Celebrating our 87th Year!
New Listing! $378,000
New Listing! $610,000
Beautiful, well-maintained 2-family with many updates located between Hope Village and Lippitt Park. Owners’ unit with central air and spacious gourmet kitchen. 2-car garage.
Brick Colonial close to I-195, central air, 3 car garage, beautiful landscaping, high efficiency heating system, quiet neighborhood.
Lise Holst
Betsy Walsh
New Listing! $650,000
College Hill home in pristine condition. Sunny & open interior. Large renovated eat-in kitchen. King size master bedroom w fireplace, walk-in closet, lux master bath and laundry on second. Additional bedroom suite on third floor. Fenced yard.
Chris Healy
New Listing! $775,000
Pending! $450,000
Desirable large “Bentley” Unit. 3 Bed/2 Bath w balcony and 2 car garage parking. Elevated southern exposure gets great sunlight. Elevator, fitness room. Blocks to shops, great restaurants, Whole Foods, Brown. Professionally managed. Pet friendly too.
Chris Healy
New Listing! $ 585,000
Spacious three floor home on Grotto Avenue with marvelous flow. Original kitchen and bathrooms. Lovely formal floral garden with a two car garage.
Architect designed, bauhaus style, 4 bed, 2 1/2 baths, eat in kitchen, hardwoods, central A/C. Sunny yard w/ 3 season porch. Spacious Master suite with built ins and 2 large closets. Well maintained, new electric.
Michael Young
Carl Feldman
Coleman Realtors is affiliated with Leverage Global, the fastest growing network of independent luxury real estate firms in the world. Leverage Global is a valuable tool for marketing with the most robust digital strategy in the industry to promote our properties on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We are proud to be the only Rhode Island based affiliate of this group.
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 april 2016
CHOOSE A BOUTIQUE REAL ESTATE AGENCY WITH BIG RESULTS
NEW PRICE 49 12Th STREET Like new 2br ranch on quiet street in Summit neighborhood, steps from Blackstone Blvd and Lippitt park. new kitchen with stainless appliances, hardwoods, new roof, heating system and central air plus a one car garage. move on in! $309,000 Karen miller
27
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
Business owners and residents are being vocal about the new parking meters
PENDING
This Month 27 | Feeding the meters Residents and business owners react to the City’s metered parking initiative
64 SARGENT AVENUE Located in a sought after neighborhood, this warm and inviting home offers move in condition, living rm w/ fireplace, dining rm, eik, sunroom, 3bds 1.5 baths, finished basement, central air, adorable yard /2 car garage $449,000 Aleen weiss
PENDING 158 8Th STREET Spacious 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial Gambrel in great Summit neighborhood. central fireplace, hardwoods throughout, new gas boiler & kitchen, 1 car garage, 3rd floor expansion possibilities. over sized lot. $399,000 Karen miller
30 | Putting marriage to the test A local couple’s new book explores the 40 essential questions to ask before saying “I do” PENDING
Every Month
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
4 | Editorial/Letters
Community
PENDING 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
Creating a safe space for veterans to explore their experience through poetry 13 | News 17 | In the Know 19 | Neighborhood News
Close to Home Treat your houseguests to the perfect East Side weekend 33 | On the Market 34 | Education 36 | West of Wickenden
On the Town A taste of the South in Providence 39 | Flavor of the Month 40 | On The Menu 43
| Rhody Bites
49
| Calendar
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.
58 | Mark Lambert brings sea shanties to landlubbers
On the Cover:
Parking meters are on the rise. Photography by Tony Pacitti
SOLD 49 COWESETT ROAD, WARWICK colonial: 5 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Hardwood Floors - Updated Kitchen - dining room - Sun room, Gas Heat/Hot water , on tranquil private Grounds off main road, Home needs Updating, includes extra Lot, Buyer responsible For Septic. Sold “As is” $180,000 Gail Jenard
Assisting Buyers, sellers & renters Aleen WeissH Karen MillerH
The East Sider
www.Facebook.com/EastSideMonthly
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
April 2016 East Side Monthly
3
Editorial
EST 1975
East Side MONTHLY
Meter Madness? Perched above I-95 as one enters Providence sits the city’s best known pest, our beloved Big Blue Bug. But with its recent decision to release a swarm over some 700 modern age parking meters around the city, the Elorza administration has created a backlash of frustrated East Side small businesses, motorists and neighborhood residents who see the move as, if not a plague of Biblical proportions, at least one that is both shortsighted and ill-conceived. The City’s argument is that the meter plan is not really about raising more revenue but rather creating more available parking spaces for merchants. The supposed reasoning is that it will free up parking spots for serious shoppers who then can stroll and spend more time in restaurants or additional stores in the area, presumably spending more while there. This
may be somewhat true in the Thayer Street area where parking spaces have always been at a premium and inadequate alternatives for dining establishments and the movie theatre remains an issue. Wayland Square at least does have additional public parking for patrons and most of their service businesses are located further down the street and are, for now, off the administration’s parking meter grid system. The problem is rolling out the meters into more neighborhood-oriented places like Hope Street and Wickenden. There is more of a residential community in both these areas, replete with smaller, non-chain businesses, coffee shops and drop in/drop out kinds of businesses. And what might be next? Elmgrove Avenue? Benefit Street? Wouldn’t it be more preferable to just enforce the existing two and three hour parking rules which might produce a
similar result at a lower cost? But if the plan is to go forward, we suggest a more reasonable alternative would be to designate that the funds raised from neighborhood meters be specifically earmarked to stay in the community rather than be dumped into a general fund never to be seen again. What if we treat our neighborhoods like economic zones, areas where the sales tax dollars get reinvested in the area from where they originated. It would probably create some community buy in. It ultimately would enhance the buying experience through better lighting, safer crosswalks, repaired sidewalks, additional snow clearing and the like. And it certainly would be a lot fairer to our local business owners who are such an important ingredient in making life on the East Side so special.
1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 tel: 305-3391 | fax: 305-3392 Mail@ProvidenceOnline.com www.EastSideMonthly.com • @EastSideMonthly
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
Letters
Shelley Cavoli: Shelley@ProvidenceOnline.com Louann DiMuccio-Darwich: Louann@ProvidenceOnline.com Ann Gallagher: Ann@ProvidenceOnline.com
Remembering Buddy Your article on Buddy Cianci [“The End of an Era,” March 2016] was the best one that has been written. I appreciated the balance. Because of that it was more believable, more on the mark, more mature, more professional than most of the other articles I’ve read. I’m neither a big detractor, nor a big fan. I fall in the middle and that’s the way I like people assessed in their life. Good job on the writing. I walked away thinking: hmm, they kinda got him! Congratulations. One of the many anonymous phone calls to our office To the Editor: Correcting Our History In your column on Brown’s renaming of the October Fall Weekend [“In the Know,” March 2016], you refer to the Brown family as “one of the country’s major slave trading families.” I wonder where you got that information? Not only is this patently untrue – as is your “legend” about the Duke family – but [it] shows that you have done no research. Had you bothered to find out, you would have learned that the College of Rhode Island was renamed in 1804 to honor Nicholas Brown II who was ardently anti-slavery (and Vice President of the Providence Abolition Society
4
East Side Monthly April 2016
founded by his uncle Moses Brown). He not only pioneered the modern notion that universities can be forces for social good, but also funded one of the country’s first insane asylums. Since his time, the Brown family has produced nothing but philanthropists and public servants who continue to engage with the university to this day. No other Ivy League can claim such a legacy; certainly one to be proud of. Sylvia Brown Letter to the Editor Mayor As both a resident and small business owner in the Summit Neighborhood of Providence, who voted for, and actively campaigned for Mayor Elorza, I’m appalled at his cavalier approach to the needs of small business. Independent businesses are vital to the fabric of a city. We are Main Street, the street that gets a lot of lip service and photo ops but not a lot of help. Since installing parking meters in Wayland Square and Thayer Street with disastrous results and steep revenue declines for business, the Elorza administration is responding by invading ever more neighborhoods with his parking meters. Meters are unfriendly and detract from the small town feel that makes retail districts like Summit successful.
The current two hour parking limits are cumbersome enough, but meters will surely drive too many of our customers away. Not everyone has coins on hand and older visitors can’t always figure out modern meters, which is just the incentive to drive them to the mall or nearest big box store to park and shop. I know Providence needs revenue, I also know how high my property tax is and my car tax and my tangible goods tax. I also know that I collect sales tax for the City and that our small businesses make Providence an attractive place to live, hence increasing the City’s property tax yield. Year in and year out, the homeowners and small businesses get squeezed while big developers get tax abatements followed by endless extensions of their tax abatements. Brown continues to buy up property, taking it off the tax rolls and the City accepts paltry voluntary contributions. The City tells us that they’re doing us a favor, that meters improve parking and traffic flow. I say nonsense. Please, please, please, before it’s too late, Mayor Elorza, don’t pollute our beautiful Summit neighborhood with metal monsters. Neither the residents or the business want them. Kim Clark Rhody Craft
Kristine Mangan: Kristine@ProvidenceOnline.com Dan Schwartz: DanS@ProvidenceOnline.com Elizabeth Riel: Liz@ProvidenceOnline.com Kimberly Tingle: Kim@ProvidenceOnline.com Stephanie Oster Wilmarth: Stephanie@ProvidenceOnline.com
Contributing Photographers Mike Braca Michael Cevoli Tony Pacitti
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 Cameron Bryce Kendra Genereux Katlynn Greneir
Mollie Stackhouse Samantha Santos Samantha Westmoreland
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.
N E W P ORT
•
NARRAGANSETT
•
PR O V I D E NC E
EAST SIDE
•
J A M E S TO W N
•
WATC H H I L L
•
BLO C K I S L A N D
EAST SIDE
BLACKSTONE BLVD | WEB ID: 1113566 $1,295,000 | 401.274.1644
COLLEGE HILL | WEB ID: 1111094 $2,450,000 | 401.274.1644
EAST SIDE - COLLEGE HILL
PAWTUCKET - CLOCK TOWER RESIDENCES
EAST SIDE - WAYLAND SQUARE
HISTORIC DETAILS | 6 BEDS | WEB ID: 1114509 $655,000 | 401.274.1644
OAK HILL | LUXURY CONDOS | WEB ID: 1115127 STARTING AT $149,999 | 401.274.1644
4/5 BEDROOMS | OPEN LAYOUT | WEB ID: 1119256 $699,000 | 401.274.1644
EAST SIDE - WAYLAND SQUARE
EAST SIDE - COLLEGE HILL
EAST SIDE - ELMGROVE
2 BED CONDO | 2-CAR GARAGE | WEB ID: 1105470 $689,500 | 401.274.1644
BENEFIT STREET | 4 BEDROOMS | WEB ID: 1109022 $662,500 | 401.274.1644
3-LEVEL TOWNHOUSE | 2 BEDS | WEB ID: 1119202 $332,000 | 401.274.1644
Why see just a few, visit them all at... PROVIDENCE
369 SOUTH MAIN ST
401.274.1644
Explore our diverse group of independent shops, restaurants & more!
On Providence’s East Side hopestreetprov.com
cAMerA Werks
cHeZ PAscAL
d’AMBrA’s service sTATiOn
HOPe sTreeT FArMers MArkeT
766 Hope St., 273-5367
960 Hope St., 421-4422
761 Hope St., 621-2348
Lippitt Park - Hope Street
www.thecamerawerks.com
www.chez-pascal.com
A Hope Street staple for over 60
www.hopestreetmarket.com
Quality picture framing & design,
Also home to the Wurst Kitchen/
years, this full service station pro-
A farmer-run cooperative featuring
laminated plaques, unique greet-
Window, a cozy open kitchen
vides exceptional customer ser-
many of the best farmers and food
ing cards, video to DVD transfer
located in Chez Pascal. House
vice and expert car repair.
artisans in Rhode Island. Running May
service, passport photos.
made
sausages,
sandwiches
21 to Oct 29. Market Hours: Saturdays
and more.
9AM – 1PM and Wednesdays 3 – 6PM.
LuLi BOuTiQue
THe PiZZA gOurMeT
rHOdy crAFT
sPiTZ-Weiss reALTOrs
782 Hope St., 369-4332
357 Hope St., 751-0355
780 Hope St.
785 Hope St., 272-6161
www.luliboutique.com
www.thepizzagourmetri.com
www.rhodycraft.com
www.spitzweiss.com
Big news is happening at LuLi
Celebrating 10 years on Hope! Taste
Rhody Craft carries a carefully
Your friendly neighborhood real
Boutique!
summer
bud tantalizing wood-grilled pizza
curated selection of unique gifts,
estate
styles are in. Cut Loose, Comfy,
delivered to your home, for pick-
many with a Rhode Island spin.
and operated for over 50 years.
Dunia, Sun Kim, Habitat and more!
up or take-and-bake for cooking at
T-shirts, housewares, baby, jew-
Assisting buyers, sellers and renters.
Funky fashions for women.
home. Gourmet artisan sandwich-
elry, bath & body, candles, cards
es, salads, appetizers and more!
and so much more.
TOrTiLLA FLATs
Wings Over PrOvidence
Spring
and
sTOck cuLinAry gOOds 756 Hope St., 521-0101 www.stockpvd.com
Stock
offers
wedding
an
registry
independent unlike
any
other. The best gifts should tell a story and last a lifetime. Come discover our small batch, local and independent registry.
355 Hope St., 751-6777
725 Hope St., 274-9464
www.tortillaflatsri.com
www.wingsoverprovidence.com
Mexican
and
southwestern
comfort cuisine right here on the East Side! Plus absolutely killer margaritas and an extensive list of craft beers on tap. Ándale!
23 different flavors of boneless and regular chicken wings, savory ribs, sandwiches, burgers and wraps. Delivery to all of Providence (until 2am Thursday-Saturday!).
agency.
Family
owned
ZAcks cAMerA rePAir 791 Hope St., 273-7247 www.zackscamerarepair.com Old images moving or still or old sound recordings you can’t play anymore? Zacks can rescue and convert them! Repair Vintage and Late-Model Cameras too! Spring Sale on select items starting April 4.
TRULY EXTRAORDINARY PROPERTIES ARE DIFFERENT AT EVERY LEVEL AND REQUIRE REAL ESTATE SERVICES THAT ARE AS WELL
NOW SERVICING PROVIDENCE AND THE EAST BAY
Judy Chace
Ted Marvell
Liz Andrews
Leza Williamson
Cherry Arnold
Heidi Piccerelli
Stephen Antoni
Paul Kappel
Mary Reineman
Ben Scungio
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
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Each office is independently owned and operated
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SUMMER CAMPS
DANCE
er away!
m the sum
Open classes for children ages 2-13 ALL SUMMER!
Full and half-day camps for children ages 5-12
Go to EastSideMonthly.com for our online camp directory
Learn To Sail! In Providence
SUMMER FUN, In French! Dual-language Day camp es class Open lts TOO! u for ad
Youth Summer Sailing Camp Adult Evening Lessons Too! NEW - Kayaks!
JUNE 20–JUly 15 AgES 4-12
Learn more: 401.454.SAIL (7245) • www.communityboating.com
Learn French language skills through engaging, creative activities. Explore a whole new world without ever leaving Providence! Contact Kate Gorton for more information: kgorton@fasri.org • fasri.org
Hands on Summer Fun for children ages 4-16
An exceptional camp experience for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels, led by Brown University’s varsity coaches, their staff and current Brown athletes.
Baseball • Basketball • Diving • Fencing • Field Hockey Football • Ice Hockey • Lacrosse • Rowing • Soccer Squash • Strength & Conditioning • Swimming • Tennis Volleyball • Water Polo • Wrestling Sponsored by the Brown University Department of Athletics and Brown University Pre-College Programs. Brown University Sports Camps are open to any and all entrants.
art • sports • cooking • drama natural science • forensic science PLUS OFFICIAL RED SOX BASEBALL CAMP
825 Hope St. Providence, RI
401-353-1129 festivalballetprovidence.org
Camp Ramsbottom 160 ACRES OF FUN IN REHOBOTH!
www.providencecountryday.org 660 Waterman Ave. • E. Providence, RI 401.438.5170
www.bgcpawt.org | 401.722.8840
rtists’ e XCHANGe East Side Monthly Summer Camp Guide — 2016 2.125”x 2.875” Color print ad
empowering young minds
GORDON SCHOOL
summer program 2O16 at www.gordonschool.org/camps
Nursery to eighth grade, East Providence, RI 401-434-3833
RISD
YO U N G A RT I STS
2016 International Summer Engineering Academy
CAMPS & CLASSES
FOR KIDS & TEENS AGES 6–17
The 2016 International Summer Engineering Academy at URI’s Kingston campus gives high school students the opportunity to explore engineering in a hands-on, engaging fashion while working with students from other countries. An option to earn college credit is also available. 2016 Sessions
Engineering
Robotics and Programming
June 27-July 22 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
June 27-July 22 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
On-campus housing also available!
