Hey Rhody August 2023

Roger Williams University’s Women’s Field Hockey Team

Photo by Bodie Ibrahim, courtesy of Roger Williams University

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP Introducing the

LAUNCHING FALL 2023!

News & Life

10 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: Lessons learned in sports aided Neil Steinberg’s career in banking and philanthropy

12 OP-ED: The story behind what is now a sports complex on the East Side

16 A Bristol umpire is one step closer to his Little League dream

17 RHODY GEM: Find vintage collegiate swag and more in Warren

Food & Drink

40 IN THE KITCHEN: A Providence chef’s creative take on sports bar fare

42 RECIPE: Healthy game-day crab cakes

46 RHODY EATS: RESTAURANT GUIDE

Home & Style

50 HOME: Big style and French accents in a Riverside bungalow

52 ENTERTAINING: Fuss-free hosting for Labor Day

54 INFLUENCER: An Olympiad celebrity co-founds camp to empower youth

55 WELLNESS: A writer gets the swing of pickleball in South Kingstown

Art & Culture

58 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s

59 ON SCREEN: Living RI surf legend honored in new documentary

60 All-age adventures around Providence

62 A techie museum’s move to Warwick means expanded programming

64 #HEYRHODYPETS: Our followers’ furry, feathered, and scaled friends – share yours on Instagram!

On the Cover: Esports has arrived. Images by © Anton/Adobe Stock and © Creativa Images/Adobe Stock.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Pates

Photo courtesy of Archery Games Providence

Photo by Kayla Aucoin

THOM CAHIR

Fans of baseball are sure to enjoy “The Grays Are Here to Stay” (page 14), written by first-time contributor Thom Cahir. Learn about RI’s vintage team and be enticed to see them play at the Rocky Point Historic Base Ball Festival this month. Based in South County, Cahir describes his previous work as “a long stint in the newsroom at the state’s largest legacy print outlet.”

KAREN

GRECO

A seasoned writer living in Narragansett whose career started in beauty, fitness, and fashion editorial at Elle Magazine and Ladies’ Home Journal , our former editor Karen Greco always relishes an active assignment. Her first-person “In a Pickle” (page 55) is a lively read that will help you decide if you want to give the buzzworthy sport a go.

MEGAN

MONTE

Do you remember your first computer? A visit to the Rhode Island Computer Museum is like a step back in time coupled with innovative programs for right now. High school English teacher by day, Megan Monte writes about this new kind of history museum recently expanded to a larger facility in Warwick in “Computer Age” (page 62).

NINA

MURPHY

For over a decade, Bristol’s Nina Murphy has been spotlighting fascinating individuals from across the East Bay for her monthly Voices of the Bay column, which runs in our sister publication The Bay . For our sports-themed issue, Murphy interviewed a fellow Bristolian with a passion for being an umpire in “Calling the Shots” (page 16).

Publishers

Barry Fain

Richard Fleischer

John Howell

Editor in Chief

Elyse Major

Editor

Ken Abrams

Advertising Design Director

Layheang Meas

Senior Designer

Taylor Gilbert

Account Managers

Shelley Cavoli

Louann DiMuccio-Darwich

Ann Gallagher

Kristine Mangan Olf

Interested in advertising?

August 2023

General Manager & Creative Director

Nick DelGiudice

Managing Editor

Abbie Lahmers

Senior Editorial Designer

Abigail Brown

1 Add butter, eggs, four, sugar, salt, baking soda and favor extract (mint or vanilla) in mixing bowl and blend. Remove 1/3 of the dough, roll into a ball, fatten, place in dish, cover and refrigerate.

Email Marketing@ProvidenceOnline.com

Contributing Photographers

Kayla Aucoin

Derek Delahunt

Nick Dentamaro

Bodie Ibrahim

Contributing Writers

Kayla Aucoin

Thom Cahir

Patty J

Karen Kalunian

Karen Greco

Megan Monte

Interns

Mark Lohman

Tyler Mclewin

Kenneth Pates

David Silverman

2 Add red food coloring to remaining dough in mixer; blend - add up to 1/2 tsp more to achieve desired color. Compress red dough into soup can mold and place in freezer for 2 hours.

3 On a lightly foured board, roll out white dough into a 3 1/2" x 12" rectangle. Using a can opener, cut bottom of soup can, gently push dough out and place red dough cylinder at edge of the white dough rectangle. Roll white dough around the red dough cylinder, sprinkle green decorating sugar on board and roll the combined dough cylinder covering the shell with plenty of green sprinkles.

Liz Murray

Nina Murphy

Fifi O’Neill

Jenna Pelletier

Michael Szostak

Steve Triedman

Audrey Keefe Rebekah Swenson

Looking for an internship?

Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com

Distribution Services Special Delivery Subscribe Today! HeyRhody.com/MailToYou

Presented

4 For best results, wrap in wax paper and place in freezer overnight before cutting. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice dough into 1/4 inch slices, cut in half, place on cookie sheet, add mini chocolate chips, bake for 10 to 12 minutes until they start to lightly brown. Let cool and serve. 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889

Copyright ©2023 by Providence Media. All rights reserved.

*These cookies also make great ice cream sandwiches!

Providence Grays players (L-R) Charlie Dryer, Helen Sheldon, and Jon Henson

Photo courtesy of Providence Grays

Lessons Learned in Sports Aided Neil Steinberg’s Career in Banking and Philanthropy

The sprinter turned business leader relied on lessons he took from track

eil Steinberg rarely ran the fastest leg on his relay teams in high school and college. “When I handed off the baton, I wanted [my teammates] to be faster,” he said. Steinberg was fast — he still shares the 100-yard dash record of 9.7 seconds at West Haven High School in Connecticut — but if his teammates were faster, he reasoned, the team stood a better chance of winning.

That commitment to team performance over individual glory sustained Steinberg on the track at West Haven High and Brown University and helped him excel as a banker, fundraiser, and advocate for the public good in a career that will end this month just shy of 50 years.

Steinberg, 69, was president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, one of the oldest and largest of the 800 community foundations in America. It was founded in 1916. The Rhode Island Foundation raises money from philanthropic individuals and companies, invests those dollars and distributes the returns to Rhode Island nonprofit organizations. In 2022 the Foundation raised $75 million and awarded $84 million to 2,400 Rhode Island nonprofits.

Steinberg has been in charge since 2008. Before that he was Chief Development Officer at Brown, where he led all fundraising, including a $1.4 billion capital campaign. And before that he was a corporate loan officer and eventually CEO and President of Fleet Bank of Rhode Island.

The amazing thing about his career is that he planned none of it. But as we talked about those decades at Fleet, Brown and the RIF, he described how lessons he learned from sports helped him succeed in business.

SUCCESS CAN FOLLOW FAILURE.

Steinberg recalled his first baseball adventure.

“When I was nine years old, I did not make the Little League team on my first try,” he told me. “So I spent that summer throwing tennis balls against the garage and swinging a heavy bat. When I was 10, I made the team. I

was a fast singles hitter.” The lesson? “If you fail, get up and dust yourself off.”

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS WHEN YOU DON’T EXPECT IT.

Steinberg played soccer in the fall of his freshman year at West Haven High. That spring he tried out for the baseball team. Shagging flies in center field, he decided to show off. Instead of hitting the cutoff man, he threw to home plate, injured his arm, and did not make the team.

As a sophomore Steinberg played soccer. His coach talked him into running track instead of trying out for baseball again. He ran the 100, 200, low hurdles and relays almost every meet.

“Once in a while I had to run a 400. I’ve never done anything in my business career as difficult as running a 400,” he said. Once around the track at a full sprint is a serious test. Brown and the University of Connecticut recruited him to play soccer, but he went straight to track. “I didn’t set out to be a track guy. If I had made the baseball team, none of this track stuff would have happened,” he said.

BECOME A STUDENT OF THE GAME.

Steinberg’s first track memory was the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, the games of American Bob Beamon’s world record long jump and the raised fist protest of American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Inspired, Steinberg bought a book on how to become a sprinter. He was so excited that he persuaded his high school coach to allow him to work several tips into practice.

PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS.

Steinberg’s specialty, as he put it, was not speed but “being the organizing guy” for his relay team. He made sure they checked in on time, they had their baton, and their names were on the signin card. He placed strips of adhesive tape on the track to mark their starting positions.

“It worked,” he said.

LEARN TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP.

A team captain at Brown for two years, Steinberg

did not aspire to be the speedster in every race. Instead, he enjoyed “coordinating and leading a whole bunch of people who were faster sprinters than I was. . . . motivating, collaborating, bringing the team together.” He remembers the year at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia when his relay team raced against Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis and a team from the Santa Monica Track Club. Steinberg and friends finished ahead of Lewis and his crew. “How did we do it?” Steinberg asked. “They dropped the baton.”

KEEP GOING, AND GO HARD.

At the 1971 Connecticut State Championships, Steinberg, a senior, qualified for the final in the 100-yard dash. The favorite was Pablo Franco from the powerhouse Hartford Public High School. Only a sophomore, he was already one

In partnership with The Public’s Radio • ThePublicsRadio.org • By Michael Szostak

Neil Steinberg at the Penn Relays

of the fastest sprinters in America and also an excellent running back in football.

“He was 6 feet, 185 pounds and chiseled. His muscles were in my lane. I was a 5-10, 145-pound white guy,” Steinberg recalled. Franco won in 9.5 seconds. Steinberg was third in 9.7. After the race Franco wanted to know “who was that white guy who pushed me for 60 yards?” “That was the best compliment I ever received in sports. I was on cloud 9,” Steinberg said. Two years later, Franco went to the University of Washington to run track. Steinberg was a sophomore sprinter at Brown. His 4x110-yard relay team set the school record while winning the Heptagonal Championships. He still has the baton from that race as well as newspaper clips, trophies, plaques, old Brown sweats and T-shirts from running in 30 consecutive Penn

Relays. In 1974 his Brown relay team qualified for the NCAA Championships at Texas. “I never thought I’d get that far,” he said.

PERFORMANCE COUNTS.

As a college senior in 1975, Steinberg had no idea what he wanted to do. He thought he would stay in Rhode Island for two years so he could train and wait until his girlfriend, Genie Shao, a gymnast, graduated. One day he was working out on the elevated track at the old Marvel Gym on Elmgrove Avenue when he chatted with Dave Farley, a Brown miler and record holder from the early 1960s. Farley invited him downtown to Industrial National Bank — over the years to become Fleet, Fleet Boston Financial and Bank of America — for an interview.

“I had no idea what the job was,” Steinberg

said. He was hired, started in the training program and stayed for three decades, working his way up to head the bank in Rhode Island. He left for the fundraising position at Brown after Bank of America acquired Fleet in 2003 and in 2008 moved downtown again to lead the Rhode Island Foundation.

