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Contents June 2012
This Month 17 Dine and Dash A taste of the food truck trend
23 The Debate Goes On The proposed Thayer Street project raises concerns
26 History, Preserved We’re gearing up for PPS’s 33rd annual Festival of Historic Houses
29 Your Summer Arts Preview Theatre, opera, orchestras and more
17 43 Pajama Monologues
55 Education
A young boy rides his cares away
Capitalizing on experiential learning
35 Movies
56 Finance
40 Putting Down Roots
The Avengers and The Kid With a Bike
Should the global stories worry us?
Betaspring brings more start-ups to our city
51 On the Menu
60 Calendar
37 People’s Page A son honors his father’s adventurous spirit
Every Month 5 Letters/Editorial 8 Other Side 13 Community News
A mobile burrito company finds a permaFabulous opportunity For nent home owner occupied!
112-114 elmgrove avenue
Gorgeous, spacious 3 familyGuide in terrific location. 52legal Dining Beautiful moldings, wood floors, and period charm. Your resource for eating out Large kitchens and baths. Incredible value. Great rental history. Walking distance to wayland square and the blvd. Parking for six cars. Recently updated electrical, newer roof, siding, and windows. Fire detector system in place. $525,000 Listed by Aleen Weiss 272-6161 X16
All the info on June’s happenings
66 East of Elmgrove Shave and a haircut
On the Cover Photography by Mike Braca
Family owned and operated For over 50 years in tHe Heart oF tHe east side 415 angell street Totally rebuilt condo in 2005! Pristine! Location! Why pay to rent when you can own? Seconds from Wayland Sq, Brown University, RISD, Hospitals and Downtown. Modern, spacious, sunny first floor unit featuring hardwood floors, granite counters, stainless appliances and so much more including special HEPA air/heat system in place. Incredible! $265,00 Listed by Aleen Weiss 272-6161 x16 Assisting Buyers, sellers And renters
Aleen WeissH Jon WeissHF Howard Weiss Karen MillerH
Claire Sennott Jenny WietingH Paul Levitt Judi BlauH
HAlso licensed in MA FLicensed RI Environmental Lead Inspector 0065
785 Hope street, providence, ri 4 01-272-6161 • spitzweiss.com June 2012 East Side Monthly
3
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Editorial No Free Lunch, But Valet Parking Brown University finally rose
to the occasion, albeit kicking and screaming, and settled its long overdue tax bill with the City. The $31,000,000 deal couldn’t have come at a better time, and will last for the next 11 years. It’s an important element that will hopefully help our beloved city stave off bankruptcy, though there are a lot more pieces that need to be fit into puzzle before we get a true financial picture of Providence. The negotiations were arduous, often contentious and certainly left both sides bruised. Both deserve to be commended for turning down the heat and concentrating instead on the importance of getting a deal done. But before we all bestow an honorary degree on the university for magnanimousness, a reality check might be in order as well. In dealing with the City, Brown has historically been opportunistic and does not hesitate to throw its considerable weight around. And, it doesn’t usually lose. But this time it appeared the City and State were prepared to go to the mats. There was a proposal in the state legislature that had considerable momentum:
it would have taxed Brown at 25% of the assessed value of their $1,000,000,000+ property in the city of Providence. That would have provided considerably more revenue for the city, but certainly negotiating a settlement is the preferred way to move forward in such matters. And it helps both parties avoid the sticky quagmire called “endless litigation.” However, as generous as the agreement may appear, the backbone of the deal is in its “Conditions to Payment” section and suggests Brown has done very nicely in this deal as well. First off, they will now receive the conveyance of four College Hill streets – 65,000 sq. ft. of city land. Not bad. And then there are those 250 parking spaces Brown will get use of for 20 years. Now we don’t claim to have a PhD in Mathematics, but here’s the way we compute the value of that gift. If each spot brings in $1.25 an hour, six days a week, that comes to about $10/day, $60/week or $3,000 a year. Multiply by 250 meters and that’s an impressive $750,000 a year of revenue that City won’t be receiving for the next 20 years.
Then add in one $30 parking ticket per meter per day (the minimum according to the parking enforcement officers we talked to) and you can add another $2,250,000 in annual fines; you’re now up to $3,000,000 a year (or $60,000,00 for the full 20 years) of potentially lost revenue. Let’s assume the real numbers are only 80% of our rough calculations. That’s still well over $50 million in savings to Brown, well more than the value of the new deal. Plus Brown can now postpone building their much-needed parking garage for a while. (For the record, a 250-space garage costs about $40,000/space or in this case $10,000,000 to build). And they get those four city streets to boot. We’re hoping there’s more to this story or that our numbers are way out of line. But if they’re not, is Brown being magnanimous or opportunistic? And more importantly, does this deal portend the start of a real partnership between the City and Brown… or is it one more example of the politicians thinking short-term, while the institutional planners think long?
To my dear Betty: Wish I could send you some treats to reward you for writing [“The Dog Days of April,” Letters, April 2012]. I hope your letter will achieve the much-needed improvement, which my last year’s letter to the editor has not yet accomplished. The plea from an animal’s perspective was “right on the mark.” On the India Point walkway, there is a definite need for trash baskets and signs indicating dog owners will be fined if they don’t obey the cleanup law. Thank you so much, Betty, for reminding us to be “good sanitary neighbors.” Selma Fischman East Street
History Isn’t Boring at All To the editor: I read through this month’s issue and really enjoyed it. The history on Thayer Street was fascinating
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 Assistant Editor Erin Swanson Assisant Art Director Karli Hendrickson Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas Graphic Designer Meghan H. Follett
Letters Good Dog
1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 tel: 305-3391 | fax: 305-3392 esm@providenceonline.com www.eastsidemonthly.com
[“Something Old, Something New,” May 2012]. I also wanted to ask about how one goes about listing an event in the calendar section. Jonathan Murphy Editor’s Note: To submit an event, send an email to events@providenceonline.com two months in advance, if possible, or sign up as a user at www.eastsidemonthly.com to post your own to our online calendar.
Step Up to the Plate, PPS To the editor: I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed apartment building by Gilbane and Co. on Euclid and Thayer Streets. I am also concerned because there have been intimations that the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is not taking a proactive role to oppose this project even though the project appears to violate several aspects of PPS’s mission. For example, in 1987 my wife Susan and I moved a house from Power
Street (where the Brown’s Gregorian dorms are now) to a lot on John Street. We asked PPS (of which we had been members for several years) for their endorsement of this project, but they chose to take a neutral position because the house was “not all that significant architecturally – there are, after all, a lot of these kind of houses around” (my recollection of the wording of their response) and the addition of a three-family building would increase the density of the neighborhood in adverse ways. Yet, now, PPS is willing to sign off on a structure that will more than double the density of the block on Euclid. This does not seem consistent with their general opposition to projects that will increase the population density of neighborhoods. I am not willing to accept that the Gilbane project is a “done deal.” Statements have been made that the houses slated for demolition (if this project goes ahead) are not significant architecturally or historically, which may be true, but they are hardly beyond redemption
Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich, Ann Gallagher, Nicole Greenspun, Dan Schwartz, Elizabeth Riel, Sharon Sylvester, Kimberly Tingle, Jessica Webb Classified Advertising Sue Howarth Contributing Writers Bob Cipriano, Mary K. Connor, Jill Davidson, Renee Doucette, Don Fowler, Bob Mariani, Betsey Purinton, Elizabeth Rau, Dan Schwartz Interns Kathryn Barrall, Emily Gardner, Samantha Gaus, Courtney Little, Emily Payne, Donald Previe, Dale Rappaneau Contributing Photographers Mike Braca, James Jones, 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 ©2012 by East Side Monthly. All rights reserved. Printed by TCI.
June 2012 East Side Monthly
5
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6
East Side Monthly June 2012
continued...
despite the negligence shown them by their current owner(s). In 1984, Susan and I purchased four houses and a vacant lot on John Street from Brown. One was partially burned (72 John), one was lopsided because the northeast corner of the foundation had collapsed and the whole house was askew (66 John) and the other two (62/64 and 72½ John) were neglected and run down. We brought back all four of these houses. Then, we moved the house mentioned above to the site of 68/70 John Street. Today, all but one of these five houses have PPS plaques. We preserved both the houses and the fabric of the neighborhood. Drive by and check it out. None of the houses slated for demolition for the Gilbane project are particularly noteworthy, but they are not beyond salvation and represent a much better alternative than the Gilbane behemoth. But the real issue is scale and density. The Gilbane project is way out of scale and the density increase it will bring seems way of our line with PPS’s own standards. Susan and I are still active members of PPS and appreciate all the good work they have done over the years, but this is no time for them to abandon their basic principles. Peter S. Allen Oriole Avenue
The Facts on Tax To the editor: The use of property values to pay for the tax levy has one fundamental quality that differentiates it from all other forms of taxation: it always produces the requested revenue. Regardless of the total value of a community or the amount of the tax levy, there is a tax rate that will generate the determined amount, always. Income taxes or sales taxes can never generate a specified amount of revenue by their vary nature. There is very little disagreement about what property taxes should be used for: public schools, fire protection, police protection, road maintenance, libraries, parks etc. However, there is a subtle effect of a tax on property, which is rarely considered – most likely because this tax has been in use for so long that it is as-
sumed it must be the right thing to do. But is it? Consider: after every revaluation, in any city, thousands of property owners will actually pay a significant portion of their tax increase solely to lower the taxes of other property owners. Is this also a legitimate purpose for one’s property tax dollars, to lower taxes for other property owners, often as not, owners of the more expensive properties? The best way to appreciate this phenomenon is to observe what happens when a community does not increase its tax levy and has a revaluation in the same year. The following example uses Barrington tax data for the revaluation year 2009 (but similar results can be seen with any town data). Taxes were recalculated after reducing the 2009 tax levy to the 2008 level. Despite no tax levy increase, 33% of property owners would have received tax bills with an average increase of 41%. The extra $2,900,927 paid by these unlucky people would have in essence, been paid to the 67% of property owners whose taxes fell due to the revaluation. Nearly $3,000,000 paid by one group to another with no benefit to the community which neither requested nor received additional funds. Can this be called a fair tax distribution? However, if towns don’t revalue, a new owner can buy a property and be taxed on an old, most often lower assessment - that too is clearly unfair yet it happened year after year. Revaluations correct this unfairness, but in the process create their own injustice for all existing owners, as the above example demonstrates. This is a dilemma that can’t be corrected by more accurate assessments or lower budgets, both of which are important in their own right. The challenge is to acknowledge this defect and to devise a tax system that addresses it. The proposed “Property Owners Tax” (1) provides the needed revenue, (2) taxes new owners fairly every year, not every third year, and (3) taxes existing owners fairly and rationally every year. It can be done. Please visit www. righttax.org to learn more. Dr. Harvey Waxman R.I.G.H.T. President
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Two East Siders, Two New Books Two Locals with the Write Stuff
Two new books have been published, both of which have solid East Side credentials behind them. The first was written by East Side resident Saul Kaplan, the former head of Economic Development for the state as well as the founder and chief catalyst for the Business Innovation Factory (BIF), a real-world laboratory for exploring and testing new business models and social systems that has attracted an impressive global community of over 5,000 innovators. He describes his book (The Business Model Innovation Factory) as a useful tool to help you “stay relevant when the world is changing.” The second book is called Retirement Sparks, Irreverent Observations on Retirement and is written by another East Sider, Elaine Decker. Cleverly and humorously crafted, the book offers some unexpected suggestions on how to retire without going crazy. Along with being a regular monthly columnist for Prime Time, Ms. Decker is also a dedicated blogger (www.RetirementSparks.blogspot.com) and the wife of Thayer Street businessman Jagdish Sachdev, longtime owner of Spectrum India. Congratulations to both authors for jobs well done.
Late Breaking Food News on Hope Street
In case you haven’t noticed, Hope Street has suddenly become one of the best places to chow down in the city. The number and variety of offerings up and down the street has become Food Channel worthy. Two news bites for you foodies out there: A legendary East Side chef is making his presence felt and a beloved hangout will be closing. Jaime D’Oliveria, the former owner and chef of such places as Mill’s Tavern and Red Stripe, is now lending his 38 years of expertise to KB (Kitchen Bar) at 771 Hope Street by helping create and cook an exciting new menu, which they’re calling “contemporary comfort cuisine.” The other sad news is that the popular watering hole across the street, the Ivy Tavern, has closed. Known as a great place to hang and catch sports (and offering some of the best meatballs and spaghetti in town), the future of the tavern is now unclear. More details as we get them.
8
East Side Monthly June 2012
Let the Fires Begin
This month marks the return of Providence’s best and brightest: Waterfires. To help you plan your summer calendar, here are the dates that are officially scheduled so far: The first full lighting, which means all 80 braziers, is set for Saturday, May 26 as part of Memorial Day and of course Brown’s graduation weekend. Given it also marks the final commencement for outgoing president Ruth Simmons, the evening, sponsored by Bank of America, should be quite impressive. Other dates listed as we go to press: June 9, June 23, July 21, August 18, September 15 and September 29. There will also be a smaller basin fire on June 1. And for the nimble of foot among our readers, please note there will be dancing (compliments of TD North at their outdoor ballroom) on June 23, July 21, August 18, and September 15. Burn, baby, burn!
Congratulations to us! Congratulations to us!
Indulge us as we pat ourselves on the back… a dozen times, actually. At last week’s RI Press Association Awards dinner, Providence Media (our corporate name) won an unprecedented 12 journalistic awards. This includes all four of our major publications, ESM of course, Providence Monthly, SO Rhode Island and The Bay. Specifically, ESM was nominated for two of the awards: Best News Story (in depth), by yours truly and Steve Triedman, for our cover story a year earlier (March 2011) that asked, “Is the City Broke?”), and Best Feature Photo Story (short) by James Jones about his trip to Japan after the devastating tsunami there. The 12 nominations put us right there with the Journal. Kudos to the incredible team… writers, artists, salespeople, interns and fearless leaders who make this place such a great organization to be part of.
Tipping is Permitted
Ever committed to take ever bigger bites out of crime, the Providence Police Department has just announced the implementation of a new innovative program called Crime Reports. It’s an amalgam of crime-reporting systems that has been implemented successfully in over 1,200 different departments around the country. One system allows the tracking
Family members and Little League supporters on Jim Engle Night
of online crime updates. Another, called CommandCentral, provides real-time information to officers to solve crimes faster. The final system used by Providence is called TipSoft and allows people to provide anonymous tips to the department. In all three cases it’s all about better connectivity between the police and the residents they serve. Kudos to Providence for taking a lead in this process.
Wayland Square Bounces Back
It was discouraging to hear about the recent damage caused by a group of misfits who smashed all the planters along the east side of the square during an early morning ride through. The reasons why, the senselessness of the activity as well as the identity of the nitwits, all remain a mystery. According to Jessica Leach, head of the Wayland Square Merchant’s Association, the pots will be replaced. Anyone who has any inkling of who could have committed such a silly act should read the paragraph above and call in their tip to the police. Jessica reports that the City, whose grant allowed the purchase of the planters in the first place, has been incredibly supportive, as have been many concerned neighbors and friends from around the area. The shame is that the square, with its new window displays and spring colors, has been looking rather festive lately. Jessica assures us, though, it will look even better when it hosts a bunch of special events this July – its famous sidewalk sale, in-
cluding something deliciously entitled “The First Wayland Square Ice Cream Food Fight” on July 21. Check our issue next month for the details.
Museums. Music. And Munchies.
In attempt to add a little ‘culcha’ to our lives, the RISD Museum is inviting us all to Music Thursdays at the Museum. On the first Thursday of every month, the museum will stay open to 9pm and add a little Mozart to their Monets, a little Bach to their Breugels, a little Ravel to their Renoirs, a little… well you get the idea. They’ll also provide some nibbles along with a cash bar. Tickets are free with museum admission, or $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $3 for children or college students. The concept sounds quite civilized, say we. Go and enjoy.
Myopic Books has a New Vision
Some readers misread a paragraph in the Wayland Square “Community News” column and mistakenly thought that Myopic Books, the store next to Kyureo, was also closing. We’re happy to report emphatically, it is not! But, as the result of a complicated legal issue over its name, the store will be changing its name to Paper Nautilus Books. And while it happily will be staying put, it will also be expanding over the summer. So stop in and say hello to owner Kristin Sollenberger and tell her you’re happy she’s staying in the neighborhood. We are.
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Community News Community News is a space that East Side Monthly makes available to community organizations free of charge. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of this publication.
