PULSE MAGAZINE: MAY 2022

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A LIFESTYLE & ENTERAINMENT MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS

WWW.THEPULSEMAG.COM

May 2022

Little Mean Kathleen and Anastasia Morningstar

Photo Credit: @GRENWAIL

PULSE MAGAZINE: MAY 2022

27 COVER STORY

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WRESTLING OPEN

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ENTERTAINMENT ARTS • CULTURE GUARDIANS OF TRADITION

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Arts & Culture Listings

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Now Streaming

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Entertainmant Listings

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PulseShots

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EAT • BREWS COCKTAILS

STYLE • FASHION BEAUTY SUNSCREEN 101

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Style Savvy

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Out and About

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420 in the 508

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CITY LIVING • ARCHITECTURE • DESIGN FROM SHOE FACTORY TO LUXURIOUS LOFTS

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SPORT AND FITNESS THE SPRING REGATTA MAKES A SPLASH

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Shaun Knows

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Dining Review: LOGAN'S TABLE

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EAT BEAT

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PULSE BREW

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NEW IN THE WOO

COCKTAIL CORNER

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X GOLF

Sports?

Paul Giorgio, Publisher pgiorgio@pagioinc.com David Simone, Vice President, Sales dsimone@pagioinc.com Jenny Pacillo, Editor jpacillo@pagioinc.com Kevin La, Art Director kla@pagioinc.com Nick Sposato, Graphic Design Intern Michael Brevde, Executive Events Coordinator mbrevde@pagioinc.com

READ PULSE ONLINE: THEPULSEMAG.COM

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: TWITTER @WORCESTERPULSE • INSTAGRAM @WORCESTERPULSE • FACEBOOK.COM/THEPULSEMAGAZINE PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 134 Gold St., Worcester, MA 01608. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2021 All rights reserved. Pagio, Inc. does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. Statements or opinions expressed in Pulse reflect the views of the author(s) and not the official policy of the Pagio, Inc., unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement

by Pagio, Inc. unless so stated. Material printed in Pulse is covered by copyright. No copyright is claimed to any work of the U.S. government. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission. For information on permissions, reprints and other services, contact Pagio, Inc. Also by Pagio Inc.: Worcester Medicine, Vitality Magazine, Thepulsemag.com, Thevitalitymag.com, & TasteWorcester.com

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Bernie Whitemore, Jennifer Russo, Travis Duda, Jason Savio, Shaun Connolly, Giuliano D’Orazio, Shannon Jutras April Goddard, Irena Kaci, Vincent Pacifico, Nick Sposato, and Jenny Pacillo.Writers

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MUSEUM OPEN WED. - SUN. 10 AM TO 5 PM

“An absolute must see for history lovers!”

- Google Review

WWII TANK DEMONSTRATION WEEKEND MAY 21ST & 22ND

568 MAIN STREET, HUDSON, MA (978) 562-9182 www.AmericanHeritageMuseum.org

6 MAY 2022

WRESTLING OPEN JENNY PACILLO

Having a weekly wrestling show has been great for the White Eagle.

“They’ve been coming here for the past three years, it’s helped to get us on the map in a way. They have a huge fan base so a lot of people know now about the White Eagle,” bar manager Julie Sargentelli says, adding, “they’re so respectful, it’s a really fun time and they’re very good to work with.” Cordeiro uses various promotional ideas to help attract wrestling fans and newbies alike out to the White Eagle on a Thursday. Everyone who attends the Wrestling Open is given a color coded incentive card to fill out each week and a gas card is given away to one lucky fan when there is a record attendance turnout.

Worcester has always been a wrestling town, a mecca even.LITTLE The MEANBeyond Wrestling’s ring announcer, Rich Palladino, has been a wresKATHLEENtling fan since he was nine years old and has a strong passion for the Worcester Auditorium was graced by legends like Haystack Calbusiness tells me, “the Wrestling Open gives wrestlers throughout houn, Gorilla Monsoon, and Andre the Giant. Mankind won his the country (and in some instances, throughout the world) an opfirst WWF title belt at the Centrum in 1999, effectively ending the portunity to compete and be seen by a vast viewing audience on In“Monday Night Wars” between WCW and WWE. More recently, in dependent Wrestling TV (IWTV). We are creating the future of our 2017, New England based Beyond Wrestling held their first Worcesindustry, not only for future opportunities at Beyond Wrestling, but ter show at Electric Haze, and the promotion has been a staple in the independent promotions throughout the world.” IWTV streams city ever since. the Wrestling Open every Thursday and gives subscribers access to wrestling on demand for only $10 a month.

Beyond Wrestling was founded by Providence native Drew Cordeiro in 2009. He discovered a backyard wrestling online message Wrestling Open is unique in its open mic format and the fact that board when he was a student at Emerson University, which led him BIO:Rather than all the performers are paid equally based on ticket sales. to arrange monthly “Super Shows” throughout the county and in These two love nothing more than to have fun and bring the party, but whe pursuing talent, Cordeiro uses Facebook and Twitter for performers Canada. Cordeiro realized there were wrestlers with professional it’s time to get down to business they certainly know how to put the HEAT on to sign up when they’re available. “It completely levels the playing training at these backyard shows and came up with a plan. “What if somebody and lay them out with their signature move, the “Wave Check”. field for everybody involved,” Cordeiro says. Performers collaborate we take these backyard wrestling shows that we’re doing, and try to with each other to create their own unique storylines that are best limit it to people with professional training,” he recalls, “Why don’t suited to their personalities and abilities. “It’s a very hands off prowe rent a facility, rent a ring, and we’ll do what we do but we’ll film cess,” Cordeiro says, “I guess it would be me signing off, but 90% of it. And that’s how Beyond Wrestling started.” it is me not being involved.”

Beyond Wrestling’s first weekly adventure began with Uncharted Territory in 2019. Wrestlers from across the country initially performed at Electric Haze, before outgrowing the space and moving to the White Eagle. Uncharted Territory became a breeding ground for talent, almost every AEW match currently involves at least one alum. Orange Cassidy, Keith Lee and Wheeler Yuta all performed on various Beyond Wrestling events. As Uncharted Territory conBIO: These two love nothing more than to tinued, Cordeiro began hashing out a new idea that would totally have fun and bring the party, but when get down to business they change the game: the Wrestling Open. “Make memories that lastit’s atime toknow certainly how to put the HEAT on somebody and lay them out with their lifetime, that’s what I want to do,” Cordeiro tells me. signature move, the “Wave Check”.

Worcester’s best kept, not so secret, secret takes place every Thursday night upstairs at the White Eagle on 116 Green Street. Doors open at 7:30 for a spotlight match at 7:45, and an 8:00 bell time.

Expect to find a packed house, amazing entertainment and out of this world athleticism all for just $10. Beyond Wrestling’s audio tech Coral describes the Wrestling Open as, “a movie, and a circus, and a concert, and a fight, and a soap opera, and a therapy session all rolled into one big party and it only costs 10 bucks.”

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Cordeiro and play-by-play announcer Paul Crockett will share and advise performers on creative decisions, but ultimately the performers are in charge of character development. “How can I tell him how to present himself better than himself?” Cordeiro asks, “They know themselves better than I know him. They’re the experts. I have to rely on what they’re doing. It’s like an open mic scenario.” Cordeiro’s confidence and deep trust in the performers incentivizes them to make sure the Wrestling Open is steadily growing on a weekly basis.

Take BIG Action Pedro Dones, a Teacher of the Year recipient in the Bronx and father of two, who makes his way to Worcester Thursday afternoons after school and gets back to NYC in time to teach math on Friday morning. Dones appreciates the way Cordeiro, “allows performers to showcase who they are in front of a live audience of people who really want to watch wrestling and you have new fans, the venue, the night, everything about it is very innovative. They have a really keen eye for wrestling and offer suggestions and feedback.”

