R H O DE ISL A ND’S #1 R EA L ES TAT E C OMPANY
*
T R U S T E D N A M E , P R O V E N R E S U LT S
PENDING!
BARRINGTON
KIRK | SCHRYVER 401.225.0371
BARRINGTON
EAST PROVIDENCE
ASHLEY BACCARI 401.742.9988
WARREN
4 RUMSTICK CIR | $2,225,000
18 KETTLE POINT RD | $849,000
404 COUNTY ROAD | $1,195,000
49-57 WATER ST | $699,000
SOLD!
BARRINGTON
35 FESSENDEN ROAD | $4,750,000
KIRK | SCHRYVER 401.480.2221
BARRINGTON
JANET MALOY 401.457.1326
PAULA SILVA 401.996.9855
BARRINGTON
KIRK | SCHRYVER 401.225.0371
488 NEW MEADOW RD | $899,000
11 RICHARD ST | $599,000
SOLD!
KIRK | SCHRYVER & KEVIN FOX 401.225.0371 | 401.688.5666
#1
Rankings based in whole or in part on data supplied by the State-Wide Listings Service. The MLS does not guarantee and is not responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Based on information from Statewide Multiple Listing Service, Inc. as of January 2022.
BARRINGTON
EDDIE RAYDEN 425.894.6344
266 RUMSTICK ROAD | $3,950,000
RI SALES VOLUME (2021)
#1
RI HOMES SOLD (2021)
#1
RI MARKET SHARE (2021)
ROUTE 77
TIVERTON, RHODE ISLAND
TIVERTONFOURCORNERS.COM
Join Us for Events & Happenings
Holiday Bright Night
MILUKAS STUDIO
Sponsored by The Bay Magazine
TIFFANY PEAY JEWELRY & HEALING ARTS
Friday, December 3, 4-7pm Shops Open Late with Luminaries Abound Santa, Specials & Fun for Everyone
8th Annual re-Tree Outdoor Exhibition Friday, December 3 - Friday, December 17
A Community Exhibition Featuring an Outdoor Showcase of Festive Trees Created w/ Recycled Materials Vote for your favorite! Popular Vote till 12/17 TIVERTON FARMERS MARKET
Shop Late on Fridays in December
www.fourcornersarts.org
Shops Open till 7pm
LOU LOU’S DÉCOR
THE COTTAGE AT FOUR CORNERS
CARMEN & GINGER VINTAGE GOODS
CÉDIAN PAINTING: STUDIO-GALLERY
STUDIO BY THE SEA
THE CHEESE WHEEL VILLAGE MARKET
Fine Art, Antiques, Unique Decorative Furnishings & Handmade Goods for the Home, Gourmet Food & Amazing Open Space. Explore a Beautiful New England Village in Tiverton. #TakeARideTiverton4Corners •
@tivertonfourcorners
Local Knowledge, Global Network
PORTSMOUTH: Architectural Gem at Carnegie – $4,750,000 Tina Wiley – 401.447.9609
PORTSMOUTH: Custom Contemporary on 9 Acres – $4,995,000 Kate Rooney – 401.636.7894
Nicki Lucenti – 401.439.9581
D
D
SOL
Dina Karousos – 401.451.6461
LAN
PORTSMOUTH: Overlooking the Sakonnet Passage – $1,849,000 Dina Karousos – 401.451.6461
PORTSMOUTH: Half Acre Waterfront
GustaveWhite.com | 401-816-4060 |
Nicki Lucenti – 401.439.9581
Tickets: $80 frostbitebash.com $
At the Door: 95
The Herreshoff Marine Museum is thrilled to announce the 10th Annual Frostbite Bash! For ten years we’ve been hosting the biggest and best bash of the winter and we’re not stopping! Tickets are on sale NOW for our big anniversary party! This year’s Bash will include staples that you have come to expect, along with a few new and exciting surprises.
featuring:
Live Music by Evan Goodrow Oyster Bar & Open Bars All You Can Eat by Pranzi Photobooth & Entertainers Dancing in the Hall of Boats Silent Auction & Raffles
TRAVEL RAFFLE
You could win an all inclusive round trip for two to the destination of your choice, domestic or international, by Stone & Compass. Value: $5,000. Proceeds will fund youth educational programs.
$ Raffle: 100e. herreshoff.org/raffle
One Burnside St, Bristol | FrostbiteBash.com | #FrostbiteFancy
In This Issue
The Bay Magazine April 2022
33
Banking on Bristol A plucky group of restaurateurs emerge from the pandemic more resourceful than ever, and excited to call Wood Street home
Photography by Nick DelGiudice
The Buzz
20 CALENDAR: This
9 A who’s who of East Bay
month’s must-do’s
inductees into the RI Music Hall of Fame
Life & Style
18 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO:
porch in Tiverton turned
Facing housing shortage,
functional fab mudroom
23 HOME: A neglected
Newport moves to restrict Airbnbs in residential zones
26 RHODY READS: Volumes of reasons to celebrate
14 The bike barn that’s
Independent Bookstore Day
helping reimagine Newport’s cycling landscape
16 RHODY GEM: Water Street mainstay boutique offers style with a conscience
Photo by Aaron Usher III Photography, courtesy of Red House Design and Build
28 BEAUTY: Rhody-made products to get skin
42 RHODY RECIPE: Spicy
46 IN THE KITCHEN: Warren
ready for spring
sauteed veggies take advantage
private chef-turned-meal delivery
of East Bay farmers’ markets
service caters to seniors
Food & Drink 41 Newport raises a glass
44 FOOD NEWS: Three
Pic of the Bay
12 VOICES OF THE BAY:
to local brewers with
niche coastal growers
48 A stunning image
Bristol umpire gears up
return of beer fest
yield delicious results
from a local lens
for baseball season
ON THE COVER: Pivotal Brewing Company’s Todd Nicholson and Rebecca Ernst. Photography by Nick DelGiudice
4
The Bay • April 2022
N O . 1 I N R H O D E I S L A N D L U X U R Y R E A L E S TAT E *
SOLD
415 Poppasquash Road | Bristol, RI $3,600,000
Sold by Kate Leonard & Shari Dailey
401.952.3461
Approximate Lot Lines
56 Elm Lane | Barrington, RI $1,695,000
1.2 Waterfront Acre Lot
16 Mathewson Lane | Barrington, RI 401.266.9900
$1,595,000
4 BD
2F 1H BA
2,926 SF
401.266.9900
116 Bay State Road | Rehoboth, MA
119 East Main Road | Little Compton, RI
$899,500
$885,000
4 BD
2F 1H BA
4.27 Acres
401.465.3975
2 BD
1 BA
9.2 Acres
401.225.6420
Lil aDel man.com Lila Delman Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. *#1 luxury ranking based on highest volume of 2020 $1M+ sales in RI. Based on info from RI Statewide MLS for period 1/1/21-12/31/21.
Online
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR LOVE?
Photo by David Lawlor
Call Debra 401-289-0900 Complimentary consultation She personally interviews & screens her clients Both men and women are guaranteed to meet potential partners Hand-crafted matches, no computer program or software
Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell Matt Hayes
General Manager & Creative Director Nick DelGiudice
Editor in Chief Elyse Major
Managing Editor Abbie Lahmers
Editor Karen Greco Digital Media Manager Sascha Roberts
Debra L’Heureux, Rhode Island’s top Matchmaker for Get Ready To Date has been in the business of helping people find love for over 18 years!
Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas
Senior Editorial Designer Abigail Brown
Web Extra: Head to the northwest corner
Senior Designer Taylor Gilbert
of the state to experience Burrillville’s rural beauty, delicious eats, and more
JOIN MY MATCHMAKING DATABASE AT
GetReadyToDate.com
Newsletter
Account Managers Shelley Cavoli Louann DiMuccio-Darwich Ann Gallagher Kristine Mangan Olf Elizabeth Riel Interested in advertising? Email Marketing@ProvidenceOnline.com Contributing Photographers Aaron Usher III Photography Brad Smith Photography
Josh Cornell Wolf Matthewson Phil Pasco Photography
Contributing Writers Ken Abrams
Hugh Minor
Jackie Ignall
Liz Murray
Ann Martini
Nina Murphy
Interns Casey Williams Looking for an internship? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com
Subscribe Today! TheBayMagazine.com/MailToYou PROVIDENCE MEDIA INC. 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889 401-305-3391 • Mail@ProvidenceOnline.com ProvidenceOnline.com Copyright ©2022 by Providence Media. All rights reserved. Proud member of the Rhode Island Press Association
6
The Bay • April 2022
Photo by @jacobphoto_ri
Share your Ocean State photos on Instagram using #HeyRhodyPhotos to be featured here!
Subscribe to our Hey Rhody email newsletter for: • Weekly must-do’s • Online exclusives • And more!
