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CONTENTS East Side Monthly • July 2018
Photo courtesy of Ryan Cobb
After a bit of a dry spell, the Athenaeum’s historic fountain is bubbling once again
This Month 23 THE OTHER HOME TEAMS
Moses Brown teacher Jennifer Stewart awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Grant
On the Town 39 The newly rebranded Willie’s Superbrew is
Beyond Pawtucket, the Newport Gulls and Ocean State Waves are fielding baseball’s future stars
12 RISE celebrates 20 years of helping the children of incarcerated parents
40 On the Menu: Dig into Chez Pascal’s tasty new book club
13 A local compost collection business is making it easier to be green
43 Restaurant Guide
10
27 A TOWERING DEBATE With the fate of the Hope Point Tower in the city council’s hands, we look at both sides of the debate
14 Author Vikki Warner reflects on her years as
a summer sipper
Calendar 49 Events you can’t miss this month
a Providence landlady
Every Month
Close to Home 33 Home of the Month:
Inside a College Hill home that honors family history
6 Editorial 16 In the Know
East Sider 58 Summit
writer Ethan Gilsdorf chronicles fantastic realms and leads aspiring geeks into the world of Dungeons and Dragons
34 Education: How local schools stack up in a new national poll
17 Neighborhood News Community 9 The Athenaeum’s Richmond Fountain flows
36
East of Elmgrove: Discovering the East Side, one bike ride at a time
again
On the Cover:
Artist’s rendering of the current design for the proposed Hope Point Tower. Image courtesy of IBI Group of Toronto.
East Side Monthly • July 2018 5
EDITORIAL
Don’t Let the PawSox Strike Out
6
East Side Monthly • July 2018
outdoor events and additional parking revenue. Plus, if the stadium design evolves into a mini-Fenway park, like the ballfield that was constructed in Fort Myers, it might well become an attractive tourist destination. Statewide politicians of both parties have begun to address a perceived lack of enthusiasm in other parts of the state. There are two dynamics necessary to address this situation: one is for statewide politicians to recognize that the success of our urban core is essential for us all. Second, we need to hear from another voice that has been strangely quiet in the recent discussions about the stadium: our corporate community needs to become more involved. In the past, businesses have always been there to support the team by buying tickets for their employees. Now they need to raise their voices too. Imagine the leaders of local corporations vying with each other at “night at the ballpark” events, which could not only
produce revenue for the franchise but build a sense of statewide community as well. Let’s take our chances and swing at this latest (and perhaps last) PawSox pitch. We don’t think Mighty Casey will strike out. Unless it’s for Worcester, that is.
Corrections In last month’s cover story, “State of the Campus,” certain donors were misidentified: Jonathan Nelson gave $25 million to establish the Jonathan M. Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, which launched in 2016. Robert J. Carney and Nancy D. Carney donated $100 million to name the Carney Institute for Brain Science. Also, the Watson Institute was first founded in 1991, and the Wall Street Journal’s February headline was, “Brown Stares Down the Censors.” The editors regret these errors.
Photography by Brandon Harmon
It’s the bottom of ninth, two outs and the bases are loaded for our beloved PawSox. Our best hitter is scheduled up next. Our chance of victory looks promising. But what’s this noise we hear around the dugout? The coaches are arguing over which bat he’ll be allowed to use? Meanwhile, the crowd is getting restless… There has been plenty of intense public debate about whether the PawSox are worth the effort required to build them a new stadium – and, by extension, keep them in Rhode Island. Is there any risk to this deal? Yes. But show us any public/private partnership where there isn’t. The way we see it, the risk of building a new stadium provides enough upside collateral that it’s well worth taking. Pawtucket has attempted to reconfigure its downtown several times, but to no avail. The new stadium relocation seems to offer the best opportunity to finally jumpstart the city. The proposed Apex site offers a unique confluence of attractive amenities: the historic Slater Mill next door; the beautiful, fast-flowing Blackstone River adjoining the stadium; the committed promises of new construction to surround the ballpark; the proximity of a dynamic arts scene nearby. In short, the proposal has all the earmarks of an economic home run. Some critics have compared this proposal to the 38 Studios fiasco, which strikes us as unfair. This time around, the degree of transparency has provided a textbook example of what should have taken place just a few years ago and didn’t, burning us so badly in the process. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello promised he would support the deal if it could be improved. There seem to be two options: either increase the participation level of the owners group or reduce the amount of exposure to the public (i.e. us). Mattiello chose the latter. Now that the project is secured by a larger revue stream, we’re convinced that the deal’s financial elements are more reliable, especially when the stadium will bring opportunities for
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COMMUNITY East Side Stories | Neighborhood News & Notes
East Side News
An Oasis on Benefit Street
The legendary Richmond Fountain is brought back to its original splendor By Caroline Boyle The revived Richmond Fountain has nourished passersby for more than a century
Photo courtesy of Ryan Cobb
For generations,
passersby were encouraged to stop at the Richmond Fountain. Legend had it that those who drank from its water would always return to Providence. Nestled alongside the Benefit Street sidewalk, the fountain is situated against the Providence Athenaeum, its gothic facade made of carved granite, an East Side staple since the late 19th century. Pawtuxet River water flowed freely from the fountain for decades until the water ceased to flow and the structure fell into disrepair. It wasn’t until 2015, when Matt Burriesci took over the Athenaeum as Executive Director, that he declared the need to get the beloved fountain running again. Thanks to a generous donation from longtime Athenaeum supporters Dick Gilbane and Candy Adriance,
Burriesci’s dream quickly became a reality. After a year of renovation, the Athenaeum staff hopes the project will be completed soon. “Restarting the fountain involved $20,000 in direct costs, not including significant inkind support,” says Athenaeum Director of Marketing and Communications Robin Wetherill. The restoration included the installation of a new backflow preventer and water meter, flushing the fountain’s original drain. Also replaced was a burst pipe under the sidewalk that fed from the municipal water supply. All repairs were done by Malone Plumbing and Heating out of Cranston. The Athenaeum hosted a public Garden Party on May 20 when, for the first time in years, the fountain was turned on again.
First donated by Anna Eddy Richmond in 1873 and built by Boston architects Ware and Van Brunt “for the refreshment of the community,” the fountain served as likely the first public drinking fountain in Providence – and one of the first in the entire country. The restoration of the granite exterior of the fountain has yet to be completed, but the centuries-old granite will remain visually unchanged, its stone front still engraved with the stirring words, “Come here everyone that thirsteth.” Buriesci says that the Athenaeum seeks to be the “fountain of living water” that its founders envisioned. He hopes that the fountain’s revival will “seek to elevate the public discourse by bringing Providence to the world, and by bringing the world to Providence.”
East Side Monthly • July 2018 9
Community East Side News
Finnishing School
Moses Brown teacher awarded Fulbright to conduct research in Finland By Ed McCarthy
Jennifer Stewart is a teacher who sees potential in lessened workloads
BOB WALSH
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East Side Monthly • July 2018
It’s a familiar sight during the school year: students lugging backpacks stuffed with books. But do teachers need to pile on assignments to help students learn the material? Maybe not. Finnish students, for example, consistently rank high in
global standardized tests despite spending significantly less time in the classroom and on homework than students in other countries. Could U.S. students benefit from the Finnish approach? Jennifer Stewart, a history
Photo by Adam Olenn, courtesy of Moses Brown School
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teacher at Moses Brown, aims to find out. Thanks to a recent Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching grant, Stewart will spend the spring 2019 semester in Finland studying that country’s methods of teaching humanities. Stewart, a Chicago native who started teaching at Moses Brown in 2006, says the inspiration to research Finnish teaching methods came from students in her Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics course. Several years ago, a class compared Finnish and U.S. institutions, and students learned about Finland’s impressive educational performance, despite relatively light workloads. Students started asking why their studies couldn’t emulate the Finnish model. “They would say that to me, and initially I would just laugh it off,” says Stewart. “Of course, we can’t be like Finland – it’s a completely different context.” Yet last fall Stewart started taking the question more seriously. She heard concerns about student stress, and she wondered whether she could modify her own teaching methods. Stewart researched opportunities to learn more about the Finnish system, which led to the Fulbright program. The application process was detailed and lengthy, she explains, but Fulbright does not require U.S. grant recipients to speak the Finnish language, which Stewart does not speak. Some of the grant’s details are still being worked out, such as where Stewart will live and which courses she’ll attend, but she has high expectations for the research period. She notes that there are contextual factors unique to the Finnish system. “I’m hoping my experience will not only push me to re-evaluate my own homework practices,” she says, “but that it actually equips me with practical approaches and tools for doing so.”
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Community East Side News
Generation Freedom
RISE celebrates 20 years of sponsoring children of incarcerated parents By Stephen Beale
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arship funds for the children of incarcerated parents. Last month, the nonprofit celebrated its 20th anniversary with a fashion show at the Fete Music Hall in Olneyville. “RISE is about dreams — the dream of opportunity and a better life for you and for your family,” said Kevin Vigilante, one of the organization’s three founders, during the March 10 fundraiser. Despite the emotionally charged mission, the party was upbeat. The silent auction featured first-row Red Sox tickets and a signed football from the Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. The night ended with a fashion show starring local politicians and community leaders. Since its founding in 1997, Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education, or RISE, has helped more than a thousand children whose mothers or fathers are in prison. In addition to scholarships, RISE also pairs children with mentors and has a tutoring program. The idea for RISE was born out of the experience of two local doctors – Vigilante and Tim Flanigan. Vigilante said the two were treating HIV-infected women who were in prison, and they wondered about the inmates’ children. “There was no pill to prevent prison,” Vigilante remembers thinking. They quickly concluded that education was
the solution. That led to the establishment of RISE, which the two doctors co-founded with Kristen Haffenreffer, who serves as the executive director. Two decades later, the effects seem clear. Most children of incarcerated parents graduate from high school at rates around 55 percent, yet RISE participants finish high school at a rate of over 80 percent. Most continue on to college and some go even further, according to Vigilante. “For these children, RISE has broken that intergenerational cycle of poverty, addiction, incarceration, and crime that has been so recalcitrant in our inner cities,” Vigilante said. “We’ve spent billions of dollars over decades trying to break the cycle, and in our small way, right here in Rhode Island, we’ve done it.” A former scholarship recipient, Bianca Perry of Providence, also briefly spoke at the event. Perry was neglected by her drug-addicted mother and spent much of her childhood in foster homes and homeless shelters. Thanks to help from RISE, Perry attended school and is now headed to law school. She also serves on the board for RISE. “They inspired me to rise above the circumstances I faced in life,” she told the audience. “They inspired me to rise above and take advantage of education. RISE gave me hope.”
