PULSE MAGAZINE - AUGUST 21

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4 J U LY 20 21

PULSE MAGAZINE: AUGUST 2021 COVER STORY HOT DOG VS PIZZA

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ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & CULTURE

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Abbie Cotto: 13 On The Rise

LIFESTYLE Indian Ranch 14 75 Years of Decanted Wine Live Outdoor Music

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New in the Woo: The O Shop

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420 in 508

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Out and About

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PulseShots 17

Style Savvy

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DINING REVIEW

Finding Balance

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NowStreaming: 15 2020 Vision Entertainmant Listings

Dining Review: Boardroom Kitchen and Bar

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Hot & Now 19

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PulseBrew 20

Paul Giorgio, Publisher pgiorgio@pagioinc.com Kevin La, Art Director kla@pagioinc.com Josh Lyford, Editior jlyford@pagioinc.com David Simone, Vice President, Sales dsimone@pagioinc.com

READ PULSE ONLINE: THEPULSEMAG.COM

23 Bernie Whitemore, Ryan Cashmen, Maria Connors, Josh Lyford, Travis Duda, Jason Savio, Paul Giorgio, Rachel Shuster, Giuliano D’Orazio, and Victoriahope McAuliffe Writers

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

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HOT HO T DOG

PIZZA

WRITTEN BY:

Bernard Whitmore Hot dogs and pizza; they don’t often appear as a couple, but consider them the bookends of our convenience food marketplace. In the US, the annual sales of hot dogs, around $3 billion, is tiny compared to pizza, with annual sales ringing up at $46 billion.

By nature, they’re not competitors but find themselves coexisting in a space dominated by the mighty hamburger, whose sales ring up around $120 billion per year and is dominated by a few mega-chains.

Both markets have no real dominating force; from gas stations to ballparks, hot dog vendors are about as individual as it gets. Pizza’s ‘big 4’ chains account for just 5% of total sales. This leaves a lot of space for family businesses, competition, and eccentric characters. And better eating for us. Which is reason enough to feature them.

For those of you idling in your cars in line at Chick-fil-a, the take-out fried chicken market pecks away at just over $8 billion per year.

The pizza and hot dog categories could each be cleaved in half: deep dish v. thin crust pies; skinless franks v. natural casings (or, perhaps, steamed v. grilled?).

Each of us have our favorites, but I’m always happy to cross the aisle and sample other options – as long as they’re made with quality ingredients and pride.

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Hot Dog Experience Art Bradish Snack Bar

at Hot Dog Annie’s, it took just moments to pay up, pick up the order and select a picnic table.

These hot dogs had been steamed and delivered classic mild flavor. The buns were brushed with butter and grilled a light golden brown.

Hot Dog Annie’s is a rock-solid destination for fun and a tasty fast snack.

After having visited Art Bradish and Hot Dog Annie’s, my efforts to survey the hot dog scene came to a crashing halt. Despite the American Hot Dog Council’s claim that sales spike in July, I couldn’t find another wiener joint open and ready to take my buck. I especially wanted to hit the food truck scene and have lunch at the Dog Father and Grumpy’s. Both are trucks I pass by every time I take my bike out on the roadways; the former has re-directed his focus to events, the latter was ‘closed due to breakdown’.

Before this assignment I’d never heard of Art Bradish. It’s an oldtime snack bar with hot dogs, burgers and fish & chips located out on 39 Shrewsbury St. in North Grafton. It’s one of those classic roadside shacks with parking and plenty of shaded picnic tables.

I ordered a chili dog, my friend got Art’s basic with relish, bright yellow mustard and chopped onions.

They came in paper dog houses, with buns grilled deep golden buttery brown.

Each bite was weenie-heaven. The chili had a mild fresh tomato flavor and blended with the kick of spice flavor of the hotdog.

My friend also noticed the spark of spice in these plump juicy wieners. We agreed: Delicious!

This was the classic roadside hotdog experience that would prove very hard to beat; an exciting ‘discovery’.

Summer was made for Art Bradish.

George’s Coney Island Then, to my relief, the mecca of Worcester wiener lovers, Coney Island, finally returned from vacation and, post-covid, all their booths were open for seating. Luck was with me; the waiting line was short and moving fast.

But then I noticed the people ahead of me were distraught. No chopped onions! One guy, looking like a cartoon character, was whimper-weeping about this life-changing crisis.

All this commotion gave me a big advantage; I skipped to the head of the line and placed my onion-free order. Lunch was ready moments after they scanned my credit card.

Taking a seat in the graffiti-booth, it was the good old days!

Incredibly soft steamed buns crammed with steamed hot dogs gently flavored with that nice kick of spice flavor paired with thirst-quenching Polar Orange Dry. Hot Dog Annie’s I had one Anyone in Worcester knows Hot Dog Annie’s, out in Leicester on 244 Paxton St. The setting is countryish, but it’s just down the road from the runways of Worcester Airport. As with Art Bradish, it’s a small shanty that looks as if it were built by hand many decades ago. It seemed much cleaner than the last time I was there; I missed the decades accumulation of grease that used to coat the beams and sills.

Annie’s doesn’t make chili dog’s; I could have ordered one with BBQ sauce but, instead, went with plain mustard. They’re fast

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with chili sauce, thick and meaty, the other with just a stripe of bright yellow mustard and sweet relish. Ketchup? Never on a hot dog!

Pizza Experience

When I make them at home, I roast my hotdogs and toast the buttered buns on the grill. The way it intensifies flavors makes grilling my preference. But I’d give that up in a flash to have a Coney Island frank.

Not long ago, Frankie’s swept our pizza-crazy city with so much buzz it ignited my reflexively suspicious nature. Hype.

Social media. I’ve seen that before; so much excitement that quality is swept aside.

Murph’s Hot Dogs

All that’s cooled down now, Frankie’s will take your order over the phone – no Facebook required.

We ordered their big one – twenty-four-inch, half ‘ghetto margherita’, half mushroom. Big money, huge pizza – if you don’t have an SUV or moving van order it delivered because it takes acreage to lay this pizza down flat for the drive home.

I Love Frankie’s

In one last-ditch effort to make the food truck scene my friend and I acted on a tip and drove out to Lancaster. As we pulled up to a roadside picnic area in a beautiful verdant park, we spied Murph’s Hot Dogs, a truck with gorgeous wiener graphic all over it.

Murph, it turns out, is a people-lovin’ hot dog-servin’ guy with personality as big as his hot dog menu. Just be ready to recite your order when you’re next up in line because if you mumble or get confused he’s going to give you attitude.

