New Price! $299,000
New Price! $199,000
New Listing! $199,900
Open and light-filled 1 bedroom condo in historic Tully Bowen. Amenities include kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances, gas fireplace, hardwoods, central A/C, parking. College Hill location!
Legal 3 family building in Fox Point! Updated roof, exterior, windows and 3rd floor unit. Separate electric, hot water and gas on gas heating. 1st/2nd floor units need TLC. 4 car parking.
Edgewood. Welcome home to this classic 1920’s Colonial in Mayflower Estates. Living room with fireplace, hardwoods, corner lot and plenty of updates. Great potential throughout to make it your own!
Betsy Walsh
Daniel Byrnes
Thom Hammond
New Price! $299,500
New Listing! $527,000
New Listing! $247,900
Edgewood. Gracious, half-brick Colonial features 1920s period detail, custom kitchen w/granite & stainless, formal dining room, living room w/fireplace, sunrooms on 2 levels,3-level living space, large deck, fenced yard,& garage. Park side location.
Spacious center hall Colonial in heart of the East Side. Fireplaced living, south-facing sunroom, large master with dressing room, great 3rd floor, kitchen with sliders to lovely patio & fenced yard. New windows, hardwoods throughout.
Elmhurst. Charming Colonial boasts recently replaced windows and updated kitchen, bath, electrical and family room on lower level. Large lot, 2 car garage w/storage, and newly painted exterior. Beautiful, move-in condition!
Lorraine X. Scheppler
Sue Erkkinen
Rodger Gaglione
New Price! $359,000
$990,000
New Price! $399,000
Deluxe street-level unit in landmark Benefit Street brownstone. Designer granite kitchen, fabulous marble bath, gas fireplaces, in-unit laundry, two private entrances. Walk to Brown, RISD.
College Hill Victorian Brick and Clapboard exterior, handsome bracketed cornice. Master suite, 4.5 baths, 3 zone HVAC, lovely tiered garden, garage. Perfect home for entertaining!
Stunning, renovated 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.
Bob Del Deo
Michael Young
Roxanne Gordon
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Contents December 2011
This Month 20 Holiday Cheer Get into the spirit with these seasonal events
24 The Year in Review A look back at the biggest news on the East Side
29 Book Review The best kept secret in short story writing
31 Our Annual Christmas Story Reindeer occupy the North Pole
54 Politics Of teacups and tents
Every Month 7 Letters/Editorial 12 Other Side 15 Community News 35 On the Menu An elegant Downtown space is reborn
37 Dining Guide Your resource for eating out
24 42 Pajama Monologues
53 Finance
A quirky Vermont tradition
The revival of dividend-paying stocks
45 Movies
55 Calendar
The Rum Diary, In Time and Take Shelter reviewed
All the info on December’s happenings
51 Art
A snowball that lasts a lifetime
Bell Gallery’s director bids goodbye with one last show
Summit Neighborhood d
iNg
w
No
N Pe
62 East of Elmgrove
38 DANA STREET Gorgeous 2300 sq ft Dutch Colonial. Beautiful moldings, recently painted in and out, pristine details, amazing wood work. Gourmet kitchen/granite countertops, “restoration hardware” fixtures, beautiful baths, fireplaced living room, fenced yard. MOVE IN $349,000
Listed by Aleen Weiss
Welcome Home! Move In Condition
Spitz-Weiss Realtors Family Owned and Operated for Over 50 Years Assisting Buyers, Sellers and Renters Howard Weiss Jon WeissHF Karen MillerH
Aleen WeissH Claire Sennott Jenny WietingH
Paul Levitt Judi BlauH
HAlso licensed in MA FLicensed RI Environmental Lead Inspector 0065
Ready to change your career path? We have openings for new and experienced agents. Visit our new and exciting website!
785 Hope Street, Providence, RI 401-272-6161 • spitzweiss.com December 2011 East Side Monthly
5
A Gift for You and Yours Share your favorite restaurant with friends, family and co-workers by giving the gift of Red Stripe. You’ll put smiles on the faces of those on your gift list, while enjoying an added bonus to pass along or keep for yourself - receive a $10 appreciation card for every $50 gift card purchased.
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Friends and family gathering to break bread and make merry are what the holidays are all about. Celebrate with lunch, dinner or celebratory cocktails at Red Stripe and capture the true essence of the season. Make your reservations today by calling 401.437.6950 or online at redstriperestaurants.com.
We’re proud to have won this distinction seven years in a row.
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Open for Sunday Brunch from 10am to 3pm
Make reservations online: millstavernrestaurant.com Or call: 401.272.3331
redstriperestaurants.com 465 Angell St. in Wayland Square | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.437.6950
101 N. Main Street, Providence, RI
Editorial
1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 tel: 305-3391 | fax: 305-3392 esm@providenceonline.com www.providenceonline.com
Keep the East Side Green for the Holidays Every December, the weather not withstanding, things warm up here, both on the East Side and around Downtown, during the holiday season. Red bows, pinecones, garlands and sparkling colors magically transform ordinary streetlights into proud sentinels announcing the arrival of this special time of the year. Snowflakes appear. Lovingly adorned Christmas trees and menorahs add a special internal glow against the outside cold. And, of course, most of our local stores participate as well, dressing up their windows, hanging their tassels, turning on their twinkles. But for many of our neighborhood shops, this month is much more than
dressing up for the holidays. Often it’s also the month that can make or break their year. Which is why we would be remiss if we didn’t urge our readers to at least consider the importance of keeping some of their holiday shopping local. The retail environment has become increasingly complex and challenging for the small independent merchant. There are the big box chains. Faceless online competitors. Itinerant street vendors. But let us not forget that the business that sets down its roots here, the one that will remain open 12 months a year, isn’t just another in a seemingly endless line of competitors for your dollars. The proprietor is our neighbor. The one who greets us
cheerfully when we stop in. The one who often provides employment for our kids. The one who is an integral part of the carefully interwoven tapestry that is our community. So as you prepare the “who” and “what” on your holiday gift lists, perhaps add an extra column for the “where.” Consider supporting our neighborhood stores. For without them, it is our entire community that will be diminished. This said, we’d also like to thank all of our advertisers, readers and supporters who have helped East Side Monthly continue to try and be the voice of the community we all love in this, our 36th year. Here’s wishing you all a most happy holiday season.
Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre Managing Editor Barry Fain City Editor Steve Triedman Executive Editor Julie Tremaine Special Projects Manager John Taraborelli Art Director Alli Coate Assisant Art Director Karli Hendrickson Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas
Letters Bad Government, Lazy Government To the editor: It is depressing to see the lack of originality that the leaders in Rhode Island show. The recent suggestions by the RI Bridge and Turnpike Authority to bring back tolls to the Mt. Hope Bridge, the DOT’s request to add toll booths to Route 95, and the expansion of hours and increase in fees for parking meters in Providence are three examples of how our leaders lack the vision to move us forward. (I should note that I have been told that the Acting Police Chief has quashed the expansion of hours of the parking meters, though this is unconfirmed.) All three ideas require the same citizens to pay more for current services. Where is the vision to raise revenue without raising current tax levels? All three are examples of lazy, quick fix leadership. But the most glaring to me is the parking meter fiasco. Providence raised its meter rates to raise revenue and what answer are we given? Because Boston did. How many readers were allowed to use that as an excuse when you were a child? Why did you do that? Because Timmy did. Bad
Graphic Designer Meghan H. Follett
Answer. Lazy Answer. Bad government. Lazy government. All of this occurred the weekend following the Boston Bruins victory parade when the City of Boston issued over 2,000 parking tickets in a single day. Sure it will raise Boston some revenue (approximately $125,000), but what about the ill will it caused? Many of those people who traveled to Boston for the event will not be going back there anytime soon. So what does Providence do? We raise rates and expand hours to include Saturdays? Bad answer. Lazy answer. Bad government. Lazy government. Instead of raising rates, Providence should have been raising its profile. Providence should be marketing itself as the less expensive, friendlier alternative to the bigger city. We already have better restaurants, a thriving arts community and eclectic and diverse neighborhoods and people. Whether it be Downtown, Thayer Street, Federal Hill, the West End, Hope Street or Fox Point, Providence has so much to offer. What does this have to do with raising revenue? Rhode Island has a 1% meal and beverage tax that is paid directly to the city or town in which it is spent. So rather than asking those who are currently paying to pay more, why don’t we try to say to those who
are tired of paying ridiculous fees elsewhere, “Come to Providence – the parking is on us!” The revenue generated by the meal and beverage tax will far exceed the revenue generated by raising meter fees (and the State would get much needed sales tax too). Revenues expanded, no fees increased. Just a thought.
Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich, Ann Gallagher, Nicole Greenspun, Dan Schwartz, Elizabeth Riel, Sharon Sylvester, Kimberly Tingle, Jessica Webb Classified Advertising Sue Howarth Contributing Writers Bob Cipriano, Mary K. Connor, Jill Davidson, Renee Doucette, Don Fowler, Mike Fink, David Goldstein, Bob Mariani, Betsey Purinton, Elizabeth Rau, Dan Schwartz Calendar Christina Evon
Phil Lagoy
Remembering Len To the editor: I have just read the article in the November issue of East Side Monthly, “Art for a Cause,” about the art show in memory of my husband Len. Thank you! Your writer, Carissa Johnson, captured the essence of my husband as well as informing people about the dreadful disease that took his life too soon. She is a fine journalist and I am grateful to both her and your paper for recognizing the importance of informing people about amyloidosis, as well as my husband’s talents. With gratitude, Ruby Shalansky Continued page 10...
Interns Sara Celano, Lauren Criscione, Samantha Gaus, Carissa Johnson, Eilish Shaffer Contributing Photographers Amy Amerantes, Dan Schwartz Contributing Illustrators Ashley MacLure, Jessica Pollak
Calendar announcements and news releases should be submitted by the 1st of the preceding month. We reserve the right to omit and edit items. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters without exceptional circumstances. East Side Monthly is not responsible for typographical errors. Corrections will be run at discretion of editor. Copyright ©2011 by East Side Monthly. All rights reserved. Printed by TCI.
December 2011 East Side Monthly
7
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East Side Monthly December 2011
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December 2011 East Side Monthly
9
celebrate the holidays
Letters
continued...
An Invitation in the Making To the editor: I am taking the liberty of contacting you to share an exciting, upcoming event that might be of interest to East Side Monthly readers. Curt Columbus, Artistic Director of Trinity Repertory Company, and I will be joining forces to create Musicals in the Making. In two concerts at Sapinsley Hall at the Nazarian Center for the Arts at 1pm and 7:30pm on December 7, a wide variety of selections from new musical theatre works will be featured. Mr. Columbus will lead a panel discussion on the creative process with composers, lyricists and performers. A longtime East Side resident, I am Wynton Marsalis’ classical pianist, recipient of the First RI Pell Award in the Arts, and I’ll have the joy of serving as Musical Director for Musicals in the Making. We are very enthusiastic about the submissions we’ve received and would be delighted to invite any of your readers who have interest in creative process in regards to musical theatre to attend. There is no charge for admission. Dr. Judith Lynn Stillman Artist-in-Residence and Professor of Music, Rhode Island College Artistic Director, Celebrity Series at Sapinsley Hall, Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts
A Statement from Mayor Angel Taveras on Occupy Providence All citizens have a right to have their voices heard, and I, like the Occupy movement, am concerned about the causes and impacts of the most serious economic downturn in decades. This movement is important because our city, our state, our nation need to do much more to address the jobs and foreclosure crises which are crushing hope and opportunity for the 99% of us. Here in Providence, the protesters who have camped in Burnside Park since October 15 have conducted themselves peacefully, and the city has had ongoing and respectful dialogue with the group. I commend Occupy Providence for its commitment to nonviolence, and I thank Occupy Providence for publicly recognizing the city’s efforts to ensure their right to assemble and demonstrate. Unlike many other American cities, Providence is taking a nonviolent approach to the occupation of
Burnside Park that has resulted in no arrests and the continued freedom to protest with the full support and cooperation of public safety. The Commissioner has regularly met with protest organizers and sought open and honest communication about all public safety issues. He has waived multiple requirements and accommodated every public protest and march to date. However, permanent occupation of the park is unsafe and unwise for compelling reasons both practical and legal. Emergency medical personnel have responded to instances involving drug overdose and fighting. Public safety officials have identified Level 3 sex offenders among those occupying the park. As the weather gets colder, Occupy protesters in other cities have been taken to the hospital with hypothermia. Yet, Commissioner Pare and I have not taken police action. Instead, in the near future, we will petition the Courts for a ruling on the viability and constitutionality of this encampment. This will allow the protesters to have their day in Court and for a full public, legal vetting of the issues. Accordingly, we have issued a notice asking the protestors to vacate Burnside Park by Sunday, October 30. We have made clear that protestors are welcome to return to the park everyday during park hours of 7 am to 9 pm. If protestors do not vacate Burnside Park on Sunday, the City will NOT follow the actions of other cities like Atlanta, Chicago or Oakland that have resulted in arrests and violence. Instead, the Courts will consider the merits of this issue over the next few weeks. The City agrees with the ACLU, which has said that United States Supreme Court precedent “significantly limits” the right to camp out indefinitely in Burnside Park without a permit. In addition, like the ACLU, the city “fully supports the right of Occupy Providence to engage in other forms of peaceful protest at the park or elsewhere in the city.” I appreciate and share many of the global concerns that the Occupy movement seeks to address. And it is for this reason that I have used civil, nonviolent means to address the future of the encampment. Together, as one Providence, we can make real progress towards our shared vision for a more just and equitable society: strengthening our schools, creating good jobs, developing safe and affordable housing and leading an open and transparent government.
Wo r l d - c l a ss d i n i n g • Tre n d y b o u t i q u e s Upscale specialty stores • Cutting edge salons International art galleries • Exclusive nightlife Old-world quality meets modern sophistication
FH FEDERAL HILL
Sunday, December 11th • 1-5pm
St. John’s Park (across from Gasbarro’s Wines) christmas carols with the Kids at 1:30pm santa arrives at 2pm family dinners at Participating restaurants hot chocolate to Keep you Warm
Rhode Island’s Italian Grocery Store 275 Atwells Avenue 401.421.9105 vendaravioli.com
Ristorante A new chef, new menu, new hours Open for dinner, Thursday through Sunday DePasquale Plaza 401.528.1100 vendaravioli.com
Holidays Gourmet gift baskets, prepared foods, catering for all your holiday needs 275 Atwells Avenue 401.421.9105 vendaravioli.com
on federal hill • the heartbeat of providence CHABOT FINE ART GALLERY
Enduring | Creative | Expressions
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est. 2001
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first fine art gallery on federal hill
298 Atwells Avenue 401.831.8831 RoyalGalleryRI.com
259 Atwells Avenue 401.454.8844 galleryzprov.com
Chef Walter’s Int'l Cooking School Authentic Tuscan Cuisine in a warm and lively atmosphere
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A Cooking Class with Chef Walter Potenza
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286 Atwells Avenue 401.273.8664 shop.chefwalter.com
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A simply sophisticated salon
Enjoy exceptional Neapolitan style cuisine in a rustic Mediterranean atmosphere.
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365 365 Atwells Avenue Atwells Ave 401.223.2230 401.223.2230 Panevino.net panevino.net
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TAMMANY HALL Federal Hill's BEST neighborhood pub
Affordable Old World Italian Cuisine in a Relaxing Atmosphere. Open Tues - Thurs 5-10pm, Fri & Sat 5-11pm
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310 Atwells Avenue 401.331.5000 RomaProv.com
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GASBARRO’S WINES Established 1898
VISIT OUR COMPLETELY RENOVATED WINE ROOM OVER 3500 BOTTLES SPECIALTY WINE BASKETS STATEWIDE DELIVERY
361 Atwells Avenue 401.421.4170
CONCEPT Need we say more? 90 Spruce Street 401.272.4676 www. rosebudsalon.com Rosebud Salon/AVEDA December 2011 East Side Monthly
11
Other Side by Barry Fain
Get In the Spirit Wayland Square, Hope Street, Wickenden merchants plan holiday events On the Hundredth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me... Leave it to the good folks at Peaceable Kingdom at 116 Ives Street to outdo themselves for the holidays. While many stores are content to have one, maybe two, nativity scenes in their windows for Christmas, the always imaginative Fox Point emporium is offering over 100 separate nativities brought in from around the world. To be more specific, there will be clay ones from Kenya, Mexico, Vietnam; alabaster from Peru; paper mache from Peru and India; carved wood from Tanzania, Indonesia and Guatemala; sand cast beads from Ghana; and soapstone from Kenya and India. Lest you’re worried, there will even be one nativity made from elk horn by an artist in good, old Narragansett, so we’re covered too. It’s definitely worth checking out.
mean, you ask? There will be Santa Claus photo sessions for kids, a marching band, Christmas carolers, food vendors and trucks (like Chez Pascal’s Hewtin’s Dogs Mobile, The French Fry Guy, Sugar Rush and others), plus seasonal items like roaster nuts and kettle corn. In addition, there will be a window-decorating contest, street decorations with lit trees, candles lining the streets, etc. While this obviously is to entice you to do your holiday shopping along the street, it also provides an op-
tric transportation by installing a new network of charging stations, at least one of which will be on the East Side, to service the expected influx of new electric cars next year. Partially supported by a $1 million grant from the federal government, the first electric cars, the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf, will be offered for sale early next year. The Leaf, an all-electric vehicle, is said to go about 80 miles on a single charge. The Volt will reportedly go 40 miles on a charge but also has an internal combustion engine allowing gas
portunity for you to do some good in the process. A portion of the proceeds for the day will be donated to the YMCA to help children in need of hats, gloves and scarves, as well as to raise money for the Y’s community foundation programs. ‘Tis the season to not only be jolly, but to do the right thing. Kudos, Hope Street for doing your share!
to propel the vehicle while generating electricity for the battery, enabling it to run for about 300 miles. As reported in the Brown Daily Herald, the state’s small size makes it well-suited to electric vehicles, says Albert A. Dahlberg, director of state and community relations at Brown and founder of the Rhode Island chapter of Project Get Ready, a nonprofit initiative that aims to prepare cities for the introduction of electric vehicles. “These vehicles right now are our only good alternative to the use of oil in the transportation sector,” argues Dahlberg. Stay tuned for more specifics as the process evolves.
