New Listing! $282,500
Elmhurst. Renovated Arts & Crafts Bungalow. Original woodwork, refinished oak floors. New baths, kitchen, heat, electrical, roof. 4 beds with bonus room. Ample living space, plenty of closets, fenced yard, porch.
Daniel Byrnes
New Listing! $359,000
Charming 2 family on quiet street in Wayland Square. 2 bedroom rental on 1st with good income. Sunny 2nd & 3rd floor owner’s townhouse with 6 bedrooms. Fireplace in each unit.
Sue Erkkinen
New Listing! $630,000
Bob Del Deo
New Listing! $1,450,000
Classic brick Georgian steps from Blackstone Boulevard in pristine condition. 5 bedrooms, 4½ baths, eat-in kitchen, spacious rooms, central air, lovely yard, fabulous basement, patio, 2 car garage.
Helen Macdonald
New Listing! $945,000
Custom built Ranch completely remodeled 7 years ago. New windows. French doors from family room (with bookcases) to exquisite grounds with waterfall/dog run. Master suite on 1st, abundant closets throughout. Immaculate home!
Linda Mittleman
New Listing! $419,000
Rumford. Sun filled Colonial in top Rumford location. Beautifully maintained and full of charm. 4 beds, hardwoods throughout, freshly painted. French doors lead to lovely patio & landscaped yard. Lovely home!
Colleen Sullivan
New Listing! $990,000
Sophisticated 2 bedroom College Hill condo on Benefit Street. Fireplaces, hardwoods, granite kitchen, master with Jacuzzi. Private garden. 1 car parking. City views. Walk to Brown, RISD, downtown.
Suzie Prescott
New Listing! $399,000
Rumford. Classic 1940’s Colonial boasts 4 bedrooms, three full baths, family room, central a/c, two car garage. Best location on 12,000 sq foot lot. Needs a little TLC, but worth the effort.
Signature College Hill Victorian. Handsome bracketed cornice, brick and clapboard exterior. Beautifully detailed interiors, inlaid hardwoods, marble fireplaces. Master suite, 4 additional bedrooms, 4.5 baths. 3 zone HVAC, terraced garden, garage.
New Listing! $289,000
Oak Hill. Beautiful 4 bed, 1.5 bath Victorian features exquisite details and woodwork. Fenced yard with gardens and patio is perfect for entertaining. Immaculately maintained!
Michael Young
John McCann
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785 Hope Street, Providence 401-272-6161 • spitzweiss.com June 2011 East Side Monthly
3
Contents June 2011
This Month 15 Summer Arts Previews
The season’s essential movies, music, theater, festivals and more
22 The Honor Roll
Profiles in public school success on the East Side
27 Opinion
A modest proposal to plug our deficit
37 Opinion
Community libraries need community support
45 Politics
Bowling for dollars at the PBA
Every Month
22 32 Dining Guide
54 East of Elmgrove
Your resource for eating out
Dinner with danger
36 Art The new star of Gallery Nights
39 Movies
7 Letters/Editorial 8 Gossip 11 Community News
Three quiet successes worth a look
29 Pajama Monologues
The reality of inflation
An Alaskan spring
31 On the Menu Food trucks are on a roll
East Side Monthly is now online! Visit www.providenceonline.com to read the entire issue
43 Finance Cover Photography by Amy Amerantes
47 Calendar All the info on this month’s happenings
Swing into Spring
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East Side Monthly Print Ad // 9 x 5.875 // cmyk // No Bleeds East Side Monthly June 2011
Editorial “Shared Sacrifice” and the Nonprofits House Bill H-5785: you may not know much about it now, but you soon will. This is the City-supported legislation introduced by five representatives from Providence, Johnston, Cranston and Smithfield that would allow cities and towns to charge nonprofits up to 25% of their assessed property value to pay for essential city services, which includes, but is not limited to, things like police, fire and rescue. Given the dire financial situation in Providence finding alternative revenue sources, while simultaneously trying to cut expenses, is not just prudent fiscal policy. It’s probably essential to the solvency of the City. Needless to say, institutions are not going to give up their nonprofit advantages easily – and this is not to say, that seeking out legislative mandates is the best way to accomplish this. But in reality, there isn’t much of a choice. Using the operative parlance of the day, “shared
sacrifice” will be essential if there is to be any hope of providing a realistic financial future for our children and children’s children. This translates into union givebacks, the Mayor’s call for a 6.25% tax increase for city residents, and the state treasurer’s warning that funding municipal and state pension plans isn’t just an issue to be dealt with – it’s the issue. In other words, the question facing nonprofits isn’t “whether” to give. It’s “How much?” Obviously a funding mechanism arrived at via traditional give-andtake is a preferred option. But passing legislation like H-5785 provides a useful bargaining chip for cities and towns in that negotiation. There’s also the need to consider trading off tax revenue against alternative financial contributions a nonprofit might be able to make. For our part, we think an easier and probably more palatable course is to
separate out dormitories as the noneducational components of the teaching process and tax them separately. It’s always seemed fairer and more appropriate to us. Ian Barnacle, president of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association, stated it in more human terms at one of the hearings. He noted that several of his members have rental property that is leased to Brown students, and they pay very high property taxes on it. Brown and other universities expanding construction plans for their housing units have an unfair advantage by paying no property taxes. How long can taxpayers, he asked, especially on the East Side, continue to survive another possible tax levy like the one that was imposed in July, while these institutions look away? In our view, his point is well taken. Here’s hoping the City, the nonprofits and advocates for us, the taxpayers, see it the same way.
Letters The Real Category Five To the editor: It is well known that I am a longtime supporter of former mayor and current Congressman David Cicilline. It is also well known that I am an active and enthusiastic supporter of current Mayor Angel Taveras. I have read the auditor’s report on the fiscal condition of the City. Yes, there is a serious structural deficit and huge unfunded pension and retirement benefit liabilities that the City must address. But to suggest that these problems were created in the last eight years is an irresponsible misrepresentation of the facts. The unfunded liabilities are the product of contracts negotiated decades ago by former administrations that knowingly passed along those obligations without calculating or caring what the costs would be for future generations. The structural deficit has roots in these same decisions, and was rapidly compounded by the unprecedented economic realities of the last three years. The economic collapse of 2008 precipitated the worst financial crisis to affect this nation since the
1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 tel: 305-3391 | fax: 305-3392 esm@providenceonline.com www.providenceonline.com Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre Managing Editor Barry Fain City Editor Steve Triedman Executive Editor Julie Tremaine Special Projects Manager John Taraborelli Art Director Alli Coate Assisant Art Director Karli Hendrickson Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas Graphic Designer Meghan H. Follett Lauren Kaufmann Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich, Ann Gallagher, Nicole Greenspun, Nellie Lima, Dan Schwartz, Elizabeth Riel, Sharon Sylvester, Jessica Webb
Great Depression! This was the category five hurricane, which devastated everything in its path. That disaster lead to abrupt mid-year suspension of revenue from the State, a mortgage foreclosure crisis that harmed families and reduced property tax revenue for the City, the near collapse of the financial markets that affected individuals, businesses, local governments and pension funds across this country; this was the reality that then Mayor Cicilline faced, along with the chief executives of every other city and town in America. And yet David Cicilline managed to navigate the City through this crisis, maintaining services at a time when residents most needed consistency and support from their community. I have every confidence that Congressman Cicilline will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of Providence and the State of Rhode Island. And I know that Mayor Taveras – as Mayor Cicilline did before him – will make the tough decisions necessary to continue to move Providence forward. I am also confident that, if the people of Providence truly accept the call for shared sacrifice made by Mayor Taveras during his
first budget address, we will secure a bright future for our city. Myrth York Providence
Super Women To the editor: Many thanks for your article honoring women who balance successful careers, families, and personal pursuits (“Balancing Acts,” May 2011). The women you featured are shining examples of what is possible. I would like to add that several of the women profiled have children at Vartan Gregorian School at Fox Point. These moms also find the time to serve as involved members of our active PTO, volunteer in their children’s classrooms and make time to mentor after school clubs. I have had the great pleasure of working with them on school events and having their children in my class. We are blessed to have them as part of our school community and take pride in all of their achievements. They lead by example. Mandy Katz Third Grade Teacher Vartan Gregorian Elementary School
Classified Advertising Sue Howarth Contributing Writers Keith Burkitt, Bob Cipriano, Mary K. Connor, Jill Davidson, Renee Doucette, Don Fowler, Mike Fink, David Goldstein, Bob Mariani, Betsey Purinton, Elizabeth Rau, Dan Schwartz Calendar Christina Evon Interns Carlee Carbone, Ana de la Guardia Alfaro, Erin DeVito, Ashley Graham, Sabrina Kiel, Chelsea Sherman, Christopher Sionni Contributing Photographers Amy Amerantes, Dan Schwartz Contributing Illustrators Ashley MacLure, Jessica Pollak
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 ©2011 by East Side Monthly. All rights reserved. Printed by TCI.
June 2011 East Side Monthly
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Other Side by Barry Fain
Summer in the City Plenty to do and see this month PPS Festival of Historic Houses to Feature the Boulevard One of the highlight events of the month is, of course, the annual Providence Preservation Society’s Festival of Historic Houses set for June 4. Now in its 32nd year, the Festival is considered one of the very best of its kind, attracting both local residents as well as preservationists from all over the country. This year’s homes will be from our very own Blackstone Boulevard. You may have driven (or even run, walked or biked) past them hundreds of times. Now you get to go inside. There’s also a Friday night cocktail party gala that will included hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a presentation by a well-known interior decorator. For more information, contact PPS at 831-7440 or check out www.ppsri.org.
Good Theatre is Child’s Play One of the most interesting theatre arts projects in the city may be one you’ve never heard of. The Manton Avenue Project (called MAP by its friends) is the brainchild of its energetic founder and talented artistic director Jenny Peek. Their stated goal is to “increase the self-esteem and unleash the creative voices of inner city children.” MAP presents plays written by children from urban areas of Providence and performed by local professional actors. The results are clever, frequently hilarious and always thoughtful. Do yourself a favor and check out their major annual fundraising event scheduled for June 6 at Providence College’s Smith Center for the Arts. This time, the plays will be written by well-known local celebrities. Already signed up are Conductor Francisco Noya from the RI Philharmonic, children’s author Allen Kurzweil, and City Councilwoman Sabina Matos. Tickets are $50 but include drinks, appetizers and, of course, the plays. For more details call 331-7007 or visit www. mantonavenueproject.org. Bravo to all concerned for what should be a great evening.
A “Friend of Ours” Makes Her Stage Debut One of our favorite people, former Attorney General
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East Side Monthly June 2011
Arlene Violet, will be bringing her long-awaited play The Family: A Musical About the Mob to Trinity this month. The play opens June 2, runs through July 1, and is based on her book. As a former AG and Providence native, there’s no question the author knows her subject matter. But given her wit and the musical talents of collaborator Enrico Garzilli, the play promises to be a lot of fun. For ticket information and other details go to www.trinityrep.com or call 351-4242. Ticket prices are already set, but of course you can always just make them an offer they can’t refuse.
Funny, You Don’t Look a Day Over 99 The Providence Rotary just celebrated its 100th anniversary with a spectacular black tie optional event at the Providence Marriott that was attended by about 200 people. The Providence Club was the 22nd to be founded by an organization that now boasts over 34,000 clubs in over 220 countries around the world. In honor of the event, the Club made a $22,000 donation to support Rotary’s ongoing End Polio Now campaign. Along with the Gates Foundation, over a billion dollars and countless man-hours have been spent in this effort. Last year there were less than 400 reported cases of polio worldwide in just four countries. The event also honored four individuals, all with Providence ties, for their outstanding contributions to the community. Former East Side resident and businessman Stanley Sorrentino was named “Rotarian of the Century.” Well-known hotel developer and philanthropist Arthur Robbins was presented the Centennial Rotarian Service Award. In addition, Fox Point resident Lorne Adrain was given the Rotarian Community Leadership Award for 2011, while Keila Rodriguez was selected as Community Volunteer of the Year. Kudos to a wonderful community organization that, even after 100 years, remains committed to their motto of “Service Above Self.”
Keep On the Grass One of our favorite summer activities here on the East Side is to grab a blanket, a couple of bottles
of vino, maybe a fancy picnic basket and head over to the John Brown House on Benefit Street. That’s where the RI Historical Society hosts their annual Concerts Under the Elms music series that’s been an East Side Thursday evening tradition for over a decade. The music runs the gamut from jazz to folk to ethnic. It’s always pretty mellow – so too is the crowd. Check out our arts preview starting on page 15 for a list of who’s coming and when. (Our favorite is local legend Duke Robillard who is set to perform in July.) The series begins on June 30 and runs through mid-August. No need to reserve early (it is a huge lawn, after all), though if you join RIHS, the tickets are free. Otherwise it’s $8 – and a perfect thing to do on a pleasant Midsummer Night.
Drive-Ins Downtown You’ve got your Showcase. Your Avon. Your Cable Car. And starting this month, you’ve got your free downtown drive-in (or walk-to) movies, too. Using Grant’s Block next to the newly reopened Tazza (the corner of Westminster and Union), the popular outdoor Movies On the Block series returns with its eclectic mix of old classics, pop features, even some short features. True, you’re on your own for popcorn or other goodies, but there are plenty of nearby options. Let’s hear it for “Summer in the City.”
ESM Columnist Makes the Finals We were remiss not to congratulate one of our longtime contributors, Bob Mariani, for his success in a recent New Yorker writing competition. The magazine conducted a national writing contest in their “On the Town” travel section. While he didn’t win it, Bob was selected as one of the eight finalists for an article he wrote about traveling to Northern Ireland to visit the Bushmill’s Distillery there. His success didn’t strike us as too surprising though, since Bob has been an award-winning copywriter, the founder and president of the Creative Communications Club of Providence as well as the co-author of Almost Golden, a memoir about growing up in the Bronx, which he wrote with his brother John, the well-known food writer for Esquire magazine. Bob, you done us proud!
Other Side by Barry Fain
Planning Ahead
Increase Your Home’s Beauty & Value
Brown’s five-year plan calls for new dormitories, parking on the East Side Brown University is about to present its five-year plan for future expansion within the Institutional Zone as required by law. The presentation will outline the university’s general expectations about what it is considering over the next five to ten years. Obviously, the plans are just that and their implementation depends on factors such as funding success, achieving necessary permitting and zoning relief if needed, and the like. It does allow the residents in neighborhoods abutting the university however, to voice any thoughts or concerns they may have to both the school and the City Plan Commission. The process has already begun with several open neighborhood meetings. The next step will encompass the university’s response to any community input and then a formal presentation to the City Plan Commission, probably this month. For more specifics on upcoming meetings and the five-year plan itself, residents are encouraged to contact either the university or the City Planning Office. The three core aspects of its last fiveyear plan will remain the cornerstones of Brown’s anticipated growth over the next five years as well. Committed to expansion, the university will concentrate on 1) improving circulation within this expanding campus, 2) continuing to increase the density of the existing core campus while also 3) embarking on growth opportunities off College Hill. The five-year plan calls for increasing bus, Zip Car, bicycle opportunities and non-vehicular options to encourage better circulation between parts of its campus. In particular, better flow between the College Hill campus and the buildings near the new Knowledge District and the hospital complex is a priority. In terms of increasing density on College Hill, the school is hoping to expand dormitory space by about 350 beds. Three areas of growth suggested will be the area around 245-54 Brook Street near the strip shopping area, 66-72 Charlesfield Street, and the northern side of Cushing Street (across from CVS and around onto Brook Street which
is now being used for parking). “We’d like to add about 300 more beds so as to move available on-campus housing from 85% of our students to 90%,” says Mike McCormick, Assistant Vice President for Planning, Design and Construction for Brown. The university also plans to take some of its existing underutilized housing stock and return it to the community for sale. At the most recent presentation, several neighbors expressed concerns that the plan would involve knocking down several historic homes and thinning the buffer between institutional use and residential. “This does not seem to be in the spirit of being a good neighbor,” suggests one Bowen Street participant. Another resident suggested perhaps amending the current zoning laws, which restrict no more than three unrelated residents sharing the same building in certain areas, could be amended to facilitate Brown students and save older buildings. Another significant change being proposed would be the addition of about 350 more parking spaces to the athletic complex on the corner of Lloyd and Hope. The new parking would be built to fit under a new proposed seating area for the soccer field. Issues of timing and traffic flow are still being studied and the university would need to get approval from the Plan Commission before actual construction could occur. While admitting the funding issues remain challenging, McCormick suggests possible preliminary talks with architects could begin as early as September. The university clearly remains committed to projects off College Hill as well, particularly in the new Knowledge District. One possible usage project would include space for graduate dormitories. Another offers attractive mixed-use plans for the area. For additional information on Brown’s five-year Institutional Plans, contact Jennifer Braga, the school’s Liaison for Government Relations and Community Affairs. She can be reached at Jennifer_ braga@brown.edu or by calling 863-3717
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Community News Community News is 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.
