Raise a Glass: Pints and Power Launches at Boland’s
September 9th in Worcester we're holding the official launch party for Pints and Power. Open to the Public.
I did it! I finished the First Pour Early Release edition. Last night I ended the last sentence. The honor of my last addition went to a narrative about Irish Immigrant to America, Tobias Boland and my Worcester, Mass
More about that below, but first...
On Tuesday, September 9th at 7:00 PM, Boland’s Bar & Patio in Worcester will host the official launch of Pints and Power. If you’re nearby, come join us for an evening of readings, Q&A, book signings — and live music from Worcester’s own Mike Ladd.
For Worcester and Beyond
Not everyone can be in Worcester that night. But the story of why we’re launching Pints and Power at Boland’s is part of the book itself — and worth sharing with every reader.
Back in 1826, Tobias Boland brought Irish laborers to dig the Blackstone Canal. They laid tracks, built churches, and created the Irish community that still thrives here. Worcester became a place where Guinness wasn’t just imported — it was embraced as a thread back to Ireland.
That’s why Shuggy’s bar carries Boland’s name. And that’s why the book launches here — in a place where pints, stories, and inheritance still flow.
Music as Memory
Local musician Mike Ladd captured this inheritance in his ballad Blackstone Cúil, telling the story of Worcester’s Irish canal diggers, their hardships, and the way tents became homes. On launch night, he’ll perform live — weaving music into the same cultural fabric that runs through the book.
A Canal, A Corner, and a Home to the Pint
Worcester, Massachusetts is a city that rarely makes the headlines but has always been at the crossroads. It also happens to be the home of my local—Boland’s Bar and Patio.
Set midway between Boston and Providence, Worcester rose in the 19th century as a manufacturing hub tied...
This post includes excerpts from "A Pint Abroad" - Chapter Six of Pints and Power. Paid subscribers can read this full Worcester section in their member library.
Special Launch Editions
At the event, we’ll have limited copies of the First Pour Early Release hardcover edition — hand-numbered and signed ($30 each). Paperbacks will also be available ($15 each), and while they aren’t numbered, they can be signed as well.
Paid subscribers don’t need to worry about missing out — your copies are coming from this same limited run and are scheduled to be mailed next week.
For now, these are the only two ways to get a copy of Pints and Power: by being at the launch in Worcester or by being a paid subscriber. The book will become more widely available later, but this first pour is for those closest to the story.
Join Us (Near or Far)
If you’re local, come raise a pint with us at Boland’s:
📅 Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 | 7:00 PM
📍 Boland’s Bar & Patio | 81 Water Street, Worcester, MA
If you’re not in the area, stay tuned here. We’ll be sharing photos — and maybe even video — from the night, so you can still experience the stories, the pints, and the music alongside us.
— Mike
