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the
from the EDITOR
PULSE PULSE Magazine is produced 12 times a year by Merit House Media, Worcester, MA. Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Merit House Media 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 Merit House Media, unless so stated. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement by Merit House Media, 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 Merit House Media, info@merithousemedia.com
staff: Kate McEvoy, President & Publisher kate.mcevoy@ merithousemedia.com Jenny Pacillo, Editor editor@merithousemedia.com Kevin La, Art Director design@merithousemedia.com David Simone, Senior Account Executive david.simone@merithousemedia.com
I have a decent amount of hot takes, looking at you “moon landing”, but the one that I get the most heat for is pulling out my Halloween decorations before fall technically starts. I would prefer to put up my black Halloween tree by mid-August at the latest, but I’m respectful of my partner’s wishes and wait until Labor Day. It’s very tasteful, actually. I find the gentle glow of the orange lights makes the constant state of chaos surrounding it — with toys, children, laundry, etc. — feel a little more peaceful. So naturally, I was more than ready for Linnea Sheldon’s Halloween cover story for the October Pulse. Choosing which spooky events to feature was not easy. We’ve been bringing our kids to the Haunted Hillando maze for years, back when it was in a quiet Shrewsbury neighborhood, and I always look forward to Preservation Worcester’s “Rural Remains” tour of Rural Cemetery. Speaking of Rural Cemetery, here’s a spooky fact that is guaranteed to get a mixed reaction: I picked my son Bixby’s name from a grave there. Yes, really. I was wandering through the cemetery, saw the name and knew it would be the perfect fit. I am also adding Jeff Belanger’s talk at the Asa Water’s Mansion to my mustdo list. He’s a writer and researcher for Ghost Adventures, so I have a million questions for him. Most importantly: Is Zak Bagans as cool as I think he is? And when are they coming back to New England? We want answers.
Deana Korkidis, Sale Executive & Social Media Specialist deana.korkidis@merithousemedia.com
That’s the beauty of Halloween in Central Mass: There’s something for everyone. You can wander through a cemetery, get scared out of your mind, learn about local history, hear a good ghost story or simply put up a black Halloween tree in August and embrace the spooky season.
Elizabeth Beard, Office Manager elizabeth.beard@merithousemedia.com
However you celebrate, I hope you find something a little weird, a little fun and maybe even a little scary this October.
CONTRIBUTORS: Charlene Arsenault, Julie Bowditch, Eric Butler, Shaun Connolly, Melissa Cutler, Joshua Lyford, Ellie Murphy, Linnea Sheldon, Hank Stoltz, Julie Walker, Bernard Whitmore, Ravon Williams, Dianne Williamson
Happy Halloween! and Happy Birthday Jenny from the Pulse Staff!
Jenny Pacillo, Editor editor@merithousemedia.com
READ PULSE ONLINE: THEPULSEMAG.COM FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM @WORCESTERPULSE FACEBOOK.COM/THEPULSEMAGAZINE t h epu ls emag.com
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Pulse Magazine: OCTOBER 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER STORY
PLATE & POUR
TABLE FOR WOO SPOOKY SEASON 2 YOUR LOCAL MONTHLY DINING REVIEW BY LINNEA SHELDON BY BERNARD WHITMORE
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(SPILLING) THE TEA
14
DINNER WITH FRIENDS
15
FEATURE STORY SILVER SCREAM CONVENTION BY ELLIE MURPHY
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MUSIC, ART, & CULTURE FROM THE FRONT ROW CENTRAL MA THEATER PREVIEW
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THE OTHER SIDE OF MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE
BY JOSHUA LYFORD
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS
BY CHARLENE ARSENAULT
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WHAT I’M READING NOW
12
BY TRAX THE RAILYARD DOG
PERTAINING TO PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE
MUSINGS ON LIFE AND SPORTS
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BY SHAUN CONNOLLY
A MONTHLY PUFF PIECE ABOUT CANNABIS
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BY RAVON WILLIAMS
OUT AND ABOUT A VIEW THROUGH RAINBOW GLASSES
Linnea Sheldon is an award-winning communications professional with more than two decades of experience helping mission-driven organizations tell compelling stories that connect with their communities. She specializes in creative marketing, strategic communications and finding fresh angles that inspire engagement. When she’s not crafting campaigns, she enjoys writing about the people, culture, history and hidden gems that make life in Central Massachusetts unique.
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BY JULIE WALKER
NEW IN THE WOO
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1:1 with Hank Stolz
26
EXCERPTS FROM TALK OF THE COMMONWEALTH
BY HANK STOLZ
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13
16
BY JULIE BOWDITCH
IN THE WEEDS
ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS VIEWS FROM ANOTHER PERSON’S BOOKMARK
TAILS OF THE CITY
SHAUN KNOWS SPORTS? 10
CONTRIBUTORS:
BY DIANNE WILLIAMSON
TRENDING, LEARNING & LIVING WELL
WORMHOLE 9
FACE THE MUSIC
WHAT IS BREWING IN HOSPITALITY
OBSERVATIONS OVER BITES AND BEVERAGES
BY ERIC BUTLER
ARTS & CULTURE LISTINGS
Cover Photo: Preservation Worcester's Rural Remains Photo Credit: Preservation Worcester
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Ellie Murphy grew from a student to a teacher through the Worcester Public Schools and Worcester State University. With an MFA in Creative Writing, freelance writing and editing serve as her creative outlet while working at a local non-profit.
Joshua Lyford is an award-winning reporter, editor and musician. Josh has spend nearly two decades covering (as well as contributing to) arts, culture, music and entertainment across Central Massachusetts.
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SPOOKY SEASON
The Hanover Theatre 6th Annual Edgar Allen Poe Double Header
BY LINNEA SHELDON
Spooky season is officially upon us! As the crisp autumn air settles in for the season, the region undergoes a spine-chilling transformation. From the streets of Worcester to the quiet corners around Worcester County, October brings with it a haunting array of entertainment, frights and festivities. Whether you are looking to brave immersive theatrical haunts, rock out at a metal festival, crawl through downtown nightlife or enjoy family-friendly fall weekends, Central Massachusetts is the place to be this Halloween season.
High-Energy Frights & Festivals If you are the kind of Halloween fan who looks for jaw-dropping thrills, massive crowds and high-energy excitement, you are in luck. Many of the region’s biggest events have returned for another year, bringing together high-level production, incredible cosplay and unforgettable festival atmospheres that will bring out the absolute best the area has to offer.
perfect for family-friendly fun and Halloweenies of all ages. Inspired by spooky New England history, the weekend features costume parades, pie-eating contests, trick-or-treating along the scenic Skyride and a peaceful autumn ride up the Polar Express for 360-degree valley views.
Kicking off the season early, Silver Scream Con V returns to the DCU Center in Worcester from Oct. 2 through Oct. 4. Presented by local horrorcore icons Ice Nine Kills, New England’s No. 1 weekend of macabre celebration brings together horror fans, cosplayers and some stars of legendary horror franchises, including Linda Blair, Juliette Lewis and David Arquette, for three frightening days of panel discussions, photo ops and live music.
In Worcester, Polar Park hosts its massive Boo in the Woo Fall Festival Weekend from Oct. 16 through Oct. 18. The ballpark transforms into a fall wonderland featuring a themed maze, pumpkin decorating, face painting, local vendors and Friday night “Movies on the Field.” This year features a kid-friendly fall festival during the weekend days, followed by adults-only “Fright Nights in the Field” tours through zombie-infested locker rooms, stained batting cages and splintered tunnels after dark!