C E . R I S D. E D U TO REGISTER AND FIND MORE INFO R M AT I O N
To apply or learn more ......visit.....http://egr.uri.edu/summer/ g rin ! du ons N ti PE va O no re
A welcoming place for all!
Summer J-Camp
June 20 - August 19 2016 For ages 2 - 15
What makes us different?
Lunch and snacks provided daily. Swim lessons for all campers. Weekly field trips & special visitors. Lots of outdoor play. Activities including art, cooking, sports, science, nature, acting, travel and more! Dwares Rhode Island
Sign up today at jewishallianceri.org 401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence RI 02906 | 401.421.4111
jLocationsj Girls Moses Brown School Girls Summer Providence Girls Summer June 27-July 1 Leadership Summer Rocky Hill School Leadership Camp East Greenwich CampLeadership August 1-5
Developing Leaders, Finding a Purpose Developing Leaders, and aMaking a Difference jAgesj Finding Purpose 3rd-5th and and Making a Difference 6th-8th Grade
Camp
Developing Leaders, Finding a Purpose A transformational and Making a Difference camp experience for girls.
jLocationsj Moses Brown School Providence June 27-July 1 Rocky Hill School East Greenwich August 1-5 jAgesj
3rd-5th and 6th-8th Grade
A transfomational camp experience A transformational for girls.
camp experience Registration available at www.girlsleadershipcollaborative.com for girls. East Side Monthly Camp Ad 3_16_Layout 1 3/7/16 10:17 AM Page 1
Registration available at
www.girlsleadershipcollaborative.com
Lincoln School Registration available at
www.girlsleadershipcollaborative.com
P ROV I D E N C E An exceptional camp experience for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels, led by Brown University’s varsity coaches, their staff and current Brown athletes. Baseball • Basketball • Fencing
summer camps ROBOTICS surfing
Field Hockey • Football • Ice Hockey Lacrosse • Rowing • Rugby Soccer • Squash • Tennis Volleyball • Water Polo • Wrestling
Sponsored by the Brown University Department of Athletics and Brown University Pre-College Programs. BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS CAMPS ARE OPEN TO ANY AND ALL ENTRANTS.
LITTLE LYNX SQUASH ACTING
FOUR CAMPS FOR GIRLS—PLUS, OUR COED LITTLE LYNX FOR AGES THREE THROUGH SIX! Learn more and register: www.lincolnschool.org/camps
MB Camps WHERE BEST FRIENDS ARE BORN
! e s u o H n e Op
ROWING & SCULLING CLASSES
Sat., April 2
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Open tO bOys & girls ages 13-19 years Old
No rowing experience necessary
Sign up for an introductory rowing lesson at 9:00, 9:45, 10:30 and 11:15am for these Open HOuse dates April 30 • June 4 • July 23
For more information, including class schedule and rates, call or visit our website:
summer camps at moses brown school Ages 3–17, June 13–August 5 visit
for more info and camp listings
www.mosesbrown.org/camps or call (401) 831-7350 x150
Moses Brown School
Located on the East Side of Providence
250 Lloyd Ave, Providence RI 02906
d #1 Vote mp Ca Day A in Marents nP Bosto aper P
www.RowNBC.org 401.272.1838
“Imagine a Place...” committed to teaching children ages 4 to 15 skills for life through an authentic New England summer camp experience
OPEN HOUSE April 10th 11am-3pm
Less than 30 Minutes from Providence, Transportation included! Find us on Facebook Badge
781-694-5829 • Take a virtual tour at EverwoodDayCamp.com
CMYK / .eps
Watch top local artists create &
Buy before the paint is dry!
! f f o t in
Pa
APRIL 6, 2016 6:00-9:00 pm
Support a Great Cause
Get your tickets now $40 per person in advance. $60 at the Door tickets can be purchased at, www.ProvidenceRotary.org
hosted by: Dryden Gallery at Providence Picture Frame 27 Dryden Lane, Providence, RI 02904 401.421.6196 a special Thank You to our sponsors
Community East Side Stories | neighborhood news & notes
East Side News
Peaceful Homecoming for Caroline Cotter the Providence native returns to play a benefit concert for the Peace Flag Project By Tony Pacitti On April 30, Providence native and globetrotting folk singer-songwriter Caroline Cotter will be returning to her old stomping grounds for a concert at the Lincoln School to benefit the Peace Flag Project. Over the last decade, Cotter has travelled the world with her guitar in hand, living in 28 different countries across five continents. This has given her a greater appreciation for the beauty of various cultures, something that is reflected in her music as much as in her worldview. Cotter has written songs in multiple languages, including French, Portuguese and Sanskrit, but her curiosity towards other cultures began long before she set out on her travels. “Where I grew up in Providence was really diverse,” she says. “It’s been neat to be in places where I know classmates were from, like Southeast Asia or Portugal, the Dominican Republic and Honduras. I wasn’t aware of the significance of how much culture I was getting as a kid. It made me really curious about the world.” That’s a sentiment echoed by Peace Flag Project founder, Ginny Fox. “We have one million people in Rhode Island and it’s amazing where they’re from,” says Fox. “There are
significant numbers of people from all over the world and I think it’s amazing [that] in this little state that we have so much diversity.” Fox founded the Peace Flag Project to promote the ways in which people can spread peace in their community through positivity. Originally inspired by the tradition of Tibetan prayer flags – colorful flags containing messages and prayers for peace – the Peace Flag Project has grown in recent years. It’s signature event, RI PeaceFest, is held annually to celebrate UN International Peace Day, and has expanded into a month long celebration of peace and diversity. “I really think we need to emphasize the positive in our world,” says Fox. “There’s so much positivity that doesn’t get talked about in our media. I think if we did acknowledge that we’d have a different sense of the world.” “The Peace Flag Project has such a simple and beautiful mission,” explains Cotter. “I love the idea of focusing on what you want rather than what you don’t.” Concert for Peace featuring Caroline Cotter. Saturday, April 30. Lincoln School Music Center, 301 Butler Avenue, Providence. 6:30pm. www.ThePeaceFlagProject.org/Caroline-Cotter-Concert
Caroline Cotter returns to Lincoln School to perform on April 30
A Wheeler Tradition Continues marking 68 years of Wheeler’s annual Clothing and more sale By Mollie Stackhouse
Photo by Brendan Bullock
The Famous Wheeler School Clothing and More Sale is turning 68 and everyone is invited to celebrate. The festivities will commence, rain or shine, in the Wheeler Madden Gym on 407 Brook Street on Thursday, April 14 from 10am-8pm and will continue the following Friday from noon-8pm and Saturday from 10am-3pm. Admission is free and with the feel
of a “pop-up” department store, bargain shoppers will find bliss. Dan Miller, Wheeler’s Head of School, maintains, “The Wheeler Clothing Sale is an annual and epic phenomenon. Part flea market, part street fair, part yard sale, entirely joyous, that draws bargain hunters from all over the city, state and region.” The proceeds go to support the
Wheeler School, but the true mission is accomplished in reaching out to the community, continuing this long-standing tradition of inclusivity and goodwill. All the clothing and items remaining after the sale are donated to nonprofits and community groups in the area. The Wheeler School Parents Association, the event’s sponsor, has gotten parents, teachers, students, staff and
alumni involved, spending thousands of volunteer hours carefully sorting and organizing. Madden Gym will be filled to the brim with shoppers and patrons. But have no fear, with the wide selection of quality gently worn, slightly used, even new items there are endless opportunities to get great items at great prices. www.WheelerSchool.org/ClothingSale
April 2016 East Side Monthly
13
A DIFFERENT DEAL EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK 50% OFF APPETIZERS MONDAY-THURSDAY 4-7PM FRIDAYS 4PM-CLOSE CATHEDRAL BAR & LOUNGE, SKYLINE BAR
50% OFF APPETIZERS $20 SANGRIA PITCHES
4PM-CLOSE, ENTIRE RESTAURANT
Bridal/Baby Showers starting at $26* Dinner Packages starting $40* STEAK & CAKE
*PRICES ARE PER PERSON, EXCLUDING TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES.
Contact Cara Gale cgale@chapelgrilleri.com 401.944.9900 x 2 ChapelGrilleRI.com
3000 Chapel View Blvd. | Cranston, RI | 401.944.4900
WE’VE
BEEN HERE
f
173 WICKENDEN PVD 401 421-5157 www.adlersri.com
AND IT’S OUR
SPRING SALE MONTH.
APRIL 1 - 30
SINCE 1919
In that year, Woodrow Wilson was President and the 19th Ammendment was passed, giving Women the right to vote.
That’s a long time.
Design Center & Hardware 14
East Side Monthly April 2016
LARGE & UNUSUAL
PREMIUM
WINDOW
SELECTION OF
INTERIOR &
& WALL
DECORATIVE
EXTERIOR
TREATMENTS
HARDWARE
PAINTS
& FABRICS
LOWEST PRICES OF THE SEASON
Community East Side News
continued...
Spreading a Love of Learning inspiringminds have 1,000 tutors in city schools By Carol Young In the ‘60s when Margaret Gardner was a Brown University student, she tutored a young girl to help her get ready for the opening of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. In the ‘80s, her own children were students at King. Now a grandmother, she’s back at the East Side school as a reading tutor. Gardner says she was looking to volunteer for an organization that made a difference in the lives of children. When a friend mentioned Inspiring Minds, a nonprofit that has been providing volunteer tutors for Providence students since 1963, “it all just came together.” The oldest education nonprofit in the state, Inspiring Minds was founded on the East Side as Lippitt Hill Tutorial. When the organization expanded its reach to other Providence schools, it became known as Volunteers in Providence Schools (VIPS). A few years ago, its name was changed to Inspiring Minds. The students are far more diverse now than they were during her earlier experiences with King, says Gardner. “I can see the change and it’s fascinating to me,“ she says. “They are all just wonderful children. We can help them; there’s a role to play.” Her role during her weekly visits is to help three first graders who are struggling to learn how to read – a fitting task for the former college librarian. They are “wonderful, sincere and lively,” she says.
On the other side of the city, volunteer Laura Graham, who spent 30 years in accounting and finance, is tutoring children who are struggling with math. She makes weekly trips to Roger Williams Middle School where she has discovered an answer to an age-old question that puzzled her: Why do kids hate math? Students don’t like something they can’t do, she says. “When they get it, they like it.” Graham, who moved to the East Side about 18 months ago to join her husband Lindsay, Vice President for Academic Finance and Administration at Brown, offers an anecdote to make her point. Assigned to work with a sixth grader, Graham asked him what he’d like to learn. He told her he couldn’t divide. “When he learned how to do it, he was so excited,” she says. He looked at her and asked, “Who invented math, anyway?” Successes like that “make me want to do more,” she says. She is doing more. In addition to weekly sessions at Roger Williams, Graham is also tutoring high school students at the after-school Tech Center Inspiring Minds runs at its headquarters on Westminster Street. Volunteer recruitment is a yeararound activity for Inspiring Minds, which screens, trains and coordinates the volunteers. There are 1,000 tutors in the city’s schools this year. The goal is to
Experience. Integrity. Results.
recruit at least 50 more to finish out the current school year. “I recommend volunteering to anyone who wants to see humanity at its best,” says Mary Frappier, another East Sider who has tutored in teacher Linda Lefedzre’s kindergarten classroom at Young-Woods Elementary for the last five years. “I hope she’ll stay forever,” says Lefedzre. “The children love her.” “Every volunteer tutor we provide is making a huge difference in the life of a child,” says Terri Adelman, executive director of the nonprofit for nearly 25 years. “What could be better than doing that?” 274-3240, www.InspiringMindsRI.com
Call Gerri Schiffman (401) 474-3733 Tutor Laura Graham works with Roger Williams Middle Schooler Jose Sanchez
Paintings Come to Life
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Providence Rotary Club hosts local artists in annual live paint-off
Photo by Irene Bates
By Tony Pacitti Watching paint dry is usually ill advised. It’s boring, rivaling only the tedious process of waiting for grass to grow in terms of regrettable ways to spend your free time. That is, of course, unless you’re watching local artists create new and exciting pieces of art. On April 6, the Providence Rotary Club will host its annual Paint-Off Wednesday at the Dryden Gallery, where eight local painters will roll
up their sleeves and paint new pieces before attendees’ very eyes. The theme of the night is “Buy before the paint is dry,” and each work will be auctioned off that very evening. Think of the bragging rights. It isn’t often that you get to to tell your jealous friends that you got to see the creation of the piece they’re admiring on your wall. The evening’s artists will be Harley Bartlett, Mark Freedman, Kate
Huntington, Shawn Kenney, John Riedel, Ida Schmulowitz, Anthony Tomaselli and David Witbeck. Refreshments will be provided by Nikki’s Liquors and Julians, while Wheeler School musicians will be performing live jazz throughout the evening. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation. Wednesday, April 6. 6-9pm. 27 Dryden Lane, Providence. www.ProvidenceRotary.com
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April 2016 East Side Monthly
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Community East Side News
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A Safe Place for Heroes Frequency Writers creates an opportunity for veterans to explore their experiences By Samantha Westmoreland When asked to read and write
Please join us
S tr e ngthening
Our R o o ts
A FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT
poetry, one word comes to mind: daunting. However, Frequency Writers, a community of Rhode Island writers founded in May 2011, redefines that stereotype by encouraging individuals of all levels of experience to participate in their classes. Sarah Tourjee, co-director and instructor at Frequency, admits that “Writing can be inaccessible,” but it is their mission to “break down those barriers [and] create supportive environments for people [to write].” Thus, as a response to the “lack of creative writing spaces for veterans in Rhode Island,” Frequency Writers is introducing A Poetry Workshop for Veterans of War, led by Tina Cane starting on April 6. Cane was inspired to create this class by her experience “recently reading a lot of writing by veterans,”
Tourjee says. This free, ten-week workshop was created to “provide a safe and welcoming place for veterans to write poetry.” “We’re not social workers,” Tourjee lightheartedly jokes regarding the goals of the workshop, adding, “We want to support people in whatever way we can.” Tourjee explains that there is no specific agenda for the class yet, as Cane plans to “take the lead from the participants.” Along with the weekly, two-hour workshops that will be held at School One, the class will attend a public reading by writer and Iraq War veteran Brian Turner at Moses Brown School. Frequency Writers is also offering participants an opportunity to read the poetry they will be working on throughout the course of the class at a public forum in late May.
Frequency Writers offers “four workshops three seasons of the year,” but Tourjee is particularly looking forward to the Poetry Workshop for Veterans. “These people are coming from a similar place, have a certain amount of language that they share,” she says, “It’s really meaningful.” Many veterans have already signed up for the workshop, and Frequency Writers is currently reaching out through organizations that serve veterans in Rhode Island to spread the word. As this is the first poetry workshop exclusively for veterans of war offered at Frequency, Tourjee thoughtfully discloses, “We’re learning as we go. It’s been very exciting.” April 6June 15. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm. School One, 220 University Avenue. www.FrequencyWriters.org
Greener Garbage thayer Street rolls out innovative waste collection
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16
East Side Monthly April 2016
While there has been no shortage of discussion about the arrival of nefarious machines on the East Side (see out cover story on page 27 for more about the City’s parking meter roll out), not all of the new automatons have been received with contempt. Over on Thayer Street, the sidewalks are now home to a small army of Bigbelly Smart Waste and Recycling System receptacles, which have replaced all of the street’s traditional garbage cans. Each of these units comes equipped with sensors to gather and analyze data, letting waste collectors know when they are nearing or at capacity.
