PULSE MAGAZINE: JUNE 2022
6 COVER STORY
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WORCESTER A WORKING CITY
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ENTERTAINMENT ARTS • CULTURE
STYLE • FASHION BEAUTY WORCESTER'S INVENTIONS
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Style Savvy
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Out and About
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420 in the 508
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ROLLING STONES AT SIR MORGAN’S COVE
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Arts & Culture Listings
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Now Streaming
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Entertainmant Listings
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A NEW DINING EXPERIENCE IN CITY SQUARE
PulseShots
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SPORT AND FITNESS
EAT • BREWS COCKTAILS Dining Review: NUESTRA
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EAT BEAT
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PULSE BREW
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COCKTAIL CORNER
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CITY LIVING • ARCHITECTURE • DESIGN 27
WHAT'S COOL & NEW FOR WOOSOX '22
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Shaun Knows
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Sports?
NEW IN THE WOO MINT KITCHEN & BAR
Paul Giorgio, Publisher pgiorgio@pagioinc.com David Simone, Vice President, Sales dsimone@pagioinc.com Jenny Pacillo, Editor jpacillo@pagioinc.com Kevin La, Art Director kla@pagioinc.com Michael Brevde, Executive Events Coordinator mbrevde@pagioinc.com
READ PULSE ONLINE: THEPULSEMAG.COM
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER @WORCESTERPULSE • INSTAGRAM @WORCESTERPULSE • FACEBOOK.COM/THEPULSEMAGAZINE PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 134 Gold St., Worcester, MA 01608. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2021 All rights reserved. Pagio, Inc. does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in Pulse reflect the views of the author(s) and not the official policy of the Pagio, Inc., unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement by Pagio, Inc. unless so stated. Material printed in Pulse is covered by copyright. No copyright is claimed to any work of the U.S. government. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission. For information on permissions, reprints and other services, contact Pagio, Inc. Also by Pagio Inc.: Worcester Medicine, Vitality Magazine, Thepulsemag.com, Thevitalitymag.com, & TasteWorcester.com
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Bernie Whitemore, Jennifer Russo, Travis Duda, Jason Savio, Shaun Connolly, Giuliano D’Orazio, Shannon Jutras April Goddard, Irena Kaçi, Vincent Pacifico, Nick Sposato, and Jenny Pacillo.Writers
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TANKS
WINGS
Featuring:
WHEELS
American Elegance Classic Car Exhibiton
Special Event! June 18th & 19th
568 MAIN STREET, HUDSON, MA (978) 562-9182
www.AmericanHeritageMuseum.org
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city Worcester /ˈwʊstɚ/ Translation of Worcester:
A Working City I once heard that the name Worcester translates into “working city''. A little research has revealed that this was nothing but an old wives’ tale, borne no doubt out of our city’s incredible production and factory legacy and its proud labor force. The truth of it is, unsurprisingly, more complicated. It is unclear what the name Worcester meant for the very first people who settled here in 1673, who then would’ve been living in Quinsigamond Plantation. It took almost two hundred more years for Worcester, as we have come to know it, to become its own city in 1848. This year we celebrate the Tercentennial, three hundred years of immigrants and settlers pouring into this city and calling it home, integrating and clashing with each other with every added layer. Neighborhoods were unofficially divided by nationality, for example Italians lived around Shrewsbury Street while Vernon Hill was overwhelmingly Polish. I spoke with Bill Wallace from the Worcester Historical Society to learn a bit more about the past three hundred years. “It has taken a long time for us, for the record keepers to fully understand, accept and celebrate the many contributions of immigration into our culture, and that’s where we are now, that’s what we are trying to acknowledge and celebrate.” Per this initiative the Worcester Historical Society has launched several budding exhibitions over the past century telling some of these immigrant stories. One such initiative, launched almost 35 years ago, told the story of Orthodox Jews immigrating into Worcester from all over East-
Irena Kaçi ern Europe at the turn of the 19th century, living all along Water Street. The whole area was lined with small bakeries and restaurants, where local newcomers could meet up with each other, and take comfort in community in their new home. “This particular exhibition was a seminal moment in the way we tell the story of Worcester, because most of the stories told up to that point were stories of immigrants from the Anglicized parts of the world. This was the first time that we had shifted our focus into talking about immigrants from other parts of the world, from Eastern Europe for example.” Present day efforts to define and record Worcester are far more inclusive and widespread. “We have worked hard to reach out and cover ground with all of our immigrant populations, Armenian, Finnish, Swedish, Albanian, African-American and the Latino/a communities, as well as the people indigenous to the Worcester area before settlers started pouring in. For instance we just wrapped up an exhibition on the LGBTQ community called ‘For The Record’ in 2019 and it was very powerful. For that we partnered with local universities like Clark, WPI, Holy Cross, and Assumption.” I was fortunate enough to catch the most recent exhibit at the Worcester Historical Museum, involving the evolution of women’s fashions over the course of history. The exhibit covered apparel from various societal strata, ranging from casual factory wear, glamorous evening wear, and present day business attire. t h epu ls emag.com
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Part of the exhibition also covered hair fashions, including a dedicated exhibit called ‘don’t touch my hair’. It’s not easy to capture the spirit of something so sprawling and dynamic as a whole city, full of people who are themselves evolving. Nevertheless, developing and honoring a sense of integrity is something with which all good historians are tasked. When I asked Bill about pivotal moments that he would describe as defining of Worcester and its history, he was able to distill the following top three: Goddard’s first liquid fueled rocket launch, the first –as some historians tell it –American revolution, and the first political national women’s rights convention.
Worcester Historical Museum
When Goddard first launched a coffee can at his Aunt Effie’s farm in Auburn on a cold March afternoon in 1926, it revolutionized the way that we, as human beings, viewed ourselves and the things that we might do. Goddard predicted that we’d be able to use his model to go to Mars someday, and many didn’t take him seriously or believe that he had proven that. The New York Times even wrote an article mocking Goddard for his beliefs. “It wasn’t until 1969 when we finally landed on the moon that the New York Times had to issue an apology to Goddard. And this really big thing happened right here in Central Massachusetts, in our own backyard.” The second most important event was the first American Revolution. “On September 6th 1774 over four thousand organized troops, a small militia, threw out the British governance all over Worcester County. They weren’t even armed but they managed to take a stand and overthrow British rule in this area. A lot of historians think of this rather forgotten event as the true beginning of the Civil War.”
Robert Goddard at Clark University
And lastly, the first national women's rights convention that took place on October 24th, 1850 in Brinley Hall across from present day Mechanics Hall. Abby Kelley Foster, a local hero, was a pioneer abolitionist and women’s suffrage advocate who spoke at the convention and set one of the earliest precedents of the adage ‘no press is bad press’ by growing the movement through a deluge of bad press. Abby Kelley Foster’s pioneering activism is reflected in present day Worcester and resonates as another one of Worcester’s numerous strengths. Present day Worcester has been growing and developing along similar lines for as long as I’ve been here. In 2009 a group of animal rights’ activists launched what has since become one of the biggest vegetarian expos in the country, with over 100 local vendors and thousands of attendees. New England Veg Fest, as it is called, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019, with their biggest expo yet. “We used the time off that we had in 2020 to help us reorganize and we ended up having a zoom event in 2021. This year, we are back at Worcester State University and it’ll be just as great as it ever was.”
