Worcester Magazine September 5 - 11, 2019 by Worcester Magazine

SEPTEMBER 5 - 11, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CULTURE • ARTS • DINING • VOICES

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The Fabric of A City Thrift Store Culture in Worcester

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019 • V O L U M E 45 I S S U E 2 Find us on Facebook.com/worcestermag Twitter @worcestermag Instagram: Worcestermag

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Featured ......................................................................................4 City Voices...................................................................................8 In Case You Missed It ... .......................................................10 Cover Story ...............................................................................11 Artist Spotlight .......................................................................17 City Life ......................................................................................18 Table Hoppin’ ..........................................................................18 Lifestyle......................................................................................19 Dining .......................................................................................20 Next Draft .................................................................................20 Film .............................................................................................22 Film Capsules ..........................................................................22 Calendar ....................................................................................24 Adoption Option ....................................................................28 Games .........................................................................................29 Classifieds .................................................................................30 Last Call .....................................................................................31

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the cover

Items for sale at Alexis Grace Consignment. Photo by Ashley Green, Design by Kimberly Vasseur

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The Fabric of a City Thrift Store Culture in Worcester Story on page 11

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

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FEATURED

No more yielding but a dream

Shakespeare classic reimagined at Broad Meadow Brook RICHARD DUCKET T

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

illiam Shakespeare set “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” partly in Athens and partly in the forest that lies beyond the city’s walls. Campfire Theater will present the world premiere of “An American Night’s Dream” — a new take on the Bard of Avon’s classic of comedy, magic, mischief and romance — in

Above, Lily Kaufman rehearse for “An American Night’s Dream” at Broad Meadow Brook. At left, Michaells Fana, left, and Katerina Pacheco Wolf rehearse. PHOTOS/SAM FULLER

and around the beautiful setting of Broad Meadow Brook for four Friday nights starting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13, 20, 27 and Oct. 4. Fourteen actors will perform scenes at locations on the grounds of Broad Meadow Brook as a group of audience members limited to about 20 people are led on hiking trails for approximately 1.5 miles as part of the show. It will be the stuff that made up Worcester writer, director and actor Peter Storey’s dreams after he first visited the Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center & Wildlife Sanctuary operated by Mass Audubon. He rented it for the production. “I found Broad Meadow Brook — I thought, ‘This is perfect, now all I need to do is write a play.’” He also founded Campfire Theater.

“An American Night’s Dream” will be its first show. Storey has followed some interesting trails, becoming a Worcester resident about a year ago. He’s a poet, a playwright, has put on plays in Chicago, worked for the U.S. Forest Service fighting wildfires, and also worked at the South Pole. “I always had the idea that I would like to do a play in the woods,” Storey said, thinking back to his Forest Service days. “I wanted a play that started in town, went into the woods, and ended back in town. And that was ‘A Midsummer Night’s dream.’” Furthermore, “ ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was a hit,” he noted. “Making it modern and American just seemed kind of natural.” Storey said he rewrote it “beat for beat” in terms of the verse meter and

that felt natural as well. “I started out writing poetry and grew into staging poetry. Writing a play in verse was something I had already done.” Shakespeare’s play has characters that include young lovers defying the strictures of authority retreating into some magical woods near Athens, mischievous fairy inhabitants of the woods (including Puck) who will both aid and inadvertently foil the Athenians, and an acting troupe made up of skilled laborers (the “rude mechanicals”) who are rehearsing a play in the woods that they plan to put on for the city’s royalty at a big wedding. Similarly, Storey’s “An American Night’s Dream” has “three threads,” he said. Some high school students, rebelling against their parents before their futures are decided, go into the woods. Also in the woods, a group

of retail workers are rehearsing a play they are going to perform at a big “Letter Ceremony” event in town that could win them college scholarships and change their lives forever. Meanwhile, “there are people living in the woods,” who have their own games to play, Storey said. Storey’s play has its own Pucktype character who is “sort of our tour guide.” “An American Night’s Dream” is “pretty close to ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ The idea is to bring it up to date. Make it modern. Make it American. But it wouldn’t exist without ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ It’s new, but it’s old,” Storey said. It’ll be a new experience for Broad Meadow Brook, said a Mass Audubon official, who noted that Storey is renting space so the production is

not officially one of its events. Still, “We’re kind of interested to see how it’s going to turn out,” she said. “Broad Meadow Brook has been really good to us,” Storey said. “I asked if I could put on a play, and they said ‘yes,’ and here we are.” Rehearsals have also been taking place at Broad Meadow Brook. Storey has put together a cast of 13 other actors while taking one of the parts himself. “I think it’s going pretty good. It’s community theater level. I think they’re starting to gel. Each day we’re learning,” Storey said of rehearsals. “I think the cast is in high spirits. I’m eager to get going. I think it’s going to be a fun one.” “An American Night’s Dream” begins in the covered pavilion near the Broad Meadow Brook entrance

FEATURED

Vanessa Legere and Peter Storey rehearse at Broad Meadow Brook. SAM FULLER

and then there will be scenes “scattered throughout the woods.” After following a loop of about 1.5 miles, the play will conclude at the nature play center near the pavilion. The total time is about two hours and 15 minutes. The trail includes two brook crossings, Storey said. People are cautioned that “participation is at your own risk, and neither Campfire

Theater nor Mass Audubon will be liable for harm or injury.” For those who would prefer to see “An American Night’s Dream” without the hiking, the Sept. 27 show has been set aside as an accessibility night, with the performance taking place within the locale of the pavilion. If it rains during a performance,

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

FEATURED

Experiencing the Past When Main Street Was Gay

Worcester Polytechnic Institute History Professor Joseph Cullen, center, and attendees walk from City Hall to the Palladium in the Worcester Historical Museum’s “When Main Street Was Gay” walking tour. GARI DE RAMOS

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

GARI DE RAMOS

ith the Worcester Pride celebration scheduled for Sept. 7 on the Worcester Common, with a parade starting at 11 a.m. from Institute Park, it seems a good time to reflect on the often hidden and sometimes tragic history of queer life in the city, in order to understand why such high-profile festivities are both well-earned and necessary. Last Saturday, the Worcester Historical Museum took to Main Street in a walking tour of Worcester’s historical LGBTQ+ locales in “When Main Street Was Gay.” The walking tour was led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute history Professor Joseph Cullen, although the history presented was gathered by co-curators including Cullen, Professor Robert Tobin at Clark University, and Professor Stephanie Yuhl at the College of the Holy Cross. The tour will next be held again at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 5. The tour was supposed to meet at the Worcester PopUp on Franklin Street. Instead, however, a small but eager crowd was awaiting across

the street at one of City Hall’s side entrances. The participants were not only eager to learn, but also eager to share. Many of those present had lived through the history that would be discussed, so they helpfully chimed in throughout the tour. One attendee had served as a DJ at several LGBTQ+ bars, while another was a tireless saver of the newspaper clippings that have served as a source for the Historical Museum’s exhibition. One contribution from attendees: 1989 was the first time the Pride flag was flown in Worcester. Throughout the tour, Cullen talked about many sites: Salem Square was the site of the Coronato Hotel, which was home to the start of what was called “faggot suffrage.” The present-day YMCA used to be a bar called the New Yorker, owned by two Irish sisters who didn’t know what to make of their LGBTQ+ clientele until they realized how much they were consuming. The current parking lot by the Beer Garden was where the Paris Cinema stood, an arthouse theater that showed erotic films. Cullen noted that these streets were not always safe for the LGBTQ+ community, citing an incident in

which an activist and his partner narrowly escaped after being attacked by people with bats. “Moving between these spaces always posed a risk,” said Cullen. Cullen spent 45 minutes introducing the tour and the three aforementioned stops outside City Hall. From there, we walked to a crosswalk next to the Palladium with Cullen and attendees sharing sprinklings of history throughout the brief walk. We stopped just past the Palladium, near the site of the bar Isaiah’s, which catered to gay men. The walk down Main Street to the Palladium was relevant because it is part of the parade route for Worcester Pride. Since the 1990s, the Pride route started at Institute Park for celebrations and people walked to City Hall. Initially, Pride participants were not given a permit for the parade, so instead of walking on the street, they marched on the sidewalks. “It’s all about claiming spaces, with or without the city’s permission,” Cullen said. “We will make our lives visible.” As a historian lending his services to the Worcester Historical Museum, Cullen’s job “is to think about the

SHAKESPEARE

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way they can take advantage of new digital tools and techniques and digital interpretation to make their collections more accessible.” The walking tour is only one piece of that and it raises important questions fof the city’s future. Cullen addressed the title of the tour: If the tour is called “When Main Street Was Gay,” does that mean it is no longer gay? He said he chose the past tense because Main Street was the center of LGBTQ+ life in Worcester at one point, but not anymore. There used to be explicitly gay bars, but now there is only one left in the city. Although there have been attempts to create a gay neighborhood in the city, there are few visibly queer spaces in Worcester today. Cullen pointed out that, according to the Human Rights Council, Worcester is a 100% LGBTQ+ friendly city because of city-wide anti-discrimination polices. “But when you walk the city, you don’t feel that,” he said. Cullen was joined by several “yeahs” and nods from the audience. Despite the challenges, Cullen said he remains “amazed at the resilience” of the community and the ways it works together to overcome obstacles and “to care for one another.”

Worcester Pride Events Worcester Pride Parade: 9 a.m. lineup, 11 a.m. start Sept. 7 at on Humboldt Street along Institute Park. Parade ends at noon on the Worcester Common. Worcester Pride Festival: featuring Lady Sabrina, Myles Jeh, Taija New, Eve Tribal Belly Dancers, Serenity Jackson, Poise N’Envy, QEAM, Snowday, Mikita LeFemme, The Rafters and more, noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 7, Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St, Worcester. Joslyn Fox’s Pride Tea Dance: noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 7, The Pavilion at the Beer Garden, 66 Franklin St., Worcester. Free. Pride Night at the Mansion: with music by DJ Patrick Allen and pop-up performances by Kandi Dishe, Lucifer Christmas, Bootz, Poise’N Envy, Victoria Obvious, Harley Queen, Aria FiftyOne, Ran-D Xtra Xtra, Robyn Millyonz, Brenda Cox and more, 6 p.m. Sept. 7, Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St., Worcester. $5-$20.

Storey said, the cast will head to the pavilion to finish the show. If the weather forecast is very bad ahead of time, that night’s show will be canceled in advance. Attendance will be capped at about 20 people a show. “I want to respect these woods as much as I can,” Storey said. A poster on Campfire Theater’s website (campfiretheatertours.com) has said “Tickets: $50,000. Tickets Are Not Required.” That was a joke, Storey said. The $50,000 part, anyway. Admission is free, but people can reserve a spot online. Donations will be accepted (actually, if someone wanted to donate $50,000 … ). Storey is in the process of setting up Campfire Theater as a nonprofit organization. Originally from Chelmsford, Storey said he often came to Worcester as a child to visit his grandmother who lives here. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in English, and then “moved around” to places such as Wyoming with the Forest Service and the South Pole with the United States Antarctic Program. “I wanted to make a good chunk of money doing something interesting, then write,” he said. He lived in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago for several years where he was involved with theater. After making a more recent trip to Worcester to see his grandmother, he decided to move here. “Worcester’s a cool place. Here I am. I look around and the talk of the town is that Worcester’s a rising place. It’s great,” Storey said. Will Campfire Theater follow more dreams — or at least follow up with other productions after “An American Night’s Dream”? “I hope to. I’m sure I will continue,” Storey said. “But my focus is on doing this one as good as possible.” Contact Richard Duckett at richard. duckett@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @TGRDuckett.

“An American Night’s Dream,” an adapation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Peter Storey, will play outdoors with a cast of 14 looping a trail at Broad Meadow Brook. What: “An American Night’s Dream” When: 7 p.m. Sept. 13, 20, 27 and Oct. 4 Where: Broad Meadow Brook, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester How Much: Free. To reserve a place, visit campfiretheatertours.com

FEATURED

Ready, Player?