“My girlfriend and access to training. Those were the two reasons I stayed in Rhode Island,” Steinberg said with a chuckle. “I’ve had a wonderful career, and I got a wife. Dave Farley is my patron saint.”

Last summer, Steinberg returned to his old high school after dropping Genie at a family baby shower in Branford. Two hip replacements have curtailed his running so he walked the track, the cinders of his youth replaced by a rubberized surface. A blue signboard caught his eye. On it are the names of all the track and field record holders in West Haven High history. His is one of three for 100 yards.

Little could Steinberg have known when he tied that school record by pushing the great Pablo Franco from Hartford that his own track would take him from Union Station in New Haven to Union Station in Providence, an Ivy League education, a career marked by opportunity, hard work, mentors, unexpected twists and good luck.

“I owe a lot to sports. I worked for three iconic Rhode Island institutions. I feel younger, a vibrancy from having been in sports. There’s a little more bounce in my step. People say life is a marathon. To me, life is a series of sprints,” he said.

Those sprints finally took him back to Providence’s Union Station, home of the Rhode Island Foundation, where on June 1 he welcomed his successor, a former Providence mayor and US Congressman.

“I’m going to hand that baton to David Cicilline,” Neil Steinberg said, “and hope he runs faster than I did.”

This article was originally posted on May 17, 2023. Mike Szostak can be reached at mszostak@ripr.org

Photo courtesy of Steve Gorriaran

Op-Ed: Ebenezer Dexter’s Farm

How Providence lost 39 of its most valuable acreage to Brown

By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

“He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’

Before I built a wall I’d ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offense. Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, That wants it down.”

Excerpted from Robert Frost’s “Mending Wall,” one of his most belo v ed poems published in 1914

tretching around the heart of some of the most valuable real estate on the East Side of Providence is an exquisitely built stone wall that stretches for over a mile, is three feet thick, and stands high enough to discourage climbing or visual intrusion. If you live on the East Side, you’ve probably driven by it hundreds of times.

It encircles the area that starts at Hope Street, across from Moses Brown, runs down a big block to Arlington Avenue, makes a right turn, and continues to Angell Street, where it turns right again and continues toward downtown before ending at Stimson Avenue. But the relatively unknown story of how it was built is one of the more fascinating tales of old Providence, yet one that continues to dramatically exert its impact on our city to this very day.

The story begins with the passing of Ebenezer Knight Dexter (1773-1824), one of Providence’s wealthiest residents. He amassed considerable personal wealth in business and real estate but never lost sight of the plight of those less fortunate. He donated his huge 39-acre Neck Farm to the city, along with funds to build the Dexter Asylum, a “poor farm” to house the “indigent, elderly, and chronically unemployed.” Poor farms were common before Social Security and welfare and were, at the time, considered a progressive method for dealing with poverty. Residents had to follow strict rules and work for communal benefit, usually in farming or cooking.

Dexter’s will was very specific, requiring “a

stone wall three feet thick and eight feet high with a foundation made of small stones sunk two feet deep into the ground” to be constructed when the asylum was built in 1835. This massive wall took over eight years to build, cost a small fortune, stretches over 6,220 feet long, and contains 7,840 cords of stone (over 94,000,000 pounds!). Call it the Great Wall of Providence.

By the early 1900s, the “poor farm” model had fallen out of favor; the city started looking for alternatives and in 1919 began an almost 50-year legal process to sell the property. With rising real estate values and open space at a premium, city officials tried to break up the property and sell it for house lots. When that didn’t work, they suggested making it a public park. In 1926, the Rhode Island Supreme Court upheld the provisions of Dexter’s will, declaring that no part of the property could be sold. In 1956, the last residents left and the asylum was closed.

Brown had been eyeing the property for decades and president Barnaby Keeney proposed that the city sell or lease it for a gym or athletic complex and the university would indemnify the city if the courts ruled against the plan.

Efforts to break the will had gone on for decades. A lawsuit filed in 1947 was finally resolved in 1957 when a Rhode Island Superior Court judge ruled that the “city could sell the property it had inherited under the pretext that the Asylum had ceased to fulfill its stated purpose of benefiting the poor.”

One can imagine the exhilaration of the city with this news. The mayor at the time was Walter Reynolds, who served seven terms and is remembered as a smart forward-thinking leader with a great track record of rebuilding the city’s infrastructure, but unfortunately allowed this important tract of land in the heart of the city’s most expensive real estate to be auctioned off rather than developed into a neighborhood.

Brown’s bid of $1,000,777 was the highest by $250,000, an early demonstration that price is perhaps a lesser concern when you’re not paying taxes. Brown paid $25,643 per acre – perhaps not as good a deal as the Dutch buying Manhattan for

$24, but still very favorable. Today, the area would easily represent over $150 million in taxable real estate if it had become a neighborhood.

So where are we now? The Aldrich-Dexter fields have become athletic grounds, with a skating rink, aquatic center, tennis and squash courts, gymnasium fitness center, both competitive and practice fields for football, baseball, lacrosse, and more – the list goes on. It also houses the school’s massive “facilities” operation and central heating plant.

The next addition will be an enormous new indoor sports facility. Once again, Aldrich-Dexter parking, which was once plentiful and a key metric in Brown’s ability to meet the institutional

Photo courtesy of Barry Fain

zone’s parking requirement, has been dramatically reduced as each new building was built.

When the Aldrich-Dexter wall was built, it was the impoverished who were on the inside, the rich outside. With Brown’s billions of dollars in endowment and tax avoidance protections, we wonder if the situation hasn’t become reversed. But rather than debate the issue, we just hope the school remembers the words of Robert Frost: that good fences can make good neighbors – but only if both parties work together collaboratively. May the history of the Aldrich-Dexter relationship guide Brown as they begin to revisit their community responsibilities to the city that hosts them.

peter pots pottery

The Peace Dale Pitcher, one of our original Mid-Century designs, still being made the same way today.

The land that once housed a “poor farm” built in 1835 on the East Side is now a Brown University sports complex

The Grays Are Here to Stay

A historic baseball team’s revival is committed to some old rules while reinventing others to embrace the fun of the sport

By Thom Cahir

Today’s Providence Grays play in the same get-up as their 1880s counterparts, and by many of the same rules

If you’ve driven by a local field in the past couple of decades and seen a group dressed in bulky outfits playing baseball with no gloves, you may be wondering, “Did I wander into Kevin Costner’s Iowa cornfield from Field of Dreams ?” The short answer is “no,” but if you didn’t stop, you missed an opportunity to step back in time with the Providence Grays.

The original Grays were awarded a National League franchise in 1878, and surprisingly won the pennant (meaning they were the champion of their league) the next year. In 1884 they took the pennant again and won the championship that most historians consider the first World Series. However, at the end of the 1885 season, they collapsed financially, later playing in the International League for 27 years.

According to current team president Jon Henson, the Grays reconstituted in 1998 as a historic baseball team when president emeritus Tim Norton had the idea to recreate the 1884 championship. Aside from just playing games, much of what the team does today is educate the public about the evolution of the rules, the history of the club, contributions made by former players, and constant recruitment efforts to bring new players into the sport.

The organization also illuminates history lessons, like the story of how the 1884 team’s success balanced precariously on the arm and temperament of Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn. Author and former Providence Journal editor Edward Achorn, who wrote Fifty-Nine in ‘84 , sheds light on Radbourn’s fights with teammates and management, his hard drinking, and over inflated ego, even uncovering from one of the pitcher’s relatives that Radbourn “drank a quart of whiskey a day to relieve pain.”

The current team captain, Brian Travers, is grateful there is no ego involved in today’s

team, explaining that everyone plays for fun. He’s a stickler for the agreed-upon rules, usually playing one pitcher per game, except sometimes when playing 1884 rules – the year the game adopted overhand pitching. At that time, pitchers stood in a box 50 feet from home plate and there was no mound. However, he admits it resembles Little League when it comes to substitutions, as teams pretend injuries so everyone can get time on the field.

Henson also enjoys playing by differing rules; one of his favorites comes from 1864 when fly balls caught on one bounce were considered outs – though most players good-naturedly rib anyone allowing a ball to bounce rather than playing it on the fly. Current players also shape their own bats out of blanks, and fielders all play barehanded; it wasn’t until 1884 that Grays player Arthur Irwin originally popularized fielders wearing gloves.

Another difference from your great-greatgreat-grandfathers’ Grays team is that women are now allowed, even encouraged, to play, although not in the same fashion as the Suffragette League in the 1860s, which prompted newspaper editorials to decry women rounding the bases in hoop skirts. Today’s team marketing director Helen Sheldon is one of many women playing across the region. She’s also umpired games and loves the egalitarian nature of the league. “Baseball brings the world together,” says Sheldon. “It unifies us in the midst of many differences. It’s why I love it.”

The Grays will host the Rocky Point Historic Base Ball Festival at Warwick Neck on the weekend of August 19-20 with other teams from the Vintage Base Ball Association. However, spectators be warned – you might end up loving it so much, you’ll be tempted to join the team. Pro v idenceGrays.com

P hotos courtesy of Providence Grays

Calling the Shots

Bristol umpire Renaldo Cockrum is one step closer to his Little League dream

By Nina Murphy

When amateur umpire Renaldo Cockrum received an invite from Gerry Davis, senior umpire consultant for the Little League World Series (LLWS), to attend the newly formed Umpire Identification Camp, it was one step closer in the Bristol resident’s quest to officiate a LLWS playoff game in Williamsport, Pennsylvania – a dream he’s had since 2014. Cockrum’s work on the field and behind the plate brought him to the attention of Davis, having officiated at various eastern regional LLWS playoffs, most recently in July at the 50/70 Intermediate East Regional in Delaware. A 1994 Portsmouth High School graduate, he attended Rhode Island College where he played basketball for two years and since 2006 has been calling high school and college baseball and basketball matchups. His affiliations include Newport County Officials Association for baseball and basketball, Collegiate Baseball Umpires, and the National Association of Sports Officials. When not wearing the uniform, Renaldo is a residential instructor for Life Incorporated, a service providing care for people with disabilities.

MAKING THE TEAM: My best friend’s son was playing in a Little League game and there was no umpire so my friend jumped in. One of the guys there said my friend should come to a meeting [to learn about officiating], and asked if he could bring me. That was 2006. It was pretty much natural for me because I had a sports background. To get on the high school board there is a two-year class. There are camps and clinics. If I had known about this career path earlier in my life, I would have pursued the Major Leagues. To get into the Majors, you have to start young and put in 10 years in the Minors before moving up.

