Pulse Magazine by Pulse Magazine

May 2017 In this issue COVER story

lifestyle

6 worcester music awards celebrate

28 impress your date

local music

29 out+about: Gay professionals find networking opportunities

entertainment 14 local filmmakers get real with new

short film 15 pulsebooks:

30 the luxe list: Destination travel is the ultimate gift for moms

Two memoirs for the month of May

31 findingbalance: Just breathe

16 Hear his story: ayan5 documents the

FOOD+DRINK

personal history of worcester 17 gameon: Double dare with Death Squared

32 dining review: Lock 50 brings new American cuisine to Worcester

18 THE central scene

33 Pulsebrew: The Black Ale Project

19 nowstreaming:

34 hot & now

Suicide Silence / Zara Larsson / Maps to the Hollywood Scars

22 Club, Pub + grub Listings 26 PulseShots

read pulse Online ThePulseMag.com

beauty+style 36 may the 4th be with you 37 steal the style: Color revival

Follow us on Twitter @WorcesterPulse Follow us on Instagram @PulseMag_Worc Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/thepulsemagazine

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, Audra Brackett, Merilee Kern, Kerry Cyganiewicz, John Trobaugh, Sloane Perron, Jamie Burke, Rachel Shuster Writers

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cover story

James Keyes

Sloane M. Perron The 2017 Worcester Music Awards, held on April 12, was a celebration of music and community that showcased the best performers of Worcester. Sponsored by Pulse

Magazine, E.L. Music, Joe’s Albums, Union Music, Little Caesars and Budweiser,

the event took place at the notable Cove Music Hall, was hosted by Kevin Barbare and featured performances by James Keyes, Amanda Cote, Zack Silk, A Ton of Blues, Michael Kayne and the Morning Afters, and Tequila Bonfire.

“Tonight we celebrate the talent of Worcester,” said Paul Giorgio, president of Pagio, Inc., which publishes Pulse. Giorgio then spoke about the many strides that Worcester is making, “[The] Renaissance of the city is due to the people in this room.”

The Cove Music Hall

Prior to the award ceremony, the community nominated musicians. Nominees with

the most votes garnered a finalist spot, and the public voted on a winner from the list of final nominees. A third party site, Survey Monkey, then tallied the votes resulting in the winners of the Worcester Music Awards.

Jason Paulino took home two awards that night. He won Best CD for his work

Reflection of Memories and was also awarded Best Male Vocalist. The Great Escape, for which Paulino is frontman, won an award for Best Tribute Band. Paulino was

humbled and surprised by the recognition he received at the WMAs, saying he was “not expecting that. Not at all.” Born and raised in Middlesex, Paulino has been

playing in Worcester since he was 13. The Great Escape, a Journey tribute band, has been together for nine years, and while Paulino enjoys stepping into the persona

of a rock star every night, he has also been focusing on writing his own songs and performing his own music, “so people know me for me.”

As for the future of his music, Paulino wants to keep people smiling with his

performances as he strives for artistic recognition. “I’m a little too old to think that

Zach Slik

rock stardom will knock at my door, but I want to be famous some way before I pass,” he said.

Dan DeCristofaro, amember of the popular band Blue Light Bandits, which won

Best Music Video for “Mess You Make Me,” said Blue Light Bandits started seven

years ago when the four members were still in high school. As the group progressed

and defined their style they soon realized that they had an R&B style to their sound, which, according to DeCristofaro, was, “The most easy and natural thing to play

for us.” While the Worcester scene is full of variety, DeCristofaro said R&B is not

something usually found in the city, and, as a result, the Blue Light Bandits found a niche sound.

When asked if being niche was hard to do in Worcester, DeCristofaro answered, “It hasn’t been hard; it’s been enjoyable to add that to the music scene.”

Kevin Barbare and Jason Paulino, The Great Escape

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DeCristofaro tipped his hat to Ricky Duran for adding a more pronounced blues sound to the Blue Light Bandits. Duran was also a nominee of the night and won an award for Best Solo/Acoustic Act. For Duran, music has always been in his blood. In 2011, Duran graduated from Berklee College of Music. He described his musical style as pop with a blues twist and finds inspiration by listening to other artists, in his life experiences and through meeting other musicians. As far as writing his own pieces, Duran said, “I like really old blues, but I tend to write more pop with a little blues.” The Promise is Hope won Best Up & Comers Act and Best Pop Act. This unique folk duo is comprised of a husband-and-wife team, Eric and Ashley L’Esperance, who have been performing together for four years. Being a couple who works together every day and tours together could present challenges, but Eric and Ashley have learned that establishing good boundaries is key to being happy on and off stage together.

Amanda Cote

“We really love playing together. I think most couples would have killed each other by now, performing and touring, but we really love it,” Ashley said, adding “We’re feeling more and more appreciated [in Worcester].” Matthew Wade, of My Silent Bravery, was nominated for Best Pop Act. The roots of his career as a musician go back to his time as an athlete. Wade had a sport injury and experienced challenges throughout the healing process. That life experience resonated with Wade and inspired him to help others. He saw music as the best catalyst to helping others through their own difficulties, and at 18, Wade wrote a song which was featured on the hit TV show One Tree Hill. Wade defines his style as “Alternative pop rock with an inspirational message.” A Ton of Blues also performed at the WMAs and won Best Blues/R&B Act. Formed in 2010, the band features Mike Kelly as the lead singer, Scott LeBlanc on guitar, Jeff Lorenzon on bass guitar, James Thomas on drums, and “Shakey” Steve on harmonica. This is the seventh year in a row that the group has won an award at the WMAs. James Thomas’s music students are always excited when their teacher wins an award. Meanwhile, the group joked that the first time that “Shakey” Steve held one of the awards, he dropped it on stage, broke it, and had to repair it with crazy glue.

Ricky Duran, Blue Light Bandits

Self-proclaimed veterans of the Worcester music scene, the men have witnessed many changes taking place in the city, both good and bad. The band members said the city’s decreasing number of venues that feature live music has hurt local musicians. Born and raised either in the city or the surrounding areas, the men have established a dedicated fan base. Thomas described the band’s universal appeal: “We play from the heart. People love that. They latch onto it.” Leaving Eden, featuring the musical talents of Eve, Ryan Manning and Eric Gynan, won for Best Hardcore/Metal Act and Best Rock Act. Leaving Eden has a huge fan base in Worcester but has also toured throughout the United States and Europe. One of the group’s greatest achievements has been to record with the legendary Johnny K, who worked with 3 Doors Down. Eve spoke about the misconception of touring, “People think it is glamorous, touring. People think it is all drugs and rock and roll, but it is hard work.”

Michael Kane and the Morning Afters

May 2017

Along with a clear emphasis on music, the Worcester Music Awards also focused on the community and those who have sought to improve the city in which they live or perform.

Cheryle Crane, Michael Kane and the Morning Afters

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Jeff Lorenzen, Ton of Blues

May 2017

Charlene Arsenault received the WMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Arsenault has used her love of writing and music to help raise thousands of dollars for the Sterling Animal Shelter through the Pet Rock Festival, named after Arsenault’s band Pet Rock. “It means a lot to be honored at a time when you question your selfworth and relevancy,” Arsenault said.

Mike Spud Kelly, Ton of Blues

For Arsenault, Worcester was an easy place to become a professional musician. “For

some reason, it was not hard to do that around here. I just sort of fell into everything. I think it is this area. It is really receptive and welcoming.” For Arsenault, her

family inspires her music and writing, while animals inspire her charity work. She said writing, music and animals are three passions that she has been able to foster

throughout her long career. Arsenault joked, “Those were the only things I was good at. I sucked at everything else.”

Chris Reddy, a longtime employee of Pulse and organizer of the WMAs, was

awarded a surprise Lifetime Achievement Award by Paul Giorgio. Reddy took the stage to thank the audience and said, “It’s very fulfilling and I love the people who support me when I play with Invisible Sun, my solo gigs or with Dr. Robert.”

This year marks the 11th Worcester Music Awards, which Reddy has helped orchestrate every year, “All the acts are great. Every year people come and play their hearts out,” Reddy said, noting the impact music has had on his own life. “(It’s) always something that I’ve loved. Calms me down. Keeps me sane.”

