bop to more downhome and bluesy-folk additions like “I Can Tell” and “Love You Too.” The common thread that links many of them together are dreamy, acid-tinged pop hooks. As if it wasn’t obvious that the musicianship is tight and spot-on, the two instrumental numbers, “Straight Out (The Joint)” and “Brain Freeze” feature exactly what instrumentals need to: peaks and valleys on top of a strong and consistent melody that circles you. Sances saves the best for last, though. On “Meet Me at the Gate,” he shows his strongest songwriting, as he touches upon the loss of a beloved pet and the struggle to cope with it. “Taking photographs of where you used to be/Hoping I can catch a glimpse of your spirit but now you’re free,” he sings with a tear-jerking delivery. It’s transcendent and inspirational, and nothing beats that in a song. For more information, follow Sances on Facebook @ BrianSances.
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The electro-clash duo is as rebellious as ever and, thanks to Stipe, Sir is smoother and sleeker than previous Fischerspooner albums, but no less provocative. There are songs about tawdry one-night stands, alcoholinfused regrets, anonymous hook-ups and all measures of hedonism. What’s missing is depth. There are a few other songs worthy of “TopBrazil”-level attention; these include “Have Fun Tonight,” a dance ballad about exploring relationships outside your own, the R&Besque “Togetherness” and the pulsating, throbbing single, “Everything Is Just Alright.” Unfortunately, a few strong songs can’t make up for other entries that often feel like little more than oversynthesized filler. Fischerspooner has shown their staying power and relevance — even so many years after their last album — and that may just mean their best, most envelope-pushing, barrier-breaking music is still to come. For more information, visit Fischerspooner.com or follow them on Twitter @Fischerspooner.
The album opens with “It Has to Start Somewhere,” and it sets the pace for the remainder of the album — high energy and questioning everything that someone once stood for. I loved the catchy chorus in “Rapture”: “Take me to the darkness, hang me out to dry, tangled in your legs, in the webs of your lies, lead me to the rapture…” “On My Teeth” has some of the best instrumental on the album — with an innovative spin on a genre that has traditionally followed a pretty precise formula. The drums seem to build throughout the song, adding a sense of urgency to see where it will go next. The band switches it up with “No Frame,” which begins with a fuzzy distorted guitar and heads into almost a meditative psychedelic state with high harmonies and a simple beat behind the song. It is probably the least heavy song on the album, but there is something about it that pulls you in. My favorite track on the album was “Wake Me.” Though the song’s lyrics seem to play on desperation, a closer listen hears hope within the shadow of it. This is a song that I believe really encompasses the entire album’s theme of finding a truth that is your own and waking up to the reality that we are all human, flawed, connected and responsible for our own destinies. Underoath kicks off their tour in April, with a show in Providence on May 11. For more information, visit underoath777.com.
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CLUB+PUB+GRUB LISTINGS ENTERTAINMENT AT CLUBS, BARS, PUBS & OTHER SELECT VENUES 435 Bar & Grill 435 Lancaster St., Leominster April 6: Lizzy Marquis April 7: Jay Graham April 13: Dan Cormier April 14: Ashley & Ethan Caouette April 20: Andy Fichtel April 21: Tequila Mockingbird April 27: Whitney Doucette April 28: Heather Ralston American Graffiti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg Art’s Diner 541 W. Boylston St., Worc. B-Man’s 140 Tavern 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Sterling 140pub.com April 7: Hip Swayers Deluxe The Banner Bar & Grille 112 Green St., Worc. thebannerbar.com Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester barberscrossingrestaurant.com Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Road, Sterling barberscrossingrestaurant.com Thursdays: Open Mic Fridays: Bill McCarthy April 7: Chris Terp April 14: Scott Babineau April 21: Ambient Sojourn April 28: Left - Right Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc. beatniksbeyou.com Thursdays: Center Stage Karaoke April 4: Wednesday Night Mayhem April 6: Infinite Groove April 7: Sunset Creatures April 11: Free Pizza & Game Night April 13: Dead Center & Twelveyes April 14: Hip Tonight April 18: Wednesday Night Mayhem April 20: Pathetics/ vil Felipe April 21: The Nays April 25: Free Pizza & Game Night April 27: Strangers from Canada April 28: NYC Comedians Invade Worcester Beemer’s Pub & Grill 310 Main St., Fitchburg beemerspub.com Billy’s Pub 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Road, Sterling Fridays, Saturdays: Live Music Blueprint New American Bar & Grill 9 Village Square, Westminster April 5: Brett Casavant April 7: Ken Macy Band April 12: Vinny Jamison April 13: The Middlemen April 14: Michael Spaulding April 19: Amanda Cote April 20: Tim & Lou April 21: Dan Kiroauc April 26: Fred Ellsworth April 27: April Ranzella April 28: Lizzy Marquis
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Bolton Street Tavern 587 Bolton St., Marlborough boltonstreettavern.com
Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc. danceranchandsaloon.com
Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg
Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford daysendtavern.com
Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton April 14: The Flock Brew City 104 Shrewsbury St., Worc. brew-city.com Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Road, Shirley bullrunrestaurant.com April 12: Peter Yarrow April 13: Susan Werner April 19: Carbon Leaf 25th Anniversary Tour Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St., Worc. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays: DJ April 6: Balit April 7: Brett & Lisa Brumby April 13: Round Midnight April 14: Jim Perry April 19: Jewelry Making with Lisa Marie April 20: Lisa Marie & John Juxo April 21: Alias April 27: Bob Moon April 28: The Hoovers Chopstick’s Restaurant & Lounge 21 Commercial Road, Leominster chopsticksleominster.com Christopher’s Pub 7 Pleasant St., Leominster Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster classicspub.net Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: Karaoke with Royal Crown April 15: Fellowship of the King Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: Karaoke April 28: Auntie Trainwreck The Columbia Tavern 28 Manning Ave., Leominster Compass Tavern 90 Harding St., Worc. thecompasstavern.com Fridays, Saturdays: DJs April 6: Nick Christy April 13: Kevin Shields April 20: Ken Macy April 27: Hit the Bus Cosmopolitan Club 96 Hamilton St., Worc. The Cove Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc. thecovemusichall.com April 6: Born to Party in the ’90s Dance Party April 7: Spider Rockets April 11: Worcester Music Awards April 13: Sick Season (Alice in Chains tribute) April 14: Give Winter the Boot 2 April 20: Aquanett April 21: Grand Evolution CD Release Party
Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens devensgrill.com The District 109 Water St., Worc. districtworcester.com Electric Haze 26 Millbury St, Worc. April 3: Girls Night Out, The Show April 5: Faktual Evidence: Live Art & Gallery Showcase April 6: Cirque Du Haze: Bellas Bartok, Firefly Caravan, Mizz Kitsune April 7: Creamery Station at Electric Haze with Too Much Too Fast April 15: Tyrone Shoelaces Sunday Residency April 19: Something Is Forming: A Celebration of Creek with Hannah›s Field April 20: Airspray Queer Dance Party April 21: The Breakfast April 28: Analog Heart, Us Lights and TBA Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc. fiddlersgreenworcester.com Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 E. Main St., Marlborough fireflysbbq.com Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden flipflopsma.com April 28: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Flying Rhino Cafe 278 Shrewsbury St., Worc. flyingrhinocafe.com Forty’s 1030 Central St., Leominster Frank’s 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc. April 7: Jokers Wild April 14: Girls on Girls April 20: Blue Light Bandits April 21: Fellowship of the King April 27: Rick Hamel April 28: Way Up South Fraternal Order of Eagles #477 Leominster 456 Litchfield St., Leominster April 21: Doctor Robert Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill 305 Shrewsbury St., Worc. funkymurphys.com Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner gardnerale.com Sundays: Sunday Brunch Mondays: Blue Mondays Thursdays: Audio Wasabi April 6: The Two Timers April 7: Ambient Sojourn Band April 13: Highway Kind April 14: The Green Sisters April 20: Dan Cormier April 21: Boothill Express April 27: The Middlemen
April 28: The Monday Project The GazBar Sports Grill 1045 Central St., Leominster thegazbar.com April 5: Dan Cormier April 6: Ashley & Evan Caouette April 7: Dave Ashman April 12: Scott Babineau April 13: Amanda Cote April 14: Joe Macey April 19: T.C.Polk April 20: Chris Reddy April 21: Heather Ralston April 26: Red Bridge Duo April 27: Mike Melendez April 28: Dan Kirouac Greendale’s Pub 404 W. Boylston St., Worc. greendalespub.com Sundays: Blues Jam with Jim Perry, Meat Raffle Tuesdays: Open Mic with Bill McCarthy; Local Musicians Showcase Wednesdays: Wack Wednesday Jam Night Thursdays: Karaoke April 6: Ed & Da ve April 7: Windfall April 8: Jim›s Blues Jam featuring Ricky “King”› Russell April 13: Riff Raff April 14: Wooing Dorothy April 20: Auntie Trainwreck April 21: Silverbacks April 27: Accelerators April 28: Eruption April 29: Sunday Jam hosted by Mike G featuring Jeff Baker Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn halliganssportsbarandmore.com Happy Jack’s 785 North Main St., Leominster April 6: Amanda Cote April 7: Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory! April 13: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell April 20: Lizzy Marquis April 21: Brian Chaffee April 28: Steve Tolley Hotel Vernon 1 Millbury St., Worc. Indian Ranch 200 Gore Road, Webster indianranch.com Ixtapa Cantina 308 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg ixtapacantina2.com 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: Music Bingo Thursdays: Sam James, DJs April 13: Drunken Uncles April 20: DJ Cardona April 21: Dave Mack Continued on Page 21
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Continued from Page 18 April 27: Drunken Uncles April 28: DJ Cardona Marty’s Pub 225 Canterbury St., Worc. martyspub.com MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc. mblounge.com Sundays: Seasonal Martini Sundays Mondays: Industry Night with Keith Tuesdays: Throw Back Tuesdays with Andy R. Wednesdays: Karaoke with Mikey Mic Thursdays: Drinks with Superman Shawn Fridays, Saturdays: DJs Medusa Brewing Company 111 Main St., Hudson medusabrewing.com April 5: Open Mic Night April 6: Stephen Lewis April 7: Mike Melendez April 13: Sam James April 14: Alit April 19: Open Mic Night April 20: Hit the Bus April 21: Big Jon Short April 27: Zack Slik April 28: Highway Kind Michael’s Cigar Bar 1 Exchange Place, Worc. michaelscigar.com April 4: Dezi Garcia April 5: Rick Hamel April 6: Jim Devlin Trio April 7: Hit the Bus April 8: Cigar Dinner w/Mike Melendez April 11: Ricky Duran April 12: Jim Devlin April 13: Testify April 14: Hot Letter April 15: Blue Light Bandits April 18: Dezi Garcia April 19: Jodee & Brian April 20: Stubby Phillips & The Flatheads April 21: Abraxas April 25: Ricky Duran April 26: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell April 27: Brumbletones April 28: Blue Light Bandits The Mill 185 185 W. Boylston St., W. Boylston themill185.com April 5: Joe Macey April 6: Guiliano D’Orazio April 7: James Keyes April 13: Jay Graham April 14: Acoustic Shoes April 19: Night Train April 20: Chad Clements April 21: Joe Macey & Liz Bodreau April 26: Ethan Caouette April 27: Chris Reddy April 28: Bill McCarthy The Monument Tap 13 Central St., Leominster monumenttap.com April 5: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell April 6: Scott Babineau April 7: Boot Scootin Boogie April 13: Left - Right & Centerfield April 14: Ken Macy April 19: Jake Night Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc. The Muse 536 Main St., Worc. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc. Sundays: Listen! (weekly poetry event) and
Gracie Day Fridays: Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat Saturdays: Sip & Stitch, Pitch & Sip April 3: Dam Chick Singer April 4: From New Orleans, Driftin’ Sam Politz & Friends April 5: Troy Gonyea April 6: Seth Newton April 7: Pamela Hines Trio April 7: Renee Legendre with Pamela Hines and Bob Simonelli April 9: Trivia Night April 10: The Insincere Gentlemen April 11: Thaddeus Bell Jazz Pianist and Classical Singer April 12: Carlos Odria Trio April 14: Chuck & Mud and the Mudchuckers April 20: Cara Brindisi April 21: Brooks Milgate April 24: Nick›s Jazz Jam Open Mic April 26: Karaoke with DJ Matt R April 27: HiFi Wards April 27: Peter «Hi-Fi» Ward & Electric Blues April 28: Savoir Faire The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc. April 7: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Oak Barrel Tavern 229 Grove Ave., Worc. oakbarreltavernworcester.com Olde Post Office Pub 1 Ray St., N. Grafton April 26: Dan Kirouac 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 April 6: Little Sugar and The Big Spoonful April 7: Take Two April 8: Gay Perkoski, Rick Hamel April 13: Talk is Cheap April 15: Amanda Cote April 20: Tony Soul Project April 21: Dock 10 April 22: Jim Perry Solo Acoustic April 27: Take Two April 28: Acoustic Shoes featuring Amanda Cote & Melissa Gates April 29: ARIBAND Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster The Palladium 261 Main St., Worc. thepalladium.net April 5: We Came As Romans April 6: Method Man & Redman April 7: Dirkschneider April 8: Cradle of Filth April 13: Emo Night Brooklyn April 15: Demetri Martin April 20 - April 21: New England Metal & Hardcore Festival April 24: The Dangerous Summer April 26: Protest the Hero Park Grill and Spirits 257 Park Ave., Worc. Fridays, Saturdays: Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape April 6: Rick Porter & Friends April 7: Rick Hamel April 13: Guilliano D’Orazio April 14: The Marceau Project April 20: Drunkin’ Uncles April 21: Terry Blackwell April 27: Highway Kind
