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
I’ve been writing about food, restaurants and chefs for SO Rhode Island since this magazine made its debut in September 2007, and since 1998 for its parent company which also publishes Providence Monthly and The Bay. I figure I’ve written hundreds of articles and restaurant reviews during my career as a food writer, which began in 1983. During that time I’ve also written several books about Rhode Island, its wonderful restaurant scene and its many talented home cooks.
It has been a dream job, but now it’s time to slow down a bit, and this is my final column for SO Rhode Island. I’m giving up almost all aspects of my career as of this month. The only thing I’ll be doing from now on is writing cookbooks and restaurant guides. That will keep me more than busy.
In 2006 I wrote The Providence and Rhode Island Cookbook, which was published by Globe Pequot Press. Last year, my publisher asked me to update the book, and The Providence and Rhode Island Cookbook, Second Edition came out a few months ago. The 292-page book has been totally updated and now features 30 new recipes from some of the hottest restaurants in the area. The second edition also features new color photography that illustrates how beautiful our state is, and how appealing our delicious food is – from arancini to zeppoles.
The book contains more than 200 recipes that are unique to Rhode Island, especially from the southern part of the state. I write about our beloved johnnycakes, the thin variety from Newport County and the thicker version found in South County. I sing the praises of Allie’s Donuts, Block Island doughnuts, May breakfasts and the breakfast sandwich favored by local sportfishermen.
And then there’s our amazing seafood – real Rhode Island chowder with its clear broth, the red clam chowder we enjoyed at Rocky Point and the creamy scallop chowder from The Mooring Restaurant in Newport. So many of my favorite recipes are in … 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
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
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
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
The first EatDrinkRI Festival kicks off April 19-21, showcasing the best and brightest of the local culinary scene. The Sunday morning Grand Brunch features some of the area's best chefs, including James Mark from north, Jonathan Cambra from Tiverton's Boat House and Melissa Denmark and Danielle Lowe from Ellie's Bakery. Here, they share the recipe for their blue cheese and walnut scone.
1. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or fork work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture appears sandy and the pieces of butter are slightly smaller than a pea.
2. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, mix in the blue cheese and walnuts.
3. Slowly add the heavy cream. Fold everything together until the ingredients are almost fully combined. Be careful not to over mix, as this is what causes tough and chewy scones.
4. Remove the mixture from the bowl and place on a floured surface. Roll the dough into a rectangle (about 10” x 20”). Fold the left side into the center, and then fold the right side on top, like folding a letter to fit in an envelope. This is called a tri-fold.
5. Roll the folded dough out again to the same size rectangle and repeat the folding two more times. This technique is what creates flaky layers.
6. Once you have done three tri-folds, roll the dough to the same size rectangle and place onto a sheet pan and put in the freezer for 1 hour.
7. Once the dough is very cold and stiff, you can cut the scones into desired shapes. Use a knife to cut scones into squares or triangles, or use a circle cutter to make round scones.
8. Place onto a parchment lined sheet pan. Brush each scone with egg wash and a small pinch of sea salt. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom.
This scone from Ellie's Bakery, will be served at the EatDrinkRI Festival's Grand Brunch at the on Sunday, April 21. More
The season looks promising, with several new bars and restaurants in full swing. Probably the biggest news was the late March opening of The Grange, a vegetable restaurant from Garden Grille veteran Jon Dille. Much like its predecessor, The Grange’s plant-based cuisine is intended to appeal beyond the vegan/vegetarian set and attract all diners – even carnivorous ones. The Kyla Coburn-designed restaurant (she’s responsible for Loie Fuller’s, The Avery and several other restaurants that have caused you to comment on how gorgeous they are) occupies the fantastic space on the corner of Broadway and Dean Street that has sadly come and gone in various incarnations over the past few years. But judging by the work they put into it (the new façade is beautiful) and the early buzz, The Grange is here to stay.
Elsewhere on the West Side, enigmatic restaurateur Mike Sears (Lili Marlene’s, Ama’s) has opened Justine’s, his newest cocktail lounge, in Olneyville Square. The speakeasy style bar is squarely aimed at appealing to women (and by extension, of course, men): you enter it through a curtain in the back of a lingerie shop, and the “ladies’ lounge” (read: bathroom) has its own bar inside. There is a well-curated selection of classic cocktails that are shockingly only $5, and some light snacks. There is, of course, no website and I’m not going to tell you the address because Sears is probably already upset just that this is appearing in print. You’ll have to ask around and find it yourself.
After a long delay, Nami is finally open on Federal Hill, serving sushi and other Japanese fare in a handsomely renovated space. Moving Downtown, Bodega Malasaña is the new wine bar from the … More
The Proof is in the Coiffurium
In our cover story this month you get to see how Hope Street is adding to the life and economy of Providence. Another layer for not only the neighborhood but the country as a whole, is having one of the establishments nationally recognized. Elle Magazine has ranked the Coiffurium as one of the top 100 salons in the country. And really, are we surprised? The Coiffurium is a little gem that continues to add to the vibrancy of Hope Street. Hope Street is doing something right, and they continue to prove it.
