The Pulse Magazine

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October 2016

october 2016 In this issue COVER story

FOOD+DRINK

6 experience the horror of sleepy

28 new around the woo: Quinn's Irish Pub

hollow

entertainment 10 dracula gets a new set of fangs

29 Pulsebrew: Pumpkin beers redux

11 calling all zombies! canalloween returns

30 Dining review: Oak Barrel offers big portions and great value on the pub scene

12 rock and shock celebrates its 13th year of scares

31 hot & now

13 Pulsebooks: New book says pets having feelings, too

32 Poetry and film collide at the

rabbit heart poetry film festival

18 Club, Pub & grub Listings

sports+fitness 34 ladies: don't stop running

Lifestyle

25 OUT+ABOUT: Support for LGBTQ+ seniors

36 halloween outlet lets the skeleton

out of the closet 37 steal the style: When in Rome

read pulse Online @ ThePulseMag.com

BEAUTY+sTYLE

24 the luxe list: Sweet ways to shop for Breast Cancer Awareness

29

Art+culture

14 THE central scene

23 PulseShots

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

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

Paul Giorgio, Publisher Donna Roberson, Editor Vanessa Herbold, Art Director Chris Reddy, Alex Theisen, Kyle Sullivan Account Executives Mitchell Perry, Event Manager

Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Jennifer Russo, Lifestyle Editor Kimberly Dunbar, Jennifer Russo, Jason Savio, Bernie Whitmore, Michael Wood, Paul Giorgio, Carly O’Brien, Merilee Kern, Kerry Cyganiewicz, John Trobaugh, Sloane Perron, Jamie Burke, Ryan Cashman Writers

thepulesmag.com

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cover story

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October 2016

By Jennifer Russo

With more than 40 variations of the story on stage and screen, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has become one of the most famous and well-known pieces of literature across the world. And with its roots right here in New England, the story resonates strong with everyone who has grown up here or has made the region their home.

It is argued that the makings of the legend of the Headless Horseman actually originated long before this story and was a spoken tale passed down by the Dutch and told to Irving years before while he lived in the Hudson Valley – the story of a headless hunter who played vigilante and chased murderers and thieves away from the area or removed them by other means.

Others believe the idea came from stories he heard while in the highlands of Scotland and other parts of Europe when he visited there seeking literary inspiration. This debate may never be settled, but regardless of where the idea came from, it certainly doesn’t make a difference to its success.

Portrait of Washington Irving by John Wesley Jarvis, 1809

“It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannonball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War; and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind.” – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow In 1820, a short story was published that would spark fear and suspense into the minds of generations of readers. When Washington Irving penned this work, who knows if he imagined his tale of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious teacher from Connecticut, would become such a beloved piece of history. It is a horror story and love story merged into one, where poor and awkward Ichabod and large and imposing Brom Bones vie for the love of the beautiful and wealthy Katrina Van Tassel. However, the image of a headless, caped rider terrorizing the night is what has become permanently embedded into our brains.

Old Sturbridge Village, which many of us residents visited on a field trip in elementary school or junior high, is a living and breathing outdoor museum giving true insight to what life was like in New England in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The land spans more than 200 acres and was once owned by David Wight; some of the buildings on the property are original, such as the gristmill. When you step into Old Sturbridge Village, it is as if you stepped through a time warp. It was a time when people placed much weight on the supernatural and spiritual. What better place could their possibly be to have a live production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with a natural outdoor backdrop that existed at the time the story takes place?

“We have done Halloween events before, such as our Bump in the Night event, and we found that we were always grappling with staying true to our overall mission,” said Darin Johnson, senior strategist at Old Sturbridge Village. “There was no grappling with this, though. It’s an easy connection.

We want people who visit here to be immersed and inspired by the history of our area, and so we make everything at Old Sturbridge Village as realistic to the time period as possible. This is a New England story, and it was published in the time period we highlight – it made perfect sense for us to make this happen.”

“The neighborhood is rich in legendary treasures of the kind. Local tales and superstitions thrive best in these sheltered long-settled retreats; but are trampled underfoot by the shifting throng that forms the populations of most of our country places.” – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow thepulesmag.com

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“Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, and in the very act of hurling his head at him.

Ichabod endeavored to dodge the horrible missile, but too late. It encountered his cranium with a tremendous crash – he was tumbled headlong into the dust, and gunpowder, the black steed, and the goblin rider, passed by like a whirlwind.”

– The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Cast photos by BreeAnne Clowdus

Johnson said the production started in Georgia three years ago and has been enormously successful there. When he reached out to the director, Brian Clowdus, about having the production at Old Sturbridge Village, Clowdus agreed to visit.

Johnson said the original production in Georgia had an amazing media response and sold out of five weeks of shows; he was hopeful that they would have the same happen for this production. His wishes were granted, as the shows for this year have indeed sold out in record time. Whereas they may add more shows this month, he said the good news is that Old Sturbridge Village will definitely bring the production back in 2017.

If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a ticket, please know that you should dress warmly for a brisk New England fall evening, wear comfortable shoes and that you are allowed to take pictures throughout the event.

“For the Georgia production, they had to build a covered bridge, which is so central to the story’s setting. We already have a real one here. In fact, the entire set was just sitting here waiting for the story to come to life. Using the real landscape will bring it to a whole new level,” Johnson said.

Though this was never stated to be a Halloween tale in the text, it does mention that it takes place in autumn. Standing there in the dead of night, lit only by the faint glow of lanterns and candles, out in the open with the sounds of actual creatures in the surrounding woods and the smell of the fall season in the air, the cool wind touching your face … this is where true horror stories begin. And knowing that at any moment a headless horseman may charge at you brings fear to new heights. In this production, you are not only a spectator; you are a part of the story as it unfolds.

“Musicians and ghouls mingle with the crowd as they enter the 19th-century tavern, where they are served soups and chowders and drinks,” Johnson said.

“The crowd will move throughout different buildings, including the school and along the roads of the village. It is an immersive and interactive experience.”

During the intermission, the crowd will also have a chance to grab refreshments and talented musicians will perform some songs, making this seem like a natural break in the evening.

I asked Darin if the headless horseman is a prop or a real actor and was happy to hear that it is a real person on a real horse. In my mind, this makes an enormous difference, as you will see the cloud of the horse’s breath, hear the clap of hooves on the planks of the bridge and see the road dust kicked up as Irving’s words come to life.

The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane by John Quidor, 1858

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow will take place at Sturbridge Village, 1 Sturbridge Road, Sturbridge, from Oct. 11-16, Oct. 19-23 and Oct. 26-31. The show is currently sold out; however, tickets are $30-$35, and more shows may be added. For more information, visit osv.org.

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entertainment

“The part I love about it is that it’s taking a novel that originally had a lot of

sexist overtones, especially (on) views of women (and) women’s sexuality, and

now the two primary characters are both women,” said Solaris. “The comic, I hope, will be able to highlight the complexity, depth and many types of strength that the two female leads hold.”

This project marks the first time either Denmead or Solaris has produced

a comic book. It was at a local fantasy convention that the two met.

Denmead already had the idea for Resurrection and its follow-up brewing

in his mind, but he was in need of an artist to help him bring it to life.

Solaris, who studied art at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth,

Dracula gets a

had her own table set up to display her work at the convention. It caught

Denmead’s eye, and he asked her on his radio show. Soon thereafter, Solaris signed on to take part in Denmead’s endeavor.

new set of fangs

“It has been a learning curve, but a rewarding experience,” said Solaris

By JASON SAVIO

Originally, Denmead had planned for Resurrection and its graphic novel

of the creative process. “It has been a great way of challenging myself in ways I hadn’t previously worked before.”

continuation to be a film, citing the second Fright Night movie as an One of the unique things about the horror genre is its fandom. Those who enjoy the supernatural and scary are some of the most passionate and dedicated fans of any kind, rivaling comic book diehards. This love often breeds creativity and sparks the imagination and desire to become involved. Chris Denmead and Iseta Solaris are two such fans. Come Oct. 29, Denmead and Solaris will debut the first half of their original take on a classic story.

There are so many different iterations of popular characters in the fright-film realm that it would seem like there isn’t anything left to tackle. Writer Chris Denmead, however, asked himself one simple question: Why not turn Dracula into a girl? For years, Dracula has been a man adorning the windowsills of countless women, vying for their affection, only to ultimately satiate his own selfish need to drain them of their blood. He is, in modern terms, a really bad date.

But what if this iconic character underwent a gender swap? What if all of the important characters in the classic Dracula mythology swapped genders? Those are questions Denmead and artist Solaris intend to begin answering when they debut their comic book, Resurrection of Dracula, at That’s Entertainment in Worcester. Resurrection of Dracula will act as a prequel, setting up a 50page graphic novel the two expect to release next year.