Sign up: TheBayMagazine.com
Follow Us: @TheBayMagazine @TheBayMag
Springtime at Linden Place Mansion Dig out your Derby Hat for our
Derby Day Party SATURDAY, MAY 7 • 4-8PM DERBY INSPIRED FOOD & DRINKS
BOURBON TASTING & MINT JULEPS
LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
SILENT & LIVE AUCTION
LIVE STREAMING OF KENTUCKY DERBY
AWARDS BEST DRESSED,HAT & DAPPER COUPLE!
LIVE AT LINDEN PLACE
2ND ANNUAL
Art Blooming
Michael DiMucci
MAY 21 & 22 • 11AM-4PM
SUNDAY, MAY 1 • 2PM
The historic 1810 mansion, its collections and gardens serve as an inspirational backdrop
classical crossover.
500 HOPE STREET, BRISTOL LINDENPLACE.ORG • (401) 253-0390
The Buzz Voices of the Bay
Buzz on the Bay
Rhody Gem
The Public’s Radio
Calendar
East Bay Hall of Famers
Four standouts who left their impression on the Rhode Island music scene
For a small state, Little Rhody certainly made its mark on the national music scene. The state’s musical legacy is enshrined at the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame (RIMHOF) and can be viewed in the grand hallway of Hope Artiste Village. Established in 2012, the mission of the RIMHOF is to “celebrate, honor, and preserve the legacy of Rhode Island musicians, educators, and industry professionals who have made significant contributions to the national and Rhode Island music scene.” This month, we introduce you to a few East Bay musicians inducted in the Hall. Photo courtesy of The Cowsills The Bay • April 2022 9
The Buzz
ON THE BAY
By Ken Abrams
THE COWSILLS Inducted in 2013, The Cowsills were a family band from Newport and, famously, the inspiration for the TV show The Partridge Family (1970-74). When husband and father Bud Cowsill was stationed in Newport serving in the Navy in the 1960s, the band – comprised of his wife Barbara and six children – began playing bars and frat parties around the state. Before long, their familiar harmonies and catchy lyrics saw them rise to the top of the AM radio charts behind hit singles including “Hair,” “Indian Lake,” and “The Rain, The Park and Other Things,” better known as “The Flower Girl.” They toured often and made frequent TV appearances in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. They still tour as a trio with remaining siblings Susan, Bob, and Bill. Their songs are frequently used in movies by the Farrelly brothers, who hail from Cumberland.
the late ‘80s, he’s written songs for the stars, having penned top country hits for artists including Reba McEntire, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, and Jason Aldean. Doyle recalls his initiation to popular music growing up in East Providence, where his late father was once mayor. “It starts with Providence native George M. Cohan. My mother used to sing in the house, and she’d always sing [Cohan’s] ‘I’m a Yankee Doodle Boy,’” explains Doyle. “Then I heard the band Rizzz – my brother has been married to [their guitarist] Dave Tanury’s cousin since the mid-1970s. I went to see them at Rhode Island College when I was 12 and had just started playing drums – I thought they were rock stars. “I was in a high school band – our first gig was at India Point Park when we opened for a band called The Detectives. WBRU (the now-defunct alt-rock station out of Brown)
RIZZZ Formed in Riverside in 1973, Rizzz included guitarists David Tanury and Jim Tait, along with drummer Rick Couto, saxophonist Bob Weisberger, Joe “Klem” Klimek on harmonica and sax, and bassist Kenn Reynolds. Playing every weekend around the state for years, Rizzz was a quintessential Rhode Island band known for their sound that combined roots, improvisation, jazz, and R&B.
JOE DOYLE Singer-songwriter and East Providence native Joe Doyle was announced as a Hall inductee in 2020, but is still awaiting the formal ceremony due to the pandemic. Since
introduced me to so much great music, including bands like REM. I later got to meet Mike Mills, the bass player, right before REM was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’ve met many of those artists that I first heard on WBRU.”
only Rhode Island band ever featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
10
The Bay • April 2022
THROWING MUSES From a different genre come Throwing Muses, a Newport-based women-led band regarded as groundbreaking in alt-rock circles. Formed at Rogers High School by stepsisters Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly in 1983, the band was soon signed to the prestigious UK record label 4AD. They received radio airplay, critical acclaim, and toured regularly before disbanding in 1991. Donelly went on to form Belly, the
For more information on the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, visit their website. RhodeIslandMusicHallOfFame.com
Photos courtesy of (L) Joe Doyle, (R) Throwing Muses
East Providence singer-songwriter Joe Doyle
CLASSES • QUILTING • FABRICS • NOTIONS
to these HOPE & MAIN GRADS ON THEIR NEW HOME
Sew Nice Fabrics CHECK WEBSITE FOR BUSINESS HOURS
3001 E. Main Road, Portsmouth 401-683-9238 • sewnicefabrics.com
UNITY PARK * 500 WOOD STREET * BRISTOL, RI
EN D R IO A G PAT Come in & enjoy our
Middle Eastern Cuisine Great Atmosphere • Great Portions Famous for our Kebab’s & Falafal
Seasonally Inspired; Scratch-Made Kitchen – vegan & vegetarian options Perfect Picnix Catering by Uptown TAKEOUT • BREAKFAST • BRUNCH • LUNCH & COCKTAILS
401-246-4096 305 Sowams Road, Barrington Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-9pm Friday & Saturday 1pm-9:30pm LIKE US ON FACEBOOK The Bay • April 2022 11
The Buzz VOICES OF THE BAY
By Nina Murphy
Calling the Shots Bristol umpire Renaldo Cockrum is in the center of the action at local baseball games this spring
Umpire Renaldo Cockrum
While the 2022 MLB season is still indefinite at press due to the ongoing labor dispute between owners and players, there will be plenty of high school and college baseball action happening on the fields for ametuer umpire Renaldo Cockrum to officiate. The Bristol resident has been calling both baseball and basketball matchups since 2006. A 1994 Portsmouth High School graduate, Cockrum attended Rhode Island College where he played basketball for two years. His affiliations include Newport County Officials Association for baseball and basketball, Collegiate Baseball Umpires, and the National Association of Sports Officials. When not wearing the uniform, Cockrum is a residential instructor for L.I.F.E. Inc.
PRE-GAME RITUAL: During the anthem, I’ll say a little prayer to myself to bless the game. There is a lot more preparation for a baseball game, between the equipment and having to be at the stadium an hour and a half before to check in for the college game. For high school basketball, if I have a 6pm game, I leave by 4pm and there’s a clock so I know when it will be over. Definity have to drink a lot of water and keep the body in shape.
12
The Bay • April 2022
Photos courtesy of Renaldo Cockrum
MAKING THE TEAM: My best friend’s son was playing in a Little League game and there was no umpire so my friend jumped in. One of the guys there said my friend should come to a meeting [to learn about officiating] and he asked if he could bring me. That was 2006. It was pretty much natural for me because I had a sports background. To get on the high school board, there is a two-year class. There are camps and clinics. If I had known about this [career path] earlier in my life, I would have pursued the Major Leagues. To get into the Majors you have to start young and put in 10 years in the Minors before moving up.
Renaldo Cockrum (right) at a Newport Gulls game at Cardines Field
GAME ON: I actually did more baseball during COVID than I did in a regular season. I remember being in Florida to start my season in 2020 with over 200 college teams and every day one more team pulled out. By March 17, everything closed down. Once summer started, stuff started coming back, like a men’s league and a collegiate team of locals. THE BIG PLAY: In August I’ll be in Bristol, CT for the East Regionals for the Little League World Series. My goal is to get to Williamsport, PA [home of the Little League World Series] hopefully in 2023 or 2024. I started my chase
in 2014 with the regionals in Delaware, and another regional in 2016 and the Little League Senior World series [ages 15 to 18 years] in 2018. Then COVID put a hold on things. You are selected by your district administrator. FROM THE STANDS: There has been a real change in fan behavior since I started. You definitely have to have patience and thick skin. I’m confident because I know the game and what I am doing. Last year there were no fans allowed at the games and I enjoyed it. Basketball fans are right on top of you and they can be relentless, especially during
a playoff game. Every call has to be made in a split second and you have to move on. In baseball, you have a little more time to think about the call. DO YOUR JOB: We all have jobs out there to do – refs, players, coaches, and fans. The problems start when the lines start crossing. If you’re a player, you play; if you’re a coach, you coach; if you’re a fan, you celebrate your team – and let us do our job. After a game, regardless if they won or lost, sometimes someone may say that was a great officiating game, which can make you feel good.
