The Pulse Magazine

September 2016 I n t h i s i s s u e COVER story

38 the luxe list: Back to school essentials

6 reasons to love the woo

39 OUT+ABOUT: Worcester Pride

entertainment

40 Apps you should use

14 my silent bravery makes a breakthrough 16 shuffle down shrewsbury street

FOOD & DRINK

28

44 new around the woo: Lock50

17 Pulsebooks: Fall into a good book this month

45 Pulsebrew: The fall seasonal beer switch and you

18 THE central scene 19 GameOn: Lego Awakens the Force 20 nowstreaming: Israel (Iz) Kamakawiwo'ole / Nick Jonas / Red Hot Chili Peppers 21 netflix junkie: Let's get weird

46 Dining review: The Worcester pizza tour 47 hot & now

36

Art & culture 50 Start on the street returns

24 Club, Pub & grub Listings 30 PulseShots

to park ave.

read pulse Online @

BEAUTY & sTYLE

ThePulseMag.com

52 genius decorating ideas for small

Lifestyle

spaces

34 If we had known...

54 Spice up your skin care

36 the worcester clean tech incubator:

55 steal the style: Static cling

'dream big. think green. build worcester.'

follow us on social media: Follow us on Twitter @WorcesterPulse Follow us on Instagram @PulseMag_Worc Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/thepulsemagazine

PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Pagio Inc., 88 Winter St., Worcester, MA 01604. (508) 756-5006. Copyright 2015 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

Paul Giorgio, Publisher Donna Roberson, Editor Vanessa Herbold, Art Director Chris Reddy, Alex Theisen, Kyle Sullivan Account Executives Mitchell Perry, Event Manager

Kim Dunbar, Sports Editor Jennifer Russo, Lifestyle Editor Kimberly Dunbar, Jennifer Russo, Jason Savio, Bernie Whitmore, Michael Wood, Paul Giorgio, Carly O’Brien, Merilee Kern, Kerry Cyganiewicz, John Trobaugh, Sloane Perron, Jamie Burke, Rachel Shuster Writers

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 5

cover story

s n e o s v a lo e R o t

the

Woo

By Rachel Shuster

Welcome to Worcester! Whether you’re here for the first time or you’re a lifelong resident, there are plenty of things to do off campus in Worcester.

When you’re taking a break from hitting the books, be sure to explore this wonderful city.

Moving to a new city can be intimidating, but luckily, we’ve got you covered with a list of the many reasons why you are going to love Worcester and how you can get involved in all that it has to offer!

6 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

College Communities

Nightlife

Worcester is known for being a college city – reason enough to love it! Between the great Looking for a night out on the town? The Canal District and Shrewsbury Street are hot education opportunities and the diverse and vast college population, you’ll feel right at areas for nightlife, but there’s plenty all over the city! Perfect Game, Funky Murphy’s, Loft 266, the Banner Bar & Grille, The Compass Tavern, Citizen Wine Bar, Michael’s home.

Cigar Bar, Victory Cigar Bar, Blackstone Tap and Whiskey on Water offer extensive drink A College of the Holy Cross graduate himself, Che Anderson, project manager with menus, live music and dancing. Check Pulse’s Club Listings for a full list of nightlife the Office of the City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr., knows a thing or two about options in the city. being a student in the city. As project manager, Anderson helps to facilitate special events permitting, downtown Worcester programming and is involved in public arts initiatives. Feeling playful? Jillian’s has arcade games, pool, live music and great special sporting events.

Anderson’s advice to students? Get out and explore!

If you’re over the bar scene and/or not 21, head to one of Worcester’s hookah bars. Electric “You have to get off campus,” he said. “I spent a lot of time at other colleges and had some Haze and the Shisha Room are great spots to find yourself during a night out. of my best experiences. There are so many hidden gems in the city – you just have to get Another hookah bar, Spiritual Haze, was started by Clark University graduate Victoria out there and find them.”

Mariano.

Another Worcester college grad who has stayed in the city is Joshua Croke. Croke is a 2014 Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) graduate and is now CEO and director of “I fell in love with Worcester when I first moved here for Clark. The diversity in the Design Origin Consulting, which develops market strategy and brand positioning for colleges and city is intriguing, stimulating and fun,” Mariano said. companies.

She and her classmates created Spiritual Haze to be a destination where people can meet Croke is also executive director and co-founder of Action! Worcester. This work people from every college, Worcester and surrounding towns.

connects students and young professionals in Worcester through collaborative economic “It’s a chill environment with art, board games, foosball, a pool table, snacks, shopping and, development and entrepreneurship. of course, hookah,” she added.

“When I look back on my college days, I wasn’t really encouraged to get off campus. It’s Mariano will also be opening Bull Mansion, a new American bistro, at the end of the easy to stay siloed, but you have to get out there,” he said. summer that will feature some 18+ live music nights.

Croke recommends cross-registering between colleges. “By doing so, you can pursue other interests, and it’s a great way to meet people,” he said.

Entertainment & Music Venues

To further engage students, Action! Worcester will launch a student ambassador program Are music venues or seeing a show more your scene? You can see your favorite band at the this fall. “With this program, each college in Worcester will have a dedicated student DCU Center or Palladium and catch live music at smaller venues like Ralph’s Rock Diner, ambassador to help communicate our message to students and help with engagement,” Vincent’s, Beatnik’s and The Cove.

Croke said.

Mechanics Hall and the Hanover Theatre provide stages for many theater and music performances. Whether it’s a comedy show, musical theater, orchestral or dance performance, these venues are sure to please. If you’re looking for more music, check out Music Worcester, which represents symphony, chamber, dance and jazz genres and holds We can’t talk about Worcester and not mention the amazing food and drink (if you’re events at venues throughout Worcester.

21+) options!

Food & Drink

Got a big group but not sure what to do? How about Worcester’s Escape Games? Escape Being a college student, you’re going to love the casual dining in Worcester. Check Games Worcester is a real-life, live-action, escape-the-room game with a fully interactive out Smokestack Urban BBQ, Joey’s Bar and Grill, Elsa’s Bushel and Peck, BirchTree experience. Get locked in a room and work together to get out!

Bread Company, Armsby Abbey, Vintage Grille & Gourmet Pizza, Brew City, The Fix, British Beer Company, the Flying Rhino and The Wonder Bar. Feeling fancy or want to celebrate the kickoff to the school year? The fine dining options in Worcester are abundant. Many of them can be found on Worcester’s well-known Shrewsbury Street. The 111 Chophouse, Via, Nuovo, Piccolo’s and Sweet Kitchen & Bar are all not to be missed.

Outdoor Ac tivities & Parks

If you’re the outdoorsy type, Worcester and its surrounding areas provide many options.

A great hike after a long week of classes can be found at Purgatory Chasm and Wachusett Mountain. (Wachusett Mountain is also a popular spot for skiing and snowboarding There are plenty more fine dining restaurants throughout the city, including The in the winter!) Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and The Cascades are also Sole Proprietor, Bocado, deadhorse hill, Lock 50 and Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro. beautiful areas for a nature walk.

Worcester also offers a variety of ethnic food. “There’s a great opportunity to eat internationally in Worcester,” Anderson said. Be sure to try El Basha (Middle Eastern), Kenichi Bistro (Asian), Anokye Krom (African), Pho Dakao (Vietnamese), Loving Hut (Vegetarian) Meze Greek Tapas Bar & Grille (Greek) and Mezcal (Mexican).

If being on the water is more your speed, Regatta Point Community Sailing offers sailing on Lake Quinsigamond, while Blackstone River Bikeway is great for something active on land.

The parks are also a must! Elm Park and Green Hill Park are well-known spots in for exploration and relaxation. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, sitting on a bench If Italian is your cuisine of choice, Shrewsbury Street has numerous options, and taking it all in, or jogging, these parks are sure to please. including Leo’s Ristorante, Volturno and Padavano’s.

“You don’t even feel like you’re in the city at Green Hill Park. I also love the food there at Last, but certainly not least, the diners! The history of Worcester diners dates back Grill on the Hill!” Croke said. to the 1800s, so naturally, we’ve got some great spots. Make sure to visit the Miss Worcester, Kenmore, Boulevard, Parkway, Dinky’s, Blanchard’s 101, The Corner A few hidden gems to also see are Bancroft Tower, a 56-foot-high natural stone and granite tower that looks like a miniature castle, and Newton Hill Disc Golf Course.

Lunch and Lou Roc’s.

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 7

Landmarks & Attractions Make sure to also visit some city landmarks!

Coney Island is a city treasure for its old-school décor and cheap, scrumptious hot dogs.

Once you’re done downing some dogs, head to Worcester’s downtown area and Worcester Common to snap pictures and take in the sights. While there, be on the lookout for the

community engagement and local tourism and features approximately 10 murals, artist panels and outdoor events.

If you’re staying in the city over the summer, make sure you check out the many cultural

festivals in the city, including the Juneteenth, Italian, Grecian and Caribbean American festivals.

Turtle Boy statue, an unofficial mascot for the city!

LG BTQ+ Community

Some additional landmarks and attractions are the Salisbury Mansion; Vietnam,

Worcester is a city that embraces all and celebrates everyone. This is especially apparent

Southwest Asia and Korean war memorials; the year-round Canal District Farmers’ Market; and the infamous Kelley Square. Once you see it, you’ll know why it’s infamous!

Art & Museums Worcester’s art and history are also aspects of the city to explore. The Worcester Art

in the city’s thriving LGBT community. The Worcester Pride Parade is an event that recognizes, unifies and celebrates the LGBT community, allies and supporters, as do

Worcester’s many LGBT groups and meetups. Airspray, a group creating a series of

LGBT community events throughout Worcester, brings people, dance, music and art together.

Museum offers various exhibitions and collections that change throughout the year. The

The Male Box is a fun lounge featuring live music, karaoke and other events.

through extensive libraries, document archives and a wide collection of artifacts.

Be sure to also check out LGBT resources and groups on your own campus!

Looking to get crafty? The Worcester Center for Crafts offers instruction and a hands-on

Volunteer & Intern Opportunities

Worcester Historical Museum and Antiquarian Society provide a history of the area

approach to learning and exploring ceramics, glass, metals and photography.

If you’re seeking to get closer to nature, The EcoTarium is a unique indoor-outdoor

museum, offering a chance to walk through treetops, go through the galaxy in a digital planetarium and get interactive with interesting and educational exhibits.

Be sure to also check out Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, a beautiful botanical

garden with views of Mount Wachusett and the Wachusett Reservoir. There’s nothing

Attending college in Worcester also means being in a hub of amazing internship and

volunteer opportunities. The city has a robust collection of companies and businesses, both local and broad-based. Getting experience through an incredible internship or volunteer opportunity will look great on your resume.

like a relaxing botanical garden after cramming for exams!

campus politics

Festivals & Fairs

As we approach the upcoming election – the first election in which the majority of current

The city is proud of its amazing culture and diversity, and celebrating it through festivals and fairs is just one of many ways the city shows its pride.

StART on the Street is a fun and interactive art, music and performance festival. You can

shop more than 300 artists and crafters and watch as artists and musicians create unique

college students are able to vote – you might want to get involved politically on campus.

Here are some organizations on your campus that can help you do so!

College of the Holy Cross College Democrats: Email democrats@g.holycross.edu.

College Republicans: Email collegerepublicans@g.holycross.edu.

works right on the street!

