Providence Monthly January 2023

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As we start our 28th year in this amazing community we are overcome with an enormous sense of gratitude to each and everyone who has supported us throughout the years. Thank you and we wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

Cozy fireplace seating

Jim DeRentis Sales Associate

NEWS & CITY LIFE

by Nick DelGiudice

Photo by @runofthemillshop

Photo courtesy of Discover Newport

CITY LIFE

The

is

On a brisk winter day shortly after December 1 – the day licensed retailers were officially allowed to start selling adult-use recreational marijuana here in Rhode Island – Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket was bustling with activity.

“Right now, things are going great; we’re getting a lot of traction,” says Joe Pakuris, owner of the cannabis center. “We saw about 2,000 customers from Thursday to Sunday on our opening weekend and the pace has kept steady.”

Mother Earth Wellness opened in a newly renovated state-of-the-art facility in Pawtucket, though their journey began in 2017. Pakuris and Eddy Keegan, owners of Kitchen & Countertop Center of New England, first founded Mother Earth Creations, a licensed medical cultivation lab. They applied to open a compassion center in 2020 and patiently waited for Rhode Island to legalize the sale of recreational cannabis.

The Public’s Radio | Photographer | Rhody Gem | Op-Ed | Neighborhood News

Photo courtesy of Mother Earth Wellness

Last May, Governor Dan McKee signed the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, authorizing and safely regulating recreational adultuse cannabis, and in November, state regulators approved retail licenses for five compassion centers – including Mother Earth Wellness – which are allowed to sell both medical and recreational marijuana to customers at least 21 years old. “Once we were awarded the license, we were ready to go. We did this fast,” explains Pakuris.

As a new destination for cannabis seekers, Mother Earth Wellness plans to redefine the experience for medical and recreational consumers. “About 30 percent of our customers are medical with the

remaining 70 percent recreational,” says Pakuris. “We are getting a lot of good feedback from the medical community that the selection is unlike anywhere else they’ve had access to.”

And they’re not just selling the product. Mother Earth features a cultivation facility designed to grow the highest quality flower, the only licensed hydrocarbon extraction lab to create the best concentrates possible, and a gourmet kitchen to produce luxury edibles. “We have about 60 different strains of cannabis flower on the menu. We have about 40 different pre-roll options. And we make our own edibles here,” Pakuris continues.

The primary focus is local cultivation and sales but the menu at Mother Earth Wellness will also showcase the best products from over 60 craft-cannabis cultivators.

Customers visiting Mother Earth Wellness will enjoy a boutique experience. The custom-designed sales floor incorporates an impressive 40-strain scent bar, terpene (the compound responsible for different plants’ unique smells) sampling station, indoor waterfall, and private consultation space. The team at Mother Earth promises a welcoming and comfortable environment for its customers.

“We have the largest sales floor in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts,”

Photo courtesy of Mother Earth Wellness

Mother Earth Wellness offers a boutique cannabis experience in Pawtucket

says Pakuris. “You’re able to come into our facility, walk around, look at the displays, learn about the di erent cultivators, and see their products.” Experienced and knowledgeable sta – or “bud tenders” –go through 40 hours of training to ensure they’re educated on all the dispensary’s products. Even for those green to cannabis, navigating Rhode Island’s new world of retail recreational products is demystified with a visit to Mother Earth.

Mother Earth Wellness

125 Esten Avenue, Pawtucket

MotherEarthRI.com - Visit online for a menu and online order reservations

Pandemic Redefined How Providence Community Libraries Serve the Public

Libraries play a crucial role in providing books, educational opportunities, and essential resources to the public. But when the pandemic hit, libraries had to redefine how they serve their communities.

By Luis Hernandez, James Baumgartner

Morning host Luis Hernandez recently spoke about the evolving role of libraries with Cheryl Space, Library Director at Community Libraries of Providence.

LUIS HERNANDEZ: You know, before the pandemic, libraries were already making those moves to more, a more digital world, and the demands that your patrons had, and then COVID. COVID hit, everything changed. Over these last few years, what have you been doing to adapt to this new world?

CHERYL SPACE: Well, you’re right, we had been providing more digitally, but the pandemic just accelerated that move. So like everyone else, we shifted to o ering programs on Zoom. So we started up a brand new community reads book program – book and author program, where people got together once a month. We started o ering our classes that had been in the library on Zoom. So English language classes, GED preparation classes that we provide in Spanish, we’ve o ered gardening, we o ered all kinds of things. And that led to a real exponential growth in our YouTube channel. Before the pandemic, we only had four subscribers, and now we have over 700. So that’s become a brand new platform for us.

HERNANDEZ: What’s on your YouTube channel?

SPACE: Well, our YouTube channel has storytimes in Spanish and American Sign Language, you can learn how to build a model tank, you can learn how to save seeds and gardening, you can learn about African American history in Rhode Island. Basically, everything we’ve done that we’ve recorded, we’ve put and we’ve created all these di erent learning channels. So it’s all there and available.

HERNANDEZ: When did you start to see people coming back? And I wonder, if they are coming back like they used to before the pandemic, does that change, again, what you’re you’re offering? Or are you still going in that direction?

Director

SPACE: So now what’s happened is, I think it’s allowed us to become more inclusive, because we’ve gotten these tools. So now we o er some programs in a hybrid model, where, you know, we’ll be having a book group, and we’ll have, half the people are in the room and half the people that are on Zoom, or a knitting circle will still meet virtually while we have some meeting in the library. And the other thing that we’re doing new is we’re live streaming events. So with the League of Women Voters, we o ered mayoral forums, you know, in September to get ready for the primary, and we were able to livestream those and have them available. And then they were also recorded at the same time. So we’ve had hundreds of people look at them after the fact. So it’s just opened up all these new channels.

HERNANDEZ: For many years now, one of the important services of libraries is that you provided computers and internet for those families that couldn’t have those things at home. And you know, just looking at the need that we see today, I’m wondering what you see. Has the need grown, and how are you meeting it?

SPACE: One thing that COVID funding provided for people was lower cost internet at home. So we’re actually seeing more people come in who have been able to access

internet access at home, which is wonderful. But we’re seeing that, a need for, to support those services that they have at home. Then they have questions, you know, “I don’t understand what this form is asking me.” So we provide that one-on-one support. So it’s just shifted a little bit, but it’s still very much there.

HERNANDEZ: You talked about some of the things that you had to do during the pandemic. I wonder about your job: How has it changed over the last few years, your life? How’s it changed?

SPACE: Oh, my goodness. So I always laugh because I never really thought much about ventilation systems, or public health measures, or masks, or how to keep the sta safe, how to keep the patrons safe. And that has just taken up half of my brain. It really has radically changed, you know, how we think about providing our services. And I think the biggest thing that’s happened is that, when the pandemic hit, the government and others were looking around for, where are those community spots that are safe, where people are going, where we can get information and supports out to people, and they really turned to the library. We passed out masks, we helped people sign up for vaccines, we provided, you know, testing. We had 130 people lined up one night to get a COVID test during the surge. And we’re still providing access to vaccines, and boosters, and home tests and masks. So now the challenge for me is, you know, we’ve had all this growth, and so there’s some growing pains involved with supporting the sta and making sure we can do everything that we’re trying to do. And also, once these rescue dollars are gone, how do we keep all of this going? You know, that the community has come to rely on all the new programs.

HERNANDEZ: We’ve seen recently how, you know, parents groups and di erent groups, you know, are fighting over certain books and the reading materials our kids are getting access to. This happens a lot more at school libraries. But as a librarian, you’re seeing this

Cheryl Space, Library

at Community Libraries of Providence

happen, you’re seeing a push to ban books. And I just wondered how you feel about that.

SPACE: I will speak for our sta . We find it terrifying. You know, it really is, because for us and in our values, our, you know, the way that we operate, and especially regarding kids, is that we want to o er materials in our collection that support all of our readers. We are in a very diverse community, lots of di erent thoughts and ideas, and we want to make things available for everyone. So our job is to find those reading materials that excite and motivate kids, adults to read and to learn. And it’s really up to the parents and guardians if they want to make decisions about restricting the access. And that is the way we operate. It’s the way we’ve always operated. You can’t keep ideas from, from being present. You can’t keep people from thinking about these ideas or exploring ideas, even that scare people. And so it’s our job to provide that information, and then people decide what to take home.

HERNANDEZ: Let’s go into the future, even just the near future. You know, with technology, the way everything keeps changing, where do you see libraries in the future? How will they change?

SPACE: So the beautiful thing about the public

library is that it always changes. I think our core mission, our core values of being relevant, being present and being a space in the community will never change. So the big areas of growth

I see is that we will always be a free educational center. And we now have a partnership where we’re o ering with College Unbound free college classes in the library. So I think, as more and more people are not taking the traditional route to their education, that this is going to be a huge place for the libraries. We will always provide support for new technology, no matter what it is. I think the other thing that we’ve become aware of is people just need a free community space where they don’t have to buy anything, where they can go and be together, they can learn, they can borrow things, they can meet their neighbors, and it’s all free. And we’ve seen that joy as people come in. And I think we provide public forums for people to come face-to-face with their elected o cials, we provide that, that place where people can come together and get that information. And that is critical. And I really think that’s an area where we’re going to continue to grow as well.

This conversation was originally posted December 1, 2022. Luis Hernandez can be reached at LHernandez@ThePublicsRadio.org; James Baumgartner can be reached at James@ThePublicsRadio.org.

Knight Memorial Library

Land and Sea

How a Providence photographer’s passion brought him around the world

David Simms came by his love of photography naturally. His father was an avid amateur photographer, whose primary focus was capturing family moments. Simms’ motivation, however, has always been a desire for adventure and exploration.

Born and raised in East Greenwich, the now-Providence resident got his first camera when he was 17. Simms is a biochemist by day and takes every opportunity he can to explore the world and photograph its beauty, his passion having taken him to mountains all over Europe, Asia, and the United States, including climbs at Mount Rainier in Washington State, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Island Peak in Nepal, and the Matterhorn in Switzerland. But he doesn’t always need to travel far to capture stunning sights – Simms is equally enthusiastic about taking an early morning outing before work to catch a sunrise at one of South County’s beautiful beaches or to head to downtown Providence after work to

capture the sun setting behind the cityscape or the tantalizing lights of WaterFire.

Recently, Simms has started branching out in his subject matter, following a longheld fascination with underwater photography that drew him more to diving in the ocean than climbing mountains. “I was always inspired by it,” he shares, “although I didn’t really get my camera in the sea until 2002 during a trip to the Philippines.”

Even then, Simms continued to concentrate mostly on mountain climbing until a couple of years ago, fostering an appreciation for the different style. “Taking pictures underwater changes many things, from light to color to scale. In many cases, I’m moving as well as my subjects and getting fish to cooperate isn’t always easy! I recently purchased a housing, which enables me to bring other equipment, such as strobes for adding light to poorly lit areas, into the water along with my camera.”

Above water, Simms usually shoots with

Photos by David Simms

Photographer David Simms enjoys shooting both underwater and above land

“Finding the perfect home for your family is a daunting task these days but as soon as we met Rachael it was clear where her priorities fell. She works so hard to find the right house and will do anything it takes to see it through. In our case, she made the transition of buying and selling at the same time feel e ortless and easy. We are so grateful to have worked with such a forceful yet passionate expert in the field.”