Blackstone Parks By Jane Peterson Blackstone Parks Phone Number: 270-3014 Website: www.blackstoneparkconservancy.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603141 Providence, RI 02906 Blackstone Park Conservation District June is normally the month when the glory of the woods, Mountain Laurel, pops into bloom – literally. The laurel, some of it many decades old, is suffering from the black spot fungus. So far, we have no information on its likely fate or whether anything can or should be done to facilitate recovery. We’ll keep searching for reliable information and guidance. We Salute: Chris Schafer and the Appalachian Mount Club, whom the Environment Council of Rhode Island honors for service in Rhode Island. The AMC started coming to the rescue of the woodland in the late 1990s, using their skills to help stem erosion. Come see the new work they did in the Conservation District with Blackstone Parks Conservancy and Friends of Blackstone Woods volunteers in mid-April. We thank: The Rhode Island Natural History Survey for the new woodland plantings recently installed on Angell Street and Parkside, which will eventu-
ally display the quiet beauty of 27 native species. Over 1,000 plants, many raised from seed, will take a while to get established and help may be needed to weed and water them. We Need: People to join our board and to dig into outreach and publicity and education. Lively meetings. No pay. Also: Volunteer horticulturists and just plain gardeners to help tend the plantings on Angell Street and River Road and the Boulevard. Boulevard Nearly 300 trees on the Boulevard are there thanks to collaboration between the Conservancy and the Parks Department. Some have filled in empty spots, while others replaced dead trees. Many, not all, honor individuals. While the Parks Department plants the trees and removes dead ones, the Conservancy raises the money by applying for grants, an arduous process, and soliciting donations to pay for their purchase and upkeep. Maintenance is costly: $700 to water the entire boulevard each time. When added to the cost of weeding and mulching, it comes to between $10,000 and $12,000, depending on the amount of rain this summer. Recently, a major contributor to the concert series dropped out, making the task of fundraising considerably harder. Events: Sunday June 10, 2–7p.m. Second annual exhibit, “Through Our Eyes: Woodland and Water,” at the Narragansett Boat Club on River Road close to Angell Street. Art work and photographs; refreshments; live music. Late June – First 2012 concert. See website for details. And please keep sending your Eastside Marketplace receipts to the address above.
Summit By Kerry Kohring Summit Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 272-6323 Website: www.SummitNeighbors.org Email Address: sna@sna.providence.ri.us Mailing Address: SNA, PO Box 41092, Providence RI 02940 Board objects to process in city lifting overnight-parking ban At its regular meeting on April 23, the SNA board of directors voiced concern over the mayor’s decision to expand on-street overnight parking without the approval of residents or their elected officials, the City Council. According to the City’s website, overnight parking “will be rolled out across the city,” beginning April 16 and continuing through June 18 for Wards 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15. “Rollout into the remaining wards and neighborhoods will follow the initial expansion on a timeline to be determined.” The website announcement further states, “The City’s parking administrator will conduct a series of information sessions in affected neighborhoods to explain expansion of overnight parking and answer any questions.” Nowhere in the City’s statement is there provision for resident input in deciding whether to implement the lifting of the long-standing ban. In addition, the City Council has already declined to endorse the action. The SNA board voted to poll neighborhood residents as to the desirability of lifting of the ban and the provision of setting only an “opt-out” procedure. The board also directed its president to convey to the mayor, and other neighborhood organizations, three points: That the SNA board disapproves of bypassing
the City Council on expanding the “pilot project” of lifting the ban city wide; that the board supports transparency in the decision process; and that the board demands a public voice. Farmers market parking limits rejected Representatives of the farmers’ market held on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Lippitt Park (at the intersection of Hope Street and Blackstone Boulevard) reported to the SNA board that there have been complaints about congestion, resulting in several City proposals to regulate parking, including setting time limits and ticketing violators. The board discussed the alleged problem and concluded that it was a non-issue since there is plenty of parking around the market perimeter, on side streets and in unused public lots. Events this Month: Water Features Workshop: fishponds and mosquito prevention. Part of a series of free, sustainability sessions. Locations vary, so consult the website. Regular meetings: The board meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of every month in the cafeteria of Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave., Providence. The meetings are open and neighborhood residents are encouraged to attend.
Brown Street Park By Wendy Nilsson Friends of Brown Street Park Phone Number: 454-8712 Website: www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Email Address: wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org
Can’t Sell it? Rent it! Call Us To Rent Out Your Property!
June 2012 East Side Monthly
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When it comes to décor, consider antique maps. Maps make a statement and tell a story. They can also personalize a home: many people enjoy history - using antique maps is a way to incorporate history into décor. If a genuine antique map is framed properly, it looks like an heirloom. For a great conversation piece consider using a local plat map showing the location of your home. We carry original maps from the city and state atlases from 1870s to 1937, and have maps of every Providence neighborhood. Using foreign maps of the country of your own heritage becomes sort a “roots” type of statement. If your family is from Dublin, how great would a map of Dublin be? Plus foreign maps look great and they fit in halls, dens, living rooms and dining rooms. Often maps have great rich colors and they work in any setting, even a contemporary one when framed properly. PICTUE THIS has the largest selection of framed genuine antique maps in Rhode Island. Our foreign maps date back to the early 1700s and they are the actual maps, not reproductions. Perfect timing for Father’s Day! A gift that will last forever and look great!
Mailing Address: 30 Pratt Street Providence, RI 02906
p.m., June 11 at the Vartan Gregorian Bath House Library.
million square feet of area within a parking garage(s).
Events this Month: Fitness classes started at BSP Please check our website for updates on the classes that start in June including, YMCA Hybrid Training, Om Kids Yoga, Punch Gym, Crossfit, Parkour, Meditation, Adult Yoga and others. Most classes are free.
FPNA hears good & bad news An overflowing crowd of Fox Pointers heard mostly positive news for their neighborhood, considering the city’s current economic conditions at the spring membership meeting, held April 25 at the Sheldon Street Church. Lambri Zerva, supervising engineer with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), said the eastern side of Fox Point will begin seeing some major changes as the Blackstone Bike Path connects to the Washington Bridge’s Bike Way, which should go out for construction soon. The Blackstone Bike Path, which comes from the north as an on-street path will follow along the road by the Salvation Army before it goes off-road behind the East Side Market, Zerva said. It will then follow the water feature of the Seekonk River heading south through Gano Park before transferring to widened sidewalks towards the Washington Bridge. Upon questioning, Zerva indicated that there could possibly be spur off of the path that would utilize the old railroad bed connecting the Crooks Point Bridge to Gano Street. The long-awaited straightening of the Gano India Street intersection also will be coordinated with the NBC project before that construction can begin. As to the increased noise issue that has resulted from the I-195 construction, Zerva said he expects the remediation project to begin this summer and extend into the fall.
Resident permits available in Fox Point Beginning in the second week of June, overnight permit parking will be available to residents in Fox Point, according to Leo Perotta, parking administrator. The cost for the permit is $100 for a year and two permits are available per household, Perotta said. “We have estimated that about six to 10 percent of the population has taken advantage of the permits in parts of the city where they are available,” Perotta added. “We also are issuing guest passes at a cost of $25 that allow the holder to park his car on the street five times during the year. For more information, go to www.providenceri.gov and search overnight parking.
Story hour at the park Providence Athenaeum children’s librarian, Lindsey Shaw, presents Sand Box Stories and Sing-Along for infants to preschool-aged children. 5th Annual Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative Summer Concert Series in the Park every other Wednesday in June and July, from 5:30-7:30pm. While the four concert dates have not yet been finalized, volunteers to staff the concerts are needed. Approximately 3-4 volunteers per event are needed to help setup our fundraising snack table, staff the table during the two-hour event, and then break down the table. 30-minute to 60-minute shifts per person are appreciated. This is a great opportunity to enjoy great music, give back to the community, and meet your hungry neighbors. Please email David concerts@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org if you can help. Thanks to Mayor Angel Taveras, Arts Culture + Tourism, and Whole Foods University Heights. Summer theater ACT@St. Andrew’s comes to Brown Street Park Friday July 27, 1:30pm show. This year the group will be performing their own version of Rapunzel (official title in the making) with rapping narrators. It’s free. Thank you Thanks to all our Earth Day and Fitness Expo Sponsors: Joe’s Backyard Band, What Grows in Rhode Island, Rhode Island Parkour, Providence Children’s Museum, Whole Foods University Heights, Brad Marsters, Punch Gym, Crossfit Providence, East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA, Om Kids Yoga and all our neighborhood volunteers.
Fox Point By John Rousseau
158 Wickenden St., Providence 48 Weybosset St., Providence 14
East Side Monthly June 2012
Fox Point Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 401/270-7121 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 to 8
Boat ramp construction to begin Construction of the East Transit Boat Launch in Gano Park is expected to begin this month, but the ramp will not be useable until next spring, according to Bob McMahon, director of the Providence Department of Parks. However, other parts of the project, including asphalting of the parking lot, installation of lighting, and restoration of the shoreline and marsh will be completed this year. I-195 parcels face road construction Colin Kane, commissioner of the I-195 Redevelopment Commission, said there will be heavy roadway and infrastructure construction this summer west of the Providence River and next summer on the East Side. Kane, who developed the highly acclaimed Ocean House and Rumford Center projects, pledged to make the “46-odd acres into something special.” The commission is not going to take a fragmented approach, but instead develop a cohesive plan that satisfies a host of objectives, Kane added. “Parking is our biggest challenge,” he continued, saying the re-developed land needs 2.5
Shooters, or 25 India Street? As the former Shooters property moves forward, the Department of Environmental Management, DEM, prefers to use its address rather than its old name, according to Arria Bilodeau, Co-chair of Head of the Bay Gateway Committee, HOBG. There are reportedly four development groups interested in the property, one of which proposes construction of an amphitheater on the grounds, HOBG Co-Chair David Riley reports. DEM has reviewed the Requests for Interest, RFI, proposals and will be sending out the Request for Proposals, RFP’s, soon, he adds. The bad news is that property will be used again as a staging area for construction—this time for NBC’s rainwater runoff project.
College Hill by Allison Spooner College Hill Neighborhood Association Phone Number: (401) 633-5230 Website: www.collegehillna.com Email Address: chna@collegehillna.com Mailing Address: CHNA, P.O. Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906 CHNA to sponsor public on-street overnight parking meeting CHNA will hold a meeting with City Parking Administrator Leo Perrota on Thursday, June 7 at 6:30pm at the First Unitarian Church located at 1 Benevolent Street. We welcome all to attend to learn more about the details regarding the overnight on-street parking policy. For additional information in the meantime, please visit the link www.providenceri.com/overnight-parking. Mr. Perrota will also be attending a meeting at Books on the Square on Tuesday, June 5 at 7pm, 471 Angell Street and is expected to present at a meeting of the Summit Neighborhood Association as well.
Letters submitted The CHNA Board of Directors has submitted a letter of opposition to the Zoning Department regarding an application for a special use permit at 236 Meeting Street and 157 Cushing Street that would allow for an increase the interior and exterior seating capacity while limiting parking spaces to 9 from code issue of 53. We have also submitted a letter of opposition to the Zoning Board for the special use permit for entertainment at the Shark restaurant on Thayer Street. CHNA response to Gilbane proposal The following is an excerpt of the letter submitted by the CHNA Board of Directors to Councilman Sam Zurier regarding the Gilbane proposal for 257 Thayer Street. The letter may be found in it’s entirety on our website at www.collegehillna.com. After reviewing materials from the developer, feedback from residents, and discussions with various stakeholders, the CHNA Board of Directors has determined that there has not been sufficient time or adequate materials available for the CHNA Board of Directors to be able to clearly endorse or oppose the proposed 257 Thayer Street student residence project. The CHNA Board of Directors has therefore voted unanimously to abstain from voting directly on this project. It is our intent, moving forward, to be proactive in our approach and collaborate effectively to preserve the best interest of the residents of College Hill and the greater community. The College Hill Neighborhood Association Board of Directors has voted unanimously to provide the City Council and the Providence City Planning Department the following recommendations for the 257 Thayer Street / Gilbane Development Company proposal or any other high-density development project proposed for this area going forward. 1. Slow down the process. 2. Consider multiple projects together. 3. Insure there is guaranteed placement on the tax rolls. 4. Hire locally sensitive architects. 5. All projects be reviewed and design approved by PHDC or other appropriate design review board. 6. Issuance of a completion bond. 7. Proper abatement of hazardous materials and low-impact demolition. 8. Preservation should not be dismissed. Membership Dues are $20 per calendar year or $35 for two. To join (or renew), visit our website, www.collegehillna.com and click “Join CHNA,” or send a check made out to CHNA Attn: Treasurer, Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906. Be sure to include your email address. Not sure about your payment status? Confirm at chna@collegehillna.com.
Wayland Square
Over 25 Years of Building and Remodeling
By David Kolsky Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waylandsquare Monthly meetings: Wednesdays, May 23 and June 28, at 7 p.m., Books on the Square, street level, 471 Angell Street at Elmgrove, next to CVS. Free and open to all.
RI Reg. #1246
Special meeting on parking policy: Tuesday, June 5, at 7 p.m., Books on the Square, to hear Leo Perrotta, the City’s overnight parking administrator, explain and answer questions about the new policies described below. Overnight parking: The biggest local news is the impending arrival of Overnight Residential Permit Parking, which at this writing was due to arrive in Police District Nine (on the Fox Point side of Olney and Laurel Streets) in the first or second week of June. The only Wayland Square streets exempted from the program are Gano, Waterman, South Angell and Angell above South Angell. Almost every other street will allow overnight parking on both sides, but a few narrow ones will be one-side-only. Gilbane project: Robert Gilbane’s well-intended housing project for 257 Thayer Street has been much discussed elsewhere in East Side Monthly. My biggest fear is that the necessary rezoning will destroy not only dozens of houses but Brook Street’s residential character above Waterman, creating a huge unbroken institutional mass from Arlington Avenue to Brown Street. It was only a few years ago that East Side neighbors spent 40 hours at “Providence Tomorrow” workshops that explicitly adopted a different plan.
Thirty people, including kids of all ages, came to Friends of India Point Park’s 12th Annual Clean Up from 9-12 on Saturday, April 21.
