PULSE MAGAZINE JULY 2022

coming soon! this fall! bi-monthly 4-color glossy magazine for the lgbtq+ community for advertising and distribution info, please contact David simone

dsimone@pagioinc.com

PULSE MAGAZINE: JUNE 2022

7 COVER STORY

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20 YEARS OF PULSE MAGAZINE

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ENTERTAINMENT ARTS • CULTURE

VITA HYDRATION

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Style Savvy

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SILENT DRIVE

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Out and About

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Arts & Culture Listings

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420 in the 508

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Now Streaming

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Entertainmant Listings

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PulseShots

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CITY LIVING • ARCHITECTURE • DESIGN PORCHES, PORTICOS AND STOOPS

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SPORT AND FITNESS

EAT • BREWS COCKTAILS

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STYLE • FASHION BEAUTY

Dining Review: WORCESTER PUBLIC MARKET

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EAT BEAT

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PULSE BREW

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COCKTAIL CORNER

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WORCESTER’S 28 KICKBALL LEAGUE – A GREAT WORKOUT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY Shaun Knows Sports?

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NEW IN THE WOO MINT BREAK BIKE SHOP

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 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 Kaçi, Vincent Pacifico, Nick Sposato, and Jenny Pacillo.Writers

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JENNY PACILLO A lot has changed in Worcester over the last twenty years.

There was once a time where you could throw a killer dance party in the Ship Room at the Vernon, swing by the Salty Dog to ride the bull, and sing karaoke to a packed crowd at Ole on Water Street with a potato taco in your hand (rip to a real one). I love what Worcester is becoming, although I don’t think I’ll ever get used to going down Millbury Street the opposite way. Whatever your thoughts are on the Worcester renaissance, and I know there are plenty of opinions about it, there has been at least one, unwavering constant for two decades: Pulse Magazine.

“We actually had a contest within the company to name the publication. It was narrowed down to two, so it was either going to be the Pulse or the Beat. The Pulse won and that’s how the publication first started,” Simone explains. Initially, Worcester Magazine felt that Pulse should simply be a monthly insert. “Of course Paul Giorgio was set against that” Simone laughs. “I suggested that they insert Worcester Magazine inside the Pulse,” Giorgio dryly replies.

Way back when in 2002, Paul Giorgio was president of Worcester Publishing Limited and David Simone was working for sale, they oversaw Worcester Magazine. They saw an untapped market with the popularity of the magazine’s annual College Survival Guide. “The local businesses weren’t aware of the amount of money that college students were spending in the community,” Simone tells me, “so we did the College Survival Guide for a number of years, and finally I brought up the idea to Paul to do a publication that would have a much broader audience instead of just a college publication.

Paul Giorgio presenting 2022 People to Watch Award to Ferni Ravelli.

David Simone recalling to Pulse Magazine editior, Jenny Pacillo how the Pulse Magazine Started.

Giorgio started his own publishing company, Pagio Inc. where he and Simone (Vice President) were able release Pulse and host events. “We brought something to the city that it lacked, and that’s an entertainment, lifestyle and restaurant publication that caters to a younger demographic, where newspapers tend to cater to an older demographic,” Giorgio says. 20 years later Giorgio and Simone’s vision is flourishing in Worcester and the surrounding towns of central Mass. Each month, t h epu ls emag.com

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Pulse showcases local businesses, new restaurants, and people who make our community a better place for everyone.

Pulse began highlighting up and comers in 2005 with the annual “People to Watch” issue each January. Notable alumni include Joyner Lucas in 2016, former City Manager Ed Augustus in the inaugural 2005 issue, and photographer George Annan in 2021. Che Anderson was honored in 2013 for his work at the Nativity School of Worcester. “Almost 10 years later I still credit and thank Pulse for being the first publication locally that saw something in me, and believed I’d make some sort of impact on the Worcester community,” Anderson says, “It set a bar for me to make sure I did all I could to work with and uplift our community. It was also the first time I stated in writing I wanted to go skydiving, and I was lucky enough to make that happen in 2019. I’m forever grateful to Pulse Mag for the opportunity and acknowledgment.”

Art Director Kevin La chimes in, “For me to hear this is crazy, they’re one of the big pop punk bands from the 2000s.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH

WORCESTER'S ROCKSTAR!

FROM THIS SEASON'S

"THE VOICE!" cover photo by pulse magazine photos inside courtesy of ricky duran

www.thepulsemag.com February, 2020

Ricky Duran on the Cover of February 2020 edition of Pulse Magazine.

Che Anderson on the bottom right of the 2013 People to Watch Cover.

The Worcester Music Awards is another universally loved Pulse event with a keen eye for picking out future stars. Ricky Duran won “Best Acoustic/Solo Act” at the Worcester Music Awards in 2017, and soon went on to finish second place on the Voice. Three time Worcester Music Awards “Best Female Vocalist” nominee and winner Chloe Belsito has performed on the Today Show and American Idol. Simone recalls Boys Like Girls headlining “Pulse Fest” at the DCU in 2007, “It was a huge event. We had people lining up for tickets to go to this.”

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“Pulse has been ingrained now into the psyche of central mass and it gives us the opportunity to do all kinds of events, like the Taste of Shrewsbury Street, which we created, Chili and Chowder, Sunset in the City, Downtown Underground.

All these pop ups that make Worcester a better place, a more exciting place for people who are maybe younger,” Giorgio says. La recalls seeing Pulse when he was a student at Assumption College. “My girlfriend and I stumbled across it and discovered Worcester Restaurant Week, it was during our first year of dating,” he smiles, adding, “We kept reading it to learn more about events.”

As the years progressed, Pulse evolved to reach a larger audience. “Initially we wanted to keep it young. I mean, more than a college audience, but we were looking at readship in their 20s and early 30s. I would say our demographic now is say, 25 to 45,” Simone says. A quick glance through the Pulse Shots shows a wide range of people, rather than the Leitrums and Irish Times party shots from the past.

What do the next 20 years look like for Pulse Magazine? We are looking forward to our first issue of Central Mass Pride in

September, which is set to become the premier magazine for the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community throughout Central Massachusetts. CM Pride will cover a variety of relevant topics, such as local politics, travel, and highlight artists, activists, and leaders with engaging profiles and guest columns. As always, Giorgio and Simone see an underrepresented audience that needs attention, and want to celebrate the accomplishments, promote the rich culture, and raise awareness of the dynamic Central Mass LGBTQIA+ community.

Worcester Pride Guide that is published

by Pagio Inc. as well.

“I think it’s been a great 20 years,” Giorgio muses, “I think the Pulse readily gets in the hands of younger people who then check the calendar out and go out to eat, go out to clubs, things like that. Plus with the other publications we do, absolutely serve the city whether it’s the Pride Guide or the visitor guides for Discover Central Mass.”

coming soon!

A LGBTQ+ MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS centralmasspride.com

From Pulse Staff from the Past.

“My time as the art director of the Pulse ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of my career! Over the span of a decade, I got to really hone my skills as a graphic designer and photographer, and it was such a fun environment! I also loved being a part of the Worcester Music Awards, as I’m also a musician and have been part of the scene since I was young. In fact, all the events Pagio organized were pretty epic. I made so many friends at Pagio Inc., some of which I still consider bffs, and my coworkers became like family. I will never forget my time there.” - Justin Perry

“Pulse was a great place to be. It was pre-covid, so we had the Worcester Music Awards, Taste of Shrewsbury Street, and so many other events. It was a great dynamic. The Worcester community was super supportive and we did our best to spotlight all the special things happening in Worcester and the people that made Worcester such a great place to be.” - Donna Robinson “Working at Pulse was a wild time. There’s something so satisfying about getting to shine a light on your community.” - Josh Lyford

Thank You Paul and David for starting the beat in the city and continuing it for 20 years.