One of my personal favorites, accounting expert and performer CPA also takes time to make time for the Wrestling Open, even during tax season, “Thankfully, I have plenty of PTO days accumulated by working every single day throughout the pandemic, so leaving the office early on Thursdays isn’t a huge infraction. I have met some very nice people at these Thursday shows; much brighter faces than Once you’ve spent a couple Thursdays at the Wrestling Open, you’ll Agnes the receptionist.” CPA drives the crowd wild when he takes start to see familiar faces, as many of the performers are in attenLITTLE MEAN off his pink button up Oxford shirt to reveal a second pink button up dance each week. There are the fan favorites that are universally KATHLEEN Oxford shirt underneath. One week he made it four shirts deep and loved, like best friends Teddy Goodz and Flavortown’s own Little I nearly lost my damn mind.

Mean Kathleen, and others who fans love to hate, like former WWF Hall of Famer Sidney Bakabella. Everyone is so talented and unique A recurring theme from the performers is their strong appreciation in their own ways, it’s fun to watch them evolve in the Wrestling of what Cordeiro has done for their careers. “Being a part of a roster Open. I definitely marked out when I had the chance to talk to a few and company that cares about connecting with their audience and performers while writing this article. putting out their best work has really helped me level up a great deal in such a short amount of time,” Karen Bam Bam says.

“What I really like about Beyond and Wrestling Open is it allows me to show my world class abilities on a weekly episodic adventure,” World Class Channing Thomas says, adding, “Make sure you put in that World Class part.”

LITTLE LITTLEMEAN MEAN KATHLEEN KATHLEEN

Meet the

WRESTLERS

WAVES WAVESAND ANDCURLS CURLS

8 MAY 2022

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Traevon Traevon - 6’ - 6’ 44 Jaylen Jaylen - 5’- 5’ 88

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Check”.

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HHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Julio from the Brick City Boyz, describes the Wrestling Open as, “an amazing experience and opportunity. The energy at the White Eagle every Thursday night is like nothing we’ve ever encountered before.

We’ve made Worcester our second home and we hope to continue to make every tag team that comes our way Hit The Bricks whether the people of Worcester like us or not.” Spoiler, the people of Worcester have a love-hate relationship with the Brick City Boyz and have given them an affectionate nickname that rhymes with brick that the crowd relentlessly chants when they wrestle.

Although the trend in the indies is shifting back to a touring schedule, Cordeiro has no interest in leaving the White Eagle anytime soon. He prefers to stick to Worcester. “We can do our weekly shows and grow our community so that people can say years from now ‘do you remember when we used to go to Wrestling Open.’” When the audience is treated to incredible performers every week, like the Northeast Beast Alec Price, who is currently the Limitless Wrestling World Champion and Southern Underground Pro Bonestorm Champion, it’s easy to see that Cordeiro is creating memories to last a lifetime.

“Having places like Wrestling Open that allow people to hone in their craft, get better as a wrestler, figure out what they do best in front of crowds and just grow,” the Territory King Price tells me, “Everybody wants to kill it every single week and just keep making it bigger and better.”

LOVE, LOVE,DOUG DOUG

Selfishly, I hope that the Wrestling Open will stay at the White Eagle forever. When you’re there, even though it’s crowded, it still feels like you’re in on a secret. Cordeiro attributes that to the authentic environment of the White Eagle and dedication of the performers.

“It’s our version of a bowling league. It’s our little fun community thing that’s ours,” he says, “It’s cool if we grow it but it has to be managed because if the growth becomes too much then it’s like you kind of lose it.”

Maybe you’ve never been to a wrestling show and maybe it sounds intimidating, but the Wrestling Open is probably one of the most inclusive, welcoming spaces in the city. My advice would be to show up around 7 and grab a drink at the White Eagle downstairs, they have Truly on tap, just saying. Make your way upstairs for 7:45 to catch the spotlight match, grab a pitcher of $1 Jello shots to share and have more fun than you could ever imagine on a Thursday night.

BOBBY BOBBYORLANDO ORLANDO

SIDNEY SIDNEYBAKABELLA BAKABELLA

HOMETOWN: HOMETOWN:

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Intercourse, Intercourse, PAPA

WEIGHT: WEIGHT:

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180 180 Valentines Valentines

202 202 lbs. lbs.

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Armed Armed with with my my mullet mullet and and my my heart heart onon my my sleeve sleeve I’llI’ll find find love love oror break break hearts hearts trying. trying.

Smooches.

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6 ft 6 ft

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BIO: BIO:

Cordeiro is not ready to credit himself with solidifying Worcester as the wrestling capital of the country just yet. “We have a lot of work to do in order to make Worcester become synonymous with independent wrestling. I will feel that way when we have to start turning people away, and when we have to start finding other buildings,” he humbly says. “We track the trajectory of growth week after week.

150 to 250 to 350 to this has so much of a following that we have to move it to a place like the Worcester Palladium.”

BIO: BIO:

Bobby Bobby Orlando Orlando is is your your mom. mom.

HeHe loves loves toto dodo sick sick tricks. tricks.

HeHe was was also also onon Peacock.

Peacock. #ecdub #ecdub

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Has Has worked worked inin (and (and been been fired fired by) by) every every major major wrestling wrestling promoter promoter inin the the United United States.

States.

According According toto Bakabella, Bakabella, “Worces“Worcester, ter, Massachusetts Massachusetts is is the the 2nd 2nd best best city city inin America.

America.

AllAll the the other other cities cities are are tied tied forfor first. first. ” ” t h epu ls emag.com

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ENTERTAINMENT • ARTS • CULTURE

GUARDIANS OF TRADITION JENNY PACILLO

Vanessa Joga talks the talk, and walks the walk.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, she has only been in Worcester for eight years, Joga has made a huge impact in the community with her work on the Worcester Cultural Coalition and her nonprofit, “Guardians of Tradition”.

Joga co-founded the Guardians of Tradition to educate people about the “intersectionality of our cultures and traditions” with workshops that feature the arts and humanities. Her dedication to inclusivity led to her newest endeavor of helping with outreach for the City of Worcester's Tercentennial Committee.

When Joga was approached to be on the Tercentennial Committee, one of her first questions was, “how can we engage the community to make them feel like they’re a part of this, to have people talk about Worcester because of its people?”

Her idea was to connect with local artists and organizations, like the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival, to hold free workshops throughout the month of May for residents to create giant marionettes out recycled materials. No strings attached, literally. These marionettes are based on carnival characters from the Dominican Republic. Think brilliant colors, detailed masks, and decorated poles for arms. Carnivals in the Dominican Republic date back to 1510, and are celebrated throughout the country with elaborate masks, costumes, and dancing.

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As for Joga’s workshops, all ages and abilities are welcome to participate and there are no prerequisites to join in on the fun. “We can all be represented and take part in this,” she says. Joga’s vision is for members of the community to decorate their marionettes in a way that reflects their background. “Each marionette is going to serve as a canvas for the person’s heritage and culture.

They're going to get to tell their story,” Joga explains. Artists are encouraged to decorate their marionette to represent their neighborhood and local community as well.

Creative Hub Worcester and ArtsReach Worcester will host these weekly workshops beginning on May 3rd and every Tuesday throughout the month. A second round of workshops will begin on May 14th. Sign ups can be found at WorcesterTercentennial.com or on the Guardians of Traditions Facebook page. Joga is proud to include local artists in her workshops, including Hank VonHellion, Bruja the Villian, and Will Smith, with special guest Luis Rivas.

Rivas is an extremely talented Dominican artist who uses recycled materials to create sculptures, floats for Carnival in the Dominican Republic, and even costumes for Dominican Miss Universe contestants. He visited Worcester over the summer in 2021 for a Carnival style mask making workshop hosted by Guardians of Traditions and Creative Hub Worcester. Learning about marionettes from Rivas is an amazing opportunity and will definitely be a great experience.

Joga will provide the recycled materials needed to design the marionettes, and she is happy to take donations for artists to repurpose. “We want to engage the community and bring a message of taking care of the environment,” she tells me. Everyone who attends Joga’s workshops will be able to march in the Tercentennial parade with their creation for the whole city to enjoy. As she excitedly talks about her truly inclusive plan to bring all the neighborhoods together, it’s easy to envision her idea and look forward to what promises to be a vibrant part of the Tercentennial parade.

