New Price! $324,000
Wayland Square. Well-maintained, owner-occupied 2 family. 6 room, 2 bed 1st floor apartment and owner’s townhouse on 2nd/3rd. Sunrooms, 2 car garage, updated mechanicals.
Sue Erkkinen
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Solid Garrison Colonial in desirable Grotto area. 3 beds, family room or 4th bed. Attached 2-car garage. Beautifully landscaped enclosed back yard with stone patio.
John McCann
$625,000
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Cranston. Classic 1930’s Colonial in the Auburn neighborhood. Updated roof, windows, maintenance free exterior. Hardwoods throughout, 2 car garage, fireplace, landscaped yard w/brick patio.
Thom Hammond
New Listing! $399,500
Lovely 3 bed, 3½ bath 3-level townhouse with Southern exposure in fabulous College Hill location. Central air, family room opens to beautifully landscaped private patio.
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Pawtucket. Gracious Colonial in historic district. Living room w/fireplace, open kitchen, dining room, library/ office, porch. 4 beds, 2 full baths, updated mechanicals, large fenced yard.
Suzie Prescott
New Listing! $199,000
One bedroom garden level condo has a washer/ dryer in the unit, a beautiful patio off the living area, central air and 1 parking space.
Betsy Walsh
Sue Erkkinen
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New Listing! $444,000
Mid-century 3 bed, 2½ bath brick Colonial East of Blackstone Blvd. Custom kitchen, 2 fireplaces, central air, hardwoods, family room, 2 car garage.
Oak Hill. Sunny, open Ranch. Fireplaced living/dining room, eat in kitchen, large master, fully finished lower level w/2 beds, full bath. Deck, perennial garden.
Brand new conversion! House-like 2,100 sq. ft. Duplex with condo conveniences. 5 beds, 2½ baths, porch, 2 car parking. New kitchen, baths, mechanicals.
Sue Erkkinen
Suzie Prescott
Rodger Gaglione
COLEMANREALTORS.COM Providence 401.274.3636
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Contents December 2012
This Month 17 Holiday Cheer Twenty innovative ways to feel good about this season
25 That’s Innovation, Holmes New grants are available for local entrepreneurs
26 The East Side’s Mr. Soccer Honoring a community devotee
29 How Tweet
33
Festival Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Our annual holiday fiction piece
33 Holiday Arts Take in the seasonal offerings
Photography: Liza Voll
Every Month 5 Letters/Editorial 6 Other Side 10 Community News
43 Movies
52 Art
Four big flicks for the month
An actor’s legacy
47 On the Menu
54 Education
A beloved East Side space reopens
Teaching holiday traditions in school
48 Dining Guide
57 Calendar
Your resource for eating out
All the info on December’s happenings
50 Finance
62 East of Elmgrove
Nourishment for heart and soul
Economic recovery is all politics
FAmily owned And operAted For over 50 yeArs FEATURED PROPERTY
Aleen WeissH Jon WeissHF
New Listing 72 Manning Court #2 Truly spectacular in every sense of the word!!! Live in luxury in this two bed two and half bath condo. Nothing left to do but move in! Beautiful architectural details surround you from the kitchen, baths, lighting and detailed moldings. Amazing!!! $549,500 Listed by Aleen Weiss Assisting Buyers, sellers And renters
Claire Sennott Karen MillerH Lauren Sickel Howard Weiss
HAlso licensed in MA FLicensed RI Environmental Lead Inspector 0065
785 Hope street, providence, ri 4 01-272-6161 • spitzweiss.com December 2012 East Side Monthly
3
Editorial 1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 tel: 305-3391 | fax: 305-3392 esm@providenceonline.com www.eastsidemonthly.com
Some Final Thoughts on Sandy While Providence was
mercifully spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, we would be remiss if we didn’t add our thoughts based on our walks around the East Side prior to the storm as we dutifully loaded up on milk, bread, flashlights, candles, and sterno. Hurricane Irene was a wake-up call for many of us on the East Side. Our community really was divided, in terms of electrical service, between the haves and the have-nots during that storm. Some residents didn’t lose power; some parts lost it for up to a week. No wonder there was such a sense of urgency to be prepared for such a nightmare scenario this time around. Benny’s is a must for us when it comes to apocalypse preparation. They have an uncanny knack for putting the emergency stuff you need right there as you come in. Store personnel stood at the ready at the entrance to direct us to the appropriate aisles or suggest a plan B if they had run out of a needed item. Things were also humming over at Adler’s Hardware, where a seemingly magical and particularly helpful store employee fixed what was deemed an inoperable flashlight. The markets were packed, of course. There was a sense of community that more than compensated for the long lines and occasional depleted shelf. Then there’s the Hot Club, a favorite spot of ours, where, safely ensconced behind the hurricane barrier, we can sip beers while
enjoying a front row seat for the storm. Some of the veterans there recalled the initial concerns over the barriers. The many cynics back then speculated that the multi-million dollar gates probably wouldn’t even work when the waters next rushed up the bay. Since it was decades before they ever had to be used in earnest, there was some legitimate concern. But as it turned out, they have performed flawlessly, saving our downtown from certain disaster. A sizable lot of East Siders seemed to not gotten the world about cancellation morning garbage pick-up. Flying green barrels and trash bins is not what we need when a hurriacane is bearing down on us. But the City did a good job of using its website (www.providenceri. com) and a network of City Councilmen and neighborhood groups to spread the word about the subsequent revised pick-up schedule. Mayor Taveras kept a low profile. There were no Joe Garrahy flannel shirts for him. You can be sure there will be other opportunities as winter snows arrive to see how his team prepares and executes under pressure. Crisis like this always bring out the best and worst in people. More often than not, the people in charge rise to the occasion. Neighbors almost always do as well, sharing resources, lending a hand when necessary, often providing
much appreciated gallows humor. But there are horror stories too: Of solitary residents abandoned and left on their own; of the looters; of the few misanthropes who consciously try to game the system. A particular place in Hell is reserved for those few who raise gas or food prices to take advantage of the pending disaster. Occasionally though, some of these bad actors get their just desserts. During the legendary blizzard of 1978, the owner of a hamburger joint on North Main Street chose to partake in a bit of price gouging, raising prices since many nearby restaurants were forced to shut down. This being the East Side, word spread quickly. The owner became something of a pariah and, appropriately, this once thriving restaurant was out of business six months later. With Hurricane Sandy, Providence was fortunate. Many other Rhode Islanders, especially those in South County, weren’t so lucky. Over 100,000 people in the state lost power. Some lost trees and roofs. A few even lost their homes entirely due to record high storm surge. It seems to us that there are some useful lessons to glean from Sandy. First, prudent preparation for natural disasters is always a good idea. Second, sometimes meteorologists actually do get it right. And finally, never underestimate the importance of a good neighbor.
I just got a copy of East Side Monthly. A job well done by Dale Rappaneau. Thanks for taking interest in me, and the business (“A Fifty Dollar Bid,” November 2012)! Stu Altman
Taking Real Steps to Improve School Attendance To the Editor: Thank you for the publicity about “The Walking School Bus” in the November issue’s “Other Side” column. Since we’re looking for volunteers, any chance to get the word out is appreciated! A point of clarification though: “The Walking School Bus” was initiated in Providence by Family Service of
Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre Managing Editor Barry Fain City Editor Steve Triedman Executive Editor Julie Tremaine Special Projects Manager John Taraborelli Art Director Karli Hendrickson Associate Editor Michael Clark Assistant Art Director Meghan H. Follett Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas Graphic Designers Veatsna Sok, Caleigh McGrath Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich, Ann Gallagher, Nicole Greenspun, Dan Schwartz, Elizabeth Riel, Chelsea Sherman, Sharon Sylvester, Kimberly Tingle, Jessica Webb Classified Advertising Sue Howarth Contributing Writers Bob Cipriano, Mary K. Connor, Jill Davidson, Renee Doucette, Mike Fink, Don Fowler, David Goldstein, Betsey Purinton, Elizabeth Rau, Dan Schwartz, Erin Swanson
Letters His Two Cents
Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell
Rhode Island’s “Providence Children’s Initiative.” The “Other Side” column stated it was initiated by our friend Bernie Beaudreau and Serve Rhode Island. Bernie and Serve Rhode Island are partners in this project, providing us a wonderful video to help recruit volunteers, and an ongoing commitment to assist in background checks of volunteers. We deeply appreciate this partnership and appreciate having this opportunity to publicly thank Bernie and his organization! “The Walking School Bus” idea is already in place at various locations across the country (visit www.walkingschoolbus.org). From there we created Fogarty Elementary’s program. Serve Rhode Island is our “portal for volun-
teers” and we encourage anyone interested in helping to contact Bernie, as the column suggested, at bbeaudreau@serverhodeisland.org. The Providence Children’s Initiative, created in 2010 and based at Fogarty Elementary, is a grassroots effort inspired by the work of Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children’s Zone. It works to improve student and family education, economic, employment and social outcomes. Thank you East Side Monthly for this opportunity to discuss our work! For more information, please visit www.familyserviceri.org. Michelle Cortés-Harkins Vice President, Urban Initiatives Family Service of Rhode Island
Interns Nick Cantor, Devin Fahey, Donald Previe, Samantha Pezza, Dale Rappaneau, Alyssa Schiano, Samantha Sandonato Contributing Photographers Dan Schwartz Contributing Illustrators Ashley MacLure, Maret Paetznick, Jessica Pollak
Calendar announcements and news releases should be submitted by the 1st of the preceding month. We reserve the right to omit and edit items. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters without exceptional circumstances. East Side Monthly is not responsible for typographical errors. Corrections will be run at discretion of editor. Copyright ©2012 by East Side Monthly. All rights reserved. Printed by TCI. December 2012 East Side Monthly
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Other Side by Barry Fain
Hope for the Holidays A new neighborhood takes on a beloved tradition Hope Street to offer Winter Stroll As we all begin to deck our halls or spin our dreidels, one popular tradition will be missing in action. The Providence Preservation Society has decided to pass on its lovely Benefit Street Stroll this year. Some of the slack, however, will be taken up by the good merchants of Hope Street who will be holding a truly spectacular old-fashioned holiday bash from 4 to 8 on Thursday, December 6 (though the stores will obviously be open all day as well). How spectacular, you ask? We’re talking a special trolley coming up from Newport, musical presentations, fire jugglers, and of course Santa, this year swapping his sleigh for a top down convertible as part of seasonal parade around the neighborhood. Check the glossy insert in our paper (or our sister publication Providence Monthly) for details, but thank you Hope Street for thinking big this year.
our downtown rivers to marvel in the beauty, the enthusiasm and the overarching sense of community that this unique event is able to kindle. This month, you’ll get a chance to say thanks. On Saturday, December 1 at 8pm at the VETS there will be a onetime premiere of a new high definition documentary called Waterfire: Art & Soul of the City: How a Work of Art Transformed a City. Presented by Cardi’s Furniture and produced by RocJo Productions, the film features
up into this issue. But fear not, we’re on the Internet now! Go to EastSideMonthly.com for the only post-election coverage focused on what’s important to the East Side: who won, how we voted, what’s in store and why it all matters. We’ll break it down polling station by polling station. And we’ll talk to the winners and losers about what went right and wrong during those final days. Be sure to register as a user so you can leave us your comments. www.eastsidemonthly.com
That Special Rye Sense of Humor In case you missed it in the October issue, the East Side finally has a traditional Jewish deli back and we’re happy to report, it’s pretty damn good. Called Dok’s Deli, the new eatery takes special pride in curing their own meats (pastrami, corned beef, turkey and more) and, based on the crowds, their customers seem to agree. Many of your classic favorites are there… a Rueben of course, real pastrami, bagels and lox. But our favorite is a sandwich called (brace yourself) the Havana Gila, which somehow combines ham, turkey, pickles and Dijonaisse into Dok’s own version of the Cuban Sandwich. Located at 146 Ives Street, drop in and welcome owner/ chef Tyler Doktor to the neighborhood.
WaterFire To Hit the Big Screen Every year, they attract hundreds of thousands of appreciative visitors to
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East Side Monthly December 2012
Buy Nothing Day Winter Coat Exchange
commentary from WaterFire creator Barnaby Evans and includes input from historians and passionate fans from around the world. Tickets are $16 plus there will be a special VIP pre-screening celebrity party with heavy hors d’ouevres on stage at 6:30 p.m. before the event. Contact WaterFire about tickets.
And the Election Winners are... now on our Website! Alas, your favorite community monthly couldn’t adjust our print schedule enough to get a post-election wrap-
Support your Local Merchant As holiday season approaches, and you’re making your list and checking it twice, might we suggest that you Santas and Santa-nettes please consider patronizing our advertisers. After all, they’re the ones who support this paper and allow us to send you an issue every month filled with local news for nada. Most of our local storeowners are our neighbors. Many know us by name. They sometimes provide employment for our children. And, most importantly, their stores add diversity, character and charm
to our community. This year has been by far the most successful in our 37year history. (So much for the misconception that print is dead!) As we continue to celebrate our community and try to be fair in everything we do, we like to think our future is looking brighter than ever. So here’s a heartfelt thank you to our readers, our writers, our neighbors and, again, our advertisers for your support. Happy holidays to you all!
Mr. Donor meets Mr. Donee Due in large part to the pioneering efforts of Summit area resident Greg Gerritt, a wonderful local tradition will be celebrating its 16th year on Friday, November 23, the day after Thanksgiving. Called the “Buy Nothing Day Winter Coat Exchange,” Gerritt and his colleagues have joined a national movement to use the busiest shopping day of the year as a way to protest over-consumption by doing something positive for the community. You’ll get to see what they’ve been able to accomplish first hand if you go to the State House Lawn from 10am to 2pm on the 23rd. Hundreds of coats will be given out to hundreds of people and organizations in need on a face-to-face basis. We guarantee bringing in a coat (or coats) to donate yourself will make you feel warm all over.
Good Clean Fun Good news for a talented East Sider: Cathryn Violet’s artisan soaps have made it big – at least, big in the natural products world – and are now being sold at Whole Foods markets on Waterman and North Main streets. Cathryn Violet Artisan Soaps are all handmade by Cathryn using organic botanicals and sustainable ingredients. They’re also available at various local farmer’s markets. We hear they make perfect stocking stuffers. www. cathrynviolet.com
United Way has been working to strengthen Rhode Island for over 80 years. Working together, we can help everyone get an opportunity for a better life. This is what we do at United Way. We help our neighbors access the tools they need to succeed.
YOU CAN CHANGE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES. ASK US HOW. www.LIVEUNITEDri.org
United Way of Rhode Island
GIVE LOCAL Cathryn violet artisan soap
GALLERY BELLEAU
424 Wickenden Street, Providence 401-456-0011 www.gallerybelleau.com
www.cathrynviolet.com
Cathryn Violet Artisan Soaps are handcrafted in Rhode Island and feature organic botanicals grown locally whenever possible. Plant based oils are saponified with lavender, calendula, rosehips, wildflower honey, cranberries and more, all selected for incomparable beauty, texture, cleansing and skin nourishing properties. Online orders receive free gift wrapping and delivery on the East Side is available for the holidays. Visit www.cathrynviolet.com or find them at Whole Foods Market.
Gallery Belleau sells unique handmade gifts by local and nationally acclaimed artists and artisans: jewelry, paintings and works in clay, glass, wood and metal. Stop by on Thursday, December 13 between 10am and 8pm for the Hang 10 Sale, where everything in the gallery is 10 percent off in honor of their 10-year anniversary. Give gifts that are a perfect 10!
