May 2014
pg. 6 Worcester Music Awards
IN THIS ISSUE tHE COVER story 6
Worce ster Mus ic Awar ds
25 Everyday Science The light of everyday life
On the cover:
Worcester Music Awards
ENTERTAINMENt
DINING & ENTERTAINING
12 The Palladium: A fa s c i n at i n g pa s t , a bright future
26 DINING review: Mexicali caters to a variety of tastes
27 HOT AND NOW
13 Pulsebooks: North of Boston hits north of expectations
28
Brandy has many aliases
Health & Fitness
14 Classic rock meets
classical music at Mechanics Hall
30 Are you toxin to me?
15
UP & COMERS:
Art & Culture
Josh Hynes’s Rude Awakening
16 ON CD: I Am Heresy ~ Thy Will Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once Mike Gordon ~ Overstep
GAME ON:
18 Club, Pub & Bar Listings 20 Pulse Shots
GAMES: Learn how to Snout a Pig MUSIC: Psycho Circus comes to DCU
LIFESTYLE
TRAVEL: Spring travel gear HEALTH: Dealing with allergies
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Hats off to the graduate!
Style & Beauty 36 Worcester native pushes fun fashion
LIFESTYLE
37 The Style List: Festival season looks whimsical, modern
24 Take the Ultimate selfie
37 Mad Men ~ get the look!
Entertainment
HAIR: The latest color trends SKIN: Mistakes in the shower
32 Knight at the Museum: Guns Without Borders gives edge to WAM exhibit
34
South Park goes Medieval
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17
Photo by Justin Perry
PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 88 Winter St., Worcester, MA 01604. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2012 All rights reserved. Pagio, Inc. does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in Pulse reflect the views of the author(s) and not the official policy of the Pagio, Inc., unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement by Pagio, Inc. unless so stated. Material printed in Pulse is covered by copyright. No copyright is claimed to any work of the U.S. government. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission. For information on permissions, reprints and other services, contact Pagio, Inc.
Paul Giorgio, Publisher Donna Roberson, Editor Justin Perry, Art Director, Photographer Chris Reddy, Kerry Cyganiewicz, Vanessa Herbold, Christy Rafferty Account Executives Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Alex Kantarelis, Music Editor Jennifer Russo, Lifestyle Editor
Kimberly Dunbar, Erin Cornell, Alex Kantarelis, Jennifer Russo, Jason Savio, Bernie Whitmore, Michael Wood, Paul Giorgio, R.J. Linton, Stacia Kindler, Tim Korby, Kerry Cyganiewicz Writers
May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 5
COVER STORY
c i s u e M t a r r e b t e s l e e c c r o s d W ar usic w A cal m lo By
sso
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ife Jenn
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Photo by Justin Mayotte
Photo
by Ju
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erry
The stage was set and brimmed with a myriad of colored light on April 16. Instruments were scattered about the stage. The signature microphoneshaped awards lined a side table. And so, Jillian’s played host to Pulse’s eighth annual Worcester Music Awards. More than an awards ceremony and competition, the night is about bringing together people who love music, whether they write it, perform it, spin it or simply listen to it. With 27 awards up for grabs, we can all celebrate that Worcester and its surrounding towns have some of the best and most diverse local talent there is. The evening’s largest award ~ The Lifetime Achievement Award ~ went to Joe D’Angelo. D’Angelo has played with many groups over the years and has appeared on recordings for MGM, BASF, United Artists and Evolution Records. He is also on the faculty of the Joy of Music Program and teaches guitar at Burncoat Senior and Junior high schools and at Clemente Music Studio in Worcester. The night opened with an acoustic performance by Ricky Duran, who started off with his soulful version of “Georgia On My Mind.” I mean, really, be still my beating heart ~ I can’t think of a better way to start things off. Following a beautiful set of songs, there was a moving dedication to Joe Zupan, who sadly passed away a couple weeks before the ceremony. Above: The Flock accepts the award for Best Live Act. Left: Ricky Duran performs. Opposite: Tester accepts the award for Best Rock Act.
May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 7
Zupan, also nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award, was the jazz director of WCIN and made many contributions to Worcester’s thriving music community. Cara Brindisi, who ended up winning two WMAs that night, then took the stage. A lot of vocal power in a little package, Cara filled every square inch of the venue with sound, an impressive range and a sweet and sultry flair. Attendees were then graced with the always-glamorous Niki Luparelli, who hosted the night in a fashion all her own ~ with a little serious and a lot of funny. She delivered the Best Blues/ R&B Act award to the appropriately named A Ton of Blues, which has taken the award home several years going now. DJ Reckless took home the best Club DJ Award ~ his second year in a row ~ and Luparelli noted that Reckless smelled great, “like Hugo Boss.” Girls, Guns & Glory took home the Best Country/Americana Act and Wachusett Music Fest was the favorite local festival.
Photo by Justin Mayotte Above: Cara Brindisi, winner of Best Solo Act and Sexiest Musician. Photo by Justin Perry
The Best Solo/Acoustic Act went to Cara Brindisi, who said she was truly flattered in light of the talent nominated in that category. Jesse Fair from Dope Slap took home Best Female Vocalist, and Best Male Vocalist went to Derek Varnum from Gov’t Surplus. Hot Letter, nominated for Best Rock Act, took the stage and impressed the crowd with its energetic and colorful performance. Though the band has a song called “One Trick Pony,” these guys most certainly have many tricks up their collective sleeve. In the true spirit of music appreciation, you can download Hot Letter’s entire album online for free. Luparelli took the stage to hand out some more awards, namely to WICN for Most Supportive Radio Station and The Phreaks for Best Jam & Goove Act. Joe D’Angelo took home Best Jazz Musician, and Flock of Assholes won for having the Best Groupies, with one band member commenting that the group “might not look like assholes right now, but if you come see us next week, we will!”
Above: Day One accepts the award for Best Rap/Hip Hop Act. -Below: Gov’t Surplus performs.
The Palladium took home the Best Venue Award, but unfortunately the building couldn’t leave its foundation to accept it. Ashley DeyJ thanked God and hard work for her Best Up & Comers award, and the Best Punk Act went to Mongrel, with a simple speech from singer Jessica Sierra: “Thanks!” Mistress Carrie of WAAF,
8 THEPULSEMAG.COM | May 2014
Photo by Justin Perry
though not present, won for best Radio DJ. American Dreamers won for Best Pop Act, and the Best Album Cover Art award went to Tiger Lily by Atlas. Gov’t Surplus then took the stage for a musical break and a chance to grab another drink. Gov’t Surplus gave a great performance ~ one that sounded like a true jam session, no holds barred. Derek Varnum dedicated the song “Soul Shine” to his son, Derek Jr., and “to everyone who is having a tough day.” Event sponsor Budweiser raffled tickets to the Awesome 80s Prom, which will be at Mechanics Hall on May 4, and Luparelli, envelopes in hand, continued her awards bestowal. Cougar Bait took home the award for Best Electronic Act. Gov’t Surplus won for Best Cover/Tribute Band, and the band that most people wanted to see reunite was Seven Hill Psychos. Day One grabbed the award for best Rap/Hip Hop Act, with one member joking the group may change its name to Day Two in the near future.
Photo by Justin Mayotte Above: DUDEnGUY perform. Photo by Justin Perry
Photo by Justin Perry
For the third year in a row, Thurkills Vision swiped the award for Best Hardcore/Metal Act, thanking fans and noting that Worcester’s music scene is a true collaboration effort. Best CD went to Tiger Lily, and the Sexiest Musician Award went to Cara Brindisi. Best Rock Act went to Tester, which has won the category for four years straight. Vocalist Tony Tester moved his afro aside to speak into the mic and thank the room and hand the award over to Jim Shippey for being the band’s longest-running bass player. The final award of the night went to Flock of Assholes for Best Live Act, to which one member said, “Without you guys, we don’t exist, thank you.” Rounding out the night, DudenGuy spun some club tunes, as musicians were congratulated, networked and posed for some last-minute pictures. Besides Budweiser, sponsors included Perry Studios, FlashHouse Studios, JLS Design, Kurlan Music Center, Union Music, Immedia Sound and VERO Concepts. See you all next year! worcestermusicawards.com
Cougar Bait accepts the award for Best Electronic Act.
Thurkills Vision accepts the award for Best Hardcore/Metal Act.