This has made waste collection more efficient, with an improvement rating of 90% in the first three months of use alone. Now, instead of sending crews out daily to empty trashcans, Thayer Street District Management Authority finds they only have to send crews out once per week. “The Bigbelly smart waste and recycling system enables the Thayer Street community to enjoy cleaner streets and sidewalks,” TSDMA Chairman Dean Martineau said in a press release. Like Hope Street’s plan for solar powered street lighting, this marks another step towards a greener East Side.
Thayer’s new Bigbelly receptacles have improved waste efficiency by 90%
Photo courtesy of Thayer Street District Management Authority
By Tony Pacitti
Community In the Know
Selling in 2016? Interview me!
by Barry Fain
Some of Classical’s Classiest
He’s One Helluva a Guy
The Classical High School Alumni Association started a wonderful tradition ten years ago that continues to pick up both steam and an impressive local following. Every year the group solicits nominations and then selects a select few to honor with their Distinguished Alumni Award. Past recipients have included US Ambassadors, Emmy and Academy Award winners, college presidents, internationally known academicians and scientists, corporate business leaders, local home town heroes, you get the picture. This year’s event will be held at the Marriott on Monday, April 25. Honorees will include, in addition to a major mission control scientist (Louis D’Amario ‘64) and one of the country’s best-known Asian experts (Evan Medeiros ‘89), four well-known locals. Andrew Blazar, a clinical professor emeritus at Brown and his wife Beverly Resnik Blazar, an emeritus professor of biological sciences at Wellsley are both longtime East Side residents and graduates of the class of ‘51. Barbara Greenberg Sokoloff ‘60, a community leader, city planner and development consultant, will be the third local inductee. In addition, Guy Pirolli ‘73 will be honored for his role as a co-incorporator and first president of the Alumni Association. It’s always a fun event as current students, faculty, alums and friends of Classical come together to honor a school that continues to be one of the city and state’s best academic success stories. Contact www.ClassicalAlumni.org for ticket info or call 383-6471. Go Purple!
If you’re into classic blues guitarists, circle Sunday, April 17. One of the few “todie-for” musical legends will be making an appearance in Providence. Buddy Guy has already been inducted into the national Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with receiving six Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement award last year. What can possibly be left for the legendary guitar picker? We’re just glad one of the items on his bucket list includes performing live at Lupo’s. Hurry and grab your tix while there are still some to grab.
Pulling Power of Prints from Pawtucket We know it’s not Providence, but there’s a great art show with a lot of East Side participants just across the border in Pawtucket that’s worth a look-see. The show features prints from artists who have been affiliated with Studio Goddard-Partridge over the past 17 years. Lisa Goddard and Regina Partridge both have deep East Side roots, which explains why the 11 presenting artists are all well known within the Providence art scene. The show itself will be at Gallery 175, which is located across from the Slater Mill complex in downtown Pawtucket. As an interesting footnote, within the gift shop in the complex is a display of nicely priced women clothing. And if they look familiar, it’s because they are offered by the woman who was the former buyer for Gabrielle’s formerly at Wayland Square. Six degrees of separation? In Rhode Island, it shrinks to two.
Thump, Thump, Here Comes Trump By now the country has endured Super Tuesday and Super Tuesday 2. On April 26, Rhode Island gets to add our own modest imprint on what has been the wildest (and dare we suggest scariest) presidential primary season in recent memory. We got a taste of what we might expect last month when Bernie Sanders commercials began running on local television but that was because of the TV overlap in trying to reach Massachusetts voters during their primary. Now it’s our turn. With our heavy student population, the Hillary-Bernie race should be an interesting one, though the Clintons have always been shown a lot of love here. As for the Republicans? There aren’t many of them but it’s likely the Donald will attract significant votes by capitalizing on the worker frustration over depressed wages. Almost as interesting perhaps will be to check out the way political leadership of both parties chooses sides. We urge all our readers to register to vote in whichever primary they choose (and then opting to unregister after voting if they wish) so as to make their voices heard.
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East Side Monthly April 2016
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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.
Summit neighborhood Association
Photo Courtesy of Blacksone Parks Conservancy
Annual Meeting to Feature Mayor Elorza The Summit Neighborhood Association annual meeting will have Mayor Elorza as the main speaker who will discuss the state of the city and his vision for it. The event will begin at 6:30pm with a social period and continue with the business session at 7pm Wednesday, April 27, at The Highland on the East Side, 101 Highland Avenue. There will be food (probably pizza) and drink (beer, wine and soda.) In addition to the conversations with neighbors and the mayor, SNA members will vote on a new board of directors. Care for Serious Illness to be Discussed Specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses will be the subject of the first in a series of presentations sponsored by SNA. “Graceful to the Finish – Hospice and Palliative Care” will be discussed by Dr. Edward D. Martin, the chief medical officer of Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island as well as program director of the Brown University Hospice and Palliative Medical Fellowship. Dr. Marin has served on the regulatory committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and is a clinical associate professor at Brown’s Alpert School of Medicine where he has been teaching about end-of-life care for 20 years. The public is invited to join Dr. Martin at 7pm Wednesday, April 13, in the main dining room of Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Avenue. Some light refreshments will be available. New Sign Alerts Drivers to Pedestrians A warning sign has been erected on North Main Street to caution drivers turning south from Rochambeau Avenue about pedestrians in the crosswalk. SNA board of directors member Erik Christiansen worked with Francisco J. Lovera, chief civil engineer at RIDOT, and Representative Aaron Regunberg to get the signage as part of a continuing project to improve safety along the entirety
of North Main Street. Other discussions focus on the traffic signals at the intersection of Smithfield Avenue. 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 Avenue. 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.” Contact us at Summit Neighborhood Association, PO Box 41092, Providence RI 02940. 4897078, www.SNA.Providence.RI.us, SNA@ SNA.Providence.RI.us. –Kerry Kohring
Blackstone Parks Conservancy Finally, a Winter Duck Walk Cloudless skies provided the backdrop for the Blackstone Parks Conservancy’s (BPC) first winter duck walk on a spring-like Sunday late in February that almost compensated for the disappointment of having lost out to river ice last year. Fifty seven people of all ages turned out to watch birds and learn about them from Dan Berard, a skilled birding and natural history tour guide from Millbury, Massachusetts. Two uncommon birds, the Barrow’s Goldeneye and the Black Vulture, especially delighted knowledgeable birders among the group. And a Belted Kingfisher in York Pond was “pretty cool” in Berard’s eyes. There were many others. Everyone thrilled to the sight of a pair of Bald Eagles perched on a pole across the river. Berard, who often visits Providence, says that Blackstone park offers a lot of good green space that draws birds. The oaks attract many squirrels, which provide a food source for raptors. One can see nests of Eastern Screech Owls and Red-Tailed Hawks, among others, near the Seekonk River. Berard thinks climate change has had an enormous impact on the numbers and species of birds appearing and disappearing in the Park in the last couple of decades, but it is difficult to be specific about what factor caused which movement. For instance, he says more vultures are showing up in some places because of more cars on highways producing more roadkill. Also, some may come here to replace lost habitat, while others – the Carolina Wren, for example – may be expanding their range.
Birding tour leader Dan Berard mans the spotting scope while a few followers look through their binoculars. Elena Riverstone on the right helped organize the outing.
Parents who brought children to the tour to see winter ducks were pleased by the patient attention given to their children. And at the end of the hourand-a-half walk north along the river – it went slowly, says Berard, because there was so much good discussion – many returned to the Narragansett Boat House to drink coffee and cocoa on the upper deck. Some adults took advantage of Berard’s telescope, while a number of children sprawled on the deck with coloring books provided by the Conservancy’s Education Committee, which organized the walk. The outing’s success inspires the Conservancy to organize more bird walks. Individual birders frequently visit the Blackstone Park Conservation District, but there is no readily available information about avian visitors in the Park. To meet this need, the BPC is beginning to plan how to muster resources pertaining to birds that anyone can readily see. If you are interested in a possible indoor talk on birds, or in learning more about the walk or the Ocean State Bird Club, or in reviewing a list of the ducks and other birds seen on the duck walk, please check the BPC website (see below). Kindly send your Eastside Marketplace receipts to the P.O. Box address below.
270-3014, www.BlackstoneParksConservancy.org, JaneAnnPeterson@gmail. com. –Jane Peterson
Events Earth Day celebration – April 23 cleanup of River Road waterfront, between 10am-noon at Angell Street Please check website for information on BPC activities. Blackstone Parks Conservancy, P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906.
Monthly Neighborhood Discussion Wednesday March 30 and Monday April 25, from 7-8:45pm, Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street at Elmgrove Avenue, next to CVS. Free and open to all. Due to a conflict with the Summit Neighborhood Association’s meeting on Wednesday, April 27, our April meeting
Waterman Street Dog Park Lend a Helping Paw
As the Waterman Street Dog Park approaches opening day, there are two upcoming community workdays. On April 23, volunteers will meet to help lay down paths, and on April 29, park enthusiasts will gather to plant trees. The Dog Park Association is very grateful for the outpouring of volunteers from our neighborhood. Without so much community support, the park could have never gotten this far. With bids going out for the water features, finishing touches on the park are coming together, and it is nearing completion. Soon, the East Side will have a new park. Dog Park Association meetings are always open, and the next one will be April 12 at 7pm at Books on the Square. Waterman Street Dog Park Association, 19 Luzon Ave., Providence, RI 02906. WatermanStDogPark@gmail. com, www.WatermanStDogPark.org. –Sam Bell
Wayland Square
April 2016 East Side Monthly
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Community Neighborhood News continued...
is set for Monday April 25, the evening before Rhode Island’s presidential primary elections. Similarly, several other events on March 23 pushed back our own March meeting that night by a week to Wednesday, March 30. However, we normally try to meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month from January to October. Water Mains Overhaul Providence Water has been active on our part of the East Side (as they had previously been in Fox Point and northern Hope Street) replacing and re-lining water pipes that are sometimes over a century old. This involves much excavation and repaving of the road surface. As a particular block’s mains are being worked on, water service will be provided by a temporary bypass system that runs along the surface behind the sidewalk or in the curb line. Each building will be fed individually from the temporary bypass main to the building’s outside faucet. After the mains are relined and after lab approval, the buildings will be disconnected from bypass and placed back on to the rehabilitated main. On Wednesday, March 2, the utility held a big meeting at Nathan Bishop School to explain their project in more detail to the neighbors who will likely be affected over the next year. There was too much new information for me to absorb and recall fully, let alone take notes or summarize easily here, although I have given a more general outline in previous columns. Providence Water and its contractors will give advance notice of their plans for a particular street and block. They will also notify residents 72 hours in advance of any brief interruptions (usually a 15 minutes or so in the morning) or work that requires access to a particular property. Providence Water will also notify the residents of a particular block 24 hours prior to a shutdown (required for tie-ins). More information at their website, www.ProvWater.com or by telephone at 521-6300. Lead Piping The most complicated issue facing residents and property-owners will be the remaining lead pipes on the owner’s side (from shutoff valve in sidewalk or grassed area to the meter), generally found in homes that were built before the late 1930s. Providence Water will replace the lead piping in its mains and in the
individual service lines up to the property line. But replacing or relining lead service pipes on a particular property are generally the owner’s responsibility. To check whether a home built before 1940 is connected to outside lead service lines and thus likely to have lead pipes in its own system, call Providence Water at 5216300 or 877-797-2267. The utility has $10 kits available at its offices on 552 Academy Avenue to test the current levels of lead in your water. They can also arrange for an estimate of the cost for a property owner to replace lead piping (current average is about $2,500 or less). Providence Water also has advice and tips on how to minimize lead in the water that will be temporarily released in the process of replacing old lead service lines, and if a property owner chooses not to replace his or her own lead pipes. (For example, running the cold water tap till you notice a change from tepid to cold.) Call 877-797-2267 or visit the website at www.ProvWater.com. 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 e-mail, including select notices of neighborhood meetings, civic affairs and cultural events. Groups.Yahoo.com/ Group/WaylandSquare –David Kolsky
Fox Point neighborhood Association Events this Month FPNA Board Meeting, 7pm, Monday, April 11 at the Vartan Gregorian Bath House Community Room, 455 Wickenden Street. Earth Day Clean Ups, 9am to noon, Saturday, April 23 at Gano Park and the River Walk, south of Point Street Bridge. FPNA, WAMA Meet With Mayor The Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) and the Wickenden Area Merchants Association (WAMA) met with Mayor Jorge Elorza and his parking administrator in March to oppose the installation of parking meters in the shopping district. (The FPNA meeting with the Mayor was March 14, which was after publication deadline.) The meeting between WAMA, Elorza
and administrator Leo Perrotta on March 1 broke the organization’s attendance records, but seemed to have little effect on Mayor Elorza’s position, according to WAMA President Vincent Scorziello. “We got his attention, but instead of addressing our numerous questions and concerns about the parking meters, he launched into a 15-20 minute recap of his State of the City address,” he explained. Scorziello started an online petition at Change.org – http://tinyurl.com/ hlcpn92 – on Wednesday, March 2, which in less than one week garnered over 700 e-mail signatures from persons who oppose the Mayor’s parking meter plan. “We met our initial goal of 500 and then set a new one of securing 1,000 names,” he emphasizes. Perrotta claimed the City’s proposal to install meters was not just a desperate attempt to generate revenue, but instead was a way to help solve a parking problem on the street, Scorziello relates. “We, collectively, pointed out that they were trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist on the Wickenden,” he adds. “Our first-hand experience as business owners is not that there are too many cars, but not enough cars on the street.” While the many opinions and arguments didn’t seem to sway the Mayor, WAMA did make some progress with the parking administrator, Scorziello says. “By the middle of the meeting after lots of venting, we did get Perotta to admit that perhaps meters on Wickenden could go from a ‘yes it’s happening’ to ‘maybe it’s happening.’ FPNA Vice President Daisy Schnepel says the meters will drive shoppers further into the side streets in historic districts like hers, making parking impossible for residents and their guests. The meters also will “ruin the historic look and feel of Wickenden Street,” she concludes. Providence River Walk Cleanup The southernmost extension of the Providence River Walk is getting FPNA’s attention for the first time through the Providence Parks Department’s Earth Day Clean Up, set for Saturday, April 23 from 9am to noon. Committee Chairs Alissa Peterson and John Rousseau are both seeking volunteers, including event-day coordinators. “We will be clearing an area of vegetation and pathways between the tugboats and the Hurricane Barrier along the shoreline, south of the Point Street Bridge,” Peterson says. “The waterways around Providence serve a
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East Side Monthly April 2016
Community Neighborhood News continued...
