Hey Rhody Home October 2022

Photography by George Grey, courtesy of Laura Krekorian Architect

Photo by Grace Lentini by Kayla Aucoin by Megan Holloway, courtesy of Corey Low Interiors

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Dear Readers,

There’s something enchanting about sunset followed by dusk and nightfall all before sup per. Suddenly that boring commute becomes bewitching, lined with windows emitting a golden glow, like the Great Island beach house on our cover. This fabulous home is featured in our cover story where we offer peeks into a trio of luxurious living spaces. However, we’re not trying to cause any house-envy but instead offer inspiring ways to bring some of the ele ments into your own home.

garages! There’s the much-anticipated Hon eybird Kitchen + Cocktails in Rumford, and a garden-themed shop and art gallery tucked into a Newport neighborhood.

Debra L’Heureux, Rhode Island’s top Matchmaker

For this issue, we’ve assembled a dream team of design all-stars. Carli Alves, a DIY blogger who works with a variety of national brands, shares the hands-on makeover of her South County home. Providence interior de signer Corey Low Satti offers advice on what to consider before taking on a pricey kitchen remodel, and North Kingstown’s Kayla Au coin demonstrates how to host a gathering with locally sourced goods.

Nothing is very far in Rhode Island, so we encourage drives to explore new-to-you places. Patty J takes us on a statewide tour of international food markets, sure to satis fy wanderlust, no passport required. We also highlight two businesses housed in former

Discover ways to fill your home with ev erything from delicious smells via a Blithe wold-inspired scones recipe to fanciful light fixtures from local makers, even a new pup – with tips for welcoming a rescue. Meet the duo behind the stunning new coffee table book, A Newport Summer , and a mis sion-driven fine furniture maker. Learn about a project documenting the ever-chang ing architectural landscape of Providence. Not forgetting about Halloween, Hugh Mi nor has assembled six books sure to get your fright on! Everything you need to live your best Rhody life!

Editor In Chief Elyse Major

Studio | History | The Public’s Radio | Rhody Pets | Rhody Gem

Edge and End owner Aaron Guttin getting to work in the studio

Photo courtesy of Edge and End

Livin’ on the Edge

By Jackie Ignall

Aaron Guttin has always loved building things. He first got a taste for woodworking as a kid at overnight camp where he built a wooden toolbox, which his moth er still has today. Ever since, he has been im mersed in the craft, working professionally as a general contractor, designer, shipwright,

luthier, cabinet maker, and furniture builder.

In June, Guttin took over as owner and president of Edge and End, an artisan fur niture company based in Providence, which also has a strong partnership with The Gro den Network at The Cove Center, a nonprof it that provides job experience and skills for adults with special needs that happens to be

right next door. “I was working for Edge and End and fell in love with the work and the population we serve,” says Guttin. “I read a statistic that said disabled adults had a 97 percent unemployment rate. I can’t think of a better way to spend a career than building meaningful products while helping to bring that statistic down.”

The new owner of a Providence woodworking studio continues mission of creating opportunities for adults with disabilities

Where the woodworking magic happens

The idea for this training partnership was conceived of back in 2008, by previous Edge and End owner, David Ellison, who saw an opportunity with residents from The Cove Center, who would walk by the workspace and express an interest in what was happening inside. Guttin credits Elli son as being an amazing mentor and friend. “When the opportunity came to take over the business, I was blessed that things worked out the way they did,” says Guttin.

Located in a historic Dyerville Mill on the banks of Woonasquatucket River, the 6,000-square-foot workspace is outfitted with original beams, iron work, skylights, high ceilings and windows that let in lots of natural light. “I love history, and to work in a former textile mill that was part of the rich New England industrial land scape makes it all that much better,” Guttin shares. “In some ways, I feel like we carry on the legacy of various craftsmen over the last 180 years.”

Q uality materials, such as solid woods in oak, walnut, ash, and pine, as well as wrought iron, steel, and cast iron are para mount in the company’s hand-crafted fur niture and smallwares. All of the lumber is sustainably sourced and comes from three sawmills in Rhode Island and Massachu setts. “Our favorite is repurposing lumber from old Rhode Island factories and mills; the stories locked in that lumber keep my imagination going all day,” says Guttin.

His goal is to always employ people with disabilities and to teach trade skills. The company currently offers two different training programs; one is a six-week course for adults and the other is 12 weeks with students from The Met High School in Providence. “Making things is a very hu man thing – after all, cavemen made art on walls and built tools every day,” says Gut tin. “I think helping each other is just as human. Combining the two brings me a huge amount of personal joy, but more im portantly allows us to create products that really matter.”

Edge and End 610 Manton Avenue, Providence EdgeAndEnd.com

Decor designed and crafted by Edge and End

Photo courtesy of Edge and End

Architectural Excavation

Growing archive of photos, oral histories, and documents tells the stories of Providence buildings past and present

By Abbie Lahmers

rowing up in North Smithfield, J. Hogue always thought he would leave Rhode Island one day. His perspective of Providence was that of an outsider, “a teenager who would go to Thayer Street every now and then,” he recounts with a laugh. Hogue did move out of state for a while, but when he returned in the late ‘90s, “it didn’t feel like the same place that I had left.”

Amid the city’s downtown revitalization and the real estate boom that would follow, Hogue found himself drawn to the industrial nature of neighborhoods like Olneyville, Valley, and pockets of Silver Spring, taking note of what was being lost in our built environment when outside developers swept in.

“We have this really deep industrial history

everywhere, and with Eagle Square in 2002, that was the thing that made a lot of people wake up,” says Hogue, referring to the artists who were displaced when developers demolished most of the buildings housing the arts collective Fort Thunder to create a shopping center. “It was a rallying cry and a wake up call that these buildings we’re taking for granted may not be here for much longer. If we want them, we have to get involved, we have to take them.”

For some, this meant buying properties. For Hogue, it meant starting ArtInRuins.

A web designer by trade, Hogue began photographing and researching city architec ture and compiling the histories of over 300 buildings on his website. He made contacts at the state Historical Preservation & Heritage

“ArtInRuins had its beginnings when protests happened around the eviction of Fort Thunder and the redevelopment and demolition of Eagle Square. While the artists were still forced to move out, more buildings were saved due to the public outcry.”

Commission and Providence Preservation So ciety, and to fill in gaps, even purchased scans of maps for years that are harder to find via the Library of Congress archives.

When it comes to scope, “I wish I was more choosy,” Hogue jokes, indicating backlogs of photos he’s taken and sites he’s explored that haven’t yet made it up on the website, but Art InRuins is expansive by design. “If there’s any sort of demolition, I try to capture that,” he says. “I’m more interested in change, in plac es that are shifting ownership, shifting use, or drastically shifting their appearance.” This can range from the sudden demolition of the Duck and Bunny house on Wickenden Street to the more under-the-radar, unfussy properties where there’s “not an obvious reason to appreciate it.”

In the 20 years Hogue has been dutifully documenting, even old narratives continue to change as more is unearthed. With digital archives more readily available than they used to be, Hogue realized in 2020, “I had quite a bit of work ahead of me.” More documents surfaced, and “sometimes the story changes a little bit about how we understood what used to happen at a particular building.”

A big part of the equation is oral histo ries. “It feels like grandkids set their grand parents up with a computer and they start Googling where they used to work and they find my page,” says Hogue, who hears from a lot of former employees and people who knew these buildings in their prime. “People probably tell these stories to each

other all the time, but I feel really lucky that I’m able to collect so many of them into a place where people can appreciate them. You get the sense that all of these places meant something to someone; no matter how ugly or how decayed it got, there was a point in time when it was in beautiful shape and it was brand new. People worked there and made a life there.”

Scrolling through pages of memorialized buildings, it’s clear ArtInRuins is an ev er-growing time capsule, and Hogue hopes it will continue to evolve with community col laboration. “I’m always open to having con versations with folks who have a fire in their belly and need a place to put that energy.” ArtInRuins.com

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“The Milk Can roadside stand was moved from a previous location but decays today, unable to be repurposed unless it is moved again.”