Frankie’s is a little hole in the wall at the corner of 90 Providence St. – just enough room for rolling out dough, ovens, and pizza box storage. Ours was finished exactly when they told us and as soon as I put it in my car, I could tell by the delicious fragrance that we were going to love Frankie’s Pizzas.

Murph pairs up his mild-flavored dogs with all the typical condiments, but then his imagination takes off. Kim’s Bright Idea, for example, is a crushed tostitos, hot salsa, onion, and cheddar cheese combo.

Each slice was the size of three normal slices; this is thin crust baked so deep brown that little bits of char stick to the dish.

That means deep flavor, something to be loved. Overspread with a thick lattice of melted cheese that had little pools of oil, the mushroom slices were thin and rich in flavor.

I ordered one dog with sauerkraut, another with chili and bacon. The sauerkraut had crunch and tasted fresh. Murph’s chili Over on the margherita side, large thin discs of mozzarella had a decent kick and was lined with a full strip of lean bacon cheese had melted right into the marinara. Basil flavor was guaranteed; they’d minced the basil leaves to something akin to that lent a nice smoky note. pesto and blotted them onto the pizza.

One thing, though: Murph lays all his condiments and add-ins into the fresh, untoasted bun and then lays the hot dog over it. Crunchy crust, fresh marinara, honest ingredients. We do love I’d never seen that treatment before and it felt strange to walk Frankie’s pizza. But Worcester’s best? Much more research will to the picnic table with what appeared to be a handful of naked be required. wieners. In buns, that is.

My friend ordered one of Murph’s featured specials, the Drive Home Dog, with sauerkraut, chopped pickle, hot peppers, onion and mustard (yellow or brown).

His report, ‘The heat of the pickled jalapenos merged well with the crunchiness of the sauerkraut. It was the favorite of all I tasted’.

In case I haven’t made it obvious, we loved Murph’s Hot Dogs. The truck, the tasty dogs, the picnic area. And Murph, himself, who was happy to talk to us before we left and brag about his high-quality ingredients and the kick he gets out of selling hotdogs and meeting people.

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Wonder Bar Restaurant After trying some of the newest pizza in town, we headed over to dine-in at one of the oldest, the Wonder Bar, at 121 Shrewsbury St. After starting with an antipasto, we ordered their Combo Pizza with sausage, peppers and mushrooms.

This pizza had a slightly thicker crust that was baked an even light brown.

Its slightly yeasty and nutty flavor had me raving with each chewy bite. The golden layer of baked cheese was so stretchy strands of it strung across the table.

Crumbled lean sausage imparted a sweet fennel background flavor; thick slices of fresh mushroom and long strips of green bell peppers were baked till just tender.

Our shared pizza provided three slices for each of us; on balance the flavor of each topping, the chewy crust and the glass of Greater Good’s Pulp IPA were a pizza experience that soared.

Pepe’s Pepe’s is what we consider ‘bedrock’ for pizza in Worcester.

We’ve been going there for so many years they must have the pizza formula perfected. Everyone’s pizza’s a bit different; what we like about Pepe’s Funghi Pizza is its thin, but not cracker-thin, crust. Pepe’s oven must be a hot one, the crust is baked deep golden-brown and crunchy around the edges.

By the time you read this, Pepe’s may have already moved to their new location. So, if you look for them near the firehouse on Franklin Street, don’t despair; turn around and head over to Shrewsbury Street.

Leo’s Ristorante Wednesday at Leo’s is pizza-two-for-one night. That’s a lot of pizza, so it makes sense to meet friends for drinks, antipasto and pizza. Which is what we’ve been doing for more than a decade.

Leo’s pizzas aren’t deep-dish but they’re thick and bready. That’s perfect because they use dough that bakes to a deep-brown bottom that reaches over the broad edge right to edge of the toppings; chewy, yeasty with a nutty-rich flavor.

I recently sampled their Panino Pizza, a rich combination of caramelized onions, mild sausage and big dabs of fresh ricotta cheese. The flavors work well together; I gave them an additional spark of flavor with a shake of red pepper flakes.

‘Olo Pizza

When all this bakes together in the blasting 600-degree heat of Olo’s oven it’s like alchemy; the

Detroit style is limited at Olo’s to Wednesdays and Saturdays. But on any other day you can’t go wrong with their classic Neapolitan style thin-crust pizzas.

But that’s just the start; the broad slices of fresh mushrooms have a delicate earthy flavor lost to the canned product many kitchens use, yet they stand up to the rich tomato sauce and generous sprinkling of oregano. Stretchy mozzarella cheese contributes another gentle note to the harmony of flavors, nothing like the rubbery oil patch you find at some places.

If you haven’t been to the Wonder Bar in a while, you might be surprised at how cleaned up it is. The length of the room is a full bar with a good selection of draft beers. As much as things may have changed, they still have the retro graphics and the Clam and Garlic pizza – one of my favorites.

Ok, I’m partial to thincrust pizza. But every now and then you encounter pizza diversity that amazes. This was the case at Olo Pizza, 40 Millbrook St., with their Detroit Style deep-dish, a rectangular pizza with a base chewy yeasty dough ladled with zesty-fresh marinara and a thick layer of Wisconsin brick cheese. Three formats are offered, we chose the cheese / pepperoni combo.

edges of the pan sear the mild-flavored brick cheese to form a cheesy-rich blackened crust that I found crazy-delicious.

Add to that the spicy-salt baked pepperoni slices, the bright acid of their fresh tomato marinara and all that thick yeasty dough: it made for a Detroit-style wall of flavor.

Another favorite: Shrimp Scampi Pizza, a masterwork with, yes, shrimp, roasted garlic, mozzarella and a garlic butter sauce. of

The only Leo’s pizza I have ‘issues’ with is the Margarita. Maybe now that we’re in fresh basil season they’ll have this fixed, but this star ingredient of their margarita pizza has been deficient in flavor recently. They’d do well to analyze Frankie’s version.

And with that bit of heresy, a bolt of thunder just shook the neighborhood. t h epu ls emag.com

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OPEN WED. - SUN. 10AM TO 5PM

Military History Through The Ages August 7th and 8th OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY! 155 SHREWSBURY STREET • WORCESTER, MA • 508-791-4535

IN OUT

Race of the Century

September 11th and 12th

or

S I D E

ROCKIN’ LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS (21+ ONLY IN DANTE’S)

S I D E

HOSTING LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY EVENINGS

CHECK OUT OUR LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULES AT FIREFLYSBBQ.COM C A L L ( 5 0 8 ) 3 5 7 -8 8 8 3 F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S 350 EAST MAIN STREET, MARLBOROUGH

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During special weekend events all three museums are open: Classic Car Barn, Historic Aircraft Hangar and American Heritage Museum. Not to be missed!