Photo courtesy of RISE
Celebrants dance on the catwalk at the RISE fashion fundraiser
One Man’s Trash
Rhodeside Revival starts doorto-door composting service By Robert Isenberg
Composting is a nice idea. Wouldn’t we love to turn spoiled leftovers into arable soil? But suppose you live in a high-rise with no green space, much less a vegetable garden. What do you do with your orange rinds and stale bread? Starting this summer, Rhodeside Revival can visit your house and haul away those very food scraps. The brainchild of three URI grads, Conor MacManus, Brendan Loflin, and Miguel Costa, the statewide service started up this month, collecting leftover organic matter from Ocean State homes. “All three of us shared a general environmental awareness and interest in sustainability measures,” says Loflin. “We felt prompted for action once we realized the amount of food waste that was being generated around us every single day.” The trio started out with a composting club on URI’s campus. Five years after graduation, they noticed local communities cracking down on their environmental footprint. They felt emboldened and decided to start their own company. When subscribers sign up for Rhodeside Revival, they pay a monthly fee and receive a five-gallon bucket. Participants can compost a wide range of food waste, from tea bags and coffee grounds to house plants and fireplace ashes. The material is collected in two trucks and driven to Earth Care Farm in Charlestown. Founded by Michael Marner, Earth Care has performed largescale composting since 1977. Loflin doesn’t expect an overnight success, and the company is starting with only 20 subscribers. But now that the trucks are rolling, he’s hoping for a snowball effect, and Rhodeside Revival aims to enroll 250 to 500 households by the end of its first year. “I’m hoping everyone will be into it,” says Loflin. “If we can be the most environmentally friendly state, then other states will scale up what we’ve done.” RhodesideRevival.com
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when she bought a Victorian house in Federal Hill and started letting apartments. She gave the property a lofty name (PennHenge) and zealously maintained the old building herself. Soon, she was den mother to a house full of oddballs. But for Warner, renting to marginalized tenants was a labor of love. She documents these trials in her memoir, Tenemental: Adventures of a Reluctant Landlady, released this month from Feminist Press. Warner is a veteran journalist and now works as an acquisitions editor for Blackstone Publishing. She was inspired to write the book during an especially laborious cleaning episode; a former tenant had left behind a museum of strange artifacts, including animal bones, moldy journals, and a bucket marked, “Live Beetles Do Not Touch.”
“The absurdity of the whole thing hit me then,” Warner recalls. “I wondered if I might have enough to hang a book on. It also seemed like an opportunity to process the strange experience of being a landlady.” Tenemental is a thoughtful meditation on communal living and urban identity, and Warner endures many hardships, including serious health problems. But much of the memoir is quirky and fun, and Warner delights in calling Providence the “first freakiest” city in New England. “I’ve always been very proud of my sense of humor,” she muses. “I was an awkward kid with bookish interests, so it really helped to be funny. The trick with Tenemental was to make other people laugh, and I really wasn’t sure I could pull it off. But seeing as every review thus far has used the word ‘hilarious,’ I guess I hit the mark.”
Photo courtesy of Vikki Warner
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As we go to press, the final deadline for declaring one’s candidacy (June 27) has not yet taken place, so we’re still flying a little blind, but here’s what appears will be the top political primary races here on the East Side in September. Since close to 30 percent of the entire Providence vote comes from our area, the East Side traditionally plays a key role, particularly in local primaries. First and most importantly, it should be noted that the primary date itself is being shifted from Tuesday, September 11 to Wednesday, September 12 because of Rosh Hashanah. In terms of name recognition and campaign funding, Mayor Jorge Elorza clearly has an enormous lead over the only two other Democratic candidates who have officially declared: longtime political activist Kobi Dennis and retired education leader Robert DeRobbio. One other name that keeps bubbling below the surface is that of former acting mayor and State Representative John Lombardi. He certainly could make things interesting if he can raise the monies necessary to mount a serious challenge to the mayor. In our own district, there are also two Democratic primary races that deserve our attention: in the race to succeed Aaron Regunberg in State Representative District 4, two articulate candidates have emerged so far, both newcomers to politics: social activist Rebecca Kislak and small business advocate Mark Tracy. Meanwhile, in the race to succeed Sam Zurier on the City Council, three Democrats have come forward to date: attorneys Helen Anthony and Ryan Holt have both declared their interest in running, as has businessman Mark Feinstein. There are also the two statewide Democratic primaries that involve East Siders: Governor Gina Raimondo, a Morris Avenue resident, has declared for re-election. She will be challenged by former Secretary of State Matt Brown, environmentalist Paul Roselli, and former state representative Spencer Dickinson. Meanwhile, East Sider Aaron Regunberg is resigning his State Representative position to challenge current Lieutenant Governor
Dan McKee. The political season, always entertaining for us political junkies, has officially begun.
Bidding Farewell to Historic Home What was supposed to be a celebratory two-month exhibition in Providence of Ryan Mendoza’s art installation, “The Rosa Parks House Project,” which featured a home once inhabited by iconic civil rights leader Rosa Parks, has now officially ended. And while the event garnered much more national coverage than anyone expected, it certainly wasn’t in areas the organizers originally had hoped for. In the end, the house did find a comfortable landing spot in the new WaterFire Arts Center building in Olneyville. And through some last-minute funding and creative juggling – aided in large part by WaterFire, local artists, and academicians – the art project was at last seen by thousands of Rhode Islanders, many of them children and neighbors. The trip was certainly not in vain. The artist is currently disassembling the house and preparing to send it to its next, temporary home. Negotiations are continuing as to whether the house itself will ultimately find a spot in Detroit, where it originally stood for decades. The house may also morph into a sort of a national traveling exhibit, providing a focal point for discussing the same issues that divide our country now as they did in the sixties. Whatever happens, we should give credit to Mendoza, WaterFire, our community of local artists – and yes, even Brown – that things turned out as well as they did. We wish the house the best as it continues its journey.
And Speaking of WaterFire... WaterFire now turns its impressive creativity towards the 2018 summer season. Three events are planned for this month: June 30, July 14, and July 28. WaterFire remains a signature event for our City and, better still, no two are ever the same: when you show off the exhibit to outof-town guests, the boredom quotient is about zero.
Community Neighborhood News
Neighborhood News is a space that East Side Monthly makes available to community organizations free of charge. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of this publication.
Summit Neighborhood Association
Photo courtesy of MHNA
Raising “Bubbler” Funds We’re raising funds for the installation of a public drinking water fountain (or “bubbler” as we say in Rhode Island!) in Lippitt Park. This will be a great amenity for everyone who uses the park, and the many folks who jog and run on the adjacent Blackstone Boulevard path. Our fundraising efforts have been generously seeded with a community health grant from The Miriam Hospital, but the rest depends on members of the community! Every little bit helps. Please consider contributing at www. SummitNeighbors.org/Donate. 2018 Election Shaping Up District 4 State Representative Aaron Regunberg is running for Lieutenant Governor rather than for reelection as our local state rep, and we’re aware of two candidates who are running to replace him: Democrats Rebecca Kislak and Mark Tracy. Ward 3 City Councilor Nirva LaFortune and District 3 State Senator Gayle Goldin are also up for reelection, but as of this writing we’re still watching for any challengers to announce. Mayor Jorge Elorza will seek a second term, and activist Kobe Dennis and former state ethics commission chair and interim school superintendent Robert DeRobbio will challenge him in the Democratic primary. Rep. John Lombardi, a former acting mayor, is also considering a run. The SNA plans to co-host a summer candidate forum where all candidates who’ve declared their intent to run for a local contested seat will be invited. The party primaries will take place Wednesday, September 12. If you wish to vote in the primary and have not yet registered to vote, you must register by August 13. Lippitt Park Outdoor Films Following our very successful 2017 outdoor screening in partnership with the Providence Children’s Film Festival, we’ll be bringing a series of family outdoor showings to Lippitt Park
Children learn about composting at the Under the Trees Storytelling Program, co-hosted by the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association
this year! Stay tuned to our website and Facebook page for announcements! Residents Invited to Monthly Meetings The SNA Board of Directors meets at 7pm on the third Monday of every month in the cafeteria of Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Avenue. The sessions are open and neighborhood residents are encouraged to attend. Members and Volunteer Writers As always, we welcome new members who are interested in supporting our neighborhood events, community projects, candidate forums, and advocacy. Memberships are affordable and you can sign up at www.summitneighbors.org. Additionally, SNA is seeking local volunteers to provide occasional content for our long-running neighborhood newsletter. Please contact us for more information! Summit Neighborhood Association, PO Box 41092, Providence, RI 02940, SNA.Providence.RI.us, SNAProv@gmail.com. -Ethan Gyles
Fox Point Neighborhood Association Spring Cleaning on Wickenden This past April, Fox Point neighbors gathered to beautify Wickenden Street for the annual FPNA Earth Day Cleanup. From Benefit Street at the west to the Boys and Girls Club at the east, the volunteers picked up litter, weeded, mulched, and planted annuals in the street-side beds. “Wickenden Street is the commercial heart of our community,” commented event organizer and FPNA Board member Alissa Peterson. “We wanted to focus our clean-up this year on a high-traffic zone – an area that would affect as many people as possible.” In all, she said, about 15 people provided elbow grease while the City funded mulch and plants. Thanks to the Wickenden Area Merchants Association (WAMA), neighbor-volunteers not only refueled after the clean-up with complementary hot dogs and beer, but continued the festivities by attending the nearby WAMA Makers and Merchants Sidewalk Sale. “One volunteer had just moved to the neighborhood. The clean-
East Side Monthly • July 2018 17
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up was the first neighborhood event she had done,” commented Peterson. “It was fun,” she continued. “Everyone felt good about it. And the sidewalk sale afterwards was great.” While the FPNA mission includes speaking out about neighborhood issues and advocating for change when necessary, we also build community through events like this one. We welcome your participation. Please join us at our next monthly meeting or community event. Events this Month Monthly Board Meeting, Monday, July 9 at 7pm. Please join us at our monthly FPNA meeting in the Community Room of the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, 455 Wickenden Street. The public is welcome. The Fox Point Neighborhood Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Fox Point and protecting its historic integrity and resources. FPNA speaks out on neighborhood issues and builds community through local events. Please sign up for our mailing list and join us at a monthly meeting! Fox Point Neighborhood Association, PO Box 2315, Providence, RI 02906, FPNA.net, FoxPointNeighborhood@ gmail.com –Amy Mendillo
Wayland Square Neighborhood Association The Wayland Square Neighborhood Association is a community group bringing together the residents and merchants of the Wayland Square neighborhood. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month from 6-7:30 at various spots around the square to discuss issues facing our neighborhood, work together on improvements, and grow together as a community. We post all neighborhood news, goings on and meeting locations on our Facebook Page. Wayland Square Neighborhood Association, Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association. –Marti Del Negro
Neighborhood Association (DNA) has worked with residents and business owners to provide a voice for downtown residents, combat safety related issues and manage restoration projects along our waterways. Over time, we have built relationships with key constituents at City Hall, government officials and organizations throughout the city and have, most importantly, learned which channels to utilize to engage most effectively. One of our priorities when starting the DNA was to open the lines of communication with local leaders so that we could collaborate on projects with transparency and continuity. As our membership has grown and we have incorporated a Crime and Safety Watch, streamlining our communication with our partners and city officials has become extremely important. Since we are all working together on projects and safety issues, and have found a unified position to be the most effective at creating change. In January, our Crime and Safety Watch counted 268 lights off or broken from the RI State House to the Crawford Street Bridge. After working with the Mayor Elorza’s staff, we are proud that our efforts have decreased that number to 115 lights off or broken in the same area (as of May 1, 2018). We are committed to ensure that every light is turned on for safety and quality of life issues. Join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, July 10 at 6:30pm at the Grace Church Pavilion on Westminster Street. For more information, please visit DNAP-VD.com or write to DNAPVD@gmail.com –Richard Pezzillo
Mount Hope Neighborhood Association The Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) is a partner in the Mount Hope Coalition to Increase Food Security part of the Food Relief to Food Sovereignty Project and hosted by the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association (MHNA). Since 1981, SCLT has provided land, education and resources to enable Rhode Islanders
gerrischiffman.com
residentialproperties.com gerri@residentialproperties.com 18
East Side Monthly • July 2018
Downtown Neighborhood Association The DNA of Downtown For nearly two and a half years, the Downtown
to grow food in affordable and environmentally sustainable ways. In that time SCLT has transformed nearly eight acres of urban parcels into 52 lush community gardens and urban farms that now feed more than 3,000 people
every year in South Providence, Olneyville, and the West End, as well as in Pawtucket and Central Falls. SCLT also manages a 50acre incubator farm in Cranston, distributes low- and no-cost resources to gardeners, and provides agricultural employment and training opportunities to youth and adults, all with the goal of creating community food systems where locally produced, affordable, and healthy food is available to all. As part of the Food Security Coalition, SCLT teaches a five-week garden-based education program each fall at the Vincent Brown Recreation Center for approximately 20 children from 6 to 15 years old. Children learn about topics including: what is an urban garden, soil/composting, fall garden maintenance, cooking and nutrition, and the origin of our Thanksgiving meal, through hands-on garden, food preparation and other indoor activities. Last year SCLT held a Fall Fest celebration in November for Vincent Brown children and families with garden-fresh snacks and planting activities. SCLT has provided workshops on container gardening, composting and garlic planting, and provided the Sharing Garden and neighborhood gardeners with free resources, such as compost, seeds and seed garlic. The photo here features one of the storytelling events at the Under the Trees Storytelling program. The children descended
But, fret not fellow Rhode Islanders, for Adler’s is STILL HERE...
