How to Live Your Best Life in Worcester, MA

Courtesy of Jake and Sarah Sanders

Jake and Sarah Sanders are both born-and-raised Worcester locals. Jake works for a local nonprofit called the Architectural Heritage Foundation (its current project is the restoration and redevelopment of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium), while Sarah teaches in Worcester Public Schools and is a published writer. Talking about life in Worcester, MA, comes easy to them. 

“Worcester is called the Heart of the Commonwealth. The first valentine was produced here. The birth control pill was invented here. So was the smiley face,” Jake says. “Everyone from Worcester has so much hometown pride. It’s been exciting to see that grow because you only get one hometown.” 

The Ins and Outs of Life in Worcester

The couple, parents to a busy toddler, share their thoughts on the best local restaurants, museums, places to see live music, and how they survive Worcester winters. 

What are some of your favorite bars and restaurants? 
Jake: One of our favorites is called Wooden Bar. It’s a couple of guys that actually did a ramen pop-up at our wedding, and they’re doing some really cool and unique creative food. 

Sarah: We love Deadhorse Hill for regional, seasonal cuisine, and Armsby Abbey for craft beer and cocktails. Those are probably our two favorite restaurants in the city. 

What are your tips for enjoying Worcester’s winters and making the most of the cold weather? 
Sarah: We have Ski Ward Ski Area. It’s not an enormous mountain, it’s more of a beginner’s mountain. I went with my friends last year for a first-timer’s snowboarding tutorial. 

Jake: I like to be warm, so one of our favorite places to go is the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. You go into their greenhouse, and it feels like you’re in Florida even though it’s the middle of winter, which is always nice. 

Ice skating at the Common Oval is definitely a popular activity, too. It’s really grown up over the past 10 years, and the city does a lot of programming there. Sarah even did a fashion show, where they laid out a red carpet across the ice. 

What are your favorite historical Worcester landmarks or museums? 
Jake: Worcester has a small-town feel but is actually the second-largest city in New England. Everyone knows each other, but there’s a Monet at the Worcester Art Museum. They have a wonderful art collection, and it’s right in our backyard. A lot of our time is spent between the EcoTarium, Worcester’s science and nature museum, and the Worcester Historical Museum. Worcester is also the home of the American Antiquarian Society. They have the largest repository of documents that predate the 20th century, things from the Revolutionary War, so a lot of historians will go there to do their research. They have artifacts, too, like a lock of George Washington’s hair and tea from the Boston Tea Party. 

Sarah: The art museum is only a couple of miles from our house. It’s such a peaceful space – I just love it. The EcoTarium has a newly renovated planetarium, and we really love to go there, too. As far as the history of Worcester, one of my favorite places to go is the World War I Memorial, because it has a whispering wall. The architecture has the effect where you sit on one side and someone else 70 feet away on the other side can whisper and it’s like it’s in your ear. 

What are some of the best spots to catch live music or performances in Worcester? 
Sarah: There are a number of venues for whatever type of music you’re into. There’s an active underground music scene here. When I was younger, I used to love to go to Ralph’s Diner, an old diner attached to a firehouse with a big club upstairs that has a huge range of local musicians who play there. 

Jake: There’s The Palladium, if you’re into the hard rock scene, or there’s the Hanover Theatre if you’re looking for a Broadway-type experience. The DCU Center is the largest venue; it’s the home of the Railers Hockey Club, and they have concerts and ice-skating performances. 

For family-friendly entertainment, we spend a lot of time at Polar Park watching the Woosox (baseball team). There’s a playground and plenty of entertainment. Well, and hopefully my project, the Worcester Memorial Auditorium will come online as an entertainment venue again.