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June 2012 East Side Monthly
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Hewtin’s Dogs is an extension of Chez Pascal
A New Ki n d of Fast Food Local food trucks offer delicious fare on the go By Grace Lentini
Photography: Mike Braca
The quintessential embodiment of the Rhode Island spirit sits atop the State House. The Independent Man stands as a reminder to Rhode Islanders: support what you believe in. All over town, people are making it clear that they believe in fresh, affordable, locally minded food. The verdict is in and its official – food trucks are here to stay. This seems particularly true here on the East Side. Chez Pascal runs a highly successful mobile operation (in addition to their seasonal hot dog cart), and various trucks can be spotted on Thayer, Hope, Wick-
enden and – seemingly – everywhere in between. Based on the belief that food can and should be an experience marked by fervor and an unwavering attention to detail and quality, the city has ushered in a new era of comfort food. Each truck boasts its own version, with enough heart and gusto to have customers returning for more. Many trucks have been established out of a desire to finally break into the food industry at a start-up cost that’s manageable. Others are serving out of their own personalized vehicles, ranging from the stereotypical food truck to vin-
tage vans, in response to the dwindling jobs of a bad economy. Others still vehemently desire the freedom of answering to themselves and being the master of their own destiny. The food truck is independence incarnate, and ours are not going anywhere anytime soon. There is a particular kind of person who owns a food truck: one with an indomitable entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to lovingly create food for the customer. Food truck owners often work long days, sometimes 15+ hours, with the reward of knowing that their product was
well received, just to do it all over again the next day. While the idea of food trucks isn’t something new, the way in which to locate them is a sign of the digital times. Sure, there are hotspots of food truck activity, namely along Thayer Street near Brown University, at the bottom of Wickenden Street, at Kennedy Plaza and showings at the Hope Street Farmers Market at Lippitt Park. They can also be found at festivals throughout the year at various locations across the state. But the absolute, surest way to find each and every one of the trucks is to follow them on
June 2012 East Side Monthly
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Kobe Beef Burger
Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ Truck
Plouf Plouf Gastronomie 18
East Side Monthly June 2012
a wild mushroom brandy sauce, served with from-scratch frites. It’s just as decadent as it sounds and literally melts in your mouth. Going the more traditional burger route is Munchies Food Truck (@munchiesft). Munchies rose out Chef Aiman Saad’s obsession with real food simply prepared with great ingredients. (Chef Saad is one of the executive chefs at Mohegan Sun.) Their Munchie Burger is everything you could want in this straightforward classic. The meat is from a local butcher, ground fresh from 100% angus beef that is always choice or higher. Combined with crunchy pickles and thinly sliced red onion - and served with their perfectly crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside fries - this burger screams of excellence. How about another American classic? I’m talking about barbeque. Head over to LJ’s BBQ (@LJsBBQ) to experience fall-off-the-bone ribs, pulled pork, baked beans and cornbread that mean business. Owners Bernie and Linda Watson have been running LJ’s since 2001. Aside from their restaurant, they also have a food truck that is available for catering and will be opening for late night on Hope Street throughout the summer, Wednesday through Saturday. The truck will be offering their award winning bbq grilled meats, sandwiches and wood grilled pizzas. They can also be found throughout the summer at various festivals including the India Point Park Cape Verdean Festival and Oktoberfest in downtown Pawtucket. Another barbeque option is the well established Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ Truck (@MamaKimsKbbq). A staple of the Thayer Street food scene, this truck consistently produces college student praised lunch and dinner options. Coowner Hyun Kim is no stranger to return customers or putting forth a high volume of food. In fact, Mama Kim’s has become so popular that there are now two trucks in the fleet. They make a conscious effort to support local businesses whenever possible and only import certain key ingredients for their recipes. If pig is what you’re craving then Hewtin’s Dogs (@ChezPascal) has what you need. This food truck was created in 2008 and is an extension of the hot dog cart started by Chez Pascal. It truly comes from co-owner Matthew Gennuso’s passion for making homemade sausages and cured meats. The restaurant gets whole pigs from a farm in New Hampshire then does the majority of the butchering themselves. The truck features these cured meats, homemade sausages and unique seasonal sandwiches in addition to produce from local farms including fresh eggs from Pat’s Pastured. Their success is apparent by their extremely loyal following; it’s one of the few trucks that has developed a regular schedule: Tue: 11am-2:30pm, Grant’s
Photography: Grace Lentini
French Fries Bulgogi Sandwich
Munchies Food Truck
Twitter and Facebook. Each day that a truck is open for lunch or dinner, its location is tweeted along with the times it is serving. Social media is quickly becoming commonplace in our everyday lives and the food truck craze has capitalized on the trend. It has also capitalized on the abundance of local food produced by our own farmers. Many trucks get their produce, dairy and meats locally through the Market Mobile program run by Farm Fresh Rhode Island, the nonprofit organization responsible for many of the farmers markets throughout the state. Market Mobile is a platform for buyers to order their ingredients, which come from local farms and other businesses, and then pick them up at a central location. Some trucks get their breads directly from local bakers while others are sourcing their products from other parts of New England. With offerings as diverse as the city itself, all one truly has to ask is, “What am I in the mood for?” How about an American classic? An honest to God, mouthwatering, slap yourself kind of burger. If that sounds appealing, then start at Rocket Fine Street Food (@rockettruck). This husband and wife duo, Joe Meneguzzo and Patricia Natter, recognized the food truck trend four years ago and decided that they wanted to provide comfort foods using the best ingredients at a fair price. This is evident in their Parisienne Burger – it’s like they took a regular burger and gave it mutant powers. The first bite actually made me angry that I had gone this long without understanding what a real, good burger tastes like. Made with meat produced with no hormones or antibiotics, raised on a vegetarian diet, and humanely raised on sustainable American family ranches, the soul of the food is apparent. Maybe its how perfectly marbleized the meat is; maybe it’s the thin, crispy sear from the flat top grill; maybe it’s the perfectly caramelized onions on top of the Gruyere cheese, nestled under the garlic roasted aioli, all on a Taunton Avenue Bakery Portuguese roll. Maybe it’s the fact that you can actually taste how much love is in this food. It’s soul food, and that’s why the food truck craze has taken hold in Providence. Plouf Plouf Gastronomie (@PloufPloufTruck) also boasts a husband and wife duo and offers a largely organic menu. Mario Molliere is the talent behind the scenes while his wife Anik Palulian is the graphic designer and creative director. Molliere is a three star Michelin chef, trained in France, with a beyond stellar resume. His experience is inescapably evident in his cuisine. His street cuisine offers an opportunity to experience complex flavor combinations served in a nonassuming, gorgeous way. Fine dining has met the street and produced a love child. The menu includes an entirely organic gourmet Kobe beef burger with applewood smoked bacon and goat cheese, in
Private Chef
Ilan BarnIv Caribbean Jerk Fish Sandwich
Cooks in your kitchen for weekly meals or special occasions
Roxy’s Lobster
Fresh and healthy dishes made from scratch
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Kosher possible
Tacos
Block next to Tazza; Thur: 11:30am-2pm, South Main Street at Wickenden; Fri: 11:30am-2:00pm, North Main Street at Smith (Roger Williams National Memorial Park, not the zoo). Roxy’s Lobster (@RoxysLobster) breaks down the barrier between the street and the beach and is run by one of the owners of Monahan’s Clam Shack in Narragansett. Matt Combs and his wife Dee have a reputation that precedes them. Offering wildly fresh lobster rolls made entirely of claw and knuckle meat, fish sandwiches made from flounder caught in Narragansett Bay, and to-diefor clam cakes that can be dipped in lobster bisque or traditional New England clam chowder, this clam shack on wheels delivers. Aside from bringing the beach to the masses, the couple encourages folks to bring their dogs to the truck; they have a stash of Milkbones on hand to accommodate furry friends. It’s a family-run, family-oriented truck, and dogs are part of our families too, as made evident in their logo, inspired by the family’s black lab. Mijos Tacos (@MijosTacos) is also embracing the bounty in our waters. They obtain their fish from the Point Judith fishermen who created Wild Rhody, which employs sustainable and responsible fishing methods. Mijos owner Pete Gobin is originally from Pawtucket, moved out to Los Angeles, was inspired by the taco truck scene out west, and came back to Providence. With 20 years of food experience under his belt and gaining much inspiration from French cuisine, Mijos Tacos offers a unique array of taco choices as well as “stranger” cuts of meat. His dedicated fan base, most of who Pete is on a first name basis with, trust his cooking to the point where they will try anything he puts out there. For example, beef tongue sells out nearly every time it is on the menu and - if you’ve never had one - now is the time to try a huevo (egg) in a soft corn tortilla. All of his corn tortillas are made fresh in Providence and his meats are all from local butchers. He supports local farmers, too, by asking them to grow what he needs. The grilled cheese and tomato soup movement has left its mark on Providence with offerings from Fancheezical (@Fancheezical) and Championship Melt (@ChampionshpMelt). Although Fancheezical visits the East Side more frequently, both trucks offer traditional and vegan grilled cheese options that are sure to satisfy any appetite at affordable prices. The emphasis is put on sourcing local food and providing a highquality product that is attainable for anyone who needs some comfort food. And if you are in need of caffeine, Providence Coffee Roasters has you covered. Co-owner Jevon Chan offers fair trade and organic coffees out of a truck that has slowly become a staple
Mijos Tacos
Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors
Celebrating 41 Years
Coming Soon! Radish Food Truck (@whereisradish) is a Kickstarter project designed as a lifestyle brand whose purpose is to provide a mobile hub to get the community involved with local artists, entrepreneurs, musicians and of course local food. It is a student-run business that aims to connect the local universities (RISD, JWU and Brown) to the community and vice versa while offering seasonal hand-crafted gourmet street food… and simultaneously sponsoring a local artist every month. Panino Express (@PaninoExpress) will be opening this summer to primarily service the College Hill area. Co-owners Tom Canterino and Joe Rilli will be specializing in artisan paninis, salads and soups with a focus on locally produced food. Flour Girls Baking Company (@flourgirlstreat) is owned and operated by Jill Houck and specializes in cakes, cupcakes, cookies and bars. From time to time they will also offer a variety of soups and can be found on Thayer Street and at the Pawtucket Farmers Market.
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June 2012 East Side Monthly
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www.tockwotton.org
401-272-5280
OPENING DECEMBER, 2012
Introducing Our well-loved Tockwotton Home on East Street is about to find a new home on the banks of Providence Harbor. Tockwotton on the Waterfront, with commanding views of the City, is a new senior living community built on our tradition of uncompromising quality and superior care. From its waterside location to well-planned, beautifully-designed interior spaces, our new community is a place seniors will be proud to call home. Call Michaela at 401-272-5280 for more information. Now Accepting Pre-Opening Deposits assisted living • memory care short-term rehabilitation • skilled nursing
ESM/PM/PT* 4.375 x 5.875 4C Magazine May & June Issues 28-Mar richardf@rhodybeat.com lisab@rhodybeat.com
20
East Side Monthly June 2012
Sugarush Truck of around Brown University. It has a fairly reliable schedule and is open from 7:30am-4:30pm. On the other hand, if you’re craving dessert, how about some classic chocolate pudding from Rocket Fine Street Food? It tastes like a combination of chocolate mousse and brownie batter. Or perhaps you would actually like some chocolate mousse: Plouf Plouf Gastronomie prepares an organic silky smooth chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream, a dusting of cocoa, a fresh raspberry and a sprig of fresh mint. Try to resist the urge to lick the inside of the container, or don’t. For a friendly on-thego concoction, Mijos Tacos offers Mexican hot chocolate. Made from melted chocolate and infused with a blend of spices, this thick dessert drink satisfies any chocolate craving. Like No Udder (@LikeNoUdder) consistently serves extremely high-quality, health conscious concoctions that are vegan or non-dairy. Owner Karen Krinsky is from New York where soft serve is huge. Wanting to bring that simple joy to customers of all dietary abilities, especially those unable to enjoy traditional soft serve, Karen delivers. Her rootbeer float with non-dairy vanilla soft serve or her creamsicle creation of mango slushy and non-dairy vanilla soft serve leave you wanting more. PVD Pudding Pops (@PVDPops) are lovingly prepared by owner and operator Valeria Khislavsky. Val graduated from Brown in 2007, experimented with making chocolate in Vermont, traveled to Argentina, and shortly upon returning to the states decided that she wanted to start a business. No place spoke to her louder than Providence. The majority of her business has been born and bred in Rhode Island including her pushcart (found locally on Craigslist), sign (laser-cut by Precision Laser), labels (Fox Tag
and Label) and welding (Legend Bicycle). She is also collaborating with Kipp Bradford and various graduate students from Brown University on cutting edge refrigeration and motion designs to increase proficiency on her cart. Pudding pop production began on April 27 and sales commenced on April 28. They are made with Rhody Fresh dairy products and inspired by seasonal items available through local farms. It seems that the PVD Pudding Pops has found a niche that obviously needed to be filled. Perhaps the truck that best epitomizes the do-it-yourself attitude is the Sugarush Truck (@sugarushtruck). Built out of a response to a lay-off and inspired by a childhood filled with mother-daughter baking extravaganzas, owner Erica Saladino creates heavenly cupcakes. Built from a converted 1950s International Harvester Van, she offers both traditional and vegan cupcake flavors inspired by seasonal flavors with ingredients sourced as locally as possible including Rhody Fresh and Market Mobile. Her vegan lemon lavender cupcake would make any mother proud and leave any customer satisfied. The cake itself is moist, lemony and bright while the frosting is fragrant, creamy and just darn pretty with its purple sprinkles. These sweet treats will bring out the kid in anyone, as showcased by the recurring mainly-adult clientele. Food trucks are part of a growing community: they all go through the same struggles and face challenges unique to their businesses. Moreover, they are keeping the independent spirit, which this state was founded on, alive. Rather than rolling over during a recession, food truck owners have decided to get creative and embrace their new roles to provide a service that makes anyone feel good even during these hard economic times.
Photography: Grace Lentini
A tradition of excellent care meets waterfront elegance
‘To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.’
featuring 27 reknowned artists, including…
aaron copland
kingston chamber music festival
2012 y our twenty-fourth season six concerts y july 18th through 29th
concerts begin at 8 p.m. at the university of rhode island fine arts center concert hall / all seats $20 / less by multi-concert subscription
jennifer koh
roberto diaz
alexander fiterstein
elissa koljonen
che-yen chen
“The Towers” of Narragansett, R.I. © Bill Krul
for tickets or a program brochure…
natalie zhu
artistic director
Visit one of our four store outlets: AAA Offices in Narragansett and Warwick, Beekman Violin in Peace Dale, and Wilson’s of Wickford Write to: KCMF, Box 1733, Kingston Rhode Island 02881 Call our info line: (401) 789-0665 Visit the festival Web site: kingstonchambermusic.org
mimi stillman
credited artist photos:
Natalie Zhu by Jason Zheng; Jennifer Koh by Chad Batka; Alexander Fiterstein by Lisa Marie Mazzucco; Elissa Koljonen by J. Henry Fair; Che-Yen Chen by Darin Fong Photography; Mimi Stillman by Vanessa Briceno-Scheryer.
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East Side Monthly June 2012
The Gilbane ProjecT
Moves Forward
Several community groups express concern for the project as proposed By Barry Fain
Rendering of the proposed development
Round one
of the proposal by the Gilbane Development Company to bring a block long, high density, upscale apartment building (or dormitory, depending on whom you talk to) to Thayer Street has begun. And based on the overflow crowds that have attended both the College Hill information presentation and last month’s City Plan Commission (CPC) meeting, it is a project that is stirring some strong passions on both sides. The project is being fast tracked, so any decisions to advance the project will undoubtedly occur over the next few months since a full change of the recently approved City Comprehensive Plan as well as the zoning classifications for the area will be required to allow it to proceed as currently proposed. Any zoning or City Plan Commission changes require the approval of the full City Council. Here’s the status of things as we go to press. The next meeting on May 15 (after this issue goes to press) will be a public presentation and discussion before the members of the CPC who will vote on approving the recommendations of the City planning department. With the departure of Thom Deller for Hartford, Bob Azar has assumed the title of Acting Director of Planning and Development for the City. At last month’s meeting, he and his staff recommended the conceptual approval of the Gilbane project, which if approved by the CPC, will move the project off into the City Council loop, specifically the ordinance committee headed by Fox Point City Councilman Seth Yurdin. Traditionally, that committee had deferred to the local councilman, in this case Sam Zurier, given that any large-scale projects would most obviously impact their constituency. Councilman Zurier has already hosted one neighborhood meeting and attended several others. He has also enlisted the services of former Head of Planning Sam Shamoon, although he has said publicly that while he seeks the counsel and planning expertise of Mr. Shamoon,
he will make his ultimate decision based on the input of the neighborhood and his sense of what will be best for the city. A lawyer by profession, Zurier has been sending out well-organized weekly mailings on the status of things in the City Council, including an updated log on events concerning the Thayer Street proposal. It’s easy to follow since the events are organized chronologically. His website is www.samzurier.com. In its recommendation for the CPC to approve the project, the City planning department also attached five requirements for the project to move forward. Several asked the developer to produce some additional data: a utility and storm water management plan, a full traffic study of the impact of the project and a survey of homes in the area to determine the impact of the new project on the existing structures. The two more complicated issues involve refining the current building plan to “respond architecturally to its site and to address the large massing” of the building. In addition, the approval would be “dependent on gaining full City Council approval on all requested comprehensive city and zoning changes needed for the proposal to go forward as presented.” If this did not happen, the Gilbane plan would need to be modified to conform to current statues. Several neighborhood groups have already weighed in on the project. While both the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) and the College Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) stopped short of taking a straight up or down vote on the project, both have concerns about the project as presented, in particular about the potential loss of so many historic homes in the area and the need to view the project in the context of other possible projects that have been suggested but have not been formally presented. Specifically, PPS suggested that decision-makers “must factor in the strong likelihood of the development of a hotel and another Brown University student housing project” in the adjoining two
blocks, which would extend the combined development area up to Bowen Street and could require the demolition of up to 20 historic homes. PPS also felt that the project’s timetable “be adjusted to allow for additional planning and input.” PPS stressed the importance of using a local architect with “a demonstrated record of design excellence within the context of this type of historical and residential residences build environment.” To this end, Gilbane has already engaged a well-respected local architect, Donald Powers, who has had experience with historic projects. In addition, the CHNA suggested the consideration of the design review process by the Providence Historic District Commission or a City Council appointed board of experts, the issuance of a completion bond (to insure the neighbors not be left with an uncompleted construction site), the guarantee that the project remain on the tax roll in the event of a future sale and assurance of the proper abatement of hazardous materials during what could be a potentially long period of demolition. In an interesting footnote to this increasingly passionate back and forth, the Brown Daily Herald actually came out against the project in a recent editorial. While concerned about the size and massing of the new project, their major reservation was over the underlying concept behind the Gilbane project: the creation of a large, amenity-oriented student housing project, complete with bike racks, faster-than-average internet hook-ups and underground parking for up to 85 cars, as something that would accelerate the creation of two classes of students at Brown: the haves vs. the have nots. Rents at the proposed new building would be significantly higher than existing off-campus housing and would also provide dramatically better amenities than existing Brown dorms. The result, they felt, is antithetical to the purpose behind a Brown education. For supporters of the Gilbane project, there is a sense that the area is already institutional in nature, that a mix of stu-
dent housing and retail is appropriate for the area and that the houses in question have already been allowed to deteriorate. In addition, given the current fragile state of the local economy, many jobs would be created by the project. The current members of the CPC are Steve Durkee (chairman), Harry Bilodeau (mayoral designee), Ina Anderson, Andrew Cortez, Meredyth Church, Joann Ryan and Christine West. The current members of the Providence Zoning Board are Myrth York (chairman), Mark Greenfield, Arthur Strother, Daniel Varin, Scott Wolf and Enrique Martinez (auxiliary member). This group would not be involved with actually changing any of the zoning laws, since that can only be done by the full City Council. As if this weren’t enough, two other changes are coming that will affect residents of the East Side. The recent and long-awaited agreement between Brown University and the City will bring a much-needed financial shot in the arm to our beleaguered capital. Part of the deal, however, will effectively cede to Brown 250 parking spots through a resident sticker program. The areas affected will be adjacent to the heart of the campus, though the actual spots have not been identified as we go to press. The second and more pervasive issue will be the City’s decision to roll out its overnight parking plan. It ultimately will apply to the entire East Side, though individual streets will have the opportunity to opt out if 75% of the residents of the street so choose. There are several organizations planning to hold public meetings to explain the details. One will be at Books on the Square as part of Wayland Square discussion group on June 5 at 7pm. The College Hill Neighborhood Association will host a larger venue at the First Unitarian Church at Benefit and Benevolent Streets on June 7 at 6:30pm. Both events are open to the public and will be provide residents the opportunity to question Leo Perrotta, the city’s parking administrator. Changes are coming to the East Side. Stay tuned for how it will all play out. June 2012 East Side Monthly
23
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Advanced Cancer Treatment. Shaped By Nationally Recognized Research. Hope is Closer Than You Think. Boston
Surgical expertise and multidisciplinary cancer care… If you or a loved one are diagnosed with a complex tumor - liver cancer, pancreas cancer, sarcoma, or advanced melanoma - you might assume a trip to Boston is in your future. But the burden of receiving care and visiting loved ones far from home can be daunting. Thankfully, leading cancer surgeons or Surgical Oncologists are right here in Rhode Island. Surgical Oncologists receive specialty training not only in performing complex surgical procedures, but also in the multidisciplinary management of rare or complicated tumors. The Roger Williams Cancer Center has four surgeons certified by the Society of Surgical Oncology, assuring you that you will benefit from the highest levels of expertise and safety. Cutting edge cancer research programs and clinical trials… At Roger Williams, surgeons such as Providence’s Dr. Steven Katz are pioneering cutting edge cancer treatments. Dr. Katz leads a research team, funded through the National Institute of Health, in developing new ways to harness the power of the immune system in treating cancer. The laboratory research is used to develop clinical trials, including the recently opened HITM (Hepatic Immunotherapy for Metastases) trial for patients with cancer that has spread to the liver from another site, such as the colon or breast. If you think you need to receive your cancer care far from home, think again. You can join a select group of patients who are already benefitting from clinical expertise and trials that are blazing new trails in the war on cancer. Ask your doctor about the Roger Williams Cancer Center, or visit our websites at www.rwmc.org and www.rhodeislandcancer.org.
