HOWL August 2015

VOL. 2, NO. 8 AUGUST 2015

FREE

THE FOOD ISSUE

An Insider’s Look at the Chefs & Eats Making Greater Lowell a Delicious Place to Live

FLEE THE CITY

Summer’s Best Swimming Our Favorite Drive-ins

NEW MUSIC

Melvern Taylor, The Brazen Youth, Amy & The Engine

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FEATURES 12 FLEE THE CITY Escape to summer’s best beaches, lakes and ponds.

17 FOOD HAPPY Your guide to Greater Lowell’s best eats 22 BREW HA HA Lowell’s new Merrimack Ales is ready to pour.

24 DROOL WORTHY Saltbox Kitchen dishes what’s fresh right now.

EVENTS 3 BLUES & BREWS Dozens of craft brewers and blues bands at Westford’s annual BBQ bash.

33 THE LION Rockin’ one-man show kicks off new season at MRT.

MUSIC & MORE 7 FOR THE RECORD Melvern Taylor’s New Old Stuff.

30 NOSTALGIA TRIP Roll into our favorite Drive-ins.

17 24 8

28 HOROSCOPE Chris Flisher’s creepily accurate forecast.

34 CREATURE FEATURE Ayer filmmaker’s documentary scheduled to air on Destination America channel.

On the cover: Chef Mark Conway and Sheldon, a pet with personality at Komeeka Farm, Tyngsboro.

Photo by Allegra Boverman.

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HOWL SOUND & SCENE www.howlmag.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Rita Savard PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jim Lichoulas III MANAGING EDITOR Sarah Hand ART DIRECTOR Richard Francey DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Mark Coletti ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Terry Badman PHOTOGRAPHY Tory Germann Allegra Boverman Jim Vaiknoras Nancy Ho DESIGNERS Carl Johnson Amelia Tucker STAFF WRITERS Victoria Wasylak Nick Tsui Chris Flisher EDITORIAL INTERNS Allison Bush Nikkie Corzo Erika Weiser Kelley Hamill Kristen Fiandaca Zack Britten Lily Faulkner EVENT DIRECTOR Heather Barker heather@howlmag.com ADVERTISE WITH HOWL ads@howlmag.com CONNECT WITH US HOWL Magazine Mill No. 5 250 Jackson Street, No. 404 Lowell, MA 01852 hello@howlmag.com

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BEST DAY EVER Die hard Foo Fighters’ fan Henry Pestana got the surprise of a lifetime when frontman David Grohl signed his cast in front of thousands of cheering fans at Fenway.

The Lowell 12-year-old broke his wrist in July during a skateboarding mishap and his parents, Eric and Jenn Pestana, suggested he make a sign to see if Grohl would put his signature stamp on Henry’s neon green arm guard.

Grohl shares Henry’s pain. The Foo’s singer has been touring with a broken leg since taking a nasty spill from a stage in Gothenburg, Sweden on June 12. Grohl’s accidental dive (he landed on his feet) has become legendary after the singer got a temporary patch-up from on-site medical staff and finished the show. He’s continued the Foo’s world tour, playing from a hilarious Game of Thrones-style throne, which Grohl designed, and, in lieu of swords, is adorned with guitars.

Henry says at one point in the show, Grohl, upon his throne, looked down, saw him holding the sign and winked.

Security guards later approached Henry and hoisted him up to the edge of the catwalk. Grohl threw down his crutches and crawled to the edge of the stage where Henry was waiting and busted out a marker.

“I looked up and said, ‘dude! you’re the best person ever’,” Henry says.

That’s when a beaming Grohl tousled Henry’s hair. Henry, whose first concert was the Foo Fighters and Social Distortion

BLUES N BREWS

Nashoba Valley Sunset Tiki Bar & Grill August 22 4 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com Tory Germann

in 2011, was also thrown a drum stick from Taylor Hawkins. The day after the July 18th Fenway show (the band played two nights at Boston’s historic ballpark), Eric Pestana confirmed Henry had “perma-grin” ever since his big moment. We can’t say that we blame him. “I’m extremely happy and excited I got the chance to be able to get up there and meet him, “ Henry says. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

BLUES N BREWS

Get ready for a smoke show like no other.

The annual Blues N Brews returns to Nahsoba Valley Ski Area Saturday, Aug. 22 with a lineup of incredible BBQ, dozens of regional craft breweries and killer tunes from artists like Selwyn Birchwood, Vanessa Collier, Ben Knight and more. Funds raised from the festival support a variety of charities and provide local scholarships. bluesnbrewsrotary.org

HUNGER GAMES

Put your beach bod on the back burner because the second annual Lowell Food & Wine Festival is back Sept. 11–13, bringing together the region’s most inspired restaurants, chefs and foodies. Eat and drink your way around the three-day-long party featuring highlights like Food Truck Madness, The Grand Tasting spotlighting culinary pop-ups and demonstrations from around 25 Merrimack Valley eateries, late night culinary fun with tacos and tequila, and a tailgate chili cookout with the Lowell Spinners at LeLacheur ballpark. Honk if you’re hungry!

And learn more at tlfwf.org

Tory Germann

STARSTRUCK

Henry meets Dave Grohl Jenn Pestana

LOWELL FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

Downtown Lowell September 11–13 Tory Germann

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FOR THE RECORD MELVERN TAYLOR

By Victoria Wasylak | Photo by Tory Germann

F

rom vinyl records to Polaroids, everything in pop culture resurfaces eventually, but Melvern Taylor and his gang are way ahead of the curve.

Melvern Taylor and His Fabulous Meltones’ self-described “post-modern parlor music” rips the expiration date off early 20th century tunes with nothing more than a ukulele and some old school charm. And if you couldn’t tell from his name, his early soul and rock ‘n’ roll influences run deep.

“I wanted to be like Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes,” Taylor says. “Ray Charles had the Raylettes. I have the Fabulous Meltones.”

From the twang-y, melancholy “Table for Two,” to the energy-effervescing summer anthem “Penny Arcade,” the group’s latest release The Old New Stuff plays like tunes straight out of a saloon, except songs like “Mill Town Moon” detail Lowell instead of the wild west.

Trini Lopez’s Live at PJ’s is a big inspiration.

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“I like to make up cool little songs that people can sing along with,” he says.

The Beach Boys. The Mills Brothers. Ian Whitcomb. The list of Taylor’s influences goes on and on. Sonically, the album is an array of everything far and in between, and carefully crafted amongst four musicians who click with each other.

That need to connect musically, however, is what caused a seven-year gap between The Old New Stuff and their prior release, Love Songs For Losers.

After the departure of original bassist Jonny Grant, the group had to find a new bassist who musically clicked, which became an exhaustive challenge for the group. Their first replacement – what Taylor calls a “rebound bassist” – proved to be a hindrance to making The Old New Stuff.

“Musically it wasn’t really happening, and it made me really depressed,” Taylor says. “For a while I didn’t really want to do it anymore, but I write all these songs and I have to do something with them.”

For Taylor, not being a musician isn’t an option, even if he wanted to take a break. His online bio notes his “unhealthy obsession with making music,” which Taylor says is no hyperbole.

NEW MUSIC

By Victoria Wasylak

In between receiving awards and attending class, Connecticut duo The Brazen Youth have been busy working on a new album. While preparing for the release of The Ever Dying Bristlecone Man, high school friends Nick Lussier and Charles Dahlke released their single “Reassess Me,” a moody, mellow song that transforms into an upbeat drum-heavy track reminiscent of Imagine Dragons. Lussier’s gentle coos of “I went and cut off my hands / I don’t want to feel you again” build to pained cries of aggravated heartache, powered by Dahlke’s insistent drum beats.

“My brain is always working on a song in the background.

It’s like a computer program that never shuts off even when you are doing other things,” he explains.

“I have kind of a love/hate relationship with music. I think about it all the time, and I’ve given it my whole life, and it kind of just shits on me all the time. But I like making up songs so I keep doing it.”

The band’s perseverance paid off when they finished the album equipped with new bassist Matt Murphy, the puzzle piece the band had been looking for.

“He has a totally different style from Johnny (Grant) but is equally as good,” Taylor says of Murphy.

After 16 years of releasing albums, Taylor’s well-versed in the whole recording process, although he admits that his albums have changed stylistically over the year.

“My recordings are more sparse now,” Taylor says. “Early on I liked to make records with all the bells and whistles and that’s really cool. Some of my favorite records are like that, but my last two records have been basically just a representation of what the band and I would sound like on a really good night.”

