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Contents
Photography: Jonathan Beller, Art: Andrew Moon Bain
January 2012
19 This Month 19 Ten People to Watch Meet this year’s batch of movers who are shaking up our city
63 31 City Style Shake what your mama gave you 33 The Look 35 Get Fit 36 Shop Talk 37 Beauty
39 Feast Where you’re always treated like family 41 On the Menu 42 In the Kitchen 45 Behind the Bar
Every Month
46 In the Drink 49 Review 51 Dining Guide
6 Editor’s Note
Be fashionable and look fabulous this New Year
8 Feedback
60 Calendar 63 Art 66 Theatre 65 Music
11 Providence Pulse
68 The Last Detail
Rent some wheels and zip around town
One final curtain call
59 Get Out
12 City 14 Malcontent 17 Scene in PVD
On the Cover: Photography by James Jones. Chalk mural by the PM Art Department
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
5
Editor’s Note
PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre Executive Editor Julie Tremaine Editorial Assistant Erin Swanson Special Projects Manager John Taraborelli Art Director Alli Coate Assistant Art Director Karli Hendrickson
Ready for the Challenge
Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas Graphic Designers Meghan H. Follett
This time of year, everyone is talking about New Year’s resolutions: identifying what they want to change, and making plans for how to do it. People don’t have a lot of luck with those. Which is why at this time of year, Providence Monthly is talking about how to make improvements to the city, and we’re identifying 10 to Watch who can actually make it happen – from the woman who’s working tirelessly behind the scenes to make Downcity a more vibrant place to a man whose mission is to provide life-changing microloans to underserved members of the city population.
Contributor Dawn Keable Writer A freelance writer and monthly contributor to Providence Monthly and our sister publications SO Rhode Island and The Bay, Dawn Keable didn’t waste any time diving into her chosen literary field. As a teenager, she spent two years as a student consultant to Seventeen magazine. Of her own impulse to write, Dawn says, “I love the creativity and being able to constantly learn about new things.” Dawn lives in Providence with her husband, Andre. “I love Providence for so many reasons,” she says, “but my top three are its commitment to historical preservation, outstanding eats and the vibe where anything’s possible. Where else can you dance with the cast of Stomp at a club, run into ex-Patriot Jarvis Green on the Hill or have film director Michael Corrente ask if you can hear the sound downtown at Movies on the Block?” writeonpvd.com
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
We can’t exactly be sure what they’re going to be doing in the upcoming year, but we have a good feeling that you’re going to be hearing their names a lot in the coming months.
Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich Ann Gallagher Nicole Greenspun Elizabeth Riel Dan Schwartz Sharon Sylvester Kimberly Tingle Jessica Webb Illustrators Karli Hendrickson Ashley MacLure Photographers Jonathan Beller Laurel Mulherin Mike Braca Dan Schwartz Stacey Doyle Tim Siekiera Corey Grayhorse Melissa Stimpson James Jones Dawn Temple Kate Kelley Contributing Writers Linda Beaulieu Stephanie Obodda Michael Clark Cristy Raposo Erin DeVito Adrian Shirk Emily Dietsch Jen Senecal Dawn Keable Alyssa Smith Molly Lederer Erin Swanson Andrea E. McHugh Vikki Warner Autumne Montague Interns Sara Celano Lauren Criscione Samantha Gaus Carissa Johnson Eilish Shaffer Members of:
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On behalf of the Linden Place Board of Directors, thank you for Providence Media’s sponsorship of the very successful A Taste of Bristol & Beyond fundraiser on Sunday, October 23, 2011. This event brought over 40 restaurants, wineries and breweries throughout the East Bay of Rhode Island to Linden Place for a fantastic afternoon of live music, food and drink. With your help, Linden Place raised $20,000 for the restoration and preservation of the historic 1810 mansion and grounds! Providence Media’s contribution of advertising space, valued at $4,405, enables us to carry on the Friends of Linden Place mission to restore and maintain its treasured historic property, to ensure its public accessibility and to enhance the artistic, cultural and educational life of the community. Most of all, Jim and I would like to sincerely thank you for your assistance in getting the word out to the Rhode Island community about our big fundraising event and for Nicole Greenspun’s patience and assistance in putting together an amazing and highly effective advertising campaign. It is greatly appreciated! Thank you again for your support of and your commitment to Linden Place and we hope to be fortunate enough to partner with Providence Media again in the future! Susan Battle
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
Thank you for “coming to the rescue” of homeless animals! Providence Animal Rescue League’s signature event, The
Rescue, was a great success. Our community came together for one evening to “eat drink and bid their tails off,” proving how important animals are in our lives. The success of The Rescue would not have been possible without your support. Thank you so much for your kind sponsorship, valued at $5,000. We could not provide our crucial care and services without you. Your commitment to compassionate care for animals in need is so greatly appreciated. PARL relies solely on the generosity of individuals, local businesses and fundraisers like this to help us care for over 2,500 unwanted animals each year. Every animal has a story, and each one deserves a loving, permanent home. During their stay at PARL, all animals are spayed or neutered and receive health and temperament evaluations, vaccinations, food and veterinary care. Your support ensures that PARL can continue to find caring homes for Rhode Island’s homeless pets for generations to come. Many thanks on behalf of the animals. the holidays. We hope you can attend! Connie Bolduc Events Manager, PARL
A Blackstone Valley Success Thank you for the wonderful review you did on The Dorrance [“Opening the Vault,” December 2011], where my daughter is the hostess. I also enjoyed working with Kimberly Tingle to publicize our event, The Blackstone Valley Polar Express. Donna Houle Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
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Providence Monthly’s
10
to watch for 2012
PArt y Monday, January 23
he t t e Me h c t a w 10 to
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Tickets $10 before January 15 $20 after and at the door Cash bar Purchase at Providenceonline.com All proceeds benefit the Providence Community Library
Providence Pulse CITY / MALCONTENT / SCENE IN PVD
Photography: Jonathan Beller
Sharing is Caring The future is sharing. First, file sharing revolutionized (or, some would argue, doomed) the music industry. Land sharing came into vogue with the increasing popularity of community gardens in urban neighborhoods. Now, shared transportation is poised to change the way we move in and around the city. Recently, after a few years of flirting
with us, Zipcar, the innovative Cambridgebased car sharing service, finally made its move to Providence. The membership service allows folks in need of wheels to pick up a vehicle at any Zipcar location, use it for a few hours or a few days, and then drop it back off at any other location. The whole concept is convenient, inexpensive and eco-friendly. There are no continued on next page...
Pulse |
City
continued from previous page... storefronts, just parking spots where the cars wait to be driven, and the models are all small, fuel efficient and city friendly. They even have quirky names, like “Fajita,” the Ford Focus who lives on South Main Street, or “Britni,” the Scion xB over on the West Side’s Grove Street. The service provides city dwellers who only need a car some of the time with easy access to a ride without the burdens of ownership. Providence is Zipcar’s 15th market. Similarly, bike sharing is another membership service that’s changing the way many cities move. Although Providence doesn’t yet have one, the City issued a draft Bike Share Feasibility Study last year that concluded “Providence is poised for a successful bike share system.” Look for more shared transportation than ever parked outside a Whole Foods or Fair Trade coffee shop near you. zipcar.com/providence. –John Taraborelli
RESOLVE
Try on a New Hobby… or a Samurai Suit Every year on the first day of January, we begin resolutions that we likely will not stick to. This year can be different with the help of an organized event that will inspire you to do something creative every day during the entire first month. The Second Annual Fun-A-Day Providence is a program that encourages the community to get creative. The idea is this: in the month of January you will do something – anything – every day. whether it’s writing, painting or taking an inspiring walk. At Last year’s Fun-A-Day exhibit the end of the month, there will be a gallery show to share what everyone has been up to. Last year over 30 participants where you can meet with other participants showcased their work to over 300 attendees and work on ideas. Just remember, it’s all about including ideas like Samurai-A-Day, Song-Afun and with a little inspiration and enthusiasm Day and Thread-A-Day. There’s a launch party you might be amazed at what you can create. on January 4 at Sherri’s Café (101 Dyer St.) funadayprov.org –Samantha Gaus
ACCESSORIZE
From College Hill to the Hollywood Hills Local designer Margo Petitti began her now booming collection of scarves and pocket squares on a sewing table in Providence, where she pieced together fabric swatches into patchwork. Today, her pieces are worn by some of Hollywood’s finest, including actors from Breaking Bad and The Good Wife. Her scarves also made a big splash amongst celebrities visiting the VIP lounges at this year’s Emmy Awards. Petitti chooses classic styles – glen plaid, herringbone, houndstooth and birdseye weaves – and fashions them into high-quality unisex accessories sewn from luxurious fabrics produced in the finest Italian mills. Her apparel is fashioned in nearby Fall River, where talented local artists spin cashmere, silks and woolens into collection pieces that will last a lifetime – a very fashionable lifetime. margopettiti.com. –Erin Swanson
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
MOTORING
What’s the Price to Ride? Are you a gearhead? Are you a gearhead who likes to watch small people wrestle? Well, you, my friend, should head over to the 16th Annual Northeast Motorcycle Expo being held on January 7 and 8 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The two-day event includes all things motorcycles, including vendors, merchandise and what seems to be an array of fascinating entertainment options. You’ve got The Half Pint Brawlers, a troupe of self- proclaimed midget wrestlers
of Spike TV and Jackass fame. You’ve got the Finnegan’s 10-in-1 Circus Sideshow, a group of performers who eat light bulbs, swallow swords, and nap on nails. You’ve got Jody Perewitz, the “fastest woman on wheels,” known as the only woman in the world to exceed 200 MPH on an American V-Twin. Hell, it sounds like something even non-gearheads might want to check out. Tickets are $7 for children and $15 for adults. 978-688-8888, kevmarv.com. –Michael Clark
Pulse |
City
PM ExPERIMENT
Nice Pipes
Learning to sing from the biggest mouth in town Miss Wensday has a big mouth – which, if you’re a professional singer, is a good thing. She uses it all over town, performing at recurring events like Chifferobe and Chanteuse, as well as regular gigs with Miss Wensday and the Cotillions (her vintage band) and the recently-disbanded Miss Wensday and the New Medicinals (which performed her [really good, really catchy] original songs). Simply put: if you haven’t heard of her, you haven’t been listening hard enough. And you should be - because the girl can sing. I used to sing. Quite a lot, actually. I basically lived Glee in high school, and after graduation my desire to be on stage morphed into an insatiable need to perform karaoke, at one point to the tune of two or three times a week. But for reasons we won’t discuss here, largely pertaining to a decided lack of gay bars in my life for the last several years, I haven’t been doing a lot of singing recently. At least, I haven’t been doing a lot of singing outside the communing with my inner karaoke star that I do in my car every day. Not long ago, feeling the itch to have a microphone in my hand again, I landed at the Hot Club for their Monday night karaoke. I started out with what I thought was an easy one: “Walk Like an Egyptian” by the Bangles, a song that I have performed to acclaim many times in the past. But it was – and I might be a little tough on myself here – a pile of crap. I was nervous, my voice was thin-sounding, and, to borrow a phrase from Randy Jackson, it was a little pitchy, dawg. So I decided to
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change things, and I went to Miss Wensday for help. It turns out that during the day, the larger-than-life performer is just Wensday, and she gives singing lessons. Now, there are plenty of choices when it comes to voice teachers – but a lot of them, I know from experience, focus on classical training and learning arias. I didn’t want that. I just wanted to get my voice back in shape and to sing without my hands on the wheel. My lessons with her have focused on pop songs, and on the proper singing technique, which involves your entire body. (“It’s a sport, really,” she says. “You’re just standing still while you do it.”) The
real benefit of having someone like Wensday as a voice teacher, though, is all of the tiny tips she has to share that she’s learned from years spent in front of audiences. We’ve also covered things like how to stretch out your tongue (it really helps), how to isolate your diaphragm and how your facial expression changes the tone of your voice. But more than anything, singing with Wensday is really fun. At my last lesson, we spent half of it dancing around her living room, with me in the role of the jilted lover in “F--- You” and Wensday as my backup singer. Karaoke bars, watch out: I’m back. misswensday.com –Julie Tremaine
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Pulse |
The Malcontent
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press, I’ve just finished reading Michael Lewis’ The Big Short, a gripping inside account of the 2008 Wall Street collapse as it pertained to the subprime mortgage market. Lewis (author of Moneyball and The Blind Side) looks at the endemic corruption and corrosion of Wall Street through the stories of the few shrewd investors and money managers who saw the housing collapse coming from miles away. One in particular was Mike Burry, an odd, reclusive, Asperger’s-afflicted stock picker who set up his own hedge fund in California and won big betting against the subprime market. There is an especially salient passage in the last few pages of the book that nicely encapsulates what went wrong at the systemic level: “The people in a position to resolve the financial crisis were, of course, the very same people who had failed to foresee it: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, future Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein… They had proven far less capable of grasping basic truths in the heart of the U.S. financial system than a one-eyed money manager with Asperger’s syndrome.” When Wall Street collapsed in 2008, the reckless and immoral speculation of big time bond traders generated massive losses for the major investment banks and financial firms. All of them were at risk. Then the government stepped in to bail them out, essentially transferring risk from the institutions that created it to the American taxpayer, who lacked even the most basic understanding of what was happening beyond the vague fear of another Great Depression. Both Bush and Obama signed off on financial policies that absolved Wall Street of all responsibility for its colossal mistakes – and no differences between
their stances on the Iraq War or gay marriage affected their willingness to hand a blank check to the very same people who put us in this mess. Most recently, in late November, we learned of a secret $7 trillion (yes, with a ‘t’) loan program the government extended to big banks after the $700 billion TARP bailout. It is, as Lewis succinctly puts it, “free money for capitalists, free markets for everyone else.” The economic system on Wall Street scarcely even deserves to be called capitalism anymore – it’s more like a social welfare state for compulsive high stakes gamblers and the sycophantic bean counters who (just barely) babysit them. Yet somehow this culture of greed often finds its most ardent defenders among the real capitalists, the hundreds of thousands of small and independent business owners who make our economy stronger. If you actually create jobs and provide at fair market price a good or service that has some social utility, you’ll be taxed and regulated half to death. Yet if you spend all day in front of a Bloomberg terminal playing Monopoly with other people’s money, the government will trip over itself to make your job easier and your bank account bigger. Though I may not agree with everything it espouses, I don’t understand why the Occupy movement doesn’t find more sympathy among regular taxpayers and business owners. It’s exactly this welfare system for Wall Street that inspired their protests. How can people be so incensed by a bit of rabble rousing, yet seemingly reserve little if any rage for the idiots and criminals who drove our economy off a cliff then walked away unscathed and richer for their troubles? Those protesters have as much right as anyone to be on Wall Street. They’re the American taxpayers, and they bought that damn street.
