We've looked into many aspects and areas of Worcester over my last few posts. We've discussed how and why I got to Worcester, where to go out for food and drinks as well as the best places to see a concert. As I'm always changing my opinions and ideals of what a good establishment truly is, I feel that I may have missed a few interesting locations along the way.
So to catch up on what I've missed in previous blogs lets get into a few bars that I have either discovered or remembered since my last posts. The beer news paper Yankee Brew News has recently done an entire multi-page article on Worcester's emerging micro-brew scene. they touched upon the majority of what I mentioned but also included Beatniks. Now I've only been here once but it seemed to be a quality place with a somewhat interesting food menu and beer list. While the style and menu was appealing to me, the overall vibe was a little to onto the overly pretentious and somewhat annoying "hipster" scene. there is alaso the new establishment called Sweet, this is a interesting restaurant specializing in the pairing of gourmet desserts and upscale mixed drinks and craft beers.
There is also the Flying Rhino, a somewhat pricey but quality restaurant with a more than acceptable selection of mivro0brew beers available. While the Flying Rhino is a cool place, the slightly over priced nature of the menu and the potential for this establishment to get very busy and fill up earl in the evening ,makes the restaurant a location best saved for afternoon trips.
Of course there a a few other bars with a halfway decent offerings and without question there are other high quality restaurants in town. But these locations are in my opinion out of reach for the average college students financial limits and thus being placed in the category of special occasions, if at all. This is why I have mentioned Armsby Abbey so prominently in my blogs. Armsby Abbey is the perfect example of an upscale and slight fancy establishment, but what you are paying for isn't the prestige or name, but the sustainable and locally sourced food and drinks being offered. It is a restaurant you can go to for a quick drink or a high quality sit-down meal, have an amazing night and still do something positive for the community and environment.
I feel that at it's most righteous core, this is what Massachusetts is really all about. We , despite or occasional urban aspirations are a state that is rural in tradition and actuality. To accept this and take a step away from the Bud Light and hamburger scene is to awaken yourself to a positive movement focusing on outstanding quality, sustainability, locally sourced ingredients and in the end business plans that directly benefit our community.
This is what Worcester county should be most accepting of. We will never get the factories back that once made so much of Worcester county and Western Mass good places to live and raise a family. We will never have the technological infrastructure and funding that Boston and metro-west have. So I propose the path to long term success, new jobs and quality food is through what Western Mass has been doing for the last 25 years. Create more restaurants, bars, grocery stores, music stores, clothing stores and any other type of small business with emphasis of utilizing our local resources, seasonal foods and sustainable practices. This in the long term keeps prices down, is more healthy for us and the environment and maybe most importantly keeps jobs local and puts more money directly back into Massachusetts' towns and cities.
These postitive changes, if properly enacted, can only help Worcester State Universities image and student population. Anything that can help the image of the community the college is located in only helps to create a a more positive image for the college
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