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Indeed all of Worcester is presently engaged in numerous initiatives to invite everyone to come to the table and carve out a space. The Regional Chamber of Commerce has set up various programs through which underserved communities can make their voices heard and
their dreams realized. The Diverse Food Entrepreneurs program run by the Worcester Regional Food Hub receives more than double the applicants it needs every cycle, and the results of this effort are evident in the lush diversity of Worcester’s restaurant scene, including Vietnamese, French, Cuban, and Ethiopian. Of course the future is still being written. When I asked Bill Wallace what he, as a historian, sees in Worcester’s future, he reminds me that he’s no oracle. But insofar as hope can be fortunetelling, he is hopeful that the initiatives of the Worcester Historical Society will bear fruit and inspire other areas of Worcester to continue working towards inclusion and harmony. “Looking toward the future we have some exciting projects coming up, we have the Worcester Latino Project’s exhibition ‘Somos Worcester’ that I am hoping will take place sometime in 2023. We are in partnership with WPI for that one, and it’s been really gratifying so far. The exhibit will come up some time in 2023. And we are in talks with the Albanian Festival Community to begin a project on the history of Albanians in Worcester.” As the Worcester Historical Museum expands in scope, it will also expand in form, as the museum recently is absorbing two small spaces nearby. The Tercentennial celebration later this month aims to highlight and celebrate all the changes that have been made in the past ten years, despite the hurdles of the pandemic. The Canal District stroll rounding out with the Polar Park fireworks honors the incredible transformation of Kelley Square into one of our city’s most entrepreneurial centers, housing countless local businesses. The Festival on the Common celebrates While it is true that working city as a moniker was a mere fable, it is the kind of fable that for me has grown into the meaning, is still growing. The strength of cities lies in its variations, in having multiple avenues of possibilities and perspectives. As we reflect on three hundred years of Worcester being some version of the city we all know today, it is important to keep in mind our immigrant roots, the pioneering spirit of our predecessors and our compatriots, the people working hard to make the city a home for all, a place worth living in, a city that works, a working city.
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ENTERTAINMENT • ARTS • CULTURE
ROLLING STONES AT SIR MORGAN’S COVE JASON SAVIO The Rolling Stones surprise show at the now defunct Sir Morgan’s Cove on Monday September 13, 1981 is the stuff of legend. The “secret club gig event” all started with a pair of loose lips at a local bar, according to Rob Barnett, who was a DJ and the music director at rock station WAAF at the time. A worker at the Long View Farm music recording studio in North Brookfield gave Barnett the unbelievable scoop that the Rolling Stones were going to be staying at the studio that summer to rehearse for their upcoming tour in support of their newest album Tattoo You. After a failed attempt to set up an interview with the band through Long View Farm owner Gil Markle, Barnett decided to stake out at Worcester Airport, figuring that the Stones must be using the small airport for transportation if they’re residing at nearby North Brookfield. He snagged an interview with Mick Jagger as he arrived off the plane and set the soon-to-be historic concert in motion. The idea of the Rolling Stones playing a small venue on short notice was something the band was familiar with, says Bob Goodell, who worked as an account executive at WAAF at the time and attended the show. Goodell is now the Regional Vice President & Market Manager for the Cumulus Radio Station Group, which includes The Pike, XLO and more. Ralph’s Diner was considered, but its second floor made it less favorable. Sir Morgan’s Cove, however, fit the criteria the band was looking for. Its use of Great Britain’s
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flag didn’t hurt, either, adds Goodell. Goodell describes Sir Morgan’s Cove as having been a “small rock club,” all brick with a drop ceiling and a stage that was 3.5 feet tall, 40-feet wide by 20-feet deep. “Easily just a neighborhood bar except for the big stage that they had,” he says. ‘Secret Stones club gig’ almost derailed WAAF announced the day of the show that there would be a “secret Stones club gig” at an unnamed location somewhere in New England and to win a free ticket you had to be spotted sporting WAAF gear. Barnett and Stewart drove around Worcester, handing out tickets to 300 lucky fans and giving them the location of the secret show for later that day. “The band had said that if there was a big crowd there when they pulled up that night that they weren’t going to play, so we never announced that it was Sir Morgan’s Cove, but WBCN found out about it and had a rivalry with WAAF that got a lot ugly,” explains Goodell. “They went on the air and divulged the location. Allegedly they got it from somebody in the city of Worcester.” This led to a swarm of “over five thousand people” and a “fairly heavy contingent of police” outside of Sir Morgan’s Cove. Luckily, divine intervention saw the Stones to the stage. “By the grace of God, a hail and rainstorm broke out shortly after 11 p.m. and the band showed up around 11:30 p.m. and they played because the crowd kind of dispersed,” Goodell says.
The Cockroaches and fond memories The Stones were billed as The Cockroaches and Goodell says they were told the band was going to play all blues songs, which they started with the first song of the night, “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.” But they didn’t take long to kick into tunes that were new at the time like “Shattered” and “Start Me Up,” and they closed the show with staples “Brown Sugar” and “Jumping Jack Flash.” Squeezed into the tight confines of Sir Morgan’s Cove, the Stones had its core lineup with two keyboard players on stage. Goodell remembers, “That was a great band and Keith Richards had to have had twenty guitars on that stage. I don’t know how they fit them all.” Goodell remembers the band playing for roughly an hour and forty-five minutes. “It was special,” he says. “They were having fun.” Check out ThePulseMag.com for the extended article, Barnett’s proposal to the Rolling Stones and his interview with Mick Jagger.
ARTS & CULTURE LISTINGS American Heritage Museum (978) 562-9182 568 Main St., Hudson https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/ June 18 - Tanks, Wings & Wheels: Featuring American Elegance Arts Worcester (508) 755-5142 44 Portland St., Worcseter https://artsworcester.org/ Boulder Art Gallery (978) 354-7000 960 Main St., Fitchburg http://theboulderartgallery.com/ Gallery open Thursday, Friday, Saturday Brick Box Theater (508) 413-5622 20B Franklin St., Worcester https://www.jmacworcester.org/brickbox.html June 4 - Flamenco Worcester presents FREE Public Master Class for Beginner Dancers June 11 - Worcester Interactive presents Curtain Call Karaoke June 17 - 19 - THTC Youth Acting Company presents Godspell Fitchburg Art Museum (978) 345-4207 185 Elm St., Fitchburg https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/ Free First Thursdays Hanover Theatre (877) 571-7469 2 Southbridge St., Worcester https://thehanovertheatre.org/ June 3 - Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band June 4 - America June 7 - Blippi the Musical June 8 - Historic & Architectural Tour June 12 - Celebrating Billy Joel: America’s Piano Man “50 Years of Billy” June 16 - 19 - The Band’s Visit June 24 - Gordon Lightfoot June 25 - Menopause the Musical June 28 - Historic & Architectural Tour JMAC Popup (508) 561-0173 20B Franklin St., Worcester www.jmacworcester.org June 1 - Healing Fibers presents DE.MO.CRA.CY a Call to Action June 13 - Gene Kelly Masterclass Beginner June 15 - Gene Kelly Masterclass Advanced June 21 - Step in Time Exhibit June 29 - July 9 - Legends of Tap Exhibit
Mechanics Hall (508) 752-5608 321 Main St., Worcester https://www.mechanicshall.org/ June 8 - Brown Bag Concert featuring the Noah Preminger Quartet June 9 - Worcester Chamber Music Society presents Neighborhood Strings 10th Anniversary Benefit Concert June 14 - Shakespear in Jazz featuring Daniel Kelly June 15 - Brown Bag Concert featuring the Armen Donelian Trio June 19 - Youth Orchestras of San Antonio June 29 - John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band Old Sturbridge Village (800) 733-1830 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge https://www.osv.org/ June 4 - 75th Anniversary Celebration Gala June 11 & 12 - Women’s History Weekend June 18 & 19 - Historical Craft Classes June 20 - Juneteenth June 25 & 26 - Dog Days Preservation Worcster (508) 754-8760 10 Cedar St., Worcester https://www.preservationworcester.org/ Samuel Slater Experience (508) 461-2955 31 Ray St., Webster https://samuelslaterexperience.org/
Worcester Art Museum (508) 799-4406 55 Salisbury St., Worcester https://www.worcesterart.org/ Free First Sundays Sunday - Highlights of the WAM Collection Docent Tour June 4 - Zip Tour: Corot’s “A Fisherman on the Banks of a Pond” June 18 - Zip Tour: Healy’s “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his Daughter, Edith” June 18 & 19 - Jewels of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Treasures from the Collection of the Worcester Art Museum Worcester Center for Crafts (508) 753-8103 25 Sagamore Rd., Worcester https://www.worcestercraftcenter.org/ Worcester Chamber Music Society (508) 926-8624 323 Main St, Worcester https://worcesterchambermusic.org/ Worcester Historical Museum (508) 753-8278 30 Elm St., Worcester https://www.worcesterhistory.org/
TERCENTENNIAL WEEKEND LINEUP
Tower Hill Botanical Garden (508) 869-6111 11 French St., Boylston https://www.towerhillbg.org/ Tuesdays - Chair Yoga & Yoga in the Garden Wednesdays - Qigong & Yoga in the Garden Thursdays - Yoga in the Garden June 2 - Botanical Mixology June 4 - Macrame Plant Hanger Class June 5 - Summer Paint Pouring Parties: Flip Cup Dirty Pour June 7 - Foraging for Wild Edibles Walk June 11 & 12 - Uprooted Weekend June 18 - New England Rose Society Show & Sale June 25 - Spiral Bouquets June 27 - Members Concert Series June 30 - Botanical Mixology
Friday, June 10
Tuckerman Hall (508) 754-1234 10 Tuckerman St., Worcester http://www.tuckermanhall.org/
4 p.m. - Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with Special Guest Brian McKnight at the DCU Center
5 p.m. - Tercentennial Weekend Kick-Off Featuring Canal District Stroll and Polar Park Fireworks Featuring Ricky Duran
Saturday, June 11
9 a.m. - Tercentennial Road Race, Downtown Worcester 11 a.m. - Tercentennial Parade & Celebration, Downtown Worcester 12 - 5 p.m. - Tercentennial Festival on the Worcester Common Featuring stART on the Street, Musical Performances, Food Trucks and More!
