Raspberry Bars (standard 1/2 sheet pan-12"x17")
All Purpose Flour: 278 grams
Sugar: 148 grams
Toasted Almonds: 67 grams
Butter (cold-cubed): 230 grams
Raspberry Jam: 278 grams
- Preheat oven to 350
- Weigh out all ingredients except raspberry jam and put into food processor
- Pulse ingredients until they are the consistency of peas. Don't overpulse or it will form a dough
- Spread out half of the above mixture on the greased sheetpan and press down into the pan. Put the other half into the fridge
- Bake this bottom crust until set and just starting to color
- Pull out of oven and immediately pour the jam onto the hot crust and spread evenly
- Crumble the remainder of the dry mixture onto the raspberry jam and bake again until just starting to color.
Cool completely and enjoy!
Woonsock-it-to-me, RiverzEdge Arts Project! I had the pleasure of receiving a guided tour of the Woonsocket-based nonprofit's studio, which is bustling with creative, happy energy. The RiverzEdge Arts Project is is a social enterprise that provides talented, underserved teens with hands-on work experience in graphic design, digital photography, screen-printing and visual arts. They are doing good things for the community and creating compelling artwork in the process — no wonder why everyone at the studio is in a good mood. I got the chance to watch the artists screen-printing on installation pieces involving the history of the Blackstone Valley, as well as watching the process of t-shirts being screen-printed by hand. And for somebody who collects t-shirts with ferocious great white sharks on them, I was beyond pleased to find out that they do custom orders. More
This Sunday, after you've given most of your Saturday over to margaritas and mint juleps, make up for it by getting out on the Boulevard to promote healthy lifestyles. Shape Up RI and the India Association of RI are hosting their annual 5k walk/run on Blackstone Boulevard on May 6 at 1pm. The event goes off rain or shine, so gather at Lippitt Park, where Blackstone meets Hope Street, to register. The first 100 people to do so will receive free Shape Up RI pedometers. There will also be fresh fruit, healthy snacks and, of course, plenty of water. Check Shape Up RI's website for more info. More
It seemed like an April Fool’s joke – as of midnight on April 1, marijuana is decriminalized in Rhode Island – but, no, it was in fact reality. Those caught with less than an ounce of weed will no longer face criminal charges, but rather a simple $150 fine. So as I sit here with 9/10s of an ounce and a check for $150 made out to the State of Rhode Island, I can’t help wondering, what the f&*@ took so long?
I’m going to spare you the freshman-year-of-liberal-arts-college tirade about marijuana legalization: the extolling of the many health benefits of this natural medicine, the stock criticisms of our deplorable and ineffective War on Drugs, the debunking of the “gateway drug” myth, and all the other arguments we’ve been making for legalization since at least the ‘70s. I’m going to assume you know all that and talk to you like an adult.
You smoke pot. Or at least you have at some point in your past – and probably more recently than you’d care to admit in polite company. The same is probably true for at least half the people you know. We joke about it a lot – pot humor always goes a long way because damn near everybody can relate to it. I personally have witnessed some of the leaders of our community smoking up: lawyers, architects, politicians, entrepreneurs, PR professionals, scientists, executive directors of nonprofits – the list goes on. I won’t call anybody out by name, but they know who they are. Does this make them drug users? Potheads? Hypocrites? None of the above. They’re fine, upstanding citizens and productive members of society. They’re also rational adults who recognize that indulging in a little vice here and there is good for the mind, body and soul. The benefits are over-whelming, while the risks are minimal and, until now, mostly of the legal sort.
Though I was never a fan of the TV show Will and Grace, I always respected … More
Who: Longston Johnson
What: Urban streetwear designer
When: 8pm, Saturday May 26
Where: Little Bastard Co. Headquarters, 285 Main Street, Woonsocket
Why: It’s not just a t-shirt line, it’s a lifestyle… and a movement
It’s a big day for 27-year-old Longston Johnson: he’s hosting a grand opening party at his brand new Little Bastard Company Headquarters, which is part clothing boutique, part art gallery. After having success at area boutiques, pop-up shops and online, he’s proud to set up a retail store in his hometown of Woonsocket, which has seen its fair share of trouble.
