Worcester Magazine May 13 - 19, 2021

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT Worcester looks ahead to life post-vaccination

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Worcester Magazine 100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske Worcester Magazine is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement.

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City Voices ..........................................................................7 Cover Story.......................................................................13 Featured ............................................................................16 Artist Spotlight................................................................19 Next Draft .........................................................................22 Screen Time .....................................................................25 Adoption Option.............................................................28 Classifi eds ........................................................................29 Games................................................................................30 Last Call .............................................................................31

On the cover Worcester Residents look ahead to life after the vaccinations. Page 13.

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 7

CITY VOICES FIRST PERSON

An older person’s ode to Kelley Square Mary Reynolds Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Two years ago the young Shane Matthews wrote a well-written ode to Kelley Square that I found charming yet understated. You were, after all, Shane, only 27 years old.

As a 68-year-old who grew up on Vernon Hill, I see Kelley Square from a diff erent lens. I was 10 years old when Ascension Grammar School closed and merged with St. John’s Grammar School. Off we marched down Vernon

Street, through Kelley Square, down Water Street, over Pond Street, through an abandoned and litter-fi lled lot and into the school yard. Did our parents think anything of this dangerous trek for such little people? Apparently not !!

And for us it was fi lled with wonder — Red Bergeron’s Third Base Bar (open for the 11-7 workers at the local factories), Lederman’s Bakery, Widoff ’s Bakery, etc.. On the way home we chose the Green Street route, where the wonderful people at Table Talk Pies gave us the mistakes for free.

In the teen years, it was a ritual for all

of us to be forced by our fathers to drive through Kelley Square as a part of our driving lessons, horrifying all of us. I got into two accidents with my driving school, but I manipulated Kelley Square just fi ne with Dad. We Kelley Squarers are skilled manipulators of the what — rotary? roundabout? ovid? — certainly not a square.

Shane referred to it as “a system that rewards assertiveness.” How kind of you, Shane. It requires death defying aggressiveness, driving the car like it’s been shot out of a cannon. This is easy for us, because everyone else is so terrifi ed —

just put the pedal to the metal and go!

When I read that a redesign was underway, I was brokenhearted, clinically depressed. Now I would be reduced to the same meek driving as every other poor fool. So I avoided the Square for quite some time. However, I am thrilled to report that I recently drove through it 3 times, and it STILL requires the DOGEAT-DOG aggressiveness to get through it! Mary is back in Kelley Square heaven, and I’m lying in wait for you WooSox fans!

Mary Reynolds lives in Worcester

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WORCESTERIA

WooSox parking situation worse than it looks A view from the air of Green Street, the rebuilt Kelley Square peanut, the Worcester Market and at left in the background, Polar Park.

Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

In February of 2020, before the pandemic became our everyday reality, the biggest thing happening in town was the grand opening of The Worcester Public Market in Kelley Square. Naturally, I attended the grand opening, and evidently, so did everybody else, because there was not a parking space to be found. I drove around the Canal District in circles for about half an hour before, ironically, fi nding a spot in the lot behind the market itself. So, sometimes you get lucky. Other times, you don’t. I have had trouble parking on numerous occasions in that neighborhood, just going to a poetry reading at Nick’s Bar and Restaurant or picking up takeout at Bay State Shawarma. It’s a busy part of town, and that’s before we built a baseball stadium there.

Naturally, these are the thoughts that came to mind when I saw the map of parking spaces that the City and the WooSox put out, which claims that there are “more than 7,300 parking spaces in 24 lots and garages just a few minutes’ walk from the park, while stating that fans will only use about 2,500 at full capacity.” But it really doesn’t take much looking at the map to start seeing problems, the most glaringly obvious being that it counts The Mercantile Center Garage (also known as The Commercial Street Parking Garage) and its 1,646 spaces (800 of which are available) as part of that number. Having walked between The Mercantile Center and Kelley Square many times, 10 minutes seems an … optimistic estimate.

But why guess at what can be proved? Wednesday afternoon, I parked my car in the Commercial Street garage, and walked to Polar Park. In the interests of disclosure, I am a moderately out-of-shape middle-aged man, which makes me fairly representative of your average sports fan. I resolved to walk at a reasonably brisk clip, with only a tiny bit of jaywalking. To get to Polar Park, I took what seemed the most direct route: Foster Street to Green Street, then onto Madison. I left the garage at 3:55 p.m. I

CHRISTINE PETERSON/ T&G FILE

arrived at 4:15 p.m. Which makes the walk 20 minutes. But I could hear the voice of a City Hall PR fl ack in my head saying, “No, no! We meant the other way! That’s faster!” So I took that way back: Madison Street to Myrtle Street, to Portland Street, and across The Common to Commercial Street. Left Polar Park at 4:15 p.m., arrived at my car at 4:35 p.m. Any way you slice it, that’s a 20-minute walk, literally twice what the map says it should be.

Do I think 20 minutes is an unreasonable walk? Not really, but it’s one we should be honest about, because that 10 minutes could make a big diff erence for a lot of folks, especially people with kids or who are diff erently-abled. Moreover, it greatly adjusts the calculation of “available parking.” Just eliminating the four garages marked on the map as a “10 minute walk” removes 3,369 spaces from the original 7,371 shown on the map. So that means there are fewer than 4,002 potential spaces less than a 10minute walk away, and all of that assumes nothing else is happening in town, and — as alluded to above — there’s almost always something happening in the Canal District, at least on weekends. Indeed, even the Commercial Street Parking Garage, as big as it is, fi lls up, as anyone who has been trapped in the garage as a Phish show let out of The DCU Center can tell you.

The WooSox organization says that, at full-capacity, the stadium will only be using up 2,500 of the available parking spaces. That seems an underestimation, but in that, one can only guess. But clearly, even only 2,500 cars is going to have a far bigger impact than it seems

either the city or the WooSox realize.

Perhaps they need to get out and walk around more.

Green Street and Polar Parking (redux) When I wrote last Thursday about walking the distance between the Commercial Street Parking Garage and the main entrance of Polar Park, a lot of people had one very reasonable question: “Why did you walk all the way to Madison Street?” Several people told me about the entrance at the site of the old Pickett Municipal Parking Lot on Green Street, across from Buck’s Whiskey & Burger Bar. A couple others spoke of entrances off Gold and Ash streets.

These are reasonable questions, and when posed with them, I didn’t immediately have a good answer as to why those didn’t register as possibilities. After all, among the rules I had set for myself, I’d resolved to follow any obvious signs or entrances, if they were visible.

See PARKING, Page 9D

DON LANDGREN VACCINES, WOOSOX ARE SHOTS IN THE ARM

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 9

Parking Continued from Page 8D

There were none as of Thursday, but still, it was worth going back to take a look and see if I did indeed miss something.

This time, I drove to the Green Street lot, near The Hangover Pub, and managed to grab the only open parking space available on Friday afternoon. There was some onstreet parking, but surprisingly little, considering what a sleepy day it was. Stepping out onto the street, I was faced with a sight I had seen, but hadn’t really stopped to take in: The building where AIDS Project Worcester used to be being totally demolished, and the husk of the old Cove Music Hall torn out, awaiting the rest of the demolition.

I was reminded of a conversation I once had with the Cove’s last owner, Ted Kistner, when I was writing a story about how Worcester’s artists viewed the city’s alleged “Worcester Renaissance.”

Kistner lamented that he used to see people bustle up and down Green Street all the time, and that had ebbed. Kistner – who currently owns the club Drafters, which has moved to Thompson, Connecticut, and is set to start outdoor shows Memorial Day weekend – recalls that a lot of the change had to do with new clubs and restaurants going in on Water Street, which was drawing traffi c away from Green Street, and that, “construction was in the air, they were starting to tear stuff apart. It wasn’t convenient for anyone.”

