PULSE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2021

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PULSE MAGAZINE: SEPTEMBER 2021 COVER STORY FOUR OF WORCESTER’S THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS

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ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & CULTURE

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Fat Foot Films: 12 DINING REVIEW Comedic Horror Dining Review: 20 Comes Home Hook & Reel

Cajun Seafood Worcester Artist 13 Creates Waves New in the Woo: 21 Overseas Off the Rails NowStreaming: 16 Colin Hay I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself Entertainmant Listings

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14 Paul Giorgio, Publisher pgiorgio@pagioinc.com Kevin La, Art Director kla@pagioinc.com Josh Lyford, Editior jlyford@pagioinc.com David Simone, Vice President, Sales dsimone@pagioinc.com

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LIFESTYLE Rascals Cuts Loose

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Out and About

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Style Savvy

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Finding Balance

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Bernie Whitemore, Ryan Cashmen, Maria Connors, Josh Lyford, Travis Duda, Jason Savio, Paul Giorgio, Rachel Shuster, Giuliano D’Orazio, and Victoriahope McAuliffe Writers

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FOUR OF WORCESTER’S THRIVING NEIGHBIRHOODS RACHEL SHUSTER Worcester is a thriving city with a growing vibrancy that permeates throughout each neighborhood. Whether you’re born and bred in Worcester or new to the city, you can’t help but notice the city’s transformation.

When we talk about transformation and growth, four of Worcester’s neighborhoods really stand out – Downtown, the Canal District, Shrewsbury Street and Main South. All have a rich history which is the foundation for the city of Worcester, but have seen tremendous economic and cultural development and vitality emerge over the past several years, with only continued growth for the future.

Let’s take a closer look at Worcester’s four!

Downtown Worcester

For City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr., the Downtown Worcester neighborhood has been one of the most profound changes in the last 10 years.

“Worcester, like a lot of older industrial cities, had a vibrant downtown with specialty stores like dress shops, kitchenware, etc.,” Augustus says. “Then in the late 60s early 70s, the big thing was malls and suburban malls. Worcester hollowed out in the downtown area. There was a change in shopping and people’s habits and that certainly affected the downtown.”

Other factors also contributed to the shift in Downtown. “There were also five high schools in the downtown neighborhood at one time,” Augustus says.

“Thousands of kids and employees would come down and shop or go out after school in the neighborhood, but over time, those schools shut down and took away all that traffic and vibrancy. Because of the empty storefronts and partially filled office buildings, at 5:30, downtown became a ghost town.”

With focus on bringing in businesses, restaurants and housing over the years, the Downtown neighborhood now has restored its vibrancy with a new depth.

“Now we have created a Downtown that is truly a neighborhood with thousands of people living in the neighborhood,” Augustus says. “Now, If I’m leaving Downtown after work to go home, I’m replaced with someone coming home to Downtown.”

The area has truly become a neighborhood where people can live and thrive.

“People who live there in the new housing developments like 145 Front at City Square may walk out to 110 Grill or Deadhorse Hill to have dinner or the Beer Garden for a drink,” Augustus says. “I see people jogging and exercising and walking dogs. That didn’t happen two years ago. That’s been the most profound change – getting the residential component in the mix.”

Development projects and businesses have also attracted people to the neighborhood. The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Mechanics Hall, DCU Center and Worcester Public Library all bring people in and entice them to keep coming back.

“We want to create density for all those people – they need to eat, hang out, buy their groceries, have their everyday needs,” Augustus says. “That helps attract those businesses. Businesses follow people. Having a culture, an infrastructure and vitality on the street – you wouldn’t think twice about walking around. Those feet on the street are going to give the perception and the reality of a safe and vibrant neighborhood.”

Of course, even a thriving neighborhood experiencing ongoing areas of opportunity. “We are not immune to challenges like panhandling, homelessness, mental health, the opioid epidemic – there is a visible presence in Downtown,” Augustus says. “That can create impressions – or a reality – that make people uncomfortable.” Just as there are continued efforts to bring vibrancy and life to Downtown, the efforts to address these issues are just as critical.

“My dream is to have every building fully participating in the renaissance that is Worcester – no buildings that are half full, no floor in those buildings out of commission or not up to code, no empty storefronts,” Augustus says. “If you go back and look at the urban renewal plan from 5-6 years ago, we targeted properties in Downtown, and we’ve done about 85 percent of that. That wasn’t tearing down buildings but rebuilding, renovating, and bringing in new owners. Now the market is doing that for us – the market is creating demand.”

Main South

“Main South is a dynamic, diverse, and close-knit community filled with wonderful small businesses and multigenerational families,” says Casey Starr, Director of Community Initiatives for the Main South Community Development Corporation (CDC). “There is a rich cultural tapestry represented here and reflected in the art, culture, and food of the neighborhood. For many decades, Main South has been a port of entry into the city for many immigrants – a place where people from all over the world call home and are welcomed.”

Starr moved to Main South for college in 2003 and has lived in Main South from 2003 until 2017. “It will always be my favorite neighborhood of Worcester,” she adds.

Main South has a rich history rooted in community. “Main South has an industrial history and once served as the hub for manufacturing and employment opportunities for residents,” Starr says. “After the factories shut down and/or moved, the neighborhood struggled through an economic decline. The Main South CDC was incorporated in 1986 due to a lack of safe and affordable housing and the need for an organization that could bring about sustainable change and be governed by residents. One of the best parts of the Main South neighborhood is the strong partnerships that exist amongst agencies, institutions, and community members who all work in collaboration to improve the community.”

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Several planning and development projects have occurred over the years, creating just what the Main South CDC set out for – a revitalization of the neighborhood. The Kilby-Gardner-Hammond Revitalization Project provided affordable housing units, the construction of a new Boys & Girls Club and a new bike path. The Main South Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Project set out to develop a community-based and comprehensive approach to addressing the physical, social, and gang-related disorder that was persistent in the neighborhood for decades.

“Main south is a dense and vibrant neighborhood with the right mix of residential, commercial, intuitions and schools,” Augustus says. “We went through a period of decline, but now this area is fully participating in the renaissance that the entire city has been going through the past 10-15 years.”

At one point you’d find abandoned properties and lots and factories closed, but now you’ll find those properties and factories converted into housing on Beacon Street. “We’ve got a big development for the Table Talk Pies headquarters and Clark University’s lacrosse field which is used by the Boys & Girls Club,” Augustus adds.

Nowadays, you’ll rarely see an empty store front or minimal foot traffic. “There are a lot of people on the street and a very nice mix of food vendors, traditional retail like clothing, kitchenware services, salons, etc.,” Augustus says. “There’s great vibrancy and diversity and ethnic makeup of businesses, business owners and customers.”

The newly created Main South Business Association is also building community amongst Main South business owners. “They are working collaboratively to support a successful business district in the neighborhood,” Starr adds.

Bringing this vitality to Main South has been the result of many. “There have been helpful forces at work,” Augustus says. “The Transformative Development Initiative (TDI)’s Main South fellow, Ivette Olmeda has been an amazing presence. She has worked with property owners, helped them be aware of programs available during COVID, put up decorations during holidays and so much more. She has helped with the cultural and branding efforts in the area, bringing the community together to articulate a vision and need.”