LOU LOU’S DECOR
Luna Sea SHOP
104 Clock Tower Square, Portsmouth King Charles Dr at West Main Rd Rte 114
401-293-5799 www.loulousdecor.com Lou Lou’s Decor is the perfect place to shop for unique gifts, offering a wide selection of home accents, tote bags, candles, frames, throws, pillows, bedding and bath, lighting, rugs, glassware, ceramics, table linens and holiday decorations. Also offering interior design consultation, owner Stacy Carlson and fellow designers help clients transform their homes through window treatments, tile, natural stone, slipcovers or re-upholstery.
259 Thames Street, Bristol 401-256-0485 www.lunaseashop.com LunaSea is mystically inspired by natural remedies and green goods that are healing for both people and the environment. Environmentally and ecologically friendly provisions, botanicals and gifts are a plenty. Browse the wonderful selection of organic herbs and spices, chocolates, teas, greeting cards and handcrafted Items. Venture in soon and discover the uncharted waters of LunaSea.
The KnoTTy Dog 31 Bradford Street, Bristol 401-396-9520 www.theknottydog.com
The Knotty Dog’s selection is second to none, specializing in locally made coastal products featuring reclaimed materials. Whether you’re in the market for custom furniture or just a dainty jewelry gift, The Knotty Dog is the place to go. From candles to fireplace accessories to cozy throw blankets, they’ll keep you warm this winter. Selling handmade soaps for mom, hooded bath towels for children and collars for Fido, shoppers are guaranteed to find unique gifts for everyone on the list. Serving customers near and far, the shop offers friendly customer service in-store and free shipping on all web orders over $50. Open seven days a week and late on Fridays through December. Bring in this ad for a free gift with any purchase.
our favorite places to shop for the holidays Milan FinE MEn’S ClOTHiERS
NORM’S JEWELRY
1160 North Main Street, Providence 401-351-3398
178 Wayland avenue, Providence 401-621-6452 270 County Road, Barrington 401-247-9209
Norm’s Jewelry has been your hometown jeweler since 1982. Stop in and browse their unique selection of new and estate jewelry. Layaway and free gift wrapping are available for the holidays. Expert services include jewelry and watch repair, machine engraving and buying used jewelry. Mention this ad for $5 off a purchase of $50 (not valid with any other discount or promotion).
Milan Fine Men’s Clothiers offers an impressive collection of classic and stylish menswear. Expert tailors and clothiers with two locations in Rhode Island, Milan has a great selection of gifts such as cashmere sweaters, dress shirts, silk ties and cold weather accessories. Gift certificates are also available in any denomination.
The CuraTorium
THREE WHEEL STUDIO
197 Wickenden Street, Providence 401-453-4080 www.thecuratorium.com
436 Wickenden Street, Providence 401-451-2350 www.threewheelstudio.com
The Curatorium is a crazy mashup of gift-giving opportunities. This charming little emporium has the perfect gift for everyone you need to placate. Mustache emblazoned pacifiers, Lego architecture, colorful leather wallets, in prices ranging from fifty cents to hundreds of dollars, the items offered at The Curatorium will make mincemeat of even the most difficult holiday list.
Potter Dwo Wen Chen has a bit of a cult status in the city. Wen Chen has taken his whimsical pottery to a new location on Wickenden where visitors can browse a multitude of his functional artistic pieces and chat with the maker. The RISD grad creates stoneware, porcelain, earthenware and terracotta bowls, plates, vases, cups and more.
FROG & TOAD 795 Hope Street, Providence 401-831-3434
For more than a decade, Rhode Islanders have been flocking to Frog & Toad for that special, one-of-a-kind gift. This neighborhood mom and pop is packed with unique offerings that appear well considered and sometimes irreverent. From work by local artists to handmade American jewelry to affordable hand-knit sweaters, you always know you won’t need to look elsewhere . . . even for that insufferable stinker on your list. Some staff favorite items include the t-shirts, “Don’t Mess with RI Either” and “You can go to Hell, I’m going to Pawtucket”, the amazing goats and pigs made out of recycled steel oil drums, and the RI Soapworks line of luxurious bath and body products. And here’s an insider’s tip: they have FREE gift wrapping and you don’t need to ask, they always offer!
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.
Summit By Kerry Kohring Summit Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 489-7078 Website: www.SummitNeighbors.org Email: sna@sna.providence.ri.us Mailing Address: SNA, PO Box 41092, Providence, RI 02940 Holiday greetings! Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa to all, and to all a good night. Candidates speak directly to voters Summit residents got a generous helping of grassroots democracy on October 17th when the candidates for two major offices came to the neighborhood to demonstrate their qualifications. The Summit Neighborhood Association’s candidates forum brought together Democrat U.S. Rep David N. Cicilline and his two challengers, Republican Brendan P. Doherty and independent David Vogel plus R.I. House Speaker Gordon D. Fox, a Democrat, and his opponent, Mark Binder, an independent. They spoke to about 75 people – which included the candidates’ own staffers as well as representatives of the media – at a question-and-answer format moderated by SNA board of directors member Thomas Schmeling, a professor of political science at Rhode Island College, at Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave. The discussion began with an exchange among the congressional candidates after an introduction by SNA President Dean Weinberg, who called for a moment of silence for recently deceased long-time SNA member Judith Brown. Then the R.I. House candidates exchanged views and the evening ended with light refreshments amid con-
10
East Side Monthly December 2012
tinued discussion by small groups. The political presentations are not noted here, since the election is over. Congratulations to the winners. Second ‘Tot Lot’ public meeting set A second public meeting regarding the revitalization of the “Tot Lot” park, on the corner of Ninth Street and Summit Avenue, to possibly include community gardens was scheduled to be held on October 27th from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave. Members of the SNA board, head of the City Parks and Recreation Department Bob McMahon and landscape architect Megan Gardner were to attend. Members of the neighborhood were invited to participate after a lively discussion on the SNA listserv after the first public meeting. The architectural rendering of the proposed redesign of the park can be viewed at: http://www.sna.providence.ri.us/sna4/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/rendering_sm1.jpg Annual fall bakeoff features pumpkins Another event scheduled for after publication deadline was the SNA baking competition and fall celebration. Neighborhood residents were invited to bring their best baked pumpkin dishes, their kids and their costumes. There were to be judges from local restaurants and voting by participants for best culinary work and best costume. Also planned were tastings of beer, wine and olive oil. The festivities were scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. at Seven Stars bakery on Hope Street.
Residents invited to directors meetings The board convenes at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of every month in the cafeteria of Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave. The meetings are open; and neighborhood residents are encouraged to attend.
Fox Point by John Rousseau Fox Point Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 270-7121 Website: www.fpna.net Email: fpna@cox.net Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603177 Providence, RI 02906 Events this month FPNA is in the process of re-scheduling its monthly Board Meeting and is possibly looking for an alternate location to the Vartan Gregorian Bath House Library, 455 Wickenden Street. Please check www.fpna.net for the new schedule. Mayor discusses Pike Street with FPNA Mayor Angel Taveras hosted an early
Projects and activities in the works • The winter newsletter is tentatively scheduled for publication in January. Look for it on your doorstep. • The snow-shoveling assistance program is having difficulty recruiting enough volunteers, but it is moving along. • A spring Easter Egg Hunt is in the planning stage. Stay tuned for more details as they are worked out. • A free community document shredding opportunity is being developed. See our web site, SummitNeighbors. org, for information on all of the above.
Exit fence damage near Pike St.
morning breakfast on October 16th at Brickway Café on Wickenden Street to hear concerns of representatives of FPNA, the Jewelry District and Head of the Bay Gateway. What followed was an interesting discussion of FPNA’s top concern: A broken and obstructed local street pattern in Fox Point as a result of the South Main Street exit ramp blocking off the Pike Street intersection. “We are very concerned about how fast traffic is coming off of the highway and into our neighborhood on the South Main exit ramp,” FPNA Treasurer Daisy Schnepel told the Mayor. FPNA has received numerous complaints from its membership, some observing that cars are speeding up to dangerous levels to make the green light at Wickenden Street. Councilman Seth Yurdin added that he has not received a response to a letter he sent in August to Michael P. Lewis, director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), noting the community’s concerns. FPNA has fought unsuccessfully for three years to get RIDOT to revise its plan and re-connect Pike Street, which is a short block before Wicken-
den Street, to improve safety around the exit ramp. Proper signage and a traffic signal programming to accommodate rush-hour traffic would make the intersection safer. FPNA Executive Secretary John Rousseau also noted that the lack of a Pike Street intersection limits the neighborhood’s access to the waterfront and the marketability of the I-195 parcels. State Rep. Chris Blazejewski offered to help the Mayor’s Office address the street grid issue in Fox Point. Earlier in the year, the Providence Department of Planning and the City Plan Commission publicly stated that the issue was not a matter for zoning. It is unclear if the City Council will review the Pike Street issue and make any recommendations on its future. But there’s good news too! FPNA sees a good number of on-going government projects in Fox Point. This fall, in response to a FPNA noise study, RIDOT began nightly lane closures on Interstate 195 aimed at reducing road noise from the highway’s elevated concrete ramps and bridges. RIDOT also appears close to finishing its landscaping of the “Gano Gateway” area, which has vastly improved the Gano I-195 westbound entrance. They also plan roadwork that will straighten the Gano-India Intersection in 2012 and add a much-needed parking lot for India Point Park. This summer, RIDOT began landscaping and construction improvements to the Washington Bridge, changing an eyesore to an amenity that will improve the quality of life for Fox Point, as well as the entire city and state. The Providence Parks and Recreation Department has begun construction of the East Transit Street Boat Launch at Gano Park. FPNA believes the future destination will become an important link to India Point Park and the East Coast Greenway. The boat launch will have a concrete ramp that extends into the Seekonk River, accompanied by a floating dock and a parking lot with seventeen spaces for vehicles with trailers and five vehicular spaces. Current RIDOT design drawings in-
dicate that an extension of the Blackstone Bike Path will follow the shoreline along Gano Park and cross the parking lot of the boat launch. Eventually, the area will be a nexus of bike paths over the Washington Bridge and India Point Park’s bike path that leads into Providence. The Narragansett Bay Commission has its water-runoff collection drainage system well under way in Fox Point, ensuring a cleaner bay and river system.
Blackstone Parks
Brown Street Park
Heading into winter On the Boulevard and in the woods by the Seekonk River we took in the last flashes of color, storing up for the long winter. After narrowly missing a sideswipe by Hurricane Sandy, we counted ourselves lucky with little damage. A good thing, as both parks are heavily used. And of course we attribute the resiliency of the trees partly to the extensive pruning in the Blackstone median we sponsored the last two years with your help. Even on the morning of the hurricane, bright-shirted runners pounded down the Boulevard path and even a few walkers braved the winds, reminding us of the task ahead: to repair badly eroded sections. The Boulevard committee will be working through the cold months and meeting with the Providence Department or Parks and Recreation to figure out how best to accomplish this in a way that will hold up over time.
the leaves. We snacked at a blackberry patch and picked the season’s wildflowers for trophies to put on tables. Most of the time, we sat on a sunny bank, chewed the tall grass, and contemplated the Blackstone River below. As I grew older, York Pond in winter became the park’s main attraction. The pond was wider and deeper, and without the island in the middle. Instead of a meadow, a long, paved lane came in from River Road. At the back was a small island for cars to circle. When the pond froze in winter, people came from around the city to skate and cars lined the road. Weekends and after school, we played hockey on the back half of the pond, while the skaters skimmed along the front. When I returned to Providence in the late ‘70’s after an absence of twenty years, the park still retained its woodland character. The paths were wider, the trees taller, but the underbrush was still thick, and flowers and ground cover grew by the sides of the trails and on the hillsides. Today, the park is a popular destination for a walk or a stroll with the dog. Usage has taken its toll on the park of my childhood, but it’s also gratifying that so many find it a source of pleasure and a place to experience nature. It’s not hard to imagine that, with thoughtful stewardship, much of the park’s natural beauty can be restored and the best of both worlds can coexist in a renewed environment.”
Blackstone Park then and now by Anonymous “Blackstone Park in the 1950’s was a perfect getaway for a ten year old with a bicycle. The East Side sixty years ago, less developed than today, provided a child with many other locations for outdoor play…. Cole Farm Court, for instance, was still a farm where horses and cows grazed among a grove of apple trees. To a child’s imagination, the park was a primeval realm in the heart of the city. Only a few narrow trails wove through the woods, only wide enough for a single person to walk or a bicycle to ride. The park was bright and airy; trees weren’t so numerous or tall, and the sunlight filtered down
Research and education Our star researcher, Sarah Gleason, continues to turn up fascinating information in archives, and others are starting to interview local residents about memories of the Blackstone parks. If you have any letters or diaries that you think might be of interest, please contact us. Meanwhile, the new Conservancy education committee is collecting historical information that will help us more fully appreciate the parks that have been entrusted to our care as citizens of Providence. They are also developing curriculum materials and signs to make the Conservation District more “readable” to people of all ages but especially to the middle school students
by Wendy Nilsson
Friends of Brown Street Park Phone Number: 454-8712 www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Mailing Address: 30 Pratt Street Providence, RI 02906 Events this month Join us for a weekday evening of caroling in Brown Street Park. Dates and details will be announced on our website www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Brown Street Park is proud to be part of the new Partnership for Providence Parks. The Partnership is a new non-profit initiative of the Providence Parks and Recreation Department and many community partners to support the many volunteer groups that grow our parks. There are three new groups on the East Side: Friends of Paterson Park, Friends of Gladys Potter (Humbolt St) Park and Friends of the Wild Place. To learn more about the Partnership and what these other groups are up to, check out http://www.facebook.com/PartnershipForProvidenceParks. If you are interested in starting or joining a park group, please send an email to wendy@providenceparks.org Please contact wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org to find out how you can donate or get involved in Brown Street Park or visit www. friendsofbrownstreetpark.org. Check the website for cancellations and updates for classes and events.
By Jane Peterson Blackstone Parks Phone Number: 270-3014 www.blackstoneparksconservancy.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906
December 2012 East Side Monthly
11
THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!
Community News
gift certificates from "The Rue" always the right color always the right size
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12
East Side Monthly December 2012
College Hill by Allison Spooner
Our curriculum uses creative play to develop confidence, empathy and social skills, as well as literacy and numeracy. Come visit our beautiful new classroom in the Fox Point Boys and Girls Club. Meet our superb teachers and learn more about our educational philosophy. Sliding-scale tuition is available.
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to whom we are reaching out. Please check our website for further information. And send your Eastside Market receipts to the P.O. Box above. They add up and help us defray the costs of our clean-ups and maintenance of the park..