Sunday, June 12
4 p.m. - Tercentennial Family Outing at the Worcester Bravehearts
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NOW STREAMING. JASON SAVIO
UNLIMITED LOVE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS After six years without releasing any new music, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are back with Unlimited Love. Rejoining the band is fan-favorite guitarist, John Frusciante, after a 13-year absence. This is the second time Frusciante has returned after quitting the band, replacing his own replacement Josh Klinghoffer this time around. With Frusciante back in the fold and producer Rick Rubin at the helm, the Chili Peppers hope to rekindle some of the magic with him on Unlimited Love that they conjured up together on classic albums Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication. While Unlimited Love doesn’t fall in the same category as those two staples, time will likely place this somewhat uneven 17-song record in the same range as the grandiose Stadium Arcadium, which isn’t necessarily bad. Unlimited Love is a feeler-album, in more ways than one. You can hear the band becoming familiar with itself again with the re-addition of Frusciante, getting more comfortable with each other as the album progresses and slipping on that favorite pair of old tattered jeans to dance around in. Most of the songs take a more laid-back approach as the band favors settling into grooves rather than the in-your-face funk of years past, making Unlimited Love a nice compliment to the Chili Peppers’ By The Way record. Sure, there are rock moments like in “Great Apes”--singer Anthony Kiedis’ homage to those who have fallen in between the cracks of society and their desire to break free of their cages--when Frusciante lays out a big solo, and in the manic finish to “These Are The Ways.” But ironically what sticks out the most is the delicate atmosphere they display on the ballad “Not The One” and the neo-funk vibe of “It’s Only Natural,” where Frusciante makes his guitar swell with emotion and intricacy. Kiedis stays on top of his game throughout Unlimited Love, never missing an opportunity to deliver his gonzo lyrics in the most disjointed and acrobatic ways possible. In the verse of “Here Ever After” he tip-toes between losing the rhythm of the song and jumping ahead of it. “Bastards of Light” wins the award for most bizarre tune with its sinister late-night verse and twangy, country-like chorus. A heavy rock breakdown has Kiedis singing about brawling and getting his butt whooped – and he seems to like it. “Poster Child,” the Chili Peppers’ fun and addictive take on Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” has Kiedis listing off musicians and pop culture touchstones throughout the decades, tipping his cap to the likes of Led Zeppelin, the Ramones, and more, in a circular, hypnotic word-soup fashion. He comments on their brief yet impactful influence when he sings in the chorus, “I will be your poster child/You know the world is ours for a little while.” It’s safe to say that Kiedis is also singing from his own perspective as a member of the Chili Peppers, a successful band that is now in the back-half of its career. Unlimited Love is a good “comeback” album for the Chili Peppers, even if it doesn’t necessarily wow or make you realize you’ve been missing them. Hopefully on their next album they’ll be more concise and create a bigger wave. And hopefully Frusciante won’t leave them floundering again out at sea. For more, visit: https://redhotchilipeppers.com/
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EXPLORETHE THECANAL CANALDISTRICT DISTRICT EXPLORE THE CANAL DISTRICT EXPLORE
VISIT BEFORE OR AFTER the woosox GAMEs
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ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS As COVID restrictions begin to ease and live music returns to the area’s bars and restaurants, we are excited to bring entertainment listings back to Pulse. If you’d like to be included in future listings, please email JPacillo@ pagioinc.com. BirchTree Bread Company 744-243-6944 138 Green St., Worcester Birchtreebreadcompany.com June 1 - Bring Back Pluto June 3 - The Moore Bros. June 5 - Ash & Eric June 8 - Chris Houston June 12 - Big Jon Short June 15 - Giuliano June 17 - Colt & the Coyotes June 19 - Carlos Odria Trio June 22 - Worcester Jazz Collective June 24 - Hip Swayers June 26 - Arny Spielberg June 29 - Sarah French Black and White Grille 508-885-5018 206 North Spencer Rd., Spencer Blackandwhitegrille.com
Greendale’s Pub 508-853-1350 404 W Boylston St. North, Worcester Sundays - Night Jam Wednesdays - Wacky Blues Jam
Draught House Bar & Grill 508-835-4722 42 West Boylston St., West Boylston Electric Haze 26 Millbury St., Worcester June 2 - Sexy Drag Bingo - Prom Theme June 3 - Art Gallery Ft. Narvicto June 4 - Celebrating Europe 1972 June 5 - The Iceman Special w/ Grub, Zigmont June 9 - Maladies Drag Karaoke June 12 - Kings for the Weekend and Friends June 17 - Roots Collider, the Bulkheads June 19 - Sunday Drip a Hip-Hop Showcase hosted by Jeff Ferris, Joe Grizzly, Ghost of the Machine
Black Sheep Tavern 978-422-0255 261 Leominster Rd, Sterling Meetmeatthesheep.com Blueprint New American Bar & Grille 978-668-5580 10 Village Sq., Westminster Cafe Neo 774-253-6139 97 Millbury St., Worcester Nightly Karaoke
June 23 - Maladies Drag Karaoke with Mal E. Fishn’t
Chuck’s Steakhouse 508-832-2553 10 Prospect Street, Auburn
Elm Draught House 508-865-2850 35 Elm St., Millbury
Classic’s Pub 978-227-5258 285 Central St., Leominster
Fidder’s Green Pub 508-792-3700 19 Temple St., Worcester June 4 - The Druids: Irish Folk Band
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508-926-8736 55 Millbrook St., Worcester June 19 - Father’s Day Fest
Chashu Ramen + Izakaya 508-304-7183 38 Franklin St., Worcester 1st & 3rd Thursday - Mauro Depasquale’s Jazzed Up Trio 2nd & 4th Thursday - Van Dam Duo
Halligan’s 508-832-6739 889 Southbridge St., Auburn
Firefly’s BBQ 508-357-8883 350 E. Main St., Marlborough Dante’s at Firefly BBQ: Indoors June 3 - Z Company June 4 - Bone City June 10 - A Little Bit Shaggy June 11 - Freeballin June 17 - George McCann June 24 - Shady Armadillo June 25 - S/B Starr Faithful The Backyard at Firefly’s BBQ: Outdoors June 3 - Ashley Hensel June 4 - Mike Gorgone June 5 - Alan Goodrich June 10 - High Harmony June 11 - Richard Fleet June 12 - Carl Schiller June 17 - John Copeland June 18 - Joe Mack June 19 - The Mosca’s June 24 - Jared Hanrahan June 25 - Kim Trusty June 26 - Frank Foot