The Big Picture
RISD is once again hosting its Big Draw event, this year on May 19. The family-friendly event involves people of all ages coming to the RISD Museum to make art, and thereby connect them to the fine art in the musuem’s collection. The event is free and open to the public, and is part of the international Big Draw campaign that happens at over 1500 locations worldwide.
Shop SoMa
South Main Street is bringing back its Spring Festival on May 18. Participating merchants along South Main will offer in-store treats and special shopping deals. “I’m going to do wine and treats,” says Natalie Morello of Shoppe Pioneer, “other people are doing treats, there will be shopping promotions.” In addition, the Wild Colonial Tavern will be hosting an outdoor beer garden. The all-day event happens from 11am-7pm, and Bin 312 will be doing wine tastings all day. “We did it for the holidays and it was really nice,” Natalie says.
Sharpening Their Swords
Three Wheel Studio has been a great addition to Wickenden Street’s artsy vibe. The ceramic studio and gallery showcases fun, decorative and often whimsical works from a variety of artists, including proprietor Dwo WenChen. But now his work about is about to get a big boost beyond Wickenden – namely, Boston’s Huntington Avenue. He has been asked to contribute pieces to the Museum of Fine … More
Some of you may know Stephanie Obodda as the foodie behind our monthly chef interviews, but she also does quite a bit of writing on her own about food and travel. She recently took a trip to the Galapagos islands, during which she kept a really cool illustrated travel journal. Now she's posted it on her website as an interactive flipbook, so we can all enjoy her experience. Read on and satisfy your (vicarious) wanderlust. More
It hasn't been April Fool's for Providence Mayor Angel Taveras – in fact, only two days in the month has already been kind to him. First, there was some major national press from the Washington Post (by way of the AP) highlighting his accomplishments thus far. The article spotlights his efforts to "walk Rhode Island capital back from the brink of bankruptcy," citing his aggressive approach to the $110 million deficit he inherited, his spending cuts, his negotiations with the nonprofits, and his dealings with unions. It's sure to fuel further speculation about his potential run for governor next year.
In more good news, Providence will receive a sculpture from famed artist Olafur Eliasson (see below), a bonus that comes along with last month's grand prize win in Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge. The artwork will be on display at RISD – more details to come.
Whether it was the secrecy of the prohibition, the sexiness of the flappers or the excitement of the music, there is no denying that there is something very alluring about the Roaring Twenties. It was a time so glamorous you may find yourself wondering what it was like to be a part of it. If any of this is resonating with you we have some great news. Chifferobe Events is hosting a Flapper Workshop Series. Learn about everything from the dress to the drinks in anticipation of the Great Gatsby Ball, which promises to be fringe filled and fabulous. Read below for the complete program of events from the series:
April 21 (2-4pm) - 101: The Dress @ The Governor Henry Lippitt House Museum, $20
A look into the turbulent culture of the Flapper Era, with fashion as both cause and effect! We will take a peek at photos, videos, and a few great garments. You'll leave this interactive lecture primed and ready for those that follow AND you'll have a million ideas for what to wear to the next Chifferobe soiree!
April 28 (2-4pm) - 102: The Drinks @ The Dorrance, $30
Learn how to make 3 delicious classic cocktails and sample them too! You will be able to entertain a la Gatsby after this watch and learn workshop.
May 12 (2-4pm) - 103: The Dance @ AS220, $30
Learn period solo and partner dance crazes such as The Charleston! You do not need to register with a partner to enjoy this workshop. Make friends and kick up your heels. It's Sunday Funday!
May 19 (2-5pm) - 103: The 'Dos @ Suite Tart, $30
This three-hour hair and makeup extravaganza will teach you a few fabulous dos and don'ts when it comes to hair styles of the 1920s-30s. Learn some tricks of the trade as you watch Providence PinUp founder, Lulu, whip locks into shape...oh and all while sipping on a cocktail (or mocktail)! Time to release your inner bombshell! More
The Classical High School Alumni Association will be hosting its 7th Distinguished Awards Dinner at the Providence Marriott on Monday, April 22. The organization will be recognizing the achievements of six distinguished individuals. Recipients include:
Raymond Armstrong (Class of 1942) Armstrong has made his mark in American history, being handpicked to manage The Presidential Blind Trust during Ronald Regan’s presidency.
Clark Sammartino, D.M.D. (Class of 1955) Having developed one of the largest oral surgery practices in New England Sammartino also serves as President of Bluefin Capital.