The Bay • April 2022 13
The Buzz
ON THE BAY
By Abbie Lahmers
The Little Bike Barn That Could How Bike Newport and the community transformed unused property in the North End into the foundation for alternative transportation for all
14
The Bay • April 2022
Young bikers ride trails surrounding the Big Blue Bike Barn
and greening a vacant lot.” And it couldn’t come at a more critical time. “Newport is all of seven square miles – you can get where you want to go economically and dependably and independently with a bicycle and everybody wants to be able to do this,” says Freeman. “Many many more people want to ride than do ride. The reason people don’t is because they’re concerned about riding with cars. “The city is currently in the process of its first ever Transportation Master Plan, which is elevating these concerns – how to reduce traffic so we don’t have so much congestion and how to make it easier for people to bike and walk.” Three things Bike Newport hears consistently is that people need equipment, education, and a safe place to ride close to home to build confidence – all things found at the Bike Barn.
The Big Blue Bike Barn celebrates their official launch early May (with a tentative date of May 7, contingent on materials being available for the completion of the canopy build this month). Monthly Full Moon Rides sponsored by AARP returned in March, with one on April 16, and the Daffodil Ride is April 9. For adults interested in cycling, follow Bike Newport on Facebook for meet-ups and groups. For kids, youth camps start up in the summer. Don’t have a bike? Build your own with the Earn-A-Bike program during Open Garage sessions. BikeNewportRI.org
Photos courtesy of Bike Newport
On a once-vacant lot abutting Miantonomi Park in the North End of Newport, now two bright blue 40-foot shipping containers reside, among a flurry of bike activity. Inside is all the equipment a rider could need, bicycles for all ages to try out, and a roster of specialized programming. Surrounding the structures are community garden plots feeding neighbors, and a soon-to-be-constructed canopy will shelter cyclists from rain and sun. Paths branch into the park’s existing mountain bike trails and feed into a half acre of pump track built for kids to pedal over valleys and berms, testing their skills on two wheels. Bike Newport’s Big Blue Bike Barn is an expansion of the former North Side Bike Library, which was just a single small container posted up at the Florence Gray Center parking lot between two dumpsters. “On weekends and after school, we would open it up and set up an obstacle course, and kids would come and borrow bikes. The neighborhood would be buzzing with kids on bikes,” says Bike Newport executive director Bari Freeman. The community’s interest in cycling soon outgrew the tiny library, and in 2017, a visit to the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council’s Red Shed at Riverside Park in Olneyville had Freeman and other community stakeholders thinking about how they could recreate something similar in Newport. In a true example of neighborhood pluck and grit, Freeman and Bike Newport secured the half-acre lot for temporary use from the Newport Housing Authority. Funds were raised for the two containers and work began on leveling the ground. Now there are gardens run by Aquidneck Community Table, a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation brings in solar power and water collection, a wooden canopy designed by architecture students at Roger Williams University is funded by Bank Newport and The Champlin Foundation, and East Coast Construction supplies all the dirt they could ever need, among other partnerships. Says Freeman, “it’s just an endless stream of goodwill and partnership creating safe spaces and getting our kids out of traffic
100 bikes ready for new homes at the Annual Holiday Bike Giveaway at the barn
Also significant is the Bike Barn’s location on the North End, the most densely populated part of Newport and highest rate of non-car ownership. It’s separated by the high-traffic Admiral Kalbfus Road from the rest of the city, though Freeman is optimistic about pedestrian-friendly changes being made to this road and JT Connell Highway to bridge the gap for residents without cars: “The Bike Barn being on the North End and all of the work that’s being done on the Pell Bridge ramp realignments and the addition of sidewalks and shared-use paths for biking and walking is having significant improvements to unifying the city.”
Along with pushing for the infrastructure needed so cyclists feel comfortable sharing the road with cars, accessibility is at the core of Bike Newport’s mission. “The whole concept of biking for everyone is about removing all kinds of barriers, whether it’s cultural, connectivity, equity, language, and one of the things we test ourselves against all the time – asking ‘is this successful to everyone?’ – is mobility,” says Freeman. They partner with Bike-On in Warwick to offer adaptive bikes, from electric assist technology to hand-pedaling. All programming is bilingual for Spanish-speaking bike users. “It’s really about
making sure that anybody who wants to ride can, and sometimes that’s language, and sometimes that’s equipment, and sometimes it’s having somebody to talk to.” Though it continuously grows, Freeman looks forward to commemorating the Big Blue Bike Barn with an official launch this May, in time for National Bike Month. “It just keeps getting better and better. And you know, there might have been once or twice that I walked through this campus onto the trail into Miantonomi Park that I didn’t actually get emotional enough to cry,” she shares. “I can’t believe we actually pulled it off.”
The Bay • April 2022 15
The Buzz
RHODY GEM
By Elyse Major
DISH
Boutique We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it! What it is: A clothing and accessories shop for stylish and conscious consumers. Lines and goods are curated with an emphasis on great design, sustainability, and ethical craftsmanship. Many vendors are made in the USA, including jewelry from Rhode Island-based designers like Rebecca Brenner, along with coveted international brands.
What makes it a Rhody Gem? The shop is owned by mother/daughter team Keri Kronin (daughter) and Sara Volino (mom), who share passions for making and sewing along with empowering women and community – threads that run throughout all they do. The boutique is filled with clothing and unique yet functional items for a wide range of ages, body types, and occasions. “DISH offers sizing from extra small to extra large with the value that all bodies are beautiful and no style is exclusive to a specific size or shape. We want our customers to feel great about themselves in the pieces they purchase,” says Cronin. In 2021, the duo launched ReDISH, a resale program for gently worn items originating from the shop, offered at discount prices. As Volino puts it, “The life of a great garment should be full of experiences and owners to truly reflect its value, and ReDISH has been a great way to extend that possibility.”
DISH 155 Water Street, Warren • 401-247-7705 DISHRI.com • @dishri
16
The Bay • April 2022
Photo courtesy of DISH
Where to find it: DISH is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Warren on Water Street, a block north of Miller Street, at the bottom of Liberty. There is free public parking on Water Street.
To submit your Rhody Gem, please email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com
TRUST ARNOLD LUMBER FOR QUALITY THAT HITS HOME
BUILDING MATERIALS | DOOR & MILL SHOP | KITCHEN + DESIGN | MASONRY PRODUCTS
The Buzz
ON THE BAY
In Partnership with The Public’s Radio • ThePublicsRadio.org
Facing Housing Shortage, Newport Moves to Restrict Airbnbs in Residential Zones Newport’s City Council plans to prohibit new short-term rentals in the coastal city’s residential zones, citing concerns that properties like Airbnbs and VRBOs are contributing to the local housing crunch By Antonia Ayres-Brown also require short-term rental hosts to obtain a special use permit to operate in the city’s limited business districts, where these properties have previously been permitted. The move comes amidst a broader effort in Newport to address short-term rentals, and their impact on the seaside destination’s strained
According to an October 2021 presentation by city staff, the majority of 307 suspected short-term rentals identified in Newport were not in compliance with the city's registration requirement. 18
The Bay • April 2022
housing stock. As Airbnbs have become more prevalent, the city has hired a short-term rental compliance officer to crack down on the roughly 180 unregistered properties suspected of operating illegally. Earlier this year, Newport’s legislators championed the passage of a bill at the state level that requires short-term rental owners to register with the state Department of Business Regulation, or otherwise face financial penalties. “I have people ask me every single week, ‘Oh, this house is for sale. I know it’s going to go for an Airbnb,’” said Newport Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano. “It affects everything. It affects neighborhoods, families, parking, people that want to live in Newport.” It remains unclear, however, what effect this ban on new Airbnbs in residential zones could have on Newport neighborhoods. According to a presentation by city staff last October, only 10 short-term rentals had been granted special use permits over the previous five years. The much larger problem, local officials say, is the swath of unregistered rentals that operate under the radar. Although prohibiting new short-term rentals in residential zones won’t change the fact that these properties are already operating illegally, proponents say an outright ban would make it easier for neighbors to identify and report these illicit rentals. “This is not an earth-shattering move for a large group of people,” said Newport resident Penelope Hunt, who spoke at the March 9 City Council meeting. “But I do feel that having a special use permit option in residential zones confuses the issue for a lot of residents. You know, people say, ‘Oh well, I just thought that house has a permit.’” According to an October 2021 presentation by city staff, the majority of 307 suspected short-term rentals identified in Newport were not in compliance with the city’s registration requirement. During the March public hearing, a number of Newport residents spoke both in favor and in opposition to the proposed zoning change. A couple of residents who currently operate Airbnbs claimed they rely on revenue from
Image courtesy of City of Newport
Under current law in Newport, people can operate short-term rentals in residential zones if they receive a special use permit from the Newport Zoning Board of Review. On March 9, however, the City Council unanimously voted to prohibit these kinds of properties in residential zones. The proposed changes will
those businesses, with one adding that the city is “being steered a little bit too far in the anti-[short-term rental] direction.” Newport City Solicitor Christopher Behan said, however, that city officials have not observed a large number of Airbnb owners who depend on their businesses to afford staying on the island.“We are not finding what we call the ‘mom and pop’ — the person who really needs short-term rentals to get by,” said Behan. “We’re seeing people making a lot of money.” Newport zoning still permits locals to rent out up to two rooms in residential zones, if the owner lives in the house. Under the new rules, short-term rentals that already hold active special use permits in residential zones will also be grandfathered in. City Council Member Angela McCalla supported the zoning changes, but also called for a broader study of the housing market and factors driving displacement in Newport. “I do think that we are treating the symptom and not necessarily the problem in terms of housing,” said McCalla. “Yes, short-term rentals could be one aspect, but there are many that are preventing a lot of our year-round residents from being able to occupy our homes.” For the time being, however, there’s consensus on Newport’s City Council that more regulation of short-term rentals is long overdue. The zoning changes will require a second reading later before taking effect. “It’s gone for so long where past councils haven’t done anything about this, or the current zoning hasn’t been able to do anything about it,” said Council Member Charlie Holder. “If we don’t do something now, if it’s not already too late, then we might as well just turn this whole town into a commercial district and have at it.” This story was originally published on March 10. Antonia Ayres-Brown is the Newport Bureau Reporter for The Public’s Radio. She can be reached at antonia@thepublicsradio.org The Bay • April 2022 19
The Buzz
CALENDAR
By Casey Williams
THE MUST LIST
10 essential events happening this month Please note that events may require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test and mask-wearing regardless of vaccination status. Be sure to check each venue for updates.