“An absolute must see for history lovers!”

568 Main Street, Hudson, MA

www.AmericanHeritageMuseum.org

(978) 562-9182

ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & CULTURE

ABBIE COTTO: ONE THE RISE

Both Photos taken by Paul R-ochette

JASON SAVIO Hot off his first full-length show as a headliner in his hometown of Worcester, upcoming R&B and hip-hop artist Abbie Cotto is on a roll in 2021.

“It was a great feeling,” says the 30-year-old year-old about the June 19 show at the Bridge.

Even though it was an outdoor event and it rained, Cotto relished the moment, seeing as how not too long ago in 2020 playing in front of a live audience again didn’t seem possible.

“When the world stopped for a minute, I just realized how much we take things for granted,” he says. “As far as music, this year I told myself I have to do as many shows as I can do and release so much music because who knows when this is going to happen again.”

Cotto describes the Bridge show as a “test run” to “see where I’m at with it” in regard to performing for the first time since the COVID pandemic.

It turns out Cotto is exactly where he needs to be, performing live music in his backyard while releasing a steady stream of singles that have helped him spread his name and score gigs across New England and in the New York and New Jersey areas.

Finding his voice Music was always around for Cotto, but it wasn’t his first love. Initially, he was leaning toward making a future in basketball. He played for South Community High School and after graduation in 2009 he received an invitation to play at a school in Vermont, which he ended up disregarding.

“But, you know, life changes and you start finding different avenues,” he says He started “recording and messing around” when he was 18 and thought he was “the best rapper,” something he says now with a laugh. He didn’t take it seriously at the time, however.

When Cotto was 21 he zeroed in on his latent talent as a recording artist and performer.

He hooked up with his childhood friend Elion, another local performer, who invited Cotto over to his studio to produce a song.

“The first day I was in the studio I was writing and I just fell in love with it,” Cotto says.

Cotto then teamed up with Jose Zayas, a multi-instrumentalist who had his own salsa group called Joselito y su Combo (Joselito and the band) and was also into jazz and R&B. Cotto credits Zayas as his mentor, saying “there really wouldn’t be a me if it wasn’t for him bringing out my confidence.”

Cotto would go over to Zayas’ house every day and Zayas would play the piano, telling Cotto how to follow with his voice what he was playing on the piano.

“He was more into the R&B side and he helped me train my voice,” Cotto says. “I never really thought I could sing (but) that’s where I started doing more of the singing stuff. To me, sometimes you’re like your own worst critic, but there were people around me that actually thought I was good at it and I just started working on it more and more” Making a mark and getting known

Cotto broke into the scene by cutting his teeth at open mics and being featured at Electric Haze and Palladium shows. The launching pad, however, was the Raven.

“That was kind of like my gym,” he says. “I don’t remember when my first show there was, but I was featured on the show. Once I performed, a lot more people started reaching out to me to perform.”

Cotto has yet to release a full-length album or EP, having only released a mixtape when he first started out at age 21. Instead, Cotto is keeping his sights on maintaining a steady stream of momentum by producing singles rather than disappearing for an extended amount of time to work on a bigger project.

“I fell into releasing singles because I feel like that was for me to keep on promoting who I am and try to draw a bigger crowd. It helps me grow the fanbase,” he says.

When asked how many singles he’s released to date, Cotto laughs and says he’s lost count.

He points to his 2012 song “My Time” as a standout. His latest, “My Baby,” is a laid back and sultry track with a racy video to accompany it.

Nowadays, Cotto is taking care of everything himself from the ground up at his own studio.

“I engineer myself,’ he says. “Everything is basically independent: the shows, the recordings, the beats.”

Not just a music artist But if you think you have Cotto figured out, think again. He’s not only a burgeoning music artist, he also has his own clothing line called heART by Abbie Cotto. Emblazoned across hats, slides, shirts and more is the line’s logo of a heart-shaped painter’s palette.

“What it stands for is doing something that you love,” says Cotto. “People see the logo and they think it’s for painters and I tell them that it’s not. It’s more of a universal logo that represents everything. It represents something that you love to do, whether it’s being a mechanic, a doctor, a musician, an athlete.”

Working on both his music and clothing line, Cotto knows how to stay busy. He recently played a show at the Shaskeen Pub in New Hampshire and has another coming up at Electric Haze and an appearance scheduled in Atlanta that same month. On September 5 he’ll be opening up for the Joyner Fest outside of the Palladium. As if that isn’t enough, he also has a gig he was supposed to play in London in 2020 that is likely to be rescheduled to next year, signaling another jump ahead in his young career.

“Expect a lot more from me as far as music videos and shows and more clothing,” he says.

“Expect a lot more.”

IG: @iamabbiecotto @heartbyabbiecotto

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INDIAN RANCH CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF LIVE OUTDOOR MUSIC MARIA CONNORS Indian Ranch, nestled on the shores of Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, is celebrating 75 years as one of the most popular outdoor music venues in New England. Affectionately dubbed Nashville of the North for the variety of country music acts they first became known for hosting, Indian Ranch has curated a summer lineup larger than ever to celebrate such a momentous anniversary.

Indian Ranch has undoubtedly grown since it was founded in 1946, evolving alongside the landscape of music and live entertainment. Suzette Coppola, executive director at Indian Ranch since 2007, describes this as a natural process. As the performance space and campground grew, the decision to build Samuel Slater’s restaurant and introduce other forms of entertainment, such as Indian Princess, one of the few authentic paddlewheel boats still in use in the United States today, felt natural. “Everything kind of blended together”, Coppola reflects, “one part of the business brought in another part of the business”. This sort of fluid growth and readiness to evolve has seen Indian Ranch through its 75th anniversary, and is now lauded as one of the oldest concert venues in the nation.

While it gained notoriety as a country music venue, seeing many up-andcoming country stars cross the Indian Ranch stage before their rise to fame (think Charlie Daniels, Blake Shelton, and Brad Paisley) the priorities of the business have shifted as the music industry has changed. As country music became more mainstream, Indian Ranch expanded to classic rock, pop, blues, and acoustic. For Coppola, it’s important to continue reaching new audiences. Some of the bigger acts they’ve brought include Andy Grammar and Gavin Degraw, building off of a commitment to continuously expand the variety of musicians they host and offer something for everyone. Indian Ranch’s number one priority, after all, is their audience: getting the artist onstage in a timely manner, moving the crowds through quickly, Coppola asserts “that’s where people are enjoying themselves.”

