Worcester Mag December 15, 2011

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December 15-21, 2011 worcestermag.com

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WORCESTERMAG.COM • DECEMBER 15, 2011

Kirk A. Davis President Gareth Charter Publisher x153

W

hen I first came to Worcester, all I heard from folks (not all, but quite a few) was that Worcester was a dead end. Nothing to do. Nowhere to go. Nothing to see. Yet the more time I spend immersing myself into the rich culture of Worcester, the more excited I get. There is a wealth of things to do and see in this city – so much so, I spend all week trying to fit it all into each issue of WoMag! For this issue – what we’ve been calling our “Grinch” issue – we decided to debunk the Don Cloutier Production Manager x380 cold-hearted myths that you hear all the time. Kimberly Vasseur Art Director/Assistant Production Manager x366 What? You think there is no art scene here? Are Ross Acerbi x350, Becky Gill x350, Morgan Healey x366, you high? No quality places to eat? You’ve Stephanie Pajka x366, Stephanie Mallard x366, Graphic Artists got to be kidding! The ethnic diversity Jennifer Shone Advertising Sales Manager x147 of the city’s restaurant scene, the Lindsay Chiarilli x136, Joan Donahue, Aimee Fowler x170, variety of art venues and creative Michelle Terranova x131 Account Executives minds, and oh, the things you can Erin Johnson Classified Manager do, places you can see – only a Carrie Arsenault Classified Advertising Specialist small-minded Grinch could think that those myths are true. Worcester Mag is an independent news weekly covering We hope to grow your heart Central Massachusetts. a few sizes by tossing as many We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Worcester positives at you in this The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. issue. Even amidst the tragic events of the LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES: Please call 978.534.6006, past week, we hope to show you all the great email sales@centralmassclass.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, things this city has to offer. Leominster Plaza, 285 Central St., Suite 202B, Leominster, MA 01453 — Doreen Manning | Editor DISTRIBUTION: Worcester Mag is available free of charge at more than 400 locations, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each at Worcester Mag offices. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Mag from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Mag’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law.

Doreen Manning Editor x235 Jeremy Shulkin Senior Writer x243 Steven King Photographer x278 Brittany Durgin On-line Editor x155 Rachel Bryson-Brockmann, Vanessa Formato, Paul Grignon, Janice Harvey, Josh Lyford, Gary Rosen, Janet Schwartz, David Wildman Contributing Writers Veronica Fish Contributor Tammy Griffin-Kumpey Copy Editor Interns: Jacky Cheng, Pamela Fahlbeck

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $47 for one year, third class mail. First class mail, $125 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to Worcester Mag, 101 Water St., Worcester, MA 01604. ADVERTISING: To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call 508.749.3166. Worcester Mag (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of The Holden Landmark Corporation. All contents copyright 2011 by The Holden Landmark Corporation. All rights reserved.

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DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

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WOO-TOWN INDE X

A weekly quality of life check-in of Worcester

Man shot after a fight around bar time on Shrewsbury Street (earning minor injuries), police officers attacked and DCU bank robbed.. -5 Boston-based news crews flood Worcester for two days, as is the case whenever there’s a shooting, stabbing or fire. No sign of them when Worcester is suddenly attacked by good news. -2

{ citydesk }

December 15 - 21, 2011 ■ Volume 37, Number 15

From the ashes of a disaster Jeremy Shulkin

W

hen Worcester firefighters arrived at the scene of an Arlington Street three-decker on Thursday,

Worcester police interrogation practices come under fire when Boston radio station WBUR broadcasts a report on the 2008 interrogation of then 16-year-old Nga Truong, accused of smothering her 13-month-old baby. The report focuses on claims that WPD detectives extracted a false confession. -5 Worcester Probate and Family Court employee Paul Lacava and his office highlighted by a State Auditor office report for working multiple teaching jobs while on the clock at his government job. More bad press for the city. -2 The WPD and UMass Memorial gun buyback program takes 115 guns over two days this year; a decrease from years past, but nothing to scoff at. +1 Worcester Boys and Girls Club gets a $3 million donation from the Francis A. and Jacquelyn H. Harrington Foundation, which pays off the Tainter Street building’s remaining debt. +4 A MassDOT planned Worcester to Cambridge commuter-rail line faced tough opposition in Cambridge. The state announced this week that it will hold off on the project indefinitely. -3 WPI continues its 21-century technological advances by winning $1.2 million to track an individual’s diabetes with an app that has a glucose meter, scale and a camera that analyzes foot ulcers. +1 This week: -11 Last week: +9 Year to date: +15

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Carroll and spur an ongoing multiday investigation by the state fire marshal, Worcester district attorney, Worcester Fire Department, Worcester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol,

Fire, Tobacco and Explosives. The aim of the investigation is not only to determine the fire’s cause, but also the whereabouts of a building occupant who remains unaccounted for after investigators didn’t find his body in the rubble. The city and fire department knows the area well. Residents reported that the corner of Arlington and Dorchester streets has seen multiple fires within the past few months, notably at 56 Dorchester, 48 Arlington and 51 Arlington. Dispatchers reported the location of the blaze to the first fire crews as “next to the one that burned a couple weeks ago.” The property owner, Jean Mui of Newton Hills, was scheduled to appear in Housing Court on Dec. 21 after she and property manager Michael Chan of Worcester, failed to respond to 20 of 21 sanitary-code violations from the city’s Inspectional Services team in the past year – two coming as recently as Nov. 28. Those violations ranged from a faulty heater on the first floor, water-

STEVEN KING

Day breaks upon the 49 Arlington fire site, shortly after firefighter Davies was taken from the scene. At right: The remains of 49 Arlington is a stark reminder of last week’s tragedy. Dec. 8, the severity of the blaze became apparent immediately. They had been warned, with dispatchers telling the first responding crews that the building was “fully engulfed right now.” Two hours later, that fire, classified as a three-alarm blaze by the Worcester Fire Department, would claim the life of 17year Worcester Fire Department member Jon Davies, Sr., injure his partner Brian

V E R BATI M

If you are not performing a function that is necessary to get the men out, stop what you’re doing.” — Worcester Fire Department radio transmission from the morning of the 49 Arlington Street fire on December 8.

WORCESTERMAG.COM • DECEMBER 15, 2011

STEVEN KING

“I listened to the tapes. It sounded chaotic, but it was run unbelievably well,” Gardell reiterated. “Nobody panicked. The teamwork, the group effort to get these guys out was unbelievable,” Gaffney added. While fire department members have said they want Davies remembered separately from Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey, James Lyons, Joseph McGuirk and Thomas Spencer who perished in the cold-storage warehouse fire in 1999, the similarities are hard

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The family of firefighter Jon Davies reminisce at a recent press conference.

damaged ceilings and broken windows, to insect, rodent and skunk problems so persistent that a city inspector wrote “the entire structure must be professionally exterminated.” At a press conference on Thursday, City Manager Michael O’Brien acknowledged that Vernon Hill’s aging buildings have had fire issues, but sternly said there’s been no record of arson in that neighborhood. One former neighbor said he remembers a previous owner having plumbing and electrical problems before Deutsche Bank foreclosed on the property in 2007. After that, it sat empty for nearly a year. “It probably never should’ve been opened back up,” he said. Scanner conversation from that morning reveals the difficult situation that rescue crews often find themselves in. Initial reports at the scene said one of the building’s 12 occupants remained in the building. Then, over the scanner a commander crackled, “There’s a report that that other individual may not have been in there.” But at least one resident was persistent that a roommate was still in the threedecker. Deputy Chief Geoffrey Gardell, who at one time commanded Rescue 1, said firefighters at the scene received “credible reports” that an occupant remained, and there was no question that rescue teams would head in. “Nobody said we shouldn’t be going in there,” said Rescue 1 Lieutenant Joseph Gaffney. “We’ve done this before hundreds of times.” Gaffney recollects a scene that didn’t seem to pose higher than the usual level of danger. The fire emitted low heat, the flames were minimal and the smoke, while moderate, didn’t do much to obstruct their view. (He remembers not having to crawl when entering the building later to search for Davies and Carroll.) On top of that, they thought architecture was on their side. “[Three-deckers] are old, they’re well built. They burn, but they don’t fall down,” said Gaffney. Gardell, who has an interest in architecture, agreed. “We look at buildings

{ citydesk }

differently than anybody. When they told me the three-decker collapsed, I was like, ‘come on.’” Soon after rescuers entered 49 Arlington, the building collapsed, dropping Carroll down into the basement and burying both in debris. Davies’ Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device sounded out piercing wails, alerting a second rescue team to his location, but Carroll remained harder to find. “I’m trying to find out if Rescue’s found number two yet,” came a voice over the radio. A few seconds later: “So far just one individual, just one.” “What do you mean just one?” Minutes later, rescuers found Carroll. Gaffney, who helped dig him out, said so much rubble encapsulated him that they couldn’t hear his PASS device. Earlier, when command called for an “all quiet” to listen if they could hear him, Carroll’s screams for help were barely audible above whisper-level volume. “We got report of an individual. He’s buried. We’re trying to lift some heavy timbers. We still don’t know who it is,” said a voice over the radio. With Carroll at the end of his oxygen tank – using diving tricks to stretch a 45-minute canister to an hour—rescuers freed him from the debris and got him out of the building at 6:27 a.m., 45 minutes before sunrise. Later that day, fire officials grieved, promised intense investigation and steadfastly reiterated the professionalism, bravery and preparedness of the Worcester Fire Department. Department Chief Gerard Dio said his team “performed ably under extremely dangerous circumstances.” “We could be no prouder of the effort the Worcester Fire Department put forth this morning to get their brother out,” said Edward Kelly, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts. State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan added that he was “well assured in my mind that the Worcester Fire Department did everything right.”

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{ citydesk }

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December Sale

to ignore. Davies death on December 8 came just five days after the 12-year anniversary of their deaths. With news released on Monday by the district attorney’s office that no one was in 49 Arlington St. when the building collapsed on rescuers, institutional memory immediately went back to those who entered the cold-storage warehouse to search for a homeless couple, though they had already fled the building before the fire department arrived. Davies had personal ties to the coldstorage warehouse fire as well. As a member of Engine 1 in 1999, his company was one of the first on site of the burning warehouse. Rescue 1, the engine he was assigned to at the time of his death, runs out of the Franklin Street Fire station— built on the site of the 1999 inferno and where a permanent monument pays tribute to the Worcester 6. “We don’t want to parallel it,” said Gardell. “We lost a firefighter this week,” he emphasizes. The only parallel, as he’s been telling reporters, was these were two instances of firefighters doing firefighter jobs. No second-guessing, and they tamp down the invariable questions of trading one life for another.

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“We did our job,” Gardell said, declaratively. “This wasn’t about the rescue, this wasn’t about Franklin Street,” Gaffney asserted. “This was a team effort; a great group of guys working. A lot went unsung.” But officials from other fire associations have made the comparisons. “What I do know is after the tragic Worcester fire in 1999, the City of Worcester’s fire department led this state and this country in learning how to better protect our firefighters and operate in the unsafe environments we find ourselves in,” Coan said outside of the Franklin Street station last week. Earlier in the day Coan referenced the cold-storage fire as well, noting that training since then has made fire departments “better prepared” for dangerous missions. Not much has changed in preparing firefighters for losing one of their own though – the resources today are largely the same as they were in 1999. Grief counselors have come in, but most firefighters have relied on peer counseling – talking to each other around fire houses. Gardell draws from experience. “I probably never get closure on these things. You just deal with it.”

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Rescue 1: “A breed apart� Jeremy Shulkin

T

here’s something you need to know about the guys assigned to Rescue 1, whose truck sits furthest to the right if you’re looking directly at the three bay doors of the Franklin Street ďŹ re station — the same truck that both Jon Davies, Sr. and Brian Carroll rode to the Arlington Street ďŹ re. These are not the guys who put out the ďŹ re. Sure, they do basic ďŹ reďŹ ghting procedures, but these are the guys who break down doors, enter buildings, dive under water and pry into jammed elevators. As two members – one current and one former – of Rescue 1 tell it, the “weirdâ€? or “off the wallâ€? calls usually fall to them. “We have a lot of equipment a lot of other guys don’t have,â€? says Rescue 1 Lieutenant Joseph Gaffney. “A lot of equipment that’s not practical, or too expensive, for everyone to carry.â€? Jon Davies, a 17-year veteran of the Worcester Fire Department and Rescue 1 member, was killed on Thursday, Dec. 8 at a ďŹ re on 49 Arlington Street when he and his partner, friend and 13-year Worcester ďŹ re-ďŹ ghter, Brian Carroll entered the burning building to search for what was thought to be a remaining occupant. Soon after the two entered the threedecker, the building collapsed, throwing the two friends in different directions, sending Carroll down into the basement and burying him in debris. FireďŹ ghters are hesitant to talk about Davies. Davies’ personal life has already been reported: he leaves behind a sister, a ďŹ ancĂŠe he was set to marry on New Years Eve, and three sons, two of which are in the military – one of them stationed in Afghanistan. Carroll was located after nearly an hour of searching by his Rescue 1 teammates, miraculously sustaining only minor injuries. According to those who pulled him out of the rubble, he asked to walk

{ citydesk } out of the building. (They didn’t allow it.) He left the hospital and returned home the next day. “They were so excited to be partners,â€? says Gaffney, of the pair who he estimates had only been assigned together for about a year. The two of them ďŹ shed together and both celebrated Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Carroll had a framed picture of the two of them working sideby-side, but hadn’t yet had a chance to give it to Davies.

Gaffney entered 49 Arlington St. as part of a rescue team to ďŹ nd Davies and Carroll. “When the rescue guys showed up in the basement, I was like, ‘yes, now I know we’re going to get Brian.’â€? “The crème of the crop guys happened to be on duty,â€? remembers Deputy Chief Geoffrey Gardell. “It was a group effort but the person who did the most to save Brian was Brian,â€? Gaffney says, referencing Carroll’s ability to stay calm and stretch his

45-minute oxygen tank to last an hour. Carroll fell a whole oor and with structural debris nearly immobilizing him, it’s a wonder that he didn’t end up seriously injured – or worse. It’s a question the Worcester Fire Department doesn’t have an answer for right now either. “We don’t know,â€? says Gardell. “The guy upstairs,â€? offers another ďŹ reďŹ ghter as he points upward. “Thank God Brian’s still with us,â€? says Gaffney. “It’s a ray of hope.â€?

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WORCESTERMAG.COM • DECEMBER 15, 2011

{ worcesteria } GRAND JUNCTION TO NOWHERE: The MassDOT proposed Grand Junction rail line, which would expand the Fitchburg/Worcester commuter line into Cambridge’s North Station, may have met a track change it can’t switch back. Neighborhood opposition in Cambridge has ramped up over the past months, with residents raising concerns about additional passenger train trafďŹ c on tracks that already serve freight trains. The DOT hasn’t ruled out the project, saying they might revisit it if a more expensive expansion to South Station doesn’t pan out. The DOT has clearly favored the project as a way to increase commuter options from Worcester and MetroWest into Boston, but despite this the MassDOT has only had public meetings for the project in Cambridge – one in June and one last week. If they’re looking for positive headlines for this, they might want to consider having one in Worcester. (Though not at 5:30 pm, when all the people using the commuter rail are still on the train.)

Jeremy Shulkin

JOFF SMITH, KEEPING BUSY: If any District 1 residents miss Councilor Joff Smith after he leaves ofďŹ ce this month, they’ll just have to look him up on IMDB. Smith, who’s had interest in acting for years, and earned an extra roll in Tom Cruise’s “Knight and Dayâ€? when it ďŹ lmed at the Worcester Airport in 2009, has since gone on to ďŹ lm in movies expected for release in 2012 such as “Tedâ€? (starring Mila Kunis and Mark Whalberg), “Here Comes the Boomâ€? (Kevin James and Salma Hayek), and most recently Adam Sandler’s “Donny’s Boy,â€? where Smith should be a visible member of one of the character’s wedding party and also worked as an advisor for the movie’s baseball scenes. Smith, who’s now Screen Actors Guild eligible, said that between being a city councilor and running his ďŹ nancial planning business he had to turn down roles, but now he might “pursue some other roles and responsibilities that [he] maybe couldn’t before.â€? Ever the politician, Smith credits the state’s ďŹ lm tax credits for leading to more work for actors and businesses.

THE POLITICAL CONVENTION YOU DIDN’T HEAR ABOUT: Did you miss all the “Jill Stein for Presidentâ€? signs on North Main Street over the weekend? The Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party, the state chapter of the national Green Party, held its state convention at the First Unitarian Church on Main Street with little media fanfare on Saturday, which featured Stein, a third party candidate in the 2010 Governor’s race and a candidate for president in 2012. Among the business done on Saturday was the election of co-chairs for future organizing campaigns and elections. This was the second year in a row the party has held their state convention in Worcester. FINALS: Worcester Public Schools Chief Academic OfďŹ cer Jeff Mulqueen notiďŹ ed WPS higher admin and School Committee members on Tuesday afternoon that he’s a ďŹ nalist for the superintendent job of the Pentucket Regional School District, which oversees Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury, MA. Because of the short time frame between learning the news and press time, Worcester Mag was unable to contact Mulqueen. “I remain committed to our work in Worcester, but am exploring opportunities that might be a good ďŹ t for me as a superintendent,â€? he wrote to co-workers. MEDIA MARKET: Last week the T&G had nearly a dozen different bylines on stories related to the 49 Arlington St. ďŹ re, so the disparity of coverage between the sister staffs of the Telegram & Gazette and Boston Globe had some surprises. (The NY Times Company owns both and T&G Publisher Bruce Gaultney reports to Globe Publisher Christopher Mayer.) Near midday Thursday the coverage at telegram. com still reported the ďŹ re at 44 Arlington St. — the original address given by city ofďŹ cials – while coverage on the Globe’s boston.com had the correct address of 49 Arlington St. The Globe’s coverage also included interviews with two Arlington Street residents who were eye witnesses to the ďŹ re, including Katrina Caseday who said she and her husband were approached by a police ofďŹ cer as they watched the scene unfold. “One of the policemen came up to us and asked us to turn off our cell phones because the [ďŹ reďŹ ghters] were going to be carrying their brothers out,’’ she said. “They went to town on the side of the building; you could see the way that they were carrying the stretchers out that something was wrong. It was heartbreaking.â€?‌ Boston media coverage of the Arlington Street ďŹ re last Thursday displayed the all too familiar habit of dramatic Worcester calamity coverage, a scene that will likely be surpassed this Thursday morning when media from all over the region are expected to camp outside Jon Davies, Sr.’s funeral service. Additional reporting for this week’s column done by Worcester Mag staff.

commentary | opinions

Janice

Harvey

It’s the difference between night and day Janice Harvey

I

’m launching a full-scale war against … pajamas. Specifically, I’m fed up with sleepwear doubling as street wear. I’m sick of seeing women wander the aisles of Walgreen’s wearing fuzzy slippers and plush PJs emblazoned with SpongeBob Squarepants and his underwater cronies. I’m sick of seeing the ratty hems of these pants drag across parking lots. And most of all, I’m sick to death of seeing kids wear them to school. I stand in front of North High’s Room 229 each morning, watching the parade of somnambulistic students shuffle off to homeroom. I’ve recently begun a shouting campaign (one must shout to be heard over squealing girls who, each morning, act as if they haven’t seen one another for a decade) calling out the offenders. The attire I’m targeting brings new meaning to the phrase “relaxed dress code.” Usually, the girls wearing the Hello Kitty jammies refuse to make eye contact with me. I’m the embodiment of Mrs. Dubose of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the crabby old woman with the pistol under her shawl who carps at Atticus Finch’s kids from her front porch: “Don’t you ignore me, you bold children!” They ignore me. Or worse – I get “Whatever, Miss.” I have a theory about wearing sleepwear to school. I firmly believe that it only serves to keep already-sleep-deprived students in a twilight state. Teens need a minimum of nine hours of sleep nightly – none of them get even close to that. I surveyed my homeroom regarding hours of sleep, and I found that one out of 15 gets seven hours, regularly, while three or more said they get three or four. Why is that? Because after the adults hit the hay, they stay up playing video games and texting

friends. One or two said they do their homework into the wee hours. Some of these kids are rolling out of bed, maybe eating breakfast, splashing water on their faces, and climbing aboard the school bus in the same outfits they wore to bed. Yuck. I maintain that kids in PJs remain lethargic. If they had to shower and dress appropriately, they’d wake up during the process. I’ve seen some 9th graders actually sucking their thumbs, without embarrassment. The fleecy sleepwear is so cuddly-comfy that kids can’t muster any gusto for learning. It’s like carrying your blankie everywhere you go. If I wore pajamas to work, I’d be snoring through “Of Mice and Men,” and certainly I’d snooze right through every “First Monday of the Month” meeting. Now, the flip side of this fashion flop is the less-is-better look, where girls come in wearing little more than a Victoria’s Secret model. This usually results in a shoulder tap from an assistant principal and a phone call home. The pajama look hasn’t been a bus ticket out of biology class yet, but I’m hoping. Pajamas may be the new jeans, but kids aren’t the only offenders. While making my way through the dense aisles of Marshall’s recently, I saw no less than three women – adults! – wearing outfits I wouldn’t wear to the hospital for surgery. Come on, ladies! You can’t get yourself out of those My Little Pony pants long enough to go shopping? Why would a grown woman want to look like she’s an extra from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?” And when did fuzzy slippers become shoes? What happens if it starts raining when she’s out shuffle-shopping? Those disgusting dust mops on her feet will be soggy in no time. One woman I spotted looked like she was wearing dayold road kill as footwear. I can’t do much about adults with bad taste, but this leads me to an idea whose time has come – or come back again. What we need to curtail this nasty fad among students is uniforms. Don’t balk: I’ve asked both kids and teachers what they thought about it and they were very much for the idea. I’m considering making such a proposal to the school committee. Or maybe I’ll just sleep on it. Whatever.

