City Voices

COULD DEATH PLEASE TAKE A HOLIDAY?

Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

After Cyndi and I were fully vaccinated for COVID-19, we decided to visit our fellow senior-friends in Tampa, Florida.

Thirteen minutes into the trip to T.F. Green, the “check engine light” glowed in our 2008 Entourage, so a sense of dread accompanied the remaining 40 minutes to the airport.

We parked in Garage B and left the car and its plethora of possible problems for contemplation six days later. We were going to have fun in 2021, dammit!

At the security-check, I removed the belt holding up my pajama-shorts. As I held my hands up for the full-body scan, my checkered pantwear fell to the ground.

“Oh my,” the woman behind me exclaimed. The security guard was nonplussed but did pat me down as my hip-replacement always gets me to 2nd base.

In the men’s room at T.F. Green, I had my first encounter with an Automatic Toilet Seat Cover. Mesmerized, I kept standing up then sitting down so the protective shield would revolve like a carnival ride.

Our friends in Tampa live across the bay from Tom and

Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

THE LAST PICTURE SHOW: Sometimes, you stop and look at Worcester, and realize that it’s a really weird town, and one of the things that’s brought that weirdness into focus was the closing of Showcase Cinemas North, which left the city without a movie theater. Sure, you can just go over the town line to Millbury and see flicks at the Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema de Lux or the Elm Draught House Cinema, but it still feels weird that you have to leave the second biggest city in New England to see a film.

Of course, that doesn’t count organizations such as cinema-worcester and Cinema 320, which play more esoteric fare, and a handful of festivals. And of course, it seems these days you can just look out your window and see a film being shot. This may be Hollywoo, but you’re still gonna have to leave town to see “F9 The Fast Saga.”

Mind, for all the nostalgia it’s enjoying, Showcase North could be a rough place to see a film. One showing of “The Cabin in the Woods,” for instance, got a good 10 minutes in before the staff realized they were actually playing the animated film, “The Lorax.” Another day, a screening of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was brought to a halt as the corner of the film melted. The theater, which had a nice run of foreign films and second run showings, was a casualty of audiences demanding the luxury of its shinier corporate sibling in Millbury, or the convenience of streaming services and pretty awesome home entertainment centers, the latter of which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

TIMES THEY ARE A’CHANGING: Sometimes, the world just changes and makes some businesses less viable. There was an interesting discussion on the Reddit Worcester community the other day, about why there’s not a lesbian bar in the city, and that really the only gay bar in town at all is the MB Lounge, which mostly caters to gay men. Excepting some internal community issues, the basic reasons for the paucity of such places seemed pretty simple: dating apps made meeting people easier; marriage equality and other social watersheds made the need for such places less pressing, and a general acceptance at other venues normalized mixed crowds. Still, at least judging from the tone of the conversation, there seemed to be a demand for places like that, and if that’s the case, maybe they’ll reappear. After all, not long ago, the only place to buy new books in town was Barnes & Noble. (Excepting of course the endearingly eclectic used bookstore, Annie’s Book Stop, and the goto place for comic books and graphic novels, That’s Entertainment.) Now, B&N is gone, but we have Bedlam Book Café,

Showcase Cinemas North remains closed. T&G STAFF/ASHLEY GREEN

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Tidepool Bookstore, and Root and Press. Sometimes, a city gets things it’s lost back. Sometimes.

A DISTURBING LACK OF ICE CREAM: Still, a post on Twitter made clear the weirdness of what Worcester does and doesn’t have: In a place on the verge of reintroducing candlepin bowling and opening an axe-throwing facility, you can’t get ice cream or frozen yogurt on a hot day near the DCU Center. Sure, people pointed to such worthy establishments as Froze Zone at the Worcester Public Market and Cool Licks on Pleasant Street, but both of those are a bit of a walk for someone who only has a few minutes to dive out for a treat. Of course, it’s also been pointed out that downtown doesn’t really have a convenience store, either. Indeed, if you live downtown, you really only have a limited amount of choices for groceries, even with Maker to Main.

