BYO Round-Up

Amidst the floudering economy, one of Worcester's most enduring qualities was reinforced for me this weekend: the BYOB restaurant. From some light online reesarch, it seems like it might be a bit difficult (and expsensive) to actually hold a full liquor license in the city. Therefore, many restaurants don't even bat an eye when you bring your own bottle of wine, a few beers, or in one case I heard of, the better part of a keg into a restaurant. Here are some of our favorites (some you may know of, some you should probably suprise a date with a 6-pack and check out!)

Tortilla Sams, Highland Ave - Our first experience with BYOB during our undergrad tenure. The mexican food is great, the service isn't so hot, and it's just a short walk to once you recover from the inflated prices of Highland Liquors. At least the staff has turned over enough there so that they didn't recognize me on Friday night.

West Side Steak & BBQ, Richmond Ave - Nothing says summer like friends, BBQ and Leinies & loitering at Tronic Square. See previous post for further descpription.

Corner Grille, Across the Street - I would stick with Yellow Tail or better, or else you'll just feel out of place at the trendiest pie company in town. Cabernet + Buffalo Chicken or Mad Russian is about the easiest way to this girl's heart!

Le Mirage, June Street - Even though I lived well within the stumble range for this small french restaurant for a year, this is still a must hit for me at some point sometime soon. From the looks of this place, I would also avoid Bud Light. Probably no boxed wine either.

Mac's Diner, Shrewsbury Street- I will assume the body of the restaurant did start out as a typical Worcester diner, however the rest of the facility is some sort of drunken architect's mishmash. Or maybe several architects. However, the food is great and definitely share-ablely portioned.

Lucky's, Grove Street - I've only ever been here for breakfast, and finding out it was BYOB opened up the possibility of Mimosas (or Screwdrivers if you're so inclined) on a Sunday morning. If you'd rather wait until noon, they do lunch (cute sandwiches!) 7 days a week, and dinner Fri & Sat.

Zia, Shrewsbury Street - Another one I haven't tried, but will definitely have to. I hear it's a mostly italian menu, with a few American items thrown in. LP? What are you doing this weekend?

Hottie Watch: WSC Baseball

Introducing the Hottie Watch:  Because, really? We could all use a little eye candy every now and then!

LP's three mile workout time might be officially switched from the early hours of the morning to approximately 2:10 p.m.

While my DILFs are on sabbatical, the fine young men of Worcester State's baseball team have taken their place at Logan Field.  It seems baseball practice starts around 2 p.m.  America's favorite pastime just got a little sweeter for LP! 

I'm lacing up my Nikes now¹! 

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1. ipod set to: Ron Carroll - Walking Down the Street

My Relationship with Mass Liquors

I am typing one-handed right now, while I enjoy my most recent purchase from my hands down (hah, get it?) favorite liquor store: Mass Liquors.

I first discovered Mass Liquors when I simultaneously moved to the west side and became gainfully employed. I just assumed they had a great selection of beer, wine and liquor because my previous financial situations hadn't really allowed for any real browsing¹ I just assumed that they took my Maine license because...why not? It's a legal ID. I just assumed that the staff was friendly and helpful in every neighborhood liquor store. I just assumed that every store carried the delicous beers I sampled throughout the city, a delectable assortment of wines under $15 AND Tanquery in the family sized portion². I guess I just assumed that was just one more prince charming in the fairy tale that is my adult life in Worcester.

Well, we allllll have heard about what happens when you assume. One day, I moved. I looked forward to getting to know my new local liquor store. I thought I was doing the mature thing, by switching to the new most convenient liquor store, in a strip mall, with no actual title. It just says "Liquor Store" above the door. Aside from the one hottie I saw working there on my first visit in, who lost his hott-ness when he refused to sell to my out of state id, even with the slammin photo, the staff there is horrible. The booze was SO overpriced, and in nothing larger than a liter. I politely inquired at what point we would be at the point in our relationship where we would be past all these "formalities" and they could just address me by name when I walked in wearing sweatpants a ball cap to buy a 30 of bud light. Not only did they say that would never happen, THEY DIDN'T EVEN CARRY 30's! I couldn' t believe that I had almost let go of something so wonderful, for something so awful.

So, I guess I realized who really cared about me: Mass Liquors. I'm willing to overcome the distance, to really make it work between us. Some of my favorite Mass Liquors stories include:

1. The time they entered the expiration dating on my old roomate's VT id and made a scene that it was a fake, then they gave her a free t-shirt

2. They put Saranac Summer Sampler 12's in the fridge for me, hidden. 12 packs of Michelob Ultra Fruit Infusions are also available.

3. An impressive array of hard liquor & beers- including foreign and domestic brews from too many places to name.

4. Each of the staff members, when looking at my ID for the first time, said "hey, that's where Shipyard is from!"

5. The double entendre of the title: MASSachusetts & MASS quantities!

So, we're back together. And I feel really good about it this time³.