April 28: Triton Taylor Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg partnerspub.com Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Karaoke April 7: Dazed Till Dawn April 14: One50One April 21: Rock It April 28: Jah Spirit Patsie Dugan’s 49 Millbury St., Worc. patsiedugans.com Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worc. The Pint 58 Shrewsbury St., Worc. Wednesdays: What’s That Tune? Trivia 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 April 4: Brett Brumby April 5: John Brazile April 6: Chad Clements April 7: Adam Makes Noise April 8: DJ Mark Senior April 11: Brett Brumby April 12: Brian Twohey April 13: Chad Clements April 14: Sam James April 15: John Brazile April 18: Sam James April 19: John Brazile April 20: Adam Makes Noise April 21: Terry Brennan April 22: DJ Mark Senior April 25: Sam James April 26: Cara Brindisi April 27: Ricky Duran April 28: Sam James April 29: DJ Mark Senior Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc. ralphsrockdiner.com The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc. Wednesdays: Open Mic Red Onion - Otter River Hotel 29 Main St., Baldwinville Rye & Thyme 14 Monument Square, Leominster ryeandthyme.com April 5: Dan Cormier April 6: World Jazz Ensemble April 7: Retro Stew April 8: Brunch with Zack Slik April 12: Big Dave & Captain April 13: Ken Macy Band April 14: Doctor Robert April 19: Ethan Caouette April 20: Monica Mcnamara & Friends April 21: Randy Black & The Heathcroppers April 22: Brunch with Jon Short April 26: Jay Graham April 27: Midnight Sharp April 28: Royal Furs April 29: Beatles Brunch with Chris Gardino & Haydee Irizarry Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant 494 Electric Ave., Lunenburg seanpatricksrestaurant.com South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 W. Broadway, Gardner southsidemargaritafactory.com April 6: Zack Slik
April 7: Go Gadget Go April 13: Carl Ayotte April 14: Mighty Kingsnakes April 20: Sean Daley April 21: Hit the Bus April 27: Lizzy Marquis Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough speakersnightclub.net Saturdays: Live bands Spruce Street Tavern 68 Spruce St., Clinton sprucestreettavern.com Sunset Tiki Bar/The Outlook 79 Powers Road, Westford The Tavern on Central 3 Central St., Ashburnham thetavernoncentral.com Three G’s Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc. 3gs-sportsbar.com Thursdays: Open Mic Fridays: Karaoke Union Music 142 Southbridge St., Worc. unionmusic.com April 14: Open Mic with TJ Peavey Union Tavern 65 Green St., Worc. Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grille 377 Stetson Road, Barre upperdecksportsbarandgrille.com Valentino’s Press & Pour 154 Shrewsbury St., Worc. Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc. victorycigarbar.com Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc. Tuesdays: Boogie Chillin’ April 23: Hip Swayers Deluxe April 28: Fellowship of the King 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: DJ Tec Threat Saturdays: DJs April 6: Sam James April 7: Traveling Wanna B’s April 13: April Cushman Duo April 14: Cover Story April 20: The Grand Central April 21: On the Rocks April 27: Boombox April 28: Alex 2E Duo Whistle Stop Bar & Grill 85 Main St., Oxford StopByTheWhistle.com White Eagle Polish Club 112 Green St., Worc. Thursdays: Musical Bingo William’s Restaurant & Tavern 184 Pearson Blvd., Gardner williamsrestaurantandtavern.com April 6: 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
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BY JUSTIN PERRY
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THE MILL 185 – WEST BOYLSTON
THE PRESS BOX – WORCESTER
LOCK 50 – WORCESTER
PATSIE DUGAN’S – WORCESTER
Apr il 2018
BEATNIK’S – WORCESTER
QUINN’S IRISH PUB – WORCESTER
LOFT 266 BAR & LOUNGE – WORCESTER
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THE WOO IS NOT SO BAD,
LI F ESTY LE
students say
Kaiomi Inniss
TRANSPORTATION
Worcester received a ranking of 379 out of 415 places considered for “2018’s Best College Towns and Cities in America” list developed by WalletHub. However, the president of the Worcester Student Government Association (WSGA), Emilee Cucuzzo, disagrees with this ranking and believes that Worcester is heading in the right direction to become a thriving college town.
While more students feel it’s easy to access downtown (43 percent) than those who do not (31 percent), more than 86 percent of students have never used Worcester public transportation. The number of students who use the Worcester Regional Transit Authority’s bus service more than six times per month is staggeringly low (2 percent), despite colleges like Clark offering discounted bus passes for students. Several students use their own cars or ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft. Holy Cross has teamed up with Uber to offer students discounted rides.
“A good college town requires more communication between students...and that’s what the WSGA is trying to foster,” Cucuzzo said. “One City, One Voice” is the motto of the Worcester Student Government Association. The Worcester Student Government Association, founded in 2013 by Holy Cross graduate Neema Hakim, is focused on bridging the gaps between college campuses in Worcester. The association serves the nine colleges and universities within the Worcester consortium — Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Becker College, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Worcester, Worcester State University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In the Fall of 2017, WSGA sent out a survey to these nine campuses to gather data on student life and overall satisfaction with the city. “As a collective body of the WSGA, we can only speak from certain perspectives, so we wanted a more widespread perspective of students… and what they needed in Worcester,” said Cucuzzo. The survey addressed transportation, safety and entertainment. In January, WGSA met with Worcester Mayor Joe Petty and City Manager Ed Augustus to present its findings. The results have also gone out to the Chamber of Commerce and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. The WGSA hopes to foster more collaboration between students across campuses and create a mobilization of students to change the culture and the future of the city. “The real hope is to show them this is what students want,” Cucuzzo said.