Charlene Arsenault

The WMAs brought musicians of every genre and audience members of diverse

backgrounds together for a night of celebration and creative expression for a night full of energy and surprises.

Audra Brackett contributed to this article. Special thanks to The Cove Music Hall for hosting the Worcester Music Awards. Pictures courtesy of Matt Wright Photography.

For a complete list of winners, go to page 13.

Tequila Bonfire

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Roger Gamache, Tequila Bonfire

May 2017

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entertainment

Local filmmakers get real with new short film Jason Savio It’s not uncommon for films to take on important issues and mirror the time in which they are made. Tackling tough subjects that loom over our culture is nothing new for artists and performers; it provides an opportunity to make sense of conflict and, hopefully, better understand it by bringing it into the spotlight. Whether it be a classic post-Vietnam war movie like The Deer Hunter, which echoed the dark and grim realities of battle that followed many American soldiers back home, or the more recent Get Out, which highlights modern racial tensions in America, each one has something important to say. All you have to do as a storyteller to find inspiration is look around you, and that’s exactly what the local filmmakers of the new short film, What Weighs Us Down, did. One of the most crucial topics of today is addiction and the current opioid epidemic that is plaguing our country, swallowing up more lives each and every year. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, there were 1,979 opioid-related deaths in the state in 2016. Of those, 1,465 were confirmed deaths. The number of fatalities has been rising since the year 2000, when 355 deaths were confirmed for that entire calendar year in the Bay State. Nationally, there were more than 30,000 opioid-related deaths across the country in 2015, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with more than 12,000 of these overdose deaths related to heroin in particular. It’s hard not to be aware of this problem or not know someone who is struggling with it. One such person is Worcester actor Adam Masnyk, star of 2016’s coming

May 2017

of age film That’s E. After finishing the story of a young man working in a comic book shop, Masnyk wanted to take on something with more relevance and a deeper meaning. He and Boston director/writer Bobby Thompson threw around some ideas before coming up with What Weighs Us Down.

Josh took its toll on him. Normally someone who works out and eats relatively healthy, Masnyk gave up going to the gym and “destroyed (his) body image.” As for his thought process for Josh, Masnyk admits to surrendering himself to the darker regions of the mind, where he imagined Josh lived.

“Addiction is a huge thing going on right now, and unfortunately, it’s overlooked by many and not understood by even more, so I wanted my next project after That’s E to be something of importance,” said Masnyk. “And with knowing a ton of people who struggled and overcame addictions, I thought this was the perfect project to take on.”

“I definitely got myself into a dark and messed up head space,” said Masnyk. “It was tough at times to be in such a dark and depressing place and then hear ‘cut’ and have to try to get back to a normal head space. I remember there were many moments where we would be done shooting for the rest of the day and I would be in this depressed state, and I would have to tell myself that it’s just all make believe and try to snap myself out of it.”

Filmed mostly in and around the Boston and Worcester areas, and co-produced by Masnyk’s Another Theory production group and Thompson’s Comfort Food Films, What Weighs Us Down is the story of a young man named Josh (played by Masnyk), who has essentially lost everything and, as a result, begins to head down a dark road hampered by addiction. But this is not a two-dimensional story about addiction. Aspects of loneliness, mental illness, family dysfunction and marginalization are also included, Thompson noted. Creating a story involving such subject matter proved to be difficult for the producers. Besides the usual obstacles of budget, resources and scheduling, which any self-funded indie filmmaker must face, there was an added pressure to be authentic and real in the approach and presentation. For his part, Masnyk dedicated himself to the role by conducting research and taking on elements of method acting. “I spoke to many addicts or former addicts, and I spent a good amount of time with a couple of them trying to just learn the behavior,” said Masnyk. “I have many good friends who were once addicts, whether it was heroin or another drug, and I wanted their truthful input. It was important to me on a personal level to try and create this character in an accurate light.” Physically and mentally, Masnyk said, the role of

Thompson matched Masnyk’s dedication to his role by following a stellar vision of his own behind the camera that was respectful to the topic and delivered an eye-opening character study. In order to avoid a cliché narrative that would depict the film’s events in a simplistic and judgmental light, Thompson made an effort to reach for something greater. “I think it’s the job of the narrative filmmaker to show life reflected back to anyone watching,” Thompson said. “Hopefully, the film is delivered in an artful enough way that there is some beauty to be found in recognizing some aspect of the human condition in the work. If someone were to find this slice of a character’s life touching or thought-provoking and experience an emotion or several emotions in a real way … that would be nice. To touch people in any way is the ultimate goal.” What Weighs Us Down will premiere June 3 at the Elm Draft House Cinema in Millbury. It will be a doubleshot event, with That’s E also having its first public screening. The cost to attend the event will be $10, and the proceeds will be used to send What Weighs Us Down out to the film festival circuit. For more information, visit facebook.com/ AnotherTheoryProductions.

pulsebooks: Two memoirs for the month of May Kimberly Dunbar

When I picked up Geraldine DeRuiter’s new book, All Over the Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love and Petty Theft (PublicAffairs), I expected a book filled with wondrous tales written about the world’s greatest landmarks and places I can only visit vicariously through others. However, that was NOT what it was about. In fact, DeRuiter spends several chapters explaining what a bad traveler she is; early on in her life of travel (after losing her job, she started a blog and accompanied her husband on his many work trips), she didn’t even leave the hotel for fear of getting lost. Instead of being disappointed in a book that did not uncover the world’s greatest places (she leaves that to her nemesis, the great Rick Steves), I enjoyed it for what it was: an ordinary woman (and very talented storyteller) confident enough to share her stories – filled with her own insecurities and shortcomings – about the lessons she learned and the ways she found herself through traveling the globe. All Over the Place has many laugh-out-loud moments, my favorite being the time she peed all over a bathroom floor as revenge for overcharging her group for crappy bread. Humor aside, DeRuiter brilliantly weaves in more serious topics, like her battle with a brain tumor, connecting with her father by exploring his home in Russia and facing the painful deaths of her grandparents by celebrating their lives with family in Italy. If you find yourself wanting more, check out DeRuiter’s blog, The Everywhereist, which has garnered lots of international attention and has made many “lists,” including ones on Time and The Huffington Post. Each post is a carefully crafted piece of storytelling art, much like the chapters of her book. Ariel Levy’s new memoir, The Rules Do Not Apply (Random House), is not as humorous as DeRuiter’s but is, nonetheless, an important and well-written story about a woman who was raised to believe she was free to do whatever she wanted, but once she was totally free – due to the devastating losses of her son, spouse and house – her world fell apart. “The realization of how little control I had over the life I thought I’d been meticulously crafting for years was destabilizing,” Levy said. As Levy writes in her book, she comes from a generation of women for whom certain rules, like those of her mother and grandmother, did not apply. She went to college, became a journalist who traveled the world (interviewing other independent women), fell in love and got married (to a woman). When she was ready to become a mother, at the unconventional age of 38, she got pregnant. But Levy would soon learn that everyone getting everything they want – no matter how carefully thought out – was another rule that didn’t apply. Levy, childless and alone, was free and forced to sink or swim in her “sea of grief.” How she was able to pick herself back up and come to terms with her circumstances is a story all women should read. Levy’s book tour will stop at The Mount in Lenox on May 15 at 5 p.m.