Sometimes this can be an unironically exciting city to live in, a place that seems to brim with possibilities and potential. But every now and again there’s this hole in the community fabric, a negative space where it seems something basic should be. Sometimes, that might just be life, but others might just be waiting for the right entrepreneur, one who’s less caught up in the glamor of development and more looking to fill a need in their own backyard, things out of town developers might never think to create.

But until then, it seems — at the very least — our movieviewing money will be spent in Millbury, or at least on Disney+. Who knows what other dollars are needlessly flowing out of town?

The Worcester Galleria in 1979. T&G FILE PHOTO/FRANK JAMES

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Robert Eugene Perry Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Gisele Brady, who rent a house larger than Wyman Gordon from Derek Jeter. When I sauntered onto Bayshore Boulevard, most of the young hardbodies responded positively to my “nice morning” salutation.

On Friday, I crossed paths with a young woman walking 15 dogs. After responding positively to my “nice morning” salutation, she ordered the canines to “stop” as she answered her cellphone and all 15 complied.

Our friends took us to St. Pete Beach on Saturday where No alcohol, pets, fires, glass, nudity, littering or fireworks are allowed. I stayed under the cabana and read a Carl Hiaasen novel.

On Sunday, we visited Tarpon Springs which is famous for its sponges, handmade soaps, and Greek food. I had a chicken souvlaki sandwich with extra tzatziki sauce for lunch that spilled all over my “Life is Reasonably OK” shirt. Fortunately, Cyndi had just purchased a 4-foot sponge that cleaned it off.

Our Tampa friends have 305 orchids in their backyard as well as an inground pool, screened-in gazebo, and cornhole pit. I saw my first love bugs’ swarm as hundreds of the attached twosomes surrounded the neighbor’s BMW. I also learned that a squirrel can squeeze into the tiniest birdfeeder and Moscow Mule in a copper cup is a refreshing late afternoon beverage.

On Monday, we reserved a spot at Busch Gardens which combines nine terrifying rollercoasters with 12,000 animals in a 335-acre Africanthemed park. You had to wear your facemask at all times in the 90-degree heat and I swear

Beachgoers take advantage of the weather as they spend time on Clearwater Beach March 2 in Clearwater, a popular spring break destination, west of Tampa. CHRIS O'MEARA/AP the gorillas were laughing at our incongruity. Our flight back to Providence was packed but uneventful and the Entourage made it back to Worcester with the “check engine light” still glowing but benign. Cyndi and I agreed that it was a fun trip and welcome respite from the pandemic madness. She returned to work Wednesday and I eased back into retirement accompanying two senior buddies to a matinee of “Godzilla vs. Kong.” “Life is reasonably OK.” Joe Fusco Jr. is a poet and humorist living in Worcester.

We were all mall rats wandering the galleria maze looking for meaning, searching for acceptance grabbing scraps of love from anyone, anything that might make us feel we belonged somewhere. DiRado documented the scene in black and white, mohawks and misfits, spiked hair and savoir faire for the ‘80s. The mall died years ago, many of its denizens did as well, those of us who remain remember our fallen by loving our lives today. Robert Eugene Perryis a poet and author of several books, his most recent collection of poetry, “Surrendering to the A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. Path,” was released by Human Error Publishing in 2020. A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ clients,oursmartmarketingsolutionsandeven smartermarketingexpertshelpyougetA+results foryourbusiness. localiq.com/NewEngland A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ clients,oursmartmarketingsolutionsandeven smartermarketingexpertshelpyougetA+results foryourbusiness. localiq.com/NewEngland A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ clients,oursmartmarketingsolutionsandeven smartermarketingexpertshelpyougetA+results foryourbusiness. localiq.com/NewEngland A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ clients,oursmartmarketingsolutionsandeven smartermarketingexpertshelpyougetA+results foryourbusiness. localiq.com/NewEngland A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ clients,oursmartmarketingsolutionsandeven smartermarketingexpertshelpyougetA+results foryourbusiness. localiq.com/NewEngland A+ Ourmarketinghelpsyou makethegrade. Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ clients,oursmartmarketingsolutionsandeven smartermarketingexpertshelpyougetA+results foryourbusiness. localiq.com/NewEngland WM-SPAD0413133720_3 WM-SPAD0413133720_3 Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ WM-SPAD0413133720_3 WM-SPAD0413133720_3WM-SPAD0413133720_3 clients,oursmartmarketingsolutionsandeven Withindustryleadingtechandinsightsfrom300K+ WM-SPAD0413133720_3

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tograph with a star from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and getting it), Sohmers takes pride in being able to bring in a level of celebrity that is fun, personable and low-cost.

