OCEANSTATE JANUARY 2019
An Ocean State
NIGHT OUT Top 3 Trends for the
NEW YEAR
A secret to cure your
WANDERLUST
The perfect novel to
CURE THE WINTER BLUES by local RI Author!
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table of
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CO NTENT S
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JANUARY EVENTS
Oc e a n S tate Eve nt s S c h e du l e
3 BIG CITY TRENDS
Oc e a n S tate L i fe st y l e
DON DELUCA
Oc e a n S tate Au t h o r
BARRY RUBENSTEIN Oc e a n S tate Ar t i st
TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR THE SPIRIT Oc e a n S tate Trave l
BRAD SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY La u re n & B ra d
THE TASTE OF THE EAST BAY Oc e a n S tate N i g ht Ou t
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Oc e a n S tate Fi t n e ss
RESTAURANT DIRECTORY
Oc e a n S tate Re sta u ra nt s
AUTO REVIEW
Oc e a n S tate Au to
DEALER DIRECTORY Oc e a n S tate Au to
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JANUARY EVENTS In the Ocean State ALL AGES HIKE & PARK RX
Join SKLT for an all ages hike in our largest land holding through pine and oak forest and past amazing stone walls. We will hike about 3 miles, though you can shorten your outing to about 1 mile if desired. Kids and leashed dogs welcome! This monthly hike on first Saturdays is part of a new Park Rx initiative in which healthcare providers in South County are joining a national movement to "prescribe� taking walks and spending time in nature for better physical and mental health. Dates: November 1, 2018 December 1, 2019 Recurrence: Recurring monthly on the 1st Location: Browning Woods Trail Address: Shannock Rd. across from Moraine Ct., South Kingstown, RI 02879 Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Price: Free
AUDUBON SOCIETY: CITIZENS BANK FREE FAMILY FUN DAY
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day Thanks to Citizens Bank, the Environmental Education Center is open free to the public the first Saturday of every month. Join us for crafts, nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more. No need to register. Presented By:The Audubon Environmental Education Center Recurrence: Recurring monthly on the 1st Location: The Audubon Environmental Education Center Address: 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809 Price: Free
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CITY LIFE
City living means different things to different people good, bad or indifferent with that in mind please welcome in the New Year and our 289th exhibition at Spring Bull. The show runs January 5 – January 30, 2019. The city life will be captured by area artists as they explore the complexity of the city on paper, canvas, sculpted, molded or more. The exhibition begins with a reception on Saturday, January 5, from 5-7 p.m. to which the public is invited. Spring Bull Gallery located at 55 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island is wheelchair accessible and open free to the public. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. daily. For additional information on this exhibition, future gallery events or member artists please call the gallery at 401-849-9166 or visit the gallery online www. springbullgallery.com. Presented By: Spring Bull Gallery Dates: January 5, 2019 - January 30, 2019 Address: 55 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 Phone: (401) 849-9166
FOOD AND HISTORY TOURS OF FEDERAL HILL
Join Master Chef and Historian, Walter Potenza, in the discovery of great foods and history of Federal Hill in Providence. Our Premiere Food Tour will take you to different locations where you will be sampling Cheeses, Charcuterie, and Antipasti, while receiving a presentation on ingredients present in the repertoire of Italian Cookery. You will also learn food terminology, products information, how to shop, how to store foods
and anything that may be of interest in expanding your culinary horizon. Throughout the walking event you will meet the people who make it possible for Federal Hill to be recognized as a food and historical destination in the USA. Your walking tour will end at Chef Walters Cooking School where Chef Walter will present an "Olive Oil & Balsamic Tasting", and a taste of the "Wine of the Day! After the tasting you will visit the Federal Hill Heritage Center Photo Exhibit of the first and only early Italian Immigration collection in Rhode Island. Presented By: Federal Hill Tours Dates: July 26, 2018 December 31, 2019 Recurrence: Recurring daily Location: Federal Hill Heritage Tours Address: 286 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 273-2652 Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Price: $60
BEER & YOGA
oin Foolproof and Nanaquacket Yoga Studio for a relaxing evening of beer and yoga. For $20, guests will enjoy a onehour Vinyasa practice followed by a craft beer sampling of four 4-oz pours. Additional beer may be purchased by the glass. The sessions will be held in their brewery and signups are limited to 22 people!!! Bring a mat and water. Space is limited. 21+ Presented By: Foolproof Brewing Company and Nanaquacket Yoga Studio Dates: January 9, 2019 Location: Foolproof Brewing Company Address: 241 Grotto Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860 Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Phone: (401) 721-5970 Price: $20
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3 BIG CITY TRENDS You & your Rhody
crew will be talking about in the New Year!