“I felt it would be a unique and different take on the vampire tale we have seen so many times before,” said Denmead, a Framingham native who also hosts Dr. Chris Radio of Horror on WCUW 91.3. “Dracula as a woman can show a new side of a great character. I wanted many new versions of the characters. Our Van Helsing will be an African-British woman who is involved in both religious and scientific beliefs.”

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influence. “It was going to be a movie,” said Denmead. “But after it failed on crowdfunding, I decided to turn it into a comic book.”

Ironically, Denmead doesn’t draw much influence from the writer who originally made Dracula famous, Bram Stoker. He cites inspiration from

other iterations and creators, such as Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, both of whom worked on the comic book Tomb of Dracula for Marvel.

“A lot of my love for Dracula comes from the movies, video games and

comic book versions of the characters, more than Bram Stoker’s novel,” Denmead added. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the book, but I feel like the other various forms really fleshed out the character a lot more.”

And that is exactly what Denmead and Solaris intend to do this month

when they unveil their new comic book and continue the mythology of the one and only Dracula.

Resurrection of Dracula will debut at That’s Entertainment, 244 Park Ave., Worcester, on Saturday, Oct. 29. For more, visit facebook.com/draculagenderswap.

Calling all

Zombies!

Canalloween Returns

The historic Canal District is gearing up for its annual celebration of all things creepy, crawly and scary. Canalloween: A Nightmare on Water Street, held Saturday, Oct. 29, has made the district the prime location to celebrate Halloween in Worcester for the last five years. More than 15 bars and restaurants will once again be putting forth their festive best, with costume contests and Halloween parties (and that’s just the beginning).

This year’s Canalloween will bring the fun and fright to a terrifying new level. The festivities will begin at the break of dusk with Wicked Wagon rides. Hop aboard the horse-drawn carriage for free rides through the neighborhood, but only if you think you can handle a few scares.

The haunted hayrides will pave the way for Worcester’s first Zombie Walk, a pub crawl through the Canal District. The crawl will be free to join for anyone with a costume. Although any costume will suffice, Pulse encourages your best attempt at the walking dead and will feature the best zombie costume online. Limp, lumber and lurch from bar to bar, enjoying live music along the street, drinks at each stop and the company of like-minded monsters. Just meet at the designated location and follow the route on Canalloween.com.

As in years past, Canal District bars, clubs and restaurants will host parties to celebrate the creepiest night of the year. Many will feature costume contests, prizes, live music and more.

“Canalloween is Worcester’s signature event,” said Paul Giorgio, publisher of Pulse and one of the event’s organizers. “We’ve collaborated with local businesses and organizations that will be working together to really step up the nightlife aspect of Halloween. This year, Canalloween will bring a festival feel to the Canal District like it’s never seen before.” Festivities will begin at dusk and carry on in full force until the witching hour (last call).

Canalloween has been known to bring out some of the creepiest and most creative costumes in the city of Worcester, so be sure to give it your all when choosing yours (for some tips on making a great costume, check out our story in the Beauty & Style section). Be sure to take some insidious selfies and post with the hashtag #Canalloween for a chance to be featured online!

Canalloween is hosted by Pulse Magazine and sponsored by Samuel Adams Octoberfest, Shipyard Pumpkinhead, Coors Light, Winn Development, and Wachusett Brewing Company.

Canalloween: A Nightmare on Water Street will be held at dusk Saturday, Oct. 29. Visit canalloween.com to find out where to board the Wicked Wagon, see the Zombie Walk route and schedule, and view a list of participating bars and restaurants.

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By JASON SAVIO

It’s Christmastime once again for the horror hounds and headbangers of New England, as the annual genre convention and music series hybrid Rock and Shock takes over the DCU Center and the Palladium for a weekend in October with boogeymen and power chords galore.

Time flies when you’re getting scared, and this year’s festivities will mark the lucky 13th anniversary of Rock and Shock. There are similarly themed conventions across the country, with more and more popping up every year, but Worcester’s littleconvention-that-could has withstood the test of time and grown into a monster presence. None of this, however, would be possible without the hard work of the people behind the scenes, such as the event’s creator, Kevin Barbare, and his partnering co-founder from MassConcerts, Gina Migliozzi.

“I certainly hoped it would make it this far,” said Barbare of his creation’s longevity. “Originally, the success came from a combo popularity of the movies that were out at the time and classic horror movies. Since we started, the rise of The Walking Dead, HBO’s True Blood (and) American Horror Story have taken it into different areas, away from just being movies.”

The recent spike in the horror genre’s popularity in new mediums has certainly helped Rock and Shock attract more people. Conventions live and die by attendance, and if fans stop going, the doors start closing. Just like the comic book fans who flock to conventions like the San Diego Comic-Con, those who enjoy scares and their beloved genre are some of the most dedicated you can find.

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Migliozzi recognizes this unwavering love by the fans and attributes the continuing success of Rock and Shock to it. “I think we have been able to stay around for 13 years (because of ) our fans,” explained Migliozzi. “They support the show and keep coming out. We have grown over the years and always try to put on the best show we can.”

Migliozzi and Barbare continue to put on the best show they can by staying true to the roots of Rock and Shock: Delivering monsters, metal and mayhem.

“We’ve tried to keep as much as possible the same,” said Barbare. One of the ways of doing that is making sure the guest list they put together will meet the expectations of any and every genre aficionado. That challenge has come easier over the years, added Barbare. “The main thing I always mention is we used to go after guests. Now, oftentimes, they ask us if they can come to our show because they’ve heard so many good things.”

For the past 12 years, icons and stars of horror and metal music alike have entered through the doors of Rock and Shock. This go-round will keep that tradition going with guests both familiar and new.

Headlining the talent for the convention at the DCU Center this year will be Malcolm McDowell of A Clockwork Orange fame, Rob Zombie’s Halloween remakes and Zombie’s newest film, 31.

Other actors from the cast of the upcoming film 31 will also be in attendance, including Meg Foster and Judy Geeson. Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich from Scream will each make their Rock and Shock debut to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that classic film, and fan favorites like Kane

Hodder and Danielle Harris will be returning.

The music front is stacked again this year, with Trivium, Twiztid and Max & Igor Cavalera set to melt your face off at the Palladium after you meet your favorite celebs.

Don’t forget about the vendors, either. There is always plenty of cool horror merchandise and goods available that you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

All of this leads to the perfect cornucopia for any fan, and you can rest assured that Rock and Shock creator has the event’s fans’ best interests in mind.

“It’s always a fun event, but so many other conventions have come along since we started that we just want to make sure fans have a good experience, meet who they’ve wanted to meet and find things for themselves that only Rock and Shock is guaranteed to have,” added Barbare.

It wouldn’t be the Halloween season if we didn’t have Rock and Shock in town. It has established itself as a staple in the community and an event that many look forward to every year, delivering the perfect mix of scares and thrills. If entering a world where monsters are real and the music is loud sounds good to you, then hop on your dragula and make your way to the best horror and music convention this side of Camp Crystal Lake.

Rock and Shock will be held Oct. 14-16 at The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester, and The DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester.

Ticket prices range from $20-$60. For more information, visit rockandshock.com.

pulsebooks: New book says pets have feelings, too

In his latest book, Pets on the Couch: Neurotic Dogs, Compulsive Cats, Anxious Birds, and the New Science of Animal Psychiatry, pioneering veterinarian and New York Times best-selling author Nicholas Dodman, DVM, explores the psychological side of One Medicine, a groundbreaking theory that involves medically treating animals and humans similarly. Dr. Dodman, who lives in North Grafton and is recently retired (though he serves as professor emeritus at Tufts and is a veterinarian consultant), took the time to chat about the science behind his new book.

How would you explain One Medicine?

All mammals, including us, are designed according to the same basic blueprint – they all have a four-chamber heart, a set of lungs, a liver and kidneys. Their muscles, bones and tendons are a cookie-cutter design to our own, as are their brains and spinal cord. … If you know how to treat diabetes in a person, you know how to treat it in a cat, pig or horse. Ditto for heart and kidney disease, etc. These parallels (with only minor differences) lead to the concept of One Medicine.

Learn how to treat one mammalian species, and you’ll have a good handle on how to treat it in another. My book extends the One Medicine concept to psychological, and even psychiatric treatments, that can be borrowed in either direction for the benefit of all.

Why have you been getting pushback on this theory?

People like to think of themselves as unique. I call it “human exceptionalism.” In reality, we have more in common with animals than we have differences. Those parallels reach to similar brain structure, brain centers and neurotransmitters. … Some do not like to credit a “mere animal” with any human attributes, but they are wrong.

Do you see it gaining steam in the coming years?

I see people looking back in 25 or 50 years and saying, “We treated animals so horribly in those days. How could we have not realized they are sentient beings with thoughts and emotions similar to our own?” … The tide is already turning. I am optimistic for the future when it comes to animal welfare, but we have a long way to go.