CHNA annual meeting We have many to thank for making our November 14 CHNA 2012 Annual Meeting a success. To start, our many thanks to Brown University, specifically Al Dahlberg, Director of State and Community Relations, and Marisa Quinn, Vice President of Public Affairs & University Relations, who were instrumental in providing the event space and securing the Brown University Faculty Club as a sponsor for the cocktail hour refreshments. Thanks also goes to the Chairman of the I-195 Commission, Colin Kane, for speaking on the issue of economic development and its impact on our local and greater community. Our congratulations again to Deputy Chief Paul Shanley and the Brown University Public Safety Department for their continued efforts to work in partnership with the Providence Police Department to keep our neighborhood safe, and to Sandra Smith for her generous work to guide our Board through strategic planning and helping us to give greater clarity to our purpose, vision, values and objectives. And finally our thanks also goes to all of our attendees, including our members and those who were interested in hearing more about the services and programming provided by the College Hill Neighborhood Association. Holiday safety As the holiday season kicks into full gear, it is important to keep safety standards in mind during vacation
and when receiving gifts. Be sure to notify your neighbors if you are leaving town so they can bring in the newspaper, packages and mail, or even park in your space. Use house alarms, place lights on timers, and be sure windows and doors are locked at all times. After opening gifts, place any electronics and pricier items away from direct sight of windows. Use window treatments effectively during the day and night. Report suspicious activity to the Providence Police at 272-3121 and, if you see a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. Holiday wishes The CHNA wishes you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year. We look forward to providing programming, both social and informational, in 2013, and services that promote the improved development of our neighborhood and greater community. ProvConnex Did you know that the City of Providence offers 24-hour online assistance on issues such as potholes, licensing, trash, health services, parks and utilities through ProvConnex? Visit the link at www.providenceri/provconnex for forms. Once submitted each form is issued a tracking number for confirmation that work is complete. Additional resources to note Overnight Parking: For additional information, please visit http://www. providenceri.com/overnight-parking. Councilman Sam Zurier Weekly Updates: Sign up to receive informative weekly letters from Ward 2 Councilman Sam Zurier. Visit his website, www.samzurier.com, to subscribe. There’s more on the CHNA website! Visit www.collegehillna.com for additional updates on special use permits, crime activity, local resources, events and neighborhood activities. Membership To join (or renew), visit our website, www.collegehillna.com, and click “Join CHNA.” Rates for dues are listed. Checks may be made out to CHNA Attn: Treasurer, Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906. Be sure to include your email address. Confirm your payment status at chna@collegehillna.com.
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Lim’s Thai and Sushi
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18 South Angell St.
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16
East Side Monthly December 2012
Giving 1 0 1 easy ways to add m d n s a y k a c i e d a u i ning to the hol q y s o n n a • w t I l S l u s n t i r a r tions b en By E y Ashl w ey Mac T Lure
Although I now make my living as a writer, I was once a teacher… of incarcerated teenage boys. Rest assured, I didn’t do it for the salary (of next to nothing) or for the glory (of facing a room full of apathetic adolescents each day). I did it because I enjoy giving back. I did it because, in changing just one life, the world is forever altered. Let’s face it: We all need a little help from time to time, and, on occasion, we all need a soft place to fall. Read on for some simple ways to give back this season to make your holidays a bit more meaningful and bright. And don’t worry. None involve standing in front of a classroom.
1. Write Your Own Toy Story U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Michael Cremin is a man on a (nonmilitary) mission. He runs the Rhode Island Toys for Tots Foundation program. One day, Cremin was sorting through toys in the warehouse when a woman walked up to him, a man and a boy trailing behind her. “She asked if I had any toys her son could have,” Cremin recalls. “Her son was
an older child, 16 or 17, and very shy. Immediately, I knew there was something special about this kid. I found a beautiful acoustic guitar that had been donated and handed it to him. He clutched the guitar and started
crying. The mom broke down in tears too, thanking me over and over. The man leaned in and told me that the boy’s dad, a musician, had just passed away. ‘How did you know?’ he asked me.”
Unlike toy drive programs where you buy specifically requested items for individual children, Toys for Tots will accept any new, unwrapped toy. “We have toy drop off points throughout the state, including Cardi’s, Toys “R” Us, even mom and pop shops,” Cremin says. He and his Marines then distribute the donated toys to non-profits, such as the YMCA, Crossroads, and battered women’s shelters, and directly to families in need. “The people who give truly want to help and those who receive are very grateful. I meet the best people in the world.” Cremin notes that his team is really struggling this year. “Whatever support we can get – donations, toys, etc. – we’d be very grateful.” Toys for Tots. 529-6092, ritoysfortots@gmail.com.
2. Accent the Holidays As someone with a great number of friends who hail from different parts of the world, I have a soft spot for International House of Rhode Island. Each fall, students arrive in Providence from all over the world to study at Brown, RISD, and JWU. The December 2012 East Side Monthly
17
actually did? Think about it. Where would we be?” Rhode Island Blood Center, 405 Promenade Street. 4538360, www.ribc.org.
6. Heal the World
International House sponsors the International Friendship Program, which matches students with community residents who act as hosts. Hosts can invite a student into their home for the holidays, giving them a bit of American culture and warm hospitality. International House of Rhode Island, 8 Stimson Avenue. 4217181, www.internationalhouseofri.org.
3. Create a Keepsake East Side parents Lorne Adrain and Ann Hood have filled their Christmas tree with hundreds of “stories.” During the year, Adrain collects keepsakes from his travels to use as tree ornaments. Stones “from the summits of the world’s highest mountains,” coins, and even fallen teeth are just some of the remarkable items dangling from Adrain’s tree. According to Adrain, “A trip to Rome or China or Peru results in coins, currency, and little pieces of historical places that have fallen to the ground, ending up in my pocket for use in ornaments.”
4. Set Up Your Own Charitable Foundation Everyone knows the really big Foundations: Bill Gates, Ted Turner, the Rockefellers, the Fords. But thanks to our own R.I. Foundation, you can create your very own foundation here in Rhode Island for a surprisingly modest amount. According to Carol Golden, executive vice president and chief development officer at RIF, you can have your own named fund for as little as $10,000. Cement your legacy, support an area of charitable giving that’s meaningful to you, and teach your children to think philanthropically,
18
East Side Monthly December 2012
all with one grand gesture. Contact Carol at cgolden@rifoundation.org or call her at 427-4027.
5. Give the Gift That Keeps On Giving Long time East Side native Ted Loebenberg divides his time between Providence and Louisville, Kentucky. Remarkably, he has donated blood to the Rhode Island Blood Center for 46 years. Loenenberg says he donates a pint of double R cells every 16 weeks. His generosity earned him a plaque at the old blood center, which was located in University Heights Plaza on North Main. “I was one of the first gallon donators,” he recalls. The center has grown considerably since then, moving its Providence branch downtown and adding four others. In May, Loenenberg reached a milestone: he donated his 18th gallon. Now that’s a lot of blood. “This isn’t about me,” he’s quick to add. “I donate because I can and because it helps the community.” Founded in 1979, the center has 55,000 donors. Still, the holiday season presents challenges as folks get wrapped up in the chaos of buying gifts, cooking meals and caring for the kids. Although schools may close down for winter break and adults may take time off from work, the demand for blood never takes a vacation. “There is no greater gift you can give,” says Frank Prosnitz, the center’s communication manager. “When you save a life, especially the life of a child, you make a difference to future generations.” Loebenberg, who has undoubtedly saved many lives thus far, asks “Where would our community be if every adult who could donate one hour per month
Every day 35,000 children in the developing world under the age of five die due to substandard health conditions and otherwise treatable infectious diseases. A major cause is the lack of doctors. Adopt A Doctor, whose mission is to “stop the brain drain that is drawing experienced physicians away from the poorest countries in Africa”, seeks to remedy this issue. This brain drain is mainly related to extremely low salaries which are typically less than $100 per month. Adopt A Doctor uses one hundred percent of donations to provide financial aid and critical resources to doctors working in areas where people need care the most. Adopt A Doctor, 101 Dyer Street. 421-0606, www.adoptadoctor.org.
7. Fall in Puppy Love Adopting a homeless animal, either for yourself or as a gift, seems like a wonderful idea come the holidays. Sadly, many dogs and cats are returned as soon as the allure of red bow collars are replaced by the reality of soiled carpets and early morning walks in the snow. If you’d like to help animals in need but aren’t ready for the commitment of adoption, attend a Providence Animal Rescue League monthly volunteer information session to find the opportunity that’s right for you. From fostering felines to walking pups, assistance is always welcome. Providence Animal Rescue League, 34 Elbow Street. 421-
1399, www.parl.org.
8. Respect Your Elders One of the simplest reasons to live on the East Side is because here we have wonderful neighbors. Part of that camaraderie lies in our various neighborhood groups, each of which strives to make their slice of the city a safer and more pleasant environment for all. The Summit Neighborhood Association organizes snowshoveling assistance for the elderly, proving again how lucky we all are to live where we do. If you’d like to volunteer to shovel this winter, simply contact the SNA. Summit Neighborhood Association, 99 Hillside Drive. www.sna.providence.ri.us.
9. Bank Here Many of the people we walk past every day are living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Project RI provides education and services to those living with or at risk for contracting the disease. The organization is always looking for donations and volunteers. While their two largest fundraisers, Dining Out for Life and AIDS Walk for Life, take place in the spring and fall, respectively, interested parties are always welcome to help out with office work and to provide assistance at their food bank. AIDS Project Rhode Island, 404 Wickenden Street. 8315522, www.aidsprojectri.org.
10. Play Santa…for Real! A few years ago, an anonymous East Sider got word that “some guy out West” was giving out hundred dollar bills to strangers and a light bulb went off. “I knew I couldn’t do that,”
he says, “but then I started thinking that even though we are in difficult times, we are all really quite lucky and have so much to be grateful for.” He decided to don a Santa suit and go downtown to hand out one dollar bills, the idea being that it’s less about the denomination than simply the act of giving. “If a person is given some small token that asks them to think about some stranger on the street for whom a dollar might really help, what would they do?” He’s emblazoned a stack of ones with the simple phrase: “Please give this (and another $1 if you can) to someone who needs it. Merry Christmas.” While he’s only roped one of his children – the youngest, who doesn’t yet call him stupid – into accompanying him in his annual task, his hope is that she remembers that they did it together and recalls the idea behind it. “Hope that the act might inspire a ripple-down effect through space and time,” he says, “making the spirit in our community just a tiny bit better.”
11. Decorate Your Halls Decorate the halls of your house, your gingerbread house, that is. Head south, to the Artists’ Exchange, in Cranston, on December 1 for the eighth annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. Participants are supplied with a simple graham cracker construction, boatloads of frosting, heaps of candy, and a 30-minute allotment. Winning houses take home prizes, which include free art classes worth up to $200. There will also be holiday crafts, grab bags, raffles, and face painting. Providence photographer Nicole Gesmondi will be on hand taking photos of attendees in all their glory. 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 490-9475, www.artists-exchange.org.
12. Keep Everything Kosher Chanukah begins on December 8. Here are two things you can do to add meaning to the festivities. The Jewish Federation of RI is looking for help delivering Kosher meals Mondays through Fridays, over the holidays and beyond, since many of their regular volunteers go south for the winter. Contact Neil Drobnis at the Federation (421-4111 x107) or Susan Adler at the Kosher Food Pantry (351-4750) if you can help. Another way to put a spin on the holiday (without resorting to dreidels of course) is to invite Fishel Bresler to your next party. A well-known East Side musician, Fishel is known for his local public performances, drawn from klezmer (“the heartfelt
instrumental music of Eastern European Jewish life”), bluegrass, and the hypothetical Great American Songbook. He has played at so many celebrations, schools, synagogues, parades, malls, grange halls, and events, his wife reports that anywhere they drive he seems to be constantly saying, “Oh! I remember playing there... “ Trust us, he will definitely add some magic to your Chanukah celebration. Find Fishel Bresler on Facebook.
13. Give the Gift of Date Night As much as parents adore their little ones, they occasionally need a break. Why not scoop your nieces and nephews up for the night and bring them to a holiday show? Festival Ballet puts on a wonderful Nutcracker and we can always look forward to Trinity’s unique spin on A Christmas Carol. Because children should be introduced to cultural experiences as early and often as possible, and because you hope that someday your sibling will return the favor. Festival Ballet, 825 Hope Street. 353-1129, www.festivalballet.com. Trinity Repertory Company, 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, www.trinityrep.com.
14. Go Undercover Forty thousand children under the age of six in Rhode Island live below the poverty level. For these children, lack of undergarments is a real concern, both for health and emotional reasons. Project Undercover collects and distributes diapers, underpants, and socks to needy area children. Project Undercover relies upon businesses and organizations holding on-site drives to collect items of underclothing in order to continue their mission. If you would like to organize a holiday drive at your workplace or community group, contact Abby McQuade. Project Undercover. 2445466, www.projectundercover.org.
15. Buy Nothing at All Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the busiest shopping day of the year. People flood malls and stores to take advantage of the deep discounts. In an attempt to fight back against this tide of over-consumption, thousands of people participate in a national phenomenon called “Buy Nothing Day.” In Rhode Island, we hold an annual coat exchange. This year marks the 16th Buy Nothing Day Winter Coat Exchange. Folks are invited to visit a designated exchange site between 10am-2pm on Black Friday to donate or take a coat. The focus point of the sites, and the one
fortunately closest to the East Side, is on the State House lawn. What makes the experience so meaningful, is that it is one of the few coat exchange efforts where the donor and donee meet face to face. Hundreds of donors, volunteers, and recipients all congregate in a communal celebration of giving. The exchange began when East Sider Greg Gerritt and several friends were thinking of ways to point out the pitfalls of rampant consumerism having a positive effect on the community. While Gerritt is glad he’s helping, he’s also quick to note the flipside: “People need coats because they’re poor and we haven’t done anything to really solve the problem.” In addition to spearheading this project, Gerritt is well known for his environmental efforts as well. “In much of the world, the only thing that ends poverty is ecological healing. If you go to Africa and the people are hungry, the best thing to do is create agro-forestry there; when you heal the ecosystem and restore the forest, people eat better.” How does this translate to a small city like ours? “We need more community gardens in Providence,” he says. Gerritt’s goal is to get all our food scraps composted so we can grow more food. While he hasn’t yet created a way for you to donate your food scraps, he has done a really great thing here with the coat exchange. Swing by the Providence site, on the State House lawn, to buy nothing. www.prosperityforri.com.
16. Walk Kids to School Last year, Family Service of Rhode Island’s Providence Children’s Initiative began working with families in South Providence who were hav-
ing difficulty getting their children to school due to physical health or parental work issues. After discovering that most of these families lived within a mile of the school, the Initiative began recruiting adults to walk these children to school as part of what’s called The Walking School Bus. If you’ve got some time to spare, get out there and get walking. Family Service of Rhode Island, 55 Hope Street. 331-1350, www.familyserviceri.org.
17. Clean Your Closets For the Greater Good Feed the hungry, house the homeless, and free people from addiction, just by ridding your house of the items you no longer use. Providence’s Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center relies on community donations to achieve their mission. They’re currently in need of appliances, automobiles, children’s clothing, furniture, men’s and women’s clothing, suits, and more. Donations are tax deductible and drop-off is as easy as swinging by on your way to neighboring Eastside Marketplace. Salvation Army, 201 Pitman Street. 421-5270, www.salvationarmyusa.org.
18. Help Low-Income Families Keep the Heat On This Winter In 2005, Bishop Thomas Tobin arrived at the home of a North Providence couple that had fallen behind on their gas utility payment. The Bishop presented the family with a check for $2,700 to pay the late bill, an event that marked the beginning of the Keep the Heat On Assistance Program. By donating to the camDecember 2012 East Side Monthly
19
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East Side Monthly December 2012
Now AcceptiNg New pAtieNts Welcomes Elizabeth Cappelletti, MD to our practice!
From birth control to pregnancy, from menopause to disease management, seeing you through all the stages of your life is our privilege. 297 Promenade Street :: Providence :: (401) 490.6464 www.center-obgyn.com
Wayland Bakery paign, your gift could be the difference between life and death this winter, particularly for the elderly and those with infants in the home. If you’d like some musical accompaniment with your donation, you can attend a special concert on December 3 at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, located downtown, to benefit the Bishop’s fund. Keep the Heat On, 1 Cathedral Square. 4217833, www.heatri.com.
