Calling all foodies. The Providence Alternative Market is hosting a Food Truck event in partnership with Food Trucks In. In addition to the usual vendors at the open-air market there will be seven local food trucks ranging from tacos (Mijos) to vegetarian options (Sprout) to sandwiches on pretzel bread (Noble Knots). There will even be coffee and dessert trucks. The event is free and includes on-site parking. If your growling stomach isn’t enough motivation to go, this alternative market includes herbs and flower vendors, music and food workshops. Sounds mouth-watering. Saturday July 20 from 11am-2pm. Miriam Hospital Arena Lot, 1111 North Main Street, Providence. More
After months of internal discussions, in addition to several public neighborhood meetings, the consulting group that has been hired by the City’s Department of Planning to analyze the Thayer Street district had been set to make their final recommendations at the end of September. This has now been changed to the end of October. As we go to press, neither the date nor the location has been finalized. The best plan is to either call Emily Kish at the Planning Department at 680-8523 or check their website for the specifics when available. This will probably be the last chance for residents to speak out on the consultant’s recommendations that will potentially change usage patterns, traffic flow, parking, late night closings and the like. It’s an important meeting so if you don’t show up, don’t complain later.
With Halloween looming, Providence will again be celebrating one of its own creators of horror during the annual H.P. Lovecraft Walking Tour and film series. The tour, hosted by the Rhode Island Historical Society in conjunction with the Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival, will highlight the famous horror and fantasy author's “Providence stories,” written between 1924 and 1935. The tour will cover the site of his former home, as well as numerous locations around the city mentioned in pieces such as The Haunter of the Dark, The Shunned House, and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.
The tour begins at 1pm on Sunday, October 28 , departing from the John Brown House at 52 Power Street, and will last for 90 minutes. Tickets cost $18 per person and can be purchased in advance by calling the RIIFF offices at 401-861-4455 or online. Those who attend will be treated to two premiere films inspired by the writing of Lovecraft: Shadow of the Unnamable and The Thing on the Doorstep, immediately following the tour at 2:30. The screenings will be held at the Providence Public Library Theatre, 150 Empire Street. Tickets for the film screening only will be available to the public at the door. More
One of the commonly held definitions of the phrase “public servant” is widely shared and easily understood: a person who has been elected, or appointed, to a governmental or representative office, whose responsibility it is to advance the cause of the better welfare of the general public, i.e., the public servant’s fellow citizens.
Regretfully, however, polls now show that many Americans have come to believe that the notion of “government of, by and for the people” is no longer anything more than a quaint and outdated sophistry from times long since passed that is no longer relevant in our modern political life. Nowhere else is this phenomenon seen as clearly as it is in the current attitudes of a vast majority of Americans toward the United States Congress. Polling shows, on a consistent basis, the belief of most citizens that Congress exists, in its modern incarnation, not for public service but rather for self service. Sadly, during these stressful times of government shutdown, Americans, in vast numbers, say they feel government no longer exists for the purpose of the defense and welfare of those who have installed it but rather that many in government are interested only in the defense and welfare of the fortunes they have accumulated during their years of “public service.”
Perhaps as we elect tomorrow’s officeholders, we should require of them a sort of Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm. When members of Congress involve themselves in the subterfuge and opaqueness we have witnessed over the recent term, is it any wonder that approval ratings of the Congress are historically low? What does this do to America’s image and reputation, home and abroad? What does this say to young Americans who are desperately attempting to gain a foothold in their lives, and to build their future? Is there a good future in a country that appears, at times, to be devoid of rational leadership?