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Pulse |
Scene in PVD
The whole city celebrated at Hey Providence, It’s Your Birthday! The culminating event of the Providence 375 celebration happened in November at PPAC, and featured music by Deer Tick, a birthday cake contest won by Sin Desserts, fireworks, performances by Big Nazo and the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, and appearances by all the living mayors of Providence.
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to watch for 2012
Once again we begin the new year with a look at 10 new faces. Some are young up-and-comers just beginning to hit their stride, Meet the innovators, entrepreneurs others are established talents building on previous successes – but and making a we more vibrant city they all activists have one thing in common: think they’re people you’re going to be hearing a lot about in 2012 and beyond.
By John Taraborelli • Photography by Jonathan Beller
10 to watch Development/Health Care
Wendy Lawton
Research Development Director, Lifespan “Knowledge Economy” is a
buzzword among those interested in economic development, particularly in Providence, where there is an ongoing attempt to rebrand the historic Jewelry District as the new and vibrant Knowledge District. While this nebulous vision of creative, highly educated minds working in high-tech industries and innovative startups is both intriguing and promising, how does that vision translate into reality? For Wendy Lawton, it translates into the state’s largest health care system and biggest private employer creating a privately funded endowment for the sole purpose of supporting cutting edge research – research that could re-
We have big, global challenges that we need to fix, and we have enormously rich resources in this state to tackle these problems.
30-Second Bio: • Is a native of Camillus, New York, a western suburb of Syracause.
• Has a nine-year-old daughter, “the incomparable Lucy.” • Received a BA in communications from UMass Amherst, and a Master’s in journalism from NYU. • Twitter Handle: @wendylawton1
• Began her career as a medicine and health reporter for The Oregonian; worked at Brown University doing media relations for the life sciences department, then corporate and foundation relations (fundraising) for science and technology. • Serves on the board of the Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art.
sult in new treatments, new drugs, new diagnostics, and more effective, efficient health care services. As Lifespan’s first ever Research Development Director, Lawton is charged with putting together a $6 million endowment through philanthropy, the first time medical research will have that kind of dedicated funding stream independent of a company’s operating budget. The former newspaper reporter brings a journalist’s insatiable intellectual curiosity into
the science world, enlivening with passion what is normally rather clinical work. It will serve her well, as a big part of her job will be getting potential donors excited about the possibilities. “The very broad aim is to give researchers more opportunities to innovate and try something new,” she says. “Research is increasingly becoming collaborative. If we need to put some skin in the game, this gives us the skin.” When work with partners like Care New England, Brown, URI and various state agencies bears fruit, Lifespan will have the dollars to seed new ideas in the proof of concept phase, provide bridge funding for ongoing research that is between grants, and buy equipment necessary to make it all happen. Lifespan already has almost 1,000 people employed in research, and plans to expand its footprint the in Knowledge District and the former I-195 land. With this new weight to throw behind such research efforts, the company can position itself at the forefront of the city’s Knowledge Economy. What does that mean for the rest of us? Lawton is succinct: “Better health care and more jobs.”
10 to watch Communications/Business
Alec Beckett Creative Partner, Nail
Alec Beckett and his
company, Nail, are sort of the business version of an American cult band that’s more popular in the UK than at home. The award-winning advertising firm attracts national clients and is well known outside our borders, but very few Rhode Islanders have even heard of it. That doesn’t really worry Beckett. He sees Nail as a company that can help return Providence to its ‘80s and ‘90s heyday when it was actually a nationally prominent hotbed of the advertising industry. “We’re hoping the stage has been set for that to happen with us,” he says. “We’re making some noise. We’re hoping some of those national brands can start rediscovering Providence and getting it back on the map.” Indeed, the firm, which has quintupled in size in a little over a decade, is attracting national clients like Goretex outerwear, Vibram Fivefingers sports shoes and Mike and Ike’s candy. What really excites Beckett, however, is some of the work Nail has done closer to home. Last year, for instance, his company partnered with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to launch
30-Second Bio: • Majored in Russian and Soviet Studies at Harvard.
• Is married with “two ridiculously awesome kids.”
• Reason he went into advertising: “I went to a fancy private high school that made you wear a tie. One of the things that came out of that was a desire never to wear a tie again. Advertising seemed like a tie-free business.”
• Twitter Handle: @NailProvidence • Last year Nail won what Beckett refers to as the “holy trinity” of advertising awards: Jay Chiat Award for Strategy, Effie Award for effectiveness, One Show Award for creativity.
the Nothing campaign, in which supermarkets and other retailers sold cans of Nothing© (they actually trademarked “Nothing”) to benefit the Food Bank. This year, they will take the campaign national by expanding into Vermont and Ohio, with “nibbles” from other states. Nail also ran the Providence Journal’s “We Work for the Truth” campaign to rebrand and reestablish itself. While Beckett recognizes that advertising isn’t always the most altruistic work, he sees these as examples of how it can actually do some good, and he believes his work can help expand our city’s notion of itself as the “Creative Capital” beyond the fine arts. For him, the “Creative Capital” is a place for creative businesses too – businesses like his that he believes can attract more young entrepreneurs. “Everybody likes to talk about taxes and business climate,” he notes. “I’d much rather create an ecosystem where young, high octane, creative people want to be. If they’re here, you’re not going to be able to stop them from doing the things that they do naturally – just stay out of the way.”
Creativity is the magic dust for any kind of company. Whether you’re a tech startup or a manufacturer, if you’re not bringing original ideas to market, you’re not long for the world.
10 to watch Finance
Andy Posner
Co-Founder and Director, Capital Good Fund
“A lot of the economic de-
velopment policy in this state is always hoping for that homerun,” says micro-financier Andy Posner. “I’m looking for thousands of singles.” That’s precisely the foundation on which micro-finance is built. In short, micro-finance is the provision of financial services – particularly loans and credit – to poor or low-income clients. The idea is that tiny amounts of money (at least compared to American standards) can change lives in profound ways: loaning a few hundred dollars to help a farmer in the third world purchase livestock or a poor immigrant in America buy a computer can be the first step in breaking the cycle of poverty. Posner set out to work at what he calls “the intersection of poverty and environment.” While
This is such a great place for social entrepreneurship, because let’s face it, this is a place with a lot of social problems.
working on his thesis at Brown, he began exploring the ways that small loans can get people out of poverty – and he saw them in his own backyard. “Providence is a majority minority city with a lot of poverty, but I see a lot of immigrants that have tremendous entrepreneurial capacity,” says the son of a Ukrainian
30-Second Bio: • Is a native of Los Angeles. • Twitter Handle: @cgfund • Once spent three weeks in the slums of Cairo, Egypt building water heaters out of garbage. • Is on the Board of Directors of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (“The voice of microenterprise in the U.S.”), based in D.C.
• Appeared on CNN’s American Morning to talk about his work on December 20. • Has a BA in Spanish Language and Culture from Cal. State, Northridge and Master of Arts in Environmental Studies from Brown. • Rode his bike from Virginia to San Francisco in 2005.
immigrant. “While they wouldn’t start the next Google, they could start hundreds of small, community based businesses.” To that end, Posner launched his Capital Good Fund in 2009, offering financial coaching, tax preparation and small loans to clients in need. The fund has developed partnerships with other local nonprofits working in similar communities. The International Institute, for instance, refers clients in need of several hundred dollars to obtain citizenship. This kind of work is micro-finance at its best, helping to create new citizens and new entrepreneurs from the ranks of underserved communities. Posner is optimistic about the future of the Capital Good Fund. In its short life, the fund has helped 50 people improve their credit scores and made 112 loans. He hopes that in 2012 it will provide financial coaching to 400 people, resulting in 225 loans. Furthermore, he sees potential beyond our borders for his innovative and rigorously researched business plan, proving its profitability and self-sustainability. “I firmly believe our model can go nationwide,” he declares.
10 to watch Community Development
Henrietta White Holder Founder, Higher Ground International and Broken Pieces International
Though it amounts to less than one percent of the population, Providence is home to one of the largest Liberian immigrant communities in the country. Henrietta White Holder is among that population, having come to America in 1980 to escape a country about to be ravaged by two civil wars. “I just saw the unraveling of a place,” she recalls. “I almost felt helpless, like what can I do to make a difference?” Higher Ground International, the nonprofit she founded in 2008, is her attempt to answer that nagging question. It’s a community rebuilding organization that owns over 100 acres of land in Liberia, on which it plans to build housing, a life skills center and manufacturing facilities in order to rehabilitate and reintegrate people whose lives were destroyed by the violence. “We can see a community rise from the ashes of war,” she asserts. Holder believes her nonprofit is different, and better positioned to make a real impact than the countless well-mean-
30-Second Bio: • Attended Rhode Island College for nonprofit studies and Johnson and Wales for marketing. • Works full time for Refocus, Inc., a nonprofit agency serving adults with physical and developmental disabilities. • Has three children: Harriet, Hilary, Jr. and Sheldon.
• Most of her family calls her by her African name, Tonia. • Has lived in Rhode Island the entire time since she left Liberia. • Started off working in the travel and tourism industry in the ‘80s.
ing organizations that try – and fail – to help Africa each year. “The way we’ve been doing nonprofit work is no longer sustainable,” Holder says. “We’re always waiting for government funding, always chasing the dollars. It doesn’t work any more. We have to be forwardthinking and sustainable.” To that end, Holder founded Higher Ground’s sister organization, Broken Pieces International, as a for-profit social enterprise producing apparel and accessories. It is already seeking a permanent, full-time manufacturing space right here in Providence to provide job opportunities and training to underserved communities. Those profits will fund Higher Ground’s work back in Liberia, focusing first on basic needs like installing hand pumps to provide clean water. “I strongly and firmly believe that this is the new way of doing business,” Holder says. “We have to switch up the model. Be creative. People want jobs – they don’t want you making promises.”
This is the work I need to do. That’s where I need to be: helping people, impacting lives and creating change.
10 to watch Art and Business
Joanna Levitt
Director of Commercial Leasing and Marketing, Cornish Associates and In Downcity
Though you may not
The idea is to get people to come downtown, have fun and create a good memory.
30-Second Bio: • Her first job in Downcity was as manager of Bowl and Board, a now-defunct homegoods retailer in the space currently occupied by Teriyaki House. • Graduated from Classical High School, NYU (undergrad in Media Studies) and Brown (graduate studies in Modern Culture and Media).
• Was born and raised off Hope Street on the East Side. • Twitter Handle: @indowncitypvd • On returning to Providence from New York City: “I didn’t move back here for a job, I moved back here for Providence. New York is fantastic, but the pace of life, the cost of living and the community here is something you can’t find there.”
know Joanna Levitt’s name, if you’ve spent any time Downtown over the past few years, chances are you know her work. Cornish Associates, which branded the area’s central business district as Downcity and is one of its biggest landlords, hired her in 2007 for a job with a deceptively straightforward title. “The ultimate agenda of my role was to activate Downtown in a positive way,” she elaborates. “My role is always on the first floor, the street and the experience you have when you come Downtown.” The first part of her job is to find tenants: restaurants like Tazza and Sura, quirky retailers like Craftland and Queen of Hearts, and small, creative businesses like product designer DCI. “But just having tenants isn’t enough,” Levitt maintains. “You have to have a reason for people to engage with them.” Therein lies her second role: coordinating the In Downcity marketing group, which mixes traditional advertising, social media and events to promote its member businesses.