Jason Eastty set to launch Pixels & Pints BILL SHANER

h, to feel the quarter slide into the machine, the lights turn on, the sounds go off, and go chasing the high score left by some anonymous, but no less revered, person. The experience of a real deal arcade — nostalgic to some and novel to others — is soon coming to Worcester, but plus beer and pizza. Pixels & Pints, an ’80s- and early ’90sthemed arcade bar, is set to open this month on Grafton Street.

spired to execute the idea from childhood memories of walking around Jordan’s Furniture in Framingham. “It’s just something I’ve always liked,” he said. Personal taste and a striving for a completely unique atmosphere is what drives the venture for Eastty. Simply, he wants to launch an entertainment venue that serves as a totally unique and fun place to hang out. The majority of bars, he said, have a standard bar feel, and while that’s not a bad thing, the venture wouldn’t be worth it to him if he were

in the bar. “It’s going to be a mix,” Eastty said, from college age to middle age. “People my age grew up playing these arcade games, and there’s going to be younger kids, too, who have this nostalgic feeling. Even if you don’t like video games we’re building out such a unique venue you’ll want to go there anyways.” The owners had originally projected an August open, but like many projects, things get in the way. Eastty says he feels confident the bar will open before October. Eastty is the founder of Escape

Jason Eastty’s newest venture is the soon-to-open arcade bar, Pixels & Pints. FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE PETERSON

Games Worcester, though he sold it last October. Escape Games, this new arcade bar venture, and a possible ax throwing bar concept down the road, are an attempt to solve what Eastty said he feels is a major problem in Worcester — while there are plenty of great places to eat and drink, he said, there’s not a whole lot to do. “People want something to do and Worcester doesn’t have a whole lot to do entertainment-wise,” he said. Seeing what Niche Hospitality Group has done as far as building a restaurant empire in Worcester, Eastty strives to do the same entertainment-oriented ventures. “You go to a Niche restaurant, you know it’s going to be good,” he said. “I’m trying to do that for entertainment.”

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to do the same. “I just didn’t want to do standard. If I was going to do this and put the risk into it, I want it to be exactly what I want it to be. I want it to be very unique,” he said. Though a novel concept for Worcester, arcade bars have cropped up across the country in the past several years. Providence has several, as does the Boston area. The arcade bars are expressly adult-oriented, offering entertainment and nostalgia as a draw, as opposed to longstanding food and arcade businesses like Chuck-ECheese and Dave and Busters, which are more oriented toward children. Eastty said he expects a wide demographic swath of the population in Worcester will be interested

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

The bar will feature about 30 retro arcade games and five pinball games, as well as a full bar and a kitchen serving pizzas. The bar itself will be built out of a metal shipping container. In fitting with the ’80s theme, the games will be popular throwbacks such as PacMan, Donkey Kong, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mortal Combat, and racing games — “all the classics,” said Jason Eastty, owner of the soon-to-open bar and founder of Escape Games Worcester. The old-school feel will be highlighted by phone booths, plenty of neon and street-style graffiti on the walls. On top of that, the rectangular space will be mapped out to feel like a city streetscape, with road lanes and other accents. Eastty said he was in-

CITY VOICES

FIRST PERSON

My fallen fur-ball ... a feline legend and WSRS celebrity

Kelley Square Love Song

LEAH GRAHAM

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

RACHEL ALLISON EISNER

POETRY TOWN

catnip, Temptations treats and cooked chicken. By chance, when recycling the milk container, we don’t usually fall for grayhaired males, but it was love at discovered that Simon preferred first sight. Simon just had it all: the peel-off plastic milk ring. When I tossed it, Slime picked it up and the adorable looks, a passion brought it back to me. A cat that for mischief, and the smarts … I plays fetch. How cool is that? shared my bed with him the first I missed Slime when I was at night (July 8, 2002), and we had work. Simon was not exactly a been together for over 17 years. latchkey cat (arguable) because I On June 11, I had to put Simon had built-in daycare. My landlord, down. Simon’s system was failing him, his kidney values were off the who owns the house and lives charts and he stopped eating. Say- below me, visited Slime when I was at work; fed the kitty, played with ing goodbye to Simon was one of the most difficult challenges of my him, told Simon what a good boy he was … Recently, I began working life. Not having a husband or children, Simon was my whole world. I full-time and I felt a bit guilty. Kerry made a donation to the Worcester (the Warren pet-sitter) not only laughed at my guilt, but refused to Boys and Girls Club in Simon’s come to Simon’s birthday parties. name, and I was very grateful for Kerry quips: “It’s like a tea party for the executive director’s heartfelt acknowledgement and kind words. dolls.” Last year, Simon turned 16. Of Simon was not only cute and cuddly, he was also a local celebrity course, I sang Happy Birthday to Simon, celebrated his day with and a regional traveler. “Slime” (Slime-ster was his pet name) was extra chicken and went all out and featured on WSRS radio (96.1) and showered him with fake mice, a he traveled from Worcester to War- fishing rod toy and some catnip. Simon wasn’t that enthused; the ren, in a crate. My friend, Kerry, (a little scoundrel happily accepted Warren resident) took care of him the protein jolts, sniffed the catnip when I traveled to Seattle. Simon was my feline son. In July and basically slept the whole day. 2002, I brought him home from the “Teenagers. What does he expect? A pipe and a car?” Slime got his (former) Cat Hospital of Auburn, methimazole filled at my local now Auburn Animal Hospital. Adopting Simon was the best deci- CVS, 400 Park Ave. Rick (the lead pharmacist), after hearing about sion. Ever. Simon will always be “my boy.” Occasionally, Simon gen- the festivities, asked, ”Are you going to get Simon a cell phone?” tly placed his paw on my forehead Simon was definitely a smart or licked my arm. Slime-ster loved kitty, but he hadn’t yet mastered lying in bed with me, being pettelecommunications. Regarding ted or nesting in my friends’ laps. technology, Simon typed on the Though my dad (Mike) is allergic, computer sometimes but usually Simon particularly enjoyed jumponly when he’s tried to divert my ing up on him. (Mike maintained attention. I should have known that his grand-cat was a familiar.) Besides affection, Simon enjoyed better than to focus on email or a

Want to Write For First Person? Hey, you. Yeah, we’re talking to YOU. You look like you have some-

thing to say. So this is your chance: Worcester Magazine is looking for contributors to our weekly First Person column! We’re seeking essays from our readers about whatever facet of Worcester life they want to share. And not just politics: We want to hear about things in this city we might not otherwise ever know: Things that make the city uniquely yours. Tell us your story, and the story of the people around you. To submit for consideration, please send a 750 word essay to WMeditor@ gatehousemedia.com with the words “First Person” in the subject line. Let us know what’s on your mind.

new article instead of giving Slime my undivided attention. Usually, by 7 p.m., Simon had been alone nearly 10 hours. There was nothing better than coming home from a hard day’s work and playing with (baby) Simon. Who else would wait for me outside the bathroom door or tolerate my off-key cat tunes? Our favorite cat-a-bye was sung to the tune of Davy Crockett: “He was a Simon and then he was a kitty, he was a kitty and then he was a Simon … Baby, baby Simon, king of the wild frontier!” Sim and I maximized our playtime. If Slime was too tired to play fetch, he would allow me to pick him up and repeat: “you’re such a good boy — you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” This gray-haired male stole my heart and gave me a quality of life that I never knew existed. Slime-ster was the best four-legged son I could ever ask for. Rachel Allison Eisner lives in Worcester.

I write a poem about eating eggs with you. One month passes. You tell me you hate eggs — even scrambled. This woman half-waltzes, half-staggers into the Vernon. She loves the word gorgeous. She says gorgeous blonds & we three are gorgeous & this is a gorgeous day. She has lost a youngest son, a house, land in County Cork. They say. She wears a peignoir, black & pilled, like a noble obligation. No panties. Pisses herself standing up. I forgive your dislike of eggs, recall your fingers poised before “Sweet Thing.” Before “Thunder Road.” Before “Dream Baby.” Your perfect pitch: gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous

Leah Graham is an associate professor of English at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and the author of the book “Poems From the Hotel Vernon.” She’ll read her work Sept. 23 at Ralph’s Rock Diner.

CITY VOICES

WORCESTERIA

Of lost churches and personal injury lawyer ads BILL SHANER

DO YOU FOLLOW: I’m on vacation — or I was at the time of writing this. Well, more accurately I was about to be, and this tense issue thing is about to get confusing. Anyway, I’m writing this a week in the past. So nothing you’re reading here has a shot of being fresh, newswise. So I’m making the decision now, more than a week before anyone will read this, that I am not going to try. Instead, I am going to empty out my cache of random old-man-shakes-fist-at-sky-style gripes about Worcester. IT’S FREE REAL ESTATE: Look at any WRTA bus in this city, and the safe

money says it will be adorned with an advertisement from a rideshare service. Now, this certainly makes sense for rideshare services. It’s prime advertising space and, more insidiously, I think, speaks to the overall project of undercutting a public service and replacing it with something that serves its shareholders at the expense of the rest of us (sound familiar, dear newspaper reader?). So, with my absolutely correct general diagnosis of the situation in mind, why does the WRTA continue to allow rideshare services to advertise on its buses? If the ads are doing anything at all for bus riders, it means they will ride the bus less. As ridership decreases, so too do routes and route frequencies. Less routes and lower route frequencies means less riders. On and on turns the wheel. Surely it can’t be worth the revenue gained from the ad space, especially when there are half a million personal injury lawyers in this city who would be happy to take the space instead.

MAY OUR LADY OF 290 REST IN PEACE: As I drove down I-290 re-

the Preliminary Election on Tuesday, Sept. 10. That’s next Tuesday. Please, please vote. Even if it’s just to vote for your friend of co-worker that’s running. There’s so many candidates in this election for both School Committee and City Council, I don’t have enough space to get into it. But I want the challengers to have a chance, and the only way they’re going to get a chance is if people besides the same group of 3,000 townies show up at the polls. When only the people with familial or jobrelated ties to City Hall vote, they get to vote to serve themselves at the expense of the rest of us. You need to be like those townies. You need to vote. We have more candidates than we’ve had in decades running for public office, we can’t blow this opportunity.

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OH YEAH, THERE’S A PRELIMINARY: This is my last column before

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

cently, I saw for the first time the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church without the iconic crown atop its spire. Instead, a demolition worker, some netting and a bucket truck. By the time you’re reading this, the church may well be gone. Between Mount Carmel and the Notre Dame Des Canadiens church, Worcester has in the past year lost two of its most distinguishing and architecturally significant buildings. What is really the point of a city without these things? I mean, I know I’m oversimplifying it and each had its own host of dramas and complications in the minutiae, but just in the abstract, what is a city without its iconic landmarks? It’s not a great city, that’s for sure. The character of a great city needs these things to define its essence, and we really just don’t seem to prioritize that here. Whatever takes Mount Carmel’s place will never come close to the significance in the cityscape. We just do not as a society build stuff like that anymore. No, like most of the new construction in Worcester, it’ll look like Soviet row housing with a muted, unthreatening color scheme, and things that look like porches from a distance but aren’t. Great. Can’t wait.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

Saturday Night Dance Party The Pavillion at the Beer Garden has established itself this summer as a local nightlife hot spot. One popular attraction is the venue’s “ongoing Saturday night dance party,” with local-favorite DJs spinning music. One such DJ is Day Delcarmen, who kept things jumping at the Pavillion on Aug. 31. Photos by Steve Lanava

COVER STORY

The Thrift Fabric of A City Store Culture in Worcester

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019 ASHLEY GREEN

GRACE LUCIER

orcester has its fair share of local thrift stores — both high-end and nonprofit. Grime and Alexis Grace are thrift and consignment shops, respectively, each offering a meticulously curated collection of used goods. On the other end of the spectrum, Abby’s House and The Clark Community Thrift Store & Collective are two examples of nonprofit thrift stores working to touch the communities they serve.