To many more. - the Pulse Magazine Staff t h epu ls emag.com

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ENTERTAINMENT • ARTS • CULTURE

SILENT DRIVE IRENA KAÇI

Sometimes the muse takes a long time to return, and sometimes band members grow into their own separate lives before they come together again. Worcester’s own Silent Drive, released their debut album in 2004, and just dropped their second album, Fairhaven on Equal Vision Records in June.

I had a chance to chat with the band regarding their current lineup, as well as the road to this new album. Listening to “Dearly Beloved”, their single off of Fairhaven, I struggle to categorize the genre. When I mention this to the band, Pete Chilton (bass) laughs, “Genre is a funny term for us. We don’t really identify as any genre. Post hardcore seems to be the box that people want to put us in, but we don’t think about any of that stuff, ever.

We just write whatever we think sounds good to us, and whatever they wanna call us is fine with us.” Nick Van Someren (guitar) agrees, “Again we aren’t aiming to be in any scene. In fact when we write a song, literally anything could happen. We just sort of write what we like, and whatever comes out, comes out”.

Even though the album has just been released, it has been in the making for ages.

Zach Jordan (vocals) explains, “Fairhaven is actually a combination of songs we had written/started in the days before our hiatus… and a couple new tracks that we wrote more recently. You could say it was in the works

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since 2007, we never ‘broke up’ back in the day, we just stopped actively being a band. We got together a bunch of times over the years but life and commitments all kind of kept us from becoming a band again. We all always wanted to put this record out, but the timing had to be right, and now it finally was.” Joyal chimes in, “Plus there was some waiting for all of us to be vaccinated.”

Like all musical projects, the story of this particular configuration of Silent Drive is long and leaves a trail of previous projects. Jordan recounts, “We all carry sort of a long list of bands and projects that lead us to Silent Drive. Pete, Nick and myself were playing together in a band called Ink Cartridge Funeral, and our drummer, Steve Neale died in a car accident. Months later, we started Silent Drive with the former drummer for Bane, Nick Branigan.”

With Branigan on board, they wrote their debut album, Love Is Worth It, in 2004. The album served as equal parts catharsis and mourning, as many of the songs dealt with Neale’s loss and loss in general.

Now nearly two decades later, everyone is older and able to bring a wealth of new experiences into this second album. Joyal has replaced Nick Branigan on guitars. Joyal had been the drummer for Drowningman, and

was looking for a new project, around the same time that Branigan pulled back from touring commitments. Chilton says, “I am not even sure how the connection was made, but it was made, and Dave came to practice and played through all the songs we had recorded flawlessly, and we were stoked.” Indeed the chemistry is easily evinced by how seamlessly they are all weaving in and out of crosstalk.

Looking to the future, Joyal says, “Most of us are tied to our home lives to some extent, but our hope would be to do some limited touring and possibly hit up some fests.” With live music being a thing again, I’ll set my hopes on high.

ARTS & CULTURE LISTINGS American Heritage Museum (978) 562-9182 568 Main St., Hudson https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/ June 23 & 24 - Battle of Bunker Hill: Revolutionary War Reenactment

July 30 - Moving Forward

Arts Worcester (508) 755-5142 44 Portland St., Worcseter https://artsworcester.org/ July 14 - The Tenth Annual One: A Members’ Exhibition

Samuel Slater Experience (508) 461-2955 31 Ray St., Webster https://samuelslaterexperience.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 July 10 - Quality Music presents: Artist Showcase July 22 - Robert Bannon Live in Concert July 28 - Oasis by Amir Peter Fitchburg Art Museum (978) 345-4207 185 Elm St., Fitchburg https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/ Free First Thursdays Hanover Theatre (877) 571-7469 2 Southbridge St., Worcester https://thehanovertheatre.org/ July 1 & 2 - 2022 Miss Massachusetts Competition July 8 - Music Worcester Presents: Wynton Marsalis July 9 - Tyler Henry: The Hollywood Medium July 13 - Historic & Architectural Tour July 22 - Footloose!

July 27 - Historic & Architectural Tour JMAC Popup (508) 561-0173 20B Franklin St., Worcester www.jmacworcester.org July 21 - QTS Vogue Workshop Mechanics Hall (508) 752-5608 321 Main St., Worcester https://www.mechanicshall.org/ July 14 - Music Worcester Presents Tony DeSare: Sinatra & Beyond Old Sturbridge Village (800) 733-1830 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge https://www.osv.org/ Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday - Summer Discovery Adventures July 2, 3 & 4 - Independence: 4th of July Celebrations July 9 - Historical Craft Classes July 16 - Music and Art Weekend July 23 - Baseball, BBQ and Brews

Preservation Worcster (508) 754-8760 10 Cedar St., Worcester https://www.preservationworcester.org/

Tower Hill Botanical Garden (508) 869-6111 11 French St., Boylston https://www.towerhillbg.org/ Tuesdays - Yoga in the Garden Wednesdays - Afternoon Yoga for Stress Relief Thursdays - Yoga in the Garden July 7 - Plants and Pints July 9 - Succulent Planter July 10 - Forest Bathing July 13 & 20 - Introduction to Butterflies July 14 - Botanical Mixology July 16 - New England Daylily Society Show & Sale July 17 - Summer Paint Pouring Parties July 21 - Plants and Pints July 23 - Medicinal (and Edible) Plant Walk July 24 - Advanced Zentangle July 27 - Vegetable Garden Walk and Talk July 28 - Botanical Mixology July 30 & 31 - New England Lily Show

Free First Sundays Sunday - Highlights of the WAM Collection Docent Tour June 4 - Zip Tour: Corot’s “A Fisherman on the Banks of a Pond” June 18 - Zip Tour: Healy’s “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his Daughter, Edith” June 18 & 19 - Jewels of the Nile: Ancient Egyptian Treasures from the Collection of the Worcester Art Museum 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/

Tuckerman Hall (508) 754-1234 10 Tuckerman St., Worcester http://www.tuckermanhall.org/ The Village Worcester thevillageworcester@gmail.com 4 King St., Worcester Worcester Art Museum (508) 799-4406 55 Salisbury St., Worcester https://www.worcesterart.org/ Free First Sundays July 2 - Zip Tour: Jewels of the Nile July 23 - Arms Armor: 17th Century Militia Worcester Center for Crafts (508) 753-8103 25 Sagamore Rd., Worcester https://www.worcestercraftcenter.org/ July 22 - Hot Night in the City 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/ Worcester Art Museum (508) 799-4406 55 Salisbury St., Worcester https://www.worcesterart.org/

AWARD WINNING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT W. GARY SMITH ON HIS LAND ART INSTALLATION AT NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN AT TOWER HILL: “Uprooted is more sort of abstract.

Again, the main mission of any of this stuff, but definitely, in Uprooted, is connecting people to nature. The theory with this is, and a number of the pieces illustrate this, I believe that if you insert some sort of very clean geometry into a natural system it kind of lights up the organic pattern around it. So we did a number of these where we had this clean geometry, clean forms or shapes, so that the organic patterns in nature that surrounded them were even more beautiful.”

