Though this was an article about Providence? Or Hartford? Maybe Portland, Maine? Guess again: with a population of 181,000, the second largest city in New England is Worcester, a historic mill and factory hub that actually peaked in size in the 1950s (at 204,000) before experiencing a decline. In recent years, however, this central Massachusetts metropolis just 45 miles west of Boston and 65 miles east of Northampton and the Pioneer Valley has experienced a bit of a revitalization. Worcester isn't a major tourist destination, but it does have a lively downtown, with a number of historic industrial buildings now housing restaurants and bars. The city also celebrates the well-attended Worcester Gay Pride celebration each year in mid-September.
In my ongoing efforts to create guides to GLBT nightlife throughout New England (see my Boston and Providence gay bar guides from this past summer), I've recently written a primer on Worcester gay (and gay-friendly) nightlife and restaurants. I'll be developing similar guides on the gay scenes in Hartford, New Haven, Northampton, Provincetown, Ogunquit, and Portland in the future.