Five albums and 16 years later, his music still has the sharp bite of the “Handsome Bastard” who started making albums in 1999.

“All of my records are available on iTunes. People should download all of them,” he says. “Someone should cover some of them and make it a hit so I can stay home all day and play with Legos.”

Hear The Old New Stuff at www.melverntaylor.com/music.

Amy and the Engine’s innocent, schoolgirl-ish new single “Love Me” re-invents the days of soft-spoken girl-pop (that’s music critic speak for the likes of Norah Jones). The savory tune is ripe with simplistic guitar and vocal harmonies

by South Portland, Maine native Amy Allen.

“Love Me,” along with previously released “Last Forever,” are the first tastes of Allen’s forthcoming (and promising) 6-track EP. Put it this way – there’s a reason she was tapped to opened for Kacey Musgraves and spotlighted in Teen Vogue this year.

Local music usually comes with the preconceived notion that the band is folky, bluesy, or a rock ‘n’ roll combination of the two. Boston solo artist Mei Ohara is here to break that notion in half. Her new single “City of I” weaves Parisian violin with self-made electronica for an avante-garde experimental track seemingly capable of sending intergalactic messages. Hello deep space. From the beats and production, to the electric violin and keyboards, Ohara’s music is 100% self-made, giving DIY music a whole new meaning.

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Rollin’ Stones Sunday Brunch Specials Buck a Shuck Oysters Cheap Date Friday Night Reverse Happy Hour Let’s Spend The Night Together Cobblestones of Lowell

91 Dutton St. Lowell, MA 978.970.2282 • cobblestonesoflowell.com 8 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

moonstones

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

Purchase Advance Tickets: www.lowellsummermusic.org Box Office at Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, 246 Market St., Lowell

Prices increase when purchased day of show Premium seating available in first two rows BOARDING HOUSE PARK: French & John Streets, Downtown Lowell

CHECK US OUT ON THE WEB!

ALL SHOWS 7:30 PM SEASON PASS AVAILABLE FOOD AVAILABLE • BRING LAWN CHAIRS AND BLANKETS INFOLINE: 978.970.5200

Scan this QR code on your smartphone to check out our website for more information!

Saturday, August 1

Friday, August 14

GORDON LIGHTFOOT

JOHN HIATT & THE COMBO BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS THE TAJ MAHAL TRIO

Thursday, August 27

Friday, August 7

LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND

Saturday, August 15

Friday, August 28

WARREN HAYNES

LAKE STREET DIVE

Thursday, August 13

Saturday, August 22

Saturday, August 29

TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE

WGBH’S A CELTIC SOJOURN

MELISSA ETHERIDGE “THIS IS M.E. LIVE”

free fun for kids!

Wednesday, August 5 YO-YO PEOPLE World Yo-Yo Champions

WITH BRIAN O’DONOVAN

10AM Art & Natural Snacks, 11AM Stage Show, Noon Trolley Rides

Thursday, August 6 ROBIN HOOD Classic Theater For Kids

Wednesday, August 12 AIRBORNE COMEDIANS UniCycling Juggling Buffoonery

Thursday, August 13 JOSH & THE JAMTONES Jammin' Reggae Band for Kids

FLEE THE CITY A GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND’S BEST SWIMMING HOLES AND BEACHES

By The Howl Street Team | Photo by Nancy Ho

W hen temperatures soar don’t just stand in front of the freezer with the door open.

Get in the car, on that bicycle or hop on a train and head for cool water. Whether you’re seeking a private retreat, a bustling beach strip or just a quick dip after a long work day, HOWL’s guide will take you there.

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HART POND

Pond St., Chelmsford After a long day at work you don’t have to travel far for a quick dip to cool your jets. Grab a bicycle and pick up the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, a 6.8 mile stretch of pavement over a former railroad track that links Lowell to Carlisle, and stop off at Hart Pond for a swim. In Lowell, park for free at Cross Point towers where you’ll find a large storm drain that marks the beginning of the trail. Don’t feel like biking from Lowell? Then park at the Chelmsfold municipal lot in Central Sq.. The scenic path is closed to motorists and offers some great nature views. You’ll find the pond past Agway on your right. Note: The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is a work in progress, once complete it will link Lowell to Framingham, spanning 25 miles.

WALDEN POND

Walden St., Concord One of our favorite places for floating on your back, staring up at the clouds and letting all worries slip far away.

This 102-foot deep glacial kettle hole inspired author Henry David Thoreau who spent two years, two months and two days living in a small cabin along the pond, where he sought spiritual regeneration through harmony with nature. More than 150 years later, Walden still inspires despite the crowds racing to get in. It’s an amazing swimming hole but here, timing is everything.

Due to ecosystem conservation efforts, the park only lets in 1,000 people at a time and can get jam packed on warm days. We recommend visiting on a week day and securing a spot early. The mustached ice cream man who sets up in the Walden parking lot and cheerily calls everybody “good citizens,” is another added bonus. 7am to 8:00pm. Parking is $5 per car and $35 for a one-year membership. For more information call 978-369-3254.

FLETCHER POND

560 Main Dunstable Rd./Route 111A, Nashua The Dunstable Rural Land Trust includes small conservation parcels like Greg Woods, miles of trails and a spring fed lake perfect for taking a quick dip. Best parking for the pond is just over the New Hampshire border at Yudicky Park. From the parking lot, take a right turn (heading west) until you see a pile of boulders blocking an old road into the woods on your left. Follow the obvious trail in and discover the network of trails.

DAMON POND

Willard Brook State Forest Rte. 119, West Townsend For the hiker, a 2,380-acre forest with plenty of trails, fishing, and campsites spread beneath a canopy of stately pines.

COLLEGE POND

Cranberry Road, S. Carver Myles Standish State Forest is the region’s largest publicly owned recreation area with 16 ponds to dip into, including College Pond where you’ll find a nice beach area for swimming, fishing, kayaking or just lounging.

GREW›S POND

Goodwill Park Road, Falmouth A clean and clear swimming hole with a soft sandy beach, lifeguards, volleyball courts, horseshoes, picnic area, public restrooms and grassy playing field, all surrounded by Goodwill Park. No resident sticker required and parking is free. Hours: 9am to 6pm.

HALIBUT POINT

Gott Avenue at Pigeon Cove, Rockport For those who hate getting sand in their swimsuits, Halibut Point is a 54-acre oasis of tidal pools, flora, fauna, crashing surf, twittering birds and some of the prettiest rocky shoreline imaginable.

MOOSEHEAD LAKE

Greenville Junction, Maine Even in August, your lips might turn purple from the brisk waters in Maine’s largest lake (40 miles long with more than 300 miles of shoreline) nestled in the Longfellow Mountains, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a clearer swimming hole with sand that feels like velvet beneath your toes. If stepping on icky things in the water is a phobia for you, this lake—about two and a half hours from Portland—will put all your fears at bay.

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GREAT MISERY ISLAND

Salem Sound, Salem From beautiful sweeping ocean views to great places to take a dip, this island retreat is sure to bring far more summertime happiness than its name lets on. The 83-acre island makes for a very cool day trip, with trails that wind past ruins of an old resort and casino and the remains of the steamship, The City of Rockland. Access is by boat but don’t worry if you don’t have your own. You can hitch a ride to and from the island on four Sea Shuttle tours that depart Marblehead throughout the day.

TULLY LAKE

Athol-Richmond Road, Royalston Clean and cool for swimming, this lake is also canoe and kayak friendly. The 22-mile Tully Trail is great for hiking and mountain bikes and welcomes camping.

CAHOON HOLLOW BEACH

1120 Cahoon Hollow Road, Wellfleet Live bands, margaritas and lobster in the rough. You can’t beat the Cape’s Cahoon Hollow Beach Beachcomber bar if you’re looking for a sizzlin’ summer soundtrack with your surf, and one fun bar.

MOSHUP BEACH

Moshup Trail, Martha’s Vineyard Also known as Gay Head Beach, this destination is popular for surfers as well as locals and visitors alike thanks to the area’s magnificent cliff views. And for those of you who like to go au naturel, there’s a section farther down this uninterrupted sandy shoreline that allows nude sunbathing. Parking is $15 throughout the summer months.