ARTS & CULTURE LISTINGS American Heritage Museum (978) 562-9182 568 Main St., Hudson https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/ May 21 & 22 - Tank Demonstration Weekend Arts Worcester (508) 755-5142 44 Portland St., Worcseter https://artsworcester.org/ May 14 - Playing Games: A Members’ Exhibition May 21 - Artists’ Roundtable: Approaching Galleries May 28 - Artist reception and walking tour event: Tom Grady 100 Views of Worcester May 28 - Tom Grady 100 Views of Worcester

Hanover Theatre (877) 571-7469 2 Southbridge St., Worcester https://thehanovertheatre.org/ May 6 - Tyler Henry: The Hollywood Medium May 8 - The Kid Brother: Silent Film Accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ May 10 - Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!

May 13 - Jo Ann Warren Studio Presents Golden 2022 May 21 & 22 - Trolls Live May 31 - Stomp JMAC Popup (508) 561-0173 20B Franklin St., Worcester www.jmacworcester.org May 7 - Poems in and out of Places: Writing about History in Place May 12 - Bayda Asbridge: A Wor(l)d of Dichotomy Opening Reception May 12- Bayda Asbridge: A Wor(l)d of Dichotomy

Preservation Worcster (508) 754-8760 10 Cedar St., Worcester https://www.preservationworcester.org/ Samuel Slater Experience (508) 461-2955 31 Ray St., Webster https://samuelslaterexperience.org/ Tower Hill Botanical Garden (508) 869-6111 11 French St., Boylston https://www.towerhillbg.org/ Tuesdays - Chair Yoga & Yoga in the Garden Wednesdays - Qigong & Yoga in the Garden Thursdays - Yoga in the Garden May 7 - Floral Bouquet Mother’s Day Special May 13 - Forest Bathing May 14 & 15 - Ramble Opening Weekend May 21 - Springtime Flower Photography May 22 - Forest Bathing May 28 & 29 - American Rhododendron Society Show & Sale Tuckerman Hall (508) 754-1234 10 Tuckerman St., Worcester http://www.tuckermanhall.org/

Boulder Art Gallery (978) 354-7000 960 Main St., Fitchburg http://theboulderartgallery.com/ Gallery open Thursday, Friday, Saturday Brick Box Theater (508) 413-5622 20B Franklin St., Worcester https://www.jmacworcester.org/brickbox.html May 2 - The Shakespeare Concerts presents: Highlights from Hamlet May 4 - The “Turn it Down” All-Stars present: Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” May 11 - 4th Wall Stage Co presents: If I Forget by Steven Levenson Fitchburg Art Museum (978) 345-4207 185 Elm St., Fitchburg https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/ Free First Thursdays

Mechanics Hall (508) 752-5608 321 Main St., Worcester https://www.mechanicshall.org/ May 4 - Brown Bag Concert featuring the Alex Minasian Quartet May 6 - Gautier Capucon & Jean-Yves Thibaudet May 7 - Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet May 11 - Brown Bag Concert May 18 - Joy of Music Program May 22 - Afternoon of Italian Opera Old Sturbridge Village (800) 733-1830 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge https://www.osv.org/ Saturdays - Night in the Museum May 7 - Historical Craft Classes May 14 - Muster Day May 28 & 29 - Wool Days

Worcester Art Museum (508) 799-4406 55 Salisbury St., Worcester https://www.worcesterart.org/ Free First Sundays Sunday - Highlights of the WAM Collection Docent Tour May 7 - Zip Tours: Lady Warwick and Her Son May 14 - Arms and Armor: Medieval Armor May 19 - Master Series: Amulets and Adornments from Islamic Lands May 21 - Zip Tour: Frank Weston Benson May 28 - Arms and Armor: The Legions of Rome Worcester Center for Crafts (508) 753-8103 25 Sagamore Rd., Worcester https://www.worcestercraftcenter.org/ Worcester Chamber Music Society (508) 926-8624 323 Main St, Worcester https://worcesterchambermusic.org/ Worcester Historical Museum (508) 753-8278 30 Elm St., Worcester https://www.worcesterhistory.org/

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NOW STREAMING. JASON SAVIO Get a quick dose of punk, metal, and melody in Marginalia, the newest release from Worcester’s own Foxfires.

Clocking in at just over ten minutes, the entire album is over before you know it but it totally rips.

Marginalia starts off red hot with the 45-second “Don’t Snap That” and doesn’t let up until the last two songs where the band stretches its talents and tries venturing outside its comfort zone. The hardcore fury of Foxfires mixes well the band’s punk tendencies on “Cold Moon” and “Alpine Tree Line,” with Josh Lyford yelling in the latter: “What’s the darkest place that you’ve been?!”

While Lyford’s vocals may often be hard to decipher, his delivery helps set the tone and aggression of the music.

The 53-second “Long Trail” rides the edge at a breakneck speed and kicks hard.

“Things That Were Lacking” and Archers of Loaf cover, “Web in Front”, are the longest, with both clocking in around two minutes. “Things That Were Lacking” strips away the aggression and taps into a melancholiness, showing the band’s ability to change gears. They develop a memorable breakdown and chorus that stands apart from the rest of the song, showing a different side of Foxfires on this number until it abruptly ends, making you wish there was more to it. “Web In Front” is a poppy cover with a catchy chord progression that sticks out in stark contrast to the rest of the tracks. However on most of the songs, Foxfires uses the in-your-face approach to convey the chip they carry on their collective shoulder.

If you’re looking for something to get you going with a coda of yearning and nostalgia, Foxfires’ Marginalia will make your ears happy.

For more, visit: https://www.facebook.com/foxfiresma

There’s a point during Pattern of Decay’s self-titled album, somewhere in the middle of the song “Seven Seconds”, when you realize that you may very well be spiraling through a portal to Hell and you don’t care because it feels good. That’s pretty much what to expect from this New York-based metal band’s second full-length album.

It’s an unrelenting war on your ears full of gut punching kick drums, highwire guitar lines, and possibly the most gnarly growl you’ll ever hear. POD manages to compartmentalize each instrument and vocal to get the most out of them without one stepping over the other.

Take the song “Insomnious”. It’s pure chaos, like Purgeon-Christmas-morning type lunacy, but the band is able to keep it all locked in and extremely tight. There are good breakdowns here and elsewhere on this record and changes mid-song that give the impression that some real thought went into them.

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M AY 2 0 22

“House of Doors” is another standout that has a real horror movie feel to it. The song starts with a voice saying “We hate it when you come here” and Christian Contello’s growls are layered with what can only be described as a witch’s voice, giving it a menacing quality that reminds one of The Evil Dead.

There is a point near the end of the record where it starts to fall off, and you may think they should have cut the song list down. There are twelve songs on this release, and ten of them are either four minutes long or longer, so if you feel like you’ve had enough by song eight or nine, you’re not alone. With that being said, POD have put together a strong and thrashing record that any metal fan will want to hear.

For more, visit: patternsofdecay.com

EXPLORETHE THECANAL CANALDISTRICT DISTRICT EXPLORE THE CANAL DISTRICT EXPLORE

VISIT BEFORE OR AFTER the woosox GAMEs

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ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS BirchTree Bread Company 744-243-6944 138 Green St., Worcester Birchtreebreadcompany.com Wednesday, Friday & Sunday Live music May 1 - Chuck & Mud May 4 - Bring Back Pluto May 6 - James Keys May 8 - Big Jon Short May 11 - Hip Swayers May 13 - Gumbo May 15 - Deb McDonnell Band May 18 - Giuliano

Chashu Ramen + Izakaya 508-304-7183 38 Franklin St., Worcester 1st & 3rd Thursday - Mauro Depasquale’s Jazzed Up Trio 2nd & 4th Thursday - Van Dam Duo Electric Haze 26 Millbury St., Worcester May 5 - Cinco de Mayo Fiesta May 6 - May Art Gallery ft.