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Hear His Story: Ayan5 documents the personal history of Worcester

Audra Brackett Although filmmaker Josh Ayantola has always been interested in making movies, he call his road to video a “crazy story and long adventure.” Ayantola is the owner of Ayan5 Media, located in the historic Higgins Armory building here in Worcester. Ayan5 was a childhood nickname of his. Being the fifth in his family, “it sort of just fit together,” and it became the name of his company. Up until now, Ayantola has focused on corporate and wedding videography but has never lost sight of his “number one passion” – documentaries. Ayantola recently started creating a small series of documentaries called Hear My Story. “I love just hearing peoples stories and being able to tell them,” Ayantola said Ayantola himself has quite an interesting story. Growing up in Texas, he became interested in video while in high school. No matter where he went, he always had a video camera in his hand. However, Ayantola’s father, who was assisting him financially, didn’t think that there was a bright future in video. Ayantola attended a small community college in Texas and obtained a degree in deaf studies. He then continued his education at the University of Connecticut, where he earned a degree in counseling. “At that time, it wasn’t very big; I still had the passion for video, so I took classes whenever time allowed,” Ayantola recalled. Ayantola worked at YOU, Inc. for six years, starting as a mentor and moving onto the Positive Parenting program. Even though Ayantola doesn’t have children of his own, he has a lot of nieces and nephews. “I feel like a parent some days,” he remarked with a wide grin. Although his YOU, Inc. experience was rewarding, he said, “I still had the desire to do video, so I knew it was something that I needed to pursue.” Ayantola decided to head back to school and obtained a degree in Video Production/Film Video from Fitchburg State University. Now, he’s working on a project of his own. After about a year of “mulling over how I wanted it to look and how I want people to view” the videos, Ayantola is bringing his ideas to fruition. Right now, Hear My Story consists of three videos – with more in the works – each capturing the story of an individual’s own passion and journey.

“It is a hustle, definitely something you have to be passionate about because it takes a lot of time and effort. There are some nights that I am here until four or five o’clock in the morning trying to push something out or trying to render something. “

To date, Ayantola has artfully captured the stories of Mufaro Kambarami, a singer and Berklee student who is finding her place within the “industry of healing”; funnyman Orlando Baxter, the self-described “welfare Kevin Hart”; and has gone “in the corner” with local boxing sensation Khiary Gray. “It has been fun,” Ayantola said of being able to “go out and shoot for a couple of days” and then edit the footage. In the future, Ayantola hopes to market the project and pitch it to Netflix or Vice as a small series of different individual stories. “It is a hustle, definitely something you have to be passionate about because it takes a lot of time and effort. There are some nights that I am here until four or five o’clock in the morning trying to push something out or trying to render something. “ Ayantola said other artists in the field, to bounce ideas around with and to inspire one another, have been hugely important in his career. The biggest factor, he said, is “you have to have the passion for it.” Ayantola encourages people with a unique story to connect with him after viewing any of the existing Hear My Story videos. For more information, visit Ayan5.com or email jayantola@ayan5.com.

May 2017

gameon: Double dare with Death Squared Jason Savio

Tired of the same old next-gen games that all look the same and follow the predictable formula of sleek-and-hollow? Ready to bring it back to when you actually had to put some hard thought into your in-game decision-making and not just mindlessly roll through familiar terrain? If your answer to any of these questions is a resounding “yes,” then you’ve come to the right place because Death Squared is the game you’ve been seeking. Dependent on strategy and tactic, Death Squared can provide just as much entertainment – if not more – than any big title flexing its fancy hardware. It might not sound extremely intriguing at first, but Death Squared is a fun game all about blocks. Well, not necessarily blocks, more like bots – little robot squares that you are tasked with moving around to their designated spots in tight, narrow spaces. Make a false move and these little fellas that make “beep” and “boop” noises will make big crashing sounds as they fall off the grid and explode, hence the title Death Squared. It’s certainly a game geared more toward multi-player function, encouraging gamers to work together as they try and solve the various puzzles and obstacles in their way. If one player falls over the edge, everyone else does, too. Fortunately, after losing, you automatically respawn and can start over, allowing for the chance to learn from mistakes and try different approaches. If you’re having a hard time imagining this, just think of older games like Tetris, in which the gameplay is more akin to a game board. Death Squared is divided up into various modes, including Story and Party. In Story mode, you are accompanied by the voices of Dave and his A.I. partner, Iris, both of whom work for Omnicorp, the mysterious entity overseeing the operation in the game’s narrative. The quips between Dave and Iris are entertaining and add a light edge to what can sometimes become a frustrating and challenging game. There are 80 different levels altogether in Story mode, with each one being harder than the last. You’ll start out with a relatively simple pattern to solve, but soon, you’ll have lasers and phantom blockades popping up to make for a more difficult solution. If you’re feeling really lucky, you can try Party mode, in which you’ll be assigned not two, but four, bots to safely move to their respective spaces. Don’t let the simple exterior of Death Squared fool you; this is indeed a brain buster and a game that will make you truly appreciate victory. Having to strategize and work with other players in such a way really encourages team effort and group thinking skills, which are lacking in newer releases. Of course, there are other new games out there that have these qualities, but Death Squared takes it to a whole other level. For more information, visitdeathsquared.com.

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Events happening around Central Massachusetts in May Good Charlotte Youth Authority Tour Youth Authority is the first album for Good Charlotte since returning from a five-year hiatus after the release of 2010’s Cardiology and the first release on the Madden brothers’ newly formed MDDN label. The group – vocalist Joel Madden, guitarists Benji Madden and Billy Martin, bassist Paul Thomas and drummer Dean Butterworth – come to Worcester in support of the band’s sixth studio album. Doors open at 6:30p.m. May 19; Worcester Palladium, 261 Main St.,Worcester; $27.50 in advance, $32 on the day; thepalladium.net.

I Love The ’90s: The Party Continues Concert Breakout your choker necklaces and Hammer pants! I Love The ’90s returns to the DCU Center. The party features the ’90’s most popular hip-hop, R&B, pop and dance icons, all on one stage for a night full of hits. See Naughty By Nature, Kid ‘N Play, Blackstreet, Sisqó, Montell Jordan, Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, Biz Markie, Rob Base, C+C Music Factory and Chubb Rock and step back in time. 7:30p.m. May 12; DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester; $49-$85; dcucenter.com.

The CameraMan In this 1928 classic American silent comedy, Buster Keaton plays a tintype street photographer who tries his hand as a freelance newsreel cameraman in order to win the affections of a girl who works at MGM Newsreel. 3p.m. May 21; Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester; $15-$20; thehanovertheatre.org.

Worcester Film Wars - Premiere Event Gather up your friends and become a filmmaker. You’ll have three days to write, film and edit your movie. Don’t have that creative gene? Bring a chair or blanket and watch all the films that made the cut. Everyone in the audience will have a ballot to vote on their favorites. This is an 18+ event. 7p.m-11p.m., May 27; outside Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester; $10 to enter, free to watch; worcesterfilmwars.com.

May 2017

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Suicide Silence / Suicide Silence

Zara Larsson / So Good Mike Wood

Jennifer Russo Suicide Silence recently released their fifth album, a self-titled offering that gives us a different interpretation of the band. Past albums have been pure energy and necessary roughness in concept; this time, I feel like the band scaled back and ventured to experiment a little more with different possibilities. A lot of fans were not happy about it at all, scratching their heads and offering up some pretty harsh social commentary. Overall though, as a longtime fan, I would encourage the die-hards and prospective fans alike to be open-minded and forgiving. Frontman Eddie Hermida certainly took a risk in using a lot of clean vocal on this album. And though Suicide Silence received some backlash for this decision, I think he did a good job at planting his feet in the idea. I certainly heard some Slipknot inspiration in the song “Doris,” but it isn’t badly done by any stretch. “Dying in a Red Room” was an outright ballad with a pretty intro, which I didn’t expect, but at the same time, I was impressed by it. The vocals are a great showcase of Hermida’s ability to sing, and it has a nice flow to it with some interesting variations. Overall, my biggest criticism of this album is that it feels like the band put a lot of different kinds of songs on one album, making it feel a bit inconsistent and confusing. The production wasn’t done well, either, which saddens me because other albums don’t have this issue. Having heard the band live several times, I know what they are capable of, and this album doesn’t highlight that. For more information, visit SuicideSilence.net.

May 2017

Chances are you’ve heard 19-year-old Zara Larsson before and you just didn’t know it. The Swedish pop star emerged on the scene almost a decade ago as a wee 10-year-old and the winner of that season of Talang, the Swedish version of America’s Got Talent. Her show-stopping numbers went viral. Now, she’s all grown up and offering an assist to groups like Clean Bandit on “Symphony” (included on this album), which is already emerging as a strong contender for song of the summer. Larsson does seem to be at her best when blending with other artists because she can play off their strengths as she tries to figure out her unique sound. She’s got the voice and the swagger, and we predict great things to come, but So Good is more “Kind of Good,” or “Hit and Miss Good.” There are some great songs on the album and some duds. “Lush Life” oozes pure pop joy, but then there’s “Only You,” with lyrics that seemed ripped from an angsty teen’s journal: “I don’t wanna shower even when I stink…because I don’t wanna wash you off.” But don’t worry; Larsson’s got time – and the talent – to succeed. And since we live in an age where buying an entire album is no longer the reality, fans can stick to the nuggets that pop and forget those that, well, stink. For more information, visit zaralarssonofficial.com.