Meanwhile, historic Old Sturbridge Village transforms after dark for “Phantoms by Firelight,” running Fridays through Sundays from Oct. 3 through Oct. 25. Visitors can experience the newest rendition of Halloween at New England’s largest living history museum. This year’s immersive experience steps directly into the experimental world of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” Visitors walk lantern-lit paths through the 1830s village, where scenes from the 1818 literary classic unfold amid theatrical fog, low lighting and live fire effects. All ages can enter at their own risk. Outdoor enthusiasts can head to Wachusett Mountain on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 for BooFest, 2 OCTOB E R 2 0 2 6
Immersive Theater & Living History Central Massachusetts sits on a goldmine of rich, storied history, and October is the absolute best time to peel back the pages of the past. As the autumn leaves fall and the shadows grow longer, local storytellers, actors and historians bring those old legends and restless spirits back to life through gripping theatrical performances and authentic ghost lore that will leave you looking over your shoulder. Preservation Worcester’s Rural Remains enters its sixth year, offering an unforgettable theat-
rical experience along the haunting pathways of Rural Cemetery. Running Oct. 9, 16 and 23 (with rain dates the following Saturdays), costumed actors portray notable historical figures buried on the grounds. Executive Director Patrick T. Maloney notes that last year’s tours completely sold out, welcoming nearly 500 attendees, so don’t delay in grabbing your tickets. For those unable to navigate the one-mile outdoor walking path, an indoor seated version takes place at the Ellen Rogers-Kennedy Chapel on Oct. 29. Edgar Allan Poe fans have multiple opportunities to experience the master of the macabre. On Oct. 24, Blaxton Hall at the Vaillancourt Folk Art studios in Sutton hosts “An Intimate Evening With Poe,” featuring acclaimed performer David Keltz in a deeply atmospheric, costumed one-man show complete with a post-show Q&A. Later in the month, The Hanover Theatre Repertory brings back its fan-favorite Edgar Allan Poe Double Header to the BrickBox Theater in Worcester from Oct. 28 through Nov. 1. Created and performed by Artistic Director Livy Scanlon, this 60-minute solo show is staged as a séance, conjuring up chilling adaptations of “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado.” For lovers of local lore, renowned paranormal investigator Jeff Belanger stops by the Millbury Public Library (hosted under the outdoor tent at Asa Waters Mansion) on Oct. 14 for “Wicked
Rural Remains photo by Patrick Maloney
Strange New England,” sharing bizarre tales, monsters and urban legends drawn from his decades of research.
Nightlife, Parties and Live Music If your ultimate definition of Halloween involves heavy bass, flashing lights and killer costumes, you are going to love what’s in store for October. The area’s vibrant entertainment and nightlife scene pulls out all the stops this season, delivering an unforgettable lineup of high-energy parties, killer live music and epic costume contests that keep the party going long after midnight. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, metalheads can descend upon the Worcester Palladium for a thunderous co-headlined tour stop featuring Arch Enemy and The Black Dahlia Murder, bringing a night of fierce metal and hard rock to the masses. On Friday, Oct. 30, the Worcester Art Museum hosts “After Hours: Ghosts in the Galleries” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Aimed at an adult and college audience, the museum-wide Halloween party features tarot card readings by Suzil Von, a costume contest, music, drinks and light bites. Admission is free for WAM members and local College Partner students with student ID and $25 for the general public.
For those looking for a unique dining experience, The Barn at Wight Farm in Sturbridge presents its Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner: “I Love the 80’s to Death” on Friday, Oct. 30. Guests channel their inner rockstar detectives amidst 1980s neon, big hair and leg warmers to solve a deadly backstage music industry mystery over a multi-course plated dinner. You will have to follow the clues, uncover the secrets and work together to solve the crime in totally awesome ‘80s style. When Halloween night officially arrives on Saturday, Oct. 31, revelers can take part in the Worcester Halloween Bar Crawl 2026, running from 4 to 11:59 p.m. starting at Bay State Brewery & Tap Room. The crawl features exclusive drink deals, ghoulish cocktails and themed entertainment across top downtown bars. On Saturday, Oct. 31, over at WCUW’s FrontRoom, DJ The Drifter presents a lively costume party. Featuring an opening ambient and cinematic musical set by Curtis Emery at 6:15 p.m., the night promises prizes for the best costumes, light refreshments and a chance for all ages to let your freak flag fly.
Rural Remains photo by Patrick Maloney
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Family Fun, Paws and the Paranormal The spooky season isn’t just for nighttime parties. There is plenty of daytime magic waiting for you, too! Rounding out the region’s incredible lineup are unique family gatherings, hands-on paranormal investigations and adorable pet-friendly celebrations where even your fourlegged best friend can join in on the costumed fun. On Saturday, Oct. 3, the historic Publick House Inn in Sturbridge hosts a daytime Psychic Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Presented by the Ghost Watchers Team and New England Paranormal, the intimate gathering features metaphysical vendors, spiritual tools, live demonstrations of investigative gear and opportunities to connect with researchers. Guests will even have an opportunity to use paranormal equipment and participate in a real investigation. Professional wrestling fans can head to the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center on Saturday, Oct. 10 for Powerhouse Wrestling Halloween Bash 2. Starting at 7:30 p.m., the card features hard-hitting action and special appearances by wrestling legends, including Savio Vega, Wrecking Ball Legursky and Marty Scurll. Get ready for a night of Halloween-themed mayhem and nonstop entertainment for the whole family. Costumes are encouraged! Candy lovers and maze enthusiasts can check out the Haunted Hillando Halloween Maze, hosted every weekend in October by the Hebert Candy Mansion in Shrewsbury. This elaborate, kid-friendly Halloween maze features a witch hut, skeleton graveyard, spider forest, pet cemetery, scarecrows and jack-o’-lanterns, a swamp infested with man-eating plants and more! Finally, bring your four-legged friends out on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Klem’s Annual Dog Costume Contest in Spencer. Complete with a doggie trick-or-treat trail, photo booth, puppuccino station and a costume contest judged at 12:30 p.m., with trophies for categories like Scariest and Most Original, it is a tail-wagging celebration for the whole family. Whether you come for the spooky ghost stories or the historic chills that New England is famous for, this corner of the country is the absolute best place to be in October. From haunted mazes and monster bashes to cozy ghost walks, Halloween fans have endless fun ways to celebrate the spookiest time of the year right here in Central Massachusetts! What is your favorite spooky tradition or haunted destination to visit in Central Massachusetts during October?
Klem’s Annual Dog Costume Contest
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SILVER SCREAM CON 5 BY ELLIE MURPHY
DCU Center 50 Foster St., Worcester, MA Oct. 2–4, 2026 Single day and weekend passes are available at silverscreamcon.com
such as “Ghostface” performers Lee Waddell, Noah Garrett, Jeremy Conner, and Chris Durrand, and the Creeper himself, Jonathan Breck (“Jeepers Creepers”). Darkness reigns supreme among comedic performers — the entire Broken Lizard troupe behind “Super Troopers” (Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske), Steve-O (“Jackass”), Nick Swardson (“Grown Ups”), Joel David Moore (“Grandma’s Boy”), “Jerky Boys” creator Johnny Brennan and the “Scary Movie” team of Lochlyn Munro and Jon Abrahams. Musical guests include Detroit’s demented hip-hop duo Twiztid, as well as The Funeral Portrait frontman Lee Jennings. Watch out for WWE legend Amy Dumas (aka Lita) and her high-flying Litasault. Finally, no Silver Scream is complete without its queen, Nadia Teichmann, Spencer Charnas’ real life partner, model and actress often featured in INK’s music videos. Panels will be hosted by returning “master of panels” journalist Ryan J. Downey. INK’s Silver Scream Con-Cert at the Palladium is sold out, but single-day and weekend passes are still available for Silver Scream Con 5.
photo credit Jeremy Saffer. The Silver Scream Con 5: “A New Beginning chael Myers, Art the Clown, Ghostface and Jason … Bigger and bloodier in 2026, because these from Friday the 13th…a family-friendly environdays, you’ve gotta have a sequel.” ment with like-minded individuals who all share a love for horror.” Bring enough fake blood for The wait is finally over ... Break out your met- the whole family! Precocious children of all ages al-clawed glove, prop machete, talking Chucky are welcome (children 5 and under are actually doll or the long white nightgown you lucked free all weekend). out on at Goodwill two years ago. Shake off the cobwebs — or don’t! That red balloon that’s Whether you’re there for the killer Q&A panels, been mysteriously floating in the dark, unholy photo ops, cosplay contest or merch tables full corner of your basement? Grab that, too! Pre- of horrifying collectibles, this fandom holds a tending to be normal is so tiresome. Lucky for little something for every bloody body. But what us, New England’s premier horror convention makes this event truly unmissable are its topoffers an escape from that trap. name celebrity guests! Silver Scream Con is the malevolent masterpiece of Spencer Charnas, frontman of Boston-born metalcore and horror-inspired band Ice Nine Kills (INK). Charnas reflects, “Creating an immersive experience like Silver Scream Con was a dream of mine for as long as I’ve been into horror and music and started attending horror cons myself.” He’s created his own “unsafe haven” for horror buffs, film legends and INK’s devoted “Psychos” to intermingle and coalesce. The bone-chilling convention has grown from its 2022 debut gathering 5,000 attendees, to a walloping 15,000 horror fans last year in Worcester. Additionally, Charnas’ vision went international for the first time in 2025, hopping across the pond to London. Con producers George Vhalakis and Mike Winegar describe the experience as a “major comic con with fans meeting their cinematic heroes, cosplayers dressed up as horror icons like Mi6 OCTOB E R 2 0 2 6
In its fifth iteration, the con features a horde of fresh and familiar faces, including stars such as Golden Globe winning Oscar nominee Linda Blair (“The Exorcist,” “Chained Heat,” “Savage Streets”), comedy and horror star Nick Swardson (“A Haunted House”), Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Juliette Lewis (“Cape Fear,” “Natural Born Killers”), Joel David Moore (“Hatchet”), “Terrifier” franchise creator-director Damien Leone and David Howard Thornton (“Art the Clown”), David Arquette (“Scream”), Malcolm McDowell (Rob Zombie’s “Halloween”), Celeste O’Connor (“Scream 7”), Ethan Embry (“Scream 7”), Devon Sawa (“Idle Hands”), Shawnee Smith (“Saw”), Alice Krige (“Silent Hill”), Ruby Modine (“Happy Death Day”), Jeff Daniel Phillips (Rob Zombie’s “The Munsters”), Adrienne Barbeau (“The Fog”), Noah Garrett (“Scream 7”), Andy Robinson (“Hellraiser”) and more. Meet the talent behind iconic masked roles,
Really, this woeful weekend offers us a chance to express ourselves — in a modern world that feels as if it’s hanging on a knife’s edge, we really have to ask ourselves: “Why so serious?” Smear on a frightful grin and prepare to let your freak out … Ellie Murphy grew from a student to a teacher through the Worcester Public Schools and Worcester State University. With an MFA in Creative Writing, freelance writing and editing serve as her creative outlet while working at a local non-profit.
