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WITH OVER 30% INCREASE IN SALES VOLUME YEAR-OVER-YEAR*,
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38 VIKING DR. | BRISTOL $1,000,000 | Sold by Bob Walsh
LILA DELMAN OF PROVIDENCE 369 SOUTH MAIN STREET 401.274.1644 *This representation is based on information from the Rhode Island State Wide MLS for the period of January 01, 2017 – December 10, 2018. The MLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
CO N T E N TS
Photo courtesy of The Avenue Concept
Providence Monthly • January 2019
Celebrating groups and individuals to watch in 2019, like The Avenue Concept, responsible for PVD’s wicked awesome murals
24 Who to Watch
37 Making Bank
This celebration of local wavemakers returns, spotlighting trailblazers and organizations worth keeping an eye on
Local experts help settle the score on credit, debt, taxes, and more
DEPARTMENTS Providence Pulse
13 Susan Troy launches home textile
City Style
60 ON STAGE: Improv Jones keeps
72 ON THE MENU: Sydney opens
49 AT HOME: A couple creates a co-
comedy off-script
additional locations in Cranston and
business online
hesive home at Corliss Landing
14 Providence Forestry Division earns
50 WHOLE BODY Getting a jump and
Municipal Forestry Accreditation
bounce on New Year’s resolutions at
Portsmouth 62 MUSIC: Record release for folk/al-
Jounce Fitness
15 Frog and Toad opens second location on the West Side
16 Ground breaks on site of new Paw-
18 Healing Paws is Rhode Island’s only
75 RESTAURANT GUIDE
64 ART: Delicate designs from early
Pic of PVD 82 A city snapshot from one of our
Etsy-adopters Figs & Ginger 51 THE INFLUENCER: How musician
readers
Bill Keough exudes effortless rockstar
Feast
vibes
67 TREND: Smug Brewery opens in
tucket and Central Falls Commuter Rail Station
ternative band The Beardogz
former Bucket Brewery space 55 SHOP AROUND: Accent your winter wardrobe with colorful accessories
68 REVIEW: By Chloe serves vegan
and more from Green Ink
fast food
Get Out
71 IN THE KITCHEN: Public Kitchen
57 THE MUST LIST: This month’s
& Bar’s General Manager Christopher
can’t-miss events
Moore
full-service veterinary rehab center
21 RHODY GEM: The Red Fez
ON THE COVER: The Avenue Concept. Photography by Brandon Harmon ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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Twenty Years, Hundreds of Students, Endless Possibilities...
WICKED MERRY SHOUT-OUTS FOR OUR DECEMBER COVER “How lucky are we to have such awesome holiday events in PVD all month long?” @Providence River Boat Company via Facebook
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ways to jingle all the way through the city this season
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INTRO
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School
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Meet Trinity Rep’s Newest Scrooge
pg. 23
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“Check out this crazy festive display… done by the creators of The Craft and Kitsch Winter Market!” @Maureen M. on “Home for the Holidays” via Facebook
K-8 Special Education School WINTER OPEN HOUSE February 14 from 8-9:30 a.m. thewolfschool.org
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Follow @PVDMonthly on Instagram and look out for fun, festive giveaways all winter long. Participate for a chance to win prizes like a pair of
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Photo | Richard Termine
FRONTIER SERIES
AN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECTACLE FROM THE DAUGHTER OF PUPPET LEGEND JIM HENSON J a nu a r y 31 & F e b r u a r y 1, 7PM M o s e s B r ow n Wo o d m a n Ce nte r T i c ket s : F i r s t - Wo r k s .o r g
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
PULSE
Artist Susan Troy’s online business is rooted in handcrafted home textiles
HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS Susan Troy turns fine art into home textiles with new business This fall, artist and designer Susan Troy decided to follow her passion and launch a business that brings living art into homes across the Ocean State. Her goal with Susan Troy Cloth is to take fine art out of the museum and embed it into home decor. Every pillow, baby blanket, and piece of cloth that she creates is hand-painted, thoughtfully designed, and one-of-a-kind. The final product is fine art that’s okay to snuggle with – what more can you ask for? While Troy’s design work has been showcased by way of fashion in Style-
run rampant on the tile floor, and her newest projects hang drying around the room. A new piece has just been finished: a long tan linen intended to reupholster an antique couch. She decorated the cloth with a series of mauve and green ranunculuses, a type of flower whose shape has found its way into a large part of her collection. Oval and multi-layered, the flower closely resembles a collapsed paper lantern. When creating patterns, Troy utilizes what’s around her, finding inspiration in the everyday. For the round shapes, she grabs a Snapple bottle and
Week Northeast, over the past year, she has been preparing for the unveiling of her home textile business. After opening her online store in October, she now spends hours each day painting floral motifs and silk-screening images of plants onto beautifully dyed pieces of bamboo cotton and linen. Troy’s creative process can be seen unfolding in her Pawtucket studio, which is engulfed in color: vases of flowers sit on window sills, paint smears
cookie tin off a nearby table and uses them as guides, gently tossing purple around the outline they create. She explains that when she is painting, “It’s a very instinctual process. I’m not set on a shape coming out a certain way or putting an exact number of drops into a color. I’ve never been like that. That’s why I prefer hand painting over digital design, so that I never feel removed from the act of making art.” SusanTroy.com – Shannon McDonnell
Photo by Jaclyn Altieri ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
13
PULSE • City
In the warmer months, you can truly appreciate the greenery around the city, thanks to the Providence Forestry Division
Turning Over a New Leaf It is January. The autumn leaves have already fallen, leaving behind ghostly branches. Few of us give much thought about the thousands of well-maintained public trees we have here in Providence. But for the city’s Forestry Division, that healthy vegetation is cause for celebration. On November 1, the department announced that the City of Providence had received the Municipal Forestry Accreditation from the Society of Municipal Arborists, an association made up of communities around the world that all meet the highest municipal forestry standards. This means that Providence – the only community in Rhode Island that received this award – exceeds rigorous international standards and can join the ranks of cities like Aspen, Santa Monica, Palo Alto, and Surrey, British Columbia, honored for “implementing excellent and comprehensive management practices.”
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
Providence is eligible for the accreditation partly because it has earned “Tree City USA” status for 32 straight years, a title awarded based on several factors: the successful maintenance of a tree department, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, having a community tree ordinance, and, of course, celebrating Arbor Day. Providence also boasts Tree City USA Growth Awards in 2013 and 2015, respectively. According to Doug Still, the City Forester, the division manages all of the city’s street and public trees – more than 27,000 in total – overseeing pruning, planting, and removal. And a large part of their success stems from their collaborative nature. The department partners with the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program to plant 500 trees each year, and works with citizens who are eager to care for the trees in their own
neighborhoods through the Providence Citizen Forester Program. For the upcoming year, Still says the department plans to branch out and examine “the whole urban forest, not just the publicly owned trees,” to encourage a broader tree canopy throughout the city of Providence. In addition, the city has “identified neighborhoods that [have] the lowest tree canopy, which also coincides with some of the neighborhoods that have some of the lowest per capita income.” For Still, the Forestry Division is at its core rooted in a fierce commitment to “improving the quality of life in Providence,” since trees help the environment and provide clean water and air, but also because seeing greenery interspersed with infrastructure is “so important to our psyche.” ProvidenceRI.gov -Isabella DeLeo
Photo courtesy of Providence Forestry Division
The City’s Forestry Division earns international acclaim and accreditation
Leap Frog East Side institution, Frog and Toad, opens second shop on Westminster Street
Photo by Stephanie Alvarez Ewens courtesy of Frog and Toad
Find classic Frog and Toad favorites, and new additions, at the shop’s West Side location
Frog and Toad, that funky little gift shop on Hope Street, has taken a leap: A second location opened on the West End this fall. The style is still eclectic, but the setting reflects a different – well – headspace. “I like to describe it as our left brain and right brain locations,” says owner Asher Schofield, who opened the store 17 years ago. “You’ll find the displays on Hope Street more color-coded and vignette-inspired, while [Westminster Street] is designed as more of your turn-of-thecentury hardware store.” Although you shouldn’t entirely rule out finding some crafty home-project supplies, Frog and Toad’s style is better described as mercantile-meets-unconventional. Tucked cozily next to the beloved White Electric coffee shop, the quirky gift store’s newest dwelling boasts high ceilings and long wooden walkways. Customers are encouraged to browse. Not everything has changed. You can still find all the same Frog and Toad classics: laughout-loud greeting cards and stationery, handmade toiletries, and every kind of Rhode Island swag. Schofield and his wife Erin work as a team, deciding together what lines their walls and shelves (and occasionally spills onto the floor), and the new space allows their unique vision to be re-interpreted. “Every year we put out a newsletter, and
every year the only constructive criticism we received was, ‘I wish there was more room,’” Schofield explains. “This space was, in large, a response to that.” And when the opportunity arose, the Schofields pounced on it. Between the whirlwind of proposed business plans, demolition, and the efforts of their community, the pair turned their dream of a bigger space for Frog and Toad into a reality – within the year. Frog and Toad’s selection is largely made up of the work of Providence’s creative community: screen-printed goods, handcrafted jewelry, and a line of hand-drawn and hand-lettered cards under Frog and Toad Press based right here in Rhode Island. However, their most unique addition is one Schofield has percolated for a while: a multi-purpose vending machine offering sundries. Dig out a little cash, and you can purchase seaweed snacks, headphones, pregnancy tests, and snacks for under a buck. Schofield, an artist himself, is constantly looking for the next “neat thing” to debut at Frog and Toad. “I’ve always held the ideal that if you’re not growing and changing, you’re stagnating,” Schofield says. “Plus, I’ve always wanted to own a store with a ping-pong table.” You can visit Frog and Toad’s new location at 713 Westminster Street, or visit online at FrogAndToadStore.com. -Ava Callery
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Shop: (401) 781-4444 • www.RISkiShop.com ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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PULSE • City
Experience. Integrity. Results.