April 10: Head to Barrington Farm School for Detective Investigators, where free farm kits, complete with magnifying glasses, let visitors become nature sleuths while learning about the plants, seeds, and soil around them. BarringtonFarmSchool.org
April 18-22:
ide statew For a f events o listing online! s visit u m ody.co h R Hey
For 40 years, Newport in Bloom volunteers have organized Daffodil Days
Kids can spend spring vacation harnessing their inner Picasso with the Warren Art Academy, a week of free art classes for students to learn the basics of four different art forms with The Collaborative. Warren, TheCollaborative02885.org
April 23:
Over a million daffodils are blooming in the City by the Sea for Daffodil Days! Take in the flowers and watch for programming all month, including a bike ride, 5K Rhode Race, Dog Paw-rade, and more. NewportDaffyDays.com
Celebrate the iconic lighthouse’s 150th birthday with the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Run. The 5K begins and ends at Rose Larisa Park, across from the Crescent Park Carousel, with entertainment to follow. Riverside, PomhamRocksLighthouse.org
April 1-2:
April 2:
April 28:
Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is at the center of this year’s in-person Bristol BookFest. Keynote speaker Dr. Jay Baruch and other historians lead engaging conversation about the classic novel while bringing readers together. BristolBookfest.com
RetroXpo comes to the Longplex Family & Sports Center, a celebration of pop culture and tabletop gaming featuring artists, comics, cosplay, and more. Barrington bodybuilder Brett Azar is headlining. Tiverton, Facebook: RetroXpo
Elizabeth Splaine, local author and former opera singer, hosts a book signing and discussion (with wine and hors d’oeuvres) for her latest novel, Swan Song, at the Tourister Lofts Community Room. Warren, ElizabethSplaineAuthor.com
April 1-10:
April 9:
April 29:
Newport Restaurant Week signals another season of delicious eats as participating restaurants join in the fun, offering a variety of mouthwatering prix-fixe menus, discounts, and BOGO deals. DiscoverNewport.org
Save the date for Rhode Island PBS’ Uncorked! – a food and wine event to benefit our local public TV station – at the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center, with tickets on sale online. Pawtucket, RIPBS.org
10,000 Maniacs bring their alternative rock to the JPT Film & Event Center for their 40th Anniversary tour, with a lineup of tunes sampling their vast catalog, from ‘80s favorites to new hits. Newport, JanePickens.com
20
The Bay • April 2022
Photo courtesy of Discover Newport
Through April:
coffee crepes baked goods & much more 279 Water Street, Warren, RI 401.245.7071 open seven days a week, all year
Sparkles A SHOWER OF
Caron Jewelers specializes in fine jewelry and estate pieces, custom wedding and engagement rings, luxury and vintage watches, artisan giftware, as well as its own Michi Designs featuring rare gemstones. In-house jewelry and watch repair, battery replacement, layaway and cleaning services available.
CARON JEWELERS YOUR TRUSTED FAMILY JEWELER SINCE 1956
473 HOPE STREET BRISTOL • 401-253-9460 CARONJEWELERS.COM
The Bay • April 2022 21
Easter Has Arrived at
Come See Our Unique Products from Europe and USA Open Mon., Wed.-Saturday 10-5:30 Sunday 12-4 (Closed Tuesday) Shop on our new website www.coryfarmsri.com 3124 East Main Road Portsmouth • 401-683-3124
RHODY STORIES DELIVERED
New Yea r Mus t-D CITY
EAN MEZZ CIES | MED ITER RAN | ART LEAD ERS' LEGA WAT ERW AY STOR IES
BBQ A NEW LOCA L CHEF S TAKE CH ENG LAND APP ROA TO SOU THER N-ST YLE SMO KED MEA TS
PLUS: FINANCIAL GUIDE
Your Augu st Must -Do' s This Mont h's Rhod y Gem
US : Fitness Dir
FREE
#297 AUGU ST 2021
PLUS: Meet the
Leading Ladies
of 2022
ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Providence, RI Permit # 34 PRST STD
MAR CH 2022 ine.c om TheB ayM agaz
spring
HOME & ONLY G$3ARDEN
per issue!
ectory
IDOL • SO CO SWAG • COZY EATS
IN EG • RHO DY PETS
Reach Your Goals From aerobics to Zum boutique gyms arou ba, nd the state are ready to help make those resolutions stick
ISSUE
ds and From local goo calling for resources to tips ing you the pros, everythin style esh need to refr
NEW THERAPIES | BEAUTY PRODUCTS
FR EE
G RET REA CUR LS • WR ITIN
T IN BR ISTOL
•
FRE E
JANU ARY 2022
HeyRhody.com
W E L L N E SS
The Bay • April 2022
FRE EPL
WAKEFIELD
EP SALON FOR
22
Sleep LOCAL EXPE RTS UNCOVE R THE BENEFIT S OF REST
2 02 2
TheBayMagazine.com/MailToYou
dy Gem
SoRh odeI sland .com JANU ARY 2022
POWER OF
JA N UA RY
Get Rhode Island’s family of award-winning premier lifestyle magazines Providence Monthly, The Bay, SO Rhode Island, and Hey Rhody delivered! All magazines are available for subscription. Never worry about missing an issue again while supporting local stories!
o’s • This Mon th’s Rho
THE
Summer
Subscribe today and get
12 issues for just $36!
E
E TON ICS TIV ERTON -M AD
| JUICE BAR CRAW L | YOUR NEW YEAR ’S
MUST-DO’S
Life & Style Home
Rhody Reads
Beauty
Mod Mudroom An overlooked screened-in porch becomes a useful entrance with storage to boot A place for everything and everything in its place – that’s the dream, right? And it’s just what Tiverton homeowners Jason and Lindsey Methia wanted for their family of four, which includes two young boys. “We enjoy hanging around the house, watching movies, playing games, and going for hikes around Tiverton and the Farm Coast,” says Lindsey, who notes that youth baseball is also a family affair with their sons playing, Jason coaching, and Lindsey herself working the concession stand. The Methias moved into the home, a big old house built in the early 1800s, days after their oldest son was born. Fast-forward seven-plus years and a few home updates later, and it was time to focus their attention on what to do with the drafty screened-in porch. They sought the advice of Red House Design and Build who suggested creating a dedicated entryway for guests and plenty of stylish storage. Photos by Aaron Usher III Photography, courtesy of Red House Design and Build The Bay • April 2022 23
Life & Style HOME
By Elyse Major
A heating pad beneath the herringbone tile keeps things cozy underfoot
Photos by Aaron Usher III Photography, courtesy of Red House Design and Build
Want your home featured in The Bay Magazine? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more
“As a screened-in porch, the room didn’t provide a proper entrance to the home and guests didn’t know if they should knock on the door to enter or not,” begins Justin Zeller, RHDB founder and project developer. “Our clients wanted to transform the porch into a well-insulated four-season multifunctional space. We designed and built a contemporary space that houses an entryway, mudroom, and playroom for their kids.” Zeller explains that the original porch lacked purpose and suffered from moisture infiltration from above and below; structural issues aside, the family wanted to increase the functionality. The solution was to divide the space into separate zones: an entryway and a separate mudroom/playroom.
