Blogs: City Life
Viewing 1 - 20 of 133
Pulse

Pen Pals... Not Just for Prison Anymore

Surely, many people can reminisce on the pen pals they had in their early school days, but what ever happened to this now lost art?

With the help from Val Khislavsky, formerly the owner of PVD Pudding Pops, she is bringing back the beloved interaction with complete strangers. Just like you remember in middle school, the PVD Pen Pals are connecting the Providence community through a monthly pen pal organization. A quick sign up form is required, then you will receive an email with a PVD Pen Pal’s information and voila! This isn’t limited to Providence residents: anyone is welcome to join. The cool thing is, you will be writing to someone while a different person will be writing you. This is a way to broaden the pen pals throughout the city, and even the state. All matches are generated by a computer program, so the possibilities are endless. However, if you want to continue writing to the same pal, that is perfectly fine. Don’t know what to write about? A theme every month will help stir up interesting conversation, but you don’t necessarily have to stick to it. It’s all about a friendly connection with your neighbors.   More

Malcontent

A Super Plan

Back in 2012, in the wake of the 38 Studios meltdown, I used this very column to make a proposal to the RI Economic Development Corporation: $75 million to launch VagiTech, my company that would manufacture synthetic, on-demand vaginas. Predictably, the EDC did not respond. This past month, there was a major medical news story of four successful implantations of lab-grown vaginas. With that proven track record of success and business genius, I now submit to the State of Rhode Island, the City of Providence and any other interested party with a checkbook, my proposal for the Superman Building. I ask you to please refrain from “making it rain” until I’m finished speaking.

First up, there’s the matter of me acquiring 111 Westminster Street from the current owner, High Rock Development. The building is currently valued near $30 million. The most desirable option would be to simply win it outright in a high stakes horse race bet, but as that does not appear to be an option, I’ll take a little lesson from my business hero, Miami Marlins owner/former sheisty art dealer Jeffrey Loria. I will offer High Rock $5 million in cash (raised through a 99/1 public/private partnership with the City of Providence), outright ownership of the Providence Journal (which the State will seize on my behalf under eminent domain) and a lefty bullpen guy to be named later.

With that simple matter sorted out, my efforts will turn to redevelopment. My vision is for an innovative, mixed-use urban community, which is just my nice way of saying “dystopian hellscape of every bad idea in urban development.” The occupants will run the gamut of commercial, office, food service, residential, light industrial, hazardous chemicals, infectious disease laboratories, methadone clinics, those weird storefront churches and, of course, an Alex and Ani store. The first floor lobby will contain a combination frozen yogurt/hookah lounge, just one of my many …   More

Things to Do

The Great, Nearby Escape

Now that it’s safe to put the shovel and snowmelt into storage, fill up your gas tank and hit the road for a day trip. Check out this infographic for our top picks of nearby attractions.

  More

Local Races

Run Like an Irishman

It’s March, which means no matter what your heritage is, you’re all Irish for at least one day. Why not take that honorary celebration to the streets? The Tour de Patrick is a series of three 5Ks over the course of a week: The Irish 5K, St. Pat’s 5k and Celtic 5K. Get your green on and choose one race or complete them all, with luck on your side.

  More

Community

A Classical High School Student Made It to the Big Game

Winter is nearing an end and now is the time to start looking towards brighter and sunnier days. However, the spirit of some people shine bright all year long. Take Isaac Lufkin. He is a Classical High School student who is the kicker for the freshman football team. In fact, he even helped to lead his team to an undefeated 2013 season and the freshman football state title. But what is most inspiring about Isaac is that he accomplished this without any arms. It was the way he was born, and it has not stopped him from living his life to the fullest – independently and without pity. Even the NFL took notice of this young man’s indomitable spirit. In response, they invited Isaac and his mom to a behind-the-scenes VIP experience at the Super Bowl. From walking onto the field, having a birds-eye-view of the stadium from a press box, which was adjacent to Kevin Costner, and a surprise visit from President Bill Clinton, Isaac had the experience of his life. He wants to play in the NFL, and based on what this young man has already accomplished and his extreme determination, it looks like the sky is the limit.

  More

Event

Party of the Year

It might not technically be winter anymore, but that isn’t stopping PPS from hosting its annual Winter Bash on March 29, the huge, highly anticipated fete that’s regularly touted as the party of the year in Providence. This isn’t your average (and if we’re being honest, usually boring) fundraiser. Hundreds of partygoers gather for an evening of dancing and general revels – without all of those tiresome asks for support and silent auctions. Just come (in your finest prom attire), have a drink and dance the night away.

This year’s theme is Enchantment Under the Sea. Expect the ALCO building on Valley Street to become a 1950s prom-inspired wonderland, complete with a balloon waterfall, bubble machines and a signature cocktail. “This year the Bash will once again have a prom theme. We are encouraging people to dig out their dated formalwear and join us for an evening that will include lots of balloons, spiked punch and awkward photos,” says event co-chair Caitlin Amirault. And, in true Rhode Island style, the king and queen of the prom will be crowned the old fashioned way... by purchasing votes. “The Winter Bash is always the party of the year,” she continues. “It feels like the entire city comes out to celebrate the Providence Preservation Society.” Don’t miss it. $30 before March 8, $35 from March 10-27, $40 at door. VIP “Chaperone Party” 6:30- 8pm. 8pm-midnight. ALCO, 555 Valley Street. 

  More

City News

Have Your Say On Olneyville Redevelopment

The City Planning Commission will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, January 28 at 4:45pm to discuss plans for a McDonald's and a Family Dollar in Olneyville. The meeting will be in the first floor conference room at 444 Westminster Street. The heart of the matter is a developer's plan for the currently vacant parcel at 48 Plainfield Street. The plan has aroused criticism and controversy because the developer is asking for zoning relief that would allow for the buildings to be set back further from the street than is currently allowed, and for the McDonald's to have a drive-through. Critics argue that this is suburban-style development being shoehorned into a dense urban area. With lower rates of car ownership by Olneyville residents than in most of the rest of the city, the question becomes whether this car-friendly development is serving the neighborhood, or excluding the people who actually live in it. The full plans can be seen here, and Greater City Providence has been following the story pretty closely. If you're interested in learning more, or voicing your opinion on the plan, be sure to attend what should be a lively meeting.   More

Take a Free Ride with Uber from Now Until Saturday

Uber, the uber-popular car service app, will be offering up to three free rides, at a maximum of $20 per ride, to any and everyone in Rhode Island between now and 6pm on Saturday. Yes, you read that right. Free rides. For everyone.

The company recently expanded into Rhode Island, and it's been known for making a big splash when it enters a new market. They once offered free rides to all of Brooklyn for the weekend. For those who aren't familiar, the service uses a mobile app to connect people in need of a ride with Uber drivers in their area. You can request a ride anytime from anywhere, and you don't need any cash – you pay for the ride through your Uber account. Needless to say it's become very popular very quickly with young urban dwellers and professionals.

Now the #RILOVESUBER promotion is on. Just sign up for Uber or download the app, request a ride, and the rest is on them. Of course, they expect high demand, so if you already know what you're doing this weekend you might want to start booking your rides now. And if you need somewhere to go with your free ride, your Uber receipt will get you discounts and bonuses at over a dozen Providence bars and restaurants, including The Avery, The Eddy, Hot Club, Vanity and even StyleWeek.

Find more info here, and get your free ride.   More

PM Experiment

3D Printing in Providence

Over at AS220, a group of individuals calling themselves 3D Printing Providence (3DPPVD) are proving that the future is in fact now - and it’s all thanks to burgeoning 3D printer technology, which, according to 3DPPVD, may revolutionize how goods are crafted and distributed.

But let’s slow down a minute. What is 3D printing? And why does it matter?

In a nutshell, 3D printing is the process of manufacturing a 3-dimensional object from a digital model. Houses, toys, power tools - hell, even this very magazine you’re holding - can all be created via a 3D printer, so long as the printer is technologically capable and the digital model exact. (Which means, yes, you could in fact download a car. So take that, Motion Picture Association.)

As for 3DPPVD, these passionate individuals meet twice per month to utilize 3D printers and learn about this ever-expanding field. “When I first started [four years ago], 3D printing wasn’t a big deal,” says James Rutter, AS220’s lab manager. “You had to work on your own machine, fix your own drives and pulleys. It was a clumsy technology.”

As with anything technology-related, though, the industry quickly exploded. Soon the machines were more automated and less intimidating for the average individual. People grew more proficient, and thus printed products grew in popularity.

“The club meets the first Tuesday of every month, and it’s informal. What we say is, all members can come down and work, and we’ll have about ten members working on different projects. They’re socializing, just hanging out, no agenda, printing things.”

In addition, the club meets the second Wednesday of every month, and these, says, James, are the “formal meetings.” Each one focuses on a specific topic, pre- sentation or invited speaker, and the meetings are intended to teach members about the latest in 3D printing technology.

“These meetings …   More

Malcontent

Off to the Races

By the end of last year, the political landscape of the 2014 elections in Rhode Island was already looking like a pretty crowded field, with high profile candidates announcing early and often. As we gear up for a long election season, there are still a lot of prospective candidates lingering on the margins, playing a “will they or won’t they?” game with the electorate. So, as the depths of winter set in and we have nothing better to pass the time than idle speculation, let’s take a look at who might yet jump into the fray.

