Providence Monthly March 2018

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Providence Monthly • March 2018

Find out why tech companies like Virgin Pulse are setting up shop in Providence (p. 25)

COVER STORY

25 Now Hiring A boom of new tech companies are bringing new jobs to Providence, and helping to brand the city as an innovation hub

DEPARTMENTS Every Month 9

Commentary

22 Scene in PVD: The Women's

55 SHOP AROUND: Rugged looks

68 REVIEW: Bayberry Beer Hall

March at the State House

meet high fashion at Downcity

blends the two Bs: Brews and Brunch

Outfitters

Providence Pulse

11 After two decades, an internationally renowned artist

Leading Ladies

70 IN THE KITCHEN: Carolina BBQ puts a Northern spin on Southern

31 Get inspired by these passionate

Get Out

leaders who are making a difference

57 THE MUST LIST: This month’s

gets his downtown installation

can’t-miss events

comfort 72 IN THE DRINK: Figidini's bartender mixes up the first

12 Empire Revue gives Benny's the

City Style

60 ART: Inside the mind of painter

Broadway musical treatment

47 AT HOME: Inside a stylish

Savonnara Alexander Sok 74 ON THE MENU: Xaco Taco brings

Calendar Mills loft

14 Providence Preservation Society is going to party like it's 1929

62 MUSIC: The Low Anthem take a 49 THE LOOK: Edward Cabral on

in Providence

76 RESTAURANT GUIDE: Mix up your 64 ON STAGE: A national touring

50 GET FIT: A new squash club

musical brings a local actor

ditches the sport's elitist reputation

back home

52 BEAUTY: Potion keeps skin care wicked local

20 Alternative voices and music have returned to the FM airwaves

dinner plans this month

Hidden PVD

18 Two theater groups are rethinking the stage this month

Mexican food to the Jewelry District

voyage to the bottom of the sea

looking sharp in a blazer

16 A local poet has found his muse

taste of spring

82 Checking out seeds from the

Feast 67 TREND: Vegan eatery by CHLOE opens on Thayer Street

ON THE COVER: The city is living up to its potential as a center for tech and innovation.

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AWW, WE’RE BLUSHING ”Thanks Providence Monthly for the shout out! We can’t believe it’s only been 7 months since we sold our first waffle.” @Burgundian_Coffee_Waffles via Instagram on “The Belgian Waffle Invasion” “A fireside or water view may be your toughest decision this weekend. Luckily 22 Bowen’s offers both. Here’s a great article to help you with your winter visit to Newport and our fine island.” @BowensWharf via Facebook on “Newport and Chill”

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W E B E XC LU S I V E S THEY’RE ON A BOAT! We’re not called the Ocean State for nothing. Peek inside the workshops of four East Bay boat builders and repairers for a look at local nautical innovation.

BE A KID IN SOUTH COUNTY If you’ve crossed everything off of the list in last month’s Kid’s Issue, take a drive to South County for even more all-age adventures.

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PULSE City • Scene in PVD

Peruko Ccopacatty's sculptures evoke his indigenous roots in Peru

Sculpting a Dream

After decades of waiting, an artist’s vision finally comes to life in Kennedy Plaza In early February, Kennedy Plaza received four new residents – an angel, a man, and two llamas – all made from repurposed metal and scrap. These four sculptures, the first major installation of their kind in Kennedy Plaza in nearly 150 years, were the work of sculptor Peruko Ccopacatty, and the culmination of a decades-long dream.

Ccopacatty, an indigenous artist from Peru, earned approval in 1995 for a downtown sculpture installation, but the project never came together. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 5, Ccopacatty told the crowd that he “never lost that dream” of sharing his work with the Photography by Tony Pacitti

people of Providence. With the help of The Avenue Concept and RIPTA, he finally saw it through. The pieces, made from reclaimed stainless steel, car bumpers, and scrap metal, are evocative of Ccopacatty’s roots in the Aymara culture of Peru.

In a video released shortly before the installation of these sculptures, Ccopacatty describes himself as a “magnet… all the metal comes to me.” Kennedy Plaza is its own kind of magnet, drawing people into the heart of the city.

Now Ccopacatty’s sculptures are adding to that power of attraction, inviting people to stop, linger, and explore the art around them. –Tony Pacitti

PULSE • City

All About the Benny’s The Empire Revue stages a musical love letter to Rhode Island’s favorite store

MARCH 10-18 Fun educational events about brain science and brain health March 10 Through Our Eyes: Visual and Performing Arts

by People with Autism March 11 Providence Brain Art Fair March 12 Alzheimer’s Disease Expert Talk and Study Participation March 13 Mental Tapas: Reframing Mental Illness March 14 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: When Too Much is Not Enough March 15 Neuro-Advocacy in Lil’ Rhody: Brain Health, Brain Illness, and Brain Research March 16 The Story Collider March 17 & 18 Brain Fairs: Brown University and University of RI

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ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

Written by the ensemble, Benny's: The Musical is a loving tribute to the now-closed store

Late last year, the news hit Rhode Islanders like a pallet of filter sand: Benny’s, the beloved box store, would close all of its 31 locations by the end of 2017. When Keith Munslow found out that “your favorite store” was disappearing forever, he did what any good composer-comedian would do: he decided to produce a musical about it.

“We love Benny’s,” says Munslow. “The closing of the Benny’s stores has sparked a lot of understandably strong emotional responses. And at the end of the day, it’s a story about people, and how they deal with a situation like this.”

Munslow is a founder of The Empire Revue,

which stages Broadway-style cabaret shows, but Benny’s: The Musical aims for new creative heights. The ensemble has written the script collectively, and the story is rich with plots and subplots. The show will perform twice this month, on March 4 and 11, at AS220.

Benny’s has already attracted rabid attention from fans, and the first performance sold out almost immediately.

Because of this intense interest, Munslow can easily imagine a revival, or even a cast recording, down the line.

“We always challenge ourselves to create comedy with heart and substance,” he adds. “A great deal of work goes into the creation of something like this, so getting

as many people to see it as possible is definitely a goal.”

The show is a comedy, and the tone will be light. But Munslow is serious about his affection for the local chain.

“I used to go to Benny’s frequently with my dad,” he recalls. “He was always buying something to fix his car, to fix our house, to fix my bike. He had a chummy relationship with the folks who worked there, so there was always a lot of chit-chatting as well. And I swear, every time I walked in the front door, that ‘new bike smell’ was always incredibly intoxicating.” Empire Street. Facebook: The Empire Revue -Robert Isenberg

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PULSE • City

ULTIMATE GRINDER! Party Like It’s 1929 Providence Preservation Society’s Winter Bash celebrates 15 years with a speakeasy soiree

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Dust off your pin-striped suit and break out the ol’ Flapper Dictionary because The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) hosts their award-winning Winter Bash at the historic American Locomotive Company (ALCO) on March 3. Now in its 15th year, the event revisits the sparkle of the Roaring Twenties with a theme that pays homage to bootleggers, silent film stars, gangsters, and other cultural influences of the era.

In its final stages of renovation by The Foundry Associates, ALCO has a significant history as a hub for innovative technologies. Between 1906 and 1913, the ALCO

plant produced powerful cars and trucks, including the “Black Beast,” considered a top race car in its day. The company was the third largest automobile manufacturer in the country before the plant was taken over by US Rubber in 1918. It’s a fitting event space considering the influence of the locomotive industry, fast cars, and other technological shifts in American society.

The Winter Bash began in 2003 as a fundraising opportunity for PPS’s mission: saving significant historic spaces through contemplative planning and development.

PPS’s 2008 bash was also held at ALCO, which means this year’s partygoers can

Photography by Mike Braca

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This year’s proceeds will go toward educational programs, including walking tours and workshops, as well as programs such as the Planning and Architectural Review Committee, the Historic Property Marker Program, and the Most Endangered Properties List, which at one point included The Arcade and the Foundry. PPSRI.org –Emily Buonaiuto

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PULSE • City

Combs' most recent book of poems, A Touch of Orange, explores topics meant to inspire and elevate the reader

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Poet Damont Combs first came to Rhode Island to study computer technology at Johnson & Wales, but he stayed because of art. While Combs dabbled in poetry in high school, it wasn’t until he moved here that he developed his talent. “I didn’t know anything, so I had to learn,” he says. “I went to some poetry nights at Café S.O.U.L., and that’s where I honed my skills.”

Shortly after that, he compiled his first book – My Poem... My Riddle – and shopped it to local bookstores, managing, despite

several rejections, to find homes for it. His second book, A Touch of Orange, displays what he learned from eight years of performing in Providence. More complex than his earlier poetry, A Touch of Orange explores topics meant to inspire and elevate the mind.

In addition to writing poetry, songs, and plays, Combs’ art and passion for social issues have also led him to partnerships with non-profit organizations, including the Naked Campaign Foundation and Blue Rose. “I

Now Accepting Easter Reservations call 401-861-3850 definitely support local organizations that support local people,” he says.

Combs’ ultimate goal is to do his art fulltime, a feat that often feels unlikely and difficult. After seeing other Providence artists accomplish this goal, however, Combs believes he can do the same. “My community is constantly inspiring me to do better,” he says. “I know that if I stay committed and continue in this path, I will eventually reach where I want to be in life.” Facebook: Damont Combs Author Page –Marrissa Ballard

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PULSE • City

Art Imitates Life Two innovative theaters are trading the stage for the Cable Car and Lippitt House

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This month, The Wilbury Group and Strange Attractor Theatre Company will each be moving away from stages in the typical sense. With their respective productions of The Flick and the multisensory experience Back to the Work, these groups will explore the use of space and challenge audiences’ expectations by taking over two nontraditional venues: the Cable Car Cinema and the Lippitt House Museum.

The Flick, written by Annie Baker, finds three employees working in a rundown movie house. Rather than create a set, The Wilbury Group turned to the Cable Car. “Turns out they were already big fans of the play and loved the idea,” explains artistic director Josh Short. “The play is set entirely in the movie theater, so to be able to have the set already ‘built’ for us is a wonderful thing.”

