Meals on Wheels!

On Saturday, July 14, Worcester was invaded... BY FOOD TRUCKS!  The food truck craze is sweeping the nation and Worcester refuses to be left in the dust.  While we don't have the population to warrant a regular fleet of food-trucky goodness, Worcester was an ideal venue for the Food Truck Festivals of New England Tour. Yes, this is a real tour.  It's numbers are rivaling this summer's Springsteen sales... obviously I am kidding.  But, the buzz around the Worcester Food Truck Festival was definitely sizable.

As a former DC resident and having a husband and close friends who work in Boston, I am no stranger to the glories of the food truck.  I've actually been quite jealous of the plethora of food trucks available to those close to me when they venture from their office buildings for a quick lunch.  I've grumbled at their enthusiasm over all of the options and the surprising quality of food truck fare.  I've been feeling pretty excluded from this particular trend.

So, imagine my enthusiasm when I read about the Food Truck Festivals of New England coming to Elm Park!! Not only will I be able to enjoy and blog about this event, but it is in walking distance  of my house.  I would be able to partake in the festivities AND be able to arrive authentically... on foot.  I chalked it all up to serendipity and made plans to mosey on over with a friend for the 11AM start that Saturday morning.

When we arrived, it was a little before the advertised start time and everything seemed a bit disorganized.  There were about 8-12 trucks set up and three booths to purchase food tickets.  Not really knowing how hungry we would be, we opted out of pre-ordering our tickets online and situated ourselves in line to purchase an appropriate amount.  It was about $1.15 for a 1 ticket which could be used at any of the trucks.  The average cost of a menu item was between 6 and 10 tickets.

We decided not to make any hasty food purchases.  We lapped the trucks twice before we had mapped out a menu plan.  First, we split half of a jumbo hot-dog from one of the trucks.  It was delicious, but it turns out (whether is was the speed at which we consumed the hot-dog or the hot-dog itself I'm not sure) we both were instantly nauseous.  A ridiculously unfortunate turn of events considering our plan was to spend the next 2.5 hours eating!  We quickly purchased a light beverage and found a seat to attempt to settle our stomachs.



Luckily our illness was brief.  After roughly 20 minutes, we decided we were recovered enough to continue our adventure.  Our next purchase was a pulled pork soft taco filled with coleslaw and some sweet BBQ sauce.  It was delicious, though the pork was decidedly not what we traditionally consider pulled pork, but it was slow cooked.  We were not disappointed and luckily our stomachs were more appreciative of this particular cuisine.



After finishing our taco, we wandered again.  We knew we need to digest a bit before continuing on, so we started to plan out our dessert choices.  I was sold on a jumbo cookie ice cream sandwich, whereas my companion was deciding between a variety of cookies or a frozen treat.  Having made up her mind, we wandered to find our last agreed upon entree selection... CLAM CHOWDER.



This was a wise decision.  We shared a small bowl of delicious and super satisfying clam chowder that was full of large chunks of clam.  The chowder itself was the perfect consistency, not too runny nor heavy.  We had to pat ourselves on the back for such a superior decision.  (I was contemplating a Lobster roll, however because they were the most expensive item of the day and my friend was not a fan of lobster, I decided against it.)

Finishing our "lunch" items, we made our way to three different trucks to purchase our desserts.  I believe the number of sweet trucks was equivalent to the savory trucks.  At this point in the afternoon we were particularly glad we had already plotted out our dessert course because the crowd had grown significantly and the lines for savory items and tickets were noticeably lengthy. We made our purchases and continued merrily on our way.  We snapped a few photos and then took our leave.  We ambled back towards my apartment noting just how popular and thus successful the event was.

Here are some more photos taken by Maria:

















It was a grand Saturday afternoon in the park amongst the food trucks.  I was sad to see them depart and wish Worcester was able to sustain their presence on a daily basis.  Maybe someday... sigh.... As far a Worcester events go, this was a great success and completely family friendly, yay!

Until next time,
<3K

My Night with Indiana Jones

On Thursday, June 19 (yup, it's taken me this long to post), Worcester Film Works kicked off it's second annual Movies on the Common Film Series.  This was news to me because I wasn't aware that there was an inaugural series last summer.  How I missed this baffles me, but I'll tell you what I did not miss:  A CARICATURE OF INDIANA JONES in the weekly Worcester Cultural Coalition email!

INDY!!! ( http://www.worcesterfilmworks.org/)

Time for a little personal information: I love Indiana Jones.  So much so that I regularly refer to him in everyday conversation as Indy.  I use a level of familiarity that his friends in the movies use, because I may self-identify as having some sort of relationship with this character.  I know it's a little crazy, but since I was old enough to watch the Indiana Jones movies, I have wanted to be Indiana Jones, or be with Indiana Jones if the opportunity presented itself.  This led to my love of history, archaeology, religious studies, Egyptology and eventually my degree in preservation. I often weave quotes from the series into conversations, such as "We are pilgrims in an unholy land" (often when surrounded by Yankee fans), "Snakes, why'd it have to be snakes," (for obvious reasons), and "No ticket" (you'd be surprised...my husband has a habit of leaving tickets behind...).  Anyway, my dreams of a future in archaeology were shattered when I figured out that Dr. Jones is probably the worst archaeologist on the planet and that I really hate digging (well not really digging, but the fleas and other insects/creatures that go along with the process). Either way, I still love Indy and the movies...

You know you love it!
(also Google images gave me this photo, please don't sue me Lucas Films!)

Back to the relevant story, after I had settled down from my shock and excitement, I read that the first film in the Movies on the Common Series was Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (or just Raiders for us Indy nerds).  I made plans to attend this screening with my husband and friend, Maria.  Then I went about preparing for the event.  Having been to several Movies on the Mall in DC, I knew some tricks of the trade.  I packed a cooler full of snacks and drinks, several blankets for seating, sun screen, a sweatshirt in case it got cool, and bug spray. We were all set.

The movie was advertised to start at dusk, with a pre-show concert beginning at 5P.  I wanted to arrive at or before 5P to be sure I had prime seating for Indy, but my companions had other ideas.  Maria had a work event that would keep her from arriving until 8P(!) and Jackson was complaining about sitting in the heat.  This troubled me for a few reasons, first, I am a prompt person and it pains me to be later than the start time, second at the DC movies, good seats fill up quickly and I didn't want to be "in the back", third, I needed to make sure I had a spot with enough room around me that conversations and movements from other audience members didn't upset my experience.  Since I couldn't force Maria to do anything, I grudgingly told her that I understood, however, I compromised on a 5:30P arrival with Jackson.  I rushed him out of our apartment at 5:30P on the dot and we walked down the Worcester Common with our supplies in tow.  In Jackson's defense it was about a billion degrees outside (read: 89 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit), but honestly, I didn't care, we were going to see Indy(!) so his incessant whining was annoying, but didn't really kill my buzz.

I bet it was hotter in there! (Also Google Images) "The floor's on fire...see.. AND the chair!" 

So turns out my race down the hill wasn't really necessary.  We were two of seven people who arrived by 5:40.  On the bright side, we were able to snag a table with an umbrella, which was excellent for shade and because Worcester Common is entirely cement and despite my several blankets, cement is not cozy. Jackson and I made ourselves at home at our little table, pulling out our frozen water bottles and sun screen and settled in for the concert.

"I suddenly remembered my Aristotle..."
We had an umbrella like Dr. Jones the first. (Google images yet again)

The first music act was James Keyes.  He was pretty cool solo act.  He played some Dylan, which I appreciated and was perfectly mellow to compliment the stifling hot evening.  It's too bad the crowd was so small, because he's definitely a talented musician.  During his set a few more groups showed up, so by the end he had a decent audience.  There was a bit of a wait between Keyes and the second musical act, The Luxury.  This was a younger group with a louder sound.  They opened with a great rendition of John Williams' "Indiana Jones Theme" which was appreciated.  It reinvigorated my excitement and had me buzzing with anticipation yet again.  I can't say I was a fan of their particular sound, but they definitely put on a good show. Kudos to them.