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24
East Side Monthly June 2012
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Visit downtownprovidence.com to find all there is to see, eat, and do downtown—events, shopping, dining, selfguided tours, news, and more! Photos: Marianne Lee
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June 2012 East Side Monthly
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The Providence Gay Men’s Chorus PRESENTS
Celebrate Pride 2012 with Us!
PPS Festival of Houses Spend a weekend back in time
Join us as we prepare to proudly represent the city of Providence and the State of Rhode Island at the Gala Chorus Festival in Denver, Colorado in July 2012.
By Emily Payne
Tickets: $20.00 at www.eventbrite.com
!
Save The Date
Thu. June 7th @ 7pm Sat. June 9th @ 7pm Sun. June 10th @ 7pm Beneficent Church 300 Weybosset St., Providence
www.provgmc.org
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26
East Side Monthly June 2012
401.455.1625 www.elisepennpansey.com 401.521.9490 x22
We all know the
signature East Side sights: historic houses, tree-lined streets, brick sidewalks, old, shuttered windows and uneven stone steps. We pass them every day as we walk, bike and drive through the picturesque roads on our way out to work or school. We have memorized the architecture, gates and gardens, but do we actually know what’s inside? Here is your chance to appreciate the rich history that is right here in Providence, with the annual Festival of Historic Houses. This year, the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is hosting the festival for the 33rd year, from June 1-3. The festival investigates the history of our state’s capital, which dates back nearly 400 years. With time, neighborhoods have evolved to a charming blend of quaint nostalgia and convenient modernity. In 2011, our beloved College Hill was named one of the 10 Best Neighborhoods in America by the America Planning Association, attracting tourists from all around and bringing pride to Rhode Islanders all over the state. The Festival of Historic Houses gives us an inside look at the wonders that lie right within our city, kicking off on Friday June 1 with the Providence Sunset Soiree – enjoy a beautiful view of Providence’s skyline from a private rooftop garden at the new Brown Uni-
versity Warren Alpert Medical School building. June 2 brings attendees on the House and Garden Tour, a “behindclosed-doors” view into some extraordinary private houses around Elmgrove Avenue. On the final day of the festival, take a visit to the Jewelry District – a former industry and manufacturing center, which has become a vibrant city hub and serves a wide array of uses – from luxury lofts to artist studios to entrepreneurial businesses. See the creative renovations of 19th- and 20th-century industrial buildings and the very first condominiums in Providence. The event is sponsored by PPS, which was founded back in 1956 in response to proposed demolition of some 18th- and early 19th-century homes on College Hill. Its stated mission is to “improve the quality of life in the city of Providence through historic preservation and the enhancement of the built environment.” PPS also supports city advocacy, homeowner resources and many other events and programs. This festival serves the purpose of educating and fundraising for the PPS cause. Don’t miss out: tickets to Friday’s tour are $50 each, Saturday or Sunday tours are $35 each in advance and $40 on the day of the event, and a ticket to all three can be purchased for $100. 831-7440, www.ppsri.org
Photo: Brian Jones
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Living Life At Laurelmead Eastside Providence Retirement Community Stays Fit! PROVIDENCE, RI Staying physically fit is an essential goal for seniors of all ages at Laurelmead Cooperative, where residents range from 60 to over 100 years young. A trip to the “gym” is a regular routine for most. For some, it is even a daily event. Laurelmead’s Fitness Director, Susan Vartian, has been the personal trainer of nearly 300 residents since Laurelmead opened over 15 years ago. “Even though the average age of our residents has increased over time”, Ms. Vartian reports that, “this is what we would hope to see when measuring the outcome of our fitness programs”. Mrs. Elsa Zopfi, a 100 year old resident who has been walking daily from the time she moved in over 15 years ago, attributes her longevity to her desire to “keep moving”. Dr. Patricia Gifford, a geriatric physician living at Laurelmead, preaches that “physical exercise is one of the building blocks to quality of life in old age”. She acknowledges that, “the fitness facilities and exercise programs
28
East Side Monthly June 2012
Laurelmead has for its residents, are better than what can be found at most private fitness or personal training centers”. Laurelmead’s Wellness Coordinator, Rosanne Moffitt, a registered nurse who has worked with Laurelmead residents for many years, has noticed some very interesting things as the interest in exercise increases among seniors. “Resident’s who have an exercise routine in their weekly schedule, appear to be healthier and more socially engaged.” Laurelmead’s fitness programs are one of the first things people visiting the community ask about. After seeing the swimming pool, the strength training room and a Tai Chi class, prospective resident’s often ask “Can I buy a membership to the fitness center”? Diane Lamontagne, the Sales Manager, has a quick response; “It’s FREE when you move in”. Living Life at Laurelmead Cooperative is a regular column meant to inform readers of the happenings at Rhode Island’s only resident–owned retirement community.
“It would be so nice if my parents lived closer” Maybe Laurelmead Cooperative can help. Home ownership at Laurelmead provides the freedom to live here all year or just a part of it. Call Diane Lamontagne to learn more
Summer ArtS Preview
Summer theatre Set to Sizzle thiS Summer By Don Fowler
Jersey Boys at PPAC
Photo: Joan Marcus
theAtre by the SeA The local summer granddaddy of them all, Theatre by-the Sea, recently opened its season with Forever Plaid. we saw the popular musical years ago in Vegas for the first time, and enjoyed seeing it again a few years back. The show runs through June 17. written by Stuart ross in 1990, the show is basically a revue of the close-harmony “guy groups” who gained popularity before the onslaught of elvis and serious rock and roll. The slim story centers around four singers who were killed in a car crash in the ‘50s on their way to their first big concert and are revived to do the show that never was. you’ll love the
old favorites, like “Three Coins in the Fountain” and “Heart and Soul.” The Sound of Music forsakes its mountain home in the Alps for Matunuck’s barn theatre from June 20July 14, followed by the new england premiere of 9 to 5: The Musical, based on the popular Dolly Parton movie. Given our state’s high rate of unemployment, the play seems especially appropriate this year. It runs from July 18-August 11. The season closes with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, the musical that has been recently revived to rave reviews on Broadway. It runs August 15-September 2. Tickets run $39-$54. Call 7828587 for reservations.
Providence Performing ArtS center Downcity will be alive and swinging to the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as PPAC will open its doors this summer for a return three-week engagement of the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, from August 15-September 2. over 80,000 people saw the show in Providence last year, while it has been seen by 14 million worldwide. It’s a winner in every sense of the word. Call 421-2787 for reservations.
trinity reP while the repertory Company won’t be performing this summer, they have opened their theatre for two
exciting events. The group that brought Menopause: The Musical to Trinity for two summer runs is back with their latest: Motherhood: The Musical, now through July 1. If it is as funny as Menopause, it will be worth seeing. The four-woman musical makes fun of the “blessings and perils of being a mom.” The critically acclaimed comedy troupe Second City will come to rhode Island with its Laugh Out Loud Tour, June 7-9. Second City has spawned some of the country’s most beloved comedians since it was established in Chicago in 1959, many of whom have gained fame on Saturday Night Live. Among some of its most noteworthy alums: John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan
June 2012 East Side Monthly
29
Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and Amy Pohler.
2nd Story theatre
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Director Ed Shea announced that 2nd Story Theatre has scheduled “a trio of timeless tales for June, July and August,” beginning with A Few Good Men by Aaron Sorkin, which will be at the historic Bristol Statehouse, 240 High Street in downtown Bristol, from June 1-24. The Broadway hit about the trial of two Marines for complicity in the death of a fellow Marine fits perfectly into the actual courthouse setting. Daphne Du Maurier’s famous novel Rebecca takes place in an isolated mansion, where Maxim de Winter brings his second wife, who struggles to understand the mysterious presence of his first wife. It’s scheduled for July 6-29. The summer season closes with Samuel Taylor’s Sabrina Fair. Sabrina, the daughter of hired help, after attending college and spending five years in Paris, enchants the sons of her father’s employer, but should she marry one of them? Performances are August 10-September 2. The July and August plays are at 28 Market Street in Warren. For tickets, call 247-4200 or e-mail the box office at boxoffice@2nd storytheatre.com
make your reservations for father’s day today
Joe Zarrow wrote Principal Principle to be performed at Brown
Brown/trinity PlaywrightS reP This repertory theatre is an ensemble of young and seasoned performers, established in 2005 to serve as a creative, relaxed atmosphere for emerging playwrights to develop new work. Playwrights work closely with actors and directors, resulting in some of the most adventurous
theatre around. There are several great, new plays on deck for summer: Principal Principle by Joe Zarrow runs July 11-14 and August 3-4; Reunion by Greg Moss runs July 18-21 and August 2 & 4; Timeshare by Rachel Caris Love runs July 25-28 and August 1 & 4. Tickets range from $2-12. Call 863-2838 or visit www.brown.edu/ Facilities/Theatre/btprep/ for more information.
newPort PlayhouSe Visit the Newport Playhouse and Cabaret Restaurant: have a sumptuous buffet, see a show and stick around for a lively cabaret. One of the most performed comedies, Love, Sex, and the IRS by William Van, is playing in Newport through June 24, followed by The Kitchen Witches by Caroline Smith. It is the tale of two competing TV cooking show hostesses who join together in a show with hilarious results. It plays June 28-August 5. The Playhouse closes their summer season with Marshall Karp’s Squabbles, about a young couple whose inlaws come to live with them. It will be at the theatre August 9-September 16.
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East Side Monthly June 2012
Rebecca at 2nd Story Theatre
While you are in Newport, take in Hello Broadway at CCRI’s Newport campus, One Chafee Boulevard on June 15, 16, 22 and 23. Warwick’s Dr. Audrey Kaiser and Carol B. Lind join Cranston’s Maria Tavarozzi and a talented cast of local college students in a review of the Best of Broadway. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. For reservations, call 825-1135.
Summer ArtS Preview
For love oF the Song By Co U r Tney lITT le
Photo: Susan wilson
the rhode iSlAnd PhilhArmonic community orcheStrA StrikeS A chord It’s about to begin. The players get into position in their uniforms, looking pristine and ambitious. Small beads of sweat emanate from the palms of their hands as they carefully go through the plays that their coach last instilled in them. The crowd sits in a moment of silence and waits for the beautiful mayhem to unfold. And when they get the go-ahead, they play their hearts out. no, we’re not talking about the PawSox, but the members of the rhode Island Philharmonic Community orchestra (rIPCo). Meet the coach – or as he is more commonly known, the Music Director, John eells, who began the orchestra in 2005 as an extension of the rhode Island Philharmonic orchestra & Music School. The orchestra features about 50 adults who are experienced musicians and interested in playing professional symphony pieces, but not as their full-time career. “It’s like a pro sports team. you always have those players who are hoping to play and don’t necessarily get to play in the pros,” says eells, 41. “The Patriots play for huge money, but there are some people who are just as good who might play on a local league. That’s what we do – play for the love of the music.” The orchestra is made up of doctors, lawyers, teachers and others who are highly trained and dedicate themselves to rehearsing every Monday night from the months of September to June. Unlike the rhode Island Philharmonic orchestra, the players in the community ensemble do it without pay. east Sider ronald Markoff, 63, a real estate lawyer at his own firm, has been playing trumpet with rIPCo since it began. If he was playing on a football field, he would be the quarterback. “nobody is paid; you volunteer and it’s really doing it for the love of music. I am very impressed by the repertoire
Eliot Porter
and I know it very well. I mean, I was raised on classical music, so I know all of the major composers, I know all the major literature that’s written for orchestrical trumpet,” says Markoff. “The pieces we play are the highest quality from a difficulty point of view. we play the real McCoy, so to speak.” Markoff has been playing the trumpet since he was eight years old, when his clarinet-playing older brother convinced him to switch from clarinet to trumpet, so they could do duets together. The self-taught musician studied at Brown University where he played in their orchestra and then moved on to ensembles in Boston like the newton Symphony, the Brockton Symphony and the Civic orchestra of Boston, while he worked to receive his law degree from Boston College School of law. “I came back here and really there were very few outlets. I went back to Brown and I played occasionally with
the wind ensemble, but basically it was a hiatus from 1975 to 2005: 30 years when I really didn’t play in any groups. Then this came along and it was an excuse for me to get my lips back in shape.” During that hiatus, Markoff did have one spectacular chance to get back to his roots and pull a few strings to play with the world Doctors’ orchestra, right next to his older brother, who is now an ophthalmolgist. “It’s funny about doctors. For some reason, music and doctorship go together. There’s some correlation, what it is I don’t know, but usually doctors who play musical instruments play very well. It’s a fact of life.” Markoff could have very well been talking about his teammate, Amy Goldstein, a former genetic counselor at the women & Infants Hospital, who plays the flute and piccolo. like Markoff, Goldstein has been dedicated to the orchestra since the very first
rehearsal. She played in the Brown University orchestra as well until she completed her undergraduate degree in biology. For Goldstein, 57, the orchestra is a family affair. “For at least 10 years before rIPCo was started, I had been clamoring for an adult orchestra at the Music School. I remember discussing it with former Music School director, Kathy Czerny, around the time my daughter was 4 years old, and a new Suzuki violin student. She is almost 20 now,” reflects Goldstein. “I jumped at the chance to join as soon as a conductor was found. My husband, Bruce, is a violinist and also enjoys playing in rIPCo,” she says. Since Goldstein stopped working at the hospital, she has focused on volunteering: she’s president of the Aurea ensemble, a board member for the rhode Island Philharmonic orchestra, a classroom aide at a preschool in north Smithfield and still keeps her love for “doctorship” as a board member for the Miriam Hospital women’s Association. This season - october 2011 to June 2012 - four out of their six shows take place at the lincoln School in Providence. “we like lincoln School because we like the location on the east Side. we struck up a relationship with that school and so we like having our bigger concerts there,” says eells. The orchestra practices at the Carter Center as well, where the music school and the administrative offices for the orchestra are located. As most coaches and music directors do, eells looks toward future game plans. “I am really looking forward to working on Shostakovich’s ninth Symphony, which we are performing in June. It is a fun piece, very energetic with a beautiful slow movement. I know [the players] will enjoy the challenge of playing it. I also believe our audience is going to love hearing it live even though they tend to shy away from newer music. So I’d say it is a favorite for this season as well as the June 2012 East Side Monthly
31
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East Side Monthly June 2012
Community Orchestra
most challenging,” he says. Eells also reflects on the past seven years and the changes that have occurred since. “When we started this orchestra, we felt like people really needed it. There were really talented players out there that didn’t have a place to play. Immediately things started well,” he says. “We’ve grown and refined ourselves and that is really satisfying.” It seems that for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Community Orchestra personal satisfaction is the name of the game. The next RIPCO concert takes place at 3pm on June 3 at the Lincoln School. For more information, or to buy tickets ($5-15) contact ripco@riphil.org. 2487070, www.ri-philharmonic.org.
