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CONTEN TS Providence Monthly • January 2017

Asterluxe gives locally-made curiosities a home on Broadway

Bucktown brings Southern comfort food to the West End

This Month 18 Plug In, Rock Out

21 10 to Watch

Discover your new favorite band at one of Providence’s awesome music venues

Meet the movers, shakers and change makers who have big plans for 2017

Every Month 6 Editor’s Note

59 Get Out

9 Online Exclusives

Ten years in, Empire Revue is as hilarious as ever

Photography by (left) Meghan H. Follett, (right) Stacy Doyle

11 Providence Pulse

60 Calendar 63 Music 64 On Stage 66 Art

Curling – It’s not just for Canadians anymore

68 Hidden PVD

12 City 15 Scene in PVD

Behind the scenes at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel

31 City Style Test your school spirit at Cheer Up 31 At Home 33 The Look 34 Shopping 35 Get Fit 37 Beauty

41 Feast

On the Cover: Taino Palermo, Chanravy Proeung,

Our New Year’s resolution? Eat more fried chicken.

Antonieta Falconi: three of 2017’s 10 to Watch.

42 Review 45 In the Kitchen 47 On the Menu 48 In the Drink 51 Dining Guide

Photography by Michael Cevoli

EDITOR’S NOTE

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

Big Ideas for 2017 With the year we’ve just finished, and the troubles we’ve faced not just in Providence and Rhode Island, but the whole country, it’s easy to feel wary as the calendar turns to January and we’re facing the idea of doing it all over again. It’s also easy to take a negative view of our prospects for the coming year. But no matter what has happened politically, or whether you feel like you won or lost, the truth is this: real change happens when individual people use their passion and creativity to improve their own communities. This month, we present our annual list of 10 to Watch. They’re people who you might or might not have heard of, but who have big ideas

to make Providence a better place, and are using their resources to effect change that impacts all of us. Read about them here, and then meet them in person at our annual 10 to Watch party, happening this year on January 11 at Aurora. The stakes are higher this year than they have been in a long time. Here’s hoping for a peaceful and positive 2017.

Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell

Media Director Jeanette St. Pierre @JeanetteSTP

Creative Director Julie Tremaine @JulieTremaine

Managing Editor Grace Lentini @Gracie_NomNom

Editor Tony Pacitti @TonyPacitti

Content Coordinator Caitlin Howle @CaitlinMoments

Art Director Meghan H. Follett

Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas

Assistant Art Director Katie Leclerc

Graphic Designer Nick DelGiudice Nicole R. Hudon

Account Managers Shelley Cavoli: Shelley@ProvidenceOnline.com Louann DiMuccio-Darwich: Louann@ProvidenceOnline.com Ann Gallagher: Ann@ProvidenceOnline.com Kristine Mangan: Kristine@ProvidenceOnline.com Elizabeth Riel: Liz@ProvidenceOnline.com Dan Schwartz: DanS@ProvidenceOnline.com Stephanie Oster Wilmarth: Stephanie@ProvidenceOnline.com

Contributing Photographers Ian Travis Barnard Meghan H. Follett Mike Braca Kendall Pavan St. Laurent Michael Cevoli Timothy Seikeira Brian DeMello Brad Smith Stacy Doyle

Contributor Jessica Bryant Writer

Contributing Illustrators Ashley MacClure

Philip Oliveria

Contributing Writers Erin Balsa

Jessica Bryant graduated from URI in journalism before shipping off to Miami for five years where she interned with NBC Miami and Haute Living. In 2013, she helped launch the digital media network Foodable, where she served as managing editor. Now she’s back home in Rhode Island, living her lifelong dream of being a freelance writer and editor. “2016 has been an instrumental year for me – I quit a secure job to work for myself, fell in love and changed my workaholic lifestyle. It’s been a great year of learning and exploring, but it’s always exciting to get a fresh start with a new year!”

Jessica Bryant

Stephanie Obodda @StephanieDoes

Alastair Cairns

Jim Pierce

Bob Curley

Jen Senecal @JenSenecal

Emily Dietsch Claire Flanagan

John Taraborelli @JohnnyTabs

Amanda Grosvenor

Chip Young

Adam Hogue @hoguie Molly Lederer

Interns Ashley Barrow Jayne Guertin

Kemill Logarta

Members Of:

This Issue By The Numbers PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER. PAPER CONTAINS 20-25% POST-CONSUMER CONTENT

ALL

Great venues we’re highlighting for catching local, up and coming musicians (p. 18). Everybody needs one good “I saw them before they made it big” story.

Number of years we’ve been doing our annual 10 to Watch issue. That means 150 change makers, innovators and big ideas for Providence (p. 21).

The feels when we dug into Bucktown’s fried chicken (p. 42). Welcome to Rhode Island, Southern comfort food, we’re so happy you’re here.

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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

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Providence Monthly 1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 • Fax: 401-305-3392 www.ProvidenceOnline.com mail@ProvidenceOnline.com @PVDMonthly For advertising rates call: 401-305-3391 We welcome all contributions, but we assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. No portion of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission. Copyright ©2017 by Providence Monthly. All rights reserved.

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SPORT, ON THE ROCKS You can swirl rocks in your whiskey glass, or you can slide them across the ice during a curling match. The Ocean State Curling Club meets on Fridays at the Cranston Veterans Memorial Arena. The league matches up teams of four players who slide 40lb granite stones across the ice and try to land more of their stones closer to the target than the other team. Sounds simple, but it’s more complicated (and more of a workout) than you think. “Intellectually, it’s a game of strategy, problem solving and thinking on your feet,” says Larry Riccitelli, president of the club. The 500 year old “gentleman’s sport” also comes with a set of pretty unique traditions, like broomstacking: “Once the game is over, the players go to the bar and the winners buy the losers a beverage,” Larry says. “Everyone sits together for an hour or more.” Check it out for yourself at one of their Learn to Curl sessions, or just bite the bullet – er, stone – and join the club. OceanStateCurling.org Sweep the ice, Johnny: channel your inner olympian at the Ocean State Curling Club

PUL SE

City

Sneak Peek

Doors Open RI Explores Our Best-Kept Secrets to discover places in their backyard that they didn’t know existed. It also provides local organizations with newfound appreciation and support. Doors Open RI recently toured the hidden spaces of Providence’s City Hall, where participants got to see the alderman chambers, archives and the building’s attic. “Behind every door is a story, and Rhode Island has a long and rich story to tell,” says Caroline. “We can experience Rhode Island’s Declaration of Independence with a visit to our Old State House on Benefit Street or learn about our long history of slavery by visiting the abandoned Esek Hopkins House. All across Rhode Island we can see remnants of our colonial history dotted across the landscape.” Rhode Island is also home to the largest collection of fresco paintings in the country at St. Anne’s Art and Cultural Center in Woonsocket. But the content is not all historical. Doors Open RI aims to gain access to places

A recent Doors Open RI tour took visitors deep into the heart of Providence City Hall

that are propelling us forward, too. “We’ve spent the last several months collecting ideas of places to explore and our list is over 175 long and growing,” Caroline says. On that list is the Fox Point Hurricane

Barrier, Brown’s robotics lab and URI’s research vessel, the Endeavor. Their next ticketed event, an open house of Barnaby Castle, is scheduled for January 28. DoorsOpenRI.org –Jessica Bryant

Game On

Chairmen of the Board Games

Gamers can throw down with hundreds of games at The Board Room in Olneyville

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

Two years ago, Providence residents Phill Trotter and Tom Nimmo were each hosting regular board game nights, enjoying titles like Settlers of Catan, Dominion and Pandemic. Phill was running out of space to store and play games, and the two noticed that their gaming circles overlapped, so they decided to join forces using a vacant room at Phill’s business in Wayland Square: the Board Room was born. A year later, attendance had grown and the group’s windowless room was overheating, so they started looking for an expansion. In June, they found their new home at gaming and collectibles store Mana Core in Olneyville Square. Membership is $20 a month for unlimited access to roughly 500 games, with Wednesday nights free and open to the public; 25-30 people typically attend for primarily strategy games as well as faster-paced popular party titles like Codenames and Telestrations. Mondays are slower-paced with more complex

and time-consuming games like Scythe. The oldest is an 1860’s wooden Crokinole, which hangs on the wall – a Canadian favorite. Gaming clubs oﬀer the obvious benefit of trying before you buy – games can be pricey. Another benefit? Making new friends. “Online gaming is still very widespread,” says Phill, “but more and more, people are looking for that face-to-face interaction.” “There’s a stereotype of the average gamer as not the most social being,” Tom continues, “but that’s simply not the case.” The Board Room prides itself on being fully inclusive and a safe, welcoming space for all, boasting roughly 30% female membership. They have also partnered with local businesses, hosting events at Pizza J, Nolan’s Pub and New Harvest Coﬀee, as well as a gallery show with local artists (with the only theme being to “keep it kinda nerdy”), and plan to partner with the Olneyville Library post-flood renovations. 679 Broadway. 753-4263, TheBoardRoomRI.com –Amanda M. Grosvenor

Photo Courtesy of (top) Christian Scully/Design Imaging Studios, (bottom) Courtesy of The Board Room

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in America, but it’s filled with lots of hidden treasures. Just ask Caroline Stevens, the founder of Doors Open Rhode Island. This new initiative provides the public with free, behind-the-scenes access to some of Rhode Island’s best-kept secrets via monthly tours, an upcoming online publication and an annual open house festival that will launch in September. “Doors Open Rhode Island is committed to inspiring wonder, curiosity and pride in our communities by connecting the public to the great places and spaces of our state,” says Caroline, who previously helped launch and manage a similar program in Chicago. Though this is the first of its kind in Rhode Island, “Doors Open” programs can be seen in cities all over the world, including Lowell, Milwaukee, Baltimore, London and Toronto. By partnering with cultural organizations throughout the state, Doors Open RI allows community members

PUL PULSE SE

City

The RI Bard

The “People’s Poet,” Tina Cane, is the New State Poet Laureate Grab your literature textbooks;

Rhode Island has a new poet laureate. Appointed by Gina Raimondo after our last state poet, Rick Benjamin, resigned to take a position in California, Tina Cane of Rumford is the new state poet laureate. Established by law in 1989, the Rhode Island poet laureate serves as an advocate for poetry and the arts in Rhode Island. Tina will be the sixth poet laureate since its initial inception. Tina holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and English from the University of Vermont and the University of

Paris, and a Master’s Degree in French Literature from Middlebury College. She has had her work featured in many publications including Barrow Street and The Literary Review. Her book-length poem, The Fifth Thought, was published in 2008. She is also the founder and director of Writers-in-the-Schools RI, a program that brings professional writers into schools to help students write, revise and even perform their own imaginative writing. Tina says of her new position, “During my tenure, I hope every Rhode Islander gets a chance to develop a love of literature, to explore self-expression and to

understand that poetry, because it is such a flexible form, truly belongs to everyone.” Governor Raimondo says of Tina’s appointment: “I am thrilled to have Tina serve as our new state poet laureate. She is a people’s poet. Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly to make the arts more accessible, bringing poetry and a spirit of creative self-expression to Rhode Island schools. Tina truly embodies the powerful role art will play in Rhode Island’s future, and I can’t wait to see what she will achieve.” –Caitlin Howle

