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FEATURES

CO V E R S TO R Y

Hindsight: A Look Back at 2020 A timeline of the ups and downs of an “unprecedented” year

14 NEWS & LIFE

Little Compton Plan a perfect day, including a barn breakfast and historic sight-seeing

38 HOME & STYLE

Less is More Expert tips and tricks for streamlining home decor

54 FOOD & DRINK

Winter Al Fresco The hottest dining craze continues to be igloos

Isolation by James Payne, Jamestown Outdoor Art Experience P hoto by Elyse Ma jor

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

AND THANK YOU

SOUTH COUNTY COMMUNITY, OUR FRIENDS AND PATRONS, BUSINESSES AND SPECIAL PEOPLE THAT STEPPED FORWARD TO HELP US SURVIVE, WE ARE DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR KINDNESS, SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY AT CHRISTMAS AND THE ENTIRE YEAR THROUGH. To Richard and Carol Jurczak, Charles Connell, John Waldron, The Phi Gamma Delta Guys at URI, The Chariho Rotary Club, Chariho Furniture, Joe Gardiner, Johnny Mack, Joe Callari, Neal Vitullo, Lois Mahoney, Roland Fiori, Two Ten Oyster Bar, Peter Rugg, Belmont Market, Lisa Holberg, MaryLou Rossi, Megan Jones, Kelly Gatewood, Matty FINE, The FINE Experience, Rebecca Gamage, South Kingstown Town Hall, Bonnet Liquors, Jerry & Gina Sahagian, Beverly Vissoe, Richard Beuck, James Montgomery, Don “DC” Culp, Jack Bullock, Betty Marques , Joe Mirra, Karen Jenkins, Chief Vincent Carlone, Davitt Design, Cardi’s Furniture, The Cardi’s and their staff, Narragansett Pest Control, Phillip and John Martorella, Narragansett Rubbish Removal, The 401JeepWave, The South Kingstown Police and Fire, Union Station Fire, Exeter Fire, Chief Kettle, Geaber’s Liquors, New England Medical and Legal Consultants, Frank Aussant, Tom Pine, Pancho O’Malley’s, George Lenihan, Wicked Tan, Kevin Pezzuco, Mike Gornstein , The Greenwich Hotel, Java Madness, Richard’s Pub & Restaurant, Ritrovo Restaurant, The Mignanelli’s, The Flatts & Jane, The Doorley Agency, National Lumber, Mike McDole, Kingston Pizza, BankRI, Mews Tavern, Allen Gammons, The Berkshire Hathaway Team, Hillary Mattson, Lisa Kay Wood, Ken Sepe, Judge Gilbert Indeglia & Family, Chief Judge Jeanne E. Lafazia, The Briggs, Briggs Disposal, The Hagers, The Bouviers, Gary Averette, Steve Roizen, Carol Costa, The Rhode Island State Troopers Association, Maestro Fredd Scheff, Linda Kesner, John Goldberg, Joellen Goldberg, The Vitello Family, Scott Oatley, Dale and Elaine DeJoy, The MacLaughlin Family, The DellaGrotta Family, and so many more loving and kind supporters and friends.

What we thought and seemed to be our demise, impossible to sustain, through these trying times, became a bright light of shining hope for our non-profit. With broken down heating system, building repairs, and mandatory closures, we were left with no concerts to raise funding for our free children’s inclusion classes. There was no staff, no work-readiness programs or mental health classes, and many problems and issue after issue. COVID Compliancy equipment…. Dark and dismal was our path. Facing closure, our community and YOU have given us hope for a future. With the vaccine not far away, we can start to plan our comeback. We could only do this through the help of you. Your Love and support have guided us to hold on tight and see the light. The Courthouse Center for the Arts, The Children and their parents, The Community that benefits from our classes, the teachers, instructors, participants, attendees, board members and more, are all grateful for YOU. Sharing and Growing Love through Arts and Music and Strengthening Minds shall begin again. On behalf of the Courthouse Board of Directors, Myself, and all the benefactors, from the bottom of our hearts, Thank YOU. Your kindness and generosity have and will reach the hearts of many. In keeping with the essence of our music and concerts; Your love has lifted us higher We wish you the true magic of the season now and for always, Peace, Love and Joy. Stay Safe and Healthy, and we hope to be up, heated, operating, and seeing you all again soon. With the deepest of appreciation, love and COVID Hugs. – XOX Mariann

COURTHOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS • 501C3 NON PROFIT PROVIDING FREE CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS IN MUSIC & ARTS •

3481 KINGSTOWN ROAD, WEST KINGSTON • 401-782-1018

Please Help Us Warm Up. Donations: CourthouseArts.org

CONTENTS

Photo by Gina Mastrostefano

News & Life

Art & Culture

Home & Style

Food & Drink

12 Owners of Warwick

30 MAKERS: Olneyville craftspeople forge metal masterpieces

42 WELLNESS: 21 places

50 Tiverton Four Corners’ new

around the state to get fit in 2021

hot spot lives up to the hype

32 RHODY READS: Six books

44 National soap brand

microgreen farm talk growing and garnish game

16 Rhode Island

by local authors for long winter nights

Track Club trains the next generation of competitive runners

34 ARTIST: The bright

18 RHODY GEM:

outlook of a Providence painter

Cute curios in the lobby of a Lincoln yoga studio

35 CALENDAR: This

52 EXPERIENCE: Southern-inspired

made in Cranston

New American eats come to Federal Hill

46 SHOP: Furnishings

56 Family-run business

to infuse Pantone’s Colors of the Year

month’s must-do’s

peddles preserves perfect for all occasions

58 #HEYRHODYPHOTOS : A colorful mosaic from local Instagrammers

On the Cover: The news, events, people and animals, and more that helped keep us sane in 2020.

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January 2021

pamper your PUP at

FULL GROOMING MENU AVAILABLE DAYCARE | BOARDING | TRAINING | PUPPY PRESCHOOL

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Editor Abbie Lahmers

Managing Editor Megan Schmit

Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas

Editorial Designer Abigail Brown

Senior Designer Taylor Gilbert

Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich Ann Gallagher

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What will you cook up in 2021?

Contributing Photographers Gina Mastrostefano

Contributing Writers Ingrid Brown

Hugh Minor

Amanda M. Grosvenor

Chuck Staton

Andrea E. McHugh

Interns Gianni Dejesus Looking for an internship? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com

Distribution Services Special Delivery

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Presented by Providence Media, publishers of The Bay, Providence Monthly, and So Rhode Island 1070 Main Street, Suite 302, Pawtucket RI 02860 401-305-3391 • Mail@ProvidenceOnline.com HeyRhody.com Copyright ©2021 by Providence Media. All rights reserved.

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ONLINE

CONTRIBUTORS INGRID BROWN Born and raised in Brazil, Ingrid Brown is a world traveler living in Little Rhody. She enjoys exploring her adopted home and sharing her discoveries with fresh eyes. Brown returns this month to take us on a trip to beautiful Little Compton. If you’re a fan of history, fun facts, and cozy eats, be sure to read Travel RI with IngRId on page 14.

GINA MASTROSTEFANO Web Exclusive: Providence’s top cultural venues channel creativity to face new challenges

NEWSLETTER:

Gina Mastrostefano is a contributing photographer and writer for our sister pub, The Bay. Mastrostefano jokes that she enjoys photographing local food almost as much as she enjoys eating it. Find her savor y shots of Saje Kitchen on page 52 in Southern-Inspired New American Comes to Federal Hill.

ANDREA E. MCHUGH Love a sudsy tale? Andrea E. McHugh tells a uniquely Rhode Island story that involves everything from Hasbro to RISD. Read all about a family’s soap business in Salt of the Earth on page 44. When she’s not waxing poetic, McHugh says that life in Newport with her family is her jam, and she considers Almost Famous a semi-autobiographical movie.

Subscribe to our free Hey Rhody email newsletter for: • Weekly must-do’s • Online exclusives • And more!

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CHUCK STATON Pairing nicely with Mastrostefano’s photos of Saje Kitchen, writer Chuck Staton dishes on sampling his way through the menu. Spoiler alert: descriptions of everything from Brussels sprouts to chicken and waffles will make you hungry! In addition to contributing to our other magazines, Staton cohosts The Chuck and Brad Podcast, is an indie filmmaker, and is singer/rhythm guitarist for punk band Senior Discount.