Opera prOvidence is singing a Merry Tune At a practice field across town, Dr. Robert DeRobbio, 67, the president of the board of trustees for Opera Providence, is preparing the final touches for their 2012 feature presentation. “Opera Providence is Rhode Island’s own opera company,” says Dr. DeRobbio. “We are striving to make opera accessible to everyone, to develop new audiences, to introduce children and youth to the excitement and enjoyment of stories told through music, and to provide performance opportunities to exceptional local and emerging talent.” Opera Providence began over 20 years ago under the name Light Opera Company. They used to perform at the Mary C. Wheeler School with Brown’s Gilbert & Sullivan productions during the summers. Then the name changed to Ocean State Lyric Opera when the company introduced piano accompaniment several years later. It finally became Opera Providence during the Providence Art Renaissance period and they have been performing main stage productions - such as Don Pasquale and Madame Butterfly – ever since. The members complete at least two concerts every month of
the year at locations all over the state. Artistic Director Rene de la Garza spent his pre-season scouting out the best players for the extravagant operetta The Merry Widow. De la Garza, 60, also directs the opera program at URI. He has been acting as artistic director for a year and-ahalf, but has been with Opera Providence for 12 years as a performer. He suggested The Merry Widow to Dr. DeRobbio because of its more modern dialogue feel, and the two of them have been working hard to ensure its success. “Bob is really the ‘clock and money manager.’ He makes sure that we have the money and don’t go over budget,” says de la Garza. “My job is hiring the performers, selecting the repertoire. I rehearse them; I hire the pianist; I’ve been in charge of hiring the leading characters. It takes a good ear and eye for getting the right sized voices and personalities. You want to get the right people, because putting together an opera can be very stressful.” Unlike RIPCO, anyone who works either as a director, singer or orchestra member - gets paid. Well, everyone except for the members of the board, which means that board president DeRobbio does it for love. “He is really the angel of the company, if you will,” says de la Garza. “He has even contributed his own money when we have had a downfall. He and his wife do a lot for the opera.” The collaboration of 13 principal characters and 20 chorus members will appear decked out in their most extravagant hats and puffiest skirts as they play out the drama of waltzes, love triangles and financial greed on stage. The operetta, sung in English, stars Dianna McVey of North Providence as Hanna Glawari, a woman who finds herself an heiress to millions of dollars. As the finest men in Paris attempt to woo her to gain access to her money, she realizes that she still has feelings for her former beau, Count Danilo,
played by David Kravitz. The comic relief of the show, Baron Zeta, played by Paul Soper, worries that if Hanna marries a Frenchmen then the fictional European kingdom where the operetta takes place will become bankrupt. He encourages Count Danilo to court Hanna so that the money will stay within the country, but he refuses to take part in the charade. “Hanna is a strong, smart woman who finds a rather witty and clever way to get what she wants, and perhaps, what was hers all along,” says McVey. As the final weeks before the show’s opening night quickly approach, the singers, orchestra members, set and costume designers, board members and all the others who work behind the scenes, come together to practice as a group to create an unforgettable experience for all audiences. “The future is very bright for Opera Providence,” says Dr. DeRobbio. “We are financially sound, brimming with new and emerging talent from Rhode Island and the surrounding area, and have a fantastic cadre of veteran performers who welcome any opportunity to perform with Opera Providence.” The Merry Widow shows on June 15 and 16 at the RI Center for Performing Arts in Cranston. 331-6060, www. operaprovidence.org.
TaylOr Made Are you looking for music that’s a little more rock and roll? Temple BethEl’s Brotherhood committee is hosting “Fire & Rain: The Music of James Taylor performed by David Binder” on Saturday, June 2. Binder has been touring the states for 25 years performing the singer-songwriter-guitarist’s greatest hits like “Sweet Baby James” and “You’ve Got A Friend.” Enjoy a preshow drink at the cash bar, opening at 7pm. The show starts at 8pm. Tickets are $25 for one or $40 for two. Reserve your ticket online at www.temple-beth-el.org/community/ brotherhood.aspx. 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence. 331-6070.
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33
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East Side Monthly June 2012
People’s Page
A Lifetime of Adventure My dad summits Mount Kilimanjaro By Dan Schwartz
Editor’s Note: The People’s Page is space this paper makes available for the community to share any ideas, creativity, or just general observations with neighbors. All submissions should be sent to us at esm@ providenceonline.com or mailed to East Side Monthly, 1070 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860.
“I’ve always liked adventure. I’ve always liked challenge.” My father, Don Schwartz, is talking to me; it’s May of last year and we’re in a suite in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. My mother is quietly reading in the adjoining room. It’s one day before my younger brother’s wedding and I’m listening to my father describe the nine-day African odyssey that took him to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, just three months prior. His friend Neal, a good buddy and fellow psychologist, had asked my dad to join him at the invitation of Neal’s brother, who was turning 60 and wanted to celebrate by climbing the biggest peak in Africa. Hiking has always been special to our family: we used to trek around the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and my parents told me that I myself came into existence on a backpacking trip in the Wind River region of Wyoming. “The unit of measure for me has always been my experience while in the Marines and going through Parris Island boot camp. That was what I kept thinking about when I was climbing up Kilimanjaro.” My dad was nine years old when he lost his father to lung cancer, and nobody told him about it until he returned home because he was away at summer camp in Maine. The experience of losing a father at
such a young age had a profound effect on my dad. It motivated him to study hard to get into a good college and out of the small town in Virginia where he was raised; to continue on to graduate school; to get a career and buy a nice house in the suburbs of Chicago in pursuit of the stable and serene family life he never knew. At 20, my dad left Dartmouth College for a year. During that time he joined the Marine Corps Reserve and for six months did his active duty with special training in amphibious reconnaissance. After firing a bazooka on a cold morning during basic training, he damaged his hearing enough that a couple of years later a sympathetic Navy doctor saved him from being recalled and sent to Vietnam. As we sat in the hotel room reminiscing about his climb up Kilimanjaro, my dad explained the training that went into preparing for the trip. “I was already in good shape a year before the trip, but I started to get really serious about it a few months before departure. Unfortunately, I overdid it by running in my hiking boots up and down stairs and wound up getting plantar fasciitis.” My father explained to me that in the Marines he had practically lived in his boots, running in them all day. But he was younger then, and his foot no longer has the same fat pad that serves to cushion the heel bone. He had started his conditioning on an elliptical trainer, which wasn’t rigorous enough, and then went to the stair stepper where he said he felt his heart really working. When the fasciitis set in, he resorted to swimming. A trainer at his gym, who himself had climbed Kilimanjaro, told my father to skip the crawl and instead swim
Don Schwartz atop Kilimanjaro
underwater as long as possible to expand his lungs. Amphibious reconnaissance, all over again. It made me think of when my brother and I were kids and we used to play a game with my dad at hotel pools; he’d go underwater, swimming around for extended periods of time pretending to be a sea monster. He’d be under so long, we’d never antici-
pate the sudden grabbing of our legs. “Did I tell you who, as a group, has the greatest success rate in getting to the top of Kilimanjaro?” my dad asked. “Smokers. It’s counter intuitive. Their lungs are so constricted that they’re used to getting by on much less oxygen.” Given my father’s history, he’s always had a major aversion to smoking, even telling my June 2012 East Side Monthly
37
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East Side Monthly June 2012
mother that he wouldn’t marry her unless she quit her habit. There were 20 people who went on the trip and many others from the outfitter, serving as guides, porters, cooks and medical staff. You go through five eco-zones to reach the 19,400 foot summit in seven days. The guides called the 10 younger hikers (in their 40s and 50s) “the elephants” and my dad’s group “the camels.” But then in mid-journey, the trip leader renamed my dad’s group wazee, which in Swahili means elders. His group was mostly in their 60s – plus one 71 year-old – and they all agreed that the satisfaction of the trip was found in the anticipation and reflection, certainly not in the execution. They hiked an average of seven hours a day, except on the day they summited, trekking 13 straight hours to ascend and then descend the final 4,000 feet, with a 20-minute break for exhausted reflection at the top. “That’s where that confidence that I’ve had from boot camp came in. It just never occurred to me I wasn’t going to make it.” My dad explained that it takes three factors to determine if you’ll experience altitude sickness: your training, genetics (some people in the best of shape still can’t handle the thin air) and mental attitude. My father is a stubborn man who hates failure and will do whatever is required to accomplish his goals. I remember procrastinating on homework assignments in school and him instructing me to sit my butt at my desk and get going. Simple as that. As a kid I tried to accompany my dad on his morning runs and was usually left in the dust after five blocks. It was amazing on that day when I could keep up with him for
the full 45 minutes; running with him on suburban sidewalks and taking that turn down to the beach on Lake Michigan to fly along the sand with the sun rising from the east over a watery horizon. We’d enter Gilson Park to pound the concrete steps of the Wallace Bowl amphitheater: up and down, over and over again – doing drills – before resuming the run with that final four block sprint back to the house. “The nature of being a male lion is you’re allowed to stay in the pride until you’re two,” my Dad explained. “Then your father kicks you out. And you have to eventually get strong enough and tough enough to form your own pride. But until that point comes, you’re pretty much on your own.” My father had to start acting like a lion at nine years of age, left to take care of his mother emotionally, as his 22-year-old brother was already out of the house. The guests for my brother’s wedding were arriving at the hotel. The hospitality room needed to be stocked with snacks and beer. A trip was planned later that August for myself, my dad, my brother and his new wife, for eight days of rafting in the Grand Canyon. Another adventure that began at four in the morning in darkness at the rim, loaded up with backpacks and illuminated headlamps. We descended 4,000 feet on the Bright Angel Trail to the canyon floor, an eight-mile hike that ended in sun-baked exhaustion. At the Colorado River, we found a calm eddy and jumped into the icy waters, just beyond reach of the surging current. A moment of relaxation for my dad - but a brief one - because the siren song of rapids kept calling.
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Betaspring’s Bumper Crop The start-up accelerator lures 15 of its 16 teams to put down roots in Providence By Donald Previe Betaspring is a Providencebased business accelerator program that’s been getting national attention (including from President Obama) for bringing start-up companies into the city. Access to over 80 business/ professional mentors and $20,000 in seed capital are great incentives for a start-up to visit Providence for the three-month program, but Betaspring’s emphasis on community makes these companies want to stick around. In fact, 15 of the most recent session’s 16 teams made just that decision. Despite never changing this emphasis, four years ago Betaspring was a different program — in a smaller space at Davol Square. “Our old location was smaller and start-ups had to plan on leaving Providence in three months,” says Melissa Withers, Chief of Staff at Betaspring. Now with a larger location in the Jewelry District and a more refined process, the companies can be housed at HQ for 12 weeks after the program. This encourages teams to take out six-month leases for apartments and integrate into the city. The Betaspring team makes a point of showing the teams around, bringing them to museums, local fun spots
Linda Toti
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Sproutel CEO Aaron Horowitz and CTO Hannah Chung
40
East Side Monthly June 2012
Betaspring co-founder Owen Johnson, Chief of Staff Melissa Withers and Betaspring Mentor and Founder of Ximedica Steve Lane
and historical landmarks. “We want the teams to see our city the way we see it,” Withers insists. “Providence is very cool,” agrees Joel Strellner, founder of Socialping, a Twitter analytics firm. “Everything’s in walking distance. Back home [in Southern California], you have to take a car to get anywhere.” Withers and the budding CEOs also insist there is a community built within Betaspring itself. The mentors are not distant; they form relationships that last with the startup teams. And working together in a shared environment creates a closeknit network of budding entrepreneurs. The city and state government aren’t slouching either. This group of start-ups was the first to enjoy a $50,000 equity investment from the City of Providence. Additionally, the governor and the state Economic Development Corporation were instrumental in helping Betaspring secure $2 million in federal funding, allowing them to invest more money to their cultivated start-ups.
Cass Sapir, CEO of Thumbs Up, a television-based social network, expresses how vibrant the city is, talking about open office space, and the potential for more shared office environments like the one Betaspring fosters. “There’s a lot of fresh talent too,” he remarks. In the next couple of years, the companies are looking to create jobs, and give the fleeting college graduates a reason to stick around too. When asked why he chose to stay in Providence, Aaron Horowitz, CEO of Sproutel, an interactive toy developer for chronically ill children, responds, “I have the philosophy of being where I am wanted.” Strellner, Horowitz and Sapir then recall a visit from Mayor Angel Taveras who enthusiastically pointed out the window to a vacant lot where I-195 once stood and spoke of a bright future with skyscrapers in its place. Withers and the rest of the staff at Betaspring have high hopes for Providence’s near future. She wants to move toward “critical mass” and populate the streets with enthusiastic teams. Withers recounts, “One afternoon Allan [Tear, Betaspring Managing Partner] and I were walking down the street to get lunch. I saw four people from current teams wearing their company t-shirts and I thought, It’s happening.”
2012 Sea Side Reception at the Dunes to benefit The Groden Network’s programs for children and adults with Autism and developmental disabilities
Please join us
for a fun-filled evening of music, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live/silent auction and a special jazz performance featuring ms. shawnn monteiro.
Friday, June 22, 2012 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
The Dunes Club
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41
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Riding High Equine therapy helps a remarkable little boy When I first see
six-year-old Bradley being lifted out of his mom’s car and helped across the driveway towards the riding arena, it’s hard to believe that he is a kid who had spent almost the first 18 months of his life stuffed into a cardboard box in a trash-filled alleyway in Guatemala. His teenage birth mother would leave him there alone for several hours a day while she was out trying to earn money to feed them both. Had Bradley remained in his native country, it’s fairly certain he would not have survived another few months. “My husband Donald and I were looking for a child to adopt,” says Tanis, his new mother. “We heard there was this little boy in Guatemala that needed a mom and dad. We flew down and saw him and decided right away to adopt him. We had no idea then that he had cerebral palsy,” she adds. It’s pretty obvious that Bradley and his adoptive mother are not genetically related. He’s tan-skinned and dark-eyed with straight jet-black hair. His mother has a pale, almost Scandinavian complexion, clear blue eyes and curly blond hair. “We have three other natural-born children,” Tanis says. “ One is 13, one is 16 and one is 19.” She laughs. “ I guess I just love being a mom.” With quiet pride, Tanis tells me, today, in spite of his handicap, Bradley can drive a golf ball a remarkable 50 yards or more. He’s in the top third of his class in school – and he can ride a horse without holding onto the saddle. That’s why Bradley’s here today at the Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center in Rehoboth. Just like so many other kids with disabilities, 30 minutes once a week on a horse’s back has had surprisingly positive effects. As I watch him being led around the arena, astride a gentle Arabian chestnut horse named Toby (with a therapist on one side and a side-walk-
er on the other), it’s clear Bradley is straining to sit up straight. He still has some difficulty with his hand-to-eye coordination and some balance problems to work through. Tanis points out that he “falls a lot less now that he’s been riding.” Bradley wears plastic leg braces under his riding jeans. He tends to sway slightly when he finally dismounts and is helped back to the family car. It wasn’t until he was two-and-a-half that Bradley was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, almost a year after he’d been adopted and taken here from Guatamala. “Two different doctors told us he was just delayed,” Tanis says while gently shaking her head. She’s still slightly incredulous that both doctors could have missed Bradley’s condition since a third physician spotted the problem immediately. It was a therapist at school who suggested that Bradley try “hippotherapy”, a form of treatment that was used in ancient Greece to rehab soldiers injured in battle. Among other things, a horse’s movement replicates the motion of a human’s walking stride. “Bradley adapted to riding a horse very quickly and we’ve noticed since he’s been riding, his balance is improving,” Tanis says. “Our doctor is convinced it’s working.” Bradley’s parents have never told him he has CP, but recently he caught them by surprise with a challenging question: “Mom, if you’d known I had cerebral palsy when you came to get me, would you have still taken me home with you?” Stunned, Tanis hugged Bradley and said, “Why, of course we would have.” She smiles again. “Once we’d seen him, we knew he was meant to be our child. And you know,” says Tanis, “people always say how lucky Bradley is that we found him… but really, we’re the lucky ones.”
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Movies
by Bob Cipriano
The Kid With a Bike and The Avengers The sum of their parts
The Kid With a Bike
With so many diversions already on various screens in front of everyone every day, you wouldn’t think moviegoers would plunk down big bucks for yet another big screen offering. But The Avengers is here, and cleaning up. The next Batman and Spider Man are around the corner. Maybe it’s the cost itself, the concept of value. What’s the bigger bang for your buck? Some French kid with a bike? Or a superhero combination of Thor, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk and Captain America, just to name a few? Bigger just seems to be better. It is the rationale behind the consumption of toys, vehicles, phones, computers and so on, relentlessly.
Or maybe it’s related to manifest destiny, or all-you-can-eat specials, or the Kardashians. But, understand, it’s not going away. Whatever it is, this strange attraction to exciting big-budget computerized mayhem on screen continues to thrive. However, the only thing that makes The Avengers the least bit interesting is the occasional moment of humanity, in which superheroes reveal themselves to be the same as the rest of us. Such moments are the entirety of The Kid With a Bike. That’s why films are the sum of their parts, and why big numbers can add up to nothing while 87 minutes of small ones can introduce you to percep-
tions of infinity. The Kid With a Bike is about a very intense, fast-moving 11-year old (Thomas Doret) who moves even faster when he’s on his bike. The trouble is, when the film opens, he doesn’t have his bike, or his father. He’s in a children’s home and refuses to believe his dad would abandon him there in the first place, especially minus his bike. So he runs. Social workers stop him, but he keeps at it and so they let him go, following him to his dad’s place, where the boy learns that his father not only abandoned him but also sold his bike. Suddenly this kid, who was obviously harboring substantial vulnerability
just south of his fevered intensity, is photographed slackened, his back to the camera, alone in a crummy apartment that once was his home. And when the workers bring him back to the children’s home, it’s clear he has turned his back on the world. He still wants his bike, though. And he can still run. In segments so fast moving you might miss the subtlety of locales (medical offices, city neighborhoods suffering for the loss of local industry) and the laws of motion at work (moving bodies suddenly stopped or threatened by outside forces). But Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, who wrote and directed, weave a subtle tale of love, danger, June 2012 East Side Monthly
45
Movies
continued...