Pat t y J. is c h ie f c o nte nt c re ato r at , a n d fo u n d e r of, t h e a wa rd w in n in g life st y le b lo g Pat t yJ.c o m, w h ic h s h owca s e s no te wo r t hy fo o d & d r i n k, s t y l e , a n d t rave l ( a s we l l a s d y n a m ic in d iv id u a ls) w i t h i n t h e Oc e a n S tate a n d b eyon d . P h oto by : S ta c ey Doy l e P h oto g ra p hy
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lifestyle
Planners and super strict eating plans? Shoutout to anyone who sticks with those after the first few weeks of January! So forget those for a sec and focus on these three things that are going to be blowing up your feeds (that is, if they aren’t already) in the new year. #2019 1. Printed Dresses Prints are having more than a moment! If you’ve found yourself loving the vintagey printed dresses that Sarah Jessica Parker sports on her HBO show “Divorce” (I have!) or you happen to follow ex-glossy mag editor and author Lucy Sykes Rellie, one half of the British sister socialite duo now famous for their Chick Lit novels (I do! And for the record, she also messaged me last year via Instagram, saying my IG posts made her want to visit Rhode Island.), then you might have noticed a shift toward this softer yet still super chic look.
*No need to max out your plastic to copycat. You can always scope out vintage stores locally and online. It helps too to have a great seamstress or tailor who can modify (and repair) any dresses you find. 2. Celery Juice Suddenly, celery juice! Believe it or not, the first person I ever heard raving about the benefits of juicing celery in the morning was Kathie Lee Gifford via the Sirius Radio simulcast of her 4th hour of the Today Show chat fest with Hoda Kotby. Locally, Heidi Hope, portrait photographer, creative, and IG celeb, is a fan and early adopter. *Celery juicing is being celebrated for having many benefits, from increased energy to improved digestion. I say watch for local blends of the stuff to pop up in your fav Rhody juice bar, and your wellness obsessed friend or frenemy to be mad posting about it in 2019.
3. Pilates Massive amounts of cardio, supplemented with some yoga and barre here and there? Not giving me the results I wanted, needed, and had to have! So, I started incorporating Pilates into the mix, taking semi-private classes with Cheryl Carbone at her studio, Personal Pilates in Warwick. My sisterin-law has been going for two years, and it’s literally changed her life! Anywho, after a few months, happy to report I’m noticing improvement, especially in my core (less paunch) and legs (Never had cankles in my 20’s or 30’s, WTH?!?! Cheryl to the rescue.). So, Cheryl is amazing and I can’t say enough great things about my experience. *Also, I’ve noticed lately a bunch of articles (in Vogue, via Well & Good) and podcasts loudly singing the praises of Pilates on a Reformer. Yes, pilates, particularly the mat version, has been around for a while, but we’re going to see more ppl than ever in the OS cheering about their results with the reformer centered workout this year. And for good reason.
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author
DON DELUCA
A Compelling tale of coastal New England! Sam Delano, toy designer and occasional boat captain, has the nagging sense that something is missing from his comfortable existence in seaside Newport, Rhode Island. Sandi Evarts, marine biologist and environmental writer, is comfortably ensconced in her solo life in Belfast, Maine. When an unexpected bequest causes their paths to cross, Sam and Sandi discover they have an unlikely dream in common…and maybe more than enough shared passion and skill to make that dream a reality. But are they building a schooner together—or a life? And will they be strong enough to weather the treacherous waters ahead? Don DeLuca has been messing around in boats on Narragansett Bay since about age ten. Some of his earliest memories are of pedaling his bicycle to boat yards to indulge his fascination with boat building, or sailing with his friends well beyond where he supposes their parents thought they’d gone. He expanded his exploration of the New England coast through varsity sailing at Brown University, and made his first trip across the Atlantic at age 19. Graduate school at RISD launched him into industrial design and the inventing life. Ocean sailing remained a passion throughout years of design management for corporations including Hasbro and Bic. These days, he enjoys solitary ocean rowing, creating in his shop, and writing. He expects he’ll always be messing about in boats, grateful for the independent spirit and appreciation of the ocean aesthetic instilled in him during those childhood summers in Newport.
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Released in 2018 by Neap Tide Press, THE SHIPMATE is the quintessential tale of coastal New England romance and adventure.
