East Side Monthly February 2016 by Hey Rhody Media Co.

Celebrating our 87th Year!

L SO

574 Angell Street Sue Erkkinen

L SO

94 Congdon Street Michael Young

L SO

165 Hope Street Chris Healy

66 Woodbury Street Carl Feldman

25 Laurel Avenue Myra Braverman

67 Freeman Parkway Lise Holst

L SO

94 Blackstone Boulevard Helen Macdonald

L SO

441 Rochambeau Avenue Sue Erkkinen

1 Harian Road Linda Mittleman

COLEMANREALTORS.COM providence 401.274.3636

barrington 401.245.3050

east greenwich 401.884.5522

corporate relocation 401.277.0570

watch hill 401.596.2390

contents FeBRUARY 2016

CHOOSE A BOUTIQUE REAL ESTATE AGENCY WITH BIG RESULTS

NEW LIST 276 CAMP STREET wonderful colonial with original details. Beautiful floors. Some updating needed, but well worth it. 3 bed, 1.5 bath, newer roof and paint. deck to nice yard, one car garage. Great location! $285,500 Aleen weiss

NEW LIST 116 COTTAGE AVENUE, NORTH PROV. Unique colonial. Lrg kitchen opens to dining/den, living room w/ fireplace. 2 bd currently, but could be 3. 2 full baths. Full in-law suite/finished basement. Beautiful yard. insulated attic. easy access to colleges, hwy and hospitals. $252,000 Aleen weiss

the city isn’t flaking out on snowy concerns, and neither should you

NEW LIST 80 DOYLE AVENUE Great investment opportunity... cash cow! Legal 6 unit multi, fully rented, with great rental history, newer replacement windows, fully fire-coded, needs some tLc, being sold “AS iS” $350,000 Aleen weiss

This Month 19 | Plows at the Ready What has the City done to prepare after last year’s brutal winter

NEW PRICE 46 SHERWOOD AVENUE, LINCOLN Spacious and inviting raised ranch in sought after woodhaven. open floor plan with updated kitchen, vaulted den with cozy gas fireplace. Finished basement with bath, large fenced backyard. $249,900 Aleen weiss

23 | FebRuaRy Vacation How to make the most of your kids’ week off NEW LIST

Every Month

33 ARLINGTON STREET, PAWTUCKET Amazing quality hill gem with quick access to i-95! 3,300sf historic home full of period architectural details details. 4 Brs, 2 full & 3 half baths. Spacious living area, fireplace, custom walk-in closet, brick patio. $282,000 Karen miller

4 | Editorial/Letters

Community

PENDING 240 CAMP STREET wonderful legal two family, located near rochambeau. Large rooms, fully rented, great for investor or owner occupied. Being sold “as is” short sale, negotiator in place and ready to go! Great buy at $240,000. Gail Jenard.

Some residents express a need for a real conversation about speeding on Blackstone Boulevard 7 | News 10 | In the Know 13 | Neighborhood News

Close to Home PENDING

Community ties just got ramped up 28 | Education 31 | East of Elmgrove

64 NIPMUC TRAIL #A, NORTH PROVIDENCe Large spacious townhouse unit/duplex style. end unit, open floor plan, stainless steel appliances, cathedral ceiling, 2 beds with master updated bath. newer mechanicals, large patio, garage. Finished attic. $175,000 Aleen weiss

On the Town In the kitchen at Mile and a Quarter 35 | Flavor of the Month 37 | On The Menu 39

| Rhody Bites

| Calendar

Photography by Barry Fain

Author Jon Land on why thrillers are so compelling

On the Cover:

The Snowpocalypse of 2015. Photography by Barry Fain

www.facebook.com/EastSideMonthly

408 GROTTO AVENUE cozy & inviting describes this craftsman Style Bungalow Located in the desirable nathanael Greene neighborhood: 3 bed, 2 Bath, dble Living room, eat in Kitchen, Study, Family room with Bar, gas Heat/ Hot water, garage. $173,000 Gail Jenard

Assisting Buyers, sellers & renters Aleen WeissH Karen MillerH

The East Sider

PENDING

HAlso licensed in MA

Jon WeissHF Howard Weiss Claire sennott gail Jenard

Flicensed ri environmental lead inspector 0065

785 Hope Street providence, ri 401-272-6161 SpitzweiSS.com

@EastSideMonthly

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Editorial

EST 1975

East Side MONTHLY

1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 tel: 305-3391 | fax: 305-3392 mail@providenceonline.com www.eastsidemonthly.com • @EastSideMonthly

Forty Years and Counting It seems like just last week that the staff here was scurrying around putting the finishing touches on last month’s 40th anniversary issue. A lot of work. A lot of memories. A lot of fun. Now that it’s done, we hope you’ll see it as we do, a love song to the wonderfully quirky place we all call home. So what is it that makes life here so interesting? First off the East Side attracts a broad range of people. Each of our neighborhoods has its own unique sense of character. Some are fancier than others. Some more historic. Almost all are stable. Some are even edgy. But the appeal for most people who choose to settle here is not just our quality of life, but the reasonable pace at which it’s lived. On the one hand, the East Side is a place that attracts doers, activists, people who often have strong thoughts and like to make changes. Yet it’s also a place that encourages collegiality, where neighbors

seem genuinely interested in who lives next door. We tend to take our neighborhood associations seriously and participate in our listservs. We’re also one of the rare places that during election season actually engages with the candidates who ring our doorbells. Our geography is limited, only a few square miles, yet it’s a place that’s laid out well, with plenty of quiet spaces to discover, and rarely feels small or claustrophobic. Steeped in history, many of our streets date back centuries; others just go back a mere generation of two. Houses are generally described as where Mr. and Mrs. So and So lived. Stores of course are more in keeping with the Rhode Island tradition and are places where something else used to be. And though we take pride in our traditions, our shared history, we’re also a unique place that doesn’t ever seem to feel old. Part of that is we’re replenished annually by new

students coming to our universities. We often attract new people coming into town. And occasionally we still replenish our stock with second and third generations. The response to last month’s anniversary issue has been quite overwhelming, a testament to how much residents love it here on the East Side. With this in mind, we encourage our readers to send us their feedback, fondest memories, criticisms, frustrations or whatever by emailing us at esm@providenceonline.com or writing us at our office, 1070 Main Street, Suite 302, Pawtucket 02860. We hope to organize the responses into a form that we hope will be interesting. And finally, but most important, we’re honored to have been an integral, and hopefully useful, part of this incredible community and sincerely appreciate the unwavering support you have shown us over the years. We pledge to do our best to continue to earn your trust as we head into our fifth decade. Thank you.

Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell

Media Director Jeanette St. Pierre @JeanetteSTP

Executive Editor Barry Fain

City Editor Steve Triedman

Creative Director Julie Tremaine @JulieTremaine

Managing Editor Grace Lentini @Gracie_NomNom

Digital Editor Tony Pacitti @TonyPacitti

Editor Courtney Denelle @CourtneyDenelle

Art Director Meghan H. Follett

Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas

Assistant Art Director Veatsna Sok

Graphic Designer Katie Leclerc

Account Managers Shelley Cavoli: Shelley@ProvidenceOnline.com Louann DiMuccio-Darwich: Louann@ProvidenceOnline.com Ann Gallagher: Ann@ProvidenceOnline.com Kristine Mangan: Kristine@ProvidenceOnline.com Dan Schwartz: DanS@ProvidenceOnline.com Elizabeth Riel: Liz@ProvidenceOnline.com

Letters To the Editor: Some Brotherly Love We moved to Philadelphia over twenty years ago after living on the East Side for many years while I worked a Lifespan and began raising a family here. Your anniversary issue brings back so many memories and reminds my wife Janet and I why we still miss Providence – the fun, the quirkiness and most of all, the sense of shared community. Many thanks to East Side Monthly and congrats for all the great issues you have featured and the many contributions you have made to that community over so many years. Dr. Dennis Novack Our Bad Your anniversary issue is a beauty… a true keeper. I’ll save two copies for my sons. The issue took me back to my (relative) youth – and then some. But

East Side Monthly February 2016

Kimberly Tingle: Kim@ProvidenceOnline.com Stephanie Oster Wilmarth: Stephanie@ProvidenceOnline.com

guys, how did you manage to come up with the wrong location of the NBC “Providence” house in your trivia quiz? It was and remains at the northeast corner of Freeman Parkway and Tabor, not Laurel and Taber! That said we all appreciate the wonderful work you do covering our East Side. Joan Slafsky Editor’s note: This is especially embarrassing given the major writer for the series, Elle Triedman, not only is the sister of Steve Triedman, a longtime editor of the paper, but actually was featured on the cover of one of our old issues. Hopefully our forgiving readers will cut us some slack since we only missed by a block. The Govenor’s State of the East Side I feel very lucky that my family is able to call the East Side home. One of my favorite things about where

my family and I live is all the activity in our neighborhood. Within walking distance of our house, Andy and I can start the day by taking Ceci and Tommy to our library on Rochambeau, then head over to Hope Street to grab a bite to eat or do some shopping at locally-owned businesses, stop by the farmers market (a family favorite!) and then wrap up our evening by watching a game at Brown Stadium. It’s rare for a city to feel so tight-knit - the East Side is a special place. Governor Gina Raimondo Correction: In the January issue we incorrectly stated that Mary Murphy was one of the heads of URI’s journalism program when in fact it was Linda Lotridge Levin. Mary was a photographer for The Providence Journal. We apologize for the mistake.

Contributing Photographers Hilary Block Michael Cevoli Brad Smith

Contributing Illustrators Ashley MacLure Lia Marcoux

Contributing Writers Erin Balsa Alastair Cairns Michael Clark Mary K. Connor Jill Davidson Mike Fink

Don Fowler Wendy Grossman Nancy Kirsch Stephanie Obodda Elizabeth Rau Dan Schwartz

Classified Advertising Sue Howarth Interns Kelly Laske Brad McGarry

Samantha Westmoreland Kevin Patterson

Calendar announcements and news releases should be submitted by the 1st of the preceding month. We reserve the right to omit and edit items. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters without exceptional circumstances. East Side Monthly is not responsible for typographical errors. Corrections will be run at discretion of editor. Copyright ©2016 by East Side Monthly. All rights reserved.

C H A R L E STOW N | N A R R AG A N S E T T | P R OV I D E N C E | WATC H H I L L

Waterplace, 100 Exchange St | 401.314.3000

mottandchace.com

Each office is independently owned and operated

Why Compromise?

Brookhaven by Wood-mode is affordable and great quality and includes a Limited Lifetime Warranty

Kitchen Design

Center

your west bay wood-mode dealer 7736 post road, North Kingstown | (401) 294-6500 | heritagekitchendesignri.com

East Side Monthly February 2016

Community East Side Stories | neighborhood news & notes

East Side News

Parking Woes on Wayland new metered parking has some business owners concerned

Photography by Tony Pacitti

By Tony Pacitti

Though two much-loved businesses have returned to Wayland Square, some recent arrivals aren’t being as well received. Those would be the new parking meter pay stations that were installed on each block of Wayland Avenue between South Angell and Waterman Streets. These pay stations, which accept credit cards, print out a ticket that visitors then have to place visibly on their dashboards, as opposed to parking alongside an individual parking meter. This eliminates the need to carry around change, and the City is expecting to generate $4.2 million in parking revenue this year. But for businesses in Wayland Square, the new metered parking looks more like a loss than a gain. In December, we ran a letter penned on behalf of Wayland Square Merchants. In it they made the argument that replacing the once free, two-hour parking with paid parking serves as a deterrent to local business. “Most business transactions are completed in five to 15 minutes,” they said in the letter. “We have lost the freedom of the in-and-out customer.” “The timing of these meters is another burden to deal with,” says Jiro Darakian, owner of Milan Fine Clothiers. “The snow last winter destroyed business. We have dealt with water lines being replaced for two years in a row. Then we had storefronts flooded making the street look desolate. We were looking forward to a normal season and then we were hit with the meters.” He goes on to say that the meters were put in discreetly and without notice and that enforcement of the new parking policy, complete with a heavier

$25 fine, has been “overly aggressive.” In total, Wayland Square will have 45 metered parking spaces, an initiative that is rolling out across the city. “It was first discussed in the mayor’s budget address in late April,” explains the City’s Communications Director, Evan England. The idea is that metered parking will encourage greater visitor turnover, thus providing a boon to businesses, but some don’t see it that way. “According to the City of Providence they were doing us a favor by putting in the meters,” says Darakian. “How? By moving cars in parking places? We already had that. Except our customers didn’t need to pay for the two hours of parking. If [they] stayed over the two free hours the attendant was right there with a ticket.” England assures that the City has taken feedback seriously, citing Hope Street and Federal Hill as examples. Residential street parking and valet parking respectively would have been negatively impacted in those areas. Hope Street’s proposed parking meters are being reevaluated after it was clear that the shopping and residential areas are too close for meters to not result in penalties for residents. On Federal Hill, meters were strategically placed on Atwells to avoid valet areas, earning side streets the bulk of the metered spaces. “It’s something we’ve studied significantly,” says England. “It means more revenue and makes it easier to enforce. We also see a positive benefit to businesses and a decrease in traffic congestion.” “The street looks empty and deserted during the day,” says Darakian. “Who wants to shop in a ghost town?”

The new parking pay stations have been appearing across the city

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Experience Our Proven Success • #1 New England Real Estate Firm

with 24,000+ transactions last year1 • Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

New England leads the industry in market share and has sold more homes than any other real estate company in New England 2 • We have powerful resources, extensive

networks and successful marketing, partnered with industry leading websites, such as REALTOR.com®, Trulia, Yahoo! Homes and Zillow

Discover the Difference Providence – 401.351.2017

• In 2014, Coldwell Banker® agents

handled an average of $106 Million in luxury home sales every day3

ColdwellBankerHomes.com 1.Data based on closed transaction sales and buyer controlled sales as reported by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices in Maine & New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island for the calendar year 2014. It should be used for comparison purposes only. Although Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC deems this information to be reliable, it is not guaranteed. 2. MLS. By closed sides for SF, CC, MF, LD. MA, RI, NH & ME. 2014. 3. Sales Volume based on total closed and recorded buyer and seller transaction sides of homes sold for $1 million or more as reported by the U.S. Coldwell Banker® franchise system for the calendar year 2014. USD$ © 2015 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 80106 9/15

80106-Eastside Monthly Company Information AD-9 x 5.875-v3.indd 1

Love2 at Fir3st Taste2 Reserve your table for two, 3000 Chapel View Blvd. | Cranston, RI | 401.944.4900 | ChapelGrilleRI.com 8

East Side Monthly February 2016

10/12/15 9:54 AM

Community East Side News

continued...

Eliminating the Need for Speed nobody liked December’s traffic-calming proposal for Blackstone, but there’s still a conversation to be had By Tony Pacitti In December, Department of Public Works officials presented a proposal to install traffic calming measures on Blackstone Boulevard. The plan, developed quietly by a small group, called for 24 speed lumps/humps, 19 raised crosswalks and three new driver feedback signs. The proposal was almost unanimously rejected – only one person offered support – but the issue remains. “The physical characteristics of Blackstone Boulevard – especially the curbto-curb pavement width and limited number of intersections – are the biggest contributors to excessive vehicular speeds,” says East Side resident and civil engineer Jon Ford. “There are few visual cues to drivers that they should slow down and pay attention.” City Councilman Sam Zurier has met with citizens over the last few years to discuss the issue of speeding. As for the December meeting, he admits that the proposal should have been developed with broader input, and feels that Blackstone Boulevard is too big of an area for such a small group to have approached the issue so quietly. “For Blackstone Boulevard, if you start with a broad base discussion it might be

possible to find a solution to the speeding problem that addresses other issues that the rest of the neighborhood finds important,” says Zurier. Matthew Moritz, an East Side resident and member of the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition (RIBC) attended the meeting with a group of people he described as “new urbanists” with a vested interest seeing something done on the boulevard. “I don’t think any of us were really wowed by what was proposed. It didn’t seem to include new design thinking,” though he did admit that he could see potential in the proposed raised crosswalks. “Things I’d like to see are narrowing the lanes. That’s proven time and again to slow speeds.” Though he fears that given the rowdy tone of the meeting, the City may be hesitant to consider any changes until the next time the boulevard is repaved. James Kennedy maintains the blog Transport Providence, where he advocates for a more bike friendly city. He wasn’t at the meeting, but he is disheartened by what he perceives as an unwillingness to entertain alternatives to calming traffic on the boulevard. Kennedy agrees that the design of

traffic lanes could be modified to more effectively keep speeds at the posted 25mph speed limit. He suggests narrowing the traveling lane, which is currently 14 feet wide, closer to 10 feet. RIBC had made the same suggestion when the lanes were repainted in 2008. “Narrowing lanes is the number one way that cities around the country and the world have had success calming traffic to posted speed limits,” says RIBC Executive Director Alex Krogh-Grabbe. Another idea that Kennedy and RIBC would like to see explored would be to swap the parking and cycling lanes, providing a safe buffer between motorists and pedestrians, as well as serving a visual means of narrowing the street which would in turn keep vehicle speeds closer to the posted limit. “It would be a big improvement,” says Kennedy. “We’d just have to switch the bike lane with the parking lane.” “I’d need to see what the experts think,” Zurier says of the idea. His concerns are that passengers exiting parked vehicles run the risk of getting clipped by cyclists, while cyclists have to be more aware of car doors. Both seem similar to the risks any cyclist, driver or passenger

face anywhere else in the city. “It’s unusual,” admits Moritz. “Anything unusual is dangerous, but the relative risks are lower.” According to Krogh-Grabbe, the City is currently in active pursuit of this concept downtown on Sabin Street. In 2014, then-Brown professor and current East Side resident Hugo Bruggeman proposed the more radical idea of returning the Boulevard’s west side to two way traffic and expanding the east side as a strictly recreational, local-traffic-only area in a Providence Journal editorial. His hope was that the City and residents would read it and take a serious look at everyone who utilizes this space, what their needs are and figure out an opportunity to meet those needs. In other words, Bruggeman, was trying to start a conversation. Like Kennedy and the RIBC, he wants to see that conversation eventually turn into some form of sensible solution. “When people hear traffic calming they assume they know what that means,” says Kennedy. “People want to go out with their fourth grader on a bike and know that they’ll be safe.”

