The Pulse Magazine

AUGUST 2018 IN THIS ISSUE: COVER STORY

21 THE CENTRAL SCENE

6 FOOD TRUCKS TAKE OVER THE WOO

22 CLUB, PUB + GRUB LISTINGS

FOOD + DRINK

26 PULSESHOTS

10 DINING REVIEW:

LIFESTYLE

110 GRILL OFFERS UP A RENAISSANCE OF FRESH FLAVOR

28 GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR

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CHARITABLE BUCK

11 HOT & NOW

29 OUT+ABOUT:

12 NEW AROUND THE WOO:

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS FACE REPEAL

MADDI’S COOKERY + TAPHOUSE

30 THE LUXE LIST:

13 PULSEBREW:

5 FAB SUMMER TRAVEL SOLUTIONS

SPORTS + FITNESS

SUMMER IN A BOTTLE

14 PURGATORY BEER CO. PUTS

WHITINSVILLE ON THE CRAFT BEER MAP

ENTERTAINMENT

32 A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD: ADAPTIVE

34

GYMS ARE TRENDING UPWARD 33 FINDINGBALANCE:

16 THE PALLADIUM GOES OUTDOORS FOR

STOP COMPLAINING

MUSIC FESTIVAL

ART + CULTURE

17 GAMEON:

34 POW! WOW! BRINGS COLOR

MUTANT FOOTBALL LEAGUE MAKES FOOTBALL FUN AGAIN

TO THE CITY

35 CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL LOOKS TO

18 NOAMESCO WELCOMES ALL TO

CREATE LEGACY

ITS NEW LOCATION

STYLE+BEAUTY

19 PULSEBOOKS: BOOKS TO DISTRACT YOU FROM THE SUMMER HEAT

36 BEAUTY FOR GOOD

20 NOWSTREAMING:

37 STYLESAVY:

THE CARTERS / CHRISTINA AGUILERA / WE THE KINGS

GET COOL WITH BROWN

READ PULSE ONLINE: ThePulseMag.com

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PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 88 Winter St., Worcester, MA 01604. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. Pagio, Inc. does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in Pulse reflect the views of the author(s) and not the official policy of the Pagio, Inc., unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement by Pagio, Inc. unless so stated. Material printed in Pulse is covered by copyright. No copyright is claimed to any work of the U.S. government. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission. For information on permissions, reprints and other services, contact Pagio, Inc. Also by Pagio Inc.: Worcester Medicine, Vitality Magazine, Thepulsemag.com, Thevitalitymag.com, & TasteWorcester.com

Paul Giorgio, Publisher pgiorgio@pagioinc.com Donna Roberson, Editor droberson@pagioinc.com Vanessa Herbold, Art Director vherbold@pagioinc.com Berkeley Wlodarczak, Marketing & Event Manager berkeley@pagioinc.com David Simone, Vice President, Sales dsimone@pagioinc.com

Chris Reddy, Account Executive creddy@pagioinc.com Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Jennifer Russo, Lifestyle Editor Kimberly Dunbar, Jennifer Russo, Jason Savio, Bernie Whitmore, Michael Wood, Paul Giorgio, Audra Brackett, Merilee Kern, John Trobaugh, Sloane Perron, Jamie Burke, Rachel Shuster, Writers

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COVER S TO RY

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August 2018

Story by Sloane Perron • Photography by Madison Busick Local food trucks are serving up variety, great food and a fun way to dine in Central Massachusetts. And now, they’re more popular than ever before.

Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., a treasure trove of Worcester’s food trucks can be found waiting at Food Truck Row, located in a public parking lot on Highland Street behind the Worcester Auditorium. Beyond offering up great food, these food trucks offer up great stories and interesting histories as they make their mark on Worcester’s food scene.

The Dogfather is a well-known staple on the Worcester food truck scene. The business began with a series of unexpected events, according to owner Mark Gallant.

“It all started with a Crock-Pot of chili,” Gallant said. Gallant invented his own chili recipe and entered the Pulse Magazine Chili Cook-Off, where he won first place three years in a row. After losing his job, Gallant was at home when he came up with the idea of using hot dogs as a “delivery method” for his award-winning chili. From there, The Dogfather was born and “the hot dogs took on a life of their own.”

The Dogfather uses Kayem natural hot dogs and has 6 million combinations of hot dog toppings to choose from, according to a professor who stopped by the food truck one day. Gallant enjoys seeing the reactions of the customers who visit his truck. “We will put anything on a hot dog, and you cannot get that any place else,” he said.

After nine years in business with The Dogfather, Gallant has seen firsthand how the food truck industry in Worcester has evolved. According to Gallant, the city of Worcester has become much friendlier to food trucks throughout the years. “When I started in the business, four food trucks were permitted in the city; now, there are 50.”

Not only are there more food trucks in the city, but together, they have formed a supportive community of their own. Gallant said that the area food trucks have come together to create Woo Trucks, which is a coalition of food trucks in the city. Woo Trucks oversees the new Food Truck Row on Highland Street, as well as hosts many food truck

festivals in the area. Whether it is giving referrals for jobs or even letting another food truck borrow a generator when theirs is broken, Gallant is proud of the camaraderie that has developed among the food truck owners in Worcester, and he wants food enthusiasts to see that sense of community for themselves on Food Truck Row. “Support the local food trucks in Worcester!” he said.

Scott Tefft spent 30 years in the catering business before coming onto the Worcester food truck scene in 2014 with his company, Big T’s BBQ. Tefft was attending a Worcester City Council meeting when the members announced that they were relaxing the laws in regards to food trucks to entice more businesses into the city.

“The next thing you know, I am selling barbecue in the city of Worcester,” Tefft said. After previously having two restaurants and working behind the scenes in the kitchen for years, Tefft wanted a way to interact with his customers directly and cook without all the capital and risk of a restaurant. “With a food truck, I am able to build a business.”

Tefft likes traveling around and does not have a set schedule. Instead of sitting roadside, Big T’s BBQ can usually be found at local festivals, concerts and breweries. He regularly posts his location on social media. BBQ Pulled Pork, Texas Brisket and Carolina Chicken are Tefft’s tasty regular dishes, but he always enjoys experimenting with different meats and marinades. The ability to have variety and try experimental dishes is a reason why Tefft believes food trucks have become such a huge trend in Worcester.

“It gives people a different opportunity to try something new.” Today, Big T’s BBQ has two trucks, with hopes of one day acquiring a storefront to sell barbecue sandwiches every day.

While hot dogs and barbecue are more traditional food truck offerings, Worcester also has its share of unconventional cuisine. Teddy’s Lunchbox is a “whimsical” food truck that features out-of-the-box recipes, according to owner Melissa Vaillancourt. Owning a restaurant was a dream that Vaillancourt shared with her father and a goal she wanted to pursue even after he passed away. The idea for a food truck came while she and her husband were at a show and waiting in line at a food truck. After waiting for 30 minutes and receiving raw food, Vaillancourt realized she could do better then that.

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“We kind of got thrown into it,” she joked about the start of her food truck venture.

Using her 15 years of cooking experience, Vaillancourt started Teddy’s Lunchbox along with her mother, Carmen Ryfa, and her brother, Anthony Ryfa. According to Vaillancourt, her brother comes up with all the “off-the-wall recipes,” such as the Bacon Mac and Cheese Quesadilla. Instead of having a restaurant with a set menu, a food truck allows the family the flexibility to experiment with recipes and create new flavors.

“People like the idea of variety and the idea of food coming to them,” Vaillancourt said of the food truck trend. While restaurants are more “cutthroat,” according to Vaillancourt, the food truck industry in Worcester fully supports one another and lends each other a hand in times of need. Vaillancourt recalled a time when her generator broke, and The Dogfather lent them one.

“One big food truck family. Really nice community to work with,” Vaillancourt said.

John Wadkins and his business partner, Jay Fiset, were classically trained chefs working in fine dining restaurants in Boston when a friend needed help at a food truck festival.

It was during that event that Wadkins and Fiset were inspired to get a food truck of their own. Instantly, the duo had 10 different ideas for food trucks, ranging from classic burgers to gourmet fresh pasta. However, they liked the idea of creating cheesy fries and having a poutine truck.

“Whatever we can put on fries, we can put in between two pieces of bread, as well,” Wadkins said. This led to the creation of Melt.

Starting the actual food truck business took some time, as Wadkins and Fiset had to adjust to cooking on a truck. Restaurants have big kitchens, easy access to ingredients and time for the chefs to create dishes. In a food truck, Wadkins and his business partner had to work in a much smaller space and work more quickly. Designing and reconfiguring the Melt truck took about a year and a half. While the truck cost $37,000, Wadkins explained that food trucks are still much more affordable than restaurants and do not have as many risks involved.

“Doing the numbers, having a restaurant is not as lucrative as people think it is,” he said.

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August 2018

The Melt food truck travels from Worcester to Boston and every place in between.

Wadkins likes being at a different spot every day because he enjoys seeing new places and different people every week. Wadkins believes that the fine dining fad is giving way to food trucks. For Wadkins, food trucks have it all: quick service, cheap prices, variety and constant travel, which keeps it “fresh and fun” for both the customers and the food truck owners themselves.

“It’s fun!” he said.

What started as a joke became a successful business for Veronica Crespo. After 30 years in the food business, Crespo was thinking about unique food truck ideas when she thought about what her own favorite food was – the Cuban food that her grandmother made for her. It took three years after buying the truck to be in business, but Sabor Latino officially opened in March of 2017. Crespo jokes that she entered the food truck industry with “rose-colored glasses on.”

“Food trucks were becoming a trend, and I did not want to deal with brick and mortar,” Crespo explained of her decision to get a truck. She also enjoys the freedom of traveling around. “I am a slave to my truck, but it affords me the opportunity to meet different people.”

As far as she knows, Sabor Latino is the only food truck specializing in Cuban cuisine that exists in the area. In the past, Worcester was behind the times, while other cities welcomed food trucks. Today, Crespo credits the city government for “embracing” food trucks. She is also excited that Food Truck Row was established for this growing industry.

“I really hope to see people come out and embrace it,” she said. Sabor Latino can be regularly found at Food Truck Row, Tuesdays through Fridays. For Crespo, Sabor Latino is not just about celebrating Cuban cuisine, but it is also about paying homage to the “beautiful memories” she has of her grandmother.

“These are her recipes,” she said.

In addition to Food Truck Row, food trucks can also be found at local breweries. At Cold Harbor Brewing in Westborough, food trucks were the perfect addition, according to head brewer and co-founder, Brandon Heisler, and his business partner, Will Oliveria.