Fox Point By John Rousseau Fox Point Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 270-7121 Website: www.fpna.net Email Address: fpna@cox.net Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603177, Providence, RI 02906 Events this Month: FPNA Monthly Board Meeting, 7-8pm. June 13 at the Vartan Gregorian Bath House Library. FPNA Supports Mayor on Parcels The Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) supported Senate Bill 0014 that requires nonprofit institutions, like medical centers and universities, to negotiate a tax agreement with the City of Providence, or pay full property taxes on any of the Interstate 195 parcels. FPNA President Ian Barnacle entered a letter into record at an April 14 Senate committee hearing, saying that a distinction must be made between the struggling nonprofits and “these institutions” in light of the city and state’s current fiscal crisis. “As an example of tax disparity, several FPNA members have rental property that is leased to Brown students and pay very high property taxes. Brown (and other universities), who are expanding construction plans for their housing units have an unfair advantage by paying no property taxes. How long can taxpayers, especially on
the East Side, continue to survive another possible tax levy like the one that was imposed in July, while these institutions look away?” At the hearing, FPNA also said it was opposed to the sale and lease of I-Way parcels and that the process should be controlled exclusively by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the State Properties Commission. FPNA and a spin-off advocacy group, Head of the Bay Gateway, fought for over three years to prevent the sale on the open market of the first I-195 parcel, Shooters, to the highest bidder, Barnacle said. “These two state agencies stood firmly together and denied our appeals for the higher purpose of a public waterfront in Providence. Had not the wisdom of the Rhode Island legislature prevailed and the matter placed before the voters, there would be no hope of a public waterfront today in the State’s capitol city.” he adds. Instead, FPNA strongly supports the Providence Foundation’s idea of a commission to create design guidelines for the land and to hash out a host of details for that acreage and the blocks nearby. “We agree with Governor Lincoln Chafee and Mayor Angel Taveras that development of this land should be viewed as a top priority for economic recovery. As such, it should not be left exclusively in the hands of these two state agencies.” FPNA Calls for Work Stoppage FPNA President Ian Barnacle also asked that all construction work on Contract 15, regarding East Side Streets, should be stopped immediately. FPNA has been repeatedly asking RIDOT unsuccessfully to revise its current design plans for the Wickenden and I-Way access streets into Fox Point. “Instead, the agency seems more concerned about quickly exiting highway traffic than creating a safe,
quiet, pedestrian-friendly entranceway into Fox Point and this returned street grid,” Barnacle said. “By not limiting highway speeds, nor providing adequate parking for these parcels and greater access to the bay and riverfront, RIDOT’s plan seems destined to adversely affect their revenue potential for the City and State.” These unresolved problems remain and should be addressed before this project advances, Barnacle pointed out. In addition, FPNA has issues with the Wickenden, Benefit and Pike Streets in regard to pedestrian and vehicular safety. Sakura Restaurant Back for Zoning Change Sakura Restaurant at 231 Wickenden Street will appear again at the June 13 Zoning Board of Review to seek approval of allowances that would increase capacity of the restaurant from 50 to 125 persons. At an April 2 zoning hearing, attorneys representing the restaurant’s owners denied that the building expansion was “out of scale,” while those for the Gomes family at 223 Wickenden Street maintained it was and created a parking issue. Councilman Seth Yurdin spoke against the expansion, saying it set a bad precedent for Wickenden Street because it changed the fabric of the neighborhood. FPNA Vice President Daisy Schnepel presented a letter into record at the hearing opposing variances being granted for the restaurant as the current plans describe it. “As a neighborhood group, we would prefer that those parties in the immediate area work out their differences to come to an acceptable compromise.” Schnepel said the restaurant did not gain adequate support from its neighbors for the changes, but that the organization might welcome a scaled
down version of their plans. Zoning Board Chair Myrth York asked that FPNA “facilitate” a discussion between the two parties, following a request from the restaurant’s attorneys for a continuance.
Brown Street Park By Wendy Nilsson Friends of Brown Street Park Phone Number: 454-8712 Website: www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Email Address: wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Mailing Address:30 Pratt Street Providence, RI 02906 Events this Month: The BSP features mostly free fitness classes for adults, children and families with schedules available online at www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org. Participants include the East Side/Mt Hope YMCA, Crossfit Providence, Parkour and OM kids Yoga, to name a few. Check our website for the latest updates. Athenaeum Story Hours start in June featuring the fabulous Lindsey Shaw. Please check our website for details and dates. Summer Concert Series Join us for the fourth annual Providence Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative summer concert series on Wednesdays at 5:30pm: July 6 and 20 and August 3 (AS220’s Chris Cross Band) and 17. Healthy snacks and beverages from our featured sponsor, Whole Foods Univer-
June 2011 East Side Monthly
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Community News continued...
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sity Heights will be available for a small donation. The Food Truck from RISD, Rosie’s, will be curbside at all of our concerts this year. Volunteers are always welcome. Please email David via concerts@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org if you can help. Special thanks from BPS to… Brenda Shannon for four years of outstanding service to our community. Brenda played an integral role in bringing all of the events, classes and programs we all enjoy to BSP. We will miss her greatly. In addition we’d like to also thank Molly Regan at Logica Design and Rebecca Zub and Jim Larkin at Graphic Innovations, for new signs at entrances to the park; Bartlett Trees for taking care of all of our trees after a brutal winter; Wastehaulers for keeping us clean and green; The Department of Parks and recreation, A-Z Auto shop in North Kingstown and Brown University for snow removal; the fabulous corps of volunteers led by Mike Paradiso and Pedro Dal Bo for attempting our ice rink, Crossfit Providence and all who came out to help with our major Spring Clean up; And finally to Whole Foods University Heights for keeping our volunteers fed and hydrated
Blackstone Parks Huge deck overlooking beautiful Providence Harbor, at the base of the Washington Bridge fresh seafood and raw bar
270-4245 28 Water Street, E. Providence www.deckfortytwo.com 12
East Side Monthly June 2011
By Jane Peterson Blackstone Parks Conservancy Phone Number: 270-3014 Website: www.blackstoneparksconservancy.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906 Events this Month: Photography exhibit: Through Our Eyes: Woodland and Water, June 5, 4-7pm. Narragansett Boat Club, River Road, Providence. Concert Series on the Boulevard, dates to be announced. Boulevard pruning project to be finished. Electricity to be installed at the Trolley Shelter.
What do you see when you walk in Blackstone woods? What do you look for? If it’s birds and wildflowers, you might spot a pair of wood ducks (he of the brilliant colors and she of the more sedate black and white) in the trees, as a visitor did in mid-April. April was the time, too, for the pale blooms of wild cherry. If you’re a forester or a stormwater engineer in these woods, you see that beauty. But you’ll note reasons for concern as well. You’ll spot 16 invasive plant species pushing out better-suited natives and the wildlife that depend on them. And nobody can miss the exposed tree roots. This 150-year-old park has survived a lot. But given how much soil is being carried away by rainwater, you wonder how long those trees can last, especially the ones just above crumbling bluffs. Fortunately City Forester Doug Still is gradually clearing Norway maples that are out-competing native trees. Once their shade is gone, the native beech, sugar maple, oak and hickory of this woodland can absorb sunlight and grow. Doug says it’s a long-term project. The engineer in the much-visited central plateau sees trails packed hard as sidewalks, tilting downhill and acting as sluices for water and topsoil during the large storms. The challenge is to figure out how to make it hospitable to (and safe for) human visitors and also preserve the trees, plants and wildlife that attract people in the first place. But money is short, which is where volunteers come in. For Trail Day on April 9, Appalachian Mountain Club members Don Cordner, Chris Shafer and Jack Schempp, and Blackstone Parks Conservancy board members Jon Ford and Gale Aronson joined alumni from Franklin Pierce University and others to carry out erosion-control plans developed under Parks Department guidance. The Department of Environmental Management underwrote the materials. Landscape architect and Parks Department consultant Kurt van Dexter gave part of his Saturday to answer questions. The volunteers built temporary fences and placed signs to steer people away from the eroding bluff trails. They staked logs to define useable trails and spread mulch in compacted bare spots so undergrowth could regenerate. And
across a growing gully near Angell Street they staked coir logs made out of coconut husks, an experiment people will watch with interest. June’s glory in the Conservation District is the Mountain Laurel as drifts of pink blossom clusters light up the darkening woods. As you admire it, consider the web of life of which it is part. And our vision: “Healthy urban green space for all.” Please remember to mail East Side Market receipts.
Summit Neighborhood By Ben Grisi Summit Neighborhood Association Website: www.summitneighbors.org Address: PO Box 41092, Providence, RI 02940 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Fountain in Lippitt Park Join us in Lippitt Park on May 21 (time TBD) to honor the reopening of the Henry Bowen Anthony fountain. We are excited to see the waters flow again. Summit Music Festival: August 14 in Lippitt Park The grant submitted by the SNA for the City of Providence Performing Arts Initiative to hold another music festival this summer in Lippitt Park was approved. The second annual Summit Music Festival will be held on Sunday August 14. Performing artists and vendors will be announced later this spring. North Main Beautification Project In a partnership with the SNA, the newlyformed North Main Street Merchants Association is launching a beautification project aimed at turning North Main Street back into a neighborhood main street. They will start by planting flowers in the median between 9th Street and Smithfield Avenue. They hope to reinvigorate the street by making it more pedestrian friendly and encouraging development.
The Epitome of Summer... Ou r
Safety There has been an increase in thefts and burglaries from vulnerable houses, cars and public places in the southern part of the East Side, including Wayland Square, College Hill, Fox Point and the outer Elmgrove district. At our May 25 meeting, we’ll try to have a speaker from our local police substation (on Brook Street) come to explain what’s been happening and reasonable precautions to take to protect your property. McBride’s Mark Russell, who’s opening a new Irish pub (serving light food) in the former garage of the Monahan Drabble Sherman funeral home on Wayland and Waterman, came to our April meeting and said he’s planning around a grand opening on Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-30). McBride’s should fill a much-felt need for an informal local
College Hill Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 633-5230 Website: www.collegehillna.com Email Address: chna@collegehillna.com Mailing Address: CHNA, P.O. Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906 CHNA’s most recent Board meeting convened on Monday evening, May 2 at Lippitt House Museum, 199 Hope Street. Attending Board members included Allison Spooner, Alex Payson, Sara Bradford, Ed Bishop, Yvonne Schilling, Heidi Heifetz, Mary Crandall, Leslie Kellogg, Barry Fain, and Ted Trafton.
Brown’s Master Plan Brown University has recently presented their five–year plan for future expansion within the Institutional Zone. The presentation outlined the university’s general expectations about what they are considering over the next few years. Topics include an increase in oncampus students, changes to the athletic complex, and developments in the Jewelry District to name a few. The next step will encompass the university’s response to any community input and then formal presentation to the City Department of Planning probably in June. Several open neighborhood meetings have been held over the course over the past several months. Residents should continue to attend upcoming meetings and offer their thoughts or concerns. For more specifics on upcoming meetings and the five-year plan itself, residents are encouraged to contact Jennifer Braga, Brown’s liaison for Government Relations and Community Affairs. She can be reached at Jennifer_braga@brown.edu or by calling 863-3717. You can also join CHNA online or by mail. Membership is $20 per year and includes invitations to events, as well as timely email crime alerts and our free, mostly monthly e-newsletter, which reports on neighborhood news as well as CHNA’s activities. All new members receive a welcome packet. To join (or renew) your membership, visit our website, www.collegehillna.com and click “Join CHNA.” Or send a check for $20, made out to College Hill Neighborhood Association, to the Treasurer, Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906. Be sure to include your email address.
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Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waylandsquare Events this Month: MONTHLY MEETINGS: Wednesday, May 25 and Wednesday, June 22 at 7pm. Books on the Square, street level, 471 Angell Street (at Elmgrove, next to CVS). Free and open to all. Future meetings will be at the same place and time on the fourth Wednesday of each month through October 2011.
By Allison Spooner
Ro l
Cr
By David Kolsky
College Hill
Crime Awareness There has been a rise in breaking and entering crimes on the East Side in the past few months. CHNA sends out crime alerts as we receive the information from the Providence Police Department. The alerts are also posted on our website on our crime awareness page until new information is received. Also, if you witness an act of graffiti vandalism or observe suspicious activity, immediately report it to the Providence Police at 272-3121. Tips can also be reported anonymously by calling 1-800-TAGGERS.
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Farmer’s Market and Open Market Dates The Farmer’s Market will return on Saturdays in Lippitt Park at Hope Street and Blackstone Boulevard from 9:30am12:30pm beginning on June 4. The 2011 Providence Open Market of crafts and collectibles operates from June 11 through September 24 on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. After the winter we’ve endured, strolling the markets in June cannot come fast enough.
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New Web Address for CHNA CHNA can now be found at www.collegehillna.com. Please visit our website for local events and activities, news and updates, crime alerts and prevention tools, public hearings, and city and state links. You can also find a plethora of resources for home and family such as babysitters, trash removal, medication disposal and energy audits on our local resources page.
Cocktails on College Hill Cocktails on College Hill continues with three more parties in June! This series is a CHNA-organized activity that brings neighbors together to meet and is designed to strengthen our sense of community within College Hill. CHNA Board members will be on hand at the events to offer more information about the work being done within our organization and how residents may become more involved. Anyone who joins or renews their membership at one of these parties will also receive CHNA’s welcome packet, which includes coupons for goods and services offered by local vendors. (If you use the coupons, your membership pays for itself.) If you have questions or did not receive an invitation directly, please email Allison at allison@collegehillna.com.
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East Side Monthly June 2011
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Summer Preview
Theatre Setting the Stage Summer theatre lights up Rhode Island • By Don Fowler
Just as with food, theater in the summer typically offers lighter fare, which in this case includes comedies, musicals and a little bit of local flavor. Here are some of the options closer to home – and closer to the beach.