the hill to the garden to hear about composting from David Kuma. David stated that this was one of his best children’s workshops from Vincent Brown Recre-
Cutting keys Sharpening knives Repairing windows, screens, lamps, and vacuums Selling flashlights, batteries, paint, hardware, electrical & plumbing supplies, and a ladder or two
ation Center, the Mount Hope Learning Center, and the YMCA’s summer programs. The next EDCA meeting is scheduled for Thursday July 26 at MHNA, 199 Camp Street, at 6pm, the Food Security Coalition meeting is at 5pm. The Mt Hope Housing Coalition is the second Thursday of the month and will be at July 12. Lastly, the MHNA board meetings are the 3rd Thurs-
, . . . as we ve done for nearly a century.
day of the month at 5pm, and will be on July 19. But please call MHNA at 401-5218830 to confirm. Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, 199 Camp Street, Providence, RI 02906. Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood
Association,
MHNAInc@
gmail.com –Courtesy of the EDCA
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East Side Monthly • July 2018 19
Community Neighborhood News
Blackstone Parks Conservancy Volunteers! Can’t Live Without Them! Sixty-five students between sixth and twelfth
Fox Point neighbor Paul Murphy participated in the FPNA Earth Day Cleanup in late April
grades at Lincoln and Wheeler schools worked on two gorgeous back-to-back days in May to spruce up Blackstone Park Conservation District. This is not astonishing, as various schools give a few hours every year to the park overlooking the Seekonk River. What is astonishing is how much they accomplished. After a long winter the heavily used park is in great need of attention, not only to tidy up, but also to repair. The wood chips topping the trails need replacing, worn water bars need to be cleaned out or replaced, young or fragile plants to be weeded, and damaged fencing to be repaired. Blackstone Parks Conservancy (BPC) wheelbarrows, some steered by grinning youngsters not much taller than the barrow, ferried enormous quantities of chips that had been delivered to the site by the Parks Department. Kids from each school divided into groups for different projects and went at them with zest. Supervising teachers, possibly referring to themselves as well as the children, noted that it was good to get outdoors at exam time and do physical work. All the projects are in some way important for stabilizing slopes of the steep-sided park. Weeding protects the plants that hold the soil in place. Wood chips decompose, softening hard-packed trails and making them more porous so rain can soak in where it falls instead of rushing downhill and carrying soil with it. Water bars steer surges of storm water off
going ones. Check out the website below
sign went up 18 months ago announcing Su-
to the side, where it can be more readily ab-
for these and other opportunities such as
boxone was coming in spring 2017. Despite
sorbed. And fencing protects the plants that
concerts and educational programs.
a petition opposing the Suboxone doc-
The thought occurs that the Conservancy
And please keep sending East Side Marketplace receipts to the address below.
tor’s office signed by 200+ local residents, work commenced and then abruptly halted
could not manage Blackstone Park without
Blackstone Parks Conservancy, 401-270-
around 12 months ago. Now a new buyer
the kids and adults who come for an annual
3014, P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906,
who has thus far remained anonymous has
cleanup or for a regular Park Keeping event.
blackstoneparksconservancy.org,
put forth a proposal to purchase the proper-
The latter takes place once a month between
peterson@gmail.com - Jane Peterson
work and supper so that people can drop by for an hour or so, get a light workout and a sense of accomplishment.
janeann-
College Hill Neighborhood Association
ty on condition zoning be changed to allow a higher density construction project allowing for 10 units on the site. The presentation showed three units in the
These are difficult times for recruiting
At this month’s meeting, we hosted a pre-
original historic structure which would be
and retaining volunteers, as many people
sentation about a proposed condo project
fully renovated, along with a new seven-unit,
feel they are too busy to give time. But it
for 150 Lloyd by attorney Jeff Padwa along
townhouse-style construction with 10 un-
doesn’t necessarily take a lot of time—as
with principals Albert Garcia and Christine
derground parking spaces and three surface
little as two hours a year for one-time proj-
West from KITE Architects. This property
ects or two to four hours a month for on-
has been embroiled in controversy since a
spots. The project requires an R-4 zoning designation and the current proposal is to rezone
20
East Side Monthly • July 2018
Photo courtesy of FPNA
protect the soil that holds the park together.
Memories Fade... . Dependable.
2 blocks on Thayer from Bowen to Keene to R-4 to pave the way for project approval. Padwa indicated that the currently built environment which is partly R-1 and partly R-3 is currently non-conforming, so there would only be net increase of one unit in addition to the three-to-four additional units needed for the proposed project. The developer would also be amenable to a spot zone just for this project if the neighborhood and planning department prefers. Residents were mistrustful of the new buyer for not personally attending the presentation and were concerned about increasing density in the neighborhood while fighting for enforcement of limitations in R-1 zones where single and two-family homes are being rented to large groups of students. A suggestion was made to have the condo bylaws prevent or restrict rentals to prohibit the new property from housing as many as 30 students in the 10 units. The project goes before the CPC later this month and the City Council over the summer, and the Suboxone sign has been taken down. We also hosted three fantastic candidates for the position of City Council which opened up when Councilman Sam Zurier announced he would not seek a third term. We heard from attorney Helen Anthony who is currently on the Providence Zoning Board and has experience as an elected member and whip for the City Council for Columbia, MO. Businessman Mark Feinstein announced his candidacy following his many years on the Providence Economic Development Partnership. And attorney and Classical alum Ryan Holt brings experience drafting legislation at the city and state level and advocates for site based control of local schools. We hope to hear more from these candidates leading up to the primaries! CHNA welcomes all residents of College Hill to join our efforts to protect the neighborhood. For more information about joining and supporting CHNA and meeting your neighbors, contact: CHNA, PO Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906; visit www.chnaprovidence.org; or email chna@chnaprovidence.org. –Josh Eisen
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East Side Monthly • July 2018
The Other
Home Teams The Gulls and the Waves are making a case for baseball beyond Pawtucket
By Adam Toobin Photography by Tony Pacitti
n Rhode Island, baseball season has always meant the Red Sox – both Boston and Pawtucket. But recently, the success of two summer collegiate teams has opened a new frontier in the state’s long history with the national pastime. For the past two decades, once final exams are taken and caps and gowns stowed away, college players seeking a ticket to the major leagues have come to Rhode Island to join in one of most elite training grounds in amateur baseball — the New England Collegiate Baseball League. All summer, the 13 teams that make up the NECBL play before crowds and scouts interested in a peek at the faces that may be gracing tomorrow’s trading cards. For Rhode Islanders, that means a trip to see the Newport Gulls or the Ocean State Waves, two teams that, like their home state, play an outsized role in the competition. Rhode Islanders unfamiliar with the local NECBL presence may still recognize Cardines Field in downtown Newport, the home of the Gulls. A stone’s throw from Goat Island, the distinctive stadium is known for its jagged homerun wall and as the best place to watch summer
I
collegiate baseball in the country. One of the oldest ballparks in America, Cardines boasts about 3,000 seats. And on the cool summer nights in Newport, when the lights turn on and the families turn out, almost every one is filled. The squad’s record as the winningest team in the NECBL certainly helps, as does the in-house bar, but there’s no question that a night at Cardines has grown to define collegiate summer ball at its best. Chuck Paiva, owner and General Manager of the Gulls for nearly two decades, who led the team’s migration across the Bay from its original home in Cranston, has leveraged the team’s local celebrity to establish the Gulls as one of the most dominant teams in national collegiate baseball. Since reaching Aquidneck Island, the Gulls have racked up 11 Post-Season Division championships, 10 Regular-Season Division championships, and six League championships (with the last one coming in 2014). That’s The Gulls and the Waves are bringing together a community of local baseball fans
more than any other team in the league. Those are the types of stats that get noticed – not only by fans but by the big leagues as well. “The players come here to get better. They’re here to hone their skills, and quite frankly they’re here to prepare for the draft,” said Paiva. “Summer wood bat leagues exist because these scouts want to see them hit with a wood bat.” And based on their impressive roster of Gulls gone pro, the scouts are well aware. More than 250 Gulls alumni have now been drafted into professional baseball, including 15 who have made it into Major League Baseball. This deep bench of alumni has helped build the Gulls into a national force with a presence known far outside of RI’s narrow borders. But now, having reached the upper decks of collegiate baseball, the Gulls are facing perhaps their stiffest competition yet, and from the other side of the smallest state. For Matt Finlayson, owner and GM of the Ocean State Waves since its founding 2013, it’s no coincidence that their team has emerged in
24
East Side Monthly • July 2018
More than 250 Newport Gulls have been drafted into pro ball, including 15 who have played for MLB teams
the shadows of the dynastic Gulls. “I’ve been in Chuck’s office all the time – since day one, he’s been a mentor to me,” said Finlayson. “He taught me how to build a roster, how to market, how to build a successful operation.” And in just the past few seasons, the Waves have already assembled a set of worthy credentials. Last season, the team tallied the best regular-season record in the NECBL and earned its first berth in the division championships before falling to the Valley Blue Sox in a 2-0 series. About 38 percent of players who have spent a season with the Waves have been drafted into the major leagues, totaling about 30 overall. And the offseason has already yielded a major victory for the franchise, as word came down in late April that Mike Gerber – of the 2013 Waves — would be the first former alum
to step foot on an MLB diamond. With such a rapid accession to the heights of the NECBL, it may be fair to wonder whether the Waves have truly built a solid enough foundation on which to compete over the long term. However, the legions of fans and supporters who have rallied to games at Old Mountain Field in South Kingstown don’t doubt that the team has achieved something special. Chris Hess, a former Ocean State Wave and URI ballplayer who grew up in South County, remembers watching Waves games while still in high school. Now, having been drafted by the New York Yankees organization and in his first season on the minor league Charlestown RiverDogs, he recalls how his summer with the Waves prepared him for the big leagues. “The league’s really good. It lets you build your confidence, and if you played well, you can get scouted,” Hess said. Melissa Perry, a baseball mom who learned about the Waves through the South Kingstown Little League listserv, quickly found herself hosting a player in her home for the summer — then every summer after that. After the first year, she was elevated to Host Family Coordinator for the entire team, working to place each member of the incoming Waves with a host family for the season. Hosting a player can be hard, she says, but only when they leave at the end of the summer. “It’s like losing a member of the family.” Ultimately, far from dividing the state, the Waves and the Gulls are building a new baseball community that is bringing people together. Longtime coach of the Gulls, Mike Coombs, has been coming up from Florida every summer to coach in Newport, but he’ll be returning a little early this year for some extra special spring training. He’s getting married and could think of no better place to tie the knot than his adopted state. “I’ve made a lot of great memories in Newport over the years, but I’m hoping that this will be the best one yet,” he said. As another summer of NECBL baseball gets underway this month, fans have good reason to suspect that this season will also be unforgettable. For Rhode Islanders, the only difficulty will be figuring out which of the two local powerhouses is the home team.
