Lowell Beer Works

Colby Sedlier

Professor Julian Zabalbeascoa

F.Y.S.H Section 303

26 September 2013

                                       Lowell Beer Works

            Although I have been told that Lowell is a city known for its Cambodian population and their ever-so popular Cambodian restaurants, I decided that for my adventure for food, I would chose a location that was well-known for both its food and atmosphere. After talking to several other of my peers, I finally decided on giving Lowell Beer Works a try which is located just behind the new University Suites on the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s East Campus. I went in expecting there to be just typical bar food like Andre Dubus III talks about in his memoir Townie but I left with a completely different point of view. I have gone back on three more separate occasions and honestly, I would rank it in my top 3 favorite restaurants. From beer battered dough bites to a sesame shrimp stir-fry (my absolute favorite entrée on the menu), they have it all. I would say that Lowell Beer Works is simply delicious and a must try restaurant.

            When you first walk into the facility, you are actually outside. Lowell Beer Works features seating for what it seems to be at least 50-60 individuals right outside its front door. It is a perfect location for a warm summer night with music playing in the background and an nice cold beer for those who are of age (I wouldn’t know, I am just assuming). It is well lighted and attended by the wait-staff so there is no need to worry about being consumed by the surrounding darkness and being left out. The tables are also nicely spread apart while also featuring collapsible umbrellas for those sunny summer days.

            If one were to continue inside of the building, they first walk in and are greeted quickly by their host or hostess on duty. I have been treated kindly and quickly each and every time that I have attended. If one is of age, he or she can just walk straight in and take a seat at the bar which features comfortable bar stools, televisions that can be changed at the audience’s request, and an array of both name-brand and local alcohol.  For example, Lowell Beer Works incorporates its own brewery products into its line of drinks such as its famous blueberry ale (so I’ve been told that it is fantastic). Besides the bar, the restaurant can also hold hundreds of individuals in its comfortable booth-style seating, traditional seating, or even bar table seating.

            But who really cares about the seating? Let’s just get right into the food. My server has always been very friendly and well-trained and I have yet to hear of an order being over-cooked/under-cooked or “messed up”. To deny the chance to start off with an appetizer would be something completely foolish. The menu offers a bundle of different appetizers guaranteed to appeal to its audience. For myself, getting a Caesar salad is always the best choice because the greenery is always fresh and the croutons always perfectly crunchy. That may be a little biased only because I thoroughly enjoy them however, my family and friends have ordered other appetizers such as the beer battered dough bites and apparently, it is said that they are to die for. Enough about the appetizers though.

            To move into the entrées, one will find that they range from a juicy burger which is delectable to my favorite, the sesame shrimp stir-fry. It consists of sautéed green and red peppers, shrimp, and chicken featured in a sesame and ginger sauce with a ball of white rice. It is seasoned very well and overall I would say that the entrée is well worth the $13 price. To follow up with this delicacy, their dessert menu is also spectacular with my favorite being three slices of  Oreo crusted “pie” in which contains coffee and vanilla icecream, peanut butter, and fluffy whipped cream. It is honestly the most flavorful dessert that I have ever tasted.

            Overall, Lowell Beer Works is nothing short of brilliant. Its prices are adequate enough that a college student can afford it once in a while but at the same time features plenty of food for the little price that you pay. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that asked and I firmly believe that it is a gem that resides within the city of Lowell. It is a restaurant that can also be found in Boston which is known as one of the greatest cities in the United States (just a little biased) and for this restaurant chain to be located in Lowell, it brings up its reputation to that of Boston even if it does in the slightest amount. In my opinion, Lowell Beer Works is, and will always will be pure bliss.

             

Whistler House: Lowell

Colby Sedlier

Professor Julian Zabalbeascoa

FYSH Section 303

 3 September 2013

Whistler House: Lowell

            As I walked throughout the building, I could see paintings, photos and just overall works of art donned amongst the walls with each one portraying a different story, a different message. The last time I had ever visited an art museum had been several years prior to this and at that time, I was too young to appreciate what is considered to be a work of art. In my mind, being able to draw a picture of a sports team emblem, like that of the Red Sox, was a work of art. I had never heard of the words, foreground, shading, or lighting before. The most sophisticated word I had heard of, within the realm of the art world, at that time, was sketching; the use of a pencil and lightly colored lines to create an image (in my mind) But where was I? Why was I here and why did this place exist? How was this place established? I had so many questions but by the end of my visit, all were answered.