Full interview at thepulsemag.com t h epu ls emag.com

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NOW STREAMING. JASON SAVIO

VOICE IN THE DARK “Bourbon is hard to come by in my time of need”, sings Jeff Givens on “At the End of My Rope,” one of many memorable songs on his album Voice in the Dark. This fun and funky rock song swings with that familiar country twang we’ve come to except from Givens. His rebellious debauchery returns on “Ride Cowboy Ride” and “Key West,” but there is also an underlying heartfelt earnestness that makes Voice in the Dark feel extra personal and meaningful.

Givens does an excellent job of tapping into what he’s seen and relaying it to the listener on Voice in the Dark. “Long Goodbye” is a heart-aching account of someone struggling with watching a loved one slip away to a disease, judging by the picture Givens paints. The guitar phrasing and descending lick at the end is a melodic extension of the hurt in the lyrics.

Voice in the Dark certainly isn’t a bummer, “Hello Darkness,” has a playful, bluesy Tom Petty vibe that struts with Givens singing “I can’t ask for forgiveness/ I know it’s wrong/I’m looking for redemption in every song”, but it can be real and raw, making it feel like a complete, honest record.

Being alone in the dark is seen from different perspectives through the songs here, whether it’s from that of a struggling musician, a person who lost a loved one, or someone who finds themselves being left by a lover. That’s the theme that runs through Alone in the Dark, and, although it can take many forms, the end result is always the same. As he gives thanks for his own “sweet voice in the dark” on the title track that helps him through, we can give thanks to Givens for the same.

For more, visit: jeffgivens.com

THIS IS IT (LIVE AT VINCENT’S)

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Worcester-based musician Giuliano D’Orazio, who goes by simply as Giuliano, lets it fly on his live album “This Is It (Live at Vincent’s).” Playing a mostly solo set with the accompaniment of a couple guests, Giuliano does a fine job of making a series of classic cover songs his own.

One of the first things you’ll notice about the record is the constant background chatter of the audience. It really captures that “live” feel and makes the listener feel like they’re in attendance. Armed with just his acoustic guitar and voice, Giuliano has the ability to command your attention all on his own. His effortless segue into Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels” is a standout as Giuliano delivers the lyrics with feeling and empathy. He busts out a harmonica for his cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Promised Land.” It’s noticeable that Giuliano doesn’t try to sound like these iconic singers, instead he delivers their well-known songs with his own character and inflections.

Giuliano is joined on stage throughout the show by a trio of different musicians: Alison McTavish, Joshua Croke, and Southside Tony, all of whom add an extra flare to an already strong performance. Joshua Croke’s contribution on John Prine’s, “Angel from Montgomery”, features a noteworthy electric guitar solo that nicely compliments Giuliano’s acoustic playing. His “harmonica showdown” with Southside Tony is another standout.

The crowd gets into it on Giuliano’s rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep,” when they start singing along to what sounds like Giuliano’s surprise.

“This Is It (Live at Vincent’s)” is a showcase of a local performer at the top of his game and really enjoying himself. The crowd in attendance sounds like they enjoyed it, and you will too.

For more, visit: https://linktr.ee/musicbygiuliano and http://musicbygiuliano. com/

EXPLORETHE THECANAL CANALDISTRICT DISTRICT EXPLORE THE CANAL DISTRICT EXPLORE

VISIT BEFORE OR AFTER the woosox GAMEs

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ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS As COVID restrictions begin to ease and live music returns to the area’s bars and restaurants, we are excited to bring entertainment listings back to Pulse. If you’d like to be included in future listings, please email JPacillo@ pagioinc.com.

BirchTree Bread Company

744-243-6944 138 Green St., Worcester Birchtreebreadcompany.com July 1 - James Keyes July 6 - Bring Back Pluto July 8 - Chuck & Mud July 10 - Big Jon Short July 13 - Arny Spielberg July 15 - Colt & the Coyotes July 20 - Giuliano July 22 - Carlos Odria Trio July 27 - Worcester Jazz Collective July 29 - Hip Swayers July 31 - Ash & Eric Black and White Grille

508-885-5018 206 North Spencer Rd., Spencer Blackandwhitegrille.com Black Sheep Tavern

978-422-0255 261 Leominster Rd, Sterling Meetmeatthesheep.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 Chashu Ramen + Izakaya 508-304-7183 38 Franklin St., Worcester 1st & 3rd Thursday - Mauro Depasquale’s Jazzed Up Trio 14 JU LY 20 22

2nd & 4th Thursday - Van Dam Duo Draught House Bar & Grill 508-835-4722 42 West Boylston St., West Boylston Electric Haze 26 Millbury St., Worcester July 1 - Into the Loop: July Art Showcase July 2 - NEJ Presents: Return of the Kings!

July 7 - Maladies Drag Karaoke w/ Mal E. Fishn’t July 13 - Bruse Wane w/ Sean Price, Styles-P, Keither Murray, Papoose, Remy Ma, EPDM, Big Puns Son Chris Rivers July 15 - Yakboyz Party with Bizarre of D12 July 16 - Rainbowland Photo Shoot Party: VAPORWAVE Theme!

July 22 - Crush: A Tribute to Dave Matthews Band July 23 - Red Matter July 24 - The Roll Out: A Hip-Hop Experience w/ Woocity Pat July 28 - Thirsty Thursday w/ Dj 4eign July 29 - Our House Summer Sessions Part 1 Elm Draught House 508-865-2850 35 Elm St., Millbury Fidder’s Green Pub 508-792-3700 19 Temple St., Worcester Firefly’s BBQ 508-357-8883 350 E. Main St., Marlborough Dante’s at Firefly BBQ: Indoors July 1 - Riff Raff July 8 - Gold Dust Refugee July 9 - Heart Attack Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack July 15 - Gary Backstrom Band July 16 - Back in the Day July 22 - Drive South July 23 - TBD July 29 - Carolyn Rae & the Rumos July 30 - Iron Tiger

The Backyard at Firefly’s BBQ: Outdoors July 1 - Dan Emino July 2 - Carl Schiller July 3 - Jae Mannion July 8 - Alan Goodrich July 9 - Stephen Angelis July 10 - Chris Barber July 15 - Mark Assencoa July 16 - Jared Hanrahan July 17 - Toby Soriero July 22 - Steve Spector July 23 - Ricky Fleet July 24 - Sean Magwire July 29 - Tim Leavitt July 30 - Kim Trusty July 31 - Melodious Zach Flying Rhino 508-757-1450 278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester Gardner Ale House 978- 669-0122 74 Parker St., Gardner Greater Good Imperial Brewing 508-926-8736 55 Millbrook St., Worcester Greendale’s Pub 508-853-1350 404 W Boylston St. North, Worcester Sundays - Night Jam Wednesdays - Wacky Blues Jam July 9 - Deloreans July 10 - Elayne Fikuckit & Darren Pinto July 15 - The Holly’s July 16 - Doctor Rober July 17 - Gary Backstrom July 22 - Riff Raff July 23 - Petty Larceny July 24 - Jason Glenn July 30 - Nasty Habits July 31 - Yvette Rhault Halligan’s 508-832-6739 889 Southbridge St., Auburn Thursdays - Bike Night July 7 - ViVi DaFunk July 8 - Open Past 10 July 9 - The Verge July 14 - Trak Down