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“It seems like Clark would be more likely to have that kind of initiative [discounted bus passes] as opposed to Holy Cross, where they don’t have direct access to a bus line,” Cucuzzo said. With the WRTA facing a $900,000 deficit and proposing to implement service cuts, the picture remains bleak. Last fall, the bike share company, Ofo, launched in Worcester, giving discounted rides to college students. Cucuzzo believes that these types of initiatives highlight the city’s desire for students to be able to access downtown and other areas. However, several students are reluctant to use Ofo without a more reliable bike infrastructure in place. “It’s more of creating an event or something that pushes students to get off campus and find their own means of transportation…we have to find a way to find transportation that students would use,” Cucuzzo said.
SAFETY Despite the significant decline in violent crime in Worcester, 35 percent of students felt that Worcester was unsafe, which was higher than those who thought it was safe. “I think the main reason is perception,” Cucuzzo said. “I think it’s for students to look at it objectively and see that there isn’t as many violent crimes happening, and you have to be open and explore and push yourself
off campus to see that.” Due to Worcester’s previous high crime rates, several students arrive thinking that Worcester is an unsafe city, and this stigma persists. “A lot of these students have never lived in or experienced an urban setting, so they automatically deem it as unsafe,” said Christian Rentsman, a Clark senior. The city has been tackling crime through many initiatives such as pushing for more police integration with the community and investing in public parks.
ENTERTAINMENT More than 45 percent of students do not attend events off-campus, and only 49 percent attend events offcampus one to three times a month. The most popular events among students are Shrewsbury College Shuffle, StART on the Street and events at the DCU Center. Forty-four percent of students felt uninformed about events in Worcester. The WSGA collaborated with Clark University’s Office of Student Leadership and Programming (SLP) to include Worcester events in the weekly “What’s Happening” emails sent out by Allie Shilling, the associate director of SLP. The survey also asked students to list events they would like to see downtown, and the responses included more cultural events with food, festivals, parades and music events. Several students also indicated the desire to have more 18+ events in the downtown area.
MOVING FORWARD Overall, most students (55 percent) are satisfied with living in Worcester. “The city is a great place to be a college student because of the potential and opportunities it provides,” Cucuzzo said.
The Worcester Student Government Association promises to use these results to collaborate with the city and continue to be the voice of students in Worcester. For more information, visit worcestersga.org. Photograph courtesy of Discover Central Massachusetts
OUT+ABOUT: Worcester embraces Love Your Labels.
John Trobaugh Love Your Labels — according to Joshua Croke, it is a movement to embrace labels, eliminate stereotypes and empower individuals. Joshua, co-founder of Action! Worcester, is a Worcester-based designer and innovator working at the intersection of design, technology and society. At a recent Worcester Pride event, Joshua and the Love Your Labels Committee revealed this campaign as a way to unite under-represented communities while engaging humanity in a conversation about equality. According to Joshua, with the tagline Unique & United, Love Your Labels is elevating the dialogue about how labels like “gay,” “black,” “trans,” “veteran,” “feminist,” “individuals with disabilities,” etc. describe — but don’t define — people. Many of these labels have been historically (and continue to be) disadvantaged because of bias, racism and lack of knowledge. This campaign emphasizes the intersectionality of labels and encourages the uncomfortable conversations that lead to change. Local volunteers and members of the Love Your Labels committee are shown here, photographed by Worcester-based photographer Mike Hendrickson.
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THE LUXE LIST
5 SPRING BEAUTY SAVIORS Merilee Kern Spring is that perennial time of renewal. It’s a season that beckons us to revitalize our self-care regime and amp up our beauty boosters. Here are five spring pick-me-ups that’ll have you sitting pretty all season long.
FREEZEFRAMES COOL CARE EYEWEAR
Don’t we all suffer from puffy eyes from allergies, beauty treatments or fatigue? Try this product created by a medical professional to nurse puffy eyes. FDA-approved and recommended by plastic surgeons, FreezeFrames Cool Care Eyewear provides UVA protection in combination with cooling eye therapy. The secret treatment comes in reusable Gel-Pads that soothe the puffiness with gentle cooling compression — just like a nurse might apply ice to swollen, symptomatic eye areas. Prior to use, freeze or put in a cup of ice for 20-60 minutes, then magnetically click the gel pads into the FreezeFrames casing. The frames fit most any face, male or female, and target the lower and upper eye areas (and even the nose-bridge area for Botox users). $89.95, FreezeFrames.com.
PANASONIC FACIAL IONIC STEAMER
This spa-quality facial steamer restores the moisture in a user’s skin to combat the effects of dry skin that may result in fine lines and wrinkles. It produces ultra-fine steam — thousands of times smaller than a typical steam particle — for easier absorption. The warm steam also helps open pores to gently and easily assist in removal of make-up, dirt and oil. Nano-sized steam particles help smooth and soften the skin, sloshing away any dirt or excess oil. It brings the spa facial experience home with a quick six-minute steam cycle and a compact size with one-touch operation. $99.99, Panasonic.com.
SIMPLEHUMAN TOUCH SENSOR MIRROR
The SimpleHuman sensor mirror is great for makeup application and grooming needs. Under the wrong lighting, makeup colors can fool you. This wireless pedestal mirror contains a Tru-Lux light system that allows you to see subtle variations in your makeup color so you’ll always know when your makeup is color-correct, day or night. It emits light that’s more than twice as bright and more closely simulates natural sunlight than other options on the market. Designed for maximum adjustability, the mirror tilts back fully so you always have a clear, comfortable view. Also cordless and rechargeable with a standard USB, one charge lasts up to five weeks. $200, SimpleHuman.com.