Malcontent

May the Lively Experiment Continue

Illustration by Philip Olivera

Rhode Island has resisted tyranny for centuries – can we keep it going in the age of Trump? For almost 400 years, Rhode Island has held forth a lively experiment in American society. It was founded as a haven of tolerance for those whose views made them unwelcome elsewhere. More than a year before Bostonians were throwing tea into the harbor, Rhode Islanders were burning a British customs ship down to the water line. When disenfranchised citizens grew tired of a small, rural elite controlling the government, they held a People’s Convention, wrote their own constitution and elected their own governor. We were the first state to declare independence from Britain and the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the constitution. We have, to put it mildly, a track record of problems with authority. Our tradition of resisting oppression and providing a home for free thought and expression will face yet another test later this month when Donald Trump is sworn in as president. Many have counseled patience and a willingness to work with the new president on areas of common ground. No less a figure than Hillary Clinton said, “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead,” and Trump himself promised to be president for all Americans, not just those who supported him. He has even softened his tone on some of issues that defined his candidacy. But the fact remains that if the president-elect makes good on some of the promises he issued on the campaign trail, if he continues to display his characteristic disregard for political norms and belligerence towards any who oppose him, he will be a very dangerous presence in the Oval Office. We are fortunate to live in a state that is uniquely suited to grapple with that danger. Our congressional delegation, made entirely of members of the opposition party, has already shown a willingness to hold the incoming president to account. Our State House, too, is in the hands of the opposition, which is important at a time when the assertion of state’s rights may prove to be a thin line of defense against executive overreach. Local officials have also been mindful of the

dangers of a Trump presidency. State Representative Aaron Regunberg helped organize an “Emergency Meeting: Next Steps to Resist Hate,” the weekend after the election, and nearly 1,000 people showed up. Mayor Elorza has vowed to use the powers of city government protect the most vulnerable members of our community from violence and discrimination. More important than any institutional ability to resist, however, may be our people and culture. (Especially as Trump has demonstrated that our institutions are more fragile than we might have hoped.) We were born as a refuge of liberty and tolerance, and must continue to define ourselves as such over the next four years. We cannot let bigotry, xenophobia, jingoism or strident nationalism creep into our unique social (dis)order here in this weird little corner of America. We must be prepared to resist. That resistance must be steadfast and unflinching, but it also must be sober, peaceful and built on the common ground that unites us. People around the state are already taking steps

to prepare for what may come. Protesters have taken to the State House lawn. A group called Resist Hate RI quickly developed from Regunberg’s meeting; its Facebook page amassed more than 4,100 followers in less than a month and it has become a hotbed of discussion about ways to help. A group of local Jews organized a Rhode Island event connected to a nationwide Day of Jewish Resistance protesting the appointment of Breitbart firebrand Steve Bannon to the White House. Donations have poured in to organizations that protect the people and freedoms that may be threatened by the next administration’s policies. If there has been a silver lining to the catastrophe that was the election of Donald Trump, it’s that people are realizing they can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. A very irresponsible man is about to take on the most important responsibility in the world. Giving him the benefit of the doubt is no excuse for complacency. Rhode Island has resisted tyranny for centuries. It’s now our job to continue that lively experiment. –John Taraborelli

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Scene in PVD

Sojourner House’s sixth annual Masquerade Ball returned to the Biltmore on November 18. This year’s theme was Havana Nights, featuring Afro-Cuban fusion band Infusion Evolution, Chiﬀerobe’s TropiGals, Cuban food and a cake competition by RI Food Fights. Proceeds from the evening went towards Sojourner House’s mission to support and advocate for victims of domestic violence. SojournerRI.org Photography by Mike Braca

Andre Davis and Erica dePina

Sojourner House Executive Director Vanessa Volz, Mayor Jorge Elorza and Stephanie Gonzalez Ally Cutrona and Scott Joinaille

Cindi Emery, Lori DiPersio and Deb DeBare Stephanie and Ethan Huckel and Daniel Harvey

Valerie Forte and Monet Sanders

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P Pllu ug g IIn ntto o tth he e

e n e e n c e S c c S i s c i u s M u e M c n e d i Prov Nine clubs to amp up your nights with killer local shows Tim Siekiera By Adam Hogu e • Photography by

“There is no other

community like it.” That’s what Davey Moore, owner of the city’s newest music venue, Alchemy, has to say about the Providence music scene. Providence is not only home to unique, artist-centric venues, but it is also an ever-present “it” destination for in-the-know traveling bands. These bands are looking for a great local spot to play that is more than just a stopover between New York and Boston on a regional tour. The Columbus Theatre’s Tom Weyman defines the “big music scene in a small town” as a place rich with local talent that collaborates, supports and is always proud of the places at its fingertips looking to show off the constant influx of new creative minds. So, take out your calendar, block off the next few weekends (and weeknights), because these Providence venues have some music you need to hear.

AS220 Expect to see: Something you may not be able to adequately explain. AS220 is a place for art kids, art rock, non-art kids and the polar opposite of art-rock. Since 1985, AS220 has been a venue for anyone with something original to show, “regardless of perceived ‘talent,’ experience or whether or not they will draw a crowd,” says AS220 Communications Director David Dvorchak. AS220 looks to provide an all-access, all-inclusive “unjuried and uncensored forum for all Rhode Island artists” that allows them to perform exactly what and how they want. Just no cover songs, and, David adds, “check your expectations at the door.” 115 Empire Street. 831-9327, AS220.org

The News Cafe Expect to see: Something sincere, to the point and, possibly, a little wild. It’s favorite of the local DIY scene and a welcome stop for traveling bands. Music booker Justin Foster

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

promises “an intimate venue with nowhere for your favorite bands to hide.” In the world of self-booking, self-promoting bands, The News Cafe is always good for 100% of the proceeds at the door going to performing artists and an anything-goes attitude. The News Cafe is an incubator of local talent that gives anyone who goes a place to love. Is it the dive bar aesthetic? The art gallery? The checkered floor? Probably all of the above. A listener can expect a great sound mix, cheap drinks and friendly, organic and intimate performances with no real separation between band and fan. 43 Broad Street, Pawtucket. 728-6475, NewsCafeRI.com

Americana through singer-songwriter, blues and a blend of modern interpretations of the genres using both traditional and non-traditional instruments. Armed with nothing but coffee generously supplied by the Coffee Exchange, the Stone Soup looks to provide organic music as it should be: a product of place from unplugged musicians to the people. 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket. 335-0371, StoneSoupCoffeehouse.org

The Columbus Theatre Expect to see: Music that’s meant to be heard.

The newest venue downtown is the collective effort of some old faces to the Providence music scene. Davey Moore views Alchemy as a welcome place for any musician regardless of genre. “We deeply respect our local musicians and artists and do everything in our power to promote and support them,” Davey says. It is this sensibility that has led to Alchemy’s boisterous opening month featuring successful nights of hip-hop, rock and everything in between. While some venues rely on artist selfpromotion, Alchemy works to actively get the word out on behalf of the scene. 71 Richmond Street, 2nd Floor. 383-6336, Facebook.com/AlchemyProvidence

While renowned for bringing bigger national acts such as Iron & Wine and The Tallest Man on Earth to Providence, The Columbus Theatre also plays host as a genre bending local venue in their intimate upstairs stage. The space might at first seem uniquely suited for acoustic acts, but The Columbus Theatre’s Tom Weyman points out that while the space is great for those kinds of acts, some of the greatest shows have been punk bands or rappers. “I'm interested in challenging the expectations of what can happen in a seated theater,” he says. With an eye on keeping a healthy blend of music in a space designed for listening, The Columbus Theatre is a place to hear music, no matter what genre it is. Plus, it is also the only venue that offers a marquee for advertisement. Pretty sleek. 270 Broadway. 621-9660, ColumbusTheatre.com

Stone Soup Coffeehouse

Aurora

Expect to see: Raw words and raw music.

Expect to see: Something that intrigues with an equally intriguing cocktail in hand.

Alchemy Expect to see: Exactly the what you were looking for.

On the recommendation of Pete Seeger, a collection of local musicians started the Stone Soup Coffeehouse in 1981 in the historic Slater Mill. The old wooden beams, floor and ceiling give the 120-seat venue a characteristic sound that Stone Soup’s Eric Anderson likens to “performing inside a cello.” The Stone Soup books acoustic performances from

Jenny Young of Aurora puts it this way: “Aurora seeks to provide a safe space and a creative platform for all those interested in music, performance, discussion, dance and theatre.” To think about Aurora in the heart of downcity is to begin to unravel everything the quirky and conscious venue has to offer to

the equally quirky and conscious people of Providence. A glance at their monthly poster reveals a welcome place for the fringe musicians, comedians, one-act plays and performance artist that all find an accommodating space to bring varying definitions of art to the masses. “We strive to program a diverse calendar including, but not limited, to local rock, punk, noise, folk, hip hop, DJs, jazz and more,” Jenny says. With a variety of art to show, Aurora has become a melting pot for all the genres and scenes that call this city home. 276 Westminster Street. 272-5723, AuroraProvidence.com

Firehouse 13 Expect to see: Something loud and necessary. Firehouse 13 might often get lumped in as a strictly punk venue, but a quick look at the concert calendar shows a wide variety of genres being given stage time in this old 1856 firehouse. I think that John Difruscio and Windsong Hadley say it best in the venue’s mission statement: “It’s not about money, it’s not about fame and it’s not about ego. It’s only about the scene, the community. It’s about a secret told only in Providence, whispered from hipster to hipster, punk to punk, kid to kid over the booming echo of clinking glasses and drunken nonsense.” What more is there to say? Now, go see a punk show! 41 Central Street. FH13.com

Dusk Expect to see: Either the metal show you intended to see or something unexpected. Metal heads rest assured, Dusk has a home for you. Adorned with band

stickers featuring every variation of heavy metal font available, Dusk stands off the beaten track from downtown out in an old mill behind the new Promenade off I-95. Take in the sight of racing street bikes as you enter a space solely devoted to the stage and the people on it. But, with metal aside, Dusk owner Rick Sunderland makes sure it is a home for anyone looking to play their music. Amanda Salemi, of Dusk, The Parlour and many other venues, says, “They do not discriminate against any type of music or art and are always willing to give anything a chance.” Dusk has also played host to the popular Revival Brewing and Julian’s Revival Fest, an up-and-coming festival two years running featuring the very best of the local music scene. 301 Harris Avenue. 714-0444, DuskProvidence.com

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PROVIDENCE JO R D AN SE ABE R RY, SABR INA CHAU DHARY & JAS ON ALM EI DA

This year’s 10 TO WATCH are taking on the city’s most challenging issues by J o h n Ta r a b o r e l l i | P ho t o g r aphy by M i c ha e l C e v o li

THE BIG IDEA

“If a kid picks up a gun, chances are it’s not because he just decided one day to be violent,” says Jordan Seaberry. “What structures have been in his life that led him to a gun?” His new mission is to address that question through public policy. An artist known for his abstract paintings immortalizing Providence’s murder victims, Seaberry spent two years at the Nonviolence Institute as Homicide Victim Advocate before ascending to the newly created policy and advocacy post. “We’re taking all of the knowledge and the skill base that we have and translating it to policy change,” he says. “I know we have the recipe to keep someone at-risk alive, and to slow down someone that’s ready to pull a trigger. What we haven’t done enough of is impacting the landscape where those two individuals come from.” His work will focus on four main areas: dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, removing barriers to reentry for people coming out of prison, empowering victims of crime and challenging the normalization of gun violence. Seaberry is confronting violence at its source.