“While demolishing the Purple Cat restaurant in Chepachet, two diner cars built into the structure were exhumed. One was intact enough to be moved offsite to be restored into an Ice Cream parlor.”

Photo by Christopher Martin of Quahog.org

ColorLiving

By James Baumgartner

When you go to Broad Street in Providence, you’ll see a street that is radically dif ferent from what it was just a few months ago. Among the changes is a street mural at the corner of Public and Daboll streets. The Public’s Radio Artscape producer James Baumgartner spoke with Rhode Island Latino Arts director Marta Martínez, who helped to facilitate the project, as well as René Gómez, the artist who designed and painted the mural.

René Gómez: It’s an asphalt mural. It’s a different type of mural. It’s not on a traditional wall, it’s ac tually on the street. It is very colorful. The colors are inspired by where I’m from, the Dominican Republic, and the traditional houses down there which are very bright, very Caribbean-looking. And also right across the street, there is a church, and also the stained glass inspired the design.

James Baumgartner: The intersection is a very wide stretch of asphalt where two streets come together at a narrow angle. There’s a bright purple house at the corner, like a miniature flatiron building. What was the intersection like before the painting?

Gómez: I’ll be honest with you – a little scary. I would, you know, have to watch my back here and there because cars were speeding. The street right next to it is a one way, but most people use it as a two way. So yeah, I hope it really reduces the speed and makes people slow down with this piece of artwork.

Baumgartner: This is part of Broad Street renovations in total, right? So what is that like? What else is there going on?

Gómez: There is a brand new, what is called an urban trail or a bike path that was implemented on Broad Street. New bus islands, I guess they call it. And it’s just changing Broad Street to make it a lot safer. More pedestrian friendly, basically.

Baumgartner: Marta Martínez is executive di rector of Rhode Island Latino Arts, who hosted an event at Public and Daboll Thursday, August 25, 2022 to bring people out to the mural.

Marta Martínez: It’s going to be the first time that we use it as what I’m going to call a stage. We’ve been hosting what we call a Museo del Barrio on Broad Street. And that translates into the muse um of the neighborhood, or the museum of the people. And it’s an activity and program run by Rhode Island Latino Arts, where we just bring art to the people in Broad Street, and it’s brought by artists who are of Latino heritage. Most of them, if I can, I select those who actually live or grew up in the neighborhood. So it’s a way of them, like, giving back to the neighborhood or coming back home, and showing their art to their neighbors. The space is – the city is hoping to use it to bring people together and I thought, well, what a better way to bring it together than to bring them the Museo and use it. And we’re going to offer handson art projects by artists. René is going to be there as one of the artists. And we’re going to do some bachata sessions where you can just learn some

simple bachata steps, and a drumming circle. So it’s something for the entire family.

Baumgartner: René, what sort of art projects are you going to have for people who come to the event [tonight]?

Gómez: Basically, almost like a paint and vino kind of thing, except no vino. So yeah, so it’s going to be like, you know, you have your own little easel, a canvas and paint, and then we just have some fun doing some art.

Baumgartner: Sort of like a guided painting?

Gómez: Yes, exactly.

Martínez: I like to look at Broad Street as like a giant canvas that we want to put art on. And René also just finished up another mural closer to The Bomes Theatre. He did one on the wall. So, that’s an example. We’ve painted a couple of electrical boxes. We’ve set up some puppeteer ing and dance. So it’s art that’s happening on Broad Street, and the Museo del Barrio and the mural are just a little piece of what I’d like to bring to Broad Street in terms of art.

Baumgartner: You can see the mural anytime at the corner of Public and Daboll Streets, right off of Broad.

This story was originally posted on August 25, 2022. James Baumgartner can be reached at James@ThePublicsRadio.org

A new mural brings beauty and safety to the Broad Street cultural corridor

Overhead view of Public & Daboll streets, near Broad Street

Homeward Bound

Advice from the experts on adopting a long-time shelter pup

By Belinda Jones

While many rescue pups are happily adopted within days of arriving at local shelters, some long-timers are over looked for months or years – even though they’re equally eager to find their forever home. Just like humans, not all dogs make a winning first im pression. But, as wise shelter staff will tell you, some of these under-the-radar types make for the most rewarding long-term relationships.

Once dog seekers move past the meet and greet, the next step is getting acquainted. Sound advice for the first few weeks: “No baths, no dog parks, no parties,” recommends Jennifer Gebar of Animal Rescue Rhode Is land (ARRI). “All of these things can be over whelming; you need a chance to bond first.”

Kara Montalbano of Middletown’s Potter League for Animals echoes these sentiments. “Bringing a new pet into your home is an ex citing time, however for the pet it can be a bit stressful and scary,” she says. “Remember everything is a first for them in your home –think of when you moved into a new home or got lost in a new town. If you can show pa tience, understanding, and be forgiving, over time your new furry family member will settle in and become a wonderful companion.”

Here are six long-timers from local shelters still awaiting the life-changing words, “You’re coming home with me!”

CALLIE

While Callie can appear aloof on first intro ductions, she recently blossomed at a weekend foster sleepover, showing a truly affectionate side and even fancied herself as a lapdog! At 10 years old, it’s definitely time for this crin kly-eared cutie to be granted her wish and re ceive a home full of love and toys. Potter League for Animals, Middletown, PotterLeague.org

DIOR

Dior has the high energy to match his high-fash ion name and needs an Akita-savvy soul who can offer the mental and physical stimulation to

bring out the very best in this stunning gold en boy. Bonus: trainer Gregory Riley is offer ing post-adoption training in your home. Rhode Island Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Riverside, RISPCA.com

DORI

Dainty Dori is a 10-year-old Chihuahua weighing less than 10 pounds. This pup’s life goal is to find her person to spend her golden years with and become their faithful shadow and snuggler. A home with another small dog or cat is fine with this couch potato. Also check out 18-year-old Chihuahua Hershey. Vintage Pet Rescue, VintagePetRescue.org

JOEY

Three-year-old Joey has been with Hotel for Homeless Dogs since they opened in early 2021 – that’s over half his life! If you can offer this quiet, handsome fella a fencedin yard for playtime, water splashing, and sunny snoozes, he will dutifully clean your peanut butter jars ready for recycling. Hotel for Homeless Dogs, HotelForHomelessDogs.comCumberland,

NALA

This goofball loves to snort and trot around the yard like a pig; her antics are guaran teed to put a smile on your face as big as hers. Initially shy, Nala is prone to joyful zoomies, especially if you indulge her pas sion for stuffed toys.

Pro v idence Animal Rescue League, PARL.org

TREX

Trex has made leaps and bounds since his arrival at ARRI 18 months ago, and not just in agility! Benefiting from profession al training and care, this formerly timid three-year-old has grown in confidence, so ciability, and lovability. Often described as “regal,” the only thing Trex is missing now is a kingdom to call his own. Also check out Amigo, Harley, Hugo, Nessy, and Sherlock at ARRI. AnimalRescueRI.org

FabricsLorraine

Fabric store

What it is:

A fabric oasis for couturiers and crafters.

Where to find it:

Part of the Lorraine Mills development, it’s easy to spot with its blue awning and colorful sign topped by a lighted red arrow.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

It’s easy to lose track of time at this enormous fabric warehouse. Whether you are looking for heavy wool for a cus tom coat, demure linen for a party dress, or a more sturdy weave for a handmade carpet or custom upholstery, Lorraine Fabrics has it, and likely in more than one color and pattern. At this fami ly-owned Pawtucket institution found ed in 1908, yards upon yards of fabric rolls fill the old mill building; its huge assortment of cloth and notions at dis count prices make it the go-to store for Rhode Island’s apparel designers and fabric crafters. Sewing machine needles, thread, scissors, and more make this a one-stop shop for creatives. Whether you are looking for something specific –from West African prints to fine lace to leather hides and remnants – or simply seeking a spark of creativity, this is a fab ric geek’s nirvana. As one customer put it, “you can find anything here.” Bargain hunters, don’t miss the bins with even more budget-friendly finds.

Lorraine Fabrics

593 Mineral Spring Avenue, Pawtucket Facebook:722-9500

Lorraine Fabrics

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!

