l
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In The Heart of Historic Bristol, RI Featuring Art of All Mediums From More Than 30 Local Artists
Nasseramics Pottery Handcrafted holiday ornaments and kitchen decor @nasseramics | nasseramics.etsy.com
Mermaid Tears By MB Ocean Inspired Artwork for Your Decor @mermaid0102 etsy.com/shop/MermaidTearsByMB
Rush Brook Studio Unique Handcrafted Wire-Wrapped Jewelry @rushbrookstudio rushbrookstudio.com
John Gieg Life Is Too Short For Egrets - 9”x12”, Limited edition print john.gieg@icloud.com | redbubble.com/people/johngieg/shop
Chryssa Udvardy Ceramics Ceramic Artist @chryssaudvardy | chryssaudvardy@gmail.com
Salubrious Endeavors Functional Earthy Pottery & Ocean Life Castings @salubriousendeavors1 salubriousendeavors.wixsite.com
Firefly Mandalas Perfect Connection of Nature & Art @fireflymandalas | FireflyMandalas.com
Mariflor Joya Unique, one of a kind, hand-crafted jewelry for every occasion Mariflorjoya.com
Jen Charleson Mixed Media Art & Design Micro sized original art, signed & framed @contradiva | jennifercharleson@gmail.com
Open Year Round, Seven Days A Week | 10am - 6pm 39 State Street, Bristol | 401-410-2985 | HotpointEmporium.com
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FEATURES
NEWS & LIFE
Ornament Maker Folkloric potato dough sculptures carry on a Warwick artist’s family tradition
21 CO V E R S TO R Y
Local Accents Buying art directly from the source supports a dream and fills spaces with Ocean State allure
32 HOME & STYLE
Novel Approach A Warwick homeowner lets her storied Cape inform design decisions
59 A R T & C U LT U R E
Christmas Magic The origin story of a holiday classic penned in Providence
Inside Jeanette Vertentes Fine Art, Westerly Ph oto cou rte sy of Je a nette Ve rte nte s
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CONTENTS
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Ph oto cou rtesy of HAVERHI LL
P h oto by Kay la Auco in
Ph oto cou rtesy of PPAC
40
60
News & Life
Home & Style
Food & Drink
Art & Culture
12 A legacy jeweler forges
36 A Tiverton line of women’s workwear focuses on durability and style
46 IN THE KITCHEN: Two chefs shining a light on Jewish brunch fare
58 Rocker-turned-
her own path in Warren
14 RHODY GEM: This Warwick shop is a pre-slopes must 16 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS to merge 18 RHODY PETS: Ways to support shelters + the adoptable pet of the month
38 SHOP: Stay organized in 2024 with calendars made by Rhode Islanders
47 RHODY EATS: RESTAURANT GUIDE
50 RECIPE: A very Rhody holiday snacking board
40 ENTERTAINING: Local spirits and roasts make creating an espresso martini bar a cinch
52 ROUNDUP: Toast to the new year at culinary hot-spots 54 Peek inside Lincoln’s
manager’s pop culture life
60 ON STAGE: Miracles and Kringles abound in this year’s holiday shows
62 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s 64 HEY RHODY PHOTOS A colorful mosaic from our talented followers via Instagram
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CONTRIBUTORS
GET RELIEF FROM FOOT PAIN
KAYLA AUCOIN Each month North Kingstown-based Kayla Aucoin, founder of AUCOIN, produces our Entertaining column, gathering goods from around the state to style and photograph. For December, she worked her magic to assemble a make-your-own espresso martini bar perfect for giving any get-together a pleasant jumpstart. Get all the details at “Mix It Up” on page 40.
PLANTAR FASCIITIS • HIGH ARCHES FLAT FEET • FOOT, ARCH & HEEL PAIN SORE & ACHY FEET PAIN RELIEF & PREVENTION CUSTOM FOOT ORTHOTICS
KAREN GRECO Our former staff editor Karen Greco is a seasoned writer based in Narragansett whose career started at Elle Magazine and Ladies’ Home Journal before taking a detour into public relations – with a previous focus on live theater – so who better to assign reporting on this year’s round-up of holiday shows ? Read her picks in “Holiday Shows Near You” ( page 60).
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ANDREA MCHUGH Buying directly from artists is a wonderful way to support the local economy and the dreams of creative entrepreneurs, especially during the holiday season. In “Local Accents” ( page 21) long time contributor and Newport resident Andrea McHugh talks to different makers about their work, all of which display strong Ocean State themes.
Saturday 12/2 | 8pm 70, 80’S ROCK FAVORITES - RADIO FLASHBACK Wednesday 12/6 | 5pm-7pm ALL INCLUSIVE FREE DANCE PARTY Saturday 12/9 | 7:30pm A NASHVILLE ROCK N ROLL CHRISTMAS 9 PIECE BAND Friday 12/15 | 7:30pm ELVIS CHRISTMAS SHOW, ROBERT BLACK 5 PIECE BAND Saturday 12/16 | 7:30pm AGING DISGRACEFULLY AT CHRISTMAS
RUTHIE WOOD Recent college graduate and Portsmouth resident Ruthie Wood has giant aspirations: “ To either publish a novel, get my screenplay produced, or both,” and she’s writing up a storm in the meantime. That’s why earlier this season she tracked down the Providence writer and illustrator she refers to as “Rhode Island’s Own Father Christmas” for her stor y “Golden Ticket” on page 59.
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NEWS & LIFE M a ke r | P ro f i l e | R h o d y G e m | T h e P u b l i c ’ s R a d i o | R h o d y P e t s
10 A Rhode Island artisan portrays Andean legends in traditional retablos Photo courtesy of Zuly Palomino Jimenez
NEWS & LIFE
Inside the Box
A scuplture artist keeps a Peruvian legacy of crafting potato dough altarpieces alive By Abbie Lahmers
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HANDMADE GIFTS This season, Palomino is busy at work making owl ornaments with little nativity scenes for Christmas, as well as different sizes of nativity retablos and other decorations. These and other one-of-a-kind masks, sculptures, and more can be found at Hotpoint Emporium in Bristol, the Made in Warren Artist Cooperative, and online at RetabloPalominoJimenez.com
buy too much; he made his own materials, his own brushes. I remember that he sometimes would use a little bit of cat fur – we used to keep lots of cats in our house – for the brushes. He said that was the finest brush.” Cats and dogs make appearances in some of Palomino’s more imaginative works, along with animal face masks, though the more classic retablos she constructs are populated with human figures staged in vivid, brightly colored scenes. She sculpts each individual piece using the process her family passed down – a method that re-
quires patience, with each stage of construction necessitating the pieces to set overnight, from the torsos and limbs to the ponchos, dresses, and stout Peruvian sombreros. Once they’re dry, she paints them in vibrant hues. The doors of the boxes are adorned with flowers, which “mean good luck in the Andean culture,” Palomino says. “I spent a lot of time in Ayacucho, the hometown of my parents, always listening to my grandmother Amalia and grandfather Florentino,” she shares. “They used to tell me Andean legends and stories,” many of which are represented in
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Photos courtesy of Zuly Palomino Jimenez
ach of Zuly Palomino Jimenez’ framed works renders a scene of Peruvian life in miniature, straddling everyday settings and Andean legends, suspended in a moment of stasis – animal or human figures are captured dancing in a carnival or fashioning Andean masks, selling hats in a market or depicting mythic stories – inside ornate cedar boxes. Palomino and her family specialize in retablos, or altarpieces, which illuminate the Indigenous culture of Quechua. After her mother Eleudora, Palomino is the second altarpiece maker in her family and she is the only woman to create this popular art in the United States, which, Palomino notes, “is very male-dominated in Peru.” Her siblings Amalia and Sebastián Palomino have also taken up the mantle of crafting retablos. The scenes and stories portrayed in the altarpieces are as engrained for Palomino as the techniques of crafting the fine folk art – her grandfather Florentino Jimenez Toma was known as the Great Master Retablista. “I am the fourth generation,” says Palomino. “Since I was very little, maybe six or eight years old, I was very curious watching my parents, grandparents doing all the little figures. I used to follow them around the workshop they used to have in Lima at the time.” Her family had moved from their hometown of Ayacucho in the 1980s, fleeing political violence, but carried on the artform. The tradition dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors brought retablos to Peru as small shrines for Catholic saints, though Indigenous Quechua people adapted them into their own culture, too. “These retablos are a mix of both cultures,” Palomino explains, and in traditional use, are viewed as protection during difficult times. Each hand-sculpted piece starts with a simple base: potato dough. “After boiling, you mash it, like making mashed potatoes, and mix it with plaster – in this case, I use plaster of paris. I make a paste; it has to be very soft,” Palomino explains. The use of the readily available food ingredient stems from her grandfather’s practice. “He didn’t
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Palomino at work on a mask retablos. Depicting the tale of the fox and the condor, one frame portrays a great party in the sky with all the birds of the Earth. A mermaid legend shows figures bringing their instruments to be enchanted on the banks of a waterfall. Palomino has also done restoration work for old retablos. “Most of my grandfather’s works are natural – made without plaster – just potato, so in Peru some of them have disappeared completely,” she laments. The ones she still has – even though the color may have faded – are all the more special.
Since moving to Rhode Island with her husband Brenton Leach three years ago and now working out of a home studio in Warwick, Palomino’s work has left an impression around the state and beyond. She’s hosted workshops at the Har vard Art Museum in Cambridge and more recently at The Collab orative in Warren to help keep the tradition alive for generations to come. “It’s ver y important to me that people don’t forget this art, to preser ve the cultural heritage,” Palomino emphasizes. “It’s our family tradition.”