George Annan

Firefly’s BBQ 508-357-8883 350 E. Main St., Marlborough DANTE’S at FIREFLY’S BBQ May 6 - Auntie Trainwreck May 7 - Rumor Hazit May 13 - Vinyl Echo May 14 - Played Out

May 20 - Blackstone Soul May 21 - Deadbeat May 27 - Deloreans May 28 - Flock of A**holes Flying Rhino 508-757-1450 278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

May 20 - Sarah French Black and White Grille 508-885-5018 206 North Spencer Rd., Spencer Blackandwhitegrille.com Blueprint New American Bar & Grille 978-668-5580 10 Village Sq., Westminster Cafe Neo 774-253-6139 97 Millbury St., Worcester Nightly Karaoke Chuck’s Steakhouse 508- 832-2553 10 Prospect Street, Auburn Classic’s Pub 978-227-5258 285 Central St., Leominster

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May 7 - New England Dead All Stars May 12 - Malodies Drag Karaoke w/ Mal E. Fishn’t May 13 - A Hop-Hop Showcase w/ Akrobatik May 14 - Major Bloom Takeover May 15 - Home Campout Pre-Party Feat. Guess Method, Lee Ross, Good Trees River Band May 19 - High Ed Battle of the Bands: Esarem One w/ Leon Trough, The Faith Ann Band, Earthmark May 20 - Dogs in a Pile, Escaper May 26 - Maladies Drag Karaoke w/ Mal E. Fishn’t May 27 - Drag Roulette w/ Mal E. Fishn’t May 29 - 10th Annual Blazed & Confused Elm Draught House 508-865-2850 35 Elm St., Millbury Fidder’s Green Pub 508-792-3700 19 Temple St., Worcester

Gardner Ale House 978- 669-0122 74 Parker St., Gardner Greater Good Imperial Brewing 508-926-8736 55 Millbrook St., Worcester May 14 - Anniversary Party Greendale’s Pub 508-853-1350 404 W Boylston St. North, Worcester Sundays - Night Jam Wednesdays - Wacky Blues Jam Halligan’s 508-832-6739 889 Southbridge St., Auburn Happy Jack’s 978- 466-3433 785 N Main St., Leominster Wednesdays - Team Trivia Thursdays - Slingo Indian Ranch 508-943-3871 200 Gore Rd., Webster Indianranch.com

May 6 - Lip Service Drag Show May 21 - Bruce in the USA Legends Bar and Grille 978- 342-6500 68 Airport Rd, Fitchburg MB Lounge 508-799-4521 40 Grafton St., Worcester Wednesday - Karaoke Thursday - Trivia Night Friday & Saturday - Dance Party Sunday - Game Night May 21 - Ladies Night May 22 - Drag Queen Bingo MCL Club 508-797-0141 181 Lake Ave., Worcester Worcestermcl.org Thursdays - Karaoke May 5 - Cinco de Mayo FIESTA May 22 - Memphis Sun Mafia Michael’s Cigar Bar 508-459-9035 1 Exchange St, Worcester Movie Mondays May 1 - Jim Devlin May 4 & 14 - Mechanical Rat May 5, 19, & 27 - Dezi Garcia May 6 - Hit the Bus May 7 - Between the Waves May 8 & 29 - Chris Barber May 11 & 25 - Frank Foot May 12 - Kevin Kvein May 13 - Roads Dawgs May 15 - Mikey Hutchinson May 20 - Chris Reddy May 21 - Stubby Phillips and the Flatheads May 22 - John Trudeau May 26 - Giuliano Dorazio May 28 - Los Sugar Kings Off the Rails 508-304-6411 90 Commercial St., Worcester Wednesday through Sunday Live Music One Eyed Jack’s Tiki Bar & Grill

508-459-0089 433 Park Ave., Worcester Park Grille 508-756-7995 257 Park Avenue, Worcester Partner’s Pub 978-345-5051 970 South St., Fitchburg Patsie Duggans 508 755-4155 49 Millbury St, Worcester Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern 508-752-7711 455 Park Ave., Worcester Purgatory Beer Co. 508-596-2194 670 Linwood Ave. Building C, Whitinsville Ralph’s Diner 508-753-9543 148 Grove St., Worcester Monday - The Dirty Gerund Poetry Open Mic Wednesday - Karaoke with Dj Matt R! Rascal’s 508-459-0862 70 James St., Worcester Rascalsworcester.com May 5 - Wine Glass Paint and Sip May 7 - Draw the Line: Aerosmith Tribute May 14 - Best of the Foo Boston: Foo Fighters Tribute Band May 19 - Wine & Cheesecake Pairing Experience May 21 - Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room May 28 - Ozzmosis: Ozzy Anthology World Class Tribute Show Reunion Tap & Table 774-293-5501 198 Worcester St., North Grafton Mondays - Musical Bingo Wednesdays - Trivia with Nate Briggs May 5 - Mark Manzella & Friends

May 6 - The Cast Iron Band May 7 - Sarah Carcia & Friends May 12 - Comedy Night with Dan Crohn May 13 - Mark Manzella May 14 - Heads of Steam May 19 - Tony Gahn May 20 - Keri Anderson & the Ambient Sojourn Band May 21 - Ripple Effect May 26 - Dave Rivers May 27 - Stones in the Road May 28 - Boogie Chillen River Styx 978-696-5176 166 Boulder Dr., Fitchburg Thursdays - Str82hades Trivia Fridays - Work Tavern Poker May 6 - Ryan Hood May 7 - Paul Juneau May 13 - Devin Resnik May 20 - Daniel Gay May 27 - Lane Torosian Southside Grille 978-632-1057 242 West Broadway, Gardner Tuesdays - Slingo Thursdays - Trivia with Kevin Stakes Pub 508-755-2955 1281 Pleasant St., Worcester The Bull Run 978-425-4311 215 Great Road, Shirley May 6 - Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience May 13 - The Quebe Sisters Band May 14 - HAN CD Release Show May 18 - Session Americana May 20 - Joanne Shaw Taylor and Dueling Pianos May 21 - The James Montgomery Band May 26 - Andy Statman & Jake Eddy The Comedy Attic Upstairs at Park Grill 508-756-7995 257 Park Ave., Worcseter Thursdays - Open Comedy Night May 6 & 7 - Janet McNamara

May 13 & 14 - Carolyn Riley May 20 & 21 - Dan Smith May 27 & 28 - Big and Tall Comedy Tour

May 21 - Turnstile Love Connection Tour May 26 - Carcass May 28 - After the Burial & Thy Art is Murder Tryst Lounge 978-400-7906 320 Main St, Fitchburg Vincent’s Worcester 508-752-9439 49 Suffolk St., Worcester

The GazBar 978- 534-6600 1045 Central St, Leominster The Mill at 185 774-261-8585 185 W Boylston St., West Boylston Live entertainment Thursday through Saturday The Muse 508-796-5900 536 Main St., Worcester The Palladium 508-797-9696 261 Main St., Worcester May 5 - While She Sleeps May 6 - Simple Plan/Sum 41 May 7 - JXDN May 10 - limpbizkit

Wachusett Brew Yard 978-874-9965 175 State Rd. E, Westminster Tuesdays - Trivia Wednesdays - Line Dancing May 1 - Jake and Jenny May 5 - Joel Cage May 6 - Aftermath and Plead the 5th May 7 - Maddi Ryan and New Soul Review May 8 - Boothill May 12 - Chris Barber May 13 - XS Band May 14 - Son Ravello and Go Gadget Go May 15 - Hot Mess Whiskey on Water 774-578-8829 97 Water St., Worcester White Eagle 508-753-9612 116-120 Green St., Worcester Whiteeagleworcester.com Thursdays - Slingo Musical Bingo Fridays - Music by Dj Sundays - Wise Guys Trivia Woo Bar & Grill 774-243-6130 358 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

May 12 - Symphony X May 13 - Action & Earl NBA Leather Tour May 18 - Born of Osiris/Veil of Maya May 20 - Tech N9ne t h epu ls emag.com

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FUNKY MURPHYS - WORCESTER

16 M AY 20 22

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17

EAT • BREWS • COCKTAILS

DINING REVIEW LOGAN'S TABLE 16 CENTRAL STREET, LEOMINSTER (978) 401-2962 WWW.LOGANSTABLELEOMINSTER.COM BERNIE WHITMORE Leominster has a way of producing consistently exceptional dining; the short trip up Route 12 is always rewarded with a memorable meal. Our latest destination, Logan’s Table, is located around the corner from the stunning Bill Brady’s, our last Leominster restaurant excursion.

Logan’s Table makes full use of its small storefront space, with eight or ten tables plus seating at their L-shaped bar. In warmer weather windows facing the street roll up and additional dining will move outdoors to their extra-wide alley. Inside, the décor of homey knickknacks and a shelf of LP album covers is dominated by a huge dome-shaped pizza oven stoked with an inferno of white hot embers.