Styled and photographed by Kayla Aucoin

The Bird Has Landed

Avenue N owners bring southern-style comfort food to East Providence

By Gina Mastrostefano

The bird has landed!” was the gripping Instagram caption that led me to Honeybird on the night of their debut. A photo on their feed showed a generous platter of fried chicken adorned with decadent sides and eye-popping cocktails. I immediately called and secured a reservation. Longawaited Honeybird Kitchen + Cocktails is the latest hatchling from Nick and Tracy Rabar, owners of Avenue N American Kitchen and its offshoot, The Pantry, both housed in the micro-mecca of restaurants that make up the commercial level of the Rumford Lofts just a short drive away from the new kitchen on Massasoit Avenue.

Honeybird certainly has added some spice to the small industrial section of East Providence. The restaurant inhabits a brick building with double garage doors,

Must-Try Items

SIDE CHICK COCKTAIL

( $13 ) : Rhodium gin, fresh lime, egg white, orange blossom honey, coconut milk, Topo Chico, mint

BUCKET OF CHICKEN

( $45 ) : 10-piece bucket of chicken with choice of marinade, side sauce, four BBQ sides, Texas toast, and pickles

Cuisine: Contemporary BBQ Atmosphere: Casual, Lively Prices: $5 (for sides) to $45

A Bucket of Chicken with sides from Honeybird

which just so happens to be the former site of a gas station owned by my great-grandfather. I felt a strong sense of nostalgia walking through the doors, which was only enhanced when I spotted the vintage gas pump the Rabars included to pay homage to the building’s roots. The garage doors allow plenty of natural light to spill across the dining room and reflect off the honeycomb tile backsplash of the bar.

Our waiter was quick to greet us and offer us water while we decided on drinks. Initially in the mood for a PBR, we pivoted in the moment and ordered cocktails instead: a Side Chick for me and a Bee Sting for my honey. The Side Chick’s ingredients sounded so luxurious I would have believed it were a perfume – orange honey blossom, coconut milk, and mint with a base of gin. Yum.

For appetizers, we ordered Hushpuppies and Pimento Cheese. The deep-fried cornmeal balls elicited a mouthful-of-food “oh my God” from the two of us, mostly due to the accompanying green onion butter. The Pimento Cheese was served with a spread of

celery, red onion, and Saltine crackers; we asked for more to get every last tangy bite.

We kept it traditional with the main course –a 10-piece Bucket of Chicken came with Texas toast, pickles, and a choice of sides. For sauces, we went with the Honey Cholula marinade and Black Truffle Mayo (which I may or may not have finished off with a fork). The chicken was fried to perfection and falling off the bone. I was so satisfied at this point that I could hardly consider eating another bite but managed to dip into our sides of mashed potatoes with gravy and honey butter-covered cornbread.

The plethora of southern staples was the epitome of comfort food – we left with full hearts and full stomachs. I’d return often to Honeybird even if it weren’t right in the neighborhood, but the fact that it is makes it all the sweeter.

Honeybird 230 Massasoit Avenue, East Providence 919-5885 • HoneyBirdRI.com

Tea Sconesand

Warm your hearth with fall-spiced scones and a pot of local tea

By Liz Murray by Liz Murray

Ever wonder what it was like to grow up in New England at the turn of the 20th century? Night caps and songs around a grand piano, letter writing, and elaborate horti culture pursuits made for lavish pastimes – as did the time-honored tradition of tea and scones. A visit to the Blithewold es tate in Bristol harkens back to the elegant pleasures enjoyed by the Van Wickle fam ily at their coastal getaway, and you can recreate a piece of their tradition by fill ing your abode with the warming scents of apple and pecan conjured by home-made scones baking in the oven.

Even if aristocracy and unplugged life aren’t your cup of tea, this autumnal scone recipe is irresistible in any context and nicely complemented with loose-leaf tea. For inspiration, don your fanciest hat and attend Blithewold’s Tea and Scones on the Porch series, which runs Thurs days through Sundays until October 16.

Pumpkin Pecan Scones With Apple Cider Glaze

SCONES

• 1 cup raw pecans

• 2 cups whole wheat flour

• 1 Tbsp baking powder

• ¼ cup brown sugar, packed

• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp ginger

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

GLAZE

• 1 cup apple cider

• ¼ tsp cloves or allspice

• ½ tsp salt

• 5 Tbsp cold butter

• ¾ cup pumpkin puree

• ¼ cup milk of choice

• ¾ tsp vanilla extract

• ½ to 2 cups of powdered sugar (depending on consistency)

• 2 Tbsp butter

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• Pinch of salt

STEPS

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Place the nuts in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Toast the nuts for 3 minutes, then chop into very fine pieces.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ¾ of the chopped nuts, baking powder, sugar, spices, and salt.

3. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. If you don’t have a pastry cutter, use your hands to mix the butter evenly into the flour mixture until there are no visible pieces left.

4. Stir in pumpkin puree, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix together until a dough forms.

5. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, and form the dough into a circle that’s about an inch deep all around. Use a chef’s knife to cut the circle into 8 even slices.

6. Separate the slices and place them on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

7. While the scones are baking, prepare the glaze. Bring apple cider to a boil in a medium saucepan. Allow to simmer for about 10 minutes, until reduced by half (it is important for it to reduce).

8. Remove the saucepan from heat and toss in the butter, cinnamon, pinch of salt, and half a cup of powdered sugar. Whisk to combine, then add more powdered sugar as needed to reach desired consistency. It should coat the back of a spoon and be light in color.

9. Once the scones are done, drizzle with the glaze and sprinkle with the leftover chopped nuts. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving, and enjoy!

For more tips and recipes, visit RecipeHippie.com

Culinary Globe Trotting

By Patty J

Spice up your home entertaining with imported oils and authentic kielbasa from international markets and empo riums boasting prepared foods, special ty pantry items, and hard-to-find brands. A culi nary adventure taking you to regions all over the world is only as far away as these must-try grocers.

Bubbie’s Market + Deli

The first day Bubbie’s opened their doors on Hope Street, they sold out of bagels (and lox) within hours. Fast forward to one year later and they have become a local fave. Neigh bors and out-of-towners alike enjoy shopping candies from Israel, pre-packaged foods, and a kosher deli menu of corned beef, pastrami, pickles, potato salad, and more. Pro v idence, BubbiesMarket.com

European Food Market

This shop in Rolfe Square is all about Eastern

European staples and delicacies. Grab everything from Russian dolls and collectables to cookies and jarred borscht. You can also shop frozen goods and locally cooked Polish, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian eats like burek (flaky pastry filled with meat). Friendly and helpful staff make exploring all the more fun. 102 Rolfe Square, Cranston

Istanbul Gourmet Market

This family-owned micro-grocery on Miner al Springs Avenue stocks a variety of tempting Turkish teas, coffee, and spices, along with freshly made falafel and gyros, hummus, baba ganoush, and stuffed grape leaves from the ki osk area. Regulars also sing praises of their im ported candies (Turkish delights, anyone?) and unexpected flavors of soda. North Pro v idence, Facebook: Istanbul Gourmet Food and Market

Leo’s Market + Restaurant

This no-frills Mexican kitchen-meets-grocery is

where those in the City by the Sea go for authen tic Latin food, along with a treasure trove of in ternational goodies. In search of a nice bottle of Lizano, a sweet and spicy sauce popular in Costa Rica? How about a can or two of Tiky, a pine apple-flavored Guatemalan soda? Then it’s Leo’s for the win! Newport, LeosMarketNewport.com

Main Street Market, Inc.

