Worcester Magazine August 27 - September 2, 2021 by Worcester Magazine

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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COMES ALIVE IN THIS ISSUE: JOYNERFEST! PAGE 10 HIP-HOP CONGRESS! PAGE 13 BROTHER ALI! PAGE 14 ‘LOVE & HIP HOP’! PAGE 15

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IN THIS ISSUE

Worcester Magazine 100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske Worcester Magazine is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. Legals/Public Notices please call 888-254-3466, email classifieds@gatehousemedia.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 Distribution Worcester Magazine is inserted into the Telegram & Gazette on Thursdays and is also available for free at more than 400 locations in the Worcester area. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law. Subscriptions First class mail, $156 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to GateHouse Media, 100 Front St., Worcester, MA 01608. Advertising To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call (508) 767.9530. Worcester Magazine (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of Gannett. All contents copyright 2021 by Gannett. All rights reserved. Worcester Magazine is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

Featured ..............................................................................4 City Voices ..........................................................................6 Cover Story.......................................................................10 Artist Spotlight................................................................19 Next Draft .........................................................................21 New on DVD .....................................................................25 Adoption Option.............................................................28 Classiﬁ eds ........................................................................29 Games................................................................................30 Last Call .............................................................................31

On the cover Joyner Lucas will headline JoynerFest at the Palladium. ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

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FEATURED

Marc Martel brings the Ultimate Queen Celebration Show to Indian Ranch Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Marc Martel was a singer in a Canadian Christian rock band named downhere when the bassist pointed out something that others had noticed as well: When he sings, Martel’s voice has an uncanny resemblance to the late, great Freddie Mercury of the beloved British rock band, Queen. That’s quite a compliment given that the legendary Mercury (1946-1991) reputedly had a four octave range with a voice described as “escalating within a few bars from a deep, throaty rock-growl to tender, vibrant tenor, then on to a high-pitched, perfect coloratura, pure and crystalline in the upper reaches.” Martel wasn’t really all that familiar with Queen at the time, but “I would learn a lot by listening to the music,” he said. “It is defi nitely the most challenging material that I’ve sung, and I’ve defi nitely become a better singer because of it.” Martel now sings in a diff erent band, Ultimate Queen Celebration Starring Marc Martel, which will revisit Queen classics and deeper cuts (and more) in a show at Indian Ranch in Webster at 1 p.m. Sept. 4. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” “We Are The Champions,” “Another One Bites The Dust,” “Under Pressure,” “Somebody To Love” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” are likely all part of the set list. Queen represented a bit of a shock to rock and pop when it started out in England in the

Marc Martel PHOTO BY CRYSTAL K. MARTEL

1970s with its almost operatic style. Nothing quite like it had been heard before, or has been since. But there is Martel’s voice. The Ultimate Queen Celebration show has great production values and visuals, but the band won’t be dressed up like Queen. “We’re all about the music,” Martel said during a recent telephone interview.

“But at the same time you’re not going to hear anything that’s closer to the music anywhere else.” The makers of the 2018 movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” noticed Martel’s vocal similarities to Mercury as well, bringing on Martel to sing parts at Abbey Road studios in London that tapes of Mercury could not be matched up to.

Martel grew up as a son of a church pastor father and church choir director mother in Montreal. In college he became a member of downhere, as the band was stylized, which had some success and relocated to Nashville — where Martel still lives, now with his, wife, Crystal Martel. In his mid-teens Martel had seen the opening scene of the

movie “Wayne’s World,” which features the Queen masterpiece “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but “I didn’t even realize there was band called Queen,” he said. Indeed, in Montreal, “I didn’t even know anyone who was a professional musician.” In developing his own singing voice, Martel had in mind See MARTEL, Page 8

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Northlands calls it a summer with Lee Brice the ﬁ nal show of the season Aug. 29 Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Northlands will call it a summer when it concludes its season with a performance by country star Lee Brice (joined by brother Lewis Brice) at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 29. This has been the second season of shows at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, New Hampshire, produced by produced by M.E. Productions. Last year, Drive-In Live debuted in Swanzey with people sitting in parking spots for vehicles to watch shows. For 2021, the name changed to Northlands with a new concept of attendees in their own “pods.” The arrangements were in response to the pandemic, with organizers saying the relative proximity of Swanzey to

Lee Brice will perform at Northlands. PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

Worcester (about 47 miles) world drew audiences from the Worcester area. The 2021 season got underway May 14 with the Vermont-based rock/jam

band Twiddle, and artists have included the acoustic duo Smith & Myers, Pink Talking Fish, Indigo Girls and Allman Betts Band. “What a season!,” said Seth McNally, executive director of Northlands, in a statement. “2021 presented a whole new set of challenges with health and safety guidelines changing almost every day but we did what we set out to do at the beginning of the summer: bring folks back to the true concert experience as safely as possible, and a big credit to our entire team for getting that done,” McNally said. Since the start of the season, the venue has been modifi ed to “hybrid”’ seating. Single ticket general admission is available for all shows as well as fi veperson pods for the Lee Brice show. “We’re defi nitely wanting to come

K S N H A AD B IF

sleeves CONSIDER OURS ROLLED UP. countrybank.com MEMBER FDIC | MEMBER DIF

back next summer in some form, but what that looks like is wholly contingent upon where the entertainment industry, and local government, is as far as safety protocols, guidelines and mandates,” said McNally. “Not to mention whether national level artists are able to plan viable tours in time. We are in the business of large gatherings, and it’s complex to say the least. Our two main goals have always been great music and safety.” Lee Brice has had several No. 1 singles including “A Woman Like You,” “Hard to Love” and “I Drive Your Truck.” “One of Them Girls” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in October 2020, becoming Brice’s longest-lasting number one to date. For ore information, tickets, and guidelines, visit www.northlandslive.com.

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CITY VOICES LANDGREN DELTA ... NO, THE OTHER ONE ... RETURNS TO WORCESTER AIRPORT

WORCESTERIA

FIRST PERSON

Writer believes Biden Administration is destroying America Rich Chapel Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

The Biden Administration is destroying America in every respect and, in doing so, is failing the people of this country. Border Security: You’ve opened the gates to a ﬂ ood of illegal entrants with no idea of their background and objectives in coming here. Many are COVID-positive and, when relocated to who-knows-where are threatening to bring the pandemic back in force. Since you invited them and each border crossing breaks existing law, you are an accessory to a Federal crime. Shame on you. A pandemic of confusion:

Myriad messages and no coherence mean complete suspicion of government sources of information. Strikes me this is a deliberate way to stoke chaos and fear, the strategies that won you the White House. Shame on you. Crime: The crime wave sweeping this nation began with the Portland, WA, riots your thugs started and continues with the get-out-of-jail free policies of Democrat Party regimes in all the major American cities. Murders, rapes, beatings in broad daylight and brazen shoplifting go unopposed and unpunished. The emboldened criminal is now in See BIDEN, Page 7

The sculpture “Musician,” by Jose Cirillo Guncay of Worcester, is on display at Art in the Park at Elm Park. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF/VICTOR D. INFANTE

‘Caesar,’ Art in the Park and The Shack Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I’VE COME TO PRAISE ‘CAESAR’: Have to say, The Hanover Theatre Repertory’s production of “Julius Caesar” on the Worcester Common is pretty dang electrifying. Under

the artistic direction of Olivia Scanlon, the edit of the script cuts the production down to just the right size for a contemporary audience watching it at night outdoors in downtown Worcester: It moves fast, is easy to follow and the cast brims with presence and personality. If you were a fan of

the long-lost Shakespeare productions up in Greenhill Park, this is deﬁ nitely a must. The show is running until Aug. 28, and while The Hanover Theatre’s website says every show is “sold out,” I had no trouble getting “reserved seatSee ART, Page 8

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Angry at ‘Leadership’ in Washington Thomas Corrigan Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

To all Veterans and Gold Star families, please know that I feel your pain with the debacle that the current "Leadership" in Washington has perpetrated on the American people with the collapse of Afghanistan. Many years ago, I escorted the body of one of my Army buddies back from Vietnam in a war that would have been won if not for politics. The same is now playing out again with the Commander-in Chief on vacation both physically and mentally and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Milley and Secretary of Defense Austin putting more emphasis on promoting Critical Race Theory than on providing a coherent strategy on protecting our country. We have left billions of dollars in military weaponry that will be used against us and now our open southern border is being infiltrated by some people that will do us harm. November, 2022 can't come soon enough when we can begin getting rid of these "woke" politicians that are bankrupting our country both morally and fiscally. The Biden Administration has got to go! Thomas Corrigan lives in Worcester

POETRY TOWN

‘Turning Point (Elm Park),’ by Robert Eugene Perry Robert Eugene Perry Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

City life, winter – disconnected, disenchanted feeling the walls close in; leaving the three decker behind, trudging through urban slush seeking substantiating solace. Winding down narrow streets, avoiding ice and too close cars, turning the corner: a vision – a park with people laughing and skating like in a Rockwell painting. Spring comes, sound of children at play old man with a fishing pole

next to the iron bridge lovers walk the path and laugh at the future bees and blooms abound. Summer Art in the Park, a joyous cacophony blending seamlessly with jazz music; painted door standing ajar near a tree beckons, a portal to before, behind or beyond. Autumn arrives, the foliage floors me – a heron waits by the water I give up all resistance, and call Worcester my home. Robert Eugene Perry is a poet and author of several books, his most recent collection of poetry, “Surrendering to the Path,” was released by Human Error Publishing in 2020.