Main South also has the highest concentration of community gardens in the city, with gardeners from all over the world. “Main South is home to the YouthGROW Farm, Worcester’s largest urban farm site that is farmed by our neighborhood youth,” Starr says. “The neighborhood has a strong sense of pride and community, and there are always residents, business owners, institutions and organizations working in collaboration to improve the neighborhood and quality of life.”

While the Main South neighborhood has developed and continues to thrive, there are still clear opportunities to focus on moving forward. “Old perceptions – we need to update people’s understanding of what Main South is,” Augustus says. “That being said, we still have issues with quality of life – panhandling, substance abuse, mental health issues, are still challenges. We continue to work with stakeholders, residents and businesses to address these issues.”

The vision for Main South remains focused on continuing to rehabilitate underperforming properties and convert them into housing or commercial businesses. Continuing on this path will only create more growth and development for an already thriving neighborhood.

“We envision a diverse, inclusive, vibrant and safe community; where local residents live in quality affordable housing, earn a livable wage, have access to services and thriving small businesses, and where ongoing collaborative partnerships provide a promising future for all,” Starr says.

Canal District

With a tidal wave of economic and cultural development, incoming businesses like restaurants and shopping and city projects, The Canal District has become a destination.

“At the Canal District Alliance (CDA), we want to create an environment where people want to live, work and play,” former president and current secretary of the board of the Canal District Alliance (CDA), Mullen Sawyer says. “We have been intentional to look for local ownership, not big chain and box stores and preserve the historic nature of the district.”

So much of the American industrial revolution took place in Worcester because of what the economic canal brought.

“It changed economics forever – quadrupled the population and increased commerce and business profoundly,” Sawyer says. “It became the desired mode of business because it was cheaper – a tax evasion strategy.”

For many years, the Canal District was a thriving Jewish quarter of community. “When I grew up, Water Street was where you got bagels and bulkies,” Augustus adds. “A lot of grassroots people bought properties and had a vision of what it could be like. It was many years of doing one property at a time and slowly executing on that vision.”

The CDA has been at the forefront of that charge. “The CDA formed to revitalize this neighborhood –some people thought we were crazy,” Sawyer says. “It was abandoned and there were no plans to develop it. We very quietly and methodically continued. Being authentic and retelling history would give us a unique opportunity to develop interest in the community. It’s worked beyond our wildest expectation.”

Today, a billion dollars in development is being put into the ground, bringing good jobs, places to live, and high quality of life to the inner city. Developers like Meridian Construction are bringing new opportunities to the community that can compete with New York and Los Angeles. “We are hearing from developers that they want to be part of the tradition we’ve established – authenticity, history and culture,” Sawyer says.

More recently, there has been an interest in family activities. “The last several years, we spent time on public safety, trash and parking, so it’s nice to see that we are attracting family friendly organizations and businesses because that’s the ultimate success of our vision,” Sawyer says.

The Worcester Red Sox and Polar Park coming to Kelly Square is one of the most impactful cultural and economic additions to the neighborhood.

“I knew when the planning for the ballpark started, that it would be the economic project that people in Worcester would truly realize the quality of the community and start getting rid of any self-deprecating tendencies,” Sawyer adds. “The ballpark was always intended to fit in with the history and vision of the neighborhood and be complimentary, not problematic. And that’s exactly what’s happening.”

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The Canal District has grown to become an entertainment district. “People come from all over to shop at antique vintage stores, explore the Worcester Public Market, eat at places like Birchtree Bread Company, Lock 50 or specialty shops like The Queen’s Cups, see a hockey game or practice at the Fidelity Bank hockey rink and now watch a ball game,” Augustus says.

“The layout of the neighborhood also lends itself well – it’s not just one street but different areas to explore and walk around.”

Just like the other Worcester neighborhoods, the Canal District has its challenges. “Here we find similar challenges as other neighborhoods, but helping Worcester get a little away from the car culture and into the walking culture is something we’re focused on with the Canal District,” Augustus says. “It’s our job as a city to make that walk attractive and safe. The private sector is doing their share. We still have growing pains but it’s getting better.”

The future for the Canal District is to remain focused on economic and cultural development, affordable housing, public safety and continuing to bring in a diverse community and visitors from all over.

“We will continue development related to and around the ballpark,” Augustus says. “We’ve got the Table Talk Pies facility that will impact this neighborhood, The Cove, a 13-story, 318 unit residential and commercial development replacing the former Lucky Dog Music Hall/The Cove Music Hall and other housing options totaling to 1,000 units of housing, a hotel, a lab building and more.”

Shrewsbury Street

Commonly known as “restaurant row,” Shrewsbury Street has always been a thriving area of Worcester, offering some of the city’s best eats, a rich history and more. Many Italian immigrants came to Worcester and settled in this area, making it the heart of the Italian community in Worcester.

“It’s a great, unique neighborhood,” Augustus says. “It’s always had great restaurants, diners, and classic things everyone knew. With Shrewsbury Street, you always think of food. Over time, it’s become more diverse making it ‘restaurant row’ rather than a ‘little Italy.’ You’ve got Mexican, Greek, and other culinary options which also brings diverse and eclectic people from all over. It’s become a neighborhood on people’s destination list.

If you’re visiting, you’re more than likely to end up there eating.

This area continues to play a role in creating more diversity in the city.”

Some of the restaurant classics and stand outs include La Scala, Via Italian Table, Nuovo, Brew City Grill & Brew House, 111 Chop House, Flying Rhino Café and Watering Hole and diners like The Boulevard and The Parkway.

Shrewsbury Street also has fun spots and activities like Wormtown Brewery and Redemption Rock Brewing Company, Cristoforo Colombo Park for recreational activity, bars such as Funky Murphys and The Pint and much more.

Businesses on and around Shrewsbury Street are quite eclectic. “There are many automotive places, medical offices, gyms, law offices, small specialty stores and pharmacies,” Augustus says.

When it comes to opportunities, Shrewsbury Street shares similar and unique challenges as it’s fellow neighborhoods. “The city has a large Department of Public Works (DPW) campus right off of Shrewsbury Street,” Augustus says. “The goal has been to put a new DPW facility somewhere else and sell those 9 acres and add to the density and residents in the Shrewsbury Street area. Now that we have the ballpark and more capacity as we navigate COVID, we can re-focus on that project and hopefully bring more residents into the area.”

Augustus also noted that an apartment complex with over 340 units has been approved for development for the former Mount Carmel church lot. The complex – Alta Seven Hills – will include more than 500 parking spaces on a 5.3 acre lot on Mulberry Street. This complex includes one, two and three-bedroom apartment units, and amenities including a pet spa, swimming pool, and an electric vehicle charging station. “This will bring in hundreds of more people in the area,” Augustus adds.

All four of these neighborhoods add to the thriving and growing nature that Worcester is, has been and continues to experience. Each neighborhood has a deep appreciation for its history, embraces diverse and eclectic communities, has unique yet shared challenges and is ready for continued development. Those who continue to support and champion the city’s growth and development are excited about what the future holds for these neighborhoods and beyond.