Are you reinvigorated? (Google images)

Maria arrived at 8PM, at the same time Jackson and I had decided it was time to wander the vendors and search for food.  The place was getting pretty crowded at this point.  There were plenty of food and beverage options supplied by the Theater Cafe, (who would actually deliver to your table on blanket on the common!) the Woo Card tent, and an ice cream truck.  We ordered some sandwiches from the Cafe, got a drink from the ice cream truck, and picked up our FREE! popcorn (because we swiped our woo cards).  We were totally prepared for the movie.  

Indy was a boy scout so he was always prepared!  Oh, River Pheonix...(Google Images)

The movie started at 9P, admittedly a little later than I expected. (Jackson abandoned us before the movie started because he gets up before the sun to commute to Boston, but Maria braved the "late" night with me.) But, it was just as awesome as always.  I personally was a little concerned that children and other viewers would be talking during the movie and I might have had to reprimand them, but it seemed that everyone was as invested in the film as I.  The audience "Ohhhed" and "Ahhhed" in all the right places and there was an appropriate amount of applause throughout.  

And they lived happily ever after... until he went to China and met that obnoxious blond...  (Google Images)

The night was a total success.  It wrapped up around 11P and everyone cheered enthusiastically when they announced the next film would be "Jaws."

"We're gonna need a bigger boat..."  

Followed by "The Princess Bride" - Inconceivable!!  (Sorry, no cartoon for that one yet.)

I really want to credit all of the parties involved in organizing this event.  Not only did they pick a fabulous movie, but they are bringing people back to the common, providing a free summer event for families, and showcasing local artists.  I'm completely impressed.

This is a total WIN for Worcester!!!

Until next time,

<3K

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I couldn't resist... " Dr. Jones?"  "Henry & Indy: Yes"
(Google Images)

The Triumvirate of Awesome

It is my esteemed pleasure to introduce you to my "place" in Worcester.  It seems like everyone in Worcester has their place, some have Peppercorns, some people have the Banner, others like Via, and some (like my dad) prefer Breen's.  Meanwhile, I was floating listlessly through the city trying to find a spot to call my own.  Well NICHExchange is it and has been for quite some time now, but I'm a slacker blogger so I haven't posted about it until now. I also needed some time to try to write a post that didn't make me sound too much like a fan-girl, but you'll be the judge of my success on that.


Prior to the start of my love affair with Niche, I had only heard whispers about it. I was intrigued when co-workers mentioned "that wine bar in Worcester," because obviously, my ears perk up at the mention of wine. So, FINALLY Jackson and I made it to The Citizen Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Bar. Now I take EVERYONE there and suggest EVERYONE eat and drink there, because it is the coolest place in Worcester.


I hope you noticed that title of this post is "Triumvirate of Awesome," (truthfully, I've been trying to use the word triumvirate in a post for a while, so I'm psyched, "sisyphean task" is next on the list if you are curious) and while you might think I am exaggerating, I promise you, I am not!  Niche is 3 layers of excellence, 3 layers deep.  Let me explain:


1.  The Citizen is a (1) Wine, (2) Cheese, and (3) Chocolate Bar!!!  - Already incredible on it's own.


2.  NICHEXchange is actually 3 different venues rolled into one location (1) The Citizen, (2) The People's Kitchen (TPK) - Restaurant, and (3) The Still & Stir - speakeasy style bar - how cool is that?


3. NICHEXchange is part of Niche Hospitality Group that includes (1) NICHEXchange, (2) Mezcal (Mexican Cantina, read: out-of-this-world Margaritas), and (3) Bocado (flamenco dancing and tapas, need I say more?).  FANTASTIC!


THE ULTIMATE TRIUMVIRATE! Teehee, still with me?


The combination of the Citizen, TPK, and the Still & Stir is heaven, my particular heaven to be exact  - I'd be thrilled to spend eternity there. It is as if it is tailored perfectly to fit my preferences. To begin with, it's an excellent example of adaptive reuse, which you've all come to realize is of the utmost importance to me. There are plenty of fantastic historic buildings around, no need to rip them down to build something new, utilitarian, and ugly. Just saying... The beautiful brick building and steel beams create a comfortable atmosphere that fits with the cultural fabric of Worcester in it's glory days.


Next, they've got plenty of options based on your dining/drinking pleasure for the evening, whether it be a private dining room, an open bar area with both bar and table seating, a private 'back room" bar, and an open patio (that is available year round do to space heaters and a nifty iron canopy). No matter your mood, they've got a space for you. They also host private functions, so if anyone is planning a party, you're covered as well, be sure to invite me though.


The menu is by far the best in the city. The People's Kitchen cuisine changes monthly depending on what fresh options are available, but they always have a fish, beef and vegetarian entree. You can often detect a theme in the entrees based on season, but it is varied enough that everyone can always find something they like - even the pickiest eaters go home happy. Honestly, they provide a much needed reprieve from the sea of Italian restaurants and steak houses that flood the Worcester dining culture. I love options and Niche is full of them. Every bite is full of flavor and prepared in a way that makes me want to lick my plate clean.  Not very lady-like, I know, but the food is that good. The TPK menu is available when sitting in the Citizen as well, but they also have their own "bar menu." Don't be fooled, the bar menu is filled with gourmet options, but they double as comfort food, like macaroni and cheese, burgers, and American Chop Suey.


For the adult crowd, niche cocktails are works of art. Traditional drinks are served to perfection and they are constantly developing new house concoctions for patrons to try. The Citizen has a huge wine list and even serves wine on tap! My fav is the Gotham Project Pinot Noir, but they are all worth a taste. The bartenders are masters of their trade and really personable. I'm not even embarrassed to say that I'm somewhat of a regular and I may have decided on my new apartment because it is walking distance from this place.


If you are looking for a late night spot, wander back through the courtyard to the Still & Stir. The bar was once the home of the Worcester jail! Iron bars and a low ceiling create a unique cave-like atmosphere. I've been to several tastings and drink competitions back there, where live music and a rowdy crowd made for memorable nights. The bartenders identify as part artist, part scientist and full time ambassadors to the customers. The experience is top notch and no cocktail is off limits. Don't know what you want? No problem, they are quick with suggestions and new ideas to meet the approval of your taste buds. Even if you aren't a big drinker, it is worth checking out.  The space has a great vibe and speakeasy-like feel that you won't find elsewhere in Worcester.


Niche tops that charts for location, cuisine, service and beverages, but what I LOVE about this place are the events. Niche knows how to throw a party!  Whether it be a Kentucky Derby party (where Millionaire row attire is strongly suggested), an experiential meal with wine and liquor pairings, or a Friday night concert on the patio, they spare no expense. They've created the formula for an impressive event and they keep their patrons coming back for more.