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East Side Monthly • July 2018
A
T
OWERING EBATE
D
By Dan McGowan
The controversial Hope Point Tower has its fans and its opponents, but its future rests in City Council’s hands
I
f you’ve read through the opinion pages of The Providence Journal over the last several months, you’ve probably noticed that the paper has dedicated an inordinate amount of space to a New York developer’s proposal to build Rhode Island’s tallest skyscraper overlooking the Providence River downtown. Depending on the day, you might have seen The Journal’s editorial board not just endorsing the proposed 46-story Hope Point Tower, but suggesting the “most vocal opponents of the project have glaring conflicts, since they do not want more housing units on the market competing with their projects.” Or maybe you saw the warning from Arnold “Buff” Chace and Mark Van Noppen – two of Providence’s most prominent developers – that “there is no way the Providence market now or in any future worth banking on can support the construction costs of such a thing at the scale proposed.” So why is there so much buzz over a project that still needs to clear various legislative hurdles and secure hundreds of millions of dollars
Opponents of the Hope Point Tower object to the developers request for a zoning change to accommodate the proposed building, which 600 feet tall would tower over the city’s skyline
in financing before the first shovel is ready to hit the ground? Let’s start at the beginning. Jason Fane, the quirky developer who has made a career out of building apartment complexes and commercial offices in New York City, Ithaca, New York, and Toronto did not randomly stumble across Providence two years ago. He was wooed to the city by officials at the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, according to spokesman Dante Bellini. The pitch was straightforward. Providence had more than 20 acres of free space in a prime location downtown, thanks to the years-old relocation of Interstate 195, and now it was time to begin building. The land could be purchased on the cheap in exchange for guaranteed development. The politicians talked a lot about job creation, but it was clear some of the space would be ideal for fancy apartments and condos. Fane saw potential in the city right away and initially put forth a proposal to build three high-rise towers on Parcel 42, a one-acre space along Dyer Street. But the plan was met with
overwhelming opposition – Councilman Luis Aponte dubbed it the “three towers of terror” – and Fane went back to the drawing board. He remerged earlier this year, scaling back his proposal to a single, 46-story skyscraper that would include townhouses, apartments, commercial space and a large parking garage. The project would cost between $250 million and $300 million. He has called the curved design “sensuous,” suggesting it could become Providence’s version of the Eiffel Tower. Fane already has an agreement in place to buy the land from the state for about $3 million, but he needs the City Council’s help. The maximum height for a building allowed in the location he wants to build is 130 feet, well short of the 500 feet he currently envisions. The City Plan Commission has already voted against recommending a zoning change, but the council has the final say. The proposal is currently before the council’s Ordinance Committee. Bellini said Fane wishes construction was already underway, but he remains bullish on the project’s prospects. He said Fane is only seeking
The current design for Hope Street Tower, a single 46-story high rise, which developer Jason Fane is hoping to build on parcel 42 of the 195 land pending City Council approval
incentives – about $15 million in tax credits from the state and a tax stabilization agreement from the city – that are available to every developer, as well as the zoning change. “This is a bold, dynamic, iconic project,” Bellini said. “Jason has played by all the rules and he’s [still] playing by all the rules.” But Fane’s critics are quick to point out that seeking a massive height change for the tower is a classic example of spot zoning. What good, they argue, were the years city officials spent crafting a modern zoning policy if it was just going to be trampled over the first time a wealthy developer swooped in with a lavish proposal? Brent Runyon, executive director of the Providence Preservation Society, said the decision to approve a zoning change of this magnitude “flies in the face of everything we’ve worked on.” He said he’s particularly concerned about the impact the project might have on a planned public park along the Providence River. Runyon also said “there’s not a compelling reason that’s been given” for why Parcel 42 is the only location that works for Fane, although
he agreed that the relatively low price of the land itself may be a factor. He said he has faith in city leaders that they won’t allow the tower to move forward. “I think we’ve learned our lesson on shiny things that don’t make sense,” Runyon said. Sharon Steele, who serves as acting president of Jewelry District Association and heads up an organization advocating for a pedestrian bridge over the Providence River as well as a park, said her opposition to Fane’s proposal is strictly about the height restrictions currently on the location. Steele said she does not consider herself anti-development, but argued that Fane should follow the current “rules of engagement. She suggested he should consider other locations for the tower. “When I met with Jason he told me two things,”
Steele said. “He said he wants to put Providence on the map, and I told him Roger Williams did that in 1636. Then he said Providence needs an iconic building, and I told him it already has one. It’s called the Superman building.” City Councilman Seth Yurdin, who represents the neighborhood where Fane is seeking to construct the building, said he will not vote to approve the zoning change. He said questions have been raised about the viability of the project, including a study released by the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission that found Fane could face a financing gap of between $32 million and $45 million. Yurdin said he shares the concerns of Runyon and Steele when it comes to the public park, but he also wants to ensure the I-195 land leads to job creation as opposed to highend apartments.
East Side Monthly • July 2018 29
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“There’s a big opportunity cost here,” he said. “That area is supposed to be about driving jobs.” Bellini maintains Fane is willing to be flexible when it comes to the design of the building, but he said other locations are not currently being considered. He said Fane intends to keep pursuing the zoning change, but acknowledged that his client doesn’t plan to wait forever.
When I met with Jason [Fane]... he said Providence needs an iconic building, and I told him it already has one. It’s called the Superman building. -Sharon Steele, acting president of the Jewelry District Association
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East Side Monthly • July 2018
“He loves Providence, but if Providence doesn’t love him, I don’t think he’s so attached that he won’t pick up and go home,” Bellini said. To be sure, Fane has plenty of supporters beyond The Providence Journal’s editorial board and the local lobbyists and public relations staffers he’s paying to carry the project over the finish line. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who has played an influential role in advocating for development throughout downtown Providence, has been on board with the proposal since the beginning, no doubt in part due to the fact that Fane has said he intends to use unionized construction workers for the entire project. The building trades have come out in full force in favor of the tower. Ruggerio, a former labor leader himself, has already pushed legislation through his chamber allowing for the reconfiguration of Parcel 42, which is one of the key provisions required under Fane’s purchase agreement. The bill was expected to clear the House before the General Assembly
recessed for the summer. In a recent interview on Rhode Island Public Radio, Ruggerio said he favors the tower because he believes people securing some of the high-end jobs that have been created in Providence in recent years are looking for nice places to live near downtown. He said the upscale apartments will be attractive. “I know people are concerned about changing the skyscape of the city of Providence, but that’s what all these cities do,” Ruggerio said. “I mean, if you look at Boston, down by the waterfront in Boston, that’s totally remarkable what they’ve done down there.” Former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino, who now holds one of the largest real estate portfolios in downtown, said he has been surprised by all the controversy surrounding the project. Paolino said he fears if city leaders wait too long to approve the tower, “interest rates will rise, a real estate recession will hit and we’re going to wish the project happened.” “There aren’t a lot of out-of-state developers rushing to Providence,” Paolino said. “I think it’s an attractive development.” This being an election year, some of the state’s other most powerful politicians are taking a wait-and-see approach. Governor Gina Raimondo is “encouraged that major developers are looking to invest in Rhode Island,” but isn’t ready to fully endorse the tower, according to a spokesperson. In City Hall, a spokesperson said Mayor Jorge Elorza is waiting for a “refined design concept for the building,” although aides don’t dispute that he asked the Planning Department to recommend approval for the zoning change. For now, all eyes are on the council. And the clock is ticking. Under his purchase agreement with the state, Fane has until October 31 to secure the zoning change. Yurdin, a former chairman of the Ordinance Committee, said his colleagues need to make their positions public. “Councilors should be on the record about this,” he said. “It’s one of the most important issues that constituents around the city care about.”
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East Side Monthly • July 2018
CLOSE TO HOME Home and Family | Education
At Home on the East Side
Past, Present, Future
Xay Khamsyvoravong’s College Hill home honors his family’s history and Providence’s By Julie Tremaine
It was a long road from Xay Khamsyvoravong’s childhood home in Barrington to his current one in Providence - one that went by way of Wall Street and California before bringing him to College Hill, where he lives in a historic 1846 home built by Charles Shaw. Since his job with Webster Bank takes him out of town often, living within walking distance of Amtrak was a huge selling point. “I don’t think there are a lot of cities with historic neighborhoods that close to a major train station,”
He says. From his house, he can also see both the State House, and the original State House, which is fitting. Khamsyvoravong is on the board of Grow Smart RI and chairman of Providence Water. “To be able to see both and be as civically engaged as I am,” he says, “I thought that was really fun.” Khamsyvoravong attributes that engagement to his family: his grandfather’s service in World War II, his father’s life as a refugee, and his mother’s career, which started as a community health
doctor. Inside the home, there’s a modern feel balanced by historic character in details like wide-plank pine floors with square-headed nails. There are also subtleties that represent his family, like his grandfather’s hunting bow, and the oar from his fishing boat. “On the mantle, there’s a picture of when I took my mom to meet Hillary Clinton,” he says. “I thought that was pretty great.” Your parents must be proud, I say. “Well,” he says, “I’ll keep working hard just in case they aren’t.”
Photography by Mike Braca East Side Monthly • July 2018 33
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DOG JOGGING, WALKING & OFF-LEASH EXCURSIONS 401-919-2267 • CanineCardioRI.com caninecardiocori@gmail.com 15% OFF First Excursion, Run or Walk 34
East Side Monthly • July 2018
Just before the spring bustle of gradua-
only high school in Rhode Island to even offer
tion ceremonies, U.S. News & World Report pub-
IB courses, and as a Catholic school run through
lishes its rankings of top public high schools in
the Diocese of Providence, Prout is not eligible
the country. Although schools frequently con-
for these particular rankings.
test their data collection and standards for eval-
The champion was Arizona, which took the
uation, U.S. News & World Report shapes public
top five spots in the 2018 “National Ranking.”
opinion and is considered, by many laypeople,
These Arizona schools all scored 100 percent
to be the ranking of record for U.S. schools.
for graduation rate and college readiness. Sad-
Their classifications for performance are broken
ly, Rhode Island didn’t rank nationally, but 11 of
into four categories: “National Rankings,” “Best
our schools received awards for their efforts
STEM Schools,” “Best Charter Schools,” and
and achievements: two gold medals, four sil-
“Best Magnet Schools.”
ver medals, and five bronze medals in our in-
The Ocean State, unfortunately, didn’t place
dividual state.
in the top 100 on any of those lists. But to be fair
Providence’s Classical High School earned a
(and a little biased) the editors assess 20,500
gold medal for its 99 percent graduation rate
public schools across all 50 states, as well as
and 67.4 percent in college readiness, outpac-
Washington, D.C. That’s a lot of competition.
ing all other public high schools in the city.