Breaking Ground Big plans for revitalization with construction of the Pawtucket and Central Falls Commuter Rail Station
RI officials hope plans for Pawtucket’s new transit center with help revitalize the city
CALL Gerri Schiffman (401) 474-3733
gerrischiffman.com
residentialproperties.com gerri@residentialproperties.com 16
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
In November, officials put shovel to dirt and broke ground on the longstanding plan for a new transit center: The Pawtucket and Central Falls Commuter Rail Station. The over $40 million project slated
to be complete in 2020 is integral to the state’s initiatives to improve transportation to generate economic recovery, amongst other benefits. What is now unused lot space on the
Photo courtesy of The City of Pawtucket
A Trusted Advocate for Buyers & Sellers for 25 Years
corner of Goff Avenue and Pine Street – really, it’s just an expanse of broken concrete, uneven cobblestone, and yellowing grass encased by a chain link fence – will eventually be a shiny new stop on the MBTA’s rail system, plus a bus interchange to replace the one on Roosevelt Avenue. This will mean a shake-up in the train schedule – prepare, Boston or Providence commuters – but the city hopes it will “drive [Pawtucket’s] economy, employment, retail, and recreation.” Pawtucket is a diamond in the rough just outside of the capital; it was once the bustling birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, but had been left a quiet ghost town of empty mill space and unused infrastructure. Sure, a few were flipped into trendy loft living, but the PawSox are leaving and there hasn’t been a train stop there since the original Pawtucket/ Central Falls station closed in 1981. This is where the new station comes in. After years of studies and federal grant applications, plus design and planning, Pawtucket might just get its second chance; the station is expected to see around 520 people board transit there each day. It’ll connect riders to PVD, T.F. Green, Wickford Junction, Boston, South Attleboro, and all the cities in between. Demand for those refurbished mill apartments nearby will skyrocket. It will be another revolution for the city – this time, in transportation. While construction has only just started, anticipation is already brewing as we all ask, what is next for Pawtucket? -Megan Schmit
PROJECTED TIMELINE 2020: Bus portion to be complete 2021: Train portion to be complete 2022: Train service to start
Welcome to a Fresh New Day! Breakfast Brunch Lunch ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
17
PULSE • City
Come Healing Healing Paws is RI’s only full-service vet rehab center for pets
What do you feel when you see a dog on a treadmill? Envious of the animal’s dedication to exercise? Amused by the meme-like scenario? Or confused by the fact that the treadmill is underwater? At Healing Paws Veterinary Rehabilitation Center in Providence, the treadmill is neither a prop for a joke nor a reminder of a broken New Year’s resolution. It is an instrumental aid for helping paralyzed patients – pets – relearn to walk after surgery. When he arrived in Rhode Island from North Carolina, veterinarian Jeff Corey was surprised that the state lacked a fully equipped rehab facility for animals, so he decided to open one in 2006. Corey says, “I gravitated toward rehab because it provides me an opportunity to really get to know both the patient and their owner, since they often come on a weekly basis for several weeks to even several months.” He also receives satisfaction
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
from witnessing the direct impact of his help when his furry patients improve. While Corey really enjoys spending time with the cats and dogs at the center, his process is not all fun and games. In fact, he employs a methodical and studied approach to healing. Following a thorough consultation, during which he learns about the animal’s history, lifestyle, and past treatments, Corey performs a physical exam. Based on his findings, he develops a custom plan to address the problem. The various rehab modalities he uses include land-based strengthening and range-of-motion exercises, massage, and therapeutic laser. When his patients cooperate, they get a treat. Oftentimes, though, it takes more than peanut butter to motivate. Among some challenging cases, Corey recalls, is one that involved a nine-year-old Boston terrier who had suffered respiratory arrest and couldn’t
lift his head or maintain an upright posture. Luckily, no one was giving up. “Through his perseverance and drive, as well as the tremendous commitment on the part of his owners, he is now motoring all over the place in his Quad cart and is starting to be able to take several consecutive steps in a row without assistance.” Corey stresses the importance of the clients’ dedication to their pet’s recovery. “We work together as a team, and a big part of rehab is showing clients exercises they can do at home in between sessions.” In some cases, however, rehab alone won’t suffice. Corey says that he then connects the clients with proper specialists who will help them resolve the issue. A proud owner of a dog and three cats himself, Corey is ready to do whatever it takes to “add more years to their life and more life in their years.” HealingPawsRI.com -Irina Hawkins
Photo courtesy of Jeff Corey
Vet Jeff Corey and his team help pets get back to feeling and acting their best
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PULSE • Rhody Gem
The Red Fez Restaurant
We are pleased to introduce Rhody Gem, a new monthly column in Providence Monthly. We’re always being thanked for spotlighting the “hidden gems” of the state, and in our ongoing efforts to leave no stone unturned, we’re putting the call out to our readership! Each month we’ll spotlight a Rhody Gem: a business, artisan, or place suggested to us by our faithful readers. What it is: The Red Fez is a downtown restaurant with a speakeasy feel. Off the main drag, find this eclectic spot beneath the shingle displaying that iconic cylindrical hat. The interior design can be described as darkly lit Wisconsin Gothic, with sports mounted deer heads, wood paneling, playful artwork, and string lights glowing around the bar. Terrific craft cocktails and beer selections pair with comfort foods like poutine, mac-and-cheese, burgers, and rotating entrees that make this haunt a favorite for locals in the know.
Photography by Brandon Harmon
Where to find it: Tucked away on Peck between Pine and Friendship Streets. Look for the hat. What makes it a Rhody Gem? The Red Fez epitomizes the spirit of an artistic bistro with its cozy trappings and seasonal round-up of comfort foods. This spot generally stays open late making it that perfect spot for a fancy nightcap (call to check hours).
The Red Fez 49 Peck Street • 861-3825
To submit your Rhody Gem please email: Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
21
A new wave of changemakers is turning the tides in the Ocean State’s capitol By Megan Schmit, Tony Pacitti, and Robert Isenberg Photography by Brandon Harmon
E
very wave starts small, building and curving, until it finally crests – bearing all the force and momentum it’s gathered along the way. The same often goes for leaders and social entrepreneurs: They spend months and years gathering their might, and then, all at once, their talent and influence flow over everything. From all of us at Providence Media, we are proud to present this year’s Who to Watch, a celebration of local trailblazers and the work they’ve set into motion. Many are organizations, with missions to shape the cultural landscape of Rhode Island. Others are individuals, who are helping transform hallowed institutions. But they are all worth keeping an eye on – not only now, but throughout the coming year. The waves are rolling into the Ocean State, and they’re stronger than ever.
LEVEL EXCHANGE
evel Exchange Lindsey Lerner is still in her twenties, but she seems to have lived many incarnations. She’s been a photography major at an art school. She’s been a global studies major at Bryant University. She studied abroad in Chile, where she helped arrange concerts for her musician-friend. (She didn’t yet speak Spanish). Then, much to her surprise, Lerner started booking bands in Rhode Island. She learned the hard way; for her first show, she didn’t exactly know what a sound-check was. But Lerner didn’t like the “pay-to-play” model that many musicians had to endure on their tours, and she wanted to help foster artists with potential. This year, Lerner founded Level Exchange, the brand-new music incubator in Pawtucket. More than just a recording studio, Level Exchange provides practice rooms, workspaces, branding consultation, and even the infrastructure for shooting music videos. Lerner wants musicians to benefit from pro-level marketing and content, so they can catch the attention of big producers and venues. “When you search for local bands, and you go online, either nothing shows up, or the worst content you’ve ever seen shows up,” says Lerner. “People are like, ‘Rhode Island musicians suck. Gonna go to Boston.’ When we work with musicians, we want them to look at themselves as entrepreneurs. It’s not, ‘Will you help me, please donate.’ Art is a
business, and business is an art.’” The for-profit coworking space is housed in the corner of a large industrial building – which also contains The Guild brewery – and the rooms are high-ceilinged and bright. Bands rotate through every week, developing recordings, cover art, and videos. “We have so many creative people in this state,” says Lerner. “It’s almost like a weird experiment. [Rhode Island] is so small. We only have a million people. How do we get a video into the hands of those million people? What does that look like, so people are like, ‘Oh, this guy’s from here!’”
rYSM
For Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), the fight to advocate for disenfranchised communities was happening long before any one administration came into power. “Our work and the call to action started way before this administration,” explains PrYSM executive director and co-founder Sarath Suong. “The 2016 results were devastating of course, but we knew that what mattered was that the government itself continues to create and uphold laws that continue to oppress our people.”
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
Advocating for the Southeast Asian, queer, and trans youth of color communities, PrYSM has been working to “organize our communities to break the cycles of state violence.” One recent, high profile example of their efforts was the role they played in the passing – and ensuring of proper implementation – of the Community Safety Act (CSA), a citywide ordinance to protect people living in Providence from police misconduct. As one of the most comprehensive pieces of racial profiling legislation in the country, the CSA has become a model for other organizations and municipalities. “We know that what we do locally – in the smallest state with the biggest heart – can have a big impact on a national level,” explains Suong. “We always make sure that we’re connected to larger movements and campaigns. What we do here cannot be in isolation.”
While the institutional injustices have long plagued these communities, there’s no denying that targeted attacks have been on the rise. To combat what’s happening to refugees, immigrants, and LGBT and minority communities, PrYSM will be bolstering its community defense programs, and will continue fight for social justice. The key, according to Suong, is to recognize the community’s youth as the vehicle for change that they truly are. “Change in this country and our communities happens with young people, and if we prepare for their future leadership, then we’re really missing out on the work that they’re doing right now,” he says. “We will always work with and support those who are the most disenfranchised.”
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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AS220 AS220 AS220
S220 For a 33-year-old organization with many significant years under its belt, AS220 managed to make 2018 yet another big one, with plans for 2019 to follow suit. The group, whose mission is to foster the creative potential in all individuals, supports multiple educational and arts programs, non-juried art galleries, black box theater, performance stage, darkroom, print shop, media arts lab, dance studio, youth program, and more. In 2018, AS220 started to fundraise for a $5 million renovation to their current downtown location that they’ve occupied for 25 years. As part of their All Access Campaign, Managing Director Shauna Duffy explains that they began to examine what “access” really means: “If people don’t think [something’s] accessible, they won’t try,” she says. The discussion was springboarded
by the building’s lack of access for individuals with disabilities, like an elevator. From there, the conversation snowballed into how AS220 could make their space more approachable in other ways, like adding additional gallery space, gender neutral bathrooms with changing tables, and a potential raise for staff. The reno will “reconfigure the space for sense and flow,” adds Communications Director Dave Dvorchak. Right now, he says, areas are segmented; there’s no easy movement between the galleries, bar, restaurant, stage, and theater. The goal is to make changes that are intentional in supporting the AS220 – and its potential – community, modeled after the success and growth of their AS220 Youth program, headed by Anjel Newmann.