“We just recently got the 2020 census data back. Worcester hit its highest population in its 300-year history,” Augustus says. “People are voting with their feet. We are finding that they are staying after college and proactively moving here. The quality of life these neighborhoods give people, the relative affordability, the arts and culture, the recreation scene, the culinary options – all these things are keeping and attracting people. They each have their own identity but, something we are continuously focused on is how we can better connect them. We are now the fourth largest city in the northeast. These neighborhoods are helping us grow our city.”

8 S E PTEM BE R 20 21

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WANTS YOU! Pulse Magazine is looking for nominees for our:

We are looking for the next generation of leaders. Do you know anyone in Central Massachusetts who is a successful entrepreneur, a community leader, a talented artist, or a mover and a shaker?

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IF SO, CONTACT:

Paul Giorgio • pgiorgio@pagioinc.com Requirements: Nominees must be under the age of 40 Nominees must be from the Central Massachusetts area

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ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & CULTURE

FAT FOOT FILMS: COMEDIC HORROR COMES HOME VICTORIAHOPE MCAULIFFE As the co-founder of Fat Foot Films, Ryan Convery has 15 years of professional experience in video editing, and 20 years of experience creating his own films. Despite beginning as just something fun for a group of friends to do together, it has become a powerful endeavor that involves focusing on various aspects of the production process.

For Ryan, “the audience reaction for me is the most nerve-wracking and exciting moment you will have creating a horror or comedy film. You know instantly if your joke fell flat, or if your scare didn’t hit the audience the way you intended. On the other hand, if your joke or scare worked the way you intended it’s an amazing feeling.”

Ryan Convery wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to be when he grew up, but he knew art would be involved somehow, “At an early age I loved art, and when I was about to graduate high school my parents asked, “College or full-time work?” Without thinking twice about it, I thought “How cool would it be to do special effects on Hollywood movies?”

After graduating, I moved out to Los Angeles and attended Make-Up Designory, a school for special effects makeup…I graduated a year later, just as Hollywood was entering a transitional period where special effects shops were closing their doors and turning to computer animation. Being broke and homesick I moved back home…I decided to go to college in Boston for computer animation and found my true passion, video editing.”

Ryan and his friends used to shoot Jackass type sketches, as well as horror/comedy skits while they were still college guys just hanging out. Ryan’s passion was to ensure he used his special effects makeup skills during their shoots, to reinforce the horror angle or make an injury believable. Ryan and his co-founder of Fat Foot Films, Ed Gutierrez shared a Worcester apartment at the time which allowed him to teach Ed how to edit his own videos. According to Ryan, “Eventually we had enough short sketches that we turned into a variety show called “Sutton’s Top Dogs” that had a five episode run on the Sutton Access Channel, which was when I decided it was time we create our first full-length feature film.”

The filmmaking friends had yet to choose an official title for themselves– so how exactly did they come up with the name “Fat Foot Films”? Ryan shared with me that it all goes back to when he was 12 years old, “I went to a podiatrist, and he told me I had the fattest feet he’d ever seen in 30 years. I thought, let’s use those fat feet and turn it into something positive! When I presented the name “Fat Foot Films” to my filmmaking friends they thought, “Why not!”

Fat Foot Films focus is primarily comedic horror, horror & thriller, and comedy genres, the inspiration for this came from, “Peter Jackson’s first movie “Bad Taste”, he had passion for creating special effects and made his first movie over a four year span with his close friends. That is exactly how our first film “Mourning Wood” was created, with close friends, a ton of special effects and was finished in a four year time frame.”

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Fat Foot Films is set to release its most recent project “Mercy” in the Fall and according to Ryan, ““Mercy” is the project I am most passionate about because that’s what I am putting all my energy into right now. If you asked that question while I was working on our last project, I would also say the project that I am working on at that moment. Passion is what keeps me driving to succeed. Our biggest hope for “Mercy” is that it catapults us and 256 Films Dan Rosario to the next level by getting funded and turning this short film into a TV series or movie.”

Filming for “Mercy” took place during Covid, which presented its own unique barriers for the filmmakers during production, “the biggest challenge was being patient, and when we felt it was safe to shoot again, we did. While doing so we kept the production team to a bare minimum, wearing masks and taking all the necessary precautions.” Despite the challenges of Covid, Ryan is grateful he’s had the opportunity to work with new talent who share the same passion and excitement about his projects. The excitement of others is what keeps us motivated to create the best films we can.

Ryan’s advice for actors and other creatives looking to get involved in local films within Massachusetts and New England is to, “dive headfirst and don’t think twice. As of right now there are so many talented filmmakers in and around Massachusetts. If you are not ready to be on a set, grab a camera, watch some YouTube videos, and make your own movie. That’s how we started, and it’s been a most excellent adventure!”

To follow Fat Foot Films, you can visit them on Instagram @FatFootFilms, their Facebook page www.facebook.com/fatfootfilms, and online at www.fatfootfilms.com.

WORCESTER ARTIST THE ORACLE CREATES WAVES OVERSEAS JASON SAVIO

MUSEUM OPEN WED. - SUN. 10AM TO 5PM

Worcester’s The Oracle is making a splash and gaining quite the following. The Oracle (one-man band Patrick Murphy), is unlike most other Worcester musicians and puts on unique shows with music that is both dark and enlightening. He released his full-length record, Hypogeum, in 2020, and since then he has been spreading his sound by collaborating with musicians from overseas on a growing list of different projects.

“I’ve got a lot going on,” Murphy says. “I’m really excited about it.”

He sure has a lot to be excited about. The success of Hypogeum has opened up many doors for Murphy and he’s making the most of it. In April he and Italian artist Ghost Gardener teamed up on a split release entitled The Oracle of the Ghost Gardener that features an individual song from each of them. The Oracle’s contribution, “Visions of Fatima,” is haunting and hypnotic, in true Oracle fashion.

Murphy followed “Visions of Fatima ‘’ up with “Eternal Recurrence” in July, his song featured on Four Winds of Revelation, a four-way split with UK bands Spider God, Revenant Marquee, and The Sun’s Journey Through the Night. Another split is in the works as well, with Greek band Mnima and American groups Klanen and Celestial Sword.

Murphy’s connection to these foreign artists comes through Repose Records, the label that released Hypogeum.

Murphy says the musicians in the UK he is working with--who have also released music on Repose--reached out to him. Murphy got in touch with Ghost Gardener himself after hearing his demo and being “really into it.”

“I’m not a black metal artist but I certainly have those influences and I take a lot from that scene. The whole black metal scene sort of started out there, most notably in Norway with the stuff in the early 90s, so the metal community—not just black metal—is huge out in Europe,” Murphy explains. “Right now there are a lot of good black metal projects coming out of there, so I’m fortunate that I got in touch and lumped in with that scene, because it’s filled with some bands that I’m really into and really enjoy.”

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If you’re not familiar with The Oracle, you might be taken aback at first by Murphy’s appearance. Dressed in a black robe with an Algiz rune painted on his face, Murphy is completely dedicated to his ongoing project he started in 2014, both visually and sonically. His songs are ambient electronic soundscapes that paint pictures of dark secrets and surprising affirmations.

When asked what he’s thinking about when he’s writing his songs, Murphy says that he’s visualizing his favorite movies in his head. Blade Runner is “probably the biggest film inspiration” for him, as well as the works of David Lynch. Murphy also points to the seven-hour film Satantango as a movie he sees comparable to his own work.