Photography by Kendall Pavan St. Laurent

The Cable Car hosts The WIlbury Group’s production of The Flick, a play set in a single screen movie theater

Annie Baker’s writing already demands honesty from actors performing her work, Short says, but having the show take place in a functioning movie theater raises those stakes. It also plays with audiences’ expectations and create a deeper sense of intimacy. Rather than watching the performance from their usual place in the theater, the audience will be seated against the screen, facing the empty seats and watching the three “employees” in their element.

Over at the Lippitt House, Back to the Work finds Strange Attractor blurring the lines between history and fiction through a curated, interactive exhibit. Describing it as a “time travel treasure hunt” and “mysterious, multimedia adventure-seeking,” Strange Attractor’s Rebecca Noon explains that the goal of the installation is to explore the lesser known stories of those who have worked – and continue to work – in the historic mansion.

“Because there weren’t enough histories taken by the working-class people circa 1880 for us to fill an exhibit with their stories, and partly because our interest is getting the audience to see their world – and all the objects in it – differently, not everything the audience encounters will be an exact replica or 100 percent historically accurate,” Noon explains. “But because we are working from research and with historians, it’s not total artistic invention either.”

Their goal is to take advantage of all theatrical tools to tell these stories of domestic workers and builders, via an interactive experience rather than a traditional performance. “Working at Lippitt House is really delicious because we know what the basis for the ‘story’ is and we know what the ‘space’ is. We have very firm ground upon which to build themes and create drama.”

The Flick will run March 8–12, 15–18, and 22–25. TheWilburyGroup.org, CableCarCinema.com; Back to the Work will run on Tuesday and Sundays in March and April. StrangeAttractor.org, PreserveRI.org -Tony Pacitti

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PULSE • City

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Don’t Touch That Dial Local voices are reclaiming a place on the FM airwaves

101.1 FM is home to a new collaboration between Brown Student Radio, AS220, and Providence Community Radio

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If, by chance, you found yourself scanning the frequencies on your commute around the greater Providence area and, if by chance, your radio stopped on 101.1 FM, you might have been pleasantly surprised to hear the WBRU we know and love back on the airwaves.

In one of the brief windows opened by the FCC to apply for available radio frequencies, Brown Student Radio, Providence Community Radio, and AS220 teamed up to nab the frequency and offer commercial-free, not-for-profit, community-based radio to the public. I have never been so happy to write a sentence in my life.

The three separate stations, share the signal, and are working to develop original programming, play more local music, and offer more variety than other alternatives on the airwaves. In their given time slots,

the three entities will be offering different takes on what radio means for a community.

Frank Mullin of Providence Community Radio (ProComRad) points out that while the station isn’t simply the “new BRU,” 101.1 FM is currently playing WBRU’s online programming while ProComRad develops its own content. “Initially airing programmed content is the [important] thing, at least for ProComRad and AS220. Following that, live DJ shows will start to air,” Mullin says.

“Live broadcasts, podcasts, and call-in requests are all slated to happen as well.”

With open-ended possibilities and a unified front, 101.1 FM is off to an exciting start. With a nod to the vibrant PVD music scene, Mullin adds, “Providence Community Radio plans to play as much local music as possible!” Facebook: Providence Community Radio -Adam Hogue

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PULSE • Scene in PVD

On January 20, thousands of marchers gathered at the State House to mark the one-year anniversary of the Women’s March on Washington. Evoking issues from immigration and the environment to reproductive rights and health care, people of all ages converged on the State House lawn and steps to “re-commit,” according to the RI Women’s March site, to a world in which “the human rights and dignity of each person is protected and our planet is safe from destruction.” RIWomensMarch.com -Photography by Tony Pacitti

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ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

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Now Hiring Now Hiring

An influx of new tech companies setting up shop in the city means hundreds of jobs – and a place for Providence on the innovation map

by Dan McGowan

I’ve called [Providence] Silicon Valley at 20-so

IT

took David Osborne, the CEO of corporate wellness giant Virgin Pulse, about a month to fall for Providence.

Osborne says he wasn’t even considering keeping an office in the city when Virgin Pulse acquired local tech startup Shape Up in early 2016, but he knew he wanted to move away from the company’s headquarters in Framingham. Boston was the obvious choice.

Then he sat down with Governor Gina Raimondo. Osborne recalls being impressed by the due diligence the governor and her staff showed during their very first meeting. It was a sales pitch wrapped in statistics. They rattled off facts and figures about how affordable the state was compared to its peers and quickly arranged follow-up meetings with education and business leaders to make the case that Providence was more attractive

26

ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

than people thought.

Not long after those initial meetings, Osborne agreed to open a new office and create nearly 300 jobs in the city. That was just the start. In November, he announced that Virgin Pulse would move its global headquarters into two floors inside the Providence Journal building on Fountain Street. The company already has 145 employees working downtown, with the promise of reaching its hiring goal by 2021.

“I’ve called it Silicon Valley at 20-something dollars a square foot,” Osborne says.

Rhode Island is still a long way from finding itself on the same pedestal as the San Francisco area or Boston, but Virgin Pulse, GE Digital, and Johnson & Johnson are among nearly a dozen tech-centric companies that have been wooed to the state over the last three years thanks to a combination of Raimondo’s

relentless advocacy, generous incentives, and the realization that Providence’s colleges and universities offer an abundance of talent that rivals nearly any city in the country.

Even as critics on both the left and right chastise her administration for being too willing to offer millions of dollars in tax credits to bring new companies to the state, Raimondo insists the results don’t lie. After the state was one of the first in and the last out of the Great Recession, she says the influx of new businesses has finally given it the economic spark that’s been missing.

SO

how has Rhode Island gone from being labeled the “country’s worst job market” by the website FiveThirtyEight the summer before Raimondo

Photo courtesy of Virgin Pulse

Virgin Pulse offices in Providence

omething dollars a square foot David Osbourne, CEO of Virgin Pulse

New Jobs By the Numbers Virgin Pulse

300

jobs by 2021

GE Digital

100

jobs by 2019

Johnson & Johnson Health Tech Center

75

jobs by 2019

eMoney Advisor jobs by 2020

100 Agoda

200

jobs by end of 2018

Xeros Inc.

25

jobs

Trade Area Systems

GE Digital offices in Providence

28

jobs

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

Wexford Innovation Center

took office to a state that has successfully recruited 11 tech companies to create more than 1,100 jobs in such a short period of time?

It started with a game plan. Even before she took office in 2015, Raimondo and Stefan Pryor, a fellow Yale Law graduate who she tapped to become the state’s first commerce secretary, had a hunch that tech ventures might be worth pursuing. With so many colleges in close proximity to downtown, they reasoned, companies would not have trouble finding talent.

But Pryor recalls being shocked to learn “Rhode Island was nowhere to be found” at the various conventions and trade shows that city and state officials from around the country attend to recruit companies. They weren’t starting with a long list of leads or a state with a strong reputation.

The two went to work lobbying state

lawmakers to approve a suite of economic tools in Raimondo’s first budget, including the Rebuild Rhode Island tax credit for real estate development, the Qualified Jobs Incentive tax credit that provides a credit of up to $7,500 a year for each new job created in certain sectors, and a $25 million package for the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission to use to attract new businesses. Lawmakers also helped fund Pryor’s business development team, which includes five employees whose jobs largely focus on bringing new companies to the state.

Raimondo has also never been shy about digging into her thick rolodex to connect with friends she’s made over the years at Harvard, Oxford, and Yale as well as in the venture capital world. During a 25-minute interview on a Friday in January, she casually mentioned calling a friend from graduate school who

1,000 1,000

construction jobs permanent jobs

Finlay Extracts & Ingredients

73

jobs by 2019

Ivory Ella

20

jobs by end of 2018

Infosys

500

jobs by end of 2018

ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

27

All the money in the world is not worth

now heads up North American sales at Apple as well as a recent dinner meeting with Osborne from Virgin Pulse before making a note to call a top official at health tech company Philips the following Monday.

Raimondo says she makes several calls to companies every week, often making the case that Boston and Cambridge are too expensive while trying to convince executives that Providence has more to offer than they think. Asked if her friend, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker, ever objects to her taking swipes at his state, she says he understands she’s running the “scrappy up-and-coming state and they’re overflowing.”

“My basic theory is when you come here, you will fall in love,” she says. “I just have to get you here.”

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ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

SO

far, Raimondo appears to be onto something. She says heavy investments in education, from a plan to offer computer science courses in every public school to better training programs at the Community College of Rhode Island, have put the state in a position of strength when negotiations with new companies begin.

When eMoney Advisor announced plans to bring 100 jobs to Providence last August, the company’s CEO described being excited to tap into the state’s “extensive network of talent.”

Ravi Kumar, the president of India-based Infosys, singled out CCRI as one of the top reasons he decided to create 500 jobs and build a design and innovation hub in Providence late last year.

Chris Drumgoole, the chief technology officer at GE, says he can feel the “excitement

and energy” in Providence every time he visits the company’s downtown office. Eventually GE Digital will have 100 employees in the city.

He says he’s heard nothing but rave reviews for Providence from his employees, saying they especially love the food scene.

Announcements that multiple tech companies were coming to the city following GE’s decision have only made him more bullish about Rhode Island, he says, and having a lot of software developers in the same area will create an ecosystem where people from different companies can learn from one another.

Osborne, from Virgin Pulse, says he enjoys being at the ground level of Rhode Island’s resurgence. He likes being able to check in directly with Raimondo or have a quick phone call with the presidents of Brown or RISD. “I would love to have 20 more companies come in,” he says.

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

GE Digital offices in Providence

bad talent

Chris Drumgoole Chief Technology Officer General Electric

Recruiting Local Talent

Drumgoole and Osborne were also quick to point out that while the subsidies Raimondo offered played a role in their decisions to come to Providence, they were more interested in what the state was doing to build a qualified workforce.

“In a vacuum alone, incentives won’t do it,” Drumgoole says. “All the money in the world is not worth bad talent.”

AS

former governor Lincoln Chafee sees it, the subsidies awarded to new companies are too steep.

GE Digital, for example, is eligible for $4.6 million in tax credits if it creates 100 jobs by next year.

Virgin Pulse could qualify for more than $6 million in tax credits and job training incentives if it follows through on hiring 292 employees by 2021. And the Infosys deal could provide the company with $10 million in credits if it creates 500 jobs in the coming years.

