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CONTENTS East Side Monthly • September 2018
Get to know your candidates and save the date for Primary Day (pg.31)
This Month
12 Prospect Terrace Park gets an overdue makeover
31 PRIMARY PRIMER Meet the candidates running to represent the East Side in this month’s primary election
14 Taking the bus? There’s an app for that 16
As bridge construction ramps up, the Gano Street ramp closes down
Every Month
On the Town 51 Flavor of the
Month: The Ocean State Oyster Fest returns
52 On the Menu: Food truck and craft brews park it at McCoy Stadium
54 Restaurant Guide
6 Editorial 18 In the Know
Close to Home 43 Home of the Month:
Calendar 61 Events you can’t miss this month
44
East Sider 70 The Ladd Observatory’s curator Michael
Simplicity is key for this Blackstone neighborhood home
19 Neighborhood News Community 9 RISD Museum lays its ancient Egyptian res-
Education: Exploring mindfulness at an early age
Umbricht has his eye on the sky
46
East of Elmgrove: Housesitting turns into an East Side summer staycation
ident to rest
10 ALIEN studio aims to put local hip hop on the map
On the Cover:
Statue of Roger Williams at Prospect Terrace. Photography by Nick DelGiudice
East Side Monthly • September 2018 5
magazines?
N FOR HAVE A PASSIO
First Unitar ian opens doors to its sanctu ary seeker
ide East S EST 1975
Y MON THL
d the Hope
RI’s Cheer on teams other home c eum’s histori The Athenabubble s again founta in us ’s delicio Chez Pascalclub new book
How Job Lot is naviga retail’s new norma ting l
East SidHe le Foods
TO BUILD orILD? NOT TO BU behin The controversy
s
East Sid e EST 1975
EST 1975
MON THL Y
EDITORIAL
City Needs to Lead on Student Housing
MONTHLY
Point Tower
The city's artisan movem ent is flouris bagel and donut hing on the East Side
RIMA RY RIMER
• EastSideM JULY 2018
onthly.com
Get to know the candidates vying to represent the East Side in this month’s election
AUGUST
2018 • EastSideMo
nthly.com
Putting a Shine on Historic Prospect Terrace Seeing Stars at the Ladd Observatory
SEPTEMBER 2018 • EastSideMonthly.com
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
The blue signs that have started to pop up around the East Side, urging the City to enforce its housing ordinances, is just the beginning of what turns out to be a confusing battle: just how many students are allowed to reside in a single, residentially zoned property? The current law is pretty straightforward: by current statute, a landlord cannot rent to more than three unrelated persons. This law has been on the books for quite some time. It has also been tested in Rhode Island courts as recently as two years ago and was upheld. That should have ended the issue – except that it didn’t. The City’s legal department, apparently backed by the mayor, fears possible legal action from landlords and now seems unwilling to take any position on the subject. Another case is making its way toward the RI Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the City Council is scrambling to polish the provision; they hope to limit the statute to just R1 and R2 zoned properties. Last month, Sam Zurier introduced a proposal to do just that, and it appeared to have sufficient support to pass. Then the bill got held up in the Council’s Ordinance Committee. Despite a huge turnout of supporting residents and a 3-1 vote to send the bill on to the full Council, the bill was delayed in the interests of “further public input.” Bizarrely, Councilman Yurdin introduced the legislation and then withdrew it the next day, for fear of legal blowback.
In moments like this, we feel the City does not provide the kind of leadership the residents of Providence deserve. (The City’s waffling response to the proposed suboxone clinic is a similar example). It is clear that many residents are appalled that a local property owner seeks to rent to 13 separate students, making it more of a boarding house that a single, or even two-family, house. It is also clear that our universities should not avoid their responsibility to house the majority of their admitted students. Given their non-profit status, providing a roof for students is something the residents of adjoining neighborhoods have a right to expect. The City must finally take a decisive step on this issue: either enforce the current zoning that is on the books or craft (presumably with the City Council) some modification to the current law. Another option is to follow the pattern of overnight parking ordinances, allowing different neighborhoods to select their individual preference. If they wish to overide the ordinance. The planning board is convening a public meeting to try and move the process along. Other cities and neighborhoods have arrived at a fair solution. Providence can,v too. It’s an issue that affects College Hill, Fox Point, Mount Hope, Elmhurst, Broadway, and anywhere there’s an overflow of students from university-controlled housing. The time for leadership from the mayor and the Council is long overdue.
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East Side Monthly Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell
Media Director Jeanette St. Pierre
Executive Editor Barry Fain
City Editor Steve Triedman
Editor in Chief Elyse Major
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Editor Robert Isenberg
Assistant Editor Megan Schmit
Art Director Nick DelGiudice
Assistant Art Director Brandon Harmon
Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas
Graphic Designer Taylor Gilbert
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
COMMUNITY East Side Stories | Neighborhood News
East Side News
The Mummy Returns
After 80 years on display at the RISD Museum, an ancient Egyptian returns to his resting place By Robert Isenberg
Nesmin the mummy (center) will soon be sealed again inside his coffin
Everybody loves Nesmin.
The RISD Museum staff all refer to Nesmin by name. They encourage visitors to see Nesmin, to spend a little time with him on the third floor. Nesmin is much beloved, especially for a guy who died 2,250 years ago. The Ptolemaic mummy has been on display since 1938, a well-wrapped bundle of cloth covered in intricate painting. Yet after much discussion, the museum has decided to put Nesmin back in his ornate coffin, where he was originally ensconced in the third century B.C.E. “I don’t think Nesmin would have wanted to be disturbed,” says Gina Borromeo, RISD’s official curator of ancient art. “We are responding to the question as to whether human
remains should be kept on display. Like most of us, this is not something we would wish on our loved ones.” During his life, Nesmin was probably a wealthy priest to the fertility god Min. When he died, Nesmin was preserved as a mummy, and his coffin was elaborately decorated. Eventually, grave-robbers took the coffin from its tomb and sold it. The mummy changed hands several times before it was sold to RISD – by none other than newspaper titan William Randolph Hearst. A mummy may seem like an odd acquisition for an art and design school, yet Borromeo says the human artifact makes a lot of sense. “Many mummies and coffins were taken from Egypt at a time [when] people wanted to
have these objects to show their museums were world class,” she says. “It was a sign of prestige to have as complete a collection as possible. The thing a museum had to have was a mummy.” The new exhibit will show the coffin under glass, and Nesmin himself will be sealed inside. Nearby, visitors can watch three informational videos: the first will decipher the inscription on his coffin, the second will chronicle his journey from Egypt to Providence, and third will explain their difficult decision to re-inter him. “The mummified body is an important member of the collection,” says Borromeo. “The people who love him really do love him, and they are going to miss him.” RISDMuseum.org
Photography by Robert Isenberg East Side Monthly • September 2018 9
Community East Side News
A New Beat
ALIEN Entertainment helps local hip hop artists lay their tracks By Robert Isenberg
If you know Pawtucket well, you probably recognize the large brick building on Exchange Street as the former home of the Gamm Theatre. But in its upper floors, another
10
East Side Monthly • September 2018
organization is cultivating local performers: ALIEN Entertainment, a recording studio for independent hip hop artists. “We’re brand new to the scene,” says
Ben Moliere, one “Rhode Island has artists already in from Rhode Island,
of ALIEN’s founders. great talent. There are the industry who are but people don’t know.
Photo courtesy of ALIEN Recording Studio
(From left) Lito Carvalho, Ben Moliere, and Keirheim Gentles founded ALIEN to help put local hip hop on the map
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We’re able to be a lighthouse for artists in Pawtucket.” The studio has the intimacy of an attic, with a small recording booth, a lounge area, and a vast mixing board. Moliere started renovating the studio with his two business partners, Keirheim Gentles and Lito Carvalho, in March 2017, and ALIEN opened that summer. Since then, the trio has hosted more than 50 freshmen recording artists, helping them produce pro-quality demos, singles, and albums. Gentles, Carvalho, and Moliere met at the University of Hartford, where they bonded over hip hop and sound engineering. Each had hoped to apprentice for an established producer, but when they found themselves in Rhode Island, they decided to strike out on their own. ALIEN soon expanded to a second floor, constructing basic offices and a photo studio. Now, after a year of incremental success, ALIEN will find new Pawtucket headquarters this fall. ALIEN isn’t a label, and no one is “signed.” Instead, visitors pay for studio time on an hourly basis. The building has hosted spoken word events, and ALIEN is slated to participate in the Pawtucket Arts Festival this month. Eventually, Moliere hopes to set up a membership model, so ALIEN feels more like a collaborative. “There’s a system that takes new artists, they groom them, but they never have a manager who teaches them what to do or how to act,” he says. The name stands for Artists Living in an Extra-Terrestrial Nation. Although the company logo is a flying saucer, “alien” really refers to their outsider identities: Moliere was born in Haiti, Carvalho’s family hails from Cape Verde, and Gentles spent much of his youth in Jamaica. “The name is a double-entendre,” says Moliere. “We’re all from different countries, and when you first come to the United States, you usually have an alien card. Our message is, you’re not from here, and it’s okay to be different.” AlienEntertain.com
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Community East Side News
All Spruced Up
Restoration puts a shine on historic Prospect Terrace By Stephen Beale One noticeable change is the installation of the jumble cobblestone that encircles the monument to Roger Williams, replacing a mishmash of grass and mud. Other work has included new granite steps to the north side of the monument, redoing the sidewalks framing it, adding a strip of cobblestones between the street and sidewalk behind the park, drainage work, fence repair, and repainting the front metal fence. Next, some of the remaining sidewalks will be replaced with exposed aggregate concrete. All of the fences will get fresh coats of paint. Some older ornamental trees will be replaced with newer ones. The park will also get new benches and a granite sitting wall in the center. The plan is to wrap up most of the work
by the fall, but some might have to wait until next spring, according to Bradford. When this round of renovations is finished, the park will also be outfitted with an interpretative sign identifying the major buildings in the city skyline and one recapping the history of the park. The park is steeped in history: Prospect Terrace was created in 1869 by a local merchant named Isaac Hale, along with Civil War general Ambrose Burnside and John Carter Brown, for whom Brown University’s
12
East Side Monthly • September 2018
Photo by Stephen Beale
Prospect Terrace is an iconic park known for its commanding statute of state founder Roger Williams, as well as panoramic views of downtown Providence. This summer, the park has been getting a makeover, spearheaded by the College Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) in partnership with the city. “This is really a jewel of Providence, and it was in rough shape,” says Sara Bradford, a board member of CHNA and a landscape architect whose firm, Bradford Associates, is involved in the restoration. “So many people come here. It really needs to look good.” Fundraising for the $300,000 project began about two years ago, with the restoration commencing about one year later.
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library of Americana is named. H.P. Lovecraft is said to have frequented the park, commenting on its view of the State House. Today, the park is a destination for yoga enthusiasts, tourists, and locals looking for a quiet place to read, write, or drink in the view. Bradford says that the ultimate goal of the renovations is to highlight the open beauty of the park. “It draws attention to it being the attractive park that it is,” she says.
East Side Monthly • September 2018 13
Community East Side News
There’s an App for That
RIPTA launches mobile pay app to enhance rider experience By Megan Schmit
A morning commute in Rhode Island can take many forms: a car, a bike, a train, a ferry, and most famously, a bus. Not just any bus, however; we take the big bright green ones operated by RIPTA. In July, RIPTA launched a new mobile pay app to make its already well-used service more accessible to riders, who hail from all walks of life, from college students to local business owners. “We are committed to using technology to make RIPTA accessible and easy to use,” says its new CEO Scott Avedisian. The app, named RIPTA Flash Pass, will be available on both iOS and Android devices. Users will be able to purchase select tickets and passes ahead of time, store them in their phone, and forget about the stress of losing a paper ticket to a strong gust of wind or the depths of a handbag. Purchasing bus fare will be made easy between online accounts and reusable “smart” cards.