In addition to over 100 exhibitors, artists and authors, there’s a full roster of New England bands playing over three days that is included in the $60 three-day general admission pass, VIP three-day pass or daily admission. Plus, there’s plenty of free parking.

Musician Walter Sickert will present a live version of his much acclaimed “Bunker Buds” web series on Friday night; The Fools will perform Saturday night; and Barrence Whitfield and NRBQ will perform Sunday afternoon.

NRBQ, “The Simpsons” house band, were on eight episodes, Seasons 10, 11 and 12. One of the executive producers of “The Simpsons,” Mike Scully, is a huge “Q” fan,” Sohmers said. “They actually cut a toon of them. They were playing a biker bar when Homer came in looking for Marge.”

In addition, a showcase of artists on Boston’s newest indie label, Red on Red Records, (including Justine and The Unclean, The Daylilies, Kid Gulliver, Tom Baker, Andrea Gillis and The Chelsea Curve) will perform 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday underneath a 6,000square-foot tent outside, followed by a performance from old “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” mainstay The Amazing Kreskin (which costs a little extra).

WBCN’s “The Big Mattress” and “The Howard Stern Show” alumni Billy West, who is one of the most popular and beloved voiceover actors today, will do a script reading with fellow voiceover actors and an interview

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 11AM'til9:ishPM

Gary Sohmers at the last NorthEast Comic Con & Collectibles Extravaganza before the pandemic, which was November 2019 in Boxboro. PHOTO COURTESY CHERYL ROSEN

on his career.

West has provided the character voice of Doug on “Doug,” both Ren and Stimpy on “The Ren & Stimpy Show,” Philip J.

Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Doctor Zoidberg and Zapp Brannnigan on “Futurama” and is the voice behind the Red M&M in commercials. An autograph from West will be $25, $30 for a combined autograph and selfie.

And for those who like to play dress up, NorthEast Comic Con has a cosplay contests that encourages creativity to the extreme.

“To me in collectibles, cosplay is frivolous. They would spend all their money on these incredible things to look like somebody else and they don’t have pockets. So they’re definitely not buying anything from me,” Sohmers said. “What I discovered many years ago at our very first comic con was the creative arts aspect of cosplay, people that could come up with a new costume, not just a mash up but a new, whole concept of a costume and a backstory. So I had this concept and I call it ‘Create A Character Cosplay Contest.’”

Despite lingering concerns about the pandemic, Sohmers said he’s confident that the con is going to be easygoing.

“When people come in, we’re not asking for them to show any kind of vaccination. We are asking for them to wear a mask if they’re not vaccinated for their own safety,” Sohmers said. “We also have made up 12 different stickers with cartoon characters from ‘Futurama’ and ‘Pokemon’ and ‘Ren and Stimpy’ that say, “I’m vaccinated,” so that you can wear them and people from a distance see you’re vaccinated. Therefore, they will not be paranoid. Anyone who claims to be vaccinated will be allowed to have and wear a sticker.”

Sohmers said it’s a big enough venue and he’s selling a limited amount of tickets to keep things moving.

“To me, my whole goal is flow, just like a theme park, like Disney. You’re supposed to be absolutely able to just flow,” Sohmers said. “If somebody’s in front of that table, go to a different table. You don’t have to wait in line, just go with the flow, keep moving, enjoy things, stop and watch the music, listen to a panel, go to a seminar or go to music, talk to an artist, buy an autograph, get a photo.”

Early bird entry is 9 a.m., with general admission at 10 a.m. The vendor room closes at 6 p.m. July 2 and 3 and 5 p.m. July 4. After-parties with musical acts performing are from 8 to 11 p.m. July 2 and 3.