PRE-GAME RITUAL: During the anthem, I’ll say a little prayer to myself to bless the game. There is a lot more preparation for a baseball game between the equipment and having to be at the stadium an hour and half before to check in for the college game. For high school

basketball, if I have a 6pm game, I leave by 4pm and there’s a clock, so I know when it will be over. You definitely have to drink a lot of water and keep the body in shape.

WARMUP: I started my chase in 2014 with the regionals in Delaware, another regional in 2016, and the Little League Senior World series [ages 15 to 18 year olds] in 2018. In 2022, I was an umpire in Bristol, Connecticut for the East Regionals for the LLWS and in July I was in Delaware for the 50/70 Intermediate East Regional.

STARTING LINEUP: I got an invite from Gerry Davis, former Major League umpire who is now the head of all Little League umpires across the US, to attend a camp last April where they work with those who are interested in being LLWS umpires. They only invite 25-30 umpires from the east region who are on the radar. I’m hoping I’m on the shortlist to go to Williamsport next year. At the very least, I’ll probably get another regional to officiate.

BOYS OF SUMMER: I am wrapping up the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). Cape league players are on their way to getting drafted or have already been drafted, turned it down to compete again in NCAA baseball. But there’s a small skill gap between the two. A player may be with CCBL one summer and NECBL the next.

SPOILERS: There has been a real change in fan behavior since I started. You definitely have to have patience and thick skin. I’m confident because I know the game and what I am doing. You would think once things came back after COVID, the fans would just be happy to have sports back, but I think they are crazier than before. We all have jobs out there to do – refs, players, coaches, and fans. The problems start when the line starts crossing. If you’re a player, you play; if you’re a coach, you coach; if you’re a fan, you celebrate your team –and let us do our job. After a game, regardless if they won or lost, sometimes someone may say that was a great officiating game, which feels good.

Umpire Renaldo Cockrum officiating a game

hoto courtesy of Renaldo Cockrum

Carmen & Ginger

Vintage Store

What it is:

A shop selling all things vintage.

Where to find it:

Recently moved to Warren (after three years at Tiverton Four Corners, and many more in Arcade Providence), turn onto Child Street from Main Street/Route 114 and look for the hanging round orange and teal sign.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

Owner Christine Francis, who founded her business in 2013, knows her stuff and how to display it. Think of Carmen & Ginger as a department store of retro treasures with areas designated for likeitems. “We carry a little bit of everything but with a focus on vintage jewelry and accessories, cowboy boots, linens, housewares, holiday collectibles, and cat and dog-related items,” says Francis. Open in Warren since May, she is already feeling at home, noting the welcoming community. “We’re surrounded by other fabulous retailers, restaurateurs, and artists! There’s plenty of parking available in this very walkable neighborhood, but we’re also along the bike path and on RIPTA #60 bus line.”

Carmen & Ginger

18 Child Street, Warren

CarmenAndGinger.com

IG: @carmenandginger

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 Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to suggest yours and we just might feature it!

RHODY PETS

Pets of the Month | Treats | Pampering

A pup treated to spa day at Dogtopia of Warwick

Photo courtesy of Dogtopia

SPONSORED BY

Rhody Pets of the Month

By Karen Kalunian

Looking to welcome a new furry friend into your home? Adopt, don’t shop! Shelters across the state have dogs and cats ready to find their forever homes. Here are three pets ready to meet you, or reach out to the shelters to learn about even more adoptees.

If you have been thinking of adopting or if you know of an animal in need, please contact Karen directly at animaltalk1920@gmail.com.

Jasmine

A three-year-old Welsh Terrier mixed breed weighing in at 25 pounds, Jasmine is a “bundle of energy” according to the folks at Friends of Homeless Animals RI. She’s known to chase after small animals, so if you have some knowledge of her breed, live an active lifestyle, and can offer her an adult-only home with no other pets, Jasmine might be the pup for you. She’ll return your love by showering you in puppy kisses and tail wags.

FRIENDS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS RI

Email Save4Paws@gmail.com to schedule a visit FOHARI.org

Summer

You can have Summer in your home all the time if you adopt this two-year-old medium-sized mixed-breed pup – who truly brings the sunshine! With a playful, lovable personality and soft, multi-colored coat and big brown eyes, Summer is smart and loves yummy treats. Visit during open adoption hours Wednesday 3-7pm, Thursday and Friday 12-2pm, or Saturday 10am-2pm to find out if Summer is your season.

EGAPL THE HEART OF RI 401-467-3670

44 Worthington Road, Cranston

Photo courtesy of Friends of Homeless Animals RI

Jasmine Summer

Photo by Tyler Mclewin

Adoptable Kittens

Who doesn’t love kittens? These little faces will melt your heart! Scruffy Paws Animal Rescue always has kittens available for adoption in all colors and personalities who are ready to be part of a family. For folks who are interested, fill out and submit an application and wait for approval before setting up an appointment to find the feline for you, and follow for adoption events.

Photo courtesy of Scruffy Paws

Best Bark eries

From donuts to biscuits, treat your pet to scratchmade snacks from local makers

By Karen Kalunian

There’s no better way to compliment your “good boy” (or girl!) than with a tasty treat – and Rhode Island has plenty of makers crafting artisan snacks using everything from blueberries and peanut butter to spent grain. Satisfy your pet’s palate by shopping flavorful, healthy, and downright adorable eats from these small local businesses.

BUPPY PETS

Developing flavorful dog treats since 2017, Buppy Pets (a combo of “baby” and “puppy”) takes a less-is-more approach using only a handful of wholesome ingredients, like organic bone broth, berries, and peanut butter. “We wanted to share the food experience with our pets without the guilt since our dogs always wanted to eat what we're eating,” says owner Lauren Ruggerio, “so we created recipes that were crafted to share, and the rest is history.” Personalized treat packages can be ordered online, and products can be found at lots of local pet shops, cafes, and shops. BuppyPets.com

JACK’S SNACKS

Commemorate another year with your fourlegged friend by ordering a birthday cake from Jack’s Snacks – these canine confections created to your specifications are certainly a spectacle to behold. The Warwick bake (or rather, bark ) shop also carries several other types of doggie and kitty snacks made in their store using human-grade ingredients, including Woofie Pies, Party Pizza, and even frozen yogurt. The shop’s name is a homage to the owners’ late pup Jack, whose legacy lives on in every bite. 158 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, JacksSnacks.com

LILLY'S BONE TO PICK

An “upscale, unique, environmentally conscious, and snarky" pet lifestyle brand, according to their website, Lilly’s Bone to Pick

is based out of Hope & Main in Warren and uses human-grade ingredients – that means you won’t find any additives or preservatives. Sharon Lupo opened the business in honor of her beloved Lilly, who passed away in 2020 and was the number-one fan of her irresistible creations, all pup-tested and approved. Find treats, as well as other fun goodies, at local pup -up events, retail shops, and online. LillysBoneToPick.com

LUCY'S DOG TREATS

Craft brew lovers will appreciate the process behind Lucy’s Dog Treats, which use spent grain – often from Bravo Brewing Company in Pascoag. “The first step in brewing beer is soaking barley and possibly wheat, rye, corn, or rice in hot water,” explains owner Kelly Polak. “When finished, the liquid is drained and used to make beer. The wet mash that remains is called spent grain, and since it’s full of fiber and protein, it is often used as livestock feed or compost.” Alcohol-free and great for milling into flour, it’s the perfect base for a dog treat. “We love that we are able to reuse and recycle such a nutritious by-product of the beer brewing industry," continues Polak. Look for a heart-shaped treat in every bag! LucysDogBiscuits.com

POWER “PUP” TREATS, LLC

If your dog begs for donuts, Power “Pup” Treats has the solution. Cute on the outside, tasty on the inside, these scratch-made “pastries” are healthy, too. Owner and top doggie chef Christine Karouz shares, “I got into the industry due to my dogs having severe food allergies, and to be honest I couldn't pronounce most of the ingredients in the treats I would buy for my dogs, so I started making my own.” Karouz also crafts canine versions of cinnamon buns, frosted cookies, a Barkuterie Board, Pupcakes, and more, found at retail stores across the state. 8 Nathaniel Street, East Pro v idence, PowerPupTreats.com

Pampered Pets

From spa days to hiking adventures, spend the dog days of summer spoiling your four-legged friend

By Karen Kalunian

Who says only humans need a little R&R? Whether it’s getting your dog’s luscious locks washed and trimmed or taking them out on an adventure, fourlegged friends deserve the occasional break from routine. Here’s a handful of ways to let your pet live their best life this season.

SPA DAY

When it's scrub-a-dub-dub time, some pups will gladly hop in the tub, but for the bath-shy and breeds that require special grooming, a trip to the doggie spa is key – like Dogtopia of Warwick’s state-of-the-art facility. “With a focus on safety and using top-quality products, our spa offers a range of services, from basic baths and haircuts to comprehensive grooming treatments like teeth and ear cleaning, de-shedding, and brush outs,” says owner David Giardino. And let's not forget the luxurious blueberry facials! If you have a young pup, Dogtopia’s first-day puppy package is designed to introduce them to the spa experience, providing extra time to familiarize them with all aspects of grooming

– plus you’ll leave with a grooming report card detailing your pup's appointment. 30 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, Dogtopia.com/Warwick

TRAIL TIME

If Fido is itching for a little excitement, sign them up for an Adventure Class with Training Tails. Taking place at different outdoor locations each week, dogs’ obedience and behavior is tested in real-world situations while socializing with other people and pups. Training Tails also offers a range of group classes, or at-home training is a great way to brush up on some basic skills before hitting the trail. “Training is something that should be simple, fun and effective!” says owner Jen Reynolds. “It’s a time of day that both you and your pup enjoy.” Cranston, TrainingTailsRI.com

BACK TO SCHOOL

If your furry friend is destined for a future of helping others, they might be a good candidate to become a certified pet therapy dog. The first step is inquiring about classes with Dynamic Dog Training, where Susan and Harry Parker will work with pets to achieve a range of goals,

from learning to be non-reactive in crowds to making school and hospital visits. Once your dog is evaluated for temperament and a multitude of other specifications, they can be enrolled in a 14-week class to earn their certification. The next Paws from the Heart certified therapy class begins on September 6. West Warwick, PawsFromTheHeartPetTherapy.org

HIT THE GYM

There are many ways to keep your pup active, and while the warm weather is ideal for long walks, some canines feel most comfortable in their own yard. Bring the gym to them by setting up some fun agility equipment or hiding treats around the yard for them to find – there’s nothing a dog loves more than using their nose! Swimming is another great way to exercise your pooch. A trip to Block Island promises your choice of dog-friendly beaches, and most Rhode Island beaches allow dogs during the off-season. But until September rolls around, why not fill a kiddie pool with water to splash away the dog days of summer? Always keep pets cool and hydrated, especially senior pups, in any adventures you undertake.

