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ALL NATURAL FLAVORS & SWEETENERS — LESS CALORIES THAN THE LEADING LIGHT BEER — LIGHT, CRISP REFRESHING TASTE *mike’s lite hard lemonade® = 109 calories. mike’s lite hard cranberry lemonade® = 119 calories PREMIUM MALT BEVERAGE ©2011 Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co., Seattle, WA, www.mikeshard.com. ® is a registered trademark of Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co.

APRIL 2011

On the Cover:

Hot Rods and Cool Rides Photo by Justin Mayotte of AWOL Media Model: Ashley Léger

IN THIS ISSUE ON THE COVER 8

PULSECOCKTAILS The Black Grouse The Famous Grouse® Blended Scotch Whisky Unveils Its Darker Side

EXCLUSIVE ON-LINE CONTENT @ THEPULSEMAG.COM

Hot and Now

ENTERTAINMENT

NOW SERVING Sweet T Southern Kitchen: A Taste of the South

Hot Rods and Cool Rides

ENTERTAINMENT 16

The 13th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival: April 14-16T

WCUW’s Frontroom Performance Space

PULSEFLICKS Snowﬂake - A Film About Following Your Voice

PULSEBOOKS Steve Miller’s 150 Movies You Should Die Before You See UP AND COMERS BAND: WOLFBANE BAND: OUR LIVES IN MOTION ON CD CAKE’s Showroom of Compassion Return to Mono’s Framebreaker Roots Of Creation’s RoC Vol. 2 Clutch Grabwell’s Counting Down

CLUB, COFFEEHOUSE, & THEATRE LISTINGS

PULSE SHOTS

LIFESTYLE

SPORTS & FITNESS 42

Be an MVP Join the Worcester Adult Kickball League! The Worcester Sharks and St. Cyr Salon ~ Teaming up for Locks of Love

ART & CULTURE 47

The Center for the Arts in Natick

The Wall at WAM

COLLEGE 50

Who’s Your Daddy? Gourmet Wafﬂes Come to Worcester

STYLE & BEAUTY 52

Handcrafted Jewelry by Local Artisan Alyse Bukoski

PULSETRAVEL ~ QuickTrips Kayaking the Deerﬁeld River

NEADS Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans ~ Man’s Best Friend and So Much More

belle et bonne designs global chic, effortless style, and worthy causes

Five Minute Make Up

Katy Perry for OPI

Vichy Aqualia ANTIOX Anti-Fatigue Ice Effect Eye Stick Take Years Off Your Face Instantly!

DINING & ENTERTAINING 34

REVIEW: Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant

Editor’s Note: We at Pagio extend our heartfelt condolences to Susan, Dan, and Joe Smith ~ and to the entire

Smith family ~ for the loss of Marc Smith on Wed., March 23. Marc, along with his beloved wife Susan, was an institution of the Worcester theatre scene for decades; they dedicated their lives to the preservation, creation, and promotion of live theatre. Their sons, Dan and Joe, have both gone on to careers on stage and in television and have appeared in Pulse several times. Any of us who were involved in theatre here in the city ~ as actors, teachers, patrons ~ over the past years owe Marc a debt of gratitude. Marc Smith ~ a loving husband, father, grandfather, author, producer, director, and friend ~ will be missed.

Paul Giorgio, Publisher Lara Dean, Sr. Editor Justin Perry, Art Director David Simone, VP of Sales Chris Reddy, Acct. Executive Jeff Royds, Acct. Executive Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Jillian Locke, Music Editor Elise French, Copy Editor Sam Blier, Tine Roycroft, Jennifer Russo, Jillian Locke, Mark Chris-

tos, Bill MacMillan, Erin Hansen, Shelly Aucoin, Bruce Sullivan, Rick Garner, BJ Hill, Bernard Whitmore, Ryan Acra, R. Peltier, Steph Moore, Alex Kantarelis, Rachel Shuster, P. Giorgio, Lynn N. Capri, Vanessa Formato, Megan Parks, Tom Hodgson, Katey Khaos, Sarah Joseph, Mike Newford, Writers Emily Osgood, Editorial Intern

REVIEW: Helmut and Crowbar Robbie Robertson Releases How to Become Clairvoyant PULSEBOOKS: Patrick Douglas’s Redeem Steven Tyler’s AppSoLewdly CAKE Comes to the Wang Center Close Your Eyes Bring Their Stick Tight Tour to The Palladium

LIFESTYLE PULSEWHEELS DIY Car Restoration Tips Armory Motor Storage There’s a [Car] App for That The World’s Strangest Car The Bugatti Veyron

COMMUNITY WARL’s Spring Kitten Shower Earth Day Cleanups

DINING& ENTERTAINING DCU Center Hosts Its 1st Annual Brew-Woo Craft Beer Festival PULSEBREW: Samuel Adams’ New Flavors: Belgian Saison and German Kolsch

SPORTS & FITNESS Some Odd Side Effects of Exercise Silver Sport

ART & CULTURE Vases of Spring: 2nd Annual Vase Invitational Exhibit & Sale at the Worcester Center for Crafts

STYLE & BEAUTY Erica Anenberg Jewelry Australian Gold Suncare Products HipFusion Designs, Inc. CelluStock ~ A New Weapon Against Cellulite Get the ONE for Great Lips and Hair! The TouchBack BrowMaker Hugo Naturals’ Fizzy Bath Bombs FUMI ~ Fashionable, Unique, Multipurpose & Innovative

PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 88 Winter St., Worcester, MA 01604. (508)756-5006. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Pagio, Inc. does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in Pulse reﬂect the views of the author(s) and not the ofﬁcial policy of the Pagio, Inc., unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement by Pagio, Inc. unless so stated. Material printed in Pulse is covered by copyright. No copyright is claimed to any work of the U.S. government. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission. For information on permissions, reprints and other services, contact Pagio, Inc. Also by Pagio Inc.: Worcester Medicine, Vitality Magazine, Thepulsemag.com, Thevitalitymag.com, & TasteWorcester.com

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 7

ON THE COVER

Car courtesy of Status Rides

April…That wonderful month when we can ﬁnally put winter behind us and begin the process of preparing for the delightful time of year called summer. We peel off the layers, casting bulky coats aside. We start to care again about how our bodies look and perform. We get all-over spray tans to punch up our pasty winter complexions. We ditch the cold-weather boots in favor of sexy summer shoes. We get an extra sunthin sunthin’ done ~ a piercing, a new hair color, some new ink ~ to catch that hottie’s eye. …and just like we overhaul ourselves from top to bottom to get ready for the warm weather and all the possibilities it brings with it, there’s a whole group of talented, highly trained, sometimes completely obsessed (in the good way!) professionals out there who can do the same for our cars and motorcycles. So back your prized ’68 Mustang out of the garage. Take the cover off the ’56 Bel Air your grandfather left you. Roll your Harley into the driveway. These are the machines of summer. In the pages that follow, meet some of these mechanics, engineers, and restoration pros who can modify, soup-up, detail, rebuild, strip down, and just plain make your vehicle ROCK. Bring them a total beater that has nothing going for it except one mother of a V-8 engine or an unimpressive sedan that works ﬁne but has absolutely no power or “wow factor,” and they’ll give you back a killer ride. It’s what they do. With gearheads like these in the world, there’s no need to have to choose substance over style or vice versa ~ they’ll give you both and then some. And to start you off, to get your engines revving, we’ll show you what it’s like to get inside an Audi, Lamborghini, Ferrari and more ~ AND where you can rent one of these beauties yourself. 8 THEPULSEMAG.COM | APR. 2011

STATUS RIIDES

CHOP-SHOP CUSTOMS

Power. Adrenaline. Speed. Prestige. All for rent by the day. Status Rides is the new kid on the luxury/exotic car rental block, having been in business for about a year now. They’ve already made quite a splash, though, fulﬁlling the needfor-speed of both visiting Hollywood A-listers and average Joes (and Janes!) living out lifelong fantasies.

You’ve seen the commercials: “Make your car look brand new for the low price of something-ninety-nine!” Make no mistake, Chop-Shop Customs is NOT one of those bargain basement outﬁts. You won’t see any tired looking minivans or dented and scratched commuter appliances here. You will, however, see the ground-up restoration and customization of some of the ﬁnest vehicles to ever have turned a wheel.

By Sam Blier

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. Status Rides was founded by Vernon Hill native Michael Clark because when he wanted to gift himself the experience of driving a supercar, the closest rental agency he could find was in New Jersey. The transportation fees the agency wanted to charge to bring the car to Massachusetts were almost as much as the rental fee itself, which is to say a lot. Recognizing an unmet need and an untapped market, Michael set about putting together the foundation for what would become Status Rides. Today, Status Rides rents a diverse fleet of some of the fastest , most luxurious, and most desirable automobiles available. I recently had the opportunity to check them out, and here are the three that rose to the top of my list. Lamborghini Gallardo Dripping in flawless Midas Yellow paint, this car is not for introverts. This beast is aggression incarnate and gets noticed no matter where it goes. The Gallardo is equipped with a five liter V10 engine sending almost 500 horsepower to all four wheels through a six speed, paddle-shifted transmission. You can let the car shift itself, or you can grab the Italian bull by the horns and summon lightning-fast gear shifts via the paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. Loud inside and out, the Gallardo is an absolute blast and the perfect car to rent for making an unforgettable entrance no matter where you go. Ferrari F430 The sensuously styled Ferrari F430 is just about as close as you can get to a race car on the street. And no wonder ~ it is bursting with F1 racing-inspired equipment. The brake rotors are a ceramic composite for extra stopping power, something usually only found on hard-core racecars. Each of the 490 horsepower shrieks out of the 4.3 liter V8 engine with an F1-like wail, rocketing the Ferrari to illegal speeds in mere seconds. Audi R8 The R8 was conceived and built specifically to compete with the likes of the Gallardo and F430, so you know it’s got to be good. Its refined, sporty design makes just the right statement, while the gutsy 4.2 liter V8 uses all 420 of its horsepower to smoke all four wheels. Audi is well known for high-quality, highdesign interiors, and the R8 certainly doesn’t disappoint on that front. The R8 features Audi’s magnetic ride suspension, meaning you can control how cushy or firm you want the ride to be. Button it down for carving corners, or soften it up for cruising past everyone’s jealous stares. Status Rides is capitalizing on their success and adding new cars to their fleet for rent this summer (look for a Lamborghini convertible). Give them a call, though be forewarned: you may never look at your own car the same way again. For more information, visit www.statusrides.com or call 888-512-0896.

By Sam Blier

Lenny Schaeffer founded Chop-Shop Customs after leaving his native MA to perfect his craft in the Mecca of hot-rodding that is Southern California. After cutting his teeth in So-Cal, Lenny came back east and furthered his skills at well-known MA shops Collectible Motorcars and Blue Ribbon Restorations. Fast forward a few years, and Lenny was ready to strike it out on his own. He opened Chop-Shop Customs and has never looked back. Today, Chop-Shop Customs is recognized far and wide as a premier classic auto restoration and hot rod metal fabrication shop. They take old classics that have seen better days and meticulously bring them back to life. It is a painstaking process to make a decades-old car look like it just rolled off the showroom floor. It’s certainly not a job to be entrusted to just any shop. A classic car restoration can either destroy a car’s value when done poorly, or multiply it when done correctly. And if Chop-Shop Customs’ portfolio is any indication, plenty of clients’ investments have paid off handsomely. A prime example of the Chop-Shop crew’s skill and expertise is their restoration of a 1953 Arnolt Bristol Bolide. This classic American race car is exceedingly rare; only about 130 were ever sold due to a fire in the manufacturer’s warehouse in the 50s. Needless to say, the restoration of this car didn’t involve just bolting on some replacement parts. Everything on this car had to be custom-built and hand fabricated. Lenny and his expert fabricators recreated damaged body parts to the exacting specifications of the original builder, Bertone, one of the oldest and most prestigious Italian coach builders. For those gearheads who love look of their vintage rides but want to inject a little bit of modern-day tech into them, Chop-Shop Customs also specializes in what’s known as the resto-mod. That’s when you take a classic car, restore the interior and exterior to original spec, but upgrade the running gear, engine and suspension to give it the driving dynamics of a modern-day hot rod. Because Chop-Shop Customs has built a sterling reputation on the quality and precision of their body work, they tend to attract clients who are trying to do extreme customizations to their rides. Chopping tops, shaving handles, tucking bumpers and fabricating custom body parts might send other shops into a frenzy, but at Chop-Shop Customs, it’s more like a normal day. That’s probably why Snap-on Tools (a major automotive tool supplier) chose Lenny and his crew to do the extreme paint and body work for their 1957 Chevy “Glomad” show car. If you own a classic or exotic car and want to restore it to its former glory or give it a new look, call Chop-Shop Customs first ~ because if they can’t do what you’re looking to do, you had better believe it can’t be done. For more information, visit www.chop-shopcustoms.com. APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 9