Island one more time, with shows July 22-August 13. (Previews: July 20 and 21.) Always a lot of fun, it should do well again this year. The summer season closes with The Drowsy Chaperone from August 19-September 4. (Previews: August 17 and 18.) A success on Broadway, it too strikes the right note for appropriate summer fare. 782-TKTS, www.theatrebythesea.com
THE FAMILY AT LEDERER THEATRE The entire state is waiting anxiously to see what Arlene Violet has in store for us in this musical spoof on the Rhode Island Mafia. The Family - A Musical About the Mob, written by the former Attorney General, with music and lyrics by Enrico Garzilli, will be performed at Trinity’s Lederer Theatre from June 2-July 1. Peter Sampieri will direct a cast of local, New York and Boston actors who are now in rehearsal. 3514242, www.trinityrep.com
2ND STORY THEATRE
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
PERISHABLE THEATRE Perishable brings back their big hit that sold out audiences last year: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, starring Alexander Platt. We saw the wildly entertaining musical the first time around and loved it, especially Platt’s performance. I should note that this is not a musical for children. It contains adult themes, profanity and some heavy rock music. Perishable is moving this production into a larger space at Trinity Rep’s Pell Chafee Performance Center, one door down at 87 Empire Street. Tickets are only $25. Improv Jones, Rhode Island’s premier improvisational comedy troupe continues at Perishable throughout the summer, every Thursday and Saturday night at 10pm. Tickets at the door are $5. Two other popular Perishable presentations will also play in June for a mere $5: Live Bait: True Stories From Real People on Friday, June 3, and Breathing Tube: Short Plays for Radio, Live on June 17 at 10pm. 331-2695, www.perishable.org
BROWN SUMMER THEATRE Lowry Marshall is back again with another exciting and innovative series of three plays to be performed in the round at Brown’s Leeds Theatre. As a preview, Marshall reports the three plays are all about love. The Brown/Trinity Playwrights Rep, billed as “live professional theatre for the price of a movie,” will offer the following schedule, which concludes with all three plays being done in repertory on July 30. She’s Not There by Alix Sobler, directed by Shana Gozansky, will be presented July 6-9 and 29 at 8pm, and July 30 at 1pm. The Killing of Michael X, a New Film by Celia Wallace, written by Cory Hinkle and directed by Ryan Purcell, will be on the Leeds stage July 13-16 and 28 at 8pm, and July 30 at 4pm. My Best Friend, or Six Degrees of Sevrin Stein, written by Brooks Ber-
man and directed by Melissa Kievman, is the final play, scheduled for July 20-23, 27, and 30 at 8p.m. 8632838, www.brown.edu/btprep
THEATRE-BY-THE-SEA Theatre-by-the-Sea in Matunuck opens its 2011 summer season on June 3 with the hilarious The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. We saw the play at PPAC and enjoyed its unusual approach to humor. There’s also a degree of audience participation, which adds to the frivolity. Preview performances are on June 1 and 2, and it runs through June 19. Man of La Mancha, one of Broadway’s greatest musicals, will be staged at TBTS June 24 to July 16, with previews on June 22 and 23. The moving and humorous account of Don Quixote’s quest for “The Impossible Dream” is worth seeing more than once. Hairspray will return to Rhode
Director Ed Shea has something special lined up for the month of June: He’s taking his show on the road – though before you get too excited, it’s only moving only from Warren to next door Bristol. Tom Topor’s suspenseful melodrama NUTS, will be performed at the historic Bristol Statehouse (240 High Street) in the center of Bristol, June 3-26, with shows Thursdays at 7pm and Friday and Saturdays at 8pm. There are also Sunday matinees at 3pm. The play is actually set in a courtroom at New York’s Bellevue Hospital, where a high-class call girl who killed a violent “john” in self-defense is indicted for manslaughter. When her parents have her declared mentally incompetent, she launches a fierce battle to convince the court she is sane enough to stand trial. The Broadway hit was made into a movie starring Barbara Streisand. We’ve seen other plays set in courtrooms at the Bristol Statehouse, which makes a perfect setting for this play, directed by Pat Hegnauer. As we were going to press, director Ed Shea had not yet decided on the two contemporary plays that 2nd Story will present this summer, which marks the theatre’s 10th anniversary in Warren. A big fundraising gala is planned for Sunday, August 6 at 3pm. Play #1 will run from July 13 to July 31, and Play #2 from August 17 to September 4. 247-4200, www.2ndstorytheatre.com June 2011 East Side Monthly
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Summer Preview
Music Get Out of Town Music festivals that are worth the trip • By Don Fowler
While our dear city has plenty of music to keep you busy all summer, a lot of the season’s biggest festivals merit a trip beyond city limits to Newport and South County. We promise it will be worth the beach traffic.
location, is that is offers multiple stages at various sites around the grounds. So if you don’t like a particular style of jazz, there are artists performing simultaneously in three venues. You get to walk around and choose. www.newportjazzfest.net
NEWPORT MUSIC FESTIVAL
2ND ANNUAL NEWPORT
This world-famous classical music extravaganza continues under the leadership of Mark Malkovich, IV in the mansions of Newport. An opening evening concert on July 8 (there is also a benefit concert the night before at Portsmouth Abbey) will be followed by three, and sometimes four, concerts a day through July 24, for a total of 57 performances. Clearly there is too much music to list each concert individually, but rest assured it is always a wonderful event. The mansions provide a gorgeous backdrop for beautiful music. The complete schedule is available online. 849-0700, www.newportmusic.org
SUNSET MUSIC SERIES The Newport Yachting Center on America’s Cup Avenue in downtown Newport is home to this eclectic concert series that opens on Saturday, June 25 with the ever-popular Indigo Girls. While it’s not a festival in the traditional sense – performances continue throughout the summer – it’s one of the true sleeper musical events in the state. It provides a smaller and more intimate venue that is pretty easy to negotiate. The acts are good. The food is nearby. And you can’t beat the views. Highlights from the rest of the schedule include: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones on July 9; the Robert Cray Band with special guest Shemekia Copland on July 22; the fabulous Doobie Brothers, with two of the original members, on July 29 in what should be a sell-out; Guster on August 4; Grace Potter & the Nocturnals on August 11; and The Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute, with the Interstellar Laser Show on August 12. 846-1600, www. newportwaterfrontevents.com
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East Side Monthly June 2011
WATERFRONT REGGAE FESTIVAL Back at the Newport Yachting Center there is the second annual Reggae Festival on August 13, featuring Jamaica’s dancehall pioneer, Yellowman and his Sagittarius Band, plus two-time Grammy winner Michael Rose of the legendary Black Uhuru, and the Skatalites. Two stages of reggae performers will play continuously from noon into the evening. If reggae is your thing, this festival is your place. www.newportwaterfrontevents.com
RHYTHM & ROOTS FESTIVAL Trombone Shorty plays at the Newport Jazz Festival
NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL
NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL
On July 30- 31, the annual Newport Folk Festival returns to Fort Adams State Park. As the festival continues to diversify, it is getting more difficult each year to define “folk music.” The Folk Fest has a history of bringing back some of the veterans of the genre, while introducing new, young artists who sometimes play outside the box. Among the legends slated to return this year: Earl Scruggs and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, along with Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, and Elvis Costello doing an acoustic concert. As for some of the newer names, highlights include the “Gypsy punk” band Gogol Bordello, the hyper-literate folk rock of the Decemberists, and the old-timesmeets-new-attitude Carolina Chocolate Drops. There is also some local flavor on stage in the form of Brown Bird, Middle Brother and the What Cheer? Brigade. www.newportfolkfest.net
The Newport Jazz Festival, the granddaddy of them all, will be at Fort Adams on August 6-7, with the traditional pre-festival concert on Friday evening, August 5 at 8pm at the Tennis Hall of Fame. Friday’s concert features Michael Feinstein and Wynton Marsalis – two show-stoppers. George Wein has lined up some of the greatest artists of the genre, including Ravi Coltrane, Joshua Redman, Eddie Palmieri, and the incredible Esperanza Spalding, a Grammy winner for this year’s Best New Artist. Marsalis and Spalding will perform on both Saturday and Sunday. Speaking of new, young talent, one of the rising stars of the New Orleans music scene, Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue, plays both days as well. One of the beauties of the festival, in addition to its spectacular waterfront
We wouldn’t miss this family-friendly, foot stompin’ music, dance and food festival for the world, having sat through rainstorms, bone-chilling evenings, steamy hot days, and even a near-hurricane to enjoy cajun, zydeco, blues, Tex-Mex, and all kinds of great roots music. The Rhythm and Roots Festival is held at Ninigret Park in Charlestown from September 3-5. The host band this year is The Red Stick Ramblers, who will perform all three days. Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys will be back, along with Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band and many other favorites. Music begins at noon and goes well into the evening on the main stage, in the dance tent, and in the workshop tent. There are activities all day long for the kids, including a Mardi Gras parade. Camping is available, plus a fresh water pond for swimming, loads of vendors, and some of the best regional food from down south. (You’ve got to try the Jambalaya.) www.rhythmandroots.com
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June 2011 East Side Monthly
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Summer Preview
Movies Revenge of the Blockbusters Summer movie season goes into overdrive • By Ashley Graham
After its post-Oscar slumber, Hollywood wakes up on Memorial Day for the annual parade of blockbusters, big budget franchises and splashy sequels coming to a theater near you. Here are some of this summer’s most anticipated releases.
X-Men: First Class June 3 Kevin Bacon, Caleb Landry Jones, Nicholas Hoult, January Jones, Lucas Till X-Men: First Class follows Professor X and Magneto through their journey from allies to enemies. As young men, they lead a mission to save the planet from nuclear annihilation. In the midst of their mission they clash, becoming the rivals we know from the previous X-Men films, as Professor X founds his mutant school for good and Magneto spreads evil.
Super 8 June 10 Kyle Chandler, Noah Emmerich, Elle Fanning J.J. Abrams (Lost, the most recent Star Trek reboot) collaborates with Steven Spielberg for this summer sci-fi thriller. After a pickup truck mysteriously derails a speeding train, strange things begin to happen in a small Ohio town. When locals begin to disappear with no explanation, this accident is ruled as anything but an accident.
Cars 2 June 24 Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, John Turturro, Eddie Izzard, Michael Caine Lightening McQueen, the racecar, and Mater, the tow truck, are back for a second adventure, this time going overseas to compete in the first World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But Mater finds himself in his own adventure when he is torn between helping his friend win the race or towing in a top-secret mission coordinated by Finn McMissile, a British spy, and Holley Shiftwell, a beautiful spy-in-training.
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East Side Monthly June 2011
Transformers: Dark of the Moon July 1 Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Ken Jeong The Megan Fox-less third installment of Transformers follows the Autobots and Decepticons as they race to the moon to reach a hidden spacecraft. Who will get to the Cybertronian spacecraft first and learn its secrets? Only lots of frenetic robot-on-robot action and Shia LaBeouf running from explosions will tell.
Larry Crowne July 1 Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts When Larry Crowne is downsized out of his job, he is left with empty days and nothing to fill them. He decides to go back to college, looking to reinvent himself, and before long finds himself part of a colorful community of outcasts. Larry falls for his public speaking teacher, who is also in a rut, having lost her passion for both teaching and her husband.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part II July 15 Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson The second half of Harry Potter’s last adventure finally hits theaters. Harry, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemort’s final horcruxes. But what will happen when Voldemort finds out about their mission? You probably already know, but are still curious to see how it plays out on the big screen.
Cowboys and Aliens July 29 Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde Science fiction meets western when an adaptation of the popular graphic novel comes to the big screen. When a spaceship on a mission to take over the earth
Daniel Craig in Cowboys and Aliens
lands in the Wild West in 1873, it is up to the cowboys to stand in their way and protect what is theirs. Gun-slinging action and gruff, steely glares ensue.
The Smurfs July 29 Neil Patrick Harris, George Lopez, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, Jonathan Winters They’re back – and no longer in the cartoon world that the original creator, cartoonist Peyo, intended for them. When Gargamel chases the Smurfs out of their village they find themselves in New York City. In a race against time, they must get back to their world before Gargamel tracks them down.
The Change-Up August 5 Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde Hasn’t it been a while since you saw a good, old fashioned body-switching comedy? Dave and Mitch were inseparable friends from childhood that began
to drift when the stresses of life got in the way. Dave is an overworked lawyer with a wife and three kids, while Mitch has maintained the life of a bachelor with no responsibilities. To Dave, Mitch has it all and to Mitch, Dave has it all. After one drunken night they wake up in each other’s bodies, quickly finding out that each other’s lives are not all they’re cracked up to be.
Our Idiot Brother August 26 Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel Ned, an organic farmer who relies on the honesty of mankind for a troublefree existence, gets dumped by his girlfriend. When she kicks him off of the farm, each one of his three sisters takes turns housing him. His lack of common sense and strong commitment to honesty create a few messes in his sisters’ comfortable routines, but when their lives start falling apart, they begin to question if he is the smart one for believing and trusting in others.
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Summer Preview
Arts from the streets to the screens Outdoor concerts, festivals and films keep the summer lively By Ashley Graham and Chelsea Sherman CONCERTS UNDER THE ELMS
FLICKERS: RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Rhode Island Historic Society once again brings an array of music to the lawn of the historic John Brown House on Benefit Street with its Concerts Under The Elms. On June 30, The American Band presents patriotic music and “pops repertoire.” The Duke Robillard Band will play some classic blues, R&B and swing music on July 14. On the 21st, enjoy Celtic-inspired music with Pendragon. A Beach Boys tribute band, The Driftwoods, will play old favorites on July 28, and on August 11, Atwater-Donnelly will finish off the summer series with traditional American folk music and dance. All shows begin at 6:30 pm and tickets are $8 per person; RIHS members and children under 12 are admitted free. 331-8575 x33, www.rihs.org
RIIFF will be celebrating its 15th anniversary August 9-4. It is one of the top 12 film festivals in the country, bringing together awardwinning filmmakers, celebrities, new talent and audience members. Last year, RIIFF screened 205 films in six short days. The films came from 53 countries and 33 US states, including world and country premieres of narrative features, feature documentaries and short films. Don’t miss out on a milestone year for what is always one of the highlights of the summer. www.film-festival.org
WATERFIRE Of course, it wouldn’t be a Providence summer without WaterFire. As we go to press, the full schedule hasn’t yet been unveiled, but there is a full lighting on Friday, June 3. Check their website for updates and the rest of this season’s dates. www. waterfire.org
FOO FEST Once again, AS220 will block off Empire Street for 12 full hours of music, art, food and fun as Foo Fest returns on August 13. This annual block party offers two stages of music featuring local, regional and national acts, along with art installations, games, kids’ activities, a book fair and plenty of food. It’s always one of the truly great celebrations of summer in the city and, of course, benefits an even greater organization. www.as220 org/foofest
PHILHARMONIC SUMMER POPS Celebrate July 4 at India Point Park with the Rhode Island Philharmonic as they present their Summer Pops concert under Resident Conductor Francisco Noya. Part of a series of Pops performances around the state, including stops in Narragansett, East Greenwich, Bristol and Pawtucket, this concert includes lighter classics, Broadway tunes
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East Side Monthly June 2011
Philharmonic Summer Pops
and, of course, patriotic favorites. www.ri-philharmonic.org
PPS FESTIVAL OF HISTORIC HOUSES One of the city’s signature events returns on June 3-4, as the Providence Preservation Society will show off the rich architectural history of Blackstone Boulevard and the surrounding areas. The weekend kicks off on Friday night with a cocktail party fundraiser, then continues on Saturday, with self-guided house tours. The $35 advanced admission ($40 day of) also includes a lecture on the neighborhood’s history by Kathy Kavanaugh, Preservation Consultant. Advance tickets are available at Bank Rhode Island’s Downtown and East Side Locations, Eastside Marketplace and on the
PPS website. Tickets will be available on the day of the event at the Lincoln School. 831-7440, www. ppsri.org
Providence Art Festival The Providence Art Festival is celebrating its third year on June 4. Over 100 local artists, musicians and food vendors will gather on Westminster Street for this fine arts and crafts fair. You will find everything from handmade jewelry to photography to handmade stuffed animals. There will also be activities for all ages, including an arts and crafts table for children. We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention that this event is cosponsored by our sister publication, Providence Monthly. www. providenceartfestival.com
WOOLY FAIR Wooly Fair, Providence’s do-it-yourself art carnival, returns to the Steel Yard on June 30 from 2pm-1am. This year’s theme is “To The Moon!” There are family-friendly activities during the day and the wild and wooly fun (read: more adult friendly) begins at 8pm. Wooly Fair is an annual “all-inclusive platform” for everything ranging from arts and crafts to music and performance, and has become one of the key (not to mention most unique) events on the Providence arts scene. There will be plenty of music, food, games and interactive art exhibits. This year, the centerpiece of the fair will be a huge structure made up of 21 8’x10’ individual pods joined together to create a massive ring: the Wooly Space Station. www.thewooled.com
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June 2011 East Side Monthly
21
The Honor Roll Profiles in public school success on the East Side By Jill Davidson • Photography by Amy Amerantes
Amidst the current turmoil within Providence schools – budget cuts, teacher firings, school closings and the like – it’s easy to lose sight of what public school education is really all about: preparing a diverse group of young people with the adequate skills and confidence to meet the challenges of an increasingly complicated world. Here’s a look at six East Side students, three from Hope, three from Classical, who represent what our schools and their teachers are capable of producing. As graduation day approaches, hopefully their stories will give us all some cause for optimism as to the future of our city – and our society.
The Self-Starter Alex Ahlquist balances education and independence
The Audiophile Mike Chibante finds success at the intersection of music and technology With the exception of a single year spent at Roger Williams Middle School after Nathan Bishop Middle School closed in 2006, Hope High School graduate Mike Chibante is proud to have stayed on the East Side to pursue his education. It all started with kindergarten at Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, which – because old habits die hard – Chibante still refers to as Fox Point Elementary. The Fox Point native is heading to Boston’s New England Institute of Art to follow his dual passions for music and technology as he pursues a degree in audio and media technology. Chibante believes that his experience at Hope prepared him well for the road ahead. His education included extensive performance experiences in theater and band. As a Hope Arts student, Chibante moved from his early elementary school violin studies to playing drums and piano and studying music composition and engineering. Learning happens all the time, Chibante believes, and he sees his school work, his music-related extracurricular activities, his family’s love of Portuguese music and his independent, self-directed music studies as interconnected parts of the solid base he’s built as a student, musician and savvy technologist. The fourth and final of his siblings to attend Hope and the first to go onto a four-year college program, Chibante credits not only his own hard work but the consistent support of Hope High School’s teachers and staff members and, in particular, the school’s Future Forward program. “What I’ll remember from Hope is how great the teachers have been and how much they’ve cared about me as a person,” he adds. When his mother passed away at the start of his freshman year, he says it was the staff and teachers who helped him create a support system to make it through an obviously difficult period of his life. “This school is my family,” Chibante reiterates, taking extra care to make sure it’s clear the “family” includes his fellow students as well. He admits the four years at Hope have not been without some upheaval, most of it involving school reorganizations, restructurings and mandated scheduling changes. Chibante was able to weather the changes, he reports, because of the strength of his relationships with students and staff members, along with his evident love of his family, friends, Portuguese heritage, neighborhood, music and learning. The end result is a young man with remarkable focus and confidence, eager to embark on the next stage of his life’s adventure.