May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 9
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Entertainment
The Palladium: A fa s c i n at i n g pa s t , a b r i g h t f u t u r e By Jennifer Russo
Hop into your DeLorean, fire up the flux capacitor and punch in the year 1928. Worcester’s population is less than 200,000. Arland Johnson, an American architect, has just finished building the Plymouth Theater, which seats about 2,200 people and is poised to play films and host vaudeville acts and concerts. Though the facade seems initially unimpressive, a closer look reveals delicate patterns of art deco-style detail with an Egyptian flair along the windows and roof and even more intricate design work on the interior ceiling and walls. The stairway is an entry to the staged area, where elaborate velvet curtains hang down from hand-painted walls and columns, and a glistening balcony sits under a well-placed chandelier. There are live shows and an enormous 46- by 95-foot screen, where you can catch the latest films. In its heyday, The Plymouth was the place to be seen. The Plymouth featured movies such as This Thing Called Love (1929, starring Edmund Lowe and Constance Bennett), The Strawberry Blonde (1941, starring James Cagney and Rita Hayworth) and I Wake Up Screaming (1941, starring Betty Grable). In 1946, a GI from Worcester was an extra in Paisan (starring Carmela Sazio, Robert Van Loon and Harold Wagner), a fact on which then-manager Nate Goldberg capitalized. The theater also became known for its live jazz nights in the 1940s, featuring acts such as Cab Calloway, Peggy Lee, Ina Ray Hutton, Charlie Barnet, Louis Jordan and Benny Goodman, which you could see for 35 cents at the matinee and 50 cents in the evening. In 1965, The Plymouth closed for renovations after it was purchased by theater mogul Elias Loew. When it reopened two years later, it was as E.M. Loew’s Theater. The theater closed for additional
12 THEPULSEMAG.COM | May 2014
Pulsebooks:
North of Boston hits north of expectations
By Kimberly Dunbar
renovations in 1973, only re-opening in 1975 to feature Earthquake (1974, starring Charles Heston and Ava Gardner), which was the last big picture played there. Loew’s then transformed into a true concert venue, and throughout the ’80s, some of the music industry’s most famous faces have graced that very spot. Muddy Waters, Steppenwolf, Alice Cooper, Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia, Peter Gabriel, Danzig, The B-52’s, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jerry Lee Lewis have all played there. Now renamed The Palladium, with a stage that is worn from the decades of feet and concert equipment that have crossed it, the venue is now known for hosting rock and metal bands, booked mostly by MassConcerts, which now owns the building. Boston-based independent concert promoter MassConcerts wants to preserve the integrity and former glory of the building and is organizing a fundraising campaign to do a complete facelift. “It’s been something that has been brewing for a while. Our eventual goal is to completely restore this building, inside and out, creating a space that brings together the original architecture from the 1920s with up-todate technological advances we have now. This will take a lot of time and money, but we believe that downtown Worcester can be invigorated. We are hoping to raise $1 million throughout the year,” MassConcerts Marketing Director Jillian Miller said. In addition to restoring the concert venue, the owners recently opened the attached cafe and have plans to reopen the building’s bowling alley, long since closed. The hope is to use the other parts of the building as a true artist space. “We would love to make The Palladium a sort of all-inclusive musical wonderland where local acts can write, record, perform, etc., and with the help of the public, we know we can make that dream a reality,” Miller said. “Our dreams are big, but our funds are small, which is why The Palladium Restoration Project is so important.” A little known fact about The Palladium is that it was featured on the Syfy network’s Ghost Hunters series in 2006 (Season 2, Episode 15). With all of the history this building has, it’s not surprising that there is some residual energy still floating about its hallowed halls. According to Miller, seeing orbs and lights and the feeling of being watched are all pretty standard experiences for those who work there. Some have even witnessed moving objects. A ghost tour might be in The Palladium’s future, as well. Even if you don’t believe in the afterlife, the feeling of nostalgia is overpowering here. “We truly see our patrons as family and hope they feel the same about us,” Miller said. “It’s a place where people from all walks of life can come together for a great night of music. The venue has forged countless friendships, relationships and even marriages and holds a special place in the hearts of those of us who grew up in the area. Studies show that the arts help revitalize cities … we hope our venue is doing our part to give Worcester a boost. It’s worth fixing for so many reasons.” To see what events are planned at the Worcester Palladium, visit thepalladium.net. Donations for the restoration project can be made at the box office, in the donation box during shows or by mailing a check to the Worcester Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608. All proceeds from Palladium T-shirt sales (which can be found on the website and at the venue) also go to the restoration project.
Pirio Kasparov isn’t your typical female protagonist. The witty, tough, Bostonbred daughter of Russian immigrants is as gritty as the city in which she was raised. Pirio is too intelligent to believe in fairytales and too cynical to believe in love. She doesn’t need saving and believes that “a really good ending is one you don’t see coming.” Like its heroine, North of Boston is one of those really good books that you didn’t see coming. Elizabeth Elo’s debut novel is set in gritty South Boston and documents the struggles and the dark side of the fishing industry. While out on her friend Ned’s lobster boat, a freighter emerges from the fog and crashes into them, tossing both Pirio and Ned overboard. Pirio manages to survive for four hours until help arrives, but Ned is lost at sea. In the aftermath of the accident, Pirio must care for her best friend, Thomasina, an alcoholic set into a tailspin by Ned’s death, and Noah, Ned and Thomasina’s young son. Pirio’s miraculous survival in the freezing Atlantic waters gives her local legend status, and even the U.S. Navy wants to study how she was able to accomplish what no other human had. Meanwhile, a nagging instinct ~ fueled by her skeptical Russian father, with whom Pirio has a rocky relationship, and her love for Noah ~ leads her to think that the crash was no accident. As she begins to investigate the mystery boat that hit them, she heads down a path she isn’t supposed to follow. What ensues is an action-packed story loaded with twists, turns and surprises at every corner. North of Boston starts as a murder mystery but eventually evolves into a cautionary environmental tale and looks at the biggest theme of all ~ self-exploration. While attempting to solve Ned’s death, Pirio is forced to face parts of herself that she has kept hidden in an attempt to survive in a world of broken relationships and promises. Like the novel, Pirio has layers that lead to a deeper, more substantial story. The development of both the plot and Pirio’s character is entirely satisfying for the reader. Don’t expect this book to follow the typical storyline in which the heroine with a strong exterior that’s weakened by emotional issues is saved by a man in the end. Pirio’s no damsel in distress. In fact, our heroine often does the saving: She befriends a male journalist who runs into trouble more than a few times (because he’s just not as smart as our sly girl). Literature needs more kickass heroines like Pirio Kasparov. Although strong female protagonists are an increasing trend (i.e., Katniss in Hunger Games and Tris in Divergent), there’s usually a man by her side. Here’s hoping Pirio has more adventures in Elo’s future books. May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 13
s t e e m k c o r ll a Classic H s c i n a h c e M t a ic s u m l a classic d
By Mike Woo
It’s been 45 years since Worcester-based band Orpheus peaked on the “Hot 100” chart in 1969 with its hit, “Can’t Find the Time,” but the iconic band has found the time to reunite for an exclusive one-nightonly event at Mechanics Hall that will feature the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Ensemble. So if you’re nostalgic for some classic rock with a twist, you’re in for a treat when Orpheus returns to its Worcester roots May 9 for a special homecoming performance. “I am a Worcester boy, for sure. We are very excited about the whole Mechanics Hall concept. But the first thing I will do is get a Coney Island hot dog with my Worcester friends,” Orpheus frontman, Bruce Arnold, said. “My childhood in Worcester was about as ideal as it could be. My brother and I often say that we have no one to blame but ourselves for whatever condition we are
in. My mother would say we New Englanders are from ‘good stock.’ Having traveled around the world, I can testify that it is true.” Arnold is beyond thrilled to play the Orpheus catalogue and be as true to the original recordings as possible. In fact, the band that did most of the original studio work will be back together to play the Worcester Homecoming show, and Arnold couldn’t be happier. “These are my favorite musicians in all the world, and we have a very strong bond. We feel like we are ready for anything!” So how does classic rock meld with a classical symphony? “The biggest thrill of my career was watching the moonlighting New York Philharmonic play my music in the studio. I had heard that (Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra executive director) Paul Levenson was open to new challenges and ideas, and indeed, he fit right in like a lost jigsaw puzzle piece. One of the delightful aspects of our coalition is that these folks are consummate professionals.” According to Levenson, some of the finest symphony musicians in the area are involved with this concert. “Their role is to add richness and depth to the Orpheus sound,” Levenson explained. “The Massachusetts Symphony has a lot of experience doing performances of this kind, having played for a number of touring shows at venues such as The Hanover Theatre, DCU Center and the Tsongas Arena. The concept of adding a symphonic background to classic rock goes back at least to The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s album, where symphonic musicians were used to great effect in a number of tracks on that recording.” As for what fans and newbies can expect from the show, Levenson said, “The audience can expect a first-class listening experience, not only because Orpheus has Worcester roots but because the event will take place in the marvelous atmosphere of Mechanics Hall, a venue where the acoustics of a symphony and the wonderful sounds of Orpheus will blend perfectly.” Arnold added that the band will put on what may very well be “the definitive Orpheus performance for years to come.” He said the band will also be available to meet as many fans as possible. “I love the stories of taking ‘Can’t Find the Time’ to war in Vietnam. Apparently our songs brought many soldiers back home for three minutes. We want to know your Orpheus story,” Arnold said. “I can’t wait for the show!” Tickets for Orpheus: The Homecoming, featuring the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, are available at simplyfargone.com.
14 THEPULSEMAG.COM | May 2014
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Josh Hynes & Rude Awakening By Alex Kantarelis
Massachusetts has been a breeding ground for great hardcore bands over the years. The hardcore scene has always been strong in the state, and the bands that have come out over the years are proof. The last 15 years gave us Mental, Have Heart, Shipwreck, Test of Time and Worcester’s own Bane. Let’s add Rude Awakening to the list.