19. Find the Volunteer Opportunity that’s Right for You If you know you want to give back but you’re just not sure how, consider utilizing Serve Rhode Island. It matches interested parties with nonprofit organizations looking for help. The online database is user friendly and contains a vast array of listings from knitting or crocheting a shawl for a hospice patient to teaching basic etiquette to disabled adults who are seeking employment. They also offer employee volunteer programs and opportunities for seniors, youth, and families. Serve Rhode Island, 655 Broad Street. 3312298, www.serverhodeisland.org.
20. Go Caroling Mike Ritz, of Leadership Rhode Island, encourages everyone to “spread warmth and merriment during one of the coldest times of the
year.” East Siders are invited to head across town as folks gather to go caroling through the historic streets of Providence’s West Side, an event held on the Sunday before Christmas each year. “We lubricate our voices at Loie Fuller’s from 5-6pm,” Ritz says, “and then venture out into the night, bringing good cheer door to door from 6-8pm, returning for milk and cookies at Fertile Underground.” This free festive event, to be held on December 23, is sponsored by Connect Providence, Fertile Underground, Hudson Street Deli, Kidoinfo. com, Leadership Rhode Island, Loie Fuller’s, the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) and WestSide Stories. Contact Leadership Rhode Island. 273-1574, www. leadershipri.org. That’s how they do it. But why not round up your own group of East Side carolers and start a new tradition right here in our own community?. And can you think of a better way to meet your neighbors? In the past, the Providence Preservation Society’s Benefit Street Stroll served as a way to jump start the holiday season. But alas, there’s no Stroll this year. So warm up those vocal cords, pick out that favorite scarf, and brush up on those carols. With planned stops along the way for bathroom breaks and warm drinks, a new East Side event like this easily would score a ten on the holiday merriment scale and spark a new holiday tradition.
Holiday Cookies
Fresh Minced Meat, Pumpkin, Apple Blueberry, Cherry and Cream Pies
Assorted Breads Including: Banana • Pumpkin • Cranberry-Orange
All baking done on premises
138 Wayland Ave., Providence (Wayland Square) • 421-2900
GORDON SCHOOL
open house thursday, Jan. 24, 9am AcAdemic RAciAlly diveRse child-centeRed
www.gordonschool.org Nursery to eighth grade East Providence, RI 401-434-3833
Hegeman & Co.
Est. 1970
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Diamonds • Pearls • Emeralds • Rubies • Sapphires 361 South Main St, Providence • 831-6812 www.hegemanandco.com We buy DiamonDs, GolD & Precious Gems
December 2012 East Side Monthly
21
Visit our favorite place for the holidays during our Holiday Festival December 1st - 6th
Bambini
Cable Car
251 South Main Street • 490-6952
204 South Main Street • 272-3970
Offering unique baby gifts, clothing, shoes and, of course, complete nursery design. Outfit your baby’s room in high style.
Your neighborhood art house. Cinema & Cafe. Serving great coffee, panini, soup, salad, wine and beer. 8am - 10pm weekdays; 11am - 10 pm weekends.
www.bambiniri.com
Specializing in contact lenses, including bifocal & keratoconic fittings. Visit our new optical boutique, Karambel-Eyes!
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Calling All Entrepreneurs! There’s local money out there right now for good ideas By Barry Fain
Attention all you budding entrepreneurs. There are two opportunities this month to begin the process of trying to scoring some elusive startup funds. Plus, there’s a whole bunch of successful movers and shakers who’d like to help you with the process as well. Most visible right now is the R.I. Foundation, which has suddenly become a catalyst for ramping up enthusiasm, along with some actual dollars, to help our state regain its business mojo. The Foundation has set a December 14 deadline to submit online applications to compete in the Foundation’s 2013 R.I. Innovation Fellowship program. A panel of wellrespected business and community leaders, including David Dooley, current president of URI, Marie Langlois, retired managing director of Washington Trust Investors, Don Stanford, former Chief Innovation Officer of GTECH, and the Foundation’s CEO and chairman Neil Steinberg, will select a group of semi-finalists who will make more detailed presentations, including a short video, in the Spring. The Foundation Fellowships will provide two individuals with up to $300,000 over three years to “develop, test and implement innovative ideas that have the potential to dramatically improve any area of life in Rhode Island.” The funds are made available through the generosity of local philanthropists Letitia and John Carter, and will be awarded to individuals whose projects provide “the greatest good for the greatest number of Rhode Islanders, a small idea that has big potential to be built to scale or new approaches to longstanding, intractable challenges.” Last year’s winners were Soren Ryherd and Allan Tear. Ryherd’s idea, called “The Retail Project,” aims to establish sustainable brick and mortar retail stores in the state by
first creating successful online retail models. Felix Chien, a retailer of upscale fashions for dogs, has been launched, and a second brand, called Urbilis, which focuses on high-design products for urban gardeners, is expected to launch shortly. Ryherd expects the first brick and mortar store to open in 2014. Tear, one of the principals of BetaSpring, a local startup accelerator, is using his fellowship monies to build entrepreneurial platforms across a wide range of business sectors and has already begun a series of meetings with over 100 people across the state to facilitate new start ups. Later this year, Tear will also launch a “talent showcase” to publicize some of the more promising initiatives as well as embark on visits to other states which have proven successful in their own start-up efforts. For more information on this program, visit the Foundation website at www.rifoundation.org. A second source of new business help in December comes through the R.I. Business Plan Competition, which is sponsored by over 50 (and counting) R.I. businesses, non-profits, foundations, colleges, universities and governmental agencies. Its stated purpose is “to promote entrepreneurship and the development of start up and early stage development companies in R.I.” Their annual competition has two tracks, one for students and one for entrepreneurs. To date, the competition has awarded over $1.2 million in prizes, including over $200,000 this past May, and spawned dozens of local success stories. Co-chairs of the group are Larry Davidson, a principal of the Kahn, Litwin, Renza and Co accounting firm and Peggy Farrell, a partner of the Hinckley, Allen & Snyder law firm. Richard Carriere, a senior vice president for investments at
Morgan Stanley, is the development director of the group. Want the opportunity to see some of these local entrepreneurs “up close and personal” as they say? Sign up to attend the Business Plan’s free seventh annual “Elevator Pitch” Competition on December 5 from 5:307:30pm at the Amphitheatre in the Harborside Academic Center at Johnson & Wales. Here’s how it works: Aspiring and established entrepreneurs will present their business ideas in 90 seconds to a panel of judges. Following each presentation, the judges will give feedback about the clarity and persuasiveness of the presentation. At the end of the event, cash prizes totaling $1,000 will be awarded to the best presenters. The only “catch” is that those looking to make a pitch must register. People who just want to watch without making a pitch are invited to attend, but are also asked to register as well. For more information or to register, please go to www.ri-bizplan. com and search “elevator contest.” The Business Plan Competition will also offer three workshops, one each in January, February and March, to assist budding entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into a business as well as the “how-to’s” of writing and presenting business plans. Finalists will present at the R.I. Business Expo (RIBX) at the Convention Center in the spring. All plans must be submitted to the Competition committee by April 1, 2013. For more info on any aspect of the Business Plan Competition go to www.ri-bizplan.com and follow the appropriate prompts. There’s a lot of buzz right now within the local business community, started in part by the “Make It Happen” initiative spearheaded by the R.I. Foundation, The Providence Journal and others. Entrepreneurs, time to start those engines!
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The East Side’s ‘Mister Soccer’ Rick Clarkson continues an almost fifty year local tradition by Nick Cantor For those who are part of the thriving community that is East Side Youth Soccer, its success can be attributed to one man in particular. Rick Clarkson, husband and father of four boys, has helped develop youth soccer on the East Side into something that extends far beyond the sidelines occupied by parents, coaches, and kids on those crisp autumn afternoons. His passion for the sport and for the kids in the program he now heads is legendary, earning him the reputation as not only a longstanding soccer coach, but as a true East Side community leader and innovator. Currently the Headmaster at Westbay Christian Academy in North Kingstown, Clarkson recently took some time to reflect on his accomplishments and devotion to local youth soccer that have helped define him as “Mr. Soccer” to decades of East Side families. His hands-on commitment to providing a solid foundation for young kids through involvement in sports has extended over 25 years. “I became involved in the mid1980s when I enrolled my oldest son (age six) and continued to coach all four of my sons over the next 20 years,” Clarkson recalls. The East Side youth soccer program was started back in the ‘60s by longtime Brown University soccer and lacrosse coach Cliff Stevenson when he first moved to Providence and discovered there was no youth soccer programs being offered for kids. In those days it was a well-run but modest program that consisted of four to six teams. Stevenson also provided soccer coaching to the volunteer parent-coaches, some of whom didn’t know much about the sport themselves. Clarkson took the reins of the program from Stevenson about 12 years ago and while keeping the low-key style of his predecessor, he began implementing his own changes as well. For him, that meant providing a more “developmentally appropriate” experience for younger children, which led to a significant increase in the number 26
East Side Monthly December 2012
of overall participants. A new program for three and four-year-olds was put into place, as well as one for seventh and eighth graders. The latter was the result of requests from parents whose kids attended public schools that did not offer soccer programs of their own. “When I took over we had about 180 kids on 12 teams. We now have over 30 teams spread across five divisions, with approximately 500 children,” Clarkson notes with justifiable pride. Coaches in East Side Soccer are still made up primarily of parents who are willing to volunteer. Previous soccer knowledge, while welcomed, is not required so much as the desire and ability to work well with young kids.
Rick Clarkson
For many kids, organized activities, whether it be in sports, the arts, or any other form, often provides the basic foundation for a successful future. The classic concepts of teamwork, trust, commitment and responsibility are instilled at an early age, while allowing kids to partake in some of their favorite activities and have fun at the same time. Clarkson’s overriding objective for the young participants in his program has always been to provide all of these concepts in a consistent, but not overbearing, way. “Our goal is to provide an enjoyable, instructional soccer opportunity for families that does not require an unrealistic amount of time,” Clark-
son says. “It not only gets kids off the couch, it provides a ‘neighborhood’ event where people can meet and get to know a variety of other families.” The first games took place at the old Marvel Gym Field on Elmgrove Avenue. Over time they moved to fields at places like Moses Brown and later East Providence High School and Gordon Wheeler, the school for the deaf, and PCD. The games are now played on Sunday afternoons at the Wheeler Farm in Seekonk, which Clarkson describes as a “classic New England autumn experience.” While the thrill and satisfaction that comes from providing young kids with the basic skills to become successful athletes is always rewarding, the lasting relationships that are formed as a result of it are equally fulfilling for Clarkson. “In my case, and with most who participate, friendships are forged that last beyond the soccer season,” says Clarkson. Clarkson jokes that “it is both affirming and a little disconcerting, to realize that I now have participants who are the children of kids I formerly coached.” Clarkson remains committed to providing the same experience to kids now, that he was able to do for his own four sons. It’s what drives him to keep coming back year after year, with his unequaled devotion and energy. “I continue to believe that a well-structured youth sports program can have a very positive impact on the lives of children, teaching them how to work hard, get along with others, demonstrate respect to all, all the while enjoying a competitive game, where everyone can go home at the end of the day and say that they had fun.” As the 2012 season comes to a close, parents interested in getting their kids involved with East Side Soccer next season can find answers to most of their questions at www.eastsidesports.net/faq.html. The site lists general information, contacts, and frequently asked questions. Registration generally begins in mid-July. Games run through early November.
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East Side Monthly December 2012
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Tweet-Talker by James Arthur Anderson • Illustration by Jessica Pollak
Lucy hadn’t been the
same horse since she pulled Santa’s sleigh two years ago. She’d always been a little nervy and afraid of things that moved quickly; one day, spooked by a grasshopper, she nearly threw me into a fence. But after her sleigh adventure, she’d become relaxed and calm, yet still full of energy, and confident. Nothing frightened her now, not even the dreaded plastic bags that notoriously spook horses. The typical horse mind looks at a plastic bag as either an alien invader from another planet, or a demon from the underworld, depending upon the size and color of the bag. I knew this because Lucy had communicated this to E.J. Elf, who had harnessed her to Santa’s sled, and he had passed this information on to me. We were riding down the road and a large Walmart bag came flying toward us, right at Lucy’s face. I figured I was done for, and prepared myself
for the rodeo that would follow. But Lucy just stopped, stepped slightly to the side, and bumped the bag with her nose as it flew past. We left the bag behind and turned up the driveway and rode into the barn. I was still praising Lucy lavishly when I looked up and saw E.J. Elf right there in the barn, sitting on a tack box. I hadn’t seen him since last Christmas when he’d asked for Lucy’s help in mediating in the Occupy North Pole movement the reindeer had concocted when their pension funds tanked. And here he was again, with his green jump suit, red elf hat with the bell on the end, and pointed brown elf shoes. “My friend E.J.,” I said. “What a coincidence. I was just thinking about you. Whatever you told Lucy about plastic bags really worked. She’s not afraid of them anymore.” “I told her they were toys,” he said, and grinned.
“That explains it. So what brings you to Southwest Ranches? Are the reindeer on strike again? Did Santa put rockets on the sleigh? Maybe the elves have started a nudist colony at the North Pole?” The elf shook his head and looked down at his feet. “No. None of that. I got fired.” “You got fired? How’d that happen? I thought being one of Santa’s elves was a job for life. Sort of like being a tenured professor, or the Pope, or a United States Senator.” “The jobs are all gone. The economy’s tough everywhere. It hit us hard. They’ve outsourced all the manufacturing jobs to China. The Distribution Center has moved to South Korea. Finance is all handled in the Cayman Islands to avoid paying taxes. And customer service is in India. The North Pole is nothing but a wasteland now.” “So when a kid writes to Santa, it goes to India?”
“Calcutta. Didn’t you get the address change?” “No. I guess I missed that e-mail.” “It wasn’t an e-mail. It was a tweet.” I shrugged. “That explains it. I don’t have a Twitter account.” The elf looked shocked. He jumped off the tack box and looked at me in horror. “What’s the matter with you? You don’t tweet?” “No,” I replied. “What on earth would I tweet about?” “Your life. Your job. Your horse. What you eat. What you drink. When you eat. Where you go… You tweet about everything you do.” “Oh. So, like right now, I’d tweet ‘I’m taking Lucy’s saddle off.’ Then I’d tweet ‘I’m putting Lucy’s saddle on the rack.’ Then I’d tweet ‘I’m taking Lucy to the wash rack for a bath.’ That’s how it works?” “Exactly!” the elf said, and scratched Lucy vigorously on the December 2012 East Side Monthly
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“When you were working for Santa at the North Pole, did you tweet about everything you did at work?” “Of course! Didn’t I tell you that? If you had Twitter you would have been one of my followers and you would have read all my tweets.” I rolled my eyes. “How many tweets did you post?” “I don’t know. I just tweeted about what I did. So I’d put oil on the runner of the sleigh and I’d send a tweet that I put oil on the runner of the sleigh. Then I’d rub the oil in a little and I’d tweet that I rubbed the oil in. I’d put more oil on and send another tweet. It took me all day to oil up that runner and all my followers got to read about the whole process of oiling the runners of a sleigh.” Lucy nickered. I’d been with her so long now that I understood her language. Even she thought the elf’s behavior was lunacy. I finished rinsing the horse and took her back to her stall. “It’s ok, Lucy,” I said. “I’ll get him some help.” The elf sat back down on the tack box. He looked like he was ready to grab the phone again. “Did you ever think that you might have been fired because you spent more time tweeting than you did working?” The elf frowned. “No. I did just as much work as I did posts. I had to so I’d have something to tweet about.” “That’s the whole problem. Don’t you see? You could have had that sleigh rail oiled in an hour. Then you could have done something else. But it took you all day. Now, just since you’ve been here I’ve taken off Lucy’s tack, put it away, cleaned her hooves, washed her, put fly spray on her, and put her back in her stall. And I’ve still got plenty of time to scratch her neck.” Lucy nickered at that, so I began scratching. “See?” I said. “How long would it have taken me to care for this horse if I’d tweeted about everything I did?” “All day,” the elf admitted. “Did the other elves tweet, too?” E.J. nodded. “So, did any toys get made?” “A few. Maybe a couple. Actually, just one. And it broke.” I nodded. “That’s why Santa outsourced everything. How are you going to get anything done if you spend all day tweeting about it?” “Now that you say it, that makes sense. Is that why you’re a professor? Because you’re so smart?”