AN INTERVIEW WITH JAKE CUTLER OF By Erin Hansen

BARNSTORM CYCLES

How did you first become interested in motorcycles? By Erin Hansen The interest kind of crept in; as a result of growing up around them...but I never really consciously decided that I wanted take them this seriously until the concept for Barnstorm Cycles came into focus. What attracted you to bikes rather than cars? I’m not sure really..… As a kid I was surrounded by both…my father used to have 10 or so antique/unusual cars in addition to the motorcycles he owned …. The car collection included a 41 Studebaker, a 59 Ford, a 77 Corvette, and even a limo. I can’t remember a time when at least one of them wasn’t up on a lift being worked on…but despite the opportunity I had to fall for cars, the motorcycles always held a certain power of attraction that the cars just couldn’t compete with. Perhaps it was the first tastes of freedom I got riding dirt bikes that sealed the deal, but I’m not sure. I think the main attraction ultimately comes from the simplicity a motorcycle inherently has. The motorcycle uses bare minimums to achieve a purpose…. For me that purpose is a cohesive blend of aesthetically pleasing yet well functioning transportation. First bike you ever rode on? How about drove on your own? Around the time I was born, my Dad had a few different bikes, including a 1945 Harley Flathead, a 1983 Shovel FXR and a 1974 AMF Harley –Davidson FLH ….As best anyone can remember, the 74’ FLH was the first bike I was technically ever on as a passenger …. And we are talking “passenger in the womb.” Interestingly enough, that bike came back into my life a year or so ago when the now current owner brought it to us as a restoration job. It was pretty cool to bring the bike back to life and then go for a ride on it again after so many years. The first time I ever actually drove a bike myself, I think I was in the first grade? The bike was a small 3HP mini bike that had been purchased from Whitco in Spencer (which just happens to be about a block away from the building we are moving the shop to now). The mini bike had no front OR rear suspension, and the tires were solid rubber. It was a tank! The very first time I drove it, I made a very common novice mistake and ended up accelerating right into a curb, which flipped me over. I wasn’t hurt, but I was pretty shaken up, with the shaky Elvis leg thing going and all that… My dad, who saw the whole event take place, just told me to walk it off and get back on. It was good advice. How did you learn to build? I guess if I had to break it down … As you know, growing up I was surrounded by machines. I would see my father working on them, and through helping him, I realized that I could also fix things that broke. Then at some point it must have occurred to me that I didn’t just have to fix things that broke, or put them back together they way they came apart… Realizing I could make my own things was the beginning of the end for me. To supplement my own curiosity, tinkering and learning, I went and apprenticed (aka worked for free) with the infamous Paul “P.Q.”Quittadamo at his motorcycle shop. I also secured an internship at Vangy Tool Co. Inc., which is a local machine shop. Both positions allowed me to get my hands dirty and learn skills and information that were actually useful. I later went on to work (as in actually getting paid!!) for Vangy Tool for a while, and I also had the good fortune of getting to work for renowned local weldor Danny Burmer, who owns Advanced Welding and Fabricating in Sutton…..I owe much of my success as a mechanic and weldor/fabricator to the opportunities and knowledge that my Dad, P.Q., Paul Ottaviano, Danny and the jobs they gave me, imparted to me. I am forever grateful. It was a great honor to have the opportunity to work for and learn from such amazing, talented and passionate people. I am still learning, too. I will never know enough. When someone comes to you to build a bike, which do you prefer ~ that they give you total freedom to do what you want or that they have specific ideas of their own? Either way suits me. If someone has a very specific idea of what they want, I am happy to provide them with that. It is their bike, so it should be what they

10 THEPULSEMAG.COM | APR. 2011

want it to be! But if they want to allow me some creative freedom, I welcome the opportunity. Both routes excite me and, that also keeps things new and fresh. The beauty of the gig is the variety. I wouldn’t want to do the same thing over and over again! When you decide to design a new bike, how does that work? Do you have a picture of the final product in your head? Do you sketch out a design? Depends on the build, really. If it’s for a customer, and he/she has an idea of what he wants before we get started, that will direct the build. But even that varies ~ sometimes they know exactly what they want, right down to the kind of fasteners, other times they just have a general idea, and then let me run with it….. If the build is not commissioned and I have a blank slate to work with , my approach is still pretty varied.. I might start with one particular part, say a kicker pedal or something, and tailor the aesthetics of the machine around the language of that one part…or I will start with a particular function in mind and build the bike to suit that purpose. For the true gearheads out there ~ talk to me about the most over-the-top, tricked out, balls-to-the-wall bike you’ve ever created. Well, we have a shop bike that is based on a Boss Hoss platform. For those who are unfamiliar with a Boss Hoss, it’s a 1,200lbs V-8 powered motorcycle. Ours only has a small block in it, so it’s only got about 385 horsepower. Anyway, we have done a significant amount of work to the bike, including modifying the frame, re-engineering the rear suspension, removing the stock side panels and covers, rewiring the bike, modifying the gas tank, fabricating a new rear fender that is mounted directly to the rear swing arm, giving it a new paint job, etc. The bike even has a custom hitch receiver hidden under the passenger seat that I’ve built a flag pole, luggage rack and a backrest for. In the works, we will be building a trailer for the bike that will allow us to tow other bikes. The Boss is often affectionately referred to as the “Shop truck.” What’s extra special about this freak of machine, though, is that it appeals not only to bike people, it also really gets car people talking and that always makes for some fun conversations. You do some charity work and sponsorships through Barnstorm, right? We wish we could get involved with more runs and events, unfortunately, there is only so much time. A few of the events we have been involved with for a while

now are the Barton Center’s Ride for Diabetes, YOU, Inc’s Run for the Kids, and The Veterans’ Run. We also sponsor a bicycle team in the Tri-State Trek every year that rides from Newton, MA to White Plains, NY. I’ve personally done the ride like 6 times now ~ that’s right, 270 or so miles on a pedal bike! Folks who are interested should check out our website for more information on the events above, and if anyone has a run that they would like us to sponsor, they should feel free to contact us. What kind of bike do you ride? Currently, I ride a bike that I built around a 1941 Harley Davidson Knucklehead motor. The knuck motor is set in a rigid frame, and is mated to a four speed, kick start only transmission by a 1.5” open primary belt drive. I have it set up with a left side jockey shift, left side rear brake and a dead-man’s throttle (that means the throttle does not “snap back” when you take your hand off it...it’s like cruise control). It’s a no-frills kind of machine, and I ride the heck out of it. In fact, I had it out the other day…it was 19 degrees F and there was still snow in my parking lot. It might sound foolish, but riding keeps everything else in focus. When the weather is better, I get out as much as I can. I love taking long rides with my friends and family. It’s not unusual to head out for a few hundred mile day without any real plan or destination. We usually just shoot for good places to eat in “freedom of choice” states, if you know what I mean. Any advice for someone who’s never ridden a bike before but wants to start? Don’t listen to your friends about what bike is right for you, and DO NOT LEARN HOW TO RIDE from a friend! Go get your permit from the RMV, and then sign up for a Motorcycle Safety course. Once you’ve passed the course, go buy the cheapest bike you can find that runs well, fits you well, and is safe to drive, and then ride the heck out of it for a season. With a cheap bike, when (because you will!) you drop it, you won’t care, and if you find you don’t actually like riding, you won’t have lost a ton of money. Also, after you’ve ridden that bike

for a while, you’ll know what kind of riding you like to do, and consequently, what kind of bike you will really want. Then you can start thinking/ looking for the bike of your dreams… which will probably lead you right to Barnstorm Cycles!

www.barnstorm.us

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 11

HELLCAT CUSTOMS By Sam Blier

Motorcycles, like people, come in all shapes, sizes and attitudes. And Rick Barlik loves ‘em all. At his shop, Hellcat Kustoms, they build, tune, customize and design just about every kind of motorcycle imaginable. But they all have one thing in common: they are built to ride. Rick grew up near a local motocross track and became hooked on riding at a very young age. He spent all of his free time either riding or wrenching and already knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life around motorcycles. Luckily for him, mechanical aptitude runs in the Barlik family. “My grandfather was a toolmaker and machinist, my dad a retired mechanical engineer, so I guess it’s in my blood,” says Barlik. “My dad had a small machine shop in our basement and as a kid I would machine parts for myself and my friends’ bikes when the stock parts would fail. Things just kind of snowballed from there.” And snowball they did. Today, Hellcat Kustoms does everything from building custom bikes from scratch to doing custom fabrication, machine work, welding and powder coating to customers’ bikes. What sets Hellcat apart from the vast majority of the competition is Rick’s attention to detail. He can spend hours, even days, machining and fabricating a part that might not even be visible once the project is put together, but whose function is critical to the overall performance of the bike. And unlike other shops that focus more on show than go, at Hellcat, style and performance go hand-in-hand on every project. Recognizing that philosophy, like-minded bikers have flocked to Hellcat for street trackers (old school flat-track race bikes modified for the street), street fighters (street bikes stripped down to the bare minimum and modified to make them more tossable) and old school bobbers (old school cruising-style bike with the rear fender and any extra pieces tossed to make it handle better). These styles of motorcycle have a few things in common: they’re light weight, they carve corners like a hot knife through butter, they won’t decimate your bank account, and they look bad-ass. In essence, they are bikers’ bikes, and Hellcat Kustoms is a biker’s bike shop. And as a biker’s bike shop, the ultimate custom project is the ground-up build. Each bike build is a labor of love, built to each owner’s unique specifications. And with Rick machining his own parts when he needs to, practically anything is possible. Says Rick, “The bike builds are the most rewarding. Building a bike from scratch to a one-of-a-kind cool ride. Seeing people’s positive reactions is the best payoff when all of the hard work is done.” And judging by the bikes coming out of Hellcat Kustoms, there’s no chance of a shortage of positive reactions. For more Hellcat Kustoms, visit www.hellcatkustoms.com.

12 THEPULSEMAG.COM | APR. 2011

Harley Davidson’s Young Adult Movement Grows with the Launch of the Blackline Motorcycle By R. Peltier Lean as wire, hard as iron and dark as a tar road at midnight ~ it’s Harley-Davidson’s new Blackline motorcycle, a Softail that’s the next rebellious chapter for the iconic American brand that is now #1 with riders age 18-34. This latest addition to the Dark Custom line embodies three fundamentals of motorcycling: mechanical beauty, internal combustion, and the wide, open road. “The Blackline is a motorcycle for all those who run by their own rules,” said Mike Lowney, Director of Market outreach for HarleyDavidson. “It’s more than a bike ~ it’s a mindset that is rooted in the spirit of defiance and irreverence embraced by today’s young riders.” The Blackline balances allegiance with rebellion, discarding previous conventions for a Dark Custom look that’s honest, functional and attainable. Visual elements of the original bobber movement are combined with the raw, hand-hewn style embraced by today’s young builders. The Blackline throws new fuel on the fire that burns across generations ~ the unquenchable desire to ride. Instrumentation is compact and tucked, and there’s just enough shine to make the black parts look blacker. The chopped fender, narrow, split drag handlebar and slammed speedometer contribute to the lean, linear nature that gives the Blackline its name. The styling spotlight shines on the Big Twin engine dressed in black and silver with machined highlights reminiscent of its Big Twin predecessors of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. The engine is capped off by a fuel tank shaved low and smooth. Aboard the Blackline, the rider hugs the frame on the lowest two-up seat ever offered by Harley-Davidson. Details on the Blackline are understated yet classic. The round air cleaner, which debuted on Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the 1940s, has become a prized feature over the years. The blackedout horseshoe oil tank is reminiscent of the original on the 1936 EL. Other styling elements come from more than just Harley-Davidson history ~ they take authentic cues from motorcycle culture as well. The chopped rear fender made famous by post-WWII riders is bobbed high-and-tight over a slim 144mm tire. Up front, and tucked tight into the frame, the gloss black headlamp replicates the standard on Harleys going back to the post World War I years. The smooth, black rims on profile laced aluminum wheels hearken back to the 1930s. The simple, slammed speedometer reminiscent of the Depression era delivers a sporty look. Narrow, split drag handlebars are a first on the Softail platform. The Blackline joins the Dark Custom lineup that includes the FortyEight, Nightster, Iron 883, Cross Bones, Fat Bob and Street Bob. Check out more on Dark Custom motorcycles at www.harley-davidson.com/darkcustom.

www.100percentkulture.com/Main/Links.html Questions? ian@100percentkulture.com

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 13

WICKED AUTO

-ByNO NEED FOR A JUNKYARD Jennifer Russo We’ve all seen them ~ classic autos from decades past left to rust in someone’s yard or behind your mechanic’s building. The sight is at the same time sad and full of potential ~ many of these cars have been forgotten, written off as junk, but for as many cars like that which have survived years of neglect, there are that many car enthusiasts who see them as diamonds in rough, machines of yesteryear that deserve to have their original beauty restored. Two of those enthusiasts (to put it mildly), Eric Bourgault and Richard Weber, run Fitchburg’s Wicked Auto, bringing once elegant and powerful cars back to life. Eric has over six years experience with restorations, repairs, modiﬁcation and fabrication. He went to school for engineering and automotive business management and repair. A few of his more memorable projects include a 1963 Austin Healey 3000, a gorgeous red 1969 Jaguar XKE, and a “...1970 Volvo P1800. It’s a very rare car that no-one ever does over and it took 18 months to restore,” Eric shared with obvious pride in his voice. “And the craziest thing we’ve ever worked on was building a hot rod AMC Pacer. We built it from a stock Pacer, but did suspension and chassis work on it and prepared it for a big and powerful motor. Topped it off with sweet body work and paint.” Richard has over 26 years of experience in auto body work with his Master and ASE certiﬁcations and has received recognition in World of Wheels and more than a few issues of Muscle Car Magazine for his jaw-dropping restos. This pair takes their love for and appreciation of cars very seriously; they are artists whose canvas simply happens to be vehicles. Eric can’t imagine doing anything else: “I have a great passion for classic cars, which makes me love what I do every day.” For Wicked Auto, no job is too big or small and they don’t stop at cars; they also work on boats and bikes. They specialize in collision repair, show quality body and paint, re-builds, custom fabrication, mechanical repairs, wheels and tires and more. They’ll even come pick up the car ~ hot rod, show car, muscle car, classic car, American, European and deliver it back to you shiny and “new.” What’s Eric’s dream project? “[It] would be restoring a Shelby AC Cobra. It’s one of the rarest, it’s valuable, and it’s high performance.” Who can argue with that!