To celebrate their 75th season, Indian Ranch is arriving bigger and better than ever, with a loaded roster for mainstage concerts, music on the beach, and tons of specialty boat cruises. Tickets are currently available for the Indian Princess Margaritaville Cruise, featuring all your favorite Jimmy Buffet songs performed live by Auburn musician Tom Revane and tours around Webster Lake. Some exciting names coming to the Indian Ranch mainstage this summer include Foreigner, Grand Funk Railroad, Josh Turner, Melissa Etridge, Get The Led Out, Tower of Power, and Scotty McCreery. For a full list of acts, visit: Indianranch.com/concerts.

The Indian Ranch campgrounds are open for overnights, week-long stays, or the entire season, with 200 sites up for grabs. Indian Ranch’s facilities offer the perfect opportunities to get out of the city and into nature, with the luxuries of free Wi-Fi, lakeside dining, and your fill of live music.

If your August is already booked up, Indian Ranch is ringing out the summer with Hairfest and Countryfest, September festivals that highlight local classic rock tribute bands and original country music. It may sound like a jam-packed season, but Coppola is ready to welcome the crowds: “This is who we are.”

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NOW STREAMING: JASON SAVIO

MARTIN SEXTON 2020 VISION

Like a shot of sunshine on a stormy day, Martin Sexton’s new four-song EP, 2020 Vision, is a refreshing and welcome listen. As the title suggests, Sexton sings about the dreary and anxiety-riddled year that was 2020, but he flips it on its head and tries to squeeze the positives out of it.

In “Hold On” Sexton details the worries he had during the summer of 2020 as he was “wondering about the future/waiting for the past.” A charming and upbeat whimsical bounce in the music, with lifting horns, counteracts his stress as he finds solace building a treehouse with his son that the two had kept delaying. The treehouse serves as a silver lining of sorts for Sexton during a difficult time, and he even wrote the song in the actual treehouse that he sings about. It’s a song about not wasting time, and making the best of a bad situation. “I’m doing this time/This time ain’t doing me,” he adds.

“Calling on America” starts off more laid back with a gospel feel and features John Mayer supplying a sleepy yet poignant guitar track. Sexton paints a picture of an America that has both streaks of peace, like “picnics with people of all colors,” and confusing moments of anger on TV of people fighting one another. “I see the light in you/I believe it can still shine through/Don’t let them tear you down,” he sings.

Sure, it may have a little bit of a Jesus-walked-on-water vibe to it, but if you listen to the song there is some real soul in there that you can benefit from.

“Riding Through the Rain,” with its chicken-plucking guitar, and “Penny from the Land of Plenty” round out the rest of the EP, keeping the collection’s theme of a divided yet strong country consistent all the way through. They may not stick with you as much as the first two songs on the EP, but they are solid additions that overall help create a strong collection.

After a dreadful past year, it is more than a welcomed change to hear someone look back on it and try to squeeze some sort of positive energy out of it, not just for themselves but also their listeners. 2020 Vision is as American of an album as you’ll likely hear, embodying all of the hopes, fears and dreams that our country has to offer, one track at a time.

For more, visit: Martinsexton.com

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ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS Pulse August 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 Jlyford@pagioinc.com.

---Black and White Grille 508-885-5018 Blackandwhitegrille.com 206 North Spencer Rd., Spencer Blueprint New American Bar & Grille 978-668-5580 10 Village Sq. Westminster Boynton Restaurant & Spirits 508-756-8458 117 Highland St., Worcester Cafe Neo 774-253-6139 97 Millbury St. Worcester Karaoke.

Classic’s Pub 978-227-5258 285 Central St., Leominster Compass Tavern 508-304-6044 90 Harding St., Worcester Firefly’s BBQ 508-357-8883 350 E. Main St., Marlborough DANTE’S at FIREFLY’S BBQ (all shows in Dante’s are 21+) August 6 Boston Rock & Soul August 7 Tequila Bonfire August 13 Way Up South August 14 Iron Tiger August 20 Vinyl Echo August 21 Booty Vortex August 27 Billy & the Jets August 28 Pieces of 8

THE BACKYARD at FIREFLY’S BBQ August 1 Tim Leavitt August 6 Steve Spector August 7 Alan Goodrich August 8 Lexi Jordan August 13 Jesse B August 14 Ashley Hensel August 15 Bill McGoldrick August 20 Shady Armadillo August 21 Ricardo Barraza August 22 Jillian Morin August 27 Kim Trusty August 28 Jae Mannion August 29 Joe K Flying Rhino 508-757-1450 278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester Greater Good Imperial Brewing 508-926-8736 55 Millbrook St., Worcester Greendale’s Pub 508-853-1350 404 W Boylston St. North, Worcester Grill on the Hill 508-854-1704 1929 Skyline Drive, Worcester Halligan’s 508-832-6739 889 Southbridge St., Auburn Thursday Bike Nights Indian Ranch 508-943-3871 Indianranch.com 200 Gore Rd., Webster MB Lounge 508-799-4521 40 Grafton St., Worcester Wednesday - Karaoke Thursday - Drinks with Alana Friday - Dance Party starting at 10 Saturday - Dance Party starting at 10 Sunday - Drinks with Matty Closed Monday and Tuesday MCL Club 508-797-0141 Worcestermcl.org 181 Lake Ave., Worcester Nola Cajun Kitchen 774-261-8008 340 W. Boylston St., West Boylston

One Eyed Jack’s Tiki Bar & Grill 508-459-0089 433 Park Ave., Worcester August 1 Take Two 4PM-7PM, DJ Coley Cole 8PM-11PM August 3 Table Hopping Magic w/ Magician Steve Charette 6PM – 8PM . Kids eat for $1 w/ purchase of Adult Entrée.

August 4 Trivia w/ radio legend Kevin Barbare. Starts at 7:30PM. August 5 Karaoke 8PM-12am August 6 - Booty & The Jett 7PM10PM August 7- FrankFoot 7PM-10PM August 8 Chris Vee 4PM – 7PM, DJ Coley Cole 8PM-11PM August 10 Table Hopping Magic w/ Magician Steve Charette 6PM – 8PM. Kids eat for $1 w/ purchase of Adult Entrée.

August 11 Trivia w/ radio legend Kevin Barbare. Starts at 7:30PM. August 12 Thick Chick Comedy presents Get Laid Luau Comedy Show.

Tickets $15.

August 13 John Gauvin 6PM – 9PM August 14 War On Alexandria 8:30PM- 11:30PM August 15 Chris Vee 4PM – 7PM, DJ Coley Cole 8PM – 11PM August 17 Table Hopping Magic w/ Magician Steve Charette 6PM – 8PM. Kids eat for $1 w/ purchase of Adult Entrée.