“Autumn arrives, the foliage floors me –/a heron waits by the water/I give up all resistance, and/call Worcester my home.” T&G STAFF/VICTOR D. INFANTE

Biden Continued from Page 6

charge and unrestrained. Shame on you. Fair elections: Voter ID is favored by the majority and opposed by you and your Socialist minority with the goal of fi xing elections and putting illegitimate Socialist operatives in local and state offi ce. Shame on you. Economic disaster: Profl igate spending, the “hidden billions” being spent on illegal entrants and rampant infl ation are sowing the seeds of fi scal and personal bankruptcies. You’ve ruined the future of our children and placed their parents on the welfare roles. Of course, this is what you are “purchasing” with your unconscionable government “support” checks. Shame on you. Energy: So now you are begging OPEC for expanded oil pro-

President Joe Biden listens during a virtual meeting from the South Court Auditorium at the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 11 to discuss the importance of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. SUSAN WALSH/AP

duction? This when, last year, America was energy-independent. You are destroying the American fossil fuels industry with nothing to replace it. Green New Deal? It’s a swindle

when you consider the solar and wind sources you favor. They are hardly reliable resources. And what about your electric vehicle plans? Where is the juice coming for that? And

how do you plan to recycle all those batteries? Again, you really have no plan. Shame on you. Foreign policy is a joke: Cubans rise up shouting “Libertad!” and you ignore them and, worse, issue warnings not to try to come to America — even as you roll out the red carpet for illegals from anywhere else. But what should we expect from a Socialist president? Viva Marxism Mr. President. Then there is Iran and its nuclear weapons potential. Your so-called treaty is actually a fi nance program. And what about Afghanistan? You pull out and the Taliban moves in while we lose the air base closest to China. Strategic stupidity. And, speaking of China, they send us a pandemic and you shrug it off while unpreparing us for a future fi ght over Taiwan’s defense. Strategic stupidity. Shame on you. The Biden Plan for America? Get rid of U.S. Shame on you. Chapel lives in Worcester.

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Martel Continued from Page 4

Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. But, “When I listened to Queen I started to develop what I had naturally,” Martel said. He had discovered somebody to love. “The fact that you can ﬁ ll up two whole hours with greatest hits, it’s hard not to love that … It was just a treasure trove of accessible music that’s really hard to play. Second only to the Beatles, in my opinion, in terms of the work they were able to crank out in such a short period of time,” he said. Downhere “worked, we like to say, longer than a band with our level of success should have. We lasted for about 13 years,” Martel said. By 2013 the band been wrapped up. Martel also writes and performs his own music, and has released several Christmas albums and EPs. Meanwhile, in 2011, encouraged and prodded by friends, Martel entered a competition launched by Queen original drummer Roger Taylor to join an oﬃ cial Queen tribute project, the Queen Extravaganza. Martel uploaded a video of himself singing Queen’s “Somebody to Love” and the soaring vocals quickly generated more than one million views on YouTube. Martel not only won a spot as the lead singer on

Art Continued from Page 6D

ing” tickets the same day online, and unclaimed free seats will be released at 7:30 p.m. It’s free, and it’s deﬁ nitely worth the eﬀ ort to see. A WALK IN THE PARK: Art in the Park has returned to Elm Park on Park Avenue with its newest exhibit, “Exhaale!” and as always, it’s a diverse mix of

Queen Extravaganza but also appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Queen Extravaganza made its debut in 2012, ahead of its fi rst tour as guests on “American Idol.” Taylor remarked to the Daily Record: “That voice. You listen, close your eyes and you think it’s Freddie. It’s really uncanny.” Martel has toured with Queen Extravaganza, and, in 2017, he also started The Ultimate Queen Celebration. Both shows have toured all over the world. Besides the classic hits, in the Ultimate Queen Celebration Martel explores another aspect of Mercury that fi ts in with the often operatic nature of Queen. “Near the end of Freddie’s life, he explored other styles of music beyond rock, including opera, so with that in mind, the show also includes a segment of familiar songs in the fl avor of what they might have sounded like had Freddie ever gotten the chance to sing them,” Martel said. “For instance, I perform ‘Ave Maria’ by myself on piano and also the great opera aria ‘Nessun Dorma’ in the style of Freddie, so it gives the night some imaginative elements in the spirit of Queen, rather than strictly the letter of Queen. You could call it a greatest hits show with a twist where I get to explore other things that I wish Freddie could have recorded himself and wonder what could have

If you go:

work that makes for a a h meandering stroll. This year’s mix includes the delightful sculpture “Musician” by Jose Cirillo Guncay of Worcester, and the abstract “Inﬁ nite Possibilities” by Marco Rodrigues of New Jersey, both of which were personal favorites, among many, many more. If you want to know more about the individual works of art, each piece comes with a plate identifying the artist, the piece’s name, the medium and materials, and a

been.” The Academy Award-winning 2018 ﬁ lm “Bohemian Rhapsody” tells the story of Queen and Mercury leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid in 1985. Rami Malek (Oscar for Best Actor) plays Mercury, but as he told The New York Times, “No one wants to hear me sing.” Film producer Graham King said in a Rolling Stone interview that Mercury’s singing vocals came from either Queen master tapes or new recordings by Martel. “Literally, you could close your eyes and it’s Freddie,” King said. “It was an amazing ride to be part of that,” Martel said of the experience. “I got to see how a movie’s made, brush elbows with really talented people, and be part of the whole thing.” It “deﬁ nitely didn’t hurt” his career, either. Particularly as a Queen tribute singer in America. Queen has always been more popular in Great Britain,

Europe and other parts worldwide than in the United States, Martel noted. “England is probably my favorite place to perform Queen. The Brits are mad about Queen, that’s for sure,” he said. “I would say the United States lags behind every other country I have performed in. In the 1970s American music was saturated with many talented acts.” Also, the classical operatic style might not have been to everyone’s taste here. However, the success of the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” might have changed things. “Now it’s funny to see people catching on to this music that’s about 40 years old,” Martel said. “I think the move ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ put the band up front and center. It’s interesting, you can see up front which songs people know.” For the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga,” international audiences will do raised arm handclaps unprompted, but here it is a diﬀ erent story, Martel observed. Still, when the Ultimate Queen Celebration is onstage, “We’re simply being ourselves,” he said. So no one has to copy. “I’ve never donned the yellow jacket (Mercury’s iconic stage costume). That’s a stipulation Roger Taylor had for his band.” Asked if he would have left Nashville were it not for the Queen shows, Martel said, “I don’t think so. I think I would

have stayed in Nashville. I had just got married two years prior. My wife and I really loved Nashville.” Martel mostly recently performed in Massachusetts in 2019 in a Queen celebration with with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood. The pandemic shut down Martel’s touring for a while. “You know what, I got to wake up in my own bed and it was really nice. We were able to make it work with the technology available now, taking some vocal recording jobs. I got to see my wife quite a bit, and work around the house.” But back on the road, “it’s going awesome,” Martel said. “Awesome to see how essential live music is to people. To see the look of elation on their faces conﬁ rms how important art is, live art is. We’re glad to be back on the road.” Regarding how long he can keep performing Queen shows, Martel said, “Time will tell. Right now there doesn’t seem to be any sign of slowing down. The world still seems to have an insatiable appetite for Queen.” On the other hand he does enjoy writing his own material, and he will have more Christmas songs to put out his year, he said. “There’s so many levels of just being thankful that I’ve been able to perform for a living and perform some of the most beloved songs in rock and roll,” Martel said.

number for an audio guide: Call (508) 342-0974, and enter the number of the sculpture, followed by the pound sign. NEW PLACE IN TOWN: My wife and I had the good fortune to stumble onto The Shack on what happened to be its ﬁ rst day open, and we have to say, it was a pleasant lunch. While new restaurants opening in Worcester are barely newsworthy anymore, this one had been watched carefully for two reasons: First oﬀ , its spot at 275

Park Ave. has traded hands a lot. Its most recent incarnation was The Sandwich Hut, and before that, it’s been various sandwich, hot dog, wings and burger joints. The second bit of buzz about the new place was how extensive its menu is, with dishes from Indian, Indo-Chinese, Greek, American and Italian cuisines … so many that it made local foodies a little nervous. After all, how can you do that much in such a small space and get it all right? Well, the ini-

tial foray went well: I had the chicken tikka masala pasta, and my wife had the lamb saag, both of which we wholeheartedly enjoyed. So we can both vouch for Indian, and my Indian-Italian fusion dish worked pretty well. (Of course, you can also get Italian-Indian fusion dishes at Fantastic Pizza, so clearly this is becoming a thing.) All told, not a bad start for a place that’s been awaited with some curiosity.