“Marketing sometimes sounds like a dirty word,” she admits, “but we don’t tell people about anything that they wouldn’t think is fantastic.” The third part of her job is coordinating activity in Grant’s Block, a small patch of land on the corner of Westminster and Union Streets that Cornish maintains as a publicly accessible park. This is the epicenter of Downcity’s success, hosting events like Tazza’s free Movies On the Block, the Downcity Bocce League and the Providence Art Festival. The latter has brought hundreds of artists and thousands of shoppers to Westminster Street, proving popular enough to expand into summer and fall editions last year. Levitt doesn’t plan to rest on her laurels either. With new developments from Cornish on the horizon for 2012 (the company remains tight-lipped about the details), she’ll be activating even more of Downtown. “It’s a work in progress,” she notes. “We have a couple blocks of what we think is really great, but we’d like to double or triple that.”
10 to watch Community Service
Kobi Dennis
Founder, Project Night Visions
We all know the
vital role after school programs can play in the education and development of children – but what happens after after school? Those are the hours that Kobi Dennis and his Project Night Visions are trying to fill. “I named it that because I was letting people know what I can see at night that other people can’t – the problems that go on after four o’clock,” he explains. It began under the umbrella of the Providence Housing Authority in 2009. “The program’s focus is to empower and educate – but we do it through intramural sports,” he says. This provides a gateway to things like panel discussions on issues affecting the neighborhood, and teaches kids to respect and engage authority figures, like the state troopers and National Guardsman who often volunteer their time. The program now operates out of Camden Avenue’s Madeline Rogers Recreation Center four nights a week from 5:30-9pm. It has earned the endorsements of the Providence Parks and Recreation Department, the State
30-Second Bio: • Was born and raised in South Providence. • Is a contractor for Partnership to Address Violence Through Education, an anti-bullying program; contractor at Providence Head Start; instructor at the Rhode Island Training School; and case worker at Tri-Town Community Action.
• Attended the URI College of Continuing Education, Human Services Program • Was in the Navy from ’89-‘93, and is a veteran of the Gulf War. • Is married with three children: daughters Kobii (9) and Saige (2), and son Vaughn (14).
Police, Providence Police and City Hall, and has expanded to include a Woonsocket chapter. Though he’s currently operating with a handful of volunteers and community partners on a shoestring budget, Dennis is optimistic that Project Night Visions can become a vital program around the city and state. He hopes to expand it to all the rec centers in Providence, and believes it can be tailored to the needs of individual communities; he points to Providence, where the focus is keeping kids away from gangs, and Woonsocket, where combating truancy is the priority, as examples. In the immediate future, Dennis is striving to simply produce the kind of demonstrable results that can attract funding and institutional support – and, of course, to give kids from the old neighborhood a better chance than he had. “I’m molding young people to be activists, to speak out,” he declares. “You don’t have to wear a suit, you don’t have to have money, you just have to be proud of who you are.”
When I look into the eyes of the kids in my neighborhood I know there’s promise, and I don’t think there are enough people trying to bring out that promise.
10 to watch Global health/Social enterprise
Meg Wirth
Founder, Maternova
In this country, the dangers
of childbirth are thought of as a problem of the past, but in much of the rest of the world, giving birth is still one of the biggest threats to a woman’s life. Many times this problem persists not because potentially life-saving devices and treatments don’t exist – many do, and some of them are surprisingly simple – but that awareness of and access to them is so limited. That’s where Meg Wirth and her company, Maternova, come in. Her aim is to increase global access and awareness of tools and treatments that can save mothers and newborns. Maternova is an online marketplace and source of information for innovations and technologies specific to
Maternova hits the sweet spot of all of the Knowledge Economy priorities: we live and breathe life sciences, design, technology. That’s exactly where we fit.
birthing; her customers are governments and nonprofits working in the field. “It’s the first time this niche has been addressed,” she points out. Wirth explains, for instance, that so many births happen at night, and in underdeveloped countries, doctors and midwives are doing deliveries, even C-sec-
30-Second Bio: • Originally hails from Baltimore, MD. • Did her undergrad in Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard and grad in International Development at Princeton. • Has lived in New York City, Hong Kong and Jakarta, Indonesia
• Has worked in global public health, with a focus on research and policy, for the United Nations, the Rockefeller Foundation and John Snow, Inc., a healthcare consultancy. • Twitter handle: @maternova
tions, in the dark – a problem easily remedied by simple, compact solar headlamps. “People don’t know these exist,” she says, “and they don’t know they’re affordable.” Clearly, she has found a viable market. It’s no longer just health organizations coming to her for access to innovations – conversely, makers of new devices and treatments are now approaching her to broker their products. The goal is for her startup to become profitable in the next two years. That kind of growth will enable her to create jobs for some of the college students she now takes on as interns. Maternova is proving that one small startup operating out of an incubator space in Olneyville can make a worldwide impact. Wirth believes businesses like hers can place Providence on the world stage of innovation and social enterprise. “It’s important to us to be a model for other social ventures and not just create jobs here,” she notes. “We can supply intellectual capital and talent to problems that are more global.”
10 to watch Government/Environment
Sheila Dormody
Director of Sustainability, City of Providence
One of our considerations before including the City’s newly minted Director of Sustainability on this list was whether this was a position of some real importance, or simply a “green washing,” a superficial attempt to look eco-friendly. “The fact that they hired Sheila Dormody tells me they’re serious about this,” said one observer of the local environmental movement. Indeed, she’s got the credentials to back up such an endorsement. She’s made a career in activism, most recently at Clean Water Action, where she was the New England co-director. Now she’ll be tasked with creating a sustainability action plan for the city. “This will be a vision for what it looks like over the next 20 years,” she says. That vision is one for a city that is not only healthier in the environmental sense, but in the economic one too. “There is no distinction between protecting the environment and protecting the economy,” she says. “These are interwoven.” As evidence of this connection, she points to Providence’s participation in the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, a national publicprivate partnership that is training
30-Second Bio: • Is a native of Bristol, CT. (“The Mum City – our parade was not as famous as the Bristol, RI version, but we did have parade floats covered in chrysanthemums.”)
• Sheila’s sister Deb Dormody, who runs Craftland, was one of our “10 to Watch in 2010,” making them the first siblings to ever appear on this list.
• Received her B.S. in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University.
• In addition to her work with Clean Water Action, Dormody was most recently the co-chair of the Coalition for Transportation Choices, an advocacy group for public transit in Rhode Island
• Lives in Elmhurst with her husband and two cats, Jake and Billy.
workers to make homes in lowincome neighborhoods healthier and more energy efficient. “We’re giving people good jobs that are giving other people a better place to live,” she summarizes. Other initiatives Dormody will oversee include this coming April’s shift to single-stream recycling – meaning no more separating bottles and cans from paper and cardboard, allowing us to recycle materials we previously couldn’t. Again, the net result is economic as well as environmental, when the city receives revenue from the Resource Recovery Corporation selling recycled materials. Dormody believes Providence can be at the forefront of urban sustainability, but cautions that we’re already about 10 years behind the national leaders. She will join the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, which boasts about 75 member cities nationwide, and help Providence take part in the Emerald Cities Collaborative, a national network of 10 cities focusing on the nexus of sustainability and economic development. “Now is the time,” she reiterates. “It’s clear that we don’t have the time to waste in making this investment.”
Change is never easy for anyone. But we’ve got so much commit from this administration that I’m confident we’re going to be able to take a new course here.
10 to watch Media/Politics
Ted Nesi
Digital Reporter, WPRI
With newspapers in decline
Last year, Politico, one of the most prominent sources of political journalism on the web, named Nesi one of the top four up-and-coming political blog-
news reporting will be. It’s unlikely that there will be a single answer to that question, but Ted Nesi may just represent one of them. As WPRI’s Digital Reporter, he finds himself at a
gers in the country. The Washington Post cited “Nesi’s Notes” as one of the best state political blogs. And just as this was going to press, WPRI announced
and traditional media scrambling to adapt to the new frontiers presented by the internet, many people wonder what the future of
strange crossroads of media: he is essentially a print reporter producing content for the website of a television station. “We didn’t have a rigid idea of how the job would work,” he recalls. “I was going to be covering primarily politics and the economy. Past that point
There is no lack of news. You just need to get people that content in the way that they want to get it. Part of my job is to try to find ways to engage people who don’t pick up the newspaper.”
30-Second Bio: • Grew up in Attleboro, MA. • Was a reporter at the Attleboro Sun Chronicle and a reporter and web editor at Providence Business News. • Twitter Handle: @tednesi • His stories have been cited by the New York Times, Reuters, National
Journal and Congressional Quarterly/Roll Call’s “Political Wire.” His undergraduate thesis paper on Ted Kennedy was cited in a recent biography of the late senator and his memoir. • Has appeared on or contributed to Rhode Island Public Radio, WPRO, Rhode Island PBS, Time, the Providence Journal and PBS.org.
it was really whatever works.” Which means he does everything from collaborating on an investigative story with on-air reporter Tim White, to offering commentary or analysis on a hot button issue with his “Nesi’s Notes” blog, to trading thoughts with his fellow panelists on the station’s weekly political roundtable, Newsmakers.
that it was promoting him from an occasional panelist on Newsmakers to a full-time position. His Twitter feed currently boasts over 1600 followers. As we head into an election year, media outlets that are willing to cross platforms, like WPRI and Rhode Island Public Radio, are going to play an increasingly important role not only in providing analysis, but in breaking stories. In short, Nesi will be plenty busy. “I’m really not sure what the media landscape will look like in five years – particularly locally,” he notes. “I think you will see more jobs like mine if people in charge have the willingness to experiment.”
10 to watch Activism
Mike McCarthy
Student/freelance animator/ member of Occupy Providence
What is the Occupy movement really about? What is it trying to accomplish? These are the questions that sympathizers and critics alike continue to ask. Contrary to popular belief, Occupier Mike McCarthy insists it’s not simply about a bunch of rabble-rousers camping out in a park. “This was about reclaiming public space. We’re affirming that right,” he explains. “But that’s not the point. The point is there are a great many things we have not been discussing as a society.” McCarthy is a living, breathing challenge to most people’s preconceptions of the Occupiers. He is not a socialist, anarchist, aging hippie or over-earnest college kid, but rather the working class son of a conservative Christian home, and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. While the movement is leaderless and nonhierarchal, he is unquestionably one of Occupy Providence’s most prominent and articulate voices. When he’s in Burnside Park, there is a near constant stream of people approaching him for advice, feedback and ideas. Dan Yorke and Buddy Cianci bring him on the radio to discuss the issues, and he represents the movement in meetings with community organizations and leaders like Providence Public Safety Commissioner
30-Second Bio: • Was raised in Newport.
• Twitter Handle: @DrawnAlong
• Joined the JROTC in high school, and later served in the Navy as a medic.
• Last January, his animation “The Future of Rhode Island Students,” which spoke out against the Board of Regents’ proposal for a threetiered high school diploma system, was shown at a Rhode Island Department of Education forum.
• Is currently earning a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences at Roger Williams University through the College Unbound program.
Steven Pare and the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. Occupy Providence stands out among the many similar protests around the globe. For one, it has been largely devoid of incident, with far fewer arrests and violence than most. That is partly due to the dialogue happening between the authorities and the Occupiers. The City Council considered a plan to allow them to stay in the park indefinitely. Commissioner Pare met with them about ensuring the safety of both protestors and law enforcement personnel. It has also been actively organized, working with nonprofits, for instance, on a December 10 rally at the State House pushing for legislation to combat homelessness. With an election year upon us, the Occupiers will have a chance to be a part of the national conversation over the direction of this country – and in that, Mike McCarthy’s voice is sure to be heard. He and the rest of the Occupiers will still be out reclaiming public space. “You’ll find me and my friends in inconvenient places that we’re probably not invited to,” he says. “It’s our right as citizens to dream up new things – I’m going to be asserting that right.” Read more about Mike McCarthly and Occupy Providence on our website, providenceonline.com.
This is real patriotism. This is real citizenship. This is real democracy… This is not an insane group of people who just want to tear the system down.
Winter Menu Highlights We’re proud to have won this distinction seven years in a row.
Lobster Risotto with braised oxtail, winter squashes and tuscan kale
Don’t forget! You can make a reservation online by visiting millstavernrestaurant.com or by calling 401.272.3331.
Braised Veal Breast with toasted spaetzle in mustard cream and red wine reduction
101 N. Main Street, Providence, RI
Pan Roasted Scottish Salmon with roasted brussels sprouts, fingerling potatoes and citrus braised pork belly finished with a toasted fennel vinaigrette
Voted “Best Fries” by GoLocalProvidence.com October 2011
An American Brasserie
“Eclectic and imaginative…” Don Fowler – The Warwick Beacon & Cranston Herald: July 2011
EAT RIGHT @ RED STRIPE Keep that New Year’s resolution with tasty, smart choices like our signature Everything But the Kitchen Sink Salad filled with tons of fresh veggies, topped with feta cheese, or try the Nicoise Salad with wood-grilled salmon or tuna – both healthy, mouth-watering alternatives that are easy on the waistline and good for the soul!