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NEWS & LIFE
H ow a f i f t h-g e ne rat i o n j ewe l r y maker i s fo rg i ng h e r ow n p at h By Elyse Major
Strojin and Leach outside their Warren headquarters
I
n an unassuming slate-gray building along the Warren waterfront, is what Inc. has designated “one of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the US.” Number 242, better known as HAVERHILL is an affordable luxury brand offering personalized jewelry, founded by its namesake Haverhill Leach, who runs the e-commerce enterprise with husband Andrej Strojin. Success didn’t come overnight, and while Leach is proud to be the latest link in a long line of New England jewelry makers spanning five generations, none of this was handed to her – she didn’t have a factory-in-waiting. “I grew up around jewelry,” says Leach, who documents that it all started with her great-great-grandfather, continuing to her father who hosted EternaGold on QVC for 25 years, but she initially veered off in her own creative direction in fashion, working at Kate Spade and Mayle in New York City and then launched a swimwear line while living in Los Angeles. At this point, Leach was a stay-athome mom and her side hustle was selling larger statement silver jewelry at trunk shows before landing on the 14-karat gold dainty classic style she is known for today. “I didn’t intend to sell birthstone jewelry,” Leach explains. “At the trunk shows, people would ask if pieces could be personalized, but they also wanted to buy and take things home that day.” This sparked an idea to fill a need: bespoke jewelry at the ready. With so many jewelry trade contacts and resources back in Rhode Island, it made sense for Leach to return east and she moved to Barrington. She worked closely with National Chain Group on necklaces and bracelets with bezel-set gemstones for a collection named “Bayberry” after the street her great-grandparents lived on. “We had the process from personalized order to finished piece down to seven days,” Leach says of working with the Warwick-based manufacturer to fulfill orders dedicated to her mission of custom quality with a quick turnaround. Life has many chapters, and by 2018 Leach had met and married Strojin, a management consultant with big ideas to grow the company, which at that point had annual sales of $250,000. A first order of business was to build a user-friendly website which would allow consumers to customize a range of pieces with selections like metal type, length, pattern, stone, and letters. “At the time, having a jewelry website like ours was unique,” says Leach. With the site launched and a large
Photo (L) by Roxanne Bryant, courtesy of HAVERHILL, (R) courtesy of HAVERHILL
Chain of Command
Spring Bull Gallery
shipment of gemstones received, the couple was poised and ready for Mother’s Day May 2020 orders; the world shut down weeks prior but having the foresight of the website and gems resulted in a make-or-break moment. Leach and Strojin set up shop in their home, doing all facets of the work with Leach’s parents helping in the assembly line. They quickly realized that by doing all of the work in-house, custom pieces could be done much faster than relying on an outside vendor. “We could get turnaround from order to shipping down to three days,” says Leach. “I said to Andrej, I guess we need to do our own assembly.” Which leads us to today, where a small-butmighty in-house team of 45 is cross-trained to receive orders, create pieces from start to finish, ship, and even promote them. Touring the facility dispels visions of early manufacturing jobbers and rotework; the white brick interior is filled with light and water views, leading-edge machines assist with tasks like engraving and polishing, and brief chats with staff give the impression of pride of ownership and artisanship even though for many, this is their first time working with jewelry. With a smile that competes with her trio of gold necklaces, Leach shares that she strives to create jewelry that can grow with the wearer’s own story, with pieces easily added and expanded, and that can be worn all the time. “Solid 14-karat gold means you never have to take it off,” says Leach, and that means wearing jewelry to sleep, swim, exercise, and to the beach. “ We strive for emotion and meaning , and efficiency.” Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
55 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI 02840 (401) 849-9166
OPEN 12-4PM Closed Tuesdays w w w. spr i ngbul l gal l er y. com
Holiday Small Works until DECEMBER 31, 2023
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NEWS & LIFE
Alpine Ski and Snowboard Sk i Sho p What it is: A full-ser vice, specialty retail ski shop.
W h e re i t i s : Located on Chestnut Street in War wick, right off I-95’s exit 31C/Jefferson Boulevard, look for the big gondola with skis that hangs off the sign from the highway.
W h a t m a k e s i t a R h o d y G e m? Alpine Ski has been ser ving generations of winter sports enthusiasts for over 60 years, a legacy of which co -owners Fran Gould and Rick Sceer y are ver y proud. “ The best part of being at Alpine is seeing families and customers come back year after year that are growing and evolving with the sport,” says Gould. By “sport,” she’s talking about skiing , snowboarding , and après. Customers can find all sorts of equipment to shred snow, from skis and snowboards (with the option to rent) to outer wear and accesso ries, seasonal leases, ser vice and repairs, and even custom boot fittings. Gould and the Alpine team personally demo all equipment to ensure customers have all the information they need, making the shop a must for both experts and beginners alike. “ There’s no better satisfaction than hearing a customer say ‘ Thank you for putting me in the right equipment. I had a blast – the gear was perfect for me,’” Gould professes. Follow along for special events like their Tent Sale, VIP Night, and Customer Appreciation Day ; gift cards are available, too.
105 Chestnut Street, Warwick RISkiShop.com, Instagram: @alpineskisnowboard Facebook: Alpine Ski and Snowboard
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!
Photo courtesy of Alpine Ski and Snowboard
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NEWS & LIFE
The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS Plan to Merge
R
hode Island’s two public media outlets, The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS, plan to merge, creating a single entity with nearly 100 employees and an expanded capacity to produce public-interest reporting , following a vote ( Wednesday) in support of the change by the boards of both organizations. Supporters of the merger said it will significantly expand the reach and scale of pub lic media in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. “Both boards feel we’ll be stronger together,” Elizabeth Delude-Dix, board chair of The Public’s Radio and one of the co -founders of the radio station, said in an inter view. “ To gether, we can be more relevant, more trusted, more dynamic and more responsive to the needs of our community. We can make great work go even farther.” In a statement, Dave Laverty, chair of the Rhode Island PBS Foundation Board, said, “By combining resources and talent, we can
TPR board chair Elizabeth Delude-Dix says the move will make both organizations stronger
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David Piccerelli of RI PBS sees a bigger community impact
build on our respective traditions of trust and integrity to meet audiences where they are, across platforms, to deliver rich programming that is meaningful, accessible, and inclusive. By working together, we will create an opportunity to bring a more powerful and necessar y public media voice to ser ve our community.” The proposed merger is subject to approval by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office and the Federal Communications Commission. It comes as nonprofit media organizations are playing a bigger role in some states as the internet has decimated the traditional advertising base for for-profit newspapers. “ What’s ver y exciting about this is that we now have an opportunity to invest in things that are going to make a significant difference in the amount of local nonprofit trusted journalism that’s available here,” said Torey Malatia, president, CEO and general manager of The Public’s Radio. “I have dedicated the last 25 years to Rhode
Island PBS because I am a passionate believer in the value of public television,” said David Piccerelli, president of Rhode Island PBS. “ The media landscape and the demands of our viewers have changed significantly in that time, and yet we continue to deliver award-winning programming. I am ecstatic about this merger because it enhances our ability to do just that: tell powerful stories and make an impact on our community.” No significant broadcast changes are expected in the short term as the merger faces reg ulator y approval. Malatia and Piccerelli will continue in their current roles for now. Once the merger is completed, according to a statement from both organizations, “Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio will launch an inclusive engagement process to co -create a vision for a new combined pub lic media organization focused on ser ving our diverse communities with quality journalism through broadcast and digital organizations.” Malatia said talks about the radio station joining forces with Rhode Island PBS preceded his arrival at the station in 2015 and intensified over the last year. Rhode Island PBS, also known as WSBE, has been broadcasting since 1967. Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio have won a number of awards and distinctions, including Emmys, Telly, and Edward R . Murrow awards and recognition from The Public Media Journalists Association, Scripps Howard, and the National Headliners Award among others. The planned merger marks a big step in the evolution of The Public’s Radio, which was launched as WRNI AM in 1998, after Delude-Dix and three other individuals challenged a status quo in which Rhode Island was one of the only states without its own public radio station. From its early years, when it broadcast on three separate signals targeting different pockets of the state, the station has continued to grow. In 2017, what had become Rhode Island Public Radio acquired its current flagship
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Photos courtesy of The Public’s Radio
In partnership with The Public’s Radio • ThePublicsRadio.org • By Ian Donnis
Together, we’re charting the course to
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Visit us online to purchase a DIY Kit or register for a Workshop 401.490.9475 50 Rolfe Sq Cranston artists-exchange.org a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center
our exclusive sterling silver snowflake jewelry
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This article was originally posted on November 9. Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@thepublicsradio.org
Also NEW Holiday Workshops in Cookie Platter Making, Wreath Decorating & more!
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signal, 89.3 FM, which reaches most of Rhode and southeastern Massachusetts, and rebranded itself as The Public’s Radio. The station’s news staff has grown in recent years with the addition of bureaus in New Bedford, Newport and South County, the creation of an investigative desk, and a heightened emphasis on in-depth and investigative reporting on topics including child labor in New Bedford’s seafood industr y, the challenge of overcoming addiction for homeless people in Woonsocket, and how private equity is affecting the business of healthcare in Rhode Island. Once the merger is realized, Malatia said, it offers “the opportunity to really amplif y what we are doing , I think exponentially, considering the kind of resources that would be available. By that, I mean extraordinar y producers and great journalists on our side, the opportunity to do multimedia projects. I think it will increase public ser vice from these two nonprofit organizations now becoming one nonprofit organization in ways that ever yone will appreciate.”
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NEWS & LIFE
Paws for a Cause From a ni m a l s he l ters to s h o p- l oca l dr i ves, sup p orting p ets has never b een easier By Karen Kalunian
‘
T
is the season for giving – and that includes causes for our furr y friends, too! A toy, bone, collar, or even a blood donation are just some of the ways you can make a pet’s holiday merrier. From donating to animal shelters to supporting low-income pet owners, here’s a handful of ways to keep tales wagging all winter long , and for more ways to chip in, contact your local rescue to find out what they need.