Happy Jack’s 978- 466-3433 785 N Main St., Leominster Wednesdays - Team Trivia Thursdays - Slingo Husky’s Pub 508-425-9614 413 Park Ave., Worcester Mondays - Movie Night Thudays - Wise Guys Trivia June 11 - New England Density and Memory Lane June 29 - Open Mic Indian Ranch 508-943-3871 200 Gore Rd., Webster Indianranch.com June 5 - Trace Adkins June 11 - Outlaws June 12 - Joslyn Fox “Pride” Beach Party June 17 - Webster Lake Association: Summer Kick Off Party June 19 - The Mavericks June 23 - Comedy Night Featuring Will Noonan & Guests Dan Crohn and Chris Tabb
Flying Rhino 508-757-1450 278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester Gardner Ale House 978- 669-0122 74 Parker St., Gardner Greater Good Imperial Brewing
June 25 - Dark Desert Eagles
Legends Bar and Grille 978- 342-6500 68 Airport Rd, Fitchburg MB Lounge 508-799-4521 40 Grafton St., Worcester Wednesday - Karaoke Thursday - Trivia Night Friday & Saturday - Dance Party Sunday - Game Night June 25 - Stonewall Block Party MCL Club 508-797-0141 181 Lake Ave., Worcester Worcestermcl.org Thursdays - Karaoke June 4 - Pieces of Eight Michael’s Cigar Bar 508-459-9035 1 Exchange St, Worcester Movie Mondays Mint 508-459-1532 79 Maywood St., Worcester Fridays - Karaoke Night Off the Rails 508-304-6411 90 Commercial St., Worcester Wednesday through Sunday Live Music Thursdays - Line Dancing hosted by Kevin Richards June 9 - Little Texas June 10 - Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band June 17 - The Songs of Tom Petty with Ryan Pinette and the Pay Staters June 18 - Idlewild: A Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band One Eyed Jack’s Tiki Bar & Grill 508-459-0089 433 Park Ave., Worcester Park Grille 508-756-7995 257 Park Avenue, Worcester Partner’s Pub 978-345-5051
970 South St., Fitchburg Patsie Duggans 508 755-4155 49 Millbury St, Worcester Nightly Entertainment Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern 508-752-7711 455 Park Ave., Worcester Purgatory Beer Co. 508-596-2194 670 Linwood Ave. Building C, Whitinsville Ralph’s Diner 508-753-9543 148 Grove St., Worcester Monday - The Dirty Gerund Poetry Open Mic Wednesday - Karaoke with Dj Matt R! Rascal’s 508-459-0862 70 James St., Worcester Rascalsworcester.com June 4 - Whiskey Church June 5 - Joanna the Psychic Medium June 11 - Vyntyge Skynyrd June 12 - Drag Brunch June 25 - Aquanett Reunion Tap & Table 774-293-5501 198 Worcester St., North Grafton Mondays - Musical Bingo Wednesdays - Trivia with Nate Briggs River Styx 978-696-5176 166 Boulder Dr., Fitchburg Thursdays - Str82hades Trivia Fridays - Work Tavern Poker Southside Grille 978-632-1057 242 West Broadway, Gardner Tuesdays - Slingo Thursdays - Trivia with Kevin Stakes Pub
508-755-2955 1281 Pleasant St., Worcester The Bull Run 978-425-4311 215 Great Road, Shirley June 2 - Rick Estrin & the Nightcats June 3 - Bourbon on the Patio June 4 - Roy Book Binder/Invisible Sun: Police Tribute Band June 9 - Beatlemania Now June 10 - Lurrie Bell June 17 - Don Kirby’s Jazz Collection plays “Kind of Blue” June 18 - Steve Katz June 23 - The Hillbenders presents WHOGrass June 24 - Jonathan Edwards June 25 - Judy Collins The GazBar 978- 534-6600 1045 Central St, Leominster The Mill at 185 774-261-8585 185 W Boylston St., West Boylston Live entertainment Thursday through Saturday The Muse 508-796-5900 536 Main St., Worcester The Palladium 508-797-9696 261 Main St., Worcester June 4 - New Found Glory June 5 - Dying Fetus June 8 - Lil Xan June 11 - Vagrant 25 June 17 - Taylor Swift Night June 19 - One Nation Under a Groove Tour June 26 - Bowling for Soup, Less Than Jake & the Aquabats Thirsty Robot 265 Summer St., Fitchburg Thursdays - Dj Bingo June 2 - Sleep in Heavenly Peace Fundraiser/Trivia Night with Rob Boss
June 4 - Charley Carozzo June 11 - Tim’s Drunken Sauces/ Amanda Cote Tryst Lounge 978-400-7906 320 Main St, Fitchburg Vincent’s Worcester 508-752-9439 49 Suffolk St., Worcester Wachusett Brew Yard 978-874-9965 175 State Rd. E, Westminster Tuesdays - Tacos and Trivia Wednesdays - Line Dancing June 2 - Joel Cage June 3 - Redlight June 4 - Another Cheesy Beer Run June 4 - Maddi Ryan/Whitney Doucette June 11 - Brewpub Yoga June 11 - Synergy/Ellis Falls June 12 - Jake and Jenny June 17 - Boothill June 18 - Darren Bessette/Elijah Clark June 19 - Unsung June 23 - Cashwood June 24 - A Good Time June 24 - Support Local Music Festival June 26 - Central Mass Sip and Shop Event Brew Yard at 152 Green St., Worcester Thursdays - Music Bingo! June 11 - Sophia Lauren June 18 - Amanda Cote June 25 - Pedro Teixeira Whiskey on Water 774-578-8829 97 Water St., Worcester White Eagle 508-753-9612 116-120 Green St., Worcester Whiteeagleworcester.com Woo Bar & Grill 774-243-6130 358 Shrewsbury St., Worcester t h epu ls emag.com
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DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE PULSE SHOTS?
EAT • BREWS • COCKTAILS
DINING REVIEW NUESTRA 55 PEARL STREET, WORCESTER (508) 926-8885 BERNIE WHITMORE 55 Pearl Street, the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, is one of the most impressive and historic addresses in Worcester. Several restaurants have attempted to breathe life back into it over the past decade or so, but none have survived for long. Now there’s another spark of life offering a chance for ongoing viability. And this time it’s fundamentally different. Nuestra inhabits the basement level and offers a compact menu of creative Puerto Rican dishes. They’ve warmed up the space with a couple dining areas, a flickering fireplace and bar-lounge area. It’s a modest re-boot with a lot going for it. After sampling their cuisine, I’m keen in my hope for their success. It’s always assuring to me when my server is enthusiastic about the restaurant they’re working at and happy to discuss the menu offerings. Fundor, our server, was all of that plus attentive and informative; an instant friend.
with spices. The pastry was delightfully crunchy; two of them could be enough for a complete meal.
filled up on them. My advice: share a portion with a friend to save some appetite for dessert.
When I return, I’ll order a Guava BBQ Chicken and a Cheese Empanadilla with a side of rice and call it a meal.
My friend tried Churrasco Steak topped with chimichurri sauce served with white rice and red beans. The beans come in a separate footed bowl; the diner mixes them into the rice DIY-style. Slices of lean beef were cooked to order with nice exterior char and deep red in the center. Each forkful was juicy, tender and packed with big,beefy flavor.