Lifelong hardcore dude Josh Hynes’s latest project, Rude Awakening, is a heavy hardcore band in the vein of Madball and Hatebreed, and it is just about to blow up. With a new record label, a new album coming out soon and a full U.S. tour in the works, the band is sure to be the next big thing from Massachusetts. Hynes has been involved in the hardcore scene since he was a teenager. After being disappointed by the shows he attended, he decided that he had to be more active in the scene. “At an early age I realized that if hardcore isn’t the way you want it, or the bands aren’t playing your area, you’re the only one who can do something about it. When I was 16 or 17, I started renting out halls to get the bands I wanted to see come out,” Hynes said. “I lost money,” he added, but was fine with the fact that he was creating something great.
As time went on and as he learned more about booking and promoting, the shows started getting bigger and bigger. This eventually led to him taking over the defunct Exit 23 venue in Haverhill. “I saw a venue that I liked about to close its doors, and I realized if I wasn’t going to do anything about it, nobody was,” he said. The club took the name New Direction (from the Gorilla Biscuits song) and suddenly became the hub of hardcore in Massachusetts.
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“I had to adapt quickly to all the business aspects of running a venue,” Hynes said. Every touring band made Haverhill a stop, and there were shows three or four nights a week. Hardcore was at an all-time high in Massachusetts when the police shut the venue down.
Hynes was able to carry that success into the venue at Welfare Records, also in Haverhill, booking all the hardcore shows for the shop and eventually taking over the venue entirely under the name Anchors Up. The venue is now known all over the world as one of the best punk and hardcore spots to play. Hardcore bands from all over the world have made their way to Anchors Up, and Hynes was responsible for keeping it going. After his latest band, Hammer Bros., called it quits, Hynes was looking for a new project. In mid 2010, he started writing songs for what would eventually become Rude Awakening. By 2011, Hynes had stepped away from the guitar and took on vocal duties for the band, and the group played its first show in June 2011 at Anchors Up.
On transitioning to vocals, Hynes said, “It was pretty surreal. I’ve always been on guitar, and I haven’t really had a chance to speak my mind [on stage]. I feel like it really came naturally to me.”
Things rolled very fast for the band, and it put out a demo before linking up with Boston label Triple B Records. The debut EP came out in the summer of 2012, followed by some small regional touring. By 2013, Rude Awakening was ready for its next release, a split LP with legendary Connecticut band Death Threat. By 2014, it was time for Rude Awakening to take the next step. Bridge 9 Records came calling and signed the band. The band has just finished up recording the new LP, Collateral Damage, which will be out later this year. The lyrics are simple and straightforward. “I’m not going to write poetry. I’m going to get right into your face and to the point. There’s no way you’re gonna get this message wrong,” Hynes said. This summer, the band will hit the road as support for New Jersey band The Mongoloids before hitting Philadelphia for the annual This Is Hardcore Fest. When the new record drops, Rude Awakening will be on a full U.S. tour, which is planned for the fall. For more information, visit facebook.com/RudeAwakeninghc.
May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 15
ON CD I Am Heresy ~ Thy Will By Jennifer Russo
We open a storybook to reveal a picture of a longtime industry vocalist father walking into a room to hear his son, also an experienced musician, playing guitar. Dad gets a vision of the two of them collaborating on a true blast of punk and metal. Flip forward to the end, and we see that there is a happy ending. Nathan Gray (of BOYSETFIRE) and son Simon Gray (of May 4th Massacre), along with brothers Jay and Crumbs Konieko (of The Dead and Gone) and Gregg Kautz (of Chambers) have joined forces to come up with I Am Heresy ~ a band that offers a purely furious and fast hardcore edge to the discriminating listener.
Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once By Michael Wood
There’s something hypnotic about the way Kylie Minogue’s music can pull you in for a warm embrace, only to spin you onto the dance floor with reckless abandon. Yet you never feel slighted or misled. As divergent as Kiss Me Once may appear after a single listen, you’re going to get what you’d expect from the pop princess from Down Under. For those of you not schooled on Ms. Minogue’s three-decades-long career (why she’s not a bigger star stateside is still a mystery), she’s offering listeners a quintessential Kylie course on what a pure pop dreamscape should sound like. This is her 12th studio album, the first since 2010’s Aphrodite and her first with Jay Z’s Roc Nation label, which might explain why you could find yourself blushing through the Sia-penned “Sexercize”; it seduces us with its rhythm and some pretty, um,
Mike Gordon ~ Overstep By Jason Savio
Overstep, the fourth solo release by Phish bassist Mike Gordon, begins with dissonant chirps and cryptic ambience akin to a sci-fi movie before giving way to a paranoia-induced acoustic melody paired with offbeat lyrics about falling out of a tree and being spotted by a Cyclops. Got all that? Good. Because this is a Mike Gordon CD, after all, and you’ll be better off to expect the unexpected and keep your mind open. And that’s what’s appealing about Gordon’s solo work: Nothing is straightforward, and the listener is a participant rather than a spectator. Through all the metaphors and cryptic lyrics, there is a world of original perspective and enlightenment that is ripe for the picking.
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Thy Will is an album that doesn’t disappoint. Its in-your-face energy and powerful vocals do not relent for a moment in any of the 13 songs. I found it really hard to sit at my desk and listen to this without wanting to start a circle pit in the office (which would not go over well, I assure you). Each song is equally as brutal as the next, and melody/ clean vocal is well spaced between the tracks. My personal favorite, March of Black Earth, has a catchy hook that pulled me in and wouldn’t let go. As We Break, one of the CDs “slower” songs, has a gorgeous harmony built in, showing the true versatility and varying influences this band can put on the table. I think we can expect this band to continue to impress. For more information, visit iamheresy.com.
straightforward lyrics: “Push in me…I’ll make you wait for more, make you beat to the core, tomorrow you’ll be sore.” It’s definitely a more blatant expression of sexuality than we’re used to from Kylie (there are two other tracks with “sex” in their titles: “Sexy Love” and “Les Sex”), but we’re game for whatever Kylie’s cooking because she’s all pop at heart. Clearly there were visions of strobe lights and disco balls spinning in her head, too, because the album’s first three tracks (including the impossibly catchy “Into the Blue”) are undeniably ethereal and dance-happy hits in the making. We love “Million Miles” (just wait, you’ll never say the word “million” the same way again) and “I Was Gonna Cancel,” written and produced by seemingly unstoppable hit-maker Pharrell. Catch up on all things Kylie at kylie.com.
What separates Overstep from Gordon’s earlier releases, however, is the gently poking honesty that pops up between the funky pictures he paints. He steps into the spotlight with fearless energy on “Paint” when he sings, “Who am I to complain/You made me who I am today.” It may be short, but it makes an impact. There is a definite feeling of newfound confidence in Gordon’s writing and delivery. He no longer shies away from matters of the heart, using trinkets and metaphors from the toy box of his imagination to mask them. Of course, all of the trademark quirkiness his listeners have come to love is still intact, but there is also raw honesty peppered throughout. With Overstep, Gordon puts forth his most accomplished solo project to date. For more, including tickets to local shows, visit mike-gordon.com.
South Park goes Medieval By Jason Savio
If fart jokes and magic are your thing, then South Park: The Stick of Truth is the game for you. Like a finely knitted blue-and-yellow beanie, the world of South Park has stood the test of time and continues to impress with its own unique presence. The usual suspects are all in tow for their latest adventure in the small Colorado town, and this time around, they get involved in some major medieval hijinks. Our favorite fourth-graders are dressed to the nines in medieval swag as they find themselves in a heated battle for The Stick of Truth, an artifact that gives its possessor control of the universe (or at least bragging rights on the playground during recess). As part of Cartman’s group, you are tasked with retrieving The Stick from The Elvins, who are actually just kids who ran into Cartman’s backyard and stole the stick. But don’t talk about such things with a lighthearted tone around these guys; for them, it’s a matter of life or death. The Stick of Truth is a love letter to the fans of the show who have supported it since its inception and continue to watch it. That being said, you don’t have to be familiar with the show to enjoy the game. Bathroom humor is universal. Playing as your own personally created character who is bestowed with “Grand Wizard” Cartman’s request to bring back the stick, you are given free rein to explore the world of South Park ~ something that many longtime fans of the series will surely love. It’s a highly interactive, open-ended environment that allows the player to check out all the popular landmarks from the series and snoop around in all of the characters’ houses. Be forewarned, though, some doors are better left unopened. As you make your way through South Park, you will run into familiar faces who will give you side missions to complete, ones that are integral to the story and some that are not (Al Gore pops up and asks you to find the elusive “ManBearPig” for him). You will also run into different groups of Elvins that challenge you to battle. The battle aspect of the game is similar to that of the Final Fantasy RPG style ~ you’re given a turn to choose your target and type of attack. The attacks range from a simple kick in the pants to a Thor-like hammer of thunder, delivered in priceless fashion by your travelling buddy, Butters. Although you may not start out with much in the way of magic in the beginning, there are numerous upgrades that you can earn as you complete various quests. Playing The Stick of Truth is much like watching an episode of South Park. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, and the graphics and presentation look just like the television show. The content may be humorous, but the gaming aspect and all the details worked into it are nothing to shake a stick at. For more, visit southpark.ubi.com/stickoftruth/en-us/home/index.aspx.
