HOWL Holiday Issue 2015

NOV-DEC 2015

Our third annual shop local gift guide

A Lowell entrepreneur’s hands-free electric ride is on 2015’s most wanted list

To do this winter under $30

Local music we love for the audiophiles on your nice list

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 1

MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE

ITʼS A

WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY

FAM F R I E N ILY D LY D E V O A BEL SIC S A L C PRODUCTION SPONSOR

MEDIA SPONSOR

Adapted by

Joe Landry

Directed by

Megan Sandberg-Zakian

NOVEMBER 25 – DECEMBER 20 MRT.ORG | 978-654-4678 | 50 E. MERRIMACK ST., LOWELL

2 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

FEATURES 8 IN FLUX Meet the Lowell entrepreneur whose ‘hoverboard’ is on 2015’s most wanted gifts list.

11 HOMEGROWN HOLIDAY Shop local this season and find great gifts for all.

32 WINTER BLAST 30 things to do this season under $30.

EVENTS 4 CITY OF LIGHTS Lowell decks the hall Nov. 28.

5 ROCK FOR A CAUSE WUML’s annual Rock for Tots returns with a musical lineup you don’t want to miss.

11 34 6

MUSIC & MORE 6 ON THE DOWNLOAD Amazing New England bands for all the audiophiles on your nice list.

7 GUILTLESS GIVING Embrace your inner do-gooder by making a donation to a local nonprofit.

28 STYLE FILE Holiday in the city: ‘Tis the season for warm layers, texture and style.

34 WINTER LIBATIONS Seasonal cocktail recipes to spread some holiday cheer.

On the cover: Jeremy McKenna on a FLUX Board.

Photo by Jim Vaiknoras.

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 3

HOWL SOUND & SCENE www.howlmag.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Rita Savard PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jim Lichoulas III MANAGING EDITOR Sarah Hand MULTIMEDIA ART DIRECTOR Richard Francey DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Mark Coletti ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Terry Badman PHOTOGRAPHY Allegra Boverman Jim Vaiknoras Allyson O’Keefe Nancy Ho Tory Germann Ashley Pizzuti Cara DiFabio DESIGNERS Carl Johnson Amelia Tucker STAFF WRITERS Nick Crowley Nick Tsui Victoria Wasylak Chris Flisher EDITORIAL INTERNS Emma Barry Kenya Semexant, fashion editor p. 28-29 EVENT DIRECTOR Heather Barker heather@howlmag.com TAP INTO OUR AUDIENCE ads@howlmag.com HEADQUARTERS Mill No. 5 250 Jackson Street, No. 404 Lowell, MA 01852 CONNECT WITH US hello@howlmag.com SPECIAL THANKS Little Delights Bakery for cupcakes p. 29 Proudly Published in Lowell, Mass. by King Printing

CITY OF LIGHTS

In the great tradition of holiday parades, Lowell really knows how to put on a show. The annual City of Lights celebration on Saturday, Nov. 28, kicks off with day-long music and art performances, a hot chocolate competition, kids activities, photos with Santa and retail and dining deals at downtown shops. The parade begins at 4:30pm followed by the lighting of City Hall to mark the official start of the festive season. Look to howlmag.com for live music and entertainment after dark.

THE FORCE AWAKENS Looks like generations of fans will need a little bit of Jedi magic if they want to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens when it debuts in theaters December 18. Presales, which launched Oct. 20, broke online records with opening day shows selling out within hours nationwide.

The rush caused sites like Fandango and Movie Tickets to crash, and scalper listings for opening night tickets later appeared on eBay with insane price tags like $100 per ticket and the just-plaincrazy “But It Now” price of $10,000 for two tickets. AMC Theaters, including the Tyngsboro and Methuen locations, says the JJ Abrams’ directed film set a single-day advance ticket sales record for them, beating previous records held

by The Dark Night, Hunger Games and The Avengers by more than 10 times.

ROCK FOR A CAUSE If you could dream up a rock concert that satisfies both your ears and your soul, then you’re in luck. Dreams do come true. UMass Lowell’s college radio station, WUML 91.5 FM, is bringing in some great acts for its annual Rock for Tots holiday charity bash at Cumnock

CITY OF LIGHTS

Downtown Lowell Saturday, November 28

4 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

Hall (One University Ave,), Thursday Dec. 3 at 7pm. The lineup includes GEPH, Bent Knee, Soft Cactus, and Cloud Nothings, a Cleveland indie-rock power trio that played Coachella this year. The $15 admission will benefit the House of Hope shelter for women and children.

A DROP OF CULTURE The rich, earthy aroma of coffee harvested from Cambodia’s Mondulkiri Province is percolating at the Elephant Angkor Café, 61 Plain St. (right off the Lowell connector). The new coffee house opened in September and offers homemade pastries, baked goods, sandwiches, teas and more. The café’s beans hail from Cambodia (roasted until almost black with the help of vegetable fat), as well as Indonesia, Guatemala and Colombia. But it’s the dark Cambodian roasts that java junkies are lining up for. The hills surrounding Mondulkiri are about 2,625 feet above sea level, an ideal climate for its coffee plants, which are irrigated by natural streams.

FORGET BLACK FRIDAY Our favorite shopping day of the holiday season is the first Saturday in December (mark 12.5.15 on your calendar), when downtown Lowell’s art galleries and indie retail shops pull out all the stops for everything you need on your gift lists.