Open since 1987, Main Street is a one-stop shop for Cape Verdean (they pride themselves on stock ing a variety of corn products popular there), West African, and Hispanic goods. Their inventory of prepackaged foods is also full of brands you prob ably won’t find anywhere else in Lil’ Rhody. Don’t leave without bringing home some pastelitos, a Cuban puff pastry with sweet or savory fillings. Pawtucket, MainStMarketInc.com

Mi Rae Market

This small market has been delighting shoppers

Bring flavors of the world home with international markets right in your backyard

Yoleni’s includes an expansive marketplace of Greek goods

for years with their vast assortment of Kore an and Japanese products, especially those deemed hard to get. They stock everything you could ever want for at-home sushi making (including sushi rice, pickled ginger, and bot tled sauces), not to mention frozen dumplings and meats, canned goods, veggies, coffee, soda, and snacks. 602 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston

Neapolis

Who says you can only go to Atwells Av enue to experience an authentic Italian market? Opened by the award-winning chef behind Pasquale’s Pizzeria, Neapolis has locals ecstatic over their homemade pasta, gelato, and tiramisu, as well as a selection of imported coffee, olives, and more. Shop ping there is the closest you’ll get to being on holiday in Roma in South County. South Kingstown, NeapolisRI.com

Polonia Market

Folks travel from all over New England just to bring home a taste of Poland from this Pawtucket market. Whether you’re craving pierogies, kielbasa (yes, you can sample), or chocolates, Polonia is the place to find the best of the best. Complete the immersive experience by browsing imported sundries like greeting cards, magazines, and groom ing products, too. 736 Broadway, Pawtucket

Sonia’s Near East Market + Deli

A popular lunch spot, Cranstonians cite their falafel wraps, chicken gyros, and hummus as perennial faves. Their market area is equally terrific and has devoted fans flocking to their selection of Middle East ern spices, nuts, dried fruit, canned goods, honey, baklava, and fresh Syrian bread made daily, plus plenty of vegan prepared dishes to choose from. Cranston, SoniasDeli.com

Yoleni’s

Can’t make the trip to Athens, Greece? No problem. Yoleni’s is a Greek haven on Westminster Street, functioning as both restaurant and marketplace inside the beautifully refurbished Tilden-Thurb er building. Find a vast selection of olive oils, honey, nuts, chocolate, pasta, le gumes, and herbs and spices, not to men tion baked goods and pastries. Pro v idence, Pro v idence.Yolenis.com

Chapel Cathedral & Bars Private Events DinnerMusic

a Harvest Party

From paper goods to prosecco, Kayla Aucoin puts small businesses front and center in autumn hosting plans

By Elyse Major | Styled and photographed by Kayla Aucoin

If summer is the season of paper plates, autumn is surely when a bit of formality returns. Baskets of chips are replaced with quick breads faster than night falls, and even drinks get darker in color with mugs of warm cider over jars of lemonade.

Kayla Aucoin revels in entertaining, but her heart lies in the details of assembling tablescapes with all the trimmings. The North Kingstown entrepreneur behind AUCOIN designs divides her time between design and photography, also producing hand-illustrated stationery, paper goods, and a range of wax stamps, which she uses to embellish everything from skewers to place cards for her tabletop collection.

“When creating your composition, think about your framing and your use of textures and contrasting colors. Utilize shapes and understand how you fill your negative space. Make your subject pop!” says Kayla Aucoin, AUCOIN designs.

Kayla Aucoin

TABLESCAPE

Bowls, centerpiece, candle holders, flowers and plants, plates: WILDWOOD NURSERY HOME & GARDEN, East Greenwich

Need help with a centerpiece? Wildwood offers design services and indoor/outdoor holiday planters and wreaths.

Fabric dinner napkins: SUSAN TROY CLOTH, North Smithfield

Napkins, place cards, seal skewers, and wine bags and charms: AUCOIN DESIGNS, North Kingstown

Pumpkins and winter squash: CHRIS AND KRISTINA’S MARKET GARDEN, South Kingstown

BAR CART

Coffee & Black Walnut Vodka, Rhode Island Red Vodka, Forager’s Gin: RHODIUM RHODE ISLAND SPIRITS, Pawtucket

Make a RI Fed Fizz:Mix the Rhode Island Red Vodka and Gooseneck Vineyards Prosecco

Wine and bubbles (Rhody Red, Sauvignon Blanc France, Prosecco, Wickford White): GOOSENECK VINEYARDS, North Kingstown

Jack Pumpkin Ale and Boreal Imperial Stout : TILTED BARN BREWERY, Exeter

Stemless wine glasses: HONEY GALLERY, North Kingstown

For a harvest-themed feast (hello, Thanksgiving), Aucoin assembles goods from Rhode Island sellers. “What’s better than walking into a small business and being able to talk to the designer, artisan, or business owner? It becomes personal,” she says. “We created a Rhody style gathering! How cool is that?” Follow on Instagram for updates on vending at community markets and more: @aucoindesigns

Set a high bar with Rhody libations

STYLERHODYGET

ASPIRATION MEETS INSPIRATION WITH TOURS OF THREE LUXURY ABODES AND TIPS FOR BRINGING LOOKS INTO YOUR HOME

By Elyse Major

Whether you live in a newly constructed manse or a single-room studio, most any space can be made stylish and personal. It begins with outfitting your surroundings with the things that make you happy, comfortable, and safe. We’ve rounded up three examples of quintessential Rhode Island style on a grand scale: a seaside cottage on Great Island in Narragansett, a Newport yacht, and a Spanish Colonial on the East Side of Providence. While we may not all have coastal views, a porthole, or ample square footage, let’s face it – even in Gilded Age mansions – most time is spent in the smallest spaces where one feels cozy and secure. Each aspirational home tour is filled with ideas on how to translate the looks for your own home.

Coastal Co age

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE GREY, COURTESY OF LAURA KREKORIAN

Michael Mosca and husband David Melançon live between Manhattan and Narragansett with their six-year-old Parsons Russell Terrier, Lorenzo. Mosca is a realtor with Sotheby’s Mott & Chace International Realty, specializing in luxury coastal properties, and Melançon is the founder and managing partner of a brand strategy consultancy and serves on the board of Providence-based Social Enterprise Greenhouse. Through the years the industrious pair has designed and decorated a Manhattan loft, a Colorado timber home, a California marina bungalow, and an 1890 sea cottage in Ogunquit, which they “restored and loved for more than 10 years until the commute from Manhattan for weekend visits became too much to handle,” Mosca explains. They sold the Maine property and began looking for a home on the North Fork of Long Island until a summer trip to Narragansett, where Mosca “discovered” Great Island.

Even though Mosca spent his childhood summers at Narragansett beaches – “I even learned to swim at Sand Hill Cove!” – he wasn’t aware of the small island accessed by Galilee Escape Road in Narragansett. He recalls the freezing February day he visited a handful of properties with his sister, including the one that would become home. “It fell squarely into the category of ‘worst house in the best neighborhood,’ and my husband was on board sight unseen. Having undertaken several renovation projects over the past 20+ years, we knew we could turn it into something

we’d love,” says Mosca with a knowing smile.

The pair purchased the property thinking they’d modify or expand the existing 600-squarefoot home. “That became impossible due to zoning and building restrictions,” says Mosca, who explains that they decided to raze it and start from scratch, embarking on a three-year project between design, permits, and construction. Although they had experience renovating older homes, they’d never built a new one, and enlisted architect Laura Krekorian, who helped them realize their vision of a charming Great Island escape of their own.

Inside decor is based on a pleasing neutral palette of creams, linens, and soft grays that connect with the natural colors outside. “These are comfortable hues for us, and they complement any style of furnishings and art. They also allow the architectural details like the stone wall around the fireplace, soaring ceiling, and wonderful water views to shine,” says Mosca. “We decidedly did not want a coastal home that was traditional blue and white or shouted ‘nautical’ in any way.”

“South County is an amazing place – the best of the land and the sea,” muses Mosca.

“We walk or bike down the street to our local fish market (Ferry Wharf) nearly every day, and we eat local produce pretty much exclusively. We paddleboard, kayak, and quahog (yes, it’s a verb!) from our backyard. We love the beach in all seasons, even winter when we can go with our dog, Lorenzo.”

LOVE THE LOOK OF A RUSTIC BARN DOOR? SLIDING DOOR HARDWARE KITS ARE AVAILABLE AND INCLUDE PRE DRILLED PLANKS OF WOOD IN A VARIETY OF FINISHES, WITH HANDLES AND SCREWS. CHECK YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE OR HOME SUPPLY STORE. PRICES START AROUND $155.