What are the odds of pets having behavioral issues?

Forty-two to 90 percent of owners report some kind of behavioral issues with their pets. It’s a 50-50 shot at best in terms of whether your pet acts out in ways you’d prefer it doesn’t.

Is there one animal you see more often than others?

I see more dogs than cats, birds or horses. That’s mainly because there are a lot of dogs around, and owners believe they can be helped or retrained. There are more cats around than dogs, and cats have an equal number of behavioral issues, but owners seem to tolerate more from their cats (who are smaller and less vocal) and erroneously believe that you can’t retrain a cat.

What do you hope readers take away?

I hope they will understand that our animals have much more in common with us than many think. This will lead to kinder treatment and a great understanding of the issues they face.

Photo credit Kevin Ma, Tufts University

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1. Oktoberfest

The fifth annual Shrewsbury Street Oktoberfest features a parade, German food, beer, music and fun! The parade starts at 12:30 p.m. on the corner of Aitchison and Shrewsbury streets and is followed by the Greendale Physical

Therapy Oktoberfest 5K at 2 p.m. Then, head to the restaurants and bars along Shrewsbury Street for the afterparty, with food, beer and music.

Beginning at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9; Shrewsbury Street, Worcester; $29 to register for 5K; shrewsburystreet.org/oktoberfest.htm.

2. Halloween Hike at Boo Meadow Brook

When the sun goes down, Broad Meadow Brook becomes its own haunted forest. Embark on a tour through

the woods and learn about the wildlife that inhabits this area. Maybe you’ll even run into a few spirits on the

way. Small groups will depart every 15 minutes, and activities will be held inside if the weather does not permit.

6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15; Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester; $8 at the door; halloweennewengland.com.

3. Monster Mash MS Bash 6th Annual halloween Costume Party

Come support the Multiple Sclerosis Society at this annual costume party! The cover charge equals a donation to

the MS society. Event attendees, 21+, are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes, and a prize will be awarded

to the best. A raffle will feature donations from area businesses, including Lowe’s, Home Depot, BJ’s Wholesale, Niche Hospitality Group, Boynton and Fish Restaurant. New England Revolution tickets will also be raffled.

7 p.m.–midnight, Saturday, Oct. 22; Hudson Portuguese Club Pavilion, 13 Port St., Hudson; donation at the door.

4. Hot Dog!

Hot Dog! A Stand Up Side Show features comedians spinning the wheel to find out what they’ll talk about.

Comedians include Will Abeles (NY dog), Zach Armentrout (tweet dog), Ian Barton (skinny dog), Mariel Cabral (resident dog), Tooky Cavanaugh (traveling dog), Tawanda Gona (Gucci Mane dog), Alex Grubard

(Philly dog) Luke Touma (young dog). So have a hot dog and enjoy the pop-up ice cream shop from The Parlor Ice Cream Co.

8-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13; George’s Coney Island, 158 Southbridge St., Worcester; free; email shaun.oneill387@gmail.com.

5. Rocky Horror Picture Show

The cult classic is coming to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. Celebrate the 40th anniversary of The

Rocky Horror Picture Show with Brad Majors himself, Barry Bostwick. Following the film, Bostwick will offer up

behind-the-scenes stories and answer questions. Plus, make it your best costume and enter the costume contest.

So come and enter the Time Warp!

7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28; The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester; $29, $85 for VIP tickets; thehanovertheatre.org.

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Club+Pub+GRUB Listings

Entertainment at clubs, bars, pubs & other select venues 435 Bar & Grill 435 Lancaster St., Leominster American Graffiti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg B-Man’s 140 Tavern 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Sterling 140pub.com The Banner Bar & Grille 112 Green St., Worc. thebannerbar.com Wednesdays: Trivia Night Fridays, Saturdays: DJs Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester barberscrossingrestaurant.com Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Road, Sterling barberscrossingrestaurant.com Thursdays: Open Mic Fridays: Bill McCarthy Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc. beatniksbeyou.com Oct. 5: Wednesday Night Mahem Oct. 6: Cloudstead & Friends Oct. 7: Ben Cote Band, 3 Mile Island, Left Hand Blue Oct. 8: Fellowship Of The King Oct. 9: Funklopian Tubes Oct. 13: Ukulele Night Oct. 14: Brian Chaffee & The Players Oct. 15: Hip Anonymous Oct. 19: Wednesday Night Mayhem Oct. 20: Don Prang Oct. 21: Good Question Oct. 22: The Shelly Wilson Band Oct. 27: Eric Rutman Oct. 28: Nate Mackinnon, Sonic Libido, The Turnbucklers & Widdershins Oct. 29: Annual Beatniks Halloween Party with DJ INK Chris Buduo Oct. 30: Kelly & Tribe Beemer’s Pub & Grill 310 Main St., Fitchburg beemerspub.com Billy’s Pub 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Road, Sterling blacksheeptavernsterline.com Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worc. blackstonetap.com Blue Plate Lounge 661 Main St., Holden Oct. 9: Blue Plate Sunday Jam featuring Twisted Dawg Oct. 15: The Derelicts Mid-Life Crisis Band Oct. 16: Blue Plate Sunday Jam featuring Raven Blue Blueprint New American Bar & Grill 9 Village Square, Westminster Fridays: Magic of Eddie Raymond Oct. 6: Brian Chaffee Oct. 7: Brett Casavant Oct. 8: Brian Kendall & Dave Miller Oct. 13: Mike Melendez Oct. 14: Sean Fullerton Oct. 15: MB Hadfield Oct. 20: Darren Bessette Oct. 22: Crackerfest with Darren Bessette

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Oct. 27: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Oct. 29: Flair Band Bolton Street Tavern 587 Bolton St., Marlborough boltonstreettavern.com Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton Oct. 15: Boom Box Oct. 22: Anthem Oct. 28: Halloween Bash with Doctor Robert Brew City 104 Shrewsbury St., Worc. brew-city.com Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Road, Shirley bullrunrestaurant.com Oct. 7: Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur Oct. 9: Matthew Curry Oct. 13: Bobby Rush Oct. 16: Matt Schofield Oct. 21: JD Souther Oct. 22: The No Reply Band (Beatles tribute) Oct. 23: Eric Johnson Oct. 26: Reckless Kelly Oct. 27: CJ Chanier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band Oct. 29: Chelsea Berry & Rachael Kilgour (Ballroom) Oct. 29: Royal Southern Brotherhood (Sawtelle Room) Cafe Destare 320 Main St., Fitchburg destare.com Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St., Worc.

Wednesdays: Bike Night Fridays, Saturdays: DJ (21+) Oct. 7: Mary Lou Ferrante Oct. 8: New England Weather Oct. 14: Lisa Marie & All Shook Up with Johnny Juxo Oct. 15: Brett Brumby & Lisa Marie Chopstick’s Restaurant & Lounge 21 Commercial Road, Leominster chopsticksleominster.com Christopher’s Pub 7 Pleasant St., Leominster Cicero’s Cafe 17 Suffolk St., Worc.

Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster classicspub.net Oct. 8: Back to Back with Charlie D Oct. 15: Wheelhouse Oct. 22: Teeter Todder Oct. 29: Our Buddy Carl Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc.

Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: Karaoke Oct. 14: Auntie Trainwreck’s Fall Fling The Columbia Tavern 28 Manning Ave., Leominster Compass Tavern 90 Harding St., Worc. thecompasstavern.com

Fridays, Saturdays: DJs Oct. 8: Back to Back with Charlie D Oct. 15: Wheelhouse Oct. 22: Teeter Todder Oct. 29: Our Buddy Carl Cosmopolitan Club 96 Hamilton St., Worc.

The Cove Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc.

Oct. 5: Subterra Oct. 7: The Dead and the Damned Oct. 8: Rocket Queen (Guns & Roses tribute) Oct. 14: Blackout (Sevendust tribute) with INMAN & The Hangovers at the Cove Oct. 15: The Deadites, Rhetoric, and Agents of Chaos Oct. 20: Mr. Self Destruct (NIN tribute) Oct. 21: SCHISM (TOOL tribute) Oct. 22: The Great Escape ( Journey tribute) Oct. 28: Halloween Horrorshow with The Automatons, The Excrementals, Damnation Wolfman & the Brimstone Boys, Marianne Toilet and the Runs Oct. 29: Halloween Bash with Through the Doors (The Doors tribute) Oct. 31: Genitorturers Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc. danceranchandsaloon.com Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford daysendtavern.com Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens devensgrill.com Electric Haze 26 Millbury St, Worc.