WONDERLAND AND SHIP HARBOR

Route 233 McFarland Hill at Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine One of the most amazing hiking spots you’ll find in New England. Nestled in Acadia National park, these are two unique trails that are the perfect backdrop for a summer picnic. The Wonderland trail breaks out of the woods and lands at a secluded pebble beach that has everything from tide pools to lapping ocean waves. For calmer, crystalline water and a soft, sandy beach, you can’t beat Echo Lake, just north of Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island, on the west side of Route 102.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

1 Portland Ave., Old Orchard Beach, Maine Think Coney Island on a smaller scale. This white sandy beach lapped by cold New England waters has a great arcade and boardwalk.

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OGUNQUIT BEACH

Beach Street, Ogunquit, Maine Maine is loaded with amazing beaches and this one was ranked among Trip Advisor’s top 25 beaches in the U.S. Here you’ll find a bustling harbor village packed with restaurants, gift shops, art galleries and threeand-a-half miles of sandy beaches. Parking is around $8 for the day.

SALISBURY BEACH

Beach Road, Salisbury SalisburyBeach has 484 campsites in a layout that resembles a small town, complete with lettered streets.

Not the ideal spot if your looking for privacy, but if you just want a cheap option—$17 per night—with a picnic table and grill that will plop you in close proximity to the beach and busy strip, then look no further.

WINGAERSHEEK BEACH

Atlantic Avenue, Gloucester Part of beautiful Cape Ann on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Wingaersheek Beach is known for its still waters and low tide, making it a perfect family-friendly beach. Conveniences like a concession stand, restrooms, and showers are available.Parking: $20 weekdays, $25 weekends, $15 after 3pm and free after 5pm.

SINGING BEACH

119 Beach St., Manchester-By-The-Sea Another amazing Cape Ann beach spot, the beauty of Singing Beach will make you feel like you’re on a little island vacation. Known for the mysterious sound the sand makes under your feet—it squeaks like sneakers on a basketball court—this beach is great for relaxing and exploring. The rocky shoreline holds a treasure trove of sea shells, crabs, the occasional starfish and other tidal pool wonders. Parking: $25 Mon-Thursday non-residents, only resident parking Fri-Sunday; Walk-on: $5

CRANE BEACH

290 Argilla Road, Ipswich Don’t worry about the undertow. This picturesque white sandy beach has calm, waveless kid-friendly water, a snack bar and clean bathrooms with showers and changing stalls. But arrive early. The parking lot tends to fill up by 11am at this popular north shore summer spot.

SANDY NECK

425 Sandy Neck Road, Barnstable Nothing beats roasting marshmallows and swapping stories with friends around a crackling fire. Sandy Neck Beach is a great Cape beach that allows fires after sunset or 7pm. But you must check in with staff first to see if weather conditions permit campfires, which are limited to the east area of the public beach.

508-362-8300

photos by Tory Germann

MADAKET BEACH

326 Madaket Road, Nantucket For all the surfers out there, this beach has spectacular crashing waves. A calm day has swells of about three feet and sustained waves up to 16 feet are not uncommon. Fans of this Massachusetts beach also rave about the fiery sunsets and frequent seal sightings.

REVERE BEACH

Revere Beach Blvd., Revere No car, no problem. Pack a bag and don’t forget the sunblock before catching a train to Boston.

Pick up the T and head for the Blue Line to Revere Beach, America’s first public beach established in 1896. Singing Beach and Crane Beach (mentioned previously on this list) are also easily accessible by connecting to the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line via Boston’s North Station.

WATCH HILL

151 Bay St., Westerly, Rhode Island A classic seaside village feel along with some monster mansions tucked into a cove of Little Narraganset Bay. Here, you can satisfy your inner child at the second oldest carousel in the country, where 20 hand-carved horses suspended from a center pole swing out instead of going up and down. The adjacent private beach costs $2 a day for kids and $8 for adults. Not too much farther down—within walking distance—is Napatree Beach, a peaceful, remote and free beach with some decent breaks for surfing.

207 Market Street Lowell, MA 01852

978-458-7052 www.AthenianCorner.com

HAMPTON BEACH

Ocean Blvd., Hampton, N.H. You can’t beat Hampton’s caught-in-time arcade where skee ball, air hockey and the old-fashioned whiz-bang whir of the shooting gallery remain unchanged from when we were kids—and from when our grandparents were kids. Brown’s seafood shack with its laid-back BYOB mantra is always worth the trip and long wait in line. And, last but not least on the Hampton to-dolist, is the Casino Ballroom which continues to draw national touring bands. Some of the acts scheduled to appear this summer include The Go Gos, BB King, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gov’t Mule, and Chris Isaak to name a few. Besides weekly firework displays on Wednesdays, Hampton also sends summer out with a bang by holding its annual seafood festival after Labor Day.

124 Merrimack St., Lowell MA

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THE

FOOD ISSUE

By The Howl Street Team

BURRRPPP.

Oh, sorry. We’ve been stuffing ourselves to the gills around every corner of Greater Lowell to bring you HOWL’s second annual food and drink issue. Food has always been the great social connector, bringing friends old and new ‘round a table for sharing conversation and making memories.

Because good eating is also a gateway to new experiences, we thought we’d kick off this decadent edition by taking you on a trip around the world, one plate at a time.

ATMOSPHERE After a long day at work, nothing beats bellying up to Cobblestones for creative culinary offerings like spicy Portuguese mussels with chorizo, acorn squash with sweet cotija corn, poblano, golden cauliflower and spiced honey, or a super refreshing grilled watermelon salad.

Service never disappoints and we love the restaurant’s many spaces in one from the outdoor patio and relaxed bar area to the modern and airy dining room. Two upper floors have plenty of character for private functions. But once you dig into the food, you’ll be pining for one of the many seasonal craft beers on tap.

91 Dutton St. | 978- 970-2282 cobblestonesoflowell.com

ASIAN FUSION Need to satisfy an internationalist sensibility? Green Mango Fusion will blow your mind with their ultra low prices and amazing menu that blends Asian, Latino and American cuisines with tasty dishes like Alaskan salmon infused with Thai basil, a red-chili-spiked Bon Appétit.

Malaysian coconut milk curry or sautéed Cajun chicken breast in a Romano cream sauce tossed with fresh penne.

19 Hurd St. | 978-710-7516 18 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com greenmangofusion.com

BARBECUE Get your hands dirty and get ready for some unbutton-the-pants gusto at Lester’s Roadside BBQ where the ribs are slowly pit smoked for authentic southern flavor and served up with collard greens, corn bread and sweet tea.

376A Cambridge St., Burlington 781-221-7427 | lestersbbq.com BAHN MI Take slow roasted meats or cold cuts, add plenty of crisp fresh vegetables like cucumber, cilantro, pickled carrots and chili peppers, pack it all neatly into a house-baked baguette swiped with a tangy buttery sweet spread and you’ve got a bonafide bahn mi — a Vietnamese sandwich that is a thing of wonder. Nobody does these babies better than Hong Cuc Deli. The barbecue beef bahn mi is a favorite and sells out quick.

They’ve got a great selection of bubble tea too.

11 Grand St. | 978-441-0110

BAKERY The family owned and operated Olympos Bakery hand forges heavenly breads like Vienna, seeded buttery knots, French sticks and many more artisanal loaves that are the perfect compliment to the shops handmade subs, paninis and sandwiches.

They also make their own pizza sold by the slice and have a dessert case that will make you cry tears of joy and happily loosen your belt in defeat. Try their cannoli.

Thank us later.

214 Broadway St. | 978-735-4514 olymposbakery.com BARTENDER Whether you follow the craft cocktail scene or just like sharing a few laughs with friends over a well-built drink, Sheryl Rossano-Rasmussen is the gal behind the bar who can take the edge off the end of the day with a vigorous shake, a few flicks of the wrist and some comfort in a glass made just for you. More than a mixologist, she also plays the part of psychologist, snack replenisher and friend.

45 Palmer St. | 978-323-0424 fuse-bistro.com BEST-KEPT SECRET Friends is a cozy spot that’s big on flavor with lovingly prepared Portuguese classics like chourico sausage and bacalhau (codfish drizzled with olive oil and lemon), but the quaint outdoor patio feels like hanging out in a friend’s backyard and is the perfect place for sipping the restaurant’s decadent Espresso martini.

350 Market St., Lowell | 978-453-8285 BREAKFAST For fluffy omelets, plate-sized pancakes and cuts of ham two-fingers thick, you can’t beat Four Sisters Owl Diner for a hearty, stick to your ribs New England breakfast.

