In the center of downtown Lowell, upon a wall in one of the city’s many restaurants, a star’s picture hangs among many others. That picture, and the heart of Lowell, belongs to boxer Irish Micky Ward and those of his ilk, who generations ago immigrated to America and embodied his same courage and unrelenting spirit while building this city brick by brick.
Lowell, Mass., has always carried a certain buzz, a “star power.”
From its distinctive status as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution to its new hot-spot role as “Hollywood East,” Lowell’s character, grit and great determination, both past and present, is now on national display thanks to the knockout success of “The Fighter,” Mark Wahlberg’s film about Micky Ward.
From the “stars” who first answered the bell by brilliantly harnessing the power of two rivers, to the legions of brave and hopeful immigrants who continue to seek Lowell even now, to those who are charged with the responsibility of historic preservation and protecting those monumental buildings, the majority of which are still standing, Lowell continues to further create and solidify its prominence for generations to come.
And despite all that Lowell boasts — ongoing urban renewal, artist work/live space initiatives, the aggressive growth of the state university, theater, the incredibly popular Lowell Memorial Auditorium, etc. — should you speak with the average Joe who has nothing to lose or gain by speaking candidly, you will hear that Lowell’s real “buzz” comes in tribute to the heart and skillful hands of men like Ward and to the Wahlberg production.
Front row: Director David O. Russell and Mark Wahlberg. Back row: Actress Melissa Leo, Lowell Police Sergeant Mickey O’Keefe, Micky Ward, Scott Plath, unidentified.
Marky playing Micky. A tough as nails kid from Boston’s Dorchester who avoided jail and climbed to stardom first by dropping his pants on stage, now playing a tough as nails kid who avoided trouble by dropping opponents in the ring, climbing through the ropes, time and again. A deft combination.
During filming of “The Fighter,” Wahlberg and his entourage visited Cobblestones — our brick, historically designated restaurant — on numerous occasions. And like Micky throughout our 17 years, he welcomed interaction with our other guests with grace and ease (and ordered the baked haddock each time, as we were told that Wahlberg is a “creature of habit”).
Unlike the special requests, security issues and diva-like behavior exhibited by some of the other stars who have dined privately in our “safe haven” while visiting or entertaining in Lowell (Manilow, Van Morrison, Ray Romano, Jessica Simpson, The Williams Sisters and Kevin James, to name a few), Wahlberg, the same as Ward, was regular people.
Despite being widely recognized — while creating whispers and glances and autograph seekers — neither star sought special treatment. Wahlberg comfortably engaged guests even while “in character” as he practiced being Micky, pacing the lobby humbly, with head down and hands thrust into his pockets, nailing his target as the public Ward (in contrast to Ward at work, a stalking persona who “punches in” before “punching out” his opponents).
Wahlberg chatted and posed with guests in the same dining room where, only a year and a half earlier, superstars Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais filmed their fine dining scene for the movie “The Invention of Lying.” Sweet as she was (in perhaps a story for another day), Garner’s security guards were fixing to remove the owner (me!) from the set for not having “clearance.” (Shouts of, “It’s my freakin’ restaurant you big monkey,” were not necessary, as clearance was soon confirmed.)
Perhaps Mark Wahlberg would have done a great job making a period film about Micky’s ancestors, perhaps Irish immigrants to Lowell, hardscrabble no doubt, fighters in their own right. Or maybe a blockbuster about literary Lowell “champion” Jack Kerouac, who carries quite the reputation locally as one who enjoyed heaving a drink and spinning a tale. Instead, Wahlberg chose Ward and inspirational half-brother Dickie Eklund. Imperfect men who never stopped fighting, who persevered to see their origins, and grit, cast in living color.
Micky Ward was always a local hero, and is now even more recognized than after his third televised fight against the now deceased Arturo Gatti.
We have pictures of stars on the wall. We are proud of the talent that Lowell attracts, and produces, from concerts to sporting events to movie stars making movies. And by the rousing applause at the sold-out, local premiere, it was clear that Lowell, too, is as proud as ever of its history and heroes.