GIVE INTERIORS A STREAMLINED LOOK BY STICKING TO A NEUTRAL SCHEME A MIX OF TEXTURES KEEPS THINGS INTERESTING!

NOTHING FILLS SHELVES WITH COLOR BETTER THAN ROWS OF BOOKS. FIND USED COPIES FOR A SONG AT LIBRARY SALES. MIX THINGS UP BY GROUPING SPINES BY HUE OR TURN AROUND FOR A NEUTRAL LOOK.

MAKE BYENTRANCEANPAINTINGTHEFRONT

( OR ANY ) DOOR A FUN COLOR IN A SATIN OR GLOSSY FINISH. WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, PAINT OR BUY A PLANTER TO MATCH, TOO.

LOOK BEYOND THE BATH DEPARTMENT FOR INTERESTING MIRRORS TO HANG ABOVE THE SINK.

UPDATE DINING AREAS BY REPLACING CHAIRS WITH METAL COUNTER STOOLS; AVAILABLE IN A WIDE RANGE OF COLORS, THIS STURDY SEATING IS BUILT TO WITHSTAND DAILY USE, AND OFTEN FITS BENEATH THE TABLE.

Newport Yacht

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATE BROWN, COURTESY OF ALLY MALONEY INTERIORS

Choosing light fixtures and buying furniture are rites of passage when it comes to moving into a new home, but what if that home is a yacht? For a pair of empty-nesters who purchased a Vicem 65 Classic, this meant returning to Maloney Interiors. “This is a long-time client of mine,” says Ally Maloney, founder and principal designer. “Our first project together was refitting his previous boat, a Vicem 58 back in 2015. When he decided to build the Vicem 65, he told me about his plans and we got to work coordinating design efforts with the team from Vicem Yachts.”

Maloney explains that soft-good selections were made with her clients at her office on Thames Street in Newport. During the construction phase, the designer traveled to Istanbul to meet with Vicem’s team and make additional selections. When the boat arrived stateside in Florida, it was outfitted with everything from dinnerware and drinkware to accessories and decor. Because this was a new build, most of the items were fabricated by Vicem Yachts in Turkey. A few accents, such as pillows, were made in Rhode Island at Maloney’s workroom, and much of the artwork aboard the boat is from Sheldon Fine Art, also in Newport.

So what goes into furnishing a yacht? Maloney explains that this is dependent on the type of boat and its use. For example, large yachts are climate controlled 24/7 and staffed with crew who maintain the vessel and its furnishings. “In this case you’re not really limited with what can be placed aboard the boat, and furniture, artwork, rugs, lighting, fabric, etc. can be sourced the same as you would for a home,” says Maloney. On smaller boats that aren’t always climate controlled, or that have more exposed areas, performance fabrics, materials, and finishes that hold up well to the sun and elements are needed.

Any technical queries from the client were fielded to Vicem, but aesthetic requests, such as color, tone, mood, and feel of the boat’s interior, were handled by Maloney. “Selections included a transitional – not too modern, not too classic – design with a blue color palette; that’s the owner’s favorite color,” says the designer.

The owners live in Massachusetts, keep the boat in Newport, and use it seasonally to enjoy the City by the Sea and take weeklong trips to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. “I believe that many of my clients most enjoy using their boats as a space for relaxation, to get away, to casually or privately entertain family and friends. It’s a fun way to travel to favorite destinations and just get away from it all.”

PATTERNS tiniest

ALLY MALONEY

My best piece of advice to create a coastal aesthetic in your home is to achieve the look through your color palette and material selection. For example, use neutral tones mixed with blues and greens, and finish materials such as white oak or teak wood.

CRAIG COUTURE

Artwork is always a great way to bring the Ocean State into your home, whether it’s photos of your family at your favorite Ocean State location or a piece from a local artist.

East Side

This is the tale of a family of five who found their dream home in Providence – a beautiful brick house with Spanish Colonial details –and that rare and coveted East Side feature: a yard. Inside, the 1929 property boasts a grand tiled center hall with a curved staircase, arched French doors, and a back living room with a fireplace leading to the sunroom. Everything was perfect – except for one room.

“It was all wrong,” says Craig Couture, design manager at Cypress Design Co., a boutique interior design firm based in East Providence that focuses on kitchens and bathrooms. He’s referring to the conundrum that was the existing kitchen. “It was a large space with a layout that did not function well for this home’s new family. The original kitchen was long and had everything stuck in a small rectangle. To get a larger kitchen, we needed to change the focus to a larger rectangle.”

With shape-shifting plans confirmed, renovations followed, and soon the odd kitchen layout was revised. To conceal a drain pipe, coffered ceilings were prescribed, adding to the architectural interest which includes molding, charming multi-paned windows, and arched doorways.

Knowing that his clients favor a minimalist approach while also being considerate of the

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENISE BASS PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF CYPRESS DESIGN CO.

character of the home, Couture selected a calming palette of custom white with grayon-gray. “The cabinets are white, the island is gray, and the walls are a shade lighter than the island. It’s timeless and modern at once and very soothing.” A luminous Daltile glass backsplash was installed along with Bianco Calacatta Silestone Q uartz countertops, white with a thick gray vein, which contributes to the classic-meets-contemporary aesthetic.

Making great use of the narrow footprint, at one end of the kitchen, a custom bench with storage serves as the basis for a breakfast nook. Outfitted with pillows and a mix of chairs, it adds to the casual atmosphere that has descended upon the stately home. Brass hardware and wood accents visually connect to the hardwood flooring and other rooms within view.

“Clients should love their spaces,” says Couture. “Our goal is to bring elevated designs to homeowners and guide them through the renovation or new-build process.” And when it comes to adding your own imprint: “Introduce personality through artwork, furniture, paint, window treatments, and accessories. These items can easily be changed over time, and if you keep the fixed architectural elements of the home consistent, you cannot go wrong.”

D iscover a school as unique as your child

WHO SAYS THE UPBESEATINGNEEDSTABLEALLTOTHESAME?MIXTHINGSBYADDINGABENCHANDRANDOMCHAIRS.

USE PERSONALIZED ITEMS, MONOGRAMMED TOWELS, AND WALL ART LETTERS TO INFUSE SPACES WITH WARMTH.

HARDWAREREPLACING ON CABINETS IS A LOW RISK WAY TO UPDATE A KITCHEN.

Home | Explore | Shop | Field Trip

Jessica Hagan at her Newport gallery

Photo by Maddie Van, courtesy of Jessica Hagen Gallery

Building Character

hen Rhode Island-based blogger and DIY content creator Carli Alves and her husband Justin first laid eyes on their 1945 South County Colonial, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight. Between the overgrown hedges, the hostas growing from the gutters, and the mildew that shrouded the faded yellow facade, they knew they had their work cut out for them. Having just come off the heels of a 140-year-old Victorian renovation, Carli and Justin had some tricks up their sleeve to turn this 1,700-square-foot forgotten house into a home for their family of six.

For Alves and her family, the kitchen is the place to gather. “While I love a formal dining room, it just didn’t match our more casual lifestyle,” she says. So she instead turned the home’s dining room into a sitting room to enjoy cozy fires in the colder months, and in the kitchen, Alves built an almost 10-foot-long window seat to create a comfy dining nook for her family to settle on at the end of a long day. “It was the perfect way to maximize the space and create a comfy-cozy feeling in the kitchen.”

The home’s dedicated family room was dark and dated so the couple vaulted the less-than-eight-foot

A 1945 Colonial in South County gets a hands-on makeover from its homeowner, DIY blogger Carli Alves

Words and photos by Carli Alves

ceiling and installed two large skylights to brighten up the room. A large relaxed sectional completes the space making this family room perfect for movie nights.

Being just three miles from the beach, Alves drew inspiration from her surroundings for the couple’s bedroom. “I’ve always loved light, bright, and airy spaces, so using natural wood tones, mixed with grays, blues, and whites, was a no-brainer for creating a calm, coastal-inspired bedroom to retreat to,” she says.