Open for Sunday Brunch from 10am to 3pm | redstriperestaurants.com 465 Angell St. in Wayland Square | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.437.6950
City Style
AT HOME / SHOP TALK / THE LOOK / BEAUTY / GET FIT About the Homeowners
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Marc and Melissa Stimpson’s artful home is on the East Side in the Hope Village area. Melissa is a freelance photographer for this publication and Marc is a social media consultant for his own firm, Broke Rebel.
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Photography: Melissa Stimpson
Picture Perfect Melissa: 1. This photo was taken by Canadian artist Irene Suchocki. She is one of my favorite artists and this was a surprise wedding gift from Marc. The frame is by Providence Picture Frame. 2. The cabinet was made in Italy and purchased from Anthropologie. 3. On top of the cabinet sit: a vintage camera model, books collected from local tag sales, a leather hat box and recycled blue glass candle sticks. 4. The table is by Mi-
chael Amaral Furniture, a company based out of Cumberland. It is made from the very unique Rhode Island black walnut wood. The legs are made of cast iron and have been restored. They were once the foundation to a jewelry press table from the Providence Jewelry District. 5.These mahogany chairs from the 1920s were rescued and restored. We found them here in Providence from a private dealer. -Samantha Gaus
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
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ISE ChAKO IA NO
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A New Year with a New Addition! We’ve added a 2nd location C.O.R.E Pilates Mindbody Studio 208 Governor Street, Providence
O
Offering private pilates and small grOup pilates refOrmer Classes
C.o.r.e’s Signature Services include: Sports Specific Training • Personal Training • C.O.R.E Body-Barre State of the Art Keiser Indoor Cycle Program • MVE • Vinyasa Yoga Strength Training • Navy SEAL • Pilates • Run Group • WillPower & Grace TRX-Suspension Training • Indo-Row • Barefoot Training Zumba • Functional Movement Screening
469 Angell Street, Providence • Wayland Square 208 Governor Street, Providence 273.CORE • corefitprov.com
City Style |
The Look
by Caitlin Quinn
Amanda Doumato
Think Spring...
Owner, Flaunt Boutique Tell me about your store. We opened in March of 2008 and carry women’s accessories. It’s really fun and I love it, especially because I get to go to all the accessory shows. I try to find unique pieces you can’t find everywhere and even try to attend shows in Las Vegas so that I incorporate West Coast style; it takes forever for those styles to hit the East Coast. I also feature jewelry and handbag designers from Providence; most of the lines I carry are eco-friendly or give back in some way. How are your pieces unique? Different materials, different styles. The newest line I picked up is Providence’s House of Cach. They use acrylic, natural stone and feathers. They have the craziest cuff bracelets made with lambskin and feathers that I can’t keep in stock. I also design pieces. I’ve created an exclusive Italianthemed bracelet called “Ciao Baby,” which I designed with Angela Moore and is sold exclusively in my store.
On any given day I base what I’m wearing
around my shoes.
Describe your personal style. I can be funky. I tend to layer and wear a lot of black. Actually, my whole wardrobe is different shades of gray and black. I bring in color with a scarf or bracelet, or with purple in my hair. When I go visit my cousin in New York, she always makes me remove one item before we can leave to go out. On any given day I base what I’m wearing around my shoes - they’re not comfortable either stilettos or boots. I’m not shy. I might wear things that are a little outrageous. I have calfskin leather booties, leopard print, with a 6-inch wedge. I have no shame. Tell me they’re hideous, I don’t care – I’m going to wear it. Jewelry or shoes? Make the choice. Oh my God, shoes! It’s my hobby. People collect things; I collect shoes. I buy them to look at. I probably have half a dozen pairs that I’ve never even worn. I could wear a black t-shirt and jeans every day and with different shoes, I’ll always look different.
Photography: Stacey Doyle
Tell me about this outfit. This is an everyday wear-to-work look. I don’t get super dressed up for work. If I wanted to dress for something more fancy, I would probably wear leggings with a long top and something with more sparkle, like crystals or beading. How do you stay stylish in cold weather? Winter is actually one of my favorite times of year because of all the options. In the summer, the less clothing the better, but in the winter you can accessorize so much more. I wear lots of scarves and hats - I have a fake fur leopard hat with a fake leather band that I love - and booties. I love living in New England with the change of seasons. If it were warm all year I would get bored.
New arrivals Daily! After Christmas Sale 20%-50% Off
A specialty boutique Open Daily 10-5:30 Saturday 10-5
The Village CenTer 290 County road, Barrington 247-1087 Contemporary women’s apparel, lingerie, shoes and accessories
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
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PROVIDENCE
Restaurant Week presents
Take a Bite Out of Winter
January 15 - 28, 2012 Three-course lunch - $14.95 Three-course dinner - $29.95 #PRW12
For a list of participating restaurants visit
www.ProvidenceRestaurantWeeks.com
That summer favorite, Providence Restaurant Weeks, is heating things up with a winter version. Cure your cabin fever with a delicious meal at an affordable price. Whether you want to revisit old favorites or try something new, enjoy a great meal and a great value. Presented by:
Sponsored by:
City Style |
Get Fit
By Jane Couto
New Healthy You
Make your resolutions lasting ones
Leaders in Eye Care Since 1927 Dr. David A. Vito Dr. John D. Corrow Dr. Carl D. Corrow Dr. J. Lawrence Norton • Emergencies Seen Immediately • Same Day Appointments Often Available • Evening and Weekend Hours Available • Glaucoma • Macular Degeneration • Cataract • Diabetic Eye Disease • Designer Glasses • Specialty Contact Lenses
331-2020 • www.AdvancedEyeCareRI.com 780 North Main Street, Providence Official Eye Care Provider of the Providence Bruins
Living
We emphasize the first word, not the last.
Zumba at Gold’s Gym in Pawtucket
Photography: Dawn Temple
Resolutions: it seems as
if we can’t begin the New Year without them. On television, in magazines, at holiday parties and on social networks, everyone wants to know what you are planning to change about yourself in the coming year. Diet, fitness and overall heath goals usually top people’s lists, particularly after weeks of indulging in holiday delicacies. But, fast-forward a few weeks into the new year and many people already have a laundry list of excuses as to why they haven’t stuck to their resolutions. It’s true that family, friends, work, activities – you know, life in general – can take up so much time that it seems there’s no room to fit another thing in. There are, however, ways to turn resolutions into long-term reality. Here are a few tips to help make that happen: Hold yourself accountable. You can do this by weighing yourself regularly, keeping a food log or joining an organized weight loss program. You can also enlist the help of family and friends you trust; tell them your goals and permit them to periodically ask you how things are going. If you don’t have some way to check in on your progress, it will be easier to let things slide. Try something new. Adding a little variety to your exercise regimen will help keep you from falling into a workout rut. Give a completely different activity a try - you might just end up loving it. See what the Zumba fitness craze is all about, do some indoor rock climbing at Rock Spot Climbing in Lincoln, or unleash your wild side and sign up for pole fitness classes at JM Kennedy in Pawtucket. Drop in Zumba classes available to non-members for $10 at Gold’s Gym. 550 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket. 7226600, goldsgym.com. Get a workout buddy. You’re less likely to dread working out if you’re
with Alzheimer’s. Despite the nature of this devastating illness, our specially trained staff provide sensitive, comprehensive care to Alzheimer’s and dementia patients in the comfort, familiarity and safety of their own home.
doing it with someone who motivates you and keeps it fun. Enlisting an exercise partner will hold you accountable, too. When someone is counting on you to meet up for a workout, it’s not as easy to bail. Reward yourself. Making the most of your healthy living victories will inspire you to keep working toward your bigger goals. When you hit a milestone, book a massage, splurge on some new workout clothes or celebrate at your favorite restaurant. After all, when you stay committed to your goals, rewarding yourself for a job well done is only fair.
Call 401.751.9660 or visit us at CathleenNaughtonAssoc.com
FiT News As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Recycle-A-Bike applies this same principle to bike repair. On Tuesdays from 5-8pm and Saturdays from 9am-2pm, the nonprofit organization offers Open Shop at its Olneyville Square location. Drop in to use the tools and space to repair or perform routine maintenance to your bike. Not experienced in bike mechanics? Not to worry; there are master mechanics there providing technical expertise and guidance. Just be prepared to get your hands greasy. Used parts are discounted and new parts are determined by market rate. Suggested donation: $5/hr for tool usage and master mechanics’ time at Recycle-A-Bike. 12 Library Court. 525-1822, recycleabike.org. During the first two weeks of the winter session at iyengar Yoga source (January 4 - January 17), new students may take one free drop-in class. Call the studio to reserve your space. Iyengar yoga emphasizes a balance between strength, flexibility and endurance. Conley’s Wharf, 200 Allens Avenue, Suite 4A. 461-6665.
py p a H w Ne r! Yea
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
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$
*
Introductory 1-Hour Massage sessIon
City Style | Shop Talk
By Erin Swanson
CRANSTON
100 Chapel View Blvd. Massage Services (401) 275-4900
EAST GREENWICH
1000 Division St. Massage & Facial Services (401) 336-2900
MassageEnvy.com Open 7 Days: M-F 9a-10p, Sat 9a-8p, Sun 10a-6p
Alasdair Post-Quinn is Coming!
The author of Extreme Double Knitting is teaching two classes at Fresh Purls • Sat. Jan 28: Intro to Double Knitting ($50) • Sun. Jan 29: New Adventures in Double Knitting w/ 2 Colors ($60) Each class 3 hours. See website for details.
fresh purls
769A Hope St, Providence 270-8220 • www.freshpurls.com
Owner Robin Bugbee with Plaid and Stripe
Ruff Life
Fashionable shopping for furry friends Rhode Island’s Only ALL Gluten-Free Health Food Store
BeAutICOntROL SpA tReAtment event Saturday, January 28, 2012 11:00am to 2:00pm. Enjoy a Free session of pampering: facial and hand. Call 401-816-5844 to schedule your appointment.
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BEAUTIFUL PRE-OWNED JEWELRY
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
Many things separate Wayland Square’s Plaid & Stripe from the other pet stores in the area. Topping the list, though, is owner Robin Bugbee’s cheery disposition and tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. Here, Robin explains his recent relocation and expansion of services and products. How did Plaid & stripe get its name? I named the store after my two beagles, who are sitting beside me right now. My late wife gave me Plaid nine months before she died. My wife loved plaid – we had plaid furniture, plaid everything – hence the name. I got Stripe two years later. Since all the wallpaper in my home seems to be some sort of striped pattern, I decided to base the name off of that. When it came time to open the business, I searched online and saw that the URL had not been taken yet so I jumped right on it. i heard you’re in a new location. why the move? Yes, we moved here four weeks ago. Our last place was great, but small – only 600 square feet. When our
lease was up, we found this spot, which is double in size and in the same neighborhood. Moving here has allowed us to expand the business as we’ve always planned to do, by offering pet grooming. We have two groomers who are here six days per week. Do you have any horror stories? Not really, although just this morning we had a wrestling match with an English Bulldog who simply did not want its nails cut. But, we won. The dog was very cute, but very large. Grooming animals is fun – and funny. We’ve also groomed a brown poodle named Betty White. You just never know what will happen around here. what do you mean by that? Well, we like to have fun. One lady came in and asked if we did cat grooming. I said, “Sure we do. But first we nail the cat’s feet to the table.” She asked if I was kidding, which of course I was. We’re happy to groom cats and it’s guaranteed to be pain free. what’s your most unique product?