14
East Side Monthly • September 2018
At the moment, the app is still in beta test mode, which means RIPTA will be monitoring and gathering feedback. During this trial period, riders will be able to purchase single trips with or without a transfer, a five-trip and transfer bundle, a day pass, and a seven-day pass. Eventually, tickets will be scannable at devices installed in the bus; for now, bus operators will be verifying mobile tickets themselves. For millennial users and busy commuters, virtual payment is a giant leap for local mass transit. For those struggling with the service, RIPTA’s website provides a handy how-to video. Next time you decide to take a last-minute bus trip or are rushing to the nearest stop with pre-work coffee in hand, you won’t have to fret over where you put your ticket; simply open the app, tap on your purchase, and enjoy your ride. RIPTA.com
Photography by Robert Isenberg
The new RIPTA app makes all fare payments digital
Community East Side News
Changing Lanes
Bridge rehabilitation project will close the Gano Street exit for a year By Robert Isenberg
RIDOT will provide a temporary ramp to facilitate the flow of traffic
16
East Side Monthly • September 2018
commuters. RIDOT is carefully shifting lanes on the bridge and opening a temporary on-ramp at Taunton Avenue, in order to maintain the flow of traffic. According to RIDOT, this ramp should shave two years off total construction time. “The way the work zone is going to be, it’s not possible for traffic to safely exit at Gano,” says St. Martin. “While it’s going to be disruptive, it probably saves twice as much money – or more – than a replacement [of the bridge].” What we think of as “the Washington Bridge” has actually been many bridges: a drawbridge used to span the Seekonk River, then a “swing” bridge bearing a trolley line. A modern bridge was built in 1930, but this version was expanded in the latter
(top) Photography by Robert Isenberg, (bottom) photo courtesy of RIDOT
Each day, 70,000 vehicles cross the Washington Bridge, headed westward. They fly over India Point Park, skirting the East Side, as they bomb toward Interstate 95. Until recently, few drivers would have noticed that the bridge was under construction. “We’ve been working on the Washington Bridge for a while now,” says Charles St. Martin, chief public affairs officer for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). “But most of the work has been taking place underneath the bridge. Now we need to work on top.” Everything changed on August 20, when Exit 3 was closed for construction. The exit, which is widely known as the “Gano Street Exit,” is a major thoroughfare for East Side
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20th century, becoming the high-speed highway we know today. Even now, the Washington Bridge is technically divided into two separate structures, the eastbound and westbound. It’s easy for passing drivers to consider them the same bridge, but the westbound side hasn’t received major structural repairs for 20 years. For the moment, the bridge is considered “structurally deficient,” and Exit 3 will remain closed until fall of 2019. The full rehabilitation is scheduled for completion in 2020, for a total price tag of $22.3 million. Drivers can then rest easy that the city’s most prominent overpass is up to date. When the Exit 3 closure was announced in late July, a map was posted on the RIDOT website to illustrate how traffic would be rerouted. St. Martin doesn’t take the bridge himself, but he used to. Many years ago, he lived in Warwick and had a job across the bay. “I worked in East Providence the last time we did major work over there,” he says with a knowing chuckle. “I know that bridge very well.”
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East Side Monthly • September 2018 17
Community In The Know By Barry Fain
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
To our readers who have an interest in Ivy League football, what could be better than a Harvard-Brown showdown played right here on the East Side? A relatively new tradition at the school, the two Ivy rivals will square off on Friday, September 21 at 7pm. While Brown will never be confused with a Big Ten face-off even at night, the students and fans are more animated than normal. (The result of late night adult beverages? The arrival of a new freshman class eager to see what life in Providence is all about? Suppressed anger over the haughtiness of its Ivy neighbors to the north?) Check it out for yourself on the 21st. Go Brunonia.
Isn’t it time for a foreign affair? One of the best kept secrets on the East Side is a wonderful organization called the World Affairs Council. The group has been around for 80 years and brings in international speakers once a month for dinner meetings that are held generally either at the Hope Club on Benefit Street or the Agawam Hunt Club in East Providence. Not only are the speakers interesting, but so too are the members, many of whom boast some sort of international experience (or at least interest) in their background. The group has informal surprise events, visits from traveling international visitors sponsored by the State Department, or house visits by government officials who often have Rhode Island or Brown connections. The season starts September 20 with a presentation at Agawam by the senior editor at PolitiFact on the reality of Fake News. For more info, contact RSVPWACRI@gmail.com.
…or at least some new foreign food? One of the things that makes life so interesting on the East Side is our access to so many international dining options. Well, coming up this month, we’ll have the opportunity to expand our culinary options even more. Buoyed by the success of the Restaurant Week programs around the state, we’re happy to report nearby Pawtucket and Central Falls, both known for the authenticity of their international cuisines, will offer exotic three-course specials in well-reviewed restaurants. Central
Falls Restaurant Week runs from August 27 to September 2 while Pawtucket’s goes from September 3-9. You can find a list of participating restaurants by logging onto RestaurantWeekPCF.com. What better time to get a little adventurous and take your palate on a well-deserved culinary trip?
Classical to celebrate its 175th Classical High School, the top-rated Providence High School according to US News and World Report, is a true Providence treasure. Marking its 175th year, Classical will celebrate as part of the special education-themed WaterFire scheduled for September 22. If you’re a current student or an alum, if your kids went to the school, or if you just love what wonderful education the school continues to offer, stop by the Alumni Association booth, sign a giant birthday card, get a special purple glow necklace, and wish them a “happy, happy.” You’re encouraged to blow out the candles, not the braziers, by the way. For further info, visit ClassicalAlumni.org.
Is Tom Cruise behind this? Way back in my distant past, I lived and worked in New York City, wrote TV commercials, and sported a pony tail. In short, I was a hippie. It was a time for sampling alternatives, one of which was a new movement called Scientology. This was back in the 70s. My L. Ron Hubbard days started and ended with a free, one-week communications course that just didn’t do it for me. It’s been over 40 years since I even thought about this non-event… that is, until last month. Somehow, a representative from the Church of Scientology managed to track me down at work! Boasting about their accurate record-keeping, the rep played back the dates of my brief time with them, even throwing in the name of the person conducting the sessions. So far, I’ve been able to duck follow-up phone calls, and I think I’m now sufficiently old enough to be low on their target list. Then again, given their tenacity – and that their most prominent advocate is Mr. Mission: Impossible himself – one can never be sure. As they say, the past is never past.
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.
Musicians perform at the Fox Point Folk Fest in July
Photo courtesy of Alissa Peterson
Downtown Neighborhood Association Monthly Meeting The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) hosts a meeting the second Tuesday of each month at the Grace Pavilion (300 Westminster Street) from 6:30-8pm. The Providence Police speak at every meeting about any safety concerns and crime trends in the downtown area. In partnership with the City of Providence, we were proud to help install 13 Neighborhood Watch signs last year by all of the major residential buildings throughout downtown. These signs provide the number to the Providence Police and a message to all residents, business owners, and visitors that downtown is a community. Another key element to our monthly meetings is to invite any new restaurant that is opening or has just opened to provide free samples and to speak about their concept. Some of the establishments that have recently spoken and provided samples to residents include: Nico Bella’s Family Restaurant (10 Dorrance Street) and Yoleni’s (292 Westminster Street). Riverwalk Restoration Projects We are at it again! Our 16th Riverwalk project is Saturday, September 15 from 9am–12pm. We will be working in Waterplace Park to touchup paint on railings, benches, and lampposts. Please wear clothes that you don’t mind getting paint on. Our final Riverwalk Restoration Project of the year is on Saturday, October 13. During the last two years, over 200 volunteers have come together to restore our Riverwalk with the Providence Parks Department! The Parks Department provides the tools and paint, and we provide the volunteers. Although everyone may not know each other at the beginning of the day, they bond and form friendships during this rewarding event that beautifies the city. These efforts have transformed the Riverwalk from the Hurricane Barrier to Waterplace Park and saved the City of
Providence an estimated $300,000 in labor costs! Please join us for as little or as much as you can. Your efforts will continue to make a difference! Annual Meeting The DNA was established on October 28, 2015 to represent the voice of residents in downtown Providence. Please join us on Tuesday, November 13, 6:30pm, at the Grace Pavilion for our annual meeting. We will review all of our accomplishments during the last year, give an update on our plans for 2019, and elect our board and officers. All are welcome to attend. If you would like to get involved, are interested in serving on the board of directors, or want to learn more about our up-
coming events, please visit: DNAPVD.com or email: dnapvd@gmail.com.
Fox Point Neighborhood Association Fane Tower and Folk Fest Draw Crowds In Fox Point, Summer 2018 was marked by two contrasting events: a heated advocacy effort and a mellow folk music festival. In mid-July, FPNA joined several other neighborhood organizations, the Providence Preservation Society, and many individual neighbors to oppose a change in the city’s zoning ordinance requested by New York architect Jason Fane, who wants to build a 600-foot luxury residential tower on the west side of the Providence River. The effort culminated in an hours-long,
East Side Monthly • September 2018 19
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packed hearing at City Hall in which the Committee on Ordinances heard testimony from dozens of constituents, ultimately voting to oppose the tower. Ward 1 City Councilman Seth Yurdin describes the vote as an affirmation of two hard-won, critical pieces of public policy: the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance. “Fane ignores years of public input that created our City Plan and zoning,” he noted on Facebook. “With new demand to build in Providence (at least 10 new large projects downtown), Providence has a unique opportunity to encourage development that respects our community, creates jobs and affordable housing for city residents.” FPNA supports this kind a win-win scenario for our city, as well – one that embraces smart development while adhering to constituents’ core values. Also in mid-July, FPNA and the Wickenden Area Merchants Association (WAMA) co-hosted the second-annual Fox Point Folk Fest, an afternoon of music in George M. Cohan Square. Neighbors set up lawn chairs on a closed-off portion of Wickenden Street, where they enjoyed food trucks, local brews, and like last year, a low-key and friendly atmosphere. “It was a good day!” commented Vin Scorziello, one of the organizers. “The music was fun, the weather was amazing, and the crowd seemed to be having a good time. Armand Aromin and Ben Gagliardi of The Vox Hunters booked an interesting bunch of bands, and JP Murton from The Shop had some hammocks set up in the shade. We had some great and generous local sponsors this year.” These two events embody the mission of FPNA: to advocate for our causes that affect our neighborhood and to build community through fun, engaging events. Your participation makes all of these efforts possible. Please join us at our next event or monthly meeting. Events this Month FPNA will hold its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 11 at 7pm (note Tuesday meeting), in the Community Room of the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School, 455 Wickenden Street. All are 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
Mount Hope Neighborhood Association The Empowerment Dialogues for Community Action (EDCA) with the support of the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association (MHNA) has worked with The Church of the Redeemer to be the site for the Teen Culinary4Change program since 2016. This year we have expanded the program be the Teen Gardener and Culinary4Change program. It is a stipend program with more hands-on gardening as well as learning about our food system. We have been fortunate to have Jamela Neal agree to be the chef for the program this year. Chef Jamela completed the culinary program at the Genesis Center in Providence this year and obtained a manager’s ServSafe certification. Prior to this she had experience in the quick service/fast-food industry. And additionally, states that she just enjoyed preparing meals for family and friends throughout the years. “Coming to learn the importance of natural nutrition as an American Aborigine, relearning the knowledge of how to create our own food sources and differentiating natural/ unnatural ingredients in food products, turning back to the mindset of our ancestors, and
INTRODUCING becoming self-reliant by once again cultivating our food according to the native ecology of our lands, is imperative for the betterment and survival of a culture and its people.” She works with the teens harvesting and helping them plan and prepare meals. “Being a part of Culinary4Change is truly blissful. It allows me to share things that I have learned in so-called formal training and self-studies. [Having been] given this opportunity, my goal and intentions are to share old traditional recipes tailored with healthy ingredients and grown here in Mount Hope.” Tyrece Barros, one of the active teen participants, states that he joined because it is “an opportunity to combine a passion for cooking and a love for gardening.” Come partake in a meal prepared by the teens at our next Community Harvest Meals, which will be held on Saturday September 15 at 5:30pm in Billy Taylor. You can also come and work with us at the EDCA meetings. The next one is scheduled for Thursday, September 27 at MHNA, 199 Camp Street, at 6pm. The Food Security Coalition meeting the same day at 5pm. The Housing Coalition is will be September 13 at 5pm. And the next MHNA board will be Thursday September 20 at 5pm. But please call MHNA at 521-8830 to confirm. -Courtesy of the EDCA
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Community Neighborhood News
Park this year! The second in the series is scheduled for August 22, beginning at sunset. Come on down, and bring the kids! SNA Annual Yard Sale Fall cleaning time! Start taking inventory of that basement, garage, or attic now, because the SNA Annual Yard Sale is scheduled for Sunday, September 23 from 10am2pm! We’ll be coordinating individual house yard sales neighborhood-wide as well as a central hub at the Citizens Bank parking lot on Hope Street, and you can sign up by sending your name, address, and check made out to Summit Neighborhood Association in the amount of $10 to: SNA, PO Box 41092, Providence, RI 02940. Additional details and online payment may be found at SummitNeighbors.org. 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 SummitNeighbors.org/Donate. 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 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
Blackstone Park Conservatory Wildlife in Blackstone Park and Beyond Surprising visitors and neighbors alike, Blackstone Park and the Seekonk River harbor a number of creatures not often seen within city limits. While many are nocturnal or small and hidden, others appear unexpectedly and, with one exception, delight the people able to glimpse them. Air On River Road you may feel a sudden shadow just overhead as it swoops down to land on a curb 50 feet ahead – a red-tailed hawk perhaps. In addition to many small birds that are regularly observed in season by birdwatchers and photographers, osprey and owls, including – rarely – the snowy owl, circle overhead. Soaring eagles are often spotted near the river, as are egrets and herons and, of course, swans. One expects to see the big birds near the river, but it does startle park neighbors to sense a
Photo courtesy of Downtown Neighborhood Association
Volunteers cleaning up the Riverwalk for last year’s restoration project
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
Cooper’s hawk, grey and gold, land with a jolt on a dogwood branch just outside one’s dining-room window or, as happened a few years ago, a blue heron noisily flapping overhead as it coursed down the middle of Lloyd Avenue toward the river.