Silver Scream Con Derek Mears with young fan photo credit Jeremy Saffer.
MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE
LIVE MUSIC BY THE LAKE • 200 GORE ROAD, WEBSTER, MA
BY ERIC BUTLER POE PATTER
OCTOBER 3 • 1PM For tickets and more information, visit www.IndianRanch.com
LAKESIDE DINING • 200 GORE ROAD, WEBSTER, MA
WEEKLY SPECIALS
HAPPY HOUR
I sat down with Livy Scanlon, Hanover Theatre Reportory’s artistic director, to chat about their upcoming Poe Double Header, running at the JMAC Oct.28 - Nov.1. Eric: Like “A Christmas Carol,” the Poe Double Header has become an annual tradition for the Hanover. What makes it worth reviving year over year? Livy: Attendance has grown each year, which means we’re attracting new folks, so a major reason to keep up the tradition is to get more and more people hooked! Traditions are also deeply human, and for many folks (like me), Halloween is a favorite holiday. There’s something wonderful about coming together to be scared, laugh and share a live theatrical experience. That kind of ritual is worth preserving. Eric: How has your own interpretation of the performance evolved over the years? Livy: While my interpretation has remained the same, my performance deepens every year. I find new details or set little challenges for myself to keep things fresh and fun. As an actor, it’s a real treat to get to revisit the same material time and again, since most pieces we work on have a single run or engagement. Eric: My first experience with the Poe Double Header was six years ago. It was one of the first post-pandemic live performances people could attend. I remember being one of a few lucky audience members, sitting at a socially-distanced table with members of my ‘pandemic’ pod. Have audiences reacted differently over the years?
THU. OCTOBER 1
5:30PM - 8:30PM | FREE ENTRY!
TONY GARCIA
UPCOMING EVENTS AT SAMUEL SLATER’S HALL
Livy: I’ll never forget those pandemic performances for socially distanced audiences of just 25 people. Thank you for being there from the beginning! These days, we routinely fill upwards of our 200-seat max, so the energy in the space is electric. We also routinely host student matinees, which are wild. The kids have so much fun — they certainly keep me on my toes.
10/16 COMEDY NIGHT WITH PAUL
11/13 COMEDY NIGHT WITH
10/23 BLOOD, SWEAT & KEYS
11/14 PETTY LARCENY: A TRIBUTE
10/24 A WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ
11/21 LITTLE LIES: A TRIBUTE
Livy: Performing the Double Header, of course, and drinking in all the season’s pumpkin beer!
10/31 HALLOWEEN PARTY
11/27 AFFINITY: A TRIBUTE
Eric: What’s your favorite scary story?
D’ANGELO, MAYA MANION, AND DAN MILLER
HALLOWEEN DUELING PIANOS MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
WITH XS DANCE BAND
$500 GRAND PRIZE FOR BEST COSTUME PLUS PRIZES FOR ‘FUNNIEST’, ‘SCARIEST’, AND MOST ‘CREATIVE/UNIQUE’ COSTUMES!
11/7
BEST OF TIMES: THE MUSIC OF STYX, FOREIGNER & REO SPEEDWAGON
COREY RODRIGUES, STEVE BJORK, AND BRIAN WAYNE TO THE MUSIC OF TOM PETTY TO FLEETWOOD MAC
TO THE MUSIC OF JOURNEY
12/5
THE FOOLS
12/11 COMEDY NIGHT WITH
KELLY MACFARLAND, KENDRA CUNNINGHAM, AND GARRETT FINN
FOR RESERVATIONS, EVENT TICKETS, AND MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.SAMUELSLATERS.COM Samuel Slater’s Restaurant is open Wednesday-Friday (4-9pm), Saturday (12-9pm), and Sunday (12-8pm) for lunch and dinner.
Eric: What’s a Livy Scanlon Halloween tradition?
Livy: Fun fact: I’ve loved “The Tell-Tale Heart” since I was a kid. I first performed it in seventh grade, when a beloved English teacher adapted it down to just ten minutes for me. Eric Butler is the founder of the Broadway in Worcester, a program that brings celebrated Broadway artists to Central MA. A graduate of The College of the Holy Cross and Boston College, Eric is the Executive Director of the Museum of Worcester.
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MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE
OCTOBER 2026 PRIDE WORCESTER
If you’d like to be included in future listings, please email editor@merithousemedia.com
WORCESTER PHOTO CREDIT: MISSY CUTLER
American Heritage Museum (978) 562-9182 568 Main St., Hudson americanheritagemuseum.org 1 - History After Hours: Hope and Courage 10 & 11 - Battle for the Airfield WWII Re-Enactment Weekend Arts Worcester (508) 755-5142 44 Portland St., Worcester Artsworcester.org Boulder Art Gallery (978) 345-7000 960 Main St., Fitchburg theboulderartgallery.com Gallery open Thursday, Friday, Saturday BrickBox Theater (508) 413-5622 20B Franklin St., Worcester jmacworcester.org/brickbox 16 - An Evening with Victoria Clark 24 - An Evening with Georgia Heers 28 through November 1 - 6th Annual Edgar Allan Poe Double Header Creative Hub 2 Ionic Ave, Worcester Creativehubworcester.org Work in Progress Wednesdays Thursdays - Queer Artist Maker Nights DCU Center (508) 755-6800 50 Foster St., Worcester dcucenter.com 2, 3 & 4 - Silver Scream Con V 10 & 11 - Hot Wheels Monster Trucks 22 through 25 - Disney on Ice 30 - Motionless in White Fitchburg Art Museum (978) 345-4207 185 Elm St., Fitchburg fitchburgartmuseum.org Free First Thursdays 1 - Fitchburg Farmers‘ Market 3 - Elisa H. Hamilton: Heirlooms Opening Reception 22 - Hidden Treasures
6 - Portraits Gallery & History of the Hall 8 - The 2026 Harvey Ball 10 - LGBT Asylum Task Force 10th Annual Gala 14 - Strategies for Children 25th Anniversary 16 - The Knights and Emanuel Ax 22 - Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice 24 - Nolan Bros. Boxing Presents: The Retrial 25 - Bachtoberfest Choir 27 - Silent Film: The Hunchback of Notre Dame 29 - The Idea Swap New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill (508) 869-6111 11 French Dr., Boylston nebg.org Tuesdays - Chair Yoga & Yoga in the Garden Thursdays - Yoga at the Garden 1 - The Magic of Cacao 3 & 4 - New England Carnivorous Plant Society Show & Sale 7 - Fall Horticulture Walk & Talk 8 - Glass in Flight Golf Cart Tour 9 - Watercolors of Fall 10 - Unicorn Pony Rides 11 - Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing 13 & 14 - Root & Rise: Mat Pilates 17 & 18 - American Craft Fair 21 - The Stillness Within: Fall Meditation Series 22 - Embelished Pumpkins 24 - TERRIFYING Terraiums! 25 - Through the Lens: Capturing the Seasons 26 - Garden Dining Series 29 - Botanical Mixology: Wicked Cocktails Old Sturbridge Village (800) 733-1830 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge osv.org Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays Phantoms by Firelight
The EcoTarium (508) 929-2700 ecotarium.org 222 Harrington Way, Worcester 3 - A Night at the Museum 10 - Astrophysics Speaker Series: David Kaiser 17 - Communicaing Across the Cosmos 31 & November 1 - Autumn Adventures Weekend The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts (877) 571-7469 2 Southbridge St., Worcester thehanovertheatre.org 1 - Stayin‘ Alive: Bee Gees Tribute 2, 3 & 4 - Monty Python Spamalot 6 - Buena Vista Orchestra 10 - Airplane Live 11 - Sesame Street Live 16 - Tusk: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute 17 - Wild Kratts Live 23 - Pilobolus 24 - Mania: The ABBA Tribute 31 - Whose Live Anyway WCUW Community Radio (508) 753-1012 910 Main St., Worcester wcuw.org Cinema Worcester films every Thurs & Fri 7pm, and Sat & Sun 1pm 3 - San Souci 4 - Song Writer in the Round with Serena 10 - Harold Stevens Gallery Opening El Salon 17 - The Russo Brothers Jazz Quintet 18 - Evening Sky Jass 25 - Johnny Casual Duo 31 - Halloween Costume Party
Preservation Worcster (508) 754-8760 61 Harvard St., Worcester preservationworcester.org 9, 16 & 23 - Rural Remains
Worcester Art Museum (508) 799-4406 55 Salisbury St., Worcester worcesterart.org Sundays - Tour of the Galleries 12 - Free Day: Indigenous Peoples‘ Day 30 - After Hours: Ghosts in the Galleries
JMAC Popup (508) 413-5622 20B Franklin St., Worcester jmacworcester.org
Samuel Slater Museum (508) 461-2955 31 Ray St., Webster Samuelslaterexperience.org
Worcester Center for Crafts (508) 753-8183 25 Sagamore Rd., Worcester worcestercraftcenter.org
Mechanics Hall (508) 752-5608 321 Main St., Worcester mechanicshall.org 4 - Many Voices: Discover Mechanics Hall 8 OCTOB E R 2 0 2 6
Tuckerman Hall (508) 754-1234 10 Tuckerman St., Worcester tuckermanhall.org
Museum of Worcester (508) 753-8278 30 Elm St., Worcester worcesterhistory.org 8 - The Harvey Ball
MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE Experience,” the world was in a better place. Is that correlation or causation? I don’t know, I write a column that revolves around tall cans of beer, I am not a scientist. Luckily, the living history museum heard my groans of agony and are offering a Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”-themed “Phantoms by Firelight” exBY JOSHUA LYFORD perience on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout October. Picture New England GOTHIC WORCESTER gothic à la Robert Eggers’ “The Witch” and the only thing eerier for you and your family is goIt’s the real most wonderful time of the year, laing to be getting back on Route 20. dies and gentlemen. That’s right, it’s spooky season and while the most terrifying thing I see at I had planned on kicking things off with a this stage of life is the weight of my mistakes in fawning preview of the Ralph’s Diner hauntthe full light of the morning sun, I also enjoy the ed house entering its third year, but alas, this standard October trappings of horror movies, is not to be. Fear not, however, because on haunted houses and pumpkin flavored booze Thursday, Oct.29, you can celebrate 10 years of (this is standard, yeah?). So put on your fanciest High Command with Devil Master, Diabolus little boy-knight costume and buckle up for a very and Prayer Position. Given this is a haunted special haunted edition of THE WORMHOLE. column and not a normal column, I’m afraid you should be extremely afraid … of how long Let’s set the tone: First, I suggest you read this in it’s going to take to get a Genesee at what will your best Orson Welles voice, then put on some invariably be a sold-out show. John Carpenter (feeling extra mischievous? Keep it area-specific with The Oracle, Mystic Realm or You know what this list is missing? A horror Doriath) to get the vibe right. With that, let’s beconvention. Luckily, Worcester has that as gin. well, with Silver Scream Con V at the DCU Center from Oct. 2-4. The music component of Real Old Sturbridge Village freaks know one this event at The Palladium has long been sold thing: When OSV hosted “The Sleepy Hollow out, but features Ice Nine Kills, Twiztid and
Millington, but for our purposes, the convention is the center of attention. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, horror fans get to meet the actors from their favorite horror films, get photos, see cool cosplay, the whole nine and I refuse to blow my entire word count listing them all. If that doesn’t sound like your thing, then I’m sure you tuned out back in the first paragraph and are a coward. To round things out, we have 1923’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” with Lon Chaney at Mechanics Hall on Oct. 27. If you’re thinking to yourself, Josh isn’t this a silent film? You’d be right, you nerd! But it seems Mechanics Hall considered that, as organist Peter Krasinsky will be accompanying the film on the hall’s organ. I can be a bit tongue-in-cheek here, but I want to be clear: This is awesome. Well boys and ghouls, that’s all for me, I hope this month’s column didn’t scare your trousers off, and if it did, I hope it happened while you’re skeleton dancing to xylophone music in a graveyard.
Joshua Lyford is an award-winning reporter, editor and musician. Josh has spent nearly two decades covering (as well as contributing to) arts, culture, music and entertainment across Central Massachusetts.
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MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE
SCAN HERE to access the extended version of this article
BY CHARLENE ARSENAULT PLANNING FOR AN ECLECTIC OCTOBER October is a month that knows exactly what it wants to be. Unlike September, which can’t decide whether it’s summer, fall or pumpkin-spice season, October arrives with a plan: Turn the leaves, darken the evenings, put something vaguely spooky on every available surface and give grown adults permission to leave the house dressed like a pile of poo or a sexy zombie. Fortunately, Central Massachusetts is playing along. October’s entertainment calendar starts with disco, veers almost immediately into horror, makes room for jazz, Irish and Italian celebrations, comedy, classic rock, blues and animal welfare, then spends the final week barreling toward Halloween with Insane Clown Posse, metalcore and enough costume parties to ensure that Saturday, Oct. 31, won’t be a quiet night. First, though, ah, ha, ha, ha — stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive. Stayin’ Alive, billed as the world’s No. 1 Bee Gees tribute, brings the falsettos, white suits and disco fever to The Hanover Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 1. Expect the obvious dancefloor staples alongside ballads. If fake blood and masked killers aren’t quite your lunchtime vibe, WICN Public Radio offers a decidedly mellower alternative Oct. 2. Berklee student and trumpeter Noah Allen performs at noon from WICN’s Studio 50 as part of the station’s Emerging Artist Series, showcasing up-and-coming jazz musicians live on 90.5 FM and online. Saturday, Oct. 3, requires some choices. The Worcester Irish Cultural Festival takes over Polar Park mixing live Irish music — including The Pour Boys — with Gaelic football, hurling, dancing, food, vendors and family activities. Or head south to Indian Ranch in Webster, where .38 Special is still rockin’ into the night. The Southern rock veterans behind “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You” and “Second Chance” hit the amphitheater with special
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guest Tim Charron. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., leaving plenty of time to hold on loosely to something cold before the show starts. Later, Hotel Vernon embraces the October spirit in a decidedly different way when Mistakes Were Made presents “Candy & Chaos,” a free improv comedy show and jam. The first half belongs to the performers; afterward, brave audience members can jump into the open improv jam themselves. No experience — or costume — required. Dignity presumably optional. Sunday, Oct. 4, goes to the dogs. And cats. And pigs. And apparently an owl. The 28th annual Pet Rock Festival returns to the Lancaster Fairgrounds from noon-5 p.m., bringing together more than 150 rescue groups and animal welfare organizations for New England’s largest animal welfare festival. Live music is headlined by Decades by DeZyne, with The Black Souls, The Dirty Genes and Solmere also taking the stage. Elsewhere on the grounds, Pups in the Air disc dogs fly, police K9s demonstrate their skills, humans attempt Pig Yoga, Blue the Owl represents Raptor Tales Rescue, and adoptable animals take center stage in the Rescue Groups and Shelters Pet Parade. The festival also features the Juno Hero Awards, dog contests, a cat photo contest, sanctuary animals, vendors, family activities and vegetarian food. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger, with proceeds supporting animal welfare organizations and causes throughout New England. Sunday, Oct. 11, brings the annual Italian Heritage Parade to Shrewsbury Street. A vendor fair runs at East Park with food trucks, music and children’s activities, while restaurants, clubs and bars up and down the street traditionally keep the celebration going with live music during and after the parade. Come hungry. This is Shrewsbury Street, after all. By Friday, Oct. 16, it’s time to go your own way. Tusk brings the music of Fleetwood Mac to The Hanover Theatre. The five founding members
have been playing together in various configurations for decades, long enough to develop the sort of musical chemistry required to tackle a catalog that includes some of rock’s most recognizable songs. Then things start getting weird. Insane Clown Posse returns to The Palladium on Saturday, Oct. 24, bringing the face paint, theatrical mayhem and devoted Juggalos that have made the Detroit duo one of the more improbable enduring acts in American music. If you’ve ever wondered what an ICP show looks like from inside the chaos, here’s your chance. Maybe don’t wear anything you particularly treasure. Even people who normally greet Halloween with all the enthusiasm of someone answering the door for the 47th group of trick-or-treaters may feel compelled to go out Oct. 31, and there will be no shortage of places to do it. At WCUW’s FrontRoom, DJ The Drifter hosts a Halloween costume party with dance music, prizes and electronic ambient music from Curtis Emery. Attendees are encouraged to let their freak flags fly — which, on Halloween night, seems less like an invitation than a civic obligation. Meanwhile, Live Bullet brings the music of Bob Seger to Halligan’s in Auburn for a Halloween party complete with costumes and prizes. Expect plenty of Seger favorites and other classic-rock staples from the same neighborhood. And there you have it: disco to Juggalos, Bee Gees to Bob Seger, Irish football to improv comedy, Fleetwood Mac to flying dogs. October understood the assignment
. Charlene Arsenault serves as editor of The Worcester Guardian, a local, independent news organization covering Central Massachusetts. To find out more about The Worcester Guardian or catch up on the latest local news, visit theworcesterguardian.