An East Sider Finds His Muse in the City Peter J. thornton captures the diversity of everyday life in Providence

Photography by Brad Smith

By Elyena “Nellie” de Goguel The sun stops, mid-set. Soft lilacs and deep mauves illuminate Kennedy Plaza while tiny city dwellers sell balloons in the square, take horsedrawn carriage rides down Dorrance and snack on burgers from Haven Brothers Diner. Downtown is alive, yet completely still, a bird’s eye view frozen in vivid color. “I love the way they light the buildings,” explains Peter J. Thornton, the illustrator behind this energetic city scene. “It’s just beautiful.” Thornton grew up in Providence and comes from a family of creatives. His father was a painter who also worked as RISD’s museum photographer for 35

years, and his mother studied fashion and illustration. “It’s kind of what I grew up doing,” explains the native Rhode Islander. “Not throwing a football with dad, but drawing.” Naturally, Thornton matriculated at RISD for illustration and has worked on a number of children’s books over the years, a whole series of which, if you go by his drawings, are obviously set in Providence. “Ah yes, the ‘Everybody Serves’ series,” reminisces Thornton. The four books - Everybody Cooks Rice, Everybody Bakes Bread, Everybody Serves Soup and Everybody Brings Noodles follows a young girl and her little brother

while they interact with culturally diverse neighbors, learning how similar types of food are differently prepared around the world. While the story itself is engaging and illuminating for young readers, it is the bright, beaming images that bring the tale to life, and the influence of Providence is evident on the page. Among his myriad enterprises – illustrating books, putting pastel to sandpaper for his expanding Providence prints collection – Thornton also teaches spin at the Hope Street YMCA, sings in seasonal choral group The Voices of Christmas and whacks paddles in an East Side ping pong league. A showing of his work

– specifically of the city prints – will take place sometime in early 2016 at City Hall. Keep your eyes on ESM for updates.

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Community In the Know by Barry Fain

The Power of a Flower

When the news reached our offices that the irrepressible Buddy Cianci was actually getting hitched, we were certainly as surprised as the rest of you. But when we learned that our sister publication Providence Monthly had played a minor role in introducing his fiancé to our community back in 2011, that blew us away. It seems his fiancé, Tara Haywood, was featured by our magazine as one of Providence’s most eligible singles, describing her occupation at that time as model and actress. A Rhode Island native, Tara graduated from LaSalle, URI and later the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and has held a variety of media positions throughout New England and New York City over the past decade. The two met back in July of 2014 when Tara volunteered to do work for Buddy’s re-election campaign, though he had known her family for many years. The two “were pretty much inseparable by September of the same year,” reports WPRI-TV. In checking back into our Providence Monthly archives, we discover that she said she appreciated men who were “well-spoken, nicely-dressed and intellectually stimulating.” She went on to admit she was “a bit old-fashioned, but loves to laugh and occasionally do unconventional things.” We’re not sure if marrying Buddy qualifies as one of the latter, but from our view, his controversial political life notwithstanding, Buddy did some incredible things for the City and certainly has paid dearly for his transgressions. Having withstood myriad health and personal tragedies and now with three grandchildren to shepherd, here’s hoping this new partnership provides well deserved support and serenity for him and his family going forward. Congratulations, Buddy.

Despite the fact that the winter of 201516 is off to a warmer than expected start (thank you Señor Niño), even under the best of conditions Providence is not the best place in the world to spend a winter. But over the years, every February, there has always been at least one predictable oasis of warmth and sanity here in Providence: The Annual Spring and Garden Show at the RI Convention Center. This year it will be held on Thursday, February 18 (10am-7pm), February 1920 (10am-8pm) and February 21 (10am6pm). Along with its spectacular gardening displays, booths, flower competitions and food, this year’s show will be adding a live musical component on Friday and Saturday evenings. Whether your taste is boogie-ing amidst the begonias, hiphopping with the hollyhocks or just doing something silly with a lily, this year’s show will brighten up even the dreariest of winter days. Enjoy!

Are Carports on Benefit Street Catching on? Last month in this column we shared the news that Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola has been renting a house on Benefit Street and we were counting the days before Geoff’s anointed him with a sandwich named in his honor. Unfortunately since then, news has gone viral that neighbors

East Side Monthly February 2016

One of Providence Monthly’s most eligible singles, Tara Haywood, is engaged to Buddy Cianci

are upset with a temporary carport that he had constructed to ensure his timely attendance at all Pats practice sessions (mandatory regardless of snow conditions as Jonas Gray and others have learned over the years). Given that Benefit Street is arguably the City’s purest example of historic preservation, it isn’t surprising that the neighbors are as protective of their turf as the Pats are of theirs at Foxboro. How the project got approved in the first place is anyone’s guess, but it will be coming down at the end of the month. As one neighbor suggested, “You’d think having recently signed a five-year contract with the Pats for $31.5 million, he’d have the funds to hire a plowing service to be there at his beck and call. Hell pay me and I’ll sleep overnight in my truck and be ready to go whenever he wants.” That said, we love what Danny has done for the team this year and are happy he has chosen to be part of College Hill for the season. We also look forward to seeing the carport festooned with a Super Bowl championship banner before it’s taken down. Go Pats!

Pictures Perfect When the beloved Acme Video on Brook Street closed its doors in 2013, the East Side lost access to its incredible collection of over 5,000 separate DVDs. The store hung in there even outlasting Blockbuster. But thanks to the Herculean efforts of the Providence Community Library, neighborhoods around the city, including the two East Side branches in Fox Point and on Rochambeau, have Acme’s entire collection available for borrowing, absolutely free. The collection includes TV series, classic comedies, thrillers, children’s titles, timely dramas… again all free with a library card. Staff members Cynthia Reed and Tim McGinn are getting the well-deserved praise for putting in the long hours cataloging the huge collection. Thanks PCL for making this available to all of us. Go. Select. Enjoy.

Another Day, Another List for Providence One more end-of-the year tourism list has been released but this time Providence actually did pretty well. And it’s a biggie. The NY Times travel section has released their list of the top 52 destinations to visit in 2016… Mexico City, Bordeaux and Malta are one, two, three…

but little old Providence was one of seven American cities that made the cut this year, coming in at number 33, trailing only Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota (#5), Park City, Utah (#12), Grand Rapids, Michigan (#20) and Washington, DC (#26). Plus we beat out cities like Sydney, Australia, Tyrol, Austria and Malaga, Spain. There was a slight problem that has stifled a little bit of our exuberance however. The photo of Providence that accompanies the selection is actually a gorgeous shot of the newly restored Ocean Cliff House… in Watch Hill! Probably best to keep this as our little secret.

The East Side Culinary Migration Continues The migration of fine gourmet dining to the East Side has accelerated with the news that Persimmon, the Bristol based upscale landmark, will be taking over the building that once housed the popular Rue de L’Espoir on Hope and John Streets. They will join Ebisu, the hot spot from the other side of town, that will bring its Japanese fusion fare as Wara Wara to Hope Street in the space formerly occupied by Blaze. Then there’s Tallulah’s Taqueria on Ives Street that has already come up from Newport with its gourmet tacos and burritos. Hope there is a corresponding influx of exercise centers to keep pace with our expanding waistlines

It’s all Right to be PC As we go to press, both the Providence College basketball and hockey teams are still ranked nationally in the top ten. While some slippage is unavoidable, what a season it has provided for local college sports enthusiasts. If you want to see what the buzz is about, two of the school’s biggest games are coming up this month. At the Dunk on February 6, arch rival Villanova comes to town also being ranked in the top ten. Should be a dandy. Meanwhile on February 19, the Friars hockey team will face one of their biggest opponents when Notre Dame comes to Schneider Arena. Other games are sprinkled throughout the month for both teams so we don’t want to hear that there’s nothing to do in this town when it gets cold.

Photography by Corey Grayhorse

Even Then We Knew

historic What’s happening p

Thayer Street Providence Children's Film Festival Coming to the Avon Cinema in Feb 6th to Feb 21th. Check our Website for details: www.ThayerStreetDistrict.com

Parking Meters on Thayer Street changed from 2 hrs to 3 hrs, and Meeting Street from 3 hrs to 4 hrs!

district at ThayerStreetDMA

For what’s happening on Thayer visit: ThayerStreetDistrict.com

Welcome New Merchant's to Thayer: Francesca's, tech service shop, mighty sharp Barber shop & sushi Cafe & Bar!

278 Elmgrove Avenue, East Side

Townhouse with an open feel and beautiful hardwoods floors, stainless steel appliances, 1/2 bath on first floor, energy saving water heater, huge bedroom closets, and back deck for entertaining. Garage fits one car with tons of extra storage space.

MLS # 1113781 • $865,000 Palladian Group • 401-480-0852

MLS # 1114881 • $199,900 Kevin Estrela • 401-500-0898

Pric

e re

Berks shoes & CLothing

215-217 Thayer Street | 228-7373 betterburgercompany.com

Warm up with Sorel Winter Fancy

We’ve got your late-night burger! Open

Lace

Martens,

until 2am Fridays and Saturdays. Organic

FRYE and Timberland too. Stylish

Grass-fed burgers, gluten-free options,

footwear for men and women, plus

homemade sauces and fries cooked in

clothing and accessories.

olive oil. Breakfast served until 3pm daily.

Sperry,

Doc

duc

Better Burger Company

272 Thayer Street | 831-0174 Find us on Facebook boots!

116 Grand View Street, Providence

Immaculate Colonial in Freeman Plat features Period Detail, Master Suite, 5 Bds, 3.2 Bths, Hardwoods, Gourmet Kitchen opens to Formal Dining Room, Central A/C, Large Fenced Yard, 2 Patios, Garage, New Windows & custom gas fireplace. Move In Tomorrow!

35 South Angell, East Side

35 South Angell is a professional office bldg w/ 5 units in 3000 square feet. Beautiful details & well maintained. 7 off-street parking spaces, fire alarm system, new windows. Just steps from central Wayland Square.

MLS # 1111518 • $599,000 Taylor & Company • 401-270-7909

685 Social Street #308, Woonsocket

Stunning custom loft with high-end finishes. Featuring two bedrooms, two full baths, second story loft, vaulted ceilings, granite counter top, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, exposed brick, washer & dryer, and large private storage unit.

MLS # 1114738 • $219,000 John Risica • 401-439-3634

Pric

e re

38 Paine Road, Cumberland

FLatBreaD Company

kaBoB anD Curry

161 Cushing Street | 273-2737 flatbreadcompany.com

261 Thayer Street | 273-8844 indianrestaurantsri.com

Rock. Wood. Fire. Clay. Ash. Crisp. Stoke. Care. Friends. Thirst. Flavor. Smoke. Organic. Passion. Sweet. Sourcing. Maple. Friendly. To Bake and Serve. Real. Providence. Wood-fired Love.

“Arguably the best Indian food in Rhode Is-

duc

14 Imperial Place, Providence

Stunning, super-insulated contemporary Colonial on private 2.5 acre wooded lot. 3000 sqft of living space w/ 3-4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Custom details, 9’ ceilings, maple/cherry flrs, floor-to-ceiling windows and more. All in exclusive Arnold Mills.

Great opportunity to locate your business at historic Imperial Place in the highly sought after Jewelry/Knowledge district. Wide open clear span with 17’ ceilings and tons of natural light. Shared courtyard with Cav restaurant. Loading door. Parking.

$439,000 Taylor & Company • 401-270-7909

MLS # 1052942 • $297,000 Jim Conway • 401-447-6062

land.” - Providence Journal, Live. Experience an award-winning restaurant on Thayer for over 27 years. Craft beer too!

William Raveis is the fastest growing real estate company in New England. The reason is simple: raveis provides their agents with unprecedented levels of support and technologies, helping them to be some of the most savvy and successful consultants in the marketplace. to learn more: www.raveis.com/careers_awardwinningteam.asp

pLeasant surprise

speCtrum-inDia

297 Thayer Street | 273-1202

252 Thayer Street | 421-1010 Find us on Facebook

Plenty of playful cards, gifts and candy for your sweetheart. Find the unexpected at Pleasant Surprise. Newport location too!

NO other way to say “You are such a fine Valentine” than with an AMAZING UNIQUE gift from Spectrum-India! Also, Matching Henna Buddy Designs to show your Love!

www.WRRealty.com Providence | Bristol | WestPort | neWPort

203 South Main Street | Providence, RI 401-751-8100 • providence.office@raveis.com Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Gotta get out? Have no time to spend? Pet CPR/First Aid Certified

PSI

Since 1919

Pet Sitters International Member

NUTS, BOLTS & BEYOND + shovels & salt.

Bonded & Insured

Let Dakota's Pet Services care for your friend! Dog Walking • In-Home Boarding • Hotel Sitting Wedding Escort • Pick Up & Drop Off Taxi • Overnites Administration Of Medications • Pet Sitting & More!

173 WICKENDEN PROVIDENCE 401 421-5157 M-F 7:30-6PM SAT 8-5PM www.adlersri.com

AFTER LAST WINTER, THINK EXPERIENCE...

401-862-6097 • www.mydps.me • debbie@mydps.me

ELISE PENN PANSEY The Pet Friendly Realtor

CALL DUPUIS 401-722-0080 DEDICATION... ...is a word that is both used and abused these days. But I want you to know that I really am dedicated to my customers and to my profession. If a real estate transaction is in your future, let’s talk. Then you can decide for yourself if you really believe that I am...

OIL & PROPANE DELIVERY

...DEDICATED... to serving YOU! Call me today!

AC, HEAT, HOT WATER, GENERATORS

ELISE PENN PANSEY The Pet Friendly Realtor

INSTALLATION & SERVICE

Butterman & Kryston, Inc.

401 Walcott Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860

749 East Ave. Pawtucket, RI @ Blackstone Blvd

East Side Monthly February 2016

401.455.1625 www.elisepennpansey.com 401.521.9490 x22

Community Neighborhood News

Neighborhood News is a space that East Side Monthly makes available to community organizations free of charge. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of this publication.

Photo Courtesy of the Summit Neighborhood Association

Summit neighborhood Association Caroling For A Cause Brings Neighbors Together in Spirit of the Season About 25 adults and children braved unseasonably balmy weather on Sunday, December 13, to go Caroling For A Cause in the neighborhood. Covering the area of Bayard Street to Summit Avenue and Fourth to Sixth Streets, the group serenaded residents with traditional Christmas carols – plus one requested rendition of “The Hannukkah Song” – and were rewarded with jars of peanut butter or cash donations to benefit the food pantry of St. Raymond’s Church. In all, $100 and 24 jars of peanut butter were collected. The festive evening began at 4pm in the foyer of event partner Miriam Hospital for hot drinks and cookies. Then, since it was the Hannukkah season, there was a short explanation of the Jewish Festival of Lights and a demonstration of a menorah by Monica Anderson, the hospital’s director of community relations, with a little help from some Jewish members of SNA. Then it was off into the night, laughing all the way, under the leadership of Jon Howard, a former SNA president. As the singers got to houses whose porch lights were lit, doorbells were rung, residents came out and carols were sung, led by members Jeff Davis and Kurt Anderson. Younger singers scampered up the steps to collect the donations from the audiences and pile the jars into the back of an accompanying car. New songbooks were used this year, compiled by a committee of Deb Mero and Ellen Santaniello. The last carols were sung on Fourth Street, almost to the Hope Street commercial section, where many restaurants beckoned. As the singers dispersed, there were vows to “See you next year!”

