By Paul Giorgio

ColumbusFest. Shrewsbury Street comes alive on Columbus Day weekend. Join in the fun Sunday, Oct. 13, as more than a dozen places along Worcester’s Restaurant Row celebrate the Columbus Day weekend. Some of the eateries will feature Italian food, while others will host a traditional Oktoberfest, including barmaids in lederhosen, German food and beer.

Spooky, spooky night. The third annual Canalloween party kicks off in Worcester’s Canal District on Saturday, Oct. 26. You can run in the Scary Monster Dash at 3 p.m., watch a Halloween parade at 4 p.m. and party along Water and Green streets in the Canal District at night.

Here a chick, there a chick. Chick-fil-A is on its way in Westborough after recently receiving town approval. Some may remember that the restaurant chain was uninvited from opening in Boston after its owner took an anti-gay position on marriage equality.

He will be missed. Jim McNally, the venerable owner of Clinton’s iconic The Old Timer Restaurant, recently passed away. McNally was a fixture in the restaurant, singing Irish tunes as he carved prime rib for his diners. He will be missed, and we send our best to his family.

And yet more frozen yogurt. Brothers Dean and Todd Stamoulis, owners of Garden Fresh on Worcester’s Main Street, down by the courthouse, recently opened Fresh & Healthy Frozen Yogurt in the Atrium of St. Vincent’s Hospital. The question is: Does Worcester now have more banks or frozen yogurt places?

Northworks open on Saturday. Northworks Bar & Grille on Worcester’s Grove Street is now open for lunch on Saturdays. The first Saturday lunch was served mid-September.

Lord of The Manor. The new bar and restaurant in The Manor in West Boylston had its official ribbon-cutting in mid-September. Cutting the ribbon was Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, who crossed the town line to do this. Also on hand were State Rep. Jim O’Day and former Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, who now heads the Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce. The Draught House, as expected, has a large selection of beers on tap.

New Indian. The New House of India recently opened in the Webster Square area of Worcester at 2 Cues Square. Besides the regular menu, the restaurant offers a $9 buffet lunch during the week and a $10 buffet lunch on weekends.

Narragansett releases new pilsner. Narragansett Brewing, a New England favorite for more than 60 years, recently released its Narragansett Imperial Bohemian Pilsner.

New range rider. Worcester’s Coral Seafood has a new chef. Kurt Galloway recently started at Coral after stints at Storehouse Inn in Little Compton, R.I., and at the South Beach, Fla., Ritz-Carlton. Prior to that, he was the sous chef for The Donald. That’s right, Donald Trump. Galloway is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University. The chef plans to update Coral’s menu within the month.

Talking about a new menu. The Flying Rhino Café, also on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street, has unveiled its new seasonal menu. Go try it out.

A little tree with that food. The annual Regional Environmental Council’s Slow Food Gala Fundraiser will take place Oct. 17 at Holy Cross College. Call the REC for tickets.