JOHN’S CUSTOM RODS By Tine Roycroft

Pulse recently sat down with the John Durfee, owner of John’s Custom Rods, to see what makes this King of Chrome, Master of Metal, and Duke of Drag Racing tick. Pulse: How’d you get started restoring cars? John: I was a teenager and I was always fascinated by machinery. Back in the day, I was really into muscle cars. I grew up with that stuff. They were new when I was a kid. The Boss 351 Mustang I have is the first thing I ever restored. P: Several of your vehicles have been featured in national hot rod magazines, correct? J: My 1931 Model A Pick Up has been in Rolls and Pleats. My 1930 Model A Tudor Sedan has been featured in Primer. If you want to be seen, you’ve got to be out a lot at shows because there’s always someone covering them. Some years I’m out a lot, some years I’m not. It just depends on what’s going on. P: You certainly have a lot going on right now with being in charge of the Orange Airport Drag Strip Reunion. Share the deets! J: This is the reunion’s second year and it’s going to be huge. When I was a kid, I’d heard about the drag strip in Orange, but I could never get to it...the more I’ve learned about the drag races, the more I wanted to do something, like a reunion event. Last year we had our first show at the Orange Airport, open registration. We had no idea what was going to happen. But the day of the show we had terrific weather and we had about 1000 cars show up. P: And the Reunion is on again for this year, right? J: Last year, the airport said right off the bat that there was no way they could shut down the main runway and it’s all FAA controlled. But this year, we talked about it and it turns out there’s this area of blacktop, a piece of old runway, that’s out of the active airport zone. We started working on this and at this point, we got the OK to have drag racing in the show on September 10. P: Do you race your own cars?

If you have a car that you’re considering having restored but aren’t sure about cost, length of project, or how much can realistically be done to the vehicle, no worries ~ Eric and Richard (who drives a fully restored 1968 Chevy Camaro SS that is to die for) are happy to travel to give estimates and discuss the whole project. In the future, they’d like to see Wicked Auto “...become a one-stop hot rod and classic car shop.”

J: I raced in ’05 and ’06. I did it to the point where ~ like all good things ~ it needed to come to an end. It was something that was in my blood and I had to get it out.

So from a little bit more horsepower to a complete rebuild from the tires on up, give Wicked Auto a call at (978) 4244337, and deﬁnitely check out their on-line gallery of cars, bikes, boats, and specialty parts ~ as well as photos that detail past projects and really show each and every step involved in what they do ~ at www.wickedauto.com/gallery. html.

Not only has John’s Custom Rods restored/tricked out everything from old to new and from roadster to pick-up, they’ve also documented each project on their website so that you can see photos of the step-by-step process, not just of the ﬁnished product.

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P: Be honest. Are there any cars that you’ve restored that you just couldn’t part with? J: Do I get infatuated with cars? Sure. But cars are just things. And there’s always another car to fall in love with.

Also, John has a bunch of hard-to-ﬁnd parts for sale and a Wanted/Trade section on the site that will blow your gearhead mind. Check it all out at www.johnscustomrods.com.

3PM-9PM Convention Center

�� Sponsored by: �� APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 15

ENTERTAINMENT

The 13th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival: April 14-16 By Jillian Locke

As the 13th year of the annual NEMHF draws near, we are reminded not only of the perseverance of today’s metal and hardcore scene, but also of all the blood, sweat and swears that go into the execution of such an epic annual event. To those who come to rattle our cages and free us from the black abyss of the daily grind every year, WE SALUTE YOU!

Is Hell, The Carrier, Suffokate, Born Low, Murder Death Kill, Stick To Your Guns, Trapped Under Ice, Lionheart, Shai Hulud, Close Your Eyes, Legend, Monsters, The World We Knew, The Great Commission, The Greenery, Hundredth, King Conquer, and Betrayal.

The fest kicks off at 1pm on Thursday the 14th and will focus on this year’s stellar up and comers, including Attack Attack!, Vanna, MyChildren MyBride, Our Last Night, Stray from the Path, Arsonist Get All The Girls, A Bullet For Pretty Boy, Lions Lions, Armor For The Broken, This Or the Apocalypse, I, the Breather, Across The Sun, Too Late The Hero, Attila, A Plea For Purging, Dr. Acula, The Crimson Armada, Legacy, Counterparts, Legion, An Early Ending, Vemia, and Capitals. “We had bands like Hatebreed, Lamb of God, and Meshuggah at the festival long before they became well-known,” said promoter Scott Lee. “It’s great to be able to book a great new band alongside a big name and give them a shot to play in front of a large crowd. Nails, The Greenery, and Cruel Hand are a few of the ‘must-sees’ this year.” At noon time on Friday, the ultimate hardcore line-up takes over; let’s just begin with a collective HELL YES to the headliner, the legendary Biohazard! Those charged with the duty of supporting these hardcore icons include Blood for Blood, Bury Your Dead (who will once again take the stage with former vocalist Mat Bruso, and will be performing tracks from their ﬁrst three albums, including “You Had Me at Hello,” “Cover Your Tracks,” and “Beauty and the Breakdown”), Terror, Winds of Plague, Cruel Hand, Your Demise, Thy Will Be Done, This

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Hatebreed!

The ﬁnal day of the fest will once again commence again at noon with an equally brutal line-up ~ but this time, metal prevails. The Ocean, Dying Fetus, Skeletonwitch, Lazarus A.D., Beneath The Massacre, The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza, 3 Inches Of Blood, Within the Ruins, The Contortionist, Volumes, Molotov Solution, Nails, Hung, Sons of Aurelius, A Life Once Lost, Confrontation, Last Chance To Reason, Burning the Masses, Cephalic Carnage, Revocation, Structures, Withered and Wretched will be on tap to rally the troops for the main event, which features Times of Grace, Job For A Cowboy, Born of Osiris, Carnifex, Oceano, Between the Buried and Me, and once again, the mighty

NEMHF 13, we welcome you with open arms, pumping ﬁsts and a sea of horns. BRING IT! Tickets for Thursday cost $25. Friday and Saturday individual day tickets cost $35, and 3 day tickets cost $89. All tickets can be purchased at FYE Stores, online at www.tickets.com,,or by calling (800) 477-6849. www.metalandhardcorefestival.com

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WCUW’S FRONTROOM PERFORMANCE SPACE By Bill MacMillan

For almost 40 years, WCUW – 91.3FM has been Worcester’s home of eclectic broadcasting. The community radio station broadcasts a wide mix of programming, is a haven for local personalities, and can now add live performance venue to its resume. Renovated in the fall of 2009, The Frontroom at WCUW is a multipurpose space that, like the station itself, is hosting an eclectic mix of live entertainment. Located at 910 Main St. in Worcester, The Frontroom is, as the name implies, the front part of the radio station. With adaptable seating, a low stage and a strong sound system, the space easily transitions from rock to blues to spoken word. The room has an open, relaxed feel, and visitors can even see the on-air personalities at work. But why would a radio station want to run a performance space? “The Frontroom brings people into WCUW and gives them exposure to community radio that they may not otherwise have,” says station manager Troy Tyree. Members of the station have use of The Frontroom, so the list of acts tends to reﬂect their individual interests and tastes. The room has already played host to, among other things, a hip-hop showcase, folk, jazz and bluegrass performers, and local favorites Chuck & Mud. The Frontroom is now also the home of the Worcester Poets’ Asylum’s weekly reading and slam, as well as a monthly drum circle. “I can only hope The Frontroom develops into a destination where performers want to perform and audiences want to see their favorite performers play,” says Tyree. So, with all of its advantages, what is The Frontroom lacking? “A view of the

street!” says Tyree without hesitation. “It would be great if the front of the building could be opened up so that not only could we look out, but people could look in!” For more information about events at The Frontroom, go to WCUW.org

Editor’s Note: The author of this article, Bill MacMillan ~ Slam Master, founder of the Worcester Poets’ Asylum, and Conservator at Higgins Armory Museum ~ will be featured in an episode of the SyFy Channel’s “Ghost Hunters” on Wednesday, April 13...The Ghost Hunter Team comes to Higgins Armory to investigate rumors of its haunting, and Bill is right there with them. Be sure to tune in!

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PULSEFlicks

Snowﬂake - A Film About Following Your Voice By Shelly Aucoin Worcester-based screenwriter and producer Kristen Lucas has an unusual story to tell. Eleven years ago, she was in a video store when she noticed that there were tons of clichéd movies about poor black males trying to make it as rap stars. It was then that she decided to make the entitled white female version.

many as totally insane, but she has the skills to back it and they get her noticed by local producer Big Moe. Soon Jesse’s getting ﬂak from both sides of her life and begins to wonder which, if either, she belongs in. Is she destined to earn her street cred in the underground club scene or condemned to a life of silence as her parents’ perfect little girl?

“I had the idea for Snowflake in 2000. I couldn’t find anyone to write the script, so I applied to Emerson’s graduate Screenwriting program in 2002 and was accepted. At the end of the program you have your script completed; it’s a year long program. In 2003 it was completed and I didn’t know where to start in getting a feature film made, but I knew it was a story that needed to be told,” says Lucas. For a few years the project didn’t move. “I decided I needed to build a reel of projects so I could convince people that I could make this movie. I produced a bunch of short films between 2006 and 2010... Two award winning as part of the 48 Hour Film Challenge. One film, Third Date, was accepted into the LA Shorts Film Festival in 2008. I have also produced music videos, commercials and TV shows.” Snowflake is like 8 Mile except that the star is a white girl from a wealthy family rather than Marshall Mathers. Our heroine doesn’t know what to do with herself after dropping out of college so she sort of bounces back and forth between her mother’s law firm and an indie record store. Actually, wait ~ maybe it’s nothing like 8 Mile after all. Jesse Ashton, the lead character (played by Katherine “Kat” Slatery), is looking for her chance to break into the hip hop scene. She wants to please her parents but can’t resist following her dreams. Jesse’s goal of becoming a rapper strikes

The Snowflake team has held fundraisers, raised money through kickstart.com, and even produced a short film version which premiered in Worcester, Boston, and Miami. “We signed a contract with a Sales Rep based in LA who agreed to help with selling the film and securing what is called ‘pre-sale’ money from distributors. We also contacted a branding company in LA called Brand In Entertainment. They help raise money for films by securing money from brands that want to integrate their brands and get on-screen exposure.” With help from well-known music producer Jonathan McHugh, who has recently come on board, Ms. Lucas and Co-producer Barbara Guertin continue to raise money for the making of the film and are in touch with the likes of Def Jam, P. Diddy and Lady Gaga. Check out www.snowflake-movie.com for more news and for more on the cast, crew, and story. Photo credit www.packertmotion.com Represented by Zero2Sixtycreative.com

PULSEBooks

Steve Miller’s 150 Movies You Should Die Before You See By Bruce Sullivan

After navigating yet another exciting film-awards season, complete with amazing performances, thought provoking screenplays, and visionary direction, we are reminded that Hollywood has always enjoyed a remarkable track record of excellence in filmmaking. Stiff competition ensures quality, right? Well, not exactly. As freelance feature writer and film reviewer Steve Miller reveals with 150 Movies You Should Die Before You See, bad cinema is alive and well. Rather than a simple guide for which films to avoid, Miller’s book is a celebration of these wonderfully dreadful films. These are the films that “…are so bad, they’re good.” Included are silver screen classics like Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, in which an evil doctor threatens to annihilate a community of Canadian lesbians, until an “ass kicking, vampire busting,” kung fu Jesus saves the day (No, I’m not making this up.). And don’t forget the movie magic of Bride of the Monster (1953), directed by the “worst director of all-time,” Ed Wood. Bela Lugosi stars as an evil scientist bent on creating a race of radio-active supermen. He will apparently achieve this goal by placing a metal salad bowl on his victims’ heads. Later, “Lugosi is turned into an atomic monster via the use of platform shoes.” (Yes, really.) Or perhaps you’d prefer

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the compelling story of radical nudists who commit mass suicide only to “rise from their graves, bringing with them murder, mayhem, and song-and-dance numbers” in Nudist Colony of the Dead. Each film in the guide includes a full cast list, plot overview, quiz, trivia, “Why the movie sucked,” a rating, and choice quotes like this one from Zombies on Broadway (1945). Jerry: “How will we know a zombie when we see one?” Jean: “If you see a corpse walking around ~ that’s a zombie.” Serious movie freaks have always recognized that bad films are often much more entertaining than good ones. But to truly appreciate a film like Monsturd, (You guessed it, a monster turd murders unsuspecting townspeople as they do their business), you must have a copy of 150 Movies You Should Die Before You See, available at your local retailer, www.adamsmediastore. com, or www.amazon.com.

• Nightlife • Shopping • Dining • Nightlife • Shopping

• Nightlife • Shopping • Dining • Nightlife • Shopping •

Canal District

Here are bands & art� big! And “Graduates” are musicians we highlighted in past issues whose careers, as we predicted, have really taken off!