NANOE MOISTURE INFUSION HAIR DRYER
Know someone who covets silky smooth hair? The Panasonic Nanoe Hair Dryer is a great option. This dreamy dryer captures moisture from the air and infuses it back into hair. The hair dryer also features three temperature settings — hot, warm and cool — to effectively style hair, while a cool shot button helps lock in hairstyles. It also comes with three attachments, including a diffuser, set nozzle for precise styling and a new quickdry nozzle that is unique to Panasonic. A removable filter makes cleaning hair and dust particles easy. $129.99, Panasonic.com.
TWEEXY NAIL POLISH BOTTLE HOLDER
For the fashionista in the family who might be a little clumsy from time to time, there’s Tweexy — the original, patented, spillproof and wearable nail polish bottle holder. Tweexy is a soft and flexible one-piece beauty staple that makes polishing nails easier. It securely holds every branded and standard size nail polish bottle on the market. It’s made of silicone and expands and contracts to comfortably and securely grip any size fingers. It’s small enough to fit in a makeup bag and weighs less than one ounce, so it’s extremely portable and can go where you go. $9.99, Tweexy,com. As the executive editor and producer of The Luxe List, Merilee Kern is an internationally regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority. She identifies and reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products and services across all categories. Reach her at TheLuxeList.com, on Twitter @LuxeListEditor, on Facebook at TheLuxeList and on Instagram at LuxeListReviews.
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APPS TO HELP YOU STUDY ABROAD! For those lucky enough to be studying abroad this summer, a semester in a new place can mean the time of a lifetime. But without the proper resources, packing in everything you want to do and having an authentic experience can be tough. Check out these apps to help you make the most of your time abroad.
From Brazil to India to The Netherlands, with over 1.2 billion users, WhatsApp is one of the most popular apps in the world. If you’re looking to connect with locals while you’re abroad, you’ll definitely need to download this simple and reliable messenger. Pro Tip: Use WhatsApp’s live location sharing feature with your group during a night out and never lose each other again!
BLABLACAR
Available throughout Europe and Mexico, BlaBlaCar is a popular and inexpensive (they claim to be 75 percent cheaper than the train!) way to travel to new cities and countries. If you’re looking to explore cities through the eyes of a local — BlaBlaCar is the answer. Pro Tip: Change the desired chattiness level in the app to ensure your seat is as social (or quiet) as you’d like.
SPOTTED BY LOCALS
Every neighborhood has that one amazing hole-in-the-wall restaurant that every local knows about but is undiscovered by out-of-towners. Spotted By Locals lets you find those local favorites right on your phone. No need to scour TripAdvisor or Yelp for reviews. Pro Tip: Each city guide is available for download, so no need to connect to Wi-Fi or data in order to start discovering the best hidden gems in your new home.
CITYMAPS2GO
It can be hard to find your way around a new city at first, but with CityMaps2Go, you’ll feel like a local in no time. Even when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, you have access to detailed, zoomable and searchable maps — so you’ll never look like a lost tourist again! Pro Tip: CityMaps even allows you to find and book hotels, search for attractions and organize your trips — basically an all-in-one travel guide.
MEALSHARING
You can’t have a fully authentic experience without real homemade meals from locals. MealSharing is an app that connects you with hosts who are willing to have you come to their homes and cook for you! MealSharing is perfect for those who are studying abroad and staying in apartments or dorms versus a home stay with a local family. The app makes it easy for you to find and book a home-cooked meal and meet new friends along the way. Pro Tip: You can choose meals that are vegan, paleo, locally sourced, halal and more — so everyone can try the local cuisine.
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ART +CU LTU R E
Kaiomi Inniss Expect the unexpected! ArtWeek is no ordinary week — presented by the Highland Street Foundation and produced by the Boch Center, this awardwinning, 10-day art festival promises to be a creative and interactive experience for folks of all ages. There will be more than 300 events featured across the state, ranging from individual artists hosting public talks in a vacant lot with their art to lighting up a canal with lanterns in Lowell. ArtWeek was launched in the fall of 2013 with seed money from Art Place America. Occurring twice a year, ArtWeek launched with only 25 events and gradually grew to more than 260 events. “It was initially inspired by the popularity of Restaurant Week, in that it happened twice a year and everyone went out and discovered new places,” said Sue Dahling Sullivan, the team leader of ArtWeek 2018. Unlike Restaurant Week, which features a discount pricing model for delicious meals, ArtWeek was inspired by research from the National Endowment for the Arts, which found that people were looking for socially-based or learning-based art experiences. This research helped the folks behind ArtWeek to create the “ArtWeek twist” — a learningbased, interactive, hands-on experience that would engage communities. “People were looking to engage in arts, culture and creativity in a different way – they loved going to art exhibits, theater shows and concerts, but they were looking for a little extra something,” Dahling said. After four years of success, growth and overwhelming public reception, ArtWeek had reached its tipping point and will now be an annual, statewide event. “We had featured 260 events, and we had spread throughout eastern Massachusetts, and we knew that doing it twice a year at that level of activity simply wasn’t sustainable,” Dahling said. ArtWeek’s guiding principles of ensuring that arts and culture is affordable and accessible to communities regardless of age, socioeconomic background or geographic location
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aligned with the principles of the Highland Street Foundation. The Highland Street Foundation is the founder of Free Fun Fridays in the summer, working with museums across the state to offer visitors admission-free events. Since 2013, the foundation has been a presenting sponsor for ArtWeek. More than 60 percent of ArtWeek’s events will be free, and more than 90 percent of events are either free or less than $25, which reinforces the principles of accessibility and affordability. ArtWeek now boasts more than 70 partners at different levels, including statewide partners, regional champions and community catalysts. “We really built the model on a framework of collaboration and partnership,” said Dahling. ArtWeek has divided the state by the six super regions defined by Mass Office of Travel and Tourism – Greater Boston, North of Boston, South of Boston, Cape and Islands, Central Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts. Patrons in Central Massachusetts can expect a diverse range of events during ArtWeek. The Worcester Art Museum will host a special curator talk on the da Vinci pieces it owns. The talk will discuss the technical aspects of da Vinci’s art. Colleges in the Worcester area will also be involved in ArtWeek. Worcester State University will host several ArtWeek events, including a night for graduating artists to present their senior theses artwork. The College of the Holy Cross is teaming up with the Worcester Art Museum to host a podcast tour, giving the history behind the special pieces in the museum. There will also be a Jazz Safari Concert hosted by the Joy of Music Program and the Cape Art Troupe, which will create a collage during its concert and the audience will be invited to add to the collage afterwards. “It’s really, really exciting to see people and organizations sort of come together around this really unique concept,” said Dahling.