My experience with Puerto Rican cuisine is limited to a few of their classics. For that reason I was surprised by and delighted to sample their Ensalada de Polpo Cup. I’m already a sucker for anything octopus; this treatment was a winner! Chunks of octopus tentacle were marinated in a bright vinegar olive oil dressing flavored with bits of garlic and cilantro. Red onion, yellow and red sweet peppers were finely diced and tossed all together, served cold in a glass dessert bowl. Any one of these ingredients could easily have dominated and overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the octopus. Instead, Nuestra’s kitchen joined them in perfect flavor harmony.
I started with a glass of Modelo draft beer that poured sparkling deep-golden amber; slightly sweet, hints of fruit. It tasted great with slices of Puerto Rican bread that came alongside a bowl of olive oil studded with cloves of creamy roasted garlic.
For my entrée I turned to Pernil, a classic treatment of slow roasted pork shoulder marinated in spices from the distinctive Puerto Rican flavor palette, then shredded into fork sized pieces, moist and meaty-rich. It was served with a molded tower of yellow rice and pigeon peas and a small salad of mixed greens.
Nuestra’s appetizer list is packed with great choices. We sampled a beef and cheese Empanadilla. For such a low price we expected something just north of bite sized. Intead, we were presented with a large crusty pastry turnover fried to light brown and packed with tasty meat filling flecked
I could return every week for Nuestra’s pernil, but don’t underestimate the peas and rice – they were surprisingly tasty and a worthy alternative to my previous choice of sides: tostones. My complaint with Nuestra’s tostones: the portion was too large; I loved them, couldn’t leave them alone and
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Nuestra’s portions are generous, and the cuisine is so tasty we wanted more of their amazing flavors. So we shared a portion of Tres Leches. What a decision! This big cube of cake was topped with thick white frosting, a red orchid flower and dabbed with fluffy whipped cream. On its own, their Tres Leches cake would be worth a trip to Nuestra! Amazingly super-moist and creamy yet with a tender crumb texture. It had just a touch of coconut cream flavor, cool and refreshing. As with the other courses, portions were generous but so compelling we couldn’t look away. I’m anticipating many return visits; Nuestra’s food was that exciting, the people were friendly, and a driving soundtrack kept the room fun. Natalie Rodriguez, Nuestra’s owner and designer of the innovative menu, came over to meet us. She explained that the name, Nuestra, is no accident. It perfectly expresses her wish that the restaurant become ‘ours’, a place for the entire community.
what’s happening in the restaurant scene
PAUL GIORGIO TASTE THIS. The annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street is on again after a break due to Covid. June 14 from 5-9 pm the restaurants and bars on Shrewsbury Street will put on a party. Long considered the unofficial kick off to summer, the event has bands and food samples from the city’s best restaurants. $30 gets you food, liquor tastings and bands at a variety of spots. This year’s sponsors include Quality Beverages, Deep Eddy Vodka, Dolce Vida Tequila, Pepsi, Discover Central Mass, DoorDash, Flexibility & Benefits, DCU Credit Union & Fidelity Bank. Media sponsors include Pulse Magazine, WXLO, The Pike, Nash Icon & Radio Worcester. You can more information and tickets at www.tasteshrewsburystreet.com IT’S A DONE DEAL. It appears Shrewsbury Street's Mac’s Diner has been sold to Erion Callo and his wife Alda, who currently own the Twisted Fold in Leicester. No word yet on whether this is an additional restaurant or if he is moving the Twisted Folk to Shrewsbury Street. CHIODA’S NO MORE. It looks like Chioda’s Restaurant on Worcester’s Franklin Street will soon turn off the range. According to news reports the building and the land it sits on has been sold to a developer for a 24-unit apartment building.
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY! 155 SHREWSBURY STREET • WORCESTER, MA • 508-791-4535
BOCADO TO HOST WINE DINNERS. Bocado Worcester, located at 82 Winter Street will host a Spanish wine dinner on June 14th and at their Leominster location on June 15th. The cost is $100 per person for a 5-course meal which includes wine. Tickets must be purchased in advance online at www.nichehospitality.com They will also host a dinner in their Test Kitchen next to Mezcal in Worcester on June 24. COMING CLOSE ONLY COUNTS IN HORSESHOES. The Horseshoe Pub & Restaurant on South Street in Hudson has a brand-new heated patio. From pictures, it looks like the deck is a pretty good size. Check it out. WATCH OUT FOR THAT HARPOON. It appears that Boston based Harpoon Brewery will soon open a beer garden at the Mercantile Center Plaza. That brings two beer gardens downtown and Wormtown a few blocks away. Harpoon is headed by former Worcester resident Dan Kenary. ROLL OUT THE BARREL. The Beer Garden on Worcester’s Franklin Street, opposite City Hall, opened in the middle of May, with more fun in store for patrons and an expanded menu. NO WALK IN THE PARK. According to a Facebook post, Eric Pearson and his wife have sold the Park Grill on Worcester’s Park Ave. New owners will be taking over the space but no word yet on who the owners are or the concept. IN ANOTHER SALE. Livia’s Dish on Main Street near Webster Square was recently sold to the employees of the restaurant, no changes are planned. TAP TAP TAP. Jeff Maririan, former owner of the Blackstone Tap, is set to open a new restaurant and bar at 107 Water Street in Worcester’s Canal District called Tap 107. t h epu ls emag.com
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PULSEBREW BREW
THREE HUNDRED, THIRSTY, AND THRIVING EXTENDED VERSION ON THEPULSEMAG.COM
SHANNON JUTRAS
Cheers to Woo, dear drinkers, cheers to Woo! Though Worcester is not older than beer, don’t let that get you down: Beer is almost as old as humanity itself. (Worcester is also not older than the oldest living Greenland sharks, but that is a story for another time, or a deep, deep rabbit hole to find yourself in when you’re on deadline for a beer column.) Beer was integral to daily life at the time of Worcester’s founding. What we consider traditional today, “beer flavored beer,” as some might call it, would be unfathomable to someone in 1722 Worcester. As Dan Carlson from Redemption Rock Brewing explains, “In the 18th century, most beers were brown, sour, and smoky - due to how malts were made and the sanitation technologies available at the time.” Maybe I watched Brendan Fraser in the seminal classic film, Blast from the Past, too many times growing up, but I like to imagine a Yankee from the 1720s emerging from a cryogenically frozen bunker and saddling up to the bar in one of Worcester’s taprooms, ready to order a tumbler of ale. When I asked Carlson which of Redemption Rock’s beers would be most amusing to explain to 1722 Brendan Fraser, he chose Three Decker, their Helles Lager. “A pale, clean, crisp beer would be completely new to someone from 1722. In fact, pale lagers wouldn’t be created for another 120 years, coming shortly after the invention of Pilsner malt. And Munich Helles Lagers specifically wouldn’t be around for another 70 years after that.”
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20 J U NE 20 22
At Greater Good, J.T. Ethier delighted in the thought of offering our fictional friend their limited-release Dry Irish Stout called 1722, or their 10% Imperial New England IPA, WOOO!! He was also amused by the prospect of trying to explain Bigg Summer Imperial NEIPA. “Not only is the New England IPA a huge departure stylistically from a traditional IPA, but we have loaded it up with hundreds of pounds of pineapple, which would probably leave a brewer from 1722 scratching their head.” While many of today’s most popular beer styles are younger than the city you call home, they also represent the city’s incredible progress and innovative spirit. Worcester’s breweries are crafting unique brews, raising funds and participating in the Tercentennial road race - go PULP Daddies! - for the Tercentennial. Greater Good will be featuring Preservation Worcester as part of their recently-launched initiative, “Acts of Greater Good” that highlights a new local non-profit organization every month. Thursdays are Acts of Greater Good Days, and in June customers can enjoy a beer and help raise funds for the preservation of Worcester’s history, culture, and architecture. Redemption Rock is partnering with the Worcester Historical Museum to brew three unique beers to commemorate Worcester anniversaries throughout the year. This includes a pre-Prohibition corn lager, Rescue From Oblivion, celebrating Samuel Staples 200th birthday and his founding of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, now the Worcester Historical Museum. An American Pale Wheat Ale triple-hopped with Centennial hops named, Made In Worcester will specifically honor the Tercentennial. Carlson shares, “This beer will not only celebrate Worcester’s industrial leadership and history of manufacturing, but the resilience, character, strength, and diversity of its peoples throughout the centuries and today.” Worcester’s breweries and the many businesses, non-profits, and people that make this city so great. I look forward to raising a glass to Woo at the Tercentennial. And I hope someday, at the city’s Quincentennial, a woman from the future will write about how Worcester is finally older than the oldest living Greenland shark, and THRIVING. Let’s toast to that.