IN MEMORIAM
Water In York Pond one sees muskrats and many ducks and snapping turtles, and sunfish. In the river people may see mink families and seals and horseshoe crabs as well as fish. Land Mammals inhabit the woodland running north through Blackstone Park, Butler Hospital, Swan Point and Riverside Cemetery: woodchucks, rabbits, coyotes, and recently, to the amazement of observers, deer, including a doe and fawn. The one mammal that inspires less enthusiasm, of course, is the “glossy animal with a quick temper” that the poet Mary Oliver describes in “A Certain Sharpness in the Morning Air.” In summertime that “certain sharpness” penetrates the sleep of neighbors on the East Side and sends them flying to shut their windows. More disturbing for one doctor in the neighborhood was learning on her way to the office one morning that her nine-yearold son had trapped a skunk in the back yard. Luckily, the animal escaped without incident before her garden party guests arrived that evening. Protecting Wildlife The Blackstone Parks Conservancy (BPC) implements its mission in part by protecting wildlife through education and working with environmental agencies like the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Expert advice suggests leaving in place a range of plants such as thorny Greenbriar that provide shelter to small mammals. Kindly send East Side Marketplace receipts to the address below, and check our website for exciting September events. Blackstone Parks Conservancy, P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906. 270-3014. BlackstoneParksConservancy.org, BlackstoneParks@gmail. com –Jane Peterson
Grace Ten Eyck Tagliabue 1922 - 2018
race Ten Eyck Tagliabue died March 29 at the age of 95 after a brief illness in Providence, RI, where she had lived since 1998. Grace was born in Schenectady, New York on August 14, 1922, the second of four children, into a family of Dutch descent that had settled in the Hudson River Valley in the 17th century. She became known as an artist, accomplished in calligraphy, puppetry, pottery and especially silk screen printing, which often featured the verse of her late husband, the poet John Tagliabue. Much of her work was informed by travels and time spent in Italy, Japan, China and Indonesia with her professor husband, John Tagliabue, who taught British and American literature and poetry throughout the world. While living in Fiesole, near Florence, Grace studied in the workshops of local artists and was inspired by them. In Japan and China, she pursued her passion for calligraphy by seeking out and learning from local masters. She absorbed their influences with seriousness and humility and then created her own style. Very early on, she and John formed a magical partnership producing puppet theater based on his plays that delighted generations of students and children in numerous countries. After graduating from Smith College
G
in 1944, Grace worked in New York City where she met John in a ballet class. They married in 1946, spent brief periods in Washington state and upstate New York and then moved to Italy on a Fulbright grant. After three years in Italy, John joined the Bates College faculty in Lewiston, Maine, and Grace taught in the elementary schools, developed her own art and raised their two daughters. Wherever she lived, she graciously enriched the lives of the people around her by cultivating and sharing a unique cultural environment. Grace and John were muses to each other. Some of Grace’s most beautiful work consists of silkscreen prints of John’s poetry, always embellished with carefully drawn designs. Maintaining an intellectual, artistic life was of enduring importance to her. At age 92, with retired Brown professor, Henry Majewski, Grace published a collection of John’s poetry titled, At Ease with Images of Art, celebrating the experience of seeing and reflecting on paintings and sculpture. Grace is survived by daughters, Francesca Gould of Providence, RI and Dina Tagliabue of Castelbuono, Sicily; grandchildren, Juniper Tagliabue, Tera Tagliabue, Alex Gould and Phoebe Gould; and great-grandchildren, Griffin Tagliabue, Cora Scherberg, Sophie Akhtar and Nico Wallace.
In memory of Grace, donations may be sent to: John Tagliabue Poetry Fund, c/o College Advancement, Bates College, 2 Andrews Road, Lewiston, Maine, 04240 Some of Grace's poem prints will be on exhibition at L'Artisan Café, Wayland Square, from the end of August
East Side Monthly • September 2018 23
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s we head into the thick of election season, we’re taking a look at the East Side candidates vying for a spot on the November ballot. Two city council seats in Wards 1 and 2 - councilwoman Nirva LaFortune is running unopposed after winning last year’s special election in Ward 3 – and Aaron Regunberg’s seat as State Representative for District 4 are
all up for grabs. Governor Raimondo and fellow East Sider Matt Brown both have their eyes on being the Democratic gubernatorial candidate come November, and the race for mayor has incumbent Elorza facing two challengers ahead of the general election. Get to know your candidates and save the date – September 12 – for Primary Day.
East Side Monthly • September 2018 31
Ward 1:
Seth Yurdin and Justice Gaines
By Steve Triedman
Justice Gaines
I
f you were to look up gerrymandering in the dictionary, you would see the Ward I Council map. The Ward is made up of Fox Point, Lower Wayland, the Jewelry District, and a large section of Downtown. While the growth in residents is more in the Jewelry District and Downtown, the “foundation” remains in Fox Point. For decades, Ward 1 was a solid working-class neighborhood where the Councilperson (Alderman, before that) was born here or was a long-term resident. The Ward was always plowed first in a storm because the plow drivers or their mothers lived here! Then a very ambitious Brown student with a very progressive agenda, David Segal, leveraged the Brown undergraduate vote in a presidential election year and captured the seat and it has stayed in the Progressive Democratic corner since. While there are some Fox Point residents that walk across the Point Street Bridge to work or to downtown, there is little in reverse traffic except for Adler’s and the Wickenden / South Main / Ives restaurants. Both candidates are Progressive Democrats and have similar positions on most of the issues and fundamentally agree that Ward 1 is in good shape.
Seth Yurdin
Seth Yurdin Seth Yurdin, 50 of Governor Street, is the incumbent and was first elected in 2006. He is a native of Long Island, New York, who came to the East Side in 1999. Yurdin is a lawyer with an eclectic resume encompassing community service and political activism. He led the RI chapter of Democracy for America and traveled to Mississippi with the American Red Cross to manage a shelter for residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. “After a lot of hard work, we’re finally seeing some exciting changes for Ward 1,” exclaims Yurdin, “The power lines will be coming down following a settlement of a decade long battle. Wickenden Street will be repaved, and new local restaurants and businesses are having great successes. Gregorian Elementary School remains one of the top elementary schools in the city and the funding that I obtained to turn the Fox Point Bath House into a library has been completed as well as major repairs at India Point Park and 24 new plots for the Fox Point Community Garden.” “Citywide, we’ve seen some gains in affordable housing and living wages, and I have been a leader on issues of transparency and corruption, ICE enforcement and improving police policies regarding the treatment
of youths and LGBTQ individuals as well as the environment, climate change, and common-sense solutions to gun violence. I opposed the proposed Fane Tower which most of the Jewelry District believes is out of character for the area,” he adds. That being said, new challenges and threats to the Ward will need to be addressed. The issue of how many non-related people can live in a house is at the top of the list as a return to the flop-houses on Benefit Street and in Fox Point would hurt not only the character and quality of life, but also property values. “The City is finally ramping up code enforcement, from what I’ve been hearing as I walk, but the legal department still hasn’t come up with a solution on the number of non-related residents and this remains a priority for me.”
Justice Gaines Justice Gaines, 23 of Wickenden Street, grew up in Somerset, NJ and came to RI to attend Brown. Gaines is a trans woman, which she explains “drives her perspective.” She works as an organizer and labor rights advocate for RI Jobs with Justice and was a member of the working group for the Providence Community-Police Relations Act. She is active in the poetry and performing arts communities and
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has served as a mentor in creative writing for local youth. She is running for City Council because she believes that the City needs “more creative, non-traditional solutions” and believes that she is someone who can “bridge communities.” “Providence has the potential for great things from within but need more proactive thinking,” Gaines explains. “Ward 1 is in better shape than other areas of the city but still needs work, especially the maintenance of the streets,” she says. “Residents should be informed of quality of life issues that affect their neighborhood, like street closures, detours, and festivals so they are not inconvenienced,” she adds. She has issues with the police department, the lack of affordable housing (which is a “crisis citywide”) and wants more student input and involvement in social and educational policies that directly affect them. She thinks that Brown “takes more than it gives back” and always seems to come out ahead when dealing with the City. She would like to see a “rent stabilization or rent control ordinance that would protect landlord’s rights but would also protect tenants” and is also against the Fane Tower.
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Ward 2:
Helen Anthony, Mark Feinstein, Ryan Holt
By Barry Fain
T
he decision of Sam Zurier, the well-respected city councilor who has represented Ward 2 in the heart of the East Side for the past eight years, not to seek reelection caught many of us by surprise. But to his credit, the Councilman announced his decision several months before the filing deadline to allow any resident interested in the position plenty of time to step forward. This has not always been the case on the East Side, where in the past, a few incumbents made their decisions at the last possible moment seemingly preferring what unfortunately resembled more of a hand-off than an open election. “I’ve always felt strongly about the need for transparency in these situations,” explains Zurier, “and as a result I will not be endorsing any of the three candidates who will be seeking the office except to say I think they are all excellent candidates and are committed to representing our community as Providence continues to wrestle with its ongoing challenges. Any endorsements came from the Ward 2 committee and I specifically refrained from involving myself in their decision.” As it turns out, the three candidates do in fact share many common positions with the outgoing councilman. They all opposed the Fane tower, objected to plans to rezone the area around the proposed suboxone project, are committed to the importance of the City’s doing what is necessary to maintain the high standards at Classical High School, and of enforcing regulations that currently prohibit the number of unrelated individuals in our residential dwelling units. Each of our 15 City Councilmen have different priorities, Zurier admits. “In my case it was education and fiscal responsibility.” Here is a look at the backgrounds and priorities of the three candidates seeking to represent the Ward.
Helen Anthony While two of the candidates running to succeed Sam Zurier have a long history in Providence, candidate Helen Anthony feels her relatively short time (five years) should not be seen as a deterrent. A land use attorney working with the Providence law firm of Handy, LLC, the Connecticut native returned to the East Coast after more than ten years living in Columbia, MO when her husband took the job as head of pathology at Rhode Island and Miriam Hospitals. But it’s not like she has no experience in the intricacies of city governance. “I worked on the planning and zoning committees in Columbia for four years before winning a seat on the City Council there 34
East Side Monthly • September 2018
Helen Anthony
as a Democrat after a rigorous campaign in this Republican part of the country.” She believes this experience will serve her well as she adapts to her new home base and perhaps provide some useful new perspectives for the Council. In the years she has been in Providence, Anthony has quickly become active in many of the civic areas that have always interested her. She was recently appointed to the Zoning Board of Providence by Mayor Elorza and has taken leadership roles at Crossroads on issues of domestic violence and at the Providence RI Coalition for the Homeless free legal clinic. She admits to falling in love with Providence – ”its parks are way better than Boston’s” – and as a community activist at heart with actual hands on governmental experience, she’s excited about trying to help her adopted new city deal with its problems. She has identified three areas she plans to concentrate on if elected: Preserving the quality of life here in the city, addressing what she feels is the threat of overoccupancy in all family dwellings throughout the city, and the need to join with our other Providence elected officials on securing more funding for local public education. She acknowledges that one of the issues that affect the East Side is that only three of the City’s 15 wards are here. “There was a time when much of the City Council leadership came from
the East Side, I’m told. While it’s important that whoever represents the East Side has a clear vision of what needs to be done, there must also be recognition to the importance of establishing relationships with other stakeholders in the Council.” While admitting she doesn’t know many of the other members of the Council, she feels her success in dealing with similar issues in Columbia, particularly during a heated ward redistribution controversy there for example, will serve her well here. Anthony (age 58) and her husband Doug live on Angell Street near Patterson Park. They have four adult children.