Photography by Erika Stewart @itclicksphoto

Interior Design Services / Custom Kitchen & Bath Design / Cabinetry

Custom Home Builders serving South County for over 20 years 130 Kersey Road, South Kingstown / (401) 783-7231 / bowsebuilders.com

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NEWS & LIFE M i c ro g re e n Fa r m | E x p l o re L i t t l e Co m p to n | Tra c k C l u b | R h o d y G e m

12 War wick farm grows nutrient-packed microgreens Photo courtesy of Fern Farm

NEWS & LIFE

Where the Fern Grows

O w n e r s o f a Wa r w i c k m i c ro g re e n f a r m t a l k s m a l l b u s i n e s s , g row i n g , a n d g a r n i s h g a m e By Megan Schmit

Jen Tanner and Jason Santos, owners of Fern Farm ingredients. Fern Farm also hosts pop -ups and food drives, plans to open a roadside vegetable stand with “a few surprises”, and routinely offers all-natural life hacks, recipes, and more on their social media pages. “Most importantly,” says Tanner, “we want people to

believe during challenging times that you cannot only sur vive, but thrive.” Learn more about the benefits of microgreens, Fern Farm, and a special project to benefit a local homeless shelter in January by visiting Facebook and Instagram @fernfarm55.

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Photos courtesy of Fern Farm

hen you first think of a farm, you might picture sprawling crops, a red barn, and livestock – a postcard direct from the Midwest. But for Fern Farm in War wick, growing looks ver y different. “ We’re not your typical farm with tractors, cows, and acres of fields,” says Jen Tanner, who owns the farm alongside husband Jason Santos. “Our products are grown all year round indoors using vertical stations with proper indoor air quality control.” Fern Farm specializes in microgreens, which are vegetable greens har vested just after the stems and leaves develop. These younglings have up to 40 percent more nutrients than matured veggies, and are widely known as a superfood in addition to adding color and flair to a dish. “ They make ever ything more beautiful and healthy,” says Tanner, who adds the couple often uses them for smoothies, salads, soups, and even cocktails. “ We tell ever yone they can make even a hotdog or bagel look fancy with no effort,” she jokes. “ Talk about a garnish game!” Initially, microgreens were a way to extend the farm’s growing season into the cold months; today, it’s what sets the farm apart. It starts with an organic growing base and non-GMO seeds, then proper lighting and air quality climate control is key. On a daily basis, Santos wakes up at 4am to har vest the orders being delivered that day : “ We do this because local food is fresher and better for you,” explains Tanner. “ The shorter the time from our farm to your table, the less likely the nutrients are to be lost.” It’s the tables Fern Farm delivers to that matters most to the couple, who love cultivating relationships with each customer, whether they’re a parent looking to add nutrition to their children’s diet, a small retail store, or a local restaurant looking to use fresh

A sprinkle of micgrogreens elevates any dish, like this smoothie bowl

NEWS & LIFE

Travel RI with IngRId Road t ri p to Li tt l e Co m p to n By Ingrid Brown

Cozy dining at The Barn in the village of Adamsville

his town may have “little” in its name, but it offers a big assortment of New England histor y, quaint shops and eateries, and even has its own village. If you live across the state from Little Compton, there’s a good chance you’ve never been to this historic town or perhaps only visited Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard. You travel like you’re going to Aquidneck Island via 195E and 24S; however, the fun begins when you exit the highway in Tiverton at Fish Road and begin to explore scenic Route 77. From your vehicle, you’ll see what makes this unspoiled area so special.

HISTORY LESSON Little Compton has a historic district known as The Commons, surrounded by Greek Revival and Victorian buildings. This is the heart of the town. There’s the Congregational Church, which dates back to 1835, and the Old Commons Burial Grounds, a large Colonial cemetery containing several graves that date back to the American Revolutionary War. Want to learn more? The Little Compton Historical Society has a guide book of over 40 historic cemeteries. While the LCHS office is currently closed to the public, they are available by email, Zoom, or phone, and book orders can be arranged for curbside pickup via LittleCompton.org.

UNCOMMON SHOPPING No visit to The Commons is complete without a stop at Wilbur’s General Store. Inside there are speciality foods and provisions, but enjoy exploring room after room of gifts, toys, clothes, paper goods, and more. Across the road, another must is the Art Cafe, a former Rhody Gem and eclectic coffee shop that used to be a corn crib and is now the local fave for a hot drink, pastries, and displays of art. Less than 10 minutes away there’s Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard – the tasting room is closed for the season but online ordering is available for shipping and curbside pickup.

Photos by Ingrid Brown

VILLAGE VIBES If you see a sign for Gray’s, stop the car: you’re in Adamsville, a small village settled in 1675. Today, Gray’s is an antique and collectibles store but back in 1788 it was a general store, and it’s one of the oldest in the US. Along with a few other small businesses, there’s The Barn, a charming spot for breakfast inside Hey Rhody JANUARY 2021 |

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The Rhode Island Red Monument honors our plucky state bird

– you guessed it – an old barn. Make sure to stop by The Rhode Island Red Monument which commemorates our state bird, and fun fact: some of the first large egg-scale poultry businesses around started right here, hence the town became known as the poultry capital of the world.

Shore, a small, rocky beach with great ocean views. We’d recommend the John C. Whitehead Preserve/Dundery Brook Trail System. It’s currently closed to the public because boardwalks prevent proper social distancing between walkers, but like most everything else in 2021, we have hopes for it to reopen.

FRESH AIR

Follow Ingrid along at @ingridbrown_ for tips on lifestyle, travel, home decor, and much more.

Minutes away from The Commons is South

NEWS & LIFE

Run with It

The Rhode Isl a n d Tra c k C l u b s u p p o r t s t h e com p et i t i ve s p i r i t o f p o st- co l l eg i ate r un ne rs By Megan Schmit

Runners are commonly spotted training on the East Side of Providence

Photos courtesy of Rhode Island Track Club

When you think of a track club, you might be transported back to middle or high school, to Gatorade and granola bars and after-school meets. However, the Rhode Island Track Club is anything but elementar y : based in Providence, it’s made up of 17 dedicated, elite middle-distance and distance runners chasing their dreams after successful collegiate running careers. “Many athletes graduating college have only just beg un to scratch the surface of their running potential,” explains assistant coach Michael Fadil, “ but continuing to train and compete outside the collegiate system can be a challenge.” This, he says, is where RITC steps in. “[ We] provide an opportunity for athletes to continue pro gressing within the sport, thereby allowing them to reach their full potential.” While RITC only officially formed in the early stages of the pandemic, its roots are traced back to New England Distance, which provided coaching opportunities for elite

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runners to assist middle school running pro grams. When COVID-19 hit and those track and field and cross-countr y programs paused, NED was forced to fold. RITC is the reinvention that emerged : a running club with a focus on the development of post-collegiate athletes as they pursue their goals, whether its personal progression or training to compete in the Olympic Trials. “There are dedicated support systems for runners in middle school, high school, and college, primarily through each school’s athletic department,” says Fadil. “Post collegiately, however, it can be difficult for runners to replicate the same structure of coaching support, training partners, and elite racing venues.” To that end, the role of RITC’s four coaches – led by Kurt Benninger and assisted by Bob Rothenberg , Jon Barnes, and Fadil – is key, combining more than ten decades of coaching experience and an even longer running history. Regularly, RITC members will be seen training on the streets of Providence – and you might be

surprised to catch them out even now. While winter used to mean turning to the indoor track at Brown University, facilities are currently unavailable, so workouts are strictly outdoors: “On nicer days without snow, the athletes have used and will continue to use outdoor 400m tracks in the area,” says Fadil, adding that the timing of harder runs will need to adjust with the weather, and rather than focusing on a competitive indoor track season, attention will turn to runners building a base for spring. Aside from a focus on competition, RITC is equally about community, including giving back to the state to which it belongs through accessible running events and coaching seminars throughout the year. Most importantly, they’re always looking for new members who are equally competitive and committed. “[We’re] targeting to have about 20-30 runners in the short- to immediate-term future,” says Fadil, who emphasizes the team element of training. To learn more about Rhode Island Track Club, email Fadil at michael@fadilassociates.com.

NEWS & LIFE

Photo courtesy of Wise Old Bird Marketplace

Wise Old Bird Marketplace G i f t Sh op

Discover a school as unique as your child

What it is: A nice complement to The Woods Yoga, which houses it, the market is packed with yoga gear and self-care finds like mats, specialty teas, and soaps, along with fun gifts, art, and jewelr y.

Where to find it: Fittingly, The Woods Yoga is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Lincoln Woods State Park, along Old Louisquisset Pike, and nestled inside the lobby you’ll find the Wise Old Bird.

W h a t m a k e s i t a R h o d y G e m? Whether you’re treating yourself to some retail therapy after a vigorous workout or just stopping by to peruse the quirky collection, the small marketplace is a happy surprise to discover – and most of the merchandise has a far broader appeal than just yoga and fitness. From a line of luxury alpaca products to abstract art and candles with motivational messages, owner Christine Maguire curates the collection around pieces that will put a smile on your face: “It’s a cheerful and friendly place where you leave feeling like a million bucks, even if you only spent $3!” The creative offering has also helped to sustain the yoga studio through various phases of COVID restrictions and support makers by stocking lots of locally made goods. And if you’re looking for a book on meditation or a supplement to your yoga practice, Wise Old Bird is a great choice for that, too.