244 Appleton St. | 978-453-8321

Bartender Sheryl | Erika Weiser

BURGER Consistently our Holy Grail go-to for cheeseburgers, Ward Eight’s signature namesake burger is a thick and juciy patty seasoned to perfection and topped with cider bacon, caramelized onions, and a blue cheese melted in with a cheddar cream ale sauce. Simply, it is heaven on a bun.

280 Central St., Lowell | 978-454-7600 CAMBODIAN A place for the food adventurous — including Travel Channel host and food connoisseur Andrew Zimmern who featured Simply Khmer on his popular TV show Bizarre Foods — here you can chow down on expertly cooked and seasoned bull frog legs or alligator. But for those who want to keep it a little less bizarre, you absolutely can’t go wrong with authentic Cambodian dishes like Amok Trey, curried boneless Talapia fish steeped in a flavorful coconut sauce with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, shallots and served up in banana leaves; or the original Khmer Loc Lac, beef sautéed in a savory lime and pepper sauce and served over a bed of fresh greens, tomatoes and cucumbers.

26 Lincoln St., Lowell | 978-454-6700 simplykhmerrestaurant.com COLOMBIAN People come from far and wide to Delicias Paisas, an unassuming Colombian grill on traffic-clogged Bridge Street, for the succulent meats, rich Colombian coffee and tasty empanadas (seasoned beef or chicken turnover).

But the traditional bandeja (country mountain dish) is a thing to behold, stacked high with steak, pork, sausage, plantains, beans and rice all topped with a fried egg and served with a side salad (hey how in the heck did that get there).

You’re looking at two meals rolled into one for about $13. The flan is also swoonworthy.

392 Bridge St. | 978-970-5555

Blue Taleh | Nancy Ho

COFFEE SHOP Besides downing fair trade coffee in the form of cappuccinos, lattes or just straight up black, the clientele at Brew’d Awakening is fiercely loyal and always expanding. It’s easy to say it’s the best place to be seen in the city, with people of all walks coming into get their caffeine fix, play (there’s live music every Saturday and open mics on the first and third Tuesdays) and work thanks to the free wifi. Outdoor seating offers extra room and interesting people watching in good weather.

61 Market St. | 978-454-2739 brewdawakening.com CUPCAKES Revenge on your diet never tasted so sweet. Little Delights proves good things come in small packages with creative cupcake recipes like the rum spiked dirty tiramisu, the decadently rich death by chocolate, and plenty of other sweet options topped with cloud-like fluffs of buttercream icing. Be sure to inquire about their amazing custom cakes for special occasions too.

132 Merrimack St. | 978-455-0040 DINNER WITH A VIEW Take a break from the rush of the city and recharge the senses and your palate at Nashoba Valley Winery. The sweeping orchard views from J’s Restaurant are beautiful year-round and appetizers like the cheese plate, three local cheeses served with clover honey, toasted Marcona almons, dried fruit and a grilled baguette, and main courses like free range chicken with roasted foraged mushrooms or citrus marinated grilled tofu, pair perfectly with the variety of wines made on site. Sunday brunches here are also well worth the trip.

100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton 978-779-5521 | nashobawinery.com

Cavaleiros | Tory Germann

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FARMSTAND Want to find all your produce needs in one place? Mann Orchards has got you covered. This Methuen institution is stocked to the rafters will fresh produce from several local farms, including their own, giving you endless options for dinner. Besides a cornucopia of fruits and veggies, the farmstand serves homemade, country-style lunches and heavenly pies. The apple is a surefire crowd pleaser. Monster-thick and crammed full of tender slices from the orchard, the sticky affair is swoon worthy.

27 Pleasant Valley St. | 978-683-0361 mannorchards.com FINE DINING Inside a converted train depot, chef Carolyn Johnson and the creative team behind 80 Thoreau work their magic on an amazing menu executed to perfection from the melt-in-your-mouth seared duck prepared with chestnuts and pears to the silky lobster cavatelli with pumpkin, sage and roe butter. Cocktails mixed at the lively bar are also show stoppers including the Pushing Daisies with Boston rum, Cynar, lemon and ginger, and the Hedgerow Twist with strawberry shrub, gin, Aperol and Lillet.

If you’re going to spend your paycheck on dinner, this is the place to do it. 80 Thoreau St., Concord | 978-318-0008 80thoreau.com

calamari and succulent grilled seafood to melt-in-your-mouth kebabs served over colorful veggies drizzled in olive oil and feta.

207 Market St., Lowell | 978-458-7052 atheniancorner.com HIDDEN GEM With a front entrance located off the main road along a stone cobbled alley, it’s easy to miss Tutto Bene Wine & Cheese Cellar.

But the tucked-away location is also part of its charm. Behind busy Prescott street, a flower adorned terrace with leafy window boxes lend to an old world charm with all the flavor of Italy. Inside, a well-stocked selection of wines from around the world awaits. There are plenty of options for every budget and the shop’s passionate owner, Ellen Andre, is happy to help find the perfect bottle. The store also stocks gourmet cheeses, chocolates, artisan pastas, breads, sauces and meats.

58 Prescott St. (rear) | 978-459-9463 tuttobenecellars.com

FOOD TRUCK The belly dancing and live Greek band Markos Mediterranean Grill has a gyro stuffed with perfectly seasoned and marinated meat, and drizzled with a housemade tzatziki, that has yet to be rivaled. Everything on the menu is under $10 and the oversized vegetarian falafel can’t be beat.

90 Thorndike St., | 603-557-0048

INDIAN Devotees of steaming table staples such as chicken tikka masala and slow-cooked tandoori meats will fall in love with Priya, a no-frills restaurant located in a strip mall where all the oomph is saved for food punched up with exotic flavor.

The Hindu doctrine prescribes six rasas (tastes) — sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent — to balance your diet and, perhaps, your life. Priya’s stellar lunch buffet, overflowing with 22 North and South Indian standards like creamy saag paneer and Gobi masala (cauliflower and peas), allows you to sample as much as your belly can handle for $10.

1270 Westford St., Lowell | 978-454-7777 bostonpriya.com

GREEK The belly dancing and live Greek band ought to tip you off: The Athenian Corner is one of the more authentic dining experiences you’ll find in the city.

For 40 years now, this family owned and operated downtown staple still doles out some of the region’s freshest dishes off a menu packed with everything from crisp

ITALIAN A throwback to authentic trattorias from the old country, Filho’s Cucina is cooking in its purest form. Like a bare-faced Audrey Hepburn, The Linguine de Cucina is a thing of beauty, made simply from quality, fresh ingredients like basil, parsley and cracked black pepper that is sautéed in garlic oil, simmered in marinara and

Cobblestones | Nancy Ho

20 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

Salt Box | Jim Vaiknoras

tossed with romano cheese and linguine.

Seating is limited in this small and casual café and the restaurant’s fan base constantly clamoring for these rustic dishes can even make take-out a challenge on busy nights —and it gets very busy. So if you’re planning on dining in or getting your order to go, calling ahead is wise. The restaurant has a BYOB permit and with the Groton Market located right next door, you’ll have no trouble finding a wine to match your meal.

235 Main St., Groton | 978-448-5664 filhoscucina.com PIZZA There’s something to be said about any eatery that only needs to open three days a week to thrive. Fans of the landmark Tony & Ann’s Pizza — including Simpson’s designer and Chelmsford native Lance Wilder who had his freezer stockpiled with the pies in L.A. — were crushed when the business closed its doors in 2002.

Family members revived founder Tony Privitera’s secret recipe and reopened the shop in 2010. Loyal customers still flock from miles away for a taste of their childhood favorite on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

11 Broadway Road, Dracut | 978-251-3311 tonyandannspizza.com STEAK Located in Lowell’s Back Central neighborhood, Cavaleiro’s serves up steak like nobody else. An 8 oz. filet mignon arrives at your table, sputtering and popping on a seasoned hot stone, ready to be cooked by you — just the way you like it. While searing the melt-in-your-mouth meat to perfection, try their award-winning sangria, laced with cinnamon for an extra special kick.

573 Lawrence St., Lowell | 978-458-8200

cavaleirosrestaurant.com

SEAFOOD You’ll find premium fresh catches beautifully prepared at Fishbones, along with platters of iced, just-shucked sweet oysters, delicately fried clams and lobster served every which way including the outstanding lobster roll — stuffed with sweet,

Fishbones | Nancy Ho

lemony meat on a butter-enriched bun — a crowd favorite.