Carolers organized by the Summit Neighborhood Association gather in front of a house on Sixth Street during the annual Caroling for a Cause

Water Line Delays Community Gardens Installation of a water line to the Summit Avenue tot lot, which is the first step in the construction of community gardens there, is being held up by unacceptably high contractor bids. According to Wendy Nilsson, the superintendent of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, the first bid came in at $17,500, significantly above the architect’s estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. The contract was put out again and a bid of $22,000 was returned. Deputy Superintendent Brian Byrnes said contractors were busy prior to winter and few bid on the project, so it is being wrapped into other jobs to attract a more reasonable price. He also said the City is considering other options, including finding a master plumber with experience laying water lines. Nilsson assured the SNA that the project, which is only one part of a revitalization of the whole park, has not been forgotten. Residents Invited to Directors Meetings The SNA board of directors meets at 7pm on the third Monday of every month in the cafeteria of Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave. Although the December meeting was cancelled because of the holiday, the regular

schedule has been reinstated. The sessions are open and neighborhood residents are encouraged to attend. Minutes of all board meetings are posted on the SNA website at www. sna.providence.ri.us under “Meetings and Agendas.” Summit Neighborhood Association, PO Box 41092, Providence RI 02940. 489-7078, www.sna. providence.ri.us, sna@sna.providence. ri.us. –Kerry Kohring

Wayland Square Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square Wednesdays, January 27 and February 24, from 7 to 8:45pm, Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street at Elmgrove Ave., next to CVS. Free and open to all. Weather permitting, these will be our first meetings since last October. (The bookstore will be closed, and our meeting cancelled or postponed, if the City should declare a parking ban that day. Check our Yahoo! Group’s website listed below for any updates.) Commercial Notes There have been several notable changes in local businesses over the last few months. Mrs. Robinson has moved up the street to 180 Wayland Avenue, on

one side of the Salted Slate (formerly Farmstead), and Wendy Brown Home has moved into 190 Wayland on the other side, nearer Medway. Both were long established at other Wayland Avenue sites. Diagonally opposite, on Wayland and Medway (next to the Running Company in the former Runcible Spoon/Opulent Owl/CVS building) will be a branch of Pasta Beach, an Italian restaurant already present in Boston and Newport. A block further down, on Waterman and Wayland, the former United Way/ FM insurance building is finally renovated and occupied. Moe’s Southwest Grill and Massage Envy had already opened for business as I write this at the New Year, while Washington Trust, a southern Rhode Island bank that has been in business since 1800, was finishing work on a new branch. The bank’s drive-in window will be one story below Wayland Avenue next to the parking lot, while the upper level will house walk-in services. More Information Check our Yahoo! Group’s public message board (below) to stay abreast of current local events and issues. Or join the group to receive regular announcements by email, including select notices of neighborhood meetings, civic affairs and cultural events. groups.yahoo.com/ group/waylandsquare –David Kolsky

Waterman Street Dog Park

The Fence is Up! The Waterman Street Dog Park has crossed a major milestone. The perimeter fence is now up! The fence, which lets dogs roam free, is one of the most important parts of the park. This is an exciting step that means the park is almost here. The park is almost completed, and it’s slated for a grand opening in the spring. After the snow melts, the Dog Park Association will be working with the Parks Department on tree plantings, clearing paths and spring cleanings. Soon, our neighborhood will have a state of the art dog park for the whole community to enjoy. Waterman Street

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Community Neighborhood News

Blackstone Parks Conservancy Secrets of the Blackstone Woodland When you see the photograph of little girls hugging a large tree in the Blackstone Parks Conservation District, one thing is obvious: They get it. No one has to tell them how precious and exciting nature is. This Blackstone Parks Conservancy (BPC) outing of pre-schoolers to the park overlooking the Upper Narragansett Bay, one of many programs designed to expose children and adults of all ages to the delights contained in these parks, took place in early summer. The last warm-weather program was in early November. Many people explore the Conservation District in their own ways. A mother who regularly brings her three pre-adolescent children to explore the park, studied grubs living under a log one day last fall, then carefully rolled it back to its original position. Birders come often, as do walkers and runners. Occasionally artists will set up easels at York Pond. For the Blackstone parks to thrive, more people need to embrace them, which can begin with asking questions. Much that has happened and is happening in the woods and water is hidden from view. Extraordinary discoveries pertaining to the complexity of life may be in the offing. The BPC hopes that some of the children exposed to nature in these parks will eventually help find answers to questions such as: What happened in here millennia ago? How was this land used in the 1700s and 1800s? What is happening now under the surface? Perhaps they will help crack the secrets of the new frontier, the. By the time they grow up, scientists may know if it’s true that groups of trees communicate and protect each other. As humans always have, we depend on nature for survival. But now exploitation of resources is out of balance. Will today’s children help right that imbalance? The BPC is always exploring ideas

East Side Monthly February 2016

for the future and experimenting with ways to protect fragile land – and thus the bay – from the effects of erosion. Invasive plant species are receiving special attention as well. We know surprisingly little about the land where Blackstone Park sits. We do know that most of the ancient forests of Rhode Island were cut down in early Colonial days and shipped to England. Thus little old-growth forest remains. But we don’t yet know what Moses Brown saw while riding out from his country house (at what would later become Wayland Square). Learning more about the use of Moses Brown’s land could affect our understanding of the small part of it that was deeded to the City as parkland in 1866. These are questions we hope one day to be able to answer with the help of experts able to analyze former land use or researchers willing to explore records at the Rhode Island Historical Society. One thing we do know is that all our questions start with wonder – wonder and a kind of delight in the two parks that have been passed down to Providence over more than 150 years, public spaces that the Blackstone Parks Conservancy has the honor to help the Providence Parks Department manage. If we ever need reminding, all we need do is to watch the children in the woods. Healthy Urban Green Space for All! More and more people are checking out our website (see below) and Facebook page. Please keep looking, and send in those East Side Marketplace receipts. Blackstone Parks Conservancy, P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906. 270-3014, www.blackstoneparksconservancy. org, janeannpeterson@gmail.com –Jane Peterson

College Hill neighborhood Association Officers Elected for 2016 After our successful Holiday Party in December at the Lippitt House, the College Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) reelected its current slate

Lincoln School children visit Blackstone Park

of officers for the upcoming year. The officers will be Josh Eisen (president), Heidi Heifitz (vice president), Sara Bradford (treasurer) and Anthony Petrocci (secretary). At the same meeting, Brown University presented the amendments it will be proposing to the Providence Plan that will affect its five year master plan. The three major elements will be a continuation of its successful program to rehab some of its unused building so they can be sold to faculty members and returned to the City tax rolls, a plan to resurface its ballfields along Arlington Avenue and, most significantly, a proposal to tear down seven houses it recently purchased along Brook Street near Wheeler that will create a temporary surface parking area that within three to five years will be repurposed for residential or administrative uses. If you’d like to inspect the plans or learn more about the projects check the University’s website. As we begin the New Year, the Board is actively encouraging any College Hill resident who has an interest in becoming more active in preserving and enhancing the quality of life in our community to consider volunteering to be on our Board of Directors. There are also opportunities to get involved in an exciting new initiative to work

with the City to help upgrade the design and landscaping of Prospect Terrace which is such an iconic part of our neighborhood. College Hill was recently named the fourth most beautiful residential area in the country by the lifestyle website Thrillist.com and with your help perhaps we can move up to number three! News from Thayer Street The walk up and down Thayer Street has become less crowded, more attractive and technologically cutting edge. Thirty-four black traditional trash containers have been replaced with the installation of twenty Solar Compacting BigBelly Trash units funded by the Thayer Street District Management Authority (TSDMA). If you are thinking of driving to Thayer to see a movie, have lunch or dinner and doing a bit of shopping, you will soon discover that the Thayer Street Merchants were successful in getting the City of Providence to adjust their parking meters, changing Thayer Street from two hours to three hours and Meeting Street from three hours to four hours. Thayer Street now has four new businesses in the district: Francesca’s, the Tech Repair Shop, the Mighty Sharp Barber Shop and the

Photo by BPC Vice-President Carrie Drake

Dog Park Association. watermanstdogpark@gmail.org, www.watermanstdogpark.org –Samuel Bell

Community Neighborhood News

Sushi Cafe and Bar. We are happy to welcome them to the neighborhood. And finally the Avon Cinema and the Wheeler School be hosting the annual Providence Children’s Film Festival coming to College Hill from February 6 to February 21. Information on the film festival can be found on the front page of www.thayerstreetdistrict.com. Come Join Us And finally as you continue to whittle down those New Year’s Resolutions for 2016, we urge you to consider being a more active member of the CHNA. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors, to improve the quality of life of our community and to have some fun in the process. Just go to our website and all will be explained. College Hill Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906. 633-5230, www.collegehillna.com, chna@collegehillna.com –Barry Fain

Fox Point neighborhood Association Events this Month FPNA Board Meeting, 7pm, Monday, February 8 at the Vartan Gregorian Bath House Community Room, 455 Wickenden Street. FPNA Targets Wickenden Improvements FPNA Board member Vincent Scorziello, who also is president of the Wickenden Area Merchants Association, WAMA, will be exploring ways to improve the shopping area, in particular its lighting. “We will need to work with the City and others to find funding sources for a longterm project like lighting Wickenden Street,” Scorziello said. “Of course, WAMA would wish for the kind of lights found on Westminster Street in downcity.” Councilman Seth Yurdin attended FPNA’s December board meeting and suggested starting to work with the Providence Department of Planning & Development, before contacting other agencies. As it so happens, FPNA’s January meeting (which was after this publishing deadline) will be attended by

Christopher Ise, a principal planner with the planning department. “FPNA and WAMA will be brainstorming ideas with him to see what might be possible to help revitalize Wickenden Street,” Scorziello said. The City has recently developed a Neighborhood Planning Liaison Program by assigning planners to be liaisons to specific neighborhoods, Ise wrote in an e-mail to FPNA. “Our goals are to gain a better understanding of community needs, solve neighborhood issues, build on opportunities and improve communication between Planning and neighborhood residents, businesses and other stakeholders.” “Our first goal of this program is to work with neighborhood stakeholders to update the action plan for your area to make sure that it reflects your current ideas and needs,” Ise added. “Once the action items are updated, we can help to identify funding to complete specific projects, build on opportunities that exist and resolve other issues as needed.” Looking for ideas, Scorziello told FPNA about a November meeting that he attended of the Hope Street Merchants Association. “They unveiled and explained their lighting project called Off-Grid on Hope Street,” he explained. “They worked with Jonathan Harris, an engineering professor/industrial designer at Johnson and Wales, to design custom, off the grid solar-powered lights,” Scorziello said. “Their goals were not necessarily to light the street, but to tie the street together with an ‘identity piece,’ work with local designers and materials.” “After about two years they have the design finalized and are starting to fundraise for the project, which will cost $150,000 to have the lights made, installed and maintained for five years of maintenance,” he continued. “Unfortunately, their solar solution would not work for Wickenden Street, which is a narrow, tree-lined street,” Scorziello said. “Our goal is to actually provide more light on the sidewalks, which is insufficient, at present.” If you are interested in working on improving Wickenden Street, contact fpna@cox.net. Scorziello, who will be leading advocacy efforts as liaison between the two organizations,

needs the talent of someone in seeking funding grants. Worst Winter Remembered… “Living in Fox Point during last winter was transportationally challenging, to say the least,” FPNA Vice President Daisy Schnepel said. “Our streets are narrow enough and were further restricted because only single lanes were plowed on side streets.” “It was impossible for two cars to pass easily,” she continued. “Oftentimes it necessitated backing up to allow another car to get through.” Extra travel time always had to be added to any venture out, she said. “Even with overnight parking restrictions, the City was unable to adequately plow the streets before the parking bans were lifted.” In a meeting with all neighborhood associations, Mayor Elorza introduced Adolfo Bailon as the Director of the Mayor’s Center for City Services, MCCS, to coordinate response to citizen complaints involving all city departments. While PROVCONNEX, www.providenceri.com/ provconnex is a good place to start, MCCS, stands ready to ensure that complaints do not “get lost in the process.” He can be reached at 401421-2489, Ext. 5527, and abailon@ providenceri.gov. Also introduced were Grace Diaz, MCCS Senior Advisor on Community Relations and Alexandra Batista, MCCS Community Relations Representative. FPNA Donates to PTO Project FPNA’s Board voted to donate $300 to the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School to help pay for a snow blower for Freddie Bucci, lead custodian. The effort to supply the snow blower was initiated by the school and the Parent Teacher Organization, PTO. A spokesman for the PTO said the city was quite slow to respond last year, causing the custodian an unreasonable amount of work removing the snow. “It is a token of appreciation of his work that will make his job easier and safer for those walking in and around the school,” PTO Board Member Tomoko Shibusawa said. Fox Point Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 603177, Providence, RI 02906. 2707121, www.fpna.net, fpna@cox.net –John Rousseau

Experience. Integrity. Results.

Call Gerri Schiffman (401) 474-3733 #1 Agent at Residential Properties Ltd. Since 1996

(401) 474-3733 gerri@residentialproperties.com

gerrischiffman.com residentialproperties.com

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

February 18 - 21, 2016

Thurs 10am - 7pm • Friday & Sat 10am - 8pm Sun 10am - 6pm • 20 plus beautiful gardens RI Convention Center • Cooking Demos Presented by

• • • •

Horticultural Lectures RIEEA Kid's Adventure Zone Music by Reminisce (Thurs) & Hey 19 (Fri) And much more!

East Side Monthly February 2016

INDOWNCITY.COM

Let Our Florists Create An Arrangement...

LOOkiNg tO MAke A MOve iN 2016?

Put #1 tO wORk fOR yOu.

She Will Love!

#1 Residential Properties Sales Team with over $69MM in closed sales in 2015!* *source – Statewide MLS

M AR K H A M

De R E N T I S

associates 2014

MARKHAM

DeRE NTIS

associates

Serving Providence’s East Side & West Side, Elmhurst, Edgewood and Oak Hill

165 Pitman St • 831-7771 • eaStSidemarket.com

Markham + DeRentis Associates - Residential Properties Ltd. Jim DeRentis | Nancy Markham | Office: 401.553.6383 | jimandnancysold.com

Create Your

Life & Business CoaCh

LegaCY

"Your philosophy and encouragement pushed me to change my life. Big time." – TC

Want this to be your story? Call me

(401) 441-1626

brittanydrozd.com • brittany@brittanydrozd.com Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Free Alzheimer’s Education Series

Meet the new guy on the block

Tuesdays in March • 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. If someone close to you has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, we invite you to join us for this free educational series.

March 1 • Part 1 Difficult Conversations

March 15 • Part 3 Caregiver Wellness Program

Broaching sensitive topics with your loved ones

Avoiding caregiver burnout safely and effectively

March 8 • Part 2 Dementia-Related Behaviors

March 22 • Part 4 Legal & Financial Planning

Decoding challenging behaviors and applying appropriate responses and communication techniques

Making practical decisions for your loved one’s future

March 29 • Snow Date

Co-sponsored by:

Jerem i e B l u m

W here pedi g re e, pre st i g e an d pro bl e m s o l v i n g m e e t .

www.EPOCHBlackstoneAL.com

607.339.7177

FINE HOMES & ESTATES®

jeremie.blum@c21.com

BUTTERMAN & KRYSTON, INC.

353 Blackstone Boulevard • Providence, RI 02906 Assisted Living . Memory Care . Respite Stays

East sidE UrgEnt CarE

The Right Care, Right Now

Colds & Flu Minor Trauma Sprains & Strains

rem

Street • Pro e p vid Ho en 9A r bo d s fo e i d

evolve ot 401

X-Ray/Labs avaiLabLe Workman’s Comp Exams Immunization DOT, School & Sports Physicals

r a hec

.383.3089

Remedies for all.

appointments avaiLabLe foR tRaveL medicine

join us for our february lavender workshop sidle up to our make-up bar for a refreshing makeover follow us on facebook to find out more about our events & toxic tuesdays

East Side Monthly February 2016

New ad_010716.indd 1

(RI Relay 711)

These sessions are free, but space is limited. Please pre-register by calling 401-288-3511.

