November 2011
Mapping Out Our Future New I-195 Commission
selected to redesign Fox Point Pre-Sorted Standard US POSTAGE PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 34
PC basketball is in his hands pg 17
A special memorial East Side art show pg 20
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Stunning, renovated 2 story Townhouse with original period details. Kitchen features cherry cabinets and granite counter tops, 2 full/1 half baths, 4 working fireplaces, central air, private yard and patio.
Elegant 1909 Charles Eddy house, with 7 bedrooms and 3 + baths. Gracious entry foyer, lovely period details including atrium windows, 2 fireplaces, paneled library, high ceilings. Fabulous 3rd floor. 2 car garage.
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Newly renovated legal three family right off the Boulevard. New kitchens, granite countertops, new tile bathrooms, freshly plastered and painted.
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Attractive restoration in historic College Hill. 2nd floor Condo features 2 fireplaces, updated baths, new kitchen, high ceilings, 2 car parking. Low fees!
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Rumford. Classic Colonial on quiet street overlooking large manicured yard. Sun filled rooms, brick fireplaced living room, separate breakfast room, sunroom, 2 car tandem garage.
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Contents November 2011
This Month 17 Back to Friartown Meet the new PC men’s basketball coach
20 Art for a Cause An art retrospective at Temple Beth-El
22 Changing the Face of Providence A look at the I-195 Commission
29 Fall Foliage Considering the importance of trees in the city
Every Month
45
7 Letters/Editorial 10 Other Side 13 Community News
41 Movies
32 On the Menu
Made in the UK at RISD
Pre-holiday food and wine events
34 Dining Guide Your resource for eating out
36 Pajama Monologues
Made in the UK at the RISD Museum
51 Calendar
Moneyball, Contagion and Drive reviewed
45 Art
All the info on November’s happenings
58 East of Elmgrove On the joys of texting
46 Finance
On the Cover
High pressure sales pitches
49 Education Debating school uniforms
Map courtesy of The City of Providence
The Japanese way
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Editorial
1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 tel: 305-3391 | fax: 305-3392 esm@providenceonline.com www.providenceonline.com Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell
A Well Deserved Award... For Us! The National Association of Planners (APA) has just named College Hill as one of their Ten Great Neighborhoods in the Country for 2011. This is a big deal for all of us on the East Side, since the group evaluated neighborhoods from all 50 states before making their choices. They selected winners that “exemplified exceptional character” while also highlighting the role that planning played in “creating communities of lasting value.” That last criteria was clearly a no-brainer in terms of College Hill, which, after all, is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year. The organization further noted that College Hill owes its existence and success to the people and institutions that, “having never lost sight of the neighborhood’s innate beau-
ty, continue to pursue unique and respectful solutions to the area’s ever-changing needs.” And while there have been moments of friction – the inevitable result of College Hill being embedded in a classic towngown environment – the award testifies to the ability of all parties in this area of the East Side to compromise and work things out fairly for all. Brown’s recent decision to continue their expansion in areas other than College Hill has proven to be a wise one. This creative collaboration among all parties will undoubtedly be beneficial to the adjoining neighbors, the new downtown areas that will benefit from the university’s infusion of resources, and the school’s students and faculty who will be exposed to opportunities aris-
Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre Managing Editor Barry Fain
ing from their new proximity to likeminded potential private partners. The collaboration noted by the APA is about to be tested however. Our capital city finds itself facing a potential financial abyss. Meanwhile, city residents are being confronted with rising taxes and financial pressures of their own. Yet institutions like Brown, RISD and Lifespan, among the few economic engines available to us for growth, remain pretty much untaxed. The hope is that the same spirit of compromise that has just produced a national award for College Hill can be applied to find fair and equitable solutions that our city so desperately needs.
To the editor: I went to the recent Brown night football game (tempted by your cover story [“Saturday Night Football Fever,” September 2011]). Fun. The best part to me though was outside the game. It was nice to see all those Brown students partying, having controlled fun, bubbles, music. They always seem so intense and serious when I see them. It was nice seeing them be like regular kids. I hope the night game tradition continues; it’s fun for the neighbors. S. Aronson Providence (and a neighbor)
Fun in the Park To the editor: As a resident of Fox Point who moved here from Chicago six years ago, I have been impressed with how much India Point Park has
Executive Editor Julie Tremaine Special Projects Manager John Taraborelli Art Director Alli Coate Assisant Art Director Karli Hendrickson Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas Graphic Designer Meghan H. Follett Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich, Ann Gallagher, Nicole Greenspun, Dan Schwartz, Elizabeth Riel, Sharon Sylvester, Kimberly Tingle, Jessica Webb Classified Advertising Sue Howarth
Letters Good Times, Good Neighbors
City Editor Steve Triedman
developed into this incredibly beautiful community space. This summer I got to enjoy events like the Cape Verdean Festival, a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and I’m looking forward to attending the first annual Rhode Island Seafood Festival later in October. I love how this burgeoning area continues to be used to serve our community. Keep up the festivals, concerts and plays! Gordon Schumaker Power Street Fox Point
Around the Dial To the editor: I am happy to announce the changes we have just implemented with our radio station and the impact we expect it to have within the general RI community. This partnership between Wheeler, WRNI (Rhode Island Public Radio) and Latino Public Radio will provide WRNI, a place on WELH, 88.1, Wheeler’s 4,000-
watt signal on the FM dial, while allowing Latino Public Radio and their robust and growing listenership a 24/7 programming home on 1290 AM. For Wheeler, this is a once-in-an-institution opportunity to help bring high quality and publicly vital radio programming to a broad demographic across the entire state as well as bringing the strength of Rhode Island and National Public Radio programming to our frequency. Wheeler will maintain its current radio curriculum and broadcasting opportunities for its students but will shift almost entirely to streaming through a new Wheeler School Radio website (www.wheelerschoolradio.org), the preferred radio outlet for our listenership. Dan Miller Head of School Wheeler Editor’s note: Several readers requested more info on the relocation of Wheeler’s radio station. Here is the official statement from Dan Miller.
Contributing Writers Keith Burkitt, Bob Cipriano, Mary K. Connor, Jill Davidson, Renee Doucette, Don Fowler, Mike Fink, David Goldstein, Bob Mariani, Betsey Purinton, Elizabeth Rau, Dan Schwartz, David Taraborelli Calendar Christina Evon Interns Sara Celano, Samantha Gaus, Carissa Johnson Contributing Photographer Dan Schwartz Contributing Illustrators Ashley MacLure, Jessica Pollak
Calendar announcements and news releases should be submitted by the 1st of the preceding month. We reserve the right to omit and edit items. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters without exceptional circumstances. East Side Monthly is not responsible for typographical errors. Corrections will be run at discretion of editor. Copyright ©2011 by East Side Monthly. All rights reserved. Printed by TCI.
November 2011 East Side Monthly
7
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Other Side by Barry Fain
Bombs Away on Hope Street CVS parking lot site of a classic false alarm This Boom was a Bust Want to know what makes life on the East Side so much fun? Read on. Seems like a few weeks ago, a squadron of police cars accompanied by HazMat trucks descended on the CVS parking lot on Hope Street, lights flashing, and roped off the entire street. Someone had been spied crawling out from under a parked car in the lot. After checking under the car, the owner discovered a package with wires attached affixed to the undercarriage. Needless to say, the bomb squad was immediately called in. When the dust finally settled, it turned out the package was a tracking device and the “someone” who attached it was a private detective interested in following the car. Not because of any possible nefarious terrorist plot mind you, rather the wife of the car owner had hired him because she suspected he was perhaps having an affair and wanted documentation. Don’t know what happened next, but don’t ever say life here on the East Side is boring.
Let’s Start the Bidding on the Quantification of Molecular Particles Every time we read about how badly things are going in our educational system, we come across a story like this in the local media. The Brown Daily Herald reports that an active market in bidding for classes erupted on the campus during the early days of class sign-ups last month. A student who was shut out of a seminar he wanted actually waited outside the classroom and tried to buy a spot into the class for a couple of hundred dollars – and that
10
East Side Monthly November 2011
was just to be allowed to take the course. Presumably, if he wanted a good grade, that was extra. Maybe the quest for knowledge isn’t totally dead after all.
Lighting Up the Square This is how we know the hookah “fad” has officially become a “craze” in the city of Providence. Hookah bars have been popping up all over the place, but especially on Federal Hill where some five separate ones are now in operation. For those of you who don’t know, hookahs are the large glass tobacco bubble pipes around which people relax and take a puff or two of shisha, a flavored tobacco. We’ve just gotten word that Minerva’s Pizza at the Square is adding a hookah bar of its own as well. Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em.
Adopting an Attitude During the weekend of November 4-6, Mod Mama at 16 Angell Street will be celebrating the first year anniversary of proprietors Kim and Julie “adopting” the well-loved children’s boutique in Wayland Square from its previous owners. In addition to story times, face painting and many other special surprises, some of the proceeds from sales will go to support the wonderful work of a real adoption agency, Adoption RI. A powerful display of portraits of children hoping for adoption will also be on display to help spread awareness of the wonderful work done by the group. Call 273-7800 or email info@ modmama.com for more specifics. Kudos on a store that isn’t kidding around when it comes to doing good for children who deserve a break.
Comina Makes its Move After 11 years on the corner of Wayland and Angell Streets at the Square, Comina has moved its eclectic home furnishings and accessories store a few doors up the street to 197 Wayland into what is described as much “bigger, brighter and better space.” To celebrate, on Thursday, November 3 from 5-8pm, they will be holding a special grand reopening party and we’re all invited. Along with some goodies to eat and drink, we’ll also get to meet Michael Updike (son of the famous author John). A designer for Mariposa, an upscale company that makes unique accessories and giftware items, he’ll be in the store to talk about what he does and sign pieces for you. Sounds like a great way to check out the new digs. By the way, if you’re keeping score, while Comina has been at Wayland Square for 11 years, they have been in Providence now for 23. Good luck on the move and we’ll be there on the 3rd.
A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That If cooking is your thing, you must check out Potenza Ristorante at 286 Atwells, where owner Chef Walter Potenza will offer instructional cooking classes every Wednesday all through November. On the 8th it’s ragus and stews; on the 15th risotto; on the 22nd the chef’s favorite dishes from Abruzzo; and on the 29th special recipes from Tuscany. The classes are all small, hands-on and a lot of fun. To register, go to w w w. c h e f w a l t e r. c o m / W P - C o o k ing_School.htm or call 273-2652.
By the way, in an impressive display of culinary versatility, Chef Walter wowed the crowds at the Eastside Market last month by preparing an authentic kosher Italian meal for the holidays for the Jewish Women’s Alliance. Not only does this man know his marinara, he knows his matzoh balls too. Check him out.
The Big Flush Since November 19 is World Toilet Day, the Narragansett Bay Commission is hoping we can help them creatively spread the word about the importance of good sanitation. Their idea is for each of us to “artistically enhance” a toilet seat with whatever message or drawing we think is appropriate. It will then be part of a special art exhibition at Firehouse 13 (41 Central Street in Providence) on Toilet Day. The Bay Commission will supply the toilet seat (call 461-8848 ext. 377 or email jsamons@narrabay. com for details); you supply the creativity. Nice to see NBC willing to get their hands dirty (not literally, one hopes) to spread the word on the merits of clean water.
Sunday Jazz Returns to Its Roots Actually jazz is returning to the Roots – Café, that is, the high-energy bar and music lounge located in the Black Rep’s old home (276 Westminster Street). Roots hosts its “Blues Jazz Jam” every Sunday evening from 7-11pm. It’s open to all musicians who want to come down and play with some of New England’s best jazz musicians. Fun and funky Sundays sound good to us. Call 272-7422 or check out www.rootscafeprovidence.com for details.
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East Side Monthly November 2011
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Blackstone Parks By Jane Peterson Blackstone Parks Conservancy Phone Number: 270-3014 Website: www.blackstoneparksconservancy.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603141 Healthy Urban Green Space for All When we came up with healthy urban green space for all, the new vision for the Conservancy, we were thinking especially about the Blackstone parks – the Boulevard and the Conservation District. Improving their health so current and future generations can enjoy them is the aim of all our work. We weren’t thinking so much about how much these parks contribute to human health, however. And they do. Many Rhode Islanders enjoy being out of doors. But how many of us know that being out in nature actually enhances human health in measurable ways? We know we feel good strolling on the Boulevard, but do we realize that our blood pressure dips in that environment – and stays low for a time afterward? And how many know that chemicals secreted by trees in the Conservation District may enhance our immune system?
Speaking at our annual meeting on Blackstone Boulevard recently, landscape architect Mac Woodward told how the location of Butler Hospital was inspired by the 19th century belief that being in beautiful natural surroundings helped restore people’s mental health. That one’s environment could have a major impact on one’s mental health might sound quaint, but some researchers believe being in nature reduces stress. The link between stress and health is now widely accepted. So it’s not only aesthetics that make us feel good in the Blackstone parks. In his new book The Nature Principle, Richard Louv reports on research showing improvement in peoples’ memory performance after an hour in a natural environment. And a University of Illinois study showed increased ability to focus in children with attentiondeficit disorder who are exposed to nature. It seems that people in general are better able to focus after a walk in the woods or along a waterside. How many times have you thought, A walk in the park clears my head? Whether our increased sense of wellbeing derives from stress reduction alone or something more probably needs more study. One possibility suggested by research by a Tokyo medical school professor is that phytoncides, a chemical exuded by plants, spurs the growth of white cells. Louv reports that some doctors here and abroad are prescribing “green exercise” for a variety of ailments. So enhancing the health of our parks isn’t about beautification by “tree-huggers.” At the Conservancy we believe these rare parks deserve to be cherished for their own sake, but also for every visitor.
In order to enhance the health of these rare urban resources, we hunt for effective ways to help redress some of the damage caused by overuse as well as abuse by nature itself. The advice of foresters and botanists and water engineers enables us take on the biggest challenges, the ones we can at least begin to do something about: invasive species and erosion. Sometimes a well-meaning impulse is mistaken – for instance, to tidy up the windfall from Hurricane Irene in the woodland. The foresters at the Parks Department counsel against tidying, as current thinking is to let nature’s own way of rebuilding soil proceed. This approach is necessarily different from the one on the more cultivated Boulevard, where storm debris was cleaned up. The Providence Parks Department, foundations and environmental groups, not to mention several hundred contributing supporters and a small number of loyal volunteers help us make a difference. If you would like to participate in caring for the Blackstone parks, see our website above. Whether you prefer to work outdoors or in, we need your help. Please send you East Side Market receipts to the address above.
Brown Street Park By Wendy Nilsson Friends of Brown Street Park Phone Number: 454-8712 Website: www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org
Email Address: wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Mailing Address: 30 Pratt Street Providence, RI 02906 Upcoming Events: Angels and devils, villains and superheroes – all are welcome at the fifth annual Fiends of Brown Street Park Children’s Halloween Party and Parade, Monday, October 31 from 4–5:30pm. Kids can join in on the ghoulish games, creepy crafts and demented decorating projects, while filling up on pizza and healthy snacks. At 5pm, jump in as one of our favorite marching bands honks, blasts and bangs their way along a neighborhood parade route. Consider it a wholesome warmup to the night’s main event. Please contact wendy@ friendsofbrownstreetpark if you have scary skills you’d like to volunteer. Sponsored by “Fiends” of Brown Street Park, Mt. Hope YMCA, Crossfit Providence and Whole Foods University Heights. Visit www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org for more details. Look for the Ice Rink Coming in December to BSP. If you want to volunteer, check in with wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Regrettably, our Road Race has been moved to the spring. Thanks to the Wheeler School upper school students for helping to Spruce up BSP this fall, as well as the mighty team from CrossFit Providence. We are so grateful to Cat Sutton for leading the YMCA Hybrid fitness classes. You can catch Cat inside at the Y teaching the sports conditioning class. Fall fitness classes continue until it gets too cold. Free Parkour in the Park: local gymnast and Parkour enthusiast Jon
Can’t Sell it? Rent it! Call Us To Rent Out Your Property!
November 2011 East Side Monthly
13
O
N IA
N -OL
EY
cross-training
Montalbano is leading classes on Saturdays at 10am. Even if you’re not ready to try Parkour, Jonathan is fun to watch. Free Monday Morning Meditation at 7:30am (minimum age 18). Wear comfy clothing. Weather permitting, there will be two 20-minute silent sittings with five minutes of walking in between sitting. CrossFit Providence is leading their boot camp program on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays at both 6am and 6pm. There is a charge for CrossFit classes after the first class. Visit www.crossfitprovidence. com for details including price. Please contact wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org to find out how you can donate or get involved in Brown Street Park. www.FriendsofBrownStreetpark.org.