The rankings frequently use two terms, which
Classical High School secured a spot as 281st
are often misunderstood: “graduation rate”
on the national list. Barrington High School
and “college readiness.” Graduation rate refers
also achieved gold medal status with a 96 per-
to the total number of students who begin
cent graduation rate and 65.6 percent college
as freshmen and remain in that same school
readiness. Nationally, Barrington ranked 316th.
through graduation, not the number of students
Rhode Island’s silver medal schools includ-
in a particular senior class who earn diplomas.
ed Chariho High School, North Smithfield
Cities and districts with a high transient pop-
High School, Paul Cuffee Charter School, and
ulation (like Providence) often have students
Mount Hope High School. The bronze medal
who transfer schools, thereby affecting the
winners were Beacon Charter School, Black-
graduation rate. College readiness, according
stone Academy Charter, Blackstone Valley
to this specific publication, is a combination of
Prep High School, West Warwick High School,
College Board Advanced Placement (AP) and
and Johnston Senior High School.
International Baccalaureate (IB) scores. Please
Again, it’s important to recognize the re-
note that the Prout School in Wakefield is the
fined metrics used by U.S. News & World
Photo courtesy of Walter Zekanoski
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Report. The rankings are popular and acknowledge the achievements of great
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schools (and we should be proud to have award-winning schools in our state). But
the rankings still focus on a limited number of standards to compile data. These aren’t the only indicators of student or school success.
Smart News Providence Announces 2018 Teacher of the Year Students, teachers and community members gathered to surprise the 2018 Providence Public School Teacher of the Year at an all-school assembly on May 24. The teacher, Rachel DeNofio, has nearly two decades of experience in the Providence Public School system. DeNofio was one of the first kindergarten teachers in Providence to implement blended learning, which combines traditional classroom instruction with online technology and innovative delivery. Through her work with the Rhode Island-based Highlander Institute, the Providence Teacher of the Year also serves as a mentor for other teachers throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The surprise event included public testimonials from a student, a parent, an education peer, Asa Messer Elementary’s principal, and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. Lincoln School cuts the ribbon on new STEAM Hub Lincoln School’s new STEAM Hub for Girls, a $5 million addition to the Blackstone Boulevard side of the historic building, was officially opened on May 3. The Hub is the only dedicated space for STEAM learning for girls in Rhode Island, featuring a two-story glass facade, 4,000 square feet of interdisciplinary learning space, renovated science labs, glass-enclosed study spaces, and an art gallery. Several examples of students’ innovative STEAM projects from across grade levels will be on display, showcasing education in action.
East Side Monthly • July 2018 35
Dine Outdoors
Close to Home East of Elmgrove
Shifting Gears
A new arrival gets to know the East Side by bicycle By Robert Isenberg
HARUKI EAST 172 Wayland Avenue, Providence / 223-0332
HARUKI CRANSTON 1210 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston / 463-8338
HARUKI EXPRESS 112 Waterman Street, Providence / 421-0754
HARUKISUSHI.COM
P R OV I D E N C E
178 Wayland Avenue, Providence 621-6452 • milanclothiers.com 36
East Side Monthly • July 2018
The first time I see Blackstone Boulevard, I nearly hit a car. I’m coasting down Hope on my bike, a cumbersome junker I’d ordered online, and then I see it: two lanes of fresh pavement, separated by a wide median. But not a median – a park. And not just a park, but a park with its own dirt path. Then I weave, a last-second maneuver, to avoid an old sedan idling at the light. I am new in Rhode Island. After months of working in the East Side, this little slice of Providence is still a maze to me. Colleagues talk about cafes and bars I’ve never visited, much less seen. No matter how many times I drive over College Hill, the streets never link up in my mind. GPS gets me to Geoff’s or PVDonuts, but the centuries-old blocks pass my windshield in a blur. The only way for me to understand the East Side, or even see it, is to get on
my bike and ride. Some days, I whizz through a whole lunch hour, losing myself among the clapboard houses. I pedal past rows of parked cars, and the thoroughfares are so narrow that I wedge myself between bumpers to let a pickup pass. The East Side must be puzzled out, block by block. At eight miles per hour, I learn that Olney is steep but has a dedicated bike lane; that Rochambeau Library has a handy bike rack; that Wayland Square isn’t shaped anything like a square; that if you ride Gano long enough, you slip under the highway and arrive, like magic, in India Point Park. I’ve lived in many places, and I’ve always learned neighborhoods on two wheels, but the East Side is a special challenge. There’s no vantage point, no all-encompassing view. I’ve driven these streets
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again and again, but only by bike do I notice the statue of a rearing bear – and learn who Bruno is. Sweating up Wickenden, I see a circular park, paved in brick and topped with the statue of a dancing man. I realize that this is Fox Point, a name that had no meaning till now. I have no idea who George M. Cohan is, but when I return home, I read everything about his vaudevillian life. The weather warms, and my sinuses clear, and I can smell again – the greenery around Victorian houses, the curry pouring out of Not Just Snacks, the mildewy scent of the Providence River as I ease down Water Street. Hip hop throbs from a Firebird. Two guys shout gossip inside a sanitation truck. Lunch crowds gush out of offices, dribble between cars, and pool in restaurants. I pass clusters of people, academics and laborers, yoga moms and teens released from school, and I catch bits of conversation, the way I might scan the frequencies on an FM radio. But it’s not a radio. It’s happening here, on either side of Thayer Street, where cars and pedestrians all move at the same parade-like pace. There is a blizzard of little nods and waves, people acknowledging each other on the narrow sidewalks. I’m not alone, of course. The road is full of bicycles, from Huffies to recumbents. By the end of summer, the city’s bikeshare program should go public, and cyclists will hit East Side streets in record numbers. Most rides will be brief and touristy, and little electrical motors will nudge them up the steeper gradients. There will be wrong turns and near misses. Tires will go flat and sunglasses will be lost. But their experience will be much like mine – a sequence of minute discoveries, curb after lamppost after mailbox, blanks filled in with pavement, until the map becomes a place, dense and freewheeling. And alive.
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East Side Monthly • July 2018 37
38
East Side Monthly • July 2018
ON THE TOWN Restaurant and Food | Restaurant Guide | Calendar of Events
Flavor of the Month
Ginger Roots
Farmer Willie’s finds fruitful new life as Willie’s Superbrew
Photo courtesy of Willie’s Superbrew
By Robert Isenberg
It isn’t ginger ale, it’s ginger beer. And it’s not Farmer Willie’s anymore, but Willie’s Superbrew. The Pawtucket-based company went through a branding metamorphosis at the end of May, with a jazzy new look, two new flavors, and a comprehensive list of ingredients. “The fact that alcohol brands don’t have to disclose ingredients or nutrition facts on packaging doesn’t make sense,” opined Willie’s co-founder Nico Enriquez in a release. “It’s crazy that we don’t know what’s in our drinks. With
our Superbrew, we’re being fully transparent – we not only tell you everything that’s in it, but we’re proud of it.” Willie’s has its roots in Cape Cod, where an actual goat farmer named Willie Fenichel experimented with tiny batches of ginger beer and won a rabid following. Fenichel’s pastime changed course when he teamed up with Brown graduates Enriquez and Max Easton. The heavily bearded character of “Farmer Willie” has served as the company’s mascot since the
brewery started in 2016. Willie’s is one of many breweries running production from The Guild, a shared brewing space in downtown Pawtucket. Willie’s has now retired its trademark beard in favor of festive, multi-colored cans. Meanwhile, the new “Superbrew” moniker comes with two new concoctions: Sparkling Ginger & Lemon and Sparkling Pomegranate & Acai. For the health-conscious, each superbrew is gluten-free and contains only 120 calories. SuperBrew.com
East Side Monthly • July 2018 39
On the Town On the Menu
Sunny Delights
Ming’s Asian Street Food serves Cambodian dishes from a solar-powered truck
40
East Side Monthly • July 2018
Online recipes are handy. Tasty.com videos are fun to watch. But the best culinary resource is still a dog-eared, flour-dusted cookbook. For old school chefs, an 87-year-old volume like The Joy of Cooking has no digital rival. To honor these timeless tomes, Kristin and Matthew Gennuso are hosting a monthly Cookbook Series at Chez Pascal, their French-inspired restaurant on Hope Street. For $38, a visitor can enjoy some classic cuisine, taken straight from the pages of a famous cookbook. The first series took place throughout May, and diners were treated to three courses from the 1982 classic The Silver Palate Cookbook. “One of the great influences of The Silver Palate Cookbook was it was crafted to demonstrate how one can entertain at home, with great food, and a warm, comfortable, welcoming atmosphere
Photo courtesy of Mings Asian Street Food
One day, Josh Burgoyne was browsing Craigslist, and he stumbled into something unbelievable: a food truck that ran on solar power. The listing couldn’t have been a better fit. Burgoyne had studied environmental science, and he’d considered starting a restaurant with his girlfriend, Korn Suom. “The two of us are very passionate about cooking,” says Burgoyne. “We have some experience in the industry. And I’ve worked on solar projects as a consultant. Sustainability is definitely a big thing for me.” The result is Ming’s Asian Street Food, a mobile eatery powered by the sun. The vehicle may look familiar; it was previously called SolarCart and spent two years serving crepes and vegetarian fare at Rhode Island street festivals. Suom and Burgoyne started renting the truck this year, remodeling it from wheels to roof. Their maiden voyage was to an Earth
Chez Pascal Hosts Cookbook Series
Day cleanup, where they offered free food to volunteers. Suom’s parents immigrated from Cambodia during the nation’s civil war, and the menu is modeled on Southeast Asian street fare. “Ming” is Khmer for “auntie,” and most of the menu items could be found on the streets of Phnom Penh: papaya salad, toasted Banh Mi, and Cambodian Barbecue, as well as rotating specials. Ming’s will make appearances throughout Providence, from College Hill to Kennedy Plaza, and it may travel as far south as Narragansett. The couple plans to continue operations through October, and if all goes well, they hope to eventually buy the truck. The food is important, but they also want to showcase an eco-friendly outfit. Notes Burgoyne: “There’s a whole lot more involved in a mobile food service than just the food.” MingsRI.com
for guests,” says Kristin. “Throughout the book, there are noteworthy quotes as well, such as, ‘To invite a person into your house is to take charge of their happiness for as long as they are under your roof.’” The series is still in its experimental stages, but the Gennusos plan to continue until the end of summer and possibly beyond, depending on interest. Visitors on Tuesday through Thursday nights can pick from the regular Chez Pascal menu, or they can try the series’ special tasting menu. The exact courses change from week to week. “Matt kind of figures it out as he goes along,” says Kristin. “He has quite a collection [of cookbooks] at home, and as the months progress he sort of picks through them and lands on one that he will be working with.” 960 Hope Street, Chez-Pascal.com.
Photo courtesy of Chaz Pascal
By Robert Isenberg
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jewishallianceri.org/summer-j-camp 401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.421.4111 42
East Side Monthly • July 2018
SUMMER AT LINCOLN SCHOOL
Little Lynx Lincoln at Camp Agawam Acting Camp Surf Camp Girl on a Hike Ultimate Drone Obstacle Challenge 3D Toy Design Drone Racing & Obstacle Course Challenge Code Like A Girl STEAM Exploration
For more information and to register, visit lincolnschool.org/camps
RESTAURANT GUIDE Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
Learn To Sail! Sail! In Providence
F E AT U R E D R E S TA U R A N T
Mill’s Tavern
Mill’s Tavern has provided guests with an award-winning fine dining experience for over a decade. Located in the centuries-old Pilgrim Mill’s building, the dining room here has exposed brick walls, polished dark woods, vaulted casement ceilings and linen tablecloths that work together to evoke a sophisticated yet cozy ambiance in a 17th century rustic setting. A true taste of the seasons is on display here, with a seasonal menu that features
local ingredients harvested from area farms and from Mills Tavern’s own garden. Executive Chef Edward Bolus delivers an impressive variety of farm-to-table American cuisine, perfecting robust flavors on the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stone oven. Locally sourced seafood is always fresh and presented in creative ways. Special wine and beer dinners are frequently offered, pairing new tastes for a uniquely interactive experience.