Maps to the Hollywood Scars / Volume 1 Jason Savio Maps to the Hollywood Scars’ debut EP, Volume 1, provides a sampling of modern rock with a large helping of ’80s metal flair. A team-up between Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi and American Idol finalist James Durbin, Maps to the Hollywood Scars is the result of what happens when you take two different generations of musicians and put them together. Recorded at Desert Moon Productions in Las Vegas, Volume 1 certainly has that rock-star glamour to it, thanks in large part to Grossi’s presence. But Durbin isn’t one to be outdone and holds his own. On this short, five-song EP, many of the songs are extremely melodic, especially “Roads.” You can’t help but hear the ’80s metal influence, as Durbin really goes for it with the high-pitched vocal deliveries on “Lost Boys.” Unfortunately, “Till Death” is an obvious colorby-numbers power ballad in the same vein as some less-liked predecessors. But, luckily, there is a modern appeal here, with a rougher production quality that saves it from being too glossy and aged. This collaboration may have come out of left field and caught some off guard. Grossi and Durbin both gel well together, however, and complement each other nicely. With Volume 2, expected to be released soon, it will be interesting to see what they come up with next – and if they can step out of their comfort zone with something more original. For more information, visit facebook.com/ hollywoodscars.

Club+Pub+GRUB Listings

Entertainment at clubs, bars, pubs & other select venues 435 Bar & Grill 435 Lancaster St., Leominster American Graffiti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg 978-345-1010

B-Man’s 140 Tavern 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Sterling 978-422-9763 140pub.com The Banner Bar & Grille 112 Green St., Worc. 508-755-0879 thebannerbar.com

Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester 508-892-7575 barberscrossingrestaurant.com Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8438 barberscrossingrestaurant.com Thursdays: Open Mic Fridays: Bill McCarthy Saturdays: Live Music

Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc. 508-926-8877 beatniksbeyou.com May 3: Wednesday Night Mayhem May 4: DJs Lisa & Yo May 5: Criminals and Beauty Queens May 6: Fellowship of the King May 10: Beatniks Open Mic Night May 12: Going to Acapulco, August 1st & Comanchero. May 17: Wednesday Night Mayhem May 18: Acoustic Collective May 19: Vicky and the Vengents, Sonomatics & Fearless Leaders May 20: Sharpshooter May 24: Beatniks Open Mic Night May 25: Bob Moon & Friends May 26: Beyond The Blur May 26: Barry & The Midnites May 27: Hot Letter May 31: Wednesday Night Mayhem Beemer’s Pub & Grill 310 Main St., Fitchburg 978-348-2100 beemerspub.com

Billy’s Pub 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury 508-425-3353

Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8484 May 20: Tony Soul Project Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worc. 508-797-4827 blackstonetap.com

Blue Plate Lounge 661 Main St., Holden 508-829-4566 Thursdays: Open Mic May 7: Disreali Gearz hosts Sunday Jam May 14: Ravin Blue hosts Sunday Jam May 21: Trigger hosts Sunday Jam Blueprint New American Bar & Grill 9 Village Square, Westminster 978-668-5580 May 4: Ken Macy

May 2017

May 5: Kevin Shields May 6: JCDC May 11: Dan Cormier May 12: Scott Babineau May 13: Michael Spaulding May 20: Max Recoil May 25: Darren Bassette Solo May 26: Mike Melendez May 27: Brian Chaffee Bolton Street Tavern 587 Bolton St., Marlborough 508-485-4416 boltonstreettavern.com Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-0008

Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton 978-365-6105

Brew City 104 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-752-3862 brew-city.com

Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Road, Shirley 978-425-4311, 877-536-7190 bullrunrestaurant.com May 5: Graham Parker and Brinsley Schwartz May 13: Karla Bonoff Cafe Destare 320 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-5734 destare.com

Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St., Worc. 508-926-8353 Fridays, Saturdays: DJ (21+) May 5: Carlos Odria May 5: PlantNite May 6: Junkyard Heartstrings May 12: PlantNite May 12: Round Midnight May 13: Lisa Marie & Johnny Juxo May 19: PlantNite May 19: Rob Adams & Jim Perry May 20: Amanda Cote May 26: BÃªlit May 26: PlantNite May 27: Alias Chopstick’s Restaurant & Lounge 21 Commercial Road, Leominster 978-534-0020 chopsticksleominster.com Christopher’s Pub 7 Pleasant St., Leominster 978-534-8250 Cicero’s Cafe 17 Suffolk St., Worc. 508-767-9728

Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster 978-537-7750 classicspub.net Sundays, Thursdays: Karaoke with PJ Tuesdays, Wednesdays: Karaoke with Key Performance Fridays: Sing to Win Karaoke Contest Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc. 508-798-8385 Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: Karaoke

May 3: Russell Watts performs with Atlantic Avenue May 17: Russell Watts performs with Atlantic Avenue May 31: Russell Watts performs with Atlantic Avenue

May 13: TD and Change May 19: Roadhouse Strangers May 20: Dezi Garcia May 26: Neon Alley May 27: Arabacia

Compass Tavern 90 Harding St., Worc. 508-304-6044 thecompasstavern.com Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays: Karoke May 5: Hit the Bus May 12: Nick Christy May 19: Amanda Cote May 26: Ken Macy

Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner 978-669-0122 gardnerale.com Mondays: Blue Mondays Thursdays: Audio Wasabi Fridays, Saturdays: Live music

The Columbia Tavern 28 Manning Ave., Leominster 978-751-8962

Cosmopolitan Club 96 Hamilton St., Worc. 508-752-0482

The Cove Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc. 508-363-1888 thecovemusichall.com Thursdays: Subterra May 5: Trendkill (Pantera tribute), Frnemy May 6: Erick Godin’s Birthday Extravaganza with Sick Season (AIC tribute) May 13: Rage Night May 19: The Great Escape ( Journey tribute) May 20: Rocket Queen (Guns N’ Roses tribute) May 27: Industrial Takeover – Rhetoric, Devlyn Sydus, Deprived & DMA Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc. 508-757-6977 danceranchandsaloon.com Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford 508-987-1006 daysendtavern.com Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens 978-862-0060 devensgrill.com

Electric Haze 26 Millbury St, Worc. 508-799-0629

Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc. 508-792-3700 aohworcester.com Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 E. Main St., Marlborough 508-357-8883 fireflysbbq.com Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden 508-829-3008 flipflopsma.com

Flying Rhino Cafe 278 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-757-1450 flyingrhinocafe.com Frank’s 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 774-420-2253 May 5: On the Rocks May 6: Petty Larceny

Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill 305 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-753-2995 funkymurphys.com

The GazBar Sports Grill 1045 Central St., Leominster thegazbar.com Wednesdays: Trivia May 5: Hitchcock Blondes May 6: Brian & Captain May 11: Amanda Cote May 12: Ricky Booth May 13: Scott Babineau May 18: Kevin Shields May 19: Dustin Brideau May 20: Jim Weeks May 26: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 27: Heather Ralston

GD Lounge Union Station, 2 Washington Square, Worc. (508) 755-6555 facebook.com/GDloungeandtapas Greendale’s Pub 404 W. Boylston St., Worc. 508-853-1350 greendalespub.com Tuesdays: Open Mic with Bill McCarthy; Local Musicians Showcase Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-6793 halliganssportsbarandmore.com

Happy Jack’s 785 North Main St., Leominster 978-466-3433 May 5: Cinco de Mayo with Mike Livingston & Scott Babineau May 6: Carl Ayotte May 12: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 13: Dave Harrington May 19: Lizzy Marquis May 20: Topher Brew May 26: Dave Malouin May 27: Zack Slik Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/Kelley Square Yacht Club 1 Millbury St., Worc. Indian Ranch 200 Gore Road, Webster 508-943-3871 indianranch.com Industry Bar Room 109 Water St., Worc. 508-756-2100 industrybarroom.com