What: The Ultimate Queen Celebration starring Marc Martel When: 1 p.m. (doors 11:30 a.m.) Sept. 4 Where: Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster How much: $15 to $55.50. www.indianranch.com

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Joyner Lucas headlines Joyner Fest outdoors at the Palladium

Liz Fay Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Worcester’s modern-day musical superstar, Joyner Lucas, is breaking free from the shackles of performer purgatory now that most coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, and he’s bringing an army of local talent along for the ride for his long-awaited Joyner Fest 2021. h During an interview with Worcester Magazine, Lucas described the Sept. 5 festival as “A big family reunion.” When asked how it feels to know Joyner Fest VIP tickets completely sold out in only a couple of hours, the now multi-platinum RIAA-certiﬁ ed titleholder responded with gratitude. “It’s deﬁ nitely a beautiful feeling to know I have so much support, and it means a lot to me,” Lucas said. See LUCAS, Page 11 Joyner Lucas, the last time he performed at the Palladium, in 2017. PHOTO BY MATT WRIGHT

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Joyner Lucas, left, and Mark Wahlberg appear in the music video for “Zim Zimma.” PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

“I personally reached out to a lot of local artists who I know are doing their thing in the city and wanted to try and put them in front of 6,000 people ... So I dedicated a couple hours of my time to have local artists come in, perform, and kill it. I think that’s the most exciting part for me, being able to share my platform with up-and-coming artists from my area, and watch them perform in front of that many people.” Joyner Lucas

Lucas Continued from Page 10

Lucas has had a productive 2021, with a number of successful projects such as “Ramen & OJ,” which are prominent on the inﬂ uential Apple and Spotify playlists, “Rap Life” and “Rap Caviar”; the appearance of his single “Shoot My Shot” on the movie sound-

track, “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” and his recent record, a collaboration with “Zoo York” rapper Lil Tjay, “Dreams Unfold.” Now, two successful album releases and a key to the city later, Lucas is ﬁ nally headlining his ﬁ rst homecoming show since 2017 before roughly 6,000 fans outdoors at the Palladium at 261 Main St. “I personally reached out to a lot of local artists who I know are doing their thing in the city

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Lucas Continued from Page 11

and wanted to try and put them in front of 6,000 people,” Lucas said. “So I dedicated a couple hours of my time to have local artists come in, perform, and kill it. I think that’s the most exciting part for me, being able to share my platform with upand-coming artists from my area, and watch them perform in front of that many people.” Among the mix of opening performances is Worcester’s rising rap and R&B artist Abbie Cotto, alongside his personal DJ, DJ Kid Kash. “I received a call from Joyner, which we usually talk here and there, but this phone call was a little diﬀ erent. He invited me to open up for him at the show and I immediately agreed. Why wouldn’t I?” said Cotto, who opened for Joyner at The Met in Pawtucket in 2017 during Lucas’ “508-507-2209” tour. “It’s obviously going to be a big show and to share the same stage as Joyner and his platform will deﬁ nitely be a really good look for me. But not only that though, I think that him bringing this to Worcester is going to actually get a lot of other states, record labels and artists that don’t really know about Worcester and grab their attention. I think overall, this is a really cool opportunity to really take their craft a lot more seriously and show other people they can do it too, you just have to really work hard for it and be dedicated to the game,” said Cotto. Cotto said he intends to charge up the crowd with a few of what he likes to call “hype songs,” such as his popular party record “Vibez” and “Probably Never Miss,” which also features Boston rapper Millyz, a victory anthem, particularly appropriate for the special occasion. Other acts expected to perform include Lil Skies, Millyz, King OSF, IZO, Gio Dee, Kev

City Councilor Sean Rose presents a custom face mask with the city’s Black Lives Matter mural to rapper Joyner Lucas, a Worcester native, after he received the key to the city from Mayor Joseph Petty at City Hall on Jan. 12. ASHLEY GREEN/T&G

Young, Lou Gonz and TyShawn Dion. According to Lucas’ longtime manager and business partner Dhruv Joshi, “Between (Lucas’s albums) ‘ADHD’ and ‘Evolution’ there has been a lot of music that Joyner put out in 2020, which he’s never performed live. I’m really happy that Joyner is getting the opportunity to perform for his hometown. The last time he toured was the Chris Brown

tour in 2019 and then COVID happened, so this will be his ﬁ rst performance since the whole shutdown, and we’re really excited the ﬁ rst performance gets to be for his hometown” Joshi said. While Lucas’ natural habitat resides in the studio creating new music — or spending oneon-one time with his son — Joshi revealed Lucas fans can look forward to seeing him on tour in 2022.

The Sept. 5 festival will oﬀ er a variety of games, drinks, merchandise, and numerous regional food vendors, as well as the oﬃ cial debut of Lucas’ own “Oh Wow” marinade brand. “We’re excited to host Worcester’s own,” according to John Peters, veteran promoter of The Palladium. “Not many famous artists have come out of Worcester. When you think of hip-hop, you think of New York, West Coast, Atlanta, but

Joyner has really put 508 on the map. He’s got a really good sound and the sky’s the limit for his career. Hopefully this show will be like a big launching pad to other promoters in the country and other agencies to say ‘wow, Joyner Lucas is such a strong act, he can sell a lot of tickets so hopefully this will be a good starting point for when he goes out to tour again nationally. It’s going to be a great day.”

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From left, Worcester Hip Hop Congress Community Committee members Che Anderson, Angel Geronimo, Megan Ross and Cyrus Alexander give a presentation at Creative Hub Worcester. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF/VICTOR D. INFANTE

Worcester Hip Hop Congress eyes archiving, exhibit genre’s local history Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

There are few gatherings I dread more than an academic soiree. They’re usually marked by tedious conversation which often gets tinged with a touch of classism when the person you’re speaking to learns you’re not actually in academia. There is also usually bland music and blander food. All told, I’d usually rather be at a Zoning Board meeting. Mind, the Worcester Hip Hop Congress, despite its College of the Holy

Cross connections, is hardly a typical academically oriented nonprofi t, and its mixer Thursday at Creative Hub Worcester on Main Street to kick off the launch of its new “Living Local Worcester Hip Hop Archive” was anything but sedate. Featuring DJ Kid Kash spinning tunes and boasting a veritable who’swho of longtime veterans of the Worcester hip-hop scene in the crowd, the event was a pleasant little party, and as board member Che Anderson and Community Committee Chair Prof. Megan Ross of Holy Cross made clear, the young nonprofi t had a lot to cele-

brate. First oﬀ was the launch of the “Living Local Digital Archive” of articles about the Worcester hip-hop scene (which, in the interest of disclosure, I wrote a seemingly outrageous number of, in addition to a large number of articles by other writers that appeared in Worcester Magazine and the Telegram & Gazette.) The list, overseen by Holy Cross student Martell Audate, is still growing, but it’s a fascinating deep-dive into the local hip-hop culture, as seen through the lens of media. The other big thing on the horizon for

the nonproﬁ t is the upcoming exhibit on Worcester’s hip-hop scene through the ages, which is set to run the entire month of October at the Aurora Gallery on Main Street, and is overseen by veteran Worcester musician Kaz Supernova, who is the Hip Hop Congress’ head curator. Kaz has been hard at work for the past few years on a documentary about the earliest days of the Worcester hip-hop scene called, “Wortown Rising,” which is expected to be ﬁ nished later this year. Having worked extenSee CONGRESS, Page 17

14 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Underground Hip-hop icon Brother Ali set for performance at Electric Haze Robert Duguay Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Mental health is a very serious thing that all of us deal with in some way. Depression can be a daily battle, while paranoia, schizophrenia and other ailments can destroy someone’s life to the point that suicidal thoughts begin to emerge. To raise awareness of this and to shed the stigma, the Tour For Life is underway with underground hip-hop icons Akrobatik and Brother Ali as the headliners. All of the proceeds will be going to benefi t Mental Health Connecticut, and the tour will be making a stop at Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St., Worcester on Aug. 27. With the doors opening at 5 p.m., a stacked bill featuring Jesse The Tree, Ms. Laura Michelle, Mic Savvy, Woocity Pat and many others will be taking the stage. Originally based in Minneapolis, Ali recently moved to the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul out of love for the country and the city’s Islamic culture. As with any person moving to a completely different place than where they grew up, learning the local language is very important and can be a struggle at times.. “The language barrier is pretty serious because most Turks only speak Turkish,” he says. “With most Muslim countries, you can get around with English and Arabic. I obviously speak English and I know enough Arabic to communicate with people, but in Turkey they speak Turkish and that’s it. It’s also not an easy language to learn, a lot of it is from Arabic and they have a lot of words in common, but I’ve learned the basic phrases so I can go to a store, I can take a cab and I can do those kinds of things but, man, it’s not easy. That’s the part that’s the most diffi cult and honestly just moving to another country is just really hard, it’s really diffi cult to do and it’s no joke. “The culture of Turkey actually makes a lot of sense to me,” Ali says. “It’s very Islamic and there’s diff erent kinds of visions and versions of it but this is the land where they ruled with the type of Islam that I believe in and my family

Brother Ali will perform Aug. 27 at Electric Haze. PHOTO/COLLEEN EVERSMAN

practices. It’s really just more of coming to another place where they have totally diﬀ erent ways of doing things so the expectations have to be diﬀ erent. I’m disabled, I’m almost fully blind, so for me my main advantage and the main tool that I have is my gift of gab. I can talk my way in and out of everything I need to,

I’m really good at it but I don’t have my superpower here.” Ali got involved with the Tour For Life due to his family’s history of mental illness and his wife being a therapist. While he thinks the stigma has withered away over the past 20 years, he also thinks that people are getting their in-

formation from the wrong sources and they’re trusting unqualiﬁ ed people. “I got involved with this because they reached out to us, they asked me and invited me,” he said. “I was really happy that they did it. Suicide is part of my See ALI, Page 16

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | 15

Spinstatz Showcase’s ‘Love & Hip-Hop’ edition oﬀ ers boost to local artists Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

The Heavy Weight DJ Rasheed will be one of three judges on the panel evaluated the competitors at Spinstatz showcase. BUDDHA BEATS ENT.