Heisler explains that after receiving their pouring license from the city, he and Oliveria were concerned about people drinking without eating food for safety reasons. The addition of the food trucks allowed customers to eat, but more importantly, it gave the brewery more of a family-friendly atmosphere. Instead of just being a place where people drink, Heisler and Oliveria wanted Cold Harbor Brewing to be “a place where people can go to feel welcome.”

What started as a test run of having food trucks on the weekends has turned into a crowded, regular event at the brewery. Not only has adding food trucks made the brewery feel more “community-oriented,” but it also allows Cold Harbor Brewing and the food trucks to support one another. At Cold Harbor Brewing, Heisler said, “true relationships” are formed between the brewery staff and the food truck owners. The music, relaxing atmosphere and fun food truck cuisine allows people of all ages to enjoy themselves at Cold Harbor Brewing.

Scott Cullen, co-owner and head brewer of River Styx Brewing in Fitchburg, took his time researching the brewing industry and traveled all over the country. While traveling, he began noticing the relationship between breweries and food trucks. Cullen said he likes that food trucks are an unconventional way of getting take-out.

PERFECT PAIRS Grabbing dinner from a food truck at a local brewery? Make sure you have the perfect beer for your food truck cuisine.

COLD HARBOR RECOMMENDS: • • • • •

RIVER STYX BREWING RECOMMENDS: • •

“It goes well with the brewery vibe,” he said.

•

River Styx Brewing has food trucks almost every day, with some of the trucks even using River Styx beer in their sauce recipes. Cullen is constantly trying out new trucks and gathering suggestions to see what works best for the brewery. Overall, Cullen is happy with the decision to invite food trucks to the brewery. “The response has been good – a great idea,” he said.

•

Whether driving around the city, partnering with local breweries or even spending an afternoon at Food Truck Row, these food trucks are around to make sure that the people of Worcester get their favorite food fixes.

Damsel NEIPA with Sriracha Wings from Travelin’ Bones.

Feather Edge NEIPA with Shrimp Tacos from StreatFoodRX. Bilbo’s Brown Ale with Pickleback Sandwich from Say Cheese.

Truell’s Best Bitter with Nachos from Pangea.

Tradesman Double IPA with Brisket Rueben from Urban Smokestack BBQ.

Galaxy of Astraios with Beef Brisket Mac and Cheese from Travelin Bones BBQ. Helios the Sun God with Spicy Steak and Cheese Sandwich from Jimmy D’s BBQ and Slow Cooking.

Proteus 6 with Carne Asada Tacos with Guacamole from Zapata Mexican Cocina.

Rhea Darkness with Pickleback Grilled Cheese from Say Cheese.

RAPSCALLION BREWERY RECOMMENDS: •

Honey with a baked soft pretzel served with homemade cheese sauce from the brewery’s own food truck.

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F OOD + DRI NK

110 GRILL

OFFERS UP A RENAISSANCE OF FRESH FLAVOR Bernie Whitmore

my glass of Greater Good’s Pulp Imperial IPA.

If there’s a debate regarding whether Worcester is in a state of renaissance, I think it’s helpful to differentiate between rebirth and boom times. Anyone who suggests the city is booming really needs to visit Boston for perspective.

On a recommendation, I moved into the salad course with the Roasted Beet Salad. Topped with a blizzard of creamy goat cheese crumbles, cubes of purple and golden beets were tossed with pickled onion strips, walnut halves and springy arugula leaves. Roasting is a wonderful treatment for beets because the high heat caramelizes their natural sugars and adds flavor depth.

But rebirth? I’m willing to buy that notion. And if you should visit the 110 Grill – no, make that when you visit the 110 – you might even feel a wave of optimism brush by. For as much as we’ve heralded scores of new restaurants recently, they’re almost always rehabs of pre-existing structures, usually in the style of shabbychic. That’s us. That’s Worcester.

The 110 Grill changes that. On entering, you’re surrounded by walls of glass that look out onto a crystal-clear cityscape that’s new. The change is so

110 GRILL 123 FRONT ST,. WORCESTER (774) 420-2733 110GRILL.COM profound that you don’t even stop to wonder what once – and not so long ago – stood on the same site. Future generations might look back on the Worcester Galleria with nostalgia for things lost. But don’t bet the rent money on it.

A view of post-industrial Worcester is one thing; delicious cuisine remains the more important criteria for dining out. That meant my dining companion and I had research to do.

In cooler weather, my appetizer vote would have gone to the 110 Tater Tot Poutine. But it’s summer and time for hot-weather dining traditions. So we decided to share one of the day’s specials, the Fried Clam appetizer. This trimmed-down portion packed mildtasting, lightly breaded whole-belly clams into one of those miniature deep-fryer baskets constructed of gleaming chrome wire.

My friend raved about how lightly fried and crunchy the clams were. “Like a clam shack in Ipswich!” he exclaimed. Agreeing, I thought they tasted perfect with

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August 2018

Across the table, my friend’s Caesar Salad appeared less impressive to me. Insisting it was delicious, he said, “The dressing is flavorful and each leaf is coated.”

Upon reaching a vein of shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, he continued his praise. But from my vantage point, it looked like a bowl of thick Romaine ribs – big chunks of white with very little leafy green.

Continuing with warm-weather traditions, I made the Lobster Roll – a special that evening – my entrée selection. Overflowing from a buttery, toasted brioche bun, large chunks of lobster knuckle, claw and leg meat were a lobster feast. The 110’s treatment is to go easy on the mayonnaise, which can smother the delicate lobster flavor. Remarkably, the chef gave the lobster a quick toss in a bright-flavored lemon aioli. I’m not inclined to squeeze lemon wedges all over my fish, but I found this touch of citrus accent exotic and welcome.

My friend’s entrée, Cuban Swordfish, had its own special touches. The blackened swordfish steak was “perfectly grilled” and served over a black bean, corn and rice salad. Delighted, he discovered the half lime quickcharred over the grill and gave it a few good squeezes.

He approved, “Nice bite to it – very refreshing!”

I could easily have foregone dessert. But then I read about the Gluten Free Chocolate Cake and my choco cravings kicked in. Said cravings were fully satisfied by this warm, creamy-rich, deepest, darkest chocolate cake garnished with huge fresh blackberries and served over a vortex of swirled blackberry puree and exquisitely bitter fudgy sauce.

Yeah, we liked the dessert. And didn’t miss the gluten.

Even though the 110 Grill is new to the area and somewhat stranded from the principle dining districts, it was clear that Worcester had quickly discovered it. The lounges and dining rooms were packed, and the mood was that brand of upbeat we get when all the possibilities of summer loom forth. Surprisingly, despite being in the grip of a heat wave, as the sun set, the outdoor patio had some of the coolest – and most in-demand – seats in town.

HOT&NOW: What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene Paul Giorgio Loved those lemon squares. Those who have a sweet tooth in Central Massachusetts

will have to find a new place for baked goods, as Mrs. Mack’s Bakery in Worcester

shut down after 89 years in business. The bakery and lunch spot on Grafton

Street opened in 1929 and only sold pies. Now, three generations after Gertrude

McAvey started selling the pies, the McAvey family says it’s time to close up shop.

The bakery closed permanently on July 1.

Sole gets a redo. Worcester seafood restaurant The Sole Proprietor will add a new kitchen as part of an overall remodel of the Highland Street eatery. The 38-year-

old restaurant has been due for a makeover, according to Robb Ahlquist, the owner. The construction is expected to take six months and be completed before the winter holidays. The dining room will not be affected by the work, and The Sole will remain open.

There may be joy in mudville. Joy’s Kitchen is set to replace Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro, located at 120 June St. on Worcester’s west side.

Don’t Poke me. Poke, a sushi in a bowl concept restaurant, has opened in

Shrewsbury Commons near Whole Foods. It is owned by Shrewsbury resident

Michael Tomaiolo. It will feature fresh-caught, sustainable fish and claims to be socially responsible.

Northborough gets new restaurants. Our suburban spies tell us that in Northborough, Casta Diva Restaurant Bar & Lounge will serve dinner, while Café Norma, located in the same space, will serve both breakfast and lunch. The restaurants are

located in the space that once housed Giuseppe’s and are owed by the same people who own Worcester’s Cafe Espresso on Chandler Street.

Noodle, noodle everywhere. Rumor has it that a new ramen noodle eatery will soon

open at 38 Franklin St. in Worcester, only yards from Stixx, another ramen place.

Climbing the hill. Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston has a new restaurant, The

Farmer & The Fork, which is operated by John & Susan Lawrence of Peppers Catering.

Changing icons. Two Worcester restaurant landmarks are undergoing changes. A changing neighborhood has led Worcester’s last Jewish delicatessen to seek a new owner – only the third in 98 years in business. Weintraub’s Jewish Delicatessen

has been located on Water Street in the city’s Canal District since 1920. Current owner Dariush “David” Mizrahi bought the business from the Weintraub family

in 1989. Nancy Chang’s Chinese Restaurant, located on Worcester’s Chandler

Street, was recently sold by owner Ignatius Chang. The new owners take over at the beginning of September. No changes are planned at Chang’s.

Moe of the north. A new Moe’s recently opened in Leominster at 865 Merriam Ave. in the middle of July. The new owner is Wally Vurich

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NEW AROUND THE WOO

MADDI’S COOKERY + TAPHOUSE

Rachel Shuster Located at 64 Water St. in Worcester, Maddi’s Cookery + TapHouse is a new hotspot serving up delicious food made from scratch with fresh ingredients sourced from local farms.

“We make creative pub food and really have put thought into all of it,” owner Adam Hicks said. “Everything is made in house as much as possible, including our sauces, dressings, and we cut our own meats and fish, etc.”

Having opened in June, Hicks and his team have already seen support from the community. “Everything is going really well. We’ve received a positive reception so far from a lot of people in the area. Everyone is welcoming, and we already have some repeat guests,” he said.

Although, that’s no surprise since this isn’t Hicks’s first rodeo – the restaurant business is all he’s known and loved. “This is the only thing I’ve ever done since the age of 14,” he said. “I started from the bottom doing dishes to where I am now.” At 14, Hicks attended Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton as a culinary student, then went on to earn a degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island. After college, Hicks worked as an executive chef for Sodexo for nine years. In 2014, he opened the Depot Street Tavern in Milford.

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August 2018

Hicks knew he wanted to open another restaurant after his years of experience and the success of Depot Street Tavern. He soon set his sights on Worcester.