By the time I arrive, the party has been in full swing for almost four hours. Still, the room is filled with music and laughter. A DJ spins hip-hop, kids breakdance on the floor, an orchestrated rap battle takes place — put mildly, it’s awesome. I spot Longston in the back of the room, leaning up against a table, receiving well wishes. He’s excited, but exhausted.
“You should have seen it earlier,” he says nodding at the crowd. “This place was packed.” It’s still packed (by my definition at least), and I’m glad to hear he’s had such a great turnout. He deserves it. Longston’s a hardworking guy who’s already done much to give back to his city: organizing canned food drives, raising money for cancer and feeding the needy at church.
And then there’s the guns. Community members have been outraged by both the name of the brand and its logo – silhouettes of kids, one of which holds a pistol. Those in opposition to the “provocative” store are having a field day on message boards: “Not a positive message for our already troubled city,” and “What in the world are they selling? That is disgusting.”
At first, Longston was angry. “My teenage rebellious side came out,” he says. “I wanted to protest, pitchfork, … More
One thing Providence does really well is maintain its character while simultaneously incorporating new and innovative technologies. A perfect example is the Cable Car Cinema’s conversion from 35mm film to a digital projector. It’s the way of the industry; many production companies will no longer distribute 35mm film as they are ultimately phased out, relegated to museums and archives. Opened in 1976, the Cable Car has been a mecca for independent films and film festivals but more so, a cornerstone in the community and beloved landmark. This digital conversion is not cheap; in fact, the Cable Car Cinema started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $48,000. The campaign is over, and they raised $54,581. Clearly, the community is on board. The upgrades are expected to be implemented in August. Until then, it may be time for another visit to the movies so that you can experience the clicking and clacking of a soon to be forgotten, century-old film projecting method one more time. More
it is often said – usually by salespeople – that everything is sales. No matter your profession, no matter your role, it all comes down to sales – not in the literal sense of an actual transaction of goods or services for money, but in the sense of getting people to buy into you, your ideas, your mission. There’s something to that line of thinking, but I prefer to go one step further and say that everything is storytelling. Whether you’re a salesperson trying to close a deal, a doctor prescribing treatment, a marketing professional devising a PR campaign, a politician pushing for legislation, or even just a job seeker trying to nail an interview, you’re telling someone a story. Your success hinges on getting your audience interested and invested in your story, and that requires an effective, engaging and coherent narrative.
I talk about Providence with a lot of people – and typically even more in the several weeks I spend putting together our annual 10 to Watch list. We talk about the city, what’s happening in it, what assets it has, what it lacks, what it can and should be, etc. One common theme that emerges in so many of those conversations is storytelling: Providence has a story, but what is it, and are we telling it effectively?
These are important questions to ask, because a good story can have a profound impact on a place. We need look no further than our city’s own ‘90s Renaissance to prove this point. People remain divided on Buddy Cianci – whether he was good or bad for the city; how much credit, if any, he deserves for its revival; and so on. I won’t claim to have the definitive answers to those questions, but I know this much is true: no one was better at telling Providence’s story than Buddy, and that is both the reason why our city was perceived as having a Renaissance and why he was perceived as the driving force behind it. The guy tells a good story. That got people … More
Mark Tuesday, July 9 on your calendar: it just might be the most important date all summer. In the spirit of our third annual Superlatives Issue, we're throwing our first annual Superlatives Party at Aqua – and it promises to be a superlative event. We'll be celebrating the movers, shakers, creators and, yes, cheerleaders featured in our Superlatives Issue with great food, cool music, cocktails by the pool and maybe even a few surprises along the way. We're also excited to have last year's Superlatives cover girls, PVD Lady Project, helping us to make this the coolest party ever. More details will follow, and tickets go on sale soon. Check us out on Facebook or Twitter for updates and announcements – but most importantly, put it on your schedule now! After all, you don't want to miss the coolest, most superlative event of the season. More
Have you heard? Athleta, the fitness and lifestyle brand designed by women athletes for women athletes, has opened its first Rhode Island store at the Providence Place Mall. Shop apparel for running, yoga, gym/training, swimming,hiking and everything in between.