Ixtapa Cantina 308 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg 978-582-9701 Continued on Page 26

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May 2017

Continued from Page 22 ixtapacantina2.com

JC Fenwick’s 37 Mechanic St., Leominster 978-840-4845

JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough 508-842-8420 jbag.biz May 27: No Alibi Legends Airport Road, Fitchburg 978-342-6500 Leitrim’s Pub 265 Park Ave., Worc. 508-798-2447 leitrimspub.com

Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc. 508-796-5177 loft266.com Tuesdays: Karaoke Wednesdays: Ladies Night Thursdays: DJ Xkaliber Saturdays: DJ Joe T May 5: Ricky Booth, DJ Xkaliber May 6: Ken Macy May 12: Drunken Uncles, DJ Testa May 13: Little Levity May 18: Dezi Garcia May 19: Two Timers, DJ Joe T May 20: Dave O’Brien Performs at Loft, Saturday at 8 May 25: Sam James May 26: Jay Graham, DJ Joe T May 27: Ashley and Ethan Mahoney’s Pub 413 Park Ave., Worc. 508-277-1073

Marty’s Pub 225 Cantebury St., Worc. 508-754-0033 martyspub.com MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc. 508-799-4521 mblounge.com

Michael’s Cigar Bar 1 Exchange Place, Worc. 508-459-9035 michaelscigar.com May 3: Blue Light Bandits May 4: Hot Letter Trio May 5: Fellowship of the King May 6: Ghost Train May 10: Allston Police May 11: Jim Devlin May 12: Bittersuite May 13: Doctor Robert May 18: Jodee & Brian May 19: Spaceout May 20: Jim Devlin Trio May 24: Brett Brumby May 25: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 26: Hoodoo Revelator May 31: Guiliano D’Orazio Mickey Sheas 324 Electric Ave., Lunenburg 978-342-5825

The Mill 185 185 W. Boylston St., W. Boylston 774-261-8585 themill185.com May 4: Steve Angellis May 5: Katie O’Brien Duo May 6: Joe Macey May 11: Ken Macy May 12: Jay Graham May 13: James Keyes May 18: Sam James May 19: Belit May 20: Chad Clements May 26: Johnny Romance Band

May 27: Kelly and Tribe

Mill Street Brews (@ The Artist Development Complex) 18 Mill St., Southbridge 508-764-6900 millstreetbrews.com Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc. The Muse 536 Main St., Worc. 508-756-6873

Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc. 508-753-4030 Fridays: Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat May 13: We & The Dawg

The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc. 508-340-0318 Oak Barrel Tavern 229 Grove Ave., Worc. 508-755-8047 oakbarreltavernworcester.com

Olde Post Office Pub 1 Ray St., N. Grafton 508-839-6106 May 13: Tony Soul Project May 25: Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory On The Rocks Sports Bar & Grill 96 Lakefront Ave., Lunenburg 978-342-6692 Oxford Tavern 314 Main St., Oxford 508-987-5397

Padavano’s Place 358 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 774-823-3022 padavanosplace.com

Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster 978-534-7117 The Palladium 261 Main St., Worc. 508-797-9696 thepalladium.net

Park Grill and Spirits 257 Park Ave., Worc. Fridays, Saturdays: Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape May 26: Dan Kirouac

Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg 978-345-5051 partnerspub.com Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Karaoke May 6: Jah Spirit May 13: Backstreet Zero May 20: Nikki’s Fix May 27: Zen at Eleven Patsie Dugan’s 49 Millbury St., Worc. 508-755-4155 patsiedugans.com Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worc. 508-756-7555

The Pint 58 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-414-1314

Point Breeze On the Lake 114 Point Breeze Road, Webster 508-943-0404 pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com Press Box 536 Lincoln St., Worc. 508-856-9255

Quinn’s Irish Pub 715 W. Boylston St., Worc.

508-459-2025 quinnsirishpub.com May 4: Brian Twohey May 5: Robbin’ the Girl May 6: Sam James May 7: Kevin Shields May 10: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 11: John Brazile May 12: Josh Briggs May 13: Adam Makes Noise May 14: John Brazile May 17: Mike Melendez May 18: Little Black Dress May 19: Tim Pacific May 20: Terry Brennan May 21: Kevin Shields May 24: Lizzy Marquis May 25: John Brazile May 26: Ricky Duran May 27: Adam Makes Noise

Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc. 508-753-9543 ralphsrockdiner.com May 24: Captain Cleanoff (Australian Grind), PanzerBastard, I.T.S., & Implosion Crusade The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc. 508-304-8133 Wednesdays: Open Mic

Red Onion - Otter River Hotel 29 Main St., Baldwinville 978-939-7373, 978-939-8321 Rocky’s 139 Water St., Worc.

Rumors 371 Park Ave., Worc. 508-755-5542 clubuniverseworcester.com

Rye & Thyme 14 Monument Square, Leominster 978-534-5900 ryeandthyme.com May 4: Danielle Lessard May 5: L & M Rythym Kings May 6: Invisible Sun (Police tribute) May 11: Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory May 12: Ken Macy Band May 13: Second Hand Smoke May 18: Jay Graham May 19: The City Boys May 20: Juke May 25: Chris McDermott May 26: Brian Chaffee May 27: Fun with Hands Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worc. 508-792-1078, 508-792-1068 sakura-tokyo.com

Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant 494 Electric Ave., Lunenburg 888-824-3924, 978-345-2000 seanpatricksrestaurant.com

South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 W. Broadway, Gardner 978-632-1057 southsidemargaritafactory.com May 5: Brett Casavant May 6: Goldrush May 12: Dave Harrington May 13: Fabulous Dinosaurs May 19: Dave Malouin May 20: Our Buddy Carl May 26: Lizzy Marquis May 27: Back in Time Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough 508-480-8222 speakersnightclub.net Fridays: Original rock bands Spruce Street Tavern

68 Spruce St., Clinton 978-368-1255 sprucestreettavern.com

Stagecoach Inn and Tavern 128 Main St., Groton 978-448-5614, 877-782-4346 grotonstagecoachinn.com

Sunset Tiki Bar/The Outlook 79 Powers Road, Westford 978-692-5700 May 31: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell The Tavern on Central 3 Central St., Ashburnham 978-827-1272 thetavernoncentral.com May 5: Whitney Doucette May 6: Tribe May 12: April Renzella May 13: Go Gadget Go May 19: MB Padfield May 20: Kevin Shields May 27: Tim & Lou Three G’s Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc. 508-754-3516 3gs-sportsbar.com

Union Music 142 Southbridge St., Worc. 508-753-3702 www.unionmusic.com May 13: Open Mic w/ TJ Peavey Union Tavern 65 Green St., Worc.

Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grille 377 Stetson Road, Barre 978-355-2224 upperdecksportsbarandgrille.com Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-756-4747 victorycigarbar.com

Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc. 508-752-9439 Tuesdays: Boogie Chillin’

Whiskey Hookah Lounge 316 Main St., Worc.

Whiskey on Water 97 Water St., Worc. 774-578-8829 whiskeyonwater.com Sundays, Wednesdays: Karaoke with DJ Soup Thursdays: DJ Cuzn Kev Fridays, Saturdays: DJ TecThreat May 5: Eric Pacquette Duo May 6: Moonshine May 12: Blue Light Bandits May 13: Sam James May 20: The Royal Furs May 26: Cover Story May 27: Mike Melendez Whistle Stop Bar & Grill 85 Main St., Oxford 508-987-3087 StopByTheWhistle.com White Eagle Polish Club 112 Green St., Worc. 774-245-1991

William’s Restaurant & Tavern 184 Pearson Blvd., Gardner 978-632-7794 williamsrestaurantandtavern.com May 19: Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory Wonder Bar Restaurant 121 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

Ye Olde Tavern 7 E. Main St., W. Brookfield 508-867-9709, 508-867-4139 westbrookfieldtavern.com

thepulsemag.com

the usual – worcester

By Justin perry

bootleggers prohibition pub – worcester

lock 50 – worcester

May 2017

mezé greek tapas bar & grill – worcester

British beer company – worcester

beatnik’s – worcester

435 bar & grille – leominster

thepulsemag.com

lifestyle

Impress your date Justin Lavelle You’re finally with someone special. Now, you want to impress, but how? Too often we measure our feelings against a sum of money spent. But it’s really not about that. It’s about putting some thought into what you do to let that person know that you see them, that you really see them. So, whether it’s your first date or you’ve been together for a long time, bring a little of your own special flair to your next date night.