“We go into spaces that do not have access or equal access to the arts,” says Newmann. This program first started as a class held at the Rhode Island juvenile detention facility, but expanded to share resources with any young person facing barriers, from incarceration to mental health troubles, pregnancy, and other social inequalities. “[The] arts can be a bridge to self-liberation,” she says. Newmann hopes that the new plans for the building will also encourage more kids to take advantage of the opportunities AS220 offers. All three believe that with these new conversations and construction in 2019, AS220 is laying the groundwork for its next 25 years downtown.
roJo Reporters While the Providence Journal had its eyes turned to political and social changes in 2018, we had our eyes turned to the ProJo, watching newest additions Kevin Andrade and Madeleine List. The multilingual and digitally savvy pair joined the team in April and May respectively, after cutting their teeth at smaller publications reporting on issues like crime and immigration. Together, they represent a new stock of journalists shaking up the oldschool newsroom. “Growing up in Rhode Island, the Journal has always been like the gold standard of journalism in this state, and certainly I always thought of myself working there,” shares Andrade, who grew up in the Portuguese immigrant community between Bristol and New Bedford and
focuses his reportage on communities of color. His year has included coverage of the presidential campaign rally for Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo’s grandson, a controversial float at the Dominican Republic parade, and Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum’s visit, for which he partnered with List. In terms of what they bring to the table for 2019, the two agree that being able to speak another language offers an important advantage. “The fact I can speak Spanish has helped bring people into the fold whose voices maybe haven’t been heard before,” says List, who prefers “slice of life” stories and incorporating
audio and video components, as she did in her feature on the fifth anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. Both Andrade and List have high hopes for the Journal’s coming year. With the election over, coverage will shift, explains List, who wants to explore big issues like affordable housing and immigration as she continues her beat at City Hall. Andrade is excited to go out into and cover the communities in Central Falls, Broad Street, South Side, and West End. “I want to document Providence and how it’s changing, how it’s growing, and the rich diversity that’s here,” says List.
DOWNCITY DESIGN
ownCity Design DownCity Design (DCD) was founded in 2009 with the goal of getting young people excited and engaged about the built environment in their neighborhoods. Since then, those young people have helped to design and implement gathering spaces, play structures, and functional pieces of art around the city. Now, they’re reaching out to
adults through their recently launched CityWorks program. Led by DCD co-founder Manuel Cordero and Bryce Dubois, CityWorks is something that’s been a long time coming. “I always had this aspiration to be able to ask our own questions,” says Cordero. Typically, DCD’s work outside of youth programs has been to facilitate conversations around problems brought to them by outside organizations. Now, they’ll be driving the conversation, and recruiting members of the community with a vested interest in the city to be a part of it. More than 40 applicants threw their hats in the ring, with 18 ultimately selected to examine the area around the Providence Riverwalk. The cohort, which is made up of people from a wide age range and an eclectic professional background (aka they’re not all architects and designers), began work in November to explore the needs of the
DOWNCITY DESIGN
downtown river. Framing those needs is the idea of resilience, both in terms of resilience in the face of climate change and the way the community comes together. From there, the cohort will put out a call for proposals, and alongside City Planning, the Parks Department, and groups and businesses with a vested interest in the riverfront parks, select a project to be implemented. What that project will be is still anyone’s guess. It could be similar to any of the projects DownCity Design has worked on with its youth programs, but it could be something else entirely. That’s kind of the beauty of it. “I would like to think that it’s something that I can’t even imagine,” Cordero says when asked what he think the project might result in. “The fact that we’ve gotten this much interest means that this is a conversation that people want to come to. It’s piloting not just the possibility of the project, but the possibility of the different way of engaging in this conversation.” ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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THE AVENUE CONCEPT
he Avenue Concept It would be hard to argue that 2018 wasn’t The Avenue Concept’s (TAC) biggest year yet. Among its many high-profile projects were Peruko Ccopacatty’s Kennedy Plaza sculpture installation in February – a project with roots going back to the ‘90s – and the massive and stunning mural “Still Here,” which Baltimore-based painter Gaia put up in September. Then there was their collaboration with RIPTA, which had two of TAC’s design fellows – Myles Dumas and Colin Gillespie – transform two busses into roving pieces of art which will cycle through bus routes around the state. “Even though we’ve done a lot of big walls in Providence, [“Still Here”] is so incredibly visible that to me that’s what kind of broke that barrier between people saying, ‘This is cool art’ to ‘Oh, that’s The Avenue Concept helping with that cool art,’” explains executive director Betsy Jones. 2019 doesn’t show any signs of TAC slowing down. Communal workspaces and a digital media area are coming to its recently renovated home on Lockwood Avenue. A 2D program could see new murals go up downtown or see smaller, more intimate pieces in neighborhoods beyond the city center. Old sculptures will come down, but new and exciting works will rise in their place. “We want to keep a focus on downtown because that’s where so many wonderful, giant walls are. But we don’t want to just be known
for downtown. Ultimately, we don’t want to be just public art in Providence, we’d love to help facilitate public art in Rhode Island, regionally, and nationally. Everyone should get to have public art, to experience and enjoy it on an everyday level.” Supporting local talent and strengthening the relationships they have formed with artists around the US and beyond will ensure that TAC will continue to drive the conversation around public art in Providence. “Our goal is to build an environment in which art thrives and to create public art encounters that encourage people to engage and interact with art instead of passively observing it,” founder Yarrow Thorne said at an event last summer. “And remember: this is just the beginning.”
PVD PROGRESSIVES
rovidence Progressives You could say 2018 was defined by politics. We watched the races unfold on local, state, and national levels: From city council to Congress, it was a tense but energized midterm election year. The freshly laid groundwork promises more change and momentum in 2019, especially for Providence progressives. “We won some huge victories this year in the Rhode Island General Assembly, and our party took back the House nationally,” says State Senator Samuel Bell, who defeated long-time incumbent Paul Jabour. “As scary as politics is today, it’s very exciting that we’re fighting back at the state and national level, and we’re winning.” However, Bell also recognizes the uphill battle yet to come, listing the less-than-desirable conditions of schools and roads, cuts to healthcare programs, and a housing crisis as issues preventing families from acquiring the basics, making “fixing the political system one of the most important things we can do to make life better” in 2019. “The sheer volume of women who ran for office this year made my heart so happy,” Representative Moira Walsh shares, applauding Providence City Council’s historic first female majority. Despite hiccups, like the controversial challenge from GOP-turned-Democrat Michael Earnheart, Walsh defended her title in the primaries and is
determined to reshape the face of the progressive party this coming year. Her plan: To work on the party’s messaging. “‘Progressive’ shouldn’t be a dirty word,” she says. Similarly, Bell sees need for change in progressive administration; he told voters this year, “It just isn’t possible to win sweeping change until we break the machine and elect legislative leaders who want to actually help the people.” Both Walsh and Bell point out that 2019 – or beyond, if necessary – will mean fighting for basic progressive legislation in Rhode Island, like the fight for reproductive rights.
THE PUBLIC’S RADIO
he Public’s Radio Last October, a single message flashed across Rhode Island computer screens: “We’ve changed our name at RIPR,” it said, “because we’re not just public radio… we’re The Public’s Radio.” This name change wasn’t mere rebranding: WNPN, the state’s primary public radio station since 2006, has choreographed a massive expansion. In a short time, WNPN has acquired WUMD from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, retooled a 850foot TV tower in Tiverton to broadcast the signal, and laid the groundwork for a brand-new news team. At the heart of this expansion is Torey Malatia, the legendary public radio director and co-creator of This American Life. Malatia moved to Rhode Island and became CEO of RIPR in 2016. “When I came here,” says Malatia, “the board was very interested in local journalism. We have a small newsroom – good people, but there aren’t many of us.” Until recently, RIPR was regarded as an “outpost” of WBUR, the acclaimed public radio station based in Boston. Most shows and reportage were produced elsewhere, its web presence was primitive, and the broadcast signal was patchy; even listeners in College Hill struggled with static. Thanks to an aggressive fundraising campaign, listeners can expect a lot from The Public’s Radio in the coming year. The station plans 34
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
to hire a host of new producers and investigative reporters, who will develop original news segments and long-form series. Rhode Island will feature prominently, but the additional station in Dartmouth will buttress reporting across the southern New England coast. “We have an obligation,” says Malatia. “We have to get our reporters out there.” The Public’s Radio will remain headquartered in downtown Providence, in the former Union Station building. While the offices are confined, the staff will grow considerably, as will its subject matter: Malatia envisions in-depth local stories about economics, justice, arts and culture, and the environment. He wants to introduce more live programming, encouraging call-ins. Such bold steps are sometimes hard to describe, since they will take months and years to develop. Says Malatia: “You want people to hear what you’re hearing.”
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MAKING BANK Local Experts Help Settle the Score on Credit, Debt, & Taxes Got questions about money? You’re not alone! From choosing a financial advisor to prepping for April 15, we’ve got the answers you need.
By Bob Curley
Special Finance Section
or most people, the Tax Cuts and Reform Act of 2017 changes impact tax year 2018 (the taxes you file in 2019) and not tax year 2017 returns, but it’s never too early to plan ahead. Changes associated with the new tax law may lower taxes for individuals and small businesses but will also cause you to rethink those deductions. Here’s what you need to in order to plan ahead and keep you taxes as low as possible.
Bank On This: Advice From Local Financial Experts
Q: A:
Will I owe taxes when I die?
The federal “death” tax exemption doubled in 2018, exempting over $11 million per person from estate taxes. However, the change in the law is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025, and in the meantime, left many old estate plans subject to an unnecessary capital gains tax trap. In addition, unseen “taxes,” such as the cost of probating a will or nursing home costs, can leave your loved ones with a reduced legacy or none at all. The good news is that careful planning now can save you thousands of dollars in the future. - Zona C. Douthit, Shechtman, Halperin Savage LLP
A:
How important is knowing and maintaining your credit score?