Not that you need any more encouragement, but here's the latest monthly menu straight from the website:

CHEF'S MONTHLY FEATURES

START

Garden and Caesar Salad Always Available on Request

Radish & Romaine Salad
Fresh Strawberries, Trio of Radishes, Balsamic Black Pepper Vinaigrette
Frisk “Prickly” Riesling

Creamy Potato Leek Soup
with Chorizo Sausage
The Game Reserve Chenin Blanc

Shrimp Toast Bruschetta 
Baby Greens, Balsamic Reduction, Olive Oil
Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc

Grilled Beef Tenderloin Kabobs 
Summer Vegetables, Chipotle Honey Drizzle, House Steak Sauce
Indaba Shiraz

Kobe Beef & Pork Meatballs
BBQ Molasses Broth, Spicy Romaine Slaw, Chopped Pistachios
Spellbound Petite Sirah

MAIN

Signature Steaks Available with Prix Fixe
Sirloin: Uppercut Cabernet Sauvignon  / Filet: Velvet Devil Merlot

Grilled Mahi Mahi 
Pistachio Peppadew Relish, Charred Asparagus, Grilled Vidalia Onion Mashed Potato
La Cappuccina Soave

Roasted Pepita Crusted Tilapia 
Mango Salsa, Dressed Baby Greens, Creamy Pineapple Basil Risotto
Mercer Pinot Gris

Smoked Barbeque Short Rib
Grilled Sweet Corn with Truffle Butter, Warm Pancetta Potato Salad
90+ Cellars Shiraz

Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallions 
Warm Jalapeño Corn Bread, Marinated Vegetables, Pomegranate Molasses
Hullabaloo Zinfandel

Seared Sesame Tofu 
Chilled Bean Salad, Scallion Couscous, Ginger Hoisin Glaze
Paul Dolan Chardonnay

FINISH

Lemongrass Infused Tropical Fruit Salad
Standing Stone Chardonnay Ice

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta 
Orange Ginger Coulis, Fresh Berries
M Trignon Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Trio of Sorbet
Chef’s Selection
Alasia Moscato d’Asti

Belgian Chocolate Tasting
Sampling of Our Callebaut Squares
Leacock Rainwater Madeira

Be still my foodie heart....


I did a little searching through my facebook page to find some photos for this post.  Honestly, my photography skills are even worse than my writing, so judge me and not the venue... better yet go see for yourself!

The actual STILL at the Still & Stir, note the piano and jail cell bars.

Syd on the patio enjoying some wine and music.

It goes without saying that Niche gets 200 gold stars, two enthusiastic thumbs up, and whatever other award I can give them. It's definitely my favorite place in Worcester.


See you there!


Until next time,
<3K

In an attic in Worcester

I wrote this a while ago and just realized I never posted it.  Silly me... Better late than never...  [Extreme tangent, but it kind of works with this post.  During my freshman year of high school, every Friday, my history teacher would tell a joke to end the week.  They were always TOTALLY CHEESY so I loved them.  She had one particularly famous joke that all of the upperclassmen talked about - Nate the Snake.  It took almost the entire class period to tell the joke and the best part was that her laugh was the funniest part of the production.  She was a tiny woman with this fully-bellied, high pitch, laugh that you couldn't help but laugh along with.  Anyway, using the phrase better late than never makes me, and probably every other NDA alum who had Mrs. Heeder, chuckle. If you want to hear the joke, you'll have to email me.  It will take me a while to type it out.]

Last night, my husband and I went to Biagio's on Park Ave for their Thursday night comedy show.  I had heard about this bi-monthly event from friends, but it has always slipped my mind.  Turns out, a friend of mine, Christina Thomas, happened to be preforming, so with this added incentive, Jack and I drove down the street to check things out for ourselves.

Biagio's is your run-of-the-mill, Worcester, Italian restaurant.  Not great, by any standards, but decent enough that the Italian population isn't offended and the rest of Worcester finds it comforting (like they do the other 100 Italian family restaurants in the city).  The comedy show isn't held in the main dining area (thank god) or at the bar.  The restaurant has an attic space they revamped with a small bar, smaller stage, and passable lighting and sound systems to create a comedy hut.  It's a bit awkward to find and feels a little shady walking up there, but these grassroots comedians make it work and the small audience (and I do mean small) has plenty of space to spread out and relax. 

We loved the host, Sarah.  She took the meager attendance and mostly very green comics in stride and had us cracking up in no time.  She's this adorable platinum blonde, who kind of reminds me of Rose McGowan ala Scream, who relies on her witty and sarcastic sense of humor to ease awkward silences and awkward comedians (read on, you'll understand).

Now to protect the innocent and myself (again, keep reading) I am going to give you a random assortment of the comedians that opened the show with nicknames.

1. Awkward kid.  He was young, new to the business and is exactly like his nickname suggests.  He had a few great jokes, but needed to work on his overall act.  I give him an A for effort and think over time he'll be fantastic.  I'm pretty sure he was barely out of high school, so he has plenty of time to perfect his act.

2. Mr. Flamboyant. He was outrageous and supposedly straight, contrary to his eye make-up, colorful scarf and skinny jeans - I should add, he was way too old to be a hipster to clear up any suspicions.  His jokes were like watching the last scene of Little Miss Sunshine - if the family hadn't joined the little girl on stage.  It was a train wreck. I'm pretty sure no one knew what was going on.  We were an easy to laugh crowd so I feel like his self esteem was still in tact, but it was rough.

2. Prison Tat.  I'm not kidding.  Still a little afraid of this guy.  His act was actually excellent, but I felt that if I didn't laugh he would hunt me down and kill me.  I might be over exaggerating, but when he brought up his jail time and illegal activities (and didn't want his picture taken) I tried not to make eye contact for the rest of the evening.  To be fair, he said his life was on the straight and narrow now, but he still intimidated the heck out of me.

Personally, our main event was Christina Thomas - though she wasn't the headliner.  She killed it.  I'll admit some of her humor, okay, most of her humor was not at all family friendly and had me blushing like a school girl, but I was in tears laughing for the majority. Her girlfriend, who I've known for years, was often featured in her jokes, so I had the added bonus of a personal connection.[Note: Christina went on that weekend to be a finalist in a huge comedy competition at Mohegan Sun (a large casino in Connecticut), so other people think she's an amazing comedian,too - it's not personal bias.]

The headliner was Orlando Baxter.  He was up from New York helping out as a favor to the host.  He wasn't bad, but you could tell he didn't take the gig seriously... but honestly, we were in an attic in Worcester and there were about 5 people in the audience, so you can't blame him.  I bet one of his larger shows would be stellar.

Either way, I had a great evening with a phenomenal cast of characters - in an attic in Worcester.  I hear that Biagios does comedy about three nights a week, so it's definitely worth checking out, plus they could use a larger audience.  One last warning before I go, when you are leaving, if you have been drink (and honestly even if you haven't) remember you've been in an ATTIC for a few hours and you've got a steep set of stairs ahead of you... I may have tripped a little on the way out.  It might have been one of the funnier moments of the night, because as long as no one is seriously injured, it is always HILARIOUS when someone falls.

<3 K

The other Abbey that everyone is talking about.

This weekend I realized there are two very important abbeys in my life.  The first, of course, is Downton.  My love for this show is endless and if you haven't watched Downton Abbey yet, stop reading this blog and rent/netflix/buy it immediately.  I'm not joking, why aren't you moving?  You'll thank me.  The whole premise is total mind candy for romantic, history-geeks everywhere and entertaining enough that my husband loves it too.  More importantly, Maggie Smith is a genius (I'm actually thinking about starting another blog of Dowager Countess Quotes.... I'm still not joking... don't judge me).  I'll move on, but seriously, watch it.

The second abbey is ARMSBY ABBEY!  This small (and I mean small) restaurant, has a chic bar feel.   Located on Main Street in downtown Worcester in one of the old street front properties (bonus points for preservation... can I get a w00t?), they specialize in craft beers and artisanal foods.  They've created a Brick Skellar-vibe,with a non-descript almost speak-easy-esque feel more often found in New York or San Francisco, but they've found their niche and quite a following here in Worcester.  