Clark University

If celebrating the art of food is more for you, try Taste of Shrewsbury Street. More than 30

Republicans of Clark University: Visit clarku.collegiatelink.net for more information.

restaurants and bars from the Shrewsbury Street neighborhood participate in the annual

event. Between great food, live entertainment and local vendors lined up along the street, you’re sure to have a fun and delicious time. Don’t miss Shrewsbury Street Oktoberfest in the fall, when all participating restaurants feature German food, beer, music and more!

If you head over to the Canal District in the fall, you can partake in Canalloween, a Halloween-inspired event with a costume contest, parade and Monster Dash 5k run!

Action! Worcester also puts on several events. One of which is the POW! WOW! Worcester Mural Festival. The weeklong celebration was developed to strengthen

8 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

Democrats of Clark University: Visit clarku.collegiatelink.net for more information.

Assumption College College Democrats: Contact the Office of Student Activities at (508) 767-7403.

College Republicans: Contact the Office of Student Activities at (508) 767-7403.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute College Democrats: Contact the Student Activities Office at sao@wpi.edu.

College Republicans: Contact the Student Activities Office at sao@wpi.edu.

Now that you’ve gotten to know all the reasons you’ll love Worcester, get out there and explore!

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10 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

Your college bucket list : Discover Central Massachusetts has published its list of “91 Things To Do in Worcester Before You Graduate.” Here are our 20 favorites.

Did something on the list? Post a photo with #WOOBucketList on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, and you could win a prizes from Discover Central Massachusetts. For the full article, visit discovercentralma.org/91.

#11

#22

#28

#35

#39

Go sledding on the hill at Quinsigamond Community College.

Visit the oldest art store (since 1852!) in the country, C.C. Lowell Art Supply Co.

Get scared at Factory of Terror on Grafton Street.

Line dance at The Ranch on James Street.

Ice skate on the Worcester Common Oval.

#46

#47

#48

Show your pride with a T-shirt from Worcester Wares.

Get your geek on and buy a comic at That’s Entertainment.

Experience The Hotel Vernon (aka The Ship Room).

#53

#56

#58

Watch Worcester’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in March.

Salsa with Raices Latin Dance.

Ride your bike up historic George Street.

#41 Be an exhibitionist and enter ArtsWorcester's Annual College Show.

#51 Find your zen at Pho Hien Buddhist Meditation Temple on Dewey Street.

#44 Take a hike at Broad Meadow Brook off of Massasoit Road.

#85 #77 Hike the Cascades Park.

#83 Visit another college campus in Worcester.

Read to individuals who are blind, visually impaired and print disabled as a volunteer at Audio Journal.

#87 Serve a meal at St. John’s Food for the Poor or The Mustard Seed.

#63 Take a selfie at Bancroft Tower or with Turtle Boy at the Burnside Fountain on the Worcester Common.

#91 Get an internship at internhub.com.

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 11

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September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 13

e n t e r ta i n m e n t

By Carly O’Brien “I want people to walk away feeling like they were part of the experience and more inspired than when they came,” said Matt Wade, the man behind My Silent Bravery, of his performances.

y r e v a r B rough t n kth e l i S ea r y b M es a mak

A Worcester native, Wade has been writing and performing since his senior year of high school, when he wrote his first song, “Side of the Road.” A few years later, this song was even featured on the show One Tree Hill. In 2005, he had his first real performance at Java Hut in Webster Square, where he was first encouraged to pursue music. He began performing small gigs while taking lessons from well-known jazz guitarist Rich Falco.

In 2008, Wade put together a band and entered a time of what he describes as “trial by fire.” In just three years, he performed about 300 shows, each of which became learning experiences of their own. While performing mainly covers, Wade started performing original music, as well. He began to realize that it was writing and performing original music that he really loved.

Over the years, Wade has toured with many big names, including artists such as Daughtry, The Wailers and Howie Day. But his favorite venue is Worcester’s own Mechanics Hall.

“I love Worcester. I always try to be an ambassador for Worcester everywhere I go. I like the community aspect of Worcester; it’s warm and supportive,” Wade said.

Recently, My Silent Bravery played Electric Haze in Worcester with Eric Hutchinson as the first stop on his fall tour. Worcester has also been the backdrop for many of the singer/ songwriter’s videos, including this summer’s single, “Drunk off the Sun,” which was shot on Lake Quinsigamond.

But where does the name My Silent Bravery come in? Wade explains that, after touring with a band initialed MSB, he was searching for a new name that would keep the same initials. His friend suggested My Silent Bravery, and it stuck. The name has “an undertone of passion, persistence and [being] about the music and not me, per say” Wade explained.

14 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

Wade said his favorite song to perform is “To Give,” featuring Matisyahu, which has a strong message of making sure to “think about others before yourself and to really give back.”

My Silent Bravery’s newest album is Breakthrough. Produced by Anthony Resta (Elton John, Collective Soul, Duran Duran), Grammy Award-winner Mike Mangini and Peter Zizzo (Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion), the album has a different feel. Wade said he dabbled in more co-writing on this album than he has in the past, which has proved successful if “Drunk,” which he co-wrote with Deanna DellaCioppa, is anything to go by. Within just two weeks, it had more than 500,000 hits on YouTube and was trending in countries around the world.

The second single from Breakthrough, “Warning Signs,” dropped in August, as well as its accompanying video. Vasilli Shields, who has worked with My Silent Bravery on previous videos, produced both of these videos.

With so many things happening for Matt Wade, I asked him what is does he like best about music?

“I love the song-writing aspect,” Wade said. “It’s like putting pieces of a puzzle together.

You have to come up with the chord structure, and then from there, come up with a melody.”

The hardest part? “The lyrics. You have to decide what the story is going to be.” As a songwriter, some of Wade’s favorite artists are those that he describes as “great storytellers.”

Wade said music has helped him overcome obstacles in the past. “One of the reasons I started writing music was to help others overcome their obstacles.”

With this strong message of overcoming obstacles, My Silent Bravery hopes to help fans discover their own silent braveries.

For more information, visit mysilentbravery.com.

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 15

Shuffle down Shrewsbury Street

By Carly O’Brien Summer is almost over, which means the return of cool

weather, fall colors and the annual College Shuffle. From noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, college students and their

families will have the chance to sample tastings from more

than 20 restaurants on Shrewsbury Street, also known as

of Worcester’s most popular eateries. Shrewsbury Street

will be lined with tents and booths from various local businesses and sponsors, offering music, shopping and maybe even a few giveaways. Free transportation will be

provided to and from the majority of colleges in the city directly to Shrewsbury Street.

Worcester’s Restaurant Row. The 10th annual College

“This is a great way for college students to check out one of

Street Merchants’ Association. It’s both an opportunity

Giorgio, one of the event organizers.

Shuffle is hosted by Pagio, Inc., and The Shrewsbury for incoming freshmen to explore their new city and for

returning students to try new food from some of their favorite restaurants.

“As someone who went to college in Worcester, I know

how hard it can be for new students to get off campus

and see the city,” said Mitchell Perry, one of the event organizers. “The College Shuffle is great opportunity for

students to get out and experience one of Worcester’s most

vibrant neighborhoods and its flourishing culinary scene.

Worcester’s best and happening neighborhoods,” said Paul

With each restaurant offering some of its best dishes, you will definitely not leave this event hungry. With the many vendors and giveaways along the street, there is

surely something for everyone. Come learn more about Worcester, and, maybe, even find your new favorite restaurant!

You will not want to miss out on the ultimate welcome

Once you have that initial experience, it makes exploring the city feel much more accessible in the future.”

This is one of the few events in Worcester hosted exclusively for the local college community, including students, their families and university staff and faculty. Students will be

able to purchase admission buttons through their student activities office for $10 with a valid college ID or $15 the day of the event.

Admission entitles you to more than just food from some

16 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

back for Worcester’s thousands of college students. It’s a can’t-be-missed opportunity to experience the sights, smells, sounds and – most importantly – tastes of one of the city’s most happening cultural hotspots. Whether you are going into your first year or last, the Shrewsbury Street Shuffle will help you discover some of the best food Worcester has to offer.

For more information and an updated bus schedule, visit thecollegeshuffle.com.

pulsebooks: Fall into a good book this month

By Kimberly Dunbar

A guilty pleasure If you’ve ever read one of Liane Moriarty’s books, you know it takes some patience to endure the buildup, but the payoff is usually worth it. The same applies to her latest release, Truly Madly Guilty (Flatiron Books), in which Moriarty simultaneously weaves together the events of one night and how, two months later, they’re still affecting those involved.

When introverts Erika and Oliver receive a last-minute invitation from their gregarious neighbors, Tiffany and Vid, Erika invites her oldest and closest friend, Clementine, her husband Sam, and their two girls along. But something happens at the barbecue that leaves the three seemingly happy families questioning their marriages, beliefs and futures, wondering “What if we hadn’t gone?” Moriarty’s masterful writing style and storytelling leaves the reader in constant suspense and wanting more, making this book quite the page-turner (the book moves a little slower than her previous works, but hang in there). Her tale of how one moment can change everything, including the foundation on which your life is built, is a strong message that will keep readers thinking long after the book is finished.

The Force has indeed awakened After acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, Disney announced that in 2014 it was removing all Expanded Universe works and establishing a new canon of literature surrounding the Star Wars universe prior to 2012 (which includes the seven feature films – the original six movies and the Star Wars animated film The Clone Wars – as well as the animated television series of the same name and the Star Wars Rebels cartoon). Since then, there has been very little information released about what happens between Return of the Jedi and the latest film, The Force Awakens. However, since Episode VII’s release, more Star Wars stories from the new canon with juicier plot lines have been published, the most notable of these, the Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy authored by Chuck Wendig, of which the second book, Life Debt (Del Rey), was recently released.

While I’m not overly enthusiastic about the first book of the series, which focuses on the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Endor, Life Debt has a deeper plot, familiar faces (Han, Leia and Chewie) and reveals more of what is to come in the future movies. With the Empire in pieces, the New Republic (formerly the Rebellion) is trying to restore peace and order to the galaxy. Meanwhile, Leia Organa assigns pilot Norra Wexley and a new band of characters (all of whom are introduced in the first book) a mission to find her husband, Han Solo, who has gone missing while searching for his friend Chewbacca. Once found, Solo and the crew turn their attention to liberating the Wookiee’s home world of Kashyyyk, all while Grand Admiral Rae Sloane continues her work of resurrecting the Empire. Life Debt introduces readers to the beginnings of the First Order and the events leading up to The Force Awakens. So, if you’re one of those fans biding your time between movies by researching theories about Rey’s lineage, Life Debt might be your savior, and perhaps lead you to a theory or two of your own.

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 17

Events happening around Central Mass: september 2016 Worcester’s 41st annual Pride Festival Don’t miss Worcester Pride’s signature event. Worcester Pride boasts multiple events during this weekend, including a

pageant and parade, but the festival is the largest and most popular event. Following the Pride Parade in the morning, check out the activities featured at the festival in the afternoon. Sign up to participate in the parade or festival for a small entrance fee or just enjoy being a spectator for free!

Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 10, parade starts at 11 a.m.; Worcester Common, Worcester; free; visit worcesterpride. org for a schedule of events for Worcester Pride week (Sept. 7-10).

Canal Diggers 5K Road Race Be a part of one of top races in Central Massachusetts. Proceeds from the race go to the Worcester Hibernian Cultural

Foundation, or “Irish Club,” which hosts various events throughout the year to promote Irish culture. Following the

race, all runners will enjoy a free Irish barbecue, Harpoon beer and live music. In addition to the full 5K, there is also a children’s 1K race that kicks off at 10:15 a.m.