ArtWeek will run from April 27-May 6. You can find out more about ArtWeek and access the calendar of events at artweekma.org.
NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • NORTH COUNTY • DINING • SHOPPING
NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING
NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • NORTH COUNTY • DINING • SHOPPING
F OO D +D R IN K
DINING REVIEW
THIS COMFORT FOOD LEAVES A LEGACY
Bernie Whitmore Over time, we’ve grown accustomed to the notion of dining districts, sections of town that serve as hubs of activity hosting several restaurants and nighttime entertainment venues. Despite that, though, some of the Worcester area’s better dining is scattered outside these areas; these “outposts” have to generate their own buzz in order to attract business from outside their immediate neighborhoods. That would be the challenge for the Legacy Bar and Grill, the latest restaurant to open at 242 Mill St. However, a history of restaurants on that same location have attuned us to making the trip to the edge of Coes Pond. Joey’s, in particular, made the largely unchanged dining room feel like home. That’s the upside to that “history.” The reality is that no one seems to stay there too long. But there’s hope; our first dining experience at Legacy leaves me optimistic for its staying power. I say that for a couple reasons — first, and foremost, is the actual cuisine and dining experience. Scanning the menu, I noted many standard items listed at fair prices. Sprinkled among these are less common, more interesting selections. We decided to survey both ends of that spectrum, but first Kasey, our server, took my drink order and fetched a glass of Sierra Nevada’s Hop Bullet IPA. This is a brewery that builds rock-solid IPAs; Bullet ranks 60 on the bitterness scale — a decent partner to most any cuisine. Then, she brought our appetizer, Fried Calamari. Granted, it’s standard fare encountered just about everywhere, but the chef differentiated this dish and gave it “wow factor.” First, our plate — a load of rings and tentacles had been
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lightly breaded with batter that seemed to have puffed up in the fryer; it was light, golden brown, crispy-crumbly and without a trace of oily residue. Draped over this heaping serving were thin slices of red and green cherry peppers for a zesty flavor contrast. Even more interesting, though, was the Thai chili dipping sauce, a surprising alternative to the oft-forgettable marinara that usually accompanies calamari. It was spicy and sticky-sweet, a surprisingly good idea. From there, we graduated to Legacy’s Beet Salad, a large, shallow bowl of leafy baby greens wreathed by halved walnut meats. Small cubes of poached beets, bits of dried cranberries and creamy chunks of goat cheese gave this huge salad heft. It would be a large meal for just one person. Initially, I was suspicious that the raspberry vinaigrette might obscure the sweetness of the beets. Surprisingly, both ingredients were able to assert themselves without overpowering the other. The bigger surprise, though, were the cubes of butternut squash tossed in amongst the beets. Strange, yet brilliant! They’d been roasted to match the firmness of golden beets and had a similar degree of sweetness. As Kasey brought our entrées, Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven was advancing into its guitar solo. In itself, that would be unusual, but considering my friend’s meal,
LEGACY BAR AND GRILL 242 MILL ST., WORCESTER (508) 796-5958 LEGACYGRILLANDBAR.COM
Baked Stuffed Shrimp — another hallmark of the ’70s — it was like being sucked into a time warp. Back in that era, Baked Stuffed Shrimp were everywhere — on surf and turf items, banquet buffets and on every seafood menu. But the rep they came to suffer was a killer — who didn’t come to expect over-baked, butterflied shrimp with cracker-crumb dressing? Legacy’s chef studied these “issues” and has solved each of them. In the Legacy’s version, a ceramic dish has been layered with scallop-studded dressing. Over that, a handful of large fresh shrimp were arrayed and drenched with lobster cream sauce. All of it was baked till the flavors merged and the shrimp, still juicy and flavorful, had been cooked through. Granted, it was a large entrée, made extra-rich with the lobster cream, but consider it a successful update of that Zeppelin-era classic. My entrée, Lobster Mac & Cheese, was crammed with lobster bits and larger chunks of claw meat. Indeed, every forkful of my creamy-cheesy cavatappi pasta came up with pieces of tasty lobster meat. The top was sprinkled with Parmesan breadcrumbs baked to a crunchy, golden brown. This meal pressed all the comfort-food buttons. After finishing our meals, Michael, the chef-owner, stopped by to introduce himself. Generous with his kitchen “secrets” and even more so with the family history that forms the legacy that led to the restaurant’s startup, I could see there’s much more than tasty food and good service here at the Legacy Bar and Grill. There’s also the force of a family deeply involved in area restaurants and food service — a wealth of ideas and commitment that’s going to anchor itself to this edge of Coes Pond. Welcome home.
HOT&NOW: What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene Paul Giorgio A new toy. The Ho Toy, Worcester’s iconic Chinese restaurant, located at 401 Park Ave., has been bought by the owners of Kenichi and Sake Bomb, also in
Worcester. Bothers Kenny and Bobby Huang will renovate the place and rename
it the Wan Wan Asian Bistro. They plan to open the 4,000-square-foot eatery in September. They also plan to expand on the Ho Toy menu, keeping some of the classics but also adding to them.
Two close, one opens. Il Forno restaurant on Route 12 in West Boylston closed the last week of February. Fear not — the other locations remain open. It also appears
that Plaza Azteca, a local Mexican restaurant located in Worcester’s Lincoln Plaza has closed. We don’t know if it is permanent or not. Meanwhile, the much
anticipated opening of simjang, a Korean restaurant owned by the operators of Worcester’s deadhorse hill, happened on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street at the beginning of March.
News from the monks. Armsby Abbey plans to open a second restaurant in Hudson. It will be located in the center of town at 10-12 Main St., right at the at the rotary. In other Armsby Abby news. Once again, Worcester’s Armsby Abbey is considered
the best bar in the state. The Main Street bar, which features exclusively local and
craft beers, was voted the Best in Massachusetts for the third straight year in a survey by CraftBeer.com. Here is what the owners said: “Few beer bars have been recognized through this search as much as Armsby Abbey. We believe that speaks
for itself, from the atmosphere to the beer selection that Armsby Abbey prides
itself on.” CraftBeer.com said: “In a state as beer-centric as Massachusetts, our readers say Armsby Abbey continues to lead the way.”