Buddy Cianci: Mayor of Providence

People continue to wonder if the man who still routinely goes by “Mayor” will make one last run at City Hall, and Cianci, ever the showman, seems all too happy to entertain the discussion. What most people don’t realize is that it doesn’t matter whether he chooses to launch an official campaign: a little remembered City ordinance from Buddy’s ‘90s heyday dictates that his name must legally appear on the ballot as a candidate in every mayoral election until 25 years after his death.

Chris Young: Mayor of Providence, General Treasurer, Secretary of State, Senior Class President, Secretary General of the Model UN, Wikipedia Administrator, Chancellor of the Galactic Senate

Ever the wild card, this perennial candidate has not been shy in the past about throwing his hat into the ring – or even throwing multiple hats into multiple rings. Young has been quiet thus far into the election cycle, but if recent history proves correct, voters are soon to see him flop-sweating his way through the fringes of a debate, flanked by his inexplicably attractive girlfriend. While the field might be too crowded for him in the Providence mayoral race, GoLocalProv’s Dan Lawlor seems to think he’s got an outside shot at Chancellor of the Galactic Senate.

Carolyn Rafaelian: Governor

Word on the street is that Cranston’s number one jewelry and lifestyle impresario is currently channeling energy …   More

Events

RICC Events Have Us Thinking Warm Thoughts

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.

  More

Politics

New Communications Director for Cicilline

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.

  More

Good News and Bad News In Historic Preservation This Week

With the start of a new year and Providence Preservation Society set to unveil its annual "Most Endangered Properties" list on January 23, it's a good time to think about historic preservation. This week brought both good news and bad news on that front.

First, the bad news: The 1871 Alexander F. Adie house on Federal Hill (right by the arch) is being demolished, supposedly clearing the way for a hotel. While the eventual result could be good or bad – that remains to be seen – we can all agree that it's sad to see an iconic structure razed. Both Greater City Providence and ArtInRuins have been documenting the demolition and soliciting reactions.

On the brighter side of things, the good news is that the City has announced a transfer of ownership and redevelopment plan for the George C. Arnold building, known as the "Narrow Building" donwtown. It's an overdue revival of one of PPS's former "Most Endangered Properties." Washington Street has really come alive over the past few years with AS220's revamp of the Dreyfus and the new and improved Biltmore Garage. Allowing this unique structure to remain vacant and blighted was a real impediment to that progress, and we're excited to see the Taveras administration making a move on it.

What do you think of these projects, and other historic preservation (or not) efforts around the city? Tell us below.   More

Shopping

Sew Fabulous on Hope

As someone who has always feared the sharp end of a stick but who secretly wishes she could “make it work” with Tim and Heidi on Project Runway, I was excited to visit Kreatelier, the unique craft and gift store tucked away on Hope Street.

Not only does Kreatelier offer a wide range of hand crafted goods, most of which were created in house by the lovely ladies who work there, the shop also offers sewing classes for children, adults, and in my case, for those who have grand dreams of one day debuting at NYC Fashion Week. You know, if I could only thread the sewing machine without suffering some bloody mishap.

Before booking my appointment, I had to figure out what exactly I wanted to make. After perusing Kreatelier’s extensive list of suggested items which I found on their website, I settled on a zip pouch wallet that can fit a phone. Watch out Marc Jacobs, I’m coming for you.

Upon entering the shop I immediately felt a sense of comforting warmth and joy. My instructor Alexis Cormier greeted me with such a bubbly, positive attitude that the nervousness I had was diminished by her enthusiastic passion for craft.

Because of a time crunch factor, Alexis had already pieced out some fabric for my pouch. While looking at the material in my hand, I simply couldn’t imagine how I was going to make them into something even resembling a wallet, but hey, if I want to schmooze with the likes of Donatella and Tyra one day, then I simply had to remember Mr. Tim Gunn’s infamous phrase and make it work.

First we ironed the pieces in the store’s back room, which serves as a workshop for Kreatelier’s employees. Then, the part I feared, the part with the sharp object hammering up and down in close proximity to my delicate hands, arrived.

Making sure my fingers were not in danger of getting sewn human centipede style, I tentatively pressed my toes downwards on the pedal that powers the machine, making it explode with life.

Eee! That was too fast! …   More

Social Media

How to Make Friends and Influence People in 140 Characters

Twitter is great for connecting people to their favorite celebrities, but you might not have realized it’s also useful for connecting people with common interests... in the same town, even. Here are some Twitter-based Providence meetup groups. You might even run into me (and my Twitter BFF Corey Feldman) there.