Mark Feinstein A successful businessman and active board member for many local charitable entities, Mark Feinstein is the first to admit there are a lot of things he will have to learn in terms of the way the City Council formulates and implements policy. “But I’m a quick study,” he laughs, “and I do know a lot about businesses and how things should run.” A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Insitute (RPI), Feinstein moved to Providence almost thirty years ago, initially to lead a business in northern Rhode Island. Soon however he began running his own businesses, ultimately owning some 29 Blockbuster stores and 10 Discovery
zoning, and insure public safety. “I may not have all the answers, but I would very much like to part of a group to analyze and correct the things that continue to hold us back.” Feinstein (age 62) and his wife Cindy live on Laurel Avenue and have three adult children.
Ryan Holt
Mark Feinstein Zone locations around RI and MA. His business acumen earned him a spot in Providence Economic Development Advisory Committee for the past 22 years and to which he has been appointed by four different mayors. He has recently become an investor in Providence Bagel, which he hopes to help franchise around the state, as well as finding time to teach business at Bryant. Feinstein shares his expertise in the non-profit world as well, serving on the Boards of Miriam Hospital, Temple Emanu-El, and Bank Rl, among others. So why does a successful and already actively engaged man like Feinstein want to join the City Council? “Because of my kids and to protect their future. Rhode Island is a wonderful place to live and work. I have both the time and the energy at this point in my life to try and find solutions to the problems that are holding us back. My experience has taught me that the best way to do this is it to analyze how we got into a bad solution and learn from it, so we don’t do it again.” If elected, Feinstein has several areas he hopes to work on in the Council. Most important to him is economic development, something he feels he knows quite well. He is especially interested in seeing how the City can help in the development of startups and developing the economic engines our city and state so badly need. On a more basic level, he also feels it’s important that the City at least follow the rules it already has in place: to take care of our sidewalks and parks, implement existing
Though the youngest of the three candidates, Holt represents the kind of resident that Rhode Island needs more of: A lifelong Rhode Islander who left for work but now has chosen to move back and wants to be part of the effort to rejuvenate our City and state. He and his wife Lilia were both born and bred in Providence, he from Smith Hill, she from the East Side. Holt went to PC and then the Law School at Northeastern. Both he and his wife Lilia started their working careers in Boston but soon bought a house on the East Side and moved back a few years ago. Ryan is an attorney and lobbyist with the law firm of DarrowEverett, LLP. Now a member of both the boards of College Hill Neighborhood Association and the Mile of History Association that deals with Benefit Street, he is fully committed to historic preservation and the importance of community building. “My goal is to help neighbors effectively address their concerns to the powers that be over issues like infrastructure and public safety so that they are dealt with quickly and efficiently.”
In terms of his priorities, Holt lists three. His first is on what he calls “a community-centered policy of sustainable and smart economic growth. But it must be smart growth which is why I have opposed the Fane building both in terms of its size and especially its placement.” His second area of concern is over public service. Here’s where he thinks his Providence roots kick in. “I’ve known the police chief since I was a young boy and would love to work with him to develop a more rapid response to property crimes and emergency situations on the East Side.” His third priority is to improve our public schools. As a member of the Classical Alumni Board for twelve years, he feels he is ideally positioned to advocate for our East Side schools. From his earliest days, Holt says politics has always been at the top of his life’s goals. He logged some valuable time working for the Obama campaign in Pennsylvania and he now hopes to meet every one of his constituents before the primary during his door-to-door sweeps, usually accompanied by his wife or mom… or both. Holt feels that because of his local background, his having lived in several different parts of the city, and his ongoing experience as a part-time lobbyist up on the Hill, he’s the only one of the three candidates who can hit the ground running and start getting things done in the City Council from day one. Our interview ended with another one of those “only in Rhode Island” moments. When asked if he had any final thoughts, he mentioned with a grin “Well, should I add that my wife Lil was a baby sitter to some of Mark’s children growing up?” Holt (age 31) and his wife, now a business development consultant, live on Halsey Street.
Ryan Holt East Side Monthly • September 2018 35
State Representative District 4:
Rebecca Kislak and Mark Tracy
By Barry Fain
Rebecca Kislak
A
lthough its borders have changed somewhat, State Representative District 4 has been an important launching pad for many of those who have occupied the seat. In particular, David Cicilline and Gordon Fox both started their political careers here. And while the two current candidates for the position have expressed zero interest in using the spot to further their political careers, that hasn’t dampened the enthusiastic and well-organized campaigns the two have begun as they hustle from door to door to make their case in advance of the upcoming September 12 Democratic primary. Both have well-established progressive bona fides and impressive records of community involvement. But both express somewhat different priorities and life experiences which make this an interesting race to follow.
Rebecca Kislak In her preamble to explain her decision for running, the Fourth Street resident comes straight to the point: “I’m just committed to
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
try to bring my lifelong experience working for economic, racial, and reproductive justice to the state house.” Her activist background is writ large on her resume. Though born in Miami, Kislak has established deep ties to Providence. After her undergraduate degree from Brown and a law degree from Georgetown, Kislak returned to Providence and has plunged into her progressive activism with gusto. She began her local career as an attorney for the RI Legal Services before becoming policy director at the RI Health Center Association. She now is president of Kislak Consulting and spends significant time at the state house lobbying for the causes to which she remains passionately committed. She also has been the president of the RI Chapter of the National Organization for Women as well as a Vice President of Membership and Outreach for Temple Emanu-El. She has somehow even found time to teach health policy at RIC. Kislak has spent quite a bit of time on the Hill already as a lobbyist for the many
Mark Tracy
social issues that are important to her. She has been active on earned sick leave legislation, anti-gun legislation, the move for a $15 minimum wage, and supporting small businesses. She feels her time spent in the trenches is what gives her an advantage over her opponent. “I have already been there advocating directly on the important issues facing our state and hope to continue the tradition of my predecessor’s [Aaron Regunberg] leadership on social issues we both feel are important.” Regunberg is among the several endorsements Kislak has received along with Planned Parenthood. She feels her work on the Hill has also prepared her for what she admits will not be an easy relationship with the current Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello. “I have differences with him over the gender equity issues, in particular the need for legislation to protect a woman’s right to choose given the current concerns over the future of Roe vs Wade and need for greater transparency in the way business is conducted in the
legislature.” At this point, she stops for a second before adding, “but then again, I’m also an optimist. If I’ve learned anything on the Hill, it’s important to be able to work with anyone if you hope to achieve useful results in the General Assembly. I have enjoyed a successful lobbying career at the State House and feel comfortable in my skills in working with both sides of an issue.” In terms of local issues, she is definitely against the Fane building, and believes that we need more middle and low-income housing rather than expensive and high-end. On the PawSox project, she is more undecided. On the one hand she enjoys the PawSox herself and even had a party at the stadium for her nine-year-old. But she remains unsure about the degree to which the state should be involved financially. Kislak (age 46) lives on Fourth Street and is married to Dr. Joanna Brown. They have two sons, Ezra (age 12) and Simon (age 9) who are students at Nathan Bishop and the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island respectively.
Mark Tracy While not as well-known at this point as his opponent, Mark Tracy has initiated his candidacy with a rather unique letter to his constituents. While he succinctly identifies what he feels would make him an ideal representative for his neighbors – ”a progressive candidate with a vision for inclusive economic growth” – he writes that it’s his life itself that provides a unique narrative from traditional Rhode Island candidates. “Because I had to deal with unfortunate tragedies as I was growing up… my father passed away when I was nine, and my mother when I was 19, I was brought up to be self-reliant on the one hand, while dependent on the workings of the social safety net on the other.” Raised in New York, he arrived alone at Brown as a freshman where “I was welcomed by Providence and is why I remain so committed to this city.” He went on to forge a successful career working in Iowa as an IT specialist for
Cargill, the country’s largest family owned agribusiness trading company with sales of over $140 billion a year. “There, my position as an IT specialist was to analyze change in the agricultural marketplace and try to anticipate where the next threat might be coming from.” He hopes some of these skills will be useful for city governance. “If we continue to govern in the same way we always have, we’re going to continue to get the same mediocre results.” Since returning to Providence about ten years ago, Tracy has thrown himself into a broad range of social activities on both an organizational and participatory level. He was appointed by Mayor Tavares to be part of the investment commission for the City of Providence. But he also enjoys hands-on projects as well. He’s a board member and secretary of Hope Hospice, and includes the RI Public Health Institute, Save the Bay, and the board of the Summit Neighborhood Association as some of his other non-profit involvements. “And every Friday I enjoy going over to help provide the muscle – which in my case is rather modest – to help unload the food truck at the Camp Street Ministries.” Is he concerned that his opponent is being endorsed by Regunberg? “Not at all. I feel being a representative of our district ought to be a full-time job. Aaron has done that. But I also feel you shouldn’t be running around focusing on Donald Trump. My focus will be on working on the problems of District 4 and Providence. And I expect to be hands-on. If there is a late-night need for my presence to help solve a constituent problem, I expect to be there.” As for Mattiello? “My background is in finance and creative problem solving. I also run a small business. These are areas which I feel will be useful to help my fellow legislators and will insure that our voice is better heard and more respected in advocating the progressive causes so many of us believe in.” Tracy (age 45) lives on Arlington Avenue and is married to Dr. Molly Tracy, a neurologist. They have two children, Kate (age 8) and Jonah (age 5).
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Democratic Primary for Governor:
Gina Raimondo and Matt Brown
By Dan McGowan
I
f you were to ask the state’s top political operatives a year ago who was most likely to give Governor Gina Raimondo a credible Democratic primary challenge, chances are they wouldn’t have said Matt Brown. Before Brown burst back on to the state’s political scene in March – first with plans to run as an independent before ultimately entering the race as a Democrat – it appeared as though former Governor Lincoln Chafee was the one poised to take on Raimondo from the left. Now it’s Brown, a former secretary of state and co-founder of a nonprofit that advocates for the elimination of nuclear weapons, who has positioned himself as Bernie Sanders to Raimondo’s Hillary Clinton. His promises include Medicare for all, a $15 minimum wage, driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, and the restoration of cost-of-living adjustments for retired state employees. Even Chafee has endorsed him. So can it work? “Primaries are a very strange animal because you don't know who is coming out to vote,” Joe Fleming, a well-known pollster and political analyst, said. “Is it traditional Democrats or is it a lot of progressives? That’s what helped Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary two years ago.”
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
Matt Brown
But while Sanders beat Clinton by nearly 12 percentage points in Rhode Island in 2016, Fleming said he’s not sure Brown has proven he has the ability to “expand the universe” of voters to upset Raimondo, the state’s first female governor. He noted that Raimondo had $4 million in her campaign account as of March, which gave her the ability to run TV commercials throughout the summer. Raimondo, of course, believes she has made a strong case to return to the State House for a second term. Rhode Island’s unemployment rate dropped from 7.8% in June 2014 to 4.3% in June 2018. She’s helped recruit major companies like General Electric and Johnson & Johnson to the state. And she pushed through a free community college program for new high school graduates. Still, a WPRI-12/Roger Williams University poll released in March found that while 50% of voters statewide had a favorable view of Raimondo, only 37% had a positive view of her job performance. There appears to be little doubt that near-daily reports of errors with the state’s Unified Health Infrastructure Project – the computer system that was supposed to streamline state benefits programs – have taken their toll. Although Raimondo has rarely mentioned
Brown or her other Democratic primary opponent, former State Rep. Spencer Dickinson, on the campaign trail, her proposals have largely been aimed at voters on the left. In the final two weeks of July, she pledged to expand the state’s free college program to both Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island while also promising to reign in payday lenders and increase access to paid family leave. One big question will be turnout in the primary. Four years ago, 128,000 Democrats voted in the race between Raimondo, then-Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, and Clay Pell. But with little excitement in the down-ticket matchups – with the possible exception of the lieutenant governor’s race – the campaigns will need to put together strong ground games to get people to the polls. Fleming said Raimondo appears to be in the driver’s seat, but a strong performance from Brown could make her more vulnerable against whomever emerges from the Republican primary between Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, State Rep. Patricia Morgan, and businessman Giovanni Feroce. The winners of the two primaries will also face Moderate Bill Gilbert and Independents Joe Trillo, Luis Daniel Muñoz, and Anne Armstrong in the general election.