SHOP LOCAL Sometimes helping animals is as easy as patronizing local businesses, like the Ocean State Pepper Company. Teaming up with Rhode Island PBS digital series Animal Talk this holiday season, the Pawtucket-based pepper business donates 10 percent of pro ceeds from purchases of their starter pack – which includes five of their fan-favorite gourmet seasonings – to a local shelter. Ocean State Pepper’s passion for dogs extends to their Pepper for Pitties advocacy, too. RhodyPepper.com/pages/pitties
DONATE BLOOD
PICK A WISHLIST For furry friends spending the festive season in local shelters waiting for their permanent
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Holiday pet wishlists fulfilled thanks to We’re Here For the Dogs
home, add a little cheer to their lives by participating in the Pawliday Drive, run by We’re Here For the Dogs. Founder Tracy Kardys had a lightbulb moment when she noticed the adopt-a-family trees around the holidays and decided to create a version to support shelter dogs and cats. The idea has only grown over the years, last year helping more than 16 shelters. Look for holiday trees at local businesses throughout the state (and find a list of all spots online), where you can choose a tag with a pet’s name on it as well as the gift or item on their wishlist to purchase. WereHereForTheDogs.org/pawliday
SUPPORT A PET FAMILY The Rhode Island Pet Network is in search of Santa Paws sponsors to help low-income pet owners, especially senior citizens with pets. Teaming up with Vintage Pet Rescue and other social service organizations, the network posts photos of pets in need on Facebook all month with their wishlist, and folks are encouraged to donate a grocery gift card for the pet family, too. Also supporting animal rescues, the RI Pet Network also collects dry and wet dog and cat food, litter, pet toys, cleaning products, and blankets, as well as monetary donations to assist with emergency vet bills. RIPetNetwork.org/events
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Photo courtesy of We’re Here for Dogs
Healthy pups and their owners can help dogs in need by donating to the blood bank at Ocean State Veterinar y Specialists (OSVS) and their sister hospital Bay State Veterinar y Emergency and Specialty Services. Just like humans, blood donations can help save lives, and OSVS is always seeking candidates to donate. Dogs 55 pounds and over that are in good health, have good temperaments, and are fully vaccinated are qualified to give, and owners must commit to donating at least three times a year to meet the high demand. One donation can help up to four other pups. East Greenwich, OSVS.net/blood-bank
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Where every day is
Five-year-old Lulu sadly ended up in a shelter when her elderly owner passed away. A mixed-breed dog, possibly part shepherd, she loves people and would be a great companion for someone who works from home and doesn’t have any other pets. A fenced-in yard would be ideal so she can run around off leash and not be bothered by other dogs that may pass by. If you think Lulu might be the girl for you, contact Save One Soul Animal Rescue League via email Info@sosarl.org or visit their website at SOSARL.org to set up a time to meet. If you have been thinking of adopting or know of an animal in need, please contact Karen Kalunuan directly at animaltalk1920@gmail.com.
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
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Celebrate with us! Book your next event at Stoneacre Garden - Weddings, birthdays, meetings, and more!
Join us to ring in the New Year at our “Sparkling Spectacular 2024” party!
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Lo c a l Accents COASTAL-INSPIRED WORKS AT ARTISTRUN SHOPS ARE THE ULTIMATE SOURCE FOR BUYING ORIGINAL PIECES INFUSED WITH OCEAN STATE ATMOSPHERE BY ANDREA E. MCHUGH
Photo courtesy of Jeanette Vertentes
W
ith 400 miles of coastline, hundreds of bucolic acres, and extraordinar y nooks and crannies tucked within our postage stamp -sized but postcard-worthy paradise, there’s no wonder Rhode Island is a hotbed of artistic talent. Shops, studio galleries, working spaces, and artists’ co -ops with commercial storefronts throughout the state make not only lo cal art, but local artisans, accessible. Here we’ve put the spotlight on regional makers, all of whom share some creative commonalities yet vastly different mediums. We hope this holiday season inspires you to share the handiwork of our talented friends and neighbors.
SHORELINE SUBJECTS Vertentes’ Watch Hill studio and shop are minutes from the shoreline
Like many New Englanders, Jeanette Vertentes finds inspiration watching the sun take its final dramatic bow no matter what time of year. For her, it’s often from Napatree Point, where the state’s southernmost and westernmost spit of mainland juts out from the village of Watch Hill. The only difference between her and others who drink in the day’s last light is that Vertentes immortalizes the moment on canvas for others to take in from near and far. “Painting is just kind of something I’ve always done my whole life,” says Vertentes, who grew up in Ashaway and studied fine art and painting at Rhode Island College, adding, “I’ve always been a Rhode Island girl.” And thanks to Vertentes, folks from across the country and beyond can enjoy a little bit of the Ocean State wherever they call home as the artist’s paintings, typically dominated by whimsical hues of blue and green, capture scenic local landscapes, florals, and bucolic milieus. “I have a big following of people down south, in the Carolinas, Alabama, Florida. I’m actually working on a big commission piece right now for someone who lives in Charleston, South Carolina. They want me to paint a local marsh up here in Jamestown. They used to live there…and it’ll be shipped down there for them for a little reminder of Rhode Island.” Close-ups of seashells are another genre of which Vertentes has become well known. The artist appreciates the natural simplicity of clam, scallop, and nautilus shells, and finds capturing
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“I love the strength of the shes and that subtle beauty.”
Photos courtesy of Jeanette Vertentes
– JEANETTE VERTENTES
them on canvas in a visually interesting way challenging. “I love the strength of the shells and that subtle beauty,” she explains. In a new series of works, Vertentes captures the impression left on the inside of an oyster shell from where its meat originally attached. “I’ve kind of played with that and made it sort of look like a heart at times, and people really love that, and I just think I’m spreading some love, spreading some joy in people’s homes,” she says. “I try to create artwork that really has a positive impact when you look at it. I want people to love the pieces in their homes and have a positive relationship with it.” At her eponymous studio and gallery in the heart of Watch Hill, travelers from around the world (many of whom make their way down the hill from the tony historic Ocean House hotel) often bring her work home. But you don’t need a Platinum Card to hang a Jeanette Vertentes in your home. In fact, you might find one of her pieces on your next shopping trip to “Tar-Jay,” as her work is licensed to many retailers. “Sometimes my artwork pops up in places like HomeGoods, Target, TJ Maxx, and Neiman Marcus, so a lot of the big box stores and then of course online as well,” says Vertentes. “I just saw a piece and Target last week and it’s kind of cool. I do a double take sometimes.” Westerly, JVertentes.net
November 24 – December 31, 2023 This year is bigger and brighter than ever, featuring festive, larger-than-life dazzling displays with more than 3 ½ million illuminated lights that transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland! From radiant reindeers to sparkly snowmen, this is a must-see experience this holiday season. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For information visit rwpzoo.org/holidaylights
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Field Trip Make shopping fun by zig-zagging across the state to discover new shops offering handmade gifts by local artists. Here are 31 to get you started, one for each day of December.
1.
ARTISTS FUSION South Kingstown
2.
ATHALIA OF NEWPORT
3.
BEACH BARN ART & GIFTS Warren
4.
COURTYARDS LTD Tiverton
5.
SEAWEED INSPIRED Andy Warhol famously said, “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it,” and artist Mary Chatowsky Jameson sees beauty in what many Rhode Islanders consider a pesky nuisance: seaweed. “I was taking my son over to Third Beach and I’m just like everybody else, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s so much seaweed. Let’s go swim over there instead!’ I never paid much attention to it,” says Chatowsky Jameson. It wasn’t until she came across an exhibit at the Newport Historical Society that she began to see the ubiquitous
FAYERWEATHER CRAFT GUILD Kingston
6.
Chatowsky Jameson’s designs are also on ceramics and wood panels
FOUR CORNERS GALLERY Tiverton
7.
GATHER GLASS Providence
8.
FULLER ART AND FRAME GALLERY Jamestown
9.
GREEN RIVER SILVER CO. Wickford & Providence
10. HARBOR VIEW ARTISANS Wickford
11. THE HEN HOUSE Chepachet
12. HERITAGE GIFTS & GLASS STUDIO East Greenwich
13. HŌMBÄDI BOUTIQUE Westerly
Continued on next page...
"We have gorgeous seaweed here in New England. It’s just a medium that works for me and who I am.” – MARY CHATOWSKY JAMESON
14. HONEY GALLERY Wickford
15. HOTPOINT EMPORIUM Bristol
16. LOW TIDE JEWELRY Wakefield
17. MADE IN WARREN 18. MARMAR BOUTIQUE Wakefield
19. MILLS CREEK NATURAL MARKET Charlestown
20. OMO JEWELS & GIFTS Westerly
21. PETER POTS POTTERY West Kingston
22. PURPLE COW CO. Wakefield
23. RHODY CRAFT Providence
Photos courtesy of Mary Chatowsky Jameson
24. STUDIO BY THE SEA marine algae differently. A collection of personal scrapbooks from families who lived or summered in Newport during the Gilded Age was donated to the society containing photographs, mementos, watercolors, and artistic pressings of flowers, ferns, and spoils from the sea. In an artist’s statement, Chatowsky Jameson wrote about the experience, “I was transformed by the beauty of marine algae, having never observed it so closely before.” She started experimenting , discovering a world of organic colors, shapes, and curiosity that combine to create extraordinary imprints. She begins by studying the shape, texture and color of individual species of seaweed, then engages in a process of symbiotic layering to create new forms that will ultimately become a captivating work of art. “As these forms develop, the known and unknown intersect in a dynamic way to challenge thought patterns,” she has obser ved through experience. Brenton Point in Newport, Sandy Point in Portsmouth, Fogland Beach in Tiverton, and Hull Cove in Jamestown have become some of her key collection spots. Chatowsky Jameson’s work has been exhibited
at Newport Art Museum, Blink Galler y, the Green Space at TF Green Airport, DeBlois Galler y, and more. She has a line of seaweed-inspired jewelr y, and she’s partnered with Craig Crawford from Wanderlust Ceramics in East Greenwich to create a line of ceramic seaweed-print tiles and dinner ware. With a desire to share this passion and show others how to make their own ocean-infused works, Chatowsky Jameson opened an appropriately named space, Saltwater Studio, in 2019, in a century-old trolley barn in Newport. Here she both creates and hosts workshops where anyone can create works of art, but she also goes on site to places including the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Mystic Museum of Art, the IYRS School of Technolog y & Trades, and other artor marine-centric locales to lead workshops on seaweed pressing , eco printing and cyanotype, privately to groups large and small. “ We have g org eous seaweed here in New Eng land,” adds Chatowsky Jameson emphatically. “It’s just a medium that works for me and who I am.” Newport, SaltwaterStudio.com
Tiverton
25. STUDIO HOP Providence
26. THREE WHEEL STUDIO Providence
27. THE WOVEN PATH Wickford
28. TIFFANY PEAY JEWELRY & HEALING ARTS Tiverton
29. WHIMSIES Warren
30. WINK GIFT STORE Bristol
31. YES! GALLERY North Kingstown
FLOWER POWER Dried flowers are given fresh attitude at Eden
Photos courtesy of Eden Botanical Arts
Stephanie Hawkins and Cécilia Ithurburu Alexander are Rhode Island’s dried flower dynamic duo. Specializing in sustainable flo ristr y using dried flowers, the two long time friends planted roots in Pawtuxet Village this spring , opening a storefront for the first time. But their business, Eden Botanical Arts, was already well established by way of pop up events, including at the Providence Flea, flower markets and festivals, and a busy roster of clients for custom installations, weddings, and events. You may have enjoyed a cocktail or two under their seasonal stellar installations at The Eddy or Marcelino’s Boutique Bar in Providence – and likely Instagrammed it – or have seen their head-turning creations in the lobby of the Aloft hotel downtown.