What we need to curtail this nasty fad among students is uniforms.

slants rants& On-line comments Hometown Heroes 2011 Maureen Binienda is an excellent choice of Home Town Heroes! If you don’t know her, you’re missing out. She has boundless energy and a wonderful sense of humor. She’s one of the best things about the Worcester Public Schools. Submitted online by DAVID BUNKER Thank you for highlighting the tireless work of Maureen Binienda. She truly embodies the characteristics of what a principal needs to be today. If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting her, you’d know that she does not do it for the money like so many other principals who clock in at 8 and clock out at 3:30. Her model of education is obviously working, as evidenced by her student, David LeBoeuf who was also honored. Great job to all and you deserve every bit of praise written here!! Submitted online by ALEX Woo hoo! Great selection of Hometown Heros! So much great stuff happening! Submitted online by SARAH

Two Minutes With ... Karen Powers Spay Worcester is a wonderful organization! They’ve made such a difference for the homeless / abandoned strays in my neighborhood. Karen & her husband Jerry are the most kindest good hearted people I’ve ever met. They go above & beyond week after week, day after day for the cats residing on the streets. As a Worcester resident, I feel blessed to have Spay Worcester helping these poor cats. Before SW there was NO help for the MANY homeless abandoned strays living in the city. The volunteers are also outstanding amazing people!! They all have busy lives, but yet find time to continue making a difference for the cats on the streets. HATS OFF TO SPAY WORCESTER & THE HARD WORKING VOLUNTEERS! I thank you & will be forever grateful for all that you do! Submitted by B R ENDA W. what a wonderful article, maybe there should be a write up at least once a year so people see what volunteering is all about and how much good they do and how badly the cat population needs to be under control Submitted by IN G E

Correction:

“Correction: In last week’s Hometown Heroes feature it was incorrectly stated that the Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team’s Chris Horton lost his home to foreclosure. Additionally, Grace Ross was inappropriately credited as “lead organizer,” and WAFT’s grant money to hire a full-time position is not running out. Horton will become a volunteer with the group again once someone is hired for that position. DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

9

EOPLE STREET

Yourturn

ON T HE

The Festival of Lights Harvey Fenigsohn

Christmas tree or holiday tree?

faithful organized a guerilla army led by Judah Maccabeus and his sons (their name means “men as strong as hammersâ€?). The outnumbered freedom fighters defeated the foreigners, allowing the Jews to reclaim the sacred Temple in Jerusalem. When the Hebrew army wanted to rededicate the holy tabernacle, they could not find enough specially prepared oil to light the Menorah, an oil lamp, or candelabra used in the Temple service. Finally, the Maccabees found a single bottle of oil which normally lasts only one night. Miraculously, the one bottle of oil lasted eight nights! This is the miracle the Jews honor to this day. Each night for eight nights, we light another candle of the Menorah. Performing this ritual, Jewish people everywhere commemorate their ancestors’ glorious victory. In addition to singing rousing songs of victory and faith, Jews exchange presents, and children usually receive gifts on each of the eight nights. Also, the kids play games of chance by spinning the Dreidel, a top with Hebrew letters. My favorite ritual of Hanukkah ‌? I relish gorging on latkes, the cholesterol-laden potato pancakes cooked in oil, again reminding us of the miraculous temple oil. In the same season that Hindus celebrate Dewali, and Christians take comfort in the cheerful glow of Yuletide, Jewish people overcome the darkness of a long winter with the flickering flames of Hanukkah!

AS K E D O N M A I N ST R E E T

It’s time to light the Menorah, spin the Dreidel, exchange presents, sing “Rock of Ages,� and devour heaps of “latkes.� After all, it’s Hanukkah! Starting on Sunday night December 20, the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, in the year I relish gorging 5769, Jewish people on latkes, the begin the eight day Festival of Lights. As cholesterol-laden we celebrate at home potato pancakes with family and friends, Passover and cooked in oil ... Hanukkah remain my two favorite holidays. Occurring every year near the time of Christmas, Hanukkah (the Hebrew word for “dedication�), commemorates a great victory of the Hebrews over the Syrian Greeks who controlled Israel in the year 165 BCE. Resisting their oppressors, the occupied Jewish nation rebelled against worshipping the Greek divinities. The Hebrews adamantly refused to assimilate into the Hellenic culture, particularly because, despite the ancient Greeks’ brilliant achievements in athletics, art, theater, and philosophy, the Greeks condoned both infanticide and prostitution, and practiced idolatry. Rebelling against the Greek invaders, the Hebrew

Christmas tree because it’s Christmas. It’s a tree for Christmas.

Alysha Sturtze WORCESTER

Christmas tree. I was brought-up Catholic, it’s always been a Christmas tree in my family and it always will be.

John DeGraff WORCESTER Christmas tree. The holiday is Christmas; it’s always been Christmas. Why change it?

Jim Bellina RUTLAND

Holiday tree. It’s more spiritually giving.

Kevin Murray OAKHAM

Now it’s YOUR TURN. Email us your 400 word or less opinion feature to editor@worcestermag.com.

A preview of what you’ll ďŹ nd online at worcestermag.com this week

ONLINE EXTRA

• WPI receives $1.2 mil - Read about the funding at our Daily Worcesteria blog. • Watch the trailer - Each week read our movie reviews and check out the trailer in Night & Day - Film. • Vegan cookie swap - See how the event on Thursday went down in Photo Galleries. • Holiday show - Find out details on the Beg, Scream and Shout! holiday show happening next week in Not Fit for Print. • Gig posters - Check out gig posters for local events that happened in 2011 in Not Fit for Print.

It’s a Christmas tree and it’s silver, it’s retro and it’s got the little light with the spinning color wheel.

Beverly Chorbajian WORCESTER

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Debunking the cold-hearted myths about Worcester

c h n i r Iss u G e e h T

DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

11

{ grinchissue }

All their windows were lit; a gentle buzz filled the air. The locals were hopping bar to bar without care, Masses swarmed to the madness that is Kelley Square. Ignoring visible hijinks and getting quite pissed, “There’s nothing to do in this city!” the old Grinches hissed, As they punched at the sky with their uninformed fists. Though the broad range of activities that make up Worcester’s nightlife may not be plastered on colorful billboards or screaming at you from a sprawling neon marquee, it certainly doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do here. There is; I promise. It baffles me whenever I hear someone say, “This city is so boring [elongating in –ing for dramatic effect],” because I know full well that they haven’t made a conscious effort to simply flip open Worcester Mag, look at a calendar listing and find something to do; to explore this bustling city that I love so dearly. As a born-and-raised Worcesterite, over the past 25 years I’ve spent more weekends in our fair city than I can begin to count. We can negate the first decade and a half of my life—unless your idea of a rousing good time is clumsily wrestling with your friends in a ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese’s or doing window-shopping laps of the Greendale Mall—and skip right to age 16 when I realized, “wow, this city is so much more than just an empty airport and train station,” and discovered our local music scene. To ignore the wealth of music, comedy, dancing, leisure sports and organized

So you think there’s no nightlife in Worcester ... ? STEVEN KING

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{ grinchissue } debauchery that piece together the puzzle that is Worcester After Dark is just so… so… grinchy. Yes, grinchy. With their intolerance, irrationality and coarse, greedy attitudes, Grinches are nearly impossible to convince otherwise. If there’s joy to be spread, these Grinches will squash it. If there’s a parade to be marched, a Grinch will rain on it. They’re green with envy; pun most definitely intended.

And then, oh, the noise! Oh, the Noise! Noise! Noise! Noise! That’s one thing Grinches hate! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! And THEN there’d be something the Grinches liked least of all! Every band here in Woo-town, the tall and the small, Would each find a stage, amps squealing and ringing. They’d stand side by side and would loudly start singing! They’d sing! And they’d sing! And they’d SING! SING! SING! SING!

“I’ve got to say, for the most part, that the diversity in musical acts that I book do a lot of the talking,” says Erick Godin, owner of The Lucky Dog Music Hall on Green Street and frontman of their house band “The Flock Of Assholes,” who play a wide range of 1980s cover songs every Thursday from midnight until last call. “There is a thriving live music scene in the city. I am constantly trying to put acts in here that are not only popular with their fans but also great musicians. I push the events constantly to people who are looking to support them.” Worcester is home to plenty of noteworthy acts that have gone on to reach national acclaim. Bands such as Bane, Bury Your Dead and Four Year Strong all got their starts in clubs just like The Lucky Dog. To name a few more: Ralph’s Rock Diner in Chadwick Square is home to Metal Thursdays and Punk on any given night, Pleasant Street’s The Raven is always full of local music, then there is Nick’s Bar & Restaurant with its old world charm and classy music from an era gone by, plus the Hotel Vernon in Kelley Square, which exists solely for the purpose of selling cheap beer and showcasing solid local music for an admission fee that won’t break your bank. For one dollar, five dollars, a suggested donation or nothing at all, on any night of the week, you can drop in on

one of those spots and see a band that you might have never given a chance otherwise, or you could end up playing pool with a bipolar homeless gentleman having Vietnam flashbacks. Either way, it’s win-win. And though their ambiance could never be truly recreated in more mainstream venues, these rocking barrooms certainly aren’t the only games in town when it comes to live music. Over the next few months, the legendary Palladium on Main Street will welcome national acts like Machine Head, Madball and Insane Clown Posse. While right down the street, the DCU Center, in addition to giving AHL hockey’s Worcester Sharks a home, will invite Hootie and the Blowfish’s Darius Rucker and country-trio Lady Antebellum to grace its stage in the coming year. Live music is truly embraced here in the heart of Massachusetts and most club owners that I talk to seem to be on the same page as The Lucky Dog’s Erick Godin. “There’s ALWAYS something to do here!” affirms Niki Brouillette, the owner of Beatnik’s on Park Avenue, with gallons of enthusiasm. “Every night of the week there’s somewhere to go in Worcester. Whether you’re looking for live music, art, comedy, Wi-Fi or a quiet place to talk; the list is endless.” Beatnik’s just happens to be one of those places where you can do every single thing that Brouillette mentioned. Broken up into two rooms, her bar houses everything from rock shows to ukulele nights, an indie-art market and even a, cough, free monthly comedy show every third Thursday called “Two Hour Mic Check” that yours truly happens to run. And who doesn’t like to have a good laugh? Well, aside from the Grinch…

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch; your heart’s an empty hole. Your brain is full of spiders. You have garlic in your soul. You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch; you’re a nasty, wasty skunk. Your heart is full of unwashed socks. Your soul is full of gunk. “Live, professional comedy helps the nightlife scene of any city,” says Dan Smith, a Worcester native and 18-year veteran of the stand-up comedy circuit. “Add good continued on page 14

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{ grinchissue } comedy shows to a city that has theater, movies, fine dining, coffee houses and lots of sports bars, and you’ve got yourself a real city.” Smith, whose parents for years ran the now-defunct Foothills Theater, owns and operates Wisecracks Comedy Club out of Jose Murphy’s on Water Street every Saturday night. “I wanted to start a comedy club in Worcester because comedy is my passion and to be able to bring it to the residents of my hometown was always a dream of mine. It’s also kind of cool to follow in my parents footsteps bringing

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WORCESTERMAG.COM

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STEVEN KING

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live entertainment to Worcester County.” And while Smith isn’t alone when it comes to stand-up in Worcester, he’s certainly providing the best product. With acts like Josh Wolf from TV’s “Chelsea Lately” and “My Name Is Earl,” PJ Walsh of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and Gary Gulman, who just had a recent spot on TBS’ Conan, coming all the way to our city to do comedy in the attic of a Mexican-Irish restaurant, you know he’s got something good going. In addition to shows that fall under Smith’s Wisecracks umbrella, there’s plenty more comedy where that came from. Worcester also has Shaun Connolly’s “The Sexiest Show in Town” comedy pro-am every second and fourth Monday at The Center Bar & Grille on Green Street, the aforementioned Two Hour Mic Check at Beatnik’s and Dick Doherty’s Beantown Comedy Escape on weekends at Biagio’s Grille. Each of these shows invites up-and-coming comics from all over New England to showcase some of their best material for a reasonable price. I suppose if the city needed any more comedy, I’d take it upon myself to visit one of Worcester’s dance clubs. Due mostly to my extreme lankiness and wallflower-like tendencies, I’ve never publicly busted a move in any of the city’s dance venues, but they do exist. They’re just not my cup of tea. If you feel obliged, there are spots like Fusion, Club Universe and Mixers where you can bump, grind, tootsie roll, drop it like it’s hot, shake your tail feather or do whatever the hell it is that kids do these days.

But whatever the reason, their hearts or their shoes, The Grinches stood watching the fun, and hating the Woo, Staring, arms crossed and angry, the Grinches frown At the warm-spirited souls running about town. Even getting beyond the music, the comedy and the dancing, there are spots all over town where you can unwind and get competitive at the same time. Mill Street’s Colonial Bowling Center, Jillian’s on Grove Street and even London Billiards on James Street each provide an itch you can scratch when you’re looking to come face to face with the little athlete that could inside of you. Because really, can life get much better than when you prove to your

friends that you’re better than them at bowling? I submit that it cannot. There are so many more word-ofmouth events that happen in this city of ours, which need to be discovered: Wortown Bombshells burlesque at Nick’s on Millbury Street, chiptune music shows featuring Jon Von Wonderful and Dr. Dad at 97D Webster St., Mister Smartass Theatre at the Lucky Dog, outdoor jazz at The Dive Bar, The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show at Ralph’s or guerilla karaoke anywhere and everywhere. Break out your Google devices, people! And if none of what I describes sounds like a viable source of entertainment, here’s what you do: head down to the Salty Dog on a Friday night, grab yourself a seat and watch a bunch of idiots drink themselves stupid, sloppily ride a mechanical bull and make decisions they’ll regret in roughly eight hours. “The first time I went to the Salty Dog, the bouncer stopped me because I had my camera bag dangling from my shoulder,” starts Worcester photographer Louie Despres, who can often be seen snapping nightlife shots about town. “After opening the bag and showing him I didn’t have illegal contraband inside, he informed me I couldn’t take any pictures inside. After I entered, I learned why.” Now, does that sound like a plan or does that sound like a plan? And what happened then? Well, in Woo-town they say…

That the Grinches’ small hearts grew three sizes that day! Drunken girls with no shirts sound incredibly great, “You open at nine? We’ll be there at eight.”

— Ryan Staples

STEVEN KING

{ grinchissue }

This is the first year that you have hosted the holidays at your house. Your family and friends are making the trek from Boston, Providence, and New York to your quaint abode in Worcester, Massachusetts. While many are not expected to arrive until Christmas morning, there is always that one couple who shows up early, the Grinches. You grew up with them in Worcester, but they moved away to a capital city after high school, always boasting about what their new home has to offer, and spewing anti-Worcester vitriol whenever they come home. Naturally, this couple arrives before everyone else, and you, the lone remaining Worcesterite, are tasked with the responsibility of showing them what Worcester’s restaurant scene has to offer.

“There’s no good dining in Worcester ...” The Grinches hated Worcester! And especially the food! They scoffed and scorned, “There’s just nothing that’s good!” Yet you try to plead your case, “It’s not really that bad,” But the Grinches are deaf, “There are no good times to be had!” And amidst all their scoffs, their condescension and whining, You’ve accepted the challenge, to show them Worcester’s fine dining.