Anthony & Hanna & the boys

a Fuji X-E3, using an assortment of lenses. His favorite shots are of landscapes, which use an ultra-wide angle lens. For underwater shots, he uses a SONY a6000, which he plans to take with him on his next adventure to Bimini to swim with the sharks and hone his skills.

Three years ago, after much urging from

friends, Simms set up a website to display his photos, many of which exude a simultaneous sense of great power and deep serenity. Aside from producing a yearly calendar featuring his work, he has sold several pieces directly from the website, provided the cover for a friend’s book of poetry, and been featured in a book

produced by Backpacker magazine.

Closer to home, a scroll through Simms’ Instagram page illuminates Rhody scenes interspersed with worldwide travels, as well as clams and black sea bass posing for the camera in Newport waters. View his work at DavidSimmsPhoto.com and follow at @davidsimmsphoto

Photographer

Photos by David Simms

Robin Hollow

Flowers & Gifts, Full-Service Florist

We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it!

What it is:

The Providence retail location of Robin Hollow Farm, a four-acre flower farm in North Kingstown. The expansive shop and workspace is filled with a robust inventory of plants and flowers, along with unique gifts for home and garden enthusiasts.

Where to find it:

Located in the Farm Fresh RI facility in the Valley neighborhood at the corner of Sims and Kinsley Avenues, look for the bright green sign above the glass doors. For the PVD-parking wary: there are plenty of spaces in the lot.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

“Surrounded by mills and modern facades, it is a little oasis of green,” begins Polly Hutchison, who owns Robin Hollow with husband Mike. “Customers are surprised and delighted by the lush environment and happy small treasures we have stocked.” Along with their own plants and blooms, find a selection of garden-themed books and goods from local makers and businesses, including soaps from Watson Wax and note cards from E. Frances Paper. “We stock a whimsical assortment of plants and goodies for the gardener and those who love them. The majority of our inventory is grown locally and we have worked hard to source items from local artists and businesses,” says Polly. Additionally, Robin Hollow creates flowers for events, o ers deliveries and flower subscriptions, and hosts workshops.

ROBIN HOLLOW

498 Kinsley Street 294-2868

RobinHollowFarm.com; @RobinHollow

Photography by Elyse Major

Doable New Year’s Resolutions for All

74 Providence sights and scenes worth experiencing in 2023

You may have heard the saying, “May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions” – which often go in one year and out the other. Rather than trying to quit all of our bad habits for the new year, here’s a list of our top 74 Providence resolutions well within everyone’s ability to accomplish! These ideas give us all the opportunity to use the upcoming year to embrace and celebrate the uniqueness, beauty, and – yeah – the quirkiness of the place we call home. On that note, here’s hoping 2023 is a fun one for all our readers.

1. Attend at least one WaterFire lighting.

2. Go to the RISD Museum.

3. Visit City Hall.

4. Revisit the “Superman Building” before it becomes, well, something else.

5. See a Providence College basketball or hockey game.

6. Check out the Crook Point Bascule Bridge.

7. View the city from the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (in East Providence).

8. Crew or scull on the Seekonk River with the Narragansett Boat Club.

9. Talk to the ranger at the Roger Williams Memorial Park.

10. Appreciate the Big Blue Bug (and send a photo to an out-of-town friend).

11. Visit the Rhode Island Historical Society.

12. Stroll the aisles of the new Trader Joe’s.

13. See what the Cranston Street Armory is up to.

14. Take your kids (or your child-at-heart attitude) to Roger Williams Park Zoo,

15. See a Providence Bruins game at the AMP.

16. Sail along the Providence River.

17. Sample sweets at DeLuise Bakery.

18. Play a round of golf at Triggs (it’s a GREAT course).

19. See glass blowing at Peàn Doubulyu.

20. Take a gondola ride.

21. Visit the Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Museum.

22. Go on a Gallery Night Tour.

23. Visit the Museum of Natural History.

24. Take a step back in time at America’s oldest indoor mall (The Arcade).

25. See a show at PPAC.

26. Visit the Botanical Center at RWP.

28. Check out the Providence Art Club and the Fleur-de-lys Studio.

29. Cheer for Brown basketball and hockey teams.

30. Take in the jungle of exotic flowers at Brown’s Environmental Center.

31. Visit the State House (either the old one or the beautiful domed one).

32. Shop unique gifts at the Peaceable Kingdom.

33. Dine on Federal Hill.

34. Visit The Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology at Brown.

35. Explore Good Fortune Supermarket.

36. Take a swing at Button Hole Golf Course.

37. See the City’s waterway on the Providence River Boat Tour.

38. Learn our state’s history at the John Brown House Museum (with the “remnants” of Roger Williams).

39. Find the Silver Lake Yacht Club.

40. Walk through Swan Point Cemetery (H.P. Lovecraft has a tomb here).

41. Have a drink at The Hot Club.

42. Visit the Stephen Hopkins House (he signed the Declaration of Independence).

43. Attend a performance at Trinity Rep.

44. Treat yourself to LaSalle Bakery.

45. Check out a book at the Providence Public Library downtown.

Photo courtesy of Providence Public Library

FOUR MORE DREAMS FOR 2023

When we asked Michael Fine – the former head of the RI Department of Health, prolific author on a wide range of subjects (both serious and not-so-serious), and one of the most creative guys we know – if he had any New Year’s dreams for 2023, his answers didn’t disappoint. Here’s what Fine o ered:

1. Invite the US World Cup Soccer team to play at the new soccer stadium in Pawtucket, so someone will use the thing.

2. Use the Superman building to house the street-sleeping homeless this winter. By doing so, we’ve resolved the problem in a single bound.

3. I’d love to see us donate sweaters, coats, and blankets to Ukraine. They are going to have a cold winter. The US government has provided much-needed arms and aid, but all of us can help by stepping up personally in this way.

Admire the fascinating street art all over downtown.

Visit The First Baptist Church in America.

Stargaze at the Brown Planetarium.

Actually take a chug of Coffee Milk.

Shop local produce at a farmers market.

Walk the whole Benefit Street “Mile of History.”

See the complete collection of US postage stamps in Brown’s John Hay Library.

Try Asian and Latino foods from the Mekong Market (local chefs’ choice).

Check out New Urban Arts.

Indulge in a hot weiner at a New York System Restaurant.

Peruse rare early maps at the John Carter Brown Library.

Enjoy the sunset from Prospect Terrace.

Eat in Luongo Square.

Go grocery shopping at Urban Greens Co-op Market.

Visit the Children’s Museum.

4. Build and fund community centers for every RI neighborhood or community and make those the places kids can go after school, and adults after work, for sports and education. That turns out to be e ective in other countries as a way to prevent substance abuse disorders. And I suspect it would improve mental and behavioral health, prevent suicide, and perhaps reduce mass shootings as well.

Climb the highest point in Providence (Neutaconkanut Hill).

Visit the Governor Henry Lippitt House.

Find your own best donuts (KNEAD Doughnuts, PVDonuts, or a new contender?).

Browse book collections at the Providence Athenæum (Edgar Allen Poe did).

Experience the night sky at the Ladd Observatory.

66. Catch a concert at the Music Mansion.

67. Watch a FirstWorks show.

68. See what art is on view at AS220.

69. Walk through WaterPlace Park (without a crowd).

70. Skate at The Providence Rink.

71. Stroll across our gorgeous new downtown river bridge.

72. Check out the hurricane high watermark plaques (Biltmore Hotel).

73. Visit the WaterFire Arts Center.

74. Revisit Al Forno.

Neighborhood News

HOT TOPICS

An overview of what’s happening around the city right now

Summit Neighborhood Association’s snow brigade seeks volunteers

The Summit Neighborhood Association (SNA) is continuing their snow brigade this winter, with volunteers helping neighbors who have di culty clearing their walks and driveways, and who cannot easily pay for the service. Shovelers work in teams, trading o two-week shifts so that nobody has to commit for the entire winter. If you or one of your Summit neighbors is seeking assistance clearing snow this winter, or if you would like to join the e ort as a volunteer shoveler, please email SNAsnow@gmail.com. SNA anticipates needing a handful of additional volunteers this season to meet potential needs.

Mount Hope Community Center continues their work distributing groceries every Friday to residents in need. In addition to volunteering, neighbors can donate food items, especially the following: cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and small bags of rice. Contact Helen Dukes at helenedukes@gmail. com or 401-521-8830 for details, and visit SNA’s new website, SNA.WildApricot.org

Longtime downtown antiquarian bookstore to close at the end of this month

Devotees of Cellar Stories Bookstore found a different kind of post on the beloved shop’s social media accounts in early December: a store closing announcement. “So after 40 years in business, Cellar Stories will be closing its doors at the end of January,” the statement read. The shop that boasts an inventory of over 100,000 books was founded by Michael Chandley circa 1981; since his passing, the business has been run by manager Victoria Forsberg-Lary. A former Rhody Gem (August 2019), it’s the largest and one of few remaining used bookstores in the state. Cellar Stories is known for its specialty collections of Rhode Island history, science fiction, horror, poetry, literature, collectible, and out-of-print books. Be sure to bid the gang a fond farewell. 111 Mathewson Street (upstairs from Blake’s Tavern) – Elyse Major

Developments bring concerns about traffic, parking in Fox Point

At the November meeting of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA), attendees heard a project update from Rebecca Schofield of Pennrose, LLC, the Boston-based firm chosen by the 195 Commission to build a two-structure development on Parcel 9 of commission land. The development, which will be located near the 195 o -ramp near South Main Street at Bessie Way, will include a childcare facility and approximately 130 mixed-income residential units. Construction of the first building will begin in late winter or early spring 2023.

Schofield is a familiar face among Fox Point, as she has been visiting FPNA regularly since the inception of the project. While residents have o ered mostly positive feedback, they have raised consistent and pressing concerns about tra c and parking. Schofield explained in November that the 130 residential units will be allotted only 30 parking spots, and the childcare center only three parking spots. While these allotments meet the city’s zoning requirements, neighbors fear the worst, especially with the congestion caused by the new Trader Joe’s and the possibility of additional parking demand created by the new BankRI headquarters planned for the area.

FPNA president Nick Cicchitelli proposed a neighborhood meeting with members of the city’s Department of Public Works. “FPNA hopes to address these concerns as soon as possible,” he says, “by bringing together relevant city- and state-level stakeholders and policymakers. The neighborhood deserves a plan that is more thoroughly and proactively thought out.”

New developments around the

Jewelry District

The missing link in the Providence Riverwalk is about to be put in place. Early in 2023, neighbors hope to be able to walk from the Waterplace Basin all the way to the Point Street Bridge. Work was recently completed on repairing the bulkheads behind South Street Landing, and Jewelry District Association (JDA) anticipates that in early January, the link will be made with a new pedestrian bridge over the Ship Street Canal, with work on the footings for the bridge already underway. The bridge itself, which has already been constructed o site, will be delivered in January, then assembled and craned into place. The whole project is slated for completion by early June. Wexford project manager Sean Burgo will be the keynote speaker answering questions about the riverwalk project at this month’s JDA meeting on January 10 at 5pm at South Street Landing.

In Davol Square, watch for a new restaurant opening its doors after the new year. The owners of Crave and other successful restaurants in the Boston area are coming to Providence. Seoul, a full-service restaurant offering Korean cuisine, will occupy the space where Dueling Pianos used to be.