August 18 Brett Brumby 6PM – 9PM August 19 FrankFoot 6PM – 9PM, Karaoke 8PM – 12AM August 20 Liam Coleman 7PM – 10PM August 21 Rusty Mike’s Blues 7PM – 10PM August 22 Jodee Frawlee 4PM – 7PM, DJ Coley Cole 8PM – 11PM August 24 Table Hopping Magic w/ Magician Steve Charette 6PM – 8PM. Kids eat for $1 w/ purchase of Adult Entrée.

August 25 Trivia w/ radio legend Kevin Barbare. Starts at 7:30PM. August 26 Thick Chick Comedy presents Get Laid Luau Comedy Show.

Tickets $15.

August 27 Tony Soul Project 8PM11PM $10 COVER August 28 Falsely Accused 9PM – 12AM $10 COVER August 29 DJ Coley Cole 8PM – 11PM August 31 Table Hopping Magic w/ Magician Steve Charette 6PM – 8PM. Kids eat for $1 w/ purchase of Adult Entrée.

Partner’s Pub 978-345-5051 970 South St., Fitchburg 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 Ralphsrockdiner.com 148 Grove St., Worcester Rascal’s Rascalsworcester.com 70 James St., Worcester Reunion Tap & Table 774-293-5501 198 Worcester St., North Grafton River Styx 978-696-5176 166 Boulder Dr., Fitchburg Live on the Patio Rock Bar 774-243-7000 81 Water St., Worcester The Comedy Attic Upstairs at Park Grill 508-756-7995 257 Park Ave. The Mill at 185 Themill185.com 774-261-8585 185 W Boylston St., West Boylston

Vincent’s Worcester 508-752-9439 49 Suffolk St. Wachusett Brew Yard 978-874-9965 175 State Rd. E, Westminster Whiskey on Water 774-578-8829 97 Water St. White Eagle 508-753-9612 Whiteeagleworcester.com 116-120 Green St., Worcester WooHaha Thewoohaha.com 50 Franklin St. Worcester Beer Garden 774-530-9000 64 Franklin St., Worcester

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DINING DINING REVIEW REVIEW

BOARDROOM KITCHEN AND BAR 139 WATER STREET, WORCESTER (508) 757-6259 WORCESTERBARANDGRILL.COM BERNIE WHITMORE In popular culture the boardroom is often portrayed as a staid roomful of corporate executives – rich men in suits - who sit at a long, heavy table and make weighty decisions with casual regard for workers.

Walking into the Boardroom Kitchen and Bar, I was immediately put at ease by the staff; they’re about as friendly as it gets. The bartender nodded to any of the open tables along the front window and said, ‘Seat yourselves’. Kevin, our server, was relaxed and efficient as he presented menus and gave us time to make our own consequential decisions: drinks, appetizers and entrées.

Unless you’ve done some research, the first hint at Middle Eastern cuisine (their website calls it Mediterranean-American Food) is when you glance at the menu. Nothing in the décor would prepare you for this; the place has the feel of a loungemeets-sports bar with a multi-genre soundtrack ranging from 70’s-era disco to current pop.

But let’s rewind a few minutes to the issue on everyone’s mind when it comes to dining in the Canal District. It was not a WooSox game night, parking on Water Street was easy and fun and cheap using Worcester’s pay-by-plate system. This was the result of luck, not planning.

My friend chose one of the Boardroom’s Signature Cocktails, Redemption 75. The baseline of this drink is Redemption Bourbon, nice and smooth, splashed with the fizz of prosecco, sweet blackberry pulp, lemon, and mint. Served in a tall champagne flute, the Redemption 75 goes down deceptively easy.

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I chose a glass of Exhibit A Brewing’s Hair Raiser, an IPA brewed in Framingham. Nice and cloudy, it refreshed with hoppy with bold bitter-citrus notes.

On your first visit to a new Middle Eastern place, why not go with the classics? In that spirit, we started with their Hummus.

Guaranteed, I’ve had some of the best hummus in town, but I’m inclined to say that the Boardroom’s was right up there, bright and fresh; tahini, garlic and lemon working in perfect accord with organic chickpeas. It came garnished with olive oil and thin discs of tender cucumber. Around it were colorfully fresh and crunchy mini sweet peppers, soft pita bread for dipping and pita crisps fried to a deep crunchy brown.

Next came a cool refreshing tzatziki dip. Again, superbly flavor-balanced, it satisfied a tzatziki craving I’ve harbored for weeks while awaiting fresh garden cucumbers. Tzatziki this delicious has to start with the finest yogurt culture.

The menu lists a few salads and flatbreads, but it’s real emphasis is on the Boardroom’s ‘Handhelds’.

They became our entrée focus.

My friend’s entrée, Gyro Pocket, was strictly traditional; a blend of marinated ground lamb and beef speckled with herbs, cooked till well done, then sliced thin and layered deep in a loaf of warm pita bread that was spread with tzatziki, slices of red onion and cucumber. The marinade flavoring the meat was tasty with traditional Mid-East flavor. It was served on a paper-lined metal tray with a heap of golden French fries.

When I’d ordered the Falafel Burger I feared I was being a bit unadventurous, but reasoned that it should be a fair test of the kitchen’s Middle Eastern prowess. My fear was ill-founded – in the best way possible.

Eli, the chef, presented my burger personally and proudly called it ‘His work of art.’ Such flair. Such flavor!

He’d opened a fresh bun, grilled the sliced sides and spread the bottom half with his tzatziki sauce and topped it with tangy pickled cucumber and thin slices of tomato. On top of that sat three falafel balls nestled together under the top half of the bun.

The exterior of the falafel balls had been fried just enough to offer a bit of crunch; the falafel itself seemed almost fluffy in texture; mild flavored.

It seemed to melt in my mouth. Chef Eli has taken falafel to its next level!

The Boardroom also offers shrimp burgers and shawarma tacos. And, for you diehards, genuine beef hamburgers.

At the Boardroom on Water Street, the CEO is the chef, who creates Middle Eastern cuisine that may be traditional in scope but done with imagination and skill.

On one of the dining room walls is a mural paying tribute to the Canal District and WooSox. If you’re going to Polar Park, relax at the Boardroom for a delicious dinner before the game.

HOT & NOW What’s hot and happening now in the restaurant scene PAUL GIORGIO

IT’S HAPPENING FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

The semi-annual Worcester Restaurant Week is taking place the next two weeks (August 2-14). For $25.21 you can get a 3-course meal at 40 of the area’s best restaurants. Sponsored

by Pulse magazine, Atlas Distributing, Pepsi Rockland Trust, Discover Central Mass, Mercadante Funeral Home, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty and Percy’s, the event has been a must-do for local foodies. Look for participating restaurants on www. worcesterrestaurantweek.com or on Facebook.