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East Side Monthly June 2012
redemption, forgiveness and morality, while observing a kid endlessly searching for something to hold on to. The kid runs into Cécile de France, who works at a hair salon. For reasons of her own, she locates his bike for him, and agrees to take him in on weekends. He makes the most of his supplementary freedom. He finds his father (Jérémie Renier), falls under the influence of a young criminal (Egon Di Mateo), and makes many, many mistakes. He’s fortunate to be able to count on the strength and goodness of de France, whose life he not only complicates, but disrupts, embarrasses and even threatens. Her essential decency, and her nonjudgmental, unbending support of the boy is a given in the film. It’s a wonderful touch, bordering on faith, even though the essence of the film’s meaning is social consciousness. Not a moment of this film is excess. It moves as quickly as the boy on his bike. And it’s wise enough to assume its audience is sufficiently intelligent to recognize character, instincts, and emotions as they relate to a reality harsh enough to require a lot of understanding and generosity. The Avengers, too, is about troubled young people, but they wear funny costumes and fight evil in-
stead of peddle and search, peddle and search. A light comedy masquerading as an action hero extravaganza, it is the extravaganza parts that nevertheless dominate. If you’re a Transformers devotee, there is nothing here that will surprise you. If you’re driven to attend, try to notice how much more effective, cinematically and philosophically, it is when the Hulk sucker punches Thor than when the hole opens in the sky and metallic warriors on jet skis digitally decimate Manhattan. In addition to moments like the sucker punch, there are good actors here delivering good lines, especially Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey, Jr. (who, thankfully, has his Iron Man outfit and American accent to distinguish him from that other superhero he plays… that rocking, socking epitome of derring-do, Sherlock Holmes). So, it’s not like you won’t be entertained, somewhat. But the film is bloated and pointless, making it a hectic mess instead of an adventure that actually goes somewhere. Routine chaos comes with the superhero territory now, but throwing up a lot of smoke and mirrors just to watch where they land suggests a thick layer of cynical manipulation at the heart of the proceedings.
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June 2012 East Side Monthly
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On the Menu
by John Taraborelli
Going Off Road A taco truck finds a permanent home
Photography: Dawn Temple
Have you heard about
the latest trend in food trucks? It’s bricks and mortar. After helping to establish a thriving food truck scene in Providence, and making mobile food the most buzzed about culinary trend in the city right now, Alan Masterson and Chris Gilchrist, the proprietors of Poco Loco Tacos, made the decision to go off road with a traditional storefront. Fear not, food truck aficionados. The self-proclaimed “best damn taco truck in town” isn’t going anywhere – or rather, it’s still going everywhere. But now, Poco Loco will have a permanent home at 2005 Broad Street in Cranston’s charming Pawtuxet Village, their all-new “best damn taco shop in town.” It was a natural move: they had already been leasing the space for the kitchen. “We figured we have the storefront sitting there, we might as well use it,” sums up Masterson. Poco Loco first hit the road in 2010. Like many food truck proprietors, Masterson and Gilchrist saw the truck as an easier, more affordable alternative to a bricks and mortar restaurant. With years of experience in Tex-Mex cooking, including stints at Cactus Grille and Jake’s, as well as in California, Masterson wanted to get into the taco business. It turned out to be a wise move, as they quickly built up a loyal following among the Downcity lunch crowd and the late night West Side bar-goers. The menu is fun and plays to its audience, offering inexpensive comfort food for carnivores and vegetarians alike. With crowd-pleasing flourishes like the signature Napalm Sauce, a quesadilla stuffed with chorizo, and the option to add bacon to anything, Poco Loco is decidedly uninterested in fussy pretensions and food snobbery. “A lot of the stuff on our menu is not authentic Mexican, clearly,” admits Masterson, “but it’s delicious. There are 100 different things you can throw in a taco. It’s portable. It’s good street food.” The move to a storefront is an opportunity to augment, rather than take away from, their business. For proof of that, one need only look back at their grand opening, when the truck had to be parked next to the shop just to handle the overflow crowd – the demand
Poco Loco’s new Cranston storefront
has been that enthusiastic. “We tried to do a soft opening and it didn’t go soft,” explains Masterson. “We announced the grand opening for Saturday; we flipped the sign on Wednesday figuring we’d get a few people. We sold out of food pretty much every night that week.” The shop will feature all the favorites that made the truck so popular, along with a few new items like nachos, dirty rice and avocado fritters – fried nuggets of guacamole that Masterson calls “our little signature thing in here.” Poco Loco plans on having a big summer, and they’re already off to a good start. “It’s been kind of like a phenomenon,” says Masterson. “We’ve been blown away by how busy it is.” 461-2640 or text 281YUMM (9866) to find out where the food truck is at any time. THE END OF AN ERA The torch at New Rivers (7 Steeple St.) has officially been passed. After several years of entrusting Chef de Cuisine Beau Vestal with more control over the menu, founder Bruce Tillinghast has handed over the keys for good, placing the future of one of Providence’s best-loved restaurants in Vestal’s hands. New Rivers opened in 1990 as one of the pioneering restaurants of the Providence Renaissance, establishing the city as a food destination offering more than old school, red sauce Italian. By focusing on local, impeccably sourced ingredients
and a seasonal menu, Tillinghast and his team helped usher in the current era of Providence dining, in which “local, seasonal” is less of a trend than a standard operating procedure. Vestal joined the team more than a decade ago and stood out for his talents with foraged wild ingredients and house made charcuterie. He will now helm a restaurant that has been nominated for multiple James Beard Awards and is an institution in fine dining. We wish both men the best of luck in all their future endeavors. 7510350, www.newriversrestaurant.com GET TIP*C The owners of Tip*C Cupcakes (1270 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence), the gourmet sweet shop that sums up its philosophy as “baked with lots of love and alcohol,” have done somewhat of a 180 with their next project. The all-new Tip*C Café (233 Douglas Ave., Providence) is a combination coffee shop/ health and wellness center. In addition to healthy café fare, they will offer things like yoga classes and a pop-up chef series. It strikes us as a savvy attempt to keep customers in an endless cycle of boozy cupcake-fueled debauchery and monastic, health-conscious atonement – kind of brilliant when you think about it. 305-3503, www.tipccupcakes.com. Got food news? Send it to John at onthemenu@providenceonline.com. June 2012 East Side Monthly
51
special advertising section Br brunch B breakfast L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10-20 $$$ 20+
burgers that are juicy and tasty, this casual spot is a no brainer for anyone looking for a quick, delicious and affordable meal. Serving wholesome veggie, falafel and salmon burgers too. LD $ CHEZ PASCAL 960 Hope Street; 421-4422. Chef Matt Gennuso’s East Side kitchen offers French food with a modern twist. Try the Bistro Menu (Tue-Thur), which features three courses for $30 per person. Delicieux! D $-$$$
Jacky’s Waterplace 200 Exchange Street, Provi-
dence; 383-5000. Experience sushi, Chinese and Japanese food, noodles and much more in a stunning atmosphere, right in the heart of Waterplace Park. Sip an exotic drink while taking in the spectacular view. LD $-$$$
Downtown CAV 14 Imperial Place; 751-9164. The New York Times’ choice as one of Providence’s five best restaurants, CAV’s award-winning cuisine is available for lunch and dinner daily. They also feature Saturday/Sunday 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 varieties to the local favorite Poppasquash Point. LD $$-$$$
bar provide a minimalist, upscale, comfortable dining experience. Try the toro ankimo – fatty tuna and monkfish liver pate with eggplant tempura, served with a black bean sauce. LD $-$$$ LIM’S 18 Angell Street; 401-383-8830. Dive into the unique combination of Lim’s fine Thai cuisine and sushi served in an intimate and modern setting. LD $$ 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 $$-$$$
GOURMET HOUSE 787 Hope Street; 831-3400. 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 $-$$ KARTABAR 284 Thayer Street; 3318111. This European-style restaurant and lounge offers a full menu of unique dishes with Mediterranean flair and eclectic flavors. They also offer a top-notch wine list and martini menu. LD $-$$ KITCHEN BAR 771 Hope Street; 3314100. Offering contemporary comfort cuisine in an elegant setting, Kitchen Bar features daily specials and takeout. Acclaimed Chef Jaime D’Oliveira has been brought on to consult, so expect exciting new options and flavors. LD $-$$ NICE SLICE 267 Thayer Street; 4536423. Hip and healthy are the best descriptions of this pizza place. It’s whole wheat, New York style pizza with plenty of choices for toppings, including vegan and vegetarian options. LD $
MILLS TAVERN 101 North Main Street; 272-3331. The only restaurant in RI to receive the Mobil Four Star Award for five consecutive years, Mills Tavern provides traditional American cuisine in a warm, friendly setting. D $$-$$$
WATERMAN GRILLE 4 Richmond Square; 521-9229. With its covered outdoor seating overlooking the Seekonk River, Waterman Grille offers seasonally inspired New American fare in a comfortable setting. BrD $$-$$$
Wayland/Elmgrove
Hope/Thayer
RUE DE L’ESPOIR 99 Hope Street; 751-8890. In business for over 30 years, the Rue has only gotten better. Beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients, the innovative, constantly changing menu keeps diners on their toes. Superb brunch. BBrLD $$-$$$
HARUKI EAST 172 Wayland Avenue; 223-0332. The chefs behind this sushi
BETTER BURGER COMPANY 217 Thayer Street; 228-7373. With angus beef
TORTILLA FLATS 355 Hope Street; 751-6777. A fixture on the Providence
52
East Side Monthly June 2012
restaurant and bar scene, this spot serves up fresh Mexican, Cajun and Southwestern food, along with topnotch margaritas and ice-cold cervezas. LD $-$$
Wickenden ABYSSINIA 333 Wickenden Street; 454-1412. Enjoy Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, using your fingers (and Ethiopia’s famed flatbread) to sample richly spiced meat, fish and vegetable dishes. (Forks are available, but less fun.) LD $-$$ BRICKWAY 234 Wickenden Street; 751-2477. With creative omelets, French toast and an artsy décor, this iconic morning stop on Wickenden remains a neighborhood favorite. Be sure to check the specials board. BL $
Jewelry District/ Waterfront RUE BIS 95 South Street; 490-9966. This intimate eatery provides breakfast and lunch in a cozy, neighborhood bistro atmosphere – all with the gourmet pedigree of Hope Street dining staple Rue De L’Espoir behind it. BBrL $ BAKER STREET RUE 75 Baker Street; 490-5025. The Rue De L’Espoir empire expands with this comfortable neighborhood café serving “upscale diner food.” BBRL$
Outside Providence BESOS TEA HOUSE 378 Main Street, East Greenwich; 398-8855. With a breathtaking interior, this hip spot offers delicious food and a unique tapas menu. Stay for an after dinner drink as the restaurant morphs to a lounge each Thursday night. BrLD $$-$$$ LJ’S BBQ 727 East Avenue, Pawtucket; 305-5255. LJ’s features ribs, pork, chicken and beef cooked low and slow in their customized pit, made with recipes from co-owner Bernie Watson’s grandmother, Miss Leola Jean. It’s great food at a great value. LD $-$$
Photography: Kate Kelley
Dining Guide
Art
by Renee Doucette
Wild Thing Celebrating a forgotten animal artist It is common to
At the Jewish Community Day School of RI
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find people drawn regularly used watercolors versus other for the 2012-13 school year are still available! to the majesty and mystery of animals. mediums for his work since even though 85 Taft Avenue, Providence RI 02906 • 401-751-2470 • www.jcdsri.org Our bond with animals is strange, howwatercolor can be difficult to master, it ever, because no matter how close we can be easier to set up and tote around may feel to them, animals must use taclocations such as a zoo. It’s easy to en2nd Story Theatre Presents tics other than speech to communicate vision Addison wandering around difwith us, always leaving some things up ferent areas of the park with his sketchCome for a tour to discover how for interpretation. book and watercolor palette in tow to The Broadway hit about thehelps trial of Marines for 5th Artist Walter Addison spent his life set up at a moment’s notice, capturing JCDSRI ourtwo Pre-K through complicity in the deathgrade of a fellow Marine sizzles on stage. surrounded by animals, using them as the animals at their various enclosures. students succeed: muses for his art during a time when Addison eventually moved out of Rigorous dual language curriculum other artists were rejecting literal subNew York and into a converted blackjects in their work. This month, a new smith’s barn in Washington Depot, Dynamic teacher/student Previews: June 1& 2 - 8pm, June 3 - 7pm exhibit at Cade Connecticut. He relationships Performances: June 6 - June 24 Tompkins re-inpassed away in Invested community inspired by a Sundays & Wednesdays - 7pm, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays - 8pm troduces the art1982, leaving berange of Jewish identities Matinee Sunday, June 17 - 3pm work of Walter hind not only his Admissions and Financial Aid Applications Addison to the family, but also Performed at the Bristol for Statehouse • 240 High Street, Bristol, RI the 2012-13 school year are still available! public and celhis work, which • www.jcdsri.org 401-751-2470 85 Taft Avenue, Providence RI 02906 • 247-4200 ebrates his legacy remained in stor• 2ndstorytheatre.com as an outstanding age until now. This Reservations: 247-4200 animal artist. exhibit is a bit of boxoffice@2ndstorytheatre.com As a teenager a rescue mission in the 1930s, Adand perhaps isn’t dison moved from a complete retroCome for a tour to discover how the forests of spective of AddiJCDSRI helps our Pre-K through 5th Washington state son’s work (since grade students succeed: to the bustle of there is no knowgrowing New York ing how many Rigorous dual language curriculum Monkeys by Walter Addison City to become an sketches were ac Dynamic teacher/student artist. After sevtually made and relationships eral years creating work and earning how many have been lost due to time Invested community inspired by a notable fellowships, Addison was hired and damage). Even some of the imrange of Jewish identities to paint the animals that inhabited the ages in the show have required repair. Admissions and Financial Aid Applications largest metropolitan zoo in the country The work in this show varies in detail for the 2012-13 school year are still available! – the Bronx Zoo. and level of completion. Even if we are Dr. William G. Conway, who came only seeing a small portion of his entire 85 Taft Avenue, Providence RI 02906 • 401-751-2470 • www.jcdsri.org to the Bronx Zoo as an assistant cu- body of work, we still are able to see rator of birds in 1956, said, “Addison’s the artist’s creative spirit behind every art seems to capture the very essence animal in the room. of the animal soul – the intrinsic living, The common visitor to New York fructifying Holy Spirit captured by the City in the ‘50s, walking through Macy’s ancient painters at the Lascaux Caves (where his animals sculptures spent 30,000 years ago.” time in the window displays) or past his Addison captures the birds’ vibrant mural at the New York City Aquarium, Senior Care Concepts can assist you to: colors and mannerisms as if you can would have instantly recognized that ? Navigate the complicated health care system ç hear them squawking; his monkeys each they weren’t looking at the typical work ? Identify your unique needs and connect you have a captivating look in their eye, as if of the abstract expressionists. This could with local resources ç the viewer is being watched rather than also explain why Addison was forgotten ? Design an ongoing care management plan the other way around. by art history; commercial can be such a for you or your family ç With the city in a period of physical dirty word. Even though Addison’s work ? Guide you step by step with your plan ç change in the 1930s, Addison’s animals may not be hanging in any of the major became stylized and began to capmuseums, it does not take away from For more information, call me today ture the essence of the art deco trend the treasures he has left behind. Jenny Miller, MSW, CMC • 398-7655 emerging throughout New York. AddiWalter Addison: Wild Things is on son’s depiction of sea lions appears to view at Cade Tompkins Projects June be carved out of stone, with chiseled 8-July 28. 198 Hope Street, Providence. www.seniorcareconceptsinc.com • jmiller@seniorcareconceptsinc.com features and minimal detail. Addison 751-4888, www.cadetompkins.com.
At the Jewish Community Day School of RI
Our House is Always Open! A F ew G ood M en June 1- June 24
2nd Story Theatre
At the Jewish Community Day School of RI
Our House is Always Open!
Photo courtesy of Cade Tompkins
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June 2012 East Side Monthly
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East Side Monthly June 2012
At School Today by Jill Davidson
Capitol-izing on Education Two Providence students travel to D.C.