“I like the area down here in the Canal Distract – the family-run businesses, the young entrepreneurship, nightlife, etc., and I wanted to be part of that,” he said.

“It’s a little bit bigger in this area, more people and a different vibe than Milford, which is what I like about it.”

When you walk into Maddi’s Cookery + TapHouse, you are immediately welcomed with a cool industrial and rustic feel.

“There’s a lot of brick, a concrete bartop, an old phone booth, an industrial cage that holds walk-in for our beer cooler, hardwood floors, granite, industrial signs, etc.”

Hicks said. “It’s funky and fun industrial salvage. All of our lighting is old and repurposed, and we have handmade tables that are all different.”

What about the food? Beyond daily specials that change on the menu, Maddi’s Cookery + TapHouse offers a variety of menu items. Starters include Buffalo Chicken Balls, Street Corn, wings, Tuna Crudo and the very popular Coconut Crispy Shrimp and Stick E. Bacon, which is applewood smoked bacon with sriracha and brown sugar!

Starters range from $8-$12.

MADDI’S COOKERY + TAPHOUSE 64 WATER ST., WORCESTER (508) 459-1080 MADDISCOOKERY.COM Salads include a Classic, Spinach & Berry, Beet & Basil and Kale & Quinoa. All range from $8-$10. As for handhelds, those include a Bacon Jam Burger, a Pretzel Pastrami, Twisted Cuban, Shrimp Tacos, Black Bean Falafel Burger and Banh Mi Bao Buns. All range from $11-$15.

Don’t forget the entrees! Those include Fried Chicken & Waffle, Pork Chop, Pretzel Salmon, Scallops & Spuds, a ribeye and rice bowls. All entrees range from $14-$26.

In addition to the delicious food, Maddi’s Cookery + TapHouse has a full bar with a rotating draft list of 20 different draft beers that change multiple times per day!

Get ’em while they’re cold!

Even though Hicks and his team have already seen success with Maddi’s Cookery + TapHouse’s, they aren’t done yet.

“We plan to run events in a private room that we have, introduce a late-night menu and introduce brunch in the coming months,” he said.

PULSEBREW: Summer in a bottle

Ryan Cashman Apart from running headlong into crashing waves or diving into crystal clear lake

water, as is bound to happen when the weather heats up, there is nothing more

refreshing on a hot summer day than an ice-cold beer. The epitome of chilling refreshment is Wachusett Brewing Company’s Blueberry Ale.

Produced by a local company and using a regional fruit, Blueberry Ale combines

taste and affordability. A six-pack of bottles costs just a little more than $10 with tax.

Blueberries are refreshing in their own right. They can be tart, sweet or semi-

sweet. Make a beer out of that? I’m waiting on my porch in anticipation. Also, if you’ve never gone blueberry picking, be sure to put it on your list of Summer Things To Do.

Beer, at least in a modern sense, is meant to be refreshing. The relatively recent

trend of independent micro-brewing and the use of wild and innovative

ingredients has complicated beer. Newer beers, like some fine wines, are made to be paired with food or sipped slowly and discussed, particularly saisons or some

of the crazier IPAs. My beer-drinking companions and I do this on an almost

weekly basis. It’s the fun and natural progression of a great drink. Sometimes, though, we don’t want to think about what we’re drinking.

Sometimes, we simply want to relax. There are times when I don’t want to think about hops or malts or the terroir – yes, beers have terroir now – of the Sonoma

Valley wine vineyard where my beer was aged in an oak barrel for 10 months. I want to relax and enjoy my relaxation.

Porch-rocking is not about thinking. It’s about taking a sip and saying, “Ah, that’s nice.” Wachusett Blueberry accomplishes this through pure simplicity: Take a

standard, well-brewed ale, add blueberries, put it on ice and drink when cold.

That’s what makes it so great for summer, because summer is a season of leisure.

This beer is not just reserved for porch-rocking, mind you. It’s a great beer for a

cookout. The crisp, fruity tones work off of the richness of grilled meats. Plus, you add an element of curiosity by offering something your guests may not have tried before.

Still, Wachusett Blueberry doesn’t hold a monopoly on the season. Sam Summer, Wormtown’s Be Hoppy, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy and Porch Rocker are all fantastic. Even Rolling Rock or Corona – provided you’ve added the lime – bring out those feelings of refreshment, enjoyment and fun.

But if you’re looking for a great, independently produced summertime beer that you can pick up on your way home from work, Wachusett Blueberry Ale is the way to go. It’s simple. It’s good. It’s summer in a bottle.

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PURGATORY BEER CO. PUTS WHITINSVILLE ON THE CRAFT BEER MAP

Ryan Cashman It began, as such things do, in a garage. Kevin Mulvehill and Brian DiStefano, owners and brewmasters of Purgatory Beer Company, started brewing beer in a garage eight years ago as an excuse to hang out.

“It was fun,” Mulvehill said. They started with IPAs, and the first batches, by their recollection, weren’t very good. With each new brew, the quality improved until it got so good that, DiStefano explained, “Our friends said we could sell this [the beer].” But to sell it, they’d need a bigger garage.

A butternut bartop runs along the dense 1890s stone wall. The yellow pine bar, where the beer is served, sits at the back. Above, the menu, a four-squared windowpane, lists out the drinks on tap. Tucked away in the back left corner live the seven barrels that produce the slew of increasingly popular beers: Dirty Swan IPA, 2-Car Garage DIPA, Murgatroyd Pale Ale, Blackstone River Black IPA and Fiero Coconut Rum Porter.

Originally incepted in their minds as a “just suppose” situation, the duo began to take serious steps towards accruing their own space in early 2016. Enter 670 Linwood Ave., Building C, a part of the renovated 19thcentury mill complex along the Mumford River in Whitinsville. The renovation began in February 2016.

Since the grand opening in November 2017, Mulvehill and DiStefano have been getting suggestions from patrons and friends on next steps for the business, like televisions in the taproom. Purgatory Beer Co. isn’t about that.

“It was basically a garage,” Mulvehill said. “It became possible for us to balance our day jobs, families and a brewery, so we went for it.”

“If you come here, you see people talking to each other,” Mulvehill said. “There’s not enough of that anymore.”

“Plus, you talk about something too much, people expect you to do it,” DiStefano added. “Our friends said we were nuts.”

DiStefano chimed in with an anecdote, “We had a guy tell us that he’s made more friends here in the six months we’ve been open than in six years living in the area.”

“We chose to focus on our taproom over purchasing new equipment,” Mulvehill said. “Whatever we could do ourselves, we did.” The finished product is a source of pride for the two.

Purgatory Beer Co.’s taproom is wide and glows as if from another time. Wired between period wrought-iron ceiling frames now painted grey, hundreds of small, Edison-style lightbulbs emit a warm light that plays off the original yellow pine ceiling and polished elm hightop tables that mingle in the center of the room.

“I saw the tree [for the hightops] in the back of this truck and asked if it could be cut into cookies for us to use,” Mulvehill said.

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August 2018

With blossoming relationships with food trucks, local businesses and an expanding customer base, the brewery is poised to become a local landmark.

“We’re seein’ how it goes,” said Mulvehill. “We’re always working on stuff.”

For more information, visit purgatorybeer.com.

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ENT ERTA IN M E N T

THE PALLADIUM GOES OUTDOORS FOR MUSIC FESTIVAL Savanah Hippert This summer, press pause, rewind and head outside for a new music festival that’s sure to draw a crowd.

First, let’s take a quick jump back into the late ’90s – baggy denim was all the rage, midriffs were out, flip phones were a thing and SkateFest was being held outdoors at The Palladium and doing quite well. Come 2005, however, new management comes in, causing SkateFest to move venues, leaving the music hall’s parking lots filled with, well, cars for the years to come.

Now, summer 2018 (filled with various patterns and prints and vintage-yet-chic looks), The Palladium will be moving outdoors once again to host a new event: The Cranking and Skanking Festival on Saturday, Aug. 25.

Featuring Boston’s famous ska punk band, The Mighty Mighty BossToneS, and special guests Toots & The Maytals, The Bouncing Souls, Fishbone, The Pietasters, The Planet Smashers and many more, the festival will shake up the parking lot behind the music hall.

Playing a venue so close to home leaves Dicky Barrett, frontman of The Mighty Mighty BossToneS, looking forward to seeing friends and family. The venue also has the potential to draw fans from near and far due to it’s location and notoriety.

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“Worcester is a classic working-class New England city that historically loves its rock and roll. They welcomed this idea and The Mighty Mighty BossToneS with open arms,” Barrett said. “As far as venues go, The Palladium is a national treasure that has a long, strong list of epic events under it’s belt. Lowell said ‘no’ – I’m kidding!”

The parking lot will be transformed with water stations, outdoor restrooms, various craft beer selections and everything from barbecue to vegan vendors – a little something for everyone! Some of the vendors for the festival include Riverwalk, Castle Island, Berkshire Brew and Jack’s Abby.

Unlike your typical food truck or music festival, Kimberly Carter, Palladium marketing assistant, said the goal is to “bring it all together into one thing and make for an awesome day for everybody.” The event will be welcoming to all ages.

For those unfamiliar, The Mighty Mighty BossToneS made their way into the music scene in the early 1980s, sometimes being credited as one of the progenitors of the ska punk genre and its subgenre, ska core. The genre mixes elements of ska (precursor to rocksteady and reggae), punk rock and hardcore. You might recognize them from their appearance in the cult classic movie Clueless. Fun fact: The band’s most streamed song on Spotify is the notorious “The Impression That I Get,” with more than 35 million streams and counting!

After seven years, the band recently released a new album, While We’re At It, on June 15. So keep your ears tuned for some new kickers, hopefully some oldies and the band’s typical “all-out assault” accompanied by the bells and whistles fans have come to appreciate.

Barrett described the new album as a thorough

examination and complete evaluation of all things that currently interest and amuse the band, while also being an analytical breakdown of everything that has happened both politically and culturally in the world since the early ’60s. However, he said, it could just be a bunch of songs they slapped together because they thought they sounded good.

With The Cranking and Skanking Festival being the last stop on The Mighty Mighty BossToneS summer tour, the festival is the band’s way of showing the New England area some summertime love through the creation of a new – and hopefully annual – event. But don’t just come for The Mighty Mighty BossToneS, there will be plenty of other great bands as well!