In the mudroom, a custom storage area was added, consisting of four large cubbies with additional shelves and cabinets to hold coats, shoes, and equipment. Removing the wall that originally separated the porch from the kitchen and dining room created an open-concept space, perfect for Jason and Lindsey to work from home while keeping an eye on the kids. “We like the mix of old details, and the updated, more modern finishes make the house livable but also retain some of that old charm,” says Lindsey. And the best part? “There’s enough space where everything has a place, which is why the new mudroom was needed. What makes us most happy is that most of what we need is here and so we can spend long periods of time at home, together and being comfortable.”
GET RHODY STYLE Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State. MAIN ROAD The Methias enjoy The Red Dory for dinner, and say that Coastal Roasters has the best coffee around. Jason and Lindsey recently started Methia Coffee Roasters, a micro roaster housed in the barn on their property, and note that Coastal Roasters’ Donald Machado has been a huge help. NATURAL INSTINCTS For the custom storage, maple was a style choice to give contrast to the surrounding cabinets (painted in Greenfield Cabinetry’s Eucalyptus) and also provide a durable hard-working surface for the children to toss their gear. DESIGN LOCAL “We make what is important to you, important to us. Our mission is to enhance the quality of time our clients spend in their homes. By offering a full-service experience with unparalleled customer service, Red House Design Build is committed to helping achieve your hopes and dreams for your home,” says Bridget Bacon, sales and marketing manager. Learn more at RedHouseCustomBuilding.com
The Bay • April 2022 25
Life & Style BOOKS
By Hugh Minor
Rhody Reads
Celebrating bookstores on April 30 and beyond In the East Bay, it’s pretty safe to say we love our bookstores. Throughout the year, but especially on April 30, be sure to visit at least one for Independent Bookstore Day, a national celebration that takes place annually on the last Saturday in April at participating indies across the country. Bookstores are so much more than retailers. Each unique brick-andmortar offers a space for people to come together – both in person and virtually – to exchange ideas and share in the human experience. Shopping at your local spot is a great way to support neighbor-owned businesses who in turn bring employment opportunities and other services right back into the community. “Independent bookstores are vibrant threads in the tapestry that makes up a community. They provide a safe, welcoming place to gather. Indies are like a town square to linger in and become enriched by,” says Jennifer Massotti, general manager and partner at Barrington Books. Massotti is appreciative of the community support the store received throughout the pandemic. “People saw first-hand the fragility of small businesses, and we were fortunate to experience a surge of love from our community. They wanted to ensure we made it through this period of challenge to nourish the next generation of book lovers.” As we head into spring and new beginnings, Massotti is upbeat and positive about the future. “We finally feel like things are getting back to ‘normal’ and are excited to bring back our lively in-store event offerings of author signings, our award-winning weekly story hour, and community-centric events. There’s a hum in the air; people are optimistic and ready to explore.” Laurie Sutherland, who took ownership of Island Books in Newport last summer, notes that her favorite thing about owning an indie is providing personalized service. “Many people come in the store not knowing exactly what they want to read, 26
The Bay • April 2022
Charter Books
Barrington Books
Alicia Reynolds I N D I E B O O K TO U R As we celebrate IBD, let’s recognize the importance of these hubs in our community while acknowledging the commitment and dedication of the local business owners who keep their spirit alive. Barrington Books: Barrington, BarringtonBooks.com Book Nerd: Barrington, Facebook Charter Books: Newport, CharterBookStore.com Inkfish Books: Warren, InkFishBooks.com
With historically low inventory, there has never been a better time to sell! I would love to hear from you if you are looking to sell, contact me for a comparative market analysis of your home and you’ll receive a set of monogramed guest towels.
Island Books: Middletown, IslandBooksRI.indielite.org
but because our booksellers are extremely well read and know the store inventory so well, we are able to help customers get books they love – and they come back and tell us how much they enjoyed the experience too! We also custom order books – if we don’t have a book someone wants in the store, we find it for them from one of our publishers,” she says. Most booksellers also use their social media accounts to broadcast enticing images of stacks of books for shoppers to essentially do some pre-visit browsing. A simple way to show support is to follow them on their most active platform, comment something positive, or even post photos of yourself at their shop or goods you have purchased and tag them. Sign up for their newsletter to learn about special events. Inkfish Books Photo by Brad Smith Photography, courtesy of Inkfish Books
Send your Rhody book recommendations to Hugh at RhodyReads@gmail.com
CALL ME TO DISCUSS YOUR GOALS
401-835-2605
www.aliciareynoldsrealtor.com The Bay • April 2022 27
Life & Style BEAUTY
By Jackie Ignall
Hello, Sunshine Face spring with four beauty products made in Rhody FACE MASK Spring is a great time to introduce a face mask to your routine. Try the Flora Terra Clay Face Masque by Warren-based Herbal Rae, which contains three types of clay, neem leaf, crushed yarrow, and chamomile flowers to zap oil and impurities while also hydrating. Mix the powder formula with some water and apply to the skin for 10 minutes, then rinse. Your complexion will be glowy and smooth for days. HerbalRae.com SUN BLOCK Sun protection should be worn all year, but in warmer months it’s essential. Adding in Block Island Organics’ Natural Face Moisturizer to your regimen should do the trick.
Made with invisible zinc so there is no chalky cast, this moisturizer with SPF 30 contains antioxidants like green tea to protect and shea butter to keep skin soft. BlockIslandOrganics.com DEODORANT All-natural Resinous Rose Deodorant Cream from Beecher’s Botanicals is made with organic ingredients such as cold pressed coconut oil (an antibacterial), arrowroot powder, baking soda, and essential oils to help you stay dry and smell good even on the warmest days. A blend of myrrh and palmarosa add a subtle floral scent. BeechersBotanicals.com
Photos courtesy of Jackie Ignall
We survived another New England winter, and it’s time to say hello to spring! The change of season is always an ideal time to make modifications to your beauty routine and incorporate different products. Here are a handful of goods made around Rhode Island that will detoxify skin, protect it from the sun, and make it look more even, so you’ll be ready to face the sunshine.
FIREPLACE SHOWCASE !"#!$%&'!"(#%)&%*+,(%#)&-+%.'!/ SOAP Kick up your daily shower with an all-natural face and body soap with a refreshing citrus scent from Bubbly Muse. The homemade Bromelain Rosehip Soap with vitamin C helps to remove dead skin cells to brighten and even out complexions. BubblyMuse.com
50% OFF INSTALLATION THRU APRIL
Learn more beauty tips from Jackie Ignall at WanderAndLash.com, @wanderandlash
SWING INTO SPRING !!"#$%&&#'()*'#%)*+#,**-./-+#0%
www.thefireplaceshowcase.com
508-336-2600
Tues - Thurs 10-6pm; Fri - Sat 9-5pm; Monday by appt
The Bay • April 2022 29
REGISTER NOW FOR
SUMMER CAMP!
HALF & FULL DAY OPTIONS PROVIDENCE TENNIS CENTER AT ROGER WILLIAMS PARK
401-935-4336 providencetennis.com
ATTENTION BRISTOL & MIDDLETOWN
SUMMER CAMPS 2022 Register online at:
401-253-5902
530 Wood Street, Bristol // 1341 W. Main Road, Middletown
FUN
FRIENDS & ADVENTURE
aquidneck island day camp
Ju
th
- August
th
Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:00pm Extended Day 8:00am-5:00pm Portsmouth/Middletown, RI Register per week or for full summer term
(401) 864-3183
aquidneckislanddaycamp.com
SAILING SWIMMING FIELD TRIPS ART SPORTS & MORE
30
The Bay • April 2022
®
r tensive fo A Summer In 10-17 vers Ages Theatre Lo
” at the g “On stage e Performin Providenc r Arts Cen,t2e022 2 2 July 18
Joyful, thoughtful camp experiences for ages 3-14 on a scenic 12-acre campus in East Providence
Learn more at gordonschool.org/summer
JOY
•
U N D ER S TA N D IN G
•
RESPECT
Engaging fun for children ages 3–14 on our beautiful 19-acre campus.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
COLD ENOUGH FOR YOU? WELL, WE’RE FREEZING AT ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL
FREEZING TUTITION FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT IS! COME SEE FOR YOURSELF WHY PEOPLE ARE WARMING UP TO ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL
CALL FOR A TOUR! ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2022-2023 PRESCHOOL – GRADE 8
TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION Nurturing the Christian Leaders of Tomorrow
WRITING
SCIENCE
ARTS
SPORTS
and more!