July 15 - Jeff Allen Shaw & Co July 16 - ViVi & DaFunk July 21 - Might King Snakes July 22 - Iron Tiger July 23 - Whiskey and Rye July 28 - undercover July 29 - Windfall July 30 - Say Uncle Husky’s Pub 508-425-9614 413 Park Ave., Worcester Mondays - Movie Night Thudays - Wise Guys Trivia Sundays - Vinyl Night with Local Music July 23 - Falsely Avoided July 27 - Open Mic July 30 - Smokeless Wood July 31 - Wormtown Mugwumps Indian Ranch 508-943-3871 200 Gore Rd., Webster Indianranch.com July 2 - Michael Franti & Spearhead July 8 - Get the Led out July 9 - Scotty McCreery July 17 - Little River Band July 23 - An Afternoon with Ann Wilson of Heart July 24 - Three Dog Night July 27 - Phoenix Rising: Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Gidden July 30 - Pike Hairfest July 31 - Tesla Legends Bar and Grille 978- 342-6500 68 Airport Rd, Fitchburg MB Lounge 508-799-4521 40 Grafton St., Worcester Wednesday - Karaoke Thursday - Weekend Pregame Friday & Saturday - Dance Party Sunday - Game Night July 23 - Summer Block Party MCL Club 508-797-0141 181 Lake Ave., Worcester Worcestermcl.org

Thursdays - Karaoke July 3 - Sunday Funday with Frank Foot July 9 - Thin Ice July 16 - Interstellar Band July 23 - Whiskey Church July 30 - The Superchargers

Ralph’s Diner 508-753-9543 148 Grove St., Worcester Monday - The Dirty Gerund Poetry Open Mic Wednesday - Karaoke with Dj Matt R!

Michael’s Cigar Bar 508-459-9035 1 Exchange St, Worcester Movie Mondays

Rascal’s 508-459-0862 70 James St., Worcester Rascalsworcester.com July 2 - Original Band Independence Night July 9 - Iron Tiger 80s Hair Metal Tribute Band July 16 - Clamdigger July 23 - Ladies of the Evening July 30 - Vixen

Mint 508-459-1532 79 Maywood St., Worcester Fridays - Karaoke Night Off the Rails 508-304-6411 90 Commercial St., Worcester Wednesday through Sunday Live Music Thursdays - Line Dancing hosted

by Kevin Richards July 8 - Kitchen Dwellers July 15 - The Georgia Thunderbolts July 28 - Sierra Hull July 29 - LANCO 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 Nightly Entertainment Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern 508-752-7711 455 Park Ave., Worcester Purgatory Beer Co. 508-596-2194 670 Linwood Ave. Building C, Whitinsville

Reunion Tap & Table 774-293-5501 198 Worcester St., North Grafton Mondays - Musical Bingo Wednesdays - Trivia with Nate Briggs River Styx 978-696-5176 166 Boulder Dr., Fitchburg Thursdays - World Tavern Poker/Trivia Fridays - Finicky Fork Sundays - The Food Pit July 1 - Lane Torosian July 2 - 5th Anniversary: beer releases, rare beers, entertainment and food all day!

July 3 - Eddy Troxler & Friends July 8 - Luke Deroy July 9 - Ryan Hood July 15 - Pete and Steve July 16 - Bruce Andrews and the No Street Band July 17 - Eddy Troxler & Friends July 22 - Daniel Gay July 23 - Jake Hunsinger July 29 - Ryan Hood July 31 - Eddy Troxler & Friends Southside Grille 978-632-1057 242 West Broadway, Gardner Tuesdays - Slingo Thursdays - Trivia with Kevin

Stakes Pub 508-755-2955 1281 Pleasant St., Worcester Steel and Wire Cocktail Lounge 508-373-2225 124 Millbury St., Worcester Tuesdays - Trivia with Thad Wednesdays - Brooks Milgate and Friends Thursdays - Karaoke with DJ Matt R July 2 - Daniel DeCristofaro July 3 - Greg Kosnowski July 8 - Eric Ducoff Band July 9 - Real Cool Cats July 10 - Daniel Gay July 16 - Dan Burke July 17 - C3/Andy Caplan July 22 - Heavy Sweaters July 23 - Clay Brown July 24 - Ed Barnett July 29 - Sarah Levecque Band July 31 - Hip Swayers The Bull Run 978-425-4311 215 Great Road, Shirley July 9 - The Fools/Toby Walker July 13 - The Jimmy Vivino Band w/ Special Guest, Ronnie Earl July 14 - Eilen Jewell July 15 - Chris Smither July 17 - Davy Knowles July 22 - Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Tribute July 23 - Watermelon Slim & the Truckers July 29 - Victor Wainwright & the Train July 30 - Rob Mo & Willie J Laws 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 July 12 - Darkest Hour July 15 - New England’s Future 10 July 20 - Sleeping with Sirens July 21 - If I Die First & Inspirit July 23 - Sad Summer Festival July 28 - Eighteen Visions Thirsty Robot 265 Summer St., Fitchburg Thursdays - Trivia Night Rob Boss July 2 - Lizzy Marquis July 8 - Cassie Noble July 9 - Mike and Missy July 12 - Twin City Rotary Cornhole Tournament July 16 - Charley Carrozo July 23 - Chris Barber July 30 - Chris Reddy Tryst Lounge 978-400-7906 320 Main St, Fitchburg Vincent’s Worcester 508-752-9439 49 Suffolk St., Worcester Wachusett Brew Yard 978-874-9965 175 State Rd. E, Westminster Tuesdays - Tacos and Trivia Wednesdays - Line Dancing July 1 - Big Random July 2 - Hit the Bus/Cashwood July 3 - Scott Babineau July 7 - Tim and Jim July 8 - Barbwire and Lace July 9 - Brewpub Yoga July 9 - Booty and the Jett/Go Gadget Go July 10 - Acoustic Tandem July 14 - Cashwood July 15 - Summer Nights at the Wachusett Brewyard: Wolfpack July 16 - Charles A Music/The Verge July 17 - Devin Resnik July 21 - Chris Barber Brew Yard at 152 Green St., Worcester Thursdays - Music Bingo!

Whiskey on Water 774-578-8829 t h epu ls emag.com

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EAT • BREWS • COCKTAILS DINING REVIEW: WORCESTER PUBLIC MARKET 160 GREEN STREET, WORCESTER (774) 366-6633 WORCESTERPUBLICMARKET.ORG BERNIE WHITMORE Decades ago, soon after I arrived in Worcester, a native I met asserted, “Whatever cuisine you’re interested in, you can find it here!” It was a proud boast from a trueblue Worcesterite who knew the city intimately.

Nepal, beginning a journey that ultimately landed him in Worcester. A business owner now, he opened the first Nepali restaurant in town.

The Worcester Public Market has the energy of the city’s indie culture, diverse cuisines and a local brewery all united under one roof at the town’s center of gravity, facing Kelly Square around the corner from Polar Park.

We shared an order of Steamed Momo: chicken, pork, and vegetables. Momo are dumplings filled with coarsely minced ingredients blended with tasty Nepali spices that come with three dipping sauces: chili, soy, and his own custom sauce. Dumpling shape and crimping technique were varied for each filling.

The goal of this trip was a relaxed-paced meal that sampled several vendors. Each of these vendors are welcoming and have incorporated their unique spirit into their space. Some, like One Love Café, are familiar; others have a newbie entrepreneurial vibe.

At first bite I discovered why Momo had been so highly recommended. The fillings retained the integrity of their ingredients: instead of mushiness, you could see bits of the individual vegetables and cuts of meat. Plus, Tanuj is such a nice guy you’ll want to love his food!

Roman trattoria. Thick spaghetti was cooked defiantly al dente; the sauce features chili pepper, red onion and guanciale (an Italian process for cured pork jowl) and was seductively robust with thin coins of guanciale adding depth of flavor beyond the means of the comparatively simple pancetta.