Festive Fridays Return Wayland Square is to Wickenden Street Doing Its Holiday Thing Too While we’re on the subject of businesses in Fox Point, we would be remiss if we didn’t point out that the local merchants are doing what they can to make your shopping experience there a little easier. As in the past, Wickenden Street businesses will be staying open every Friday until 8pm as part of what they call “Festive Fridays.” The area always offers an array of funky places to shop, eat and drink. From November 25 through December 23, they’ll just stay funkier, longer.
The Annual Hope Street Holiday Stroll on December 15 The Hope Street Merchants Association will be hosting their annual Holiday Stroll (co-sponsored by our sister publication, Providence Monthly, by the way) December 15 from 4-8pm. What exactly does this
12
East Side Monthly December 2011
On December 10, a special Wayland Square Holiday Celebration will be offered from 11am to 5pm. Begin your day with a special brunch at one of the Square’s fabulous restaurants. Then enjoy caroling, fun activities for the kids, hot cider and cocoa, live music, a live broadcast by Lite Rock 105, stocking stuffer specials at every store, a tree lighting ceremony and a special visit from Santa. Come enjoy what the Square hopes will become a new holiday tradition for the family.
The East Side Gets a Jolt to Its System To be perfectly correct, we’re actually about to get a “Volt” to our system. The Northeast Electric Vehicle Network — a coalition of 10 states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island — has just announced a plan to increase elec-
The Jokes Will Soon Be on Us For those who like their satire saucy and irreverent, there is good news. The Onion, the national humor newspaper that takes outrageously politically incorrect swipes at just about anything, will be entering the Providence market this month. They’ve picked about 14 distribution sites, several near Brown, of course, so we should have access to it here on the East Side. Their stuff is very funny. Example: in response to President Obama’s election, they ran a front-page story under the headline “Black Man Forced to Take Worst Job in America.” The paper will continue to direct its humor towards national subjects despite its new appearance in Rhode Island.
An Old Favorite Returns to Welcome in the New Year While the specifics are very much up in the air – much like that ball at Times Square – there will be organized things for us all to do in downtown Providence on New Year’s Eve. While First Night was put out to pasture a few years back, a band of intrepid local artists have rekindled the family-friendly event. Now called Bright Night, the event will offer an array of local artists performing in venues all around the city. While we don’t have a clue what’s on tap this year – their website doesn’t offer much information yet – we assume it will as we get closer to the end of the year. You can find them at www. brightnight.org. Last year over 40 different groups performed on 15 different stages. Bored you won’t be.
Rink-a-Dink-a-Do Great news: the Bank of America Skating Rink downtown officially opened for the season on November 19. Twice the size of Rockefeller Center’s rink in New York, our ice palace represents an incredible value in these troubled economic times. For example, there’s free skating on the first Saturday of the month with a $2 charge for skate rental. And even at regular rates ($6 for adults/$3 for seniors and children), it certainly won’t break the bank. Coming up at the rink this month: a chance to watch professional skaters perform as part of the Mayor’s Tree Lighting ceremony on December 3, two chances to skate with Santa (December 11 and 18 from 2-4pm) and special six-week, learn-to-skate sessions. Then, in January, we’ll have opportunities to watch the P-Bruins go through their workouts. Check out the rink’s website at www.providenceskating.com for details. Then, lace ‘em up!
THERE IS A WAY TO BUILD A
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SAFETY NET
expanding access to information and referral services for people in need
People want to take care of themselves and their families, and we know there are a few basic things that help make this possible. This is why we are focusing on:
EDUCATION
INCOME
HOUSING Jeanne Gattegno and Paul Salera of Westbay Community Action partner with United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island to help people during times of crisis, meeting their basic needs such as food and shelter.
SAFETY NET
MAKE A GIFT TO UNITED WAY OF RHODE ISLAND’S COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND TODAY! YOU CAN MAKE RHODE ISLAND A BETTER COMMUNITY. FOR YOU. FOR ALL OF US.
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Serving hearty seasonal fare with an emphasis on local ingredients. join us for your holiday party $19.95 3-course prix-fixe menu, served sun - wed sunday brunch overlooking the seekonk river 1/2 price appetizers, served mon - fri, 4-6pm in the bar AT THE GATEHOUSE ON PROVIDENCE’S EAST SIDE 4 Richmond Square | 401-521-9229 | watermangrille.com
Join us Spring 2012
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View complete list of events at www.ric.edu/pfa T I C K E T S W W W. R I C . E D U / P FA O R ( 4 0 1 ) 45 6 - 8 1 4 4 www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsSeries.RIC
TICKETS MAKE GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTS!
The Muir String Quartet
Monday, February 6 · 7:30 p.m.
Pianist Frederick Chiu Sunday, March 4 · 2:30 p.m.
Barynya, Russian Dance and Music Ensemble Tuesday, March 20 · 7:30 p.m.
The Muir String Quartet Monday, April 2 · 7:30 p.m.
Pianist Simone Dinnerstein Sunday, April 22 · 2:30 p.m.
Vox Lumiere: Metropolis Wednesday, April 25 · 7:30 p.m.
14
East Side Monthly December 2011
Barynya, Russian Dance and Music Ensemble
Community News
Community News is a space that East Side Monthly makes available to community organizations free of charge. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of this publication.
Blackstone Parks By Jane Peterson Blackstone Parks Conservancy Phone Number: 270-3014 Website: www.blackstoneparksconservancy.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906 Why bother about invasive plant species? Each autumn, Oriental bittersweet dazzles with clusters of yellow-jacketed orange berries dangling from woody vines. Why uproot this gorgeous plant? Many plants have reached the New World by boat or plane, and they’re not especially destructive. Is tackling weeds a worthwhile pursuit for the Blackstone Parks Conservancy (BPC)? We say yes for the worst invasive plant species because they’re not just any old weeds. They’re the Genghis Khans of plants, cutting broad swaths of new territory and depositing offspring that are stronger and more prolific than the natives they displace. When they become dominant in an
area, they harm not only native plants, but also the insects and wildlife that depend on them – like the monarch butterflies that lay eggs on Black Swallowwort instead of milkweed, thus dooming their offspring. And biodiversity suffers. With volunteers, the BPC is able to take on bittersweet (and several other especially destructive invasive plants) with some hope of success because incursions are now limited mainly to the edges of the Conservation District, neighboring yards and York Pond meadow. Thus, they’re fairly manageable. (Outbreaks on the Boulevard are smaller and more visible, hence easier to control.) Often brought into the United States in the 1800s as ornamentals, most invasive plant species left their natural enemies behind. Their advantages became apparent once a disturbance in the local ecology occurred as a result of, say, fire, which enabled them to spread rapidly. In addition to being resistant to the local insects, herbivores and fungi that keep native plants in check, they brandish multiple weapons. Japanese knotweed, for instance, a handsome bamboo-like plant with heart-shaped leaves, shades out its competitors. But its stealth weapons are its rhizomes, knobby roots that can plunge nine feet then shoot out as far as 23 feet. A small piece will easily root. You can see large clumps of them waving along many roadsides. Oriental bittersweet is spread far by birds that ingest its seeds, but its weapon of choice is strangulation. Young
City Year volunteers working under the guidance of URI-trained Conservancy members went after vines up to 2 1/2 inches thick in Blackstone Park at Loring Avenue this October. Scooting to the top, these vines can actually topple large trees. In deciding which plants to take on and how (simply uprooting and leaving disturbed soil can invite more), we are guided by Rhode Island Nature History Survey (RINHS) botanists and experts in the Providence Parks Department and elsewhere. They also suggest what wildlife-friendly species to substitute. The Conservancy seeks to root out the most destructive invasive plants we can and to engage park neighbors in hopes of leveling a playing field now tilted against native species. The vision Healthful Urban Green Space for All guides us. Success will take time, as long as six years for some. Fortunately, staying power is something the Conservancy has in abundance. This year we’ve stepped up our invasive plant species campaign. If this effort, or any other aspect of Conservancy activities, interests you, see our website (above). We’ll be posting useful information on invasive and native species as we find it. The Boulevard Just to the south of the newly created rock design setting off the northernmost tree on the Boulevard path, the Parks Department has created a bicycle path linking Alfred Stone Road and Blackstone Boulevard across the median strip.
Our beautiful new garden at the small shelter (intersection of Brookway) is thriving. Plans are now underway to replace the shelter roof. Please send your East Side Market receipts to the address above.
Fox Point By John Rousseau Fox Point Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 270-7121 Website: www.fpna.net Email Address: fpna@cox.net Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603177, Providence, RI 02906 Events this Month: FPNA Monthly Board Meeting, 7-8pm, December 12 at the Vartan Gregorian Bath House Library. Planning Department shares parcel plans The Providence Department of Planning and Development (DPD) sought public input into its zoning plans for the Interstate 195 parcels at the wellattended October board meeting of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA). Current plans from DPD call for C-2 zoning that extends the streetscape of South Main Street from parcel 1 towards Narragansett Bay and ends with W-2 zoning for a portion of parcel 6 and all of parcel 8. C-2 zoning
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East Side Monthly December 2011
Community News
includes retail, restaurant and residential for most ground floors, and office or residential for most upper floors. W-2 zoning allows for waterfront retail, restaurant or office for ground floor, and office, residential or hotel for upper floors. While C-2 zoning allows for buildings of three to four floors, W-2 zoning allows for six to eight floors. FPNA’s major concern that the allpowerful I-195 Development Commission can completely ignore these zoning recommendations was confirmed by DPD. “There will be public hearings associated with the City Plan Commission, but in truth the I-195 Commission is not required to follow any resulting opinions,” City Planner Bonnie Nickerson admitted. “Our indications, however, are that the commission is looking forward to having some design guidelines, so they’ve signed onto them in spirit,” she added. “The City Plan Commission will give its recommendations on height with performance standards to the commission.” An audience member noted that this Commission also is not hampered by a requirement that the previous Capital Center Commission had. Any action by the Capital Center Commission could be revoked by the City Council, he added. The planners and elected officials present nodded their heads in agreement. FPNA member Arria Bilodeau asked that parcels 6 and 8 (that are closest to Shooters) not be hampered by loading docks and that their facades not be given less attention than the others. “There is a natural sight corridor that extends from Benefit Street towards the water,” Bilodeau pointed out. “We want to see this area closest to the waterfront activated so that it draws people to it.” Bilodeau also called for the area to be included in the trolley plans of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). FPNA President Ian Barnacle asked the city planners to take a fresh look at the current street de-
continued...
sign plan submitted by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). In particular, FPNA hopes that DPD can influence the RIDOT street grid plan to include a flashing light and intersection at Pike Street where the long I-195 exit ramp curves into the neighborhood. FPNA has fought unsuccessfully for two years to get RIDOT to revise its plan – one that blocks the neighborhood from access to the establishments on the Providence River (and future parcels). “There are many such flashing lights existing across interstate exit ramps into neighborhoods that are timed to flash during rush hours periods,” FPNA member David Riley said. “We would like this intersection to be viewed as part of a city street and not just an off-ramp,” he added. FPNA audience members also called for DPD to consider some structured parking facility, possibly in the two oddly shaped triangular parcels that are between Holy Rosary’s parking lot and the I-195 exit ramp’s curve. Currently, their plan calls for one to be a park and RG zoning or two-story residential townhouses and surface parking for the other. “It’s noisy there that close to the interstate and parking may make more sense for both parcels,” Bilodeau said. Overall, structured parking would help Wickenden Street shopping, the marketing of the parcels and events in India Point Park, she added. Nickerson has asked for contact information on Wickenden merchants, so that DPD can include their input in resulting zoning recommendations. For more parcels zoning information and to comment on DPD’s developing recommendations, go to http://provplanning.wordpress.com. Longtime Fox Pointer Dies FPNA is sad to note the passing of Fox Point matriarch Bessie Elizabeth Sarganis Gomes of 223 Wickenden Street on September 6. Bessie, who lived in Fox Point 103 years, sought FPNA’s help in April to oppose a 2,600 square-foot expansion of a nearby restaurant. FPNA was joined by Council-
man Seth Yurdin in opposing the outof-scale expansion twice at hearings of the Providence Zoning Board of Review. Ultimately, the board ruled in favor of the Gomes family and denied the expansion. On May 17, the City Council named one of the new I-Way streets Bessie Way after her. Bessie, FPNA was always happy to help a resident so noted for her generous nature to the less fortunate in Fox Point. You will be missed.
Summit Neighborhood By Ben Goulet Summit Neighborhood Association Website: www.summitneighbors.org Mailing Address: Box 41092, Providence, RI 02940 Come to an SNA Meeting Every third Monday of the month at 7pm. The meetings are held at Summit Commons on 99 Hillside Avenue in Providence. Join the listserv at: http://sna.providence.ri.us/mailman/listinfo/summit_sna.providence.ri.us Crime watch Block Captains needed The SNA listserv has been active reporting recent break-ins around the neighborhood. It’s time to take it a step further and identify your Block Captain. Do you or someone else on your block have a watchful eye and an interest keeping the block safe? This is a great opportunity to make your neighborhood a safer place. Join the Summit Neighborhood Crime Watch, which is attempting to identify Block Captains on each block. Please visit www.summitneighbors.org for information on how to volunteer. Program Coordinator shovel program
for
snow
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 Give yourself a gift this holiday season – help improve your neighborhood Ahhh, ‘tis the season for giving thanks and festive gatherings. With the holiday spirit in mind, I would like to first thank all of the members of CHNA for your public support of our initiatives. My wish? To have the majority of the 4000 residents on College Hill simply become a part of the College Hill Neighborhood Association. We provide amazing resources to this neighborhood. You may not be aware, but in the past three years, there have been significant changes in the CHNA’s Board, our stance on a range of issues, our priorities and our approaches to solving problems. We have been building relationships as we work to make improvements on College Hill literally from the ground up. For those of you within the borders of College Hill, which runs from Main Street to Arlington and Gov-
R, DENISE Ch AK
By Allison Spooner
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College Hill
ernor and from Olney Street south to Power, we have been working steadily and for your benefit. • The website has been overhauled and redesigned to provide a wealth of resources. • We organize social events that encourage neighbors to socialize with one another and build new relationships. • Most recently CHNA held a formatted discussion with several city departments that provided answers to burning questions. Look for video coverage coming on our website. • CHNA is now striving to become a 501c3 nonprofit. With this status, we hope to be able to make further improvements through grant funding specifically available to neighborhood associations. When we hear from you, we take action. Per your requests, we are currently addressing roads, sidewalks, potholes, graffiti abatement, property management, parking and tax transparency. The best way to be kept up to date on our progress is by visiting our website and receiving the CHNA monthly e-newsletter. To be most effective, we need and are asking for your help. All it takes is your investment of $20 for one year or $35 for two. But, with the coupons from local businesses included in our welcome packet for new members, your membership practically pays for itself. Bottom line: the stronger we are as an organization the more power we have to make our neighborhood a better place. Please help it to function at its greatest level. Support our efforts make our boundaries safer, cleaner and more beautiful. All we ask is that you participate and take some pride in your community by becoming a member or renewing your membership today. There are two ways to join or renew: online or over the phone. We even made our web address smaller for your convenience, www.collegehillna.com. Contact us directly at 633-5230. Wishing you a wonderful and inspiring holiday season.
W O
Want to help a neighbor in need? Our snow shoveling program really helped our elderly and disabled neighbors during the winter last year, and now the program is in need of a Program Coordinator. We’d like to offer this again, so if you are that person who can help coordinate, email SNAProv@gmail.com and let us know. Interested in what we do? Come to one of our meetings and get involved. That is how every SNA board member started their involvement, just by coming to a meeting and seeing what interests them. There is a spot for you at our table.
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EY
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s y a d i r F e v i t s Fe
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Particpating Merchants are staying open until 8pm on the following Fridays:
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The Peaceable Kingdom 351-3472 116 Ives Street Providence
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173 WICKENDEN PROVIDENCE 401 421-5157 M-F 7:30-6PM SAT 8-5PM www.adlersri.com
‘Tis the Season 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket, RI
Holiday events light up the city
GIFT CERTIFICATES
By Carissa Johnson
The affordable way to make a dramatic gesture!
The holidays are here
Share the excitement of The Gamm with your friends & family, or ask them for the perfect present!