SNA’s snow brigade returns this season and is seeking volunteer shovelers

Photo courtesy of Summit Neighborhood Association

Providence Neighborhood Associations

Blackstone Parks Conservancy

Jane Peterson

P.O. Box 603141 Providence, RI 02906 401-270-3014

BlackstoneParks@gmail.com BlackstoneParksConservancy.org

College Hill

Neighborhood Association

Rick Champagne

P.O. Box 2442 Providence, RI 02906 CHNA@chnaprovidence.org CHNAProvidence.org

Downtown Neighborhood Association

DNAPVD@gmail.com DNAPVD.com

Facebook: Providence Downtown Neighborhood Association, DNA

Elmwood Neighborhood Association

Karen Hlynsky ENA-PVD.org

Facebook: Elmwood Neighborhood Association PVD

Fox Point Neighborhood Association

Meeting Date: January 9

Amy Mendillo

P.O. Box 2315 Providence, RI 02906

FoxPointNeighborhood@gmail.com FPNA.net

Jewelry District Association

Meeting Date: January 10 Sharon Steele Sharon@sharonsteele.com JewelryDistrict.org

Facebook: Jewelry District Association Providence, RI

Mile of History Association

Wendy Marcus

c/o Providence Preservation Society 24 Meeting Street Providence, RI 02903

MileOfHistory@gmail.com MileOfHistory.org

Mount Hope Community Center 401-521-8830 MHNAInc@gmail.com

Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Olneyville Neighborhood Association

Eduardo Sandoval 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 ONAProvidence@gmail.com Facebook: Olneyville Library

Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations Info@provcna.org ProvCNA.org

Reservoir Triangle

Neighborhood Association

David Talan 25 Santiago St. Providence, RI 02907 401-941-3662 DaveTalan@aol.com

Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

Wole Akinbi 400 Smith Street Providence, RI 02908 Suite #1 AAkinbi@half-full.com Facebook: Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

Construction bridge (foreground) over Ship Street Canal as the Providence Riverwalk in the Jewelry District nears completion

South Providence Neighborhood Association c/o Dwayne Keys

P.O. Box 5653 Providence, RI 02903 401-369-1334

SouthProvNeighbors@gmail.com

Facebook: South Providence Neighborhood Association

Summit Neighborhood Association

Meeting date: January 23 P.O. Box 41092 Providence, RI 02940 401-400-0986 SNAProv@gmail.com SummitNeighbors.org

Washington Park Neighborhood Association 237 Washington Avenue Providence, RI 02905

BettyLinda@aol.com

Facebook: Washington Park Association

Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

Katherine Touafek

Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

WaylandSquareNeighbors@gmail.com

West Broadway Neighborhood Association

1560 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02909 401-831-9344

WBNA@wbna.org WBNA.org

Photo by Milo Winter

Shop Quality Appliances for a Fraction of the Price at Kitchen Guys

KITCHEN GUYS (299 Walcott Street, Pawtucket) serves up more than fancy appliances. The Kitchen Guys di erence allows customers to purchase the best top-name appliances in Rhode Island for a fraction of the cost of big-box retail stores. “There is no shortage of anything,” says owner Michael Ga n, and with a 20,000-square-foot showroom, there are endless opportunities to upgrade your home no matter the budget.

Premier Scratch & Dent Appliances are the name of the game at Kitchen Guys, and many of their over 500 appliances have only minor cosmetic damage, often in areas hidden from public view. Pricing at 3060 percent lower than retail, Kitchen Guys is one of the leading destinations in Rhode Island to purchase stainless steel refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, ranges, and everything in between.

Inventory moves fast at Kitchen Guys, and any smart shopper is encouraged to visit the Kitchen Guys Showroom to take advantage of their most up-to-date products and prices. Customer service is a priority, and Kitchen Guys even o ers delivery outside of Rhode Island. With over 16 years of experience in the appliance industry, Kitchen Guys continues to be the go-to shop for the best appliances around.

Kitchen Guys

299 Walcott Street, Pawtucket (401) 723-0500 • KitchenGuys.com

AUDIO/VIDEO HELP

Home theater, TV or stereo? Jon Bell, Simply Sight & Sound, 401-749-8283. Reasonable rates. 30+ yrs exp.

BEYOND THE PALE

Quality interior painting, color consulting, lead certified, green products. Lic. #15914. Call Mike 401-573-4498.

EAST SIDE HANDYMAN

Carpentry, painting and repairs. Small jobs welcome. References, insured. 401-524-6421. Reg. #3052.

MALIN PAINTING

Most ceiling & wall repairs, wallpaper removal, oil-based & latex finishes, staining, varnishing. Fully insured, Many local references. Safe, secure, fast service. 226-8332. Reg. #19226.

SUPERB HOUSEPAINTING

High end workmanship. Small jobs a specialty. Call Ron, 751-3242, or 523-2343. Reg. #18128.

USED MUSIC WANTED!

Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.

The future of Providence is bright with enthusiasm, ideas and boundless innovation.

Together, we can make a di erence for communities of color in areas of education, job skills training and entrepreneurship.

Thank you for your leadership and service to our community.

KEEP WATCHING FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON OUR WHO TO WATCH PARTY THIS SPRING. FOLLOW @PVDMONTHLY FOR TICKETS AND DETAILS.

A STELLAR GROUP OF VISIONARIES WHO STAND OUT ON PROVIDENCE’S HORIZON AS BEACONS OF LIGHT

BY ABBIE LAHMERS & ELYSE MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK DELGIUDICE

Though 2022 didn’t come without its challenges – from political and social division to soaring inflation and costs of living – there’s nine individuals and groups who stand out on Providence’s horizon as beacons of light in the community. Rather than being discouraged, this year’s Who to Watch leaders are seeing the cracks in the system and envisioning ways to start anew, from reimagining the local food system to changing the face of medicine. They’re reaching new heights with art and activism, taking on reproductive and maternity issues, forging city spaces for budding entrepreneurs, ensuring representation in city politics, and much more. Each year, Providence Monthly ’s special Who to Watch issue is the culmination of a true team e ort among our production sta and publishers as we scour leads and query community members throughout the year to identify individuals and organizations on the cusp of doing great things for the city. The more we uncover, the more it becomes clear – there’s a lot to be optimistic for in 2023 thanks to the work of these passionate change-makers.

CHRIS MORRISON BLACKWELL MORRI BLACK

Behind the long beard and black T-shirt that says “This Year I Lost My Mind” is Christopher Morrison Blackwell, an unassuming artist, visionary, and serial entrepreneur. It all started in 2010 with a small DIY zine press, which over time grew into Hungry Ghost Press, an edgy lifestyle brand and brick-and-mortar shop stocked with printed apparel, patches and buttons, home goods, and more, much of which celebrates its Olneyville (AKA Lonelyville) location.

Around the time Hungry Ghost Press turned 10, Blackwell co-created House of the Rising Star, LLC, a realty management and holding company that is currently in the process of revitalizing a federally preserved historic mill building. “It’s a large 17,000-square-foot blighted and abandoned mill from 1836,” says Blackwell, who created a GoFundMe for the 239 Oak Street project. Plans for the building include the HGP shop as its anchor, an art gallery, and marketplaces held on the street. The second floor will be a combination of rentable units and pop-up spaces for artists and small businesses. Blackwell, who plans to live on part of the third floor with his wife, hopes to also create a ordable live-work spaces. Other irons in the fire are collabs with The Steel Yard to create trash and recycling cans and a bike rack, and working with PVD Community Fridge to host a free refrigerated food pantry outside the building.

Just last year, Blackwell started Lonelyville Events Management, LLC to host and organize events in Olneyville. “All events are free and open to the public,” he explains. “Vendors pay no fee and are provided with a table and tent, hopefully alleviating some of the costs and constraints that come with vending and selling their work,” he explains. “Our aim is to celebrate artists, makers, and small businesses while providing a place for people to get together to shop, dance, eat, drink, and have a good time!”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: “I’m so excited for our building project to finish up and feel like I’ve spent a lot of 2022 talking and working with sta , with our paid mentees from the Providence Housing Authority, MET School, and Comprehensive Community Action Plan, that I know we will be able to do so many more amazing projects and get to work with them and the community in so many more ways. I’m stoked to see our team grow and the absolutely incredible things that they put out.”

SPONSORED BY PAPITTO OPPORTUNITY CONNECTION •

The late nights and constant pressure of staer life aren’t for everyone – and if it weren’t for the support of URI faculty and a stint working in the state senate, the former tattoo artist-in-training Emily Ward Crowell may not have found her calling in politics.

Now, Crowell is helping to select Mayor-elect Brett Smiley’s dream team as executive director of his transition. Crowell first worked alongside Smiley when he was Chief Operating O cer in City Hall, before she became a top sta er for former Mayor Jorge Elorza and then Commissioner of Education Angelica Infante-Green. “When Brett decided to launch his campaign, I knew that I wanted to be a part of that journey,” says Crowell.

“The Mayor-elect has been clear that he wants to build a team that cares about our community and reflects our beautiful city.” This includes sta ers who are “heavy on work ethic and light on their own ego,” problem solvers and big thinkers, and, Crowell says, “it’s also incredibly important for me as a woman in this field to find female talent and provide them with a path to growth and the support they need.”

Providence is at the precipice of big changes. Crowell explains that an agreement negotiated 20 years ago with the colleges for payments in lieu of taxes along with a deal made 10 years ago with unions to suspend certain pension costs are both expiring. “Smiley has experience running budgets of this size and fixing problems of this magnitude. I hope to support him throughout his time in o ce so that we can stabilize the city finances long-term and make us less dependent on residents’ property tax payments.”

Part of Crowell’s role has also been in taking the city’s temperature throughout Smiley’s campaign with surveys. “We need a City Hall that is responsive, inclusive, and provides the highest quality city services that we can o er because that is the role of a municipality.”

In case she isn’t busy enough, Crowell also served as vice president of RI NOW helping to pass the Reproductive Privacy Act and continues to advocate for a ordable reproductive care access.

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: “The City of Providence. She’s an amazing city full of the best restaurants and the most talented artists. We are a diverse community and my optimism starts with what we have to teach each other. I’m honored and excited to be a part of this next chapter of her history.”

Watch

EMILY WARD Help the City She

Loves Rise Above Its

“I am an artist and designer by training, an activist by calling, and all that I do is inspired and informed by being a mother with the purpose to create a better and more just world for my kids,” begins Jocelyn Foye, co-founder and now executive director of The Womxn Project. Formed in 2016 to help ensure the protection of reproductive and abortion rights, the grassroots art and activism organization saw an influx of donations when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

You may have seen The Womxn Project’s “ARTivism” in the form of projected messages illuminated on the State Capital Building and other public spaces, and they were integral in the passage of the Reproductive Privacy Act in 2019, which protects the right to abortion for Rhode Islanders, though the work doesn’t stop there. “We helped introduce the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act in 2020 and have built a robust campaign of amazing multi-issue partners who are working with us to get it passed next session,” Foye shares.

Among their goals this year is exposing crisis pregnancy centers – deceptive clinics designed to persuade patients not to seek an abortion and run down the clock for them to be able to receive one legally. “While a legitimate clinic needs to follow basic safety standards and hire trained sta , making it di cult to expand the availability of reproductive health services,” Foye explains, fake centers aren’t held to the same standards, making it easy for them to open quickly.

The Womxn Project also makes space for all voices to be heard, even looking at when legislative sessions are scheduled to ensure working families can attend. “We have the opportunity and the obligation to reimagine how democracy works in Rhode Island. We cannot dismantle systemic and institutional racism if we exclude people from the legislative process,” says Foye.