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First up is a visit to a casual dining restaurant on Worcester’s west side that is a Worcester Mag favorite. Having recently moved from Mill Street to 344 Chandler St. —now occupying the store front of the former Struck Cafe — Joey’s Bar & Grill continues to serve unique American bistro favorites, in a space that features a much larger bar and almost twice the number of tables as the previous location. In spite of the new space, Joey’s still runs 60-minute waits on busy restaurant nights, so when the Grinches come to visit, be sure to make a reservation early in the day. While out-of-towners may be familiar with Worcester’s famous Shrewsbury Street row, Joey’s stands as the gem of Worcester’s west side, and is sure to surprise diners who rarely venture west of Park Avenue. Meals at Joey’s begin with a basket of warm bread accompanied by a plate of oil. Beer lovers may be disappointed by sparse draught offerings, but this is offset by several unique martinis and seasonally red or white sangria. “Joey’s Favorite Salad,” ($7) a large iceberg wedge salad topped with gorgonzola cheese, large

STEVEN KING

strips of roasted red peppers, and a bacon vinaigrette dressing is still the perfect beginning to any meal, but the Grinches will also be surprised by gigantic, succulent and tangy teriyaki wings. While several favorites, like the BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadillas, did not make the move from Mill Street to Chandler, Joey’s still serves one of the best cups of clam chowder in the city; and at only $2.50, it should hold

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over even the grouchiest of guests. Dinner entrées are large, but priced higher than most other restaurants on the west side. The $21 flat-iron steak, served with asparagus and mushrooms, is cooked perfectly and served over generous portions of whipped potatoes. Another favorite is the pepperoni chicken, a diversion from typical chicken parmesan, as sliced pepperoni is slipped into what

would otherwise be a fairly traditional meal. While most diners will be stuffed after a full meal at Joey’s, to impress the Grinches, you have to go all out: finish off your meal with Joey’s delicious crème brule, served in a ramekin, tasting almost like a roasted cappuccino with lingering hints of pumpkin-pie flavor. Joey’s Bar & Grill is the perfect spot for a single-locale night-out with friends. While tables can sometimes be hard to come by, the lively bar, good service and excellent food — all on Worcester’s west side — will impress anybody who has not been back to Worcester in a while. The first night with the Grinches was a success, and as you return home, your perpetual Worcester-haters are starting to soften up to the Worcester dining scene. However, their second night in town, a Friday, looms on the horizon, and you must continue to impress. The Grinches have long complained about how there is just nothing to do on a Friday night in Worcester. And while dinner on Thursday was nice, could this city possibly go two for two? Hoping to prove them wrong, you’ve made a reservation at The People’s Kitchen, a modern restaurant with classic styling located on the second floor of 1 Exchange Place, situated downtown just behind Worcester’s DCU Center. Dishes at The

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People’s Kitchen are prepared by Chef William Nemeroff, interviewed earlier this year in Worcester Mag’s annual KRAVE dining issue. With a weekly rotating menu, Chef Nemeroff has set The People’s Kitchen apart from other local restaurants by offering a creative, exciting and everchanging menu, making an emphasis on selecting many of the ingredients for its dishes from local farms. “It has been a pleasure seeing the response to our style of food,� Nemeroff remarks, noting that the recent growth in artisan restaurants in Worcester causes all of the other chefs and restaurants to “work harder and get more creative.� A meal at The People’s Kitchen should begin with the chef’s board of cheeses and charcuterie—an array of soft, semisoft, semihard, hard and bleu cheeses, paired with a selection of delicious meats, including Salametto, a dried pork salami from the famed Fra Mani producer in California, which is unique to The People’s Kitchen in central Massachusetts. While the restaurant features delicious meats from around the world, like Serrano ham from Spain, The People’s Kitchen is also well known for taking a headto-toe approach with all of its meats, which are aged on the premises. When hoping to please guests who are looking for something different, Chef Nemeroff bets that The People’s Kitchen is the only restaurant where you can find a true, 21day dry-aged strip-loin steak for $27. If ordering one of the many delicious meats, the homemade sausage or a unique takeoff on classic favorites like its American chop suey or pub-style fried calamari and fried pickles, the Grinches are sure to be pleased. After the delicious meal at The People’s Kitchen, you and the Grinches have full bellies and are ready for a few beers. So you lead your group just a few blocks from the restaurant to the internationally recognized pub and restaurant, Armsby Abbey. “Hold on a second,� Mrs. Grinch interrupts. “Internationally recognized? Does Worcester Mag’s “Best of Worcester� now count as international recognition?� Despite the Grinch’s overwhelming snark, it is true: Armsby Abbey has not only won Worcester Mag’s Best Beer Selection title for three years in a row, but it also carries some heavy national gravitas. Ratebeer.com ranks the Abbey as one of the top-20 bars in the World; famed beer

author Andy Crouch mentions Armsby in his latest book “Great American Craft Beer: A Guide to the Nation’s Finest Beers & Breweries,� and Wine Enthusiast magazine lists Armsby Abbey first in its collection of “beer trailblazers.� The giant beer board at the Abbey changes nightly for draughts, but with hundreds of bottle selections, Armsby Abbey is the destination for beer lovers. After waiting a few minutes, you and the Grinches grab a spot at one of the handful of tables and order a few beers— Mr. Grinch settles down with a Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, Mrs. Grinch chooses from one of the many fresh Bavarian draughts, and you go for the very rare Racer 15, the double-IPA big brother to the more common Racer 5 IPA. After several beers, Mr. Grinch starts to feel hungry again and assumes that there are no late-night bites in the city. Think again: located on Green Street adjacent to the Dive Bar is Chris Gould’s Dive Bar Sausages, serving up delicious and cheap dogs and sausages, and one of the few places in the area where you can get a vegan hot dog. Night gives way to morning and the three of you are in dire need of breakfast to stave off a hangover. You take your friends just north of Worcester to the Country Kettle in West Boylston, and enjoy one of the best breakfasts that Worcester County has to offer. You order a favorite, blueberry-cobbler French toast, while Mrs. Grinch opts for the homemade baked oatmeal, and Mr. Grinch is defeated by the delicious and sinfully decadent s’mores chocolate pancakes. Paired each with the best diner coffee that Worcester has to offer, the three of you leave, content and ready to take on Christmas Eve. Congratulations, you’ve done the impossible. Mr. and Mrs. Grinch, longtime friends who harbor biases against the city of Worcester have been taken on a successful dining odyssey spanning all of Worcester’s seven hills. From casual dining on Worcester’s west side, to a modern steak-house downtown, over to one of the best beer pubs in the world, and finally to a delicious and cozy breakfast spot just on Worcester’s outskirts, you have proven to the naysaying Grinches that Worcester does dining right. — Mike Murray

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Worcester, we need to have a talk. I refuse to hear another Grinchlike word about how boring this city is. Our arts and culture scene alone is enough to keep you perpetually running out of room in your day planner, yet there’s this lingering sentiment that there’s nothing to do here. I’m calling bull. Before you even think about heading to Boston, I ask you to stop and think: while our capital’s arts scene may be great, Worcester is chock-full of enough hidden—and not-so-hidden—gems to make your head spin. You just have to know where to look inside Wooville.

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Any journey into arts in Worcester should probably begin with a trip to the Worcester Art Museum (55 Salisbury St., worcesterart.org, 508-799-4406). The museum’s collection is phenomenal, showcasing an astounding variety of ancient to contemporary art from around the world. A current Ross Rosenstock exhibit, “Hymn to the Earth,” is stunning, and in January “Flora in Winter” will return for its 10th season. The Worcester Art Museum is also more than just a museum: it offers classes in everything from drawing to digital photography. ARTSWorcester (660 Main St., artsworcester.org, 508-755-5142) is unstoppable. With a number of top-notch galleries located around the city, you’re sure to find something you’ll love. The Aurora (660 Main St.) is its main gallery, and ARTSWorcester maintains satellite galleries at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (370 Main St.), the Hanover Theatre (2 Southbridge St.), the Hadley (657 Main St.) and Unum (18 Chestnut St.) ARTSWorcester celebrates local art with approximately 25 shows per year across its galleries according to executive director Juliet Feibel. All of their events are free and open to the public, which Feibel sees as an important aspect of the organization’s work: providing the public with access to great art. DZian Gallery (65 Water St., dzian.net, 508-831-1106) is the destination for collectors, featuring the work of muchsought world-renowned artists like Robert Bissell, Thomas Arvid and Todd White. Owner David Papazian strives toward “making Worcester a destination for the arts” by maintaining competitive collections and fostering community in

the arts scene. Papazian makes sure every event at the gallery ties in to giving back to nonprofit organizations, making this a gallery that feels good to support. DZian also hosts jazz nights and wine tastings. The Prints and the Potter (142 Highland St., printsandpotter.com, 508-752-2170) is also a fantastic resource for art-lovers who yearn to take their favorite pieces home. Owner Norman Ringdahl prides himself on maintaining a business that sells art in a range of prices, as he believes “art should be accessible to everyone.” The gallery—which also offers custom framing—features two-dimensional art and “the full range of craftwork”: blown glass, pottery, jewelry and almost anything else you could imagine. There are new exhibitions every quarter. It’s no surprise that Worcester is home to a number of underground galleries. You may have never given much thought to combination tattoo shop and art galleries, but we happen to have two: Dark World Gallery (179 Grafton St., darkworldgallery. com, 508-459-5798) and Secret Society (116

Water St., secretsocietytattoo.com, 508757-8282). Jonathan Hansen, the curator of the Dark World Gallery, loves Dark World’s “underground, low-brow” feel and that the space brings together gallerygoers with tattoo customers. Dark World’s gallery “highlights a different aspect of art” with exhibitions by graphic designers and T-shirt artists, though it also shows more traditional art. Secret Society has equally out-of-the-ordinary offerings, doled out in two to three month-long shows each year. “I love Worcester’s art scene because it’s not pretentious,” Hansen says. The Sprinkler Factory (38 Harlow St.,

sprinklerfactory.com) has an eclectic feel. The title of an upcoming juried exhibition, “No Theme – No Limits,” nails the thoughts behind what this gallery does: anything goes. According to its website, “The public is invited to join in such exciting activities as classes, music and dance.” Modern meets traditional at the Davis Gallery (44 Portland St., davisartgallery. com, 800-533-2847), where the art is always thoughtful and challenging. Davis is currently running Alternative Focus, a show that mixes traditional and contemporary photographic processes to brilliant effect, and will showcase the intriguing work of contemporary painter Brian Burris this February. Worcester’s universities are wonderful resources for art. Clark University’s Traina Center (92 Downing St., Worcester) includes both the Schiltkamp Gallery and Razzo Hall, a large space that hosts musical events and lectures. The Schiltkamp gallery showcases work from local and regional professionals while school is in is session, and each spring there is a senior thesis show for Clark’s studio-art majors. During the approaching season, according to director Toby Sisson, “Voice to Vision” will showcase stirring collaborations between artists and survivors of genocides

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STEVEN KING

around the globe. The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery (1 College St., 508-793-3356) at Holy Cross has a strong permanent collection, including some relatively new Southeast Asian textiles, plus a host of paintings, sculptures and photography. In January, it will introduce two new exhibits based on literature: one features paintings inspired by author Jorge Luis Borges and another celebrates Cuban culture through handbound books and other art. Worcester State has the Krikorian Gallery and the Worcester Center for Crafts (25 Sagamore Rd., worcester.edu/wcc, 508753-8183), which specializes in glass, ceramic, metal and woodwork. The Worcester Center for Craft has a successful resident-artist program, which helps make for unique shows and learning opportunities: its classes in glass-blowing, metalwork and more will turn you into a true artisan. The Pottery Invitational, slated for this April, will give art-lovers a chance to view and purchase one-of-akind pieces. Saori Worcester (18 Winslow St., Worcester, saoriworcester.com) also errs on the crafty side. You may have seen Saori Worcester’s work in Elm Park in 2010, when its colorful woven banners decorated Elm Park’s bridges for peace. Saori Worcester offers weekly classes to

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get you started in the art of Saori weaving, a Japanese freestyle weaving technique that boasts a high level of accessibility for all ages and abilities. Saori Worcester’s mission is to teach its students to be freely creative and original while “weav[ing] friendship as we weave fabrics,” according to its website. History buffs will also find that Worcester has a lot to offer. The Worcester Historical Museum (30 Elm St., Worcester) is an amazing resource with a dedication to the hyper-local. It’s also the place to be if you want to interact with the past. According to exhibit coordinator Vanessa Bumpus, “Crafternoons” will allow visitors to create art inspired by items from the museum’s collection, and in April, its ghost tours on the common will return, this time focusing on famous criminals. “Whispers in the Walls” will bring visitors into historical homes, and in March the museum will transform into a speakeasy, complete with flappers, to teach about Prohibition. “What I love about Worcester’s arts and culture scene is that it’s not as massive as Boston’s,” Bumpus says. “You can get a whole weekend of culture for very little money.”

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The Higgins Armory (100 Barber Ave, higgins.org, 508-853-6015) will transport you back in time with one of the most extensive armor collections this side of Europe. You’ll find everything from Greek armor to gorgeous stained glass, and demonstrations are a blast for all ages. Kids will go bonkers for the “OverKnight” program. Poetry-lovers will find themselves at home at the Dirty Gerund, hosted every Monday night at Ralph’s Rock Diner (148 Grove St., dirtygerund.com, 508-7539543). Hosted by local slam giants Alex Charalambides and Nick Davis, it’ll even entertain spoken-word skeptics with its raunchy humor and unique competitions like Iron Poet, based on Food Network’s popular cooking competition. Plus, musical guests, cheap beer and burgers— you can’t go wrong. Charalambides also hosts a monthly poetry slam series that features Worcester Youth Poetry Slam and the Clark University Poetry Slam at Clark University (950 Main St., worcesteryouthslam.com). Not only are the

kids amazing, but the feature poets are consistently mind-blowing and often well-known names on the slam circuit, like Def Poetry alums George Watsky and Rachel McKibbens. WCUW 91.3fm’s (910 Main St., Worcester) Frontroom liveentertainment series is not to be ignored. In addition to intimate concerts, the Poets’ Asylum takes the stage every Sunday at 7 p.m. These readings are open to the community, making them a great venue for budding writers to get their work noticed. There are featured poets and monthly audience-judged slams. Though Worcester might seem like more of a metal town, you won’t have any trouble getting your classical or jazz fix. Catch the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra at Tuckerman Hall (10 Tuckerman St., masymphony.org, 508-754-1234) or in Institute Park during the summer, and see one of the Worcester County Light Opera’s (21 Grand View Ave., wcloc.org, 508753-4383) shows, which are anything but stuffy. The Worcester Chamber Music Society (worcesterchambermusic.org, 978-4562730) will be continuing its Café Series in 2012 with casual, dining-accompanied concerts at The People’s Kitchen (1 Exchange St., Worcester). WICN 90.5 (wicn. org) is the premiere local radio station for jazz, and they also regularly host live concerts around Central Massachusetts. So all you small-hearted haters out there in Wooville, remember that Boston isn’t the be-all, end-all of art; we’ve got some amazing and often underappreciated resources right under your furry green noses.

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art | dining | nightlife

I, Witness

Self-Portraiture at the Aurora Gallery

Paul Grignon

“How would you describe yourself?” As it turns out, that seemingly simple query of selfinterpretation is not so easy to explain. The exploration of oneself conjures many images; of childhood, of loss, of melancholy, of vibrant sun-filled happy days, a veritable endless mosaic of memories that make up an individual. With that in mind, 20 artists have been chosen to delve within themselves, to transform their own image into a self-portrait for the current exhibit, My Subject/Myself. Juliet Feibel, Ph.D., the new executive director of ArtsWorcester, says about this exhibit, “There is a very set tradition in self-portraits; head and shoulders, front and center, and occasionally in three-quarters view. This exhibit blows that tradition apart, with the artists taking radically different approaches to how they represent themselves.” The show is co-curated by Joseph Farbrook and Josephine Martins, and they have assembled a striking collection of work that is dispersed—rather sparingly—

between two floors. But with such ample space to stroll about, one can take time to pause and ponder the personas upon the walls. “For this show we put out a call and also invited specific artists that we felt would do well in a self-portrait exhibition,” shares Farbrook. “The idea was that we would commission artists to create a new self-portrait specifically for this show. The results turned out to be fantastic!” His enthusiasm for the show can be readily discerned by gazing at works such as Scott Boilard’s “Me at the Bloody Roots (Ghosts at My Back).” It depicts a candid shot of Boilard with drink in hand amid a stark interior, as undulating tentacles hover behind him, ghostly reminders of his past. As he states, “The ghosts are a mysterious symbol of past experiences, both good and bad, that haunt my current life. But they also drive my ambitions with excitement, and caution as well. Who remains in control, however, remains unknown.” Cynthia Woehrle, program director for ArtsWorcester, says, ”We are proud of the artists who opened themselves up for personal interpretation, and the wonderful continued on page 22

DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

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works that resulted. The inflections and subsequent reflections offer up honest, interesting and even playful interpretations of the theme.” The show is amazingly diverse in content, and myriad mediums were

employed to create the artists’ signature pieces, from oil on board to mixed media, acrylic and gouache, to ball-point pen, collage, ceramic and emulsion lifts. These

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talented artists have opened up their psyches to the public, allowing patrons a glimpse into the personal and profound aspects of their lives. “I’m fascinated by artists’ individual life choices,” says co-curator Martins, “events and conditions that inspire their work and how each person portrays themselves to the world; the balance between reality and illusion, of who they are versus how they wish to be defined by the outside world.” Initially excited about the show, artist Kat O’Connor found the concept much harder to accomplish than she expected. “I was more interested in finding a way to allow my physical body to act as a vehicle for what I find fascinating about painting.” Her piece, “Lost Edges,” is visually powerful as she has masterfully incorporated foreshortening into her

painting and where “…flesh and bone become planes that accept light and are occasionally obliterated by it,” explains O’Connor. Facial features are hidden, and the interplay of light and shadow, coupled with unexpected angles, provide a unique and compelling composition. Scott Holloway’s work is infused with symbolism and his ink, oil and gold-leaf self-portrait is wrenching in meaning. Startling in its exquisite and superb renderings of various objects, the painting, as Holloway describes is “…about a new life and starting over without a child.” Four finely detailed elements are placed upon a gold background, all symbolic of life, death and rebirth. A child’s skull represents the death of a childhood, and an Ouroboros encircles it, a symbol of the cyclical

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nature of things. Forget-me-nots are placed near the skull, flowers that record faithfulness and the infinite love for a child that will never fade. Beneath this imagery are sprigs of rosemary, a symbol of remembrance. “I decided to take a part of my life that very few people actually know and throw it out there,” reveals Holloway. The result is a captivating glimpse into the raw sorrow of a singular soul. “Untitled,” by M.P. Raymond, is remarkably realistic in its depiction of the subject matter. “I strive for contrast and harmony, and it’s with this mindset that I approach my self-portrait,” says Raymond. The incredible clarity of his oil on canvas captures the minutia and essence of his being. “I decided to work in perfect profile, something I have never done,” he continues. “In combination with a subdued cold background and slight negative space, I strived to create an emotional response, one that embodies the characteristics of great design.” The viewer can only gaze upon and marvel at his consummate skill, and his prodigious talents will hold one enthralled. Styles vary considerably as evidenced by works such as “Climbing Man” by Tom Grady, an oil painting that beautifully utilizes chiaroscuro to great effect and Joanna Matuck’s “Mink Ink” that combines delicate washes of gouache and acrylic to create an arresting image. Fourteen other exceptional artists expose their identities to the world. Encapsulating the show, Woehrle says, “We hope this exhibit inspires people to consider how they represent themselves through different art forms.” My Subject/Myself at the ArtsWorcester Gallery at the Aurora, 660 Main Street, Worcester. Exhibit runs through January 20, 2012. For more information, go to artsworcester.org.