Chafee, who has said he is considering challenging Raimondo in a Democratic primary later this year, frequently points to a 2012 New York Times report that was critical of cities and states awarding more than $80 billion a year in subsidies to companies. A follow-up editorial in the Times called the practice a “race to the bottom.”

Chafee says he supports helping companies with sewers or roads, but he believes that the subsidies undermine the stability of the tax base.

“The politician gets the so-called cranes in the air, but how is it going to benefit the community?” Chafee says. “It creates an unfairness to the companies that have been here, paying their taxes.”

Brandon Bell, the chairman of the state Republican Party, says he agrees with Chafee. Rhode Island should focus on lowering taxes, he says, suggesting that the state look to Massachusetts and New Hampshire as examples of better business climates.

“We support lower taxes for all, not special deals for some,” Bell said.

For her part, Raimondo acknowledges that the incentives aren’t ideal. But she views them as necessary to remain competitive. She says that Rhode Island’s economic tools are modeled off of similar programs in New York and Massachusetts.

“I hear the criticism and I get it,” Raimondo says. “Except every other state does it and if we don’t, like we hadn’t for so long, we just get left behind. And other people get the good jobs and we don’t and our people get nothing.”

FOR

now, Raimondo maintains she’s comfortable doing whatever it takes to create jobs in the state. She points to the state’s unemployment rate, which peaked at 11.3 percent in 2010 and was 4.4 percent in December, as evidence that her strategy is working. But she and Pryor say they still see room for growth.

They want to train more Rhode Islanders for tech jobs and they want more companies to take a chance on the state.

And the executives who Raimondo has already won over say Rhode Island is on the right track. Drumgoole, from GE, says that state officials should spend even more time exposing what they’ve already done so companies can learn about what Rhode Island has to offer.

“You’ve got a good momentum going,” Drumgoole says. “Don’t take it for granted.”

Every time Governor Gina Raimondo announces that a new tech company is coming to Rhode Island, she fields the same type of question: Will the average Rhode Islander have an opportunity to secure one of these well-paying jobs?

While the companies are always going to compete for the most talented graduates coming out of Brown or RISD, one nonprofit has made it a mission to try to convince the new businesses to take a hard look at Rhode Islanders who don’t necessarily have years of experience in the coding or cybersecurity world.

TechHire Rhode Island (TechHireRI.org ) is an offshoot of an Obama-era program that was created to build the pipeline of tech talent in communities across the country, according to Damian Ewens, the local project director. As Ewens explains it, there are too many people getting weeded out of a company’s hiring process before their resume even makes it to another human because they don’t have a college degree or they didn’t have the right major.

In some cases, Ewens says, people coming through TechHire are capable of working at a company right away. Other times, TechHire is helping “skill seekers” line up the training that will prepare them to apply for a job. The organization even has a “boot camp” program that will pay people while they are training.

“You know how Airbnb is for underutilized bedrooms?” Ewens says. “We’re doing that for underutilized human potential.”

The initial results have been promising: Ewens says TechHire has already helped 21 people secure tech jobs, with the goal of reaching 200 placements by the end of 2018.

Raimondo calls TechHire a game changer for the state.

“The only way we’re going to be successful as a country is if we convince employers to do competency-based hiring and if we have training programs that actually train relevant skills,” she says.

ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

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SPRING 2018

Brubeck Brothers Quartet Wednesday, March 21, 2018 7:30 p.m.

The Forman Theatre Chris and Dan Brubeck, sons of the late jazz great Dave Brubeck, have been making music together practically all their lives.

Drummer Dan and bassist, trombonist and composer Chris cut their first record together in 1966. Guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb round out this dynamic quartet. Although the quartet’s style is rooted in traditional jazz, their concerts reveal an ability to explore and play odd time signatures while naturally integrating the influences of funk, blues and world music.

Purchase your tickets at www.ric.edu/pas or (401) 456-8144.

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ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

S p o n s o re d C o n t e n t S e c t i o n

Providence Monthly presents

LEADING LADIES in association with the PVD Lady Project

35+

inspiring, passionate, and determined leaders who are making a difference in our communities

LEADING LADIES

The Leading Ladies of PROVIDENCE PICTURE FRAME

Photography by Savannah Barkley

Providence Picture Frame started in 1850, and has been helping people making beautiful memories ever since. Over the decades, the store went from a tiny spot in The Arcade to the major art destination that it is now. Today, Providence Picture Frame is housed in a historic mill off North Main Street. They offer framing, and also photo and painting restoration, printing and appraisals, and sell antique maps, framed prints and mirrors. Their Dryden Gallery, with three exhibition spaces that showcase art by local artists, has become a major art destination in the area, and can host events of up to 200 people. It all adds up to a full acre of space devoted to local art and fine craftsmanship, and a staff of people who spend their lives making spaces more beautiful. Meet some of the Leading Ladies who make Providence Picture Frame great.

Providence Picture Frame (left to right) Donna Parsons, Miranda Harreys, Dale Ryan, Theresa Andreason, Diolinda Pereira, Lisa Lagory, Sally Kern, Lisa Bushee, Sarah Gaunt

Donna Parsons has been Gallery Director at Providence Picture Frame & Dryden Gallery for five years, and she has been with the company for over 15. As Gallery Director, Donna is responsible for filling the gallery’s three exhibition rooms: the Red Gallery on the first floor, the Piano Room on the second, and the Grand Gallery upstairs, which is over 3500 square feet and is considered one of the finest galleries in New England.

Lisa Lagory is the head of Providence Picture Frame’s matting and archival treatment department. She is an expert in the ancient art of paper hinges for high value works on paper, and at the same time, she is also recognized as one of North America’s most knowledgeable users of CAD mat cutting machines. Combine this with her design expertise, and she is a triple threat.

Dale Ryan, sales manager, has been with Providence Picture Frame since it was a tiny shop in The Arcade. Her primary role, as she describes it, is meeting new people and improving their spaces, helping them to envision the difference that great framing can make not just to one photo or piece of art, but to a whole room.

She works closely with local offices to place artwork that fits their business and their budget.

Sally Kern works with Theresa Andreason to round out the other half of the bookkeeping department. Along with tracking customer invoices, she also manages the payroll, employee medical, dental and retirement plans, and makes sure everyone takes the vacation time they need to stay creative. She and Theresa work extremely well together to manage all of the regulatory and accounting needs, allowing the rest of the staff to focus caring for customers and their artwork.

Theresa Andreason is in charge of paying the bills, tracking the costs of materials and general record keeping that is vital to running any business. This is particularly important to Providence Picture Frame because the business is made up of of mostly artists and creative people. Her input is vital when pulling together reports to help make major business decisions in a very challenging industry.

Diolinda Pereira started with the company 17 years ago and quickly demonstrated her skill as a craftsperson with an eye for detail. Once all of the various tasks have been performed on a customer’s project and components produced, she is the one who brings it all together for final assembly and inspection. She’s never afraid to kick something back into production if she is not happy with it. If it’s hanging on your wall, it’s probably because Diolinda said it could.

Now Showing in the Red Gallery Watercolors by Cathy Chin Now Showing in the Grand Gallery Fractals by Steven Sickles, Through March 10 Paintings by Bob Eggleton and Marianne Plumridge Starting March 24

Lisa Bushee is half of the growing digital reproduction and printing department, and the newest member of the team. With years of experience as professional photographer, photo editor and printmaker, she is able work with the most exacting professionals, but her warm personality allows her to also make the least tech-savvy customers feel right at home. In addition to her technical skills, Lisa is also works with customers to help frame anything that they have printed.

Sarah Gaunt, Vice President, has been a framer since 1999 and came to Providence Picture Frame in 2004, where she had extensive experience in sales, production and art installation. Since she and her husband Geoff took over Providence Picture Frame in 2010, she has been a champion of design and business changes that have helped make Providence Picture Frame a friendlier, more welcoming and creative space for customers, employees, and the Rhode Island creative community.

27 Dryden Ln. Providence. 421-6196 ProvidencePictureFrame.com

LEADING LADIES

The Leading Ladies of

Miranda Harreys came to Providence Picture Frame in 2013 as part of a career change. With some experience from another shop but, more importantly, with a friendly personality and a lifetime of sewing skills, she is now an expert in hand sewing and the archival treatment of everything from fine silk tapestries, to sports jerseys belonging to members of major New England sports clubs.

LEADING LADIES

The Leading Ladies of FACIAL AESTHETICS CENTER Since Dr. Sarah Levy opened Facial Aesthetics Center of RI in 2010, she has quietly established herself as one of the state’s leaders in non-invasive aesthetic procedures. An eye surgeon, a professor at Brown University, and a national trainer for injecting fillers, Botox and Dysport, Dr. Levy is meticulous about ensuring that her treatments are safe, have minimal downtime, and that her patients always look refreshed, but never “done.”

When she hired office manager Maria Disimone shortly after opening, the two worked diligently to generate a huge word of mouth following. Since then, Facial Aesthetics Center has grown steadily, and now has three injectors and three medical aestheticians, all who are dedicated to the same original vision of providing optimal patient experience and care.

That vision is working. Early this year, the East Greenwich office of Facial Aesthetics Center underwent a massive expansion, growing from three treatment rooms to seven, and adding a large and private waiting room, with a separate reception area, so patients can have as much privacy as they’d like. In addition, the practice was selected to be one of the national SkinCeuticals Advanced Clinical Flagship Offices. “They’re L’Oreal’s medical skincare division,” Dr. Levy explains. “Each flagship is led by a physician, and allows our patients access to the best skin care offered

by SkinCeuticals and L’Oreal.” The Facial Aesthetics Center will be the only flagship in all of Rhode Island, as well as parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut. “Our medical aestheticians have always loved the line,” Dr. Levy remarks, and “our patients love it” as well. The practice is planning a spectacular launch party this spring.