scenic_narragansett | Damianmarcphotography.com
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"It’s not a about the flowers. It’s mostly just about sustainable and unique design.” – CÉCILIA ITHURBURU ALEXANDER
“ We both just really love ever ything that’s vintage and retro,” says Ithurburu Alexander. “Stephanie is ver y cutesy, kind of like the diner-style, 1950s-type stuff, and then I like turn-of-the-centur y, art deco, art nouveau.” The brick and mortar is a creative curiosity, with all kinds of objects, many reclaimed, adorned in preserved blooms, while the flower bar invites customers to design dried bouquets a la carte, but Hawkins and Ithurburu Alexander are happy to help for intimidated first-timers. Thoug h their flowers are dried, they are surprising ly vibrant with the help of spray paint that allows the artists to create arrang ements rang ing from tame and textured to all-out technicolor. They use diverse and repurposed textiles and objets d’art to create layers of dimensional interest. “It’s almost like a sculpture instead of a floral arrang ement,” explains Ithurburu Alexander.
Sustainability is a key tenant of their creations, which are foam free and, as the flowers are dried, require zero water. “ We reuse as much as we can. We even give people two price points even if they want to return their flowers to us; we can take everything apart and use it again for other jobs or commissions.” “Florist” is really a misnomer when it comes to what Eden Botanical Arts really does. “ We’re more designers, interior decorating. It’s more about creating a vibe in a space than the actual flowers,” adds Ithurburu Alexander. “ We even mix things that aren’t botanical a lot of the time. We use paper cutouts. We can paint things. We have a whole collection of these little hanging orbs that have vintage figurines in them. It’s not all about the flowers. It’s mostly just about sustainable and unique design.” And they’re having a blast doing it. Cranston, EdenBotanicals.com
Photos courtesy of Eden Botanical Arts
A large-scale display revives an old brick wall
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HOME & STYLE H o m e | M a ke r | S h o p | E n te r t a i n i n g
32 Gold lights emit a cozy glow inside a War wick home Photo courtesy of Kristen Adamo
HOME & STYLE
One for the Books
With two fi re pl a ce s a n d a s p i ra l st a i rc a s e, a stor ied h ou se comp els its own er to g et festive By Elyse Major
L
ike so many others, during the pandemic, Kristen Adamo’s work life disappeared. For the president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2020’s lockdown order was staggering for someone at the helm of the non-profit responsible for luring conventions to two cities and promoting the state’s capital as a tourism destination. With most of her staff laid off, Adamo went into overdrive to keep things afloat by doing interviews, penning opeds, leading initiatives, and in the process, becoming a regional Twitter sensation with her ‘round-theclock insights and quips. Mastering the art of baking
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sourdough bread wasn’t an escape for the vigorous Adamo, but browsing real estate listings was. “I saw this house and immediately reached out to my friend Christina Rosciti, who is a realtor. I didn’t even look at another house ; it came out of a need to focus on something else,” says Adamo who was immediately besotted with a property in Warwick built in 1883 to function as the neighborhood librar y. “I went to journalism school and am an avid writer and reader so this house really spoke to me,” she shares. Period details include 14-foot ceilings, two fireplaces, and open areas, but it was the builtin bookshelves, reading nooks, and spiral staircase
REAL OR FAKE? “It’s a fake, mostly because the idea of lugging a giant tree in and out of the house every year seems daunting. I did it myself with the help of a step ladder and that spiral staircase,” says Adamo of the 10-foot tree.
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
Unique Gifts
HANDCRAFTED BY LOCAL ARTISANS
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-4pm Sunday: 12pm-4pm December 24th: 10am-2pm
Fayerweather
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WORKSHOPS SPECIAL EVENTS 1859 Mooresfield Road (Rte. 138 at 108) Kingston • 401-789-9072 FayerweatherCraftGuild.com FayerweatherCraftGuild fayerweatherhouse
COMMERICAL & RESIDENTIAL
Photos courtesy of Kristen Adamo
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that appealed to this bibliophile. “It looks like a reg ular house from the outside, but the main floor is a showstopper.” Adamo explains that neglected overgrown shrubs and trees blocked light from entering the two-story three-bedroom Cape, causing her niece to think it looked a bit gloomy. “She said it looked like The Conjuring,” Adamo says with a chuckle, referencing the horror film based on a home in Burrillville. She confirms that tidying up the greenery “really brightened things up.” “I think with a house like mine, where
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HOME & STYLE
Get Rhody Style I d e a s a n d re s o u rce s fo r m a k i n g t h e m o s t o f l i v i n g i n t h e O ce a n S t a te .
B u y Lo c a l R I “My job is to promote Providence and Warwick so you find little bits of both cities throughout the house, and I try to support local artists as best I can,” says Adamo, whose list includes TigerEye Gift Shop in Warwick, the Providence Art Club’s Annual Little Pictures Show and Sale, and Gather Glass Blowing Studio in Providence for ornaments. Artwork in her home includes pieces by Mike Cohea, Mike Bryce, Bert Crenca, Shepard Fairey, and Giraffes and Robots, and Jason Salvi.
Wa n d e r Wa r w i c k “I have said it a million times but Warwick is the most underrated place in Rhode Island. There are 39 miles of coastline and some really gorgeous parks, and you have access to every kind of store you can think of – what’s not to love?” says the proud resident. Learn more at VisitWarwickRI.com
H o m e fo r t h e H o l i d ay s “While I don’t love Christmas, my niece does. She comes over every year and we bake dog treats as presents for our canine friends. We put on holiday pajamas and she plays that awful Mariah Carey song on repeat. Over the years, more people have joined us and it’s turned into a mini party. My family also opens our presents by the fireplace on Christmas Day. The funny part is that the house made me like Christmas just a little bit.”
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Photos courtesy of Kristen Adamo
there is so much detail, you have to keep the decor minimal and let the house do the talking ,” says Adamo, who notes that there are ample shelves filled with books still with librar y cards in their back page pockets, a librarian’s desk with a circa-1930s Under wood typewriter, a piano bench that holds sheet music from the 1940s and ‘50s, and a few school hand-crank pencil sharpeners in random places. To complement the inherited utilitarian objects, Adamo enjoys sourcing accents with nods to the house’s past, things like librar y card drink coasters and prints with people reading books in them. “For the most part, I tr y to let the house shine,” says Adamo. “Even after two years of living here, I am still in awe. Mostly, I just love being surrounded by books.”