SAMMY’S PIZZA AND SEAFOOD OPENS NEW LOCATION IN WORCESTER. The second Sammy’s Pizza and Seafood restaurant is now open on Belmont Street in Worcester. The first Sammy’s is in Northboro at 14 East Main St. The menu features specialty pizzas, grilled sourdough paninis, pressed wraps, burgers, subs, seafood dinners, and much more.

PEPE’S SET TO MOVE. Pepe’s Italian restaurant on the edge of the Canal District is set to move in the beginning of August to its new home on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street. Once there it will be competing with the Wonder Bar and Volturno for the best pizza on the street.

NORTHBORO GOES MIDDLE EASTERN. Fattoush, a restaurant that serves Syrian food has opened at 10 Blake Street in Northboro IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME A CHARM? Nuestra, a Puerto Rican inspired restaurant, which was on Worcester’s Stafford Street is set to move to 55 Pearl St. in Downtown. This is the Bull Mansion site and has been home to a few eateries already. Hopefully Nuestra will last longer.

DOWNTOWN HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS. Off the Rails on Worcester’s Commercial Street opened in the middle of July. We hear the food is southern themed. The commercial street location was recently home to the Railers tavern. The restaurant is owned

by Cliff Rucker, who also owns The Railers-Worcester’s Hockey team.

OUT OF AFRICA. It looks like Worcester will get another African restaurant. Liberian Dishes located at 5 Pleasant St., across from City Hall is set to open soon.

THE SAD SAGA OF MAC’S DINER. Are they re- opening or not? Is the question people are asking about Shrewsbury Street’s Mac’s Diner. They applied for a beer and wine license, but recently opted to return it to the city. Stay tuned.

WHO WAS ARI ANYWAY? Ari on West Boylston Street in West Boylston has apparently closed its doors. They appear to be another victim of Covid -19.

MEANWHILE NEXT DOOR. Table 12, which is owned by the same people who own the Black & White Grille in Spencer, has shut down until September, according to the digital display sign on their front lawn.

AUBURN GETS SUSHI. Bar One & Sushi recently opened its doors in Auburn. The sushi restaurant has been getting very good reviews on social media. They are located next door to the iconic Ronnies fried seafood.

Fighting fire. Luccas American Kitchen on route 117 in Leominster will be closed temporarily as they make repairs from a kitchen fire that occurred in the middle of July. The 4-year-old restaurant is located where the Gondola was for over 50 years. t h epu ls emag.com

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I do, however, understand cranberries. I like cranberries. I like them a lot.

The gulp-inducing price of $20 was dwarfed by my desire to try this unique looking beer. I also knew it would likely be a once in a lifetime drinking experience.

How often does one come across a beer that’s been aged like wine?

PULSEBREW RYAN CASHMAN It’s always a delight to stumble across something new. Something you’ve never seen before.

As I was perusing the aisles of my local package store - simultaneously searching for something to drink and escaping the intense late summer heat - I happened upon a tall, amber bottle, with a magenta label. Leaning in to examine the bottle, I noticed white lettering, looking almost handwritten,- that read: cranberry; 2015.

Mind you, I was not in the wine section.

I was in the beer section.

Cranberry Woods, by Cisco Brewers of Nantucket, is a sour ale that has been fermented in oak tanks, courtesy of Nantucket Vineyard, and aged for an average of two years. It’s been infused with Nantucket cranberries, lactobacillus, and brettanomyces. I’m with you if you have no idea what those last two terms are.

Any scientists or fellow brewers reading who do understand, bravo to you.

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Of course, now that I’ve said the quiet part out loud ….

Anyway, off to home and into the fridge this beer went. There are no specific drinking instructions for this beer, but I felt it was one that needed to be ice cold.

My instincts were correct.

To say this beer was tart would be an understatement. This lip-puckering sour hits you immediately with its cranberries. It’s acidic and crisp and almost too sour to properly experience any of the other flavors. Until you take another sip.

This is a beer whose character is only truly revealed once the bottle is empty. It takes several long, intentional sips to break through the tart and experience the woodiness imparted by the oak barrels. It’s intense and powerful. Not a light or easy drinking experience by any definition.

I truthfully can’t say that I enjoyed Cranberry Woods. It’s very harsh on the palate and has to be drunk slowly in order to fully appreciate the complexity of the flavor. However, it was a totally new and unique drinking experience, which certainly counts for something. It’s not often I have the opportunity to taste a beer that truly has a flavor profile of its own. So many are copycats these days, which is a real shame.

So, if you happen upon an amber bottle with a magenta label that reads “cranberry” and you’re a fan of sours, swallow your fiscal pride and pay the $20.

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LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE

DECANTED WINE APRIL GODDARD When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the world of business as we knew it came to a screeching halt. The last year has been a difficult time for large and small businesses, with many taking a large hit or even closing their doors for good. Longtime friends Melissa Costa and Julia Walderzak, whose respective small businesses had both been affected, used their prior experience and entrepreneurial spirit to venture out and adapt to what we now know as our “new normal”.

Julia, a kid’s fitness company owner, being an avid wine enthusiast, knew that she wanted to do something different. One night, she ran one of her self-described “crazy business ideas” by Melissa, a hairstylist and entrepreneur who would later become her business partner. The concept was in part a food truck-but not your average food truck. The business idea as a complete was a wine-one-wheels experience; and The Decanted Wine Truck was born.

When you think of a food truck, you might think fairs, but this elevated and chic Truck is so much more than just that- it’s an event, an entire experience, and frankly a whole mood- completely on wheels. When asked what makes Decanted Wine so much more than just a food truck, Julia said it best: “We think there are several reasons! Moms love wine!!! We are two local moms (with seven kids between us) so we are relatable and fun”.

parties, anniversary parties, micro weddings, corporate events, baby showers, and bridal showers”. When asked what their favorite or most memorable event was thus far, they answered: “...a BC graduation party. We can’t imagine how tough it was for these students to experience such an awful senior year due to the pandemic. All of these young adults had hopes and expectations of what their last year in college would be like, and it was anything but. To see these girls and their families share laughs, tears, and most of all fun, was so heartwarming to us”.

They are expecting a huge wedding season in 2022, and thanks to their growing popularity are currently booked solid through the end of the summer.

So what can you expect when it comes to Decanted? A fabulous event planned in detail, and two women who are committed to their business and their customers.

“Getting friends and loved ones together, and enjoying every moment is what puts a smile on our faces” they say.

Their motto when it comes to Winona, their beautifully redone Decanted Wine Truck is simple: “We always say you don’t need an excuse to book Decanted. Just grab a group of friends and order a wine truck!!”.