Your credit score is one of the more important items to be mindful of. Many times we find ourselves speaking with our clients and their adult children about the essential of both establishing credit as well as maintaining a good credit score. There are many good tools in the marketplace that allow you to both review your credit score as well as review your actual credit report. - Deb Shuster, Partner and Wealth Advisor, Northeast Investment Group
• Tax rates for most Americans will be lowered. The new tax brackets will be 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. • Taxes on children’s unearned income will no longer be tied to parents’ income. Kids can earn up to $2,550 tax-free. Above that, tax rates are 24%, 35%, and 37%, depending on amount of income. • Personal exemptions for yourself, your spouse, and your children will be eliminated. • Standard deductions will increase from $6,350 for single filers and married people filing separately to $12,000, from $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples filing jointly, and from $9,350 to $18,000 for those filing as head of households. • Itemized deductions will no longer be limited by adjusted gross income — good news for wealthy taxpayers. The bad news is that if you itemize you will no longer be able to take deductions for state and local tax payments of more than $10,000 (married filing jointly, $5,000 for individuals) which will hurt people in high-tax states. • Homeowners also will lose deductions on second homes and home equity loans unless the proceeds are used to improve their first home. For homes bought in 2017 or later, mortgage interest will only be deductible up to $750,000 in combined debt tied to first and second homes.
You’re in charge of many things. Including your future. You know your life and your future are really up to you. And no matter how busy you are day-to-day, you have to build your wealth, plan for your retirement and manage your investments for the future. As your Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, I can help you keep control of your financial picture. Working together, we can evaluate your current portfolio and your goals, and adjust your investments. Meet with me to learn more. Let’s keep you in charge of tomorrow.
• Deductions for charitable cash contributions will increase from 50 to 60 percent of adjusted gross income.
Joanne M. Daly, CDFA® Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®
• Deductions for many miscellaneous business expenses, such as meals, travel, and uniforms, will be eliminated.
Family Wealth Advisor First Vice President Financial Advisor
• Moving expenses will no longer be deductible if you relocate for work, and any relocation reimbursements you get from an employer will be considered income.
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• The child tax credit will be increased to $2,000 per child under age 17.
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• A new $500 tax credit will be applied to non-child dependents in your household, such as kids over age 17 in college and elderly family members. • Alimony payments will no longer be tax deductible. For more information on tax code changes for the 2017 and 2018 tax years, talk to a certified tax accountant.
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The use of the CDFA® designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney. © 2018 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 2117938 SEG001 05/18 ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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Special Finance Section
Bank On This:
Q: A:
What’s your best tip for getting out of debt?
Go through your monthly expenditures and trim all unnecessary expenses from the budget, then devote the extra cash towards debt repayment. Picking up a second job or side hustle can also work if you have the time and/or skills. - Carrie A. McPherson, Beacon Point Wealth Advisors
Q: A:
A:
Once you have a short list of potential advisors, be sure to schedule face-to-face meetings with each candidate before you sign up to make sure you find a match that fits your personality and financial goals. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) suggests bringing a list of questions to get a clear picture on how each advisor or team works, and to help you decide on who will work best for you. Use NAPFA’s Financial Advisor Diagnostic tool at www.napfa.org to evaluate each advisor’s answers to your questions. These should include:
How are you compensated?
What are the benefits of a revocable trust?
A revocable or “living” trust may help you transfer assets to your heirs in a way that avoids probate, maintains your privacy, and streamlines the administration of your estate. Consult your planning advisers to determine if this type of “will substitute” is appropriate for your personal situation. - Sourced from Washington Trust
Q:
10 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor
If you accept commissions, will you itemize the amount of compensation you earn from products that your recommend to me? Do you accept referral fees?
Are you held to a fiduciary standard at all times? Would you sign a fiduciary oath committing to putting my financial interests first?
What is a fiduciary financial advisor?
A fiduciary financial advisor holds a relationship of trust with their clients and abides by fiduciary duty acting solely in clients’ best interest. A fiduciary works to avoid providing any misleading information related to investment advice and provides a transparency window that enables you to better understand your financial, investment and retirement plans including Social Security and Medicare. The advice of a fiduciary will be based on solely on clients’ investment objectives, risk tolerance, financial circumstances, and overall individual and family needs, without regard to the financial or other interests of themselves. Fiduciary financial advisors provide investment advice with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence of a prudent person. The compensation earned by the fiduciary may be paid directly or indirectly through investments. - Karen Emma, President, Universal Wealth Management
Have you ever been disciplined by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority? Do you provide comprehensive financial planning or just investment management? Do you have many clients like me?
How will you help me reach my financial goals?
What happens to my relationship with the firm if something happens to you?
Finally, once you choose your advisor, be sure to evaluate their performance on an ongoing basis.
Special Finance Section
Bank On This:
The Gig Economy Do you use an online platform to give car rides, rent a space, even pick up goods for someone? This type of activity is known by many names such as the gig, sharing, access, and on-demand economy. It’s important to note that this type of income is generally taxable even if you don’t receive a tax statement, like a Form 1099-MISC, Form W-2, or or some other income statement. Depending upon the circumstances, some or all of your business expenses may be deductible, subject to the normal tax limitations and rules. The IRS encourages taxpayers participating in the sharing economy to understand the potential tax issues affecting them.
Seek Help from a Pro Working with a financial advisor means putting your investments and finances in someone else’s hands. That takes a trusting relationship. To find the advisor who is right for you, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors recommends asking for recommendations from friends, family and colleagues so you have a list of advisor candidates from which to choose. Talk to family members about what you want to accomplish by working with a financial advisor. Are you seeking general investment advice? Paying for college or a house? Retirement? Do some research on potential advisors’ websites and individual biographies.
Q: A:
What assets skip probate?
(the process of settling an estate and passing legal title of ownership of assets to heirs)
Your will controls the disposition of most assets you own, but not all assets have to go through probate. A few notable exceptions include funds in a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan, or traditional and Roth IRAs. These pass to beneficiaries listed in the plan or IRA documents. Similarly, life insurance proceeds go to beneficiaries named in the proper forms (unless the estate is named). These designations supersede any provisions in a will. Other property in a payable-ondeath (POD) form — such as certain securities, bank accounts and U.S. Savings Bonds — automatically pass to beneficiaries without going through probate. - Sourced from Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
Q: A:
Why consider lifetime gifts?
Some clients will consider making additional lifetime gifts to utilize the increased gift and GST tax exemptions before they sunset at the end of 2025. The annual gift tax annual exclusion is also still available and has increased to $15,000 per recipient per year for 2019. - Sourced from Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg Burnett LLP LLP
Q: A:
What is long term care insurance and who is it for?
Long term care is a type of insurance coverage that pays for assisted living, nursing home or home health care in the event a chronic condition or disability leaves a person unable to care for themselves. Insurance is a good way to protect yourself and those you care about most. - Pete Sylvester, Sylvester Associates
Financial solutions for all stages of life.
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Creative financial plans designed with, and around, you. Edward Pontarelli CRPC® Financial Advisor Managing Director
Beacon Point Wealth Advisors A financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 401.824.2532
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Digging for clams? Get matched with hard-to-find scholarships at RIScholarships.org • Search through hundreds of local, hard-to-find scholarships that can reduce the amount you need to borrow for college. • Local scholarships are less competitive than national scholarships so you have a better chance of winning. • Download the mobile app to search for scholarships on the go. Available on iOS & Android.
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
Special Finance Section
Bank On This:
Q: A:
What’s the best way to eliminate student loan debt?
Cutting down the interest rate can save families thousands of dollars, which can help them eliminate their student debt faster. Their parents may want to explore their student loan refinancing options to see if they can reduce their interest rates, particularly on high-cost private student loans. But students should be careful to leave their Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans out of a refinancing program if they think there is any potential that they will use benefits like Public Service Loan Forgiveness, income-driven repayment, or extended deferment or forbearance. Once you refinance, you can’t go back to the federal loan program. - Charles Kelley, Executive Director, Rhode Island Student Loan Authority
Q: A:
A:
Low and modest-income Rhode Islanders may qualify for free help filing their taxes and applying for tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Appointments are highly recommended and must also bring picture identification for both the applicant and spouse and social security cards for everyone listed on the return. Here is a list of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Providence but services are available statewide. For more information visit uwri.org and search: VITA.
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How involved should married couples be with their joint finances?
Both spouses should be fully empowered and engaged in their finances to help ensure they make informed and smart decisions about their money, as well as have a holistic wealth plan that incorporates their personal values and goals. If something happens to one of them, the other will be better prepared to handle their financial affairs on their own. - Joanne M. Daly, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor
Q:
Free Tax Help
How involved should married couples be with their joint finances?
Both spouses should be fully empowered and engaged in their finances to help ensure they make informed and smart decisions about their money, as well as have a holistic wealth plan that incorporates their personal values and goals. If something happens to one of them, the other will be better prepared to handle their financial affairs on their own. - Joanne M. Daly, Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Bob Curley is a North Kingstown based freelance feature, travel, and healthcare writer who has written extensively about
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Rhode Island, including for his local travel website RITravel.org and the book, 100 Things to Do in Rhode Island Before You Die, coming in 2019. ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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WHO TO WATCH
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CITY STYLE At Home • The Look • Shop Talk • Whole Body
The Italian pasta company painting placed over a table and chairs, along with an area rug below, work together to designate a dining area in the open space
SHARED PHILOSOPHY A couple’s aim for all things authentic serves to create a cohesive and cozy home Michael DeGrandpre and Rich Pezzillo like anything with a story, so it makes sense that they have made their home at Corliss Landing, a former machine parts factory circa 1838 that was converted into condo units in the late 1980s. Both moved to Providence from Washington, D.C., and became instantly attached to the city, so much so that they formed the Downtown Neighborhood Association and have been rallying residents and spearheading hands-on and cost-saving improvements to downtown ever since. Photography by Grace Lentini
While the couple kept many trappings from their unit’s previous owners like blinds, they have made structural modifications such as switching out white tile flooring for hardwoods and cutting a hole in a wall to create a passthrough between the kitchen and living room. “That was a game-changer and helped the space feel much more open and inviting,” says DeGrandpre. When it comes to decorating, the couple takes their cue from the rustic physical location. “Rich and I try to find things which accent the
architectural elements of the space. For example, we spent months waiting and looking for the perfect dining room table. Our favorite antique shop, White Star Antiques, posted a picture of a table on Instagram and we loved it. We love pieces that marry old with new. When clean, contemporary chairs from Target match a table that is made from a factory cart—that’s when we fall in love. Our decorating style is partly dictated also by things which have a story. If a piece has a good story behind it, then we’re in,” says DeGrandpre. -Elyse Major
Want your home featured in Providence Monthly? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more
CITY STYLE • Whole Body
by John Taraborelli
More Bounce to the Ounce Jounce Fitness is proof that trampolines are never not fun
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
The set-up at Jounce: individual trampolines with handlebars
equipment, holding light dumbbells in hand while punching – a simple feat made more challenging by remaining balanced on the trampoline while doing it. In fact, the trampoline is just as often used as a means of resistance or testing core stability and balance as it is a means for catching air. Bryant consistently encouraged us to push down towards the floor with our feet when descending from a jump in order to get the most work possible out of the trampoline. The same principle could be used to work the upper body too, as in the case of “CPR planks,” which involves doing a diamond plank (hands touching in the center, forming a sort of diamond-like shape between your thumbs and index fingers) with feet on the floor and hands on the trampoline, and rapidly pushing down into the stretchy fabric for resistance. What makes Jounce so friendly for any fitness level is that all of these activities are done on your own trampoline, at your own pace, using the weights you chose, and Bryant offers variations on each move that can
increase or decrease the challenge. Whether you do your squats on the floor or on the trampoline (slightly easier), or how fast and high you jump, is not as important as the fact that you simply keep moving and keep your core engaged. The 45-minute class flew by with such minimal impact and so fast a pace that you’d hardly realize all the squats you just did until your quads and glutes remind you the next day. (Don’t worry, there’s some gentle stretching at the end to prevent that.) In the end, Bryant made a believer out of me. If you’re a hardened gym rat or grizzled CrossFitter, Jounce might seem gimmicky at first, but it’s a nice, easy-on-the-joints way to throw your core a curveball and work on your balance. And if you’re the type of person for whom exercise is a chore, it might be the way to trick yourself into having a little fun while burning some calories.