The practice’s expansion also means more providers on their talented team, Dr. Levy confirms. “Every person on our team comes with many years of experience,” Maria Disimone says. Dr. Helen Livson completed a three-year fellowship at Harvard, and is a member of the American Academy of Facial Aesthetics. She specializes in shaping the perfect lip as well as contouring the lower face. Amy Donaldson, RN, came from a plastic surgery practice in Boston, and has extensive experience with Platelet Rich Plasma (also known as the “vampire facial”), hair restoration, as well as Botox and facial fillers. Licensed Medical Aestheticians Kerri Parks and Jennifer Amaral are experts at laser skin rejuvenation, medical-grade peels, micro-needling, and medical HydraFacials. Patients rave about receptionist Nina and the practice’s medical assistant, Michelle. Behind the scenes two brilliant managers, Maria Disimone and Candy Adams, pull it all together. “From start to finish, we take care of our patients,” Maria

Candy Adams, Nina Kole, Michelle Minicucci, Dr. Sarah Levy, Maria Disimone, Medical Aestheticians Kerri Parks and Jennifer Amaral

Photography by Savannah Barkley

FAC’s expert injectors Dr. Helen Livson, Dr. Sarah Levy and Amy Donaldson, RN

explains. “We take our time to put our patients’ minds at ease and anticipate their needs, and we follow up with all of our patients the next day to ensure their expectations were met.”

Facial Aesthetics Center offers the kind of treatments that make a difference, but that don’t look overdone. “My approach has always been to have my patients look more refreshed,” Dr. Levy clarifies. “I don’t want anyone to know that my patient had anything done. If someone asks ‘who does your Botox’, I haven’t done my job.” In addition to Botox and Dysport, the Facial Aesthetics Center offers extensive options to obtain that “refreshed” look. Dr. Levy is one of the top injectors of Sculptra in New England; she and her staff utilize facial fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane, as well as laser resurfacing treatments and intensive facials, to help heal the skin, not just pamper it. “We’ve developed different techniques for minimal bruising and minimal discomfort,” she explains. “I’m coming into this field as a microsurgeon. Everything that I do has to be very precise. Our fillers are almost exclusively injected with mirocannulas instead of needles, which significantly reduces discomfort and recovery time.” All of the staff receives treatments that the practice offers, so that they can give realistic expectations to patients, and share their personal experiences. “I’ve always loved Dr. Levy’s natural-looking Botox and filler technique, but my new favorite treatment is Amy’s PRP,” Maria adds.

The FAC staff also understands that undertaking these kinds of treatments, though they have excellent results, can be nerve wracking, especially for new patients. “The first time I had an aggressive laser, I was so nervous,” Dr. Levy says, laughing. “I had it done on a Friday afternoon, and although I thought I looked quite flushed the next morning at my son’s hockey practice, no one noticed!” And the final result of brighter, smoother skin, makes a world of difference in how a person looks and feels.

2730 South County Trl. East Greenwich. 649-0320 DrSarahLevy.com

JOANNE M. DALY, CDFA ® First Vice President , Financial Advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, Morgan Stanley

Photography by Savannah Barkley

LEADING LADIES

When talking with Joanne it is easy to see how much she cares about her clients and how committed she is to helping them take control of their financial future. “I am passionate about helping others become financially empowered and make smart well-informed decisions about their money, especially women,” she says. Joanne’s clientele include individuals, couples, professors, doctors and small business owners, but many of her clients are women who have become responsible for their financial future after experiencing divorce, death of a loved one or inheritance of significant wealth.

Joanne knows from personal experience how important it is to be involved in your finances, since Joanne’s mother became a widow when her father died unexpectedly at 45. Joanne saw firsthand the emotional and financial challenges her mother faced, which is why she requires that both spouses participate in their meetings. Joanne strives to ensure that if something happens to one of them, the other will be better prepared to handle their financial affairs on their own. “Of course I will be there for them, to guide them and advocate for them,” she says, “helping them navigate through the overwhelming paperwork and helping them preserve their wealth so that they can live a comfortable lifestyle.”

Years ago, she helped her sister as she was going through a divorce after over 20 years of marriage, collaborating with the attorney and CPA to help ensure her sister could continue to live the lifestyle she envisioned. She realized then that many women needed help with managing the divorce process and taking back control of their financial future.

As a result of Joanne’s personal experiences, she has truly made it her mission to help her clients become financially empowered and engaged in their finances, to help ensure they make informed smart decisions about their money. “I am their wealth coach, helping them navigate through their financial journey,” Joanne says. “I essentially act as their personal CFO, helping them in many financial aspects of their life and working in collaboration with their attorneys, mediators and CPAs to create a holistic wealth plan that incorporates their personal values and goals. I provide customized strategies to help them enhance, preserve and protect their wealth so they can achieve what’s most important to them.” Through ongoing financial education, coaching and planning, her clients feel confident in making informed financial decisions.

Joanne enjoys educating others through financial presentations to civic organizations and companies. She is a frequent guest speaker on various topics, including financial empowerment, divorce and wealth planning and has presented at Bryant University’s Women Summit, South County Hospital and The Rhode Island Society of CPAs, to name a few.

Though Joanne’s office is in Providence, she often meets with clients in their home, office or the firm’s Newport office. Joanne has more than 25 years of financial services experience, was a former CPA Tax Manager for Ernst and Young and earned an M. S.

in taxation from Bryant University.

Outside of work, Joanne is an active volunteer, including being a member of the: Women’s Fund of RI board, RI Partnership in Philanthropic Planning board, South County Hospital Development Committee (past Investment committee), GFWC Women’s Club of South County, United Way’s Alex de Tocqueville Committee, RI Society of CPAs and the Estate Planning Council of RI. Joanne lives in Narragansett with her husband and two daughters.

One Financial Plaza, 19th Floor, Providence 863-8467, 800-488-1241 MorganStanleyFA.com/Joanne.Daly

*Morgan Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax advice. Individuals should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. The use of the CDFA® designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice

by Morgan Stanley or its financial advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney.© 2018 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. NMLS ID:1510426 CRC2030795 02/18

Cathy Corelli Chianese Marketing Director

Marketing and advertising are usually referred to as an art, but there is also a science to it.

Cathy Corelli Chianese, a career professional with over 20 years of industry expertise, offers a unique and comprehensive approach to advertising and marketing solutions. “We look at the whole picture,” says the owner of CC Media Partners. “We take the time to get to know each business, and to understand every aspect of it.” Committed to producing results for her clients, Cathy and her team manage the marketing of each business with the experience, personality and relentless drive as if it

Rose Cantor, Graphic Designer; Amara Krueger, Social Media Director; CC Media Partners

LEADING LADIES

mascot Matisse.

were their own. “In today’s fast paced and digital-savvy environment, businesses need more than just creative design and production. They need a partner that fully understands their needs and can develop strategies to reach their goals,” she says.

CC Media Partners is a full-service advertising/ design agency that helps small and large businesses throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts with strategic media buying and marketing plans as well as offering full service design and video production. Cathy, along with her marketing assistant and key

creative team partner Rose Cantor, has a proven track record of providing personalized creative solutions.

“There are no templates in our advertising campaigns,” she says, adding that the agency’s work is customized for each client and project. “Our focus is always on the client and making their message stand out from their competition; our success is based on their success.”

Cathy combines her exceptionally strong experience in graphic design, writing and production for TV and radio with a diverse portfolio of creative services. Her boutique agency provides comprehensive marketing Cathy Corelli Chianese, President, Graphic Designer campaigns for all mediums and Marketing Director of CC Media Partners including print, billboard, direct mail, digital, email and social media. “The key is consistent and compelling messages that are one industry, although I am passionate about optimized for each medium and built for encars which is one of the reasons I tend to gravgagement,” she says. In addition to proficient itate towards automotive dealers. Results drivmedia buying and executing targeted marketen marketing is our true specialty,” she says ing campaigns, CC Media Partners also develwith a smile. ops websites with custom content and design, With over two decades of impressive marand produces professional quality video and ket knowledge and media connections, Cathy commercials. Current clients range from rebelieves in offering real experience to colgional automotive groups and lawyers to relege students pursuing a career in marketing. tail and healthcare. “We don’t specialize in any “Mentoring young people has always been a priority,” she says, adding that she’s currently working with a Johnson & Wales student, Amara Krueger, who is doing an exceptional job with their social media marketing efforts for all clients. In addition, Cathy represents the local business community as a member of the Executives Association of Rhode Island, and supports a variety of non-profits, including Big Cat Rescue, McCarthy’s Wildlife Animal Rescue and the RISPCA. “I’m proud of the long-standing partnerships I have with my clients and the community,” she says. “I’m honored to know that we’ve been a part of their success.” Based in Providence, 437-8318, CCMediaPartners.com.

ATABEY SÁNCHEZ-HAIMAN Artist & Gallery Owner

Creating Dream Spaces with RI KITCHEN & BATH (Left to Right) Billie Senzek, Prudence Stoddard, Erika Pearson, Tanya Donahue

139 Jefferson Blvd.

Warwick. 463-1550 RIKB.com

edition unique. In addition to her own studio, her smile-inducing art can be found at local retailers like Stock Culinary Goods, Providence Picture Frame, and West Elm. Her one-of-a-kind commissioned art has also been in demand. “I’ve done custom pieces for boardrooms, schools, residential kitchens and living rooms, nurseries… even bathrooms!,” she says. Atabey collaborates with interior designers, homeowners, and businesses to create large scale pieces that literally and figuratively brighten up any environment. With a mission to spread joy, Atabey’s simple yet powerful art continues to leave its uniquely positive mark everywhere it goes.

True creativity comes from the collaboration of inspired minds. The design team at Rhode Island Kitchen & Bath, led by President Tanya Donahue and Director of Design Prudence Stoddard, is known all over the state for consistently delivering results that customers rave about. “I am proud of my team here at RIKB and the beautiful projects they design and build for our clients on a daily basis,” Tanya says. “We are remodeling spaces where people raise their families, have friends gather, and celebrate holidays and milestones. I consider it a privilege for them to let us into their homes.”

Their 3,000 square foot showroom in Warwick is full of kitchen and bath ideas for your own home. It’s also a space to educate and inspire. They have long hosted design seminars and cooking demonstrations, but this year, design team members Erika Pearson and Billie Senzek are taking those to the next level. On March 24, RIKB will host their first-ever Home Remodeling Fair, which will have five mini-seminars on topics ranging from 10 Steps to a Successful Remodel, to Kitchen and Bathroom Trends, to Top Remodeling Mistakes. More of these events, led by Tanya and Prudence, plus team members Billie Senzec and Erika Pearson, are scheduled

through the spring. Kevin O’Connor from This Old House will give a talk on March 3.