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
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ARCH CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS
LOU LOU’S DÉCOR
Make your holidays bright with beautiful place settings, unique gifts and holiday decor. Lou Lou’s Decor has locations in Tiverton and Newport. Gift Registry and Full interior design services available. 3913 Main Road • (401) 816 4362 • loulousdecor.com @loulousdecor
TIFFANY PEAY JEWELRY & HEALING ARTS
A carefully curated selection of unique ceramic sculpture & functional pottery, showcasing a wide range of ceramic techniques from two dozen regional artists. Find timeless, heirloom-quality gifts in store and online. 18 East Rd • www.archcontemporary.com @arch.ceramics
Explore the power of gemstones with Tiffany’s handmade fine jewelry. Crystal Bed Light Therapy & Fine Art by Peter Dickison. The Dapper Flapper hats available through the holidays. 3851 Main Road • tiffanypeay.com • (401) 816 0878 • @tiffanypeayjewelry
COURTYARDS
Courtyards celebrates the joy of all seasons with fun & unusual gifts for everyone for 41 years in Tiverton Four Corners. Open 7 days in December. Jess Polanshek illustration cards & prints available. 3980 Main Road • courtyardsltd.com (401) 624 8682
CEDIAN PAINTING
Studio-Gallery of artist Jennifer Jones Rashleigh. Nature inspired wildlife painting, pillows & tiles. 3848 Main Road • @cedianpainting cedianpainting.com
FOUR CORNERS GALLERY
Collections of painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography & jewelry. Stop in and discover our artists and the new work! Hours: Tuesday-Friday & Sunday 11am-4pm Saturday 9:30am-5pm • 3848 Main Road fourcornersgalleryri.com • @fourcornersgalleryri
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
STUDIO BY THE SEA TIVERTON FARMERS MARKET
A growing collection of farms, food vendors and makers. Sundays 10am-1:30pm. Seasonal indoor location: Tiverton Middle School, 10 Quintal Dr tivertonfarmersmarket.com • @TivertonFarmersMarket
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 • studiobyetheseari.com @studio_by_the_sea
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
Explore a vibrant village of shops, galleries, amazing food, antiques, handmade jewelry, home & garden and so much more. Enjoy open space in the beautiful farm coast of RI. #TakeARideTiverton4Corners •
@tivertonfourcorners
MAP
HOME & STYLE
Tailor Made Beautility rules the day for a Tiverton-based brand of durable eco-friendly women’s apparel developed by a farmer
A
dozen or so years ago, Little Compton-based Taylor Johnston was the full-time horticulturist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Legendary style photographer Bill Cunningham was in town, photographing people in their environment for his weekly column in The New York Times Style section, and he snapped a photo of Johnston, wearing what she calls “a big-box store wardrobe.” When she saw the published photo, she felt embarrassed. “I was not putting any effort into how I looked,”
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she explains. “It really made me want to do something about the problem of women’s workwear.” In 2014 Johnston founded Gamine, an apparel company focused on outfitting women who work in a variety of industries where clothing gets muddy, worn-out, and tattered quickly and easily. Think gardeners, farmers, or even set designers – women like Johnston, who work hard and get grimy. “Ten years ago, workwear companies such as Carhartt didn’t make clothing for women,” she says. “ Women’s body types can be difficult. But just because
we get dirty when we work, that doesn’t mean we don’t want attractive, well-designed, quality garments.” The term “gamine,” Johnston explains, is a French word that roughly translates to a woman with a boyish or mischievous charm. Having sewn things her whole life, some encouragement led to experimenting ; she cut patterns and made a few samples. When she wore a pair of jeans that she’d made and was asked about them, she knew she was onto something. “I realized I could leverage some resources. I could
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
Photos by Hope Millham, courtesy of Gamine
By Ann Martini
“A responsibly sourced wool sweater, knit in Fall River and shot at issima, the small nursery I co-own with Ed Bowen and the sink of all good ideas!” says Johnston
car ve out a niche and solve some problems about women’s workwear.” So the gardener and nurserywoman added clothing designer and small business owner to her resume. But the practicality of making stylish workwear for women also offered Johnston another opportunity. “It’s about celebrating vintage textiles that tell the stor y of the American worker,” she explains. Lots of investigating led to great finds, including an American-based company that she says makes the softest, most rugged gear out of hemp and organic cotton.
“It’s important for us to feel like we’re contributing to the idea of workwear rather than making mere reproductions.” Explore the Gamine website and you’ll find stylish, well-crafted but practical, useful garments. Dungarees, one of the most popular items, are fitted and built to last. There are bibs and coveralls, shorts, sweaters, work shirts and more. Most items retail under $200. You can picture yourself wearing them to work as well as to a leisurely Sunday brunch, which was the whole idea, Johnston says.
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
Where and how Gamine will grow isn’t something Johnston, who’s 41, thinks a lot about. She sees the different hats she wears as extremely complementar y and the processes as organic. They are about crafting , designing , cultivating , exploring , and celebrating values, whether it’s the heritage of a plant or a thread or a process. Inspiration is all around, including her farm. “Rhode Island is a central, inspiring force in all that I do,” she says. 3988 Main Road, Tiverton (shop by appointment); GamineWorkwear.com
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HOME & STYLE
Hello, 2024 Rh o de Is l a nd c a l e n d a rs you ’re s ure to fl ip fo r By Elyse Major
F
or paper lovers, selecting a new calendar for the year ahead is a pretty big decision. Determining factors can include blank space on each day to jot down notes or add stickers, phases of the moon revealed, the inclusion of holidays and observances, peeks at the month before and ahead, and of course, captivating themes and images to help set the mood for each month. Here are seven calendars with uniquely Rhode Island content – some compiled from winners of photography contests, some used for fundraising – all showcasing special interests and talents.
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dar_v4.indd
1-DB24 Calen
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Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
FOR THE COLOR LOVER 2024 Desktop Calendar: Local artist Elizabeth Crane Swartz shares peeks at her creative process in this 5x7” calendar, perfect for adding cheerful pops of color to any space. ElizabethCraneSwartz.com
FOR THE NATURALIST 2024 Audubon Calendar: Be greeted by images of birds and wildlife taken around the state by local nature photographers, selected by a committee from a contest. Available at the Audubon Nature Shop in Bristol or ASRI.org
FOR THE IMAGINATIVE Becorns: Forest Folk by David M Bird: Readers may recall our stor y on Bird and his handmade twig and acorn creatures (September 2021), now starring in their own national-brand wall calendar! AmberLotus.com
FOR THE BIRDER 2024 Peregrine Falcons of the Sakonnet River Bridge: When she’s not picking treasures for her vintage store, Christine Francis is taking pics of falcons. Ten dollars of each sale goes to the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island. Available while supplies last at Carmen & Ginger, Warren
AM 12/22/22 9:21
FOR THE PINUP FAN RI Heat Rhode Island Firefighters Calendar: North Providence Fire Department captain and professional photog Sean McNulty has assembled shots of beefy dudes, benefiting The Izzy Foundation. Purchase locations posted to Instagram and Facebook @riheatfirefightercalendar
2024
FOR THE FINE ART LOVER
R CALENDA
Rhode Island Watercolor Society Calendar: Mar vel at landscapes, still lifes, and more by RIWS artist-members in this fundraising piece that also has notecards available. RhodeIslandWatercolorSociety.WildApricot.org
FOR THE PET LOVER
Socie Audubon
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e Island
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
Potter League: Adore 12 months of winners from the Potter League for Animals annual P.S. I Love You Photo Contest. Proceeds from calendars and the contest assist the Potter League with helping thousands of animals each year. PotterLeague.org
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HOME & STYLE
Holiday Mixer Greet the new year wide-eyed with espresso martinis made using local ingredients
A small glass pitcher is perfect for keeping cold brew within reach
E s p re s s o M a r t i n i T i m e
By Elyse Major Photography and styling by Kayla Au coi n
THING S TO HAV E H A N DY • Martini/cocktail glasses • Cocktail shaker • Cocktail strainer
IN A PINC H • Any 6-ounce glass • 24-ounce lidded container • Food strainer
ING RE DIE NTS • 1.5 ounce Rhodium Coffee & Black Walnut Vodka • 1.5 ounce cold brew or cold brew concentrate of desired strength (from decaf to double strength) • 1 tsp vanilla simple syrup (see call-out) • 2 dashes of chocolate bitters (Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters used) Inspired by Rhode Island Spirits
I
f a cocktail has a personality, the martini is that effortlessly stylish life of the party. While classically made with a mix of gin and vermouth and a signature green olive, myriad martini variations and portmanteaus include the appletini (cider, juice, liqueur, or brandy), bacon martini (infused vodka), and fictional spy James Bond’s
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go-to, the vodka martini, which is of course, shaken, not stirred. This storied libation with its very own long-stemmed, wide-rimmed vessel is deceptively simple to make, and with Rhody businesses providing the goods, you can sip local to pregame your celebration with this jolty java drink sure to help ring in 2024 with wide eyes and fresh energ y.
1.
Fill a cocktail shaker (or 24-ounce container with lid) with ice, then ingredients, and shake for about 10 seconds.
2.
Strain and pour into a cocktail glass.
3.
Garnish with a few coffee beans, and/or dip rims in simple syrup and then cocoa powder for extra pizzazz.
Make it a mocktail by swapping vodka with something like Seedlip, a plant-based liquor substitute used in nonalcoholic mixed drinks.
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
Photography by Kayla Aucoin courtesy of AUCOIN
STE PS
Elevate your candy game by scattering shiny bonbons – too pretty to be wrapped in foil – across the table
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HOME & STYLE
RHODY RESOURCES A h a n d y l i s t o f b ra n d s , s h o p s , a n d m a ke r s fe a t u re d i n t h i s a r t i c l e :
A l l u m é C h o co l a t e Wakefield | @allumechocolate Featured: Blackberr y Hazelnut Crunch Bonbon, Caramel Sea Salt Bonbon Find beautiful bonbons at Cocktail Hour Essentials, West Warwick, and Stock Culinary Goods, Providence. For local pickup, nationwide shipping , and listing of nearby events, visit AllumeChocolate.com
A U CO I N North Kingstown | @aucoindesigns Featured: Styling and photography December 2-3: Hoppy Holidays at The Guild, Pawtucket
Keep the recipe handy with a custom sign perched in a stand-up holder
L i g h t h o u s e Co f fe e R o a s t e r s & C a f e North Kingstown | @lighthousecoffeeri Featured: In-house roasted coffee Catering available for the holidays
L i t t l e C h a te a u Newport | @littlechateau Featured: Ceramic Pinched Vase with Stripes; Espresso Martini Linen Tea Towel ; Smoke Stem Coupe Glasses; Tuscan Marble Salt and Pepper Mill
O l i ve + G i g i R I Smithfield | @oliveandgigi.ri Featured: Acr ylic event signage
VA NIL LA S I M P LE SYRUP
Mention this article and receive 10 percent off your order of $25 or more
• 1 cup sugar • 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract Put water and sugar into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil; stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract until combined. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container (a canning jar is ideal). Makes 1.5 cups.
Rhodium, Rhode Island Spirits Pawtucket | @rispirits Featured: Rhodium Coffee Black Walnut Vodka Available at liquor stores across the state. Cocktails, sample flights, tours, and products available at the Distillery & Tasting Room, 40 Bayley Street
Photography and styling by Kayla Aucoin
• 1 cup water
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Give the Gift of Good Taste BUY $100 IN GIFT CARDS, GET A FREE $20 BONUS CARD BUY $500 IN GIFT CARDS, GET A FREE $100 BONUS CARD PURCHASE IN PERSON OR ONLINE, PROMOTION ENDS 12.31.23 SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.