1195 North Main Street Providence (401) 861.3782 Mon-Fri: 9am to 8pm Sat & Sun: 9am to 4pm

1/8/16 12:31 PM

CURBING

SNOWY

CONDITIONS

How the City learned its lesson after last winter By Tony Pacitti

ast winter was easily the worst in recent memory, with Governor Raimondo declaring a state of emergency in the wake of winter storm Juno and federal relief coming from FEMA. But what’s still talked about a year later are the conditions of the roads in Providence and the City’s inability to keep up with the snow. Here are some numbers from last year according to the National Weather Service. January 1-March 31 of 2015 reached all-time lows, with the three month daily average sitting at a bitter 26 degrees. The winter of ‘95-‘96 may still wear the crown for snowiest Providence winter on record with anywhere from 90-100 inches total, but last year’s 76.2 inches takes the cake for the simple fact that not once in three months did we experience any significant melting. February alone saw 31.8 inches, beating out a 53 year old record set in 1962. That’s just shy of Providence’s seasonal average of 34.3. On many roads across the city, pavement seemed to have been replaced by slick, bumpy layers of ice, which of course exacerbated our annual crop of fresh potholes. Side streets were a lost cause and stretches of main roads were barely passable, causing many to joke that they didn’t know Mayor Elorza’s “One Providence” meant one lane of traffic. All of this begs the question: What, if anything, has the City done to ensure that the conditions of last year’s snowpocalypse aren’t about to be repeated? ACCUmUlAtION BY tHe NUmBeRS Let’s address this right now – last winter was especially difficult to manage. The volume of accumulation, the back to back to back snowstorms, the failure to reach temperatures above freezing. Mother Nature did New England absolutely no favors last winter and it’s safe to say that cities all across the area struggled to keep up with her ferocity. Boston.com reported on July 13 – yes, July – that the last of Boston’s snow farms had finally melted. That’s 22 days

after the summer solstice. That said, there were problems with Providence’s efforts from flake one. “I think the City got a little behind on the first storm in terms of moving the snow,” says Russell Knight, Director of the Providence Department of Public Works (DPW). “They weren’t able to clear the roads adequately, so it froze.” Each subsequent storm built off of that initial foundation of frozen precipitation, making roads more and more difficult to clear, let alone navigate. “Because of that, some of the side streets couldn’t be plowed and that caused a snowball effect,” he adds. Knight, who came on as DPW director in late March, found himself inheriting the problem of what to do with the frozen streets and unwieldy snowbanks. Now as he approaches his first full winter at the helm of the DPW, he has to deal with the looming shadow of last year’s problems. Chief among the concerns of residents and business owners was that the City had failed to plow streets from curb-to-curb, which narrowed major roadways and made them difficult, if not flat out dangerous, to drive on. Wickenden and College Hill, already steep and formidable in the mildest of winter conditions, became especially perilous. Though Knight acknowledges that the City didn’t do itself any favors by not sufficiently dealing with winter storm Juno, he points out that in some cases getting streets cleared curb-to-curb was impossible. “People were parked on the streets and vehicles weren’t moved,” he says. “We really need to get cars off the streets and parking bans need to be enforced more rigorously. People say they can’t find [off-street parking]. There’s always a way to find it. Coordinate with friends and neighbors, or even business owners. It’s the community helping the community. They’re going to have to find a place and they need to start now.” “Leo Perrotta, the Parking Administrator, has done an excellent job the past several years communicating when snow-related parking bans are

going into effect and when they were lifted, by email notices,” says Paterson Park resident David Parr. Parr, like many residents, expressed frustrations with neighbors who didn’t move their vehicles prior to plows hitting the road. Others wondered why the City wasn’t taking a more active role in moving them. “The City needs to deal with cars that remain parked on main streets,” suggests Blackstone resident Barbara Badre, specifically citing business areas like Hope Street and Wayland. “Something needs to be decided on how to deal with people who park illegally overnight, prevent snowplows from getting the snow cleared and cause so much inconvenience.” Donna Personeus, Executive Director of the Thayer Street District Management Authority (TSDMA), agrees. “They need to aggressively tow cars,” she says, “but it went beyond that. They never came back to clean up [the street]. Busses couldn’t even get down Thayer.” In the end, TSDMA ended up paying for removal of snow that the City should have dealt with. The City’s Communications Director, Evan England, confirmed that the City does intend to be more aggressive when it comes to towing those in violation of parking bans. “That’s why it’s crucial that people know about parking bans. It’s never ideal to tow. At the end of the day it’s not about punishing individuals, it’s about getting to those curbs.” Another major complaint was that plows were piling snow up on corners. Though shoveling sidewalks in front of homes and businesses remains the responsibility of residents and business owners, frustrations mounted higher than snow banks after pedestrian access to the street was hindered by mountains of snow. “People find themselves trapped at corners, unable to climb over the barrier of snow to get onto the street,” says Wayland Square resident Marcia Lieberman. “This is especially important for those who cannot climb over the snow mounds. Basic

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Thinking of Selling This Spring? Planning Works. Our Team Works. We Love What We Do!

David Hasslinger

401.465.8625

B eth Mazor

508.878.3929

safety requires that there must be a place where we are able to get onto the street.” “Don’t get me started on corners that have been left uncleared or, worse, plowed under a mini-mountain of snow by overzealous city plow operators,” adds Wayland Square resident Arthur Norman. According to Knight, “adjoining property owners are responsible for clearing pedestrian access to walkways.” Young East Siders with strong backs, take note. Then there’s the concern that some streets hadn’t been plowed at all, a problem that plagued the entire city. Knight points out that Providence’s nearly 2,100 streets come to a total of 375 miles. That includes even tiny side streets and dead ends. DPW has been talking with its inspectors to, among other things, discuss which of those smaller streets had been missed, which streets had proved problematic and how better to ensure that all roads are dealt with. “[People] need to be understanding that the primary routes in the city, the thoroughfares, are going to be the top priority to make sure that all of the emergency services have access and can operate,” points out Michael Borg, director of the Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). “The last priority are the smaller streets, but it all gets done.” Small streets in lower income neighborhoods in particular seemed neglected last year, but a drive down even the most prominent East Side roads proved treacherous. Borg adds that this year all city plows and contracted vendors will be equipped

with GPS devices that will allow DPW to track which streets have been plowed and, should calls come in about any that were missed, dispatch plows to deal with them. Until then, the City asks for patience. “When you get a real heavy snowfall the plow may run down your street and an hour later there’s three inches on top of it,” Borg argues, but when it comes to plowing, patience tends to run out faster than the snow removal budget.

UppING tHe ANte, ANd tHe BUdGet There were no shortage of citizen complaints with last year’s snow removal and the City has been taking them all to heart. For starters, the budget for snow removal is up $300,000 over last year’s budget for a total of $1.9 million. It’s worth noting that by February 11 last year, WPRI was reporting that the City had already spent two-thirds of its $1.6 million budget. FEMA will be reimbursing the state up to 75% of any eligible costs from last winter – “overtime, procurement of vendors, snow removal that goes above and beyond the normal costs of the snowstorm,” explains Borg – but at the time of press what that total will be is still being worked out. According to Borg, the process of dealing with FEMA is a slow one. The City’s fleet of plows is also larger this year. In total, Providence DPW has at its disposal 30 large trucks to plow the main roads and 11 smaller trucks that are better equipped for side streets and dead ends. On top of that, Park and Recreation has two large trucks and eight pickups armed

pROvIdeNCe SNOWfAll

SNOWFALL TOTAL FOR 2015

East Side Monthly February 2016

SNOWFALL IN FEBRUARY 2015 ALONE PROVIDNECE SEASONAL AVERAGE

31.8”

34.4”

PROVIDNECE SEASONAL AVERAGE

Average car height

76.2”

401.447.8040

At A GlANCe

48”

Rebecca Mayer

with plows, and 95 independent vendors are lined up to assist the City with snow removal. “We now have two city trucks per ward and we’re bringing in vendors to augment our workforce if needed in big storms,” says Knight. East Side residents frequently brought up the idea of imposing alternating side parking for people with onstreet parking stickers. While the City sees merit in this tactic, putting something like that into effect requires a lot of effort and infrastructure. “As we were flushing out the program it was something we realized would take an extended educational period to get right,” says England. The City is hoping to begin a pilot program for alternating side parking in warmer months and possibly implementing it next winter. “The last thing we wanted to do was implement it incorrectly.” As for the issue of where to put snow in the event of precipitation like last year’s, the City will utilize parks and municipal parking lots as “snow farms.” They’ve also worked out a deal with the 195 Commission to use 100,000 square feet of the 195 land for snow if necessary. One thing that’s not on the table is dumping excess snow into any of Providence’s waterways. “That’s highly frowned upon by the DEM,” explains Knight. “That’s not one of our plans because there is a lot of stuff in that snow, whether it be oils or salts, that can contribute to ecological problems, so we don’t want to go down that road if we don’t have to.” “Coming out of last winter shaped a lot of what will be happening

JOIN US AT

tHe CItY’S SNOW fleet

Large trucks

Smaller Trucks

The Peaceable Kingdom

Pickups with plows

Independent Vendors

Winter

sale Through February 20th

Losar

TibeTan new Year this year,” says Borg. “From my perspective one of the best things we’ve done has been holding a series of meetings with all of the critical city departments and discussed how we handled last year and what we’re going to change. All of those discussions culminated in a table-top exercise that was conducted [in December] with all of the key players in the city.” This exercise, facilitated by Borg, had critical decision makers and department leaders gather to hash out a number of scenarios. Beginning with a typical, light snowfall of only a few inches and working up through heavier weather incidents like a mild storm, blizzard or a dreaded ice storm – “probably the worst case scenario in a winter disaster,” says Borg – decision makers were able to experiment with hypothetical conditions to see how they might respond. “Everybody in the room understands and walks away knowing what a department’s responsibilities are, what assets they have and what actions they’re going to take,” says Borg “It’s all synchronized within the city. It’s not just one department acting on its own, it’s one unified action by the City.” Another big player this year is the newly acquired CodeRed system, an emergency notification system purchased by the state and given to all municipalities. Used for any number of emergency notifications, in regards to winter weather emergencies, CodeRed can be used to notify residents or parking and travel bans, as well as other public safety announcements. CodeRed is

available as a free app on Apple and Android devices and once signed up, residents can receive important emergency notices via email, text, voicemail or landline. The idea, ultimately, is that this will allow the City to reach more people more quickly in the event of a situation where citizens would need to act. Residents can sign up for these alerts through the app or at www.providenceri. com/PEMA/codered. Not intended to replace previous methods of announcing parking and driving bans – emailing residents with parking stickers, social media, updating websites – CodeRed is just an additional tool for getting the word out.

COmmUNICAtION fORefRONt

tHe

DPW has been meeting with neighborhood groups to discuss specific problems and to try to assure residents that this winter will be different. “College Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) has met several times with Captain Russell Knight to identify problem areas from last year and request curb to curb clearing, and with the mayor’s office to request better scheduling and communication of parking bans,” says CHNA President Josh Eisen. Personeus adds that the new DPW head has generally been much more responsive and open to feedback. “I get a very timely response from him. As someone who has to manage an area on College Hill I’m very happy about that. It’s a positive. I felt that they better understand the needs of the area, but only time will tell.” “We’re prepared this year. There

has been a tremendous effort on behalf of the City and all of the key players to be ready for this coming winter,” Borg says, boldly. “I feel very confident in all of the efforts and work that everyone has put in to respond and keep Providence working and operational.” Knight echoes that sentiment, while also asking for some compassion from citizens. “Our men and women are ready to serve the city of Providence as best they can, and they’re going to. Our plow drivers are out there sometimes for 24 hours straight. We don’t have a second team.” Tensions run high on both sides when it comes to the handling of winter storms. For residents, blizzards aren’t just tallied in inches of snowfall, but time and money lost because of school cancellations, keeping businesses closed or not being able to get to work. For the City, even a relentless series of storms like last year’s is a series of problems they’re required to deal with. Failure to do so, regardless of the circumstances, is exactly that: failure. Though DPW and PEMA assure that they’re ready this time, for residents it’s difficult to shake the memory of last year. As we go to press we have yet to experience any kind of snowfall we should be concerned about. Maybe with El Niño doing whatever it is El Niño does, we’ll catch a break. We aren’t getting our hopes up, but everyone seems to agree; the best thing for residents, city officials, plow drivers, everyone, would be no snow at all. This is New England, after all, so anything could happen.

Saturday, February 13th For these (and more reasons)

351-3472 116 Ives Street, Providence

•

Since 1948

•

• Custom Upholstery & Slip Covers • Custom Window Treatments • Blinds And Shades • Upholstered Antique Restoration • Area Rugs & Wall To Wall • Headboards • Bedspreads & Shams

401-231-1660 2179 Mineral Spring Avenue North Providence, RI

www.bobfrances.com

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Just Kidding Around

THE

place for sushi

Make the most of February vacation with these fun family activities by Julie Tremaine

Break away from the playground and out of your weekend rut. Colder temperatures mean slightly less full schedules, so make the most of your kids’ time off with quality bonding that’s fun for parents, too.

Let Them Run and Play The Providence Children’s Museum is a place designed to make learning fun. Exhibits like Coming to Rhode Island, about the state’s history of immigrants from around the world, and ThinkSpace, which allows kids to experiment with shapes and spaces, feel like play but are teaching kids about the world around them. The museum has fun activities planned for every day of February vacation week. Closed Mondays, except during school vacation. $9; babies under 12 months free. 100 South Street. 2735437, www.childrenmuseum.org Expand Little Minds with Fine Art The RISD Museum makes it easy to start your kids on the path to cultural enlightenment with their family programming. The museum offers a Young Explorers Guide to engage kids with the art, and tips for parents on how to talk to little ones about learning to express their artistic opinions. Tours for Tots are interactive themed tours for families with kids age three and up, including story time and gallery activities. Art enrichment classes like See and Sketch and Open Studio are offered for slightly

older kids. $3-$12. Admission is free on Sundays. 20 North Main Street. 4546500, www.risdmuseum.org See the World Through Film Back for its seventh year, the Providence Children’s Film Festival is happening February 6-21, and this time, it’s out of this world. This year’s “Cosmic Celebration of Film” has multiple venues around Providence that are showing short and feature films, all throughout February vacation. There’s also a weekend of filmmaking workshops for kids age 6-12 happening on Valentine’s weekend. www.providencechildrensfilmfestival.org Glide Through Winter Your kids may be better than you at most technological things, but when it comes to ice skating at the Rink at Alex and Ani City Center, well, they’re probably going to be better at that, too. At least this time it’s because of the penguin skate aids that help wobbly little skaters glide across the ice. For you, if it’s been a while, you’re going to need a refresher lesson – but don’t worry, they offer those, too. $7 adults, $4 kids. 2 Kennedy Plaza. 331-5544, www.alexandanicitycenter.com

Explore Literature Together The Sayles Gorham Children’s Library inside the Providence Athenaeum is the perfect place for little minds to get lost in the magic of books. Events include regular story hours, Nature Days with the Zoo, where Roger Williams critters

take over the library, and Family Movie Nights. While you need a library membership to check out the books, you can go and explore for free. Fees vary. Most activities included with membership. 251 Benefit Street. 421-6970, www. providenceathenaeum.org Take One Lump or Two If Alice in Wonderland is the only thing your kids know about proper tea, it’s time to visit The Duck and Bunny. The Wickenden Street “snuggery” serves brunch and dinner every day, and cupcakes all the time, but they also serve English-style afternoon tea, complete with tea sandwiches, fresh scones and mini cupcakes. A kid-friendly afterschool tea is specifically designed for young palates, with caffeine-free teas. No white gloves or curtseying required. 312 Wickenden Street. 2703300, www.theduckandbunny.com

HARUKI EAST

172 Wayland Avenue, Providence / 223-0332

HARUKI CRANSTON 1210 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston / 463-8338

HARUKI EXPRESS 112 Waterman Street, Providence / 421-0754 WWW.HARUKISUSHI.COM

Gain ExpEriEncE MakE connEctions HavE Fun!

Be a Family That Oms Together Sometimes it’s not about running around like crazy, but cultivating stillness. Bring kids age 5-12 to Family Yoga at the Motion Center in Hope Artiste Village. Classes, that are for both kids and adults, include breathing exercises, partner and group activities, basic yoga postures and tools to calm both mind and body. The Yoga Pretzels class is exclusively for ages 4-6 and introduces kids to yoga in a fun, interactive, energy-releasing way. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 6546650, www.motioncenteryoga.com

now accepting resumes for: Editorial & Marketing internships

Send reSume TO pm@providenceonline.com

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

2015 East sidE/ Oak Hill salEs 137 Sessions St. 30 Parkside Rd. 38 Taft Ave. 46 Taft Ave. 48 Taft Ave. 52 Taft Ave. 574 Angell St. 625 Angell St. 15 Church St. 80 Faunce Drive.

177 Hope St. 55 Weymouth St. 348 Grotto Ave. 94 Blackstone Blvd. 44 Summit Ave. 570 Wayland Ave. 38 Alfred Stone Rd. 94 Congdon St. 115 Keene St. 181 Arlington Ave. 226 Slater Ave.

38 Creston Way 170 Fourth St. #3 115 Williams St. 135 Summit Ave. 147 Power St. 100 Oak Hill Ave. 24 Belmont St. 197 University Ave. 67-69 East Manning St. 60 East Manning St.

Ready to sell in 2016?

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talk (401) 688-5556

KFox@ResidentialProperties.com KEVINFOXRI.COM

Now accepting registration for the 2016 - 2017 school year! David C. Isenberg Family

Early Childhood Center at the Dwares JCC The David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center (ECC) provides high quality half and full-day early childhood education programs within an enriched Jewish environment. We are dedicated to providing a secure and loving atmosphere so that young children can develop a positive self-image and grow intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially.

We welcome children of all faiths and backgrounds. Fully licensed by Rhode Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Children,Youth, and Families, the ECC adheres to all DCYF regulations, policies, and procedures. Committed to meeting national standards of quality, our ECC is also accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as well as Bright Stars. Our care providers and teachers are carefully screened, chosen for their love of children, and trained in CPR and first aid. We also have a registered nurse on staff. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact us at 401.421.4111or ECC@jewishallianceri.org. 401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906

East Side Monthly February 2016

.. .. .

Custom Framing Framed/Unframed Prints Mirrors Ready Made Frames D.I.Y. Framing

oldest frame shop

Antique Maps Printing; Giclée,

Black & White, Sepia, Color, on Paper or Canvas

newest ideas

Providence Picture Frame 401.421.6196

gallery www.ProvidencePictureFrame.com

I-95, Exit 24 Branch Avenue (next to Benny’s)

Monday - Saturday 8:30-6:30

NOW OPEN!