“It’s kind of daunting to watch and I like to add that element to my music,” he says. “You really need to be committed to sit down and watch a seven-hour movie, and that’s kind of how I feel about my music as well.”

Although there are no lyrics to Murphy’s music, there are indeed stories behind the notes. Religion played a big part on Hypogeum and continues to do so with “Visions of Fatima,” which is about three children in the early 1900s who claimed to have been visited by the Virgin Mary and delivered three prophecies. “Eternal Recurrence” is based off the movie The Sacrifice and is about the idea of life starting over and repeating itself exactly the same way after you die.

The success of Hypogeum has garnered Murphy praise from other artists as well, including a Youtube mention from Mayhem guitarist Teloch, “one of the most notorious bands in black metal,” according to Murphy.

Murphy says that Hypogeum continues to receive a “really positive and overwhelming response.”

“I’m really blown away by it, honestly,” he says.

But Murphy has no plans to bask in his success and slow down.

In the fall he’s going to release a music video for “Visions of Fatima” and he has also been busy with a lot of drumming work, playing on all the tracks for Spider God’s upcoming album. Spider God would email Murphy the songs to perform on and Murphy would send them back to Spider God with the drums added.

“It has been cool to still collaborate and work on projects with people I don’t normally work with,” Murphy says.

“It’s an opportunity to collaborate and be creative even (if) the circumstances aren’t so great right now (because of COVID).”

Murphy has also recorded three new songs under the Oracle banner for a yet-to-be-announced project, and this winter he is going to turn his attention to working on his biggest release yet: the full-length follow up to Hypogeum.

“That’s the next step,” he says. “I’m just trying to keep going.”

“An absolute must see for history lovers!”

568 Main Street, Hudson, MA

www.AmericanHeritageMuseum.org

(978) 562-9182

For more, visit: https://theoraclema.bandcamp.com/

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NOW STREAMING: JASON SAVIO

COLIN HAY I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF

You may not recognize the name Colin Hay, but you certainly know some of his songs. Hay was the singer and guitarist in Men At Work, and was behind such 80s hits as “Land Down Under” and “Who Can It Be Now?” He’s had a steady solo career since, and his latest effort, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, is a charming and heartfelt tribute to some of his favorite songs.

It’s no secret that most cover albums fall flat, but Hay’s has pop and a live pulse that makes the songs feel fresh. His take on the Beatles’ “Across the Universe” is a standout, as is The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” and Gerry and the Pacemakers’ “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying.” Hay’s veteran voice often switches between rough and gravely, to smooth and soft-- such as in “Waterloo Sunset”-- giving the songs extra character. There is more than a tinge of melancholy throughout, most perfectly encapsulated in the album’s title track, a Dusty Springfield tune.

Hay recorded the songs on his own with just his guitar and voice, sending them to producer Chad Fisher who filled in the rest with other musicians, but you would never even know it. The production is lush and rich, one of the better sounding records of the year. Hay sounds fully dedicated to these songs-- rejuvenated even--and he really makes them his own. Many of the selections are from bands Hay grew up listening to, making I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself a little more personal—or as much as a covers album can be. There is some real heart here, and it doesn’t feel like another paper-thin collection of copies.

As the title suggests, Hay recorded these songs while stuck at home during the pandemic. It’s another example of how music can help power you through tough times and its ability to heal. When Hay sings “Nothing’s gonna change my world” in “Across The Universe,” it takes on a whole new meaning when you think about him alone in his basement singing it during a time when there was and still is a lot of uncertainty and fear in the world.

It’s a shame this record will likely go unnoticed for the most part. It’s a covers album by an artist that is no longer in the spotlight, so it has two things working against it from the start. But give it a spin—you’ll be happy you did.

For more, visit: https://www.colinhay.com/

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ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS As COVID restrictions begin to ease and live music returns to the area’s bars and restaurants, we are excited to bring entertainment listings back to Pulse. If you’d like to be included in future listings, please email Jlyford@ pagioinc.com.

---BirchTree Bread Company (774) 243-6944 138 Green St #5, Worcester, MA 01604 9/03 The Russo Bros.

9/10 Matt & Marty 9/17 Colt & Coyotes 9/24 Big Jon Short

Black and White Grille 508-885-5018 Blackandwhitegrille.com 206 North Spencer Rd., Spencer Blueprint New American Bar & Grille 978-668-5580 10 Village Sq. Westminster Boynton Restaurant & Spirits 508-756-8458 117 Highland St., Worcester Cafe Neo 774-253-6139 97 Millbury St. Worcester Karaoke.

Chuck’s Steakhouse (508) 832-2553 10 Prospect Street, Auburn 9/10 Tequila Bonfire 9/11 Jim Perry 9/17 Josh Briggs

9/18 Alley Kings 9/24 Drunkin Uncles 9/25 Comedy Show Classic’s Pub 978-227-5258 285 Central St., Leominster Compass Tavern 508-304-6044 90 Harding St., Worcester Chashu Ramen + Izakaya 508-304-7183 38 Franklin St., Worcester Electric Haze 26 Millbury St., Worcester

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Firefly’s BBQ 508-357-8883 350 E. Main St., Marlborough DANTE’S at FIREFLY’S BBQ (all show in Dante’s are 21+) September 3 The Deloreans September 4 XS Band September 10 Carolyn Rae & The Rumors September 11 Hot Acoustics September 17 Shady Armadillo September 18 Rumour Hazit September 24 Jeff Allen Shaw & Co. September 25 J. Marc Bailey THE BACKYARD at FIREFLY’S BBQ September 3 Jared Hanrahan September 4 Kim Trusty September 5 Nico Rivers September 10 Pete & Steve September 11 Greg Schuler September 12 Chris Barber September 17 Ricky Fleet September 18 Steve Angellis September 19 Jennifer Truesdale September 24 Chris Wagner September 25 Screen Door September 26 Ricky Fleet Flying Rhino 508-757-1450 278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

Legends Bar and Grille (978) 342-6500 68 Airport Rd, Fitchburg

Reunion Tap & Table 774-293-5501 198 Worcester St., North Grafton

MB Lounge 508-799-4521 40 Grafton St., Worcester Wednesday - Karaoke at 9 Thursdays - Guest Bartender Fridays - Dance Party starting at 10 Saturdays - Dance Party starting at 10 Sundays - Drinks with Matty Closed Mondays and Tuesdays September 11 Annual Block Party 7pm

River Styx 978-696-5176 166 Boulder Dr., Fitchburg Live on the Patio

MCL Club 508-797-0141 Worcestermcl.org 181 Lake Ave., Worcester Michael’s Cigar Bar (508) 459-9035 1 Exchange St, Worcester Nick’s 508-753-4030 12 Millbury St. Nola Cajun Kitchen 774-261-8008 340 W. Boylston St., West Boylston One Eyed Jack’s Tiki Bar & Grill 508-459-0089 433 Park Ave., Worcester Park Grille 508-756-7995 257 Park Avenue, Worcester Tuesdays-Rock Open Jam Thursdays-Office Party

Rock Bar 774-243-7000 81 Water St., Worcester Southside Grille 978-632-1057 242 West Broadway, Gardner Sept. 17-Chris Reddy The Bull Run 978-425-4311 215 Great Road, Shirley The Comedy Attic Upstairs at Park Grill 508-756-7995 257 Park Ave. The GazBar (978) 534-6600 1045 Central St, Leominster The Mill at 185 Themill185.com 774-261-8585 185 W Boylston St., West Boylston Tryst Lounge (978) 400-7906 320 Main St, Fitchburg Vincent’s Worcester 508-752-9439 49 Suffolk St.