Indeed, construction seems to be a major catalyst in the ebb and fl ow of Green Street foot traffi c. I recall one friend, for example, who works in the vicinity of The Crompton Collective, lamenting that they had great foot traffi c until the Polar Park construction set in. On Green Street, it seems, development construction frequently gets in the way of actual devel-

opment.

Indeed, construction seems to be a major catalyst in the ebb and fl ow of Green Street foot traffi c. I recall one friend, for example, who works in the vicinity of the Crompton Collective, lamenting that they had great foot traffi c until the Polar Park construction set in. On Green Street, it seems, development construction frequently gets in the way of actual development.

What does this have to do with parking for Polar Park?

Well, I began my reassessment by walking up the Gold Street hill to take a look at the construction, where roads are currently being paved. I’m not sure cutting up that way would save you much in the way of time, as you’re most of the way to the Madison Street entrance and still have to walk a goodly amount to get into the stadium, uphill, but only a couple of readers seemed to think that would make a diff erence. The real question is why didn’t the old Pickett lot register as an entrance?

Well, the likely reason is that it looks like a bombed out construction site right now, and not the entrance to a ballpark.

While the Madison Street side is all done up with a now functional gift shop, box offi ce and chairs built to look like Red Sox World Series victory rings, The Pickett lot still looks like it’s nowhere near ready for baseball fans to truck their way through.

Will it be ready eventually?

Certainly, and that will likely be more convenient, depending on what gate your seats are near.

Will it be ready by Tuesday? As of this writing, that is a much more open question. If not, you’re hoofi ng it toward Madison.

On the way back to my car, I stopped and grabbed a bahn mi for lunch from Binh An Market, a locally owned store that sells fantastic sandwiches, which has been one of my main reasons for visiting that street for years. I’m still unconvinced about the stadium parking, but for a sandwich like this? I’ll gladly walk a little farther.

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COVER STORY Janet Price, a retired physician, fi lls a needle with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a free vaccination clinic May 6 at 44 Lakeside Ave. ASHLEY GREEN/ TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

LOOKING AHEAD

WO RC E S T E R B E G I N S T O C O N T E M P L AT E L I F E A F T E R PA N D E M I C Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Every year, Colin Novick camps and section-hikes the Appalachian Trail. Or he did — until last year. As an outdoor pursuit, hiking might have been considered one of the few activities relatively unaff ected by the pandemic — and for many, that might have been the case.

But for the serious hiker, it’s often necessary to book a motel room in the area the day before in order to make a dawn start on a trail the next morning. That meant dealing with interstate COVID guidelines, restrictions on visitation, testing requirements and quarantine periods. Given Massachusetts’ frequent “red” status for infection rates, even going next door to Rhode Island proved impractical.

Instead, 2020 was a year of “minihikes,” as Novick called them, staying in the Worcester area. After receiving the vaccine, the chance to visit new terrain and fi nd the local quirkiness of another place, he said, “sounds like a frozen container of Cool Whip that I have been longing for a taste of for over a year now.”

The COVID-19 vaccine has come to symbolize the return to normalcy for

which we have all been yearning. While it may not be quite as cut and dried — precautions still need to be taken — receiving the vaccine will no doubt provide a very real sense of freedom.

Traveling to reunite with family and friends or travel for physical recreation that sustains us in hard times is crucial to our state of mind. “We’re like trees, all Continued on next page

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Continued from previous page

interconnected and we need to see and hear other people’s presence — it’s just important for a healthy existence,” said Temperance Staples, who runs an equity vaccine clinic at the YWCA. Others, she pointed out, are relieved to just continue the work they’ve been doing over the past year, without the fear of infection.

“Working from home is just not a choice for some people,” said Staples.

Those who come to the equity clinic have been working throughout the pandemic, many of them people of color, and face the greatest exposure, said Staples, including WRTA drivers, factory workers and restaurant staff . For these Worcester residents, the vaccine will go a long way toward relieving the anxiety that comes with going into work every day. “I’ve heard from people saying ‘I felt like I was going to catch my death,’” Staples recounted.

David Connor, who works at the Worcester Historical Museum, is also ready to get back to work in a worry-free environment. “I work with a lot of elderly people, so I’m just happy to be out and not worry about infecting someone,” he said, as vaccination rates rise and herd immunity inches closer.

Connor has already seen the new “Mortal Kombat” movie in a theater, which was moderately full, as most indoor establishments are still operating with capacity limits to follow social distancing protocols. While he usually eats outdoors anyways in the warm weather, Connor hopes that “we do a culture shift in terms of outdoor dining since a number of businesses invested in outdoor set-ups — hope that stays.” One thing that he really loved was that people were not inside as much. “It has gotten people back in touch with the outdoors.”

Travel is something else Connor is particularly looking forward to, since it means being able to see his family again. With family in Louisiana, driving was simply not an option for Connor, so a year and half without seeing his family at all was a challenge, he admitted, but domestic trips aren’t the only thing he’s planning. “Trips to Europe were just announced,” he said, and plans are already underway to meet some friends in Madrid. “It will be quite the reunion.”

Michelle Santana-Ramirez, a wraparound coordinator for the Worcester Public Schools, on the other hand, was city-bound. After her second dose, Santana-Ramirez got her vaccinated

Worcester resident Colin Novick on the Metacoment Monadnock Trail, with Mt. Monadnock in the background. COLIN NOVICK

friends together and hopped on a train to Boston to see the latest exhibits at the art museum. “I hate driving in Boston so I always take the T,” she explained, “but just taking public transportation on a train for an hour and a half, I don’t think I would have done that if I was unvaccinated.”

Family and community, in addition to work, seem to be the driving factors for people to get vaccinated, Staples observed. Some want to see their grandchildren, or return to a co-parenting arrangement with their neighbors. Others still didn’t want to but admitted they were there because everyone around them was getting it, she said.

Santana-Ramirez said this type of social pressure is a useful tool in order to reach herd immunity. She has also encountered vaccine hesitancy among her family and friends. “I was quite shocked Continued on next page

Prince Asare of Worcester rolls down his sleeve after receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine April 30 at the MetroWest-Westborough Regional Vaccination Clinic at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough.

KEN MCGAGH/DAILY NEWS AND WICKED LOCAL

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 15

Michelle Santana-Ramirez at a place that is special to her in Greenhill Park Friday, April 30. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Continued from previous page

that one of my friends who was a nurse was worried about getting it,” she recalls. However, after seeing SantanaRamirez get vaccinated, her friend soon followed suit.

Of the three brands, Johnson & Johnson has been the most appealing due to needing only one shot rather than two.

Outreach workers would fi eld calls from hundreds of people about the single shot vaccine, Staples said. However, she

emphasized that the brand available depends on what a clinic gets from the state, so the “best vaccine you can get is the one being off ered today,” she said, “but if they’re more likely to show up for the vaccine that they want, we’ll try our best.”

April 19, when the vaccine became generally accessible to all ages, roughly coincided with the Johnson & Johnson pause. “What we expected to be a massive fl ood of people was undermined by what we can only surmise to be vaccine

hesitancy,” said Staples. This was certainly part of it, but as residents called in, it became clear that many were opting to wait until the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved, rather than receive one of the other two.

Another commonly mentioned concern is the speed at which the vaccine was developed and whether there was time for proper testing. However, speed and safety are not mutually exclusive and it is not unheard of for vaccines to be fast tracked. This is not the fi rst time

a drug has been expedited for the wellbeing of the global public, with a similar eff ort taken for anthrax. Though for COVID, the global concentrated eff ort toward a vaccine was historic, so “of course it was developed quickly,” she said. “If there was the same eff ort for cancer or heart disease, we would probably have more things on the market for those, too.”

Being located in a “majority-minority” neighborhood, the demographic that the equity clinic serves has also been historically wary of vaccines. Staples feels there is little she can say about this. “At no point, do I see myself as someone who can persuade people who may have ancestors or grandparents who have a history of being experimented on,” she said.