Shop local and check out more than 300 artists at Western Avenue Studios (122 Western Ave.), dozens of indie vendors at Mill No. 5’s holiday bazaar (250 Jackson St., 4th flr.), The Brush Gallery’s open studios (256 Market St.), Roger’s Toy Store and more.

THE FORCE AWAKENS

Throughout the Galaxy and Greater Lowell In Theaters December 18

A DROP OF CULTURE

Elephant Angkor CafĂŠ | 61 Plain St.

ROCK FOR A CAUSE

Cumnock Hall | One University Ave December 3 howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 5

LOCAL MUSIC WE LOVE FOR THE AUDIOPHILES ON YOUR NICE LIST

ON THE DOWNLOAD

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

This band nails songwriting coupled with grooves guaranteed to lodge their way into the happy part of your brain (think “You Know Me” from 2012’s Nordo album). Their newest release “The House” is more bright, jangly morning music from this Boston band. airtrafficcontrollermusic.com

CRUSHED OUT

The electrified honkey tonk surf duo from New Hampshire took their act on the road this year to promote their album Teeth.

They’re now playing the club scene in Seattle and L.A., kicking ass and taking names. crushedoutmusic.com

G.O.

Soul filled and melodic hip-hop is the vehicle in “Dreamin” that delivers a message both personal and powerful about immigration from this Boston artist.

soundcloud.com/hip-hop/go-dreamin

BEWARE THE DANGERS OF A GHOST SCORPION

If there’s ever a Pulp Fiction reboot, the horror surf rock from this Boston outfit should be cued up for the twist contest. This is music that is fun, contagious and road-trip ready. ghostscorpion.bandcamp.com

OH MALO

This Boston band feels music in living color. Chill, pshycadelic and sexy (lead singer Brandon Hafetz’s dreamy vocals conjure the spirit of Jeff Buckley). Check out their three-color-themed EP releases — blue, red and orange. ohmalo.com

6 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com 6 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

BENT KNEE

Dark, mysterious and hauntingly beautiful music out of Boston.

Fan favorites at SXSW, the band has been in the studio again this year. Watch for new music in 2016. bentkneemusic.com

GUILTLESS GIVING DONATE TO A NONPROFIT & SPREAD THE CHEER

CARE FOR ANIMALS Lowell Humane Society 951 Broadway St. | 978-452-7781 lowellhumanesociety.org

ELLE BELLE

Originally from New Hampshire, this retro psych-pop outfit packed up for Los Angeles after being signed to Little Records (Rilo Kiley). Singer Christpher Pappas has a tattoo of the Granite State on his left forearm to remind him of home. soundcloud.com/ellebellemusic

LADY LAMB

Touted by Rolling Stone magazine as an artist to watch this year, Brunswick, Maine native Aly Spaltro broke out of smalltown livin’ and brought her surrealist art rock to a world stage. ladylambjams.com

NICK GRAY

Totally catchy and makes you want to tool around on a scooter (check out the video).“Favors” delivers a hip-hop groove that’s calm, cool and fun. soundcloud.com/nickgray

FIGHT HUNGER Merrimack Valley Food Bank 735 Broadway St. | 978-454-7272 mvfb.org PROVIDE BASIC HOME & BABY GOODS The Wish Project 1A Foundry St. | 978-441-9474 thewishproject.org ENCOURAGE YOUTH LEADERSHIP SKILLS Lowell Boys & Girls Club 657 Middlesex St. 978-458-4526 | lbgc.org SUPPORT TREES FOR TROOPS Mahoney’s Garden Centers 165 Princeton St. | 978-251-4001 mahoneysgarden.com PROMOTE COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAMS & EDUCATION Mill City Grows 97 Central St.| 978-656-1678 millcitygrows.org AID CANCER RESEARCH, CARE & EDUCATION Lowell General Cancer Center 295 Varnum Ave. | 978-937-6000 lowellgeneral.org/cancer

WHEN PARTICLES COLLIDE

Singer/guitarist Sasha Alcott and drummer Chris Viner’s 2015 EP This Town is a sonic snapshot of life in their hometown of Bangor, Maine that manages to be melodic and loud, dark and light, and utterly unforgettable. whenparticlescollide.bandcamp.com

❤✌J

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 7 howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 7

IN FLUX

‘HOVERBOARD’ ROLLS INTO SHOPPING SEASON ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ –STYLE

By Rita Savard | Photos by Jim Vaiknoras

I

t’s late afternoon on Merrimack Street and a figure moves swiftly ahead of crowds walking. Jeremy McKenna isn’t running. He’s gliding. And under his feet is one of the year’s most wanted holiday gifts according to top tech bloggers and gear gurus.

“It’s an easy way to get around,” says McKenna, who pivots, spins, rolls forward and backward in smooth, fluid motion on a futuristic board.

A cross between a Segway and a skateboard, the FLUX Board, designed by McKenna, 30, of Nashua, and owned by a group of New England-based entrepreneurs, is the closest thing to a hoverboard we’re going to get in 2015.

8 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

Remember when Marty McFly alters a wheeled wooden soapbox crate and invents the skateboard in the original Back to the Future movie? If he’d done the same thing to a Segway, it would look a lot like a FLUX Board.