Oct. 9: The Higgs Oct. 12: College Musik Oct. 13: Space Carnival & Eggy Oct. 14: Ghosts of Jupiter Oct. 15: Balkun Brothers with Rebel Alliance Oct. 22: Jiggle the Handle & The Coalboilers Oct. 28: Authority Productions Oct. 29: Fennario (The Grateful Dead tribute) Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc. aohworcester.com Saturdays: Murph’s Comedy Joint Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 E. Main St., Marlborough fireflysbbq.com Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden flipflopsma.com Oct. 6: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Flying Rhino Cafe 278 Shrewsbury St., Worc. flyingrhinocafe.com Frank’s 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

Oct. 6: Amanda Cote Oct. 8: Sam James Oct. 9: Marc Turo Oct. 14: Justin Perry Oct. 15: Right Angle Woman Oct. 20: Dezi Garcia Oct. 22: Ken Tracy Oct. 28: Bob Whitlock Oct. 29: Chad Clements Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill

305 Shrewsbury St., Worc. funkyandjosemurphys.com Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner gardnerale.com Mondays: Blue Mondays Thursdays: Audio Wasabi Fridays, Saturdays: Live music The GazBar Sports Grill 1045 Central St., Leominster thegazbar.com Oct. 8: Scott Babineau Oct. 14: Jim Weeks Oct. 15: Kevin Shields Oct. 22: City Boys GD Lounge Union Station, 2 Washington Square, Worc. facebook.com/GDloungeandtapas Greendale’s Pub 404 W. Boylston St., Worc. greendalespub.com Tuesdays: Open Mic with Bill McCarthy; Local Musicians Showcase Oct. 7: Trigger Oct. 9: Sunday Jam Mike Lynch and Arthur James Oct. 14: Tony Soul Project Oct. 15: Clam Digger Oct. 16: Sunday Jam Mike Lynch and Johnny Bluehorn Oct. 21: Jack Rabbit Slim Oct. 22: Your Mother Oct. 23: Sunday Jam Mike Lynch and John Juxo Oct. 28: Auntie Trainwreck’s Not Quite Halloween Hootenanny Oct. 29: Silverbacks Oct. 30: Mikey Sunday Jam Mike Lynch and Little Sugar and the Big Spoonful Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn halliganssportsbarandmore.com Happy Jack’s 785 North Main St., Leominster Oct. 7: Ross McGuinness Oct. 8: Zack Slik Oct. 14: Kevin Shields Oct. 15: Lizzy Marquis Oct. 21: Scott Babineau Oct. 22: Amanda Cote Oct. 28: Topher Brew Oct. 29: Dave Malouin Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/Kelley Square Yacht Club 1 Millbury St., Worc.

Indian Ranch 200 Gore Road, Webster indianranch.com Industry Bar Room 109 Water St., Worc. industrybarroom.com Ixtapa Cantina 308 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg ixtapacantina2.com JC Fenwick’s 37 Mechanic St., Leominster Jillian’s - Worcester 315 Grove St., Worc. jilliansworcester.com Oct. 7: Rattlesnake Alley Oct. 8: UFC 204 Bisping vs. Henderson Continued on Page 21

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October 2016

Continued from Page 18 Oct. 14: Decades by Dezyne Oct. 15: Key Performance Oct. 21: Doctor Robert Oct. 22: Cover Story Oct. 28: How Bizarre Oct. 29: Halloween Party with Key Performance JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough jbag.biz Oct. 1: Flock of Assholes Oct. 7: How Bizarre Oct. 8: Heavy Horses Oct. 14: Way Up South Oct. 15: The Brit Wits Oct. 21: Dirty Deeds Oct. 22: 9-Teen Oct. 28: The Great Escape Oct. 29: Whiskey Church Halloween Bash Legends Airport Road, Fitchburg Leitrim’s Pub 265 Park Ave., Worc. leitrimspub.com Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc. loft266.com Wednesdays: Jim Devlin Oct. 6: Ken Macy Oct. 7: Two Timers Oct. 8: Kevin Shields Oct. 13: Sam James Oct. 14: Pete Towler Oct. 15: Drunken Uncles Oct. 20: Bill Beck Performs 8 Oct. 21: Dave Anthony Oct. 28: Jay Graham Oct. 29: Nik Chisholm London Billiards / Club Oasis 70 James St., Worc. londonbilliards.com Mahoney’s Pub 413 Park Ave., Worc.

Marty’s Pub 225 Cantebury St., Worc. martyspub.com MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc. mblounge.com Wednesdays: Karaoke Thursdays: Thumpin’ College Thursdays McNally’s Grille & Pub 88 Sargent Road, Westminster mcnallysgrille.com Michael’s Cigar Bar 1 Exchange Place, Worc. michaelscigar.com Oct. 5: Brett Brumby Oct. 6: Dan Christo Oct. 7: Ghost Train Oct. 8: Abraxas (Santana tribute) Oct. 9: Blue Light Bandits Oct. 12: Ricky Duran Oct. 13: Jim Devlin Oct. 14: Acoustic Nation Oct. 15: Hit the Bus Oct. 16: Royal Furs Oct. 19: Mike Melendez Oct. 20: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Oct. 21: Andy Cummings & Swingabilly Lounge Oct. 22: Tequila Bonfire Oct. 23: Blue Light Bandits Oct. 26: Chris McDermott Oct. 27: Mike Melendez Oct. 28: Neon Alley

Oct. 29: Royal Furs Mickey Sheas 324 Electric Ave., Lunenburg The Mill 185 185 W. Boylston St., W. Boylston themill185.com Oct. 7: Joe Macey Oct. 8: Bill McCarthy Oct. 13: Josh Briggs Oct. 14: Jay Graham Oct. 15: Chad Clements Oct. 20: Amanda Cote Oct. 21: Belit Oct. 22: Scott Babineau Oct. 28: Brian Chaffee Oct. 29: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Mill Street Brews (@ The Artist Development Complex) 18 Mill St., Southbridge millstreetbrews.com Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc.

Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worc.

The Pint 58 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

Wednesdays: Trivia Night

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

Press Box 536 Lincoln St., Worc.

Oct. 15: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops Hell

Sunset Tiki Bar/The Outlook 79 Powers Road, Westford

Quinn’s Irish Pub 715 W. Boylston St., Worc. quinnsirishpub.com Oct. 8: The Tipparary Stonethrowers Oct. 12: Dezi Garcia Oct. 26: Dexi Garcia Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc. ralphsrockdiner.com Mondays: Dirty Gerund Poetry Show

The Muse 536 Main St., Worc.

Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc.

Fridays: Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat

Red Onion - Otter River Hotel 29 Main St., Baldwinville

The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc.

Rocky’s 139 Water St., Worc.

Oct. 22: Babe Pino Band

Oak Barrel Tavern 229 Grove Ave., Worc. oakbarreltavernworcester.com

Rumors 371 Park Ave., Worc. clubuniverseworcester.com

Olde Post Office Pub 1 Ray St., N. Grafton

Rye & Thyme 14 Monument Square, Leominster ryeandthyme.com Oct. 6: Jon Short Oct. 7: Ken Macy Band Oct. 8: Brian & Captain Oct. 9: Brunch with Zack Slik Oct. 13: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Oct. 14: City Boys Oct. 15: Soulstice Oct. 20: Jay Graham Oct. 21: Retro Stew Oct. 22: Fun with Hands Oct. 23: Brunch with Jon Short Oct. 27: Sean Fullerton Oct. 28: Danielle Lessard Oct. 29: Brian Chaffee Oct. 30: Brunch with Zack Slik

Oxford Tavern 314 Main St., Oxford Padavano’s Place 358 Shrewsbury St., Worc. padavanosplace.com Thursdays: Karaoke Singing Contest Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster The Palladium 261 Main St., Worc. thepalladium.net Park Grill and Spirits 257 Park Ave., Worc.

Fridays, Saturdays: Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg partnerspub.com Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Karaoke Oct. 8: One50One Oct. 22: Well Within Distance Oct. 29: Halloween Party with Elemental Patsie Dugan’s 49 Millbury St., Worc. patsiedugans.com Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge 64 Water St., Worc. perfectgameworcester.com Wednesdays: Bike Night Fridays: DJs Saturdays: DJ Reckless

Spruce Street Tavern 68 Spruce St., Clinton sprucestreettavern.com

Point Breeze On the Lake 114 Point Breeze Road, Webster pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com

The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc.

Wednesdays: Open Mic

On The Rocks Sports Bar & Grill 96 Lakefront Ave., Lunenburg

Saturdays: Live bands

Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worc. sakura-tokyo.com Oct. 7, 8: Doctor Robert Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant 494 Electric Ave., Lunenburg seanpatricksrestaurant.com South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 W. Broadway, Gardner southsidemargaritafactory.com Oct. 7: T.C. Polk Oct. 8: Caves on Mars Oct. 14: Topher Brew Oct. 15: Twin City All Stars Oct. 21: TBA Oct. 22: Back Seat Zero Oct. 28: Zack Slik Oct. 29: Halloween Party with Go Gadget Go Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough speakersnightclub.net

The Tavern on Central 3 Central St., Ashburnham thetavernoncentral.com Saturdays: Magic of Eddie Raymond Oct. 8: Dan & Ethan Oct. 14: Northern Company Oct. 15: Brother Maynard Oct. 21: Tony Soul Project Oct. 22: Tim & Lou Oct. 28: Ton of Blues Oct. 29: Rob Benton Three G’s Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc.