“There is real work to be done on abortion access and we are going to keep up the fight to make the right real for every Rhode Islander,” says Foye. “But true bodily autonomy also means folks can prevent unintended pregnancies and have healthy pregnancies, that they can raise their children with dignity in safe communities and that we can all be who we are and love who we love and create the future that meets our dreams.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: “While folks are angry and tired, they are also ready to rise up and take action. People call, email, and show up to our events because we give them an opportunity to harness their heartbreak and fear for action. They want to make a di erence and we show them how. I am so heartened by the community and movement we have built here and continue to build.”

BY PAPITTO OPPORTUNITY CONNECTION

SPONSORED

“A lot of who I am is a result of educational opportunities and enrichment programs similar to the one I have the privilege of helping to create and sustain at the Warren Alpert Medical School,” begins Luckson Omoaregba, director of the recently created pathways program at Brown University connecting students early with the resources to pursue medical school.

A Nigerian immigrant who arrived with his family in Rhode Island at a young age, Omoaregba went to middle and high school in Pawtucket, then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from URI. Now, Omoaregba’s work not only stirs early career passions in medicine and healthcare for marginalized students but also charts a clearer trajectory for them to accomplish their goals.

“What work can we do in diversifying the field of healthcare medicine?” is the question at the core of the new pipeline program. “We’re focusing on developing a pathway for young people to have educational opportunities from when they’re in middle school all the way to undergrad,” says Omoaregba, “to have multiple touch points to be able to see themselves in a career in healthcare medicine.”

Omoaregba and his team have already launched a program at Central Falls High School called MEETS (Mentorship, Early Exposure, and Training in Surgery) bringing lessons and handson workshops to the classroom, and shining light on a field of medicine historically lacking doctors of color. Partnering with URI’s neuroscience program, Omoaregba also looks forward to starting up a new neurology pathway this year.

The idea of scaling their existing programs (and creating pathways models for other industries) is certainly on the top of his mind going into 2023, but Omoaregba’s focus is always on quality, first ensuring their Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls students are benefiting from their work – especially during these uncertain times for the Providence Public School District.

“We don’t expect everyone to become doctors or nurses,” says Omoaregba, “but we do want them to have the information on how to do it. If you know the ‘how’ of it and figure out it’s not for you, you’re better o because you had a choice.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: “Our dream is to have these students go on and complete their educational journey and come back to the state of Rhode Island and serve as faculty members of the medical school, as resident directors, and leading entire hospital wings. Those are the things to be optimistic about.”

LUCKSON OMOAREGBA ON BA

Director of Pathway Programs,

THE WARREN ALPERT MEDICAL SCHOOL OF BROWN UNIVERSITY

LISA RAIOLA LIS RAI

If you’re not plugged into Rhode Island’s food industry, you might not be aware of Lisa J. Raiola, MPH, but it’s thanks to her that nearly 300 businesses have launched since she founded Hope & Main in 2014. Housed in a former schoolhouse in Warren, Hope & Main has become the state’s premier culinary incubator – which means it helps grow a business by providing membership access to things like shared-use commercial kitchens, aid with permits, cold and dry storage, and other industry-specific resources that can be prohibitive to someone wishing to turn, for example, their idea for a mayo-alternative to a condiment now stocked at markets (Avonaise by alum Lenny Carlson).

In November, Raiola announced that she was expanding Hope & Main to Providence with a Downtown Makers Marketplace in the Financial District and the development of shared-used kitchens in the West End. “Since the day we opened our doors in Warren nine years ago, people have asked us two questions: why doesn’t Hope & Main have a market and why don’t you have kitchens in Providence?” Raiola said in a statement. “Now, with the good help of the Papitto Opportunity Connection and Paolino Properties, we can check both boxes.”

Much of what propels Raiola’s endeavors is access. “Too many people face systemic barriers to starting a business, particularly in food. The journey to the shelf favors the well-connected and the well-resourced. Consumers can help us flip that script by demanding local products.”

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Raiola came to New England to attend Brown. She refers to the Makers Marketplace as Providence’s next lively experiment. “It will be a place of discovery,” she says. “You will find products there that may have just launched within weeks, and you will be among the first to try something new. And the best part is that we will all get to support the dreams of aspiring Rhode Island food-preneurs, and perhaps the next breakout star on our local food scene.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: “The best thing about 2023 is that 2020 is three years behind us. 2020 was an existential moment, particularly for small food businesses: they were watching Noah’s Ark leave the dock and a lot of them couldn’t get on board. But what we discovered is how absolutely precious these businesses are for us, and to lose them is to literally lose our community identity. So as 2023 approaches, I see folks doubling down on their loyalty to what is local. This gives me hope.”

SPONSORED BY PAPITTO OPPORTUNITY CONNECTION •

It’s not every day that you meet a poet/investor, or someone so firmly rooted in boosting both the Black and Jewish communities, but Aaron Samuels is all of those things and more. The a able 33-year-old is a Forbes Under 30 list member, a Cave Canem Fellow, and author of Yarmulkes & Fitted Caps, a collection of poetry exploring his own Black-Jewish identity. He also just co-founded the first venture capitalist (VC) fund backed by Amazon, Google, and Twitter. “And it’s one of the largest first-time funds founded by two Black people,” Samuels notes with pride.

The wunderkind moved to Providence at age three when his dad accepted a job at Brown University. After graduating from Providence Country Day School, Samuels attended Washington University as an Ervin Scholar, then received an MBA at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business as an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow. He spent his 20s in New York and California – and like many other RI expats – was impelled by the pandemic to return home, where he noticed “the incredible emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

With an impressive CV that includes co-founding and serving as COO at Blavity, a media company created for Black millennials, and AfroTech and BLCK VC wealth-building platforms, Samuels announced a new endeavor in November with business partner Brian Hollins: Collide Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm. “Over the next decade, we don’t just want Collide Capital to be successful; we want hundreds of venture capital firms to be created and succeed in supporting the next generation of diverse talent,” the duo shared in an open letter.

“When the art scene is so proximate to the business scene, and both are so proximate to the political scene, it creates opportunities for collaborations that would take years to broker in other geographies,” Samuels says, referring to the smallest state. “This is a great example of the intersection of community and ideas that spark creativity and innovation that we want at Collide Capital.”

REASONS FOR OPTIMISM: “The opportunity we’re creating for qualified but under-networked and overlooked partners and portfolio companies gives me optimism for the future we are creating now and in the next year. We [Collide Capital] invest in founders with the lived experiences, courage, and grit to create solutions for the next generation.”

SAMUELS LS

Founder

QUATIA OSORIO Q O

Whether feeding neighbors through urban agriculture or advocating for maternal and child healthcare as a doula, Quatia (“Q”) Osorio, CCHW, CLC, CPE has been planting the seeds for equitable and e ective models of community-based care for years. Following a miscarriage, Osorio experienced anxiety and self-doubt when pregnant with her fourth child, and she sought alternative forms of healing.

But she didn’t stop there. After the birth of her daughter – and many workshops, degrees, and organizing e orts – Osorio launched the Urban Perinatal Education Center (UPEC) last year. “It was born out of my own inability to find cultural and racial identity in my birthing community,” she says. “Why complain about what you don’t have when you can become what you wish you could give to others?”

Functioning as a complementary resource to existing birthing institutions, UPEC is a family- and community-centered entity closing the gap in perinatal care and addressing the maternal health crisis facing Black women in Rhode Island. “Providence is a materno-toxic zone. Housing is unstable, employment is insecure, environments are toxic, and supports are fragmented,” says Osorio, noting the need for culturally responsive pregnancy and postpartum education. “The Urban Perinatal Education Center is [the result of] several years of community justice, equity, access, hope, and love. It’s a safe space for BIPOC birthing persons, intentionally creating cultural and racial representation by our providers, educators, and sta .”

Osorio looks forward to big things on the horizon for UPEC, including bringing Chocolate Milk Cafe RI (a Black breastfeeding support group) to the center, expanding their workforce and reach, adding childbirth education courses to their o erings (available in several languages), and introducing a doula referral network hotline connecting families with providers.

Still farming, Osorio also hopes to get expecting families on the land to connect with their local community gardens. “Food justice, environmental justice, and maternal health are deeply intertwined, exacerbating or decreasing the outcomes of maternal health injustice and inequities. Land medicine is healthy – being in the soil, being in community – and this is true for our expecting families.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: “I hope to own a freestanding birth center in Rhode Island and create a perinatal workforce pipeline that will be equitable, sustainable, and promote the wellbeing of all birthing persons. I hope to help create a perinatal workforce that will be a model for other states. I desire to remove any antiquated, adverse barriers of access to reproductive justice and care for families to have the most validated and loving experiences of their lives. I have hope for RI – that’s my reason.”

“What we’re always trying to do is find ways to invest in a food system that can ultimately operate without our support,” says Margaret DeVos, executive director of Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT). “That’s what we’ve been doing for years.”

SCLT recently reached a significant milestone –40 years of connecting growers with land, fostering agricultural knowledge, and addressing food insecurity in South Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. They also opened a Healthy Food Hub on 404 Broad Street, a game changer for selling and distributing local fresh food.

“The first year we launched our aggregation program, in which farmers drop o their crops and we get it to the customers, we sold $10,000 [worth of produce] working with six farmers. Year one of the Healthy Food Hub, we reached $80,000 and worked with 12 farmers. In the next few years, we’re going to triple that amount of food,” says DeVos. Their growth is also contingent on helping farmers access land, “but that’s something we’re pretty good at!”

The new hub’s central location in the Southside also helps SCLT expand their distribution of wholesome food. “We are very mindful that the food we eat in many cases, particularly in marginalized communities, is very unhealthy food,” says board president Rochelle Lee. “We have intentionally built in a practice of growing food as chemical-free as we can, with a heavy emphasis on education.”

The need for a ordable healthy food access in the state has never been greater. According to Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s 2022 status report, 31 percent of households are facing food insecurity, with nearly 44 percent in communities of color. Coupled with the rising cost of land ownership in low-income neighborhoods, it becomes clear: “The economy isn’t functioning for people in these communities,” says DeVos, “so we’re trying to make food available but also create an economic foundation that people in these neighborhoods have access to. We don’t need to replicate an economy that marginalizes folks.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: “It really is important that we find a way to strengthen local access by using economic resources,” says Lee. “[Our work] is an economic engine, and 404 Broad Street helps us really start the engine and keep it going. I’m really happy that we’re able to successfully get this accomplished. I think it’s just the tip of the iceberg – we’ve got a lot ahead of us.”

Lee, BOARD PRESIDENT

DIRECTOR

Margaret DeVos, EXECUTIVE

Rochelle

BRITTANNY TAYLOR BRIT TAYL

Lifestyle Photographer & Embodiment Coach

Brittanny Taylor is a connector. It seems that whenever we profile an emerging artisan, Taylor is part of their story – as photographer, coach, mentor. With age comes wisdom and confidence, and as Taylor approaches the big 4-0, she is brimming with those wellearned attributes and then some. In all facets of her life, she wants to help others feel the way she does – empowered, self-connected, and comfortable in their own skin.

Taylor was born and raised in Providence; she went to Classical High School and earned her BA at Rhode Island College. A stint after graduation working at the mall led to learning how to use a DSLR camera, and a random visit to a yoga class instantly transformed her into a devotee. She moved away to NYC briefly but ultimately returned. “I’ve traveled the country and have visited many cool cities, but no place compares to the community here in Providence,” says Taylor.