34 Central Sq. | 978-250-0101 fishbonesofchelmsford.com SWEETS Nothing beats the nostalgic combo of melted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers — unless you add in even more yummy goodness like toasted coconut, caramel, fresh raspberries and peanut butter. Sweet Lydia’s puts a new twist on an old campfire favorite with gourmet s’mores made from real marshmallow. Her handemade candy bars like peanut butter and jelly wrapped in chocolate, minty patty and chocolate covered maple bacon caramels are all swoon-worthy.

160 Merrimack St. | 978-888-7616 sweetlydias.com SUSHI A transcendent bite of top-grade sushi is priceless. But at Blue Taleh, that melt-in-your-mouth morsel comes at a cost you can afford — with tip and sake included. This raw bar rolls out a no-nonsense menu of daily market finds like rosy tuna, salmon, buttery crab and shiso-and-salt seasoned red snapper, all transformed into artful, picture-perfect offerings. The knockouts are the Wrecking Ball appetizer, succulent lobster in avocado salad topped with fall-apart hunks of lightly torched salmon, taro crunch and eel sauce; and the Sushi and Sashimi boat that’s perfect for sharing. The dining room overlooks downtown’s Eastern canal and the L-shaped bar hosts original live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night.

15 Kearney Sq., Lowell 978-453-1112 | bluetalehlowell.com TACOS The bright and festive interior of El Potro is both laid-back and casual — a perfect setting for some of the best authentic Mexican dishes around. The mole and creamy tomatillo sauces are clearly rendered with love and skilled hands. We love the sweet, soft-braised steak tacos, fresh guacamole and giant burritos stuffed with expertly grilled meats, seasoned beans, rice and pico-de gallo-drenched wonders. Throw in the bar’s crazy tequila selection (around 30 different kinds) and the house Mariachi band, and you’ve got a prime spot for low-key, high quality Mexican.

124 Merrimack St., Lowell 978-455-2840 elpotromexicangrill.com

TAPAS Moonstones is Cobblestones saucy sister restaurant boasting a creative cocktail menu, amazing raw bar, and a variety of small wonders proving bigger isn’t always better. Tapas plates guaranteed to kick-start the tastebuds include zesty bites like Szechuan eggplant and tofu, buffalo calamari, flaming chourico bombeiro and hoisin duck sliders. The Sunday brunch menu is also epic with options like red velvet pancakes, grilled sugar pineapple and eggs benedict served with crispy prosciutto and lobster hollandaise.

185 Chelmsford St., Chelmsford 978-256-7777 | moonstones110.com THAI Well seasoned and delicious, dishes at Viet Thai are always exceptionally fresh and clean tasting to boot. Shrimp on sugarcane and the perfectly fried calamari or fried tofu are all good bets for starters. Really, there are too many highlights on this menu to mention them all, but the crispy spring rolls with fresh mint is a surefire winner, as well as the barbecued sliced beef with sesame seasoning, which is as tender as can be. The restaurant’s signature pho is also hands-down some of the best we’ve ever had.

368 Merrimack St., Lowell 978-446-0977 | vietthailowell.com VEGETARIAN Life Alive whips up homestyle hippie-cooking that’s so delicious even carnivores will leave feeling full and satisfied. Dishes with names like The Rebel, The Goddess and The Hot & Healthy Bachelor are packed with fresh steamed veggies and to-die-for sauces guaranteed to make a belly happy.

194 Middle St. | 978-453-1311 lifealive.com

FOOD FIGHT J

ust because farm-to-table has become an overused buzzword doesn’t mean our work in that area is done.

Chefs like Mark Conway (on our cover) are committed to sourcing fresh, hyper local ingredients, as well as outsourcing from indie farms globally to promote good health, sustainability, and food that tastes as fresh as it is mouth watering.

Look for Conway — whose cooking is a wildly delicious hybrid of Mexican and global street food — at the Lowell Food & Wine Festival Sept. 11–13, where he’ll be pairing some of his eclectic dishes with Navigation Brewery’s locally-made beers, and also hosting Chopped, a competition putting the culinary creativity of three area chefs to the test. Under limited time, the chefs will choose their ingredients from The Merrimack Valley Food Bank and Mill City Grows. The chef with the tastiest dish wins, but Conway says the event is more about teaching how food can be fun and bringing people together.

His mantra: “Packaging the familiar with the unfamiliar in order to open minds to exciting fresh food that is as local as possible.”

Follow Conway on Instagram @kitcheninkfood

WINE BAR Thanks to a stellar wine selection and the outstanding customer service from bartender Dennis Meadows, Ricardo’s Trattoria is a standout spot to swirl, sip and savor. The intimate bar, which hosts live jazz every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, sheds the pretentious “wine-bar” stigma with a passionate wait staff and selections carefully chosen for their history, aesthetics and above all — drinkability.

110 Gorham St. | 978-453-2777 ricardoscafetrattoria.com

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MERRIMACK ALES FOR THE LOVE OF BEER & MAD SCIENCE Story by Terry Badman Photos by Allegra Boverman

T

he air is quiet on this blue-sky and sunny Saturday morning, filled only with the faint buzz of an electrical generator locked behind a chain-link fence.

Ninety-two Bolt Street is the deadlast spot on a dead-end. Rolling up to a beaten parking lot marred with faded yellow lines, spider web cracks and a handful of dated sedans, the brick factory building it surrounds seems lonely and abandoned.

A solemn forklift guards two battered, rusted metal entryways. One reads: LEAVE DOOR CLOSED. The other has no sign at all.

Some may see the perfect place to hide a body. But for Merrimack Ales owner Adam Pearson, there was only potential.

“I came in and the whole place was basically dark and stacked with pallets and bags of flour,” Pearson says. “I started visualizing what it might look like as a brewery and thought, ‘yeah, we can make it work.’”

Inside the seemingly sketchy industrial setting, Merrimack Ales has been quietly brewing some of the finest beers in the Merrimack Valley. And they are almost ready for you to taste.

The Lowell microbrewery is aiming for an August opening.

“The worst thing would be if we took a couple cases of our beer and put it out at a tasting event with our label taped on,” Pearson explains. “Then people really like it. They’re like ‘when can we have more of it!?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know, maybe four-to-six months!’”

“That would hit with a thud, so we’ve been a bit quiet,” he says.

Pearson followed the advice of another Lowell brewery: Navigation Brewing Company, which sits less than a mile down the road from Merrimack.

Navigation took a conservative approach to brewing output. When they launched, they had plenty of beer to meet demand. Pearson hopes to follow Navigation’s lead.

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Pat Auclair and Adam Pearson

“They’ve done a really great job branding themselves. Really creating a positive influence, helping getting the city government excited about how craft beer is just one more thing Lowell can pick itself up with,” Pearson said. “That excites me, too. The ability to be part of something good is enough to make you want to get up and do it.”

Navigation’s own PJ Mercier also introduced Pearson to Pat Auclair, who would become Merrimack’s brewmaster. Auclair formerly served as brewer at Lowell’s Do Can Brewery, which sadly closed earlier this year following the death of beloved founder, Patrick Slattery.

“After Do Can shut down, PJ was like, ‘go to Merrimack Ales. Go to Merrimack Ales. Tell him you know how to do stuff,” Auclair says.

After their meeting, Pearson gave Auclair some homework, tasking him with crafting a recipe for a new honey witbier.

Auclair passed with flying colors.

“We were scary close on how we figure and approach designing our beers,” Pearson says, adding that they also had similar grasps on what beers worked commercially, what’s out there in the homebrew world, and what ideas they thought would work but didn’t.

“Once you gather all that, it then becomes about what ingredients are needed to make the beer you want to make,” Pearson says.

And make beer they will. Merrimack Ales expects to have at least a few different beers available at its anticipated August launch, including a rye IPA brewed with five kinds of hops, a witbier made with local honey sourced from Merrimack Valley Apiaries in Billerica, and an altbier.

Altbier, a light-bodied, malt-forward, mildly hopped German-style copper ale, is underrepresented in the craft beer market. Pearson and Auclair thought it would make for the perfect flagship ale.

“It’s approachable. We haven’t gone too extreme in one direction or the other.

That’s on purpose,” Pearson said. Other future ale offerings include a chocolate oatmeal stout, blackberry wheat ale, and a maple cream porter. But at the beginning, Merrimack is putting focus on its flagship altbier ale.

“It’s just a nice, easy drinking beer that will let people get to know us,” Pearson said.