Wayland Square By David Kolsky
W O
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No Membership Fee Group Fitness Classes $12 469 Angell St. Wayland Square 273.CORE • corefitprov.com 14
East Side Monthly November 2011
Events this Month Monthly Meetings: Wednesday, October 26 and Monday, November 14 at 7pm, Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street (at Elmgrove, next to CVS). Free and open to all. Please note that the November meeting date has been moved back from the normal fourth Wednesday of the month to an earlier Monday in order to avoid gathering on Thanksgiving Eve (December’s meeting will be on the regular fourth Wednesday, Dec. 28). National Grid Speaker On Wednesday, September 28, the discussion group heard from Marisa Albanese, a customer and community relations manager at National Grid, as well as from State Representatives Chris Blazejewski and
continued...
Edith Ajello. Some merchants have been upset by street closures that seemed to come with inadequate notice, blocking customers’ access to their shops. Ms. Albanese said that she has been trying new methods, such as doorhangers, of notifying residents and merchants of anticipated disruptions; mailed notices are sometimes overlooked when they resemble routine invoices, and they don’t always reach those commercial and domestic tenants who aren’t already on National Grid’s billing lists. She also said that National Grid trucks are sometimes visible when other utilities have started underground work, to ensure that gas and electric lines are safe. Another concern discussed was accidents involving manholes and manhole covers, some of which have transmitted stray electrical voltage that can kill pets and sometimes people. The East Side and Downtown have some of the oldest cables in Providence, which can fray and need careful inspection. While “sniffer trucks” have supplemented manual inspection of gas lines that sweep for gas leaks automatically, a similar back up has not yet been started for stray electrical current. However, National Grid has started a pilot program to do this in Buffalo, New York. Commercial News Alex and Ani jewelry has now opened on the corner of Wayland Avenue and Angell Street, in the former home of Comina furniture (which has moved down Wayland next to the Runcible Spoon). Plaid and Stripe (pet accessories) is moving from its old home next to Southwest Passage to more spacious quarters at 17 South Angell Street (next to Angel Nails and opposite Minerva Pizza) in quarters vacated by Touch Salon’s move to East Providence. Wayland Square’s spaces are now almost full again. The one big question is next to Minerva Pizza, in the former Public Sound store, which is undergoing extensive renovations
Over 25 Years of Building and Remodeling
for the expected opening of another Asian restaurant. Staying Abreast To check on our meeting dates and topics, as well as current news, please check the public message board at our Yahoo! Group’s website above. Or join the group to receive these notices (if you wish) by email.
College Hill By Allison Spooner College Hill Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 633-5230 Website: www.collegehillna.com Email Address: chna@collegehillna.com Mailing Address: CHNA, P.O. Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906 We would like to extend a warm thank you to our panelists for participating in our CHNA Annual Meeting discussion on potholes, road and sidewalk repair and reconstruction, as well as all the residents who were in attendance. Please look for additional details about the event in next month’s issue. The CHNA Board would like to welcome Josh Eisen and Zachary Heir as new Board Members. We would also like to thank those residents who have reached out to offer as committee volunteers, especially Vera Gierke. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer to help us make an impact on issues that directly affect our neighborhood, please contact Allison at Allison@collegehillna.com for additional details. The new term for CHNA began in October. After our strategic planning meeting, it was determined that the priority issues for CHNA will be graffiti management and abatement, tax transparency, and monitoring the new overnight parking implementation. Our priority will continue to be building community in our neighborhood through our special events, such as panel discussion with department leaders in the spring and fall,
a spring cleanup day, and three social events including another round Cocktails on College Hill. Our graffiti management and abatement initiative is slated to begin immediately as we build a stronger relationship with the Providence Police, the Brown University Police, RISD and the Graffiti Task Force. The goals are to be able to bring current information regarding graffiti to the residents and have a specific solution in place for graffiti abatement. We will be focusing on the immediate response and removal of graffiti, especially as we hear from residents directly. If you would be interested in working on the graffiti committee, we are interested in hearing from you. Regarding taxes, our objective is to provide transparency so that residents understand how their tax dollars are spent. This is a grey area and we hope to bring clarification and understanding to the College Hill residents. Lastly, we will continue building a stronger sense of community on College Hill. We have our event calendar set, but we are looking for an individual who may be able to help us make sure we are meeting the needs of our members in the best way possible. If you are someone who enjoys bringing people together, we are looking for you to help us with our Member Relations committee. Again, please contact Allison at Allison@colllegehillna.com for more information. Join CHNA! Dues are $20 per calendar year, and membership, which is open to all, includes invitations to events, as well as timely email crime alerts and our free, mostly monthly e-newsletter which reports on neighborhood news as well as CHNA’s activities. All new members receive a welcome packet with coupons, so your membership practically pays for itself! To join (or renew), visit our website, www.collegehillna. com and click “Join CHNA.” Or send a check for $20, made out to College Hill Neighborhood Association, to the Treasurer, Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906. Be sure to include your email address.
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East Side Monthly November 2011
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One on one with PC’s new basketball coach By David Taraborelli Are the glory days coming back? With the hiring of Ed Cooley as the new Providence College men’s basketball coach, the Friar Faithful are dreaming of the second coming of the glory days when the Civic Center (now the Dunk, of course) rocked on cold winter evenings and the Friars pulled off hand-wringing, heart-stopping victories over the likes of Syracuse, Georgetown and a host of hoop powers from around the country. After three dismal years of Keno Davis’ underachieving teams and wholesale defections of season ticket holders (this writer included), Coach Cooley brings the hope and anticipation of a new and prosperous era filled with cheers and happy endings. So who is this guy that is seen as a savior, someone who will make us forget those the last three years? (Actually, if you count several terrible seasons under Davis’ predecessor, Tim Welsh, the suffering has been considerably longer.) He’s homegrown, a product of the hardscrabble streets of
South Providence, a star on the great Central High School teams. After a playing career at Stonehill College, he learned the coaching business from Al Skinner, first at URI then Boston College. Most recently he was building a very successful program at Fairfield University in Connecticut, with backto-back 20 win seasons and postseason appearances. I had the opportunity to chat with the coach about coming home to Providence and what he sees as the future of both the Friar program and the Big East Conference, which is bracing for the defection of two high profile members, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, leading to speculation other fooballcentric members will soon follow.
wouldn’t want that? And, of course, the tradition at Providence College. I can’t think of a better job.
You have said that Providence College is your dream job. Besides coming home, what else about the job made you want it? Staying in the same region of the country, for sure. The chance to coach in the Big East Conference – who
It’s been said that the culture of this program needs to be changed. How do you do that? This is a difficult league. Everyone needs to be committed. We need to have a positive outlook at all times. The kids need to understand that
I was at the news conference when you accepted the job. You raised the hopes as well as the expectations of the Friar Faithful that day. How do plan to make the program competitive in the toughest conference, at least for one more year, in the country? You have to change the mindset, develop players, instill discipline on and off the floor. You have to recruit the players you want to coach, and set expectations high. Get them to be consistent defensively, share the ball and work hard all the time.
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Several of your predecessors have said that the job was more difficult than they thought it would be. After a few months here, do you find any aspects of the job more difficult than you expected? I think this is a great job. Of course there are things that are difficult. What job isn’t like that? But there’s no place I’d rather be. You have received verbal commitments from two highly rated players nationally. What does it take to consistently recruit blue chip prospects to Providence? Honesty with the kids. Get involved early. We have a great staff here. They do a great job. You need to show kids that you will help them develop, get better. Show them that you want them in your program. Our staff is the key, very important. Also, we try to stress the tradition here. You are well stocked in the backcourt. I know you can’t comment specifically about prospects, but are you currently involved with any highly rated big kids? We are currently involved with some very good kids. Our staff is working very hard to get them to Providence. We need some bulk.
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academics are important. Habits will change over time. It doesn’t happen overnight. There needs to be accountability. You don’t ask, you demand. Raise the bar, the expectations. The kids’ perspective needs to change.
A few players from last year’s team have left the program. Who among those returning do you think will step up and be a pleasant surprise? [Guard] Bryce Cotton has been working hard. He should contribute. [Guard] Gerard Coleman also. And [freshman guard] Kiwi Gardner should help right away.
What are your thoughts on what is happening with the Big East Conference right now? I honestly can’t comment because I really don’t know what’s going to happen. All I can say is that [PC president] Father Shanley and the athletics department are committed to playing at the highest level. As for myself, I’m in it for the long haul. I’m going whereever the school goes. Would you be excited playing in a basketball-centric Catholic conference? There has been speculation about one consisting of the current non-football playing Catholic schools, Notre Dame, and possibly the addition of an Xavier and Dayton, or maybe even Butler. Sure. That would be fine. The football schools are all looking for the deal that’s best for them. We have to do the same. Finally, Coach, I gave up my season tickets two years ago after 36 years. Convince me to come back. I’ve watched the Providence program from when I was kid, going back to the days of Gary Walters, then Rick Barnes, Pete Gillen. Coaches that have won have left. I’m here to stay. This is where I’m from. I’m not looking to leave, not looking for more money. All I’m asking for is a chance. If you’re going to give somebody a chance, give it to me. We’re going to get better, much better defensively. Every kid will know that unless he gives his all on defense all the time, he won’t play. Anybody who doesn’t work hard and hustle all the time better find another school. They will be held to a higher standard. And there will be improvements in other areas. There will be a more fan-friendly atmosphere. I will work my butt off. We will be a lot better. Come on back. Give us a chance.
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Art for a Cause Temple Beth-El stages a posthumous exhibit of artist Len Shalansky By Carissa Johnson
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East Side Monthly November 2011
as he knew it, with compassion and a bit of humor. His caricatures and cartoons are numerous, with a whimsicality and wit for which he was well known. In his fine art paintings, life on the street is portrayed as difficult and the characters seem downtrodden, yet not tragic. Ruby Shalansky, his wife, recalls, “Len was very compassionate about people. Much of his work has a full moon or sun. The symbols of the moon or sun were the hope of those people.” In his memory, a posthumous art show will celebrate Shalansky’s unique style and outlook on life while raising funds for amyloidosis research, the disease which took his life this past April. Dozens of Mr. Shalansky’s works will be displayed for the show, which opens with a reception Sunday, November 13 from 1 to 4pm at Temple Beth-El. “The reason [the show] is at Temple Beth-El is because I was the executive director until this June and it became a second home and family to us,” says Ruby. “The job of executive director is all consuming and Len was with me at every opportunity, always supporting me with my work.” The show will continue through Thursday, November 17 from 9am6pm. All proceeds will directly benefit the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University School of Medicines. “Len would have
wanted this, to find the cause of amyloidosis and cure because right now, there is neither,” says Ruby. Checks and credit cards used will be paid directly to the program in the effort to raise funds, and the bulk of Mr. Shalansky’s work will be for sale. Amyloidosis is a rare disease that is understudied and not well known. It is now thought to be the deposit and buildup of misfolded proteins in the organs. This buildup can occur in a single organ or become widespread throughout the organ system and can cause serious illness or death, along with many different symptoms. There are several types of amyloidosis and different organs are affected with different people. In the case of Mr. Shalansky, the buildup occurred on the heart. “He was diagnosed in January and he died in April,” notes Ruby. “It was going to happen, but it was so sudden.” Although there is no known cure for the disease, there are treatments for all types, which decrease the protein. Shalansky was treated at the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program in Boston, internationally renowned as the world’s leading facility for treatments. “The doctors at BU were kind and patient,” Ruby recalls. “There are 20 of them that dedicate their lives to this condition.” The program is dedicated to diagnosis and treatment; the research team is currently trying to identify the cause of the disease to develop bet-
ter therapies. Because of the rarity and obscurity of amyloidosis, the program relies on the support and donations of families and friends, and the upcoming show is the perfect opportunity. The artist studied illustration, art and design at Cooper Union and the Pratt Institute, kicking off his career in art. He worked at Hasbro Toy Company as chief illustrator for several years and then opened his own art studio, located in Warwick, where he lived and worked for nearly 35 years. During this time, he created countless works that combined his compassion and draftsmanship, capturing many different aspects of life in styles that were all his own. “He was an excellent draftsman. One line could become a hand or a face,” Ruby explains. “He was born with it.” Shalansky also illustrated over 200 textbooks for publishers including ESL, English and foreign language textbooks. For more information about amyloidosis or the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University School of Medicine, or to directly donate, please visit the Program’s website at www.bu.edu/amyloid. For more information about the art show and sale honoring Len Shalansky’s memory, please contact Ruby Shalansky at 738-3215 or rashalansky@gmail.com. Temple Beth-El is located at 70 Orchard Avenue.