Nonviolent Public Policy

JORDAN SEABERRY Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence AGE: 27 HOMETOWN: Chicago (Sox, not Cubs) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: National Commit-

teeman for Young Democrats of RI; Mayor Elorza’s Advisory Council to Reduce Gun Violence; former prisoners’ rights organizer at Direct Action for Rights and Equality

THE BIG IDEA

More Inclusive Urban Culture

History, Heritage and Economic Opportunity

“Although Providence is a diverse city, oftentimes minority communities don’t get to experience many of the great restaurants, venues or activities it has to offer because they are not marketed to, or they do not feel welcomed in those communities culturally,” says Jason “where’s nasty” (his DJ name) Almeida, one half of the event promotion and digital marketing company Say Silent PVD. He and business partner Sabrina Chaudhary aim to change that through parties, DJ nights and music showcases that emphasize creating alternative spaces for hip-hop. They’ve done it here and around the country with events like “Eggs Over,” a series of music-themed brunches at restaurants in Providence, New York City, Washington DC and Los Angeles. Their other venture, Trade Pop-Up, is a nonprofit that helps young entrepreneurs market themselves and provides free space at its Fox Point storefront for pop-up shops and other events. In the future, they hope to open a bigger, multi-use venue. In 2017, they plan to host an event every week in Providence, the biggest of which will be two summer installments of Day Trill, a free, outdoor festival. “We throw Day Trill to bring together people from multicultural backgrounds and create an alternative space,” explains Chaudhary. “We want to show that hip-hop programming can be safe and fun, and is very necessary.”

Cultural tourism is travel centered around a place’s defining history and heritage. It’s the fastest-growing sector of international travel to the United States, and cultural tourists on average stay longer and spend more than others. Raymond Two Hawks Watson sees tremendous opportunity for Rhode Island. “Cultural history, heritage and diversity are the state’s greatest natural resources,” he says. Last April, the Rhode Island Foundation awarded him a threeyear, $300,000 Innovation Fellowship to launch the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative, a multi-pronged consulting firm and think tank. PCEI is consulting with local cultural organizations to help them market themselves to tourists, working with AS220 to develop a cultural guidebook for the state, and hosting events like International Indigenous People’s Cultural Conference and New England Native American Culture Week. Perhaps the biggest and most exciting plan for 2017 is the return of Sound Session, the week-long “genre-defying music festival” that ran from 2004-10. Watson plans to launch the Sound Session International Culture & Music Festival in the fall, working with the original festival’s founder, Donald King. “I believe that this initiative is a major part of the much needed effort to identify what makes Rhode Island such a unique place,” says Watson.

JASON ALMEIDA & SABRINA CHAUDHARY

RAYMOND TWO HAWKS WATSON

Partners, Stay Silent PVD & Trade Pop-Up

CEO/Founder, Providence Cultural Equity Initiative

AGE: 26 & 27

HER BACKGROUND: Freelance digital

HIS BACKGROUND: DJ and for-

marketing coordinator for clients like B.E.T. Music Matters, DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia and Launch Trampoline Park

mer marketing director for local sneaker chain Expressions

AGE: 36 EDUCATION: BA in Political Science,

Union College; master’s in Community Planning, URI

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Watson is Chief of the Providence-based Mashapaug Nahaganset Tribe

THE BIG IDEA

Sugar kelp is the new oyster. Right now, about 99% of Rhode Island’s aquaculture is oysters. Jules Opton-Himmel has made an impact in that area with Walrus and Carpenter Oysters, two ocean farms totaling eight acres, farming 2-3 million shellfish per year, distributed to 45 local restaurants and seafood purveyors across the eastern seaboard. Last year, he harvested the first commercial sugar kelp crop in Rhode Island. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the global market for edible seaweed production is about $5.5 billion and growing at a steady clip; the vast majority of it is currently produced in Asia. Opton-Himmel sees opportunity: this year he plans on harvesting 50,000 pounds of kelp, starting a hatchery to provide seeds to other farms and developing a processed sugar kelp product for retail. This will extend Rhode Island’s aquaculture growing season (oysters in the summer, kelp in the winter), and like oyster farming, actually improve the quality of the water in which it’s grown by reducing excess nitrogen created from human activity. “As of yet the market for domestic seaweed is undeveloped and an economically feasible method of production is largely unproven,” Opton-Himmel explains. “Rhode Island is perfectly positioned to become a leader in this new industry that can create new jobs and economic activity in a way that does not deplete our natural resources or pollute our environment.”

The Ocean State’s Next Cash Crop

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

JULES OPTON-HIMMEL Owner, Walrus & Carpenter Oysters AGE:36 NEIGHBORHOOD: The West Side EDUCATION: BA in Earth and Environmental

Science, Wesleyan University; Master of Environmental Management, Yale University

RAY MO N D TW O H AW K S WAT S ON , J U L ES O P TO N -H IMME L & ALLE N P E N N IMAN

THE BIG IDEA

Last September, after community groups, RIDOT and the general public has offered their input on the future of the 6-10 Connector, Governor Raimondo disappointed everyone by fast-tracking a plan to simply rebuild what’s there. In October, the City countered with an alternative: a limited-access parkway with a signature “halo” interchange at its center. It was the vision of urban planner Allen Penniman. “That conceptual design got us to the table with the State,” he explains. “We spent the better part of autumn working with the Governor’s Office and RIDOT to incorporate the principles into a final design that RIDOT could put out to bid.” The compromise, unveiled just as this was going to press, includes concessions to all sides: reducing the number of bridges, shortening the Huntington Avenue viaduct by half, fixing the kinks in existing traffic patterns, adding 1.4 miles of bike paths and two pedestrian crossings over train tracks, reclaiming 4.8 acres of land for development, and staying within the $400 million already budgeted for the project. (The “halo” did not make the cut.) “This project is about restoring social and economic vibrancy to our neighborhoods,” Penniman says. “Silver Lake, Olneyville, the West End and nearby neighborhoods have been the victims of past transportation projects. We’re trying to make sure that this time around, they are the beneficiaries.”

Tearing Down Walls

TAINO PALERMO Community Development and Healthy Communities Program Director, School of Continuing Studies at Roger Williams University (Providence campus) AGE: 32 NEIGHBORHOOD:

Edgewood COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Co-chair, Rhode Island Commission for Health Advocacy and Equity; board member, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation; board of governors, The Miriam Hospital

ALLEN PENNIMAN Principal Planner, City of Providence AGE: 33 NEIGHBORHOOD: Fox Point NOTABLE PRIOR EXPERIENCE: Has worked on urban planning and design projects in China, Aruba, Peru and rural Mississippi

THE BIG IDEA

Better (Nonprofit) Neighbors “Anchor institutions understand their role and obligation in society and the powerful impact they can have on the surrounding community,” explains Taino Palermo. In addition to directing two degree programs that are the only ones of their kind in the state, he’s working to make Roger Williams the model of an anchor institution. This year, he’s working with RWU Center for Workforce and Professional Development to launch the third male and second female cohorts of Pivot the Hustle, a careerreadiness program for prisoners. He will oversee the growth of RWU’s role in Advanced

Coursework Network, already the largest in the state, with more than 200 high school students taking free college credit courses. In May, he’ll graduate the first cohort of dualenrolled students at Juanita Sanchez High School, who will receive a certificate degree in Community Development and 15 college credits. In the fall, he’ll launch Gateway to College, a first of its kind in the state intervention program that will bring students in danger of dropping out to RWU, where they will work simultaneously on a high school diploma and associate’s degree. “Roger Williams takes this role very seriously and is doing the work to prove it,” he says. “We’re taking bold and innovative steps in hopes that other anchor institutions in the state will follow our lead.”

THE BIG IDEA

The world is in the midst of an unprecedented refugee crisis – a global problem that hits close to home for Chanravy Proeung. Her success organizing Southeast Asian populations locally and nationally through PrYSM, the Southeast Asian Freedom Network, and 1Love Movement, a Philadelphia-based refugee advocacy campaign, earned her a prestigious 18-month fellowship from billionaire philanthropist George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. This year, she’s shifting her focus back home with Roots of Resilience, a program to promote cultural preservation by bringing generations of her native Khmer community together through the teaching and sharing of culinary traditions. “The program will create a much needed space to share lived experiences through storytelling and community relationship building,” she says, “and preserving authentic practices by passing them to the next generation.” Proeung plans to host nine cooking sessions at the Southside Cultural Center, during which she will document stories of survival. Those will be compiled, along with recipes, into a cookbook to debut at a closing event in the fall. “It will open dialogue around refugee struggles, and support community building in a population that has been largely forgotten and underserved,” Proeung says. “It is important for Rhode Islanders to understand the realities of war, displacement and resettlement.” Now more than ever.

Bringing It All Back Home

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

CHANRAVY PROEUNG Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow, Open Society Foundations AGE: 30 BACKGROUND: Providence native and

Classical alum whose parents fled the genocide in Cambodia in 1979 PREVIOUS WORK: Executive director, Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM); National organizer, Southeast Asian Freedom Network

C HANR AV Y PR O EU N G , TA IN O PA L ERM O & AN TO N IE TA FALC O N I

THE BIG IDEA

A More Progressive State House

All the Small Things Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), the nonprofit that provides support and services to social entrepreneurs starting “do well, do good” businesses, sees no shortage of people with big ideas. Antonieta Falconi is not one of them. “I don’t see myself as a visionary or idea person,” she says. “But having the idea is just the beginning. It is as critical to know how to evaluate and execute. That is what I am good at.” Four years ago, she was SEG’s second full-time hire; since then it has grown to 11 employees operating nearly a dozen programs, events and services aimed at helping social enterprises grow. As SEG gears up to run three installments of its Accelerator (think bootcamp for start-ups) this year, helping 30+ entrepreneurs turn their big ideas into actual, functioning companies, Falconi will be focused on the small things. “Specifically, I will work to expand the financial system supports we offer, which does not sound exciting, but is critical for a successful social enterprise,” she explains. One example is a new initiative to help social ventures implement a “financial dashboard.” As a behind-the-scenes force, Falconi even shies away from the notion of being “one to watch.” “Don’t watch me,” she advises. “Watch the ‘do well, do good’ movement. We will start moving the needle on big issues.”

ANTONIETA FALCONI Chief Financial Officer, Social Enterprise Greenhouse AGE: 38 HOMETOWN: Quito, Ecuador WHY SHE CAME TO PROVIDENCE:

Moved here from Miami with her husband after an extensive analytical evaluation of various cities based on qualities like diversity, historic architecture and opportunity to promote civic engagement.

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

DAMIAN EWENS AND JEN SILBERT Project Director & Senior Project Manager, Opportunity@Work AGE: 40 & 43 HIS BACKGROUND: Founded Achievery,

one of the first digital credentialing companies; taught for four years at Big Picture Learning schools HER BACKGROUND: Organizational development consultant for PriceWaterhouseCoopers and IBM; co-founded Spartina Consulting and the education initiative Learning401

THE BIG IDEA

A Pipeline for Tech Talent Rhode Islanders need new, well-paying jobs; tech companies need talented workers to fill the job openings they already have. Damian Ewens and Jen Silbert are trying to connect those needs with TechHireRI, an initiative that aims to place 2,000 Rhode Islanders into tech jobs by 2020. In their first year, they built partnerships with Governor Raimondo, CommerceRI, and the Department of Labor and Training, and helped GE Digital recruit a third of their first hires in Providence. “Talent is a big reason why companies stay in Rhode Island or move elsewhere,” explains Ewens. “The development of a talent pipeline that can quickly fill jobs today and tomorrow is already demonstrating success. The state was able to attract GE Digital and one of their top reasons was the talent.” Plans for 2017 include the growth of their employer and job seeker online platforms, providing scholarships for coding courses, and supporting the development of new computer science minors at more colleges and universities, including URI. “Unfilled tech jobs is one of the biggest challenges our companies face,” says Silbert. “Accessing these high paying jobs, and the training to get the job, is also one of the biggest economic opportunities available to Rhode Islanders today.”