“I love developing and conducting new design seminars,” Prudence says.

She’s also excited to foster future talent in RIKB’s internship and apprentice programs, Prudence says, by “teaching what I have learned from many years in the industry to design students.” Tanya agrees, saying, “we give young design students the chance to take their first steps in what we hope will be long and successful careers.” Both women have won numerous awards and hold many certifications, like Prudence’s certifications in interior and kitchen design, and as an aging-in-place professional, and Tanya’s Silver Prism Awards.

Look for Rhode Island Kitchen and Bath at the RI Home Show at the Convention Center, happening April 5-8.

“We’re committed to quality work and dedicated to customer service,” Tanya says. “From our creative designers, to our detail-oriented project managers, to our talented installation crews, we’ve assembled a team that has combined their skills to work together in an environment that fosters creativity and collaboration.

Our goal is to help our clients create living spaces they love.”

LEADING LADIES

1005 Main St., Studio 2219 Pawtucket. 347-ROBOTS1 GiraffesAndRobots.com

Atabey Sánchez-Haiman is an artist with a simple, yet meaningful vision. “I make art that makes people smile,” she says. “My art’s purpose is to make people happy.”

Bright and colorful – with a signature palette of yellow, orange, and red – her art is instantly recognizable as a Giraffes and Robots original.

Originally from Puerto Rico, the Brown graduate has made a significant impact on the local art scene in the last few years, from showcasing her work at artisan fairs to opening her own gallery. The Giraffes and Robots Studio, located at Hope Artiste Village, is an immersive experience like no other. “I want people to feel like they are stepping into one of my paintings or illustrations.” The studio features her seemingly endless collection of fun and motivational art. From affordable postcards and posters to large-scale artwork, each piece is created to bring a pop of positivity to any space.

In the great tradition of pop art, her work is designed to be approachable. And like notable pop artists, her work has become quite popular in Rhode Island and beyond.

Her iconic Rhode Island Red and Superman Building series, to name just a few, offer an unexpected twist on the familiar. These popular works are also constantly evolving with new imagery and colors, making each

The Leadership Team at THE CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP

LEADING LADIES

Top (l to r): Beth Lobdell, Nicole Chiello, Maggie Teller, Julie Boutwell, and Tracy Martin-Turgeon.

Bottom (l to r): Marybeth Young, Bailey Kent, Sasha Brathwaite

“Early education is an investment, but one of the most important a parent or guardian can make for their child,” say sisters Maggie Teller and Bailey Kent, owners of The Children’s Workshop. Second-generation owners of the early education schools - there are 19 of them across Rhode Island and Massachusetts - Maggie and Bailey consider it a privilege to work with children at the earliest stages of learning.

“We have the best jobs in the world,” they say. “We work as a team with our school-based leaders and educators to support parents and families while teaching, nurturing, inspiring and building young minds and good citizens.”

An organization that has always promoted and supported women at all locations and levels, The Children’s Workshop actively advo-

MEGAN MCGUINNESS Owner & Chief Marketing Officer

2346 Post Rd., Suite 202 Warwick. 773-7711 McGuinnessMedia.com

cates for investment in high quality early childhood education to promote the profession and its predominantly female workforce. Among the primarily female-led management team, there’s a combined 135 years of experience in the field of early childhood, and on average, 10 years each at The Children’s Workshop. Their degrees range from Masters in Early Childhood Education to MBAs, and they are proud of the diverse ideas and creative problem solving each member brings from her background, education, and experience. Bailey Kent, Chief Education Officer, will be assuming her term as President of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC) in 2019 and Julie Boutwell, Vice President of Education, currently sits on the Board of the Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children (RIAEYC). In addition to serving as CEO of The Children’s Workshop, Maggie Teller is the founder and Executive Director of Children’s Workshop Foundation, a non-profit formed in 2011 to further the impact of the company’s charitable giving and help more families and communities.

“Families and teachers form bonds that last a lifetime.” Their locations range from Providence and Northern Rhode Island through South County and the South Coast of Massachusetts. “They say it takes a village to raise a child,” the sisters say. “We are proud of the amazing communities that support all the wonderful children and families at The Children’s Workshop schools.”

For Megan McGuinness, it was never a question of whether she’d go into a career in marketing, but when she could start. In college, Megan says, she took a class in advertising and was tasked with rebranding a big box store. “I loved it,” she says. “I knew right then I would spend my career in media, helping companies to promote their brand in the best way possible.”

Now, Megan owns her own company, McGuinness Media & Marketing, and has been bringing in the accolatedes by the armful, like the Business Women Leadership Award from Providence Business News, being named an Entrepreneurial Women to Watch by Rhode Island Small Business Journal and a Great Woman of Gaming by Casino Enterprise Management Magazine. “I knew if I created a great, creative space and hired a talented and proactive team, we could be successful,” she says.

McGuinness Media & Marketing is a full-service agency with a team of 9 talented individuals who work hard each day to help take their clients’ marketing to the next level. “We have gained eight

19 locations in RI and MA 401-334-0100 ChildrensWorkshop.com

new clients in the last year, and every one of them was a referral to us,” Megan says.

“I think that speaks volumes to the work that we do and the relationships we have with our clients, vendors, and media partners.” Among these clients are Twin River Casino, Kings Dining & Entertainment, The Martucci Group, Torre Restaurant Group, Children’s Wishes, the soon-to-open Tiverton Casino and more. She says, “Our focus for 2018 is to get more clients and brands in our portfolio that we can help ensure their marketing dollars are spent in the best way possible. We are continuously learning about new opportunities and looking for ways to make our clients business a success.”

One of the reasons Megan and her company have been so successful in their first year as an independent agency is because of the fresh perspective her team has. “We are a new, young, innovative, fun advertising agency,” she says, “and I think there is a need for that in this market. Many agencies in RI have been around a very long time and it’s nice to have a fresh viewpoint on marketing in Southern New England.”

CASSANDRA ROCHEFORT Spray Tan Expert

DENISE CHAKOIAN Fitness Expert

CORE Pilates Mind/Body: 208 Governor St. CORE Cycling + Fitness and CORE Personal Training Center: 727 East Ave., Pawtucket.

“We help people achieve intense fulfillment from insightful workouts designed for your daily grind,” says Denise Chakoian, owner of CORE Studios.

She believes that you can achieve a good balance of fitness and health while still enjoying your life. “We create a comfortable environment with professional staff that can lead clients to a better overall fitness level,” says Denise. “We listen to what our clients want, instead of pushing them to do something that they don’t want to do, and will not enjoy.”

To find that balance, CORE offers lots of different workout options. In Pawtucket, CORE Cycling + Fitness offers team building total body workouts, TABATA, cycling, Pilates MAT, STRENGTH and BARRE Fusion workouts. CORE Personal Training Center offers one-on-one and small group training. In Providence, CORE Pilates Mind/Body offers Pilates Reformer, Tower, and Jumpboard group classes, as well as private training specifically designed for each individual’s needs. “We want to make fitness fun, but also help those who have those specific goals,” she says. This year’s newest addition is the 360 Burn class, which is whole body 4x4 short interval training, with two minutes of strength training followed by another two minutes of a different

the tans last about a week.”

Clients range from people getting ready to go on vacation or who want to add some natural color to their complexion all the way to professionals in beauty pageants and fitness competitions. For them, Cassandra says, they can do contouring, for when it’s important that someone look their very best. Glistening Goddesses counts many of the Patriots Cheerleaders among their clients, as well as Miss Universe-turned-actress Olivia Culpo.

“When people come to Glistening Goddesses, they’re going to get the best spray tan they could possibly get,” Cassandra says. “We have over eight years of experience in the spray tan industry.”

Unlike salons that focus on other services and do occasional tans, spray tans are the exclusive focus at Glistening Goddesses.

“We are constantly evolving our techniques to give our clients the ultimate spray tan experience. We do this all day every day.” And because of that quality, people leave with a natural glow and nothing more. “Don’t be afraid of getting spray tanned because you’re going to be orange. It doesn’t happen here. Don’t let that stop you.”

strength training exercise, then two minutes of cardio and two minutes of a different cardio.

“You’re doing a lot of endurance,” she explains. “If someone is advanced, you can really go at it and kill it. But you can go low impact, and take a break any time you want. The goal is keep moving. We are training the cardiovascular system to become stronger.” A new referral program allows clients to bring in friends, who can try 5 classes at the Cycling & Fitness Studio for $49, and the existing clients gets a $15 credit for a class. All private training and pilates training clients who refer a new client will receive 10 % off a new package.

As part of their balanced philosophy, CORE also has an on-staff nutritionist who offers advice on healthy eating. “We’re not about telling anyone they have to diet,” Denise says. “Eat the things that are good for your body, and also enjoy your life.

We all go out to dinner. We encourage our clients to have a healthy good balance.” Nutrition on the Go with CORE is their meal prep service, where busy clients can have healthy meals delivered to their home, or prepared there. It all adds up to the kind of gym where you feel welcomed, rather than intimidated. “People feel like they’re part of a community here,” Denise says. “Everyone is very welcoming, and everyone fits in.”

LEADING LADIES

622 Killingly St., Johnston 1 Richmond Sq., Suite 129C, Providence 218-8411 GlisteningGoddesses.com

Cassandra Rochefort is one of those inspiring women who took her dream and made it a reality. Dreaming of being an entrepreneur, she started doing spray tans for fun, traveling to people’s homes.

“Eventually I thought ‘I really love doing this, and making people feel good about themselves. I want a space to do this,’” she says. She opened Glistening Goddesses in Johnston in 2011. “Right away we were busy.”

Now, Cassandra owns two locations of Glistening Goddesses - the other is in Richmond Square in Providence - with her sister Alexandra Capraro. Both women do hundreds of spray tans a week, and Alexandra offers eyelash extensions as well.

The original location in Johnston just underwent a major expansion and opened in early March.

At Glistening Goddesses, Cassandra says, “we have a no-orange guarantee.”

They offer six colors of tan, because tanning isn’t one-size-fits-all, and none of the formulations leave people looking artificial or overdone. The tan they use is all natural, organic and vegan. “Products have come a really long way,” she says.