Santana-Ramirez agrees that acknowledging the horrifi c experiences that black and brown people have had with vaccines is important, but it’s not limited to history and continues to this day. “People just don’t really talk about that aspect, they always mention history as the reason why some people are hesitant and it’s not entirely true,” she said. “We still have Black mothers dying at a crazy rate or Latinas being sterilized without their knowledge.” Unfortunately, that is not a conversation many white people wish to have, she believes, fi nding it easier to refer to the past rather than the present. “Unless this is addressed, I don’t see things going much better the next time we have a [pandemic].”

The best way to counter this, Santana-Ramirez believes, is hiring people who know these communities on a personal level to administer and advocate for the vaccine, making it easier to build trust. “If you’re a person of color getting that jab, I am going to celebrate with you,” she said, “take pictures and ask you to tell your family and community.”

Connor described a similarly happy scene during his vaccine experience, saying, “watching the joy at the clinic was really nice to see after such a depressing era - there were hugs and smiles and laughs.” Soberly, he added that with the staggering fi gure of 500,000 deaths, with most everyone knowing someone who has been infected, he hoped that the knowledge of what was lost can instill an appreciation for life and each other. “It’s a feeling that we survived and I just want to be grateful for that in my interactions with people,” Connor explained. “Hope it collectively helps us be less asshole-ish.”

16 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

FEATURED STORIES

Keeping art turned on and running Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

WORCESTER – The Sprinkler Factory Gallery at 38 Harlow St. has a lot of space to view art.

That’s always been true but it is now especially so since the Sprinkler Factory reopened in October after closing in March last year because of the pandemic. The entire approximately 7,500 square feet of exhibition space, which for a while had two galleries and usually includes a performance stage, has now become one big gallery.

“We have a lot of space to spread out so people feel very comfortable in the Sprinkler Factory because it is such a large venue,” said Luis Fraire, managing director of the Sprinkler Factory art gallery.

People have also been able to take their time with the current exhibition on view.

After all, it is the Sprinkler Factory’s “SlowRaiser.”

The arts space is operated by AGSF Inc. (Artists’ Group of the Sprinkler Factory), a nonprofi t arts organization.

“SlowRaiser” is what the Sprinkler Factory calls its “6.5th annual ArtRaiser” art auction event.

Actually, time is now speeding up as the “slow auction” that started May 1 ends May 15.

Artists have donated their creations to the “SlowRaiser” for the auction that will support the Sprinkler Factory’s intent to serve the Worcester arts community.

There are more than 115 works of art to be bid on. The art can be viewed online (www.sprinklerfactory.com) and bids sent by email, as well as people registering to come to the Sprinkler Factory to bid in-person.

Most of the works are paintings, but there are also sculptures and photographs, all in a variety of styles.

“There’s something for everyone,” Fraire said. “People can come in, look over everything, and think about what

Luis Fraire, managing director, and Birgit Straehle, creative consultant, in the Sprinkler Factory Art Gallery, where artwork being auctioned in the gallery’s fundraiser is being exhibited. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

they really liked.”

The “SlowRaiser” can also just be enjoyed as an art show in and of itself, regardless of whether you make a bid or not.

“The auction items turned into a great gallery show, too. It’s a great show to enjoy,” said Birgit Straehle, creative consultant to the Sprinkler Factory art gallery. Fraire and Straehle are also husband and wife.

“Looking is welcomed,” said Fraire of the “SlowRaiser” show. “We encourage people to come in and at least take a look.”

“SlowRaiser” will be on view in-person May 13 and 14 from 5-8 p.m. and May 15 from 1-8 p.m.

You must schedule a free pretimed ticket at eventbrite, which can be accessed through www.sprinklerfactory.com.

“SlowRaiser” would normally be called the Sprinkler Factory’s sixth “ArtRaiser,” dating back to when the event was fi rst held in 2015 and taking into account that it wasn’t held last year.

Fraire said the “.5 represents the half a year we lost when we were closed.”

The Sprinkler Factory had started March 2020 in a big way. On March 7, 2020, four exhibitions opened all at once, showing its reach and appeal to artists. The shows included “Today and Tomorrow — Worcester Public Schools Visual Arts,” a selection of works in var-

ious media from 33 artists-educators of the Worcester Public Schools; “Dual Nature — Across Mediums, Encaustic Plus One,” work by Linda Bigness, Joanne Holtje and Doreen LaScola; “Sum Girls — Crushes 12x12ss,” by Don Hartmann; and “Jumping the Shark,” new work by Peter S. Wise.

The opening reception was packed, albeit that word was also buzzing about the coronavirus.

A few days later the Sprinkler Factory was closed.

“We had a full schedule (for 2020),” Fraire noted.

The Rockwood Sprinkler Company of Worcester was founded in 1906 by George I. Rockwood, an inventor of fi resuppressing sprinkler systems. In its heyday the factory at 38 Harlow St., just off Lincoln Street, had 325 employees and annual sales of $1,500,000. By the mid-20th century, the factory had ceased production.

The big old brick building became an aspiring arts center in 1987 after the then Worcester Artist Group moved in.

There were ups and downs (and rows) and diff erent nonprofi t incarnations and name changes along the way, but there has been stability and growth now for several years with the Sprinkler Factory Gallery and AGSF. The Sprinkler Factory is also home to independent artist studios and creative businesses spread throughout the former Rockwood Sprinkler Company complex.

The stated mission of AGSF Inc. is “to provide a welcoming multifaceted venue to nurture and promote the visual and performing arts communities of Central Massachusetts.”

The Sprinkler Factory has become “one of the most active and massive exhibition spaces for contemporary art in Central Massachusetts.”

Up until the pandemic, the two galleries had openings every month, and the space featured a performance stage for theater, music, talks, spoken word and fi lm with an 85-seat capacity. 4th Continued on next page

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 17

Continued from previous page

Wall Stage Company, Worcester Country Poetry Association (which makes its home at the Sprinkler Factory) and cinemaworcester are some of the groups that have performed, put on readings or had screenings there.

However, the gallery “always was one big space,” Fraire said.

A 16-foot wall divided it into two galleries.

“Now the wall is down,” he said. It was knocked down over the summer. “It’s just one big space (again).”

The fi rst exhibition after the Sprinkler Factory reopened was “Solos: artists on a mission,” which ran Oct. 17 to Dec. 5 in-person Thursdays and Saturdays.

There was a call for artists and 29 were selected for their own individual show featuring nine works of art each for a total of 261. Each solo show had its own title, its own mission and its own distinct discipline.

After registering in advance, people were given a 90-minute free pretimed slot. There was a maximum of 25 people per time slot (with face mask and social distancing requirements).

The exhibition could also be seen online “to a certain degree,” Fraire said, as a lot of photos and videos were posted on Facebook and Instagram.

“A lot of people did view it online,” he said.

Meanwhile, “about 700 people came in. It was actually quite a long run,” Fraire said.

“The pretimed slot ticket by Eventbrite is a very good system and it worked out well for us. And I think people enjoyed it, too. We had a limited crowd in the gallery, and a lot of time to look at the art. With the space, you could really spread out and be with the art,” he said.

(Time slots for exhibitions are free, but donations can be made in-person. Time slot donations are also accepted online at www.sprinklerfactory.com/gallery/donate/) Following “Solos,” the next

Ceramics from artist Mark Spencer are on display in the Sprinkler Factory Art Gallery. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

exhibition at the Sprinkler Factory was “Trios: A Balance of 3,” which ran from March 6 to April 12.

“Trios” featured the work of 80 artists, each presenting three works of art that unify together as a whole. The show was on view Thursdays and Saturdays. Again, a maximum of 25 people per timeslot had 90 minutes to take everything in.

“The ‘Trios’ show had about $11,000 in sales and all that went straight to the artists,” Fraire said.

“Sales have actually increased at the Sprinkler Factory. A little more time with art leads to more sales, so it’s all very interesting,” he said.