Partner’s Pub 978-345-5051 970 South St., Fitchburg

Wachusett Brew Yard 978-874-9965 175 State Rd. E, Westminster

Greater Good Imperial Brewing 508-926-8736 55 Millbrook St., Worcester

Patsie Duggans (508) 755-4155 49 Millbury St, Worcester, MA 01610

Whiskey on Water 774-578-8829 97 Water St.

Greendale’s Pub 508-853-1350 404 W Boylston St. North, Worcester

Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern 508-752-7711 455 Park Ave., Worcester

Grill on the Hill 508-854-1704 1929 Skyline Drive, Worcester

Purgatory Beer Co. 508-596-2194 670 Linwood Ave. Building C, Whitinsville

Gardner Ale House (978) 669-0122 74 Parker St., Gardner

Halligan’s 508-832-6739 889 Southbridge St., Auburn Thursday Bike Nights Happy Jack’s (978) 466-3433 785 N Main St., Leominster Indian Ranch 508-943-3871 Indianranch.com 200 Gore Rd., Webster

Ralph’s Diner Ralphsrockdiner.com 148 Grove St., Worcester Rascal’s Rascalsworcester.com 70 James St., Worcester 9/8 Geoff Tate 9/10 Metal for MS with D.R.I. 9/18 LoveSexy - Prince Tribute 9/25 BoomBox

White Eagle 508-753-9612 Whiteeagleworcester.com 116-120 Green St., Worcester Woo Bar & Grill 774-243-6130 358 Shrewsbury St., Worcester WooHaha Thewoohaha.com 50 Franklin St. Worcester Beer Garden 774-530-9000 64 Franklin St., Worcester Sept. 2-Chris Reddy Solo Sept. 3-Doctor Robert

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DINING DINING REVIEW REVIEW

HOOK & REEL CAJUN SEAFOOD AND BAR

LINCOLN PLAZA, 539 LINCOLN STREET, WORCESTER (508) 854-2999 HOOKREEL.COM/LOCATION/WORCESTER/ BERNIE WHITMORE When a restaurant is sited in the middle of a shopping plaza parking lot, well, anything is theoretically possible, but who expects very much?

That was my feeling as a friend and I raced through their entrance, narrowly escaping a summer storm whose cloud vortex looked like the hounds of hell unleashed.

Once inside, we left all that rage behind and were greeted, shown to a booth, and started to familiarize ourselves with the Hook & Reel concept. I took advantage of one of their many daily specials with a bargain-priced sixteen-ounce glass of Harpoon IPA while my friend ordered a frothy cherry-topped rum punch.

Their name leads me to expect finfish, and there’s some of that, but for the most part Hook & Reel’s specialty is shellfish. And while the menu includes Po Boys and a Pasta special, their heart is in Seafood Boils; various shellfish steamed together with add-ins and spices.

First, we started with the Crab Bite appetizer.

What could go wrong with that? In my mind, a lot; there’s a world of culinary evils that attach to anything named ‘bites’. I was prepared for disappointment.

But this was destined to be an evening of surprises – several happy ones. First, the remoulade sauce: it tasted fresh and zesty and would be a respectable effort anywhere. Defying my expectation of breading balls tasting vaguely of seafood, Hook & Reel’s Crab Bites contained maximal crab meat, minimal binder and delicate crab flavor.

Setting the stage for our entrée’s, Ray, our server, 20 S EPTEM B E R 20 21

removed a metal bucket from the table and lined it with a plastic bag; it was our personal trash bin for the seafood shells and other debris we’d soon generate.

He also restocked our supply of plastic bibs, seafood picks and wet naps. After leaving us for a few moments he returned in a flourish with our seafood boils: towering plastic bags knotted closed at the top, puffed up like jiffy-pop by the steaming contents within. Each bag was nestled over a wide metal pie plate. We opened our bags and dumped their contents onto our plates.

That’s when the delicious fun started. Forget forks, this is finger food of the messiest degree, so don a plastic bib – juices are gonna fly!

I had chosen the Cajun Boil with Old Bay seasoning, in part, because it seemed to be their specialty; I’d dialed mine in as ‘spicy’. In a regular boil one chooses from a dozen different shellfish; the Cajun comes with crawfish, mussels and shrimp plus creamy-soft red bliss potatoes and a half-ear of corn.

Seafood lovers, dig in! Lovers of big flavor, rejoice! Each mussel came packed with spicy old bay seasoning; the shrimp, I didn’t bother to count them, were sheared of heads, and only required a quick peeling to get to their thick juicy meat. Of course, there was much less tail meat in each of the deep-red crawfish, but there were so many of them I got my fill.

Halfway through all this my lips were tingling with spicy heat that I relived with my glass of Harpoon and glasses of ice water. I filled the trash bucket with all the paper napkins I used to

continuously wipe my sticky fingers. Which is all to say: this place is Tasty Fun! My friend had chosen the ‘Awesome Weekday Special’ which featured a cluster of crab legs he combined with cherrystone clams and shrimp.

Into the boil they added potatoes, hard boiled eggs, corn and served it with steamed rice.

I find those long spindly crab legs to be a lot of work with little reward but, armed with one of Hook & Reel’s plastic picks, he seemed to tear through them and eagerly enjoyed each morsel of crabmeat.

As with my mussels, his cherrystone clams were in-shell fresh. What really set his seafood boil apart, though, was its drenching in a sumptuous garlic butter sauce. I crave garlic and this was exceptionally delicious! Creamy with butter and studded with big bits of softened garlic, I mashed my steamed potato into it and loved every bite.

By the time I’d finished my meal I’d attained that rare state of shellfish satisfaction. But how do I go back into the world with my hands coated in spicy salty seafood juices? Wetnaps alone wouldn’t suffice. For this purpose, Hook & Reel has wisely installed washdown stations in the reception area.

With at least 50 locations nationwide, Hook & Reel has a great formula going and knows how to execute it: affordable fresh seafood, attentive service, and an explosion of flavor you’ll talk about for days.

NEW IN THE WOO: OFF THE RAILS RACHEL SHUSTER

Located at 90 Commercial St. in Worcester, Off the Rails is the city’s newest spot where you can get a taste of Nashville without hopping on a plane or in the car.

Since opening in mid-July, Communications Director Eric Lindquist says they’ve been keeping busy! “We’ve been packed especially on the weekends with our live music,” he says. “We’ve been excited about the outpouring of support by the Worcester community.”

The space felt just right for the Off the Rails team when it came time to find a location to bring a little bit of Nashville to Worcester. The team behind Off the Rails is a powerhouse team with plenty of roots here in the city. Cliff Rucker, the owner of Off the Rails also owns the Worcester Railers hockey team and part of the nearby Worcester Palladium music hall. Chris Besaw is the managing partner and ran the Palladium for more than 20 years.

the Palladium, a full stage – it’s going to be unlike anything the city has seen. It will also provide even more creativity to what we can do here in the space, like hold concerts, corporate events, special events, etc.”