I’m always looking for items that stand out. We now have a winter coat that’s also a harness, which solves a problem many dog owners face this time of year. My favorite item is the patron saint of dog statue, which I found in a voodoo shop in New Orleans. Well, either that or a cat toy that’s three little balls filled with really strong catnip. It comes packaged with a card that reads, “My cat’s balls.” That’s funny. is that the funniest product you’ve sold here? God no. I randomly found a book about crafting with cat hair. I thought it was a joke, but it was a serious book. Really. Doesn’t everyone want a purse made from their cat’s fur? I picked up six copies. They sold out immediately. Are your dogs spoiled? Not really. You really can’t spoil dogs. But, they’re right here beside me now. That’s Plaid in the plaid jingle bell collar and that’s Stripe in the red jingle bell collar. I’m not selling the dogs, but I am selling the collars. 17 South Angell Street. 4900707, plaidandstripe.com
Photography: Dan Schwartz
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facebook.com/roccos-pub-grub | twitter.com/roccospubgrub You might guess, from my monthly aesthetic adventures in this column and from the fact that my purse is bigger than some carry-on luggage, that I’ve tried a lot of makeup. A lot. Creams, powders, glitters, glues, stickers – you name it, I’ve probably used it. But one thing I’ve never managed to try is airbrush makeup. Not a lot of salons offer the service locally, and that airbrush table in the middle of Sephora with all of those bottles and all of those teenagers crowding around it looks more like the seventh circle of hell to me than it does a viable option for beautification. So when I learned that Sara Faella’s new downtown salon, Sara’s Glam Squad, was offering the service, I was intrigued. Before I tried it, my understanding was that airbrush makeup isn’t the kind of thing you just wear on your average weekday. It’s for photography, or for wedding-level special events. While it’s definitely true that it’s a good choice for times when you need your makeup to last all day and all night, it turns out that the process is surprisingly easy, and the result, while impeccable, actually looks pretty natural. I booked my airbrush session late on a Saturday afternoon in the height of the holiday season. Nice of me, I know. But I had a party that night, followed by a dinner date and a concert – and what better way to put the service to the test than on a night I really needed it? Sara’s Glam Squad Salon is in an airy loft space on Congress Street, and the
perky and strikingly lovely Sara greeted me with a huge smile and a squeal of excitement. She sat me in a chair by the salon’s expansive windows, and asked me what kind of look I wanted for the night. I told her about my plans, and that I’d be wearing a 1950s-inspired top with cheetah fur trim, so I wanted something fittingly pin-up to complement it. She started by removing all of my makeup, and putting on a layer of Temptu airbrush foundation. I expected several things here: for it to be uncomfortably thick, for it to be smelly and unpleasant when applied, and for it to have that slightly unnatural tinge that I sense in most liquid foundations. To my pleasant surprise, none of those things were true. In two minutes, Sara had applied a light coat of makeup that perfectly matched my skin tone. It felt nice, and it looked pleasantly flawless. Even the little dings I can see through my normal cosmetics were hidden nicely. After, she gave me a vampy look that included a neutral eye with cat’s eye black liner and a bold red lipstick from her own cosmetic line, Sara Faella. I liked the color so much that I took one home with me (and found, happily, that the color lasted all night). Later, when I got to the party, the first thing the host said to me was, “Ohmygod, your makeup is perfect.” And at the end of the night – which was far, far later than any reasonable person should be getting home – it still was. To brush your flaws away, visit sarasglamsquad.com.
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Feast
IN THE KITCHEN / oN THE mENu / bEHINd THE bar / rEvIEw / IN THE drINK
Photography: Mike Braca
42
IN THE KITCHEN Venda Ravioli
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
39
Feast |
on the menu
By John Taraborelli
Things are Cooking Again a classic renaissance restaurant reopens
Photography: Dan Schwartz
In the grand scheme
of things, 15 years isn’t all that long. In the fickle and often unforgiving restaurant business, however, lasting 15 years when most new businesses don’t survive two, practically qualifies you as an institution. Such is the case with Parkside (76 South Main St.). During the ‘90s, it was part of the vanguard of the Providence Renaissance culinary scene, along with contemporaries like Hemenway’s, Capital Grille and Café Nuovo. When our city’s revitalization was still in its early stages, these were the restaurants that changed the perception of Providence as a gastronomic desert dotted by a few oases of really great red sauce. It remains one of the restaurants perhaps most synonymous with WaterFire. In the decade and a half since, the restaurant has been a survivor. First it survived those treacherous first few years that doom so many restaurants. It has survived economic downturns that were the undoing of many a local business. Now it has survived a fire that threatened to destroy its South Main Street home. A gas leak resulted in a fire on June 30 that quickly tore through the historic former grocery store in which the restaurant is housed. Parkside itself was only partially scorched by the blaze – mainly the kitchen – but the subsequent water damage was extensive; the entire facility had to be taken back to the studs and completely renovated. Finally, after 4 1/2 months of repairs, the eatery reopened on November 14 – with a bit of sprucing up for good measure. Despite the drastic circumstances, Parkside 2.0 is not so dramatic an overhaul. “We didn’t want to interrupt the footprint of it,” notes chef/owner Steve Davenport. “We still wanted it to have the feel of Parkside.” To that end, the basic layout of the restaurant remains the same (indeed, the bar was the only thing to emerge from the fire unscathed), with a few updates. The hardwood floors in the front vestibule have been replaced with tile, the better to withstand the coming winter months. The lights are all new. Banquette seating has been added along the wall opposite the bar, with a plush new booth in the middle. The change about which Davenport is most excited, however, is the brand new rotisserie, replacing the one that
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Parkside’s state of the art rotisserie
made the restaurant famous. The first of its kind in America from French manufacturer Rotisol, it features the traditional horizontal spits on which to slow roast the chicken that is the restaurant’s staple. But this one also allows items to be hung vertically, opening up the possibilities of baking pies or making soups in the rotisserie. The menu has also undergone some minor but thoughtful changes, taking full advantage of the new equipment in the kitchen. Davenport is now roasting duck, suckling pig and other meats on the spit. “The pork loin is unbelievable,” he enthuses. “We can’t keep up with the demand for it.” The restaurant’s absence did not go unnoticed by its loyal clientele. “I was here almost every day,” Davenport says. “Customers were always asking, ‘When are you going to reopen?’” Now that they finally have, what’s the strategy for getting the word out? “We just opened the doors,” he says. “I was overwhelmed. I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder.” The success of Parkside continues to be based on loyalty – and not just from customers. Despite the hiatus, the restaurant retained all of its staff, and everyone came back. “They’re part of our family – we need them,” Davenport stresses, adding, “I see 15 more years here. Visit www.parksideprovidence.com for more information. To see before and after footage of the renovation search “parksideprov” on YouTube. GOING TO THE CHAPEL The Garden City/Chapel View area of Cranston gains another attraction this
month with the opening of Chapel Grille (3000 Chapel View Blvd.). The restaurant will feature a cathedral-like atmosphere reflective of the building’s history, with historic stonework and an ornate steeple, and will offer a panoramic view of the Providence skyline in the distance. The menu is built around Mediterranean-style hearth cooking with locally sourced ingredients, overseen by Chef Tim Kelly, formerly of Café Nuovo. The dramatic ambience is intended to convey grand ambitions and position the restaurant as credible competition to the Providence dining scene. Visit www.chapelgrilleri.com for more information and updates on the grand opening. MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK It’s that time of year again, as Providence Restaurant Weeks return for another winter installment after last year’s successful debut. From January 15-28, many of the hottest restaurants in and around the city will be offering three-course prix-fixe menus for $14.95 at lunch and $29.95 at dinner. It’s always a great opportunity to try a new restaurant with a low bar to entry, or finally cross off a pricier entry on your to-do list without breaking the bank. Go to www.providencerestaurantweeks.com for the full list of participating restaurants and menus. WE BID AEIDU TO YOU On Saturday, December 10, DownCity closed, apparently for good. Though we didn’t have time to get something in print, you can read a full write-up on our website, providenceonline.com.
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Feast |
In the Kitchen
By Erin Swanson
1/15-1/28 and Wine Week - All bottles of wine will be sold 50% off for the first two weeks of January
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
You’re new to Venda Ravioli. How did you start? I began working as the Executive Chef here in April. It seems to be going well so far. Everyone is nice and I enjoy being able to be at home with my wife and kids at night – I have a two-year-old daughter and another baby on the way. It’s much different than the typical restaurant schedule that I used to follow; before I came to Venda I was the Executive Chef at The Fire in North Providence. What’s the typical day like for you at Venda? It’s a juggling act. I take care of the case (the prepared foods), catering orders and off-site parties. We do weddings, graduations, holiday parties, birthdays, political fundraisers, corporate events. Today I catered three off-site parties: a party for teachers at an elementary school, one at the Coca-Cola factory and another at Amica Insurance. Tomorrow I have another five or six to do. The days fly by. Being that you’re a family man, is there anything you enjoy cooking at home? My daughter and I love to make pizza together. Even though she’s only two, she really likes kneading and playing with the dough. I encourage it. To her, pizza dough is like one giant glob of Play-Doh. Do you ever whip up any romantic meals for your wife? Sure, although now with our daughter it’s not always that easy. I like to change it up for her and cook whatever I’m into at the time. Her favorite dish is my minestrone soup, which I make using the basics – celery, onions, tomato – although she also loves my beef stew. What’s the deal with the Venda blend? People love that stuff. It’s a mix of ground pork, beef and veal. It’s very good and very popular. I bring it home once a week to make
ricci (right) with the new chef at Costantino’s
my Sunday gravy. What do you bring to the table – literally – when invited to a potluck dinner party? People always ask me to bring my homemade pork sausage. I use pork cushion meat but its appeal is in the preparation. My secret is that I grind it, season it and then regrind it with the seasoning. When the meat is chopped along with the spices, the flavor is much more enhanced. Have you ever taken a food vacation? No, but it’s on my list of things to do. Last week I catered an event in Fall River and ended up talking with a guy who told me about the nearby Portuguese restaurants Anthony Bordain featured on his show, No Reserva-
tions. On my ride back to Providence, I stopped at some of the spots he mentioned and brought food home. That was my version of a food vacation – a local food vacation. Describe your cooking philosophy in three words. Fresh, seasonal and flavorful.
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Photography: Mike Braca
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January 2012 | Providence Monthly
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
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Feast |
behind the bar
Open 7 Days a Week
By Cristy Raposo
Complex Creativity
Kelly adams inspires winning cocktails Come in and do your laundry with our new state of the art equipment.
I hear you’re an award-winning bartender. Do tell! I just came back from the fifth annual USBG Bartender Summit in Las Vegas, presented by Bombay Sapphire, GQ Magazine and [British clothing company] Ted Baker. More than 1,200 bartenders submitted their official entries; only 46 were chosen nationwide – of those, just six were women. Bombay flew us all to Vegas and put us up in the Wynn where we competed for the title of “Most Inspired Bartender.” This was my second time winning the Rhode Island competition. In 2009, Bombay sent me to the Palms Resort & Casino to compete. What creative cocktail won your way in? In 2009, I created savory cocktail using rosemary with [Bombay] gin. This year, I made a smoky cocktail. I used a spray bottle to spray the interior of a martini glass with a 16-year-old scotch. You could smell that smokiness when you picked up the martini glass. I believe I won because I had a wellbalanced cocktail. Simplicity is key. People don’t want a cocktail that takes the bartender five minutes to make. I like mixing gin – it’s a pretty complex alcohol that you can pull a lot of flavors out of. What does Avenue N add to the Rumford area? I grew up in Rumford. We never had a family neighborhood restaurant like this. It’s a place where neighbors can gather together. When we had the hurricane, this place was full. People walk here from the neighborhood and down from the lofts upstairs. People seem to like that they can drink and walk home.
Photography: Mike Braca
How did you end up at Avenue N? I’ve worked with owners Nick and Tracy Rabar previously through the Chow Fun Food Group. I followed them here. What is your signature cocktail? The Newman Old Fashioned made with Maker’s Mark and my own bitters. This drink uses our house-made cherry bitters. What inspires your cocktails? It depends on where I am. Sometimes if I am at the farmers’ market or Whole Foods, they’ll have fresh herbs or fruits
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I’m unfamiliar with. I’ll think to myself, “that might make a good drink.” At other times, I’m inspired by a new liquor or alcohol product that comes along. Mostly it’s fresh stuff like herbs or produce that inspire me, though. How would you describe Avenue N? It’s a local meeting place. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. If you want a peppermint drink, I’ll make you a peppermint drink. We’ll never carry Apple Pucker, but I’ll make you a fresh infused apple drink. It’s where the locals hang out. It’s always hustling and bustling here. The bar itself was designed for eating; it’s wide and roomy. We want people to eat and enjoy a cocktail at the bar. We take food and drink classics and make it our own like the old-fashioned cocktail - we make it better, fresher and newer. What’s your favorite menu creation? I love everything on the menu. It’s like choosing your favorite child! We have a pork chop on the menu right now that is ridiculous. It’s a cider brined pork
chop with parsnip puree, Medjool dates, chopped bacon, chanterelle mushrooms and Sherry-rosemary jus. What do you do when you’re not shaking up cocktails? I teach social studies to high school juniors and seniors. What do you think is the most difficult liquor or ingredient to work with? Vodka. Gin has a lot of flavors in it already that you can with - juniper, citrus, coriander. Vodka is so flat that you have to find flavors from other places. So you’re adding, adding, and adding.