P hoto courtesy of Dogtopia

The COMPETITIVE

WHETHER IT’S BUILDING NEW TEAMS OR STRENGTHENING OTHERS, WHAT RI COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE DOING TO MEET ATHLETES WHERE THEY LIVE

BY KEN ABRAMS

For sports fans in Rhode Island, back-to-school season means getting ready to watch the Brown Bears, Providence Friars, Rhode Island Rams, and more. But beyond the rah-rahs, there are coaches and athletes doing important work to create accessible spaces for students to compete.

NOT YOUR PARENTS’ COLLEGE SPORTS

NOT YOUR PARENTS’ COLLEGE SPORTS

New England Tech Offers Esports at the Varsity Level

One of the fastest growing programs in college athletics today didn’t exist a generation ago. Electronic sports, or esports, is competition centered around video gaming, which has been elevated in recent years with major tournaments now televised on ESPN. At New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), e-gaming is a college sport like any other, with player recruitment and try-outs, athletic scholarships, professional coaching, and an emphasis on developing a winning culture.

The private, non-profit technical university takes esports seriously as an academic program and a varsity-level sport, hiring coaches and supplying state-of-the-art computer equipment for players. “It’s a little more serious than a student-run club,” says Brandon Eigenbrode, esports coordinator and head coach of the NEIT team. “It’s definitely getting a lot more popular; the Rhode Island Interscholastic League added esports, and this year we hosted the championship. A bunch of high schools came in and got to see the space we use.”

Currently, the NEIT Tigers field over 20 students playing across four different games: Valorant, Overwatch, Rocket League, and Super Smash Brothers. The program is relatively new with 2022-23 being its inaugural year playing in the National Esports Collegiate Conference. Like traditional sports, activities include team practice, professional coaching, and reviewing tape results of prior games, much like a football team would do on a Monday morning. Games are live-streamed on Twitch, an interactive live-streaming service.

“Every week, you play a match with a different school,” says Eigenbrode. “We take screenshots of the scores, and you post them on a score channel. There’s a live spreadsheet that lets you know how each team is doing.” Unlike most varsity teams, the sport is co-ed, and Eigenbrode is working to recruit more women in a sport that has historically been male-dominated. “Since we started our fall season, there has been a larger female presence in the esports center. It’s something I want to see in the future.”

Coaches focus on growth and success. “It is similar to coaching a traditional sport; there is a lot of conditioning,” explains Eigenbrode. “There is also game knowledge that goes into it. For example, in Valorant, every single gun has a different recoil pattern, so we review things like shooting your gun, understanding which way your gun is going to move, and using your mouse to counteract that. It’s a lot of small learning, and it varies greatly for each game.”

The team has already experienced some success; in the 2022-2023 season, they won in two divisions, the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Rocket League Emergents Atlantic Division, as well as the NECC Valorant Challengers Northeast Division. It’s serious business but a lot of fun, and students bond over the shared experience. “A lot of students can be introverted in college, and this has really helped many students meet people with similar interests,” adds Eigenbrode. Learn more at NEIT.edu/esports

NEIT SUPER SMASH BROS TEAM

NEIT OVERWATCH TEAM

NEIT ROCKET LEAGUE TEAM

Photos courtesy of New England Institute of Technology

| 7:00pm

AGING DISGRACEFULLY - SUMMER AGING

Thursday 8/24 | 1:30pm

ELVIS - ROBERT BLACK SHOW

Saturday 8/26 | 8:00pm BON JOVI-BON JERSEY SUMMER CAMP SESSION 8/7-8/26: 9am-3pm M-F

7-18

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• PTSD

• Post Concussion Syndrome

• ADD/ADHD

• OCD

• Long Covid Brain Fog

UP THEIR ALLEY

Bryant University has the only Division 1 Bowling Team in Rhode Island

What role does social media play in recruiting college athletes? More than you might think. Women’s bowling is one of the newest sports programs to come to Bryant University and the only Division 1 team in Rhode Island. This year was the inaugural season for the all-freshmen squad, which saw the rookie Bulldog Bowlers compete against more experienced teams.

Bowling at Bryant evolved from a club sport to a Division 1 program in 2022. With all new players filling the roster, coach Morgan Walsh had a rare opportunity to build a team from the ground up. Equally important for the rookie bowlers, the group had an opportunity to define its identity as a team. “Bryant added women’s rowing, women’s golf, and women’s bowling as an initiative to get more women on campus,” says Walsh. “The bowling team was made up of all first-year students.”

Despite its nationwide popularity, bowling is not a competitive sport on most college campuses in our region. “I relocated from Buffalo to take the position,” explains Walsh. “High school bowling in New York is pretty popular. Coming here to New England and seeing that there was no high school bowling at all – that was a big change.”

Walsh began recruiting players from New York, New Jersey, and other areas where the sport is more popular. She spent a lot of time on social media, direct messaging potential players who were following established college programs. “Probably half of our current team came from Instagram. My number one priority was to build our Instagram following because kids are so involved in social media,” says Walsh.

ABOVE: BRYANT’S BULLDOG BOWLERS PICTURED FROM LEFT ARE OLIVIA HILLMAN, JENAVIEVE LYON, KRISTY MURPHY, ABBY UNSON, LAURA CLARK, AND STEPHANIE KOTROPOULOS

LOU LOU’S DÉCOR

Make your beach house a home with a cozy & fun addition from Lou Lou’s Décor with locations in Tiverton & Newport. Full interior design services available. 3913 Main Road • (401) 816 4362 loulousdecor.com • @loulousdecor

COURTYARDS

Celebrating 41 years in Tiverton 4 Corners! Courtyards offers an ever changing collection of home & garden goods and gifts, sure to entice everyone! 3980 Main Road • (401) 624 8682 • courtyardsltd.com

BARKSFIELD SHOP

The captivating destination for ecofriendly artisan gifts, antiques & refurbished furniture. Enjoy beautiful grounds with ample parking; entrance at back of building. Open TH-SAT 10-5, SUN 12-5. Shop online at barksfeld.com

MILUKAS STUDIO

Art sessions offered for all levels, weekly classes & private lessons.  Check website for events. Kelly Milukas is a multi-media painter and sculptor. 503 S Lake Rd, Tiverton • (401) 480 3536   kellymilukas.com/events • @kellymilukas

THE COTTAGE AT FOUR CORNERS

Featuring fne home furnishings, quality gift items and linen to live in, lush pillows, beautiful rugs, lighting, fabulous bed linens & amazing artifcial fowers.   Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm & Sun 11am-4pm

3847 Main Road • (401) 625 5814     @thecottageri

3988 Main Road • (202) 423-3106   @barksfeld

TIFFANY PEAY

JEWELRY & HEALING ARTS

Explore the one-of-a-kind gemstone, pearl and gold jewelry handmade by Tiffany Peay. Also featuring Crystal Bed Light Therapy and the artwork of Peter Dickison. 3851 Main Road • (401) 816 0878 tiffanypeay.com • @tiffanypeayjewelry Open Daily

FOUR CORNERS GALLERY

Collections of painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography & jewelry. Stop in and discover our artists and the new work!

Hours: Monday-Friday & Sunday 11am-4pm Saturday 9:30am - 5pm  Open Daily 3848 Main Road fourcornersgalleryri.com • @fourcornersgalleryri

STUDIO BY THE SEA

I transform your ideas into heirlooms! Internationally sourced Royal Blue Sapphire set with diamond components from an older family ring. What can Peter Tirpaeck, master jeweler create for you?

3848 Main Road • (401) 639 4348   www.studiobytheseari.com

@studio_by_the_sea

THE CHEESE WHEEL VILLAGE MARKET

Over 200 cheeses, local meats & produce; house-made bread, sandwiches, soups & spread and meals. Custom charcuterie & cheese boards available. Call to order! Open 9-5 Tues-Sunday 3838 Main Road • (401) 816 5069      @thecheesewheelri

ASHLEY AINSWORTH ART & CEDIAN PAINTING

Working studios of Ashley Ainsworth & Jennifer Jones Rashleigh featuring fne art paintings, prints, pillows, tiles & notecards. ashley-ainsworth.com cedianpainting.com • 3848 Main Rd

With Walsh’s contagious enthusiasm for a bright future ahead at Bryant, the team came together quickly. “It was a very unique situation; they got to start the program from the ground up, which is something that very few individuals get to do,” explains Walsh. “There was a lot of conversation on what they wanted the program to look like. They really bought into the idea that it was theirs to create and mold. There was a lot of open communication, and a lot of trial and error, too. When you’re on more established teams, that opportunity isn’t always available.”

With only four schools in New England offering varsity level programs, the “bowldogs,” as they are affectionately known, travel a lot. “We livestream most of our events and some of the kids on the other Bryant teams support us by watching,” adds Walsh. The team expects to host its first tournament in 2024. Our kids train just as hard as other Division 1 athletes. They put in many hours on the lanes.” Learn more at BryantBulldogs.com

ABBY UNSON DISPLAYING FEATS OF STRENGTH

KRISTY MURPHY, ONE OF SEVEN FRESHMEN ON THE TEAM

ALONG

WITH WOMEN’S GOLF AND ROWING, BOWLING IS ONE OF THREE NEW SPORTS OFFERED TO BRYANT STUDENTS AS OF THE 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

Photos courtesy of Bryant University

Let’s Go!

For sports fans, nothing beats the thrill of watching college teams compete. Here are five good reasons to buy tickets to games this season.

SCHOOL: Brown University

TEAM: Brown Bears

BEST BET: Football

WHY: Even non-fans can’t help but enjoy themselves watching Ivy League teams toss the pigskin on a sunny fall afternoon.

BROWN STADIUM

400 Elmgro v e Avenue, Pro v idence BrownBears.com

SCHOOL: Bryant University

TEAM: Bryant Bulldogs

BEST BET: Football

WHY: The Bulldogs are hungry as the team embarks on its second season in the Big South/Ohio Valley Conference.

BEIRNE STADIUM

1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield BryantBulldogs.com

SCHOOL: Providence College

TEAM: Providence Friars

BEST BET: Men’s Soccer

WHY: Behind coach Craig Stewart, the talented team has high hopes of making the NCAA tournament this year.

ANDERSON STADIUM

1 Cunningham Square, Pro v idence Friars.com

SCHOOL: Rhode Island College

TEAM: RIC Anchorwomen

BEST BET: Women’s Soccer

WHY: With a can-do attitude, the Anchorwomen look to rebound after a frustrating 2022 season.