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Grime on Shrewsbury Street.

COVER STORY

The Balancing Act

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

rime, founded in 2011, currently inhabits a garage on Shrewsbury Street and houses a collection of quirky, well-loved clothing in which anyone could find their next favorite T-shirt or pair of jeans. If not, the decor alone could have a patron wandering the store for hours. Grime’s owner, Molly McGrath, described its initial stages as “an experiment,” as altrock was played in the background while hundreds of her infamous Troll dolls watched. “I just wasn’t finding a good rhythm in climbing the corporate ladder. I was kind of over it. I was itching to do something,” said

on Shrewsbury Street. “Grime just had a buzz behind it that I didn’t even expect,” said McGrath when asked about her thrift store’s early popularity. When recalling her first two years as Grime’s owner, McGrath remembered the long hours she spent managing, organizing and filling the store. “I was the only employee. The only time I really closed the store was to get married,” she said. She also cites her heavily populated Instagram and inspiration from her college years in Georgia as sources of her burgeoning sales. Leah Long, the owner of Alexis Grace Consignment, had a similar, unrelenting work ethic in establishing her own location’s reputation. She has owned Alexis Grace for 10 years, mostly working alone. “It’s basically me. Me and my

Items for sale at Alexis Grace. ASHLEY GREEN

McGrath. Against the wishes of her loved ones, McGrath opened Grime’s first location — tucked between the offices of lawyers, therapists and accountants in the Northworks building. Her first few months, McGrath saved up her money to slowly buy more racks and hangers, eventually riding the wave of college students and other curious customers to her current location

chaotic life. I love it,” said Long. Alexis Grace sits at 7 Harrison St., Worcester. A person walking by the store might notice Long’s window display, often featuring mannequins dressed in her newest items. Earlier this year, her windows were filled with entirely purple items in support of Alzheimer’s research. Long’s inventory, unlike Grime, is all consigned. Rather than take

COVER STORY

Volunteer Robin Rochette helps customers at the Abby’s House Thrift Shop. ASHLEY GREEN

going to clean out my closet and fill a giant trash bag, I’ll bring it to Grime and they can dig through it, and the rest I’m just going to throw in a bin and bring it to Goodwill.’” Both battle the perception that thrift stores are places for unwanted, trash items. McGrath estimates that “we take like less than 20% of stuff brought to us; we are picky.” For McGrath, Grime is more than an edgy, well-organized place for young people to buy band shirts. There’s a deeper sentimentality to the structure of Grime. “The store is really one big reflection of myself. I love collecting dog pictures, I’ve been collecting Trolls since second grade … It’s literally a yearbook of my life in here. It just makes me happy. If it makes other people happy, cool, then I guess I did my job.”

Thrifted Outreach

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he same challenges of clothing intake carry over into nonprofit stores, such as Abby’s House Thrift Store and the Clark Community Thrift Store. Abby’s Thrift Store is a branch of the Abby’s House nonprofit, which provides temporary housing and other services to homeless, battered and low-income women and their children. The thrift store is housed in the basement of the Abby’s House headquarters at 52 High St. They receive donations “all day long,” according to store manager Wendy Harvey. “We have people out the back that go through it, they sort it, they make sure it’s clean, they look at

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

donations or buy direct from customers, Long sells items she buys from a specific group of consigners, allowing both the store owner and consigner to make a percentage of the final sale price. Long estimates that she has anywhere from 300 to 350 active consigners at any time. “I have a really good core of people that know what I like, know my style, know what I take,” she said. Managing the aesthetic appearance of her store has been a balancing act, but Long seems to have cracked the code. Alexis Grace’s back room is spaced neatly and thoughtfully with everything from bags of buttons, to menswear, to your favorite local craft brew in candle form. Long tries to adhere to a perfect ratio between attention-grabbingly chock-full and cleverly organized, allowing a person to explore the racks for an hour or two. “I have to be very fussy. You want to keep it organized, you want to maximize your space, but you don’t want it to be a hot mess. If you have fabulous things people won’t find them,” she said. Long says she has fabulous things for everyone, with prices ranging from one dollar to several hundred. The variety in Alexis Grace has attracted different kinds of customers. Long’s patrons are mothers and daughters, college kids, and even the occasional cook looking for a clean $1 shirt to wear back to work. Long and McGrath have similar issues with inbound clothing. “Sometimes people don’t understand the concept of the store,” says McGrath. “They think, ‘I’m just

COVER STORY

the quality — whether it’s what we’d call boutique, or a better quality brand,” said Harvey. “It’s then put in a bin and then we have people that hang by different categories and then it goes on the show floor. What we don’t accept, we’ve contracted with a local company and they come and buy the clothing by the pound. This way we are getting income from our rejects.” Sorting is accomplished with the help of 40 volunteers, some working just a day or two a week, some four or five. “It never fails to amaze me what the volunteers are willing to do. It makes you feel so good that these women want to

benefit the nonprofit. The store has also more directly affected the women benefiting from Abby’s House programs. According to McGoldrick, when the store has fashion shows or hosts its Holiday Bazaar in November, the resident women often make things to be sold to customers. When women from the community visit the store, McGoldrick says, the volunteers can often be found helping them prep for interviews, pick out clothes or advising on what styles look the best. “At the end of the day that’s what Abby’s House is really about, we are all about empowering women to be their best selves and really

Items for sale at Abby’s House Thrift Shop.

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ASHLEY GREEN

9 HARRISON ST. WORCESTER, MA 01604 MONDAY - SUNDAY 10AM - 10PM • 774.243.1760

MA.GOODCHEM.ORG

Please Consume Responsibly. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

help,” she said. On a recent visit, the area where donations are received was packed with bagged clothing, some in waist-high piles. The loading dock door was wide open, another truck backing up to drop off a load of items. The stacks of clothing quickly diminished as we walked farther from the drop-off area, and the sense of organization was striking. Bins of new and used clothes were stacked high in the storage rooms, each with its own label designating the season, type and quality. Harvey said 100% of the store’s income goes back to Abby’s House. That income has grown alongside the popularity of thrifting in Worcester. Last year, store revenue made up about 9% of the Abby’s House budget, but currently the thrift store is expected to generate anywhere from 13% to 15%, according to Colleen McGoldrick, development and communications specialist. All of the store’s profits

take back their lives. This is just a small aspect of that that really helps,” said McGoldrick. While some residents are able to forge a relationship with the Abby’s House Thrift Store, other women rely on the outreach of the store and its volunteers. Women found in tough situations are provided with the supplies they need to get back on their feet, according to Harvey. “We offer vouchers. So, if there’s a woman who is maybe at the YWCA or maybe she’s in the hospital and she doesn’t have clothing … she can get clothes for an interview or small household items that maybe she needs or just clothing in general.” The thrift store also has bag sales, during which customers fill grocery bags with clothing — if Harvey can tie it, the bag is $5. Sales like these happen two or three times a year and serve as boosts to the thrift store’s revenue for Abby’s House programs, as well as initiatives to get items to those in need.

COVER STORY

The revenue the program generates is “reinvested into the store for student learning and community engagement activities and events,” according to Teresa Quinn, manager of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program at Clark University. However, the pricing systems of Abby’s House and Clark Community Thrift Store differ. Whereas Harvey makes well-educated

judgments on the quality and value of sale items, Clark keeps it simple. Very simple. “Everything is under $3,” said Castro with a grin. “Something that is in perfect condition and has a nice brand would probably be $2 or $3.” Castro described times when a customer would enter the store and pick out an item or two, but then pause at the counter because

they only had a dollar. “The mission is to give, so if someone doesn’t have three dollars and maybe they just have one, then that’s OK.” The thrift store also supports students on Clark’s campus. The store’s newest structural renovation further solidifies its dual purpose — half the store is the thrift shop, the other half is what Quinn has deemed the Clark Collective. “The Collective is open to all

Above, The Abby’s House Thrift Shop. Below, Grime. ASHLEY GREEN

Clear Prices, Full Bags, Can’t Lose

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he Clark Community Thrift Store recently reopened at its 930 Main St. location. The Community Thrift Store is a nonprofit founded in 2010 by two students who won Clark’s Eureka Contest. The contest awards students with the best-designed business venture by allowing them to make their plan a reality. According to Jose Castro, the current manager and overseer of Clark Community Thrift Store, the students who won wanted to reduce the amount of textile waste in landfills — and so the Clark Community Thrift Store was created. Like Abby’s House, the Clark Community Thrift Store has a similarly structured nonprofit.

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

To accommodate their growth and the needs of the community, Abby’s House embarked on renovations last year with the help of a grant from the Health Foundation of Central Mass. The grant allowed volunteers to update the interior of the building, making for “a warm, inviting space where women in the community can come in and shop with dignity,” according to McGoldrick. When a new customer visits the updated store for the first time, it’s easy to tell, said Harvey. “I love the response of people when they walk through the door. The first time people walk down the steps and they go, ‘wow.’ They don’t expect that from a thrift store,” she said.

COVER STORY

bought cheaply at other locations. By paying out the customer she also rewards them for their reused clothing. “We have a lot of regulars that love to shop here and they find that recycling clothing is important, especially in this day and age,” she said. When asked about the clothing she doesn’t accept, McGrath’s face lit up. “When people ask me where they should donate, I’m like, ‘Abby’s House, Abby’s House!’ I’m sure they’ve got so much stuff from he differences between a Grime customers.” boutique store like Alexis A similar kind of connection Grace and a nonprofit like across individuals and stores exists the Clark Community Thrift at Alexis Grace. Store might seem to set them “Much of it gets donated,” says apart. After all, Alexis Grace and Long, of items that sit more than Grime have prices that maintain or 90 days on the racks. “I bring it to Clark student entrepreneurs, business owners and social venture managers providing products and services from handmade earrings to animal rescue. Clark students occupy a vendor booth to showcase their products, services and ventures,” says Quinn.

Cut from the same cloth

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

Boots and posters for sale at Grime ASHLEY GREEN

shoot slightly below an item’s retail price, whereas the Clark Community Thrift Store and Abby’s House Thrift Store are focused on providing clothing and support for their communities. By no means does one motive outshine another, in fact, the thrifting community of Worcester is much more interconnected than one might think. When clothing is bought from a customer at Grime, Molly McGrath pays them 30% of Grime’s selling price in cash. She also gives them the option to take 45% of their tag totals as store credit for Grime. By allowing for the customer to essentially “trade” their used clothing for items in Grime, McGrath is preventing the waste of new textiles

different churches in the area, and Abby’s House. I’m a good friend of one of the ladies who works there, so she’ll come and pick through my stuff and bring it to Abby’s.” While updating the store a few years ago, Long even bought racks from Abby’s House Thrift Store to organize her clothing. When asked about the position of Abby’s House in the Worcester community, Harvey was thoughtful for a moment. “The community has been amazing supporting us,” she said. “It just makes you feel so good that people want to help.”

CITY LIFE If you are an artist, or know of a local artist, email WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com. Fair warning, in order to publish your work, you’ll need to provide a small bio and high resolution digital copies of some of your art. We reserve the right to choose what will run, based on resolution and what will reproduce best on newsprint.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Peter Church attended the West of England College of Art in Bristol, after which he worked in a studio as a designer for a packaging company. He currently lives in Spencer with his wife, Mary and two sons. Church uses gouache and watercolor and has designed greeting cards, jigsaw puzzles, Advent calendars and, recently, a logo for “Out to Lunch.” Check out more of his work at PeterChurchArt.com Elias Howe: Inventor of the sewing machine. William Howe: Uncle to Elias and inventor of the Howe Truss Bridge. Tyler Howe: Brother to William and inventor of the box spring bed.