Run with Ro is a weekly run club for ladies in the Providence area who want to network while working on their fitness. The group meets at Lippitt Park on Blackstone Boulevard every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. The run is led by Olympic runner and founder of Believe I Am, Ro McGettigan. More
Who: Michael “Mikey B” Brousseau
What: Tattoo artist (self-proclaimed “tattyjammer”)
When: 12pm, Sunday January 8
Where: Federal Hill Tattoo, Atwells Avenue, Providence
Why: He’s a nice guy who’s incredibly talented… and hysterical.
Mike with friend and client, Shoshanah
“The best tattoo I’ve done this week? It’s a toss up,” says Mike, looking up from his light box, pencil in hand. He reaches for a wooden box. “Want to see both?” Of course I do. As he fishes around inside the box – which is chock-full of used transfer paper – I realize the enormity of what I’m seeing. Mike, who has been working at Federal Hill Tattoo for eight years now (and works 50 hours per week), has kept every tattoo sketch he’s ever created. Yes, he’s had to empty that box… several times over.
He hands me a piece of paper. On it is a large cartoon bull, sporting an oversized septum ring and holding a plate of cake in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. The bull sits inside a semi-demolished building, the roof resting atop the animal’s head like a tiny, little hat. A sign that reads “china shop” lies on the ground off to the side. “I drew this one for a chef who everyone refers to as a bull in a china shop,” says Mike with a smile. While some tattoos (such as this one) are fun, others carry a much more somber tone. In fact, his other favorite piece was a tribute he designed for a man whose brother had recently passed away.
Mike resumes what he’d been working on; he’s drawing up a design for his friend Shoshanah who has decided to honor the birth of her only son with a tattoo of his name. While the clothing store owner had a general idea of what she wanted, Mike had to offer quite a bit of guidance. “I like the idea of a bird,” she said, simply. “Okay,” Mike replied, “and where … More
Big East basketball returns to Providence in full swing this month, as new PC head coach Ed Cooley leads his Friars into conference play. While fans are enjoying the on-court action, the real action will be happening behind the scenes in the conference’s Providence office, where major changes are afoot. Though the Big East still maintains a high profile presence in our fair city – both on and off the court – it’s evident that in practice, the conference has long since abandoned its birthplace.
What was once a collection of small, Northeastern, largely Catholic universities that played gritty, physical basketball has now become a sprawling behemoth that’s undergoing a bit of an identity crisis. The Big East has always been a basketball conference, but the real money in college athletics is in football. What is Commissioner John Marinatto to do?
The answer, beginning back in his predecessor Mike Tranghese’s time, has been aggressive expansion into football by reeling in big names like Miami, Rutgers, West Virginia and Virginia Tech. Marinatto carried on that tradition by luring Texas Christian University eastward from the football-heavy Mountain West Conference. No question, the Big East is serious about football.
The question remains, however, is football serious about the Big East? Of the five above-mentioned schools, only Rutgers will still be a member past 2014. Miami and Virginia Tech both departed for the more football-centric Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004. West Virginia will break for the football powerhouse Big 12 in 2014. TCU reversed its decision to join the Big East, also opting for the Big 12.
Indeed, Commissioner Marinatto’s dreams of becoming a major player in the multi-billion dollar industry that is college football may never materialize. Boston College, a founding member of the Big East, followed Virginia Tech and Miami to the ACC in 2005. Earlier this year, the ACC poached Syracuse and Pittsburgh, a founding member and … More
We may live in a digital world, but sometimes it just feels good to put pen to paper, particularly when it comes to setting goals. Róisín “Ro” McGettigan, a Providence resident and PC alum and fellow professional runner Lauren “Lo” Fleshman have created the Believe I Am Training Journal for this very reason, as they have seen, first hand, a training journal’s power in helping set and achieve personal goals. The journal features motivational musings and cheeky designs by the creators themselves. “Each section is illustrated, written and crafted with a great deal of heart and sincerity,” says McGettigan.