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artist
BARRY RUBENSTEIN Owner of Barry's Boxes
1. Tell us about your work I design and make wood jewelry boxes and related items from exotic and domestic hardwoods. 2. Is there a story behind the name of your business? Not really. In the age everything-on-line, I kept it simple and easy to remember, Barrysboxes.com. 3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer? About 25 years ago I began woodworking and made most of our home furniture.
Erika Smith moved to Rhode Island in 2008 and immediately began exploring. With the launch of I {heart} R h o d y i n 2 0 1 0, s h e continues to find the fun in her new home state, and share it with her r e a d e r s . i h e a r t r h o d y. c o m
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I retired 3 years ago and branched out into designing my own lines of jewelry boxes. 4. Where do you draw your inspiration? Nature is my inspiration. You can see it in my "Windswept Collection". That line of jewelry boxes has an abstract tree growing up and over the box and lid. Other examples of nature's beauty in my work can be seen in my wrist watch/eyeglass boxes. The design is simple yet elegant, and the lids catch your eye where I use spalted maple. Spalted maple is partially decayed maple; during the decaying process Mother Nature lays down exquisite and totally random features in the wood. To make them stand out even more, every box is velvet lined. 5. What’s your favorite item to create? The "Windswept Collection". 6. What’s your best seller? Both at craft fairs and in my Etsy store, the best seller is the wrist watch/eyeglass box. I make it in two sizes and three designs.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island? I've lived here 19 years. 8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island? I was born and raised in New York City and have lived in Philadelphia, Albany, and Rhode Island. The quality of life in Rhode Island surpasses all of them. 9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners? Beavertail State Park. 10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers? Make what makes you happy. Think of new designs, especially before you fall asleep! Your mind is clearest at that point. 11. Please include anything else you'd like to add: I also incorporate torriefied ash in my designs. This is ash which is heated in a vacuum for about 20 hours; the process caramelizes the sugars in the wood and turns it from cream colored to very dark brown. Love the look. I've started using reclaimed American chestnut as well. In the 1920's a fungal blight from Asia attacked the American chestnut and today it is almost extinct. I use reclaimed chestnut obtained from dismantled barns, factories, etc. The patina gives these boxes a distinct look. I also attach brass plaques to these boxes, describing where the wood came from.
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oceanstate
travel
WHY TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR THE SPIRIT Seeing the world is more important thank you think “Traveling” doesn’t necessarily mean packing a large suitcase for a three-week European excursion from Italy to Spain. Traveling can mean packing up your car and driving two hours north to a friend’s lake house in a new state or town. Traveling is the simple act of moving your body from one location to another, whether you’ve been to that place before or not. Traveling is a time for learning, exploring, and self-healing. It is important to set aside days in your busy schedule to wander. Long weekends or banked vacation days are secret keys to using up extended periods of time to travel and avoid missing work days. Traveling isn’t for everybody, but it is a passion for most people. So the question is, are you one of those people?
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Traveling makes a person more worldly The world that we live in today allows us to fly across the globe in a day or two. From Boston, you can fly to Europe in six hours or you can fly to Japan in 14 hours. Airlines are becoming cheaper and cheaper and travel is becoming a more popular activity. The first time I traveled out of the U.S. was my sophomore year of high school. I was fortunate enough to attend a weeklong trip to France that my school hosted every other year. This was the start of a very expensive addiction. Since then I have saved a lot of my money and put it towards trips of different varieties. I once heard someone say “spending money on travel is more sentimental than spending money on material goods.” Items and goods will lose your interest or go out of style, but the memories and experiences of traveling to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany or paragliding in the Swiss Alps definitely will never get old. You will make so many new friends when you travel. I’ve always told myself that the quickest way to get to know someone is to book a trip with them. I absolutely love heading somewhere new with people I barely know. It sounds scary, but you find that people who travel together gravitate towards each other for comfort on your journey, and in turn you get to know each other rather fast. I’ve made some awesome friends through exploration and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
the cultures are so real. We are all so used to the American culture, that when we set foot in a new country for the first time, it’s a complete shell shock. Personally, my biggest culture shock was spending two weeks in Japan and trying to figure out how to use their computerized toilets or simply ask for an ice cream cone from the local vendor. But language barriers can always be broken with a smile and a simple hello. My advice to you is to get out there. Blow your money on a plane ticket or a skydiving tickets in another state. See something new, try local eats, discover local art. Go see a last minute improv show in Portland, Maine, just for fun and enjoy it. Because you deserve it.
So pack your bags and start spreading the news because it’s time to travel!