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CITY LIFE

A Day To Remember reconnects to city with Self-Help Fest

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIMMY FONTAINE

JASON GREENOUGH

said. “When we were thinking about new places to bring Self-Help Fest, Worcester was the first place we ver the course of the last 16 thought of. Along with the outdoor years, A Day To Remember area, the Palladium and the city of has built a career out of Worcester have some significance for establishing emotional conthe band, as well, so it was kind of a nections with their fans in cities all no-brainer for us.” over the world, and as they’re set to With as much traveling as the bring the latest installment of their quintet does, and having as many personally-curated Self-Help Fest to the Palladium’s back lot venue space opportunities to play at various festivals around the globe over the Sept. 7, the band’s already-strong years as they’ve had, Westfall and his bond with the Worcester area is bandmates have been able to take about to become even stronger. away more from a festival setting With the festival kicking off its than just the experience of playing to fifth year of existence in Wormtown massive crowds, and have used those this weekend, the band is excited other experiences to, quite simply, to get back to the area that holds so put on a show themselves that they many memories for them — from would want to see as fans. recording their sophomore album, As a band influenced by myriad “For Those Who Have Heart,” at Zing music genres, and in turn, a band that Studios in Westfield and spending has consistently pushed the boundartime during that recording stint in Worcester, to the number of blowout ies of their own music over the years (as evidenced in their featured guest shows they’ve put on at the Pallaspot on EDM star Marshmello’s “Resdium in the past — and, as guitarist cue Me,” as well as their latest single, Neil Westfall points out, there was “Degenerates”), Westfall, along with very little, if any hesitation as to frontman Jeremy McKinnon, bassist where the Florida-bred band would Joshua Woodard, lead guitarist Kevin be bringing the festival this year. “The Palladium is an insanely good Skaff, and drummer Alex Shelnutt, wanted to put together a festival “by place for us to play, and it always bands, for bands.” has been, because fans have always That means putting just as much come out and supported us, and they’ve always made it very clear that effort into the backstage area as they put into the experience for the crowd, A Day To Remember is very much and putting together a lineup this so welcomed in the area,” Westfall

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

year that includes, but is not limited to, Fever 333, A Loss For Words, Real Friends, White Chapel and This Wild Life — a lineup that brings together an eclectic mix of artists to represent that band’s many musical tastes. “The thing we look forward to the most is being able to push the boundaries,” says Westfall. “Most people wouldn’t think (certain bands) would work together, but because of things like Spotify and Apple Music, and all these crazy playlists that are getting people used to all these genres existing right next to each other, it kind of gives us the ability to include our more far-reaching influences in the festival.” While Westfall and crew are focused on putting together a show that fans won’t forget at Self-Help, a name inspired by a conversation overheard by McKinnon’s wife during one of the band’s shows a number of years ago, another aspect of the festival that the band wants to emphasize is the importance of the therapeutic quality of the many genres that are both closely and distantly related to the metalcore and pop-punk scenes in which A Day to Remember largely resides. “I think that’s what our band, and this whole genre is for so many people,” says Westfall. “It’s kind of therapeutic where they can put on some of the music, and maybe someone can say some-

thing better than they can, and express certain feelings better than they can. Or maybe it gives them something to feel better, or forget about whatever is going for a little while, and that’s kind of what it’s all about.” Since its inception, Self-Help Fest has become so much more than just a music festival, and Westfall is proud of having been a part of its development. Aside from the fact that the band has been able to travel with this festival to different cities all over the country over the last five years, and they’ve been able to play alongside some of the biggest names in the scene, Westfall is quick to admit that there isn’t just one singular aspect to putting the festival together that he would consider the best part. To him, the most rewarding part of the whole experience, year in and year out, is

seeing just how much the experience comes to life, as well as how much the crowds grow. “This has always been something we’ve been very passionate about, from curating the lineup to putting the event together, and really making it a full experience in general, and bringing it from an idea to something in real life,” says Westfall. “It’s something that means so much to so many more people than just us, and that’s the most gratifying part about this whole thing.”

ADTR Presents Self Help Fest When: 1 p.m. Sept. 7 Where: The Palladium Outdoors, 261 Main St., Worcester How much: $60.50-$249. thepalladium.net

TABLE HOPPIN’

Wine Festival returns Sept. 14 to Union Station BARBARA M. HOULE

aise your glasses to the 2019 Worcester Wine Festival scheduled Sept. 14 at Union Station in Worcester, a celebratory event that will have you clinking glasses, whether you’re a serious wine lover or just casual sipper. The Worcester Wine Festival “presents over 600 wines from more than 50 wine distributors,” according to Ed Russo, one

Julio’s Liquors owner, Ryan Maloney, stands with some of the wines that will be available for tasting at the Worcester Wine Festival. STEVE LANAVA

of the major players in organizing the annual celebration. It’s a monumental task to put the list together, he said, but the festival has tremendous support from retail partner Julio’s Liquors’ owner Ryan Maloney and Toni DeLuca, wine director, who review every wine to ensure its quality. Maloney said that under the direction of wine director DeLuca, the festival’s selection and diversity of wine are testament to her dedication to make this festival a top-class event. According to Maloney, the Worcester Wine Festival has improved each year, since beginning two years ago, and guests at this event would be hard-pressed to find a better “bang for their buck” at any other wine festival throughout New England. Let’s uncork the Worcester Wine Festi-

val, starting with tickets. The signature, walk around Grand Tasting is on Sept. 14. Local restaurants and specialty food vendors will participate, in addition to the wine reps. FYI: Vendors include Jay’s Twisted BBQ, Whittier Farms, Alicia’s Homemade, Chocolate Therapy, Gusto della Vita Gourmet Olive Oil, Russo Italian Restaurant, Road Runner Pizza and more. There are three types of admission for the event. VIP Session is $125 per person. The Grand Tasting show floor will be open from noon to 1:30 p.m. for VIP ticket holders to enjoy wine in a “more relaxed atmosphere” before general admission begins. The VIP Lounge will open at 1:30 p.m., with a sit-down luncheon, pairing food C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 21

CITY LIFE

LIFESTYLE

Reliving the Last Dispatch SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

or a decade or more, if asked to recall the best day of my life, I would tell you it was July 31, 2004. My friends and I spent weeks preparing for our favorite band’s farewell concert at the Hatch Shell in Boston, an event we dubbed simply: “the pinnacle.” We labored over our outfits, calculated all possible routes, and debated what provisions would hold up in the late July heat. We made a giant checklist on a piece of chart paper and negotiated with our impetuous boss to let us off early so that we might attend The Last Dispatch. We pestered him so much that he made us stay late to teach us a lesson, but it only added to the pinnacle’s sense of urgency. We pulled up to the Arlington stop just in time to burst onto the field as Dispatch played the first notes of “Here We Go.” We sang “Well, me and my fleabag friends, we ran … ” and it was heaven. You can hype a situation into oblivion, depleting it of its gravity by way of sheer anticipation. Then, there are moments that surpass your wildest expectations — adolescencedefining, awe-inducing pinnacles that stay with you forever. The Last Dispatch is still a The Row for Crows will take place at memory I conjure up CrossFit Prototype in Westborough and dwell upon when the world gets lonely. on Saturday, September 7. Dispatch The band had exfrontman Chad Stokes Urmston will pected to draw a crowd be in attendance for the event. of 10,000 but more than SARAH CONNELL SANDERS ten times that showed up. Fans swam in the Charles River to stay cool and climbed 30-foot trees for a better view. My best friend and I flipped the milk crate packed with our lunches and used it to get a boost. The boys who loved us that summer dumped a jar of jelly down our backs during our favorite song because when you are 17, flirtation and torment sometimes get confused. We screamed and danced and cried grape jelly tears. I remember that day 15 years ago in more vivid detail than I remember yesterday. The colossal attendance at The Last Dispatch must have felt bittersweet for bandmates Brad Corrigan, Pete Francis and Chad Stokes Urmston. To call it quits amid realizations of a fan base 100,000 strong had to sting. Dispatch’s subsequent reunions used their power for good, raising funds to fight disease, famine and social injustice in Zimbabwe. In 2008, Urmston and his wife, Sybil Gallagher, founded Calling All Crows. According to the organization’s website, they have invested over 30,000 hours of service and raised more than $550,000 to support organizations in communities across North America and Europe. Calling All Crows aims to inspire hands-on service and activism for causes such as gun violence prevention, refugee support, marriage equality and hunger. Urmston graduated at nearby Dover-Sherborn High School and has maintained ties to the area. When one of his former classmates reached out to inquire about hosting the Row for Crows at CrossFit Prototype in Westborough, he not only gave his blessing, he marked his calendar to participate. The event will take place Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teams of four will row 20,000 meters to help raise $20,000 to support women’s equality through music and activism. The event is a fundraiser, so team composition is very loose and open to those of all ages and genders. Urmston continues to use his celebrity to drive change, and you can be a part of that. If you’ve spent the last 15 years chasing the nostalgia of The Last Dispatch, here’s your chance at a fresh pinnacle. Take a row down memory road to see a badger and a one-eyed toad. For more information about the Row for Crows, visit CrossFit Prototype’s Facebook page.

CITY LIFE

DINING

Remember Russo 65 Water St., Worcester • russoworcester.com • (774) 243-1377 SANDRA RAIN

he Canal District is flooded with fresh development. Our city’s most avid eaters no longer flock to Shrewsbury Street when they want to try someplace new. Instead, they rush to the Canal District where the latest glittering bars and restaurants are popping up every day. Russo Italian Restaurant opened at 65 Water St. in June, but it already feels like an established member of the neighborhood. This could be on account of its proximity to sister establishment Lock 50, or perhaps it’s because restaurateur Ed Russo is a card-carrying Worcester insider. Restaurants are a hobby for Russo, whose full-time gig as president and CEO of LABEX of MA allows him to view his culinary holdings as a creative outlet. Dining at Russo feels like dropping by Ed’s place for supper. It boasts a sense of place that most new

restaurants take years to establish. Russo’s dignified entryway opens to floral engraved wood panels and a staircase leading to a gilded French chair that sits below an original oil painting. Guests may choose between a family-friendly dining room, a soccer-themed bar area, or a romantic wine cave. An impeccable hospitality derives from casual elegance and Russo’s sense of ease. A stone block floor keeps the space as cool as a medieval castle, rendering the lush greenery along each window firm and perky. Jazzy swing tunes alert newcomers to the kind of old world class that conjures visions of a dessert cart stocked with creamy cannoli, espresso soaked tiramisu, and powdered zeppole slathered in strawberry jam. One server sings along like Billie Holiday every time she runs drinks from the bar. The service team sports charcoal vests and checked shirts, both meticulously pressed. They are knowledge-

able, confident and experienced. Put your trust in their recommendations, especially when it comes to pairing a bottle of Italian wine with a dish. Russo’s by-the-glass list is designed to be versatile. A limited selection of cocktails is also strictly Italian, including sippers such as Russo’s negroni and the crushable spritz veneziano. Start with an antipasto designed to meet your party’s needs. Thin prosciutto and hard Italian cheeses will feed your soul as will the cured meats packed with whole peppercorns and a pile of briny olives and roasted red peppers. Add an octopus salad for Russo’s rustic show of crispy tentacles, bold arugula and springy fennel slivers. The primi selection features Lock 50’s signature gnocchi with the addition of lobster and sherry butter. Owner Ed Russo’s own family recipe for eggplant parm pie is a prime secondi, filled with fried eggplant, marinara and fresh mozzarella

wrapped in a handmade pasta dough shell. Shredded basil practically buzzes from the bowl. Nearly everything on the menu is served in a bowl or a deep platter. Russo isn’t dainty; the kitchen aims to nourish you until you pop. Try the pork chop served with crunchy vinegar peppers and potatoes. The chop’s caramelized exterior will hover in your memory until you resolve to come back for seconds next week. Don’t let the Canal District crowds deter you. Russo offers the convenience of a parking lot, though there is plenty of on-street and garage parking within a half mile.

