Central Massachusetts has come to embrace its new role as the unsuspecting darling of the contemporary art world. Natives of Worcester County have always liked to eat at diners, drink in dive bars, and shop vintage. Now, the artisanal mindset has taken root deep within our Central Mass maker scene, changing the way we think about everything from food to retail. Then, there are the murals, which have brought an entirely new crowd to town. Voyeurs and connoisseurs alike are exploring Central Mass for the first time, thanks to the strong presence of public art brought on by the Pow!Wow! Worcester festival. With over fifty new restaurants and fifty new murals in the last year, respectively, Central Mass has become an enchanting visitor destination.
Worcester is home to the original ‘lunch wagon king,’ T.H. Buckley - a man who gave rise to a diner empire. During the 1990’s, restaurateurs in Europe went so far as to ship Worcester Lunch Cars overseas in an attempt to replicate authentic American cuisine, but the area has managed to hang on to plenty of its original cars. Take, for example, #730 - The Boulevard Diner, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or, car #660 - home to Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner where you can order chili and a cheeseburger before making your way upstairs to enjoy live music in the adjacent firehouse.
But, if diners aren’t in your DNA, our Artisanal Bread Scene might be just what you’re looking for. (Either way, we beg that you don’t leave Worcester without carving your name in a booth at George’s Coney Island. Make sure to order your hot dogs ‘up’ along with a Polar Seltzer and admire the external mural painted by local artist, Kai Griffiths.)
No one has better dive bars than Worcester. Vincent’s is laden with taxidermy, Nick’s is so dark you’ll to get lost, and the Hotel Vernon boasts a speakeasy in the basement that’s surely littered with ghosts. Of course, there is ‘The Dive Bar’ itself, located just inside a chilling wall painted by local muralist, Scott Boilard. The Dive Bar is home to the city’s most popular beer garden where bartenders pour elusive brews from the likes of Hill Farmstead, Trillium, and Honest Weight. Central Mass’ embrace of the ‘craft’ tradition leans on showcasing small, independent, fresh and handmade ingredients. We may love our dive bars, but we’re likewise smitten with an impassioned attention to detail.
Central Mass’ barrage of terrific vintage retailers is likely a result of our proximity to the legendary ‘Brimfield Flea Market.’ As the largest outdoor antiques show in the world, Brimfield has built up a loyal cult following from near and far including a slew of notable celebrities. Diehards will trek two miles out and back to peruse over twenty fields of vendors from sunrise to sundown. Brimfield Antique Show officially takes place over one week spans in May, July, and September, but there’s plenty of vintage to go around. Molly McGrath of Grime wants her customers to feel like they’ve just wandered into an eccentric rich woman’s closet. As if Grime’s troll doll decor isn’t arresting enough, McGrath’s stunning vintage selections for both men and women have amassed @grimeclothing more than 13.2k followers on Instagram. One look at her page will have you hopping on the next train to Union Station for a shopping excursion.