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Changing the Face of
ProvidenCe new i-195 Commission will determine the future of the Fox Point waterfront
“All this will not
be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.” JFK’s inaugural address, January 20, 1961. The message from I-195 Commission Chairman Colin Kane echoes Kennedy’s words. You won’t see construction cranes dotting the skyline very soon – and this shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone. Capital Center began its odyssey over 30 years (11,000 days) ago and it’s still not finished. Despite all good intentions, the newly created land freed up by the relocation of Route I-195 probably won’t set any development speed records either, especially given the
22
East Side Monthly November 2011
current state of our economy. That said, there are big differences between the two commissions appointed to oversee these projects. Most significantly, the objectives of the initial plans for Capital Center were clear and well articulated when it was first created: to create marketable land for a new commercial sector of Providence; to enhance access not only to the project area but also to downtown Providence; to provide an ordered set of diverse public open spaces; and to create visual and physical linkages between downtown Providence and the State House. While plans for the 195 land are pretty much unformed, the Capital Center had a master plan that was developed by the iconic architectural
firm of Skidmore, Owens and Merrill. It included a new railroad station, streets, bridges, a small cove (in the existing riverway) and 12 parcels, now expanded to 15, for commercial development. Plus it had a $100,000 annual budget funded by both the city and state for staff. Capital Center has its share of critics over the design and architecture of some of the buildings, the materials and uses of color. Projo columnist Dave Brussat certainly has led the charge in this area. Yet they have had some undeniable successes as well, not the least of which was corralling the monies necessary to make the infrastructure changes that have so altered the skyline of the city over the past two decades. Providence Place remains one of
map courtesy of The City of Providence
By Steve Triedman
the most successful and attractive urban malls in the country, enhanced by its unique glassed winter garden for example. The long-dormant Masonic Temple is now a gorgeous first-class hotel. The Capital Center itself at night is colorful and vibrant. On the other hand, one project, Capital Cove, designed as upscale condominiums, was turned into a Johnson and Wales dormitory as the real estate market collapsed. Another, Waterplace Condominiums, sold just six of 181 units when it was built and was converted into apartments. An auction of units at dramatically reduced prices in October attempted to restart sales. Many of the surrounding office buildings and the mall also have vacancies. “At least the Capital Center Commission had a design brief,” explains James Hall, Executive Director of the Providence Preservation Society. “Initial plans called for low-rise office buildings, an urban office park to compete with Route 128. What did and didn’t work did not have to do with the design review process, as markets change and developers have to scale back.” Hall has a fine appreciation for historic buildings, but he is also sensitive to the architectural design of new buildings; while he appreciates the intent of the 195 Commission, he has great concerns over the design process, or lack thereof, and the size of the parcels. Like many, Hall believes that these new parcels should be a good mix of live/work buildings as other cities have recently done, and that the operative word is “patience,” because the building process will go very, very slowly. “While there was no design review process when downtown Providence was originally built, there was an architectural competition process, judged by architects, to select the best appropriate design. The other factor was civic pride and ego, as many of the company owners lived in Providence within walking distance of their offices. Today, developers come from all over and will push boundaries when they can. The 195 Commission does not specify nor even hint at guidelines,” Hall warns. “Architects are designers,” he continues. “They can be tra-
ditionalists or modernists depending on the client. As long as their thoughts and observations are directed at the project under review, it is a real benefit. If you look at the history of Providence’s architecture, there were some really bad decisions made in the 60s and 70s. When Citizens Plaza was built, there were critics, but it has an architectural exuberance with its triangular shape where the three rivers meet. Its design has a suburban backside with a circle for dropping off and picking up and an urban front with its grand entrance hall. Yet now it seems to have been there forever and fits in beautifully.” Hall testified against the I-195 Commission’s uber-authority during legislative debates over what powers the group should be granted and how its board should be assembled. “We all know developers will ask for buildings that are taller, that are bigger, that break the rules of any site,” he cautions. “If I was a developer and had to deal with a commission that had broadreaching power, I’d ask for everything.” The I-195 Commission legislation, designed to streamline development of this prime real estate, will hopefully jumpstart the economy by bringing in jobs in education, research and life science industries. It was supported by both the governor and state senate. Commission members, all of whom have now been officially approved, include Chairman Colin Kane, a developer from the Peregrine Group; Dr. Barrett W. Bready, an entrepreneur who is president and CEO of NABsys Inc., a bio-tech firm located in the Knowledge District; Diana L. Johnson, a self-employed art consultant with a banking background; John M. Kelly, president and CEO of Meeting Street School with a background in corporate and real estate law; Mark T. Ryan, a lawyer who is a principal at Moses and Afonso Ltd., where he focuses on corporate and business law; and Michael S. Van Leesten, the CEO of the nonprofit community development organization OIC of Rhode Island. Perhaps the key player going forward will be Chairman Kane, a developer himself but also a respected member of the local
A Closer Look at the new Commissioners
Chairman Colin P. Kane Colin Kane is a principal and founder of Peregrine Group LLC., a multidimensional real estate company that has done projects around the country and is based in Rumford. His office is in the old Rumford Chemical Works, which his group converted into apartments, offices, restaurants and retail. Another of its more well known projects is Ocean House, a five-star hotel located in Watch Hill on the Block Island Sound, which was one of the largest privately funded projects in Rhode Island. The company has also assumed overall development management of the American Locomotive Works for the lender. A former development manager for Gilbane Properties, he is also a former Navy Flag Lieutenant and veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Kane is a graduate of Harvard Business School (MBA), Georgetown University (MA), and the US Naval Academy. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Rhode Island Builder’s Association and was named Admiral of the Rhode Island Commodores, a group of business leaders. He is a resident of Wickford. Nominated by Governor Lincoln Chafee
Barrett Bready, M.d. Barrett Bready is President and CEO of NABsys, Inc., a startup and advanced DNA sequencing technology company located in the heart of the Knowledge District. Bready has headed NABsys since 2005, and has led the company’s acquisition of GeneSpectrum, as well as the execution of its licensing deal with Brown University. He has been named to the up and coming business lists of many local publications (including ours) and was recently named Providence Business News Innovator of the Year. He teaches Biotechnology Management at Brown, where he holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biotechnology. He received his M.D. from Brown Medical School and his Sc.B. in Physics from Brown. He is a Trustee of the Providence Preservation Society and WaterFire. Nominated by Governor Lincoln Chafee
Barbara A. Hunger Barbara Hunger has been a registered nurse in the Labor and Delivery Unit at Women and Infants Hospital for 25 years. Prior to joining Women and Infants, Hunger worked as a nurse in hospitals throughout New England. She earned a BS from Southern Connecticut State University. Her civic involvement includes volunteerism with CityArts, Elmwood Neighborhood Housing, Community Music Works, the Steel Yard and the Service Employees International Union. Hunger has been a resident of and homeowner in Providence’s Elmwood neighborhood for 25 years and raised two children who attended Providence Public Schools. Nominated by Mayor Angel Taveras
Continued page 25 November 2011 East Side Monthly
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business community. “We need to lay out a strategy for the development, a strategy that takes into consideration the immediate needs of several institutions and future commercial development,” he points out. “The infrastructure and support requirements need to be addressed. There are a lot of What ifs?” Kane believes that the biggest flaw in Capital Center was that it devolved into an architectural review process. “There appears to have been a lot of design by committee,” he notes. Left unsaid, is what mechanism will replace it here to ensure some input into the quality and appearance of what gets built. One interesting “trial balloon” that has been floated ironically is to allow the current design and review commissions of either Downcity or Capital Center to temporarily function in that role until another alternative is established. The I-195 Commission’s first meeting will be “Development 101,” where real estate experts from around the region will offer a perspective on current business requirements, impressions and attitudes. Ethics, conflicting issues and the open meetings law will also be addressed. The I-195 Commission was granted incredible powers to allow virtually any kind of development, as long as it follows the City of Providence’s new zoning ordinances that will be in place by June 2012. Preservationists, neighborhood associations and even Attorney General Peter Kilmartin argued that the commission would be too powerful and not have proper checks and balances or accountability. One of the more vocal groups campaigning for representation on the panel was architects. The governor was not persuaded, believing the commission will be able to tap into whatever talent it may seek, regardless of whether that particular profession is represented on the panel. As a result, no architects or designers are included among the seven new commissioners. Ian Barnacle, President of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association, explains that the FPNA opposed the I-195 Commission because it felt that “it was wrong to place the fate of our neighborhood in the hands of such a small group who were
not overly vested in our neighborhood. There is also no mandated design process to control what ultimately gets built.” “We were just told that the parcels on the east side of the river would not be included in the 195 zoning,” notes Barnacle. “The Planning Department’s position is that these parcels were discussed and addressed during the College Hill zoning process.” This fact was new information for Chairman Kane who noted, “I am not yet familiar with all the ongoing zoning activities. It is obviously a priority for the Commission to get a complete understanding of all future zoning efforts.” Other FPNA concerns are parking that is accessible for Wickenden Street merchants and traffic calming throughout the area, which is already experiencing increased vehicular traffic that speeds through once-quiet Fox Point streets. There are also concerns about the need for noise abatement. The approved law gives the seven-member I-195 Commission vast authority over more than 41 acres of former highway land and extends the same broad powers to control an additional 21 acres of land if the owners of abutting property want to buy former highway parcels adjacent to their land. As long as those abutting parcels are not separated by a public street, the commission could control what happens on them. Shooters and Waterfront Park, owned by DEM, are not included in the plan. The east side of the river has seven parcels ranging from 12,000 square feet to 58,000 square feet and two parks of .58 acres and 2.61 acres. One of the parcels, currently a park on South Water Street, is the site of a helicopter landing pad. The largest parcel is the grassy area between the road to the on ramp and the South Main Street off ramp at Point Street. A second parcel is adjacent to the first on the off ramp side. A small park sits directly across the street and a third parcel is just to the east. Three other parcels are between South Main Street and South Water Street from India Street to James Street. On the west side of the river, 13 parcels, ranging from 4,476 square feet to 113,000 square
diana L. Johnson Diana Johnson is a self-employed art consultant and former banker. She served as Director of Brown University’s David Winton Bell Gallery and as Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs, Chief Curator, and Acting Director of the RISD Museum of Art. Additionally, Johnson’s diverse career has included stints as Senior Vice President in the Trust Departments of Fleet Bank, Bank of America and the Providence Group Investment Advisory Company. She has served on the Boards of the Rhode Island Council on the Humanities, Veterans Memorial Auditorium and Trinity Repertory Company, and as Board Chairman of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Travelers Aid Society of RI, and Planned Parenthood of RI. She received a BA in Government from Radcliffe College (Harvard University) and an MA in Art History from Brown. She is a resident of Providence. Nominated by Governor Lincoln Chafee
John M. Kelly John Kelly has been the President and CEO of Meeting Street School for the last 14 years and in that capacity has overseen the development of Meeting Street’s $25 million South Providence campus, which resulted in over 180 jobs moving to South Providence. An attorney by training, Kelly previously focused his practice in corporate and real estate law as a partner at Tillinghast, Collins and Graham. Kelly subsequently held a leadership position in a nonprofit organization, the Coalition for Community Development, which was created to revitalize downtown Providence. He has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Genesis Center and the Providence Revolving Fund and has chaired several city boards and commissions. He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and earned a law degree from Boston College; he is a resident of the city’s South Side. Nominated by Speaker Gordon Fox and Mayor Angel Taveras
Mark T. ryan Mark Ryan is a principal at Moses and Afonso, Ltd. where he concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate and business law. Prior to joining Moses and Alfonso, he was with the Providence Journal for nearly 25 years, where he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Senior Vice President Legal and Administration, and Vice President Legal and Administration. He has broad legal experience, including labor negotiations. Ryan is active in the community, serving as a Director and Member of the Nominating and Legislative Committees of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, First Vice Chairman and Trustee of the Providence Performing Arts Center, a member of the Rhode Island Commodores, and a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and New England School of Law. Nominated by Mayor Angel Taveras
Michael S. van Leesten Michael Van Leesten is CEO of OIC of Rhode Island, a nonprofit community development organization that provides training, employment and minority business development services. He also heads Van Leesten Group, LLC, a community development consulting firm. Van Leesten has over 40 years of community and business development experience, including Director of the Providence Planning and Development Department, Director of Fleet National Bank, Chairman of the RI Home Mortgage and Finance Corporation, Executive Director of the OIC of Rhode Island, public affairs management with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Chairman of the Providence Black Repertory Company. He is a member of the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame and has received honorary doctorate degrees from URI, Roger Williams and RIC, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Education. Nominated by Governor Lincoln Chafee November 2011 East Side Monthly
25
feet, follow the western edge of the Knowledge District to the former Downtown on ramp. There are also two parks included in this area, a small pocket park on Dorrance Street at Dyer Street and a massive six-acre park on the Providence River running from Dyer Street to Ship Street. One of the things the I-195 Commission seems to have in its favor is its chairman. Given his experience as a developer, Kane already has some knowledge of what it takes to actually build a major development. More important, he appears to have the temperament to work with a long and growing list of interested and concerned parties all wishing to weigh in. It will not be an easy job. Kane testified early in the process, and admitted that he was “not looking” for an appointment to the commission. But with longstanding ties to both the governor and Chief of Staff Patrick Rogers, he appears to be a very strong choice. The governor wanted a leader who understood the entire development process from the ground up. His high profile leadership with the Commodores, an organization of the state’s leading businesses, helped to solidify his selection. “The 195 Commission is like a big layer cake,” Kane explains, “with the filling being the federal, state and city governments, the institutions (Brown, Johnson and Wales, the hospitals and other nonprofits), potential private developers and all of the neighborhood associations.” But don’t expect a cake any time soon. Kane has a practical and pragmatic view of the situation. Many East Siders remember his father, Stephen Kane, the longtime principal at Martin Luther King Elementary School, who was highly regarded for making it one of the best in the city. There are other significant differences between the Capital Center Commission and the new I-195 Commission. The Capital Center Commission, did not own the land, and was created solely to oversee and approve the design and generally supervise development of the area in accordance with regulations developed in collaboration with the city: things like building heights, parking, signage and set backs. Conversely, the I-195 Commission will have the total authority to sell the land, borrow money through an affiliate and complete development deals. It will also
26
East Side Monthly November 2011
have the power to enforce design criteria as they are developed in the future. “One of the major issues that must be addressed is parking,” stresses Kane. “We need a comprehensive parking and transportation strategy and a means to pay for it. There has to be some form of structured parking, whether it’s integral to the individual projects or involves a separate structure.” Outside experts have suggested that the area should have three parking garages. Ironically, the proposed Providence trolley system, which many people do not believe will ever be constructed, is somewhat shortsighted in that
the school’s approved master plan, which would probably be the first developed sites. “We need to get the commission in place and we have to work with the city and the state as a group to establish parameters and direction,” Kane adds. He hopes to have a staff person in place by the end of the year, a position that is currently unfunded and would likely be covered by the sale of the bonds that will be used to repay the federal government. Capital Center initially was supported by equal annual contributions from the city and the state. The funding was reduced as the buildout proceeded. There have already been a num-
“if i was a developer and had to deal with a commission that had broad-reaching power, i’d ask for everything.” - James Hall, executive director of Providence Preservation Society
its current plans do not connect to the I-195 area. The legislation creating the I-195 Commission gives it broad development powers, but does include some important caveats. It specifically prohibits a casino, requires following the City of Providence’s zoning laws (though the commission may “interpret” provisions of the law), and dictates that it must operate transparently and adhere to the open meetings law. Land banking, when a developer buys a property and holds it until the market changes, is not permitted and the Providence City Council would have to approve abutting property that a developer might want to include. There is almost an agreement in place for Johnson and Wales to buy two parcels directly from the state that are proximate to its other property. The new additions are already part of
ber of potential projects floated by various developers and speculators; even the imaginative Ship Street Canal proposal has been dusted off by proponents. There clearly will be issues that will develop as nonprofit (and more importantly, non-taxable) institutions like Brown, RISD, J&W and Lifespan eye this valuable real estate. Clearly they are among the few economic engines that currently exist in the city. PPS’s Hall offers his own thoughts on the subject: “The player in the mix that I’m least concerned with is Brown. I think that they are making a real commitment in the Knowledge District and they are vested. However, I’m very concerned about developers building spec buildings to sell to Brown.” Dick Spies, Brown’s Executive Vice President for Planning and Senior Advisor to the President,
explained at last month’s PPS-AIA (American Institute of Architects) sponsored symposium that Brown wants to build on the success of the medical school’s new home in the Knowledge District and has become more sensitive in how it engages with the community. Realizing there is concern over the nonprofit status of institutions like Brown as they seek out more land for future projects, he suggested that the school would have no problem with expanding the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program, which he feels has encouraged the growth of nonprofits. “Brown wants the area to achieve a critical mass to be more sustainable,” explained Spies. “But we need to create jobs first. Enough businesses are needed to support retail or you end up with a cultural mess.” Tom Deller, Director of Providence’s Planning Department, believes that the parcels near the highway should be limited to four to six stories and be in scale with the surrounding properties. He emphasizes the need for leadership and a strong working relationship between government and developers, but voices concern about the Heritage Harbor property now very much in limbo and National Grid’s 11-acre transformer yard that powers the city. The agreement with the Federal Highway Administration is that it needs to be paid “fair market value” for the property, and appraisals are already under way; it has been estimated at between $40,000,000 and $44,000,000. The state will then issue a bond that will purchase the land from the federal government. Kane has already hit the ground running and was part of a recent fact-finding trip to Pittsburgh with Governor Chafee; staff business leaders; Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, sponsor of the I-195 Commission; and Representative John Carnevale, a cosponsor of the legislation, to see what that city had accomplished. The I-195 Commission will have a tremendous impact on the future of Providence, although its effect may not be seen for a generation. But given the waterfront nature of the site and its proximity to our city’s universities, downtown and hospitals, it creates what has been described as an “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. What remains to be seen is if this opportunity can be realized in our lifetime.
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what can you do? To help raise awareness of the sanitation crisis we invite you to “artistically enhance” a toilet seat to convey the message that we all deserve rivers, lakes, streams, bays, and oceans that are healthy and clean. Work as an individual or as a group. The NBC will supply the toilet seat, you supply the clean water creativity. Your work will be displayed as a part of our World Toilet Day exhibit in November. Exhibit will take place at Firehouse 13, 41 Central St. Providence, RI. (Date to be announced at a later time.)
To enter the exhibit and claim a toilet seat, contact the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Public Affairs office at 401-461-8848 ext 377, or email jsamons@narrabay.com
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November 2011 East Side Monthly
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East Side Monthly November 2011
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Autumn Leaves ‘Tis the season to think green amidst the fall colors By Barry Fain
Invest in you . . .
Fall on the East Side provides that annual classic “thing of beauty and a joy forever” about which the poets are so fond of getting all iambic. What’s not to like about an iridescent canopy of foliage that delivers an autumnal spectacular to even outdo our legendary WaterFire weekends for pageantry? A recent article on the front page of the Brown Daily Herald, however, warns us that things are not necessarily as rosy (or, more precisely given the season, yellow-y, orange-y or reddish-y) in other parts of our Capital City. The problem, according to the article, is that many cities, including Providence, don’t have enough foliage to compete with the concrete and asphalt that is an unavoidable aspect of the urban experience. As a result, urban areas are much hotter than their surroundings areas – a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect. An environmental workshop class at Brown last year has recently released a report that seemed to confirm what most of us already suspected: areas of Providence with fewer trees are much hotter than greener neighborhoods like our own East Side. In addition, the report re-emphasized that trees are crucial to human health and happiness in a variety of ways: they remove pollutants from the air, provide shade and add beauty to their surroundings. The report went on to warn, “Providence has been steadily warming, a foreshadowing of hotter summers that will tax residents’ health and the city’s infrastructure. By the close of this century, Providence could experience two to four weeks of temperatures over 100°F.” While it’s tempting to conclude that these dire predictions are falsely alarming as we stroll around the well-foliaged East Side, clearly this is not case as one drives through other, less tree-lined areas of the city like Downtown, Federal Hill, Upper South Providence and Olneyville.