Where is … More
Who can forget all the buzz last summer regarding a movie being filmed in our area starring powerhouse celebrities Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton? The time has finally come to see our beloved state and its beautiful scenery up on the big screen in acclaimed director Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. The film is set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965 and tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact and run away together in the wilderness. You may have heard rumors of Bruce Willis and Bill Murray spottings at Tiverton’s Standish Boatyard. (The boatyard was just one of the many staging areas for the film.) The Hollywood stars were said to have been very friendly and down to earth. Be sure to look for the much-anticipated motion picture, set to premiere as the opening film of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival on May 16. It’s scheduled for an American release on May 25. More
Are you still bummed that your Hogwarts letter got lost in the mail? Turn that frown upside-down, because Brown has you covered. Brown University kicks off the year with some fascinating new exhibits and one of them taps into the realm of magic.
The latest exhibit is called The Art of Illusion: Selections from the H. Adrian Smith Collection of Conjuring and Magicana. Over his lifetime, Smith built up a private collection of books, manuscripts and other objects concerning magic and illusions. His extensive collection was passed along to Brown and now has its own exhibit in the John D. Rockefeller Library. Admission is free for and the general public is welcome to view these fascinating pieces from now until March 26. Visitors must check in with the service desk or call 401-863-2165. More
Have you (or your kiddos) ever wondered what it would be like to be a zookeeper? All month long, Roger Williams Park Zoo is offering visitors the chance to get up close and personal with giraffes, seals and other animals with its group Animal Feedings (May 4-31). The cost is $10-$20 for a feed bucket depending on the type of animal to be fed that day. Parents may share a bucket with a child. There will be limited capacity of 10 participants per day for the group feedings and tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Be sure to reserve yours ahead of time – this is sure to win you some major parental brownie points. More
Ingredients:
6-8 fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice
2-3 oz. bourbon
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. water
Directions:
1. Muddle mint leaves, sugar and water in a glass.
2. Fill glass with crushed ice.
3. Pour in bourbon.
4. Garnish with a sprig of mint
Enjoy. More
Rhode Island’s pre-winter chill and changing leaves act as harbingers for something tastier on the horizon: October’s seasonal beers. Breweries all across the state are overflowing with the stuff, each beer a combination of the respective brewery’s ideals and hands-on techniques. So of course, we had to have a taste.
With creamy chocolate tones and an unapologetic assertiveness, Revival Brewing’s Octoberfest Lager features an initial sweet kiss hello followed by a deliciously bitter goodbye.
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Clear hints of autumn dance through Narragansett Beer’s Fest, a traditional German Oktoberfest-style beer that balances seasonal flavor with refreshing drinkability.
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A little sweet, a little bitter, Grey Sail’s Autumn Wind offers a toasty, smooth flavor that sends a surprising chill across the tongue, as if the beer were actually infused with an autumn wind.
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When it comes to beers appropriate for accompanying autumnal pumpkin desserts, Newport Storm’s Oktoberfest takes the cake - or pie - with its intoxicating smell and light caramel taste.
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Smoother than the typical IPA, Foolproof’s Imperial IPA combines a strong bitter kick with floral hints, creating what one taster described as an “Olde English” drinking experience.
A new student exhibit call Under the Influence just opened in the Gelman Student Exhibitions Gallery at RISD's Chace Center. Here are five our favorite pieces. Check out these, and many more, yourself from now until December 11.
We Stopped Dreaming by Nick Penney
Cut out of blank newsprint, an ominous message can be pieced together to make you think.
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California by Will GM Radin
Beautiful photos paired with a beautifully crafted piece draw you in to an unknown narrative left to your imagination.
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Pierre by Jason Rabie
A very animated chair makes for an interesting experience. It also makes you marvel at how it was even made to begin with. The small sign asks you to "please approach", so don't be shy.
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F*** by Hyo Jin Yoo
An interesting scuplture of mouths expressing an all too familiar word.
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NO Mugging by Nupur Mathur, Gefeng Wang & Jennifer Vincent
A professional looking sign with an out of the ordinary message grabs all kinds of attention…You need to see the newsreel!