“Everything we do is hand-sprayed, and

LEADING LADIES

DR. KATHLEEN KROESSLER Neurologist & Acupuncturist In the office of Dr. Kathleen Kroessler, Eastern alternative therapies meet Western medicine practices. A practicing neurologist who specializes in alleviating headache pain, Dr. Kroessler uses acupuncture and other alternative therapies to aid in the treatment of her patients. “The ideas of health and wellness used in Eastern medicine treat the whole patient, and naturally complement the Western approaches to treating symptoms and diseases,” she says. “Acupuncture and other alternative modalities can be very effective for treating pain and the stress associated with chronic pain.”

“I focus on treating headaches and other causes of neuromuscular and neuropathic pain,” she says. In addition to acupuncture, she can employ cupping, therapeutic dry needling and trigger point injections, which can alleviate neck and shoulder tension, plus back and joint pain, when they’re appropriate to a patient’s treatment. Dr. Kroessler started exploring alternative therapies as an option for helping patients who could not tolerate conventional medications or had incomplete relief of symptoms. Through

SALLY LAPIDES President & CEO

her blend of holistic practices and medical science, Dr. Kroessler treats conditions like neuralgia, migraine headaches, whiplash injuries, chronic pain and post-concussive headaches. She is also fellowship trained in EMGs, which are diagnostic tests for nerve and muscle problems. “It is quite gratifying to help patients with pain, integrating the Eastern and Western approaches.” she says.

“I had no idea when I first took the acupuncture training course that it would be such a powerful tool. Our bodies have an amazing capacity to heal when the energy of chronic strain/pain patterns are released.”

407 East Ave., Suite 110, Pawtucket. 305-3322, KKroesslerMD.com

LAURIE NERONHA Owner & Licensed Esthetician Laurie Neronha is obsessed with healthy skin. “Beautiful skin is a side effect of healthy skin,” says the owner of Viriditas Beautiful Skin Therapies. “Skin wellness is more than beauty. It’s about health and self-love.” With a focus on herbal and science-based treatments, Laurie’s specialized approach heals compromised skin from the inside out.

Laurie’s impressive career began 20 years ago when she became a licensed esthetician. “I’m also obsessed with skin science,” she says, adding that becoming a certified Acne Specialist was a career game changer. A chronic acne sufferer as a teenager, Laurie understood the pain and insecurity firsthand. “It’s incredibly gratifying to help people with skin challenges like acne, and to do it in a noninvasive, drug-free way.” A regional trainer for Oncology Spa Solutions, Laurie teaches skincare professionals the specialized practice of treating oncology patients. “It’s empowering to know we improve the quality of life during such a challenging time.”

Having celebrated her tenth year in business in 2017, Laurie has big plans

for this year including a space expansion, a new webinar series, and graduating from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program. “I’m proud to have built a business that not only changed my life, but has changed the lives of others. It’s truly from the heart.”

1 Richmond Sq., Suite 215W, Providence. 632-4433, Viriditas.SkinCareTherapy.net

The first name in real estate in Providence is Sally Lapides, President and Chief Executive Officer of Residential Properties Ltd, the #1 firm in Rhode Island for three years running with $795M in sales in 2017. Sally co-founded the firm in 1981 and has grown it into the thriving business it is today, offering real estate services for residential, commercial, and rental properties. Residential Properties has five offices statewide - Providence, Barrington, Cumberland, East Greenwich and Narragansett - as well as a relocation division for people coming into or leaving Rhode Island. Sally provides energetic leadership and vision for the company, which includes 180 agents and a large support staff.

For Sally, the key to success in business is relationships: both with clients and with the top professionals she hires at Residential Properties, who, she says, inspire her to do her best work every day. A founding member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, which is the country’s largest network of independent real estate firms, Sally is nationally recognized as an expert on the local real estate market. She is often quoted on television, radio and in print, in publications as prestigious as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

But it’s not all about business: Sally has served as trustee of the RISD Museum, Trinity Repertory Company, Year Up, The Gordon School, the RI Foundation Equity Action Campaign Committee and many other worthy causes.

140 Wickenden St., Providence. 553-6309 ResidentialProperties.com

MARGARET CARLETON Owner & Artist

212 Westminster St., Providence 264 Main St., East Greenwich CraftlandShop.com

“I started decorating almost right out of school when I had people asking for my advice, and it blossomed into a real business,” Lisa Newman Paratore says. In 2007, the interior designer opened Homestyle, a chic boutique filled with unique, fun items. “I want it to be a venue for quality, well designed objects,” Lisa says, “furniture, home decor, jewelry, toys, all at a good price point.”

Homestyle has items to fit every personality: from papier mache zebras made of newsprint to artful terrariums. They’re the kind of things that you don’t know your home is missing until you find them, but once you do, you can’t live without them.

Homestyle’s letterpress cards range from the sweetly romantic to the hilariously edgy, and Lisa has a line of Providence and Rhode Island gifts like tea towels, wine charms, t-shirts and totes that she has made specially for the store.

Lisa’s interior design work has been featured on This Old House, and Homestyle

has gotten recognition from Boston Magazine and Travel + Leisure. “I love the profoundly creative side balanced with running a real business,” Lisa says. “My job is to work as my clients’ advocate and always fight for what is in their best interest so that they can sit back with confidence and just enjoy the process.”

229 Westminster St. 277-1159 LisaNewmanInteriors.com HomeStyleRI.com

LINDA GONZALEZ Founder & Creative Director Linda Gonzalez knows how to make women shine. With a love for adornment and a passion for business, Linda launched Just Julez Inc., a private label jewelry house named after her son Julian, in 2013. “I believe that jewelry has the power to inspire and empower women,” she says.

Linda’s keen ability to identify trends and designs women desire has been the driving force behind Just Julez Inc, a brand development and manufacturing powerhouse for many of today’s industry leaders. “It’s so rewarding to partner with retailers and help grow their business.” After years of producing successful lines for major retailers, the entrepreneur debuted her very own line, XoJulez. With the guiding principle “that every girl deserves to sparkle,” her jewelry is crafted with versatility in mind. “The pieces are designed to be personal treasures that can be worn forever.”

Originally from California, Linda feels like she is living the dream in RI. “I’m a single, Latina mother running two jewel-

ry businesses in the jewelry capital. I’m so proud to be a woman-owned business in an industry that has been traditionally led by men,” she says. “It’s truly inspiring to be a woman creating effortless and everlasting designs that inspire other women.”

95 Sockanosset Cross Rd., Suite 205, Cranston. 648-4301, Xojulez.com

LEADING LADIES

A passion for handmade art came at an early age for Craftland owner Margaret Carleton. “I grew up making things with my grandmother, who made beautiful art out of bits of nature she found on her walks,” she says. “I still feel that wonder at all the creative magic happening in Rhode Island.”

Brightly colored and filled with oneof-a-kind items, Craftland is a creative superstore. Jewelry, housewares, clothing, and greeting cards are just a sampling of the affordable art for sale. With two locations in Providence and East Greenwich, Craftland offers the largest collection of handmade art in RI. Margaret, who has a BFA in painting and a MFA in printmaking, started making lamps and jewelry out of melted plastic Mardi Gras beads in 2002. Later that year, Craftland debuted in Providence as a pop-up holiday sale. “The outpouring from the community was just incredible,” Margaret says, adding that the holiday-only shop became a year-round shop in 2009. “The goal was to make Craftland a destination for art and craft in Providence that reflects its wonderful character,” she says. The second location on East Greenwich’s Main Street coincided with Craftland’s 15th year anniversary in 2017. “It’s so gratifying to have these spaces that showcase some of the amazing work being done in our community, and that the community support us,” Margaret says.

LISA NEWMAN PARATORE Interior Designer & Owner

LILY SCOTT Bone Broth Entrepreneur Bone broth, known for its probiotic benefits, as well as boosting healthy skin and the immune system, is having a bonafide moment - and Lily Scott of Lily’s Ladle is making her own right here in Rhode Island, with ingredients from local farms. It’s available in grocery stores, and by subscription. “When I’m feeling run down,” Lily says, “I just sip some.”

917-767-3876, LilysLadle.com

LEADING LADIES

PATRICIA RASKIN Media Producer/Host Patricia Raskin is an award-winning radio producer and business owner whose platform has been positive lifestyle and inspiration for three decades.

Patricia promotes entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profit organizations through radio programs, podcasts, and seminars.

The Patricia Raskin Show is in its eleventh year on WPRO AM630/99.7FM at 3pm on Saturdays. She is heard on VoiceAmerica.com on Mondays at 2pm.

440-6299, PatriciaRaskin.com

HEATHER PALIOTTA Executive Director “I enjoy meeting with people every day,” says Heather Paliotta. Born and raised in South County, Heather has been with the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce for 16 years. Her accomplishments include recruiting volunteers, growing the membership and tripling the size of the Charlestown Seafood Festival, the Chamber’s largest fundraiser. “We are strong advocates for our members, and strong ambassadors for preserving our coastal heritage.” 4945 Old Post Rd., Charlestown. 364-3878, CharlestownRIChamber.com

KIMBERLY J. POLAND President, Full Service Advertising, Creative Services & Public Relations Agency “When a client tells me that what we have put together has turned into true results to grow their business - that’s what I am most proud of,” says Kimberly Poland, founder of Poland Media Group, a full service advertising, creative and public relations agency. Kimberly can create a top-to-bottom marketing campaign, including social media management, public relations and media planning and buying, or can do one part of that job, like building a website. She helps people make decisions to help their businesses thrive, working on their marketing needs as if she’s working on her own business. She prides herself on finding the best return on investment, and can make any budget work.

Kimberly launched Poland Media Group after working at WPRI for 12 years, where she helped clients plan television and digital marketing campaigns. “I started Poland Media Group so I could work 100% with and for my clients to focus on their needs and what

would be best for their businesses,” she says.

“Before working in television I owned and operated my own business, so I understand how business owners think and feel, and can put myself in their shoes.” In what can be a confusing and overwhelming decision process, Kimberly is an expert who easily simplifies the decision making for clients. “Business owners get hit up with so many options for their advertising,” she says. “I help them find their balance.”

743-7272 PolandMediaGroup.com

JEAN HAUSER President Jean Hauser is proof that with hard work, you can build your dream career.