Photo Credit Armsby Abbey

Armsby is always packed.  I'm not exaggerating.  No reservations for parties under 6, so plan to have a beer or two while you wait for a table during peak hours.  You'll be rubbing elbows with your neighbor, but after that first Chimay no one seems to mind. The rustic looking high-top tables and bar stools create a casual atmosphere and provide the majority of their seating.  However, two window box tables are always the most coveted seats in the house and somehow manage to tone down the bar-vibe enough to make the restaurant socially accessible for several generations (read: as long as you have had a 21st birthday).  In the warmer months, you can enjoy your beer and/or meal at a small cafe table on the front side walk.  A truly inspired touch that compliments the entire presentation and minimizes the wait. 

Photo Credit Armsby Abbey

Unlike your corporate chain (COUGHApplebeesFridaysLonghornCOUGH), the waitstaff seem to have PhDs in craft beer.  With over 20 beers on tap that change constantly and a bottle list that takes a good half hour to read through, I have yet to encounter a server who couldn't supply me with a useful description any of the beers offered.  I may be guilty of trying to stump them a time or two.  Spot on with suggestions and impressively attentive despite the crowd, the Armsby staff shows a level of professionalism that severely lacks in most establishments on the East coast.  (It's unfair of me not to note that I think this trend is changing and the service industry is really improving in New England, but I'm always pleasantly surprised by a really knowledgeable server.)  Warning: This is not a place for the bud light drinkers of the world.  Budweiser has it's time and place -kegs and flip cup tables, but Armsby provides a chance for you to expand your palate and take some risks.

While their dining menu is short, Armsby spares no expense on quality.  Local farming and co-ops are the suppliers of the artisanal cheeses and fresh ingredients that go into every delectable meal.  Dishes are flavorful and exotic, and while never offering a traditional entree, somehow they've tapped into the comfort food market.  Portions are reasonable for the most part, though the slates - which actually come on SLATE - should probably be shared. 

Obviously, I'm a big fan of Armsby, so why write about them now, you wonder.  Until Sunday, I had never tried their lauded BRUNCH.  I have no excuse for this, I'd try to blame Jackson, but he's actually suggested it a time or two.  Anyway, I am now kicking myself for dragging my feet to get to Sunday brunch at Armsby, because it was phenomenal.  Still non-traditional and locally grown, the entrees were enticing and exciting.  As you can tell from previous posts, I'm a big fan of traditional diner breakfasts, but for brunch I want to have options.  I was not disappointed.  I enjoyed a mimosa while waiting for a table (if I thought evenings were busy, brunch was a zoo), and loved the Moroccan Hash I ordered for brunch.  

So, like Downton, if you haven't tried Armsby Abbey, what are you waiting for?! It's a favorite of mine and a real win for the Worcester restaurant scene.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up, I'll be back.

Until next time,

<3K

Worcester Gone Wild or The St. Patrick's Day Parade

As most of my readers are from New England, you completely understand why a St. Patrick's day parade is synonymous with debauchery, however, for the few others who are not privy to this tradition please let me explain.  The Worcester/Southie/Newport/(insert all other major parades in RI and MA) parades are a rare moment where friends and families line the streets dressed in crazy accessories and Kelley Green and open container laws cease to exist.  I kid you not, the entire parade route becomes a family-friendly bar. (I tried to explain this tradition to a few DC friends when I first moved south, but honestly, you have to see it to believe it. For a while, they thought I was either crazy or a serious alcoholic.) Drinking starts early (in Newport I think people start drinking when the sun comes up), but all of this centers around a parade with floats, marching bands, politicians, the whole-nine yards.  The street is littered with thrown candy, grocery-cart-pushing street vendors and red solo cups.  From an outsider point of view, this seems strange and bordering on inappropriate, however, to anyone who grew up near these parades, it's just what you do.  And you HAVE A BLAST! 

So I did. I went to the Worcester parade for the first time in over 10 years.  Jackson and I walked from our apartment and started at the end of the parade route and worked our way down to the beginning.  I was afraid that after so many years away, I might be a little disappointed, but alas the excitement of the day was infectious as soon as we reached the crowd.  I felt like a kid again, dodging candy, waving to the people on the floats and laughing at the ridiculous drunk college students. Note: I would love to link to the Worcester St. Patrick's Day parade website, but it's exceeded its bandwidth or something and the site is down at the moment.

We met up with family and stopped to watch just in time to see the Shriners zipping around in the little cars!  Honestly, these guys have always been my favorite.

 Shriner photo credit Jim Motavalli Mother Nature Network blog.

I found myself watching for some of the groups I remembered fondly from my younger parade going.  The carpenter's union had a great float with moving parts, the catholic schools of Worcester were blasting the unicorn song and I had to really stop myself from doing the hand movements.  Here's a you tube link if you have no idea what I am talking about. There was the man who rides on a toilet... can't remember what he's advertising, but the point is that I was surprised how reminiscent the day was for me. 

We ducked out a little early to beat the crowds, but the true experience (read: with beer - we weren't drinking) usually lasts into the afternoon.  Families cook out or have a nice lunch spread and Park Avenue becomes a block party.  The barrooms stay packed with the young twenty-somethings and local bands play into the evening.

Oh! I found out a little to late that there is a very popular Guinness Celtic 5k before the parade.  I was a little jealous because the t-shirts were uber cool.  Jack and I have made plans to run next year.  I heard that the racers had a great run and the turnout was particularly impressive.

It's a good day of not-exactly-wholesome family fun and it's totally free!! Slainte Worcester and Happy St. Patty's Day to everyone who will be celebrating on Saturday!

Until next time,

<3K

A Station Transformation

If you live in Worcester county and are looking for things to do, I suggest you subscribe to the weekly emails from the Worcester Cultural Coalition.  They keep me privy to things going on in Worcester and let me know about discounts available using my Woo Card. Which leads me to another suggestion, get a Woo Card.

This is a woo card. 

This baby gets you tons of fantastic discounts at places around Worcester: restaurants, shows, gyms, shops, etc.  It's pretty fantastic and highly recommended by me.

Last week the Worcester Cultural Coalition email told me I should stop by stART at the Station, a large craft fair held at Union Station, Worcester's recently renovated train station.  stART at the Station is the winter edition of the fall and spring events, stART the street.  Having never been to any of these events, I wrangled up some friends and we attempted to do some holiday shopping.

Union Station was packed.  The fair started at 11AM and was scheduled until 5PM.  We arrived around noon and you could barely move through the aisles.  Awesome for the vendors, no bueno for customers, but we survived.  There was an extreme variety of goods available, which I appreciate, because I am really sick of going to shows that are comprised of dozens of jewelry vendors and a lady who knits things for infants. Not that I have anything against jewelry, ladies or infants, but I like a lot of options. 

There was no admission fee (w00t) and just for stopping by I got to swipe my Woo Card for double points (double w00t)!  There were refreshments available -bake sale style, with tasty treats that started a day-long sugar high for our small group.  Once you got used to sharing your personal space with other shoppers, it was a pretty awesome event.  Note: I really don't like sharing my personal space in large crowds with strollers and toddlers that roam free, not because I don't like children, but because I get overly nervous about tripping or being accidentally shoved and injuring a small child.  As it stands, I'm not very coordinated or graceful and I can't imagine how horrible I would feel if I toppled onto an unsuspecting stroller. I also can't imagine most parents keeping a cool head about such an accident if their child was hurt. It would get confrontational and awkward, two things I avoid at all costs. So I was a little anxious throughout the afternoon.  On the bright side, I've finally posted about a free, family-friendly event!