vital role in the community as places of reflection and gathering,” she adds. Specifically, the Providence River Walk links the Jewelry District and Downcity to Fox Point and India Point Park, Peterson emphasizes. “The large populace who frequent this connector includes runners seeking fresh air, fishermen under the Hurricane Barrier and families out for walk.” “The section of the park near the Hurricane Barrier now hosts trash and weeds,” she points out. “Our cleanup will remove the trash, cut back the weeds and plant perennials.” If you are interested in coordinating and/or volunteering on the River Walk clean up, contact Peterson directly at Alissa.J.Peterson@gmail.com. Fox Point Greenway Readies for Bike Way Gano Park’s shoreline has been a site of Earth Day cleanups for over five years. During this time FPNA with the assistance of the Providence Department of Parks, has restored and maintained a view of the Seekonk River. FPNA’s goal is to restore the view completely from the Crook Point Bridge to the boat launch, an area that the Providence Department of Planning & Development has named as the Fox Point Greenway, Gano Park Committee Chair John Rousseau says. “This year, we hope to make the entire shoreline suitable for grass-cutting in the summer by cleaning it up and performing some slight grading of the berms along the shoreline.” In the past, the Parks Department has assisted FPNA’s efforts by providing bulldozers to remove vegetation along the shoreline, Roussseau says. “We also are seeking dirt to grade the berm and seeds to plant along the river from the service road to the existing dog park.” This year’s effort is extremely important in view of the impending installation of the Blackstone Bike Way along Gano Park’s shoreline, which the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and Development (RIDOT) has scheduled in 2016. As in past years, FPNA plans to purchase picnic tables with funds from the Partnership of Parks grant. “We hope to replace two of the five tables we lost during the construction of the NBC overflow,” Rousseau says. Please, volunteer for the Greenway clean up by contacting us. Fox Point Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 603177, Providence, RI 02906. 270-7121, www.FPNA.net, FPNA@Cox. net. –John Rousseau
College Hill neighborhood Association CHNA Meets with the Mayor At our March Board of Directors meeting, Mayor Jorge Elorza sat down with the board for over an hour to discuss his sense of the current state of the City. He focused on some of the improvements he feels have been made in four general areas: economic development, education, technology innovation and financial. He then discussed some specific questions from both the Board and those in attendance. In terms of crime he reported that while violent crime statistics are moving in the right direction, property crime numbers are higher. He specifically noted the upcoming plans for a new police academy class and the improving awareness of crime by our residents. He was joined by Captain George Stamatakos who reported how coordination between the City and Brown University police departments has improved with the addition of retired Providence officers to the Brown staff. Ani Haroian from the mayor’s office offered some help in implementing a neighborhood watch program if there is interest. The mayor acknowledged that email communication with city residents remains below his expectations but that he anticipates significant improvement by June. He points to his creation of a new City Technology officer and a department that is now up to four that he feels will change the flow of information from a department based system to one that will be redone on the basis of user perspectives. In response to a question about his recent decision to not enforce antipanhandling statutes in the city, he reiterated that “aggressive” panhandling will still be dealt with and encourages residents to report such incidents to the police. A suggestion was made from one board member to consider a more predictable approach to street and sidewalk repairs by putting a bond issue on the November ballot to deal with it more comprehensively. The mayor said he would look into it. In
terms of the City’s current financial situation, he argues he is trying to deal with our problems on a systematic basis rather than responding to one time fixes. The lack of a real capital budget is one problem and the need to insure National Grid returns our streets to acceptable levels after they do repairs as is mandated by contract is another. He reported that the citywide revaluation process is beginning and anticipates a 10% property revaluation. Since RI cities and towns are limited to a 4% maximum property tax increase annually, he admits “everything is on the table” including the current homeowner deduction. In response to a question about what happens if the City loses the ongoing lawsuit brought by the union in response to the current reorganization of the fire department, he promises there is a Plan B that would be part of the upcoming 2017 contract renegotiations. In short it was an informative update as to where we are in these challenging times for the City. News From Thayer Street It’s that time again for the return of the parklet in front of the Brown Bookstore in mid-April. Along with blooming parklet flowers, we also welcome a new business to the street, “The Barber Shop,” with its entrance on Waterman, second floor next to Allegra Printing. The shop offers an unique haircutting experience for men with a pool table and big screen TV’s as part of the experience. Also this month, Thayer Street Merchants will be supporting the Famous Wheeler Clothing & More Sale April 14-16 by providing special discounts especially for Wheeler Sale attendees. Please Come and Join Us in Our Efforts CHNA represents all the residents of College Hill and depends on your membership and input to help us with our efforts to protect the quality of life that makes living in our community so special. Please help us by becoming a member of the Association for 2016 if you have not already done so. It’s inexpensive and puts you on our mailing list for general updates, plus info on community activities and social events. For specifics about joining, please contact us through our website or through snail mail. College Hill Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906. 6335230, www.CollegeHillNA.com, CHNA@ CollegeHillNA.com. –Barry Fain
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new meters put a strain on businesses, residents and shoppers By Samantha Westmoreland • Photography by Tony Pacitti
W
hat are big, bulky
and a bother to everyone? Parking meters. Despite citizens’ initial complaints about the lack of signage for the new parking policies in Providence neighborhoods, these meters are hard to miss. As anyone would expect, with new regulations come new grumbles as East Side merchants, employees and residents have their concerns. As Susan Mardo, President of the Thayer Street Merchant Association, puts it: “We’re a neighborhood, we’re not downtown Providence.”
it started on thayer With the array of restaurants, stores, homes and other attractions on and surrounding Thayer, it’s normally difficult to park. Since the installation of the new pay-to-park multi-space meters, though, Richard Dulgarian, co-owner of the Avon Cinema, says, “I have never seen so many vacant parking spaces on Thayer Street.” Mardo explains that, “we were the first ones to get the parking meters [and were] told everyone else would follow suit.” Thus far, meters have been introduced to Thayer Street, Meeting Street, Euclid Avenue, Waterman Street, Angell Street and Wayland Square, and the merchant reactions have been primarily negative. The Avon Cinema has been around since February of 1938, and Dulgarian has co-owned the iconic theater since the ‘70s. He has personally witnessed residents’ frustration towards the meters while at the cinema, recalling a night when a husband rushed his wife and children out of the theater in order to avoid putting more money in the meter. “How can you enjoy a movie with an eye on your watch to make sure the meter doesn’t run out?” Dulgarian says venting. With the elimination of two hours of free parking along Thayer Street, and the cost of $1.25 per hour (minimum $2.50 fee when paying with a credit card), both merchants and customers are suffering. Moreover, paid parking will be extended to 9pm instead of 6pm. “It’s almost obvious that it would negatively affect not just my business but all businesses on Thayer,” Dulgarian responds when asked how the Avon is doing now compared to business pre-parking
meters. “That’s a lot of money for a movie ticket.” Dulgarian worries that the pay-to-park meters are deterring Rhode Islanders from visiting Thayer Street. He doesn’t doubt that consumers will decide, “I don’t have to dine on Thayer Street. I can dine in Warwick without a two or three hour paid limit.” Mardo says that Providence and Newport are the only cities in Rhode Island currently with pay-to-park meters. She explains that, “We are in direct competition with Cranston, Smithfield, Bristol… and they all have free parking. Why would [people] come to the city when they can stay in their own neighborhoods?” In fact, even Dennis Hackett, a postal carrier on the East Side of Providence for the past 11 years, notes a distinct change in the number of patrons frequenting Thayer. Before the meters, Hackett had a very difficult time finding parking for his postal van. Now he has no problem finding a free space. In a letter detailing his experience, he says, “It seems obvious to me that the pay-to-park meters are keeping large numbers of shoppers… away from Thayer Street.” He has even noticed an evident decrease in the number of parcel deliveries to customers on Thayer. Now Dulgarian can’t help but wonder, “If people already changed their patterns, how do we coax them back?” Dulgarian sympathizes with Providence’s efforts to recover following the financial crisis, “I understand that the City has money problems, but I don’t think destroying one of the most successful streets in Providence is how to solve it.”
Wayland square Worries Carol Hasslinger, manager of J.McLaughlin and Wayland Square Business Association treasurer and vice president, has been tracking the progression of parking meters on the East Side since the very beginning. “I noticed that they had drilled six holes in the ground out in front of my store and [knew] that there had been a rumor about parking meters,” Hasslinger says, wondering at the time what they were for. Two meetings were set and subsequently cancelled by City representatives to talk about this change on Wayland, and multi-space parking meters were then
installed before merchants had the chance to formally discuss their implementation. Initially, only one sign was put up “way down at the end of the block and people would get tickets like crazy.” Customers were not pleased, claiming they “never had trouble finding parking here,” and so the reasoning for the installation of parking meters caused confusion, Hasslinger reports. “It takes away from the shopping experience. It’s not necessary.” A compromise was reached, and the city replaced multi-space meters on Wayland with individual meters, which also accept credit cards. However, surrounding streets like Angell still have multi-space meters, creating inconsistency and increasing confusion. “We have a lot of older customers and we didn’t have a problem until now.” A plus to living in Providence is not having to deal with the daily hassle of paying for parking, and Hasslinger worries meters will diminish that: “That’s the nice part of living in a city the size of Providence – it’s easy.”
the City speaks Emily Crowell, deputy director of communications at the office of Mayor Elorza, states that the City has evaluated multiple studies and concluded that payto-park meters are beneficial to businesses and restaurants. These meters “promote turnover and make parking easier,” Crowell says. One study published by the Sightline Institute entitled, “Are Parking Meters Boosting Business?” stood out in particular. In 2011, the city of Seattle adjusted meter rates and extended paid parking hours from 6 to 8pm. As a result, “gross receipts for downtown restaurants climbed by 5.4%.” Evidently, the study explains, “by increasing turnover in on-street parking and ensuring that spaces are available for customers, well-calibrated parking policies really can increase patronage.” “Very similar parking practices are used throughout the country, especially in New England,” says Crowell. These areas include Salem, Newport, DC, Fresno, Boston, Evanston, Cincinnati, Minneapolis and Chicago. According to Crowell, the City spent considerable time carefully researching the “best practices to generate
April 2016 East Side Monthly
27
Thinking of Selling This Spring? Planning Works. Our Team Works. We Love What We Do! “How can you enjoy a movie with your eye on your watch?” - Richard Dulgarian, co-owner of Avon Cinema
David Hasslinger
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revenue in other cities like Providence,” and the pay-to-park meters proved to be positive for all parties. Leo Perrotta, parking administrator for the city of Providence, comments, “The city has a reputation for people having a difficult time finding parking. Part of the reason is that parking is free, and [the other part] is people have a tendency of wanting to [park] as close to the front door as possible.” He reasons that individuals living in Providence are less apt to frequent an establishment if parking turnover isn’t encouraged, and thus businesses lose customers. “It’s that lost opportunity that is critical to the success of this decision.” When asked whether merchants and residents were consulted about the new meters, Crowell states that, “community representatives generated discussion with the community before the meters were installed.” Regarding the continued installation of meters in other areas of the East Side, she says “strategic planning is still taking place… there is not a final number of meters [and] no planned date for the meters installation. The City is still waiting on feedback from the community.” Perrotta confirms, though, that “700 parking spaces” will be made available by the installation of multispace meters throughout Providence.
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East Side Monthly April 2016
Jagdish Sachdev, owner of SpectrumIndia on Thayer for nearly 50 years, is especially vocal about his distaste for the street’s newest inhabitants. For a store whose average sale ranges from a mere $5-$25, and visits inside require no more time than 5-25 minutes, the new parking fees feel like an additional 10-15% tax. “Consumers can’t afford to pay that,” Sachdev says. In a letter he wrote to Mardo explaining how merchant sales have declined since the installation of the meters, Sachdev writes, “It became obvious and apparent when we asked the attendees by a ‘show of hands’ at our last Thayer Street Merchants Meeting, all of the 30 or so attendees confirmed that each one of them had been losing business… as against the comparable period the year before.” Mardo con-
firms this during our conversation. “What we are asking now, and I think most merchants would agree, is that we would like to have two hours of free parking on the street,” Sachdev says. In fact, he insists that paid parking should not be extended until 9pm and Saturday parking should be free. Sachdev talks about London’s experimentation with similar parking meters, as his brother owns a business there. “In three or four shopping areas the city did the same thing that Providence has done and several businesses had to close doors.” Upon hearing merchant complaints and concerns, the city “made two hours of free parking, and now business is starting to come back up.”
Fox point Fights BaCk Vincent Scorziello and Andrea Sloan have owned Campus Fine Wines on Brook Street for the past four years, and are frustrated with the plans for the installation of new pay-to-park meters in their neighborhood. With such narrow streets around Wickenden, and an overflow of community members due to the surrounding Boys and Girls Club and Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, parking is already difficult. In fact, due to the snow storms last year, Scorziello had to shovel out parking spaces for customers himself, as “there was nowhere to go for two months.” “Wickenden is struggling mightily… some businesses have gone belly up,” Sloan discloses. “Too many things have caused massive instability. The City just keeps throwing this crap at us – I don’t know how else to say it.” When asked where the money generated by the parking meters is going, Crowell responded that, “it’s built into the City’s budget – it’s not going to one particular place.” Scorziello and Sloan recognize the City’s need to raise revenue, but ask that Providence also acknowledge that the money they may lose as a result of the parking meters was not included in their budget. On behalf of the Wickenden Area Merchant Association and Fox Point Neighborhood Association, Scorziello says, “The businesses are against it.” Speaking directly to the City, he continues: “You are elected officials. We
are telling you this is not the way to raise revenue for the city.” Both Scorziello and Sloan suggest the city make money elsewhere, and they have suggestions. “Parking laws have not been enforced… if you enforce existing laws, there is revenue to be made,” Sloan argues. Being former Boston residents, the couple explains that in Boston, if cars do not allow pedestrians to pass, they get a $100 fine. They also say that two-hour spaces on Wickenden are rarely enforced. Furthermore, from their business windows, both have watched countless individuals make illegal left hand turns, and encourage Providence to activate cameras in the traffic lights and distribute fines accordingly. Scorziello goes on to talk about Campus Fine Wines’ typical customers, including those at night who drive by after work, “the walkers, the students that run in for three minutes to pick up a six pack or a bottle of wine – forget about those people, they’re gone.” And if customers are forced to pay the meters until 9pm, “that’s our entire business day.” The Fox Point Neighborhood Association has published two press releases detailing their concerns regarding the possible impending pay-to-park meters on Wickenden and experience with Mayor Elorza thus far. The Wickenden Area Merchant Association is also asking the community to sign a petition against the installation of parking meters in order “to help maintain the gritty charm of our street and our neighborhood, to preserve the quality of life for residents, and to retain the economic viability of Wickenden Street for small, independently-owned businesses.” The merchants are gaining overwhelming support, as the petition has already exceeded 1,000 signatures.
Coming soon to hope street Dixie Carroll and Nina Tegu, co-presidents of the Hope Street Merchant Associations (HSMA), are speaking out regarding meters on Hope Street. “There were some rumors circulating around that they may be coming our way,” Carroll says, and it turns out that the rumors are true. Hope Street is expecting parking meters in the late
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Cheryl Simmons, a community liaison, conducts a listserv that allows citizens to voice their opinions regarding policy issues that are pertinent to the East Side. She asked residents to report their experiences with the new parking meters thus far. The responses were overwhelming, and as Simmons puts it, “people are fired up.” Only one generally positive comment was listed, “I can finally get a parking space at the post office.” The numerous other responses were irrefutably negative, one resident living on Armstrong Avenue even declaring the meters “another reason to leave Providence, which is a reoccurring thought for me,”
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considering the City’s removal of parking on both sides of the street years ago. Representatives of the merchant associations also worry about the negative effect meters will have on residents. Scorziello, regarding the Fox Point Neighborhood, says, “If this isn’t residential, then what’s residential?” referring to the blocks of homes surrounding Wickenden Street and multiple apartments located atop businesses. Mardo, on behalf of Thayer Street, comments, “We’re surrounded by residents everywhere.” As parking meters are introduced, shoppers are more likely to look towards residential blocks for free parking, leaving homeowners with nowhere to go. Residents are not only concerned with the inconvenience and confusion pay-to-park meters have caused, but also with the expensive cost. Simmons says, “When they were first installed, people were getting ticketed left and right.” One East Sider makes the point, “Don’t we already pay high enough taxes living on the East Side?” Kim Clark, owner of Rhody Craft on Hope Street and resident of the Summit Neighborhood, begs Mayor Elorza not to “pollute our beautiful neighborhood with metal monsters.” She writes this in a letter to the editors at East Side Monthly, saying, “I know Providence needs revenue. I also know how high my property tax is and my car tax and my tangible goods tax.” Brent Runyon, Executive Director of the Providence Preservation Society, isn’t worried about the aesthetic nature of the parking meters, but rather the possible parking shift into residential neighborhoods, saying, “they are the heart of Providence.” He adds, “Because it is our 60th year and we started on Benefit Street, we are concerned about having physical meters on Benefit,” due to the heavy traffic on the street. “I feel that anyone understands that the City needs more revenue. It’s something that makes sense, but they didn’t think it through,” Simmons concludes. This seems to be the echoing theme expressed by merchants, residents and community members throughout the East Side. From their perspective, this is just the City looking for a way to raise revenue, and they can’t help but wonder – what’s next?
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spring or early summer. In a statement recently released by the HSMA, “the merchants, customers and residents of Hope Street unequivocally agree that we do not want meters on Hope Street... We do not believe that meters will improve our businesses, the Hope Street experience or our quality of life” (the entire statement can be viewed on our website, www. EastSideMonthly.com). Tegu states, “As merchants we understand the City’s need to generate income as it is still recovering from the financial crisis. However, the customers and merchants are also recovering and adding meters may deter customers from shopping at our stores if it is too costly or difficult to park.” She adds, “We are one of the only shopping neighborhoods that does not have any public parking lots, which adds to the problem… We are hoping that the City will extend the meter time frame from two hours to four hours.” They have set up a meeting with Perrotta to address merchant concerns and hope to develop “creative solutions that can accommodate the city, the residents and the merchants.” The HSMA press release also states that, “we as an organization have a long view of Hope Street and we will continue to improve our individual businesses, our community and our city so that shoppers and diners will have more reason than ever to visit Hope Street on Providence’s historic East Side.”