3 0 0 0 C H A P E L V I E W B LV D • C R A N S TO N , R I • 4 0 1 . 9 4 4 . 4 9 0 0 • C H A P E LG R I L L E R I . C O M
FOOD & DRINK I n t h e K i tc h e n | R e c i p e | N ew Ye a r s Eve | P ro f i l e
46 A Jewish brunch pop -up slinging ever ything from shakshouka to brisket P h o t o s c o u r t e s y o f N i c e J ew i s h B oy s B r u n c h
FOOD & DRINK
Brunch That Would Make Bubby Proud Two c he fs ’ t a ke s o n J ew i s h c u i s i n e c h a n n el family traditions and creativity By Ann M. Martini
Moshe Karlin and Jordan Fleischer, the chef-duo behind Nice Jewish Boys Brunch
ance each other and want to take traditional Jewish dishes and bring them upscale a bit, make them more appealing.” A shared desire to reinterpret dishes that have fallen victim to the cliches of “mushy” or “tasteless” sparked a fire in their respective sensibilities and led the duo, under the moniker of Nice Jewish Boys Brunch, to launch a pop-up series at the West End restaurant where they work. Fleischer and Karlin pitched the idea of serving their brunch menu on occasional Sundays to The Slow Rhode owners Patrick Lowney and James Dean (who also own nearby Broadway Bistro), and they were all in. While the pair hasn’t thought ahead to anything permanent for their concept, for now, the pop-up model serves them well. “We’re spreading our culture and cooking amazing food in a new and innovative way,” Fleischer says.
Fall Pumpkin Kugel
Photos courtesy of Nice Jewish Boys Brunch
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decade ago, during a visit to Israel for an episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, the incomparable cook-turnedfood-journalist called Jewish food “insanely delicious.” But even if a jar of gefilte fish languishing on your local supermarket shelf makes you raise an eyebrow at such a statement, you’ll delight in the interpretation of traditional Jewish dishes that Jordan Fleischer and Moshe Karlin are prepping for brunch. The two local chefs are both Jewish, in their 20s, and graduates of Johnson & Wales University, but it wasn’t until they started working together at The Slow Rhode this past March that their paths merged. “From the moment we started working together, it was obvious we had so much in common, from our religions and family traditions to the way we approach restaurants,” says Fleischer. “We bal-
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Discover the flavors of Rhode Island! From fresh seafood shacks to farm-to-table eateries, little Rhody offers 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.
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.
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.
MainStreet Coffee 137 Main Street, East Greenwich 401-885-8787 | MainStreet-Coffee.com Casual coffee house meets hip martini bar. Best Espresso Martinis in Rhode Island.
CAV Restaurant 14 Imperial Place, Providence | 401 751-9164 CavRestaurant.com | Bistro style Brunch and Lunch. Fine Dining Dinner.
Dave’s Fresh Marketplace Ten Locations throughout Rhode Island 401-558-0190 | davesmarketplace.com/WeeklySpecials Made fresh daily in our kitchens - 60+ Take Out Options!
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
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.
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.
O utdo o r D i n i n g |
C ur b sid e Pickup |
De li ve r y |
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Al l erg en Fri en d l y Op t i o n s
FOOD & DRINK
The first Nice Jewish Boys Brunch took place in late September and was a big hit. The menu featured Lox Cheesecake with pickled shallot, crunchy capers, and dill ; Challah French Toast with crème d’amondes, cranberr y compote, and mint; Bubby’s Brisket Hash with a fried egg and chermoula ; as well as craft cocktails – the Borschty Mar y and Meshuggeneh Mimosa (translation: crazy). The Bubby behind the brisket hash is Karlin’s grandmother. “I remember her during the holidays, even in her 70s, sitting in a chair by the stove cutting chicken and vegetables and tossing them into a pot,” says Karlin. It was a deeply engrained tradition that he and his siblings embraced then and still do today. “ We have a constant group text going where we share recipes and pictures of what we’re cooking.” Karlin began cooking in a restaurant in New Jersey before applying to Johnson & Wales. After graduation, he worked at CHOMP and
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Bayberry Garden before moving to The Slow Rhode. “Being here, in such a positive work environment, inspires us to celebrate our shared history through food,” Karlin says. Fleischer’s experience growing up with food was a bit different. He began working in restaurants at the age of 15, majored in small business management and entrepreneurship at Indiana University, and eventually moved to Providence to attend Johnson & Wales. He did a stint at Gracie’s and fell in love – with the city, fine dining , and the support he gleaned from chef Matt Varga and owner Ellen Gracyalny. “Matt said he couldn’t hire me. So I showed up for work ever y single day… until he did,” says Fleischer, noting that he’s a type-A personality. But throughout his youth, his relationship with food was complicated. “I struggled with childhood obesity,” he explains, and learned to cook healthy to get his weight under control. “Eventually I had to
kick my mother out of the kitchen,” he says with a chuckle. “Now I’m the one in the family ever yone looks to to cook on the holidays. I’m really proud of that.” Another obser vation Bourdain made about Jewish cooking in that Parts Unknown episode is that it’s “vastly underrated.” Traditional Jewish cooking , Fleischer says, relied on preser ving foods in various ways, and using cheaper cuts of meat (hence brisket) that may seem unappealing. “But we’re going to make really creative, delicious interpretations of classic Jewish dishes, so good that you’ll love to enjoy them with a nice cocktail,” Fleischer says. A few bites of Nice Jewish Boys fall pump kin kugel with mole negro and pepita granola, or their chicken and waffles – a pickle-brined Cornish game hen with a latke waffle and honey mustard jus, and we’re convinced. Follow @nicejewishboysbrunch on Instagram from upcoming pop-up dates.
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Photo courtesy of Nice Jewish Boys Brunch
Squash Shakshouka served with a Jerusalem bagel, feta, and bitter herb
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FOOD & DRINK
Merry Mezze Board A s s e m b l e yo u r ow n s n a c k i n g p l atte r o f l o c al c h e e s e s , m e at s , c rac ke rs , a n d m o re By L i z Mu r ray
Photo by Liz Murray
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inter is the per fect time for gathering around the hear th with shareable feasts , and nothing says the holidays like a board over f lowing with provisions. This season , have f un ser ving this mix bet ween a cheese and charcuterie board and mezze platter. Rhode Island is a treasure trove of mouthwatering morsels , and shopping local means boosting small businesses and going sustainable, as the food doesn’t need to travel f ar to get to you. The enjoyment of assembling a mezze board is that there are no r ules , but here are tried-and-tr ue tips to inspire creativit y and deliciousness in assembling your own snacking masterpiece. 1. Find a suitable food-safe board to use as your base – wooden cutting boards, marble boards, or platters all work great.
O n t h e B o a rd Source ingredients at locally owned markets near you. This board was created with items from Hope & Main’s Downtown Makers Marketplace in Providence and Dave’s Fresh Marketplace. Visit product websites for more locations and online buying options. V EG A N I PA C H E D DA R Barrett’s Garden, Pawtucket BarrettsGardenFoods.com
J O H N N YC A K E C RA NB E R RY B I SCOT T I Bellicchi’s Best Biscotti, Warren BellicchisBest.com
2. Start by adding the cheeses and meats, along with sweet and savor y dips or spreads in small vessels; then fan out the dr y goods, like crackers, pretzels, and cookies (I like to use biscotti).
PUMPKIN SEED C U M I N C RAC K E R S (G LUTEN F R E E )
3. Fill up larger spaces with clusters of fruits like a bunch of grapes or handful of cranberries, and place smaller foods like nuts and olives in containers and add them to the board.
R OA ST E D G A R L I C O NIO N JA M
4. Once all of the big-ticket items are placed, fill empty spaces with chopped vegetables, dried fruits, and pickled ingredients.
Del Duca, Mapleville DelDucaFood.com
5. The final step is to garnish with fresh herbs like rosemar y or thyme, and enjoy !
Betta Bakes, Warren BettaBakes.com
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HA RD SA LA M I
BAG NETTO PA R S L E Y CO N D I M E N T Great Aunt Louise’s, Warren GreatAuntLouises.com
DIV INE P R OVI D E N C E C H E E SE Narragansett Creamery, Providence RICheeses.com
ROA STE D M I XE D N U TS Virginia & Spanish Peanut Company, Providence VSPNut.com
PITA C HI P S Z Pita Chipz ZPitaChipz.com
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FOOD & DRINK
Feast the Night Away From fa m i l y- f r i endly fireworks to fan cy b l a c k- t ie affairs, eight id ea s to ri ng i n 2 024 By Patty J
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Whether you want to raise a champagne glass dressed in sequins or clink canned beverages surrounded by food trucks in your fave blue jeans, the Ocean State has its fair share of ways to break bread while celebrating the new year. Map out where you’ll be getting in one last feast of 2023 at dinner time or clinking glasses when the clock strikes 12 with these NYE ideas. Pro-tip: Don’t drop the ball! Make reservations ASAP to secure your spot.