Steve Kidd, Jeanine Kane - A Doll’s House
TO ORDER: 401.723.4266 gammtheatre.org
Monday: Restaurant Roulette
Tuesdays: Build your own burger
Wednesdays: Ladies Night
Thursday: Create your own pizza
Friday: TGIF Night
Saturday: Prime Rib Extravaganza
Sunday: FOOTBALL! NFL Sunday Ticket
1/2 price appetizers everyday from 4-6pm! 1175 Warren Ave East Providence 431-6500 luckysbargrille.com 20
East Side Monthly December 2011
and that means that the city is jam-packed with seasonal events and shows. Craft fairs, dance, musical performances and Santa meetings add up to an eclectic mix of things to do, so you will never be bored this December. A holiday themed ballet is always a solid bet; breathing new life into this tradition, Providence Ballet Theatre presents ‘Twas the Night before Christmas at Rhode Island College, based on the poem by Clement Clarke Moore. This original production features all new choreography, sets and costumes, making the poem come alive with dancing reindeer, children’s dreams dancing across the stage and falling snow. The production will run December 17 at 7:30pm and December 18 at 1pm and 6pm. www.providenceballet.org For those want a less traditional holiday performance, check out the atypical Jump! Dance Company. This cutting-edge local troupe is hosting a performance to remember: Scenes from the Polar Express at Classical High School. Jump! adds a twist to the timeless story by interweaving music from Irish Step to Chinese World. Great dancing, music and the timeless story by local author Chris Van Allsburg make this performance unforgettable. The show will run December 10 at 2pm and 6pm and December 11 at 2pm. www.jumpdancecompany.org It just doesn’t seem like winter until Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker begins at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The beautiful sets, extravagant costumes and elegant choreography make this show a must-see. Based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffman, the ballet is full of wonderment, bravery and romance, making it perfect for all ages. www.festivalballet.com Start your holidays with the Providence Preservation Society as they begin their Benefit Street Holiday on December 3. This day-long event launches the season of celebrations and Providence homecomings. See the interior of select Benefit Street houses dressed up for the holidays, or go on a featured walking tour with educational lectures. The historic Hope Club will be open to the public as the
Scenes from the Polar Express, 2010
headquarters of the event. A family day ticket includes storytelling by the acclaimed Len Cabral, gingerbread house decorating, a visit from the Snow Queen, a pet parade, carriage ride and a parade to light the City Christmas tree. www.ppsri.org The Downcity Providence Holiday Market is coming to Grant’s Block at the corner of Westminster and Union Streets. This outdoor marketplace will be held each Saturday from 11am -4pm until December 16. Tired of the same old gifts every store sells? You’re not likely to see the same thing twice here – each week will feature different vendors with locally made crafts, food, decorations and other goods. Also on the handmade kick, Craftopia returns to the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket on December 11 from 10am-4pm. This craft fair is full of original art, crafts and food. It features artists, designers and craftspeople from around Rhode Island and New England. www.rhodycraft100.com The Foundry Artists Association is having its 29th annual Holiday Show at the Pawtucket Armory Center for the Arts from December 1-11. Featuring beautiful works from local artists, such as ceramics, fibers, glass and more, the show is free and open to the public. The Foundry just asks guests to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to the Rhode Island Food Bank. www.foundryshow.com The holidays are a time for the classical music we all know and love. For
the fifth year, the Providence Singers and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra join for a December 10 performance (7pm) of one of the most popular holiday pieces, Handel’s Messiah, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The elegant stylings of the singers and the orchestra, as well as the dramatic score, can’t be missed. www.riphil.org The Providence Gay Men’s Chorus brings you a new holiday tradition, Wishes. This performance asks what you wish for “when you wish upon a star.” The exuberant choreography, the acclaimed singing and the fabulous music are sure to get you into the holiday spirit. www.provgmc.org Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas in Providence without Trinity Rep’s annual interpretation of A Christmas Carol, which runs through December 30. As an added bonus, this year the company also brings back its live radio play of the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life, December 9-31. www. trinityrep.com To bring a fitting close to your season of holiday cheer, Providence’s renowned New Year’s Eve celebration, Bright Night, will ring in 2012. Bright Night is an artist-run event that features some of Rhode Island’s best musicians, actors, singers, dancers, storytellers, magicians and more. Last year, more than 40 groups performed on 15 stages. So skip watching the ball drop on your television at home and head out into the city for a real night of festivities. www.brightnight.org
! e r o l a G s ft Gi
GIFT GUIDE A HOLIDAY
Norm’s Jewelry Your hometown jeweler since 1982 wants to say thanks by
offering $5 off any purchase of $50 or more (not valid with any other discount or promotion). Expert jewelry and watch repair. Machine engraving. Shop early for Xmas! Free layaway and gift wrapping. New and estate jewelry. Also buying used jewelry. 1160 North Main St., Providence • 351-3398 Tues-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-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
Amy’s Apples
Deliciously decadent edibles from Amy’s Apples are a wonderful addition to your holiday table! Beautifully designed hand made treats that can be coordinated to add that extra luxe to an elegant table setting or dessert display. Any new customers who mention this ad receive a 10% discount on orders. 128 Pleasant View Ave., Smithfield • 233-2000 • amysapples.com Mon - Fri: 9:30am-5pm
Kicks Shoes
A high fashion women’s shoe store featuring designer styles from casual footwear, dress shoes, to high heels and more! Wrap your boots to suit your mood with their Huggrz Bootwraps! Find your loved one the perfect shoes or fashion boots with a handbag to match! Discover the fashion at Kicks. 1455 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence • 353-7400 shoesbykicks.com • Mon - Fri10am - 8pm, Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 12pm - 5pm
Source at Reconstructure
Source at Reconstructure, 2011 Best of Rhode Island winner for “Cool Accessories,” brings you unique finds in home décor, furniture, lighting, vintage items, jewelry, handbags and accessories. Don’t miss out on Providence’s best-kept secret! 96 Calverley St., (right off of Smith St.) Providence • 383-1311 sourceatreconstructure.com
Zuzu’s Petals A unique, contemporary dress shop focusing on special occasion
dressing. Perfect for that special event. They also carry casual dresses, autumn cashmere, jewelry and seasonal items. Featuring Nicole Miller, Milly, BCBG Max Azria, Lilly Pulitzer, Tibi and more! 288 Thayer Street, Providence • 331-9846 • Mon-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm 1000 Chapel View Boulevard, Ste 104, Cranston • 369-7440 • Mon-Sat 11am-6pm 165 Main Street, East Greenwich • 398-1199 • Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm • www.zuzusri.com • Visit us on Facebook
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
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
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 12/31. 64 Orange St., 2nd Floor, Providence • (855) GLAM-ASAP • sarasglamsquad.com
NAVA Conveniently located on Thayer Street, NAVA is a great place to pick up
unique, chic and affordable gifts for your loved ones this year. They have lots of fun and fancy dresses, hats, scarves, bags, oodles of jewelry and an awesome selection of vintage boots. Check them out on shopNAVA.com!
281 Thayer St., Providence • 453-6282 • shopnava.com Mon - Thur 1am - 6pm, Fri - Sat 11am - 7pm, Sun 12pm - 6pm
Four Paws Grooming
For over 30 years Four Paws has been Rhode Island’s premiere grooming salon, offering professional, safe, and unsurpassed services for your pets. Treat your pet to one of the nation’s top grooming salons, voted “Salon of the Millennium” by national trade magazines. Holiday gifts for your pets are available in our designer boutique. 1270 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence • 726-2554 Open Tues - Sat 8:30am - 5pm
Caster’s Bikes
Voted Best Urban Bike Shop, Caster’s offers bikes for every type of rider whether it be road, mountain, tri, commuter or casual along with all the accessories and clothing. Kids trade-up program available and every bike comes with a FREE lifetime of tune-ups. Be a kid again. Ride a bike. 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
J Marcel
With accessories, clothing, gifts and great deals, J. Marcel Shoes is more than a fashionable place to buy shoes! Check out our fabulously affordable costume jewelry and pashmina style scarves, 3 for $25. Gift certificates available. 808 Hope St., Providence • 383-9777 • Mon - Fri 10am - 7pm, Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 12pm - 5pm
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
Spectrum-India
Enjoy special holiday discounts on 100’s of very unusual gifts, fun fashions, accessories, costume jewelry, boots and more... 252 Thayer St., Providence • 421-1010 • spectrumindia.com • Sun-Wed 10am-10pm Thursday 10am-11pm, Fri & Sat 10am-12am
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
The Year k Review A look back at some of the top events on the East Side this year By Barry Fain • Illustrations by Ashley MacLure
As we head towards the official end
affected by future development, legitimately wonder about noise, size, public access to India Point Park and traffic congestion. This year officially marks the beginning of the process. As to the end date… haven’t got a clue.
of 2011, we figured this might be a good time to reflect on how the East Side fared through the past year. As expected, some grand old traditions came to an end: the closing of JRS Fine Art Gallery on Wickenden Street after 35 years, for example, or the tear down of an old dorm at RISD. Some new traditions began as well. An Ethiopian restaurant on the East Side allows us to eat with our hands. Exotic new public art work has risen along Hope Street. New luxury housing is now available at Wayland Square. So, in no particular order, here’s a random and somewhat whimsical look back at some of the big (and not so big) events that have impacted our quality of life in the delightful area we’re all so proud to call home.
Saying No to Another Cup O’ Joe Plans for a new drive-through coffee establishment on Hope Street in the old Clarke Flowers location just north of Hope High School were derailed as the neighborhood rallied together to block the zoning changes necessary for it to go forward. Led by an aggressive and remarkably successful email lobbying effort, the plan was shot down by an impressive array of vocal and well-organized opponents. Adjoining neighbors worried about the surge in traffic. Preservationists complained about the demolition of the century old greenhouse the plan would require. And the community at large posited the question of whether the East Side, which had successfully fought off Dunkin’ Donuts on Gano Street, really needs any drive-throughs at all? In this case, the answer seemed to be a resounding, “No to the Joe.”
24
East Side Monthly December 2011
Paying His Union Dues
The Tom and Dean
Getting to the
Shows Both Canceled
Point at the Point
Two well-known city leaders who live on the East Side both found themselves out of jobs this year. Superintendent of Schools Tom Brady, a Congdon Street resident, resigned after a three-year run in Providence. A graduate of philanthropist Eli Broad’s innovative Superintendents Academy program, Brady will be replaced on an interim basis by Susan Lusi, the former Chief of Staff for Providence Public Schools from 20013. With the “other Tom Brady” playing well for the Patriots, a move up the road to Foxboro is no longer an option. Meanwhile Police Chief Dean Esserman, a President Avenue resident, resigned amidst the aftermath of an underage graduation drinking party at his home. The chief, however, has just taken a job in nearby New Haven as, you guessed it, the new police chief. As if there aren’t enough homes for sale on the East Side already.
After several years of ongoing skirmishes, often contentious public input and millions of dollars, the long-awaited development of the Fox Point waterfront will now begin in earnest. Seven commissioners, with pretty much unlimited powers, will have oversight of all lands freed up by the I-195 relocation. It promises to be interesting adventure for both the abutting neighborhood and the city as a whole. While a challenging economy is going to make any development plan difficult, several pivotal decisions will have to be made quickly if the project isn’t to stall out. The role nonprofit institutions will play in the process and how much, if anything, they are willing to pay in lieu of taxes is one such issue. So too are the always confrontational public-private access debates. The design community has already begun to express concern about what any new buildings should look like, while Fox Point neighbors, the ones most
After several years at the helm of the Rhode Island School of Design, President John Maeda finally learned what all of us locals already know: it’s tough to buck a union in this state. In this case it was the faculty union at the school which went public with their vote of no confidence after Maeda and his staff tried to implement a restructuring of the school without faculty input. Despite his impressive black turtlenecks and I-generation sensitivities, RISD’s first New Age president found that he has to play by the rules when it comes to dealing with unions, at least in these parts. After going eyeball to eyeball, the president had to back down on his administrative restructuring plans and will proceed in a more traditional fashion. The jury is still out on whether the president is in it for the long haul.
Finally Getting What We Deserve The prestigious national American Planning Association (APA) has shared with the whole country what we here already knew: College Hill is something special. The East Side enclave was selected as one of its 2011 Top Ten Great American Neighborhoods. The award was given to neighborhoods that “exemplified exceptional character, while also highlighting the role planning played in “creating communities of lasting value.” The group went on to acknowledge that the
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Attack of the Killer Potholes They appeared everywhere. Eating our tires. Sending us tumbling as we walked our dogs. Worse yet, they seemed to be breeding. Mayor Taveras wrote them off to a harsher winter than usual. Detractors of former Mayor Cicilline put the onus on his lack of attention to the city’s infrastructure. Devotees of H.P. Lovecraft pointed to spirits from the underground. Meanwhile, a clearly deteriorating fiscal situation was making a bad situation even worse.
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The good news is that most of the particularly nasty potholes have finally been patched. At the recent CHNA annual meeting, several useful suggestions emerged for dealing with these urban menaces. The first thing to do is to call Pleshette Mitchell, head of the City’s Office of Neighborhood Services at 4212489 or email ONS@providenceri.com. Your complaint will be filed electronically so it can be tracked and monitored. It won’t make your driving any safer, but it will allow you to monitor how long it takes the City to get there and fix the darn thing. Better news is that you may even have a shot at getting some money back if your car does in fact get damaged. Two critical things to remember though. First, you need to file your claim within one week of the event. And second, you need to secure two written estimates as to the damages. Perhaps the street most egregiously effected was Lloyd Avenue, and here Brown University has some responsibility. It appears its power plant is contributing to the underground sinkhole that has developed there. Brown at least admits a degree of responsibility and is working on finding a solution. Maybe the best answer is a WPA-like project that employs recent graduates only, so we can keep these newly minted alums here instead of losing them to other cities.
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College Hill neighborhood owes its existence and success “to the people and institutions that never lost sight of the neighborhood’s innate beauty,” as they continue to pursue “unique and respectful solutions to the area’s ever-changing needs.” Much of the tension that developed over the years when Brown limited most of its expansion to just College Hill has lessened as the school continues to pursue projects in other areas of the city, most notably the new Knowledge District (aka the Jewelry District). The hope, of course, is that this new spirit of collaboration and compromise will prove ongoing to the betterment of the residents, students at the school and the city itself.
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Brown Gains Height,
PPS Gets Its
Loses Heft
Mojo Back
The last few months have been interesting ones for Brown. On the one hand, the school finally constructed a building most everyone thinks is pretty special, yet still blends in with its centuries old campus. The new Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed Creative Arts Center on Angell Street opened amidst fanfare and widespread applause. The $40 million building is filled with surprises inside and out, and seems to be a perfect fit as a connector to the school’s main campus. While that building is moving into place, the leader of the school, President Ruth Simmons, recently announced she will soon be moving on. Though her attention seems to have been drifting a bit over the past few years according to many, she unquestionably did an incredible fundraising job for the school and has provided stature and solidity to the position during her tenure. She expects to stay on to do some teaching after a successor is named. The irony, of course, is that the current Occupy Providence movement, an outgrowth of the initial Occupy Wall Street initiative, has gained much of its energy from the students and faculty of Brown. That, despite the fact Simmons herself is a longtime Trustee of Goldman Sachs, one of the ultimate symbols of the corporate greed they protest. Could Occupy the President’s Lawn be next?
After several years of revolving directors, it appears the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is now headed in the right direction. It’s newest director, James Hall, arrived at the end of last year. Some of his first programs this year suggest the organization finally has a real keeper. Hall brings several interesting extras to the position. First, he has some architectural experience, so he actually knows something about buildings and development, be they new or old. Second, his years as a planner and administrator at RISD indicate he also knows something about the ways institutions function and how organizations like PPS need to interface with them. Finally, there’s his general high level of creativity and energy. Already he has organized free walking tours, which he leads himself, as an extra benefit of PPS membership. Then there’s the recent two-day event Make No Small Plans: A Symposium on Visions for the City of Providence, which PPS conducted in conjunction with the Rhode Island chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and was an unqualified smash success. By rounding up participants, many of whom hadn’t seen each other in years, the symposium was able to look back on 35 years of the Capital Center Commission as illustrative of the future challenges and opportunities facing the new leaders of the I-195 project.
26
East Side Monthly December 2011
For good measure, it should be noted that Hall is one of the few recent PPS directors who actually grew up, went to school (RISD) and actually worked in Providence. Expect his tenure to be an exciting and productive one for the city and the organization.
Good Night, Irene While we all hunkered down in anticipation of the great Blow of ’11, the storm turned out to be a lot of hot air and not much else. That is unless you lived in Fox Point. That area of the city got hammered and lost power for five days. (Maybe National Grid is still upset about their battles with the neighbors over burying the power lines over at India Point.) The biggest other impact came from the winds. Traveling from Point A to Point B became a maze-like challenge as trees blocked streets in many sections of the East Side. Our vote for the hardest hit area, based on our own informal drive about, is Woodbury Street, where several grand old trees bit the dust. Doug Still, the City Forester, reports that almost three percent (over 400 trees!) fell victim to the storm. The good news: several days of no school for local kids, the brief, though temporary, resurgence of that elusive “we’re all in this together” team spirit, and reassurance that the millions of dollars spent on the Providence Hurricane Barrier weren’t totally misused as the damn thing again functioned as it was designed to.
It’s Always About the Food The East Side continues its unstoppable march towards gastronomic independence. In the past, the really good restaurants required a trip Downtown for steaks, up to Federal Hill for Italian or heaven knows where for international dishes. Slowly but surely, the East Side has developed some wonderful homegrown alternatives that, based on the increasing difficulty of finding parking spots, are proving more popular with residents here. As for eclectic international cuisines, this year marks the arrival of our first Ethiopian option. Korean food also returned to College Hill (missing since Sura on Angell closed) in the form of Soban Korean Eatery and Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ truck.