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January 2012 | Providence Monthly
45
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46
Providence Monthly | January 2012
Visitors to the homepage for Revival Brewing Co., Providence’s newest craft-brewing enterprise, are greeted by choice drinker’s wisdom from Edgar Allan Poe: “What care I how time advances?” Poe wrote. “I am drinking ale today.” One suspects that given great ale, and not just any old grog, the claim might’ve grown downright bacchanalian: What care I about anything? As New Englanders, we’re spoiled when it comes to good beer. Our region boasts a rich brewing and drinking history, which a renaissance over the past decades has only bolstered. (A recent holiday in Key West, a town virtually sponsored by an AnheuserBusch and MillerCoors cabal, made me less inclined to take these riches for granted.) Still, in Providence most “local” craft beers come from neighboring states rather than our own, with few exceptions: the growlers and kegs from Trinity Brewhouse, draught pours from Union Station and basement-made concoctions from hobbyist friends. Suffice it to say, I’ve drunk deeply and happily from those wells. Since more is always merrier when it comes to beer, Revival Brewing Co.’s arrival this year is a very welcome expansion to our local drinking options. Co-founded by Sean Larkin, best known as the award-winning brewmaster for Trinity, Revival is a smart, quirky operation that acts like a DIY passion project with a business plan. About three years ago, Larkin got the itch to form a company that could deliver craft brews to a larger drinking public than he’d yet reached. Gradually, pieces began to click into place: Conversations with friends encouraged Larkin to think that his concept could work. Industrial property behind Providence’s Steel Yard, which happened to be owned by a friend, opened for rent. His friendcum-new landlord introduced Larkin to Owen Johnson, a brewing enthusiast with venture-capital cred. Then RISD alumnus and graphic designer Jeff Grantz entered the picture, and the three men formed a partnership. “Hard-core craft lovers” is how Larkin describes Revival’s target customers, but the company’s tightlyedited portfolio reflects strategic planning as much as it does outright
beer geekery. Four beers in all, it covers a drinker’s bases with two milder, classic styles (a saison and an Oktoberfest-style lager) and two punchier, trendy styles (a double black IPA and an imperial stout). Think of the former as year-round staples, with modest alcohol content and “international bitterness units” (which index a beer’s mouth-puckering potential). The other two beers, by contrast, are heavy hitters with higher alcohol and stronger flavors. They also boast cheeky names: Juliet 484, the imperial, is named for Providence Harbor’s famed sunken submarine – or rather, the “black and viscous” oil that seeped from its sides. And the Chinook vs. Sorachi Ace double black IPA, emblazoned with an image of two prizefighters mid-swing, gets its mouthful of a name from the two kinds of hops used to make it. Revival plans to tweak its lineup seasonally, promising a Marzen-style beer for this spring and a “surprise” for summer. More changes are in the works, too, as the company gradually builds its local base and then transitions to larger markets. There are plans for national distribution, and maybe international as well. More than mere profit-chasing, these ambitions are part of the company’s desire to help build a regional brewing identity in Rhode Island, which amounts to a vibrant industry with a sense of place and community. Larkin points to Colorado as emblematic of the concept, with its diverse styles and breweries that cohere competitively but also
cooperatively. “There’s a brotherhood,” he contends. For the near future, any such brotherhood would be limited to brewers only, rather than suppliers as well. Scale and cost are to blame: Nearby grain producers, like a Massachusetts source that Larkin consulted, aren’t large enough to meet demand. And at triple the normal cost of hops, the sole Rhode Island-based product, which Larkin occasionally uses for beers at Trinity, isn’t regularly tenable for a fledgling brew company. Happily, Revival’s strong debut indicates that its fledgling status won’t be long of this world. Following a semi-wide release in late November, bars and restaurants from Brown’s Graduate Center Bar to Downcity’s newest jewel, The Dorrance, have begun to carry the brand, and more are slated to follow. Early reviews on Beer Advocate – equal parts Wikipedia, Bible, and Zagat’s guide for the sudsobsessed—show unanimous “A-“ ratings. The company’s Facebook page shows an active and vocal following; bottling plans are rolling ahead. This isn’t to say that the company’s success is (or was ever) guaranteed, of course. Larkin and crew have negotiated more red tape and longer wait times - for permits, bureaucratic greenlights, loan approvals, and the like - than anticipated. They’ve campaigned grassroots-style to get their beers into as many hands as possible, almost exhaustively. Patience has been their virtue. Still, if impatience fills mugs faster, let’s hope for a little more vice. revival brewing.com
Illustartion: Ashely MacLure
Take a sip of Providence’s new beer
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For reservations, catering or private parties call: 351-8282 • 230 Atwells Avenue, Providence January 2012 | Providence Monthly
47
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
Feast |
review
By Linda Bealieu
Mamma Mia
a cozy ristorante whips up homemade Italian classics They say “don’t judge
Photography: Kate Kelley
a book by its cover,” and the same can be said for restaurants located in humble strip malls. Such is the location of La Cucina on Putnam Pike in Smithfield. But once you step inside, you could easily be in Federal Hill or Boston’s North End. La Cucina, which is Italian for “the kitchen,” is a restaurant with a split personality. On one side is the lively bar and lounge area. On the other is the romantic dining room. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner so dining possibilities abound here. The folks at the front of the house welcomed us warmly, and the wait staff seemed genuinely thrilled to have us there on the night we stopped by. Erika quickly brought me a glass of Pinot Grigio, and Brian was pleased to see that they had Peroni on the menu. Hot and cold appetizers, soups and salads, entrees from the grill as well as veal, fish and chicken dishes, along with pasta and risotto – there was much to consider. I never met a meatball that I didn’t want to try, so I just had to have the Polpette di Carne ($7.95) as my first course. This is a hot trend in Italian restaurants – an oversized meatball topped with marinara sauce and a
Calamari in Padella
dollop of ricotta cheese. The meatball was mighty meaty, the sauce was just like mama used to make and the ricotta was creamy. All in all, this was a pleasing introduction to what La Cucina has to offer. Brian pondered on which soup to order and finally decided on the Minestrone ($4.50), a steaming bowl of hearty tomato-based soup that rendered mouthful after mouthful of tender vegetables seasoned perfectly with herbs. Next we shared the Insalata di la Casa ($8.95), which the kitchen was good enough to split in half on two separate plates at no extra charge. A large salad to begin with, there was more than enough romaine and baby spinach tossed in a champagne vinaigrette. The satisfying taste notes came from the sun-dried cranberries, goat cheese and pine nuts that were blended in among the tender greens. We prefer to order dishes that we don’t normally eat at home. For me that night, it was the complex Risotto Mediterraneo ($24.95) and for Brian, the very simple Baked Haddock ($18.95). Placed before me was a deep soup bowl of perfectly prepared Arborio rice topped with a generous amount of seafood in an ever so light tomato
Pesce bianco Livornese
sauce. The squid rings were tender. The scallops were petite. The shrimp had just the right crunch to every bite. The mussels and clams had popped open, offering up the pleasantly chewy bounty of the ocean. The classic haddock was extraordinarily good. I decided after just one bite that this is a dish I would order on my next visit to La Cucina. A large piece of fresh haddock was baked in a white wine fresh herb sauce and topped with a whisper of buttery cracker crumbs. Most entrees are served with a choice of potato and vegetable or pasta. Brian chose the pasta – an odd pairing with the haddock – only because we were both curious about La Cucina’s pasta offerings. That night we chose the Capellini Pomodoro, fine strands of angel hair pasta in a fresh tomato sauce flavored with basil, garlic and a splash of olive oil. Once again, it was just like mama used to make. After a dinner this fine, dessert
wasn’t the least bit necessary. But, Brian is to chocolate cake as I am to meatballs – he never met a slice he didn’t want to try. At La Cucina, it is dense and fudgy and not very Italian, but delicious nonetheless. My mama is no longer with us. At least now I know where I can go in the suburbs for real Italian food worthy of her memory. Linda Beaulieu is the author of The Providence and Rhode Island Cookbook, available at stores throughout the state.
La Cucina 266 Putnam Pike, Smithfield 349-4130 lacucinari.com
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
49
a Providence classic
THE GLASS WILL ALWAYS BE HALF FULL HALF-PRICE WINE SUNDAYS
Savor the end of every weekend with half-price bottles of wine paired with your fresh favorites. Between this and half-off raw bar Mondays, you’ll just want to spend the night here. Offer not available on holidays. Valid with the purchase of an entree.
HALF-PRICE RAW BAR Join us on Mondays as we celebrate the fruits of the sea with our half-price raw bar offerings. Offer not available on holidays. Valid with purchase of beverage in the bar or with purchase of entree in the dining room.
121 South Main Street . Providence, RI 401-351-8570 . hemenwaysrestaurant.com A Newport Restaurant Group property
50
Providence Monthly | January 2012
Feast |
dining Guide
special advertising section
Monday: Restaurant Roulette
Tuesdays: Build your own burger
Wednesdays: team Trivia 8pm with this comfortable neighborhood café serving “upscale diner food” with an emphasis on local ingredients. BBrL $ BOMBAY CLUB 145 Dean St.; 2736363. Taste authentic North Indian cuisine in the cozy atmosphere of Bombay Club. The extensive menu includes Indian specialties such as lamb, seafood, vegetables and more. Weekends offer a lunch buffet. LD $-$$
Jacky’s waterplace 200 Exchange St.; 383-5000. Experience sushi, Chinese and Japanese food, noodles and much more in a stunning atmosphere, right in the heart of Waterplace Park. Sip an exotic drink while taking in the spectacular view. LD $-$$$
Providence 10 PRIME STEAK & SUSHI 55 Pine St.; 453-2333. Located downtown, Ten offers a sophisticated yet lively atmosphere complimented by aged prime steaks, a full sushi menu and creative cocktails. LD $$-$$$
Photography: Kate Kelley
ABYSSINIA 333 Wickenden St.; 454-1412. Enjoy the unique experience of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, using your fingers (and Ethiopia’s famed flatbread) to sample richly spiced meat, fish and vegetable dishes. (Forks are available, but less fun.) LD $-$$ ANDREAS 268 Thayer St.; 331-7879. For a taste of Greece, head to Andreas. Their menu includes souvlaki, moussaka and a variety of kabobs, along with specialties like Lemon Oregano Lamb Chops and Spanakopita, an appetizer of spinach and feta in flaky phyllo dough. BrLD $-$$
Key
ASIAN BISTRO 123 Dorrance St.; 383-3551. Chinese, Japanese and Thai, hibachi and sushi – they’re all under one roof at Asian Bistro. For the freshest flavors in a convenient downtown location, this is the place. LD $-$$$ ASIAN PALACE 1184 North Main St.; 228-7805. All the flavors of Asia are here: from Chinese classics to new Thai favorites to fresh, impeccably prepared sushi. The gorgeous banquet room is available for private functions. LD $-$$$ ASPIRE RESTAURANT 311 Westminster St.; 521-3333. Aspire offers an exquisite fine dining experience with a number of delicious small and large plates, numerous fine wines and full bar – with an emphasis on local ingredients. BBrLD $-$$$ BAKER STREET RUE 75 Baker St.; 490-5025. Chef Twillia Glover expands the Rue De L’Espoir empire
B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
THE BRADFORD 142 Atwells Ave.; 432-7422. The Bradford is little neighborhood gem in the heart of Federal Hill. It’s casual, comfortable and up for just about anything. The menu offers classic Italian dishes alongside burgers and sandwiches. D $$
Thursday: Create your own pizza
Friday: TGIF Night
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BRAVO BRASSERIE 123 Empire St.; 490-5112. Enjoy lunch and dinner at this American bistro with a French flair. Located downtown across from Trinity Rep, it’s the perfect place for a pre-theater dinner or cocktail after the show. LD $$-$$$ BRICKWAY 234 Wickenden St.; 7512477. Breakfast is the specialty at Brickway, a cozy neighborhood eatery known for its extensive menu of comfort foods made with a creative edge. Brunch offered on Sundays. BBrL $ BYBLOS 235 Meeting St.; 4539727. Providence’s original hookah lounge offers more than just a relaxing smoke and chic atmosphere. You can also enjoy classic Lebanese dishes and light cuisine with your cocktail. LD $ CAFé PARAGON 234 Thayer St.; 331-6200. This hip eatery serves sandwiches, pasta, and entrees at prices lower than the chic décor would have you believe. The adjoining Viva lounge is perfect for afterdinner drinks and private parties. BrLD $-$$
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January 2012 | Providence Monthly
51
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Count on us for fair, friendly service! 52
Providence Monthly | January 2012
Feast |
dining Guide
CASERTA’S PIZZERIA 121 Spruce St.; 621-9190. This Rhode Island tradition serves big pizzas with generous toppings and thick, rich tomato sauce. The Wimpy Skippy, a spinach pie with cheese and pepperoni, is not to be missed. LD $-$$ CAV 14 Imperial Pl.; 751-9164. The New York Times’ choice as one of Providence’s five best restaurants, CAV’s contemporary award-winning cuisine is available for lunch and dinner daily. They also feature Saturday/Sunday brunch. BrLD $$-$$$ DON JOSE TEQUILAS 351 Atwells Ave.; 454-8951. Don Jose’s digs a little deeper than your average Mexican restaurant, with all the basics you love alongside more artfully composed entrees and a wonderful selection of house-made tequilas. LD $$ GOURMET HOUSE 787 Hope St.; 8314722. Beautiful murals and decor set the mood for delicious Cambodian and Southeast Asian cuisine, spicy curries and noodle dishes. The tamarind duck is a must. LD $-$$ HARRY’S BURGER & BAR 121 North Main St.; 228-7437. Harry’s features only freshly ground beef, Nathan’s hot dogs, a long list of craft beers and new twists on cocktails. A perfect quick bite or night out. LD $-$$ HARUKI EAST 172 Wayland Ave.; 223-0332. For authentic Japanese dining, try Haruki’s large variety of sushi, sashimi, bento boxes, soba noodles and delicious specialty entrees. Enjoy the chic atmosphere and the freshest sushi around. LD $-$$$ HEMENWAY’S 121 South Main St.; 351-8570. A true Providence classic, Hemenway’s has been serving topnotch seafood for 20 years. Their oyster bar features everything from the famed Prince Edward Island
Key
variety to the local favorite, Poppasquash Point. LD $$-$$$ KARTABAR 284 Thayer St.; 331-8111. This European-style restaurant and lounge offers a full menu of unique dishes such as Champagne Sea Bass and Gorgonzola-stuffed Filet Mignon. They also offer a gourmet wine list and martini menu. LD $-$$ LUXE BURGER BAR 5 Memorial Blvd.; 621-5893. Luxe brings the classic burger to a new level. Their build your own burger list, which includes Kobe and Gold Labeled beef, never ends, with countless combinations. LD $-$$ MCFADDEN’S RESTAURANT AND SALOON 52 Pine St.; 861-1782. Looking for a great sports bar that also offers top-notch dining? Look no further. For game night, a quality lunch or dinner, or a great afterwork cocktail, stop by McFadden’s. LD $-$$
In-House and Mobile Catering Available Winter Supper Clubs and Food & Wine Tasting by Reservation Locally Sourced Food & the Hard to Find Local Craft Beer & Wine and Other Specialties Fine Italian Drinks Check us out at www.LaStradaWFPizza.com for all the juicy details and winter fun! 920 Matunuck Beach Road, Matunuck RI Phone: 401.284.2253 Follow Us: facebook.com/LaStradaWoodFiredPizza twitter.com/LaStradaWFPizza
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MILLS TAVERN 101 North Main St., 272-3331. The only restaurant in RI to receive The Mobile Four Star Award for five consecutive years, Mills Tavern provides traditional American cuisine in a warm, friendly setting. LD $$-$$$ MOSAIC LATIN AMERICAN BISTRO 166 Valley St.; 272-6522. Enjoy a unique dining experience that explores the cuisine of Latin American through modern interpretations of classic dishes. Travel from Cuba to Puerto Rico, Brazil to Argentina, all in one meal. LD $-$$$ NEW RIVERS 7 Steeple St.; 7510350. Long considered one of Providence’s finest restaurants, the James Beard Award-nominated New Rivers serves creative New American cuisine with an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients in an intimate setting. D $$-$$$
B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
Attend our Open House and ask a Moses Brown student or parent
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January 2012 | Providence Monthly
53
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54
Providence Monthly | January 2012
Feast |
dining Guide
NOT JUST SNACKS 833 Hope St.; 831-1150. Indeed, it’s not just snacks, but rather some of the tastiest, most authentic Indian food around served in a comfortable, homey setting right in the heart of Hope Street. LD $-$$ OPA 244 Atwells Ave.; 351-8282. Visit Lebanon for dinner. Select from a menu of authentic dishes or let the chef prepare a platter of 12 “mezza” items ranging from salads to seafood to grilled meats. D $$-$$$ PARKSIDE 76 South Main St.; 3310003. Chef/owner Steven Davenport offers innovative and classic foods with eclectic flare. The menu also includes creative pasta dishes and, of course, the signature rotisserie meats for which Parkside is famous. LD $-$$ POTENZA RISTORANTE D’ITALIA 286 Atwells Ave.; 273-2652. Experience the authentic flavors of Chef Walter Potenza, a name long synonymous with Italian food in Rhode Island. This is a must-stop for foodies, and caters to gluten-free diners. D $$-$$$ RED STRIPE 465 Angell St.; 4376950. It’s classic comfort food with French influences. From their Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup to ten styles of Moules & Frites, Red Stripe’s menu is reasonably priced and made with passion. LD $-$$$ RICK’S ROADHOUSE 370 Richmond St.; 272-7675. With hand-cut, fire kissed steaks, gut busting burgers and fall off the bone ribs, Rick’s brings the best slow-cooked cuisine to the Ocean State. LD $-$$ RUE BIS 95 South St.; 490-9966. This intimate eatery provides breakfast and lunch in a cozy, neighborhood bistro atmosphere – all with the gourmet pedigree of Hope
Key
Street dining staple Rue De L’Espoir behind it. BBrL $
Live in the Square!