I can't list all of the vendors, but some that stood out - by description, not name - were the puppets, the orbs with plants, the tie t-shirts, some fantastic photographers and potters, unique serving trays, vintage ornaments, and of course lots of jewelry.  I stopped at one table that had the coolest set up ever.  This guy had antique luggage, lined with wallpaper (or scrapbook paper) with funky nobs and handles attached for his necklaces to display from.  There are several of these set up and they were completely awesome so I asked, "Excuse me, do you sell the jewelry cases as well?" He looked at me oddly and with a hint of attitude answered "uh, no."  I frowned and said, "Okay, thanks anyway."  He replied, still with the tone of annoyance or arrogance, I can't be sure, "If I had said yes, can I ask what you'd use them for?"  I was a little taken aback, because I thought their use was kind of obvious.  I glanced at the suitcases and my friend who was standing beside him and answered in a cheerful tone, "The same thing you are? I'd hang my necklaces so I don't have to look through drawers or boxes to find what jewelry to where." If he replied to that I don't remember, but it was an odd exchange that left me wondering if I had done something to offend him by asking about his set up.  I mean, I had audibly announced that I liked his jewelry prior to our conversation.  Either way, I'm now trying to figure out if I should make my own wicked awesome jewelry display case.  I'll post pictures if I attempt it.

 At the end of the day we all had a great time and most of us managed to cross a few names off of our gift lists.  I'll definitely be checking out the spring and fall events and I'll let you know how those measure up. For now, good job Worcester with your cool crafts, excellent advertisement and snazzy little cards that give me points!

Until next time,

<3K

Ready! Set! Trot!

You'd think I would have learned something from my Warrior Dash experience, but no, it turns out I am a glutton for punishment. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, my mother called and asked Jackson and me to run the Turkey Trot, or Holden Road Race, with her on Thanksgiving morning.  "It's just a 5k and it will be fun, then we can eat as much pie and turkey as we want!"

My mother presented an excellent point. You see, as a young couple, with both of our families in the area, we often attend two Thanksgiving dinners.  Each year, we try to pace ourselves, just eating small portions, skipping some sides with the expectation we will eat the butternut squash at the next meal, but it is normally easier said than done.  I love Thanksgiving. I love each and every side dish you can imagine: cranberry sauce, bread stuffing (or dressing if you are from the south), meat stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots, rolls [although they were suspiciously missing from my family's meal this year], ... the list goes on.  It is extremely difficult to see your favorite foods, warm and delicious, sitting in front of you and not want to have at least a bite, if not a heaping helping. So, with my horrible track record of not scaling back, I agreed to race.

To prepare for race day, I had every intention of doing a few practice miles around my neighborhood park.  Unfortunately, the weather was not in agreement with my plans.  So, I was trotting cold turkey.  I hadn't even attempted to run in at least 3 months.  Sometimes I think that I'm asking to be injured...

Because this was a last minute decision, Jack, Mom and I arrived extremely early to register.  We wanted to make sure we didn't have to wait in a long line and we wanted to snag t-shirts before they ran out.  Registration is $25 a person and it goes to the Wachussett Food Bank, so kudos for this being a for a good cause.  We filled out our waivers, paid our fees and were told that they were already out of t-shirts. Bummer, but I moved on quickly to a more important topic, IT WAS FREEZING.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this in any prior posts, but I honestly hate the cold.  I must have poor circulation or something because I am always chilled and my fingers turn blue on a fairly regular basis.  My teeth spend most of the winter chattering and it's not unusual for me to resemble the little brother from a Christmas Story due to the amount of layers I sport through the winter months.  I kid you not.

After registering, to escape from the cold, we retreated back to my car and blasted the heat. We watched the parking lot fill up (the race starts at a Big Y -a local grocery chain) and listened to Acoustic Sunrise, the Thanksgiving addition.  I hate to go off on an extreme tangent, but it must be said.  If you don't spend your Sunday mornings listening to Acoustic Sunrise, you are missing out.  Several radio stations option it and it is amazing.  I wouldn't lie to you. 

Alright, race time.  This time, we stood at the back, not like that Warrior Dash fiasco.  My mother and I decided we would stay together and let Jackson and his long legs go as far ahead of us as he wanted.  It was really really cold while we waited for the actual start of the race and by the time we got the go ahead, I was a little numb.  This may have been a good thing.  I couldn't feel any discomfort from running during the first mile, because I couldn't feel my feet. Mom and I found a decent pace and were feeling pretty confident through mile one.  We had decided before the start that our goal was to finish the race without stopping or walking, not to win it.

The race itself was an exciting experience.  It was fun to see all of the families, friends and pets running through the roads of Holden.  I had a golden retriever who was particularly fond of running next to me and sniffing me for about a quarter mile.  Many Holden residents stood on their lawns waving and cheering us on or had signs of encouragement for family and friends.  It was sweet and charming. 

Back to the running.  At the 1.5 mile mark, I was contemplating walking.  My shins hurt and I could feel me feet again.  I was getting tired and there was a hill up ahead.  As we reached the base of the hill my mother said to me "This is where I say to myself, if I count to 50 the hill will be over." I decided to take her advice and followed her little pep talk and began counting.  Unfortunately, I was way over 50 when we reached the top.  The hill was deceptively large - not steep but kind of rolling.  My mother sheepishly said "Oops" a few seconds later, but the good news was that after the hill I didn't feel like walking any more.  We powered through the next mile like champs.

I had no idea what the race path was going to look like, but I did know that you ended back where you started.  I also know that we started running down hill, so I correctly assumed that we'd have to run up that hill to finish.  I paced myself accordingly.  What I didn't account for was that we actually finished further up the hill than our origin point, so as I was about to turn into the parking lot to reach my assumed finish line, a "helpful" gentleman waved me on saying "Keep climbing, you are almost there." I gave him the stink eye, but continued on my way.

Mom and I finished the race strong and Jackson was waiting for us a few paces before the end clapping and cheering.  It was the perfect way to finish the race and to start Thanksgiving.  I then went on to eat my weight in pie...  just kidding! Kind of....

We'll probably be running again next year.  I'll be sure to register early to get a t-shirt!  Hope to see you there!

Until next time,
<3K

Back off Oscar Meyer, we don't want your BallParks around here...

Today I bring to you a post about a Worcester institution.  A place that might actually be the most recognizable spot in in the city.  Anyone who grew-up here has a memory or story about this particular restaurant.  It's a big deal.

courtesy of worcestermag.com via google image search - not mine!

Yup.  Coney Island Hot Dogs. This place is like a time warp and my god is it awesome. There's something so simplistically brilliant about a hot dog restaurant.  Sure they have other things on the menu, but quite frankly you aren't really supposed to order them.  (Okay, okay, someone ordered a hamburger the last time I was there, but I know everyone around was rightfully judging them.) They have an ingenious business model and an established brand that keeps a steady line at lunch and makes them a household name. 

My childhood memories of Coney Island all include my father.  It was a go-to lunch spot after a midday doctor's appointment.  It seems to be a haven for dads and young children still to this day.  I am guessing it must be some sort of unwritten Worcester code that fathers must bring their child to Coney Island for a hot dog covered in ketchup after they have gone through the traumatic experience of getting a vaccination or blood drawn. To combat tears, instead of the hug or kiss because of an "oww-ie" or "boo-boo," Worcester dads heal wounds with chocolate milk and the messiest lunch available.  And god bless them for it, seriously.  

It occurs to me that my favorite Coney Island memories aren't even my own.  My uncle, father and older cousins tell stories about my grandfather putting them to work throughout the summer, doing some excessive landscaping, house-building or other rigorous job and if you've made acceptable progress by noontime he'd bring you a Coney Island hotdog for lunch.  If you were particularly successful he might throw in a bag of chips, too.

Walking into Coney Island for the first time in 12 years, I realized it hasn't changed a bit since my grandfather was stopping in decades ago. Stepping through the doors has you wondering if you've just joined the cast of Pleasantville. Old oak booths line the walls and center aisle, and a the counter servers still cater to the inevitable long line of the lunch rush. Over the decades, patrons have etched notes, names, dates, quotes and other colorful verses into the wooden seating, and while it may detract from the appeal at first glance, there is something comforting and unique about the environment it fosters.  To my knowledge, they've never tried to sand and re-stain the booths, the graffiti is part of the decor.