ATLANTIS RAW BAR A recent arrival to the WPM, Atlantis Raw Bar, was our first stop. We took a couple places at the bar and asked for oysters. Nate, our server, presented a handwritten list of four options, half East Coast, half Pacific Northwest. He expressed regret that they don’t have a printed list, but I’d much rather have market-fresh than standardized inventory.

FROZE ZONE We’re already fans of their main location in West Boylston; here at the WPM the selection was more limited and dominated by children’s flavors such as fruity pebbles and funfetti cake.

Our sampling, fresh oysters from Martha’s Vineyard and Duxbury, were served over crushed ice with the essentials: lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, and horseradish. Expertly opened, perfectly clean and fresh, gorgeous in appearance with flavor honest and pure. Raw Bar perfection.

Despite that we achieved satisfaction. I was happy with my cup of Stracciatella, creamy vanilla gelato with flakes of crackly dark chocolate. My friend ordered a combo of chocolate and coconut.

Though their name sounds somewhat industrial, don’t be fooled! Froze Zone’s flavors are intense and their textures are extraordinarily creamy. The dark chocolate is mega-dense; it’s my favorite.

PASTA MANI ‘HANDMADE FRESH PASTAS’ Scanning their menu board, I didn’t need to look past Pasta Amatriciana to know what our next course would be. This is a special recipe not commonly encountered around here but considered a classic in Rome.

MOMO PALACE When he was three years old in Bhutan, Tanuj Neupane’s family, political refugees, were deported to

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We were seated across from another pair of diners at Mani’s table, a thick hunk of gleaming timber surrounded by chairs. In anticipation of lavish flavor, I ordered a glass of Montepulciano, deep ruby-red with dense tannin and peppery fruit flavor.

PM’s Amatriciana was one of the best, worthy of any

There’s nothing new about public markets. They’re often a riot of sights, sounds and fragrances. Market day can be something of a celebration where the entire town gathers. The Worcester Public Market achieves some of that spirit.

what’s happening in the restaurant scene

PAUL GIORGIO WHAT’S THE TEA: KrafTea Kombucha founder Matt Glidden has moved the company’s production to a new spot at 3 Brussels St, which is in a complex of old factories near Holy Cross College off Southbridge Street that houses Acoustic Java café. They were formerly located in the Sprinkler Factory, but it appears that the building is being shut down.

LET’S PLAY CHICKEN: The Swingin’ Chicken pub in Webster went on the market in mid-May for $1.3 million, offering a full bar and restaurant, plus a massive upstairs living space. The restaurant is located just a few blocks from Webster Lake near the Connecticut border. This is a great name for a place I have never heard of.

ICON FOR SALE: Guertin’s Café, an iconic Worcester bar, is for sale according to Zillow. The bar is located near the new Table Talk plant on Southgate Street in South Worcester.

MAURY’S DELI: There appears to be work going on at the site of the old Maury’s Deli in Worcester’s Webster Square area. No word on who or why or even what will occupy the space.

IT’S MOVING DAY: Darrio’s Ristorante will soon be opening at a new location in Fitchburg. No opening date has been set but they are moving to 655 Main Street.

IT’S SUNDOWN SOMEPLACE: Sean Woods, the guiding hand of deadhorsehill on Worcester’s Main Street, is redoing the old Dive Bar on Green Street into a new place-The Sundown. As they used to say “It is sundown someplace in the British Empire”.

THEY ARE VERY LUCKY: Lucky’s Café has recently reopened at its new location on Worcester’s Chestnut Street. Look for the same quality food in a new spot.

COMING BACK TO LIFE: The Kahua Restaurant in Sturbridge reopened recently after shutting down in 2019 due to Covid. They did offer take out but the dining room is open again.

A DIVIDED UNION: The Union Tavern in Worcester’s Canal District has been renamed and upgraded in terms of food. The new place, PreGame, is serving pub fare. I guess if you are in the Canal District you need to use a baseball metaphor. Who wants to open Post-Game?

MORE IN THE CANAL: It appears that the former Millbury Street Pizza also in Worcester’s Canal District has transformed itself into Taste Buds 508, a casual eatery. No word on the food yet.

IS IT STILL WHITE? The White Room, an event venue on Green Street in Worcester’s Canal District, has been sold to Birgit Straehle and Luis Antonio Fraire, two well-known members of the arts community in Worcester. Luis ran the Sprinkler Factory, an artist space and gallery, for a number of years.

AFTER TASTE: The Taste of Shrewsbury Street was a great success this year, with thousands of folks enjoying food samples and music along Worcester’s Restaurant Row. The money raised is used to maintain the flower beds and trees along the street. t h epu ls emag.com

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PULSEBREW BREW RURAL BREWERIES

SHANNON JUTRAS Dear Drinkers,

EXTENDED VERSION ON THEPULSEMAG.COM

Just like every summer has its soundtrack, every season is worthy of its own beverage hit list. While Worcester’s breweries have no shortage of delicious suds to offer, there are a variety of options to explore just outside the city limits. Shake up your routine, blast some tunes, and make some new memories on a ROAD TRIP. Maybe “road trip” is a bit dramatic for breweries barely 30 minutes west of Worcester, but if the windows are down, the music is right, and you pack a snack, it definitely counts. Plus, with gas prices exceeding five hundred billion dollars per gallon, a short jaunt is preferable anyway. Read on for suggestions to stock your coolers and your summer playlist.

My first stop on this route is usually, well, work. As part of the crew at Timberyard Brewing in East Brookfield, I enjoy visiting and supporting our neighbors when I can. After my shift ends on summer Fridays, I like to kick off my boots and relax on Timberyard’s patio. This time of year I’m usually sipping on our Strawberry Lemonade Sour. This kind of throwback energy requires music with the nostalgia to match, like Kate Bush’s 1986 classic, “Running Up That Hill”. It protects against... stranger things. If you know, you know.

Oakholm Brewing in Brookfield have recently expanded to include a beer garden with a small fire pit and a large tent for shade. When I was there last, “Heads Carolina, Tails California” by JoDee Messina was streaming over the sound system, a perfect road trip song if I ever heard one. The music paired perfectly with their Escape Goats Pilsner, which was served on a side-pull faucet. A “slow pour” results in a beautiful presentation with a cap of silky foam, more akin to a cappuccino than your average draft. This completely changes the drinking experience and offers a window into beer traditions beyond our borders. Don’t fear the foam.

Treehouse Brewing Company’s Charlton location, with their gorgeous koi pond and Adirondack chairs sprinkled under shady trees is an enviably swanky destination. Take advantage of the opportunity to stretch your legs on a walk before moving on to your next beer. While they are best known for hazy IPAs (duh), lagers like their Outlier Kölsch are a refreshing alternative. Crisp, nuanced and biscuity with a vibrant golden hue, Treehouse’s interpretation of this German style is delightful. A classic beer like this takes on fresh energy when paired with a bop like, “Skate” featuring Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak and Silk Sonic. Test out this combo and report back.

On your way back to Worcester, you’ll want to make one more stop, responsibly of course, to Rapscallion’s brewery and taproom in Spencer.

Here you can find timeless favorites like a Honey Ale or Blueberry Ale that reflect Rapscallion’s legacy as early contributors to the MA brew community. The classic styles and intimate taproom remind me of the scene that drew me to craft beer in the first place, back in 2006 and 2007.

While I feel an almost irresistible compulsion to demand you add Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” to your playlist in honor of those days, I will offer you two equally timely alternatives that may better match the vibe: Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie”. You decide.

One final tip before you go: Double check the hours and offerings of each brewery before you hitthe road. All of these breweries are independently-owned and the people who brew the beerand serve their beer are your neighbors. Be patient, be kind, tip well, stay hydrated, and drivesafe. Until next time, friends.