The FLUX isn’t the first electric self-balancing board to hit the retail market. But it’s much easier on the wallet than some of its major competitors, including the IO HAWK that retails for around $1,800, and the PhunkeeDuck for around $1,500.

The $600 FLUX Board launched in October at McKenna’s downtown Lowell clothing boutique, Persona (51 Market St.), and quickly sold out. From November through Jan-

uary, FLUX Boards will also be sold at the Pheasant Lane Mall (outside the Apple store) and at Merrimack Premium Outlets.

McKenna, a longtime skateboarder, first spotted the device at tradeshows. But the luxury price tag was still too high for most middle class consumers.

“I did some research and found that we could make the same quality product at a more affordable price for the average consumer,” he says.

All of the electric balancing boards currently on the market come from the same handful of manufacturing companies in China.

As for the models that cost upwards of $1,000, McKenna likens it to

“buying a Lexus with the same Toyota product inside.”

The “Lexus”-priced boards nearly broke the Internet this year when celebrities from all walks, including Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, David Ortiz, Wiz Khalifa, Kendall Jenner and Jamie Foxx posted pictures of themselves, or were spotted, riding one.

The board weighs 22lbs and is controlled by leaning and tilting the body thanks to sensitive sensors built into each foot panel. Once charged, it can travel between nine and 12 miles, at a speed of up to six miles per hour, depending on the terrain.

Once riders get over the initial shaky knees and wobbly legs to find their center of balance — about five minutes — it’s a breeze to maneuver.

A longtime skater who, for a blip in time, gave professional snow boarding a whirl, McKenna admits the FLUX Board will never permanently kick his skateboard to the curb.

“But it’s a fun ride, “ he says. “And every time you roll down the street, people say they want one.” howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 9

Rollin’ Stones Sunday Brunch Specials Buck a Shuck Oysters Friday Night Reverse Happy Hour Get a Room! Now Reserving Let’s Spend The Night Together Cobblestones of Lowell

91 Dutton St. Lowell, MA 978.970.2282 • cobblestonesoflowell.com

moonstones

185 chelmsford st (rt 110) chelmsford , ma 978.256.7777 • moonstones110.com

MORE INFO: CRAFTBEERWALK.COM 10 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

HOWL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE GREATER LOWELL GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST

GADGETS | CLOTHES | TOYS | ART | CRAFTS | GRUB | ODDITIES

Photo by Tory Germann Magazine | 11 howlmag.com | HOWL

GREATER LOWELL GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST

HOWL HOLIDAY GUIDE

RED SOX TWISTER $25 Batter Up Cards & Comics 1830 Main St., Tewksbury

CHOCOLATE COVERED MAPLE BACON CARAMELS $9 Sweet Lydias, 160 Merrimack St., Lowell sweetlydias.com

STONE SERVING SLAB Hand forged from field stones sourced at New England farms $65 American Stonecrafters of Lowell

CANDY CANES Homemade at Mrs. Nelson’s Candy House, 292 Chelmsford St. Chelmsford

americanstonecraft.com

HAMMER & SICKEL VODKA FRENCH PRESS $15 Rosie’s Café Marston St., Lowell

$24 Harrington Liquors 10 Summer St., Chelmsford harringtonwineandliquors.com

LAETCHED BAMBOO PHONE CASE $15 Eyeformation of Lowell eyeformation.net

RAW QUARTZ NECKLACE $22 Luna Pines lunapines.com

DECORATIVE BOWL $25 Debbe Daley Design, 189 Market St., Lowell daleydesigns.com

12 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

VINTAGE VINYL $20 Garnick’s Records 54 Middlesex St., Lowell

SER

BOW TIES $26 Grip & Word

by Andy Chase gripandword.com

POCKET JOURNALS $10 Splendid Toad Art Farm splendidtoad.com

CUSTOM WINE BASKET Prices vary Tutto Bene, 58 Prescott St., Lowell tuttobenecellars.com

LASER-ETCHED KEEPSAKE BOXES AND MAGNETS $3-$10 Bad Moon Consignment badmoonconsignment.com

FAUX TAXIDERMY $35 Handmade by Jen Bennett Gubicza of Zooguu zooguu.com

TEAPOT FOX PLAYS VIOLIN PRINT $20-$25 Artist Kim Parkhurst

$12 Rosie’s Café Marston St., Lowell

toadbriar.com

UP-CYCLED BLUE WOLF PLANTER $15 Plantcycled

HANDMADE SOY CANDLES | $6-$21 for various sizes and scents

etsy.com/shop/plantcycled

Witch City Wicks, Salem, MA witchcitywicks.com

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 13

GREATER LOWELL GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST

HOWL HOLIDAY GUIDE

DRAGONFLY VASE $55 Lolita Demers Pottery potterscreations.com

COBALT AND SILVER SIREN GLASSES $50 Found, 33 Middle St. Lowell foundlowell.com

KEVIN MURPHY ECO-FRIENDLY HAIR CARE $35 Eyeful Beauty 33 Middle St. Lowell

WINTER-PROOF DRESS BOOTS BY ARA $250 Footstock 46 Main St., Concord footstockshoes.com

eyefulbeauty.com

STERLING SILVER SPINNERS RING $85 Penny Cox Brush Gallery, 256 Market St., Lowell thebrush.org