Proof that We Still Can Reel in the Big Ones Though 2011 was a non-election year, the East Side still demonstrated that we can produce enough political contributions to lure the big fish to visit. This past year, it was Michelle Obama, who was hosted by former Mayor Joe Paolino at his home on Orchard Avenue, that lured the cameras and the secret service agents to our streets. This said, it should be
RobeRt K. DyeR, MD Dermatology • Board Certified in Dermatology • Brown University Medical School and Residency Program • Harvard University Master of Public Health noted that now that Jack McConnell has finally been awarded that elusive federal judgeship, traffic jams along Elmgrove Avenue will likely be a thing of the past. Still, 2012 is a presidential election year and Sheldon Whitehouse and David Cicilline will both be up for reelection, so expect that many East Siders will still have the opportunity to rub shoulders with the rich and famous if they so choose.
Lippitt Park Reclaimed After a false start or two, most notably a stand-off between the those who favored saving the fountain versus those who advocating saving the adjoining trees, peace was restored and a compromise allowed the grand reopening of the wonderful Lippitt Park at the north end of the Boulevard and Hope Street. Even before the official reopening of the fountain in June, thanks to ongoing farmer’s and arts markets, usage of the park had been increasing noticeably. Since the return of bubbling waters, the place is really hopping. The neighbors are happy;
visitors to the area are impressed. And finally, a long-under utilized city park has become an exciting gathering point for the community. Kudos to all who made it happen.
Hope Street Keeps Hopping Amidst a soft local economy, the merchants on Hope Street used 2011 to show that they are committed to do what it takes to kept their street vibrant. While many other sections of the East Side remain in low gear, the Hope Street merchants were busier than ever with new projects. They added several large, brightly-colored sculptures by Don Gerola to their sidewalks. They built two new handsomely-designed bus shelters for the convenience of their customers. They hosted several outdoor family festivals. They worked with both Miriam Hospital and the Summit Neighborhood Association on collaborative projects. It was all more proof that enlightened neighborhood leadership can come from many sources. Here’s hoping the trend continues in 2012 and spreads to other neighborhoods.
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East Side Monthly December 2011
Book Review
by Barry Fain
Short, But to the Point A Providence-born author named a finalist for National Book Award in Fiction Edith Pearlman is perhaps
the best short story writer you’ve never heard of. Born and raised right here in Providence and occasionally described playfully as the “Bard of Brookline,” she has devoted her life to writing short stories, winning numerous literary awards in the process, including this year’s national PEN/Malamud Award. This past January, her latest book, Binocular Vision: New & Selected Stories, received a spectacular front-page review in the Sunday New York Times Book Review section. Yet Ms. Pearlman continues to churn out several short stories every year in relative obscurity. In her glowing NY Times review of Pearlman’s book, author Rosanna Robinson expressed her own puzzlement about why Ms. Pearlman remains so under appreciated by the general public. “It certainly can’t be the fault of her writing, which is intelligent, perceptive, funny and quite beautiful,” Robinson noted, adding, “And her works appear repeatedly in Best American Short Stories so she should be better known.” This same sentiment was echoed by best selling author Ann Patchett who posed it in question form as part of her introduction to Ms. Pearlman’s latest book: “To that great list of human mysteries which includes the construction of the pyramids and the persistent use of Styrofoam as packing material, let me add this one: Why isn’t Edith Pearlman famous?” Fortunately for both Ms. Pearlman and the general reading public, this lack of recognition is likely to change this month. Her new book has just been selected as a finalist for the prestigious 2011 National Book Award for Fiction, perhaps the country’s top literary award, the results of which will be announced shortly. Recently, Ms. Pearlman came down from Boston, where she now resides, to share her writing philosophy with the Providence Rotary Book Club, gathered at the East Side home of one of their members, Barbara Harris, a cousin of the author. Ms. Pearlman ad-
mitted that even after all these years, writing for her remains a long and painstaking process. “It can take me hours to get a single paragraph right,” she confessed. She credits a rigorous schedule of regular meetings with close writing colleagues as important to ensure a consistent flow of several short stories per year. For subject matter, Pearlman often draws on the events around her. Her characters are bright, urbane, gener-
ers of his travel pieces are so devoted to the columns, the editor is forced to scramble to fictionalize photos of the imaginary places he describes. It isn’t until the final paragraph that the reasons for all this are made clear. Ms. Pearlman’s gift is her ability to create beautifully crafted literary pictures of people who are unique and memorable on the one hand, yet are described with such attention to detail, with such precision, we find in them
Author Edith Pearlman (front row second from left) with some members of the Providence Rotary Book Club
ally well traveled, and encompass the most prosaic to the most fanciful. Many live in the fictional upscale Boston suburb of “Godolphin.” And while many of her stories draw upon her Jewish upbringing and include tales of Holocaust survival, assimilation challenges and the clash of cultures, many more delve into relationships that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds. And, as befits a winner of the O’Henry Award for short stories, most involve an unexpected twist at the finish. Most of her characters are principled, yet still susceptible to temptation. In “Fidelity,” the editor of a small national travel magazine has nurtured a longing, only occasionally requited, for the wife of his most popular columnist, an aging, somewhat reclusive wordsmith of the highest order. Suddenly, the places in his articles, embellished as always with his usual poetic brilliance, turn out to be fictitious. Yet the read-
things that are recognizable in ourselves. They often deal with the kind of problems that confront us all: finding ways to adapt to new surroundings, bridging cultural chasms, dealing with the pleasures of the flesh, doing battle with the aging process or worse, the end of life itself. In the case of the story “Vaquita,” it is an aging community activist and health minister in a small South American banana republic, a survivor of the Holocaust, who comes to terms with the reality that her services are no longer required, and that she is about to be made rootless again. “In Lineage” Pearlman cleverly employs alternating texts; an old aristocratic Russian woman reflects on her heritage in two languages as we the readers and the physicians who are attending her try to unravel the reality of her past. Some of the stories are told through the vantage point of the young. “In-
bound” describes the heart-stopping anxiety that develops when a parent loses sight of a child in strange surroundings. But in Ms. Pearlman’s version, we see the crisis both through the eyes of the parent and the child. In “Hanging Fire,” one of my personal favorites, the protagonist is a shy, insecure young woman just finishing college, who stands paralyzed as to which path she should follow next. She hopes spending some time in Maine with her three closest female relatives, a maiden aunt, her mother and a cousin, will help her decide on those tentative first steps, And lest you think all Ms. Pearlman’s stories deal with the prosaic, there’s “On Junius Bridge” that introduces us to the residents of a guest house located high in the mountains of Hungary near an historic bridge rumored to be a hiding place for trolls who snatch wayward children. So if you’re looking for something thoughtful and incredibly well-crafted to help while away the hours during the cold and snowy winter evenings ahead, you might very well consider curling up with a cup of tea and a few pages of Pearlman. Her new collection, whether it wins the National Book Award or not, has convinced her many fans, Ann Patchett in particular, that this will be the one to allow Edith to finally “shake off her secret handshake status and take up her rightful position as a national treasure. Put her stories beside those of John Updike and Alice Munro. That’s where they belong.” Check out Binocular Vision to see if you concur. Binocular Vision: New & Selected Stories Written by Edith Pearlman Published by Lookout Books Editor’s note: Born in Providence and educated at Radcliffe where she majored in English, Pearlman currently lives in Brookline with her husband, a psychologist. They have two children, neither of whom she happily reports is a professional writer.
December 2011 East Side Monthly
29
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East Side Monthly December 2011
10/25/2010 10:09:53 AM
Occupy Wall Street & the Santa Clause
Tomasso Auto
By James Arthur Anderson
Celebrating 41 Years
The elf showed up when I least expected him to. But isn’t that always the way with elves? I was in the stall with my horse, Lucy, putting the curry comb to her to loosen up all that dead autumn hair and make way for her winter coat to grow in. We’d been on a long ride and I’d already given her a bath; it was beginning to get dark outside. I was alone in the barn, just me and the horse, when I heard his squeaky voice. “Dr. Anderson?” Only my students call me that, and I wasn’t at the university, so I thought I was hearing things. But Lucy’s ears were pointed straight forward like radar, and she let out a soft nicker. “Is somebody looking for me?” I asked. “I’m in here.” “I know,” a voice said from outside the stall. Lucy’s stall is solid planking for three feet, with iron bars making up the top half of the stall and the sliding door. I couldn’t see anyone out there until I walked right up to the bars. Then I saw the gold bell on the top of his green hat. It was E.J. Elf, all right. I’d met him two years earlier when Santa had crash landed the sleigh near the Everglades and Lucy had to pull him out. The fact is, I’d often questioned whether or not the incident had ever happened or if I’d just fallen off the horse and knocked myself into dreamland, but Lucy still has the special set of beads that Santa had given her that night, so I had no choice but to believe it had been real. “Well I’ll be!” I said to the elf. “I never thought I’d see you again. What brings you here?” “I wanted to ask Lucy if she’d pull the sleigh again this year,” the elf said. “You want Lucy to pull the sleigh again?” I asked. “Why? What happened? Don’t tell me you put the jet engines back in and crashed again.” “No, no,” the elf said, petting Lucy’s nose. “The sleigh’s fine.” “And you got rid of the GPS?”
“Yeah. That wasn’t working out either. No, we got rid of all the new gadgets.” “Then why do you need Lucy?” My horse was listening intently the whole time. The elf had told me that Lucy could understand me, and I know that horses are psychic. Lucy and I have been together for over three years, and now I can understand what she’s thinking too. I knew the horse was just as confused as I was. “It’s that ‘Occupy Wall Street’ thing,” the elf said. “It’s spread to the North Pole “Who’s occupying the North Pole? Have the elves gone on strike?” “No. It’s the reindeer. They won’t work. They’ve given new meaning to the phrase ‘reindeer games.’ That’s why we need Lucy to pull the sleigh.”
Occupy the
North
Pole
Lucy pinned her ears back and let out a long whinny. It was clear to me that she wasn’t about to cross a reindeer picket line, even if she did want to pull the sleigh. I patted her on the withers to reassure her. “The reindeer,” I said. “That makes no sense.” “Yeah, well, you tell them that,” the elf replied. “They’re mad about the banks and corporate greed.” “Well, I’ve got to say I’m not too happy with the banks myself. Now they want to charge me fees just to use my own debit card. I’m going to have to go back to the old days of cashing checks and carrying around cash. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I’ll pay someone else to let me use my own money. And let’s not even talk about the yo-yo that’s my pension fund!
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And the fact that CEOs are getting raises and firing the workers!” The elf shook his head. “That’s a sore spot with the reindeer, too. Their pension fund was invested with Bernie Madoff. They’ll never be able to retire now.” I looked at Lucy and then at the elf. “I don’t think she’ll do it.” Lucy bobbed her head up and down in agreement and the elf threw up his hands. “Then Christmas is going to be lost,” he said. “Have you tried talking to them?” I asked. “They’re reindeer. You can’t talk to them.” “Why not? You understand Lucy, don’t you? You can talk to her.” “No,” the elf stammered. “I mean I can talk to them – I can understand them – but they’re reindeer. They won’t listen to reason. A reindeer is more stubborn than a mule. You might as well talk to the wall.” I sighed and Lucy nickered. We were both thinking the same thing. Then Lucy let out a series of nickers and whinnys. The elf listened. “She says that you should talk to them,” he said. “You’re like a horse whisperer. She thinks you could be a reindeer whisperer too.” I started to laugh, and Lucy nudged me with her nose. “She’s serious,” the elf said. “And I think she’s right. You did write an article about communicating with your horse, didn’t you?” “Sure, for Toastmasters International last February. But that’s different. I can understand Lucy. I don’t know anything about reindeer. I’ve never even seen one except when I was a kid and went to the petting zoo.” Lucy nickered again. “She wants to know if the deer let you pet it.” I thought for a minute. “Yeah, it did. It liked it, in fact. Then it ate part of my jacket.” The elf laughed. “Lucy says you are
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East Side Monthly December 2011
the best petter in the barn. She likes the way you scratch her back. She thinks it’ll work with the reindeer, too.” I looked at Lucy. “What does she know about reindeer?” I asked. “She’s never seen one.” “That’s where you’re wrong,” the elf said. “She met them all the night she pulled the sleigh.” “She did? Even Ruldolph?” Lucy nodded her head and I had my answer. I shrugged. “What have I got to lose?” “Good,” the elf said. “Then you’ll be our mediator. You and Lucy.” I was about to ask how and where this was going to happen, but the elf whipped out a cell phone and dialed a number. “Put Blitzen on, would you,” he said. Then he held the phone in front of Lucy’s muzzle. My horse’s ears tilted forward, and then she began to nicker softly. She stopped, listened, then nickered again. Then she nodded to the elf, who took the phone back. “Yeah?” he said. “Good. We’ll be here.” The elf turned to me. “They’re sending Donner,” he said. “Good luck. He thinks he’s an attorney.” Then, in a flash of light, the elf was gone. I looked at Lucy and wondered, again, if I’d blacked out, fallen, or just fallen asleep. “So, I’m the best petter?” I asked, and she nodded her head up and down with a nicker. I scratched her on the neck on her favorite spot and waited to see what would happen next. It didn’t take long. I heard the clicketyclick of hooves coming up the driveway and into the barn. I knew they weren’t horse hooves, though. They sounded small and more delicate. Then I saw the antlers entering the barn. I opened up Lucy’s stall and sat down on a chair just outside. I knew I had to be sitting down for this. Donner walked into the barn with his head held high. Honestly, I was expecting to see a cute little deer, but this guy was the size of a moose. He stood as tall as Lucy and probably weighed over 500 pounds, I guessed. His antlers were like carved works of art. “Donner?” I said. The reindeer stopped, looked at me, looked at Lucy, then at me again. He snorted. I guessed that I hadn’t made much of an impression. Lucy nickered at him, stuck her head out the door and put it down so I could pet her on the nose. “You’re a good horse, Lucy,” I said. I wasn’t sure what to do next, so I petted the horse and began to talk. “I’m not sure what’s going on at the North Pole,” I said. “And believe me, I’m no fan of Wall Street or the banks. All they’ve ever done for me is take my money and charge me more of what I
haven’t got enough of. If it were up to me most of the bank CEOs would be in prison – then again, so wouldn’t the CEOs of the oil companies, auto manufacturers, and everyone else who took bailout money and sent jobs overseas. But, hey, I’m just an English professor, so what do I know?” Lucy made a whinny and I think she was agreeing that I didn’t know anything. But then she rubbed her head against me as if to say she was only kidding. Donner looked at the two of us with interest, as if he were watching some kind of strange magic show. “Anyway, Christmas isn’t about banks – though their credit card divisions would probably disagree. It’s about love and giving and hope. We don’t have much of any of those things right now. So if we lose Christmas, the banks won’t care. They’ll just increase their finance charges, charge more late fees, and ask for more money from the government. But the rest of us – well, if there’s no Christmas, there’s no hope.” Donner made a bleeting sound, and Lucy returned a nicker. Apparently, they could understand one another. But I was clueless. The two of them spoke to one another for a while and I just sat there and listened. Lucy was the real reindeer whisperer, not me. Then, finally, Donner stepped forward and lowered his head. His antlers encircled me as if I were in a cage. Tentatively, I reached out and scratched the reindeer’s neck. It almost seemed like he was purring, almost like a kitten. I kept this up for a few minutes, but could see that Lucy was getting a little jealous. “So,” I said, finally. “I’m hoping that you guys will pull the sleigh on Christmas Eve. That’s the best way to get back at Wall Street. Show them that we still have hope and that we still believe. Who knows? Maybe then the market will go up.” Donner took a step back, licked me on the hand, then turned and clattered off out of the barn and down the driveway. “What do you think, Lucy? Do you think they’ll do it?” She nodded her head enthusiastically. But as I looked into her eyes I could see just a tiny tinge of regret. Lucy sure would have loved to pull that sleigh just one more time. James Arthur Anderson has been writing his annual Christmas story for East Side Monthly for longer than he can remember. He is professor of English at Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami Campus. He and Lucy ride together at Southwest Ranches Equestrian Club, where they are always having adventures. We leave it to the reader to decide if these adventures are true, or if Dr. Anderson has just taken too many falls from his horse.