COCKTAIL CORNER
DEADHORSE HILL BRADEN PFAHL JENNY PACILLO “There’s so much freedom when it comes to the creation of cocktails,” deadhorse hill’s bartender extraordinaire Braden Pfahl tells me. “I’m able to present things and people are like ‘that’s good’ or ‘that’s bad’, it’s trial and error,” he laughs, adding, “We just put out five new drinks for our menu. That’s been the big project I’ve been working on for the past few months.” The los padres pitstop is Braden’s favorite creation on deadhorse’s drink list and is a twist on Tiki inspired cocktails. It's a blend of rums, lemon, sunflower seed orgeat and crushed ice. “Orgeat is typically made with almonds, but you can use almost any seed or nut,” Bradenl explains, “I used sunflower seeds because it's allergy safe for everybody and you get a really nice taste from the toasted sunflower seeds.” Braden promises the los padres pitstop equally delicious and easy to make, sharing that his rum mix is made up of Coconut Rum, Plantation O.F.T.D., and Smith and Cross Navy Strength. “It’s a take on a mai tai basically,” he says, “I just took that, twisted it, and made a blend of my own rum.” I highly recommend visiting Braden at deadhorse for a pleasant conversation along with his signature los padres pitstop. Cheers!
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STYLE • FASHION • BEAUTY
WORCESTER'S INVENTIONS JENNIFER RUSOO
Worcester has always been a one of a kind city. Marshall “Major” Taylor crushed cycling records and fought racism throughout the turn of the 20th century, Frances Perkins was the first woman appointed to a Cabinet post as Secretary of Labor, and we could dedicate an entire issue of Pulse to the Burnside Fountain. Needless to say, Worcester is the absolute best, and here is a list of inventions created here to prove it. BIRTH CONTROL In 1923, Margaret Sanger set up the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau in Manhattan to study the effectiveness of various birth control methods, and then established the American Birth Control League, which succeeded in decriminalizing the distribution of birth control devices in some states. 1953 Sanger and Katharine Dexter McCormick approached biologist Dr. Gregory Pincus from the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology (later named the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research), to research the potential of a pill that would prevent pregnancy. Today, the birth control pill is one of the most widely used forms of contraception in the world. With very little risk to the healthy female, it prevents pregnancy when taken regularly in over 90% of women. PIZZA MIX Frank Fiorillo invented the first pizza mix in 1948 when he was only 23 years old! He was working at a pizza shop on Lake Ave in Worcester and came up with the idea to market a dough mix, cheese and sauce, or gravy as many Italians call it. Thanks to his “Roman Pizza Mix”, Fiorillo was able to retire at 25 and enjoy the bella vita. Speaking of pizza, Worcester has molti grande pizza shops throughout the city, but I think we should pay some respect to Auntie Dot’s on Grafton Street. They’re open Thursday through Saturday, and offer the best pizza pie around. Mangiare! VALENTINE’S DAY CARD During the early 1800s, Valentine’s Day cards were imported from Europe to America, and were not affordable to most people. However Esther Howland changed the game when she began making her own intricate Valentine’s greetings, and with the help of her business savvy brother, her designs were a hit. Howland turned her Summer Street home into her headquarters and hired women to work, paying them a fair wage. She is known as “The Mother of the American Valentine” and was worth the equivalent of roughly $2.6 million by today’s standard. Maybe Worcester can also boast the first girl boss? 22 JU NE 20 22
SMILEY FACE What is a list of Worcester inventions without mentioning Harvey Ball and his smiley face? We all know the story, the State Mutual Life Insurance Company in Worcester needed to increase morale and they enlisted Worcester artist Harvey Ball. Let’s put aside the fact that rather than offering bonuses or increasing salaries, they gave Mr. Ball $45 for his infamous yellow smiley face design and put it on pins to encourage employees to smile more. This smiley face is world famous, and even led to Ball founding the World Smile Foundation, a non-profit for charitable causes that are often overlooked. Harvey Ball’s smiley face represents positivity and goodwill, and shows the underlying kindness in our wonderful city. He even launched the World Smile Day in 1999, which observed on the first Friday in October. This holiday encourages everyone to “do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.”
S Savvy TYLE APRIL GODDARD Hello Readers! Welcome to a beautiful month at the start of summer, and another Style Savvy. To kick off what I can surely describe as my favorite time of year, I would like to bring you the top five new and now trends I am seeing. So, grab a coffee or tea dear reader, and continue on to discover the top 5 trends forecasted for summer 2022! 1. Mini French Nails: Forget the classic square mani, and switch out this once timeless style for something new, fresh, and very modern. Think simple and dainty. This refreshing new shape to a classic style is going to be everywhere this summer. Go for an almond nail to start, with a wash of the fairest baby pink or peach base coat to even everything out. Finish by asking your nail tech to paint the thinnest white line outlining a french tip. For home manicures, treat yourself to the eco-friendly ella + mila. They offer the perfect shades for summer and are Leaping Bunny certified. 2. Warm-toned Hair and Highlights: I have mentioned this before, but this is not going anywhere for the rest of 2022. Naturally more low-maintenance, warm-toned hair gives us all a break from the extreme bleaching and maintenance that comes with the upkeep of cool-toned hair. Some of the biggest trends that are being rocked right now are warm-toned brunettes, honey blondes, and warm caramel highlights. 3. Bright Colors: Summer is as good a time as any to add super bright colors to your wardrobe, and this year will be no exception. Some of the biggest and brightest of the colors I am currently seeing are bright hot pink, lime green, and vibrant blue. Not 100% on showing up to the office in a neon power suit? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Instead, try incorporating a bright accessory into a mostly neutral or nude-toned outfit. That way, you can try the trend before diving headfirst into it if you are unsure of how you feel about bright colors. 4. Neutral Tones: For as bright as we are seeing, nude and neutrals are still very in and will be for quite some time. Some favorites of this color palette are light peaches, beige, light cocoa colored, and dark chocolate brown. I especially love finding neutral dresses and pairing them with matching open-toed heels to tie the entire look together. A fully monochromatic look can never truly go wrong. Add a few accessories to the look and you have the perfect outfit! 5. Hats What I’m Talking About: A great way to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays while looking fresh is a stylish hat. Now that the 90s have returned, tap into your skater energy with a bucket hat or go the timeless classic route with a Genevieve sun hat. The floppier and bigger the brim, the better! I hope that you have enjoyed the month's Style Savvy! Remember: Never be afraid to try new trends and styles, part of the fun of getting dressed up is wearing what you love but also branching out. With so many fun options, I hope you find something here that enhances and adds to your signature summer style!