The Off the Rails team is excited about the restaurant and the big plans for the future. “This space has been a lot of different places over the years,” Lindquist says.

“Worcester is always changing, but we hope this becomes a trademark place in the city. Especially with the opening of the music venue this fall, it will be a game changer for downtown Worcester.”

For more information about Off the Rails, visit Offtherailsworcester.com.

“I worked with Worcester hockey for the last 15 years. With the pandemic, hockey got shut off. I had a gig in Atlanta at the time, but that came to an end, so I gave Cliff a call. There was a need over at the restaurant and it worked out,” Lindquist says.

For Lindquist, he’s not the biggest country music guy, but Off the Rails goes far beyond country music – it fills a void in the city. “There aren’t too many places in Worcester that have live music while you can grab a really good bite to eat,” he says.

The restaurant features southern cuisine from Executive Chef Rick Araujo in his scratch kitchen.

Menu items include small plates like baked pimento dip, fried pickle chips and hush puppies ranging from $5 - $18, salads for $12, big plates like fried chicken, Carolina style ribs and shrimp and grits ranging from $14 - $36 and sweets like banana pudding and bourbon and chocolate bread pudding at $8. “We have a diverse menu and Chef Rick Araujo adds these little details that really put us in the spotlight,” Lindquist says.

All the delicious food is complimented by a full bar with 20 tap lines and cocktails featuring southern flair managed by Bar Manager Justin Coburn.

While you’re grubbing on southern style food and great drinks, you’ll find yourself surrounded by authentic country memorabilia – whiskey barrels, guitar tables, country music memorabilia and reclaimed wood all give the space an authentic feel.

Live music is a regular occurrence at the restaurant with rotating artists playing nightly. “We have all country live music,” Lindquist says. “If we don’t have live music playing, we have country music blaring throughout. We have a small stage that can host a singer and another. We’ve been getting dozens of emails asking to play here.”

In fact, the restaurant is just phase one of the big plans that the Off the Rails team has for the space and for the Worcester community. Phase two will feature a music venue and beer garden which is set to open in the fall of 2021.

“The venue is going in behind the restaurant and will accommodate 600-700 people,” Lindquist says. “It will be a four-season venue with garage doors opening into

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HOT & NOW What’s hot and happening now in the restaurant scene PAUL GIORGIO

MORE TACOS PLEASE. Taqueria Del Pueblo, the Worcester restaurant that got its start at the Worcester Public Market, has opened its second location at 57 Highland St. in Worcester.

A LITTLE ESPRESSO WITH DESSERT. Owners Roger and Joanna Bachour will soon open Meraki on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street.

The coffee and dessert bar will be serving specialty coffee-infused alcoholic drinks. It will be open Monday to Thursday 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. (with possible 9 a.m. opening time on Sundays).

TAKE TO THE STREETS. Downtown outdoor dining could see improvements this fall and remain in place for the foreseeable future. The City of Worcester and the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) were awarded a $54,000 grant from MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces program to re-purpose onstreet parking spaces into outdoor dining areas, or “parklets,” and install new landscaping elements.

The pilot program is being launched at Chashu Ramen + Izakaya on Franklin Street.

BARRE GETS A NEW PLACE TO GO. Pie Town in Barre is a newly opened go-to café for made-from-scratch sweet and savory pies, apps and drinks.

April Adams and Elisa Kjerting, both of Barre, started the business in June in the building formerly occupied by Picasso Restaurant & Bar, which closed last year.

WAITING FOR PEPE. Pepe’s Pizzeria on Worcester’s Franklin Street has delayed its move to Shrewsbury Street until the middle of September. According to the owners, construction hold ups are the issue.

THE SHACK IS BACK. The shack 275 on Worcester’s Park Ave. recently opened. The small take-out eatery is serving international cuisine including Indian.

IT FINALLY HAS A NAME. Two Chefs is the name of the new Italian restaurant going into the space that was recently home to Wild Willys, a burger joint on Worcester’s West Boylston Street. No info on an opening date.

SPEAKING OF WEST BOYLSTON STREET. A New health food restaurant is going in a small strip mall across from Quinsigamond Community College. Level Up Nutrition will be opening soon.

CLOSING THE BARN DOOR. Princeton fixture, the Mountain Barn restaurant owned by the Zotoli family for over 20 years, abruptly shut down at the end of August. The owners cited lack of staff as the reason. This appears to be a permanent decision to close the popular eatery.

IN OTHER NORTH COUNTY NEWS. The Niche Hospitality Group announced the opening of a new Bocado Tapas restaurant in the space that once housed Mezcal in downtown Leominster.

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THANKS TO THE SPONSORS. Two very successful food events occurred this August. Worcester Restaurant Week, which saw close to 0,000 people participate in a dining out experience and the taste of Shrewsbury Street, which was held at the end of August were sponsored by Atlas Distributing, Pepsi, Bud’s Goods, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, City Councilor Candy Carlson, Deep Eddy Vodka, Mercadante Funeral Home, Percy’s appliances and a host of media partners. Thanks to all.

PULSEBREW RYAN CASHMAN I wish I had nicer things to say about stouts.

As someone whose ancestry runs heavily Irish, I should be a stout defender.

Though I suppose since the only stout I actually enjoy drinking is Guinness, with its velvety smoothness and crisp, minerally taste, I’m not in any real danger of my Irishness being revoked.

I’ve heaped a fair amount of criticism at stouts and porters in this column, but that’s only because I’ve yet to find any that match or better the overall quality of that most famous of Irish beverages. Yes, Guinness has hundreds of years of tradition and a global market under its belt, but that’s never stopped competitors from attempting to outshine them before.

The trend on the local brewing front is to pack as much flavor into a stout as is scientifically possible. They’re packed full of flavors you’ve come to find on the sweets table: marshmallow, chocolate, coffee, peanut butter, toffee, nougat, etc. etc.

Coffee and chocolate seem to be the most popular stout flavor pairings. On paper it should be a match made in heaven. The acidity of the chocolate or coffee cutting against the malty darkness of the stout. There are several companies pursuing this line of seasoning.

Sadly, for this writer, none of them have, so far, gotten the balance quite right.

I recently picked up 3 locally made stouts - Greater Good’s Evana Imperial Chocolate Stout, Four Phantom’s Worship Doom Imperial Stout, and Idle Hands’ Check Raise American Stout - in an effort to try and enjoy at least one of them. In that, I can say that I was successful … I did only, mildly, enjoy one of them.

Greater Good’s Evana is a heavy beer. It’s touted as a “smooth all-season stout” but I cannot fathom drinking it on a hot day. Evana is brewed with “generous amount of cocoa” that imbues it with a cough medicine like denseness that regrettably destined it to the sink drain.

Next, the Idle Hands Check Raise. I’ll keep this one short: “Brewed with copious amounts of roasted malts” is indeed the case, to the point where that is literally all you can taste. And it’s not a nice taste. Down the drain it went, too.

Now, the Worship Doom - which I must say had the most intriguing can art I’ve seen in recent memory: four fantasy avatars superimposed against a terrifying looking tower - was actually as smooth as it claimed. It wasn’t offensive and it got its flavor combinations mostly right, making for an overall lovely drinking experience. Notes of caramel and wood smoke played well off of the dark maltiness of the brew. It’s honestly a decent stout, and the only one of the three I’d actually recommend.