Jounce Fitness 39 Putnam Pike (Plaza 44), Johnston • 787-4665 JounceFitness.com
Photography by Savannah Barkley for Providence Monthly
I confess, I was a little skeptical when my editor set me up with a class at Jounce Fitness in Johnston. For starters, portmanteau words (jump + bounce = jounce) are often harbingers of a certain kind of insufferable novelty – like glamping, Sharknado, or jazzercise. The whole idea of adults exercising on trampolines just seemed a little gimmicky for my taste. Fortunately, I’m usually game for whatever new attempt to kill, injure, and/or shame me the editors of this fine periodical throw my way, so I grabbed my gym bag and prepared for takeoff. I say fortunately, because Jounce Fitness turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It’s fun, gets the heart pumping, and it’s easy enough for anyone at any fitness level to – if you’ll excuse the pun – jump right in. Perhaps best of all, for a person like me who’s deep into the wrong side of his 30s, it’s low-impact. Now don’t get confused: I’m not saying it’s a cakewalk. A Jounce session can be customized to your preferred level of intensity – anything from a light workout to hardcore schvitz – but the one thing it’s definitely not is hard on your joints. The absence of the kind of bone-jarring impact so common in many other forms of fitness means less soreness, less chance of injury, and less overall wear and tear on your earthly vessel. There is also more to it than just, Weeeee… trampolines are fun. A typical Jounce class is not all jumping and bouncing, but rather a fastpaced mix of aerobics, strength training, balance, and core work using things like resistance bands, dumbbells, and medicine balls, in addition to the trampoline. If you think it’s going to be all play and no squats or pushups, think again. My instructor, Heather Bryant, led the class through a well-rounded, full-body workout set to a thumping soundtrack. Each song was like a mini-set within the class, accompanied by two or three different moves, which would alternate using changes in the music as cues. One song might start with squats on the floor and switch to squat jumps on the trampoline. Another might call for holding a plank through the first verse, with the chorus as the signal to start doing pushups. Along the way, we’d incorporate other
CITY STYLE • The Look
by Jackie Ignall
Bill Keough Rockstar Vibes
Photography by Wolf Matthewson
My personal style is nothing too complicated – consistency is my mantra. I like to cut a sharp, edgy figure so mostly wear blacks and grays. My leather jacket is like my second skin – find one unique in style with a cool looking collar and don’t let go of it. The standard T or long sleeve three-button Henley depending on the temperature and occasion and Levi’s slim-fit jeans with a tapered leg in black or grey are my go-tos. I do have a red pair of jeans that I drop in once in a while, which always draws comments. I wear a pair of Doc Martens until they have been worn out completely before going to the next pair. I always try to mix in T-shirts that will start conversations with complete strangers. T-shirts based on the periodical table are great for that. ‘I Nap Periodically’ never fails to draw smiles while waiting in line for coffee. I’ve loved music since I was old enough to drop a needle on a record and started going to see shows regularly when a teenager. Coming of age in the late ‘70s to early ‘80s was a blessing for sure. I got my start in the business by playing in bands with people I met, and over time became interested in promoting all the music I loved, which led to a lengthy stretch on the business end of it all. Providence is such a treasure trove of unique beauty; around every corner is found art. While gathering clips for my recent video ‘Gentle Smile’, I dropped by the 10,000 Suns project over by the Point Street Bridge thinking shots of all those majestic sunflowers swaying in the breeze would be a great addition. I was so drawn in by the exhibit’s vibe that it became the focus of the music video.
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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Tuesday evenings at the East Greenwich office
Masters Program for Weight Maintenance • For those who have achieved weight loss and want to maintain a healthful weight • Monthly visits with a physician • Unlimited one-on-one nutrition counseling and visits with an exercise physiologist • Weekly group sessions focused on behavioral, nutrition, or exercise strategies
Morning and evening sessions at the Providence and East Greenwich locations $5 per week (4-week minimum)
For more information or to enroll in any weight management program, call 401-793-8790 or visit lifespan.org/center-weight-wellness.
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Vintage Furs • Post Modern Art Deco • Oriental Rugs 881 Westminster Street, Providence | 401-861-6872 | rjlgallery@gmail.com ReliableJewelryAndLoan.com | Wed-Fri 11-6 • Sat & Sun 10-4 | Mon & Tues by Appointment 54
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
CITY STYLE • Shop Talk
by Elyse Major • Photography by Brandon Harmon
Colorful Attitude Green Ink
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For a month that signals a fresh start, January can be a bit stark. Trees are bare and the grass is brown and matted, making it the perfect time to add color to the scenery yourself by infusing hot hues into your wardrobe! When bundling up, add some pizzazz to your parka with a stop at Green Ink. The new Wayland Square location carries a wide selection of vibrant hand-knit woolen products including beanies, hand-warmers, and more. Goods are all Fair Trade and knit by women in Nepal of 100% wool so you can feel good about looking great. Green Ink also stocks assorted jewelry at a range of price points to bring some sparkle to those longer nights without freezing your assets.
1. Hand-knit woolen beanie: $40 2. Hand-knit woolen hand-warmers: $40 3. Earrings: $17
Green Ink 199 Wayland Avenue, Providence • 294-6266 GreenInkBoutique.com
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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There’s a New App in Town!
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Info, resources, and videos at your fingertips 24/7 on … Sexual Health Topics like: • Healthy relationships • Prevention, testing, and treatment of HIV/STDs • Sexual health and family planning services and locations • Where to find free condoms • Information on birth control options • PrEP and PEP (medications to prevent HIV) and a lot more.
Download the RIghtTime app for iPhone or Android
A service of the Rhode Island Department of Health 401-222-5960 http://righttime.site
GET OUT Calendar • On Stage • Art • Music
Grab a pair of skates or reserve a bumper car for some icy fun this winter
WINTER FUN RETURNS All Month Long: Temperatures have dropped, snow has fallen, and winter has officially taken up temporary residence in the city – and so has winter fun at the Alex and Ani Center. Bumper cars and
ice skating are officially back, so don your warmest gear and hit the ice, whether you’re a newbie lacing up skates for the first try or an old pro. 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, TheProvidenceRink.com
Photo courtsey of Alex and Ani Center ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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GET OUT • Calendar
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by Megan Schmit
RD
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THE MUST LIST NEW • USED & BARGAIN BOOKS
NEW & USED VINYL RECORDS
10 essential events happening this month
January 26: TACO Classical Concert
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240 WESTMINSTER STREET, PROVIDENCE 401-273-7900 • SymposiumBooks.com store@symposiumbooks.com SYMPOSIUM BOOKS AT WATERFIRE ARTS CENTER
475 Valley Street Providence Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm
ALL THE TIME
1
January 3-31: From Thursday through Monday every week this month and into February, Trinity Rep presents black odyssey, a reimagining of Homer’s classic poem that’s freshly steeped in both Greek mythology and African-American history. 201 Washington Street, Providence, TrinityRep.com
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January 6: Knead Doughnuts and The Zen Mafia host Knead a Break Kids Yoga, a cute and cutesy event complete with kid-friendly yoga, a donut-themed craft, pretend donut shop, and, of course, a gourmet donut to munch on. 135 Elmgrove Avenue, KneadDoughnuts.com
212 Westminster Street Providence • 401-272-4285 craftlandshop.com @craftland 58
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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January 11: Pink Floyd fans will be wowed by the must-see themed show The Wall Live Extravaganza at The Strand. Featuring sets, costumes, and visual effects inspired by album-turned-film The Wall, and following the wild success of the first show, Space: The Best of the Pink Floyd Show that stunned audiences
in Montreal. 79 Washington Street, Providence, TheStrandRI.com
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January 13-26: Everyone knows Providence is the epicenter for great food – you can find just about any restaurant, bar, or eatery to satisfy even the pickiest palette. And, in the most highly anticipated weeks of the year, you can sample discounted three-course meals from the city’s hottest culinary destinations during Providence Restaurant Weeks. GoProvidence.com
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January 18-19: You know him best from NBC’s award-winning show 30 Rock, but this month, respected comedian Tracy Morgan makes a special appearance at the Comedy Connection. The hilarious star might have stand-up tours streaming on Netflix, like Picking Up the Pieces and Staying Alive, but nothing quite compares to experiencing the hilarity in person. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence, RIComedyConnection.com
Photography by Mike Braca
ALL HANDMADE
Authentic Southeast Asian Cuisine 6
January 19: We have “High Hopes” for Panic! At The Disco’s Pray for the Wicked Tour, stopping for one night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center to rock the city. Supported by American singer Two Feet and opener to be announced. 1 LaSalle Square, DunkinDonutsCenter.com
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January 19: Get your freak on at FreakFest 10, the night when punk, metal, rock, hip hop, and the best kind of freaks put on the performance of the year. Two stages featuring bands like Anti Flag, Scissorfight, and Thy Will Be Done. 103 Dike Street, Providence, FeteMusic.com
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January 21: To celebrate National Hug Day, join the first annual virtual Happy Hug Day 5K and 10K. A virtual race means anyone can participate, from anywhere, at any time – just pick a course and time yourself. Fifteen percent of every registration is donated to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, plus you’ll receive a decorative pin and bib commemorating the run. EventBrite.com
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January 22-27: Beloved musical CATS returns to tour North America and dazzle another generation with a stop at the PPAC in the New Year. A tribe of cats gathers for a magical soiree to decide which will be reborn; scored with original music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. 220 Weybosset Street, Providence , PPACRI.org
I absolutely loved everything I tried here
–Saurav S.