Taking two Advanced Placement classes as a senior, Blackstone neighborhood resident Alex Ahlquist will start college in the fall as an engineering student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He feels well prepared for the years of learning that lie ahead because “I learned a lot about myself here.” He credits Hope’s teachers and his fellow students with challenging him and supporting him to do his best work. The changes that transpired during Ahlquist’s time at Hope helped him find his inner activist. He stood up for his convictions by participating in last year’s student walkout that protested the school district’s proposed – and unfortunately now implemented – changes to the school’s block schedule. Still he remains an active member of the Hope Student Union. Ahlquist’s high school career began with a twist. After he learned that he didn’t have a spot at his first choice high school, the incoming freshman decided, with the support of his family, to home-school for a year and “grow up a little bit” before beginning the ninth grade at Hope Information Technology. It was an experience that he feels made him “way more ready to learn.” It also made him more appreciative of the “power of community” available at Hope, where teachers “make it a point to know you as a person.” Before his year as an autodidact, Ahlquist attended the East Side’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School and Nathaniel Greene Middle School’s advanced academics program. Taking advantage of the opportunities available to young people on the East Side, Ahlquist has participated in art education at RISD and earned Microsoft certification through his information systems coursework at Hope Information Technology. However, he still values his independence, pursuing writing on his own at home where he lives with his parents; his two older sisters are college students and out of the house. A young man who demonstrates a remarkable amount of self-awareness and quiet assurance, Ahlquist credits Hope for allowing him to pursue learning at a pace that balanced challenge with the opportunity to pursue new interests and ideas. “I know what I can do now because the teachers here are really supportive,” he enthuses. “Because they are willing to stay late and do whatever it takes to help us, I learned more about what it takes to help myself.”
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East Side Monthly June 2011
“Engineering is like another form of art,” says Ashley Davega as she describes her passion for the learning that happens at the intersection of art and technology. The senior is graduating with pride from Hope Information Technology, where she transferred after a freshman year spent at the Met School. A Providence native and resident of the Mt. Hope neighborhood where she has lived with her parents and three siblings for most of her life, Davega has great appreciation for the learning opportunities that the neighborhood and Hope High have offered. For the most part, Davega has been a student on the East Side, attending Martin Luther King and Nathan Bishop (which closed after her seventh grade year; she attended Esek Hopkins Middle School as an eighth grader). “I even went to Mt. Hope when I was a tiny kid,” she said, pointing in the direction of the Mt. Hope Day Care Center on Hope Street. An active member of Holy Names Church on Camp Street, Davega says that attending school close to home has allowed her more time to study, spend time with family and friends, and pursue her interests in art and community service. She describes herself as someone who has always been involved in lots of activities, recalling King’s afterschool programs and the robotics program at Nathan Bishop, which she credits with lighting the spark for pursing creativity through engineering that has become her driving passion. Clearly, Davega has used her time well: she will be heading off to the University of Rhode Island to study engineering. A member of the varsity soccer team, Davega described her senior year as a sometimes focused, sometimes frenzied pursuit of college acceptance and financial support. Heaping effusive praise on Hope’s Future Forward college preparation program, Davega cherishes the guidance she received from teachers, staff members and fellow students. This future engineer looks forward to the opportunity to dive deeply into her studies in college. It’s a skill she developed when Hope’s students were allowed to follow a block schedule. The extra class time facilitated more personal relationships that ultimately resulted in her improvement and success as a scholar. With her commitment to fusing art with engineering, Davega is graduating with a strong sense of herself as an intellectual. “Making something out of nothing makes me happy,” she beams. It’s going to be exciting to see what she makes of the opportunities that lie ahead.
Describing her career ambitions, Classical High School graduate Dana Heng puts her dreams into clear focus: “I want to make things.” With her parents and two older siblings, Heng moved to Providence from San Diego when she was four. Currently living in the East Side’s Mt. Hope neighborhood, Heng came to Classical after attending Reservoir Avenue Elementary School and Nathanael Greene Middle School’s advanced academics program. Heng has forged connections between her diverse academic interests – which she describes as “fun and stressful” – and her exploration of arts and creativity outside of school. In addition to making things at AS220, Heng has taken classes at New Urban Arts and the Steel Yard. Her love of making things is evident, both in the very cool, transparent, plastic bomb-shaped earrings she sports (which she made in AS220’s digital fabrication class) and in her vision of her future life and creative work. After this summer, which she plans to spend working as an intern in a graphic design firm, Heng will study industrial design at RISD, where she wants to learn how to make furniture and other examples of “practical art.” Heng describes her experience at Classical as “amazing.” In addition to the strong academics, she feels the school helped enrich her socially. “Classical is just so interesting,” she notes. “Everyone’s open-minded and there’s a lot of diversity – so many different types of people, but we all mesh with each other. I am going to miss it.” The senior has taken on a formidable course load as well, taking advantage of the school’s extensive array of Advanced Placement classes. As co-editor of the yearbook and an active student government participant, Heng has expanded the ways she’s used her considerable energy as she has navigated through a challenging course toward graduation. This high school experience has pushed Heng to develop her interest along the boundary of art and science. “Classical helped me develop my more technical and analytical skills. The things I learned here in my math and science classes meshed with the creative artistic side of what I like to do,” she explains. “After this summer, which she plans to spend working as an intern at a graphic design firm, Heng will pursue study of art and other subjects at the University of Vermont, where she plans to “bring some Providence flair to Burlington.” As a result of her imaginative intellectual drive combined with her passion for creating practical art, Heng will doubtless be a formidable force at UVM.
The Communicator Sharon Weissburg uses words as a way to explore the world
The Ivy Leaguer Alex Schmeling looks to education as a work in progress While Alex Schmeling’s quiet demeanor may appear to belie her significant accomplishments at Classical, an astute observer might note her gorgeous, hand-knit beaded sweater and want to know more about the young woman who created it. There’s a lot to learn. A member of Classical’s varsity tennis team, Schmeling spent her senior year successfully navigating a hefty course load while starting to learn Italian, having already mastered French in her earlier courses. A Summit neighborhood resident, Schmeling moved with her parents to Providence in third grade from Saratoga Springs, New York. After the Henry Barnard School, Schmeling attended Nathanael Greene’s advanced academic program, which she feels prepared her well for the challenges awaiting at Classical. Facing up to high academic expectations “helped me understand more about myself as a thinker, which is something I really appreciate as I leave high school.” For Schmeling, academics always come first, though she deeply appreciates Classical’s sustained traditions of excellence in other areas as well. “There are a lot of cool academic things going on here,” she notes, “but what I love about Classical is that there’s so much more. There are great athletes, and a great art scene. I love being in a place surrounded by lots of different people doing lots of great things.” That attitude should make Schmeling feel right at home when she matriculates at Yale University in the fall. She’ll be able to assuage any lingering homesickness once she finds New Haven’s yarn stores. Schmeling’s fabulously detailed and intricate sweater, which she knitted herself, is still a work in progress, she says, pointing out several areas for future refinement. It’s one of the results of her love of knitting, which she learned from family members. Schmeling deepened her knowledge and skills at a RISD Continuing Education knitting design class and co-taught a knitting class at Hope Street’s Fresh Purls yarn shop. The sweater, composed of tiny stitches and beads, seems an apt metaphor for the way Schmeling has created meaning in her life; she’s been patiently willing to accrue many minutes and hours of focus and hard work to produce something that’s both beautiful now and worthy of continued effort and enhancement in the future.
Wayland neighborhood resident and soon-to-be Classical graduate Sharon Weissburg is an engaging conversationalist, an apt quality for a young woman who says she hopes for “a life and career actively engaged with words, the life of the mind and discourse.” Following her two older siblings, Weissburg also came to Classical from Nathanael Greene’s advanced academics program, and had previously been a student at Providence’s Solomon Schechter Day School (now called the Jewish Community Day School). She credits her family with her intellectual focus, describing her home as a place with “lots of ideas and discussions all the time.” Weissburg has created a life driven by her passion to communicate. Active in journalism as an editor of several school publications – The Purple Chronicle, Classical’s online student newspaper; Laureate, the school’s literary publication; and the school’s yearbook – Weissburg’s byline and photography also appear in the Jewish Voice and Herald, where she works as an intern. At the start of her senior year, the budding scribe won a citywide high school poetry contest which provided her with the opportunity to meet Maya Angelou, an experience that she describes as “one of the absolute amazing highlights of my life so far!” Weissburg’s plans include studying English, either at Brown University or Boston University, after which she plans to pursue a law degree. She devotedly loves Providence and all it has to offer, spending time exploring the visual arts and hands-on creativity at AS220, working on photography and threedimensional design and fabrication. She says that AS220 and its opportunities for young people embody much of what she loves about the city as a whole. “That place is a living, breathing organism of creativity where you can make things and learn about yourself,” she says. Weissburg also describes her teachers and fellow Classical students with her characteristic verve and enthusiasm. “My teachers have pushed me to excel academically,” she declares. “Otherwise, I would never have the work ethic that I have now or the knowledge base that I’m leaving Classical with. I can’t imagine the person I would be without that.” She also notes the importance of diversity at the school. It provides what she describes as a “perspective culture, and personality that is expansive and amazing. Classical is about the individuals who are here, about the influences around them, including our families. I feel like uniqueness is accepted here. The culture of this school encourages that.”
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East Side Monthly June 2011
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Opinion by Keith Burkitt
The Westerly Purchase A proposal for balancing Rhode Island’s budget Well, we’re all pretty much aware that Rhode Island is finally facing that dreaded day of fiscal reckoning that was predicted many years ago by anyone willing to work the numbers on a hand-held calculator. (This, of course, lets former and current members of the House and Senate off the hook, a group who could and can work the system extraordinarily well, but a calculator not so much.) It all crept up so quickly: a special pension here, a political payoff there, special tax breaks, cost of living increases, longevity pay, 100 percent health care for all – and the next thing we know, the state’s in hock for $350 million next year and, if anyone really wanted to be honest, we’re on the hook for decades to come. Governor Chafee ran on a pledge to raise taxes on pretty much everything, and I’m sure we all concur it’s great to see an elected politician finally keep his word. However, most might agree that along with all his taxing measures, for compassionate reasons alone, Governor Chafee would be wise to sponsor a companion physician assisted suicide bill for those pushed over the brink. There must be a better way than raising taxes, don’t you think? (For all the Tea Party people out there, this is just a rhetorical question, so no frothing or foaming.) Heck, in Alaska the state pays its citizens every year from oil revenue. There has to be something similar Rhode Island can do. Then it came to me: every Business 101 course tells us businesses can only sell what they’ve got. (This may come as a shock to any Ponzi scheme types.) We don’t have oil; there’s no gold waiting to be discovered; and after the current events in Japan, uranium is not popular (but then again we don’t have any anyway). The brain drain has hit Rhode Island hard, so you can see that our catalog of opportunities is small. There’s really only one thing we can do: sell Westerly. I know what a lot of you are thinking: “Westerly? Isn’t that a direction?”
That exactly proves my point. For way too long, Westerly, has been merely a part of the Rhode Island map that went unnoticed, and I’m somewhat confident if it slipped into the ocean, after several days of 24/7 news coverage, most Rhode Islanders would pretty much think of the whole area as having been mythological in the first place. So, to whom do we sell it? Connecticut is the easy, but just plain wrong, choice. I mean, the Nutmeggers are not going to pay for something they already think they own. Massachusetts is a non-starter. No, we have to think further afield, and when we think of fields, we’re probably thinking Nebraska. Nebraska has at least several things going for it: number one being a great football team and number two being no ocean (unless we’re buying into that whole amber-waves-of-grain concept). Since they have no ocean, there’s absolutely no doubt they’d be willing to overspend big time just to call a part of the Atlantic their own. I know there are those naysayers who might opine, “Well, if we sell Watch Hill, those pesky Midwesterners will be all over the place and we’ll never be able to find parking down there.” But hey, we all know the truth is you can’t find parking in Watch Hill anyhow, so you’d really never know the difference. “Well, what about Misquamacut?” you ask. Do you really think that given the increased fees Governor Chafee is imposing, it’s going to be any more expensive to go to the beach if the Nebraskans take over? And one added benefit is you don’t need to worry about them crowding the beach; they don’t go in for full-body tans if I’m any observer of habits of the farm population in the U.S. Finally, and not any less important, there would be a place where all 28 registered Rhode Island Republicans could go and feel welcome. As we strategize this, it’s best to remember Midwesterners are, by
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their makeup, skeptical. However, just because they’re skeptical doesn’t mean they can’t be had. You only need to look to the SEC and some of Bernie Madoff’s investors to know that skepticism is overrated. I recognize that Nebraskans would want to kick the tires, as it were, to make sure the whole thing was a good idea, especially since they’d be dealing with Rhode Island, the home of a few hundred years of nonstop corruption. That being the case, the state should come up with something the Cornhuskers would be comfortable with, something they couldn’t refuse (we may want to reconsider the use of esm_jun_final.indd 1 those exact words, but the idea is there), something like a rent-to-own situation. Let’s say for a mere $500 million a year, the Nebraskans get to rent Westerly and Watch Hill for 30 years to see how it goes. In the meantime, Rhode Island gets enough money to fathers love cover our shortfall and have enough pampered left over to let the legislature go for more rounds of profligate spending and salary increases for staff and family (family and staff being perhaps the same thing). Imagine it as a kind of never-ending tobacco settlement on crack. And if things don’t go well economically again, I’ve heard Montana has secret ambitions about Newport that could be exploited.
5/5/11 11:46 AM
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Editor’s note: This month we welcome Keith Burkitt as a new contributor to our paper. After watching what he calls astonishing events unfold in Rhode Island across the past years, Mr. Burkitt has decided to write about some of them. According to Keith, “Even though I have been aware of parallel universes for some time, it never dawned on me until recently that I was living in one of them.” We can look forward to reading Keith’s observations and common sense solutions to perplexing local dilemmas somewhat regularly, like it or not. You can email Keith at: kburkitt@ymail.com
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YOUR APPEARANCE? Do you worry about your looks often? Do these thoughts upset you? Does anxiety about your appearance interfere with your life - for example, school work, job, social life or dating? Do you wish you could change?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP. Our Body Image Research Program offers: • Evaluation of your body image concerns • Treatment with medication or therapy • Compensation for adults who qualify Our world renowned Body Image Program is located at Rhode Island Hospital. To learn more, call 401-444-1644 or visit www.BodyImageProgram.com.
30
East Side Monthly June 2011
On the Menu
by John Taraborelli
Many thanks and appreciation to all of our devoted customers on our 10 Year Anniversary.