East Side Monthly February 2016

WE ARE ALL FASHION

FEBRUARY 23//27

AT THE B ALLROOM IN THE PROVIDENCE G

SUSAN ZEMAITIS JEFFREY DICKERSON SUSAN TROY

CLOTHES HORSE CLOTHING

ELLA TANG DEVINTO ANT ANTWAN BYRD

CARISSA LYNNE DESIGNS

DYLANIUM KNITS LA FILLE COLETTE ANGELICA TIMAS ALEXANDRA NAM NICK PINI AMY STETKIEWICZ JESS ABERNETHY

JONATHAN JOSEPH PETERS

TICKETS & SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE AT STYLEWEEKNORTHEAST.COM

Close to Home Education

College, Redefined

A refreshing look at higher education as status symbol By Jill Davidson

Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors

Celebrating 44 Years

We service and repair ALL foreign and domestic models Toyota • Kia • Nissan • Chrysler Audi • Lexus • Infinity • Ford Volkswagen • Honda • BMW Chevy • Isuzu • Mercedes • Mini Prosche • Ford • General Motors Mazda • Saab • Volvo • Hyundai Saturn • Subaru • Mitsubishi

ASE Certified RI inspection and repair station #27b

401-723-1111 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

729 East Avenue

Top of the East Side, next door to Rite Aid

East Side Monthly February 2016

Brown University, I became a high school teacher in a Bay Area suburb. When asked, I’d share that I’d attended Brown, and more often than not would get a quizzical look or head shake. “Brown? Huh. Where is that? Never heard of it.” Due to financial and familial concerns, when college was a goal, it meant acceptance to the University of California system for most of my students and their families. I learned fast that the degree from a fancy institution that told me so much about myself did not automatically confer much value in actual real life. While other lessons emerged – about privilege, access, elitism and the plain fact that we live in a huge country within which many people tend to stay put – I realized that I had derived far too much of my selfworth from association with the institution I’d attended. Where I’d gone was not who I was: this was one of the key insights that helped me become a functional adult. Now I’m the parent of kids who are going to be figuring out how higher education will help them achieve their life goals (as opposed to defining who they are). Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania, by New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, has served as a useful reinforcement to the perspective I gained in California in my 20s. Many families in the United States aspire for their children to attend college, though not all students head directly to higher education from high school. The most recent data indicates that 65.4% of Rhode Island’s high school graduates attend college right away (the national average is 65.9%). A similar percentage of these students complete their four-year degrees within six years (or two-year degrees within three years), though far fewer students of color, who are also more frequently first-generation college-goers, do so. All this data and more tells us that college attendance and completion are not a given for many. For those who do attend and complete college, most aim for an institution of higher education that’s decent, affordable, often close to home and not necessarily considered elite.

However, a smaller number of students and their families choose to emphasize admission to a small set of elite colleges, of which Brown, with its admission rate of 8.5% of all applications, is but one. While the advice that the book’s title dispenses doesn’t apply to all of us, it does apply to many who live and work in or near this university or others like it. Some of us – parents of high school seniors – are now entering the anxiety home stretch, with acceptance and rejection letters starting to arrive. For us, Bruni succinctly defuses the college admissions mania, using data and many anecdotes to demonstrate that high school students who aspire to a meaningful higher education experience actually have a surprisingly wide range of choices that may well not include the most elite schools. In addition to looking at the trajectories of specific students, some of whom “made it” into the Ivies or equivalents and some of whom did not, Bruni spends time with college admissions staffers who take pains to emphasize the extreme arbitrariness of choosing among a mass of similarly qualified young people for a handful of spots in a college class.

Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be shines brightest in its estimation of fit, rather than elite status, as a key factor for college choice. Bruni urges students to consider options carefully, to look at colleges that offer programs and opportunities that will serve their long-term goals, even if this means getting out of their comfort zones. In this counsel to students and their families to think through their own needs and values, rather than mindlessly pursuing status and prestige, Bruni’s advice takes on meaning to a much larger audience. While not all of us, nor all of our children, will be obsessed with attending a highly competitive university, nearly all of us at one time or another have lost a grip on ourselves as we focus too narrowly on that which confers prestige. When we can see the intrinsic value of our children, rather than deriving reflected glory from their accomplishments, we help them stay connected to who they really are. Nothing shines brighter, or opens more doors in life, than the confidence that results when we believe in our children because of who they are.

Illustration by Ashley MacLure

Soon after graduating from

Education

continued

Southern new england'S largeSt Ski and Snowboard Shop

Save the date Alpine Ski and Snowboard Exclusive VIP Volkl Demo Day

Friday March 4th at Loon Mountain $45 includes lift ticket & demo Ski with Rick, Joyce and the Alpine team

Smart News We Fit Every Need Every Detail

Space is limited so reserve your ticket today Call Alpine at 401-781-4444

95 to Exit 15 in Warwick • 105 Chestnut Street, Warwick Shop: (401) 781-4444 • www.RISkiShop.com

Selling in 2016? Interview me! Did you know that only 67% of sellers interview only one Real Estate Agent? (Source: Realtor.Com)

Call Ted Bourque Today! Stop by Flatbread Company on February 16 for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School fundraiser

“Your Real Estate Professional, Assisting Buyers and Sellers Achieve Their Goals” TED BOURQUE

Photography by Katie Poor

Fundraiser for MLK Elementary at Flatbread Company on February 16 On the evening of Tuesday, February 16, Flatbread Company is hosting a fundraiser for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School. Flatbread Company offers pizza, salads and more, and is located at 161 Cushing Street, at the corner of Thayer Street (Rhode Island-style directions: where Adesso used to be). Mark your calendar and plan to meet friends and neighbors, enjoy great food while supporting one of our neighborhood’s public schools. It’s worth braving the winter chill for the warmth of delicious food for a great cause. Arts Re-emerging at Hope High School Hope High School’s theater program, a long-time jewel that has lost its gleam during the past few years, is starting to shine again thanks to the efforts of local theater professionals and Hope alums. Led by Ricardo PittsWiley, the co-founder of Providence’s Mixed Magic Theater, a group of theater believers are restoring a black box theater that had been turned into a classroom. While there’s still work to be done, Mixed Magic Theater used the space for a Kwanzaa production in December. Next up is the pressing challenge of restoring Hope’s auditorium for use by Hope theater students and outside groups, a huge effort that may find funding from the recently available school construction funds released by the Rhode Island General

Assembly. Hope’s sustained commitment to visual arts education is also getting a boost. The school has built a new visual arts lab and is deepening its partnership with Rhode Island School of Design through dual-enrollment courses. With these improvements, Hope can once again offer strong arts curriculum to Providence’s students so that a new generation of home-grown artists can shine. Dual Language Kindergarten Enrollment Opportunities at PPSD Starting in the 2016-2017 school year, the Providence Public Schools will offer two dual language immersion programs at Carl Lauro Elementary School. These programs will offer SpanishEnglish and Mandarin Chinese-English instruction, options that Providence families favored in surveys conducted at the start of this school year. These programs will be open to incoming kindergarten students, who will receive instruction in all subject in both languages through fifth grade. Lauro’s offerings join an existing Spanish-English dual language immersion program at the Leviton Dual Language School. Kindergarten enrollment for the 20162017 school year is ongoing through March 14, 2016. As part of the enrollment progress, families will have the option to indicate interest in both the Leviton and Carl Lauro dual language programs. For more information about Providence Public Schools’ kindergarten registration dates and options, visit www.providenceschools.org.

401.749.1699

Team Member of

tbourque@residentialproperties.com

antropandwilliamson.com

YOUR PLACE FOR CLASSICAL PILATES!

Private & Group Sessions • Offering Mat Classes Power Pilates Teacher Training Center Register Online

189 Cole Avenue, Providence • 480-0193 providencepilatescenter.com

Fine Thai & SuShi ReSTauRanT

Dine In Take Out or Have us Cater Way l a n d S q u a r e

18 South Angell Street, Providence • 383-8830 • www.limsri.com Tues-Thurs 11:30-10pm• Friday & Sat 11:30-10:30pm • Sunday 12-9:30pm

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Got one of these? Need one of these?

See the experts at German Motors. Owners of German Motors since 1972, brothers Gerry and Denis Moreau are Rhode Island's top experts on German cars. Along with their factory trained technicians they have the tools, technology and talent to solve any problem. Need their advice or services? For a quick, honest and expert opinion, call, email or stop by to schedule an appointment today. Courtesy drop-off in Providence.

G E R M A N MOTO R S Sales &

INC

Service

Conveniently located at 879 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904

401-272-4266

Email us at: germanmotorshelp@gmail.com German Motors is not affiliated with the logos and trademarks of the automobile manufacturers shown or their subsidiaries.

East Side Monthly, February, 2016 Issue 1/4 page Color ad 4.375 x 5.875

Mid Century • Post Modern • Rattan • Vintage Wicker • Antiques • Oriental Rugs • Glassware & more!

Reliable Furniture Gallery We Buy & Sell Quality Furniture

Full Service eState liquidationS 40 years experience in antiques Wicker restoration by “the bentons” Wed-Fri: 11-6pm • sat/sun: 10-4pm • mon/tues by appointment 881 Westminster street, Providence • 861-6872 • reliablejeWelryandloan.com 30

East Side Monthly February 2016

Close to Home East of Elmgrove

Making a Difference in One Life A congregation, and a community, come together to help improve one teen’s life By Liz Rau

Wednesday - Trivia & Musical Bingo Thursday - ShowTinis Friday - GRAY Dance Party Saturday - Live Music and DJs Sunday - Super Sports Sunday & Karaoke • • •

Open Wednesday to Saturday at 11am for Lunch Sunday Brunch from 10am - 3pm The Kitchen is open till 10pm Wednesday to Sunday Online reservations available at TheVillageRI.com Contact us for Private Parties and Special Events

401-228-7222 373 Richmond Street, Providence RI

Illustration by Lia Marcoux

The “mayor’’ of the East Side has his ramp. Let us rejoice. My faith in humanity is restored. An affable and courageous young man named David Goodman can now enjoy kiddushes on the lower level of Congregation Beth Sholom, the Orthodox Jewish synagogue at the corner of Camp Street and Rochambeau Avenue. He’s been a member since his family moved to the neighborhood a few years ago after his father, Jeremy, got a job as executive director of the Roger Williams Park Zoo. The Goodman’s other claim to fame is that they live in the lime green house on Elmgrove Avenue formerly occupied by Governor Gina Raimondo. That house has a ramp, too – installed after David, who gets about in a wheelchair, moved in so he could live comfortably and happily, which is all anyone really wants. Last April, I wrote a column about how nice it would be to install a ramp on the synagogue’s lower level, where members also attend dinners, festivals, parties and other events that bring people together to chat about their kids and jobs and everything in between. David appreciated that the upper level was accessible to wheelchairs but was frustrated by the limitations down below. I wrote about how four burly men would carry David and his wheelchair down a flight of stairs after Saturday services. In time, that became too dangerous. So David had to remain topside while Jeremy and his wife, Marina, and their other children, Jack, 14, and Dina, 11, took turns going up and down the steps to keep him company. That was a tolerable arrangement, but not a compassionate one, especially for someone who has faced more challenges in his 17 years than most will experience in a lifetime. David was born with cerebral palsy, autism and cognitive challenges. He’s an affable guy, affectionately called the “mayor’’ of the neighborhood by his mom and other admirers because he loves being around people and talking to them. David can read and write, and he also has a great memory. But he can’t walk on his own. He

design • site plans • consulting installation • planting • hand pruning

401-742-1895 robertalanmatthews.com

Income Taxes needs his wheelchair to see the world. About a year ago, Marina and other members of the congregation launched a campaign to raise money to pay for an accessible entrance. Another selling point was that it would also benefit parents with little ones in strollers and older members. The results are in, and I’m happy to report that the congregation collected a whopping $27,000. “We’re thrilled,’’ says Marina. “You never know what to expect. This is quite a happy surprise.’’ Contributors included family, friends, good-hearted Providence residents and the John D. and Katherine A. Johnston Foundation, established in 1928 to help improve the lives of physically disabled children and adults. Among the East Siders who donated were Jonah and Rashmi Licht, both doctors; Judy and Jay Rosenstein; Dr. Farrel and Barbara Klein; Dr. Howard Mintz; and Grace Novick. Manocher Norparvar, another East Sider, donated his time by drawing up blueprints for the project. This kind of generosity, to be honest, doesn’t happen often, so

David clearly is special. In December, the congregation unveiled the new entrance during a Hannukkah party with the New England Yachad, which is part of the National Jewish Council for Disabilities. David was there. So was his family and all the other people who adore him. He was gabbing with everyone, as usual. “I just want to thank the community for contributing to this project,” said Rabbi Barry Dolinger, of Congregation Beth Sholom. “It was a large collaborative effort and a moral imperative. Judaism is largely about learning to care for the other. A congregation that isn’t fully inclusive is fully broken, and I couldn’t think of a better time than Hannukkah – the commemoration of the rededication of our national Temple in Jerusalem – to dedicate this entrance to our synagogue.” David is a story for these turbulent times. All is not lost. Goodness can prevail. Elizabeth Rau can be reached at erau1@verizon.net.

Proudly serving the East Side For Over Thirty Years

Fiore & asmussen Certified Public Accountants 125 Wayland Avenue Providence • 351-7000

Fine Horticulture Maintenance, Design & Installation

www.CityEstateGardener.com

401.935.2312 Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

“I always thought 2-1-1 was

just for people who were struggling, but now I know it’s a resource I could call if I was looking for information to help my aging parents.”

Because we all need help sometimes. We provide a place for everyone to call when they need help. 2-1-1—three simple numbers, one human connection. United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island handles 200,000 requests for help each year, connecting our neighbors to basic needs like housing, food, and childcare. But that’s not all. Call 2-1-1 for free tax preparation, services for aging parents, and for help navigating new choices in healthcare. Free and confidential, 2-1-1 answers the call—24 hours a day, 365 days a year—even in a snowstorm.

www.LIVEUNITEDri.org All of our fundraising costs, including this ad, are paid by a trust.

East Side Monthly February 2016

BiB i m B a p

With Bulgolgi Steak... Hot Damn!

Ivy Tavern

758 Hope Street, providence 421-4489 • ivytavernri.com Sun-Thur 11:30am-1am • Fri-Sat 11:30am-2am

Dr. David A. Vito Dr. John D. Corrow Dr. Carl D. Corrow

Dr. J. Lawrence Norton Dr. Matthew D. Doyle Dr. Michael R. Martinez

Accepting new pAtients • Emergencies Seen Immediately • Same Day Appointments Often Available • Evening and Weekend Hours Available • Glaucoma

• • • • •

Macular Degeneration Cataract Diabetic Eye Disease Designer Glasses Specialty Contact Lenses

331-2020 • AdvancedEyeCareRI.com • 780 North Main Street, Providence

BOneleSS winGS DC-3 (over 1/2 LB): $6.69 DC-10 (over 1 LB): $12.49 Skymaster (over 1.5 LB): $18.49 Stratocruiser (over 2 LB): $22.49 Concorde (over 4 LB): $42.99 The Zeppelin (over 6 LB): $62.99

SandwicheS, wrapS, SaladS, JUMBO winGS, riBS, cOMBO dealS and Side OrderS Order Online at winGSOverprOvidence.cOM Fast Delivery • late-Nite

over Providence

725 Hope Street Providence 401-274-WING (9464) wingsoverprovidence.com

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

ARTISTIC ICONS SERIES at

February 27

WALKING WITH ‘TRANE

An electrifying live music/dance tribute to jazz legend John Coltrane

Urban Bush Women

“Their expressive powers shake the theatre!” —The Village Voice

Photo | Julieta Cervantes

On the tOwn

Restaurant and Food | Dining Guide | Calendar of events

Flavor of the Month

Man Meets Grill Mile and a Quarter’s David Ashworth aims to be the best grill chef in town By Nicolas Staab When it comes to Italian-style cooking in Providence, everyone will point towards Atwells Avenue. But across the river, South Water Street contains a small hub of Providence’s finest. Right in the thick of it is the beautiful, dark and cozy restaurant Mile and a Quarter. Looking out over the Providence River and the competitive restaurants along the street, chef David Ashworth describes his passion for cooking every dish with precision. He started running kitchens when he was 20-years-old, and aims to be the finest grill chef in the state. Where did you cut your teeth before Mile and a Quarter? I became the head chef at John Carlo’s when I was 20-years-old. It was definitely the best life experience possible for me. I got to learn Italian flair, the old school authentic way, and it stuck. I was there for 13 years. I had to lead at a young age and quickly refine my cooking style. The grill was in the middle of the dining room, so I got to meet almost every customer while running the kitchen. It was hectic, but something I felt very comfortable doing.