Girls’ Pint Out @RIGirlsPintOut: A ladies-only beer lover’s group. 

Providence Geeks @ProvidenceGeeks: A tech-minded group that meets for dinner once a month to discuss robot kisses and hardwired dreams. 

Providence Coffee Society @PVDCoffee: A buzzworthy meetup you’ll lose sleep over 

Wordpress Providence Meetup Group @WordpressPVD: Bloggers of the city unite 

Providence UX Meetup @PVDux: A group for the “Providence user-experience and interactive design community” that’s probably too smart for you 

Clambake @ClambakePVD: A meetup group for the design obsessed. Don’t show up if you can’t identify your clothing by Pantone color 

  More

Fashion

StyleWeek Northeast Returns

The weather may be cold, but fashion is still hot. StyleWeek Northeast returns for its showcase of talented local designers. Shop the accessory showcase every day before and after the shows, no tickets necessary. Weekend tickets sell out in advance but weekday tickets are available online or at the door. January 19-25.

  More

10 to Watch

All Eyes On Our 10 to Watch

Believe it or not, 2014 is already here at Providence Monthly. Our annual "10 to Watch" list hits newsstands next week, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek at who we're keeping an eye on this year.

Healthcare/Human Resources

Visael “Bobby” Rodriguez

Arts

Chrissy Wolpert

Business

Davide Dukcevich

Religion/Community

Elan Babchuck

Tech

Jessica Herron

Community Service

Katie Varney

Community Activism

Leah Williams Metts

Education/Technology

Shawn Rubin

Business/Social Media

Sierra Barter

Government/Politics

Xaykham Khamsyvoravong   More

East of Elmgrove

A Look Back

It was a good year. My family was healthy and as happy as one could expect. Our drafty house is still standing, and we finally repaired the front steps. My son Henry learned how to play “Bohemian Rhapsody’’ on the piano. (Mama, ooooh.) My other son Peder wrote a nice short story about an old man who trekked into the forest to die and did, inside a giant tree. My husband continued to cook our nightly meals, grand feasts that muted the world’s chaos. Oh, and the Red Sox won. Wow, what a series. A poster of Dustin Pedroia, the dogged leaper, is tacked to Peder’s door. I wanted to display it in the kitchen, but was overruled.

This year was also good because I got to write a bunch of columns for our great neighborhood magazine. Some essays were more memorable than others. Some were well-received by readers; a few were not. (I’m still trying to figure out what Dutch meant when he called me a “willfully ignorant ninny.’’) Many of my columns came to you compliments of the people who tolerated my prying questions – and that included my teenage sons. Thanks guys. I promise that from now on you get to read the columns before they’re published and have final say on any edits. Note to Peder: I will never call you my “beloved firstborn’’ again. Without further rambling, I offer abstracts on a few submissions from 2013.

I Don’t Appreciate That

I’ve always disliked confrontations, but lately I’ve been getting upset over things that I used to be able to shrug off. Maybe I’m getting old and cranky. Maybe the world really has gone wrong. But I’m an adult with children and should handle myself with more restraint. I’d like to thank Aaron Rodgers, QB for the Green Bay Packers, for setting me on my way.

I liked what he uttered on TV when a Packer fan told him he was short. Rodgers was ridiculed as a kid for his height, although he grew to be 6 feet 2 inches. That tactless comment on TV obviously bugged Rodgers, but instead of taking …   More

Entertainment

Downton Abbey Offers Previews in Cranston

While the show may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the rarified charms of Downton Abbey, the popular PPS series, seems to have a rabidly loyal fan base. We’re not sure exactly what will be offered, but there will be a showing of the first episode of 2014 season four before it airs nationally, on January 3 at the Park Theatre in Cranston. We understand there will also be a pre-screening party to boot. For more details on what to expect, visit their website or call their box office at 467-7275. Since the Park Theatre is basically on one level, we assume this Downton Abbey won’t have special upstairs or downstairs seatings.

  More

Politics

Who Will Be the Next Mayor of Providence?

There are certainly many ways to celebrate the beginning of the New Year around here. There are New Year’s parties to be sure. First Night or Bright Light or whatever it’s called. Polar Bear Plunges. But in a state where politics remain the true blood sport, the new year also marks the official opportunity to declare one’s candidacy for office. This year promises to be a lively one as several candidates have already declared themselves for office and others will officially do so later this month; Providence itself will be especially busy, as five candidates have already stepped forward to fill the vacancy that will be created by Mayor Taveras’s decision to seek higher office himself. Announced so far: Democrats Lorne Adrain, Brett Smiley, Jorge Elorza with Michael Solomon about to follow suit

  More

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 Next »

X