“You never know what you’re going to get from Fishbone but always look forward to pure and unfiltered entertainment,” Barrett said. “Canada’s Planet Smashers never disappoint. Big D and The Kids Table have been added and are anxious to show the uninformed just how they’ve achieved Boston Ska Legend status. It’s important to be there on time to see Buster Shuffle from London, England. We’ve been touring around with them lately, and they are – for lack of a better word – brilliant.”

Throw it back a little and crank and skank to new and old music, try the food and enjoy a beer! If you’re really feeling it, maybe even break out your old Converse and pair it with some baggy jeans.

“Expect it to be a lot of fun and a really great day filled with tremendous music. I expect it to be well attended – please don’t let me down people,” Barrett said.

Tickets are available at thepalladium.net; visit bosstonesmusic. com for more information about The Mighty Mighty BossToneS.

GAMEON:

Mutant Football League makes football fun again Jason Savio Sometimes, you come across a game that puts a smile on your face. Mutant Football League, a wacky, weird and awesome take on the National Football League, is one of those games.

Year after year, we await the new high-profile football game to be released, and year after year, it’s basically the same one as before. Now, we finally have a football

game to be excited about. Mutant Football League is everything it sounds like it is

and more. Skeletons, ogres and aliens running the field? Check. Cartoon violence with a funny wink-of-the-eye? Check. It’s a game that’s not meant to be taken

seriously, but its approach doesn’t suggest that it knows that, and that’s part of MFL’s charm.

Mutant Football League is set up like other football games – there’s a season mode, playoffs and what it calls the Mayhem Bowl – but it’s so much better. Instead of having Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, there’s Bomb Shady and

the Nuked London Hatriots. There are original teams, as well, including the Mile High Chronic and Tokyo Terminators. Instead of humans, each team is

comprised of an out-of-this-world lineup of monsters, robots and demons, all of which have an attitude and something to say. But don’t become too attached to your players, there are not just injuries in the MFL – there’s also death.

The gameplay in Mutant Football League is just as outrageous as its players.

Staying true to its over-the-top presentation, MFL has a lot in common with the

smashmouth arcade style of the fan-favorite classic, NFL Blitz. In MFL, however, you have more than one way to win: You can either outscore your opponent or

kill them off. Yes, there is no such thing as a late hit in the MFL; you can literally kick your opponent when they’re down and get into fights in an effort to eliminate them from the game. If you’re running with the ball, you can use a chainsaw to

carve through the defense. But be careful when you’re running the field – land mines, fire pits and other deadly traps are everywhere.

If you haven’t already guessed it, rules are kind of optional when it comes to the

MFL, which can work in your favor and can also work against you. You have

options in your playbook, including the ability to bribe the ref and use a play

called “Ginormous,” in which one of your players grows to a size similar to the

Hulk in order to pummel the opposing team and gain the upper hand. The former is what can lead to frustration at times – it’s great when it works for you and gets

you out of a rut, but when you just completed a huge play and get it called back

for “not knowing the Pythagorean Theorem,” you’re likely to feel like pummeling the ref (which, in fact, you can!).

Add to this the dramatic NFL-inspired theme music that plays non-stop, and you

have an off-the-wall game you won’t be able to get enough of. You’ll never look at a football game the same way again.

For more information, visit mutantfootballleague.com/home.

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NOAMESCO WELCOMES ALL TO ITS NEW LOCATION Natalie Volo In the melting pot that is Worcester, club owner Julius Kumah has created a haven for people of all backgrounds to come together. Noamesco, open for about seven years, recently has taken over the location of the former Tammany Hall.

“I don’t know of any other black-owned clubs/bars in Worcester,” said Shantelle Campbell, who does marketing for the club. And now, Noamesco – which Kumah said is named for his grandfather and means, “one love has as one love gives” – is growing and focusing on becoming an integral part of the Worcester community.

Kumah is originally from Ghana, but moved to Worcester in 1996 and has lived here ever since. He attended Worcester State University, where he played soccer.

Kumah has ties to the Worcester community and aims to make Noamesco a vital part of that community.

Noamesco’s new space allows for more community-based events because it is bigger than the club’s previous space. Campbell said there is plenty of room for VIP celebrations, birthday parties, baby showers and even pop-up shops. Kumah said that he believes hosting such events – events that bring people together – serves the community.

“We consider stuff like that community-building, and (we’re) doing things like that just to get people to know who we are and know that they can host things there,” Campbell said. “It’s downtown; it’s right where everything is, and as Worcester grows, we want to grow with it.”

Noamesco, on its website, is described as a “melting pot.” “(The city’s) a whole bunch of people from a lot of places coming here to work, or for school, and it’s important to know that there’s a place that everyone can come to that you can find some good music,” Campbell said.

Speaking of music, Campbell said Noamesco caters to many different tastes. “It’s a good time; it’s a good atmosphere; it’s a good vibe. We do all types of music.

We sell food sometimes. We have some great drinks, some great people working there, and anyone is welcome to come by and at least see it for themselves.”

If you want to check out Noamesco, there’s no better time than August. The club is hosting its All White Affair on Aug. 18. Kumah said this is a popular event that club-goers look forward to every year. Patrons dress all in white and dress to impress.

“It’s like a reunion that we do every third Sunday of August,” Kumah explained. “We only do it once a year.

If you miss it, you have to wait until next year.”

The All White Affair will be held Saturday, Aug. 18. Doors open at 9 p.m. Dress in all white. $20 cover charge, ladies free before 11:30 p.m. The Labor Day Party will be held Saturday, Aug. 25. Doors open at 9 p.m. $10 cover charge, ladies free before 11:30 p.m. Both events are 21+. For more information, visit noamesco.com.

There will also be a Labor Day Caribbean Flag Party on Aug. 25, which will be a kick-off event for the Caribbean Carnival.

“Labor Day is a big Caribbean thing, a big island thing, and in some places like Jamaica, we do Labor Day every year. It’s about dressing up in costumes, being colorful and dancing to the music of your island and of your country.” Campbell hopes the party will “get people in the mood and ready for the carnival” the next morning.

If you are not able to make it to the Labor Day Party, Campbell said, “Look forward to more events coming from our club – more community ties, more doing things with business owners and collaborations with events that are going on locally.”

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PULSEBOOKS: Books to distract you from the summer heat Kimberly Ruscitti When I came across Georgia Clark’s The Bucket List (Atria Books), I assumed that it would be a typical “chick lit” story about a woman’s journey in finding herself.

What I got was something quite different. Lacey Whitman is every 25-year-old woman’s fantasy – a small-town girl living in a shoebox-sized apartment in New York City and working for a top fashion organization while also developing a fashion app with her close friend. When Lacey finds out she has tested positive for the BRCA1 gene, her sugar-coated existence comes to a screeching halt. Lacey, who lost her mother to breast cancer when she was five, is faced with her own mortality and the heavy decision of whether or not to undergo a mastectomy.

With the help of her friends, Lacey decides to create a bucket list for her boobs. Of course she finds adventure and pleasure, but also the deeper meaning of friendship and a future more complicated than she expected. WARNING: There is a lot of talk about sex and several graphic sex scenes in this book that might cause even the most experienced ladies to blush. But Lacey’s story is about so much more than just a woman on a sexual journey; through Lacey, the reader is invited into the complex world of a BRCA1 diagnosis, which Clark backs up with science and research, resulting in a heartwarming book unlike any you’ve read before.

Barbara Delinsky’s latest book, Before and Again (St. Martin’s Press), is a testament to how life can change in an instant. Mackenzie Cooper had it all – handsome husband, beautiful house and adorable daughter – until the moment she took her eyes off the road and ran a stop sign, killing the driver of the van she hit, along with her small daughter. Delinsky’s story begins five years later; Mackenzie, now Maggie Reid, is living a quiet life in Vermont, safely hidden from her horrible past. She has a job, a house and new friends, none of whom know who the real Maggie is. Maggie’s safe haven is threatened when her small town is thrust into the spotlight after her best friend’s son is accused of hacking the Twitter account of some very important people. Maggie thinks that dodging the national media camped outside of her workplace is her biggest challenge until she discovers her ex-husband, Edward, has moved to town for his own fresh start. As the case surrounding her friend’s son escalates, Maggie must decide what kind of person she is: someone who helps a friend and her son while risking her probation and her anonymity, or someone who runs from her past mistakes whenever times get tough. She soon learns that her life, though safe, is empty without her new friends, ex-husband and estranged mother and brother, all of whom have come back into her life at just the right time. Delinsky’s book is a masterpiece about love and forgiveness. It’s also great PSA for the consequences of distracted driving – one second can change everything.

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THE CARTERS / Everything is Love

CHRISTINA AGUILERA / Liberation

WE THE KINGS / Six

Jason Savio

Mike Wood

Jennifer Russo

Under the name The Carters, Beyonce and Jay-Z’s unannounced joint effort Everything is Love came as a surprise to many. What is not a surprise is their ability to put together a memorable album, which is exactly what you get.

Very few would dispute that Christina Aguilera is one of the best singers of her generation. But, as with her past albums, while she has the pipes, she’s still in search of her “voice” in the pop universe. We’re all for exploration – and explore and experiment she has for almost two decades – with albums so varied she could be 12 different artists. What we really need now, however, is for Christina Aguilera to find Christina Aguilera once and for all.

Historically, I haven’t really been a huge fan of the mainstream style of music listened to by today’s 20-somethings. I can’t really pinpoint why – I suppose I just think too much of it sounds the same.

Everything is Love is, for the most part, a straight-ahead rap album. There are flourishes of Beyonce’s pop charm spread throughout, but she is willing and more than able to go toe-to-toe with her hubby for the faster delivery.

She drops more than one F-bomb, which may catch some casual listeners off guard, but they fit the context of the song. There are plenty of delicate and modern social issues tackled here, including unjustified police arrests and the disturbing and blatant presence of racial inequality in our country. In “Black Effect,” Jay-Z raps, “Get your hands up high like a false arrest/Let me see them up high this is not a test,” over a beat with a sullen streak. His shout-out to the NFL puts the embattled league on notice.

The duo also focuses heavily on their family and the hurdles they’ve faced as partners – including one in particular. For two superstars whose personal lives are usually tightly concealed, it’s a refreshing turn when they decide to come clean about Jay-Z’s reported affair on the album’s closing track, “Lovehappy.” The two have a back and forth banter with Beyonce rapping conversationally: “You (expletive) up the first stone/we had to get remarried” to which Jay-Z tells her to chill and she responds, with a healthy dose of venom, “We’re keeping it real with these people right? Lucky I ain’t kill you when I met that….”