600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Pro v idence GoAnchormen.com

SCHOOL: University of Rhode Island

TEAM: URI Rams

BEST BET: Football

WHY: On the heels of two winning seasons, hopes are high for a league championship.

MEADE STADIUM

3 Keaney Road, Kingston GoRhody.com

SCORING POINTS WITH STUDENTS ON THE SPECTRUM

Acceptance at Roger Williams University for Player with Diagnosed Autism

No doubt, many college athletes face challenges above and beyond their sport. Academics, finances, and social pressure are more than enough to handle for most students. For former Roger Williams University field hockey player Morgan Foley, a diagnosis of autism during her senior year became a significant hurdle. Foley made the courageous decision to go public and announce her diagnosis, which led to her developing an Instagram account that has amassed almost 50,000 followers. Being part of a team was critical for the criminal justice major, who graduated in May, 2023. “I played field hockey at Roger Williams all four years,” she says. “Coming in and being on a sports team was how I survived college. It was like an accommodation, it was

helpful to me, being autistic and ADHD. I’m someone who doesn’t make friends easily. It gave me my friends; it gave me everything.”

Roger Williams coach Jill Reeve, who is entering her second year, met Foley last fall. “She was a senior on the team,” says Reeve. “Initially she was very cautious; she told me she was going through some things. It wasn’t until very late in the season that she told me she had been diagnosed with autism. It was disorienting for her because her identity shifted radically. The pressures of senior year in college are challenging for any student, but more so for a student who is diagnosed with a condition.”

The announcement helped bring the team together. “It was a wonderful moment for the team,” continues Reeve. “She was letting them

in. Sometimes, in a very competitive setting, the athlete tends not to share because it could work against them. The coach may see somebody struggling as a weakness, and the athlete might not get playing time.”

“As a coach, I learned a lot from Morgan. She is a strong communicator, even though she often communicates differently from others. I feel I’ll take forward the lessons I’ve learned through our interactions,” adds Reeve. “With an athlete like Morgan, when communication is different, the way that information is interpreted, there can be disjointed communication, I think that is a lesson for coaches.”

Now an alum, Foley continues to be active on Instagram and TikTok sharing her story and the challenges she faces. “I knew that I

FOLEY (#23) WITH HER HAWKS TEAMMATES AT ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY

Photo (L) by Bodie Ibrahim, courtesy of Roger Williams University

wanted to be super open about it. When you get diagnosed with autism, especially later in life, you have this whole realization; you learn that your lifestyle is not sustainable. That’s why I had such a hard time. I was not getting the accommodations, the support before. I knew that I had to make major life changes, my lifestyle was not designed for an autistic ADHD-er.”

Her videos are instructive and entertaining and serve to support her journey and educate the public at large. “I needed people to understand my brain, so I thought why not tell everybody? I thought, if this is happening to me, it’s happening to other people too.” Follow on Instagram @MorganFoley; RWUHawks.com

FOLEY HAD THE GAME-WINNING GOAL IN TWO GAMES AGAINST WPI AND MANHATTANVILLE

Photo (R) by David Silverman, courtesy of Roger Williams University

ROWING FOR ALL

ROWING FOR ALL Program at Brown Shows that Rowing Isn’t Just for the Elite

STEM to Stern is a hands-on program through Brown University and the Narragansett Boat Club that brings together science and sports. Run by volunteers, the free program brings rowing and science lessons to middle school students from the Providence area. The initiative was born when Kristi Wharton, biology professor and president of the Narragansett Boat Club, and men’s rowing coach Paul Cooke were discussing ways to make the sport more inclusive.

“Being a scientist, as soon as I heard the name, STEM to Stern (STS), I thought it was a great idea,” says Wharton. The program, based in science, technology, engineering, and math, hosts summer sessions and twice-weekly classes during the school year.

Intended to be fun, exploratory, and experimental, classes meet on the Brown campus, where activity-based lessons are led by faculty and students. STS students practice rowing as part of the Narragansett Boat Club’s youth program at the club’s boathouse in Fox Point.

The classroom experience is directly connected to the sport. “Our first session was all about water. We bring in ecology, chemistry, we measure the pH, we look at the organisms living in water,” explains Wharton. “We had a session on the physics of rowing. We try to tie the concepts to what they are actually doing on the water.”

Historically, rowing had a reputation of being a sport for students at elite universities; one of Cooke’s goals is to broaden the pool of

potential college rowers by including everyone. “As tough as the competition is, it’s still not representative of every potential athlete,” he says. “It’s wonderful to see the demographic changing; you see kids from all around the community out on the water now. You didn’t see that 10 or 15 years ago.”

Cooke sees this program as a development tool, hoping that one day, a participant might be eligible for a college team. “My vision is to bring in people who want to be high performance athletes, from all parts of the community to potentially race at Brown on other university programs or national teams. I get really excited about the competitive aspect.” Learn more at RowNBC.org, StemToSternRowing.org

DANTE ANTONELLI (CENTER) IS AMONG THE MANY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT LEARN TO ROW WITH STEM TO STERN

EMMANUEL GOURDET, A SEVENTH-GRADER AT THE SAN MIGUEL SCHOOL, PREPARES TO ROW ON THE SEEKONK RIVER

Photos by Nick Dentamaro, courtesy of Stem to Stern Rowing

FOOD & DRINK

Photo by Liz Murray

& DRINK

Fun on a Bun

The chef behind the inspired pub fare coming out of a North Main Street sports bar

By Jenna Pelletier

While the lure of many sports bars is the beer selection and the game on TV, Kenneth Pates makes sure food is never second to atmosphere at Sport and Leisure. The executive chef has crafted a menu full of street- and comfort-food dishes – including mac and cheese topped with fried pork belly, homemade panko-crusted mozzarella sticks, street corn nachos, and smash burgers – that makes the North Main Street bar stand out.

Pates brings his own hot takes to crowd-pleasing entrees. “I don’t believe in a medium-rare burger or rare burger,” he

says. “I just think a smash burger with a nice thin crust is the way to go. It’s still juicy and has great flavor.” His Sunday brunch menu includes buttermilk pumpkin-spice pancakes, chicken and waffles, and an egg and cheese sandwich with a crispy hash brown tucked inside.

“My favorite aspect of being a chef is the stories that you get to create with each spice and ingredient, and the soul and love that goes into every recipe and dish,” says Pates, who’s a member of the Narragansett Tribe. Even though it’s not overtly reflected in his current menu, he explains, “Food is big in our culture. Growing up, I lived in a house

where there were so many different styles of cooking – not just Native American cooking, but African American cuisine, as well. I also got to learn all aspects of hunting and fishing, which are embedded in the roots of my tribe, and I’ve always carried this with me.”

Pates’ first job in the restaurant industry was at Red Stripe Narragansett, where he started as a dishwasher and then moved up to prep cook. “Then one day, someone got hurt on the line, so I jumped on and became a grill cook,” he explains. “I just traveled up the ranks, moving from restaurant to restaurant, learning new techniques, and learning the ins and outs of the industry.”

Photos by Kenneth Pates

Chef Kenneth Pates’ Hot Chicken Sando from Sport and Leisure

Pates previously worked at Bridge Restaurant in Westerly and Troop in Providence, and occasionally serves as a private chef at events and parties. “Another one of my favorite aspects of being a chef is the people you meet and learn from,” he says, “and the bond you build with every chef, line cook, prep cook, server, dishwasher, and bartender, along with the customers who walk through the doors or hire you to cook for them.”

Before joining the staff at Sport and Leisure, which opened last summer, Pates was chef and co-owner at the now-closed burger spot Bun Fun on Federal Hill, though a new reincarnation of the former joint is in the works. “We had a good run with Bun Fun and people still ask me to make some of the things we served there,” Pates says. “So, that’s why a food truck is coming – and hopefully soon.”

Sport and Leisure

108 North Main Street • 534-7873 @sportandleisurepvd

Chef Kenneth Pates

Game Day Snacks

A healthy take on crab cakes will have guests cheering

By Liz Murray

If these crab cakes have you hankering for more seafood feasts, you’re in luck – the Charlestown Seafood Festival takes place August 4-6. Be inspired by local chefs’ takes on all kinds of seafood fare, from lobster rolls and steamers to fish and chips. CharlestownSeafoodFestival.com

With football season around the corner, let’s not forget the most important facet of any game-day gathering: the food. Fried apps from the freezer aisle may be an easy goto, but why not mix up the playbook? This healthy air fryer crab cake recipe comes together quickly and makes for a crowd-pleasing addition to any spread. All of the ingredients get mixed together in a bowl before they are shaped into patties and air fried until golden crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Rather than mayo, swap in Greek yogurt for a savory dipping sauce. No air fryer? No problem – pop these cakes in a pan with some oil and cook a few minutes per side.

AIR FRYER CRAB CAKES INGREDIENTS

• 16 oz. crab meat, the fresher the better

• ¼ cup whole wheat crackers, smashed into crumbs (or panko breadcrumbs)

• 2 egg yolks

• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

• 5.3 oz plain Greek yogurt

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ Tbsp dried oregano

• ⅛ tsp nutmeg

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• 1 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• Cooking spray of choice (optional, but recommended)

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional, but recommended)

STEPS

1. Start by mixing together the paprika, dried oregano, nutmeg, salt, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. Sift through the crab meat with your hands to make sure there are no shell pieces.

3. In a large bowl, add the crab meat, crushed crackers, spice mixture, Dijon mustard, dill, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce, egg yolks, and plain Greek yogurt. Mix it all together until fully combined.

4. Spray the bottom of your air fryer with a light coating of cooking spray. Form the crab mixture into patties and place in the air fryer, arranging as many in one batch as possible without them touching.

5. Place a crisper lid on top if you have one, then place the air fryer lid on and set it to 380ºF for 12 minutes, and cook.

6. Once finished, remove the crab cakes with a spatula and repeat the process until all of the mixture is used. Serve with aioli, cocktail sauce, or tartar sauce, and enjoy!

P hoto by Liz Murray

Sports Bars that Score

Neighborhood pubs bring the energy and indulgent eats to game nights

By Patty J

Bring that take-me-out-to-theballgame feeling into overtime by swinging by sports bars boasting big screens, easy camaraderie, and cold pints. Order a few rounds of top-quality pub grub and catch a game while catching up with friends at any of these best bets for rooting for the home team.