Wolfbane

By Alex Kantarelis To anyone who tells you that rock music is dead, tell them to give Wolfbane a listen. The five-piece hard rock/metal-ish band has been tearing it up throughout New England with their monstrous sound and explosive live show, bringing the noise and the party to every show they play. While the members of the band have been friends for 14 years, they got their start just last year in Haverhill, which is a city known more for hardcore, punk, and metal than for rock. The roots of Haverhill’s hardcore influence is still apparent in Wolfbane’s sound, which can best be described as a mix between older bands like Guns ‘n’ Roses and Motley Crue and current metal bands Avenged Sevenfold and Death By Stereo. “Our sound is like a rock and roll roller-coaster,” guitarist Timmy Tombstone said. “It’s straight up heavy rock and roll.” While their tunes totally rock, it’s their live show and appetite for partying that sets them apart from everyone else. When they get off stage, the night is far from over for both them and their fans. The guys are known to throw parties after shows, inviting anyone and everyone who wants to join them. “That offers an opportunity for people to see us and to get to know us,” Tombstone said. They have a 5 song EP called Deathproof which came out last October and is available for streaming and downloading on their Facebook page. The recording lead to their first music video for the title track on the EP, which is a perfect display of what the band is all about. They plan to spend the rest of 2011 bringing the party to every show they play, and hope to record a full length by the end of the year. Definitely check them out. You’ll be glad you did. facebook.com/wolfbaneband

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Our Lives In Motion By Katey Khaos

Worcester’s own Our Lives In Motion is composed of Dave Beaudreau (vocals), Tony Langone (guitar), Justin Chapman (guitar), and Jeff Amadei (drums). The band has only been on the music scene since the summer of ’09, but since then they’ve managed to hook a nationwide listening audience. They’ve also had the opportunity to play multiple venues on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour and were voted one of PureVolume. com’s Top Unsigned Bands of 2010. Their E.P Salvation in Secrets is sure to catch your ears ~ especially for those of you who are fans of bands like Anberlin and Emarosa. As front man Dave Beaudreau puts it, “[We] are an ambient rock band with roots from all over. We don’t like to completely label ourselves [as] one speciﬁc genre because we try to bring as much as possible to the table and allow listeners to make their own judgments about us.” Our Lives In Motion is currently back in the studio, working on their ﬁrst full length album, Stages, which is set to be released…right about now! From the new album, fans can expect a “bigger version” of Our Lives In Motion, says Beaudreau. Stages will feature eight tracks with a more developed sound. Our Lives In Motion assures fans that although the album will be different from the E.P., Stages will still have the Our Lives In Motion stamp ~ just with more to offer! The new album will be “…very ambient, but at the same time very hard hitting,” says Amadei. Be sure to keep an eye out for Our Lives In Motion on tour this summer, and pick up their new album Stages. In the meantime, you can check out their debut E.P, Salvation in Secrets, on iTunes! www.myspace.com/ourlivesinmotion Writer’s Note: Justin Chapman is not pictured in the photo because he joined right after the band had just completed their photo shoot.

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ON CD

CAKE’s Showroom of Compassion By Jennifer Russo Who doesn’t like cake…I mean, really? It’s sweet, indulges your taste buds, and is the perfect dessert to end the 9 to 5 work week. It makes you smile. It makes you drool. It makes you wonder how something could be so damn tasty. And it’s amazingly easy to eat more than one slice of if you ignore the calorie-counting voices in your head. Similarly, CAKE’s new album is easy and sweet and the perfect end to the day. It’s hard to believe that this band has been on the map for twenty years already, but they have. And like Twinkies, they’re still going strong, as time seems to have no affect on them whatsoever. With their signature sound tweaked here and there throughout the years, they’ve remained true to who they are as artists. It’s a sound that really can’t be put into any particular category of music; it’s just its own thing. I suppose they could be considered “alternative”…maybe. They’re musically untrendy, which ~ ironically ~ makes them the perfect trend for people who like to go against the grain. It seems that there are a good many people who like to go against the grain, too, because CAKE has a huge fan base that was eagerly awaiting this album, their ﬁrst record since 2004.

Return to Mono’s Framebreaker

Roots Of Creation’s RoC Vol. 2

Forget everything you think you know about techno style, electro pop music. Now, I’m not knocking techno at all, it deﬁnitely has its place in the world (and that place is usually a crowded euro-centric dance club where impossibly cool people dance while maintaining an impossibly cool attitude), but it’s just not always my cup of tea.

Nationally touring funky-rock-jam-band Roots of Creation have released a live EP that already stands out as one of the best new releases of the year. RoC Live: Volume 2 was recorded at three different live shows and contains a few new songs, a few old songs, and two cover songs that are, dare I say, better than the originals.

By Jennifer Russo

That said, though, I fully appreciate that San Francisco band Return to Mono is bringing something startlingly and refreshingly different to the electronic scene. The tracks on their latest album release, Framebreaker, beg you to let your hair down and grab a glass of wine before heading off to the dance ﬂoor. It beckons the club-rat and the yuppie alike. Simply, it is an “elite” club-style music that is not only suited for a crowded room on Thirsty Thursdays, but can be performed onstage in front of an audience and receive just as rousing a response.

Showroom of Compassion has been released on CAKE’s own label and was produced in their own solar-powered studio. It is entirely a do-it-yourself project to which the entire band lent their talents ~ and not only to the music itself, but to every aspect of the album’s creation. They took their time, made sure that they got every detail just right before pulling it out of the oven and serving it to the masses. Each song tells a narrative story, with songs titled everything from “Teen Pregnancy” to “Italian Guy.” They’ve recently performed their single “Sick of You” on The Conan Show and The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon, and that’s just the icing…on the cake (sorry I couldn’t help myself).

A variety of tempos and instrumentation including guitar, sax and violin are added to the standard synthetic keyboard. It doesn’t have that pulsing and nonsensical riff you ﬁnd with most electronic music that circles ‘round and ‘round to nowhere ~ it seemingly borrows from the complexity of nature and manages to turn out one perfect elemental sound. Singer Tanya Kelleher adds sultry, dark, and passionate vocals to a canvas of splashing and reﬂective disco-ball color. You are gradually elevated to an eclectic cloud somewhere where you can just sit down and take it all in. Many of the songs on the album would be well-placed in a suspense or horror movie, causing the listener to think about what the next move of the hero or villain may be. Whatever your cup of electrotea, this album is sure to please.

CAKE is coming to Boston’s Citi Wang Theatre on April 22. To score tickets, visit www.citicenter.org/ events today.

Catch the stylistic waves of Return to Mono’s music at www.reverbnation.com/ returntomono and ‘like’ them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Return.to.mono.sf.

To ﬁnd out where you can partake in some CAKE of your own and listen to samples of their latest album, visit www.cakemusic.com.

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By Alex Kantarelis

With two studio albums and a third live album under their collective belt, the band has put out their fourth release, RoC Vol. 2, the follow up to the very well received Vol. 1, which came out in 2008. Vol. 2 is more of a dive into the style that Roots of Creation has crafted over the years. Describing their sound is a challenge because it is a mixing pot of so many different styles. “We put reggae, rock, and dubtronica on posters,” said vocalist/guitarist Brett Wilson. Add some funk and some electronic elements, and make it danceable, and you have Roots of Creation. The band has been touring heavily since the release of their 2nd studio album in 2006. As part of the Harmonized Records family, a label that releases a lot of jam bands, a live album was a natural move. “The fans like the live stuff. They want to hear on their stereo or on their iPod what they see and hear live,” Wilson said. After the success of Volume 1 in 2008, the guys assembled songs from three separate shows, including the Nateva Music Festival in Maine, to put together Volume 2. “We felt like we grew a lot since [Volume 1] and we wanted to document it for our fans,” he said. The record has cover versions of the Talking Heads fan favorite “This Must Be the Place,” and ends with their version of Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How it Feels.” They manage to inject both songs with enough of their funkiﬁed style that it truly sounds like one of their own. Their jam brings the song to almost 7 minutes, adding a massive guitar solo that will leave you begging for more…Or at least begging to see them live. www.rootsofcreation.com

GOT GAME?

Chance of death: 100% By Tom Hodgson

Clutch Grabwell’s Counting Down By Bruce Sullivan

So you need a shot of cool, but can’t justify the trip to “Vegas-Baby-Vegas,” or even Atlantic City for that matter? Well, why not check out the nightclub-cool swagger of Clutch Grabwell. Like Vince Vaughn in Swingers, these guys are money! They’re so money they don’t even know they’re money. That’s how money they are! So, who or what is Clutch Grabwell? Well, Clutch Grabwell is the explosive, hip, rockin’ band with more cool and class than a solid gold Cadillac with a faux leopard-skin interior. And they’ve kept the party rollin’ from Worcester to L.A. for more than a decade. This band is the mastermind of talented guitarist and award-winning songwriter Mark Campbell. Campbell, along with brother Jeff on bass and Tony Dintino on drums, generates the rock solid rhythm section that keeps this V-8 engine ﬁring. Dynamic vocalist John Boyle drives the band with reckless abandon, thrilling audiences with his energy and ﬂair. Saxophonist John Vanderpool and trombonist Lennie Peterson deliver the high octane excitement that has this classic ride pulling away from the pack. Clutch Grabwell’s new CD, Counting Down, showcases this band’s power and versatility with 16 rockin’ tracks that’ll have all you guys and dolls boppin’ like a night at Jack Rabbit Slim’s. This impressive collection includes 12 Campbell originals, including the infectious title track and the catchy powerpop of the opening track, “Down.” Other highlights include the melodic original “Remember When.” The disc also includes four choice covers, all given the distinctive Grabwell treatment, including the bluesy “Blind, Crippled, and Crazy,” “Gary Wright’s Love is Alive,” “Back in Love” and the Talking Heads’ rocker “Burning Down the House.” Though the disc is sure to get your blood boiling, it’s Clutch Grabwell’s electrifying live shows that have fans and music critics clamoring. So, Daddy-O, dustoff your coolest bowling shirt and cheap shades, grab your cutest Peggy-Sue, and get ready to rock the night away to the hippest bunch of cats this side of Vegas. Check out upcoming Clutch Grabwell shows and news at www.grabwell.com or look for them on facebook. You’ll be money, baby!

On February 8th, FoxNews.com published an article titled “Is Bulletstorm the Worst Video Game in the World?” The educated and non-biased reporter went on at length about his disdain for the upcoming title, shunning it for its graphic violence and Skillshot mechanic, which awarded players points for shooting enemies in such places as the “buttocks.” The most criminal aspect were Skillshots named “Topless” and “Gang Bang,” alluding to things of explicit, sexual nature, the mere mention of which would crush the smiles and innocence of impressionable children, immediately turning them into cross-dressing murderer rapist bank robber womanizers. If nothing else, John Brandon’s soapbox confirmed that the February release date couldn’t come soon enough. Bulletstorm is essentially a satire, from its namesake to the closing credits, of all the other first-person shooters on the market placing emphasis on macho heroics and infinite clips. While at its core it’s guilty of sharing the same video game genes, its shell is about as sweet and candy-coated as a handful of M&Ms. The environments are, in a word, beautiful. The Unreal Engine has never looked so picturesque and stunning, with a magnificently created world that is as lusciously detailed as the scale and scope is robust. The design is saturated with endless opportunities to maim and dismember, with levels tailored to the “Kill with Skill” creed. Skillshots rewards you with variable levels of Skillpoints based upon their difficulty, which you can later use to purchase weapon upgrades and ammo. The Energy Leash helps you turn a normal skirmish into a skeet shoot, propelling your enemies forward or skyward in slow motion,

which when coupled with the slow motion kick or slide mechanics, creates for some serious combinations. Skillshots will reach a point where they become redundant, but never a point where they lose their luster. I felt more compelled by the Skillshot system, though, than by any part of the story that was presented to me. The unrelentingly gauche dialogue (which tends to be crass just for the sake of it) and run-of-the-mill plot seemed to act merely as a vessel to drop me into the fantastically realized world that showcases the Skillshot system. Another disappointment was Anarchy mode, which sways away from the typical deathmatch multiplayer experience with its team-based Skillpoint dynamic. While the solitary practice of the Skillshot system is effective throughout the campaign, its dynamic falls apart when translated for multiple people. The responsiveness when attempting to parlay teammates attacks into combos transitions horribly. A limited selection of maps and some severe slow down also hinder an experience that doesn’t have much fame to claim from its poor implementation. Bulletstorm is the perfect example of a title where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. On one hand, we have what are some of the most breathtaking next-gen visuals accompanied with a fresh take on taking another aim down the barrel. On the other, there’s a script ﬁlled out like a high school student’s Friday night, plus forgettable cooperative play. For a split second, you forget you’re even playing a shooter. That is why there should be bullets in your forecast.