Their bar mixes up posh cocktails such as Maple Whiskey Coffee made with maple cream, cold brew coffee and whipped cream. Although LT has a few local brews on tap, their real focus is a huge and varied list of canned beers.

With items such as their Detox Salad, Panini sandwiches, flatbreads and burgers, LT’s is much more than pizza. We soon realized there wasn’t a single option we wouldn’t be happy to order. Deciding between Truffle Fried Brussel Sprouts or Shrimp and Scallop Risotto Cakes for an appetizer was not easy.

We chose the Wood Fired Boneless Chicken Thighs. For ease-of use and meatiness, I actually prefer chicken thighs over wings; these were char crusted, drizzled with spicy Buffalo sauce and ar18 M AY 20 22

ranged in an arc around a slaw of celery and carrot dressed in blue cheese sauce. The order of six thighs was ideal for the three of us to share and was quickly devoured.

Authentic Neapolitan pizza ovens reach temperatures in excess of eight hundred degrees – at those temperatures you should get a nice singe-dappled crust in a couple minutes. So it was unsurprising when my Shrimp Scampi pizza was served before my friends’ entrées. On first sight, and then first bite, the truth was at hand: excellent!

LP’s pizza started with tasty bread dough; the anticipated hi-temp scorching added deep nutty flavor that contrasted with the fresh lemony garlic sauce tossed with a scattering of shredded grilled shrimp. A thin layer of cheesy topping was dappled golden brown with bits of diced tomato, strips of basil and shaved Romano cheese. The twelve-inch pie was big enough for sharing and bringing home.

Meanwhile, my friend was digging into his bowl of Jambalaya; chunks of chicken, large juicy shrimp and ovals of spicy Andouille sausage all nestled in Louisiana Creole rice. Midway in, he noted that the Andouille was doing all the heavy lifting in terms of providing spicy heat and wondered if he should have requested a bottle of Tabasco.

On his first visit to Logan’s, David had tried their Tuscan Salmon. He enjoyed it so much that tonight he ordered Parmesan Encrusted Haddock,

a broad thick filet served over creamy risotto with roasted tomato, and artichoke hearts. The parmesan crust was baked to the lightest golden brown, dusted with dill and topped with scattered shavings of Romano cheese.

When I snagged a sample, instead of haddock I mistakenly forked a chunk of artichoke, richly coated with risotto. Lucky error! It wasn’t out of a can; this artichoke tasted fresh and was drenched in their lemony caper butter sauce. We’ll run with his report, “the haddock is fresh, juicy and tender”.

Logan’s Table is worth the trip from anywhere in Central Massachusetts. Everything we ordered was delicious, the service was friendly and the entire experience was informal fun. And the pizza?

Give me more!

what’s happening in the restaurant scene

PAUL GIORGIO BUCK’S NOT SOLD? The rumor that Buck’s Burger on Worcester’s Green Street has been sold was a bit premature. Nick Panerelli thought he had a deal, but like all deals, nothing is final until the check clears the bank.

ANOTHER CANAL RUMOR. It appears that Birch Tree Bread Company, also on Green Street, has been sold to Alexis Kelleher, owner of Crust on Main Street & West Boylston Street. There are no plans to change the concept.

AND EVEN ANOTHER CANAL RUMOR: is the Hotel Vernon going to serve food? It looks like the iconic Hotel Vernon in Worcester’s Kelley Square will now be serving food. The kitchen, which hasn’t been used in 22 years, has been upgraded to code. It appears they will be serving Asian fusion cuisine, although to use the word “cuisine” may be a stretch.

BEST VEGAN. Yelp recently released a list of the top 100 vegan restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, and two Massachusetts eateries made the cut: Belmont Vegetarian in Worcester ranked No. 64, and Bayberry Cafe in Woburn ranked No. 68. We have always heard good things about the place on Worcester’s Belmont Street.

IT'S NOT THE US MINT. Mint, A Vietnamese restaurant, opened the first week of April in the space that was once home to the Blarney Stone on Worcester’s Maywood St. Mint is owned by Van Le and his family. Le is no stranger to Worcester, having owned Tortilla Sam’s on Highland Street for about a decade.

EB FLATTS TO REOPEN. Former owners Scott and Grace Conner are coming out of retirement to reopen the iconic East Brookfield eatery.

Originally opened in 2006, the Conner’s sold the place two years ago and were enjoying what now be described as a short retirement. They are touting family fare reasonable prices NEW ASIAN. SOHO has opened at 580 Park Ave in Worcester. This was the site of the old Friendly’s near Webster Square and more recently Pho Bowl. They offer sushi and hibachi, as well as a Bento box lunch special for $12 HANGIN ON THE CORNER. We hear that the Corner Lunch at the corner of Quinsigamond Ave and Lamartine Street, and just steps from Polar Park, may be on the market again. The current owners from Boston have owned it for less than a year. Maybe the commute was too much.

NORTH COUNTY NEWS. The Moran Square Diner, a Fitchburg mainstay, has new owners and an updated menu. Now owned by Adam and Brittany Willoughby, beside diner fare, the restaurant will offer upscale offerings. The Willoughby’s spent about a year cleaning the place before they opened. Now you can get why they are calling it “elevated diner fare”.

Try it out!

OUTDOOR DINING RETURNS. The Worcester License Commission has been fielding a number of requests for outdoor dining. The most recent request comes from the newly opened Two Chefs on West Boylston Street. People seem to enjoy eating outside during the summer, so hopefully we will continue with this expanded option.

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PULSEBREW BREW A TOAST TO MOMS Dear Drinkers,

SHANNON JUTRAS

How lovely to meet you here again. Last month we were able to celebrate a group of people very close to my heart: Women in the beer industry. Now we are just in time to celebrate equally important women: Moms. Especially Moms who like beer.

You may, at this very moment, be troubling over what to do to honor this significant woman in your life. Do you bring her breakfast in bed? Cliché. A nap? As if. Mom might be too polite to tell you what she really wants for Mother’s Day, but I am not: Mama wants a DRINK. Mom wants to get out on the town, eat a meal she neither prepared nor cleaned, and sip a zippy beer in the easy May sunshine. Find their prototype below and follow these tips to cement your status as the favorite child.

The Foodie or The Picky Eater

Three Words: Wachusett Brew Yard. With its primo location in the Worcester Public Market, the incredible variety of food and fancies available within feet of the Wachusett Brew Yard appeals equally to adventurous eaters and people who pick the onions out of guacamole. The citrusy hop character of Wachusett’s Wally IPA compliments food with spice, like Jamaican jerk chicken from One Love Café. The unique, converted airstream trailer bar is the perfect backdrop for a family photo op. It’s truly a day drinker’s paradise.

“I DON’T NEED ANYTHING, I JUST WANT MY CHILDREN TO BE HAPPY” This is a TRAP. Do not believe a single word of such martyrish nonsense and get ready to ace this test of your love. Beer and brunch are required at minimum, and a thoughtful gift won’t hurt either. Armsby Abbey has what parents need with an extensive tap list of exclusive drafts from breweries like Hill Farmstead, Oxbow Brewing, and Brick and Feather. The Abbey’s weekend brunch menu is full of thoughtful offerings that pair beautifully with farmhouse ales like Fox Farm’s Annata Grape Harvest, and their elaborate charcuterie boards will haunt your dreams in a good way.

The Fur Parent

Whether they always have a doggie water bottle in the car or carry Attila the Bun around in a backpack, fur parents deserve pampering too. Pets are welcome at some of the best breweries in town, including outdoors at the Wachusett Brew Yard, Greater Good Imperial Beer Co., and always at Redemption Rock Brewing. Consider this a loving reminder to make sure everyone is on their best behavior - breweries can only be pet friendly if pets and parents are friendly too.

The Beer Snob

One of the best ways to honor a parent is giving them the time and resources to explore interests of their own. If they are a true beer aficionado, the gift of a homebrew kit might be a life changer. Local homebrew suppliers sell materials and offer the knowledge and support to make the best possible beers from your first batch. Homebrew Emporium in West Boylston has a friendly team who can help you decide the right size system and set you up with recipes and ingredients to brew beer of your own invention.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the parents out there regardless of their official title: The ones who made us, the ones who raised us, and the ones who stepped up and treated us like family. Write them a nice card, call them up, buy them a beer. And if you make them cook or clean on their special day, may the Sumerian beer goddess Ninkasi have mercy on your soul.