The home’s walk-up attic was a bonus. “My daughter has always wanted an attic room, so she claimed the space the moment she laid eyes on it,” Alves explains. Brightening up the attic with crisp white vertical shiplap and freshly painted floorboards created not one but two additional spaces for the family to utilize. Alves turned one side of the attic into an office/studio space for her four children to create art and music, and the other side became a hangout room for her teenage daughter.

Effective layering includes artwork, textiles, lighting, and window treatments

Furnishings and fixtures in black connect spaces

Fri 10/7

Sat 10/8

Fri 10/21

Fri

Aztec Two Step 2. Live 7:30pm

Aging Disgracefully 7:30 pm

Bruce Springsteen Tribute - Saints in the City 8pm

Cheryl Wheeler & Kenny White 7:30pm

The One Hit Wonderers 7:30 pm

The Eagles Experience 8pm

Capricorn - The Allman Brother’s Tribute 8pm

The Cars Experience - Best Friend’s Girl 8pm

The Corvettes DOO WOP 7:30pm

Philip Martorella - Pianist 3pm

Comedy night with Kim Arundel & Friends 7:30

Van Morrison Tribute 8pm

A Nashville Christmas 7:30pm

“Finishing these spaces added roughly 300 square feet to our home, giving us all a little more room to spread

Althoughout.”the footprint of the main level bathroom is small, Alves gave it an unexpected treatment by installing shiplap vertically and painting it in a deep charcoal shade that added depth and drama to the small space. “The wall color was inspired by the wallpaper,

and I figured if there was a space in our home to be a little dramatic, it was here.” Alves also chose a console-style sink that she modified herself to better fit the scale of the bathroom.

“There are still a bunch of projects that we want to tackle in this home, including a second-floor bathroom renovation and basement we hope to finish, but for now we are enjoying the fruits of our labors.”

Get Rhody Style

Carli Alves shares ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.

Destination: Westerly

“Westerly’s downtown is so charming with its historic buildings filled with trendy shops and restaurants. We are thrilled with the addition of one of our Providence favorites KNEAD Doughnuts, and the new Mexican American eatery, Surf Cantina. Wilcox Park is great for enjoying open-air concerts, theater, and a host of other fun events. We love The Andrea; its waterfront location is a dream for beautiful ocean views and delicious food and drinks. Bonus: there’s space for the kids to throw a frisbee around on the beach, so it has something for everyone!”

Coastal Cues

“As a native New Englander, I love incor porating coastal accents like vintage sail boat sketches, antique landscape paint ings, and ocean-inspired brass trinkets to add charm and character to my home.”

Shop Local

“A few of my favorite local spots to thrift are the Jonnycake Center in West erly, Estate Services in West Warwick, and South County Habitat Restore in Charlestown.”

Made by Carli

Carli Alves has been chronicling her love for DIY and all things home and lifestyle on her blog since 2010. Her mission is to encourage and empower readers to eas ily make their homes beautiful on a bud get. Learn more at FWMadeByCarli.com; IG: @madebycarli

A mix of patterns keeps neutral textiles interesting

Advice on making choices for a new kitchen from a Providence interior designer

By Corey Low Satti

Use all white from top to bottom to add visual space

Our homes are the center of our worlds, and our kitchens are the center of our homes – it’s where families gather, meals are prepared, and daily chores take place. Large or small, a kitchen reno vation is a big undertaking with many options to consider. Here are tips to help guide your design decisions and protect your investment. When our homes are a respite of peace, beauty, and order, it can make the ever-changing outside world a bit more manageable.

FINISHES:

Stick to two hardware finishes or less for kitch en cabinetry. If you decide on two different

52Remodel Ready

metals, use one on all upper and lower cabinetry as well as any panel-fronted appliances. Some examples are aged brass or oil-rubbed bronze. For secondary places like a kitchen island or butler’s pantry, go with polished nickel or cop per. Select lighting to match the hardware of finish two for balance and cohesion.

WALLS:

Do your best to elongate the walls of your kitchen visually. This can be achieved by us ing a single material from countertop to ceil ing, open shelving, or by keeping the back splash and upper cabinets the same hue.

COUNTERTOPS:

For marble, quartz, and granite, keep the pat terning or veining on the simpler side; it’s ex pensive, so don’t fall for trends here. Butch er block countertops on kitchen islands can bring wonderful warmth, but be sure to ask about maintenance as they require regular oiling and care.

COLOR:

If you’re going to use a color in your kitch en, place it on the kitchen island, and keep the wall cabinets neutral so the space feels spacious.

SEATING:

If you have young children, ensure the seating in your kitchen is wipeable. Rattans, resins, and woods are great for quick clean up. Oth erwise, leathers and performance fabrics are ideal for general cleanability, longevity, and fade resistance. For kitchen island seating, consider higher backs as they are more ergo nomic and comfortable than stools.

SINK:

When you think about how many hours a week you spend doing dishes, it’s important to get the sink set-up just right. Opt for a deep, single bowl undermount kitchen sink (this way you won’t see dishes pile up right after breakfast). Add a sprayer on the side of the sink closest to your dominant hand; on the opposite side of the faucet, place a

deck-mounted soap dispenser to avoid soap bottles cluttering your countertop.

STORAGE:

Display what you find beautiful and create storage for what you don’t. If you have a beau tiful coffee maker that you love, you may want to leave that on the countertop. You can in clude an appliance garage or a few tall upper cabinets that go from countertop to crown molding for frequently used but less attractive kitchen gadgets. Think about how you cook and where you want things easily accessed.

RHODY VIBES:

Include striped textiles for subtle nautical flair; fill bowls and vases with what’s in sea son locally; and bring in ocean blues via dish ware, like plates displayed as wall art.

IdeasBright

By Elyse Major

ou don’t need expert advice to know how important lighting is to a room. Beyond the utility of illuminating work areas, a beautiful fixture can set the mood and be a statement piece. Across Rhode Island, makers (many with RISD ties) have studios, small factories, and showrooms where they’re busy hand-making lamps and more sure to infuse spaces with artisan appeal.

Y a light on the state’s lamp-makers

1. GLASS PENDANT LIGHT BY PROVIDENCE ART GLASS

Made in Cumberland

The award-winning fine arts duo of Rebecca Zhukov and Terence Dubreuil founded Providence Art Glass in 2006. Luminaries and glassware are made to order, and all types of customizations are always welcome. Staying true to their handmade pledge, every item is custom crafted in their Blackstone Valley factory. Pro v idenceArtGlass.com

2. LARGE INCENSE TRIPOD BY HWANG BISHOP

Made in Warren

Saturated glazes, vibrant hues, and organic shapes have made Hwang Bishop a source for bespoke lighting for over 20 years. Founder Felicia Hwang and her team of ceramic artists handcraft each piece to order in a line that includes lighting and furniture in over 40 standard finishes and customization options. ShopHwangBishop.com

3. PLANT LAMP BY PETER POTS POTTERY

Made in West Kingston

Oliver and Elizabeth Greene founded their business when they were students at RISD. Seventy-five years later, they still follow a process that begins with a sketch for their hand-crafted line. They blend their own stoneware clay and formulate their own glass resulting in works that are both durable and lustrous. PeterPots.com

4. SOMERSET TABLE LAMP BY O&G STUDIO

Made in Warren

O&G Studio was founded by Sara Ossana and Jonathan Glatt, two friends who met as grad students at RISD. Renowned for their hand-built Windsor chairs, O&G’s growing portfolio includes a range of furniture types in signature finishes, decorative accents, hardware, and lighting, all built in their Warren factory. OAndGStudio.com

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Points of Interest

By Andrea E. McHugh

Discover a gallery and lifestyle shop housed in the historic Walker Building

Find unique home and garden accents and antiques at Cottage & Garden

ewport’s Point neighborhood is a treasure trove of architectural delights, widely noted for hav ing the largest intact collection of buildings – more than 300 – that predate the Revolutionary War. But one is decidedly more modern, with a history all its own, and serves as one of the best examples of adaptive reuse in a city tasked with merging rich histo ry with contemporary demands.