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East Side Monthly December 2011
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On the Menu
by John Taraborelli
Size Matters A big restaurant with big ambitions
Photography: Amy Amerantes
The Union Trust Bank was built in 1901, well before the FDIC was established to protect customers from bank failures. As such, it was designed in the grand old style, a cavernous marble temple of finance, meant to inspire confidence and trust in customers – in short, its construction was intended to say, “We’re going to be here for a while.” Similarly, The Dorrance (60 Dorrance St.), the new restaurant that occupies the Union Trust Bank, was designed to make a statement. Simply put, it’s huge and gorgeous, breathing new life into the banquet hall and event space formerly known as the Federal Reserve – and the new team behind it has equally large ambitions. Owned and operated by the Lester family – mother Jean and daughter-in-law Regina, The dining room at The Dorrance with some help from Regina’s husband Michael, who works for a liquor company – The Dorrance into full swing, is a reflection of Sukle’s boasts some of the best available talalmost obsessive focus on sourcing loent on the local restaurant scene. Chef cal, seasonal ingredients. The opening Ben Sukle is formerly of La Laiterie, and menu included appetizers like Charred recently returned from a stage (unpaid Baby Octopus and Roasted Cauliflowapprenticeship) at Copenhagen’s Noma, er, and entrees like Soft-Poached Duck named the best in the world by RestauEgg with collard greens and Pan Roastrant magazine two years running. Beed Porgy with pole beans. The food is hind the bar is Jesse Hedberg of Cook elegant and straightforward, intended and Brown Public House and Newport’s to let the carefully sourced ingredients, Fluke Wine Bar; though he prefers the rather than the chef, be the star of the humble title “barman,” Hedberg has show. The Roasted Chicken Leg, for exestablished a reputation as one of the ample, was succulent and slightly pink, city’s foremost cocktail craftsmen. unlike the dry, bloodless, Purdue-style Though The Dorrance will remain white meat to which most of us are available for weddings and other events, accustomed; it tastes like chicken, not it will also be a full service restaurant sauce or seasoning. open for lunch Monday through Friday The cocktails, meanwhile, are decidand dinner Tuesday through Saturday. edly not simple, with Hedberg applying One of the Lester family’s goals is to classic bartending techniques and forreintegrate this amazing, but formerly ward-thinking creativity in equal meainaccessible, space into the Downtown sure – with a little dash of technology. scene. “We want to be part of the resurThe Vesperlini, for instance, is a play on gence of Downtown and help to build up the classic cocktail of James Bond fame, our favorite city in the world,” says Mithe Vesper. Traditionally a mixture of gin, chael Lester. vodka and Lillet, The Dorrance’s version The menu, which will change often, uses artisanal gin and vodka, then adds perhaps daily when the restaurant gets Cocchi Americano (an Italian aperitif)
and Dandelion and Burdock Bitters, then charges it up with a bit of fizz courtesy of the Perlini System, a CO2 system that allows the bartender to carbonate drinks to order. It’s an ambitious operation, and the team has its eyes fixed firmly on competing with the kind of big city restaurants that cause the national food press to spill ink generously. And like the Union Trust Bank, The Dorrance employs its grand atmosphere to inspire trust and confidence among its patrons. “We want to build it slow,” notes Michael Lester, “and do it right for the long haul.” ARTSY AND EDIBLE While driving down Hope Street, you may have noticed the scaffolding outside perennial neighborhood favorite Chez Pascal (960 Hope St.). The façade of the building has been undergoing a bit of a facelift, giving the restaurant a new look. You can also get yourself a new look on Sunday, December 4 from 11am-3pm, when Chez hosts its third annual Art and Craft Sale. This event features handmade gifts, fine art, metal works, jewelry, accessories and more, and proceeds benefit charity. Of course, there will be food too, available from the restaurant’s Hewtins Dog’s Mobile. Be sure to try the bacon-wrapped pork meatloaf if it’s on the menu that day. For more information call 421-4422. RUMOR MILL Word on the street is that the owners of East Side Pockets (278 Thayer St.) are expanding a few blocks down, opening a panini shop in the space that was formerly J&J Candy Bar (288 Thayer St.). On October 29, United BBQ (146 Ives St.) closed indefinitely. In a message on the restaurant’s website, owner Claude Goldstein calls it a “period of reorganization and reevaluation.” He holds open the possibilities that the restaurant may move, reopen under different management or simply close for good.
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East Side Monthly December 2011
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Dining Guide
Br brunch B breakfast L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10-20 $$$ 20+
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; 421-4422. Chef Matt Gennuso’s East Side kitchen offers French food with a modern twist. Try the Bistro Menu (Tue-Thur), which features three courses for $30 per person. Delicieux! D $-$$$
Brickway 234 Wickenden Street; 751-2477. With
creative omelets and French toast and an artsy décor, this iconic morning stop on Wickenden remains a neighborhood favorite. Be sure to check the specials board. BL $
Downtown CAV 14 Imperial Place; 751-9164. The New York Times’ choice as one of Providence’s five best restaurants, CAV’s contemporary, award-winning cuisine is available for lunch and dinner daily. They also feature Saturday/Sunday brunch. LD $$-$$$
Photography: Dan Schwartz
HEMENWAY’S 121 South Main Street; 351-8570. A true Providence classic, Hemenway’s has been serving topnotch seafood for 20 years. Their oyster bar features everything from the famed Prince Edward Island variety to the local favorite Poppasquash Point. LD $$-$$$ JACKY’S WATERPLACE 200 Exchange Street.; 383-5000. Experience sushi, Chinese and Japanese food, noodles and much more in a stunning atmosphere, right in the heart of Waterplace Park. Sip an exotic drink while taking in the spectacular view. LD $-$$$ 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; 223-0332. 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 $-$$$ MAD ERNIE’S 485 Angell Street; 3311031. Mad Ernie’s serves an array of soups, homemade ice cream, and sandwiches, including corned beef, reuben, chicken salad and lobster rolls. LD $ RED STRIPE 465 Angell Street; 4376950. Red Stripe serves classic comfort food with a French influence. Their food is reasonably priced and made with passion. LD $$-$$$ WATERMAN GRILLE 4 Richmond Square; 521-9229. With its covered
GOURMET HOUSE 787 Hope Street; 831-3400. Beautiful murals and décor set the mood for delicious Cambodian and Southeast Asian cuisine, spicy curries and noodle dishes. The tamarind duck is a must. LD $-$$ KARTABAR 284 Thayer Street; 3318111. This European-style restaurant and lounge offers a full menu of unique dishes with Mediterranean flair and eclectic flavors. They also offer a top-notch wine list and martini menu. LD $-$$ NICE SLICE 267 Thayer Street; 4536423. Hip and healthy are the best descriptions of this pizza place. It’s whole wheat, New York style pizza with plenty of choices for toppings, including vegan and vegetarian options. LD $
Wickenden ABYSSINIA 333 Wickenden Street; 454-1412. Enjoy the unique experience of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, using your fingers (and Ethiopia’s famed flatbread) to sample richly spiced meat, fish and vegetable dishes. (Forks are available, but less fun.) LD $-$$a Z-BAR 244 Wickenden Street; 8311566. 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 $$
Jewelry District/ Waterfront RUE BIS 95 South Street; 490-9966. This intimate eatery provides breakfast and lunch in a cozy, neighborhood bistro atmosphere – all with the gourmet pedigree of Hope Street dining staple Rue De L’Espoir behind it. BBrL $ BAKER STREET RUE 75 Baker Street; 490-5025. Chef Twillia Glover expands the Rue De L’Espoir empire with this comfortable neighborhood café serving “upscale diner food” BBRL$
Outside Providence
RUE DE L’ESPOIR 99 Hope Street; 751-8890. In business for over 30 years, the Rue has only gotten better. Beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients, the innovative, constantly changing menu keeps diners on their toes. Superb brunch. BBrLD $$-$$$
LJ’S BBQ 727 East Avenue, Pawtucket; 305-5255. LJ’s features ribs, pork, chicken and beef cooked low and slow in their customized pit, made with recipes from co-owner Bernie Watson’s grandmother, Miss Leola Jean. It’s great food at a great value. LD $-$$
SAWADDEE THAI 93 Hope Street; 831-1122. Serving authentic Thai cuisine since 1984 (originally under the name Bangkok Cuisine), Sawaddee Thai continues to set the standard, while providing a comfortable, neighborhood atmosphere. LD $
Vine Yard East 315 Waterman Avenue, East Providence; 432-7000. Wine-influenced dining meets casual down home atmosphere, and an eclectic menu of regional fare like local seafood favorites and Italian and Portuguese classics. LD $$
December 2011 East Side Monthly
37
Holiday Cookie Trays
Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday Season!
Choose from 12” Platter 9” Platter
(2lbs assorted cookies)
(1lb assorted cookies)
Holiday Special
Also Great Pies:
Fresh Minced Meat, Pumpkin, Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Sugar Free and Cream Pies
Assorted Breads Including:
Banana • Pumpkin • Cranberry-Orange Challah Bread on Friday
Specialty Cakes
Wayland Bakery 138 Wayland Ave., Providence • (East Side) 421-2900
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Offering Shellac
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Giftswayland square GIFT GUIDE A HOLIDAY
Books on the Square Looking for an old classic or new favorite? Shop
Books on the Square for all of your holiday giving. Find great books, unique gifts, cards, stocking stuffers and gift certificates at this gem of an independent bookstore, located in Wayland Square. Gift wrapping is always complimentary! 471Angell St., Providence • 331-9097 • www.booksq.com Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Reliable Gold Reliable Gold Ltd. has stocking stuffers! You can choose from many sterling bangle word bracelets to express your thoughtful sentiments. 181 Wayland Ave., Providence • 861-1414 • www.reliablegold.com Starting November 29th open Mon - Sat 9:30am - 5:30pm, Sun 12pm - 4pm
Kyureo Home Décor We specialize in the beautiful, the kurious and the rare: products that make your home a sanctuary for inspired living! Pictured right: personalized wine label marble coasters - Made here in Providence! Our on-staff designer Jay Luiz has been called a redecorating visionary - come in to see why! 13 South Angell St., Providence • 437-6677 • kyureo.com
Southwest Passage Southwest Passage brings the crafts of the Indian
tribes of Arizona and New Mexico to you. Find turquoise jewelry to fit every budget, from stocking stuffer to that special gift, and American Pueblo pottery, Zuni animal fetishes and peace pipes. 180 Wayland Ave., Providence • 751-7587 • www.southwestpassage.net Sun - Mon 12pm - 5pm, Tues - Sat 10am - 6pm
Opt Eyewear Boutique Opt Eyewear Boutique offers premium prescrip-
tion eyewear and sunglasses. It’s the accessory you rarely take off so shouldn’t it be perfect in every way? Come in December 10th for our Lindberg Trunk Show. Give the gift of sight; thru December buy a $50 stocking stuffer Gift Card for $25. 138A Wayland Ave.,Providence • 490-0200 • www.opteyewear.com Mon-Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 11am-3pm
Alex and Ani
Alex and Ani is a positive energy company dedicated to creating products of unparalleled quality and beauty that promote consciousness and unity. This holiday, embrace the season’s celestial magic and the spiritual enchantress within with Alex and Ani’s Arabian Nights Collection. Inspired by harems, mysticism, and glimmering jewel tones, this alluring collection represents enchantment, spirit and fate. 201 Wayland Avenue, Providence • 919-5467 • AlexandAni.com Mon - Wed 10am - 7pm, Thur - Sat 10am - 9pm, Sun 10am - 7pm
mod mama
mod mama carries fun, unique and chic toys and accessories for kids and stylish solutions for mamas. This holiday, give a gift that will keep them entertained for hours: the eco-friendly, non-toxic Animalz. Choose from wild animalz, dinosaurs, and the new farm animalz! A percentage of the proceeds are donated to charity. 16 South Angell St., Providence • 273-7800 • www.modmama.com Mon - Wed 10 - 5, Thurs 10 - 9, Fri - Sat 10 - 6, Sun 12 - 5
Runcible Spoon
Runcible Spoon specializes in beautiful stationery for every occasion and festive Christmas cards. They carry Letts pens and a wide array of special gifts including ceramics from Vietri, Juliska, Jars, Simon Pearce glassware, unusual jewelry, Thymes bath, Woof & Poof Christmas and the work of various local artists. 195 Wayland Avenue, Providence • 831-6600 • runciblespoon.com Monday - Saturday 10am - 5:30pm Sunday 11am - 4pm
McBride’s Pub Shop Wayland Square and refresh yourselves at McBride’s
Irish Pub for a Guiness and some great pub fare with an Irish twist. Stop by Tuesdays 8pm - 11pm and Sundays 4pm - 8pm for live Irish music. Pick up a gift card for someone special - $60 gift card for $50 now through December 24th. 161 Wayland Ave., Providence, Rhode Ireland • 751-3000 • mcbrides-pub.com Open daily for lunch and dinner
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 Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 - 6:00
Wayland Square Fine Wine Spirits
& A gift basket from Wayland Square Fine Wine and Spirits is a gift everyone will enjoy! You can customize them with specialty spirits, craft beers, and fine wines all beautifully wrapped. They have been proudly serving you since 1933. 210 Wayland Ave., Providence • 351-9463 • waylandwines.com Monday - Saturday 10am - 10pm, Sunday 12pm - 6pm
Minerva’s Pizza
Minerva’s is introducing organic, authentic freshly prepared Lebanese cuisine. A few of our new dishes: baba ghanooush, fatouch salad, baked kafta, fasoulia with rice, kibbeh, stuffed eggplant, mloukhieh, and a variety of soups made daily. Stop in and try rotating daily specials or give us a call and we will bring them to you. Gift cards have never tasted so good! 20 South Angell St, Providence • 272-2279 • minervapizza.com Sunday - Thursday 11am -1am, Friday and Saturday 11am- 2am
L’Artisan Cafe and Bakery
If there is someone on your list who likes the finer things in life, they will love a gift basket from L’Artisan Cafe and Bakery. You can choose from a selection of pre-made baskets or hand-pick your favorite coffees, gourmet chocolates, jams, and spreads. Also serving beer, wine, and illy coffee - the best in the world. 9 Wayland Square, Providence • 331-4444 • Open Daily 6am - 10pm
Get into the holiday spirit! Enjoy delicious brunch, delightful shopping, and dazzling festivities throughout the Square.
Saturday December 10th 11am-5pm Visit waylandsquare.org for details & times! SPONSORED BY:
Stocking stuffers for everyone on your list Winter brunch Carols + handbells Santa and tree lighting Children’s activities Hot cider + cocoa and so much more!
Bring a can of food for the Rhode Island Food Bank! We will donate a portion of the proceeds from this event to help fight hunger in RI.
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42
East Side Monthly December 2011
The Best Game in Town A quirky Vermont tradition
EastSideMonthly8th:Layout 1 8/13/11 7:48 AM Page 1
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by Bob Mariani
For 364 days of the year, the little Vermont town of Bradford chugs sleepily along in its anonymity, just one of many diminutive, totally unpretentious New England villages along the lazy flowing Connecticut River. Other than some deer hunting and skiing, not too much really happens here. Then, every November on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, along about mid-afternoon, the cars, pickup trucks, vans and tour busses start to show up in droves. Parking soon becomes difficult for blocks along Route 5, which passes right in front of the stately but modest United Church of Christ. Starting at about 1:30 in the afternoon and on into mid-evening, there is a line of people going into the church. It’s the weekend of the Bradford Wild Game Supper. Traditionally a thousand or more people from all over the country and several foreign countries appear at the church to wait patiently in the pews until their number is called for their seating in the basement. This was my sixth year at the Wild Game Dinner, or “the beast feast” as my buddies and I have come to call it. The Game Supper has become a ritual with us just as it has with hundreds of others. Our reservation numbers, which we were assigned back in early October, are finally called and we file down in groups of 20 to the church basement. The florescent lighting here instantly bleaches all ambiance from the place. We cue up in a chow line and at each station a dollop of “game” is plopped unceremoniously on our plates. The meal consists of “game chili,” bear sausage, roasted moose meat, buffalo jerky, venison medallions, wild boar sausage, rabbit pie, “our own venison sausage,” and last and very definitely least, beaver! Each little blob of meat is skewered with a different colored toothpick and you’re given a color chart so you can tell what animal you’re eating.
Over the past 40 years or so, this event has been covered in the New York Times, Boston Phoenix, Diversion, House & Garden, the Washington Post, Yankee Magazine, Sports Illustrated, the AP and UPI and many other magazines and papers – not to mention a score of TV shows. We sit down, elbow to elbow with local loggers, beauty parlor ladies, dairy farmers, politicians, judges and shade tree auto mechanics. I start with the game chili, which is as good as almost any I’ve had. The buffalo jerky, which looks like a wallet that’s been run over by a tour bus, is not bad – not too salty and a lot more tender than it looks. The bear sausage is surprisingly mild and tender. The shredded moose is watery and tasteless. The grilled venison medallions are tender and not too gamey. The wild boar sausage is a delicious, smoky blend of flavors. The pheasant with rice is moist and very tasty. The venison sausage is so good they could package it and sell it in supermarkets. The rabbit is done kind of like a pot pie with a nice flaky crust. My more intrepid friends who like really gamey meat tell me that the beaver is great again this year. (Unlike the off-color jokes that go with it.) Church members in rumpled aprons hover around the tables filling our paper cups with sweet, refreshing apple cider and coffee. Dessert is a square of homemade gingerbread with a swirl of hand-whipped cream. The whole meal takes maybe 25 minutes but you’re still digesting it for a good three hours afterwards. And that’s about it. Not exactly a “religious experience,” even though it takes place in a church. Along with your meal, which costs a “donation” of $20, you get a Xeroxed cookbook with the authentic Game Dinner recipes plus a history of this yearly ritual that attracts a thousand people or more from all walks of life with its simplicity, candor and total lack of pretension. Good morning.