            I was told that the Whistler House in Lowell was a fantastic art museum and that it contained several works that deserved to be looked at and admired. I had no background information about this location but decided that I would be a good way to get out and explore Lowell’s history. Throughout the tour, I was informed about the building, how it came about, and also, about James Whistler himself. The museum was originally James Whistler’s residency while he lived in Lowell. He was a well-known painter and artist and because of this, his living space was chosen to be established into the Whistler Museum of Art that it is today. After learning this, I expected the works of art within the museum to be originals or at least copies of his work but was shocked to hear that the paintings on the walls did not contain his name. There were only sketches of Whistler’s work in the museum but they were located in a separate room dedicated to him. Despite there not being paintings by Whistler, I learned that the museum contained works solely revolved around the city of Lowell. They explain the city’s rich artistic background as well as its beauty that you can find almost anywhere. 

            But why would Lowell incorporate such a place into its city? There are several answers to this but my answer slowly formed with each step I took inside and with each inch of artwork I examined. At first, one does not really think about the importance of an art museum. Most think that it is a place to just look at paintings and stare at the “pretty colors”. However, as my opinion formed, I knew that was not the correct answer. I believe that the museum simply adds to the city of Lowell and its purpose is to tell its story. When looking at each painting, I noticed that they illustrated Lowell from its beginning to more recently. So after visiting, I confirmed my opinion that the sole purpose of the Whistler House Art Museum is to pictorially display Lowell’s journey through history; its timeline.

            Although I visited towards the beginning of the school year, I have been able to make connections through what I have read in the novel Townie and with the images I saw within the museum. In the book, I have been exposed to Lowell and its “bad” areas and people. There has been violence, drugs, and sex throughout the entire book so far and it seems like Lowell was not the best place for a child to grow up in. From seeing the images within the museum, I was able to put the two together because through the book, I was able to form illustrations of the words in my head and compare them to those that I saw on my tour. To simply put it, they were very similar and I could even say that they were nearly identical. Overall, my experience at the Whistler House was wonderful and not only did this museum allow me to see an array of artwork, it exposed me to Lowell and explained its history to me pictorially.

UMass Lowell Hockey

Colby Sedlier

Professor Julian Zabalbeascoa

F.Y.S.H Sec 303

22 September 2013

UMass Lowell Hockey

            The University of Massachusetts Lowell has been among the top growing and expanding schools within the United States with this year even welcoming its largest class of incoming freshmen. It has enhanced its facilities, faculty, curriculum, but most notably its athletic program. Moving up from Division II to Division I starting in the 2013 fall season has been among the largest accomplishments of the University. All athletic teams excelled in their 2012-2013 seasons pushing them up the ranks especially the UMass Lowell Hockey Team. They competed among the best of the best at the college level and made it to the Frozen Four where only the four most skilled teams in the United States are recognized. From their ability to succeed, as well as their fellow Riverhawks, the hockey team began their 2013-2014 season in Division I.

           

            As a currently enrolled freshman at UMass Lowell, I had the opportunity and privilege to witness the atmosphere the hockey team brings to the Tsongas Arena in which was purchased by the University within the last 5 years and is now home to the UMass Lowell hockey and basketball teams. As soon as I stepped within 100 yards of the arena, I could feel the pride that emanated from the students and fans waiting in line for their turn to finally enter the Tsongas. The crowds of people were donned fully in UMass Lowell attire ranging from sweatpants to scarfs and to hockey jerseys with each person wrapped up in the moment. I myself wore my relatively nerdy College of Engineering sweatshirt but hey, it represented UMass Lowell and that’s all that counts. As the crowds slowly poured into the arena it was finally my turn to swipe my ID and make my way to my seat.

           

            Before this event, I had been to several Boston Bruins’ hockey games. The fans at these games were plentiful and The Garden rarely had empty seats. I expected the Tsongas to be halfway full but I was completely incorrect. I walked up the stairs and turned to find my seat with the sight of thousands of people taking over almost every square inch causing me to stop and stare like a deer in the headlights. The amount of Riverhawk fans supporting their team was astounding and I felt like I was a part of it. I was in the same situation as everyone else; cheering on my team, my school, and my future. And as I eagerly waited for the players to take their positions, my heart pounded faster and faster with every winding second of the clock.