5K: 11 a.m., 1K: 10:15 a.m. Sept. 10; Fiddler’s Green Pub, 19 Temple St., Worcester; 5K registration is $32 until 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 and $40 on day of event, 1K registration is $12 at any time; canaldiggers.org.

19th annual Musicfest at Wachusett Mountain Pack your blankets and lawn chairs because the weekend voted Best Local Music Festival at the Worcester Music Awards is back. Featuring some of the best national, regional and local music on multiple stages, a mountainside barbecue and

the traditional BEER-FEST-OF-ALE, this is sure to be a fun event for all ages. On Sunday, enjoy a classic car show presented by Pike FM. Be one of the first 100 cars to the event and park for free.

Noon-6 p.m. Sept. 10-11; Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton; tickets are $20 for adults, $30 at the door and $6 for children, $9 at the door; wachusett.com.

Social Science Series at the EcoTarium Experience the EcoTarium like you never have before. Enjoy special access to the interactive exhibits, as well as music, local food, a cash bar and various indoor and outdoor activities. Network and socialize while having a fun night out at the museum. Plus, save $5 on admission if you buy your tickets before noon on the day of the event!

5:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 15; EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester; Adults 21+; pre-purchased: members $10, general admission $15, at event: members $15, general admission $20; ecotarium.org.

Worcester Public Library Volunteer Fair If you’ve ever wanted to learn about volunteering in the community but didn’t know where to start, visit Worcester Public Library’s third annual Volunteer Fair! Whether you enjoy working outdoors, mentoring local youth, teaching people new

skills or helping our immigrant population, representatives from local organizations will be available to discuss volunteer opportunities for all interests and backgrounds.

10 a.m.-noon Sept. 10; Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room, 3 Salem Square, Worcester; free; mywpl.org.

18 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

gameon: Lego awakens the Force

By Jason Savio So another Lego game based on a blockbuster film has hit store shelves. Surprise, surprise. By

now, it has become an unspoken promise that if there is a movie event hitting theaters, there will

also be a Lego version of it right around the corner. The thing about these Lego games, though, is that they are addictively charming and have become a welcome addition to the experience that

is engulfing yourself in anything and everything related to the source material. In this instance, it is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In an effort to spice up the proceedings this time around, there are some new features added to the gameplay.

Lego: Star Wars The Force Awakens delivers what any Lego gamer will already expect: a funny retelling of the movie with its own unique Lego quirks and jokes. You basically play through The

Force Awakens, getting the opportunity to play as your favorite characters, both old and new, like

Han Solo, Chewbacca, Rey and Finn. But this installment in the Lego Star Wars franchise makes a clear push to add some extra oomph to the proceedings right off the bat. Instead of starting off on Jakku like the film does, the game takes a left turn and jumps back in time to the Battle

of Endor and the second Death Star from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of The Jedi in an attempt

to bridge the two films. It’s an unexpected twist that may throw some people off. Of course, the

narrative quickly redirects to the game’s title after that, but it sets the tone for the rest of the game, letting the constant gamer know that this isn’t a cut-and-paste copy of previous Star Wars Lego games.

The new gameplay concepts introduced in Lego: Star Wars The Force Awakens are not huge, but

they add new angles. The most fun is the Blaster Battles function where, like other shooter games, you are able to take your cute little Lego self behind cover as you aim and shoot at your enemies from an over-the-shoulder view. It’s a more real and in-your-face fighting style. There is also

the Multi-Builds system, in which you have the ability to choose more than one way to build certain Lego pieces for puzzle solving, the backbone of any Lego game. This is great because it gives options when it comes to brick-building, as opposed to the mundane task of just throwing them together.

If you like Star Wars and Lego, then you’ll love Lego: Star Wars The Force Awakens. It embodies

what everybody has come to enjoy about both, while at the same time trying to mix it up and offer a fresh take with new details. It’s not a complete overhaul of the Lego game formula, but there are enough additions to make it feel a little different.

For more information, visit lego.com/en-us/starwars/games/videogame.

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 19

NowSTREAMING: Israel (IZ) Kamakawiwo’ole / Facing Future

By Jennifer Russo Every now and again, I go through my vast empire of CD towers and find one of my older favorites, popping it in and wondering why on earth I ever moved on from it to something else. For those of you who think you don’t know who Israel Kamakawiwo’ole is, I guarantee you that you’ve heard him before. His beautiful rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” has been used in movies such as 50 First Dates, Finding Forrester, Meet Joe Black and several others, as well as for a Rice Krispies commercial.

His album featuring this song, Facing Future, actually came out in 1993, and many of its songs are in Hawaiian, but there are several songs in English, including a nice cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads.” This album tells a beautiful story about the history of the islands, including the very traditional song “Henehene Kou’Aka,” which translates to “Your Contagious Laughter.” My favorite song on the album is the first one, entitled simply “Hawaii ’78.” The almost haunting flow of the song includes words from the Hawaiian constitution and speaks to the beauty of the land. The pride shines through.

Whether or not you understand the language, his voice is downright angelic and the album is a great example or the true Hawaiian sound. As summer is starting to wind down, it is a good reminder to get those last warm days in before the leaves begin to fall and snowflakes soon follow.

Nick Jonas / Last Year Was Complicated

By Mike Wood Yup, it’s really official now. Nick Jonas is all grown up.

The “explicit lyrics” warning on the album’s artwork reveals that the former tween heartthrob is showing off a more risqué (and a buffer) body of work that surpasses the softer, sex-centric sensibilities of his first solo effort (2014’s more subtle, self-titled entry).

Jonas has ramped up the sex-as-song about 100 notches on his second solo album. He’s clearly throwing his fedora into the ring to duke it out with Zayn Malik and the Weeknd for pop bad boy du jour. Complicated seems like the perfect fit for Jonas, as he tests the waters about just what kind of artist he’s going to be and what kind of longevity he’ll have in this business.

Jonas kicks off the album by trying his best Justin Timberlake impersonation on “Voodoo” – and he mostly succeeds (he did it with “Chains” on his last album). Then, Jonas channels Justin Bieber with “Close.” But it often seems that Jonas is trying so hard to not be squeaky clean that it comes off as disingenuous; like on “The Difference,” when he brags that he’ll “love you like a grown-ass man and push all your buttons.” Do actual grown men announce their “grown-ass man-ness” and talk, sing or flirt like this? (Maybe it’s a millennial thing.)

Though, sadly, IZ passed on in 1997 at the age of 38, his beautiful and delicate sound will always be a part of this world.

Jonas serves himself better with “Unhinged,” which highlights him at his ballad-y best. Perhaps it’s precisely this experimentation with styles that speaks to the type of artist Jonas plans to be when he’s not trying so hard to please everyone imaginable – or be someone other than himself.

For more, visit izhawaii.com

For more, visit nickjonas.com

20 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

Red Hot Chili Peppers / The Getaway

By Jason Savio It’s been quite some time since the Red Hot Chili Peppers delivered any new music, and on The Getaway, their first effort since 2011’s I’m With You, they recruit Danger Mouse to produce what turns out to be an experimental collection.

The influence of Danger Mouse is the defining characteristic of The Getaway. Where the Chili Peppers used to hit a big hook or lift off into a strong chorus, they glide into a more laid-back delivery here.

They have always been funk and groove oriented; however, it’s the latter that dominates this record, as they give up the instantly recognizable carved hooks for subtle and soft hypnosis. The title track opener is a sleepy, dance-infused introduction that plays out for the duration of the record on tracks like the neo-disco space jam of “Go Robot” and “Feasting On The Flowers.” But it’s “The Longest Wave” that provides listeners the sublime escape the band seems to be trying to deliver.

The Getaway is also the second outing for guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced longtime Chili Pepper John Frusciante. Klinghoffer seems a little more comfortable this go-round, but it is still obvious that there is a gap left by Frusciante that Klinghoffer can’t fill. The outro to “Goodbye Angels” is as close as any track on here gets to a lively pulse, with Flea dropping a bass line like only he can and Klinghoffer stepping up to nicely compliment it.

The Getaway is an underwhelming listen at first, but given time, it starts to find its groove.

For more, visit redhotchilipeppers.com

netflixjunkiE: Let's get weird

The X-Files

By Jennifer Russo If everything were normal all the time, with nothing out of the ordinary happening, no wacky people on the train, no odd relative in your family, no middle-of-the-day happening to shake things up a little … life would be pretty damn boring. We have to admit that weirdness is essential (in doses) to our enjoyment and happiness. Lucky for us, Netflix is full of shows and movies that tip the meter. Not necessarily horror movies (although many of those could fit the category), but just plain weird. Things that make you go hmmmm…

My personal favorite, which unfortunately is not on Netflix, but should be – and I am only mentioning it so you understand what my definition of weird is – is a movie called Small Apartments. Do yourself a favor and find a way to stream this gem of a wacked-out film..

Now, of course, there are different levels of weird. The weird factor can also be movies that have a really odd story line or insane characters that drag you into their world. It can also be a film that blurs the line between what is real and what is not.

The Fringe series is an excellent example of weird. Not only does it bring in parallel universe theories, but also people and creatures that cause complete havoc in the natural world. The acting in this series is wonderful and convincing, and you won’t be able to watch only one season.

Similar to this idea with a sci-fi alien spin, The X-Files is a household name. All seasons can be found on Netflix right now, so if you haven’t gotten on board the cult-classic train, jump on. Not to mention other shows and movies often reference this series.

Stonehearst Asylum brings the notable acting skills of Ben Kingsley, Kate Beckinsale and Michael Caine to the forefront when a man falls in love with a woman living at a mental asylum and soon finds out things are not as they seem. It is hard to tell if the patients or the staff are more insane.

Every day we are faced with choices. What if we refused to make any? This is the premise behind Mr. Nobody, where a boy refuses to make choices and, as a result, lives more than one life simultaneously.

Jared Leto really nailed his character portrayal here.

Christian Bale, who has played many odd characters in his career, has two I think are worthy of this list.

In American Psycho, he is a man with a split personality – a well-to-do investment banker and a murderer. The Machinist (the one where he caught a lot of flack for losing way too much weight) is about a man who is slowly dying from insomnia and hasn’t slept for a year, so he starts questioning his own sanity.

Black Mirror is a series which provides us with social commentary in a weird way. It takes our plunge into a super-technological society and turns it into a dark story. This series will get you thinking, and the plot twists will have you reeling. This is exceptionally well done.

Lastly, there needs to be some time spent on Stranger Things, a series which just came out that I watched in its entirety (eight episodes) over two weeknights. It’s addictive and definitely lives up to its title. If you grew up in the ’80s, you will appreciate the nod it gives to that time period and filming style.

Instead of just setting it in the era, the entire series feels like something you’d have watched back then.

The suspenseful synth music, the grainy quality of the screen, the lighting and colors used throughout – if you didn’t know this had just been made, you’d never guess. You have classic nerds, Eggo waffles, Dungeons & Dragons, bad fashion statements, wood paneling, horrible wallpaper, mix tapes, posters of Tom Cruise and references to Star Wars, The Hobbit, Stephen King and He-Man. It’s got it all, including a telekinetic 12-year-old who grew up in a lab, a faceless alien that can walk through walls and Winona Ryder. Seriously, see this Netflix original.