FIXED GEAR BIKE $429 City Bicycle 181 Market St., Lowell citybicyclelowell.com

HAND CRAFTED 8X10 FRAMES $35 each The Lowell Gallery 219 Central St., Lowell lowellgallery.com

CUSTOM TERRARIUM $55 The Flower Mill 183 Dutton St. Lowell lowellflowermill.com

MARVEL DRINKING GLASSES $11 each Larry’s Comics, 66 Lakeview Ave., Lowell larryscomics.net

14 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

ON JORDAN POND PAINTING $300 Artist Pamela Wamala

CUSTOM MAHOGANYCIGAR BOX GUITAR $225 and up Carl’s Custom Guitar

PAINT WHEELS $8 each Van Gogh’s Gear 397 Market St., Lowell

pamelawamala.com

carlscustomguitars.com

vangoghsgear.com

ELEPHANT TRAVEL CASE $9 J. Jones thebrush.org

HAND WOVEN SILK & WOOL MOBIUS WRAP $325 Cynthia Hughes

FAIR TRADE COFFEE & TRAVEL MUG $23 Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus 61 Market St., Lowell

thebrush.org

brewdawakening.com

DANE ACRYLIC ON WOOD $125 Artist Gay Tracy

UP-CYCLED FLANNEL $25 Artist Sam Paolini sampaoliniart.com

LOBSTER COVE MONHEGAN OIL ON CANVAS $95 Artist David Jones

FOLK FESTIVAL PRINT Artist Vassilios “Bill” Giavis thebrush.org

PYROGRAPHY ON WOOD $300 Artist Chrissy Theo Hungate thebrush.org

BUFFALO STANCE ACRYLIC ON WOOD $50 Artist Will Winslow All paintings found at thebrush.org

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 15

photos by Tory Germann

207 Market Street Lowell, MA 01852

978-458-7052 www.AthenianCorner.com

21st Annual

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 Bedford Campus | 591 Springs Road, Bedford

To learn more, call 781-280-3505 or16 | visit www.middlesex.mass.edu HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

FREE and OPEN to the Public!

60

MORE THAN CRAFTERS

Plenty of

FREE

PARKING

A UNIQUE INDOOR SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM | 250 JACKSON ST. 4TH FL. LOWELL

THE SHOPS AT MILL No. 5

COTTON HOBO TOTES $32 Handmade by Sharon O’Shea of New Vestures sewshea.com

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 17

A UNIQUE INDOOR SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM | 250 JACKSON ST. 4TH FL. LOWELL

THE SHOPS AT MILL No. 5

HEALTHY MEALS CATERED TO GO $5 and up Kale Yeah kaleyeahcatering.com

UKULELE $70 The Tone Loft thetoneloft.com

KOMBUCHA $18 growler Coffee & Cotton 5.lunalowell.com/coco

POPCORN FLAVORS AS ENDLESS AS YOUR IMAGINATION $8 and up Corn and Company cornandco.com

18 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

ORGANIC SOAP $6 Red Antler Apothecary

MADE IN LOWELL T-SHIRT $20 Made In Lowell

redantlerapothecary.com

madeinlowell.com

STAR TREK PATCHES $6 each Artsylum

LUNA THEATER GIFT PACK $75 for 10 movie tickets The Luna Theater

VINTAGE RED DRESS $30 Wicked Original wickedoriginalboutique.com

lunalowell.com

LIP & CHEEK TINTS $5 Red Antler Apothecary redantlerapothecary.com

HANDCRAFTED DISHES $5 and up Derek Soohoo Studios

VINTAGE PLAID COAT WITH FAUX FUR TRIM $40 Wicked Original

dereksoohoostudios.com

wickedoriginalboutique.com

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 19

A UNIQUE INDOOR SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT EMPORIUM | 250 JACKSON ST. 4TH FL. LOWELL

THE SHOPS AT MILL No. 5

HARRY POTTER BOOK SERIES, HARDCOVER UNITED KINGDOM EDITIONS $25 each Serpentine Books & Collectibles etsy.com/shop/serpentinebooks

TOWEL AND POTHOLDER SET MADE FROM LOWELL TEXTILES $22 Evangeline Interiors evangelineinteriors.com

VINTAGE SPRITZER BOTTLE AND GLASSES $35 (bottle), $15 (each glass) Bon Vivant

ORBIT PLUS TURNTABLE $309 Vinyl Destination

BEARD & SHAVING SUPPLIES $15.50 Beardo Dual Pack $5-$40 Vintage Razors $40 Badger Hair Shave Brush $11 Organic Shaving Paste Red Antler Apothecary redantlerapothecary.com

CRYSTALS $28-$45 Artsylum

20 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

Lowell Community Health Center Caring for Lowell. Caring for You.

Primary Care for Adults & Children Prevention and Screening Services Obstetrics & Gynecology Behavioral Health Services Community Health Programs Teen Programs

978.937.9700

161 Jackson Street Lowell, MA 01852 www.lchealth.org

Please join us for

Holiday Open Studios Saturday and Sunday • Noon to 5 pm Dec. 5 & 6 • Dec. 12 & 13

Art is a gift!

Come explore, experience, and shop with us— 300 artists, designers, and makers in one location, with FREE PARKING!