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{ arts }

Revisiting a classic Carol for Christmas

Taylor Nunez

For many adults and children alike, the play “A Christmas Carol” infuses them with the holiday spirit and this year Worcester folk can embrace tradition as the Hanover Theatre SCOTT ERB puts on its fourth annual production of the Christmas classic. “A Christmas Carol” depicts the story of miser Ebenezer Scrooge as he receives visits from three ghosts – Christmases Past, Present and Future – and teaches him the true meaning of the holiday. As excutive director Troy Siebels describes the play, “It’s such a powerful story, with a powerful message, that’s every bit as relevant today as it was when Charles Dickens wrote it 160 years ago.” Director Siebels is no stranger to this old play as he has done the show 11 times in the past 16 years and at a total of four different theaters since first creating and directing the adaptation in 1996. Though the play remains the same year after year, Siebels finds himself with a fresh production every time the play is produced because of the different actors who participate. “A new actor interprets a role in a slightly different way and that impacts his or her interaction with the rest of the cast and before you know it there are entirely new dynamics going on,” explains Siebels. One Worcester actress that has continued to be in the production is Annie Kerins, who will be playing Mrs. Cratchit for a third time in this year’s production done at the Hanover Theatre. Kerins finds herself bound by a special camaraderie among her cast mates – particularly those who play the Cratchit kids. “The oldest daughter has been played by the same actress for the past three years. It’s a delight to work with her and easy to pretend we are

related,” she explains. Kerins recognizes that the cast of “A Christmas Carol” is different from that of other plays. “Sometimes when an actor is in a big cast, there is a huge chorus and it takes forever to learn everyone’s names because you hardly interact with every single actor. But with ‘A Christmas Carol,’ and in particular with Troy’s adaptation, all of our stories are so intertwined

with Scrooge’s, that it’s easy to feel like a team right away,” says Kerins. In this close-knit cast, Kerins’ boyfriend Steve Gagliastro is playing Mr. Fezziwig for a second time and finds much pride in being able to perform on the Hanover Theatre’s stage. “As a Worcester native, I am proud to

be affiliated with the Hanover Theatre. Throughout my career, I have always found Worcester audiences to be quite demanding, but also very appreciative of high quality work. They are keen and honest,” he explains. Gagliastro finds himself lucky to be able to not only enjoy the holidays at home in Worcester with his family, but to be employed as well, something he describes as “a luxury actors rarely get to enjoy.” Gagliastro and director Siebels both recognize the amazing opportunity the production of “A Christmas Carol” at the Hanover has in regards to community outreach and inclusion. “I love the feeling that it’s a gift that we can give to the community. Beyond the ticket-buying audience, we give out more than 1,000 free tickets each year, through the United Way, to families that otherwise couldn’t attend. Almost 6,000 school kids will come to the morning matinees. Seeing those families and kids enjoy the show is a reward in itself,” says Siebels. Gagliastro echoes Siebels thoughts, saying, “Every year we host hundreds of young people who have never stepped foot inside a theater, let alone seen a live theatrical production. Making this first experience a fantastic and magical one for these future theater-goers is an actor’s most awesome responsibility.” Certainly, director Siebels and the actors, wait in excitement for opening night. For Siebels, he hopes that audience members can let go of the sometimes stressful aspects of the holiday season and enjoy the timelessly classic tale. “I think it’s refreshing to be reminded each year that it’s good to take a step back and consider what’s really important. If the audience takes away a piece of that message, then we’ve made the world a little bit better,” Siebels expresses. Take a step back to remember and enjoy what the holidays are truly about and see New England’s largest production of “A Christmas Carol” at the Hanover Theatre, going on from December 16 through December 23. Buy your tickers online at TheHanoverTheatre.org, by phone at 877-571-SHOW (7469) or at The Hanover Theatre Box Office located at 2 Southbridge St. in downtown Worcester. DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

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The Singing of Kirtan Rob Sullivan

What happens every third Friday of the month at the Unity Church of Central Massachusetts is certainly not unique. The church hosts a monthly gathering of local residents for the Singing of Kirtan, an ancient Indian tradition that dates back thousands of years. The next singing of Kirtan will take place Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the church, located at 21 Cedar St. in Worcester.

The Singing of Kirtan is led by Shubalananda, also known as Larry Kopp. Shubalananda has nearly three decades of experience with Kirtan and has extensively studied world religions during that same period. He has also studied with many masters of the tradition including Satya Sai Baba, Karuna Mayi, Shree Maa, Mata Amritananda Mayi, Baba Harihar Ramji and Shiva Rudra Bala Yogi. Shubulananda leads the Singing of Kirtan by playing guitar and is joined by a talented

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group of musicians at each session. A former blues musician who moved to India after first discovering the tradition, he brings his past experience as a seasoned bluesman to each Singing of Kirtan. “When I sang in the Indian community, for so many years, the Indians would put their fingers in their kid’s ears because they didn’t want the kids to hear what they called hard-rock Kirtan,” recalls Shubulananda. “But I tell them I grew up on Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Muddy Waters, so what do you want? These are my roots and this is what I bring to it.” Simply put, Kirtan is Sacred Hindu chanting, and is sung in a call and response style with the ultimate goal of bringing the singers to a state of higher consciousness. The practice was created by the ancient Rishis, ancient Hindus who were the composers of Vedic hymns. The composition of these hymns date back as long as 3,000 years ago. The Vedic period represents the creation of the oldest scriptures in the Hindu religion.

Although its background arises from Hinduism, the event at the Unity Church of Central Massachusetts is nondenominational. People of all faiths are welcome to attend and participate in the Singing of Kirtan. “If you think about the names of God from different religions, you think of Allah, Yeshuva, Yahweh, Ishwara, all the different religions—the names of God have a similar vibration, a similar sound. So of course it transcends religion,” explains Shubulananda. The nondenominational aspect of the Singing of Kirtan is in keeping with the Unity Church of Central Massachusetts’ mission of recognizing “the importance of serving all people in spiritually and emotionally caring ways. Our ministries and outreaches are free of discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability, and sexual orientation. Our sincere desire is to create spiritual home that is nondiscriminatory and supports

diversity.” The mission statement is detailed on the church website at uccm.org. Shubulananda also stresses that the Singing of Kirtan is fun, as well as being a deeply profound experience. The event becomes a kind of combination of spiritual uplifting with a good oldfashioned rock-and-roll show. Shubulananda brings the Singing of Kirtan to dozens of locations throughout New England. Some of the venues at which he leads the practice are Kripalu Center in Lenox, The Arlington Center in Boston, Karuna Yoga in Northampton and Watering Pond Yoga in Guilford, Conn., as well as the Unity Church of Central Massachusetts. As the leader of the Singing of Kirtan, Shubulananda has dedicated the better part of his life bringing the ancient tradition to a host of people who may otherwise never had discovered the Hindu Sacred Chanting. The suggested donation for Friday’s event is $15.

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Money, money, money Jim Keogh

I’m not sure that the average person, after watching “Margin Call,” will have any clearer grasp of the mortgagebacked securities scam that helped bring down the nation’s economy. But no particular expertise is needed to see that the technical maneuverings, while (mystifyingly) legal, were also venal, cynical, immoral and a lot of other words ending in “al” that are variations on the same theme. “Margin Call” begins on a bad morning for the unnamed Wall Street firm at the heart of this story. The company is in the throes of massive layoffs, and top executives carrying cardboard boxes filled with career mementoes are being ushered out the door. One of them is Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci), the firm’s senior risk analyst, who, before he leaves, hands off a flash drive to one of his young protégés, Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto), murmuring that it contains some disquieting information. That evening, Peter uploads the data, spends hours doing calculations, and is stunned to learn that his company is holding billions in worthless assets and is teetering on the brink of collapse. He makes a call to his supervisor, and soon the alarm is moving up the chain of command, resulting in an emergency late-night meeting to determine which inevitably cataclysmic strategy to adopt. Here, the players are a “Glengarry Glen Ross” crew for the 21st century, with the shabby real estate office replaced by a gleaming boardroom whose fixtures are worth more than most people’s homes. At the head of the table sits the slithery CEO John Tuld (Jeremy Irons), who has helicoptered in to assess the damage, decide who will accept blame (not he), and how the millions the company will

earn from the fire sale of bad debt will be divvied up. He’s served by lieutenants, some who are ruthless, but at least one, veteran employee Sam Rogers (played by Kevin Spacey, doing some of his best work in ages), who has enough spine and character to voice his concerns over the ethical bankruptcy he’s witnessing. “Margin Call” will not draw big audiences, even though it boasts exceptional acting and a timely story. The film was released simultaneously in some theaters and on-demand on local cable systems (which is where I saw it), so it’s being marketed to as wide an audience as possible, perhaps with the knowledge that the subject matter is not your typical holiday fare. Considered in tandem with the like-minded films “Casino Jack and the United States of Money,” “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” and “Capitalism: A Love Story,” “Margin Call” could be the anthem for the Occupy Wall Street movement. Again, the specifics of how the collapse was engineered may not be illuminated to everyone’s satisfaction, but the ethos in which it was allowed to happen is laid bare, warts and … well, it’s all warts. One aspect of the film that is particularly gnawing is the depiction of some of the company’s top execs, including the CEO, as ignorant about how their business works (Tuld asks that the firm’s dire situation be explained to him as though he’s a child). Online message boards have been firing away at this notion, with some insiders insisting it’s a stretch. Perhaps so, which makes the reality even uglier. The smartest guys in these corporate rooms knew exactly what their companies were doing, made batches of money, and walked away still able to occupy any space they choose.

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Iconic detective kicks ass again Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows Grade: A – David Wildman

Oh, why not? Once you accept these simple words, it all gets a lot easier. Why not render Sherlock Holmes a crazed, wild-eyed drunken/cokedout, womanizing, possibly bisexual, unshaven action hero? Why not make Watson a trim, dashing, quick-witted heroic figure instead of the classic chubby, befuddled Ed McMahon-like second banana we’re used to? Why not play off a bromance with undertones of potential gay attraction between the two? Director Guy Ritchie, who also helmed the first of these Holmes re-imaginings certainly has no qualms about messing with the acceptable meme’s about his iconic characters. Agree to play on his game board, and you won’t either. The first film was a bit of a shock to the system, with the street-fighting Holmes embodied with maximum quirk and humor by the indelibly talented Robert Downey Jr., and the annoying but occasionally excellent Jude Law handling Dr. Watson as less sidekick and more intellectual and physical equal. After grudgingly accepting the new near-superhero status of the two, as well as the focus on fisticuffs over deduction, I found the film charming, but the plotting a bit messy and haphazard, with the added problem of an ill conceived CGI backdrop that did not mesh convincingly with the story. For the follow up I was hoping Ritchie might downplay some of the excesses of the first flick. Boy was I barking up the wrong tree. Instead, within minutes of the opening frames we get the full on genius-as-pugilist routine, where we see how Holmes calmly calculates how he is going to kick the multiple asses of a group of bad guys. It’s true – I found after some research – the original Holmes was considered a good fighter, and in fact Sir Conan Doyle apparently reveals somewhere

that his protagonist was once trained as a boxer, so perhaps this staple of the new action hero Holmes is less of a stretch then I initially thought it was. Yet some of Holmes’ physical feats truly push the limits of believability, and there is less focus on observation and deduction than in even the first film. It is to Ritchie’s credit, as well as screenwriting couple Michele and Kieran Mulroney and the stellar cast assembled here, that I found myself entertained enough to give up even that reservation. The premise is irresistible: Holmes believes the evil mastermind Professor Moriarty is trying to start the first World War. Holmes has an epic highly obsessive multimap diorama spilling all over his office detailing the Byzantine worldwide scheme as he imagines it. This raises the question that maybe the famous detective has had a bit too much cocaine and his brain is fried. For me it brings to mind the excellent “Seven Percent Solution,” in which Watson tricks Holmes into going to see Sigmund Freud to cure his addiction, because the drugs have turned him manic and paranoid. But this is a different kind of Holmes adventure, so of course he is correct in his seemingly mad convictions. Moriarty is soon revealed (impeccably handled with a hint of mendacious vulnerability by Jared Harris, who shone as the British head of the agency in the TV show Mad Men), and the plot races away as Watson has his honeymoon interrupted by murder and mayhem on a train, and the two heroes team up to track down a gypsy woman’s anarchist revolutionary brother who has been manipulated by Moriarty into being an assassin. The whole thing leads to an epic confrontation with plenty of stop-action explosions at a visually spectacular German munitions factory and a literal game of mental chess between the villain and hero. In the end I was swept away by this visceral vision of Holmes, as well as the potent Newman/Redford-like chemistry Ritchie has captured between Downey Jr. and Jude Law. What “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” lacks in plausibility it makes up for in thrills and badass humor.

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29

krave

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Shiro Japanese Restaurant

&

{ dining}

FOOD ★★★★ AMBIENCE ★★★★ SERVICE ★★★ VALUE ★★★★ 3 Gates Pond Road, Berlin • 978-562-6771

Unlikely location offers authentic Japanese Marc Cochon

In the category of “Most Unlikely Setting for a Japanese Restaurant,� the winner, for the 30th consecutive year, is a somewhat spooky old Victorian house on Gates Pond Road in Berlin, just off the Route 62 exit of I-495. Open from 5 to 10 p.m. every night except Monday, Shiro is run by a Japanese family and provides authenticity and terrific value in a setting you won’t soon forget. Approaching the house on an autumn night, you might be tempted to turn and run. It just doesn’t look like a restaurant, the exterior is dimly lit, and hey, what was

that sound? But once you enter and see the gleaming woodwork and contented diners, you’ll want to stay. The original floor plan of the house appears unchanged, so you’ll find intimate dining rooms, a sushi bar and a bar for serving hard-beverage concoctions, each distinct and inviting. Once seated, you’re offered a hot, moist towel—a most hospitable welcome. The menu presents many choices for assembling shared or individual meals. Sushi, sashimi and maki rolls are a clear focus, but there are plenty of other Japanese appetizers and entrÊes on offer. Given the generous portions, you might want to order a combination of starters and go from there. Beer, wine, and sake are all served – the warmed house sake is a terrific deal at $7.50 for a sizeable flask, and premium chilled sakes are available for $10. A sashimi appetizer features about a dozen slices of tuna, salmon, yellowtail and mackerel – an excellent deal for $12.75. Each slice is nicely presented and wonderfully fresh, with the fatty, supple salmon a particular delight. Gyoza ($6) are exemplary, the dumplings filled with seasoned pork, seared until crispy and

STEVEN KING

then steamed to completion. The skins are suitably thin, and the dipping sauce gingery and light. Tempura ($9.50) is also well-executed, the sizable shrimp and vegetables encased in a light and crisp batter and served with a complex soy-based sauce. Edamame ($5.50) are a generous portion, but slightly soggy and not quite as salty as we’d like. Each entrÊe is served with miso soup and a small beansprout salad. The miso is mild and comforting, with nice flavor and bits of tofu in a light dashi broth. The beansprouts are crisp and gingery – lots of things here are gingery, but in a way that doesn’t get tiresome. Yakisoba with shrimp ($14.50) is a mountain of pan-fried buckwheat noodles and cabbage studded generously with medium shrimp in a light sauce featuring yet more ginger. Unless you’re really looking to fill up on noodles and cabbage, share this among at least three or four diners. Pork shogayaki ($14) has been marinated

and stir-fried in (yes!) ginger and caramelized onions. The pork, flavorful but a bit overcooked, is served with another minimountain of soba noodles, plus some very nicely marinated broccoli. EntrÊes also include ice cream, and how can one not go for the ginger? It’s rich and nicely flavored, and the fact that we still crave it underscores the rhizome’s versatility. Service is well-intentioned but casual. This is not a place for a quick bite, and you may need to catch someone’s eye when things get busy. Still, it’s welcoming and intimate, and a great deal to boot – you can get a diverse Japanese meal with a drink for about $30 per person, including tip – more if you focus on sushi and sashimi. An unlikely location? You bet. But there are some very good reasons Shiro has survived for 30 years, including authenticity, intimacy and exceptional value. Don’t be scared; kore wa oishii.

O P E N C H R I S T M A S D AY

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• DECEMBER 15, 2011

This Holiday Season, think of Buca when planning office parties or family get-togethers. Whether you bring them to Buca, or bring Buca to them, we know how to feed a crowd.

SHREWSBURY 7 BOSTON TURNPIKE 508.792.1737 Perfect for

bucadibeppo.com

HOLIDAY GATHERINGS | GIFT CARDS | PARTY PANS TO GO H O

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{ recommended} Carl’s Oxford Diner 291 Main St., Oxford 508-797-8770 Carl’s is a great breakfast and/or lunch destination with a fun atmosphere that won’t zap your wallet. If you like diners, and diner food, hop down to Oxford for this quintessential experience. Health nuts may be a bit uncomfortable with the excessive caloric comfort food, but with fruit-covered pancakes and wafes, one doesn’t have to be a meat-eater to appreciate something on the menu — though, of course, meat-eaters will be pleased. Good service and generous portions only add to the charm. Amici Trattoria 582 Main St., Shrewsbury 508-842-7800 amicitrattoria.com Amici Trattoria offers an intimate Italian dining experience in the heart of Shrewsbury — a perfect spot for a romantic rendezvous. The combination of classic Italian ingredients with tender chicken and seafood provides for a memorable evening. Top it off with homemade tiramasu, if you have room. Put this one on your list of dining “do’s.â€? Twig’s CafĂŠ At the Tower Hill Botanic Garden 11 French Drive, Boylston 508-869-6111 towerhillbg.org Whatever the season, Twig’s CafĂŠ offers a lovely setting for a hearty lunch. A short menu of interesting soups, salads, sandwiches and sides is available by a roaring ďŹ re in winter and on a sunny patio

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with a panoramic view of north central Massachusetts in the spring, summer and fall. Beer and wine available. Udupi 378 Maple Avenue, Fair Lawn Plaza, Shrewsbury 508-459-5099 Hidden right off of Route 9 in Shrewsbury, this vegetarian haven offers an extensive menu that can satisfy just about anyone. The Indian food is solidly good, but the value is even better. Try one of the specials that sample several menu offerings, and even split it with a continued on page 32

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TWO ENTREES JUST $19.99 Ten Entrees to Choose From Cannot be combined with any other discounts, specials or offers of any kind.

THURSDAY: DESSERT-DAY Free Dessert with your Entree purchase

Cannot be combined with any other discounts, specials or offers of any kind.

GAME DAY 1/2 PRICE APPS

Now Accepting Reservations for

New Year’s Eve

During Pats, Bs, Celts and Sox games, Appetizers are 1/2 price with your alcohol purchase Cannot be combined with any other discounts, specials or offers of any kind.

Loft 266 266 Park Ave, Worcester 508-796-5177 Functions from 20-100 On-Site • Catering

Gluten Free Offerings Of Offerin

A s k ur ut O A b o ter i ng Ca

RESTAURANT

PUB

BANQUET FACILITIES

Sun.-Thurs. 11:30am-9pm • Fri. & Sat. ‘til 10pm Closed Mon. 42 West Boylston St., (Rt. 12) West Boylston, MA 508-835-4722 • www.ourmanor.com

Wexford House Restaurant

Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30am-10:00pm GIFT CERTIFICATE SPECIAL Receive a $15 Bonus CertiďŹ cate when you purchase $100 or more!