OCTOBER 2026 107 Tap 107 Water St., Worcester 107tap.com Thursdays - Karaoke/DJ Fridays & Saturdays - DJ Black and White Grille (508) 885-5018 206 North Spencer Rd., Spencer Blackandwhitegrille.com Blueprint New American Bar & Grille (978) 668-5580 10 Village Sq., Westminster Boland’s Bar and Patio 81 Water St., Worcester Tuesdays - Stump Trivia Classic’s Pub (978) 227-5258 285 Central St., Leominster Draught House Bar & Grill (508) 835-4722 42 West Boylston St., West Boylston Eddy’s Pub (508) 304-9888 120 Stafford St Suite A, Worcester, Thursday - Trivia Night Friday - Karaoke Night Saturday - Live Music Night Electric Haze 26 Millbury St., Worcester thehaze.com Wednesdays - Space Jam Thursdays - Maladies Karaoke 3 - Minka 16 - Peak 31 - Leon Trout & Mono Means One Gambrino’s Cask & Barrel (508) 796-5177 266 Park Ave., Worcester Thursday & Saturday - Karaoke Greater Good Imperial Brewing (508) 926-8736 55 Millbrook St., Worcester Tuesdays - DJ Bingo Wednesdays - Geeks Who Drink Trivia 15 - Karaoke Night with Disco Lemonade Indian Ranch (508) 943-3871 200 Gore Rd., Webster Indianranch.com 2 - Indian Princess Music with Jediah Jarvais 3 - 38 Special 16 - 100FM The Pike Boos Cruise hosted by Chuck Perks 16 - Comedy Night at Slater’s with Paul D’Angelo & Guests 23 - Blood, Sweat & Keys Halloween Dueling Pianos 24 - A Wonderful Wizard of Oz Murder Mystery Dinner 31 - Halloween Party with XS Dance Band
Legends Bar and Grille 978- 342-6500 68 Airport Rd, Fitchburg
Steel and Wire Cocktail Lounge (508) 373-2225 124 Millbury St., Worcester
MB Lounge (508) 799-4521 40 Grafton St., Worcester themblounge.com Wednesdays - Karaoke Thursdays - Trivial Trivia Fridays & Saturdays - Dance Party 30 - Halloween Party with Joint Operations Cannabis 31 - MB Halloween Costume Party!
The Bull Run (978) 425-4311 215 Great Rd., Shirley 2 - The Bruce Marshall Group 3 - The Petty Larceny Band 9 - Tyrone Vaughan Band 11 - Story Songs: Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot and Harry Chapin 17 - Bywater Call 22 - The Seance: A Gathering of Spirits 22 - Coco Montoya 23 - Acoustic Alchemy 29 - Ally Venable 30 - The Garcia Project 31 - Bass Sabbath
Mint (508) 459-1532 79 Maywood St., Worcester Fridays - Karaoke Night MCL Club 508-797-0141 181 Lake Ave., Worcester Worcestermcl.org Mondays - Pitch! Taco Tuesdays Thursdays - Music Bingo Sundays - Mike G’s Sunday Jam Off the Rails 508-304-6411 90 Commercial St., Worcester offtherailsworcester.com Wednesday - Karaoke 2 - Rock the Rails Fest 3 - Justin Nozuka 6 - Alien Ant Farm 8 - Goodbye June 10 - Woostock 11 - Bluebird Improv 16 - All Night Boogie Band & Troy Mercy 17 - Dan Kelly with guest Brett Wilson 30 - Little Lies: Fleetwood Mac Tribute Ralph’s Diner 508-753-9543 148 Grove St., Worcester Monday - The Dirty Gerund Poetry Open Mic Wednesday - Karaoke with Dj Matt R! Rascal’s (508) 459-0862 70 James St., Worcester Rascalsworcester.com 2 - 6th Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser 3 - Baboo’s Celebration of Life 10 - Alter Ego 24 - The Beast Meets the Priest 31 - Ozzmosis Halloween Reunion Tap & Table 774-293-5501 198 Worcester St., North Grafton Mondays - Musical Bingo Wednesdays - Trivia with Nate Briggs
The Palladium 508-797-9696 261 Main St., Worcester thepalladium.net 3 - Ice Nine Kills 4 - Thrown 8 - Nevertel 8 - Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats 9 - Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry 10 - The Midnight: Time Machines 14 - Holding Absence & Arm’s Length 15 - Trapt 16 - PeelingFlesh 17 - The Dillinger Escape Plan 17 & 18 - Wind Walkers 18 - Scene Queen 20 - Castle Rat 22 - Lil Skies 23 - Periphery 24 - Insane Clown Posse 28 - Arch Enemy & The Black Dahlia Murder 29 - Paledusk 30 & 31 - The Disco Biscuits Vincent’s Worcester (508) 752-9439 49 Suffolk St., Worcester Wachusett Brew Yard (978) 874-9965 175 State Rd. E, Westminster 152 Green St., Worcester White Eagle (508) 753-9612 116-120 Green St., Worcester Whiteeagleworcester.com Thursday - Wrestling Open Thursday & Friday - Dj Nights Woo Bar & Grill (774) 243-6130 358 Shrewsbury St., Worcester
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MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE
TRAX THE RAILYARD DOG Name: TRAX the Railyard Dog Title: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” Author: Robert M. Pirsig Number of Pages: 434 Genre: Philosophical Fiction Ranking: 5/5 What led you to this book? I was playing fetch with my best friend, our captain Anthony Repaci, when the tennis ball he threw knocked this book right off the shelf! I had been looking for a good book to read ever since I finished “Because of Winn-Dixie,” so I jumped right in. What was your overall impression, and did it change as you read? Pirsig made riding on a motorcycle seem like it’d be a lot of fun! I can only imagine how all that wind blowing through my fur would feel. The adventures that him and his son Chris go on remind me of when our team goes on road trips during the season, which made me sad because I never get to go with them. That’s okay though, because I know they’re trusting me to watch over the DCU Center while they’re all away! Who was the most compelling character, and why? I had a love-hate relationship with Phædrus throughout the book. On one paw, he said hedidn’t like dogs. On the other paw, he kept comparing himself to a wolf! I bet that if I got the chance to chat with him, I could reason with him, dog to dog. We would probably swap Chautauquas until we’re howling at the moon! Who would like this book? What type of reader? Anyone who likes dogmas would love this book! My tail started wagging every time they started talking about dogmas. My dogma is the best! I still visit her when I’m not too busy cheering on the team, seeing my friends around the Worcester community or getting our fans hyped up at the rink. She makes the best treats. My dogpa loves them, too! 12 OCTO B E R 2 0 2 6
BLUEY AT POLAR PARK WORCESTER PHOTO CREDIT: MISSY CUTLER
PLATE & POUR
BY BERNARD WHITMORE TAPAVINO WORCESTER PUBLIC MARKET 160 GREEN ST., WORCESTER PHONE: (508) 614-9475 We’ve come to depend upon Worcester Public Market for intriguing niche cuisines. Since opening, though, they’ve hosted international cuisines not generally encountered in town. TapaVino turned out to be an excellent extension of that tradition: a relaxed, Barcelona-spirited tapas bar with sophisticated small plates buttressed by unusual daily specials, and value strong enough to make us double-check the bill. With hot and cold tapas, specialty drinks and a focused wine list, assembling our order was easy.