(left) Photography by James Jones
Gina Raimondo
Democratic Mayoral Primary:
Jorge Elorza, Kobi Dennis, Robert DeRobbio
By Dan McGowan
Jorge Elorza
H
ere’s the first thing you should know about the race for Providence mayor: since the beginning of World War II, only two incumbents have lost their bids for re-election to the top job in City Hall. Democrat Joe Doorley was beaten in 1974 and Republican John Collins was unseated in 1940. So, it’s safe to say the odds are stacked against retired school administrator Robert DeRobbio and community advocate Kobi Dennis as they seek to unseat Mayor Jorge Elorza in the Democratic primary on September 12. But that doesn’t mean the two challengers are making it easy for Elorza, the well-funded former Housing Court judge and college professor whose first run for office four years ago became an international story because of the guy he was running against, former mayor-turned-felon-turned-mayor-turned-felonturned-radio-host Buddy Cianci. During a recent forum at Martin Luther King Jr. School on Camp Street, the three candidates sat on stage together for the first time as residents voiced their concern about the city’s schools, economic development policies, and Elorza’s proposal to monetize the water supply in an attempt to strengthen the City’s ailing pension fund. DeRobbio, who turns 73 on September 3, has made education a centerpiece of his campaign.
Kobi Dennis
A former superintendent in Lincoln, he also had a lengthy career as an administrator in Providence schools and served on the School Board. He has vowed to resolve a year-long contract dispute between Elorza and the teachers’ union by bringing all sides together and hammering out a deal. A former chairman of the RI Ethics Commission, DeRobbio has also been a vocal critic of what sees of clear conflicts of interest from the mayor’s office. He has promised to ban former members of his staff from serving as city or state lobbyists after they leave City Hall while pointing out that former Elorza chief of staff Anthony Simon now works as a lobbyist for the firm hired to oversee the city’s speed camera program. Dennis, 47, launched his campaign last October with a promise that he would reach voters who are often overlooked, namely the young African-American and Latino youth he has spent most of his adult life working with at various nonprofits. He has spent the last year hustling between his day job as a manager for a mentorship program called Princes 2 Kings and building buzz for his campaign. On the trail, has been critical of the high percentage of city employees who don’t live in Providence, although he has backed off an initial pledge to seek legislative approval to restore residency requirements. Instead, he has said he
Robert DeRobbio
wants to offer incentives to city workers to live in the city. He has also promised to build a better relationship with the City’s nonprofit hospitals and colleges rather than solely depending on their annual cash payments each year. While Elorza’s financial advantage – he has $729,000 in his campaign account, 13 times more than that of DeRobbio and Dennis Combined – and campaign organization suggests he’s a strong favorite to win re-election, disputes with firefighters, teachers and police officers have cost the mayor endorsements from his major public employee unions. At the same time, Elorza has repeatedly made the case that his administration has stabilized the City’s financials, committed to making hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs to schools, roads, and sidewalks, and improved the delivery of city services to residents. His decision to become the most outspoken politician in the state against President Donald Trump’s positions on illegal immigration and guns has also strengthened his standing among progressives. The winner of the primary won’t necessarily be allowed to waltz to victory in November, as Independent Dee Dee Witman has the financial resources to run a credible campaign. Another Independent, Jeff Lemire, is also running in November. East Side Monthly • September 2018 39
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What It Means To Be A Progressive Leader For Ward 1 by Justice Gaines Over the next four years, several crucial issues defining our city’s future will be shaped by our City Council: facilitating responsible land development, growing our economy with all residents in mind, addressing our affordable housing crisis, and investing in our schools and infrastructure. I am grateful that my opponent and I seem to agree that these issues are important. Where we disagree in this election is on the definition of a progressive leadership, two words tossed around far too lightly by my opponent. True progressive leadership requires building genuine relationships. It means engaging residents year-round to ensure their inclusion in our city’s decision-making processes. A truly progressive leader must be proactive, responsive, and resolute in fighting for change. My reputation for that leadership has been endorsed over my opponent’s by nearly every progressive organization, women’s group, and human rights organization engaged in municipal elections this cycle. These groups recognize that our city can no longer afford the complacency of our current “leaders.” In the upcoming primary on September 12, fellow residents of Ward 1 will weigh in to decide what progressive leadership means to them. I hope for the opportunity to serve our residents with the same democratic vision that I have carried throughout all of my advocacy in Providence. Paid for by friends of Justice for Ward 1, Chris Rotondo, Treasurer
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
CLOSE TO HOME Home and Family | Education
Photo courtesy of Christine Chitnis
At Home on the East Side
Simply Chic
A streamlined approach helps keep the focus on family life for author Christine Chitnis By Elyse Major
As a writer, photographer, maker, and working mother of three young children, Christine Chitnis has a lot going on. To maintain a haven of calm for herself and busy brood of five, her design sense has taken a minimalist turn that is anything but austere in her 1906 Blackstone neighborhood home. “I was very into colorful, eclectic decor but since welcoming my children, have really felt the desire to simplify spaces and create a calm and cozy environment,” says Chitnis, for whom
this means very little clutter and furniture that is solid, comfortable, and not-at-all fussy. “In my opinion, a simple, clean space allows for creativity and comfort to flourish. We’re all pretty selective about what comes into our home because we love the airy, open space that we’ve achieved by minimizing the amount of stuff.” This transformation has also included the walls, which were once painted in various sea glass hues and are now pure white. “I think simple design allows the architectural details
of our home to shine, like the beautiful moldings and old leaded glass windows,” says Chitnis. The neutral backdrop also lets vibrant art and Chitnis’ own textile handiwork to take center stage. “Our home definitely feels like a New England home, both in its architecture and in the furnishings, which are a bit coastal in theme,” says Chitnis. “It feels like a breath of fresh air every time I walk through the door.” Find Christine on Instagram @christine.chitnis East Side Monthly • September 2018 43
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Taking a Breath
The Center for Resilience brings mindfulness workshops to Rhode Island schools By Annie Furuyama
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
the Rhode Island Department of Education released a statewide report. In short: kids are stressed. More than half of students grades 6-12 responded that stress had interfered with their school work in the past 30 days, and students in all grades reported that they often could not remain calm when someone was bothering them. While many schools rely on detention and suspension to curb poor classroom behavior, the report showed biased discipline across racial lines: in Rhode Island, African-American girls were 3.8 times more likely than white girls to be suspended. The Center for Resilience, based in Pawtucket, has an alternative: mindfulness. “[We have] worked with more than 7,000 Rhode Island students at 75 different schools across the state,” says founder Vanessa Weiner, as well as parents, veterans, physicians, and business owners to harness mindfulness techniques and improve home and workplaces.
Mindfulness programs include breathing exercises and compassion meditation, which aim to increase empathy for the people around us. Weiner says she learned meditation exercises from her father when she was a competitive gymnast training for the Olympics. “It has been helpful in my life long after I left the gym,” she says, “and the studies now prove how much benefit this simple, though not easy, practice can have.” Several studies demonstrate that mindfulness techniques have a range of benefits for adults. In 2017, one national study from the Journal of Educational Psychology reported that 224 teachers underwent a 30hour mindfulness program, and the results showeda statistically significant impact on emotional regulation, psychological distress, and time urgency. Long-term research is still forthcoming on children’s academic performance and physical health effects, but the Center claims that results seem promising.
Photo courtesy of Rhode Island Department of Education
Mindfulness exercises have been linked to improved learning and lower detention rates
Smart News
The Gordon School appoints historic new president After living and working in New York City’s Bronx borough for the past 20 years, Dr. Noni Thomas Lopez agreed to join the Gordon School in East Providence as head of school. Thomas Lopez had never visited Gordon School, but she was familiar with its reputation. “It was a school that for me represented what independent schools should be doing, which was focusing their work on creating inclusive environments for all children, but doing that very explicitly through curriculum,” she says. “So even though the school was in a town that I hadn’t visited until my interview process, it was a school that matched who I felt that I was as an educator and my core values as an educator.” Thomas Lopez’s new position is exciting for another important reason: she is the first woman of color to serve as head at Gordon School, and just the fifth woman of color to serve as such among roughly 500 private schools in New England. The Gordon School is broadly diverse, with over 40 percent students of color, but many private schools were founded as exclusive environments, she notes. Students, teachers, and the mostly male administrators were typically white. The schools were (and still are) expensive to attend, so students usually came from wealthier families. Her appointment can help change those conditions, she believes. “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” she says. “There are women of color working in independent schools who have leadership aspirations.” -Ed McCarthy
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
Every summer, we have some kind of adventure. Sometimes it’s the far away kind, like the month we spent in Prague. Sometimes it’s the creative kind, like the summer we visited as many lighthouses in New England as we could, even sleeping in one in Saugerties. This year, our summer adventure was the stayclose to-home kind. Hidden amongst some of the most prestigious addresses in College Hill is Creighton Street, and this year it was our “summer home.” Only one block long, it feels like a micro neighborhood; most of its residents have lived there more than 30 years. Friends were leaving their house empty to spend the summer swimming the Bavarian Forest lakes of Switzerland. Delighted as they were with their travel plans, they had to leave
behind their arthritic 13-year-old golden retriever, Annabelle. We loved the idea of a summer dog – all the benefits of exposing our son to a loving relationship with a dog without the commitment. Plus, their trip abroad and vacant house coincided with our planned kitchen renovation. So, I packed up the three of us – myself, my husband, and our six-year-old son Valentino – and moved us two miles away. There is a Ripley-esque allure to staying in someone else’s home. You get to try someone else’s life for a short time: sip from their coffee mugs, peruse their bookshelves, play with their toys. It can be disconcerting. All of the familiar ingredients are present, just in different cupboards. Waking up, the first thing I saw every morning was a drawing by the artist whose house we were living in. It was a bird, colored
Illustration by Lia Marcoux
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mint green, yellow, and carnation-pink, a delicate creature stopped mid-air, its wings flapping wildly as its body stood still. Most definitely a metaphor for how I feel some days. My son discovered a drum set on our third day. He spent a lot of time in the far corner of the playroom wailing on the drums and cymbals. Meanwhile, my husband’s muscle memory had to get used to an entirely different kitchen work triangle. Motivated by “one of the best knives I’ve ever used,” he cooked every night. Between the cooking and the playing we walked (literally) in the footsteps of our hosts. As easygoing and laid-back as Annabelle the retriever is, she’s also a creature of habit. Her walk was Prospect to Jenkes to Pratt to Hidden and then back to Brown. Annabelle refused our attempts at anything different. She sat, right there in the middle of the street. But these walks proved to be the best part of our summer. Almost every day we saw neighbors Walter and Klaus, always rewarding because Walter is a great storyteller with an especially good eye for architecture. And then there was Olle and his tiny dog Olfi; the man was delighted that his very own Sweden was getting attention in this year’s World Cup. And most evenings we met any one of the Moores walking their older retriever Dolly. I had also forgotten how varied the crowds can be. On that particular summer night, toddlers were running around covered with ice cream, RISD summer students lounged with their sketchbooks, a few hopelessly-in-love teenagers smooched on the grass, and ubiquitous tourists took selfies. I was feeling nostalgic. Many, many years ago, my friends and I would walk up from Benefit Street, certain this incredible view of Providence existed just for our pleasure. The night’s view was one of those deep, beetroot Providence sunsets, just as grand as I remembered it. I was feeling grateful all over again, to our friends for going away, but also for the chance to have an adventure so close to home in my own city.