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Club, Pub + GRUB Listings

Entertainment at clubs, bars, pubs & other select venues American Graffiti 113 Summer St., Lunenburg 978-345-1010

Sept. 22: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell Sept. 23: Brother Maynard Sept. 24: Tim & Lou Sept. 29: Lizzy Marquis Sept. 30: Ton of Blues

B-Man’s 140 Tavern 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Sterling 978-422-9763 140pub.com

Bolton Street Tavern 587 Bolton St., Marlborough 508-485-4416 boltonstreettavern.com

The Banner Bar & Grille 112 Green St., Worc.

508-755-0879 thebannerbar.com Wednesdays: Trivia Night Fridays and Saturdays: DJs

Boulder Cafe 880 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-0008

435 Bar & Grill 435 Lancaster St., Leominster

Barber’s Crossing Road House 861 Main St., Leicester 508-892-7575 barberscrossingrestaurant.com Barbers Crossing (North) 175 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8438 barberscrossingrestaurant.com Thursdays: Open Mic Fridays: Bill McCarthy Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worc.

508-926-8877 beatniksbeyou.com Tuesdays: Chillin’ Tuesday Wednesdays: Wild Wednesdays Sept. 3: Taylor Rich Sept. 8: Ukulele Night Sept. 9: Elemental Sept. 10: Hamburger Midnight Sept. 11: Wooing Dorothy Sept. 15: Kepa Sept. 16: Worcester Americana Collective Sept. 17: Bees Deluxe Sept. 18: Jessica Guimond Sept. 21: Federation of Belligerent Writers Sept. 22: The Acquaintances Sept. 23: Stormbringer Sept. 24: Stalking Stella Sept. 25: Bruce Darcy Sept. 29: Booty & Jet Sept. 30: Truth Squared Oct 1: Tokyo Tramps Beemer’s Pub & Grill 310 Main St., Fitchburg 978-348-2100 beemerspub.com Billy’s Pub 81 Clinton St., Shrewsbury 508-425-3353 Black Sheep Tavern 261 Leominster Road, Sterling 978-422-8484 blacksheeptavernsterline.com Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worc.

508-797-4827 blackstonetap.com Blue Plate Lounge 661 Main St., Holden 508-829-4566 Blueprint New American Bar & Grill 9 Village Square, Westminster 978-668-5580 Fridays: Magic of Eddie Raymond Sept. 8: Darren Bessette Band Sept. 9: Rob Benton Sept. 10: JCDC Sept. 15: Dan Cormier Sept. 17: Kevin Shields

Breakaway Billiards 104 Sterling St., Clinton 978-365-6105 Brew City 104 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

508-752-3862 brew-city.com Bull Run Restaurant 215 Great Road, Shirley 978-425-4311, 877-536-7190 bullrunrestaurant.com Sept. 8: Coco Montoya Sept. 9: Entrain Sept. 10: Chris Smither Sept. 16: Cheryl Wheeler Sept. 22: Ruthie Foster Cafe Destare 320 Main St., Fitchburg 978-345-5734 destare.com Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St., Worc.

508-926-8353 Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays: DJ (21+) Chopstick’s Restaurant & Lounge 21 Commercial Road, Leominster 978-534-0020 chopsticksleominster.com Christopher’s Pub 7 Pleasant St., Leominster 978-534-8250 Cicero’s Cafe 17 Suffolk St., Worc.

508-767-9728 Classic’s Pub 285 Central St., Leominster 978-537-7750 classicspub.net Sept. 3: Backseat Zero Sept. 10: Enuff is Enuff Sept. 17: Go Gadget Go Sept. 24: Laquerhead Club KasBar 234 Southwest Cutoff, Worc.

508-798-8385 Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: Karaoke The Columbia Tavern 28 Manning Ave., Leominster 978-751-8962 Sept. 23: Bruce Jacques Compass Tavern 90 Harding St., Worc.

508-304-6044 thecompasstavern.com Wednesdays: Cruise Night Fridays, Saturdays: DJs Sept. 9: Chris Reddy Sept. 16: Chad Clements Sept. 23: Ken Macy Sept. 30: Jay Graham

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Cosmopolitan Club 96 Hamilton St., Worc.

508-752-0482 The Cove Music Hall 89 Green St., Worc.

508-363-1888 Wednesdays: Subterra Sept. 3: Gov’t Surplus Sept. 4: Agent Orange with Fea and more Sept. 8: Nytro Sept. 10: Changes in Latitudes (Jimmy Buffett tribute) Sept. 15: Open Mic and Jam Sept. 16: Matt Maratea and more Sept. 17: Boombox Sept. 22: The “Get Wasted Cause It’s Thursday” Punk Show Sept. 23, 24: Metal/Punk vs. PKD at the Cove Sept. 29: Wolfman Chuck Presents:A Heavy Thursday Sept. 30: Ras Spectiv (Bob Marley tribute) Dance Ranch & Saloon 70 James St., Worc.

508-757-6977 danceranchandsaloon.com Days End Tavern 287 Main St., Oxford 508-987-1006 daysendtavern.com Devens Grill 4 Ryans Way, Devens 978-862-0060 devensgrill.com Electric Haze 26 Millbury St, Worc.

508-799-0629 Sept. 3: Vincent Liou Sept. 4: Art Gallery/Pride Opening Sept. 9: Skatalites Sept. 10: Junglists United/ PRIDE Sept. 14: College Musik Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant 19 Temple St., Worc.

508-792-3700 aohworcester.com Firefly’s / Dante’s 350 E. Main St., Marlborough 508-357-8883 fireflysbbq.com Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden 508-829-3008 flipflopsma.com Flying Rhino Cafe 278 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

508-757-1450 flyingrhinocafe.com Frank’s 274 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

774-420-2253 Funky Murphy’s Bar & Grill 305 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

508-753-2995 funkyandjosemurphys.com Gardner Ale House 74 Parker St., Gardner 978-669-0122 gardnerale.com Sundays: Sunday Brunch with Chet Williamson and Jimmy Morell Thursdays: Audio Wasabi Fridays, Saturdays: Live music Sept. 24: Toddamy The GazBar Sports Grill 1045 Central St., Leominster

thegazbar.com Sept. 9: Kevin Shields Sept. 10: Scott Babineau Sept. 17: City Boys GD Lounge Union Station, 2 Washington Square, Worc.

(508) 755-6555 facebook.com/GDloungeandtapas Greendale’s Pub 404 W. Boylston St., Worc.

508-853-1350 greendalespub.com Tuesdays: Open Mic with Bill McCarthy; Local Musicians Showcase Sept. 30: The Rails Halligan’s Sports Bar and More 889 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-6793 halliganssportsbarandmore.com Happy Jack’s 785 North Main St., Leominster 978-466-3433 Sept. 3: Chris Reddy Sept. 9: Dave Malouin Sept. 10: Brother Stereo Sept. 16: Scott Babineau Sept. 17: Lizzy Marquis Sept. 23: Topher Brew Sept. 24: Amanda Cote Sept. 30: Dave Harrington Hotel Vernon - The Ship Room/Kelley Square Yacht Club 1 Millbury St., Worc.

Sept. 10: Worcester Loves Orlando Pride Drag Show Indian Ranch 200 Gore Road, Webster 508-943-3871 indianranch.com Industry Bar Room 109 Water St., Worc.

508-756-2100 industrybarroom.com Ixtapa Cantina 308 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg 978-582-9701 ixtapacantina2.com JC Fenwick’s 37 Mechanic St., Leominster 978-840-4845 Jillian’s - Worcester 315 Grove St., Worc.

508-793-0900 jilliansworcester.com Sept. 3: Dance Night Sept. 9: Squelch Sept. 10: UFC 203 Miocic vs Overeem Sept. 16: Lateral Edge Sept. 17: Key Perfromance Sept. 23: Key Perfromance Sept. 24: Synergy Sept. 30: Never in Vegas JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough 508-842-8420 jbag.biz Sept. 1: Billy Claire Sept. 2: Ghost Train Sept. 9: Stormbringer/Number of the Beast Sept. 10: Killer Queen Sept. 16: Lacquerhead Sept. 17: 9-Teen Sept. 23: Windfall Sept. 24: No Alibi Sept. 30: Playback Oct. 1: Flock of Assholes Continued on Page 27

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Continued from Page 24 Legends Airport Road, Fitchburg 978-342-6500

18 Mill St., Southbridge 508-764-6900 millstreetbrews.com

Leitrim’s Pub 265 Park Ave., Worc.

508-798-2447 leitrimspub.com

Moynihan’s Pub 897 Main St., Worc.

Loft 266 Bar & Lounge 266 Park Ave., Worc.

508-796-5177 loft266.com Sept. 3: Two Timers Sept. 8: Dezi Garcia Sept. 9: Sam James Sept. 10: Mike Melendez Sept. 15: Ken Macy Sept. 16: Drunken Uncles Sept. 17: Dave Ashman Sept. 21: Jim Devlin Sept. 22: Ricky Duran Sept. 23: Jay Graham Sept. 24: Nik Chisholm Sept: 28: Jim Devlin Sept. 29: Blue Light Bamdits Sept. 30: Ken Macy Oct 1: Dave Ashman London Billiards / Club Oasis 70 James St., Worc.

508-799-7655 londonbilliards.com Mahoney’s Pub 413 Park Ave., Worc.

508-277-1073 Marty’s Pub 225 Cantebury St., Worc.

508-754-0033 martyspub.com MB Lounge 40 Grafton St., Worc.

508-799-4521 mblounge.com Wednesdays: Karaoke Thursdays: Thumpin’ College Thursdays Michael’s Cigar Bar 1 Exchange Place, Worc.

508-459-9035 michaelscigar.com Sept. 2 Jim Devlin Trio Sept. 3 Hoodoo Revelator Sept. 4 Royal Furs Sept. 7 Brett Brumby Sept. 8 The Allston Police Sept. 9 Acoustic Nation Sept. 10 Dr Robert Sept. 14 Ricky Duran Sept. 15 Chris Reddy Sept. 16 Andy Cummings Sept. 17 Tequila Bonfire Sept. 18 Blue Light Bandits Sept. 21 Michael Melendez Sept. 23 Hoodoo Reveltor Sept. 24 Russo Brothers Sept. 25 Songs for Hope Sept. 28 Christopher McDermott Sept. 29 Jim Devlin Sept. 30 Bittersweet Mickey Sheas 324 Electric Ave., Lunenburg 978-342-5825 The Mill 185 185 W. Boylston St., W. Boylston 774-261-8585 themill185.com Sept. 3: Acoustic Shoes Sept. 8: James Keyes Sept. 9: Jodee & Brian Sept. 10: Ken Macy Sept. 15: Mike Melendez Sept. 16: Sam James Sept. 17: Katie O’Brien Duo Sept. 22: Mark & Anthony Sept. 23: Josh Briggs Sept. 24: Twisted Dog Sept. 30: Mychael David Mill Street Brews (@ The Artist Development Complex)

The Muse 536 Main St., Worc.

508-756-6873 Nick’s Bar and Restaurant 124 Millbury St., Worc.