223 Atwells Avenue Providence • 383-4774
WELCOMING MARY KATE DUNLEAVY, PA-C TO THE PRACTICE NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS
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January 26: The RI Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off 2019 by taking audiences back to the past, presenting the TACO Classical Concert, Viennese Favorites & Beethoven 4. This installment of the classical series features traditional music like Mozart’s “Rondo in A” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 4”, plus many others. One Avenue of the Arts, Providence, TheVETSRI.com
East Side Primary Care P R OV I D E N C E
1195 North Main Street, Providence • 401-340-1000 oceanstateurgentcare.com/primary-care/east-side-primary-care-providence
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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GET OUT • On Stage
by Alyssa Anderson
Improv Jones Local comedic performers are guaranteed to give you a laugh Improv means no rehearsal, no scripts, and no chance you’ll see the same show twice
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
On the first Saturday of every month, in the AS220 Black Box Theater at 95 Empire Street in Providence, Improv Jones puts on a show. If you’re not familiar, improv comedy is different from any other style of comedy: Nothing is prepared. No rehearsal, no scripts, and never the same show twice. The performers are thrust into hypothetical situations – sometimes suggested by the audience, other times completely made up – and play games reliant on only their wits and natural talent. They take on characters and perform without qualms or inhibitions, to absolutely hilarious results. Improv Jones’ six current members all have
different styles of comedy that play well off of one another. Most also perform with other troupes around the state, but there’s definitely something special that happens when this sextet comes together to put on a show. “The Improv Jones performers are so talented,” says Tim Thibodeau, a long-time member of the group. “They brought a theater background to the stage and the performers were the most skilled comedic actors in the area.” Improv Jones started in 1992 as a workshop at the now defunct Second Story Theatre, back when it was located on the East
Photo courtesy of Improv Jones
- The Guardian
Home of the Future Side. Once it closed, the group took on the name “Improv Jones” and began performing at the AS220 Black Box Theater. There have been over three dozen members of the group over the years. They used to perform every Thursday and Saturday, but as the troupe grew and schedules conflicted, they all agreed they wanted to be able to put all their energy into one great show rather than eight not-so-great shows in a month. “Our shows have been fantastic since we went to once a month as it feels like an event.” Today’s members, Casey Seymour Kim, Tim Thibodeau, Dave Rabinow, Eric Fulford, Kate Teichman, and Stuart Wilson, are all seasoned veterans of improv comedy. Each with their own strengths and quirks, they can change characters and scenes at the drop of a hat. This group has been working together for over seven years now; they’ve only ever rehearsed once in the past 15 years. “Our ability to trust each other on stage, listen, to be comfortable with each other with whatever is offered on stage, makes it honest,” Thibodeau shares. “Our theater and creative backgrounds are influenced throughout each show. It also makes us laugh and have fun – we don’t try too hard, we just believe in each other’s strengths and support, which enables us to be compelling and funny.” Occasionally, Improv Jones will put on special shows, but this is more of an exception than a rule. In March, they host their own version of “March Madness” called “Bracketprov,” where the audience can vote on which storyline they’d like to see advance after watching several scenes, tournament style, until one is crowned the victor. The group also participates in Providence Improv Fest, created by Mauro Hantman, who is also a founding member of Improv Jones. Make sure to check out the next Improv Jones show on January 5. Tickets are only $5 and the laughs are worth every penny.
Academic excellence. Lifelong success. The all-girls advantage.
Open House • Saturday, January 12 • 10 a.m.–12 p.m. RSVP at www.lincolnschool.org/openhouse Co-ed for 6 weeks–PreK, All-girls for Kindergarten–Grade 12 • #boldminds
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www.rebeccaz.com www.rebeccaz.com rz_portraits ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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GET OUT • Music
by Adam Hogue
It’s the Journey, Not the Destination College band Beardogz releases The Woods We Scour, an album honoring wanderlust
TOP TRACKS: “Silver”: Opens with whistling and some low-register vocal musings, kicks in full band halfway through, and takes off from there with repeating melodic motifs and the always humble maj7 chords. “The Woods We Scour”: Heavy vocal layering and a chugging, ascending chord progression moves this song through a desolate mountain range in the most melodic and contemplative kind of way before opening up in the last minute.
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
College band The Beardogz is ready to debut their contemplative new album, The Woods We Scour
little on it, and then we’ll add electric guitar, bass, drums, auxiliary percussion keys, trombone, and any other layers we want on the track. I think we all had a collective vision for [songs like] ‘Silver’ and most of the other tracks on the album, but we didn’t always get to our destination quickly.” In many ways the metaphor of “not getting to a destination quickly” is a fitting one for this album as it sways, like any good wanderer, in a general direction with an ambiguous, unseen, unattained destination just beyond the horizon. The full 12 song spread walks a slow, delicate balance between well-informed music theory and spontaneous creation that just sounds right. “Ethan, Jon, and Brian are all in college studying music, my brother Peter has arranged music for his college a cappella group, I took one semester of music theory in high school, but we rarely talk about the technical stuff that goes into writing a song,” Soucy notes. “To me at least, songwriting and a grasp of music theory don’t necessarily go hand in hand; however, we do all have some unspoken, informed understanding about where the music should go that lends itself to a sound that is halfway between feeling and calculation.” Beardogz is comprised of songwriter Spencer Soucy on guitar and vocals; Peter Soucy, Jonathan Blanchette, Brian Rowe, and Ethan Guevremont round out the band through an array
of instruments ranging from trombone to melodica. All are high school friends still connected through music. “Playing music with my brother and old high school classmates adds such a familiar and often goofy dynamic to the band that might not exist if we hadn’t known each other for so long before starting the band,” Soucy says. “There’s a simplicity and easiness about playing music and hanging out with The Beardogz that does make me believe relationship plays a big role in music...I think the lightness that comes from playing music with friends comes through brilliantly in the songs we write and perform. We’re never trying to outshine each other. We all keenly know how our individual roles play into the group dynamic and sound.” In January, Beardogz will be recording at Big Nice Studio in Lincoln. Keep an eye on the Beardogz Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter for upcoming show information. Look for The Woods We Scour (mixed and mastered by Christian Murphy with cover art by Sebastian Spearman-Gauvin) on Spotify, Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, or any other streaming service.
The Beardog z TheBeardogz.BandCamp.com
Photos by Neline Bagger courtesy of The Beardogz
Tone and mood are not always one and the same, but every so often, an artist’s personal introspections and emotions align with those imposed upon the listener. The Woods We Scour by The Beardogz is one such album. Through clever turns of phrase in passing lyrics, a heavily layered, freeform sound, and unconventional vocal melodies, harmonies, and unexpected instrumental cameos, The Woods We Scour works to create a world rich in nature and wanderlust that feels like a clever escape from the real, often bleak, world. With the albums There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, If You’re Feeling Sinister, and Fleet Foxes as a reference, The Woods We Scour falls into place as a far-reaching and satisfyingly comprehensive collection of sounds and influences serving as a backdrop to Spencer Soucy’s lyrics and vocal melodies. The recorded renditions are layered with intentionally placed instrumental breaks that are not only interesting but unexpected, and nod to the classically trained nature of each member of the band. Like a good puzzle being put together, The Woods We Scour works to make each sonic decision fit in exactly the place it belongs. “The layering comes later as I listen to the song and find guitar licks and harmonies that I like,” says Soucy. “I know it sounds cliché, but most of my favorite guitar lines or harmonies come to me with a fluidity that I cannot explain after they’re recorded. There is definitely a ‘muse’ at work, or maybe just lots of caffeine. After that, I’ll usually take the song to the band, jam a
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An Eclectic Array Of Clothing Jewelry & Accessories
GET OUT • Art
by Amanda M. Grosvenor
Sentimental Charm Figs & Ginger’s delicate designs make perfect gifts for loved ones
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Rhonda Dudek of Figs & Ginger was one of the early adopters of the online shop for handmade goods, Etsy
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AdvancedEyeCareRI.com 780 North Main Street Providence • 401-331-2020 64
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
Very few designers can say that they were among the first 100 people to join Etsy, the industry-changing online marketplace for craftspeople, but Figs & Ginger is a rare bird. Owner Rhonda Dudek, who grew up on River Avenue, had just graduated RISD around the time the site was launching in 2005, and she credits it as a major part of how she’s been able to sustain herself and thrive financially as an artist for well over a decade. “The timing for my brand was the best,” Dudek says. Early on, “the site had a lot of press and PR, and if you got featured on Etsy, you were up for a month.” In 2018, a brand might be featured on the site’s main page for a few minutes before scrolling to a different designer. Figs & Ginger was featured just before Thanksgiving, and was also later helped by a brand-new
wave of design blogs and “mom blogs” that spotlighted her. One look at Dudek’s products, however, makes it clear that her success was due to more than just good timing. Her Birds on a Branch necklace, which she calls her “bread and butter”– a silver branch with a customizable number of mother/parent and baby birds – was a design she came up with while studying at RISD. It is still popular today – so much so that mass retailers have sometimes flagrantly copied the design. As a recent graduate, Dudek knew very little about intellectual property law, and was dismayed at having her ideas stolen. “It’s frustrating, but as a small designer, there’s very little you can do about it,” she says. At the time, she was working 18-20-
Photography by Savannah Barkley for Providence Monthly
Leaders in Eye Care since 1927
hour days, sawing out and soldering bird pieces and living in affordable Asheville, North Carolina, with a charming studio office operating out of an old camper. But even with several employees, demand was tough to keep up with; the company was increasing 300% year over year in the early days, and her products were landing in shops like Anthropologie, Whole Foods, and the Knot. In addition to jewelry, she used a laser cutter to make delicate cake toppers, table cards, and hanging decorations. Dudek describes Figs & Ginger’s design ethos as “really sentimental” and “family-oriented.” She credits a beloved artist and antique dealer grandmother with inspiring her creatively as a child. Although she rarely wears jewelry herself, she has always loved gift-giving, and her products are designed with gifting in mind; the company’s motto is “gifts for every stage of life.” Figs & Ginger’s latest line features vintage-inspired friendship/familial lockets and charms with special symbols like herbs, butterflies, bears, mountains, and trees. They come boxed and hanging from elegant card stock with special messages for loved ones. “Christmas is great, but Mother’s Day is my thing,” Dudek shares. The designer moved back to Rhode Island two years ago to help look after her young nephew, who had been diagnosed with Leukemia. She scaled her business way back during that time, but has ramped it up again in recent months since his health improved. She has been designing out of her studio on Westminster Street above Ogie’s Trailer Park, with a newfound work-life balance that leaves space for a thriving social life and the chance to branch out in creative new directions.
