Once bustling with retail and commerce, Main Street today is a beacon of creativity. Two historic buildings on Main Street poised to return more street-level vitality to the heart of Downtown are host to our newest window display project, “Downtown Reemerging.” We selected several local artists and art organizations to transform empty storefronts at 526 Main Street and the former Shack’s building, 403 Main Street. From whimsical to provocative, these eye-catching art installations will be on view throughout the summer. Check them out after dark!
The artists selected include:
This project is supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
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Free Outdoor Movies Are Back |
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Nothing says summer vacation like a drive-in movie. “Movies on the Lot” will be back with two screenings this summer at the library’s McGrath Lot. Details are being finalized – we’ll share through social media later this week! In the meantime, save the dates: July 22 and August 26.
Follow us on Social for more info.
(links at bottom of newsletter!)
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Can you feel it? Summer is here. In celebration, Downtown Worcester is buzzing with new restaurants and outdoor attractions, including the first full-scale production from The Hanover Theatre Repertory. The opening night of Julius Caesar on the Worcester Common is fast approaching on August 7 at 8 p.m. This show promises to be the event of the summer. Performances will occur throughout August, with regular showtimes running Tuesday through Friday and a special Sunday finale on August 29. Admission is free and open to all, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged for all attendees with a nightly cap of 200 tickets. Dust off your best toga and join us this August for Shakespeare in the Park. Get ready to boo and cheer alongside the action. Are you coming from out of town? The AC Hotel is offering special rates for ticket holders. Celebrate Julius Caesar, the first original production from the new Hanover Theatre Repertory, with a night Downtown. Restaurants and taprooms near the Common will be buzzing with deals and outdoor attractions all month long for you to enjoy.
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Jazz at Sunset will return on August 27 at 6:30 p.m. with D. A. Foster and The Shaboo All-Stars in the rear lot of The Hanover Theatre. Foster operated the legendary jazz nightclub, The Shaboo Inn, for over a decade. The BID is proud to partner with both The Hanover Theatre and WICN 90.5 FM for an incredible revival of jazz and R&B under the stars. General admission tickets are $25; limited reserved tables for four are available for $160.
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The summer months are upon us, and everyone is excited to put masks aside and get back out and socialize with the rest of the world. With this re-introduction to society, it’s not surprising to see fresh haircuts, new clothes, and a bronzed look. That’s right, bronze. It’s not because we forgot our SPF but rather the City is giving some of our most famous statues and monuments a makeover! The City of Worcester’s Department of Public Works – Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division has been working diligently to refurbish the City’s monuments, from Elm Park to Worcester Common. Most recently, Worcester’s famous Burnside Fountain – also known as Turtle Boy – and the Bigelow Monument have enjoyed some pampering with extensive cleaning and polishing, bringing a new look to one of Worcester’s greatest oddities. In addition to these restoration efforts, several leaning headstones in the Common’s burial ground were reset. As the summer weather brings us back Downtown, please enjoy all it has to offer and share a very special Thank You to the City for making even some of our more peculiar attractions strangely beautiful. |
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With the opening of Polar Park and more people Downtown, our Ambassadors have been busier than ever. Our team is here to make a welcoming impression, from greeting passersby with a smile to assisting visitors with directions, parking information, or dining recommendations. Our clean team doubled down on spring cleaning in May, spending nearly 900 hours removing 4,900 pounds of garbage, pressure washing sidewalks, and keeping the weeds at bay. |
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Did you know the BID has a blog? Our Downtown Spotlight series will tell you everything you need to know about Worcester’s world-class murals and the artists who created them. In our first spotlight, POW! WOW! Worcester’s Co-Director Lisa Drexhage shares the inside scoop on the international mural festival, which has its sights set on Main Street this summer. Next up, muralist Caleb Neelon discusses a childhood trip to the Berlin Wall in 1990 that set the trajectory of his artistic career. We also spoke to painter Sharinna Travieso about her experience working on Worcester’s Black Lives Matter mural last summer. Born and raised here, Travieso’s work has grown to stand for social justice and representation in the City. |
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The focus of our Instagram page is to highlight the businesses and people of Downtown Worcester. Follow our page for our shop local/eat local series, community event announcements, did you know facts, and Downtown history.
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