           

            It’s difficult to remember every single detail of the game because there was always something happening during every second. I couldn’t even tell you who won the first faceoff or who scored the first goal because the game was so fast paced. There were so many passes and plays that each team executed to perfection that my brain could just not process everything at once. And I know what you’re thinking and you’re wrong Professor Z…I was not drunk, I’m just used to hitting a golf ball and focusing my mind on one shot at a time rather than 9 other men skating circles around me. Despite this lack of memory, there is one moment in which I will never forget.

            As the UMass Lowell front line skated towards the opposing goalie, which happened to be right in front of me, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I remember standing up while they skated closer and closer as if we were synchronized swimmers letting our bodies become one through the air and landing perfectly into the water seamlessly together. The crowd went silent as the puck flew through the air with tiny shards of ice slipping off with every circular rotation. The horn sounded and the crowd’s voice was heard.

There was applause, screams filled with emotion, and even some kisses being exchanged between loved ones. The student section was led by its Class President into a crazy cheer excitement involving everyone willing to follow. It was the first Riverhawk goal I had ever witnessed and I found myself jumping up in down with the rest of the fans with a big grin on my face. To put it simply, it was the greatest and most memorable experience in my college career so far.

            If it were not for this hockey team and their fellow athletes’ ability to perform, the University would not be as highlighted as it is today. They are a group of individuals who have boosted the school’s reputation and have, as one team, shed light for athletes in high school to put Lowell as a top university choice for a chance to don their very own Riverhawk jersey when their time comes. As a student at UMass Lowell, the pride that I feel for my school was increased just because of this one event. And overall, this experience was thoroughly enjoyable and hopefully there will be more like this to come in the future. 

Kerouac Adventure

Colby Sedlier

Professor Julian Zabalbeascoa

F.Y.S.H Sec 303

11 October 2013

Kerouac Palooza

            Over the last few weeks, the main focus of our first year seminar in honors class, otherwise known as F.Y.S.H, has been on Jack Kerouac. We have talked about his biography, impact on Lowell, and his ability to write. Kerouac is a native to Lowell who was, in his life time, viewed as a drunken bum. One could sum up his persona as being intoxicated and under the influence of marijuana quite often however, overall, he was a writer. Despite his long journey through life without a solid job or family to support him, he excelled through his writings. Kerouac’s pieces did not become well known until after he died so unfortunately, he never experienced the fame that they came with or the fame that resides within his name today. The writings of Kerouac and his overall brilliance in the art are now celebrated during the annual Kerouac Festival which is held in his home city, Lowell, MA. As a UMass Lowell student, I was lucky enough to witness his literary work, participate on a walking tour about Kerouac and experience the festival in his honor. In my opinion, from these three dedications to Kerouac, I believe that although he was a drunk and a dependent man, his ability to write deserves the praise that Lowell gives it.

            To begin our adventure with Kerouac, the class decided upon watching the recently released film of “On the Road”, a movie based on Kerouac’s book, rather than reading his work and frankly, I am unsure if this was the correct choice. The film focused more on the sexual aspect of Kerouac’s novel rather than his rich language that, as we were told as a class, exists within. I even questioned why the movie contained sex scene after sex scene after sex scene.

For example, I am almost certain that everyone remembers the scene depicted to the right yet I struggle to understand why it is a necessary scene. As a part of the audience, it seemed as if the producers wanted to focus more on Kristin Stewart and her body rather than Jack Kerouac and his writing. I feel as if the film was an insult to Kerouac and that the cast was just using his story to make money for themselves despite realizing what they were really doing to him.

            The Kerouac Walking Tour was next on the stop of our adventure. Our tour guide was well-rounded in terms of knowing about Kerouac. Based on the factual information that he threw our way, I feel it is safe to characterize him as an expert in all things Kerouac. He knew topics that ranged from Kerouac’s date of birth all of the way to certain passages that he remembered from his writings. The tour guide began at Kerouac’s origins and took us up to present day. He proclaimed that Kerouac was viewed as a drunk who thoroughly enjoyed the party scene which included drugs such as marijuana. However, despite the “booze” as the tour guide put it, Kerouac was brilliant when it came to writing. He knew how to make writing flow and how to describe a scene perfectly and vividly without directly stating it. After the initial discussion, our tour took off throughout the city of Lowell from the Grotto behind the Franco-American School. We were directed to where Kerouac was buried and even shown where his father worked. All things aside, the library was by far the most interesting place on our tour.