Rating: 83% APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 25

Club Listings

Happenings at clubs, bars, restaurants, coffee houses, & other select venues 3-G’s

Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc., 508-754-3516 Fri. Pete the Polak, DJ Tue. Orlando’s Underdog Commedy Open Mic Fri. DJ Pete the Polock Sat. Open Mike Comedy Mon. Karaoke with Mike Rossi Apr 16 Dead Wrong Apr 23 Drivin’ Rain Apr 30 The Jitters Allgos Sweets and Drinks 58 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-304-7129, allgoslounge.com American Graffiti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg, 978-345-1010 Banner Pub, The 112 Green St., Worc., 508-755-0879 Tue. Terry Brennan Wed. Apr 6 - Apr 27 Sam James Apr 7 Rob Benton Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester, 508-892-7575 Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Rd., Sterling 978-422-8438, barberscrossing.com Fri. thru Apr 29 Sean Ryan Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc. 508-926-8877, beatniksbeyou.com Wed. Open Mic Night with Bill McCarthy Apr 5 Indie Art Market Apr 7 The Smile Makers w/ Dave Magario & Dusty Cobb Apr 8 M.S. Benefit - Bands TBA Apr 9 Beatnik’s Beats Cancer with a “Night of Hope” featuring Brad Simmons & Jody Ryan Apr 14 Ukulele Thursdays ~ April Edition Apr 15 The Alchemystics Apr 16 Clamdigger Apr 21 Andy Cummings Apr 22 Satellite Rockers, Wrighteous L, Rocky & The Pressers Apr 23 The Soul Merchants Apr 28 Two Hour Mic Check with Ryan Staples Apr 29 The Delta Generators Apr 30 Guns of Navarone with The Beatdown Beemer’s Pub 114 River St., Fitchburg, 978-343-3148 Tue., Thur. thru Apr 28 Karaoke with DJ Heather D Fri. thru Apr 29 DJ T Rich Apr 9 Campfire Boogie Apr 23 Beemers Spring Party presented by Nestor & PJ Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Rd., Sterling, 978-422-8484 Thur. Apr 7 - Apr 28 Kamikazee Karaoke Apr 9 Fran D’agostino Band Apr 15 Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Apr 16 Neon Alley Apr 30 The Groove Devils Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worc. 508-797-4827, blackstonetap.com BLU Ultralounge & Nightclub 105 Water St., Worc. 508-756-2227, blu-nightclub.com Thur. Karoake Thrusday Fri. X-Cess Fridays Sat. Trantrum Saturdays Blue Plate Lounge 661 Main St., Holden 508-829-4566, hometown.aol.com/ blueplatelounge Bluri Bar & Lounge 320 Main St., Worc.,508-926-8247 Boiler Room 70 Winter St., Worc. Bolton Roadhouse Bar & Grille 544 Wattaquodock Rd., Bolton 978-365-5757, 978-365-3036 Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg, 978-345-0008 Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton, 978-365-6105 myspace.com/breakawaybilliardsclinton

Thur. Apr 7 - Apr 28 Karaoke with 1st Impressions Apr 9 Fingercuff Live Band Karaoke Apr 16 Time Zone Apr 17 Nick’s ride Apr 23 Latino Night with DJ Pedro Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Rd, Shirley 978-425-4311, bullrunrestaurant.com Apr 3 John Pizzarelli Apr 6 LOSE YOUR BLUES WEDNESDAYS presents “A Ton of Blues” Apr 8 John Sebastian with Paul Rishell & Annie Raines Apr 13 LOSE YOUR BLUES WEDNESDAYS presents “Ken Macy” Apr 13 Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks Apr 15 Brothers and Sisters Tour Apr 16 Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers Apr 20 LOSE YOUR BLUES WEDNESDAYS presents “Paul Speidel Trio” Apr 22 Danny Klein’s Full House Apr 27 LOSE YOUR BLUES WEDNESDAYS presents “Lydia Warren” Apr 29 The No Reply Band - A Beatles Tribute Cafe Destare 320 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-5734, destare.com Fri., Sat. thru Apr 30 DJs & Dance Bands Apr 3 Jo Jo & Patch Apr 6 Industry Night Apr 7 The Jazz Depot Apr 10 Marcus & Chris Apr 13 Salsa Passions Apr 14 Benjamin Road Band Apr 17 The Curtis Earl Apr 20 Comedy Show Apr 21 Ken Macy Apr 24 Alex Cohen Apr 27 Salsa Passions Apr 28 Chris Fitz Band Cantina Bar & Grill 385 Main St., Worc. 508-459-5325, www.cantinaworcester.com Celtic Tavern 45 Belmont St., Northborough 508-366-6277, celtictav.com Center Bar & Grill 102 Green St., Worc. 508-438-0597, www.thecenterbar.com Centerfolds 2000 139 Southbridge St., North Oxford 508-987-5222, centerfolds2000.com Chooch’s Food & Spirits 31 East Brookfield Rd., North Brookfield 508-867-2494, sitewizzer.com/choochs Cigar Masters 1 Exchange Place, Worc., 508-459-9035 Apr 30 Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster 978-537-7750, www.classicspub.net Sun., Tue., Thur. thru Apr 28 Karaoke Apr 6 Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Wed. Apr 6 – 27 Acoustic Wednesdays Apr 8 - 9 Under Pressure Apr 15 Mumblefish Apr 16 Soulstice Apr 22 - Apr 23 Five Hole Apr 29 Sin City Club InStyle 41 Pleasant St., Worc., www.theclubinstyle. com Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc., 508-798-8385 Apr 15 The Obsession Band Apr 29 Auntie Trainwreck Club Universe 371 Park Ave., Worc. 508-755-5542, www.clubuniverseworcester. com Cornerstone’s Restaurant 616 Central St., Leominster 978-537-1991, cornerstonesrestaurant.com Apr 8 Brian Chaffee Apr 9 Scott Babineau Apr 15 Ken Macy Apr 16, 30 Carl Ayotte Apr 22 Andy Cummings Apr 23 Mike Moore Apr 29 Mike Livingston

Creegan’s Pub 65 Green St., Worc. 508-754-3550, creeganspub.com Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc. 508-757-6977 www.danceranchandsaloon.com Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford 508-987-1006, www.daysendtavern.com Fri. KARAOKE & Dancing with Making Memories Thur. DJ Roberta - Dance off for CASH! Thur. DJ Brian Spinnin’ & Scratchin’ The Hottest Dance Music Sat. Hip Hop Dance Party with DJ HappyDaze Thur. DJ Brian Spinnin’ The Hottest Dance Music Fri. Karaoke with Making Memories Apr 9 Eric Grant Band Apr 23 FLOCK OF ASSHOLES Apr 23 DJ HappyDaze at the DEN Apr 30 Ed McCarron Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens 978-862-0060, www.devensgrill.com Apr 21 Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc. 508-792-3700, www.aohworcester.com Sat. Karaoke with Outrageous Greg Apr 14 Meg Hutchinson performs at Genesis Club Benefit Concert Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 East Main St., Marlborough 508-357-8883, fireflysbbq.com Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill 305 Shrewsbury St., Worc., 508-753-2995 Fusion 109 Water St., Worc. 508-756-2100, www.fusionworcester.com Sat. Seductive Saturdays w/DJ Hydro & DJ Savas- Top 40 Sun. Reggae fusion Sundays with dj nick Tue. Bass embassy & rebirth Tuesdays Thru dec 31 Now booking private parties! Fri. I love Fridays with DJ B-LO Galway Bay Irish Pub 186 Stafford St., Worc., 508-753-8909 Apr 9 The Bad Tickers Apr 16 The Shady Saints Apr 23 The Cosby Sweaters Apr 30 Clamdigger Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner 978-669-0122, gardnerale.com Thur. thru Apr 28 Audio Wasabi hosted by Brian Chaffee Fri., Sat. thru Apr 30 Live Entertainment Sun. thru Apr 24 Jazz Brunch Sundays Mon. thru Apr 25 Blue Mondays - Live Blues Apr 29 Chris Reddy Gilrein’s 802 Main St., Worc. 508-791-2583, gilreins.net Greendale’s Pub 404 W Boylston St., Worc. 508-853-1350, myspace.com/greendalespub Tue. Open Mic Night w/ Bill McCarthy - Open Mic Sun. Sunday Blues Jam, hosted by Jim Perry Sun. thru Apr 24 meat raffle Apr 9 Silverbacks Apr 15 Lisa Marie Apr 16 No Alibi Apr 22 BYO Blues Apr 23 Auntie Trainwreck Apr 30 Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse Grey Hound Pub (An Cu Liath) 11 Kelley Square, Worc., 508-754-6100 www.thegreyhoundworcester.com Thur. Thursday Night Team Trivia Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn, 508-832-6793 halliganssportsbarandmore.com Apr 29 Wisecracks Comedy Show to benefit Oxford’s 300 Anniv. Celebration

Hotel Vernon 1 Millbury St., Worc. Thur. Good Times with Your Friend DJ Steve Apr 7 Capt. Cat with Special Guests, Quest and Strange Skinny Stone Apr 8 Broadcaster/Goddard/Little Gold (NYC) Apr 9 Ric Porter & The Sons of the Soil LIVE MUSIC AND DANCING!!!! Apr 12 Broadcaster, Little Gold, TBA Apr 15 The Tribe Apr 17 Young Leaves, Brick Mower, and TBA Apr 22 Oiltanker, Aspects of War, WormToung, Fast Death, Antietam Apr 23 People’s Dance Party Apr 29 The Tribe Apr 30, May 2 Straightjacket, Slumber Party Irish Times / Rehab 244 Main St., Worc. 508-797-9599, irishtimespub.com Jillian’s - Worcester 315 Grove St., Worc. 508-793-0900, jilliansworcester.com Apr 29 Flock of Assholes JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough 508-842-8420, www.jbag.biz Apr 8 Jason James Apr 9 Dirty Deeds Apr 15 Flock of Assholes Apr 16 Probable Cause Apr 22 Never in Vegas Apr 23 Fuzion Apr 29 Pop Rocks Apr 30 Go Gadget Go Joseph’s Bistro & Pub 97 Main St., Westminster 978-874-9918, josephsbistro.com Apr 9 Dave Harrington Apr 23 John Dupont Leitrim’s Pub 265 Park Ave., Worc. 508-798-2447, leitrimspub.com Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc. 508-796-5177, loft266.com London Billiards / Club Oasis 70 James St., Worc. 508-799-7655, londonbilliards.com Lucky Dog Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc. 508-363-1888, luckydogmusic.com Apr 2 Opening Night, Squeezer, White Chocolate Apr 7 Flock of A-holes, w/ Fifth Nation (from TX/NYC) and 1st is SUGAR SNOW! Apr 8 Benefit for RIQUE #1: Dorian Gray, Seven Minute Stagger, Vorse, 18 Wheels of Justice, Creeping Death (Metallica tribute!) Apr 9 Benefit for rique #2: From here it’s war, Age of End, Hollowpoint Klick, Terror Rising, Social Suicide, In Human Form Apr 15 The 80s Rock/Hair Metal band Mullethead! w/ Hard Number 9, Right Angle Woman, and Rough Ashlar Apr 22 Beg, Scream & Shout Mahoney’s Pub 413 Park Ave., Worc., 508-755-8876 Marty’s Pub 225 Cantebury St., Worc. 508-754-0033, martyspub.com MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc. 508-799-4521, mblounge.com Mon. Free Pool Night Sun. Live Piano Night Monthly McNally’s Grille & Pub 88 Sargent Rd, Westminster, 978-874-1444 Mickey Sheas 324 Electric Ave., Lunenburg, 978-342-5825 Mill Street Brews (@ The ADC) 508-764-6900, millstreetbrews.com Thur. Open Mic Jam Apr 8 After Ail Apr 23 Faith Degenhardt Benefit Show Apr 29 Acoustic & Comedy Jam Mint 18 Grafton St., Worc. 508-793-8700, mintworcester.com Continued on pg. 31

26 THEPULSEMAG.COM | APR. 2011

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 27

Pulse

ShOtS

FEel the beat of the City! Photos by Justin Perry

St. Patty’s Day Parade! - Park Ave., Worcester

St. Patty’s Day at Fiddler’s Pub - Worcester

St. Patty’s Day at Classic’s Pub - Leominster

St. Patty’s Day at Black Sheep Tavern - Sterling

Flying Rhino - Worcester

Loft 266 - Worcester

Square One Sports Bar - Worcester

Perfect Game - Worcester

Cigar Masters - Worcester

Continued from pg. 26

Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc., 508-753-4030 myspace.com/NicksWorcester Apr 3 Dale LePage and The Bobby Gadoury Trio Apr 8 The Big Lonesome Nuf Ced 377 Park Ave., Worc., 508-751-4000 On The Rocks Sports Bar & Grill 96 Lakefront Ave., Lunenburg, 978-342-6692 Oxford Tavern 314 Main St., Oxford, 508-987-5397 Apr 16 Where’s Tom - Classic Rock from 70s & 80s Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster, 978-534-7117 Palladium, The 261 Main St., Worc. 508-797-9696, thepalladium.net Check www.thepalladium.net for full schedule! Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg 978-345-5051, partnerspub.com Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge 64 Water St., Worc., 508-792-4263 perfectgameworcester.com Thur. Apr 7 - 28 Live Acoustic Thursdays Apr 28 Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Point Breeze On the Lake 114 Point Breeze Rd., Webster 508-943-0404, pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc. 508-753-9543, ralphsdiner.net Tue. “Totally Tuesdazed!!!!!” Tunes in the Diner every Tues. Night! Wed. Wednesday Night KARAOKE 10pm ‘til Close!!! Mon. Dirty Gerund Poetry & Variety Show Apr 8 TickleBomb Orchestra, Ellis Ashbrook, The Big Jon Short Band, and Speaker for the Dead! Apr 13 A Special performance/reading upstairs by Buddy Wakeﬁeld! Apr 14 Pulse Magazine’s Worcester Music Awards at Ralph’s Diner!!! Red Onion - Otter River Hotel 29 Main St., Baldwinville 978-939-7373, myspace.com/theredonion Apr 4 Beer Pong Mondays Tue. Apr 5 - 26 Open Mic hosted by Rob Labelle Apr 7 Hip Hop Night with Complects - Pike & Bonez & Endo Apr 8 Great Shakin Race with Midnight Sun Apr 9 Save the Tatas Beneﬁt with Truth Ending Cycle - Five Hole & Radio Flyer Apr 15 1 Oughta 9 Apr 16 Go Gadget Go Apr 17 Ronnies River Rat Race Apr 22 Radio Flyer Apr 23 The Sufferin Bastards Apr 29 Ned Lucas Band & The Tokyo Tramps Apr 30 The Rob Labelle Band Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worc. 508-792-1078, sakura-tokyo.com Apr 22 - 23 Doctor Robert Salty Dog Saloon 1 Kelley Square, Worc. 508-752-6600, saltydogsaloon.net Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough 508-480-8222, speakersnightclub.net Thur. Karaoke Fri. Ladies’ Night - Top 40 Dance Party Sat. Live bands Every Sat. Night - See below Apr 9 Flesh N Blood (Poison Tribute) Apr 16 Alive She Cried (Doors Tribute) & Aerochix ( Aerosmith Tribute) Apr 23 The Allens!!!! Spruce Street Tavern 68 Spruce St., Clinton 978-368-1255, SpruceStreetTavern.com