508-753-4030 Fridays: Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat Sept. 3: Sip & Stitch; Pamela Hines featuring Renee Legendre Sept. 3: Renee Legendre with Pamela Hines Trio Sept. 4: Hangover Hour; Andy Cummings Sept. 5: Movie Night Sept. 6: Dam Chick Singer Sept. 7: Driftin’ Sam Politz & Friends Sept. 8: Troy Gonyea Sept. 9: Niki Luparelli & Dan Burke Sept. 10: Sip & Stitch; James Taylor & Carole King Songbook Show featuring Cara Brindisi & Dale Lepage Sept. 11: Andy Cummings Sept. 13: Nick’s Jazz Jam Open Mic Sept. 14: Patrick Murphy Sept. 16: Jennifer Antkowiak Open Mic Cabaret Sept. 17: Sip & Stitch; Linda Dagnello Jazz Quartet Sept. 18: Hangover Hour; Andy Cummings Sept. 19: Trivia Night Sept. 20: Dam Chick Singer Sept. 21: Worcester Jazz Collective Sept. 22: Troy Gonyea Sept. 24: Sip & Stitch; We & Mrs. Jones Sept. 25: Andy Cummings Sept. 27: Patrick Murphy Sept. 29: Young “T” Sept. 30: The Russo Brothers The Nines Neighborhood Bar 136 Millbury St., Worc.

508-340-0318 Sept. 9: We & Mrs. Jones Oak Barrel Tavern 229 Grove Ave., Worc.

508-755-8047 oakbarreltavernworcester.com Sept. 6: Trivia Night Olde Post Office Pub 1 Ray St., N. Grafton 508-839-6106

Sept. 10: Back in Time Sept. 17: Crossroads

Sept. 10: Maximum Recall Sept. 16: Brett Casavant Sept. 17: Our Buddy Karl Sept. 23: Kevin Shields Sept. 24: Nudie Suits Sept. 30: Lizzy Marquis

Patsie Dugan’s 49 Millbury St., Worc.

508-755-4155 patsiedugans.com Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge 64 Water St., Worc.

508-792-4263 perfectgameworcester.com Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worc.

508-756-7555

Spruce Street Tavern 68 Spruce St., Clinton 978-368-1255 sprucestreettavern.com

Point Breeze On the Lake 114 Point Breeze Road, Webster 508-943-0404 pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com

Stagecoach Inn and Tavern 128 Main St., Groton 978-448-5614, 877-782-4346 grotonstagecoachinn.com

Press Box 536 Lincoln St., Worc.

508-856-9255

Sunset Tiki Bar/The Outlook 79 Powers Road, Westford 978-692-5700

Quinn’s Irish Pub 715 W. Boylston St., Worc.

508-459-2025 quinnsirishpub.com Wednesdays: Live music Thursdays: Trivia Night

The Tavern on Central 3 Central St., Ashburnham 978-827-1272 thetavernoncentral.com Saturdays: Magic of Eddie Raymond Sept. 3: Lizzy Marquis Sept. 9: Sean Fullerton Sept. 10: Brian Chaffee Sept. 16: Gale County Sept. 17: MB Padfield Sept. 23: Rob Benton Sept. 24: Mike Spaulding

Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worc.

508-753-9543 ralphsrockdiner.com Mondays: Dirty Gerund Poetry Show Wednesdays: Karaoke Under the Stars with DJ Matt R. Sept. 24: Funebrarum, Come To Grief, Outer Heaven, Bacterial Husk, Toxicology, & Mucophagus

Red Onion - Otter River Hotel 29 Main St., Baldwinville 978-939-7373, 978-939-8321 Rocky’s 139 Water St., Worc.

Rumors 371 Park Ave., Worc.

508-755-5542 clubuniverseworcester.com

Paisanos Pizza & Spirits 450 Lancaster St., Leominster 978-534-7117 The Palladium 261 Main St., Worc.

508-797-9696 thepalladium.net

Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worc.

508-792-1078, 508-792-1068 sakura-tokyo.com

Park Grill and Spirits 257 Park Ave., Worc.

Fridays, Saturdays: Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape

Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant 494 Electric Ave., Lunenburg 888-824-3924, 978-345-2000 seanpatricksrestaurant.com

Partner’s Pub 970 South St., Fitchburg 978-345-5051 partnerspub.com Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays: Karaoke Sept. 3: Battin’ Zero

South Side Grille & Margarita Factory 242 W. Broadway, Gardner 978-632-1057 southsidemargaritafactory.com Sept. 3: Brother Stereo Sept. 9: Amanda Cote

Oxford Tavern 314 Main St., Oxford 508-987-5397 Padavano’s Place 358 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

774-823-3022 padavanosplace.com Sept. 16: Auntie Trainwreck Sept. 18: We & Mrs Jones

Three G’s Sports Bar 152 Millbury St., Worc.

508-754-3516 3gs-sportsbar.com Union Tavern 65 Green St., Worc.

The Raven 258 Pleasant St., Worc.

508-304-8133 Wednesdays: Open Mic

Rye & Thyme 14 Monument Square, Leominster 978-534-5900 ryeandthyme.com Sept. 3: Brian & Captain Sept. 8: Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops Sept. 9: The Two Timers Sept. 10: Second Hand Smoke Sept. 15: Jay Graham Sept. 16: L & M Rythym Kings Sept. 17: H2 & The Groove Sept. 18: Brunch with Zack Slik Sept. 22: Ken Macy Sept. 23: Retro Stew Sept. 24: Brian Chaffee Sept. 25: Brunch with Jon Short Sept. 29: Sean Fullerton Sept. 30: F.U.O.G

On The Rocks Sports Bar & Grill 96 Lakefront Ave., Lunenburg 978-342-6692

Speakers Night Club 19 Weed St., Marlborough 508-480-8222 speakersnightclub.net

Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grille 377 Stetson Road, Barre 978-355-2224 upperdecksportsbarandgrille.com Victory Bar & Cigar 56 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

508-756-4747 victorycigarbar.com Vincent’s Bar 49 Suffolk St., Worc.

508-752-9439 Sundays: Big Jon Short Tuesdays: Boogie Chillin’ Whiskey Hookah Lounge 316 Main St., Worc.

Whiskey on Water 97 Water St., Worc.

774-578-8829 whiskeyonwater.com Fridays, Saturdays: Live music Whistle Stop Bar & Grill 85 Main St., Oxford 508-987-3087 StopByTheWhistle.com White Eagle Polish Club 112 Green St., Worc.

774-245-1991 Sept. 3: Live bands Sept. 17: Little Red & The Riders William’s Restaurant & Tavern 184 Pearson Blvd., Gardner 978-632-7794 williamsrestaurantandtavern.com Sept. 30: Dan Kirouac with special guest Glenn Jackson Wonder Bar Restaurant 121 Shrewsbury St., Worc.

Ye Olde Tavern 7 E. Main St., W. Brookfield 508-867-9709, 508-867-4139 westbrookfieldtavern.com

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mezcal cantina – worcester

By Justin Perry

quinn's irish pub – worcester

british beer company – worcester

30 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

compass tavern – worcester

michael's cigar bar – worcester

the banner irish pub & grille – worcester

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lifestyle

If we had known...

If you’re doing the college thing in Worcester, it’s great to get off campus and explore. But what should you do? Where are the best places to go? We checked in with some students and former students and asked them what they wish they had known when they were freshmen experiencing Worcester college life for the first time.

“BirchTree Bread opened during my sophomore year of college in Worcester, and it remains one of my all-time favorite food places. The live music on the weekends makes for a fun and relaxing atmosphere, and their breakfast specials/unique coffee or tea drinks always put me in a great mood.

Bring your books for a calm study spot during finals or a group of friends on the weekend. Also, be sure to check out the farmers market that is right below the bakery on Saturdays!”

– Katie Love, Holy Cross (2017)

“Get off campus.

There is a great community in Worcester of young people that are always working on something. Definitely be a part of it. Each college has a great community, but the city has plenty to offer, as well as the other colleges. There are tons of events, several artist collectives and great places to hang out and meet people.”

“I wish I had known about BirchTree, Madulka’s and its great view, and Boulevard Diner’s French Toast.”

– Alex Theisen, Clark University (2015)

– Katrina Morris, Holy Cross (2017)

“I wish I had known how good the Coney Island hot dogs were. I would have eaten them every day. And Regatta Point beach on Lake Quinsigamond – it’s a great place to spend a sunny afternoon.”

– Kyle Sullivan, Clark University (2015)

“I wish I had found the gem that is BirchTree earlier! I didn’t go until the end of my senior year, and it was so good.”

– Caroline DiNicola, Holy Cross (2016)

“I wish I had discovered Purgatory Chasm during my freshman year. Not only is it a great place to explore with your friends, but there’s also an ice cream stand nearby.”

– Shealagh Clark,Holy Cross (2017)

“I wish I had known about all of the great restaurants Worcester has to offer. There are really so many that my friends and I have come to love: NU Café (highly suggest the Honey Goat Avocado sandwich), Flying Rhino (buffalo chicken wontons are a must), Volturno (check out 2-for-1 pizzas on Mondays and Tuesdays), Corner Grille, Miss Woo’s, Peppercorns and too many more to keep listing. Also, discount bowling on Tuesdays and Thursdays at AMF. Yes, your favorite childhood birthday activity is still just as fun in college."

– Carly O’Brien, Holy Cross (2017)

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The Worcester Clean Tech Incubator: ‘Dream big. Think green. Build Worcester.’

By Sloane M. Perron According to WCTI Executive Director Joe Bush, “Our mentorship program is like a very friendly version of Shark Tank.”

Not only do Mentorship Nights allow budding entrepreneurs to learn from mentors and other business professionals, but they also prepare them for pitching in front of investors. Bush explained, “We see a lot of people come in with different ideas, so we can provide that feedback before you pitch to an investor.”

The Worcester Clean Tech Incubator, or WCTI, located in the Davis Printers Building, 44 Portland St., Worcester, offers its members both physical and networking resources as these entrepreneurs seek to turn their business ideas into reality. In addition to supporting its members, WCTI has partnered with Valley Venture Mentors in Springfield to create Mentorship Nights. After seeing the incubator programs at Valley Venture Mentors, Bush said, “We are trying to create some of that magic with our own recipe in Worcester.”

The Mentorship Nights are less formal than a typical business accelerator program and are free to the public. The monthly meetings are geared toward locals who have ideas for their own businesses. The first Mentorship Night saw 30 participants, with five entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to the audience.

“We see this just as community outreach,” Bush said.

In a city known for being a college hub, many college students seek to develop their own start-up companies. “We hope to be a critical link as they come off campus,” Bush said. Whether through WCTI’s internship program or through Mentorship Nights, Bush said the resources could give students a “taste of the real-world work environment.”

36 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

However, even though college students can benefit from the resources, the Mentorship Nights are for anyone interested in starting a business.

“Young is maybe the wrong term; it is those that are passionate and energetic,” Bush said.

Bush explained that these entrepreneurs “run the gamut,” from those with corporate backgrounds to those who wish to establish their own “mom and pop stores.” Potential business owners should at least have a pitch and a business presentation established for Mentorship Nights. During the event, the entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas in front of mentors, usually business leaders from the area, college faculty and other entrepreneurs. The mentors then give feedback and suggestions to the entrepreneurs to help them improve their business models. Networking is also another valuable aspect of this event.

WCTI was established by Congressman Jim McGovern who wanted to take advantage of the “green revolution” that was happening throughout the country. With a focus on green technology and advancement, McGovern approached Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Today, WCTI is owned and operated by the Institute for Energy and Sustainability. WCTI offers its members a variety of services, including prototyping, management guidance, consulting services and technical assistance.

According to Bush, WCTI is about, “the strategic allocation of resources. We look to facilitate our member companies’ growth.”

Mentorship Nights are free and open to the public, with events taking place Sept. 8 and Oct. 13. Those who plan to pitch should have well thought out pitches and business plans. To register, visit wcti.org/mentorship-nights-worcester-cleantech-incubator/.