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¹ With the exception of the occasional splurge during lucrative summer interships or special occasions, my staples were: Arbor Mist, Bud Light, and the Gallon o'Yellow Tail for a special occasion.
² Perhaps "Family Size" shouldn't be equated to a handle of alcohol.
³ It's probably inappropriate to compare my tumultuous relationship with a liquor store to an actual human relationship. I'll work on that in the future.

It's that time of year again...

...back to school!

Which really only means one thing around the Tatnuck area: new, fine college specimens to check out on my daily workout¹!

Things haven't been all that interesting on my three mile strut jog, now that Little League is over and the DILFs aren't out. (When does Little League start up again anyways? Answer: not soon enough.) We just get the occasional honk from the teenage admirers, the exaggerated stares from the brothers rollin' by, and, of course, the thumbs up from Wheelchair Guy who's always scootin' around Mill Street².

But, now, school's back in session (or soon will be for others!) and the eye candy will be plentiful.




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1. Some call me Mrs. Robinson. I kid, I kid. And, it's not like they're all under 21. For instance, KG and I's new favorite bartender for martinis: self-described as on the "ten year plan at Worcester State." Not overly ambitious, but good to look at, and he makes one fine Cosmo.
2. All of these: always appreciated.

Worcester Tornados

Last night, I went to a Worcester Tornados game at Hanover Insurance Field, at Holy Cross. This is one of my favorite summertime activities, as both the tickets at the beer are cheap. The stadium is pretty small and the seats are better than I would get at a Sox game, so I usually pay attention a little more. AAA Ball tends to have better action, because these guys are still gunning to make it to the big leagues and if their visas expire they turn into pumpkins (aka shipped back to Cuba). Plus, there is the added thrill of a foul ball at any time. I have an irrational fear of foul balls. And 35 year old men who still bring their baseball gloves to the game.¹

Last night's game was special in a few ways. This was the first game I've attended where the actual seats sold out. There was also a grey haired fellow who sky-dove into the outfield (don't worry, this was planned) while a woman who spoke very slowly with a mid-western accent welcomed us to Worcester Stadium, and spoke of the self-esteem boost that skydiving provided. She invited us all to try skydiving at her place of business, and also told us that women make better skydivers then men. The second skydiver was an "accuracy specialist." Both missed the GIANT X on the field.

We were seated in the bleachers, behind the Holy Cross Women's Field Hocky team. Holy Cross is interesting because while it is Division 1, I feel like none of their teams are all that good.² Or, I might just be being a snob because I went to WPI. Who knows. At least we didn't have to wear purple EVERYTHING.

As usual, we left at the seventh, as this is when they stop serving beers.



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¹I also enjoy people watching at these events. Thanks to the guy I reamed out for grabbing my ass in the beer line, the "Dippen Dots" vendor in the stands, and the numerous fanny pack wearers for adding free entertainment for the evening.

²The only sport that I have any factual basis for this conclusion is rowing, and I'll admit that secretly I was a little jealous of their purple hair ribbons. But definitely NOT their purple crocs.

Baba Sushi

By far, my two most favorite things about Worcester are my girlfriends and finding new restaurants to eat at (yes, in that order).

One of my girlfriends came home for a long weekend from her jet-setting life in NYC (love her!) and asked if I wanted to meet up with her and TD for sushi on Park Ave. "Duh!"

(Recently unemployed and spending my days studying and commutting in and out of the sewar and major toursit attraction that is Boston for class, I couldn't really think of anything better to spend a couple hours to distract myself!)

I assumed we were going to Haiku, but that was not the case. We went to BABA Restaurant and Sushi Bar. Haven't heard of it? Me either. It's right next to Store 16. Haven't heard of that? Me either. (I've lived in Worcester for 23 years. Where have I been?) It's right diagnonally across from the D'Angelos on the corner of Park and Chandler. (Ohh ok, got it.)

We had the entire back patio to ourselves (ok, it was small and could only fit another party - but fantastic nonetheless!), props to TD for requesting an outdoor table! Points for al fresco.

After noticing our bags and sunglasses, our waiter chatted us up about how smart Gucci, Louis, and Coach were for having people pay for their goods and how much he loved wine and SAKI! He was about as entertaining as our food was delicious. Mmm.

All & All: Good time! A little hidden gem there on Park Ave.!

And, it won "2007 Worcester's Best Chef Award."

Watch Out for Lobsters!

The T&G ran this article today, about the illegal theft of diesel covered lobsters on 395.

"On Sunday, workers had to offload the lobsters by hand. Some of the lobsters tried to scurry away and had to be chased, witnesses said. "

Also, I believe the Robert Moscoffian mentioned in the article is this fellow, the reason why there are skid marks coming out of the tunnel onto Main Street, and the creator Summer Nationals!