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OUT & ABOUT CORPORATE RAINBOWS AND CULTURE WARS GIULIANO D’OR AZIO Ahh, finally, June is upon us. Personally, it’s my favorite month of the year, as summer is my favorite season. The long days full of possibilities that lie ahead in warm, windless mornings, sunkissed afternoons, and star filled, romantic nights. And oh yea, it’s Pride Month (™). Don’t get me wrong, I love the unapologetic celebration of queer identity, however what Pride has become can feel so removed from it’s original purpose. The phrase “The first pride was a riot”, has risen in popularity as a response to the overt commercialization of pride we’ve seen in recent years. This year, you’ll probably find that phrase stamped across Target’s infant onesies in every color of the rainbow. It’s not lost on me that representation is important, and for that reason I can’t be completely salty. For a young queer person experiencing rejection from family and community, seeing any sort of celebration of queer identity can give a much needed ray of hope for the future. However, seeing corporation after corporation trot out their pride collection, without any real appreciation or acknowledgement for those who fought and died so we can celebrate Pride, feels tone deaf and hollow. I think true corporate allyship (if there is such a thing – in my opinion Pride ought to be an anti-capitalist affair, but that’s a conversation for another time), needs to look like more commitment to changing corporate culture through DEI and education, and more allocation of dollars towards organizations that are doing the real work of supporting queer folx, and lobbying behind legislation that protects our rights. The aesthetic stuff is nice, but I don’t know if we really need help in that department… We are pretty fabulous in our own right! When thinking about all this, I have to say the main reason I’m miffed by all the empty gestures surrounding Pride is because of the political climate in which queerness currently exists. Corporate rainbows and colorful TV spots are about as impactful as Easter Bunny decorations when you look at the very real attacks on LGBTQ+ rights that continue across America. Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill has passed under the guise of ‘parental rights’, and in Texas, supportive parents of trans kids could be jailed as a result of supporting their child’s gender-affirming medical care. To the Targets, Wal-Marts, Starbucks and Disneys of the world, we need your political and cultural sway in these matters far more than a cute commercial or some rainbow socks. As most of you reading this probably know, Worcester celebrates Pride in September, and I do happen to know that there’s a lot of great events being planned, with the intent of blending celebration and activism. I’ll be certain to cover those developments as Worcester’s Pride Coalition rolls out more announcements. For now, check out prideworcester. org for the latest news and updates. Looking to celebrate this month? Rhode Island Pride is in Providence on June 18, and for a little more of a hike, check out what is arguably the biggest Pride celebration in the world, New York City Pride on June 26! Happy Pride everyone (except Greg Abbott, Ron DeSantis and most of the Supreme Court)! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay in love. Be your amazingly beautiful queer self this month and always. Bio Giuliano D’Orazio (he/him) is a Worcester native, musician, music educator, member of the queer community, and a board member of Love Your Labels. Email: giulianodoraz@gmail.com Instagram: @musicbygiuliano
24 MAY 20 22
TH E U NOF F ICIAL
CANNABIS CAPITAL OF THE EAST COAST Not only is Worcester home to the Cannabis Control Commission and The Harvest Cup - New England’s premiere cannabis competition, but we also have thirteen dispensaries within our borders.
HAVE YOU TRIED THEM ALL YET?
E-Liquids • Mods • JUUL • puff bars • Nicotine Salt Pod Based Systems • CBD • Glass Wraps • Papers
DID YOU KNOW?
The Summit Lounge, Massachusetts’ first and only private cannabis club is located here.
student discounts available mention this ad for 10% off 652C park ave, worcester • 774-243-1070 • therizeshop.com instagram @therizeshop facebook @therizeshop
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The Botanist
The Vault
65 Pullman St
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17 Mountain St E
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Mission
640 Lincoln St Ste 200
Buds Goods & Provisions
62-68 West Boylston St
Diem
Trulieve
74 Grafton St
142-A Southbridge St
Mayflower Medicinals
Major Bloom
76 Millbury St
Good Chemistry 9 Harrison St
Cookies
645 Park Ave
118 Cambridge St
Sunnyside
1023 Southbridge St
DID YOU KNOW?
In the early 1900s, Massachusetts became the first US State to restrict cannabis at the state level. Lame.
Clear Sky
143 SW Cutoff
Resinate
1191 Millbury St
$
3B
Massachusetts dispenseries have surpassed $3 Billion in sales since the first one opened in November 2018. Whoa!
MOBILE BLOOM
Can’t make it to a dispensary? No problem. The people at locally owned Major Bloom have you covered, but it’s not worth it unless you plan on stocking up. For orders of $100 or more, they will deliver within a 20-mile radius of their Millbury Street location . However, if you order more than $300, delivery is free. Happy 300th Birthday Worcester. I’ll be smoking one in your honor. Thanks for reading this hybrid column, and as always, happy trails. - Travis Duda (@hunchbacktravis)
26 JU NE 20 22
CITY LIVING • ARCHITECTURE • DESIGN
A NEW DINING EXPERIENCE IN CITY SQUARE VINCENT PACIFICO One of Worcester’s newest and trendiest spots to dine at is none other than The Mercantile, located at 2 Mercantile Street. This new restaurant at Mercantile Center features American tavern cuisine, two floors of dining and bar experience and has one of the city's first and only rooftop bars. A popular spot to enjoy dinner and drinks out on the town with views of Worcester’s redeveloping cityscape. This area was formerly part of the Worcester Center Galleria later known as the Worcester Common Fashion Outlets which eventually closed its doors in 2006. This center was an urban renewal project that changed most of that downtown area and turned it to an inward facing mall and shopping center. The CitySquare project has been an ongoing effort in this area of downtown which is helping to recreate and redevelop the areas that were lost due to the urban renewal project. Mercantile center is one of the premier mixed use properties in that neighborhood that hosts a variety of retail and commercial spaces which brings a sense of community and life to rejuvenate this area of the city. The Mercantile sits on the corner between the road and the pedestrian walkway, which cuts through Mercantile Center. This desirable spot provides prime street front exposure and an eye-catching design for those passing by. The building's exterior, having a combination of brick, exposed metal beams and large glass windows, gives it a modern industrial look making a direct reference to the dozens of factories left in the city for its manufacturing heyday. For those living or working downtown, its location is perfect for an evening outing and is just minutes away from popular spots like Polar Park and DCU Center. The restaurant’s interior layout features two floors of dining space, two 50 seat bars, private event spaces and an open rooftop bar and patio. Similar to several food establishments in this area, you go down stairs as you enter the building so the space gets much larger bringing you down below the sidewalk grade. The interior features high ceilings of exposed structure showing all of its electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems which gives off a utilitarian vibe with an upscaled twist. Everything from the light fixtures, to the staircases and even the bar back has a cold industrial feel but the warm lighting gives an inviting contrast to the dining experience. If you are coming to The Mercantile for the first time to experience a new cuisine in town or just to sight see a newly designed space, this restaurant will not disappoint. Its energy and aesthetic speaks to Worcester at its core, and will surely become a staple in the city’s restaurant and nightlife scene.
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SPORTS & FITNESS
SHERWOOD'S DINNER
A TASTE OF WORCESTER
RIGHT FIELD VIDEO BOARD
BEANTOWN BETTY
WHAT'S COOL & NEW FOR WOOSOX '22 JENNIFER RUSSO A Taste of Worcester
Polar Park has become the summer destination for sports fans and families throughout Central Mass. Aside from having a great team this year, there are a number of new features that have been added to the park since last season. Ballpark Design Coordinator Ben Weingarten filled me in on what’s new this summer for the Woo Sox, let’s take a look!
It seems like every time I open social media, someone is raving about A Taste of Worcester, Polar Park’s food stand that highlights rotating chefs and restaurants from all around the city. “It’s a very cool opportunity to be able to feature different tastes in the ballpark besides the core groups,” Weingarten notes. Ziggy Bombs was a recent guest, but fans can look forward to Lock 50 occupying the space from May 31 to June 5 and the Taco Spot from June 14 through 19. Their Birria tacos are amazing and it's worth a trip to Polar Park just to enjoy all that cheesy goodness.
Rockland Trust Plaza
Beantown Betty Fans are welcome to stop by Beantown Betty, a retired Duck Boat you might recognize from the Red Sox World Series parades in 2004 and 2013. After all that partying with original dirt dogs like Trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra, Beantown Betty is now peacefully enjoying the view over the Simply Orthodontics Berm. She is available for group rentals, and is open to fans during games. Rumor has it if you whisper “cowboy up” three times Kevin Millar will appear and sing “Born in the U.S.A.” to you.