On Primary Day (or, as we know it in this all-Democratic state, Election Day) last September four candidates backed by the Progressive Democrats won upsets against incumbent lawmakers. By far the most significant victory was that of Marcia RanglinVassell, a Providence schoolteacher and first-time candidate who unseated House Majority Leader John DeSimone, a 24-year incumbent. (She later won an easy victory in the general election, despite a last-ditch write-in effort by DeSimone.) Key to her appeal was her vow to fight for a $15 minimum wage. “I firmly believe that families should be fairly and adequately compensated for their work,” she says. “It’s unconscionable that families are working up to 80 hours per week and still live in poverty.” Though the issue has struggled to gain traction in the past, there is increasing support for it across party lines, and it was recently added to the official platform for the Rhode Island Democratic Party. With a larger and more emboldened slate of progressives at the State House, and new voices like Ranglin-Vassell’s speaking for Providence’s underrepresented populations, this could be the year the fight is won.

MARCIA RANGLIN-VASSELL Incoming State Representative, House District 5 AGE: 56 HOMETOWN: Eleven Miles, Bull Bay, Jamaica DAY JOB: English Language Arts teacher at Providence Career and Technical Academy

D A MI A N E W E NS , J EN S IL B ERT & M A RC IA R AN G LIN -VASSE LL

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C I T Y ST Y L E At Home / Shop Talk / The Look / Beauty / Get Fit

COASTAL LIVING Kate Motte and Levi Richardson fell in love with the waterfront community of Edgewood/Pawtuxet Village 14 years ago when they moved into their 1910 Gambrel Victorian home. They’ve since filled up the house with two sons, Will and Charlie, now 13 and 10. Their inviting home is a magnet for many friend and family gatherings.

The bookshelves pay tribute to the various places Kate and Levi have lived and traveled, displaying art from their time in Denver, New York and Washington DC (where the two met after college). The statues are from a small village in Zimbabwe and were traded for a pair of gloves. The “Frankie the Fish” metal sculpture is a nod to Levi’s love of fishing and keeps a friendly watch over the room.

Photography by Ian Travis Barnard

Music is a constant companion in their home. The Gambrel Victorian home is framed with many beautiful arches and details – the open architecture makes for wonderful acoustics. On most days, the rooms are filled with music as both boys (and Dad) play instruments – guitars and keyboard. Will’s band, Five for Now!, is getting lots of local attention, having played at the Rhode Island Oyster Fest and the Mystic Blues Festival.

The family’s love of the beach is infused throughout the house. Friend and designer, Kate Jackson, brought this feel into the rooms with additions like the seashell tiled coffee table and framed botanical shell prints. Beach stones, shells and glass treasures find a home in the large sandy hurricane vases. Striking nautical blue fabrics warm up the room.

East Side | Eleventh Street Sold at $510,000

Downtown | Fountain Street Sold at $495,000

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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

CITY STY LE

The Look

by Julie Tremaine

Zephyr Goza Actor, RKO Army

Photography by Ian Travis Barnard

I grew up on

stage. From the age of three I was performing in professional theatre with my parents. I think I was the youngest Tiny Tim to ever play the role, at least that I’m aware of. I’ve done some Shakespeare in the past few years, but these days I’m mostly with the RKO Army doing Rocky Horror Picture Show and other shadowcasted productions. Most commonly I play Frank N Furter, and I love it. I have both of his tattoos in real life. There’s something about having just put on the makeup that puts me in such a fun state of mind.

When I perform Rocky Horror those are usually very specific costumes that a lot of work

and resources have gone into creating, and when I perform anything else it’s usually on a small enough scale that everyone is providing their own wardrobe. Choosing what to wear is a really interesting part of deciding who a character is.

to look like I belong as much in a business meeting as I would out on an adventure. I take little elements that I like from all kinds of sources and put them together to create what I wear, and I’m always getting caught up on subtle details.

Having a personal style is just curating the things about yourself that you want to put forward. Whether intentional or not, Rod Serling’s everyman suit and tie worn in every episode of The Twilight Zone left the narrator as an enigmatic blank slate to the audience. It wouldn’t have worked in a polo and slacks. For me, I guess I would describe my style as a kind of dapper rock and roll. The goal is

My fashion inﬂuence comes more often from fictional characters or abstract ideas than specific people. Right now, I draw a lot of influence from Peter Capaldi on Doctor Who. I love the look of ‘50s greasers, of 1930s Hollywood, and the images evoked by industrial era Providence. I’m always taking ideas from different people or eras like that and incorporating them into how I dress.

January 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

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Tucked into a little spot on Broadway is a one-of-a-kind artist collaboration and wellness destination. Erin Myles of the craft jewelry line Wanderluxe has teamed up with Nicole Deponte of the vintage neckwear company Lilian Asterfield to create Asterluxe, a soulful little shop that features the handmade works of artists. It’s a shop that celebrates modern makers, healthy living and caring for one’s inner and outer space. Erin and Nicole lived as neighbors in Providence’s West End and bonded over their shared creative natures and the special things about the neighborhood that they loved. So, they decided to come together, along with other local artists, to create this truly unique shopping destination (next door to Nicole’s original Lilian Asterfield location) that oﬃcially opened its doors in October. The space features small batch, artisanal works from over 30 artists, including many local makers, from all over the United States. When I met with Erin on a chilly Friday evening, the bright little shop was like an ethereal escape from the windy night. Erin explains that, “Our

focus is on wellness and creativity, and curating a beautiful life. Everything’s focused on being tranquil, calm and peaceful.” They don’t only use the space to showcase and sell the works of local artists and artisans, but to host workshops and classes on mindfulness and healthy living. “Asterluxe is a place to center and step away from the buzz of modern life,” say Erin and Nicole. “We want our customers to rely on us to offer the perfect gifts for themselves and others.” The shop has a deliciously earthy feel. Though the space itself is quite small (350 square feet), there are endless goodies to explore. The walls are covered in air plants and succulents in cool and crafty containers. Each little piece is clearly unique and made with passion, quite unlike anything you’ll find in crowded chain stores. With intriguing jewelry, accessories, teas, pillows, hats, mugs and other pottery, towels, prints, body products, plants, trinkets and even

pet supplies, it’s a perfect place to find a truly thoughtful gift. It’s a gift you (and the recipient) can feel especially good about since everything is supporting local artists and is handmade with organic, natural and wellsourced materials and ingredients. A few of the events at Asterluxe this month include a tea tasting on January 7, where you can try some of the organic teas they carry in the store and get a discount on a handmade mug, and a mindful meditation workshop on the 12th. They already held one back in October; during the workshop, a meditation expert brings her equipment to the store and leads a ten-person class through an hour-long guided meditation. Their website’s blog frequently shares articles on wellness and creative, happy living. All this makes Asterluxe so much more than just a shopping destination. It brings good vibes to the neighborhood in so many ways.

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Photography by Meghan H. Follett

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Tom Lopatosky started

Cheer Up Athletics last spring out of necessity. His daughter was a member of another all-star gym in Massachusetts that had to close its doors. The girls on that team had been cheering and competing together for years, and came from all over – from Portsmouth to Franklin, Massachusetts – and now didn’t have a home to practice in or an organization to keep them together. Tom didn’t want the girls to lose the opportunity to compete, so he met up with one of the gym’s coaches, Allison Swallow, and asked her if she would be interested in helping him to start their own gym. At Cheer Up, Tom and Allison decided they wanted to create programs in addition to their core team’s training. They have half-year and full-year teams that vary in skill and age for kids to sign up for. Cheer Up also offers the space for rent to local high schools in need of valuable mat time to practice routines for upcoming competitions. Looking at the white board with the weekly schedule, you can see they are keeping busy. In addition to offering programs for teams they also have different classes like open tumble sessions for anyone who wants to come and learn or work on their craft with some skilled coaches. They also do private coaching for individuals and teams as well. So you can see Cheer Up aims to provide a little something for all individuals and skill levels. I found myself at Cheer Up on a Sunday afternoon for an open gym session. The gist is you pay $10 and you can use the mats and the coaches they have available for whatever you care to work on during that two hour session. As a former high school cheerleader who hadn’t even thought about doing a stunt (also known as putting a girl up in the air) or tumbling (I have a fear of it) for years, I was a bit daunted to be surrounded by a group of skilled cheerleaders who were there to just have fun and try stuff out. However, there were also people there who were newish to cheering, like a dancer from a local college who was just interested in trying to learn some tumbling skills.

Call Gerri Schiffman (401) 474-3733 Cheer Up is primarily a training gym for cheerleaders, but they open their doors on weekends to adults looking to revive those pyramid skills

I had been hiding in the corner watching a group practice stunts like a liberty, which is where someone on the ground – the base, usually a strong dude – lifts up a flyer – the person in the air – and holds them up with one arm; the flyer lifts both arms and one leg in air before dismounting. As you might guess, I was feeling a bit intimidated. Casey Lesieur, one of their coaches who is a lifelong gymnast, former college cheerleader and current Celtics cheerleader, was working with the group to help them perfect their stunts. I chatted with her a bit about her passion for cheer and gymnastics and as she went to offer the group some advice, another coach there that day, Jenna Bettez who had also cheered with Casey for years, told me it was my turn to try tumbling. Wait... say what? I felt pretty sure I was going to break my neck, but Jenna started me off with the easy stuff. I did a front roll (a kind of a somersault) and then I did a standing front roll which is where you stand up at the end. I felt

like I at least looked like I knew what I was doing, though I totally didn’t. We then moved onto a backwards roll (a backwards somersault into a standing position), which was very scary, and then into a diving front roll, which I managed to accomplish without severing my spinal cord. Victory was mine! I then finished with a couple of handstands and a severe case of the spins. I asked Jen if that was normal, and she assured me that it was. And with that sense of accomplishment and nausea, I called it a day. Even if you only cheered that one time in high school like me, or you used to do gymnastics, or you just want to learn how to walk on your hands, Cheer Up Athletics’ open gym is a pretty cool place. The coaches really make you feel at ease, and it helps to know that they are there to help, and protect you from neck injuries. Don’t be afraid to go check it out, you might end up feeling like a boss even though you just did a glorified somersault. It was a badass looking somersault and I won’t forget it.