Tucked away on a quiet residential street surrounded by homes built during the ear ly- to mid-1700s (and currently commanding sales prices near the $2 million mark), the Walker Building is a bit of an anomaly. The two-story concrete block building occupying 9 and 11 Bridge Street was built in 1947 –contemporary, by Newport standards – and was home to City Taxi Garage. The business was one of many owned by Black entrepreneur

and native Newporter Louis Walker (1892 -1959), whose son continued City Taxi until 1973 and operated City Auto Body until he sold the business.

After some years, the building fell into disrepair, becoming a derelict eyesore. Pur chased by a neighbor in 1996, the new own ers commissioned architect Michele Foster of Jamestown-based Foster Associates to salvage the building that Foster says the city, and

Paintings of bunnies by Hunt Slonem beckon passersby to enter

A garden theme unites design styles ranging from primitive to industrial

many nearby residents, wanted torn down. “It was a real battle,” recalls Foster, who led the project through the gauntlet of approv als with Newport’s Zoning Board and His toric District Commission. The result was well worth the effort as the building’s ar chitectural integrity was restored, punctu ated by the addition of awnings and copper trellises to provide a residential scale. The first-floor auto bays were repurposed into a pair of commercial retail spaces while the second floor was outfitted for offices.

Today, the retail spaces, which have been artist-driven since the completed renova tion, are home to Cottage & Garden and Jessica Hagan Fine Art & Design.

“With an old space comes parameters… you just work with it. It’s part of what gives it its charm,” says Hagan. Before moving her gallery from Bellevue Avenue to the Walker Building in 2014, Hagan had already built an enviable client base, and the move proved even more serendipitous when the pandemic struck. The building affords ample outdoor space on Bridge Street, which she continues to take advantage of for show openings and events. “It’s terrific,” she says, adding that a silver lining of the pandemic was a boost in art sales and interest. “It’s a really charming space and people love it.”

Hagan adds that her gallery is an idyllic neighbor with Cottage & Garden, which was founded nearly two decades ago by the late Eleanor Gobis and is now owned by Jill Buckley. It feels a disservice to call Cottage & Garden a shop, as it’s more of a curated collection of aesthetically pleas ing, hand-chosen pieces peppered amongst manicured potted plants and greenery. An tiques, furnishings, tableware, fixtures, to piaries, coffee table books, and simple cu riosities make this an experience – a place you’ll want to linger (and ‘gram).

“[We] are the best match because we have the same kind of client, if not the same cli ents,” explains Hagan.

The opening reception for Land Sea Sky 2022 at Jessica Hagan Fine Art & Design will be October 15, 5-7pm featuring paintings, ceramics, and sculpture by gallery artists. The exhibit will remain on display until No v . 13.

CREATING PEACE Exhibit September 1-29 Galler y SeptemberNight15, 5-9pm with music by Lilly Cataldi.

BANNED BOOKS WEEK posters and events September 2-26 BANNED! It’s a Drag! September 22 &23, 7pm readings from Banned Books by Drag Kings and Queens.

COMING TOGETHER play October 14, 7:30pm

A staged reading of a new coming out play by Cynthia Glinick.

VETERAN STORIES Exhibit November 1-December 1 Galler y NovemberNight17, 5-9pm

Art in all media by soldiers, veterans and family members with the Center for Dynamic Learning and Story Sharing Event November 18, 7pm.

Speaking Out Exhibit March 1-30

Galler y Night Reception and II Competition and Exhibition April 3-27

Galler y Night Reception and Aprilperformance20,5-9pm

URI

GILDING THE SHOESTRINGS

III Exhibit October 3-27, September 22 & 23 7pm Gallery Night Reception and costume parade October 20, 5-9pm Costume collection created by URI Professor David T. Howard.

CARRIBEAN ART Exhibit January 17-February 23 Galler y Night Reception and Februaryperformance2,5-8pm

Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 9-9, Fri. 9-5 Weekends and Holidays Washington Street Providence, RI 02903 Mon. – Thurs. 9-9, Fri. 9-5 Weekends and Holidays

80 Washington Street Providence, RI 02903

Author Chat | Music | Calendar | Rhody Reads

Barnaby’s Inferno promises an evening of frights in the historic home

Photo courtesy of Barnaby Castle

SummerEndless

By Robert Isenberg

Ruthie Sommers is an interior de signer and painter. Her work has appeared in Town & Country , Veranda , House Beautiful , Archi tectural Digest , and many other magazines. She splits her time between Aspen; Goleta, California; and Newport, where she spends every summer. Nick Mele is a lifestyle, fash ion, commercial, and interiors photographer whose work has been featured in Town & Country , The New York Times , Vogue , Vanity Fair , and more, along with a roster of com mercial clients such as Ralph Lauren, J. Mc Laughlin, and Lilly Pulitzer. Mele grew up in novelist Edith Wharton’s Newport house and divides his time between Newport in the sum mer and Palm Beach in the winter.

Sommers met Mele when she was buying some of his photos at an art show. His aesthet ic is often described as a “modern-day Slim Aaron” – a photographer known for capturing beautiful people in beautiful places. Sommers hired Mele for a photoshoot and shared her idea of showcasing everyday life inside glori ous old Newport homes, but “shoot the unren ovated kitchens and decaying butler pantries that were servicing the houses just fine, out dated but functional.” The concept morphed into a book proposal which the pair shopped around, getting the green light from Vendome Press, a publisher of illustrated books.

The result is A Newport Summer: Off Bel levue , a stunning collection of everyday life inside the grand Gilded Age houses that line

Bellevue Avenue and top the city’s oceanside cliffs. These homes remain largely untouched by contemporary renovation and taste, with family heirlooms passed down from gener ation to generation with Yankee thrift. “We ran around Newport, asking, begging people to allow us into their lives,” Sommers shares.

“I’ve been taking photos during the sum mer in Newport for the better part of two decades, both for fun and work,” begins Mele. “I realized early on that there was something unique about the town and its people that set it apart from most summer resorts. A lot of the same families and homes have been here for generations. These families have a respect for tradition and a profound lack of pretense despite the large amount of wealth many of

New coffee table book celebrates the timeless American luxury of Newport

them possess. Having grown up here during the summers, I get to see and photograph a side of Newport that most people don’t.”

Divided into months June, July, August, and September, A Newport Summer is composed of pairings of stunning images and text offering peeks into parties, lawn tennis matches, beach clambakes, and family gatherings of the 1 percent.

For quintessentially Newport experiences, the collaborators offer their own, more accessi ble activities. “Walking the entire Cliff Walk, eating clam chowder at the Black Pearl, brows ing the booths at Newport Flower Show, ex ploring the boats at the Boys and Girls Club’s Annual Yacht Hop, watching the horse-drawn coaches during Coaching Weekend, and fly ing kites at Brenton State Park,” Mele offers.

For Sommers, it’s observing small moments: “Elderly friends share a giggle, sunset, tanned babies wrapped in towels, safe in their parent’s arms. Cooke House waiters racing around to serve people efficiently and kindly. Watch ing and listening to the hedge trimmers from Grasshopper [Landscaping Services] pruning our hedges as if they were painting a landscape – they are artisans, and the recipients of New port get to be a part of the production daily.”

“To me, Newport is about community,” says Mele. “It’s all age groups commingling and so cializing together. It’s about respecting your history and having an appreciation for what’s come before. Not everything that is new and renovated is better. It’s curated chaos and timeless American luxury.”

GET RHODY STYLE

Nick Mele and Ruthie Sommers share NPT faves, give thanks, and offer style tips:

SHOP NEWPORT

For shopping around the City by the Sea, Mele lists Charter Books, CK Bradley, Kristen Coates Gal lery, Monelle, and Newport Lamp & Shade Company. Sommers adds Walker Interiors and Michael Hayes Newport to the list.

DINNER & DRINKS

To eat, Mele’s go-tos are Bar ‘Cino, Bouchard’s, Castle Hill Inn, and Mama Luisa’s. For drinks, it’s Clarke Cooke House, the patio at The Black Pearl, the bar at The Brenton Hotel, and Cabana. Sommers’ favorites include Harvest for coffee, Power of Juice, and either Stoneacre establishment.