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 37

The Luxe Li st:

back to school essentials

By Merilee Kern Luxe List Executive Editor

College students notoriously struggle on multiple fronts. Often, they’re relegated to whatever facilities their school offers. Vending machines, fuzzy TVs with limited channels, noisy dorm rooms and crowded study halls can leave much to be desired. Here are a few items to ease and appease college students as they study, live, work and play away from the cushy conveniences of home.

Jabra’s Halo Smart Wireless Headphones

Stebco TravelDesk

The Jabra Halo Smart wireless headphones were created in response to consumer demand for a multi-purpose headset specifically designed to support the many scenarios of a busy lifestyle. It’s perfect for on-the-go students, teachers, business professionals and other consumers who want to seamlessly manage calls, music and media using one device but require optimal voice and callquality. With a high-quality microphone, 10 millimeter speakers and extended battery life, the Halo Smart provides a best-in-class call experience, as well as a superior wireless music experience. Jabra Halo Smart allows users to accept a call by separating the two earbuds as they rest around the neck. One earbud can be used for phone calls, while both are beneficial for listening to music. The high-quality microphone includes integrated wind/noise protection for enhanced in-call quality. The device also features a dedicated Google Now/ Siri button, and Android users can expect readouts of calendar notifications, emails, text messages and social media messages.

Now collegiate students can work in comfort from anywhere, whether out and about on campus, hanging out in the coffee shop or dorm lounge or waiting to catch a flight or train.The incredibly sturdy Stebco TravelDesk workstation from Overstock.com is a spacious case that’s ideal for students seeking to stay organized and productive while on the go during their school day and during those trips back home. The Stebco TravelDesk 18-inch Upright Rolling Suitcase, which features durable polyester construction and a streamline flex carry handle, boasts a quickaccess, retractable and adjustable mobile work desk that fits laptops up to 18 inches wide.

This allows students to work from anywhere at any time. It also has a dedicated padded tablet pouch, and important papers can easily be found with the dual-front panel zippered pockets and the deluxe business organizer.

This well-designed case includes two smooth, gliding wheels and stabilizing feet for a sturdy and agile mobile desk experience.

Even students living away in a dorm or in their own apartment can still enjoy the comforts of home – entertainmentwise, at least. Thanks to the Slingbox M2, students living away from home can still have uncompromised access to both live and recorded home TV content from anywhere in the world and on any personal device: computers, tablets and smartphones. Plus, this is without any monthly fees! With the Slingbox M2, no matter where they are, college students can keep up with their favorite hometown sports and TV shows live or on-demand by tapping into their parent’s at-home cable subscription. The Slingbox M2 is compatible with Apple TV, Chromecast, FireTV and Roku, so college students can even watch their at-home content right from their dorm room or apartment TVs.

Fashion-minded college girls can effortlessly elevate the look of their boots, jeans and leggings with a smart invention called Kuhfs. This product was launched in 2014 by Amy Olson, a mother of two, out of her home in Chicago. Having searched the Internet and every retail shop for a unique product that would add style to her boots and complement her outfits, Amy decided to create a cuff that would seamlessly wrap around the top of her boots to spice up her look with a simple, yet fashionable, approach. This fashion fix is absolutely perfect for backto-college, as they allow budget-sensitive students to wear their same favorite boots, capris and other fashions with a fresh, different look each time.

$79.99, jabra.com

$250, overstock.com

$149.99, slingbox.com

$29, kuhfs.com

Slingbox M2 Kuhfs

The Luxe List Executive Editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury marketplace for exemplary travel experiences, extraordinary events and notable products and services. Submissions are accepted at TheLuxeList.com. Follow her on Twitter @LuxeListEditor and Facebook at TheLuxeList. None of these products are intended as a substitute for professional care. Consult your doctor prior to use.

38 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

OUT+ABOUT: Worcester Pride

By John Trobaugh

This month you can also catch voice actor and audiobook narrator Greg

This is Worcester Pride’s 41st year! The LGBTQ festivities have been celebrated in a variety of forms throughout the years. From an underground club to a gay union (card included!) to now, when we have the most protections ever. Worcester celebrates Pride “off cycle” to allow our vibrant college community to participate. This year, we celebrate with a full week of activities, with more to be announced at worcesterpride.com.

James Street from 2-4 p.m. Sept. 17.

Sept. 4 6-8 p.m. Pride Art Show Reception at Electric Haze Join Worcester Pride as we kick off a month-long Pride Art Show at Electric Haze with a reception open to the public.

Sept. 7 6-10 p.m. Pride Kick-Off Dinner at The Citizen Cocktails 6-7 p.m./Dinner 7-10 p.m. Reserved seating at $75 per person.

Ticket includes complimentary cocktail punch and appetizers prior to dinner.

Sept. 8 3-4 p.m. Pride Flag Raising at City Hall Union Station Parade grand marshals, with returning grand marshals, city officials, flag and lights.

4:30-6 p.m. Reception at Lock 50 Find your way over to Lock 50, 50 Water St., Worcester, for some complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Then, get on the free shuttle bus to the Burns Bridge Lighting Ceremony at Regatta Point. When it’s over, ride on back to Lock 50.

7-8 p.m. Pride Lights Up the Burns Bridge Join Worcester Pride for this historic event as Pride lights up the Burns Bridge over Lake Quinsigamond in rainbow colors. Free shuttle bus from Lock 50 restaurant to Regatta Point Park with return to Lock 50.

Sept. 9 7-10 p.m. LGBTQ Pride Pageant at Fiddler’s Green Elect Miss Gay Worcester (drag), Mr. Worcester Pride and Ms. Worcester Pride. Only 200 seats available at $15 each.

Sept. 10 - Worcester Pride Celebration Day 11 a.m.-noon Pride Parade Institute Park down Main Street to City Hall.

Noon-5 p.m. Pride Festival on the Common Entertainment, food, vendors.

Tremblay, who narrates gay romance novels, at Annie’s Book Stop on

The Celebrating Courage Awards and Gala, a fundraiser to support LGBT asylum-seekers in Worcester, will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 24 at Union Station. For more information, visit lgbtasylum.org.

Let us know about your events by emailing John@JohnArt.com.

Get involved If you’re new on campus and a member of the LGBTQ+ community or its allies, Worcester has many ways to get involved. Check out these organizations and all of the amazing programs they offer!

AIDS Project Worcester 85 Green St., Worcester • 508-755-3773 • info@aidsprojectworcester.org • aidsprojectworcester.org SWAGLY For LGBTQ+ youth aged 12-22, Supporters of Worcester Area Youth

(SWAGLY) focuses on HIV and STDs, drug/alcohol abuse and domestic violence • 85 Green St., Worcester • 508-755-3773, ext. 42 • swagly@ aidsprojectworcester.org • aidsprojectworcester.org Airspray! Queer Dance Party Third Friday • Electric Haze • 26 Millbury St., Worcester • facebook. com/airspraywstr

Central Mass LGBT and Friends Breakfast Club Every other week • Olde Post Office Pub • 1 Ray St., North Grafton • facebook.com/groups/MassLgbtbreakfastclub/ Central Mass LGBTQ MeetUp A social networking medium for the 500-plus member Meetup. com

group

•

meetup.com/LGBTFUN-227

LGBTMeetupforCentralMA

A community-based organization dedicated to LGBT individuals who

are seeking asylum or refuge in the United States • Hadwen Park Church • 6 Clover St., Worcester • info@lgbtasylum.org • lgbtasylum.org Worcester Pride

7-10 p.m. Youth Pride Dance at the YWCA For under age 21.

Rainbow Readers

Sept. 11 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Worcester Pride “Recovery Brunch” at Lock 50 Join Worcester Pride for a delicious brunch (and perhaps a cocktail or two) and share a story about Pride. Cost is $30 per person for buffet.

facebook.com/

LGBT Asylum Task Force

7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Pride Block Party at MB Lounge 21+, cover charge.

9 p.m.-1 a.m. Pride After Party at Electric Haze

•

info@worcesterpride.org • worcesterpride.org

Adult and youth book group • Annie’ Book Stop • 65 James St., Worcester • RainbowReadersMass@gmail.com Safe Homes Peer-led, adult-advised weekly LGBTQ support group and drop-in center for ages 14-23 • 508-755-0333, ext: 1142 • laura.farnsworth@ thebridgecm.org • safehomesma.org

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 39

Apps you should use

By Carly O’Brien

Whether you are just entering college or are going into your final year, it is never too late to better your Worcester experience! Check out some of these apps, and maybe you’ll find one of your new college essentials!

YES to SEX Created by a mother of three concerned about the sexual future of our society, YES to SEX allows users to agree or disagree to both consent and protection in less than 25 seconds. The app aims to allow sexual partners to take a step back and avoid miscommunication, as well as avoiding the more than 1.7 million STDs that are transmitted every month. Available on iTunes and Google Play; free.

hey there Sick of feeling like you are getting nowhere with dating apps? Try this new Worcester-based app made to mimic real-life dating more than any other app currently does. Whether you are single yourself or want to help your friend find someone, hey there is for you. Get you friends’ opinions on everyone that you talk to on the app or act as a winger for them and introduce them to people you believe would be a good match! Hey there “has your back,” just like all of your closest friends. Available on iTunes; free.

Venmo In college, it feels like everyone is always owing everyone else money. Download Venmo for an easy fix. On Venmo, send and receive payments that you can then immediately transfer to your bank account with just one click. Cut nagging between your friends and pay each other back right away with a few clicks! Available on iTunes and Google Play; free.

Woo Pass Learn about all things Woo with this app. Find events, discounts, deals and more from venues all over the city. Look up information about venues and find the best place for anything, from grabbing a coffee to where to go for a weekend outing. Sign up to get notifications from your favorite places!

Available on iTunes and Android; free.

bod Never sit through a bad date again. With bod (bad online dates), leave your dud date and find a new potential date in your area within minutes. Find your Plan B by putting the app into Date Mode, where you will discover others that are in your same situation or just looking for a date. Take control of your bad date because, as bod’s slogan says, “Seriously, nobody likes a bad date. Change your odds with bod.” Available on iTunes and Google Play; free.

Slydde “Waiting in line sucks,” says Worcester based Slydde (and anyone else who’s ever waited in line at a bar), so why not order your drinks without the line? With Slydde, you can order your drink on the app, show your confirmation number to the bartender and grab your drink. So easy. Earn points by using the app and receive discounts, skip ahead in the Slydde queue or even get a free drink. Get rewards by just going out to your favorite Worcester bars! Available on iTunes and Android; free.

Colleges of Worcester Consortium This app is great for any college student in Worcester looking to become more involved in the city. Find events happening around Worcester, every school’s academic calendar and shuttle and bus schedules to get around the city easily. Also, search for classes offered through the 12 Worcester Consortium colleges and universities to all students enrolled in these schools. Available on iTunes; free.

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F OOD + DRIN K

new around the woo:

Lock50

By Jennifer Russo In recent years, Worcester has become somewhat of a promised land for restaurant owners. Once splattered with dive bars and greasy spoons, the city is now home to some of the best places to eat in the state. We have innovative chefs, talented mixologists and savvy business owners flocking to make their mark on the industry and tantalize our taste buds, and we are lucky to have so many options right here in our backyard. With entire television networks dedicated to cooking, culinary schools popping up all over the map and cooking finally being recognized as a true art form, this generation has become quite discerning and judgmental of what good food is. And at Lock50, you will find it.