20 M AY 20 22

COCKTAIL CORNER

VOLTURNO DAN WASKEVICH JENNY PACILLO “Going into spring, I really like any type of spritz,” Dan Waskevich, bartender at Volturno tells me, “it's a good versatile drink that can be made to suit your taste.” Aperol spritz, a wine based cocktail that’s a staple in Italy, is traditionally on the sweeter side.

Anyone with common cocktail knowledge can make these at home, just fill a wine glass with ice and Prosecco with a little room for soda water and an orange peel.

However don’t let the simplicity of these drinks fool you, Waskevich uses this basic recipe as a jumping off point. “I’m digging the violet spritz a lot right now,” he says, as he mixes the purple Empress 1908 Gin with a violet liqueur before pouring it over ice and adding lemon zest. Waskevich can work his magic and make a spritz for any pallet by playing with the base liquor. He suggests using the Italian Braulio Bormio Amaro Alpino Liqueur, to create a piney, bitter spritz that is still light but more complex than the conventional floral options.

What is Waskevich’s favorite part about being a bartender? “It gets stressful and my brain has fifty things on it at once, but it’s fun to joke around and talk to everybody. We have a great time here,” he smiles. Volturnos “We Think You Drink” menu option allows Waskevich to exercise his creativity on a daily basis, which keeps his bartending skills fresh and makes for a fun night interacting with guests.

Celebrate spring by visiting Waskevich at Volturno and treating yourself to your very own custom made spritz. Salute!

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21

STYLE • FASHION • BEAUTY

SUNSCREEN 101 IRENA KACI

As with all things, sunshine too has its dark side. I’m talking about the harmful UV rays that can damage our skin or worse. Growing up, I felt it wasn’t summertime yet if my winter skin had not peeled but the past four decades have changed all that. Our skin starts to peel because the cells actually self-destruct as a way of protecting us against free radicals and skin cancer.

Isn’t it about time we returned the favor?

Applying sunscreen every day rain or shine is definitely best practice, but sunshine is a pleasant reminder to stay on top of my skincare routine. We know that sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer and protect from sunburns, but it does so much more than that. Sunscreen also reduces skin inflammation and aids in managing skin discoloration which in turn reduces signs of aging. Now that’s something we can all get behind.

We are fortunate to live in the golden age of sunscreen. Every major beauty and makeup company, not to mention several celebrities, boast a healthy selection of sunscreen/UV ray protection products. The best sunscreen options are those that use minerals to hydrate and protect skin by either reflecting or absorbing the harmful UV rays. I would like to start by talking about some standouts in this year’s line up.

CeraVe uses only the most gentle and natural ingredients, making their CeraVe Tinted Sunscreen with SPF 30 a great choice for sensitive skin. As far as safe and effective sunscreen lotions go, it is among the most affordable and is available online at Amazon and Target.

A quick second is Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Lotion for Face and Body SPF 30, which is also available on Amazon. This one is a bit pricier but well worth the money because it is especially designed for anyone with sensitive skin and needing only the gentlest touch when it comes to UV protection.

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Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sport Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 with 100% Mineral Active combines all of the important safety and effectiveness features of the above with an easy to apply stick system. I know that one of my greatest hurdles in sunscreen application is simply taking the time to slather and smear. This option absolutely streamlines the process without resorting to an aerosol spray. It is also blessedly small, and easy to pack in whatever corner pocket leftover for tchotchkeys. I try to sneak these in random purses and pockets so that I may rely on them in a pinch.

Of course with summer just around the corner, swimming is sure to follow.

And as is often the case, sunscreen doesn’t always hold up in water. Enter Juice Beauty SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen, designed specifically to work exactly the way it should, even while swimming for up to 80 minutes, while providing top notch protection and being gentle on your skin.

If longevity is not your priority, Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen might be the right fit for you. Even though it only protects for 40 minutes, or half the time as Juice Beauty, it is eminently affordable and still provides the same benefits, with the added bonus of helping support coral reef revitalization.

If money is no object and you want to treat yourself to a Sephora trip, check out ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, which comes in a wide variety of skin tones. It is sunscreen and skincare in one, boasting Hyaluronic Acid as one of its main ingredients.

Summer comes and goes every year, but skin safety is here to stay.

S Savvy TYLE Five Bridal Shower Gifts

APRIL GODDARD Hi Pulse readers, I’m so glad that you’re here! The spring and summer months are prime times for weddings and bridal showers! The daunting and sometimes nerve-wracking task of picking out the perfect gift for your loved one or friend can be overwhelming.

While many may have a registry, others may leave the art of gift-giving up to their guests. Maybe you are getting married yourself and don’t quite know what to put on your registry. Ahead are five trendy and creative ideas on what to gift to brides on their special day!

1. Personalized champagne glasses - Have you been hopping on the maker machine trend? Are you obsessed with partaking in your newfound craft every chance you get? One of the best excuses to get crafting is when you have to go to a party that traditionally calls for gifts. My personal favorite thing that I have been seeing trending everywhere is personalized champagne glasses for the happy couple. This can be personalized with everything from their names, their favorite animals, or the date of their wedding.

2. Makeup gift basket - For the bride or groom who loves cosmetics. My favorite thing in the world is putting together personalized gift baskets for people. I think that is so much more personal than buying one pre-made. In this particular case, I would opt for their favorite products, maybe some that they’ve been eyeing for a long time, or even some new releases or fun skincare products that you can wrap up in one cute little basket. Plus, they will have some nice new makeup to wear on their wedding day or any other upcoming festivities that they will be having!

3. Coffee/beverage - For my coffee people. Who wouldn’t love to get some coffee-related things? Keeping with the style theme, why not go ahead and hop back on the gift basket idea, not just with coffee but with cute mugs or stylish tumblers thrown into the mix as well. You could go the personalization route, or even get super-blingy with a stand-out mug that they will smile at every time they use it!

4. Personalized Pennant - A little home or office decor with a twist! Give the gift of being super personalized and unique with a gift from Oxford Pennants. There are plenty of pennants and flags to choose from that you can customize with their names, their wedding date, cute sayings, or even just a simple "Mr. and Mrs.". If you are the family member or loved one planning a shower, bonus points for ordering up one of these unique pieces and adding it to the party decor. The bride will thank you, and be able to use the pennant or flag for years to come in her home.

5. Sleep Mask - Wedding planning can be stressful, and one of the most important things you can give a bride is the gift of a peaceful night’s rest with a sleep mask. Sleep masks are available everywhere, and prices range from $6.99 at Target to $160 for the Circcell amethyst mask. The super soft Mantra Sleep Mask is always a great choice, it’s breathable and puts zero pressure on those pre-wedding glam eyelashes. Now if only they could make one to help with those mother in law nightmares.

So, get your dancing shoes ready and celebrate the upcoming milestones in your friends’ lives with any of these thoughtful ideas. Don’t hesitate to treat yourself too, you deserve it for being a good friend with great taste in gifts!

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23

OUT & ABOUT SPRINGING BACK TO LIFE! LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY ADVENTURES IN WORCESTER AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP!

GIULIANO D’OR AZIO After another long, frigid winter marked with record-high COVID numbers, things are finally looking up as we get into the warmer months. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year, with long, sunny days, and plenty of hot summer nights in our near future. Everyone knows about Polar Park and the Public Market, and although I’ll definitely be paying visits to some of the city’s more high-traffic venues, I thought I’d highlight some of my favorite things to do, indoors and out, that are, of course, LGBTQ+ friendly and tons of fun.