Cheer Up Athletics 425 Washington Street • Facebook.com/CheerUpAthletics

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only certain things in life are death and taxes, but for me it’s death, taxes and good skincare. It might sound like hyperbole – because, let’s face it, I love to exaggerate – but this is actually true. I’m more committed to eye cream than I am to most of my actual life commitments. Lately, I’ve been taking it one step further. I did a program last year at All That Matters called 40 Day Revolution, which helps you “live with intention” – meaning that you get better tools to help you make choices to be more mindful and take better care of yourself. (Seriously, it was revolutionary in the truest sense of the word. I can’t recommend it highly enough.) Since then, one of the things I’ve prioritized is intentionally removing chemicals from my life. It started with processed foods, and grew to include cleaning products. That was easy – I just gave up cleaning. Now, I’m conquering the monolithic task of finding natural alternatives to all of the lotions and creams and potions I use on my skin every day. Evolve Apothecary, the all-natural shop on Hope Street that carries green options for face and body products, makeup and household cleaners, has made that task a lot easier. They carry my favorite local, natural products: Java Skin Care’s green caffeine body wash, which is made in North Kingstown; Curious Nature Apothecary’s super hydrating body oils, made in Providence; and Farmaesthetics’, well, everything. They’re the only place in Providence carrying the full line of the Portsmouth-made skincare company, which is worth every penny of the price tag for the incredibly high level of botanical quality in their products. Last year, Evolve opened a treatment room in the store, and started offering all-natural spa services like holistic facials, massages and body treatments. I had been dying to try one, because the shop was combining two of my very favorite things: being pampered, and being pampered with natural beauty. When Kelly Andrade showed me into the serene space for my holistic facial, I knew I was in for a treat. Bottles of Farmaesthetics and Dr. Hauschka products glinted on tables, and there was a Jane Iredale all natural

X-Ray/LabS avaiLabLe Workman’s Comp Exams Immunization DOT, School & Sports Physicals appointMentS avaiLabLe FoR tRaveL Medicine makeup bar in the corner. I didn’t try it that day, but I definitely will soon. First, Kelly cleansed my face with Farmaesthetics Fine Herbal Cleanser, which uses geranium and lavender essential oils to gently cleanse. Do I sound like a fan? I am. I’ve been using it every day for years, and the botanical burst in the morning is an incredibly pleasant way to start the day. She then put on a layer of Vassar Rose Perfecting Polish, which is a natural alternative to microdermabrasion and is mostly made of finely ground rose petals. Swag. After that, Kelly used a thick layer of Farmaesthetics Herbal Hydration Complex as a moisturizing mask, and gave me an arm and leg massage with their Midnight Honey Oil, which is a great defense against flaky winter skin. Next up: a coat of Pure Complexion Tonic. I’ve never been sold on the benefits of toner, but Kelly assured me that it helps keep your pores clean and helps keep breakouts at bay. Given all of the junk food I ate around the holidays (my definition of holiday is any day ending in Y), I could use all the help I can get. I’ve been using that toner every day since, and I like what I’m seeing. After, she dabbed Eyebright around my eyes, which is a makeup remover that doubles as antiwrinkle treatment, because it calms down the tense muscles around your eyes. Then, a lip softener, and a coat of Dr. Hauschka Melissa Day Cream. I left with a bag of new goodies to try, and another weapon in my war against chemicals in my life.

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very ﬁrst restaurant after the gateway into Providence’s “Little Italy,” the restaurant has been inviting all lovers of authentic Italian cuisine – new and old – since 1956, and is the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in Rhode Island. The recipes of Joe Marzilli himself have been followed respectfully by generations of chefs, which make dining at The Old Canteen both a gourmet and time-bending experience.

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In the Kitchen / On the Menu / Review / In the Drink / Dining Guide

DOWNCITY DELIGHTS You never quite know what to expect when you walk into North or North Bakery, and that’s half the charm. Their flavor combinations are unlike those of a traditional bakery, often blending the sweet with the savory. Think Brown Butter Miso cookies, a Lemon Bar with a rosemary crust and a bagel topped with country ham, scallion and kimchee butter. With an ever-growing fan base they’ve expanded by opening their second bakery downtown. Located right next to the Alex and Ani Skating Center, it’s a central enough location to easily pick up a coffee or one of their many whimsical culinary creations. 2 Kennedy Plaza. NorthBakery.com –Grace Lentini North Bakery Opens up it’s second location in Downcity

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Something to Cluck About Bucktown delivers no-nonsense Southern classics even Southerners would love

diversity and quality of restaurants in Providence, so I always applaud a new restaurant for managing to find an unaddressed niche in this fairly comprehensive food city. A recent example is Bucktown, who swooped in to relieve all the Southern transplants eager for hearty fried chicken, hush puppies and banana pudding. Bucktown is small and simple. To put it in Rhode Island terms, think of it as a seafood shack that happens to be in the heart of the city’s West Side (and serves more than seafood). What was once a neighborhood ice cream and snack shop now delivers what is arguably the city’s best fried chicken, easily building a cult following. We started with some appetizers (a.k.a. “Bites”): an order of Hush Puppies and Southern Fried Shrimp. I was looking forward to the Crispy Oysters, which I’d enjoyed in the past – too bad the restaurant was fresh out. The hush puppies were not too sweet and not too grainy, with

specks of green onion. If you like an extra dose of honey on yours, look for the honey bear squeeze bottle at the table. The shrimp hit the spot – hot and freshly fried, evenly coated with well-seasoned cornmeal, tartar sauce on the side. The heartier portion of Bucktown’s menu has sandwiches (Sandos) and Plates. The plates come with two sides and a choice of sauce; “sando” eaters or the especially hungry can order extra sides for $3 a piece. At Bucktown, it’s almost cafeteria style. You order at the counter, the staff brings out your tray and you bus your own table. As we waited for our food, we enjoyed some of the beer selection, which is relatively large for a small restaurant: four taps alongside several cans and bottles. My husband had an El Sully by 21st Amendment Brewery, and I tried the Lil Heaven Session IPA by Two Roads Brewing Company in Connecticut. Both are light on the alcohol at under five percent. I preferred the IPA, which had a

Hush Puppies with honey butter

lot of flavor for a session beer (session beer means low alcohol, as in “you can drink many in a session.”) Bucktown also has a selection of

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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

sodas and homemade Hibiscus Punch, which I promised myself I’d try on my next visit. My father-in-law was considering the Fried Bologna Sandwich but ended up deciding on a Shrimp Po’ Boy. My mother-in-law ordered a Shrimp Plate. The shrimp on the plate are the same as the shrimp appetizer, but they were so good we didn’t mind an extra helping at the table. Seafood fans should also try the Captain’s Platter; the contents may change depending on what’s available but usually include fish, shrimp and oysters. I was astonished by my Chicken Thigh Sandwich. The flattened, boneless thigh was enormous – almost twice the size of the bun, and maybe even the size of my face. I was happy to have a huge portion to share with the table. My husband had the Fried Chicken Dinner, which comes with two pieces of chicken and two sides. Though I have no qualms about wrestling chicken bones, I thought

Photography by Stacey Doyle

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Providence’s Favorite Nail Salon my sandwich was a great way to experience the delicious dark meat with less hassle. All of our sides were crowd pleasers. The Collard Greens were some of the best we’ve had in New England, the smoky pork balanced with a touch of sweetness and acidity. The Mac and Cheese was simple and nostalgic. The Cole Slaw was a mayo-free version, which I prefer alongside fried food. We especially loved the Waffle Fries, which were wonderfully seasoned with a hint of spice. I couldn’t stop dipping them in

spicy Comeback Sauce, a Southern concoction usually made with mayonnaise and chili sauce, like a daring Russian dressing. We finished our night with two orders of Banana Pudding. The mini pies were made with vanilla wafers, banana pudding and whipped topping. I’d never had this dessert before, but it brought back memories for my in-laws. Though I usually fill my plate with greener fare, I’m sure I’ll be back to Bucktown for some comfort food this winter.

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Rediscovering a Love for Cooking NicoBella’s Daniel Crenca is back on the culinary circuit after 20 years

Photography by Brian DeMello

NicoBella’s is more than a family-run eatery that offers modern diner food and all-day breakfast. Celebrating its first anniversary, the restaurant is a testament to chef-owner Daniel Crenca’s lifelong passion for cooking. He shares with us what inspired him to get back in the kitchen, the one ingredient he cannot live without and the person that has influenced him most as a chef. Tell us about your life in the culinary world before you opened NicoBella’s. I began working at Railroad Deli, an all-night breakfast place, 36 years ago. Thirty-five years ago, I was at Alfredo’s on Thayer Street, and 34 years ago I became one of the youngest guys trained at Capriccio’s when I was 18. I was in multiple restaurants for 20 years. I ended up owning a breakfast place on Chalkstone Avenue, the Castle Spa, and I consulted and worked with other restaurants like Brewed Awakenings and Chardonnay’s in Seekonk. Then I got out of the business 20 years ago and started doing project management, I developed a real estate company, became a minister and developed 150 recovery beds in Rhode Island. Then a year ago my brother, who is the director and founder of AS220, gave me a call. A friend of his was thinking of a restaurant downtown and thought I might be interested. It woke up the sleeping dog. Now, I’ve been able to create a culmination of my experience to create food better than a regular diner but still with a very simple menu.

What inspired you to create NicoBella’s concept? There’s nothing more important to me than my family. NicoBella’s is a familybased and family-run organization. It’s named after my daughters, Nicolina and Arabella. My daughter is here waitressing, my wife works here and my brother and sister-in-law’s artwork – Umberto Crenca and Susan Clausen – is on the walls. There’s a lot of competition in Providence for Italian food. What makes your concept different? What makes us unique, beyond the level of Italian food, is that we have breakfast all day downtown, seven days a week, 365 days a year. So we are more of a breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant with an Italian flair. I don’t necessarily categorize us as strictly an Italian restaurant. It’s more of a restaurant run by a guy who’s Italian. And my experience goes back to some of the best Italian chefs that Providence has ever seen including Nino D’Urso, the original chef from Capriccio’s. What are some must-try items on NicoBella’s menu? For breakfast, the most popular items include the Daniel Special, which is a sausage gravy made with Fred-Rick

veal sausage and Italian sausage with two poached eggs over it, and our three-egg omelettes. For lunch, it’s the chicken Parmesan sandwich, which is breaded in-house daily. And for dinner it’s the homemade gnocchi, which is an original recipe that was taught to me from Capriccio’s over 30 years ago, and our lasagna, which is a handmade lasagna that won the pasta challenge in Providence back in the ‘80s.

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What one ingredient could you not live without? Tomato sauce. What’s the one thing that inspired you to be a chef? One thing I can say is it wasn’t a meal that inspired me to be a chef, but a person. There’s been no greater inspiration to me in my young life than Julia Child. As corny as that sounds, it’s the truth. I watched every single show about 12 inches from the TV and you couldn’t peel me away. And then my most profound experience that gave me the respect for this business that I had – and still have – was working at Capriccio’s for Vinny and Nino. Their influence on my life really inspired me to respect this business and embrace it for more than just a job.

NicoBella’s Family Restaurant 74 Dorrance Street • 383-3131 • Facebook.com/NicoBellasRestaurant

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On the Menu by Grace Lentini

Syrian Hospitality The newest addition to Rolfe Square, Mosaic Restaurant, highlights the cuisine and culture of the Middle East Syrian food is the star of the show at Mosaic Restauran

NEW YEAR, NEW DINING DEALS If you haven’t been to XO Cafe in a while, it’s about time for a return visit. Stop by on Mondays for 50% off all bottles of wine. Or, bring your appetite for Fried Chicken Wednesdays where you get fried chicken, mac and cheese, bacon-braised greens and buttermilk biscuits for $19.99. Then, don your finest pajamas and receive a free mimosa or bloody Mary during their Pajama Brunch on Sundays. 125 North Main Street. 273-9090, XOCafe.com Head up to the Hill for the weekly specials at Federal Taphouse and Kitchen. Every Monday enjoy $2 draft beer and 50 cent wings. On Tuesdays dig into $3 tacos and $5 margaritas. Get a burger and beer for $10 on Thursdays and a bottomless mimosa or bloody Mary during brunch on Sundays. 279 Atwells Avenue. 4548881, FederalTandK.com