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here they were, sleep deprived, one eye open between the two of them, and up once again in the middle of the night. Brook Silva-Braga and Jill Andres were in the middle of one of their “dates” – 40 activities they set up to prepare themselves mentally, physically and emotionally for marriage – and it was starting to wear on them. This was date #8, called “Sounds Like a Newborn,” and the alarm was going off at 3am to get them out of bed to feed and bathe… a watermelon. It might sound crazy, but the results are happy: midway through their test, Brook and Jill got engaged. Now, they’re happily married and have written a relationship memoir, The Marriage Test, recording their experience. The book is written in alternating first-person accounts of each date: Jill gives her version of the events, and Brook responds with his feelings, or the other way around. From the first page it’s clear that the two are taking a healthy, if nontraditional, look at their relationship. We sat down with Brook and Jill to discuss writing, love and, of course, the Patriots.
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East Side Monthly: At what point in the test did you decide you were going to write this book? Jill: It was fairly early on in the project. We came up with this test for ourselves, and shared the idea with some family and friends. We got such excitement, enthusiasm and positive feedback that we thought ‘hmm, maybe this is something that other people would find interesting.’ ESM: You two get really personal in this memoir. Were there any off limits topics? J: For the most part, we didn’t set any limits. The only area that we were sensitive about is the sex chapter. We shared a lot, but we didn’t get too gratuitous. Brook: No rules. I came to believe that as personal as the book is, we weren’t disclosing any earth-shattering things about ourselves. These are problems that will be familiar to many if not most couples. That made it easier to share.
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East Side Monthly April 2016
ESM: Brook, what Rhode Island things have you introduced California native Jill to? Would it have been a dealbreaker if she didn’t like calamari? B: Even beyond the book, we’ve had a longstanding state rivalry out of her California heritage. She sometimes likes to play the size card. It’s been a long education process. Jill now knows a lot of Rhode Island stuff. We’ve come a long way from Jill once
attempting to explain to someone that Rhode Island is a series of islands. J: I thought it was! He lives on an island! B: I had to explain to her that actually most of it is connected to Massachusetts and Connecticut. ESM: So Jill, do you like it here now? J: I love it. My mom is from New Hampshire, so in a lot of ways, it feels familiar to me because I spent so much time in the area growing up visiting family. I love having my New England home now. ESM: Is this an issue on football Sundays in particular? How do you handle sports rivalries in your house? B: This is a good indication of Jill’s commitment to our relationship and to New England, because she has adopted the Patriots. She’s basically forsaken her 49ers. J: I did. I kept my love of the San Francisco Giants for baseball. The Red Sox are now my American League team. It works for me. I can do both. B: The concession I’ve made is that I will root for the Giants... provided they aren’t playing the Red Sox. The Marriage Test is available from local booksellers. Curious couples can visit www.TheMarriageTest.com to take a quiz and see if the test is right for them.
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April 2016 East Side Monthly
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CLOSE TO HOME Home and Family | Education | Style | Real Estate
On the Market
A Castle in Providence “King Congdon” is the ultimate in urban seclusion By Katlynn Grenier
110 Congdon Street at a glance Perched high above
the city, this exquisite example of Brutalist architecture is located on one of Providence’s toniest locations: College Hill. At 110 Congdon Street, this home, which could only be described as a “castle,” is impressive both structurally and visually. Built in 1974, this property is ideal for people interested in maintaining
their privacy while still having a city address. The home has a number of amenities such as a high security and surveillance system, heated inground pool, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, one-of-a-kind custom masonry work and a unique structural design by Boston architectural firm Huygens & Tappe. The large and open space has three bedrooms, four and
a half baths, two gas fireplaces and a two car garage. The home has an exquisite, unobstructed views of the Capitol building and the city skyline. Another benefit of this lot is that it meets all requirements to divide and build another structure of equal or greater value. At this castle, city life is always nearby while still enjoying some urban seclusion.
• • • • • •
MLS: 1118531 Listing Price: $2.85 Million Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 4.5 Square Footage: 22,200 sq. ft. Listed by: Homesmart Professionals • For more information: Don Martone at 954-0270 or martonemoves.com April 2016 East Side Monthly
33
Close to Home Education
An Educational Helping Hand Non-profits are helping East Side students get ahead By Jill Davidson
installation • planting • hand pruning
401-742-1895 robertalanmatthews.com
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
THE
place for sushi
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 34
East Side Monthly April 2016
It can be easy
to believe that we’re divided into educational “haves” – those who attend one of the East Side’s independent schools – and “have nots” – those who attend one of our neighborhood’s four public schools. Socioeconomic and other data seem to support such beliefs. Our public schools educate students who are often economically and otherwise disadvantaged, while private educational institutions instruct students who frequently benefit from abundant resources. These distinctions often present acute challenges to all who want to work across differences for equity. Privilege, race, language, financial status, culture, age, health and other dissimilarities tend to get in the way, especially when the have nots appear to present problems and the haves appears to offer solutions. While better than isolation, superficial contact with benefits flowing only from the haves to the have nots doesn’t produce the sort of mutual understanding needed to create authentic and enduring change across schools and society. Brown University’s Howard R. Swearer Center for Public Service offers approaches to community engagement that seek to make more meaningful differences. Hope High School is one of the Swearer Center’s many school partners, with a decade-long collaboration that matches 70 Brown undergraduate volunteers with more than 300 Hope students for after school tutoring and credit recovery in math and science. Brown students also provide support to teachers in 22 math and science classrooms at Hope, offer an SAT prep class, conduct college advising and more. Students at Hope and seven other Providence high schools form relationships with tutors from Brown who are invested both in their ability to factor quadratic equations and their aspirations beyond high school. Beyond Hope, approximately 640 Brown undergraduate students work in various Providence-area communities. About 420 are involved with education as teachers or tutors, reaching more than 5,000 students in 17 elementary, middle and high schools. These numbers, while impressive, don’t indicate the effect of the relationships that develop among those many people. Mathew Johnson, the newly appointed director of the Swearer Center, emphasizes the learning situations are structured to support the development
of reciprocal relationships. Such relationships, in which all involved are both learners and teachers, are key to creating real understanding and change within students, Brown student volunteers, other members of the school community, and, ultimately, each educational institution. “Expertise and knowledge is found most often in communities, so Brown students need to listen more than they need to act,” Johnson noted. “If we don’t listen and think before we attempt to interact and teach, we’re not good stewards of resources or good partners.” The East Side is also home to Breakthrough Providence, another education nonprofit based on reciprocal partnership. Housed at and supported in part by the Wheeler School, Breakthrough Providence has a dual mission: to create pathways to college for academically motivated low-income middle school students in the Providence Public Schools, and to encourage high school and college students to pursue careers in education. Part of the national Breakthrough Collaborative, Breakthrough Providence offers 80 seventh and eighth graders a two-year program focused intensely on academic, social-emotional and other skills. These students meet in a full-day program for six weeks during the summer and in afterschool and one-on-one tutoring sessions throughout the school year. Breakthrough Providence continues its work beyond middle school, collaborating with College Visions to offer biannual conferences to provide ninth through twelfth grade students with information and guidance as they navigate the college process as lowincome, first-generation college-bound
students. Breakthrough Providence also supports students’ path to higher education through an effort that includes a new partnership with the Swearer Center in which Brown students offer SAT tutoring to Breakthrough Providence students. Local high school and college students interested in gaining pre-professional teaching experience serve as instructors. These students are from a range of high schools and colleges, and represent a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Breakthrough Providence executive director Dulari Tahbildar shared that 15% of the program’s 60 instructors are former middle school participants, and that 60% of the teachers are people of color. The program hopes that the impact on its students-turned-teachers will not only transform their interest into teaching careers but also transform the career of teaching itself. “We’re working toward a vision of a statewide teacher pipeline,” Tahbildar notes. “By building the demand side among students, we want to encourage more of them – especially more students of color and more men – to choose careers as teachers.” In Tahbildar’s vision, Rhode Island’s teacher education programs would respond to an energized and experienced cohort of young people who see teaching as a path to social justice and equity. The Swearer Center’s educationrelated programs and Breakthrough Collaborative’s work both center on people connecting with each other across differences to find a common joy and purpose in teaching and learning. They help create a world in which we all have something to teach and something to learn.
Illustration by Ashley MacLure
design • site plans • consulting
Education
continued
Smart News
Cultivate The Garden Within… Purveyors of unique and unusual plant material, pottery, fountains and garden decor. Be sure to join us for one of our many exciting classes and events!
THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER 716 Mooresfield Road (Rt. 138) Wakefield • 401-792-1340 Open Daily 9am-6pm • www.thefarmersdaughterri.com
•
The Hope High School Dollars for Scholars annual dinner will be at Blaze Village Kitchen
Since 1948
•
• Fine Custom Upholstery & Slip Covers • Custom Window Treatments • Blinds And Shades • Upholstered Antique Restoration • Area Rugs & Wall To Wall • Headboards • Bedspreads & Shams Facebook “f ” Logo
Photography by Grace Lentini
Hope High Dollars for Scholars Annual Awards Dinner Hope High School Dollars for Scholars (HHDfS), a non-profit tax-exempt scholarship foundation operated by an all-volunteer Board of Directors comprised of alumni and friends of Hope, offers an opportunity for you to invest in our neighborhood public high school’s graduates as they continue their educational journeys. HHDfS will be holding its third annual awards dinner on Monday, May 16 at 5pm at Blaze Village Kitchen, 999 Main Street in Pawtucket. HHDfS’s scholarships make it possible for talented, hardworking Hope High School students to attend college, a goal that would for most be impossible without this financial support. Though the awards dinner isn’t until May, there’s something you can do now: HHDfS is seeking sponsors for the awards dinner from individuals and businesses. To find out more, please visit Christina Ricci, HHDfS Fundraising Chair, at CPRIcci1@Gmail.com. Inspiring Minds Needs Legos While my family includes a nine-yearold Lego fanatic who would no more part with his Legos than put them away, you may live in a house where oncebeloved Legos are languishing. Lucky for you, Inspiring Minds, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to enabling Providence’s students to succeed in school by providing them with educational support services and
individualized help so that they can grow academically and socially, is seeking Lego donations. Inspiring Minds’ Tech Center is working with teens who will be using Legos for major engineering and construction projects planned for the week of April 18. You can find Lego drop-off stations at local Coastway Bank offices, Inspiring Minds staffers can pick up your Lego donations, or you can drop them off at the Inspiring Minds’ office at 763 Westminster Street in Providence. 274-3240, www.InspiringmindsrI.org
CMYK / .eps
2179 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence 401-231-1660 • www.bobfrances.com
Support International Charter School’s Azores Student Trip Twenty fifth grade students and teachers from International Charter School’s Portuguese-English strand have been invited to the island of Saõ Miguel in the Azores to visit schools and cultural institutions for a ten-day stay from April 17-26. International Charter School is a K-5 dual language school located in Pawtucket’s Oak Hill neighborhood that educates students in Spanish-English or Portuguese-English programs. The trip offers a unique opportunity for these students, who are from Providence and other surrounding communities, to use the language they have been learning in an authentic context. While the Direção Regional das Comunidades is sponsoring part of this trip, each participant will incur expenses. www.Internationalcharterschool.org
April 2016 East Side Monthly
35
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Close to Home West of Wickenden
The Art of Entertaining Show your houseguests a great time without leaving the East Side
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East Side Monthly April 2016
Providence Media Spot ads: 2.125" x 2.875"
French-inspired fare. Clink drinks to the weekend ahead in the cozy bistro, and then stroll down to Three Sisters (1074 Hope Street) to cap off the evening with a few scoops of homemade ice cream. The award-winning kulfi flavor, a twist on a traditional Indian dessert made with pistachios, cardamom and cinnamon, is sure to give everyone sweet dreams. The theory here goes that the more you wine and dine your guests, the better they will sleep through the sound of your snoring. Saturday, rise at a leisurely hour for a late morning brunch at the Duck & Bunny (312 Wickenden Street). Indulge in sweet and savory crêpes, latkes and, for the adventurous, the “New York System Hot Wiener Omelette.” Afterwards, browse the antique shops that dot the street, refueling at the classic Coffee Exchange (207 Wickenden) as needed. Meander up Benefit Street to admire the architecture, stopping at the Providence Athenaeum (251 Benefit). Get there by 2:30pm to enjoy a free, guided tour of this lovely, historic library. With all the browsing and admiring you’ve done, you must be ready for dinner. Visit Den Den Café Asiana (161 Benefit Street) for gyoza, hot stone bibimbap and other exciting Korean and Japanese comestibles. From here, walk or drive to Prospect Park for a view of the city skyline (tell your guests to take a good look, ‘cause that’s as close to downtown as they’re going to get). When you hit a lull in the conversation, catch a film at the Avon Cinema (260 Thayer Street). This
Art Deco gem always screens something worth seeing, and the popcorn can’t be beat (ask for butter in the middle). Sunday morning, sneak off to Bagel Gourmet (250 Brook Street) before your guests wake. Stick the bagels in the oven upon your return, and the resulting aroma could convince someone (who just woke up and hasn’t had coffee yet) that you baked them yourself. After breakfast, if the weather cooperates, wend your way down Blackstone Boulevard and wind through serene Swan Point Cemetery (585 Blackstone Boulevard). If it rains, treat your guests to a RISD Museum visit (20 North Main Street). No need to mention that the museum is free on Sundays. Hopefully, by this point, you have managed to prevent your guests from seeing an area map or making zany suggestions like “How ‘bout a trip to Boston?” and “Shall we nip down to Newport?” Great. The East Side for lunch it is! Options abound, but only Meeting Street Café (220 Meeting Street) offers massive sandwiches and cookies the size of your head. If schedules permit, explore the Brown campus while considering whether you could squeeze in one more cookie. Say, look at the time. These folks really ought to get going if they want to miss traffic. As Benjamin Franklin once observed, “Fish and visitors smell after three days.” Hug and kiss your guests goodbye and encourage them to come back soon. Well, maybe not too soon.
Illustration by Lia Marcoux
It’s a familiar mix of emotions. When friends announce they are coming to visit, you feel delighted. At the thought of having houseguests, dread. Writer Ambrose Bierce once defined hospitality as “the virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain persons who are not in need of food and lodging.” What compels us remains mysterious, particularly when behind on housekeeping. Some areas of the home may be in desperate need of cleaning, others so far gone that only caution tape can help. Now don’t start drinking, paralyzed by anxiety, cowed by dust bunnies. There are solutions to this problem. The best, of course, is to move. The second best is to call a professional cleaner. If you don’t know one, ask that one friend whose house is immaculate for a referral (if you’re still on speaking terms). Important note: once a room in your house is newly tidy, shut the door and do not re-enter on pain of death. For example, once the bathroom is clean, stop using it. There’s a bathroom at work and another at the gym. You have no business going in yours again. If all attempts at cleaning fail, do not despair. Simply tell guests that the house is undergoing renovation. A few wellflung painting tarps can do wonders to support the lie. Then, pitch a tent for your guests in the living room. (“Won’t this be fun? They call it ‘glamping,’ guys.”) After you’ve stopped worrying about the state of your house, you can start worrying about something more significant: what to do with these people. Naturally you want to be the most gracious host possible. But, like any good, rational Rhode Islander, you want to do so while remaining within one square mile of home. You are in luck! It is surprisingly easy to entertain a house full of guests without ever leaving the East Side. Here, just for you, is a sample weekend itinerary. All activities take place west of the Seekonk River and east of the Providence River. Swap in your preferred dining establishments as needed, but don’t bother gassing up the car or packing snacks for the road because you won’t need them. Friday night, immediately upon arrival, whisk your guests to Chez Pascal (960 Hope Street) for escargots à la Bourguignonne and other delicious
ELISE PENN PANSEY The Pet Friendly Realtor
Open House
Sunday, April 3, 1-3 p.m. Meet our teachers and hear from parents in this program designed for prospective HBS families. 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... ...DEDICATED... to serving YOU! Call me today!
ELISE PENN PANSEY The Pet Friendly Realtor Butterman & Kryston, Inc. 749 East Ave. Pawtucket, RI @ Blackstone Blvd
401.455.1625 www.elisepennpansey.com 401.521.9490 x22
Our independent elementary school provides exceptional, innovative and empowering educational opportunities for PK-5 learners. The laboratory school environment combines best practices with highly skilled teachers (master’s degree or higher).