According to Trees 2020, a 2008 initiative to plant trees in Providence, the city has about 25,000 street trees, which cover about 23 percent of the city. Their goal is to increase that coverage throughout the city to 30 percent by 2020 – an undertaking that would require 3,333 trees to be planted each year. Unfortunately, they report, only about 1,100 trees are planted annually due to funding limitations. We on the East Side are well aware of the pioneering efforts of the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Tree planting program. Established in memory of longtime East Side resident and philanthropist Mary Sharpe, the program encourages both individuals and organizations to apply for free (or at least very inexpensive) trees. The only requirement is that the recipients must supply the labor to plant the tree and make a commitment to maintain its upkeep. Sadly, orchestrating a smooth citywide tree planting initiative is not easy to implement, suggests Timmons Roberts, the Brown professor of environmental studies who taught the class. There is a “complicated social side to the issue of having trees equally available for cooling our cities,” he observes. According to the report his class produced, “proximity to street trees and urban green spaces consistently favors homeowners to tenants and the wealthy to the poor.” It would appear the answer is to continue to support strong local initiatives in areas like the East Side that can maintain them; the wonderful works of the Blackstone Parks Conservancy group, Brown University’s Environmental Research program and the Sharpe Tree Fund are three wonderful East Side options. On a citywide basis, in addition to Trees 2020, there are groups like the Southside Community Land Trust that encourage green land-use efforts that pay economic dividends in terms of produce and community building, in addition to foliage coverage. There are also neighborhood organizations that
can help implement and maintain treeplanting programs to help ameliorate the homeowner-tenant divide. So as we try to recall where we hid those rakes from last year and commence the annual “pile ‘em up/bag ‘em up” ritual that’s an integral part of life in these parts, let’s not forget the big picture. Trees are a critical element of all urban environments, in terms of health, quality of life and community building. Stop your bitching and rake on. Your city, your neighbors and the environment in general are all way better off for your efforts. And here’s hoping there will be even more leaves to rake in the future. Resources and contacts to help make Providence greener • Doug Still is Providence’s City Forester, the person primarily responsible for overseeing the conditions of the urban forest. He works for the Parks Department and can be contacted at 785-9450. • The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program assists groups of residents to plant trees on their street. Groups of neighbors who agree to maintain them can apply for trees by calling Liz Downing at 368-5380 or emailing street_trees@ pnpp.org • The Rhode Island Tree Council is a nonprofit citizens group that works to increase tree resources in Rhode Island. They provide extra money for citizens interested in planting trees and establishing neighborhood tree organizations. They can be reached at 764-5885 or at RITree@RITree.org • Trees 2020 is an organization that does a little bit of everything, from selling you trees at a discount, helping with planting, providing educational tree films and sharing general maintenance information. Their goal is to plant 40,000 trees by 2020. Ray Perrault heads the group and can be reached at 351-6440 or by visiting www.trees2020.org.
Life Coaching For anyone who yearns for a better life and has the guts to go for it. Steven M. Kane, Ph.D. Providence, RI 401-454-5700 kanesmk@verizon.net Inquiries invited
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November 2011 East Side Monthly
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! e r o l a G s ft Gi
GIFT GUIDE A HOLIDAY
Milan Clothiers
Need the perfect gift for the men in your life? Look no further than Milan Clothiers. The shop has business, formal, made to measure, weekend-wear and accessories such as hats, belts, socks, cufflinks and scarves. 178 Wayland Ave., Providence, Wayland Square • 621-6452 270 County Rd., Barrington • 247-9209 10am - 3pm, Tue & Thur 11am - 7pm, Fri & Sat 10 am - 4pm, Sundays 12pm -4pm
Adare’s Boutique
A one of a kind boutique, Adare’s offers upscale merchandise both in the store and away from home. Specializing in distinctive fashion jewelry and accessories, you can peruse the store or if you get the urge to browse from the comfort of your own home, they also have an online boutique available 24 hours a day. 4000 Old Post Rd., Charlestown • 213-6385 • adaresboutique.com
Frog and Toad
Voted Most Unique Gift Shop and Best Home Decor Store by the Providence Phoenix and Best Gift Shop Statewide by Rhode Island Monthly, Frog & Toad’s eye for the odd and the incredible makes your gift buying a lock and you a hero. 795 Hope St., Providence • 831-3434 • Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm
Spectrum India Specializing in life-enhancing clothing, accessories, belly dancing outfits, Indian tapestries, beautiful boots, soy candles, wind chimes, dreamcatchers, skateboards, heat & eat Indian entrees, snacks, and other fun gifts. Come explore a wonderfully warm shop with surprises around every corner!
252 Thayer St., Providence • 421-1010 • spectrumindia.com • Sun-Wed 10am-10pm Thursday 10am-11pm, Fri & Sat 10am-12am
The Knotty Dog
A unique home and gift shop featuring affordable handmade items from local artists, The Knotty Dog specializes in earth friendly, recycled items and original handmade furniture created from century old wood (custom orders taken). Find that something special for a friend or loved one, or treat yourself! 31 Bradford St., Bristol • 396-9520 • theknottydog.com
Green Ink For the Holidays Green Ink is more than great clothing and shoes.
We also have festive jewelry and scarves, cozy socks and gloves, hip hats and so much more! Open 7 Days - Complementary Gift Wrap - Gift Cards 89 Brown St., Wickford • 294-6266 • greeninkboutique.com
Sara’s Glam Squad Salon
Winner of The Knot’s 2011 Best of Weddings, Sara’s Glam Squad and Salon has a new Providence location. Salon services offering HD airbrush makeup applications, master cuts, color and foils. Sara’s is offering a 20 percent discount on any service with this ad ending 11/30. 64 Orange St., 2nd Floor, Providence • (855) GLAM-ASAP • sarasglamsquad.com
Caster’s Bikes
At Caster’s they have your ride, from trikes to tri bikes. Trek, Scott, Gary Fisher, Specialized, Mirraco, Haro, and Redline. Bob Strollers, car racks and lots of clothing and accessories. Come celebrate their first anniversary at the Providence location on November 30 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. 212 4th St., Providence (behind Festival Ballet ) • 274-5300 3480 Post Rd., Warwick • 739-0393 • www.BikeRI.com Sun 12pm-5pm, Mon 9am-6pm, Tues-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm
Berk’s Shoes offers a large selection of Frye classic and contemporary boots. Keep
your feet warm and dry with UGGs and Hunter rain boots. In comfort footwear they carry Dansko, Birkenstock, Sperry Top-Siders and many many more. Berk’s – a Rhode Island tradition since 1900. 272 Thayer St., Providence • 831-0174 • Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 11am7pm
Second Helpings
From trinkets to treasures, Second Helpings is a one-stop shop for the holidays. Bristol’s cherished consignment shop offers fine furnishings, home goods, kitchen equipment, and more. New merchandise arrives daily and is discounted after 30 and 60 days, making Second Helpings the perfect resource during this giftgiving season. 32 Gooding Ave., Bristol • 396-9600 • secondhelpingsri.com
Luca
A shopping experience like no other. Let your children enjoy the play area as you browse the gently used maternity and children’s clothing as well as baby gear. Each item on the shelves has been hand selected based on current trends to ensure immaculate condition. 139 Water St., Warren • 289-2251 • luca-ri.com
On the Menu
by John Taraborelli
Early Indulgences Get a head start on holiday eating November and December are
Plan Your Holiday Party Early (Now Reserving)
284 thayer street providence 401-331-8111 kartabar.com 32
East Side Monthly November 2011
the months you work toward all year. The dieting, the exercise, the salads for lunch, the spin classes – it’s all undone in a two-month bacchanal of parties, holidays and grand meals to rival the last days of the Roman Empire. So why wait until the fourth Thursday in November to start the festivities? This month brings two chances to get an early jump on the holiday season’s gastronomic revelry. First up, on Wednesday, November 2 from 6-10pm, the Roger Williams Botanical Center is transformed into Federal Hill for a night. Taste of the Hill is billed as “Federal Hill’s premier food, wine and art event.” It’s a fundraiser to benefit the Federal Hill House Association. Since 1887, the Federal Hill House has been serving the community, including longtime residents and new arrivals alike. It provides ESL, GED and citizenship classes, early learning and after school programs, senior programs and more. Taste of the Hill is when the neighborhood rallies around the social services agency – and, of course, any Federal Hill event is guaranteed to offer excellent food. Some of this year’s participants include Hill favorites like Angelo’s, Siena, Venda Ravioli, Palmieri’s Bakery and the Blue Grotto, but also more eclectic restaurants like Julian’s, El Rancho Grande and Rasoi, and vendors like Douglas Wine and Spirits and Narragansett Creamery. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door and can be purchased at www. tasteofthehill.org. Just a few days later, on Saturday, November 5, the Savory Grape, the excellent wine shop in East Greenwich, puts down stakes in Providence for the night for its fifth annual Charity Fall Wine Festival. From 6-9pm, guests will get to taste more than 50 wines from around the country and the world, including some rare vintages. There will be plenty of hors d’oeuvres, live music and live and silent auctions. It’s also an opportunity to get a first look at The Dorrance (60 Dorrance St.), the brand new restaurant in the old Federal Reserve building. After lying dormant for a while, only being used on special occasions, it’s exciting to see this prime downtown location come back to life as an all new restaurant. (More on that to
Savory Grape Wine Fest
come in a future column.) All proceeds from this event benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Tickets are $75, or $70 for Savory Grape wine club members. There will be complimentary valet parking. Attendees are invited to Gracie’s (194 Washington St.) for an after party at 9pm. DOWN BY THE RIVER Newport Gourmet Tours has been leading popular culinary walking tours of the City By the Sea for several years now, taking guests on explorations and tastings of both Bellevue Avenue and Broadway. Now tour guide Michael Martini, a chef by trade, and tour coordinator Ann Martini, a former magazine editor, are taking their tours north to Providence with their new Providence Riverwalk Tour. The approximately two-hour walks offer an intimate (they’re capped at 12 people) opportunity to taste and talk with the chefs behind some of the city’s best restaurants. Each one includes roughly a half-dozen stops and covers about two miles. The Providence tour itinerary is a teaser: it begins at Harry’s Bar and Burger (121 North Main St.), then proceeds to “one of the great seafood restaurants in Providence history” and “a restaurant that Julia Child called ‘one of America’s finest’”, among others. Based on the clues provided, we can guess that stops include Hemenway’s (121 South Main St.), Pot Au Feu (44 Custom House
St.), the above-mentioned The Dorrance and a few others. You’ll just have to sign up and find out for yourself. Tours are $50 per person, and upcoming dates include November 4, 11 and 18, all at 2pm. Go to www.newportgourmettours.com for more information. STOCKING UP FOR WINTER Farm Fresh RI has done more to bring more fresh, local food to more people in the state than any person, business or organization. From farmer’s markets to CSAs (community supported agriculture) to their Market Mobile (which delivers straight from the farms to restaurants) to their easy-to-use, informative website, the nonprofit has quite literally delivered the goods to thousands of Rhode Islanders. They’re continuing that mission with their new Farm to Food Pantry program, which launched in August. The idea is simple: produce left over from the end of farmer’s markets is loaded onto the Market Mobile and delivered to charitable food pantries around the state. Currently seven food pantries in Providence, Bristol, Central Falls, Peace Dale and Newport, serving over 1500 families, are part of the program. As we head into the winter, efforts like this are more important than ever. Got food news? Send it to John at onthemenu@providenceonline.com.