Today as an entrepreneur, photography and yoga form the foundation of her eponymous business as a “lifestyle photographer and embodiment coach using yoga and tarot to help people regain their mind, body, and soul connection.”

The seemingly unrelated services she provides came together in an organic way. Struck by how people often tighten up when asked to pose for a photo, she o ers yoga for flexibility and mental clarity; for guidance: tarot card readings. And for photography, she preps subjects with warmth and humor, and o ers payment plans because “everyone deserves bomb photos of themselves.”

Recently wed and living in Olneyville, Taylor wants to continue to inspire people to reach beyond their own preconceived expectations.

“I want to show the people of Providence that they are capable of greatness if they are called to go get it.” She also has plans to use her film studies degree and bring local talent together to develop and film a horror movie.

“I absolutely love living here because the culture is truly what you make it.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM: I am turning 40 in April 2023. A decade ago, I was at my lowest point, coming out of an abusive relationship, living in a di erent city, and not knowing if things would ever improve. Throughout my 30s, I grew into the strong, capable person I am today. I am optimistic for 2023 because as I turn 40 and enter this chapter of my life, I know that things will be even bigger and better for me.

FINANCIAL

Planning Ahead and Making the Most of Everything

The flip of the calendar page, or swipe of an app, signals new beginnings! But in Rhode Island, the cold weather and rumblings of a looming recession also cause some anxiety. In this year’s guide, we aim to provide useful, sensible tips so that you can keep on striving to live your best life in the Ocean State.

By the Editors

RECESSION PLANNING

A recession is defined by Merriam-Webster as a downtrend in the economy that can affect production and employment, and produce lower household income and spending; they can also be more localized, while depressions can have global reach. By taking preemptive steps, you’ll feel better prepared. Here are some ways to cut costs:

• NOW STREAMING : Many of us have auto-pay subscriptions to a plethora of TV streaming services. Can’t let them go? Pick your favorite, cancel the rest, and rotate based on viewing habits.

• TALK AIN’T CHEAP : Look into cheaper cell phone plans and if you still have a landline (and your only call is about prescriptions that are ready), maybe it’s time to cut the cord.

• ADD A SIDE-HUSTLE : If you’ve got something to sell – whether it’s a pair of jeans or something you’ve hand-crafted – there is an app ready. Determine if any fees or time (taking photos, packaging, etc.) are worth the effort and if they are, you could make some extra cash.

• FIND MONEY : According to Treasurer Seth Magaziner, more than 300,000 Rhode Islanders have unclaimed cash and assets waiting to be returned, so he developed YOUR MONEY, a program that reunites Rhode Islanders with missing funds. Think this could be you? It doesn’t take long to search the database and could end up being totally worth your time.

FindRIMoney.com

Theriskiest financialmove isdoingnothing.

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AsaMorganStanleyFinancialAdvisor,Icanworkwithyouto developastrategyandthenhelpyoumanageyourinvestmentsand assetsthroughlife'schanges.Calltodaytoarrangeanappointment. We'llworktogethertoplanforwhatmaycome.

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Investment products include stocks, bonds, mutual and exchange traded funds, and insurance products such as variable annuities. There is risk but also the chance of returns. Even if you’ve never considered investing before, all the buzz about Bitcoin may have you intrigued. Bitcoin is a digital asset, or an asset that relies on blockchain technology. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach (a mouthful but we’re covering our bases) urge investors considering a fund with exposure to the Bitcoin futures market to weigh carefully the potential risks and benefits of the investment. Among other things, investors should understand that Bitcoin, including gaining exposure through the Bitcoin futures market, is a highly speculative investment. As such, investors should consider the volatility of Bitcoin and the Bitcoin futures market, as well as the lack of regulation and potential for fraud or manipulation in the underlying Bitcoin market. Learn more at Investor.gov

TAX DAY

FUN FACT: Taxes represent the most significant source of General Fund revenue for Rhode Island. Each year, the Division collects and distributes more than $4 billion; these funds are used to help pay for vital services – including public safety, education, transportation, and recreation –for all Rhode Islanders.

Rhode Island State Income Taxes for Tax Year 2022 can be prepared and e-filed now along with an IRS or Federal Income Tax Return. The Rhode Island tax filing and tax payment deadline is April 18, 2023. Customer support is available weekdays 8:30am-3:30pm at 401-574-8484 or you can email support at taxportal@tax.ri.gov at any time.

• Get your refund fast by combining direct deposit with electronic filing to get your money, without worrying about it getting lost, stolen, or unable to be delivered.

• 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 from VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Learn more at EconomicProgressRI.org

Carmen Grinkis, PhD, CLTC, CLU®, CFP® Wealth Advisor & Co-Managing Partner AAF Wealth Management

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, has died at the age of 96. She certainly left a legacy in her 70 years on the throne. “There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone the light remains.”

The fact that she lived to 96 is itself amazing. It brought to mind the recent passing of my own mother, our mortality, and the planning we do for clients. We develop financial plans by projecting our clients’ life expectancy to age 95. An additional year had no financial impact for the Queen. For many of us though, living beyond our expectations is a gift we hope to enjoy with health—and free from financial burden.

Our long-term planning encompasses a variety of elements, including life expectancy, investments, insurance, tax & estate planning, and budgeting. Now, as we navigate the unpleasant surge of inflation, we must adjust our plans. The stress on the financial plan is clear: if we measured for an historical average of 2.67% inflation but now see uncertainty in what that factor may be, we must adjust our paths to success.

We must think about what’s most important in our lives and make di cult decisions. For some, lifestyle is at the top of the list. We can look at various assets and choose what to sell to maintain lifestyle standards. For others, the goal may be to ensure the next generation is taken care of; that could mean pulling back on short-term spending. Now is the time to monitor and course correct.

cgrinkis@aafwealth.com 401-573-4240

AAFWealthManagement.com

Graphic courtesy of FreePik

IS INVESTING RIGHT FOR YOU?

THE WORD INVESTING CAN SOUND RATHER

DAUNTING to the everyday person, but it’s possible to learn how or hire a financial advisor to help you. Not ready to call a pro? Begin by filling out a worksheet available at the US Securities and Exchange Commission website: SEC.gov/investor

Beyond the typical stocks and bonds, there are creative ways to invest:

COLLECTIBLES

Fine art and antiques are examples of wacky ways that pay off – if you know your stuff. Ideally, you buy a collectible for less than its worth, and sell it for more, requiring knowledge of the item and its resale value. Our state is filled with estate shops, antique stores, etc.

REAL ESTATE

There’s a reason flipping houses is a popular pastime beyond HGTV. Investing in a piece of property is smart for many reasons, the first being that it’s a “real asset,” a physical commodity with value. You can rehabilitate and sell for a quick profit, or rent out for monthly income. When the market is low, you can find bargains, and when it booms, you can earn a fortune.

WINE

Stockpiling fine wines? That might sound appealing enough on its own, but you can make a pretty penny off buying sought-after vintages and selling to wine connoisseurs. Find the right wines, keep track of when and where you purchased it, store in a temperature-controlled room, and reap the benefits of an investment that literally gets better with age.

PRECIOUS METALS

When the dollar is weak, the coin reigns supreme – at least, the gold and silver kind. While this investment is not the most reliable, as is the rise and fall of the dollar, it’s worthwhile to have precious metal coins on hand in case of an economic or financial collapse, during which they can be used as barter.

Ask the Expert: Employee Rights

A law frm with nearly 40 years of experience, Sinapi Law Associates, Ltd. represents employees in employment discrimination, retaliation, medical leave, and wage and hour law. Good fnancial planning should start with looking into whether or not you are being paid by your employer for all the work you perform. Richard Sinapi, Esq. and Danilo Borgas, Esq. share answers to common questions asked by employees.

How much of my work time is compensable?

It depends. For those paid by the hour, any time you are required to be at work is compensable. If your employer requires or allows you to work outside your usual hours and you do so, that is also probably compensable. For on-call time, if you are restricted in your ability to engage in other meaningful daily life activities, then you should be paid for the time. Time spent traveling for your employer during the workday (though typically not commute time) is compensable.

Am I an employee or an independent contractor?

If you set your own hours and rates and choose who you work for, you are likely an independent contractor. If you have a boss who sets those things for you, you are likely an employee. It is not your employer’s decision, but rather comes down to who controls the terms and conditions of your employment. Even if you sign an “independent contractor agreement,” it does not mean you are not an employee under the law.

Can my employer pay di erent workers di erent rates for the same duties?

Sometimes, if based on years of service or performance. However, employers may not pay

employees differently based on a suspect classifcation, which federal law recognizes as race, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, and citizenship. RI law adds color, sexual orientation, and gender identity as protected classes. Effective January 1, 2023, Rhode Island’s Pay Equity Law prohibits employers from paying an employee at a wage less than the wage rate paid to employees outside a protected class for performing comparable work.

What else does the new Pay Equity Law mean for employees?

Employers must now disclose pay ranges on request. The law also makes it unlawful to prohibit discussions of pay among employees. Employers may not reduce an employee’s wages to comply with the law, nor may they inquire into your wage history in deciding what to pay you.

Probably more than you think. In addition to reimbursing you for lost wages, you can often receive emotional damages, reinstatement, and payment of your attorney’s fees from the employer. Some laws also grant “liquidated damages,” doubling the amount of back wages you receive. If you are discharged or otherwise treated adversely by an employer for complaining about violation of laws pertaining to your work or refusing to engage in a violation of the law during the course of your work, you could be entitled to three times the amount of any damages you sustain.

Yes, but if you are an hourly employee, you are entitled to a minimum of three hours of pay for each shift, regardless of how long you are actually assigned to work, unless you expressly and voluntarily agree to be assigned to shifts of less than three hours.

Yes. Once you have done the work to earn the commission, you are entitled to receive it. If you are let go just before completing all the work, you may still be entitled to pay.

time o

In Rhode Island, you are entitled to be paid out for any unused PTO if you have been employed for at least a year. This only applies when you leave; your employer can still adopt a “use it or lose it” policy.

I’m being scheduled for twohour shifts. Can my boss do that?

I work on commission. If I leave my position before my commissions are paid out, do I still receive them?

Do I lose my unused paid

(PTO) if I leave my job?

What are my legal rights if the employer does not comply with employment laws?

Left to right: Gregory Mancini, Esq.; Michael Ferron, Esq.; Chloe Davis, Esq.; Richard Sinapi Esq.; Lori Beagan; Michael da Cruz; Danilo Borgas, Esq.

There can be financial benefits along with energy independence for property owners opting for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Solar PV technology harnesses and converts sunlight directly into electricity, which can be used to power your home or small business. Before making an appointment with a door-to-door solar rep, consider doing some homework, starting at the State of Rhode Island O ce of Energy Resources. Find information about the Renewable Energy Fund, how it all works, and a free downloadable guide at Energy.RI.gov

GOING SOLAR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

HEATING BILLS GIVING YOU THE CHILLS?