Fresh off a ribbon cutting, Rockland Trust Plaza is a “hypotenuse” between downtown Worcester, parking for games, and Union Station and serves as the start of the ballpark experience. “Just a lot of new trees and greenery, it’s pretty amazing to see how much this little path was transferred from a year ago,” Weingarten says. The unique water feature in the plaza is a tribute to the Blackstone Canal that still flows under this area of the city.
Ballpark Design Coordinator,
Ben Weingarten
Sherwood Diner This authentic diner that was originally built in Worcester during the 1940’s has been restored and found its new home on Summit Street. “It’s now the home to the WooSox Foundation as well as the pregame broadcast from Cumulus radio,” Weingarten explains, “Ball players, mascots and special guests will be there to visit throughout the year.” Keep an eye out for autograph signing sessions with some of your favorite players!
28 JU NE 20 22
Many of the new features at Polar Park were actually created from fan input. The new 22’ by 39’ LED video board in the middle of the Worcester Wall, concession items like cotton candy and loaded smiley fries and even more drinking fountains were all fan suggestions. “That’s one of the things that’s been so special working for this team is how closely the leadership listens to fan suggestions and improvements and really takes them to heart and acts on them right away,” says Weingarten. I am personally grateful to the fans who came up with the Beer Bat, and although I haven’t had the chance to see this yet I am positive that I’m going to love it when I make it out to a game. There are also new general admission areas to enjoy and spaces available for group rentals, like the Triple Decker Garden. Whether you’re a foodie looking to check out A Taste of Worcester, or you enjoy drinking your alcohol out of baseball bats, there is definitely something for everybody at Polar Park.
Shaun2 KNOWS SPORTS?
SHAUN CONNOLLY
A PERFECT GAME: AN ALLEGORY It rained on the walk there. Poured even. I was wearing a vintage wool American Legion baseball uniform with athletic pants, and striped blue and orange socks, worn high like (you know) a baseball player. When I arrived at Crompton Park I was dripping. I created the correct dimensions for a field, broke out a bunch of balls, had a bat at the ready and set up a tilted garbage barrel for the strike zone. My friends, family members and acquaintances trickled into the field and started taking bets on how quickly I would fail. Laughs were had. On Sunday May 15th I attempted to throw a perfect game. A feat that is nearly impossible to do. Only 23 men have done such a thing in Major League history. A pitcher must get 27 consecutive batters out with them recording a hit, a walk or getting hit by a pitch. Not a single one of the opposing batters can reach base for whatever reason. Baseball is a game of human error and you, as the pitcher, have to defy that. The first one ever thrown was on June 16th, 1880 at the Agricultural Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds’ entrance was on what is now Russell St. off of Highland St. in Worcester. Most of the area that was the ballpark is now the defunct Becker College’s quad. J. Lee Richmond completed the storied league’s first ever perfect game in Worcester. He did so after partying all night at Brown University’s graduation dinner. Part of the graduation festivities was a class baseball game at 4:50 AM. Richmond played that game, then went to bed at 6:30 AM, then woke up just in time to catch a train from Providence to Worcester. The train, however, was delayed and he had to skip dinner. He was now to pitch the game on an empty stomach and nearly no sleep, and guaranteed to be hung over. This perfect game was actually his third shutout in nine days and before taking the mound that day had a streak of 42 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Before even completing a feat that up until that moment seemed impossible, Richmond was acting like peak Pedro Martinez. That’s actually untrue, because Martinez’s longest streak was “only” 31 innings. Funnily enough Martinez also threw nine innings of perfect baseball, it’s just that the game went into extras and was unable to finish the game on his own. I tried to do this and failed valiantly. Eighteen peers came to try and take me down. A popular frontman of a local rock band was there, as well as several comedians, a WPS teacher, an accountant, a man with a knee injury from attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail, a 4 year old, and a college professor tipsy from brunch. The lineup wasn’t exactly peak athleticism or even aware of how to play wiffle ball correctly. I can proudly say I got to 11 straight outs twice (after failing the first time, the group agreed that the weather got so nice we had to play a doubleheader). That was no small feat. I broke a sweat throwing a ball that weighs two thirds of an ounce. These batters worked counts, took pitches, and also put the ball in play. Both times, though I could get out of the 4th inning. Once with a hit batter, and once with a single BY THE ACCOUNTANT OF ALL PEOPLE. This, for sure, is going to be a regular event. We had so much fun hanging out, making fun of me and playing in a low stakes athletic event. For future years, I think I will do it for charity. People will be able to vote on whether I’ll achieve it or not. Each vote will be $5 or something. We’ll have bands play, food vendors, make it a spectacle. To be perfect is inhuman. Ask my wife, I’m anything but. But the pursuit is just as fun. You get to hang with friends, out in the sun and share some laughs. Also, for the record, I struck out that four year old. Every. Damn. Time.
Special Thanks to Brian Goslow! t h epu ls emag.com
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NEW IN THE WOO: MINT KITCHEN + BAR IRENA KAÇI Mint Restaurant and Bar sits on the corner of Park & Maywood, where The Blarney Stone once rocked and rolled. But instead of the oversized barroom, there is now a standard issue bar with a tucked away kitchen cooking Northern Vietnamese food only matched only by the offerings of New York City. Co-owners Trang and Van Le are a wife and husband team with a long history of hospitality and a passion for good food. As I walked past the ornate door, I was impressed with the changes to the ambiance, courtesy of their vision. Trang Le worked in retail management through the majority of her life but in 2019, just before the pandemic, she was ready for a change. That’s when she learned about the Diverse Food Entrepreneur program Trang immigrated from Ba Ria, in Northern Vietnam in 1982. “I was in 3rd grade when I first moved here, so I feel like I grew up in Worcester just as much.” Van Le, on the other hand, was a teenager when he first moved to the US from Saigon and has been in the restaurant industry for most of his life. Van Le’s previous restaurant in Worcester was the much beloved Tortilla Sam’s, a fact that definitely inspires confidence in his vision. “I liked doing Tortilla Sam’s but this food, the food we are offering at Mint is a lot closer to home.” When I ask about menu items, they recommend the standouts they both agree are number 46 Bun Cho Ha Noi and number 49 Cha Ca Thang Long. The 46 is a meatball dish from Ha Noi and the latter is a Turmeric flavored Fish dish. “These are the dishes that President Obama had when he visited Vietnam,” Trang Le says proudly. “Of course, so far our biggest hits have been from the late night menu, the chicken wings. ” Van Le adds, laughing. Mint offers a full bar with their own specialty drinks menu. Trang Le is quick to explain that one of the most gratifying aspects of this business is that it really has brought her family together. “We never used to cook together or collaborate together like this before. But now, this is what we do. We all do this together”. Amongst the favorites on the cocktail menu are the Miss Lychee and the Scorpion Bowl. “The Miss Lychee was my son Nick’s idea. He actually came up with most of the specialty drinks.”
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Looking over the dessert menu, Haupia Pie immediately catches my eye. “That one is my favorite too,” offers Trang Le “but I think not a lot of people know about it. I told my daughter Vanessa, who did the dessert menu, we had to have Haupia Pie on there.” In the corner by the bar there is now a small stage, and Van Le is excited to rotate through some events, including karaoke and live bands on Friday and Saturday nights respectively. “My son Alex helped with the menu and so I have to take care of all the event planning.” Van says good naturedly. The passion for hospitality is abundantly clear in every aspect of the space. Everything is done by the family; even the logo was designed by the Trang Le’s nephew, Hoang Nguyen. “This is very much a continuation of my community work, “says Trang Le, who during the Covid19 lockdown volunteered to cook hot and culturally appropriate meals for housebound elderly in need “I just love to help, and especially help by feeding people. It is just who I am.”
Worcester | Northampton iresinate.com
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