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Joan Martin, Ph.D. • MA 781-891-0775 • RI 401-314-6060 www.CollegeStartOnline.com 2nd Story Theatre Presents a Special Holiday Event
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Original art $250 or less, cash & carry paintings, prints, glass, mixed media and more
November 11 - December 11 Thurs 7pm, Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm
Opening Reception: Sunday, November 20, 12-4pm Exhibition Dates: November 20-December 23 Extended Gallery Hours: Monday-Wednesday, Friday 12-5pm, Thursday 12-6pm, Weekends 12-4pm 11 Thomas St., Providence, R.I. 02903 • 401.331.1114 • www.providenceartclub.org
ELISE PENN PANSEY The Pet Friendly Realtor
Previews (11/11-11/13) All seats $20 regular run (11/17-12/11) Adults $30, Subscribers $25 Students $25
2nd Story Theater
28 Market St. Warren • 247-4200 2ndstorytheatre.com
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Leader’s in Eye Care Since 1927 Dr. David A. Vito Dr. John D. Corrow Dr. Carl D. Corrow Dr. J. Lawrence Norton • Emergencies Seen Immediately • Same Day Appointments Often Available • Evening and Weekend Hours Available • Glaucoma • Macular Degeneration • Cataract • Diabetic Eye Disease • Designer Glasses • Specialty Contact Lenses
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November 2011 East Side Monthly
33
special advertising section
Not Just Spices
Not Just Snacks
Indian Spices & Groceries Store
Snacks, Biryani, Kababs, Naans, Veg and Non-Veg Curry
836 Hope Street, Providence 351-6555 Open 7 Days
833 Hope Street, Providence 831-1150 Open 7 Days
Dining Guide
Br brunch B breakfast L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10-20 $$$ 20+
of choices for toppings, including vegan and vegetarian options. LD $ RUE DE L’ESPOIR 99 Hope Street; 7518890. In business for over 30 years, the Rue has only gotten better. Beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients, the innovative, constantly changing menu keeps diners on their toes. Superb brunch. BBrLD $$-$$$ SAWADDEE THAI 93 Hope Street; 8311122. Serving authentic Thai cuisine since 1984 (originally under the name Bangkok Cuisine), Sawaddee Thai continues to set the standard, while providing a comfortable, neighborhood atmosphere. LD $
DentPlus Dental Center
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34
East Side Monthly November 2011
Wickenden
Abyssinia 333 Wickenden Street; 454-1412. Enjoy
the unique experience of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, using your fingers (and Ethiopia’s famed flatbread) to sample richly spiced meat, fish and vegetable dishes. (Forks are available, but less fun.) LD $-$$
Downtown CAV 14 Imperial Place; 751-9164. The New York Times’ choice as one of Providence’s five best restaurants, CAV’s contemporary, award-winning cuisine is available for lunch and dinner daily. They also feature Saturday/Sunday brunch. LD $$-$$$ HEMENWAY’S 121 South Main Street; 351-8570. A true Providence classic, Hemenway’s has been serving top-notch seafood for 20 years. Their oyster bar features everything from the famed Prince Edward Island variety to the local favorite Poppasquash Point. LD $$-$$$ MILLS TAVERN 101 North Main Street; 272-3331. The only restaurant in RI to receive the Mobile Four Star Award for five consecutive years, Mills Tavern provides traditional American cuisine in a warm, friendly setting. LD $$-$$$
Wayland/Elmgrove HARUKI EAST 172 Wayland Avenue; 2230332. The chefs behind this sushi bar provide a minimalist, upscale, comfortable dining experience. Try the toro ankimo – sauteed fatty tuna and monkfish liver pate with eggplant tempura, served with a black bean sauce. LD $-$$$ MAD ERNIE’S 485 Angell Street; 3311031. Mad Ernie’s serves an array of soups, homemade ice cream, and sandwiches, including corned beef, reuben, chicken salad and lobster rolls. LD $
RED STRIPE 465 Angell Street; 4376950. Red Stripe serves classic comfort food with a French influence. Their food is reasonably priced and made with passion. LD $$-$$$ WATERMAN GRILLE 4 Richmond Square; 521-9229. With its covered outdoor seating overlooking the Seekonk River, Waterman Grille offers seasonally inspired New American fare in a comfortable setting. BrD $$-$$$
Hope/Thayer CHEZ PASCAL 960 Hope Street; 4214422. Chef Matt Gennuso’s East Side kitchen offers French food with a modern twist. Try the Bistro Menu (Tue-Thur), which features three courses for $30 per person. Delicieux! D $-$$$ GOURMET HOUSE 787 Hope Street; 8313400. Beautiful murals and décor set the mood for delicious Cambodian and Southeast Asian cuisine, spicy curries and noodle dishes. The tamarind duck is a must. LD $-$$ KARTABAR 284 Thayer Street; 3318111. This European-style restaurant and lounge offers a full menu of unique dishes with Mediterranean flair and eclectic flavors. They also offer a top-notch wine list and martini menu. LD $-$$ NICE SLICE 267 Thayer Street; 4536423. Hip and healthy are the best descriptions of this pizza place. It’s whole wheat, New York style pizza with plenty
BRICKWAY 234 Wickenden Street; 7512477. With creative omelets and French toast and an artsy décor, this iconic morning stop on Wickenden remains a neighborhood favorite. Be sure to check the specials board. BL $ Z-BAR 244 Wickenden Street; 831-1566. This cozy, classic bistro offers value, and a wide range of fare including, steaks, panini, salads and house made ravioli with an emphasis on fresh, local and organic ingredients. BrLD $$
Jewelry District/ Waterfront RUE BIS 95 South Street; 490-9966. This intimate eatery provides breakfast and lunch in a cozy, neighborhood bistro atmosphere – all with the gourmet pedigree of Hope Street dining staple Rue De L’Espoir behind it. BBrL $ BAKER STREET RUE 75 Baker Street; 490-5025. Chef Twillia Glover expands the Rue De L’Espoir empire with this comfortable neighborhood café serving “upscale diner food” BBRL$
Outside Providence LJ’S BBQ 727 East Avenue, Pawtucket; 305-5255. LJ’s features ribs, pork, chicken and beef cooked low and slow in their customized pit, made with recipes from co-owner Bernie Watson’s grandmother, Miss Leola Jean. It’s great food at a great value. LD $-$$ Vine Yard East 315 Waterman Avenue, East Providence; 432-7000. Wineinfluenced dining meets casual down home atmosphere, and an eclectic menu of regional fare like local seafood favorites and Italian and Portuguese classics. LD $$
Photography: Dan Schwartz
New England’s Most Authentic Home-Style Indian Restaurant and Indian Spices/Groceries Store
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East Side Primary Care welcomes Dr. Peter Kim to the Practice
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November 2011 East Side Monthly
35
Pajama Monologues by Bob Mariani
Tomasso Auto Swedish Motors
Celebrating 41 Years
fabric gallery In Store Design Assistance
We service and repair ALL foreign and domestic models Toyota • Kia • Nissan • Chrysler Audi • Lexus • Infinity • Ford Volkswagen • Honda • BMW Chevy • Isuzu • Mercedes • Mini Prosche • Ford • General Motors Mazda • Saab • Volvo • Hyundai Saturn • Subaru • Mitsubishi
ASE Certified RI inspection and repair station #27b
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Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
729 East Avenue
Top of the East Side, next door to Rite Aid
21 Years Of Personal Design Assistance And Custom Fabrication Window Treatments, Bedding, Upholstery, Slipcovers, Woven Shades, Shutters , Duettes, Verticals First Quality Fabrics, Wallpapers, Trims In Stock and Samples
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Mon-Sat 10-5 Closed Thursday & Sunday
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Welcome to the
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call 401-464-8937
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Rue De L’Espoir American Bistro Cooking
open daily breakfast, lunch, dinner 99 Hope Street Providence, RI 02906 info/reservations 751-8890 www.therue.com
Water / SeWage Fire / Smoke mold remediation carpet cleaning
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East Side Monthly November 2011
The Japanese Way Lessons in resourcefulness and stoicism Driving along in my
car the other day listening to the news and commentary on Public Radio, in the midst of the usual glut of stories of car bombings, death tolls and crime sprees, a reporter came on the air with a story from Japan that made me open the car windows, shut off the AC and take some big beautiful lungs full of fresh air. The story was about the cleanup efforts at Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Plant that had been almost destroyed by an earthquake six months ago. There are still an unknown number of holes and cracks in the plant and radioactive water is seeping into the landscape at an alarming rate. The experts say this could take years to clean up because the radiation near the reactor is just too high to let workers get near it. Nevertheless, the plant’s employees have been risking their lives every day trying to eradicate as much radioactive materials as possible. But here’s the real story: a group of elderly citizens decided to volunteer to take the place of the younger workers at the plant because, well at 50 and 60, they’ll be risking “less of their lives” than the workers in their 30s and 40s. Seriously! One of the leaders of this band of quiet heroes said in a hushed voice that this failed plant had been created by their generation and it was certainly not a problem they wished to pass on to their successors if they could help it. Surprisingly, I have not seen or heard about this heroic incident in any of the other news media. When I relate this story to people, their reactions are
remarkably similar: “Oh, wow! But that is so ‘Japanese’!” And it really is. This kind of thoughtful mentality, this quiet acceptance and stoic reaction was also evident in the newsreel footage taken immediately after the earthquake and flooding in Japan. There was no looting. No angry protests. Not even any noticeable complaining, despite the devastating loss of lives and property. Cataclysmic events like this reveal the true nature of a people. There is really nothing comparable to this sort of behavior in our country. It’s not really a “religious” thing, but it is deeply philosophical – and something that’s passed on through generations. This is not to say that the Japanese are a nation of pacifists. There are plenty of activist groups there lobbying for wind and solar power to replacer nuclear plants. For the most part the Japanese are a proud people, but they are also by nature very self-effacing and willing to embrace change, which seems to make a lot of sense in a world where virtually nothing is really indestructible. If nothing else, this cataclysmic event and the reaction to it should remind us that a species capable of harnessing nuclear power is also resourceful enough to find ways to cope with its risks. When you look at some of Japan’s achievements in engineering and computer science, not to mention their often totally original take on art, you have to wonder whether the rest of the world wouldn’t be in much better shape if we could look at life in “the Japanese way.” Good morning.
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
Hegeman and Co. Creating jewelry that becomes an heirloom
special advertising section
Hegeman & Co.
Est. 1970
Fine Jewelry • Custom Design Diamonds • Diamonds • Diamonds 361 South Main St, Providence • 831-6812 www.hegemanandco.com We buy DiamonDs, GolD & Precious Gems
Tired of Living with Pain? “After a week of treatment, all the pain was gone... I recommend Dr. Tom to everyone I know.” – J.T. Richard Hegeman – the master craftsman behind Hegeman and Co. Jewelers – is entering his 42nd year in business and he looks back to the beginning of his career as an apprentice lapidary: “A lot of the pieces I made early on are now going to the children of the people with whom I dealt,” he explains. “We make heirlooms that have real value. This jewelry will be around in 50, 75 and 100 years as long as it is taken care of.” Indeed the emerald ring in the photo above was made by Richard a number of years ago, and it was recently brought in to have the scratches and chips removed. The 7.4 carat genuine Columbian emerald ring, with adjoining trapezoid diamonds, was completely restored and reset. “It’s a stunning piece; one of the finest colors in the world, as far as emeralds go.” With Richard’s extensive experience and top-of-the-line laser welding machine he can handle any kind of fabrication request. If you bring in a photo or magazine page of some jewelry you like, Hegeman and Co. will recreate it as close to the same design as possible without doing an outright copy. The holidays are a time when some people like to propose, and Hegemen and Co. is there to accommodate any budget. “I have some guys who want to spend five, six or seven hundred dollars and I’ll do something for them,” Richard says. No matter what price range of jewelry you buy from Hegeman, you are receiving the best in quality and service. Richard offers his expertise through consulting to individuals and law firms on topics like how to dispose of estate jewelry and large collections. He will also buy fine pieces from time-to-time. If you are looking for that one-of-a-kind gift, stop into Hegeman and Co. to view their selection of diamond earrings, pendants and all their precious and semi-precious stone jewelry from amethysts all the way through to zircon. Purchase an heirloom today for your loved one that will endure in both its beauty and value.
Northeast Chiropractic Dr. ThomaS moriSon, ChiropraCTiC phySiCian
401-861-1300 • 187 Waterman Street • www.wickedgoodposture.com
Saving Up To 80% off ReTail pRice We have been supplying new, refurbished and scratch & dent appliances for over 7 years Stainless Refrigerators • Ranges • Dishwashers Front-Load Washing Machines • Built-In Refrigeration Cooktops & Wall Ovens
416 Roosevelt Ave. • Central Falls • 401.723.0500 • www.kitchenguys.com
Hegeman and Co.
361 South Main St., Providence / 831-6812 hegemanandco.com November 2011 East Side Monthly
37
Spotlight
special advertising section
HOM DELIV E for ONERY LY $ 1.95
OVER 250 ! ITEMS
Munroe Dairy Like the farmer’s market delivered to your door
New Customers Receive $25 in Coupons! Use Code ESM11-11 CLICK or CALL NOW!
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10/5/11 7:37 AM
Helping you make a healthy adjustment to your lifestyle. Bayside Chiropractic, PC Welcomes our new Associate, Dr. Meghan Schaffer. Dr. Schaffer specializes in women and children’s care including pregnancy, cranial pediatrics, whole health nutrition, and wellness. Dr. Schaffer
Bayside Chiropractic | 291 Waterman Street | 401.223.0111 See www.BaysideChiroProvidence.com for information
Tom’s Tree Care Ornamental and Shade Tree Specialists fine hand pruning • tree preservation hazard tree removal • tree evaluation & diagnosis shade and specimen tree planting 401-331-8527 • www.tomstreecare.net
During the hectic holidays there is nothing as convenient as a friendly milkman delivering groceries right to your front door. Meet Chad Jones, one of the 30 drivers of East Providence’s Munroe Dairy, who knows his East Side and Oak Hill customers well. Simply order online or leave a written order and have fresh, local milk and over 200 other grocery items delivered to your home, often arriving before you taste that first sip of morning coffee. You may even showcase a signature cow-spotted milk box on your front porch for easy drop- off. Stellar customer service is only the beginning, because Munroe Dairy milk is simply delicious and their eggnog is decadent! Munroe Dairy uses glass bottles, that are cleaned and reused over 40 times (which is as green as it gets), and their milk arrives at your doorstep within 48 hours from the cow. The milk is from local farms, free of antibiotics, and never treated with additives, stabilizers or synthetics. Plus, the milk is not ultra-pasteurized, so it retains its nutritional value and flavor. Customers have attested that the skim milk tastes like low fat, and the low fat tastes more like whole milk. And Munroe carries the classics, like coffee milk, sinfully rich chocolate milk and seasonal items, like eggnog and apple cider. Munroe Dairy believes in emphasizing local suppliers whenever possible. They provide Narragansett Creamery cheeses, grass-fed meats from nearby Northeast Family Farms, Blount chowders, gourmet desserts, all natural prepared pasta dishes and a variety of produce, including Olivia’s Organics. This dairy is celebrating its 130th year and four generations of family ownership. Stay in from the cold and call Munroe today. Enjoy the luxury and convenience of having your own milkman! Chad would be happy to bring you a free sample of Munroe Dairy milk (call the dairy for details).
AB Munroe Dairy
151 North Brow Street, East Providence 401-435-MILK (6455) / cowtruck.com 38
East Side Monthly November 2011
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
Touch Salon Relocates over the bridge
special advertising section
We’ve Moved & We’re Better than ever! Rhode Island, East Bay’s Hottest New Salon
Elegant Fashion Forward, Fresh Innovative Hair & Nail Care
Feel the Rush of Creativity with Staci D’Amico & the TOUCH Salon Creative Team Plenty of FREE PARKING 58 John Street @ Taunton Ave. (Rt. 44) East Providence • 274-1126
Tomasso Auto
We service and repair ALL foreign and domestic models
Swedish Motors
• ASE Certified • RI inspection and repair station #27b
Tip of the Month When bringing in your vehicle for service make sure to request your PCV/Crankcase Ventilation System is checked as it is required maintenance.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
729 East Avenue • 401-723-1111 (Top of the East Side, next door to Rite Aid)
Touch Salon is a special kind of business because owner Staci D’Amico demands nothing but the best from her highly trained staff to provide a superior salon experience for each client. When her location in Wayland Square became too confining she decided it was time to move to a building with more room to grow and plenty of parking. “We can now offer more services,” Staci explains. “The new space still has our signature ultra modern aesthetic. It’s better than ever.” Touch Salon now offers nail care (all natural and Shellac), makeup artistry and all aspects of hair care: cutting for women and men, special effects hair color, bridal services and kids’ cuts, just to name a few. Staci has been involved in the professional beauty industry from the time she was nine years old, spending time at her grandfather’s barbershop in Providence. “He would allow me to come in on Saturday mornings and I would spend a few hours and just watch my Papa Harold Cut hair,” she recalls. “I’d sweep the floors and give coffee to the men. By the time I was 13, he put the clippers in my hand and I started to do children’s hair. Then at 16 I started to do straight edge razor shaves & more executive men’s haircuts.” Staci participated in a co-op program while in high school to become a licensed hairdresser, and later was discovered by Toni & Guy working at a salon in Providence. Staci was given the unique opportunity to complete her master training at this internationally recognized school and then became an educator/platform artist. She went through their tier program, advancing every five years, and now she has exclusive national credentials to cut hair and teach hairdressing anywhere in the country. Staci recruits the best students from Toni & Guy for Touch Salon, viewing her business as a place where passionate stylists can further their expertise. “We all have this great foundation of training and I like working with like-minded hair dressers, both technically and ethically. “ Visit Touch Salon for a truly unique salon experience. As she says, “You’ll leave feeling beautiful and vivacious!”
Now Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner Live Entertainment Sundays 4-8pm and Tuesdays 8-11pm Wayland Square - 161 Wayland Ave. Providence, Rhode Ireland | 751-3000 find us on facebook!
Come Work With Us Providence Media, is now accepting resumes for: Westminster’s
the sound of
an artfuL LEgaCy: The creative work of the Anthony Quinn Foundation
local art
PROVIDENCE new tapas bar
the Union Street Collective
for a global cause
09.11 Issue 49 Free
A sneak peek at what’s on stage this fall
New fine dining
Monthly
September 2011 #178
in Charlestown
September 2011
Community All-Stars
Are You Ready For Some Football?
Meet local do-gooders who are working towards a better South County
Another night game set for Brown Stadium
TheBay Living Well on the East Bay & South Coast
A Fresh
Taste
From new restaurants to revamped menus, our guide to dining right now
LOOK BOOK the providence
Get a street view of real city style
58 John Street (at Taunton Ave/rte 44), East Providence 274-1126 / touchsalonri.com
walk through history on the Independence trail
Pre-Sorted Standard US POSTAGE PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 34
+
Touch Salon
McBride’s Pub
The disaster in Japan, up close and personal pg 21
Nathan Bishop supports a beloved teacher pg 17
a walk through URI’s + Alton Jones campus
SEptEmBEr 2011 #25 Bud McLeod, Jenny Miller and Roberta Mudge Humble at the Westerly Armory
The newly reopened Wharf Tavern in Warren
Editorial Assistant
• Strong writing and editing skills required • Must submit 2 writing samples
Account Manager • Media sales experience preferred
The leader in local lifestyle
Send your materials to: resumes@providenceonline.com November 2011 East Side Monthly
39
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
Home entertainment made simple I’ve been doing this for 25 years right here on the East Side
For superb home theater systems, music systems, HDTV’s, and multi-room systems, call Jon Bell for a free in-home consultation. www.simplysas.com
Jbell@simplysas.com
401.383.4102
special advertising section
Simply Sight and Sound Easy to use home entertainment systems
Beautiful Pre-Owned Jewelry
437-8421 • 1271 North Main Street, Providence 273-7050 • 358 Broad Street, Providence Come Celebrate our 1st Anniversary at our Providence Location!
• Wednesday November 30, 5:30pm-8:30pm • Scrumptious munchies and beverages will be served • Reps from the industry will be available, discounts and door prizes • For the months of Oct. & Nov. for every $100 spent at either location you’ll receive a raffle ticket(s) towards our $1000 gift card give-away on Nov. 30th!
It’s been a remarkable year and we’d like to thank you for welcoming us Caster's on 4th 212 4th Street, Providence • 274-5300
BikerI.com
(off Hope across from Seven Stars)
Caster's 3480 Post Road, Warwick 739-0393
We Understand Your Desires
day 10-6, 4.