The Friskie Fries food truck now has a brick-and-mortar location in Cranston

Photography (left) by Mike Braca, (right) courtesy of Friskie Fries

It’s rare to experience Syrian hospitality in RI, but that’s what you get at the recently opened Mosaic Restaurant in Rolfe Square in Cranston. Similar to the other food establishments in Rolfe Square, Mosaic Restaurant is filling a niche, like the European Food Market which houses a Russian deli, Chinese-American go-to King’s Garden Restaurant, Mexican-inspired eatery Mesa Cafe and Grill and the Character’s Cafe. The Syrian restaurant was opened by two Syrian-born brothers Fadi and Shadi Al-Tarazi, who wanted to share their love for their culture. Most of the dishes on the menu have strong ties to Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world. The cuisine is similar to other types of Middle Eastern fare, but Syrian food differs in the types of seasonings used and the quantity. The dishes overall tend to be on the tart side, and that’s how it should be. For example, sumac – a reddish spice with a lemony, tart flavor – is regularly sprinkled on hummus, salads and meat. There are plenty of familiar dishes on the menu like falafel and chicken, and steak and lamb kebabs. You’ll also find more traditional items like Kibbeh, made of finely ground meat, onions, bulgur wheat and spices, which is a Syrian specialty traditionally made to welcome guests into the home. Another common appetizer is Mutabbal, where roasted eggplant is combined with garlic, tahini, lemon and olive oil. Throughout the restaurant there’s artwork of ornate mosques and neighborhood streets, highlighting the beauty of Fadi and Shadi’s birthplace. You’ll also find pieces of mosaic art everywhere you look. Fadi chose to incorporate mosaic patterns because it’s integral to Damascus culture. In fact, his love of this type of historical art is where the restaurant’s name comes from. The brothers, more than anything, want diners to come in and try the food they grew up making for their family. And if the mood strikes, partake in some hookah afterwards. 91 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 808-6512, MosaicRestaurantRI.com

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS If you’ve never had the Miss Potato Head Fries from Friskie Fries food truck you’re seriously missing out. Imagine smoked bacon, sharp cheddar, sour cream and chives on piping hot fries. No need to fear, you can now get these fries every day of the week. They recently opened a brick-and-mortar in Cranston in addition to their two food trucks on-the-go across RI. At the new location, they’ve added shakes to their menu of perfectly crunchy-on-the-outside-and-soft-onthe-inside fries. You can choose from chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and coffee flavors to dunk said fries into. 751 Hartford Avenue, Cranston. 919-5489, Facebook.com/FriskieFries

January 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

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Let’s play a quick Sparkling Pear Martini Serves one • 2oz pear vodka (such as Grey Goose La Poire) • 1oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur • Prosecco, to taste • Ice Get your martini glass frosty. Put it in the freezer or fill temporarily with ice. Combine the vodka and liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until blended and chillier than a Hitchcock blonde’s heart. Strain into your prepared glass and top with a Prosecco float.

word association game, shall we? Here goes: There’s a bar by the name of Rocco’s Pub and Grub. You hear that moniker and you think… beer? Definitely beer. There’s probably a bottle of house wine ready for the occasional girlfriend or wife. Not so fast. Rocco’s name is a complete red herring, and I get the sense that they like it that way. The Smithfield venue does serve beer, but it serves the good stuff. The really good stuff, in fact – miles away from, say, whatever your spendthrift uncle brought to barbecues in a leaky plastic cooler. Even more surprising is that cocktails are their mainstay, and seasonally attuned, tasteful cocktails at that. “We change our menu every

season,” bartender Alysa Cambra told us. That said, they need to be pragmatic given a high volume of thirsty patrons. She winces at the memory of mojitos this past summer, for instance, which were delicious but too involved. All that muddling, otherwise known as the universal bane of a bartender’s existence. For the winter menu they kept things smart and streamlined. When we asked for a current entry to share with readers, Alysa gave us a three-ingredient vodka martini that’s greater than the sum of its parts. On the perennial shaken versus stirred debate, she was unapologetically Team Shaken. “Especially for this one,” she said. “It makes things really cold and crisp, which feels right for right now.”

Rocco’s Pub and Grub 55 Douglas Pike, Smithfield • 349-2250 • RoccosPubandGrub.com

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

Photography by Mike Braca

WINTER SALE

DINING GUIDE I N YO U R N E I G H B O R H O O D

Spirito’s Restaurant Housed in the grand Italo-American Club of Rhode Island, Spirito’s is a traditional Italian restaurant that has been serving generations of hungry Rhode Islanders, no matter if they’re Italian or not. Spirito’s is open to the public, though the Italo-American Club is members only, and specializes in authentic Italian cuisine. Owned and operated by brothers David and Gregory Spirito, Spirito’s is the kind of place where you will be greeted by one brother and have your food prepared by the other. Spirito’s opened in 2000, but the brothers have been cooking up delicious food for over 30 years. Stop by for an intimate dinner any night of the week, or the lively Sunday family style chicken dinner. Spirito’s can host parties of up to 125 people and has extensive options for banquets and sit-down catered events. They also offer food trays for pickup. 477 Broadway, Providence 434-4435, SpiritosRestaurant.com

PROVIDENCE COUNTY 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Gourmet steaks and sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 4532333. LD $$$ Cafe di Panni Italian American dining with an available banquet facility. 187 Pocasset Ave, Providence, 944-0840. LD $-$$ Capri Swedish-influenced Mediterranean cuisine. 58 De Pasquale Ave, Providence, 274-2107. LD $$-$$$ Catering Gourmet Premiere catering company providing food made from scratch. 333 Strawberry Field Rd, Warwick, 773-7925. $-$$$ CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in an historic setting. 14 Imperial Pl, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$-$$$ Centro Restaurant & Lounge Contemporary cuisine and cocktails. 1 W Exchange St, Providence, 228-6802. BLD $$$ Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 3000 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$

Spirito’s Restaurant serves up classic Italian cuisine in the stately Italo-American Club of RI

Character’s Cafe & Theatre 82 Hybrid art space with all day breakfast, coffee and theatre-inspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 490-9475. BL $

Thomas Jefferson Hill Mill. 697 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, 739-5111. LD $-$$$

Cucina Rustica Rustic, Italian-style dining combining comfort food and sophistication. 555 Atwood Ave, Cranston, 944-2500. LD $-$$

Jacky’s Galaxie Local Pan-Asian chain offering sushi and classic entrees in a modern atmosphere. Locations in Providence, North Providence, Bristol and Cumberland, JackysGalaxie.com. LD $-$$$

Flatbread Company Artisanal pizza, local ingredients. 161 Cushing St, Providence, 273-2737. LD $-$$

Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$

Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 3980027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228-3901. D $-$$

Luxe Burger Bar Build your own creative burger. 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $

Harry’s Bar & Burger Handcrafted sliders, brews and pub games. 121 N Main St. Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336 LD $-$$ Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambiance. Locations in Cranston and Providence. HarukiSushi.com LD $-$$ Iron Works Tavern A wide variety of signature American dishes in the historic

McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$ McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steak Mixed grill selections and signature fish dishes sourced locally and seasonally. 11 Dorrance St, Providence, 351-4500. BLD $$-$$$ Meeting Street Cafe BYOB eatery with large menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner served all day. 220 Meeting St, Providence, 273-1066. BLD $-$$

Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$ Momo Dessert restaurant with crepes, home-made stir fry ice cream and bubble tea. 100 Washington St, Providence, 521-6666. BLD $ Mosaic Restaurant Syrian cuisine served in an intimate setting. 91 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 808-6512. BLD $-$$$ Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza Classic Italian fare and traditional New Yorkstyle pizzas. 100 East St, Cranston, 383-7722; 380 Atwells Ave, Providence, 273-2400. LD $-$$ Ocean State Sandwich Company Craft sandwiches and hearty sides. 1345 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 155 Westminster St, Providence, 282-6772. BL $-$$ Opa the Phoenician Authentic Lebanese food served in a fun atmosphere with hookahs. 230 Atwells Ave, Providence, 351-8282. D $-$$$ Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence,

Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+

January 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

DINING GUIDE 331-0003. LD $-$$ Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 273-1444. LD $-$$$ Pizza J A fun, upbeat atmosphere

with thin crust pizza, pub fare and gluten-free options. 967 Westminster St, Providence, 632-0555. LD $-$$ Red Ginger Traditional Chinese restaurant and bar with a relaxed environment. 560 Killingly St, Johnston, 861-7878; 1852 Smith

St, North LD $-$$

Providence,

353-6688.

Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Rick’s Roadhouse House-smoked barbecue. 370 Richmond St, Providence, 272-7675. LD $-$$ Rocco’s Pub & Grub Five-star menu in an intimate, pub-like atmosphere. 55 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 3492250. LD $-$$ Rosmarin at Hotel Providence Swiss-inspired small plates, craft cocktails and an eclectic wine list. 311 Westminster Street, Providence, 521-3333. BLD $$$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ Spirito’s Restaurant & Catering Classic Italian fare served in a stately Victorian home. 477 Broadway, Providence, 434-4435. LD $-$$$ Starbucks Coffee, tea, bakery items and lunch options. Multiple locations. Starbucks.com BL$-$$

Bluewater Bar and Grill serves up New England favorites and American farm-to-table classics

T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich and Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $

WO RT H T H E D R I V E

Bluewater Bar and Grill

68 hudson street (401) 228 8555

on the west side of providence

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Monday to Saturday: 6:30am-6pm Sundays: 9am-4:30pm

Bluewater Bar + Grill joined the exciting East Bay dining scene in 2011 with a fresh take on contemporary dining. Chef-owner Brian Thimme, a culinary professional with more than 20 years of experience, envisioned a restaurant that combined his passion for locally sourced foods with his love of family. “Our focus is seasonally-inspired, simply prepared cuisine,” says Brian, who co-owns the restaurant along with his wife Elizabeth. “It’s an everyday neighborhood restaurant where everyone is welcome, yet we offer upscale food and service at affordable prices.” The expansive restaurant, which is nestled near the Barrington Yacht Club on the Tyler Point Peninsula, offers gorgeous waterfront views. Open year-round for dinner seven nights a week and seasonally for lunch Thursday through Sunday, Bluewater features New England and American farm-to-table classics. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington 247-0017 • BluewaterGrillRI.com

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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

Tavolo Wine Bar and Tuscan Grille Classic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine and beer list. 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 349-4979. LD $-$$ The Crossings New American favorites in a chic, urban setting. 801 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, 732-6000. BLD $-$$$ The Dorrance Fine dining with exquisite cocktails. 60 Dorrance St, Providence, 521-6000. D $$$ The Grange Vegetarian restaurant serving seasonal dishes with a juice bar, vegan bakery and cocktail bar. 166 Broadway, Providence, 831-0600. BrLD $-$$ The Pizza Gourmet/ The Catering Gourmet From scratch woodgrilled pizzas and Italian American favorites. 357 Hope St, Providence,

For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com

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DINING GUIDE 751-0355. LD $-$$$ The Rosendale Bar and grill with welcoming atmosphere and creative menu. 55 Union St, Providence, 4213253. LD $-$$ The Salted Slate An agri-driven American restaurant with global influences. 186 Wayland Ave, Providence, 270-3737. BrLD $$-$$$ The Villa Restaurant & Banquet Facility Family Italian restaurant with live music and entertainment. 272 Cowesett Ave, West Warwick, 8210060. D $-$$

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The Village Lively bar and grill with comfort fare, bar bites and beer. 373 Richmond St, Providence, 228-7222. BrLD $-$$

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Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun and Southwestern fare, cocktails and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 751-6777. LD $-$$ Trattoria Del Mare Traditional Italian cuisine with a focus on seafood in an elegant yet relaxing atmosphere. 145 Spruce St, Providence, 273-7070. LD $$-$$$ Trinity Brewhouse Rhode Island’s original brewpub. 186 Fountain St, Providence, 453-2337. LD $-$$

Pastries • Breads • Party Pizzas & Prepared Foods

Borrelli’s Bakery

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1551 Plainfield Pike, Johnston • 946-0001

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Tony’s Colonial Specialty store offering the finest imported and domestic Italian foods. 311 Atwells Ave, Providence, 621-8675. $-$$$