Photography by Brad Smith

Running a kitchen is very special to you. What makes all your hard work worthwhile? When I’m in the kitchen, I feel like I’m in my domain. I like being busy, feeling that sense of control and precision. Cooking everything from scratch and feeding a whole dining room authentic food… it’s exciting. When guests are leaving and say thank you just because they appreciate our cooking makes it all worth it. I can also be creative. I can do what I want, when I want. It’s freedom. Is there a favorite cooking technique you like to use? Definitely the grill. I aim to be one of the top echelon grill chefs in the state. I’d love to take Bobby Flay on (that’s a personal goal of mine). I just love grilling. I’ve been doing it so long it’s like second nature now. There’s a lot of pressure, too. You have money in your hands so you can’t mess it up. When

Chef David Ashworth of Mile and a Quarter

you cook a good steak or a grilled fish there’s nothing else like it. What are you trying to capture with the menu selection at Mile and a Quarter? We’re trying to bring that old school Italian cuisine to the city. To give people the tastes and flavors that were strong in Providence for so long. We want to be the ones to bring it back. We try to give the best ingredients and authentic experiences while still getting a bang for your buck. Do you have any favorite ingredients you come back to time and time again? Well, you need to have garlic, butter, tomatoes and fresh basil. After you nail down those core ingredients, you can basically play around with anything and get creative. But don’t take the dish farther than it has to go. I’m a big believer in simplicity. I think chefs try to do so much with dishes these days. It’s like a seesaw – you’re even for awhile and then you add that one ingredient that tips it over. If you try too hard, you lose the dish. Simple

taste and flavor is the most important. You’re buying well-cooked steak, not the sauce on top. Is there one dish you’d recommend to a new guest? I’d have to go with two. The Lobster Ravioli is the best around. It’s a nice pink cream sauce, bountiful lobster-stuffed raviolis, roasted asparagus and seared sea scallops. Everything on the dish is large and loud. It shows our flavor, excitement and passion in the kitchen. Also, our ribeye. I think we have the best cut steak in the city. It’s all choice prime. You never hide it, just flavor it with a little bit with butter. It’s one of those great steaks that will catch your eye if you’re a true meat eater. Are there certain characteristics a chef needs to run a successful kitchen? You have to go all in on everything. You never know who’s judging you or tasting you. When you cook a dish, you have to make it the best it can be. The opportunity is on the plate. But, overall, you have to strive to be the best. You’re only as good as your competition. Look outside

the window: to the right, Bacaro and Capriccio, to the left, Al Forno. You really can’t get into the fire any deeper than that. But that’s what draws out the best in me and my staff. We keep a high standard. Is there one thing you harp on when it comes to cooking and serving guests your creations? Presentation is big. You eat with your eyes. If it looks good, it’s going to taste good, too. You want to show how much work went into cooking each plate. The cleaner the plate, the more attentive you seem. Give each guest the reassurance that you took the time to handle their individual dish with care. Your guests can judge you off one plate. They can tell your character, see your sense of pride in what you do, how you create.

Mile and a Quarter 334 S Water Street Providence 331-1500 www.MileAndAQuarterRI.com Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Revealing Rhode Island’s most delicious coupling Stock Culinary Goods is now the exclusive retailer of Garrison artisan chocolates, including the Legendary Lovers bon bon collection.

756 Hope St. (near Rochambeau) 401.521.0101 stockpvd.com

Celebrate the Month of love! Organic, Biodynamic & Natural Wines to Choose From

SPecialS at the Bluefin Grille all Month lonG! • oysters (6 for $12): from Coast to Coast • oysters and bubbly Special • valentine's Cocktails • Desserts:

Craft Beer • Fine Wine • Artisanal Spirits

Lunar Apogé Cotes Du Rhone $15.99 (reg. $18.99)

Lagunitas IPA 12pks $12.99 (reg. $15.49)

559 North MaiN Street, ProvideNce (Whole FoodS ShoPPiNg Plaza)

401-274-4790

East Side Monthly February 2016

• red velvet Cake & berry Coulis, Whipped Cream $7 • Chocolate Praline Crunch & raspberry Sauce, Candied Pecans $7

Celebrate the Month of Love with a getaway! Use QR code for packages on our website.

Bluefin Grille at the Providence Marriott

One Orms Street | Free and easy parking marriottprovidence.com • (401) 272-2400

On the town On the Menu

For the Chocolate Lover in Everyone More offerings from Garrison Confections now at Stock Culinary Goods By Grace Lentini

It seems that love

isn’t the only thing in the air this month. What would you do if I told you that you could get locally made chocolate anytime you wanted to? (Jump for joy and buy some immediately is the direction this writer is thinking.) Well, now you can, and it’s available exclusively at Stock Culinary Goods. Although Stock has been carrying Garrison Confections for years, it’s only been in small quantities as it made sense for Andrew Shotts (owner of Garrison) to produce. “Expect truffles, chocolate covered pretzels, cranberries, ginger and nuts, toffee, tablets (chocolate bars), ultimate caramel popcorn and more,” explains Stock Culinary Goods owner Jan Faust Dane. “Andrew approached me and said, ‘how about all the chocolate all the time?’” Jan’s answer was obviously a resounding yes. According to Jan, there’s been a steadily growing audience for Garrison’s, especially on the East Side since Garrison’s used to be located on Hope Street. And since many customers miss having their locally made chocolate so easily accessible, this is the perfect solution. “This really is a triumphant return to Hope Street. It’s not a popup, it’s supposed to be forever; it’s like a Garrison’s kiosk within Stock,” says Dane. “I’m a huge fan of Garrisons, and one thing I’ve observed is that when people want Garrison’s, nothing else will do. They are focused on getting a gift that is focused on what we do here in RI and that’s delicious.” Now you can get that perfect gift for your chocoholic friend, boss or loved one, especially since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Dane’s plan is to no longer run out of chocolate, which means that the East Side won’t run out of chocolate. Looks like the winter is going to be pretty sweet after all. 756 Hope Street, Providence. 521-0101, www. StockCulinaryGoods.com

Garrison Confections at Stock Culinary Goods

Photography by (Top) Grace Lentini, (Bottom) Brad Smith

Home Brew Hotspot For a state so small, we certainly have an embarrassment of craft beer riches. As our palates become more attuned to hoppy and malty varieties, it makes sense that home brewing is gaining in popularity. Enter Brew It Yourself New England, your friendly neighborhood home brewing supplier. Brewing entrepreneur Brian Buongiovanni is an avid homebrewer who received a starter brewing kit three years ago and hasn’t stopped since. “I think one of the misconceptions about homebrewing is that it’s difficult, which couldn’t be further from the truth,” explains Buongiovanni. “Thanks to major advances in equipment and ingredients it can be as easy or as advanced as you’d like it to be.” So if you’re thinking of taking the plunge and are looking for a simple recipe, an amber ale or pale ale is a great place to start. According to Buongiovanni, both styles are simple and tasty. If you’re thinking you’d rather dabble in wine making, he suggests attempting a robust red like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec. If hard cider is more up your alley, you’re in luck because apparently ciders are very easy and fun to make. “I just brought in a special yeast strain specifically designed for cider making,” he says. “Up until now, cider makers have relied mostly on champagne yeast, but this market is constantly changing and there’s always a company out there working to meet the needs of customers and releasing products tailored to the home fermentation field.” In addition to producing a tasty treat for you and for friends (or just you, who are we kidding?), you can fulfill your dream of playing mad scientist and bringing something to life. “I have customers that regularly email me with special orders and entire recipes that they need filled,” Buongiovanni explains. “I’m always happy to help.” Available at Nikki’s Liquors, 32 Branch Avenue, Providence. 861-9006, www.biyne.com

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Mexican & SOUTHWESTERN

Comfort Cuisine

355 Hope StreeT, Providence 401.751.6777 â&#x20AC;˘ tortillaflatsri.com

RHODY BITES A Sponsored Statewide Dining Guide

View our full Restaurant Profiles on RhodyBites.com

The Olive Tap Experience a world of flavor

at The Olive Tap, an olive oil and balsamic vinegar shop that’s a must-try for foodies in Providence. “We are absolutely passionate about food,” says owner Greg Holtcamp. “When we opened the store, we wanted to appeal to foodies who understand that you get your best results from the best ingredients.” Offering a wide selection of oils and vinegars - from Tuscan Herb, Sorrento Lemon and Greek Koroneiki Oil to White Balsamic Vinegar with Sicilian Lemon, Fig Balsamic and Aceto Balsamico Vinegar - The Olive Tap has something perfectly delicious waiting for you to take home. Their White Truffle Oil, unlike most of the chemically flavored options you find in the grocery store, is organic, and made with organic Italian truffles. The team is

passionate about working with small, artisan producers. “We know who owns the ranches, we know where everything comes from,” Greg says. “Regardless of cost, we’re going to bring in the very best that we can.” Every Friday, The Olive Tap hosts a tasting event from 6-9pm. Chef Brie Goldsmith makes different dishes, with ways to showcase fine olive oils and vinegars other than just putting them on salad. “We have a lot of fun talking to people about dishes,” Greg says. “We’re foodies here.” The store also hosts cooking events every other Saturday. But it doesn’t have to be the weekend to taste the epicurean delights at The Olive Tap. Any day, stop in to sample fine olive oils and vinegars. There’s always a fresh loaf of Olga’s bread waiting for you to take a taste.

Insider Tip: The Olive Tap frequently hosts tastings and specialty food events

485 Angell St, Providence • 272-8200 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Gourmet steaks and sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 4532333. LD $$$ Angelo’s Civita Farnese Restaurant Italian American comfort food classics. 141 Atwells Ave, Providence, 621-8171. LD $-$$ AQUA Poolside cocktails with seasonal American cuisine. 1 Orms St, Providence, 272-2400. LD $-$$ Aruba Steve’s Island cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and Caribbean flair. 520 Main St, Warren, 289-2677. LD $-$$

Photography by Katie Poor

Aspire Seasonal Kitchen Contemporary New England fare. 311 Westminster St, Providence, 521-3333. BBrLD $$-$$$ Besos Kitchen & Cocktails Tapas and eclectic cuisine and cocktails. 378 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-8855. BrLD $$$ Bistro 22 New American rustic cuisine in Garden City. 22 Midway Rd,

Cranston, 383-6400. LD $-$$ Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, MA, 508-999-6975. LD $$ Blend Café Modern Latin-American infused fare. 745 Reservoir Ave, Cranston, 270-5533. BBrLD $-$$ Bluefin Grille at the Providence Marriott Downtown Seasonal and sustainable seafood in an elegant atmosphere. 1 Orms St, Providence, 272-5852. LD $-$$ Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$ Café Nuovo Contemporary New World cuisine. 1 Citizens Plz, Providence, 4212525. LD $-$$$ Capriccio Upscale international food with a northern Italian/Mediterranean accent. 2 Pine St, Providence, 421-1320. LD $-$$$

The Olive Tap

Carriage Inn & Saloon Regional comfort food accompanied by a whiskey bar. 1065 Tower Hill Rd, North Kingstown, 294-8466. D $-$$ CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in an historic setting. 14 Imperial Place, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$-$$$ Celestial Café Organic farm-to-table fine dining. Oak Harbor Village, 567 S County Tr, Exeter, 295-5559. BrLD $-$$$ Centro Restaurant & Lounge Contemporary cuisine and cocktails. 1 W Exchange St, Providence, 228-6802. BLD $$$ Champlins Seafood Dockside fresh seafood serving easy breezy cocktails. 256 Great Island Rd, Narragansett, 783-3152. LD $-$$ Chez Pascal/The Wurst Kitchen Seasonal farm-to-table cuisine with a French accent. House made sausages, hot dogs and accoutrements. 960 Hope

St, Providence, 421-4422. LD $-$$$ Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 3000 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$ Circe Restaurant & Bar South Beach meets New England seafood favorites. 50 Weybosset St, Providence, 4378991. BRLD $-$$$ Clean Plate Delicious comfort food in a casual setting. 345 S. Water St, Providence, 621-8888. BBrLD $$ Decadent Designs and Cafe Custom cakes and pastries alongside a fresh cafe with soups and sandwiches. 1285 Park Ave, Cranston, 942-9300 BL $ DeWolf Tavern Gourmet American/ Indian fusion. 259 Thames St, Bristol, 254-2005. BLD $$-$$$ The Dorrance Fine dining with exquisite cocktails. 60 Dorrance St,

Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

RHODY BITES Continued

Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$ Ella’s Fine Food & Drink Elegant dining meets international cuisine. 2 Tower St, Westerly, 315-0606. D $-$$$ Flatbread Company Artisanal pizza, local ingredients. 161 Cushing St, Providence, 273-2737. LD $-$$ Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228-3901. D $-$$ George’s of Galilee Fresh caught seafood in an upscale pub atmosphere. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett, 783-2306. LD $-$$ Harry’s Bar & Burger Handcrafted sliders, brews and pub games. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336. LD $-$$ Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambiance. 1210 Oaklawn Ave, Cranston, 463-8338; 172 Wayland Ave, Providence, 223-0332; 112 Waterman St, Providence, 4210754. LD $-$$ Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House Classic clam shack fare, plus famous doughboys. 889 Oakland Beach Ave, Warwick, 737-9459; 1157 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 783-5608. LD $ Iron Works Tavern A wide variety of signature American dishes in the historic Thomas Jefferson Hill Mill. 697 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, 739-5111. LD $-$$$ Jacky’s Galaxie Local Pan-Asian chain offering sushi and classic entrees in a modern atmosphere. Locations in Providence, North Providence, Bristol and Cumberland, jackysgalaxie.com. LD $-$$$ Jigger’s Diner Classic ‘50s diner serving breakfast all day. 145 Main St, East Greenwich, 884-6060. BL $-$$ Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$

Kabob and Curry Award-winning Indian food serving Providence since 1987. 261 Thayer St, Providence, 273-8844. LD $-$$

style pizzas. 100 East St, Cranston, 383-7722; 380 Atwells Ave, Providence, 273-2400. LD $-$$

Paragon & Viva Contemporary dining and nightlife. 234 Thayer St, Providence, 331-6200. BrLD $-$$

Kartabar Mediterranean-style cuisine, chic setting. 284 Thayer St, Providence, 331-8111. LD $-$$

Nordic Lodge Surf and turf buffet selections perfect for family gatherings. 178 E Pasquisett Trl, Charlestown, 7834515. LD $$$

Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 3310003. LD $-$$

Oceanside at the Pier New England fare overlooking the Atlantic. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 792-3999. BrLD $$

Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 2731444. LD $-$$$

KitchenBar Contemporary comfort cuisine. 771 Hope St, Providence, 3314100. BrLD $$ Laurel Lane Country Club Upscale pub cuisine overlooking a picturesque golf course. 309 Laurel Ln, West Kingston, 783-3844. LD $-$$ Legends Pub and Grub Hometown pub food and brews with ample sports viewing. 1458 Park Ave, Cranston, 2704170. LD $ Lim’s Restaurant Upscale Thai and fresh sushi. 18 South Angell St, Providence, 383-8830. LD $$

Ocean State Sandwich Company Craft sandwiches and hearty sides. 1345 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 155 Westminster St, Providence, 282-6772. BL $-$$

Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food; great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 783-4073. BBrLD $

The Olive Tap Extra virgin olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars and gourmet food and gift selections. 485 Angell St, Providence, 272-8200. $$-$$$

Pho Horn’s Fresh authentic Vietnamese dishes in a colorful setting. 50 Ann Mary St #403, Pawtucket, 365-6278. LD $-$$

Worth The Drive:

Luxe Burger Bar Build your own creative burger. 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $ Maharaja Indian Restaurant Indian cuisine and traditional curries in a warm setting. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 3639988. LD $-$$ Malted Barley American craft beer, gourmet pretzels and creative sandwiches in downtown Westerly. 42 High St, Westerly, 315-2184. LD $$ McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$ McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steak Mixed grill selections and signature fish dishes sourced locally and seasonally. 11 Dorrance St, Providence, 351-4500. BLD $$-$$$ Mia’s Prime Time Café Upscale café cuisine by the Pawcatuck River. 1 West Broad St, Pawcatuck, CT, 860-5993840. BLD $$ Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$ Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza Classic Italian fare and traditional New York-

Ella’s Fine Food and Drink

Ella’s Fine Food and Drink You won’t find another restaurant quite like Ella’s Fine Food and Drink. First, there’s the concept: seasonally influenced American food with a distinctly Asian flair, prepared with classical French techniques. Next, there’s the team: husband and wife duo James and Jeanie Roland, who own the restaurant (and another in Florida, The Perfect Caper) with Chef Jeanie in the kitchen every night. But really, there’s the food. The dinner menu ranges from gourmet comfort

Can't Miss Dish: The Filet la Maison – A house filet mignon with asparagus and Drambuiepeppercorn sauce, served with a side of lobster mac and cheese

2 Tower St, Westerly • 315-0606

For full restaurant profiles, go to RhodyBites.com

East Side Monthly February 2016

food to worldly cuisine. In the lounge, things are more casual, but equally delicious. The lounge menu offers creative smaller plates like Duck Confit with warm bacon dressing and a duck fat fried egg. There are salads like the Salade Parisian: frisée, arugula, shaved Gouda, pan fried chicken and hazelnut vin. During the warm weather, enjoy dining and drinks on the outdoor patio – but during any season, enjoy creative, gourmet takes on local bounty at Ella’s Fine Food and Drink.