Many of us would love to
have a beautiful home entertainment system, but few of us want to spend weekends unpacking boxes, reading manuals and trying to hide wires and cables. Fortunately, we have a real professional here in native East Sider Jon Bell, who has been in the home theater and stereo business since 1980. Jon specializes in creating easy to use home entertainment systems that also blend in with the home’s decor. When he designs and installs a system for you, it only takes him about 15 minutes to show the entire family its easy one-touch operation. Jon’s business, Simply Sight & Sound, is all about learning a customer’s needs – whether it’s just one television or setting up your house with multiple entertainment rooms – and translating those needs into an appropriate system. Jon explains, “Customers want a system with high quality picture and sound that is easy to use and looks good in their house.” He offers the finest products from Sony, Samsung, Yamaha, and Definitive Technology at prices that are comparable to the big box stores. The difference is that Jon also provides you with expert design, installation, and follow-up. Jon works hard to ensure that every customer is completely satisfied with their system – most of his business comes from referrals. He handles every client personally from start to finish and works with professional installers who have extensive experience. Simply Sight & Sound designs and installs systems from $1,000 to $100,000. It is truly amazing to see what he offers. Jon showed me a clip from a movie and a Patriots game on his Sony front projection system with a ten foot screen. The picture looked as good as a top quality flat panel TV, but many times bigger, and the sound was fantastic. When I saw the Patriots game I swear I was sitting in the middle of the field. It’s very, very, cool. Call Jon Bell for a free in-home consultation and see how you can experience the finest in home entertainment with none of the hassles.
fine clothiers
hair.com
200 South Main St. Providence 401.453.0025 • www.marcalleninc.com • theclubchair.com Tuesday–Friday 10-6 and Saturday 10-4 • Mondays by appt.
40
East Side Monthly November 2011
Simply Sight and Sound 383-4102 / Jbell@simplysas.com simplysas.com
Movies
A New Dating Option
By Bob Cipriano
with R I ow ns Match m a ke r
Movies that Maneuver Moneyball, Contagion and Drive reviewed 401-480-4889
www.RImatchmaker.com
free 1/4 hour with every 1st massage In-home massage available, East Side, as needed. 10,000 massages… since 1993 "Best of Boston"
cathryn moskow, lcmt 401.808.0837 145 Waterman St, Providence
Moneyball
Cinematic pots are simmering at the multiplex, as winter looms and movies turn up the heat. Three slick and entertaining features have added spice to the autumn mix. Moneyball is a baseball movie, possibly not the ideal subject matter to lure New Englanders to the screen following 2011’s quintessential collapse of the Red Sox. So maybe it’s best to look at this complex, subtle film as the quintessential Brad Pitt movie. He is perfect in his portrayal of Billy Beane, the failed ballplayer who became general manager of the Oakland A’s and changed the way off-the-field baseball works. Not blessed with a range of emotion, Pitt’s looks often work against him as close-ups reveal nothing beyond that glossy surface. In Moneyball he comes on as a slick charmer who works out, talks fast and remains aloof from the scouts who choose what players have enough potential to invest in. In 2001, Billy Beane was an intermediary between ownership and the scouts. The A’s had just lost the division playoffs by one game and then lost their three key superstars to free
agency. To be competitive in 2002, the team had to come up with suitable replacements. Oakland’s owner tells Beane how much money the team has to work with; he tells the scouts. Pitt’s character can only watch as the scouts sit around like an assembly of aged chiefs, considering players by how they look, how they stand at the plate, how attractive their wives are. There’s something wrong here, but what is it? Pitt can’t put a finger on it. (It requires involvement he is incapable of and may not be any good at anyway.). Director Bennett Miller, who previously directed the much quieter but no less effective Capote, and writers Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, (Sorkin wrote the very comparable The Social Network), smoothly trace Pitt’s quest for answers. He finds Peter Brand (a terrific Jonah Hill), a number-crunching nerd who dresses and talks like a lowlevel accountant but can articulate why on base percentage trumps batting average or home runs. Armed with someone who knows the right questions to ask, Pitt attacks his team’s problems and his complacent scouts by turning to Hill as a new-fangled expert.
But Hill’s expertise lacks Pitt’s personality. It’s not enough to get the job done. What makes Moneyball human, watchable and even exciting, is the transformation of Pitt as a man riding the perimeter of his world, coming to understand himself, and finally moving to the center as a born-again baseball numbers man, at home in his element. The film’s stirring depiction of baseball’s culture change with Pitt firmly at the helm feels as substantial as the emergence of the information age in The Social Network. Contagion is director Steven Soderbergh’s latest slick commercial enterprise, the kind of thing he can do so well (Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich, Traffic) when he isn’t directing the quirkier independent efforts that first brought him to the forefront (sex, lies and videotape). Like the best of his work, a fast-moving plot is laced with an undercurrent of contemporary significance. Contagion opens with a black screen, and someone coughing hard behind it. Then Gwyneth Platrow, looking about as bad as Ms. Paltrow could ever look, sits at an airport bar doing
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her best to flirt on her phone with her lover, her prominent wedding ring notwithstanding. Jump to a Hong Kong market, an airplane in flight, a London fashion agency and the obviously sick people there touching things and other people, then back to Paltrow as she arrives home, greeting her loving little son with open, contagious arms. You can see pretty quickly where this movie is going, and it’s easy to sit back and enjoy it while being set up, smacked down and creeped out as all-star cast members deal with the contagion and occasionally die from it. The pace of the film is remarkable as a task force of international researchers, including Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Ehle and Marion Cotillard, does its thing around the globe while Matt Damon, playing Paltrow’s husband, and scores of others play a waiting game through quarantines, shutdowns, strikes, panic and looting as civilization breaks down. There are several villains present beyond the contagion itself, and their villainy has a point. Jude Law is a smarmy blogger, playing on the antigovernment prejudices and fears of the general public, hyping and profiting from a potential holistic cure. He has regular meetings with a shadowy corporate figure who stands to make serious profits from the disease. And China gets a subtle backhand slap as the details of the contagion come to the forefront, Note also the key heroes in a film of major stars: the relatively anonymous Jennifer Ehle, Demetri Martin and Elliott Gould. Soderberg consistently recommends a sensible look past the glamour, through the hype and beyond profiteers, into what’s really happening now. Drive is a pure Hollywood action film
Drive
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East Side Monthly November 2011
continued
in its sensibilities: it’s all about a guy (Ryan Gosling) and what he does best, which is drive his car (a late model Chevy Impala). And then the complications: first the girl, then the violence. Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, obviously enthralled with classic hard-boiled Hollywood, has clearly seen many, many Quentin Tarantino and Michael Mann pictures, not to mention Clint Eastwood westerns and all those ‘60s and ‘70s barebones road movies. He opens with Gosling’s virtuoso driving skills in a slick, establishing getaway scene (he’s the driver for a botched robbery), then fleshes him out a little to find him working at an auto repair shop and stunt driving on a movie set. He’s got no name besides “the driver” or “the kid.” He doesn’t say much. There are suggestions, but no details, of some trouble in his past. But a woman (Carey Mulligan) and her son live down the hall. Gosling lends them a hand. And before you know it, complications arise. A husband, a gun and a bag full of money show up, along with a string of betrayals and acts of vengeance. There really isn’t any subtext to any of this, nor should there be. Alongside the action and the predictable but pleasurable plotting, there is some impeccable casting. The boyish Gosling with his soft-spoken, nasal voice is cast against type and makes a fascinating protagonist. Mulligan is once again understated and memorable. And, significantly, there are the villains. Bryan Cranston is Gosling’s compromised employer and friend, Ron Perlman is the thug with just enough street savvy to think when he should act, and above all Albert Brooks, stepping far from his passive-aggressive comic roles, is the corrupt and murderous kingpin. Drive is a heady ride.
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43
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East Side Monthly November 2011
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The British Art Coming RISD presents a unique collection This fall, the RISD
museum launched their blockbuster exhibition of the season, Made in the UK. This exhibition presents the strongest collection of British contemporary art owned by an institution in the United States. Richard Brown Baker, the man behind it, spent years assembling the work of the top artists in the postwar era. Baker was born into a prominent family in Providence. He had the opportunity to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He also lived through London’s darkest times during World War II. After the war, Baker returned to the States and moved to Manhattan, ending up in an area where many contemporary galleries would set up shop. Even though the collection set aside for RISD focuses on artists from the UK, Baker took a personal interest in the work of emerging artists. This influence took hold of Baker for the rest of his life, and at the time of his passing, he possessed 1,600 works of art. Made in the UK is subtly divided into minor sections marked by wall labels describing the time period in which the work was created. Ironically, one of Baker’s first works was not a contemporary piece, but a work by Joseph
Mallard William Turner, whom many consider the king of English art. Baker acquired a watercolor by Turner, whose brushstroke and use of light in his work continues to influence artists and art enthusiasts alike. This watercolor is extremely fragile and spends a lot of its time in storage, so it is a special opportunity to get to see it in person. It is interesting to note that Baker did not purposely collect British art until he made the conscious decision to donate it to the RISD museum in the mid 1970s. This subset appeared within Baker’s larger collection, which truly reflects both his international awareness and the special place England made in his heart. Once the decision to donate was made, he sought to fill in some of the gaps in his UK collection in order to present the RISD Museum a complete body of work that represented contemporary British art and could be used as an educational tool. As the years progressed, Baker brought to light other schools of artists, including a fascinating grouping: namely, the artists who worked in Scotland in the 1980s and are now identified as Neo-Expressionists. Their work returns back to a figurative subject to create images that reflect both the artists’ Scottish heritage as
well as the socio-political conditions of the country. However, the greatest gift Baker presented to the museum in addition to the collection is a collecting fund, not an endowment, to be spent on contemporary British art. Since the release of the funds after Baker’s passing in 2002, curators Judith Tannenbaum and Jan Howard have added many noteworthy works their benefactor would have enjoyed. Baker also left behind funds to sponsor a curator for the contemporary collection; Tannenbaum is the first to hold this prestigious position. Richard Brown Baker was a different kind of collector. He was not drawn to names and reputations; he was drawn to an artist’s vision and talent. Many of the works in this collection were purchased before many of the artists became the superstars they are today. Baker devoted his entire life to art and we get the pleasure of enjoying what he amassed. Made in the UK Through January 8, 2012 RISD Museum 224 Benefit Street 454-6500 www.risdmuseum.org
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Finance by Betsey Puriton | illustration by Ashley MacLure
Under Pressure Dealing with aggressive sales pitches My husband and I
bought a car this past summer. It had been a long time since we had entered the negotiation ring, but after we finally selected a car and were sitting in the Sales Manager’s office signing paperwork and listening to a “buy now or forever lose the opportunity” spiel, I was struck by the commonalities between pressured sales pitches – whether in car dealerships, real estate or my own industry, financial services. As we sat across the table, the first sentence out of the Sale’s Manager’s mouth was, “I want you to know that compliance is extremely important to our dealership.” “Wow,” I naively thought, “I like that.” My industry has tons of regulations designed to create full disclosure and transparency. From a wealth management perspective, it means that clients are far more likely now to learn of any conflicts of interest the adviser has and receive a full accounting of what fees they will be paying. “Compliance” has become a positive buzzword. I leaned forward, expecting from the Sales Manager a discussion of how dealerships get paid, perhaps a document on privacy rights and certainly a long disclosure document in newly updated reader-friendly language. Instead, the Sales Manager started talking in rapid succession about several different products that we must make a decision on right then and there. There were no materials put in front of us to review while she spoke and pricing wasn’t mentioned. Eventually she gave us the forms to sign and my husband and I were able to pour over the fine print and do our due diligence. “What about this deductible? You didn’t mention it,” my husband asked. “But I did,” she said, before she realized she didn’t. “It’s right there on the paper in front of you.” “Oh,” I commented. “I see that we can choose the number of years we want the service agreement and not just the seven years you mentioned.” The Sales Manager was clearly irritated. We were supposed to be
46
East Side Monthly November 2011
caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment, ready to sign on the dotted line and fork over money on the spot. Apparently that is what most people do. Not long ago a couple was referred
not their rational side. Another area ripe for sales pitches is insurance services. (Full disclosure: our company sells life, disability and long term care insurance policies as well as fixed annuities, alongside our
to our office for financial planning. As I sat with them discussing whether they could retire in two years, the wife started bubbling over about a condo in Florida they wanted to buy. This purchase had not been in their plans a month ago, but they had just returned from vacation in the Fort Myers area where a realtor had told them about a deal of a lifetime (going fast and in limited supply). As I reviewed the couple’s finances and prepared a financial plan for them, it was very clear that they could not afford the condo. They realized that they had been caught up in a very compelling sales pitch – one that appealed to their emotions,
investment management and financial planning services.) One frustration I have when I propose insurance or an annuity is that sometimes I feel rushed. Just about the time we identify an attractive policy for the client, we get a notice that the rates are about to change – and usually not for the better. This past summer I was talking to clients about a long-term care insurance policy they had purchased before coming to us. They had just received a notice that the company was getting out of the long-term care business. Yes, the company would continue to process claims on existing policies, but they were not
selling new ones. A legitimate worry my clients had was how good would the company’s claims department be if they needed care 15 years from now? We identified a benefit-linked policy that was a good product for them, but not essential. They had choices. My clients were still debating these choices when the notice arrived. In two weeks, the benefit-linked product would decrease benefits on new policies by 10%. They needed to lock in the rates now. Sometimes, when the rates change, I need to give my clients a little push. Other times, as in the case just described, the notice motivates us to move in the opposite direction. If we have to be convinced by a deadline, the product isn’t the best choice. Here are my suggestions for when you find yourself presented with a very convincing sales pitch. • Never make a decision at the first meeting. It is way too easy to get caught up in the moment. • Read all the paperwork you are given and be prepared to ask questions at a second meeting. Look at both the brochure, which gives all the reasons to buy the product or services, and the compliance materials, which give all the risks associated with a purchase. • If you don’t understand the product completely, don’t buy it until you do. • Don’t be afraid to hold off on a decision, even if you will miss out on an opportunity. Benefits don’t always go down. Sometimes they go up. Above all else, review the offer within the context of your financial plan. Many of these purchases are long lasting and should be embarked on only after a thoughtful decisionmaking process. Betsey Purinton, CFP® is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at StrategicPoint Investment Advisors. You can e-mail her at bpurinton@strategicpoint.com.
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East Side Monthly November 2011
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At School Today by Jill Davidson | illustration by Jessica Pollak
What Not to Wear The pros and cons of school uniforms At a recent citywide
gathering of parents with children in the Providence Public Schools, I found myself in the minority when the subject of school uniforms arose. I’m not in favor of mandatory uniforms, especially in public schools. That’s not to say that I don’t want kids to look their best. Clearly stated and consistently enforced dress codes create an atmosphere for learning with minimal distraction while still allowing for choice and free expression, and the Providence Public Schools’ dress code is a fine example. However, most other parents present spoke up enthusiastically for school uniforms. That overwhelmingly positive response made me reconsider my own anti-uniform stance. What was so attractive about the idea of school uniforms in all of our public schools – and why didn’t I share that view? Those who support mandatory school uniforms believe that they emphasize to young people that they are at school to learn. Christina Murphy Pyman, a past Vartan Gregorian Elementary School parent, sums up what many believe. “Uniforms are especially good for girls, who seem obsessed with how they look and what label they are wearing at a frighteningly young age,” she notes. “They need to learn that it isn’t how you look but what you can accomplish and they need to learn to focus.” Some uniform proponents argue that mandatory school uniforms correlate with a safer school culture and help students feel like they’re part of a team, which can increase a sense of school pride. Others say it’s just easier to get dressed in the morning. Allyson Seaborn, a friend who grew up in the United States (without school uniforms) and moved to Australia in high school, shared that all Australian public and private school students wear uniforms, and she is a major proponent. “As a parent I send my two kids off to school each day without any whining, fashion planning, color coordination of socks, or my daughter looking like a tart,” she explains. “They just go to school to learn.