122 & 160 Western Avenue, Lowell, MA

YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, WEATHER & TRAFFIC

BEATLES & BEFORE ROCK OVERNIGHTS AND WEEKENDS

www.westernavenuestudios.com

980WCAP.COM

FULLY INTERACTIVE RADIO

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 21 978.454.4980 | EMAIL | SOCIAL MEDIA

@980WCAP

MORE THAN 300 ARTISTS UNDER ONE ROOF EQUALS ENDLESS GIFT IDEAS | 122 WESTERN AVE. LOWELL

WESTERN AVE. STUDIOS

SHIBORI DYED SILK SCARVES $95 Fiber Artist Tarja Cockell tarjacockell.com

GOTHIC GARGOYLE BOOK ENDS $65 Sculpted by Jay W. Hungate JWH Studios jwhstudio.com

FLYING PIG GLASS ORNAMENT $25 Peter Zimmerman Designs in Glass pzdig.com

TIC TAC TOE HOGS VS. HEDGEHOGS $26 Handmade by Joelle Geisler

CERAMIC MUGS $35 each Handcrafted by Yary Livan Studio 228

joellefelyce.com

DREAMSCAPES BLANK NOTE CARDS $5 Artist Bethany Peck bethanypeck.com

KNIT BEANIES AND SCARVES $10 hats, $20 scarves Diane DiPoto, Studio A14

ROSE GOLD DIAMOND AND PEARL RING $1,450.00 Handcrafted by Robert Anthony Williams Jewelry Design rawjewelers.com

SMILEYS HAND CRAFTED BLUE BIRCH TREE MUGS $35 each Muddy Girls Studio muddygirlsstudio.blogspot.com

22 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

$14 Handmade by Arlette Laan arlettelaan.com

METAL HEART EARRINGS $25-$40 Margarida Correia romani-inspirations.com

art . antiques . collectables .

found uncommon objects, new and old At the Moller’s Lofts Building 33a middle st, lowell, ma 01852 978.654.5059 | foundlowell.com

Roasted by us. For you.

Coffee.

Art. Community. www.brewdawakening.com

61 Market St Lowell, MA howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 23 978.454.2739

Photo by Tory Germann

GREATER LOWELL GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS AND KIDS AT HEART

HOLIDAY TOY GUIDE

CONCORD TOY SHOP

PLUSH ROCKING HORSE $119

89 Thoreau St., Concord concordstoys.com

Play has been serious business at this downtown shop since 1942.

JUMP ROPE $8

INFLATABLE SNOW TUBE $20

WOOD SKY GLIDER $4

BANANAGRAMS $15.49

LAVA LAMP $17

GLOBE $26 TIN DRUM $15

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 25

GREATER LOWELL GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS AND KIDS AT HEART

HOLIDAY TOY GUIDE

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES $20 each

BARBIE STYLING HEAD $20

FROZEN ANNA & ELSA DOLLS $20 each

CLASSIC SLIP’N SLIDE $20

DR. SEUSS CAT IN THE HAT LUNCHBOX $12

SNOOPY SNO-CONE MACHINE $25

MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD $9 each

26 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

TOY SHOPPING CART WITH GROCERIES Shopping Cart $50 Fruits or Veggies $17 Canned Goods $10

FISHER-PRICE CAMERA TOY $13

DOC MCSTUFFINS $20 | Talkin’ Checkup set (left) $10 | Stick and Stamp Activity

MY LITTLE PONY $13 each

ROGER’S TOYS 150 Middle St., Lowell rogerstoys.com

This landmark downtown shop is the best spot in the Merrimack Valley for finding new and classic toys that really make us wax nostalgic.

STAR WARS ACTION FIGURE SETS $20 each

THE BIG BANG THEORY SHELDON BOBBLE-HEAD $15

STAR WARS DEATH STAR PLAY CASE $10

AMC’S THE WALKING DEAD Puzzle $7 | Trivia Game $17 MELISSA & DOUG MAGIC SET $23

SMITHSONIAN DIG THAT DINOSAUR KIT $17 DINOSAURS $5 each

MELISSA & DOUG STUFFED KANGAROO WITH JOEY $70

WOOD BLOCKS $15

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 27

HOLIDAY IN THE CITY

$99

FLANNEL

$228 CAMO PANTS $100 NEW BALANCE

$80

MOTO JACKET

$45

PLAID TUNIC

$27

TOP

$360

$48

SKIRT

$150

SHIRT

$130

PANTS

$180

TIMBERLAND BOOTS

$0

DOG (PRICELESS)

JACKET

WOMEN’S CLOTHING BY HUMANITY BOUTIQUE 128 MERRIMACK ST LOWELL (978) 459-6189

humanitystyle.com

28 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR WARM LAYERS, TEXTURE AND STYLE

$33

BLOUSE

$12

PLAID SCARF

$32

DENIM SKIRT

$42

SWEATER DRESS

$58

DOT DRESS

$220 QUILTED JACKET

$140 JACKET

$110

SWEATER

$55

KNIT SHIRT

$50

PANTS

$60

PANTS

$140

WALLABEE BOOTS

$60

VANS

$42 SWEATER $37 LACE DRESS

MEN’S CLOTHING BY PERSONA PREMIUM GOODS 51 MARKET ST. LOWELL (978) 710-7869

shop-persona.com

Photo by Pizzuti Photography | pizzutiphotography.com

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 29

30 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

King Printing | ADI Books Rocking Independent Publishing Since 1978

For Instant Pricing Visit AdiBooks.com

Complete Book Manufacturing Family Owned and Operated Over 50,000 Authors and Publishers

King Printing

KingPrinting.com

181 Industrial Avenue Lowell, MA 01851-5147 P| 978.458.2345 F| 978.458.3026

PRINTING MOUNTING

REPAIRS DIPLOMAS SHADOWBOXES

BOOKS

STRETCHING

CARDS

978-458-3137 LOWELLGALLERY.COM

THELOWELLGALLERY@GMAIL.COM FACEBOOK.COM/THELOWELLGALLERY howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 31

219 CENTRAL ST. 1C LOWELL, MA 01852

30

THINGS TO DO IN GREATER LOWELL FOR UNDER

By The Howl Street Team | Photo by Allegra Boverman

30

$

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! But winter doesn’t have to be all about hibernating.