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410 Cole Ave $1,595,000
5 Constitution Hill $749,000
EAST SIDE
EAST SIDE
RIVERSIDE
NE
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309 Freeman Pkwy $1,795,000
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252 Freeman Pkwy $975,000
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90 Humboldt Ave $1,375,000
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201 Lorimer Ave $1,099,000
281 Benefit St Unit A $799,000
377 Rochambeau Ave $598,000
78 Arnold Ave $459,000
92 Laurel Ave $860,000
EAST SIDE
EAST SIDE
EAST SIDE
EAST SIDE
EDGEWOOD
SO
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JIM DeRENTIS
associates
EDGEWOOD D EN
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288 Blackstone Blvd $4,950,000
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1 Wayland Ave #311S $329,000
EAST SIDE
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MARK H AM
60 Riverside Dr $849,000
N PE
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25 Kingston Ave $469,000
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SERVING PROVIDENCE’S EAST SIDE & WEST SIDE, ELMHURST EDGEWOOD & OAK HILL Residential Properties Ltd 401.553.6383 • PVDrealestateguy.com
26 Benefit St #4 $775,000
48
28 Cole Ave $598,000
East Side Monthly • September 2018
71 Vassar Ave $549,000
1 Wayland Ave #310N $489,000
1404 Narragansett Blvd $349,000
*Statewide MLS and public record
• PAID ADVERTISEMENT •
DEEP ROOTS
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SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS
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DEEP ROOTS
Since selling my businesses in 2008 I have been mentoring entrepreneurs as well as being an adjunct faculty member at Bryant University teaching entrepreneur and management classes.
PROVEN LEADERSHIP
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As a local businessman I managed budgets and created hundreds of jobs in the area. I have served on numerous boards including the boards of BankRI and Miriam Hospital. I have had the honor of serving as the President of The Holocaust Education Resource Center, The Jewish Federation Of RI as well as Temple Emanu-el. I was also appointed to the Providence Economic Development Corp. Board (and its successor organizations) by four different mayors.
Mayor James A. Diossa Presents
CENTRAL FALLS
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A World of Flavors in One Square Mile
ESTAU R TR E
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Paid for by Feinstein for Ward 2, Mark Feinstein, Treasurer
To ensure a thriving future for Providence we must get our fiscal house in order. We must address the unfunded pension liability as well as the current needs of our infrastructure. (roads and safety). We must increase our tax base with friendlier policies to help our local businesses grow, attract new businesses, and nurture new startups. I believe my experiences give me the qualifications to be a part of the solution for a better Providence.
PAWTUCK
MFEINSTEIN.COM | DEMOCRAT | WARD 2
My wife and I have lived in this ward for 28 years and raised three children here. I understand the concerns of the people in our ward because they are my concerns as well.
S AV O R FIR
BREAKFAST & LUNCH $7.99 • DINNER $14.99
Presented by 401-724-2200
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See participating restaurants at RestaurantWeekPCF.com East Side Monthly • September 2018 49
Your East Side Real Estate Expert Call Kevin Today for a Free Market Analysis of Your Home 401-688-5556
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
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ON THE TOWN Restaurant and Food | Restaurant Guide | Calendar of Events
Flavor of the Month
Party on a Half Shell
Ocean State Oyster Festival returns to Riverwalk Park By Robert Isenberg
Photography by Mike Braca
You might call the oyster the pearl of Rhode Island waters. These dynamic bivalves are an essential part of any coastal ecosystem, and they taste great, too. You can dress up an oyster in any sauce or garnish you like, but the most diehard fans eat them naked, in one confident slurp. The Ocean State Oyster Festival is a one-day celebration of the state’s favorite shellfish, taking place in Riverwalk Park. You can shuck oysters, eat oysters, and - perhaps most important of all - learn about oysters from the growers who raise them. Sponsored by the Ocean State Aquaculture Association (OSAA), the festival aims to educate
locals about the importance of sustainable aquaculture, which is why organizers have teamed up with water preservationists Save the Bay. Visitors can also enjoy live music and oyster-centric events, such as the annual “shuck-off.” There will be plenty of libations to match, including local craft brews and spiked ginger beer. Proceeds benefit Save the Bay’s after-school programs, and volunteers will attempt to recycle every scrap, thanks to a partnership with The Compost Plant and Nature Conservancy RI. Fittingly, the discarded oyster shells will contribute to the construction of artificial reefs. September 22, Riverwalk Park, OysterFestRI.com
East Side Monthly • September 2018 51
• PAID ADVERTISEMENT •
On the Town On the Menu
Keep on Truckin’
Bring an appetite and your best dance moves to the PawSox Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival in Pawtucket By Robert Isenberg
AN EXPERIENCED PROGRESSIVE VOICE FOR
DISTRICT 4
Aug 22: Last day to request a mail ballot Aug 23- Sept 11: Emergency Voting at the Providence City Hall Sept 12 (Wednesday): PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
Learn more at vote.ri.gov
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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
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Fine Custom Upholstery & Slip Covers Custom Window Treatments Headboards • Bedspreads & Shams Upholstered Antique Restoration Blinds & Shades • Area Rugs & Wall To Wall 2179 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence 401-231-1660 • www.bobfrances.com 52
East Side Monthly • September 2018
Rhode Islanders love their food trucks, and if the PawSox Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival was just a bunch of vehicular kitchens arranged in a circle, people would already be lining up for tacos and hot dogs. Strolling down the line of trucks is one of the best ways to sample our state’s culinary range, and you’re encouraged to eat multiple meals in a single sitting. But don’t forget the craft beer; a slew of local breweries should make the festival twice as fun. Then there’s the venue, McCoy Stadium, which is perfect, because snacks and baseball go together like stars and stripes. And although there isn’t an actual baseball game scheduled, you can expect to see some PawSox players in the crowd.
As if that weren’t enough, the stadium will throb with live music and old-school hip hop videos will be projected on the jumbotron, which should turn the event into a massive dance party. The festival is hosted by FoodTrucksIn.com, a Providence-based network that has registered more than 7,000 food trucks in 1,500 cities across the country. The standard ticket is $20, which grants you a $5 voucher for any truck, ten two-ounce drink tickets, and (best of all) two flex tickets for the PawSox 2019 season – so even if you don’t get to see any pitches the day of the festival, the whole experience should be a grand slam. September 15, McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket. Facebook: PawSox Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival.
Photo courtesy of PawSox Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
Blinds and Shades!
• PAID ADVERTISEMENT •
The Rhode Island Seafood Festival returns to India Point Park
• PAID ADVERTISEMENT •
VOTE WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF JORGE ELORZA, AL MARCIANO, TREASURER
Photo courtesy of RI Seafood Festival
For seafood lovers, there’s no better way to finish the summer than in a park, gazing at the water, with a lobster roll in your hand. Add a few craft beers and a full lineup of local musicians, and you’ve got yourself a perfect outdoor party. Not only can you munch away at your favorite shellfish or crustacean, but you’re also welcome bring along your dog. The Rhode Island Seafood Festival has returned every September since 2011, drawing fish fans to India Point Park for a weekend of outdoor revelry. Of course you’ll find the usual raw bars, showcasing local farmers and fishermen, plus every fried morsel imaginable. Even if you don’t like seafood, the festival will feature a good deal of landlubber foods – including sugary treats like ice cream and cannoli – and you can even browse arts and crafts from across the state. The festival has exploded in popularity, so expect some crowds, but the event lasts all afternoon on Saturday and Sunday, so there’s plenty of time to grab your grub. September 8 and 9. India Point Park, RISeafoodFest.com
Where Healthcare and Hospitality Meet
READERS
-WELCOMEJoin us for our monthly book club on the last Monday of every month at 2 p.m. to discuss old classics and new favorites.
SEPTEMBER’S READ: How It All Began By Penelope Lively
(near Eastside Marketplace)
C E L E B R AT I N G
10
YEARS
OF OUR BOOK CLUB! One Butler Ave. | Providence, RI | WingateHealthcare.com
DATE: SEPTEMBER 24th TIME: 2 p.m. 401-275-0682
East Side Monthly • September 2018 53
Put a Ring on It
RESTAURANT GUIDE Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
Introducing a Vast Selection of Timeless Wedding, Engagement & Friendship Rings at a Variety of Prices!
F E AT U R E D R E S TA U R A N T
CAV
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Join us for a bountiful Harvest of... Heirloom Pumpkins, Gourds, & Festive Fall Decor
Harvest Festival
CAV Restaurant is an award-winning restaurant that has wowed guests for over 25 years. Inspired by cuisines and cultures from around the world, the eclectic menu offers a creative selection of housemade pasta, fresh seafood, and unique entrees like duck confit and filet mignon. A diverse wine and cocktail
list complements the mix of European, Asian, and New England flavors. The beloved, one-of-a-kind restaurant has been featured in the New York Times, Bon Appetit, Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels, and the Providence & Rhode Island Chef’s Table. A recipient of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, the restaurant is a must.
14 Imperial Place 751-9164, CAV Restaurant.com
every weekend starting
September 22nd & 23rd — thru — October 27th & 28th 10am-4pm
THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER 716 Mooresfield Road (Rt. 138), Wakefield 401-792-1340 • Open Daily 9am-6pm www.thefarmersdaughterri.com 54
East Side Monthly • September 2018
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 $$$ Character’s Cafe & Theatre 82 Hybrid art space with all-day breakfast, coffee, and theater-inspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 490-9475. BL $ Harry’s Bar & Burger Called the “Best Burger in America” by CNN. Over 50 craft beers. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336. LD $-$$ Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambience. Locations in Cranston and Providence, HarukiSushi. com. LD $-$$ Heng Authentic Thai street food served – including noodles and rotisserie chicken – in Providence’s College Hill neighborhood. 165 Angell St, Providence. LD $ Iron Works Tavern A wide variety of signature American dishes in the historic Thomas Jefferson Hill Mill. 697 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, 739-5111. LD $-$$$
TEAMWORK • GUIDANCE • RESULTS
Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating more than 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$ LaMei Hot Pot Authentic Chinese cuisine in a unique, casual setting. 256 Broadway, Providence, 831-7555. LD $$ Luigi’s Restaurant & Gourmet Express Handmade Italian classics and prepared foods to go. 1457 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 455-0045, LuigisGourmet.com. LD $$ Luxe Burger Bar Build Your Own Burger: You dream it, we build it! 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $ McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$ McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steak Mixed grill selections and signature fish
Together Is Better! Gerri Schiffman has been a trusted advocate for buyers and sellers for 24 years. Her experience, knowledge, and competitive drive will help achieve top market price for your property. Together with Gerri you will find your ideal new home.