Photography by Hilary Block

Providence, 521-6000. D $$$

Pizzico Diverse Italian and fusion cuisine in a rustic yet eclectic atmosphere. 762 Hope St, Providence, 4214114; 308 County Rd, Barrington, 2470303. LD $-$$$ Providence Coal Fired Pizza Old world coal-fired pizzas, appetizers and entrees made from scratch. 385 Westminster St, Providence, 454-7499; 6105 Post Rd, North Kingstown, 8857499. LD $-$$

T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, Narragansett, 946-5900. BL $ Taullulah on Thames Farm-driven, a la carte and prix fixe menus in a simply decorated setting. 464 Thames St, Newport, 849-2433. BrD $$$ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$

Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily inspirations. 120 Francis St, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$

Ten Rocks Tapas Bar Cape-Verdean inspired small plates, handcrafted cocktails and frequent live music. 1091 Main St, Pawtucket, 728-0800. BrLD $-$$

Rasa Authentic and contemporary Indian. 149 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2822. LD $$

The Coast Guard House Modern New England Fare with Bay views. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett. 789-0700. LD $$-$$$

Rasoi Vegetarian-friendly Indian cuisine. 727 East Ave, Pawtucket, 7285500. LD $$ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Rick’s Roadhouse House-smoked barbecue. 370 Richmond St, Providence, 272-7675. LD $-$$ Roberto’s Italian fine dining and large wine selection in the scenic East Bay. 450 Hope St, Bristol, 254-9732. D $$-$$$ Sa-Tang Fine Thai and Asian fusion cuisine with gluten-free selections. 402 Main St, Wakefield, 284-4220. LD $-$$ Scampi Seafood and Italian cuisine with expansive water views. 657 Park Ave, Portsmouth, 293-5844. LD $$ The Sea Goose Seafood with New England and southern flair. 265 Post Rd, Westerly, 315-0788. LD $$-$$$ Theatre 82 & Cafe Hybrid art space with all day breakfast, coffee and theatre-inspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston. 490-9475 BL $ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ Simone’s Gourmet brunch followed by upscale Mediterranean cuisine. 275 Child St, Warren, 247-1200. BBrLD $$-$$$ Sophia’s Tuscan Grille BYOB eatery with classic Tuscan dishes and homemade desserts. 1729 Warwick Ave, Warwick, 732-6656. BLD $-$$$

@RhodyBites

Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun and Southwestern fare, cocktails and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 751-6777. LD $-$$ Trinity Brewhouse Rhode Island’s original brewpub. 186 Fountain St, Providence, 453-2337. LD $-$$ Twin Willows Fresh seafood and water views in a family-friendly atmosphere. 865 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, 789-8153. LD $-$$ Vanuatu Coffee Roasters Artisancrafted, single origin coffee, pastries and breakfast sandwiches. 294 Atwells Ave, Providence, 273-1586. BL $-$$

Now offering the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method “After a week of treatment, all the pain was gone... I recommend Dr. Tom to everyone I know.” – J.T.

Northeast Chiropractic Dr. Thomas morison, ChiropraCTiC physiCian

861-1300 • 187 Waterman Street • wickedgoodposture.com

Trinity

Brewhouse rewery Providence’s largest b

Serving award-winning beer and tasty pub-inspired entrees

Celebrating

20 yearS

rotating selection of fresh brews

186 Fountain Street, Providence 401.453.2337 • www.trinitybrewhouse.com

The Best Noodle Soup in Town

Vetrano’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Italian cooking like grandma would make. 130 Granite St, Westerly, 348-5050. LD $$ The Village Casual dining and live entertainment. 373 Richmond St, Providence, 228-7222. BrLD $$ Vittoria’s NY Pizza Best pizza north of Manhattan. 224 Post Rd, Westerly, 322-1901. LD $-$$

50 Ann Mary Street, Pawtucket (Off N. Main in Job Lot plaza) 365-6278 • phohorns.com

Mon-Thur 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-11pm Sun 11am-9pm

Waterman Grille Riverfront New American dining. 4 Richmond Sq, Providence, 521-9229. BLD $$$ Wes’ Rib House Missouri-style barbecue, open late. 38 Dike St, Providence, 421-9090. LD $$ Whiskey Republic Delicious dockside pub fare. 515 South Water St, Providence, 588-5158. LD $-$$ XO Cafe Creative cocktails and New American fare. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$

facebook.com/RhodyBites

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Golden Crest Nursing Centre Exceptional Post-Surgery Rehab Services

Explore new worlds at the...

www.GoldenCrestNursingCentre.com 100 Smithfield Road, North Providence • (401) 353-1710

Site Specific Design BuilD

RestoRation

401.632.4400 sitespecificllc.com based on the book by Harper Lee • adapted by CHristopHer sergeL

March 3 – april 3

Saturday, February 6 KICK OFF EVENT

Drop-in Workshop @ Providence Children’s Museum Film Screening @ Providence Athenaeum

Friday, February 12 OPENINg NIghT PArTy!

tickets from $25 (401) 351-4242 trinityrep.Com 201 Washington st. providence • sponsored by taco/ the White family foundation supported by the nea season sponsors

PRESENTATIONS WORKSHOPS FEATURES SHORTs

(special tickets required)

5:30pm reception 6:45pm Film Screen Premiere: LANDFILL HARMONIC

trinity repertory company

Authentic Cape Verdean Tapas

February 18 & 21 yOuTh FIlMMAKEr ShOWCASE Films made by young filmmakers from around the globe!

• We host Corporate Events and Special Occasions • Tuesday Open Mic Jazz Session with 50 Cent Wings • Wednesday Dinner for 2, for the Price of 1, Accompanied with a Bottle of Wine • Thursday Paella Special

1091 Main Street, Pawtucket (just over line) • 728-0800 Tues-Thurs 4pm-11pm • Fri-Sun 4pm-1am 42

East Side Monthly February 2016

For complete schedule of films, workshops, special events and how to buy tickets, visit website www.pcffri.org

On the town Calendar

By Courtney Denelle

February music | performance | social happenings | galleries | sports

DON’T MISS THIS MONTH: 10 events at the top of our list

1 2

Rhode Island Spring and Garden Show. February 18-21 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. www.riconvention.com

3 4 5 6

AS220 Industries Open House. February 23 at the Mercantile Building in Providence. www.as220.org

Providence Children’s Film Festival. February 6-21, with numerous locations in Providence. www.providencechildrensfilmfestival.org

Artist’s Exchange Craft Bash. February 27 at Artist’s Exchange in Cranston. www.artists-exchange.org The Sweet Spot. Wednesdays and Thursdays at Local 121 in Providence. www.local121.com Space Horizons 2016 – International City on the Moon. February 19-21 at Brown University in Providence. www.spacehorizonsworkshop.com

7 8 9 10

Live Music Yoga Class with Trinity Flow. February 18 at All That Matters in Providence. www.allthatmatters.com

Girls Who Code Club. Thursdays at Rochambeau Public Library. www.provcomlib.org The Drawing Room: Back to the Basics Intensive. February 23-28 at the RISD Museum. www.risdmuseum.org

Treat your senses to all the earthly aromas of springtime at the Rhode Island Spring & Garden Show February 18-21

A Skull in Connemara. February 25-29 at the Gamm Theatre. www.gammtheatre.org

Photo by (bottom) Rick McCullough

DYNAMIC DANCE

Dance Melds with Jazz at Walking with ‘Trane Gear up to be electrified at Walking with ‘Trane: A Live Music and Dance Tribute by Urban Bush Women, an all-female tour de force in American dance, as they rattle the stage at the VETS with their dazzling and dynamic tribute to John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme on February 27. 8pm, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 421-2787, www.thevetsri.com

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

On the town Calendar continued...

MUSIC

PeRFORMAnCe

arena & club | classical

comedy | dance | theatre

ARENA & CLUB AURORA Mondays: Free Live Music. 276 Westminster Street, Providence. www.auroraprovidence.com.

COMEDY COMEDY CONNECTION February 12-14: April Macie. February 21: Guys as Dolls Drag Extravaganza. February 25: Ralphie May. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 438-8383, www.ricomedyconnection.com.

AS220 February 10: The Baz, 1031 and Kyles Dogs Head. February 11: Modern Lives, Wichita and Littlefoot. 115 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.as220.org. CHAN’S FINE ORIENTAL DINING February 5: Joe Lewis Walker. February 6: Neal Vitullo and the Vipers. February 13: Popa Chubby. February 26: Johnny Winter All Star Band. 267 Main Street, Woonsocket. 765-1900, www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com. FIREHOUSE 13 February 6: Demon Boy, Thirsty Silver, Gwell-O and Necrophiliac Meat Circus. February 11: Within the Ruins. February 24: Dan Baird and Homemade Sin. 41 Central Street, Providence. 270-1801, www.fh13.com. LUPO’S HEARTBREAK HOTEL February 4: Lotus. February 5: Umphrey’s McGee. February 6: Get the Led Out: The American Led Zeppelin. February 12: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. February 26: Parmalee. 79 Washington Street, Providence. 331-5876, www.lupos.com. THE MET February 13: Defeater and Caspian. February 20: Playing Dead. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 729-1005, www. themetri.com. TWIN RIVER February 12: The O’Jays. February 20: Voyage: A Musical Tribute to Journey. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 7233200, www.twinriver.com. CLASSICAL BILTMORE Thursdays: Live jazz. 11 Dorrance Street, Providence. 421-0700, www.providencebiltmore.com. RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC February 20: RIPO Presents Ride of The Valkyries. Fridays: Amica Rush Hour. Saturdays: TACO Saturday Classical. 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. www.riphil.org

East Side Monthly February 2016

EVERETT Every Friday: Friday Night Live. 9 Duncan Avenue, Providence. 8319479, www.everettri.org. FIREHOUSE 13 February 5: Randy and Mr. Lahey from Trailer Park Boys Live. 41 Central Street, Providence. 270-1801, www.fh13.com. DANCE AS220 Mondays: Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance. Tuesdays: Yobalates. Wednesday: Open Level Modern Dance. Sundays: Beginner and Intermediate Ballet. 95 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.as220.org.

95 Empire Street, Providence. 8319327, www.as220.org GAMM THEATRE February 2-7: Grizzly Mama. February 25-29: A Skull in Connemara. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 7234266, www.gammtheatre.org. OCEAN STATE THEATRE COMPANY February 4-14: Breaking Legs. February 24-28: 1776: The Musical. 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick. 921-1777, www.oceanstatetheatre.org.

VETS February 27: FirstWorks Presents Urban Bush Women Walking with ‘Trane. 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 421-2787, www.thevetsri.com. WILBURY GROUP February 1-6: Stupid F#*%ing Bird. 393 Broad Street 400-7100, www. thewilburygroup.org.

SOCIAL hAPPenInGS

expos | fundraisers | seasonal

PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER February 6: Shen Yun. February 14: Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage. February 16-21: Pippin. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence. 421-2787, www.ppacri.org.

FOR FOODIES BOTTLES Fridays: Beer Tasting. Saturdays: Wine Tasting. 141 Pitman Street, Providence. 372-2030, www.bottlesfinewine.com.

TRINITY REP February 4-29: The Hunchback of Seville. 201 Washington Street, Providence. 351-4242, www.trinityrep.com.

FARM FRESH RHODE ISLAND Wednesdays and Saturdays: Wintertime Farmers’ Market. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. www.farmfreshri.org.

FESTIVAL BALLET SCHOOL February 1-7: Hansel and Gretel. Mondays: Beginner Ballet. Thursdays: Intermediate/Ballet. 825 Hope Street, Providence. 353-1129, www.festivalballet.com. PROVIDENCE TANGO Fridays: Free Tango Lessons. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 288-1170, www.providencetango.com. RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER February 26-28: Imagine National Dance Challenge. 1 Sabin Street, Providence. 458-6000, www.riconvention.com. THEATRE AURORA February 4: The Burbage Theatre Company Presents Happy Birthday, Wanda June. February 11: Sweet Little Variety Show. February 18, 26 & 27: The Burbage Theatre Company Presents Titus Andronicus. 276 Westminster Street, Providence. www.auroraprovidence.com. ARTISTS EXCHANGE February 5-20: Pride and Prejudice. Theatre 82, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 490-9475, www.artists-exchange.org. AS220 February 19: Frost/Nixon. Blackbox,

#RHODYRESOLUTION

The Art of Learning Something New It’s never too late to live artfully. This month, pick up the brush and get to work, as Hamilton House offers two art classes with curriculum suited for experienced artists and neophytes, alike. From February 2-23, put those thoughts and feelings to paper in Drawing the Simple and Complex, and learn basic foundational tools that will help you realize your vision. From February 5-26, let your creativity and whimsy lead the way in Loosening Up with Acrylics, and express your flights of fancy with bold and buildable acrylic colors. 276 Angell Street, Providence. 831-1800, www. historichamilton.com.

On the town Calendar continued...

NEW HARVEST COFFEE ROASTERS Fridays: Free coffee tasting. 3-4:30pm. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. www.newharvestcoffee.com.

ATRIUM GALLERY February 1-29: VSA Arts of Rhode Island, Paul V. Sherlock Memorial Art Show. One Capital Hill, Providence. 222-6996, www. arts.ri.gov/projects/atrium.php.

OTHER AL-ANON Sundays: 7pm. First Unitarian Church, 1 Benevolent Street, Providence. Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12:10pm. St. Stephens Church, 114 George Street, 2nd floor, Providence. Wednesdays: 7:30pm. Church of the Redeemer, 655 Hope Street, Providence. Fridays: 7:30pm and Saturdays: Noon. Ray Hall, Butler Hospital Campus, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence. www.riafg.org.

CHAZAN GALLERY February 1-10: Rhode Island College Printmaking: Yizhak Elyashiv and Stephen Fisher. February 18-29: Dena Haden, Caroline Morgan, Lachlan Turczan and Max Van Pelt. 228 Angell Street, Providence. 421-9230. www. chazangallery.org.

AS220 February 14: Four Legs to Stand On: Creating Outreach About Addiction Support Together. 95 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.as220.org. DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER February 19-26: Monster Jam. 1 LaSalle Square, Providence. 272-7337, www.dunkindonutscenter.com. FREQUENCY WRITERS February 2-25: Revising Revision. February 2-28: Writing Fearlessly. February 27: Lost and Found Poetics. 186 Carpenter Street, Providence. www.frequencywriters.org. RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER February 4-7: 2016 Providence Boat Show. February 10-12: Lumber and Building Materials Expo. February 12: Southern New England Go Red for Women Luncheon. February 2628: New England Salt Water Fishing Show. 1 Sabin Street, Providence. 458-6000, www.riconvention.com.

KIDS & FAMILY BROWN UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE Every Saturday: Children’s Story Time. 244 Thayer Street, Providence. 8633168, www.bookstore.brown.edu. MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND PLANETARIUM Saturdays and Sundays: Public Planetarium Shows. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 785-9457, www.providenceri.com/museum. PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY Tuesdays: Zumba4Toddlers. Tuesdays: Baby Books Storytime. Wednesdays: Cradle to Crayons. Thursdays and Fridays: Lego Club. Saturdays: Magic the Gathering: Card Game Club. Rochambeau Library, 708 Hope Street, Providence. 272-3780, www.provcomlib.org. RISD AUDITORIUM February 13: LIVE ACTION! Foley and Field Audio Filmmaking Workshop. February 13: LIVE ACTION! Green Screen Filmmaking Workshop. February 14: Lightpainting Filmmaking Workshop. 30 North Main Street, Providence. www. providencechildrensfilmfestival.org

RIVIERA BINGO PALACE February 18: Drag Bingo. 1612 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston. 521-3603, www.aidscareos.org.

RISD MUSEUM February 2, 6, 9 & 13: Tours for Tots. 20 North Main Street, Providence. 4546500, www.risdmuseum.org.

TRINITY BREWHOUSE Tuesdays: Stump Trivia. 186 Fountain Street, Providence. 453-2337, www. stumptrivia.com.

ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO February 1-29: Winter Wonder Days. February 7: Rock and Roar: A Rock-ababy Kids’ Concert Series. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 941-4998, www.rwpzoo.org.

GALLeRIeS AS220 MAIN GALLERY February 7-28: Wildflowers. 115 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.as220.org.

VETS February 12: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 421-2787, www.thevetsri.com.

LeARn

discussion | instruction | tour AS220 First Tuesday: Open Life Drawing. 115 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.as220.org. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE Wednesdays: Knitting Group. 8 Stimson Avenue, Providence. 421-7181, www.internationalhouseofri.org. LADD OBSERVATORY Tuesdays: Telescope Observing Night. 210 Doyle Avenue, Providence. 8632323, www.brown.edu/Departments/ Physics/Ladd/. PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM February 2: Proust Reading Group: “Madame Swan at Home.” February 5: Athenaeum Book Discussion Group: People of the Book. 251 Benefit Street, Providence. 421-6970, www.providenceathenaeum.org. PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY February 6: Community Restorative Yoga. Wednesdays: Poetry Group. Wednesdays: Writers Meetup. Thursdays: Girls Who Code Club. Thursdays: Learn to Speak Spanish for Beginners. February 13: Computer Science Meetup. Rochambeau Library, 708 Hope Street, Providence. 272-3780, www. provcomlib.org. RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY February 25: John Brown Open House with free admission. February 7: Valley Talks: Albert Klyberg. 110 Benevolent Street, Providence. 331-8575, www.rihs. org. RISD MUSEUM February 4: Ways of Looking for Artists: Contrast. February 18: Ways of Looking: Detail. February 18: Hands-On Art. February 27: Artist Development: Money Matters. 20 North Main Street, Providence. 454-6500, www.risdmuseum.org. SARAH DOYLE WOMEN’S CENTER Mondays: Girls Night Out. Snacks and informal discussions for self-identified queer women. 26 Benevolent Street, Providence. www.events.brown.edu.