Calling all illustration, comic and arts and crafts lovers: ICON7 is bringing the Illustration Conference to Providence, June 13-16. This non-profit organization creates community in the illustration and design professions through the four-day conference, which will include guest speakers, workshops, parties and even a soccer match at various locations around the city. But if you can’t commit to the conference, there will be two special events held on Friday, June 15. First, Lynda Barry, creator of the long-running, influential comic strip Ernie Pook’s Comeek, will be holding the Main Stage Keynote 5:30-6:30pm at The VETS Theater. Tickets are $25. Immediately after, the conference is hosting the Rhode Show Bazaar at the Symphony Ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel, 6:30-10pm, presenting a group of over 60 artists in a portfolio showcase and marketplace. Illustrated products will be for sale by the artists themselves and illustrators Chris Buzelli and Jessica Hische will be signing free large-format ICON7 posters from 7-8pm. Both events are open to the general public and the Rhode Show Bazaar Marketplace is free. More
We need a few amateur photographers to be our eyes on the street looking for style. Snap an Instagram shot of a fashionable person, clothing item, shoe, accessory, scene, etc. and post it to our Facebook wall. Some of our favorites will wind up on the cover of our September "Street Style" issue. And our absolute favorite will win a profile in our monthly style column, "The Look." More
Move over, Alec Baldwin. Your time as champion of the Adams Memorial Library is over. This month, RISD grad student Emily Leighton is staging the Central Falls Museum Project, a pop-up museum celebrating the city’s arts and culture. From May 3-11, the carriage house at the library will become a gallery, performance space and place to create. Central Falls has had more than its fair share of problems, but Leighton’s idea is that sharing the city’s artistic talent is a step towards revitalization. The weeklong event will have art exhibits, dance performances, art lessons and more. What’s better, everything is free and open to the public. Good news from Central Falls? That’s something worth commemorating. More
If you haven’t heard of her, you soon will. One of the hottest photographers on the scene is Corey Grayhorse, who in addition to shooting for us, captures not so everyday people in studio and on location, in her signature fantastical style. Last night she hosted Cocktails and Cupcakes, an event in which Grayhorse aficionados could enjoy being painted by makeup artists Jessica Berndt and Kate Richard, styled by Lizzy Colley and photographed by Ms. Grayhorse herself. The makeup was wild, the jewelry was large… The Cupcakerie’s cupcakes were delish. And yes, the cocktails were flowing freely. More
Now that spring is actually feeling like spring, there is no more snow on the ground and everyone is in higher spirits, why not add to the feelings of elation and head on down to the newest comedy club in Cranston, The Joke Store. Its opening weekend is May 17-18 with Nick Albanese headlining the occasion.
We all have to do some spring cleaning, and Chef Walter Potenza is no exception. His longtime Federal Hill establishment Potenza Ristorante-Bar is moving to Cranston. They will still be serving the same seasonal menu, appy hour and gluten free options, but are just changing locations.
And while one business is leaving the Hill another has put in some roots. Fruitzzy is officially open and serves frozen yogurt by weight. With 11 flavors to choose from and a nearly endless amount of available toppings, it’s a sure way to cool down the much anticipated summer nights.
If you don’t have a sweet tooth then maybe knocking back a cold one is more your style. Lucky for you, Foolproof Brewing Company in Pawtucket has recently completed its first expansion. The brewery installed three new brewing tanks which has doubled the company’s production capability. Crack open one of their year-round brews and raise your glass to celebrate this local success story.
The food truck craze is not slowing down, and adding to the fleet is Sprout: The Vegetarian Food Truck. They are out to prove that vegetarian o!erings are just as satisfying as their meaty counterparts. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up on their current location. More
The quintessentially New England town of Stowe, Vermont may be a skiers paradise, but there are so many great things to do there, even when there is (blissfully) no snow on the ground. I recently spent a fall foliage weekend in Stowe, which was so picturesque and relaxing that on Monday morning when we were driving to work, my traveling companion and I both fantasized about turning our cars around and heading back to Vermont.