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COCKTAIL CORNER

LOCK 50 CRISTINA CORDERO JENNY PACILLO “There’s some really pretty drinks in there,” sustainable bartender Cristina Cordero says as she welcomes me to the bar at Lock 50. Cordero created a number of the specialty house cocktails on Lock 50’s menu, but she is quick to credit the collaborative spirit of fellow bartenders in the city, like Braden Pfahl and Dan Waskevich. “We bounce ideas off each other,” she says.

When it comes to Corder’s favorite cocktail, it’s actually hard to pick. “It’s between the Spa Water and What’s Up, Doc?, just because they’re so different than anything you’ll come across for sure,” Cordero tells me, quickly adding that Hey! Winter! Beet It! Is also on her list. “It’s mezcal based, so it’s earthy,” she explains, “We spray it with absinthe at the end. We went crazy with the seasonals. I wanted it to look like Alice in Wonderland when she saw the flowers popping out of the ground.”

Cordero presents the light greet Spa Water in a martini glass with a cucumber slice delicately floating on top. This cocktail made with Genever and Mastiha, cucumber and herbs was smooth and slightly earthy, giving me the feeling that I was drinking something from a health spa rather than a bar.

As a sustainable bartender, Cordero uses every aspect of the fruit, explaining, “I’ll peel the pineapples. Before I dehydrate them I’ll paint them with butterfly pea syrup or beet juice, and then they dry up into the form of a flower. I use the pineapple fronds for garnish and the skins I put in a jar with equal parts sugar and it creates this, like a pineapple olio.”

Although Cordero is settled in Central Mass, she still appreciates that freedom that bartending provides. “I can land anywhere and have a job. I can not even speak the language, but I know how to work a bar!” she laughs, “If you want something to fall back on, you need some kind of life skill like this.”

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STYLE • FASHION • BEAUTY

VITA HYDRATION IRENA KAÇI

A mere two-minute walk from the Worcester Art Museum, there is now a plucky new wellness center. Vita (pronounced Vai-ta) Hydration is the first of its kind in Worcester, a wellness center specializing in hydration infusions.

Inside, Alana Giannopoulos, a traveling nurse turned small business owner, greets me warmly. She prompts me to leave my shoes at the door and offers me complimentary socks. Inside the rooms are spacious and bright filled with cheerful yet calming touches, plush throw pillows, and yellow upholstered bamboo furnishings. We chatted in the main ‘infusion’ room, where there were ample footstools at every chair for clients to literally and figuratively kick their feet up.

Giannopoulos grew up in Central Massachusetts and studied nursing at Northeastern University. Shortly after her certification, she became a traveling nurse and worked all over the country for 5 years. While in LA she learned about the ‘Myers’ Cocktail’ infusion and, being the lifelong student that she is, became intrigued. “I have always been interested in holistic health,” she explains, “and here was this opportunity to learn about a new kind of hydration. Being able to infuse minerals and vitamins directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the GI system entirely, made sense to me. I have been a nurse for 14 years now, and have worked in emergency rooms all over the country. I was ready for a change.”

Her last position before opening up Vita Hydration was at Mass General.

It was during this time in Boston that she started her own ‘mobile holistic health’ service and began practicing infusions. “It was great,” she muses, “it really felt like the realm of health that I wanted to explore.”

The pandemic shutdowns had an impact on the mobile business. “It was actually good for me. I feel bad saying that,” Giannapoulos pauses, “but it’s true. It really helped me reset the whole business model. I knew I wanted to grow into more holistic health practices and I had been stressing about the transition. Having that opportunity to pause and go at a slower pace actually helped make this possible for me. I bought the building and moved back ‘home’ to Worcester.”

The list of services is long and keeps growing. “I am actually looking for a massage therapist as well as a Reiki practitioner,” says Giannapoulos, “if you know anyone. There are the infusions of course, the standard Myers’ Drip, or the modified Myers’ Drip. We can actually tweak it to include more or less 22 JU LY 20 22

of something, or even some additional vitamins and minerals. But there is also a Himalayan Salt Room as well as an infrared sauna. The benefits of an infrared sauna are incredible,” Giannapoulos says, “it is really popular. Your skin feels incredible afterward though I would only recommend small increments at the beginning.”

The Himalayan Salt room had just been in use when I arrived for the tour, and indeed the air was sharp and reminiscent of waves breaking on shore.

“We actually offer yoga in this room,” Giannapoulos offers,.

It is easy to see that Giannapoulos is in her happy place. “I had my own health journey. Growing older, especially as a woman, hormones play such a big role in our well being, and yet it’s not talked about very much, even in the medical field.” Giannapolous is in the process of getting her NP in functional medicine. “I feel confident in my expertise. I’ve been studying holistic medicine for so long, and getting certified is just an extension of that. I really just want to show that holistic health is for everyone.”

S Savvy TYLE APRIL GODDARD Hello Pulse Readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their time over this beautiful summer! Summer is such a perfect time for sun fashion and bright colors, and most of all thinking outside of the box from what you usually might gravitate towards. The bright sun and beautiful weather inspires whimsical colors, happy patterns, and fabrics that will keep you cool and comfortable. With this being said and in the spirit of keeping things cool, fab and fashionable, I am happy to bring you my top five faves to have a very style-savvy summer 2022.

1. Bright Matching Sets: One of my favorite things about summer is the opportunity to dress a little down and be comfortable. A great way to keep it casual is to go for a matching set of some sort in a fun or bright color. A matching set doesn’t necessarily have to be the conventional matching top and bottom. Although you could go for this look, you can also match with your shoes, a hat, or (my personal favorite) a headband. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box on this one!

2. Sunny Shoes: Yellow is the color of sunshine, and also the color of the summer season. Bright and happy highlighter yellow sneakers are sure to add that extra brightness to an otherwise neutral athleisure set. Not to mention, shoes are the perfect way to try out the bright summer color trend if you really aren’t all that big into anything but more muted tones. Adding colorful sneakers, no matter what color you choose, is a great way to incorporate a trend without it being too much or having to buy a ton of new clothes.

3. Bright Nails: Although neon nails have been a trend for quite some time now, there is really no time like right now to keep it going. Bright hues and dramatic nails aren’t going to be going anywhere anytime soon, and this is another subtle yet sure way to try the trend without being too dramatic or having to go all out. You can hop on board with this trend by picking from any color of the rainbow: bright pinks, neon blues, and lime greens. You could even go for something that is bright, simple, and unassuming-solid white.

4. Bright Eyes: Eyeliner is another subtle way to get with the bright color trend. Another totally unexpected thing? 80’s blue eyeliner. Yes, I know, but this is not your mother’s makeup application from back in the day. Updating this look with a bold blue wing, or even just a splash of liner towards the inner corner will bring a new freshness to this bold trend.

5. Bright Accessories: Anything that is bright, bold, iridescent, or otherwise eye-catching can be a suitable color for an accessory.

Accessories could be handbags, backpacks, mugs, belts and more!

Have fun experimenting with adding a splash of color to your life and don’t be afraid to try something new, you never know what you will end up loving! t h epu ls emag.com

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OUT & ABOUT LGBTQ SUMMER: PROVINCETOWN GIULIANO D’OR AZIO

When summer comes to New England, queer folx from far and wide descend on the tiny spit of sand at the tip of Cape Cod known as Provincetown. It’s the site of the Mayflower’s first landing, and a settlement that was quickly discarded due to the inhospitable winters and infertile soil. The remote destination attracted outlaws and pirates), and soon became a haven for artists. As art colonies often do, Provincetown beckoned queer, outcast, and alternative subcultures of the early twentieth century, as well as New England’s bustling fishing industry. By the 1940’s it was a creative hub for famous painters, writers and actors including Tennessee Williams, Thanassi, Marlon Brando, Bette Davis, Norman Mailer, and countless more.