W i s e O l d B i rd M a r k e t p l a c e 1525 Old Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln TheWoodsYoga.com/WiseOldBirdMarketplace

@thewoodsyoga

Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Email Abbie@ProvidenceOnline.com to suggest yours and we just might feature it!

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hindsight

2020

looking back on

By Abbie Lahmers, Elyse Major & Megan Schmit

t’s safe to say that most, if not all, of us let out a sigh of relief when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve. While nothing has visibly changed – masks, social distancing, and the pandemic are still a thing – we’ve finally entered another year, and one full of hope that the vaccine will return us to whatever we might call normal. Starting with March, let’s reflect on the simultaneously painful, promising, and entirely complicated time we’ve had. After all, they say hindsight is 2020.

MARCH 9:

MAR

Governor Gina Raimondo declares a State of Emergency

MARCH 1: First two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island

Photos courtesy of Farm Fresh RI

Photo courtesy of The Industrious Spirit Company

MARCH 16: Public schools close

DISTILLER DISTRIBUTES SPIRITS & SANITIZER The Industrious Spirit Company was all set to open their doors for craft vodka and gin tastings in April, and while the pandemic didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop Providenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first distillery since Prohibition from distributing spirits, it did change up their operations. In the very industrious fashion of 2020, ISCO used ingredients they already had to sling free sanitizer from their Wish We Could Window, where takeout vodka could also be purchased. While the tasting room awaits its debut, a hip patio space welcomes entertainment and food pop-ups over craft cocktails.

FARM FRESH RI DELIVERS

From commercial kitchens to local homes, Farm Fresh RI took their distribution app, Market Mobile, and opened it up to a personal grocery ser vice. Lockdown temporarily closed many of their wholesale market customers, so the decision was natural and offered a safe way to connect consumers directly with farm suppliers to have local goods and produce delivered right to their doorstep. With their new hub in the Valley neighborhood officially open, now shoppers can mask up and visit the Farm Fresh Winter Market every Saturday, too.

MARCH 17: Bars and dine-in restaurants close, gatherings limited to 25 people

BEACON OF HOPE

While Providence’s iconic brazier-lighting ceremony along the river was cancelled, WaterFire quickly created an equally visual and meaningful art installation in its place. The Beacon of Hope was live-streamed 24/7 and at 8:30pm each night, luminaries were lit for those Rhode Islanders lost to the virus. For the team at WaterFire and beyond, this tradition became a time for grief and healing , loss and love, and of course, hope.

Photo courtesy of WaterFire

KNOCK IT OFF

APR

During a March 23 press briefing, Governor Gina Raimondo uttered three little words: “Knock it off ”, strongly advising – okay, scolding – Rhode Islanders to stay home during the pandemic. Then they returned as jolly letters on a T-shirt next to a bobbing anchor designed by Maret Bondorew for Frog & Toad, the quirky Providence retailer, who received hundreds of pre-orders before the shirt was even printed. With 20 percent of sales benefiting the Rhode Island Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, the tee certainly helped raise money and made the moment memorable, even if we didn’t collectively knock it off as much as we should have.

LITERAL SIGNS OF HOPE

During last spring’s lockdown, in what seemed to be the bleakest of days, a set of marquee letters spelling HOPE began illuminating the squares of Instagram. Often photographed at dusk in front of iconic RI landmarks, the letters are the handiwork of Melanie Jackson, who was ramping up to launch a new venture as everything shut down. “Since I had just started my business, I didn’t have any inventory – letters – so I started to build them. I figured, if for nothing else, I could take my letters around, spread a little hope and happiness, just like the ‘love’ letters did at my wedding.”

Photo courtesy of Melanie Jackson

APRIL 21: First walk-up COVID-19 testing site opens in Rhode Island

MAY 6: Statewide mask mandate

MAY 9: Stay-athome order lifted and Phase I begins: non-essential retailers can reopen with restrictions (haircuts for everybody!)

Photo courtesy of Roger Williams Park Zoo

RWP ZOO WELCOMES BABY SLOTH

MAY

“Oh, it was such a relief – we were all cheering – when the baby was safe!” says zookeeper Jennifer Hennessy, of the May birth of a baby sloth at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Hennessey oversees the Faces of the Rainforest exhibit where the sloths reside. Thanks to the zoo’s conser vation efforts, lots of engaging social media – including YouTube – multitudes were engaged in watching the mama sloth Fiona, who became a sort of mascot of a slowed-down COVID-19 world.

MASK MAKERS

If this year were defined by a single object, it would be the face mask. Early on, Rhode Island Commerce, Styleweek Northeast, and PWCVB teamed up for a social media campaign, aptly titled Mask Up RI, to encourage everyone to wear them. Then, countless individual makers and groups like South County Maskateers and SewHopeSNE used their eye for design to infuse safety with style. Though we do still have to mask up into the new year, at least we’re making it fashionable.

Photo courtesy of The Free Mask Project

DRIVE-IN MOVIES

A socially distanced summer saw the opportunity for one retro tradition to make a comeback: drive-in movies. Of course, North Smithfield’s Rustic Tri View Drive-In, operating since the ‘50s, never missed a beat when it came to this fad, but some plucky artsy organizations saw the chance to create their own drive-in screens across the state. The Collaborative’s drive-in at Cutler Mills, newportFILM Outdoors, Hearthside House, and United Theatre and Knickerbocker concert screenings at the Misquamicut DriveIn all drew in cars of spectators. Photo by Sarah Petrarca, courtesy of Discover Newport

JAMESTOWN OUTDOOR ARTS EXHIBIT

Believe it or not, the Jamestown Arts Center had already planned for this massive outdoor art installation before the pandemic ever even hit. Of course, that doesn’t mean logistics didn’t become challenging, but the result was pretty impressive: an island-wide series of curated sculptures made by local artists for Rhode Islanders to explore with a map or stumble upon serendipitously.

Photo by Gina Mastrostefano

NEW RESTAURANTS

Defying pandemic odds, new food businesses continued to pop up across the state, whether a small joint filling a hole they saw in their neighborhood like Black Beans PVD in the West End or downtown boutique bar Marcelino’s. Blush Bakeshop, a vegan bakery set to open their doors in the spring , shifted gears to deliver make-and-bake poptart kits and is now settled into their Atwells digs. The East Bay welcomed the likes of Waterdog , Groundswell, and Plant City X, and No Bull became a new steak house staple in Westerly. And that’s just to name a few newcomers who emerged in the food industry in 2020.

JUN

Photo by Elyse Major

MAY 18: Outdoor dining allowed to resume

MEANINGFUL STREET ART

JUNE 1: Phase II begins, so hair cutteries and g yms reopen at limited capacity, one-third of office employees can return, and gatherings of up to 15 are allowed

After riots in Downcity Providence destroyed storefronts along Westminster Street, a magical thing happened: Artists from around the city turned plywood into murals to social justice, painting colorful images memorializing George Floyd and celebrating Black lives, which are now displayed at 1 Eddy Street. Then in August, locals, artist Tamara Díaz, and Rhode Island Latino Arts teamed up to paint along Broad Street to create El Museo del Barrio, or Sidewalk Museum. Meanwhile, AGONZA, Kendel Joseph, Jessica Brown, and ABOVE worked on The Avenue Concept’s VOTE mural, completed toward the close of the month and ready to inspire voters for a record-breaking turnout in Rhode Island.

Mural by AGONZA

AUG

While the Providence Performing Arts Center was forced to shutter for the show season, the intermission meant opportunity for a new project: restoring the theater’s historic terracotta facade. With any luck, the makeover will be complete by PPAC’s projected return in mid to late 2021. Psst... stay tuned for the potential return of Hamilton!

JUNE 30: Phase III begins; entertainment venues can reopen at limited capacity and gatherings of up to 25 are allowed

Photo courtesy of The Shanty, Warwick

BIDEN WITH A SIDE OF CALAMARI

On August 19 Little Rhody makes national news for “winning” the roll-call at the Democratic National Convention – not for State Democratic Party Chairman Joseph McNamara announcing 34 votes for Biden as the Democrats’ nominee – but for Iggy’s Executive Chef John Bordieri proudly holding a plate of calamari.

SEPTEMBER 14: Public schools reopen

OCT

PPAC GETS A FACELIFT

SEP

Photo courtesy of PPAC

Photo by Abigail Brown

NOVEMBER 3: Presidential Election

RACIAL REPARATIONS

It’s been a big year for racial justice not just around the country, but around our little state. From peaceful protests, to Mayor Elorza’s plan for reparations that made national news in July, to the recent vote to remove “Plantations” from the official state name, we’ve made some major strides that we only hope continue into 2021.