508-757-8982

Located at the corner of Shrewsbury Street and Route 9 in Worcester

Serving great food at reasonable prices, prepared by Chef Allen Erickson

Fresh Seafood • Great Steaks Homemade Italian Allen’s specialty...Middle Eastern Food Daily Luncheon Specials Under $10! All Sandwiches & Burgers Served With A Cup Of Soup El Morocco Salad With Shrimp or Chicken Lobster, Scallop & Clam Rolls DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

31

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{ recommended} continued from page 31

Buy $25 in gift cards – get an extra $5 free. Buy $50 in gift cards – get an extra $10 free. Now thru 12/24/11

Catering • BYOB • Open

Oli's WOMAG_LNDMK ad_B&W_4.65x1.65.indd 1

friend (the platters are good size). It’s worth a visit if you’re in the area, and if you’re vegetarian and looking for something different, it’s worth a little travel out of the way, too. Even the most devout carnivores will find something to their liking. Bay State Bakery 96 Water St., Worcester In Gerardo’s Plaza • West Boylston 508-753-6000 Bay State Bakery in Worcester offers Middle Eastern cooking using Oliseatery.com 508.854.1500 quality fresh ingredients. Doubling as a deli and convenience store, this Water Street eatery features delicious meats, vegetables, and some of the best hummus the Western Hemisphere has to offer. 12/5/11 1:40:08 PMYou can’t go wrong with one of the kabob dishes, or the chicken or Sundays For Private Parties beef schwarma, served either as a flatbread sandwich or as a plate with rice, salad and yogurt dip. Ranch Cantina 329 Grafton Street, Worcester (508) 792-3560 An authentic slice of Brazil on Grafton Hill. Ranch Cantina is a churrascuria, a traditional Brazilian restaurant which serves barbecued beef, pork and chicken, as well as ample and hearty 120 June Street Worcester, MA 01602 non-meat choices, in a buffet format. The place is low-key, the (508) 793-8558 fare is delicious, and served by the pound or as an all-you-can-eat lemiragerestaurant.com option. Some Mexican dishes are also available.

Cater C ater yyour our hholiday oliday pparty arty with a litt littlele touch touch of of with mediterranean cuisine mediterranean cui isiine

Holiday Parties & Discounted Gift CertiÀcates!

Open O pen for for lunch lunch & dinner dinner

A Touch of Mediterranean Cuisine Hours: Sunday (Closed) Mon & Tues (11:30am-8pm) Wed & Thurs (11:30am-9pm) Fri (11:30am-10pm) • Sat (4:30pm-9pm)

B.Y.O.B. B .Y.O.B.

120 Ju June une SStreet tree reet • W Wo Worcester orrccces este es ter er • 508 5 508-793-8558 088-79 -79 7 33 85 8 58 8

Let El Basha celebrate the holidays with you, at your place or ours.

32

Bocado Tapas Wine Bar 86 Winter St. 508-797-1011 bocadotapasbar.com Bocado’s is Worcester’s first, and best, tapas restaurant, a five-star tour through Spain’s appetizer-crazed cuisine. The food is varied, creative, fresh and refreshing; the all-Spanish wine list smart and equally creative; the service professional and attentive; the atmosphere is urbane and, yes, sexy. It’s trendy, but substantial. Credit cards accepted. Off-street parking. Full liquor bar. Moderate pricing.

Fiddlers’ Green Irish Pub 19 Temple Street • Worcester • 508-792-3700 • www.fiddlersgreen.com

SATURDAY, Dec. 17th

2 Connector Rd. Westboro 508-366-2455

424 Belmont St. Worcester 508-797-0884

elbasharestaurant.com WORCESTERMAG.COM

Brew City Grill and Brew House 104 Shrewsbury St. 508-752-3862 brew-city.com Brew City’s menu covers all the brew-pub bases: steaks, ribs, fajitas, chicken, home-style favorites like meatloaf, pasta and seafood - with many recipes based on beers from Brew City’s selection. In other cases, such as on the specials, beer pairings are offered. The atmosphere is an engaging faux-urban décor of industrial street lamps, brick and tin, wavy lines and ramps, and brushed steel skylines; and sports memorabilia that lines the walls throughout the dining room and adjacent bar. Periodic live music. Credit cards accepted. Off-street parking in rear.

Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre

For a limited time only, receive: 10% Off your Private Party in our function room (call for availability) 10% Off Gift Card Purchases 10% Off All Catered Events 256 Park Ave. Worcester 508-795-0222

EVO 234 Chandler St., Worcester 508-459-4240 EVOdining.com Attached to the Living Earth and Amethyst Point, EVO: “American Dining EVOlved” offers a fresh perspective on dining, with a menu that favors natural, organic, vegetarian, vegan and other specialty diets. Meat-eating dates can rest assured, though, for they have a reward in excellent Kobe beef burgers and other meat options. The value is decent, considering most of the food is organic or all natural, so even if you’re doing dessert, you can feel extra good about what you’re eating.

Boynton Restaurant and Spirits 117 Highland St., Worcester 508-756-8458 boyntonrestaurant.com Itís still a beautiful day in the neighborhood at this Highland Street classic. Despite modernizing, The Boynton still serves up homestyle favorites - steaks, burgers, chicken, pasta, a decent selection of shellfish, plus comfort foods - in a friendly, bustling atmosphere. Lots of plasma TVs in the bar offer drinking or dining with ample views of the Sox or Patriots.

• DECEMBER 15, 2011

Fiddlers’ Green/AOH/LAOH Annual Christmas Party with Terry Brennan in the Hall and Outrageous Greg in the Pub. All welcome!!

EN ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY the 16th: Songs Of Ceilidh

New Pub Manager, New Chef, and a Whole New Menu... and Great Prices! Come in and check us out!

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES NOW! Hall available for Private Functions & Weddings 508-795-0400

krave

night day &

PubGrub

The Citizen A tasty look at pub grub around the Woo

The Citizen Kendra Lapin

1 Exchange Place, Worcester 508-459-9090 1nichexchange.com FOOD ★★★★★ AMBIENCE ★★★★★ SERVICE ★★★★★ VALUE ★★★

Tucked across the street from the DCU Center, The Citizen Wine Bar and The People’s Kitchen make a snug place to curl up with friends or family to enjoy a special treat. While there is a full bar, wine is the main focus and all the food - nearly all artisanal and frequently locally sourced - is designed to pair with drink. STEVEN KING The first thing that caught my eye was the Korean beef tartar with a kimchi salad special. Korean beef is only entering people’s radar, but it’s the perfect choice for a raw preparation—and the Citizen did it justice. Marinated just enough with sesame oil, rice vinegar, seasonings and a touch of heat, the beef flavor still shined as it melted with tenderness. The Citizen’s kimchi was a milder cousin to its Korean counterpart. Still pickled and fermented, the cabbage was sweeter and the seasonings still spicy, but preferable to the American palate. The Sriracha-mayonaise added another great layer of flavor and heat. While the Korean beef appetizer was amazing, the truffle-oil and parmesan fries were also excellent: thin, crispy, tender and packing a lot of flavor. Utterly divine was the Saigon cinnamon pavlava with eggnog Chantilly (a thick whip) for dessert. The meringue cookies, layered with fresh whipped cream and the Chantilly, accented with berries, broke with the spoon and dissolved on the tongue. If you’re looking for an upscale adventure in your pub experience, definitely add the Citizen to your list.

GRINDERS

SOUPS

SALADS

Give the Gift of a Truly Unique New England Experience! GIFT GIVING IDEAS • Ski & Stay Packages • Romance Packages • Dining Experiences Receive an additional 20% added value to each purchase you make! For Reservations and Information:

978-874-2000 9 Village Inn Road Westminster, MA www.wachusettvillageinn.com

Give The Gift Of

AND MORE

Daily Lunch Specials In Under 30 minutes ... and Under $6.00 Drink Specials: Bucket of Bud, 5 Bottles/$12

A D e l i c i o u sl y H e a l t h y Ho l i d a y

Pub Sandwich Specials on Thursday nights

For The Dinner Table

For The Dessert Table

Lobster Roll Fridays: $8.95 (Dine In Only)

Natural Spiral Ham

Fresh Homemade Pies

Natural Lamb Legs

Gluten-Free Treats

Pork Loin Roasts

Artisanal Cheeses

$5.00 Meatball Sandwiches ... Any day, Any time

JOIN US FOR KARAOKE & OUR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 17TH AT 4PM WE WILL ALSO RING IN 2012 WITH KARAOKE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE!

THE

Press Box

SERVING WORCESTER FOR OVER 20 YEARS

536 LINCOLN ST.

WORCESTER

KITCHEN OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY 10AM - 2PM AND THURSDAY NIGHTS 6-9PM

Magret Duck Breasts Holiday Fixings Fresh Organic Produce Vegan Selection

232 Chandler Street Worcester www.lefoods.com 508.753.1896

Organic Wines & Beers

& all the fixings’

G i f t C a r d s | G i f t B a sk e t s | H e a l t h & B e a ut y

10% OFF

Your next purchase at Living Earth. Excludes sale items, previous purchases & gift cards. Expires 12/31/11

508-856-9255 DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

33

night day &

{ opt }

Take a peek at the week ahead! Want to see your listing here? Visit our website at worcestermag.com, click on night&day, then select Calendar and submit your event. Really want to catch our attention? Add to our online database and pester our editor at editor@worcestermag.com.

>Thursday 15

>Friday 16

Looking for some last-minute, creative and unique gift ideas? Find them at Miniature Show 2011 now through December 28 at the Post Road Art Center. View some wonderful works, all under 11-by-14 inches in size and priced right for purchase, created by new talent and established artists in this juried show. Cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award through December 21 and be entered for a chance to win a gift certiďŹ cate to the Post Road Art Center. Post Road Art Center, 1 Boston Post Rd., Marlborough. 508-485-2580.

Fight For Your Life BeneďŹ t features Izzy Dunfore, Conict of Interest, Sarge, (Deadset) and Heris E, Melishouz Morbia, Stitchy, Mortal Conquest, Political Animals and Whiteout. The Raven, 258 Pleasant St. 508-304-8133 or ďŹ nd them on Facebook.

Young ZoĂŠ is bored; her parents, distant and apathetic, ignore her. Her life has lost all meaning. Seeking to ďŹ ll the void of her existence, she slides into an imaginary world - the world of Quidam - where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul. Music, magic, theater and acrobatics collide during Cirque du Soleil: Quidam as it runs through Sunday, December 18. $81.75, $65.75, $49.75, $33.75; 7:30-10 p.m. DCU CenterArena and Convention Center, 50 Foster St. 508-7556800, dcucenter.com.

WCUW Holiday Party features area legends Chuck & Mud along with Myra Macleod; music, food and good times guaranteed! Party starts at 6 p.m.; music at 7p.m.; $10, free for WCUW members. Not a member? Join them anyway, and while you’re around, sign up to become one. WCUW 91.3

weekly

and a combination of ballet and swing-dance productions. Enjoy seasonal favorites such as “I’ll be Home for Christmas,� “The Prayer,� “My Favorite Things,� and many more! $30, $26; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. 508-752-0888, mechanicshall.org.

Enjoy games, crafts, face painting, refreshments, rafe prizes and more along with the show. Bring a nonperishable food item for the Milford Food Pantry and receive a chance to win a door prize! 2-4 p.m., 7-9 p.m. Milford Performing Arts Center, 150 Main St., Milford. 508-612-2038, milfordpac.org.

Tyra Penn & Her Army of Snakes and Happy Birthday Noel Coward tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. More music can be found at Jillian’s Worcester with Tigerlily as they perform from 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. 315 Grove St. 508-793-0900.

>Saturday 17

STEVEN KING

Music and photography combine during After Hours at Worcester Art Museum with music from Songs for Ceilidh; Opening of Hymn to the Earth and photographs by Ron Rosenstock in a new exhibit. $14, free admission for museum members; 5:30-8 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406.

Dusty Cobb & The Millbury St. Band lay anchor from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at the Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/Kelley Square Yacht Club, 1 Millbury St. 2nd Annual Gingerbread Castle Competition and Holiday Celebration is a sweet competition with local bakers, culinary students, and restaurateurs alike as they compete for the number-one spot. Museum guests will be asked to cast a vote for their favorite gingerbread castle. Classical guitarist, Carl Kamp, will perform holiday favorites while the Master Singers of Worcester stroll the museum a capella caroling. Children will have the opportunity to decorate a delicious gingerbread cookie of their very own. Free with museum admission; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Ave. 508-853-6015. Mrs. Salisbury and her grandson Stephen share stories of how they celebrated the holiday season in the 1800s during Celebrating with the Salisburys at Salisbury Mansion. Children can create their own unique ornaments for Mrs. Salisbury’s tree, which will remain on display for the entire holiday season. Mrs. Salisbury will read a holiday story and Santa will visit. Members: $12, $10 for children; discounted admission for members is $10, $8 for children; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Salisbury Mansion, 40 Highland St. 508-753-8278, worcesterhistory.org.

Black Christmas II bring a dark holiday spirit to The Palladium (upstairs) tonight with Impressions In Flesh, Murdoc, Necronomichrist, A Moment Of Clarity, Composted and Crypter; 6-11 p.m. The Palladium, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696. The magic and meaning of Christmas comes alive with A Classic Irish Christmas starring Andy Cooney. Cooney, star of The Magic of Christmas at Carnegie Hall, has always been a favorite among American and Irish audiences everywhere. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a song directly to the hearts of his audience. Celebrate a classic Irish Christmas; you will truly be entertained. $32.50, $25; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. 508-752-0888, visit mechanicshall.org. Metal Thursday MTCXLVIII celebrates MT Chris’s Birthday with Engorged, Weregild, Alekhine’s Gun and Untombed. 21+; 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, Upstairs, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543, metalthursday.com.

34

FM: Community Radio for a Global Community, 910 Main St., Worcester. 508-753-1012, 508-753-2284, wcuw@wcuw.org, wcuw.org, or ďŹ nd them on Facebook. Adagio Big Band: A Jazzy Snazzy Christmas! at Mechanics Hall presents a fabulous Christmas show featuring a dynamic, contemporary 27-piece big band with strings, vocalists

BĂŞlit is an acoustic quartet that plays rock covers mostly from the ’80s and ’90s; Jesse Garcia and Shawna Shenette open. Hey, it’s free, so what have you got to lose? 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Mahoney’s Pub, 413 Park Ave. 508-277-1073. Through Sunday, December 18, don’t miss The North Pole Express, a delightful musical based upon the “Polar Express.â€?

Precious Furs Pet Resort Boarding, Daycare & Exceptional Grooming ming • Spacious indoor/outdoor runs • Heated ‘outdoor’ runs for small dogs gs • 1, 2 & 3 story cat condos • Veterinarian recommended • National Certified Master Groomerr • Toys, food & supplies

508.987.2927

13 Lovett Road, Oxford, MA 01540

www.preciousfurspetresort.com WORCESTERMAG.COM

• DECEMBER 15, 2011

Two for Christmas features readings of “A Child’s Christmas in Wales� (Dylan Thomas) and “A Christmas Memory� (Truman Capote) by Bill Sigalis and Susan Nest. $10; 2-4 p.m. Calliope Productions Inc, 150 Main St., Boylston. 508-869-6887, calliopeproductions.org. Celebrate the holidays with revelry when you rent a Santa suit and

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picks Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey Tasting. Cabin Fever is an incredibly smooth, 80 proof maple whiskey that has dark rich tones. Chilled ďŹ ltered so it is not too sweet, its taste is a harmony of oak and maple at the fore with hints of caramel and butterscotch. It beneďŹ ts from traditional craftsmanship such as 100 percent Vermont maple, three-year barrel aging and a devotion for extremely high quality. Stop by to taste some for yourself! Free; 4-7 p.m. KJ Baaron’s Fine Wine & Spirits, 220 Summer St. 508-753-3400. The Taubl Family is together again for its 10th Annual Christmas Concert at Mechanics Hall. For many of you, the Taubl family Christmas at the Hall has become a family tradition. You won’t want to miss this year’s event; rumor is this will likely be the last time the entire family will perform together (kids are heading to college and careers of their own.) There will be favorite songs from years past, funny stories and familiar faces. $15; 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. 508-752-0888, mechanicshall.org. Clayton Willoughby’s Holliday Variety Pageant with special guests is on at 9 p.m.-2 a.m. tonight at Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

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adventure to celebrate Christmas and the frosty arrival of Old Man Winter. Works include Shakespeare songs by Thomas Arne, seasonal cantatas by Boismortier and Telemann, noels by Delalande and a rare period arrangement of Vivald’s Winter concerto from the Four Seasons. Suzanne Stumpf, traverse; Sarah Darling and Jesse Irons, violins; Daniel Ryan, cello; Michael Bahmann, harpsichord; and guest soprano Kristen Watson perform. $30 general admission; $25 seniors/students; children 7 to 17 free with adult; 4-6 p.m. First Unitarian Church, 90 Main St. 781-466-6694, oldpostroad.org. Dance, swing and pizza pie bring the crowds to the Holiday Pizza Dance Party with The Love Dogs Band. A great time to get started in Swing dancing. Come with or without a partner; beginner-group swing dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. $15 if purchased in advance through website; $20 at the door; 6:30-10:30 p.m. Leominster Elks Lodge 1237, 134 N. Main St., Leominster. 978-263-7220, dance2swing.com. A Review of “Jesus Christ Superstar� at Nick’s Bar and Restaurant will feature performers Andy Cummings, Aimee Kewely, Emily Waskiwitch, Bobby Gadoury, Brian Dutremble and Geoffrey Watson Oehling. Two show times: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; $8 cover; 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Wondering if you’ve got what it takes to get up on stage this holiday season? Try out the Open Mike with John Riley & Celtic Misfortune tonight, 8 p.m.-midnight, at Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant and give it a go. 19 Temple St. 508-792-3700.

>Monday 19 Violinist Hunter Foote presents a Holiday Concert from 6:30-7:30 p.m., performing his eclectic sampling of music with a holiday-music theme. He will have copies of his holiday-music CD available for purchase. Hunter has been studying violin since the age of 5. Free. Jacob Edwards Library, Reading Room, 236 Main St., Southbridge. 508-764-5426.

Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner welcomes The Bynars, Garage Sale Picasso (EP Release), Maria Monk (EP Release), Wrong Body and Mountain Interval! 9 p.m.-2 a.m., 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543.

>Sunday 18 Worcester’s newest sports team, Worcester Area Roller Derby (WoRD) is kicking off its arrival to the Woo with a holiday craft fair unlike any other. Craftershock features more than 40 funky and alternative vendors featuring handmade goods, vintage items, tasty foods and maybe a few surprises. Shop for the holidays and check out WoRD’s new practice space. 11a.m.-5p.m., 34 Suffolk St. worcesterrollerderby.com. Musicians of the Old Post Road presents: Winter’s Cheer, an events that will transport you on a wintry musical

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>Tuesday 20 Teens Cook: Holiday Treats for Giving. Oh, teens! How you love to bake‌and eat the stuff you make! However, it’s time you learned that when you bake and share what you bake, people love you. Spread the love by preparing some holiday favorites, perfect for gift-giving (you’re short on cash, right?). Culinary Underground will show you some clever ideas for packaging and wrapping your gifts, too. And let’s make a party of it with some munchies and mulled punch, too. You’ll be making two-toned peppermint-bark kaleidoscope cookies. $45; 4:30-6:30 p.m.

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>Thursday 22

>Wednesday 21 The Twangbusters are busting out with their own blend of Boogie, Blues & Hillbilly Bop at Vincent’s Bar with Girl Howdy’s Paula Bradley on piano, ukulele and vocals, the inimitable Dr. Z (Peter Zarkadas) on electric guitar (Sarah Levecque Band), “Wild Bill� Billy Nadeau on drums (Girl Howdy, Alvin Crow) and Brian Rost on doghouse bass (Girl Howdy, Tarbox Ramblers). This is red-hot roots music! No cover; 9 p.m.-midnight. 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439.