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101 North Main Street, Providence 272-3331, MillsTavernRestaurant.com
PROVIDENCE AREA 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Fashionable prime steakhouse with award-winning sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 453-2333. LD $$$ Blake’s Tavern Premier Irish pub with two event rooms in the heart of downtown Providence. 122 Washington St, Providence. 274-1230. LD $$ CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in a historic setting. 14 Imperial Pl, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$$$$ Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 3000 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$
Character’s Cafe & Theatre 82 Hybrid art space with all-day breakfast, coffee, and theaterinspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 4909475. BL $ Harry’s Bar & Burger Called the “Best Burger in America” by CNN. Over 50 craft beers. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336. LD $-$$ Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambience. Locations in Cranston and Providence, HarukiSushi.com. LD $-$$ Heng Authentic Thai street food served – including noodles and rotisserie chicken – in
East Side Monthly • July 2018 43
RESTAURANT GUIDE For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com Rhode Island’s Premiere Piano Care Specialists
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Iron Works Tavern A wide variety of signature American dishes in the historic Thomas Jefferson Hill Mill. 697 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, 739-5111. LD $-$$$
Luxe Burger Bar Build Your Own Burger: You dream it, we build it! 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $
Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating more than 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$
McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$
LaMei Hot Pot Authentic Chinese cuisine in a unique, casual setting. 256 Broadway, Providence, 831-7555. LD $$
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steak Mixed grill selections and signature fish dishes sourced locally and seasonally. 11 Dorrance St, Providence, 351-4500. BLD $$-$$$
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East Side Monthly • July 2018
Handmade Italian classics and prepared foods to go. 1457 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 455-0045, LuigisGourmet.com. LD $$
Mariner Grille in Narragansett is the kind of place you need to visit more than once to truly get the whole experience. From their commitment to the freshest possible seafood and produce to their lively lounge that hosts musicians every weekend, Mariner Grille is perfect for a romantic date night or a fun gathering of family and friends. Chef Artur Akopov serves New England fare with international influences. His
signature Osso Bucco, a Guinness-braised pork shank with aromatic vegetables, smothered with pan jus, keeps diners coming back again and again. Other menu favorites: Stuffed Salmon, with lobster and asparagus stuffing, topped with a lemon bechamel; and Drunken Scallops, poached in wines with garlic butter and a sherry crumble. Burgers, salads and apps to share round out the enticing menu.
140 Point Judith Road, Narragansett 284-3232, MarinerGrille.com
DEVELOPS
a powerful love of learning Meeting Street Cafe BYOB eatery with large menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day. 220 Meeting St, Providence, 2731066. BLD $-$$ Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$ Ocean State Sandwich Company Craft sandwiches and hearty sides. 155 Westminster St, Providence, 282-6772. BL $-$$ Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 331-0003. LD $-$$ Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 273-1444. LD $-$$$ Pizza J A fun, upbeat atmosphere with thin-crust pizza, pub fare, and gluten-free options. 967 Westminster St, Providence, 632-0555. LD $-$$
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Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily specials. 120 Francis St, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900.BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ Tavolo Wine Bar and TuscanGrille Classic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine and beer list. 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 3494979. LD $-$$ The Grange Vegetarian restaurant serving seasonal dishes with a juice bar, vegan bakery, and cocktail bar. 166 Broadway, Providence, 831-0600. BrLD $-$$ The Salted Slate An agri-driven American restaurant with global influences. 186 Wayland Ave, Providence, 270-3737. BrLD $$-$$$
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RESTAURANT GUIDE Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun, and Southwestern fare, cocktails, and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 751-6777. LD $-$$
sourced ingredients from farms and fisheries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 567 South County Trail, Exeter, 295-5559. BLD $$
Trinity Brewhouse American pub fare and craft beer in a downtown setting, with lunch, dinner, and latenight menus. 186 Fountain Street, Providence, 453-2337. LD $-$$
Chair 5 Locally sourced and seasonally inspired menus witha main restaurant and rooftop lounge. 1208 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 3639820. BrLD $-$$$
Twin Oaks Family restaurant serving an extensive selection of Italian and American staples. 100 Sabra St, Cranston, 781-9693. LD $-$$$
Champlin’s Seafood Dockside fresh seafood serving easy breezy cocktails. 256 Great Island Rd, Narragansett, 783-3152. LD $-$$
SOUTHERN RI
Coast Guard House A new American menu with a seafood emphasis and extensive wine list, open seven days a week. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 789-0700. BrLD $$$
Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$ Celestial
46
Cafe
Fresh,
locally
East Side Monthly • July 2018
Colvitto’s Pizza & Bakery Pizza Calzones and baked goods made
fresh daily. 91 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 783-8086. BrLD $ Dante’s Kitchen American food with Southern flair. 315 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-7798. BL $-$$ Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$ Frankie’s Italian Bistro Fine dining with imported wines from around the world. 1051 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, 295-2500. D $-$$$ Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228-3901. D $-$$ George’s of Galilee Fresh caught
seafood in an upscale pub atmosphere. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett, 783-2306. LD $-$$ Jigger’s Diner Classic ‘50s diner serving breakfast all day. 145 Main St, East Greenwich, 884-6060. BL $-$$ Maharaja Indian Restaurant Indian cuisine and traditional curries in a warm setting. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 363-9988. LD $-$$ Mariner Grille Seafood, steaks, and pasta in a fun setting, with live entertainment. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 284-3282. LD $$ Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana Authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza with exclusive ingredients imported from Naples. 60 S County Commons Way, South Kingstown, 783-2900. LD $-$$
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RESTAURANT GUIDE Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food with a great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 7834073. BBrLD $ Red Stripe Casual FrenchAmerican bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 5213311. D $$-$$$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, and Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$
The Cove A traditional bar and grill serving burgers, sandwiches, and classic New England seafood favorites. 3963 Old Post Rd, Charlestown, 364-9222. LD $$ Twin Willows Fresh seafood and water views in a family-friendly atmosphere. 865 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, 789-8153. LD $-$$ Tong-D Fine Thai cuisine in a casual setting. 156 County Rd, Barrington, 289-2998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 783-4445. LD $-$$
Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, 508999-6975. LD $$
seafood meets innovative preparation in a rustic setting. 308 County Rd, Barrington, 247-0303. LD $$
Blount Market & Kitchen Traditional New England seafood summer favorites offered year round for dinein and takeout. 406 Water St, Warren, 245-1800. LD $$
Ichigo Ichie Traditional Japanese cuisine, creative sushi, and hibachi. 5 Catamore Blvd, East Providence, 435-5511. LD $-$$$
Bluewater Bar and Grill Casual restaurant with modern seafood dishes, patio seating, and live music. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington, 247-0017. LD $$-$$$
EAST BAY / NEWPORT Aviary Creative, locally sourced menu featuring rotating craft beers and from-scratch cocktails. 2229 GAR Highway, Swansea, 508-3796007. BrLD $$
Chomp Upscale comfort food featuring award-winning burgers and sandwiches. 440 Child St, Warren, 289-2324. D $$ East
Bay
Oyster
Bar
Local
Redlefsen’s European-style dining with a waterfront view focusing on traditional German foods. 444 Thames St, Bristol, 254-1188. LD $$ Tav Vino Waterfront dining with an Italian and seafood focus. 267 Water St, Warren, 245-0231. D $$ The Old Grist Mill Tavern Fine dining located over the Runnins River. 390 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, 508-336-8460. LD $-$$$
East Side Monthly • July 2018 47
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AdvancedEyeCareRI.com • 780 North Main Street, Providence • 401-331-2020 48
East Side Monthly • July 2018
July music | performance | social happenings | galleries | sports
THE TOP OF OUR LIST:
Photo courtesy of Michael Christofaro
10 events you can’t miss this month
1
July 1: Modern masters of funk The Roots light up Bold Point Park with an outdoor waterfront concert. Bold Point Park, East Providence, RIWaterfrontEvents.com
6
2
July 4: The Independence Day Celebration at India Point Park is an all-day party, starting with kids’ activities and live music, and ending with fireworks. India Point Park, ArtCultureTourism.com
7
3
July 6-7: BBQ Fest 2018 will fill the Steel Yard with sweet barbecue, live local music, and local beer. 27 Sims Avenue, Facebook: Ocean State BBQ Festival
8
4
July 8: The 43rd annual Cape Verdean Independence Festival at India Point Park is a daylong celebration of Cape Verdean food and culture, with music, dancing and eating. India Point Park, RICapeVerdeanHeritage.org
9
5
10
July 8-21: Providence Restaurant Weeks has eateries all over town (and beyond) offering special three-course menus for incredible savings. GoProvidence.com
July 14 and 28: It’s not summer in Providence without WaterFire, which has two lightings in July, complete with ballroom dancing, live music, and street performers. Downtown, WaterFire.org July 19: Movies on the Block’s screening of Pulp Fiction takes movie-watching off your couch and moves it onto the side of a building downtown. 78 Fountain Street, MoviesOnTheBlock.com July 21: Sleep where the wild things are at the Roger Williams Park Zoo Family Overnight, when parents and kids sleep at the zoo and get a flashlight tour at night. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, RWPZoo.org July 26-August 11: Theatre 82’s One Act Play Festival will stage new works from local and national playwrights, combined with live music, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston, Artists-Exchange.org
July 30-August 4: Things get weird at FRINGEPVD, a citywide festival of stage performances that defy description, other than they’re creative, unusual, and definitely worth a look. FringePVD.org
East Side Monthly • July 2018 49
D. SEPE
On the Town Calendar
TREE SERVICE Providing the finest quality services in the industry! Call for a free estimate
276-2828
• Emergency Tree Removal • Tree Removal • Tree Stump Removal • Trimming, Pruning & Tree Care • Lot & Land Clearing
Party in the Park
AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY!
www.sepetree.com
Providence, RI • Attleboro, Mass.