“No, I’m not that smart. I’m a professor because that’s what I do. And I don’t tweet about it. I teach my students. I grade their papers. I write books. I take care of Lucy and we go riding. I take my wife to dinner. I do lots of things.” “You’d have a lot to tweet about,” the elf said. “But if I did I wouldn’t have time to do it. Besides, no one really cares what I do except the people I’m doing it with.” “Ok, I get it. So now what should I do?” “You don’t really want to live in a horse stall, do you?” “Not really. But it’s better than living under a bridge like the troll I went to school with.” I nodded. “Then this is what you do. You take that phone and you call Santa. Don’t tweet. Don’t e-mail. Call him. Ask him for an appointment. Then meet with him and tell him you’re going to stop tweeting and tell him you want to go back to work. Get the other elves to do the same thing. Toys should be made in the North Pole, not China.” “I’ll do that,” the elf said. “Good. Now go do it and get the hell out of here. I have things to do.” The elf smiled, blinked, and disappeared into thin air. That’s what elves do when they leave. I scratched Lucy for a half hour or so, then took my wife out to dinner, and then went home. When I checked my e-mail I found a message from E.J. Santa had, in fact, given him his old job back, and he was rehiring the other elves too, but only if they deleted their Twitter accounts and got counseling. The elf wanted to know if I knew a good therapist. I emailed him the name of one of my fellow professors, a psychologist who specializes in addictive behavior. I haven’t heard from E.J. since, so I guess it’s working. But I’m not about to open a Twitter account to find out. James Arthur Anderson is Professor of English at Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami campus and a long-time contributor to East Side Monthly. His latest horror novel, The Altar, has recently been published by Wildside Press and is available as an e-book as well. Jim and Lucy ride together at Southwest Ranches Equestrian Club in Florida. You can e-mail him at janderson@jwu.edu but don’t bother to send him a tweet. He still doesn’t have an account.
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Join us
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
Spring 2013 The Muir String Quartet
Monday, February 4 · 7:30 p.m. | Monday, April 8 · 7:30 p.m.
The Rap Guide to Evolution
Monday, February 11 · 7:30 p.m. The Muir String Quartet
Trisha Brown Dance Company
Wednesday, March 6 · 7:30 p.m.
Pianist Ann Schein
Sunday, April 14 · 2:30 p.m.
Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Tuesday, April 30 · 7:30 p.m.
Tickets make great holiday gifts! The Rap Guide to Evolution
32
East Side Monthly December 2012
Ho Ho Ho,
Let’s Go to a Show Here’s your ticket to what’s happening for the holidays By Don Fowler
ists from American Idol, including R.I.’s own Erika Van Pelt. Next up is the Sister Christmas Catechism on Saturday, December 15, with shows at 2pm and 7pm. A musical mystery written by the author of Late Night Catechism, the show answers the question, “What happened to the Magi’s Gold?” Sounds like fun. Whether it becomes another local holiday tradition is up to you. For tickets or more info, call 222-1467 or go to www.vmari.com.
‘Tis the season to be jolly… and many of our local arts groups have been working extra hard to make sure it happens again this year. So whether you love the traditional, the inspirational or the irreverent, there’s probably something just perfect to ring your bell, Christmas or otherwise, this month. Here are some of our favorites.
Trinity Rep Tops the Christmas Carol List While many local theatres produce wonderful versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Trinity Rep’s musical version of Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption remains my favorite. I have seen every, and I mean every, production of the play and can almost recite the script, which sticks to Adrian Hall and Richard Cummings original production, by heart. What always changes are the interpretations of the characters, settings and little nuances, which miraculously keep the story fresh and exciting. Except for Anne Bogart’s version that turned this happy event into a dirge, I’ve enjoyed virtually all of them. I’m sure this year will be no exception. A Christmas Carol is at Trinity Rep now through December 29. They’ve sold out the past three years, so get your tickets early. Call 351-4242 for reservations.
Photo: Mark Turek
Providence Performing Arts Center There is still time to catch one of the great classic Broadway musicals, Fiddler on the Roof. The uplifting story will be at PPAC over the Thanksgiving holiday from November 23 to 25. The word “timeless” is often overused to describe classic theatre, but you’ve got to be a cold-hearted Grinch not to get a bit misty as Tevya marries off his suddenly grown-up daughter and
Ocean State Theatre Company
Trinity Rep’s A Christmas Carol
wonders where the years went. For something a bit different, catch Cake Boss: Holiday Tour on Saturday, December 1 at 8pm. One of the most popular shows on the TLC cable network, Cake Boss features its star Buddy Valastro, who will share tasty tidbits about growing up at Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, NJ. Back to the more traditional. What would Christmas be without the Festival Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker on the PPAC stage, running from December 14 to 16? Don’t forget to bring the young ‘uns to ensure they have visions of sugarplums to guide them through the season. Call 421ARTS for reservations.
The Vets This season, the newly renovated Vets has gotten into the holiday spirit big time with a varied assortment of offerings. It begins with one of the best loved of our local traditions, as the R.I. Philharmonic is joined by the Providence Singers to present Handel’s powerful Messiah on Saturday, December 8 at 7pm. This one is must-see for many. The next night, on Sunday, December 9 at 7pm, A Beantown Christmas comes to town. Buoyed by the 36-piece Beantown Swing Orchestra, the performance will feature big band arrangements of traditional holiday songs performed by some of the final-
The Ocean State Theatre Company, which brought us five years of outstanding professional theatre at Theatre-by-the-Sea, has opened a new location closer to home, at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick. Their first production will begin on December 5 with Winter Wonderettes, followed by SantaLand Diaries on December 12. The two shows, labeled “Naughty and Nice” will alternate through December 30. (To ensure you don’t get the two mixed up, SantaLand Diaries is the former, though it’s still quite funny). TBTS favorite Lennie Watts, who starred recently in The Drowsy Chaperone, will play the Macy’s Christmas Elf in the sardonic Diaries. Winter Wonderettes is a more family-oriented show, as the girls at Harper’s Hardware prepare for their 1968 holiday party. The Marvelous Wonderettes bring their signature harmony to songs ranging from “O Tannenbaum” and “Winter Wonderland” to “Mele Kalikimaka” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” Call 921-6800 for reservations.
Park Theatre Another traditional local favorite arrives in Cranston this year instead of Providence. (Some faulty GPS on the
trinity repertory
company Nov. 29 – Dec. 30
The how and The why by Sarah Treem
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The Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, under the direction of Edward Markward, will present its annual Holiday Concert at the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, 1 Cathedral Square downtown on Saturday, November 24 at 8pm. They will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria and Britten’s St. Nicholas. Call 521-5670 or visit www.ricco.org for more info. There will also be a concert at the church on Sunday, December 2 at 3pm called Sounds of the Season. This annual musical celebration raises money for Bishop Tobin’s “Keep the Heat On Campaign,” which helps low income families with utility expenses. Call 3312434 for additional info. Lest you’re worried, none of these events interfere with the full Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, which will still be joining with the Providence Singers to present Handel’s Messiah at the Vets, as promised above.
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East Side Monthly December 2012
The Dunk
fan a few years ago, and wouldn’t miss their concert for the world. This year they have an entirely new production, Dream of Fireflies: Christmas Night, with music from their upcoming album. If you have seen TSO before, you’ll be there. If not, try to get tickets. They will blow you away. For tickets, visit www.dunkindonutscenter. com or call 331-6700.
TheatreWorks If you want to laugh until your sides hurt, take a drive up Route 146 “all the way” to Woonsocket to catch Frank O’Donnell’s hilarious Ant’ny Claus 2: A Dysfunctional Family Christmas. Even if you have to pack a lunch, Frank is certainly funny enough to warrant the drive. We caught Ant’ny last year at TheatreWorks, and can’t wait to see what Rhode Island’s premier comedian has come up with this year. Ant’ny is Santa’s younger brother who takes over for Santa and has a few mishaps. You’ll catch some clever one-liners as he pokes fun at Rhode Island’s most infamous. The show is on November 30 and December 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9. Most performances sold out last year. Tickets are $19 for adults, with $4 off for seniors over 62 and children 12 and younger. For more information, reservations and directions, call 766-1898 or go to www.twri.org.
Newport Playhouse If you’re looking for the perfect holiday play for people of both Jewish and Christian backgrounds, do yourself a favor and take in Tom Dudzick’s Greetings down in Newport. It is about a young man who brings home his Jewish fiance to meet his Catholic mother and father on Christmas Eve, with hilarious results. It is at the Newport Playhouse Dinner Theatre and Cabaret, 102 JT O’Connell Highway, through December 31. Call 848-7529 for directions and reservations.
Photo: Thomas Nola-Rion
We Fit Every Need Every Detail
big guy’s sleigh perhaps?) At any rate, on Thursday, December 6 at 7:30pm. the popular Vienna Boys Choir will perform on the stage of Cranston’s Park Theatre. It’s always an enjoyable experience and well worth a look-see. Cranston’s Black Box Theatre at Artist’s Exchange, on Rolfe Street, presents its ninth anniversary production of A Christmas Carol December 6-16 before moving on to the Park Theatre for performances December 20-22, including two school matinees. This will be followed by their Holiday Gala presentation on December 22 at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. Cranston is developing into a nice annual tradition in its own rights.
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35
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
From first timers to seasoned riders, Palmer River is your year long escape. Boarding Kids Horsemanship Camps Lessons for Children and Adults 173 Pine Street, Rehoboth, MA 02769 • 508-252-6347 • www.palmerriver.com
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Palmer River Equestrian Center A place to ride near the East Side
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East Side Monthly December 2012
After meeting Dawn Cook, owner of the Palmer River Equestrian Center, you gain a sense of how much she loves horses. She began learning to ride at 5 years of age, and because of her early start, she knows from experience that kids are very capable of acquiring this skill. Her facility sits on a idyllic 28 acres in nearby Rehoboth, consisting of a large outdoor ring with jumps, an enormous indoor facility for inclement weather and a 20 acre cross country course. The facility is geared toward families, serving riders 6 years of age up to 80. Individual weekly lessons are available, and there are discounted family packages. The facility is open seven days a week and is used for a variety of purposes. Dawn explains, “Some people ride just for pleasure and others come to improve their skills, be it dressage or eventing. Young kids are here to learn how to ride.” For busy college students who bring their horses to the area, they can board their horses at Palmer River and know that they will receive the upmost top quality care in their absence. Dawn sees many adults who come because they used to ride as children and now are looking to get back into it. Coming up in December there is a horsemanship camp available for kids age 7 to 16. Sign up before November 30 and you will get a 10% discount. Each week long camp is set around the holiday break, so call the center to secure a spot. What’s great about Palmer River is that Dawn makes sure kids are educated about taking care of horses in addition to riding. There is a schooling barn housing ponies, where children are instructed in grooming, tacking and becoming familiar with all the equipment. Parents have reported that children with learning challenges gain a real sense of confidence and mastery with this type of experience, which then translates into better focus at school. Whether you are looking to learn how to ride, improve your own skills or want your child to experience horseback riding, Palmer River Equestrian Center is a quick drive away.
PalmerRiverEquestrianCenter 173 Pine Street, Rehoboth MA 508-252-6347 / www.palmerriver.com
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
special advertising section
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Site Specific has acquired a stellar reputation handling sensitive renovations in design/build construction. They thrive on big challenges, whether it’s matching historic architectural details or tackling a bio-medical lab at Brown University. What many don’t realize is that Site Specific also specializes in smaller scale endeavors, like a bathroom renovation or a new powder room. Co-owner Peter Crump says, “We have a small projects division and we enjoy providing clients with quick results too.” No matter the size of the work, you will get the Site Specific expertise and attention to detail. Currently the company is engaged in an interesting project in the Grotto area involving a masonry home sitting on a steep hill. Over time, the adjoining garage has separated itself from the house, and the work required to remedy this involves engineering and tight working conditions. “This is the type of challenging work we are known for,” Peter admits. “Working with learned clients on sensitive projects, we’ve been discussing and planning this project for years.” It’s a real testament to Site Specific that they have so many repeat customers. This past summer, they completed a beautiful renovation in North Providence with a home that had no drywall, plaster or paint. It was explained that this contemporary home was originally beautifully designed, but poorly built, so it sustained extensive water damage. Site Specific fixed this problem, while restoring the entire exterior of the home and redesigning the master bedroom and pool house. For commercial construction Site Specific is working on the former Via Via building on Meeting Street, which in February/March will reopen as a Gourmet Heaven convenience store. The owner has another location in Downcity, which Site Specific built as well. Site Specific is currently doing a small renovation project for Momentum Fitness on South Main Street, and over the summer, they did a small Design/Build job for Justina Nails on Hope Street. If you visit any of these shops and like the results, think of Site Specific for a commercial project or for an entire home renovation. Site Specific can get the job done and leave you completely satisfied with the workmanship.
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December 2012 East Side Monthly
37
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
special advertising section
Keller Williams Realty 401-454-4900 • 144 Wayland Avenue, Providence Marian Luke: X327 | mluke@kw.com Kevin Dumont: X352 | kpdumont@kw.com
A new agency hits the East Side
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38
East Side Monthly December 2012
In October, Keller Williams opened a new business center in Wayland Square to compliment their main regional office in Lincoln. This location handles real estate for residential, commercial, the luxury market, vacant land, investment properties and property management. Agents Marian Luke and Kevin Dumont mention that the Boston market is heating up, and Rhode Island will not be far behind. This is especially good news for owners of multifamily properties: “The investors are staring to come back in full force,” Kevin says. “The rates are very low so they find they are doing better putting their money into real estate than keeping it in their bank account.” He mentions that there have been numerous bidding wars recently on investment properties he’s listed. When asked what distinguishes this agency Marian explains that they follow a win/win philosophy for the buyer and the seller. “Education is huge with Keller Williams,” Marian says. “Certainly for the agents, where we will make sure the clients have all the information they need to make solid decisions.” She explains that it may seem counterintuitive to enter the market around the holidays, but it is actually a good time to put your house up for sale because those people who are out looking to buy are serious and motivated. Kevin Dumont has been in the business his entire life, joking he’s an SOB (son of the broker) having worked with his father as business partners at the well regarded Dumont Realty Group. He merged his office with Keller Williams, being drawn to the close feel of the agency. “We wanted another group that was family oriented,” Kevin explains. Marian has 25 years of experience in health care and non-profit management before starting work with Keller Williams four years ago. She has emerged as a multimillion dollar agent in a tough economy. It is forecasted that rates will continue to stay low through the first quarter of next year, so it is a good time to act. The agents at Keller Williams on the East Side are ready to assist you for all your real estate needs.