We often take for granted the fact that we can move. Unfortunately, there are many people who can’t because of a disease called ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS is a progressive motor neurone disease that robs people of the ability to move their muscles. On Saturday, March 3 from 5-7pm, The Mardi Gras Multi Club in Cranston will host a United We Dance to Cure ALSTM Zumbathon to benefit MDA’s Augie’s Quest, a non-profit research initiative dedicated to finding treatments and cures for ALS. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information, email Laura at zinno26@hotmail.com. More
Former East Side resident Andrew Gernt will be leaving his job as the deputy Press Secretary for Senator Jack Reed in Washington and will take over as the new Communications Director for Representative David Cicilline. The 28-year-old Gernt had been with the Senator for the past four years and will remain based in DC. His father Wallace (Wally) Gernt is the President of the Bradford Group – a marketing, public relations and lobbying firm here in Providence.
StyleWeek Providence Autumn/Winter 2012 begins this Sunday, January 22 at the Providence Biltmore. As always, Providence Monthly will be in the mix at all the shows and after parties. In anticipation of the main event, however, StyleWeek paid us a little visit to chat about the local fashion scene with our Executive Editor, Julie Tremaine.
If the ice and snow are doing you in, this month the Providence Convention Center thankfully offers you a glimpse of what’s only a few months away. First it’s boats (February 1-2); then it’s cars (February 6-9); and finally flowers and gardens (February 20-23). Just thinking about these kinds of things will lop ten degrees off the wind chill. Promise.
We hear so much bad economic news here in Providence, it's always great to come across some good news. Local startup Swipely, which runs credit card-based customer loyalty systems for small businesses, has been testing its services here in its hometown for a while now. Next up, it will expand into a Boston, starting with 150 businesses, a move that drew the attention for Forbes. Congrats to Swipely for making national headlines. Read the article here. More
For years, the venerable Wayland Toy Store occupied the large space at the heart of the square on the corner of Wayland and Medway. Most recently it housed the Pow! Science store. Then suddenly it was empty. But as of this month, there is good news. Dixon & McAllister, a casual clothing retailer for men and women based in Newport, has just opened up in this very visible location. With the women’s retailer F. Bianco relocating from Garden City soon to Angell Street, the Square has gone full circle to virtually fully occupied. Good news all around.
There’s good news on Thayer Street. The long vacant Adesso restaurant space is now finally officially occupied. The Flatbread Company, a small chain that has already proven quite popular in college-oriented towns and specializes in delicious wood-fired pizza among other things, just opened for business. As nature abhors a vacuum, the East Side hates an empty store. For this large vacant spot on Thayer Street, is no more.
Broad Street Synagogue, 688 Broad Street, South Providence
Cathedral of St. John, 275 North Main Street, College Hill
Westminster Congregational Church, 126 Adelaide Street, South Providence
United Presbyterian Church, 619 Chalkstone Avenue, Smith Hill
St. Teresa of Avila Church, 275 Manton Avenue, Olneyville
Bomes Theater, 1017 Broad Street, South Providence
Ward Baking Company Administration Building, 145 Globe Street, Jewelry District
RIDOT Headquarters and Garage, 30 Arline Street, Valley
Grace Church Cemetery & Cottage, 10 Elmwood Avenue, South Providence
Industrial Trust Tower, 111 Westminster Street, Downtown
Atlantic Mills, 100 Manton Avenue, Olneyville
57 Federal Street, 57 Federal Street, Federal Hill
State House Lawn, 90 Smith Street, Capitol Center
Doyle Avenue Historic District, East Side
Great news for foodies: Providence is finally getting a clam shack. After wasting years lagging far behind pretty much all of South County, most of the East Bay, and Warwick in the area of fried seafood technology, the city welcomes the venerable Blount Fine Foods to the space that formerly housed the second (and unfortunately short-lived) Stanley's Burgers. This addresses a gaping hole in the Providence food scene. As a port city and the capital of the Ocean State, we offered precious little in the way of classic New England seafood. Sure, there is Hemenway's, but that's much more of a fine dining experience. Beyond that and neighborhood institution Carrie's on the North Providence border, there wasn't much. When Blount opens in the spring, we will, at long last, be able to get a decent plate of fried clams without having to hit 95 South. More