There are plenty of free and inexpensive activities to make the season fun. So grab your warmest coat and come out and play.

1. EAT SNOW (BUT NOT THE YELLOW KIND) Whether you’re 6 or 60, nothing brings out your inner kid in winter like flying down a white fluffy hillside. Some of our favorite sled-ding spots: The Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest is accessible from Trotting Park Road in Lowell, with 1,000 acres spread across three towns and plenty of room for free sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and snowball fights; Mount Pleasant Golf Course (141 Staples St., Lowell) provides a large amount of open space free to the public for sledding and cross country skiing; Trull Brook Golf Course (170 River Rd., Tewksbury) boasts prime sledding terrain; Nashoba Valley Ski Area (79 Powers Rd., Westford) is snow tubing paradise. Eighteen lanes are serviced by four lifts and regularly maintained by the park’s grooming fleet. $28 for a two-hour ticket.

2. WATCH COLLEGE HOCKEY The amazing UMass Lowell River Hawks will give you plenty of reasons to have a blast at the ice rink. Ticket prices start around $9.

Visit tsongascenter.com for schedule.

3. FIND YOUR SONIC BLISS Downtown Lowell is filled with the sounds of stellar musicians every weekend and most places have no cover charge. Our no-fail favorites include The Back Page (15 Kearney Square), a cocktail lounge known for its lineup of regional and national touring bands; UnchARTed (103 Market St.), a rockin’ gallery space that serves pizza, beer and live music along with local art; The Hi-Hat (250 Jackson St., 4th fl.) is the city’s newest all-ages music venue located in Mill No. 5.

32 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

4. VISIT A FARMER’S MARKET Snow and cold doesn’t mean you have to forgo farm fresh fare. Every Sunday from 10am to 2:30pm you’ll find a treasure trove of locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, organic beauty products and more at The Farm Market in Mill No. 5 (250 Jackson St., 4th fl.); and every Saturday from 10am to 2pm until Feb. 28, the Chelmsford Agway Winter Farmer’s Market (24 Maple Road) will be packed with mouth watering local offerings.

5. CHANNEL YOUR INNER LEBOWSKI Whether it’s Buck ‘n Bowl Mondays where games and shoe rentals are $1.50 each from 9 to 11pm, or Bowling After Dark Fridays when $10 gets you two hours of cosmic bowling including shoe rental, Brunswick lanes (647 Pawtucket Blvd., Lowell) offers a little something for everyone.

6. SEE A CLASSIC Grab some popcorn, slide into a cushy lounge chair and settle in for a black and white classic, or the latest indie release, at The Luna Theater (250 Jackson St., 4th Fl., Mill No. 5). $9.75 Adults, $8 Students and Seniors. Visit lunalowell.com 7. PLAY AT LOWELL WINTERFEST Every February the famous human dogsled races, hot chocolate and soup competitions, marshmallow roasting, fireworks, and heated tents with live rock bands turn downtown Lowell into one big weekend-long party. cultureiscool.org

8. GET A HISTORY LESSON Lowell led the charge in America’s industrial revolution. Explore the city’s rich and storied past on one of the many free daily tours.

Visit www.nps.gov/lowe/ for schedules.

9. UNLEASH YOUR INNER ROCK STAR, KARAOKE GOD OR POET Be bold and take center stage at an open mic: Musicians can find some sweet backup on drums, bass, keyboards and more at The Back Page (15 Kearney Square, Lowell) Wednesdays at 9pm, hosted by Steve Clements; or belt out your favorite tunes during Monday night karaoke, 8pm at The Blue Shamrock (105 Market St., Lowell); and test out your poetry and original songs on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus (61 Market St., Lowell) beginning at 6:30pm.

10. SCORE SOMETHING VINTAGE On the first Saturday of every month, the marketplace at Mill No. 5 attracts vendors from all over New England offering up new and gently used wares from decades past including clothes, home goods, vinyl records, jewelry, artwork, toys and more. millno5.com 11. WALK ALONG THE MERRIMACK Whether you’re on the Pawtucket Boulevard side of the Merrimack or taking in the scenery behind Lowell’s old mill buildings along the Riverwalk at the foot of John Street behind the Boott Mills, a brisk jaunt by the water at morning or dusk will get your blood pumping and clear your mind.