Call Gerri Schiffman (401) 474-3733 gerrischiffman.com • gerri@residentialproperties.com residentialproperties.com East Side Monthly • September 2018 55
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RESTAURANT GUIDE dishes sourced locally and seasonally. 11 Dorrance St, Providence, 351-4500. BLD $$$$$ Meeting Street Cafe BYOB eatery with large menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day. 220 Meeting St, Providence, 273-1066. BLD $-$$ Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 2723331. D $$$ Ocean State Sandwich Company Craft sandwiches and hearty sides. 155 Westminster St, Providence, 282-6772. BL $-$$
56
East Side Monthly • September 2018
Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 331-0003. LD $-$$
Red Stripe Casual FrenchAmerican bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$
Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks, and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 2731444. LD $-$$$
Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 5213311. D $$-$$$
Pizza J A fun, upbeat atmosphere with thin-crust pizza, pub fare, and gluten-free options. 967 Westminster St, Providence, 632-0555. LD $-$$
Tavolo Wine Bar and Tuscan Grille Classic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine and beer list. 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 349-4979. LD $-$$
Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily specials. 120 Francis St, Providence, 9195050. BrLD $-$$
The Grange Vegetarian restaurant serving seasonal dishes with a juice bar, vegan bakery, and cocktail bar. 166
Broadway, Providence, 0600. BrLD $-$$
831-
The Salted Slate An agri-driven American restaurant with global influences. 186 Wayland Ave, Providence, 270-3737. BrLD $$-$$$ Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun, and Southwestern fare, cocktails, and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 7516777. LD $-$$ 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 $-$$
Unwind By The Water
Supporting Families. Funding Research Since 2013 DINING ON OUTDOOR PATIO
ß LIVE MUSIC ON THE DECK ß Al ’s
Waterfront Restaurant & Marina
Open Weekdays For Dinner at 4pm Saturday & Sunday Open at 12pm 28 Water Street • East Providence 434-0590 • AlsWaterfront.com
MADEIRA R E S TA U R A N T ESTABLISHED 1987
Providing financial assistance to the parents of children battling brain cancer
Open 7 Days For Lunch &Dinner
Honoring the children who suffer from cancer and fight everyday. Our hopes are to make a day in the life of a family suffering from cancer a little bit brighter
288 Warren Avenue, East Providence 401-431-1322 • MadeiraRestaurant.com
For more information or to donate, please visit our website
CorysCrusaders.org
RESTAURANT GUIDE Twin Oaks Family restaurant serving an extensive selection of Italian and American staples. 100 Sabra St, Cranston, 7819693. LD $-$$$ XO Cafe Acclaimed farm-totable cuisine with a fantastic Sunday #PajamaBrunch. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$
SOUTHERN RI Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$ Celestial Cafe Fresh, locally sourced ingredients from farms
and fisheries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 567 South County Trail, Exeter, 295-5559. BLD $$
Dante’s Kitchen American food with Southern flair. 315 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-7798. BL $-$$
Champlin’s Seafood Dockside fresh seafood serving easy breezy cocktails. 256 Great Island Rd, Narragansett, 7833152. LD $-$$
Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 8841149. LD $$$
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 $$$ Colvitto’s Pizza & Bakery Pizza Calzones and baked goods made fresh daily. 91 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 783-8086. BrLD $
Frankie’s Italian Bistro Fine dining with imported wines from around the world. 1051 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, 295-2500. D $-$$$ 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 $-$$ Mariner Grille Seafood, steaks, and pasta in a fun setting, with live entertainment. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 2843282. LD $$ Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana Authentic Neapolitan woodfired pizza with exclusive ingredients imported from
East Side Monthly • September 2018 57
• PAID ADVERTISEMENT •
• PAID ADVERTISEMENT •
RESTAURANT GUIDE For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com
Naples. 60 S County Commons Way, South Kingstown, 783-2900. LD $-$$ Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food with a great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 783-4073. BBrLD $
H SMART GROWTH H H SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS H H STRONG SCHOOLS H As the City Councilor for Ward 2, I will be an effective and
responsive advocate for the future of the East Side PROVIDENCE NATIVE • ATTORNEY CLASSICAL HIGH SCHOOL & PROVIDENCE COLLEGE GRADUATE • COLLEGE HILL RESIDENT OBAMA FOR AMERICA 2012 STAFFER
Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ Sophie’s Brewhouse Espresso drinks and sandwiches with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. 699 S County Trail, Exeter, 295-4273. BL $$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, and Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/ American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$ 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, 2892998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 783-4445. LD $-$$
I look forward to earning your support in the Democratic Primary on
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 Learn more at www.holtforcouncil.com PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF RYAN HOLT, DAVID ELLISON, TREASURER 58
East Side Monthly • September 2018
EAST BAY / NEWPORT Aviary Creative, locally sourced menu featuring rotating craft beers and
RESTAURANT GUIDE For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com
COOKBOOK MENU SERIES
from-scratch cocktails. 2229 GAR Highway, Swansea, 508-379-6007. BrLD $$ Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, 508-999-6975. LD $$ Blount Market & Kitchen Traditional New England seafood summer favorites offered year-round for dine-in and takeout. 406 Water St, Warren, 2451800. LD $$ Bluewater Bar and Grill Casual restaurant with modern seafood dishes, patio seating, and live music. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington, 247-0017. LD $$-$$$ Chomp Upscale comfort food featuring award-winning burgers and sandwiches. 440 Child St, Warren, 289-2324. D $$
Each month we'll highlight a favorite cookbook and create a 3 course tasting menu featuring different recipes interpreted by us from that cookbook
SPECIAL MENU
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays $38 per person
Chez Pascal & The Wurst Kitchen Delectable Dining With A Wurst Side 960 Hope Street, Providence 421-4422 • Chez-Pascal.com
East Bay Oyster Bar Local seafood meets innovative preparation in a rustic setting. 308 County Rd, Barrington, 247-0303. LD $$ Ichigo Ichie Traditional Japanese cuisine, creative sushi, and hibachi. 5 Catamore Blvd, East Providence, 435-5511. LD $-$$$
Hartselle and Associates Pediatric and Adult Psychiatry
KC’s Burger Bar Burgers, hot dogs, and sides enjoyed in a retro car-themed diner. 1379 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA, 508-557-1723. BLD $$ 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 $-$$$
Talk Therapy and Medication Management Specializing in OCD, Eating Issues and All General Disorders
Immediate Openings Available
www.hartselleandassociates.com East Side Monthly • September 2018 59
SEPTEMBER 2018 EDUCATION INNOVATION MONTH mon 3
tues 4
wed 5
sat 1
#edchatRI
thurs 6
fri 7
sat 8
tues 11
wed 12 North Kingstown Technology Summit
Fuse Fellows Chat
thurs 13 Innofest @ McCoy Stadium
sun 9 #edchatRI
EduvateRI Kick-Off Meet Up
mon 10
sun 2
fri 14 EduLeaders of Color Meet Up
sat 15 Doing What Works: Making Connections Across MTSS
sun 16 #edchatRI
BIF Summit Design Week RI
mon 17
tues 18
wed 19
PBL RI Meet Up
thurs 20
fri 21
sat 22 WaterFire: A Salute to Educators
EduLeaders of Color Equity Summit
Big Bang Science Fair
sun 23 #edchatRI Big Bang Science PD
Design Week RI mon 24 Kids COUNT Policies Supporting SCL in RI: Report Release
tues 25 RE-EIRN Report Release
wed 26
OER Design Team
Youth Restorative Project Certification Training Overview PechaKucha Night; theme: Curiosity
thurs 27 EdTechRI Meetup
fri 28 Digging Deeper: Collaboration + Inquiry + Integration = Succes (RISTE)
sat 29
sun 30 #edchatRI
* Oct 5 CLEE Statewide Institute to Advance Equity
Visit www.eduvateri.org/events for more information
September music | performance | social happenings | galleries | sports
THE TO-DO LIST:
Start your fall off right with these unmissable events September 19-22: STYLEWEEK Northeast
1
6
2
7
September 8-9: The Rhode Island Seafood Festival returns with the best in seafood and spirits from around the Ocean State. India Point Park, RISeafoodFest.com September 14-15: The arts flourish this month at the Rhode Island Music & Arts Festival. Local art and live music from bands like Perpetual Groove, Barefoot Truth, and The Mallett Brothers. India Point Park, RhodeIslandMusicFestival.com
3 Photography by Brandon Harmon
September 14-16: Travel back to the age of dinosaurs with Jurassic Quest. Get up close and personal with over 50 museum quality and animatronic dinosaurs spanning the Middle Triassic to the Late Cretaceous Era. 1 Sabin Street, JurassicQuest.com
4
September 20: Thomas Rhett brings country music with a pop swagger to the Dunk, with Brett Young and Midland joining the Life Changes Tour 2018. It’s sure to be “Unforgettable.” 1 La Salle Square, DunkinDonutsCenter.com
September 20-22: Actress and comedian Nicole Byer takes the spotlight at Comedy Connection. The Nailed It host will keep the laughs coming all night long. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence, RIComedyConnection.com
8
September 21: Harvard professor and Brown alum Tarek Masoud will explore contemporary issues in his lecture “Islam and Democracy in the Age of Trump” at Central Congregational Church. 296 Angell St, CentralChurch.us
9
September 15: At this month’s Riverwalk Restoration Project, help fellow volunteers beautify the waterfront by picking up trash, painting railings, lampposts, and benches, and removing stickers. Downtown, DNAPVD.com
September 21-30: The national tour of the musical Miss Saigon starts at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Young Vietnamese woman, Kim, meets an American G.I., and what follows is an epic love story. 220 Weybosset Street, PPACRI.org
5
10
September 19-22: Dress to the nines for New England’s premier fashion week, STYLEWEEK Northeast, which brings fashion industry professionals to the region for a New York worthy fashion show. 1 Sabin Street, StyleWeekNortheast.com
September 25: Bishop McVinney Auditorium welcomes singer-songwriter Audrey Assad for Audrey Assad In Concert: Instruments of Peace. The night combines spirit and song to showcase her new album, Evergreen. 43 Dave Gavitt Way, GoProvidence.com
East Side Monthly • September 2018 61
On the Town Calendar
10,000 SQUARE FEET OF INDOOR PLAY SPACE!
w Plus 3,600 Square
Feet of Exterior Space
w Doggy Daycare and
Overnight Boarding
w Trained Supervisors
and Staff 24/7
w Rubber Floors &
Dog Separation by Size
w Enhanced HVAC /
Air Flow
w Minutes from the
East Side!
FriendsofToto.com
245 Esten Avenue, Pawtucket • 401-722-TOTO
MUSIC
arena & club | classical ARENA & CLUB COLUMBUS THEATRE September 11: An Evening with Yo La Tengo. September 22: John Faraone Album Release Show. 270 Broadway, Providence. 621-9660, ColumbusTheatre.com FETE MUSIC HALL September 7: Orgy: Bring Your Army Tour with Motograter, Brand of Julez, The Crowned, Deprived, and more. September 15: Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals with King Parrot, On Your Deathbed, and Devil Inside. 103 Dike Street, Providence. 3831112, FeteMusic.com THE MET September 15: Blessthefall. September 20: Jukebox The Ghost. September 24: Alestorm and GloryHammer. September 29: Hey Nineteen – A Tribute to Steely Dan. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 7291005, TheMetRI.com THE STRAND September 1: Lil Baby with City Girls, Kollision, YK Osiris, and B La B. September 2: Darell & Brytiago. September 14: Juice WRLD. September 21: Classic Deep Purple Live performed by Glen Hughes. September 27: Borgore with GG Magree and Benda. September 28: Arch Enemy with Goat Whore and Uncured. September 29: Steel Panther – Sunset Strip Live with The Wild!. 79 Washington Street, Providence. TheStrandRI.com
PERFORMANCE comedy | theatre
COMEDY CONNECTION September 1: Big Jay Oakerson. September 14-16: WellRED Comedy Tour. September 20-22: Nicole Byer. 39 Warren
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East Side Monthly • September 2018
Avenue, East Providence. RIComedyConnection.com
438-8383,
THEATRE THE WILBURY THEATRE GROUP September 13-30: How I Learned To Drive. 40 Sonoma Ct, Providence. 400-7100, TheWilburyGroup.org PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER September 21-30: Miss Saigon. 220 Weybosset St, Providence. 421-2787, PPACRI.org
LEARN
discussion | instruction | tour
LADD OBSERVATORY Open to the public on Tuesday evenings from 9 to 10:30 pm, weather permitting. 210 Doyle Avenue. 863-2641, Brown.edu MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND PLANETARIUM August 1-31: Public Planetarium Shows. Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 785-9457, ProvidenceRI.gov/Museum PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY September 3: Girls Who Code. September 4, 11, 18, 25: babybooks and Tableau Workshop for Beginners: Hands-On Tableau Training. September 5, 12, 19, 26: Preschool Storytime. September 6: Ready for Kindergarten and Introduction to Homeschooling. September 7, 14, 21, 28: Unwind with Yarn. September 10: Friends of Rochambeau Library. September 12: Book Chat. September 13: Rochambeau Readers Book Discussion. September 14: La Leche League of Providence Meeting. September 15: Hope High Dollars for Scholars Board Meeting. September 17: PCL All Friends Council and PCL Board Meeting. September 18, 25: Free ESOL classes – Beginner Level. September 18: Books and Movies of
Faith. September 19: LLC Hemingway Short Stories. September 19, 26: Learn to Speak Spanish Intermediate I and Spanish Beginner. 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 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. September 3: Peachfest. September 5: Opening Day at the Brown Market. September 8: Market with a Mission. September 15: Chilifest 2018. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. FarmFreshRI.org
residential and commercial construction (401) 632-4400 | SiteSpecificLLC.com
GALLERIES RISD MUSEUM Through October 14: Theresa Ganz: Storm Diptych. Through October 1, 2019: A Changing Reflection Silver, Metalwork, and Jewelry in the 19th-21st Centuries. 20 North Main Street, Providence. 4546530, RISDMuseum.org GALLERY Z August 1 through October 14: Celebrating All Things Italian. 259 Atwells Avenue, Providence. 454-8844, GalleryZProv.com
SPORTS PAWTUCKET RED SOX September 2-3: vs. Scranton WilkesBarre RailRiders. 1 Columbus Avenue, Pawtucket. 724-7300, PawSox.com
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
SALES & RENTALS 35 South Angell Street, Providence / 401.831.2002
www.PlacesAndSpacesRealtyRI.com
East Side Monthly • September 2018 63
INTRODUCING
“Individually, each is an extraordinary real estate professional. Together, they will bring their expertise, experience, and energy to another of Residential Properties Ltd.’s successful partnerships.” - Sally Lapides, RPL President & CEO
CONTACT US TODAY! KIRA GREENE 401.339.5621 64
East Side Monthly • September 2018
MICHAEL SWEENEY 401.864.8286
GreeneSweeney.com
World Class Mammography in East Greenwich
Our Newly Opened Breast Imaging Center is Designed with You in Mind. Rhode Island Medical Imaging’s highly skilled physicians are specially trained to read breast images. Our newest center offers 3D mammography, breast ultrasounds and biopsy services done in a convenient, warm and welcoming boutique setting. No wonder your East Greenwich neighbors, including these women, trust Rhode Island Medical Imaging. Why would you go anywhere else?