Meals On Wheels Food trucks are on a roll – but are they here to stay? For the past several years, food trucks have been the hot trend in dining. In cities across the country, trucks have been popping up with increasing frequency, serving a staggering array of food to flocks of happy customers who track down their favorite mobile eateries via Twitter and Facebook. These aren’t the “roach coaches” of old, slinging burgers and egg salad sandwiches to construction workers on job sites – these are full-fledged culinary visions on wheels, from the famous Kogi BBQ in Los Angeles, which serves up Korean-Latin fusion to huge crowds and an adoring national food press, to Washington, DC’s Fojol Brothers, turban and fake mustache clad cooks who create playful, forwardthinking Indian-inspired cuisine from their fictional homeland of Merlindia. Of course, one could argue that food truck culture was born right here in Providence. Already known as the birthplace of the American diner, our fair city has enjoyed meals on wheels courtesy of Haven Brothers since 1888. However, the food truck craze as we know it today really didn’t hit here until the upscale Chez Pascal launched its Hewtin’s Dogs Mobile (twitter.com/chezpascal) in 2009, serving up hot dogs, house made sausages and other gourmet sandwiches. Even before that, there was the Taqueria Pacifica taco truck, a familiar sight outside the West Side’s now-defunct Decatur Lounge. The truck too is defunct, having moved into a permanent location at AS220 before closing up shop to make way for AS220 FOO(d). Since then, food truck culture hasn’t quite exploded in Providence the way it has in other foodie havens, but it has certainly grown – so too has the diversity of offerings. No longer limited to sandwiches and street food, last year saw the launch of the Sugarush Truck (facebook.com/sugarushtruck), which dispenses gourmet cupcakes (themselves a major nationwide food trend); Providence Juice Company (twitter. com/pvdjuiceco), serving wholesome, locally sourced juice and smoothies; and Poco Loco Tacos (twitter.com/pocolocotacos), which carries on Taqueria Paci-
Philippe Maatouk
Like No Udder Truck fica’s legacy of serving late night tacos at West Side bars like E&O and Scurvy Dog (and downtown during the day as well). National acclaim came to at least one local food truck in April, when Like No Udder (like-no-udder.com), the world’s first all-vegan soft serve ice cream truck, was named one of PETA’s “Top 5 VeganFriendly Food Trucks in America.” It frequently visits Grant’s Block downtown, as well as the Dexter Training Ground in the West Side’s Armory District. The East Side has been getting in on the food truck trend too. Recently, a mother and son team opened Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ (mamakims.us) on College Hill. From their very well appointed truck, they have been serving up traditional Korean favorites like short rib, beef Bulgogi and kimchi, as well as more modern interpretations, like wraps and sliders filled with spicy pork or sesame chicken. The response has been immediate too, with huge crowds lining the sidewalks of Thayer at lunchtime. (They also do dinner and late night.) The newest addition set to hit the road this month is LJ’s BBQ (727 East Avenue; ljsbbq.com). This Pawtucket eatery – which is for all intents and purposes a part of the East Side dining scene, due to its location just over the border from Hope Street – has been in operation since 2001, but its tenth year is shaping up to be one of its best. In the May/ June issue of Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England, it is named an
Editor’s Choice Best of New England for its barbecue. This month, it jumps into the food truck game with its new mobile operation, serving up plates of pulled pork, brisket, chicken, mac and cheese and more. Stayed tuned to their website for updates and locations. No area of the city, however, can boast a higher concentration of mobile eateries than the South Side. A trip down Broad Street after dark presents the hungry traveler with an overwhelming abundance of options from around Latin America, with a heavy focus on Puerto Rican and Dominican. There is a bounty of empanadas and pastelitos, pinchos (skewered meats), chimis (Dominicanstyle sandwiches), frituras (salty fried meats) and much more. Among the 10-15 trucks that dot the strip, the most recognizable is Johnny’s Chimi Place, a big red trailer perched up on the sidewalk that almost always has a line of people waiting for its famous chimis and fried yucca balls. So is this trend indeed just that: destined to be a short-lived fad that explodes quickly and then fades away? Or is it a more long-term development on the food scene that will peak out and then plateau to a more sustainable level? We’ll find out in the long run, but for the moment, it’s an exciting time for street food in Providence. Got food news? Send it to John at onthemenu@providenceonline.com.
284 thayer street providence 401-331-8111 kartabar.com June 2011 East Side Monthly
31
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113 Gano street, Providence • 751-6935 32
East Side Monthly June 2011
MAD ERNIE’S
485 Angell Street; 331-1031. Mad Ernie’s serves an array of soups, homemade ice cream, and sandwiches, including corned beef, reuben, chicken salad and lobster rolls. LD $
Downtown ASIAN BISTRO 123 Dorrance Street; 383-3551. Chinese, Japanese and Thai, hibachi and sushi – they’re all under one roof at Asian Bistro. For the freshest flavors in a convenient downtown location, this is the place. LD $-$$$ ASIAN PALACE 1184 North Main Street; 228-7805. All the flavors of Asia are here: from Chinese classics to new Thai favorites to fresh, impeccably prepared sushi. The gorgeous banquet room is available for private functions. LD $-$$$ CAV 14 Imperial Place; 751-9164. The New York Times’ choice as one of Providence’s five best restaurants, CAV’s contemporary upscale cuisine is available al fresco for lunch and dinner daily. They also feature weekend brunch. LD $$-$$$ HEMENWAY’S 121 South Main Street; 351-8570. A true Providence classic, Hemenway’s has been serving topnotch seafood for 20 years. Their oyster bar features everything from the famed Prince Edward Island variety to the local favorite Poppasquash Point. LD $$-$$$ MILLS TAVERN 101 North Main Street; 272-3331. The only restaurant in RI to receive the Mobile Four Star Award for five consecutive years, Mills Tavern provides traditional American cuisine in a warm, friendly setting. LD $$-$$$
fortable dining experience. Try the toro ankimo – sauteed fatty tuna and monkfish liver pate with eggplant tempura, served with a black bean sauce. LD $-$$$ RED STRIPE 465 Angell Street; 4376950. Red Stripe serves classic comfort food with a French influence. Their food is reasonably priced and made with passion. LD $$-$$$ RUFFULS 208 Wayland Avenue; 4212712. An East Side classic lives on. With fantastic breakfast and now lunch, the name Ruffuls is synonymous with great daytime dining in Wayland Square. BBrL $ WATERMAN GRILLE 4 Richmond Square; 521-9229. With its covered outdoor seating overlooking the Seekonk River, Waterman Grille offers seasonally inspired New American fare in a comfortable setting. BrD $$-$$$
Hope/Thayer CHEZ PASCAL 960 Hope Street; 4214422. Chef Matt Gennuso’s East Side kitchen offers French food with a modern twist. Try the Bistro Menu (TueThur), which features three courses for $30 per person. Delicieux! D $-$$$
Wayland/Elmgrove
GOURMET HOUSE 787 Hope Street; 831-4722. Beautiful murals and décor set the mood for delicious Cambodian and Southeast Asian cuisine, spicy curries and noodle dishes. The tamarind duck is a must. LD $-$$
HARUKI EAST 172 Wayland Avenue; 223-0332. The chefs behind this sushi bar provide a minimalist, upscale, com-
KARTABAR 284 Thayer Street; 3318111. This European-style restaurant and lounge offers a full menu of unique dishes
RUE DE L’ESPOIR 99 Hope Street; 7518890. In business for over 30 years, the Rue has only gotten better. Beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients, the innovative, constantly changing menu keeps diners on their toes. Superb brunch. BBrLD $$-$$$ SAWADDEE THAI 93 Hope Street; 831-1122. Serving authentic Thai cuisine since 1984 (originally under the name Bangkok Cuisine), Sawaddee Thai continues to set the standard, while providing a comfortable, neighborhood atmosphere. LD $ TORTILLA FLATS 355 Hope Street; 7516777. You can’t go wrong with the laidback attitude and exceptional Mexican fare at Tortilla Flats. Sample a Margarita from the bar and try the “Nawleens”style Catfish. LD $-$$
Wickenden TEA IN SAHARA 69 Governor Street; 709-3252. Tea in Sahara brings a little taste of Morocco to Providence, with a selection of traditional appetizers, panini, coffees, teas and more in a relaxed atmosphere decorated with Moroccan handicrafts. LD $ WINGS AND THINGS 250 Brook Street; 369-7551. This family run business offers fresh, never frozen, chicken wings bathed in hot sauce made by hand from freshly ground chili peppers, plus 20 sauces, appetizers, sandwiches and soups. LD $ Z-BAR 244 Wickenden Street; 831-1566. This cozy, classic bistro offers value, and a wide range of fare including, steaks, panini, salads and house made ravioli with an emphasis on fresh, local and organic ingredients. BrLD $$
Outside Providence LJ’S BBQ 727 East Avenue, Pawtucket; 305-5255. LJ’s features ribs, pork, chicken and beef cooked low and slow in their customized pit, made with recipes from co-owner Bernie Watson’s grandmother, Miss Leola Jean. It’s great food at a great value. LD $-$$
Photo: Dan Schwartz
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AutoWerks High Gas Prices? Fight Back.
Along with the good news about the weather comes the bad news about rising gas prices: hitting $4 last week. Many East-siders are rediscovering Bob Moreau at his new venture, AutoWerks. Servicing your car at AutoWerks is a great hedge against high fuel costs. Whether you need to increase fuel performance or replace your car altogether, Bob has always been about helping you get the most out of your vehicle. AutoWerks performs a mini inspection on every automobile that comes into the shop, no matter how small the issue. This way, no costly repairs sneak up on customers. Checking tire pressure, for instance: did you know low pressure could cost you two or more MPG? High pressure, conversely, can cause premature wear on tires and suspension components. If you need a major repair, rest assured you are in good hands and no repair will ever be performed unless it’s expedient. How do you know if it’s smart to spend money on your aging car or invest in a new, more efficient one? This may be the best reason to have a knowledgeable person in your corner, someone you can trust. With many years in both repair and sales, Bob can show you how to maximize car ownership, and consultations are always free. Get the benefit of driving worry free until it’s time for Bob to find you a replacement vehicle. Never replace a car prematurely or get trapped into spending more than your car’s value in repair costs. In addition to Bob’s customer oriented approach (he has been known to send people to other dealers if they can offer a better deal), AutoWerks offers free pick up and delivery, interior and exterior cleaning with every service, paper free billing and custom car purchasing. AutoWerks also handles body repair work and vehicle transport south or cross-country. Summer’s coming! Drive worry free!
Bob Moreau-AutoWerks 401-474-1300
Tom’s Tree Care Ornamental and Shade Tree Specialists fine hand pruning • tree preservation hazard tree removal • tree evaluation & diagnosis shade and specimen tree planting 401-331-8527 • www.tomstreecare.net
Providence’s Only Doggie Day Care
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Hegeman & Co.
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Fine Jewelry • Custom Design Pearls • Pearls • Pearls 361 South Main St, Providence • 831-6812 www.hegemanandco.com We buy DiamonDs, GolD & Precious Gems June 2011 East Side Monthly
33
Spotlight by Dan Schwartz
special advertising section
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For superb home theater systems, music systems, HDTV’s, and multi-room systems, call Jon Bell for a free in-home consultation.
34
East Side Monthly June 2011
Serving up Displays for Agassi Exhibit
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
(Top of the East Side, next door to Rite Aid)
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Graphic Innovations
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On July 9th, Andre Agassi is going to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport. In honor of the occasion Jim Larkin’s Graphic Innovations has been tapped to create a room with floor to ceiling pictures of this dynamic star. Having already done work for a Monica Seles exhibit, Larkin explains why this Agassi display is special. “We’re wrapping a whole room, and there will also be life-size cutouts,” he says. “It’s going to look pretty amazing.” Graphic Innovations also recently completed a Doris Duke exhibit in Newport. While Jim’s company handles larger projects, they are also adept at facilitating smaller projects for your home or business. You can have an entire wall in your “man cave” covered with a favorite sports photo. (Father’s Day is right around the corner.) With Graphic Innovation’s sister company, WallFlys, you can have images printed on a material that adheres to your wall and can be removed and reapplied multiple times without leaving any marks on the surface. WallFlys can use a digital photo of your child playing a sport and do a precision cutout so all you see is your child at bat or fielding a grounder. In addition to cutting edge graphic work for items like posters, trade show displays and event signage, Graphic Innovations specializes in vehicle wraps for cars, vans, buses and even planes. “We just wrapped 44 busses down in Atlanta,” Jim explains. In this challenging economy every bit of marketing counts, so having your vehicle wrapped is a great way of gaining extra visual traffic. Pizzico’s catering division, Decadent Catering, has a van that displays the handiwork of Graphic Innovations. Jim mentions that it only takes one to two days to wrap a vehicle. Whatever your needs are for projecting image – from business signage to vehicle wraps – Graphic Innovations are your top local professionals. And for more information about WallFlys visit www.wallflys.com.
Graphic Innovations
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Spotlight
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Allegra Print and Imaging Expands Focus Allegra Print & Imaging
has long served Providence with high quality, state of the art printing and digital imaging services. Offering offset printing, digital full color printing, wide format for signs and banners as well as design and full finishing services, Allegra is a one-stop provider for everyone’s design, print and copy needs. In today’s competitive marketplace owner Ted Stein has identified an underserved niche of Marketing Consulting for small and medium sized businesses. Therefore, Stein is shifting his business focus from just printing to “marketing communications provider.” “The traditional marketing services community cannot provide everything under one roof economically,” Stein says. Often small businesses lack the resources and knowledge to handle their own marketing needs internally, and typically they cannot afford to use an agency who charges by billable hours and then mark ups outside services. Further, the alternative is gathering piecemeal information from reps, websites and individual suppliers who are often biased towards their own solutions and do not provide an overall objective strategic plan for the company.” “My background is Marketing,” Stein says, having spent 15 years (prior to owning Allegra) as a senior marketing executive with companies like Gillette, Revlon and Hasbro. Our program has the resources to evaluate and understand a client’s business and develop a well rounded marketing solution that includes strategies and tactics like advertising, media, promotion and the like. Further, we can execute that strategy with measured results. Who is the target market? How can you best and most economically reach them with a creative message? And how can you measure the results? “From business evaluation, creative campaign development, direct marketing, e-marketing, list management and printing, we can provide the whole package as a cost effective alternative to traditional methods,” Stein says. As the saying goes, “If you do the right things, then you can worry about doing things right. If you do the wrong things, it doesn’t much matter how well you do them.” Call Ted Stein for an appointment to discuss the possibilities. Allegra Printing & Imaging, Located at 102 Waterman Street (corner of Thayer), is open M-F, 9-5.
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June 2011 East Side Monthly
35
New England’s Most Authentic Home-Style Indian Restaurant and Indian Spices/Groceries Store
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Snacks, Biryani, Kababs, Naans, Veg and Non-Veg Curry
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Art
by Renee Doucette
Open Season The Providence Art Club’s new poster boy
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Digitize!