Do you have a skill?

Can you sing? Paint? Draw? Write a poem? Take a beautiful photograph? Do you have a skill that you can leverage to create something that will show your love that you spent actual time to give them something from your heart? Serenade them with their favorite song. Create a painting for them that they will love. Write a poem to express everything you’re feeling. These are all special ways to show your intended that you care.

Think activity versus gift

One of the best gifts you can give is your time. Spending time together doing something meaningful is far more romantic than flowers. Is your special person a book-lover? Take them to their favorite store and hand them a gift card to spend there and then,

May 2017

while you wait patiently. No tapping your foot! Does your love have an interest in marine biology? A trip to the aquarium followed by a picnic might be the ticket. The key is to be tuned in to their interests and to come up with something you can do together that speaks to those passions. There’s nothing like noticing the details to create that magical spark.

Take care of the details

Be ready for all eventualities by ensuring that you’ve thought of them. Planned a picnic? What if it rains? What’s Plan B? It turns out your date is allergic to shellfish and you’ve booked a table at a seafood restaurant? Don’t let that happen. Make sure you know what you need to know and leave nothing to chance. That attention to detail will be noted and appreciated, even if the words aren’t spoken.

Be confident

Confidence is about feeling good in your skin. So if you’re afraid of flying, a helicopter ride over the city is likely to leave you a sweating, hot mess. In other words, not exuding confidence! In order to make your date feel good, you need to feel good. Pick an activity that allows you to be you, too. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort. Don’t just show up after your soccer game, sweaty and gross, and hope that your date will be thrilled to see you that way. But you don’t need

to be something you’re not. If they don’t like you for you, it probably isn’t a good match anyway.

Be on time!

This one cannot be stressed enough. Being 10 minutes “fashionably” late may be cute in the world of cocktail gatherings, but when your date is sitting on tenterhooks waiting for your arrival, being late is just off-putting and not likely to lead to romance.

On the don’t list:

Don’t drink too much. That’s just off putting. Don’t brag too much. About what? Anything. Work, money, friends. Don’t complain about your ex. At all. If it’s a new relationship, these are all true, but even a more long-standing attachment needs to be preserved and worked at. The best first impressions are made when everything seems effortless and fluid, where conversation flows and time flies by in the blink of an eye. If you both are enjoying your time together, that will leave the best impression of all.

Justin Lavelle is the communications director at PeopleLooker.com. PeopleLooker is an affordable and easy way to access public records, search for people and make sure your online date is who they say they are. Find out ages, marital status, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, criminal records and more on PeopleLooker.

OUT+ABOUT: Gay professionals find networking opportunities John Trobaugh “Coming from a different culture and background, it was very difficult to make friends around here. The usual venues and applications of social media always give people the

wrong impression of what you are looking for. I was very anxious to join the group, not sure if I would fit it and how people would accept me knowing the fact that it’s very

hard to break into already established groups. The Worcester Gay Professionals social

networking event gave me an amazing opportunity to connect with the LGBT community in the area, allowed me to make great friends who not just welcomed me, but also made sure that I would feel home away from home,” Ahmed.*

Although the name of the group is “Gay Professionals,” it is here for every member of the LGBTQ community who are in business or professionals. Wade*, the group convener,

said, “The concept for our group came from similar groups that have been very successful in Florida. The goal was to provide both a social and professional networking venue for

people from Worcester and the surrounding suburbs. The idea has been embraced since

our first meeting 23 months ago and has recently seen a consistent and significant rise in attendance. People seem to really enjoy the inviting atmosphere of the events and look

forward to them each month. There are so many friendships and professional relationships that have been cultivated through the group, and for me, that is the most rewarding part!” “The networking night provides the ability to network on a social and business level. It

gives you a moment to review old faces and to meet up with new ones. It also allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of the ‘community.’ You get to enjoy different venues

around the city and to spread the ‘community’ dollar around the city as a whole,” said member Donald Frabotta.

Member Kent Lundquist concurred and said that it is a social time for professionals

to build community, but it is also a way for gay professionals to be known to the larger community. Because the social night moves from venue to venue, it is just as much an

opportunity for local businesses to see gay professionals as it is for gay professionals to see the different venues around town.

“The Professionals’ social has brought me in contact with members of the LGBT

community I’d probably not have met otherwise. I recently networked with a gentleman with years of experience as a loan originator and, within a month of our meeting, I was

on my way to closing on a new home loan that afforded me significant monthly savings. There’s also the social aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked; I believe these contacts have made me a much better person for the experience,” said member Bryan Greiner.

Indeed, I have gone to many of the monthly networking events in the last two years,

and my experience has been that it is a real social time for professionals in the LGBTQ community. It is less of a traditional business networking event and more of a social

networking event for professionals and business people. I always get to meet new people from the community and reconnect with others I have met over the years.

You can find the next location (always the second Wednesday of every month) via

LGBTQ meetups for Central Mass or email worcestergayprofessionals@gmail.com. *Although Worcester rates 100 percent on the Municipal Equality Index, the continued need for these socials can be encapsulated in the fact that not everyone was comfortable sharing their full name or have their photo taken for print.

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

thepulsemag.com

the luxe list:

Destination travel is the ultimate gift for moms

Merilee Kern For those busy, hardworking and ever-attentive moms who love to travel and have a penchant for warm and balmy locales, there’s no better reward than a relaxing respite amid an ocean breeze. If this is “that” Mother’s Day where you want to think big, forego those “been there, done that” wrappable gifts you’ll resign yourself to during the ceremonial “mall crawl” and give her the gift of an unforgettable experience instead. And those for whom an ordinary, run-of-the-mill travel experience just won’t do should consider booking Mom that luxe private villa she’s always dreamed of.

If this is “that” Mother’s Day where you want to think big, forego those “been there, done that” wrappable gifts you’ll resign yourself to during the ceremonial “mall crawl” and give her the gift of an unforgettable experience instead.

Today’s breed of private villa rentals have become the ultimate in luxury lodging for leisure travelers, thanks to the vast array of benefits and creature comforts that come standard. While maximized privacy, uber-personalized service and heightened cultural immersion are certainly key, the benefits of renting a private villa residence extend far beyond. There are also the elite few that offer accommodations and amenities that rival high-end resorts, like custom-prepared meals from a resident private chef, 24/7 butler service, housecleaning services, security, private infinity-edge oceanview pool and more. And then there’s Puerto Vallarta’s one-of-a-kind Casa Dos Cisnes – a 10,000-square-foot premier private oceanfront villa with breathtaking views of the Pacific. This five-bedroom colonial style beachfront home extends all of these benefits (and more) to ensure each guest’s needs, desires, hopes and expectations for an extraordinary private villa vacation are fulfilled. In doing so, this remarkable retreat is single-handedly setting a new, and decidedly elevated, standard for luxe travel that Mom will not soon (or ever) forget. Located in Mexico’s fifth largest city in Jalisco, one of the region’s safest states, Casa Dos Cisnes Puerto Vallarta is an exceptional option for a first-class getaway, whether Mom wants to escape with the family or steal away for a bonding girl’s weekend. With complete privacy and security in the most exclusive residential area in Puerto Vallarta, including its own two-car garage, Mom and her chosen companion(s) can commandeer this entire stylishly-appointed authentic Mexican residence with all of

May 2017

the relaxation, solitude and discretion that affords. The result is a one-of-akind holiday and a gift that proffers an unparalleled culinary and luxury living experience.