The library was where Kerouac spent most of his free time while writing as he pleased. The quaint and inviting atmosphere that the library emanated allowed me to picture Kerouac sitting at a desk while diligently studying or writing. In my opinion, this library is the reasoning behind why Kerouac was able to become the name that is praised today. It was the main area that he was able to focus in and just let his emotions flow through his writing.

            The final stop on the adventure of Kerouac ended on what Kerouac Festival Event each individual in the classroom decided to participate in. 

As for myself, I decided to attend the traditional pub tour. I was able to wander Lowell and see a portion of the pubs/bars that exist within the city. The first pub that we visited was actually the start of the tour. It goes by the name of the Worthern House Café. It is officially called a tavern and according to the information I received, it is over a century old. Why was this tavern so important and relevant to Kerouac though? Apparently it was THE location to go to for drinks especially for the university’s students including Kerouac himself! Living up to his name, he enjoyed the tavern in which I’m assuming was for its alcoholic beverages. Although I was not old enough to fully experience exactly what Kerouac did, the atmosphere of the tavern was lively and overall enjoyable. To wrap up this entire adventure, I would simply state that the city of Lowell wouldn’t be quite the same without the drunken image of a talented writer who goes by the name of Jack Kerouac.

Boott Cotton Museum

Colby Sedlier

Professor Julian Zabalbeascoa

F.Y.S.H Sec 303

6 September 2013

 Boott Cotton Museum

           

To be quite frank, my experience at the Boott Cotton Museum in Lowell, MA was something out of the ordinary. The experienced took me back almost an entire century as soon as I stepped into the main room of looms. The tour began in this main room where the noise was overwhelming despite there only being about a tenth or less of the machines functioning. Our tour guide struggled to capture our attention while attempting battle his voice against that of the looms. I cannot even begin to imagine the ringing in the workers ears each and every time they left the workplace. Not only was I lead on a tour of where hundreds of immigrants manned assembly machines and looms, I actually was forced to walk in their footsteps. Along with my fellow classmates, I was placed at a station that resembled an assembly line and was put in charge of a certain job. The goal of the exercise was to reenact what the workers went through in their everyday lives. The experience went so in depth that the “overseer” even made sure to play his part by keeping us in line and focused on our work.

During our visit, I noticed that the entire museum was organized in a manner similar to the old mills. There have been minor renovations such as the elevator and fresh coats of paint but the museum staff and city of Lowell have done their best to keep their depiction of the history very accurate. To add to the organization, the design and layout of the factory and the dormitories have been preserved as well. As far as the physical location of the mills, it seemed to be among the outskirts of the city rather than right in the middle. I am sure that this is because they would have rather had more inviting shops and industries closer towards the center to attract the attention of the citizens more. Despite its physical location, the cotton mills were a perk to the city of Lowell grasping attention from hundreds of immigrants in need of work to provide for their families.

The mills were used mainly for one thing; the production of cotton (threads) into cloth. The work was tough within the factory as workers risked injury while working long hour shifts sometimes lasting twelve

hours (the time from sunrise to sunset). This was because the machines worked at rigorous paces and if a worker lost focus either from drowsiness or from not being able to see since they relied on natural light, then a finger or even a hand could be lost. Although dangerous, the work had to be completed because the cloth was a main export in Lowell’s history. To simply state it, the mills were a main source of money within the city with their products ranging from cloth for blankets to everyday hand towels and dish towels. As of today, unfortunately, the mills are no longer in business and have been transformed into what is now known as the Boott Mills Museum (the museum we visited in fact). The factory has been changed into a museum for a reason which brings up the question, why?