Breaking into the music industry has always been tough. With the advent of social media and music sharing, the game has changed — artists have more of a chance to stand out on their own, but they’re also having to compete with a rapidly expanding ﬁ eld.

Music industry leaders are looking for new ways to identify the next big thing among each new wave of aspirants in the sea of YouTube videos, SoundCloud pages and Twitter posts. In the age of social media where anyone can have a voice, getting one’s name out there has ironically never been harder. The Spinstatz Showcase Tour will be giving 20 hip-hop

aspirants a leg up in this environment with that most valuable of currency — exposure. Spinstatz will be making its next stop in Worcester, as the ‘Love & Hip Hop Edition,” on Aug. 29. Rich Dollaz of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop” and Big Regg from Connecticut’s Hot 93.7FM will be hosting the showcase, See ARTISTS, Page 16

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Worcester native Abbie Cotto will be performing at Electric Haze alongside JunyaBoy and Breeze Dollaz. ABBIE COTTO

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16 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Ali Continued from Page 14

family, with both my father and my grandfather dying from it along with other relatives. My wife is a therapist so she deals a lot with suicidality in her patients and things like that. Overall, I think in some ways we’re moving forward as a culture in terms of opening up to the idea of therapy. In the modern world, we’ve lost so much of what pre-modern people had. “Pre-modern people had spiritual and wisdom traditions that they all shared,” Ali adds. “They had a village life or a small community life where they shared common beliefs and understandings about what it means to be human and how to live life. Their lives weren’t so secret and the things that happened to them were

more natural. It’s not that they didn’t have trauma and things like that, but a lot of the trauma people experience now is because of modern life. Look at how disconnected we are because of how individualistic we are and the strained situations that arise from people living really far from natural life. With therapy, there were healers and there were people that have worked with others during their diﬃ culties and their challenges.” Because a lot of people get their information from the internet and social media, Ali believes that there’s a big gap in knowledge when it comes to mental health. People will use only a little bit of knowledge on a subject to make a diagnosis that can be damaging in a lot of ways. “Therapy has been a way of us trying to correct all of the really strange things that are happening in the way that we

live life,” he says. “It’s become really important and the fact that more and more people are opening up to it, the stigma seems to be dying away. Another ﬂ ipside of that coin is that a lot of people are learning about everything from the internet and social media, so they get introduced to the language of things but they don’t go deep into it. There are a lot of people posing as experts and I think it’s really important for people to get with licensed therapists. When somebody doesn’t actually go through the training, they don’t have the oversight of a community, there’s no licensing process, there’s no accountability and they deal with something they haven’t done before without going to their mentors they’re just getting a little bit of knowledge. They’ll diagnose someone as a narcissist and having only a little bit of knowledge of that can be dangerous.”

Artists Continued from Page 15

which is produced by Buddha Beats Ent. Music and Island Def Jam Recordings. The artists will be performing before a panel of judges made up of the two hosts and The HeavyWeight DJ Rasheed of “The Rasheed Report,” which airs Saturdays on Unity Radio. “We’re looking for originality, charisma and someone who really knows their craft,” said Rasheed, who is also the tour promoter. However, artists need more than raw talent to make it in the industry, and will be evaluated on their stage presence, style and even how they hold their own in an interview. The judges will be looking for the whole package to see if an artist has what it takes to be the next big thing, said Rasheed. He admits the showcase will ask a lot of performers, but

JunyaBoy of Island Music Group and DefJam Recordings will be performing at the Showcase. He is also on track to release a single in collaboration with Mary J. Blige ISLAND MUSIC GROUP AND DEFJAM RECORDINGS

so will the industry if they’re successful. “This business is very hard,” he said, “It’s stressful and you have to be ready for it. A lot of people say they’re ready but can’t take it to the next level.” The ﬁ rst place winner will receive a rare boost to that coveted next level. “We’re actually giving you a chance to be on a

major record label,” said Rasheed. The ﬁ rst place prize is a single digital distribution deal with Buddha Beats Ent. Music/ Island Def Jam as well as a promotion and marketing campaign. After the private showcase performance from 2 to 6 p.m. hosted at Unity Radio studios, the winner and two runners-up will be announced at

On Aug. 17, Brother Ali released a collection of one-minute freestyles titled “Brother Minutester Vol 1.,” which was put out as a limited amount of vinyl. He produced it himself and it exhibits a new way of songwriting and rhyming for him in an organic way. “ I didn’t write them, I just made a beat and as the words came to me I’d spit them, record them and when they get to a minute, I’d drop out,” he says. “I haven’t done them in a while but when I was active with them people really loved them. When I was doing ‘Secrets & Escapes,’ this was born out of that process and I didn’t write that album down. I normally obsess over the lyrics of songs so I put out a collection of those and I only put out 300 copies of them of really beautiful vinyl and they already sold out but they’ll be on streaming services after the show in Worcester. Anyone will be able to hear

them and they’re all a minute long because I made the tracks through Instagram so you can basically listen to the whole album in 15 minutes. “It’s hilarious but it’s also crazy because I really love these songs and I put them all together,” Ali adds. “For me, the process was really liberating because I’m usually a person that’s known for being a lyricist, which is something you want to get in hip-hop. Being this far into the game and discovering a whole new way to write songs, like writing on the mic, has really opened up a lot of things. I also have a new album of entirely new music coming out soon as well, I’ve been putting the ﬁ nishing touches on it.” For more info on Brother Ali, visit brotherali.com. For access to Mental Health Connecticut’s mission, visit mhconn.org. For ticket prices and everything else, visit thehaze.com.

the after-party taking place at Electric Haze at 8 p.m. However, the other 17 artists have the opportunity to move their own musical careers forward dramatically just by participating. “Networking is the real prize,” said Manny Alvarado of Worcester’s Unity Radio. All registered artists will have interviews on “The Rasheed Report,” “Flows From the Gutter TV/Radio,” and “Blaze the Mic New York.” Additionally, their music will be featured on the radio rotation for four to six weeks on The New MixTapefm Hot965. “Even if not in the top three, artists will get exposure — that’s the bottom line,” said Rasheed. Even the interview can be used for their resume, he said, as an essential tool in their electronic press kit, or EPK. “They can point to [the interview] showing where they performed, who they were evaluated by, and when,” said Rasheed. The aspiring hip-hop stars

won’t be the only ones performing. The after-party at Electric Haze will feature performances by artists including Breeze Dollaz, who has just released several projects, and JunyaBoy, who is about to release a single with Mary J. Blige, along with Worcester’s own Abbie Cotto. For the younger artists, this could be the boost that solidifi es their future, said Alvarado. “We don’t want to lose more young people to the street,” he said. A great deal of hip-hop culture is about artists drawing from experiences on the street, creating the art that might afford them the means to get off the streets, he explained. “Music is a way out.” The after-party at Electric Haze (26 Millbury St., Worcester) will kick off at 8 p.m. and continue until 1:30 a.m. The event is 21+ and general admission is $15. Attendees can also pay on CashApp with the code $lezgo17. For more information, go to the website at http:// www.thehaze.com/electric.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | 17

Congress Continued from Page 13

sively with him on a forthcoming WoMag article, I can vouch that Kaz is a veritable fountain of hip-hop knowledge, from its earliest days to its current happenings, so his involvement is an exciting prospect. Lastly, Ross and Anderson also announced the formalization of a relationship between the Hip Hop Congress and The Universal Hip Hop Museum in New York City, with museum curator Martha Diaz joining the Hip Hop Congress’ committee. Other members of the community include community liaison Manny Guerra, event coordinator Angel “DOS” Geronimo, Trevis “Maz Wun” Forbes, Cyrus “the Great” Alexander, Kristian “Nu Element” Rodriguez, Tim “Blaze the Bastard” Diaz and volunteer

Shardai Clarke. If you think it’s an eccentric confl uence of the academic, nonprofi t and hip-hop worlds, you’re not wrong, but perhaps it’s the sheer unusualness of the combination that makes the Congress’ work so interesting, and its enthusiasm seem so genuine. The last presentation of the night was a short video of a hip-hop dance presentation led by Geronimo in front of a WooSox crowd at Polar Park, and while it was impossible to really gauge the audience’s reaction from the video, it somehow seemed natural to have those dancers at a baseball game, that they were very much accepted as part of the community. That’s a far cry from where hip-hop was in Worcester in the ‘80s, and it’s going to be fascinating as fi lms, exhibits and articles in the near future begin to unpack how we got from that place to here.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Amber Tortorelli Amber Tortorelli Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

“The Hanged Man,” Photography by Jereme Lawrence, photo editing by Amber Tortorelli COURTESY ARTSWORCESTER

Constantly risking absurdity, as American poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti put it, is a great way to describe the Clown Princess of Worcester, Amber Tortorelli. Although her primary focus is in the visual arts, this jester is a far cry from a one-trick pony. She is also a musician, poet, photographer, fi lmmaker/ videographer, theatre director and model. Tortorelli never does anything by half-measures. Among her numerous paintings and sculptures some of her current projects include the release of her next book of poetry titled “Cigarettes and Suff ragettes,” fi lming a stopmotion short feature, writing scripts for her theatre troupe, “Drunk in a Toy Store and Out of Tampons with Aarne, Thompson and Kurt Cobain,” and the release of her band Sapling’s latest album, “The Apocalypse Musical.” “My intentions,” says Tortorelli, “are to create art that focuses on truth rather than what is perceived as conventionally beautiful. I strive to make visually and conceptually chal-

lenging socially-conscious art. My nature challenges convention. I set it on ﬁ re, hex it, drag it through the mud, defenestrate it, and cut oﬀ its head.” The piece show here, “The Hanged Man,” is part of an ongoing tarot project. Not only is Tortorelli creating a traditional tarot deck, she is also creating La Vera Sibilla, an Italian form of cartomancy using her custom designs for playing cards. “My focus is on bringing together elements of both contemporary and classic tarot designs, industrialism and feminism. Being the subject for the trumps has allowed me to form a deep personal connection with each card. As a long time cartomancer, my goal was to bring the intuitive meanings out of each card from within myself.” This Artist Spotlight is presented by Worcester Magazine in partnership with ArtsWorcester. Since 1979, ArtsWorcester has exhibited and advanced the work of this region’s contemporary artists. Its exhibitions and educational events are open and free to all. Learn more at www.artsworcester.org.