12. GET YOUR GEEK ON Test your “smahts” Tuesdays at 8pm with pub trivia at The Old Court (29 Central St., Lowell).

13. WARM YOUR BELLY Breaking bread with friends is always fun, but it’s even better when you have a bowl of hearty soup to dunk your bread in. We recommend the seafood casserole soup at Delicias Paisas (392 Bridge St., Lowell); the spicy and cilantro laced Tom Yum from Viet Thai (368 Merrimack St., Lowell); hearty Tonkotsu ramen at 1981 (129 Merrimack St.); tomato soup with mini artisan grilled cheeses at Gibbet Hill Grill (61 Lowell Road, Groton); and pretty much everything at the Chowder Factory (101 Phoenix Ave., Lowell).

18. CATCH THE BIG ONE When temperatures hit freezing and our local waterways turn to solid ice, head to Lake Mascuppic on the Tyngsboro/Dracut border, where you’ll find some of the area’s best and most plentiful ice fishing.

19. TAKE IN SOME ACTION RINGSIDE Catch the future champions of the boxing world — and see where it all began for some of Lowell’s boxing legends, like Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund — at the annual Golden Gloves in Lowell Memorial Auditorium (50 E. Merrimack St.) from Jan.- Feb. Tickets start around $11.

14. SKI UNDER THE FULL MOON Great Brook Ski Touring in Carlisle (1018 Lowell St.) provides some of the most scenic trails for cross country skiing day or night, but we especially love the after dark skiing by lantern light offered Tuesdays and Thursdays on the one-mile Lantern Loop from sunset until 9pm. Best of all, it’s super affordable, $10 for an adult trail pass and $13 for full adult rental equipment (skis, boots and poles).

20. SIP SINGLE MALT WHISKEY MADE IN NEW ENGLAND Nashoba Winery in Bolton (100 Wattaquadock Hill Rd.) offers daily tastings Mon-Fri from 10am to 4:30pm and weekends from 11am to 4pm., no reservations required.

Blueberries, apples, pears, strawberries, rhubarb and more are all grown and harvested at the winery and used to make their delicious fruit wines. Open year round, there’s a $5 fee for the tasting bar. If wine isn’t your thing, you’ll find plenty of flavorful ales and lagers, as well as spirits on tap from vodka to brandy, and, of course, their signature whiskey.

15. TAKE AN ART TOUR Lowell is full of amazing original artists. On the first Saturday of every month, Western Avenue Studios — a converted mill building now home to more than 300 artists — opens its doors to the public for exploring from noon to 5pm (122 Western Ave.). You’ll also want to add the following galleries and museums to your list: Arts League of Lowell (307 Market St.); Brush Art Gallery (256 Market St.); The Whistler House Museum of Art (243 Worthen St.); American Textile His- tory Museum (491 Dutton St.); Ayer Lofts Gallery (172 Middle St.); and UnchARTed (103 Market St.).

21. PAMPER YOURSELF Take time out to treat yourself right. Get a spa manicure complete with exfoliation and full arm massage by the professionals at Salon City (173 Market St., Lowell) for $25.

Also, try Empire Beauty School (231 Central St., Lowell) to treat toes and fingers with all the bells and whistles at a fraction of the price — a spa pedicure and manicure combo is $24, or opt for a spa facial, $20. Headed out for a night on the town? Call Eyeful Beauty, 33 Middle St., Lowell and book an appointment with an award-winning makeup artist who’ll give you smoldering eyes for $25.

16. IMAGINE YOU’RE IN A VIDEO GAME Ever wonder what it’s like to be in Halo?

Give it a whirl at Laser Craze in North Andover (1580 Osgood St.), where live-action laser tag costs about $14 per person. As Barney Stinson would say, “It’s legen — wait for it — dary.”

22. GLIDE LIKE DOROTHY HAMILL (MINUS THE HAIR-DO) You don’t have to wait for temperatures to dip below freezing to hit the ice. Indoor rinks like Janas Rink (382 Douglas Rd., Lowell) and the Chelmsford Forum (2 Brick Kiln Rd, Chelmsford), offer public skating for around $5.

17. FIND YOUR INNER ZEN Take a yoga class. You can try many styles of this ancient mind and body melding exercise for around $16 per class at Sutra Studio (250 Jackson St., 4th fl. at Mill No. 5, Lowell). sutrastudio.com

23. LEARN SOME SWEET MOVES From hip-hop and modern to old-school, classic and even belly dancing, get into the groove with adult classes at Mill City Dance (1201 Westford St., Lowell) and Donna Micelli’s Dance Studio (649 Lawrence St., Lowell) where you can drop in on individual classes for around $15-$20.

24. EXPERIENCE LIVE THEATER The Lowell Merrimack Reperto ry Theatre has a posh, newly renovated performance space. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Tickets start around $15. mrt.org 25. GO ROCK CLIMBING Take a 20-minute drive via Route 3 South and land at an indoor moun- tain, sort of.

The Boston Rock Gym (78 Olympia Ave., Woburn) serves as a climber’s sanctuary, providing indoor rock walls with a wide variety of well graded climbing trails. Adult day passes $16, kids 11 and under, $12.

26. SIT FIRESIDE Channel your inner Brit and indulge in afternoon tea by a crackling fire every Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 to 4pm at Tyngsboro’s swanky Stonehedge Inn (160 Pawtucket Blvd.). Check page ??? for more fireside fun.

27. SIP SOMETHING SWEET Sweet Lydia’s (160 Merrimack St., Lowell) has been the unbeatable crowning champion of Lowell’s annual hot chocolate competition. Experience why by scooping up her signature dark chocolate mix with vanilla and peppermint marshmallows — and share it with some you love, or not.