Sunday Family Dinner is a great entry point for first-time guests. The weekly affair answers the question, “What is Ed craving tonight?” At just $22, guests can experience multiple all-you-can-eat courses for a steal. On our last visit for drinks and a full meal, our total came to $105.64. Explanation of Stars: Ratings are from zero to five. Zero is not recommended. One is poor. Two is fair. Three is satisfactory. Four is good. Five is excellent. Food: HHHH1/2 Ambience: HHHHH Service: HHHHH Value: HHHH1/2

THE NEXT DRAFT

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Sweating over Snoopy

Worcester’s five breweries get together for their first collab brew MATTHEW TOTA

arely a half-hour into brewing their first collaboration beer, brewers representing the city’s five breweries were all sweating. By turns, they ascended steps inside Redemption Rock Brewing Co.’s brew house to reach the mash tun, a stainless-steel barrel of hot water and grain. Each brewer took up a metal paddle, sunk it into the mash and stirred. The brown liquid churned and bubbled and belched steam into their faces. They met one morning last week to brew Snoopy Cap, a brown ale that they will later flavor with an Ethiopian coffee roast provided by Acoustic Java. As they worked, they swapped stories, told jokes and feigned exhaustion. From time to time, Redemption Rock’s brewery cat, Jimmy, would slink around their legs, sniffing their shoes and rubbing his face on their ankles, unfazed by

Dave Richardson, left, founder of Flying Dreams Brewing Co., goes over brewing techniques with Redemption Rock Brewing Co. co-founder and head brewer Greg Carlson. MATTHEW TOTA

the clamor around him. Flying Dreams’ head brewer Lee Chiang hunched over the tun and gripped the paddle tight as he mixed. Looking over Chiang’s shoulder was Wormtown Brewery head brewer Scott Drake. “Do you have a pattern you like to do?” Drake asked. Chiang answered by showing off his technique. The brewers from Wormtown and Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co. looked particularity winded. They had not hand-mixed a mash in some time. “We have an automatic mixer,” said Michelle Winnett, a brewer at Greater Good. It seemed fitting that for a collaboration they could not simply push a button to prepare the mash; they had to pass off the paddle, one by one, and mix. And sweat. “You don’t want a mash mixer, because you want people to know how hard it is to be a brewer,” said Flying Dreams founder Dave Richardson.

As host, Redemption Rock cofounder and head brewer Greg Carlson took responsibility for shepherding the brewers through each step of the brew. In a weathered Jack’s Abby hat and a shirt that read, “Drink Craft Beer,” Carlson showed the other brewers around his 10-barrel brew system. He doled out earplugs. He dumped sacks of grain from Hadley’s Valley Malt into the mill that feeds the mash tun. And he monitored the mash as it heated. Brought to the right temperature and allowed to rest, the mash creates a wort, or the sugary liquid foundation of beer. On the surface the liquid looks unremarkable, even off putting. But the alchemy happening inside is ancient and complex. As the mash heats, the enzymes in the grain convert the starch to sugars. The sugars will power the yeast during fermentation and later help determine characteristics of the beer, including its alcohol content

and body. The temperature of the mash is crucial, as it controls the amount and type of fermentable sugars in the wort. Carlson targeted between 152 and 154 degrees for Snoopy Cap’s mash, which will create a mediumbodied ale with low-alcohol content. If he lets the mash heat any higher than that, the beer grows richer and develops a fuller body. With his mash tun, Carlson has found it tricky to hit the exact temperature for a brew, but on this day the mash-in went smooth. The mash reached exactly 153 degrees, and the brewers stopped stirring to let the mixture rest for around 45 minutes. During any brew, Carlson said, there are periods of what he calls “active waiting.” “You have to constantly watch everything,” he said. “If things are going well, you’re going to be a little bored. Or, I’m running around trying to fix something to save the brew.” With most of the professional C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 23

CITY LIFE

TA B L E H O P P I N’

C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 18

prepared by executive chef Tim Russo of Lock 50 Restaurant in Worcester with VIP wines. The VIP Lounge will remain open for additional tastings exclusively for VIP ticket holders through the 5 p.m. last call. Each VIP

Luke M. Vaillancourt, left, and Edward F. Russo at Lock 50. RICK CINCLAIR

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will receive a crystal Riedel wine glass for tasting and to take home. General Admission Session 1: Tickets are $60 per person; 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., with last call at 5 p.m. General Admission Session 2: Tickets, $35 per person; 3 to 5:30 p.m., with last call at 5 p.m. Visit worcesterwinefestival.com, or the festival’s social media pages including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information. Luke M. Vaillancourt, a partner with Worcester Wine Festival and publisher of Mass Foodies, said, “Each year we’ve tried to change the theme and as we start to develop the food portion of the festival, we’re excited to be offering a VIP experience that is above and beyond. This

year, we’ve restricted the VIP session to 100 individuals that will enjoy a sit-down five-course luncheon that includes wines from both Kobrand and Trellis paired with dishes by Tim Russo from Lock 50. … “Today, the goal is the same as when we founded the Worcester Wine Festival in 2017: introduce high-quality wines in an elegant setting that allows both those looking to start discovering wine and wine connoisseurs to enjoy something new. As the only wine festival of its size in the region, it’s incredible to see so many individuals, businesses and organizations support this festival in a multitude of capacities. If you haven’t attended the festival in the past, you’re really missing out on a great event in the heart of the Commonwealth.” On the festival calendar: A Signature Wine Dinner “Takeover” of Lock 50 Restaurant with Frank Family Vineyards will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 13 at the restaurant, 50 Water St. The formal dinner and wine pairing, $125 per person, is limited to 80 guests. Award-winning executive chef Tim Russo has created a five-course menu. Liza Gallia, Frank Family Vineyard’s Northeast manager, will be at the dinner. The courses will include Duck Breast, Beef Tartare, Dijon Pork Jowl, Thuringian Sausage, Spatzle, and Burnt Blueberry Crème Caramel for dessert. Tickets and complete menu are available on the Worcester Wine Festival’s website. Lock 50 Restaurant also has scheduled a Mimosa & Champagne Brunch on Sept. 14 and Sept. 15. Food and wine, perfect pairing. Cheers!

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CITY LIFE

FILM

‘Jaws’ now — ‘Jaws’ forever

JIM KEOGH

few nights ago, my wife was working in the kitchen when she heard blood-curdling screams coming from the television in the living room. “What are you watching?” she asked. “It sounds so violent.” In fact, I was watching Susan Backlinie, aka Chrissie, again being served up as a midnight snack to Bruce the shark in “Jaws.” Poor Chrissie had no reason to believe a skinny dip in the dark waters off Amity Island was anything but a terrific idea. Which it was, right up until she felt the sharp tug from underneath. Forty-four years after its release, “Jaws” still fascinates me. It’s among my all-time favorite movies, one I can’t turn away from once I stumble on a broadcast of it. (I’ll never understand why watching a “found” movie on a commercial-swollen television station is more gratifying

than calling up a pristine version on a streaming service.) I’ve previously written in this space about the origins of my love for “Jaws.” About pedaling to the Showcase Cinema in Warwick, Rhode Island, with my junior high buddies, hours before the first showing so we could be the first in line. I remember the theater manager pulling up for work and shaking his head when he spotted us hanging out at the front entrance. Was he expressing appreciation for our commitment, sadness for our nerdiness, or a general skepticism about the state of the nation’s youth circa 1975? “You guys are crazy,” he said as he unlocked the glass doors and went inside. OK, I’m going with a combination of all three. This much I know: When Ben Gardner’s severed head popped out from beneath his crippled boat and scared the crap out of Richard Dreyfuss (and the audience), I was lost forever to this movie. I had never before

seen a bodyless head in a film — especially one gnawed into disfigurement — and to my fevered 14-year-old brain, it was the single greatest image ever presented on screen. When “The Omen” was released a year later and word got out about David Warner’s spectacular decapitation by a pane of glass, I wanted, no, needed to experience that as well. No red flags there, Mom and Dad. My appreciation for “Jaws” has turned me into the annoying person who recites the dialogue a millisecond before the actors do. I know every syllable of Robert Shaw’s Indianapolis monologue, and I find the stuff spouting from the mouth of Murray Hamilton, as the tourist-hungry Amity mayor, unintentionally hilarious. After countless viewings, I look at “Jaws” through many prisms. For instance, I have boundless affection for the island medical examiner, who stands by his historically bad diagnosis of Chrissie’s death until Dreyfuss

examines her remains with all the giant teeth marks and snaps, “This was no boating accident!” The poor doc is fumbling through a smalltown cover-up, clearly at the mayor’s urging, even though he’s abandoning his professional standards and personal morals. Ah, the dark night of the soul. The medical examiner was played by the late Dr. Robert Nevin, who

joined a host of locals recruited by Steven Spielberg to appear in the film. A much-loved Martha’s Vineyard physician, Nevin was known as a modest, caring man — in other words, someone who would never jeopardize the health and well-being of his fellow islanders. It’s a detail I’m happy to share. Next year at this time, I’ll share another. “Jaws” never runs out of them.

victory in this Marvel franchise entry. (3:01) PG-13. “Bennett’s War” — A soldier discharged after being severely injured in an explosion returns to motocross racing in a bid to save the family farm. (1:35) PG-13. “Blinded by the Light” — A working-class British-Pakistani teen in 1987 finds inspiration in the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen. With Viveik Kalra, Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon. (1:57) PG-13. “A Dog’s Journey” — The pooch with a purpose forms a new attachment and vows to watch over her in this sequel. (1:48) PG. “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” — The teen explorer from the animated series leads her friends on a jungle adventure in this live-action tale. With Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Pena, Eva Longoria, Temuera Morrison. (1:42) PG. “The Farewell” — Lulu Wang’s tender, funny and melancholy dramedy about an elaborate family deception is personal filmmaking at its most incisive, with superb performances. PG. “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” — Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham grudgingly team to battle a cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist wielding a bio threat in this

globe-spanning spinoff of the speedfueled action series. (2:14) PG-13. “Good Boys” — Bad decisions lead a trio of sixth-graders down a comical path of age-inappropriate misadventures. (1:32) R. “John Wick — Chapter 3 — Parabellum” — The super-assassin played by Keanu Reeves is back, pursued by other hired killers looking to collect a $14 million bounty. (2:10) R. “Late Night” — A swell romantic comedy of a very particular sort, a film that details the delightful attachment two women have to the profession they’re completely devoted to. R. “The Lion King” — The young Simba has a series of adventures on the way to claiming his birthright in this computer-animated remake of the 1994 animated Disney musical. (1:58) PG. “Maiden” — A potent documentary about the first all-female crew to compete in yachting’s grueling Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989, it tells a mighty tale about the majesty of the human spirit and the power of women. PG. “Men in Black: International” — A new generation of alien-busting agents searches for a mole in their midst. (1:55) PG-13. “Midsommar” — Starring a terrific Florence Pugh as a young woman on

an ill-advised Scandinavian holiday, Ari Aster’s latest grief-soaked horror film isn’t quite as terrifying as his earlier “Hereditary,” but may be even more audacious. R. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” — Leonardo DiCaprio is a has-been TV star and Brad Pitt plays his longtime stunt double in writerdirector Quentin Tarantino’s 1969-set multi-narrative tale set during the closing days of the studio system’s Golden Age. (2:39). “Overcomer” — A high school coach and family man in an economically struggling town finds inspiration in a young girl who tries out for the crosscountry team. With Alex Kendrick, Aryn Wright-Thompson, Shari Rigby, Priscilla Shirer. (1:59) PG. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” — A young man with Down syndrome chases his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. With Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen, John Hawkes, Bruce Dern, Jon Bernthal, Thomas Haden Church, Jake Roberts, Mick Foley. (1:33) PG-13. “Ready or Not” — A new bride is forced by her eccentric in-laws to play a twisted and deadly game. With Samara Weaving, Mark O’Brien, Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell. (1:35) R. “Rocketman” — Mild-mannered

English piano player Reginald Dwight transforms into rock superstar Elton John in this musical fantasy biopic starring Taron Egerton. (2:01) R. “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” — Teens in a small town in the 1960s discover a book of terror tales that start to come true. With Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Abrams, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, Lorraine Toussaint. (1:510 PG-13. “The Secret Life of Pets 2” — A sequel to the computer-animated comedy reveals more of the antics our animal companions get up to when we’re not around. (1:26) “Spider-Man: Far from Home” — The young web slinger’s trip to Europe with his school friends is interrupted by Nick Fury and some elemental creatures. (2:08) PG-13. “Toy Story 4” — The gang goes on a road trip and reunites with Bo Peep in the fourth entry in DisneyPixar’s beloved computer-animated franchise. (1:40) G. “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” — A Seattle woman with a seemingly perfect life suddenly disappears in this comedydrama based on Maria Semple’s bestselling novel. With Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, James Urbaniak, Judy Greer, Troian Bellisario, Laurence Fishburne. (1:44) PG-13.