She was a bubblegum genie in a bottle on her self-titled 1999 debut, a down and dirty Xtina on Stripped, an adult-contemporary, R&B-infused chanteuse on Back to Basics (2006) and then an electropop princess on 2010’s Bionic. With both hits and misses to her credit in all her incarnations, Aguilera certainly deserves credit for never playing it safe, and Liberation is no exception, but to what end?

But, ultimately, as the album’s title suggests, everything is love, and reconciliation can win out. All it takes is some doing.

Aguilera relies on a variety of musical styles again, and while it might be considered ambitious if she hadn’t tried this tact so many times before, it sounds and feels uneven. The first half of the album drags. Once we hit her duet with Demi Lovato (“Fall In Line”) about halfway through, we’re all aboard the Xtina train and holding on for the ride until its beautiful ballad finale (“Unless It’s With You”). Throughout the album, you’ll hear over-the-top dramatics, rap, soul, español and soaring power ballads which embrace her incredible signature vocals – but we’ve heard it all before, haven’t we? And we are still left wondering: Who is Christina Aguilera?

For more information, visit beyonce.com.

For more information, visit christinaaquilera.com.

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We The Kings have that youthful pop/semi-emo/punk kind of style to them that, at first glance, seems to fit the category, but there are surprises that help them rise above that musically monochromatic perception I have of the style. First, there is an authenticity about this album that can’t be ignored, and the songs are really well-written. I appreciate the mostly positive messages they contain – especially since there seems to be so many songs out now with a negative attitude toward every little thing.

For instance, the song “Even If It Kills Me” has a hook declaring “I know my worth, I know my worth – it’s enough for me to let you go,” and in “Planes, Trains and Cars,” they sing about finding that thing that leads to self-realization and the drive to succeed at something instead of succumbing to other’s opinions … or even your own opinion sometimes.

Singer Travis Clark has a squeaky clean voice that he commands well, balancing on a higher range and never losing its integrity. The instrumental is confident and mindful, bringing a sense of being present in the moment. And whereas there are many albums that are one- or two-hit wonders, I found the album to be solid all the way through.

For more information, visit WeTheKingsMusic.com.

Events happening around Central Massachusetts in August Natalie Volo

Paint and Bake Paint and Bake is a bi-weekly series of art workshops held at the first cannabisfriendly social club in Worcester, The Summit Lounge. At these intimate workshops, art instruction and supplies are provided. Guests must be 21+ and bring their own cannabis. Paint and Bake allows students to spark up their creativity in a safe setting. Each workshop will have a different theme, and instructors will be there to bring out the artist in everyone. Two Wednesdays per month at 7 p.m.; The Summit Lounge, 116 Water St., Worcester; $35; thesummitprivatelounge.com.

Without A Net Without A Net is a fundraising concert that raises money to benefit the UMass Memorial Cancer Center for Excellence. At Without A Net, musicians come together to collaborate on a set list that they prepare ahead of time. But, the rest is unplanned and unrehearsed. Besides knowing which songs they will perform in which keys, musicians must use their experience and skill to “live in the moment.”

7 p.m. Aug.4; Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St., Worcester; $25 in advance, $30 at the door; bullmansion.com.

Summer Gospel Fest The Summer Gospel Fest is coming back to Worcester for its fourth year. This free, family-friendly community event will feature a diverse group of artists performing gospel music and bringing together people from different cultures and backgrounds. 1 p.m. Aug. 4; Institute Park, Worcester; free; spirituallyfabulous.com.

Bolton Fair The 136th Bolton Fair is an old-fashioned agricultural fair that has been enjoyed by the community for more than a century. This year’s fair will feature a demolition derby, freestyle motocross, monster trucks, Indian River Lumberjack Show, Kenya Safari Acrobats, sheep herding demonstrations, chainsaw carving featuring Josh Landry, racing pigs, Equestrian Drill Team from Ironstone Farms, Kids Country, Bolton Fair Craft Village demonstrations, Burpee Petting Farm and more. Aug. 10-12; The Fairgrounds at Lancaster, 318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster; $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children 5-12 and military personnel; free for children younger than 4; boltonfair.org.

Worcester Restaurant Week Don’t miss the summer edition of Worcester Restaurant Week! Sample food from restaurants all over Worcester without breaking the bank. Participating restaurants create a special menu and offer three-course meals for only $25.18. More than 40 restaurants in Central Massachusetts will offer this amazing deal. Fill your stomach without emptying your wallet! July 30-Aug. 11; participating restaurants; $25.18; worcesterrestaurantweek.webs.com.

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CLUB LISTINGS

Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8438 barberscrossingrestaurant.com Thursdays: Open Mic – Local Musicians Showcase Fridays: Bill McCarthy Aug. 4: Chris Terp Aug. 18: Ron Williams Aug. 25: Dave Malouin Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc.

508-926-8877 beatniksbeyou.com Thursdays: Center Stage Karaoke Aug. 10: Strangers from Canada (Neil Young tribute_ Aug. 11: Lady Lupine Aug. 17: Jesse and His Ghosts Aug. 18: The Dukes of Haggard Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8484 Fridays, Saturdays: Live music Bolton Street Tavern 587 Bolton St., Marlborough 508-485-4416 boltonstreettavern.com Fridays, Saturdays: Live bands Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St., Worc.

(508) 926-8353 Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays: DJs (21+) Civic Kitchen & Drink 121 West Main St., Westborough 508-329-5179 civickitchenanddrink.com Aug. 30: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster 978-537-7750 classicspub.net Aug. 4: Riff-Raff Compass Tavern 90 Harding St., Worc.

508-304-6044 thecompasstavern.com Thursdays: Thursday College Night (21+) Fridays, Saturdays: DJ Aug. 3: Alex Touhey Aug. 10: FM Live Aug. 17: Nick Christy Aug. 24: Ricky Booth Aug. 31: Nick Christy

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The Cove Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc.

508-363-1888 thecovemusichall.com Aug. 3: The Dollyrots, The McGunks, The Evil Streaks and more Aug. 4: Without Warning, Tester, P*ssy Whipped & Junro Aug. 10: Live Rockin Karaoke Aug. 11: On Your Deathbed, Kill The Straggler, Hellitosis & Inverter Aug. 17: Born to Party in the ‹90s Dance Party Aug. 18: Mr. Self Destruct (NIN tribute) The Original Deadites & more Aug. 21: Gorilla Radio (Rage Against the Machine tribute) Aug. 25: Fatal Portrait (King Diamond tribute), 6 Foot Silence Electric Haze 26 Millbury St, Worc.

508-799-0629 Aug. 24: WT Funk Experiment/Slurp/ Sacred Lake Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden 508-829-3008 flipflopsma.com Fridays, Saturdays: Live Music Frank’s 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

774-420-2253 Aug. 4: Foolish U Aug. 11: The Full Monty Aug. 18: Riff Raff Aug. 25: Dezi Garcia Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner 978-669-0122 gardnerale.com Mondays: Blue Mondays Thursdays: Big Music Nights Fridays, Saturdays: Live Music Aug. 4: Sturdy Moss Aug. 5: Jazz Brunch Aug. 10: Fred Ellsworth Aug. 11: Boothill Duo Aug. 17: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell The GazBar Sports Grill 1045 Central St., Leominster thegazbar.com Aug. 3: Jim Weeks Aug. 4: Dustin Brideau Aug. 9: Red Bridge Duo Aug. 10: Ricky Booth Aug. 11: Amanda Cote Aug. 16: Zach Marquis Aug. 17: Kevin Shields Aug. 23: Heather Ralston Aug. 24: Two Timers Aug. 25: Lost Artifacts Aug. 30: Joe Macey Aug. 31: Dan Kirouac

Greendale’s Pub 404 W. Boylston St., Worc.

508-853-1350 greendalespub.com Aug. 3: Full Monty Aug. 5: Jim›s Blues Jam Aug. 10: Coyotes Aug. 11: Rythm 44 Aug. 12: Sunday Jam hosted by Mike G, featuring Gracie Elizabeth Day Aug. 17: Ed Sullivans Aug. 18: Benefit for Tara Cronin Aug. 19: Sunday Jam hosted by Mike G, featuring Mike Lynch Aug. 25: Silverbacks Aug. 31: Riff Raff Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-6793 halliganssportsbarandmore.com Aug. 4, 5: The Road Owls Happy Jack’s 785 North Main St., Leominster 978-466-3433 Aug. 3: Amanda Cote Aug. 4: Rick Hamel Aug. 10: Scott Babineau Aug. 11: Carl Ayotte Aug. 24: Mike Livingston Aug. 31: Big Dave & The Captain Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc.

508-796-5177 loft266.com Tuesdays: Karaoke Wednesdays: Music Bingo Thursdays: Eric Fournier Fridays, Saturdays: DJ Joe T at 11 p.m.

Aug. 3: Two Timers Aug. 17: Dave O’Brien Aug 31: Jay Graham MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc.

508-799-4521 mblounge.com Sundays: Seasonal Martini Sundays Mondays: Industry Night with Keith Tuesdays: Throw Back Tuesdays with Andy R. Wednesdays: Karaoke with Mike Mic’s Thursdays: Drinks with Superman Shawn Fridays, Saturdays: Guest and House DJs Medusa Brewing Company 111 Main St., Hudson 978-310-1933 medusabrewing.com Sundays: Jazz Sundays Thursdays: Open Mic Night Aug. 3: Dave Ashman Jr Aug. 4: Cara Brindisi Aug. 10: Josh Briggs Aug. 11: Mike Melendez Aug. 18: Mike MacDonald Aug. 24: Fields Aug. 25: Van Gordon Martin Trio

Michael’s Cigar Bar 1 Exchange Place, Worc.