The in-person viewing time for “SlowRaiser is shorter at 45 minutes for 25 people at each timeslot.

Previous “ArtRaiser” silent auctions to benefi t the Sprinkler Factory have raised between $8,000 and $11,000, Fraire said.

“That would be wonderful,” said Straehle of the 6.5th falling within that range.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Fraire said.

The Sprinkler Factory will also wait for now to see what to do about the performance space.

“So far there’s nothing going on in terms of performances.

We’re using the space to show

art,” Fraire said.

“I think that’s going to take some time,” he said. “There were a whole number of things that were happening in the performance venue. I think seated audiences is on a diff erent perspective than people wandering through looking at art. But we’re patient. When the time is

right we’ll certainly be ready for it.”

As soon as “SlowRaiser” concludes, work will begin on getting the next exhibition, “In Tandem: An exhibition of counterparts,” ready for its run June 4 to July 10 on Thursdays and Saturdays.

The concept of the “In Tandem” exhibit is for each participating artist to show two works of art that are counterparts to each other, bonded together by material, theme or technique.

Fraire hadn’t decided at the time of writing how long the time slot would be for in-person visitors to this show.

Still, “It really works well with the pre-timed ticket system. Most likely the pre-timed ticket will remain in place for the near future,” he said.

“In years past we’d have well attended receptions and then it was relatively quiet. Now we’re spreading it out evenly. I think the attendance is actually greater. The distribution of attendance is spread out over a

longer period of time.”

Another silver lining of the new way of having to do things at the Sprinkler Factory during the pandemic is that people are discovering or rediscovering the art venue, Straehle said.

“It’s relaxing. It’s good for mental health.”

“We have a lot of new artists exhibiting,” Fraire said, and they, in turn, will have friends coming to the exhibition.

New visitors have been coming from “everywhere in Massachusetts,” Straehle said.

And New Hampshire and Vermont, Fraire noted. “And there were certainly a lot of familiar faces,” he said In turn, Fraire said he and Straehle have enjoyed visiting cultural venues that have been open, such as ArtsWorcester.

“I think it’s hard to say what motivates people, but because we were open they were able to come,” he said.

For more information, visit www.sprinklerfactory.com.

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Art in Bloom fl owers at Fitchburg Art Museum Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Fresh blooms are everywhere this spring, even in art museums. Fitchburg Art Museum is bringing back its inperson annual Art in Bloom event from May 14 to 16, welcoming spring into the galleries with the pairing of art and fl owers. The unseasonably cool temperatures of the last few days may not have felt like spring but the fl oral art inside will keep its spirit alive.

Events like these, in which gardeners, fl orists and artists of all kinds interpret their chosen artwork with fl owers, are the high point of the spring season in art museums all over the country.

Julie Palioca, of Laurelwood Garden Club in Fitchburg, who has been doing interpretations for the past 12 years, freely admits she may have made an unusual choice this year.

“I must have been in a bad mood when I picked it,” Palioca speculated. The inspiration for her fl oral arrangement is a mid-20th-century woven sculpture pig from the African gallery. How she will interpret the essence of the work as fl owers is unclear, but Palioca has picked out her materials in the form of gerber daisies, brown pods and protea from Africa.

The original medium will be represented in the arrangement’s container as a weave basket.

For the last 23 years, FAM has partnered with Laurelwood to organize Art in Bloom. This year is extra special to the museum staff , as it’s “basically our fi rst live event after a year of closing,” said Jessie Olson, membership and events manager at the museum. “It’s such a thrill to see people again and

Art in Bloom interpretations NORMAN EGGERT/ NORM EGGERT PHOTOGRAPHY

not on a Zoom screen.”

What’s unique about FAM, Olson explains, “is that our large galleries turn over three times a year so there is new artwork every spring and we work with the garden club to choose pieces that will be interpreted.”

They use the process to draw attention to diff erent pieces and try to create a balance in all the galleries by selecting pieces that have not been interpreted in a while — though there are favorites that make repeat appearances. The event provides an insight into how people see art.

“We all look at it and see things diff erently, so when you see an interpretation, you often notice a color that you hadn’t seen before, or when they choose the container, you see a texture that might not have been noticed,” said Olson.

One of the tricky parts is selecting fl owers that will last at least four days, said Palioca, and the varying needs of the Continued on next page

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 19

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Kayden LeBoeuf writes: “I am a 16 year old avid photographer and I attend Shepherd Hill Regional High School. As well as being an aspiring photographer I enjoy gardening and taking care of houseplants, these photos combine the best of both worlds as I found this little guy (White Cheeked Jumping Spider) on my strawberry plant.”

A view of a White Cheeked Jumping Spider.

Continued from previous page

work makes it so that some garden club members go to wholesale sellers in New Hampshire.

The pandemic wasn’t enough to wither the event last year, when garden club members created their fl ower interpretations at home and submitted photographs virtually. With the traditional fl oral materials limited due to the lockdown, interpreters had to get creative.

“We could take things from our home and make arrangements without going to fl oral shops,” said Palioca. “You walk around and look to see what you have to make a design.” For her own project, she interpreted Jo Sandman’s “Serpent 1,” inserting hyacinths into a belt.

In addition to stretching the creative muscles of the interpreters, Olson believes the use of home materials “demystifi ed” the event for viewers. “It helped make it seem a little more ap-

proachable,” she said. “When you think of fl oral arrangements it seems a little stuff y but we literally had someone make an interpretation with a pancake and carrot peelings.” While the virtual venue was not without challenges, it provided a much needed creative outlet at a time when everyone was trapped inside.

While the necessary creativity was “challenging but fun,” Palioca is as thrilled as everyone else to be back inperson. “Virtual cannot replace actually being there,” she said. And pre-pandemic, Palioca, along with the rest of the Laurelwood Garden Club, was at the museum quite often. The connection between the museum and garden club is strong and not only limited to Art in Bloom, with the club holding their monthly meetings there as well.

When Olson started working at the museum in 2017, “[Art in Bloom] had been going on for years so it ran like a

Another view of a spider. PHOTOS BY KAYDEN LEBOEUF

well-oiled machine,” she said. “The history was there, the partnership was there and the garden club are great people to work with.”

Laurelwood does much more than fl owers. Olson talks of how every year, the garden club has a tea at FAM where they create a tablescape that tells a story, or has a theme through the cloth, the cups, utensils, etc. She is working on the tea this year which will be in-person but she says, “as good as it’s going to be to have visitors, we still need to control how many people who are coming in and out so it will feel a little smaller.”

Tablescapes this year will feature the founder of the museum, Eleanor Norcross, and the history of her life and travels to Paris. “A poster detailing the events of our founder’s life will be installed in the gallery and they will use Victorian china since it matches her time, some dishes she liked to collect, one section will represent Fitchburg, a

palette somewhere to show her growth as a painter, and another with a Parisian theme to represent studying there.”

Olson is looking forward to Art in Bloom and chuckled about how her favorite bloom interpretation can change depending on her mood, “I could like one as my favorite on Friday and then I come in after a week of working and tired, see a sunfl ower piece and that becomes my favorite.” But she fi nds something to like in all of them. “I’m always curious to see what they’re going to come up with and I might not know what they look like until they are installed.”

Art in Bloom at the Fitchburg Art Museum runs Friday, May 14 to Sunday, May 16, with a special preview for members on Thursday, May 13. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and free for FAM members. Reserve your tickets at https://fi tchburgartmuseum.org/art-in-bloom/

20 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

TABLE HOPPIN’

Guy Fieri gives Worcester students virtual pep talk Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Culinary students at Worcester Technical High School got the surprise of a lifetime last week when celebrity chef Guy Fieri sent them a personal message in a video recorded on the set of the TV series Guy’s Ranch Kitchen at his California ranch.

Host of Food Network’s TV series “Diners, Drive-In and Dives,” Fieri’s video chat included a shout out to Chef Betty (Elizabeth) Casey, pastry instructor at the school and the one who helped make the video possible.