For those gourmet food-loving gals, this property goes over-and-above to ensure each gasto-oriented guest’s foodie-forward private villa vacation expectations are fulfilled. This includes custom gourmet meals prepared onsite by a dedicated 5-star private chef specializing in Mexican-contemporary cuisine and served in an elegant dining room. This private gourmet chef also prepares what this villa calls a “Magical Mexican Fiesta” – a lively evening of regional food, cocktails and Mexican musicians entertaining at the property. This is available to guests in addition to three full meals a day, plus snack and happy hour service, which can be served in the dining room or on the dining terraces at the main and pool levels. But the baroque benefits of Casa Dos Cisnes far exceed these epicurean exploits, as there are a bevy of other premium amenities like a fully equipped state-of-the-art gym, large media-entertainment room, concierge and spa service, musicians for hire, VIP treatment at the city’s leading beach club and most renowned restaurants, and more. Given the astonishing hoard of highlights found at Casa Dos Cisnes that can only be realized in its exclusive private villa setting, this Mother’s Day gift idea is a “no brainer” for those seeking to blow Mom’s mind with a luxury splurge, spoiling her with an experience that will endure in her heart and mind forever. The Luxe List Executive Editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury marketplace for exemplary travel experiences, extraordinary events and notable products and services. Submissions are accepted at TheLuxeList.com. Follow her on Twitter @LuxeListEditor and Facebook at TheLuxeList.

findingbalance: Just breathe Jennifer Russo

At a time of year when many people are at their most hectic with final exams, work responsibilities, vacation planning and other stresses, it is no wonder that there may be some anxiety. Worry and fear that we won’t get everything done or be successful in our tasks often leads to lack of sleep, a racing heart, nausea, headaches and panic attacks. Unfortunately, it’s a nasty cycle because the symptoms of being anxious can interfere with our ability to check those things off our list and sometimes affect our social interactions, too, making us feel even worse. When we become anxious or worried, we naturally shorten our breath. When this happens, oxygen doesn’t get to our brain effectively and we have trouble focusing or concentrating. This lack of concentration makes it hard for us to be calm and centered. The important thing to remember is that we can lessen stress and gain focus by breathing and channeling our inner peace. Why does breathing work? The breath is one of our best resources for healing, and deep breathing actually helps to activate our immune system and release serotonin, the hormone that makes us feel good. Of course, we breathe involuntarily without thinking much about it, but when we take a moment to focus on that breathing, we now override our brain. We are connecting ourselves to this action of breathing now, and as a result, we can control our focus and activate our parasympathetic nervous system, causing our body to relax. Breathe in for a count of five, hold it for a count of two, then exhale to a count of seven. When you do this, notice the rise and fall of your chest and belly and tune in to the feeling of the breath in your throat. Do this several times. If any other thoughts come up, acknowledge them and then re-focus on your breath. With every inhale, envision energy and peace touching every cell in your body. With every exhale, envision worry and stress leaving the body. Do this for five to 10 minutes every day and even for a few minutes in very stressful moments. If you can control your breath, you can control your stress. The pure light in me honors and respects the same in you. Namaste.

thepulsemag.com

food+drink

dining review

Lock 50 brings New American cuisine to Worcester

Bernie Whitmore Sports bars, pubs and grills keep springing up around us like dandelions. This is not a bad thing because these restaurants have really stepped up their quality and selection in recent years. We all enjoy the informal format and appreciate a meal someone actually made from ingredients instead of tapping into an industrial source. But when it comes to what I personally refer to as “Big Flavor” – referred to more formally as New American or Fusion cuisine – the options in Worcester considerably diminish. These are the places with creative, experimental chefs who aren’t afraid of unusual ingredient and cuisine combinations, who challenge us with bold dishes that reawaken the dining experience. To my considerable pleasure, we encountered that on Water Street at Lock 50. The format’s a bit daintier than most New American venues; no mason jars or mismatched flatware here. Lock 50’s one of the more sophisticated dining venues to come to Worcester in a while. And it has an extraordinary staff that “lives the mission,” providing expertise, enthusiasm and soul. So if you’re ready to deal with silverware that keeps clattering off your plate, buckle up and get ready for some memorable dining. Octopus Croquettes, perhaps? We started with Marinated Sardines, a small plate ideal for sharing. Sardines have a less-than-fascinating reputation. But after some considerable questioning of Matt, our server, we decided to take the plunge. What I didn’t want was canned sardines packed in oil or another format more associated with feline dining. Au contraire! These were freshly marinated fillets with a tinge of tart vinegar that didn’t completely conceal

the flavor of the tender silverskinned fish. The soft fillets were pressed onto slices of grilled rustic bread; the plate was sprinkled with tiny currants, each providing a spark of flavor and a generous scattering of pine nuts. For flavor contrast, the plate was heaped with a tangle of sweet onion marmalade and the sardine crostini were topped with softened greens. Visually attractive, flavorful and imaginative. The die was cast. With our second small plate, Potato Gnocchi, the chef gave subtle elevation to basic Italian peasant food. His gnocchi were perfectly executed – puffy, tender and classically formed. Their delicate flavor was enhanced with creamy-soft blue cheese and narrow slices of scallion. All that softness was topped with a golden crown spun from sweet potato threads fried till crispy and brittle. Matching the sophistication of these dishes, Lock 50 has also engineered the environment of its dining room with a jazz-edged Afrobeat soundtrack and artwork on the walls. Neither are overwhelming, both asserting a sense of singular place. From the moment we pushed the gleaming chrome grill of the front door, the feeling of crafted space impressed.

ramping up the complexity with bits of pork belly. This could become a work of thudding richness for richness’ sake except for a couple features. First, the bits of spicy sausage. Few and far between, the occasional morsel that turned up on our forks was so tasty that it seemed to set the flavor of this dish on fire. For textural contrast, the cassoulet was topped with a crunchy-tart salad featuring golden-skinned apple slices. But there was another aspect to this cassoulet that mystified me in a very good way. Bringing the elements of the dish together was another ingredient of subtle flavor and seductive texture. I couldn’t determine what it might be, so I asked Matt, “Are these bread crumbs?” “Marrow crumbs!” he replied. Merveilleusement délicieux!

This brings me to our “large plate,” Lock 50’s Cassoulet, another dish with peasant roots, this time from the South of France. For many chefs, this can prove a perilous dish; one I love to order but all-tooften find disappointing.

Lock 50 has two floors; downstairs, on this particular evening, one of its themed wine tastings was in progress, and the room was filled to capacity with a high-energy crowd enjoying live music, plenty of wine and appetizers. Upstairs, the dining room was much quieter and conducive to fine dining. And soon, as winter relaxes its grip on Worcester, the patio will open.

Not so at Lock 50. For the most part, the chef hewed to the classic format: white beans are blended with shredded chicken confit – mellow and rich – then

The Canal District’s fabled waterway exists in our collective imagination. Lock 50, on the other hand, is genuine dining based on the skill of a very creative chef.

lock 50 • 50 water street, worcester • 508-379-3400 • lock50.com 32

May 2017

pulsebrew:

The Black Ale Project Kerry Cyganiewicz Dave Pappas is a former Marine and a non-combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War. As a beer blogger at beer-journal.com, the Harvard resident developed many contacts throughout the

craft beer community, and as a veteran, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of those coming

home from war. Dave wanted to find a way to help and decided to combine the two into one and form The Black Ale Project.

The basic premise behind The Black Ale Project is that a brewery agrees to brew a dark style of beer and donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity of their choice. The specific charity and donation must be chosen ahead of time and posted for the patrons of the brewery to see. Dave is not a charity; he prefers to be called a “philanthropic facilitator.” He merely

matches breweries willing to participate in this charitable endeavor with veterans charities.

Dave prefers that breweries use veterans charities that have been screened by a website called charitynavigator.org to make sure that the funds are used for their intended purpose. To give you an idea of the local impact of Dave’s initiative, to date, Medusa Brewing in Hudson has

raised $7,095 for the New England Center and Home for Veterans, and Wormtown Brewing has raised $3,000 for Veterans, Inc.!

The beers being released for The Black Ale Project are pretty special. Medusa Brewing sold

out of an entire seven-barrel batch of a milk stout in two short weeks. Wormtown brewed an American brown ale, which is a style that is not usually seen and, quite frankly, one of which

I’d like to see more. Stone Cow in Barre brewed one that I am so sorry I missed. It was a stout brewed with maple syrup and bacon called Operation Bacon. Stone Cow donated more than $1,000 to Pets for Vets.