Robert E. Wittes, M.D. (Class of 1960) Gaining industry knowledge as the former Physician-in-Chief of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer, Dr. Wittes is now the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the National Cancer Institue and Onology.
Susan West Kurz (Class of 1967) This environmentalist is the founder of the Bee Conscious organization, which advocates for the restoration of the honeybee population.
Shelley Woods Whiting (Class of 1987) This alumni now resides in Georgia where she serves as the Director of Commercial Development, Marketing and Sustainability for Georgia-Pacific Chemicals.
Angel Tavares (Class of 1988) Once the judge of the Providence Housing Court, Tavares made history as the first Hispanic mayor for the City of Providence.
Louis Toro (Honorary Alumni Award) This honoree is currently the Director of Guidance at Classical High School. He has been making his mark in the Providence school system for 38 years.
Tickets for the event are $75. All proceeds will go toward improving educational programs at Classical High School. More
Federal Hill is on the rise this spring: new restaurants and boutiques have opened up in quick succession over the last month. While Blush Wine Bar has closed, Nami, a new sushi and hibachi restaurant, has opened in the space once occupied by Federal Hill Pizza at 198 Atwells. Nuit, a women’s clothing and accessory boutique, has opened at 415 Atwells. Owner Julia Sullivan makes some of the clothing herself, and the rest is vintage finds and apparel made by local designers. L’Eleganza, at 256 Atwells, is a new bridal and formalwear shop offering custom designed veils and shoes. The store features designs by owner Donn Edward, and will also do wedding cakes.
There’s a new app that’s making Providence an even more bike-friendly city. The VHB Bikeways app allows you to track and plan your routes. Just start recording when you start a route, hit stop when you get to your destination, and enter a description of where you were headed. The data recorded goes towards researching and addressing the needs of cyclists in town. More
Our General Assembly can be accused of many things – corruption, inefficiency, nepotism, cronyism, shortsightedness, pigheadedness, blind partisanship... shall I go on? But one thing it cannot be accused of is laziness. Whether they’re saving us taxpayers the cost of paying a full-time legislature by supplementing their income with a few bucks from CVS, staying late to pass bothersome legislation at an hour when it’s unlikely to disturb the rest of us trying to sleep, or working hard to spare us the confusing and unwieldy choice between two distinct political parties, our dutiful legislators don’t lack hustle.
One area in which they truly excel is in generating a nice, steady stream of bills. With their combination of wisdom and pluck, the members of the General Assembly really aim to keep things humming by focusing on quantity over quality, generating an impressive array of bills for a part-time body. They recognize that this is a numbers game – not every piece of paper that passes through the State House is going to be a winner, but if you generate enough of them, one or two are bound to hit. Think of our laws as a lot like scratch tickets: most of them are a waste of time, but the creation of them keeps a lot of Rhode Islanders employed. Oh, and you can easily purchase them from track-suited men in gas stations.
Two great examples of our legislature’s admirable work ethic made news in the past month. The first was a bill to declare Rhode Island-style calamari as the official state appetizer, introduced by the Right Honorable Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-Warwick, Cranston). While this might seem frivolous at first glance, it’s actually a marvel of legislative efficiency, solving, as it does, two problems at the same time: it finally settles the contentious issue of whether to order the calamari, the clam cakes or – dark horse – the fried ravioli, while at the same time enshrining into law the belief of all … More
Daniele Foods and ourselves, are sponsoring this month’s EatDrinkRI Festival. The three-day event (April 19-21) is the brainchild of local foodies David Dadekian, who runs the website EatDrinkRI and is the restaurant reviewer for our sister magazine, The Bay, and Brendan Roane, Director of Marketing and Events at Gracie’s. Key events include Friday night’s Cocktail Couture, an exclusive cocktail and fashion event produced in concert with StyleWeek Northeast at the Biltmore; the Saturday night Grand Tasting (also at the Biltmore), featuring over 40 food, wine, beer and spirit exhibitors, as well as cooking demonstrations from chefs like The Dorrance’s Ben Sukle and Persimmon’s Champe Speidel; and a Sunday morning Grand Brunch at Gracie’s, featuring chefs from Nicks on Broadway and north on the West Side, Warren’s The Sunnyside, the Boat House in Tiverton, and more. Tickets range in price per event, or you can attend the whole festival, including several smaller events and panel discussions, for $200 (standard) or $250 (VIP). More
You might have seen the pickets or read the articles in the paper. East Siders are incensed over the firing of the Rochambeau Community Library's well-loved head librarian, Tom O'Donnell. At a meeting on Monday, March 4, the library's community room was packed with residents urging that the library re-hire O'Donnell.
Author Ryder Windam, organizer of the "Friends of Tom O'Donnell" protest movement (and Facebook page), explained that Tom had been out of the building at an early morning meeting on February 15 when library officials came into his office and took his computer. When he returned to Rochambeau, he was told he had been let go. "It's probably legal," said Gil Mason, long-time Friends of Rochambeau Board Member. "But it's one hell of a way to do business at this library."