Travel is so good for you. As a person, you begin to grow in every direction by learning new languages, trying new foods, seeing historical monuments, and forming new relationships with locals. Traveling is a natural cleanse to your soul. The world is so big and
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LAUREN & BRAD
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oceanstate
wedding
Lauren and Brad were married on a gorgeous late spring day. Their reception was held in downtown Providence, then they traveled to Five Bridge Inn for their reception. The evening featured a live painter and goodies for all the kids in attendance. The dance floor was packed until the very last song!
I p h o to g raph w ed d in g s a nd have a d arn g o o d t i m e d o i ng it . I en joy g e t t i ng to k n o w t h e c o up l e s I w o rk w it h , a nd b e i ng w elc o med i nto t he i r w ed d in g s as family. Th is fa m i l i a r i t y is w h at let s me d o c u ment t he d ay u n o b t ru s ively, an d c ap t ure g e nui ne mo ment s as t h ey u n fo ld , a l l o w i ng yo u to remain fo c u s ed o n t he p res ent mo ment .
B R AD SMITHPHOTOGR A PHY // SMITHBRA D.COM // @SMITHBRA D JANUARY 2019 O CEAN STATE 15
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night out
THE TASTE OF THE EAST BAY The Taste of The East Bay is a celebration of the food and drink the East Bay of Rhode Island has to offer. Now in its 9th year, the Taste of the East Bay has teamed up with the Rhode Island SPCA as it's beneficiary. Sip and savor local at Hope and Main in Warren on January 26th from 6:00 PM (with a special VIP program starting at 5:00 PM) and experience all the craft and culinary artistry of the East Bay all while helping animals in need in our community through the Rhode Island SPCA. General Admission tickets to the event are $25 and there is also a VIP ticket available for $40 which includes a general admission ticket, early admission at 5:00 PM, live cooking demonstration from one of the chefs and a VIP gift bag. More info and tickets can be found at RISPCA.com, https://toeb19.eventbrite.com, or search Taste of East Bay at Eventbrite.
Special cooking demonstration by a guest chef from Trafford's Restaurant! 16 OC E A N S TAT E JANUARY 2019
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LET US FIGHT FOR YOU 401.477.0023 ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY & UTILITY, LAND USE LAW PROVIDENCE & NEWPORT | DESAUTELESQ.COM
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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU As the New year kicks off & everyone is overwhelmed with motivation & that "anything is possible" feeling, it's easy to start working on your resolutions. What isn't as easy? Sticking to those resoltuions well after that dreamy haze at the beginning of the new year has come and gone. Here are 5 fool proof ways to bounce back and still meet those fitness goals this year!
My n a me is J e n n a n d I a m t h e gir l b e h in d Dre s s e d in B le ss in gs. I a m a p a r t t im e fa sh io n , m a ke u p & life s t y le b lo g g e r ; h owever, in my d ay to d ay life I a m a fu ll t im e Gra p h ic De sig n e r ! I h ave a p a s s io n fo r n o t o n ly d e sig n b u t I a ls o love p h o to g ra p hy & v id e o g ra p hy. I a m a t we nty t h re e ye a r o ld o n a b u d g et & love to s h a re a ll of my s h o p p in g t ips & t r ic k s! Fo llow a lo n g o n in s ta g ram @ dr es s edi n b l es s i n g s for mo re fu n a n d h e lpfu l t ips !