3gs-sportsbar.com Union Tavern 65 Green St., Worc.

Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grille 377 Stetson Road, Barre upperdecksportsbarandgrille.com Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc. victorycigarbar.com Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc.

Sundays: Big Jon Short Tuesdays: Boogie Chillin’ Oct. 22: Hip Swayers Deluxe Whiskey Hookah Lounge 316 Main St., Worc.

Whiskey on Water 97 Water St., Worc. whiskeyonwater.com Wednesdays: Karaoke with DJ Soup Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays: DJs Oct. 7: Eric Paquette Oct. 8: Eric Narwahl and The Manatees Oct. 14: Never in Vegas Oct. 15: Darren Bessette Band Oct. 21: The House Tones Oct. 22: The Moonshine Band Oct. 28: Ben Cote Band Oct. 29: Souled Out Show Band Whistle Stop Bar & Grill 85 Main St., Oxford StopByTheWhistle.com White Eagle Polish Club 112 Green St., Worc.

Fridays: DJs Oct. 8: Babe Pino Band Oct. 22: East Coast Runaways Oct. 29: Halloween Party with Far From Eden William’s Restaurant & Tavern 184 Pearson Blvd., Gardner williamsrestaurantandtavern.com Wonder Bar Restaurant 121 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

Ye Olde Tavern 7 E. Main St., W. Brookfield westbrookfieldtavern.com

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classic's pub – leominster

By Justin perry

bootleggers prohibition pub – WORCESTER

gazbar sports grill – leominster

OAK BARREL TAVERN – WORCESTER

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October 2016

lakeside bar & grille – shrewsbury

the cove music hall – worcester

shrewsbury street college shuffle – worcester

435 BAR & GRILLE – LEOMINSTER WOMAN ON WHISKEY EVENT

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lifestyle

Sweet ways to shop for Breast cancer awareness

The Luxe List:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Right now, many companies are donating a portion of their proceeds to organizations that support women with breast cancer and breast cancer research. Here are a few items you’ll enjoy while doing good!

Nature Nate’s Honey This honey is as nature intended – and very different from your typical

grocery store honey. It’s treated with very low heat, keeping all important enzymes intact. It’s also unfiltered, which means it still contains pollen

and retains the best flavor, aroma and nutrition naturally. Lastly, Nature

Nate’s is made by 100 percent American bees, helping to eliminate pesticides and ensuring the highest quality product. The company

offers two great options. The first is Nature Nate’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey, which is made by American bees and comes straight from the

Sparkling Ice Pink Grapefruit

Ford Warriors in Pink Apparel

This sparkling water has the subtly sweet taste of

Ford Motor Company has been in the

tangy grapefruit that’s so delicious, it’ll be love

at first sip. You’ll also love that this zero-calorie, naturally flavored sparkling water brand proudly displays a Pink Ribbon on its Pink Grapefruit

bottle all year long, with the caption “a portion of

fight against breast cancer for 22 years and offers a line of Warriors in Pink apparel.

My faves of this season, priced between $10 and $40, include the Handful of

the proceeds will be donated to fund breast cancer

Hope Gloves, the Courage Cap, Inner

corn syrup adulteration, pesticides, herbicides and antibiotics before

contributed more than $140,000 to research and

and comfy Women’s Tank, emblazoned

for neighbors, teachers or family members. Choose from five beautiful

Race for the Cure and Wings of Karen Bra Dashes

donates 100 percent of the net proceeds

Grain. Each tin includes one 16-ounce bottle of Nature Nate’s Honey.

Northwest in the early 1990s, Sparkling Ice makes

Breast Cancer Foundation and has committed to making a $75,000

teas and lemonades. Bursting with real fruit flavor

included in the NBCF’s Hope Kits, which are distributed to cancer

delivers 19 irresistible fruit combinations without

Survivors Coalition and The Dr. Susan

hive. It has not been cooked, and the pollens have not been filtered

research.” This year alone, Sparkling Ice has already

& Outer Peace Vest and the super cute

going into the bottle. Nature Nate’s Honey Tins serve as a sweet gift

sponsorship/support of Susan G Komen Affiliates

with bold graphics. Warriors in Pink

designs, including Kitchen, Leaves, Berries, Fall Blooms and Wood

across the county. First created in the Pacific

Also cause conscious, Nature Nate’s has partnered with the National

a portfolio of refreshingly bold sparkling waters,

donation. Additionally, the company is donating honey packets to be

and just the right amount of fizz, Sparkling Ice

survivors throughout the country.

all the calories.

Love Foundation.

SparklingIce.com

WarriorsInPink.com

out. Each batch is tested for a high pollen count and a clean read of

NatureNates.com

of its wear and gear to four breast cancer charities that consumers can choose from during checkout, including Susan G. Komen, The Pink Fund, The Young

The Luxe List Executive Editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury marketplace for exemplary travel experiences, extraordinary events and notable products and services. Submissions are accepted at TheLuxeList.com. Follow her on Twitter @LuxeListEditor and Facebook at TheLuxeList.

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October 2016

OUT+ABOUT: Support for LGBTQ+ seniors

By John trobaugh “I suffer a lot of loneliness, and here, they openly accept me. It’s really a warm feeling,” Ron Hewitt said.

Every other week, Elder Services of Worcester sponsors the Rainbow Lunch Club for seniors.

This month, the club is expanding to offer a dinner as well! Ron said he has been coming since the group started offering lunch more than three years ago. He said, for some reason, there tends to be a woman’s table and a men’s table and a mixed table if there are more than 20 people. His first time, he ended up sitting at the women’s table, since he was too shy to join the men’s table.

The next time, one of the guys invited him to sit with them.

Hal Hills recalled that moment well. He was the guy that invited Ron to the men’s table. He said the lunch club has meant a lot to him. He has formed new friendships with folks he would never have met without the lunch club. He now has a group of friends he regularly invites over to his house for dinner and socializing. He regularly makes jam for his fellow lunchmates. He even makes a sugar-free version for those who don’t need the sugar.

Tanya Duvall, who was recently elected to the Southbridge School Committee, regularly attends the lunch club, as well. She proudly declares she is the oldest transgender member of the school committee. She is good friends with Charlie and Ben Labonte, who were instrumental in getting the lunch club started and make sure every meal occurs without a hitch. Charlie and Ben are married, and both have been passionate about LGBT advocacy work for many years.

Tanya said she also owes a lot to Joan Anderson, who helped Tanya come out as transgender at the age of 69! Joan and Ben are both WLEN (Worcester LGBT Elder Network) peer workers, and Charlie is their steadfast volunteer. Tanya is really looking forward to the dinner club, as well, since that will be a nice alternative. Out of her children and grandchildren, she feels lucky that only two out of 15 don’t accept her. She has friends that lost their families completely when they finally decided to live their true gender.

In full disclosure, my husband volunteers here regularly, and I have volunteered here on occasion.

One of the things I worried about growing up (when I realized there was no changing my orientation) was what will happen when I am old. Of course, at that time, we didn’t know if we would even live long enough to have that experience because of the AIDS crisis.

The Rainbow Lunch Club really reminds me of all senior centers, except that I can feel the relief and sense of safety when I am here. Here, people have been through so much that they make sure everyone feels welcome. Ron said he had to do rehab at the Veterans Administration for a few weeks, and when he was finally able to come back, people genuinely said they missed him and individually asked how he was doing.

The Rainbow Lunch Club has a need for regular volunteers. In addition, the club likes to have speakers talk about various things happening in the community or teach a new skill or craft. If you want to volunteer, or know anyone who could use the social time at lunch – and starting this month, at dinner – the club would love to have you!

The Rainbow Lunch Club meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and beginning Oct. 4, the Rainbow Supper Club meets the first Tuesday evening of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden St., Worcester. RSVP by the previous Wednesday to (508) 756-1545, ext. 339, or wlen@eswa.org.

Photos by John Trobaugh. (Left) Tanya Duvall and (Right) Ron Hewitt

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ne w th ar e w ou oo nd :

food+drink

quinn's irish pub By rachel shuster

Ask owner Tim Quinn about Quinn’s Irish Pub, and he’ll describe the pub as “old-school Irish values with a new school American twist.”

Having opened at 715 W. Boylston St., Worcester, in June, Quinn’s is already seeing major success.

“We’ve had a very good summer. We’ve hit the ground running,” the Worcester native said.

While Quinn’s Irish Pub is Quinn’s first venture into the restaurant business, opening an Irish pub has been a lifelong dream of his and his brother, Ryan’s.

“We always dreamed of doing this. When my brother passed away, I took time off from pharmaceutical sales and gave it a try,” Quinn said.