DRIVE-THRU SPECTACULAR

Typically, October means Roger Williams Park Zoo is packed – not for the animals, but for the thousands of carved pumpkins during the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. This year was no different, except for the fact it was hundreds of cars trundling down the path instead of people, so visitors could still check off this Halloween-time bucket list item, but safely.

Photo courtesy of Roger Wiliams Park Zoo

NOVEMBER 30: Rhode Island enters two-week “pause”

DEC

Using a catchphrase mostly shouted by bar bouncers and moms, Governor Raimondo directed Rhode Islanders to Take It Outside. Putting money where her mouth was, Raimondo made five million dollars available to increase outdoor activities in an effort to reduce the transmission rate of COVID-19. In addition to providing funds for modifications, State-owned land was made available for fitness classes, outdoor meetings, and recreational activities. The Rhode Island Hospitality Association used a portion of their funds to purchase blankets for restaurants so that patrons could keep cozy outdoors in case they forgot to bring their own blankets.

NOV

TAKE IT OUTSIDE & #BYOBLANKET

Photo by Amanda Downing Carney

PERFORMANCES REIMAGINED

While a packed house once drew excitement and buzz, live theater was one of the first things the pandemic shuttered – and one of the most difficult to revive anew. Some venues, like the Epic Theatre Co. and FringePVD, hit the ground running with virtual content, and over time as restrictions eased, The Wilbury Theatre Group conceptualized an outdoor stage for the debut of Decameron, Providence in front of socially distanced onlookers at the WaterFire Arts Center. Trinity Rep’s classic showing of A Christmas Carol went virtual – and free – to keep the spirit alive, and Festival Ballet hit the drive-in for an outdoor performance met with car horns for applause. Meanwhile, venues across the state, including the Greenwich Odeum sporting fresh renovations, begin to invite limited numbers back inside for performances almost like before.

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ART & CULTURE M e t a l M a ke r s | R h o d y R e a d s | A r t i s t P ro f i l e | C a l e n d a r

34 Oranges in a Moroccan Dish, on a Striped Cloth, oil on canvas Painting by Margaret Owen

ART & CULTURE

An Anvil and a Flame

A sma ll te a m o f p as s i on ate m et al wo r ke rs churn o ut ma ste r p i e ce s i n an Ol n eyv i l l e fo rge By Abbie Lahmers Photos by Steer Films, courtesy of Iron Mountain Forge

Ferrara and the team forge a potted tree stand

rom the outside, it doesn’t look like much: a forge nestled inconspicuously on the ground floor by the second tower of a historic Olneyville mill building in the shadow of the crowd-drawing Big Top Flea Market. But inside, the metalworking studio is alive with industrial clatter. “On a typical day, the forge is on and metal stock is on its way to a yellow heat,” explains Harry Cassell, lead blacksmith, before she describes the process of bending metal on an anvil or power hammer (affectionately dubbed “Eloise”) that goes into the group effort of fulfilling all kinds of orders, in high demand lately, at the shop. “When I started, my shop was a 150-squarefoot lean-to on the side of an old grist mill in Boone, North Carolina,” says owner and founder Carley Ferrara over an early-morning breakfast in the 5,000-square-foot Atlantic Mills space that now houses Iron Mountain Forge & Furniture. “I was the lead welder at a company for a while, as I was trying to start Iron Mountain Forge,” Ferrara explains. “I was doing forging at my shop, I was doing welding at that shop, so I kind of got into everything.” And by “everything”, she actually means all things furniture: Before an “aha” moment that secured her future in metalwork, Ferrara worked as a cabinetmaker, specializing in wood.

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While the forge took seed in North Carolina after finishing her masters in furniture at RISD, it wasn’t long before she found herself back in Rhode Island where, rather than shipping out nationwide from a rural homebase, here most of her clientele is local. Now she employs three other craftspeople – Harry Cassell, Charlie Corley, and Kailey Robinson – and resident artist Margot Day operates her glass blowing business in the studio, too. The crew has tackled a range of projects, from hundreds of 4x6-foot windows for a restoration project to all the metalwork, down to the retaining walls, that goes into a Patsy Cline Memorial Garden Amphitheater opening in Virginia. Home furnishings like custom railings and range hoods are also pretty standard requests, but each team member has their passion projects, too. Cassell’s recent favorite was a six-foot rose arbor. “It had a sturdy main structure with long tapered metal vines curled around and was dotted with ornate copper roses,” she describes. “The arbor was installed in a lush garden and seeing the metal ornamentation next to its natural counterparts was wholly satisfying.” Robinson, an apprentice at the shop who dabbles in a bit of everything – from the small jewelry pieces sold on Etsy to bigger welding projects under the guidance of lead fabricator Corley – also lists the rose arbor among her favorites. “I was tasked with creating all the

roses out of copper sheet metal,” Robinson says. “My skill with copper has grown more and more while working at IMF, which I’m so grateful for.” While different meandering paths brought the team to the forge, one strand in their stories seems consistent: When each started working in metal, they knew it was their calling. Corley recalls their journey to welding, which began with jewelry-making. “I started an internship with a woman who ran a theater set building shop. I would make jewelry in the corner of the shop… then she started pulling me off my table and showing me how to use a tape measure, then a chop saw, then a welder. I fell in love and have been fabricating ever since,” Corley explains. “I’ve had my own shop, worked at Electric Boat, built movie sets and now I’m at Iron Mountain Forge. It’s a rare shop and an easy place to work where I don’t have to tone down my queerness.” “My big goal for this was to have everybody working in their different specialty, but then everyone can also cross over when they need to,” Ferrara says as she gives the lay of the land, pointing out each station and the works in progress that cycle through the forge in a given week – and it’s clear that this balance has been struck. “You don’t need much, honestly, as blacksmiths, you really just need fire, an anvil, a hammer, and a welder... and then, knowing what you’re doing.” IronMtnForge.com

Rhody Reads Tales and tomes by local

authors for cold winter nights

By Elyse Major & Hugh Minor

he short days of Januar y are perfect for curling up with a good book when the sun goes down – which is approximately 4:30pm to you and me. Our small state is brimming with authors in all sorts of genres and we’ve assembled some picks for you to peruse. Whether you’re in the mood for a memoir with a side of recipes, a thrilling page-turner, or learning a thing or two, our list has suggestions for all that and more, written by creative minds near you. And remember, before heading to that online retailer named for the rainforest, please consider checking your local indie bookstore for titles; if not in stock, they can likely order for you.

A N T H O LO G Y Discover a range of area wordsmiths all in one place: Hope: Selected short fiction, non-fiction, poetry & prose from The Association of Rhode Island Authors includes the work of Martha Reynolds, Steven R. Porter, Kevin Duarte, Hank Ellis, Barbara Ann Whitman, Judith Boss, R.N. Chevalier, Mike Squatrito, Jack Nolan, Jess M. Collette, Richard Maule, Michael Geisser, Emily Tallman, Belle DeCosta, Joann Mead, Alexander Smith, Pete A. O’Donnell, Abraham Simon, and Bary Fleet.

C U L I N A RY B I O G R A P H Y & M E M O I R What reading list would be complete without Ann Hood? Hood is Providence’s own national bestselling author known for novels such as Comfort: A Journey Through Grief, The Book That Matters Most, The Knitting Circle and more. In Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food, the prolific Hood shares personal stories peppered with regional references and the recipes that connect them. All the fixings for an evening of read, cook, repeat!

R E A D LO C A L . B U Y LO C A L . When you’re looking to purchase books by local authors – or any authors, really – support your local independently owned bookstores. The burgeoning book scene in Rhode Island provides you with a wealth of options. Barrington Books: Barrington, BarringtonBooks.com Barrington Books Retold: Cranston, BarringtonBooksRetold.com Book Nerd: Barrington, Facebook Books on the Pond: Charlestown, BooksOnThePond.com Books on the Square: Providence, BookSq.com Cellar Stories Bookstore: Providence, CellarStories.com

ROMANCE

THRILLER

Missing those Hallmark Christmas movies already ? Check out Sebastian Cole’s Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love. Winner of eight literar y awards, get lost in the tale of Noah Hartman, groomed since childhood to inherit the family fortune and business empire until Robin enters the picture! Bum bum bah! Bestselling author Jon Land notes, “Like the best of Nicholas Sparks with just enough schmaltz. Moving and emotive, it’s ever y bit The Notebook.”

A Rhode Island winter always feels a bit supernatural, which makes Providence: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes the perfect book for this list. Her previous work, You was turned into a successful miniseries on Netflix. This one continues her exploration of the suspense-romance-thriller genre. It’s truly a story where love hurts and tough choices have to be made – if everyone is to survive.