28. LAUGH UNCONTROLLABLY Catch Boston’s best comics every Friday and Saturday night at Giggles Comedy Club inside Prince Pizzeria (517 Broadway, Rte. 1, Saugus). Enjoy two 23-ounce draft beers for around $10 and prepare to crack up.

29. FORGET ABOUT WINTER The Butterfly Place (120 Tyngsboro Rd., Westford) offers an indoor garden set at summertime temperatures and is filled with hundreds of free flying butterflies. The butterfly sanctuary opens on February 14th.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for kids, free for kids 2 and under. Can’t wait until February? Snag a $25 daily pass for the indoor wave pool at Cape Codder Resort & Spa (1225 Lyannough Road, Hyannis).

30. GO FROM TAP TO TABLE When winter finally winds down, take a trip to an authentic sugar shack. The Warren Farm in Brookfield (31 Warren St., North Brookfield) opens its annual Maple Sugaring Tours every weekend in March. Free sap and syrup tastings and hot drinks available while farm hands share stories about the science and nature behind their homemade syrup.

Tour is $5. In the meantime, sample the farm fresh syrup at the Chelmsford Agway Winter Farmers’ Market.

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 33

WINTER LIBATIONS ‘Tis the season of parties and we asked area bartenders for some of their favorite no-fail cocktail recipes to help you spread the cheer.

Here’s what they came up with: By the HOWL Street Team Photo by Nancy Ho

IRISH COFFEE A mighty tonic to warm the bones.

4 oz of fresh brewed coffee 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey 1 heaping tsp brown sugar dollop of fresh whipped cream Combine ingredients and float cream on top.

NEGUS For when you’re feeling particularly Dickensian, this warm and spiced wine hits the spot in front of a crackling fire.

2 oz ruby port 1tsp brandy 2 oz water 1/2 lemon 1 pinch nutmeg 1 tsp sugar Heat ingredients with lemon thinly sliced into rings. Do not boil. Strain into a heatproof goblet when hot and enjoy.

BAILEY’S PEPPERMINT CREAM Dessert in a glass.

1.5 oz balieys with a hint of mint chocolate 4 oz hot chocolate (we reccomend Sweet Lydia’s award-winning cocoa mix) Top off with fresh whipped cream and crumbled candy cane.

MANHATTAN A classic that screams out club chair, billiards and smoking jacket, and just feels like it was made for snowy nights. For a real Manhattan, rye whiskey is a must.

2 oz rye whiskey 1 oz Italian vermouth 2 dashes Angostura bitters This martini is made to be shaken not stirred (unless you want it cloudy with foam on top, then shake away). Stir rye, vermouth and bitters with cracked ice and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry.

34 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

HARVEST HIGHBALL An easy and refreshing cocktail with delicious ginger beer.

1.5 oz vodka .5 oz lime juice .5 oz simple syrup 2 oz chilled ginger beer Pour ingredients in a highball glass, garnish with a lime wedge.

ROYAL PLUSH Regal enough to adorn the best holiday tables.

Fill a glass with ice, half-fill with burgundy and top off with chilled brut champagne.

Stir.

THE ZACAVA Sparkly, sweet and packs a rum punch.

1 oz Zacapa Rum 23 1 sugar cube 1 dash Angostura Bitters Cava Spanish sparkling wine Add rum, sugar cube and bitters to glass or champagne flute. Fill will Cava.

HOLIDAY GLOGG A warm punch guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday party.

2 bottles of a fruity red wine (we like Beaujolais) 1 bottle of port wine 3 cinnamon sticks 14 whole cloves 1 orange peel cut into thin strips 1 cup white sugar 3/4 cup of dark rum 1/4 cup of brandy 1 cup of raisins 1 cup slivered almonds Gently simmer the red wine, port, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and orange peel in a large pot set over medium-low heat.

Stir in sugar, rum and brandy. Continue simmering 5 minutes more, stirring to completely dissolve sugar and until mixture is steaming but not boiling. Mix raisins and almonds together in a bowl. To serve, ladel into glass mugs and garnish each cup with a spoonful of the raisin/almond mix.

TOM & JERRY Light and spicy, this holiday classic is a nice alternative to the usual spiked egg nog.

3 eggs 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 1/2 tsp ground allspice 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 4 oz dark rum 4 oz Cognac or brandy hot milk grated nutmeg Separate the egg white from the yolk and beat them separately until stiff peaks form.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks until light in color, then gradually beat in sugar, allspice, cinnamon and cloves. Fold the yolk mixture into the whites and pour two tablespoons into four mugs each. Add an ounce of brandy and 1 ounce of dark rum to each mug. Fill with hot milk, stir well and dust with grated nutmeg.

HOT BUTTERED RUM A nightcap that soothes like a warm blanket and a hug. small slice of soft sweet buttercream 1 tsp brown sugar optional spices to taste: ground cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice Vanilla extract 2 oz dark rum hot water Place butter, sugar and spices at the bottom of a glass mug. Mix well. Pour in rum and hot water. Stir.

www.pizzuticuties.com www.pizzuticuties.com

Mill 250 Jackson JacksonSt. St.Lowell, Lowell,MA MA Mill No. No. 55 -- 250

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 35

THE

LUNALOWELL.COM 36 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com