Illustration: Jessica Pollak
Last month, two high school students from Providence spent a week in Washington, D.C. Before you ask, “So what?” take a few moments to find out who they are and why they went. By the time you’ve read to the end of this page, you’ll realize that this simple story contains a meaningful message about how real world-based learning can be rocket fuel for young minds… and how adults’ faith in the abilities of young people can be the match that sends them soaring. The two students are sophomore Jenly Tavarez and junior Decontee Roberts; both attend Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School in South Providence. When I talked with them, Jenly and Decontee were gearing up to participate in Close Up, a national organization that provides learning experiences in Washington, D.C., to develop students’ leadership skills while familiarizing them with the workings of our democracy. Close Up students meet with Congressional delegates, participate in study visits to landmarks, visit the Supreme Court, take part in seminars and debates and observe Congress in action. For these two students – the only participants from the Providence Public Schools – the Close Up trip is a singular opportunity to put their passions into context. “I have been taking AP government this year, and we’ve spent months having class discussions about how government works. I have so many questions in my notebook and I can’t wait to ask them,” said Decontee. “We’ve had so many conversations and debates in class, and I have so many ideas. I want to go to Washington and ask the people who work in government questions. How do they feel about the work that they do? What do they believe?” Jenly noted that she was excited about the trip because, “I want to study law to learn everything that it has to do with government. Now I am going to go to Washington, D.C., to experience it firsthand. I am going to see how it is
more structure and fairness. This has made me realize how important it is, when I become a lawyer, to defend people the correct way.” Though both students received some funding from Close Up, they have devoted significant time and effort to raise money for the trip. Despite the significant financial challenge, assistant principal Jonathan Mendelsohn, who brought the Close Up opportunity to the attention of Alvarez’s faculty, is committed to including more students from throughout Providence in the years to come. “Students who are economically disadvantaged should have the same opportunities as others. They will benefit as leaders and students, and the community will benefit,” said Mendelsohn, who wants 40 or more students from middle and high schools across the city. Alvarez is one of five Providence schools identified this year as needing intervention to spur academic success. “The students’ role in school change is critical,” said Mendelsohn. “We want students to get student government off the ground as a part of building positive school culture. We want students to more actively pursue opportunities to advocate for what they believe in, to address and solve issues. Students have to feel invested in their schools, not only here at Alvarez but all over Providence.” For Jenly, the Close Up trip feels like destiny. “I want to be a leader for the whole school. I want everyone to want this for the school. I want Providence to want this for Providence. We are going to raise the game for everyone.” So do your part. Find ways to light and stoke fires under our city’s teenage students, either by supporting their participation in Close Up or in other ways. As Jenly says, let’s want this for our young people.
done in our nation’s capital.” Both Decontee and Jenly have served as interns for Senator Juan Pichardo, and both are immigrants who, since their respective arrivals in the United States, have not spent time outside of Providence. Their Close Up trip represents a huge expansion not only of geography but also of possibilities. Decontee came with her family to Providence in 2007 as a refugee. “I remember war,” she shared, “and I remember what it was like to come somewhere where there is no war, where it is peaceful and safe, where you are able to put your mind to something and get it. I want to become a doctor and travel. I want to know about different countries and how they work together. Having the opportunity to go to Washington gives me more details about how the United States works. I want to know everything and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get there.” Jenly’s focus is the law. “Almost half of my family are lawyers in the Dominican Republic and through them, I’ve Jill Davidson can be reached at whabeen able to see that laws are differthappenedatschool@gmail.com or her ent here. In the United States, there is blog, providenceschools.blogspot.com 178 Wayland Ave. Providence • 401-621-6452
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East Side Monthly June 2012
Finance by Betsey Purinton
Global Headlines Ranking the stories It is time to get our stories straight. How scary is Europe right now? How bad would a Chinese hard landing be? How likely is a Middle East confrontation? And, from an investor’s perspective, which of these stories could move markets the most and which are red herrings? In 2011, the overseas stories dominated investment performance, causing markets to careen between bullish and bearish sentiment. Each time hope for a stronger recovery budded, optimism was dashed by a string of dismal stories emanating from the Middle East, Japan and Europe. Throughout the year, headlines portrayed each story as frightening. As we rolled into 2012, fears stemming from the Arab uprisings were replaced by worries about confrontation. Japan was slowly recovering, allowing attention to shift to China. And concerns over Greece were rotating to Spain and away from banks. As investors, our challenge this year is to sort through the global headlines to determine which could have a meaningful impact on our economy and markets, and which are likely to resolve themselves on their own. Here is how we rank the stories. Number 1: European Debt Crisis The European markets are likely to riot a number of times this year. A number of European Union countries have unsustainable debt levels. The proposed cure (called austerity) is painful and unpopular. In order to get needed reforms passed, governments must be “forced” into action. Markets help by attacking bonds and stocks of countries deemed to be in trouble, raising the specter of default and the possibility of the end of the European Union. In the end, some action (never enough) is taken and markets are calmed – at least until the next riot. All of this drama swirling around debt and austerity is important, as it can impact market volatility, but the more im-
portant story is the underlying concern of a banking crisis. We had one of those in 2008 in the U.S. If we ever have one in Europe, the impact here could be severe. Fortunately, the European Central Bank, which has the ability to support the euro-zone financial system, has signaled it intends to prop up banks through a number of measures. Fears of a contagion to the U.S. have been reduced. Still, while the headlines scream “market riots in Spain” (or Italy or another country), the ECB is worth watching. If it shows an unwillingness to continue
to help the banking system, that could be cause for real concern. Number 2: China Emerging markets, of which China is the largest, are the engine of future global growth. Without growth, economies can’t create enough jobs or income. It is not sufficient to have global growth in our own country; we need it elsewhere as well. So China matters. Recently we learned that China’s economy has weakened. At the same time inflation, which can dent growth, is ticking up. Scary? Not yet. China is in transition. Its decline in growth is not the result of a global contagion, but rather a policy decision to control inflation that resulted from prop-
erty speculation. It is an engineered decline, and therefore not unexpected. But there is still much debate over whether China will have a hard landing vs. a soft landing and how much global demand will be reduced while China tries to get it right. For now the Chinese government appears in command of the growth trajectory, but investors should be on guard for a change in outlook. Number 3: Middle East and Oil Rising oil and gas prices can hurt consumer spending. When oil prices rose to $110 a barrel in February, there were fears that the U.S. recovery could falter if we saw a sustained spike in oil prices. Over time, oil is likely to rise due to greater industrial production world wide and temporary reductions in refinery output. Gradual increases can be tolerated by the economy. However, a sharp jump in prices – often associated with an event such as an open conflict between Iran and Israel or supply disruptions due to unrest or upheaval – cannot. The challenge for investors: confrontation is hard to predict. Not all headlines are created equal. Bad news and setbacks are not always scary. We need to rank the stories from extreme to mild risk and from high to low probability. European contagion, Chinese collapse, confrontation in the Middle East – these all would have a high impact but come with low probability. A mild to moderate recession in Europe, a Chinese soft landing and range-bound oil prices offer higher probability but lower potential impact. Investors need to monitor the stories behind the headlines for their likely impact on portfolios.
Betsey Purinton, CFP® is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at StrategicPoint Investment Advisors in Providence and East Greenwich. You can e-mail her at bpurinton@ strategicpoint.com.
Illustration: Ashley MacLure
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East Side Monthly June 2012
Northeast Chiropractic is the office of Dr. Thomas Morison. Dr. Morison specializes in Chiropractic Biophysics Technique (CBP®). He is the only Certified Distinguished Fellow of CBP practicing in the state of Rhode Island. CBP technique is used for structural rebuilding of the spine to a stronger, more stable and ultimately healthier position. It is currently the only technique that has scientifically proven to make structural changes to the spine. Every protocol and procedure utilized by Dr. Morison is state of the art, and clinically relevant to the patient’s specific condition. Dr. Morison is passionate about improving the quality of life for each and every patient. Among the many conditions successfully treated at Northeast Chiropractic are migraine headaches, spinal pain, pinched nerves, disc injuries, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder and arm pain, poor posture, whiplash and jaw pain. Dr. Morison is honored to be able to help the people of Rhode Island whom he sees not only as patients, but as his community. I came to Dr. Tom because I was experiencing chronic neck pain after years of desk work. I selected Dr. Tom because he offers more than just the temporary pain relief available from most chiropractors. Thanks to his training, Dr. Tom is actually able to correct structural spinal abnormalities to as near normal as possible, thereby addressing the root cause of the pain. After a few months of Dr. Tom’s care, it was apparent from the “before” and “after” x-rays that my neck had improved tremendously! I highly recommend Dr. Tom, not only because of the amazing service he provides but also because it is clear that he genuinely cares about his patients and wants them to enjoy the best results possible. -Brian E.
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AutoWerks 474-1300 / werkswell.com June 2012 East Side Monthly
59
Calendar
by Kathryn Barrall
June
music | performance | social happenings | galleries | learn | sports
DON’T MISS THIS MONTH: 10 events at the top of our list Laugh Out Loud Tour June 7-9 at Trinity Rep, www.trinityrep.com
1
Providence Animal Rescue League Fundraiser June 9 at Nick-ANee’s, www.parl.org
2
Design the Night June 21 at RISD, www.risdmuseum.org
3
Trinity Rep’s Second City troupe is in town June 7-9
MUSIC arena & club | classical AReNA & CLUb MOHEGAN SUN June 5: Red Light. June 6: Sugar. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www.mohegansun.com. CHAN’S June 1: Killer Kane & the Blue FO’s. June 2: Daryl Sherman & Friends featuring Warren Vache, Boots Malison, Jon Wheatley. June 8: Bernard Allison. June 9: The Chili Brothers. June 15: Joe Moss. June 16: Fat City Band. June 22: Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood. June 23: Luther “Guitar Johnson” & The Magic Rockers. June 27: Open mic with Lil’ Cousin. June 29: Brian Maes Band. June 30: James Montgomery Band. 267 Main Street, Woonsocket. 765-1900, www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com. FIREHOUSE 13 June 7: Hawthorne Heights, Life on Repeat, Forever Came Calling. 41 Central Street. 270-1801, www.fh13. com.
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East Side Monthly June 2012
FOXWOODS June 1: Massimo Ranieri. June 9: Doo Wopp Hall of Fame of America. June 10: Melissa Etheridge. 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800200-2882, www.foxwoods.com. LUPO’S June 15: GWAR. June 17: Michael Franti & Spearhead. June 22: Reel Big Fish & Goldfinger. June 27: Halestorm. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, www. lupos.com. THE MET June 1: Ryan Montbleau Band. June 2: Sarah Borges. June 8: Max Creek. June 16: Deer Tick 2012 & Special Guests. June 20: Beres Hammond with DJ Inferno. June 21: Bowerbirds with Basia Bulat. June 22: Tab Benoit. June 29: Anthony Green (of Circa Survive) with The Dear Hunter & The Organ Beats. June 30: The Agents – CD release party. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 729-1005, www. themetri.com. MOHEGAN SUN June 1: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. June 9: Bonnie Raitt with special guest Mavis Staples & America. June 14: Earth,
Wind & Fire performing with a full string orchestra & Civil Twilight. June 17: Ringo Starr & his All Starr Band. June 22: Avenged Sevenfold with special guest Halestorm & Vertical Horizon. June 26: Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band – Lounging at the Lagoon Tour. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www.mohegansun.com. ROOTS CAFÉ Every Sunday: Jam/Blues Jam. Every Tuesday: Strictly Jazz Jam. Every Thursday: Thursday Night Groove. 276 Westminster Street. 272-7422, www. rootscafeprovidence.com. TWIN RIVER June 1: M-80. June 2: Santa Mamba. June 15: Joshua Tree – A U2 tribute band. June 22: Another Tequila Sunrise – An Eagles tribute band. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 475-8346, www. twinriver.com. CLASSICAL & SUCH OPERA PROVIDENCE June 8: A Prelude to The Merry Widow. Metacomet Country Club, 500 Veteran’s Memorial Parkway, East Providence. June 15 and 16: The Merry
The Merry Widow June 8 at Metacomet Country Club, www.operaprovidence.org
4
Knock Down Stand Up comedy show June 15 at The Spot Underground, www.thespotprovidence. com
5
Providence Art Festival June 2 at Westminster & Eddy Streets, www. indowncity.com
6 7 8
Waterfire June 1, 9 and 23, www.waterfire.org
RI Riveters vs. Harrisburg June 9 at Thayer Ice Arena, www.providencerollerderby.com PawSox vs. Charlotte Knights June 26-29, www.pawsox.com
9
10 info
Gallery Night June 21, www.gallerynight.
Now in our 78th year!
TRINITY REPERTORY COMPANY June 7-9: Second City presents The Laugh Out Loud Tour. $30. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, www.trinityrep.com. THeATRe 95 EMPIRE BLACK BOX June 3: Empire Revue. June 21: Free Speech, The Encyclopedia Show. 115 Empire Street. 831-9327, www.as220. org. 2ND STORY THEATRE June 6-10, 13-17, 20-24: A Few Good Men. Historic Bristol Statehouse, 240 High Street, Bristol. 247-4200, www. secondstorytheatre.com. STADIUM THEATRE June 11: BubbleMania: Science, Art & Comedy! 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 762-4545, www.stadiumtheatre.com.
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Northern Lands will play at the PARL Fundraiser on June 9
Widow. RI Center of Performing Arts, 848 Park Avenue, Cranston. 253-2707, www.operaprovidence.org. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER June 6: Il Divo & Orchestra in Concert. June 15: Crosby, Stills & Nash. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2997, www.ppacri.org.
Photo: Curt Allan
RISD June 7: Music Thursday; come enjoy live music, snacks and a cash bar in the Grand Gallery. $3-$10. June 10: Community Music Works 15th Anniversary Reunion Concert. Chace Center, 20 North Main Street. 454-6500, www. risdmuseum.org. RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY June 28: Concert Under the Elms: The American Band. 52 Power Street. 2737507, www.rihs.org.
PERFORMANCE comedy | dance | theatre ComeDy COMEDY CONNECTION June 1-2: John Perotta. June 3: Kitty Litter & Friends, Drag Extravaganza. June 8-9: Brian Beaudoin. June 15-16: Larry Myles. June 29-30: Derek Furtado. Every Friday: Hardcore Comedy. 39 Warren Ave, East Providence. 4388383, www.ricomedyconnection.com. EVERETT Fridays: Friday Night Live Improv Comedy featuring live music from Bertrand Laurence. The Carriage House, 9 Duncan Avenue. 831-9479, www.everettri.org. KNOCK DOWN STAND UP June 15: Chapelle’s Show co-creator Neal Brennan. Spot Underground, 15 Elbow Street. 383-7133, www.thespotprovidence.com.
TRINITY REPERTORY COMPANY June 1-30: Motherhood the Musical. June 20-30: When Mahalia Sings. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, www. trinityrep.com. COURTHOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS June 1-3: Nunsense. June 21-30: Titanic: The Musical. 3481 Kingstown Road, South Kingston. www.courthousearts.org.
SOCIAL HAPPENINGS
Visit us at the location of your choice...
expos | fundraisers | seasonal FUNDRAISeRS PROVIDENCE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE June 9: Visit with adoptable dogs, the WBRU crew and enjoy craft beer and music by Northern Lands, The Throttles and more. Nick-a-Nees, 25 South Street. www.parl.org/events.
Haruki Cranston 1210 Oaklawn Ave Cranston 401.463.8338
Haruki ExprEss 112 Waterman St Providence 401.421.0754
Haruki East 172 Wayland Ave Providence 401.223.0332
June 2012 East Side Monthly
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Calendar
continued...
WaterFire
CHILDREN’S FRIEND June 16: The Children’s Friend Walk & Run. Roger Williams Park Carousel Village. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. www.cfsri.org. RHODE ISLAND BLOOD CENTER June 3: 2nd Annual Pints for Life Walk. Starts at the Providence Donor Center. 405 Promenade Street. 800283-8385, www.ribc.org.
Since 1919
THE SALGI FOUNDATION June 16: 1st Annual Esophageal Cancer Walk of Rhode Island. $20-$25. Warwick City Park, Asylum Road, Warwick. 615-5869, www.salgiwalk. eventbrite.com.
Behold the Big Green Egg.
®
The Ultimate Grilling Machine sm|med|lg
173 WICKENDEN PROVIDENCE 401 421-5157 VISIT US ON FACEBOOK www.adlersri.com 62
East Side Monthly June 2012
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY June 16-17: Bike MS: Ride the Rhode 2012 – 25th Anniversary. 738-8383, www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/RIR/index.aspx. FoR FooDIeS BOTTLES FINE WINE & CRAFT BEER Thursdays: Come enjoy a selection of fine wines and cheeses at this free weekly event. 141 Pitman Street. 3722030, www.bottlesfinewine.com. FARMERS MARKET Wednesdays at Lippitt Park. 1059 Hope Street. www.farmfresh.org/
food/farmersmarkets. FeSTIvALS IN DOWNCITY June 2: Providence Art Festival. 10am-6pm. Westminster Street between Eddy & Snow Streets. www. indowncity.com. RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER June 1-2: RISD Annual Graduate Thesis Exhibition. 1 Sabin Street. 4586000, www.riconvention.com. THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY & PRACTICE OF NONVIOLENCE June 1: Open Mic Nights: Spoken Word Poetry. 7pm-9pm. Come out and showcase your spoken word talents. Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, 265 Oxford Street. 401-785-2320, www.nonviolenceinstitute.org. SeASoNAL BLACKSTONE VALLEY TOURISM COUNCIL June 6, 13, 20 and 27: Secret Ingredient Food Tour Spring 2012. www. tourblackstone.com. WATERFIRE June 1, 9, 23: Fire, music, food and merriment. 273-1155, www.waterfire. org.