Book a dinner reservation at the casino and dance the night away donning a complimentary tiara or party hat at this black tie party. Visit the dining stations, included with a ticket, and sip cocktails and champagne to the sounds of the Felix Brown Band. It’s only 2023 once! Lincoln, Eventbrite: 2024 New Years Eve at Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort
Caffe Itri Say “ciao” to 2023 with a night in Cranston’s Little Italy, namely a visit to the cheer y Caffe Itri, where you’ll want to start with the calamari and a glass of wine, move on to their lobster ravioli or ling uine and clams, and wrap up the year with some of their luscious, house-made spumoni – a festive, multi-colored gelato. Cranston, CaffeItri.com
Clarke Co oke H ous e Make a reser vation for bistro seating (the Candy Store area is also open year round) and dip into an incredibly fresh and tasty seafood or steak dinner at this historic bustling spot on Bannister’s Wharf. Don’t forget to order their famous Snowball in Hell, chocolate roulade in
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Cheers from Gracie’s a wine glass that’s worthy of being this year’s dessert finale. Newport, ClarkeCooke.com
Elizab eth ’s o f P o r to fi n o This cozy Italian eatery, open until 10pm December 31, has a devoted following, and for good reason – from the food to the atmosphere and service, everything at Elizabeth’s is perfezione! Spend New Year’s Eve tucking into amazing pastas, parms, and seafood along with a glass or two of vino. Warwick, PortofinosWarwick.com
G rac ie’s This December 31 is the 25th anniversary of this award-winning , beloved restaurant first opening their doors in the city. Go for the outstanding cocktails (with zero-proof options, too) and multiple-course feast; stay for the lovely ambiance and warm, welcoming waitstaff and hosts. Providence, GraciesProv.com
Mat un u c k O yster B ar Sure, you’ve frequented this Ocean State classic during the summer months, but for regaling
the year over seafood, don’t miss Pass the Tower – three levels of deliciousness that include whole chilled lobster – or indulge in the Alaskan King Crab along with some sips that sparkle. Matunuck, RhodyOysters.com
O cean Ho u s e Channel your inner Cinderella or Prince Charming at this stunning five-star resort for the New Year’s Eve Ball, three separate magical dining experiences unfolding at Weekapaug Inn, COAST, and hotel-wide at Ocean House, featuring luxe multi-course meals or food stations, and bubbly for toasting. Watch Hill, OceanHouseEvents.com
Ro c ky P o i nt Par k For low-key family and foodie fun, Rocky Point Park is home to a longstanding tradition of daytime dining on the 31st, with your choice of delicious eats from local food trucks popping up throughout the afternoon to enjoy while listening to live music and gawking at fireworks kicking off at around 6pm. Warwick, VisitWarwickRI.com
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Photo courtesy of Gracie’s
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This summer at the Pequot Museum we will be offering a variety of culture-filled fun and educational programs, workshops and events for families and friends of all ages. Join us each Wednesday– Saturday in July and August for some of the best experiences that Mashantucket has to offer at the largest Native American museum in the world!
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FOOD & DRINK
Delicious by Design
L inco l n’ s styl i sh n ew b i st ro b o a st s a s o p histic ated look a n d ta nta lizin g men u By Andrea E. McHugh
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Kaleidoscopic peacock patterns backdrop a menu of Caribbean seafood fare
Photo courtesy of Nathaniel’s Bistro
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t was a clandestine meeting with ulterior motives when Nathaniel Lopez and Michelle Parenteau met at a sushi restaurant last year in Lincoln. On the down low, the two of them were talking seating banquettes and color palettes. Lopez, the face and name behind the newly opened Nathaniel’s Bistro in Lincoln – where he’s a resident – with business partner Henry Casso, had enlisted Parenteau to help create an interior aesthetic that would align seamlessly with a bistro menu anchored by steak, seafood, and New England-inspired dishes, along with a vibrant cocktail program. “We were sitting there and I started taking in the whole entire space,” recalls Parenteau. Her wheels started spinning immediately, not just in terms of hues and decor but also the shapes, structures, and flow that would set the foundation for the restaurant’s vibe: removing a wall here, extending a bar there, a key design element that would be both artful and Instagram worthy, and creating spaces that felt separate from one another yet cohesive. It was exactly what Lopez was hoping for. “We wanted to have two different vibes throughout the whole restaurant,” explains Lopez. “If you sit at the bar, I want you to enjoy yourself in a nice space where everything is fun, and then you have an area that’s a little bit more classic if you want to feel that way. Then…a more family side of the restaurant – that’s how I look at it, having multiple environments in one place.” Parenteau got to work, even before she was able to set foot in the actual restaurant. “We started working on the concept last November, when they brought me on, and it was kind of difficult because we couldn’t get in here until May, so a lot of it was designed off site,” she explains. Nonetheless, Parenteau and Lopez forged ahead. In a nod to the vibrancy of Caribbean culture and Lopez’ Dominican heritage, the two rooted the interior design with a turquoise and gold color palette executed throughout, including a custom designed mural featuring a kaleidoscopic peacock. “I went with bold turquoise on the walls near the bar area because I wanted to kind of separate each section, and then I thought we could have this really cool accent wall where people would be taking pictures and posting on Instagram.” The wall
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
ON THE MENU Come for the colorful interior, stay for a seafood menu that can’t be beat. Choose from a half dozen raw selections, including a Black Cod Ceviche de Corvina with red onion, cilantro, corn choclo (Peruvian corn), and lemon citrus, as well as Octopus Carpaccio and Tuna Tartare. Main seafood dishes include a roasted Whole Boneless Branzino featuring Mediterranean sea bass, Paella, and Whole Lobster Pasta. There’s plenty for landlubbers, too, including Grilled Colorado Lamb Chops, Braised Beef Short Ribs with truffle polenta, Roasted Cornish Hens, and a Kobe Burger with Gruyere cheese. Raise a glass with one of their many cocktails riffing on the classics, from the Smithfield Aviator to the Whiskey Sour Sensation.
WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT JOSEPH WEISBERGER HAS JOINED OUR PRACTICE! Dr. Weisberger is a seasoned audiologist and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus as well as fitting of the latest hearing instruments and assistive listening technology. He has special interests in noise-induced hearing loss, hearing conservation and psychoacoustics.
in question features a custom peacock mural with the Nathaniel’s logo, by Crestar Picture Framing in East Greenwich. “Branding is so important and I wanted people to think, ‘This feels like Nathaniel’s.’” The two also worked to create an oversized horseshoe-shaped bar, which commands a presence in the space and lends a communal sense among patrons. It simultaneously serves as a functional design element and focal point. To tie in the theme, hand-painted peacock feathers have been epoxied into the bartop – the perfect complement to the drink program’s tropical hints. In the central dining space, an extra long banquette invites guests to settle in comfortably and stay a while. “I didn’t think that we were going to be able to pull everything together because when you get an idea in mind, it’s just an idea. It takes a lot of work,” says Lopez. “ We started with a blank slate and obviously Michelle was the key to the design.” Lopez says business has been even better than expected since opening in late October. “Everything is going well,” says Lopez. “I think we’ve gotten into a rhythm and the feedback on the food and decor has been amazing.”
Nathaniel’s Bistro 600 George Washing ton Highway, Lincoln 333-0366 • NathanielsBistro.com Open daily 3-10pm
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Make All Your Holiday Entertaining, Gifting, Cooking & Baking Dreams Come True!
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ART & CULTURE P ro f i l e | L i t | O n S t a g e | C a l e n d a r
59 How a legendar y train ride got its start in Providence P h o t o c o u r t e s y o f B l a c k s t o n e Va l l ey To u r i s m C o u n c i l
ART & CULTURE
King of POP
A New Orleans rocker with the coolest gig in town By Ken Abrams
P
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The wonder-shop that is POP you needed. Hill opened the business about 10 years ago, prompted by searches for one-of-akind items that you’d have a hard time finding elsewhere. “A lot of it is stuff that I accumulated touring on the road; I would chase down antiques. I look for anything that is unusual that you wouldn’t be able to find any place else, with an emphasis on art and mid-century furniture, lighting , and a lot of pop culture items.” Lately, college students and production companies are among the store’s major customers. “The key is trying to find stuff that looks cool,
not the expensive designer stuff. I try to find stuff that’s affordable, that people can buy,” says Hill. “A huge portion of what we do is sets, props, and decorations for film and TV. We’ve done 26 movies now. POP also allows me to exercise my creative urges by having shows, art exhibits, and other events. It seamlessly flows back and forth from my management company.” POP is open most weekend afternoons. 219 West Park Street, EmporiumOf PopularCulture.com
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Photo courtesy of POP
OP Emporium’s Darren Hill has worked almost every job in the music industry, from T-shirt seller to opening for U2. The East Greenwich resident and owner of the eclectic storefront in Providence’s Warehouse District has lived a life in music, first as a founding member of the New Orleans punk band Red Rockers, and later as a manager of acts including Dropkick Murphys and The Replacements. Most weekends, you can find him at POP Emporium, a business that sells everything from baseball cards to mid-century furniture, making it one of the funkiest stores in the region. How did the Louisiana native and former bass-playing rebel end up dealing antiques in Providence? Hill shared his story in a recent call from New Orleans where the band was rehearsing for their first show in 40 years. “The last time we played together was 1983. We started in a garage; we were best friends and always have been,” says Hill of the band that once scored an MTV hit with “China,” the lead single from the critically acclaimed album Condition Red. Following Red Rockers’ break up, Hill moved to Boston in 1984. He connected with RI music legends Mark Cutler and Emerson Torrey, formerly of The Schemers, and together they formed The Raindogs, along with Jim Reilly of Stiff Little Fingers. Later, Hill played with Paul Westerberg of The Replacements and other bands into the 1990s before family obligations took over. At that point, he began his career as a manager, a role he had informally ser ved in previous bands. “ The first band I signed was The Dropkick Murphys and then The Royal Crowns, Combustible Edison; my roster was mainly local,” says Hill. He currently manages The Replacements, The New York Dolls, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, among others. Now, as the owner of POP, Hill jokes, “It was supposed to be my retirement gig ; it sort of snowballed quicker than I thought.” With an extensive inventory, POP is a space where you’ll fall in love with things you didn’t know
ART & CULTURE
Golden Ticket
Revis i t i n g t h e t ra c k s o f a belove d C h r i st m a s sto r y a n d the P rovid e nce w r i te r an d i l l ust rato r b e hind t h e e n g i n e By Ruthie Wood
Images courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers
“
T
his is the Polar Express!” Tom Hanks’ voice rings out as his character, the conductor in the 2004 animated film, gestures at the magnificent steam engine. The Polar Express picture book published in 1985, along with the film and, more recently, the real-life train excursion here in Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley, has become a bonafide holiday classic. But if you had told its creator, Chris Van Allsburg, that a story he wrote would become a beacon of the Christmas season for close to 40 years, he never would have believed it. Van Allsburg was a sculpture artist, creating “narrative pictures” for himself on the side after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design. When his wife, Lisa Van Allsburg , an elementary school teacher, saw his work, she insisted he show his drawings to children’s book publishers. After a battle of wills against his wife and crippling self-doubt – he didn’t believe his illustrations were in the correct “aesthetic” for kids’ books – Van Allsburg eventually connected with a publisher and created his first book: The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The longtime East Side resident has since become a household name, with titles like The Sweetest Fig, Jumanji, and of course, The Polar Express being his most famous. Van Allsburg is known for hiding “Easter eggs” – details of his own life – in his illustrations (most famous is his dog, Fritz), and The Polar Express is no exception. Of course Fritz is hidden in there, but the illustrations of the North Pole were “influenced by all the old mill buildings around Providence and Fall River,” he shares. The elves at the North Pole, Van Allsburg reckoned, couldn’t produce toys on a world-wide scale in a little chalet, and the old mill buildings were both functional and “romantic,” perfect qualities to give his story a
Van Allsburg sense of truth and magic. The Christmas book holds a special magic for Van Allsburg : “It is, to a degree, autobiographical,” he shares. The story was a “reflection of how it felt to get to a certain age and start to have doubts about the mytholog y of Christmas and Santa Claus. There’s kind of a peer pressure to reject it because it makes you feel older and makes you feel wiser, but at the same time, it feels like you’re really losing something.” Encapsulating this experience in a picture book was a way to recapture the magic when social pressures make children feel the need to grow up. “I was […] thrown out of the land of make-believe, and hearing the gates close behind me and wondering if there was a way to get back in,” Van Allsburg reminisces. “The way for me to get back in was just through my imagination, writing the books I’ve written, and in particular The Polar Express – basically inviting children to ride on the train with me.” This invitation has been accepted countless times over the years. In Rhode Island, the Blackstone Valley offers a special excursion to the North Pole on their very own Polar Express – complete with live readings, performances, hot cocoa, and the first gift of Christmas, pajamas
Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
encouraged, but similar rail tours occur all over the US and the world. “As the child ages, they don’t really remember all the ways it didn’t really seem like a ride to the North Pole,” Van Allsburg insists, “but they still remember as they get older and older […] this idea that it wasn’t just a dream, but they really did go to the North Pole on a train.” Like the theme of his book, it’s not about magic, per se, it’s about belief. Parents read The Polar Express to their children to recreate their childhood holiday magic and continue traditions; at October’s RI Festival of Children’s Books and Authors, one parent, Erin Ergene, picked up two copies to read to his young son and nephew at Thanksgiving , and little Jimmy Rolando, four years old, decided to go as The Polar Express train conductor this past Halloween. It is this way that Van Allsburg’s legacy should be measured – not in terms of train tickets sold or film views (though they would be extensive) – but in the belief of pure imagination, wonder, and the magic of Christmas. Please consider shopping for books this season at your local independent bookseller.