Scott Plath, along with his wife Kathleen, own Cobblestones of Lowell and moonstones, in Chelmsford, MA. Scott possesses a deep well of humorous and insightful stories that he will share with us regularly.
From the Kitchen – Star Power
Lowell, Mass., has always carried a certain buzz, a “star power.”
From its distinctive status as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution to its new hot-spot role as “Hollywood East,” Lowell’s character, grit and great determination, both past and present, is now on national display thanks to the knockout success of “The Fighter,” Mark Wahlberg’s film about Micky Ward.
From the “stars” who first answered the bell by brilliantly harnessing the power of two rivers, to the legions of brave and hopeful immigrants who continue to seek Lowell even now, to those who are charged with the responsibility of historic preservation and protecting those monumental buildings, the majority of which are still standing, Lowell continues to further create and solidify its prominence for generations to come.
And despite all that Lowell boasts — ongoing urban renewal, artist work/live space initiatives, the aggressive growth of the state university, theater, the incredibly popular Lowell Memorial Auditorium, etc. — should you speak with the average Joe who has nothing to lose or gain by speaking candidly, you will hear that Lowell’s real “buzz” comes in tribute to the heart and skillful hands of men like Ward and to the Wahlberg production.
Front row: Director David O. Russell and Mark Wahlberg. Back row: Actress Melissa Leo, Lowell Police Sergeant Mickey O’Keefe, Micky Ward, Scott Plath, unidentified.
Marky playing Micky. A tough as nails kid from Boston’s Dorchester who avoided jail and climbed to stardom first by dropping his pants on stage, now playing a tough as nails kid who avoided trouble by dropping opponents in the ring, climbing through the ropes, time and again. A deft combination.
During filming of “The Fighter,” Wahlberg and his entourage visited Cobblestones — our brick, historically designated restaurant — on numerous occasions. And like Micky throughout our 17 years, he welcomed interaction with our other guests with grace and ease (and ordered the baked haddock each time, as we were told that Wahlberg is a “creature of habit”).
Unlike the special requests, security issues and diva-like behavior exhibited by some of the other stars who have dined privately in our “safe haven” while visiting or entertaining in Lowell (Manilow, Van Morrison, Ray Romano, Jessica Simpson, The Williams Sisters and Kevin James, to name a few), Wahlberg, the same as Ward, was regular people.
Despite being widely recognized — while creating whispers and glances and autograph seekers — neither star sought special treatment. Wahlberg comfortably engaged guests even while “in character” as he practiced being Micky, pacing the lobby humbly, with head down and hands thrust into his pockets, nailing his target as the public Ward (in contrast to Ward at work, a stalking persona who “punches in” before “punching out” his opponents).
Wahlberg chatted and posed with guests in the same dining room where, only a year and a half earlier, superstars Jennifer Garner and Ricky Gervais filmed their fine dining scene for the movie “The Invention of Lying.” Sweet as she was (in perhaps a story for another day), Garner’s security guards were fixing to remove the owner (me!) from the set for not having “clearance.” (Shouts of, “It’s my freakin’ restaurant you big monkey,” were not necessary, as clearance was soon confirmed.)
Perhaps Mark Wahlberg would have done a great job making a period film about Micky’s ancestors, perhaps Irish immigrants to Lowell, hardscrabble no doubt, fighters in their own right. Or maybe a blockbuster about literary Lowell “champion” Jack Kerouac, who carries quite the reputation locally as one who enjoyed heaving a drink and spinning a tale. Instead, Wahlberg chose Ward and inspirational half-brother Dickie Eklund. Imperfect men who never stopped fighting, who persevered to see their origins, and grit, cast in living color.
Micky Ward was always a local hero, and is now even more recognized than after his third televised fight against the now deceased Arturo Gatti.
We have pictures of stars on the wall. We are proud of the talent that Lowell attracts, and produces, from concerts to sporting events to movie stars making movies. And by the rousing applause at the sold-out, local premiere, it was clear that Lowell, too, is as proud as ever of its history and heroes.
Scott Plath, along with his wife Kathleen, own Cobblestones of Lowell and moonstones, in Chelmsford, MA. Scott possesses a deep well of humorous and insightful stories that he will share with us regularly.