This is not meant as a tirade against stouts. For anyone reading who genuinely likes either of the two beers I’ve just torn to shreds, by all means continue to enjoy them. I, meantime, will be sipping on the massed produced loveliness that is Guinness.

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LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE

RASCALS CUTS LOOSE APRIL GODDARD After the last year that we have all had, many of us are eager to get back into the social scene and weekend outings that we have missed so much. Right here in Worcester, Rascals, (in a space formerly occupied by the Dance Ranch) makes good on their slogan “A good time place for good time people”. It has been a popular line dancing spot since the early 90’s, and has since expanded by diversifying entertainment through new ownership.

It’s website raves that “it is the hottest new live venue to see your favorite local bands every Saturday night”, and is additionally the only country line dancing bar in Worcester. The facility is over 8,500 square feet and boasts a 3,000 square foot dance floor. And very often, you can find the owners Frank Pupillo and Chris Goodney greeting customers at the door.

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With years of experience in the entertainment and restaurant industries, it’s no wonder Rascals is a huge local hit. Goodney, local comedian and DJ also plays host to many of the bar’s line dancing nights. Pupillo, a local musician and front to the tribute band Shot of Poison is also a promoter of local music and entertainment booking at Rascals. The pair acquired the space in summer of 2019 and were open for business the following November. Through their innovation and experience, they built upon the concept of the original country line dancing bar and created a live music venue and entertainment space. They still maintain the original country nights.

Unlike your typical bar, Rascals offers a wide range of entertainment. They have live music on Saturdays, accompanied by National touring music on weekdays and weekends alike.

They have nationally recognized comedians, open mic Sundays, and keeping with the classic space, line dancing instruction three nights a week with country music nights Fridays.

Along with local and national music entertainment, they are also the home of the Ladies for the Night Drag show. An additional variety of shows and social events are coming soon, from Singles Meet Sundays, Going show, and Comedy Open Mic, along with additional variety shows. The spacious venue has an overall capacity of 540 people, and in addition to scheduled entertainment is a perfect place to host an event.

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Some of Rascals most popular events have totally sold out. Comedian Bob Marley sold out the last 6 shows at the venue, along with several sold out Drag shows and tribute bands, which bring in large crowds of hundreds.

PLAN YOUR EXPERIENCE

Xxxx Upcoming events at Rascals 9/8 Geoff Tate 9/10 Metal for MS with D.R.I. 9/18 LoveSexy - Prince Tribute 9/25 BoomBox 10/9 Leicester Christmas Lights Comedy Show 10/16 kickboxing regionals 10/23 He Said/She Said Cover band 10/27 Survivor Viewing party with special guest Jonny Fairplay 10/29 Ladies for The Night Drag Show 10/30 Halloween dance party with guest DJ Jonny FairPlay from Survivor.

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An extensive entertainment schedule can be found on their website. If you are looking for “A good time place for good time people” Rascals is your spot for go-to local entertainment. To find out more, head over to their website at Rascalsworcester.com.

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EXPLORErestaurants, YOUR CITY trip Discover Discover 91 things to do in with itineraries & events Worcester before you graduate at our free trip planning app!

DISCOVERCENTRALMA.ORG/91 plus more on our app DOWNLOAD and on social OUR FREE APP TODAY!

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420 50 8 IN THE

TRAVIS DUDA

MAJOR THINGS HAPPENING ON MILLBURY ST I was lucky enough to get an early tour of the new cannabis retail space opening up at 76 Millbury St. called Major Bloom. Owner Ulysess Youngblood describes it as a cannabis establishment because what they’re looking to offer the public is far more than just a dispensary shopping experience. In addition to seeing their beautiful retail space designed with old factory and repurposed furniture, I was also able to see their commercial kitchen space where edibles are going to be created in the shop. I was very excited to hear Ulysses’ plans for both the company and the neighborhood. He recognizes that Major Bloom can impact an already crowded space by defining their niche and focusing on their type of clients. Major Bloom prides itself on being an impact-driven Cannabis lifestyle brand with a mission of creating positive social change. They are pursuing their B Corp certification and plan to help to fund educational scholarships, career and entrepreneurial counseling and community charities to change the future for those impacted by the on-going drug crisis. I love that they are taking a different approach than a lot of the other operators in our scene. I also can’t wait to try all the products that will be created and sold through their licensed culinary program. By the time this article is out, hopefully their space is open to the public, but as of this writing they are still waiting for the state to grant the final permission. So when you get the chance, go stop by Major Bloom on Millbury St. Better yet plan to make a little trip out of it. Pop over to Scoop Drip for some shoes and munchies. Maybe go see a band play at Electric Haze?

Or just enjoy some patio time at Nicks. That neighborhood has a lot of cool stuff to offer.

DROP THE CHARGES With the Olympics in full effect, and another world class athlete being penalized for cannabis, it felt like a fitting time to preach to the choir about how dumb this is. Sha’Carri Richardson is one of the fastest women on the planet. It shouldn’t matter that she has cannabis in her system, regardless of the reason, especially if she was in a legal setting when ingesting. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe recognizes that the rules should be reviewed, but it feels like this is just glad-handing for the camera. This may end up just being a reduction on the penalty severity, but until weed is legal worldwide, it’ll remain on the banned substance list. It’s frustrating to know how many healing and healthy benefits our beloved plant has and how it can help these high profile athletes maintain their mental health during these high-stress situations. Though I do enjoy how we keep getting these wonderful contradictions to the stigma that potheads are fat and lazy. Michael Phelps could probably take an eighth to the face and still dominate race after race. Oh well, go sports.

Is It Better to Have Just Enough?

I conducted a survey around some of my cannabis friends asking how they’re making their purchases these days. I’m not talking about whether or not they’re buying off the street per se, what I’m asking is are you still buying in bulk or are you treating it more like the grocery store and only going when you need more supplies? Typically the answer was relative to the amount of disposable income and the quantity of consumption.

But for the average habitual users around me, it seems like there’s been a shift into not buying whole ounces at a time and instead going for smaller increments. There are some savings to be had when buying in bulk, however, when I have access to that much cannabis I tend to go through it a little faster than as if I had a shortened supply. There’s certainly been times when I have done myself in and don’t have enough to get through the night so that’s one way buying in bulk seems to be the better situation.

So how are you buying it? Do you still buy a big old stash or do you treat it more like a liquor store and only buy supplies you need? My research isn’t complete without your feedback.

Thanks for reading and happy trails!

-Travis (@hunchbacktravis)

OUT AND ABOUT PRIDE IS BACK IN WORCESTER!

GIULIANO D’OR AZIO

September 8-14 is Pride Week in Worcester! In the midst of a turbulent year +, both with the dissolution of the former Worcester Pride org, and, ya know, a global pandemic, a group of dedicated LGBTQ+ serving organizations have stepped up to host a series of events that aim to welcome queer folks, local and abroad, to express themselves, celebrate, and organize to action.