508-459-9035 michaelscigar.com Aug. 3: Blue Light Bandits Aug. 9: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Aug. 11: Abraxas Aug. 17: Fellowship of The King Aug. 23: Brett Brumby Aug. 24: Mike Melendez & Ricky Duran Aug. 30: Royal Furs Aug. 31: McKinley›s Mood The Mill 185 185 W. Boylston St., W. Boylston 774-261-8585 themill185.com Aug. 3: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Aug. 4: Bill McCarthy Aug. 9: Cara Brindisi Aug. 10: Jay Graham Aug. 11: Josh Briggs Aug. 16: Scott Babineau Aug. 17: Amanda Cote Aug. 18: Katie O›Brien Duo Aug. 23: The Mint Duo Aug. 24: Tim Leavitt Aug. 25: FM Live Aug. 31: Joe Macey The Monument Tap 13 Central St., Leominster 978-798-4653 monumenttap.com Aug. 3: Keith McLinden Aug. 18: Double Barrel Aug .23: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Aug. 24: Dustin Brideau Padavano’s Place 358 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

774-823-3022 padavanosplace.com Thursdays: Wise Guys Trivia Aug. 3: Becky and the Swingin’ Bards Aug. 4: The Grants Aug. 5: Take Two Aug .10: Confounded Bridge (Led Zeppelin tribute) Aug. 11: Little Sugar & the Big Spoonful Aug. 12: Amanda Cote Aug. 14: Nick and Luck Aug. 17: 19th Nervous Breakdown (Rolling Stones tribute) Aug. 18: Dock 10 Aug. 19: Jesse Ljundggren Aug. 24: Take Two Aug. 26: Clamdigger Aug. 31: Drunken Uncles Continued on Page 25

NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • NORTH COUNTY • DINING • SHOPPING

NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING

NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • NORTH COUNTY • DINING • SHOPPING

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Continued from Page 22

The Palladium 261 Main St., Worc.

508-797-9696 thepalladium.net Aug. 10: For The Fallen Dreams – “Changes” 10 Year Anniversary Tour Aug. 17: «Making History» – Boxing Event Aug. 25: The Cranking & Skanking Fest, featuring The Mighty Mighty BossTones Park Grill and Spirits 257 Park Ave., Worc.

Aug. 3: Jonathan Jay Aug. 4: The Marceau Project Aug. 10: Matt & Marty Acoustic Aug. 11: Roger Convery Aug. 17: The Drunkin’ Uncles Aug. 18: Matt Soper Aug. 24: Highway Kind Aug. 25: Jim Carnazza’s Blues Aug. 31: Ric Porter with Peter Allard Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg 978-345-5051 partnerspub.com Sundays: Karaoke Saturdays: Live Music

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

508-459-2025 quinnsirishpub.com Aug. 3: Adam Makes Noise Aug. 4: James Keyes Aug. 8: Sam James Aug. 9: Lyssa Coulter Aug. 10: Kevin Shields Aug. 11: Graham Brown Aug. 12: Fergus Aug. 15: Mike Melendez Aug. 16: Chris Reddy Aug. 17: Tim Pacific Aug. 18: Adam Makes Noise Aug. 19: Ken Macy Aug. 22: Sam James Aug. 23: Whitney Doucette Aug. 24: Kevin Shields Aug. 25: Chad Clements Aug. 29: Brett Brumby Aug. 30: Lyssa Coulter Aug. 31: Tim Pacific The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc.

508-304-8133 Wednesdays: Open Mic Thursdays: ComMutiny Aug. 4: Cook Bag, Almost Social, Good Sleepy, Planet Mercury, Girl Scout Cookies, Pillbook, Flip The Page, Michael Kane & The Morning Afters, Jonas The Cloud

Aug. 10: AlgoRhy+hm, Toad and The Stooligans, The David Earl Experience, Silica Aug. 11: Harvest Manipulation, Path, Anarchy Inc, Venom Spreader, Kayotik, Dajjal Aug. 24: Grind Mode Cypher with Disturbia Music Group & Sewa Side Squad Aug. 25: Hip Hop Battle South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 W. Broadway, Gardner 978-632-1057 southsidemargaritafactory.com Aug. 3: Dave Andrews Aug. 4: Kyle & Matt Black Aug. 10: Amanda Cote Aug. 11: Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory Aug. 17: Sean Daley Aug. 18: Lost Artifacts Aug. 24: Zack Slik Aug. 25: Ton of Blues Aug. 31: Cailte Kelly Sunset Tiki Bar/The Outlook 79 Powers Road, Westford 978-692-5700 Wednesdays: Chris Reddy at 5 p.m.

Union Music 142 Southbridge St., Worc.

508-753-3702 unionmusic.com Aug. 11: Open Mic with TJ Peavey Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc.

508-752-9439 Tuesdays: Boogie Chillin’ Whiskey on Water 97 Water St., Worc.

774-578-8829 whiskeyonwater.com Sundays, Wednesdays: Karaoke with DJ Soup Thursdays: DJ Cuzn Kev Fridays: DJ TecThreat Saturdays: DJs Aug. 3: Christopher Ruediger Aug. 4: Dock 10 Aug. 10: Eric Paquette Duo Aug. 11: Southern Rain Aug. 17: Hit the Bus Aug. 18: Graham Mosely Duo Aug. 24: Cold Engines Duo Aug. 25: Backyard Swagger Aug 31: Alex 2E Duo White Eagle Polish Club 112 Green St., Worc.

774-245-1991 Thursdays: Musical Bingo

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BY JUSTIN PERRY

SUNSET IN THE CITY – WORCESTER

FLYING RHINO CAFE & WATERING HOLE – WORCESTER

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August 2018

NUOVO – WORCESTER

BEATNIK’S – WORCESTER

LOFT 266 BAR & LOUNGE– WORCESTER

LAKESIDE BAR & GRILLE – SHREWSBURY

THE GAZBAR SPORTS GRILL – LEOMINSTER

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LI F ESTY LE

GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR

CHARITABLE BUCK Savanah Hippert

For a lot of us, donating to charity seems like a very open-ended idea.

It shouldn’t be, but it can be difficult to quickly access and flip through the lengthy, quantifiable data and philanthropic research available on truly effective organizations.

Local businessman Thaddeus Kaliszewski, 27, of Shrewsbury, has taken action to clear up the confusion. How? By founding the non-profit startup The Charity Experiment, he plans to take the guesswork out of donating to charity.

“Not knowing where or how to donate, I think, is a big problem,” Kaliszewski said. “So, by kind of permeating the social media space, I think we can kind of break in and say here’s a very easy, simple way to donate to charity.”

Launched in January, The Charity Experiment nominates three charities each month, and donors vote on where their donations will go. Charities are chosen based on extensive research rooted in effective altruism.

“We answer those other big questions in regard to ‘Am I giving to a trustworthy organization?’ The answer is always going to be yes, because we do so much research and rely so heavily on real, good, solid research that’s done into these organizations,” Kaliszewski emphasized.

After voting, learn about each charity and take action on your vote! With the average donation hovering around $10 a month, you can completely customize how much you give. Every month, an email newsletter is sent out to tell you which organization won, how much money was raised and the potential good that will come of it.

So far, The Charity Experiment has raised more than $700, with 17 people signed up to give every month. About 90 percent of the total donations are recurring donations.

The Charity Experiment offers subscriptions for you to donate seamlessly each month. The three options are The Effective Plan ($5 per month), The Empowerment Plan ($10 per month) and The Impactful Plan ($20 per month). You can even choose to give on a one-time, weekly, monthly or annual basis, with options starting as low as $2!

outreach and back-end business modeling.

Kaliszewski handles marketing, campaigns and a majority of the philanthropic research. However, they’re actively seeking like-minded volunteers to interact on social media within an altruistic movement.

While the Effective Altruism Movement is datadriven and succeeds in performing and publishing research, there’s a lack of sharing this information in a digestible format. Kaliszewski hypothesizes The Charity Experiment will flourish in this aspect by distilling down the analytical, academic language into sharable content through social media.

“I think that that’s a space that could really use some strong marketing campaigns. Especially for organizations that spend no money on marketing. They’re spending all of their money on their programs – as they should,” Kaliszewski commented. “So, we think that we’re kind of filling that gap as well for these organizations; we’re kind of like a pseudo-marketing agency.”

Now in the process of filing for 501(c)(3) status to legitimize the operation, a Go Fund Me campaign was started specifically for The Charity Experiment’s operational costs. Optimistically, Kaliszewski believes that non-profit status will allow for more donors, grant writing, networking opportunities and finding alternative sources of funding in the future, allowing the organization to stay as lean as possible and for Kaliszewski to dedicate more of his time.

With a full-time job and a side hobby as a web designer (Thad, the Vagabond), Kaliszewski will donate half of his supplementary income from web designing directly to The Charity Experiment. While 50 percent might be a steep jump for some, it’s an example that people can take a small percentage of what they make and still be comfortable financially.

“I have a long-term, kind of crazy version of me personally being able to physically go to these places where they’re performing this work and doing whatever it is – like documentary style, you know, running some sort of on-the-ground marketing campaign for these organizations that don’t do this.…

I think we fill a need for both the charitable organizations that we represent and the people, the actual donors – answering their actual questions before they start giving.”

Currently, the operation is just Kaliszewski and lifelong friend Daniel Durning, of Worcester (living in Chicago). Durning acts as COO, handling

For more information about The Charity Experiment, visit thecharityexperiment.com; follow on Instagram and Facebook @thecharityexperiment and on Twitter @charityexp.

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August 2018

OUT+ABOUT: Transgender rights face repeal

Elliott Mercier, Guest Columnist “I want to make sure that people understand that, behind this national conversation around transgender rights, there are real people who hurt when they’re mocked, who hurt when they’re discriminated against, and who just want to be treated with dignity and respect” – Sarah McBride, Trans Activist North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act was implemented in 2016, as legislators were concerned that having transgender folk walk into a bathroom that didn’t correspond with their birth sex would incite voyeurism, as well as violence and harassment of cisgender individuals.

Many know this procedure by its more derogatory name, the “bathroom bill.” This unfairly labeled members of the transgender community as deviants. The trans community was furious because there was no proof to support these assumptions.

Lawmakers added insult to injury with this specious argument, since members of the trans community were the ones commonly assaulted in bathrooms, not the other way around.

A close friend of mine who was born male but now identifies as a female named Alice told me that the stares and the suspicion that people might want to hurt you is ever present when walking down the street. Even during the simple act of going to the bathroom, she suspects somebody will want to bust the door down and attack. The proposal to remove public accommodation rights only heightens this fear.

When asked if more laws were to be put into place, would her mind be put at ease while using these facilities, Alice affirmed that it would. Laws can’t stop all hurtful actions, but they would at least be discouraged. Laws are the best thing we have now to discourage violent and malicious behavior. Laws set the tone for public discourse. In a similar way, when a company makes a statement of inclusion, its employees and clients know what is expected of them, even if they don’t always follow company policy.

In November, the law protecting transgender individuals from discrimination in Massachusetts could face repeal. This law was enacted in 2016 and is already in danger of being undone by individuals with an anti-LGBTQ agenda. Thanks to our progressive legislators and attorney general, Massachusetts is a leader in LGBTQ rights, starting with marriage equality, and that reputation is now in danger. It was the first state to enable same-sex marriage and the second to include sexual identity in anti-discrimination laws. If one of the best states for LGBTQ representation starts to regress, there is no telling what could occur afterwards.

