Many of the WorcesterScene viewers have asked the same question, “where can we go to dance?” While our first answers have been some of the great bars and clubs, we soon realized that they wanted the venues for ballroom, salsa, and the more organized dancing beyond the bump-and-grind that dominate many clubs in the area. With that said, each week we will compile some information that is obtained by those who know where the “in” spots are for this type of dance and entertainment. As always, our friends at Salsa Storm always have something exciting going on, be certain to check them out and tell them that WorcesterScene sent you!
Friday, February 5th
- Maironis Park - Dancing will be upstairs. So this is a great opportunity to dance all those ballroom steps you have learned. There will be a lesson in the Quickstep.
- Chicken Bone (Framingham) – Ernie and the Automatics will be playing. Ernie of Ernie Boch fame will have you rocking. So go to the Bone to Swing, Hustle and freestyle.
- Poise Style and Motion – This venue is similar to Maironis Park. Get a lesson and dance for a couple of hours, ballroom only dancing.
Saturday, February 6th
- Maironis Park - This is singles night, but couples can attend. Ozzie and his DJ will be spinning CDs. You can practice whatever dance steps you know.
- Point Breeze (Webster) – Windfall will be playing. They specialize in Classic Rock and some Blues.
- Gilreins – Jon Short is playing. This will be mostly listening to good Blues. Not sure if you will be able to dance to his music.
- Frohsinn Club – Preferred Sound will be turning up the amps in an effort to keep everyone awake. I keep saying that this is a great spot for anyone who is new to ballroom, or just wants to polish some steps or routines.
Sunday, February 7th
- PNI Club, Worcester – Dancing is 4:30 to 8:30. This will be ballroom dancing.
- Leominster Elks – There is no band this week. Alan will be selecting music from his Swing CD collection.
- Salsa Storm (Worcester) - You all know how to dance Salsa. So head on over to see how you measure up. Dancing is from 5:00 to 8:30.
Looking for a very well known band to dance to? Friday, February 12th Eight to the Bar will be playing at Twin Rivers Casino.
A special thanks to our contributor with his pulse on the dance scene!
Looking to get dressed up and go out to show your creative flare? Halloween is the season, so if you have grown too old for Trick or Treating, take a look at the following parties going on in the city. Costume or not, they will be a sure not to miss event.
The Dive Bar - 2nd Annual Dogfish Head Extreme Halloween Bash
October 31, 2009, 4:00pm – 2:00am
Join the folks at Dive Bar for their annual Halloween Bash with Dogfish Head Brewery! They will have 22 Dogfish Head Drafts, 2 Live Bands, 1 Cask, an assortment of Dogfish Head Spirits to sample, the boys from Dogfish Head… and YOU! They will be tapping every specialty beer Dogfish Head has made over the last two years and then some as they’ve been squirreling away these barrels since last October!
Jillian’s Billiard Club – Halloween Party
October 31, 2009, 8:00pm – 2:00am
$1000 COSTUME CONTEST, Beer Bobbing, Shot Relays and a DJ will be spinning the hottest hits all night! Jagger Promo 11pm to 1am with the “sexy jagger Witches” to party with!
Hotel Vernon – Halloween party with Roots, Blues, and Americana Rockabilly
October 31, 2009, 9:00pm – 2:00am
Celebrate HALLOWEEN at the HOTEL VERNON.. with 3 unique roots bands.. first up at 9pm.. the TOKYO TRAMPS from Boston/via JAPAN.. this blues, New Orleans rockin’ sounds will start our night…at 10:30pm next up New Englands favorite punk/blues band.. THE TEN FOOT POLE CATS.. and then to finish the night.. at 12:15 THE COBRA-MATICS straight from Rhode Island with their Americana rockin’ sounds..wear a HAT.. highly encouraged.. or a costume, but not necessary!
Salsa Storm Halloween Contest at Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre
October 31, 2009, 7:00pm – 2:00am
Dance the night away with Salsa Storm’s food drive and halloween contest! Evening includes lessons, dance, the food drive, and prizes for best costumes!
Nick’s Bar & Restaurant – Nightmare on Millbury Street!
October 31, 2009, 8:00pm – 2:00am
Prizes for Best Costumes! Performances by Bram and the Stokers feat: Andy Cummings, Geoffrey Oehling, and Tom Spears w/ Bobby Gadoury! Then Todd Deal Music and Film, and Bewitched Burlesque!
Family Friendly: Higgins Armory Museum
October 31, 2009, Call for times
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wander around a haunted castle? Well join us on the spookiest day of the year and find out! But beware – some of the creatures from the Dept. of Curiosities have escaped! They are loose in the museum and have been joined by some friends, like old wizards, vampires, ghosts, fairies and maybe even a mad scientist. They’ll be here all day just dying to tell you their stories while you trick-or-treat, play games and do crazy crafts.
Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner – Halloween Weekend Bash!
October 30, 2009, 9:30pm – 1:30am
Join the festive crowds at Ralph’s to hear the sounds of the season with The Creepin Cadavers, Ghouls Night Out, The Cretins, Shotgun Blues (Guns and Roses Cover Band)!