Cleats Sports Club

If you’re already planning on knocking over a few pins at Alley Katz Bowling Center, stay for snacks and craft brews at Cleats, featuring fab casual bites such as bread sticks, burgers, wings, and stuffies at prices that won’t bowl you over. Westerly, AlleyKatzRI.com/cleats

Dave’s Bar & Grill

Plant yourself near one of the many TVs at Dave’s and settle in among a whole host of regulars to cheer over beers and steak sandwiches. Repeat customers also rave about their New York Deli Sandwich, and the grilled cheese is a fan favorite of the kiddos. Warwick, DavesBarAndGrillRI.com

End Zone Sports Pub

A jukebox, karaoke nights, pool tables, and the game playing on multiple screens – plus a brewski (or two) and plate of wings – set the scene for a perfect hang. Not a sports fan? Saturday nights are for Musical Bingo. Cumberland, Facebook: End Zone Sports Pub of Cumberland, RI

The Local

You may have accidentally driven by this tiny neighborhood bar with an unfussy exterior, but once you step over the threshold, you’ll find it’s got everything you’ve been looking for: leather couches, beaucoup big screens, terrific service, hot eats, and flowing taps. East Pro v idence, TheLocalRI.com

PJ’s Pub

Cranston residents are forever singing the praises of this Pontiac Avenue haunt. Menu standouts include their shaved steak and cheese, Tuesday build-a-burger specials, and loaded nachos. Your only issue will be finding a seat because they fill up fast, especially on game nights. Cranston, PJs-Pub.com

P hotos courtesy of Thirsty Beaver

Runway 41 Sports Bar & Grill

As the name would suggest, Runway 41 is close to TF Green Airport, but you don’t need to be hopping off a flight to touchdown at this sporty gem. The wings and burgers are great for any occasion and a huge TV lets you catch every minute of Patriots action this NFL season. Warwick, Runway41Bar.com

Skiff Bar

For a more coastal setting – and a round of shuffleboard – this bar inside the Marriott Hotel boasts elevated game-day eats like lobster sliders complemented by harbor views on the outdoor deck. Go to check the score and stay for the chowder and cocktails. Newport, Facebook: Skiff Bar

Snookers

Billiards fans flock to this fun-filled destination, where in addition to keeping up with your favorite team, you can get in on the action with a game of pool between rounds of apps and drinks. Regulars love their pretzels and nachos, not to mention they make one heck of a buffalo chicken dip. Pro v idence, SnookersRI.com

Stevie D’s Riverside Tavern

Even if you’re not one to wave a foam finger, this tavern’s mouth-watering burgers, drink menu (including more than 20 beers on tap), and roster of local live bands will give you something to cheer for. Watch for specials on game days, plus see every play broadcast on HD TVs. East Pro v idence, Stevie-Ds.com

Thirsty Beaver

A multi-location Rhody establishment (with one coming soon to North Kingstown), this lumberjack-themed hometown pub serves up garlic parm wings, fried pickles, log rolls (a deep-fried version of egg rolls), pizza, and more. Regulars love it for casual meet-ups, game nights, and spirited karaoke. Cranston, Westerly & Smithfield, ThirstyBeaverPub.com

Discover the flavors of Rhode Island! From fresh seafood shacks to farm-to-table eateries, little Rhody o ers a diverse culinary landscape that caters to all tastes. Indulge in delicious seafood, global cuisines, and locally-inspired dishes, and experience the culinary richness of the Ocean State with a dining experience that will leave you craving for more.

Dave’s Fresh Marketplace

1000 Division Street Suite 20, East Greenwich | 401-558-0190 | davesmarketplace.com/WeeklySpecials

Made fresh daily in our kitchens - 60+ Take Out Options!

All Favorites Cafe

1678 Broad St, Cranston | 401-941-3550 allfavoritescafe.com |

A Breakfast/Lunch restaurant serving a mash up of Southern and French inspired flavors. Everything from French Toast to Cubanos.

Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grille

8 locations across RI!

Chelos.com |

A Rhode Island staple since 1955! Fresh, homemade deliciousness in every bite.

El Paisa Restaurant Patio and Bar

598 Dexter Street, Central Falls 401-726-8864 | ElPaisa.com |

Since 1978, El Paisa Restaurant and Bar has served home-cooked, classic Colombian recipes and cocktails with great joy.

BLU On The Water

20 Water St. East Greenwich | 401-885-3700

bluonthewater.com |

Fresh seafood daily and live outdoor entertainment make BLU RI’s premier waterfront destination.

Chelo’s Waterfront

1 Masthead Dr. Warwick | 401-884-3000

Cheloswaterfrontri.com |

Fresh food, family friendly, and unparalleled views of Greenwich Bay.

Mambo Sushi

380 Atwells Ave, Providence 401-642-8439 |

mambosushiprovidence.com

Peruvian Flair to Asian Cuisine

CAV Restaurant

14 Imperial Place, Providence | 401 751-9164

CavRestaurant.com |

Bistro style Brunch and Lunch. Fine Dining Dinner.

The Coast Guard House Restaurant

40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett | 401-789-0700

thecoastguardhouse.com |

Waterfront dining - local raw bar, lobster, pasta, steak & seafood. Award-winning wine list. Dining rooms, bars, patio & deck.

Marcelino’s Boutique Bar

1 W Exchange St, Providence | 401-666-0088

marcelinosboutiquebar.com |

Craft cocktail bar serving Mid-Terranean Fusion Mezze and World-Class Craft Cocktails | #ItsMarcelinos

Slice of Heaven

32 Narragansett Ave. Jamestown

401-423-9866 | sliceofheavenri.com

| Serving breakfast, lunch and daily handcrafted pastries. Family and dog friendly with a great outdoor patio.

Stack House

99 Fortin Road, Unit 108, Kingston

401-854-7470 | Stackhouseus.com |

New England’s Premier Brunch, Fried Chicken and Southern Cuisine Restaurant with a menu boastings over 20 chicken flavors.

Tallulah’s Taqueria

Three Locations:

West End • Fox Point • Jamestown

tallulahstaqueria.com |

Order by App, Online, or In-Store. Chicano Street Food...Rooted in Hospitality.

Twin Willows

865 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett

401-789-8153 | TwinWillowsRI.com |

Water-view dining with fresh lobsters & steamers served daily in this casual sports bar/restaurant.

This event is an opportunity to meet with several local and regional college representatives.

Photography by Mark Lohman, courtesy of © CICO Books 2023

True Blue

After years of living in apartments, a local couple discovered the perfect bungalow in Riverside

By Fifi O’Neill

The 1,000-square-foot property is situated on a picket-fenced corner lot in a quiet neighborhood of the former resort town, which dates to the late 1800s. Its storybook qualities caught the couple’s eye.

“It was just the right size for us and our four kitties Teddy, Agnes, Remy, and Charlotte,” Kinghorn recalls. “The moment we walked in, we fell in love with the flow of the rooms and the architectural features: the arched doorways, wood floors, and moldings and beadboard ceiling in the porch.”

Luckily, the home was in great condition. The only space in need of a major refit was the bathroom, which had a pink-and-brown 1960s vibe. “We gutted it and renovated the

entire room, installing a new shower, toilet, sink, and flooring,” says Kinghorn, who is a self-taught interior decorator.

“Everything else has been cosmetic. I’ve worked room by room, painting and wallpapering in my signature shades of blue and white.” Kinghorn’s interiors style is heavily influenced by her travels, whether in the English countryside, Iain’s native Scotland, or northern France, where the couple has a vacation home. Her favorite colors are a classic pairing that never dates and is dependably fresh. “I’ve always loved how calming and cozy blue and white feel,” she says. “It’s also my husband’s favorite combination, as they’re the colors of the Scottish flag.” Kinghorn’s signature palette even inspired the name of

her online shop, Blanc & Bleu, which offers a curated collection of vintage finds, handmade goods, and upcycled furniture.

Although decorating comes naturally to Kinghorn, she says her biggest challenge was figuring out the layout and the placement of her furniture. “Smaller rooms require being creative with not only how you arrange furnishings but also what you will actually use in that space,” she notes.

“My original plan for the living room changed once I re-measured it before we moved in. I ended up having to get rid of several pieces that just didn’t work for the space.” Her advice? Map out the floor plan and measure, measure, measure! Avoiding clutter is also high on her list of priorities. “When

Photography by Mark Lohman, courtesy of © CICO Books 2023

In the cozy living room, blue accents rest against a white backdrop. A narrow coffee table and slender credenza/sideboard balance the ample sofa.

it comes to buying furniture or accessories, I have a rule that nothing new comes in unless something old goes out.”

True to herself, Kinghorn keeps an open mind and is well prepared when it comes to shopping. She will scour thrift stores as well as flea markets and major retailers to find just the right items. “I always carry a notebook full of color samples, fabric swatches, and measurements for each room, as well as a wish list of items we need, which I can refer to if I come across something that might work,” she explains.

“We wanted a home that would be both pretty and practical. Everything needed to be functional, useful, and comfortable but also to fit my vision of a cottage-style interior. I sourced a mix of new and vintage pieces, many

GET RHODY STYLE

Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.

Riverside Meets River Seine

When Kinghorn is craving a French fix, she cites the following as her go-to’s: Le Central, Bristol; Stoneacre, Newport; Ellie’s, Providence; Rind Cheese Shop, Barrington; Le Bec Sucre, Middletown, and Bottles in Providence for their great selection of French wines.

Local Accents

For infusing spaces with Parisian style, Kinghorn stocks French baskets and painted furniture at her online shop BlancAndBleuHome. com, sources custom pillow covers Three Sparrows Interior Design in Warren, and heads to the Dahlia Shed in Middletown for fresh flowers.

Something Old

“My favorite spots to shop for unique vintage bits are Groundswell Garden & Home, Tiverton; Jules Antiques & General Store, Richmond; Rhode Island Antiques Mall, Pawtucket; Stillwater Antiques, Greenville; and Old Stone Mill Antiques & Treasures in the historic village of Chepachet.”

of which I personally made over with paint or upholstery.” Kinghorn’s organizational skills and fondness for classic French rural style is apparent in these carefully edited and lovingly appointed rooms, which she has allowed to breathe and flow. “It comes down to being aware of your space and sticking with only what you feel is necessary – compromise is essential for making a small home comfortable,” she says.

She has some simple advice for anyone embarking on a similar project. “Live in your home for a good six months before changing anything. This will give you an idea of what works, what doesn’t and what changes need to happen. Make the smart investment by doing things once and right. Don’t do temporary fixes, which end up costing more in the end.”

Excerpt from Small Spaces, Big Appeal: The Luxury of Less in Under 1,200 Square Feet by Fifi O’Neill. © CICO Books 2023

Kinghorn painted the porch floor, table, and rocking chair in her favorite blue hues. The vintage pillows/cushions continue the classic color palette

Kinghorn upholstered the headboard of this thrifted bed in a favorite blue fabric. She then added a vintage quilt, a French pillow, and a patterned wallpaper from Serena & Lily. A chair acts as a nightstand/bedside table. The framed photographs were taken by Angie Wendricks of County Road Living.