HUGE CARD SELECTION
The Camera Werks
766 Hope Street, Providence • thecamerawerks.com 401.273.5367 • Tues-Sat 10-5:30, Closed Sun-Mon
Home-Cooked
Indian Cuisine
833 Hope Street, Providence 831-1150 • NotJustSnacks.com
Unwind By The Water
ß LIVE MUSIC ON THE DECK ß Al ’s
Waterfront Restaurant & Marina
50
Open Weekdays For Dinner at 4pm Saturday & Sunday Open at 12pm 28 Water Street • East Providence 434-0590 • AlsWaterfront.com
East Side Monthly • July 2018
Thursdays starting July 12: The Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy is bringing music, food and family friendly art to Burnside Park this month. For Storytime + Art in the Park, authors, artists, and storytellers will lead kids in hands-on projects inspired by Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends. After work, bands and brews take over for the Burnside Music
Series and Beer Garden, food trucks, beer from Trinity Brewhouse, and live musical performances. Boo City and the Extraordinary Rendition Band kick off this year’s series, but keep an eye out for The Huntress and the Holder of Hands (July 19), Death Vessel (July 26), and more through the end of the summer. Burnside Park, ProvParksConservancy.org
Photo courtesy of Stewart Martin Photography
Not Just Snacks
MUSIC
Unique Backgrounds, Complementary Strengths.
arena & club | classical
COLUMBUS THEATRE July 6: Nova One, Anjimile, Lookers. 270 Broadway, Providence. 621-9660, ColumbusTheatre.com FETE MUSIC HALL July 7: The Worst of Us with Outwaves, 2 Oceans Pass, No Eye Has Seen, and Basilisk. July 11: Pile with Lina Tullgren. July 12: C2 and The Brothers Reed. July 13: Wyclef Jean – The Carnival Tour. July 14: Shenseea. July 18: Future Generations with Plastic Picnic. July 24: Chris Robinson Brotherhood. July 27: Havok with Jungle Rat and Extinction AD. July 29: Jinjer. 103 Dike Street, Providence. 3831112, FeteMusic.com THE MET July 12: Bochek with Zoink Zulag and The Galactic Shag. July 14: Opiate – Tool Tribute with Ballz on Parade and Korn Ballz. July 20: The James Hunter Six. July 21: Summa Palooza featuring Spocka Summa, Sam Comfort, Bloomingfield, Scribe, Hate Street Dialogue, Big Frank, Gen 93, Eddie Stacks, B.Dot, and IC. July 27: Strange Machines with Harsh Armadillo. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 729-1005, TheMetRI.com
Rebecca Mayer
Beth Mazor
Kelly Zexter
Victor Pereira
401-447-8040
508-878-3929
401-225-0502
781-910-1330
We are the Real Estate Collaborative. Whatever your unique real estate needs, you can rely on our combined talents and experience to bring you real results.
REAL ESTATE COLLABORATIVE realestatecollaborative@residentialproperties.com
THE STRAND July 7: Djodje. July 9: Joe Jackson. July 20: Old Crow Medicine Show with Ghost of Paul Revere. 79 Washington Street, Providence. TheStrandRI.com
PERFORMANCE comedy | theatre
COMEDY CONNECTION July 6-7: Mike Bonner. July 6: Hardcore Comedy. July 12-14: Phil Hanley. July 13: Hardcore Comedy. July 19-21: Joe List. July 20: Hardcore Comedy.
residential and commercial construction (401) 632-4400 | SiteSpecificLLC.com East Side Monthly • July 2018 51
• PAID ADVERTISEMENT •
COOKBOOK
On the Town Calendar
MENU SERIES
39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 4388383, RIComedyConnection.com
LEARN
discussion | instruction | tour Each month we'll highlight a favorite cookbook and create a 3 course tasting menu featuring different recipes interpreted by us from that cookbook
LADD OBSERVATORY Open to the public on Tuesday evenings from 9 to 10:30 pm, weather permitting. 210 Doyle Avenue. 863-2641, Brown.edu
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays $38 per person
Chez Pascal & The Wurst Kitchen Delectable Dining With A Wurst Side 960 Hope Street, Providence 421-4422 • Chez-Pascal.com
AN EXPERIENCED PROGRESSIVE VOICE FOR
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Paid for by friends of Rebecca Kislak, Karlo Berger, Treasurer. 242 4th Street, Providence RI 02906. info@rebeccakislak.com (401) 400-2338
Hartselle and Associates Pediatric and Adult Psychiatry
Talk Therapy and Medication Management Specializing in OCD, Eating Issues and All General Disorders
Immediate Openings Available
www.hartselleandassociates.com 52
East Side Monthly • July 2018
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND PLANETARIUM July 1-31: Public Planetarium Shows (Closed July 4). Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 7859457, ProvidenceRI.gov/Museum PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY July 3, 10, 17, 24: ESOL for Beginners. July 4, 11, 18, 25: Maker Wednesdays. July 9: LiteraryArts RI Meeting. July 12: Warm and Fuzzy Animal Adventures. July 12: Rochambeau Readers Book Discussion. July 13: La Leche League of Providence Meeting. July 14: Beginning Babywearing. July 16: PCL All Friends Council. July 16: PCL Board Meeting. July 19: Dancing Threads. July 23: Providence Roller Derby Committee Meeting. July 24: Books and Movies of Faith. July 26: Common Cause Legislative Wrap-Up. July 27: Public Forum to Identify the Concerns of People with Disabilities and Their Families. July 28: Shantyman: A program of music, poetry, and stories of the sea. Rochambeau Library, 708 Hope Street, Providence. 272-3780, ProvComLib.org FOR FOODIES BOTTLES Thursdays 5–7pm: Spirit tasting. Fridays 4–7pm: Beer tasting. Saturdays 4–7pm: Wine tasting. 141 Pitman Street. 3722030, BottlesFineWine.com FARM FRESH RHODE ISLAND Tuesdays 2:30–5:30pm: Woonsocket Year-Round Farmers Market. Thursdays
Photo courtesy of James Lastowski
SPECIAL MENU
ELISE PENN PANSEY The Pet Friendly Realtor
3:30–7: Armory Park Farmers Market. Fridays 11am–1pm: Harvest Kitchen Cooking Demo, 2 Bayley St, Pawtucket. Beginning June 16: Saturdays 8am–12pm: Broad Street Farmers Market. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. FarmFreshRI.org GALLERIES RISD MUSEUM Through July 8: Un/Settled. Through July 8: Justin Kimball: Elegy. Through August 12: United Histories. Through August 19: From the Loom of a Goddess: Reverberations of Guatemalan Maya Weaving. Through October 14: Theresa Ganz: Storm Diptych. Through Octover 1, 2019: A Changing Reflection Silver, Metalwork, and Jewelry in the 19th-21st Centuries. 20 North Main Street, Providence. 4546530, RISDMuseum.org GALLERY Z Through July 29: RI Places. Receptions held every third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public 5–9pm. 259 Atwells Avenue, Providence. 454-8844, GalleryZProv.com
SPORTS PAWTUCKET RED SOX July 2-3: vs. Rochester Red Wings, Postgame Fireworks after both games. July 6-8: vs. Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders; Cap giveaway of 7/6; Princess and Pirates Night w/ post-game fireworks 7/7; post game run the bases 7/8. July 12-15: vs. Syracuse Chiefs; GOAT Bobblehead Giveaway 7/13; Margaritaville Night and post-game fireworks 7/14; Post-game run the bases 7/15. July 24-26: vs. Columbus Clippers. July 27-29: vs. Charolotte Knights; Roger Clemens Jersey giveaway 7/27; Rafael Devers Bobblehead giveaway, Christmas in July, and post-game fireworks 7/28; Ladies Day and postgame run the bases 7/29. 1 Columbus Avenue, Pawtucket. 724-7300, PawSox.com
DEDICATION ...is a word that is both used and abused these days. But I want you to know that I really am dedicated to my customers and to my profession. If a real estate transaction is in your future, let’s talk. Then you can decide for yourself if you really believe that I am...
Dedicated… to serving YOU! Call me today!
401.455.1625 www.elisepennpansey.com 401.521.9490 x22 Butterman & Kryston, Inc. • 749 East Avenue, Pawtucket • @ Blackstone Blvd
FOUR SEASONS LANDSCAPE
— Serving the East Side —
Complete Lawncare • Spring Clean ups Weekly Maintenance
Call Greg at (508) 287-9214 East Side Monthly • July 2018 53
Business Spotlight
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
TOP APPLIANCES The Best Kept Retail AT LOW PRICES
4 Season Care For Your Property
Secret in Appliances
STAINLESS REFRIGERATORS RANGES • HOODS WASHERS & DRYERS BUILT-IN REFRIGERATION COOKTOPS WALL OVENS DISHWASHERS
NEW SHOWROOM WITH OVER 400 SCRATCH & DENT APPLIANCES!
CityEstateGardener.com 401.935.2312
299 Walcott Street, Pawtucket 723.0500 • www.KitchenGuys.com
FIND A WORRYFREE PRE-OWNED EUROPEAN CAR?
fine clothiers
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MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE
Call 401.944.2450 to schedule a personal tour
49 Old Pocasset Road, Johnston, RI briarcliffegardens.com 54
East Side Monthly • July 2018
K
itchen Guys has been the go-to source for affordable appliances for over 15 years. The below-cost retailer moved into a larger showroom last year to showcase their ever-growing inventory. The showroom, a 20,000 square foot space conveniently located in Pawtucket, features over 400 scratchand-dent appliances. “There is no shortage of anything,” says owner Michael Gaffin. The seemingly endless space offers row upon row of kitchen and laundry appliances including stainless steel refrigerators, dishwashers, front-loading washing machines, and much more. “We pride ourselves on staying ahead of industry trends,” says Michael, pointing out that they carry a terrific selection of smart appliances and professional-grade units. From induction ranges to built-in refrigerators, the inventory is constantly updated to feature the latest technology. Specialty appliances – like ice makers, wine units, and microwave drawers – are also available, as well as a large selection of outdoor grills and smokers. In addition to their ever-changing appliance collection, Kitchen Guys is debuting a boutique-like space within their showroom that will feature a unique collection of minerals and rocks. The opento-the-public showroom has also expanded their hours to meet customer demand. Offering expert service, delivery, and an unmatched selection, you’ll never want to pay retail again once you shop at Kitchen Guys.
299 Walcott Street, Pawtucket 723-0500, KitchenGuys.com Mon-Wed 9am-5pm • Thur 9am-7pm Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 9am-3pm
Business Spotlight
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Summer Camp With True Community Spirit
The Dwares JCC is
YOUR Community Center. Membership is open to EVERYone regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexuality, ethnic background or family constellation.
BEAUTIFUL PRE-OWNED JEWELRY
Fitness Center, Indoor Pool, Gymnasium, Early Childhood Center, After School Program, Family Programming, Cultural Arts and more!
Stop in or call to learn more!
In the heart of Providence’s East Side...
Dwares Rhode Island
401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 401.421.4111 | jewishallianceri.org
W
hen your kids head off to camp you want them to have enriching experiences and feel connected to a supportive group. And most importantly – to have fun! The Jewish Alliance’s Dwares JCC summer camp program hits all those marks, plus it’s designed for maximum convenience for the busy East Side parent. Michelle Cicchitelli, Alliance Vice President of Programming, says with a laugh, “Only one more month of making lunches!” That right, all lunches and snacks are included, towels are provided, and there is curbside drop-off/ pickup service so you don’t have to even get out of your car. Just have your child bring a swimsuit, a water bottle, and sunscreen at the start of each week and you’re set. Early drop off and late pickup times are available too. This full spectrum camp includes art, science, cooking, nature, culture, and sports along with gymnastics and drama. There is swimming daily and weekly field trips. The children who participate in cooking will use vegetables and herbs from their community garden and learn about composting. There are also two specialty camps available: American Ninja Warrior and Sports Camp. Downtime is allotted as well for playing oversized board games, reading under a tree, or just to daydream. Camp spaces are filling up, so contact the JCC and register your child today for a great summer experience! You don’t have to be Jewish or a JCC member to enroll.
The Dwares JCC 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence 421-4111 • JewishAllianceRI.org
T.F. Morra Tree Care, Inc.
Ornamental and Shade Tree Specialists • fine hand pruning • tree preservation • hazard tree removal • tree evaluation & diagnosis • tree planting consultation 331-8527 • tfmorra.com
Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors
Service Your Car Before Summer Trips We service and repair ALL foreign and domestic models • ASE Certified • RI inspection and repair station #27b
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
729 East Avenue • 401-723-1111 (Top of the East Side, just past Lippitt Park)
1271 North Main Street, Providence 437-8421 358 Broad Street, Providence 273-7050
ALSO OFFERING THE IDEAL PROTEIN WEIGHT LOSS METHOD “After a week of treatment, all the pain was gone... I recommend Dr. Tom to everyone I know.” – J.T.