Bacon, Brews, Burgers and Biscotti

Worcester’s acclaimed “Restaurant Row” has long been known for its great restaurants, specializing in Italian food, pizza joints, and some of the city’s best diners. I’ve really gotten to love some of the newer additions Shrewsbury Street has welcomed over the past few years. Let’s say it’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon, maybe you grab breakfast at the Parkway or the Boulevard (more on her later!), and take a stroll up to East Park. Next, I’d head up to Redemption Rock Brewing Co. for a few beers. They usually have a food truck on the weekends too! The patio is fantastic and the whole place is big and airy. Just a great place to spend the afternoon and it’s totally not a bro-ish, sporty, intimidating brewery atmosphere. For dinner or maybe a pick-me-up espresso Martini to keep it rolling, I’d head up to The Woo Bar & Grill. They have some really great, cozy outdoor seating, you’ll feel right at home. For dessert, on the way back hit up Meraki, a new dessert bar serving delicious cakes and pastries as well as coffee and cocktails.

Nature Walks and Meatballs

One of my favorite places to get outside in the city is Broadmeadow Brook. It’s a perfect spot for a hike without having to leave town. You just might forget you’re still in Worcester, but conveniently — you are! If you’re like me and need a reward after a hike, you’re on the east side of town, which means you need a meatball sandwich from Vincent’s. As a musician it’s one of my home-awayfrom-home bars. In addition to the late-night fun, they have an awesome backyard seating area, and their famous sandwiches are served up in the afternoons as well.

Night Owls

For a fun night out that begins with a great dinner, start at deadhorse hill on Main Street. Always a beautiful, locally-sourced but internationally-inspired menu from head chef Jared Forman. Ask Julia to help you with the wine pairing — she never disappoints. (in myopinion, also the city’s best spot for brunch — after which you can head to Sweet Jane’s Boutique across the street for some big league consignment deals). To continue the downtown journey, my friends and I usually end up at the MB Lounge dancing the night away. I usually try to sneak out before the lights turn on and beat the crowd to the Boulevard Diner. I know I mentioned it for breakfast, but the real magic of this place happens after midnight. Their appropriately-vast menu appeals to even the most intoxicatedly voracious appetite, and the people watching is second to none.

Whatever you get up to this spring and summer, stay safe, and have fun. Worcester is much more walkable than many folks realize, and you really interact with the culture of the town in a different way when you’re on foot. Hope to see you out and about soon!

Bio Giuliano D’Orazio (he/him) is a Worcester native, musician, music educator, member of the queer community, and a board member of Love Your Labels.

Email: giulianodoraz@gmail.com Instagram: @musicbygiuliano

24 MAY 20 22

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April Showers Brought Me to Mayflower

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A rainy April day was the perfect opportunity to visit Mayflower, and cross another local shop off my list. I took a spin down Park Ave and easily found parking outside of their fairly plain looking building. When I first walked in, the vibe was more clinical than cannabis. The front staff was super friendly but it kind of felt like I was in a new-age doctor’s office. Especially because I had to wait for a minute before entering the showroom. All of this made more sense on the other side of the door when I realized they’re limiting the amount of people in the showroom at one time. This allowed me to comfortably appreciate the interior design and displays. The clapboard background with their logo in front was a nice touch that felt like the hull of a ship. Gorgeous wood display cases and counters bring the whole motif together which also plays nicely with the punch of orange color distributed sparsely through the facility. I always enjoy when I can use a service like CanPay. Getting my purchase in a shiny, white, zip top bag was an interesting choice. It’s certainly more protective than your standard brown paper bag however this felt like my bag was screaming, “I just purchased a controlled substance!” That said, I picked up an eighth of Star Killer and an eighth of Cookies and Cream which were both quite tasty. If you haven’t done so yet, sail on down to Mayflower and check them out.

Overpriced Schwag?

I’ve read a few articles recently stating that Massachusetts’ cannabis is high priced and low quality. Some industry people suggest that part of the issue are the regulations our local Cannabis Control Commission has put on the industry. Bringing legal weed to market that meets the strict CCC standards comes at a premium cost, however it feels like the consumer pays the price. It only takes a quick Google search to learn that we’re paying, at times, double what other states like Colorado and Oregon pay for an eighth, before taxes.

What’s frustrating is that we’re not getting a better experience for the price.

This could be attributed to a fledgling industry. It’s conceivable that we see better pricing as the laws continue to adapt to the market. I really just want to have the best quality weed available. To hear that some people are embarrassed by the product in our state bums me out. We’ll see if some consumer-focused brand identifies this a niche area and adapts their operations.

It’s also an opportunity for the CCC to reflect on their policies and help our companies make Massachusetts, and more specifically Worcester, the pot capital of the Northeast.

All Packed Up

People who know me know that I’m really into packaging. I’ve spent a lot of time talking about packaging that annoys me so I get really excited when I come across one that I enjoy opening. I bought a couple eighths from Good Chemistry recently and was pumped to receive a puck-like container. The size is great, and I like that they fit in a pocket or a backpack. They’re easy to open but not so easy that a kid can do it. They also stack nicely and the design is clean and fun to look at. Most importantly, it’s easy to get every little crumb out before calling the container empty. Honestly, these containers are cool enough that I’m probably gonna save them to put other stuff in. Also in an unrelated note, thank you to the staff at Good Chemistry for receiving my package of stickers due to a shipping error. That was a pretty funny problem to explain to everyone at the front desk. The Seltzer Time podcast has the full story, give it a listen!

Thanks for reading and happy trails!

-Travis (@hunchbacktravis)

26 MAY 20 22

CITY LIVING • ARCHITECTURE • DESIGN

FROM SHOE FACTORY TO LUXURIOUS LOFTS VINCENT PACIFICO Located at 28 Water Street, the JH and GM Walker Shoe Company built its four and a half story brick factory building in 1870 and was a manufacturer of heavy boots which were commonly sold throughout the American West. Boot and shoe manufacturing was Worcester’s third largest 19th century industry with more than 300 employees working in this building alone. In recent years, the building definitely showed its age from the dark soot stained brick exterior, the boarded up and broken windows and cracking brick mortar lines. In 2019, developer Anthony Rossi acquired the defunct factory building, giving it a new life and transforming it into what is now the Walker Lofts. The 62 unit residential building provides luxurious apartments with onsite amenities to new city residents, and restores much of the historic fabric of the building both interior and exterior.

Before these vacant brick buildings are turned into the luxurious loft style apartments that we all know and love, the existing interiors are typically rugged, dirty, have leaking roofs and the floorboards stained with oil and grease from years of manufacturing.

This factory seemed to be preserved in time with pulleys and line shafts still secured to the ceiling as if boots were still being produced off the line yesterday. Quite a different feeling if you ever have the chance to explore a factory before and after an industrial rehabilitation project.

One of the most feasible and cost effective ways developers have chosen to repurpose factory buildings is by adapting them into residential communities which helps lessen the ongoing housing demand. The Walker factory was a perfect location for residential units being in a popular downtown neighborhood, walking distance to public transit and right in the heart of a developing mixed use district. The new development consists of studios, and both one and two bedroom units which is in line with the local demand and helps get the density needed for a feasible development.

A unique design choice that makes this project stand out from its predecessors is its white washed interior bricks both in the units and common spaces. If you ever have the chance to spend time in a loft apartment, you may notice the large industrial windows, the original refinished floorboards, but there is often a sense of dim lighting from the dark red brick walls. Interior designer Tiffany Barqawi of Barqawi Design made the choice to use a white, black and gray color palette to liven the rooms with tones that reflect light, refresh the space with vibrance, and add a contemporary twist to a rather rugged look. The interior still celebrates the industrial aesthetic by keeping the brick, beams and ceiling exposed, while the white and black paint is able to give a contemporary look and a modern industrial feel.

The units themselves feature open floor plan layouts with kitchens that have high end cabinetry, stone countertops and top line appliances. Each apartment comes equipped with their own washer/dryer, plenty of closet space and an energy efficient heating system. The exposed ceilings, historic replica windows and repointed brickwork truly help give the new residents an authentic experience of what it’s like to live in the Canal District. The Walker factory is by no means the first of its kind in the area to offer luxurious residential lofts, but without the vision, passion and creativity of the developer and the design team behind them, this shoe factory may have seen its fate as just another pile of bricks.

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SPORTS & FITNESS

CLARK UNIVERSITY ROWING HOLY CROSS ROWING

THE SPRING REGATTA MAKES A SPLASH JENNIFER RUSSO

Thank goodness the weather is FINALLY getting warmer. Those of us who hide away from the cold are peeking our heads out like groundhogs to welcome the sun. Outdoor sports and activities begin to make the city buzz with life, and at its hub is Lake Quinsigamond, which will be the center of regatta competitions.