SCIENCE Craving rays? Learn all about it in Light: The Visible Spectrum and Beyond, co-authored by Megan Watzke and Kim Arcand – Smithfield’s own visualization scientist and science communicator for NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. Organized along the order of the electromagnetic spectrum, each chapter focuses on a different type of light. A stunning book that’s fascinating to read and browse. Hey Rhody JANUARY 2021 |

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WRITING If becoming a writer or writing more is one of your resolutions for the year ahead, be sure to pick up The 1-Minute Writer: 396 Microprompts to Spark Creativity and Recharge Your Writing by Leigh Medeiros. The book features writing prompts in time inter vals ranging from one minute to 20 to fit both the time you have available and the kind of writing you want to do – so put down that phone – you just might have a novel in you.

Inkfish Books: Warren, InkFishBooks.com Island Books: Middletown, IslandBooksRI.indielite.org Island Bound Bookstore: Block Island, IslandBoundBookstore.com Lovecraft Arts & Sciences: Providence, WeirdProvidence.org Paper Nautilus Books: Providence, PaperNautilusBooks.com Riffraff Bookstore + Bar: Providence, RiffRaffPVD.com Savoy Bookshop & Cafe: Westerly, BankSquareBooks.com Stillwater Books: Pawtucket, StillwaterBooks.com Symposium Books: Providence, SymposiumBooks.com Twenty Stories: Providence, TwentyStoriesLA.com Wakefield Books: Wakefield, WakefieldBooks.com

ART & CULTURE

Colorful Outlook

Provid e nce a r t i st M a rg a ret Owe n m a ke s th e wor ld a more vib ra nt p la ce By Amanda M. Grosvenor

argaret Owen brings a joyful interplay of color to the subjects she paints, whether it’s a still life of flowers in a vase or fruit in a bowl, a portrait, or an apartment interior in Paris or Morocco. She also paints outside, “en plein air” as the French say; a favorite spot is a small bridge at Pleasant Valley Parkway in Elmhurst, near her in-home studio. On one of her walls hangs a painting of the bridge, lush and alive with greenery; on another, it sleeps under fat, blocklike snowflakes, captured by her brush year-round. “It’s basically a glorified drainage ditch, but I could paint it all day,” Owen says. Viewed through her artistic interpretation, one might feel transported to a peaceful pastoral vista. Owen has a knack for seeking out the vibrancy in her subjects and capturing it with meticulous detail or with more abstract strokes, but always with those powerful colors. Her artist name, Permanent Magenta, is both an actual paint color as well as a paradox of concepts: something irrevocable, yet also fun and bold. Based on her body of work, it’s unsurprising that Owen finds inspiration in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters like Paul Cézanne and Claude Monet – “I know it’s clichéd, but I can’t get enough of him” – along with Mary Cassatt and Vincent van Gogh. Cézanne’s style moved Owen early on in her life; she claims he “got [her] started” as a painter and would carry one of his prints around. “The way he uses color just completely speaks to me, and the way he sees space: as not just a 3D representation, but more of an idea,” she says. Like Cézanne, she tends to use pure colors next to each other on the canvas, rather than mixing them on the palette first – she “let[s] them mix optically instead.” She cites large-scale landscape painter Ida Schmulowitz as a local inspiration. Owen began using oil paints in high school in Virginia; later, she earned a master’s degree at the New York Academy of Art, where she immersed herself in the more technical aspects of her craft. There, she met her husband, Michael, a fellow artist, RISD graduate, and a native

Artist Margaret Owen in her Providence home studio

Rhode Islander. When they became pregnant, the couple decided to leave New York City and settle in Providence. Owen always preferred still life painting indoors, but as their son grew, she started “venturing farther afield” and found that watercolor paints were easier to transport and paint with while sitting by the water in Jamestown or traveling with a close friend to Europe to paint together and visit art museums. Her background is in still life and close observation, but watercolors allow her to experiment in new ways. Thanks to the combination of her cheerful style and sparkling, patient personality, Owen became a painting instructor, teaching regular classes. Her students even urged her to do plein air classes. Pre-pandemic she has lead painting sessions in parks and beautiful spots all over the

city and beyond. In a world plagued with distractions, stressful news, and overwhelming consumerism, Owen views artmaking as a way to sit quietly with herself and her feelings: the perfect antidote to a society driven by compulsion. She sums up her philosophy in a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke: “Be attentive to what is arising within you, and place that above everything else... What is happening in your innermost self is worthy of your entire love.” She hopes her painting and teaching will “give others permission” to engage with the world and find beauty all around them, encouraging them to find their own inner peace and expressive voice. Find Owen’s work at Candita Clayton Gallery, Pawtucket; Sheldon Fine Art, Newport; and The Darius Inn on BI. PermanentMagenta.com

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ART & CULTURE

The Must List

ide statew For a f events o listing online! s visit u m ody.co h HeyR

5 essential events this month

J a n u a r y 2 5 : Take a virtual journey to the Highlands for Burns Night: The Home Edition live from the Providence AthenĂŚum, featuring poetr y, g uided scotch tastings, a costume contest, and a few surprises. ProvidenceAthenaeum.org

T h r o u g h J a n u a r y : Inside the spacious Sandywoods Center for the Arts, the Tiverton Farmers Market continues every Tuesday with a revised flow and layout to safely shop local food and art vendors. Facebook: Tiverton Farmers Market

J a n u a r y 1 1 -1 2 : The Coast Guard

T h r o u g h J a n u a r y : The Providence

J a n u a r y 2 9 : Bring the family

Rink is open for the season and hosting COVID-friendly private and group skating lessons with professional ice skaters to help you brush up on your skills. TheProvidenceRink.com

to the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium for Stories in the Sky, a celestial tour of the constellations overhead and their many legends, plus a take-home hot cocoa kit. Bristol, ASRI.org

House will be cast in the soft glow of flickering candles for their themed Candlelight Dinners â&#x20AC;&#x201C; reserve a spot for a romantic winter date night. Narragansett, TheCoastGuardHouse.com

The Providence Athenaeum hosts a virtual night of poetry

Sea Food Sea Friends Sea View

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HOME & STYLE H o m e | We l l n e s s | E n t re p re n u e r s | S h o p

38 Simplicity reigns supreme in a Narragansett home Photo courtesy of White Slate Studio

HOME & STYLE

Less is More

Designe r t i ps fo r c re at i n g a h o m e t h at i s c lu tter-free a n d cozy

By Elys e Major | Photos courtesy of White Slate Studio

“

ess is more is a phrase we live by,” begins Rachel Pappas of White Slate Studio, a design firm she owns and runs with business partner Julie Sanford in Narragansett. “Ever y item chosen when styling a home needs to be thoughtful and ser ve a purpose – meaning both form and function – especially in a small space. Think: Side tables or consoles with drawers for keeping smaller useful items tucked away, and baskets, especially ones with lids, can help keep spaces feeling clean and organized.” It was that MO that the duo implemented to create a modern-meets-farmhouse look desired by

a client. Pappas and Sanford aimed for a balance between histor y and current trends, which was achieved in a minimalist way, incorporating organic elements like pine wood flooring and custom plaster art pieces, while sticking to a limited accent palette with colors found in nature, like rich mossy greens and slate grays. “For winter, we especially love all the warm earthy tones with a few touches of evergreen from the snowy outdoors,” says Pappas. “You can also go ahead and include a few black accents, which is always a good idea.” Pappas and Sanford were also sure to incorporate personal items into the home’s decor, like a seven-

Above: An overview highlights the homeowner’s sevenfoot-long photograph of Narragansett Pier

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HOME & STYLE

Modern design meets vintage farmhouse in the master bedroom

foot framed photograph of Narragansett Town Beach that the homeowner had been hanging onto for years waiting for the right spot to accommodate and showcase the piece properly. “ Thankfully, this new home provided the perfect place – it hangs beautifully just above the side door and windows in the main living area where ever yone can enjoy it,” says Sanford. Streamline doesn’t have to mean stark. When it comes to keeping minimalist spaces feeling warm and welcoming , Pappas says the answer is easy : “Rugs! Rugs and purposeful soft finishes that naturally create warmth.” She explains that a rug helps a space feel more grounded and automatically brings in that necessar y softer element which helps in imbuing a cozier feel. As a final layer, she suggests pillows, throws, baskets, and “a candle and a book or two, as well as lamps for mood lighting – are all great items to consider that effortlessly create warmth.”

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Get Rhody Style N ow t h a t yo u ’ ve c l e a re d (o r h i d d e n ) t h e c l u t te r, h e re a re s o m e t h i n g s t h a t S a n fo rd a n d P a p p a s s u g g e s t yo u d o b r i n g i n t o yo u r h o m e :

Supporting Families. Funding Research Since 2013 Providing financial assistance to the parents of children battling brain cancer

S c ave n g e r H u n t “Coastal style is easily achieved through texture, color, great art, and organic elements, and lucky for us we have access to the best beaches where we can find unique treasures! Julie’s kids love collecting beach treasures for us to use in styling our clients’ homes.”