Two new items stood out to me.  First, the jukebox had been updated with cds of "newer" artists, as in the last decade.  No one was using it, but I did note it's presence.  Second, because Coney Island is still CASH ONLY, they have an ATM in an adjoining space that holds a bar room.  I, personally, had never noticed the bar room and can't really comment on it.  But, it's existence didn't really surprise me. 

So, moving on with my tale... I grabbed some cash, because I was stupidly unprepared to pay with cash and got in line. Coney Island is like a well-oiled machine when it comes to their hot dogs.  There is a system and they are prepared for the seasoned veteran and the new-comer alike.  They are "at-the-ready" waiting for your order and they are so quick that it is as if magically your hot dogs appear.  They even have their own lingo for your toppings, such as "up" or "with sauce."  I'm not going to tell you what each is, the fun of ordering is in the adrenaline rush that comes with trying to figure out what the hell everyone is talking about. They have some pretty awesome sides too, like gigantic pickles and baked beans.  They offer polar beverages and possibly Wachusett potato chips, but they might be just a generic brand. 

Anyway, the best part is that the food is so cheap! I think it is $1.50 per hot dog and I'm pretty sure that includes any toppings you want.  I paid for lunch for two people and spent less than $10, with 2 sides and 2 drinks.  Amazing, right? I know.

So, it is almost lunch time, head to Coney Island and let me know what you think.  I give it two very enthusiastic thumbs up and gold star for added effect!

<3 K

More Americana than a Norman Rockwell illustration

About a week and a half ago, I convinced my dear friend Lara to accompany me on what I will call the cliche New England Sunday. On the agenda: Horseback riding, apple picking, pie baking, football watching, and pumpkin ale drinking. It was going to be a blast...

Here's the catch, both Lara and I love the idea of being outdoorsy, country folk, but in actuality we are about as urban as you get.  We agree to these nostalgic outings of mountain climbing, bike-riding, kayaking, nature photography, etc and then realize that we aren't totally comfortable with natural environment. We appreciate the beauty of the landscape, foliage, and animal life, but we wish it was always accompanied with bottles of antibacterial, air freshener, and bug spray. You laugh, but I'm serious.

Anyway, we began our Sunday at 7:30AM with a quick trip to Dunkin Donuts for coffee and drove to Princeton, MA.  We ohhed and aahhed over the changing leaves and quaint towns we passed by as we neared our destination, Cornerstone Ranch.  I found Cornerstone Ranch through a Groupon for a 2 hour trail ride. They claimed to cater to novice riders.  Besides the fact I adore her, I invited Lara along because like me, she'd never ridden a horse.  I mean, we'd both been on pony rides as children, but had never been in control (or were under the guise we were in control) of these large animals.  So as we pulled into the ranch and signed our liability forms, we were a little nervous about what was to come next. 

The people who work at/own the ranch were bring the horses out of the barn and readying them for the ride, while the rest of us stood around chatting.  Most were chatting about there previous riding experiences and how beautiful the horses were.  Our conversation was a little different.

Lara: This helmet really smells. I think I'm going to gag.
Me: *trying to wipe dirt from my boots* I didn't expect to get so dirty already.  I should haven't worn designer boots, huh?
Lara: *pointing to some ponies* Do you think they'll let me ride one of those? I'm small and they look about my size.
Me: Do you think it will be really buggy out there? I hate mosquitoes.
Lara: We are so urban....

Let's fast forward a bit.  We've been instructed to each bring a horse into a fenced off riding area and line them up.  (I was informed that my helmet was on backwards and I should probably fix it.)  We spent several minutes being paired off with horses and the guide helped us climb into the saddles and prepare to ride.  She was uber helpful and gave several excellent instructions on how to make the horse go, "Git up," slow down, "Easy," and stop, "Whoa."  Seemed easy enough.  She mentioned that some of the horses were stubborn and we shouldn't be afraid to give them a good kick with our heels to get them moving or even use our reigns to lightly smack them and if completely necessary, take a thin stick and us it as a crop (mostly for the new pony on the ride).  This made me pause, but I decided I would just go with it and let things fall where they may. 

This is where things get interesting. As we are getting ready to leave, the guide turns to me and says, "Your horse is called Louie.  You look pretty comfortable up there, so I normally wait to tell people this until after the ride, but you'll be okay.  Louie was a wild Mustang.  You can see he has a brand (some type of dye not fire and poker kind of brand) there from the wrangler who captured him.  He has more of a survival instinct than the others, so you might have to be a little forceful with him. Alright? Great." She smiled and we started on our way. Except, I hadn't said alright, I hadn't nodded my head, I had sat there on top of Louie looking panicked and trapped and completely helpless. But, as I was too stunned to speak up, Louie decided we should follow the crowd and head to the trial.

I decided right then and there that my horse, with his superior survival instincts, knew better than I did about what we should be doing. If Louie wanted to take a break, we'd take a break, if he wanted a drink, he'd have a drink of water and if he wanted to take off in the other direction, I wasn't going to stop him.  As long as he didn't mind me coming for the ride, we were going to be fine. I told Louie this as well, in a soothing voice.  I kept up both of our ends of the conversation and decided that we'd be good friends. If he kept calm, cool and collected, I would keep the pesky flies and mosquitoes off the parts of his back and ears he couldn't reach.  I think the woman on the horse behind me thought I was insane.

The trial ride was pretty relaxing and Louie seemed to know what he was doing.  A few times I had to ask him nicely to move and stay out of the branches so I wasn't decapitated, but no need for any excessive force.  Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Lara.  She was on a younger horse, Hope.  Hope was new to the trail rides and, we came to find out, had recently had her first set of horse shoes attached (ouch!).  I guess Hope was hesitant when getting to a certain part of the path because before her shoes, the gravel was difficult on her hooves.  The part of the trail prior to the gravel happened to be in the middle of the road.  So, poor Lara was stuck on an unmoving horse, blocking traffic in the middle of a street.  From a few horses back, I heard her say, "Please move Hope, please. We've got to get going."  From in front of Lara, the guide was telling her to give Hope a few good kicks. Lara hesitated and I knew why.  Who would kick a horse? Honestly, isn't the cruel?  PETA and the humane society would be throwing paint at us or something.  So Lara tried her best to keep pleading with the horse to no avail.  Finally, much to her dismay, she gave Hope a slight kick. Nothing.  The guide was climbing off her horse and trying to get Lara to kick Hope again and harder until she started moving.  Lara really didn't want to kick Hope, but she also didn't want to be road kill, so she shut her eyes and gave hope a few swift kicks and Hope started moving.  I felt terrible for my friend and saw Lara apologize profusely to the horse afterward. 

We had a few more hiccups with stubborn horses, but for the most part the ride was relaxing and enjoyable.  My wild Mustang kept me out of danger and skillfully managed to take us up and down some pretty steep hills.  Louie is alright in my book and seemed to have entirely agreed to the terms and conditions I laid out at the start of our ride. He didn't even seem to mind that I kept shifting my weight to attempt to lessen the discomfort that the bones in my butt would feel in the hours and days to come... unfortunately, that was wasted effort.

After we said farewell to Hope and Louie -Hope nuzzled Lara and left her with some sticky substances on her jacket (gross!)- we found our way to the kind of nearby Meadowbrook orchards (I had never been there) where we could disinfect our clothing and persons and pick our own apples.  We took our time wandering through the orchard and picking as many Macintosh and Gala apples as our bags could hold, while enjoying the scenery. The layout is lovely, with a pond and Adirondack chairs that look out over the orchards. We stopped in the general store-like restaurant to have some chicken stew and apple cider for lunch and because it was getting later than we expected and we were tired, we bought some frozen pre-made apple pies (something I will never do again). As much as I enjoyed the experience, I doubt I would go back to this orchard, I prefer Brookfield Orchards and their apple dumplings to the pie and unlabeled rows of trees at Meadowbrook.