Breast Imaging Center
1351 South County Trail, Building One, East Greenwich • 401-432-2400 • rimirad.com
A sanctuary of peace and beauty...
...here for the community to experience and explore.
Our beautiful grounds and buildings offer a peaceful place to seek inspiration, quietly reflect or commune with nature. Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, Swan Point is an actively managed, full service cemetery open to people of every faith and heritage. To find out more about our cemetery services, including our community mausoleum and reception facilities, please visit our web site or call 401-272-1314.
585 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence 401-272-1314 • www.swanpointcemetery.com
Pictured: Colure, a glass sculpture by artist Daniel Clayman, in the Redwood Mausoleum. East Side Monthly • September 2018 65
Business Spotlight
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
FIND A WORRYFREE PRE-OWNED EUROPEAN CAR? Sure! Choose color, features, mileage & your budget up front. Your dream car is hand-selected, vetted & warrantied. Plus expert service, free pick-up & delivery. Call for a Free Consultation
Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors
Service your car now before returning to school
Luxury Options are Suddenly Necessary Safety Features
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)
The Dwares JCC is
YOUR Community Center. Membership is open to EVERYone regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexuality, ethnic background or family constellation. 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
IASIMONE MEMORY CARE PLUMBING ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE 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 66
East Side Monthly • September 2018
Call 401.944.2450 to schedule a personal tour
49 Old Pocasset Road, Johnston, RI briarcliffegardens.com
I
f you need an excuse to upgrade your vehicle, here are a few: RI made it illegal to use your phone without a hands-free connection. Happily, this also allows you to play your favorite music list, Pandora, etc. Many vehicles now come with a backup camera, showing you what’s behind your car (like a child or pet) and to help you park. Lane assist informs you when you drift too close to something, and even displays a coffee cup if you begin wandering repeatedly... and the list goes on. If these features sound expensive and complicated, think again. Many of these options are standard in luxury brands, but people often get sticker shock. Bob Moreau at AutoWerks can maximize your car purchase and get you into a car with all these perks and more. At AutoWerks, they specialize in finding gently used, pre-loved cars. A new car depreciates 2030% the day you buy it. Why not take advantage of that and let Bob hand select a 1-3 year old, low mileage car that’s looks brand new? You pick the color and features and agree on a price and AutoWerks finds your safe, reliable, and beautiful dream car, and warranties it! Protect yourself (and enjoy some luxury) by letting AutoWerks put you in a car you never thought you could own!
AutoWerks 474-1300 • WerksWell.com
Business Spotlight
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Reserve Your Tree Work Today
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
BEAUTIFUL PRE-OWNED JEWELRY
1271 North Main Street, Providence 437-8421 358 Broad Street, Providence 273-7050
ALSO OFFERING THE IDEAL PROTEIN WEIGHT LOSS METHOD
I
f you have been stalling on making that phone call to have the trees in your yard assessed, don’t wait too long because the first available appointments for T.F. Morra Tree Care, Inc. are now in November. Business owner Tom Morra and the arborists at T.F. Morra are your professional tree experts. “A typical mature tree on the East Side is in more than one yard,” Tom explains. “You may be a new homeowner, or have new neighbors, and it’s important to be proactive and know who’s taking care of the trees on all sides.” Having healthy trees for a lush and thriving neighborhood is in everybody’s best interest. Typical fall services include soil injections of fertilizer or late season pest and disease treatments. “One reason we wait for the fall is because during the summer the trees are in conservation mode, where they don’t move much water,” Tom explains. “We hold off until the trees start transpiring again with the cooler temperatures.” To learn more about anything related to tree health and their pest mitigation program, visit their website at TFMorra.com for comprehensive information and an updated blog on seasonal topics. Now is the time to analyze the current situation of your trees and formulate a plan, but don’t wait on that call, because the remaining available slots are filling up.
“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
TOP APPLIANCES AT LOW PRICES
4 Season Care For Your Property
STAINLESS REFRIGERATORS RANGES • HOODS WASHERS & DRYERS BUILT-IN REFRIGERATION COOKTOPS WALL OVENS DISHWASHERS
NEW SHOWROOM WITH OVER 400 SCRATCH & DENT APPLIANCES!
T.F. Morra Tree Care, Inc. 331-8527 • TFMorra.com
CityEstateGardener.com 401.935.2312
299 Walcott Street, Pawtucket 723.0500 • www.KitchenGuys.com East Side Monthly • September 2018 67
SERVICE
DIRECTORY
R.W. Desrosiers Inc. Stone • Brick • Veneers Walls • Patios • Pavers Fireplaces • Chimneys Design Work
Complete Plumbing & Heating Service
Interior/Exterior
723-0560
Carpentry Renovations
Providence
LiCenSed • Bonded • inSured ri Contr 937 MP #1578 MPF 1355
Call 641-0362 Reg. #7445 lousstonework.com
CHRIS’ LAMP REPAIR We Make Housecalls!!! Repairing all types of Lamps Vintage Lighting Specialist Chandelier Repairs & Cleaning Serving the East Side for 25 Years Fully Insured
401-831-8693
www.ChrisLampRepair.com
Lee’s Basic Cleaning & More! Let me make your life easier! Over 20 yrs. experience. References.
248-5248
New Lawns Installed Seed or Sod Power Raking Augering Hammering
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
497-1461 231-1851 Realistic Painting with Realistic Prices Interior ✭ Exterior Excellent Refererences 25 Years Experience No Job Too Big or Small
481-2534 Reg. #37552
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! Call Al Medina (401) 438-8771 or (401) 323-8252
The Finest in New England Craftmanship
Boreal Remodeling General Home Repair, including Kitchens,Baths, Decks & Additions Reg. # 22013
Michael Packard • (401) 441-7303
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
For as low as
$45!
Deadline: August 31st
68
Reg. #1903 Insured 40 Years Experience
Contact zeliG Personal Property Consulting
785-1230
Email SueH@RhodyBeat.com
Gutter Cleaning Chimney Pointing Roof Leak Repairs
Vinny’s Landscaping & BOBCAT SERVICE
PLANNING or SIMPLY DOWNSIZING?
Give me a call,
SERVICE DIRECTORY
Lead Certified
PRUDENT ESTATE
Reasonable Rates!
Advertise in the
David Onken Painting
Call T & T Painting anytime 944-0336
East Side Monthly • September 2018
Finding the Right Medicare Option for You
Brier & Brier Insurance & Employee Benefits
EAST SIDE HANDYMAN
Repairs, upgrades & renovations. Small jobs welcome. Many East Side references. Insured. Call 524-6421. Reg. #3052
Unique Backgrounds, Complementary Strengths.
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. SUPERB HOUSEPAINTING
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.
High end workmanship. Small jobs a specialty. Call Ron 751-3242. Reg. #18128.
REAL ESTATE COLLABORATIVE
MALIN PAINTING
realestatecollaborative@residentialproperties.com
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
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
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.
PROPERTY MANAGER
That’s what makes us so special, Stanley. RI cats like us are purr-oud of our home!
Hey Walter, Is it really true that RI is the smallest state?
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!
WANTED
!
ME-WOW
Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. 351-6292.
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 • September 2018 69
EAST SIDER By Amanda M. Grosvenor
Eyes on the Sky Hope Street’s historic Ladd Observatory is the pride of Brown University and one of the most iconic structures on the East Side. So, when educator Michael Umbricht was offered the position of curator at the observatory 15 years ago, he knew he had found his dream job. Umbricht was born in Chicago but arrived in the Providence area at five years old, eventually moving to the Hope Street border of Pawtucket and finally the West End, where he currently resides. He spends his weekdays on the East Side, dividing his time between Ladd and his office at the physics department on Brown’s main campus. A vegetarian, he enjoys frequenting the Indian restaurants along Hope and Thayer streets. Before joining Ladd, Umbricht taught astronomy at Roger Williams Park’s Museum of Natural History planetarium. He became fascinated by the history of science as well as mechanics, and he is involved in the Retro-Computing Society of RI. His interests made him the perfect
70
East Side Monthly • September 2018
fit as curator of an observatory dedicated to preserving and showcasing the ways in which our ancestors (literally) viewed the heavens. Its architectural uniqueness even earned Ladd a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. “The observatory wasn’t actually built for research — it was built primarily for teaching, so it was constructed as a state-of-the-art facility,” Umbricht says. In the late 1800s, only fields surrounded Ladd. But then astronomers “started realizing that they needed to go to the top of a tall mountain above air and sea level,” and Providence’s haze and humidity weren’t great for cosmic observation. Despite its practical applications, students from Brown and other universities still use the observatory for starand planet-gazing; Umbricht teaches roughly a handful of classes per month, but the observatory’s primary function these days is community outreach for Brown University. Ladd’s original equipment still works. “And if it doesn’t, we repair it!” Umbricht says. For
example, he recently researched information on how batteries were made to power the giant upper telescope in the days before Ladd had electricity, and led a successful attempt to recreate them. Ladd has added other items over the years, like a 1950s radio to pick up Sputnik satellite signals and telescopes dating back to the mid-1800s. On Tuesday nights, weather permitting, the observatory will usually host open houses where Umbricht will offer tours and demonstrations of the equipment — but he advises always checking ahead on the observatory’s website before visiting. H.P. Lovecraft fans already know that the Lovecrafts were close friends with Ladd’s first astronomy professor, Winslow Upton; the horror author would spend quite a lot of time inside the observatory’s ground-floor library. “When I read through his stories and look at the dates, he’s taking things out of scientific journals from the year before the stories were published and incorporating them into his plots,” Umbricht says.
Photography by Mike Braca
Physicist and star-gazer Michael Umbricht curates the historic Ladd Observatory
NEWPORT
NARRAGANSETT
PROVIDENCE
JAMESTOWN
WATCH HILL
BLOCK ISLAND
SOLD
SOLD 70 CLARKE ROAD | BARRINGTON $2,300,000
145 GROTTO AVENUE | EAST SIDE $1,400,000
9 HOWLAND FARM RD. | E. GREENWICH $1,200,000
8 ALYSSA LANE | LINCOLN $1,299,000
326 BENEFIT ST. | EAST SIDE $810,000
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD 13 PRESTON DRIVE | BARRINGTON $925,000
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD 163 GOVERNOR ST. | EAST SIDE $975,000
543 WOONSOCKET HILL RD. | N. SMITHFIELD $1,035,000
F R O M T H E C OA S T TO T H E C A P I TA L . . . PROVIDENCE
|
369 SOUTH MAIN ST
|
401.274.1644
|
LilaDelman.com
45 Balton Road East Side of Providence $2,100,000 401.274.6740
108 Williams Street East Side of Providence $875,000 401.274.6740
See the Video Tour at 45Balton.com
598 Angell Street #1 East Side of Providence $325,000 401.274.6740
330 Freeman Parkway East Side of Providence $1,1950,000 401.274.6740
#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
401.245.9600 401.333.9333 401.885.8400 401.783.2474 401.274.6740 401.457.3400 800.886.1775
25 Kingston Avenue East Side of Providence $469,000 401.274.6740
See the Video Tour at 330Freeman.com
153 155 Emeline Street East Side of Providence $615,000 401.274.6740
243 Cole Avenue East Side of Providence $439,000 401.274.6740