Labor Day for Days

Let prepared foods and fresh-picked everything take the work out of hosting

By

Despite the hottest temps of the year, the calendar reminds us that before long, beaches officially close and families with kids will resume their regimented routines, so let’s make the most of the still-long days by making plans right now! If the thought of hosting a gettogether gives you the willies, it doesn’t need to – spending a sunny afternoon picking up prepared foods, bunches of blooms, bottles of wine, and a few other items is all part of the fun.

Finer Things

While hosting doesn’t need to be fancy, it can be nice to have some heirloom-quality pieces. If you’re looking to build a tabletop collection or pick out something special, Homeport on Newport’s Spring Street has you covered. The lifestyle shop has shelves of fine bone china, linen napkins, flatware, glassware, salt-andpepper sets, and more, plus advice and expertise!

Floral Support

From flowers to fruit, adorn your table with gifts from the earth. Bouquets of vibrant wildflowers from Painted Fields Flower Farm are handpicked each morning and available for purchase in the flower shed at Tilted Barn Brewery. By using loose bunches, you have the freedom to cut and display your centerpiece however your heart desires. Visit Tilted Barn Farmers Markets on Wednesdays from 4-7pm through September 27.

Made to Order

The Corner House on Post Road in Warwick can be your one-stop food shop. This upscale deli also has a market stocked with regional brands, and onsite bakery Cakes by Isabel Noel. Spice up your spread with jarred provisions, cured meats, and rich cheeses, plus reheatable faves like homemade stuffies and bacon wrapped scallops. A custom charcuterie board with mini spoon from art market regular Into the Woods makes a handsome base.

Wine Stop

Along the Sakonnet River in Middletown is Greenvale Vineyards, a sixth-generation farm that produces small quantities of estate-grown wines available for tastings and purchase. For grazing on small seasonal bites, try the 2022 Pinot Gris Ramato. When it’s time to serve the main course, switch to a medium-bodied Bordeaux-style red. While not in use, top bottles with decorative stoppers from Backyard Beach Decor (which also make lovely hostess gifts).

Kayla Aucoin and Elyse Major

Photography by Kayla Aucoin, courtesy of AUCOIN

TIP : Use produce to fill nooks around vases

Gold sunflowers complement red produce and contrast nicely with blue elements

RHODY RESOURCES

A handy list of brands, shops, and makers featured in this article:

AUCOIN

Featured: Stylist

North Kingstown | @aucoindesigns

Backyard Beach Decor

Featured: Narragansett Anchor

wine stopper

North Kingstown | @backyardbeachdecor

The Corner House

Featured: The Backyard Food Company, Cakes by Isabel Noel, and their own prepared foods.

Warwick | @cornerhouseri

Greenvale Vineyards

Featured: Wines

Middletown | @green v alevineyards

Homeport

Featured: Tabletop and bar, linen napkins

Newport | @homeportri

Into the Woods

Featured: Live-Edge Bowl Board

Johnston | @followusintothewoods

Mention Hey Rhody and receive 10 percent off any of their products. Offer expires October 15, 2023.

Painted Fields Flower Farm

Featured: Florals

Exeter | @paintedfields_flowerfarm

Meet Elizabeth Beisel

Rhody’s own Olympic medalist just keeps swimming – and is on a mission to empower kids do the same

By Elyse Major

After competing in three Olympic games and earning two medals for swimming, you’ve traveled the nation conducting swim clinics, raised many thousands of dollars for cancer by swimming from South Kingstown to Block Island (the first woman to do so, no wetsuit allowed), and now you have cofounded Emerge Youth Camps, a program that emphasizes overall wellness through a combination of safety training, physical activities, digital disconnection, and rewilding in natural environments. Can you trace the roots of your ongoing advocacy to any moment in particular?

Swimming changed my life and gave me opportunities that I could only dream of, including a platform to promote water safety and accessibility to everyone, regardless of race, economic background, or location. Losing my dad to cancer woke me up to the reality of how hard it is to fund cancer research, so being able to advocate for that has been one of the most cathartic ways for me to cope with the loss of my dad. Emerge Camps is a blend of those skills and experiences, and I hope to teach critical life lessons and tools to our youth and encourage them to take those lessons with them as they walk through life.

In a statement about Emerge Camps, it mentions creating “an opportunity for youth to disconnect digitally.” Social media has become so complicated, especially for young people. What are your thoughts on usage?

I’ve worked with kids throughout the country over the last few years, and I’ve seen how detrimental social media can be to their wellbeing. It can create an environment for cyberbullying to thrive, it

often promotes unrealistic beauty standards, thus creating body image issues, it can interfere with a child’s ability to learn time management by consuming all of their free time, and use before bed has led to inadequate rest and sleeping disorders. It often portrays a filtered and exaggerated version of reality, causing a distorted perception, and excessive use has been linked to increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Emerge Youth Camps will take place this month in Warwick. How did you decide on the location?

The City of Warwick has been nothing but supportive and has opened their doors to us without any hesitation. Everything we need is in Warwick and it is centrally located, so it’s convenient for anyone in the state to get to.

Do you still live in Rhode Island, and if so, what are some of your favorite places? I live in Newport with my fiancè Jack. Our favorite spots in Newport are Corner Cafè for brunch, The Nitro Bar and Simple Merchant for coffee, and Perro Salado for the best Mexican food on the island. Shayna’s Place and Alma in Wickford are personal favorites on the mainland to eat and grab a coffee. Favorite spots to visit are Brenton Point, Beavertail, and of course Narragansett Town Beach, where I lifeguarded in the summers.

Where are your favorite places – indoors or out – to swim in Rhode Island?

My favorite pools to swim in Rhode Island are Brown University and Roger Williams University. Best places to swim in open water are Narragansett Town Beach, Second Beach in Newport, and Mackerel Cove in Jamestown.

P hoto by Derek Delahunt, courtesy of Elizabeth Beisel

In a Pickle

Ocean State Pickleball brings America’s fastest growing sport to South County

By Karen Greco

I’m not a team sports sort of person. With a career spent mostly as a freelancer, it’s no surprise I like to go it alone. But for some reason, pickleball called to me. (Maybe it was the name – I love pickles.)

Pickleball is a mashup of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Played on a badminton-size court, the game uses a large, flat paddle to send a wiffle ball, roughly the size of a baseball, back and forth over a net.

Kinder to the body than its more aggressive cousin tennis, pickleball is America’s fastest growing sport. Even Dumb and Dumber actor Jeff Daniels (also a prolific playwright) wrote a comedy about the game, which premiered at his Michigan theater last year. USA Pickleball, the sport’s official governing body, is 50,000 members strong. The US Open Pickleball Championship (yes, there is one) airs on CBS Sports in April.

Retirees are credited for its rapid rise, which may explain why its US Open is held in Naples, Florida. Even though I am creeping ever closer to social security age, Kara Biller, founder of Ocean State Pickleball, assures me that there are plenty of GenXers and Millennials taking to the courts. Indeed, according to the 2022 Pickleball Report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 17 percent of pickleballers are aged 65 and up; under-25s make up a third of the players.

Biller, a former college tennis athlete, founded

Ocean State Pickleball during COVID, after her pandemic-induced job loss as an occupational therapist. Introduced to the sport by a friend, she “poo-pooed it,” given her tennis background. However, after she picked up a paddle and played for the first time, she recalls, “I thought, this is occupational therapy.” Pickleball, she explains, ticks off the three boxes of OT. “The game uses your brain a lot, which is good for memory. It’s good exercise, and there’s a great social component to the activity. That’s huge.”

I meet Biller at the upper tennis courts at Old Mountain Field in South Kingstown for my first lesson. “Former athletes like the game,” she says. “Speed, strength, and coordination are big advantages.”

Coordination? I was the kid that always took a ball to the face in elementary school PE. “Anyone can play this game,” she assures me.

Biller ran down rules of the game – of which there are plenty – before we began our lesson. The most important takeaway: keep the ball low. Unlike tennis, where a nice pop up can confound your opponent, pickleball is best played close to the net. “It’s really about the footwork,” she says.

To begin, Biller ran me through a series of warmups, which include dynamic stretches and, surprisingly, walking with a slightly exaggerated trunk rotation (Biller says it’s the way we should be walking, to get more core involved) as well as lunges with a twist. We did some sideways speed work, reminding

me of the importance of working in all planes of movement. We wrapped things up with a monster walk, legs kicking up on each step, for a great hamstring stretch.

Warm up complete, I was primed to begin my first lesson. Tennis wasn’t something I pursued in my youth and for pickleball, that’s a good thing, since the similarities end at the clay court. Sure, you want to hit a ball over a net, but a strong backhand isn’t the point of the game.

I got into a knees-slightly-bent position, with my weight on my toes, and we began to volley. It went against every instinct to keep from giving the ball a hard whack. “You don’t want to play with your whole body,” Biller said, reminding me to focus on footwork instead.

It took a while, but I finally got the hang of it, able to serve and volley back and forth for 10 or so times before my next hit would go out of control. Biller recommends three 90-minute lessons to get the basics down, and, she notes, the other players are always supportive of newbies, ready to help coach them through the intricacies of the sport.

While pickleball doesn’t have the same appeal as a crunchy kosher dill, I can see myself playing fun, low-stakes games with friends. For the more competitive, Ocean State Pickleball offers several leagues and tournaments. But they also have one-on-one and group lessons as well as match play sessions. Locations vary, visit OceanStatePickleball.com for details.