Figs & G inger FigsAndGinger.com
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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PLOTNIKOV’S GRIPPING DANCE-DRAMA “COMA” RETURNS! DANCE MAGAZINE:
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Vilia Putrius in Viktor Plotnikov’s Coma. Photo by Thomas Nola-Rion.
A LUSH PARADISE AWAITS YOU at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Journey to the depths of the Amazon, for an immersive wildlife experience like no other in the Zoo’s new exhibit
NOW OPen! rwpzoo.org 66
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
FEAST In the Kitchen • On the Menu • Review • Restaurant Guide When a former brewery closed its doors in Pawtucket, beer-maker Robert DaRosa saw his chance
GRAB A MUG OF SMUG
A new brewery opens in the former Bucket Brewery space On the back wall of Smug Brewing, there’s a giant diagram of beer-making machinery. When Robert DaRosa saw the antique schematic, he decided to blow it up, making it the visual centerpiece of his new brewery on the edge of Pawtucket. “I started off as a home-brewer,” he says. But when a steakhouse in Seekonk went under – and he lost his job there – DaRosa decided to pursue beer in earnest. He apprenticed for two years at Union Station Brewery, then became head-brewer. Later, he worked in beer distribution for Ragged Island. Then he heard about the closure of Bucket Brewery, a plucky operation in an old brick warehouse on Carver Street.
“I got together with my cousin, and we pulled the numbers together and said, ‘Yeah, we can probably do this,’” says DaRosa. “So, we went for it.” The renovated space opened in October. Smug has a large taproom, reclaimed wood tables, and comfy sofas. Food trucks can park on the street outside, and regular tasting hours are forthcoming. “The opening’s been good,” says DaRosa. “We learned a lot from it. We don’t want people to just come up to the bar and we hand you a beer and then you’re off. You want to sit on the couches over there in the lounge area? We’ll go over to the you. We want you to feel at home.” 100 Carver Street, SmugBrewing.com -Robert Isenberg
Photography by Robert Isenberg ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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by Stephanie Obodda
Pretty, Peppy, and Plant-Based By Chloe serves vegan fast food with youthful flair
Providence should be flattered that By Chloe, a popular chain with locations in New York City, Boston, LA, and London, chose to open a restaurant on Thayer Street. If Chloe were a real girl, she’d be a fun-loving millennial with a natural glow. You’d spend a lot of time with her before realizing the secret to that glow – her plant-based diet. By Chloe manages to marry fun fast food with healthy, vegan ingredients. The sustainable, animal-free, and locally sourced menu is the core to the restaurant’s ethos, but the brand manages to operate from this place of conviction without taking itself too seriously. By Chloe reminds me of a more youthful, meatless Shake Shack. It’s almost subversive – and quite delicious. With a light-filled interior, striped floors, a swinging chair, and a cartoon-y menu, By Chloe is perfect for groups of friends, parent-slash-pre-teen bonding, or a casual date. It’s cash-free, so don’t forget your card. If you want to feel cool, order the off-menu
‘Burg BLT, Tropic Thunder Smoothie
Fenway Nachos, a secret that’s worth eating. With spicy seitan chorizo that rivals the real thing and a hearty helping of guacamole, these are like your favorite guilty junk food nachos, but way better. A close runner up, also off-menu, are the Oh So Fancy Fries, air-baked fries with the same seitan chorizo, whiskey onions, chipotle aioli, and tofu crema. My Classic Burger had all the elements of an archetypal fast food burger: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and a fast-food paper sleeve. The patty is made with tempeh, lentils, chia seeds, and walnuts. This sounds like a disparate bunch of ingredients, but they come together with a singular texture and flavor. I stole more than a few bites of my husband’s Whiskey BBQ sandwich, which had a base of smoked Portobello mushrooms and seitan with grilled pineapple, kale, and a bourbon barbeque sauce. The Mac & Cheese was the only unimpressive item of our meal. It was presented nicely, but the creamy sauce, made with sweet potatoes
Quinoa Taco Salad
and cashews, was too sweet for my taste. Seasonal specials are posted to the right of the counter. When we visited, the Market Veggie was Roasted Brussel Sprouts with roasted garlic aioli and black currants, a crispy, salty delight. The specials menu also features smoothies and other drinks. I had the Tropic Thunder smoothie, a pale yellow blend of mango, banana, turmeric, pineapple, hemp seeds, black pepper, and coconut milk that tasted more like a thick shake than a healthy smoothie. My 10-month-old son and I were equally delighted. My husband’s PB Hot Cocoa was rich and smooth. Though By Chloe is best described as a fast-food restaurant, and everything is served in compostable, disposable packaging, most of our food was good enough to be on a
CUISINE: Vegan Fast Food PRICES: Pastas & Sides: $4.25 - $8.95, Salads & Sandwiches: $8.95 - $11.95, Dessert: $2.50 - $4.95 ATMOSPHERE: Fast-Casual
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Photography by Mike Braca
FEAST • Review
Must-Try Items Fenway Nachos (secret menu item) Tortilla chips, spicy seitan chorizo, black bean, corn salsa, guacamole, tomato, tofu crema
Spicy Thai Salad Shredded kale, chopped romaine, apricot-sriracha glazed tempeh, almonds, quinoa, edamame, scallion, crispy wontons, peanut dressing
Whiskey BBQ Sandwich Smoky Portobello mushroom and seitan, grilled pineapple, onion, marmalade, sautéed kale, bourbon barbecue sauce, potato bun
full-service menu. I brought some irresistible desserts back to my office, including the Chloestess Cupcake, a clone of the classic. Next time, I’ll save room for the ice cream, which comes in fun flavors like Birthday Cake and PB&J. I can guarantee I won’t miss the cream.
By Chloe 223 Thayer St. • 213-8798 EatByChloe.com
An Australia-Inspired Café 400 Exchange Street, Providence sydneypvd.com ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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FEAST • In The Kitchen
by Chuck Staton
Public Works How the underground Renaissance Hotel restaurant handles the pressure of being visitors’ “first bite” of Providence Technically underground, Public Kitchen & Bar is the sleek-yet-comfortable dining establishment situated beneath the Renaissance Hotel on Francis Street. The menu handily balances new and classic American fare, and Public is often (literally) the first taste of Providence that many visitors experience. We caught up with the GM Christopher Moore, as well as the head chef Tyler Demora, to discuss the pressure that comes with creating that first impression, plus how to properly introduce new items to the menu, and the difficulties of trying to please everyone.
Photography by Savannah Barkley for Providence Monthly
How would you describe the focus of Public Kitchen & Bar? CM: After being in the Renaissance Hotel for five years now, our owners push us to be consistent, and pay close attention to detail. TD: With so many great restaurants in Providence, how do you separate yourself? I believe that’s my personal focus as a chef – to try to give Providence something it doesn’t have. We try to take care of every diner as if they’re eating in our own homes. How do you feel that Providence has impacted Public Kitchen? TD: We sit on top of Capitol Hill, overlooking our State House. It’s a beautiful view. CM: The political scene can affect us from year to year. A lively political season can certainly change the flow as well as election years. TD: We need to show our diners what Providence can achieve as one of the top food cities in the country. Since Providence is so well-renowned for its great dining scene, our diners (mostly hotel guests) have high expectations... and honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way. How do you develop new menus? TD: Our new Fall Menu [recently] kicked off. And actually, I redid the entire menu. I added handrolled pastas and pizza, composed entree selections, oysters, outrageous new England cheeses, and a heritage pork plate – where we make a nice porky charcuterie plate. When I write menus, I start with seasonality and what’s available.
Public’s goal is simple: To be a meeting place for hipsters and Senators alike, through modern and classic American fare [I consider] the concept of the restaurant I’m writing the dish for and “Can my kitchen and staff handle the dish?”
conceived, I knew I had to make sure most of dishes on the menu [were dishes that] people knew and could relate to.
When you do decide to introduce new items, what is the balance between satisfying regulars, and forging new directions? CM: We want to cater to the traveler, the local, as well as the guest that’s attending a show at The Veterans Memorial Auditorium, which is right next door. This is why our menu is a little more diverse. TD: It’s hard to take a dish off the menu that does so well. You always second-guess yourself when you make that decision. It’s a push-andpull feeling as a chef; you want to make everyone happy – not just the diners but your kitchen staff as well. You need to keep it exciting for them and make sure everyone (including myself) is continuing to learn. When I wrote the menu for Public, I knew it had to be genuine and well-
If you had a mission statement at PK&B, what would that be? CM: [We provide] an elegant setting where one can enjoy a burger and chicken wings, or dine on a Filet Mignon. Our web site describes who we are perfectly: “Throughout the space of Public, a modernist sensibility is blended with a classic American, Newport mansion drawing room theme. Public’s masculine and warm setting will be a meeting place for hipsters and Senators alike…” TD: Food for the people.