Though it is newer to the neighborhood, Lock50 has already become the popular kid at the proverbial table. With a focus on bringing a dining experience that will never be forgotten, the owner, Ed Russo, also strives to honor our great city’s history. As a matter of fact, Lock50 won the 2016 Silver Hammer Award, given each year to a construction project that brings beauty and life to Worcester. Though the building certainly has a modern décor, it also pays homage to some of the design of the original structure.

You’ll find the 2015 Worcester’s Best Chef Award-winner

Tim Russo in the kitchen spinning up dishes like Potato Gnocchi with Blue Cheese and Crispy Sweet Potato, Grilled Rib Eye With Roasted Carrots and Cherry Agrodolce (sweet/tart sauce), Braised Pork Shank with Baby Potatoes and desserts like Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding, not to mention sandwich options like Grilled Cheese with Apples and Baby Kale or Sliced Turkey with Fontina and Cranberry Relish. This is a fitting addition to what is becoming the restaurant hub of Massachusetts.

Lock50 offers a full upscale bar, featuring some cocktail choices from prohibition-era speakeasies, working in naturally infused syrups, bitters and other ingredients that will have you envisioning flappers and wondering if the guy next to you was a mob boss in a previous life. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try something completely unique, try the Lady Carrington (named after the first canal boat to arrive in Worcester). This concoction features gin, aperol, pamplemouse (French grapefruit), dandelion, rhubarb, tonic, lemon and egg white. If you are more of a beer or wine aficionado, there is a great selection of both, as well as ciders and meads.

As if this weren’t already amazing enough, Lock 50 also has a café, featuring Fair Trade organic coffee drinks and

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unbelievable breakfast crepes filled with everything from bananas and Nutella (my favorite) to roasted apples and caramel sauce, perfect for a chilly New England morning.

Teas, brewed coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, French press, espresso … there is something to suit everyone’s caffeine needs. If you are looking for a quick wake-up call, ask for the Face Breaker. It’s not as painful as it sounds. In fact, it’s absolutely sinful.

Lock50 is located at 50 Water St., Worcester, and is open 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday; 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays.

Reservations are taken for parties of six or more, and Lock50 offers private and semiprivate events and functions. For more information, visit lock50.com.

pulsebrew:

The fall seasonal beer switch and you

By Kerry Cyganiewicz Fall is here whether you like it or not. Those lovely summer ales and lagers are being replaced by fall and winter beers. I’m going to cover the pumpkin beers next month, so look for some new arrivals there, but for now, I am going to focus on some other fall seasonal beers. These beers are simple. You will not have to travel to distant lands or wait in line or visit a certain store on a certain day at a certain time. The byproduct of all of the hype around certain breweries and beers in the area is that great beer is left sitting on the shelf for those in the know to just snap up without a wait. Here are five of those beers. Cheers!

Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale (5% ABV) A lot of breweries spend a lot of time and money getting their beers to taste like chocolate or coffee. You, in turn, end up spending a lot of money to buy these beers. Here is an old favorite of mine that is sitting on the shelf of many great stores – and even a few great bars – just waiting for you. The mouthfeel is a little thinner than you might expect, but then again, this is a brown ale, not a stout. The color is a little light, and the carbonation is a little on the lively side, but give this English import a chance; you won’t be disappointed. Be sure to take your time and let it warm as you enjoy it. The coffee, nut and chocolate notes really shine as it warms above 45 degrees.

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ale Oro de Calabaza (8% ABV) Jolly Pumpkin is the name of the brewery; I assure you, no pumpkins were harmed in the making of this biere de garde-style of beer. Lively carbonation, almost champagne-like, hits you right away, along with a strong lemon aroma. There is a peppery finish on the tongue, as well as a gentle reminder that this beer spent some time in an oak barrel. The alcohol is hidden well, and every sip brings something new. As it warmed, cardamom became more pronounced. If you are going to a BYOB or are having Asian takeout and you want to avoid hoppy beer, this is for you.

Sharing a bottle with a wine drinker? This is an obvious choice. Looking for a classy bottle to bring somewhere as a gift? This is it.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Ale (9.6% ABV) I have written before about various beers and how the alcohol is well hidden. Not this one. I’m surprised it’s only 9.6% ABV. This beer ages incredibly well. I have bottles from six different years in my cellar, and I have seen three different years for sale in stores recently. As this beer ages, the hop presence will fade and the malt characteristics will become more prominent. Those characteristics include stone fruit and dark caramel. This is a perfect beverage to enjoy after that first early snowfall or some leaf and brush work. There is something about a Bigfoot and a fireplace to make the end of summer a little bit more palatable and a nap inevitable.

Berkshire Brewing Oktoberfest (7.5% ABV) Berkshire Brewing Company is one of the most underrated breweries in New England. I have written before about the Coffeehouse Porter. If you have not tried it yet, grab a bottle while you are out grabbing a bottle of Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest is another excellent offering from this Deerfield, Mass., brewery. Beautiful copper color, earthy noble hop aroma, softly sweet toffee malt flavor – it all works together, as it should. It is ridiculously drinkable and, bar none, one of the best beers of this style available anywhere and an incredible value for the price.

Sam Adams Utopias (29% ABV) This is my favorite beer experience. Writing this article for as long as I have, those are some pretty big words to put to paper. This is an expensive bottle of beer ($200 for roughly 20 ounces of beer).

It’s not even carbonated. It’s not even fresh. It’s a blend that includes decades-old, flat, barrelaged beer. Oh, but the final blend is something special. It’s port, cognac, bourbon, barrel and flavors I never even knew existed all together. I shared this bottle around the holidays with close family and friends. Ordinarily, they would never have experienced this. I have to recommend this if you are going to share it for something special, like the holidays or another special event. I certainly will not hesitate to share another bottle of Utopias again.

September 2016 | THEPULSEMAG.COM 45

dining review: the worcester pizza tour

By Bernard Whitmore Pizza is a perfect food that everybody loves to eat. It’s an emotional thing that forges strong opinions as to who makes the best and which style rules. I consider myself versatile. Thin crust, deep dish and variations between – each are OK as long as my pizza crust provides some chewy resistance with a crusty edge and a bready flavor enhanced by a deep-baked brown crust.

That’s not to underestimate the toppings, though. For they are the punctuation marks – exciting, questionable or sluggish. Take, for example, the cheese. Each time I suffer through a slice from the big franchises, the cheese seems to be some cream-cheese “product” schmeared over the dough. It throws a soggy blanket over the pizza experience.

informed us that it is the largest location and then went on to explain the Antonio’s experience: Its reputation is for pizza by the slice, as well as full pizzas. By-the-slice involves procedural details that we avoided by ordering a full pizza.

business in one of Worcester’s converted industrial spaces; the menu is less extensive than the chains, but the chefs are happy to prepare variations. For example, we selected the Funghi Pizza – tomato sauce, mozzarella and mushrooms – and asked the server to add sausage. No problem!

Before diving into the pizza, we started with an appetizer, the Meatball Skillet. This was a good strategy; Antonio’s meatballs were flavorful, and the marinara sauce was well above average. The Italian at our table gave them an enthusiastic thumbs up.

This was a classic pizza bursting with flavor. The broad, thin crust was baked golden brown on the bottom and topped with tasty marinara and a lacy layer of stretchyhot mozzarella cheese. The scattering of mushrooms and bits of sausage added their own flavors to an underlying balance of herbs and spices.

Each slice was pizza bliss!

Pepe’s feels “made with love.” It’s located just down the street from Edge at Union Station apartments. I know if I lived there, I’d want to make Pepe’s my personal food service provider.

a.

Give me honest ingredients and don’t go overboard with them!

Fortunately, Worcester has plenty of local flavors when it comes to pizza. Here are a few of them.

d. Volturno Pizza Napoletana

a. The Wonder Bar Restaurant

72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester • 508-756-8658 I must admit, the installation of Volturno on Shrewsbury Street was one I watched with eager expectation for what seemed at least a year. The promise of Neapolitan pizza – the planetary standard for pizza perfection – was one of the most exciting developments in the flowering of Worcester’s dining scene.

121 Shrewsbury St., Worcester • 508-752-9909 The Wonder Bar is, perhaps, Worcester’s most venerable pizza parlor and one of its most venerated.

After its lights went out for a year or so, new owners peeled back fifty years worth of modernization attempts and restored its original luster.

b.

With such hype comes terrible risk.

d.

To keep our comparisons as objective as practical, we selected the combination pizza: Sausage, Mushroom and Pepper.

First observation: the cheese. They used a lot of it. Real, honest mozzarella. So much of it that when I grabbed my first slice, big stretchy strands draped from the pie across the table to my plate. Be ready to wipe it off your chin!

Then, the other toppings. Strips of fresh green peppers were soft and sweet and plentiful. Sliced brown mushrooms retained their mild flavor and a bit of firmness. But the meat really caught our attention. Each slice had several chunks of sausage that was lean and crumbly with flecks of tasty fennel. This was a combo whose ingredients were fresh, real and applied in generous measure.

The Wonder Bar serves up a fairly thin crust, not crackerthin, but pliable enough that you can fold your slice and enjoy it without using a fork. Baked deep brown on the bottom, I reckon the Wonder Bar has accomplished the classic pizza experience.

c.

Strangely, though, this promise of flavor did not carry over to our Sausage, Pepper and Mushroom pizza. The toppings were attractive and abundant and baked onto a hand-crafted crust. Everything looked perfect. But flavor was strangely lacking. Maybe that’s the strategy; each table is set with little shaker bottles of spices. I added oregano, hot pepper flakes and shaky cheese in an effort to help this introverted pizza assert itself.

The verdict? Antonio’s Pizza has, seemingly, an endless variety of pizza choices. It is, perhaps, the ideal place for groups who can’t make decisions and want different slices for each member. The slices are huge; the flavor won’t offend.

But I can happily report that the sheer joy of a slice of pizza from a backstreet taverna in Napoli has been replicated at Volturno. The thin crust has the same chewy texture; Volturno’s glittering kilns have the blistering heat it takes to blacken dough bubbles that form on the outer crust, deepening the flavor with delicious richness.

Our Margherita pizza came with thin base of San Marzano tomato sauce topped with islands of buffalo mozzarella cheese and strips of fresh basil. It was pizza perfection in texture, depth and balance of flavors! It was so delectable, we ordered another; the Vongole Pizza, a flavor outrage consisting of fluffy ricotta cheese, smoky bacon and minced clams.

Of course, we want beer with our pizza. Each of these emporiums had decent selections of draft beers to choose from. Along the way, I enjoyed Wormtown’s Be Hoppy, Harpoon IPA and Sam Adams’ Rebel IPA.

286 Chandler St., Worcester • 774-530-6000

c. Pepe’s Pizza

This is as close as we care to get for dining at those huge, franchised pizza stores because, in general, we prefer to avoid industrialized food product. Antonio’s new store is Pizza Wonderland on Chandler Street. Our waitress

274 Franklin St., Worcester • 508-755-1978

But at Volturno, I chose one from the other coast, Coronado Brewing Company’s Idiot IPA. A bit higher in alcohol content, it was served in a snifter. Bitter hops were softened with pine and citrus notes; it was an excellent value and, perhaps, the ideal complement to these wonderful pizza flavors.