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Reservat ion s 508 -459 -4240 EvoDining.com 234 Chandler St
Worcester MA
May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 17
Club & Pub Listings Entertainment at clubs, bars, pubs,
& other select venues
American Graffiti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg 978-345-1010
978-365-6105 myspace.com/breakawaybilliardsclinton May 17: Fear of Flying Monkeys
B-Man’s 140 Tavern 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Sterling 978-422-9763 140pub.com
Brew City 104 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-752-3862 brew-city.com
Backstreets Pub 14 Mill St., Fitchburg 508-755-0879 facebook.com/backstreetspubfitchburg
Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Road, Shirley 978-425-4311, 877-536-7190 bullrunrestaurant.com May 3: Dueling Pianos May 4: Junior Brown May 9: Five O’Clock Shadow May 10: Boston Blues Society Blues Blast 2014 May 15: Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band May 17: Garland Jeffreys, Orphan May 29: Shelby Lynne May 31: Royal Southern Brotherhood
Club Caliente 816 Main St., Worc. 508-826-9305
Cafe Destare 320 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-5734 destare.com
Cornerstone’s Restaurant 616 Central St., Leominster 978-537-1991 cornerstonesrestaurant.com Wednesdays: Trivia Night May 3: Ron Robuccio Band May 9: Bittersuite May 10: City Sound
The Banner Bar & Grille 112 Green St., Worc. 508-755-0879 thebannerbar.com Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester 508-892-7575 barberscrossingrestaurant.com Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8438 barberscrossingrestaurant.com Thursdays: Karaoke Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc. 508-926-8877 beatniksbeyou.com Beemer’s Pub 114 River St., Fitchburg 978-343-3148 beemerspub.com Billy’s Pub 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury 508-425-3353 Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8484 blacksheeptavernsterline.com Fridays, Saturdays: Live bands May 29: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worc. 508-797-4827 blackstonetap.com Blue Plate Lounge 661 Main St., Holden 508-829-4566 hometown.aol.com/blueplatelounge Thursdays: Open Mic Night with Ed Sheridan May 9: Freak Out Friday with Tribe May 17: Shakedown Street May 24: Cosmic Slim & His Intergalactic Plowboys May 30: Moonshine Blueprint New American Bar & Grill 9 Village Square, Westminster 978-668-5580 May 3: Dazed till Dawn May 8: Kevin Shields May 9: Neon Alley May 10: Strumburgh May 15: Scott Babineau May 16: Northern Company May 17: Steve Dunn May 22: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 23: JCDC May 24: Go Gadget Go May 29: Brian Kendall May 31: Gale County Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-0008 Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton
Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St., Worc. 508-926-8353 facebook.com/CanalRestaurantandBar Thursdays: Open Mic Night Fridays, Saturdays: DJ Music Master Matty D Saturdays: Stage Time Comedy Show May 3: Heather McClurg Ralston May 6: Fat Tuesday Paint Party May 9: Chad Clements May 10: Tom Revane May 16: Poor Howard Stith Blues May 17: Rick Porter unpluged May 23: Sean Fullerton May 24: Bob Moon May 31: Brian Kendall & Dave Miller Acoustic The Cannery 12 Crane St., Southbridge 508-764-1100 12crane.com/canneryhall/index.php Cantina Bar & Grill 385 Main St., Worc. 508-459-5325 cantinaworcester.com Center Bar & Grill 102 Green St., Worc. 508-438-0597 thecenterbar.com Tuesdays: Eastern Poker Tour Fridays: Friday Night Dance Party with DJ Blackout Centerfolds 2000 139 Southbridge St., N. Oxford 508-987-5222 centerfolds2000.com Chooch’s Food & Spirits 31 E. Brookfield Road, N. Brookfield 508-867-2494 sitewizzer.com/choochs Fridays: Karaoke Chopstick’s Restaurant & Lounge 21 Commercial Road, Leominster 978-534-0020 chopsticksleominster.com Christopher’s Pub 7 Pleasant St., Leominster 978-534-8250 facebook.com/christopherspubleominster Cicero’s Cafe 17 Suffolk St., Worc. 508-767-9728 worcesterscene.com/admin/location_images/ ciceros.jpg
18 THEPULSEMAG.COM | May 2014
Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster 978-537-7750 classicspub.net Sundays, Thursdays: Karaoke with PJ Tuesdays: Open Mic and karaoke with Key Performance May 7: Karaoke
Club Instyle 41 Pleasant St., Worc. theclubinstyle.com Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc. 508-798-8385 facebook.com/ClubKasBar
Cosmopolitan Club 96 Hamilton St., Worc. 508-752-0482 Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc. 508-757-6977 danceranchandsaloon.com Dar Bah 29 Canal St., Millbury 508-865-8441 Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford 508-987-1006 daysendtavern.com May 3: Auntie Trainwreck Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens 978-862-0060 devensgrill.com Dunnys Tavern 291 E. Main St., E. Brookfield Electric Haze 26 Millbury St, Worc. 508-799-0629 facebook.com/ElectricHaze Tuesdays: Hip Hop Tuesdays Thursdays: Dub Apocalypse May 3: Disc Jam Presents! Lespecial, MUN May 4: Funky Jazz Sundays May 7: Art gallery opening featuring Darcy Canter; music by Dubbage May 9: Goosepimp Orchestra, William Thompson Funk Experiement May 10: Wolfman Conspiracy, Strange Machines, Mammal Dap May 14: The Cosmic Factory May 16: Airspray May 17: Fennario May 21: Magic Island May 23: Satellite Rockers, Dubbest May 31: Hayley Jane and the Primates, Grace and the RSO, Thought Bomb, Comedy Monthly Fat Tony’s Pub 1102 Main St., Worc. 508-798-8908 facebook.com/pages/Fat-TonysPub/120246167987079 Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc. 508-792-3700
aohworcester.com Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 E. Main St., Marlborough 508-357-8883 fireflysbbq.com Fridays, Saturdays: Live music Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden 508-829-3008 flipflopsma.com May 31: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Flying Rhino Cafe 278 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-757-1450 flyingrhinocafe.com Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill 305 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-753-2995 funkyandjosemurphys.com Galway Bay Irish Pub 186 Stafford St., Worc. 508-753-8909 thegalway.com Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner 978-669-0122 gardnerale.com Mondays: Blue Monday ~ Live Blues Thursdays: Audio Wasabi Sundays: Jazz Brunch May 3: Brian Chaffee & Dan Cormier May 9: Trailer Park May 10: Neon Alley May 16: Just Cuz May 17: Ashbrook Haynes May 23: Sitting Ducks May 24: By a Thread May 31: Fred Ellsworth Band Gilrein’s 802 Main St., Worc. 508-791-2583 gilreins.net Greendale’s Pub 404 W. Boylston St., Worc. 508-853-1350 myspace.com/greendalespub Tuesdays: Open Mic with Bill McCarthy Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday Open Mic Jam with Mark Sundays: Jim’s Blues Jam May 3: 9Teen May 9: On the 5 May 16: Clam Diggers May 17: Valvatross May 18: Tony Soul Hosts Greendale’s Jam with Mama Love May 23: Jim Perry’s Hothouse May 24: Silverbacks May 30: Auntie Trainwreck May 31: No Alibi The Grey Hound Pub 139 Water St., Worc. 508-754-6100 anculiath.com Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-6793 halliganssportsbarandmore.com May 9: Live comedy fundraiser for The Kiwanis Club of Worcester Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/Kelley Square Yacht Club 1 Millbury St., Worc. Indian Ranch 200 Gore Road, Webster 508-943-3871 indianranch.com
Continued on Page 23
Pulse
Shots
2014 Worcester Music Awards ~ Jillian’s ~ Worcester
Photos by Justin Perry
Victory Cigar & Bar ~ Worcester
Brew City ~ Worcester
Perfect Game~ Worcester
Michael’s Cigar Bar ~ Worcester
22 THEPULSEMAG.COM | May 2014
Continued from Page 18 Ixtapa Cantina 308 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg 978-582-9701 ixtapacantina2.com JC Fenwick’s 37 Mechanic St., Leominster 978-840-4845 Jillian’s - Worcester 315 Grove St., Worc. 508-793-0900 jilliansworcester.com Mondays: Open Mic with Bill McCarthy Wednesdays: Karaoke May 9: Doctor Robert May 10: Unicoson May 16: Bill McCarthy, Counterattack May 17: Plagerist May 23: Decades by Dezign May 24: UFC May 30: Lisa Marie & All Shook Up May 31: Remuck Brothers JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough 508-842-8420 jbag.biz LaScala Restaurant 183 Shrewsbury St, Worc. 508-753-9912 lascalashrewsburystreet.com