With the spirit of his brother ever-present, Quinn pursued their lifelong dream as a tribute to Ryan and also enlisted the help of some veterans of the Worcester restaurant scene.

“I went to get advice from Cal Dolan and Dessie McKane, owners of Funky Murphy’s,” he said. “They have such knowledge of the industry, how to work a kitchen and customer service. I trained under them

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for a year. We have a great relationship and decided to partner on the pub.”

The atmosphere at Quinn’s is comfortable and inviting.

“When you walk in, what catches your eye are the 15 beers on tap, the 18-seat horseshoe bar, four TVs, as well as Keno screens,” Quinn said.

The menu at Quinn’s is tasty and hearty. Breakfast is served daily, but be sure to stop by on Sundays for the breakfast buffet from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The buffet is $10.99 per adult, while children 10 and younger eat for $5.99 per child. Children 3 and younger eat for free.

Quinn’s menu also includes soups and salads, like homemade chili and Quinn’s Steak Caprese Salad with house-marinated steak tips. The appetizers include favorites like Spinach Artichoke Dip, Quinn’s Irish Potato Skins and Meg’s Mini Burgers. All apps are less than $15!

If you’re looking for something a bit more filling, Quinn’s sandwiches have you covered. The Mighty Quinn Burger, Burncoat Bomber (a delicious take on the steak and cheese) and TQ’s Turkey Club are just a few options. Not only are these sandwiches delicious,

but they are all less than $13.

The entrees at Quinn’s are a must-try. The Jameson Pepper Steak is a 12-ounce New York strip filet coated with cracked black pepper and finished with Quinn’s homemade Irish whiskey glaze. Pete’s Irish Homestyle Meatloaf is a mix of pork and ground beef, topped with gravy and fried shoestring onions. Another standout is The Big Fish and Chips. Are you drooling yet? All entrees are less than $15.

Quinn’s also holds events and plans on more to come.

“Right now, we have trivia on Tuesdays and plan to have live music and specials for all the football games,” Quinn said.

As for parking, don’t worry – there’s plenty! “We have designated spaces with three other businesses – Family Dollar, Enchanted Fireside and an auto store – that let us use their lots after 5:30 p.m. A parking lot attendant will assist!” Quinn said.

Quinn’s Irish Pub is open 8 a.m.-2 a.m. MondaySaturday and 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Sundays. For more information, visit quinnsirishpub.com.

pulsebrew:

Pumpkin beers redux

By kerry cyganiewicz Here we are again. The problem isn’t finding a pumpkin beer, it is finding the right one for you.

I’ll begin by discussing the beers that I have already reviewed, go over some new arrivals that I recommend, and then go over whether or not to sugar the rim of the glass. Off we go!

In the past, I had said if you enjoy pumpkin pie, you cannot go wrong with Southern Tier Imperial Pumking. If you enjoy the spicier side of pumpkin beers, then Dogfish head Punkin or Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale are the ones you should look for. The Bruery Autumn Maple is actually made with yams, but it is super complex, with maple, vanilla, ginger and other spices sure to please the more discriminating palate, while Cambridge Brewing Company’s Great Pumpkin Ale is probably the most balanced of all of the pumpkin ales. Shipyard Pumpkinhead is everywhere, and most people seem to like it. If you are having a get-together around this time of year, I would be sure to get some. It is the safest bet not to offend anyone and is a quite serviceable pumpkin beer.

On to the new offerings. I have one word for what has happened since my last pumpkin beer column: Variety. Gone are the days of just regular American ale brewed with some pumpkin pie spices and some pumpkin in the mash at a temperature to leave some residual sweetness in the final product. What follows is something for everyone. You can purchase these beers locally at bars and at liquor stores that stock craft beer.

La Parcela, Jolly Pumpkin Artisanal Ales (6.0% ABV)

This is nothing even close to a typical pumpkin ale. It poured a hazy, dark yellow with a huge head that disappeared and vibrant carbonation. The aroma was of tart lemon and of pumpkin pie with all of the spices present. This sour ale played on the pumpkin components so well, it kept me guessing just what this beer was. Sour ale? Pumpkin ale? Saison? Was this aged in a barrel? Who cares! I have often spoken about beers changing as they warmed, and La Parcela is no different. This will be in my glass on Halloween. There are a few other sour ales that came on the market recently, such as Almanac Pumpkin Sour and Boulevard Funky Pumpkin. Don’t be afraid of them.

Pumpkin Down, Ballast Point Brewing Company (5.8% ABV)

This would be my favorite actual beer from these West Coast brewers if it wasn’t for classics such as Victory at Sea and Sculpin. What they did here is take a Scottish ale, known for being on the dark side and often utilizing peat-smoked malts, and kicked that up with pumpkin. Most pumpkin ales are closer to orange, whereas this one is closer to a deep reddish-brown. They added a touch of pumpkin spice to accentuate, but not overwhelm, what was already going on with the Scottish ale and pumpkin marriage. This is a dark pumpkin ale with so many deep nuances that is near impossible to put down. Do not tell me you do not like dark beers until you have tried this.

Roadsmary’s Baby, Two Roads Brewing Company (6.8% ABV)

Pumpkin, pumpkin pie spices and vanilla aged in rum barrels. Sounds like a perfect beer for a pirate – or someone in a pirate costume. This looks like a typical pumpkin ale, but the similarities end there. It smells like someone took your typical pumpkin ale and dropped a vanilla bean and a shot of rum in it. Trust me, it tastes as good as it sounds, and the mouthfeel is a little on the thin side, which makes it super drinkable. Add some vanilla ice cream to this one and make a float.

So, should you use cinnamon sugar on the rim of your glass with these beers? If you like it, go for it. However, if you do, do not use water on the rim of the glass. That works better with salt for a margarita. I recommend using either honey or maple syrup. It will hold the sugar mixture better.

Use your judgment as to which coating to use with your beer.

Personally, I like just having half of my glass rim getting the sugar treatment, if at all. I have the option of using it for just decoration or actually drinking from it. In the end, it’s your beer.

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dining review:

Oak Barrel offers big portions and great value on the pub scene By bernie whitmore

I suppose I should come clean: My well of good will toward the Oak Barrel Tavern runs deep, filled entirely by fondness for Tweeds, the restaurant operating from that location for decades. My friends and I had become so accustomed to the old Tweeds that, forgiving its plentiful rough edges, it had become our go-to place for relaxed pub fare.

So it was with curiosity and optimism that we waited whilst new owners overhauled the Grove Street location. Shortly after the opening, I dined at the Oak Barrel Tavern with a group of friends. My order was unadventurous, perhaps a burger, and I left satisfied.

Strangely though, what stood out was the option of plain or sweet potato tots.

However, the real excitement of that excursion was in exploring the total rebuild of the interior – an entirely new layout, bar and surprisingly sophisticated design that leans heavily upon wood trim, plush furniture and sleek surfaces. It’s the antithesis of Tweeds.

Fast-forward a couple months. Enough time should have passed to reasonably expect any opening jitters and snafus to have been smoothed over as routine operations took hold. That meant a more discerning visit was due, so I met a friend on a weeknight for dinner at the OBT. Passing through the new entry area, furnished with accent pieces a cooper may have had a hand in crafting, we were immediately greeted and shown to a table in back, away from the lounge area. This location would prove ideal; like a wall of sound, the loud bustle of the bar clientele was always present and in view, but at this remove, it didn’t intrude on conversation.

I started with a glass of Goose Island IPA served in appropriate glassware. Then, we plunged into our appetizer selection. Finding one was wasn’t as easy as it usually is. OBT has many of the standard wings, tenders and nacho selections. Sugar Cane Shrimp sounded interesting. Then, our server stopped by and,

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October 2016

mentioning the additional daily specials, grabbed us a list from an adjacent table.

My friend mentioned the Steak and Cheese Spring Rolls with some enthusiasm. And so it came to be.

The spring rolls arrived served in a plastic basket lined with black-and-white checked waxed paper; five (adult) finger-length rolls diagonally cut into halves.

This impressive stack was nestled against a small steel cup of ketchup for dipping. The exterior of the rolls was crispy and pleasingly brittle, enclosing paper-

Oak Barrel Tavern 229 Grove Street Worcester, MA (508) 755-8047 oakbarreltavernworcester.com

thin sliced beef rolled in gooey cheese. We took some pleasure in dining upon them. But really, the appearance and flavor of these spring rolls was that of freezer-to-fryer products, akin to what you may have seen on a television commercial marketed as fast and hearty snacks for hoards of hungry teens. But it was the ketchup as a dipping sauce that most disappointed us.