For information and registration: www.pennfield.org | 401.849.4646 Little Slocum Farm 110 Sandy Point Avenue • Portsmouth, RI
A DEDICATED AND THRIVING COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS FROM 15 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES
10 Waldron Avenue, Barrington 401-246-0990 • StLukesRI.org THE ONLY STEAM CERTIFIED SCHOOL IN THE EAST BAY The Bay • April 2022 31
o t t e k Tic ine D Presents
RESTAURANT EVENT
MAY 1 ST
ST
$25 PER PERSON DINE OUT
& WIN
BIG
Every Meal purchased earns a FREE DESSERT & RAFFLE for great prizes like...
‘Discover Newport’ Getaway Package
$350 Cash ...and More!
Dine in, Dine out, or Take out, have your ticket validated at each participating restaurant. Books due June 11 to be entered into drawings!
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:
MEDIA SPONSORS:
EVENT SPONSORS:
More Information at 245-0750 | info@EastBayChamberRI.org | EastBayChamberRI.org/Events Tickets can also be purchased at: Piccolo Children’s Boutique, 290 County Rd. Barrington
In Unity
THERE IS STRENGTH
Bristol’s newest group of food and drink entrepreneurs emerge from the pandemic more resourceful than ever, and excited to call Wood Street home BY ANN MARTINI
“Well, if it’s not COVID, it’s something else.” So is the sentiment of Mathiew Medeiros and his wife Lyslie, owners of Basil & Bunny, a food truck soon to be a brick-and-mortar restaurant joining Unity Park in Bristol, a mill redevelopment project, this summer. Basil & Bunny features vegan and vegetarian comfort food – their plant-based take on a Big Mac quickly put them on the list of Rhode Island’s must-visit food trucks. But they had only been operating for a couple of months when COVID shut everything down in March 2020. Companies and individuals across the globe learned what it meant to pivot. But no industry was forced to get creative more than restaurants. “We didn’t panic,” says Mathiew who, like Lyslie, has a business degree from Johnson & Wales University. Not that it was easy, especially in those early weeks, even for the man whose LinkedIn profile reads “If I put my mind to it, I can accomplish anything.” Mathiew knew something of the food and beverage industry, having worked with both Narragansett and Revival brewing companies after graduation. “Businesses, especially small ones, always have challenges to overcome,” he says. “So COVID became that. A problem to solve.” Photography (top) by Nick DelGiudice, (bottom) courtesy of Basil & Bunny
Mathiew & Lyslie at their first event, VegFest RI in 2020
Photo courtesy of Basil & Bunny
Adam and Natalie O’Brien size up the possibilities
After a brief stall, Mathiew and Lyslie took to social media and became experts, with the help of the kitchens at Hope & Main, at preparing their food to go. “Despite COVID, we did well,” he says. It buoyed the couple for the move to Unity Park and their new 2,500-square-foot space, which they expect to open in June. Adam and Natalie O’Brien had to modify in a similar way. The couple, who have a nine-month-old, have long envisioned a distillery of their own. O’Brien & Brough, featuring whiskey and whiskey cocktails, will also open in Unity Park this summer. “While some of the whiskey we make will be distilled by us and there’s already great whiskey being made in Rhode Island, there’s a vast world of whiskey out there that we would like to help bring to the local community,” says Adam. Adam recently left his job as an audiovisual systems engineer at Suffolk University. “At the same time, I’ve been studying brewing and distilling and scrounging up small jobs in the industry while attending every whiskey tasting I possibly could.” Natalie’s background is in business management and transactional law. “I’m a Roger Williams alumna and I’ve always imagined returning to Bristol someday. Bristol and Unity Park bring together everything we could hope for from both a personal and business perspective,” she says. But despite their preparation, the pandemic added an unexpected level of difficulty. “It’s made everything more expensive, harder to find, and increased lead times, in some cases by months,” says Adam. “We’re a small producer, and manufacturers and suppliers are looking for much larger minimum orders than they were before.” Financing, too – always an impediment for new small businesses – became more difficult. Like the Medeiroses, the O’Briens turned to smaller avenues of financing. “The lending climate around the pandemic made it tough for us to find financing,” says Adam. Ultimately, the O’Briens found help from the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center. Still, he believes the positive vibes around the Wood Street project helped. “I would be surprised if Unity Park wasn’t a major reason why the bank was interested in lending to us.” And, like the Medeiroses, the O’Briens are problem solving and making adjustments. “We’re doing everything we can to open this summer,” says Adam. “Customers should know that we are going to open with a very limited product selection, but we hope that the quality of what we have to offer will surprise everyone. Even if you don’t like whiskey, or think you don’t like whiskey, we would love the opportunity to change your mind.”
Pivotal uses the smoke stack in their logo and urges visitors to “follow the stack” to find them
Photos by Josh Cornell, courtesy of O’Brien & Brough
Whiskey business at Unity Park
Unity Park, previously known as Bristol Industrial Park, is comprised of three buildings and about 230,000 square feet of commercial and industrial space along Wood Street, a half-dozen or so blocks in from the town’s waterfront bars and restaurants such as Aidan’s Pub, Thames Waterside Bar and Grill, and Quito’s. The mill opened as the National Rubber Company in 1865. It changed names and owners through the years but remained a productive and important East Coast factory specializing in the production of rubber. In the 1940s, the factory had about 6,000 employees – about half the population of the town of Bristol. With changing times, the mill fell into receivership in 2010. But several local residents found value in the property, appreciating its role in the town’s history. Enter Joe Brito, Jr., a long-time Bristol resident, businessman, and property owner. “Our family has a history of taking properties that are a blight and being able to turn them around,” Brito said at the time he bought the complex, in late 2019, for $750,000. “The spirit of Unity Park is to breathe new life into a place that was once a pillar of Bristol’s economy and pride by adapting it to the current times.” Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente says that Town Hall was more than happy to assist the securing of what would become Unity Park with tax incentives and grants. “The property is special in part because so many people in the town once had relatives who worked there when it was a factory,” he says. “We’re very pleased to see the property be preserved and improved with mixed-use space.” The state, too, played a part in setting up Wood Street for success going back five years, when Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor helped secure a grant to improve the surrounding area, making it more pedestrian-friendly. “To see a Rhode Islander creating a small business on this street…” he noted at the time, “it doesn’t get better than that. That’s what we exist to do.” The support is an added bonus for Adam O’Brien. “One of the biggest surprises for us so far has been how incredibly helpful and supportive working with the town of Bristol has been. We’re really looking forward to making Bristol our home.”
The O’Briens
Photography by Wolf Matthewson
of the country’s top culinary incubators. They have launched 300 food-related businesses, including Basil & Bunny and Borealis, with their mission to empower entrepreneurs with everything they will need to launch a successful food business. “We look at food as something that creates a vibrant local economy,” Raiola says. She credits COVID with giving some food entrepreneurs a futuristic vision about the industry and where it might be headed. “There was no playbook,” she says. “We had to be confidently vulnerable, to pressure-test and welcome the innovation that comes from challenge,” Raiola says of Hope & Main’s “COVID babies,” including Fieldstone Kombucha, born between early 2020 and now. “They pivoted in ways they wouldn’t have otherwise,” Raiola says. During COVID, she explains, some businesses used the community kitchens at Hope & Main to prep food for take-out and delivery, something many of them, especially food trucks, might not have the capacity to do. It kept them moving forward during that scary time. 18,000-square-foot schoolhouse turned food incubator in Warren
Photography by Nick DelGiudice
Mixing things up at Borealis Coffee Company
The O’Briens and the Medeiroses own two of the more than two dozen small businesses that will call Unity Park home through the end of the year and beyond. Many of them will be food related. In addition to Basil & Bunny and O’Brien & Brough, there is, or will be, a second location for Borealis Coffee Company (the first is located in Riverside), Brick Pizza Company (opened by Bristol Oyster Bar owner Jordan Sawyer), Fieldstone Kombucha, and Pivotal Brewing Company. And while it might not be obvious to patrons enjoying vegan burgers or thin-crust pizza in the dining rooms, many of these businesses will embody a lasting effect of the pandemic: flexible space and more of it, allowing for take-out and catering operations to happen at a moment’s notice. For Hope & Main president and founder Lisa Raiola, this is the enduring and positive impact of the pandemic, and proof that culinary folks in particular are nimble when it comes to facing obstacles. Raiola and her staff are directly responsible for helping that vision come to life for some of these tenants, who, in part, may be better able to pivot. They are new, not locked into a typical sit-down restaurant protocol, and are flexible much in the way a 12-year-old can do a cartwheel more easily than a 50-year-old. Hope & Main was established in 2014 and quickly became one
It would seem, too, Raiola notes, that COVID permanently increased the number of ways we get our food, and has made home delivery, pickup, and even grocery delivery part of our dining vernacular. So when Fieldstone and Basil & Bunny were considering their build-out at Unity Park, it made sense to include flexible space – more than just a standard kitchen to feed guests in the dining area. “We want them to have a more diverse kitchen and larger production capability because it’s part of the future,” Raiola says. And these new food entrepreneurs are embracing the challenge. “We had been looking at other spaces,” says Mathiew. “But Hope & Main guided us to Unity Park. Now it’s become such a passion project for us. We are so optimistic.” On a recent early spring night, Pivotal Brewing Company, easily found at Unity Park if you follow the smokestack, is humming. The cavernous space is pure converted mill – exposed brick walls, gargantuan windows, soaring ceilings. Chatter and laughter rise from mismatched tables and chairs plucked from vintage furniture stores. It’s what Todd Nicholson and Rebecca Ernst imagined when they opened the microbrewery in the fall of 2021. The name is a nod to the fact that the couple wanted to “pivot” away from their day jobs in marketing and event production to become full-time brewers. The irony of the name wasn’t lost on the couple as they endured COVID-induced construction delays. But finally, they opened with three beers on tap. There isn’t a kitchen, but in the true collaborative spirit of Unity Park, the taproom will be serviced by food trucks.