Decanted offers served wine, beer, and will even create signature cocktails for your event when requested. Everything is served out of their beautifully redone Wine Truck, Winona. They are able to accommodate events large and small, and they offer a light and lovely catering menu. They recommend craft beer and cocktails, and even have a signature Winona sangria, which “...people go nuts for!”.

Julia and Melissa come prepared and ready to set up decor to suit your special event, and work with local breweries. They say: “Winona can simply be set up in your yard or driveway with her fun decor, or we can spruce it up with hightops, banquet tables, chairs, floral arrangements and even games! Our catering menu is a bonus”. They go above and beyond to uniquely customize events for their clients. “As I mentioned before,” says Julia, “We are more than a wine truck. We are an experience. People want to smile and laugh again. Melissa and I also care about our customers. We want to provide the best and most intimate experience possible”.

Decanted Wine Truck caters to a variety of customers with various needs: “We do every kind of event imaginable,” says Julia of Decanted, “Mom’s night out, birthday

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NEW IN THE WOO: THE O SHOP RACHEL SHUSTER

Located at 10 Richmond Ave. in Worcester, The O Shop is not your average “adult” store. “It’s an experience – it’s as personal as the client wants it to be,” said owner, Stephanie Ramey.

By day, Ramey is President of the Worcester Railers hockey club focusing on all sales, financial reporting, marketing and relationship development. Prior to the Worcester Railers, Ramey served as the Executive Director of Discover Central Massachusetts.

Ramey, also mom to three kids, is thrilled to open The O Shop and stretch her entrepreneurial skills. The shop opened its doors on July 10, but the story of how the shop came to be goes far beyond that.

“It stemmed from an article I read in a business journal about adult products trending during the pandemic,” Ramey said. “My best friend and I were joking and having a conversation about where you would even buy them beyond online. Online reviews tend to be articulated by men. That’s the last thing – a man telling you how to feel.

We’ve been taught that it’s not ok for women to advocate for pleasure and talk about it. I want to change that.”

Ramey started thinking about physical locations. “There really wasn’t a place that made women feel comfortable,” she says. “It’s primarily women making these purchases, but retail outlets tend to be male oriented.”

Through her research, Ramey also began thinking beyond products, like lingerie, as it became clear that there isn’t a place in Central MA for a bra fitting outside of Victoria’s Secret. “That’s not always a comfortable place that makes people feel welcome or offers sizes that go beyond a double D,” she says.

From there, the idea snowballed. “It came to this point where I felt like I had this great idea and I had to make a decision,” Ramey said. “I went for it.”

The O Shop came together organically. “It was a lot of work, but all the pieces fell into place,” Ramey said. She began Googling how to buy lingerie wholesale, attending virtual lingerie conferences, met with a retail consultant, and was introduced to shop owners.

“I did a ton of reading and took health and sexuality workshops. I was fortunate to have my whole community and network of people support me and introduce me to different people and help make connections,” Ramey said. “I recognize where I am lacking information and will ask for help. I have been blessed throughout to connect with informed educated people. All our adult intimate items were curated by someone with a PHD in health and sexuality and I’ve connected with experts on social media to help. I’ve got a great crew of people that are advocating for the success of this business.”

The shop is meant to serve as a calming and comfortable place. “You’re meant to feel like you’re in a big relaxing closet,” Ramey said. “It’s not traditional retail space

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as it’s in an old Victorian apartment building, with chandeliers and amazing natural light. From the second clients step in, I want to provide this intimate, sweet, genuine boutique. It is important to take away any negative connotation there is around women feeling good and talking about their bodies and sexuality. Why is the idea of us feeling good, bad? This shop is meant to demystify things and make everyone say, ‘this is ok, it’s natural.”

One of the services offered at The O Shop is bra fittings. “We have bras and basic wear – 40 to over 100,” Ramey said. “It’s so important to have bra fittings to ensure that women feel good and confident. We take clients around the store and provide a curated experience. We help select items for them to try on – some of it isn’t things you even thought of, but that’s what we are here for. It’s a service and staff that’s attentive. We try to identify what’s best for you and each unique body.”

The shop also offers sexier lingerie, plus size and petite items. To ensure a special and unique experience, Ramey does small quantity orders for the shop and always has new items coming in.

Additional offerings include lotions, facial products, pasties, candles, loungewear, athletic wear sets PH balance lubricants, condoms, vibrators and more!

The O Shop also offers private events from bachelorette parties to events in partnership with nonprofit organizations. “We also plan to launch a variety of workshops for the community focused on topics like sexuality during and after menopause, introductions to products and more.” Ramey said. “It will be fun to watch the shop evolve.

It has so many different layers.”

Ramey is proud to bring something new to Worcester that creates a place where people can feel good about themselves in various ways. “In Worcester, we’ve got this lively entrepreneurial spirit,” Ramey said. “The city is special in that we aren’t franchise heavy – we have small businesses that are destinations, and I want to be a part of that. With the O Shop, you’re getting an experience, service, expertise, and conversation. I hope that it becomes a destination for women and all people.”

The O Shop is operating currently with summer hours. Closed Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 5pm and Friday 12pm – 6pm.

For more information, visit www.theoshop.com or find them on social media @theoshoponline.

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TRAVIS DUDA

New England Gets Greener

In June, Connecticut became the latest state to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for all adults bringing the total to 18 states + DC. Now that the Nutmeggers are on board, only Rhode Island and New Hampshire are the New England holdouts. It seems like both States have strong support for reform, so it should only be a matter of time. More good news came from the Capitol. Senator Chuck Schumer is drafting the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which is legislation that would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and continue the progress towards national legalization. Individual states would still be able to set the rules for their states, but once this bill passes there will be no federal penalty for possession. I recognize that I’m a bit of a broken record on this topic, it’s just that I’m so close on my legalization BINGO card. Winner gets a free joint. C’mon Iowa!

The Botanist is In I recently took a trip out to the Botanist in Shrewsbury, along Rt 20. I completely missed the building on my first drive by, but after a quick turn around, I was welcomed to a fairly open parking lot next to an unassuming building. The retail space is wonderfully designed with large glass cases contrasted with vibrant green plants and shrubbery. Each strain had its own display with a detail card and all the customer facing signage is consistently designed and displayed. I was a little underwhelmed to see them using handwritten sticky notes on standard tan filing cabinets behind the bud tenders. It was so different to all the other meticulously designed signage that it felt out of place. The purchasing experience itself was simple and the couple of people I talked to were very friendly. I was also stoked to receive a 25% discount for my first medical order. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to grab a chick no pick from MamaRoux, the food truck in their parking lot, so I guess that means I’ll just have to go again.