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1. Remember…Quitting “Cold Turkey” does not always work If you remember one thing from this article, please remember this: quitting something cold turkey almost never works, it’s just human nature. So it is totally fine if on January 1st you were sitting in bed eating chips and watching Netflix. Even though we set extremely high standards for ourselves we can’t really expect to wake up on the 1st of the new year and have somehow morphed into some type of fitness god/goddess over night (am I right?) Instead, try to slowly add in workouts & healthier food options to your daily schedule & before you know it you will have met your fitness goals! 2. Set a Mantra for yourself If you remember one thing from this article, please remember this: quitting something cold turkey almost never works, it’s just human nature. So it is totally fine if on January 1st you were sitting in bed eating chips and watching Netflix. Even though we set extremely high standards for ourselves
oceanstate
we can’t really expect to wake up on the 1st of the new year and have somehow morphed into some type of fitness god/goddess over night (am I right?) Instead, try to slowly add in workouts & healthier food options to your daily schedule & before you know it you will have met your fitness goals! 3. Cute clothes never hurt anyone Finding the motivation to work out is already hard enough, so why not make it a little bit easier with a cute outfit. At least you can work out and know that you look amazing doing it! Personally, I know that when I sport a cute outfit to work out, my confidence level is 5x higher than if I were to wear whatever crumpled up pieces of clothing I could find first. Another plus to some cute workout gear? You can take all of
fitness
the selfies you want and look killer doing it. 4. Post to social media This one might sound a little bit out there, but you have to trust me on it. If you use social media than you already have a great fitness tool right in your pocket. By posting when you work out or even what you are eating to social media (who cares if people think it’s annoying, let the haters hate) it holds you accountable for your actions! So instead of just telling your friends how much you have been working out and eating better, SHOW THEM. You can post it to your story or you can make a regular post showcasing your #fitspiration for the world to see. The most important aspect of the post is that, not only does it hold you accountable for your actions, but it also allows you to reflect on the better
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choices you’ve been making. If you haven’t been making very good choices, these posts could be just the motivation that you need! 5. Hydrate! I know everyone says this, but it’s really important. The average adult body should contain about 60% water! If you aren’t giving your body the necessary fuel it needs than how can you expect to perform at your best level? Not only does drinking water hydrate your body so that it operates at maximum quality, but it also makes you less likely to snack in between meals! While healthy snacks are totally fine, cupcakes and cookies are not the best. I am not saying that you should replace meals with water or hunger with water; however, the next time you get the urge to snack, ask yourself if you are properly hydrated before plunging into the pantry. Pair that delicious water with some fruit or veggies & you my friend, will be the epitome of health.
Outfit Detials Top: Layer8 Qwick Dry Quarter Zip (found at TJ Maxx) Bottom: VXS Sport Legging by Victorias Secret Shoes: Black Nike Tanjun Running Sneakers Headband: Lulu Lemon
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I hope that these tips & tricks will help you reach all of your fitness goals this year! Thanks so much for reading & be sure to check out my Instagram @dressedinblessings for some more great content!
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RESTAURANT DIRECTORY STATESMAN TAVERN
RED STRIPE
Address: 31 State Street Bristol, RI 02809 Phone: (401) 396-5115
Address: 455 Main St. East Greenwich, RI 02818 Phone: (401) 398-2900
15 POINT ROAD
THE VANDERBILT GRILL
Address: 15 Point Road Portsmouth, RI 02871 Phone: (401) 683-3138
Address: 41 Mary Street Newport, RI 02840 Phone: (401) 846-6200
WHITE HORSE TAVERN
BRAVO BISTRO
Address: 26 Marlborough St Newport, RI 02840 Phone: (401) 849-3600
Address: 123 Empire Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 490-5112
579 BENEFIT STREET RESTAURANT
THE GULF STREAM BAR & GRILLE
Address: 579 Benefit Street Pawtucket, RI 02861 Phone: (401) 722-4400
Address: 1 Lagoon Road Portsmouth, RI 02871 Phone: (401) 293-0930
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BRICK OVEN ON MAIN Address: 999 Main St Pawtucket, RI 02860 Phone: (401) 727-2529
PANE E VINO PROVIDENCE Address: 365 Atwells Avenue Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 223-2230
TRATTORIA ROMANA
MILL’S TAVERN $ $ $ 101 N Main St Providence Seafood, Steakhouses, Salad
437-6950
Address: 71 South County Commons Way Wakefield, RI 02879 Phone: (401) 792-4933
SIENA Address: 5600 Post Road East Greenwich, RI 02818 Phone: (401) 885-8850
ANDINO'S RESTAURANT Address: 171 Atwells Ave Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 453-3164
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RED STRIPE $$ 465 Angell St Providence Bruch, Steakhouses
437-6950
LA MASSERIA
OSTERIA TOSCANA
Address: 223 Main Street East Greenwich, RI 02818 Phone: (401) 398-0693
Address: 1571 Atwood Avenue Johnston, RI 02919 Phone: (401) 519-9100
ROSALINA
TERRAZZA
Address: 50 Aborn St Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 270-7330
Address: 645 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 Phone: (401) 233-3223
PARKSIDE ROTISSERIE & BAR
THE GRILL AT FORTY 1 NORTH
Address: 76 South Main Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 331-0003
Address: 351 Thames Street Newport, RI 02840 Phone: (401) 846-8018
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oceanstate
auto
THE SUBARU FORESTER 2019 Subaru Forester: Modern Crossover Story By: Duncan Brady
When Subaru introduced the first Forester in 1997, it did so with a catchy turn of phrase. They called it “SUV tough, car easy,” an ideology that has come to define automotive product design across the industry as of late. Crossovers and small SUVs have taken over sales floors and freeways throughout America so much so that manufacturers don’t even sell their best hatchbacks and wagons in the states. Ford dropped their entire lineup of small cars in favor of their slightly lifted plastic-clad crossover counterparts.
pability to tackle a nasty New England winter. That concept developed in the same market space as larger vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V and by its third generation, the Forester had begun its transition from tall wagon to small crossover.