Ocean State Pickleball founder Kara Biller instructs a player on using pickleball’s broad, flat paddle

Photo courtesy of Ocean State Pickleball

Photo courtesy of newportFILM

e Must List

10 essential events this month

August 7-13: The Flickers International Film Festival held at various locations around the state is a week-long Academy Award-qualifying festival that presents over 350 films representing works shot and produced in over 100 countries. Film-Festival.org

August 9-September 10: The Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys , an exciting show based on the ‘60s band Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, closes out the summer season. Wakefield, TheatreByTheSea.com

August 12: The 10th Annual Bristol Harbor Festival & Blessing of the Fleet is a family-friendly event on the waterfront that includes live music, a stuffie competition, and the always popular traditional littleneck boil. BristolHarborFest.com

August 11-13: The Japan America Society of Rhode Island hosts the 39th annual Black Ships Festival , celebrating the friendship between the United States and Japan with arts and crafts, Taiko drumming, and martial arts. Bristol and Newport, BlackShipsFestival.com

August 13: Hear soprano Emma Robertson accompanied by pianist Christopher Carson bring the beautiful sounds of Shubert, Rossini, and Mozart to the historic Grace Note Farm for Music at the Farm . Pascoag, GraceNoteFarmWeb.com

August 13: The Diamond Hill Fun Ride is an exciting way to explore Blackstone Valley by bike with the RI Northeast Mountain Biking Association, guiding riders through woodsy trails off the beaten path. Cumberland, RINEMBA.org

August 16-20: The Washington County Fair returns for its 57th year of midway rides, livestock shows, tractor pulls, and everything else that makes this event a week of down-home fun. Richmond, WashingtonCountyFair-RI.com

August 19: Along with a lineup of top local musicians including Julie Rhodes, Z-Boys, and YONKS, the Collaborative’s Warren Folks Fest celebrates the town’s creative spirit with art vendors, local food vendors, and more. Warren, TheCollaborative02885.org

August 23: Avid astronomers and beginners alike are invited to Starry, Starry Night Stargazing at Chase Farm Park, offering wide-open spaces and clear views. Lincoln, HearthsideHouse.org

August 26: Brew at the Zoo returns to Roger Williams Park with over 170 beers, seltzers, and ready-to-drink cocktails from 80+ local, regional, and national brewers, plus live music by The Niteflies, animal encounters, and more. Pro v idence, RWPZoo.org

Photo courtesy of the Japan-America Society of Rhode Island

Band of Brothers

Filmmaking siblings from Little Compton premiere their documentary of living surf and skate legend Sid Abbruzzi this month in Newport

By Elyse Major

Sid Abbruzzi is the stuff of legends. With his ‘80s punk band Big World, he opened for Iggy Pop three times; inside his Newport surf and skate shop Water Brothers, he refused to stock trendy brands; and when Moonrise Kingdom was being shot in Rhode Island, actor Bill Murray was a fixture at the shop with a clubhouse vibe, which closed in May of 2016 and currently operates as pop-up events. Any East Coast kid worth their weight in salt who ever dreamed of getting on a board or picking up a deck knows about Abbruzzi, AKA The Package.

This month, the story of the larger-than-life figure with hair as gray and wavy as a swell on a foggy day, comes to the big screen in Water Brother: The Sid Abbruzzi Story . The featurelength documentary is the work of the Kinnanes, eight filmmaking brothers from Adamsville who grew up surfing with Abbruzzi. Production began in September of 2020, and the premiere will take place days shy of Abbruzzi’s 72nd birthday at Fort Adams. The outdoor event is presented by newportFILM, a nonprofit that hosts documentaires at landmark locations across Aquidneck Island. The film is described as a poignant reflection on a life well-lived and a tribute to the enduring spirit of surf culture, depicting surfing and skating as more than just hobbies, and how the dedication of one individual can inspire community.

“Discovering Water Brothers and meeting Sid was a life changing moment for me,” says Mike Yarworth, longtime frontman for Neutral Nation, a punk band celebrated with their own documentary in 2010 by David Bettencourt and inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2017. “Hanging out at Water Brothers was like an indoctrination for a young skate/surf punk like me, and Sid was our high priest. We’d hear the latest in new music and discover products

for skating and surfing.” Yarworth continues, “Going to see Sid in his band Big World only cemented him in as high priest, and I’m forever in debt. Congratulations on the documentary, Sid; no one deserves it more. Much respect.”

So how does Abbruzzi feel about all of this adoration? “I’m excited about this film being made by the Kinnane brothers,” he tells me from the road, wife Danielle transcribing. “I couldn’t picture it being made by anyone else. The boys all grew up surfing with me, and their father and I are great friends.”

The Kinnanes tell the story through a mix of large-format cinematic footage, archival photos and clips, and interviews with friends and fans including artist, skateboarder, and fellow punk Shepard Fairey, who first made his mark as a RISD student in the late ‘80s affixing his “Andre the Giant has a Posse” stickers around Providence, long before creating the Barack Obama “Hope” poster. Says Abbruzzi, “I’m blessed to have all this vintage footage that we

kept our hands on over the last 50-60 years. And whether it’s photographs or film that goes back that far, it all tells the story.”

Andrea van Beuren, co-founder and artistic director of newportFILM is excited about the Fort Adams event. “We’re thrilled to be premiering Water Brother in Sid’s hometown. I can’t imagine a better filmmaking team than the Kinnane brothers to bring Sid’s legendary life to the big screen.”

Abbruzzi is looking forward to the premiere, which promises to be a special evening. “I’m thankful to have this screening of the documentary with Newport Film at Fort Adams. We’re proud to represent Northeast surf and skate culture and how it grew to what it is today. Looking forward to a great night.”

WATER BROTHERS: THE SID ABBRUZZI STORY

August 17, Venue opens at 5pm, film stars at 8pm Fort Adams, Newport (Rain Venue: Casino Theatre)

Suggested donation: $10 • NewportFilm.com

Poster courtesy of Danielle Abbruzzi

Greater Providence is Your Playground

From archery to ziplining, rediscover all-ages fun!

By Ken Abrams

In addition to fabulous dining, shopping, and performance venues, the Creative Capital and its outskirts have plenty of activities ready. Whether it’s soaring over the zoo, taking aim with foam-tipped arrows, or embarking on a scavenger hunt, here are five memory-making adventures to cap your summer!

ZIP THROUGH THE ZOO

Sure the zoo is home to over 100 different animal species, but did you know that now you can see them all from great heights? The Soaring Eagle zip ride is the perfect way to explore from a new vantage point – 115 feet above ground! The Explore and Soar attractions offer either a zip ride experience or a train ride through the woodlands. And you don’t want to miss Dinosaurs Among Us, an immersive walk-through featuring 60 life-size animatronic and interactive dinosaurs. Check out prehistoric-themed selfie stations, meet and greets with baby dinos, and hands-on fossil dig stations before the exhibit closes on August 13. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, RWPZoo.org

RINK AND ROLL

The Providence Rink is popular year-round, with ice skating and bumper cars luring families during the winter months, but it’s not to be underestimated in the summer. This time of year, the rink comes to life with roller skating, roller hockey, and more. Adult sports leagues including volleyball, dodgeball, pickleball, and soccer run Monday through Wednesday all season. Adults can sip craft beer, wine, or a cocktail at the Trinity Beer Garden, which offers popcorn and snacks for the kiddos. Head to the rink on August 19 at sunset for The Super Mario Bros. Mo v ie – free popcorn included! Reserved seating must be purchased in advance. 2 Kennedy Plaza, ThePro v idenceRink.com

ARCHERY ADVENTURES

A new addition to the local entertainment scene is Archery Games PVD in Olneyville, an indoor fast-paced combination of dodgeball and archery designed to get you moving. The paintball-style game uses foam-tipped arrows, and participants are required to wear masks and arm guards for safety. They host team building events, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and birthday parties for kids ages 10 and up. Never arched before? No worries, each session includes a training period before players are allowed on the field, or swap the bows for blasters to partake of Nerf Wars! 40 Sonoma Court, ArcheryGamesPVD.com

PINBALL IN PAWTUCKET

Buzzers and bells abound at the Electromagnetic Pinball Museum, a fun alternative to the national chain-style amusement centers – and a great way to get everybody off their phones. The facility boasts dozens of vintage pinball machines, and you can play all day for a flat daily fee of $10. Even better, the museum takes an active role in the community running programs and events to educate the public about the science, history, art, and culture behind the game. The museum is also involved in Project Pinball, a program that places pinball machines in children’s hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses. Rainy day fun awaits! 881 Main Street, Pawtucket, ElectromagneticPinballMuseum.com

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Learn why escape rooms are all the rage at The Great Escape Room, where teams must work together to get out of a complex series of challenges. Your group has 60 minutes to work through a part scavenger hunt, part puzzlesolving mission, crack the code, and flee the room. With a variety of rooms and themes like Poker Night at the President’s Bunker and Sherlock’s Study: What’s Up Watson, the Great Escape Room has stories to entice anyone. Protip: plan an any-ages birthday party outing and see if your team has what it takes to win! 146 Westminster Street, TheGreatEscapeRoom.com

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Archery Games PVD

Electromagnetic Pinball Museum

P hotos courtesy of (top to bottom) RWP Zoo, Archery Games PVD, and Electromagnetic Pinball Museum

Computer Age

From large-system servers to video game design, a Warwick museum illuminates tech history with new programming and collections

BY MEGAN MONTE

Inside the new Rhode Island Computer Museum space in Warwick

With technology constantly evolving and older models often phased out to collect dust and make way for new, it’s easy to forget about the once-shiny and exciting machines developed in our recent history. For the Rhode Island Computer Museum (RICM), even though the luster may have faded, the thrill is still there. With collections, courses, workshops, and engaging events, RICM traipses back in time to show the lingering value of techie artifacts.

What began in 1999 as an assemblage of large systems like servers, old desktop computers and laptops, video game systems, and more has grown into an educational outreach nonprofit that engages with the community through more than just its physical inventory.

“We expanded to offer programs to libraries, schools, after-school programs, and community organizations, and we offer

workshops at our facility,” explains Jen Piehler, RICM education coordinator and STEAM educator. When the Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA) in Providence closed last year, RICM adopted a range of RIMOSA workshops to their roster.

RICM’s educational opportunities are wide-ranging, allowing participants to dive deep into unique interests, including animation, video game design, sound technology, computer-aided design, computer programming, robotics and engineering, and more. The museum also offers courses through the Rhode Island Department of Education’s All Course Network, which is offered to all students in grades K-12 (with registration online at EnrollRI.org/acn). Fall offerings include STEAM in Space, BioDesign, and 3-D Printing, Coding, and Design.

In addition to courses, RICM hosts opento-the-public events, including the upcoming

Fabrication Fest at Providence Innovation District Park in September (date yet to be announced at press time). The outdoor gathering of exhibitors debuted last year when RICM member Brian Jepson, known for coordinating local Mini Maker Faires, had the idea to work with DESIGN WEEK RI to celebrate the intersection between design and fabrication. Experts and enthusiasts in both traditional and digital methods showcased their work to over 500 attendees.

To accommodate its growth, RICM recently moved from North Kingstown to Bald Hill Road in Warwick, and with the help of a RI Rebounds grant has designed an engaging space to host its ever-growing agenda of activities in a more accessible way. Whether perusing the “computer crypt” of old machines or expanding your tech knowledge, RICM is a great first stop on any retro journey. RIComputerMuseum.org

RACE DAY

Teams turn their STEM knowledge into practical application building electric race cars for RICM’s Greenpower F24 Racing Challenge. Participants work from a kit or from scratch to create a car that adheres to Greenpower Education Trust’s technical and sporting regulations, and come race day compete for the gold. A fall race takes place October 23. Learn more at Sites.Google.com/ricomputermuseum.org/ greenpower-f24/

P hotos courtesy of Rhode Island Computer Museum

HEY RHODY PETS