May 8: Russo Brothers Jazz Quintet May 9: Blue Light Bandits May 10: Hit the Bus May 14: Dan DeCristofaro May 15: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 16: Andy Cummiings and the Swingabilly Lounge May 17: Neon Alley May 21: Ricky Duran May 22: Jim Devlin May 23: Bill McCarthy May 28: Dan DeCristofaro May 29: Ricky Duran May 30: Just Brad May 31: Aunt Judy Mickey O’Neil’s 377 Park Ave., Worc. Mickey Sheas 324 Electric Ave., Lunenburg 978-342-5825 The Mill 185 W. Boylston St., W. Boylston 774-261-8585 themill185.com May 3: Kelly and Friends May 10: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 22: Chad Clements May 23: Jay Graham May 24: Andy Cummings May 31: Belit
The Lazy Dog 31 Main St., Marlborough 508-229-2264 doggonelazy.com
Mill Street Brews (@ The Artist Development Complex) 18 Mill St., Southbridge 508-764-6900 millstreetbrews.com
Legends Airport Road, Fitchburg 978-342-6500 facebook.com/centericebar
Moonstruck Café 19 Worcester Road, Charlton 508-248-4558
Leitrim’s Pub 265 Park Ave., Worc. 508-798-2447 leitrimspub.com Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc. 508-796-5177 loft266.com Tuesdays: Karaoke May 3: Erica & Justin London Billiards / Club Oasis 70 James St., Worc. 508-799-7655 londonbilliards.com Lucky Dog Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc. 508-363-1888 luckydogmusic.com Sundays: Vinyl Siding (group gathering for fans of vinyl), Karaoke with magician/hypnotist Paul Harter May 23: Henry’s Wine Mahoney’s Pub 413 Park Ave., Worc. 508-277-1073 facebook.com/mahoneyspub.ma Marty’s Pub 225 Cantebury St., Worc. 508-754-0033 martyspub.com
Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc. 508-753-4030 myspace.com/NicksWorcester Fridays: Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat May 3: Jazz with Pamela Hines, Jerry Sabatini and Dave Clark The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc. 508-340-0318 Olde Post Office Pub 1 Ray St., N. Grafton 508-839-6106 On The Rocks Sports Bar & Grill 96 Lakefront Ave., Lunenburg 978-342-6692 The Outlook Restaurant 79 Powers Road, Westford 978-692-5700 dineoutlook.com Oxford Tavern 314 Main St., Oxford 508-987-5397 Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster 978-534-7117
MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc. 508-799-4521 mblounge.com
The Palladium 261 Main St., Worc. 508-797-9696 thepalladium.net
McNally’s Grille & Pub 88 Sargent Road, Westminster 978-874-1444 mcnallysgrille.com
Pampas Churrascaria Restaurant 145 E. Central St., Worc. 508-757-1070 pampas-restaurant.com
Michael’s Cigar Bar 1 Exchange Place, Worc. 508-459-9035 michaelscigar.com May 7:Hit the Bus
Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg 978-345-5051 partnerspub.com
Patsie Dugan’s 49 Millbury St., Worc. 508-755-4155 patsiedugans.com
May 18: Clamdigger May 23: Drunken Uncles May 30: Chad Clements May 31: The Lovejoy Band
Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge 64 Water St., Worc. 508-792-4263 perfectgameworcester.com Thursdays: DJ Cuz’N Kev Fridays: DJ One-3 Saturdays: DJ Reckless
Rose Garden Restaurant and Pub 16 Milford St., Upton 508-529-7776 uptonrosegarden.com
Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worc. 508-756-7555
Rye & Thyme 14 Monument Square, Leominster 978-534-5900 ryeandthyme.com May 3: Whitney Doucet May 8: Jay Graham May 9: Scott Babineau May 15: Kevin Shields May 16: L&M Rhythm Kings May 17: Caves on Mars May 22: Zach Slik May 24: Brian Chaffee May 29: Dan Cormier May 30: Brian & Captain
Point Breeze On the Lake 114 Point Breeze Road, Webster 508-943-0404 pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com Press Box 536 Lincoln St., Worc. 508-856-9255 facebook.com/pages/The-PressBox/181242711941126 May 10: Karaoke Primetime Pub 5 Summer St., Lunenburg 978-400-7727 facebook.com/PRIMETIMEPUBOFLUNENBURG Wednesdays: Open Mic Night Saturdays: Karaoke May 9: The Classics May 16: Lyle Pierce May 23: City Sound
Rage 105 Water St., Worc. 508-756-2223 rageworcester.com Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc. 508-753-9543 ralphsrockdiner.com Sundays: Sunday Night Cinemageddon Tuesdays: C.U. Next Tuesday with DJ Pole Smot and special guests May 3-4: The Eye of the Stoned Goat two-day festival May 8: Patty Keough & Some Guys From Space, Traffiq, Skat Fatulence and The Plastic Animal Cramps May 10: Ralph’s Rock Diner 35th anniversary show with Bees Knees, Preacher Roe, Hey Now Morris Fader, Aloud, The Rationales, Cold Blood Club and Nervous Eaters The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc. 508-304-8133 facebook.com/people/RavenWorcester/100001022046717 May 10: Wormtown Ska Promotions presents Ska, Punk and Hardcore from the U.S. and U.K.
RG Scooters Pub 84 Lakefront St., Lunenburg 978-348-2453 facebook.com/pages/RGScooters/211225168902092 Rivalry’s Sports Bar 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 774-243-1100 rivalrysworcester.com May 3: In the Pocket May 4: April’s Fools May 9: Babe Pino May 10: Hothouse May 16: Take Two May 17: Tom Revane
Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worc. 508-792-1078, 508-792-1068 sakura-tokyo.com Scorz 58 Shrewsbury St., Worc. Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant 494 Electric Ave., Lunenburg 888-824-3924, 978-345-2000 seanpatricksrestaurant.com
The Pumphouse 340 Main St., Southbridge 508-765-5473 facebook.com/#!/pages/The-PumpHouse/374917818127?sk=info
Red Onion - Otter River Hotel 29 Main St., Baldwinville 978-939-7373, 978-939-8321 myspace.com/theredonion
Rumors 371 Park Ave., Worc. 508-755-5542 clubuniverseworcester.com
South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 W. Broadway, Gardner 978-632-1057 southsidemargaritafactory.com May 9: Side Effect May 10: Dave Andrews May 17: Five Hole May 23: Lizzy Marquis May 24: Brian & Dave May 30: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell May 31: Beatlewood Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough 508-480-8222 speakersnightclub.net Fridays: Karaoke Tal’s Place 138 Lake St., Webster 508-949-6559 talsplacewebster.com May 10: Henry’s Wine Three G’s Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc. 508-754-3516 3gs-sportsbar.com Saturdays: Open mic with the Old School Band Trumbull Bar & Grill 117 Main St., Spencer 508-885-6901 Tweed’s 231 Grove St., Worc. 508-755-8047 tweedspub.com Union Music 142 Southbridge St., Worc. 508-753-3702 unionmusic.com Union Tavern 65 Green St., Worc. facebook.com/TheUnionTavernWorcester Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc. 508-756-4747 victorycigarbar.com
May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 23
LIFESTYLE
Take the
ultimate selfie
As everyone with access to the internet should know, “selfie” was named 2013 word of the year by none other than the official Webster dictionary. But as BetchesLoveThis.com founder Jordana Abraham advises, it’s not about whether you selfie; it’s about how you selfie. Here are Abraham’s tips to create the perfect selfie:
Get an interesting background: Have a seriously beautiful background/ famous person/ironic message to make this selfie worthy of leaving your photo stream. Your friends already know what you look like. Do not selfie and drive: You might as well Instagram yourself driving while chugging a bottle of Moët while holding your fake ID (with the Mercedes symbol on the steering wheel in the background). The day of the week is not a reason to selfie: Congrats, you made it to Tuesday. That is not an occasion to make it #selfietuesday. Get some friends: A multi-person selfie is otherwise known as a groupie. This is acceptable only because who doesn’t love to show how many besties can fit into a selfie? Mirror pics should stay in middle school: Taking a series of mirror pics is what you do before attending a sweet 16.
Jordana Abraham was just 21 and a graduating senior at Cornell University when she developed the idea for The Betch List, a series of maxims which satirically described the lives of her and her friends. She and her roommates later turned this list into the viral Betches Love This. By the time she was 23, she had published her first book, Nice is Just a Place in France: How to Win at Basically Everything, which debuted at No. 12 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. For more information, visit BetchesLoveThis. com.