A regatta is a series of boat races where teams show off their skills in rowing after months of training. Rowing made its way to the United States mid-century. An intercollegiate race challenge was issued by Yale to Harvard back in 1852, and so the tie-in to college sports began.

Nearly 4-miles long and narrow, Lake Quinsigamond has played host to regattas since the mid 1800s and is ideal for rowing. The lake even hosted the National Olympic rowing trials in 1952.

The spring regatta consists of various races, including the New England Rowing Championships (NERC) held on April 30th. Though there are many events across the country at the collegiate level, Lake Quinsigamond will be the canvas for two of the largest races. Hosted by the Intercollegiate Rowing Association, these include the Men’s and Women’s Eastern Sprints.

The Women’s Sprints will be on Sunday May 1st and the Men’s Sprints will take place on Sunday, May 15th. The races hold both morning and afternoon heats for the different categories. The winners of those heats then take place in the final to determine the ultimate winner.

Schools need to apply to be represented at these races and must be organization members of USRowing and the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC).

Massachusetts teams include Boston University, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, and our own Holy Cross.

Holy Cross was ranked #20 in the nation in the latest IRA poll to open the season and in March, the men’s team won all four races at the Jesuit Invitational. The women’s team placed second in the varsity eight B final and first in the second varsity eight B final. The varsity four also took first in the C final.

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ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY ROWING Last month, the men’s team competed in the Occoquan Invitational in Virginia, where the team placed first in the varsity eight, first in the second varsity eight and fourth in the third varsity eight, taking fourth in the final.

Throughout the spring and summer, other teams, including Assumption, Worcester Polytechnic, Clark, Worcester Academy, Shrewsbury, St. John’s, and St. Mark’s, compete in a number of races hosted by the Quinsigamond Rowing Association (QRA).

Local teams are looking really good this year too. The WPI men’s varsity eight recently came in third in the Donahue Cup and the women’s team took first in their final. Clark’s women’s varsity eight broke their program record time twice in the races on April 10th.

The college rowing teams will compete in the National Invitational Collegiate Championship on Sunday, May 8th and high school rowing teams can compete in the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) competition held on May 28th.

So, don’t be surprised when you see a fleet of boats on the lake with lots of spectators cheering for their favorite rowing teams. Even better, park your car and join them as the scene is a sight to behold.

For rowing team schedules, you can check their respective school athletics websites. To see a list of all regattas being held on Lake Quinsigamond, you can visit www.qra.org and for a full list of regattas in the United States, you can head to www.regattacentral.com.

Shaun2 KNOWS SPORTS?

SHAUN CONNOLLY

Picture this: an audience under bright lights, music blaring, crowds on their feetdancing, singing, laughing. They’re outside getting gifts, enjoying the hot New England summer night. They’re eating, they’re drinking, they’re having an experience.

Are they at a music festival? Hardly, they’re at a Worcester Bravehearts game. Bravehearts’ General Manager Dave Peterson wants fans at every game to “enjoy a show that just so happens to have baseball being played as well.”

In November of 2021, Peterson and some of his staff took a trip down to Savannah, GA to experience The Savannah Bananas. “They are sort of the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball,” Petersen explains, “they play by their own rules, their first base coach is a break dancer, and they have a marching band lead the fans into the ballpark each and every home game.”

After the game, Peterson and the Bravehearts were inspired. The staff sat down with the Bananas at dinner and they talked specifics. The Bananas walked them through how to bring this to the Heart of the Commonwealth.

The upcoming Bravehearts season is entitled “2020-You”, and it’s all about the fans.

There are various spectator incentives, challenges, and options to get more involved in the game. There will be a fan designed jersey, which will be auctioned off and the money will be donated to a charity of the designer’s choosing. Fans get to create their own rules for the games on June 6th and 7th. “It’s going to be absolute chaos,” Peterson predicts.

A big selling point is the Braveheart’s value deal. For just $22 a fan will have parking, a game ticket, an all-you-can-eat voucher, bottomless soft drinks, the ability to play 9 holes of mini golf, and more depending on the insanity of the season. Some days, that means picking the songs that are played at the park, or getting to do an on-field promotion.

Peterson seems to have it all figured out. They even went wild with advertisements.

Not only will there be a full wall in right field of fans’ selfies, and business’ logos, all posted free of charge, but there will be other gimmicky promotions throughout games as well. Bases will be green thanks to Nal’s Paint Center and a dozen roses will be handed out by the players in the stands in part from Herbert Berg Florists. “Everything we are doing, just gives us the best home field advantage in all of baseball,” Peterson says.

What may be the coup de grace of this season will take place June 11th, during the weekend of Worcester’s Tercentennial. Dust off your old Canseco jersey for the Worcester Tornadoes Day at the ballpark. There will be a reunion of former workers, Twister himself will make the return onto the field and the team will be wearing those pinstripes once again. What better Worcester way to celebrate the city turning 300 than to commemorate a bygone team that residents definitely love more now that it is gone?

This all sounds well and good, but how are these players taking the news that they are more than just college athletes with Major League prospects?

“We gave them a survey when we were recruiting and signing them. We asked if they were comfortable doing on field promotions, performances skits,” Peterson said.

“Next year we are going to get talented guys who also happen to be theater majors,” he said half-joking.

Mr. Peterson had this writer at skits and bottomless soda, and I plan on spending the majority of this summer taking myself out to the ballgame.

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NEW IN THE WOO: XGOLF IRENA KACI Marc Catanese has always been a fan of his hometown Worcester, Massachusetts. As an avid golfer and aspiring entrepreneur, when he heard of indoor golfing, he did not hesitate to check it out. “As soon as I went in, I knew this was the franchise I wanted.” X-Golf won him over and immediately he began scouting locations. When the corporation mentioned having an interest in expanding their central mass market, Worcester became the easy favorite. Nestled between Chipotle, Starbucks, and countless other businesses, X-Golf is primed to find its niche clientele and enrich the Trolley Yard plaza.

The interior feels luxurious and casual at the same time; a kind of sports bar meets doing business outside of the boardroom vibe. It is at once spacious and intimate, with nine separate simulators, including a private room for VIPs. “If any local sports teams, like the WooSox, want to come in and play a couple of hours of golf, they can have some privacy.”- Catanese says. His hometown pride is easy to spot throughout the business model.

Marc Catanese grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Worcester, and his loyalty runs deep. He understands that part of having a business thriving in a community means absolutely supporting the community right back, which is why he is committed to promoting local brands.

“Over here if you ask for a Coke or a Diet Coke, you’re going to get Polar. It’s all Polar all the time. Polar Cola, Polar Diet Cola. We’re not going to bring a corporation in here when we have perfectly good products being made right here in our city.” It doesn’t stop there, of course, as the bar drafts are all familiar names, including Wachusett, Greater Good, Redemption Rock and of course Wormtown.

It was not easy being ready for opening day by March 1, 2022, but Catanese was determined. “Even though the supply chain made things difficult, I knew I could get it done.” He says, having already been delayed for a few months. “Hiring has been easy,” he continues, and it is refreshing to hear, “Bartenders just are more available for some reason; it has been easy to find people looking for work despite the pandemic. We even have a PGA Golf Pro double as our Assistant Manager. He’s available for private lessons in addition to his management duties.” Indeed anyone interested in playing golf or learning the sport could hardly expect a better setup.

The fact that there are private lessons offered by request really makes golfing accessible to all. Catanese is hoping to offer children’s lessons during school breaks. Thanks to their daytime hours and versatility, this is a great place for children to pick up the skills and the passion to become tomorrow’s golfing pros.

Even though the dream was born only a year ago, Catanese’s desire to own his own business is practically life-long. “This is my first business venture and it is just me, so I’m learning as I go. I like to be involved in as much as I can. Even though it’s a hike, I am here every morning, having meetings with vendors, personally managing every aspect. We have a capacity of 101 people so this really is a great space for big events. We are hoping to host anything from a bachelor party to a wind-down celebration of a corporate milestone.”

X-Golf is located at 287 Grove Street and is open seven days a week. Book a t time on their website at https://playxgolf.com/locations/worcester/

30 MAY 20 22

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