While it’s not uncommon for celebrity chefs to use their home kitchens for YouTube or Instagram cooking shows it’s

Guy Fieri is the host of Food Network’s popular “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” JOHN LEE

not the norm to fi nd a video like the one Fieri shared with the culinary students, according to Gloria Chabot, a close friend of

Fieri’s. “Celebrity chefs just don’t have the time because they’re either fi lming or touring,” she said. “And, it would be

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impossible for them to answer the millions of requests they receive.”

The Worcester connection: Chabot of Maryland and Casey have been friends since their days as culinary students at Johnson & Wales University in Providence. In recent conversation about the school year and COVID-19, Casey told Chabot how chef instructors at the school were always thinking outside the box and asked her if there was any chance Fieri would ever contact the students.

Chabot said Fieri not only read the school’s mission statement, but did a little research of his own about Worcester demographics, etc. “Guy called me and said, ‘Let’s do it,’” said Chabot, who helped him with the pronunciation of Worcester for the video. “I reminded him It’s not the Worcestershire sauce,” said Chabot.

On May 7, Kevin Layton, chef instructor and department head at Worcester Technical High School, told culinary students in hybrid and remote learning to log in at 10 a.m. after their regular class work, telling them, “We have a surprise for you.”

The video began with Fieri saying that a friend of a friend knows your Chef Casey. “And, I’ve got to tell you something. I know you’ve had a very diffi cult year. It has been a diffi cult year on everybody. But I want to encourage you to stick with what you’re doing. You know this restaurant industry, the culinary world is amazing. It’s going to help you work with people, teach you a life skill, give you lots of opportunities. There are restaurants all over the world.

“And, I just have to remind you that doing this right now might not seem like exactly the greatest thing because of all that we’re going through, but I promise you, in the long run, it’s going to be great. These are some of my favorite chefs are back here working hard on the show. They all started in the restaurant business when they were about your age. I just want to remind that you can do this if you stick with it, OK? Go Worcester.”

“It was great that Fieri was willing to do the video, reinforcing what we as instructors tell our students every day,” said Layton. “Students were both surprised and amazed to see Fieri.” Posts ranged from “I can’t believe it” to “OMG” and “Can we get his autograph?”

Students loved Fieri’s shout out to Casey, according to Layton, who joked about how she should be signing autographs.

FYI: Casey also owns On the Rise Baking in Worcester.

Layton also thought the host of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (nicknamed Triple D) should maybe visit a few vocational schools. “He’ll (Fieri) fi nd outstanding culinary programs across the country,” said Layton. In the food reality TV series, Fieri travels across America in search of the best eaterSee FIERI, Page 24D

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 21

CONNELL SANDERS

A glossary of popular new slang terms Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

The return to in-person learning has been nothing short of joyous. Working alongside real live humans every day is invigorating. Rather than dwelling on some sort of insurmountable pandemic learning gap, we are reveling in a newfound sense of fl exibility, digital fl uency, humor and creativity.

One of the most fascinating aspects of communicating regularly with youth is watching them devise and popularize new language. Observing the middle school lexicon during informal moments in the hallway or the cafeteria is something I have sincerely missed.

This week, I got caught up.

Here are a few of the terms our kids are championing right now.

Bet [bet] exclamation Much like the Midwestern term of agreement, “you betcha,” replying with “bet” shows an affi rmation.

In Context: Have you ever noticed that the mayor’s Chief of Staff Dan Racicot bears a remarkable resemblance to Academy Award winner Russell Crowe?

Bet. No Cap [no-cap] verb An adamant way to assure someone “I am not kidding” or “this is not a joke.” A plea that the speaker is to be believed.

In Context: My grandparents sat behind Judy Garland at the Centrum in 1988 when they went to see Liza Minnelli. No cap!

Simp [simp] adjective

A try-hard. Particularly in the case of an overly eager gentleman trying to win the heart of an irreverent target of his affection.

In Context: Who do you think is the biggest simp — Smiley Ball, Scratch or Twister? Defi nitely Twister; I once saw him waiting outside the locker room for Jose Canseco with a love poem and a box of chocolates.

Sus [suhs] adjective Something that seems unabashedly suspect or suspicious. This moniker gained traction with the rise of the multiplayer online game Among Us. In Context: I haven’t been to Bay State Brewing Company yet because their fl agship beer is called “Becky Likes the Smell” and I think it sounds sus. Can someone explain to me how that’s not problematic?

I’m Dead [ded] adjective A succinct response to something that is funny in an endearing manner. (Sometimes just reduced to a lone skull emoji.) Gone are the days of “lol” and, god forbid, “haha.”

Now, we are simply “dead.”

In Context: Just added Jimmy Cash on TikTok. I’m dead.

Cheugy [choo-gee] adjective To be honest, this seems to be more of a Millennial fascination projected upon our Gen-Z brethren to criticize the bubble gum pink “girl boss” empire we built ourselves. We all have a little “cheug” in our lives and it is not so much humiliating as it is an admission that a mainstream trend, past its prime, still appeals to us. “Cheugy” is often associated with Disney brides, Coach bags and Insta-

gram captions that begin with “I did a thing...”

In Context: I don’t care if it’s cheugy, I could spend all day wandering around the new TJ Maxx HomeGoods in Lincoln Plaza, shopping for decorative wooden signs.

Please note, I am in no way suggesting that you should attempt to actually use any of this jargon — only that you try to appreciate the infl uence of our youth on Worcester’s vocabulary. These words are theirs and theirs to keep.

Have you heard others in the wild that I should add to my glossary? Find me on Instagram to let me know: @sarah_connell.

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22 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

NEXT DRAFT

A guide to all your Polar Park beer needs Matthew Tota Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Polar Park’s vice president of hospitality believes success in his line of work comes from remembering the most important adage in minor league baseball.

“People come here to eat and drink and have a good time; it just so happens that there’s a baseball game going on,” Cody Malone told me last week as we walked through Polar Park, joined by Rob Crain, a senior vice president for sales and marketing at the Worcester Red Sox. In part, the two had spent much of the fi nal week before the team’s fi rst homestand preparing the park’s concessions for Opening Day Tuesday.

They just placed the largest beer order in Atlas Distributing Inc.’s history and were expecting the kegs and cans to arrive at the stadium by week’s end.

Unfortunately, I had arrived too early: During this visit to the ballpark, we passed dry, handle-less taps and barren coolers. But, Malone said, the thousands of WooSox fans expected to fl ood Polar Park this week and next should take heart in the knowledge that no matter where they go in the ballpark, they should never fi nd themselves more than 10 feet away from a place to buy beer.

There have probably been thousands of articles written about Polar Park in the last two years, and no doubt those were all detailed reports. I can say with authority, though, that this column, the defi nitive guide to all your ballpark beer needs, will end up being the most informative piece you ever read about the home of the WooSox. I’m not interested in tall boys of Coors Light here – at least not until I need to hydrate in the sixth or seventh inning. Don’t worry, Malone assured me, the 10-feet rule also applies to Worcester breweries like Wormtown and Greater Good, too.

“I have about 85 taps in the ballpark.

About half of them are going to be dedicated to craft,” Malone said. “Everywhere you go you can get craft beer, especially local.”

Beginning in right fi eld, you’ll fi nd the best spot to grab a beer in the park: the

Rob Crain, left, a senior vice president for sales and marketing at the Worcester Red Sox, and Cody Malone, Polar Park’s vice president of hospitality, painstakingly set up every tap and cooler inside Polar Park, making sure to include as much craft beer as possible. PHOTO BY MATTHEW TOTA

Atlas Craft Corner. The section can hold about 100 people, all with $8 general admission tickets. You’ll have draft and can options from Greater Good and Wachusett Brewing Co. and perhaps the fi nest view in the ballpark.