I was expecting Stowe to be a relatively sleepy town in the off-season, rich with scenery but not much else. It turns out my expectations were completely wrong: there is so much to do in the area, mostly involving food or drink. On the drive from the highway to our hotel, I was begging to stop every two minutes - for “the world’s best” cider donuts, at a distillery or gourmet cheese shop, at a farm-oriented general store. My willpower ran out at the Ben and Jerry’s Factory, where they offer tours, and there’s a “flavor graveyard” in remembrance of dearly departed flavors like Rainforest Crunch and White Russian.
We had to work off all of that Wayne’Swirled (a Saturday Night Live flavor mixing vanilla and caramel ice creams with a dark caramel swirl), so as soon as we checked into our hotel, we headed back out for a scenic hike.
Scratch that. We headed out for what I thought would be a pleasant, easy jaunt to Sterling Pond, but was actually a tough mile-plus up Smuggler’s Notch. Just past the pond - which, ok, fine, was beautiful, once my vision came back - is the trailhead for several ski runs on Mt. Mansfield. So yes, we hiked to a gorgeous pond. I just didn’t know we were hiking up an entire mountain to get to it.
Despite my best attempt to fall off the mountain on our descent (I wish I was kidding), we made it down. But I … More
As any successful businessperson will tell you, networking will get you everywhere. PVD Lady Project founders Julie Sygiel (of lingerie company Sexy Period), Folu Akinkuotu and Sierra Barter (of event design company Clementine Lime) envisioned an “old boy’s club” for women, where the city’s driven divas could come together to share ideas and connect with like-minded ladies over a glass of champagne.
Boutique owner and fashion designer Karen Beebe
The project’s second event took place on April 26 at Bravo Brasserie and featured three-minute talks by three amazing women, followed by a Q&A session. First up was the ever-stylish Karen Beebe, fashion designer and owner of Downcity’s Queen of Hearts and Modern Love. Next in line was Martha Sheridan, who – in addition to knowing how to rock a “fierce” polka-dotted blazer – is the president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau. Last, but not least, was Hannah Mellion, food system activator at Farm Fresh RI.
Karen Beebe and Hannah Mellion
The take-away message was clear: work hard, earn your stripes, make good connections and never burn your bridges. The evening was capped off by a musical performance by the Sugar Honey Iced Tea. All ticket proceeds were donated to the Sojourner House. More
H&M had their grand opening at the Warwick Mall this past Thursday and the crowd, myself included, was pumped to shop for some $30(!) bikinis! Well, the female half of the crowd that is. The anticipation was killing me, as I got there an hour early (which should have been two hours early, as I stared enviously at everyone in front of me with the cool swag bags), and the dance music only fueled my desire to dress for less. The clock struck noon, and we poured in the doors like people who love to shop for high fashion at an affordable price.
The women's section was chock full of cute options for all occasions, from bohemian and beachy to dressed for success (and I don't mean polyester pant suit status). The men's section is equally impressive, where you can get a $60 suit and look like a million dollar man. There is also an adorable children's section (and by section, I mean it takes up a considerable portion of the store). No longer do local men have to travel to New York or Boston to enjoy the fabulous H&M experience. This sort of shopping excitement brings me back to my pre-teen days of shopping at the Limited Too, minus the bedazzled jean jackets, perfume, and sparklies. More
Reality television is so much better when you have someone local to root for. You've seen Sabrina Blaze's sequined fabulousness downtown at the Dark Lady (where she hosts Tuesday night karaoke) and performing in her one-woman cabaret act at Theatre by the Sea in Matunuck (which is returning this summer for another season). Now you'll be able to see her on RuPaul's Drag Race — that is, if you vote her on the show. One vote per person per day. Let's show her some PVD love. Click here to vote. More
In next month's issue we reflect on 2013. Help us identify the good and the bad of the year. You may even find your feedback in print.
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