GALLERIES GALLERY Z June 21 & 28: Opening Receptions for Selections from the Z Collection. 259 Atwells Avenue. 454-8844, www.galleryzprov.com. GALLERY NIGHT June 21: Visit over 24 galleries, museums and historic sites. 751-2628, www. gallerynight.info.
KIDS + FAMILy BROWN UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE Saturdays: Children’s Story Time, cozy up in the children’s book section every weekend for a reading adventure. 11am. 244 Thayer Street. 863-3168, www.bookstore.brown.edu. PROVIDENCE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Every Saturday and Sunday: Imagination Playground. June 19-20: Hoopla. June 26-27: Jump In. 100 South Street. 273-5437, www.childrenmuseum.org. PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY June 30: Voices Unfold: Family Art Workshop. 150 Empire Street. www. provlib.org. ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO June 17: Father’s Day Discount; all fathers attending with their child receive free admission. June 23: Animal Birthday Party Club – Alice, Kate and Ginny the African elephants. June 27: Sunset Safari features a themed tour at twilight, s’mores and story time. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 785-3510, www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org. HOPE ARTISTE VILLAGE June 30: Family Yoga. 10-10:45am and
RISD’s Design the Night
noon-1pm. $15-20. OM Kids Yoga Center, 999 Main Street, Suite 702, Pawtucket. 305-3667, www.omkidsyogacenter.com.
LEARN discussion | instruction | tour DISCUSSIoN RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY June 1-15: In History’s Wake, The Last Trap Fishermen of Rhode Island. June 16: Personally Providence Walking Tours: Edward Bannister. June 21: Gallery Night: Gabriel Loiacono, William Fales and the Role of Paupers in the Dorr War. John Brown House Museum, 52 Power Street. 331-8575 x28, www. rihs.org. BLACKSTONE RIVER Sundays: Blackstone Riverboat Tours; take a 45 minute narrated tour along the Blackstone River. $8-$10. Central Falls Landing at Broad Street & Madeira Avenue, Central Falls. 724-2200, www.rivertourblackstone.com. INSTRUCTIoN AUDUBON SOCIETY June 16: Introduction to Tree ID. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield. 9495454, www.asri.org.
COMMUNITY BOATING CENTER June 2, 16, 30: River Romp Family Kayak Tour. Community Boating Center, India Point Park, 109 India Street. 4547245, www.communityboating.com. RISD MUSEUM OF ART June 21: Design the Night: Tools. 5-9pm. Museum Galleries + Chace Center Plaza. 20 North Main Street. 454-6500, www.risdmuseum.org.
Chef/Restauranteur Jaime D’Oliveira lends his 38 years of restaurant expertise (former owner of Red Stripe & Mills Tavern) to Kitchen Bar with his new menu, the service and vibe...
SPORTS PAWTUCKET RED SOX BASEBALL June 5-8: Home vs. Indianapolis Indians. June 9-12: Home vs. Gwinnett Braves. June 22-25: Home vs. Louisville Bats. June 26-29: Home vs. Charlotte Knights. McCoy Stadium, 1 Columbus Avenue, Pawtucket. 724-7300, www. pawsox.com. PROVIDENCE ROLLER DERBY June 9: RI Riveters vs. Harrisburg Area Roller Derby, Double Header. Thayer Ice Arena, 975 Sandy Lane, Warwick. www.providencerollerderby.com. To have your listing included in the East Side Monthly Calendar, please send press releases or event information to esm@providenceonline.com. Please send submissions at least one month prior to event date.
$5.95 Lunch Specials 1/2 Off Apps 4-6pm M-F Sun - Thurs 11am to 1am Fri - Sat 11am to 2am Sunday Brunch 10am - 2pm
771 Hope Street • Providence 331-4100 • kitchenbarri.com
June 2012 East Side Monthly
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Classifieds
To place your classified ad, please call 732-3100.
Stone âœŻ Driveways âœŻ Pavers âœŻ Walkways Concrete Work âœŻ Cobblestone Edging âœŻ Chimney Repointing âœŻ âœŻ All Types of Repairs âœŻ
CHRIS’ LAMP REPAIR We Make House Calls!!! âœŻ Repairing all types of Lamps âœŻ Vintage Lighting Specialist âœŻ Chandelier Repairs âœŻ Serving the East Side for over 15 years âœŻ Fully Insured
(401) 831-8693 www.chrislamprepair.com
Amish heirlooms Dining room sets, TV stands, cedar chests, bedroom & more. 3494313. carriagelanefurniture.com Antiques Buying 1 item or entire estates of antiques & collectibles; call Stillwater Antiques, 949-4999. Antiques High quality Chinese antiques and folk art products sold by appointment in Bristol. 401-243-4511, www.oldechinatrader.com. AppliAnCes Shop at Gil’s for the best prices, brands, selection and service. 401253-9789, www.gilsappliances.com An AFFordAble pAinting High quality work. References. 30 years experience. Based on the East Side. Reg. #17730. Call Ken at 401-516-1438. Audio/Video help If you need some help with your TV, home theater or stereo, call me at 401-383-4102. Jon Bell, Simply Sight & Sound. Reasonable rates. 25 years of experience. Ceiling repAirs Repairing water damaged, cracked, peeling ceilings & walls. Located on the East Side. Over 100 satisfied local customers. Malin Painting, RI Reg. #19226. Call 226-8332. 64
East Side Monthly June 2012
Ceiling WorK, dryWAll Plaster (hang, tape & paint). Water damage repair. All phases of carpentry. Reg. #24022. Fully insured. Steven, E. Prov., 401-641-2452. Custom CAbinetry Fox Kitchen will help create a custom kitchen, bath, bedroom, living room, entertainment center or any interior living space. 1080 Fall River Ave, Seekonk MA, (508) 336-3111. Custom WindoW treAtments and more. In-home consultation. 30 years experience. 401-949-1587.
dog WAlKer/pet sitter Trained to administer medications. Reliable, bonded, references available. Home visits. Call Susan 5273914. Loves animals.
dolls & Kids Atelier 18� doll, American Girl doll clothing & accessories, 18� doll furniture, girl’s clothing, personalized gifts, headbands for dolls & girls, handbags & second hand American Girl doll. 324 B Taunton Ave., East Providence. 401-339-5108 dorothy’s CleAning We clean your home as our own! References & free estimates. Call 401-274-7871 or 401-524-7453. eAst side hAndymAn 34 years. Repairs, upgrades & renovations. References. Insured. Reg. #3052. Call 270-3682. elder CAre AVAilAble Compassionate, intelligent, mature woman seeks sleepover position with elderly person. 20 years experience. Impeccable references. Please call 781-3392 or 497-3392.
eleCtriCAl serViCes All types. New circuits. Generator systems installed. RI #A3338. MA #16083A. Insured. Call Larry 5292087. Also, small handyman jobs. FenCing And more For railings, gates & fencing, welding, and window guards. Call R. Falco Iron Works at 231-3550. 8 Garibaldi Street, N. Providence. gArAge For rent Lloyd Ave., long-term storage, $125/mo. Call Roger, 339-4068. rogernc@mac.com houseCleAner Available Crystal Clean, a quality housecleaning service. We don’t cut corners. Weekly or bi-weekly. We use environmentally friendly products. Bethany 265-0960.
JOBS BY JIM Garages & Attics Cleaned
Unwanteds Removed Small Demolitions - Garages, Sheds, etc.
Free Metal Pick-up Appliances & Lawn Mowers â?–Motors â?–Machines â?–Batteries â?–Etc.
Call 401-232-5650 Cell 401-742-7258
Reg. #4614
MEDINA Painting & Remodeling Co., Inc. For ALL Your Painting & Carpentry Needs
We Specialize in Water Problems
All Concrete Services Specializing in all Masonry Repairs Decorative Stamp Concrete No Job Too Small
Chimney Repair
(Roofs, Gutters, Basements) Certified Lead Renovated LRM #0514 Fully Insured
Call Al Medina HOUSE CLEANING
If you need a house cleaner who is organized and with good prices & excellent references, call 401-475-3283 house For sAle New construction. Waterfront, Sand Hill Cove. MLS #997782. Cornice Realty. 401-354-4720. i buy booKs Old, used and almost new. Also buying photography, art, etc. Call 401-421-2628. jcvp@cox.net insulAtion For a free home energy audit & estimate for insulation to save you hundreds every year on heating & cooling costs call AA Insulation, 401-421-3782. Reg. #660
R.I. Reg. #7320
401.438.8771 LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE Spring & Fall Cleanups Bushes Trimmed â?Š Tree Removal Pine Bark Mulch
Landscape Construction Parking Lot Cleaning Handyman â?Š 26 Years Experience
MG Landscaping 743-6015 â?Š 831-5109 lAundry Self-serve laundry, pick up/delivery, wash dry fold, and dry cleaning. Laundry Club, 140 Medway St, Wayland Square. 272-2520 l.A.d. mAsonry serViCes Free estimates. Cement, brick, stone, patio, walks, driveways, chimneys, fireplaces. Repairs. Bobcat services. Insured. Lic. #29611. www.ladservicesllc.com 401-4875118
Kind CAre ~ seniors Appointments, errands, shopping, cleaning & maint. Refs. Safety bars installed. Reg #3052. 270-3682. lAndsCAping And rototilling Lawns and garden maintenance. Call 523-6649 or 333-9741.
Want Help Making Your Yard Beautiful? Let Us Help You with â—?
Reg. # 12299
Garden Design â—? Plant Selection and Care â—? Easy Care Front Yard Plantings â—? Vegetable Gardening and More
mAlin pAinting Most ceiling & wall repairs, wallpaper removal, oil-based and latex finishes, staining, varnishing. Fully insured, many local references. Safe, secure, fast service. Call 226-8332. Reg. #19226.
superb housepAinting High end workmanship. Small jobs a specialty. Call Ron 751-3242. Reg. #18128.
mAster eleCtriCiAn Install, service, repair. Expert troubleshooting. Free detailed computerized estimate. Deal direct with owner. Lic. #AC 004110 & insured. Small jobs done promptly. All work guaranteed. Save $$$. Family owned & operated. Local resident. Calls returned immediately. 401-258-4793, John.
plumbing & heAting Alpha Mechanical services all of your plumbing, heating and HVAC needs with quality and expertise. Contact Ryan at 434-4504 or sales@alphamechanical.com. Lic. #1401
preserVe your memories Documents, photos, slides, films saved to CD or DVD. Photos of slides and film contents are available. Your memories will always be fresh. Reasonable rates. Comen Co., 401-230-2524. Email: hcomen@cox.net
rooFing & ConstruCtion Dome Construction & Roofing Co. handles residential & commercial roof repair. 401-723-2877. Lic. #11R, 2241 used musiC WAnted! Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.
proACtiVe Computer services Home or office. Computer repairs, data recovery. WIFI Solutions. Fully equipped mobile service. Service calls $40/hr. Call 401-6477702. www.pcsllcri.com
Vinny’s Landscaping
& BOBCAT SERVICES
Spring Cleanups
property mAnAger AVAilAble 24/7 on call. Rent collection. Rentals, evictions. Call 421-0092.
Lawns Cut -Weekly or Bi-Weekly
Power Raking
Seed & Sod â—? Fertilizing â—? Planting Rototilling â—? Small Loads Delivered
sCreen printing & Embroidery. T-shirts & Sweatshirts. Max Formal Co., 1164 North Main St., Providence. 421-3268.
Free Estimates
â—?Loam â—?Sand â—?Stone â—?Etc. â—?
497-1461 â—? 231-1851
Willard Roofing & Restoration All Types of Roofing & Exterior Repairs RESIDENTIAL
Siding
My Garden Guru Garden Coaches Ramona Silk Jo-Ann Bouley 401.447.8091 508.212.5527 mygardenguru.net
stone mAson 30 yrs. exp. Stone, brick, veneers, walls, fireplaces, patios, chimneys. Design work. Reg. #7445. Call 641-0362. lousstonework.com
â—? COMMERCIAL â—?
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â—?
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949-4440
Insured
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MasterCard Accepted
June 2012 East Side Monthly
65
East of Elmgrove
by Elizabeth Rau
After the Snip My locks are gone, shorn on a whim. If only I had read that article, you know, the one in The New York Times, which said, in short, that long hair on mature women is a “mark of liberation.’’ I’ve always wanted to be a feminist, and now it’s too late. I spent months living with unruly hair, only to decide, in the end, that those wavy strands cascading down the nape of my neck looked stupid. I glimpsed in the mirror and saw the scraggly tail of a sickly squirrel. I called my stylist: “I can’t stand it! Book me.’’ If only I had done the research first. I always do the research. If I had Googled “long hair on middle-aged women” or, better yet, “long hair is the new black,’’ I would be celebrating the growing season. Instead, I called M, a Picasso with scissors, and in no time my mane was a bob. Don’t get me wrong. The cut she gave me was superb, as always. It is full of bounce and vigor. But it is less; the glass is half-empty. I was hasty and failed to pick up on the long-hair trend sweeping the country, though I did notice that Hillary was growing her hair and accessorizing it, no less, in a Wellesley College free-offrills headband. I figured Hillary was thinking outside the box. Little did I know that she was inside, riding the wave. The 2010 story in the Gray Lady was penned by Dominique Browning, a writer, blogger at www.slowlovelife. com and mother who lives in New York and on the Rhode Island coastline, hence the scratch-and-you-will-find Little Rhody connection. She is pushing 60 and proudly sports long hair, not the kind that simply brushes her broad shoulders. No, we’re talking hair “long enough for a pony66
East Side Monthly June 2012
tail with a swing to it… Long enough to braid.’’ Her agent thinks she’s “hiding’’ behind something. Her sister frets over it. Her mother hates it. Browning isn’t listening. She is crazy
whom personal grooming is a patriarchal conspiracy to oppress women, must agree that one’s day cannot proceed if the hair is uncooperative. Hair is a topic from the board room to the
about her hair and hangs steady despite all those judgments from people who can’t zip it. Long hair is too rebellious. Long hair is an attempt to relive one’s girlhood. Long hair is high maintenance, what with all those wisps flying hither and thither in a mad dash to the grocery store. Are these complaints true or false? Who cares when Browning exhorts us to consider the “wonderfully sexy way our grandmothers, those women of the prairie, or concrete canyons, would braid their hair up in the morning and let their cowboys unravel it at night.’’ Come gather ’round the campfire, ladies: men like long hair, and what’s wrong with that? Patience. If only I had exercised patience. Yes, there are many things to worry about in the world today, but even the most ardent feminist, the one for
soccer field, from the professor’s office to the kitchen table. Hair is the great equalizer among women. When I was a skinny little girl, I had a pixie. My hair was so short a gradeschool teacher once directed me to the boy’s bathroom. “No, you belong here,’’ she said, gently pushing me in line with Billy, Brant and Sam. “I’m a girl,’’ I replied, but the damage was done. I would never succumb to the shears again. I still have the photo from high school. I’m sitting on a picnic table with my elbows propped on my knees and my hands cupped around a Marlboro, probably the only one I smoked that year. I’m wearing a black Mexican-style shirt embroidered with the sun, red as meat. My hair falls over my shoulders like a tent. Curls and more curls. It must weigh a ton. Amy had a bob, but she was the exception. Most of us had long hair that
we rarely pulled back in ponytails or swept up in buns. We happily wore our hair “down,’’ even during gym. The goal was to obscure the face, not all of it, just the sides, in the way of Neil Young, back when he had hair. I had long hair in college and in my early years as a reporter for a newspaper. No small feat considering that I was always in motion, sometimes in front of a burning house spitting sparks. In my late 30s, I decided to go for a trim. My friends said I was too old for long hair. I got a mid-back cut, which led to a shoulder-length cut, which led to a bob. I felt lighter, more swift-footed. But then middle-age came and a pang of regret swept over me. Were those comments from my elders that long hair looks “silly’’ on older women the musings of ladies who parked the car and cut the engine at 50? I began to long for my long hair and let it grow. And then doubts mounted, and I called M. If only I had read Browning. Long-hair foes accuse her of “living in the ’70s.’’ Browning gives her mane a flip and responds: “And why not? I like being 55 going on 15. As far as I’m concerned, we never did get better role models than that gang of girls who sang their hearts out for us through lusty days and yearning nights: Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Cher.’’ I’ll pass on Cher as a role model, but gladly take the others, especially Joni, who is 68 and still has long hair. It’s a healthy gray, and, to steal from her Blue album, as long as a river to skate away on, long enough to make my baby cry. Elizabeth Rau is an East Side resident who can be reached at erau1@ verizon.net.
Illustration: Jessica Pollak
On cutting that rebellious long hair
ic01 East Side Monthly Ad June 2012 issue_Layout 1 5/9/12 4:41 PM Page 1
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