20 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CITY LIVING TABLE HOPPIN’

Red Baron Diner in Southbridge weathers pandemic turbulence Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

James Dhembe of the Red Baron Diner at Southbridge Municipal Airport is among small business owners who have shown the meaning of perseverance in the face of obstacles. Dhembe of Southbridge and a former partner opened the diner in 2017. At the time, Dhembe also owned Jimmy D’s in Sturbridge, a shop that sold sandwiches, soups, salads and ice cream. He has since closed the Sturbridge business and currently is sole owner and operator of the Red Baron Diner. The business has weathered ups and downs, according to Dhembe, who closed the diner a week after its 2019 spring reopening due to COVID-19. “The diner usually shuts down in December, reopening early spring,” said Dhembe. “Thankfully, we’re back on some kind of schedule. It’s a daily struggle trying to get help, but we’ve managed to stay open so far. I hope fall brings better days for all of us, but I think it’s uncertain what will happen.” The diner, located at 220 Airport Access Road, currently is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, with breakfast until 11 a.m.; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with breakfast until 11 a.m.; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with all-day breakfast. Closed Monday. Telephone is (508) 765-5800 for takeout;

Jim Dhembe, owner of the Red Baron Diner at the Southbridge Airport. ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

connect on Facebook for daily specials. Note: Ice cream is available from 2 to 8 p.m. daily. Any change in hours will be

posted on Facebook, according to the owner. Dhembe said the diner’s cook is a longtime friend who

has owned a restaurant and been in the business for more than 30 years. He’s a retiree who enjoys being in the kitchen

for several months and heading back to Florida when the diner See HOPPIN’, Page 24

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | 21

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Bull Spit Brewing Co. CEO Keith Kopley reviews plans for his new brewery at 4 Summer Drive in Winchendon. The brewery will open sometime next summer. PHOTO BY MATTHEW TOTA

Bull Spit Brewing Co. ﬁ nds warm reception in Winchendon Matthew Tota Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

WINCHENDON – Several times a month, Keith Kopley drives his pick-up truck about 30 miles northwest, away from a town that balked at his brewery to one that embraced it. Kopley relishes the trip to downtown Winchendon from Bull Spit Brewing Co.’s Bridge Road brewery in Lancaster, even if his destination at 4

Summer Drive resembles one of the many decrepit buildings in Chernobyl. The rundown foundry on the edge of Whitney and Tannery ponds once housed Goodspeed Machine Co., which made woodworking machines. Surrounded by overgrown grass and weeds, the brick building looks awful today. Soon though, it will hold Bull Spit’s new 15-barrel brewery See DRAFT, Page 23

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22 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

LISTEN UP

Fiske delivers beautiful new album, ‘We’re Already Gone’

CONNELL SANDERS

Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

There’s really no way to prepare one’s self for how achingly beautiful and melancholy Jared Fiske’s new album, “We’re Already Gone,” is. It’s evident from the delicate, electrifying rainfall of notes that open the album, and in the wistful, contemplative tone with which the vocals begin. Fiske, a Sturbridge musician who will be performing at 9 p.m. Aug. 27 at Vincent’s in Worcester — is a talented musician, certainly, but here he cuts extremely close to the bone, and makes the listener feel every inch of pain. The album opens with the title track, wherein the album’s persona looks around and sees loneliness radiating from all directions. “All the errant ones,” sings Fiske, “going home to get their dinner while it’s warm/ and all the feral ones/ﬁ ll their sails and set a course for parts unknown.” Everyone else has places to be, and everyone is hiding. “We’re already gone,” sings Fiske, “before the wind can touch us where we’re sore/we’re already gone/hiding from the tender things we want.” What’s interesting is that Fiske’s persona sings this song with a certain amount of reservation, as though he knows something he doesn’t want the listener to have to know, too, the burden of that knowledge being too heavy. It’s a ﬂ eeting thought, but it rolls into the subsequent song, “I Can’t Seem to Let It Go,” a beautifully wrought song about surrendering to the world. In both songs, the persona is static, observing the world around him. The melody and the tone do all the emotional lifting, but that’s enough: The storm clouds behind each lyric are self-evident. By the time we get to the next song, “It Don’t Change a Thing,” the root of the melancholy is made plain, as the persona ponders an unexpected phone call from an ex-lover. “I’m glad that you called,” he sings, “That you gave me a ring/I’m glad that you’re learnin’/it don’t change a thing.” Later, in the same song, he sings, “All those years diggin’ and panning for gold/I learned my lesson a thousand times o’er/and I’ll count the ways you broadened my mind/that river of pain/showed me to be kind.” In a lot of ways, this is an extremely mature album, one from the perspective of someone who has already learned the lessons of heartbreak, and isn’t looking to repeat them. It still hurts, though. That much is obvious. When, in “The Frog King,” Fiske indulges in a heavier guitar tone and more urgent vocal stylings, it’s clear that we’re being given a window into the root of the melancholy, singing, “You were drawn to me,/ cause you’re drawn to pain,/so I indulged you with a sad story./You heard it, and left me with/these cold

The Airstream includes luxury linens and robes and a queen-sized bed. SUBMITTED PHOTO

“We’re Already Gone,” by Jared Fiske PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

and empty sheets.” By giving us the narrative out of order, Fiske allows the listener to empathize, with both the persona and the persona’s former lover. We are, after all, all surrounded by loneliness, and sometimes that can be unbearable. It doesn’t always bring out the best in us. When we move on to the gorgeous “Looking Out Through Someone’s Eyes,” it’s clear that the persona has changed, but that the person he was is still a part of him. “Say hello to/all of the things you used to cling to,” sings Fiske, “sewed inside, looking out through someone’s eyes.” The album hits an emotional climax with ‘If My Blessings Can’t Wait,” a song which shifts to a tone that’s still reﬂ ective, but one which conveys more of a sense of acceptance. “If my blessings can’t wait,” sings Fiske, “we’ll throw a parade/and I’ll dance with misfortune instead.” The persona has moved on, at least as much as he can, even as — he sang in the second song — he can’t seem to let go. Not entirely. That’s evident in the album’s closer, “Ghosts.” It’s a haunting song, one which allows the shadows that have been held at bay throughout the album to encroach. “We’re harboring all the ghosts of the oceans,” sings Fiske, “We’re justifying a beautiful lie/with a cross-continental rope of sheets/tearing at the seams.” Just because you’ve moved on, doesn’t mean the pain goes away, and Fiske captures this emotional tightrope with a sort of alacrity that’s beautiful to behold.

Cape Cod glamping for the Instagram opp Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I love my husband, but when I found out he had never even seen the 2015 Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss Vogue cover, I was horriﬁ ed. “You know — Kaylor?” I asked, dumbfounded. “I do not,” he insisted. “Their Airstream trip in Big Sur?” I pressed. “I got nothing,” he said. “That’s why we’re here,” I told him, gesturing to the Airstream Trailer I had booked for us months ago. “Sorry, I thought we were here so you could write about dog-friendly travel on the Cape,” he shrugged. I rolled my eyes and threw open the door to our silver Twinkie. It was impressive. An airy sitting room had been outﬁ tted with mid-century modern furniture and contemporary art. The bathroom included a walk-in rain shower and a spacious vanity along with luxury linens and robes. Our queen-sized bed awaited us below a panoramic window that looked out on the Shining Sea Bikeway. I laughed at the copy of “How to Stay Alive in the Woods” propped up on the marble counter of the kitchenette. This was See GLAMPING, Page 23

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | 23

Glamping

stream photoshoot, but they certainly planned on squeezing in a few good Instagram shots during their stay.