With Pepe’s, we said goodbye to mass-production and returned to personal preparation. Pepe’s is a family

This has been just a thin sampling of the pizza available in the Worcester area. Next assignment: deep dish.

b. Antonio’s Pizza

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hotandnow: What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene

The Bull Mansion

By Paul Giorgio Must be the Yankee fans. Worcester’s Ralph’s Rock Diner has topped every other bar in the state when it comes to sales of Genesee beer, moving 22,704 cans in six months, according to the Genesee beer company. “I always liked the old-fashioned beers before they became hip,” said Vincent Hemmeter, Ralph’s owner, who decided to carry three different types of the beer at $1.50 a can. Hey Narragansett has made a comeback; maybe Carling will be next.

It’s no Bull. The Bull Mansion, at 55 Pearl St. in Worcester, will be opening soon.

According to owner Victoria Mariano, a Sept. 1 opening is planned. The building, originally built as a home and then converted into the GAR Hall, has been home to a couple of restaurants, most recently TiNoVo and 55 Pearl.

On the hunt. Hunter’s Grille & Tap at the Grafton Inn recently opened after extensive renovations by owner Jay Hunter. This place has claimed a spot in Grafton Center for decades, if not longer.

Westborough gains a liquor license. A new restaurant planned for the redevelopment of the historic Nathan Fisher House on Route 9 in Westborough will be able to serve alcohol after a bill granting an additional all-alcohol license for the town was signed into law at the end of July.

The verdict is in. It looks like the courthouse on Main Street in Worcester is getting a little café for its customers. We know the lawyers will welcome this, but will they deliver to the cell block?

Fixed finally. The Niche Hospitality Group has sold its Shrewsbury Street location in Worcester to Stacy Gala. The new restaurant will be called The Usual. As you may remember, The Fix moved its location to Grove Street in Worcester.

Now that’s Italian. The ladies of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto parishes have combined their efforts to produce an Italian cookbook. The cookbook contains almost 400 recipes, all by Italian nonnas, and costs $20.

Everything except a dead horse. On Worcester’s Main Street, deadhorse hill has started serving brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. If you go, don’t expect pancakes. It does, however, offer a Duck Egg Scrambler, Rib-Eye Steak and a Breakfast Carbonara.

Prohibition, with the booze. Bootleggers Prohibition Pub is the name of the new restaurant that will be located where EVO stood for years. Bootleggers is owned by Albert Maykel and his sister, Celeste, who also owned EVO. The place has been redesigned and has a new menu, which is more casual than the old. A late-August opening was scheduled.

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N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

a r t + c u lt u r e

stART on th returns e Str to Park eet Ave.

By Carly O’Brien It’s been a mainstay of the September festival scene since 2002, and this year, stART on the Street is promising another unforgettable event, complete with local artists and performers.

“StART is Worcester’s best day. [Between] all the smiling and all the people out there just enjoying the day… [and] really involving the entire community,” Performance Director Gabe Rollins said.

As a steadfast Worcester supporter, Rollins has been very involved in the Worcester music and arts scene. For stART, Rollins and a small committee reviewed and chose groups to perform at the event.

This year, they received a record of almost 450 submissions.

Rollins said he realized “the only way to instill change is to actually instill change yourself,” so he decided to utilize his artistic and musical passions to help his city. He began working for stART a few years ago, when friend and co-founder of the event, Tina Zlody, contacted him to help with finding bands for the festival.

“Our musical offerings can be put up against anything in Central Massachusetts,” Rollins said. “We have all genres. No one else in Central Massachusetts is doing this, especially for free.” The band he is most excited about? Bent Knee, of Boston, which is currently touring Europe and will return to the U.S. to start a national tour. Their album Say So topped the list of The Best Prog Albums Of 2016... So Far in Prog Magazine. In addition to Bent Knee, some of the big musical acts also include The Silks, a Providence-based ’70s classic rock throwback band, and Epoch Failure, an up and coming band from New Jersey whose music has been featured on ESPN. In addition to musicians, the festival also boasts many street performers, such as comedian Alex Clark, Boston Circus Guild, Red Trouser Show and Wacky Chad. While talking about the various acts being featured this year, Rollins mentioned that he is “always excited to see the bands because it’s a really growing thing, the music.” Some of his favorite memories from past stART on the Streets have featured musicians, including one performer who goes by Keytar Bear and performs in a bear costume.

Besides top performers, stART on the Street will feature more than 300 artists and crafters. Those of you who have attended stART in the past will see some familiar faces and many new ones along Park Avenue. Don’t forget to stop by the Youth Market, where young people can sell their art and get their foot in the Worcester arts community’s door. In addition to all of the art, stART will also have 25 food vendors among two food areas, including Sabor Latino empanada truck, Big T’s Jerky House and Dean’s Beans coffee.

Rollins said he believes stART is important to Worcester. “On a Worcester level, music and art really add a level of vibrancy. There is really such a difference between cities with a creative community versus those without a creative community. You can see and you can feel it. ” He added, “Vibrancy in a city is what makes a city a city, and creativity is such a big part of that.”

This month’s installment of stART on the Street is sure to be another fantastic opportunity for Worcester to come together to celebrate all of the art that the community has to offer. Between the wandering street performers, various vendors, artists, musical acts and more, there is something for everyone.

“The more good memories you have in a city, the more the city becomes part of the fabric of your own life,” Rollins said. He hopes stART can be just one of the many great memories of the people of Worcester.

StART on the Street will be held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 18 on Park Avenue between Highland and Pleasant streets. Admission is free. The rain date is Sept. 25. For more information, visit startonthestreet.org.

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N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

style+beauty

Genius decorating ideas for small spaces:

Decorate

Organize

It’s easy to change the look of your dorm without

Organization is key when you’re in a small space. You

When you’re looking to decorate your dorm, you want to

Tempaper removable wallpaper makes it easy to

keep it personal and express yourself. But you also want

to be comfortable and make the most of your small space.

We’ve got some ideas that will help you do both.

having to lose your deposit. With temporary wallpaper and a fashionable rug, you can express yourself.

change up your walls with self-adhesive designs that

well. Instead of spending the weekend mattress shopping, you can buy a mattress online with Lull. Choose your

mattress, and presto, it’s shipped in a box the size of a

mini-fridge right to your door. Easy to move and place, Lull is luxury in a box! The best thing about Lull is that

you can try the Lull mattress at home for 100 nights – not just five minutes in the store. If you don’t love it, Lull will

to reduce clutter. Check out products from Whitmor.

They offer solutions for clothes, books and more. Check out: Underbed Storage bag, a breathable bag that features

are easy to remove! Tempaper is also great for DIY

a zipper and two handles for portability; Hanging

projects, such as updating a cabinet or dresser and

Accessory Shelves, which hang on your closet rod; Over-

more. tempaperdesigns.com.

the-Door Shoe Organizer, which is perfect for shoes,

Get comfy Even at college, you’ve got to sleep, and you’ve got to sleep

want to keep your belongings at hand and out of sight

accessories, toiletries, hair products or any personal item; Update your floors with Ruggable 2-Part Rug System.

The top half easily comes off so it can be thrown in the washing machine, saving you money on expensive cleaning fees. Change out the top part of the rug with the seasons or keep it year-round and always looking clean and fresh. Styles include geometric patterns,

pick it up for free and give you a full refund. lull.com

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Bedskirt Organizer, which fits books and accessories in the pockets and comes in sizes to fit any bed; Hanging Jewelry Organizer, which keeps your earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets all in one secure spot; and the 5-Tier Acrylic Cosmetic Organizer, which gives you a place for your

shag styles and simple solids.

lipsticks, glosses, nail polish, blush and so much more.

ruggable.com

whitmor.com

N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

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N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • E N T E R TA I N M E N T • N I G H T L I F E • S H O P P I N G • N O R T H C O U N T Y • D I N I N G • s h o p p i n g

Spice up your skin care Spices may play an essential role in your favorite dishes, but these natural wonders can also be secret ingredients in your skin-care regimen. Many spices contain high levels of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents and nutrients your skin needs to look and feel radiant.

Paprika

Marjoram

This spicy seasoning contains antibacterial, antioxidant, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving and energizing medicinal properties.The nutrients in paprika are vitamins C, K, E, A and B complex; minerals such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron; and small amounts of fiber, natural sugar, carbohydrates for energy, protein, healthy fats, ash and phytosterols.

Rich in gamma-terpinene, an enzyme that has shown very effective nourishing, hydrating and protecting properties for dry skin, this herb acts as a natural antiseptic and can also help to soothe the skin. Also rich in antioxidants, it can help to naturally fight the premature signs of aging.

Try: ZSS Radiant Skin System with Zeaxanthin (a carotenoid found in paprika), as well as naturally derived ingredients. $159 for 45day program or $129 for 30-day program, ZSS-Skincare.com.

Try: DECLEOR Paris’ New Intense Nutrition Hydra Nourishing Duo Mask, with essential oil of marjoram and oils from cranberry, chestnut, cocoa, shea, argan, babassu and avocado. $44, DecleorUSA.com.

Cardamom

Cumin

With its high vitamin C content, cardamom improves collagen production, enhances

Due to its high concentration of vitamin E, cumin acts as an antioxidant to combat

works as natural skin toner, fights premature aging and keeps skin radiant.

signs of aging and promotes radiant skin.

glow and fights free radicals. Also high in other antioxidants, such as manganese, it

free radicals. This, combined with its antibacterial properties, protects against the early

Try: HydroPeptide Power Lift, with cardamom and pineapple

Try: G.M. Collin Daily Ceramide Comfort Capsules, with cumin,

ceramides. $96, HydroPeptide.com.

soybean oil and vitamin E. $98, GMCollin.com.

54 THEPULSEMAG.COM | September 2016

stealthestyle: Static cling

By Jamie Burke I actually stumbled upon this little gem of a steal on Pinterest. I love dryer sheets! Some may

say I am obsessed. But I really love everything about them. The smell makes me feel warm, new and clean. I use dryer sheets when storing clothes between seasons and as air fresheners in my drawers, gym bag, shoes, hats, bottom of my garbage can and car. I use them for pesky hair

flyaways, scrubbing pots, repelling bugs and cleaning my clothes iron. I even use the old ones to dust my house and the cobwebs of my life. My affinity for dryer sheets knows no bounds. Those

little scrappy pieces of poly complete my life. I want a bed made of dryer sheets. I fully realize I could be on that show My Strange Addiction. I don’t care who knows it; I want to shout my love

for dryer sheets from the rooftops. My qualm is that they lose their scent pretty quickly once the box is open, not to mention they are expensive as all heck, and I want more scent variety. They

should make chocolate-scented ones, or maybe wine, so when I show up at work smelling of wine, I can blame my dryer sheets.

Literally 10 minutes of sipping wine with some light steps and waiting to follow, and you will have your own, fresh, one-of-a-kind dryer sheets for all your neurotic uses.

Supplies: Liquid fabric softener Fabric

Scissors

Sealed container

Scented oil or perfume Steps: 1.

Cut squares of fabric, or use whatever scrap material or cloth you want. Make sure they are clean and roughly the same size.

2.

Put all the squares into a bowl and pour in fabric softener. You know what fabric softener

is – that bottle thing we all want to buy, but don’t buy because we have no idea what it

actually does. Let the material soak until the liquid is absorbed.

3.

Now, dry the squares completely. Preferably, let them hang dry outside. Store them in a sealed container of any sort. That is, IT!

You will be able to use each dryer sheet 30-40 times before they lose their scent and static magic.

You can even add essential oils or perfumes to the fabric softener during Step 2. This hack is legit amazing and is such a lifelong adult steal. Your style has never felt and smelt so good.

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