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East Side Monthly December 2011
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The Rum Diary
The Rum Diary, from an early Hunter S. Thompson novel, is something of a prequel to 1998’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which found Johnny Depp impersonating the Gonzo journalist in his total ‘70s façade: Hawaiian shirts, hallucinations, cigarettes, drugs. It’s interesting to see Depp, 13 years older, playing a variation of Thompson (a young writer named Paul Kemp, clearly based on Thompson himself) 10 years younger, in the 1950s just before the ‘60s were about to happen. Directed by Bruce Robinson, who helmed the semi-legendary Withnail and I, this film is a mild affair and a tender tribute to Thompson, not to mention a fond remembrance of tough newspaper writers of the ‘50s, afternoon boozing and incessant cigarette smoking. Depp, a relatively conventional young journalist, shows up for
work at an English-language San Juan newspaper office seriously hung over, but considerably more presentable than his new coworkers. They include Giovanni Ribisi and Michael Rispoli, who become his roommates and co-conspirators against editor Richard Jenkins in a rambling series of scattershot miniadventures, some of which work. But this film has aspirations beyond the mild lark it effortlessly rolls into, since Depp isn’t just a young writer trying to find himself, but rather the future journalistic hero Hunter S. Thompson. Bring on the baddie, Aaron Eckhart, playing his patented Thank You for Smoking wiseass sharpie, out to tempt Depp to trade any common ideals he might have for a cushy job and easy money. Will Depp sell out to Eckhart? Become an alcoholic like his buddies? Well, since he must become Hunter
S. Thompson, we find him getting involved with the Kennedy-Nixon debates, revealing the beginnings of his political writings. Sometimes frantically, sometimes ironically, he puts into perspective Eckhart and his temptations, along with Ribisi, Rispoli and their lifestyle. Harmless, charming and wellplayed, particularly by Rispoli as Depp’s personal Sancho Panza, The Rum Diary, like the TV show Mad Men, mixes a gift for nostalgia with a sense of purpose. In Time harkens back to past times, as well. Directed by Andrew Niccol, who did the memorable Gattaca in 1997, this film, like that one, is concerned with genetics, human perfection and what it takes to survive in the brave new world of the near future. In Time imagines a world where life stops at 25 years. Like something from sci-fi legend Philip K. Dick in his prime, everything
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East Side Monthly December 2011
in this world is valued in minutes, hours, years and so on. You can buy yourself more time. The rich can afford it. The poor die young. Justin Timberlake is 28. He scraped together enough to add three years to his life, which is much more than the few hours most people in his neighborhood can manage. Especially when people must face the “Minute Men” and the “Timekeepers,” who have their own ideas about your time. The science fiction premise is a good one, but doesn’t have very far to go dramatically. So Niccol, who also wrote the screenplay, arranges a plot device that brings an extra century to Timberlake, placing him in a slow-paced, rarefied land where people have all the time in the world. But anyone even vaguely familiar with science fiction knows there are no paradises. There is a beautiful woman (Amanda Seyfried) and a despicable villain (Timekeeper Cillian Murphy, who is exceptional) in place to turn the film into a boy-and-girl-on-the-run adventure. The movie works well as an adventure because Niccol knows how to shoot action and stage a scene. His screenplay preaches excessively about time, its Symbolism, All It Represents, What It Really Means, and so on, and so on. But preachy science fiction that cuts away to valid action on a regular basis has always been a pleasure, and In Time is no exception. Take Shelter reminds everyone that the strangest place on earth is the human psyche. The mood of this exceptional, highly atmospheric film is one of high anxiety of a fa-
miliar kind. There are latent terrors at play in contemporary American life, and you may find them all too recognizable as you watch Michael Shannon’s good life fall prey to an apocalyptic dread. The disasters that seem right around the corner every day (economic, environmental, human) make the concept of normality highly questionable these days. Shannon has a modest lifestyle with his loving wife and daughter, and it comes with reasonable expectations (a decent job, health benefits, vacation time). Even so, he’s haunted regularly by nightmares of a devastating tornado. Living in Ohio, he’s certainly not the only local with bad tornado dreams, but this guy’s night terrors come in Technicolor, complete with shadowy, creepy creatures looking on. Shannon, in a remarkable performance, doesn’t know if he’s losing his mind or seeing the future. There is mental illness in his family’s history. He seeks treatment. But he radically expands his storm cellar, too. What he goes through and puts his family through is both heartbreaking and frightening. Writer/director Jeff Nichols carefully balances the two sides of this man, making his film a tense psychological mystery. But he also exposes the potential of a workingclass family being dispossessed of all they hold dear. His film becomes a topical allegory of our time while remaining true to horror movie conventions of shock and surprise. When you leave, you’ll question what you’ve just witnessed. Take Shelter is very mysterious and feels very true.
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
special advertising section
Abyssinia
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Providence has long earned accolades for its vibrant food scene, most recently being named one of the top 3 “Best Cities in America for Foodies” by Travel & Leisure. New waves of immigrants have recently begun to expand the city’s legendary culinary offerings beyond their traditional Italian and Portugese roots into exciting new ethnic cuisines, especially in more gastronomically adventurous neighborhoods like the East Side. One of the latest and most interesting of these cuisines is Ethiopian fare, pioneered by Abyssinia Restaurant on Wickenden Street. Not only are the spices and ingredients different from any other type of cuisine, but the actual eating of it doesn’t require utensils – you get to use your hands! Forks and knives are available upon request, but come on... live a little. Entrees are presented on a traditional flatbread called injera (also available in a traditional gluten-free version), which serves a double role: the spongy texture allows it to soak up the rich sauces, while the tangy sourdough flavor complements the spiciness of the entrees. The food arrives on large trays and the experience of eating with others is communal and fun. Customers tear off pieces of injera to scoop up the stewed meat and vegetables. The stews, or wots, have a similar consistency to Indian cuisine, but the spices and sauces are in a world of their own. There are lamb, beef, fish and chicken dishes as well as plenty of vegetarian options, most of which are vegan as well. Combination dishes are available if you want to try a variety of delicacies, and one of the vegetarian options includes a portion of all seven of their vegetarian dishes, an excellent way to explore the menu. Abyssinia has a cozy dining area, but if you want to enjoy the food in the comfort of your home, free delivery is available to all of Providence. See their website, abyssinia-restaurant.com, for the complete menu. This is a BYOB restaurant. Awaken your palate to a whole new world of flavors by visiting Abyssinia, located right here on the East Side.
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• Wednesday November 30, 5:30pm-8:30pm
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Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
special advertising section
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Consignment for fashionable children’s clothing and accessories
Diane Jennings knew exactly what she wanted when she opened her business, Luca, in Warren. She says, “I was a consignment shopper for years and while I sometimes liked what I saw, I didn’t necessarily enjoy the whole experience as I would in a typical retail environment.” This past January she founded Luca offering children’s clothing ranging from newborn through 14–16 (teen), maternity clothing and baby gear like strollers, highchairs and carriers. Diane explains, “We offer the higher-end brands people want, but who’d rather buy secondhand to save money.” As her store was filling up at 9am on a Saturday morning, I’d say she’s hit a demand. The consignment process is fairly simple: you set an appointment to bring in your freshly laundered and stain-free clothing – or baby gear in good condition – and then you decide on an arrangement where you get 40% back in cash or 50% if you intend to use the sale toward store credit. As children quickly outgrow clothing, this is a smart way to trade up without having to dip into the household budget. If your consignments have not been purchased after 90 days then you can pick them up or they will be donated to a local family in need. There are consigners involved from the Naval War College and people on fellowship from Brown that are moving. “They bring us a lot of international items which many of our clients crave and can’t normally find,” Diane says. “They’ll bring us great European brands and trendier items.” Many people who leave the area entrust Luca to sell their clothing and gear, and then they are compensated through PayPal. Luca feels more like a retail shop than a consignment store and they only carry items that are currently in season. They have footwear, winter outerwear, jackets, coats, sweaters and by November 15, they’ll have holiday items like dresses, sweater vests and sleepwear. Story time is held on Fridays at 11am for kids of all ages. Visit Luca and experience children’s couture consignment at its finest.
Luca
139 Water Street, Warren 289-2251 / Luca-RI.com 48
East Side Monthly December 2011
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
Empire Loan Pawnbroking, pre-owned jewelry, gold buying and vintage guitars
special advertising section
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In these tough economic
times, and with the holidays approaching, many people could use a short term loan to make it until their income tax refunds arrive. Banks do not accommodate for small loans anymore, but fortunately at Empire Loan you can safely borrow money using jewelry as collateral. Co-owner Jeff Keithline explains, “Much of our holiday business is retail, but it’s also people borrowing money to spend elsewhere.” And where banks, mortgage lenders and credit card companies will penalize you for defaulting on a loan, with pawnbroking, if the loan is not redeemed the pledged item serves as the payment, and it’s over. The phrase “gold is at historic highs” has been thrown around so much that many hope their unwanted gold can actually get them a sizable return. It is important for anyone who is considering selling their jewelry to do some research. Jeff says that mail-in companies, traveling gold buyers and the “bottom feeders” may not give you a fair price for your gold. Empire Loan will weigh your gold and give you a baseline value. “People bring in unwanted and broken jewelry,” Jeff says. “Like that stuff you got on vacation in the Caribbean that you never wore and regretted buying.” Empire Loan helps consumers become informed about the scrap value of their gold, which is based on the daily quote for an ounce of 24 karat gold: 18k gold is 75% of that rate, 14k gold at 58.5% and 10k at 41.7%. Jeff adds, “No dealer can pay 100% of the scrap value, but we feel our payments are very, very competitive. We are also buying silver and diamonds”. The other division of Empire Loan is their musical instrument wing, Empire Guitars. Jeff has played in bands professionally for over 40 years and he carries one of the finest collections of vintage guitars in the Northeast. “We have all of the really cool stuff, from the highly collectable to pro-level players, as well as moderately priced acoustic and entry-level instruments,” Jeff explains. They offer guitars, basses, amps (including starter kits for budding players) and some drums. There is a technician on site who repairs and refurbishes guitars. Empire Guitar is also buying used instruments. Visit their website empireguitarsri.com or stop in to browse their expansive selection.
Empire Loan
1271 North Main Street, Providence / 437-8421 358 Broad Street, Providence / 273-7050 empireloan.com / empireguitarsri.com
McBride’s Irish Pub where friends, good food and spirits abound and memories are made!
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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 December 2011 East Side Monthly
49
Spotlight
special advertising section
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East Side Monthly December 2011
has long served Rhode Island with high quality, state of the art printing and digital imaging services. From full color offset/digital and large format printing, to high speed copying, graphic design and mailing services, Allegra is a one-stop, full service provider for businesses and personal printing needs alike. In today’s competitive marketplace, owner Ted Stein has identified an underserved niche of full service marketing for small and medium sized businesses. We are more than a printer, Stein says. We are a “marketing communications provider.” “Prior to owning Allegra, I spent 15 years as a senior marketing executive with companies like Gillette, Revlon and Hasbro,” Stein says. “I understand the importance of marketing for any business, but heads of small to medium sized business tend to focus on operational aspects, not marketing. It is not easy to make the leap of faith that marketing will pay off. That’s where we come in.” “Our program has the resources to evaluate and understand a clients’ business and develop a well rounded marketing solution that includes strategies and tactics like advertising, media, promotion and the like. Further, we can execute that strategy with measured results. While some can execute individual projects, few have the knowledge and ability to help a customer decide which of the many strategies they could employ will be the most practical for measured results against their objectives. “ Typical inquiries from a prospective client may be: Who is my customer and how can I economically reach them? How can results get measured? “From business evaluation, creative campaign development, direct marketing, e-marketing, list management and printing, we can provide the whole package as a cost effective alternative to traditional methods,” Stein says. As the saying goes: “If you do the right things, then you can worry about doing things right. If you do the wrong things, it doesn’t much matter how well you do them.” Call Ted Stein for an appointment to discuss the possibilities. Allegra Print & Imaging, located at 102 Waterman Street (corner of Thayer) is open M-F, 9-5.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
729 East Avenue • 401-723-1111 (Top of the East Side, next door to Rite Aid)
50
Allegra Print & Imaging
Allegra Print and Imaging 102 Waterman Street, Providence / 421-5160 allegraprovidence.com
Art
by Renee Doucette
Ghosts in the Machines Bell Gallery director Maya Allison’s swan song
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December in the art
world is not exactly busy. Many galleries close for the winter; however, not every art space in Providence will be idle this month. Over on College Hill, the show Nostalgia Machines presents the work of five artists from near and far who create various levels of kinetic sculptural works that reference a hint of sentiment. This is also the final exhibition former gallery director Maya Allison curated for Bell. In a statement about this show, Allison says, “Rather than the longing for specific lost moments of time, these artworks develop aesthetic tropes associated with nostalgia.” It is not easy to curate an exhibition with artists in various countries and cities. With that in mind, it is a real treat to see the high caliber of work Allison has brought to Rhode Island. She certainly did not intend to leave us without making a lasting impression. The exhibition histories for many of these artists are extremely impressive. The artist Zimoun, for instance, has been in shows in Paris, Zurich, Basel and Rio de Janeiro this year alone. To see Providence on this list should make any East Sider want to come out and see what is happening. Zimoun’s minimalist style may seem unexciting at first, but becomes visually stimulating as the elements dance when the installed motor starts running. In the work for this show, Zimoun creates a sound reminiscent of rain through small motors. Some of the other works may not
Expires 12/31/11 be as aesthetically beautiful, but they are appealing in a different way. The work of RISD MFA alumna Meridith Pingree is less about visual appeal and more about creating a visceral experience with the viewer. At first glance, it looks abstract, but the key is the experience once it starts moving. Pingree is looking to capture the viewer on more than one level in the viewing experience. This will be the first time Pingree will show in Providence after her graduate thesis exhibition in 2003. Experience over physical beauty is also the case for Gregory Witt, who has created a small robot for the show. While the robot may not be beautiful, the work, entitled Packing Tape, mimics the noise of packing tape being pulled off the roll. The work of Jasper Rigole will be unlike anything else in the show. This will be the first time the Belgian artist is showing his work on American soil. Providence is a great place to get a temperature read on a career crossing over the Atlantic, since there is such a large and varied demographic of art lovers here. The piece is a combination of technology, sentiment and film. Rigole hopes to remind us that our collective past consists of various narratives. He provokes us through image rather than noise, giving us a work with hundreds of silenced voices. The last of the five is Jonathan Schipper. This will also be Schipper’s
first show in Providence. His unique work was on display in the Pierogi Gallery booth at the Armory Show in New York this past spring. His piece in this show uses technology and machinery to replay the moment of a bottle breaking. Sometimes you forget the spider-like arms are there holding on to the various broken pieces, but then there are also times that the arms give the piece a more humane element, channeling regret as the broken glass goes from coming together and falling apart. As 2011 ends, we’re likely to spend some time reflecting back on the past year, but we still may feel that we cannot waste much time when there are holiday plans to make and presents to buy. An exhibition like Nostalgic Machines is worth taking a few moments to explore, because if there is one thing that Allison always understood, it is that you cannot spoon-feed a viewer. Many will be able to relate to the concepts in this show as the artists give us hints, but still allow us to come to our own conclusions. Nostalgia Machines November 18-February 19 David Winton Bell Gallery List Art Center at Brown University 64 College Street 863-2932 brown.edu/Facilities/David_Winton_Bell_Gallery/
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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
SHE HAD 19 DRIVING VIOLATIONS... HER 20TH KILLED COLIN.
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BYOB
787 Hope Street, Providence • 401-831-3400 Sun - Thurs 10am - 9:30pm, Fri - Sat 10am -10pm gourmethouseri.com • New owner Kim Te of Apsara
One Book One Community With Rhode Island’s own Anna Solomon. Author of
The Little Bride
Join the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island for a series of events featuring Anna Solomon, author of
The Little Bride.
For more information on event dates and times, visit www.shalomri.org.
COLIN FOOTE
Stop Repeat Offenders! Please Visit
ColinsLaw.org 52
East Side Monthly December 2011
For more information contact Stephanie Markoff Cohen at 401.861.8800 ext. 108, or scohen@shalomri.org
401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.421.4111 | www.shalomri.org
Finance by Betsey Puriton | illustration by Ashley MacLure
New Holiday Selections!