We spent our days hiking to the Knob in Woods Hole and drinking beers on boat docks. We even took a day trip to

Martha’s Vineyard with the dog. Each evening, we returned home to our cozy camper, complete with air conditioning and cable television. We both agreed we much preferred our Airstream to a hotel. The Kaylor photo shoot, on the other hand, was a total disaster. “OK, I’m Taylor and you’re Karlie,” I told my husband. “But then, who’s going to take the picture?” he asked. It was a fair question. “You’re right, the dog will have to play Karlie,” I said. Sometimes you’ve just got to make an executive decision. Our golden retriever gave me sideeye the whole time. At one point, I put it all out there on the table. “Look, I know Karlie married a Kushner, but 2015 was a simpler time,” I pleaded, “Please, just keep it together.” ‘What a Karlie!’ I thought to myself. Were it not for the Four Seasons prices, I would consider coming back every year or visiting one of Autocamp’s other locations in Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Zion, and the Catskills. You can learn more about their special oﬀ ers on their website, autocamp.com/cape-cod. Sardine living never looked so good.

pouring license and food permit. “We’ve been shut down for pouring for 10 months,” Kopley said last week, standing outside Bull Spit’s future home in Winchendon. “We had an approved site plan in October of last year, a month later they rescinded it, and we’re still asking why. I don’t see much light at the end of the tunnel for that location.” Bull Spit can still brew in Lancaster, and so with its taproom closed, it has ratcheted up distribution: It will brew around 1,000 barrels this year, up from 300 last year. “We have a good retail presence in Lancaster, but after we started distributing, we’re fi lling new orders every week. Selling to the chain supermarkets like Whole Foods and Hannaford has helped. Our beer can be found from Provincetown to Stockbridge.” But Kopley wants to hold off selling the more than 50 acres he owns in Lancaster until he fi nds a new location for Kalon Farm’s store. “We get questions about Lancaster all the time,” he said. “At some point the highest and best use there is probably a 40B development. Not every community wants a brewery.”

Winchendon is not one of those communities. The town has more than welcomed Bull Spit, going as far as using state grants to help clean up the Summer Drive site — such as removing asbestos from the foundry’s roof — so Kopley doesn’t have to foot the bill. And though still months away from even breaking ground on the new brewery, Bull Spit been able to introduce itself to residents through its large downtown brew yard. To Town Manager Justin Sultzbach, Bull Spit will play a crucial part in Winchendon’s plans to revitalize the downtown. “We are actively trying to stage a comeback in Winchendon and bring downtown back to life,” Sultzbach told me. “A big piece of that is the work the folks at Bull Spit are doing at 4 Summer Drive.” Like so many other former manufacturing hubs, Winchendon’s local economy suﬀ ered once the manufacturers moved out. Finding new uses for the rundown former factories has been a priority for years. The Goodspeed foundry is arguably among the most important of these properties, given its location in the heart of downtown, steps

away from a rail trail. I’m pretty sure most of the town offi cials in Lancaster only ever thought of Bull Spit’s taproom as a glorifi ed bar: The town administrator said as much at an April Board of Selectmen meeting. I didn’t ask Sultzbach about his beer preferences, but I could tell from our conversation he loves breweries and gets the craft beer culture, even telling me to let him know next time I’m at Bull Spit’s Central Street brew yard so we can grab a beer together. “The whole brewery culture is diff erent from what some people anticipate,” he said. “There’s always some pushback in the community with anything dealing with alcohol, but we’re stressing that this will be a community space with music, celebrating the town and everyone who lives in it. It’s about dogs and families, not a bar scene. It could be a community centerpiece in our downtown.” Bull Spit’s fans back in Lancaster can take heart in knowing the brewery has landed in a place that both understands and respects what it does. And I hope they make the 30-mile trek to visit Winchendon next summer. It will be well worth the trip.

Continued from Page 22

not survival. This was extravagant. Growing up, I attended an overnight camp with a mission to help kids “discover themselves in nature regardless of their ability to pay.” You can read between the lines to fi gure out for yourself what that meant. I always liked roughing it, but I would be lying if I told you I didn’t wonder about the expensive sleepaway camps my school friends attended in New Hampshire and Maine. Walking around AutoCamp, Falmouth’s newest glamping destination, I felt like I fi nally had an idea of what rich-kid camp must have been like. I didn’t hate it. The clubhouse looked like something out of a “Twilight” movie, it was all glass walls and clean lines. We had our own patio with a fi re pit for grilling sausages and toasting marshmallows. Most of the guests I passed on the well-manicured paths wore sheepish looks on their faces. I got the feeling that maybe they hadn’t come for the sole purpose of recreating Taylor and Karlie’s iconic Air-

Draft Continued from Page 21

and distillery, expected to open next summer. The move to Winchendon will help Bull Spit expand production and mark the end of its brewing operations in Lancaster, marred by a constant battle with town offi cials. The squabble has included arguments over zoning and building codes and a confl ict-of-interest accusation against one of the town’s building inspectors (he has since been cleared). Lancaster offi cials contend that Kopley, Bull Spit’s CEO, skirted the permitting process for his taproom. Kopley, who also owns Kalon Farm, argued that he could move ahead without certain permits because his brewery falls under an agricultural exemption in the town’s zoning. Late last year, the fi ght came to a head when Lancaster offi cials sent Bull Spit a cease-and-desist order to stop serving patrons in its taproom and have since refused to renew the brewery’s

Exploring the Airstreams of AutoCamp Cape Cod, Falmouth’s newest glamping destination. SUBMITTED PHOTO

24 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Hoppin’ Continued from Page 20

closes, said Dhembe. The men work together planning weekly specials. Fridays, it’s fi sh and chips at the Red Baron, said Dhembe, who sometimes puts scallops and other seafood on the menu when the market price is aff ordable. He continues to off er homemade French meat pies on Thursdays and specials, such as meatloaf, Shepherd’s pie and stuff ed cabbage during the week. Diner seating is indoors and out. There’s a deck and umbrella patio tables overlooking the airport’s runway, in addition to several picnic tables. Guests especially enjoy outdoor seating because they can watch private planes as they arrive and take off , said Dhembe. This season, the owner has talked to airport management about the possibility of having a yard sale near the diner. October 9 is the date he has proposed. There’s plenty of parking and three ways to access the airport, he said. A small outdoor event would be fun and defi nitely introduce more new people to the diner, said Dhembe. Regulars have been loyal, he said. As in previous years, the Red Baron will be open the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, off ering specials. Breakfast with Santa is currently planned for the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Dhembe, who has dedicated most of his life to the business, said he still enjoys going to work. These days, he does everything possible to keep open, he said. “Ordering, helping kitchen staff , washing dishes, cleaning and waiting tables and scooping ice cream, you name it.” He said retirement isn’t on the table, not yet anyway. “I just want to make it through the 2021 season,” said Dhembe. “I’m not alone.”

Food truck festival on Worcester Common The 9th Worcester Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival, presented by Food Truck Festivals of America, returns to the Worcester Common Oval from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 28, with VIP hour scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon. VIP tickets are $25 per person, in advance and purchased online at www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com. Cost includes early admission,

FTFA koozie, one free dessert from the VIP dessert truck (Whoopie Wagon) and unlimited bottled water throughout the festival. General admission discount $5 tickets will be available online. It’s $10 per person at the gate the day of the event. Children 12 and under will be admitted free. All ﬁ rst responders and active/retired military also have free admission with valid ID shown at the gate. A “Beer 6-Pack-age” will be available for anyone who loves craft beer and discounts, according to Food Truck Festivals of America. Here’s the deal: Tickets are $43 per person, in advance only and includes 11 a.m. admission; three craft beers of choice; FTFA koozie; and unlimited bottled water throughout the festival. More than 25 food trucks are expected to participate, according to FTFA. Binge BBQ, Frozen Hoagies, Get Baked Potato Company, Trolley Dogs and Say Cheese are among them. Featured breweries are Exhibit A; Flying Monkeys; Lord Hobo; Lawson’s Finest; Toppling Goliath. For festival updates, follow @FTFofAmerica on twitter.

Greek Festival in Marlborough Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church in Marlborough will host a Greek Festival on Labor Day weekend. The festival, rain or shine, will be held on church grounds at 9 Central St., Marlborough, from noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 4 and 5; noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 6. Free admission! Three outdoor tents. Enjoy Greek food and pastries, live music and dancing, a Greek marketplace, children’s activities, Greek dance performers and more. Visit www.stsanargyroi.org or call (508) 485-2575 for more information. Tidbits: The church held its ﬁ rst festival in 1982. Authentic Greek foods prepared “with love, the way our yiayias (Greek grandmothers) made it for generations is what most people think when they think Greek festivals,” according to the church. Several years ago, 300 lamb shanks were added to the festival menu and since then the number is up to 900. A Greek radio station reportedly dubbed the Marlborough festival “Lamb Shank City” for its eight-hour, slow cooked 11⁄ 2-pound shanks that are freshly made and served with Greekstyle green beans in a traditional savory tomato sauce and rice. The church reports that some festival-goers attend all

The Worcester Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival returns to Aug. 28. FOOD TRUCK FESTIVALS OF AMERICA

three days of the festival “just for the tender, fall oﬀ the bone shanks.” Other specialties: Gyros, pork souvlaki, tzatziki chicken and lamb shishkebab dinners; Pastitsio (Greek pasta bake); spinach and feta pita, stuﬀ ed grape leaves, Greek salad, Greek-style meatballs, Greek pastries and sundaes, fried dough and soft drinks and frappes, plus much more. Beer and wine will be sold.