We ended our day visiting my parents, tasting the seasonal offerings of Sam Adams, including Oktoberfest and Pumpkin lager while watching the Patriots lose and eating the pre-made apple pie.  It was everything that I love about autumn in New England.   I suggest everyone spend a Sunday in October doing the same.

<3 K

Worcester does festivals

Not to sabotage myself, but I'm totally on a roll with my weekly postings! I'm hoping this new found motivation finds its way into other aspects of my life, such as showing up to work on time, cleaning my apartment, getting to the gym... you get the picture.  For now, I'll take my success with the blogging and ride that wave for a while.

It's been said ad nauseam that bad things come in threes.  Well, I don't believe that.  I think when bad things happen, people are just hyper-aware of the other sucky things in their life.  I'm sure millions of people disagree with me, but to those individuals I ask  - what is your explanation when four craptastic things happen to me in a short period of time? Have I begun a second series of three that will only bring about more despair?  I hope not.

To combat this dreary outlook, I present, for your consideration, the opposite that good things come in threes and it appears that downtown Worcester agrees with me.  Last weekend I attend not one, not two, but THREE festivals downtown that were worth blogging about.  When it rains, it pours... (another overused phrase).

1. Open Road Festival.
Location: Institute Park
Theme: Eco-friendly, sustainable, tree-hugging, local artist community
Highlight: Really well designed t-shirts and stellar food vendors.  Evo and Sweet T Southern Kitchen were vying for dominance of the deliciousness market.
Low point: I might still smell of patchouli oil and I really hate patchouli oil.  I know it is often the preferred Eau-de-earth (which I guess is true because I think it smells like dirt), but I can't stand the scent.

This festival, started by a young Worcester native, highlights the local music scene, budding artists, and eco-friendly options for consumers.  It's kid friendly, but not pet friendly (so if you decide to go next year, you have to leave the pooch at home).  We went early in the day, so it was still getting started.  There was a small crowd, but lots of free goodies -granola bars, coconut water, candy - just make sure to recycle your wrappers! Tickets were $10 in advance, $15 at the door, but if you have a Woo Card (yay me!) it was $5 at the door. It was a relaxed atmosphere, where artistically inclined, herb-loving individuals could enjoy one of the last beautiful days of New England summer.


2. Shrewsbury Street College Shuffle
Theme: Giving College kids more food!
Location: Shrewsbury Street participating restuarants
Highlight: Free Sam Adams pint glass from La Scala and peanut butter pancake from Cafe Manzi's
Low point: 25% of the restaurants served pizza, so by stop three we were more than done with pizza for the day.

This event is unfortunately limited to members of the Worcester college community and their families, but honestly, I'm sure you know someone who goes to or works at one of the 10 Worcester colleges. I think it started out as a means for Shrewsbury Street to make even more money and to foster some good intercollegiate relations.  Apparently the colleges of Worcester don't play well with others.  The set up was like your typical "Taste of" event.  We walked from restaurant to restaurant sampling an assortment of Italian foods.  The $10 admission was a steal! The portions were more than any of us could handle and the food was impressive over all.  I was able to try a few places that I had been meaning to check out and no one really disappointed - although beware the Margarita cupcake from Sweet actually has SALT sprinkled in the frosting, it's a strong after-taste to say the least.  I was glad to have a chance to stop by Juniors, my favorite Shrewsbury Street spot, where the WPI Jazz band was playing some great tunes. It was a good time, but I was stuffed by the end.

3. CanalFest!
Theme: Reviving Worcester's 19th Century glory!!
Location: Harding Street (Behind Union Station)
Highlight: The Silverbacks stellar performance, costumed interpreters with working weapons, and NPS rangers!
Low point: A temperature spike of 10 degrees to make it about 80+ degrees Fahrenheit with limited shade available.
Admittedly, at this point we were dragging, but the atmosphere at Canalfest was hopping!  The music was great, seriously, if you haven't seen the Silverbacks, you have to check them out.  The food smelled wonderful, but we were still full from the "Shuffle."  It was great, FREE, family fun.  There was no entrance fee, unlike the other festivals and there was a lot of free entertainment for everyone.  Vendors lined the streets and two large craft tents held a wide variety of gifts, books, toys, and jewelry.  The point of the festival is to raise awareness and funds for the re-opening of the Blackstone Canal.  The National Park Service is trying to revitalize the route of the canal to protect the land and create a more beautiful landscape for hiking and biking, much like Rhode Island has done on the Providence end of the canal.  They had a river simulation where kids could kayak in a "canal-like" pool, to show some of the more adventurous options a re-opened canal would provide.  CanalFest is an annual event that draws a huge crowd and provides a real service to the Worcester community.

Over all it was a great weekend! Maybe next year they can spread it out over a few weeks so I can blog about them separately!!!!

Until next time....
<3 K

Plouffe's Yankee Diner: The Worcester Diner Series

The Worcester Diner Series is still alive! While I've spent just about every weekend this summer traveling, Jack and I made a point to check out Plouffe's Yankee Diner! I realized it had been some time since I'd posted an addition to the Worcester Diner Series (or anything at all) and doing some breakfast spot research seemed like a perfect way to spend my Sunday morning ...er... midday by the time I finished laundry and got out of my apartment.

By this point, most of you are aware that I love diners. Really, give me a greasy spoon any day, but there's something unbelievably satisfying about a place that manages to prepare my favorite comfort breakfast food with a gourmet twist. That's what you'll find at Plouffe's Yankee Diner on Route 20 in Charlton, MA. Previously known as just "The Yankee Diner," the Plouffe brothers, Michael and Brian, have reopened the historic lunch car diner, bringing a new taste to your typical New England Diner.

Let's start from the outside and work our way in, shall we?

I promise not to bore you with too much architectural history, but Plouffe's is a true Worcester Lunch Car Company dining car.  That means it was built by the same people as The Boulevard, The Miss Worcester and dozens of other National Register of Historic Places holding diners across the US. It's preserved fairly well (I say fairly and not extraordinarily, because one of the past owners put a vinyl-sided, front lean-to entryway smack dab in the center of the facade.... the nerve!)  with most of the original decorate features still in tact.  The original porcelain refrigerator sits in the left corner of the main grill, matching the colors of the barrel roof and the antique wooded counter stools. (The refrigerator needs some pricey electrical restoration to bring it back to working order, so if we have any bleeding heart preservationists in the crowd, I'm personally starting a  Save the Fridge fund for this diner - so be in touch.) the windows are for the most part original with some great decorative iron and stained glass flourishes and almost all of the original interior wood work still adorns the walls.  You definitely feel like you are stepping back in time, but not in a Twilight Zone sort of way.  The team at Plouffe's have made a dedicated effort to try to keep any maintenance as historically accurate as possible without tipping the scales to cheesy which happens more often than not, so for that I commend them.  They've also done some stellar landscape work out front that makes the entrance inviting and homey (a valiant effort to combat the vinyl...).


Plouffe's packs in a crowd for weekend breakfast (and weekday as well, I've been told), so plan to eat at the counter or wait for a few minutes for a booth because the seating is limited, but well worth it.  Their menu includes all of the traditional diner fare, eggs any way you like them, homefries, bacon, sausage, HOMEMADE HASH. Yes, I said it, homemade deliciousness... honestly, I wanted to order an extra side of hash to take home for later.  Their pancakes are HUGE and in addition to your typical buttermilk and blueberry, they've got great specials like Pecan with brown sugar sauce.  New to their menu is Brian's Brunch Burger, a 1/3 pound all beef patty, bacon, and American cheese that is served on a "French toasted" bulkie roll topped with a perfect mix of ketchup & Vermont maple syrup. It's a huge hit with the regulars.