Northeast Chiropractic DR. THOMAS MORISON Chiropractic Physician
401-861-1300 • 187 Waterman Street www.wickedgoodposture.com
IASIMONE PLUMBING HEATING & DRAIN CLEANING, INC.
INSTALLATIONS REPAIRS • REPLACEMENTS We are always providing a Free Estimate
WINNER OF THE SUPER SERVICE AWARD FROM ANGIE’S LIST FOUR YEARS IN A ROW! We Can Do Anything With Water Except Walk On It Servicing all of RI & nearby Mass. for over 35 years
Monday - Friday 7:00am to 6:00pm
27 Allen Avenue, North Providence (401) 300-9761 • iasimonephdc.com East Side Monthly • July 2018 55
SERVICE
DIRECTORY
R.W. Desrosiers Inc. Complete Plumbing & Heating Service
Interior/Exterior
723-0560
Carpentry Renovations
Providence
Stone • Brick • Veneers Walls • Patios • Pavers Fireplaces • Chimneys Design Work
LiCenSed • Bonded • inSured ri Contr 937 MP #1578 MPF 1355
Call 641-0362 Reg. #7445 lousstonework.com
David Onken Painting Lead Certified Gutter Cleaning Chimney Pointing Roof Leak Repairs
Reg. #1903 Insured 40 Years Experience
248-5248
PRUDENT ESTATE
Vinny’s Landscaping & BOBCAT SERVICE
Contact zeliG Personal Property Consulting
New Lawns Installed Seed or Sod Power Raking Augering Hammering
PLANNING or SIMPLY DOWNSIZING?
Professional • Reliable
Pet Care • Dog Walking • Cat Sitting
Insured & Bonded PawsNClawsRI.com
401-369-9000
Lee’s Basic Cleaning & More! Let me make your life easier! Over 20 yrs. experience. References.
Services to assist individuals & couples in relieving the stress of organizing, allocating & dispersing accumulated household possessions in an orderly, compassionate & inclusive manner.
Call Mr. Larry Goldberg (401) 323-8858 or email zeligconsulting@outlook.com for more information.
House Cleaning If you need a house cleaner who is organized, with good prices and excellent references, call
401-475-3283 954-709-6713
Rototilling • Screened Loam • Etc.
Free Estimates
Prompt, Reliable Quality Work
Levine Painting Co., Inc. Interior, Exterior, Residential/Commercial Wallpaper Hanging, Power Washing, Staining 25 Years Experience (401) 885-1580 • (401) 323-6100 cell R.I. Lic 7140 Liab/ Work Comp Insured
We Specialize in painting & carpentry
Experts in Water Problems
From Roofs, Gutters & Basements Over 20 years of experience on historical homes Certified Lead Renovated LRM #0514 RI Reg #7320 • Fully insured GEt it donE! Call today!
497-1461 231-1851
Call Al Medina (401) 438-8771 or (401) 323-8252
Leasing J Sales
The Finest in New England Craftmanship
Boreal Remodeling www.PilotRI.us info@PilotRI.us (401) 527-4690
General Home Repair, including Kitchens,Baths, Decks & Additions Reg. # 22013
Reasonable Rates! Give me a call,
Michael Packard • (401) 441-7303
785-1230 Advertise in the
SERVICE DIRECTORY For as low as
$45! Email SueH@RhodyBeat.com 56
East Side Monthly • July 2018
Summer Residential Painting & Exterior Touch-ups!
Retirement Medicare 101
Staining of all wood surfaces ~ Decks Fences Sheds & more! Power Washing Driveways Pools Aprons Cement Patios Window Re-glazing Gutter Cleaning Epoxy Floors Single & Multi-Family Free Estimates East Side References
Jeffrey G. Brier CLU, ChFC, CASL
Reg. #3469 Fully Insured 30 yrs. in business
81 S. Angell Street • Providence • 02906 751.2990 • jbrier@brier-brier.com
Painting Light Carpentry Work
Call T & T Painting anytime 944-0336
Finding the Right Medicare Option for You
Brier & Brier Insurance & Employee Benefits
Enjoy the Ultimate in Home Entertainment! EAST SIDE HANDYMAN
Repairs, upgrades & renovations. Small jobs welcome. Many East Side references. Insured. Call 524-6421. Reg. #3052
Create a media room with great picture, sound, and style
HANDYMAN
Specializing in exceptional results for repairs & small jobs. On time, professional & extremely clean. Reg. #40738. clearproppvd@gmail.com
HOUSE CLEANING Experienced. Local references. Free estimates. Call Lilly, 401-419-2933.
HOME & BUSINESS SERVICES
KIND CARE ~ SENIORS
Appointments, errands, shopping, cleaning & maint. Refs. Safety bars installed. Reg #3052. 559-0848.
BEYOND THE PALE
Quality interior painting, color consulting, lead certified, green products. Lic. #15914. Call Mike 401-573-4498.
Call Jon Bell, a lifelong East Side resident with 30 years of experience, for a free in-home consultation. I will design a superb system with fantastic performance that looks great in your home and is totally easy to use.
SUPERB HOUSEPAINTING
High end workmanship. Small jobs a specialty. Call Ron 751-3242. Reg. #18128.
simplysas. com
.
401. 74 9.8 2 83
MALIN PAINTING
Most ceiling & wall repairs, wallpaper removal, oil-based & latex finishes, staining, varnishing. Fully insured, Many local references. Safe, secure, fast service. 226-8332. Reg. #19226.
CITY KITTY Veterinary Care for Cats
DOROTHY’S CLEANING We clean your home as our own! References & free estimates. 401524-7453 or 401-228-6273. PIONEER BASEMENT
The healthy choice for wet basements, crawl spaces, moisture & air quality control. Foundation repair. Certified. Insured. Reg. #3934. Cell 401-215-7985 or 1-800-649-6140.
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
PROPERTY MANAGER
That’s what makes us so special, Stanley. RI cats like us are purr-oud of our home!
Available. On call 24/7. Rent collection. Rentals, evictions, maintenance. 421-0092.
PARKING
Benefit St. @ north end, Burrs Ln., $115/mo. Considerable discount for 1 yr. commitment. Call Roger, 3394068. rogernc@mac.com
AUDIO/VIDEO HELP
If you need help with your TV, home theater or stereo, call Jon Bell, 383-4102. Simply Sight & Sound. Reasonable rates. 30 years experience.
USED MUSIC WANTED!
Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. 351-6292.
WANTED
Hey Walter, Is it really true that RI is the smallest state?
!
ME-WOW
I BUY BOOKS
Old, used and almost new. Also photography, art, etc. jcminich1@gmail.com 286-9329.
Now In Our Purr-Fect New Home At 400 Hope Street! Find us on Social Media @citykittypvd
Taking care of cats since 1999
400 Hope Street, Providence • 401-831-MEOW (6369) • city-kitty.com East Side Monthly • July 2018 57
EAST SIDER By Amanda M. Grosvenor Summit resident Ethan Gilsdorf is the author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, and recently taught Dungeons and Dragons to teenagers at the Rochambeau Library
Geeking Out Ethan Gilsdorf is an author, journalist, teacher, and retro culture aficionado who chronicled his foray into revisiting “geeky” childhood pastimes in his 2010 memoir Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms. The book follows Gilsdorf as far as New Zealand (setting for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings adaptations) interviewing fans of all shapes, sizes, and subcultures while he reflects back on his Dungeons & Dragons-loving teen years. Now, he lives with his wife and their Catahoula hound mix, Frannie, in a cozy house they purchased a few years ago off of Hope Street. Gilsdorf grew up in rural New Hampshire, was an undergrad at Hampshire College, and earned his MFA in Poetry from Louisiana State University in 1992. In 2004, he moved to Somerville and sought out Boston’s GrubStreet creative writing center, where he started teaching classes and eventually joined the board. In summer 2015, he moved to Providence to escape Boston’s increasing costs and to be closer to his wife’s
58
East Side Monthly • July 2018
aging parents in Attleboro. It was “a bit of a leap of faith” moving here without knowing anyone, but the couple has befriended many of their neighbors and loves stopping at spots like the Hope Street farmers market, Providence Bagel, the Cheeky Hound, and Books on the Square. Gilsdorf still teaches GrubStreet classes in Boston and in Providence at School One on University Avenue. He also teaches memoir writing at the Westerly YMCA. Gilsdorf’s articles about the arts, media, travel, technology, pop culture, and book reviews have been published in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Wired, and Salon — just to name a few. Gilsdorf’s love of writing, storytelling, and fantasy have their roots in old-school roleplaying games, so when Netflix’s Stranger Things burst onto screens across the world, its scenes depicting basement D&D sessions provoked nostalgia and reinforced what Gilsdorf already knew: that “Dungeons & Dragons is Good for You (In Real Life),” which is the title his 2016 TEDx talk. He was the same age as the children
portrayed during the time period of Stranger Things, and “it wasn’t exactly my experience, but there were so many things that were very familiar,” he says. He felt the show did a great job “both recapturing that nostalgic experience, but also I thought it was a terrific homage to the films of that era that were such a huge part of my childhood” – films by cinema masters like Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter. In October 2017, Gilsdorf staged a Stranger Things reenactment day in his meticulously curated 1980s-era, memorabilia-filled basement “cave” and chronicled it in The Boston Globe. He vouches that playing D&D helped him to become more “connected, creative, and compassionate,” and enjoys introducing others to the game. In April, he ran a class at the Rochambeau Library for middle and high school-aged first time D&D-ers, and also hosts campaigns on a for-hire basis. Gilsdorf is passionate about promoting the ability to “sit around a table without your devices distracting you and just participate in this fun, imaginative storytelling experience.” EthanGilsdorf.com
Photography by Mike Braca
Writer Ethan Gilsdorf explores fantastic realms, one dice roll and article at a time
BARRINGTON RUMSTICK - This beautifully updated historic home offers gracious living and privacy on a serene, acreplus lot. The circa 1900, 5-bed home
includes a
master suite with spa bath, sun porch, high ceilings, and three levels of living space.
$1,425,000 | Web ID: 1192384
NEWPORT
NARRAGANSETT
PROVIDENCE
JAMESTOWN
WATCH HILL
BLOCK ISLAND
FROM THE COAST TO THE CAPITAL... PROVIDENCE
369 SOUTH MAIN ST
401.274.1644
LilaDelman.com
5 Constitution Hill East Side of Providence $789,000 401.274.6740
6 Woodland Terrace East Side of Providence $1,795,000 401.274.6740
See the Video Tour at 6WoodlandTerrace.com
555 South Water Street, Unit 226 East Side of Providence $448,000 401.274.6740
See the Video Tour at 5Constitution.com
#1 in RI Homes Sold For 2015, 2016, and 2017 (PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS BOOK OF LISTS)
Barrington Cumberland East Greenwich Narragansett Providence West Side PVD Relocation
120 Grotto Avenue East Side of Providence $1,350,000 401.274.6740
401.245.9600 401.333.9333 401.885.8400 401.783.2474 401.274.6740 401.457.3400 800.886.1775
35 Eames Street East Side of Providence $715,000 401.274.6740
See the Video Tour at 120Grotto.com
535 Lloyd Avenue East Side of Providence $539,000 401.274.6740
See the Video Tour at 535Lloyd.com
92 Laurel Avenue East Side of Providence $899,000 401.274.6740
See the Video Tour at 92Laurel.com