The Southside Community Land Trust manages a wide range of urban agricultural programs from beekeeping classes to a profitable city farm. It’s mission is to encourage a community that grows its own healthy food. At the annual Harvesting Hope Fundraiser local chefs and gardeners whip up a delicious meal to be served on the grounds of the Steel Yard. They say sustainability is key to our future; come taste and learn why that is. Sept. 25 from 6-8pm. The Steel Yard, 27 Sims Avenue.
Run, run as fast as you can; the Rock and Roll Half Marathon is about to take over the streets of downtown once again. Choose from a half marathon, a two-person relay or a mini marathon (also known as a 5k). Atlas Genius is set to headline the race, taking the stage for a post-race concert. Runners can also cool off with a well-deserved brew at the beer garden. Registration fees range from $40 for the mini to $105 for the half to $125 for the relay. Sept. 29 at 7am. Beginning at Gaspee Street and ending at Francis Street.
A Bee’s Buzz: A marketplace of creative goods all under one roof, A Bee’s Buzz offers crafts and antiques of all kinds. With a diverse group of vendors, you are sure to find gifts and décor for all occasions. 114 Danielson Pike, Foster. 647-4483.
Alfred’s Consignments: As a local consigner with two locations, Alfred’s sells antiques of all sorts – art, furniture, dishes and the like – but makes sure they are in pristine condition. Here you won’t have to wipe off dust to look at detail. 331 Hope Street, Bristol. 253-3465; 18 Maple Road, Warren. 245-3101.
Circa Vintage Wear: Carrying racks of vintage clothing and reminiscent jewelry dating back to the 1900s, Circa offers items for sale or rent for all occasions. Whether you are looking for a costume or an addition to your wardrobe, Circa offers you (and even their celebrity clients) items that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. 73 Cove Street, New Bedford, MA. 508-997-9390.
Into The Wardrobe: In business for a decade, this consignment shop isn’t your typical resale store. Not only does this fashionable boutique hold local items from Rhode Island, but with its wide span of connections, it is constantly shelving items from around the country. 17 Brook Street. 427-1147.
NAVA: An acronym for “new and vintage apparel,” NAVA offers just that. Whether you are interested in old-fashioned goods or you prefer a more modernized style, this location has items that are both fashionable and affordable. 281 Thayer Street. 453-6282.
Rhode Island Antiques Mall: No matter what you’re looking for, this antique-focused mall likely has it. With over 20,000 square feet of mini-shops holding items from 200 dealers, expect to find a variety of antique items from art to home décor. 345 Fountain Street, Pawtucket. 475-3400.
Rocket to Mars: This vintage boutique carries unique antiques of all kinds, dating from the roaring ‘20s to the disco-themed ‘70s. Here you will find a variety of … More
Discover the new voices of independent film this month as the annual Rhode Island International Film Festival (RI- IFF) returns to the Ocean State. The 2013 RIIFF will feature over 200 film screenings plus filmmaking workshops and meet and greets at locations throughout the state. During the mornings of the 8-10, screenings for the KidsEye International Film Festival, films made by young people all over the world, and participants in the 15th Annual KidsEye Summer Filmmaking Camp (featured on August 10 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium) will commence. The festival is organized by the non-profit Flickers. August 6-11. 861-4445 More
By now, most folks in the nonprofit circuitry of Rhode Island are aware of the work of James Monteiro and his inspiring mission. If you happen to be out of the loop, the Billy Taylor House is a youth haven complete with mentoring and community service outreach to enrich the lives of children and teens who need guidance. The atmosphere of positive reinforcement and encouragement makes this a solid foundation for youth in the community and, in recent months, the House has been rather active. In July they held a fundraiser and raffle at Snubs in which 100% of the proceeds went to their Jobs Program to help its kids seek gainful employment and a sense of self-worth. They are also holding a yard sale on August 2; anyone inside or outside of the Mount Hope neighborhood can donate items to the cause with proceeds benefiting the jobs program. The Billy Taylor House's mission to "Reinvent Mount Hope" demonstrates an attitude towards community that we can all stand behind. More
If you were to ask any recent high school graduate to list the highlights of those four years, chances are they will mention their participation in their school’s sports teams. Whether they were the crushed-on captain of their football team or the self-proclaimed hater of ball sports who found their niche in the cross-country team, many grads look back on their high school team as an antidote to daily stress, a major confidence booster, and as the main focus for social growth throughout their high school career. (The most concrete evidence of this can be found in students’ college essays, in which the focus on sports teams is so rampant that students are advised to use caution when writing about the “hackneyed subject”.)
If sports hold such a crucial presence in the typical high school experience, one would hope that every student could have the opportunity to take advantage of them. Of course, it is not always the case. It was thus with great excitement that Central Falls High School provided free physical exams for its students in a six hour-long session on July 23. Despite the baking heat of the hallways and locker rooms, the group of Central Falls faculty and physicians from the Memorial Hospital of RI and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University could hardly contain their enthusiasm: thanks to their efforts and those of the several residents and medical students, over 50 Central Falls students will be able to participate in the high school’s sports teams for the first time this fall.