“The Queer Coalition of Greater Worcester is a collaborative community initiative working to bring activities supporting LGBTQ+ folx in Central Mass closer together” reads the homepage of prideworcester.org. The headline for this year’s festivities: A rally for change, a celebration for community. In the spirit of Stonewall, the organizing committee behind this year’s events stands behind “the first pride was a riot” sentiment. With the dissolution of long-standing pride organizations like Boston and Worcester Pride, a younger, more diverse, action and change-driven generation is stepping forward to usher in a new era of Pride in the city. The main event this year, in place of the traditional parade and festival, will be a rally and block party on Saturday, September 11. The new Worcester Pride website says the rally will be “in support of queer folx who continue to face oppression, marginalization, and hate; challenges that disproprtionately effect queer people of color in our city and nation.”

The Coalition has launched a crowdfunding campaign to ensure this celebration can reach its full potential. Funds will be used for entertainment, event rentals, and permits towards the Sept 11 rally. Visit PrideWorcester.org to make a donation, and share the site on your personal and organizational social media.

The Queer Coalition promises a slate of inclusive and affirming events between the 8th and 14th this month… Let’s see what’s in store: Sept 3: Queer The Scene Pre-Pride Party (21+): Electric Haze 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Pre-pride party featuring DJ Denz on the turntables. Tickets at qtspreprideparty.eventbrite.com) Sept 8: Pride Flag Raising at City Hall: 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM Gay Professionals Networking Event: (location TBD) 6:00 - 8:00 PM Sept 9: Pride at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens: 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM (An evening of family-friendly festivities, including some live music by yours truly -- so excited!

-- Redemption Rock’s Glitter Beer on tap -- excited again -- and a wide range of crafts and goods from local vendors. Event is free to the community but tickets must be reserved by visiting purchase.towerhillbg.org) Gay Prom (21+): Ralph’s Rock Diner, Doors 8:30 PM, $10 Cover (Dancing, serving looks, games, prizes, music by DJ TheySexy -- Everyone is welcome!)

Sept 10: Yass Honey! Beer Release at Redemption Rock Brewing Co.: 7:00 PM 10:00 PM (Back by popular demand from 2019, Redemption Rock’s Yass Honey! is being released again for Worcester Pride!)

Monochromatic (21+): Electric Haze 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Queer the Scene takes over Electric Haze with the PRide Worcester weekend kick-off party. French DJs Trinix will bring the fun tonight along with NYC’s hottest DJ Alexi Meow. Tickets at monochromatica.eventbrite.com) SWAGLY Youth Pride Dance: JMAC PopUp Space 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Inclusive Pride Dance for middle school/highschool aged youth.)

Sept 11: Queer & Sober Gratitude Meeting: Green Hill Park 8:00 AM (Independently organized meeting for sober members of the LGBTQ+ community to gather, share experiences, and celebrate pride.)

Rally and Queer the Block Party: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Convening Downtown on Franklin street, across from the common, the rally will host speakers, local vendors, and a DJ, Main Stage is at the Worcestser Beer Garden!)

Sept 12: WAM Community Pride Day: All Day (Family friendly event to celebrate art, community and the LGBTQ+ community) (This article was written several weeks before Pride Week, with the possibility that some organizations have added events to the roster. For a full, up-to-date list of events, visit www.prideworcester.org) Giuliano D’Orazio (he/him) is a Worcester native, musician, music educator, member of the queer community, and a board member of Love Your Labels.

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STYLE Savvy APRIL GODDARD

Greetings everyone! Happy Fall 2021! A new season is upon us and with it comes changes in everything from schedules to weather, wardrobe and daylight. Cool and cozy is the name of the game and with all of that change anyway, why not have a change in hairstyle to match the shifting of the season? A fall hair refresh is on the horizon, and you can find the top five fall 2021 styles right here. Read on to discover what’s new-and get some inspiration of your own to try out this fall!

THE BLUNT BANG: You read it correctly; that blunt bang that many of us rocked in grade school is on the horizon again, and has been seen everywhere from runways to celebrities. This geometric look is sure to bring out your facial features, particularly highlighting your cheekbones. Ask for the blunt bang at the salon if you are looking for something chic and seasonal.

ROCKIN RED: Red hair of all shades has been coming in strong this summer, and there will be no change in sight into the fall season. Red is a bold and chic choice, so talk to your colorist about which shade of red (or strawberry blonde, or reddish-brown) will work best for your eye color and skin tone for a more subtle change. Want to go even bolder? Slightly washed-out, more crayon inspired tones will do just as well.

WARM BLONDE: For all of you blondes out there, trade the platinum locks of summer in for a more low-key cold weather favorite: the golden or warm blonde. Along with being a lot more low-maintenance and natural looking, this color shift will give your hair a break from all of those damaging chemicals and give you some room to restore it to it’s natural health. When you go to the salon, ask your colorist for a warm-toned blonde with some fall-inspired lowlights to perfect this fall-inspired blonde look.

RICH CHOCOLATE BROWN: This is a go-to fall fave for me personally, and seems to be catching on fast as the days get cooler.

Nothing says warm, cozy, and stylish like a chocolate brown mane.

What’s more, this is a low-maintenance style that is long lasting and will transform hair into a more glossy and shiny look. Again, consult your colorist on which particular shade of chocolate brown will work best for you!

BLUNT BOB: Something else making a comeback this fall? The blunt bob. This style can certainly be seen as more low maintenance than longer and harder to care for styles, but be warned: it does take some extra care to keep the shape consistently, particularly if your hair grows out fast or is not naturally straight. Most blunt bobs are worn straight, but can also be worn wavy or curly for a more relaxed look. Just be sure to get regular trims to keep your hair looking fresh and blunt.

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FINDING BALANCE: SELF-CARE IS NOT SELFISH JENNIFER RUSSO The term self-care or even radical self-care has been tossed around quite a bit lately, but what does it mean? Self-care can be defined as just that, taking care of yourself. This means making sure your body is healthy, your brain and emotions are healthy, and ensuring that you are in a state of being that is centered around wellness for both you and others.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t embrace the idea of self-care because they think it can be perceived as selfishness or self-indulgence. For those of us who have ever been on an airplane, we’ve all heard the introductory lecture of what to do in an emergency. One of the most important statements in that script is that we must put our own oxygen mask on before we assist others with theirs. On the surface this may seem a selfish idea, however, we can’t be there for others if we can’t breathe.

We need to let ourselves breathe. Not just in the physical sense, but allowing ourselves time to process our day, our world, our stresses. We need to take the time to relax, unwind and do things for ourselves which create joy and health. This is especially true for those of us who might be parents or otherwise responsible for taking care of other people a lot of the time.

Go to that gym class or stick to a health regiment. Get your hair or nails done or get that massage you need. Go on that day trip and adventure a bit. Go for a walk or to the beach and stick your feet in the water. See a therapist if you need some help getting through some things. Make time to see your doctor if something is ailing you. Go to bed early if you’re tired. Take a break. Express some gratitude for YOURSELF. Studies show this helps your stress levels, immune system, confidence, and general productivity.

Whatever self-care means for you (and it is different for everyone), let’s be clear this isn’t selfishness at all. it’s promoting your own wellbeing and equipping you to manage the stresses of your normal routine. You are choosing to promote your own health. By doing so, you are better prepared to help other people in your life that you care about, and no one should make you feel guilty for it, even you.

You’re worth it. Namaste.

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