Look What You Did For anyone who hasn’t heard yet, Urkel is making weed! Purple Urkel is a new strain being released by ItsPurpl, a cannabis company owned by Jaleel White, better known as Urkel from Family Matters. Supposedly this bud is so good that it’s been endorsed by Snoop Dogg. Of course I haven’t had it yet, but I would very much like to pack a fat bowl of some and be thankful for friday. This news also had me thinking, with so many celebrities getting into the game, who is going to be the most surprising person? It was fairly obvious for people like Tommy Chong, Jay-Z, Seth Rogan, and Willie Nelson to release strains. I’m more excited for the unexpected releases. The day could come when we smoke a gram of Jackie Chan’s Stoney Master or maybe even snack attack on some Rachel Ray yum-o edibles? I’m just saying there’s tons of opportunities out there and I wanna get weird. So let’s go grab some Marie Kondo and spark some joy.

Thanks for reading and happy trails!

-Travis (@hunchbacktravis) t h epu ls emag.com

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OUT AND ABOUT WORCESTER PRIDE 2021.

GIULIANO D’OR AZIO Thanks to collaborative effort and determination, Worcester Pride 2021 is happening. In a flyer issued last month, the Queer Coalition of Greater Worcester announced September 8 to 14 would would be a “full week of Pride festivities” in our city. With the dissolution of the former Worcester Pride organization, we can expect a shift from the festival of years past, but it does sound like there will be plenty of exciting events as well as a clear and intentional focus on activism -- reminding folks why we still need Pride, why it matters.

Formed in late 2019, the Queer Coalition of Greater Worcester describes themselves as a “collaborative community initiative working to bring activities supporting LGBTQ+ folx in Central Mass closer together”. The cohort is comprised of change-makers, activists, community members, and organizations that all respectively work to better the lives of queer folks in central Massachusetts and beyond. This year, different organizations and venues will be hosting their own separate events, scheduled throughout the week. As per tradition, the Saturday following Labor Day (this year, September 11) will be the headline day for events. However, in lieu of a parade, this year the coalition is hosting “Queer the Block”, a rally and block party.

In their July announcement, the Queer Coalition says, “While we celebrate Pride and the progress of our LGBTQ+ community, there is a critical need to continue our fight for equity, justice and equality. In place of a Pride parade and festival this year, we will host a rally and block party on Saturday, Sept. 11 in support of queer folx who continue to face oppression, marginalization, and hate; challenges that disproportionately effect queer people of color in our city and nation”.

Outside of the Queer the Block event, Saturday, as well as the rest of the weekend, are going to be full of festivities. 508Pride plans to host a Queer Prom for adults, Queer The Scene will be throwing a party Friday evening, SWAGLY will throw a Youth Prom, Love Your Labels is hosting Queer AF on Saturday evening. While not affiliated with the Queer Coalition, MB Lounge plans to host their traditional Pride Aat Polar Park) and specific dates to be announced as Pride Week approaches. In the meantime, visit Prideworcester.org for details on all that’s going on.

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STYLE Savvy APRIL GODDARD

After almost an entire year in our homes, summer came in hot with the latest and greatest trends that we could all finally wear as we emerged from one of the most isolated years in history.

Summer has been about being loud, excited and happy to be here, wherever you are, and it’s not over yet! Read on for the end-of-summer beauty trends that will have you seeing neon lights in a whole new way.

Neon eyeliner: Neon eyeliner that is reminiscent of the 1980’s is trending hard towards this summer’s end. In a time where being mostly bare-faced except for an emphasis on brows and lashes, some eye-catching neon eyes are the way to make a statement while still keeping it fairly simple. So how can you wear this trend? To look daring and not dated, avoid applying neon eyeliner on the bottom lash line. Instead, apply on the top very thinly, and slightly winged. Not sure which color to use?

Try to pick a color that compliments your eye color.

Neon nails: This has been the biggest ongoing neon trend of the summer season. Designs, accent nails, and whole sets are being done in the brightest of neon colors, from rich pink hues to green and bright yellows and oranges. Neon nails seem to have a celebratory tone to them, and make the perfect detail to cruise into fall. Love the idea but not ready to fully commit? Try this: Ask for a nude or pink base color that is barely-there. Have your nail technician help you pick two complimentary neon colors and add slim but elegant designs to the base coat.

Neon pullover: This is a fun and easy way to wear the trend.

On cooler summer nights when you are spending time outside with family and friends, throw on an easy neon pullover or sweater that is sure to go well with just about anything that you are wearing. A favorite of mine is a darker neon pink, but you could go for lime green, highlighter yellow, or even a bold indigo blue.

Neon Bag: If you are really feeling like going all out and would like to have a piece for now and future summers to come, invest in a neon bag. This is an accessory that can go well with a very neutral outfit or additional matching neon elements if you want to go full force with this trend. Neon colors can be electrifying and powerful, so if you are picking a whole accessory, go on the smaller scale or pick a patterned neon bag so that you don’t overpower the entire look.

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FINDING BALANCE: TURNING STUMBLING BLOCKS INTO STEPPING STONES JENNIFER RUSSO No one has the perfect life, void of mistakes. We’ve all had things happen to us or have chosen to act in ways that have seemingly hampered our success. These stumbling blocks, whether put there by others or by our own decisions, have the potential to be a nuisance. They can slow us down and make it difficult for us to achieve our full potential or just something we really, really want at the time. But the thing is – it’s what we do with them that really informs the outcome.

To be able to persevere in the face of difficulties and persist when we may be discouraged does something very important for us – it makes us more tenacious and more able to overcome not only that thing, but everything else.

First, we need to change our perspective. Henry Ford once said, “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” If we choose to let the things that come against us or stand in our way be fuel to actually achieve our goals, we are even more powerful than the person who never needed to, because we are ready for the challenges.

Another factor is to stop looking back at those challenges once we have overcome them, unless we are referencing them as things learned which helped us progress.

We learn the lessons from the hardships or poorly made decisions and then we move on. If you’re driving forward and looking backwards, you are inevitably going to crash into something, and then it will take even longer to get where you are going. Instead, take those stumbling blocks, use what they have taught you and turn them into stepping stones to achieve even more.

Lastly, we need to be sure to keep an open mind when it comes to our future. Yes, we do need to have a goal. It’s okay (and necessary) to have a measure or destination in your mind of how you want to succeed. But understand that there may be more than one way to get there. If you are ready to give up because things didn’t happen as fast as you wanted them to, didn’t meet your set expectations, or go the way you imagined they would, look for another way. There is always another way, but you must be willing to look for it.

Wishing you positivity and success. Namaste.

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t h e p u l s e m a g .c o m

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Please Consume Responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination,