OCEANSTATE Techno logy
AUGUST 2018
CareerDevs: Revolutionizing Tech Education Interview with industry leader
Clifton Choiniere
Pavi ng the
Silicon
Rhode
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OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
table of
CO NTENT S 4 6 10 14 18 21 22 27 36
AUGUST EVENTS
Oce an S tate Eve nts S che d u le
PAVING THE SILICON RHODE Oce an S tate Te chno lo g y
REVOUTIONIZING EDUCATION C are e r Dev s
O'HEARN DEVELOPEMENT Is he re fo r yo u !
CLIFTON CHOINIERE Oce an S tate P rof ile
BRAD SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY Oce an S tate We d d ings
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RESTAURANT DIRECTORY Oce an S tate D ining
RANGE ROVER VELAR Oce an S tate Auto
DEALER DIRECTORY Oce an S tate Auto
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6 AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE
3
august Events in the Ocean State
ART NIGHT BRISTOL WARREN
August 1, 2018 - October 1, 2018 The final Thursday of the month, enjoy the vibrant Bristol/Warren art scene and help us celebrate our artists and their immense creativity. Stroll our friendly sidewalks, ride our special Art Night trolley, dip inside open studios and galleries, chat with artists, watch demonstrations -even listen to some music. Downtown Bristol and Warren, Bristol and Warren, RI Phone: (401) 419-6932 Time: 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
HERMIT CRAB RACES
Every Wednesday Night in August. Free! Registration starts 7pm, races at 8pm. Purple Ape, 17 Winnapaug Rd. Westerly, RI Call 401-596-6169 www.purpleape.com
BUBBLES & PEARLS
By: Fish n' Tales Adventures Your ticket includes 1/2 dozen oysters and a mini champagne bottle. A cash bar will also be open! Bowen's Wharf 31 Bowen's Landing Newport, RI 02840 Phone (401) 619-4431 Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Wednesday - August 22, 2018 Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Price: $58
WILLY WONKA JR.
Theatre By The Sea The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl's fantastical tale. Please visit www.theatrebythesea.com for
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OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
additional information. 364 Cards Pond Road Wakefield, RI
TUNES ON THE DUNES
Date: August 8, 2018 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT Westerly Town Beach, 337 Atlantic Ave. For information tunesonthedunesri. com
TRIVIA THURSDAYS
August 9, 2018 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDT Twisted Trivia every Thursday free to play, beer specials and prizes. The Twisted Vine 3 Canal St, Westerly, RI
MYTHICAL CREATURES @ PROVIDENCE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
100 South Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone (401) 273-5437 Dates: August 14, 2018 - August 19, 2018 Recurrence: Recurring daily Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Price: Free with Museum admission
PEDAL BOAT RENTALS
Providence Kayak Company Basin of Waterplace Park 10 Memorial Blvd. Providence, RI 02903 Phone 401-829-1769 July 2, 2018 - October 7, 2018 Recurrence: Recurring daily Price: $30 for 45-minutes, up to 4 passengers
URBAN WILDLIFE: LEARNING TO CO+EXIST
RISD ISB Gallery Presented By: Creature Conserve 50 Canal Walk Providence, RI 02903 Dates: July 25, 2018 - August 19, 2018
Recurrence: Recurring daily Time: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Price: free
SUNSET PADDLING TOURS
All evening paddle tours depart from our Wakefield location as we follow the sun setting West on Point Judith Pond through the Narrows to explore the protected waters and inlets of Congdon Cove. In the evening, the upper pond is active with osprey and other seabirds & wildlife. Paddlers will rest and relax on Cummock Island and enjoy light refreshments and a small fire while we take in the golden setting sun to the west, the rising moon to the east, and the panoramic views of Point Judith Pond. June 20, 2018 - August 22, 2018 Recurring weekly on Wednesday East Coast Paddle Sports 2 William Schmid Drive, Wakefield, RI Phone: (401) 360-2282 Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM Price: Kayak: $75 | SUP: $65 | Bring Your Own: $35
WHEELS AT WORK!
Friends from Children's Friend will visit with their big yellow school bus. August 15, 2018 Providence Children's Museum 100 South Street, Providence, RI Phone: (401) 273-5437 Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Price: Free with Museum admission
NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER BOIL + SUNSET SAIL ON SCHOONER AURORA
The BEST way to see the City by the Sea this summer and fall. Dinner includes 1 1/4 lb lobster, mussels, corn on the cob, potatoes or your choice of BBQ chicken. Dinner: 5-6:30pm | Sail: 6:30-8pm Cash bar during dinner | BYOB on sail Presented By: The Newport Experience Through September 26, 2018 Recurring weekly on Wednesday Location: Regatta Place Address: 5 Marina Plaza, Goat Island, Newport, RI 02840 Price: $55 for adults | $33 for children under 12
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE
5
oceanstate
Pav ing t he
Silicon
Rhode 6
OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
t ec hno l o gy
Everyone involved in technology has heard of Silicon Valley; however, very few people know that the valley which kicked off America’s love for innovation and disruption is located right here in Rhode Island...
Rhode Island is poised to return to its innovative roots and reclaim its place as a leader in global economic impact. THE PERENNIAL ECONOMIC DOLDRUMS
that have plagued Rhode Island for close to a century are beginning to recede, and a new wave of opportunity founded in innovation, technology, health, and medicine is starting to raise our economic tide. Rhode Island is poised to return to its innovative roots and reclaim its place as a leader in global economic impact. Welcome to the Silicon Rhode! Samuel Slater sparked the birth of the American industrial revolution in Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley over 200 years before Silicon Valley would even become a thing. In the century to follow, Providence became home to the world’s greatest and most innovative multinational conglomerates. They were known as “The Five Industrial Wonders of the World.” Concerning America’s growing prowess and power in technology and innovation, Providence, Rhode Island was the tip of the spear. Over the past one-hundred years, however, Rhode Island has not experienced the same kind of success as it did in those earlier years. Strategic initiatives from Rhode Island Governor, Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor, Jorge Elorza, are paying off. Due to the initiatives mentioned above, prominent technology, financial and medical industry companies have not only opened offices and headquarters in the state but are also hiring skilled employees as fast as they can. Companies such as eMoney Advisor, Virgin Pulse, G.E., Johnson & Johnson, Wexford Science & Technology, Cambridge Innovation Center and Infosys have opened offices and are hiring every talented software engineer that they can get their find.
In addition to the newcomers, a number of growing tech-heavy companies already call Rhode Island home. Companies such as Textron, Hasbro, Fidelity Investments, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, IGT, Amgen and scientific, innovation and research institutions such as Brown University, RISDY, and URI contribute significantly to the state’s rising fortunes within the booming high-tech sector. Together, through innovative initiatives and partnerships, companies such as these are helping pave the Silicon Rhode. Large investments in the fields of health science, bioscience & biomanufacturing are becoming more common with companies such as Amgen, Brown University, Wexford Science, NUWC and others announcing major plans for expansion projects, new research & development facilities and hiring initiatives. Key factors behind companies deciding to relocate, stay and/or expand operations in Rhode Island, are an educated workforce, substantial workforce development training, proximity to world-class research universities and access to capital funding. To support the increased demand for new hires, Governor Raimondo and Mayor Elorza have instituted workforce development programs that are educating and re-training Rhode Islanders to work in the burgeoning high-tech sector. One such school that is leading the way in teaching and re-training locals is the CareerDevs Computer Science Academy located in Providence. Adult learners can enroll in their 9-month computer science
Strategic initiatives from Rhode Island Governor, Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor, Jorge Elorza, are paying off.
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE
7
Paving the
The term Silicon Rhode is new in name only.
Silicon
Rhode
program which prepares them for careers as software engineers. Graduates typically earn $80,000 or more upon completion. CareerDevs was founded in 2017 by Arnell Milhouse (CEO) and Clifton Choiniere (CTO). Anyone interested in learning more can enroll in CareerDevs, by going to www.CareerDevs.com Other technology careers are also in high demand. Companies are actively hiring customer support specialists, database administrators, information security analysts, network and computer systems administrators, network architects, network support specialists, programmers, research scientists, data scientists, data engineers, systems analysts and web developers. The reliance on technology and the demand for skilled innovation labor are going to mushroom in the upcoming years. Rhode Island is uniquely suited to capitalize on this opportunity because of its high quality of life, low cost of living, unique geographic footprint, and its uncommon and uncluttered “shrub-urban” vibe. The term Silicon Rhode is new in name only. Arnell Milhouse coined the term in the title and subject of his 2017 TEDx Talk in Providence.•
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OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
Written by Arnell Milhouse
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE
9
REVOLUTIONIZING
EDUCATION Every student who has attained full-time employment after attending CareerDevs thus far, is earning $80,000 per year or more per year after being in the six to nine month program.
10 OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
THERE IS A MAJOR REVOLUTION
taking place in education, and like several important revolutions in America, this revolution is taking root right here in Rhode Island. Technology itself has evolved more over the past 50 years, than it has over the past 5000 years combined. Our education system unfortunately has not evolved at even a fraction of that pace. Especially, in the terms of how we educate and prepare our citizens for careers in the technology field. The CareerDevs Computer Science Academy, founded by Claude Arnell Milhouse (CEO) and Clifton Choiniere (CTO) is located in Providence, Rhode Island and they are setting out to disrupt and improve technical education. Not only has the education system not evolved, it is showing signs that it is significantly flawed. With the student loan debt crisis reaching $1.5 trillion, and college tuition continuing to soar, a shortage of skilled applicants, many of the world’s top companies such as IBM, Apple, Google, Bank of America, Ernst and Young, etc. no longer require college degrees. This is especially true for technical positions. “Conditions decades in the making are bringing about the tectonic shifts that we are seeing in higher education. Many of these shifts, however, are being
“...looking forward to helping thousands of Rhode Islanders gain these 21st century skills via our 21st century educational paradigm."
-Arnell Milhouse, CEO/Co-founder of CareerDevs
ignored for the most part by industry incumbents,” says Arnell Milhouse, CEO and Co-founder of CareerDevs, “We are in the right place at the right time, and are looking forward to helping thousands of Rhode Islanders gain these 21st century skills via our 21st century educational paradigm, Rhode Island and Providence can lead the way in technical skills education.” Sam Ladah, IBM’s head of talent, states that the company is more interested in applicants that can prove their technical talent rather than those who have a college degree. In recent years, the company has begun searching for talent outside of colleges and universities in places such as bootcamps and other short-term educational establishments.
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 11
REVOLUTIONIZING
EDUCATION In Rhode Island, the CareerDevs Computer Science Academy is aiming to massively disrupt the technical education market. CareerDevs (short for Career Developers) offers rigorous six and nine month computer science diploma programs. The education program is designed to be vastly different and much improved over what you would find within many four-year universities and leagues above and beyond the training that is taking place in traditional computer programming bootcamps. Every student who has attained full-time employment after attending CareerDevs thus far, is earning $80,000 per year or more per year after being in the six to nine month program. A number of bootcamps have landed themselves in trouble for making false claims about their placement figures. CareerDevs, however, which is an academy, is not a programming bootcamp, and has a vastly different education model. This different model is producing different and positive results. The major differences are; firstly, that CareerDevs focuses on a deep understanding and mastery of intellectual and computer science concepts rather than just programming. CareerDevs students become well versed in computational and critical thinking in addition to computer programming. Secondly, CareerDevs takes a more real-world approach to computer science and programming. In addition to their studies, students also work on cuttingedge and robust real-world software development projects that have been designed in partnership with hiring companies. The impact and importance of this technique can’t be overstated. Thirdly,
12 OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
Anyone interested in getting more information or enrolling in CareerDevs, should visit www. CareerDevs.com CareerDevs has formed a number of partnerships with hiring companies as well as Ivy league universities which further enriches the computer science learning experience, helping students expanded their world-view and augment their soft-skills and corporate culture training with real-world interactions and trips to hiring companies and Ivy league schools. Companies professional software engineers that visit CareerDevs are impressed by the depth of computer science knowledge and the completeness of the full-stack software development skills that CareerDevs students have. CareerDevs provides computer science education to Rhode Islanders who are looking to transition from career fields that have not delivered in terms of gainful employment. 40% of CareerDevs students have a college degree. 60% are Caucasian, 35% are African American or Latinx, 5% are Asian and 35% are female. These numbers are far above the diversity averages found throughout the technology industry. Due to partnerships with Mayor Elorza’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Governor Raimondo’s Department of Labor and Training, and grants provided by Arnell Milhouse, students are able to attend the 9-month academy (which normally costs $30,000) for free or have $25,000 to $28,000 covered by grants.•
LET US FIGHT FOR YOU 401.477.0023 ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY & UTILITY, LAND USE LAW PROVIDENCE & NEWPORT | DESAUTELESQ.COM
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 13
oceanstate
interior
3 WAY S
O’HEARNE HOME DEVELOPMENT
is here for you
BUILDING YOUR DREAM HOME
is a HUGE step for you and your family. Trust is a key ingredient during this time. Establishing this early on with your custom home builder is crucial to a smooth construction process. At O’Hearne Home Development, we value the relationships that we build with customers no matter what size the project is. Our goal is to make each customer feel like they are part of our family.
AID IN THE PRE-BUILDING PROCESS
While we often have land that is available for custom homes, we are willing to work with you to find the right location for you. We understand that this is one of the most important steps in building your custom home. No two families are the same. With that being said, you should be able to design a home that fits all of your
14 OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
family’s needs while staying within your budget. We can work with you to supply various options to ensure that this is possible. The home building process can be intimidating to many people. Luckily, we have the experience and expertise to answer questions you may have along the way!
WE ARE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US
We understand that it is our job to build your home and that your busy schedule needs to be accommodated to in order to keep the project moving. We never shy away from early morning or after-work meetings if that is what it takes to keep you comfortable throughout your build. Throughout the process of building a custom home, it is natural to have questions and concerns that you want answered. Never hesitate to bring these up to us when they do occur. We prefer to clarify any piece of information as early as possible.
WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY IN YOUR HOME!
Let us know what you thought about your entire experience with us at O’Hearne Home Development! We want you to love your new home and be comfortable within it. If you have been interested in building a custom home for yourself, please contact us and we can discuss what you have in mind! We are always here for you! • info@ohearnehd. com 401-632-9856 With a passion for building a home crafted for your family, O’Hearne Home Development focuses on creating unique and spectacular homes. A dedication to staying on top of home building trends while ensuring every detail is accounted for is what makes O’Hearne Home Development a desired go-to company for your new home.
Local Expertise. World Class Results.
Island Realty
SALES & RENTALS 4 East Ferry Wharf - Jamestown, RI islandrealtyri.com - 401.423.2200
Exquisite Interiors & Water Views Jamestown. Open views of Narragansett Bay, from Newport’s Castle Hill to the ocean. Stunning home with 5,300 sf of space on three dynamic levels. Elegant architecture, nearly an acre of beautifully designed gardens & green engineering. $2,200,000 Beavertail Waterfront Colonial Jamestown. Impeccable 3 bedroom, 2 bath home facing West Passage of Narragansett Bay. Wonderful open floorplan faces the water view. Stair access to beachfront & water. Enjoy sunsets from the deck. $1,275,000 Beautifully Designed Shingle Style Jamestown. Wonderful location near Mackerel Cove beach & town. Featuring a large open foyer, gleaming hardwood floors, and central air. Three floors of living space accessible by an elevator. Relax on the wraparound porch. $1,100,000 AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 15
BEACHES! WHERE TO GO IN RHODE ISL AND
Mohegan Bluffs * * * * *
Two - h u n d re d - foot c l i f f s w i t h g re at v i e w s of t h e At l a ntic . Moh e g a n Tra il , N e w S h o r e h a m , B l o c k I s l a n d , R I
Sachuest Beach 2nd Beach
On e of N e wpor t ' s m os t p op u l a r b e a c h e s . 474 S a ch u se t Po i nt R o a d , M i d d l e to wn , R I
Narragansett Beach * * * * * Lo n g fl at b e ac h , i d e a l for s u r f i n g . 3 9 B o ston Ne c k R o a d , N a r a g a n s e t t R I
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Misquamicut State Beach * * * * R h o de I s l an d' s l a rg e s t a n d m os t p op u l a r b e a c h 2 57 At la nt ic Ave , M i s q u a m i c u t , We s te r l y, R I
Roger W. Wheeler * * * * * Fe at u re s a n e w b at h h ou s e a n d p l ay g rou n d . 1 0 0 S a n d H ill C o ve R d , N a r r a g a n s e t t , R I
Scarborough State Beaches * * * * Park i n g , b at h room s a n d h a n d i c a p a c c e s s i b l e . 970 Oce a n Rd , N a r r a g a n s e t t , R I
East Beach * * * * * C l e an an d fam i l y fr i e n d l y. U S Rou te 1 , C ha r l e s to wn , R I
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 17
This month, Ocean State caught up with Clifton Choiniere, the co-Founder and Lead Instructor at Career Devs Academy and CTO of Intracity Geeks >>
18 OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
oceanstate
profile
so when I ran into a problem I couldn’t solve, I didn’t have anyone to ask for help.
AND THEN YOU FOUND A COMMUNITY?
SO WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST COMPUTER EXPERIENCE? My dad had a PC that he didn’t want me to use, so of course I did. I had to hide that I was there and if I broke something I had to figure out how to put it back so he wouldn’t notice. I very quickly learned how to fix computers because of that.
DID YOU START PROGRAMMING THEN?
No, that was my senior year in high school. I was actually planning to be a chef and had already registered at Johnson and Wales College of Culinary Arts, but my favorite teacher was giving a class on coding. It turned out that I was really good at it and he later told me I was the first student to deliver a final project that he couldn’t break. Eventually, I went on to win a Computer Science award at school and I switched my major.
SO YOU WENT TO COLLEGE AND… …had to drop out for financial reasons just short of my degree. I got jobs in Tech Support for a while, but it wasn’t going to be a career for me and I was still interested in programming.
WHAT STOPPED YOU FROM WORKING AS A PROGRAMMER THEN?
It was just me working alone,
A few. First Codecademy and then freeCodeCamp. These were online sites where I could connect with other people at my level all across the world and ask questions. That changed everything for me. I went on to create the Providence chapter of freeCodeCamp and began connecting with the local developer community right here.
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT HAVING THOSE OTHER PEOPLE TO TALK WITH?
When you have a problem, just explaining it to another person can be enough to find the answer. Often, they will ask you a simple question that leads you to find your own solution. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t met not only mentors, but also peers along the way. I still even learn new things from my students and that’s amazing.
AND THEN YOU MET THIS GUY…
In early 2016 I got an email from Arnell Milhouse who invited me to a similar group he was running. He would set me challenges that I would solve and that turned into a friendship and then business partnership.
TOGETHER YOU STARTED CAREER DEVS ACADEMY. HOW AND WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?
Looking at existing coding schools there were basically only two options – either get a traditional 4-year degree or go to a “bootcamp” where you could learn how to do a specific project well but not actually develop a deeper understanding of how to think
about problems.We wanted to give students a strong background in computer science, but also in the softer skills of interviewing, cost/ reward analysis and learning how to learn. Lastly, we wanted to have jobs waiting for our graduates rather than just handing out a degree and saying “Good luck”.
PARTNER, TEACHER, CTO AT INTRACITY GEEKS, DEVELOPER FOR COMMON CONNECT AND DONATED TRUST – HOW DO YOU JUGGLE IT ALL?
Passion. I actually smile when I code. I break things into little pieces so I can constantly get small wins as I solve problems. I love what I’m doing and I’ve learned and grown more in the past two years than in the previous ten.
ARE THERE ANY LANGUAGES OR TECHNOLOGIES THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
I’m impressed with React and React Native, as well as Solidity, which is the language of the cryptocurrency Etherium.
WHERE IS CLIFTON IN 2030?
I want to be able to work on the things I want to and never for the paycheck. I want to bring the power technology to people of all cultures to enable them to solve their own problems.
ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN TECH?
Get to an event or connect online with other people going through the process. There’s no reason to go it alone and having a peer group will move you forward faster than anything else. And never set limits on what you can do. •
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 19
20 OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
oceanstate
Wedding
Behind the scenes with the bride! I p h o to g rap h w ed d in g s an d h ave a d arn g o o d t ime d o i ng it . I en joy g et t in g to k n o w t h e c o u p les I w o rk w it h , an d b ei ng w elc o med into t h e i r w ed d in g s as family. Th is familia r i t y is w h at let s me d o c u ment t h e day u n o b t ru s ively, an d c ap t u re g en ui ne mo ment s as t h ey u n fo ld , allo w i ng yo u to remain fo c u s ed o n t h e p res ent mo ment .
B R AD SMITHPHOTOGRA PHY // SM ITHBRA D.COM // @SMITHBRA D AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 21
Restaurant DIRECTORY
RED STRIPE $$
465 Angell St Providence Bruch, Steakhouses
437-6950
Providence BIRCH $ $ $
200 Washington St (DownCity) American,
PERSIMMON $ $ $
99 Hope St (Fox Point) Seafood, Salad, American
272-3105
432-7422
ENOTECA UMBERTO $ $
RED FIN CRUDO + KITCHEN $ $
256 Atwells Ave (Fed Hill) Italian
272-8466
71 Washington St (DownCity) Latin, Tapas, Small Plates
THE DISTRICT $ $
454-1335
421-0050
JAHUNGER $ $
54 S St (DownCity) American, Brunch
333 Wickenden St Fox Point, Desserts
OBERLIN $ $ $ 1 86 Union St (DownCity)
588-8755
ROSALINA
$$
50 Aborn St (DownCity) Italian
270-7330
VINO VERITAS $ $
486 Broadway (Fed Hill) Wines, American
383-2001
273-9090
BROADWAY BISTRO $ $
MILL’S TAVERN $$$ 101 N Main St Providence
Seafood, Steakhouses, Salad
437-6950
22 OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
205 Broadway (Federal Hill) American, Bistro
VINYA $ $
225 A Westminster St (Downtown) Tapas, Raw Bar
500-5189
861-2735
LOS ANDES RESTAURANT $ $
903 Chalkstone Ave (Elmhurst)
649-4911
THE DORRANCE $ $ 60 Dorrance St (Downtown) Bars, Venues
Cranston BISTRO 22 $ $ 22 Midway Rd American, New
383-6400
BASTA $ $ $
2195 Broad St Italian, Pizza
461-2300
THIRSTY BEAVER $ $ 288 Atwood Ave Pubs, Burgers, American
654-6656
EDDIE’S DINER $
877 Dyer Ave Breakfast & Brunch, Fish & Chips, American (Traditional)
654-6656
North Providence POSILLIPO RISTORANTE $ $
103 Waterman Ave Italian
231-9606
MASALA INDIAN CUISINE$ $ 1920 Mineral Spring Ave Indian, Halal, Pakistani
228-6554
Warwick
East Providence
TREE HOUSE TAVERN & BISTRO $$
OXFORD TAVERN $$
1094 Centerville Rd Breakfast & Brunch, Bars, Comfort Food
821-1447
THE SHANTY $$ 3854 Post Rd American
884-7008
RED RICE $$
336 Bald Hill Rd Asian Fusion
737-9550
COOK & DAGGER $ $
LIBATIONS RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE $$
349-3927
598-2121
566 Putnam Pike American, New
2081 Post Rd American, New
446 Waterman Ave Italian, Portuguese, Cocktail Bars
572-3799
RED BRIDGE TAVERN $$ 22 Waterman Ave American
438-3899
AVENUE N $$
20 Newman Ave Breakfast & Brunch, American (New), Wine Bars
270-2836
THE SIMPLE GREEK $$ 73 Highland Ave Greek, Mediterranean Opened 4 weeks ago
431-4030
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 23
Pawtucket
Smithfeild
HERITAGE TAP BAR & GRILL $$
TAVERN ON THE WATER $$
266 Grand Ave American, Pubs
725-8245
BELLA PASTA $$
Restaurant DIRECTORY
223 Newpprt Ave Itslian
722-6297
10 ROCKS TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT $$
1091 Main StVegan, Tapas Bars, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
728-0800
PAWTUCKET HOUSE OF PIZZA $
Woonsocket RIVER FALLS RESTAURANT$ $
74 S Main St Italian, Steakhouses, Seafood
7235-9026
THE CASTLE LUNCHEONETTE $ $ 420 Social St
762-5424
THE TAPAS AND THE PAPAS $ $ 587 Willow St Spanish, Tapas Bars
580-1284
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743 Putnam Pike American, Sports Bars, Sandwiches
349-3888
LAURA’S PLEASANT VIEW DINER $$
132 Pleasant View Ave Diners
231-1015
Lincoln BRICCO COMFORT FOOD $$
48 School St Mediterranean, Pizza
398 Smithfield Ave Pizza
335-4400
728-7330
Cumberland
TACOS DON NACHO $ 234 Barton St Mexican
688-2932
CHENGDU TASTE $$
701 Main St Szechuan, Seafood, Soup
729-5699
579 BENEFIT STREET RESTAURANT $$
579 Benefit St Wine Bars, Steakhouses, American (Traditional)
722-4400
SPUMONI’S $$
1537 Newport Ave Italian
726-4449
ADELINE’S SPEAKEASY KITCHEN BAR $$ 2352 Mendon Rd American (New), Speakeasies
405-0073
LA FAMILIA RESTAURANTS $$
1666 Diamond Hill Rd Italian, Salad, Sandwiches
305-3916
ANDREW’S BISTRO $$ 3755 Mendon rd Italian
658-1515
Bristol
Portsmouth
CHRISTIAN’S- A WOOD FIRED GRILLE $ $
15 POINT ROAD RESTAURANT $ $
396-9811
683-3138
STATESMAN TAVERN $ $
Tiverton
382 Thames St American
31 State St Cocktail Bars, American (New), Breakfast & Brunch
396-5115
15 Point Road American, Desserts
1848 MAIN RD $ $ 227 Schooner Dr Mediterranean
816-5001
BRISTOL OYSTER BAR $ $ $ 448 Hope St Seafood, Bars
396-5820
Barrington THE REVIVAL CRAFT KITCHEN AND BAR $ $ 50 Miller St Whiskey Bars, Tapas/Small Plates, American (New)
245-4500
BLACK PEAR $ $ 312 County Rd Cafes
337-5895
Newport MALT $ $
150 Broadway American
619-1667
22 BOWENS WINE BAR & GRILLE $ $ $ 22 Bowens Wharf American, Wine Bar
841-8884
FLUKE WINE, BAR & KITCHEN $ $ 41 Bowens Wharf Wine Bars, Seafood
849-7778
Warren METACOM KITCHEN$ $ 322 Metacom Ave American
245-1193
Middletown FLAT WAVES FOOD SHACK $ $ 1130 Aquidneck Ave Burgers, Hawaiian
847-9283
BYWATER $ $ $ 54 State St American
694-0727
Jamestown JAMESTOWN FISH $ $ $ 14 Narragansett Ave Seafood
423-3474
Naragansett TRIO $ $
15 Kingstown Rd American
792-4333
CHAIR 5 $ $
1208 Ocean Rd American
363-9820
N. Kingston TATE’S ITALIAN KITCHEN $ $ 64 Brown St Italian
294-0000
S. Kingston CHOPHOUSE GRILLE $ $
191 Old Tower Hill Rd Seafood
284-0797
AUGUST 2018 O CEANSTATE 25
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26 OCE A N S TAT E AUGUST 2018
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Range Rover Velar Land Rover describes the Velar as “the avant-garde Range Rover,” and it’s immediately apparent why. This car is beautifully shaped, and every line in the exterior design seems purposeful. > by Duncan Brady
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I’VE ALWAYS ADMIRED SALESMEN.
Not necessarily car salesmen, but the kind of folks who travel around the country, selling chromeladen blenders or something. The sort of fellow who could sell ice to an Inuit, if you will. Land Rover needed a car in the $50-80k price bracket the way England needs more clouds and rain. A quick visit to the manufacturer’s website reveals that it’s not at all difficult to spec either the lower-tier Evoque or the bourgie Range Rover Sport to cover that sector. New for this model year, the Range Rover Velar poses a curious question. Can Land Rover pull off the car it didn’t need to make, and sell it to the buyer who didn’t know they needed it? To distinguish itself from the rest of the lineup, Land Rover describes the Velar as “the avantgarde Range Rover,” and it’s immediately apparent why. This car is beautifully shaped, and every line in the exterior design seems purposeful. Slim LED headlamps look premium and even slimmer LED tail lights add an elegant visual touch to the rear end. The rear fascia pinches up, making the car look smaller and faster, while no-doubt improving the Velar’s off-road departure angle. Exterior door handles sit flush against the vehicle’s profile when locked or moving, which draws the eye to the unbroken line running the length of the car rather than the hardware used to open it up to passengers. My favorite detail is one many owners will never glimpse. Just ahead of the rear spoiler, Land Rover carved out two handsome air scoops. According to the press material these pay aerodynamic benefits as well as helping to maintain a dirtfree rear window, but gosh do they look good.
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The emphasis on design carries over to the interior. I adore the rubberized diamond cut dashboard trim. It looks worlds better than a finBY RON ST. LAURENT gerprint-magnet piano black finish and doesn’t create glare like aluminum or metal-look trim, nor does it look out of place in a go-anywhere 5000-pound SUV the way carbon fiber does. This car’s infotainment system is new for Land Rover this year and it’s a real improvement over the brand’s previous efforts. Two highresolution 10” touch screens sit stacked in the center console. They respond quickly, if not quite up to the high standard set by our ubiquitous pocket supercomputers. A dime-sized volume knob sits in the center of the lower screen, flanked by textured ring knobs on either side. Those ring knobs are the real party piece here, changing their function in accordance with what menu is displayed on that bottom screen. By allowing those controls to serve more than one function, Land Rover is able to provide tactile feedback for the functions that need it most without crowding the center console with loads of switchgear the driver may never use. (Ahem, Porsche.) I experienced zero glitches in the system during my eight hours with the car and it’s a highlight of the Velar experience. Major touchpoints are excellent here. The standard perforated black leather lining the seats, armrests, and steering wheel feels supple and expensive, and don’t get me started on the interior door handles. They’re sculpted in a way that fits the door and the hand. As the last thing a Velar occupant will touch on their way out, it’s a great detail. On that point though, there’s another key piece that’s not so hot. The push-button ignition in this car drives me nuts.
Its placement is an ergonomic nightmare, requiring the driver to contort their hand behind the steering wheel, fishing around for a small round button not even visible from behind the wheel. For the mechanism which brings your $70,000 Range Rover to life, it’s an unexciting, poorly executed afterthought. The 11-speaker Meridian stereo however, standard on our V-6 equipped tester, really impresses. I didn’t push the system to much more than half its maximum volume but the crispness of the door-mounted tweeters and the power and depth of the subwoofer in the rear has me wondering what buyer would drop the cash for the $3500 optional sound package, with twice the speakers and five times the power. Rappers maybe. Forward visibility is great, due in part to the yacht-like high driving position, but visibility out the back is slightly compromised by thick B-pillars and that sloped, coupelike roofline which results in a small rear window. I had a chance to preview our tester’s powertrain when I drove it in Land Rover’s corporate brother Jaguar’s XE sedan last year, and it made a memorable impression. It doesn’t appear that this car’s 500-pound weight penalty over the Jag has done much to retard the poke of this supercharged 3.0-liter V-6. Land Rover claims a zero to 60 mph time of 5.3 seconds for the V-6-equipped Velar, just 0.5 behind Jaguar’s statistics for the XE. That’s genuinely quick, and mighty impressive for a two-ton SUV. Those impressive acceleration figures are as usable in the real world as they are on the test track. Torque comes early in the rev range for quick acceleration off the line and power remains strong all the way to the engine’s 6500-rpm redline, enabling the Velar to effortlessly overtake the economy cars slowing down your morning commute. The industry-standard 8-speed ZF gearbox is relatively responsive to drop a few gears in passing scenarios, though flicking the rotary gear selector into Sport mode provides an extra level of control. Appropriately sized paddles po-
sitioned just behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel provide quick shifts and complete authority over the transmission. The textured plastic paddles in our tester wiggled a bit but articulated nicely. Noise, vibration, and harshness levels are good but don’t quite stand up to the best in the industry. The V-6 can be a tad gruff on restart when pulling away from a stop, though that issue can be avoided by disabling the car’s auto start-stop system. A small amount of tire hum did infiltrate the cabin on the highway, an issue likely magnified in Velar’s specced with one of Land Rover’s larger wheel options. Driving the Velar quickly is a strange but not unpleasant experience. It’s athletic and respectively accelerative, though I got the feeling all the action was taking place a foot or two below my derriere because well, it was. Like one of those circus-bound high-frame bicycles, it’s hard not to feel seperated from the mechanical bits. The capability is certainly there from a power perspective though, and our car’s air suspension minimizes body roll and excess pitch and dive. This example’s all-season Michelins mounted on 19” wheels provide plenty of grip to have fun with and give ample aural notice before surrendering any stick. Steering is slow and light but exceptionally direct, making the Rover easy to place on road and off, if requiring a bit more steering angle than you might expect. Off-road performance is impressive, though we don’t get the impression that our bumpy little adventure did much to push the Velar to its limits. The mid-sized Rover traversed a particularly lumpy stretch of dusty fire road without a hint of exertion, thanks in part to the selection of its Mud-Ruts drive mode within the vehicle’s Terrain Response system. The V-6 car’s standard air suspension elevated the body an extra inch or two above the ruts and roots, and 19” wheels provide a magnitude more sidewall cushion than a Velar R-Dynamic rolling on 22s. The predominant feeling driving the Velar down a path away from pavement is one of effortlessness. That I didn’t feel even the slightest apprehension taking someone else’s $70,000 SUV through this kind of terrain speaks more to the Velar’s capability than it does to my own recklessness. Optioned to around seventy grand the way our tester was, I think this car is especially well-placed in the Land Rover lineup. Would I take a well-specced Velar over a cheap Range Rover Sport? Yes, I think I would. And I’d buy the 2.0-liter base car in our tester’s $0 Arctic White paint job over a loaded Evoque as well. The jury is still out on whether or not this car will be a big seller for Land Rover but if our time with the Velar serves as any indication, I think it very well may be. If the Velar was a chrome blender, I’d sure buy it. We’ve got a good one on our hands. •
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