Getting back to Dave, I cannot stress enough that he does not receive any of the money raised by The Black Ale Project. No salaries, no free beer. No reimbursements for expenses like

mileage, hotel rooms, business cards or for his website. He is at every release for every beer but has yet to take a penny.

“I won’t even touch the giant cardboard check in the press pictures,” Dave told me. Please consider supporting these great breweries for taking the time to support this great cause. Here is the list of breweries that have already brewed beer for The Black Ale Project: Medusa

Brewing Company, Wormtown Brewing Company, Good Measure Brewing Company, Stone Cow Brewing Company, Prohibition Brewing Company, Idle Tyme Brewing Company, 14th Star Brewing Company and Castle Island Brewing Company.

Here is a list of breweries that are confirmed to release a beer to benefit the Black Ale

Project: Lost Nation Brewing, Brewmaster Jack, Exhibit A Brewing, Foundation Brewing Company, Lone Pine Brewing Company, Barreled Souls Brewing Company, Fore River

Brewing Company, Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer, True West Brewing Company, Black Project

Spontaneous and Wild Ales, Urban Farm Fermentory, Idle Hands Craft Ales, SoMe Brewing Company, Dirigo Brewing Company and Barrel House Z. How can you help? It’s simple: Buy a beer, help a veteran! For more information, visit blackaleproject.org.

thepulsemag.com

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

Chuck this out. Steve Londregan and Tom Flynn will have owned Chuck’s in Auburn for 39 years on Mother’s Day, May 14. The partners graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester

together. What do you give for 39 years? A new chef. Adam Foreman was recently hired as the

new executive chef at Chuck’s Steak House & Margarita Grill in Auburn. He has revamped the menu, adding seasonal dishes while keeping some comfort food choices. Also, look for the chef to introduce interesting new appetizers and a new burger and flatbread each month.

Sturbridge gets new steak house. Sturbridge Porterhouse, 407 Main St., Sturbridge, opened the last week of March. Owners of

the restaurant are Ken Yukimura, Colleen Charbonneau and Alicia Smith. Yukimura is also the chef/owner of Sturbridge Seafood, and Kathryn Muratore is a partner in both restaurants.

Mr. Rogers’s new neighborhood. The Worcester Regional Food Hub has hired Neil Rogers as its new kitchen operations

manager. Mr. Rogers was most recently the executive chef de cuisine for Niche Hospitality

Group in Central Massachusetts. Prior to that, he held positions as executive chef for Volturno Pizza Napolitano in Worcester and Tomasso Trattoria and Enoteca/Panzano Market in Southborough. He was Worcester’s Best Chef in 2014.

Chickpea to close. Veggie lovers in Worcester have lost one of their favorites, as Chickpea has announced it will be closing in May. The vegan restaurant, located at 589 Park Ave., was well known for its

delectable desserts. “We have had an amazing past few years here and are so grateful to all of

you who have supported us on this amazing journey,” the restaurant wrote in a Facebook post announcing its closing.

Two favorites team up. You can’t get much better than beer and a burger unless you have Wormtown Brewery and the Fix Burger Bar team up for a dinner. Worcester’s Fix, located on Grove Street, is partnering with Wormtown for a four-course dinner on May 9. The cost is $65 per head.

News from the North. Leominster’s Bar 435 recently announced that it has hired a new head chef. Chris Bairos

recently started at the North County pub. Bairos was the People’s Choice - Best Chef at the 2016 Worcester’s Best Chef event. His first order of business was to revamp the menu. They just launched their new Spring Menu.

Calling all nurses. May 6 is National Nurses Day. What better way to celebrate than a Nurse Pub Crawl on

Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street? The street is located at the epicenter of three hospitals – UMass Medical on Lake Avenue, UMass Memorial on Belmont Street and St. Vincent’s Hospital downtown. So come and get your blood pressure checked out from your favorite nurse.

Lots of reasons to celebrate in May. Mother’s Day, Cinco de Mayo and college graduations – they’re all happening in May. If you are looking to bring the whole family out, you can rent out Bootleggers Prohibition Pub on

Chandler Street. Bootleggers is surrounded by Clark, Worcester State, Becker, Assumption and WPI, so book early. For Cinco de Mayo, you can’t beat Mezcal across from the DCU Center. Don’t forget Mother’ Day. Several restaurants will offer specials, such as a brunch.

May 2017

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beauty+style

May the 4 be with you th

Show your true fandom this Star Wars Day – also known as May the 4th – by bringing the force of the galaxy home with you! Celebrate the beloved Star Wars saga all year long with stylish products that any Jedi needs in their home. All products available on Amazon. Darth Vader Self-Stirring Mug May the force be stronger than your coffee! This futuristic Darth Vader mug spins and mixes, stirring your beverage to perfection. Use the force to keep your coffee frothy without wasting any clean spoons … what a life-saber! These revolving novelty mugs show your true love for the galaxy and your coffee. $22.99.

Star Wars Beer Steins These signature steins stand at an impressive 9 inches tall and hold up to 22 ounces of your favorite beverage! The head-hinged lid closes, keeping your drink from spilling (no matter how much force you use). Show your true wookie spirit with these high-quality ceramic steins! $39.99.

Star Wars Salt and Pepper Shakers These salt and pepper shakers R sure 2 be the perfect accessory for your dining room table! Add some Star Wars flavor to your meal or use them as a center piece! These ceramic R2D2 and R2Q5 shakers are molded with accurate R2-Details. $24.95.

Star Wars Death Star Kitchen Timer Never burn your meals again with this Star Wars Death Star Kitchen Timer, which works for up to 60 minutes. When time runs out, the space station timer emits a green superlaser and sound. $29.99.

Star Wars Darth Vader Oven Glove Rule your kitchen with an iron fist of force with this right-handed Darth Vader Oven Glove. The replica glove from the Star Wars movie franchise is made from flexible, heat-resistant silicone withstanding up to 445 degrees. $24.99.

May 2017

stealthestyle: Color revival

before

after

Jamie Burke I don’t wear a heck of a lot of colors on a day-to-day basis. I try to stick to black, white, gray and tan. But even with the basics, colors can fade. Some things – like me – get better with age, but not everything. Being able to update the color of your clothing is really useful. You can revive the colors without altering them and, sometimes, even enhance them. It takes very little effort on the budget and just a bit of elbow grease.

Supplies: Rit Dye (You can buy the small packets or the bottles.) Stainless steel sink (Trust me) Sink stopper Gloves Salt Bleach Baking soda Sponge or toothbrush

Color Releasing: These directions can be used for basically any dying process on clothes. So if you need to revive a black T-shirt, try it out. Colors get tricky when you try to revive bright pigments. Rit gives you some basics and doesn’t always get the colors right. So make sure you don’t try to dye your favorite shirt. First off, everything you try to revive must be washed and still wet. Yes, still wet! Colors will be even if you make sure that whatever you are dying is wet. They do not absorb as much of the pigment, but you can make it gradual or leave the clothing in dye longer. Everyone has a pair of awesome jeans that need a dark rinse once in a while. I love the dark navy, almost black, pigmented jeans. So I actually mix the navy and black Rit dyes in my sink. Use hot water to mix in dyes. Make sure you have gloves on, and you may even want to use a large kitchen utensil to mix up your colored concoction. I test the color by dipping a paper towel square in. The color will not be as pigmented, but try to eye it out. Then, lower jeans into the dye, making sure they are completely saturated, and swirl them around every 20 minutes. Make sure all of the jeans are submerged in the dye. Leave the clothes for an hour or two. Add a bit of salt to the mix and drain. I let them sit for a while more, then toss them in the wash in the rinse and spin cycle and air dry.

Color Lifting: Sometimes, it is nice to add a bit of dimension to some darker colors. Or maybe you want to make a T-shirt look vintage. This is really easy, but be careful of bleach. You have to start out with your clothes damp. Fill up the sink with warm to hot water and put about ¼ cup of bleach to every 4 gallons of water. Submerge your clothing, make sure it is nice and evenly wet, and then take it out and lay on countertop. Next, take a little baking soda and rub gently on areas where you want a distressed or colorfaded look. Rub with sponge or old toothbrush. Rinse the clothing in the bleach and water and repeat as many times as desired. Once you get your ideal color fade, put the clothes in your washer and rinse and spin. Air dry, preferably in sunlight.

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