The taproom at Pivotal Brewing Company
MORE REASONS TO EXPLORE 500 WOOD STREET • Blanc + Bleu • Branch Woodworking • CP’s Catering & Sandwich Shop • Chef Bella • duPont Designs • New England Tent Company • Peter C. Paltrinieri Company • Riveted Woodworking & Design
Photography by Nick DelGiudice
Photo courtesy of Basil & Bunny
A cozy corner at Pivotal
A few doors down, at Brick Pizza Company, Town Administrator Contente and company are enjoying several of the restaurant’s selections of pizza, pasta, and apps. From across the room, he spies several plaques hanging on a wall. A server explains that owner Jordan Sawyer found them in storage during the space’s build-out, and that they commemorate milestones of the individuals who worked in the space generations ago. “It’s so nice to see the old and the new together,” Contente notes later. There is no such thing as smooth sailing in the restaurant and hospitality industry, so even as COVID abates, challenges will endure. Owners are still having trouble manning positions in the front of the house; although – according to the Rhode Island Hospitality Association – the problem has gotten better, staffing has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. On top of that, workers are demanding more money, more work/life balance, and more of a mission and purpose in their jobs. Supply-chain issues are still a factor, and of course, there’s always the possibility of another COVID variant. Still, optimism reigns supreme, at least here at Unity Park. By summer and fall of this year, business should be in full swing for this group of hopeful entrepreneurs, who find satisfaction in small victories. “It might sound odd,” says Adam, “but I’m most looking forward to the smells! The beer and coffee brewing, the whiskey in oak barrels, the pizza baking and the bay air. Can you imagine how good that will smell?”
26% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT Tax Credit Includes Labor & Venting !"#$%!&'$$(&)*$+!& ,-&+!%.$"*&#/)*0"1)
775 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA
www.thefireplaceshowcase.com
508-336-2600
Tues - Thurs 10-6pm; Fri - Sat 9-5pm; Monday by appt
JOIN US FOR
Easter Sunday
Special
MENU
BOOK
Your Table NOW!
Chapel 3 0 0 0 C H A P E L V I E W B LV D • C R A N S T O N , R I • 4 0 1 . 9 4 4 . 4 9 0 0 • C H A P E LG R I L L E R I . C O M The Bay • April 2022 39
JOHN MEDEIROS IS AVAILABLE AT J&J DIAMOND JEWELERS
644 METACOM AVE WARREN , RI 02885
401-516-9441
Sharon Vieira, Owner
Danielle Sampson-Vieira, Co-Owner GIA Accredited AJP
167 Borden Street • Fall River, MA 508-676-7169 • www.jjjewelry.com Family-Owned & Operated Since 1997
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS, THANK YOU! WATERFRONT DINING FARM FRESH MENU PRIVATE EVENTS
CATERING LIVE MUSIC AL FRESCO DINING
Wednesday-Friday: 10am-5pm | Saturday: 10am-2pm Follow us on Facebook for more info at @JJDiamondJewelers
THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER Purveyors of unique and unusual plant material, pottery, fountains & garden décor
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED AT RESY.COM TAKE OUT CURBSIDE PICKUP
32 BARTON AVENUE | BARRINGTON | 401.247.0017 | BLUEWATERGRILLRI.COM DINNER: TUESDAYSATURDAY 4:30PM | NOW OPEN SUNDAY 4PM8PM 40
The Bay • April 2022
716 Mooresfield Road (Rt. 138), Wakefield 401-792-1340 • Open Daily 9am-5pm thefarmersdaughterri.com
Food & Drink Recipe
Food News
In The Kitchen
A previous Newport Beer Festival event
Raise a glass to East Bay breweries at this year’s Newport Beer Festival After hitting pause the past two years, the Rhode Island Brewers Guild is excited to bring back the Newport Beer Festival for its 10th year of pouring local craft beers for enthusiasts to drink in all our state’s craft brew scene has to offer. With the exception of its name change – formerly the Newport Craft Beer Festival – and new location at Fort Adams State Park, festival director Taylor Votolato looks forward to this mainstay event mostly echoing years past. A ticket includes entry, samples from over 40 vendors, and a souvenir glass, with food available on site and live music backdropping the event. A “festival for brewers, by brewers,” guests can meet and mingle with the local maker behind their favorite brews and discover brands they’ve never tried before. Along with breweries from across the state, find East Bay favorites including The General’s Crossing Brewhouse, Jamestown; The Guild Brewing Co., Warren and Pawtucket; Ragged Island Brewing Company, Portsmouth; Rejects Beer Co., Middletown; Six Pack Brewing, Bristol; Taproot Brewing Co., Middletown; and Twelve Guns Brewing, Bristol, with more being added to the list at press. With a mission of championing all things craft beer in the Ocean State, the Rhode Island Brewers Guild works year round to set beer lovers on a course of broadening their hop horizons with the brewery passport and app for people to earn prizes for visiting local stops, along with seasonal events. Reserve your tickets early for the April 30 Newport Beer Festival online at RIBrewersGuild.org | By Abbie Lahmers Photo by Phil Pasco Photography, courtesy of RI Brewers Guild The Bay • April 2022 41
Food & Drink RECIPE
By Liz Murray
Up Your Squash Game Celebrate spring’s bounty with this healthy Asian-inspired dish with a kick, featuring gourds and mushrooms from local farms With strong notes of ginger and garlic, and a spicy chili kick, this flavorful medley of sauteed veggies is the perfect complement to your favorite protein or a satisfying dinner on its own. Onion, squash, zucchini, and mushroom make up the base of this healthy and simple-to-make side dish. The best part about this spring medley? It’s versatile – feel free to swap in whatever produce is in season or fits your liking.
April means more produce popping up at local farmers markets, so pay a visit to one of these spots, or log into the WhatsGood app (with pick-up available at Hope & Main in Warren) to find fresh veg to throw in the frying pan. Visit Guide.FarmFreshRI.org for more. Aquidneck Grower’s Farmers Market | Saturdays, AquidneckCommunityTable.org Mount Hope Farmers Market Saturdays, MountHopeFarm.org Tiverton Farmers Market Sundays, TivertonFarmersMarket.com
42
The Bay • April 2022
SPICY SAUTEED ZUCCHINI AND SQUASH INGREDIENTS • 2-3 zucchinis • 1-2 yellow squash • 1 yellow or white onion • 8 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms • ⅓ cup coconut aminos • 1 Tbsp garlic chili sauce (reduce for less spice; I use Huy Fong) • 1 ½ Tbsp rice vinegar • 1 ½ Tbsp light brown sugar • 2 Tbsp minced ginger • 1 Tbsp minced garlic • 2 Tbsp coconut, olive, or sesame oil Optional garnishes: • ¼ cup chopped cashews • Parsley or cilantro STEPS 1. Chop zucchini, summer squash, and onion, removing the woody ends. Heat your preferred oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in the chopped veggies and mushrooms and stir. Continue stirring and cook the vegetable mixture until the zucchini is fork-tender, about 12 minutes. 2. While the vegetables are cooking, in a small saucepan, mix together the coconut aminos, brown sugar, garlic chili sauce, and rice vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until reduced to ¼ cup. Remove from heat.
Photo by Liz Murray
TIP: To store any leftover coconut amino reduction, allow it to cool to room temperature, then pour it into a small sealable container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
3. Once the zucchini and squash is tender, toss in the minced garlic and ginger. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring frequently. 4. Drizzle about half of the reduced coconut amino sauce over the zucchini mixture and mix well. Taste, and add more sauce if desired. 5. Top with chopped cashews and parsley or cilantro and enjoy!
