News & Culture Inside the East Side By Barry Fain
Which way will the Fox Point?
Straw, sticks, bricks, and one hungry wolf's TRICKS!
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three little
Pigs Choreography: Louisa Mejeur
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March 14-22 FBP Black Box Theatre 825 Hope St., Providence RI 02906
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East Side Monthly • March 2020
Ward 1, which encompasses pretty much all of Fox Point but has recently been redrawn to include a growing portion of downtown, will become the center of the Providence political universe on March 3. That’s when a Democratic primary will be held to pick a successor to Seth Yurdin, the longtime city councilman representing the Ward, who suddenly announced his retirement on New Year’s. Three candidates, all Democrats, have officially declared: Nick Cicchitelli, owner of a real estate company and president of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association; John Goncalves, a Brown alum and one of the founders of the new citywide Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations; and Anthony Santurri, owner of the downtown Colosseum nightclub and founder of the Providence Responsible Nightlife Organization. Steve Triedman interviews all three on page 12. Given a proposed new tax policy aimed at the East Side, the threatening financial pressures facing the city, the ongoing debates over what should be built on our waterfront, and, of course, the disaster that is our educational system, a lot of attention here on the East Side will be listening to hear what sayeth they.
Local author wins NEA Grant Congratulations to East Side author Hester Kaplan for winning a $25,000 creative writing fellowship award from the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts). One of just 36 such grants from across the country this year, the money will be used to support her current writing projects. A well-published local author, Hester also teaches creative writing at both RISD and Lesley College as well as serving as president of the local Goat Hill Writers Collaborative. Since our beloved Little Rhody remains a treasure trove of interesting and often quirky things to write about (even with Buddy no longer with us), and given Hester’s proven track record, we have no doubts the grant money will be put to good use.
with the presidents of URI, RIC, Brown, and Lifespan, this past month he corralled Speaker of the House Mattiello and Senate President Ruggerio and asked them what we can really expect to get out of the legislature this year. But it was a side question this time that drew the most audible gasps. When asked whether or not President Trump deserves to be impeached, they both responded in the negative. So next time anyone describes Rhode Island as one of the bluest of the blue one-party states, mention the thinking of Rhode Island’s two most powerful Democrats. And remind them that in the last presidential election, of our 39 cities and towns, 16 of them voted for Trump. Wonder what’s the over/under on whether that number goes up or down this November?
And now for something a little different One thing you must admit about our beloved capital city, is that when it comes to diversity, creativity, and quirkiness, we can go toe to toe with anyplace in the country. Need proof? This month on March 28, something called the Rhode Island Tattoo and Music Fest will take place at Fete, a colorful and popular club on Dike (or is it Yike!) Street in Olneyville. Thought it appropriate that we give them a shout out since both the festival and our magazine are in the ink business.
Livin’ the one-state political blues Over the last few months, the Boston Globe’s Dan McGowan has been able to round up some of the State’s most well-known and influential community leaders to participate in what have turned out to be delightful, informative, and freewheeling one-hour discussions, which we hope will continue. After tackling education
Governor Gina Raimondo and Michael Bloomberg at Plant City before a press conference announcing her endorsement of the former NYC mayor for president.