Pearson’s background is in ceramic engineering. After spending a dozen years working in aerospace and automotive technology, and then another 15 years in banking and consulting, he longed for a more creative outlet.

“As an engineer working in a bank, the most technical thing I operated was a mouse,” Pearson said.

But after giving his parents a hard time about what he wanted for Christmas one year, things began to fall into place.

“I said go ahead and get me a home brew kit,” Pearson explains. “Now I’ve been doing it for over 10 years. But it was honestly just because I just needed something to tinker and play with.”

Auclair fell into brewing in a similarly unpredictable way.

“When I was a junior in college, I was hanging out with one of my friends one time, and his roommate comes home holding a bunch of boxes and bags,” Auclair said. “He’s like: ‘Guys! Did you know you can make beer in your house?’”

From there, Auclair and his friends took a Mr. Beer homebrew kit and got to work.

“We made a golden ale or something,” Auclair recalls. “It was good — wasn’t great — but good enough for us, who were used to drinking PBR, Budweiser and stuff.”

He continued brewing with friends throughout the rest of college. After graduation, Auclair met Do Can founder Pat Slattery, who got Auclair hooked on the beer business.

“He taught me all the scientific parts of brewing that I didn’t know,” Auclair says.

“Two months later I was doing all the brewing for Do Can. I sort of fell into it.”

In addition to the planned year-round releases, there are also plans for limited beer releases, called the Hypothesis Series.

“We’re going to look at a few spaces in the year that aren’t always highlighted.

These are going to be used for a Thanksgiving beer,” says Pearson, pointing at a wooden pallet of Evan Williams Ken-

tucky Bourbon oak barrels. “These are for our sweet potato porter. The aroma’s going to get hammered with bourbon and vanilla beans for a few months. It’s going to pour like motor oil. It should come in around 9-percent (alcohol by volume).”

“I figured if a plate of turkey didn’t set you down, this definitely will,” he says.

Other entries in the Hypothesis Series include a Russian Imperial Stout and a Double IPA. There are also plans for a Halloween beer.

“Everyone does the pumpkin, but we’re hoping to do a couple different things,” Pearson said. “And if it doesn’t work out, we can afford to absorb a couple of oopsies.”

The two-man crew of Merrimack Ales expects to produce an annual 1,500 barrels of beer once they’re up and running. Plans are to begin retail distribution sometime in August. Hours are yet to be determined, but they aim to offer growler fills and bottle sales at the brewery during a couple evenings each week. They also hope to soon distribute 22-ounce bomber bottles to local package stores in Lowell and surrounding towns.

“We want to draw people in,” Pearson says. “We want to be Lowell’s brewery, even the Merrimack Valley’s brewery — if we can be so lucky to grow a little bit.”

Sample Merrimack Ales craft beer at the annual Blues N Brews Festival noon-7pm on Saturday, Aug. 22 at the Nashoba Valley Ski Area, 79 Powers Rd., Westford.

978-692-3033 | skinashoba.com For more information about Merrimack Ales, visit merrimackales.com.

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Ralph Fiegel, Aran Goldstein, Ben Elliott and Camille Broderick

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SALT OF THE EARTH SALTBOX KITCHEN DISHES OUT WHAT’S FRESH RIGHT NOW

Story by Rita Savard | Photos by Jim Vaiknoras

Ben Elliott wanted something new.

A chef at Barbara Lynch’s flagship restaurant, No. 9 Park in Boston, he was part of a team churning out some of the city’s most sought after cuisine. But finding a balance can be a tricky business.

A decade ago, he moved to Concord where he worked on restoring his late grandparents’ 10-acre farm, a place of wonder that introduced him to good earth and great food in his childhood.

Edward and Emilie Thomas built the Saltbox Farm in the 1940s.

It was a typical New England family farm, where growing your own vegetables was the norm, eggs came from backyard chickens and meat was procured from a pig-raising neighbor or beef farmer.

Ben learned the basics of planting and harvesting from Grandpa Ed and a love of cooking from his grandmother, Emilie, who always had something fresh bubbling on the stove or browning in the oven.

“She cooked out of her 1933 Boston Cooking-School edition of the Fannie Farmer Cookbook,” Elliott laughs.

He still has her tattered copy, held together by rubber bands.

Returning to Saltbox Farm was the beginning of a new chapter for Elliott, but it also signaled a shift in focus.

“I’d wake up, get in my car, look around and say, gee this is beautiful but I didn’t have time to really enjoy it,” says the chef whose days belonged to a rapid-fire kitchen.

“I felt a real obligation to the farm,” he says. “I got to a place where I realized, the least I can do is take care of it and have it be what my grandparents wanted it to be.”

He took a leap of faith and left the hustle of Boston. He repaired fences, built a chicken coop, planted fruit trees and realized, “farming is really hard (laughs).”

But it’s also rewarding.

“To be able to spend the first part of my day in the field, planting and weeding, and then taking what has grown into the kitchen to cook and then serve to people — that is a gift. And everyday I’m humbled by how lucky I am to be living this life.”

By launching a homey, green-minded restaurant rife with flavors from his family farm, Elliott is carrying on a tradition that would make his grandparents proud, and much more.

Saltbox Kitchen is sourcing local and biodynamic ingredients from other independent farms to fuel truly bad-ass cooking — and putting people in touch with the community just as much as what’s on the plate.

The vegetable sides alone at the 84 Commonwealth Ave. restaurant are enough to justify a visit.

Foraged wild herbs are transformed into tasty mouthfuls in dishes like the Farro salad with olives, feta and kale; and spring onions salsa verde with anchovy, garlic, capos and olive oil.

The kind of hands-on organic production happening at Saltbox is what lured Elliott’s team of big-city talent, like the farm’s production manager, Mark Congdon.

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A few years ago, Congdon was managing a successful South End café.

“I wanted $850 a month, a cabin in the woods and no electricity,” he laughs, while standing in the field and watching his dad, Wayne, drive by on a tractor.

Really, he says, joining Saltbox was an opportunity to be a part of something big in the community, to plan a season from seeds to harvest, and have a hand in “a change that needs to be made in the food system.”

The menu isn’t entirely made of ingredients from a 250-mile radius.

“I like avocados, I like pineapples and I like a lot of other ingredients that we can’t get locally,” Elliott says. “If the food we seek is produced with integrity, and it’s beautiful and delicious, we are going to be excited to share it with our guests.”

But count on receiving something from the family farm on your plate, whether it’s fresh basil, shaved fennel, tomatoes, carrots, snap peas or something else pulled from the dirt that day.

And every dish — from the roasted eggplant with goat cheese and golden raisins to the wild Alaskan salmon marinated in miso with pickled plum — is at home in the Saltbox Kitchen’s modern/rustic light-filled room, the defining feature of which is a gorgeous bar perfect for sipping a Juste Ciel Corsican Rose´.

Besides wowing guests with artfully wrought dishes, Executive Chef Aran Goldstein teaches them how to cook. This fall, the Saltbox will be revving up classes again at the Farm’s Little House Cooking School.

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“I love the fact that we can plate beautiful dinners, make awesome food and teach others how to do it,” says Goldstein, who cooked in kitchens in Boston, Italy, China and New York. “There’s a lot of overthinking when it comes to cooking. It doesn’t have to be complicated. We like to make it a fun, easy and memorable experience.”

The team’s fierce commitment to green operations will eventually include brewing beer on site. The hops are already pushing through dirt on a portion of the farm and brewer Ralph Fiegel has plans to use sweet squash, local maple syrup, and Saltbox bees’ honey to fuel some of his homebrews.

Since opening July 9, Saltbox Kitchen has been buzzing with happy diners, and staff who are having fun and it shows.

But what’s not to love about an everchanging menu that feeds you the freshest things springing up from the earth right now?

As for Elliott, he’s finally finding that balance between work and actually having a life.

“This is about leaving pretentions at the door, experimenting with new recipes and ideas, and having fun with food,” Elliott says. “Hopefully when people finish eating, they feel nourished, thoroughly satisfied and want to come back for more.”

Saltbox Kitchen, 84 Commonwealth Ave. in West Concord is open from 7am7pm Monday through Saturday, offering breakfast, lunch and early dinner.