Papa John’s pizza special Papa John’s recently announced the limited-time return of its fan favorite Shaq-a-Ron pizza, an exclusive menu item developed in partnership with board member and franchisee Shaquille O’Neal. The company is donating $1 from every Shaq-a-Roni pizza sold through Oct. 24 to The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community and adding new ways to highlight local, community-focused organizations. Last year, the company raised more than $3.6 million for its charitable partners through Shaq-aRoni pizza sales. Developed by Shaquille O’Neal, the “larger-than-life “pizza features an extra-large pie made with “Papa John’s, fresh, never frozen, six ingredient

dough, topped with extra mozzarella cheese and extra pepperoni, then cut into Papa John’s largest slice to date.” The pizza costs $13. Rob Lynch, president and CEO of Papa John’s, said the company is excited to partner with O’Neil with a pizza that delivers and gives back. “The needs in our communities have increased over the last 18 months, and we are so proud of our team members, franchisees and customers for coming together to provide support to great organizations doing important work,” said Lynch. This year, the company reports it is integrating partners such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and UNCF (United Negro College Fund) into the national ad campaign. Visit www.papajohns.com for more information and locations.

Happy birthday, Julia! Food for thought: August 15 was TV chef Julia Child’s 109th birthday. The inﬂ uential cooking instructor and cookbook author was 91 when she died in 2004 in her native California. Time ﬂ ies! If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | 25

NEW ON DVD

Horror franchise conjures fresh frights in ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson star in “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.” PROVIDED BY WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT

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garden and runs away to town, where he fi nds new acquaintances and even more mischief, with his family in search of him. “Lansky”: Harvey Keitel plays real-life mobster Meyer Lansky in his retirement years as he’s being investigated by federal agents one fi nal time. Also stars Sam Worthington. “Berlin Station: Season Two”: The second season of the Epix spy drama fi nds Richard Armitage’s CIA agent character getting a new undercover assignment to infi ltrate a far-right German political group. “Chicago Fire: Season Nine”: The most recent season of the NBC procedural about fi refi ghters and paramedics, which concluded in May and is part of the network’s One Chicago slate. “Dreambuilders”: Animated Danish family-friendly feature about a young girl with the ability to create and control the dreams of others.

“Habit”: After a drug deal goes sideways, Bella Thorne and her cohorts pretend to be nuns as a way to lay low. “How it Ends”: It’s the end of the world thanks to an Earthbound meteor, so Zoe ListerJones sets out across Los Angeles in search of apocalyptic adventure. “NCIS: Los Angeles: The Twelfth Season”: The recently concluded season of the CBS spinoff is the fi nal one to feature series regulars Barrett Foa and Renee Felice Smith. “Prodigal Son: Season 2”: Michael Sheen and Tom Payne return in the Fox crime drama about an unlikely father-son duo, an incarcerated serial killer and former FBI profi ler respectively, who now assist the NYPD. “S.W.A.T.: Season 4”: Premiering in November, the fourth season of the CBS series fi nds Shemar Moore and his team taking on bombers, a sniper and

more. “Funhouse”: Horror fi lm fi nds eight C-list celebrities fi ghting for their lives after they are invited to compete in an online reality show for a $5 million prize. OUT ON DIGITAL HD AUG. 24 “Final Frequency”: A group of rogue scientists want to use Nikola Tesla’s secret formulas to cause an earthquake that will destroy Los Angeles during an upcoming G-20 summit. “The Forever Room”: Psychological thriller about a woman being held prisoner in a basement with no memory of how she came to be there, only to discover the captor is her mom. “Jurassic Hunt”: The hunters quickly become the hunted when a female adventurer joins a group of men looking to kill genetically created dinosaurs for sport in a remote wilderness.

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A sequel featuring another story from the case ﬁ les of Ed and Lorraine Warren tops the DVD releases for the week of Aug. 24. “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”: Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are back as the real-life husband-wife paranormal investigators in this third installment of the horror franchise that has also spawned a number of spinoﬀ s. “The Warrens have a deep library of lore from which to mine scary stories, but the case of David Glatzel and Arne Johnson is deeply disturbing,” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. “It’s 1981, and the Warrens are summoned to assist in the exorcism of 8year-old David, during which his older sister’s boyfriend, Arne (Ruairi O’Connor) demands the demon take him instead. When he later murders his landlord, the Warrens urge his lawyer to argue Arne was possessed.” Such a defense had never been attempted in court before. As such, “the challenge for the Warrens is to prove Arne was possessed, not to any church, but a court, and their investigation sets them on a literal witch hunt, tracking down cursed totems they presume to have been placed by a Satanist,” Walsh writes. “For the many reasons that this franchise works, Farmiga and Wilson are chief among them, as they take what could otherwise be hokey 1970s ghost-hunter characters and infuse them with a deep sense of faith, humanity, and above all, love.” ALSO NEW ON DVD AUG. 24 “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway”: Peter absconds from the

26 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

5 THINGS TO DO

Josh Turner, Bring Your Own Improv, Memory Lame and more ... Richard Duckett and Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Recording artist Josh Turner performs Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. TIMOTHY D. EASLEY/SPECIAL TO COURIER JOURNAL

‘Now in Technicolor’ In “Now in Technicolor,” an ArtsWorcester juried members’ exhibition, 34 artists explore the power of bold hues in portraiture, sculpture, new media, and more. Selected works range in subject matter from abstract to the familiar, and everything in between. The jurors are Joshua Croke, (Founder, Action! By Design), Stephen DiRado (artist and professor at Clark University), and Birgit Straehle (Worcester Art Museum and Sprinkler Factory Art Gallery). “Now In Technicolor” will be on view in ArtsWorcester’s West Gallery, as well as on the organization’s website, through Sept. 19. A public reception will be held Sept. 2. Concurrently on view is Madge Evers’ “The New Herbarium.” (RD) What: “Now In Technicolor” When: Now through Sept. 19. Public reception 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2 Where: ArstWorcester, 44 Portland St., Worcester. Online at www.artsworcester.org. ArtsWorcester gallery hours are free and open to the public. Gallery hours run Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.

Endearingly Country There’s a lot endearing about country musician Josh Turner. Whether it’s the deep spirituality of “Long Black Train,” the earnest sweetness of the love song, “Your Man,” or the ability to value living in the moment and prioritizing the important things in life that manifests in “Time Is Love” and “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Turner’s songs seem to come from a place of earnestness and honesty. It doesn’t hurt that his deep, gravelly voice seems to imbue each note with feeling. (VDI)

What: Josh Turner with Ayla Brown When: 1 p.m. Aug. 28 Where: Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster How much: $20-$70

The exhibit “Now in Technicolor” is on display at ArtsWorcester. SUBMITTED PHOTO

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | 27

“A Play, A Pint & A Pie” will be presented at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

A Scottish tradition

Bring Your Own Improv presented by Gateway Players Theatre SUBMITTED PHOTO

Making It Up As They Go Along ... You can be part of what’s happening, and what people are laughing about, when Gateway Players Theatre presents “Bring Your Own Improv,” an interactive improv comedy group from Warwick, R.I., Aug. 28 on the Southbridge Town Common. The show is free and audiences are welcome to participate in one of three ways: “applaud for a scene you like, yell out fantastic suggestions, or if you feel you’re ready, jump up and get involved with us on stage.” BYOI has been voted “Best Comedy Show in Rhode Island.” Besides the show, there will also be a 50/50 raffle and refreshments. (RD)

What: ‘Bring Your Own Improv’ presented by Gateway Players Theatre When: 6 p.m. Aug. 28 Where: Southbridge Town Common, 1 Mechanic St., Southbridge How much: Free. In the event of rain, the performance will be held at Elm Street Congregational Church, 61 Elm St., Southbridge. www.gatewayplayers.org

Thanks for the Memory Worcester punk trio Memory Lame has a lot going on underneath its grungy surface. They create a discordant, loosely-knit sound, certainly, but there’s always a sense that the music’s going somewhere. Moreover, listening to the band’s debut album, “Monachopsis,” one can hear the intelligence and soulfulness of the music seep out from behind the Kurt Cobain-esque sentiments of “everybody’s a disease.” Overall, the band’s sound might seem a little ramshackle, but make no mistake: They know what they’re doing, and the music’s a lot of fun. (VDI) What: Memory Lame, Between 3&4, Zigmont and Backhand When: 8 p.m. Aug. 28 Where: Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester How much: $7

Memory Lame PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

Who could ask for more? Honoring a Scottish theater tradition, Enter Stage Left Theater, will present “A Play, A Pint & A Pie” outdoors at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts amphitheater Aug. 28. Intended for people 13 and older, the show will feature four original one-act plays that were part of the HCA/Enter Stage Left Theater 1st annual playwriting competition. The plays deal with a variety of themes including aging, equity for women in government, gun control, the death penalty, religion and the life-affirming lessons we all learned from “Gilligan’s Island.” Your ticket buys entry to the show, a savory pie from a local company, and a pint of ale (or root beer, for those under 21 years of age). A judging panel will vote for a winning writer, and audience members will pick their favorite as well. The cast includes Paul Champlin, Ronnie White, Cicely Dunster, Carla Perrotta, David Mularski, Amy Cafazzo, Sarah Ong, Beth Goldman, Jim Douglas, Mary Potts Dennis and Tom J. Richardson. (RD) What: “A Play, A Pint & A Pie” When: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28 Where: Hopkinton Center for the Arts amphitheater, 98 Hayden Rowe St. Hopkinton. In the event of rain, the production will move indoors to the Delbridge Family Performance Space and masks and proof of vaccination will be required. How much: $25; $20 students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.HopArtsCenter.org

28 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Ethan Allen! Welcome to Adoption Option, a partnership with the Worcester Animal Rescue League highlighting their adoptable pets. Check this space often to meet all of the great pets at WARL in need of homes. WARL is open seven days a week, noon-4 p.m., 139 Holden St. Check them out online at Worcesterarl.org, or call at (508) 853-0030. Ethan Allen hung out on his namesake street by a trash barrel for a few days. He had been neutered so he belonged to somebody at some point. He’s an adolescent brat who makes you smile. He licks your skin before putting his teeth on you, and is getting better about keeping his claws sheathed when he bats you. Other animals agitate him, so we think Ethan should be your only pet, and he shouldn’t live with little kids. We can give you tips on how to play with him. Tip No. 1 is not to use your hands as toys. Ethan needs to learn that toys are toys and human hands rub his head, which feels good. WARL COVID-19 Procedures As of Nov. 9, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we want to share with you some changes we have implemented so that we can continue to serve the pets and people of our community while keeping our team protected. • ADOPTIONS: At this time, adoptions are being held BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you are interested in adoption, please visit our website worcesterarl.org/ adopt/ to learn more about our available animals then call us at (508) 853-0030 ext.0 or email us at info@worcesterarl. org to schedule an appointment. • CASUAL VISITS TO THE SHELTER are prohibited. We will strictly enforce this in order to keep our animal care team protected while still maintaining the most essential function of our operation ... ﬁ nding homes for animals in need.