Chad Clements makes the BBQ more tasty with some tunes at Smokestack Urban Barbecue from 8-11 p.m. Smokestack Urban Barbecue, 90 Harding St. Flock of Assholes, the ultimate ’80s tribute band with guests Midnight Whistle Exam (some of the Flock members ’70s band) and a special Holiday show. Like last year, expect some great ’80s Christmas songs from the Flock of A-Holes. $5; 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Lucky Dog Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888, ockofassholes.com. Santa visits the Candy Mansion today and tomorrow (Friday). Stop by and get a dose of cheer and a few stocking stuffers. Free; 3-8 p.m. Hebert Candy Mansion, 575 Hartford Tpk., Shrewsbury. 508-845-8051.

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join up for the Santa Pub Crawl tonight. Costumes are optional, yet all are invited! More than 50 Santas are already signed up. Bar 1: Banner, 3-4:15 p.m.; Bar 2: Mai Tai’s, 4:30-5:30 p.m.; Bar 3: Tara Pub, 5:45-6:30 p.m.; Bar 4: Perfect Game, 7-8 p.m.; Bar 5: Blackstone Tap, Bar 6: Jose’s Murphy’s; grand ďŹ nale at Salty Dog for some Santa bull riding. Bring beer money; 3-11 p.m. Learn more when you ďŹ nd them on Facebook.

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Derek Ring’s gallery opening. Submitted by Amy Lynn Chase

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music >Thursday 15 Good Times with Your Friend DJ Steve. Featured in the main bar area every Thursday, DJ Steve, friend to all, spins rock and roll nuggets from the 1950s to an hour ago. He will also rip phone books in half upon advanced request. But please, don’t touch his moustache. 9-2 a.m. Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/ Kelley Square Yacht Club, 1 Millbury St. Black Christmas II Impressions In Flesh Murdoc / Necronomichrist A Moment Of Clarity / Composted / Crypter 6-11 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696. Open Mic Night. 7-11 p.m. Blueplate Lounge, 661 Main St., Holden. 508-829-4566. A Classic Irish Christmas starring Andy Cooney. Andy Cooney with George Casey, Kate Purcell, Darrah Carr Dance, Brian “Bugs” Moran, & the Andy Cooney Band The magic and meaning of Christmas comes alive with Andy Cooney’s “A Classic Irish Christmas”. Andy Cooney, star of The Magic of Christmas at Carnegie Hall, with his outstanding voice and dynamic stage presence has always been a favorite among American and Irish audiences everywhere. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a song directly to the hearts of his audience. Andy is surely one of the greatest singing sensations on the stage today. Andy’s band will feature Mitch Reilly on flute and whistles, percussionist Jimmy Kelly and guitarist Colm Graham. Join Andy and his guests to celebrate A Classic Irish Christmas. You will truly be entertained and your hearts will be filled with gladness and great joy that will be remembered the year round. $32.50/$25.

7:30-9:30 p.m. Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. 508-752-0888 or mechanicshall.org. Irish Music Session. Each week, a traditional Irish music session is held at Mulligan’s Taverne. The public are welcome to join in music, song, and camaraderie. No cover charge, all ages and talent levels welcome. Listeners welcome, too! No Charge.. 7:30-10 p.m. Mulligans Taverne-on-the-Green, 121 West Main St., Westborough. 508-344-4932 or westboroughsession.com. Monica & Chrissy. Monica Hamilton and Chrissy Croteau, acoustic guitar and beautiful vocal harmonies. Pass The Hat. 8-10 p.m. Jak’s Pub, 536 Main St. 508-757-5257. Two Hour Mic Check. 8-10 p.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877. FLOCK OF A-HOLES, the ultimate 80’s tribute band with guests JOSH BRIGGS and more. The Flock hosts their “Awesome 80’s Party” every Thursday $5. 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Lucky Dog Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or flockofassholes.com. Audio Wasabe. Audio Wasabe is professional musicians coming together with a differant musical them each week Free. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-6690122. DJ Brian Spinnin’ & Scratchin’ The Hottest Dance Music. No Cover Charge!. 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Days End Tavern, 287 Main St., Oxford. 508-987-1006. Lisa Marie and All Shook Up!. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Metal Thursday MTCXLVIII!!! MT Chris’s B-Day! w/ Engorged, Weregild, Alekhine’s Gun, & Untombed. Metal Chris’s Birthday Bash! tbd / 21+. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, Upstairs, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543 or metalthursday.com. Jay Graham Live!. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Funky Murphy’s Bar &

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Grill, 305 Shrewsbury St. 508-753-2995. Andy Cummings Live. $3. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Hooligan’s, 29 Blossom St., Fitchburg. 508-272-5092. Holy Cross Night. Holy Cross takes over the Hound ! Draft beer specials every week. 10 p.m.-1:45 a.m. The Grey Hound Pub, 11 Kelley Square. 508-754-6100.

>Friday 16 Fight For Your Life Benefit w/Izzy Dunfore,Conflict Of Interest, Sarge, (Deadset))&Heris E, Melishouz Morbia, Stitchy, Mortal Conquest, Political Animals, Whiteout. The Raven, 258 Pleasant St. 508-304-8133. Weekend is here! “VINYL-ly FRIDAY PARTY”. We have the turntables, YOU LOVE Vinyl! After a long week of work you need to let it go! from 5:30-8:30 YOU bring your vinyl and all of your friends to a FREE party hosted by us AND YOU! We’ll supply free pizza and even give a stamp for you and your party to stay the rest of the night on us! SIGN UP today! space is limited! FREE. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Lucky Dog Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or luckydogmusic.com. Break Thru Music presents ALL IN MERCH SERIES ROUND 2 @ The Palladium (upstairs). Waking Elliot / In The Direction Of The Sun In Armistice / Hurricana / Prom For 8 Heroes By Day / Don’t Look Back Tickets $10 adv., $12 door. 6-11 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696. Live music at the 1790 Tavern. live music most friday nights in the tavern, blues, jazz, contemporary, call for more information. free. 6:30-10 p.m. 1790 Restaurant & Tavern, Tavern room, 206 Turnpike Road, Westborough. 508-366-1707. BBQ & Blues Fridays with Big Jon Short. Come out to enjoy some of the area’s best BBQ and some Delta and Hill Country Blues. bbqstack.com bigjonshort.com no cover. 7-10 p.m. Smokestack Urban Barbecue, 90 Harding St.

Rev. Kerry & the Commandments. Reverend Kerry and the Commandments are a funk and blues unit that is poised to bring the Spirit to the people with some serious syncopation. A life long musician and bluesman, Rev Kerry has prepared the Commandments to bring inspiration and the Good News to any and all listeners. The music is rooted in funk, blues and black gospel and the message is pure light. Free!!!. 7-9:30 p.m. Mill Church Cafe, 45 River St., Millbury. 508-864-5658. WCUW Holiday Party featuring: Chuck & Mud w/ Myra Macleod. 7-10:30 p.m. WCUW 91.3 FM - Worcester’s Community Radio Station, The Front Room, 910 Main St. 508753-2284 Arizona Doug & Scott Marshall - Rock Music. Free admission. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Verona Grille, 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury. 508-853-9091. Bill McCarthy MySpace.com/BadClownProductions, free. 8-11 p.m. Lakeside Bar & Grille, 97 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury. 508-425-3543. Glenn Pettit. Egyptian-Reggae / Delta-Punk Fingerpicker. Original compositions Pass The Hat. 8-10 p.m. Jak’s Pub, 536 Main St. 508-757-5257. Jesse Garcia Live. Blues & rock with an acoustic guitar and harp, opening for Bêlit. Free. 8-9 p.m. Mahoney’s Pub, 413 Park Ave. 508-277-1073. Rod MacDonald. He’s an ingenious songwriter who has recorded nine critically lauded albums over the past 15 years or so. During the ‘80s he was at the forefront of a Greenwich Village music scene known as Fast Folk, which, produced hugely successful artists such as Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega. The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings have made available the entire Fast Folk collection - more than 100 albums - on compact disc. MacDonald is one of the most heavily represented artists on the recordings with 29 songs, some of which have never appeared on

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Upload your listings at our redesigned website worcestermag.com. Click the Night & Day toolbar, then choose Calendar to place your event listing in both our print and online weekly calendar. his albums. His new CD, “Songs Of Freedom”, contains 16 new (mostly) acoustic songs, with a mix of socially prog tunes and some personal things, including one song co-written by his kids 6 & 3, perhaps the youngest published songwriters around. $14 advance; $18 day of show plus ticket fee.. 8-11 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Ballroom, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com. Savoy Brown w/ Kim Simmonds. “Keeping the Blues Rockin’ since 1965” This will be the CD release party for Savoy’s 50th release, “Voodoo Moon”. $22 advance; $26 day of show plus ticket fee.. 8-11 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Sawtelle Room, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or tickets.bullrunrestaurant. com. Chyldz Play, Smear Campaign, My New Disaster and Miranda. $8. 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Lucky Dog Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or facebook.com/chyldzplayrock. Live Music in the Pub: “Songs for Ceilidh”. Songs For Ceilidh was not formed to be a cover band. Their interpretation of traditional Celtic classics owes more to Cape Breton influences then it does to traditional Irish. While respecting the original music, their arrangements reflect a modern sensibility and desire to ‘keep it moving’! Their ever growing body of original works reflects this same balance of tradition and innovation. myspace.com/ songsforceilidh1 or at reverbnation.com/songsforceilidh1 No Cover. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant, 19 Temple St. 508-792-3700 or songsforceilidh.com. Auntie Trainwreck. It’s the holiday season, and what better way to spend the holidays than with your favortie Auntie? Stop in early for a fantastic bite to eat from Squire’s enormous menu featuring Joey’s delicious creations, and then stay to party with your favortie Auntie, Joey, Richie, Joanie, Amy, Erica and the entire Squire’s staff! As always, we’ll be playing great music all night long for your dancing pleasure, including Classic Rock, Blues, New Country, Alt Rock and maybe some songs you haven’t heard from us before! It’s always a great night when Squire’s and Auntie Trainwreck get together, especailly during the Christmas season- be there! 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Squire Whites Pub & Restaurant, 347 Greenwood St. 508-752-7544. DJ Mätthew Griffin presents: Panzerbastard Cd Release Party with For the Worse, Ashers, and The Usual Suspects!. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543. DJ Pete the Polock. Yeh, he’s still here playing whatever he wants. The girls flash him for requests, sit on his lap, and listen to his same old jokes but still love him. He only plays to get out of the house away from his queen. Classic rock to the Blues. Large dance floor to shake it. Come see this Worcester legend. Free. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. 3-G’s Sports Bar, The Music Room, 152 Millbury St. 508-754-3516. DJ Susan Esthera. $5 cover after 9:00 pm. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Mixers Cocktail Lounge, 105 Water St. 508-762-9499. Friday Frenzy With Blurry Nights & DJ Soup - DJ B-LO. Spinning your favorite Dance, Hip Hop and top 40 tracks. Lounge opens at 9:00 pm - Dance Club opens at 10:30 pm. Coat Room available with attendant. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Fusion, 109 Water St. 508-756-2100. Gainsville Road Band. Good ol’ danceable rock n’ roll $5. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Firefly’s Marlborough, 350 East Main St., Marlborough. 508-357-8883 or fireflysbbq.com. Jesse Fontaine quartet. Award winning group performs music from the “Great American Songbook & Beyond” from artist such as Tony Bennett to Billy Joel. 9 p.m.-midnight Pepperoncini’s, 201 East Main St., Milford. 508-478-7377 or jessefontaine.net. Jon Lacouture. Free. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Art’s Diner, West Boylston st. 352-895-8355. Karaoke with Making Memories. Free. 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Days End Tavern, 287 Main St., Oxford. 508-987-1006. Ladies Night - Top 40 Dance Party. Our Top 40 Ladies Night Dance Party returns to Speakers! Ladies (and Gent’s) come in and dance the night away with the hottest DJ in the MetroWest Area DJ Norm!!! FREE. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Speakers Night Club, 19 Weed St., Marlborough. 508-480-8222 or speakersnightclub.net. Live Bands Every Friday and NO COVER CHARGES!.

Every week its another great band and a good excuse to get out of the house FREE!!!!. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Squire Whites Pub & Restaurant, 347 Greenwood St. 508-752-7544 or squirewhites.com. Pete the Polak, DJ. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. 3-G’s Sports Bar, 152 Millbury St. 508-754-3516. Shawna Shenette Live. Acoustic covers from today and the past, opening for Bêlit. Free. 9-10 p.m. Mahoney’s Pub, 413 Park Ave. 508-277-1073. Traditional Irish Music with Madra Rua. 9 p.m.-midnight The Grey Hound Pub, 11 Kelley Square. 508-754-6100. Tyra Penn & Her Army of Snakes! Happy Birthday Noel Coward. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Where’s Tom-Classic Rock from 70’s & 80’s. No Cover. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Gas Light Cafe, 59 Schofield Ave., Dudley. 508-461-9981 or wherestomrocks.com. TigerLILY. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Jillian’s - Worcester, 315 Grove St. 508-793-0900. Bêlit. An acoustic quartet playing rock covers mostly from the 80s & 90s. Jesse Garcia & Shawna Shenette opening. Free. 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Mahoney’s Pub, 413 Park Ave. 508-277-1073. GeorgieD three. George Dellomo Bob Simonelli and Joe D’Angelo present a music program based largely on Mr D’Angelo’s compositions. tips are encouraged. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Sahara Cafe & Restaurant, 143 Highland St. 508-798-2181. Orange Television. 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877.

>Saturday 17 Muckler’s Circle,Slam One Down,Impressions In Flesh,Zombie Fighter. The Raven, 258 Pleasant St. 508304-8133. Dusty Cobb & The Millbury St Band. 9-2 a.m. Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/Kelley Square Yacht Club, 1 Millbury St. Holiday Concert. Please join us as our students and faculty perform a Holiday Concert at the Greendale Mall! Any donations received will go to our scholarship program. We look forward to seeing you there for some fun and festive music! FREE. 1-2:30 p.m. Greendale Mall, 7 Neponset St. 508-635-6900 or worcesteracademyofmusic.com/concerts.html. Music: Nothing but Treble. Listen to the wonderful singing of Nothing but Treble while you view the grounds. Included with Admission. 1-2 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111. Music: Solstice Sackbuts. The Solstice Sackbuts will be performing medieval and Renaissance music, as well as traditional holiday music from around the world and secular pop favorites. The group will take a musical tour through the centuries with interesting anecdotes about the music, the times, and the history of the trombone, ending with some selections you’ll tap your feet to. The members of The Solstice Sackbuts are David Lindsey, Alan Johnson, and Leslie Havens, all of whom perform frequently with numerous chamber ensembles, symphony orchestras, theater orchestras and jazz groups in New England and New York City. Included with Admission. 3-4 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111. Concert: St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble. The St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble was founded as an independent group in 2003 because of the drive of its members to develop a new vocal style and new capabilities in the realization of artistic ideas, as well as expanding the limits of generally accepted perceptions on performing capabilities of singing groups and choirs. Because of the artistic professionalism of its members, it’s now possible for a wide audience to enjoy the compositions that usually require a larger number of performers. The group’s repertoire encompasses various epochs and styles - from ancient Russian chants and chorals of Western European to modern music. Since one of the tasks of the ensemble is the popularization of preeminently Russian music, our program allows to most fully elucidate and introduce to the audience Russian folk songs, secular and ecclesiastic compositions, as well as modern composers and transpositions of popular melodies. The St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble regularly performs internationally and will be giving their second concert at

the Museum of Russian Icons. We are quite pleased to welcome them back. Tickets: $12 members, $15 nonmembers.. 5-6:30 p.m. Museum of Russian Icons, New Lower Level Auditorium, 203 Union St., Clinton. 978-598-5000, ext. 17 or museumofrussianicons.org/ calendar/2011/december/event4.html. Ukon Wacka North American Tour Korpiklaani @ The Palladium (upstairs). Arkona / Polka Dot Cadaver Forged In Flames Tickets $18 adv., $22 door. 6-11 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696. A Christmas Legacy: The Taubl Family. The Taubl Family is together again for its 10th Annual Christmas Concert at Mechanics Hall. For many of you, the Taubl family Christmas at the Hall has become a family holiday tradition. You won’t want to miss this year’s event -- likely the last time the entire family is together for performing! There will be favorite songs from years past, funny storeis and familiar faces. $15. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. 508-752-0888 or mechanicshall.org/tickets/ concertdetail/taubl12172011.html. Fiddlers’ Green, WHCC, AOH / LAOH Christmas Party. This is Fiddlers’ Green Pub’s Annual Christmas Party, and all patrons as well as AOH / LAOH members are welcome. Terry Brennan will be playing in the Hall, and Outrageous Greg will be doing his AWESOME Karaoke show in the Pub. Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite dish or dessert for a Pot Luck Buffet, but this is not required. Just come!!! Chef Mark will have his waitresses serving sample appetizers to the early arrivals. A wonderful opportunity to take a breather from the Holiday hectics. Stop in to meet your friends and fellow members and have a friendly Christmas drink as well as some scrumptious food. Bring your family, your friends, everyone is welcome. Free but please bring something for the pot luck meal.. 7:30-1 p.m. Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre, Both the Pub & the Hall, 19 Temple St. 508-792-3700 or aohworcester.com/index.php?option=com_wra pper&view=wrapper&Itemid=55. Jacqueline Schwab in a Holiday Concert. Jacqueline Schwab plays a holiday concert in Harvard, MA. Christmas Pianissimo, a relaxing, quiet solo piano concert of vintage American holiday music. Jacqueline will perform her arrangements of Appalachian carols, S. Carolina sea island and other African American holiday spirituals, and vintage American holiday standards, along with other festive American heart songs and dance tunes--and a Hanukkah tune or two. The concert is sponsored by the Harvard Friends of the Arts. 7:30-10 p.m. Harvard

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Public Library, Volunteers Hall, 4 Pond Road, Harvard. 978-4564114 or harvardpubliclibrary.org. James Montgomery Band. CD Release Party for James’ new album “From Detroit to the Delta” The James Montgomery Band is currently going through one of it’s best periods ever. In the past two years Steven Tyler, Huey Lewis, Jim Belushi, Honey Boy Edwards, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford from Aerosmith, Jay Geils, Billy Squier, James Cotton, the Uptown Horns, Kim Wilson, Barry Goodreau formerly of Boston, Johnny A, Grace Kelly, Duke Robillard, and Matt Kelly from the Dropkick Murphys are just a few of the artists who have performed on stage with the James Montgomery Band. The band is also ready to release their new CD “From Detroit to the Delta”that features Johnny Winter, James Cotton, the Uptown Horns, Joey and Brad from Aerosmith, and DMC from RunDMC. $15 advance; $19 day of show plus ticket fee.. 8-11 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Sawtelle Room, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com. Live Music with Bill McCarthy. No Cover!. 8-11 p.m. Stake’s Sports Pub, 1281 Pleasant St. 508-755-2925. New Orleans Jazz Rhythm & Blues with Henri Smith & the Workingman’s Band. no cover. 8-11 p.m. Concord’s Colonial Inn, 48 Monument Square, Concord. 978-369-2373. Paul Geremia. Paul Geremia is possibly the greatest living performer of the East Coast and Texas fingerpicking and slide styles. He has been called a national treasure. John Hammond says that he’d drive a thousand miles to see Paul play. “When Paul plays Leadbelly, you can close your eyes and swear that it is Leadbelly himself.” Paul has created a style which is very much his own combining his interpretations of the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Scrapper Blackwell and Blind Blake. His superb recordings have made him a critical favorite and place him firmly among the legends who inspired and influenced him over the past four decades. $15 advance; $19 day of show plus ticket fee.. 8-11 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Ballroom, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or tickets. bullrunrestaurant.com. Windfall Classic Rock. Windfall, authentic 6 piece classic rock band. 8 p.m.-midnight Olde Post Office Pub, 1 Ray St., North Grafton. 508-839-6106. Cougar Bait’s Cougarlicious Christmas. Calling All

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Cougars!! A Cougarlicious Christmas is coming to Beemers Pub in Fitchburg on Dec 17th featuring Fitchburg’s first ever Hottest Cougar Contest, and Music by Worcester Music Award winners Cougar Bait! $$$ hundreds in prizes and give-aways including Gifts certs from Sean Patrick’s, The Cottage of Ayer, Hey Good Lookin Salon, Devens Grill, and a $300 VIP party at Jillian’s of Worcester! It’s being covered by FATV and this is a TOYS for TOTS benefit. Please bring an unwrapped toy for a deserving girl or boy! $5 cover, $3 for women over 35 (Cougars). 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Beemer’s Pub, 114 River St., Fitchburg. 978-798-1567 or cougarbaitmusic. com.