978-610-6020 | saltboxfarmconcord.com

Saltbox owner Ben Elliott

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HOROSCOPES Aries March 21-April 19 A dizzying array of activity may unfold involving your partnership or your daily work and health arenas. So what does that look like? An added focus on health and your overall well-being would be a fabulous place to begin. You are not one to sit still and if you can direct that impulsivity towards a long, healthy exercise routine you may see marvelous benefits. Physical exertion may be like medicine to you, so use it whenever you get the chance. Your sweetheart might dig the newly beefed-up bod and you have got to love showing it off for them, especially with the beach calling your name. Not too shabby.

Leo July 23-Aug 22 Your year-long run with Jupi-

Taurus April 20-May 20 The urge to create may be one

Virgo Aug 23-Sept 22 As your zodiacal neighbor says goodbye to Jupiter, you are primed to say hello. This fabulous entry will be lit up by the Sun also in Virgo. The time has come for you to shine. Step into something big and push your agenda forward. Jupiter is often regarded as a beneficial planet, but also know for inflating all that comes under his influence. This may be an optimum month to lay the tracks for some new project that you hold very near and dear to you. With Venus and Mars inching into your transition arena, you could view this as a powerfully opportune time to begin, especially projects that may have been staggering along until now. This may be the best time to re-start your efforts and finally cross that finish line.

Gemini May 21-June 21 With summer clicking by on

Libra Sept 23-Oct 22 You may find that this month

Cancer June 22-July 22 This should be an ideal time to sink your teeth into something educational, expansive.

You may decide to push yourself into unfamiliar areas where you can embrace new concepts and spiritual views.

Beneath your search you may experience a deep satisfaction in knowing that you are growing and your views are beginning to shift. This optimistic foray may leave you somewhat smug or at least proud of your ability to think differently.

This may also reflect directly back on your views of finances and how to make a living. Perhaps you are turning towards a gradual shift in how you plan to live your life. Maybe what was once, no longer has meaning. Interesting.

Scorpio Oct 23-Nov 21 Despite the fact that sum-

of your strongest drivers this month, especially around the house. This may be a time when you decide to lay into that room that needs painting or fixing up that cluttered closet that’s been bugging you since last winter. As one who enjoys procrastination, you might be quite happy to finally tackle some of these domestic projects, because once you get started you may be hard to stop. You may feel quite a sense of pride and even wonder why it took so long to get moving. But wait, that’s just the slow methodical way you have always done things, so why question your motives; just enjoy the results.

the calendar you may find that your time becomes consumed with family and household obligations and events.

This may raise topics that require a lot of planning and logistics. Since many of us have families that are spread far and wide, coordinating everything may pose your biggest challenge. Fortunately you, of all the zodiac signs, have the wherewithal to pull it off. Few have the multi-tasking talents you possess so what seems like bedlam to most is simply an inconvenience to you. Despite the domestic swirl, you may actually enjoy the attention and action which centers in this part of your life in the most positive and loving manner.

28 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

ter in Leo may have brought about significant changes in your life. Many opportunities came your way both large and sometimes daunting. Always the courageous lion, you may have stepped up and hit the ball out of the park.

Alas, Jupiter has moved on to Virgo and you are left with the brief influence of Venus and Mars together. This combination may allow you to parlay off your grand influence this past year and seal the deal with a happy ending.

Financial risks taken during this period may finally begin to emerge. This past year may have been fairly dramatic, but the fruits of your efforts may be ready to pick.

holds the promise of collaboration. Putting your head together with friends and business associates may pan out quite nicely as you set the stage for the coming season.

Ground work and project plans are the most helpful at this point as you chart your course going forward. Expect to have broad and detailed discussions surrounding how this unfolds in your particular world. While you may have a vision of how you want your plans to unfold you may discover that the answers are best found when you open your mind to the input of others. You might not want to take this idea on all alone and welcome the input of trusted partners.

mer is here you may be quite pre-occupied with work.

Deadlines don’t take vacations and you may be involved in a project that requires your attention and participation.

Normally you might balk at this, but somehow this time things may feel a little different. You might not mind the extra work or involvement and actually look forward to your role within a group. Resources may be the weak link in the project. Whatever you can do to bridge that gap and offer suggestions may be quite well-received, so keep your eyes open for cost-cutting measures. You may catch the attention of an important member of the team who regards you in a favorable light.

BY CHRIS FLISHER Sagittarius Nov 22-Dec 21 Expect to put

in a little extra effort on the job this month. The nice part of that is that you may not mind the added focus. You may be very close to sealing a deal, convincing a new client, or about to launch a new initiative. Either way, you may be eager to work, especially if that work involves travel or training of some sort. You may be asked to step up and conduct a seminar in order to seal that deal. With the finish line so close you may be chomping at the bit. Responsibility lingers overhead and you may be quite cognizant of what is expected, but also quite willing to do what is needed.

Pisces Feb 19-March 20 Relationships may become quite important over the coming month; far more than usual, at least.

Your connections with others may prove to be quite helpful as you are set to launch a new work regimen. Your may be processing a new lifestyle change or looking at topics regarding your health.

Preventive steps may prove to be your most useful methodology.

Rather than reacting, why not consider being pro-active in your outlook on your health. Dietary changes, supplements, and attitude may all prove to be beneficial to your overall well-being. As long as you set reasonable expectations and monitor your progress carefully you should arrive at a positive space. Try and avoid being over-zealous.

Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 19 Life may be

Personal astrology consultations with Chris Flisher

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provides insight and guidance designed just for you with experience, confidentiality and integrity.

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Aquarius Jan 20-Feb 18 Expect to spend time focusing on large institutions. Insurance companies, universities, municipalities, financial institutions and even working with elderly relatives. What do these all have in common? They are outside resources; or income from sources other than those directly generated by you. If you are in the midst of negotiations with such entities you may see quite a bit of progress or at least a lot of correspondence. You may see significant influence from one of your closest relationships who may open the door to such negotiations. View this period as an opportune time to expand your influence through partnership. The process may be quite important and sets in place an ongoing rapport that proves beneficial to you and your supporters.

make life a happy adventure

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shifting fairly dramatically and that may be a welcome relief. Your responsibilities may dovetail with your progress as large organizations and outside money draw your attention. While all of that works in conjunction with your plan, you may also be expected to spend some time learning new skills or methods. Software, websites, seminars, and other outward-reaching skills may be required for you to move ahead, but you may be willing to jump in. Look for good news to appear regarding support from an outside source.

Elders, insurance claims and the like are all favored and worthy of your attention. Resources may be within your reach and success may follow if you can pursue.

call or visit to schedule a session

978.393.1036 chris@chrisflisher.com Chris Flisher

ChrisFlisherChannel

@ChrisFlisher

www.turningofthewheel.com

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 29

NOSTALGIA TRIP Drive-In Theaters are an old-fashioned slice of America

by The Howl Street Team

Photo byNancy Ho

W hen the summer moon takes its seat low in the evening sky, the cars arrive. Gravel crunches

underneath tires and a lanky man in a Red Sox hat leans out to collect a $25 per vehicle entry fee.

The crawling caravan rolls slowly toward a big screen looming in the twilight. Staking out spaces, families and friends sprawl on car hoods, in lawn chairs and the beds of backed-in trucks.

There’s magic happening here.

In a time where we all seem to live on camera, busily Instagramming and tweeting our every move, the drive-in theater remains a throwback to simple summer nights and small-town sociability, where we put down our phones and concentrate on the experience.

Butter soaked popcorn wafts from the snack bar, dogs crouch between humans huddled under blankets, a group of high school kids snap up a fresh batch of piping hot crinkle fries and animated treats sing “Lets All Go to the Lobby” across a big screen the same way they did in 1955.

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The nation’s first open air movie theater was in Camden, N.J., in 1933, when Richard Hollingshead placed a Kodak projector on his car hood to transmit “Wives Beware,” a comedy about a philandering car salesman. The images flickered on a screen nailed between two trees, with a radio to provide sound.

Massachusetts hosted one of the first five drive-ins in the country with the opening of the Weymouth Drive-in Theater in May of 1936. Over the next decade, 20 more would spring up in Massachusetts and during the peak drive-in years of the ‘50s, the state had nearly 90 open-air theaters in operation. Presently, there are only a few remaining in Massachusetts and a handful in neighboring New Hampshire.

Here’s our top five to visit for an old-school and affordable night out that will make you happy to forget about that cell phone — at least for a little while.