Family physician and lead organizer of the project Dr. Jordan White of the Memorial Hospital of RI was glad to give physical exams to students who would not have otherwise been able to play school sports: “physicals came up as a priority that we as medical providers could potentially help out with,” she explains. The most common roadblocks aspiring players encountered in getting the necessary exam were financial: some … More
The ultimate cult of the ultimate cult movie is coming to Providence. Celebrate the 38th anniversary of Rocky Horror Picture Show with Rhode Island’s Rocky Horror Picture Show shadowcast (RKO Army) during RKO CON 2013, the RHPS world convention, from August 22-25. This popular convention, in Providence for the first time, offers a variety of exciting activities for movie buffs, including shadow casting performances at the Columbus Theater, where performers will act out the film as the movie rolls. Not content to stop at just RHPS, they will give the shadowcast treatment to other beloved classics like Buffy the Vampire Slayer: ‘Once More, With Feeling’, Shock Treatment, Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog and Repo! The Genetic Opera. Other activities will follow throughout the weekend at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, including The Newlywed/Not-So-Newlywed Game, where married couples will be quizzed about their spouses, and the Team Scavenger Hunt Gameshow, a classic scavenger hunt with a comedic twist. Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel will also be holding the Time Warp Dance Party, put on by both RKO Army and Tight Crew, a production company that provides electronic dance music in safe surroundings. Here, fans can spend an evening of dancing and refreshments to finish off the night with guest DJs. Make sure to wear your costumes! For more information and ticket pricing, visit their website. More
One of the trendiest events of the year, StyleWeek returns offering a fashion forward display with Spring 2014’s lines front and center. Witness some of fashion’s most budding creative minds share upcoming trends with the masses. Featured designers include Amy Stetkiewicz, a graduate of Parson’s School of Design, with a collection inspired by modern lines and urban vibes; and Evan Michael, who will evoke poetic, gothic romanticism through a unique mix of construction techniques and black palettes. With schedules of each designer’s runway show online, you can be sure not to miss out on the latest and greatest inspirations on how to dress yourself next year. August 26-30. Providence Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance St. 421-0700. More
Are you looking for something that speaks a little more to your soul than what you’ve been seeing on local television? PBS of Rhode Island is getting set to launch the new talk show Say You Got Soul, which is produced and hosted by Tatia Lopez, a graduate of URI and a freelance writer. The idea for the production was born after a family friend, who had been gone from Providence for some time, returned for a visit and felt that in some aspects the city had been frozen in time. In their eyes the sights of young men loitering the corners and young mothers pushing their babies in strollers were the same as what they had become accustomed to seeing years ago.
The show will cover such topics as health issues, raising children, education, socio-economics and culture. The hope is to empower viewers and provide people of color in Rhode Island a positive source that they can identify with. If you’re looking for something that will provide an evocative ground level view on important issues in the city we call home then this is the show for you. Say You Got Soul will air following the July taping on PBS of Rhode Island and you can tweet Tatia for specific air dates at @LopezTatia. While this will hopefully inspire the very people the creator saw that day, it will educate all of us, so tune in. More
This year’s Rhode Island Comic Con features throwback reunions that will have the fan boy/girl in you giddy with excitement. Relive the 1960s caped crusader and crew escapades from the original Batman TV series as the Not-So-Dark Knight himself, Adam West, his trusty sidekick Robin (the once boyish Burt Ward), and the femme fetal powers of Yvonne Craig (Batgirl) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman) reunite for panel discussions and meet and greets. However, if you’re a '90s child like myself, you’ll be clicking your heals with nostalgic glee as actors from the beloved series of Power Rangers TV shows reunite for fans. Appearances include Jason Frank (Red, Green and White Ranger), Walter Jones (Black Ranger), David Yost (Blue Ranger), Catherine Sutherland (Pink Ranger), Robert Axelrod(Lord Zedd), Barbara Goodson (Mandilok), Kerrigan Mahan (Magna Defender), Paul Schier (“Bulk”) and Jason Narvy (“Skull”).
This year’s surprise guest is movie legend Danny Glover, star of such recent blockbusters as 2012 and classics like the Lethal Weapon series. And of course, fans can be sure to enjoy all ranges of fantasy and comic favorites, too. November 2-3; Saturday 10-7pm; Sunday 10-5pm. $15 kids day ticket, or $20 for weekend. $25 adult day ticket, $35 weekend. For tickets and information visit their website. More
Reveling in both the new and the old, Mohegan Sun is celebrating the first anniversary of its VISTA Lounge with a mega throwback-themed bash of nostalgic proportions. On Friday, July 26 at 10pm, partygoers can expect to rave all the way down memory lane with special guests Rev Run and DJ Ruckus providing the musical swagger. However the reminiscing doesn’t just end there. Guests can expect to take it all the way back to high school, this time with a cocktail or two, while chatting up Bayside High School Principal “Mr.Belding”, Saved By the Bell’s Dennis Haskins.