Clothing • Accessories • Gifts
Income Minded
LuLi
Dividend-paying stocks are in vogue again
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boutique
782 Hope St., Providence (Next to Citizens Bank)
During the Great Depression, my grandfather and grandmother advised their two daughters to be “incomeminded” and have at least 90% of their savings producing some yield. The other 10%, they believed, should be capable of producing income in the future. My grandfather wanted his daughters to know how to invest with an eye towards safety, but also towards reliable returns. Most of my grandparents’ recommendations involved dividend-paying stocks. While dividend-paying stocks have never been entirely out of vogue, they were replaced in the 1980s and 1990s by growth stocks. Recently, dividend-paying stocks have made a strong comeback. They may even be the most crowded retail investment play right now. Are we headed back to Great Depression investing or will the markets appreciate income only until the next Great Bubble starts forming? Back in the 1930s, it was believed that income-producing stocks could better weather recessionary times than those that were purchased solely for growth prospects. A company paid dividends out of profits. If the company wasn’t profitable, it wasn’t paying dividends, and therefore should be sold. These favored stocks were deemed safer because the companies had more consistent cash flow. Flash forward to the 1980s, 1990s and into this decade. Dividend payouts have fallen from around 50% of corporate profits to close to 30%. At the same time, the average yield on stocks has declined from 4% to 2%. During the tech bubble, many new companies looked with disdain on dividends. The prevailing sentiment was that dividends were issued by companies without imagination and vision. The biggest perceived risk during the tech bubble was that investors could miss outsized returns if they settled for income-producing equities. You made money by buying low and selling high. Ultimately, it was the belief that stock prices could only go higher that made dividends become irrelevant. Champions of dividends were not helped by falling interest rates either. Dividends are supposed to pay a rate higher than “risk free” treasury notes. But low interest rates mean that inves-
luliboutique.com 369-4332
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tors will settle for lower dividends. If the ten-year treasury is yielding 2.25%, a 3% or 4% dividend may be acceptable. With bank deposits paying less than 1% and core inflation hovering around 2%, anything yielding 3% or more has become desirable. That means that higher risk assets (stocks, real estate investment trusts, high yield bonds, etc.) can pay much less than they used to for the same level of risk. I can remember sitting with clients not too many years back as they griped about the new and lowered money market interest rates that were hovering around 4% or 4.5%. Inflation wasn’t much higher than it is now, but money markets were a disappointment to these clients. Today those same or similar clients are happy to simply preserve what they have, even if the money markets don’t keep up with inflation. Times have changed. Wall Street has changed too. Institutional investors make their money predominantly by trading and merger and acquisition activity. Wall Street does not benefit from the dividends issued to shareholders, and hence, does not usually reward dividend paying companies with the same enthusiasm it does growth ventures. Typically, your dividend-paying stock will fall less to the downside, but it will lag to the upside. However, dividend-paying stocks are still attractive. They provide a return that can’t be taken away. Once you receive your dividend, it remains in your pocket. And if that dividend is increased each
year, you have a shot at keeping up with inflation, even if the markets are flat. Even better, you don’t have to sell your shares to cash in. The dividend is scheduled to come regularly, regardless of whether you shed shares. True, you pay taxes on each distribution, but since 2003 taxes on dividends and capital gains have been the same: 15%. You can choose to hold onto your stocks and still get paid. What if interest rates start rising, the global growth story returns or Washington changes the tax code? Any and all of these can take some shine off dividend paying stock companies. That is why investors need to remain properly diversified and monitor their portfolios closely. If you decide to invest, and choose not to buy individual stocks, look for a fund whose priority is providing a strong dividend. The fund should have a disciplined screening process for company selection with a focus on solid balance sheets and steady cash flows. Should you invest like the Great Depression? Not exactly. But being “income-minded” is a good idea, at least for a portion of your portfolio. Being invested in an asset that produces steady income with the potential for increase can provide some peace of mind in what remains an uncertain investing world. Betsey Purinton, CFP® is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at StrategicPoint Investment Advisors. You can e-mail her at bpurinton@strategicpoint.com.
tW Gif
ping rap
1860 Broad Street • Cranston www.thecupcakerie.net • 467-2601 Kristin@thecupcakerie.net
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zbar & grille 831-1566 244 Wickenden St., Providence Invest in you . . .
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 December 2011 East Side Monthly
53
Mention Ad for 1 Free Day of dAycAre!
Politics
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Feeling Creative? Providence Monthly is looking for talented writers the return
Get Spooked
Sushi comes
PROVIDENCE of cocktail Week
this month
to Waterplace Park
october 2011 #179
10.11 Issue 50 Free
Spooky hikes through southern RI
Grilled pizza
Monthly
in Matunuck
October 2011
WaLk aBout WarrEn
onE-on-onE
TheBay with our pull-out map
with RWU’s new president
Living Well on the East Bay & South Coast
Portrait of an Artist
Wheeler School builds on the artistic tradition of its founder
dressed +
twirling tassels at the rI burlesque Academy
A look at what local fashionistas are wearing this season
Pre-Sorted Standard US POSTAGE PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 34
examining the issues affecting the city’s most famous neighborhood
Life on the Farm
Well
A closer look at
Federal Hill
Paige Weisenfeld at the Ocean House in Watch Hill
Our Annual Fall Arts Preview pg 17
An Original Horror Story for Halloween pg 23
Local growers on modern-day farming
+
one-on-one with the new director of the Courthouse Center for the Arts
oCtoBEr 2011 #26
Jan and Michelle Eckhart at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown
The leader in local lifestyle
Send your resume and sample work: resumes@providenceonline.com 54
East Side Monthly December 2011
Occupied Territory Just when I thought
I could sleep through this Rhode Island political season, we finally have Occupy Providence. Now that we do, my first question is, with a state as small as Rhode Island, shouldn’t it be called Occupy Rhode Island? Occupy Wall Street is of course, the non-response to the Tea Party movement. I say non-response since the two movements, despite protestations by members, have so much in common. For example, while the Tea Party is further along in the solution game with an actual platform, both groups talk more in generalities rather than specific solutions (i.e. cut spending, taxes, the deficit and the size of government, illegal aliens are illegal, end corporate bailouts, obey the Constitution vs. end corporate bailouts, end greed, close the gap between rich and poor, create more jobs, etc.). The “how” is what seems to be lacking. Both groups: 1) Are made up of many local units that don’t always agree with one another; 2) Are pissed off about certain government spending; 3) Contain extremists providing targets for the other side (i.e. racists and communists who just want your stuff); 4) Keep people guessing about who is funding them, pulling strings or taking advantage of them; 5) Have to tiptoe around support from elected officials and political parties which, of course, are major causes of the problem to begin with. The Tea Party has made an impact through the political process, electing candidates on all levels and then pressuring them to hold the line when it comes to compromising on spending cuts, lower taxes, deficit reduction and, some would argue, exercising common sense. The Oc-
cupiers are in “information/educational” or stunt mode, as in letting people know via their takeover of public parks and other actions that they are really pissed off at corporations, greed and the growing divide between the haves and have nots. It’s about “taking control of democracy” and fighting perceived evils within the system, including the new C word (corporation). This makes the Occupiers much more interesting, in a movie of the week sort of way, when it comes to watching their attempts to figure out how to: organize and turn their anger into political power locally and nationally; keep their internal extremists under control; handle the PR problems of wanting to avoid feeding the homeless and vagrants crashing their occupations; fend off (at least publicly) the multi-millionaires trying to tie themselves into the movement; deal with the winter (will they hibernate?); and avoid assaulting or eating one another. They are planning a convention and ratification of a platform this summer and there is no truth to the rumor that MTV wants to make the New York operation the next Real World house. Which brings us to Providence. Like many of its brethren, Occupy Providence is fighting with authorities to stay where it is, using the human mic system that I’m sure someone has tried to copyright by now, and as I write this, planning on celebrating Halloween by dressing up and visiting area banks and corporations to wish them a Happy Halloween (hopefully with non-corporate candy or organic fruit). Actually, they are going to companies that received bailouts and asking for their money back, following such other actions as encouraging Bank
of America account holders to close their accounts. Occupying Burnside Park in Downtown Providence, the group holds nightly general assembly meetings with working groups dealing with issues such as direct action, food, legal, media, facilitation and sign spelling (just kidding). They even have a communication language (i.e. to indicate a clarifying question: make a “C” with hand). They, like their national counterparts, stress nonviolence, although civic disobedience and lack of permits are apparently OK. It’s easy to get drawn into the theatrical aspects of these battles, and forget that both sides at the core have good points, and are legitimately angry at government policies that have unnecessarily damaged the lives, hopes and dreams of too many people. I like to play in the middle, so let’s assume I’m head of the MOR (Middle of the Road) Party. As titular head of the MORs, I hereby reaffirm the primary operating principle of our new party: Any candidate who chooses to run under our banner must pledge to commit him or herself to address the three major problems that currently threaten the future of our country: We must enact systemic, realistic and transparent changes to ensure our workers can find meaningful employment. We must eliminate any special interests that come at the expense of the public interest. And finally we must also find a fair way to address the embarrassing (and widening) gap between our richest citizens and our poorest. All candidates who wish to apply, please fold up your tent, put the teacup back on its shelf and let’s get serious about change.
Calendar
Never too late for breakfast
by Samantha Gaus
December
music | performance | social happenings | galleries | learn | sports
234 Wickenden Street 751.2477
brickwayonwickenden.com
DON’T MISS THIS MONTH:
Digitize!
VHS TO DVD TRANSFER SERVICE MOVIES, SLIDES & PRINTS TO DVD
10 events at the top of our list Hamlet, Thru Dec 11 at the Gamm Theatre. www. gammtheatre.org.
1
A Benefit Street Holiday, Dec 3 on Benefit Street. www.ppsri.org.
2 MUSIC arena & club | classical ARENA & CLUB FOXWOODS Dec 2: James Blunt. Dec 17: Kenny Rogers - Christmas and Hits. Dec 30: Aretha Franklin. Dec 30: World famous DJ Steve Aoki. 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800-200-2882, www. foxwoods.com. LUPO’S Dec 7: Dark Star Orchestra - Continuing the Grateful Dead concert experience. Dec 23: Badfish, a tribute to Sublime. Dec 30: Wu-Tang Clan. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, www.lupos.com. THE MET Dec 1: Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks. Dec 3: Grieves & Budo. Dec 7: Corey Taylor. Dec 8: Chadwick Stokes of Dispatch & State Radio. Dec 9: Mike Gordon. Dec 15: Ryan Montbleau. Dec 17: Brown Bird CD Release. Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 729-1005, www. themetri.com. MOHEGAN SUN Dec 3: 311 with special guest DJ Soulman. Dec 30: Rob Thomas, a special performance benefitting the Sidewalk Angels Foundation. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-
6849, www.mohegansun.com. PARK THEATRE Dec 3: Christmas with Aaron Neville. 848 Park Avenue, Cranston. 467-7275, www. parktheatreri.com. 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. Thursdays: Thursday Night Groove. Dec 12 & 26: Monday Nite Comedy. Dec 13 & 27: Travis Colby Band. 276 Westminster Street, Providence. 272-7422, www.rootscafeprovidence.com. TWIN RIVER Dec 2: Gary Hoey, ranked as one of the top 100 greatest guitar players of all time. Dec 31: D5 & After Effect. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 723-3200, www.twinriver.com. VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM Dec 3: Jim Brickman: A Christmas Celebration. Dec 11: Kenny G: Holiday Concert. 83 Park Street, Providence. 222-1467, www.vmari.com.
CLASSICAL & SUCH GOVERNOR HENRY LIPPITT HOUSE MUSEUM Dec 2: White Christmas Jazz Concert. 199 Hope Street, Providence. 453-0688, www.preserveri.org.
RISD Alumni Art Sale, Dec 3 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. www.riconvention.com.
3
Visit with Santa, Dec 3-4 at the Roger Williams Park Zoo. www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.
4
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Dec 21-22 at Rhode Island College. www. providenceballet.org.
5
Equus, Dec 2-4 and 9-11 at Barker Playhouse. 273-0590.
6
Brown Bird CD Release, Dec 17 at The Met. www. themetri.com.
7
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
DentPlus Dental Center
• Veneers • Crowns • Dentures • Family Dentistry • Tooth Whitening Come in and Schedule an appointment today!
Where you’ll always find the brightest SMILES! Your DownCity General and Cosmetic Specialist 66 Kennedy Plaza Providence www.dentplus.net | 401-454-3000
Spend Your Day in Splendor
A Christmas Carol, thru Dec 30 at Trinity Repertory Company. www.trinityrep.com.
8
Hope Street Holiday Stroll, Dec 15 on Hope Street. www.hopestreetprov. com.
Holistic Therapies for Mind, Body & Spirit
Providence College vs. Brown Men’s Basketball, Dec 8 at the Dunkin Donuts Center. www.friars.com.
145 Waterman St, Providence 401-439-1468 splendormassage.com
9
10
Jennifer Ryall, LMT
December 2011 East Side Monthly
55
Hillside Family Medicine Welcomes
Hana Hagos, MD
the
Dr. Hagos comes to us from the University of Connecticut Family Medicine residency program. Dr. Hagos speaks Amharic and is board eligible with the American Board of Family Medicine. • Services in English & Amharic w/ Spanish, Portuguese & Creole translators on staff • Same day appointments available, including weekends & evenings • Most insurances accepted plus Access Alliance for uninsured • DOE certified Nurse Care Manager & Nutritionist of staff • Behavioral health, laboratory and physical therapy on site • Clinical quality program with a focus on disease prevention
biggest bash
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O N F R I DAY T H E
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401.438.4447 15 Woodbury St.
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401-640-0403 • 225 Wayland Ave, East Side Of Providence Deborah.Gold@NEMoves.com Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society award. 2010 Greater Providence Board of Realtors Gold Award. Relocation & Previews Property Specialist © 2010 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Owned and operated by NRT, Incorporated. An Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Housing Opportunity
56
East Side Monthly December 2011
A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY BIG NAZO! BEER SAMPLES BY GUINNESS! MUSIC BY KING FRIDAY! SWORD SWALLOWING PERFORMANCE BY MATT THE KNIFE!
PURCHASE TICKETS: www.projectundercover.com a fundraiser for project undercover SPONSORED BY:
SUPPORTED BY:
AMICA GOLDEN GATE FLORIST RHODY MAMAS
Calendar
continued...
Experience the Magic, Warmth and Friendship of Hamilton House
Established in 1972
Cirque Dreams Holidaze at PPAC
MAGAVET Dec 3: Yale University’s Jewish a cappella group sings liturgical Renaissance pieces, Yemenite dance tunes, modern Israeli pop and much more. Special appearance by Kol Kesem HaZamir, Rhode Island’s own Jewish teen choir. Temple Beth-El, 99 Taft Avenue, Providence. 3311616, www.temple-beth-el.org. JUMP! DANCE COMPANY Dec 10-11: Scenes From The Polar Express. Classical High School, 770 Westminster Street, Providence. www.jumpdancecompany.org PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Dec 2: 2011 Holiday POPS Tour; Boston POPS Esplanade Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, Conductor and Rockapella. Dec 9-11: Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence. 421-2997, www.ppacri.org.
PERFORMANCE comedy | dance | theatre COMEDY COMEDY CONNECTION Dec 1: Special Event- Mitch Fatel. Dec 2-3: John Perotta. Dec 9-10: Big Jay Oakerson. Dec 16-17: Jim Lauletta. 39 Warren Ave, East Providence. 438-8383, www. ricomedyconnection.com.
Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800-2002882, www.foxwoods.com. MOHEGAN SUN Dec 10: J.J. Ramirez featuring Isaacs & Baker and Tom Kelly. Dec 17: Dan Wilson featuring Vincent McElhone and Rubi Nicholas. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www.mohegansun.com PERISHABLE THEATRE Thursdays & Saturdays: Improv Jones 10pm. Fridays: Bring Your Own Improv (BYOI) 10:30pm. 95 Empire Street, Providence. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.
GAMM THEATRE Thru Dec 11: Hamlet. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 723-4266, www.gammtheatre.org. MOHEGAN SUN Dec 9-10: Albano’s Nutcracker, enjoy this holiday favorite redone with dazzling costumes, beautiful choreography and a 35-foot LED Christmas tree. Fall back in love with this familiar romantic tale. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www.mohegansun.com
EVERETT DANCE THEATRE Fridays: Live Comedy Improv Show, every week featuring live music from Bertrand Laurence. The Carriage House, 9 Duncan Ave, Providence. 831-9479, www.everettri.org.
PROVIDENCE BALLET THEATRE Dec 21-22: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Sapinsley Hall, Rhode Island College, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. 456-8144, www.providenceballet.org.
FOXWOODS Dec 1-3: Amy Schumer. Dec 8: Yannis Pappas. Dec 10: Charlie Murphy. Dec 16: Lisa Lampanelli. Dec 16: Joe Matarese. Dec 22: Johnny Rizzo. 350 Trolley Line
PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Dec 13-18: Cirque Dreams Holidaze. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence. 421-2997, www.ppacri.org.
Community Center For Active Adults 55+ Fine Arts • Yoga Personalized Computer Instruction Tai Chi • Bridge and other Games Book Club • Discussion Groups Music Programs • Billiards Room Foreign Languages Educational Presentations and Group Travel 276 Angell Street, Providence 401-831-1800 hamiltonhouse276@hotmail.com www.historichamilton.com
Holidays & Wine
THEATRE BARKER PLAYHOUSE Dec 2-4 & 9-11: Equus, a Tony Awardwinning drama about passion in our lives and what happens if we are consumed by it. 400 Benefit Street, Providence. 273-0590.
HAMILTON HOUSE
the perfect pairing
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www.eastsiderx.om December 2011 East Side Monthly
57
City Gardens Flower Shop Distinctive Cut Flowers & Plants for all Occasions
We’re Celebrating our Silver Jubilee Year! Cheers! 25th year 1986-2011 284 Wickenden Street, Providence • 351-1775
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
331-2020 • www.AdvancedEyeCareRI.com 780 North Main Street, Providence Official Eye Care Provider of the Providence Bruins
MYOFASCIAL PAIN Headaches • Neck Pain • Jaw Pain • Eye Pain Face Pain • Ear Pain • Tinnitus • Dizziness Dr. Douglas Vrona has successfully treated these head and neck symptoms for over 20 years with physical medicine techniques taught to him by Dr. Janet Travell, White House physician to J.F.K. (covered by most medical insurance)
Douglas G. Vrona, D.M.D. Westport, MA 1-508-636-3044 20 minutes East of Providence
Calendar
continued...
SECOND STORY THEATRE Thru Dec 18: The Suitors. Thru Dec 11: Special Holiday Event: Little Women. 28 Market Street, Warren. 247-4200, www. secondstorytheatre.com. STADIUM THEATRE Dec 2: A Christmas Carol. Dec 16: Nutcracker Ballet. Dec 19: The Shoemaker & The Christmas Elves. 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 762-4545, www. stadium theatre.com. TRINITY REPERTORY COMPANY Thru Dec 30: A Christmas Carol. Dec 9-31: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. 201 Washington Street, Providence. 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 thru Dec 17: A seasonal farmer’s market with gifts, local crafts, preserves, pickled items and sweet treats from 15 different vendors. Grant’s Block, corner of Westminster and Union Streets, Providence. www.providenceholidaymarket.com.
