From a throwback night honoring the old Worcester Sharks hockey team, a ‘90s night at Off the Rails and performance art with a Warhol Factor veteran to burlesque performances and a historical talk on the revolution, Worcester’s got a heck of lot going on this weekend
Here are the Worcester Guardian’s five picks for things to do in Worcester this weekend:
- Factory ghosts and local glamour collide: If your Sunday plans could use a little art-world chaos, Negative Burn brings comedy, spoken word and performance art to Hunchback Gallery on Sunday, Feb. 1, from 2–4 p.m. The show features Bibbe Hansen — a Warhol Factory veteran and fixture of the experimental art underground — alongside Worcester chanteuse Niki Luparelli, whose old-Hollywood-meets-punk-stage-presence energy has made her a local standout. With Matthew Flynn also on the bill, expect something funny, strange, and delightfully unpredictable. $5 suggested donation.
- Flannel optional, angst encouraged: Dust off your Doc Martens (or pretend you never stopped wearing them) and head to Off the Rails on Saturday, Jan. 31, for Pull the Covers Off: ’90s Fest, a full-on tribute to the decade of distortion, scrunchies and glorious apathy. Rancid Ivy takes on Rancid, Courtney Did It channels Nirvana, Dando Fever covers the Lemonheads, Ookie Dookie blasts through Green Day, and Death to the Pixies does exactly what the name promises. Music runs from 7 p.m. to midnight, tickets are $25, and caring too much is strongly discouraged.
- History never stays in the past: If you think the American Revolution is settled business, historian Michael D. Hattem is here to politely (and persuasively) disagree. Presented by the American Antiquarian Society, this virtual talk on Thursday, Jan. 29, explores how Americans have argued over the meaning of 1776 for more than two centuries—and how those arguments continue to shape politics, identity, and national mythmaking today. Drawing from his award-finalist book “The Memory of ’76: the Revolution in American History,” Hattem digs into why the Revolution still stirs such strong emotions, and why rewriting the past is, in itself, a deeply American tradition. The program runs from 7-8 p.m. and takes place online and you can register for it here.
- Tease, cheers and birthday sparkle: Worcester-based burlesque artist Dolores Sweet is celebrating her birthday by bringing a lineup of her favorite performers to the city for Dolores Sweet’s Favorite Things Burlesque Revue on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. The 18+ show takes place at Worcester Dance, 75 Hammond St., Suite 1A, and features artists from across New England serving up everything from sultry and creative routines to playful, laugh-out-loud performances. It’s the second burlesque show produced at the sober-friendly studio since it opened last summer. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door.
- You’re gonna need a bigger rink For one night only, Worcester hockey nostalgia takes center ice as the Railers host Worcester Sharks Night at the DCU Center on Saturday, Jan. 31. The Railers wear throwback Sharks jerseys, Finz the mascot makes a return appearance, and fans receive a Worcester Hockey Heritage mini banner celebrating the city’s deep hockey roots. Add retro music, limited-edition merchandise, and a jersey auction to the mix, and it’s a full-on throwback for anyone who remembers the teal era. Puck drops at 6:05 p.m., with doors opening at 4:45 p.m.
For more events, visit the Discover Central Massachusetts events calendar.
Have an event, news tip, information, joke, favorite recipe or anything else you’d like to tell us about? You should. Contact carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