24 THEPULSEMAG.COM | May 2014
Everyday Science The light of everyday life R.J. Linton
All aspects of our lives are colored by the influences of science. Many of the technologies we rely on sit on foundations of scientific principles that were based on simple questions like “Why is the sky blue?” or “Why does the sky glow so brilliantly at sunset?” Yet we take the foundations of our modern technology for granted. Similarly, we take for granted the foundations in our homes ~ until there is a problem. Like the sensational problems a damaged foundation in our home can cause, problems with a foundational scientific principle become sensationalized in the media. As a writer and a scientist, I believe our policies ~ the ones that affect our livelihoods and the world we leave to our children ~ often are based on the understanding of scientific foundations. We must understand how key works of science affect our lives. We need to understand these principles in simple, realistic ways, so that we can make up our own, educated minds about important matters (and, ultimately, our votes). That is the reason I will bring you this column each month: to give readers new and interesting perspectives on our shared everyday experiences and the technology on which we rely. With that in mind, I come back to those simple questions: Why is the sky blue? Why does the sky glow so brilliantly at sunset? The simple answer to the question is the polarization of light. In the case of our blue sky, the polarization ~ which you’ve no doubt heard of from the packaging on your sunglasses or a filter attachment for your phone’s camera lens ~ is due to the something called Rayleigh scattering. Because our atmosphere scatters more violet light than red and the human eye is much more sensitive to blue light than to red light, our daytime sky appears blue. If our eyes were more sensitive to red light, our sky would seem violet during the day. The beautiful sunsets you see at night are due to the angle of the sun in the sky. Because the sun appears to be closer to the horizon, the light must travel through a larger slice of atmosphere. The result is the light must pass through more air, causing a larger scatting of light, which brings the color away from blue and toward red. The construction of your sunglasses and camera filters rely on a different kind of polarization, one that is tuned to the ultraviolet light that passes through our atmosphere and is invisible to our eyes. While sunglasses are at least as old as the Roman Empire (Romans used thin pieces of bone or ivory with small horizontal slits in them), the scientific foundation of polarization plagued scientists. Finally, in the early 20th century, a scientist named Max Planck outlined a new theory of light. Planck’s theory is the foundation for modern technology, including fiber optic lines, GPS and the material science that allows us to produce strong, defect-free plastic parts. However, we still do not fully understand the nature of light. Scientists still seek to understand why sometimes light acts as a wave and why it sometimes acts like a particle. I find the fact that we are still learning about light to be sensational, and I hope you will continue to come back and read about the scientific foundations of our everyday lives. May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 25
DINING & Entertaining Polka Café serves up honest (and delicious) Polish fare By Bernie Whitmore
Polka Café 169 Millbury St., Worcester (774) 243-1302 polkacafe.wix.com/polka-cafe I’d wager that most of us have acquaintances who love to drop the f-word, especially when it comes to dining. “Fabulous” is everything to these people; they love to rave about extravagant dining experiences, elegant dining rooms, astounding vintages and sumptuous meals costing fabulous amounts of money. But for many of us, travel and dining memories are made of different stuff. Some our fondest memories were planted by unusual experiences that had little to do with money or luxury. Finding pleasure in the unexpected is so rewarding, it becomes addictive. And it can happen anywhere. For many of us ~ I put myself first in line here ~ Polka Café is a most unusual experience. It wasn’t till a couple of years ago, on a trip to Warsaw, that I discovered the merits of Polish cuisine. Every meal was an exciting experience. The richness of flavors and range of cuisine astounded me. So when I was asked to visit the Polka Café, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t even heard of it. What I wasn’t prepared for was the funky experience you get when you venture into Polka’s dining room. Some call it austere. I call it full sensory assault, starting with the synth-pop of Yanni Live at the Acropolis blasting from a big-screen TV near the doorway. The dining room was nearly empty, and there was no one ready to greet my friend and me. So, I went exploring. A stereo system (with turntable!) anchored one end of the room, with LPs scattered about in stacks. Other areas were arranged in tableaus of quasi-antiques harking from various periods: Colonial Americana, Colonial Revival and, weirdly, neo-Hooterville. Murky stemware hung from the ceiling of what appeared to be a non-functioning bar (Polka Cafe is BYOB). Of all of this stuff, the most relevant ~ and perhaps creepiest ~ was the statue of Mr. Kielbasa. Handcarved, this is a meat-man made of one huge sausage sporting plaintive eyes and fearsome teeth. His tubular body sprouts jaunty appendages wielding a trident. Years of accumulated greasy dust has lent the statue a smoky patina. It was truly a treasure. We sat down and waited until the proprietor arrived to greet us in a gruff manner that seemed to derive from English being his second language. As the evening ensued, he came to crack an occasional smile. And when the subject of kielbasa came up, his demeanor warmed to downright friendliness as he told of making and smoking the sausage right there on the premises to sell in the restaurant and
26 THEPULSEMAG.COM | May 2014
at regional fairs. We started with a cucumber salad, a Spartan affair of sliced, fresh cucumber spears sprinkled with oil and a dusting of black pepper. A forgettable beginning, indeed, but the appetizers would set the evening back on track. I daresay our appetizer choices targeted Polka Café’s specialties. Placki Ziemniaczane (potato pancakes, three to an order) were each the size of a butter dish, tender in the middle and fried perfectly ~ crispy golden brown at the edges. They were served with a large dab of sour cream. Some cooks grate onion into the potato; Polka’s seemed to be pure potato that, for lack of preservatives, had turned a bit gray. They were pure, honest peasant fare that had us raving. Our other appetizer was Kielbasa z Grilla (grilled kielbasa). If your kielbasa experience has been limited to steamed or pan-fried, well, you aren’t really “experienced.” Grilling brings out an amazing depth of flavor. And the chef achieved a perfect layer of char that reminded me of my most cherished Warsaw dining experiences. I speared the crustier of the two sections for myself. They came with sauerkraut, whole-grain mustard and slices of French bread. If we’d stopped there, I would have considered the evening a success. But we forged on with an order of Pierogi z Mięsem (meat pierogis). Consider them ravioli’s northern cousins; Polka stuffs its pierogis with cabbage, meat or cheese and dresses them with chopped sautéed onions and oil. The meat stuffing was mundane, but the pale pierogi dough was light and delicate. Far more interesting was our plate of Gołąbki (aka “glumpkies”). These were two large rolls formed with layers of steamed cabbage leaves stuffed with ground meat and rice. They were served on a dish pooled with a tomatoey broth. Though I enjoyed mine, for my return trip I’ll venture into goulash territory. Dessert appeared exotic enough. A coconut custard pastry was crazy-drizzled with chocolate syrup and then lavished with fluffy whipped cream. The cream alleviated some of the dense crustiness we soon encountered. It wasn’t till my friend flipped over his chunk that I discovered the tell-tale foil imprint of the classic Table Talk snack pie. Very resourceful. After returning from Poland, it seemed everyone wanted to know, “What made you go there?” Well, I don’t rightly know. But it’s a place you soon learn to love. So I honestly reply, “For the sights, the people and the food … they’re wonderful!” I think that also sums up why I’d return to Polka Café Restaurant.
REVIEW
Hot & Now By Paul Giorgio
Haiku closes. Haiku on Worcester’s Park Avenue abruptly closed in the middle of March. There are no details about the closing. We hear that the Sahart family, which owns El Basha next door, has already found a new tenant. The folks who own Kenichi on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street plan to open a sushi restaurant called Saki Bomb. Dean Park Pizza reopens. Dean Park Pizza, a Shrewsbury dining institution, has reopened. The new owners are the old owners, one generation removed. The eatery was opened 38 years ago by John Baltas and was operated by him for a number of years. The family then leased the space; recently, John’s son, Chris, and his wife, Carolyn, assumed ownership. Winds of change. We are told by our Webster spy that the Wind Tiki, a town landmark, has closed its doors. This will be a huge loss for the area. We will keep you posted. We wonder. The word on Shrewsbury Street is that the Wonder Bar has closed. This place has been serving pizza for three generations. It is a Shrewsbury Street institution and was one of the street’s original restaurants, opening in 1924. We hear several people are interested in buying the building and the business, which means that it may reopen soon. We hope it does Cupcake wars. It seems there is a new contender in Worcester’s cupcake wars with the opening of Nummy Nummies on Grafton Street. What sets this place apart from other places in town? You have to be 21 to eat some of their liquor-laced confections. These include Pina Colada, Mojito and Cosmopolitan cupcakes. Don’t fret; the bakery has all the regulars, too. Try it out. Nummy Nummies is located at 1280 Grafton St. More Moe’s. Moe’s will open its third location in Westborough this month, barring any unforeseen delays. The new Moe’s will be on Otis Street, near Route 9. This is only a few miles from Moe’s Route 9 Shrewsbury location. Café Manzi ~ late nite. Café Manzi, a Shrewsbury Street breakfast and lunch spot, will open for the after-bar crowd, beginning in May. Brian Manzi and his cousin, Mike di Giulio, will serve breakfast from 10 p.m.- 4 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Finally Meze. It appears that Meze on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street has finally opened its doors. The unique Greek-style tappas restaurant serves small plates of Greek specialties, including grilled octopus, calamari, grape leaves, stuffed peppers and the like. Most dishes are priced in the $5-$8 range and are meant for sharing. Opa! Finally Billy’s. It also appears that Billy’s Pub on Route 70 in Shrewsbury has opened its doors after about a year of work, which took place after the Verona Grill shut down. Try it out, and please tell us why the sign has a silhouette of what appears to be Alfred Hitchcock. Give the dog some wine. The Thirsty Lab recently opened in the town of Princeton. It has a large selection of wine and spirits, as well as craft beer. The Boston Wine School will hold regular seminars in the store, which also features cheeses and handcrafted meats from local farms and diaries. The store is operated by Sue Deliddo and is next door to Sonoma.