First, we made our wine selections. My glass of Nduja di Spilinga – Italian pork sausage of Faustino Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain had packed with Calabrian chilis. Crushed pistathe bright flavor of tart berries aged in oak. It chio nuts provided a pleasing crunch. would prove perfect with our starters: Green Olive and Basil Tapenade and bright green We completed our meal with another tapas Arugula Almond Pesto. Served in small cups, item, Albondigas. These Spanish meatballs they came on a wooden slab with water crack- were made with beef and chorizo sausage, ers and lightly toasted baguette slices. presented in a small iron skillet pooled with oil flavored by saffron, tomato and smoky From a menu scattered with sophisticated paprika and topped with shredded cheese. items, we teamed up our dips with Wagyu Steak Tartare, coarsely minced raw beef blended with bits of guindilla chili pepper for just a touch of heat and, according to the menu, capers. We didn’t see much evidence of capers, but I noticed rustic whole grain mustard in the heaping portion served on crusty bread. The capable chef at TapaVino prepares a perfectly fresh and delicious interpretation of this classic Exciting flavor profiles and an informal spirit of French cuisine. are what stayed with us. TapaVino is certainly not the only tapas restaurant in the area, but Their chalkboard specials shifted the meal from we believe it comes the closest to the Barcelosampling to centerpiece. While waiting for our na experience: the long bar, small tables, retable, I had noticed one especially intriguing laxed pace and confident cooking. item: Butternut Gnocchi. Gnocchi is always a risky dish. With expectations kept firmly in My only regret was that we didn’t get to order check, we decided to order it. their dessert “Collab” with FroZone; Olive Oil Gelato. We love FroZone; all their gelato The gnocchi were tender and billowy soft. And flavors are reminiscent of what we’ve enjoyed they came drenched in a mega-creamy sauce in Firenze; this one will have to wait till our tinted pink by pureed Urfa chili peppers for next visit. a bit of heat and smoky flavor. The chef furBernard Whitmore is a retired Data Analyst ther layered the spicy flavor profile with bits and an amateur Gourmand.
THE HARVEY BALL HONORING
BILL WALLACE
OCTOBER 8, 2026 5:30PM - 9:30 PM MECHANICS HALL t h epu ls emag.com
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PLATE & POUR Chandler Street is one of the region’s most celebrated artisan bakeshops: Crust. Now you can find them in the bustling building at 372 Chandler St. How nice to have them just a scone’s throw from Tidepool Books!
VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS Polishing Up that Old Bushel N’ Peck… It seems everyone on the west side is aflutter about the newest dining addition to Tatnuck Square, with doors opening in late 2026 or early 2027. Café Eidy has claimed the space long held by Worcester’s beloved original B N’ P location. But Café Eidy is no grab-and-go — Owner & Executive Chef David DeCastro is planning a small-but-sassy dine-in spot that will feature lunch and dinner menus that are “globally inspired, locally acquired.” Can’t wait! Tastes Like … (more) Chicken The headline from recent article by The Worcester Guardian joked that “Chicken restaurants flock to the city,” and they’re not wrong. TWG’s piece noted expansions to Worcester by three poultry-forward establishments: The Coop, 275 Park Ave. (wings, BBQ, sandwiches and waffles for takeout or delivery);
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Maaz’s Chicken, 910 Main St. (fried chicken, gyros, chicken and rice entrees for takeout or delivery); and Tropical Chicken Flavors, 229 Canterbury St. (tropically seasoned chicken dishes and rice plates). Well, we will see those three chickens, and we will raise you by two: Chester’s Chicken on the Run, 75 Quinsigamond Ave. (traditional fried chicken boxes, ready for grab-and-go); and last but not least, Soho Crispy Burger, 385 Park Ave., which features (wait for it …) CHICKEN. Yes, at SOHO Crispy Burger, you will find fried chicken, poke bowls and bubble teas. Chandler Street Just Keeps Gettin’ Sweeter With the long-awaited opening of Melt at the corner of June and Chandler streets now behind us, a regular crowd seems to be piling in for sandwiches, salads, crepes (both sweet and savory!), gelato, frappes and more. Newly added to the bounty of that section of
All Aboard … next stop Grove Street The hot spot between Park and Grove that boasts the Trolley Yard is about get a little bit cooler. Two national chain restaurants. CAVA features build-your-own plates, bowls and wraps filled with Mediterranean favorites — a nice option for a quick, healthy bite. On the other hand, First Watch seems like the kind of place you might sit a while as you enjoy breakfast, lunch and brunch items cooked to order. You’ll find them both near 278 Grove St., coming soon. If you like Pina Coladas… La Placita Cocktail Bar is a place to check out. Recently opened at 271 Grafton St., La Placita takes its name from the vibrant marketplace and hub of art and culture in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Open daily at 5 p.m., our guess is you’ll find some of the most fabulous cocktails in the city. Got a tip to share in Spilling the Tea? Email us at info@merithousemedia.com.
PLATE & POUR
DINNER with FRIENDS OBSERVATIONS OVER BITES AND BEVERAGES
BY DIANNE WILLIAMSON STOP AND SMELL THE SPATZLE Our whimsical waiter revealed that the pork chop on the menu was “served on a bed of summertime.” Meanwhile, the restaurant’s renowned owner and chef explained that the mandatory 20-percent tip policy is part of the “holistic experience” of dining at his upscale, farm-totable establishment. “In America, tipping is used on a reward basis,” said Jared Forman, who has traveled the world in search of creative cuisine. “When you go to Japan, they don’t play that game.” When it comes to deadhorse hill, suffice to say that we’re not in Kansas anymore. Or, more specifically, Worcester. “Does anyone know what ‘spatzle’ is?” asked Nancy, one of the friends I dined with on a busy Friday night. To my horror, Nancy decided to Google “spatzle” on her phone just as our waiter returned. He frowned politely. “I’M your Google,” Steve noted, a bit wounded. “That’s what I’m here for.” Sufficiently chastised, we settled in to explore the menu, which was technically written in English and included many universally beloved food items, such as roast chicken and margaritas. But look closer and you learn that said chicken is served with “chermoula and za’atar,” and we thought of asking Steve about it, to make up for Nancy’s awkward internet debacle, except that Steve is so knowledgeable about the food and its origins that we suspected we’d starve to death while he expounded on the chicken’s childhood history and political affiliations. At deadhorse hill, they don’t simply serve your dinner; they interpret it, explain it and guide you through it. The waiters at deadhorse know more about the seared foie gras than you know about your entire family. And despite their penchant for deconstructing a plate of risotto like a nuclear physicist describes the atom, they show none of the snootiness particular to servers from, say, nearby Boston, which boasts an abnormally high snooty-server population. Maybe it’s the water.
Deadhorse is located in the historic Bay State House on Main Street and named for a notoriously steep Worcester incline. The dining room hosts an 1857 map of Worcester and boasts vintage features like exposed brick walls and a parquet tin ceiling. It’s sophisticated but not stuffy, kind of like George Clooney. And despite its nod to our plebeian city, deadhorse is an elegant outlier. “The old guard in Worcester isn’t really our clientele,” acknowledged Forman, who runs the place with charisma and just a hint of hubris. “The culture here is tough.” That was Forman’s diplomatic way of implying that, when it comes to food, we Worcesterites tend to douse our meat with ketchup and consider the tuna melt at Herbies the ultimate in fine dining. He didn’t exactly say so, but my friend Kathy helped him along. “One of my favorite foods is the fried chicken wings by Sysco,” Kathy announced for some reason, and Forman seemed to age before our eyes, as Sysco is anathema to a chef who hails from some of New York and Boston’s most respected kitchens. Forman would only purchase breaded fowl from Sysco if he was somehow assured that it had been fondled by a French souschef. “But fried chicken wings are the perfect comfort food,” Kathy continued to insist, and Forman resisted the urge to ask how she came to be invited, although you could tell he wanted to. With Steve’s help, we placed our orders. The oysters were sublime, as was the smoked bluefish pâté and Caesar salad. We learned that my pork chop’s “bed of summertime” was sweet corn succotash and grilled garlic scape pesto. Delicious. We also tried the mysterious spatzle, which turned out to be a yummy egg pasta, although Kathy wasn’t a fan. As often happens with friends of a certain age, the topic turned to our health, and I recounted the following verbatim exchange with my cardiologist.‘
“Do you exercise?” he asked. “I try to walk every day,” I told him. “But do you exercise?” “Do I stutter?” “But when you walk, do you stop and smell the roses?” “God, no,” I replied. “I would never.” That otherwise-depressing answer seemed to satisfy him, and before leaving he urged me to discard the skins from chicken thighs before baking them, but I would never. I try to watch my weight, but I’m not a lunatic. Steve returned to the table and told us with a straight face that one of the desserts “has its own plurality,” and we nodded thoughtfully as though we knew what he meant. We didn’t, of course, but I think we ordered it anyway, because by then we had lapsed into a Level 10 fine food coma. “Is everyone happy?” Steve asked. “Content?” You could tell that he actually wanted to know. We nodded again, as Forman returned with his up-with-people persona. “We just love it here,” he said. “There’s so much ‘us’ in this place. It’s a lot of work, but the uniqueness of this place is what makes it special.” Our meal was over. Sadly, so was summertime. As Worcester welcomes the fall, we can celebrate the fact that not every menu is meant for everyone, but we can still move on happily to the next course, as long as it’s not breaded.