Gov’t Mule tribute GOV’T SURPLUS, Moonstone Lady and LET IT BLEED (the Rolling Stones trib on at 9:00PM!). $8. 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Lucky Dog Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or facebook.com/event. php?eid=137973542970762. Windfall, classic rock. Windfall, an authentic 6 piece classic rock band 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Olde Post Office Pub, 1 Ray St., North Grafton. 508-839-6106.

S E C R OWORCESTER COME TO MAG

Clayton Willoughby’s Holliday Variety Pageant with special guests!. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Cold Train. A tribute to the legends of American Southern Rock Music $7. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Firefly’s Marlborough, 350 East Main

life t h g i n ing |

w e n y a n d i d y | r e ts v e r ws | ar u o y t No

ON TAP!

St., Marlborough. 508-357-8883 or fireflysbbq.com. DJ TONY T. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Mixers Cocktail Lounge, 105 Water St. 508-762-9499. Girl Spot Saturdays. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Club X, 681 Valley St., Providence. myspace.com/girlspotri. Live bands Every Sat. Night Live bands perform every Saturday night. The area’s hottest spot for the best bands. Blues to Rock. $3 after 9:30pm (subject to change). 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Speakers Night Club, 19 Weed St., Marlborough. 508-480-8222. NO ALIBI. BAND $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350. SPINSUITE SATURDAYS - Top 40. your favorite Dance, Mash Ups & Top 40 Tracks. Fusion’s Lounge opens at 9:00 pm and Dance Club opens at 10:30pm. Coat room with attendant available. No Cover Charge. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Fusion, 109 Water St. 508-756-2100. The Bynars, Garage Sale Picasso (EP Release), Maria Monk (EP Release), Wrong Body, and Mountain Interval!. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543. Head First. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Jillian’s - Worcester, 315 Grove St. 508-793-0900. Hip Hop Dance Party with DJ HappyDaze Sat. Nights!. Dance the night away upstairs in the Den with DJ HappyDaze! Playing a great mix of Top 40, Old school and hip hop! 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Days End Tavern, 287 Main St., Oxford. 508-987-1006. SEAN FULLERTON Live Acoustic Blues, Rock & Fingerstyle Guitar!!. Sean Fullerton has been a successful professional musician, singer-songwriter, recording engineer and producer since 1995. Sean’s live shows are fun, exciting, and audience participation is always encouraged. Dinner, Drinks, Music & Fun!!. 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Cigar Masters, 1 Exchange Place.

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>Sunday 18 Live Music Sunday. 4-8 p.m. McBride’s Pub, 161 Wayland Ave., Providence. 401-751-3000. Acoustic Open Mic/WARL Charity Event. Celtic/ Acoustic music and an ongoing charity event for the Worcester Animal Rescue League No Cover. 5-9 p.m. Jak’s Pub, 536 Main St. 508-757-5257. Vincent’s presents: Big Jon Short. Armed with a suitcase kick-drum, National Reso-phonic Guitar and Lowebow cigar-box hillharp, Big Jon Short’s high energy solo performances bring a foot-stomping show that taps into the heart of the songs, regional styles, and folklore of the Blues. bigjonshort.com 5-8 p.m. Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439. Hometown Heroes @ The Palladium (upstairs). Adversaries Anchorlines Capitals Challenges Gone Astray The Homestretch Tickets $10 adv., $12 door. 6-11 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696. A Review of Jesus Christ Superstar!!! Performers: Andy Cummings, Aimee Kewely, Emily Waskiwitch, Bobby Gadoury, Brian Dutremble, and Geoffrey Watson Oehling! 2 Showtimes! 7pm and again at 9pm!. $8 Cover. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Open Mike with John Riley & Celtic Misfortune. 8 p.m.-midnight Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant, 19 Temple St. 508-792-3700 or socialweb.net/Clients/FiddlersGreen. Piano Night Great evening of great music on the piano each week a different artist. Watch Facebook for who’s gonna be here each week.... NO COVER CHARGE. 8-11:30 p.m. Mixers Cocktail

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WORCESTERMAG.COM

• DECEMBER 15, 2011

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION! DECEMBER 31, 2011 2 :00 PM - MIDNIGHT*

Party & Rock on New Year’s Eve with... DAVID FOSTER & THE MOHEGAN SUN ALL-STARS LEGENDARY

BLUES BROTHER -

MATT “GUITAR” MURPHY AND SPECIAL GUEST “BEEHIVE QUEEN”

CHRISTINE OHLMAN

-

OF THE SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE BAND

MUSIC – COMEDY – MAGIC – FIREWORKS!

BUTTONS ON SALE NOW AT CVS, PRICE CHOPPER, BARNES & NOBLE, & ONLINE! Kids 7 & under FREE $10 - December 1-24 $12 - December 25-30 $15 - At the Door *Tickets to 10:00 PM Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts show sold separately. Details online at TheHanoverTheatre.org.

SOME FEATURED PERFORMERS:

Michael Cooper Transformations occur before your eyes, Masked Marvels & Wondertales is a spell-binding show for all ages.

Trent Arteberry An extraordinary mime who deconstructs the physical world and reveals the magic within it.

AudioBody Blue Man Group meets the Smothers Brothers for a fusion of raucous physical comedy and technology.

Presenting sponsors:

DECEMBER 31, 2011

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Complete event details @ www.FirstNightWorcester.org DECEMBER 15, 2011 • WORCESTERMAG.COM

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night day &

Upload your listings at our redesigned website worcestermag.com. Click the Night & Day toolbar, then choose Calendar to place your event listing in both our print and online weekly calendar.

{ listings}

Lounge, 105 Water St. 508-762-9499. Dancing with DJ Cisco. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Mirabar, 35 Richmond St., Providence. 401-331-6761 or mirabar.com/calendar.htm. Irish Session then Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Rí-Rá Irish Pub, 50 Exchange Terr, Providence. 401-272-1953 or rira.com/ providence/live_music.html. Sunday Funday with LoriAnn.. You never know what’s happening here on Sundays. Great special drinks whipped up by LoriAnn are ALWAYS the standard. FREE. 9 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Lucky Dog Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or luckydogmusic. com. Sunday Theme Party 18+. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club Gallery, 150 Point St., Providence. 401-751-7166 or facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Providence-RI/ClubGallery/187471818731?v=wall. DJ WHITE BOI. 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Mixers Cocktail Lounge, 105 Water St. 508-762-9499. REGGAE FUSION SUNDAYS with DJ Nick. Worcester’s longest running REGGAE night hosted by DJ Nick and Guest DJ’s spinning the HOTTTEST Reggae, Hip Hop and Top 40 every Sunday. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Fusion, 109 Water St. 508-756-2100.

>Monday 19 Holiday Concert with Hunter Foote. Violinist Hunter Foote will present holiday tunes on Monday, December 19, 2011 from 6:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. Hunter will be performing his eclectic sampling of music with a holiday music theme. He will have copies of his holiday music CD available for purchase. Hunter has been studying violin since the age of 5. Using his talent and passion for music, Hunter has shared this gift with hundreds of groups and organizations. Some of Hunter’s earliest performances were for local churches, senior centers and charity fundraisers. Hunter has since become a much sought after solo performer at weddings, funerals, private parties, restaurants, and town festivals but he still makes time for lots of volunteering and benefits. Hunter also plays with a trio, The Boys of the Town, performing traditional Irish music. Hunter can be contacted at hunterfoote@charter.net. FREE. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jacob Edwards Library, Reading Room, 236 Main St., Southbridge. 508-764-5426. Driftin’ Sam Politz 7pm, then Karaoke w/Audra 9pm till Close!. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

>Tuesday 20

Open Mic Night w /Bill McCarthy Open Mike!. OPENMCC@VERIZON.NET FREE!. 7-11 p.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350. “Totally Tuesdazed!!!!!” Tunes in the Diner every Tuesday Night!. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543. Big Jon Short. Armed with a suitcase kick-drum, National Reso-phonic Guitar and Lowebow cigar-box hillharp, Big Jon Short’s high energy solo performances bring a foot-stomping show that taps into the heart of the songs, regional styles, and folklore of the Blues. bigjonshort.com no cover. 8-11 p.m. Armsby Abbey, 144 North Main St. 508-795-1012 or armsbyabbey.com/2009/08/ jon-short. Live Music Tuesdays. 8-11 p.m. McBride’s Pub, 161 Wayland Ave., Providence. 401-751-3000. T.J. Peavey. A veteran, accomplished and eclectic singer, songwriter and guitarist. Pass The Hat. 8-10 p.m. Jak’s Pub, 536 Main St. 508-757-5257. Terry Brennan / LIVE. 8 p.m.-midnight Banner Pub, The, 112 Green St. 508-755-0879 or terrybmusic.com. “Bright, The Morning!”. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

>Wednesday 21 Open Mic. The Raven, 258 Pleasant St. 508-304-8133. Shrewsbury High School Womens Choir. No Cost. 3-4

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p.m. Briarwood Continuing Care Retirement Community: Birches Auditorium, 65 Briarwood Circle. briarwoodretirement.com. Girls Night Out. Free Apps,Pool, And Gamecards!!! Free. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Jillian’s - Worcester, 315 Grove St. 508-793-0900. Matt Robert Solo Acoustic. Matt Robert (Hat on, Drinking wine, Home Skillet) performs old-timey, old, and new covers and originals that draw on blues, jazz, folk, and rock, from Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers to The Decemberists, Cake, and Beck. Nu Cafe is a warm, laid-back atmosphere. December shows to benefit the Salvation Army. Donations Suggested. 6-8 p.m. Nu Cafe, 335 Chandler St. 508963-0588. “A NIGHT OF BARNBURNING BLUES” Acoustic Blues Open Mic, Every Wednesday, hosted by Sean Fullerton. Welcome to the brand new Acoustic Blues Open Mic. South Side Grill & Margarita Factory and Plaid Couch Music present “A Night Of Barnburning Blues”, hosted by local musician & Blues fanatic Sean Fullerton, 2010 & 2011 Worcester Music Awards ‘Best Blues’ nominee. EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM 7-10PM!! If you or someone you know sings and plays the Blues, please contact Sean Fullerton at seanfullertonmusic@gmail. com for information and set times. SEE YA ‘ROUND THE CLUBS!! Dinner, Drinks, Music & Fun!!. 7-10 p.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242 West Broadway, Gardner. 508-479-2309 or seanfullertonmusic.net. Open Mic. Acoustic open mic beginning Nov. 2. Sign up at 7:00 pm, Performers start at 7:30. Feature act starts at 8:45, Drop-in performers start again at 9:30. Nice stage and lighting. Good sound system and room acoustics. Select videos will be posted online at http://blbrumby.com. Professional videographer will be on site as well offering nice audio/video packages. 0. 7-11 p.m. Rte 56 Roadside Bar & Grill, 24 Leicester St (Route56), North Oxford. 508-987-8669. Open Mike Wednesday - Hosted by Phil and Trisha Knudsen. Come enjoy the best in local live music. You can come to watch or come to perform and watch. But whatever your choice is come down for dinner and drinks and stay for the music!! Performers sign up after 7pm, bring your appetite and stay the evening. Join the facebook group “Friends of Harvest Cafe Open Mike” for more information. http://facebook.com/home.php#!/ home.php?sk=group_185459018158595 No cover, pass the hat for the hosts. 7-10 p.m. Harvest Café, 40 Washington St., Hudson. 978-567-0948. Vincent’s Presents: Tiki Night with Frank & Eric!. Frank and Eric will help you get over the hump every Wednesday with all of your favorite tropical drinks while soaking in special musical guests and movies. 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439. Wednesday Night Open Mic @ The Hotel Befont With Bill Mccarthy Local Musicians Showcase!. Open Mic Night With Bill Mccarthy Sign-Up In Advance By Emailing Openmcc@Verizon.Net And Visiting Myspace.Com/Openmicworld Free. 8 P.M.-Midnight Belfont Hotel, 11 South Main St., Millbury. 508-917-8128 Or Myspace.Com/Openmicworld. Clayton Willoughby!. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. The Twangbusters - Boogie, Blues & Hillbilly Bop. Bio See More Rooted in the blues with a heapin’ helpin’ of twang, the Twangbusters are busting out with their own blend of boogie, blues & hillbilly bop! With Girl Howdy’s Paula Bradley on piano, ukulele and vocals, the inimitable Dr. Z (Peter Zarkadas) on electric guitar (Sarah Levecque Band), “Wild Bill” Billy Nadeau on drums (Girl Howdy, Alvin Crow) and Brian Rost on doghouse bass (Girl Howdy,Tarbox Ramblers), this is red hot roots music! No Cover. 9 p.m.-midnight Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439. WOO-TOWN Wednesday Free show LIVE BANDS. Live entertainment every Wednesday night. Check luckydogmusic. com for complete lineup. FREE. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Lucky Dog Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or luckydogmusic.com.

art

ARTSWorcester, My Portrait/Myself, Tuesdays, Wednesdays,

• DECEMBER 15, 2011

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, through Jan. 20. Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday - Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Fre. 660 Main St. 508-7555142 or artsworcester.org Assumption College: Emmanuel d’Alzon Library, Christmas Cards by Théodore Jobin, Through Jan. 6, 2012. 500 Salisbury St. 508-767-7272 or assumption.edu/dept/Library. Booklovers’ Gourmet, Nature & Wildlife Photography by Don Gorczynski, Through Dec. 31. Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 55 East Main St., Webster. 508-949-6232 or er3.com/book Clark University: Cohen-Lasry House, Power, Prosperity and Hope in Eastern Congo - ongoing exhibit, Through Jan. 22, 2012. 11 Hawthorne St. clarku.edu/departments/holocaust EcoTarium, Arctic Adventure, Through Dec. 31; Preschool and Toddler Wednesdays, Wednesdays, through Dec. 31. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $12.00 adults; $8.00 for children ages 2-18, college students with IDs & senior citizens. Children under 2 & EcoTarium members free. Additional charges apply for Tree Canopy Walkway, Explorer Express Train, planetarium programs & other special programs. 222 Harrington Way. 508-929-2700 or ecotarium.org. Higgins Armory Museum, WOO Card good at Higgins Armory Museum, Through Dec. 31. Hours: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: General Admission: $10 for Adults, $7 for Children (age 4-16), Children 3 and under are Free. 100 Barber Ave. 508-853-6015 or higgins.org Museum of Russian Icons, Celebrating the Season: Icons of the Nativity, Through Jan. 28, 2012; Sacred Russian Castings, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, through Jan. 7; Museum Family Day, Saturday. Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 11-3 a.m. Tuesday - Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 11-3 a.m. Friday, 9-3 a.m. Saturday. Admission: $5 adults, senior voluntary contribution, student and children fre. 203 Union St., Clinton. 978-598-5000 or 978-598-5005 or museumofrussianicons.org Post Road Art Center, Minature Show 2011, Through Dec. 28. Hours: closed Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday Saturday. 1 Boston Post Road, Marlborough. 508-485-2580 or postroadartcenter.com Salisbury Mansion, Home for the Holidays, Sundays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, through Jan. 1. Hours: closed Sunday - Wednesday, 1-8:30 p.m. Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Friday Saturday. 40 Highland St. 508-753-8278 or worcesterhistory.org Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum, The Wright Brothers and Why They Won the Race to Flight, Sunday. Hours: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. 21 Prichard St., Fitchburg. 978-342-2809 or 978-297-4337 or topfunaviation.com Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Holly Days: Fashioned from Nature, Through Jan. 2, 2012; Holly Days - Create a Winter Craft, Saturdays, through Dec. 17; Guided Garden Tour, Sunday; Music: Joe Blanchard, Original Selections on the Steinway, Sunday; Music: John Leslie & Calliope Productions: A Yuletide Garland, Sunday; Holly Days: Food & Fire, Wednesdays, through Dec. 28; Music: Jonathan Bezdegian: Harpsichord Concert, Wednesday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday Saturday. Admission: $10 Adults, $7 Seniors & $5 Youth, FREE to Members & Children under . 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-8696111 or towerhillbg.org. Worcester Art Museum, After Hours: Music: Songs for Ceilidh; Opening of Hymn to the Earth: Photographs by Ron Rosenstock, Thursday; Art Since the Mid-20th Century, Through Dec. 31, 2012; Holidays at WAM 2011, Through Dec. 31; Wall at WAM: Charline von Heyl, Through Jan. 31, 2012. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Free for members, $14 adults, $12 seniors, free for youth 17 and under. Free for all first Saturdays of each month, 10am-noon. 55 Salisbury St. 508-7994406 or worcesterart.org

Worcester Center for Crafts, 2nd Annual Cup Show & Sale, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, through Jan. 5. Hours: closed Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, closed Saturday. 25 Sagamore Road. 508-753-8183 or worcestercraftcenter.org Worcester Historical Museum, The Cakemaker’s Portrait, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, through March 31; On The Rails, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Dec. 20 - Feb. 14. Hours: closed Sunday Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 30 Elm St. 508-753-8278 or worcesterhistory.org. WPI: George C. Gordon Library, Images of China : Photographs by the WPI Chinese Student Association, Through Dec. 23. 100 Institute Road. wpi.edu.

poetry >Sunday 18 The Poets’ Asylum. The Poets’ Asylum will be celebrating the holiday season this week by helping you hear great poetry and maybe even get a present for that special someone. HA! After our regular poetry open mic we’ll be holding a Yankee Swap Slam . We’ll provide the worst poems we can find (attached to some of the greatest swag ever) and poet’s will battle it out to out perform each other. Bring a friend! The more the merrier. Extra points for festive holiday attire. For more info please visit our website - http:// poetsasylum.org/ . No cover; $3-5 suggested donation.. 7-10 p.m. WCUW 91.3 FM - Worcester’s Community Radio Station, 910 Main St. 508-753-1012.