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

FILM CAPSULES “47 Meters Down: Uncaged” — Four teen girls exploring undersea ruins are menaced by sharks in this sequel. With Sophie Nelisse, Corinne Foxx, Sistine Stallone, Brianne Tju, John Corbett, Nia Long. (1:29) PG-13. “Aladdin” — Live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1992 animated musical based on the timeless fantasy tale about a charming thief, a beautiful princess and a big blue genie. (2:08) PG. “Angel Has Fallen” — Gerard Butler’s Secret Service agent returns, this time framed for the attempted assassination of the president. With Morgan Freeman, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lance Reddick. (2:00) R. “The Angry Birds Movie 2” — The irritable avians of the popular game app return in this animated sequel. Voices of Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Leslie Jones, Bill Hader, Rachel Bloom, Awkwafina, Sterling K. Brown, Danny McBride, Peter Dinklage, Dove Cameron, Lil Rel Howery, Nicki Minaj. (1:36) PG. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” — A clever dog voiced by Kevin Costner narrates the story of his owner, an aspiring Formula One driver. With Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried. (1:49) PG. “Avengers: Endgame” — Captain America and the other surviving team members attempt to set the universe to rights in the aftermath of Thanos’

CITY LIFE

TA B L E H O P P I N

C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 21

Chuck’s Steak offers apps special for football season

Mark your calendar: Chuck’s Steak House in Auburn offers a special $5 appetizer menu on Sundays only, beginning Sept. 8. The Sunday all-day appetizers, potato skins, nachos Cowabunga, buffalo chicken flatbread, onions strings and German pretzel dippers, are in celebration of the football season, according to Chuck’s owners Steve Londregan and Tom Flynn. Guests can watch football games on seven TVs located in the restaurant. Football fan or not, enjoy the “apps.”

September spice sale at Ed Hyder’s

The September spice sale at Ed Hyder’s Mediterranean Marketplace,

NEXT DRAFT

C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 20

Fall wine tasting at Friendly Discount Liquors

Fall Grand Tasting of wine, spirits and beer is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 14 at Friendly Discount Liquors, 1167 Providence Road, Whitinsville. The event is free to the public and sale prices will be offered. Call (508) 234-7951 for more information. If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

A smooth brew

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The entire Snoopy Cap brew day stretched from 9 a.m. to late in the evening. I had to leave before the final steps of the brew, but Carlson told me the rest of the day went well. “All in all, a very smooth brew day,” he said in an email. He also thanked Dave Howland, owner of 3cross Fermentation Cooperative, for sticking around later to help clean up the brew house. The Ethiopian coffee roast will be added to Snoopy Cap just before the beer is ready to be moved to kegs, Carlson said. “I’ll transfer it to a brite tank, add the coffee there, and let it sit for about 24 hours : The idea is we’re essentially making cold brew coffee in the beer itself. It’ll then be kegged off once the flavor is right,” he explained. Snoopy Cap will debut Sept. 21 at the Massachusetts Brewers Guild’s new fall festival, “The Great Mass Collab.” The festival will have one session from 1 p.m. to 5. Tickets are $45 for general admission and $10 for designated drivers. You’ll also find Snoopy Cap on tap at all of the city’s breweries during the first-ever Worcester Craft Beer Week, which will run from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28. (Note: The Aug. 22 column had incorrect dates for the fall festival events. Events include a rooftop party Sept. 21 after the Great Mass Collab, a disc golf tournament at Maple Hill in Leicester on Sept. 22 and a pizza night at BirchTree Bread Company with brewers on Sept. 25. On Sept. 27, Union Station will offer shuttle service to each brewery.)

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

brewers in Worcester crammed into one brew house, there were a lot of eyes to look out for any problems. And the downtime afforded them time to talk shop. Topics of conversation included the proliferation of spiked seltzers and light beers and the dangers of carbon dioxide in a brew house. Allowing the mash to rest gives the enzymes in the grain time to convert the starches to sugars. After that period, Carlson began draining the wort and pumping it back on top of the mash. This part of the brew — known as “Vorlauf ” or re-circulation — allows the husks from the crushed grain resting at the bottom of the tun to work as natural filters. “We’re able to get out the sugars that we want and leave behind the tannins that we don’t,” he said. The wort is then ready to move from the mash tun to the kettle beside it. During this 90-minute to two-hour step in the brew, Carlson gently sprays hot water on top of the mash to help extract more sugar as the wort flows into kettle. It’s at this point that the brewers got their first look at the color of Snoopy Cap, watching as the brown wort pools into a smaller kettle below the mash tun and rushes through a clear pipe on the flow panel. “It looks a little pale to me,” Carlson said. “I think it’s a good color,” said Richardson. “Some of the brown ales are actually dark amber, so we have a lot of leeway.”

408 Pleasant St., Worcester, is on. All bulk spices are discounted by 50 percent this month, with vanilla products the only exception. The store’s owner, the late Ed Hyder, started the sale to remind people to throw out their old spices and replenish with new, fresh spices once a year, according to family members who now run the business. Check it out.

CITY LIFE

THINGS TO DO COMPILED BY RICHARD DUCKETT AND VICTOR D. INFANTE

Thursday, Sept. 5 Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sep. 5, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester. For information: (508) 7933356, prosenbl@holycross.edu. Featuring paintings, illustrated texts, sculptures, and ritual implements crafted by Newar artisans over the last millennium, “Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal” will be centered on how the Buddha’s teachings were arrayed as much for worldly householders as otherworldly seekers. Buffalo Soldiers presentation by Joseph Glover: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

Outlaw Legacy Is there any better outlaw music cred than being Waylon Jenning’s grandson? It only takes a quick dive into Struggle Jenning’s catalog to learn that he’s not riding on his grandfather’s legacy. His most recent single, “Reign Down,” starts with a dusty road country guitar line, over a slow-burn rap. It’s a song about drug dealing, and it bristles with emotion and a sense of danger and disarray, one that echoes when hard-rock guitars overtake the melody, bringing the fusion to a new level. It’s exciting stuff, from a musician who is clearly unafraid to take risks. What: Struggle Jennings When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 Where: The Pavilion at the Beer Garden, 66 Franklin St., Worcester How much: $65

Sep. 5, Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., Worcester. For information: (508) 852-5539, ebelding@seniorconnection.org. Out to Lunch 2019 ft. King Warble: 11 a.m. Sept. 5, Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St., Worcester. Free. Lecture by Dr. Todd Lewis: 4:305 p.m. Sep. 5, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester. For information: (508) 793-3356, prosenbl@holycross. edu. This exhibition highlights Nepal’s artistic heritage as a rich and enduring continuation of Indic Buddhist traditions and features paintings, illustrated texts, sculptures, and ritual implements on loan from major institutions that were crafted by Newar artisans over the last millennium. NYC Comedy Invades Worcester: 5-9 p.m. Sep. 5, The Muse Bar & Kitchen, 536 Main St, Worcester. Cost: Free-$7.50. When Main Street Was Gay: 6-7:30 p.m. Sep. 5, Worcester PopUp, 20 Franklin St., Worcester. Cost: $10. For information: (508) 753-8278, Davidconner@worcesterhistory. net. Follow the paths of early bar hoppers, community builders, cruisers and Pride marchers as they cautiously and sometimes defiantly navigated the blocks around Worcester’s Main Street in pursuit of sociability, spiritual fellowship, sexual pleasure, and political rights between 1950s and 1990s. Bike Night with The Ed Sullivans: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Sep. 5, Halligan’s Bar And Function Hall, 889 Southbridge St., Auburn. For information: (508) 832-6793, halligansbar6@gmail.com. Hidden Gems of New England: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sep. 5, Fitchburg Public Library, MA, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. For information: (978) 829-1780, fplref@cwmars.org. The program is based on a book “Inns & Adventures,” co-authored by journalist Alison O’Leary and New York Times bestselling author Michael Tougias. The Yo Daddy Doe Variety Show: hosted by CoffeeHouse Craig, 7 p.m. Sept. 5, Strong Style Coffee, 13 Cushing St, Fitchburg. Lil Tjay: 7 p.m. Sept. 5, The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester. $24.50-$100. FATBOY SSE with Raff TheRuler: 7 p.m. Sept. 5, The Pavilion at

Going to the Dogs The 21st Pet Rock Fest on Sunday on the grounds of the Wyman-Gordon plant in North Grafton features live music, performances and games for children, a vegetarian food court, author signings — and kindness to animals. And fun with them, too. The biggest event of its kind in New England also has Pups in the Air Frisbee Dog Team, photos of your pets, animal mascots, contests for dogs, a cat photo contest, doggie massages, a doggie water park, animal demonstrations, exhibits and vendors, and hundreds of nonprofit groups devoted to animal welfare causes. The musical lineup includes Niki Luparelli and the Honey Badgers, Belit, Hit the Bus and Gov’t Surplus. Proceeds go to worthy animalrelated charities that support a variety of causes, from shelters to law reform to farm animal sanctuaries. What: Pet Rock Fest 2019 When: Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 Where: Wyman-Gordon, 244 Worcester St., North Grafton. How much: $12; $5 children 12 and under. For more information, visit petrockfest.org.

the Beer Garden, 66 Franklin St., Worcester. $20-$25. Allison & Moon, Opium Droid, Alyssa Joseph and The Ocean Between, 7 p.m. Sept. 5, Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester.

Friday, Sept. 6 ArtsWorcester exhibitions: 6-9 p.m. Sep. 6, Davis Art Gallery, 44 Portland St., Worcester. For information: info@artsworcester. org. Nastasia Lawton-Sticklor considers the intricacies of form and history through the lens of her camera in “Tea Time.” Through tea, she focuses on both her own past and the larger cultural narrative – from the comfort it has provided her personally, to the economic and racial disparity and that emerged from tea’s growing popularity in western countries. In “Dysfunctional,” Sarah Williams explores language through ceramic art. Her belief that diction is interwoven with our current political state is investigated through her techniques in clay. Both exhibitions will run through October 5. “Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure”: 6 p.m. Sep. 6, The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Cost: $35.50 to $150. Worcester Pride Pageant: featuring the crowning of Ms. Worcester Pride (self identified female), Mr. Worcester Pride (self

identified male), Mx. Worcester Pride (self identified gender neutral) and Miss Gay Worcester (traditional Drag title), 6 p.m. Sept. 6, El Basha, 256 Park Ave, Worcester. Sold Out. Fender Road (Feat. Paul ‘Fender’ Lirange and Gary Suter): 7-10 p.m. Sep. 6, 308 Lakeside, 308 East Main St., East Brookfield. Deep Thoughts Poetry Slam: 7-8

p.m. Sep. 6, Bedlam Book Cafe, 138 Green St., Worcester. For information: (508) 459-1400, bedlambookcafe@gmail.com. Struggle Jennings: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6, The Pavilion at the Beer Garden, 66 Franklin St., Worcester. $65. On Our Terms: A New Play by Mary Darling: 8-10 p.m. Sep. 6, McKay Campus School, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg. Cost: $5-$15. For

Down to the Roots One-man-band King Strang plays folk and rockabilly with a sort of punk rock abandon, with songs such as “Sad Boy Stomp,” “Cocaine” and “Gypsy Lullaby” being small tornadoes of energy. Much the same is his cohort, fiddle player Lightnin’ Luke, who brings the instrument to life on songs such as “Poison Angel Girl” and “Too Loud to Be Proud.” It’s a great evening of roots music, made better by an opening set by up-and-coming regional favorites Tysk, Tysk, Task, who will be beginning an every-other-week residency at Nick’s with this show, alternating Sunday nights with the Duende Project. What: King Strang with Lightnin’ Luke, and Tysk, Tysk, Task When: 8:30 p.m. Sept. 8 Where: Nick’s Bar & Restaurant, 124 Millbury St., Worcester How much: Free, but donations accepted to pay the performers

CITY LIFE

information: theforgetheaterlab@ gmail.com.