The OBT’s entrées consist of selections of sandwiches, burgers and “main dishes.” As I contemplated the “mains,” I admit to balking at the idea of $18 fish and chips. (Is Worcester ready for that?) Yet, I wasn’t in the mood for meat. As if sensing my dilemma, our server returned and mentioned that there were entrée specials that evening. One of them, she tentatively

reported, was Mahi. Interested, I asked for more details. After consultation with another employee, our server confirmed that it came grilled and topped with mango salsa. I placed my order. In contrast to that uncertainty, my friend encountered full-bore enthusiasm for his choice, the OBT Meatloaf. Our server gushed, “I don’t even like meatloaf, but I love this one! If you don’t like it, I’ll pay for it!”

And she was absolutely spot-on.

This boatload of meatloaf came in four thick slices, each grilled then glazed with Sriracha Bourbon sauce – sweet and spicy – and arrayed over a mound of mashed potatoes and topped with a few golden onion rings. Crunchy, fresh sautéed green beans dazzled with deep contrasting color and texture to a dish perfectly designed for the cooler months approaching.

Big portion. Big flavor. Good value.

The Mahi Mahi special enjoyed classic treatment: a cross-hatching of grill-lines and thin topping of mango-red onion salsa. The fish was portioned per Weight Watchers specs; a bit smaller than my iPhone 5S (in Badger case) and thick enough to survive grilling without drying out.

The star of this dish, in my opinion, was the delightful vegetable medley of summer squash and broccoli florets. They were perfectly sautéed with buttery freshness. In the other corner of the dish, a drift of rice scattered with parsley confetti was dry and uninteresting.

In total, our impressions of Oak Barrel Tavern were mixed. When you look for it via Google, it’s described as a “Woodsy gastropub with American tavern eats.”

The kind of place I love. To truly get there will require a bit more cuisine creativity and dissemination of full menu details to all servers. There’s considerable new activity in Worcester dining – time’s a-wasting.

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

By paul giorgio The wall won’t stop them. Tio Juan’s Margaritas Mexican Restaurant opened the last week of August. The Northborough restaurant is the eighth in the chain and is located near Wegmans and a whole host of other restaurants off of Route 9N. It is open every day from 11:30 a.m.midnight.

Give Goodell the bird. Worcester’s The Fix and Mezcal will serve up all-you-can-eat wings

on Monday and Thursday nights during the NFL season. Mezcal does them on Sunday, too. All the wings you can eat for just $12. Now that’s giving Roger Goodell the bird – or at least the wing of a bird.

No one’s perfect. The Perfect Game on Worcester’s Water Street has closed down while the owners, Mark and Michael Erlich, come up with a new concept for the shuttered sports bar. We hear that a night club may be in the offering. But stay tuned.

Chili & Chowder winners. The winners of the second annual Worcester Chili & Chowder

Festival, sponsored by Pulse Magazine, are in. Best Chili: Niche Hospitality; 2nd Place – tie : Flying Rhino Café & The Dogfather; People’s Choice: Flying Rhino. Best Chowder: Vintage Grill; 2nd Place: Quinn’s Irish Pub; People’s Choice: Compass Tavern. More than 400 people cast votes for the People’s Choice Award, while a distinguished group of judges picked the Best Chili and Chowder.

Herbie’s being sold. So, the venerable Herbie’s on Worcester’s Southbridge Street is being sold. The new owners are the Kaplan brothers, who also own the Lakeside Bar & Grille in Shrewsbury. Herbie’s is a traditional hole-in-the-wall that servers some of the best fried fish in the city at the best prices Something Catchy never caught on. Something Catchy Seafood Shanty on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street is closing. It will be replaced by a Brazilian bakery and restaurant. Watch for the late October opening of Salagabom. The closing leaves Worcester without a traditional clam shack. Owners Angela and Rose Ellen Padavano have two other restaurants to keep them busy.

Pizza, pizza. We hear that Pisano’s Pizza on Worcester’s Grafton Street was recently sold. We also hear that it will stay a pizza place, but we will keep you posted of any changes.

As the worm turns. Wormtown Brewery on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street has undergone its third expansion since moving from Park Avenue to its current location. The owners are expected to add 14,000 square feet, which will enable them to add a new bottling line. They will now bottle five days a week.

A little less talk and more pie. Worcester-based Table Talk Pie will once again be opening

a retail store on Worcester’s Green Street in the heart of the Canal District. Table Talk had operated a store on Green Street since the 1940s, but closed it when the company was sold. Can’t wait for pie.

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art+culture

Poetry and film collide at the Rabbit Heart Poetry Film Festival By maxine giza Hearing the word “poetry” is likely to conjure an image of books and rhymes from elementary school in the minds of many, but poetry is far more than amusing text. The third annual Rabbit Heart Poetry Film Festival proves it by bringing to Worcester a tantalizing mixture of film, music and words.

This poetry contest isn’t the stereotypical event – a poet reading his or her work in front of a microphone. In fact, it’s anything but.

“Show, don’t tell” is the name of the game. Rabbit Heart producer Sou MacMillan describes the contest as films made out of poems, with the poems providing the framework.

The submissions run the gamut, from animation to outdoor scenes, and appeal to a wide range of audiences. There is something about the films that attract those who like traditional poetry, and there is something for those who like short movies. The collision of film and poetry is particularly appealing to the “MTV and YouTube generation,” Sou noted. “I see in these poems the same thing that captivated me growing up watching music videos.”

In addition to the films not being performance pieces, other criteria include films must be less than four minutes, the poetry must be created by the submitter, and the submitter must have had a hand in the film’s creation.

“Past winners were transportive, but through different methods,” MacMillan said. “They brought us in as viewers and really took us to the next place.”

One such winner was Rachel Kann, who walked away with a title for Best Sound/Music in a Production last year for her piece titled Drunk. Kann’s piece was based on the Jewish holiday Purim. Her film was truly a collaborative effort, with the music developed with a friend and the film shot by another friend on different continent – India, to be exact. “I love that I am not visually in it,” she noted.

Kann said the format creates a unique way to take someone on a journey. “It’s really hard to make a good poetry video. Taking out the element of the poet performing forces people to diversify how they are telling the story,” she said, “You have to find other ways, and it’s so much better.”

Kann’s competitors used a variety of means to tell their stories, “People used animation; people shot nature landscape,” she recalled. “There are so many ways to approach it.”

If this film festival sounds very unique, that’s because it is. In fact, the Rabbit Heart Poetry Film Festival is the only poetry on film event in North America this year, according to MacMillan.

Despite only being in its third year, the contest has experienced massive growth. More than 350 entries from more than 40 countries have been submitted this year. That number is up from around 30 entries the first year and just over 100 the second.

To further highlight the fact that the festival is gaining traction, Rabbit Heart was showcased in the CYCLOP festival in the Ukraine, and films have been featured at the pro.l.e series in Spain.

While the contest has global appeal, that doesn’t mean a good number of films from locals aren’t competitively vying for a title and prize money, as well.

There are seven categories rounding out the festival this year: Best Overall Production, Best Animated, Best Music/Sound, Best Smartphone Production, Best Under 1 Minute, Best Valentine and the Shoots.

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Despite the technological aspect of the poetry festival, the submissions aren’t necessarily created by those with unlimited funds and expensive equipment. The smartphone category is of particular importance to MacMillan because she feels that the contest shouldn’t be about creating artwork with a large budget.

“Accessibility is really important for me,” she said. “Art is supposed to belong to everybody. You get viewpoints that wouldn’t be there otherwise.”

Intrigued? As one may suspect, the films are meant to be enjoyed and shared with others.

The Rabbit Heart Poetry and Film Festival will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Nick’s Bar & Restaurant, 124 Millbury St., Worcester. For more information, visit doublebunnypress.com. To see Drunk, visit https://youtu. be/6GSACAsvSUQ. Photos by Gary Hoare

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

sports+fitness

By kimberly dunbar Whenever I run, it never surprises me when I’m honked at, cat-called or spoken to lewdly; I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve heard, “Hey, honey” or “Nice ass.” Although we shouldn’t have to deal with it, harassment of female runners is a common occurrence. The recent string of stalking, physical attacks and murders of female runners has turned these annoyances into palpable fears.

“Running is a really popular form of exercise,” said Bob Caron, an Assumption College professor and longtime martial arts instructor. “Sadly, we live in a society where there are creeps preying on these ladies.”

Caron and his wife, Jen, recently offered a free runner’s defense workshop aimed at helping women learn strategies to counter attacks. He added that – though reasonable steps – reading a blog and buying pepper spray may not be enough.

“I’m sorry that this sort of training is even needed,” he lamented. “However, I believe you’ll feel more empowered when you’re prepared.”

And until there is a shift in societal thinking and all men treat females with respect, women need to protect themselves while running.

RUN SMART According to Caron, runners are easy targets because they’re paying attention to the road, their breathing and their running. “By the end of your run, you’re tired, and it puts you in a more vulnerable position because you don’t have the energy to fight off an attacker,” he said.