“Believe in yourself and start small,” she says. In Jean’s case, what she built was interior design services at The Color House, a paint and design retail store.

The store has four locations in Rhode Island, including their newest location in Middletown. Initially, she was the only designer. “We now have three full time designers on staff, offering their expertise in window treatments, wallpapers, color, and space planning,” Jean says.

“This portion of The Color House business is continuing to grow every year.”

The designers offer in-store design consultations, and in-home consultations with clients. TCH does color matching of paints and custom stain blending; sells hard and soft window treatments (including Hunter Douglas), fabrics and rugs; and offers tool rental. They also reupholster furniture. The new location in Middletown will also provide all of these services, with The Color House’s signature quality. “We provide excellent customer service,” Jean says. “We have

excellent quality products, and knowledge of what we sell. We’re the best at what we do.”

1107 Reservoir Ave., Cranston. 943-1155 8190 Post Rd., North Kingstown. 294-6100 603 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield. 515-2044 679 West Main Rd., Middletown. 849-3500 TheColorHouse.com

SIERRA BARTER Co-founder

women moving on a Sunday morning; after-work networking events to bring together women looking to empower other women. In October, the Lady Project will host their national Lady Summit at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. The highly anticipated event sells out every year, and has garnered the attention of national media outlets, including Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls at the Party. Workshops cover topics as diverse as how to turn your side hustle into your dream job, how to negotiate in the workplace and taking charge of your financial future.

Beyond that, it’s a fun day designed to connect smart, engaged women to other women, and to inspire them to make positive changes in their lives, in and out of the workplace.

Before and after the summit, there are lots of ways to connect and be inspired by Lady Project members. Their monthly newsletter goes out to all members of all branches, and includes short, inspiring stories about the great work women are doing in their communities. Each chapter has a Facebook group where women share their successes, promote their good work and ask others for help and recommendations. They recently launched a members-only portal on their website, full of exclusive resources and benefits. “It’s been so wonderful to connect with so many talented, creative, and entrepreneurial ladies who are passionate about their interests and supportive of each others’ growth,” says LPO member Carole Ann Penney. “Lady Project is for anyone who identifies as a female and is amazing,” Sierra says. “I’m honored to be able to impact so many women’s lives.” Providence Monthly readers can use the code “PVDMonthly” for $20 off a business membership.

Join at LadyProject.org/Join.

LadyProject.org

LEADING LADIES

The Lady Project (LPO) started out as a small group of women looking to connect with each other, share ideas, network their talents and support like-minded people. Sierra Barter, a social media coordinator at Johnson & Wales University, and Julie Sygiel, founder of lingerie company Dear Kate, started the Lady Project in 2011. “Our vision was an ‘Old Boy’s Club’ for fabulous women in The Creative Capital to network, connect with other like-minded ladies and to do so over a glass of champagne,” Sierra says.

It turns out they were onto something. From those first few networking events, The Lady Project has grown into a huge, vital force. Now, there are over 1,500 members of the non-profit, 600 of them in Providence, and another 900 across the country in other Lady Project branches. Albany, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Raleigh, Boston, Nashua, Boulder, Philadelphia, New Haven, New York, San Diego, Seattle, Washington D.C., Dallas, Tampa and Portland, Maine all have their own groups, dedicated to bringing women together to share ideas and resources. “It’s an incredible feeling to be able to impact so many women’s lives,” Sierra says. “I love meeting our amazing members and traveling around the country to our different launches.” And, her work isn’t done. “We want to double our current member base,” Sierra says.

“It’s our goal to give women around the country a national network of likeminded ladies.”

Every month, The Lady Project hosts fun, inspiring events for women to meet and connect. Think book clubs to discuss important, relevant current releases; exercise classes to get

NATALIA PAIVA-NEVES Restaurateur

SISTER MARYBETH BERETTA President

“I was basically raised in a kitchen,” says Natalia Paiva-Neves of O Dinis Restaurant. “I have a passion for food and entertaining.”

The Portuguese restaurant is widely recognized as one of the best in Rhode Island, and has been featured on Bizarre Foods on The Travel Channel. “Small, family-owned restaurants really are the heartbeat of Rhode Island,” she says. “Many guests have become part of our family.”

579 Warren Ave., East Providence. 438-3769

A lifelong educator, Sister Marybeth Beretta is the new president of St. Mary Academy Bay View, an all-girls Catholic school in Riverside. A Rhode Island native, Sr. Marybeth joined the school at the beginning of this academic year, and brings with her a wealth of educational knowledge and 28 years of experience in Catholic education. Before joining Bay View, Sr. Marybeth worked at La Salle Academy in Providence for over 20 years, and as the Dean of Students at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in Pennsylvania. Sr. Marybeth has also served as a board member for organizations like the Special Olympics of Rhode Island.

As a Sister of Mercy, Sr. Marybeth has devoted herself to Catholic education. She’s an experienced leader with exceptional skills in the areas of strategic planning, finance, facilities management and school operations, and will continue to lead Bay View forward as it promotes academic excellence and empowers young women.

Since 1874, St. Mary Academy - Bay View has fostered independence, compassion,

LEADING LADIES

LOVERN MOSELEY, PHD Psychologist “My goal is to empower others to be who they were designed to be,” says Dr. Lovern Moseley, CEO of Empowerment Counseling & Psychotherapy Center. She is a Christian psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. She also treats PTSD, depression, anxiety, and ADHD. 280 Broadway, Suite 202, Providence and 1629 Central St., Suite 3, Stoughton, MA. 866-754-4973, EmpowermentCPC.com

NICOLE CASALE, RMT Holistic Health Practitioner Nicole Casale’s journey to being The Holistic Hippie, a reiki practitioner and owner of a wellness store, started with her own serious illness. With no results from traditional medicine, she took her health into her own hands, making lifestyle and diet changes that totally overhauled her wellness. “Three years later,” she says, “I have more energy than I know what to do with.”

150 Broadway.

914-216-8660, HolisticHippie.org

global responsibility, spiritual growth, and academic excellence in generations of young women. Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, it is an independent, Catholic school serving a diverse population of girls from pre-school through grade twelve. Its distinctiveness as an all-girls school offers the benefits of personalized attention and encouragement in all phases of the student experience.

3070 Pawtucket Ave. Riverside. 424-0113 BayViewAcademy.org

BIANCA ALICEA Founder In 2005, Alana and Bianca Alicea discussed the idea for an all-handmade jewelry company that could have unique, stylish designs while still being American-made.The mother/daughter duo started out with a small investment but big ideas. Now, Chubby Chico Charms has grown to have a 5,500 square foot production facility with 25 employees, inclusion in retail locations, a fundraising division and countless happy customers.

The biggest growth at Chubby Chico Charms is in the fundraising division, which has been incredibly successful with local schools, charities and organizations, and has made a positive difference in Rhode Island. “It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” Bianca says. In addition to selling their signature charm bracelets and gifts, they’re adding beauty and home products, and keeping their commitment to everything being locally handmade. “Our program

is a wonderful way for schools, organizations, teams and foundations to raise money with no upfront cost, and they can earn 50% profit of all sales,” Bianca says. Any organization can apply to participate. It’s a way she’s able to give back to the community, including the inner city schools she attended. “Chubby Chico Charms is truly a representation of the American dream.”

339 Woonasquatucket Ave. North Providence. 404-4018, ChubbyChicoCharms.com

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CITY STYLE At Home • The Look • Shop Talk • Whole Body • Get Fit

Lofty Style Goals Inside a Calender Mills loft that blends old and new “I’ve always loved when they rehab old mill buildings,” says Tom St. Germain, a hair stylist at Suite Tart and a board member of StyleWeek Northeast. So when it was time to move, Tom looked to the lofts at Calender Mills on Valley Street. “This area is great,” he says. “Troop and Riff Raff, that great bookstore lounge, are right next door. It’s really coming along down here.”

Photography by Mike Cevoli

His corner unit is two floors, with an open living space below and a lofted bedroom above. “I love the flow of everything,” says St. Germain. “The downstairs is great because it’s open and really bright. When the sun comes through it warms the place up nicely.”

The upstairs is a cozier space for sleeping.

“There’s a wonderful skylight over my bed,” he says. “It’s a wood roof: when it rains it’s

the most tranquil thing I’ve ever heard.”

He’s decorated his space with a blend of modern furniture and antiques. “It’s a great spot to decorate with old and new,” he says. “A lot of what I have has been in my family for a long time. The clocks have been in my family for years and years, and those metal lanterns have been in the family for generations.” -Julie Tremaine

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CITY STYLE • The Look

by Jackie Ignall

Blazing Style

Photography by Stacey Doyle

Self-professed man about town Edward Cabral on the unusual details that make an outfit pop I would describe my personal style as classic with a twist. In professional situations, I prefer a dark suit with a white shirt along with a colorful tie, pocket square, or funky-colored socks.

I like incorporating a colorful element, but never more than one at a time. For casual settings, jeans or khakis with a blazer or sweater are my standbys. I do like a standout blazer and haunt vintage shops for them.

Even though I have lived in New England for most of my life, I still can’t get over the cold. For winter, I wear a lot of layers – a shirt and sweater with a blazer, topped off with a puffy vest and scarf. In the spring and summer, I’m all about shorts and T-shirts or cotton-collared shirts with a colorful belt.

I look for clothing that has some interesting detail, something unusual that gives it a fresh look. It could be an unexpected color or pattern in the lining of a suit or blazer or standout stitching on buttonholes. The most important thing I always look for is proper fit. If something is ill fitting, it defeats the whole purpose.

Last year, I retired from the Providence Journal after a 30-year career.

I wore a suit and tie every day and always made an effort to wear at least one piece that was a little unusual, something that made people smile.

Since leaving the Journal, my husband and I have been traveling quite a bit, which has meant lots of opportunities to find new, funky clothes and a range of places to wear them. When I go back to full-time work this year, it’ll be with a recharged sense of purpose and a closet that’s probably a bit more global than it once was.

Cabral spends his time since retiring from the Providence Journal traveling the world. This jacket, made of hand-woven fabric, was custom-tailored in India

ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

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Providence, are you aware that we have a world-class squash facility right in our own backyard? Also, are you aware that squash is a fun, accessible sport (similar to racquetball) that anyone can play?