Harpoon Brewery has its own 12-tap bar atop the Worcester Wall, surely making the brewery’s founder, Worcester’s own Dan Kenary, proud. You can also grab cans of Harpoon and Polar’s hard seltzer collaboration, Arctic Chill, at the bar, dubbed the Harpoon Taps.

To start, Wormtown will have a popup beer stand located behind section 15 and 16 on the fi rst base side of the ballpark. Wormtown packaged its lager,

Mass Whole, in 16-ounce cans exclusively for sale at Polar Park.

Wormtown gets its own shipping container bar later this summer on Summit Street, just behind the Worcester Wall. The brewery will outfi t the container with 12 taps, joining other vendors along the street, which will have a fairground feel during gamedays.

“This will be the party headquarters,” Malone said of Summit Street.

You can even buy beer inside the WooSox Market, which starting next year will be fully autonomous. Malone will have packaged beer for sale in the market, located on the fi rst base side of the concourse level, in June. The cooler

will include beer that he would not typically order for the concessions. It’s where I hope the park brings in off erings from the Worcester breweries that do not have sponsorship deals with the team, such as Redemption Rock Brewing Co., 3Cross Fermentations Cooperative and Bay State Brewing Co. Finally, it’s worth mentioning the Coors Light Homeplate Bar, which will cover all of your domestic beer needs.

The largest bar in the ballpark, go there for the 24-ounce cans you can nurse in the later innings.

Beers at Polar Park will cost anywhere from $8 to $11. Most of the craft beers will run you $10 for a 16-ounce can.

You can jump up to a 20-ounce souvenir draft cup for a buck more.

As is the case at most games and concerns, there will be a limit of two beers per purchase. Last call is in the seventh inning.

WooSox brass like to say Polar Park has made sure that its concessions represent Worcester, that the ballpark itself “looks, feels and tastes,” like the city, Crain said.

“I’m confi dent in that,” he added. “I almost take off ense to comments that say otherwise. We do have great partners in the larger breweries, but we spent a lot of time, eff ort and energy painstakingly crafting these local taps lists. We went through every tap on every bar and every row of every reach-in cooler. Our process was that detailed.”

People may have complaints with the ballpark’s ballooning budget or its somewhat underwhelming façade.

Those gripes will melt away as soon as they walk in for a game, fi nd a can of Be Hoppy or Pulp Daddy, stop at B.T.’s Smokehouse’s stand for BBQ, and take in the action on the glorious green fi eld.

Without hesitation, Malone, who has spent nearly 20 years in minor league baseball, described Polar Par as the “crown jewel” of his career.

The park does this second city justice, he said.

“Second cities always do the same things well: Craft beer, local chefs, local produce and local music. We wanted the ballpark to represent those four things,” he said. “That’s what I love about Worcester.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 23

LISTEN UP

Craig Rawding sings the blues on new EP Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Singer Craig Rawding is probably best known for fronting some of the most highly acclaimed bands in the Worcester area, including The Delta Generators, the Marshall Pass and the Curtis Mayfl ower, to name a few, but with the slim EP “Built For Shadows,” he proves he’s capable of top-notch work all on his own. Mostly solo here, with some assistance from pianist Brooks Milgate, Rawding — who will be performing solo at 6 p.m. May 15 at Vincent’s in Worcester — creates a song that’s rich and bluesy, which moves fast and is over a tad too soon.

The album kicks off with “Whipped,” a breakneck blues burner, the recording of which seems to start a half-note or so into the song, so that when the music starts playing, it already feels like it’s whizzing by your head in a burst of boogie-woogie blues. In a lot of ways, this is a typical blues trope of a man chafi ng under “the hell of a spell that she put me under,” but it’s so fl awlessly executed that it’s an utterly addictive earworm.

“Midnight Cravings,” on the other hand, slows down and has a bit more emotional resonance. Rawding’s voice is innately soulful, but the there’s something evocative in the way he sings lyrics such as “every time I try to make myself a happy home/the midnight cravings won’t leave me alone,” and even more so at the outburst of, “won’t you save me?” Rawding here manages to display a modicum of vulnerability behind the sheer vocal force he’s able to summon, and the eff ect is arresting.

Things pick up again with

Craig Rawding will perform May 15 at Vincent’s.

PHOTO BY TAJONN NICKELSON

the breezy blues party anthem, “Helluva Night,” which demonstrates the sheer amount of sound that Rawding and Milgate are able to conjure with just two instruments, but ultimately, it’s just a bit of fun before the title song, which closes down the album. “Built for Shadows” moves at a languid pace and has a dark air of confession about it. When Rawding sings lines such as, “I was built for shadows/you and the Devil oughtta know,” the song leaves enough room for the lyrics to breathe, and for the listener to take them in.

It’s a short album, certainly, but it’s also one that manages to show a large amount of range and just as much soul. There’s not a moment wasted here, with even the lighter moments carved with impeccable technique and packed to the brim with feeling and catharsis, and really, who can ask for more from the blues?

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24 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Fieri Continued from Page 20D

ies.

Chabot, account management director, client relations for Sodexo, originally met Fieri when she was project manager for a food concept he and Sodexo partnered on.

Fieri, according to Chabot, does his homework and his own research when he tackles projects. He goes off the cuff , she said, “no writing.”

“The fi rst time I went to the West Coast to meet him and his crew, we ended up talking for six hours,” said Chabot. “Normally, he’s scheduled for an hour. He’s very generous of himself. A basic guy. Compassionate, kind and gracious. He also has a wonderful family.”

Fieri helped raise $25 million for restaurant workers during the pandemic, according to Chabot. “He reached out to the industry he loves,” she said. “He’s not afraid to roll up his sleeves and help people.

Food is a common denominator that connects and touches everyone. Fieri wants to know how to make it better, how to lift more people. He works worldwide.”

“I’m a baker by love,” said Chabot. “Guy isn’t crazy about sweets and he can’t stand eggs.”

She recalled the fi rst time she took her favorite pecan shortbread cookies to a business meeting on the West Coast to share with his crew.

She said she was shocked to see Fieri reach into the box for a cookie. And, not just one. “I don’t know if it was the coarse salt in the cookie mix or sprinkling of sugar on top,” said Chabot, “but he loved them. He even asked for the recipe. Ever since then I have to bring the cookies no matter what.”

She said once during a taping of the Rachel Ray show with Fieri as guest she sat in the audience and kept the boxed cookies under her seat.

Food prepared on that show is

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never shared with the audience, she said, but Fieri left the stage and brought her a food sample. He told the audience, “‘She’s my cousin and then asked me, ‘Where are the cookies?’” Chabot said she’s fortunate to have stayed connected with Casey and Fieri through the years. Their friendship has special meaning, she said.

Chabot plans to visit with Casey this summer.

At Worcester Technical High School, chef instructors look forward to the fall and the reopening of the school’s Skyline Bistro, according to Layton, who said despite everything, the school year has been good. “We’ve had our ups and downs,” said Layton, “but we’ve fi gured it out. We look forward to welcoming back students on May 17.” Skyline Bistro, an a la carte restaurant where the culinary students prepare the food and hospitality student provide service, is expected to reopen in the fall, said Layton.

Worcester Technical High School will hold graduation on June 10 at Polar Park. Some culinary students have been accepted at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and Johnson & Wales University in Providence.

While it’s not certain what career path students will choose, Worcester boasts a list of award-winning chefs who work locally. Also, noted TV chef, food judge and cookbook author Geoff rey Zakarian grew up in Worcester and attended city schools, graduating from Worcester State College and the University of Massachusetts. He once told me he bartended at the city’s iconic El Morocco and took dates to the Parkway Diner.

The restaurant industry faces transition and rebuilding in 2021. Culinary grads can play an important role as restaurants look for labor in an increasingly tight market.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282.

Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 25

SCREEN TIME

Craving comfort food television, and that’s okay Jim Keogh Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Back when I reviewed movies in actual movie theaters, I would often get asked, “What have you seen lately?” I knew the question translated to “What movies have you seen lately?” because there really was no other possibility. In early-cable and pre-streaming days, movies captured the public’s attention and imagination in ways television typically didn’t. We could certainly be entertained by a particular lineup of shows (remember NBC’s “Must see TV!”), but theatrical fi lms still felt special and important in ways television didn’t.

Now, of course, the answer to the question “What have you seen lately?” is wide open.

Could be a movie seen in a theater, though more likely the response involves something you’ve seen on a TV, computer, or cell phone screen. That’s where we’ve lived for the last year.

I fi nd myself typically retreating into comfort-viewing in the same way the pandemic has inspired comfort-eating.

The stuff I’ve been watching is hardly worth a conversation because it’s the equivalent of Cheetos for the eyeballs — consuming it is not advancing me in any signifi cant way as a human being, but I still enjoy the snack.

These are four of my comfort go-tos: h Dateline – When in doubt about what to watch, I often choose “Dateline’s” folksy host Keith Morrison and his bottomless well of bemusement with our capacity for committing horrible acts. I do this for two reasons: 1. I can tune into a “Dateline” episode at any point and gladly see it through to the end, when the dead woman’s philandering husband is inev-

itably convicted of her homicide, and 2. “Dateline” airs seemingly around the clock, making it easily stumbledupon. h Law & Order – I’m partial to the SVU version, especially the years when Mariska Hartigay and Christopher Meloni were feeding off each other’s outrage (nice to see Hartigay still putting sickos behind bars and Meloni starring in his own spinoff ). I’ve always enjoyed the characters’ brittle interplay, and the ripped-from-theheadlines plots that disguise the true-life source material just enough to avoid a lawsuit. h The Great British Baking Show – Who would have thought a bunch of Brits crowded beneath a tent in the English countryside, struggling to keep their souffl és from collapsing, would become, well, must-see TV? My aff ection for this show is contained to the earlier seasons, when hosts Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry evaluated pie crusts with the seriousness of foreign analysts assessing nuclear risk. Mary departed a few years ago, but hard-toplease Paul continues to make the earnest bakers go weak at the knees when he pays them a rare compliment. h The Offi ce – Steve Carrell made this show, and when it streamed on Netfl ix (it’s on Peacock now) I refused to stray beyond his departure. I still watch “The Offi ce” on Comedy Central, and my heart lifts when I turn to it and fi nd Carrell at the center. There are any number of classic episodes, but the north star is “The Dinner Party,” featuring The Great Unhinging of Michael and Jan in their unhappy condo. When NBC executives received the script, they found the humor so dark that they asked showrunner Greg Daniels whether he truly intended to move forward with it. Thankfully for “Offi ce” fans, he never wavered.

From left, the classic lineup of “The Great British Baking Show,” cohost Sue Perkins, judge Paul Hollywood, cohost Mel Giedroyc and judge Mary Berry.

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26 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

FIVE THINGS TO DO

Christine Hurley, Bob Jordan and more Victor D. Infante and Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

America’s Funniest Mom If you saw her on “America’s Got Talent,” you can see why Christine Hurley has a reputation as “America’s Funniest Mom” – even with the fl ub that prevented her from moving forward in the competition. She dissects the absurdities of everyday family life without sentimentality and with uproarious hilarity. (VI) What: Comedian Christine Hurley When: 7:30 p.m. May 14 and 15 Where: WooHaHa Comedy Club, 50 Franklin St., Worcester How much: Two tickets for $50, four for $100

The Worcester Chamber Music Society will premiere its Annual Senior Concert online May 15. SUBMITTED PHOTO

An all-Mozart affair The Worcester Chamber Music Society continues its 15th season with its Annual Senior Concert, an all-Mozart concert recorded at Briarwood Retirement Community and premiering online at 4 p.m. May 15. WCMS off ers a festive display of Mozart’s artistry with two of his most beloved chamber works.

From the youthful exuberance of his fi rst fl ute quartet to the poignancy of his C Major quartet, the music exudes an eff ortless beauty. The performance is free for all senior citizens residing in Worcester County. The concert is also the Dr. Ted Conna Memorial Concert. Dr. Conna (1931-2016) was a child psychiatrist and social activist in Worcester for more than 40 years. He was also a talented pianist with a great love of classical music. (RD) What: Worcester Chamber Music Society — Annual Senior Concert When: Premiering online 4 p.m. May 15. Available on-demand through June 30 How much: Free to all senior residents of Worcester County; $20 for adults or $38 for a household; $5 for students; youth (17 and under) and EBT card holders are free. www.worcesterchambermusic.org. (RD)

Christine Hurley will perform two sets at WooHaHa Comedy Club.

PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

Continued on next page

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 27

Continued from previous page

‘Mother’ Knows Best

Hometown Icon Bob Jordan is pretty much a local music legend, and with good reason: Whether it’s his reputation as a Bob Dylan afi cionado, or his sly musical love letter to Worcester, “Wormtown,” Jordan has had an enormous infl uence on the local folk and rock scenes. He moved away for awhile, but has returned and has gotten back to work with a full schedule of shows and local venues and farmers markets. (VI) What: Bob Jordan When: 3 p.m. May 18 Where: Holden Farmers Market, 1204 Main St., Holden How much: Free

Christine C. Sege appears in “Listen to Your Mother.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Let the music play It’s a night of ambient house music, techno and other musical delights as DJ Rosé and Joe Tagessian join regular house DJ Sex on the Decks for a Re:Set dance party.

Both DJs have eclectic collections, so this promises to be much more than just the same old beats. (VI) What: DJ Rosé and Joe Tagessian – Re:Set When: 7 p.m. May 15 Where: Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St, Worcester How much: $10 DJ Rosé will perform at Electric Haze. PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

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Since Mother’s Day 2010, when Ann Imig and other local writers read their original true stories of motherhood before an audience of 300 people at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin, “Listen to Your Mother” has become a phenomenon. There have been over 250 productions across North America, with some theater groups adding their own perspectives. Vanilla Box Productions of Worcester will feature a cast exploring numerous aspects of mothering from hilarious and heartwarming to emotionally intense and profound during its live online presentation of the show May 14 and 15. Two of the monologues will be original pieces written and delivered by Debbie Huard and Christine C. Seger. The rest of the cast includes Jessica Bumford, Heather Crabbe, Joan Halpert, Lorraine Hruska, Durriyyah Leonard, Marina Matuzek, Teri Muller, Libbey Stearns and Cassie Tortorici.

Joel D. Seger directs. (RD) What: ‘Listen to Your Mother’ When: 7:30 p.m. May 14 and 15.

How much: $12; $25 “VIP” includes show ticket, virtual meet/ greet and membership in “the sunshine club.” www.vanillaboxproductions.com.

28 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Zach Welcome to Adoption Option, a partnership with the Worcester Animal Rescue League highlighting their adoptable pets. Check this space often to meet all of the great pets at WARL in need of homes. WARL is open seven days a week, noon-4 p.m., 139 Holden St. Check them out online at Worcesterarl.org, or call at (508) 853-0030.

Meet Zach. This big boy weighs in at 95 pounds and is looking for an experienced large breed dog owner. He was surrendered to the shelter, through no fault of his own, after being previously adopted from us about 5 years ago. Zach loves to play with all types of toys, enjoys walks, aff ection and car rides. He is very strong and uses a harness when walking. He will need a strong owner who is able to handle him when walking him. His previous family spent a lot of time with him teaching him all of his commands and he is a very smart guy. Zach can sit, lay down, give paw, high fi ve and sit and stay when asked. Although very playful and fun, Zach does have a serious side too. He does not like to be bothered while eating and does not like to be removed off of furniture. He will growl and if pushed snap. Due to his size he needs an owner who understands these behaviors and can manage them safely for themselves and Zach. For these reasons an ideal home for him would be with adults only. He does not like other animals and is looking for a home where he can be the king of the castle.