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Brandy has many aliases By Tim Korby
Brandy can help you get warm on a cool night, help you chill during a balmy sunset or draw you out onto the dance floor, even though you can’t dance. Brandy goes by many aliases: Applejack, Armagnac, Calvados, Cognac, Eau de Vie, Grappa, Kirschwasser, Pisco, Poire Williams, Rakia and Slivovitz. According to U.S. regulations, brandy is defined as a distilled spirit made from fruit; either whole, pomace (the leftover skins, stems and seeds after pressing) or wine, which is then aged for at least two years in oak. Every country or region has its own specific rules pertaining to the production of its unique brandy. To narrow the scope of this article, I will focus on brandies produced in France. The most famous brandy is Cognac, which comes from a specific area in western France surrounding the town of Cognac, just north of the wine region of Bordeaux. Cognac is obtained by double distilling white wine made most often from Ugni Blanc and possibly Colombard or Folle Blanche grapes harvested in the Cognac region. The wines produced in this region have a high acidity and a low alcohol content that leads to the greatness of Cognac. After its first distillation, the slightly cloudy liquid has an alcohol content of only 28 percent to 32 percent, so it is distilled a second time to increase the alcohol and to refine the product. After the second distillation, only the best and purest brandy is transferred to oak barrels, where it will stay for a minimum of two years for VS Cognac, four years for VSOP Cognac and at least six years for Napoleon or XO Cognac. These amazing products don’t come without a high price, as Remy Martin Cognac ranges from about $40 for VS to $2,700 for Louis XIII brandies (yes, available at Julio’s Liquors). Armagnac is produced south of the region of Bordeaux in Gascoigne, which is famous for its gastronomic delights. The differences between Armagnac and Cognac are many but often subtle. Bacco is the main grape used to produce Armagnac, but Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche may also be used. Armagnac is broken into three distinct sub-regions: the Bas-Armagnac, Tenareze and Haut-Armagnac, with Bas Armagnac producing the highest quality Armagnac. Whereas Cognac is distilled twice to an alcohol content of 68 percent to 74 percent and diluted with water to 40 percent before bottling, Armagnac is distilled only once to a lower final alcohol content of 52 percent to 55 percent and aged in barrel and bottled at cask strength. Bottling without adding water results in a richer flavor and more body. Also unique to Armagnac is that it can be vintage dated, which makes it the perfect gift for those big birthdays. Calvados (produced in Normandy) is a brandy made not from grapes but from apples (and sometimes pears) that have been pressed into juice and fermented into a dry cider. The cider is then distilled into Eau de Vie, which is left to age in oak barrels for a minimum of two years, after which it officially becomes Calvados. I’ve barely scratched the surface of the types of brandy available, so I’ll have to revisit the topic down the road. In the meantime, when next you are out to dinner, order a snifter of Armagnac, Calvados or Cognac to finish off your night. Tim Korby is the director of Julio’s Liquors’ the-AngelShare.com online wine store. He started in the wine industry in California in 1976 and moved to the Boston area in 2000. In addition to being a retail wine buyer, he has taught wine courses since 1984 and has regularly written newsletters, articles and blogs since 1981. Korby travels the world several times each year to find just the right wines for his customers and to learn the true romance of the wines he sells.
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CRAFT BEER. FARMHOUSE FARE. RIGHTEOUS COCKTAILS.
CRAFT BREWS. FRESH BREADS. Celebrate the artisan craftsman with an unmatched selection of farm-fresh food, hand-crafted spirits and, of course, world class beers. In late September, you’ll be able to enjoy our expanded kitchen, 30 additional seats with semi-private function space, and the opening of Crust, our artisan bakeshop one block away. The slow food movement has found it’s home here.
118 Main Street Worcester MA 01608 crustbakeshop.com OPENING LATE SEPTEMBER 2013
Lunch & dinner daily beginning at 11:30AM Brunch Saturdays & Sundays beginning at 10AM Located downtown in the historic courthouse district. 144 Main Street Worcester, MA 508.795.1012 www.armsbyabbey.com
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Sports & Fitness
Are you toxin to me? By Kimberly Dunbar
Subway got slammed a few months ago, when it was revealed that the same chemical used in yoga mats was used in its bread. What you might not realize is that chemical ~ azodicarbonamide ~ is found in nearly 500 other foods. According to Dr. Woodson Merrell’s new book, The Detox Prescription, there are more than 80,000 chemicals produced and used in the U.S., and scientists have only studied about 200 of them. Merrell further states that according to the Centers for Disease Control, we have an average of 153 industrial chemicals in our bodies. Yuck. While most people engage in detox diets to drop pounds, Merrell’s Detox Prescription plan (the first science-based detox, which can be done in three-, seven- or 21-day cleanses) focuses on a holistic experience. For people to truly change their lives, they must detox mentally and physically. And no, you won’t starve ~ The Detox Prescription starts with a three-day juice cleanse and reintroduces solid foods until individuals are following a vegan, plant-based diet. The Detox Prescription isn’t just about weight loss; it’s about clearing the toxins out of your body and environment. It’s surprising how many chemicals we invite into our lives via cleaning supplies (soap and water will usually do the job), scented lotions and perfumes, plastic Tupperware, cell phones … the list goes on. Chemicals are everywhere in our lives. They’re in our air, our water and our food. According to Merrell, about 70 percent of diseases are the effects of our environment and health choices, while as few as 10 percent are genetic. In 2013, the World Health Organization released a statement claiming outdoor air pollution is a leading cause of cancer deaths. While The Detox Prescription seems easy to follow (Dr. Merrell lays out a flexible plan that doesn’t leave much room for excuses), detoxing might not be for you. The book is packed with information and healthful recipes, but if reading isn’t your thing, here are five highlights so you can still reap some of the book’s benefits: Digestion starts in the mouth ~ My mom always told me to eat slower, and I’ve never really understood why until Merrell explained that by chewing slowly you help break down the food before it enters the stomach. If you don’t chew enough, food enters your system in chunks, and your body must overwork itself to break down and digest it. Eat organic when possible ~ According to the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org), you can lower your pesticide intake by avoiding the 12 most
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contaminated fruits and vegetables, a.k.a. the “Dirty Dozen”: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, nectarines (imported), peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries and sweet bell peppers. Taste the rainbow ~ Merrell encourages individuals to eat something from every color group daily, as each one provides different nutrients and eating a variety of colors ensures you’ll get everything you need. Beef isn’t just bad for you, it’s bad for everyone ~ Steak is admittedly my favorite food, but the fact that we could essentially solve the world’s hunger problem by redistributing the grain used to raise cattle is kind of alarming (as well as the fact that raising beef is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions). Sweat more ~ Sweating releases toxins through the skin. Hit the gym or the sauna for a better body inside and out. Most importantly, The Detox Prescription doesn’t demand perfection. Merrell knows nobody is perfect; you just have to do the best you can. For more information, visit woodsenmerrell.com.
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Art & Culture
Knight at the Museum:
Guns Without Borders gives edge to WAM exhibit By Kimberly Dunbar Despite being surrounded by knights in shining armor, you can’t be rescued from the harsh reality of the Knights! exhibit at the Worcester Art Museum (WAM). Lurking behind the happy pink walls in the Realm of Good + Evil is a white room filled with dark truths. This room ~ the Guns Without Borders in Mexico and Central America exhibit ~ features disturbing images of victims of gun violence in Mexico and Central America. There is blood. There is heartbreak. There is no shortage of emotion. “It is a very powerful exhibition and a stark contrast to the fun that comes before it,” said Nancy Burns, assistant curator of prints, drawings and photographs for WAM and the curator of the Guns Without Borders space. “It is a welcome contrast for some people and a little intense, but appreciated, by others. I don’t think it is for everyone ~ but art exhibits don’t always have to be for everyone.” The space was intended to be shocking. The exhibit explores the here-andnow ramifications of arms and armor in society and is part of the museum’s commitment to providing “high-impact audience engagement initiatives.” Burns included 32 objects in the small space ~ eight hanging images and 24 projected ~ which she designed to be a quiet, reflective area. “These photos represent a subset of society whose story doesn’t get told,” she said. “I didn’t want a glamorous environment … The images are so stark; they should be the only thing speaking in the room.” But one might ask why there is a need to pair these depressing and gory images of gun violence with the majesty of armor and a real Batman suit. “There is juxtaposition,” said Burns, who calls the space “meaningfully designed.”
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“People are looking at these beautiful objects with fascination. They’re a tie to a romantic world. But [Guns Without Borders] reminds them what weapons and armor were made for … Some of the weapons were made for design back then, but at the end of the day, a sword is meant to impale someone and a shield is meant to protect someone from harm.” Burns worked in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to pick the right photos for the space. The Pulitzer Center, a nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to supporting international reporting, sponsors journalists and photographers for projects that explore the root causes of violence and how challenges in society like poverty, religious and racial tensions, and lack of opportunity lead to conflict. “There isn’t a social infrastructure in place to help those who have fallen through society’s safety net,” Burns said, explaining the conditions conducive to violence. When Burns decided to focus on guns, the Pulitzer Center connected her with three artists ~ Dominic Bracco II, Carlos Javier Ortiz and Louie Palu ~ all of whom were sponsored to explore the untold effects of gangs and gun violence in Mexico and Central America. “I like that it focuses on one singular region,” Burns said. “There are so many issues related to gun violence in Central America and Mexico, and it is easier for an audience to have a bracket around what they’re looking at. It would have made the message diffuse if we had brought in other regions.” According to Burns, Central America has become one of the most dangerous places in the world, but it hits closer to home than many realize. In the Guns Without Borders exhibit, Burns includes research from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which found that between 2007-11 “two out of every three guns confiscated in Mexico were purchased in the U.S.”