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36
East Side Monthly June 2011
additions • built-in cabinetry
Water damage reconstruction
Kitchens • bathrooms
us and it is hard to ignore the energy surging through this wonderful city. In addition to the celebration of warm air and the bright sun, Providence’s 375th birthday is in full swing. It is nearly impossible to describe this small and special city’s qualities in just a few short words, but one word that clearly cannot be omitted is creative. Many credit this to the never-ending parade of RISD art students that have called Providence home since 1877, but many forget the 16 amateurs, art collectors and artists who came together one cold night in February of 1880 to create the charter for the Providence Art Club. Not only is the Art Club an important cultural institution, but also a landmark for those who drive down Thomas Street, signaling that they are leaving the East Side and entering Downtown. Its presence in Providence’s art community signals tradition, classic technique and history. The Club’s members are still a mix of artists, both professional and amateur, as well as collectors. One member in particular has pulled apart from the pack and become a new reason for people to stop by during the monthly Gallery Nights. Anthony Tomaselli has been a member of the Providence Art Club for the past 18 years. He moonlights, along with his wife Tina, as the proprietor of two successful eateries in Cranston and East Greenwich. Having been told
RISD was never an option due to cost, Tomaselli attended Rhode Island College and holds degrees in painting and extended studies in architecture, a field he quickly abandoned. Drawn to Tomaselli due to his portraits of Providence, I met with him and quickly realized that he is part of an artistic community who, despite coming of age when Warhol and Basquiat were members of Greenwich Village royalty, creates art that harkens back to the early 20th century, when American Impressionism and Realism were beginning to intersect – and sadly, he only paints Providence in the winter. He spent many years exploring his technique and style before coming to the present landscapes that cover his studio and web page, which collectors gobble up like hors d’oeuvres at a Newport mansion party. He described his desire to maintain a certain lifestyle, but while some men reach their midlife craving some sort of validation through a fast car, a beautiful sail boat or a hot blonde, Tomaselli’s approach to mid-life led him to connect with not only an artistic spirituality, but a religious one as well: around the same time he started painting his current subject matter, he returned to church. His paintings, however, don’t provoke a sense of awakening. Instead they are more like love letters to his home state of Rhode Island. He cap-
tures the beautiful surroundings of Providence, Newport and elsewhere with his oils and brushes, and gives the viewer canvases with a serene reminder of how truly majestic the Ocean State is. Lately, Tomaselli has provided a new reason for people to visit the Art Club with the opening of his studio during Gallery Night, the free, bussed art tour on the third Thursday of every month. He has also been featured as one of the “celebrity guides” for the tour. Celebrity may be pushing it, but Tomaselli has stepped up to become a fresh face for the Art Club. Perhaps more artists will follow his lead and open up their own studios to the Art Bus crowd. The Providence Art Club has been an institution of artistic religion for many artists over the course of its long history. As the city celebrates its own longevity, it’s a good time to stop by the club. It features only the work of its members, but if not for the art, then visit for the sense of history that emanates through the building’s rustic rooms. It stands as a beacon in the longstanding history of art in this city. Providence Art Club 11 Thomas Street Monday-Friday 12-4 pm; weekends 2-4pm 331-1114 www.providenceartclub.org
Opinion
FIFTH ANNUAL
by Marcus Mitchell and Linda J. Kushner
Done Deal? Community libraries now need community support The last two years
have been an amazing success for Providence Community Library (PCL). PCL has not only kept open all nine former Providence Public Library (PPL) branches – many of which had been neglected for years and five of which PPL planned to shutter – it has developed a vibrant library system that is making neighborhood libraries the place to be for people of all ages. You have probably noticed the great burst of activities and programs here on the East Side at the Rochambeau and Fox Point libraries; this is true at all nine PCL libraries. We believe libraries must be responsive to the needs of the community and have introduced courses in financial management, literacy, computers (in both English and Spanish) and much more. We have also increased our computers by more than 25%, making it possible for people who do not enjoy computers in their own home to access the internet, search for jobs, keep up on news and events and even communicate with family in their native countries. Of course, the library remains a fun place. We have grown all our collections and have introduced DVDs into those libraries that, inconceivably, had none before we took over. Our libraries are true neighborhood centers, where children and adults engage in creative activity, whether it be constructing an imaginary city or enjoying jazz, movies and other cultural events. But we Providence residents face two serious problems. You will remember that two years ago, when PCL took over the operation of the neighborhood libraries, PPL promised to convey the seven branch buildings it owned, as well as the books and equipment in all nine libraries, to the City (PCL manages the libraries for the City and its residents). They transferred the books
Mount Hope Farm Antiques & Garden Fair PREVIEW PARTY & SALE Friday, June 17, 2011 • 6 – 8 pm Tickets $45 per person* *includes Saturday admission
ANTIQUES & GARDEN FAIR Saturday, June 18, 2011 • 10 am – 5pm Admission $8* *$1 discount with this ad Rain or shine Mount Hope Farm
250 Metacom Avenue • Bristol, RI and equipment but PPL still has not conveyed the seven buildings. Many For tickets and information of these buildings need critical capiCall 401.254.1745 or visit tal repairs: new roofs, masonry rewww.mounthopefarm.com pointing, handicapped accessibility, Managed by Ferguson & D’Arruda installation of air conditioning, etc. PPL will not make these repairs. PCL’s efforts and plans to apply for Sponsored by Newport Tent Company grants and funds to make these long deferred repairs are thwarted by PPL’s failure to transfer the buildings to the City as promised. Currently, the City leases seven library buildings (including Rochambeau) from PPL, but that lease expires on June 30. It is uncertain what will happen after that date. Although it might be possible to stay in the buildings on a month-to-month basis, we The Pet Friendly Realtor Mount Hope_4x6.indd 1 4/15/11 10:11 AM cannot responsibly and efficiently run a library system for the people of Providence on this basis. In short, in order to run Providence Community Library and keep all nine neighborhood libraries open we need PPL to convey the buildings to the City as promised. As we go to press, PPL has done nothing about transferring the buildings. It may be necessary once again for people who believe in neighborhood libraries to take to the streets and demand that the libraries – which were constructed, operated, ...is a word that is both used and abused these days. But I want you to maintained and renovated in large know that I really am dedicated to my customers and to my profession. part with funds from the people of If a real estate transaction is in your future, let’s talk. Then you can Providence, both through individual decide for yourself if you really believe that I am... donations and through tax monies allocated to support PPL’s former ...DEDICATED... citywide branch system – be turned over to the City. to serving YOU! Call me today! Hopefully, the issue will be resolved by the time you read this paper, but if not, please join in demanding ELISE PENN PANSEY that the libraries be turned over to The Pet Friendly Realtor the City. The libraries belong to the people of Providence, not to PPL or Butterman & Kryston, Inc. 401.455.1625 any other entity. Marcus Mitchell is 749 East Ave. the President and co-founder of PCL, www.elisepennpansey.com Pawtucket, RI and Linda J. Kushner is Board Secre401.521.9490 x22 @ Blackstone Blvd tary and co-founder.
ELISE PENN PANSEY
DEDICATION...
June 2011 East Side Monthly
37
We hope to see you on Memorial Day... but it is what it is!
Wayland Square
161 Wayland Ave. Providence, Rhode Ireland | 751-3000
find us on facebook!
McBride’s Pub
• Colds & Flu • Minor Trauma • Sprains & Strains • X-Ray/Labs Available
• Workman’s Comp Exams • Immunization • DOT, School, and Sports Physicals
Monday - Friday: 9am to 8pm Saturdays & Sundays: 9am to 4pm
East sidE UrgEnt CarE The Right Care, Right Now
1195 North Main Street, Providence • 401.861.3782
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East Side Monthly June 2011
Movies
Add some life with Aqua-Life
by Bob Cipriano
Aqua-Life Aquarium Celebrating our 30th Year!
Specializing in new and rare species of fish 389 Wickenden Street, Providence 401-331-5376 • www.aqualifecentral.com
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Quiet successes make way for big summer blockbusters
Gain Several
pre-summer
films,
about to drift into obscurity in the face of fast and furious fare, are worth seeking out among the compromised screens of early summer. Jane Eyre is the most pleasant surprise of the bunch. Charlotte Bronte’s 1847 novel about the diminutive and plain, but bluntly honest, brave and passionate young woman who suffers and triumphs among the cold and forbidding English moors, might strike some as an unlikely date movie. Riddled with humble Christian piety, lunatic Gothic horror, and ever-sosubtle eroticism, the book still reads well and, not for the first time, a film based on it plays beautifully. One of the reasons that Jane Eyre has been filmed so many times is that, rooted in the past, the evil and good that rage against each other (with love and sex suspended between them) are free to get loud and fight dirty without straining credibility. It’s all part of another place, another time. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga paces his film steadily, paints exterior action with sweeping strokes of severe
beauty, and coaxes impressive performances from a fine ensemble. His cinematographer, Adriano Goldman, knows what to do with a misty moor. Dario Marianelli’s music suggests emotion rather than supplies it. The script, by Moira Buffini, retains all of Bronte’s good parts, while stirring up the mix and serving it in a new sequence. The film opens with Mia Wasikowska, perfect as Jane, running for her life. Taken in and attended to by a young clergyman and his sisters (Jamie Bell, Holliday Grainger and Tamzin Merchant), her former life is told in flashbacks: despised and abused by relatives, oppressed in a Dickensian boarding school, she manages to survive to young adulthood and is hired as a tutor. At dark and dreary Thornfield Hall she tutors a young ward, and bewitches the powerful owner, Mr. Rochester (an admirable Michael Fassbender), with that honesty and bravery of hers, all the while wary of those noises from upstairs that sound awfully human sometimes. Jane Eyre’s feminist spirit dominates this film, never bowing to the
force of nature that Mr. Rochester can become in the hands of charismatic actors like Orson Welles and George C. Scott, who dominated their versions. Fassbender’s Rochester is believably restrained, even gracious, and Jane takes and holds center stage, where she belongs. Speaking of heroines with tough backgrounds, the seriously flawed but enjoyable Hanna has character to spare, some awesome cinematic backdrops, and a breakneck pace that almost overcomes its grating implausibility. Raised by Eric Bana (bearded, wrapped in animal skins) in the Finnish woods, 16-year-old Hanna (Saoirse Ronan, looking younger than that) bumps off a deer with bow and gun in the movie’s prologue, all part of the harsh tutelage Bana has put her through in preparation for… something. They part ways quickly as Hanna heads for civilization and murderous intrigue surrounding CIA operative Cate Blanchett. Blanchett wants Ronan dead. Ronan has trained her whole life to
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kill Blanchett. Why all this has come about is only vaguely conceivable but much less important than the action, as Ronan and Blanchett do a cat and mouse thing not out of a Bond movie but rather a Grimm’s Fairy Tale, as the film’s locales and characters become increasingly bizarre. Writers Seth Lochhead and David Farr allow an unsubtle Joe Wright to direct with a flair he may not actually possess. The key to the modest success of Hanna is Ronan, whose presence was the only reason to see Atonement, and the sole element of The Lovely Bones to take to heart. There is strangeness to her beauty, her youthful pallor suggesting delicacy and vulnerability, which allows her to bring stillness to her performances that contrasts nicely with her violence in this film. When people out to kill her seem to forget to bring guns with them, you can almost understand their confusion. Almost. Speaking of how to prepare a kid for a world of unfairness and betrayal, there’s Win Win, the latest from director Tom McCarthy, whose The Station Agent remains an endearing (and enduring) modern classic about character and friendship. Friendships, both the lasting, solid kind and the fragile, developing kind, are at the heart of this story, too. They prevail over bad decisions and tough luck, making a meandering screenplay, also by McCarthy, both meaningful and sublime. Paul Giamatti plays a well-meaning New Jersey lawyer compromised by circumstances and a willingness to do wrong things for what seem like right reasons. His law practice can’t pay even his modest family bills. He takes advantage of elderly Burt Young by
promising a judge to take responsibility for Young’s home care, parking him in a nursing home, and pocketing his monthly stipend. Able to face his wife and daughter and contend with the household bills, he can again put some effort into coaching the high school wrestling team and even manage to hang out with longtime buddy, Bobby Cannavale. Young turns out to have a grandson (Alex Shaffer) who shows up when his mom, back home in Ohio, enters rehab. He comes to live with his grandfather, whose home is unoccupied now thanks to Giamatti, and ends up at Giamatti’s house. It turns out the kid can wrestle and can help out Giamatti’s hapless high school team. But mom (an excellent Melanie Lynskey) shows up, interested in Young’s monthly stipend for herself, and Giamatti, who gets into these kinds of fixes whenever he gets a leading role, finds himself in a hole. Laced with credible characters and solid performances (except for the usually reliable Amy Ryan as Giamatti’s wife, who seems uncomfortable and miscast as a one-dimensional suburban mom with nothing to do but watch more complex characters around her), Win Win may force a few of its laughs, but wryly imparts some life lessons as they would play out in real life, without a sledgehammer mentality or a predictable set of circumstances. McCarthy’s strength as a screenwriter remains his strongest asset, followed closely by his ability to coax deadpan humor from his actors, giving Win Win a charming storyline and a subtext to think about.
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Going Up? A realistic look at inflation I don’t know how many times I hear people say, “So how are you prepared to deal with hyper-inflation?” – as if hyper-inflation were a given and closing in on us fast. Inflation is picking up, but whether we need to be concerned now or in the future is subject to great debate. Also of concern: whether inflation will jump suddenly or simply seep into our economy. Bottom line: inflation affects you. Inflation, in its simplest form, is a general increase in prices. A little inflation is good. It gives businesses the ability to pass on rising costs and is not overly onerous to the consumer. Low, but rising, inflation can also mean an improving economy, which translates into wage increases and better profits. A lot of inflation can cripple economic growth, as prices rise so fast that people stop buying certain products or substitute less expensive ones. High inflation can also erode the value of your assets. So where does inflation come from? We’ll start with textbook theory. Monetarism: When there is too much money chasing too few goods. • Logic for concern. The Federal Reserve has been pumping trillions of dollars into the economy. At some point this money has to start flowing around the economy, pumping up prices as people and businesses borrow or spend it. • In Practice. Yes, the Fed has encouraged easy money through low interest rates and the purchase of assets like mortgage securities and treasuries, but the money has mostly gone into the banks, which have needed it for their own reserves and have been somewhat reluctant to lend it out. The money supply and the velocity of money are still strikingly low, in spite of how much new money has been created. Cost-Push: Rising input prices (commodities and wages) force companies to boost prices. • Logic for concern. When the things that go into making products and services cost more, businesses have to pass it on. Otherwise, profits are squeezed and businesses struggle. • In Practice. Although oil and food prices have moved substantially higher, they are unlikely to translate into large changes for the Consumer
Price Index. This is because food, especially, and oil go through a number of processes before reaching you, and most of the cost along the way is in the form of wages. Wages are doing anything but rising. In real terms, they have fallen 1% in the last year, as businesses have been reluctant to hire and have increased their productivity by using fewer workers. So while we see higher gas prices, those haven’t translated into significantly higher general inflationary pressures. Demand-Pull: A strongly growing economy gives companies more pricing power (the ability to pass on costs) and employees more wage bargaining power. • Logic for concern. Our economy is poised to take off. We have emerged from the Great Recession and are expanding. Inflation goes hand-inhand with expansion. • In practice. Demand is very hard to measure as a predictor of rising prices. We won’t know that demand is high enough to allow businesses to pass on costs until prices actually rise. Pulling the inflation story together: there is currently no excess money growth; the pass-through from higher commodity prices is weak; employee wages are not increasing; and the economy is still not strong enough to give companies collective pricing power. So we aren’t looking at inflation, right? Well, maybe and maybe not. We could, if a fourth factor comes into play. It is called “expectations” and it is the one the Federal Reserve is most concerned about. Inflation isn’t the result just of what happens in the economy but what people and institutions think is going to happen. When Theory Meets Expectations • Logic for concern: If consumers and
businesses believe inflation will happen, they often act as though it is here already. Consumers may buy more now, while prices are “lower,” and businesses will try raising prices, since they believe they can. • In Practice: One way to spot expectations-driven inflation is to watch bond prices. Bond traders like to get out ahead of inflation and bid interest rates up. Headlines also influence expectations. How many people, feeling pain at the pump, really believe that gas prices at $5 won’t translate into everything else going up? So what is an investor to do? Different asset classes historically perform well or poorly in different inflationary and interest rate environments. For instance, when interest rates are low and inflation is rising, equities and commodities tend to outperform. In the case of high rates and rising inflation, cash and commodities are usually winners. Track key rates and pricing opportunities. It is not enough to know the theories. There also is a need to look closely at valuations and the story behind each of your holdings. If you are in fixed income, find some portfolio protection by diversifying into holdings that can benefit from rising interest rates or into funds that correlate more with equities than interest rates or funds that follow their own story independent of what is happening in the U.S. Inflation is coming. It is a matter of when, not if. But timing is important, as is flexibility. While, in theory, inflation is relatively tame, that can change quickly. You need to be ready. Betsey Purinton, CFP® is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at StrategicPoint Investment Advisors. You can e-mail her at bpurinton@strategicpoint.com.
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Politics
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Musical Chairs What the PBA Fiasco tells us about how things are really done If you are a serious athlete like myself, you hear PBA and think Professional Bowlers Association. When in Providence, you have to remember that it stands for Public Building Authority, an agency responsible for floating bonds for capital development, as in building things. Or is it? Some think the PBA may now be the equivalent of “bowling for dollars.” For decades, the PBA, created to float bonds for capital development projects, has operated pretty much without incident - no small feat given it had to operate through the Paolino, Cianci and Cicilline administrations. With Providence’s current fiscal woes, that seems to have changed. What should make this particularly interesting to ESM readers is that all the PBA players on the board, except for City staffers (more on that later), are well known East Siders. Back in March, for the second time within the last several months, the PBA voted to float bonds – $35 million to be exact – to partially deal with this year’s almost $70 million deficit, with $5 million going towards actual capital (green energy) development, since that is required legally. Last year, they voted for an $11 million bond issue to plug city deficits, assuming it was a one-time fix. New Mayor Taveras supported the initiative. Important to note: the initiative was also approved unanimously by the City Council. Several PBA members took issue with the proposal, citing the use of borrowed money to close the deficit, and specifically, what they consider misuse of the PBA as the vehicle.