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ART & CULTURE
Getting Wild in Wakefield
Holiday Shows Near You
S t a g e s f r o m We s t e r l y t o Wo o n s o c k e t o f f e r f e s t i ve productions all month long By Karen Greco
A Cristmas Carol at Trinity Rep
I
t’s the ho -ho -holidays, and no state celebrates as big as Little Rhody. For live theater lovers, December features an embarrassment of riches on the stag e. Use this handy holiday show round up when you’re ready for a fun and festive break from shopping ( local, of course !).
A Christmas Carol For over 45 years, Trinity Rep has brought Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story to the stage. This year’s production, adapted and directed by Trinity Rep company member Stephen Thorne, returns to Victorian England, where the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is met by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, who force him to confront his past and present to reimagine his future. This timeless tale of joy and redemption promises to give even the biggest curmudgeon the holiday feels. Through December 31, Providence, TrinityRep.com
Photo (L) courtesy of Contemporary Theatre Company, (R) courtesy of Trinity Rep
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical Need a plate full of razzle dazzle with a side of jazz hands to go from bah-humbug to holly jolly? Head to Providence Performing Arts Center and catch the Broadway National Tour of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical, where the adored children’s book and its whimsical illustrations become a candy cane-infused spectacle on the stage. When holidays in Whoville are threatened by the scheming Grinch, sweet Cindy Lou Who melts the heart of this cynical green grump and saves the holiday for the Christmas-loving town. Through December 3, Providence, PPACRI.com
Divas of Drag: Deck the Halls Think your holiday’s a drag ? Superstar Queens Haley Star and LaDiva Jonz deck the halls with their cheeky comedy at this special holiday-themed, adults-only show at the Stadium Theatre. Being on the naughty list has never been so nice! December 6, 7, & 14, Woonsocket, StadiumTheatre.com
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play This staged 1940s live radio broadcast of Frank Capra’s holiday movie classic It’s A Wonderful Life at The Gamm Theatre has become a treasured holiday staple. It’s Christmas Eve in Bedford Falls and savings and loan owner George Bailey has hit his breaking point. Intercepted by guardian angel Clarence, George learns the true meaning of love
and friendship. By the end of this life-affirming tale, your heart will grow 10 sizes. December 9-24, Warwick, GammTheatre.org
Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge
The Newport Playhouse features Tom Dudzick’s off-Broadway hit family dramedy for the holidays. Since 1942, the Nowak family has propagated the neighborhood myth of their grandfather’s visit from the Virgin Mary with a 20-foot shrine, complete with a collection box, outside of their home. The family’s faith and identity are threatened when one daughter wants to go public with the true story, shared in a deathbed confession. Through December 31, Newport, NewportPlayhouse.com
The holiday show for people who hate holiday shows, courtesy of playwright Christopher Durang , master of the comically absurd, and South County’s endlessly adventurous Contemporar y Theater Company. Borrowing the beloved characters from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, including Scrooge and Tiny Tim, this holiday send up features a hard-drinking , stressed out Mrs. Cratchit (relatable) and a ghost whose magical malfunctions transport Scrooge into It’s a Wonderful Life and Oliver Twist. This irreverent romp recognizes the holiday season rarely resembles a Hallmark movie. Through December 23, Wakefield, ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com
Miracle on 34th Street
The Nutcracker
It’s dueling Kris Kringles! Rhode Islanders have two chances to catch the classic 1947 film adapted for the stage, at the Granite Theatre and the Arctic Playhouse. When Kris Kringle gets a gig as a Macy’s Santa in Herald Square, his generosity imbues even the most jaded New Yorkers with goodwill. But when he reveals that he is the real Santa, he ends up in court, where he must convince a disbelieving public in the magic and spirit of Christmas. Through December 17, Westerly, GraniteTheatre.org ; West Warwick, TheArcticPlayhouse.com
Big Nazo Lab lends its whimsical talents to crafting the star player in Ballet RI’s fresh adaptation of the holiday classic, choreographed by Yury Yanowsky and set to Tchaikovsky’s classic music. After helping the Nutcracker defeat the Mouse King , Clara joins him on a journey to the Land of Snow, where they encounter the Sugar Plum Fairy who treats them to some sweet celebratory dances. This enchanting production is filled with magical stagecraft, including a tree that grows 38 feet. December 15-24, Providence, TheVetsRI.com
Miracle on South Division Street
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ART & CULTURE
Moulin Rouge! The Musical comes to Providence
10 essential events this month
December 19-31: Enter a world of splendor and romance, eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur, and glor y when 10-time Tony Award-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical comes to Providence. PPACRI.org
December 3: The Newport Strings Quartet, which mentors student musicians, brings standard chamber music canon along with new and forgotten composers to the Meeting House for an afternoon performance. Tiverton, FourCornersArts.org
December 9-24: Join the War wick Center for
ous cup of cocoa beside the crackling fire pit at The Chanler Hot Chocolate Bar, or bring your mug outside for a leisurely winter stroll along Cliff Walk; adult bevvies available. Newport, TheChanler.com
December 2-3: Over 40 artists and artisans from the artist enclave at The Mill at Shady Lea will be exhibiting their wares at the semi-annual Open Studios at the historic site. North Kingston, TheMillAtShadyLea.com
December 6-10: Swamp Meadow Community Theatre’s Get Merry! is an original play written by Liz Goulet Dubois and Bob Hollis featuring The Royal Fool Caps returning for a revival of the show first produced in 2010. Harrisville, SwampMeadow.org
December 14: Bring a flashlight and blanket for Norman Bird Sanctuar y’s Owl Prowl, a dusk hike spotting native owls setting up their nesting territories, followed by a bonfire with hot chocolate. Middletown, NormanBirdSanctuary.org
Through December 30: Indulge in a luxuri-
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the Arts and shop local artists at the Small Group Show, an exhibit of winter-themed works in the lobby of the Gamm Theatre during the production of It’s a Wonderful Life: a Live R adio Play. WarwickCFA.org
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Photos courtesy of PPAC
The Must List
ide statew For a f events o listing online! s u it is v m ody.co h R y He
The shows you love, made possible by you!
End the year with a donation today. ripbs.org
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from all of us at December 15: Bundle up and embark on a birding and harbor seal adventure with the Audubon Society of RI for Winter Wildlife on Prudence Island, an all-day excursion spying species in protected coves, marshes, and pine barrens. Bristol, ASRI.org
December 22: Cheer on the Br yant University Bulldogs men’s basketball team as they face the Drexel Dragons in a pre-holiday matchup at 11am on the Smithfield campus. Smithfield, BryantBulldogs.com
December 31: Ring in the new year at the Conjuring House’s Overnight Paranormal Investigation with drag queen and paranormal investigator Monique Toosoon and author and clair voyant Sam Baltrusis. Burrillville, Eventbrite: New Years Eve At The Conjuring House Hey Rhody SHOP LOCAL DECEMBER 2023 | HeyRhody.com
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HITTING SHELVES February 2024
Weddings
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A Special Edition that highlights how Rhode Islanders can support their local wedding industry while planning their big day with topics like: • Which Venue is Right for You • Tips on Seasonal Flowers • Expert Planning Advice • From Pinboard to Reality
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