Apr 6 Jimkata Apr 8 Spiritual Rez - Rising Tribe Apr 9 Frank Viele & The Manhattan Project, Jen Kearney & the Lost Onion Apr 13 Leedz Edutainment Presents Inspectah Deck of WU Tang Clan, Plus Krumbsnatcha, Burnt MD & More! - 18+ 8pm - Get Tix @ Ticketﬂy.com! Apr 15 Goose Pimp Orchestra, Seed Apr 16 Teamwork, Early Morning Blues (F/ Bryan Donahue Of Boys Like Girls), Small Talk, Ghost Ocean, The Life I Lead - 1pm ALL AGES - $8 - Get Tix @ Ticketﬂy.com Apr 23 Fennario- Grateful Dead Tribute Apr 29 Ernie and the Automatics, BUB

COFFee HOUSeS

Live Theatre

Acton Jazz Cafe 452 Great Rd., Acton 978-263-6161, .actonjazzcafe.com

Hanover Theatre 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester 508.831.0800 boxofﬁce@thehanovertheatre.org www.thehanovertheatre.org

The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc. 508-340-0318 Apr 17 City Softball Kickoff Party w/Chris Reddy

Books & Beans 15 Hamilton St., Southbridge 508-764-6774, booksandbeans.org

The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc., 508-304-8133 facebook.com/people/Raven-Worcester/1000 01022046717 Apr 3 Sh*t Outta Luck,The Terribles,The Jitters,Fang Noir,Heelan Powers Apr 6, 13, 20, 27 Open Mic Thur. Apr 7 - 28 Hip Hop Thursday Apr 8 Tokyo Tramps,Mack The Knife,Heatsticks,Lounge Chair All Stars Apr 9 Industrial night w/Dead and The Damned,Absynthe, DJ Karl Magrini Apr 13 Open Mic Apr 16 The Raw, Musclecah, Demons Alley Apr 22 Another Soldier Down,Hate For 1,Our Name Is Legion,Hollow Point Klik,Engraved In Bone Apr 23 Promise Of Fire,My Missing Half,In Human Form,Terror Rising,The Summoned,Katabdin Apr 30 Ten Foot Polecats,Sit Down Baby,Jacob Haller & The Running Commentary,Wild Mountain Strategy Union Music 142 Southbridge St., Worc. 508-753-3702, unionmusic.com Apr 9 Ukulele Workshop: Strummin with Jumpin’ Jim Apr 13 Craig Thatcher Martin Guitar Workshop Apr 28 Taylor Guitars Road Show Apr 29 - 30 Steve Kaufman’s Award Winning Guitar Workshop Apr 30 Steve Kaufman-3 Time National Guitar Champ-In Concert Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grille 377 Stetson Rd., Barre, 978-355-2224 upperdecksportsbarandgrille.com Vegas Lounge 5 Summer St., Lunenburg 978-400-7524 Sun. - Fri. thru Apr 29 Free Jukebox Night Sat. thru Apr 30 Vegas Club Night with DJ Darin Apr 6 Beer Pong Apr 8 Angel Dust Apr 29 Stonethrow Verona Grille 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury 508-853-9091 Thur. Karaoke With DJ Jimi

Allgos Sweets and Drinks 58 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-304-7129, allgoslounge.com Bean Counter Coffee Bar and Bakery 113 Highland St., Worc., 508-754-3125

Borders Marlborough 739 Donald J. Lynch Blvd, Marlboro 508-490-8521,bordersstores.com/stores Borders Shrewsbury 476 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury 508-845-8665, bordersstores.com/stores Buzz Bean Espresso Lounge 32 Main St., Webster, 508-943-4039 Cafe Palermo 139 John Fitch Hwy., Fitchburg, 978-345-4501 Caffe Dolce 154 Shrewsbury St., Worc., 508-754-3761 Espress Yourself Coffee 2 Richmond Ave., Worc. 508-755-3300 Green Rooster Coffeehouse 6 Institute Rd., Worc., 508-798-3010 ucc-worcester.org/greenrooster Moonstruck Café 19 Worcester Rd, Charlton 508-248-4558 Olive Branch Coffeehouse 30 Main St., Northborough 508-393-1333,thebranch.com Spiritual Haze 482 Park Ave., Worc. 508-799-0629, spiritualhaze.com Starbucks Coffee House 1 West Boylston St., Worc. 508-353-3839, 508-770-1135 Steeple Coffeehouse 15 Common St., Southborough 508-845-4847,steeplecoffeehouse.org

Barre Players Theater 64 Common St., Barre, MA Phone 978-355-2096 or 800-733-2096 Email: barre_players@yahoo.com Calliope Productions Inc. 150 Main Street, Boylston, 508-869-6887 Turtle Lane Playhouse 283 Melrose Street, Auburndale 617-244-0169 http://turtlelane.org/contact.php Cornerstone Performing Arts Center 454 Main Street. Fitchburg, 978-345-2915 Email: info@cpacfitchburg.org www.cpacfitchburg.org Wachusett Theatre Company PO Box 92 Worcester, MA, 978-602-6288 Wachusetttheatre.com Stratton Players 60 Wallace Avenue Fitchburg, (978) 345-6066 www.strattonplayers.com Acme Theatre Productions ArtSpace Maynard 61 Summer Street, Maynard www.acmetheater.com/index.asp Box Office: 978-823-0003 The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN) 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA www.natickarts.org/index.php Tickets and Information: 508.647.0097 Vokes Theatre/Vokes Players Inc. Route 20, PO Box 283, Wayland Box Office: (508) 358-4034 www.vokesplayers.org Stageloft Theatre 450 A Main Street, Sturbridge, 508-347-9005 www.stageloft.com Worcester County Light Opera 21 Grand View Ave., Worcester 508-753-4383, admin@wcloc.org http://wcloc.org

Sturbridge Coffee Roasters / SCR Cafe 210 Hamilton St., Southbridge 508-765-5520, sturbridgecoffeeroasters.com Udderly Delicious 273 Main St., Oxford 508-987-9636, udderlydelicious.net Wholly Cannoli 488 Grafton St., Worc. 508-753-0224, whollycannoli.com

Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-756-4747,victorycigarbar.com Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc. 508-752-9439, myspace.com/vincentsbar Sun. Big Jon Short Wed. Tiki Night with Frank & Eric! Tue. Scott Riccuiti, Michael Thibodeau & John Donovan, James Keyes Apr 16 Ric Porter & The Sons of the Soil Whiskey Alley 281 Lunenburg St., Fitchburg 978-345-4040 Whistle Stop Bar & Grill 85 Main St., Oxford 508-987-3087, StopByTheWhistle.com Apr 16 Bill McCarthy - Classic & Contemporary Acoustic Rock!

Squire Whites Pub & Restaurant 347 Greenwood St., Worc. 508-752-7544 squirewhites.com Fri. Live Bands and no cover charges! Tammany Hall 43 Pleasant St., Worc. 508-753-7001,tammanyhallrocks.com

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 31

LIFESTYLE

PulseTRAVEL -

Quicktrips

Kayaking the Deerﬁeld River By BJ Hill

After a bit of research, my girlfriend and I chose Crab Apple Whitewater for our kayaking adventure. Owners Frank and Jennifer Mooney have been guiding rafting and kayaking tours along the Deerfield River since 1989. After a two-hour drive along Route 2 from downtown Worcester, we arrived at the modern lodge and boathouse in Charlemont. We fitted for life jackets and helmets and sat through a brief orientation. There were about 30 other people in our afternoon group: a cluster of couples, a party of college students, a bevy of co-workers, and a handful of families. One father chose a large raft to share with his son and a guide, while another chose a double kayak to share with his young daughter (Crab Apple’s minimum age is 5 on this relatively mild tour). The rest of us took single-person Hyside inflatable kayaks (normally $44 per person, but we paid $25 with a Groupon). It was a warm autumn day in the 70s, and most of us opted out of the wetsuits. Compared to our last kayaking experience, which ended in a bonus trip to the ER, once in the water we found the Deerfield’s class I and II rapids very manageable. The first ten minutes were a little hairy, but our guides had done a good job of explaining how to navigate that stretch. Once clear, the current pushed us along steadily but easily. In some cases, we found we needed to purposely paddle into isolated pockets of white water to get some action. About 90 minutes into the eight-mile trip, our group pulled to the riverbank to meet Crab Apple’s staff, which handed out lemonade and granola bars. We chatted with our guides, Jay, a former Marine, and Steve, a UMass undergrad, who told us of the series of hydroelectric dams upstream which regulate the Deerfield’s flow.

32 THEPULSEMAG.COM | APR. 2011

Back on the river, we understood what they meant. Once or twice we found ourselves ahead of the release, so our boats snagged on rocks in ankledeep water, forcing us to struggle free like stranded ﬁsh. But while we waited for the water to catch up, we had the opportunity to take in the Berkshire scenery around us. Route 2 lay above and to our left, and the Housatonic range rose ahead. Trees lined the bank and dipped their branches into the river, as the September sun slipped down behind us. It felt like perfect timing when we reached the pickup point two hours later. We left the kayaks on the beach and trundled aboard the bus for the short drive back to the lodge. It was beginning to cool down and we were glad we’d brought along towels and dry clothes. Crab Apple offers an add-on dinner, but, since we didn’t venture out this way very often, we instead went in search of some local fare. Crab Apple operates tours morning and afternoon, seven days a week, mid-April to mid-October. More information can be found at www.crabapplewhitewater. com or by calling 1-800-553-RAFT. Feeling more adventurous? Crab Apple times special trips in the early spring and on dam release days, which mean faster ﬂows. Want to travel? Ask about shooting the Class III and IV rapids at its sites in Vermont and Maine. Photos of the full-size whitewater rafts provided by Crab Apple Whitewater.

NEADS Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans

Man’s Best Friend and So Much More By Shelly Aucoin Christy Bassett just might have the coolest job in the world. As Senior Trainer at NEADS in Princeton, MA, Christy spends her days training dogs to help the deaf and disabled. “I’ve always wanted to work with animals, but knew that I didn’t want to become a vet or a groomer. Originally I wanted to pursue a career with marine mammals but quickly found that jobs that work directly with those types of animals were few and far between. I then started looking into guide dog training and eventually found NEADS, which was the closest assistance dog school of its kind to my college in Maine,” says Christy. Christy completed an internship at NEADS after her junior year. “I fell in love with the dogs and the work that they did, and ultimately ended up being hired as a Trainer’s Apprentice after I graduated. It has been 8 years now and I still really enjoy the dogs and believe in our mission,” she says with a smile. Since 1976, the wonderful people at NEADS have been providing a variety of service dogs to people in need ~ most recently soldiers returning from Afghanistan. NEADS trains dogs in a variety of classiﬁcations including: hearing, walker, service, social, and specialty dogs, plus service dogs trained for the classroom, for ministry, and for therapy. Happily, most of their hearing dogs are rescued from shelters. “I think my favorite part of the job is working with the shelter dogs. There is just something about pulling a dog from a shelter and seeing something special in them that then translates to helping a person in need ~ very cool. We do form a strong attachment to many of the dogs and most of the clients that we work with. Being a part of such an important and valuable change in someone’s life is very rewarding.” Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Candi Hitchcock points out that there is also a “… weekend puppy raiser program for puppies that spend Monday through Friday in prisons. The puppies spend the weekends with families for additional socialization and exposure to different sights and sounds.” For those of you interested in following Christy’s path, her major was Psychobiology with a minor in Animal Studies. Check out www.neads.org for more information about the dogs and the programs at NEADS.

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 33

DINING & ENTERTAINING

Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant By Bernie Whitmore

The Shrewsbury Street dining experience takes many forms, but it may reach its highest point at Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant. Once you’ve been seated in Piccolo’s dining room, you’ve entered another time and place. Formerly the counting-room of the Banco Di Napoli, its wood-paneled walls are hung with tributes to opera as if to underscore the musical soundtrack. An outrageously ornate tin ceiling gleams with light cast by glass globes shaped like bunches of fruit or flowers. As much as those chain restaurants may try, there’s no way they can match this level of retro-décor. But that’s just the beginning. After reading the menu and wine list I realized Piccolo’s cuisine, Italian with Sicilian influences, is as unique as their funky dining room. If their kitchen can actually deliver on this promise of bold flavor, it would be a memorable evening. Melissa, our server, got the meal started with a basket of warm bread and garlicky olive oil for dipping. After taking our entrée orders she helped with salad and wine selections. We only strayed from the main menu far enough to select one of the evening’s special appetizers, Arancini di Riso. A Sicilian specialty, arancini are rice balls, each about the size of a casino token. Outside they were golden-crunchy with bread crumbs, inside the al dente rice was creamy with parmesan cheese and flecked with parsley and bits of prosciutto. The order of four Arancini was ideal for sharing and served with a small bowl of warm marinara sauce. Pacing between courses at Piccolo’s is unhurried; fastfood is a distant and alien concept. But soon enough Melissa returned with our Caesar Salad. Piccolo’s Caesar could very well be the best in town. We shared a meal-sized salad ~ any less and we’d be scrambling to snag the last leaf of romaine, each crease of which was evenly coated with dressing rich in parmesan cheese and balanced notes of lemon, anchovy and garlic. The salad was draped with fillets of white anchovy, much softer and milder than those salty bristles you so often encounter. Even the croutons were exceptional, providing an airy, buttery crunch.