Energy.RI.gov is a great resource for things like the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible households reduce heating bills by providing whole-house energy e ciency services. Also find information on heating assistance, sales tax exemptions, and more. To determine how much energy you’re actually using and what to do about it, schedule a no-cost home energy assessment: an energy auditor will complete an attic-to-basement evaluation and provide a custom home energy report outlining recommended energy e ciency improvements. They will even install a few no-cost energy saving products which may include ENERGY STAR-certified LED light bulbs, seven-day programmable thermostats, faucet aerators, or low-flow showerheads. Based on your assessment, you may be eligible for rebates, a 0 percent interest HEAT loan, and thousands in savings towards a new insulation installation. 1-888-633-7947

When it comes to your Retirement, Healthcare/Medicare and Wealth Management needs, our experienced team of fnancial and healthcare professionals provides top-notch, individualized Financial/Retirement Planning, Social Security and Healthcare/Medicare advice. We are here for you to help you and your family gain the fnancial freedom you deserve to achieve your goals through all major life transitions. Our mission has always been to provide peace of mind to simplify the fnancial and healthcare process and to ensure your overall plan coincides with each of your individual and family retirement income streams (Cash Flow) to ensure fnancial longevity throughout retirement.

Rather than being told what to do with your money, we work with you to feel in control of your wealth and your healthcare needs and provide you with the fnancial freedom you deserve.

PA RSONS

Capital Management, Inc. A tradit ion in money management

10 Weybosset Street, Suite 1000 Providence, RI 02903-2808

Phone 401.521.2440 www.parsonscapital.com

Our investment professionals work with individuals, trusts, foundations, institutions, and retirement accounts. We believe that successful asset management results from our collective personal experience gathered over numerous market cycles, in-depth analysis of the current markets, and a thorough understanding of the financial needs of our clients.

KNOW YOUR EXPENSES

A STREAMING SERVICE HERE, THE LATEST PHONE THERE… IT ALL ADDS UP . Keep track of your income and expenses for a clear picture of what is actually going on. Write down what you and others in your family earn and spend each month, and include a category for savings and investing. If you are spending all your income and never have money to save or invest, start by cutting back on expenses. When you watch where you spend your money, you may be surprised how small everyday expenses can add up. Many people get into the habit of saving and investing by paying themselves first. An easy way to do this is to have your bank automatically deposit money from your paycheck into a savings or investment account.

Parsons Capital Management is one of the largest, independently owned investment management firms in the region. Our assets under management have increased from $60 million in 1994 to over $1 billion today.

Graphic courtesy of FreePik

Every child born to or adopted by Rhode Island families is eligible for a $100 CollegeBoundbaby Grant to be used for higher education. Parents apply for the grant right at the hospital by checking the box on the Birth Worksheet. Parents may also complete and submit the enrollment form before their child’s first birthday or within one year of the child’s adoption date. Learn more at CollegeBoundBaby.com

what you own and what you owe. Begin by making a list: on one side, list what you own. These are your assets. On the other side, list what you owe. These are your liabilities or debts. Subtract your liabilities from your assets. If your assets are larger than your liabilities, you have a positive net worth. If your liabilities are larger than your assets, you have a negative net worth.

“New year, new you” isn’t just about making aesthetic changes to your life – 2023 could be the year you hear what you’ve been missing. An investment in a hearing evaluation is an investment in your quality of life, and Atlantic Audiology – a locally owned practice specializing in diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss – makes it easy to take those first steps.

“At Atlantic Audiology, the patient and their needs come first and are an integral part of the process,” shares owner Micheline Gauthier, Au.D. “We include family members in the evaluation and fitting to get a better idea of the listening needs and struggles of the patient and to help set them up for success.” Emphasizing one-on-one time in a private setting, Atlantic Audiology ensures patients leave feeling comfortable with the use and functionality of their hearing aids, o ering support and counseling along the way.

"The hearing aid industry has undergone many changes in the last few years,” explains Dr. Gauthier. “Most pointedly is insurances moving to use of third-party payers and a fee-for-service approach, which limits included service visits.” Coupled with the FDA’s recent release of over-the-counter hearing devices, many patients are attempting to navigate the world of audiology on their own, without the professional and expert guidance of an audiologist.

When making the decision to invest in your hearing, choosing Atlantic Audiology saves patients from frustration and misinformation through their personalized approach that emphasizes care, knowledge, attention to detail, and results. “We work with several hearing aid manufacturers to allow for precise fitting and selection of devices,” says Dr. Gauthier. “The first step toward better hearing should be a legitimate hearing evaluation for assessment of the degree, type, and progression of the hearing loss.”

Voted Readers’ Choice Best Hearing Aid Center in RI in 2022, Atlantic Audiology is the place

HOW TO CHOOSE A FINANCIAL ADVISOR

WORKING WITH A FINANCIAL ADVISOR

MEANS PUTTING YOUR INVESTMENTS AND FINANCES

IN

SOMEONE

ELSE’S HANDS. That takes a trusting relationship. To find an advisor who is right for you, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors recommends:

• 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?

• Ask for recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues so you have a list of advisor candidates to choose from.

• Research potential advisors’ websites and individual biographies.

• Meet face to face with each candidate before you sign up. Use NAPFA’s Financial Advisor Diagnostic tool at NAPFA.org to evaluate each advisor’s answers to your questions. These should include:

1. How are you compensated?

2. If you accept commissions, will you itemize the amount of compensation you earn from products that you recommend to me?

3. Do you accept referral fees?

4. Are you held to a fiduciary standard at all times?

5. Would you sign a fiduciary oath committing to putting my financial interests first?

6. Have you ever been disciplined by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority?

7. Do you provide comprehensive financial planning or just investment management?

8. Do you have many clients like me?

9. How will you help me reach my financial goals?

10. 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.

PLANNING AHEAD: ELDER CARE WITH LAURA KROHN

WHEN PRACTICING ELDER LAW, IT’S IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVE BALANCE . A good attorney considers the needs of the client, as well as balancing legal advice with proper counseling and education. There’s a lot of hand-holding, especially as people face difficult choices about their future, not to mention end-of-life legal decisions.

“It’s a very special area of the law,” explains elder law attorney Laura Krohn who offers a holistic approach to elder law, focusing on the complete range of needs for her clients. “There are so many issues to deal with. Seniors are more vulnerable, a lot of them don’t have much experience with lawyers, so they’re very trusting; hopefully, they get the right advocate.”

Beyond her role as a lawyer, Krohn provides an education piece to clients. “My way of advising is very educational; I teach the client,” she explains. “There’s not always a lot of information out there to help seniors navigate. They might think they’re going to lose their home or their income if their spouse goes to a nursing home, so they may delay that level of care out of fear.”

Power of attorney is important, says Krohn. “Without a substitute decision maker, your family goes to court. Even if you’re married, you have to go to court to become someone’s guardian. So people should start early.”

Krohn’s advice is to take some time to think about major decisions. “When I take on a new client, they’re not allowed to make decisions until they get my follow-up letter, and then we talk about it. A lot of what I do is provide people with a good foundation for a time of medical crisis, that would be having the right documents with the appropriate people appointed for the appropriate job. Thorough, tailored counseling in the beginning of a client representation is crucial.” Learn more at SeniorGuideRI.com

DRINK

Experience | In The Kitchen | Food News

“I’m here to help!” is chef and food educator Marissa Joinson’s upbeat motto – and she means it. No matter your age, ability, or dietary needs, The Intuitive Kitchen is Joinson’s way of making home cooking less daunting.

“Whether public classes or private events, I love to bring play, laughter, and a light approach to a fundamental human need,” says Joinson, who uses her expertise to build folks’ confidence and comfort in the kitchen, acting as both instructor and cheerleader every step of the way, from roux to scrumptious sauce.

With an emphasis on seasonal produce (think winter squash for January) and a healthy slant, Joinson’s classes are tailored to what her students are looking for, whether that’s kid-friendly snacks and smoothies or the basics of seafood cooking. The traveling chef brings the ingredients to your home for programming like Cooking Parties – her most popular offering – encouraging groups of friends to get crafty in the kitchen. Joinson also accommodates virtual classes and hosts T.I.Kids Parties for young chefs. Through a partnership with the Gloria Gemma Foundation, The Intuitive Kitchen contributed to a wellness program emphasizing clients’ various health concerns.

If your New Year’s resolution involves cooking more – and you’re in a roughly 50-mile radius of Joinson’s Warren base at Hope & Main – it may be time to enlist a pro. “I’m happy to work and play in any kitchen, whether indoor or outdoor, with anyone, novice or experienced!” TheIntuitiveKitchen.com | By Abbie Lahmers

Photo courtesy of The Intuitive Kitchen

Luck Has Nothing to Do With It

A West End neighborhood eatery curates rock-n-roll vibes and great cocktails

It wouldn’t be a visit to Lucky Enough without a friendly greeting to “sit anywhere!”, the anticipation of seeing what’s new on the specials board, and someone dishing the latest gossip around town within earshot of the stool or seat you bellied up to. A casual neighborhood bar and eatery that crept onto the scene just over a year ago, Lucky Enough has quickly become an essential West End haunt inside new-build digs with old-school vibes.

Though there’s an element of familiarity –and nostalgia, with a portrait of the King of Rock ‘n Roll gazing down upon patrons and an impressive vinyl collection – luring guests back, no two seasons at Lucky Enough are exactly the same. Summer saw skilled cooks crouched in the alleyway stoking meats in a smoker, while a recent winter visit was

abuzz with World Cup energy – and the big screen behind the bar is broadcasting Sunday football this month, too.

Even when there’s neither game nor holiday, Lucky Enough owner Art Chamberland and team make up their own reasons to revel. Cage Against the Machine on January 7, for instance, celebrates Nicolas Cage’s birthday – infusing the winter gloom with a little hilarity (and live music).

Opting for a table close to the sweeping bar and in view of guests taking aim at the dart board, my partner and I browsed a cocktail menu of drinks named after lines from songs, deliberating over a T Swift-inspired “Baby, I’m Gonna Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake” while a Bruce Springsteen song played overhead…and ultimately settling on Kiss and Todd Snider namesakes. Party Every

Day, served in a martini glass, combines the pleasingly peaty Laphroaig 10 Single Malt and Old Forester Bourbon, with earthy notes from an amaro and the sweetness of vermouth – I couldn’t recommend a better drink to make the transition from work day to happy hour. In lovely juxtaposition to my sti drink was the medicinal tonic-like Part 2, Book 3, Verse 4, Jackson 5, Nikki Sixx, a mezcal cocktail with ginger liqueur, lemon, honey, and mole bitters.

My first Lucky Enough love – a smoky barbecue cauliflower melt – had been replaced with a new flame, the Butternut Squash Melt. This

CUISINE: Scratch-made bar snacks and sandwiches

PRICES: $9-$18; $10 cocktails ATMOSPHERE: Leveled-up dive bar with good energy

Photo courtesy of Lucky Enough

Experience | By Abbie Lahmers

Must-Try Items

Late Nights and Coffee in Bed ($10)

Rittenhouse rye, Cantera Negra Cafe coffee liqueur, and Jerry Thomas bitters

Spicy Potatoes

($9)

Brined and fried white potatoes, house buffalo, bleu cheese crumbles, and ranch

Butternut Squash Melt ($12)

Pressed sourdough, roasted butternut squash, cheddar, Brie, house cranberry jam, pickled red onions, and arugula

sweet and savory selection features a hearty portion of roasted squash with oozing cheddar and Brie between slices of sourdough. Cranberry jam, pickled red onions, and arugula add color and depth to this sandwich, which garnered the following praise from my partner when it arrived: “That’s a nice cross section.”

It’s easy to be a vegetarian here and not order a salad (though the The Greek is your best bet if that’s what you’re into), with vegan hot dogs, Spicy Potatoes (think bu alo wings but steamy starch pockets instead of chicken), and other hearty meat-free bar snacks on the menu. For a side, a cup of delightfully spiced vegan chilly hit the spot.