RUE DE L’ESPOIR 99 Hope St.; 7518890. In business for over 30 years, the Rue has only gotten better. Beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients, the innovative, constantly changing menu keeps diners on their toes. Superb brunch. BBrLD $$-$$$ SIENA 238 Atwells Ave.; 521-3311. Federal Hill’s Siena features authentic Tuscan cuisine in a warm and lively atmosphere. The extensive menu includes wood-grilled veal, steak and seafood entrees along with signature pasta and sauté dishes. D $$-$$$ TAMMANY HALL 409 Atwells Ave.; 831-3180. This Irish pub and parlor is the place to be for food, drink and a relaxing smoke. Enjoy their friendly service and great pub fare while lighting up your favorite cigar. LD $ TASTE OF INDIA 230 Wickenden St.; 421-4355. Providence’s first Indian restaurant delivers on its promise of serving real (and really delicious) Indian cuisine, with seafood delicacies and Tandoori specialties, made with authentic Indian spices. LD $-$$
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Finally - Ethiopian in Providence!
333 Wickenden Street, Providence • 454-1412 www.abyssinia-restaurant.com Free delivery in Providence Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm • Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
TRATTORIA ZOOMA 245 Atwells Ave.; 383-2002. Located on historic Federal Hill, Zooma offers award winning Neapolitan cuisine in a beautiful, upscale setting, specializing in house made pasta, local fish, meats, vegetables and authentic wood fired pizza.LD $$-$$$ XO CAFé 125 North Main St.; 2739090. XO Café celebrates fine food, wine and funky art. Featuring a seductive atmosphere, outmatched by playfully composed dishes inspired by natural/local ingredients. BRD $$-$$$
B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
55
Join Jo oin us
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245 Atwells Ave., Providence www.trattoriazooma.com 383.2002 56
Providence Monthly | January 2012
Feast |
dining Guide
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East bay BILLY’S 286 Maple Ave., Barrington; 289-2888. Billy’s creates a warm, inviting family atmosphere and ensures the finest quality ingredients in everything from fresh salads to juicy burgers to pizzas and Italian entrees. Full bar available. D $-$$ DECK FORTY TWO 28 Water St., East Providence; 270-4245. Enjoy fresh seafood and Italian favorites at family friendly prices, along with the best waterfront view of the city. It’s a convenient trip from downtown, just off the East Bay bike path. LD $-$$$ HORTON’S SEAFOOD 809 Broadway, East Providence; 434-3116. Enjoy the finest of fresh seafood at this family-owned-and-operated restaurant. Horton’s is famous for their fried clams and fish and chips, and offers takeout. LD $-$$ LE CENTRAL 483 Hope St.; 3969965. Enjoy a variety of classic French staples from Coq au Vin and Croque Monsieur, to North African tajines in an intimate setting. They also offer a gourmet wine list. BrLD $-$$$ VINEYARD EAST 315 Waterman Ave., East Providence; 432-7000. Wine-influenced dinning meets casual down home atmosphere, and an eclectic menu of regional fare like local seafood favorites and Italian and Portuguese classics. LD $$
South County ELEVEN FORTY NINE RESTAURANT 1149 Division St, (Warwick/ East Greenwich line); 884-1149. 965 Fall River Ave., Seekonk; 508-3361149. Metropolitan chic comes to
Key
the suburbs at this super stylish restaurant with a raw bar, outstanding menu, and some of the best cocktails around. LD $$-$$$ SIENA CUCINA 5600 Post Rd., East Greenwich; 885-8850. Siena features authentic Tuscan cuisine in a warm and lively atmosphere, plus over 20 wines by the glass and an Italian “tapas” menu. D $$-$$$
North LA CUCINA 266 Putnam Pike, Smithfield; 349-4130. Experience the authentic flavors of Italy at this charming restaurant specializing in pastas, succulent seafood, steaks or chicken entrees. Leave room for dessert. BLD $-$$$
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THE LOCALS 11 Waterman Ave., North Providence; 231-2231. Have a taste of locally grown food from an extensive menu at reasonable prices. The Locals offers live music and a great sense of being a part of the neighborhood. BLD $-$$ RASOI 727 East Ave., Pawtucket; 728-5500. Rasoi, Hindi for “kitchen,” is the fruition of a dream by Chef Sanjiv Dhar to balance healthy food, personalized service and Indian culture. Featuring a full bar and famous weekend buffet. LD $-$$
There’s Only One Caserta 121 Spruce St., Providence
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west bay CHAPEL GRILLE 3000 Chapel View Blvd., Cranston; 944-9900. Nestled in the hills of Cranston’s Chapel View complex, this restaurant offers great food and views. Enjoy a Mediterranean inflected menu while admiring the Providence skyline in the distance. LD $$-$$$
B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
Join Us For New Year’s Eve! Serving a limited choice 5 course menu for $65* *not including beverages, tax or gratuity
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7 Steeple Street, Providence • (401) 751-0350 January 2012 | Providence Monthly
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©2010. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ and its affiliates are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. Prudential, Rock Solid, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. 0183436-00001-00 Ed. 7/2010
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
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Get Out
EVENTS / ART / MUSIC / THEATRE
Photography: Corey Grayhorse
Modern Style and Flair
Selah d’Or’s show at Style Week
January 22-28: Go ahead and blame Roger Williams if you need to. After all, he’s the one who fled the motherland and founded the colony of Providence, all while sporting that seriously somber style. Hey Rog! Everyone’s down with the practicality, but ever think about adding a splash of celebratory color to those earth tones? Perhaps you might like to attach a feather to a bland buttonhole. Anything. Indeed, the designers of Style
Week Providence have their work cut out for them. While 375 years have passed since the duds came over from England, Rhode Islanders still struggle a bit with style. Don’t deny it, oh, ye of tented untucked shirts, white sneakers and fleece. Watch and learn as both local and national designers roll out their spring collections and accessory showcases so no one ever says, “I wore that too – back in 1636.” styleweekprovidence.com.
January 2012 | Providence Monthly
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Get Out |
Calendar
By Dawn Keable
This Month January 1 Yeah, it might be sort of hard to pick sides during this cross-town Providence College vs Brown University men’s ice hockey match-up. So maybe you’ll adopt the attitude that there’s no losers here – just winners. Or maybe not. 4pm. $10, $8 for ages under 15 or over 60. Schneider Arena, Providence College, One Cunningham Square. 865-4672, friars.com. January 3-8 Let’s say that the date you lined up on-line morphed from the hottie in their photo to a big, green ogre. Shrek the Musical, with Donkey and Princess Fiona, shows you how to handle the situation with grace. $40$67. Family Night Wednesday, January 4: kids ticket free with purchase of regularly priced ticket. Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2787, ppacri.org. January 6 That’s right, you smug Scandinavians – you’ve brought us meatballs, Ikea and now this. Arrival from Sweden is an ABBA tribute band that not only belts out “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia” while wearing gold lame, they tour with some of the original musicians. 8pm. $30, $36. Veterans Memorial Auditorium, One Avenue of the Arts. 222-1467, vmari. com. January 7 Perhaps on your list of 2012 resolutions is the objective to get rescued by a hunky firefighter. Start the silent bidding at the I Need a Hero Auction, where proceeds benefit Prevent Child Abuse RI and naturally, your Facebook status. 6pm. $25. Twin River Casino, 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. inahfherosauction. eventbrite.com.
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
January 11 You could have used some Everyday Math for Those Who Never Got It last time you painted. Five gallons short? Get a grip on basic fractions and decimals so next time you won’t have to defer to that smug clerk for calculation assistance. Wednesdays: 6:30-8pm. $125, $95 members, $5 materials. Learning Connection, 201 Wayland Avenue. 274-9330, learnconnect.com. January 12-February 12 Your last birthday party? Looking a bit tame compared to Festen. Helge’s turning 60, in this adaptation from the 1998 Danish film, released in the US as The Celebration. Toast to family secrets. There will be no pinning the tail on any donkeys here. $17-$42. Gamm Theatre, 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 723-4266, gammtheatre.org. January 14 He’s no dummy. Ventriloquist and stand-up comedian Jeff Dunham has parlayed his childhood passion into a multi-million dollar industry. On the bus for the Controlled Chaos Tour? Two newbies: Little Jeff and Achmed Junior, son of the Dead Terrorist. 8pm. $47.50. Dunkin Donuts Center, One Lasalle Square. 3316700, dunkindonutscenter.com. January 18 Once upon a time, not that long ago, before our 10.5 percent unemployment rate, RI was home to visionaries, and their companies like Gorham Silver. Return to the glory days during a film screening of Urban Ponds Silver Lining, followed by a discussion on legacy and innovation. 6-7:45pm. Free. Knight Memorial Library, 275 Elmwood Avenue. 467-2625, provcomlib.org.
Refine Your Palate January 27-29: Everyone knows – you’ve got your drink. That signature cocktail you started sipping when you turned, 19, ah, 21, because that’s what your bar hopping partner in crime suggested. And, granted, up until this point, it’s served you well. Your long running commitment to your drink has even made it really simple for anyone buying a round. The Sun WineFest isn’t trying to do away with your identifying drink characteristics. However, it will provide an opportunity to broaden your horizons with a weekend long sipfest that includes beer, wine and bourbon because if world famous chefs Bobby Flay or Todd English think that you should be open to another pairing to bring out the flavors of their cuisine, who are you to argue? Individual ticketed events. Packages: $70-$245. Mohegan Sun Casino, One Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 1-888-226-7711, sunwinefest.com.