Honoring the children who suffer from cancer and fight everyday. Our hopes are to make a day in the life of a family suffering from cancer a little bit brighter

Shop Small Biz “Go-to sources for goods and supplies include Belmont Market, Farmer’s Daughter, and Jerry’s Hardware for last-minute supplies. For builders, it’s Damon and Company, and Paul Weber, architect, both in Newport.”

Lo c a l A cc e n t s “Art is also a great way to transport you seaside – whether it’s a modern black and white print of the harbor or a vintage painting of the coast from an antique shop. Our clients had stunning old photos and framed RI maps which we showcased throughout the house.”

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The Meeting Street Lamp If you didn’t get one for the holidays, we have plenty. Order online or come visit!

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HOME & STYLE

21 Places to Get Fit in 2021

From Ashtanga to Zumba, livestream, limited capacity classes and more make sticking to that New Year’s resolution easier than you think By Gianni Dejesus and Elyse Major Nearly a year ago when Rhode Island experienced lockdown in March, fitness studios of all kinds were among the first types of small businesses to swiftly pivot to offer new options: a true testament to their flexibility, nimbleness, and strength. Today with pauses and restarts, studios continue to monitor mandates and implement protocols, and keep livestream, on-demand, and other options on their menus. Many spots still include in-person classes made safe with modifications like plexiglass, six-foot floor marks, and capacity limits. Virtual classes are also becoming a big hit due to the convenience they offer – you can participate right from the comfort of home – so stuff those excuses in your duffle bag! If you are heading out, be sure to register first, mask up, and check with your PCP before starting a new routine. Provided below are just 21 of the great many places around the state to help you keep that resolution.

fitness bands, yoga mats, and many other conditioning tools. Good to know: Open at press time but always good to check online first. Charlestown: RhodeWarriorGym.com

BARRE 4. BARRE & SOUL What it is: A unique combo of ballet conditioning, interval cardio, Pilates, yoga, and meditation. Choose from 80+ offerings from their Livestream Experiences menu. Good to know: The website offers ideas for prop and weight substitutes for working out from home. Providence; BarreSoul.com

OVERALL FITNESS 1. LUXE FITNESS What it is: A full-service facility with 120+ pieces of equipment by brands like Life Fitness, Cybex, and Iron Grip. Classes include spinning, Pilates, yoga, muscle sculpt, Zumba, core training, Ab Attack, and more. Good to know: You can take an online tour via their website. Westerly and Wakefield; LuxeFitnessClubs.com 2. PERFECTLY FIT RI What is it: Newly renovated expansive gym with a host of cardiovascular and strength training equipment, currently offering appointment-only personal training and small group workouts. Good to know: Raw Bob’s Organic Juicery is available onsite. East Greenwich; PerfectlyFitRI.com 3. RHODE WARRIOR GYM What is it: Embrace your inner Rocky at this 2,400-square-foot facility with a boxing room complete with ring and bags. There’s also a fitness room with free weights, kettlebells, rowing machines, squat racks, weighted balls,

5. BARRE COAST What is it: Along with barre, class options include boxing, yoga, and TRX – the equipment-based suspension training developed by a former US Navy SEAL. Good to know: Love to shop? There’s a boutique onsite filled with workout wear. Westerly; BarreCoast.com 6. THE BARRE + YOGA EXPERIENCE What is it: A boutique studio offering in-person, live-stream, and on-demand options. Good to know: The studio is open with restrictions, including no walk-ins at this time, so be sure to register. Smithfield; TheBarreAndYogaExperience.com

by reservation only. Johnston; CrossFitWindRose.com

KICKBOXING 8. CHRISTINA RONDEAU KICKBOXING What is it: Rondeau has been the name in kickboxing in Rhode Island for years for good reason. Find a wide range of programs from this acclaimed instructor. Good to know: Children getting punchy? Check out classes for kids. Johnston; RKBLive.com

CYCLING 9. CORE CYCLE.FITNESS.LAGREE What is it: As the name implies, find cycling, strength/cardio, and Lagree (a workout patented by Sebastien Lagree that incorporates strength, endurance, cardio, balance, core, and flexibility in every move). Options from private to group. Good to know: Class spots are currently limited so make sure to pre-register. Providence; CoreFitProv.com

CROSSFIT

10. WAVE CYCLE STUDIO What is it: Cycling classes are held both indoors and out, featuring their signature 45-minute WAVE ride. COVID measures include HEPA filters, eight-foot plexiglass walls, UV air purifiers, and hospital grade sanitizer. Good to know: Book a bike using the WAVE Cycle iOS app or via their website. Newport; WaveCycleStudio.com

7. CROSSFIT WINDROSE What is it: Along with indoor, outdoor, and virtual classes, there’s private training and custom meal plans. Good to know: Safety policies and regulations are in place, such as maintaining six feet of distance from others. Classes are

11. SALT CYCLE STUDIO What is it: Indoor cycling made possible with a long list of safety protocols, or cycle along remotely via Vimeo. Good to know: Book bikes using their own app on iPhone, Android, or via their website. Tiverton; SaltCycleStudios.com

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YOGA 18. ISLAND HERON YOGA Set up a comfy spot to learn a variety of yoga styles including Ashtanga, Hatha, and Shakti to practice at home via livestream classes. Good to know: The studio is currently closed, but classes live-stream daily. Also peruse their website for a library of pre-recorded classes. Jamestown; IslandHeronYoga.com

PILATES

TRAINING

12. PROVIDENCE PILATES CENTER What is it: Experience classic Pilates using every piece of Pilates apparatus in this studio nestled off Blackstone Blvd. Spin and barre are also offered. Good to know: Schedules for small in-studio and online classes are posted online; book in advance. Providence; ProvidencePilatesCenter.com

15. A&D FITNESS What is it: Family-run studio that will appeal to those seeking a manageable balance of being fit and enjoying the occasional cookie. Offering group classes, personal training, nutrition, and more. Good to know: Weekly challenges with prizes and a private FB group help to stay motivated. Johnston; AandDFitness.com

13. TRUE BALANCE PILATES What is it: Explore a range of equipment and techniques at this studio, including Redcord, a suspension system commonly used in Norway for physical therapy and training for elite athletes. Good to know: Currently offering small classes in the studio. Warren; TrueBalancePilates.com 14. BENEFITNESS PILATES STUDIO & TRAINING CENTER What is it: The only STOTT PILATES® (musculo-skeletal program that focuses on strength and stability) training and certification in the area. Good to know: The center offers options like personal training and TRX. Find both live and on-demand sessions on the MBO app. East Greenwich; RIPilates.net

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16. BODY ROCK What it is: Recently celebrating 10 years in the biz, this unique spot has group classes, private training, competitor coaching, and nutrition services. Good to know: Download the Body Rock app to sign up for classes and receive reminders for them, too. Cumberland; BodyRockRI.com 17. MOMENTUM FITNESS What is it: A “Strength Through Movement” center offering personal or semi-private training and group sessions both in-person or virtual. Good to know: Currently offering three virtual classes which include circuit training. Sign up on the Mindbody app. Providence; MomentumRI.com

19. MEND What is it: Three besties founded this yoga studio. Currently all virtual with new classes daily along with a library of 80+ workouts. Good to know: Prides itself on no terms, no cancellation fees, and “amazing playlists!” Newport; MendYogaRI.com 20. PROVIDENCE POWER YOGA What it is: Find $5 virtual lunchtime sessions and a menu of classes held both virtually or in their sunny studio. Good to know: Safety protocols include reduced class sizes and studio floors marked to keep mats 10 feet apart. Riverside; ProvidencePowerYoga.com

ZUMBA 21. ZUMBA WITH LAURENHB What is it: A Zumba online experience where you can enjoy classes at home every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 10am on Facebook Live. Good to know: Register for your class by sending Lauren a DM of your email address or request to join her FB group. Facebook: Zumba with Lauren HB

See this month’s Rhody Gem on page 18 for info on The Woods Yoga, Lincoln

HOME & STYLE

Salt of the Earth

It’s all in the family for Cranston-based soap company KALASTYLE By And rea E. McHugh