SPORtS BROWN MEN’S BASKETBALL February 5: Brown vs. Cornell. February 6: Brown vs. Columbia. February

26: Brown vs. Dartmouth. February 27: Brown vs. Harvard. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 863-2211, www. brownbears.com. BROWN MEN’S HOCKEY February 5: Brown vs. Harvard. February 6: Brown vs. Dartmouth. February 19: Brown vs. Clarkson. February 20: Brown vs. St. Lawrence. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 863-2773, www.brownbears.com. BROWN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL February 12: Brown vs. Harvard. February 13: Brown vs. Dartmouth. February 19: Brown vs. Penn. February 20: Brown vs. Princeton. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 863-2773, www.brownbears.com. BROWN WOMEN’S HOCKEY February 12: Brown vs. Cornell. February 13: Brown vs. Colgate. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 863-2773, www. brownbears.com. PROVIDENCE BRUINS HOCKEY February 2: Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs. February 6: Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres. February 9: Bruins vs. LA Kings. February 22: Bruins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets. February 24: Bruins vs. Pittsburg Penguins. February 28: Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. 1 LaSalle Square, Providence. 273-5000, www.providencebruins.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS MEN’S BASKETBALL February 10: PC vs. Marquette. February 17: PC vs. Xavier. 1 La Salle Square, Providence. 865-4672, www.friars.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS MEN’S HOCKEY February 12: PC vs. UCONN. February 19: PC vs. Notre Dame. February 20: PC vs. Notre Dame. February 27: PC vs. UMASS. Schneider Arena, Huxley Avenue, Providence. 865-4672, www.friars.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL February 14: PC vs. Creighton. February 19: PC vs. DePaul. February 21: PC vs. Marquette. 1 LaSalle Square, Providence. 865-4672, www.friars.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS WOMEN’S HOCKEY February 6: PC vs. Northeastern. February 14: PC vs. Merrimack. February 20: PC vs. BC. Schneider Arena, Huxley Avenue, Providence. 865-4672, www.friars.com.

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

Spotlight

by Courtney Denelle

SeniorS

special advertising section

IasImonE PlumbIng

Personal & Home Assistance

H e at i n g & D r a i n Cleaning, inC.

Companionship

InstallatIons • RepaIRs Replacements

Gardening Assistance With New Residence

...with humor & diligence years of experience

M ary e. Dewaele 401-728-3382

We are always providing a Free Estimate

We Can Do anything With Water Except Walk on It

Servicing all of RI & nearby Mass. for over 35 years Monday - Friday 7:00am to 6:00pm

Winner of the super service award from Angie’s List four years in a row!

Iasimone Plumbing, Heating and Drain Cleaning Quality you can trust, from a family business

27 Allen Avenue, North Providence (401) 300-9761 • iasimonephdc.com

Saving Up To 70% off ReTail pRice New, RefuRbished aNd scRatch & deNt appliaNces

Stainless Refrigerators • Ranges Washers & Dryers • Built-In Refrigeration Cooktops & Wall Ovens • Dishwashers

416 Roosevelt Avenue, Central Falls 401.723.0500 • kitchenguys.com

Beautiful Pre-Owned Jewelry

Membership...

It’s more than fitness! It’s an open door to a variety of social, cultural, and educational activities that celebrate family, foster health and well-being, embrace tradition, and expand cultural horizons. Early Childhood Center, Summer Camp, After School Care, Indoor Pool, Fitness Center, Basketball Gym, Group Exercise, Community Events and so much more!

1271 North Main Street, Providence 437-8421 358 Broad Street, Providence 273-7050

East Side Monthly February 2016

Everyone is welcome! 401 Elmgrove Avenue Providence, RI 02906 jewishallianceri.org

Dwares Rhode Island

With honesty and an unwavering commitment to a job well done, Iasimone Plumbing, Heating & Drain Cleaning Inc. provides a premier level of service, distinct in its quality of care and concern, which can only come from more than 35 years in the trade. Their plumbing and heating services accommodate the installation, repair and replacement of indispensible household appliances, like toilets, dishwashers and garbage disposals, as well as those larger homeowner headaches, like water heaters, boilers, sewers and drains, and all with speed and efficiency in an industry where it can be difficult just to get a call back, never mind same-day appointment scheduling. Owner and President Louis Iasimone considers high-touch customer service to be an indelible aspect of his family trade. A life-long Rhode Islander, Louis learned the plumbing and heating trades from his father. “He was in the trade for over 50 years,” says Louis. “Like any other business, [ours] had its ups and downs, but I believe we have been in business for so long because we treat our customers with the respect and professionalism they deserve.” It’s that unique brand of respect and professionalism that allows for fast and affordable solutions to plumbing, heating and drain clearing scenarios that could otherwise be frustrating and frightfully expensive for a home or business owner, but Louis’ prompt and friendly updates detailing the process and progress is a fundamental point of difference that insists you and your job won’t be “forgotten,” setting Iasimone’s apart from the rest.

Iasimone Plumbing, Heating and Drain Cleaning 27 Allen Ave, North Providence 300-9761 / www.iasimonephdc.com

Spotlight

by Dan Schwartz

special advertising section

Marc Allen Fine Clothiers Made-to-measure line offers quality and value

A NEW CONCEPT ALZHEIMER’S/ MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE™ Call today to sChedule a personal tour

200 South Main St, Providence 401-453-0025 marcalleninc.com

401.944.2450

49 Old Pocasset Road, Johnston briarcliffegardens.com

Tuesday - Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm

Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors

Committed to exCellenCe and integrity in all we do

Replace batteries 4 or 5 years old, as they can show their weakness on very cold days and leave you stranded

The definition of luxury

in the world of clothing is personal service where the staff really understands your individual taste combined with the best in fabrics that fit you perfectly. Marc Allen Fine Clothiers continues its mission of providing the highest level of garments while providing the sort of client attention where each person feels special. Over the last year the flagship Providence location has been joined by a Newport shop to serve the needs of the luxury clothing market in South County. Add to that their custom showrooms in New York and Boston (by appointment only) and the mobile unit that travels anywhere to provide concierge home and business service, and you realize how expansive Marc Allen’s operation has become. Sitting in the second-floor clubroom with style experts Will and Colin, they discuss how the recently revamped made-to-measure line is allowing for the best fit at a price-point that’s accessible. Colin explains, “we worked with a European firm and designed our own models which are proprietary just for us. We took a lot of time honing this fit and style and we are very pleased with the result.” He told me the story of a client who visited the Newport location and had brought clothes he’d purchased at a luxury department store. While the fabrics of these labels were great, the fit was not, and luckily the folks at Marc Allen were able to correct the problem. The benefit of purchasing the madeto-measure line from this shop is they have those same high-end fabrics, but your expert fitting allows you to look fantastic at a price point that begins at $1,395 for a suit. The spring lines are about to arrive and business owner Marc Streisand is heading over to Italy to do some research on the best stuff to bring back. And with the cold New England winter, it’s great to start thinking ahead for your warmer weather wardrobe. The handmade bespoke tailoring continues to serve the needs for the finest in custom clothing, and note that the shop also has other elements like socks, belts, ties, sportswear and accessories. At Marc Allen Fine Clothiers you’ll enjoy personal attention and you’ll look your very best.

Marc Allen Fine Clothiers 200 South Main Street, Providence 453-0025 / www.marcalleninc.com

We service and repair ALL foreign and domestic models • ASE Certified • RI inspection and repair station #27b

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

Find us on Facebook Badge

68 Mink Street Seekonk, MA • (508) 557-0392 1 Pier Marketplace, Narragansett • (401) 783-3100

kitchensdirectne.com

Enjoy locally inspired cuisine for Daytime & Dinner

CMYK / .eps

729 East Avenue • 401-723-1111 (Top of the East Side, next door to Rite Aid)

T.F. Morra Tree Care, Inc. Ornamental and Shade Tree Specialists

Now Taking Reservations For Valentine's Day!

• fine hand pruning • tree preservation • hazard tree removal

Brunch Saturday & Sunday 8am-1:30pm Live Jazz Thursday Evenings

• tree evaluation & diagnosis

401.247.1200 275 Child Street, Warren SimonesRI.com

401-331-8527 tfmorra.com

• tree planting consultation

Februay 2016 East Side Monthly

marketplace HOME IMPROVEMENT

ElEcTRIcal SERVIcES

MalIN PaINTING

All types. Energy efficient & security lighting & new circuits. Master licenses: RI #A3338, MA #16083A. Insured. Call Larry 529-2087.

Most ceiling & wall repairs, wallpaper removal, oil-based and latex finishes, staining, varnishing. Fully insured, many local references. Safe, secure, fast service. Call 226-8332. Reg. #19226.

We Specialize in painting & carpentry

David Onken Painting

Experts in Water Problems

From Roofs, Gutters & Basements Over 20 years of experience on historical homes

Interior/Exterior Lead Certified Carpentry Renovations Gutter Cleaning â&#x2013; Chimney Pointing

Certified Lead Renovated LRM #0514 RI Reg #7320 â&#x20AC;˘ Fully insured GET IT dONE! call TOday!

Call Al Medina (401) 438-8771 or (401) 323-8252

Roof Leaks Repaired Reg. #19031

Insured

248-5248 davidokenpainting.com

Harold Greco, Jr. Plaster Perfection

The Finest in New England craftmanship

Boreal Remodeling General Home Repair, including Kitchens, Baths, Decks & Additions Reg. # 22013

Michael Packard â&#x20AC;˘ (401) 441-7303 Prompt, Reliable Quality Work

â&#x2DC;&#x2026; â&#x2DC;&#x2026;

Small Repair Specialist

Emergency Water & Vandalism Repairs

Insurance Quotes â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Mold Inspections

Historic Restorations Painting

738-0369

(401) 885-1580 â&#x20AC;˘ (401) 323-6100 cell R.I. Lic 7140 Liab/ Work Comp Insured

PaWS-N-claWS, llc Dog walking/pet sitting. Professional, reliable pet care. Insured & bonded. Call 401-3699000 or www.pawsnclawsri.com

Senior â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Veteran â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Cash Discounts

Reg. #4114

â&#x2DC;&#x2026;

Member BBB â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Est. 1946

WaNTEd RENTal

I BUy BOOKS

SHaREd OFFIcE SPacE

Old, used and almost new. Also buying photography, art, etc. Call 401-286-9329. jcminich1@gmail.com

Large, bright 4 window, modern office in lovely building in Wayland Square. Wait area, maintained restroom, handicapped accessible. Perfect for therapist. Available 2+day/wk. 246-1660.

Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.

Levine Painting Co., Inc. Interior, Exterior, Residential/Commercial Wallpaper Hanging, Power Washing, Staining 25 Years Experience

PET caRE

USEd MUSIc WaNTEd!

BUSINESS SERVIcES

HOUSE clEaNING c.M. HOUSE clEaNING Professional, reliable, experienced. Affordable. Excellent local references. Call Marilyn at 497-8770.

dOROTHy’S clEaNING We clean your home as our own! References & free estimates. Call 401-524-7453 or 401-228-6273.

HOUSE clEaNING

aUdIO/VIdEO HElP

Experienced. Local references. Free estimates. Call Lilly, 401-419-2933.

If you need some help with your TV, home theater or stereo, call me at 401-383-4102. Jon Bell, Simply Sight & Sound. Reasonable rates. 30 years of experience.

LEE’S CLEANING SERVICE Basic house cleaning & more. Reasonable rates. References.

Over 20 years experience.

Call Lee 868-5127 785-1230

INcOME TaXES 40 Years of Experience. Located at 125 Wayland Avenue. Call 1-401351-7000.

SENIOR caRE

EldER caRE aVaIlaBlE Very kind, patient, mature woman seeks position with elderly person. Intelligent, cheerful, reliable, with 20 years experience, including several long-term positions. Impeccable references. Please call 781-3392 or 497-3392.

Commercial ● Free Estimates FIREWOOD: Seasoned Hardwood, Cut & Split $300/cord.

PROFESSIONal INcOME TaX Service. 25+ years experience, honest and reliable. IRS Taxpayer Advocacy Panel appointee. Sue, 228-6203 abs1040@outlook.com

497-1461 ● 231-1851

MIScEllEaNEOUS SENIOR caRE SERVIcES Home Assistance, with humor and diligence. Offering home, gardening, driving assistance & companionship. Mary 728-3382.

PROPERTy MaNaGER Available. On call 24/7. Rent collection. Rentals, evictions, maintenance. Call 421-0092.

THE laUNdRy clUB Is now offering free laundry & dry cleaning pick-up & delivery service to the East Side and downtown areas. Call 272-2520 for details.

Vinny’s Landscaping

& BOBCAT SERVICES

PaRKING/STORaGE Congdon St., $125 covered carport. Benefit St. (north end), $115/mo. Call Roger, 339-4068. rogernc@mac.com

We Make Housecalls!!! ✭

Repairing all types of Lamps Vintage Lighting Specialist ✭ Chandelier Repairs ✭ Serving the East Side for 20 years ✭ Fully Insured

✭

401-831-8693 www.chrislamprepair.com

SNOW PlOWING

SNOW PLOWING

CHRIS’ LAMP REPAIR

FEELING OVERWHELMED???!!! Need your cellar, attic or garage cleaned, but... can’t quite get to it?? You can call

TAKE-IT-AWAY-TOM at 401-434-8156 Mobile 316-2273 Counselor on the Debris of Life

Advertise in the Marketplace for as low as

JOBS BY JIM

$12!

Garages, Attics & Basements Cleaned

www.eastsidemonthly.com/

Unwanteds Removed Small Demolitions - Garages, Sheds, etc. Appliances & Lawn Mowers Motors ❖Machines ❖Batteries ❖Etc.

❖

Cell 401-742-7258

Reg. #4614

Go to

marketplace.html to reserve your space. Deadline for East Side Marketplace is the first of the month prior.

The easT sider

Author Jon Land

Writing Sweeps East Sider Jon Land Into His Characters’ World Jon Land is a 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude graduate of Brown University and an active Brown volunteer. He has written 37 novels and one non-fiction book. Why do you write? When you’re a writer, you have an excuse not to [grow up]. You write from… the imagination. You write from the part of you that… has never gotten past a parent reading to them. Writing is therapy; when I write… all the problems… I’m worried about get swept away. I vanish into the world of my characters.

physical quest for an object becomes a metaphysical quest for meaning. The thriller blends the two together; heroes come to grips with who they are. In addition, thrillers are essentially Westerns; heroes stand defending their world against a terrible threat.

Why are thrillers appealing? Thrillers are the purest form of writ-

You’ve said your characters lead you. How? I don’t outline; I’m very spontaneous. When I sit down, I have a vague idea of what the book is going to be about. The characters I create evolve… there’s stuff in my subconscious mind that’s probably been worked out … I’m good at making dots; the characters are great at connecting them. Writers are basically paranoid

ing. In quest stories [such as] Icelandic sagas, epic poems and Beowulf… the

schizophrenics who don’t need medication… we’re hearing voices in our

East Side Monthly February 2016

heads all the time… [Writers] can turn them off.

[Brown’s head football coach]; Brown often figures in.

How do you create suspense? You create suspense when nothing happens – that’s a wonderful thing. The ultimate suspense is when you create characters that are so real and vivid that they scare you… without doing anything, that’s the ultimate “bad ass.” It’s not the gun, it’s the voice; it’s not the bullets, it’s the words.

Your current series features Caitlin Strong, a female Texas Ranger. What makes a great series? You can read them in any order and enjoy them… each book has recurring characters, but is a stand-alone.

Do your books feature East Side references? [Some do], including a chase down Blackstone Boulevard, a gunfight at WaterFire… scenes at The University Club and on Thayer Street. In [the award-winning] Strong Rain Falling, a character… plays football for Phil Estes

What are you reading now? I’m always reading because I review books… but I’m reading Finders Keepers by Stephen King for pleasure. Follow Jon Land on Twitter – @jondland – or at www.jonlandbooks.com.

Nancy Kirsch is a freelance writer based in Providence. Contact her at writernancy@gmail.com or nancykirsch.com.

Photography by Michael Cevoli

By Nancy Kirsch

Now OPEN on the East Side

229 Waterman Street Providence 401-443-2800 Open M-Th 8:30am–5:00pm Fri 8:30am–6:00pm Sat 8:30am–12:00pm Drive-up and walk-up ATMs

Five-star service at a convenient new branch! We’re pleased to become part of the East Side community with our new state-of-the-art branch on Waterman Street. Whether you’re buying your first home, starting a new business, or considering retirement, Washington Trust is here for you. • Full-service branch, including personal banking, commercial banking, and wealth management services • Free customer parking • Complimentary coffee and phone charging station

Get FREE eChecking! • • • • •

FREE mobile and online banking with text alerts FREE mobile check deposit FREE ATMs FREE eStatements FREE debit card

Member FDIC

*Minimum balance to open Freedom Checking account is $50. Other offers and promotions do not apply. Other banks may charge for use of their ATMs. Message and data rates may apply from your wireless carrier.