Ethan Allen is available for adoption. PHOTO COURTESY WARL

• ANIMAL SURRENDERS: Our business practice for surrendering a pet remains the same. All pet owners must contact WARL in advance of surrendering a pet. Please call (508) 853-0030. • SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS: All scheduled appointments will be honored. If you have a scheduled appointment, we will be contacting you to discuss changes to our drop oﬀ /pick up procedures. • DONATIONS ACCEPTED except for open bags of food. • Pet food, cat litter, and other shel-

ter supplies will be essential in continuing to provide for our animals and to assist community members in need. To avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, items can be purchased online from our Amazon Wishlist — https:// www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3AX342JIL73M0 • Weekly training classes are going on for adopters. • The WARL Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as

we can. We have many animals in our care who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The above measures help to protect our staﬀ and community from the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-to-face interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow our Facebook page for additional updates. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the shelter at (508) 853-0030 or info@ worcesterarl.org.

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Across 1 The “T” of MIT, briefly 5 Close friend 8 Lumps of dirt 13 Cream-filled Hostess cake 14 2016 Olympics locale 15 Bucks 16 Question presented by Jimmy Carr that starts “If you could change ...”, part 1 18 Grandmother, in Guatemala 19 Question, part 2 21 Daily news sources, still 23 Traveling through 24 Back muscle, for short 25 Crossword constructions 26 Singer ___ Lipa 28 Rap duo Kris ___ 30 Plea at sea 31 Comedian’s asset 32 Kung ___ beef 33 Question, part 3 39 4, on a phone 40 Soccer official 41 Spheroid 43 “Finding Dory” actor Willem 46 “CSI” evidence 47 Hindu title of respect 49 Cockney’s residence? 50 Improvise with the band 52 Rocky’s surname 53 Pithy response from Sean Lock, part 1 57 “___ to think so” 58 Response, part 2 61 Joined (up) 62 “Ich bin ___ Berliner” 63 Sports reporter Andrews 64 Insult from Bob and Doug McKenzie 65 Holstein sound 66 “Curses, foiled again!” Down 1 Despite, in poetry 2 Long, long, long time 3 Not too hard on the wallet 4 Place with a lot of activity 5 Hybrid hatchback 6 It just isn’t ... “isn’t”

“Locked In”--in memory of comedian Sean Lock (1963-2021). by Matt Jones

7 Sluggish 8 2018 series spun off from “The Karate Kid” 9 Reed and Bega, for two 10 Palindromically titled 1976 album with “Evil Woman” 11 Southfork Ranch setting 12 Elevator passageways 15 The Rock, in “Moana” 17 ___ d’oeuvres 20 IVF eggs 21 Family-friendly film ratings 22 Three in ___ (tic-tac-toe win) 26 Metal singer Ronnie James ___ 27 Mid-road maneuver 29 Go bad 31 “1917” backdrop 32 Adobe file format 34 Earlier 35 1989 Jack Nicholson role 36 “Back to the Future” actress Thompson 37 Canadian-born hockey legend 38 “Switch” attachment 42 South American slitherer 43 “___ that what you will” 44 Painter Modigliani 45 “___ that were in the mood” (“Vogue” line)

46 Driver’s lic. issuer 47 Big name in chemicals (and audio tapes and floppy disks, once) 48 Activist lawyer Gloria 51 Danny Pudi’s character on “Community” 52 It’s good in Puerto Rico 54 Zest of ___ 55 “Unexpected ___ in bagging area” 56 Home of Xenia, Youngstown, and Zanesville 59 “Boyz N the Hood” actress Long 60 Demolition compound

Last week's solution

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | 31

LAST CALL

Al Green, member of Worcester Pride Coalition and director of the LGBT Asylum Task Force Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Alford Green came to Worcester as a student in 2008 from Jamaica and sought LGBT asylum. Now, he works to help others as the director of the LGBT Asylum Task Force in Worcester, a ministry of the Hadwen Park Congregational Church. The task force launched around 10 years ago, and Hadwen Park has long been an LGBTI inclusive place of worship. Green was awarded the Eleanor Hawley Human Rights Award in 2019 by the Human Rights Commission for his work. As the head of one of the organizations that is coordinating Worcester Pride Week in September, he sat down with Last Call to talk about the motivations and challenges faced by the organizers. Basic question — why is Worcester Pride in September and not in the pride month of June? From what I’ve gathered, they started celebrating in September so college students coming back in the fall could participate as well. How is it going to be diff erent this year? It is diff erent in that it is organized by new organizations. The former Worcester Pride Committee is winding down. As such, there was this vacuum of leadership to spearhead plans for Worcester Pride Week this year. A bunch of local organizations — Queer the Scene, our own LGBT Asylum Task Force, and Love Your Labels stepped in about two months ago to prepare for activities around what would be Worcester Pride Week in September. We are starting with a fl ag raising ceremony outside City

Alford Green is photographed on the Worcester Common Thursday, Aug. 19. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Hall on Wednesday, September 8, then a Gay Prom the next day at Ralph’s. Worcester Pride traditionally starts on Wednesday and goes through Sunday. Any new events this year? The Gay Prom on Thursday and a Friday night party at Electric Haze. Previously, the only party was on Saturday at the MB Lounge after the parade and festival. We’ll actually be having a rally, instead of a parade, and a block party centered around the Worcester Beer Garden on Saturday, September 11, which will be open air. Tower Hill did something on Thursday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. in 2019 so this will be the second

time that happens. What galvanized the coalition to try and make a new Worcester Pride? It actually started two years ago — in 2019 — there was a realization that there needed to be more dialogue between different community LGBTQ organizations. As a community, we weren’t really doing stuff together so it was the kick-off for discussions, but the pandemic put a stop to that. This year, with the original Worcester Pride no longer extant, we got together about how we were going to pull this off . Especially after this past year, people needed an outlet to let go and celebrate, as well as

refl ect on all that has transpired. That actually was the framework for the switch from the traditional parade to a rally. The parade is usually more celebratory with rainbows and lots of colors, and there will still be some celebration at the block party, but it will have an emphasis on advocacy and the marginalized people in our community. We’ve made some advancements but we’re at the risk of becoming complacent because we’ve achieved some milestones. Because there’s more to it than saying we have a gay bar in Worcester or walking down the street without having people yell at you. Is this the fi rst time you’ve been involved in Worcester Pride to such a degree? I wasn’t really involved in Worcester Pride activities until 2019, when I decided to get a bit more involved. I started going as an observer then though it was around the time that change was happening. What I saw was a pretty large committee but not very diverse. That, along with the lack of support that was off ered to Shades, had me pretty upset. Then 2020 came along and we had the opportunity to be at the table as a reimagined Pride was being formed. So I just jumped at that opportunity. Why do you think Worcester got the high HRC (Human Rights Campaign) score that it did — 100/100? Honestly, I have not looked at the rubric that the HRC uses. Based on what I’ve heard, the HRC looks at what framework the city has in place to support minorities, regarding policies and offi cers. The city does have offi cers and certain policies in place but in terms of the amount of funding and support

which impacts how these oﬃ cers are able to do their work, that is lacking — based on my observations. But when you talk about a city that really and truly is pretty conservative, where you have people who are homophobic and transphobic, these policies, which are important, can create a false and overly optimistic sense of what it is like to be queer in Worcester. Do you feel that the new Pride coalition is headed in the right direction? It’s on the path to becoming what we want it to be. It isn’t perfect but it’s a space in which many of the organizations have a seat at the table, especially those that support people of color, or groups that did not feel comfortable enough to have a seat with the old Worcester Pride. Which is pretty much what the idea of Pride is about — the original pride was not a celebration, it was a protest. Yes, we have achievements but keep in mind we have a long way to go towards equality and equity. All of that ties in to the theme of this year, none of us are free until we are all free. Anything to add? We need money. It takes a lot of money to put on an event of this magnitude. We actually have a fundraising event underway at Prideworcester.org for people to donate to this campaign. We are also seeking sponsors for Pride Week and folks can reach out to us via our website. There’s this pervasive sentiment that there isn’t going to be a Pride Week so we’re trying to scream from as many mountaintops as possible that there is going to be a Pride Week and it’s going to be great. Pride is on.

32 | AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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Worcester Magazine August 27 - September 2, 2021

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