In recent decades, Provincetown’s status has continued to evolve, as affluent (mostly white) gays and lesbians have brought in “big city” money from New York, Boston and beyond, developing Ptown’s gay resort town experience. Recently, there has been a push to “queerify” Provincetown once again, making it more accessible, and ushering in a new generation of folx representative of the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities. Whether you’re into quaint scenery, delicious food, stunning art galleries, breathtaking beaches, or high energy nightlife, here’s something for everyone! Here are some of my recommendations for Ptown summer fun.

From Central Mass, Ptown is accessed one of two ways: via ferry from Boston or a 3-hour car ride. Even with this summer’s high gas prices, traveling by car is the more economic option, considering parking in Boston, and the round-trip boat fare. There are many, many places to stay, and I wouldn’t recommend a day trip, unless six hours of driving in one day is your thing! Cape Colony Inn on Bradford Street in the East end offers clean accommodations and a friendly staff. They’re more affordable than most Ptown lodging. The Provincetown Inn and Harborside Hotel are also good options if you want to visit without breaking the bank.

The beaches are out of this world, and since Ptown is over 70% undeveloped coastline, they’re almost never crowded. If you’re in for a more, “adult” beach experience, look for a bunch of bikes parked along a fence at end of Bradford Street, and follow the trail. Herring Cove and Race Point are great for the whole family.

For dining, there’s too much to list, but here’s a few favorites. Sal’s Place (cash only, call ahead for reservations weeks in advance) is my favorite restaurant.

Italian and Portuguese classics and fresh ideas inspired by the sea. Nor’east Beer Garden is so much more than what the name suggests.

Best cocktails in town, served alongside a small but thoughtful menu of delicious bar bites. Pepe’s Wharf is perfect for a more classic Cape Cod menu, with a view.

Beautiful art galleries can be found throughout town, but most are in the East End. Hit up the Crown and Anchor for a show tunes singalong that is truly out of this world, even if you don’t consider yourself a Broadway fan. For the party crowd, the A-house is the place to be. It’s one of the oldest bars (gay or otherwise) in the country. Drag shows can be found in many venues, just walk Commercial street and look for queens handing out flyers!

Provincetown is one of my favorite destinations. I’m amazed that, in a town so small, I find something new every time I go. If you visit, be adventurous, talk to new people, wake up early, respect nature and the locals, try something new, and as always, be safe!

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

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420 50 8 IN THE

TRAVIS DUDA

OLD IS BETTER ON WEED

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John Stewart’s character from the movie Half Baked was right.

Everything is better on weed, especially antiquing. I recently spent a day with my lady at the largest flea market in the area, The Brimfield Fair, and of course I was blazed the whole time. I like looking at old things, but only for so long. However, being high turned what would normally be a fairly fun event into a stoned out adventure of old oddities and forgotten relics. Every booth had some object to admire or some rusty thing that I didn’t need but bought anyway. I got waylaid by one particular booth who had a great assortment of enamel pins accompanied by The Holdsteady bumping on the bluetooth speaker.

The only misstep I made was buying a cup of frozen rosé. Nothing against the product, it’s just that my dumb brain kept thinking it was a slushee. All in all it was a fantastic day and I would highly suggest it to any of you lovely people. Brimfield will be back July 12th through 17th and again after Labor Day, definitely check it out.

HEALING HERBS

My trip to Brimfield put a big dent on my supply, but luckily enough I was able to convince my lady to stop by Heal Cannabis in Sturbridge on the ride back. Heal Cannabis has an at-home feeling facility that’s at the top of a hill, set pretty far back from the street. Unfortunately for me, I had picked a busy time to visit. The crowd was a lot for the two bud tenders working the front desk, however I just took it as an opportunity to appreciate the interior design of their facility and make friends with the other people waiting. Between the posters, digital displays and product, there was plenty to look at. I walked out with a couple pre-rolls and some flower and enjoyed both at later points in the day. Heal Cannabis is a little outside my day-to-day footprint, but I like knowing that there are options around Worcester County when I need them.

JAYS FOR DAYS

While we’re talking about being functional stoners, I do really appreciate the influx of small pre-roll joint packs that have hit the market. Whether it’s a Major Bloom 2-pack, an Ace Widman’s 3-pack, Resinate’s Spark 5-pack, or Bud’s Lil’ Jays 10-pack, there are plenty of options that provide the right amount of cannabis per single use.

And that’s just the four I could remember. There are so many options out there now, all with different reasons to sample. Like I’ve said before in the Age of Covid, we’re not sharing Jay’s like we used to. So it’s nice to still smoke a joint of the same weed with a friend without risking the cross contamination. This isn’t to say that an infused, dipped, coated, big ol’ sharing blunt is unappreciated. For me, it just has to be the right time and place. It’s just that the joint packs are more my speed due to the amount of cannabis that I consume on a day-to-day basis. What do you prefer? Who has the best packaging?

Tell me your opinion on Twitter or Instagram.

THANKS FOR READING AND HAPPY TRAILS! -TRAVIS (@HUNCHBACKTRAVIS)

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CITY LIVING • ARCHITECTURE • DESIGN

PORCHES, PORTICOS AND STOOPS VINCENT PACIFICO The sun is out, it’s finally warm and summer is here. It’s that time of year when you just want to spend most of your day and free time outside soaking up the summer sun. Working from home has gotten people to be pretty creative with their work from home “office spaces” whether it be the kitchen table, the living room couch, or my personal favorite, the front porch. That is if you are fortunate enough to have enough wall outlets and strong enough internet reception out on the porch.

The front porch has always served as a grand entry way into the residence, giving you just enough shelter to fiddle with your house keys when it’s raining, a place for Amazon to throw your packages, or just a private sanctuary to sit in a rocking chair on a Saturday evening and drink a cold beer; Wormtown beer that is.

Homes in Worcester have a wide variety of different porch styles, from the covered front porches to the simple stoops with porticos, and even full wrap around porches if you’re lucky. If you look closely you can tell some porches were even turned into three season rooms at some point along their lives.

Some are simple, some are ornate, yet some are just beautifully deteriorating.

If you stop and look around a neighborhood or walk down the street on a warm evening, you’re likely to see a few people sitting on porches and stoops that you never thought twice about.

There is one thing about having a porch on your house but it’s much more impressive to have it both feel and look good. There are many trendy ways that you can enhance the look or the livability of your porch.

For starters as many designers might tell you, lighting is everything when you want to set the right mood and atmosphere. Most front porches or porticos have light fixtures, either ceiling mounted or surface mounted scones, which give a little light to the front of the home to illuminate the entrance.

If you want to spend some quality time outside on a warm summer evening, make sure to get your lighting right. Changing the bulbs to a warmer color can easily improve the livability and softness of the light. Something as simple as Christmas lights strung along a railing can give just the right amount of glow and a relaxed enough atmosphere.

The right furniture can really make a difference in the quality of outdoor living. Exterior grade couches are one of my personal favorites and most comfortable seating options for spending many hours sitting out on the porch.

Plants really help to bring a little nature closer to the house especially in an urban cityscape and can provide just the right amount of shade and privacy.

Lastly, decorations help to personalize your porch but be wary of adding too many. Flags and signs are a popular choice especially around holidays, but keep it simple as, they say, less is more.