If you want to support the rights of LGBTQ members everywhere, don’t stand idle. Vote YES when the time comes to vote on the ballot to uphold our antidiscrimination laws and to keep our state’s reputation of being an LGBTQ powerhouse.

These organizations can help you join the fight for equality and maintain our humanity.

GLAAD Transgender Media Program: glaad.org/transgender.

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition: masstpc.org.

Freedom for All: freedommassachusetts.org.

If you have comments or suggestions for this column, email John Trobaugh at John@johnart.com.

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THE LUXE LIST

5 FAB SUMMER TRAVEL SOLUTIONS

Merilee Kern

Discount Glasses - NFL Styles

What better way to show your team pride while out and about than with officially licensed NFL-style glasses from DiscountGlasses.com? Simply go to the website, choose your favorite team and receive the direct-to-door shipment, so you’re ready to head to the stadium and cheer for your team and its quest for the Lombardi Trophy. If football isn’t your thing, check out hundreds of other affordable, trendy and quality styles. If you need prescription glasses, the company makes it easy to upload your prescription online, ensuring that your sunglass needs are met. Prices vary, DiscountGlasses.com.

Reliable Ovo 150GT Portable Steam Iron & Garment Steamer

Here’s a handy mini multi-tasker to take on the road with you. It’s an iron. It’s a steamer. It’s both! This portable powerhouse travels light and takes out wrinkles without taking up space. The Ovo 150GT Portable Steam Iron & Garment Steamer makes the ideal travel companion. With a patent-pending heating system, you’ll get impressive steam volume in the palm of your hand, without the worry of spitting or leaking. Other features include a unique two-in-one case that works both as an iron rest and as a travel pouch and an ample water tank that provides continuous steam for up to 10 minutes. $49, ReliableCorporation.com.

The Suitcase Life Merchandise

Are you a girl who lives for travel? Are you a lady who loves adventure and fabulous vacations? Are you a woman with wanderlust in her soul? Then check out my own TheSuitcaseLifeStore.com, where you’ll find all kinds of chic travel accessories, plus fashion, tech gadgets, drinkware, office gear and other swag showcasing your joy for journeying. From travel bags and tags to fashion and accessories to mugs, mousepads, portable chargers and more, The Suitcase Life has you covered in fabulous form! Prices vary, TheSuitcaseLifeStore.com.

Styptic Balm

We know a clean smooth shave isn’t always what you get when you pick up your razor, and getting a cut while shaving not only stings – it’s annoying, especially right before a wedding, date night or a day at the beach or pool. That’s why Glyder has invented Styptic Balm – a product formulated with premium natural ingredients like aloe vera, vitamin E and argan oil – to help stop the bleeding from shaving cuts and to nourish skin, leaving it fresh and smooth. Glyder has developed a patent-pending formula of wound-sealing antihemorrhagic agents that help promote platelet plugging, which helps heal and seal your nicks and cuts. $9.99, GetGlyder.com.

Pela Case

Traveling can be tough on your smartphone, so a protective case is mission critical. Helping lead the way with environmentally sustainable tech accessories is the Pela Case, the world’s first zero-waste compostable phone case. It is made from Flaxstic, a compostable bioplastic elastomer that uses flax straw materials. Pela Case protects your smartphone from scratches, everyday wear and tear and even the occasional drop. It will biodegrade in an industrial compost facility or in your very own backyard composter.

Pela Case is also as stylish as it is eco-friendly, available in many different colors and styles for various iPhone and Android models. Pela donates at least 1 percent of its sales to environmental non-profit groups. Prices vary, PelaCase.com.

As the executive editor and producer of The Luxe List, Merilee Kern is an internationally regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority. She identifies and reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products and services across all categories. Reach her at TheLuxeList.com, on Twitter @LuxeListEditor, on Facebook at TheLuxeList and on Instagram at LuxeListReviews.

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SPORTS + FITN E S S Unified Health and Performance is located at 121 Mill St., Lancaster. For more information, visit unifiedhp.com.

built before the establishment of the Americans with Disabilities Act. High accessibility levels were found in gyms that were built after the ADA was put in place.

This study was an eye-opening one. The conclusion of the study found that “individuals with disabilities encounter substantial obstacles to participating in health-promoting activities due to physical and social environments that limit fitness and recreation opportunities.”

Unified Health provided Justin Peirce with the opportunity to partake in physical activities in a way he had not been able to before. He was one of the first athletes Aylward trained. A basketball player, Peirce came to Aylward looking to improve his intangibles, such as running and jumping, and he has seen the results so far.

“Brendan’s training has made me much stronger and especially faster,” Peirce said. “When I first started with Brendan, I wasn’t as quick as I should have been, but from what he has done with me, I have become much faster and can now play much better defense.”

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD: adaptive gyms are trending upward

Danny Jaillet For people with disabilities, it’s not easy finding a gym that allows them to exercise and practice healthy habits. Sure, there are other ways for disabled people to participate in recreational activities; however, gyms with equipment for disabled individuals are few and far between.

Brendan Aylward is working to change that. In 2016, he opened Unified Health and Performance in Lancaster.

Unified Health and Performance is a gym that is accessible for people with disabilities, as well as traditional athletes. Alyward’s gym trains 320 members throughout the year, and about 70 members have various intellectual and physical disabilities.

Aylward first began training athletes in the fall of 2013 at Anytime Fitness in Maynard. He works individually with clients to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. I had the privilege of going to a few sessions to see how he worked with these athletes.

It was as if Aylward was trying to solve a puzzle. The athlete performed an exercise, and Aylward said, “Try to do it to the best of your ability.” The athlete tried it again.

“Good, much better,” Aylward said.

“I wanted to give my athletes from Special Olympics an opportunity to train just like the high school sports teams that I was working with at the time,” Aylward said. “I think there is an issue when people expect less out of an individual with a disability.”

Having worked as the head of the Best Buddies program at Nashoba Regional High School, Aylward has ample experience mentoring disabled individuals. In addition

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to his work with Best Buddies, he served as a pitcher for the Lancaster Little League baseball program on Saturdays. Founded in 2008, Lancaster Little League is still operating and currently meets every Saturday from the first Saturday in May to the first Saturday in June.

All players involved have varying physical and intellectual disabilities.

As his gym idea was gaining traction, he enlisted the help of myself (since I have cerebral palsy), along with others, in an effort to further gain an idea of how his equipment should be modified. One of the initial philosophies he has used when training me, as well as his other gym members, is to have his athletes focus on doing the exercise correctly, rather than racing to get as many reps of an exercise as possible.

“One of my goals is to bring more legitimacy to adaptive fitness and prove that when given the correct environment and instruction, anyone can be successful with training,” Aylward said.

As it turns out, Aylward is the minority when it comes to gyms that are accessible to the disabled.

A 2017 collaborative study, which examined the accessibility of various gyms across the United States, was conducted by James H. Rimmer, Ph.D.; Sangeetha Padalabalanarayanan, MS; Laurie A. Malone, Ph.D.; and Tapan Mehta. Across 10 states (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Texas and Texas), 227 gyms were sampled. The study used a measuring scale titled the “Accessibility Instrument Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments” (AIMFREE), and all the gyms were measured per the scale.

Low accessibility levels were found in the gyms that were

For some people, Unified Health and Performance is more than just a place to lift weights. For Peirce, Aylward’s caring nature and outgoing personality made him open up more. Now, Peirce has become more outgoing and has gained self-confidence.

“Brendan has been a great role model for me and no doubt has changed me for the better,” Peirce said. “Because of him, I have joined Best Buddies and started to work with the disabled community much more. Going to the gym and being friends with Brendan has made me a much more caring person, and for this, I am grateful.”

Peirce also empathizes with disabled individuals who cannot find a gym where they feel comfortable working out. This is a big reason why he believes Unified Health and Performance will be able to succeed.

“I think it is sad that there are so few gyms like Brendan’s,” Peirce said. “However, I also think this provides Brendan with an opportunity to be at the top of the business. Being one of the few will allow him to grow and become very successful, not just in our community but in all of New England, and maybe even the whole country. And I have no doubt that with his caring personality and unreal work ethic that he will do this.”

A typical class for adaptive athletes consists of exercises listed on a whiteboard for them to complete. A typical workout includes rowing, running, biking, pushing sleds and some weight training (squats, weighted carries, stepups, pressing and rows).

A popular exercise involves pulling a sled. To try and get a better sense of what the workout entailed, I tried it out for myself. Aylward attached a harness to the sled and draped it over me so I would be attached to the sled. Putting weights on the sled, my task is to pull the sled with the weights attached to it. Aylward had me do two sled pulls.

It is not easy, and on this particular day, I was fatigued after two reps.

Aylward said he wants to not only open more gyms across New England, but also open gyms across the country, as well.

“The big-picture goal is to take my inclusive model of fitness and spread it around New England – and hopefully, the country. I think it is very realistic to assume that there could be more Unified Health and Performance Centers in the next 10 years.”

FINDINGBALANCE: Stop Complaining Jennifer Russo It is really amazing how many things the average person can find to complain about in one day.

“Ugh, this traffic sucks. I will never get to work on time!”

“This stupid phone, why isn’t it working in this place?”

“I can’t believe she picked that restaurant; this one is so much better.”

“I can’t believe it’s only Monday!”

Does any of this sound familiar to you? Step back for a minute and consider the common statements above. There may be traffic, but you have a job to go to. The phone may have a crappy signal, but you can afford a phone. You may not like the restaurant, but you have the luxury of going out to eat and being able to buy food.

And yeah, maybe it’s Monday – so?

Not only are we often complaining about things that other people around the country and world do not have because they don’t have the means, but we also tend to complain about things that we can do absolutely nothing about. How senseless is that?

For example, we complain about the weather being too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy…and can we change it? Nope. Can we snap our fingers and make that traffic disappear in a poof of purple smoke? Nope.

You also alienate people when you complain too much. I have a friend I love dearly, but literally every word that comes out of her mouth is negative. It gets old after a while; it really does.

What about a change in perspective? Instead of getting ourselves worked up, making our blood pressure higher and cultivating an attitude of negativity that can stretch into our entire day and affect everyone with whom we come into contact, let’s try instead to make the best of every situation. How? Well, let’s see.

If you are sitting in traffic, blast the radio when you find a song you love and sing along, find an interesting new podcast or take a moment to notice the cars that pass you by and whatever else might be around you. Think of your favorite movie and see if you can quote some of it. Take the time to enjoy your coffee for once.