34 THEPULSEMAG.COM | APR. 2011

Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant, 157 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester (508) 754-1057 http://piccolos157.com

Did this lead to ramped up expectations? You bet, but then I’ve never left Piccolo’s without being impressed. Tonight’s entrees were no less exceptional… My friend, usually a fan of steak or veal, surprised me with his choice: Spaghetti alla Bechéra. Stunning both visually and in robust flavor, this dish of red wine spaghetti and crumbled sausage was extraordinary. The fresh-cut spaghetti was scarlet-red, steeped in the flavors of roasted garlic, plum tomatoes and that occasional bit of fennel from the sausage. But it was the spicy-hot sausage that pumped flavor into this dish, chunks of it in every forkful. He matched it with a glass of Apothic Red wine, a blend of syrah, merlot and zinfandel grapes. Its velvety-smooth intensity of dark fruit and chocolate tones is one of the few wines capable of taming Spaghetti alla Bechéra. Its lush flavors can prove addictive; you’ll want to share a full bottle. My entrée, Gamberi Julianna, showcased five jumbo sautéed shrimp served over twisted strands of pasta tossed with baby spinach leaves in creamy pink vodka sauce. When roasted, garlic becomes creamy-soft and sweet; Piccolo’s chef uses it to great advantage in Juliana, giving the dish a deeper flavor dimension. But the real stars of my meal were the shrimp; their delicate flavor and texture are rarely encountered in all the hastily broughtto-market “product” out there. I couldn’t help remarking, “Oh! I almost forgot what really good shrimp tasted like!” But superlatives and compliments accompany each course at Piccolo’s. Even our dessert, Molten Chocolate Cake, has become a staple item on menus everywhere. But Piccolo’s was double sized and served with a large dollop of whipped cream. No, not that foamy sprayed-on stuff, this cream had been pushed all the way down the line to just short of butter. All right, I’m a fan of Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant. The dining room. The soundtrack. The service and pacing. But most of all, the cuisine. This is Italian with heart and soul.

Hot & Now By Paul Giorgio

Open one, close one. We are told that Il Forno in Westboro will be closing its doors but opening at a new location in Ashland. The new location gives them more space and the ability to offer catering and function rooms, according to our sources. No word if another restaurant will be moving into the Westboro spot. Their closing will certainly help Ziti’s, which is just down Route 9. New restaurant in Aglio’s. Word has it that a new restaurant will be moving into the space once occupied by Aglio’s on Route 12 in West Boylston. No word yet on a name or concept, but we will keep you posted. Look for a summer opening. Another opening. We are told that a new restaurant will be opening on Hamilton Street in the space that was once home to the Hamilton Bistro and ~ briefly ~ to Alice’s Kitchen Rose-Ellen Padavano will be opening Rosalina’s Kitchen. The BYOB establishment will feature an eclectic Italian American menu with several chicken, fish and pasta offerings nightly. They plan on an April opening. Café Manzi to open at night. Café Manzi, a breakfast and lunch spot located in what was once Scano’s bakery on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street, will soon be open in the evening. Starting on May 1, Café Manzi owner Brian Manzi will be opening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and serving both Middle Eastern and American food. It will be BYOB. First Brew Woo. The DCU Center in Worcester will host its first ever Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, April 23 from 3-9 pm. Over 30 craft brewers will participate with samplings and seminars. Tickets can be purchased at the DCU Center Box Office. Consolidated Beverages, distributors of Budweiser, is helping with the event. The Italian Baker teaches you to cook. John Grosse, owner of Shrewsbury Street Bread and Pizza, has started to teach cooking classes on Tuesday nights at the Bakery. The next classes, which are limited to eight people, will be held on Tuesday, April 13th & 27th. You can learn everything from cheese making to creating dinner entrees. Call (508) 755-5310 for details. Wine & Chocolate. The Bridge of Central Massachusetts will be hosting a wine and chocolate fundraiser on April 28th, starting at 6pm. The wine will be provided by State Liquors of Worcester. Tickets are priced at $45 per person. The event will be held at the Ecotarium on Worcester’s Harrington Way. Call 508-755-0333 ext. 245 for details. More Shrewsbury Street news. Kenichi is the name of the new sushi restaurant that will be opening shortly in the space that once was home to Zipango. One of the owners was the former bartender at Ping’s Garden. And speaking of Sushi. We noticed a new sign go up next to Smokestack Place on Harding Street in Worcester’s Canal District. The sign is for Sushi Rock, a Rock & Roll Bar. We are going to presume that it is a club that also features Sushi. We will keep you posted.

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PULSE

Cocktails

THE BLACK GROUSE The Famous Grouse® Blended Scotch Whisky Unveils Its Darker Side By Mike Newford The Famous Grouse has announced the launch of its newest blended whisky, The Black Grouse. Deriving its name from one of the rarest animals to fly the sky, the whisky is as rare as the bird. Billed as “the darker side of The Famous Grouse,” this newest addition to the Grouse family has the richest, smoothest flavor of any blended Scotch; it’s a smooth blend of smoky peated malts and Scotland’s favorite whisky. This newest blend has already garnered attention from whisky professionals and aficionados: it was awarded the Best Premium Blend ~ Gold Award (with 94 points out of a possible 100) at the Scotch Whisky Masters. Jim Murray, international whisky authority and author of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, described it as a “real treasure” and of the finish he said that it was “… so gentle, with waves of smoke and oak lapping on an oaky shore… brilliant.”

Says U.S. Brand Manager Marc Bromfeld of Rémy Cointreau USA, “The blended whisky market is ready for a unique new product like this one; its smooth and smoky character adds an entirely different element to the mix.” Inspired by the smoky essence and versatility of The Black Grouse, NYC barbeque restaurant Blue Smoke’s Beverage Manager Tinika Green and bartender Andrew Duncan worked together to create a special cocktail, the Black and Blue, as a fall entry on Blue Smoke’s cocktail menu ~ but they’ve also been kind enough to share the recipe with us!

The Black and Blue 2 ounce The Black Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky .5ounce calvados (apple brandy) .5 ounce amaretto .25 ounce hazelnut liqueur And thinking ahead to summer, “The Black Grouse’s ﬂavor proﬁle pairs well with the hints of sweetness in different barbecue rubs and sauces,” says Jason Krantz, Chef de Cuisine at Blue Smoke. I don’t know about you, but my mouth is watering already!

More About The Black Grouse ABV: 40% Color: Dark, russet golden Bouquet: Peaty-smoke then delicate sweetness. Golden raw sugar with traces of malt and oak. Palate: Subtle smoky-sweet tones. A silky smooth delivery with hints of cocoa and spice. Finish: Long, peaty, aromatic. Gentle smokiness, giving way to a resonant oaky nose. For more information, please visit www.famousgrouse.com.

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Now Serving

Sweet T Southern Kitchen: A Taste of the South By Rachel Shuster

Sweet T offers made-fromscratch southern dishes including country fried chicken and southern ham. Side dishes include collard greens and fried okra. Also check out the beef stew with cornbread and spicy chicken gumbo. Sweet T also offers pecan and sweet potato pie. Prices range from $2.50 $4.50 for individual items, but in a meal deal, you get 1 meat and 1 side for $6.75 or 1 meat and 2 sides for $8.50! Sweet T Southern Kitchen blends authentic southern style cooking and that good ol’ hospitality. Located at 35 Blackstone River Road in Worcester, Sweet T Southern Kitchen is a guaranteed good meal and good time. Tony Sanders and Michaun Fowler are not only co-owners of the restaurant, they’ve also been friends for many years. “We met ten years ago when I worked as a realtor and helped her ﬁnd an apartment,” Sanders said. “We talked about how we wanted home cooked food, but there was no where to get it. We put our business plans together and opened the restaurant on December 10, 2010.”

Sweet T has daily specials and college night (15% off with college I.D.) on Wednesdays, when they offer hush puppies and fries. Each Saturday at the BYOB restaurant, it’s New Recipe Day! Sunday belongs to southern brunch. Sanders adds, “Each week we feature specialties from different southern states. It’s like a tour of the south.” Sweet T Southern Kitchen is open Tues - Sat: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm and Sun: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Check out sweettworcester.com or call 508756-0100 for more information.

Born in Mason, Georgia, Sanders has the south and the restaurant business in his blood. “Many of the recipes are ones I grew up with. My mother actually bakes the restaurant’s buttermilk pie, one of our best sellers,” Sanders adds.

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THANKS FOR JOINING US DURING WORCESTER RESTAURANT WEEK 2011 Ceres_Pulse_1-4_Page_Patio.ai

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Spring seating. Warmer weather brings sun-filled afternoons and a relaxing evening breeze to dining on the Bistro Patio. Enjoy our fresh seasonal menu or a crafted cocktail while unwinding with a breath of fresh air. Ceres Bistro, an unparalleled food and wine affair that delivers the farm to your table in an elegant yet casual atmosphere.

$5 Appetizers (4-7pm & 10pm-Close) $5 Mojitos (All Day) Bottles of Wine Starting at $20! Ceres Bistro at the Beechwood Hotel 363 Plantation Street ~ Worcester, MA 508.754.2000 ~ ceresbistro.com

Revel in the harvest.

THANKS FOR JOINING US DURING WORCESTER RESTAURANT WEEK 2011

Seafood Cioppino Shrimp, scallops, calamari and haddock cooked with mild peppers in a light plum tomato sauce served over linguine. Just $19.99 at the Registry Restaurant

Free Appetizer with your entree purchase

The Registry Restaurant 264 Park Ave, registryrestaurant.com, 508-752-2211 The Kitchen is open 5 pm - 10 pm Tues. - Sun. (Fri. & Sat. till 11 pm) Offer expires May 31, present this ad when you order; offers cannot be combined

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APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 41

SPORTS & FITNESS

Be an MVP – Join the Worcester Adult Kickball League! By Jillian Locke

Let’s reflect for just a moment. Remember the glory days ~ you’re 10 years old and day- dreaming about recess. The bell rings and you spring from your desk like a rocket, the first to reach the freedom of the outdoors. You bask in the glory of the sun on your face, the sweet taste of freedom at your finger tips, and that most invigorating recess activity: kickball. Yup, the day just got WAY better. Fast forward 20 years, and you find yourself longing for that same care-free feeling. What is the cure for the void? Look no further ~ the World Adult Kickball Association is in full bloom, right in your backyard! “It’s a very, very fun sport that anybody can play regardless of skill level. It gives me the chance to play a sport I haven’t played since middle school,” says Greg Boyce, aka“The Commissioner” of the Worcester Adult Kickball League. With the help of grassroots promotion and by actively seeking volunteers and players, Boyce is now celebrating the league’s first official full year of operation. The greatest pay-off for Boyce is simple ~ it’s all about the socializing. “The social aspect is great ~ knowing that you have that one night a week where you just go hang out, play kickball with your friends and have a good time. It brings back the childhood nostalgia; you get to relax from craziness of life and have a few drinks with some great people.”

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Although WAKA is up and roaring, the league still faces their own unique challenges. “The biggest challenge is being a relatively new sport. We are still trying to get folks to come out and play, and to get past the stigma of ‘adult kickball.’ We want to grow the league into as many as 8-10 teams. The challenge there is to not only keep people who are playing interested, but to get other folks who are already playing other sports interested.” With activities like “theme weeks,” which have teams picking themes and dressing in costume for the games (“In the past, people have dressed up as hip hop stars from the 80s and 90s, or in Mardi Gras costumes, Halloween costumes, and just fun stuff,” Boyce reflects), playing for charity (like this year’s event which will benefit the March of Dimes), and competing for the chance to play in the Las Vegas Founders Cup games, there’s no reason why YOU can’t rule the field this year! Make the 2011 season one to remember! The 10 week Spring/Summer season begins on May 19 and runs until July 28. Registration begins March 23 and ends April 29. With registration, you will receive a team T-shirt, discounts at The Perfect Game ~ where team members gather after games ~ and free admission to season events and parties. Check out www.kickball.com/ season/mapioneerspring2011 for more info, including events, the schedule for the Spring/Summer 2011 season, important registration deets, and much more!