Made in small batches in RI

t’s a uniquely Rhode Island love story: Toy inventor meets toy model maker at Hasbro – the two fall in love, quit their jobs, and launch a new business. “Quite literally in our backyard,” says Alice Smith, the daughter of KALASTYLE founders Kate Smith (the KA) and Lance Gershenhoff (the LA). “We had a little farmhouse with a chicken coop in the back where we raised chickens, goats, and geese.” And apparently, there was enough space left over to develop an import company that sourced from old-world European heritage brands – mostly small family businesses well into their fourth generation. “My mom, a fantastic storyteller, has always been attracted to products with a great history,” explains Alice. It was the pre-internet age, when bringing international products to the US took much more than a simple click to add to cart. More than 30 years later, KALASTYLE is a successful personal care company that crafts soaps, hand creams, shaving products, lip balms, candles, and hand sanitizers from a 30,000-square-foot building in Cranston. (They’ve come a long way from the family’s unheated garage turned “shipping department.”) While available locally, products are also carried

by national retailers like Anthropologie. “We are still family-owned and -operated, and have a very small staff, some of whom have been with us for 20 years,” says Alice, who’s been helping her parents on and off with the company since she was a teenager and now serves as the company’s creative director. “We began focusing more and more on locally made and/or USAmade products in the early 2000s.” Makers of nearly a dozen retail brands, Swedish Dream may be KALAST YLE’s most iconic and locally recognizable line with its decidedly nautical identity punctuated by a contemporary anchor and block font. Alice and Kate have a passion for purposeful, researched design that captures the integrity of the brand, a process that Alice says takes a boatload of love, time…and wine. “ We call it ‘wine and design,’” she laughs. Alice’s husband Cleveland, who has a background in production and photography, has a role in the design process as well, and has worked on the company’s catalogs and website. In Swedish Dream’s case, the product and its packaging were inspired by the simplicity of Scandinavian design combined with the family’s love for the Ocean State.

BUY GOOD SOAP Swedish Dream and other KALASTYLE products can be found at the following locations around the Ocean State: Beauty and the Bath, Wickford Cathryn Jamieson Salon and Conanicut Ship Store, Jamestown Ocean House Boutique Shop, Westerly Simple Pleasures and Queen of Hearts, Providence Soap and Water, Newport

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HOME & STYLE

Color Story By Elyse Major

esign nerds the world over received the big news in early December: Pantone, the company known for its signature color matching system widely used in printing, product design, and more, announced not one – but two – Colors of the Year 2021. This is the second time that two shades have been selected; the first was in 2016 with Rose Quartz and Serenity (a dusty pink and blue, respectively). Our congrats to PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating. In everyday terms, think of a dark gray flannel and a buttercup yellow. On their website Pantone gives you the sense that the dark and light combo had something to do with that “unprecedented year” known as 2020, and that their goal is always to reflect a cultural moment. Pantone describes Ultimate Gray as “the colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time” and Illuminating as “a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power.” Whether you care about any of this or not, you’ve got to hand it to Pantone Color Institute for creating an international breaking news event at the close of each year by selecting a hue or two for the following. Here at Hey Rhody, we used it as a fun reason to scour the state for goods from local shops, artists, and makers, to bring the trendy duo into your home.

O&G STUDIO

HOLLY WACH

KREATELIER

THE CAPTAIN’S TABLE

Warren; OandGStudio.com

Pawtucket: HollyWach.com

Providence; Kreatelier.com

Wickford; TheCaptainsTableRI.com

THE COTTAGE

QUEEN OF HEARTS & MODERN LOVE

LORE

KINGSTON KRAFTS

Tiverton; TheCottageRI.com

Providence; ShopQueenof Hearts.com

Providence; LoreCollection.com

Cranston; KingstonKrafts.com

Bella Notte bedding, The Cottage Summer Garden art print, Lore Pillow, Kreatelier Journal, Queen of Hearts & Modern Love Tote bag, The Captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Table Zinc-topped French trestle table, Kingston Krafts Bird print, Holly Wach Accent lamp, O&G Studio

2020 wasn’t the year any of us expected, but it zoomed by. Here’s to a peaceful holiday season and a bright and happy 2021 from [THE BLACKSTONE TEAM] 401.214.1524 blackstone.team@ mottandchace.com Each Office is I ndependently Owned an d O p e ra te d .

CUSTOM kitchen & bath DESIGN

EXODUS CONSTRUCTION 91 Point Judith Road, Suite 375 Narragansett | 782-2700 ExodusRI.com

EXODUS DESIGN GROUP 351 Liberty Lane, Suite P-16 W. Kingston | 295-4300 ExodusDesignRI.com

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FOOD & DRINK M u s t-Tr y | E x p e r i e n c e | W i n te r D i n i n g | P a n t r y

50 Tiverton’s new cafe is “where Provender used to be” P h o t o s b y M a a i k e B e r n s t r o m , c o u r t e s y o f G r o u n d s we l l

FOOD & DRINK

Winter Hot Spot Tivertonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Groundswell cafe and home & garden shop are the places to be By Elys e Maj or

Photos by Maaike Bernstrom, courtesy of Groundswell

pen a new cafe where a beloved one stood for 37 years ? Have your grand opening during Phase III of a pandemic ? Vouloir, c’est pouvoir. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And that was certainly the case for David Fierabend, who opened Groundswell Cafe & Baker y at the former Provender space at Tiverton Four Corners. Approach the entrance of the circa 1876 building to find parchment menus listing cafe fare with inspired twists including breakfast all day, and in keeping with their buy local/Francophile vibe, locally roasted coffee alongside gourmet Mariage Frères tea imported from the City of Light. One step inside the completely renovated space to place your order, and you are surrounded by a handsome aesthetic with most ever ything from jars of local honey to floor mats branded with the elegant all-caps logo. Groundswell is a stand-alone cafe but part of Groundswell Design Group, a company based in Philadelphia and Detroit – comprised of designers, builders, and craftspeople including Fierabend, a landscape architect – that designs public spaces, restaurants, cafes, and distilleries around the world. So how did Four Corners get so lucky ? Fierabend, while based primarily in Pennsylvania, has had a long time adoration for Newport County. “I remember having tomato galette at Olga’s Cup and Saucer, and liking the slower pace of the area,” he says, recalling the days when the now-closed cafe was adjacent to Walker’s Roadside Stand on West Main Road in Little Compton. “ When I heard that the Provender space was for sale, I had to take a look.” Not only was 3883 Main Road available, but the Arnold Smith House across the street. The post and beam cottage with gambrel roof, which most recently housed a galler y, was also purchased by Fierabend. Now, steps from the cafe, Groundswell Garden + Home is a charming warren of small rooms each stocked with garden tools, paper goods, and kitchen accessories. The shop’s parking lot was quickly transformed into an outdoor dining area for the baker y/ cafe just weeks after opening. Secured from the street by a series of large planters, there is now a group of socially distant tables and

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Farm coast meets France in both atmosphere and offerings at Groundswell

chairs; a parked red pickup truck that acts as a sort of landmark keeps napkins and coffee stirrers at the ready. Together the neighboring cafe and shop form a cohesive place to eat, sip, and shop. At press time, team Groundswell had just launched an online ordering system for the cafe filled with all the fan favorites like chicken salad on a bag uette, cinnamon and

honey scones, roasted cauliflower salad, and more. With delight, Fierabend says, “ We’ve been slammed, non-stop! Biz has been so great, even with this pandemic!”

GROUNDSWELL Cafe + B akery 3883 Main Road • Tiverton 401-816-4256 • GroundswellCafeGarden.com

FOOD & DRINK

Southern-Inspired New American Comes to Federal Hill

Whethe r i t ’ s c hi c ke n a n d wa f f l e s o r c a l a ma r i, S a je K itc h en ser ves u p flavor fu l twists on favori tes By Chuck Staton

Must-Try Items CRISPY CAL AM ARI ($17) Hot and sweet peppers, garlic, fresh herbs. LOBSTER DEVILED EGGS ($11) Fresh lobster, lemon brioche crumble, chives.

Cuisine: New American with a Southern influence Prices: $10 - $56 Atmosphere: Small, dark, and handsome

Photogrphy by Gina Mastrostefano

needed to try the Brussels sprouts. When it comes to the culinary world, Instagram is my guiding light for new places to eat and the Brussels on the Saje Kitchen Insta were beckoning. So off to Federal Hill I went. Yup, Federal Hill, Providence’s Little Italy where I’ve set sail with the spaghetti, battened down the hatches with the bucatini, shivered me timbers with tortellini – and loved every minute. And now Saje Kitchen has entered the picture, whipping a spicy Southern splash of New American onto Atwells Avenue. IMHO Saje Kitchen is clearly catering to the casual diner looking for a hip but lowkey atmosphere with a seriously innovative menu. The subtle, dusky nightclub vibe is perfect

Chicken & Waffles topped with a dollop of brown sugar butter

for chilling out, and their varied menu is built for ordering course after course. But first, Brussels sprouts. They were smoked with fresh apple, caramelized onion and creme fraiche – a different flavor palette than I’d expected – and it was delicious. The apple was julienned, and the sweetness worked perfectly with the cream and smokey sprouts. I was also on a hunt for the unique and found it with the Crispy Calamari. I love traditional Rhode Island style with garlic butter and cherr y peppers, but Saje Kitchen’s take blew me away. The pile of fried crunchy squid was ser ved with a hot pepper jam, fresh herbs, and a sweet, thick, citrusy sauce on the plate that was a lap -it-up -incredible addition. The Mac and Cheese is simply top-notch:

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cavatelli pasta with an excellent blend of light sweetness and bitter notes in their thick, gooey four-cheese blend. The Tuna Tartare is ser ved with a monster-sized rice chip on top, pepper mash, buttermilk, and benne seeds. The Lobster Deviled Eggs are a light seafood-andfarmyard combo with a lemon brioche crumble. The addition of lobster ser ves as a welcome but artful change to the sinful appetizer. Long stor y short, ever ything on the small plates’ menu at Saje Kitchen is thoughtful and well-executed. From the Chicken Skewers with Alabama white barbecue sauce to the Thrice Fried Wings with sweet potato caramel (yes, sweet potato caramel), you will not be disappointed with the appetizers at Saje Kitchen.