For lunch, they've got burgers, Rubens, the Yankee club, pastrami, and Philly Cheese-steak all with hand-cut french fries and a pickle.  Be sure to try the clam chowder and the award winning chili, too! (Jackson ordered the soups as a side for breakfast!) Everything is totally fresh and when available Plouffe's always buys their products and produce locally.  They serve Polar sodas, Good as Gold coffee, and their pickles are from Regal in Worcester! The diner's chef and co-owner, Michael Plouffe, always adds a few specials to the menu to give it some flare.  This week their website advertises Swedish Meatballs with egg noodles.

What makes Plouffe's stand out from the plethora of other Worcester diners, is their Friday night dinners.  Each Friday, Chef Michael opens his doors from 4:30-8:30PM to serve some local favorites and some top quality, but low-cost meals.  Jackson and I made a repeat visit last Friday to try it out.  We brought his sister along and the three of us made a point to order 3 different entrees to share around.  Jackson ordered the Prime Rib dinner (he had the last piece - it was late in the night) and it was heavenly.  Emily ordered traditional Fish and Chips - beer-battered fried haddock with hand-cut fries and homemade coleslaw. I had the baked haddock, it was delicious.  They offered a side of seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes with gravy or fries. No one went home disappointed or sadly with any room for dessert, but have no fear they always have a few dessert options for those still tempted.

The atmosphere at Plouffe's is casual family dinning.  You'll almost definitely meet both owners if you stop in.  Michael is behind the grill and Brian, the business partner, will be at the register or if needed helping serve.  They are completely open to special orders and substitutions, in fact, at dinner on Friday Michael prepared one little girl an order of french toast, even though breakfast wasn't actually still available, but she had her heart set on it.  Another endearing moment witnessed Michael chasing down the server with the fruit garnish that he adorns every plate with.  Michael sheepishly apologized to the patrons while assuring everyone that he felt personally responsible for the presentation on each and every plate. It's personal touches like this that will keep me coming back.

The guys were nice enough to send some photos for the blog! Thanks guys!

So what have we learned from this post?
1. I should never blog when hungry.
2. Check out Plouffe's Yankee Diner!

Until next time....
<3 K

Thursday Night Lights!

And she's back in the game!  Funny story, it turns out that you have to actually be in Worcester to blog about Worcester.  Strange, huh?  I've bounced back and forth from Boston, to Newport, to DC, to San Francisco, to Plymouth, and Cape Cod this summer - oh wedding season.  But, with the start of the school year things seem to be calming down a bit and my blog should be picking back up!  I've got some big plans for my September posts...

Last night, I was part of history, or so I was told quite frequently by the Holy Cross community.  I attended the first ever night game, under the lights, at Fitton Field.  The Holy Cross Crusaders took on the UMass Minutemen in their season opening home game.  And in all honestly, this was my first ever college football game.

I love football, but unfortunately, when I was applying for college, I didn't consider that it might be cool (let's be honest, it would have been pretty damn sweet) to go to a Division 1 school.  I was worried about academic programs, scholarships, etc, and that landed me at Salve, studying preservation, living in a mansion by the sea, so I really can't complain.  However, what I didn't realize is that our football team, the mighty Seahawks, played on a Newport high school field.  Yeah, we were that good.  The few games I went to were sad to watch.  The poor Seahawks.  It's really too depressing to recap.

My husband, who I was dating at the time, went to UMass - Go Minutemen! - and we went to one football game while I visited.  However, we missed the beginning of the game, showed up for halftime, along with most of the crowd, because we were actually there for the awarding winning marching band.  Oh the irony... the crowd skipping the game and coming to watch the band... teen drama screenwriters everywhere are convulsing at the thought.  Needless to say, I'm not counting that as true college football either.

I went to GWU for grad school, thinking to myself, "Hey! This is a pretty large school, with an athletics budget that rivals Salve's endowment, there must be a great football team."  Well, I was horribly mistaken.  The Colonials don't have a football team.  There really isn't much space for a football stadium in Foggy Bottom, but it's the principle of the thing.  Alas, four more years of higher ed -Jackson took his time finishing his masters (teasing... he worked full time)- and no college football to speak of.

At that point, I wasn't too upset about my lack of a college football experience, until I met someone who went to a SEC school and told me about their game day traditions. I heard tales of tailgating, epic post-game parties, and even dress codes that put gals in dresses and guys in shirt and tie.  How cool is that?! Sunday best for Saturday football... be still my heart!  Admittedly, this inspired some buyer's remorse when it came to my educational choices, but as with all things, I moved on.

Now I find myself back in Worcester and the buzz this week had been the Holy Cross vs. UMass game.  I decided I'd see what a well-funded football program looked like.  I gathered Jackson and his fellow UMass classmate, Chris and a colleague of mine and we made our way to Fitton Field.  (Historical note:  Fitton Field is named for Father Fitton, the Catholic priest who, in the early 1800s, was responsible for pastoring the entire northeast -well from Maine to Rhode Island.- and converting large settlements to Catholicism.  He also purchased the land that Holy Cross sits on, hence the namesake...I know this because a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village told me so.)

I'm not sure how many of you know this, but like the great city of Rome, Worcester, MA also has 7 hills. I'm not quite sure I can name them all, and depending on where you grew up, they often go by different names, but Fitton Field sits at the base of College Hill, which is also called Pakachoag Hill or Mount Saint James.  Anyway, College Hill was PACKED last night.  There were about 16,000 people, which for a small school like Holy Cross, is quite a turn out. Parking was kind of a nightmare and I would bet that half of Worcester's police force was directing traffic.  The stadium was swimming with Holy Cross's purple, with a trim of UMass maroon. It was all very exciting! I had previously decided to root for the offense.  I have loyalties to both teams, so cheering for good plays made by the offense seemed fair.  Besides, in football, I don't like to root against anyone - I'm a fan of close games and ties.  Unless we are talking about the Manning brothers.  I pray for their failure.  Peyton Manning makes me seethe with anger and I used to be a fan of Eli - I tried to inspire sibling rivalry to throw Peyton off his game - but then the 2008 Super Bowl happened and Eli joined my list. So, yeah... like I was saying, I was getting into that college game day spirit, and then the game started...

Despite what Gordie Lockbaum (a HC football great) announced over the local radio station, this was not a well-played game of two athletically strong teams.  It was kind of boring as football goes.  There were rookie mistakes that most high school football teams can avoid and both teams had a lot of trouble moving the ball.  UMass dominated for the majority of the game, which appeased my husband and Chris, but even they were disappointed with the overall caliber of event.

I do have to give credit to the prep work done by the HC and Worcester community. The field looked great, the tailgating layout seemed well designed, the concession stands were well stocked and the line kept moving, the energy was high.  Despite the larger crowd and the overwhelming parking situation, traffic flowed fairly smoothly. On the flip side, I think Holy Cross is breaking some ADA laws with their handicap accessibility and seating, just saying. Oh and a special shout out to the highly intoxicated woman sitting on the visitor's side, who cussed out my husband for standing in the handicapped area to keep his friend company (he was standing because there were no companion chairs provided), I hope for your sake there is no such thing as karma. 

Overall, I had a good time.  I think I'll try to catch another game this season and see if the team improves over the course of the semester.  I really do enjoy football, so it's hard to truly disappoint me.

I can't enthusiastically recommend the game or say it tips the scales in Worcester's favor, but I it wasn't a wasted evening.

Until next week!
<3K