Dianne Williamson is an award-winning retired Journalist, who is best known as one of the region’s most celebrated media personalities. A native of Worcester, Dianne’s regular column in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette is the stuff of legend.
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TRENDING, LEARNING & LIVING WELL
Tails of the City
PERTAINING TO PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE BY JULIE BOWDITCH A NEW LEASH ON LIFE I have lived here for years. I know which streets connect, which way gets me home fastest and which landmarks I recognize. As it turns out, there is a difference between knowing a neighborhood and actually paying attention to one.
kids laughing. I smile at delivery drivers. We change up our route just because we can, and I find things within blocks of my house that I somehow never noticed before.
Brinkley is nosy. There is really no more diplomatic way to put it. She wants to know who is outside, what they are doing, where they are going and, ideally, whether they would like to pet her. She leads the way on most of our walks, and I gladly follow. Along the way, I started noticing things, too.
Her friendly exuberance, coupled with approximately zero awareness that anything bad has ever happened in the history of the world, is a beautiful and unsettling combination. So I pay attention for us both. I look ahead for other dogs. I notice what’s on the sidewalk before she does. I watch for cars, people, animals and anything else that might require me to anticipate her next move. I keep my phone stowed in my pocket whenever possible, because I am responsible for keeping a trusting creature safe whose impulse control remains, at 2 years old, a work in progress.
I suddenly notice plants in yards I have driven past hundreds of times. I pick up trash. I hear
Paying attention has had an unexpected side effect: I know more about the little world
When I got my dog, Brinkley, my neighborhood changed. Technically, it was the same place, but the way I moved through it was entirely different.
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immediately around me. I know the dogs. The humans? Not so much. Somewhere along the way, Brinkley turned me into a person who notices dogs everywhere — even when she is nowhere nearby. I ask strangers if I can pet theirs. I strike up conversations with people I otherwise would have walked right past. I have even caught myself mildly judging people who can pass a happy pup without offering so much as a small smile in its direction. I recognize that this is unreasonable and that not everyone is a dog person. But also … who hurt you? Before Brinkley, I assumed walking a dog was something you did for the dog. And, of course, it is. But the leash works in both directions. She gets me outside. She gets me moving. She minimizes my screen time. She makes me slow down, look around, talk to strangers and pay attention to the place I call home. I thought I was showing Brinkley her world. It turns out she has been showing me mine. Julie Bowditch is Executive Director at CASA Project Worcester County and pet-mom to 1.5-year-old Mini Goldendoodle, Brinkley.
TRENDING, LEARNING & LIVING WELL
the PULSE Launch Party PHOTO CREDIT: MISSY CUTLER
BY SHAUN CONNOLLY MY FANTASY IN FOOTBALL We are now a month into the NFL season. But I’m going to do a little Houdini-esque magic in this column. I’m going to make some predictions for what has happened in the first three weeks of the 2026-2027 season. This feels like a specifically fun season, with the season kicking off Down Under on a cricket pitch and the Patriots having to prove they are actually good and didn’t just have a really easy schedule last year. If I nail all 10 predictions, my editor has to double my pay, no matter what the Dark Lords of Merit House Media say about it. I don’t care if it comes out of her deep, rich pockets. Okay here goes nothing!
1. The Patriots, Giants, Eagles and Bengals will all be undefeated. 2. Puka Nacua has been suspended for biting. 3. Bo Nix will have a game-winning drive. 4. The Jacksonville Jaguars will not have won a game yet. 5. I’ll be in first place in both of my fantasy leagues. 6. Jaylen Brown will go to a Philadelphia Eagles game. 7. 49ers tight end George Kittle will go on a vision quest in the Outback in Australia. 8. Roger Goodell will have a hot mic incident. 9. The New York Jets will never win again. 10. A.J. Brown will get hurt in week one. I can’t wait to be right and get my payment doubled. A whole $2! Gee whiz boy howdy, journalism isn’t dead with bits like this! Have a wonderful NFL Season. May your fantasy football teams destroy in your respective leagues, unless you are in my leagues. In that case, accept my trade offers, I didn’t hoard 5 quarterbacks for nothing! Shaun Connolly is a comedian from Worcester. He is a Worcester Arts Council and Massachusetts Cultural Council artist fellow. He swears he also knows a lot about sports. He loves the New York Mets, the Boston Celtics, and Liverpool FC.
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WEEDS
A MONTHLY PUFF PIECE ABOUT CANNABIS
BY RAVON WILLIAMS
If you’ve ever stood at a dispensary counter staring at 30 different vape cartridges, you’ve maybe wondered what the heck the actual difference between all of them is. I’d break it down like this: Distillate is good, live resin is better and live hash rosin is best. Distillate: Good Distillate oil is made from weed that is processed primarily for THC. That’s why the carts usually have such a high THC percentage. But the downside is that most of the plant’s other cannabinoids and terpenes are removed during the process. Oftentimes, manufacturers add those cannabinoids and terpenes to the oil to create different flavors and effects. Live Resin: Better Live resin is a step up because the plant is harvested and processed in a way that preserves more of its natural cannabinoids and terpenes. It uses a solvent extraction to pull oil from the plant. It’s a better representation of the actual plant than distillate, but there’s still another level to get to. It’s a solid middle ground. Live Hash Rosin: Best If you read last month’s piece, you might remember that I recommended a live hash rosin cart as the best vape to buy. That’s because live hash rosin takes a completely different approach. The plant is fresh frozen — literally stored in freezers — washed in an ice bath to separate the trichomes and then pressed into oil. Instead of stripping the plant down to THC and adding the rest back, this process keeps much more of what’s actually in the plant. If you’re the type who chain smokes their vape and just wants to get high, buy the $20 distillate cart. But if you want the better experience and can afford it, shell out the extra cash for the rosin. You’re paying twice as much for half the oil, but you should need less of it to get to where you want to go. Ravon Williams is a Massachusetts-based cannabis industry professional, enthusiast and journalist who covers culture, market trends, retail experience and consumer education.
18 OCTO B E R 2 0 2 6
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT CARTRIDGE
THERE’S MORE
in the
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TRENDING, LEARNING & LIVING WELL
A L T E R N A T I V E
C O L L E C T I O N
E - L I Q U I D S • M O D S D I S P O S A B L E V A P E S C B D • D E L T A 8 / 9 T H C - A • T H C - O G L A S S W R A P S • P A P E R S N I C O T I N E S A L T B A S E D P O D S Y S T E M S 652C PARK AVE, WORCESTER MA
774-243-1070
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BY JULIE WALKER COMING TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY This fall, Worcester’s LGBTQ+ community has plenty of reasons to come together - from celebrating resilience and supporting asylum seekers to making new connections over games and welcoming a new queer gathering space. The LGBT Asylum Task Force will host its 10th Annual Gala, GALA ’26: We Persist, Saturday, Oct. 10, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at Mechanics Hall. The evening will bring together asylum seekers, volunteers and supporters for fundraising, community and solidarity. As LGBTQ and immigrant rights, as well as access to asylum face continued challenges, the Task Force remains committed to protecting LGBTQ asylum seekers as they build new lives. Ten years of annual Galas have amplified their voices and highlighted their experiences, making this year’s theme — We Persist — especially meaningful. Looking for a little friendly competition? Queer Scouts Worcester hosts its monthly Gayme Night on Oct. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. upstairs at Whole Foods Market, 193 Boston Turnpike Road in Shrewsbury. Bring your game face for board games, card games and quality time with good people.
THE HONOUR OF YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED AS WE PRODUCE THE FIRST-EVER EDITION OF THE CM PRIDE
Wedding Guide ON MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2027
A new queer space is on the horizon! Vice Worcester, opening this fall, will welcome gay, trans and bi patrons with a bar, events and an emphasis on nonalcoholic beverages. Plans include drag brunches, Latin dance nights, open mics, game nights, sober Sundays and more. Together, these events and spaces reflect a community that continues to create connection, celebrate identity and — above all — persist. Julie Walker (she/her), M.Ed., is a freelance writer, LGBTQ+ community advocate, and the creator and manager of @queerworcester (IG).