The PBA voted against the measure in February, then passed it in March, after one dissenting member, Deedee Witman, was replaced by someone who helped raise the mayor, and one member, Stanley Weiss, reversed his vote. Lone dissenter, Chairman Lloyd Granoff, resigned following the vote. According to the Projo, “He was so against it (calling it a sham and morally corrupt), he didn’t want to carry out completion of it.” Two city employees on the supposedly autonomous board voted for the proposal. While the loans will cost over $57 million in 15 years, administration officials claim that the energy part will save the city close to $5 million. Most of those supporting the measure claim it was a “hold your nose vote,” where the City had no choice due to the mess left by former Mayor Cicilline. Providence had no budget for the current year and was in danger of being taken over by the State if nothing was done or traditional borrowing was used. Supposedly, this is the end of borrowing and use of the PBA for it. Opponents feel it was a form of fiscal irresponsibility at best – outright stealing at worst. Council President Michael Solomon said that while he didn’t want to borrow the money, they had no choice. “We needed the money in the short term and weren’t sure what other options were available,” he said. Solomon said the PBA won’t be used for this in the future, and all are committed to not using borrowed funds obtained through any means. “The Council and administration are looking at
several options to ensure that borrowing won’t be needed,” he said. Sam Zurier, Ward 2 Councilman, said that there was precedent for this and the current administration wanted to get last year’s budget behind us. “Straight out borrowing would have raised red flags and put City finances under State control,” he noted. He said he also wasn’t aware of any options and the mayor felt we needed to complete it now and this was a “last time thing.” He noted the PBA, then Mayor Cicilline and the City Council had done the same thing the year before. He went on to say that “the new administration is targeting 60% expense reductions and 40% greater revenues to close next year’s project gap,” and hopes things will soon be moving in the right direction. Perhaps most controversial was the position of PBA Board member Stanley Weiss. At first, he pledged to join Granoff and resign. But after initially voting against the measure, he ended up voting for it, remained on the board and actually now has become its chairman. “What was to be gained by voting against it?” Weiss argued. “I screamed up and down, six ways to Sunday against it, but realized when Deedee (Witman) wasn’t going to be reappointed, the bill was going to pass,” he said. Weiss also said a compelling argument was that it wouldn’t increase the City’s total indebtedness since it was being used to pay off other bonds. Weiss said that Taveras told him if he didn’t agree, he hoped he would step aside. He felt sympathy over
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10 RI locations
the mayor’s plight. “He was desperate and new to the job. And besides, Cicilline is the real culprit,” Weiss said. “I’ve lived in this town all my life, want to continue being involved and would like to work with the new mayor. What would be accomplished by resigning?” he asked. Weiss said there were no deals regarding his election to chairman – he was nominated by Vanech and supported unanimously. He said the mayor gave him his word they will never go this route again, and doubted that he would given the heat he took. A better plan, Weiss feels, might be to let the State step in with bridge financing, and he thinks a structured receivership may be the way to go, since it would still leave the City in control and provide more pressure in dealing with the unions. “When you hear receivership, you go a little comatose,” he said. Weiss also went on to say that it is absolutely wrong for City employees to serve on the board. ”It should be an objective authority apart from the City.” As for the controversial PBA financing? “If the Mayor did try it again, I’d vote against it and call in the press.” But this time he said he didn’t know if he’d resign. Deedee Witman, longtime board member, would have none of that. Witman was to have been reappointed last fall. She didn’t appear because of her husband’s spine injury that has relegated him to a wheelchair and thus was never confirmed. She said that her reappointment had been assured to her by Rich Kerbel and another City Hall staffer. As a result, she had attended several meetings through February and was treated as a full-fledged member. Following her February vote against the measure, she was replaced, without being officially notified by the Mayor’s Office. Witman feels there was no excuse
to use the PBA this way. “The mayor knew things weren’t going to be good. He should have done due diligence like everyone else interviewing for a job, and should know about the company he was interviewing for,” she said. “I could not live up to my fiduciary responsibility as a board member and issue a $35 million bond that was going to cost the City more than $50 million, something that will seal the deal that our great grandchildren will be paying off Providence’s debt,” Witman said. “This is the same old, same old with people looking for the easy way to deal with problems, often in an expensive way. This is the time for the mayor and his team to show leadership and set example for the rest of the state in putting forth ideas that provide immediate cost savings and long term cost savings.” Witman said she was disappointed that Weiss didn’t resign. “I am more disappointed that moves like this discourage board members from living up to their financial responsibilities because when you do the right thing, you are thrown off. That’s a problem.” There is the PBA vote in a nutshell. Was it a reflection of desperate times calling for desperate measures? Or was it simply just one more example of resorting to the same irresponsible, quick fix solutions that have gotten us into this mess in the first place? For Mayor Taveras, he will ultimately be judged on his future actions to bring real (note the capitalization) fiscal stability to Providence. As for the PBA, some might think that having bowled two strikes, a third might mean you may as well replace the city with a giant bowling alley, maybe with a casino, if you want real fiscal stability, and to clear up any confusion regarding what PBA stands for.
Calendar
by Christina Evon
We Recycle Everything! Cleaning and recycling your Yards, Cellars & Attics
June music | performance | social happenings | galleries | learn | sports
DON’T MISS THIS MONTH: 10 events at the top of our list
1
Recycle All
Residential • CommeRCial
Tom: 641-7200 arecycle44@comcast.net
Wings Done Right
Great Chowder Cook-off, June 4 at the Newport Yachting Center. www.newportyachtingcenter.com. Opera Providence performs Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, June 3-5 at the RI Center for the Performing Arts, Cranston. www.operaprovidence.org.
2
Providence Art Festival, June 4 along Westminster Street. www.providenceartfestival.com.
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369-7551
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Providence Preservation Society hosts the Festival of Historic Houses, June 4 on Blackstone Boulevard, www. ppsri.org.
4
MUSIC arena & club | classical ARENA & CLUB CHAN’S Jun 4: Sarah and the Tall Boys. Jun 10: Aztec Two-Step. Jun 18: Through the Doors. Jun 24: Bruce Marshall Group. See website for additional concerts. 267 Main Street, Woonsocket. 765-1900, www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com. COMCAST CENTER Jun 5: Jason Aldean and Eric Church and the JaneDear Girls. Jun 7: Phish. Jun 18: Jimmy Buffett. Jun 24: Peter Gabriel and the New Blood Orchestra. Jun 30: Def Leppard, Heart, and Evan Watson. 885 South Main Street, Mansfield, MA. 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com. DUNKIN’ DONUTS CENTER Jun 13: Michael Buble. 1 La Salle Square. 800-745-3000, livenation.com. FIREHOUSE 13 Jun 4: Chanteuse, a bi-monthly music series with local and regional female vocalists. 41 Central Street. www.thejespowersproject.com.
LADDER 133 Jun 25: The Criminals. 33 Douglas Avenue, Providence. 272-7427. LUPO’S Jun 10: Saves the Day and The Get Up Kids. Jun 29: Steel Pulse. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, www.lupos.com. MET Jun 12: Blues Jam with Thom Enright, Mike Warner, Steve Burke, and Marty Ballou. Jun 19: Blues Jam with Rob Nelson, Mark Taber, Marty Ballou and Rick Couto. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. www.lupos.com. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Jun 3: Daniel O’Donnell. Jun 15: Eddie Vedder and Glen Hansard. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-ARTS, www.ppacri.com.
CLASSICAL & SUCH OPERA PROVIDENCE Jun 3-5: Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, Opera Providence’s major production of the season. At RI Center for the Performing Arts, 848 Park Avenue, Cranston. 3316060, www.operaprovidence.org.
Federal Hill Stroll, June 7 on Atwells Avenue. www. federalhillstroll.com.
5
Tape Art Festival, June 7-30 at the Bank of America City Center. www.kennedyplaza.org.
6
Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder with Glen Hansard, June 15 at PPAC. www.ppacri.org.
7
Perishable Theatre performs Hedwig and the Angry Inch in association with Trinity Rep, June 23-July 31 at the Pell Chafee Performance Center. www.perishable.org.
8
Newport Summer Comedy Series presents Aziz Ansari, June 24 at the Newport Yachting Center. www.newportcomedy.com.
9
National Guard Air 10 RIShow, June 25-26 at
Quonset State Airport, North Kingstown. www.riairshow.com.
June 2011 East Side Monthly
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LEGEND BICYCLE
Calendar
continued...
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PROVIDENCE SINGERS Jun 4: Ladies and Gentlemen: American Music for Choruses of Men and Women; at Beneficent Church. Jun 5: Ladies and Gentlemen concert at St. Michael’s Church in Bristol. 751-5700, www.providencesingers.org.
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East Side Monthly June 2011
comedy | dance | theatre COMEDY
CONCERTS UNDER THE ELMS Jun 30: The American Band. John Brown House Museum lawn, 52 Power Street. 331-8575 x 33, www.rihs.org.
CATCH A RISING STAR Jun 3-4: Andrew Kennedy. Jun 10-11: Rodney Laney. Jun 17-18: Buddy Fitzpatrick. Jun 24-25: Sandy Marks. Fridays: Comic Hypnotist Frank Santos Jr. Twin River, 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 7233200, www.twinriver.com.
DISCO NIGHTS Jun 18: Featuring Tavares, Evelyn Champagne King, France Joli, Linda Clifford, D-Train, Trammps, Taste of Honey, Jammin’ Jordan Manfredi and Deney Terrio. Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 1 La Salle Square. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY CONNECTION Jun 3-4: Danny Kelly. Jun 10-11: Brian Beaudoin. Jun 16: Poppy Champlin. Jun 17-18: The Reverend Bob Levy. Jun 24-25: Jim McCue. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 438-8383, www.ricomedyconnection.com.
HOT NIGHT Jun 3: Featuring Wiz Khalifa, Lupe Fiasco, Fabolous, Jeremih, New Boyz, and Lil Twist. Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 1 La Salle Square. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
EVERETT CARRIAGE HOUSE Jun 3, 10: Friday Night Live, featuring veteran Everett artists, up-and-coming performers, and live guitarist/ composer Bertrand Laurence, who come up with family-friendly interactive scenes, improvised song and dance. 9 Duncan Avenue. www.everettdancetheatre.org.
music fests
MYOFASCIAL PAIN
PERFORMANCE
MUSIC ON THE HILL Jun 9-18: 37th annual classical music festival, featuring Rhode Island composers and performers. Performances taking place throughout the state, including the “Culinary Concert” at Temple Beth El in Providence on June 11, which also includes wine, hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Visit www.musiconthehillri.com for all concert dates and locations. 884-8172. SUMMER JAM Jun 4: Flaka Flame, Chris Brown, Fabolous, The New Boyz, Jeremih, and Lupe Fiasco. Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA. 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.
NEWPORT SUMMER COMEDY SERIES Jun 24: Aziz Ansari. Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport. 800-745-3000, www.newportcomedy.com.
DANCE EVERETT CARRIAGE HOUSE Jun 3: Open Stage, a monthly event for young performers, featuring house hip-hop troupe Case Closed. 9 Duncan Avenue. www.everettdancetheatre.org.
STADIUM THEATRE Jun 4: Krylo Dance Studios presents 61st annual Dancecapades. Jun 6: Showcase Dance Productions presents Shopping Mall. Jun 11: Heritage Ballet presents An Evening of Dance. Jun 16: Encore Dance Academy presents That’s Entertainment! Jun 18: Dance Theatre of RI performance. Jun 23: Defying Gravity School of Dance presents A Night at the Circus! Jun 25: Kats Dance Centre presents Back to Broadway. Jun 26: Cheryl’s School of Dance presents For the Love of Dance. 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 7624545, www.stadiumtheatre.com.
THEATRE GAMM THEATRE Thru Jun 5: Why Torture is Wrong, and the People who Love Them, a Rhode Island premiere. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 723-4266, www.gammtheatre.org. PERISHABLE THEATRE Jun 23-Jul 31: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, presented by Perishable Theatre in association with Trinity Rep; at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire Street. Perishable Theatre, 95 Empire Street. 331-2695, www.perishable.org. TRINITY REP Thru Jun 5: The Completely Fictional – Utterly True – Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan Poe, a world-premiere work by company member Stephen Thorne. Jun 2-Jul 1: The Family: A Musical About the Mob, based on the book by Arlene Violet. Trinity Rep, 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, www.trinityrep.com.
VARIETY PERISHABLE THEATRE Jun 17: Breathing Tube: a night of short plays for radio from some of the area’s most creative writers. Thursdays and Saturdays: Improv Jones comedy troupe. 95 Empire Street. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.
SOCIAL HAPPENINGS expos | fundraisers | seasonal
honor of the Portuguese heritage. At Biltmore Park and the Bank of America City Center, 2 Kennedy Plaza. www.kennedyplaza.org. FESTIVAL OF HISTORIC HOUSES Jun 4: The Providence Preservation Society’s annual tour of some of the most extraordinary houses on and around Blackstone Boulevard. 831-7440, www. ppsri.org. GARDEN CITY CENTER ART FESTIVAL Jun 11: Collection of more than 100 contemporary American art and craft artists along with strolling entertainment, a farmer’s market, children’s activities, and food and drink. 100 Midway Road, Cranston. 374-3899, www.festivalfete.com. GASPEE DAYS Jun 10-12: Colonial Encampment, giving visitors a feel for colonial military life, at Pawtuxet Park in Warwick. Jun 11: 5K Road Race along Broad Street in Cranston/Warwick, followed by the 46th annual parade along Narragansett Parkway, Warwick. Jun 12: Sunday in the Park, featuring music by the Arthur Medeiros Orchestra, followed by the Burning of the Gaspee, a recreation of the burning of the ship that sparked the American Revolution, at Pawtuxet Park. 781-1772, www.gaspee.com.
DAY OF PORTUGAL FESTIVAL Jun 3-5: Food, music and a parade in
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PROVIDENCE ART FESTIVAL Jun 4: Downcity’s favorite fine arts and crafts fair, featuring handmade wares, jewelry, clothing, plus kids activities, street performers, food vendors, and live music. Along Westminster Street. 4210254, www.providenceartfestival.com. RI NATIONAL GUARD AIR SHOW Jun 25-26: 20th annual family fest features the US Airforce Thunderbirds, the Canadian Showbirds, and many more first-class flight demonstrations, plus the “Shockwave” Jet Truck. Quonset State Airport, North Kingstown. 886-1478, www.riairshow.com. TAPE ART FESTIVAL Jun 7-30: A large-scale temporary art installation, as part of the Celebrate Providence 375 Years celebration. At Bank of America City Center, 2 Kennedy Plaza. www.kennedyplaza.org.
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GREAT CHOWDER COOK-OFF Jun 4: 29th annual chowder competition, featuring restaurants from across the nation cooking up more than 3,000
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June 2011 East Side Monthly
49
Never too late for breakfast
Calendar
continued...
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FEDERAL HILL STROLL Jun 7: Stroll through one of Providence’s most vibrant cultural neighborhoods while sampling signature cuisine and enjoying exclusive discounts. Reservations required. 456-0200, www.federalhillstroll.com. ZOOBILEE! FEAST WITH THE BEASTS Jun 25: An adults-only evening event and fundraiser for the Roger Williams Park Zoo, featuring food samplings from dozens of local restaurants and caterers, music, dancing, raffles, a silent auction, and more. 951-3910, www.rwpzoo.org.
for movie buffs FLICKERS: GLBT FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW Jun 10-12: A special preview of the GLBT Film Festival, taking place during the RI International Film Festival in August. Flickers will feature cutting edge shorts and a sneak peak of a major new feature film. Bell Street Chapel Theatre, 5 Bell Street. 861-4445, www.film-festival.org. LOVE ‘EM OR HATE ‘EM… NEW MOVIE SERIES Sundays thru Jun 16: View mind-bending musicals from the likes of David Byrne, Spike Lee, John Turturro and more, on the big screen at the Central Library’s Auditorium Theatre. Providence Public Library, 150 Empire Street. www.arttixri.com. MOVIES ON THE BLOCK Jun 2-Sep 29 (Thursdays): Providence’s only outdoor movie screen, showing pop hits and cult classics at dusk. Check website for updates. Corner of Westminster and Union Streets. www. indowncity.com/news. THE SALVATION POEM Jun 10-16: Cinerama Latino presents The Salvation Poem, inspired by a true story of Argentinean heavy metal singer Pablo Olivares. In Spanish with English subtitles. At Providence Place Cinema, One Providence Place. 427-0267, www. cineramalatino.com.
FUNDRAISERS
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East Side Monthly June 2011
PINTS FOR LIFE WALK Jun 12: Inaugural walk, bringing blood donors and recipients together in a walk to raise awareness of the need for blood donations. Two walk routes of 1K and 3K, beginning at the RI Blood Cen-
Waterfire ter, 405 Promenade Street. 453-8555, www.ribc.org/pintsforlifewalk. SALUTE TO GEORGE M. COHAN Jun 12: Light lunch, multi-media presentation and musical entertainment to fund the George M. Cohan sculpture at Wickenden and Governor Streets. Fabre Line Club at Conley’s Wharf, 200 Allens Avenue. 447-9568, www.film-festival. org/GeorgeMCohan.htm
SEASONAL BENEFIT STREET: A MILE OF HISTORY Jun 15-Oct 15: A 90-minute walk beginning at the John Brown House Museum. Hosted Tuesdays through Saturdays. 52 Power Street. 273-7507 x 62, www.rihs.org. DISCOVERING ROGER WILLIAMS WALKING TOUR Thru August 29: Walk from Slate Rock Park on the corner of Power and Gano Streets, continuing for 1.5 miles to Roger Williams Memorial. 944-5134. DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE WALKING TOURS Jun 11: The RI Historical Society and The Providence Foundation have partnered to host free walking tours following the four celebration themes of Providence’s 375th anniversary. June’s theme is “Hope.” Starts at 130 Westminster Street. 621-6122, www.rihs.org. NEWPORT FLOWER SHOW Jun 24-26: 16th year’s theme is Entertaining – Newport Style, to be held on the historic grounds of Rosecliff. 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport. 847-1000, www.newportflowershow.org. WATERFIRE Jun 3: Full lighting. See website for full schedule. www.waterfire.org.