The original Forester executed its product mission with an SUV’s all-wheel drive and higher seating position incorporated into a car the size of a small station wagon. It’s a wonderfully compact little thing and drives as such, though it had the ca-
The big story here has to do with safety. Last year’s Forester was a very safe car, earning a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. Problem is, it only earned that certification with the inclusion of Subaru’s optional EyeSight active safety package,
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In steps the fifth-generation 2019 Forester, all new for this year. It’s a little wider, a little taller, a little longer, and a little heavier than the car it replaces, and that all means the Forester’s transformation into a little SUV might just be complete.
available solely on pricey top trim Touring models. For this year, every Forester model from the $25,270 Forester 2.5i to the $35,270 Forester Touring comes with all of EyeSight’s safety measures as standard, a big step forward. EyeSight includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning with lane-keep assist, and pre-collision throttle management. It works seamlessly for the most part and the Forester is all the better for it. Subaru did save a bit of safety tech for the top line Forester Touring. DriverFocus, new for 2019, aims to address the issue of distracted driving with hidden sensors and cleverly-written code. Facial recognition software recognizes up to five different drivers and provides an audiovisual warning to alert the driver that they may be distracted. Luxury manufacturers have been exercising a similar approach for years and it’s great to see this addition in a more accessible automobile. Infotainment is handled by an 8.0-inch touchscreen on Limited and Touring models or a 6.5-inch screen on more affordable trim levels. The modest screen in our Forester Premium tester was plenty large for our purposes, though the bigger unit is likely worth the upgrade for those with strained eyes or big fingers. A nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo is available for audiophiles, music enthusiasts, or customers who want more than the standard six-speaker setup can deliver. The interior is a nice place across to sit all models to be but there’s a secret hiding
in the lineup. The premium gray cloth upholstery in our test car is really just lovely. German luxury sedans have been telling us for years that leather is the superior seating surface but these cloth seats challenge that notion. They’re quite handsome, breathe better than leather, and cloth makes for a better companion to the Forester’s especially cushioned and comfortable front buckets. Plus, the lack of cow hide plays nicely with Subaru’s environmentalist brand identity. That said, if the saddle brown leather is anything like the upholstery in the Ascent Touring we drove last month, it must be fabulous. Dashboard trim makes use
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of interestingly textured plastic that compliments the rest of the interior. Motivation comes on behalf of a 2.5-liter four cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, slight increases from last year. This motor, like the original Forester and most Subarus, utilizes a horizontally-opposed “boxer” engine architecture. Instead of the pistons moving up and down they operate from side to side, lowering the engine’s center of gravity. Power is transmitted through a CVT automatic to all four wheels via Subaru’s hallmark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. We’d be remiss not to bemoan the loss of the fourth-gen car’s available manual transmission and the Forester XT’s excellent 250-horse turbocharged engine, though both decisions make sense for the market segment. Fuel economy sees a slight improvement from last year, returning 29 mpg on the combined cycle. The new Forester drives pleasantly but unremarkably, most of the time allowing the driver to forget what’s propelling them along. We were lucky enough to have a second-gen 2005 Forester L.L. Bean Edition along for our test and driving the two back to back reveals one difference above all others. Visibility on an empty road is excellent in the old car as well as the new, though something is immediately apparent on a crowded highway. The 2019 car sits a fair bit higher than its mid-aughts elder and that allows the driver to see around more traffic. When the L.L. Bean car was new in 2005, its seating position provided ample sight lines around the small hatchbacks and comparatively low-roofed sedans populating roads at the time but among today’s traffic, the driving experience feels like that of a much smaller car. With that fundamental change in size and seating position we can comfortably say that the new fifth generation Forester is no longer a Frankenstein wagon but a crossover SUV to compete with the best of them. It’s well-rounded, supremely comfortable, and though we’ll miss the boosted engine and manual trans, the changes Subaru have made in safety and efficiency make this new model the Forester buyers want. Plus, with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and some of the best ground clearance in the segment, the new Forester is modern SUV tough, modern SUV easy.
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