Along with the Brussels sprouts and ever ything else, I admittedly couldn’t wait to tr y a certain dish. Though the menu is filled with creole spices, po’ boys, cajun fries, grits, and remoulade, Chicken and Waffles were my Southern draw. Ser ved with a chili maple crunch, bourbon barrel-aged brown sugar butter, and maple syrup, they are the star of the show. The salty butter, the saccharine maple, the flake of the waffle, the crunch of the fried chicken skin – they’re ever ything you want them to be.

S aje Kitchen 332 Atwells Ave, Providence • 401-473-0504 SajeKitchen.com

FOOD & DRINK

Snow Globe Dining

Igloo s , d o m e s , b u b b l e s – c a l l t h e m w h at you want, but what was once an exclu s i ve w i nte r di n i n g tre n d i s n ow a m eans of survival for restaurants By Megan Schmit

Photo (L) courtesy of Terrazza (R) courtesy of Discover Newport

ast winter, you might have noticed the iridescent domes encapsulating diners at a handful of restaurants around Rhode Island. Whether they were the luxur y themed versions at Gurney’s Resort in Newport or the colorfully lit ones perched atop Mare Rooftop, these igloos promised an exclusive experience for sipping and savoring outdoors – even in the cold and snow. “Our igloos started three years ago. The first year was definitely a learning experience: How do we get them to stay dry? How do we get them to stay warm?” remembers Megan Lasher, general manager for TerrazzaRI, the modern Mediterranean and Italian-inspired restaurant in Smithfield. It started as something fun and cool to offer, she says of the original two igloos. “Never in our wildest dreams – or nightmares – did we predict COVID-19 and how it would impact our industry. We never could have seen that mastering the igloos in our second year would be our saving grace through the dark winter of 2020.” Now, Terrazza offers five uniquely decorated (and heated!) igloos for up to six guests; however, they must be booked by phone or social media, have a two-hour dining limit, and require a $200 spending minimum and autogratuity to “ensure our staff is taken care of, especially working in rain, snow, and freezing temperatures.” To keep things safe, the igloos are properly sanitized and tablecloths replaced between each reservation. When Lasher refers to the igloos as their saving grace, she is not alone. For many restaurants, investing in the domed dining experience isn’t about style as much as it is survival this winter. Some are springing up for the first time, like the cozy bubbles at Kay’s in Woonsocket, Chaska and Revolution American Bistro in Cranston, and Kleos in Providence. Looking for an igloo near you? Check out our list.

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Apponaug Brewing Co. | Warwick Heaters and twinkle lights make Apponaug ’s bubbles almost magical, especially when paired with industrial vibes and craft beer. Unlike most igloo dining , these are first come, first ser ve. ApponaugBrewing.com

Chaska | Cranston Creative Indian cuisine in Garden City, best enjoyed by bubble – blankets included! Pro tip : Order a hot drink like Masala Chai or Coconut Grove Hot Toddy to complete the experience. Call 401-537-7900.

Gurney’s Resort | Newport For an intimate igloo experience, book an evening inside one of Gurney’s heated – and decorated – domes, which seats up to four. Reserve online at SevenRooms.com/ reservations/igloosnewport or call 401-851-3325.

Kay’s | Woonsocket With or without igloos, Kay’s in an experience : seasonal cocktails, daily specials, and a straightfor ward menu printed on a napkin. Head to the parking lot across the street for the heated domes. Call 401-762-9675.

Left: Terrazza Right: Showfish at Gurney’s

Mare Rooftop | Providence

Revolution American Bistro | Cranston

Inside Kleos’ cozy bubbles you’ll be transported to Greece with Mediterranean eats and matching vibes, all while you take in views of Downcity. Text 401-413-1069 or call 401-443-4083.

Located in the heart of the East Side, gaze out over Wayland Square while basking in the colorful glow inside their lit igloos. Plus, select from a special menu with options for date night. Call 401-336-6273.

Each igloo is themed, heated, and features windows for extra ventilation. Reserve online for up to eight guests with a $200 minimum spend and two-hour limit. Perfect for craft cocktails (try: Apple Cider Mule) and taking in Pawtuxet Village. RevolutionRI.com/igloos/

Los Andes | Providence

Rooftop at the G | Providence

TerrazzaRI | Smithfield

While unsuspecting on the outside, Los Andes dazzles with an interior courtyard dressed for the season, sublime Bolivian and Peruvian cuisine, and, of course, reser vable igloos. Call 401-649-4911.

Chill out in one of the private igloos or lounge under the enclosed rooftop for winter dining with unmatched views. Call 401-632-4902.

Indulge in modern Italian with Mediterranean and American flair in one of five reservable igloos. Note: There is a two-hour limit and $200 spending minimum. Call 401-233-3223 or reach out on Facebook or Instagram @terrazzari.

Kleos | Providence

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FOOD & DRINK

Jam Packed with Flavor

Fa m i ly busine s s s p e c i a l i ze s i n swe et a n d savory preserves By Abbie Lahmers

ou may have driven by Wood Boat and Motor in War wick before without ever realizing a quaint retail jam joint resides right inside, with a selection as groovy as the Bob Marley song the name nods to. We Be Jammin’ opened six years ago as a pop -up at spots like Pawtuxet Village Park and Hope Artiste Village for farmers markets, where the labels slowly became a mainstay of top notch preser ved goods. Owner Debbie Wood explains that the business started slow by design for her son Jason, whose autism makes social interaction a challenge. “ We were unsure how well he would handle it, but he seemed to enjoy the social interaction, which is not typical,” Debbie says. “He would high-five the customers and eagerly bag up the purchases, tip his baseball cap, and say, ‘ Thank you and enjoy !’ Soon he would ask when we would sell the jam again.” Debbie knew Jason needed to engage in the outside world in a way that would be meaningful and enjoyable, and the decision for him to run a business peddling fruit preser ves was natural – jam on toast is one of Jason’s personal favorites, especially with so many varieties to choose from. Debbie explains, “It helped a great deal with his verbal skills by having choices. He began to use complete sentences when asking and choosing his breakfast.” And the choices are many – think 75 products, all made specially for We Be Jammin’. Over time, demand grew, and new flavors and lines of products were added, which can now all be found in the retail shop, along with gift baskets and some handmade soaps and candles. You can still rely on the mother-and-son duo to bring you classics like raspberr y and bestseller Strawberr y Rhubarb jam, but thrill seekers can also indulge in some Blackberr y Jalapeño jam, Ghost Pepper Ketchup, and Fier y Buffalo Sauce. Condiment offerings – like Sweet Baby Beets and bread-and-butter pickles – salad dressings, barbecue sauces and marinades, and creative salsas (including one with bacon!) ensure there’s something for ever yone’s jam.

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Left: Savory condiments from We Be Jammin’ Right: Signature fruit jams

Dress up any meal with flavorful

Spicy Meets Sweet

fixin’s curated by the Woods. Here’s

Take your cheese board game to the next level with

just a few of Debbie’s go-to meals

a surprising union of sweet and spice: “Try any one of

made tastier with bold spreads.

our Jalapeño Jams over softened cream cheese for a delicious appetizer served with crackers. The fruit

We Be Grillin’

with the jalapeños makes a delicious combination!”

“Our Peach Bourbon BBQ is great on ribs on the grill,” Debbie

Dinner in a Pinch

recommends. “The Sweet Bourbon

“If you’re sick of eating the same old thing,

Glaze is great on steak tips, and

pour one of our jars of salsa over any piece of

our Chicken Dipping Sauce is

meat, fish, or poultry in the crock pot and come

the ultimate side sauce.” And for

home to a delicious dinner,” Debbie suggests.

dessert? Add a dollop of your fave

Drizzle their Mango Lime Dressing over fresh

fruit jam to vanilla ice cream.

greens for a quick side salad.

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We give them. We get them. Mammograms save lives. Start your New Year off right. Make your appointment today.

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