FESTIVALS RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER Dec 3: RISD Alumni Art Sale. Dec 4: Downtown Jingle 5k and Elves Kids 1k. Dec 8-11: Canine Pet Expo & AKC Dog Show. One Sabin Street, Providence. 458-6000, www.riconvention.com.
FUNDRAISERS HOPE ARTISTE VILLAGE Dec 10: Junior League of Rhode Island Holiday Marketplace, this second annual event offers crafts, arts, jewelry and much more. After you finish your holiday shopping you can even visit the Wintertime Farmer’s Market next door. 1005 Main Street #1201, Pawtucket. www.jlri.org. HOPE STREET MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION Dec 15: Hope Street Holiday Stroll, fill
58
East Side Monthly December 2011
your day with food, contests, a photo session with Santa, a marching band and Christmas carolers. There will also be a charity event that ties in with the YMCA to raise money and get donations for children in need of hats, gloves and scarves. Hope Street, Providence. www. hopestreetprov.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, Providence. 5213333, www.aspirerestaurant.com. BRIGHT NIGHT Dec 31: Rhode Island’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration with art, magic, music, comedy and more. Various locations throughout Providence. www.brightnight.org. CRAFTLAND Thru Dec 31: 10th Annual Craftland Show, a quirky holiday sale with an assortment of fine crafts and unique handmade items. 235 Westminster Street, Providence. 272-4285, www.craftland. myshopify.com. NEWPORT MANSIONS Thru Jan 2: Christmas at the Newport Mansions, The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House will be fully decorated this holiday season. A Winter Passport ticket providing admission to all three houses can be purchased at any of the properties or at www.newportmansions.org. PROVIDENCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY Dec 3: A Benefit Street Holiday, a daylong holiday festival with a chance to see some of the most beautiful houses in the city, tours, gingerbread house decorating, a visit from the Snow Queen, a pet parade, carriage rides and a parade to light the city Christmas tree. 21 Meeting Street, Providence. 831-7440, www.ppsri.org. TWIN RIVER Dec 31: New Year’s Eve, dinner, show and a dance party, includes an elegant prime rib buffet, a champagne toast, a drink ticket, and dancing all night long. Twin River Event Center. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 723-3200, www.twinriver.com
GALLERIES FOXWOODS Thru Jan 15: Diana: A Celebration of Prin-
cess Diana. 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800-200-2882, www. foxwoods.com. GALLERY Z Thru Dec 23: Small Picture Show, a group exhibition showcasing over 175 pieces of art all under 15 inches by 15 inches in size. Come see some of the galleries staple artists show some of their smallest work. Dec 15: Opening reception for the Small Picture Show with food and wine. 259 Atwells Avenue, Providence. 454-8844, www.galleryzprov.com. Made in the UK: Contemporary Art from
RISD Thru Dec 31: Japanese Buddhist Priest Robes from the Lucy T. Aldrich Collection. Thru Jan 8: Made in the UK: Contemporary Art from the Richard Brown Baker Collection, captures Britain’s contemporary art scene as it emerged from WWII. Thru Jan 22: Jacques Callot and the Baroque Print. Chace Center, 224 Benefit Street, Providence. 454-6500, www.risdmuseum.org.
kIDS + FAMILy DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER Dec 28-Jan 1: Disney On Ice: Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey. One LaSalle Square, Providence. 331-6700, www. dunkindonutscenter.com. GOVERNOR HENRY LIPPITT HOUSE MUSEUM Dec 18: Family Holiday Open House, you and the kids will love Lippitt House during the winter holidays with craft activities, tasty treats and more. 199 Hope Street, Providence. 453-0688, www.preserveri.org. PROVIDENCE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Dec 1-4: Animal Adventures. Dec 6-7: Making Music. Dec 8-9: Light and Color. Dec 10-11: Winterscapes. Dec 13-14: Play and Learn. Dec 15-16: Wood Works. Dec 17-18: No Time to Waste. Dec 20-21: Play and Learn. Dec 22-23: Block Builders. Dec 26-27: Block Party. Dec 28: Sparky’s Puppets. Dec 29: Rolie Polie Guacamole. Dec 30: The Rhythm Room. Dec 31: Bright Night. 100 South Street, Providence. 273-5437, www. childrenmuseum.org. ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO Dec 3-4: Visit with Santa, enjoy milk and cookies with a fun variety of activities for the whole family. Take your photo with Santa and then enjoy the zoo for the rest of the day. 1000 Elmwood Ave,
the Richard Brown Baker Collection at the RISD Museum
Providence. 785-3510, www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.
LEARN discussion | instruction | tour DISCUSSION PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Dec 3: The Dog Whisperer: Cesar Millan. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence. 4212997, www.ppacri.org.
INSTRUCTION CHEF WALTER’S COOKING SCHOOL Dec 6 or 7: Feast of the 7 FishesHands-on. Dec 13: Paella and Sangria. Dec 20: Northern Italian - from Piemonte to Veneto - Hands-on. If you’ve ever wanted to hone your cooking skills and learn from one of the best, these small, hands-on cooking classes are the perfect activity. Potenza Ristorante & Bar, 286 Atwells Avenue, Providence. Register ahead online at www.chefwalter.com/WPCooking_School.htm. COOK & BROWN PUBLIC HOUSE Mondays: Kids (and Family) Cooking Classes, hands-on cooking classes for kids of all ages and ability levels. 959 Hope Street, Providence. 273-7275, www.cookandbrown.com. LA LAITERIE AT FARMSTEAD Dec 11: Holiday Cookie Class. 184-188 Wayland Avenue, Providence. 274-7177, www.farmsteadinc.com. PERISHABLE THEATRE Sundays: American Tribal Belly Dance 10am- 12pm. Intermediate Ballet for Adults 12:30pm-2pm. Wednesdays: Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance 7:30pm-
9pm. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.
A Friendly Visitor Pet Sitting and Boarding Services
SPORTS MOHEGAN SUN Dec 27: The Harlem Globetrotters. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www.mohegansun.com
Providing high quality pet services: - Walks/Home Visits - Unique in home boarding services with up to 3 dogs at once for individual attention For more information call Sharon at 401.301.1712
PROVIDENCE BRUINS Dec 2: Connecticut Whale. Dec 9: Manchester Monarchs. Dec 11: Connecticut Whale. Dec 16: Springfield Falcons. Dec 18: Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Dunkin Donuts Center, One LaSalle Square, Providence. 3316700, www.providencebruins.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL Dec 5: Brown. Dec 8: Boston College. Dec 10: Bryant. Dec 20: New Hampshire. Dunkin Donuts Center, One LaSalle Square, Providence. 331-6700, www.friars.com. PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN’S HOCKEY Dec 2: Merrimack. Jan 1: Brown, 26th Annual Mayor’s Cup. Schneider Arena, 1 Huxley Avenue, Providence. 8652168, www.friars.com/sports. PROVIDENCE ROLLER DERBY Dec 3: Home Team Championships. Rhode Island Convention Center, One Sabin Street, Providence. 4586000, www.providencerollerderby. com. To have your listing included in the East Side Monthly Calendar, please send press releases or event information to esm@providenceonline.com. Please send submissions at least one month prior to event date. December 2011 East Side Monthly
59
Classifieds
To place your classified ad, please call 732-3100.
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.
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.
CHRIS’ LAMP REPAIR We Make House Calls!!! âœŻ Repairing all types of Lamps âœŻ Vintage Lighting Specialist âœŻ Chandelier Repairs âœŻ Serving the East Side for over 15 years âœŻ Fully Insured
(401) 831-8693 www.chrislamprepair.com
AUTO REPAIR At your home or work. Foreign & domestic. Autos & trucks. Experienced mechanic. Reasonable rates. References. Call 401-451-8943. CEILING WORK, DRYWALL Plaster (hang, tape & paint). Water damage repair. All phases of carpentry. Reg. #24022. Fully insured. Steven, E. Prov., 401-641-2452. C.M. HOUSE CLEANING Professional, reliable, experienced. Excellent local references. Please call Marilyn at 497-8770. CNA SEEKS PRIVATE DUTY Live-in or out. 15 years experience. References. 580-7211. yndure60@ yahoo.com DOG WALKER/PET SITTER Trained to administer medications. Reliable, bonded, references available. Home visits. Call Susan 5273914. Loves animals.
Need A Tenant?
Kate C. Foster
401-477-6314 Century 21 Butterman & Kryston, Inc. 60
East Side Monthly December 2011
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?– Small Demolitions - Garages, Sheds, etc. Free Pick-up of all Metal Appliances & Any â?–Copper â?–Brass â?–Aluminium â?–Wire â?–Lawn Mowers â?–Etc. â?– Unwanteds Removed
Call 232-5650 Reg. #4614 Cell 742-7258
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. MATH TUTOR AVAILABLE Proven results. East Side/Oak Hill. 35 years experience. Algebra I & II. SAT preparation & remediation. Call 751-4848 MARILYN’S CLEANING SERVICE Quality work at reasonable prices. Homes & offices. References. Insured. Free Estimates. Call 2709809 or 744-8316.
Classifieds
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.
SCREEN PRINTING & Embroidery. T-shirts & Sweatshirts. Max Formal Co., 1164 North Main St., Providence. 421-3268.
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE Spring & Fall Cleanups Bushes Trimmed ❊ Tree Removal Pine Bark Mulch
Landscape Construction Parking Lot Cleaning
PARKING SPACES 126 Congdon St. & 431 Lloyd Ave., $125/mo. Near Brown & RISD. Call Roger, 339-4068. rogernc@mac.com
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. Email: hcomen@cox.net
SNOW PLOWING
classified advertising Order fOrm
Residential/Commercial Free Estimates
r 4 lines /$10
Vinny’s Landscaping
r $2.50 each additional line (includes headline)
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r $2.00 additional — Boxed Ad
& BOBCAT SERVICES PROACTIVE Computer Services Home or office. Computer repairs, data recovery. Fully equipped mobile service. Service calls $40/hr. Call 647-7702. www.pcsllcri.com
name:
SUPERB HOUSEPAINTING High end workmanship. Small jobs a specialty. Call Ron 751-3242. Reg. #18128.
PROPERTY MANAGER AVAILABLE 24/7 on call. Rent collection. Rentals, evictions. Call 421-0092.
USED MUSIC WANTED! Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.
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Please complete form and fax to 732-3110 or phone in your ad to sue at 732-3100 or email sueH@rhodybeat.com
Roofing & Restoration All Types of Roofing & Exterior Repairs RESIDENTIAL
Siding
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mail Payment in full tO: East Side Monthly, c/o Beacon Communications Classifieds, 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 December 2011 East Side Monthly
61
East of Elmgrove
by Elizabeth Rau | illustration by Jessica Pollak
Aim Low How a snowball can undo a friendship When I was a
young girl, I lived with my family in a small suburb outside of St. Louis. Our red brick house was in a neighborhood called Wydown Forest, a cluster of houses nestled among oaks and maples. In winter, the trees were bare and icicles hung on branches like the fingers of a feeble lady. Christmas was an especially festive holiday. Wreaths entwined with berries decorated thick wooden doors and Christmas trees festooned with lights sparkled in windows. I loved being inside, curled up next to a hissing radiator. On rare occasions I left the warmth of our house, usually to build a snowman in the backyard or trek through knee-deep drifts to play Clue at Peggy’s around the corner. One winter, I was invited to go Christmas caroling. We would walk door-to-door, singing “Deck the Halls,” “Silent Night” and other songs to generate some holiday cheer. No one else in my family wanted to go – I had four sisters and one brother – so I had to venture out alone. That wasn’t an easy thing for an 11-year-old from a big family to do. We moved as a unit and that strength in numbers provided some protection from life’s improbabilities. The bully dare not approach our sibling army. Winters in the heartland are harsh. The wind howls off the Mississippi and sweeps down to the suburban valleys, with no respect for wool coats or mittens. The chill sneaks under layers and cozies up to bones. In the darkest days of winter no one goes out unless it’s necessary. My mother had to push me out the door. I had committed to a night of merrymaking and couldn’t cancel now. Besides, my friend Mignon was expecting me. I buttoned up my navy peacoat, all the way to the top. Mignon lived a block away in a white house with two small columns that framed her front door. She was the oldest of three girls and her father worked as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He smoked a pipe and tended to an old-fashioned mustache that curled up at the ends, making him look like the tenor in a barbershop
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East Side Monthly December 2011
quartet. Her mother was a painter. Susie was my best friend; Mignon was my second-best. Some friendships among children are based on proximity, not kinship, and such was the case with Mignon. Despite all those afternoons hanging out in her bedroom listening to David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, I knew we didn’t have much in common. She was an artist. I was a tomboy. She wore billowy skirts and flats. I wore jeans and desert boots. We were friends because she lived down the street. I joined the carolers – parents and a few children – in front of our house as they belted out “boughs of holly’’ and “holy night,’’ making perfect Os with their mouths on the drawn-out notes. I tried to feign enthusiasm. I felt self-conscious singing in public – after all, I was just a kid – so what came out was more of a whisper. My shyness didn’t help. Who were these people? Neighbors, yes, but did I know them? Mignon hooked up with us halfway down the block. I could tell something was amiss. She seemed uncharacteristically silly, poking at
her younger sisters, who had come along. Her clothes were different too – a black cape that fit her arty image and made her look exotic. By the time we got to the Mills’ house I was miserable. I was wearing sneakers, not boots, and my feet were wet. My toes were numb. My peacoat was so helpless against the wind I might as well have been wearing my pajamas. Still, I proceeded with the sappy songs and fought my mutinous instinct. I sang, but didn’t mean it. As for Mignon, well, she was nowhere in sight. I had lost track of her. Our group was so big I thought maybe she was on the other side and would emerge later. Suddenly, a holly bush, with sharp and pointy leaves that could draw blood from the careless, shook as if a frenetic squirrel were lost inside. Out popped Mignon, her witch-like cape flapping in the lamplight. It came with no warning: a snowball as hard as a baseball hit me in the eye. Mignon laughed and then laughed some more.
The pain nearly knocked me over, a sting unlike anything I had experienced before. The holly disintegrated into a blur of green. Dizzy with a ringing in my ears, I felt sure I had been blinded in one eye. To make matters worse, the snowball had hit my eye, not my eyelid. Who sings with their eyes closed? My pride kept me from running home and I pressed on with the trala-las, blinking back tears, getting no apology from my second-best, only more teasing. Later that night, I soaked a washcloth in hot water and placed it over my wound. My eye healed, but not my friendship with Mignon. At a very young age, I learned the difference between a mischievous person and a mean one. Mignon eventually moved to Texas – or maybe it was Italy. I can honestly say that I never missed her. Not once. I can’t remember my favorite toy as a kid or a single birthday party, but I remember Mignon’s heartless shot, so much so that I always offer a bit of advice to my boys before a snowball fight. Never the face. Aim low.
East Side of Providence Majestically situated in a tranquil setting, this 1928 Neo-Georgian home affords every amenity. 14 gracious rooms, 7 bedrooms, 5.2 baths. Renovated to the highest standards. Minutes to Brown, private schools, downtown Providence. 1 hour to Boston. $2,495,000
9 Wayland Square
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274-1644
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EastSideMonthly.com December 2011 East Side Monthly
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E a s t
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P r o P E r t i E s
Prospect. Landmark brick Federal mansion beautifully set on an acre of spectacular grounds overlooking the city. Exceptional period details. 7 bedrooms, 6 full baths. Meticulously maintained. Includes 3 legal rental apartments and cottage. $2,900,000.
Meeting. Walk everywhere from this stately brick, 7 bedroom home in College Hill. Features include central air , wine cellar, 5 car heated garage, finished basement. Gorgeous details throughout! One of Providence’s finest. $1,450,000.
North Main. Spectacular townhouse overlooking the city! Exquisitely renovated & decorated! Sunny open layout. Fireplaces. 2 terraces. Ian Thompson kitchen. Outstanding master suite. 2 car garage parking. Elevator. Walk everywhere! $1,350,000.
Benefit. City living with a country feeling. Historic gem with original details, 8 working fireplaces, wideboard floors. 4 beds, 2.5 baths. Finished lower. Private brick patio, spectacular multi level gardens. 2 car garage. $895,000.
Manning. Elegant condo in classic 1920’s brick Georgian Colonial. Gracious private entrance, abundant original woodworking and architectural detail, 3 fireplaces, private patio. Established association with professional mgt. $749,000.
Freeman Parkway. Great condo alternative! Architect designed mid-century home totally renovated in 2007. Open floor plan, high end finishes, French door to patio and terrace. Impeccable! Located in the heart of the East Side. $595,000.
Elmgrove. Stately & spacious C.1915 6-bed, 2.5-bath Colonial w/expansive front porch. Period details: in-laid floors, fireplaces, French doors, moldings. 2-car garage, private urban garden. Steps to Wayland Sq. Immaculate! $585,000.
Elton. Charming 1920’s Colonial features updated kitchen & baths plus central air, double living room with fireplace, dining room with French doors to deck and private fenced yard/ gardens. Easy stroll to Blackstone Blvd., parks and Wayland Square. $497,000.
Elmgrove. Brick front L-shaped Ranch in great upper Elmgrove location. Close to Hope St. and Blackstone Blvd. Spacious open layout, 3 beds, 2 full baths, maple floors, family room with fireplace opens to deck. 2-car garage. Many updates! $399,000.
401.274.6740 • ResidentialProperties.com
BARRINGTON CUMBERLAND EAST GREENWICH NARRAGANSETT PROVIDENCE RELOCATION