The key is to be present. David Nance, CEO of SABRE, the world’s leading manufacturer of pepper spray, warns runners to make a conscious effort to scan the area on runs – especially if it’s a path you take often. “Don’t revert to autopilot,” he said. Even better, mix up your route and refrain from posting runs on social media.

Minimize distractions. Wearing earbuds takes away one of your most critical senses. If you really need music, use one earbud and turn down the volume.

Run in groups. If you can’t, Millbury Police Officer Christopher Polselli encourages people to exercise in populated areas. Nance agreed: Other people can become witnesses of, or intervene in, potential attacks. Local running stores like Sneakerama and Marathon Sports offer group runs every week.

Run during daylight hours. Nance cited a recent Stanford University study that found a strong correlation between light and crime rates. Rape and murder decreased significantly during the extra hour of sunlight during Daylight Savings Time. If evening is your only option, trade in the streets for a treadmill.

If threatened, be as loud as possible. Polselli

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also suggested having your city or town’s nonemergency number programmed into your cell phone’s speed dial. “This way, it’ll go directly to the police department and not get routed to the state police,” he said.

RUN ARMED There are a number of available weapons: pepper spray, alarms and handheld knives – there’s even a Booby Trap Bra, in which women can stow weapons. Many local running stores have started selling pepper spray upon request. “The rules had changed since we last looked, and we’re now able to carry and sell it in stores,” said Tricia Folino, store manager of Marathon Sports in Shrewsbury.

As of January 2015, pepper spray can be purchased without an FID card if you’re older than 18.

However, Massachusetts law prohibits it from being shipped, so you’ll need to visit the store.

SABRE offers a variety of products, including a Runner Pepper Gel that comes with an adjustable hand strap and a Duathlete version with a reflective armband. According to Nance, pepper gel packs the same police-strength heat as traditional pepper spray, but virtually eliminates airborne particles and wind blowback, only affecting the intended target.

Practice. “When attacked, your anxiety is running the highest it’s ever been, so make sure it’s not the first time you’re using that weapon,” Caron said.

Learn how pepper spray feels by purchasing a practice canister from www.sabrered.com.

Consider an alarm. According to Caron, an alarm is the only weapon that can’t be used against you.

SABRE offers a Runner Personal Alarm with a wrist strap, which can be heard up to 1,000 feet away.

Don’t have any of the above? Officer Polselli recommends carrying your keys in your hand as an improvised weapon.

RUN STRONG The best thing women can do is take a self-defense class. “It’s really important to practice some of these situations, so it’s not the first time you’ve ever felt an aggressive grab, seen a strike coming into your head or felt the weight of an aggressor on top of you,” said Caron, adding that women struggle to hit hard enough and should practice on a punching bag.

If time and money allow, enroll in a martial arts program. If not, many college campuses offer R.A.D. training (Rape Aggression Defense), and www.runsafer.com has a number of defensetechnique videos.

“No one can train you for all situations,” said Caron.

“The best move is to breathe, stay focused on what’s right in front of you. … Channel all your fears and emotions into a strong and deliberate effort to disable your attacker and get away.”

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beauty+style

Halloween Outlet lets the skeleton out of the closet By sloan m. perron

Rachael Morgan never anticipated that she would be co-owner of Worcester’s Halloween Outlet. However, on Aug. 15, she and her brother, Jesse, officially became the new owners of a “destination store” that has been a staple in the community for 30 years. Jesse had been a product supplier for the former owners. When the opportunity arose to buy the Halloween Outlet, Jesse tried to help the former owners find buyers. Then, Rachael said, the idea “dawned on Jesse” to just buy the place himself, especially since he has been in the Halloween business for 20 years. Although Rachael has marketing and retail experience, she described the Halloween business as her brother’s forte.

For the Morgan siblings, part of their goal as new owners has been trying to preserve the feel of the Halloween Outlet that patrons have come to know and love. Rachael described the company as a “destination store” and said that the former owners have been actively helping in the transition.

“A lot of the staff is actually staying the same; a lot of carry over,” Rachael explained. “For the most part, it is going to be the same.”

Right now, Rachael and Jesse’s main focus has been on setting up the store and obtaining inventory for the fast-approaching Halloween season. As far as upcoming Halloween trends, Rachael believes that superheroes from summer blockbuster movies like The Avengers and Suicide

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Squad will be big this year. However, she said not to count out “classic gore and terror.”

When asked the secret to creating an epic Halloween outfit, Rachael answered, “The difference between a good costume and a great costume is that a good costume, you buy the basics and put it on and kind of still go as yourself. A great costume, one that brings it to the next level, is all about the accessories, the makeup.” For Rachael, a truly awesome costume is created when someone completely transforms. She explained that to help with that transformative experience, Halloween Outlet will have makeup artists on staff throughout the season. Along with tutorials, the makeup artists will also be able to do effects for a fee. Latex applications, called Woochies, create effects like peeling skin, gruesome injuries and terrifying faces. The Walking Dead has even created its own line of makeup effects for zombie fanatics to enjoy.

For Rachael, the secret to a fantastic Halloween outfit is simple, “The ones that stand out are the ones that you make your own.” Even with popular costumes like this year’s Harley Quinn, Rachael suggests personalizing the look with unique accessories. To stand out among this year’s popular costumes, Rachael suggests even doing a classic Halloween throwback look like Freddie Krueger.

Halloween Outlet offers a range of styles, costumes and price points. Whether you’re

looking for a simple costume for an office party or looking to be completely transformed for the ultimate Halloween costume contest, this store has it all. Open all year round, costumers always come in looking for party supplies, costume gear and even fall wedding décor. After only owning the store for a few weeks in August, Rachael was surprised by how busy the Halloween Outlet was already. “We’ve been packed in here.”

Unlike the big chain stores, Rachael explained that smaller “mom and pop shops” like Halloween Outlet are able to offer unique merchandise that you will not find at other stores. New animatronics and classic scary essentials stock the shelves and line the floors of the Halloween Outlet. Around each corner is a gruesome display, except for the Kid’s Room, where the latest costumes and most adorable outfits can be found. Although Rachael is not a big fan of horror movies, she loves the fun of Halloween. She described the type of inventory that is popular: “A lot of the stuff you’ll see in the store is here because they always sell – like Beetlejuice, the Exorcist and It.” After only co-owning the store for a little while, Rachael has already developed a philosophy behind the best-selling products at the Halloween Outlet: “What scared you as a kid are the type of things that you’ll put in your yard as an adult.”

The Halloween Outlet is at 540 W. Boylston St., Worcester. For more information, visit halloweenoutlet.com.

stealthestyle: When in Rome

before

after

By jamie burke You know what I am sick of? I am sick of paying the equivalent of a mortgage payment to style my home. It really should not be that expensive to buy nice things for my place. And I know those blinds or curtains only cost the company like 20 cents to make by a robot machine. So why the hell am I paying, like, $50 for a run-of-the mill curtain or blind? Why?! Not today, Satan, not today. So I think you should try to stick it to the man and upcycle your own Roman blinds with the fabric of your choice in 25 minutes or less.

Supplies: Fabric of any sort Blinds Fabric glue Measuring tape Duct tape Scissors

Steps: Take your old blinds down, but leave the brackets in place. Dust and pop off the end caps like a champagne bottle. Set them aside and look at the bottom bar for the tiny knots or ending knot.

Now, you want to just cut the thicker ladder cord completely off – or leave it in place if you like the length. Make sure NOT to cut the pull cord that raises and lowers blinds. Take a tiny piece of duct tape and put it on the bottom of the pull cord, so you don’t get mixed up.

Now, you want to measure where you want your curtains to end and fold. Re-attach the bottom bar where you want the blinds to end. At this point, you will feel like this is all falling apart, and you’ll want to throw them out the actual window. Just keep going. Figure out how many inches or blinds you want between folds. Try five or six to be safe. Now, cut the ladder cord to the first set of slats or blinds. Repeat all the way up. Leave it on the floor, and you should see a skeleton of a blind.

Measure and cut your fabric 2-3 inches wider and longer than your blinds and iron the edge back 1 inch on each side and bottom. Then, lay the fabric flat on the floor. Don’t even try to attempt doing this on a table. Make sure to lay the blind on the fabric to make sure the measurements add up.

Now, take glue to the underside of the hems and put a thin layer under the hems on each side and along the bottom hem. Smooth out the hem and wipe the excess glue off when needed. Now, lay the fabric face down, set your blind on top, and glue the top bar to the fabric. You can also use Velcro here, in case the glue doesn’t want to stick to the top bar.

Now, you want to glue down the actual blinds to the fabric where they measure out in between slats. Less is more when it comes to gluing. Glue or Velcro the bottom bar down when you are done with the slats. Now, you must crack open a beverage and let the blinds completely dry.

Hang the blinds back up and in brackets! You will be happy. Your neighbors will be happy. That is, unless you were giving them a free peep show.

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