I believe that the museum has been created because the cotton industry was popular in the city of

Lowell and has contributed to how the city runs and how it is perceived today. Immigrants from all over would come to Lowell for a chance at work especially at the mills. I feel as if this acceptance of different genders, races, ethnicities, etc. has been carried on through Lowell’s history. If you look at Lowell today, there is a wide variety of cultures, races and ethnicities whose roots sprouted from the workers at the mills. One could say that the mills are a main influence for how Lowell is populated today.

To conclude my experience about the Boott Cotton Museum, there was not much that jumped out and surprised me. The one aspect about my visit that surprised me and left me asking questions was the technology that existed within the looms. I was shocked to see how complicated a simple cloth machine could be. Not only were they complicated, they were very dangerous. The pin shot back and forth at speeds up to forty miles per hour so with one slip, the worker could be injured leaving them out of a job and physically unable to work. I praise the workers within the mills because if it were not for their dedication to twelve hour work days and overcoming the fear of injury, Lowell would not be the city that is today.

Gods of Carnage Response (#3)

Colby Sedlier

Professor Julian Zabalbeascoa

F.Y.S.H Sec 303

29 September 2013

                                  

Gods of Carnage Response #3

         The most common opinions from a teenager after attending a play or theater styled performance consist of “Eh, it was okay”, “I fell asleep”, or “That was so boring.” I originally dreaded being told that I had to see a play and expected my post-reaction to be a similar response to that of a typical teenager. I had read about several plays in high school, mostly Shakespeare’s, and could not imagine having to sit through one. However, after an interesting journey through downtown Lowell, my expectations were obliterated to say the least. The title “Gods of Carnage” produced the image of Ancient Rome or Greece with soldiers being sent on a mission to destroy the Greek and Roman Gods of the world. 

I was awaiting the hour long dry script of old mythology to ring among the theater but was presently surprised when I saw the actual set. Instead of an old village or battle ground, a modern-day, well-furnished living room spread the stage. My hopes of being able to stay awake brightened despite the set remaining the same throughout the performance. As I took my seat, the play commenced and my eyes couldn’t seem to leave the stage for the 

entire hour and fifteen minutes while becoming more and more intrigued with the theater’s atmosphere.

The conflict expressed the struggle between two families and expressed it spectacularly. Not only did the actors sell their roles, they engaged the audience through laughter. The performance portrayed real-world problems such as double-standards between men and women and did so humorously. As a student, I did not expect to be laughing constantly throughout such a performance. There was an array of punch lines to keep the audience’s attention as well as mine. I found myself chuckling throughout most of the play at scenes such as when the lawyer’s phone was stolen and placed into the water-filled vase or when Benjamin’s mother becomes heavily intoxicated and begins to express her true opinions. It was the scenes like these that kept my attention and averted my original view on the play to see the positivity the performance had to offer. It was because of the actors that I kept my eyes open and did not walk out of the theater saying that it was “boring” or that “I fell asleep.” I thoroughly enjoyed being able to witness a down-scale Broadway performance however, it seems like it could have been. To be quite blunt, I am ashamed of myself for not giving plays or other theatrical performances a chance before this one.

            On my way back from the theater while walking to my dorm building, I began to think about the performance well knowing that I would have to collect my thoughts down on a paper eventually needing to be passed in and graded. My mind raced from beginning to end about what stood out to me and what seemed the most important. Although it was not the main idea of the play, but the one portion that stood out to me the most occurred towards the end of the performance when the parents of Henry begin to physically tussle. The idea of a double-standard between men and women emerged in my mind while watching the action. Back in the day, as some elders may say, men used to control women beyond their rights. Men used to be able to hit women without any penalty or even “use” them for various actions. In today’s society, these actions are obviously frowned upon and are punishable by law. A male may even see a life-time sentence for rape or abuse towards a woman in today’s world. 

In the play, Henry’s mother tackles her husband onto the couch and begins to hit, punch, and claw him. These actions all fall under the category of abuse and although she did not intentionally mean to hurt him,she is still at fault but will never get punished for it. However, if it was the other way around and the husband was the one abusing his wife, he would be locked up instantly and be lucky to see the light of day again. This double-standard present in the play “Gods of Carnage” forced me to think about society’s view on the world about what is acceptable and what is not. From this entire experience, I learned social customs in the world around me as well as about how to never judge a book by its cover because if it were not a requirement to attend, I would never have been able to open my eyes to appreciate what can come from a theatrical performance.