Another thing we can do is stop and think of all the things we are grateful for.

This can be our families, our jobs, our talents, our upcoming vacations or even in the thick of an aggravation, just try to find a positive spin. Challenge yourself to find the positive in everything. A personal example: My dryer broke the other night…at least I still have a washing machine…clothes can always be hung up to dry.

See how that works?

May you find the light in the deepest darkness. Namaste.

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ART + C U LTU R E

POW! WOW! BRINGS COLOR TO THE CITY Lisa Drexhage said.

Natalie Volo POW! WOW! Worcester is back for its third year. The mural festival has brought art and color to many parts of Worcester, and there is more to come Aug. 31-Sept. 9.

This year’s installation will include new large-scale murals, tours, events and more. POW! WOW!’s mission is to “activate, beautify and give back” to the Worcester community.

POW! WOW! Worcester will take place Aug. 31-Sept.

9 throughout Worcester. For more information and to see who the 2018 artists will be, visit powwowworcester.com.

POW! WOW! was started in 2010 in Hawaii by artist Jasper Wong.

Che Anderson, project manager and staff assistant to Worcester’s city manager, saw POW! WOW! in Hawaii and saw the possibilities for Worcester. Anderson and co-founders of Worcester POW! WOW! traveled to Hawaii at the end of 2015 to pitch Worcester as the idea for the next POW! WOW! They were successful, and POW! WOW! Worcester is now back for its third year.

Last year, POW! WOW! Worcester transformed Elm Park Community School with murals on 19 of the school’s exterior facades. The murals are now used as a teaching tool for students to learn about and experience art.

This year, even more schools will be painted, thanks to POW! WOW!’s successful fundraising. POW! WOW! needed to raise $50,000 to receive a matching donation from MassDevelopment, which works with private- and public-sector clients to increase economic development. Through crowdfunding, POW! WOW! exceeded the goal.

Murals will be painted on Jacob Hiatt, Elm Park Community, Chandler Elementary and Chandler Magnet schools. These murals aim to bring beauty to the schools and expose young students to international art.

“There have been so many studies done showing the connections between a visibly engaging environment to attendance to achievement outcome to various emotional and personality improvements. I think from many different vantage points, art just makes sense with anything related to a school system. That’s why we were so thrilled that the Worcester Public Schools wanted to continue this partnership,” POW! WOW! Director

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It is important to expose children to art but, Drexhage said, more specifically, “working with the Worcester Public School System has such a critical importance…given tight budgets, it’s not necessarily the fullest of budgets when you’re looking across the school system.

The public schools do an amazing job with their arts program in general, and what POW! WOW! wants to do is to just to help supplement that.”

In addition to the elementary schools that will take part, the 2018 campaign will also feature at least 10 new large-scale murals throughout the city. There will also be various exhibits, including permanent art installations in public spaces and makeovers of empty storefronts by artists.

POW! WOW! has not limited its exhibits to only murals. The goal is to integrate art throughout Worcester and bring beauty to all spaces.

As for the murals themselves, POW! WOW! will be encouraging the community to get out and see the art with self-guided tours.

“We will have what we call a passport this year. The passport we put out during each festival year. It will be able to show you past mural sites as well as the current mural sites for this year’s festival,” Drexhage said. “Many of the downtown murals are very walkable, and we would certainly promote that sort of engagement, especially during the festival.

Because, you never know…there may be some more murals popping up while you’re out walking on the tour.”

Passport-holders can find all the mural locations on their passports and get their passport stamped at each mural they visit. People are encouraged to get as many stamps in their passports as possible. This is not only in an effort to view all the murals, but stamps can actually help passport-holders get rewards and discounts at participating local businesses.

POW! WOW! plans to also have more guided tours this year. These will introduce tourgoers to the festival, the artists and the background of the murals.

CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

looks to create legacy Savanah Hippert Creating a legacy. That’s the Caribbean Carnival’s theme this year – and it’s mission.

By reconstructing the norm, having Caribbean culture be part of our everyday life and allowing for a festive tradition to be built for future generations, the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association’s (WCACA) hopes to bring together the Worcester community, not just those of Caribbean descent.

“That was the reason we chose that as our theme this year, to really represent that we’re transitioning…” said Jennifer Gaskin, president of the WCACA. “We’re creating a legacy; we’re creating something that’s a staple for the city.”

City Hall will be the first location to kick off the celebration Sunday, Aug. 26. At 9 a.m., while masquerade bands are arriving, a Caribbean-styled Brunch on the Common will last until 1 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., the parade (including live masquerade bands – each competing for Band of the Year – performers and more) will depart from City Hall and symphonically proceed down Main Street, take a left on to Salisbury Street and conclude at Institute Park. During the parade, vending at Institute Park will be available from noon to the end of the event at 7 p.m.

While the event itself is free, WCACA (a nonprofit organization) gains funds for the carnival through continuous fundraising from other events during the year, vendor and band registrations, donations and the nonstop generosity of the board members themselves.

Once the parade has concluded at Institute Park, expect even more colorful live music and dazzling performers in handmade costumes (that take literally months to construct). Don’t forget to check out the diverse vendors, who have on offer everything from traditional goods to – of course – Caribbean dishes to stimulate your taste buds. With foods from places such as Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica and more, there are plenty of options for you to try something new!

“I would suggest people try roti, doubles and some ital (vegetarian) food,” said Gaskin. What those foods are… you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone and ask the vendors; really learn about everything the carnival has to offer!

Gaskin said the carnival’s attendance grows every year. The event is familyfriendly, so all are welcome.

“To be honest, I really love to see the kids out there having a good time… just enjoying the music, eating the food and just seeing them smiling and having a great time,” said Gaskin.

The sixth annual Worcester Caribbean American Carnival will be held Sunday, Aug. 26.

Brunch on the Common starts at 9 a.m., and the Parade leaves City Hall for Institute Park at noon. For more information, visit worcestercarib.com or follow WCACA on Facebook at facebook.com/WCACACarnival and Instagram and Twitter @worcestercarib.

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BEAUTY

STYLE + B E A U TY

FOR GOOD Natalie Volo

Who said beauty can’t benefit others? Many beauty and fashion companies are making it their mission to help others via their products. For some brands, that means donating proceeds to various causes, and for others, it means creating products that are good for our planet. Here are five beauty products that are good for more than just looking good!

Vitamin Friends Vitamin Friends is a brand of healthy vitamins that meets all your family’s needs. Most gummy vitamins contain gelatin, which is derived from animals and animal products.

Gelatin also sticks to teeth and causes cavities. Vitamin Friends gummies are made with all-natural pectin instead of gelatin, which makes them vegan (with the exception of some vitamins that contain honey), so they are good for the environment, as well as for your family. vitaminfriends.com.

Honey Belle Honey Belle body cream will leave your skin glowing and hydrated with its all-natural ingredients. This product is completely vegan and cruelty-free and comes in amazing scents such as rose, lavender, jasmine lily, eucalyptus peppermint and nude (unscented).

Honey Belle has products with good-for-you ingredients that won’t break the bank.

The company also has a #SoapforSouls project, where Honey Belle donates a soap for each bar of body soap purchased. honeybelleshop.com.

jane iredale Jane iredale is a line of cruelty-free, natural mineral makeup that is good for your skin and aims to enhance natural beauty. Many of the brand’s products have multiple uses and come in flattering and on-trend shades. The products are free of perfume, alcohol, synthetic chemicals and artificial dyes. Some packaging is reusable and refillable, and some is recyclable and renewable. janeiredale.com.

Ethique Ethique is a sustainable beauty brand with an entirely solid product range. With these ethical products, there is absolutely zero waste. More than 80 billion plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles are being disposed of every year around the world.

Ethique eliminates all waste by creating solid shampoo bars, conditioner bars, soap bars and more, which don’t require plastic packaging. The products come in 100 percent dissolvable and compostable sleeves that have prevented the manufacturing and disposal of more than 350,000 plastic containers worldwide. These solid products last two to five times longer than traditional products and are made with organic ingredients that are actually good for your skin. ethiquebeauty.com.

Shelly Cove Shelly Cove is a family-friendly clothing line inspired by the “vacation mindset” that gives back to help recovering sea life. Shelly Cove has laid-back and trendy clothes, like a comfortable, relaxed-fit, 100 percent cotton tee, with pastel sea life illustrations. Not only are these vacation-inspired designs cute and comfortable, they give back in many ways. Shelly Cove has been able to donate more than six figures in revenue to wildlife sanctuaries, homeless shelters and mental health initiatives and regularly funds the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Sanctuary with a percentage of profits. shellycove.com.

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STYLESAVY: Get cool with brown

April Goddard One of the biggest hair trends of the moment is the newest take on the traditional “bronde” (brown and blonde) balayage hair color. Balayage has been big in the beauty community – and even bigger for summer 2018 – due to it being famously easy to give your hair that “sun-kissed” look.

Although a more traditional warm-toned balayage is one of the most sought-after ways to add highlights, cool-toned balayage is the way of the future (and more specifically, the way from summer into fall).

What it is: Mushroom brown hair is a cool-toned brown balayage. Its highlights and lowlights sport a brownish-grey tone, rather than a golden or reddish tone.

Mushroom brown hair looks great when paired with a cooler-toned base. That is, a darker, cooler-toned brown then fades into a lighter, cooler-toned brown.

The more highlights and balayage that is added to the dark brown base, the more dramatic the look becomes. If you choose to keep the highlights to a minimum, your style will appear more subdued, while still giving your hair a cooler-toned, kissed-by-light look.

How do you know if this color will work for you? As with any hair color, it is important to take into consideration skin tone (and undertone), eye color and the tone of your natural hair. Are you naturally more warm- or cool-toned? What level (how light or dark) is your natural hair? Think about the colors that you enjoy wearing in your wardrobe. If you are warm-toned (like myself ) and enjoy wearing warm-toned clothing, you might want to take into consideration that the color of your clothes might appear slightly different next to your new hair color. Likewise, if you have been sporting a cool-toned blonde ’do and your favorite shirts are all light blue, you might want to think about that before you become a redhead. You should team up with your hair stylist to determine what color level and tone will be the most flattering and best suited to you.

What I personally love most about mushroom brown hair is that it is a different take on the balayage trend that really highlights brunettes who want to switch it up, but who don’t necessarily want to hop on the “dirty blonde” train. This tone is still dark enough that it will look great going into the fall (a time when many trade their sun-kissed highlights for more uniform, darker hues). Different, yet subtle, this color is sure to be on-trend for the next few seasons.

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