Keller Williams 144 Wayland Avenue, Providence 454-4900
Spotlight
by Dan Schwartz
special advertising section
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Saturday 10-4. successful career in film and TV commercial production in order to prove the World Health Organization (WHO) wrong. Some 15 Add of theclubchair.com years ago she was trained in and began to practice alternative forms energy psychology, so when the WHO predicted that by 2020 the leading disability in women worldwide would be depression, she went into action. Today her practice is focused solely on helping women (and men) overcome the pain and limitation of depression. Gail’s background gives her an interesting perspective, because she knows that people, like all good books and films, have a central story line, a “throughline,” that holds them together and drives them forward. She believes that people get depressed at least in part because they’ve lost track of the internal through line they were born with. Gail explains, “So much of depression is linked to addictions, codependent behaviors and deeply ingrained patterns of pleasing others rather than ourselves. These are often patterns we’ve learned as infants. They are largely unconscious, they no longer serve us and they lead to the painful thoughts and destructive behaviors that hold us back today.” In Gail’s practice, the old patterns stored in brain and cellular level memories are gently brought to the surface for re-scripting, so that depression’s stranglehold becomes lessened from one session to the next. “There is always a seed moment when we first gave up on our through line in order to survive,” Gail says. “The goal in every session is to restore us to our core truths and bring them forward as mature and sophisticated expressions of who we are really meant to be today.” The first 90-minute session is free so people can experience the benefits of her approach first hand and see how it suits them. Gail believes there is no reason why depression should be growing as a disability in women or men. She explains, “Our job is to find our core through-line and bring it into the world today to make a difference, for ourselves and for the other people in our lives.” Contact Gail at Lift Depression Now.
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39
G IF T CA R D G IF T CA R D
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41
Rhode Island
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42
East Side Monthly December 2012
Movies
by Bob Cipriano
A Fall Movie Roundup Cloud Atlas, Paranormal Activity 4, Silent Hill, Chasing Mavericks, Easy Money
Cloud Atlas
Just before the cinematic onslaught of year-end award hopefuls and box office bonanzas, other movie types slip in big productions that need some time and space to either catch on or flop out, scary stuff that might be scary enough to last beyond Halloween, and the independents seeking a foothold. They’re all here, for better or worse. Cloud Atlas is a nearly heroic attempt to bring an unwieldy, philosophical novel to the big screen. Such aspirations have never been easy, and they may well be impossible these days, attention spans being what they are. There are six stories that span centuries in Cloud Atlas, based on David Mitchell’s exemplary novel of the same name, and three directors. Tom Twyker, who directed Run Lola Run, oversees the action in presentday segments, while Lana and Andy
Wachowski, who directed The Matrix, handle past and future pieces. All kinds of ideas are at work amid the segments, which flow together nicely, thanks to voiceovers and a rousing musical score. Primarily insistent that rich possibility and creative freedom link together all of human history, Cloud Atlas illustrates its central concept by engaging the likes of Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent and Hugo Weaving, among others, to play multiple roles. This is a good idea. How better to realize a spiritual philosophy of endurance than to see familiar faces fighting the good fight in different eras, costumes, and makeup? The creators of Cloud Atlas, possibly after seeing the meager gross receipts of last year’s philosophical head trip, The Tree of Life, take great care to make its spiritual meanings crystal
clear and largely ignore the novel’s tricky political observances. While the film’s vision is understandable and succinct, there is also an obvious attempt, particularly by the Wachowskis in the past and future segments, to blow everyone’s mind with a ton of action, romance, laughs and special effects. A lot of that works, too, especially given the quality of the actors involved. But finally, after 164 minutes of variations on ‘Keep Hope Alive,’ supported by a lot of acting bluster, you may well find yourself cheated out of a chance to apply some of your own creativity to a philosophy that cries for interpretation rather than persistence of message. There is too much at stake in Cloud Atlas’s world vision to reduce it to a cliché in a big budget movie extravaganza. Briefly at least, the Paranormal Ac-
tivity franchise is alive and well. There isn’t much to say about Paranormal Activity 4, except that they’ve gone and made the same movie for the fourth time. But this one takes its sweet old time getting to the meat of the matter: the jump-out-of-yourseat parts. For the first time, a teenager is at the center of the action, which seems to make proceedings a bit more interesting. But what really works is what worked before: a shattering ending that ties together several loose ends extremely well (aggravatingly so, because wouldn’t we all like to stop going to these things?) but loosens some new threads for the inevitable Number Five. Silent Hill: Revelation makes the most of its 3D bloodletting. Dismembered fingers seem to fly directly at your face. So, there’s that. But watching Heather (Adelaide Clemens) atDecember 2012 East Side Monthly
43
Movies
continued...
Over 25 Years of Building and Remodeling
Easy Money
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2nd Story Theatre Presents
Lost
Preview: $20 FRiday: November 16 SatuRday: November 17 Sunday: November 18
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in
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44
East Side Monthly December 2012
tempt to rescue her Dad (Sean Bean) from the same fate that befell her Mom (Radha Mitchell) in the first film becomes too obviously a video game on film. As Heather and her new friend (Kit Harrington) enter a nightmare comprised of asylums, amusement parks, and surgery rooms inhabited by outrageous killer entities, it’s easy to see what a great game this once was. The presence of an astonishing number of good actors (Carrie-Ann Moss, Malcolm McDowell, Deborah Kara Unger, and Martin Donavan in addition to Bean and Mitchell) makes it all a little more interesting, but that’s all. Chasing Mavericks is a surfing movie for surfers. Those who dig this sort of trip will relish this true story of the tried and true master and student ilk. The movie begins with a young, waveobsessed Jay Moriarity, the surfing legend, played by Cooper Timberline. He is plucked from the Pacific Ocean by the veteran surfer Frosty Hesson, played by a miscast Gerard Butler, a construction worker who lives to surf, despite the misgivings of his wife (Abigail Spencer). Hesson takes on Moriarty as his surfing mentee, producing some of the most appealing scenes in the film. Seven years later, teenager Jay (Jonny Weston) is working at a pizzeria and bumming out his chronically bummed out Mom (Elizabeth Shue). Like Hesson, he lives to surf. So will you, at least voyeuristically, as directors Curtis Hanson and Michael Apted, who covered
the last 15 days of shooting after Hanson left for health reasons, beautifully capturing the allure of the mesmerizing Pacific Ocean surf. But the stunning visuals are marred by poor acting. Weston struggles, and Butler is unconvincing, stunting the film’s potential to have been a bit of a gem. A quick word about Easy Money, Daniél Espinosa’s Swedish crime drama, made before he did last year’s impressive Safe House. Easy Money is an excellently constructed, near classic morality tale played out by some hardcore criminals that deals with a business student, nicknamed JW, who gets mixed up in drugs while working as a cab driver, in Stockholm. Joel Kinnaman vividly portrays JW as slick social climber from a poor family who links up with a beautiful socialite and becomes heavily entwined in her aristocratic, cynical, cocaine-fueled world. When the global financial crisis intrudes on the 24/7 party, Kinnaman steps in with his business school acquired business acumen to manipulate and manage drug money. Big deals, betrayals and double-crosses soon follow, along with notions (if not truths) of honor among thieves. It’s all told through the interwoven stories of Kinnaman and two criminal groups represented by Matias Padin Varela and Dragomir Mrsic, who act as both mentors and threats to Kinnaman. The film builds into an incredible finale that expertly caps what may well become a classic tale.
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East Side Monthly December 2012
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Kataifi wrapped sea scallops at Mile and a Quarter
Photography: Dan Schwartz
We’re happy to report
this month that another recently dormant restaurant space has been revived and taken on new life. The historic Mile and a Quarter house, at 375 South Main Street, the former home of the dearly departed Barnsider’s Mile and a Quarter, has been completely renovated and reopened as Mile and a Quarter under the aegis of Thayer Street restaurateur Andy Mitrellis (Andreas, Paragon). General Manager Mario Panagos, formerly of Bravo and Paragon, and Chef Jeff Paquette, formerly of Andreas and Spain, will serve dinner seven nights a week, as well as lunch six days a week, with brunch on Sundays. They offer a casual atmosphere and inviting bar, with a spacious dining room overlooking the river, which is sure to be one of the city’s prize views during WaterFire season and after the new pedestrian bridge is built. The food is described as “eclectic, with Mediterranean influence,” according to Panagos. Starters include Grilled Octopus with braised gigante beans, tomato and oil cured olives in lemon-oregano oil, and their signature Sea Scallops wrapped in Kataifi pastry with cherry pepperbacon aioli. On the heartier side, entrees include a Chianti Braised Colorado Lamb with potato puree and root vegetable demi-glaze, and the
chef’s favorite, Pan Seared Native Sea Scallops, with roasted cauliflower puree, sautéed spinach and chili oil. The bar will feature craft cocktails like Ritten House Rye Whiskey Manhattan and Sweet Citadelle Gibson. It’s a welcome return for a classic Providence location. Call 331-1500 for more information. Nemo’s Chicken and Waffles Cook and Brown Public House (959 Hope St.) is now serving lunch with a unique twist. Stop by between 11am and 2pm Tuesday through Friday to grab a gourmet take on the classic fried chicken and waffles, packaged with a seasonal side in a handy to-go box, for only $10. Table service is not available, but customers are welcome to saddle up to the bar to enjoy their lunch. Of course, this is not your typical take on the dish. It’s a buttermilk and red chili fried chicken served with Amsterdamstyle waffles, which are more thin and wafer-like than your traditional thick breakfast waffle. The waffles are paired with a seasonal, house made jam. The sides change often, but have included house potato salad and pickled jalapeno and red onion slaw. They are working on adding gluten-free options and can accommodate large orders with notice. www.cookandbrown.com.
Tasting the Dorrance There’s quite a bit of new stuff at The Dorrance (60 Dorrance St.), including new menu items, bar snacks and cocktails, but what’s most intriguing is the new tasting menu. Four-, six- and eight-course chef’s tastings are available for $55, $85 and $110, respectively. The always seasonal and local restaurant promises a tasting that “reflects the best our region’s forests, farms, waters and pastures have to offer at the moment.” Beverage pairings are available for $35, $55 and $75. The new bar snacks menu, available at the bar only, includes Sweet Corn Hush Puppies with Tabasco honey and pepper vinegar mayo, and a Grilled Portuguese Sardine with charred lemon, peanuts and black pepper honey. The latest after dinner menu includes desserts like Autumn Grapes (peanut butter custard, pistachio, crispy meringue, and goat’s milk caramel) and Mexican Spiced Chocolate Ganache with coffee, chocolate sorbet and a cinnamonsugar donut, as well as a selection of after dinner cocktails. The new cocktail menu includes some additions as well, such as the smoky yet surprisingly easy-sipping Kentucky Campfire, a concoction of bourbon, orange, lemon, cinnamon, Laphroaig Scotch, Jerry Thomas Bitters and tonic. www.thedorrance.com.
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47
special advertising section Br brunch B breakfast L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10-20 $$$ 20+
rED StrIpE 465 Angell Street; 4376950. Red Stripe serves classic comfort food with a French influence. Their food is reasonably priced and made with passion. LD $$-$$$ WAtErMAN GrILLE 4 Richmond Square; 521-9229. With its covered outdoor seating overlooking the Seekonk River, Waterman Grille offers seasonally inspired New American fare in a comfortable setting. BrD $$-$$$
Hope/Thayer BEttEr BUrGEr COMpANY 217 Thayer Street; 228-7373. With Angus beef burgers that are juicy and tasty, this casual spot is a no brainer for anyone looking for a quick, delicious and affordable meal. Serving wholesome veggie, falafel and salmon burgers too. LD $
Sakura 231 Wickenden Street; 331-6861. Enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine, fresh sushi and sashimi in this casual, unpretentious neighborhood spot. Choose a comfortable booth or take your shoes off and have a seat in the tatami room. LD $-$$
Downtown
an exotic drink while taking in the spectacular view. LD $-$$$
CAV 14 Imperial Place; 751-9164. The New York Times’ choice as one of Providence’s five best restaurants, CAV’s award-winning cuisine is available for lunch and dinner daily. They also feature Saturday/Sunday brunch. LD $$-$$$
MILLS tAVErN 101 North Main Street; 272-3331. The only restaurant in RI to receive the Mobil Four Star Award for five consecutive years, Mills Tavern provides traditional American cuisine in a warm, friendly setting. D $$-$$$
HEMENWAY’S 121 South Main Street; 351-8570. A true Providence classic, Hemenway’s has been serving top-notch seafood for 20 years. Their oyster bar features everything from the famed Prince Edward Island varieties to the local favorite Poppasquash Point. LD $$-$$$
Wayland/Elmgrove
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
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East Side Monthly December 2012
HArUkI EASt 172 Wayland Avenue; 223-0332. The chefs behind this sushi bar provide a minimalist, upscale, comfortable dining experience. Try the toro ankimo – fatty tuna and monkfish liver pate with eggplant tempura, served with a black bean sauce. LD $-$$$ LIM’S 18 Angell Street; 401-383-8830. Dive into the unique combination of Lim’s fine Thai cuisine and sushi served in an intimate and modern setting. LD $$
CHEZ pASCAL 960 Hope Street; 4214422. Chef Matt Gennuso’s East Side kitchen offers French food with a modern twist. Try the Bistro Menu (Tue-Thur), which features three courses for $35 per person. Delicieux! D $-$$$ GOUrMEt HOUSE 787 Hope Street; 8313400. Beautiful murals and décor set the mood for delicious Cambodian and Southeast Asian cuisine, spicy curries and noodle dishes. The tamarind duck is a must. LD $-$$
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. Check out their superb brunch. BBrLD $$-$$$ tOrtILLA FLAtS 355 Hope Street; 7516777. A fixture on the Providence restaurant and bar scene, this spot serves up fresh Mexican, Cajun and Southwestern food, along with top-notch margaritas and ice-cold cervezas. LD $-$$
Wickenden ABYSSINIA 333 Wickenden Street; 4541412. Enjoy Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, using your fingers (and Ethiopia’s famed flatbread) to sample richly spiced meat, fish and vegetable dishes. (Forks are available, but less fun.) LD $-$$ DOk’S DELI 146 Ives St, 369-7633. Providence’s only New York-style deli lives up to a high gastronomic standard by using fresh, local ingredients and house-smoked meats. Try the Roadhouse, with house-cured pastrami, corned beef, bacon and “Swayze sauce,” in homage to the man himself. Meats, sides and house-made pickles all sold retail, too. LD $
Jewelry District/Waterfront
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 $-$$
rUE BIS 95 South Street; 490-9966. This intimate eatery provides breakfast and lunch in a cozy, neighborhood bistro atmosphere – all with the gourmet pedigree of Hope Street dining staple Rue De L’Espoir behind it. BBrL $
kItCHEN BAr 771 Hope Street; 3314100. Offering contemporary comfort cuisine in an elegant setting, Kitchen Bar features daily specials and take-out. Acclaimed Chef Jaime D’Oliveira has been brought on to consult, so expect exciting new options and flavors. LD $-$$
BAkEr StrEEt rUE 75 Baker Street; 490-5025. The Rue De L’Espoir empire expands with this comfortable neighborhood café serving “upscale diner food.” BBrL$
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 $
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 $-$$
rUE DE L’ESpOIr 99 Hope Street; 751-
Outside Providence Photography: Dan Schwartz
Dining Guide
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Thank you for giving. Now and forever. Our generous donors have made it possible for The Rhode Island Foundation to grant more than $250 million to nonprofit organizations in the past decade alone. Thank you for your continued trust in us. Together, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of the people of Rhode Island. To learn more about how you can work with us, please call Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Carol Golden at 401 427-4027 The Rhode Island Foundation • www.rifoundation.org • 401 274-4564
December 2012 East Side Monthly
49
Finance by Betsey Purinton
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East Side Monthly December 2012
the two parties into contrasting camps when it comes to solutions for our stalled economic recovery. One side espoused more government, the other side more benefits for the private sector. On the campaign trail, there seemed to be little middle ground. Yet compromise may be an economic necessity for 2013, and it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. Two strategies – spending and tax cuts – have successful track records for creating growth, but government spending is fast money while the benefits of tax cuts are delayed. And neither policy alone can escape the problem of being too much stimulus altogether. Economists who argue for government spending believe that more stimulus is needed to create demand and avoid another recession. They encourage public policy that takes advantage of extremely low interest rates to borrow and invest in the economy. Economists who oppose stimulus spending argue that this policy creates long term distortions in the free market system and can result in even bigger financial crises down the road. These economists feel lower taxes, less regulation, and smaller government will better encourage private investment and income producing activities. Economic theory tells us that government spending is an effective tool to create immediate demand, while tax cuts and less regulation are better strategies for inspiring longer term growth. If politicians can see compromise sequence of complimentary policies rather than a clash of competing ones, they have a decent shot at creating a credible plan. To start, political leaders should view the private and public sectors as two inextricably intertwined parts to a whole. Think of an old fashion two pan scale. The goal is to keep the two sides balanced. Sometimes one side gets weighed down more than the other. In this economic analogy, debt is often the culprit tilting the scales. For many years the private sector, including consumers and businesses, borrowed way too much, causing the private side of
the scale to sink below public side. The obvious solution is for consumers and businesses to pay down their debt. However, if implemented by itself, debt reduction can hurt the economy. When people pay off their mortgages, they tend to save some of their previous monthly payments, and when businesses pay off their loans, they are inclined to build up cash on their balance sheets. Add in the banks, who have restricted lending, and you have stalled growth. This reduced consumer spending and restricted lending may adversely impact the economy and result in the dreaded double dip recession. In order to get the scale back in balance, the government needs to “dis-save”, or engage in deficit spending, while the private sector deleverages. One strategy is government stimulus packages. In the short run, this approach is effective because stimulus money in the hands of individuals tends to be spent and it can save jobs. The problem is that stimulus funds, aside from those allocated for special infrastructure and health care programs, tend not to create new jobs. Most of the new jobs needed for growth are initiated by the private sector. Since consumers and businesses will be deleveraging for years, incentives in the form of tax cuts and other policies are needed to encour-
age longer term investment in people and new businesses. As long as government debt on one side of the scale is offset by private deleveraging on the other, the system remains in balance. Fear of runaway deficits becomes valid if and when the scale cannot be tipped back the other way. At some point, the government has to start saving (reducing its debt) to balance new growth created in the private sector. The challenge for the political parties in 2013 is not pitting the public and private sectors in a zero sum game but creating a credible timetable for the two parts of the whole to work in tandem and achieve balance. This means stimulus spending accompanied by tax incentives followed by smaller government. The public and private sectors can not simultaneously accumulate unsustainable debt and overspend. For the compromise to be credible, look to see if politicians understand the importance of the synergy between public and private sectors and if they can get the tipping points right. Betsey Purinton, CFP® is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at StrategicPoint Investment Advisors. You can e-mail her at bpurinton@strategicpoint.com.