Rocky’s last fight. Canal District bar Rocky’s is no more. The bar will be converted
to a restaurant called the Board Room, which will serve Middle Eastern madeto-order food. The restaurant will be owned by Roger Bachour, who owns The
Whiskey Lounge on Main Street in Worcester. After dinner service, the restaurant will become a sports bar with an industrial feel. It is on Water Street and joins a host of new eateries in the Canal District.
Feel the heat. The Red Heat Tavern opened at the end of March in Westborough. This is the third restaurant in the small chain. Others are located in Wilmington
and Bedford. The heat from Red Heat comes from a special oven and grill that uses charcoal. Entrees are priced from $14-$22.
Change at the range. The much-acclaimed Chef Chris O’Hara, of the Flying Rhino Café on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street, has jumped ship to Maddie’s on Water Street. Maddie’s should be opening by the end of the month. Sous Chef Drew Day will take over kitchen duties at the Rhino.
It’s all good. Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company opened in mid-March at its new location on Milbrook Street in Worcester. It boasts the largest taproom around. This brings the number of breweries located in Worcester to four.
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NEW AROUND THE WOO
STIX
Rachel Shuster Located at 72 Franklin St. in downtown Worcester, STIX Noodle Bar is a fast-casual eatery serving up delicious ramen bowls with a creative take on the classics.
NOODLE BAR
STIX is the recent concept restaurant from New England Craft Restaurant Concepts, a restaurant group founded in 2016 and inspired by craft food.
Since opening Feb. 10, STIX has exceeded Peace’s expectations. “We were crazy the first day,” Peace said. “We gave away over 1,000 ramen. It’s been busy and surpassing the expectation that I had for the concept.”
“The name, New England Craft Restaurant Concepts, inspires the restaurants in the group,” said founder and CEO Frank Peace. “They all have some craft element to it — meaning from scratch and fresh ingredients. We want to create a portfolio of restaurants that are craftcentric and diverse and provide atmospheres that are trendy and innovative.”
As for the menu, you can find starters like edamame, calamari, dumplings and glazed pork ribs ranging from $5-$8. STIX’s signature dishes, like the chicken katsu curry and pad thai; wok-inspired dishes like Mongolian beef and dynamite (yes, there’s a spicy dish called “dynamite”); and teppanyaki dishes, like yaki soba and teriyaki soba, all range from $10-$12.
STIX is a natural fit in the group, and Peace explained how it came to be. “STIX is quite small but a full dining experience,” he said. “I absolutely love Pan-Asian food. I spent time traveling in Europe, and there are lots of these types of eateries there. It was a great opportunity to launch a concept that could offer food from scratch that is healthy and could be executed quickly and efficiently.”
The signature ramen is made fresh, and the options are vast. Have your pick from chicken, chili chicken, beef, chili beef, pork, salmon or vegetable, all made with delicious aromatic broths and plenty of fixings. All ramens range from $9-$12.50.
Why Worcester? Peace said this concept is perfect for the city because diversity is key. “Worcester is a diverse city, and diverse cities are embracing non-ubiquitous restaurants like STIX. There are college students, hospital professionals, banking, biomedical, etc. — businesses that create that diversity that want something different.”
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You can also find side orders of sticky or jasmine rice, egg or sesame seaweed salad to accompany your main meal, all ranging from $1-$4. STIX also does take-out and catering! It provides most of the menu items in catering style — half or full pans. Half pans feed five to seven guests, and full pans feed eight to 11 guests. While STIX is a small, yet mighty,
addition to Peace’s group, there is strategy behind his move. This spring, Peace and his team plan to open a beer garden and a comedy club.
“The beer garden will have movies, dancing, fire pits, etc., and you’ll be able to order food from the restaurants in my group, and it will all be delivered to your table. I made STIX smaller because it lends itself well to the beer garden,” he said. Peace has big plans for STIX and his restaurant group — and Worcester. “My vision is that my restaurants and concepts will be a premier destination in Worcester,” he said. “The apartments that are surrounding are beautifully done, which is feeding my businesses. That’s how I formulated my strategy of my group. Additionally, we will employ well over 300 people, creating jobs, which is great. I want it to be a place to live, work, play and eat and drink!” Peace explains how Worcester is going through a renaissance in many ways, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect for his vision, including STIX, and what it will bring to the Worcester community. “The amount of investment from the city and developers is creating this perfect recipe for an entrepreneur like myself to enter a market and launch concepts that I’ve dreamt about for years,” he said. “When you get a concept like STIX, it only ignites that passion even more.”
STIX Noodle Bar is open daily from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Want to learn more? Visit stixnoodlebar.com.
SPORTS +FITN E S S
FINDINGBALANCE: The Thaw
Jennifer Russo “Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have
great faith in a seed ... convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”
— Henry David Thoreau Finally, the very beginnings of spring are upon us; a time of renewal and new
things. It got me thinking about how nature simply knows when it is time for its rebirth. It waits patiently within the frozenness of winter until the conditions are
perfect. Then, seemingly in a moment, we are surrounded by warmth, color and
the sweet scent of flowers blooming. The world around us changes suddenly, and we are all excited to take part in it.
Our aspirations are much like the seeds in the ground and the buds within the
trees, waiting for the right moment to spring forward to life. Like those seeds, though, we have to be patient enough to wait for the true thaw. If we are impatient
and push forward before the conditions are right, we may never see these goals come to fruition.
On occasion, we will see this phenomenon on one of the first warm days. We
might see a bud pop up through the earth, just to have a frost kill it the next
morning. Imagine: All that work it did to grow and wind up into the fresh air, just to be denied an opportunity to bloom. Sometimes, we have circumstances in our lives that keep us frozen in place and we need to simply wait it out before we take
the next step. This is often the universe’s way of asking us to be patient while it releases those obstacles for us so we can reach our true potential.
Once this thaw comes, we are also going to need to be willing to do the work it will take to accomplish those goals. Many times, we have all of these ideas that we plant into our hearts and minds, but when it comes time, we don’t want to make
the effort. Sometimes, it may be fairly easy, and sometimes, we are going to need
to push through that gravel and dirt and make our way around rocks in order to achieve our goals. The key is to keep going, even when it seems tough.
When we do reach the part when we can show off all of the work we have done
and be proud of the accomplishments that are now manifested, nature also teaches
us that we need to be willing to share the glory. A flower blooms and releases some of its seeds to the ground or allows the bee to take some of its pollen for
nourishment. In following this pay-it-forward concept, there is opportunity to be even greater than you may have originally set out to be. Ohm Shanti.