GALLERIES BELL GALLERY AT BROWN Jun 11-Jul 10: Among the Breakage: New Painting from Providence, including works by Sam Dukat, Shawn Gilheeney, Ernest Jolicoeur, Maria Napolitano, Lisa Perez, Ara Peterson, Masha Riskin, Monica Shinn, Dan Talbot, and Jason Travers. List Art Center, 64 College Street. 8632932, www.brown.edu. BERT GALLERY Thru Jun 2: Gallery Collection: Ten Most Wanted, featuring 10 selected artists from RI. 540 South Water Street. 7512628, www.bertgallery.com. CAPITAL IDEAS: PLANNING PROVIDENCE Thru Jun 22: An exhibition of design plans of Providence drawn from the City Archives. Part of the 375th celebration of Providence. City Hall Gallery, 25 Dorrance Street. 863-1177, www.planningprovidence.wordpress.com. GALLERY NIGHT Jun 16: Featuring more than 20 galleries, live music, refreshments, celebrity guides, and free Art Buses. Central Art Bus depot and info booth at One Regency Plaza. www.gallerynight.info. GALLERY Z Thru Jun 11: Contemporary Armenian Artists. Jun 16-Jul 2: Photographers and Sculptors of Our Times. 259 Atwells Avenue. www.galleryzprov.com. HAFFENREFFER MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT BROWN Thru Jun 7: Seeing Ourselves, Showing Ourselves: Brown’s Culture on Display. Manning Hall, 1-21 Prospect Street. 8631177, www.brown.edu.
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PAWTUCKET ARTS COLLABORATIVE Thru Jun 24: 4th annual Pawtucket Foundation Prize Exhibition. PAC Gallery, 17 Main Street, Pawtucket. www. pawtucketartscollaborative.org. PROVIDENCE ART CLUB Thru Jun 10: Suzanne Volmer in Dodge House Gallery; Carole Kenny and Judith Skoogfors-Prip. Moitie in Maxwell Mays Gallery. Jun 12-Jul 1: Tanya Trinkaus Glass and Mary Kosowski in Dodge House Gallery; and Marjorie Ball and Nancy GaucherThomas in Maxwell Mays Gallery. 11 Thomas Street. 331-1114, www.providenceartclub.org. RI CONVENTION CENTER Thru Jun 4: RISD Graduate Exhibit. 1 Sabin Street. www.riconvention.com. RISD MUSEUM Thru Jun 5: From Dover to Penzance: Watercolor Views of the English Channel; and Changing Poses: The Artist’s Model. Thru Jul 31: Cocktail Culture, the first multi-disciplinary exhibition to explore the social ritual of drinking and entertainment through the lens of fashion and design. 224 Benefit Street. 4546500, www.risdmuseum.org. URI FEINSTEIN PROVIDENCE CAMPUS Jun 1-30: State of the Arts in Rhode Island, featuring art that illustrates the quality of art education in the state, created by URI, RIC, and CCRI faculty, student, alumni, and retired faculty. 80 Washington Street. 277-5206, www.uri. edu/prov.
SPORTS
guide, snack and story time. Registration required. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 785-3510, www.rwpzoo.org. STADIUM THEATRE Jun 7: BubbleMania: Science, Art, and Comedy show, featuring international, award-winning bubble performer, Casey Carle. 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 762-4545, www.stadiumtheatre.com.
LEARN discussion | instruction | tour INSTRUCTION LIFE DRAWING CLASS Tuesdays: Bring your drawing utensils and paper and sketch from a live model. AS220, 115 Empire Street. 831-9327, www.as220.org. MEN’S A CAPPELLA SINGING Thursdays: Open rehearsals with the Narragansett Bay Chorus. Open to men who like to sing a cappella. Knights of Columbus Hall, 15 Bassett Street, North Providence. www.singnbc.com. PERISHABLE THEATRE Sundays: Intermediate Ballet, and American Tribal Belly Dance. Wednesdays: Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance. Thursdays: Hop to the Beat Hip Hop classes. Saturdays: Belly Dance. 95 Empire Street. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.
CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC Jun 19-21: RI’s largest charitable sporting event, hosting some of the best PGA golfers in the world. Funds raised are distributed to local nonprofits. RI Country Club, 150 Nayatt Road, Barrington. 866-287-9441, www.cvscharityclassic.com. NEWPORT SAILING WEEK Jun 23-26: Inaugural event, to bring sailors from all over the country together to sail in Narragansett Bay. Fort Adams State Park, Newport. 305-373-6671, www.newportsailingweek.com. PAWSOX Jun 1-2: Norfolk Tides. Jun 11-14: Charlotte Knights. Jun 16-19: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Jun 28-30: Rochester Red Wings. McCoy Stadium, 1 Columbus Avenue, Pawtucket. www. pawsox.com. RHODE ISLAND SPORTS AWARDS Jun 15: Annual awards show showcasing Rhode Island’s best high school athletes. Advanced registration required. At the RI Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street. www.risportsawards.com. To have your listing included in the East Side Monthly Calendar, please send press releases or event information to Christina Evon at esm@providenceonline.com. Please send submissions at least one month prior to event date.
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PROVIDENCE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Jun 4-5: Bubble Blast, where kids can experiment with ways to blow bubbles with wacky tools. Jun 11-12: Weaving Wonders, where kids explore the art of weaving with natural materials. Jun 25-26: Mud Play, where kids cook up mud pies. 100 South Street. 273-5437, www.childrenmuseum.org. ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO Jun 19: Father’s Day at the Zoo, where all dads get free admission to the Zoo when accompanied by a child. Jun 20-Aug 19: Summer ZooCamp, with weekly sessions for kids ages 4-5 and 1st to 12th grade. Jun 29: Sunset Safari, providing families with an opportunity to experience the zoo with no crowds and an interpretive
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51
Classifieds
A+ INTERIOR PAINTING Fine interiors. 20+ yrs. experience. Highest quality work. Many references. Fully insured. Based on the East Side. (RI Reg. #19226). Call Patrick, 226-8332.
To place your classified ad, please call 732-3100.
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East Side Monthly June 2011
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.
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June 2011 East Side Monthly
53
East of Elmgrove
by Elizabeth Rau | illustration by Jessica Pollak
Aw Shucks Living dangerously while preparing oysters Driving down Elmgrove,
I saw the fire truck barreling past the cherry tree and thought, once again, of a kitchen fire. I always think of kitchen fires when fire trucks come through our neighborhood. I imagine that a pot boiled over and everyone panicked and then little Bobby reached for the phone: 9-1-1. Uh, my mom’s house is on fire. Can you come? I was cruising at my usual snail’s pace, which is to say I was going 10 miles an hour – 12 max. I always drive slowly on the East Side. I savor my alone time, and I want to hear the end of the National Public Radio report. If I drive too fast, I’ll reach my destination too soon and never find out how it all ended. Did the nice people from the think tank ever find the hunter-gatherer hiding in the rainforest? Elmgrove is pretty on a spring night. The streets are mostly empty of the loud-mouthed buses and the spry walkers are out with their Springer spaniels and long-tailed mutts, the way dogs should present themselves. No canine deserves an owner-sanctioned stubby tail. The turn off Elmgrove onto my street, Irving, is wide and I usually look both ways several times and then some to make sure no cars are coming my way. That intersection is notorious for crack-ups, so it’s wise to exercise patience, an underrated quality in today’s fast-paced world. As I mentioned, I saw a fire truck racing down the road and pulled off to the side. To my surprise, the truck took a right onto Irving and, to my bigger surprise, stopped in front of my house, the one with the hockey sticks sprawled across the driveway. My husband Peder had been preparing dinner while I was out, but he is such a seasoned and careful cook that a kitchen mishap never crossed my mind. I thought much worse and braced myself for life-altering news. I was wrong on both counts. Peder emerged from the house, his face ashen, his hand wrapped in a blood-soaked towel. He sat down
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East Side Monthly June 2011
on the top step. I couldn’t get close. He was surrounded by a gaggle of firefighters, all ministering to him with the care of doting aunts. I had to shout over the roar of the truck’s idling engine. “What happened?” I asked. “Oysters,” my husband shouted back. The dinner had been carefully planned by Peder for our guest, Tom, our next door neighbor and all-around nice guy. It was Tom’s first time over and Peder wanted to serve something special. For the main course, we would have chicken meuniere (lightly breaded cutlets sautéed in butter and finished with parsley), along with a side dish of fresh asparagus. Tom likes seafood so Peder chose hors d’oeuvres of shrimp, smoked mackerel and oysters. Who can resist an oyster? I could slurp down a dozen on a lonely bar stool and still beg for more. I like mine with a dash of hot sauce mixed with horseradish. When they are in season, oysters are as common in our house as, say, baseballs or poorly-sharpened pencils. My husband prides himself on his ability to shuck the rock-hard shellfish, a skill he honed during his bachelor days sailing the ocean blue, unfettered and alive. Oysters beckoned at every port. Shucking is a manly art that involves some risk. Usually, Peder wraps his left hand in an old rag to shield it from the knife’s sharp blade. On this evening, his hand was unprotected. The knife slipped and slashed the palm of his left hand. I wasn’t there, of course, but I was told later that “a fountain of blood shot up – you should have seen it, Mom.” “Oh no,” my husband reportedly said. “It hurts.” The call to 911 was placed. We live a few blocks from a fire station so the big red truck arrived within seconds. Tom saw all the commotion from his study and rushed outside. The firefighters cleaned the wound and wrapped Peder’s hand in a bandage. It was settled. Tom would stay with our two boys, and I would take Peder
to the emergency room. In the past, we’ve gone to Rhode Island Hospital for our emergency care. This time, we decided to stay in the neighborhood and give Miriam a try. Emergency room visits often involve a long wait in a stuffy room with a lot of people sneezing into thin air, but, in this case, we got in immediately. Maybe it had something to do with the drops of blood raining down on the tile floor. “Get him to 1C!” a nurse ordered. Within minutes, Peder was whisked off into a separate room, where his wound was cleaned and examined by two convivial nurses and a chatty and remarkably calm emergency room doctor named Dr. Cummings. The knife had nicked an artery, hence the gushing blood. Dr. Cummings closed the wound with three grand stitches and sent Peder on his way with a prescription for antibiotics to prevent any infection. The discharge papers minced no words: “Since you impaled yourself shucking oysters, your wound is at risk for infection.” We left in a buoyant mood. Only two hours in the ER! Back home, we found Tom and two boys with full bellies, thanks to my old-
est son, who cooked the dinner that my husband had started but never finished. Our hospital adventure was recounted over a touch of the grape. A short time later, the hospital called. “Your husband left his book here,” a nurse said. I thought back. I remembered seeing John Sandford’s crime novel, Heat Lightning, on a medical cart. How could I return to the ER now? I was tired, maybe even tipsy. And then the unexpected: a gesture of human kindness. Dr. Cummings offered to drop off the book on the way to her East Side house. Her shift ended around midnight; she’d leave the book on our front steps. I gave her our address, hung up and then realized we removed the numbers when we painted the house last summer. I wrote a huge “75” on a piece of paper and taped it to a post on the porch. On another sheet of paper I wrote in giant letters, “Thank you, Dr. Cummings.” The book was there in the morning. As for the wound, it healed nicely, just in time to play catch for Little League. Elizabeth Rau is an East Side resident who can be reached at erau1@verizon.net.
One City – Two Great Restaurants DAILY DEALS Mon – 20% off entire bill TuES – 2 for $39.99 (Bottle of wine or sake, 2 soups, 2 salads, 2 entrees) WED – Buy 1 entree, get 2nd 1/2 price (includes 2 soft drinks) ThurS – 40% off all sushi, sashimi and hibachi FrI – Any glass of wine $3.99 or bottle of beer $1.99 w/ each entree SAT – All sushi rolls, buy one get one free Sun – Free bottle of wine/saki when you purchase three entrees or more
Ocean Front Manse
Little Compton Magnificent Ocean Front Manse offers 6 beds, 5.1 baths, spectacular views, au-pair suite, 3 fireplaces, large private lot. $3,999,999
Can’t be combined with other offers
401.383.3551 123 Dorrance Street, Providence Monday thru Thursday 11am-10:30pm Friday 11am-11:30pm • Saturday 12pm-11:30pm
www.asianbistrodining.com Hibachi • Japanese • Chinese Thai Cuisine • Sushi
20% Off
With College ID!
• • • • • • • • • • •
Banquet Room w/ 250 Person Capacity
Appetizers Soups Vegetables Beef Chicken Seafood Fried Rice Lo Mein Chow Foon Chow Mein Fun Chinese & Japanese Lunch Specials • Bento Lunch Boxes • Asian Palace Entrees • Combination Platters
401.228.7805 1190 North Main Street, Providence
www.asianpalacedining.com
Harbor Home
Bristol Entertainer's Paradise. 4 beds, 3 baths, in-ground pool, hardwoods, two-sided gas fireplace, water view, close to harbor, bike path and town. $580,000
Join Us Festa d’Estate – Sicilian Dinner/Cultural Program Claudia Leotta, native of Catania, Sicily, will treat us to an authentic Sicilian Dinner. Friday, June 10, 6:00 P.M. at the International House of Rhode Island 8 Stimson Avenue, Providence, RI 02906 To reserve, please call 401-421-7181 or e-mail mvk@ihouse.necoxmail.com Please reserve by June 3.
9 Wayland Square, Providence 273-2050 · Fax 331-1719 Providence@engelvoelkers.com www.engelvoelkers.com/Providence
June 2011 East Side Monthly
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P r o P E r t i E s
Olney. Exquisitely renovated 4 bed Colonial Revival. Meticulously renovated kitchen/baths, private patio & deck. Sumptuous master suite, 1st floor family room. New 2-zone heat, A.C, windows. $849,000.
Transit. Beautifully restored 6 bed 4 bath Greek Revival w/ au pair & great finished basement opening to yard. New master bath with heated floors, central air, new roof, patio, fence & stonework - gorgeous! $839,000.
Lloyd. Stately Edward Sutton home on College Hill with 3 generous floors and 6000 sq. ft of living space. One of a kind original architectural details, high ceilings. Best Value on College Hill! $825,000
Westford. Gracious center hall Colonial boasts a master bedroom suite with 4 additional bedrooms and three full baths. French doors off the living & dining room to a sunlit family room. Central air, hardwood floors, sprinklers and stunning park like grounds. $775,000.
Elton. Spacious, well-cared for Colonial boasts huge backyard with oversized gardens. Green, serene, private location, abuts east border of toddler park. South facing addition including large family room, den and mahogany decks. Walk to Wayland Square! $629,000.
Congdon. Residence of prominent builder. 1890s College Hill gem renovated head-to-toe in 2009. 1900 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 500 sq ft master, guest suite, marble kitchen, cherry floors, Pella windows, garage. Rare! $609,000.
Alumni. Spectacular, spacious 5 bed 3 bath 1890’s Townhouse. New: windows, heating system, custom kitchen. Original details-hardwoods, built-ins, fireplaces. 2 car garage, fenced yard. Near Moses Brown & College Hill. $589,000.
Sessions. ONE LEVEL LIVING! Custom quality combined with a great floor plan makes this home special. Sunfilled open spaces with parquet hardwoods, French doors, fireplace. All season sunroom overlooks gardens. Attached garage. Recent roof, windows & deck. $479,000.
Brenton. 5 bed, 2.5 bath Colonial w/Craftsman details, new kitchen w/custom cabinetry/granite, light & airy floor plan, formal dining open to family room, living room w/fireplace. Tasteful palette, hardwoods, new windows. $467,000.
401.274.6740 • ResidentialProperties.com
BARRINGTON CUMBERLAND EAST GREENWICH NARRAGANSETT PROVIDENCE RELOCATION