Illustration: Ashley MacLure
This fall’s election divided
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East Side Monthly December 2012
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Pieces by Anthony Quinn
It’s worth taking the short trip this month to the Narrows Center for the Arts, in Fall River, for a particularly compelling art exhibit, Duende: The Art of Anthony Quinn. While the late actor, who lived the last five years of his life in neighboring Bristol, was best known for starring in films such as Lawrence of Arabia, he was, as it turns out, also a prolific visual artist. Curated by Michele L’Heureux, the exhibition, which includes a portion of Quinn’s expansive body of work, was carefully designed to emphasize Quinn’s creative process. And create he did. “I honestly can’t imagine when the man slept,” Michele says with a laugh. A witness to the actor/artist’s unquenchable desire to make art is his wife Katherine, who was Quinn’s studio assistant for 17 years. It was Katherine who referred to her husband’s artistic fire as “duende,” a Spanish term that suggests passionate bursts of creativity and imagination. Michele visited the Quinn estate in Bristol to get a sense of the work available. “To my surprise, there were thousands of works to choose from in a range of media – sculptures, drawings, paintings and prints,” she says. Katherine still resides there and was able to tell Michele a lot about the work such as where it was produced and what Anthony was thinking when he made it. Michele says that thematically, much of the work is “figurative
or relates to the body in some way.” Beyond that, however, the astute curator noticed something else. “What struck me was the ability to see Quinn’s process unfold in several works put together,” she says. “For example, he would explore a certain abstract form in a small drawing, then you will see it in a larger painting, then again in a carved wood maquette and then maybe again in a life-size stone sculpture.” After traveling to the Bristol estate two more times, Michele eventually selected ninety works, including sketches, drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photographs that she felt best demonstrated Quinn’s unique artistic process. She also included artifacts from Quinn’s studio, including workbenches and tools. “There is a selection of figurative work - both representative and abstract - as well as several portraits of others and himself and some abstract geometric work that also relates to the figure in many ways,” she says. “My favorite drawing is an untitled work from 1963 using marker and watercolor on paper,” Michele says. “I love the composition of the work, the color palette and the combination of marks – from definitive brush strokes to crosshatching to splattered water color and washes. It’s a small but powerful work that I find very peaceful and timeless. It references many ancient forms and cave paintings but also seems futuris-
tic, like it could be prophesying some kind of event or happening.” She’s also very fond of the sculptures Quinn carved from found oxen yokes. “I love the balance between the raw and the manipulated materials, the gestural carved strokes in the surface and the shapes formed by the various juttings and turns of the wood,” she says. “I love the use of found materials in art work, and I think his vision for using these yokes, particularly on their sides as standing sculptures, is quite inventive and beautiful.” Put simply, the exhibition is a rare opportunity for the public to see another side of Quinn’s creative genius. “Most of the work has a real delicacy that I think speaks to Quinn’s love of nature and humanity; his respect for the human form and for forms in nature is apparent in his materials and his approach to the work,” Michele also notes. “I appreciate his palette, too – from deep bronzes and blacks to pale pinks to brightly-hued drawings in marker and pen.” Duende: The Art of Anthony Quinn, presented by the Arbella Insurance Foundation, is on view Wednesday to Saturday from noon-5pm and by appointment through December 29. As Narrows is also a music venue, concert ticket holders are invited to stop into the gallery after hours on performance nights. Free. 16 Anawan Street, Fall River. 508-324-1926, www.narrowscenter.org.
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East Side Monthly December 2012
oldest son came home with Olive, the Other Reindeer, borrowed from the school library. As we read it together, me giggling at the title, he said, “What’s so funny? I don’t get it.” “It’s a joke, honey, a pun,” I explained. “You know, ‘all of the other reindeer’ from ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’.” Nope, he didn’t know. He didn’t know about the renowned nasal exceptionalism which initially prompted Rudolph’s cruel treatment at the hooves of the other reindeer and then prompted eventual top deer status. Nor did my kid have any notion that the other reindeer were not a nameless herd but storied individuals critical to the success of Saint Nicholas’ annual nocturnal rooftop journey. We went down the chimney a bit further. Do you know who Saint Nicholas is? Nope. Santa Claus? Um, some old guy, maybe? This made sense. We are happy flag-wavers on the Fourth. We love Thanksgiving. Give us a big non-religious holiday and we are all in (with awareness that the relative inclusivity of such celebrations needs to account for the experiences of African Americans and Native Americans). We also are Jews raising our kids with an emphasis on our religious tradition and associated holidays. We don’t have Christmas carols on our iPods (the main source of our kids’ exposure to music), though now that the kids are older, Adam Sandler’s Chanukah songs and The Maccabeats’ “Candlelight” have pride of place on our holiday playlists. The annual showing of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer that was a broadcast staple of my generation’s childhood Decembers is no longer regularly viewed, its ubiquity thrown over in favor of what the DVR is serving up. So my first-grader wasn’t going to get a grip on the Rudolph situation at home. Nor, as it turned out, would he find such exposure in school, where many of my generation who were religiously and culturally inclined away from the mainstream picked up a whole lot of
Christian-themed cultural literacy. My children and their peers in the Providence Public Schools learn together in schools that are far more diverse than those in the ‘burbs that I attended in the 1970s. In recognition of that diversity, kids aren’t singing many of the old standards that clearly refer to religious holidays. Depending on the teacher, my children have learned about Chanukah, and Kwanzaa in their early elementary years. Ideally, when the teachers were of different faiths, they invited parents to share their December celebrations. I have fond memories of accompanying one of my children to his second grade class with dreidels and gelt for all. My son — often the only Jewish kid in his class — was delighted. He felt recognized in a way that made me want to make sure that all kids have the opportunity to feel similarly. This approach also conforms to the guidelines that the ACLU recommends. Handled carefully, religion in public schools is fair game as part of curriculum. Prayer is not. Singing a religiously-themed song as part of a larger presentation of holiday music and celebration is okay. Creating associations between such a song and the school itself is not. So it’s tricky. We don’t want a particular religion to dominate public settings. Neither would we wish religion and its strong ties to identity
to be sanitized completely from our kids’ educational experiences. Teachers note similar conflict. Many discuss the desire to teach about the religious and cultural celebrations that connect their students to their identities and that help widen the students’ awareness of diversity beyond their communities. Those same teachers also express profound discomfort with the threat of misrepresenting another person’s history or experience. This is a particular challenge in Providence, where most of the teachers do not share their students’ ethnic or cultural backgrounds. Some teachers, such as my friend Daryl Lynn, a preschool teacher, suggest steering clear of religious holidays entirely. She asks, “Is it possible to not even acknowledge holidays? Is there a reason to not do that?” Other educators believe passionately that cultural identity is linked with successful engagement in a school community, because all kids want to be known and acknowledged in ways that my second grader experienced on dreidel day. What I know is this: wrestling with the December Dilemma is a price we pay for the gift of school diversity, and we are going to need to set the DVR to catch Rudolph the next time he flies into town. Jill Davidson can be reached at whathappenedatschool@gmail.com or her blog, providenceschools.blogspot.com
Illustration: Jessica Pollak
In first grade, our
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Wishing You and Yours a Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year
Providence Art club little Pictures 2012 Original art $250 or less, cash & carry paintings, prints, glass, mixed media and more Opening Reception: Sunday, November 18, 12-4pm Exhibition Dates: November 18-December 23 Extended Gallery Hours: Markham + DeRentis Associates - Residential Properties Ltd. Jim DeRentis | Nancy Markham | Office: 401.553.6383 www.jimandnancysold.com
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East Side Monthly December 2012
Monday-Wednesday & Friday 12-5pm Thursday12-6pm • Weekends 12-4pm 11 Thomas St., Providence, R.I. 02903 • 401.331.1114 • www.providenceartclub.org
Calendar
edited by Erin Swanson
December
music | performance | social happenings | galleries | learn | sports
DON’T MISS THIS MONTH: 10 events at the top of our list Bright Night. December 31, Downtown, brightnight.org.
1
Scenes from The Polar Express. December 2223 at Wheeler Theatre, www. jumpdancecompany.org.
2
A John Waters Christmas. November 30 at Lupo’s, www.lupos.com.
3
Fungus Amungus. December 31 at The Met, www.themetri.com.
4
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. December 19 at The Dunkin Donuts Center, www. dunkindonutscenter.com.
5 Scenes from the Polar Express
MUSIC arena & club | classical ARENA & CLUB MOHEGAN SUN December 8: Dave Matthews Band with special guest Jimmy Cliff. December 9: The Who. December 15-16: Albano’s Nutcracker- 50th Anniversary. December 21: Straight No Chaser. December 31: Cyndi Lauper. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 888-226-7711, www.mohegansun.com. CHAN’S December 1: Rebecca Parris with Dan Moretti. December 8: Chans Holiday Extravaganza hosted by Jimmy ‘2 suites’ Capone. December 14: Luther ‘Guitar Jr.’ Johnson and the Magic Rockers. De-
cember 26: Holiday Open Mic Blues Jam with Lil’ Cousin. December 30: Popa Chubby. 267 Main Street, Woonsocket. 765-1900, http://www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com/calendar.htm. FOXWOODS December 2: Brian Setzer Orchestra. December 8: Jerry Seinfeld. December 9: Peppino Di Capri. December 14: Mannheim Steamroller. December 15: Lisa Lampanelli. December 21: Kenny Rogers. 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT. 800-200-2882, www.foxwoods.com. LUPO’S HEARTBREAK HOTEL December 5: Hot 106 Presents B.O.A.T.S. Tour, 2 Chainz. December 29: Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, www.lupos.com.
THE MET December 1: Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons. December 5: New Found Glory. December 8: Every Time I Die. December 21: The Slackers. December 30: The Devil Makes Three and Brown Bird Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 729-1005, www.themetri.com. ROOTS CULTURAL CENTER Every Sunday: Jam/Blues Jam. Every Tuesday: Strictly Jazz Jam. Every Friday: Lunas Ladies Night. December 13 and 27: Bridging the Music Presents Local Band Showcase. December 27: Peace Work “All About Folk.” 276 Westminster Street. 272-7422, www. rootsprovidence.com. TWIN RIVER December 31: Boogie Nights New Year’s
A Christmas Carol. December. 1-29 at Trinity Rep, www.trinityrep.com.
6
Cake Boss: Holiday Tour. December 1 at Providence Performing Arts Center, www.ppacri.org.
7
Deer Tick. December 30 at Fete, www.fetemusic.com.
8
Chelsea Peretti. December 1 at Comedy Connection, www.ricomedyconnection.com.
9
The Nutcracker. December 14-16 at Providence Performing Arts Center, www.ppacri.org.
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December 2012 East Side Monthly
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Professional Car Repair For Over 60 Years
Calendar
continued...
D'Ambra's Service Station
Providing Exceptional Customer Service and Expertise 621-2348 • 761 Hope Street, Providence
Serving the Best Breakfast!
Blue Cottage RestauRant Lunch Too! Great Food at Great Prices Open Daily 7am-2pm 748 Hope St., Providence 383-7307 Invest in you...
Counseling & Life Coaching
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Memphis
Eve party with ‘80s pop sensation Tiffany. 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 877-827-4837, www.twinriver.com.
Every Saturday: Improv Jones. 115 Empire Street. 831-9327, www. as220.org.
CLASSiCAL PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER December 19: A Christmas Celtic Sojourn. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2997, www.ppacri.org.
TRINITY REP Through December 29: A Christmas Carol. 201 Washington Street. Providence. 521-1000, www.trinityrep.com
BROWN UNIVERSITY December 3: Brown University Bass Sectional Chorus Concert. December 9: Handel Messiah at Sayles Hall. 8633234, www.brown.edu/music/events.