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Add Color to Your Home January 19 The literal translation of Shen Yun is the beauty of divine beings dancing. A slightly more politicallybased definition? A whole bunch of talented folks, repressed in their country of China, hit the road to bring you some fantastic traditions and avoid getting imprisoned in the process. 7pm. $50-$125. Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2787, ppacri.org. January 21 Glam it up for An Evening with Renee Fleming and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. This gala concert celebrates the rededication of Vets, which hopefully won’t be marred by any cracking of the brand-new glass by the soprano’s powerfully operatic pipes. 7:30pm. $35, $75, $100, $150. Veterans Memorial Auditorium, One Avenue of the Arts. 222-1467, vmari.com.
January 23 You’ve already gone the yard sale route and you’ve put a blanket on the hood of your car in a parking lot. Handmade Business: Selling Your Work on Etsy gives you a more professional option, while saving your dignity. 6:30-8:10pm. $30. RISD Continuing Education, 345 South Main Street. 454-6200, risd.com/cfm. Through February 4 Alberta Porter is pushing 94, has designed attire for Liberace, appeared in The Great Gatsby and is Always An Artist, with her intricate Lucite sculptures and wearable art on display. Tuesday-Wednesday: noon-6pm, Thursday-Saturday: noon-8pm. Free. Royal Gallery, 298
Atwells Avenue. 831-8831, royalgalleryri.com.
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January 27 Attention closet country fans: it’s safe to come out. Granted, Providence isn’t Nashville, but no one’s going to bust you too bad for your Rascal Flatts obsession, especially with their studly frontman Gary LeVox, performing with Sara Evans and Hunter Hayes. 7:30pm. $23, $47.75, $62.75. Dunkin Donuts Center, One Lasalle Square. 331-6700, dunkindonutscenter.com. January 28-29 Find your people at the Betaspring and Netduino sponsored Digital meets Physical: A Hardware Hackathon, where geeks can unite over a .NET Micro Framework, featuring a 32-bit micro controller and a rich development environment. The city will be taken over with mad nerd revenge. 10am. Free. AS220 Labs, 131 Washington Street. 308-3076, digitalmeetsphysical.eventbrite.com. Through February 29 What do you think the animals do? Rent a jumbo jet to fly them away from the harsh Rhode Island winters to their rented vacation villa on the beach? Nope. They’re still here at the zoo. And for half price of the regular admission, you can come to Winter Wonder Days and say hi. 9am-4pm. $6 adults, $4 ages 3-12 and 62+. Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 785-3510, rwpzoo.org. Got a cool upcoming event? Send the details, with plenty of advance warning, to events@providenceonline. com, or sign up to write about it at providenceonline.com
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
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Get Out |
Art
Happy New Year
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Split Personality
A multi-talented artist divides his time between PVD and NYC Houses have featured prominently in Andrew Moon Bain’s paintings lately. In his newest work, houses are surrounded by fire; or they sit vacant, their doors open to expose darkness inside. Others wink from within, emitting multicolored beams. It’s natural for the viewer to think about the lives of the imaginary inhabitants of each of these houses – their hardships, their triumphs. For Bain himself, home is a natural theme as well, as he’s spending half of his time in Providence and the other half in Brooklyn; half of his working hours focused on art, and half on music. Home is perhaps a slippery concept for him right now, but he is grounded in the belief that he’s doing what he’s meant to do. The base of Bain’s Providence operation, where he paints, draws, and screen prints is filled with art, bikes, books, photos, paper (most of it scribbled or drawn upon) and accessories to his musical life. It’s a spartan but lively place. The work coming out of this room is layered and
sumptuous – the figures and settings full of life and mystery, infused with euphoric spirituality, even when its themes are bleak. “I’m trying to make the horrific beautiful,” Bain says. One of Bain’s favorite techniques is to collage screen printed patterns directly onto his paintings, which tend not to focus on one central subject but cluster them in scattered constellations, the colorful collage elements serving as connective matter. Bain implies meaning through the titles of his pieces sometimes playful, sometimes somber - like Great Owl Hollow Peace Council 1884 and I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It! The titles clue the viewer into each piece’s veiled meaning, and hint at humor and a modern mythology. Raised in Seattle, Bain came to Rhode Island to attend RISD; upon finding a trailblazing, welcoming art scene in Providence, he stuck around. He had a busy, productive 2011 and his work was featured in shows at the Buonaccorsi &
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Agniel gallery, the AS220 Project Space, Candita Clayton Studio and a gallery in New Jersey. He also spent time playing and recording with his band, Boo City, whose latest release Midnight Folklore came out in December. Even as Bain shuttles back and forth to Brooklyn – where his partner and daughter live – he’s grateful for the many good things that his dual life brings. And he still has a deep fondness for Providence. “I’m super inspired by Providence artists,” Bain says enthusiastically. “I’m proud of my friends who made the scene what it is, and keep doing what they do.” Bain’s work can be viewed through February 14 at Providence City Hall, as part of the Buy Art campaign. Many of his paintings can be viewed at andrewmoonbain.com. Boo City will play at the Met Cafe on January 14. More information on the show and their recently released album is available at boocitymusic.com.
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
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Eclectic Shock
Weird, in a Good Way A night of unusual sound for an unusually helpful project
Photography: Tim Siekiera
I would like to take the opportunity, this being my inaugural music column for Providence Monthly, to cover an event very near and dear to my heart. I realize that as a music writer there should be a certain amount of objectivity towards the things that I choose to cover – so I’ll just say right now that I am very fortunate not only to work with a few of the people in this piece, but to play music with them as well. Later this month, Resources For Human Development (RHD) will be hosting another night of live music at the Met Cafe as a benefit for the organization and as a chance to showcase some of the fantastic work coming out of the place. For those unaware, RHD Rhode Island is an arts-based day program for adults with disabilities, which acts as a sort of ad hoc art school to create crash courses in all disciplines including graphic arts, creative writing and video production. Also, rock bands. Lots of rock bands. The amount of music coming out of the place has grown to such proportions that it now requires a dedicated night of its own. RHD has already hosted blockbuster nights at venues such as Firehouse 13 and The 201. The desire to create and enjoy music is innate in all of us, and at RHD the program is tremendously ripe with musical ambition. Almost all of the bands formed there are a mix of staff and clients, the former usually using their combined experience to teach and guide the latter through a multi-faceted array of musical sounds and styles.
The staff start by teaching the basics: how to plug in a guitar, work an amplifier or wail on a drum kit. Over time, the lessons progress to include the finer points of crafting chords and improvising as a group. Generally, they stay busy creating musical mayhem that’s at times highly listenable and other times not. But, it’s always entertaining, enlightening and cathartic. One of the breakout stars of RHD is the long running band Mrs. Six Eyes, fronted by the inimitable Amy Ethier. The band has played on practically every stage in the area since blossoming out of the RHD stable several years ago as a project between Ethier and Alec K. Redfearn, a prolific talent in his own right. Redfearn helped to sculpt Ethier’s chaotic, cryptic and often hilarious lyrics into lovely and demented children’s shanties, “The Breastmilk Restaurant” being a particular favorite of mine. Her strangely endearing lyrical obsessions with bodily emissions along with the bottomless well of love she feels towards her friends and family - is more than enough to tickle the inner weirdo in all of us. Half Man/Half Human, a project formed by RHD staffer Mark Stone and 24-year-old Jamaican immigrant Jahnoy Skerritt, will be playing, having also graced many a stage in the Providence area. Skerritt, a boundless source of energy and inspiration, writes about what truly interests him most: robots, space aliens and the weather. He tackles these subjects in songs including “Aliens from Jupiter,” a noble piece about a re-
warding friendship overcoming vast distances both literal and figurative. But it’s “Purple Skies” that remains his masterpiece; a monolithic mash of new wave infused New Order pulse and stark lyrics about, well, purple skies. Skerritt and company hope to steer their new music towards vintage Jamaican rocksteady and ska, his primary musical love. The Memory Lanes, led by the towering presence of Michael Eddy, are one of the newest bands in the RHD family and will be making their debut onstage at The Met. Eddy is a natural storyteller, capable of crafting long narratives across many different media: fiction writing, film and video production and most recently singing and writing for the Memory Lanes. Obviously a place like RHD is going to attract some serious artistic types, and the amount of current and former employees who are also musicians is staggering. Veteran staffer Mark Stone is certainly no exception; his old band, the legendary Medicine Ball, will be reuniting for the almost 20 year anniversary of their debut album Sandwich Full of Lies. Expect a lot of old weirdos to come out of the woodwork for this, as the band released four full-length albums over the course of their 10 year existence and played with nearly every alternative rock band to come through Providence back in the day. “Eclectic Shock: an Evening of Confounding Music” takes place at the Met Cafe on January 21. More bands are being added, so check out the RHD Facebook page at facebook.com/rhdri.
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
Get Out |
Theatre
By Molly Lederer
Great Danes
Get ready for a big reveal in Festen Get fired up about Festen. On the heels of a wildly successful Hamlet, the Gamm stages another no-holds-barred Danish drama this month. The powerful, provocative play begins with revelry, as friends and family gather to celebrate a wealthy patriarch’s birthday. But a shocking toast at dinner shifts the tone of the evening. Guests drop their jaws, skeletons tumble from closets, and no one leaves the party unscathed. Artistic director Tony Estrella helms the production in its New England premiere. He finds it a fitting piece to follow Hamlet due to the similarities – settings of wealth and power, themes of dysfunctional families and revenge. He explains, “Not only is it an incredibly moving and riveting story, it’s an unflinching contemporary tragedy. We don’t see a lot of those. It has the weight of classical tragedy. But, in a sense, it’s much more raw because it doesn’t have the classical language to embellish it.” The play is based on the explosive 1998 Thomas Vinterberg film of the same title, released as The Celebration stateside. In keeping with the Dogme 95 movement of filmmaking, the movie is naturalistic and painfully intimate, especially in its expressions of sexuality and violence. David Eldridge’s stage adaptation doesn’t shy away from those too-close-for-comfort parts – which may seem closer still in the Gamm’s small theatre. Estrella notes, “It will be intense in our space, and our challenge is going to be to do it in a way that conveys the truth of those moments in all their complexity and doesn’t flinch away from them and at the same time, allows the audience enough room to stay in there with us.” Though serious in subject matter, Festen is filled with colorful characters of depth and surprising humor. The ensemble cast at the Gamm includes regulars like Steve Kidd as Christian, the son who gives the scandalous toast, Casey Seymour Kim as his sister Helene, and Alexander Platt as their oafish brother Michael. Will Lyman, a Boston-based actor whose voice you may recall from the PBS
Will Lyman
show “Frontline,” plays their father, Helge, and Sandra Laub returns to the Gamm stage as his wife, Else. The less you know about the revelations in Festen before you see it, the better. The play packs the best punch when it blindsides you right along with the party guests. But Estrella offers a few hints on what to expect. He muses, “We think conflicts and wars happen to other people, that they don’t happen to us. Well, they happen to us. They happen in our bedrooms, in our kitchens, in our dining rooms, in our living rooms. In every family, we all decorate for Christmas and try to make the outside of our houses look like everything’s happy on the inside. Drama is always centered around opening that closed door.” “How we present ourselves to the world, what we are on the inside and the conflict between those is where all great art springs from.” He continues, “All great stories are mysteries, and we want to know how to solve
them. Most of them don’t get solved… That’s why the play is so fascinating. Because as shocking and tragic as the events of this particular story are, I don’t think they’re going to be – if we’re honest with ourselves – all that unfamiliar to us.” Estrella says that this play scorns the image, in a very profound and deep way. “We keep joking the tagline for Festen is ‘Something is rotten in Denmark.’ The house itself is kind of an organism, it seems to contain this decay on the inside. Art is about opening those doors up and letting us in to see it.”
Festen January 12 - February 12 The Sandra FeinsteinGamm Theatre 172 Exchange St. Pawtucket 723-4266 gammtheatre.org
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The Last Detail
Perishable Theatre, known throughout the area for its fearless staging of original works and late-night programming, has announced its dissolution. Over its 26-year history, Perishable has brought together the finest area artists and performers while standing by their (let’s face it – a little suggestive) assertion, “performance provides artists with the forum to engage in big public ideas and provides audiences with the unique experience of having a personal experience safely within a group of strangers.” Many personal experiences have been had, indeed.
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Providence Monthly | January 2012
But don’t fret. Perishable isn’t going away so much as it’s getting a facelift. It’s transferring its assets, and stewardship of 95 Empire Street, to AS220, effective this month. The newly launched program – which is branded simply as 95 Empire – will host a core group of six producing companies in addition to other latenight programming. AS220 will expand upon Perishable’s Theatre Arts School and in keeping with tradition, promises to provide quality audience “experiences” as well. 95 Empire Street. 831-9327 x116, as220.org. -Erin Swanson
Photography: Jonathan Beller
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