SOMMERS STOCK

To achieve a Newport sensibility, Sommers recommends embrac ing imperfections and owning your own style. “Whether it is on trend or not, the bravado and the happiness of the homeowner trumps any furniture of pedigree or provenance. Design-wise, make it comfortable for eight people at all times, add a game table, throw a bar in the living room with vintage soft drink floral napkins.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

“The book wouldn’t have been pos sible without the support of the community and the organizations that make it such a special place. The Preservation Society of New port and the Newport Restoration Foundation deserve a big shout-out for all they do to preserve Newport and for allowing me to take pictures in their homes,” says Mele.

A Newport Summer by Nick Mele and Ruthie Sommers, © 2022. Published by Vendome.

Play On

URI Guitar Festival is a must for string musicians

By Adam Hogue

The seventh annual University of Rhode Island Guitar Festival returns later this month with four days of concerts presented in a hybrid format, where festival-goers can choose whether to attend in-person or watch live-streams from the comfort of their home. More than a series of concerts, there are masterclasses, lectures, workshops, and an international virtual guitar competition in two divisions: High School and Young Artists.

New to this year’s festival is a Composer-inResidency featuring Cuban-Spanish composer Eduardo Morales-Caso, and the Rising Stars Young Guitarists Program for students ages 6-17. The winner will make a return visit to the URI campus in 2023, and give a concert and masterclass in Costa Rica.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, the festival moved its scheduled spring festival to the

fall and pivoted to entirely virtual events; last year the festival was a hybrid of live and virtual. Adam Levin, the classical guitar professor at the university and festival artistic director, has been curating the event since 2015, growing it from a single day to four.

“My intention with the guitar festival is to provide a panoramic view of the guitar in all of the different and interesting forms and styles,” says Levin. To that end, he programs the guitar alongside its plucked instrument siblings, such as the harp, mandolin, oud, and kora. This year, the festival hosts preeminent oudist Simon Shaheen, acoustic guitarist Andy Mckee, and harpist, Bridget Kibbey, among many other acclaimed musicians.

“I think audiences often feel constrained by classical music and the prescribed ways of listening to it. For me, what makes classical music compelling is the imagination necessary

to bring it to life,” Levin says. “If the composer and the artists are able to effectively create a musical narrative, then it doesn’t matter whether it’s classical music, rock n’ roll, jazz, blues,Whileetc.”classical music is at the heart of many of the pieces played at the festival, the focal point is the guitar. The instrument has taken on so many forms throughout the world; the songs act as reintroductions to what is possible with strings.

“The name classical guitar is a misnomer; it really only refers to the instrument type: nylon strings and a smaller body design relative to an acoustic guitar” notes Levin. “It should really be called world guitar. [It’s] an intimate instrument that has a unique ability of crossing cultural and social borders without the audience members having to leave their seats.” Learn more at URIGuitarFestival.org

The Great Necks Guitar Trio will be among the first-day lineup at Pump House Music Works, Wakefield

October 5: Learn the art of bouquet design from Plant Girl Shop owner Christine Mandese, who shares tips and techniques to create a perfect ly shaped arrangement at her Floral Bouquet Class East Greenwich, PlantGirlShop.com

October 8-10: Don’t miss the Scituate Art Fes tival , which stretches across the town’s post card-perfect village green. Shop arts, crafts, and antiques from regional makers, with live music and a food court, rain or shine. ScituateArtFestival.org

October 15, 23, 29, and 30: Bid farewell to Hearthside House’s Simon Thornton, who died in bed in 1873, and observe the Victorian pageantry around death at their Gone But Not Forgotten Mourn ing Exhibit & Tour Lincoln, HearthsideHouse.org

October 16: Find historic home inspo at a tour of the Smith-Appleby House . Listed on the National

October 29: Returning this year bigger than ever, Barnaby’s Inferno is a Halloween party extravaganza raising funds to preserve the Broadway castle with an evening of fire dancers, tarot, costumes, cocktails, and more. Pro v idence, Eventbrite: Halloween at the Castle, Barnaby’s Inferno

Register of Historic Places, the house dates back to 1702 and is situated on a rolling lawn by a stream. Smithfield, SmithApplebyHouse.org

October 22: Bring the kids to Fayerweath er Craft Guild for their Spooktacular & Kid’s Craft Day , featuring a variety of fam ily-friendly Halloween art projects, demon strations, activities, and treats. Kingston, Facebook: Fayerweather Craft Guild

October 22: We Be Jammin and Ocean State Food Truck Festivals join forces for a family-friend ly Spooky Fall Festival , featuring 17 food trucks, plus vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, and more at Rocky Point Park. Warwick, Facebook: OSFoodTruckFestivals

October 22: Celebrate Diwali , India’s joyous fes tival of lights, at the India Association of Rhode

Island’s annual festival that features colorful cos tumes, vibrant music, and dance at the Bishop McVinney Auditorium. Pro v idence, IndiaRI.org

October 22-23: Fill your home with art from local creatives during West Bay Open Studios , offering self-guided tours of artists and their maker spaces in North Kingstown, Warwick, and East Green wich. WestBayOpenStudios.com

October 23: Kids Expo & Halloween Costume Contest celebrates the holiday while putting fam ilies in touch with different programs and busi nesses that support children’s health and learning. West Warwick, Facebook: Rhody Kids Expo & Hal loween Costume Contest

Please note that events may require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test and mask-wearing regardless of vaccination status.

Barnaby Castle transforms into a Halloween house

Rhody Reads

Six tales of Rhode Island haunted houses and horrors perfect for Halloween

By Hugh Minor

Home is where the haunting is in this month’s Rhody Reads as we bring you six selections to make your Halloween a little spooky. Stock the house with these scary treats that you can enjoy night or day (but probably during the daylight, to be safe). And don’t be afraid to shop your local independent book store for copies.

No town evokes feelings of the ghastly and mysterious like Salem, MA. Providence-born Paul Tiberi takes you there and beyond with three frightening tales in The Strange Light at Salem House and Other Stories . The author creates worlds where nothing is what it seems, bringing you along a hair-raising journey. From witches to aliens to unwelcome guests, you’ll ask yourself, did that really happen? And you might not find the answer you expect.

The vibrant music scene in Providence makes the perfect setting for evil doings in Paul Trem blay’s latest novel, The Pallbearers Club . Warn ing: cool girls are not always what they seem to be, especially when they are named after Rhode Island’s most famous vampire, Mercy Brown. If you’ve ever been curious about if there were mysterious goings on in the city’s historic res idences along Benefit Street, wonder no more. Tremblay’s twists keep you guessing until the very end in this modern masterpiece.

Equal parts weird and wonderful, Tentacle Head is RI-based author Rick Claypool’s re cently released genre-defying book. When the title character arrives in a shantytown of dis carded medical mutants, the balance of power in their home is thrown askew. The self-des ignated leader of the group, Myco, has been maintaining order but things are about to get interesting. The illustrations by Sarah Allen Reed are as twisted and humorous as the story itself, making for the perfect combination.

Considering its size, Little Rhody is home to an incredible number of spooky tales, many of them chronicled in Rory Raven’s Haunted Pro v idence: Strange Tales from the Smallest State From mansions to mill houses, legends abound in the streets and places we’ve all come to know and love. Rather than wondering “What’s haunted?” Raven leaves you asking, “What isn’t haunt ed?” As the founder of the Providence Ghost Walk, he knows his spooky stuff.

Stories of strange and weird happen ings are not just in the past. Ocean State authors are still telling tales that will scare your pants off. You’ll find 20 new selections in We Are Pro v idence:

Tales of Horror from the Ocean State , edited by Christa Carmen and L.E. Daniels with an essay by Faye Ringel titled “The Roots of Horror in Rhode Island.” These authors are your friends and neighbors. Doesn’t that send a chill down your spine?

Some of the state’s creepiest tales are presented in Rhode Island’s Spooky Ghosts and Creepy Legends by Katie Boyd. Find Fingernail Freddie, the Swamp Bride, plus a voluminous col lection of haunts and horrors. Profes sional demonologist and paranormal investigator Katie Boyd explores the folklore firsthand and shares her own personal experience as well as the scary, shocking truths that will have you sleeping with the light on.

Send your Rhody book recommendations to Hugh at RhodyReads@gmail.com