PERFORMANCE comedy | dance | theatre COmEDy COMEDY CONNECTION Every Friday: Hardcore Comedy. Every Sunday: Comedy Showcase. December 1: Chelsea Peretti. December 2: Kitty Litter and Friends Drag Extravaganza Holiday show. December 13: Arnez J. December 21-22: Lisa Landry featuring John Porch. December 31: Tom Cotter. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 438-8383, www.ricomedyconnection.com. THEATRE 95 EMPIRE BLACK BOX
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East Side Monthly December 2012
GAMM THEATRE Through December 16: Red. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 723-4266, www.gammtheatre.org. PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER December 1: Buddy Valastro Live! Homemade for the Holidays Tour. December 4-9: Memphis December 14-16: The Nutcracker. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2997, www.ppacri.org.
OCEAN STATE THEATRE COMPANY December 5: Winter Wonderettes. December 12: SantaLand Diaries. 1245 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick. 921-6800, www.oceanstatetheatre.org PARK THEATRE December 6: Vienna Boys Choir. December 6-16: A Christmas Carol. 848 Park Avenue, Cranston. 467-7275, www.parktheatreri.com THE VETS December 1: WaterFire: Art and Soul of a Community. December 8: Messiah. December 9: A Beantown Christmas. December 15: Sister Christmas Catechism. 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. 221-1467, www.vmari.com.
2ND STORY THEATRE December 1, 2: An Inspector Calls. 28 Market Street, Warren. 247-4200, www.2ndstorytheatre.com
THE DUNK December 8: AEG Live Presents at The Dunk Wiz Khalifia & Taylor Gang December 19: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. 1 LaSalle Square, Providence. 331-6700, www.dunkindonutscenter.com.
THEATRE WORKS December 1, 2, 7, 8, 9: Ant’ny Claus 2: A Dysfunctional Family Christmas. 142 Clinton Street, Woonsocket. 766-898, www.twri.org.
SOCIAL HAPPENINGS
RICCO & RIPPO December 2: Sounds of the Season. 141 Phenix Avenue, Cranston. 3312434, www.ricco.org.
expos | fundraisers | seasonal FOR FOODiES BOTTLES FINE WINE & CRAFT BEER Saturdays: Come enjoy a selection of
Calendar
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fine wines and cheeses in-store at this free weekly tasting event from 3-7. 141 Pitman Street. 372-2030, www.bottlesfinewine.com. FESTivALS RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER December 7-9: Rhode Island Invitational is a gymnastics meet invitational for competitors and open to the public. 1 Sabin Street. 455-6565, www.riconvention.com. THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY & PRACTICE OF NONVIOLENCE First Friday of every month: Open Mic Nights Spoken Word Poetry. 7-9pm. Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, 265 Oxford Street. 7852320, www.nonviolenceinstitute.org.
GALLERIES GALLERY Z Through December 22: Small Picture Show. Gallery Z. 259 Atwells Avenue. 454-8844, www.galleryzprov.com. RISD MUSEUM OF ART December 21-31: The Festive City. 20 North Main Street. 454-6500, www. risdmuseum.org
kIDS + FAMILy BROWN UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE. Saturdays: Children’s Story Time, cozy up in the children’s book section every weekend for a reading adventure. 11am. 244 Thayer Street. 863-3168, www.bookstore.brown.edu. PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY December 1: Building a Website. December 9: Living Literature’s Annual Holiday Performance: The Greatest Gift. December 16: The Very Merry Dickens Carolers. December 18: Brown Bag Book Club: The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.150 Empire Street. 455-8000, www.provlib.org. ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO December 1-2: Tell Santa what you want this year at Roger Williams Park Zoo from 10-12pm & 1-3pm. $510. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 941-4998 x316, www.rwpzoo.org. HOPE ARTISTE VILLAGE
Tuesdays: Story Time Yoga for all ages and free! 11:30-12:00pm.OM Kids Yoga Center, 999 Main Street, Suite 702, Pawtucket. 305-3667, www.omkidsyogacenter.com.
LEARN discussion | instruction | tour HAMILTON HOUSE Tuesdays: Tai Chi. Wednesdays: Kundalini Yoga. Fridays: Hatha Yoga. 276 Angell Street. 831-1800, www.historichamilton.com BROWN UNIVERSITY December 7: Piano Workshop in Grant Recital Hall Hope at Young Orchard. 863-3234, www.brown.edu/ music/events.
SPORTS
181 Wayland Avenue, Providence • 861-1414 • ReliableGold.com
BROWN MEN’S BASKETBALL December 1: Home vs. New Hampshire. December 8: Brown at Notre Dame. December 23: Brown at Northeastern. December 28: Home vs. Providence. December 31: Brown at Albany. Pizzitola Sports Center, Hope and Lloyd. www.brownbears.com
Moving from imagining to reality takes trust. From design collaboration through seamless installation, RIKB is your partner...every step of the way.
BROWN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL December 1: Brown at McGill. December 2: Home vs. Quinnipiac/New Hampshire. December 28: Brown at Maryland. December 9: Md.East. Shore/Hartford vs. Brown at College Park, Md. Pizzitola Sports Center, Hope and Lloyd. www.brownbears.com BROWN MEN’S HOCKEY December 1: Brown at Yale. December 7: Home vs. Union. December 8: Home vs. Rensselaer. December 29: Brown vs. Minn. St. Mankato at Storrs, CT. Meehan Auditorium, Hope and Lloyd. www.brownbears.com BROWN WOMEN’S HOCKEY December 1: Brown at McGill. December 7: Brown at Rensselaer. December 8: Brown at Union. Meehan Auditorium, Hope and Lloyd. www.brownbears.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.
January 16: Visiting Chef Series with Providence Fire + Ice January 22: Cooking Club with Easy Entertaining January 30: Ladies Night
Registration is encouraged. Register at www.RIKB.com
139 Jefferson Blvd. Warwick, RI 02888 401.463.1550 www.RIKB.com
December 2012 East Side Monthly
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Classifieds
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JOBS BY JIM
HOUSE CLEANING
Garages & Attics Cleaned
If you need a house cleaner who is organized and with good prices & excellent references, call 401-475-3283 A&R CONTRACTING Remodeling. Maintenance. Home improvement specialists. Reg. #30466. Fully insured. References available on request. Free estimates. 401-616-7288. AUDIO/VIDEO HELP If you need some help with your TV, home theater or stereo, call me at 401-383-4102. Jon Bell, Simply Sight & Sound. Reasonable rates. 25 years of experience. CEILING REPAIRS Repairing water damaged, cracked, peeling ceilings & walls. Located on the East Side. Over 100 satisfied local customers. Malin Painting, RI Reg. #19226. Call 226-8332.
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
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East Side Monthly December 2012
CEILING WORK, DRYWALL Plaster (hang, tape & paint). Water damage repair. All phases of carpentry. Reg. #24022. Fully insured. Steven, E. Prov., 401-641-2452. COOK/CLEANER AVAILABLE Experienced European woman, legal resident. References available. Call 243-4483. DOG WALKER/PET SITTER Trained to administer medications. Reliable, bonded, references available. Home visits. Call Susan 5273914. Loves animals.
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 ƒƒ � � ELECTRICAL SERVICES All types. New circuits. RI #A3338. MA #16083A. Insured. Call Larry 529-2087. Also, small handyman jobs.
EAST SIDE HANDYMAN 34 years. Repairs, upgrades & renovations. References. Insured. Reg. #3052. Call 270-3682. ELDER CARE AVAILABLE Compassionate, intelligent, mature woman seeks sleepover position with elderly person. 20 years experience. Impeccable references. Please call 781-3392 or 497-3392.
Unwanteds Removed Small Demolitions - Garages, Sheds, etc.
Free Metal Pick-up Appliances & Lawn Mowers â?–Motors â?–Machines â?–Batteries â?–Etc.
Call 401-232-5650 Cell 401-742-7258
Reg. #4614
GARAGE FOR RENT Lloyd Ave., long-term storage, $125/mo. Congdon St., $125 garage, $100 outdoors. Corner Pratt & Benefit St., $125/mo. Call Roger, 339-4068. rogernc@mac.com KIND CARE ~ SENIORS Appointments, errands, shopping, cleaning & maint. Refs. Safety bars installed. Reg #3052. 559-0848.
All Concrete Services Specializing in all Masonry Repairs Decorative Stamp Concrete No Job Too Small
Chimney Repair
Reg. # 12299
Kate Rentals Rental & Property Management Services for Landlords & Home Owners “Specializing in Above Average Homes & Apartment Listings�
401-477-6314 Kate Foster Real Estate, Inc. Licensed & Insured
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE Spring & Fall Cleanups Bushes Trimmed â?Š Tree Removal Pine Bark Mulch
Landscape Construction Parking Lot Cleaning Handyman â?Š 26 Years Experience
MG Landscaping 743-6015 â?Š 831-5109
Classifieds
SCREEN PRINTING & Embroidery. T-shirts & Sweatshirts. Max Formal Co., 1164 North Main St., Providence. 421-3268. HOUSE CLEANING Experienced. Local references. Free estimates. Call Lilly, 401-419-2933. 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. 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. 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
To place your classified ad, please call 732-3100.
PROACTIVE Computer Services Home or office. Computer repairs, data recovery. WIFI Solutions. Fully equipped mobile service. Service calls $40/hr. Call 401-6477702. www.pcsllcri.com
SUPERB HOUSEPAINTING High end workmanship. Small jobs a specialty. Call Ron 751-3242. Reg. #18128.
USED MUSIC WANTED! Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.
Wallcovering Express Inc.
NEW EAST SIDE LOCATION 1 hour, $39 massage therapy. Gift certificates available. 640-0925. Healinghandsmassagetherapy.com
Professional Paperhanging Paper
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and Painting Jerry Giroux
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.
401-724-1166 Commercial
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Reg. #17297 â—? North Providence â—? Insured
A1wallcove@aol.com
Willard Roofing & Restoration All Types of Roofing & Exterior Repairs
SNOW PLOWING Residential/Commercial Free Estimates FIREWOOD: Seasoned Hardwood, Cut & Split, $225/cord.
Vinny’s Landscaping
& BOBCAT SERVICES
497-1461 â—? 231-1851 TAROT ENTERTAINMENT Entertainingly Insightful Tarot Readings for Any Occasion
â?ƒ â?ƒ â?ƒ â?ƒ 401-285-1079 www.karenbentleytarot.com
ProScott Painting CommeriCal • residential interior • exterior
Gutter Cleaning Special Book Now — $99 00 with coupon
401-688-7416
PowerWash/Gutters, Clean & Repair & Textures, Staining, Basements, Waterproofing‌ No Job Too Big or Small
Siding � Insulation � Windows “Leaf Relief� Gutter Guard System Gutters Cleaned, Repaired & Replaced RESIDENTIAL Insured
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East of Elmgrove
by Elizabeth Rau | illustration by Maret Paetznick
Good for the Soul The Providence Granola Project nourishes more than just little bodies The holidays are once again upon us. What to do? You can drop a ten-spot on useless things that never move — fancy glass bowls and decorative pitchers come to mind — or you can buy a bag of granola made right here, in Little Rhody. This wholesome, mostly-organic granola is irresistible: It tastes good and is lovingly whipped up by refugees trying to start over in a country that can be intimidating and tough to figure out. The Providence Granola Project was founded by Keith Cooper and Geoff Gordon during a deep talk one night about how to help people who come to America with nothing more than a suitcase. Keith, a Yale graduate and former campus minister who lives with his family on the East Side, had one of those “aha” moments. He’d been making granola for years in his kitchen. Why not turn his hobby into a business and mobilize refugees too? The two friends shook hands. A company was born. That was five years ago, and Providence Granola is still going strong. In rented space at the Amos House soup kitchen in South Providence, the company makes 1,000 pounds of granola a month. With the holidays approaching, Keith hopes to sell even more and, with a robust website and offerings that are as whimsical as they are tasty, he’s sure to hit his goal. My sons love the granola, especially Keith’s Originola, which disappears in seconds in our house. If you want more variety, check out the Granola of the Month recipe. There’s Maple Rosemary, a great playground snack made with organic rosemary from Keith’s garden. There’s Caramel Apple Corn, made with popcorn caramelized in Sucanat. If you need a lift, try Ginger Zinger, made with, you guessed it, ginger. The granola is delicious (actress Mary-Louise Parker is a fan) and ubiquitous (it’s available at Whole Foods and Eastside Marketplace, among other places), but what makes the company unique is its commitment to refugees from Iraq, Burundi, Eritrea, Myanmar, Liberia, and other countries. For years, Cooper worked at the International Institute of Rhode Island, helping to settle refugees here. The 62
East Side Monthly December 2012
next time you’re feeling sorry for yourself because you can’t afford that puffer coat from North Face, think about what it’s like to step off an airplane in a foreign country with a duffle bag and, if you’re lucky, a few family photos. Keith was moved by what he saw at the institute — dignified and hard working men and women who want to succeed. With so many obstacles in their way — no money, language barriers, a different culture — you’d expect them to give up. But they don’t. Providence Granola is all about opportunity. The refugees learn how an American business operates, improve their English, make money to support their families, and connect with two guys who get up every morning and think about how they can make life better for some of the most vulnerable men and women in our community. Refugees get the experience and con-
fidence they need to move on to other work. That’s important. Providence Granola is a stepping stone to full-time work. Some have found jobs in hotels, restaurants, and laundry services. Though all the workers are amazing, one in particular is courage personified. Zaid Wadia, is a 35-year-old Iraqi refugee born in Baghdad to a middleclass family. Life was good enough until the United States invaded. Wadia’s brother-in-law was killed by a bomb and Wadia and his family were dodging bullets to survive. Wadia and his family fled to Syria, but life there was dismal. Wadia went to Sweden, where he spent a year selling hot dogs outside a bar hoping he could eventually get to America and bring over his family. His plan failed. Dejected, he returned to Syria. Just when he was about to give up, he finally got approval to come here.
In 2010, Wadia, his wife, and their two children arrived in Providence. Cooper was one of the first people he met. Wadia says he would be lost without Cooper. Wadia started working at the project and has worked his way up to shipping and payroll positions. He’s even found a part-time job inserting ads for a newspaper. Self-pity is not in his lexicon. He is looking ahead and dreams of running his own business. What’s even more remarkable about him is that he feels no resentment toward the United States. The invasion ripped his country apart. Still, he is thankful every day for his life here. “Zaid is such an ideal Rhode Islander,’’ Keith says. “Our state was built as a place of refuge for people to come and have opportunities. It seems important to our identity to give refugees a chance to get started here.’’ Not long ago, Keith had another “aha” moment. Why not expand the concept of Providence Granola to lift up other people who are also struggling financially and facing cultural barriers? Keith calls this new non-profit Beautiful Day. The organization, awaiting its official non-profit status, would serve as a training center and business incubator. Keith wants to team up with businesses that can mentor, and he wants to build a co-op kitchen to train workers. He needs money, either through grants or donations, and space, maybe in an old mill building. He’s also looking for volunteers to help out with everything from marketing to mentoring. I hear about projects like this and wonder why our public officials and business leaders don’t jump at the opportunity to provide support. So much money is wasted in our state on deadend pursuits that only benefit the politically-connected. I asked Cooper if he had ever approached Mayor Angel Taveras, and he said no, so I’ll do it for him: Please, give Keith a call. His number is 1-855-OAT-GUYS. You can’t go wrong: it’s good food for a good cause. Elizabeth Rau can be reached at erau1@verizon.net.
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