Public Bar & Grill 120 Francis St • 919-5050 PublicKitchenProvidence.com
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FEAST • On The Menu
by Robert Isenberg
Medicine for the Soul
Across the state, Green Line Apothecary is something of a legend. Where else can you pick up your meds from a skilled pharmacist and order yourself a root beer float? The tradition of an “apothecary” that’s also a soda fountain may sound like the stuff of Norman Rockwell paintings, but the tradition is alive and well in South Kingstown, thanks to Christina Procaccianti, owner and head pharmacist of Green Line. At last, that vintage combination is coming
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to Providence. “We are opening a second location on North Main Street,” Procaccianti announced in an online video. “There was a time when every Main Street had a corner drug store, and I want to see that come back to Providence.” On paper, there’s little difference between Green Line and your local Walgreens; they still process scripts, and co-pays are the same. But Green Line also caters to patients with a sweet tooth, slinging sodas, shakes, floats, and ice
cream. Most of these items were concocted by Procaccianti herself, using all-organic ingredients. You may recognize the menu from your favorite diner, but if you’ve never had an “egg cream,” Green Line will be serving this mid-century delight when it opens in the next couple of months. Adds Procaccianti: “I want people to leave here feeling like they have had the best pharmacy experience ever.” 905 North Main Street, GreenLineApothecary.com
Photography by Kendall Pavan St. Laurent
A famed South County soda fountain will open its second location in Providence
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BOOTBLACK YANKEE MAGAZINE
Celebrating 85 years | Family Owned and Operated
Photography by Wolf Matthewson
100 SABRA STREET, CRANSTON • 781-9693 • TWINOAKSREST.COM If you’re an entrepreneur in New England, you know you’ve “made it” when you get applause in Yankee Magazine. The hallowed publication has shaped northeastern culture for 84 years, and its most recent praise fell upon a Rhode Island newcomer, Bootblack Brand. The Editors’ Food Choice Awards are relatively new – Yankee started bestowing them only six years ago – and they recognize a wide range of “fine artisan New England products.” This year’s winning companies included Tandem Coffee in Maine, Somerville Chocolate in Massachusetts, and Bootblack, the cocktail-mixing mavens of the Ocean State. Created by husband-and-wife team Paul Kubiski and Jackie Duhamel, Bootblack puts special cocktail syrups in handsome bottles, such as the Ginger Cardamom Lime and the Classic Citrus Tonic. The winning mixture was Cranberry Jalapeño and Lime, which can be used for cocktails or carbonated sodas. Bootblack was an early “graduate” of the Hope & Main incubator program in Warren, and bottles and kits are now available across the region. BootblackBrand.com
Ice Skating & Ice Bumper Cars Open for skating daily from 10am-10pm, weather permitting. Bumper car hours may vary. Now accepting online reservations for bumper cars. 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI • 401.680.7390 • theprovidencerink.com
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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Burgers and a bar – what more could we ask for? Harry’s is a great spot to grab lunch with a co-worker or spend your night out eating and enjoying their huge selection of craft beers. The mini burgers are
built with the freshest, local ingredients and 100% pure Hereford beef. Next time you’re downtown or on Federal Hill, stop in for a bite and a beer – because, like they say, “Life’s too short to eat lousy burgers.”
121 N Main Street, Providence, 228-7437 301 Atwells Avenue, Providence, 228-333 HarrysBarBurger.com
Photo courtesy of Harry’s Bar and Burger
PROVIDENCE AREA 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Fashionable prime steakhouse with award-winning sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 453-2333. LD $$$ Caserta Pizzeria Casual kid-friendly pizza spot offering traditional Italian crisp-cut pizza and calzones. 121 Spruce St, Providence, 621-3818. LD $-$$ CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in a historic setting. 14 Imperial Place, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$-$$$
Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 3000 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$ Character’s Cafe & Theatre Hybrid art space with all-day breakfast, coffee, and theater-inspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 490-9475. BL $ Don Jose Tequilas Restaurant Homestyle Mexican fare plus beer, wine, and cocktails in a colorful setting. 351 Atwells Ave, Providence, 454-8951. LD $-$$
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ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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Sea Food
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RESTAURANT GUIDE For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com
Harry’s Bar & Burger Called the “Best Burger in America” by CNN. Over 50 craft beers. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336. LD $-$$
Seasonal Specials
Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambience. Locations in Cranston and Providence, HarukiSushi. com. LD $-$$
Candlelight Nights
Heng Authentic Thai street food served – including noodles and rotisserie chicken – in Providence’s College Hill neighborhood. 165 Angell St, Providence. LD $
Wellington Wednesday Throwback Thursday Buck-A-Shuck
Iron Works Tavern A wide variety of signature American dishes in the historic Thomas Jefferson Hill Mill. 697 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, 739-5111. LD $-$$$
Prime Time
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DINNER’S CALLING
Joe Marzelli’s Old Canteen Italian Restaurant High-end Italian restaurant serving up specialty dishes and drinks. 120 Atwells Ave, Providence. 751-5544. LD $$$$$ Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating more than 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$ Luigi’s Restaurant & Gourmet Express Handmade Italian classics and prepared foods to go. 1457 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 455-0045, LuigisGourmet.com. LD $$ Luxe Burger Bar Build Your Own Burger: You dream it, we build it! 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $
401 861 1770 76
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McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$ Meeting Street Cafe BYOB eatery with large menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day. 220 Meeting St, Providence, 273-1066. BLD $-$$ Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$
RESTAURANT GUIDE Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
Ocean State Sandwich Company Craft sandwiches and hearty sides. 155 Westminster St, Providence, 282-6772 BL $-$$ Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 331-0003. LD $-$$ Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks, and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 273-1444. LD $-$$$ Pizza J A fun, upbeat atmosphere with thin-crust pizza, pub fare, and gluten-free options. 967 Westminster St, Providence, 632-0555. LD $-$$ Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily specials. 120 Francis St, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$
Call Kayla for more info!
Sydney Providence Australianinspired cafe and coffee shop featuring breakfast and light lunch options. 400 Exchange St, Providence, 648-4994. BL $-$$ Tavolo Wine Bar and Tuscan Grille Classic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine and beer list. 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 349 4979. LD $-$$ The Grange Vegetarian restaurant serving seasonal dishes with a juice bar, vegan bakery, and cocktail bar. 166 Broadway, Providence, 831-0600. BrLD $-$$ The Salted Slate An agri-driven American restaurant with global influences. 186 Wayland Ave, Providence, 270-3737. BrLD $$-$$$
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RESTAURANT GUIDE For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com
Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun, and Southwestern fare, cocktails, and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 751-6777. LD $-$$ Twin Oaks Family restaurant serving an extensive selection of Italian and American staples. 100 Sabra St, Cranston, 781-9693. LD $-$$$ XO Cafe Acclaimed farm-to-table cuisine with a fantastic Sunday #PajamaBrunch. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$ SOUTHERN RI Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$
hops + presentations + field trips
Celestial Cafe Fresh, locally sourced ingredients from farms and fisheries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 567 South County Trail, Exeter, 295-5559. BLD $$
WE'RE YOUR PARTY PEOPLE Let Us Take Care Of The Menu For The Big Game! 3' TO 6' LONG SANDWICHES Italian, Roast Beef Turkey, Ham & Cheese
Celebrating 20 Years in Business!
ANTIPASTO & SALADS
Dante’s Kitchen American food with Southern flair. 315 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-7798. BL$-$$
PLATTERS Cold Cuts, Finger Sandwiches Veggie or Cheese GRILLED OR GOURMET PIZZAS
Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$
ENTRÉES Meatballs, Eggplant Parm, Lasagna, Pulled Pork and so much more…
Call Or Check Our Website For Full Menu 1290 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence • 722-3222 PaulyPentasDeli.com • pp@paulypentasdeli.com ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
Coast Guard House A new American menu with a seafood emphasis and extensive wine list, open seven days a week. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 789-0700. BrLD $$$ Colvitto’s Pizza & Bakery Pizza Calzones and baked goods made fresh daily. 91 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 783-8086. BrLD $
APPETIZERS Chicken Wings, Stuffed Mushrooms Sea Scallops & Bacon Stuffed Quahogs
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Champlin’s Seafood Dockside fresh seafood serving easy breezy cocktails. 256 Great Island Rd, Narragansett, 783-3152. LD $-$$
Frankie’s Italian Bistro Fine dining with imported wines from around the world. 1051 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, 295-2500. D $-$$$ Fresco Italian American comfort food with
RESTAURANT GUIDE Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228 3901. D $-$$
PIZZA’S ON THE LINE.
George’s of Galilee Fresh caught seafood in an upscale pub atmosphere. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett, 783-2306. LD $-$$ Jigger’s Diner Classic ‘50s diner serving breakfast all day. 145 Main St, East Greenwich, 884-6060. BL $-$$ Mariner Grille Seafood, steaks, and pasta in a fun setting, with live entertainment. 40 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 284-3282. LD $$ Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana Authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza with exclusive ingredients imported from Naples. 60 S County Commons Way, South Kingstown, 783-2900. LD $-$$
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Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food with a great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 783-4073. BBrLD $ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ Sophie’s Brewhouse Espresso drinks and sandwiches with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. 699 S County Trail, Exeter, 2954273. BL $$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, and Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/ American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 2945771. LD $$ The Cove A traditional bar and grill serving burgers, sandwiches, and classic New England seafood favorites. 3963 Old Post Rd, Charlestown, 364-9222. LD $$
ProvidenceOnline.com • January 2019
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RESTAURANT GUIDE Twin Willows Fresh seafood and water views in a family-friendly atmosphere. 865 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, 789-8153. LD $-$$ Tong-D Fine Thai cuisine in a casual setting. 156 County Rd, Barrington, 289-2998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 7834445. LD $-$$
EAST BAY / NEWPORT Aviary Creative, locally sourced menu featuring rotating craft beers and from-scratch cocktails. 2229 GAR Highway, Swansea, MA, 508-3796007. BrLD $$ Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, MA, 508-999-6975. LD $$
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Blount Market & Kitchen Traditional New England seafood summer favorites offered year-round for dine-in and takeout. 406 Water St, Warren, 245-1800. LD $$ Bluewater Bar and Grill Casual restaurant with modern seafood dishes, patio seating, and live music. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington, 247-0017. LD $$-$$$ Chomp Upscale comfort food featuring award-winning burgers and sandwiches. 440 Child St, Warren, 289-2324. D $$ East Bay Oyster Bar Local seafood meets innovative preparation in a rustic setting. 308 County Rd, Barrington, 247-0303. LD $$ Ichigo Ichie Traditional Japanese cuisine,
creative sushi, and hibachi. 5 Catamore Blvd, East Providence, 435-5511. LD $-$$$ KC’s Burger Bar Burgers, hot dogs, and sides enjoyed in a retro car-themed diner. 1379 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA. 508-5571723. BLD $$ Redlefsen’s European-style dining with a waterfront view focusing on traditional German foods. 444 Thames St, Bristol, 254-1188. LD $$ Tav Vino Waterfront dining with an Italian and seafood focus. 267 Water St, Warren, 245-0231. D $$ The Old Grist Mill Tavern Fine dining located over the Runnins River. 390 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA, 508-336-8460. LD $-$$$
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