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STYLE+B E A U TY
SPRING BEAUTY and STYLE SOLUTIONS Kaiomi Inniss Hello, warmer weather and longer days — we are welcoming the spring season! Winter
can leave skin and hair feeling dry, dull and in need of repair. With summer on the horizon, we want to have glowing skin and healthy hair with the right amount of shine and style. These spring beauty solutions will put a kick in your beauty routine, leaving you with a youthful and energized glow.
ENERGIZE: If you enjoy taking baths, this product will make you jump for joy!
These bath fizzers from Raw Sugar Living come in two energizing scents — raw coconut with mango and pineapple-maqui berry with coconut. The raw coconut with
mango is packed with Vitamin A, leaving you with a sun-kissed glow. The pineapple-
maqui berry with coconut provides anti-inflammatory properties. Just pop it into
your bathtub and relax while energizing your skin with these tropical scents. $7.99; rawsugarliving.com.
VOLUMIZE: Sometimes you find the perfect mascara that elongates your lashes, making you wish your lashes stayed that length forever. Your wish has come true! If you want your long lashes to be everlasting, try LASHFOOD’s Ultra Rich Volumizing Mascara. This extended-wear mascara is nourishing, delivers extreme volume to your lashes and is free of sulfates and other synthetic chemicals. Not only does this mascara
provide you with the long-lasting length you desire, it is infused with nutrients to promote long-term lash growth. $20; sephora.com.
REPAIR: Prepping your skin for the warm weather is crucial after losing moisture
all winter long. Use Tumerica’s Natural Facial Repair Serum to relieve your skin of the stress of the dry winter conditions. With only four natural ingredients, this serum is
gentle enough to use daily. This repair serum is rich in antioxidants that soak into your skin and promote healthy skin cell growth. $9.99; tumericanow.com.
MOISTURIZE: We all know how important moisturizing is for our skin and our
body, but we usually neglect our hair. Lack of moisture in the hair leads to breakage, frizz and overall dryness. Try this Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Hair Masque by Shea Moisture — a deep conditioning treatment that promises to hydrate
and soothe hair, while reducing frizz, which is especially helpful as the humidity rises.
Perfect for all hair types, add this to your weekly hair routine for a weightless shine. $12.99; sheamoisture.com.
JAZZ IT UP: As women, we’re constantly letting our hair down and putting it up
again throughout the day, especially as the weather gets warmer. It’s convenient to
keep our hair ties on our wrist, but it’s not stylish having a plain black tie there, right?
Luckily, By Lilla is changing the game! This functional, yet fashionable, hair tie blends
convenience with style. These hair ties double as bracelets, so when you’re ready to take down that ponytail, your wrists are well decorated. By Lilla has 10 different collections available to choose from, so you can choose your favorite colors and patterns. Prices start at $15; bylilla.com.
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STEALTHESTYLE: Make a faux wall Jamie Burke Shiplap, shiplap, shiplap. Everyone is talking about shiplap clapboard. Where to get it? How to distress it? Where to put it? It has been on high demand for almost five years now. It used to be an inexpensive way to add character or introduce a featured wall to a room. Now it is so expensive and popular, it is hard to even find! On a whim, I tried a cheap way to mimic the pricey look. It came out beautifully and was extremely easy to do. All you need is a tiny budget and about an hour.
SUPPLIES: Peel-and-stick faux shiplap paper Ruler Pencil Scissors or X-Acto knife Level Wall Credit card or wall scraper
STEPS: 1. Go to your local home improvement store or home dĂŠcor store and pick out the paper. It will run about $20-$30 a roll for 10-15 feet per roll. I like the Target rolls but have found some at TJMaxx for $5 on clearance! When you see it, buy it and save it for a rainy day. 2. The most important part of the process is measuring and marking, so make sure to take your time. I measure from top to bottom, making marks in pencil for a basic template. Measure twice, make your marks once. Make sure your wall is level to start, so you might need to start from an inner wall. 3. Lay out the roll on the ground and measure twice the length of the roll. Make marks on each end of the roll and a couple down the center to connect to the other mark. Take your ruler and connect your marks with your pencil. Then, take your scissors and cut the roll. 4. Prep the wall by cleaning it with a damp cloth and drying. When you are ready, start peeling one side only and match it to marks on the wall. Push out air bubbles as you go with card or scraper. Go slow, and make sure the marks line up as you put the peel-and-stick paper on the wall. Repeat this step as many times as you need to until your wall is finished. If you make a mistake, remove the roll from the wall and start again. The peel and stick roll is forgiving and really easy to use. It is that simple!
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STYLESAVY: Macy’s Backstage
April Goddard
There is a new kid in the off-price retail game, and it can be found right within the walls of its parent. The new Macy’s Backstage has opened right inside Macy’s at Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough, and it’s new layout and unique take on discounted designer goods is definitely something to put on your radar. I was given the opportunity to shop my way through the new Macy’s Backstage before it’s official March 23rd grand opening, and this is what I found.
I love designer goods. I love discounts. Put them together, and — bam — you have a shopaholic’s dream come true. But what sets Macy’s Backstage apart from some of its competitors is just how low the prices really are. I was given $100 and challenged by the Macy’s team to create a complete outfit: tops, bottoms, jackets, accessories, shoes, jewelry — you name it. And I was able to do that and more. So much more, in fact, that two very happy Pulse employees were able to share the gift card and walk away with a top, a sweatshirt, active pants and a yoga mat and still had money left over.
Macy’s Backstage is really like a small department store within a department store. It offers all of the same categories as the traditional Macy’s stores do: Women’s, Men’s, Kids’, Swim, Accessories (bags, jewelry, makeup, etc), Shoes, Home, Active and additional Home Goods and Active Accessories.
I was able to put several complete outfits together with change to spare and ultimately settled on a Tommy Hilfiger active set for less than $40. Unreal. I was so excited that they had some of my favorite brands for such phenomenal prices. Overall, I was really (happily) surprised with the selection of departments and the (more than) reasonable and consistent pricing throughout the store. Well done Macy’s (cue polite golf clap here).
Win a $100 gift card to Macy’s Backstage! Just go to our Facebook page (thepulsemagazine) and share the video of April’s trip to Macy’s Backstage to be entered to win.
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