>Monday 19 Dirty Gerund Poetry & Variety Show. Spoken Word, Poetry, Music, Visual Arts and Ruckus collide to create an innovative, fast paced variety show that ain’t your grandma’s poetry reading. Open Mic, Featured Performers, Live Painting, House Band, Snack Time and Bonus Ruckus Challenges make Monday’s Fun and Inspiring! Hosted by Nicholas Earl Davis and Alex Charalambides. 21 plus. 12/19/11 – MUSICAL GUEST: Peet (peet.bandcamp.com). $2-5 Suggested Donation. 9-11:30 p.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543 or dirtygerund.com.

theater/ comedy

Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Biagio’s Grille Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Saturday, September 18 - Monday, December 31. Dick Doherty’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Biagio’s Grille 257 Park Ave Worcester MA Dick Doherty’s Beantown Comedy Clubs Showtimes: 1st & 3rd THURS 8pm- Fridays 9pm, Saturdays 8pm Reservations Recommended at 800-401-2221 Prices: $20pp except Special Events Drinks and Appetizers available in the show room Full Dinner Available before Show in Restaurant $5off with College ID 2 for 1 Active Military or Veterans $4 off with Dinner Receipt and Reservations. Thursday Dec 15th Sarah Blodgett Hosting Open Mic Pro/Am. Worcester Fri and Sat Dec 16th & 17th Mike Whitman Sean Sullivan and Brian Jones.New Year’s Eve-Special Event!!!! 2 Shows!!!! 7:30pm and 10:15pm Worcester Saturday Dec 31st Show Only-$37 per person includes Champagne Toast, Favors and Handling Buffet Dinner/ Show-$57 per person includes Buffet Dinner, Champagne Toast, Favors, tax, tip and Handling Dinner Starts at 6pm for 1st Show and 9:45pm for 2nd Show Double Headliner Show! Chris Zito Larry Myles Joe Dahlquist and Andy Dawson. Great Food and Fun Make Reservations Early at 800-401-2221. $20 per person except Special Events. 8 p.m.-midnight Biagio’s Grille, Comedy Room, 257 Park Ave. Call 800-401-2221 or visit dickdoherty.com. Frank’s Comedy Safari - Saturdays, Saturday, April 23 Monday, April 23. Show Every Sat Night ...Call 1-800-71-Laugh For Reservations Or Buy Tickets At The Door $20 A Ticket. 8-9:30 P.M. Viva Bene Italian Ristorante, 144 Commercial St. Call 508-799-

Upload your listings at our redesigned website worcestermag.com. Click the Night & Day toolbar, then choose Calendar to place your event listing in both our print and online weekly calendar. 9999 Or Visit Frankscomedysafari@Yahoo.Com. “My Strange Addiction” Casting - Thursday, October 13 - Friday, December 16. My Strange Addiction is searching for men and women with strange addictions, compulsive behaviors, and quirky habits or obsessions, who would like to share their stories on this documentary television series. This program will explore how your addiction developed and how it has been impacting your life. Your addiction may be serious, silly, strange, or embarrassing, but if it’s affecting your life, we’d like to help. All participants will be provided with professional medical and/or psychological insights, as best fits your situation. If you or someone you know has a strange addiction, send your name, age, city/state, and a brief description of your addiction or behavior to chicagocasting20@ gmail.com We understand that any addiction can be difficult to discuss, and we appreciate you sharing your story with us. All inquiries will be kept confidential. We hope to hear from you soon! To Be Determined Call 312-467-8660. Wisecracks Comedy Club @ Jose Murphy’s Saturdays, Saturday, December 3 - Saturday, December 17. Wisecracks is Worcester County’s newest and hottest comedy club franchise - this location is in Jose Murphy’s (2nd floor) every Saturday night. There’s a full bar and food menu in the showroom! During the show, get a pitcher and a large pizza for just $10. You’ll see comics that have been on Comedy Central, HBO and all the late night shows. This location is also 18+ We are expanding to several other venues in central Massachusetts!!! Go to our website for more information. $12 (All Woo card holders and active duty military is 2 for 1). 8-10 p.m. Jose’ Murphy’s, 2nd Floor, 97-103 Water St. Call 508-792-0900 or visit wisecrackscomedyclub.com. A Christmas Carol - Friday, December 16- Sunday, December 18. “God Bless us, everyone!” Continue our family holiday tradition and start getting in the holiday spirit with Troy Siebels’ adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. You know the story, you love the message of Christmas redemption, and the love for mankind that the season brings. Join us for our 4th annual spectacular production of Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL. **Tickets on sale for MEMBERS on June 6, 2011 and for the GENERAL PUBLIC on June 13, 2011.** Full price tickets are $25, $30, $38, and $48, depending on seating location. 10% discount available for gorups of 15 or more and members, $10 discount available for WOO card holders, and half price for kids and students.. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St. Call 877-571-7469 or visit thehanovertheatre.org. Wisecracks Comedy Club @ Halligan’s - Friday, December 16. Wisecracks is Worcester County’s newest and hottest comedy club - we are currently in Halligan’s Sports Bar & More the THIRD Friday of EVERY month. You’ll see comics that have been on Comedy Central, HBO and all the late night shows. We are expanding to several other venues in central Massachusetts!!! Go to our website for more information. $12. 8:30-10:30 p.m. Halligan’s Sports Bar and More, 889 Southbridge St., Auburn. Call 508-832-6793 or visit wisecrackscomedyclub. com. Prospect Hill - Saturday, December 17. Prospect Hill featuring Lansdowne, Testa, Beneath The Sheets, Thurkills Vision, and Novus Dae! After touring relentlessly all over the country and making a name for themselves as on the most explosive live rock bands out, Hard Rock Act Prospect Hill out of Boston MA is gearing up for release of their highly anticipated third album titled “Impact”. Due out Dec 17th 2011, “Impact” was produced by A-List Producer Anthony J Resta at Bopnique out of North Chelmsford, MA. The albums release will be celebrated with an all ages Release Party at the famous Wilbur Theatre in Boston, MA. Expected to be their biggest album to date and with their last “Self Titled” album still charting Billboard in multiple markets they are sure to make an “Impact” on the music scene. Last summer they released their single “Reflections” which turned heads and showed a much more mature writing and musicianship side of the band, and garnered nothing but great reviews. “Reflections” found home on the new album and is expected to be the second single to go to radio as a “Cross Over” song. Their first Rock Radio single off the album is a song titled “Come Alive” and will be released through all major online outlets September 9th. And edgy powerful motivating rock

song packed pull of huge hooks and memorable tones is expected to be picked up by Rock Radio stations all over the country. $22-$50. 6-8 p.m. Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston. Call 800-745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com . Auditions for “Steel Magnolias” - Monday, December 19. Auditions will be held on Monday, December 19th from 6-8pm and will consist of cold readings from the script. Cast is made up of six women between the ages of 18 and 60. Rehearsals will begin January 4th with show dates of March 9, 10, 16,17 &18. For further information please contact Gateway Players at 508-7644531. This show is directed by Lou-Ellen Corkum and produced by Kathi Grenier. 111 Main Street, Southbridge, Massachusetts THE STORY: The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, (“I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years”); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength and love which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad. 6-8:30 p.m. Gateway Players Theatre Arts Barn, 111 Main St., Southbridge. Call 508-764-4531 or visit gatewayplayers.org.

classes/ workshops >Thursday 15 Make a Gingerbead House. Free! Please call to register! Free. 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Guild of St. Agnes, 133 Granite St. 508799-3136. Holiday Baking with Clarke Corporate Chef Regina Dvorak. Give your holiday a dose of sweetness after learning how to bake like a pro. We will prepare a variety of holiday goodies some new, some old-time favorites. You’ll leave with an assortment of treats, which may or may not make it home. Registration required by phone or online. $70 per person. 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Clarke Culinary Center, 393 Fortune Blvd., Milford. 800-842-5275, ext. 206 or clarkeculinarycenter.com. Keepsake Holiday Ornaments from Colored Clay. Make festive, keepsake, holiday ornaments to use and give as gifts, from traditional to original interpretations. This is a great workshop for an individual or a group of friends and family members of all ages. Students will design their own ornaments by hand-building with colored clay and decorating with colorful slips, to make a festive holiday ornament. Ornaments will will be glazed and fired in the Craft Center’s kilns and be available to be picked up by December 13, 2010. No prior clay working experience required. Limited to 10 students. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Student Fee: $39 Materials Fee: $10 (Required). 6:30-9:30 p.m. Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road. 508-7538183 or worcestercraftcenter.org. Learn to Use the Potter’s Wheel. Be sure to check out the coupon discounts available for this course! Have fun, while learning how to use the potter’s wheel to throw pots, bowls, and pitchers. You’ll practice on the wheel, under the instructor’s guidance, and decorate and fire your successful “first works”. Finished works will be available for pickup two weeks after the workshop. Limited to 10 students. Student Fee: $45 Materials Fee: $10 (Required). 6:30-9:30 p.m. Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road. 508-753-8183 or worcestercraftcenter.org.

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>Friday 16 Make a Gingerbread House. Free! Please call to register. Free. 10-11:30 a.m. Worcester Family Partnership, 130 Leeds St. 508-799-3136. Create Holiday Jewelry and Gifts with PMC. Learn basic techniques of working with Precious Metal Clay (PMC) to create amazing holiday themed jewelry for yourself or to give as unique one of a kind gift. PMC is a dynamic, versatile material made up of microscopic grains of fine silver, water, and organic binder. PMC is a pliable material with a consistency similar to modeling clay. Once shaped, textured or molded the PMC is fired in a kiln. The binder and water burn off, sintering the fine silver which results in a solid piece of 999 fine silver! Student Fee: $79. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road. 508-753-8183 or worcestercraftcenter.org. Friday Night Fun with Glassblowing: Holiday Ornaments. Get a taste of the ancient art of glassblowing in this fun one night course. In one evening you will learn about the history and process behind creating beautiful blown glass creations at the New Street Glass Studio. After safety and studio etiquette are discussed, students will watch a brief demonstration of this 2,000 year old art before diving in and making their very own holiday ornament from glass gathered out of a 2,100-degree furnace. No experience necessary. All materials are included. Avoid wearing man made fibers and bring a bottle of water with you to class. All glass classes take place at the Worcester Center for Crafts’ New Street Glass Studio, 35B New Street, Worcester, MA 01605. Student Fee: $80. 6:30-9:30 p.m. New Street Glass Studio, 35B New St. 508-753-8183 or worcestercraftcenter.org Chad Clements at Tavolino Italian Gourmet Westborough. 9 p.m.-midnight Tavolino Italian Gourmet, 33 East Main St., Westborough. 508-366-8600.

>Saturday 17 Biofeedback Day. Booklovers’ Gourmet will host a Biofeedback Day featuring a certified analyst from Bioenergetics & You. Get a scan of the reflex zones of your right palm to reveal your energy flow in 46 different organs & all 7 chakras. Participants will be entered into a drawing to win a 1 hour session. For more information visit energeticprofiling.com $10 plus a non-perishable food donation. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Booklovers’ Gourmet, 55 East Main St., Webster. 508-949-6232. Create a Winter Craft: For All Ages. Join us to create a fun Winter Craft. Drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm. Included with Admission. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111. Twelve Essential Species- Field Trip - Spruce, Fir, and Pine: Evergreen Trees. Last December’s Evergreens class could only briefly mention trees, so let’s explore all those pines, spruces, firs, cedars, junipers, and their kin in more detail. Do you know how to identify your holiday tree or wreath? For more information and to register, call 978.464.2712. Sponsored by Mass Audubon at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary. $9 Adult Members, $13 Adult Non-members.. 1-4 p.m. Mass Audubon: Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Road, Princeton. 978-464-2712. Innis & Gunn Beer Tasting. Innis & Gunn Original beer is brewed in Dunbar, East Lothian before being matured in American white oak Bourbon barrels for 30 days and is then a further 47 days in a marrying tun, and so it is matured for 77 days in total. It is 6.6% alcohol by volume. It is available solely as a bottled beer. Due to similarities in the maturation process it is an excellent complement to most whiskies. According to Innis and Gunn’s website, the process was discovered in an ironic accident: the intent was to create a scotch whisky with ale flavours. To do this, a special beer was created which would then be stored in the whisky barrels. After the beer had conditioned the barrels, it was to be discarded and replaced with the whisky. The brewers noted that the process had an agreeable effect on the beer, and thus aging the beer became an end in itself. Come try some for yourself! Free. 5-7 p.m. KJ Baaron’s Fine Wine & Spirits, 220 Summer St. 508-753-3400.

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>Sunday 18 Buche de Noel Workshop. Chef Liz Della Paolera will show you how to prepare this classic holiday treat. A buche de noel, or Yule log, is simply a rolled genoise cake with filling and frosting, but it is so much more than that! She’ll show you the secrets of decorating your creation with a chestnut puree filling and chocolate buttercream frosting, with sugared cranberries and fondant mushrooms. Each student will take home a buche for presentation. $85 per person. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Culinary Underground School for Home Cooks, 21 Turnpike Road, Southborough. 508-904-6589. “On the Rhythm” with Mike Gregian and Erzulie. Drum with Mike Gregian 12 to 1:30pm Targeted to those interested in learning how to play the doumbek or get better at it! The workshop will be geared toward drummers who would like to play for bellydancers, but dancers who’d like to learn Middle Eastern drum rhythms are also very welcome! Mike Gregian has been a professional Middle Eastern musician for 35 years. He is a master drummer, playing for the legendary Fred Elias Ensemble. The drum segment is open to beginners through advanced and the drum students are welcome to play with Mike for Erzulie’s class. Dance on the Rhythm with Erzulie 1:30 to 3:30pm Erzulie performs her joyful, athletic, nuanced style of belly dance at many favorite Arabic, Turkish and Greek venues, including Byblos, The Red Fez, and the Athenian Corner. She is well-known for her expert zill playing, strong and sexy floorwork, and inspired improvisation to live music. Let Erzulie teach you moves and combinations that work well for specific Middle Eastern rhythms and time signatures, like Malfouf, Masmoudi, Saidi, 9/8 (Karsilama and Rom), Khaleegy, Zar and more! Getting specific rhythm moves into your muscle memory will help you improvise to live music and to feel confident you are dancing “on the rhythm”. It’s a great way to demonstrate you understand the music’s cultural heritage and connect with your musicians and audience! Class notes will be provided. Email dina@thedancinggypsy.com to pre-register, and send your prepay checks to: The Dancing Gypsy, 117 Main Street, Spencer MA 01562 Prepay: $35/ea; $65/both. Dropin: $40/ea; $70/both. noon-3:30 p.m. Dancing Gypsy, 117 Main St., Spencer. 508-8853639 or thedancinggypsy.com/calendar.

>Tuesday 20 Teens Cook: Holiday Treats for Giving. Oh, teens! How you love to bake. And eat the stuff you make. However, it’s time you learned that when you bake and share what you bake, people love you. Spread the love by preparing some holiday favorites, perfect for gift-giving (you’re short on cash, right?). We’ll show you some clever ideas for packaging and wrapping your gifts, too. And let’s make a party of it with some munchies and mulled punch, too. We’re making: Two Toned Peppermint Bark Kaleidoscope Cookies Our Favorite Truffles $45 per person. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Culinary Underground School for Home Cooks, 21 Turnpike Road, Southborough. 508-904-6589.

>Wednesday 21 Yoga by Nature - Fall Session 3, Class 3. Instructor: Lynsey Smith, Fruition, Auburn MA Come experience the practice of Yoga in the gardens at Tower Hill! Yoga by Nature classes place emphasis on the integration of breath and movement in a gentle to moderate flow. Through this practice of bringing awareness to our bodies, we cultivate clarity of mind and inner peace. Each class will be guided to fit individual student’s needs. Member $13, NonMember $15, Per Class. 6-7:15 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111, ext. 124.

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Two minutes with...

Jean-Philippe Viens Jean-Philippe Viens, 26, joined the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam in early 2011. A graduate in kinesiology from the University of Montréal, while at the University Viens, he joined the Verdun Circus School and specialized in Spanish Web, a discipline that showcases body strength and agility. It was during the school’s endof-year presentation in 2009 that the talent scouts from Cirque du Soleil noticed Vien’s performance and invited him to the auditions. About a year later he was asked to join the Spanish Web team on Quidam. Always looking for new challenges, Viens recently got the part of BoumBoum, one of the show’s lead characters. Before his performances in this weekend’s Quidam shows at the DCU center (December 14-18), we took a few minutes of his high-wire time to find out a little more about the show’s key performers.

Where are you from? Montreal, Québec, Canada

How long have you been with the show – and what other performances have you been involved with? I started my training a year ago in Montréal in November 2010, joined the whole crew for the Nashville remount in February 2011, and did my first show in March 2011. Before joining Quidam, I was doing different contracts on my own as an independent artist. Most of them were corporate events such as the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Lifesaving Society or the opening of the Montréal branch of the company Centura. I was also performing in different festivals such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

What sort of background do you have that led you to become involved as a Spanish Web and Skipping Rope acrobat? I have a different background than most artists on the show! Most of them did gymnastics and acrosports. I did 15 years of karate and three years in the Verdun’s circus school in Montréal, where I did two years of general training (acrobatics, juggling, trampoline, aerials, etc.) and one year of specialized training in Spanish web (vertical rope).

How often do you perform? On average, eight times a week

How often does your team practice? Two to four times a week for Spanish Web and one to two times a week for skipping.

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Skill, strength and what else do you need to become a part of a production such as Quidam? PASSION! If you don’t love your job, you won’t survive! What makes Cirque du Soleil so different from traditional circus is the set, the theme, the storyline behind the performance. If you don’t have that passion when you go on stage, there’s no way the public would be able to feel it and be moved by the show.

What role does your part/your group’s part play in the story of Quidam? Each individual has different role in the show no matter which group you’re part of. I’m also performing as the Boum Boum character, which is a great pleasure and honor, not to mention a great challenge.

Do you ever think about the young minds you inspire through your talents each performance? Always! But not only the young and I’d rather say that I want to touch or move them more than inspire them. I don’t like to think of myself as an inspiration to others. I’d rather be inspired by them. The audience is my inspiration. I want to reach out to them and let them live a beautiful moment through my performance and one of my teammates. Without them, we’re nothing, so I don’t think it’d be right to consider myself their inspiration. But of course it’s always flattering when you hear about people whose life has been changed because they saw your show. (Don’t hesitate to write us and tell us your story! It inspires us to be better.)

What advice would you give a young person who might like to pursue a career as a performing acrobat? GO FOR IT! We’re living the dream! And keep in mind that you’re the only one that can limit yourself. If you believe in you goals, you’ll find a way to reach them. But even if you’re following the right way, you’ll never get there if you don’t believe in it. And get as MANY experiences as you can. Everything will help you get to your objective. And those life experiences will take you places you never thought you’d go. If you had told me when I was 16 years old that 10 years later I’d be touring the world on a Cirque du Soleil show, I wouldn’t have believed you!

What do you think it is about these performances that entrance both children and adults alike? Well, is there so much of a difference between an adult and a child? Because if there is, I guess I still haven’t figured out what an adult is! This show is about life in all aspects. And both children and adults live and dream, so both will be able to understand a show that is about that. You might not be influenced and

moved the same way, but I think it’s the best way for adults to remember how they were as kids, and for kids to not forget as they grow up. I have my own storyline that I live every night when I perform but it’s a unique one and each and every one of the performers have their own. Same thing will happen with children and adults that go to see this show. They will all have their different moment where they’re going to relate to us on stage, and that’s what makes it beautiful.

If someone reading this has never been to a cirque show, how would you convince them to go? If I could explain

it in words, there’s no way that this show would’ve lasted 16 years and still be going! You have to see it, or should I say, you have to live it, to understand it. The live music, the lights, the acrobatics, the sadness, the laughter! The only way I could sum it all up would be this: LIFE! So come and live a moment with us!

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