Tory Germann

Mendon Twin

35 Milford St., Mendon | 508-473-1092 A New England institution since 1954, the Mendon Twin was purchased by the Andelman brothers of Phantom Gourmet in 2014. Besides the famous snack bar that serves fresh popcorn and other treats, the new 5,000-square foot beer garden boasts fire pits and a view of Screen One. Box office opens at 6pm. $25 per car up to six, and $5 for each additional person. mendondrivein.com

Tory Germann

Wellfleet

51 State Highway (Route 6) | 508-349-7176 Location is everything. Besides this great drive-in established in 1957, you get mini golf, a playground and a flea market with around 200 vendors Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am to 3pm. Oh yeah, and there’s miles of Wellfleet beaches to visit in between. Films are shown rain or shine. Box office opens at 7pm. $9 for adults, $6 for seniors and kids 4-11, free for kids under 3.

Wellfleetcinemas.com/drive-in-theater

Nancy Ho

Leicester Triple Drive In

Route 9, 1675 Main St., Leicester | 508-892-4400 Very little has changed since the Elvis classic Double Trouble played at this small town drive-in’s opening night back in 1967. In fact, the golden oldies still play on the drive-in’s radio channel, taking you back in time. Box office opens at 6pm. $25 per car. leicesterdrivein.net

Tory Germann

Milford Drive-In Theater

570 Elm St. in Milford, N.H. | 603-673-4090 This is the spot where a few HOWL staffers spent nights during their childhood clad in pajamas and playing on swings while their parents tuned into the latest Rambo movie. Holy ‘80s flashback! Two thumbs up for the perfectly salted crinkle fries in a cardboard boat. The box office opens at 6:15pm Friday and 7:15pm Saturday. $25 for cars up to six and $5 per additional person. milforddrivein.com

Tory Germann

Nancy Ho

Northern Nights

51 Causeway St., Lancaster, NH | 603-788-3558 Family owned and operated, this New Hampshire drive-in (closer to the Vermont border than it is to Massachusetts) still shows movies in 35mm format. What we love about this place, besides the nostalgia, is they offer on-site camping for an additional $15 to the movie ticket prices. Box office opens at 7:30pm. Movies begin after dark. $8 per adult and $5 for kids 10 and under.

Northern Nights is looking for help to go digital to keep showing movies and preserve their open-air theater. To donate and learn more visit: Northernnightsdrive-in.com

howlmag.com | HOWL Magazine | 31

MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE

THE LION

“The best musical I’ve seen this year.”

“Absolutely the best original musical of the year so far…”

PHOTO OF: BENJAMIN SCHEUER, PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY

“BEST NEW MUSICAL”

Written and Performed by

Benjamin Scheuer PRODUCTION SPONSOR

MEDIA SPONSOR

Directed by

Sean Daniels

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 20

MRT.ORG | 978-654-4678 | 50 E. MERRIMACK ST., LOWELL, MA 32 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com 32 | HOWL Magazine | howlmag.com

The Lion Roars into Lowell

By Kristen Fiandaca

Ben Scheuer confesses he’s a “professional

over-sharer.”

The 33-year-old New Yorker with a tousled head of blond hair doesn’t exaggerate. He’s taken his life story and turned it into a critically acclaimed one-man music show, The Lion, that kicks off the Merrimack Repertory Theater’s new season Aug. 26.

“The Lion is me trying to tell the truth the best way I know how,” Scheuer says.

Originally from the small town of Larchmont, N.Y., he began playing music before the age of 3, when his father gave him a homemade banjo constructed from a cookie tin, rubber bands and an old necktie.

He hasn’t stopped strumming on strings since.

Stripped down, honest and incredibly heartfelt, The Lion follows Scheuer from boyhood to manhood and tackles some dark personal themes including a stormy father/son relationship. The same gentle man who turned him onto music, was also prone to bursts of cruelty.

“My relationship with my father was a tumultuous one,” he says. “I’ve tried my best to understand and make peace with my father in order to make peace with myself.”

From family to chemotherapy, to love, Scheuer exorcises demons and finds peace in a story told through six different guitars, including his personal favorite — a 1929 Martin 018, which plays the role of his dad’s old guitar in the show.

Scheuer’s road to a theater stage started by gigging and performing autobiographical

acoustic songs in front of audiences around New York’s Greenwich Village. It’s how the idea for The Lion was born.

“I wanted to play the best gig I could, and so I wrote a script,” he says.

The play, directed by MRT’s own Artistic Director Sean Daniels, made its debut in New York City in 2014. Its return signals the power of Scheuer’s writing and stage presence.

While his performance is filled with a sweet folk-rock flavor, catchy choruses and moments of thunderous energy, the singer-songwriter credits a wide variety of artists for influencing his theatrical style from Eminem and Kendrick Lamar to Nine Inch Nails, Paris Monster and Eddie Van Halen.

“I’ve always been in love with music,” Scheuer says.

To learn more visit mrt.org.

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AYER FILMMAKER’S QUEST TO CAPTURE AMAZING CREATURES ONSCREEN AIRS THIS MONTH ON DESTINATION AMERICA

By Kelley Hamill

I

n the fourth grade, Christopher Maloney checked out a book from his school library on the Loch Ness monster. Since then, his curiosity for elusive creatures — and the cryptology community that studies them — has skyrocketed. With a video camera in tow, Maloney embarked on a year-long journey across the country, in which he focused on the stories of eye-witnesses who allegedly encounter everything from Sasquatch to dinosaurs. Sound kooky? Whether you believe his subjects or not, at its heart Maloney’s Monster Witness documentary airing Saturday, Aug. 29 on the Destination America cable channel is a fun and zany ride into the unknown.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?

I grew up in Ohio, pretty much right on the Ohio River. I started college there at Ohio University, in the journalism school. At the time I mostly had an interest in just documentaries, so I was studying journalism, hoping to use that as a launching point for doing documentary films. I was getting kind of restless because I wasn’t able to study film there very much so I left and went to New York Film Academy and studied there. That was almost 10 years ago and I’ve been working on short films and documentaries ever since.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR MONSTER WITNESS?

I’ve always had this interest in cryptozoology, Big Foot and things like that, and few years ago a lot of Big Foot shows came on the air.

It seemed like the rest of the country was kind of catching up because everyone was tuning into these shows. So it was kind of a combination of my interest in it and seeing that there were a lot of other people interested in it too.

DID YOU BELIEVE IN ALL THESE CREATURES BEFORE YOU STARTED?

Before, it was just kind of fun to believe in everything. But now that I’ve talked to so many people, I think that there are things that we just can’t explain here — even in the United States where there are still a lot of areas in which wild things could live. I think there a lot of species that haven’t been documented yet.

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SCARIEST OR STRANGEST MOMENT OF YOUR TRIP?

I talked to a man there who has poured thousands of dollars into converting his camper into a Big Foot research center and he goes out camping at lease once a week. He took me out into the swamp where he had (allegedly) seen them and it was pretty eerie because it’s so dark and quiet. I think when you go to a place where something weird or unusual has happened, there’s still a sense there that pervades it. The other strange moment was visiting the spot where some famous footage of a Big Foot walking was shot. We actually went to that exact spot in northern California and it looks basically the same. But just knowing that such a creature had been filmed right there, and was possibly in the trees looking at us, was eerie.

WHO WAS THE MOST INTERESTING CHARACTER THAT YOU MET?

Dwayne, he lives in Montana. He’s in his 90s and is a WWII veteran. He saw, what he said was, a pterodactyl when he was in the service in New Guinea. Just to give you an example of where his mind was at, he didn’t remember that I was coming. So I flew there, to Montana, and he remembered that I was coming but he got the dates mixed up, and then he was very discombobulated. It took him a little while to get situated. However, when it came to what he had seen, he remembered every detail and he said there was not a doubt in his mind that what he saw was a dinosaur. It changed his whole perception on time and reality and how different times (can possibly) exist at the same time.

Photo by Kelley Hamill

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE PROCESS?

It seemed like a lot of these people knew each other some how. It’s a community—this one guy that I talked to, he swears he saw three Big Foot creatures and now he goes around the country giving talks about it. But he kept the story under his hat for a long time because he was in the military. So he said that all his life he had this clear distinction between what was real and what was make believe, and then when he saw these things that didn’t fit into that distinction, he felt like his mind was being violated because he was forced to think in a different way. That’s what happened to everybody who saw these things. Because they had been through such traumatic changes of mind, they somehow found each other. It’s like a huge support group. They all consider each other as part of the same family almost.

And that was something I didn’t expect.

Learn more at monsterwitness.com and follow the director on Twitter: @MaloneysMovies