Zach is on a medication called Apoquel for his allergies. We are unsure if Zach has food or environmental allergies, but this medication keeps him comfortable and should be something his new owners continue with him. If you

would like to learn more about Zach or you would like to make an appointment to meet him, please contact the shelter today. Zach is a part of our foster to adopt program. He currently has ear infections we are treating here at the shelter and he will need to come back for rechecks.

WARL COVID-19 Procedures As of Nov. 9, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we want to share with you some changes we have implemented so that we can continue to serve the community while keeping our team protected. h ADOPTIONS: At this time, adoptions are being held

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you are interested in adoption, please visit our website worcesterarl.org/ adopt/ to learn more about our available animals then call us at (508) 853-0030 ext.0 or email us at info@worcesterarl. org to schedule an appointment. h CASUAL VISITS TO THE SHELTER are prohibited. We will strictly enforce this in order to keep our animal care team protected while still maintaining the most essential function of our operation ... fi nding homes for animals in need. h ANIMAL SURRENDERS: Our business practice for surrendering a pet remains the same. All pet owners must contact WARL in advance of surrendering a pet. Please call (508) 853-0030. h SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS: All scheduled appointments will be honored. If you have a scheduled appointment, we will be contacting you to discuss changes to our drop off / pick up procedures. h DONATIONS ACCEPTED except for open bags of food. h Pet food, cat litter, and

Zach is a part of WARL's foster to adopt program. PHOTO COURTESY SARA MCCLURE

other shelter supplies will be essential in continuing to provide for our animals and to assist community members in need. To avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, items can be purchased online from our Amazon Wishlist - https:// www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3AX342JIL73M0 h Weekly training classes

are going on for adopters. h The WARL Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. We have many animals in our care who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The above measures help to protect our staff and com-

munity from the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-toface interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow our Facebook page for additional updates.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the shelter at (508) 853-0030 or info@ worcesterarl.org.

30 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J O N E S I N’

Enjoy Fun By The Numbers puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

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Across 1 Garden fixture 8 It’s not the R in “MMR”, but another name for measles 15 Before 16 Maroons 17 Misheard phrase such as “nerve-wrecking” 18 Thought that one could 19 Complete beginner?

20 Martial arts-based Lego set that launched a cartoon and subsequent movie 22 Req. for a restaurant to serve alcohol 23 Eric who said “I believe in the separation of church and planet” 25 Spread for some bougie brewpubs 26 Dal ___ (Rajasthani dish with wheat bread and ghee) 27 “Barbarella” actress 29 Heart diagnostic, for short 30 Lammermoor bride of opera 31 Virtuoso guitarist Malmsteen 33 Use your break time, in a way 35 In the meantime, in Latin 37 How “Waiting for Godot” was originally presented 40 Jays’ and Yanks’ div.

44 Gotta-haves 45 ‘50s Dem. presidential candidate 47 Chilean pianist Claudio 48 E. ___ (rod-shaped bacteria) 49 Award given to “Nomadland” for Best Film in April 2021 51 Line parts (abbr.)

52 Dijon’s here 53 Santa Monica area in early skateboard documentaries 55 Biden, to GIs 56 Beauty chain since 1970 58 Model who’s the daughter of Wayne Gretzky 60 About .035 ounces 61 Connecticut-born cartoonist known for big stripey cats 62 Say again 63 Like old parchment

“Free Game!”--it’s themeless time again.

by Matt Jones

Down 1 Spell out 2 Rooted for 3 Malaysian-born comedian who gained fame in 2020 for his online cooking reviewer persona Uncle Roger 4 Happy coworker?

5 About 90% of all refined metal 6 Places in the heart 7 Johnson who invented the Super Soaker 8 Harmful bloom makeup 9 Long sushi order?

10 Ballpoint pen, in the U.K. 11 “Taiwan” suffix 12 Arsenic partner, in film 13 Wright who played Shuri in “Black Panther” 14 Withdrawn, perhaps 21 Big no-no for stand-up comedians 24 King nicknamed “Longshanks” 26 Sucky situations 28 Professional staff 30 Ali who had a perfect record in the ring 32 One, in Bonn 34 La la leader?

36 March Madness event 37 Canine neighbor

38 Division of the Tertiary period 39 Former Mexican president CalderÛn and baseball manager Alou, for two 41 Puerto Rico observatory site where a notable telescope collapsed in 2020 42 City north of Flint 43 Chianti’s region 46 Visit 49 He was in a “Subsequent Moviefilm” 50 Caffeinated 53 “___ and the Lost City of Gold” (2019 film) 54 Lacking value 57 Companion of wt.

59 Rapper ___ Dicky

Last week's solution

©2021 Matt Jones (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #1040

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | 31

LAST CALL

Meet Kevin La, graphic designer Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Local graphic designer Kevin La is having a huge year. Shortly after unveiling his designs for the City of Worcester’s “Give Me a Sign” initiative, he was named art director of Pulse Magazine.

La is also one of the most kind and generous creatives in the city and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. You’ve likely spotted him buffi ng walls for POW! WOW! Worcester or slinging orders at MamaRoux Food Truck — and you’re sure to see plenty more of him this summer at Polar Park, where he’ll be operating live graphics on the big screen.

Tell me about the street signs you designed for Worcester last fall.

I have family that immigrated to Worcester around April of 2020. It was weird for them to arrive in a diff erent country during quarantine. I wanted to create a sign with mixed languages. A lot of people don’t know that in the United States, we don’t have an offi cial language. I felt like it made sense to have signs representing multiple languages.

My other design read, “Thanks for being yourself.” It was self-explanatory during a time when everyone was alone on some level. It’s a challenge to acknowledge a mental health issue that may have surfaced during COVID. I wanted to empower people and remind them that not only is it okay to be diff erent, but we are all diff erent and you’ve got to love yourself. If you don’t love yourself, you can’t love others.

That’s beautiful. What’s your role at Pulse Magazine?

I’m a graphic designer, but I didn’t formally graduate with a major in graphic design; it was only a minor. I was more into marketing. In my Asian culture, I wanted a more business focused degree to please my parents. Regardless, I picked up graphic design in college and I had done photography in high school at the same time I was starting to embrace and love streetwear. It was a big jump, but I’m treating it as an opportunity to learn more and connect with the area. I have a hard time believing it now, but growing up, I couldn’t wait to leave the city. But, the more I

A design by Kevin La. KEVIN LA

Kevin La JOE JACOBS

contribute to this community, the more I fall in love with Worcester.

Now, you are our number one ambassador.

Growing up in an Asian Catholic bub-

ble, I was less focused on the larger community in Worcester. Now I try my best to bridge both. Not to quote Hannah Montana, but “Mix it all together and you know that it’s the best of both

worlds.” Seriously though, watching organizations like the Southeast Asian Coalition grow has been like watching a seed fi ght its way out of the soil.

Following the hate crimes that escalated during COVID, I’ve been trying to make a conscious eff ort to patronize Asian owned businesses in Worcester. Do you have any favorites?

You know my hidden gem is Anh Thu on Staff ord Street. Back when I was an Assumption student in 2014, I would go in and buy 20 Bánh mìs to hand out to my friends on campus. I also recommend Pho Sure in Shrewsbury, Kyoto in Lincoln Plaza, and Chashu Ramen downtown. Back in the ‘90s, there was a really tight knit group of fi rst-generation restaurant workers who gained experience working at Sakura Tokyo. Once they learned the fundamentals, they were able to branch off and blossom on their own.

What will you be responsible for at Polar Park this season?

The video board. Director of WooSox Productions Joe Jacobs gave me the opportunity. I couldn’t pass it up, even though I’m focused on Pulse. Dr. Charles convinced me I could do both when he said, “You’re pretty lucky, you’re going to get paid to watch baseball games.”

Where can we fi nd your original designs?

I’m @laladesignstudio on Instagram.

32 | MAY 13 - 19, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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