Uniforms are about making school years a little bit easier and more practical.” Not such a big surprise, then, that school uniforms are such an appealing idea. However, they aren’t a sartorial panacea that will fix what’s ailing a school. Do dress codes eliminate distractions and put the focus on learning? Probably not. Research indicates that academic outcomes aren’t improved at schools with uniforms as compared to schools with similar populations and
programs. Dr. Corey D. B. Walker, chair of Brown University’s Africana Studies department and president of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization, suggests that insisting on compliance to a uniform policy may well be a distraction to learning. “Administrators and communities should focus their energy on providing adequate resources so that schools can do what they do best: educate our children,” Walker says. “Since we have no reliable data to support all the ‘good’ that school uniforms do, we should focus our energy on ensuring that all schools have the requisite resources to serve all students.” Others feel that the uniforms put
them or their kids at a real disadvantage. Providence Public School parent Karen Seiler recalls, “As someone who wore a uniform to school I can tell you they accomplish none of the supposed benefits. Students distinguish their wealth, status and cliques through hairstyle, jewelry, shoes and so on.” Another friend whose children attended a charter school with a strictly enforced uniform policy was plagued by the anxiety of getting the uniform up to snuff in the mornings and the inevitable loss of time in schools (and loss of work for her) when her kids were sent home for noncompliance. School uniforms represent what many families want for their kids and their schools: a calm, orderly, focused learning environment, and therein lies their appeal. But the challenges that face us are complex, and the solutions require a parallel level of complexity and nuance. Dr. Corey D. B. Walker takes the point further, noting, “The discourse on school uniforms strikes me as emblematic of the problem of public school education in our nation – the simplistic pursuit of a single remedy to alleviate the systemic problems that have been and continue to be part of the history of public education in America.” When we talk about schools, we often fail to make the distinction between standards and standardization. A dress code represents standards; a uniform, standardization. The consequences to insisting on standardization in a multicultural society are significant. While public and charter schools, which are not required to educate any and all students, may well benefit from mandatory uniform policies, uniforms don’t have a meaningful place in our public schools. With respect to those who are in favor, I hope to work together with educators and students to create places of learning where high standards and personal freedom can coexist. Jill Davidson can be reached at whathappenedatschool@gmail.com or her blog, providenceschools.blogspot.com
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49
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East Side Monthly November 2011
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Calendar
by Samantha Gaus
November
music | performance | social happenings | galleries | learn | sports
DON’T MISS THIS MONTH: 10 events at the top of our list
Spend Your Day in Splendor
Providence Holiday Market, Saturdays starting Thanksgiving week at Grant’s Block. www.providenceholidaymarket.com.
1
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Nov 25 at the Dunkin Donuts Center. www.dunkindonutscenter.com.
2
Celebrate Providence 375 Years Birthday Bash, Nov 22 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. www. providence375.com.
3
Santa’s Arrival & Holiday Parade, Nov 26 at Roger Williams Park Zoo. www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.
4 MUSIC arena & club | classical ARENA & CLUB DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER Nov 9: Josh Groban. Nov 16: Straight No Chaser. Nov 25: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. One Lasalle Square. 331-6700, www.dunkindonutscenter.com. FOXWOODS Nov 8: EC Twins. Nov 24: “Thanksgiving Voices of Love Concert.” 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800-200-2882, www.foxwoods.com. LUPO’S Nov 2: Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors. Nov 12: Rob Bell. Nov 18: All Time Low. Nov 25: Wailers. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, www. lupos.com.
Taste of the Hill, Nov 2 at the Roger Williams Botanical Center. www. tasteofthehill.org.
5 THE MET Nov 1: AraabMuzik. Nov 3: Barefoot Truth. Nov 5: Sage Francis. Nov 8: Torche Part Chimp. Nov 10: Tower of Power. Nov 11: State of Corruption Reunion/Kanerko CD Release. Nov 12: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Nov 14: Jonny Corndawg. Nov 18: The WBRU Sweet Potato Ball. Nov 23, 25 & 26: The Wild Turkey Band. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 729-1005, www.themetri.com. MOHEGAN SUN Nov 12: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Nov 13: Straight No Chaser. Nov 18: Watch the Throne Tour Featuring Jay-Z & Kanye West. Nov 26: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www.mohegansun.com. PARK THEATRE Nov 18: Southside Johnny & The As-
Les Miserables, Nov 1-6 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. www. ppacri.org.
6
Great International Beer Festival, Nov 5 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. www.riconvention.com.
7
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Nov 12 at the Met. www.themetri.com.
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Dana Carvey, Nov 5 at University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center. www. theryancenter.com.
9
Hamlet, Nov 3–Dec 11 at The Gamm Theatre. www.gammtheatre.org.
10
The Camera Werks Custom Framing & Photo Boutique
766 Hope Street, Providence 401-273-5367 www.thecamerawerks.com M-F 10-5:30 • SAT 10-2:00PM
Passport Photos Only $8.95 November 2011 East Side Monthly
51
Classic Bistro
zbar & grille 831-1566 244 Wickenden St., Providence
Calendar
continued...
bury Jukes. Nov 20: The Priests. 848 Park Avenue, Cranston. 467-7275, www.parktheatreri.com. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Nov 12: 3 Doors Down. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2997, www.ppacri.org. ROOTS CAFÉ Sundays: Blues Jazz Jam, open to all musicians who want to come down and play with some of New England’s best. Wednesdays: Mid Week Rumba, dance lessons and live music. Nov 8 & 22: Travis Colby Band. 276 Westminster Street. 272-7422, www.rootscafeprovidence.com. TWIN RIVER Nov 26: Smokey Robinson. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. www.twinriver.com.
1860 Broad Street • Cranston www.thecupcakerie.net • 467-2601 Kristin@thecupcakerie.net
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“Where The Taste Says It All” Everyday Lunch Buffet
FULL BAR 230 Wickenden St, Providence 421-4355 • 453-2288 www.tasteofindiaprovri.com
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND Nov 17: Lupe Fiasco. Ryan Center, One Lincoln Almond Plaza Kingston. 7883200, www.theryancenter.com.
CLASSICAL & SUCH GOVERNOR HENRY LIPPITT HOUSE MUSEUM Nov 11: Hanneke Cassel Trio, a cutting edge Scottish fiddler who will be performing her most recent album, For Reasons Unseen, accompanied by a guitarist and a cellist. 6:30pm. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended 199 Hope Street. 453-0688, www.preserveri.org. STADIUM THEATRE Nov 25: Ocean State Holiday Pops Orchestra; This 60-piece orchestra will get you in the holiday spirit with all your seasonal favorites. Nov 26: Stadium Theatre Christmas, a beautiful holiday variety show with singing, dancing, orchestras and plenty of cheer. 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 7624545, www.stadiumtheatre.com.
PERFORMANCE comedy | dance | theatre
Fall Special
$28 Mani/Pedi Tuesdays
Offering Shellac
Angell Nails and Spa
490-3137 • 15 So. Angell St, Providence
Mon-Sat 9-7:30, Sun 10-5, after hours appts available
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East Side Monthly November 2011
COMEDY COMEDY CONNECTION Nov 4-5: Vinnie Brand. Nov 10: Arnez J. Nov 11: Dr. Dirty John Valby. Nov 12: James Dorsey. Nov 13: Bobby Collins. Nov 17: The Reverend Bob Levy. Nov 18-19: Rich Vos. Nov 2526: James Goff. 39 Warren Avenue,
East Providence. 438-8383, www.ricomedyconnection.com. FOXWOODS Nov 11: Jim Breuer. Nov 19 Craig Robinson & The Nasty Delicious. Nov 26: Eddie Griffin. 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800-2002882, www.foxwoods.com. MOHEGAN SUN Nov 5: Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, Dan Larosa and Eric Deskin. Nov 12: Wali Collins, Matt Christmas and Bob Dibuono. Nov 19: Jim David, Jesse Joyce and Peyton Clarkson. Nov 26: Eddie Brill, Brian Scolaro and Brian Cichocki. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800477-6849, www.mohegansun.com PERISHABLE THEATRE Thursdays & Saturdays: Improv Jones 10pm. Second and Fourth Fridays: Bring Your Own Improv (BYOI) 11pm. 95 Empire Street. 3312695, www.perishable.org. UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND Nov 5: Dana Carvey. Ryan Center, One Lincoln Almond Plaza Kingston. 788-3210, www.theryancenter.com.
THEATRE BROWN THEATRE Nov 3-6 & 10-13: Lady Windermere’s Fan. Lyman Hall, 77 Waterman Street. 863-2838, www.brown.edu. GAMM THEATRE Nov 3-Dec 11: Hamlet. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 723-4266, www. gammtheatre.org. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Nov 1-6: Les Miserables. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2997, www.ppacri.org. RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE THEATRE Nov 16-20: A Mouthful of Birds. Nazarian Center Auditorium, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue. 456-8144, www.ric.edu. SECOND STORY THEATRE Nov 18-Dec 18: The Suitors. Nov 11-Dec 11: Special Holiday Event: Little Women. 28 Market Street, Warren. 247-4200, www.secondstorytheatre.com. STADIUM THEATRE Nov 11: Amazing Hero Art – Live Painting by Rob Surette; Watch in awe as flying paint transforms into
giant, lifelike murals, performed with dramatic lighting and music. 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 762-4545, www.stadiumtheatre.com. TRINITY REPERTORY COMPANY Thru Nov 20: Clybourne Park. Nov 18-Dec 30: A Christmas Carol. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, www. trinityrep.com.
SOCIAL HAPPENINGS expos | fundraisers | seasonal FOR FOODIES BOTTLES FINE WINE & CRAFT BEER Thursdays: Wine Event; Come enjoy a selection of fine wines and cheeses at this free weekly event. PROVIDENCE HOLIDAY MARKET Saturdays from Thanksgiving to Dec 17: A seasonal farmer’s market with gifts, local crafts, preserves, pickled items and sweet treats from 15 different vendors. Grant’s Block, 260 Westminster Street. www.providenceholidaymarket.com. TASTE OF THE HILL Nov 2: Federal Hill’s premier food, wine and art event to benefit the Federal Hill House Association. 6pm. Roger Williams Botanical Center, 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 421-4722, www. tasteofthehill.org.
FESTIVALS CRAFT AND SPECIALTY FOOD FAIR Nov 13: Artisans from all over New England will be showcasing their work. Come down and find the perfect holiday gift with silk scarves, stained glass, Christmas ornaments, handbags, candles, woodcrafts, jams, soaps and much more. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick. 732-6000. RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER Nov 5: Great International Beer Festival. Nov 12-13: Providence Home Show. Nov 25-26: Festival Fete’s Holiday Market; Come out and see over 200 contemporary American art and craft artisans along with entertainment and a Farmers Market. One Sabin Street. 458-6000, www. riconvention.com.
=
Holiday Parties You Need A Sitter! Need a full or part-time nanny? We do that too!
.,
Our Occasional Sitters, for all of your holiday needs and more, are prescreened, CPR/First Aid certified, with complete background check.
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Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical
FOR MOVIE BUFFS PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY Nov 7: Cinemaphiles at PPL Presents: The Exorcist. 5:30pm. 150 Empire Street. www.provlib.org.
FUNDRAISERS RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER Nov 17: Reason to Hope – A Benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association. Contact Camilla Farrell at 421.0008. One Sabin Street. www.alz.org/ri. ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO Nov 19: Charity Coat Drive. Those who come and donate a cat will receive half-priced admission to the zoo for the day. Coats of all sizes will be accepted with extra large coats in high demand. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 785-3510, www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org. THE SAVORY GRAPE WINE SHOP Nov 5: Charity Fall Wine Festival, enjoy over 50 fine wines from around the world, hors d’oeuvres and live music at this annual event. Silent and live auctions will include vineyard trips, collectible wines and fun packages that will benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The Dorrance, 60 Dorrance Street. www.thesavorygrape.com.
SEASONAL ASPIRE RESTAURANT Saturdays: Dance with Spogga Hash from WaterFire Fame, fire dancing and a mix of all styles of music and performance, every week rain or shine. 311 Westminster Street. 521-3333, www. aspirerestaurant.com.
CCRI WARWICK CAMPUS Nov 25: 21st Annual Holiday Craft Festival. 400 East Avenue, Warwick. www. oceanstateartisans.com. CENTRE MARKET Nov 6: An outdoor market that accommodates the needs of local artisans, farmers, vendors and musicians. 687 Centre of New England Boulevard, West Greenwich. CYCLE BLACKSTONE Thru Nov 2: Behind the Scenes Leisurely Bicycle Tour, uncover some little known historic and cultural facts about Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley. Tour leaves at 9am from 175 Main Street, Pawtucket. 724-2200, www. cycleblackstone.com. PROVIDENCE GHOST TOURS Fridays and Saturdays Thru Nov 12: A walking tour on the East Side of Providence that explores some of the lesser known spooky tales from the city’s past. Tour leaves from Prospect Terrace Park at 7pm. 60 Congdon Street. www.providenceghosttour.com. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Nov 22: Celebrate Providence 375 Years Birthday Bash, with performances by Deer Tick and Area 401 as well as local food trucks, a cake contest and more. 220 Weybosset Street. www.providence375.com. TWIN RIVER Nov 6: The Original Wedding Expo. Nov 19-20: Colour Me Gorgeous Style and Beauty Show Expo. Twin River Event Center. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. www.twinriver.com
GALLERIES FOXWOODS Thru Jan 15: Diana: A Celebration of Princess Diana. 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800-200-2882, www. foxwoods.com. GALLERY NIGHT Nov 17: A fun, free educational tour showcasing artists from around the globe. Choose the bus tour or pick up a program of the evenings galleries and drive yourself to your favorites. Options available for a celebrity guide and a number of diverse local galleries. 4902042, www.gallerynight.info. GALLERY Z Thru Nov 12: Marty McCorkle, Pure Dynamite: Exploding Figures and Presumptions. Nov 17-Dec 23: Small Picture Show Nov 17: Opening reception with art, food and wine. 259 Atwells Avenue. 4548844, www.galleryzprov.com.
Creating beautiful and functional environments Full service design firm or Consultations by the hour Color selection • Lighting • room Layouts Furniture & accessories • Fabric & Wallcovering Carpeting & Window treatments
over 30 years experience
andrea martiesian interior design 159 elmgrove ave. Providence • 273-5700 andrea@andreamartiesian.com
kIDS + FAMILy PROVIDENCE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Nov 1-2: Making Music. Nov 3-6: Air Play. Nov 8-9: Ice Cream Shop. Nov 10-13: Magnet Play. Nov 15-16: Animal Tales. Nov 17-18: Collage Creators. Nov 19-20: No Time To Waste. Nov 22-23: In The Kitchen. Nov 25: Mother Nature. Nov 26: Native American Tales. Nov 27: Pilgrim Games. Nov 29-30: Fishing Fun. 100 South Street. 273-5437, www.childrenmuseum.org. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Nov 15-20: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch November 2011 East Side Monthly
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Never too late for breakfast
Calendar
continued...
Stole Christmas The Musical. Nov 27: Disney’s Phineas and Ferb Live. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2997, www. ppacri.org.
234 Wickenden Street 751.2477
brickwayonwickenden.com
Design contractors inc. Design / Build Fine renovation general contractors residential • commercial
401-751-6363 www.dci-ri.com Providence, ri 02906 registration #1324 Painting • restoration
additions • built-in cabinetry
Water damage reconstruction
Kitchens • bathrooms
ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO Nov 6: Wild at Work Zoo Career Day, a program available to teens who can discover just how many careers a zoo has to offer. A peek into the life of zookeepers, veterinarians, exhibit builders and more. Nov 26: Santa’s Arrival & Holiday Parade, get in the holiday spirit and see Santa arrive in style followed by a celebratory parade and other activities. Free with zoo admission ticket. Nov 26 & 27: Visit with Santa. 1000 Elmwood Ave. 785-3510, www. rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.
LEARN discussion | instruction | tour DISCUSSION ALDRICH HOUSE Nov 10: Nipsachuck: A Place of Ceremony and War during King Philip’s War, 1675-1676, linked to the Haffenreffer Museum’s Customs, Manners and Worships: Rhode Island Begins exhibit for the 375th Anniversary of the founding of Providence. 8pm. 110 Benevolent Street. 331-8575 x45, www.rihs.org
PARK THEATRE Nov 4-13: Mark Twain Talks, Bern Budd will transport you back in time with Mark Twain through his accurate portrayal and wild tales. 848 Park Avenue, Cranston. 467-7275, www.parktheatreri.com. PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY Nov 6: Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women- Book Discussion 2pm. Nov 13: Louisa May Alcott and New England Reform: Racial Equality, Liberal Education and Women’s Work Presented by Dr. Sharon Hartman Strom 2pm. Nov 28: Personal Development Book Club – Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers 7pm. 150 Empire Street. www.provlib.org. RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Nov 4: Rhode Island Begins: Exhibiting the First Hundred Years, part of the 375th Anniversary of the founding of Providence by Roger Williams. 5:30pm, Salomon Center, Room 001, Brown University. Nov 12: Personally Providence Walking Tour The Secret Life of War Memorials, this 90- minute walking tour will highlight WWI, WWII and Korean War Memorials in Providence’s Memorial Park. The focus is both the artistic viewing and historical relevance of these monuments, our piece of “frozen glory.” 10am, Begins at the John Brown
Pilates one-on-one training Pilates Mat Classes Functional Fitness Training Pilates Reformer Duets & Trios Bosu Classes, Yoga Classes Therapeutic Massage Chair Massage
www.pilatesjen.com (401) 475 - 0084
401-277-2998 174 Wickenden St, Providence www.dugancustomjewelers.com Open Wednesday-Saturday
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East Side Monthly November 2011
Santa’s Arrival & Holiday Parade at Roger Williams Park Zoo
House Museum, 52 Power Street. 273-7507 x 62, www.rihs.org.