Cigar Masters Worcester – Masquerade Party
October 31, 2009, 9:10pm – 2:00am
Join the exotic Masquerade party with DJ Mad Hatter, special Hallow’s Eve Cocktails, prizes for costumes, and cigar specials all night with a chance to win a new humidor and bundle of fresh rolled cigars.
Mint…The Spot – Naughty or Nice Halloween Bash
October 31, 2009, 10:00pm – 2:00am
Are You Naughty Or Nice? Mint Will Be Crazy As Usual On Saturday Night For Our Halloween Bash! The Gorgeous Ladies Of Dance Boston Will Be In The House And On The Bar Dancin’ Their Ass’ Off! Are They Naughty Or Nice? You Be The Judge!
- Tons Of Contests And Giveaways!
- Hundreds Of Dollars In Contests!
- Prizes For Sexiest, Most Creative, Funniest, And Scariest Costumes!!
(18 + Ladies, 21+ Gents Costumes Definitely Encouraged To Get In)
Amsterdam Lounge – Pimps and Hoes PartyOctober 30, 2009, 8:00pm – 2:00am
Start Halloween weekend early. Art Beatz will be spinning the hottest mash-ups, join Amsterdam Lounge for a great night with the sexiest girls and guys.
WorcesterScene.com would like to join their partners and sponsors in congratulating Sally Gagne of Leominster, MA for being chosen as the winner of this years Fling into Spring contest from the over 1000 entries. Sally will receive:
- Free Hair Cut at Rinse Hair Lounge
- $100 Gift Card to Tush: A Denim Boutique
- Free Dinner for Two at Grille 57
- A six week Salsa Session at Salsa Storm Dance Studio
- Admission for Two, and a “Worcester Pronounciation” T-Shirt provided by the Worcester Historical Museum
- Gift Card for Coffee and Dessert provided by Allgos: Sweets and Drinks
- One night accommodations at the Crowne Plaza Worcester
This contest was wildly successful and we hope Sally and her special guest enjoy the entire package.
WorcesterScene.com would like to thank our wonderful sponsors. Each one provides a special and unique offering in the city and, if you haven’t tried them, do so. You won’t be disappointed!
And look for more exciting contests and special offerings coming soon to WorcesterScene.com
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Fling Into Spring Worcester-Style
Contest Provides One Lucky Winner and Guest a Chance to Enjoy a Complementary Night Out in Worcester
The Fling Into Spring contest has expanded WorcesterScene.com’s primary purpose of acting as a Worcester resource into a highly contested chance for one lucky winner to experience the city. Luke M. Vaillancourt, the site’s founder, has personally selected some of Worcester’s finest establishments to make April 30th a night to remember. Starting March 1st through March 31st visitors can sign-up for their chance to win:
- Transportation for 2 for the evening
- Dinner for 2 compliments of Grille 57 Steakhouse
- A gift card for Coffee and Dessert provided by Allgos: Sweets and Drinks
- A personal hair cut/style at Rinse Hair Lounge
- A $100 gift card to Tush: A Denim Boutique
- Two tickets to the Worcester Historical Museum
- A free Worcester pronounciation T-Shirt provided by Worcester Historical Museum
- A Free Salsa Session (6-weeks) for one provided by Salsa Storm
- Night’s accommodations provided by Crowne Plaza Worcester
Vaillancourt says, “These businesses have come together to provide a night of entertainment that the winner and guest will be certain to remember.” He adds, “It is tremendous to see the amount of growth that has happened in the city—especially in today’s economy. Given these consumer challenges, businesses are forced to be more creative to developing experiences geared to retain and grow their customer base.”
While WorcesterScene.com has been providing a web presence for Worcester area businesses, large and small, Vaillancourt is thinking of long-term strategies for future growth. He explains, “The site’s attendance has doubled each month since it’s launch. I’ve found that while some visitors have dubbed the site the ‘yellow pages on steroids,’ WorcesterScene.com must continue to seek additional venues to engage its audience.” In December, WorcesterScene.com embraced a new mode to disseminate information to its 2,000 unique monthly visitors and 2,500 e-mail (SceneAlert) subscribers: monthly video segments featuring notable Worcester personalities. Domenic Mercurio (Mercury Media), Mark Piscillo (Victory Bar and Cigar), Laura Briere (Vision Advertising), and Christina Andrianopoulos (The Omega Group) partnered with WorcesterScene.com to create brief videos about topics that they hold dear to their heart—Wine, cigars, restaurants, and style.