Saturday, Sept. 7 Ladies Only! Golf Tournament: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sep. 7, Harrisville Golf Course, 125 Harrisville Road, Woodstock. Cost: $5-$240. For information: Contact Sheena Farner at sheenafarner@gmail. com, or Jane Bullock at (860) 2305347. Worcester Pride Parade: 9 a.m. lineup, 11 a.m. start Sept. 7 at on Humboldt Street along Institute Park. Parade ends at noon on the Worcester Common. Be Like Brit 5k Worcester Walk for Haiti: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sep. 7, Elm Park, 138 Russell St., Worcester. Cost: $19. For information: (508) 886-4500, kate@belikebrit.org. GWLT Hike Series: Southwick Pond: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Sep. 7, Southwick Pond, meet up at the Trailhead at the end of Walbridge

Road, Paxton. For information: (508) 795-3838, lea@gwlt.org. Board member Mike Peckar leads hikers through the Southwick Pond Conservation area. Fifth Annual Art Festival: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sep. 7, Sutton Common, Uxbridge Rd., Sutton. For information: fearlessleadernancy@gmail.com. Destiny Youth Development And Outreach Program Youth Summit: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sep. 7, 9 Walnut St., 9 Walnut St., 4th floor, Worcester. For information: (774) 601-4318, gitalittlejohn1977@ gmail.com. Topics include Bullying Prevention, Becoming an Entrepreneur, Suicide Awareness and Recognizing unhealthy relationships. Free. Worcester Pride Festival: featuring Lady Sabrina, Myles Jeh, Taija New, Eve Tribal Belly Dancers, Serenity Jackson, Poise N’Envy, QEAM, Snowday, Mikita LeFemme, The Rafters and more, noon to 7

Top Ten on Forge Theater Lab

What: “On Our Terms” by Mary Darling, presented by Forge Theater Lab When: 8 p.m. Sept. 6, 7, 13, and 14; 2 p.m. Sept. 8; 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 Where: Wallace Theater for the Performing Arts, the McKay Building, Fitchburg State University, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg How much: $15; $5 students; September 12 show “pay what you can.” theforgetheaterlab.org

If there was something dicey going on in your life in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, the last person you wanted to see at your door was Mike Wallace with a film crew. The newsman’s segments for “60 Minutes” on CBS didn’t include too many softball questions. Avi Belkin’s new documentary “Mike Wallace is Here,” being screened Sept. 6 by cinema-worcester, is an “all-archival portrait” that explores what drove the feared reporter, who died in 2012. By tracking Wallace’s storied career and troubled personal life, the film also unpacks how broadcast journalism evolved from the past to its troubling present. What: “Mike Wallace is Here” — presented by cinemaworcester When: 7 p.m. Sept. 6 Where: Park View Room, 230 Park Ave., Worcester How much: $10; $8.50 students and seniors. cinema-worcester.com

Sunday, Sept. 8

Monday, Sept. 9 Sand Mandala Creation: 4-5 p.m. Sep. 9, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester.

For information: (508) 793-3356, prosenbl@holycross.edu. This exhibition highlights Nepal’s artistic heritage as a rich and enduring continuation of Indic Buddhist traditions and features paintings, illustrated texts, sculptures and ritual implements on loan from major institutions that were crafted by Newar artisans over the last millennium. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Themed Trivia at the Red Heat Tavern: 7-9 p.m. Sep. 9, Red Heat Tavern, 227 Turnpike Road, Westborough. Cost: Free. Dirty Gerund Poetry Series: featuring Philadelphia poet Ashley Davis, 9 p.m. Sept. 9, Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester.

Tuesday, Sept. 10 Art Exhibit – A Retrospective: Drawings & Photographs by Debra Horan: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sep. 10, Booklovers’ Gourmet, 55 East Main St., Webster. For information: (508) 949-6232, deb@bookloversgourmet.com. Paranormal Hands-On Dinner/ Investigation: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sep. 10, Publick House Historic Inn, On The Common, 277 Main St./ Route 131, Sturbridge. Cost: $65. Featuring best-selling Authors and paranormal investigators Thomas D’Agostino and his wife Arlene. For information: diningwiththedead1031@gmail. com. New England Shutterbugs Camera Club September meeting: 7-9 p.m. Sep. 10, Leominster Veterans’ Services, 100 West St., Leominster. For information: (978) 534-6638, tapestry61@gmail.com.

Burt Reynolds Memorial Cruise-In: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sep. 8, High Octane Performance Cars, 67 Main St., Boylston. For information: (508) 320-8876, rich25@charter.net. 21st Annual Pet Rock Festival: Belit, Niki Luparelli and the Honey Badgers, Hit the Bus and Gov’t Surplus, noon-5 p.m. Sept. 8. Wyman Gordon, 244 Worcester St.,

North Grafton. High Tea & Hats: 1-3 p.m. Sep. 8, Open Sky Community Services, 60 Douglas Road, Northbridge. For information: bcombs@ blackstoneheritagecorridor.org. On Our Terms: A New Play by Mary Darling: 2-4 p.m. Sep. 8, McKay Campus School, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg. Cost: $5-$15. For information: theforgetheaterlab@ gmail.com. Rapid River Boys: 2-5 p.m. Sep. 8, Timberyard Brewing Company, 555 East Main St., East Brookfield. Cost: Free. Benefit for Dan Richard: 2-7 p.m. Sep. 8, Halligan’s Bar And Function Hall, 889 Southbridge St., Auburn. Cost: $10. Wedstock — A Faux Wedding/ Expo Experience: 3:30-8 p.m. Sep. 8, Oakholm Farm Estate, 80 Lake Road, Brookfield. Cost: $25. Wedstock is a bridal show alternative in the form of a big, faux wedding. “Wedding guests” are brides- and grooms-to-be who enjoy an emotional vow renewal ceremony, a tasty cocktailstyle dinner, and a dance-party reception while truly experiencing the wedding vendors in action. Listen! A Poetry Reading: 7 p.m. Sept. 8, Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St., Worcester. King Strang with Lightnin’ Luke: Tysk, Tysk, Task opens, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 8, Nick’s Bar & Restaurant, 124 Millbury St., Worcester.

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p.m.Sept. 7, Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St, Worcester. Joslyn Fox’s Pride Tea Dance: noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 7, The Pavilion at the Beer Garden, 66 Franklin St., Worcester. Free. A Day to Remember with FEVER 333, Whitechapel, This Wild Life, Wage War, The Acacia Strain and Falling In Reverse: 2 p.m. Sept. 7, The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester. $60.50-$249. JAZZED UP TRIO featuring Mauro DePasquale: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Sep. 7, Cheng Du Restaurant, 157 Turnpike Road, Westborough. Farewell to Summer - Family Night Campfire: 8-9 p.m. Sep. 7, West Hill Dam, 518 Hartford Avenue East, Uxbridge. For information: (978) 318-8417, Viola.M.Bramel@usace. army.mil. On Our Terms: A New Play by Mary Darling: 8-10 p.m. Sep. 7, McKay Campus School, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg. Cost: $5-$15. For information: theforgetheaterlab@ gmail.com. Gypsy Cowboys: 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Sep. 7, Halligan’s Bar And Function Hall, 889 Southbridge St., Auburn. The Electrolux Combo: 9 p.m. Sept. 7, Nick’s Bar & Restaurant, 124 Millbury St., Worcester.

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

The Forge Theater Lab, a theater company in residence at Fitchburg State University, opens its second season with a production Sept. 6-14 of “On Our Terms,” a new play written by FSU graduate Mary Darling. In “On Our Terms,” described as an “absurd, provocative comedy,” two people negotiate a one-year relationship contract before their first date. As they make their way through the transaction, they share stories of previous failed relationships, in hopes that maybe this one will last. Darling, who grew up in Worcester and now lives in Southbridge, said she is “interested in how we perceive and talk about our versions of past relationships.” Noah Dawson of Fitchburg, also an FSU graduate, directs. The cast includes Kevin Boudreau, James Estes, Rebecca Joseph, Rachael Miles and Natalie Scott. The play is not recommended for children under 14.

Top Ten on screening of of “Mike Wallace Was Here”

CITY LIFE

THINGS TO DO

Theater on a Shoestring The Shoestring Theater Festival Sept. 7 at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts has two restrictions — time and money. Each of the eight teams of local theater artists taking part is restricted to a total budget of $50 and a maximum performance time of 50 minutes. Ghost Light Players of Marlboro in partnership with Enter Stage Left Theater of Hopkinton are presenting the festival, which has no restrictions on genre, style or scope. The event begins at noon and will feature eight different performances over the course of the day, concluding at 9 p.m. Come and see what people mean when they say the most exciting theater is made on a shoestring.

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

What: Shoestring Theater Festival When: Noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 7 Where: Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton, How much: $15; $12 children and senior citizens. (508) 263-0052; ghostlightplayers.com/boxoffice

LGBTQ+ FOR THE RECORD Lecture: 7-9 p.m. Sep. 10, Worcester Historical Museum, 30 Elm St., Worcester. Cost: $5. For information: (508) 753-8278, davidconner@worcesterhistory. net. Community Forum – Youth Culture and Worcester LGBTQ+ History This forum will provide insight into the current day experiences of LGBTQ+ youth, specifically the Safe Homes and SWAGLY programs for LGBTQ+, young people between the ages of 11 and 24. The Cobra Kings: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10, Greendale’s Pub, 404 W. Boylston St, Worcester.

Wednesday, Sept. 11 Rainbow Lunch Club: 12-2 p.m. Sept. 11, Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden St., Worcester. For information: (508)756-1545 ext.404 or wlen@ eswa.org. Programs, entertainment and educational series for LGBTIQA 60 years old and older; younger partners, friends and allies. $2.50 suggested donation for those age 60+; the fee for younger individuals is $5.50. Back to School Slime at Roosevelt Branch: 4-5 p.m. Sep. 11, Worcester Public Library Roosevelt Branch, 1006 Grafton St., Worcester. For information: lsheldon@mywpl.org. For ages 8 and up. Monthly Writers Group: 5-7 p.m. Sep. 11, Booklovers’ Gourmet, 55 East Main St., Webster. For information: (508) 949-6232, deb@bookloversgourmet.com. Call (508) 949-6232 or email deb@bookloversgourmet.com to register. Writing Workshop Series: 6:308:30 p.m. Sep. 11, Charlton Creative Arts Center, 4 Dresser Hill Rd, Charlton. Cost: $42. For information: (413) 3880475, info@sceniclandscapes. org. A workshop on short stories. For information: info@ sceniclandscapes.org Phone: (888) 284.7460. Wednesday night Cornhole at Railers Tavern: 7-10 p.m. Sep. 4, Railers Sports Tavern, 90 Commercial St., Worcester. Cost: Free. Jazzee: 7-10 p.m. Sep. 11, Lock 50, 50 Water St, Worcester. Cost: Free.