Call (401) 456-8127 to register for the Open House.
www.ric.edu/hbs
Now opeN
Choreography by Eva Marie Pacheco Original Composition by Tony Lustig
Friday, April 8 ~ 7:30pm | Saturday, April 9 ~ 2:00pm The Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, Sapinsley Hall Rhode Island College, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI
with additional works by Sara Barney and Michael Bolger
PROVIDENCE BALLET THEATRE www.providenceballet.com
For tickets: 401-456-8144 or www.ric.edu/pfa/orderinfo.php
April 2016 East Side Monthly
37
THE STEPHEN A.
OGDEN
JR. ’60
Memorial Lecture On International Affairs
R O BERTA S. JACOBSON ’82 Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
DR. ERNEST M O N I Z United States Secretary of Energy
Monday, April 18, 2016 4:00 pm Salomon Center for Teaching, DeCiccio Family Auditorium, 79 Waterman Street
Monday, April 4, 2016 5:30 pm Metcalf Research Building, Friedman Auditorium, 190 Thayer Street
For more information please visit https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/events/ogden/home. To request special services, accommodations or assistance for this event, please contact the University Event & Conference Services Office at universityevents@brown.edu or 401-863-3100.
.. ..
Custom Framing Framed/Unframed Prints Mirrors Ready Made Frames
oldest frame shop
gallery www.ProvidencePictureFrame.com
I-95, Exit 24 Branch Avenue (next to Benny’s) 38
East Side Monthly April 2016
Antique Maps Photo Printing Photo Printing D.I.Y. Framing
newest ideas
Providence Picture Frame 401.421.6196
.. ..
Monday - Saturday 8:30-6:30
On the tOwn
Restaurant and Food | Dining Guide | Calendar of events
Flavor of the Month
Craving Comfort the Slow Rhode emphasizes small plates with big flavor
Photography by Stacey Doyle
By Stephanie Obodda Over the 13 years I’ve lived in Providence, the city has continued to evolve at an exponential rate. Case in point, The Slow Rhode restaurant is part of a recently completed renovation of an old livery garage, along with neighbors Cleverhood (famous for high-quality, American-made cycling rain capes), new brewery Long Live Beerworks, Devine City Cycle spin studio, martial arts studio City Aiki and the non-profit Downcity Design. Broadway Bistro’s chef Patrick Lowney conceived of The Slow Rhode. It may seem younger and hipper than Broadway Bistro, but the two restaurants have a common thread: deeply flavorful, truly indulgent dishes served in an unpretentious setting. Though both may have, at first glimpse, a décor and menu similar to other popular restaurants, there’s something of substance below the surface – an authenticity – that makes these two Providence restaurants especially satisfying. The Slow Rhode’s interior is dark and cozy, its name emblazoned across the left wall in giant rounded letters that reminded me of a Bauhaus teapot. Abstract art adds a tasteful splash of color. The bar seems just as prominent as the tables, giving the interior a casual and comfortable feel. Just like the space, the cocktail menu is small but enticing. Instead of bearing pun-laden cutesy titles, the drinks are starkly named after their main liquour: Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Mezcal, Bourbon. My table companions had the Tequila ($10), with organic poppy liqueur, lime, hot sauce and a black salt rim. I had the spritzy Vodka ($10), with cherry heering and a cherry garnish coated in finely ground black pepper. The ingredients may seem unusual, but it was not just a gimmick; these were delicately
balanced drinks. It was so delightful, I considered ordering another but thought better of it. The Slow Rhode has a southerninfluenced comfort food menu with a heavy dose of Louisiana, an underrepresented niche in Rhode Island. The menu is mostly small plates and everything is easy to share. Our poutine-like French Fries and Gravy ($8) were served with ample shreds of duck confit. The toast with oyster mushrooms and marinated sheep’s milk cheese ($4) came in a serving of three, fortunately for our threeperson table, as did the three large Crawfish Beignets ($9), which we eagerly dipped into the surrounding Tabasco mayo. Out of these three small plates, the Beignets were my favorite, a Southern version of the platonic Rhode Island clam cake. My husband ordered a glass of the Weyerbacher Tarte Nouveau ($9), an unusual draft selection, our friend switched to the Mezcal cocktail ($10) with cassis and I had the Lunar Apogé Syrah ($10), a biodynamic and organic wine from France. Biodynamic winemaking is practically an occult art, and the resulting wine always seems to have an edge. The bowls of Gumbo ($9) and Seafood Chowder ($8) were satisfying – the chowder didn’t skimp on the cream and was fresh, with clams in the shell. My gumbo had a dark roux that seemed to fill the hole winter had left in my soul; though it was incredibly hot, I couldn’t stop taking spoonfuls at a dangerously fast pace. We each ordered one of the menu’s three large plates. The Hot Fried Chicken ($13) is a regional dish from Nashville traditionally served on a slice of normal-looking white bread you think you’ll forego until you find it is soaked with an addictive hot sauce. The chicken was scattered with tangy pickle slices. My husband’s
Hot Fried Chicken at The Slow Rhode
Braised Beef ($14) with rigatoni was fall-apart tender and had a rich broth harmonized by cubes of sweet butternut squash. My Catfish Chips ($14) looked beautiful with purple cabbage slaw and the tomato-based sauce piquante, also a Louisiana touch; the seemingly endless pile of fried fish left me wishing our fourth friend hadn’t cancelled. But we still had room to share a square of not-too-sweet Cheesecake ($6). The large plates were consistently good, and though it’s difficult to choose a favorite, I’d
say the catfish came out ahead. Winters can be tough in Rhode Island. Some people like to escape to a tropical paradise, but for me, a dimlylit hideaway with flavorful comfort food and creative drinks works just as well.
The Slow Rhode 425 West Fountain Street Providence www.Facebook.com/ The-Slow-Rhode April 2016 East Side Monthly
39
On the town On the Menu
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
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
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Pan-Asian Fare with Flair hope Street’s newest eatery celebrates the bounty of the sea By Grace Lentini Although Wara Wara
might seem like an unusual name, there is a special meaning behind it. It means laugh or smile in Japanese, and water in Thai. Overall, a positive connotation of joy. Wara Wara is the second restaurant venture for co-owners X Premwat and Kazu Kondo, who also own the Japanese restaurant Ebisu in Cranston. However, they’ve brought on Nick Mazonowicz of The Salted Slate as an additional co-owner of the Hope Street eatery. Wara Wara is heavily influenced by various Asian cuisines including Thai, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Referencing the Thai meaning of Wara Wara (water), many items on the menu are indeed from the water including oysters from American Mussel Harvesters in North Kingstown that can be topped with a traditional champagne mignonette or a twist on a classic – a garlic chili lime sauce. Of course Wara Wara has Japanese favorites like ramen – five types to be exact. Premwat recommends newcomers try the Miso Ramen with pork, bamboo shoots, a marinated soft-boiled egg, spinach, shitake
mushrooms and corn on top of noodles in a miso broth. The Pork Buns are a must try as well. But they also take American favorites like eggs Benedict and add Asian flair by topping it with salmon, ceviche and wasabi hollandaise on a steamed bun with a side of home fries during their brunch on Sundays. Need something to wash down all that fusion cuisine? “People should also come for the sake,” says Premwat. “For someone who loves sake, they should try the Nama Genshu and Kobuta sake from Niigata, Japan. We are highlighting mostly cold sake because so many places do hot sake.” Premwat and Kondo wanted to come to the East Side because “the East Side knows good food. We wanted to have a restaurant in a neighborhood,” says Premwat. “A place where we could serve healthy, good food. I want everyone to be happy when they come to eat here and also experience a new kind of cuisine.” Sounds like they’re off to a great start, there may even be sake flights in the future. 776 Hope Street. 831-9272, Providence. www.WaraWaraRI.com
Intro Rate for 12 months: 1.99% APR Rate After Initial 12 Months: 4.312% APR*
40
East Side Monthly April 2016
Wara Wara’s menu blends Asian influences
Photography by Mike Braca
w w w. w a s h t r u s t . c o m * Or better depending on line amount. Properties must be located in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut. Five-day closings are available. Property insurance required. All loans subject to credit approval. 1.99% Annual Percentage Rate home equity line is for the initial 12 months. After the initial 12 months, the rate becomes Prime + .0% on lines of $150,000 or more; Prime + .25% on lines of $75,000 - $149,999; Prime + .75% on lines of $25,000 - $74,999. Rates shown in effect as of 01/27/2016. Your APR will vary monthly if the Prime Rate changes, but will not exceed 18.00% or be less than 3.00%. Check The Wall Street Journal for current rates. Wall Street Journal Prime Rate as of 12/17/15 is 3.50%. Account closure fee of $350 for lines up to $500,000 or $500 for lines over $500,000 will apply if line is paid off and the account closed within first three years; Freedom Plus Checking account required. $25,000 minimum initial draw to third party required. Annual fee of $50 waived for the first year. Some home improvement projects may be subject to inspection fees and a satisfactory completion certificate. Subject to recording fees of approximately $74 in RI, and $93-177 in MA and CT. Trust review fees of $250 may apply if property is held in a trust. Not intended for homes currently for sale or intended to be sold within 12 months of closing. Offer available for new lines only. Other restrictions may apply. Property insurance is required. Flood insurance where required by law. Single-family, owner-occupied primary residences or second homes only. Maximum loan-to-value of 80%. Subject to credit approval. Offer available for a limited time only and may be withdrawn at any time. MEMBER FDIC
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East Side Monthly April 2016
NTS
RHODY BITES A Sponsored Statewide Dining Guide
View our full Restaurant Profiles on RhodyBites.com
Haruki The name Haruki is synonymous with outstanding and authentic Japanese sushi in Rhode Island. An industry leader for nearly 20 years, the muchloved restaurant has three bustling locations in the state. Haruki Cranston, the original location on the Cranston/Warwick line, has a large dining room, sushi bar and a cocktail lounge. Haruki East presents a modern and sleek dining room, sidewalk seating, a lounge area and a sushi bar on Wayland Square. Haruki Express, right off of Thayer Street in Providence, is a busy spot for take-out and Japanese groceries. All three offer handcrafted
sushi that is renowned throughout the state and beyond. It starts with ultra fresh cuts of tuna, salmon, fluke, octopus, shrimp and eel. Mixed with avocado, cucumber and other select vegetables, the sushi is then hand-rolled per order for the freshest dining experience possible. Sashimi, a delicate array of premium raw fish, is expertly filleted and beautifully presented. Miso soup, salads with house-made ginger dressing, seafood entrees, noodle and rice dishes, signature tempura and appetizers for sharing round out the large menu.
Insider Tip: The food here encompasses a broad portrait of Japanese cuisine, from misoshuro (miso soup) to sushi specialties, as well as soba, teriyaki, katsu don and bento boxes.
172 Wayland Ave, Providence 1210 Oaklawn Ave, Cranston 112 Waterman Ave, Providence 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Gourmet steaks and sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 4532333. LD $$$
Blend Café Modern Latin-American infused fare. 745 Reservoir Ave, Cranston, 270-5533. BBrLD $-$$
Angelo’s Civita Farnese Restaurant Italian American comfort food classics. 141 Atwells Ave, Providence, 621-8171. LD $-$$
Bluefin Grille at the Providence Marriott Downtown Seasonal and sustainable seafood in an elegant atmosphere. 1 Orms St, Providence, 272-5852. LD $-$$
AQUA Poolside cocktails with seasonal American cuisine. 1 Orms St, Providence, 272-2400. LD $-$$
Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$
Besos Kitchen & Cocktails Tapas and eclectic cuisine and cocktails. 378 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-8855. BrLD $$$
Café Nuovo Contemporary New World cuisine. 1 Citizens Plz, Providence, 4212525. LD $-$$$
Bistro 22 New American rustic cuisine in Garden City. 22 Midway Rd, Cranston, 383-6400. LD $-$$
Capriccio Upscale international food with a northern Italian/Mediterranean accent. 2 Pine St, Providence, 421-1320. LD $-$$$
Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, MA, 508-999-6975. LD $$
Carriage Inn & Saloon Regional comfort food accompanied by a whiskey bar. 1065 Tower Hill Rd, North Kingstown,
A sashimi platter from Haruki
294-8466. D $-$$ 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 $$$ Circe Restaurant & Bar South Beach meets New England seafood favorites. 50 Weybosset St, Providence, 437-8991. BRLD $-$$$ Clean Plate Delicious comfort food in a casual setting. 345 S. Water St, Providence, 621-8888. BBrLD $$ DeWolf Tavern Gourmet American/Indian fusion. 259 Thames St, Bristol, 2542005. BLD $$-$$$ The Dorrance Fine dining with exquisite cocktails. 60 Dorrance St, Providence, 521-6000. D $$$ Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$
Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
April 2016 East Side Monthly
43
Get the Most for Your Home Sale!
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East Side Monthly April 2016
10/28/15 2:17 PM
RHODY BITES Continued
Ella’s Fine Food & Drink Elegant dining meets international cuisine. 2 Tower St, Westerly, 315-0606. D $-$$$ Flatbread Company Artisanal pizza, local ingredients. 161 Cushing St, Providence, 273-2737. LD $-$$
Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 3310003. LD $-$$
Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food; great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 783-4073. BBrLD $
Lim’s Restaurant Upscale Thai and fresh sushi. 18 South Angell St, Providence, 383-8830. LD $$
Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 2731444. LD $-$$$
Pho Horn’s Fresh authentic Vietnamese dishes in a colorful setting. 50 Ann Mary St #403, Pawtucket, 3656278. LD $-$$
Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228-3901. D $-$$
Luxe Burger Bar Build your own creative burger. 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $
George’s of Galilee Fresh caught seafood in an upscale pub atmosphere. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett, 783-2306. LD $-$$
Maharaja Indian Restaurant Indian cuisine and traditional curries in a warm setting. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 3639988. LD $-$$
Harry’s Bar & Burger Handcrafted sliders, brews and pub games. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336. LD $-$$
Malted Barley American craft beer, gourmet pretzels and creative sandwiches in downtown Westerly. 42 High St, Westerly, 315-2184; 334 Westminster St, Providence, 490-0300. LD $$
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 $-$$$ Jigger’s Diner Classic ‘50s diner serving breakfast all day. 145 Main St, East Greenwich, 884-6060. BL $-$$
Photography y Michael Cevoli
Laurel Lane Country Club Upscale pub cuisine overlooking a picturesque golf course. 309 Laurel Ln, West Kingston, 783-3844. LD $-$$
Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$ Kartabar Mediterranean-style cuisine, chic setting. 284 Thayer St, Providence, 331-8111. LD $-$$ KitchenBar Contemporary comfort cuisine. 771 Hope St, Providence, 3314100. BrLD $$
Worth The Drive: Classic Italian creations abound at Roberto’s Italian Restaurant
McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$ McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steak Mixed grill selections and signature fish dishes sourced locally and seasonally. 11 Dorrance St, Providence, 351-4500. BLD $$-$$$ Mia’s Prime Time Café Upscale café cuisine by the Pawcatuck River. 1 West Broad St, Pawcatuck, CT, 860-599-3840. BLD $$ Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$ Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza Classic Italian fare and traditional New Yorkstyle pizzas. 100 East St, Cranston, 383-7722; 380 Atwells Ave, Providence, 273-2400. LD $-$$ Nordic Lodge Surf and turf buffet selections perfect for family gatherings. 178 E Pasquisett Trl, Charlestown, 7834515. LD $$$ Ocean State Sandwich Company Craft sandwiches and hearty sides. 1345 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 155 Westminster St, Providence, 282-6772. BL $-$$ The Olive Tap Extra virgin olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars and gourmet food and gift selections. 485 Angell St, Providence, 272-8200. $$-$$$
Roberto’s Italian Restaurant Roberto’s Italian Restaurant is a quaint restaurant in downtown Bristol that has a lot of heart and soul. Celebrating 14 years of serving fine Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in a casual setting, Roberto’s is a hometown favorite that draws from the East Bay and beyond. Classic Italian dishes, prepared with fresh ingredients and a light touch in the kitchen, are the specialty here. The wideranging menu features old family recipes that have been passed down generations, some that go back nearly 100 years. Entrees include incomparable home-style versions of Marsala, Saltimbocca, Piccata and Bolognese dishes. Lobster in a sherry cream sauce, sea scallops sautéed and tossed with roasted tomatoes, and a
braciole stuffed with ricotta and mushrooms over gnocchi are just a few of the uniquely prepared and simply delicious dinner options. Café tables set on the wide sidewalk offer scenic al fresco meals during the warmer months. The petite bar area offers a laid-back area where you can enjoy a European varietal or a cocktail made with a house infused liquor. Wine dinners, always sell-outs, are presented for restaurant regulars with the seasons. The chef curates a special pairing menu and guests enjoy the flavors of different wine regions, like Napa and Portugal. Within walking distance to the harbor and set amongst the trendy boutiques and historic sites of Bristol, Roberto’s is a culinary destination well worth the travel.