The VISTA Lounge is a 450-person venue complete with dance floor, two fully stocked bars, a state of the art sound system, and two custom blackjack tables for rent, all under the transformative day/night dome of the Wombi Rock at Mohegan Sun. Come celebrate all this place has to offer while taking stock of the best of '90s pop culture. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 1-888-226-7711. More
Recently admitted to the National Register of Historical Places, the Providence Public Library has been the city’s center of reading, learning and discovery for more than one hundred years. If you’ve taken advantage of its family film series and reading performances this summer, now take some time to honor and explore the beautiful building itself through its guided historical and architectural tours, which will take place in the library’s spectacular grand entrance every first and third Tuesday of each month.
Established in March 1900, the Library was built in the lavish style that would later name the American Gilded Age, and yet its architectural roots can be traced back further still to the Italian Renaissance of the sixteenth century. Along with a vivid description of the library’s founding history, highlights of the tour include a visit to the quirky Ship Room, which hosts a dozen antique ship models; the Dubuque Mural, which was completed at the height of the Great Depression; and even a peak at its eclectic special collections department. It's ideal historical and cultural immersion for the library fans; custom-made tours are also available for larger groups of explorers. Inaugural tour on August 6, 10:30 am. 225 Washington Street, Providence. More
This summer RISD is putting together something it hasn't done in over two decades: a large scale survey of artistic works from the Greater Providence area. Celebrating multi-disciplinary talents from the city and nearby communities, RISD’s Locally Made exhibition will sprawl over numerous museum galleries until November 3. There will be a variety of events as part of the exhibit.
On August 8, the aptly dubbed After School Special at the Contemporary Art Gallery is part of Locally Made’s One Room in Assembly, a casual meeting place of local artists, designers and intellects in an experimental space. An evening of interactive installations, compelling performances, video displays and shenanigans will be on show, brought to you by a gathered group of specifically collected artists from curators Jason Tranchida and Matthew Lawrence. Offering a diverse range of mediums to choose from, art buffs and curious spectators alike wil find something to enjoy.
Participants in the events include: Hannah Abelow, Gloria Gardenburger, Genevieve Cross, Joe Segal, Mary Paula Hunter, Matt Underwood and Joshua Baptista. Attendees can expect to see talents like the eccentric Gardenburger, known as the “underground’s psychedelic swingin’ stepmom”, big hair and all, along with a change of pace in Paula Hunter’s use of movement in storytelling. To get a glimpse of what these and other artists have in store, head over on the 8th from 6-8pm, and see the antics for yourself. Free with museum admission. More
It’s the land that we love, so let’s get out and celebrate the Fourth of July with The Bank RI Independence Day Celebration at India Point Park. The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will kick off the night with a patriotic concert to be followed by a dramatic 25-minute fireworks display, set to music. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and access the park via the walking bridge located at East and Wickenden Streets. Pyrotechnics: the perfect way to commemorate our nation’s birthday. July 4. Free. 7:30-9:40pm. 680-5770. More
The Manton Avenue Project deserves a round of applause for all the good they do in de veloping the creative voices of kids living in Olneyville by pairing children with local theatre professionals to create original plays. The non-profit welcomes the public to its annual fundraiser, the Manton Avenue Project Gala. This year’s event includes a musical performance of reworked kids’ time travel-themed plays as well as a raffle, an auction and a time machine experience. Bring your creative spirit and prepare to be wowed by these tiny talented thespians. June 7. $50 online at Brown Paper Tickets or $60 at the door. 6-9pm. Fete, 103 Dike Street. 383-1112.
The Providence Preservation Society will host the Festival of Historic Houses 2013 (June 7-9) this month. The weekend kicks off with a Friday night progressive cocktail party on the corner of Prospect and Jenckes Streets and continues with a tour of several elegant Prospect Street homes on Saturday afternoon. Participants can nose around, taking in grand architecture, extraordinary interiors, private gardens and sweeping city views. On Sunday, tourgoers will browse loft spaces at Monohasset Mill on the West Side. $35 advance members; $40 advance non-members; $45 day of tickets; $70 advance two-day tickets (Saturday and Sunday). $125 Friday night cocktail event, which includes a ticket for either Saturday or Sunday. 831- 7440. More
Gourmet Heaven has opened at 205 Meeting Street in the space formerly occupied by Cosa Nostra and, before that, Via Via Pizzeria. This is the chain’s fourth location, having made a splash two years ago when it opened Downtown’s only grocery store. Gourmet Heaven also has an extensive prepared foods section and salad bar, and will be open 24/7.
After 28 years in business, Details is closing its doors at 277 Thayer Street. The store’s inventory is on 30% off clearance until the store closes at the beginning of June.
Method Fitness has closed its Wayland Square location in preparation for a move to a bigger facility in Richmond Square, where owner Amahl Harik plans to offer more of their popular programs like boot camp.
Everyone was surprised to hear that Cuban Revolution’s Aborn Street location unexpectedly closed. While there’s no clear story on what happened, some Facebook posts the restaurant made point to problems with their downtown landlord. Cuban’s Valley Street location is open for business as usual.
The Providence Flea is a new, upscale outdoor market selling upscale crafts, jewelry and novelties. It starts June 2 and happens every Sunday through August in the parking lot of the Wild Colonial on South Water Street. 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
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
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