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NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING •

• NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING •

• NORTH COUNTY • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING

ART & CULTURE

The Center for the Arts in Natick By Emily Osgood

The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN) is becoming a cultural hub by offering programs and performances that appeal to a variety of audience members. While hosting crowd favorites like Open Mic Folk Night and housing an ever-changing art gallery, TCAN is hoping to attract even more people by reaching out to the younger generation. David Lavalley, Executive Director of TCAN, is focusing on bringing in a new generation of music lovers. “Our commitment is to the entire community and I think that young people deserve some nights that are dedicated to music that they enjoy.” Rock Off Main Street has always been a hit with the high school set, but now TCAN has taken its local band showcases to a new level and has upped the stakes. For the competition that is currently running, high school bands were each asked to submit an original song; bands with the best songs were then chosen to compete in one of three showdowns. The ﬁnalists from that round will face off on April 22nd at TCAN, hoping to snag the grand prize of a $1,000 scholarship to attend Berkelee College of Music’s Summer Program. Only four musicians will be chosen, so the competition is ﬁerce, even amongst band mates. Tickets can be purchased at the door for only $8, and fans are encourage to come cheer on their favorite band. Didn’t make it into the competition? Regular Rock Off Main Street showcases will resume after the winners are named.

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The Center plays host to many concerts, comedy shows, and other productions, and even offers classes for children who are interested in the arts. But the highlight of their spring season is the Kaki King show, featuring Joe Robinson. Lavalley believes that this production will also draw in a younger crowd: “…When we get ideas for bands and musicians that appeal to [them], I always follow up on those…I’m really very interested in bringing musicians here that are of interest to younger audiences.” More evidence that TCAN is reaching out to a younger, hipper audience in hopes of introducing them to, or fostering an existing interest in, the arts? Facebook and YouTube pages. Their Facebook page contains comprehensive information about upcoming events and their YouTube page (username: “natickarts”) features videos of both professional and novice musicians performing at TCAN; videos are posted by the Center and by audience members. For more information about The Center for the Arts in Natick and all it offers, please visit www.natickarts.org.

Photos courtesy of David Lavalley (pictured)

The Wall at WAM By Emily Osgood

Charline von Heyl is exploding onto the Worcester art scene in a big way. A prominent artist since the 1980s, she is featured in numerous galleries around the world ~ including the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. von Heyl’s work is experimental and vibrant, her style stemming from a modern art movement born at the end of the 20th century that strives to pay tribute to the early abstract artists while fostering newer artists’ ideas and perspectives. Her mural, now gracing the Wall at WAM, is an abstract painting and a representation of a previous WAM painting, Orange White, by Ellsworth Kelly. Kelly’s abstract painting has been on display since the beginning of February in the museum’s new late 20th century galleries. What started out as a small sketch is now a 17 x 67 feet mural, and that did create some challenges for von Heyl. The production team decided that the best way to create the mural was to divide it into manageable panels. Working with the smaller sections was both physically easier for von Heyl and artistically preferable, allowing her to keep the large painting true to her small sketch. What may seem like an insigniﬁcant structural issue actually has added value for the art lover. The viewer can choose to enjoy the mural as a whole or to take each panel in by itself; each approach creates a different experience.

The mural is a twisting array of black strokes, ever-continuing from one side of the painting to the other. The stark contrast between the bright orange and the deep black allows the strokes to pop off the canvas. The opaque orange background also has corners of white seeping through, creating even more contrast and producing a dizzying effect. Certain black strokes even venture onto the white pallet, making the image seem as though it is moving along a chain. The mural is positioned high above the rest of the main room and is therefore the first thing a visitor to the Museum will see. The stark difference between the modernist mural and the ancient mosaic on the floor directly beneath it reflects the Museum’s commitment to displaying art in all its forms and from many different periods. It also exposes the lover of more traditional art to an example of current trends and encourages exploration of new developments, techniques, forms, and design. If you’re able, make the time to view von Heyl’s mural at WAM ~ and for further information, visit www.worcesterart.org.

Photo coutesy of boston.com

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 47

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College

Who’s Your Daddy?

Gourmet Waffles Come to Worcester By Vanessa Formato “Here for waffles?” a woman asks as we enter Moynihan’s. My boyfriend and I seat ourselves and Sarah Herold, a cheerful young woman in a greensequined cardigan, promptly gives us hand-drawn menus. My boyfriend settles on chicken and waffles, I on gingerbread waffles topped with pink whipped cream, honey, and candied ginger. The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is playing over the speakers. The Stones have clearly never eaten at WooDaddy Waffles. “To call it perfect would be an insult to the food,” says my boyfriend. WooDaddy Waffles is just five months old and taking the Woo by storm. Owners Herold and Zaliah Zalkind open for business every Sunday from 11am-3pm, plus monthly potlucks. While studying Community Development at Clark University, they bonded over a love of food and radical philosophies. Before graduating last May, they made a decision while watching friends search for conventional jobs. “We figured if we can’t find jobs, make waffles,” Herold says. They did just that. Frequent customers and trivia-night-goers, Herold and Zalkind became “…part of the Moynihan’s family,” so opening up shop there was a natural progression. Moynihan’s turned out to be the perfect spot for a waffle restaurant. While Worcester is well-known for its diners, this was a niche that hadn’t been explored. “You can really waffle anything,” Herold says. Regular offerings include Waffles Florentine with hollandaise sauce, Indian-inspired Ragi Waffles with spiced lentils, and Falafel Waffles served with fresh hummus. There are weekly specials, too.

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“I dream about them,” Herold says, laughing, of her method for coming up with new recipes. Zalkind and Herold want to build community through food, bringing vegans and meat-eaters together. “Eating meat is the norm,” Zalkind said, “but we’ve flipped it around.” By making nearly every dish vegan by default, Zalkind and Herold are subtly demystifying the diet. Customers are asked whether they want cream or soymilk with their coffee. If a dish has dairy or eggs, they’re asked if they want alternatives. The pair hopes their business can demonstrate not only other ways of eating but also other ways of making ends meet. Despite its novelty, WooDaddy is doing exceptionally well, even turning a profit, confirming the owners’ steadfast belief: you can make money without compromising your values. They hope to expand someday with their own food truck. No matter what, the two will always be dedicated to making ethical food affordable. “SLO [Sustainable, Local, Organic] food is expensive,” Zalkind says. “If we did that completely we might have to get shi-shi uniforms.” And where’s the fun in that? WooDaddy Waffles @ Moynihan’s Bar 897 Main Street, Worcester http://woodaddywaffles.com WooDaddy needs local artists to help produce a zine. Contact zali@bsdcoop.net for more information. Photos by Michael Potiker Pictured: Zaliah Zalkind and Sarah Herold, owners, and Bananas Foster Waffles

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 51

DINING • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT

METRO WEST

APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 51 51 THEPULSEMAG.COM | APR. 2011 ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE • SHOPPING • DINING • ENTERTAINMENT

Style & Beauty

Handcrafted Jewelry by Local Artisan Alyse Bukoski By Megan Parks Alyse Bukoski first began making jewelry recreationally five years ago, creating beaded pieces for friends and family. One day while browsing through a store, she spotted some handmade jewelry with a $1,000 price tag. Bukoski reasoned, “I can do that ~ only better and much cheaper.” And so Bukoski’s hand stamped, personalized jewelry business was born, less than five months ago. In this short time, business has taken off and she receives dozens of inquiries each day and has already created hundreds of pieces. Specializing in metal hand stamping and incorporating mixed media, Bukoski creates and sells necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and even some men’s necklaces and key chains. “I make jewelry because I love it, and I continue to meet amazing people through the process and enjoy being part of the thriving local artisan community,” said Bukoski. Working primarily with copper and sterling silver, Bukoski uses an all-natural, chemical free process to age the silver. Whenever possible, she uses only organic materials and orders supplies from fair trade suppliers and womenowned businesses. The detailed and somewhat labor-intensive process of creating one of her personalized, hand-stamped necklaces takes four days to complete, from beginning to end. She literally hammers words, phrases and designs into the metal ~ one letter at a time ~ using specially made stencils. The end result is

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unique, beautifully crafted jewelry that is often a conversation piece as well as an accessory. Fifty percent of Bukoski’s orders are custom, while the remaining orders are for pieces found in her catalog. She often combines semi-precious stones and charms with a personalized pendant. One of her most popular pieces is a pendant hand-stamped with the inscription “one family many hearts” surrounded by the birth stone of each family member of the customer. Her inspirational quotes and family jewelry are her best sellers. She also makes awareness jewelry for illnesses and social issues to sell at cost. “I don’t make jewelry for the money, but because it’s soothing for me. I think it’s important to be involved in the community and social causes,” Bukoski said. On Valentine’s Day, she held a fundraiser on her site and raised hundreds of dollars for victims of domestic violence. Most of Bukoski’s creations cost under $75, thus making a unique, affordable gift for loved ones. Visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/alysebukoski to check out her jewelry catalog, or email her at alysebukoski@gmail.com for custom requests.

belle et bonne designs

Handcrafted jewelry that combines global chic, effortless style, and worthy causes By Lynn N. Capri

Five Minute Make Up By Emily Osgood

Overslept and only have five minutes to get ready and out the door? Applying emergency make-up can be tricky if you’re not prepared, so always keep the essentials on hand. Though the freezing temps are now behind us (we hope!), moisturizer is still a must. Using a tinted one can cut out the need for thick, cakey foundation. Try Stila Tinted Moisturizer (Sephora.com); it’s sheer and oil free but still quickly covers redness and imperfections. Have stubborn under-eye bags? To combat dark circles, I love Fresh Complexion Under-Eye Concealer from Covergirl. So now you’ve perfected your face, time to do the same for your eyes and lips. Mally (QVC.com) sells shadow pencils in trios, so you’ll always have a choice of color. For liner, try bareMinerals Big and Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black (QVC.com); it’s a creamy pencil that doesn’t flake and glides easily onto lids. You also want to make sure your mascara brush is made for volume and separation. For classic black try Falsies Mascara by Maybelline New York; their “spoon brush” gives a big boost to even the most timid lashes. And there y’go ~ from bed face to beautiful face in five minutes flat!

belle et bonne’s creations are a mix of international flair and casual elegance. Each creation exudes beauty and warmth through richly colored materials and versatile, unique designs. Every necklace, earring, bracelet, and ring is handcrafted from only the highest quality materials that have been meticulously examined by the designer. Gemstones, pearls, silver, gold, metal work, wire wrappings, and castings are all held to the highest standards possible. Immersed in an international lifestyle as a child, designer Hilary Barbour developed an appreciation for artistic expression at a young age. Traveling through the fashion capitals of Europe, she experienced the refined elegance of its history and culture. Along with a European sensibility, many of her pieces also draw on the rich influences from later travel to Morocco and India. For casual elegance, belle et bonne jewelry is a must have. Each collection is designed for ultimate versatility. Whether looking for an elegant sparkle to adorn a wrist, or a flash of jewels with jeans and tee, customers from Grammy winner Colbie Caillat to stay-athome moms have found them irresistible. Another facet of the belle et bonne company is their dedication to charity. Hilary spent over fourteen years in the conservation field working for organizations including the World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy and has carried her philanthropic spirit into the jewelry business. As a result, she designed the “Tree of Life” Medallion Necklace to support The Nature Conservancy’s work. A portion of the proceeds made from each Tree of Life Medallion Necklace is donated to this charity to help reduce the effects of climate change on the planet. The necklace features 100% recycled sterling silver and a Swarovski crystal inlay with the beautiful pattern of a branching tree. Another favorite organization is the Tigerlily Foundation, a group that educates, empowers, and supports young women affected by breast cancer. belle et bonne’s Dogwood Flower Cuff Rings and Necklace were crafted specially for this charity in pink with sterling silver and freshwater pearls. They are a beautiful way to show support for the cause, and make an inspirational gift to be treasured. belle et bonne has also featured in many publications including Pregnancy & Newborn, Washington’s Finest, The Washington Post and Niche: The Magazine for Progressive Retailers. For additional information and to browse the entire belle et bonne collection, please visit www.bellebonne.com. APR. 2011 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 53

Katy Perry for OPI By Emily Osgood Now you can let your colors burst, thanks to Katy Perry joining forces with OPI to create her own line of nail polishes. The set includes five shades, all of them reflecting Katy’s California Gurl style. There’s a sparkly sweet pink, Teenage Dream, followed by a pearly silver called Not Like the Movies. Last Friday Night is a piercing glittery blue with pink specs, and The One That Got Away is a dark berry color that would go well with your cherry Chapstick (wink wink!). The real showstopper is Katy’s Black Shatter, which, when applied over dry color, separates to give an animal print look to your nails, allowing the base color to shine through…have to admit, it’s a pretty cool effect. With these shades, we all can be fine, fresh, and fierce!

Katy’s collection is available at all Ulta stores: try the Sherwood Plaza East in Natick and the North Attleboro Marketplace in No. Attleboro.

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Vichy Aqualia ANTIOX AntiFatigue Ice Effect Eye Stick Take Years Off Your Face Instantly! By Lynn N. Capri Apply the Anti-Fatigue Eye Stick gently and watch your eye contour area become revitalized and radiant while under eye bags shrink and dark circles fade. The Eye Stick provides an ice pack-like cooling effect (It feels really refreshing when applied!) that combats puffiness and is wonderful for traveling, long days (and nights) at the office, or simply as a daily pick-me-up; it’s a must-have for any purse! Product Benefits • Pro-generating antioxidant ingredients target the body’s own epidermal stem cells, a crucial factor in natural skin renewal • Free radicals are neutralized, minimizing damage and assisting in boosting the regenerative power of stem cells • Immediate healthy glow effect • Skin complexion and quality are improved • Dermatologist tested, allergy tested, tested on sensitive skin Unique Ingredients • Citrus Polyphenol™, found in all Aqualia ANTIOX products, is 98% pure and acts in the heart of the cell, resulting in a healthy glow • Vitamin E helps protect skin from free radicals including ultra violet rays and pollution • Vitamin C helps the epidermis reconstruct itself

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