Insider Tip: The intimate restaurant is ideal for romantic dates, family dinners and special occasion get-togethers. A private room for small parties up to 50 people is also available.
450 Hope St, Bristol • 254-9732
For full restaurant profiles, go to RhodyBites.com
April 2016 East Side Monthly
45
a new play by
Pizzico Diverse Italian and fusion cuisine in a rustic yet eclectic atmosphere. 762 Hope St, Providence, 421-4114; 308 County Rd, Barrington, 247-0303. LD $-$$$
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Tavern on the Water A fusion of Portuguese and French cuisine in an upscale American atmosphere. 743 Putnam Pk, Smithfield, 349-3888. LD $-$$$
Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily inspirations. 120 Francis St, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$
Tavolo Wine Bar and Tuscan Grille Classic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine and beer list. LD $-$$
Rasa Authentic and contemporary Indian. 149 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2822. LD $$
Ten Rocks Tapas Bar Cape Verdeaninspired small plates, handcrafted cocktails and frequent live music. 1091 Main St, Pawtucket, 728-0800. BrLD $-$$
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, 2549732. D $$-$$$ Sa-Tang Fine Thai and Asian fusion cuisine with gluten-free selections. 402 Main St, Wakefield, 284-4220. LD $-$$ Theatre 82 & Cafe Hybrid art space with all day breakfast, coffee and theatre-inspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston. 490-9475 BL $ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ 161 Cushing Street, Providence Contact Jordan at 273-2737 1 3/12/16 6:42 PM Or at Jordanm@flatbreadcompany.com .
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East Side Monthly April 2016
Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$
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 $-$$
Rasoi Vegetarian-friendly Indian cuisine . 727 East Ave, Pawtucket, 7285500. LD $$
The FLATBREAD COMPANY’S Catering and Mobile Oven is the ideal alternative to your desire to order Flatbread for large groups of parties of 50 to 250!
Newport, 849-2433. BrD $$$
The Coast Guard House Modern New England fare with Bay views. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett. 789-0700. LD $$-$$$ Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun and Southwestern fare, cocktails and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 751-6777. LD $-$$ 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 $-$$ The Village Casual dining and live entertainment. 373 Richmond St, Providence, 228-7222. BrLD $$ Waterman Grille Riverfront New American dining. 4 Richmond Sq, Providence, 521-9229. BLD $$$
Simone’s Gourmet brunch followed by upscale Mediterranean cuisine. 275 Child St, Warren, 247-1200. BBrLD $$-$$$
Wes’ Rib House Missouri-style barbecue, open late. 38 Dike St, Providence, 421-9090. LD $$
Sophia’s Tuscan Grille BYOB eatery with classic Tuscan dishes and homemade desserts. 1729 Warwick Ave, Warwick, 732-6656. BLD $-$$$
What Cheer Tavern & Taqueria Neighborhood gastropub, taqueria and beer garden. 228 New York Ave, Providence, 680-7639. D $-$$
T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, Narragansett, 946-5900. BL $
Whiskey Republic Delicious dockside pub fare. 515 South Water St, Providence, 588-5158. LD $-$$
Taullulah on Thames Farm-driven, a la carte and prix fixe menus in a simply decorated setting. 464 Thames St,
XO Cafe Creative cocktails and New American fare. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$
@RhodyBites
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We welcome children of all faiths and backgrounds. Fully licensed by Rhode Island’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. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Jo-Anne Petrie at 401.421.4111 ext. 108 or jpetrie@jewishallianceri.org. 401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906
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47
FESTIVAL BALLET PROVIDENCE
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48
East Side Monthly April 2016
On the town Calendar
By Mollie Stackhouse
April music | performance | social happenings | galleries | sports
DON’T MISS THIS MONTH: 10 events at the top of our list
1
The Divas, Drinks and Dessert event on April 14 includes a ticket to the Diana Ross In the Name of Love Tour, pre-show cocktails and after party all to benefit AIDS Project RI. www.AIDSProjectRI.org
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Conversation with the Artist at the Hamilton House on April 8. www.HistoricHamilton.com.
Food trucks roll in for the Truck Stop at the Alex and Ani City Center on April 17. www.alexandanicitycenter.com. Huey Lewis and the News. April 15 at Twin River Casino. www. TwinRiver.com
RI Music Hall of Fame Concert and Induction Event on April 24 at The Met in Pawtucket. www.TheMetRI.com. The Murder Mystery Fundraiser benefits the Junior League of Rhode Island on April 9 at the Lippitt House. www.JLRI.org
Workshop-palooza invites you to tap into your creative side and explore all writing forms on April 23. www.GoatHillWriters.com A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Angell Blackfriars Theatre, from April 8-10, 14-17. www.Providence.edu/Theatre. Brown Bag Lunches with Cy O’Neil and Ed Fitzpatrick on April 6 and 20. www.LifeLongLearningCollaborative.org.
AIDS Project RI and Mr. Gay Rhode Island, Richie D, created the Divas, Drinks and Desserts fundraising event to coincide with Diana Ross’ In the Name of Love show at PPAC on April 14
Pete Davidson the youngest member of the current SNL cast, takes the stage at Comedy Connection on April 21. www.RIComedyConnection.com
SEW COOL
Photo (Bottom) Courtesy of RISD
RISD Art Circle Appeals to Teens Have your questions ready because RISD Art Circle and Todd Oldham are holding a lively conversation called Behind the Seams among high school students. It’s about upending expectations, boundless experimentation and being creative at all times. Todd Oldham has been designing since 1989 when he exploded onto the New York fashion landscape. As a multi-talented creator, his innovative approach has earned him an honorary Doctorate degree from RISD. Come to the Metcalf Auditorium and find inspiration in fashion on April 9. 2pm, 224 Benefit Street, Providence. 454-6500, www. RISDMuseum.org.
April 2016 East Side Monthly
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On the town Calendar continued...
MUSIC
arena & club | classical ARENA & CLUB AS220 April 2: The Westerlies, Dan Liparini and The Antonio Forte Process. April 12: Cocek! Brass Band and Extrodinary Rendition Band. April 14: SITR- Song Writers in the Round. April 19: Harvey Garbage, Starship Shape and Great Gale. April 23: Traditional Irish Music Session. April 30: Girls Rock! R.I. Spring Programming Community Concert. 115 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.AS220.org. CHAN’S FINE ORIENTAL DINING April 1: James Montgomery. April 2: Donna Byrne. April 7: Community Care Alliance ‘Champions Music Series’ featuring Pete Henderson with the Cadillac Horns. April 15: John Primer. April 21: RI Music Hall of Fame Jazz Award with Greg Abate and Carol Sloane. April 29-30: Anthony Gomes. 267 Main Street, Woonsocket. 765-1900, www. ChansEggrollsAndJazz.com. FIREHOUSE 13 April 5: Andy Social and the Antidotes. April 8: Abacus. April 17: Slapshot. April 23: Black Pyramid. April 30: Full Blown Chaos. 41 Central Street, Providence. 270-1801, www.FH13.com. LUPO’S HEARTBREAK HOTEL April 2: The Wonder Years. April 5: Citizen Cope. April 6: Waka Flocka Flame. April 20: We Came as Romans. April 29: Bad Fish - A tribute to Sublime. 79 Washington Street, Providence. 3315876, www.Lupos.com. PROVIDENCE PREFORMING ARTS CENTER April 14: Diana Ross, In the Name of Love Tour. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence. 421-2787, www.PPACRI.org. THE MET April 2: Junior Boys. April 5: Jonathan Richman featuring Tommy Larkins. April10: Corrosion of Conformity. April 13: The Mowgli’s. April 14: Parquet Courts. April 15: King Jeremy - Pearl Jam Tribute. April 24: RI Music Hall of Fame Concert and Induction Event. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 7291005, www.TheMetRI.com. TWIN RIVER April 1: Bon Jersey. April 2: Liz Boudreau Duo. April 8: Amish Outlaws. April 9: Those Guys. April 13: Sinatra Wednesdays feat. Mike Dutra. April 15: Huey Lewis and
50
East Side Monthly April 2016
The News. April 16: Elly and the Bear. April 22: Detroit Breakdown. April 30: Blurred Vision. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 7233200, www.TwinRiver.com. CLASSICAL RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC April 9: Dvorak in Love. 667 Waterman Avenue, East Providence. www.RI-Philharmonic.org. FOLK STONE SOUP COFFEEHOUSE April 2: Robinson and Rohe, Ian Fitzgerald. April 16: Bill Staines with Molly Pinto Madigan. April 30: Mary Ann Rossoni with Rick Demers. 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket. 921-5115, www.Soup.org. JAZZ SLATER MILL April 17: Jazz Slater Mill: From Blues to BeBop, featuring Jay Geils. 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket. 725-8638, www.SlaterMill.org.
PeRFORMAnCe
comedy | dance | theatre COMEDY COMEDY CONNECTION April 1-2: Orlando Baxter. April 8-9: Craig Gass. April 15-16: Danny Kelly. April 21: Pete Davidson. April 22-23: Mitch Fatel, Hardcore Comedy. April 29-30: Joe List. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 4388383, www.RIComedyConnection.com. DANCE AS220 Sundays: Beginner and Intermediate Ballet. Mondays: Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance. Wednesdays: Open Level Modern Dance. Fridays: Contemporary African Dance. 95 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.AS220.org. AURORA April 6: Salsa con Soul. 8pm. 276 Westminster Street, Providence. www.AuroraProvidence.com. FESTIVAL BALLET SCHOOL April 29-30: Swan Lake. 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 421-2787, www.FestivalBallet.com. PROVIDENCE TANGO Wednesdays: Tango Practica. Fridays: Free Introductory Tango Lessons. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 288-1170, www.ProvidenceTango.com. RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER April 15-17: Star Power Talent Competition.
1 Sabin Street, Providence. 458-6000, www.RIConvention.com. VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM April 23: Island Moving Co. Presents Moment to Moment. 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 421-2787, www.VMARI.com. THEATRE ANGELL BLACKFRIARS THEATRE SMITH CENTER FOR THE ARTS April 8-10, 14-17: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. One Cunningham Square, Providence. 865-2327. www. Providence.edu/Theatre. THE COMMUNITY PLAYERS April 8-24: Nunsense II: The Second Coming. 350 Division Street, Pawtucket. 726-6860, www.TheCommunityPlayers.net. GAMM THEATRE April 21-30: The Winter’s Tale. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 723-4266, www.GammTheatre.org. JUNIOR LEAGUE OF RHODE ISLAND April 9: Murder Mystery Fundraiser. Lippitt House, 957 North Main Street, Providence. 401-331-9302 www.JLRI.org. OCEAN STATE THEATRE COMPANY April 1-17: The Miracle Worker. April 27-30: Anything Goes. 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick. 921-6800, www.OceanStateTheatre.org. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER April 1/3: Lets Dance Sesame Street Live. April 8-10: Ragtime the Musical. April 2630: Jersey Boys. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence. 421-2787, www.PPACRI.org. TRINITY REP April 1: Blues for Mister Charlie. April 2-3: To Kill a Mockingbird. April 7-30: Arnie Louis and Boh. 201 Washington Street, Providence. 351-4242, www. TrinityRep.com. WILBURY GROUP April 14-30: Murder Ballad. 393 Broad Street 400-7100, www.TheWilburyGroup.org.
SOCIAL hAPPenInGS
expos | fundraisers | seasonal FOR FOODIES ALEX AND ANI CITY CENTER April 17: Truck Stop to benefit the RI
Community Food Bank. 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence. 331-5544, www.AlexAndAniCityCenter.com. EAT DRINK RI FESTIVAL April 28-May 1: Eat Drink RI Festival. Various Locations. www.EatDrinkRI.com BIN 312 Thursdays: Wine Tasting. 312 South Main Street, Providence. 714-0040, www.bin312.com. BOTTLES Thursdays: Spirits Events. Fridays: Beer Events. Saturdays: Wine Events. 141 Pitman Street, Providence. 372-2030, www.BottlesFineWine.com. ENO Fridays and Saturdays: Wine Tasting. 225 Westminster Street, Providence. 521-2000, www.EnoFineWines.com. FARM FRESH RHODE ISLAND Saturdays: Wintertime Farmers’ Market. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. www.FarmFreshRI.org. NEW HARVEST COFFEE ROASTERS April 2: Wintertime Farmers Market. Saturdays: Public Cupping, Tasting and Evaluating Coffee. April 5: Barista Fundamentals. April 28: Sojo MoJo 40th Anniversary Breakfast. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. www.NewHarvestCoffee.com. OTHER AL-ANON Sundays: First Unitarian Church. 1 Benevolent Street, Providence. www.RIAFG.org. AS220 April 3: Stop Motion Animation Workshop. April 5: Digital Editing with Adobe Photoshop. Tuesdays: Open Life Drawing. 115 Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.AS220.org. FREQUENCY WRITERS April 6: A Poetry Workshop for Veterans of War. School One, 220 University Avenue, Providence. www.FrequencyWriters.org. GOAT HILL April 23: Workshop-palooza. 220 University Ave, Providence. www.GoatHillWriters.com.
GALLeRIeS AS220 April 2: April Gallery Openings. 95
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The Best Classical Pilates in Providence
On the town Calendar
continued...
Empire Street, Providence. 831-9327, www.AS220.org.
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ATRIUM GALLERY April 1-31: The ACI Show. One Capital Hill, Providence. 222-6996, www.Arts.RI.gov CHAZAN GALLERY April 1-9: The 2016 Educator’s Exhibit. 228 Angell Street, Providence. 4219230. www.ChazanGallery.org. RISD MUSEUM OF ART April 8-31: Todd Oldham: All of Everything. 224 Benefit Street, Providence. 454-6500, www.RISDMuseum.org.
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ALEX AND ANI CITY CENTER April 16: The New England Family Fun Festival. 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence. 331-5544, www.AlexAndAniCityCenter.com. ARTISTS EXCHANGE April 2: Mini Creature Show. April 9: Laugh Out Loud. April 16: The Kingdom of Riddles. April 23: Storytelling. April 30: Craft Bash. 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 490-9475, www.Artists-Exchange.org. MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND PLANETARIUM April 4: Discovery Tykes: Earth Day. April 9: Nature Walks: Spring Bird Walks. April 18-22: Planetarium Show. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 785-9457. www. ProvidenceRI.com/Museum.
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East Side Monthly April 2016
HAMILTON HOUSE April 8: Conversation with the Artist. 276 Angell Street, Providence. 8311800 www.HistoricHamilton.com. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE Mondays: French Salon de Conversation. Wednesdays: Knitting Group. 8 Stimson Avenue, Providence. 421-7181, www.InternationalHouseOfRI.org. LIFE LONG LEARNING BROWN BAG TALKS April 6: Cy O’Neil, Providence Village. April 20: Ed Fitzpatrick, Political Corruption And What To Do About It. 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence. 401-270-2556 www.LifeLongLearningCollaborative.org. PRESERVE RHODE ISLAND April 5: Becoming Americans:
Immigration, Citizenship and Civic Engagement. April 12: Every Voice Counts: Voter Participation and Engagement. April 19: Money in Politics. 199 Hope Street, Providence. 2725101 www.PreserveRI.org/Lippitt-Programs. PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM April 15: Shakespeare’s First Folio with Coppelia Kahn. April 29: Philbrick Poetry Project Reading. 251 Benefit Street, Providence. 421-6970, www.ProvidenceAthenaeum.org. PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY April 1- 30: Exhibit: Rhode Island Remembers Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising. April 19: Guided Historic/ Architectural Library Building Tour. April 26: Brown Bag Book Club: H is for Hawk. Rochambeau Library, 708 Hope Street, Providence. 272-3780, www. ProvcomLib.org. RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY April 16: America’s Shakespeare. 110 Benevolent Street, Providence. 3318575, www.RIHS.org.