Season Opener Circle of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin opens its 30th season Sept. 7 with award-winning folk singer, songwriter and dobro player Abbie Gardner. Gardner’s captivating songs of love and loss come across with evocative vocals and world-class dobro guitar playing that extend the notes and emotion. Upcoming shows in the season include Ellis Paul with Rachel Kilgour, Sept. 21; The Kennedy’s, Oct. 5; and Windbourne, Oct. 19. Beverages and desserts available. What: Abbie Gardner When: 8 p.m. Sept. 7 (doors open 7:30 p.m.) Where: Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, 262 Chestnut St., Franklin How much: $20. circlefolk.org

Shining Bright Marcia Ball is Texas-born and Louisiana-raised. Music fans have noticed. The veteran pianist, songwriter and vocalist has won worldwide fame for her rollicking Texas boogies, swampy New Orleans ballads and groove-laden Gulf Coast blues. Her latest album, “Shine Bright,” has twofisted piano, soulful vocals, a topshelf band of Texas and Louisiana musicians, and Ball’s one-of-a-kind magnificent songwriting. What: Marcia Ball When: 8 p.m. Sept. 7 (doors open 6 p.m. for seating and dinner) Where: Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Shirley How much: $35. (978) 425-4311; bullrunrestaurant.com

Wacky Wednesday Jam: 8:30 p.m. Sept. 11, Greendale’s Pub, 404 W. Boylston St, Worcester. Duncan Arsenault and friends: 9 p.m. Sept. 11, Vincent’s, 49 Suffolk St., Worcester.

Thursday, Sept. 12 The Emerging Issues Forum 2019: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sep. 12, Hogan Conference Center, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester. Cost: Free. An annual event hosted by the Massachusetts Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission for the benefit of members of public retirement systems in the Commonwealth and interested parties. For information, email registration@ per.state.ma.us or call (617) 6664446, ext. 931. Out to Lunch 2019 ft. 4 Elements hip-hop crew: 11 a.m. Sept. 12, Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St., Worcester. Free. PAWS to Read: Session 1: 3:304:30 p.m. Sep. 12, Worcester Public Library Burncoat Branch, 526 Burncoat St., Worcester. For information: lsheldon@mywpl. org. Boost reading skills and confidence! Ages 5-12. Time slots are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Fantastic Furries: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sep. 12, Worcester Public Library Goddard Branch, 14 Richards St., Worcester. For information: lsheldon@mywpl.org. Opening Reception for Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sep.

12, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester. For information: (508) 7933356, prosenbl@holycross.edu. Featuring paintings, illustrated texts, sculptures, and ritual implements crafted by Newar artisans over the last millennium, “Dharma and Punya: Buddhist Ritual Art of Nepal” will be centered on how the Buddha’s teachings were arrayed as much for worldly householders as otherworldly seekers. On Our Terms: A New Play by Mary Darling: 6:30-9 p.m. Sep. 12, McKay Campus School, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg. Cost: $5-$15. For information: theforgetheaterlab@ gmail.com. Bike Night with No Alibi: 6:3010:30 p.m. Sep. 12, Halligan’s Bar And Function Hall, 889 Southbridge St., Auburn. Showcase Cinemas Brings Back “The Breakfast Club”: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sep. 12, Blackstone Valley 14: Cinema de Lux, 70 WorcesterProvidence Turnpike. Cost: $13.50. WOOtenanny Presents: Hot Dog! A Comedy Sideshow: 8-9 p.m. Sep. 12, Coney Island, 158 Southbridge St., Worcester. Hosted by Shaun Connolly and Bryan O’Donnell, featuring Anjan Biswas, Izzy da Rosa, Emmett DeLaney, John Farrell, Josh Pineo, Shyam Subramanian and Brandon Vallee. DjWhizPk: 8 p.m. Sept. 12, starlite, 39 Hamilton St., Southbridge. DJ JUICE: 9 p.m. Sept. 12, The Pavilion at the Beer Garden, 66 Franklin St., Worcester. $5. Metal Thursday ft. Begrime

CITY LIFE

Along for the Ride Worcester DJ and producer DjWhizPk’s album “T.D.E.M. revisited — Tales of the Universal Whizard” isn’t your usual hip-hop fare. It’s a phantasmagoric sort of musical journey, pseudo-mystical spoken word running up against simmering beats and freaked out samples of “Mr. Sandman.” It’s an engulfing, ambitious ride, one that shows a deep comprehension of what this sort of electronic music is capable. What: DjWhizPk When: 8 p.m. Sept. 12 Where: starlite, 39 Hamilton St., Southbridge

Exemious, Burial and Mucophagus: 9 p.m. Sept. 12, Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester. $10.

Stage

Tickets

Alan Parsons Live Project: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18. $29.50-

Late lunch addition

What: Out to Lunch 2019 ft. 4 Elements hip-hop crew When: 11 a.m. Sept. 12 Where: Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St., Worcester How much: Free

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In the last scheduled Out to Lunch series concert, Worcester hip-hop stalwarts the 4 Elements Crew, including rappers Death Over Simplicity and Ghost of the Machine will perform.

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

“Beer For Breakfast”: 8 p.m. Sept. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21; 2 p.m. Sept. 8, 15, 22. $20; seniors and students, $18; youth 11 and younger, $10. Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge. stageloft.org/. “Tuesdays with Morrie”: Sept. 13, 14, 20, 21, 22. Gateway Players Theatre. gatewayplayers.org. “Beautiful”: Sept. 26-29. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre.org.

$79.50. Tickets on sale May 10. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre.org or (877) 571-7469. REO Speedwagon: 8 p.m. Oct. 3. $45-$95. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre. org or (877) 571-7469. Carol Burnett: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17. $68-$250. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre.org or (877) 571-7469. Lewis Black: The Joke’s On US Tour. 7 p.m. Dec. 8. $55-$75. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre.org or (877) 571-7469.

CITY LIFE

ADOPTION OPTION

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

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.

Fisher and Squirrel are two of four feral kittens that came to the shelter in June. Two separate foster

moms tamed the varmints. They are still learning to trust human parents and will need your patience. They must be kept in an enclosed room in your home until they reach the stage where you can pick them up. Squirrel (gray with white chin female) enjoyed playing with her foster mom and climbed over her to get toys. When you pick her up, she squirms to get down, but she also took naps on her foster momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lap. Feral cats bond with one another, so we are adopting the kittens as pairs at a reduced fee of $350 for both kittens.

GAMES

J O N E S I N’ Across

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1 Banned pollutants, briefly 2 CFO, e.g. 3 In opposition

46 48 49 50 51 55 58 59 61 62 64 66 67

Match ender “MST3K” fodder Carter and Copland, e.g. Mythical chalices Button used mostly in the morning May follower Four-line rhyme scheme Craft store bundle Revolution outcome Olympic event with swords Icy core? ___-Magnon Daily ___ (political blog)

Last week's solution

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Down

4 Tree of Life, in “The Lion King” 5 “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” airer, once 6 Go bad 7 1970s rock genre 8 Wish earnestly 9 Enter via ship 10 “If You Leave” band, for short 11 Galicia gala 12 Arched foot part 13 Make harmonious 18 The same old thing 22 Baseball’s Matty or Felipe 25 Calendar pgs. 26 Surname said a lot by Snape 28 Engine power source 29 Place for wallowing 30 “Ni ___” (“Hello” in Chinese) 32 Leonard of the NBA 33 Imperturbable ones 35 Computer language used in business 38 They’re not too risky 41 Bee on TV 42 “South Park” little brother 43 Fifth scale note 45 Easy crockpot dish

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

1 Wasabi ___ 4 Scottish town 9 “Lost in Translation” director Coppola 14 115, in Roman numerals 15 Skater ___ Anton Ohno 16 Make ___ (profit) 17 Brewhouse offering 19 “That is,” to Caesar 20 Really clean 21 It may come in a kit 23 Disco ___ (“The Simpsons” character) 24 “Forever” purchase 27 Lend an ear 29 ___-Hulk (Marvel superheroine) 31 Aural entertainment now mostly obsolete 34 Post-bath powder 36 Established law 37 Stringed instruments? 39 Blue ball? 40 “Champagne Supernova” group 44 Single, double, or triple 47 Shark sort 48 Repertoire, so to speak 52 Nickname for two Spice Girls 53 Oscar winner Matlin 54 Figure skater Henie 56 Singer Rita 57 “Hamilton” home, casually 60 One usually grouped by sixteens 63 It may be passive 65 Winning once again 68 Arm of a sea 69 ___ con pollo 70 Paint swatch option 71 Double curves 72 By ___ (barely) 73 Galoot

“Automated Response” — sign your initials to prove you’re not real. by Matt Jones

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S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

Sudoku Answers

? o h W Craig

! e r e H t I l l e S , t I y Bu m o .c s s a l c s s a centralm

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LAST CALL

Serenity Jackson S erenity Jackson’s hip-hop lyrics urge her fans to show kindness and compassion to others while following their dreams. Jackson may only be in fifth grade,

but her stage presence reveals a seasoned performer. Jackson’s young career is driven by the memory of her late brother, Joseph M. Safo-Agyare, who passed

Rapper I’m sorry to learn about your brother. It seems like you are keeping his legacy alive. Is that why you emphasize family so much in all of your songs? Yeah, I really love my family. When my father was rapping, his thing was also “family first.”

When did you start rapping? I started rapping with my own original rap songs when I was 5 years old.

I saw that you had a run in with Joyner Lucas. He is probably Worcester’s most famous rapper. What was that like? That was fun. He has a bunch of events and I go to all of them and I always meet him. When I went to one of his music video shoots, I was in the back and Joyner came in and I told him, “I write my own rap songs.” He asked if I could rap for him. I rapped and then he recorded it and posted it on his Facebook page.

Do you remember what the first one was about? The first one was called “What Your Name Is.” I wanted to be Selena Gomez when I was younger. I understand hip-hop runs in your family. Is that right? My father raps. My brother who just passed a few years ago was a rapper. His best friend was a rapper. My older cousin Slam is a rapper too. A lot of people in my family are rappers.

What are some of the other positive messages you spread with your music? Believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter what people are saying to you; just stay positive. No matter what, you need to follow your dreams. You can be whatever you want when you grow up if you just believe.

What are the biggest shows that you have performed at? Day of Play Family Festival at Elm Park. It looked like there were only five people there and then I started performing and this big crowd of people came over and the whole stage area was filled. That was exciting.

You can do both. Your students will think you are awesome. Yes! Maybe I can teach music. But right now, when I get home from school and I have my homework, I pretend that I’m teaching a math lesson. I like to watch Youtube videos and listen to music and dance. I cheer. I took a hip-hop dance class for the first time last year. I take voice lessons. How many siblings do you have? I have 14 brothers and sisters. Where are you in the line? The last child. The baby! You have a lot of people look out for you, huh? Yes, but I’m the “Captain of the Kool Kids.” When you become famous what will your stage name be? Little Renny $. The word “money” or the symbol? The symbol. How many songs do you have and how do you remember them? Eleven. I go over lyrics a lot to remember them, but I pick them up pretty fast. I change up how I dance or my tone based on how many people are there and how hyped they are. Do you have any upcoming shows? stART on the Street and Worcester Pride Parade. – Sarah Connell Sanders

Did you promote it with social media? I have Facebook, but I don’t control it. My mom and my cousin do. They tell me about the comments and I tell them what I want to say back. I have a YouTube channel and my mom helps me edit it and

What do you like to do when you’re not making hip-hop? Do you have other hobbies? I like to read to my imaginary class. I want to be a teacher if I don’t become famous.

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I know you have your own dance move. Can you tell me about that? I wanted to make a catchy rap song and a move to get out there. I made up a move and it’s called the “Rennie Move.”

post videos. You can find me at: “Family First Serenity” on Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube and Instagram.

S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019

in 2014 and shared her love of rap lyricism. Jackson gained swift popularity when Grammy-nominated artist Joyner Lucas featured her on his Facebook page during the music video shoot for his 2019 single, “Just Let Go.” In her most recent video, “Act Up,” she puts a positive spin on a 2019 social media challenge that encourages young people to document themselves engaging in high-risk behavior. Instead, Jackson tells her followers, “You better backup. Education is the key to success.” Watch Serenity Jackson perform live at this month’s stART on the Street festival and the Worcester’s Pride celebration.

W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M S E P T E M B E R 5 - 11, 2019