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

Bluewater Bar and Grill Casual restaurant with modern seafood dishes, patio seating and live music. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington, 247-0017. LD $$-$$$ DeWolf Tavern Gourmet American/ Indian fusion. 259 Thames St, Bristol, 254-2005. BLD $$-$$$ Ichigo Ichie Traditional Japanese cuisine, creative sushi and hibachi. 5 Catamore Blvd, East Providence, 435-5511. LD $-$$$ Jacky’s Galaxie Local Pan-Asian chain offering sushi and classic entrees in a modern atmosphere. Locations in Providence, North Providence, Bristol and Cumberland, JackysGalaxie.com. LD $-$$$ Starbucks Coffee, tea, bakery items and lunch options. Multiple locations. Starbucks.com BL$-$$ The Old Grist Mill Tavern Fine dining located over the Runnins River. 390 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, 508-3368460. LD $-$$$ The Wharf Tavern Serves fresh seafood and steak with bay views from almost every table. 215 Water St, Warren, 289-2524. BrLD $-$$$

SOUTHERN RI

Twin Oaks Family restaurant serving an extensive selection of Italian and American staples. 100 Sabra St, Cranston, 781-9693. LD $-$$$

Besos Kitchen & Cocktails Tapas and eclectic cuisine and cocktails. 378 Main St, East Greenwich, 3988855. BrLD $$$

Vinya Test Kitchen Vegan cuisine accompanied by creative mocktails (BYOB). 225A Westminster St, Providence, 500-5189. D $-$$

Blu On The Water Home to Rhode Island’s largest waterfront deck and three outdoor bars, with a wide menu and full raw bar. 20 Water St, East Greenwich, 885-3700. LD $-$$$

Whiskey Republic Delicious dockside pub fare. 515 South Water St, Providence, 588-5158. LD $-$$ XO Cafe Creative cocktails and New American fare. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$

EAST BAY / NEWPORT Black Bass Grille Classic seafood,

500 Angell Street, Providence • 751-7700 www.waylandmanor.com • info@waylandmanor.com

historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, 508-999-6975. LD $$

Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$ Chair 5 Locally sourced and seasonally inspired menus with a main restaurant and rooftop lounge. 1208 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 363-9820. BrLD $-$$$

For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com

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ROCCOSPUBANDGRUB.COM 55 Douglas Pike, Smithfield • 349-2250 56

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

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DINING GUIDE Champlin’s Seafood Dockside fresh seafood serving easy breezy cocktails. 256 Great Island Rd, Narragansett, 783-3152. LD $-$$

pizza with exclusive ingredients imported from Naples. 60 S County Commons Way, South Kingstown, 783-2900. LD $-$$

Dante’s Kitchen American food with Southern flair. 315 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-7798. BL $-$$

Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food with a great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 7834073. BBrLD $

Dragon Palace Chinese cuisine, sushi and bar. Locations in Coventry, Wakefield and Wyoming DragonPalaceRI.com. LD $-$$ Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$ Frankie’s Italian Bistro Fine dining with imported wines from around the world. 1051 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, 295-2500. D $-$$$ Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 3980027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228-3901. D $-$$

161 Cushing Street, Providence Contact Jordan at 273-2737 Or at Jordanm@flatbreadcompany.com .

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Sa-Tang Fine Thai and Asian fusion cuisine with gluten-free selections. 402 Main St, Wakefield, 284-4220. LD $-$$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$$$$ Starbucks Coffee, tea, bakery items and lunch options. Multiple locations. Starbucks.com BL$-$$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $

Jigger’s Diner Classic ‘50s diner serving breakfast all day. 145 Main St, East Greenwich, 884-6060. BL $-$$

Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$

La Masseria Upscale Italian cuisine served in a chic setting with a rustic, countryside vibe. 223 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0693. LD $$-$$$

The Coast Guard House A New American menu with a seafood emphasis and extensive wine list 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 789-0700. BrLD $$$

Maharaja Indian Restaurant Indian cuisine and traditional curries in a warm setting. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 363-9988. LD $-$$

The Nordic Surf and turf buffet selections perfect for family gatherings. 178 E Pasquisett Trl, Charlestown, 783-4515. LD $$$

Matunuck Oyster Bar Destination dining enhanced by a raw bar sourced onsite and a water view. 629 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, 783-4202. LD $-$$$

Twin Willows Fresh seafood and water views in a family-friendly atmosphere. 865 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, 789-8153. LD $-$$

Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana Authentic Neapolitan wood fired

All Natural Pizza Baked in a Primitive Wood Fired Earthen Oven

Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$

George’s of Galilee Fresh caught seafood in an upscale pub atmosphere. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett, 783-2306. LD $-$$

Ocean House/Weekapaug Inn Multiple dining room options offer comfortably elegant dishes that highlight the best in seasonal, local produce. 1 Bluff Ave, Watch Hill, 5847000; 25 Spray Rock Rd, Westerly, 637-7600. BLD $-$$$

The FLATBREAD COMPANY’S Catering and Mobile Oven is the ideal alternative to your desire to order Flatbread for large groups of parties of 50 to 250!

Tong-D Fine Thai cuisine in a casual setting. 156 County Rd, Barrington, 289-2998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 7834445. LD $-$$

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50 Ann Mary Street, Pawtucket • 401-365-6278 • PhoHorns.com On Providence/Pawtucket line behind LA Fitness January 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

G ET OU T

Photo courtesy of Rhode Island Brew Fest

Events / Art / Music / On Stage

GOOD TIMES ON TAP There’s nothing like the Rhode Island Brew Fest on January 28 to encourage weekend day drinking. Sample over 55 breweries and 175 styles of beer as the ﬁfth annual fest rolls into the Pawtucket Armory. Local brews will be out in full force, with favorites like Narragansett, Trinity Brewhouse, Tilted Barn, Bucket Brewery and Long Live Beerworks (just to name a few) serving up satisfying suds. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 856-9197, RIBrewFest.com

Rhode Island Brew Fest returns on January 28

GET OU T

Calendar

January

January 1-20: Get to the ArtProv gallery for their This & That exhibit featuring eclectic paintings, sculptures and ceramics. A few of the artist are Sarah Jane Lapp, Jane Andreozzi, Mark Holme and many more. 150 Chestnut Street. 641-5182, ArtProvidence.com January 7-8: If you have kids, you know that Paw Patrol is a big deal. Join the characters at The Vets as they work on the Great Race between Mayor Goodway and Mayor Humdinger. If you don’t have kids, it’s cartoon animals in goofy hats. 1 Avenue of the Arts. 421-2787, PPACRI.org January 8: Remember A Night at the Roxbury? Are you subconsciously bobbing your head back and forth to “What is Love?” The hilarious Chris Kattan will be at the Comedy Connection for one night only. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 438-8383, RIComedyConnection.com January 11: On the second Monday of the month meet up with Mayor Elorza as he teaches you how to create a website using HTML, CSS and more at Code Night with the Mayor. You can build it, you have the technology. 150 Empire Street. 455-8000, ProvLib.org January 9: Teach your kids about taking the nap of all naps: hibernation. Children ages 2-4 are invited to head to the Museum of Natural History for Discovery Tykes which includes stories, songs, poems and a craft. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 680-7223, ProvidenceRI.com/Museum

January 10: You’ve always wanted to be a writer, so give it a try. The One Day Instant Short Story Workshop with Mark Binder will explore how to unlock your creativity and write your own short story. 276 Angell Street. 831-1800, HistoricHamilton.com January 11: Join singer/songwriter Steve Gunn as he travels to Providence from the wilds of New York to perform at the Columbus Theatre with Lee Ranaldo. They’ll be joined by Meg Baird. 270 Broadway. 6219660, ColumbusTheatre.com January 12: Join the Lifelong Learning Collaborative as they present their Brown Bag Lunch with Wendy Oliver (Providence College Professor in Theatre, Dance and Film) as she discusses American musical theatre in the 20th century. 70 Orchard Avenue. 270-2556, LifelongLearningCollaborative.org January 12-31: Join Trinity Rep as they welcome their new play, The Mountaintop. Examining the last day of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, The Mountaintop puts the civil rights leader face to face with a spirit who challenges him to consider his life, death and legacy. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, TrinityRep.com January 12-31: Talk about some mean girls. (And not in the 2000s Tina Fey comedy kinda way.) Join a New England girls boarding school and the girls who will stop at nothing to shame the staff and faculty that go against them in the Gamm Theatre’s production of The Children’s Hour. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 7234266, GammTheatre.com January 14: The first annual Providence Live Film Score Festival will kick off its inaugural year at AS220. Listen live to the sounds of film scores for short films and be transported to a new listening

Badfish, a Sublime tribute band, come to Lupo’s this month

January 6: It’s what I got, I got, I got. Check out the tribute band to Sublime, Badfish, as the URI alums make a hometown appearance at Lupo’s with Boston-based reggae fusion band Spiritual Rez. A working knowledge of Santaria is not required. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, Lupos.com

experience. 115 Empire Street. 8319327, AS220.org January 18: Get over to the Children’s Museum for an exhibit of photographs, words and books for a Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his life. See a powerful performance of “M.L.K Amazing Grace” by Rochel Coleman, and experience King’s life through story and song. 100 South Street. 273-5437, ChildrenMuseum.org January

17:

Looking

discuss

books? Maybe nerd out a bit with your favorite author? This month Rachel Hulin, Hank Phillippi, Fiona Davis, Amy Poeppel and Bob Perlow will be featured as a part of the Point Street Reading Series at Dueling Pianos. 3 Davol Square. ReadingWithRobin.com January 17: After exploding onto the alternative scene last year, Twenty One Pilots makes the Providence stop of their Emotional Roadshow Tour at the Dunk. You know you can’t get them

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE For an up-to-date statewide calendar and to submit your own listings visit ProvidenceOnline.com 60

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

Photo courtesy of Bad Fish

January 1: Celebrate your New Year with a Salute to Vienna at the Vets. Listen to Strauss waltzes, polkas and plenty of arias and duets. The concert will feature European singers, ballet and ballroom dancers, as well as a full orchestra. 1 Avenue of the Arts. 421-2787, TheVetsRI.com

An Olivier Aw AwArd-winning BrOAdwAy hit by KAtOri hAll Begins JAn. 12

trinityrep TickeTs from $25 (401) 351-4242 • trinityrep.com season sponsors out of your head, so you might as well go rock out. 1 LaSalle Square. 3316700, DunkinDonutsCenter.com January 19: Eighties-inspired indie rockers Rubblebucket will be making an appearance at Fete. Grab your shoulder pads and get your hair teased, it’s gonna be a heck of a show. 103 Dike Street. 383-1112, FeteMusic.com January 21: The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will present its winter concert of Schubert’s Unfinished. Sit down and settle in for a night of beautiful music. 667 Waterman Avenue, East Providence. 248-7070, RIPhil.org

January 26-31: Join the Wilbury Theatre Group for their first play of the new year, Harold Pinter’s Betrayal. See how an affair progresses through riveting drama and edge of your seat curiosity. 393 Broad Street. 400-7100, TheWilburyGroup.org

Think Differently Learn Differently

January 28: Want amazing art and to shop for a great, local cause? Look no further than the Artists for the Bay Show and Sale at the Save the Bay Center. The show will continue throughout the month of January with a closing reception that’s open to the public. 100 Save the Bay Drive. 272-3540 ext. 140, SaveBay.org

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January 14: ‘Tis but a scratch! Get to PPAC to see John Cleese and the Holy Grail, a viewing of the famed Monty Python movie and Q&A afterward with the Black Knight himself. The more ridiculous the questions, the better. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2787, PPACRI.org

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GE T OUT

Music

by Adam Hogue

SPON SORED CON T EN T

EXPERT ADVICE

Shape Up With Cheryl Turnquist of Providence Pilates

Ian Fitzgerald’s latest features Smith&Weeden, MorganEve Swain and others from the local scene

Building a Bigger Sound Ian Fitzgerald drafts local all-stars to perform on his newest record

Photography by Tim Siekiera

“Is folk dead?”