“The U.S. has the highest civilian population of guns ~ there are 89 guns for every 100 people. Yemen is second with 46 per 100,” Burns said. “The U.S. has 5 percent of the world’s population, yet it has no less than 30 percent of civilian-owned guns.” Despite these alarming numbers, North American media continues to cover discord in Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt and Ukraine but gives very little coverage to what Burns calls “the war next door.” “There is this kind of avoidance of the violence associated with weapons,” she added. Burns, WAM, the Pulitzer Center and the three photographers worked hard to make sure those who visit Guns Without Borders walk away a little more enlightened than they came. “I do hope the message of the ramifications of gun and weapons violence hits people,” she said. “My hope is that after looking at this, they take a walk back through the exhibit again and look at everything they just saw differently and reassess all the objects they just looked at.” Even Batman. Although Bruce Wayne used his powers for the good, he needed a suit of armor for a reason. Guns Without Borders in the Knights! exhibit at Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., runs through Nov. 9. For more information, visit worcesterart.org. Photos: Left: Louie Palu, Angels, 2012 Girls dressed as angels pray at a Juarez crime scene where a young man was assassinated by a rival cartel in what is known as a “heating up of the plaza.” Photo ©Louie Palu/ZUMA/Pulitzer Center Opposite: Louie Palu, Murder Scene, 2012 A crowd of children and a police officer view the scene of a drug-related shooting, which took place in front of their school. Photo ©Louie Palu/ZUMA/Pulitzer Center
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College
Hats off to the graduate!
Face the fun Don’t be just another face in the crowd, be the face of the graduate ~ literally! With lifesize face cutouts from Build-AHead, you can proudly display your support of the grad in giant proportions. All you have to do is visit the website, upload a clear photo and select from available size options, ranging from 1- to 3-feettall. Prices vary; buildahead.com.
By Erin Cornell
With graduation right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of the perfect way to say congratulations, and we’ve got some great gift ideas to help you get started. Even if you can’t be there for Graduation Day, make sure you recognize your grad’s hard work. Best wishes for the future, Class of 2014!
Monogram the memories You know she loves jewelry, but your purchase will be even more special when it’s personalized. The Graduation Ring from Nelle & Lizzy can be custom-stamped to feature her name, school, Greek affiliation, class year or mascot. Offered as either a single-, double- or tripleband ring, this elegant, yet affordable, piece of jewelry is sure to be treasured for years to come. Starting at $53; nelleandlizzy.com.
Cherish the keepsakes Looking for a gift that’s as functional as it is classic? The Graduation Frame from Red Envelope makes it easy to store a variety of timeless graduation mementos in one place. Your grad can display a 5- by 7-inch photo from the special day alongside the graduation tassel. You can even add your own individual touch with a two-line caption of up to 25 characters. $69.95; redenvelope. com.
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Spend in style While shopping for him, consider the Zippo Stainless Steel Metal Wallet. The high-quality stainless steel outer shell will give the recent grad a sleek new upgrade from a traditional wallet. This design also has a practical use: It blocks radio frequency identification that permits theft of data from tags on credit cards and driver’s licenses. Even better, the flexible polymer body makes the wallet comfortable and easy to use. Bonus: You can make it personal by having it engraved. $49.95; zippo.com.
CANAL DISTRICT
beauty & style
Worcester native pushes fun fashion By Erin Cornell It has been said that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. So that’s just what Worcester native Kayleigh Lucci did. Now, the 26-year-old is an up-and-coming fashion designer and stylist. Everyone has a passion. But what if your passion and your livelihood were suddenly taken away from you in a moment? Lucci’s world completely revolved around dance until she suffered an injury to her foot last fall that left her unable to walk for three months. While on bed rest, she realized that feeling sorry for herself wasn’t going to cut it. She needed to find something to keep her busy, and she needed to earn a living. Always turning the negative into a positive, she said, “You don’t have a lot of chances to not do anything for three months.” With an interest in fashion that originated in her younger modeling days, Lucci decided to discover her inner entrepreneur and start her own business. Officially launched in February, her venture ~ The Magnetic Bowtie ~ has been slowly growing by word of mouth among the people of Worcester. This line of fun, hassle-free bow ties with magnetic backings is handmade by Lucci herself and inspired by her love for quirky and different accessories. She’s a firm believer that “Fashion should be fun; it shouldn’t be too serious.” Always connecting her work back to her personal experiences and relationships, Lucci shared how the look and name behind each individual bow tie are drawn from things in her life, such as inside jokes with friends and her love of animals. Bows named “The Fletcher Effect” and “The Dapper Dalmatian” are just two such examples. In addition to creating her own designs, Lucci works as the wardrobe stylist for Static Noyze, the theatrical hip-hop company based in Boston with which she previously danced. “The fact that I still get to be a part of a wonderful thing really makes me happy,” she said. For Lucci, reinventing herself in the industry has been very
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cool, as she now experiences a different aspect of dance offstage. “I’ve always loved being creative; now I’m showing my creativity in a different way.” What used to center on the physical, now centers on the visual, as she displays her creativity through design instead of dance. A testament to her already-budding success, she won an award for her costume design at the international World of Dance Tour held last November, in which thousands of dancers from the East Coast and Canada competed in the Boston region. Lucci has also styled a series of photo shoots for local businesses, and her designs have recently been featured on TedXTalk and in Baystateparent Magazine. Not wanting to label her own style in any one particular genre, Lucci finds herself drawn to fun, different pieces, particularly from thrift stores and other places that are affordable for a recent college graduate on a budget. She draws her inspiration from her past and her present and just about anything that catches her eye (or ear), including music, paintings and cartoons. Worcester offers its own source of inspiration. Lucci said Boston’s style is much more professional-looking, while Worcester’s style is more casual and relaxed. She seeks to blend those two styles together with her own designs. Looking ahead, Lucci’s main goal is to open her own boutique here in Worcester. She hopes to expand her audience and sell her products to all of Massachusetts and eventually all of the United States. The bowties themselves will change as she does, to reflect different trends and different seasons. This spring, she plans to use lighter materials and brighter colors in her designs. In the future, Lucci would like to use her own designs in her photo shoots. Right now, her styles focus on kids, but she sees her business already evolving to incorporate adult looks, too. Lucci’s energetic attitude shines through her style. “Just have fun with what you wear. Don’t worry what other people think of you; just be yourself.”
The Style List.
Festival season looks whimsical, modern By Stacia Kindler
With spring officially sprung and summer right around the corner, it is safe to say that most people have one thing in mind: summer vacation. Whether you’ve been working hard for months to accrue those vacation days or you’re lucky enough to enjoy the whole season off, music festivals as new as Boston Calling or as famous as Lollapalooza are becoming a bucket list must for the sweltering season, with festival fashions raising just as much hype as the music. Whether you’re staying local or taking the show on the road, some killer pieces are bound to have your inner flower child amped up and ready to boogie. So, lather on that sunscreen and feel free to leave the makeup at home, your festival season daydreams are here. A lot of music festivals nowadays are designed much like a glorified camping trip, where the clothes on your back and a small backpack may be your only lifeline for up to three days. It is important to pack light and pack smart, so your key festival fashion pieces must be functional.
Mad Men ~ get the look!
Season 7 of Mad Men began in April ~ finally! Now, you can get that great vintage look at eShakti. Even better, these great retro styles can be customized to your body type, so whether you’re a curvaceous Joan, a leggy Megan or a dieting Betty, you can tweak the neckline, hem or measurements for less than $8.
Betty
Demure and traditional, this bombshell loves a full skirt in delicate pastels and feminine floral. You might want to wear a petticoat for extra volume!
As the festival season takes place in high temperatures, the majority of concert-goers might overlook some small details that will have you hurting by the end of it all. Make sure you’re covered with a pair of Vans or Chucks, as fellow festival crawlers will be stomping all over you. Try a comfortable pair of ankle boots for the possible rain shower. A light rain jacket or parka would also be a good idea, as temperatures will drop with the sun, especially if you’re camping out. The same rules apply for all concert-goers this summer season. Whether you’re hitting the road for a full week or headed into town for the day, festival and concert fashion is gaining more and more attention with every summer season. So push the festival-style envelope this summer!
Trapunto stitch trim check dress, $79.95
Notch neckline cotton sateen dress, $69.95
Floral vine sheath dress, $64.95
Joan
This fox is sexy and she knows it. Joan isn’t afraid to wear curvehugging clothes that show off her assets! These dresses will hug your bust and cinch your waist.
Generally, the look is a combination of whimsical ’60s-inspired details and modern fashion-forward pieces. Be sure to accessorize with plenty of pieces such as chunky headbands, fringe details, anything embroidered or suede, a great sun hat and as many fabric bracelets as you can find. Foolproof apparel items are, of course, the perfect pair of cutoffs and your favorite vintage band T-shirt, which you will most likely be living in for the duration of the event. However, one retro piece being thrown back into the spotlight recently is ~ believe it or not ~ overalls. More comfortable than ever, and surprisingly cute when worn over a bikini top or bandeau, a great overall can be a perfect festival piece to take you from stage to stage under the summer sun. If not, any romper with the right fit will share the same practical, yet adorable, purpose.
Abstract floral print retro frock, $74.95
Megan
Confident, modern and sexy, Megan is the show’s window into the next decade! Copy this mod doll’s style with dresses in psychedelic prints, and don’t be too shy to select the “over the knee” option for this one. Sweetheart print block chiffon dress, $99.95
Citrus colorblock print frock, $99.95
For more information, visit eshakti.com. May 2014 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 37
We’ve Got It!
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SIGN & DRIVE THE BRAND NEW 2014 FIAT
500 L POP $255/MO.
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2 Latti Farm Rd., Rt. 20, Millbury, MA 01527 (888) 294-3558 HerbChambers.com *Lease is for 36 months, 10K miles per year. Payment includes all taxes and fees. First payment included. No security deposit required. See dealer for addition details. Offer expires 5-31-14.
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