Over the past year, WorcesterScene.com has proliferated into a daily resource that it’s visitors access from the web site, Facebook group, and on the go via their mobile device. With WorcesterScene.com’s popularity growing stronger each day, Vaillancourt thinks that the Fling Into Spring will be the start of the next chapter in WorcesterScene.com’s city presence. For more information, or to register for your chance to win the Fling Into Spring, please visit: http://www.WorcesterScene.com/contest
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Go into a Worcester Bar or Club and chances are you will find a DJ or band on any given day of the week—from places like Nick’s, Dive Bar, Ralph’s Diner, Lucky Dog, Jose Murphy’s, Cavo D’Oro, or even Irish Times you’ll be able to enjoy a drink and listen to a band’s set or get down to what a DJ is spinning. One thing that many Worcesterites have been looking for is a place somewhere in the middle, where dancing is more formalized and seen as an Art—often found as the art of Salsa.
On Monday’s and Tuesdays, at 6:15pm, Salsa Storm teaches you Salsa—from basic footwork to partnering, spins, patterns and combinations. While it is a great way to get closer with your partner, it is also a great way to meet someone new. This is the perfect opportunity to have some fun without having to have any experience.
Dance the Night Away:
Salsa SUNDAYS (2nd and 4th Sundays of each month)(21+)
@ Salsa Storm 9 Harrison St.
February 22nd, March 8th, March 22nd, April 12th & April 26th
5pm – 9pm / 5pm – 6pm dance lessons
Admission $10 with lesson / $5 after lesson
Salsa SOCIALS (monthly) (21+)
@ Fiddlers Green 19 Temple Street
March 21st
with DJ Underground
7pm – 12:30pm / 7pm – 8pm dance lesson
Admission $10
Salsa SOCIALS (monthly) (21+)
April 18th
featuring a Salsa Orchestra Curubande (with their CD release)
7pm – 12:30pm / 7pm – 8pm dance lesson
Admission $15
Seven’s HOT Salsa Nights (every other month) (21+)
@ Seven’s Lounge 287 Main St
March 28th
9pm – 2am / 10pm – 11pm dance lesson
with DJ Rey G
Admission $10
Seven’s HOT Salsa Nights (every other month) (21+)
@ Seven’s Lounge 287 Main St
May 2nd
9pm – 2am / 10pm – 11pm dance lesson
with DJ Rey G
Admission $10
Bocados Salsa Night (2nd Thursday of the month)
@ Bocados 82 Winter St
March 12th & April 9th
9pm – 11pm
Performance at 9:30pm
Live Salsa band music
Free
For more information on formal classes at their studio or where they go as a group, visit their SceneProfile page.
Time is running out…with the competition this Sunday you will want to order on-line to save $10 off the at-the-door price ($40, versus $50)….order using the coupon code “VIP” you’ll get your ticket for $30!
From their web site:
In January of 2007, the first annual Worcester’s Best Chef (WBC) took Central Massachusetts by storm with overwhelming success that echoed on the lips of the spectators and restaurateurs for months thereafter. Held at Historic Union Station, the event sold out quickly and the crowds surged. The public was treated not only to the very best cuisine the region had to offer, but also was delighted by an wine tastings, a fashion show, an educational champagne sabering, a scotch tasting by Chivas Regal, a Port wine tasting from Sandemans, chair massages and a live jazz ensemble as well as a DJ.
The feedback from last year was consistent with one main element – the event was almost too successful. With the crowd at a staggering 1,500 guests, the normally airy venue was wall-to-wall with people.
The WBC board of directors is working diligently to surpass the standard of quality that was set in the first year through the amazing cuisine, indulgent tastings and live entertainment, “but”, says Board Vice Chair Christine Zecker, “We are trying to limit ticket sales to 1,000 in order to ensure that everyone has plenty of room to move around and thoroughly enjoy the evening.” Further, to minimize entrance lines and guarantee admittance, $10 discounts for advanced ticket sales online are being offered. Just enter discount code “VIP” by September 21st.
There have also been a few changes put into the lineup for WBC’s second annual event. The first is a new location: the lovely and spacious Worcester Technical High School. Beyond that, there is greater staff capacity to ensure minimal lines, easy parking, as well as increased wait staff. Additionally, guests can look forward to complimentary chair messages, knife and flame juggling, dance exhibitions by Salsa Storm, Champagne Sabering with Perrier-Jouet, terrific wine and Port tastings, music, and more.
WBC Executive Producer Domenic Mercurio, Jr., says, “We are very excited about this year’s event and fully expect it to sell out. Providing our guests the ultimate level of comfort, relaxation and enjoyment that evening is our primary objective. We intend to close ticket sales before the night of the event and we cannot promise tickets at the door, so we’re urging guests to pre-purchase online.”
On Sunday, September 28, 2008, Worcester’s Best Chefs will defend their “WBC” titles at the second annual Worcester’s Best Chef, as other culinary experts vie to dethrone king pins Chris Rovezzi (Rovezzi’s Restaurant) and Wilson Wang (Ba Ba Sushi). Rovezzi and Wang have been featured together on television and radio programming recently and they are both very determined to retain their titles.
Don’t miss your chance to vote for your favorite Chef. Reserve your tickets online at www.WorcestersBestChef.com. Ten-dollar discounts available by entering discount code “VIP” in the purchase tickets tab, for a total price of $30 versus $50 at the door.