I ask Ian Fitzgerald. “They wouldn’t bother killing it,” he says. It’s been overstated, but folk music is the music of the people. One listen to Ian’s latest release You Won’t Even Know I’m Gone speaks directly to every thrift shop picture, silver maple tree, forgotten love and distance separated by truck stops and vacant, winding roads that lay embedded in the mind of what it means to be just one of the folks living and dying in America. A solitary figure in name and denim, Ian usually works with a lone guitar to craft his songs. But for this latest recording, Ian has enlisted local rock band Smith&Weeden to back up half the album while the likes of MorganEve Swain, Eric Lichter, James Maple and Amato Zinno fill out the rest of it. Both backup halves of You Won’t Even Know I’m Gone surround Ian’s words like a familiar blanket with the boys from Smith&Weeden lending guitar solos and reverbed grit to songs such as “Forget the Address.” The driving bassline allows Ian to

work in his style of getting every syllable of every unrhymable word into his verses. Stories unfold full of imagery that evoke Kerouacian antiheroes stumbling blindly from one place to another. In this way, Ian’s latest work carries the folk torch of Dylan, Cash and contemporaries such as Josh Ritter. They all use literary storytelling to keep listeners hanging on every word teased into tales that leave one with a sense of place, a few mementos and the vague recollection of a familiar story that one can’t quite recall in great detail. But, it was some tale to hear. Ian has found his live self on two sides of the coin; on one side is the solo guitar and microphone center stage, on the other is the filled-out folk-rocker with Smith&Weeden backing up. “The approach is certainly different with a band than it is solo,” Ian says, “There is endless freedom when playing solo, and I take advantage of that night after

night. I change keys, switch time signatures, vary the tempos and make whatever other changes I feel like to suit how I want to present the songs that night.” But, with a band, Ian notes, “The songs can say different things that simply can’t be expressed by a solo performer.” That dual vision of his songs lends itself to this record, where the listener can easily discern Ian and the band. This is not a Smith&Weeden record, this is Ian filling in his songs with hues he himself hears. It is all clearly Ian Fitzgerald, and the man and jangly guitar who wrote them is what shines through. You Won’t Even Know I’m Gone is exactly the album you need a folk album to be. From the image of Ian leaning on an old white sedan to every nuanced word of every song, Ian has crafted a full-bodied piece of music. Strings, electric guitar, beauty and fury help him “decipher the hieroglyphs” he sees in the world with words that don’t quit.

Ian Fitzgerald You Won’t Even Know I’m Gone • IanFitzgerald.com

Can Pilates alleviate post-holiday stress? Yes! One of the tenets of Pilates is focus and concentration. When stressed, our thoughts run wild. A dose of Pilates will help refocus and calm the mind. Pilates is a practice that builds upon itself with every session. The more you practice, the deeper your awareness with results you’ll feel both physically and mentally.

What do you love about teaching? I love seeing people feel strong, confident, healthy and happy. I have heard many clients say they “feel better than they ever have” in just a few sessions. Pilates is a form of movement education while at the same time a workout. I love being able to see people make connections with their movements and feel strong and empowered in their bodies.

Why is your studio special? At my studio you will be greeted warmly, treated with respect and our focus is on you. Whether doing Spin, Barre, Pilates, Tower, private or group classes, the instructors are always in tune with your needs. There is also a great sense of community here and everyone is supportive for your workout success!

PROVIDENCE PILATES CENTER 189 Cole Avenue, Providence • 480-0193 providencepilatescenter.com

January 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

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G ET O UT

On Stage

by Marrissa Ballard

BUYING or SELLING

Still crazy after all these years – Empire Revue shows no signs of slowing down after all these years

a Residential Home, Commercial Property or Land?

LOOKING FOR A CAREER MOVE? Call or Text 401-585-5007 info@anchorREgroup.com anchorREgroup.com

Long Live the Empire With a legacy of comedy acts, performance art and musical numbers, the Empire Revue brings something different to the stage each month. Now, after ten years of performing, the troupe has fond memories of the past and a lot of big plans for the upcoming year. Keith Munslow, who serves as the director, host and producer of the Empire Revue, says that the show began with a vision of an upbeat, monthly variety show. Within that vision, he and Nicky Mariani, a fellow producer and the show’s stage manager, ensure that each performance is unique. “We try to create a variety in tone, style and the types of pieces we present,” says Nicky. In addition to the rotating guest acts, the Empire Revue features a comedy troupe and band, which Keith describes as the “anchors” of the show. The band, Superchief Trio, has contributed over 100 grand closing numbers, and the Sparkling Beatniks comedy troupe is the heart of the performance. Together, with only four rehearsals, the troupe not only performs, but writes new songs and skits each month. Through the years, the show has celebrated many successful sketches,

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

such as the “It Has to Be Me” power ballad detailing one tetrapod’s decision to walk on land and the reincarnation scene in which a man goes through choices for his next life. However, not all of the scenes have been hits, and Keith says they learned early on to stay away from subjects like politics and death. Rather than being informed by current events, he says the show is more about the human condition. The audience also has a part to play in a pre-show inspired by the Neo-Futurists, an experimental theatre troup based out of Chicago. “We want people to feel engaged and energized when they come in,” says Keith. “They get to interact with the actors, and it’s deﬁnitely a fourth wall down kind of thing.” In the past, audiences have participated by taking dips in kiddie pools full of snow, eating nachos and walking a red carpet. To fuel the fire of inspiration, Nicky and Keith began using themes. In

2017, audiences can look forward to themes including the breakfast show, the supernatural show and the ‘60s show. The troupe will also kick off 2017 with a party animal-themed bash called Revue Year’s Eve, which will last late into the night. Looking towards the future, Keith and Nicky would like to see their audience expand. They are also hoping to increase their repertoire by performing more musicals. “The musicals we have done are really near and dear to my heart,” says Keith. He would love to see the troupe do a run of a new musical, though that may take time and some experimenting. Both Nicky and Keith agreed that while performing is one of the best parts of Empire Revue, they hope that their work will reflect a sense of camaraderie. “When theatre is at its best, it’s about community,” says Keith. “We can all come together in one place, experience a thing, laugh and have joy.”

Empire Revue AS220, 115 Empire Street Revue Year’s Eve show on December 31, all other shows the ﬁrst Sunday of the month Facebook.com/EmpireRevueProvidence

Photography by Brian DeMello

Celebrating a decade of laughs with AS220’s resident comedy revue

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January 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

G ET O UT

OPEN HOUSE Thursday, Jan. 19 • 9-11am

Please call to RSVP

Discove Discover err e a new new way way to learn. rn.

Preschool ol - Grade 6 OceanStateMontessori.org 100 Grove Ave. | East Providence 401-434-6913

Fostering independence, self-esteem, and a life-long love of learning since 1973.

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

Art

by Amanda M. Grosvenor

It’s Never Too Late to Start Painter Carolyn Hagy Kent finds a second life in the arts Although Pawtuxet Village resident Carolyn Hagy Kent grew up in the Chad’s Ford area of Pennsylvania within ten minutes of the renowned Wyeth family and with a mother who painted, she never expected to one day become an artist herself. The first five or so decades of life had her living in New York City, LA, Florida, Mexico and beyond, raising two children with her then-husband and working in corporate America. When she was let go in a round of massive company layoffs in 2006, she knew she needed to reinvent herself. A few years prior, at a quarterly company meeting, she had given a speech themed around the Grandma Moses adage of “You’re never too old to learn.” “Little did I know that years later, I’d be in that boat myself,” she says. Carolyn majored in music in college, yet had always “thirsted for color and texture.” She discovered RISD continuing education online and took the plunge, signing up for a certificate program in surface design – despite having never experienced art “as a creator.” She felt unexpectedly comfortable in a requisite drawing foundation course with Robin Wiseman. At the end of the semester, Robin offered short private critiques for any interested students; Carolyn leapt at the opportunity. During the critique, Robin casually commented, “You know, you could make money on the side doing portraits.” This observation ended up launching a brand new career path for Carolyn. After completing the first certificate, she opted for a second one in drawing and painting. At the time, she was commuting from Orlando and staying with her brother in Rhode Island. “I threw my savings into education, hoping it would work out.” In 2009, she was one of the first artists to sublet in Hope Artiste Village. In 2015, she sold her Florida house and purchased her current home, which includes a garage studio. She typically paints with oils, and influences include the Wyeths as well as John Singer Sargent, Lucian Freud, Jenny Saville and Gerhard Richter: “both the conservative and the bizarre.” Her non-commissioned subject matter is diverse, ranging from humans to still life flowers, dogs, cityscapes and more. “I like the figure

Paintings by Carolyn Hagy Kent, like 101 Year Old Hands (top) and Puddles and Thoughts, will be on display at Reliable Gold’s gallery through February

– anything that moves or has joints,” she says. Marine themes are also prevalent, as water has always been very important to her. “I’ll paint anything that makes my heart sing.” Carolyn’s work, which is on display in Reliable Gold’s gallery now through the end of February, is psychologically driven and tells a (usually mysterious) story. Shadowy ﬁgures hunch together on a train platform: why? “I want people to ask, ‘What’s going on with this?’ Life is blurred, there

are no black and whites, and nothing needs to be deﬁned,” she says. She is a coxswain at the Narragansett Boat Club as a hobby, and painted an image of a women’s eight sculling from above. Another painting called 101 Year Old Hands shows several 101 year-old hands joined together close up; Carolyn, who suﬀers from arthritis, has painted her own along with them, and also painted over the original. “It represents change in life and layering,” she says.

Carolyn Hagy Kent Gallery on display at Reliable Gold through February 24 9 Wayland Square • CarolynHagyKent.com

HID D EN P V D

Backstage at Lupo’s Savoring a quiet moment with Providence’s legendary stage Photography by Brad Smith | Words by Tony Pacitti A night at Lupo’s

is raucous, loud and memorable, but between shows an eerie stillness settles in, an anticipatory weight as the room rests up for the next performance. Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel – the third of its name – opened its Washington Street doors in 2003, and since then has been the go-to place in Providencefor big, national touring acts. Elder statesmen of the ‘90s like The Flaming Lips,

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | January 2017

The Smashing Pumpkins and Wu Tang Clan have graced its stage in recent years, and whoever you’re digging on WBRU lately is probably coming around sooner or later, like Phantogram, playing January 12. “My greater joys have been acts such as Buddy Guy,” confesses owner Rich Lupo, who for more than 40 years has been bringing legendary performers to Providence. “I’m a little bit old school.” Though lately, Gogol Bordello

(who played December 30) has been a personal favorite and frequent visitor. “They’re like punk klezmer. It makes me think of what a European band would have done a century ago combined with rock.” Seeing it empty strips away the ownership your memory of a specific show has over it. It doesn’t matter who’s playing, Lupo’s is Lupo’s. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, Lupos.com

R E S I D E N T I A L P R O P E R T I E S LT D

“We wish you a healthy and happy New Year!”

David Abbott

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Jim DeRentis

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Kevin Fox

Susan Gower

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DINE

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DA N C E

Let the Village help with your 2017 resolutions. Lighter menu options. New happy hour menu. The most decadent brunch in town!

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Wednesday - Trivia & Musical Bingo + Thursday - Karaoke Friday - Friday Night Live + Saturday - Live Music and DJs Sunday - Super Sports Sunday & Karaoke Wednesday - Thursday - 4pm-1am Friday & Saturday - 11am-2am â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday - 9am-1am The Kitchen open till midnight Wednesday to Saturday & Till 10pm on Sunday Online reservations available at TheVillageRI.com Contact us for Private Parties and Special Events â&#x20AC;˘ 401-228-7222 373 Richmond Street, Providence RI