INSTRUCTION CHEF WALTER’S COOKING SCHOOL Nov 8: Ragús and Stews. Nov 15: The Righteous Rice – Risotto. Nov 22: Abruzzo. Nov 29: Tuscany in the Fall. If you’ve ever wanted to hone your cooking skills and learn from one of the best, these small, handson cooking classes are the perfect activity. Potenza Ristorante & Bar, 286 Atwells Avenue. Register ahead online at www.chefwalter.com/WPCooking_School.htm. HOTEL PROVIDENCE Nov 12: Fun with Flour! Spend a full day learning how to confidently create a full meal including bread, pasta, pastry and focaccia. Part of the Discover Your Passion Class Series. 9am-4pm. 139 Mathewson Street. 490-8144. PERISHABLE THEATRE Saturdays Nov 5-19: Improv to Play. Sundays: American Tribal Belly Dance 10am- 12pm. Intermediate Ballet for Adults 12:30pm2pm. Wednesdays: Intermediate/ Advanced Modern Dance 6:30pm8pm. 95 Empire Street. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.
LEGEND BICYCLE F o x P o i n t ’s N e i g h b o r h o o d B i k e S h o p
Tues/Wed /Fri/Sat 11-6 Tr. 11-8 Sun. 12-5
Cycling Maps/GPS
H
Everything for the Transportation Cyclist and Urban Explorer
KE
P
w w w.legendbic ycle.com
E AS
T
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Bicycle Sales /Service
181 Brook Street Providence 401.383.3070
Where
will you go for rehab services after surgery? Well, you could stay home. But what if you need health services? Our nurses, physical and occupational therapists provide professional and personal care, while you recouperate in less stressful, more familiar surroundings. Call 401.751.9660 or visit us at CathleenNaughtonAssoc.com
Brown University Football
SPORTS BROWN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL Nov 12: Dartmouth. Brown Stadium, Elmgrove Avenue. 863-2773, www. brownbears.com. MOHEGAN SUN Nov 11: Connecticut 6 Classic with Yale, Central Connecticut, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Fairfield and Hartford. Nov 19-20: Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www.mohegansun.com PROVIDENCE BRUINS Nov 4: Manchester Monarchs. Nov 6: Norfolk Admirals. Nov 11:Manchester Monarchs. Nov 13: Alumni Game. Nov 18: Springfield Falcons. Nov 20: Connecticut Whale. Dunkin Donuts Center, One LaSalle Square. www. providencebruins.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL Nov 5: UMass Lowell. Nov 12: Fairleigh
Dickinson. Nov 19: Florida A&M. Nov 22: Southern University. Nov 29: Holy Cross. Dunkin Donuts Center, One Lasalle Square. 331-6700, www.friars.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN’S HOCKEY Nov 4-5: Vermont. Nov 11-12: AlabamaHuntsville. Nov 18: Northeastern. Schneider Arena, 1 Huxley Avenue. 8652168, www.friars.com/sports. RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER Nov 18-20: Major League Gaming 2011 Pro Circuit National Championship. One Sabin Street. 458-6000, www.majorleaguegaming.com. UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND FOOTBALL Nov 19: Towson – Senior Day. Meade Stadium, South Kingston. www. gorhody.com/sports. To have your listing included in the East Side Monthly Calendar, please send press releases or event information to esm@providenceonline. com. Please send submissions at least one month prior to event date. November 2011 East Side Monthly
55
Classifieds
To place your classified ad, please call 732-3100.
ARC LAWN CARE
Complete Lawn Maintenance
Fall Cleanups
Need A Tenant?
Kate C. Foster
Weekly & Bi-Weekly Service
Mulch, Fertilization Shrub & Hedge Trimming Minor Tree Work Call Alan 751-5757
A+ INTERIOR PAINTING Fine interiors. 20+ yrs. experience. Highest quality work. Many references. Fully insured. Based on the East Side. (RI Reg. #19226). Call Patrick, 226-8332.
AUDIO/VIDEO HELP If you need some help with your TV, home theater or stereo, call me at 401-383-4102. Jon Bell, Simply Sight & Sound. Reasonable rates. 25 years of experience.
AIDE TO THE ELDERLY Available. Experienced, references. Drive. Flexible hrs. Prefer East Side and Cranston. Call 421-7673.
AUTO REPAIR At your home or work. Foreign & domestic. Autos & trucks. Experienced mechanic. Reasonable rates. References. Call 401-451-8943.
We Make House Calls!!!
Stamped Concrete ~ Brick Pavers â—? â—?
Patios Steps
â—? â—?
Pool Aprons Driveways
Tony 821-9914
DOG WALKER/PET SITTER Trained to administer medications. Reliable, bonded, references available. Home visits. Call Susan 5273914. Loves animals.
CHRIS’ LAMP REPAIR
East Coast Mason Contractors Stone Walls Walkways
CEILING WORK, DRYWALL Plaster (hang, tape & paint). Water damage repair. All phases of carpentry. Reg. #24022. Fully insured. Steven, E. Prov., 401-641-2452.
Reg. # 12530
âœŻ Repairing all types of Lamps âœŻ Vintage Lighting Specialist âœŻ Chandelier Repairs âœŻ Serving the East Side for over 15 years âœŻ Fully Insured
(401) 831-8693 www.chrislamprepair.com
401-477-6314 Century 21 Butterman & Kryston, Inc. DOROTHY’S CLEANING We clean your home as our own! References & free estimates. Call 401-274-7871 or 401-524-7453. EAST SIDE HANDYMAN 34 years. Repairs, upgrades & renovations. References. Insured. Reg. #3052. Call 270-3682. ELDER CARE AVAILABLE Compassionate, intelligent, mature woman seeks sleepover position with elderly person. 20 years experience. Impeccable references. Please call 781-3392 or 497-3392. ELECTRICAL SERVICES All types. New circuits. Generator systems installed. RI #A3338. MA #16083A. Insured. Call Larry 5292087. Also, small handyman jobs. HOUSE CLEANING Experienced. Local references. Free estimates. Call Lilly, 401-419-2933.
JOBS BY JIM Cellars, Attics & Garages Cleaned â?– â?–
Unwanteds Removed Small Demolitions Garages, Sheds, etc.
Cell 742-7258 Reg. #4614 Serving the East Side of Providence for over 15 years!
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East Side Monthly November 2011
Classifieds
HOUSECLEANER Available Crystal Clean, a quality housecleaning service. We don’t cut corners. Weekly or bi-weekly. We use environmentally friendly products. Bethany 265-0960.
I BUY BOOKS Old, used and almost new. Also buying photography, art, etc. Call 401-421-2628. jcvp@cox.net
KIND CARE ~ SENIORS Appointments, errands, shopping, cleaning & maint. Refs. Safety bars installed. Reg #3052. 270-3682.
MALIN PAINTING Most ceiling & wall repairs, wallpaper removal, oil-based and latex finishes, staining, varnishing. Fully insured, many local references. Safe, secure, fast service. Call 226-8332. Reg. #19226.
MASTER ELECTRICIAN Install, service, repair. Expert troubleshooting. Free detailed computerized estimate. Deal direct with owner. Lic. #AC 004110 & insured. Small jobs done promptly. All work guaranteed. Save $$$. Family owned & operated. Local resident. Calls returned immediately. 401-258-4793, John.
To place your classified ad, please call 732-3100.
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE Spring & Fall Cleanups Bushes Trimmed ❊ Tree Removal Pine Bark Mulch
Landscape Construction Parking Lot Cleaning Handyman ❊ 26 Years Experience
MG Landscaping 743-6015 ❊ 831-5109 PRESERVE YOUR MEMORIES Documents, photos, slides, films saved to CD or DVD. Photos of slides and film contents are available. Your memories will always be fresh. Reasonable rates. Comen Co., 401-230-2524 or 401-7516200. Email: hcomen@cox.net PROACTIVE Computer Services Home or office. Computer repairs, data recovery. Fully equipped mobile service. Service calls $40/hr. Call 647-7702. www.pcsllcri.com MATH TUTOR AVAILABLE Proven results. East Side/Oak Hill. 35 years experience. Algebra I & II. SAT preparation & remediation. Call 751-4848 PROPERTY MANAGER AVAILABLE 24/7 on call. Rent collection. Rentals, evictions. Call 421-0092.
SUPERB HOUSEPAINTING High end workmanship. Small jobs a specialty. Call Ron 751-3242. Reg. #18128. SCREEN PRINTING & Embroidery. Max Formal Co., 1164 North Main St., Providence. 401-421-3268. STONE MASON 30 yrs. exp. Stone, brick, veneers, walls, fireplaces, patios, chimneys. Design work. Reg. #7445. Call 641-0362. lousstonework.com
USED MUSIC WANTED! Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.
Vinny’s Landscaping
BOBCAT SERVICES
Lawns Cut -Weekly or Bi-Weekly
Power Raking
Seed & Sod ● Fertilizing ● Planting Rototilling ● Small Loads Delivered
Free Estimates
●Loam ●Sand ●Stone ●Etc. ●
497-1461 ● 231-1851
classified advertising Order fOrm r 4 lines /$10 r $2.50 each additional line (includes headline) r $2.00 additional — Boxed Ad name:
______________________________________
phone:
_____________________________________
address: city:
___________________________________
_______________
state:
____
zip:
_________
amount enclosed: __________________________ Visa/mastercard #: _________________________
Please complete form and fax to 732-3110 or phone in your ad to sue at 732-3100 or email sueH@rhodybeat.com mail Payment in full tO: East Side Monthly, c/o Beacon Communications Classifieds, 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 November 2011 East Side Monthly
57
East of Elmgrove
by Elizabeth Rau | illustration by Jessica Pollak
R U K? Discovering the joys of texting I don’t have much
time to write today. My phone beckons. I’ve had the phone for a year (a beauteous iPhone, though, sadly, not the latest), but I just expanded my coverage plan to include texting. Unlimited texting. For those of you still tethered to land lines, texting is a cell phone perk that allows you to misspell words on purpose – I cant pik U up – and talk in code. That’s stuff like, R U K? a perky phrase my 11-year-old taught me. It means, Are you OK? No, I texted back. Unlimited texting means you are piloting a plane in an endless stretch of blue. I know what you’re thinking. Big monthly bills. Distraction. Car accidents. Juvenile delinquents. You are wrong on all counts. Texting is like a shot of espresso. It charges me up. It makes me feel connected to everyone: Denise in faraway Cleveland; Gayle over there on Brown Street; my precious son roaming around like a gypsy: where R U? playng ftbll K. chik for dinr It took me a long time to come around. For years, I was a card-carrying member of The Resistance, a judgmental grammarian who derided texters and prided herself on writing in complete sentences. Silly. Me. My skepticism of this new technology started on May 25, 2009, when I read an article in The New York Times that began thus: “They do it late at night when their parents are asleep. They do it in restaurants and while crossing busy streets. They do it in the classroom with their hands behind their backs. They do it so much their thumbs hurt.’’ Sore thumbs from pressing a button smaller than a pea! I read on. According to the Gray Lady, teenagers sent and received an average of 2,272 text messages a month – or 80 a day – in the fourth quarter of 2008. Doctors and psychologists were worried. The phenomenon, the article went on to say, was leading to anxiety, bad grades, sleep deprivation, distrac-
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East Side Monthly November 2011
tion in school and repetitive stress injury from too many What ups? My teeth really started grinding – again – when I read the comments of a psychologist who studies texting among teenagers. The MIT professor claimed that teens who text have trouble breaking free from their parents as they mature into adults. “You have adolescents,’’ the professor said, “who are texting their mothers 15 times a day, asking things like, Should I get the red shoes or the blue shoes? It’s a no-brainer. Get the red shoes. But I digress. OMG, I said to myself. I will never let my son get a cell, and if I ever cave I will never let him get a cell with texting. He would communicate with me the old-fashioned way: calling from a friend’s house: Mom, it’s me. What up? Don’t say that. Fine. I’ll be home at 5. May the wind be at your back.
Click. The request came a few weeks before the start of middle school. My son wanted a cell. No, I said, citing the professor’s findings; you’re too young to have a phone. Being a persistent kid, he pressed on. He did the research. He suggested a GoPhone, a pre-paid cell. You buy the minutes for texting and phone calls (remember those) and when you run out you buy more. I’m a sucker for kids who do research. The fellow at the AT&T store at the mall was really nice. My son got a phone that sounds like the iconic game Pac Man and I added texting to my iPhone. We were kids in a skate shop when we exited. We decided to do a test run over ice cream cones. hi hi Where does all the time go? They walk off to middle school, turn the bend and you’re left on the front steps, waving goodbye. You might stand there for a while, watching the cars pass. You might pick up a twig and toss it aside.
You hope they’re safe and happy. School ended at 2:40. 2:41, no text. 2:42, no text. 2:50, no text. And then it came: im walkin home with Noah. Minutes later, he fired off another: at bahras. Then, yet another: on my way home. I texted back: grate I have a bone to pick with the professor. Texting does not impede emotional growth. If used properly, it gives kids more independence and parents more peace of mind. I don’t want my son to text me every five seconds. I just want a hi it’s me text after school and an on my way home text after football. The truth is I’m the one who’s texting compulsively. I think it’s the greatest invention since tights. I knew I had really cracked up when I texted my friends to let them know I was a convert and that henceforth I could be reached in this way. text me! I wrote. When no one responded, I texted again. pretty pls
SAVOY STREET
benefit street
Charming Colonial on the East Side of Providence includes living room with fireplace, formal dining room, master suite, and finished lower level with wet bar. $359,900
9 Wayland Square
|
East Side condo has all the charm of the 1880’s. Pine wood floors, raised fireplace, 2 bedrooms and updated kitchen. $285,000
pr ovidence
|
274-1644
D etails @
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November 2011 East Side Monthly
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E a s t
s i d E
P r o P E r t i E s
George. An architectural gem: The Eliza Ward 1814 Historic Brick Federal. Breathtaking interior with parlors. Features incredible winding staircase, library, detailed moldings & high ceilings. Best location on East Side! $1,560,000
Benefit. Great city views from this exceptional historic home (c1784) on Benefit St. Completely restored! All updated: kitchen, baths, mechanicals including central air. Beautiful period details, gorgeous original floors, 4 fireplaces. 2-car garage. Spectacular yard! $1,285,000
Wingate. Substantial brick Colonial steps from Blackstone Blvd. New hardwoods and paint. 5 beds, 3+ baths, sunroom, den, breakfast room. Central air, finished lower w/ kitchen, garages and lovingly landscaped grounds. $849,000
Williams. Sleek loft tucked behind walled garden. Open plan boasts designer kitchen, dining area, living space with fireplace, floor to ceiling glass wall. 2 large beds, spa like master, covered parking, C/A, deck. $769,000
Cooke. This architecturally stunning 7 bedroom Colonial is a rare find and brimming with elegance! Stunning 3-story staircase, expansive fireplaced rooms, renovated kitchen and baths, central air conditioning, wonderful master bedroom. $1,675,000
Linden. Architect designed Mid Century Ranch with open floor plan, 3 beds, 2.5 baths, eat-in kitchen, dining room, den/family room, skylights, A/C, full basement, attached 2 car garage. Mature plantings and private patio $674,900
Brown. Charming 1902 brick Colonial in College Hill! 6 beds, 3.5 baths. Period details, lovely built-ins, original fir floors, 4 fireplaces. Open layout, great flow, large windows. Garage. Fenced city garden w/patio. $650,000
Stadium. Totally charming brick front English Colonial with spacious rooms and lots of light. Rare 1st floor bedroom, generous family room boasts vaulted ceiling with skylights, fireplace and built-ins, pretty and private garden. The perfect home for entertaining. $599,000
Grotto. 1914 Colonial with arts & crafts details. 5 beds and 3.5 baths. Generous eat-in kitchen, sunlit living & dining rooms, library with fireplace, spacious master suite. Central air, 2 car garage in the leafy Grotto area. $589,000
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BARRINGTON CUMBERLAND EAST GREENWICH NARRAGANSETT PROVIDENCE RELOCATION