When we learned from our friendly server that it was Mad Dog Monday – with rotating specials each week – my partner decided at the last second to order the chipotle dog. The loaded hot dog had a nice level of heat tempered slightly by a drizzle of sour cream, though pickled jalapeños brought the fire back, with a carrot slaw adding a little bit of crunch. I couldn’t stop snacking on the side of sweet pickles.

To round things o , we sipped Late Nights and Co ee in Bed (a homage to the Squeeze song) before braving the chilly walk home.

Whether you’re bonding with strangers over the big game or cozying up in a corner with a couple of close friends, Lucky Enough is a social experience; it’s a place to dish over scratchmade sandwiches and chat with the bartender about the extensive whiskey list (which boasts a ordable pours). It’s a true third place you’ll want to return to over and over again.

Lucky Enough

1492 Westminster Street • 642-2749

LuckyEnoughPVD.com

Experience | By Abbie Lahmers

Photo by Abbie Lahmers

From Brooklyn to Bayberry

Many of chef Hart Boyd’s early memories involve restaurants. Growing up with parents working alternative restaurant shifts, Boyd remembers coloring with crayons on butcher paper as his mother began her waitressing shift. Meanwhile, his father – who got his start cooking in the Navy –ended his morning shift as a chef at Dock’s in Midtown Manhattan.

After waiting tables throughout college, Boyd took a chance and interviewed at renowned steakhouse Prime Meats in Brooklyn, but having yet to amass the required experience, he didn’t get the job. Undeterred, he o ered to work for free, which he did for 1,000 hours before being o cially hired. For Boyd, that experience is still the highlight of

his career to date. The restaurant was an inspiration to him, and a place where he got to meet a variety of well-known chefs early on.

Boyd’s next opportunity, becoming junior sous chef at Clyde’s in Washington DC, fast-tracked his culinary journey. After just three years, he became executive chef. “When I first started, I wanted to be a sous chef by the age of 30. By 27, I was the executive chef of a restaurant,” he says.

Once Boyd married his wife and they grew their family, he was ready to take a break from being in charge. This led him back to New York, where he gained even more experience learning under different chefs. But soon after, the pandemic drastically changed the restaurant scene. “I was

Photos by Ezra Pollard, courtesy of Bayberry Garden

Meet the new executive chef putting his imprint on the city’s dining scene

Bayberry Garden

really concerned about the restaurant industry in New York,” he says. “I didn’t know if it was going to rebound.”

That’s when Boyd saw an opportunity in Rhode Island. He took a trip to meet Bayberry Garden’s former executive chef Mike Seely –and it wasn’t long before he was lured by the Creative Capital. “When I came up to tour Bayberry Garden, I fell in love with the space, the team, and all the people involved in the process. And I fell in love with Rhode Island too.”

Since officially becoming Bayberry Garden’s executive chef just last year, Boyd has enjoyed the artistic freedom to experiment with new dishes and surprise his guests. His favorite way to do this is through the Let Us Cook For You tasting menu, where he’s able to improvise dishes inspired by what’s in season locally. “It’s really fun and inter -

esting to take ingredients and let them dictate what we’re going to do and then see the reactions of the guests,” he says. “We’ll riff on what we think will taste really good.”

For Boyd, the creative process of cooking is like music. He describes his experience in the kitchen like being in a jam or jazz band, with dishes influenced by his mood, the mood of the dining room, and of his team. Boyd and fellow chefs exchange both cooking inspiration and music, drawing from each other creatively. His goal? To empower the next generation of chefs to leave their footprint. “I used to be the youngest guy in the room and now I’m the oldest person in the kitchen,” he says. “I’m trying to come to terms with how to inspire and motivate a new generation of cooks, who I’m working with for the first time.”

As for Boyd’s own footprint, experience is

everything, and dining should be interactive. It’s why he has a passion for finding unique ways to accommodate large groups. “This winter, we’re going to take some time to put an imprint on the menu with large-format stu ,” he says. “So many of the people that come in have parties of eight, and it’s so great to really give them something that is interactive, fun, and di erent, something you’re not just going to order on a menu any day of the week.”

While relatively new to Rhode Island, Boyd already fits right in. As he continues to carve his own path in the Providence restaurant scene, we’re sure to see even more plates that are music to our palettes.

Bayberry Garden

225 Dyer Street • 642-5013 BayberryGarden.com

Rose Kenyon

Photo by Ezra Pollard, courtesy of Bayberry Garden

Sweet treats for the New Year in North Providence

You’ll find everything from three-layered wedding cakes to delicious pies, puddings, and cupcakes at Syroya’s Bakery on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. Like many small business owners starting out, Syroya Eugene was inspired by a family member. “I started baking as a hobby about 10 years ago,” says Eugene. “I always admired watching my grandmother bake for the family from scratch, so when my youngest son turned one, I was determined to bake a special cake for his first birthday completely from scratch.”

Eugene began baking for family and friends and in 2015, she joined Hope & Main, the culinary industry incubator in Warren. Before long, she was serving cheesecake and more out of a studio in Pawtucket before opening in North Providence last fall. Look for the menu to expand in the new year. “I will be o ering more items like fresh-baked bread and co ee starting in January, and I look forward to being able to continue to provide all of Rhode Island delicious and freshly baked desserts.” SyroyasBakery.com

Morgan Gray originally founded Whisk Me Away in 2017 as a blog before – many kitchen spaces later – growing it into a full bakery and retail space. Whisk specializes in wedding and birthday cakes, as well as popular bakery items like cinnamon buns, donuts, bagels, cake jars, and biscuits.

The Whisk team recently moved into a new bakehouse at 400 Harris Avenue, Unit G on the West End. “We o er cakes and desserts for order for any occasion, and are open with our weekly bakeshop menu on the weekends,” says Gray. Plans to enlarge the space are underway. “As we build out our front of house, we will expand into full bakery retail through the week and on weekends.” With a menu that varies throughout the year, order soon before Gray’s inventive snacks –like jumbo funfetti cake batter cookies; spicy bacon, asiago, and chive biscuits; and fudgy Oreo cheesecake brownies –disappear. WhiskMeAwayRI.Square.Site

Pickle lovers rejoice: Rhode Island’s specialty pickle maker is expanding with a new production facility in Coventry, and there’s a lot to relish. Pickily products can be found in over 50 stores in southern New England, including Farm Fresh RI and Urban Greens Food Co-op in Providence.

“I’ve been making pickles since I was a little kid with my grandmother, and over the years, I started making all sorts of di erent pickled vegetables,” shares owner Sam Chesebrough. “At some point I realized that I wasn’t seeing anything similar in grocery stores and felt like there was an opening in the market for a product like Pickily.”

The company started up in 2019 at Hope & Main and has grown into a four-person operation that produces a line of veggies ranging from cucumbers to beets. “Our brine is more sour than sweet and is made using only simple, clean ingredients,” says Chesebrough. “We’ve come a long way already but I think that we are at the early stages of what Pickily can become.” Pickily.com

Photos courtesy of Syroya’s Bakery

From blog to bakery

Pickles, pickles everywhere

STYLE

Home | Shop | Influencer

Providence is filled with multi-family homes, better known as “three-families.” If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance you’ve lived in one. The narrow floor plan generally includes a front entrance leading to two large main rooms segmented by a wide door frame; a kitchen with a back entrance and pantry, one bathroom, three bedrooms, and sometimes, exits to railed porches. Third floors generally have high ceilings and all levels are lined with windows. Original features like built-in cabinets and drawers, and barely any closets, are typical. What these homes lack in amenities they make up for with space, sunlight, and character.

When a family with young children living in Atlanta was planning their return to Providence, they planned to make some modifications to a threefamily property they’d owned for years and kept as a rental on the East Side. “They wanted to convert it into a two-family home that would be their residence,” explains David Sisson, principal architect at David Sisson Architecture, PC in East Providence. At first, Sisson tried to convince his clients that they didn’t want to lose a unit, but they were insistent. “We began to dig deeper into their needs and wants, and I did come around to their point of view.”

Photos by Christian Scully of Design Imaging Studios, courtesy of David Sisson Architecture PC

Dining room and kitchen showing cathedral ceiling and view into fourth-floor mezzanine

What the couple wanted was the East Side experience and walkable life, but they were not finding a singlefamily home that met their needs. “Of course, they already owned this one,” says Sisson, who describes the home as being in rough shape, which he notes is “fairly typical of a rental.” Sizing up the property, Sisson realized that the footprint was a bit wider and taller than most three-families, boasting almost a fourth level with dimensions in both width and depth that could allow for a very luxurious layout.

The home was reimagined and the first floor was kept as an income-producing rental. The layout for the owner’s suite was inverted, placing the public and domestic functions on the third floor and reserving the second floor for bedrooms. The third floor had an attic which was partially opened to create a cathedral ceiling over the living, dining, and kitchen areas, and Sisson and team also managed a small area on a “fourth” floor, which the parents use as an o ce, overlooking the kitchen and living rooms. Says Sisson, “this house o ered some extraordinary opportunities!”

Home office in the fourth-floor mezzanine. There is a glass railing so that you can see through to the third floor below

Master bedroom at the front of the house. A new beam was installed to strengthen and expand the bay, allowing in light.

Home

By Elyse Major

Mudroom in back of the house on the second floor; cubbies and storage for coats and room for a washer and dryer

GET RHODY STYLE

Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.

SISSON SAYS

Double and triple deckers were invented in New England in the 19th century to meet the housing needs of a rapidly growing population. Today, these houses are found all over cities like Providence, Boston, and their bedroom communities. Though their interiors are out of date, these houses can be renovated to o er a great opportunity for prospective homeowners to break into today’s tight real estate market.

RHODY RESOURCES

David Sisson Architecture is a full-service professional architecture firm based in East Providence providing both commercial architecture and residential architecture services. Sisson himself is available for institutional architectural design, assisted living design, new construction and remodeling, and o ce and retail interior design. Kevin LeBlanc of RWL General Contracting served as contractor for this project.

Want your home featured in Providence Monthly?

Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more

Photos by Christian Scully of Design Imaging Studios, courtesy of David Sisson Architecture PC

Master bathroom with pebble tiled shower and bathtub

Master bathroom showing separate toilet room

How Bazaar

With its close proximity to Brown, RISD, Moses Brown, and Wheeler School, Thayer Street is like Providence’s own Harvard Square – a commercial area filled with culture, co ee, and an intellectual vibe. The College Hill street is always bustling with people of all ages and the air is a spicy mix of aromas from its many restaurants and cafes. This thoroughfare has had many lives, and while students, yuppies, and punks may come and go, certain beloved mainstays keep

it recognizable as a trendy street even to old-timers. Along with Andrea’s and the Avon, Spectrum-India is one of those businesses. Established in 1967 as Emporium India, Spectrum-India has always been a vibrant marketplace of colorful unique goods. Shoppers will find everything from Bindis to bangles to belly-dancing outfits, tapestries, candles, and hats, along with most anything else you can think of to add boho appeal to your life.

Meet Damaris Messina

With a “never boring” MO, this hospitality exec is making a downtown hotel the place to be

As director of sales at Aloft Providence Downtown, you seem to be making your signature “never boring” imprint on the place. Tell us about your e orts to make the hotel a nightlife destination. My goal is to create a destination with a vibrant hotel social scene and an innovative music scene through our LIVE@Aloft performances.