SPORtS BROWN MEN’S LACROSSE April 5: Bryant at Brown. April 19: Providence at Brown. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 863-2773, www. BrownBears.com. BROWN SOFTBALL April 5: Brown at Rhode Island. April 10: Princeton at Brown. April 16-17: Dartmouth at Brown. April 20: Brown at Providence. April 29: Yale at Brown. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 8632773, www.BrownBears.com. BROWN BASEBALL April 10: Princeton at Brown. April 12: Rhode Island at Brown. April 16-17: Dartmouth at Brown. April 19: UMass Lowell at Brown. April 29: Yale at Brown. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 863-2773, www.BrownBears.com. WOMEN’S GOLF April 16: Brown Bear Match Play. 235 Lloyd Avenue, Providence. 863-2773, www.BrownBears.com. PROVIDENCE BRUINS HOCKEY April 2-3: P Bruins vs. Hershey Bears. April 8: P Bruins vs. Portland Pirates. April 13: P Bruins vs. Springfield Falcons. 1 LaSalle Square, Providence. 2735000, www.ProvidenceBruins.com.
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THE NIGHT IS YOUNG {An unselfish night out.} Saturday, April 16, 2016 8:30 p.m. - midnight Rotunda Room, R.I. Convention Center
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United Way of Rhode Island Young Leaders Circle
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April 2016 East Side Monthly
53
Spotlight
special advertising section
T.F. Morra Tree Care, Inc. Ornamental and Shade Tree Specialists
T.F. Morra Tree Care
• fine hand pruning • tree preservation • hazard tree removal • tree evaluation & diagnosis • tree planting consultation
401-331-8527 tfmorra.com Saving Up To 70% off ReTail pRice New, RefuRbished aNd scRatch & deNt appliaNces
A NEW CONCEPT ALZHEIMER’S/ MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE™
Stainless Refrigerators • Ranges Washers & Dryers • Built-In Refrigeration Cooktops & Wall Ovens • Dishwashers
Call today to sChedule a personal tour
401.944.2450
49 Old Pocasset Road, Johnston briarcliffegardens.com
416 Roosevelt Avenue, Central Falls 401.723.0500 • kitchenguys.com 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 200 South Main St, Providence 401-453-0025 marcalleninc.com
Tuesday - Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm
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East Side Monthly April 2016
Dr. ThomaS moriSon ChiropraCTiC phySiCian
401-861-1300 • 187 Waterman Street www.wickedgoodposture.com
How do I protect my trees from invasive species like winter moths? What about once I’ve spotted them? A: Unfortunately, once you have seen winter moth damage, it’s generally too late to get acceptable results. Preventive measures for winter moths do exist, but they typically involve toxic pesticides; the preferable treatment is an organic chemical spray called Spinosad, derived from bacteria. The best course of action is to get on our list for treatment. Our Plant Health Care program (PHC) also includes treatment for hemlock woolly adelgid, Dutch Elm disease, mites, scale insects and many other invasive pests.
What’s the best way to maintain proper tree health? Don’t older trees take care of themselves? A: As trees mature, they do become more self reliant, but landscape trees often do not have the correct soil conditions, and have limited access to water and organic material. Additionally, many of the products used by homeowners and landscapers for lawn care conflict directly with tree health. Creating large mulch beds, even for mature trees, is a great start. We offer organic fertilization options as well, which the trees really appreciate. Organic fertilizers and compost are more easily taken up by the tree’s roots system, providing rapid and substantial results. An assessment of your trees may lead to targeted services such as corrective or weight reduction pruning, structural cabling of poorly attached limbs or removal of hazard trees.
What about taking care of younger trees? Should I prune them myself? A: Pruning young trees can really help with the development of good structure, so I would recommend that homeowners limit pruning to low limbs. Structural pruning, as well as anything requiring working aloft, should be left to the experts. Mulch beds and organic fertilization are also beneficial for young tree development.
How often should I have a tree expert treat my yard? A: Generally, structural tree pruning, canopy raising, and clearance pruning should give about three to five years of benefit. PHC, fertilization, and soil treatment options differ, in some cases annual or even multiple treatments are required, in other cases we can treat and monitor as needed. Optimal tree health is the key goal, as healthy trees with healthy soil are able to thrive even under some of the worst conditions. Our PHC program, which includes soil aeration, soil amendment with organic compost, organic fertilization, and preventive and targeted treatments, is a holistic approach to tree health. Combined with proper pruning and maintenance, we work literally from the ground up in caring for trees.
T.F. Morra Tree Care 401-331-8527 / www.tfmorra.com
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
Swedish Motors High tech means high maintenance
special advertising section
Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors
Don’t wait for the first hot day to bring in your car for A/C service. Summer’s coming! We service and repair ALL foreign and domestic models
Beautiful Pre-Owned Jewelry
• ASE Certified • RI inspection and repair station #27b
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
729 East Avenue • 401-723-1111 (Top of the East Side, next door to Rite Aid)
1271 North Main Street, Providence 437-8421 358 Broad Street, Providence 273-7050
Golden Crest Nursing Centre
Exceptional Post-Surgery Rehab Services
SALES • RENTALS Buying the latest vehicle model is exciting as our cars are quickly offering the types of features that are associated with Apple products. Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors owner Susan mentions, for example, that a 2015 Volvo came in with 15 computers on board. As we roll into an internet-ofthings world with connected smart cars and vehicle systems that require software upgrades, it is good to consider that growing complexity translates into greater needs at the shop. Susan explains, “People have to realize that today the newer car – even though it’s under warrantee – later on it’s going to cost a lot more to fix basic things.” This is not a warning to scare off people from buying a new luxury car, but they should know that these high tech vehicles do come with added costs. For older models where the maintenance fixes might be starting to surpass the vehicle’s value, it could be time to purchase a pre-owned car. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to do a vetting of the used car before buying, so make sure you ask to have your vehicle brought to a trusted technician to know its true condition before finalizing the sale. “Don’t acquire someone else’s headache,” Susan says. And then of course keep your car investment safe by doing routine maintenance work like oil changes, rotating the tires and regular service updates so anything that comes up can be dealt with immediately. To attempt to save money in the near term by putting off routine maintenance will mean more expensive fixes down the road. And as always, communication is the key. Eric, a technician, mentions not to wait if you feel like something is off. He explains, “It can be as simple as stopping by for a road test. A lot of times we can tell just by your basic explanation, or hearing it while on the road.” The good folks at Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors are your partners to help you maintain a great relationship with your vehicle. Give them a call today.
Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors 729 East Avenue, Pawtucket (just over the line) 723-1111 / www.swedishmotors-tomassoauto.com
JOE DECHRISTOFARO Broker/Owner • 401-837-1976 joe@joedechristofaro.com www.JoeDeChristofaro.com
“Serving the East Side”
IasImonE PlumbIng H e at i n g & D r a i n Cleaning, inC. InstallatIons • RepaIRs Replacements 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!
27 Allen Avenue, North Providence (401) 300-9761 • iasimonephdc.com
www.GoldenCrestNursingCentre.com
100 Smithfield Road North Providence (401) 353-1710
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!
Everyone is welcome! 401 Elmgrove Avenue Providence, RI 02906 jewishallianceri.org
Dwares Rhode Island
April 2016 East Side Monthly
55
marketplace HOME IMPROVEMENT EasT sIdE HaNdyMaN 34 years experience. Repairs, upgrades & renovations. Small jobs welcome. References. Insured. Reg. #3052. 524-6421.
ElEcTRIcal sERVIcEs All types. Energy efficient & security lighting & new circuits. Master licenses: RI #A3338, MA #16083A. Insured. Call Larry 529-2087.
MalIN PaINTING Most ceiling & wall repairs, wallpaper removal, oil-based and latex finishes, staining, varnishing. Fully insured, many local references. Safe, secure, fast service. Call 2268332. Reg. #19226.
Prompt, Reliable Quality Work
Levine Painting Co., Inc. Interior, Exterior, Residential/Commercial Wallpaper Hanging, Power Washing, Staining 25 Years Experience
(401) 885-1580 • (401) 323-6100 cell R.I. Lic 7140 Liab/ Work Comp Insured
Kitchen cabinet
The Finest in New England craftmanship
Refinishing
Boreal Remodeling
Staining • Painting Clearcoating
General Home Repair, including Kitchens, Baths, Decks & Additions Reg. # 22013
call anthony today Lic.
401-480-2366 25485 David Onken Painting Interior/Exterior Lead Certified Carpentry Renovations Gutter Cleaning â– Chimney Pointing Roof Leaks Repaired Reg. #19031
Harold Greco, Jr. Plaster Perfection ★ ★
Small Repair Specialist
Emergency Water & Vandalism Repairs
248-5248
Historic Restorations Painting
Reg. #4114
★
Member BBB ★ Est. 1946
MIscEllEaNEOus
I Buy BOOKs
ANTIQUES & UNIQUES
usEd MusIc WaNTEd!
Commercial • Industrial • Residential Interior • Exterior Power Wash • Gutters, Clean & Repair • Ceiling Repair & Textures All Staining & Stains • Interior & Exterior Painting • Basement Water Proofing No Job Too Big No Job Too Small
WaNTEd
Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.
Est. 1988 Professionalism
Ask About Home Improvements Bathrooms • Kitchens
738-0369
davidokenpainting.com
Old, used and almost new. Also buying photography, art, etc. Call 401-286-9329. jcminich1@gmail.com
Trust Scott Ayres 401-688-7416
Insurance Quotes ★ Mold Inspections
Senior ★ Veteran ★ Cash Discounts Insured
Michael Packard • (401) 441-7303
First Unitarian Church Corner of Benevolent & Benefit Sts., Providence
Saturday, April 16th, 10am-2pm.
BBB/Approved
Fully Insured
We Specialize in painting & carpentry Experts in Water Problems
From Roofs, Gutters & Basements Over 20 years of experience on historical homes Certified Lead Renovated LRM #0514 RI Reg #7320 • Fully insured GET IT dONE! call TOday!
Call Al Medina (401) 438-8771 or (401) 323-8252
BusINEss sERVIcEs audIO/VIdEO HElP 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.
INcOME TaXEs Fiore & Asmussion, Inc. C.P.A. 40 Years of Experience. Located at 125 Wayland Avenue. Call 1-401-351-7000.
lEaTHERWORKs, llc A leather and vinyl restoration company. We specialize in funiture, automobiles, boats and aircraft. Visit us at LeatherWorksRI.com, or call Robert at 401 837-0548.
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
PaRKING
HOusE clEaNING
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.
dOROTHy’s clEaNING We clean your home as our own! References & free estimates. Call 401-524-7453 or 401-228-6273.
HOusE clEaNING Experienced. Local references. Free estimates. Call Lilly, 401-419-2933.
Garage & driveway/parking space for rent. Private residence. Corner of Hope & Forest Streets, minutes from Brown. On bus line. Short or long term/month to month. Dean 401-413-2428 or deanmistretta4@aol.com PaRKING/sTORaGE Congdon St., $125 covered carport. Benefit St. (north end), $115/mo. Call Roger, 339-4068. rogernc@mac.com
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.
KINd caRE ~ sENIORs
JOBS BY JIM
Appointments, errands, shopping, cleaning & maint. Refs. Safety bars installed. Reg #3052. 559-0848.
Garages, Attics & Basements Cleaned
JOBs WaNTEd
Unwanteds Removed Small Demolitions - Garages, Sheds, etc. Appliances & Lawn Mowers
cNa aVaIlaBlE TO WORK P/T. Day shift. 10 years experience in nursing homes, RI Hospital & home care. Have a car. $15/hr. Call Joan at 401-249-8586.
Motors â?–Machines â?–Batteries â?–Etc.
â?–
Cell 401-742-7258
Reg. #4614
CHRIS’ LAMP REPAIR We Make Housecalls!!!
Repairing all types of Lamps ✠Vintage Lighting Specialist ✠Chandelier Repairs ✠Serving the East Side for 20 years ✠Fully Insured
âœ
LEE’S CLEANING SERVICE
RENTal
Basic house cleaning & more. Reasonable rates. References.
OFFIcE sPacE aVaIlaBlE
Over 20 years experience.
Call Lee 868-5127 785-1230
401-831-8693 $150/$100 GARAGE & PARKING (EAST SIDE)
sENIOR caRE
www.chrislamprepair.com
For Mental Health Professional. Part-time office space. Walking distance to Brown, Thayer, Wayland. Beautifully renovated Victorian. Clinical/professional set ting. Arrangements flexible. Please call 401-439-5832.
laWN caRE
ORGANIC LANDSCAPING
Vinny’s Landscaping & BOBCAT SERVICES Power Raking � Hammering New Lawns Installed Aerating � Dethatching
Excavating Work
Seed & Sod â—? Fertilizing â—? Planting Rototilling â—? Small Loads Delivered
Free Estimates
â—?Loam â—?Sand â—?Stone â—?Etc. â—?
497-1461 â—? 231-1851
Organic Landscape Maintenance âœś Mowing âœś Pruning âœś Plantings
âœś
Paul Thompson 368-0832
The easT sider
Mark Lambert of Shark’s Come Cruisin has found the middle ground between family man and rock and roller
Mark Lambert on Traditional Music and the Power of Community By Amanda M. Grosvenor is loud and full of late nights: fun when you’re in college, but what about down the road? Mark Lambert of sea shanty band Sharks Come Cruisin, who has owned his home in the Summit neighborhood since 2004, found himself asking this question after his last hardcore punk band dissolved in 1998. New responsibilities and marriage found him seeking a way to blend his love for music with a more grounded lifestyle. Sea shanty bands do exist, but they’re obviously not commonplace. After making his decision to “go lighter” musically, Mark first explored some of the bluegrass, country-esque, rockabilly Americana-style that’s recently been revived, but found it wasn’t for him. It was while watching Jaws one night and hearing the song “Spanish Ladies” that
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East Side Monthly April 2016
he wondered, “What about sea shanties? There must be other songs in this genre.” He checked out some traditional LPs at the Providence Public Library and found his new musical calling. Solo open mic nights downtown led to forming the band Sharks Come Cruisin with some similarly-minded musicians. After many iterations, they settled into a four-piece acoustic group. Mark sings and plays guitar and other percussive instruments with his feet. His wife Erica plays the melodia, and two other members play bass and banjo. Following the birth of their first daughter in 2011, a typical rock band schedule would not work for Mark anymore. The owner of the Parlour on North Main Street has a child the same age, and he and Mark decided to try a family-friendly daytime St. Patrick’s Day show in 2014.
It was such a huge success that the two men launched the monthly Providence Shanty Sing, which celebrates its second anniversary this May. “It’s a very interesting night, and has clearly struck a chord with the family community,” notes Lambert, estimating the early set draws 60-70 people, with a smaller 7:30pm set crowd once sleepy children have gone home. Shanties include “Drunken Sailor,” “Blow the Man Down” and “Leave Her, Johnny.” On the second Friday of every month, guests eat, laugh and sing along, and children are exposed to music in a fun, accessible way that is much more prevalent in Europe than the U.S. There is never a cover charge, but a raffle is held to benefit a local charity. Mark is also working on a book called Kettle Jane with will feature drawn interpretations of sea shanties by artists
friends, as well as a download code for Sharks Come Cruisin recordings. He anticipates releasing it this summer. If you had one wish to enhance life on the East Side, what would it be? “The one thing I would like to see on the East Side is folks doing more research into things like schooling. Don’t take what people say at face value and instead do some digging; don’t assume that there are no good options in your neighborhood,” says Lambert, who will be sending his daughter to MLK. “If parents don’t get involved, things are never going to change. If it turns out that there’s a problem then of course we will explore other options, but people shouldn’t start from a place of assuming it’s impossible just because they heard something negative. It’s not fair to the neighborhood.” www. SharksComeCruisin.com
Photography by Michael Cevoli
Playing in a punk rock band
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Satellite Office: Southcoast Physicians Group Cardiovascular Associates of RI 676 Aquidneck Avenue Middletown, RI 508-973-2213
southcoast.org/veincenter
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