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RSVP PLEASE EMAIL DAVID SIMONE DAVID.SIMONE@MERITHOUSEMEDIA.COM t h epu ls emag.com
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WORCESTER MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO WORCESTER MUSIC AWARDS
BEST COUNTRY ACT WHISKEY 6
BEST ROCK ACT TIPTON ROCK BAND
BEST COVER BAND TIPTON ROCK BAND
BEST SOLO ACT JAY SULLY
BEST ELECTRONICA ACT SUNSHINE AT NIGHT
BEST UP-AND-COMERS MOWESBY AND THE NORTHERN FLICKER
BEST FOLK/ BLUEGRASS ACT MOLLY MCKEON BEST HARDCORE/ METAL ACT ANGELZ FURY BEST JAM/GROOVE ACT BOOGIE CHILLIN’ BEST JAZZ ACT WORCESTER JAZZ COLLECTIVE BEST OVERALL LIVE ACT YOUNG MAN WINTER BEST POP ACT COLT AND THE COYOTES BEST PUNK ACT RIVERSIDE RIOT photo credit Nathan Fiske
BEST RAP/HIP HOP ACT LADII GIRL
BEST WORLD MUSIC CROCODILE RIVER MUSIC BEST CLUB DJ KID KASH BEST FEMALE VOCALIST TINA VALENTI BEST MALE VOCALIST CRAIG NAUGHTON BEST LIVE VENUE OFF THE RAILS BEST RADIO STATION 100FM THE PIKE BEST SMALL VENUE VINCENTS
CONGRATS TO
BOB GOODELL
ON THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 20 OCTO B E R 2 0 2 6
The Quick Fix
Owner’s Name: Michael Covino Address: 106 Grove St., Worcester Phone Number: 774-823-3327 Website: thefixburgerbar.com Social Media: @thefixburgerbar Tell us about your business: We launched the Quick Fix in July of 2026, directly adjacent to The Fix, offering our signature Fixed Up Burgers as well as adding a signature Waygu Hot Dog menu. We will be launching a Bodega Series sandwich menu including the Chopped Cheese, which launched in early September 2026 and has been selling out daily. The typical experience at your business is? They can expect a delicious “handheld” whether it be a signature Fix burger, a waygu hot dog or one of our riffs of a classic Bodega or New England sandwich. The Quick Fix is a dedicated space for off-site catering for an office lunch or a social party. The space also doubles as a party room for kids’ birthdays or curated events with burgers and beers! You’re giving a TED Talk about building your business. What advice or insight would be most important to share? My advice for new entrepreneurs is to be very intentional with the details of what will make your business or service stand out. You won’t have all the answers, despite your best efforts to control all of the variables, but the only way to truly launch and build that blueprint in detail is to get to the point where you jump in, launch, learn, grow and adapt. No amount of preparing will ever be enough, and resilience is built through doing and not planning.
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The Little Vintage Studio
Owner’s Name: Michelle Munroe Brown Address: 25 Providence Rd. (122A), Sutton Phone Number: 508-768-5418 Social Media: facebook.com/ thelittlevintagestudio65 Tell us about your business: The Little Vintage Studio has been open for 4.5 years and we offer gifts, plants and vintage goods. What was your journey to this venture? I grew up in Westboro and I loved going shopping with my mom as a kid, buying little trinkets at a cute local shop or hitting a flea market to find a vintage treasure. I started out 15 years ago renting space in multivendor shops, with the ultimate goal of having my own little shop. The typical experience at your business is? My shop is very much a combination of gifts, vintage and (plants!) I put a lot of effort into creating a vibe, from the music I play to the delicious smells from the candles and soaps, and hopefully a friendly smile from me! We hear from our customers all the time that our prices are so reasonable, too. :) We love our building as well. It was originally the Sutton post office many years ago and more recently served as a dance studio. We love that it’s unique and there’s plenty of parking.
22 OCTO B E R 2 0 2 6
Homie Slice, NY Style Pizza
Owner’s Name: Victoria Mariano Address: 20A Millbury St., Worcester Phone Number: 774-433-5293 Website: homieslicepizza.com Instagram: @Homieslice_Worcester Tell us about your business: We sell NY Style whole pies and pizza by the slice available in pepperoni, mushroom, cheese, and pep and mush. It’s a walk-up window only, or you can order online for delivery or take out. We opened March of this year. What was your journey to this venture? Growing up in Albany, NewYork, I used to grab slices of pizza all the time. I love the simple, quality ingredients of NY style and the culture around grabbing a quick slice. Especially the late-night scene — it’s fun to chat and meet up at the window with other people. I moved to Worcester in 2004 to go to school at Clark University. I opened my first business, Spiritual Haze, while I was a senior at Clark in 2007, and when I graduated, I just transferred into working there full-time. Spiritual Haze was the first hookah lounge in Worcester, but we also had a cafe and live music. Now I am full time Program Director for Downtown Worcester BID, and co-own Electric Haze. The typical experience at your business is? Quality and delicious pizza with fast service. You’re giving a TED Talk about building your business. What advice or insight would be most important to share? Be prepared for giving it your all, but when you’re passionate about your business and idea, don’t give up if things get hard. You can do it! In five years you will: Hopefully we’ll have opened more Homie Slice locations within five years!
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24 OCTO B E R 2 0 2 6
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with
HANK STOLZ
EXCERPTS FROM TALK OF THE COMMONWEALTH AS EDITED BY JENNY PACILLO and MELISSA J. CUTLER
HOSTED BY: HANK STOLZ | FEATURING: KOOL KOJAK Hank sat down with local legend Kool Kojak to take a deep dive into the expansive career that has taken him around the world — from his time in Brazil as a multi-platinum producer to working on blockbuster soundtracks in Hollywood, with a plethora of graffiti, mentoring, music and a deep connection to nature in between.
sive for my understanding of art and culture.
Hank Stolz: I am sitting with Kool Kojak. You have been all over the world, have found a tremendous amount of success, but you are a true artist. It’s hard to categorize you. You are a producer, you’re in a band, you’re a singer, you’re an artist who’s doing murals or graffiti. You’re doing it all.
Hank Stolz: What do you have going on right now? It sounds like it’s a lot at any one time.
Kool Kojak: I do it all. I look at opportunities in life, if nobody is doing something where you are that you are interested in doing, the road is paved with gold. I’m very enthusiastic about creating things and making an impact. That’s what’s important to me. I graduated from Doherty High School, 1990, and I got into UMass Amherst and I floundered around until I found African American Studies. It just was very expan-
I was DJing on the radio and made a pilgrimage to New York City in 1994. I was just chasing my dream. I was doing everything I could to be around music and to find out how it was really made.
Kool Kojak: In the music world, I have a bunch of music coming out right now. I’ve spent the past decade working on an album with this singer named Kate Nash. She was in the show “GLOW” about the glorious ladies of wrestling. I have a song with Weezer right now, which is on the charts. The art that I make now, I make giant flowers and paste them up on the wall. I have unsolicited art all around the world, gorilla art. I maintain that it beautifies the place that was otherwise not looking great. As long as I’m enhancing the aesthetic and maybe giving somebody something to look
at and think about and be inspired by. I’m always 100% positive in everything I do. Positivity. I’m always striving for enlightenment, or betterment, or positivity or joy. My whole mantra for artwork is to spark joy. You have to give your best and then allow the universe to accept it and integrate. If it’s artwork or if it’s working on the film or with an artist, I think people lose the plot and things get derailed when people try to control stuff that’s beyond their capacity or beyond what’s really needed. Letting go in all of life is essential, if you ask me, and I praise that. Hank Stolz: Where do people find what it is that you’re doing and follow you? Kool Kojak: Check me out. It’s Kool Kojak, K-O-O-O-L. My avatar is a monarch butterfly. If you come to my studio, it’s like a zoo in my studio. We have a crayfish that we caught in the river. We have catfish. We have geckos. We have a jumping spider. I’m a big nature guy. We got to get outside and be grateful and blessed.
Hank Stolz has been waking up Worcester for almost thirty years. With more than two decades’ experience in talk radio and news reporting, Hank launched Radio Worcester the Talk of the Commonwealth program as a way to keep a locally-focused media in the Central Massachusetts market. You can listen to Hank every morning through www.radioworcester.com.
CATCH HANK'S SHOW EVERY MORNING ON OUR WEBSITE! STREAMING LIVE ON www.thepulsemag.com 26 OCTO B E R 2 0 26
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