The reaction to an email and letter circulated by former Rep. Linda Kushner was greeted with dismay. Her assertion that the decision to fire O'Donnell, "was reasoned and made with the best interest of PCL and the Rochambeau library in mind. " set off alarm bells in readers. Was O'Donnell going to get a fair shake?
As the evening went on and segued into the monthly Friends meeting, one after another people spoke on Tom's behalf.
He led a reading group for teens… He programed myriad free arts and cultural events at the library… He worked closely with volunteers… He even read stories to the preschoolers.
The firing was so poorly done that, as Windham pointed out, the next day remaining librarians didn't have the combination to the safe to make change for fines. Even the reservation of the room for the protest was a mystery, because Tom had taken care of that, too.
"Tom hasn't put us up to being here at all," Windham said. "We think he's entitled to his job back."
In addition to the picketing, Friends of Tom is urging concerned residents to contact the Mayor's office's Maria Radcliffe (mradcliffe@providenceri.com or 421-2489). There is also an online … More
Earlier this week, we came across this map that offers a state-by-state breakdown of where most Craiglist missed connections happen. Some of the results are surprising, others not so much. It should come as a shock to no one that for many southern, midwestern and other what we'll charitably call "flyover states", Walmart is the place. That distinguished list includes: Idaho, Montana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Ohio (fact: the most American state in America), North Carolina and Florida. For California and Nevada it was 24-hour fitness clubs and casinos respectively – no surprises there either. There are some interesting finds, however. In North Dakota, for instance, the answer is simply "bar", which we assume refers to the only one in the entire state. Perhaps the oddest of all is Indiana, which cites "at home." We can only imagine how badly the housing crisis has ravaged that state if people are having missed connections in their own homes.
Of course what we really want to know is where people are (almost) meeting people in Rhode Island. Surprisingly, the answer was not Dunkin' Donuts, but parking lots. (Perhaps Dunkin' Donuts parking lots?) We wanted to check this out ourselves, so we hung around some parking lots trying to look intriguing yet available. When that got creepy, we scanned Rhode Island Craigslist for some actual examples of parking lot pimpin'. Here are some of our finds:
Black Underwear at Gym - m4m - 40 (West warwick) You always have on hot sexy underwear for a older guy, walked up to you in parking lot asked where you bought them told me international men, love to do more than just look at that hot ass of yours, tell me what kind of car you drive and your age so i know its you stud. also what gym we both were at.
work together on Capitol Hill - m4w - 42 (Capitol Hill) We work together on Capitol Hill and run into each other in the parking lot often. I think we both have something for each other but nervous to … More
Today is a somber day for many Rhode Islanders: the tenth anniversary of the Station Fire, which took the lives of 100 people. It also marks the beginning of a documentary web series that will tell some of the stories of the lives affected by the tragedy. Episodes of The Station Web Series will run weekly on the project's YoutTube channel. Various installments will include interviews with survivors, family members of the victims, first responders and medical personnel, lawmakers and fire safety professionals. The project is the work of Paul Lonardo, Gina Russo and David Bettencourt, and is based in part on From the Ashes, a book that Londardo and Russo co-authored about the fire. Russo is also the current president of the Station Memorial Foundation. Check out the first episode below:
Two of the most abused words in the American lexicon are “small government.” Everyone is in favor of it – or at least claims to be. It’s a time-honored rallying cry of the Republican Party and Democrats will at least feint in that direction when it’s politically necessary or expedient. For a disaffected and angry electorate, they are immensely appealing words, alluringly full of empty promise and backed by bumper sticker rhetoric. In particular, the embittered white base that grudgingly backed Romney in the last election has adopted these words as dogma. But does anybody really want smaller government? All evidence points to the contrary.
Democrat and Republican alike have been quick to expand government – both in terms of the tax dollars it gobbles up and the infringement upon our liberty it imposes – with flagrant disregard for their own rhetoric. While Democrats screamed and cursed and spat about the Bush administration’s overreaching and at times downright unconstitutional notion of national security, they have been conspicuously silent as Obama’s beloved drones patrol the skies, conducting summary executions around the globe – including at least one on an American citizen – and the veil of government secrecy remains as thick and opaque as it did during the Bush years. Republicans, for their part, continuously decry the “reckless spending” of Democrats while practically putting on a clinic in fiscal irresponsibility, and their extremely selective memories allow them to place unpopular government bailouts firmly in Obama’s column, while conveniently ignoring the fact that they began with his predecessor.
The underlying and more insidious deception of the small government gospel, however, is that nobody really wants it yet they still preach it. What people really mean when they say they want “small government” is that they want government that does only and … More