Regardless of the style, use or condition, porches all have one thing in common which is to provide an outdoor living space to get you out of the house for a little sun and fresh air. Decorating and lighting your porch can help create a special space to spend quality time and it can really jazz up the look of the house and contribute to a more positive neighborhood streetscape. Enjoy the good weather while it’s here as you ponder, read, or just rock in a chair. t h epu ls emag.com

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SPORTS & FITNESS

WORCESTER’S KICKBALL LEAGUE – A GREAT WORKOUT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY JENNY PACILLO Back in elementary school, kickball was a favorite activity in gym class and recess. There was something about that feeling of accomplishment when you kicked the ball so hard it flew right between members of the opposing team, and you made it to first or second base as your teammates cheered you on. It was one of those great, childhood memories…but who says it has to be just a memory?

You can sign up as an individual (free agent) or a small group where you will be assigned to a team or can sign up as a captain with a whole team ready to go. Players are provided with team shirts and sponsor deals. For those working for employers who have Corporate Wellness Programs, there may also be an opportunity to have registrations sponsored.

CLUBWAKA is a 21+ coed sports program offering a kickball league right here in Worcester. Originally founded in 1998 by a group of friends who wanted to create a social club to connect with others, they found that there were a lot of people who were also looking for a fun, relaxing sports league experience as an adult. So, combining those two ideas, the first World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA) was developed.

“Being a recent college graduate and now in grad school, a lot of my friends have moved on to different schools, are working or are finishing up their undergrads,” says Griffin. “So being able to meet new people and have the opportunity to play a fun sport and hang out with people who are nearby has been great. We have players from their early 20’s like me to players in their 50’s. You also get to meet people from across the league because when you aren’t playing your game, you can help referee their games.”

The league is more focused on the community and social aspect of the club rather than a very competitive sports organization. Happy hours, parties and other social events are as much a part of the experience as playing kickball together.

Kickball games are 7 innings or about an hour in length, whichever comes first, and take place on a weeknight. The rules pretty much follow standard kickball rules, with a couple minor differences such as requirements for bunting.

“My older brother is on the team and has been playing for a while and had been talking to me about joining. It’s really a great way to meet other people and have a great time. The White Eagle sponsors our team, so we’ll go and play our game and then go out after and have a beer and watch the Celtics game there,” says Jack Griffin, a veteran league player.

In addition to games and tournaments, the league also offers social events, such as a weekend “summer camp” for adults, and weekends in Virginia Beach and Las Vegas complete with sports and other exciting activities.

What began as a small idea quickly grew, and now operates in over 30 cities.

The club is built around four core values: Live fun, do the right thing, family first and build strong communities. It’s focused on a safe and positive experience, networking with like minded people and helping to support community businesses and charities.

“Seriously, just do it – don’t worry if you’re a good kickball player because you don’t even really need to be. Not everyone is. It’s all about having fun and making friends,” he says.

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Thinking about signing up? Jack says do it.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLUBWAKA AT CLUBWAKA.COM

Shaun2 KNOWS SPORTS?

SHAUN CONNOLLY

CROMPTON BASKETBALL SUMMER

As a kid, my dad would take me to watch him play in the summertime men’s league at Crompton Park. Former Assumption, Holy Cross, Worcester State and WPI players would be mixed in with kids from Quinsigamond, North, South, Voke, Doherty and Burncoat. Legends on their campus, versus legends on their playground. Games were tough, heated even. Family, friends, and others from the community would gather around to watch everyone play.

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It’s where I got to see NCAA champion and NBA veteran Michael Bradley play. I watched UNC and Holy Cross star Neil Fingleton lumber up and down the court. I was told stories of all the Worcester basketball royalty who went on to play in college, no small feat regardless of their division. Some won NCAA championships, some just got to play basketball everyday and get a free or nearly free education for it.

I was lucky enough to play on the same court where I watched what seemed like giants run up and down, through muggy air, sweating and shooting and pushing and scraping. I sometimes would play a Senior Ruth baseball game, get changed in the car to play the summer league game at Crompton.

Those nights I felt unstoppable. Just the privilege of being allowed to play two great games in the same night with your friends with other real responsibilities felt like magic.

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Khrystian King is still there, helping facilitate all the games, keeping the spirit of this league alive. He’s now a city councilor and not just the youth worker who I knew when I was 16. As I was walking to the games, he slowed down in his pickup truck full of cones, and water jugs for the night. I was pushing my 1 and a ½ year old in a stroller. “They even let YOU have one of those?” I laughed as he drove off and thought about how he must have thought of me when I played. I could shoot and I could pass, but I wasn’t as strong as my contemporaries. King must have coached thousands of kids. I wonder if he remembers them all, like I remember those nights before I was allowed to step on the court.

As I got older I was able to coach on that court as well. As exciting and electric as I always thought those games were watching from the grassy hill as a young boy, it is even louder and more intense on the sideline. These games don’t count for anything besides bragging rights, but competition swirled in the humidity of those nights. The barrier of a high school gym faded away. Insults, roasts, laughter all piled onto these competitive games.

I live not too far from the park now, and like to watch the games. Basketball itself has changed a whole lot in just the 17 years since I played at Burncoat.

There are more threes, a lot of these kids are on outside school teams that play year round and it looks and feels faster than when I played. I saw parent after parent on the sideline that were guys I used to play against on that very court. Their kids are now shuffling their feet, playing defense as the sun sets beyond the WRTA headquarters and seemingly into the railroad tracks in the distance.

If you get a chance, head down to watch a game in the Canal District and see one of the things that makes this city tick, basketball on a hot summer night.

Games are every Wednesday and Thursday night starting at 6PM till 9PM. You may just get to witness the next in line to claim Worcester Basketball Royalty.

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NEW IN THE WOO: BREAK BIKE SHOP APRIL GODDARD In September of 2021, the owners of The Break Bike Shop at 872 Main Street in Fitchburg started the process of opening their own business in a spot that they had been eyeing for decades. Josh and Jackie Merchant, a husband and wife team, opened their doors for business in December of 2021, and have been going strong ever since.

Both avid bikers, they were the perfect pair to develop this repair-focused shop, which also provides a specified inventory from manufacturers hand picked by the couple. Josh, who has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, explains that it had been his dream to open his own bike shop since he started working in one in 2003. He explains that being repair-focused means that the shop can work on literally any kind of bike that comes their way: From old, beat up bikes pulled from the Nashua River to ebikes, and everything in between. They pride themselves on not turning their customers away, no matter what the repair needs. The shop is even able to provide fully customized bikes at an incredibly wide range of prices.

The focus on a select inventory is strategic, and is vastly different from the business model that most bike shops have taken on. Josh went on to explain that “We work with the internet and embrace people buying the exact bike they want. We keep a tight inventory so we are not in debt with any manufacturers which makes everything low pressure and fun - the way shops used to be”. They carry three types of bikes, and rent both traditional and e-bikes as well. Explaining further, he says, “ I’ve been riding bikes for a very long time so I know what works and what’s a waste of money. Everything I offer at my shop is what I would personally use and I think that goes a long way”.

Josh and Jackie have also embraced their bike shop as part of their community, setting up social gatherings such as setting up weekly group rides and even pub crawls. Weekly rides have something to offer every cyclist, from road to bike trails and even mountain biking! In their shop, one thing that they stress is ensuring a welcoming and helpful atmosphere for every specific interest at every level. This 30 JU LY 20 22

thoughtful approach makes the experience at the shop unique and tailored to every customer that comes in the door.

The Break Bike Shop is located on 872 Main Street in Fitchburg.

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