The Bay • April 2022 43
Food & Drink FOOD NEWS
By Karen Greco
Spring Harvests from Local Growers
44
Little greens, big flavor
Farm-raised meats on wheels
“I decided to grow my way through the pandemic,” jokes Karin Tammi, who left her career in marine science to found Coastal Greens Farm in Little Compton. “I was really good at spawning oysters and scallops,” she says of the pivot, noting that microgreens have a similar life cycle to that of an oyster. Tammi grew her small farm by testing out microgreen varieties on friends and neighbors while learning how to grow more efficiently. In 2020, with the launch of Tiverton Farmers Market, her microgreens took off. Food science research points to the nutrient-bomb that microgreens deliver. “An individual microgreen turns into a plant that produces [a limited] number of heads of broccoli,” she says by way of example. She also points to the value of local food systems, a lesson learned during the pandemic. “You’re not waiting for a head of iceberg lettuce from Yuma.” Little Compton, CoastalGreensRI.com
What started as a family homestead with 25 chickens turned into a full-fledged farm by accident. “We began with 25 heritage breed chickens,” says Ester Bishop of Gnarly Vines Farm in Tiverton. “But they produced so many eggs, we didn’t know what to do with them.” Her husband’s boss co-owned a farmto-table restaurant and offered to buy the excess. When their chef requested 150 dozen eggs a week, Bishop bought more chickens and a farm was born. As she became increasingly familiar with the restaurant industry, their meat offerings expanded to include pigs and Boer goats, and she partnered with a neighboring farm to offer beef. With chefs constantly in search of quality meats, she’s never considered growing veggies. Instead, Gnarly Vines expanded to sell cuts of meat via local farmers markets. Their food truck hit the road in 2021, turning any unsold cuts into delicious Brazilian fare to cut down on food waste. Tiverton, GnarlyVinesFarm.com
The Bay • April 2022
Photos courtesy of Coastal Greens
With the specialty farming and alternative crops movement gaining steam, we talked to three Farm Coast growers whose niche focuses yield delicious results for chefs and foodies alike.
BE MOVED!
LISTEN NOW!
Call today for a FREE trial class!
A deep dive into the Ocean State. Taking a granular look into the people, places and everything in between that inspire such big love for the smallest state! Giudice Hosted by Nick Del & Sascha Robert s
18 MONTHS TO ADULTS CLASSES OFFERED FOR RECREATIONAL & COMPETITIVE DANCERS
Dance Expressions 876 West Main Road, Middletown • 401-230-0789 Register online: DanceExpressionsri.com
Organic apples are a chef’s delight Living next door to a satellite apple orchard, Patrick and Claire Bowen had a front row seat to its beautiful blooms. When the land went up for sale last winter, the couple bought it, creating Small World Farms to ensure the orchard remained intact. Transitioning the apples to organic – only the second organic orchard in the state – meant a crash course in organic farming. Because of the humid climate, organic apples are difficult to grow. “Almost every farmer in town told us that it was impossible to produce apples organically here,” concedes Patrick. But the rich soil and abundant insects also yield the most delicious apples (even if not terribly attractive). This makes organic apples a favorite of chefs and bakers, who became early adopters of the Bowens’ first chemical-free crop. With the addition of a new barn, the fledgling farmers will have a dedicated farm stand in addition to the existing pick-your-own model. Little Compton, SmallWorldFarmRI.com
Saturday, April 9, 2022 The Pawtucket Armory Tickets at ripbs.org
AVAILABLE ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP!
the World d n u o Ar
Event Sponsors
The Bay • April 2022 45
Food & Drink IN THE KITCHEN
By Abbie Lahmers
Healthy Meals at the Ready Warren-based Savory Fare’s single-serve entrees take the hassle out of dinner a public health nutritionist, Hughes took a leap and founded meal delivery service Savory Fare five years ago, operating out of Hope & Main in Warren. Starting out as a personal chef service, Hughes saw a trend in her clientele’s needs. “We prepared meals for a number of older adults, one in particular whose doctor said that if she did not eat better, she would need to move into assisted living. So we
began asking, ‘what are older adults looking for from a meal delivery service?’” The first answer is easy – “we all want delicious, healthy food,” says Hughes, but also familiarity and variety. A handful of frozen staples never leave the menu, from pot pies and scratch-made mac and cheese to Tikka Masala Chicken and Shrimp Scorpio. Rotating fresh seasonal specials complement these tried-and-true offerings.
Chicken Piccata
46
The Bay • April 2022
Photos courtesy of Savory Fare
The nourishing power of a home-cooked meal is something Mary Wise Hughes doesn’t take lightly. “I come from a family who loves preparing delicious food,” she says. “My mother was a good cook and both of my brothers really enjoy cooking, as does my son.” Cementing a career in food preparation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition from Hood College in Maryland and a dozen years as
To celebrate five years, Savory Fare is offering a 50 percent off discount to new clients placing their first order between now and May 31.
Hughes also wants to ensure Savory Fare is accessible, hearing from older clients that they would prefer ordering over the phone or via an easy-to-use website rather than an app, so paper menus are mailed to folks who don’t use the internet. “Having a Savory Fare frozen entree in your freezer means you don’t have to worry about dinner on those unexpectedly busy days, or snowy days, or days when you just don’t
feel like cooking,” says Hughes. While seniors have flocked to the service as a means of keeping their independence and living at home, Savory is for everyone – busy professionals, new parents, folks on the mend from an injury. Meals come fresh or frozen in single-serving portions that are easy to reheat. Along with associate Rosa Munoz and a team of chefs, Hughes has been hard at work developing entrees for spring, from Salmon in Lemon-Tarragon Crème Fraîche to Ricotta and Egg Gnocchi with olives, capers, and tomato sauce. For Easter dinner, find Baked Ham with Raisin Sauce. A Passover menu includes Roasted Brisket with leeks, carrots, and garlic and a Chicken Soup with fluffy matzah balls. For Hughes, Savory Fare is a win-win.
She gets to do what she loves – cook for others – and clients can enjoy meal time without the stress. They recently expanded their community outreach, too. In February, they started offering meals at Newport senior center Edward King House, and at the beginning of the pandemic Savory Fare got involved with Hope & Main’s buy-one-giveone Nourish Our Neighbors initiative. “Our meals nourish hundreds of people each month through this program,” says Hughes. “We are looking forward to bringing our delicious food and responsive service to many more folks as we grow.”
Savory Fare Warren • 401-454-4955 SavoryFareInc.com
The Bay • April 2022 47
Pic of the Bay
ABOUT KAYLA @k___elizabeth
Signs of spring in Queen Anne Square, Newport
Awkward millennial sarcastically MacGyvering my way through marriage, motherhood & life with my camera in hand.
BARRINGTON
MEET OUR AGENTS Combining local market expertise with a world renowned brand.
Allison Dessel 401.339.6316
Ellie Wickes 508.493.4545
BARRINGTON
SOLD
MaryBeth Frye 401.413.3509
55 Adams Point Road Allison Dessel
LITTLE COMPTON
$2,100,000 401.339.6316
BARRINGTON WAT ER VI EWS SO LD
1825 Wampanoag Trail Allison Dessel
TIVERTON
$495,000 13 Austin Lane 401.339.6316 Ellie Wickes
$985,000 26 King Philip Avenue 508.493.4545 Lynda Terhune
$695,000 401.499.2575
BARRINGTON SO L D
0 High Hill Road Cherry Arnold & Liz Kinnane
mottandchace.com
WAT ER V IEWS
$1,200,000 21 Preston Drive 508.938.9701 MaryBeth Frye
$999,999 401.413.3509 Each office is independently owned and operated.
TOPSAIL REALTY WWW.C21TOPSAIL.COM
WESTPORT – Shannon Drive Westport Meadows - 3 beds/2.5 baths Nicely Appointed Kitchen – 1.7 acres 2 Car Garage
BRISTOL – Justin Street Bordertown – 3 Beds/2 Baths – Corner Lot – Custom Cabinets – Oversized Deck & Patio
BRISTOL – Sullivan Lane Ferncliff Farm – 5 Beds/3 Baths Waterviews – 3 Car Garage – Private Fenced Yard
BRISTOL – Patricia Ann Drive Harding Estates – 4 Beds/2.5 Baths Incredible Wood Details -Truly One of A Kind Victorian!
PORTSMOUTH – Narragansett Boulevard Common Fence Point – 3 Beds/2.5 Baths – Recently Remodeled – Move In Ready! – 2 Car Garage
TIVERTON – Main Road Craftsmanship & Quality – 6 Beds/3.5 Baths – Nicely Appointed Gourmet Kitchen – 2.98 ac w/Frontage on 9ac Pond
729 HOPE STREET BRISTOL 401-254-1900
2525 EAST MAIN ROAD PORTSMOUTH 401-683-4900. EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
1808 MAIN ROAD TIVERTON 401-625-5878