I want to create a community of followers that’s always on the lookout of what’s next at Aloft because the unexpected happens here!

Tell us about the naming of Blu Violet and what vibe you are setting out to create there. Blu Violet is our rooftop restaurant on the seventh floor. It offers the most magnificent views of downtown, College Hill, and Innovation Park. The name comes from a collaboration between the state flower (blue violet) and the color when the sunlight hits the Providence River. It’s a great spot for after-work drinks and shareable bites, but what really sets us apart is our RUM&B LIVE DJ Brunch on Sundays!

You earned an MBA from JWU. Was it the university that brought you to Providence? It did – Johnson & Wales paved the path to my hospitality career. Being from the Dominican Republic, I discovered at a very young age my passion for hospitality, so when I was in search of a school, Johnson & Wales checked all the boxes. I loved their reverse curriculum and internship program. Who gets to travel to Italy in their sophomore year or study abroad in Switzerland

Photo by Michelle Carpenter Photography courtesy of Damaris Messina

for three months? I loved my time at Johnson & Wales and met many of my closest friends and my husband through the university.

@spscardinals

When you’re not working, where are your favorite independently owned places to shop, dine, hang out in Providence?

SCAN Saint Philip School January 29th 12:30pm

Your peace of mind. open house 3 year olds through 8th grade

TO GET SIMPLIFIED Encouraged T O U R R E G I S T R A T I O N S

Experts say that moving is one of the top five most stressful lifetime experiences. Whether you’ve been living in your current home for one year or thirty-plus, or assisting in a loved one’s downsize, the prospect of packing up and moving to a new home can be daunting.

For more than ten years, Simplified Lives has offered the key to managing the stress of decluttering and moving … outsource it to New England’s premiere moving concierge service.

CULTURE

Gallery | On Stage | Calendar

Death Becomes Her

Wilbury Theatre Group

brings Young Jean Lee’s We’re Gonna Die to Rhode Island

Is there anything more life affirming than death? Playwright Young Jean Lee tackles that question in We’re Gonna Die , which is receiving its Rhode Island premiere courtesy of the Wilbury Theatre Group.

The Guardian called Lee “one of the world’s most exciting playwrights,” and, indeed, she is. Lee was a sort of wunderkind, springing up from New York City’s downtown experimental theater scene to become the first Asian-American woman to have a play on Broadway in 2018 with Straight White Men . Fearless is a term often used to describe her work.

It makes perfect sense that Wilbury Theatre Group – our area’s go-to for challenging, avant garde theater — returns to her oeuvre. After mounting a critically acclaimed production of her play Church , the Valley neighborhood-based troupe takes a stab at her play about death.

A mashup of spoken word, music, and theater, We’re Gonne Die is a memento mori for our unsettled times. Set in a sort of rock club-meetspurgatory, the story line follows a series of losses: the falling out between childhood friends, a breakup with a lover, the death of a parent.

Lest this sound too morbid, Lee litters the show with songs that offer deadpan lyrics juxtaposed with peppy pop tempos. We may be destined to shuffle off this mortal coil, so it’s better to embrace life while we’re still above ground.

With humor as dry as a shot of white vermouth, Lee’s innovative work excavates despair and tragedy with a razor sharp edge and, ultimately, hope. There’s something comforting in knowing no matter our individual journeys…well…we’re all gonna die.

We’re Gonna Die runs at the Wilbury Theatre Group from January 19 – February 12. TheWilburyGroup.org, 475 Valley Street (inside the WaterFire Arts Center). | By Karen Greco

Photo by Erin X. Smithers, courtesy of Wilbury Theatre Group

L to R: Jason Quinn, Brianna Rosario, Rudy Cabrera, and Helena Tafuri (far right) who will play the Singer in We’re Gonna Die. Tafuri was last seen in Wilbury’s production of Silhouette of a Silhouette, Hype Man: A Break Beat Play, and Futurity

Wilbury founder and artistic director Josh Short is a Who to Watch alum, class of 2021

The Outsiders

Inside the massive, and frankly intimidating Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, walk down a huge brick hallway flanked by cozy shops, salons, and bakeries. The juxtaposition of homey craftsmanship and industrial enormity is unmistakable. At the end of the imposing tunnel, on the right hand side, one encounters The Outsider Collective, a bright, whitewalled space ornamented with countless colorful pieces of art: abstract paintings, wooden masks, a statue ostensibly constructed out of tightly wound rubber bands and disused pieces of plastic. As its name would imply, The Outsider Collective (OC) is a most unusual place.

“Our main mission is to provide a loving art space for individuals of any ability. The majority of our members have intellectual and developmental disabilities, but our main goal is to meet whoever wants to make art on their level: the unique ways [in which] they see the world and enhance that point

of view. Anyone can join The OC.”

So speaks Carrie Hyde-Riley, who founded The Outsider Collective in October 2020 with her business partner, Jess Angelone. Rising from the rubble of the legendary and much-missed Resources For Human Development agency, The Outsider Collective is built on the foundational belief that anyone can make art. It is a space in which creative people of all abilities, some of whom may not even consider themselves “artists,” can explore their expressive impulses without judgment. The OC also functions as a gallery for the artwork created within.

“Everybody has their own style. We don’t want to mold anybody into anything besides the best version of themselves, enhance what naturally comes from them, and then show it at our gallery,” Hyde-Riley says. “People are starting to get followings! That’s the beauty of outsider art: everybody has this intuitive voice that, if fostered correctly, comes out.”

The OC’s latest endeavor is 1000 Pieces Of Tiny Art where the walls of their headquarters are lined with hundreds of Post-it notesized pieces of paper featuring illustrations, paintings, aphorisms, blots, blotches, and all manner of imagery. The aggregation seems to be spreading daily.

“We have about 50 di erent artists that we work with and everybody has a unique voice. It’s very easy to draw something within the confines of three inches by three inches. When it all comes together, it’s a quilt of everybody’s voices,” says Hyde-Riley, who notes that 670 submissions were received within four months. “What we really want to do is have other people outside our community start to contribute. If there are people visiting the gallery, we try to be like, ‘You should add to this,’ because their voice is unique, too. You don’t need to have training to be considered an artist.” 1005 Main Street, Suite 2233, Pawtucket; TheOutsiderCollective.org

Photo courtesy of The Outsider Collective

Pawtucket non-profit provides welcoming space for artists of all abilities

You Oughta Know

How Academy award-winning writer Diablo Cody turned a hit song into a book that’s now a musical coming to PPAC

Jagged Little Pill, a jukebox musical inspired by the songs of Alanis Morissette, is headed to the Providence Performing Arts Center this month. The Tony and Grammy-Award winning production was written by Diablo Cody, the award-winning screenwriter of Juno, Jennifer’s Body, and One Mississippi, among other works.

“I was approached about this project in 2017,” Cody explains. “There was already a creative team in place. We had a wonderful director, Diane Paulus, and of course Alanis was on board. I’m a huge fan of Alanis, but we all know how a Broadway musical based on a pop album can go wrong. I didn’t want it to be cheesy, but when I saw the other creatives who were involved, I thought this could actually be cool.” The next step in the process was to meet with Morissette “I was a little starstruck and nervously stammered a few ideas at her, and miraculously she chose me to help her deliver this baby.”

If you have tickets, don’t expect to see a biopic of Morissette. The show is written as an

original story informed by the singer’s emotional lyrics. “The story is inspired by the lyrical content of the songs,” explains Diablo. “After listening to Jagged Little Pill, an album that I heard countless times as a teenager, I realized that many of the songs had a protagonist in them. There’s a song called ‘Mary Jane’ that comes near the end of the album. It’s a really interesting character piece. When I heard that, I decided the protagonist of the show would be Mary Jane. She’s this suburban housewife who’s hiding something. All the other characters seem to just emerge from the music. It was a fun process.”

Cody describes how writing for stage is different from writing for film. “I have to say the stage has ruined me for life, because the process is so much better for the writer. You get to make adjustments constantly, you’re a part of the preview process where you watch the show every night to see how people in the audience are responding. You can’t do that with a movie – reshoots are very expensive. I had no idea

how limiting the filmmaking process was until I worked on a Broadway show.”

The production is personality driven, says Cody. “Everybody seems to align themselves with a certain character. You identify with the one that speaks to your life experience, your joy, and your trauma.” Much like the album, Jagged Little Pill is a powerful show that addresses issues of drug abuse and suicide. “It’s definitely not a light-hearted evening of theater. But the hope is that it’s ultimately uplifting, and people leave feeling inspired, a kind of communal therapeutic experience.”

Not a fan of Morissette? No worries, says Cody. “I’ve taken people from di erent walks of life to see it. If you’ve ever been a part of a family, you’ll find something to relate to. And if you are a fan of Alanis, you’re gonna lose your mind.”

Jagged Little Pill runs at Providence Performing Arts Center January 17 – 22. PPACRI.org, 220 Weybosset Street.

Photo courtesy of Providence Performing Arts Center

L to R: Glenn Ballard, Alanis Morrissette, and Diablo Cody with the national tour cast of Jagged Little Pill on opening night in Los Angeles.

The Must List

10 essential events this month

January 14:

Check out the indie-rock sounds of Cass McCombs + Band, and hear songs from the recently recorded album, Heartmind, which has received glowing praise. Special guest Kolumbo opens. ColumbusTheatre.com

January 19-February 12:

Don’t miss the Rhode Island premiere of We’re Gonna Die , a play by Young Jean Lee that blends storytelling, stand-up, music, and theater. Read more on page 81. TheWilburyGroup.org

January 21:

Tania Miller conducts the Rhode Island Philharmonic in “Romantic Chopin,” a program featuring Debussy, Dvorak, and Chopin’s majestic Piano Concerto No. 1, and a special performance with students from the RI Philharmonic Music School. TheVetsRI.com

January 28:

The Castleton, Vermont-based jam-band Twiddle brings their funky rock show and their new album Every Last Leaf to The Strand in Providence. TheStrandRI.com

Through January 2:

Bring the family to the Amica Mutual Pavilion (formerly the Dunkin Donuts Center) for Disney On Ice presents Into the Magic!, an adventure that follows Moana as she embarks on a voyage to save her island. AmicaMutualPavilion.com

January 2:

Looking for a hobby in the new year? Sample a few brews in the tasting room and try your luck at trivia at Narragansett Brewery every Monday night hosted by McCaughey Standard Trivia. NarragansettBeer.com

January 11:

Hear storytellers share their stranger-than-fiction tales at Askew for Stranger Stories, a literary night of writers reading essays recounting true events. This month’s theme is “Unbelievable.” StrangerStoriesPVD.com

January 12-February 12:

Warrior, wife, politician and mother – By the Queen , a lively new drama by Whitney White about Queen Margaret, borrows from Shakespeare’s Henry VI and Richard III . TrinityRep.com

January 28-29:

Experience the beauty and wonder of China before Communism with the Shen Yun dance company, which tells the story through music, dance, stunning costumes, and more. PPACRI.org

Through January 31:

Bundle up for a visit to the Roger Williams Park Zoo, where you can greet the newest resident, a two-year-old Masai gira e named Providence. Winter hours are Thursday through Monday, 10am-4pm. RWPZoo.org

Photo courtesy of Stranger Stories

Pic of PVD

PhotocourtesyofMike

ABOUT MIKE @photos_by_mikep

A dad, husband, teacher, coach, and photographer capturing the moments in life you don’t want to miss.

The new year is looking bright in PVD!

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