You could be forgiven for not knowing either because a) there’s a common misconception of squash as an elitist sport played only in expensive private clubs, and b) the new Gorgi Family Squash & Education Center at Moses Brown School only opened last December.

The 16,000-square-foot facility, which boasts 12 courts along with classrooms, study space, and a pro shop, is the result of a unique partnership between three organizations: Moses Brown, Nicol Squash Club, and SquashBusters, a sports-based youth development program.

Here’s how the pieces fit together: SquashBusters was founded in Boston in 1996 to use the sport of squash, along with academic support and enrichment and mentoring, to improve educational outcomes and access to opportunities among underserved students in urban school districts. Middle and high school students in the program receive three hours of academic support – including tutoring, SAT prep, and career exploration – per week for 33 weeks of every school year. They also get four hours of squash practice and training for those

33 weeks, free of charge. SquashBusters’ results speak for themselves: their two programs (Boston and Lawrence, MA) served more than 300 students in the 2016–17 school year, those students boasted an average attendance rate of 93.5 percent, and 100 percent of graduating seniors were accepted into college.

When the program began looking to expand into a third city, Providence was a natural fit. SquashBusters found the perfect partner in Moses Brown School, which already boasts a robust squash program with varsity teams.

The new facility sits on the school’s campus, and the two organizations share access to the courts for their students.

The third piece of the puzzle is public access. The opening of the Gorgi Center dramatically increased the number of accessible squash courts in Rhode Island, and one of the goals is to increase local interest in the sport.

That’s where Nicol Squash Club comes in. It’s a community club that offers easy, affordable access not only to courts, but also lessons, coaching, and league play. The club is operated and directed by Peter Nicol, a world champion player and coach, and he brought in Arthur Gaskin, a five-time Irish national champion, as the club’s resident pro.

Got all that? In short, Providence suddenly

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finds itself with a major new squash facility and access to two of the top coaches in the world.

For its inaugural class, SquashBusters Providence will serve 28 sixth graders from Del Sesto Middle School. The goal is to add one grade per year so that by 2023 they will be serving students from sixth through twelfth grade. Meanwhile, Nicol Squash Club set a goal of 100 members by the end of the year; they got 140 in their first three weeks.

Of course, for the purposes of this column, it’s the sport that matters. I had never so much as set foot on a squash court (careful, you need special shoes so as not to damage it) and admittedly prejudged it as a luxury sport that Wall Street types use to get out their aggression during lunch break. Not so, says Arthur Gaskin. “The beauty of it is that anyone can play,” he explains. “We want to take away the elitist atmosphere that squash is often associated with.”

He got me out on the court and showed me some of the basics – how to hold the racquet, rules of play, forehands and backhands, etc. – in little more than a half hour. The first thing I learned: squash is fast. It takes just a few volleys to get the heart pumping and the sweat pouring. It’s like a high-intensity cardio workout, but fun instead of torturous.

I managed to acquit myself just well enough for a first timer, returning a few serves (and whiffing a few, too) and even managing to keep a few volleys going. I also passed Arthur’s basic fitness test that he uses in training: the ability to run cross-court 20 times in a minute. While I don’t think I’ll be touring the pro circuit anytime soon, that first lesson was already 100 percent more squash than I ever expected to play in my life. And that’s really the point of all this: bringing squash to the people.

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CITY STYLE • Whole Body

by Julie Tremaine

The Power of Potions Skin care with a higher purpose, made in Providence

Taking care of your skin is good. Taking care of your skin with natural skin care – that may or may not be infused with positive energy – is better. This is what I learned after experimenting with Potion, a new Providence-based skin care line made by makeup artist Katie Bouchard and musician Viana Newton. Former roommates, “we spent so many nights sitting in the kitchen talking about spirituality, folklore, and family traditions,” they say. “We talked a lot about health issues we both had and came to realize the cosmetic industry is not regulated as heavily as you might expect.” So they started making their own natural skin care products.

“We wanted to create a line that was totally transparent about ingredients and utilized a sort of old world method.”

What I immediately liked about Potion was its old world philosophy: that simple, natural ingredients can make a big impact on your skin without negatively impacting the rest of your body. They make shower melts – basically aromatherapy bath bombs – with eucalyptus and camphor that clear your sinuses and let you breathe again when you have a cold. They also offer the usual suspects for a fledgling skin care line: lip balm, body scrub, a Rose Water Toner that’s a literal breath of fresh air. A collaboration with The Nitro Cart, the city’s it-coffee, resulted in Nitro Coffee Eye Serum, made from the cart’s coffee beans, plus avocado oil and vitamin E. Potion products can be ordered through

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ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

Etsy, but you can also find them at local shops like Craftland and NAVA. As I write this I’ve been using it for three weeks, and I’ve loved it from day one: the caffeine in the coffee-scented serum is an instant boost and does wonders for dark circles. “We love using caffeine in our products,” Katie and Viana say. “It promotes circulation, bringing blood to the surface of your skin and helping new cell growth.”

To me, what’s so interesting about Potion is the way they incorporate spiritual ideas about energy and wellness into their perfumes, infusing crystals into the scents. “Witches have used crystals for centuries, including making holy water by infusing crystals into collected water and letting it sit for a full moon,” the women explain. “We borrowed that idea to make a rollon perfume to replace carrying crystals around.

Each crystal – amethyst, onyx, citrine, quartz, and aventurine – is paired with aromatherapy that mirrors its metaphysical properties.”

I’ve been wearing Amethyst, made with rosemary, juniper, and geranium essential oils.

Because amethyst is a grounding stone, it helps relieve stress and anxiety and promotes calm and relaxation. Maybe it’s the essential oils in the scent that I find so soothing. Maybe it’s more than that. Whatever it is, it’s working.

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The store’s unique offerings range from Tory Burch handbags and Yeti coolers to backpacks for both the casual user and the avid adventurer… and even hammocks. The boutique also hosts community-based events and projects: they teamed up with The North Face this past winter to sponsor a local music series and plan to launch a mobile kiosk that will visit colleges

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GET OUT Calendar • On Stage • Art • Music

Race to the Pot O’ Gold There’s a lot of Irish pride happening this month. Things kick off in Pawtucket on March 3 with the first of the Tour De Patrick (TourDePatrick. com) 5k races, followed by the March 10 race in Providence before the Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Facebook: Providence St. Patrick’s

Day Parade). The parade steps off at noon and heads down Smith Street towards the State House. On March 13, there’s a Dublin Irish Dance at Roberts Hall at Rhode Island College, which portrays the history of Celtic culture through Irish singers, dancers, and musicians.

ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

57

GET OUT • Calender

by Julie Tremaine

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March 3: Founding member of The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, comes to Providence as part of “The Carnival Tour” as he supports his newest album Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee. He’ll be joined by local R&B singer JeanLou, who recently recently his debut album. Dike Street, FeteMusic.com

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March 8: Talk things through at That’s My Story, and I’m Sticking to It at the Providence Athenaeum, when attendees are given writing prompts and can then share their stories with the audience. The evening will be recorded for a future RI NPR broadcast. Benefit Street, ProvAth.org

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March 8–April 1: Examine the nature of justice at A Human Being Died That Night at The Gamm. Based on real events during apartheid-era South Africa, this play is an exchange between a white man who tortured and murdered freedom fighters and the black female psychologist who worked on his case. Pawtucket, TheGammTheatre.org

4

March 9–11: Brace yourself, because things are going to get loud at Monster Jam when monster ATVs, speedsters, and iconic monster trucks fill The Dunk with daring motorsports. Downtown, DunkinDonutsCenter.com

March 11, 25: Spend Sunday morning at The Providence Flea, which hosts a winter market at Hope High School on the East Side. Everything from Pinterest-worthy refinished furniture to vintage pop culture kitsch will be up for grabs. Hope Street, ProvidenceFlea.com

6

March 13–18: Feel like An American in Paris when the musical comes to PPAC, in the first national tour of a new staging of the classic movie, featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin. Weybosset Street, PPACRI.com

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March 14: Experience Central Asian girl power at Qyrq Qyz/Forty Girls, part of FirstWorks’ Frontier Series. The ancient epic about 40 women warriors is told through live music and poetry, set against a contemporary film, at the RISD Auditorium. First-Works.org

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March 16: Don’t be that guy at Colin Quinn – One in Every Crowd at The Columbus Theatre. The Saturday Night Live alum will be in town for one night of standup. Broadway, ColumbusTheatre.com

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March 18: Expect to be rocked – to bagpipes – at The Red Hot Chili Pipers at The Vets. This nine-piece Scottish band, hailed as “AC/DC meets the poet Robert Burns,” plays their signature “bagrock” versions of Scottish classics and classic rock. Avenue of the Arts, TheVetsRI.com

10

March 23–24: Get curiouser and curiouser at Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, performed by the State Ballet of Rhode Island at the Park Theatre.

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GET OUT • Art

by Amanda M. Grosvenor

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Originally from Long Beach, California, where his Cambodian parents immigrated to escape the Khmer Rouge genocide, artist Savonnara Alexander Sok was close to his grandfather, a Buddhist monk at the local temple. “He had all these prayer books, and I drew animals and images from them,” Sok recalls. “He pretty much opened the door for me to creating art. He was an artist in his way, but his life was dedicated to the temple.” It was one of his uncles, a very talented artist, “who I think I may have gotten my traits from.”

At 12, Sok’s mother moved them to Omaha, Nebraska, and his art flourished in high school under a supportive teacher who allowed him to develop and explore his own style. His undergraduate years at the University of Nebraska were focused more on his graphic design major and a long-term relationship, and less on painting. Following graduation and the relationship breaking up, “I had a lot of fueled-up feelings,” which he channeled into painting. “I can take adversities and things I go through and reflect them outward, and not feel anything afterwards,” he says. “It’s kind of my gift and my curse.”

In 2015, Sok was in Providence to visit his ailing father, and he decided to stay. Instagram helped fuel his early painting career, sending lots of commission work his way like custom shoes, pet portraits, and murals, but he’s taking 2018 to focus solely on his own work and gallery pieces. Preferred materials include spray paint, big markers, and acrylics – things “that are really quick to use.” He does not plan his pieces in advance; instead he goes “hands-in” and just does “everything at once.” He’ll often find discarded pieces of wood, especially oak, and use them as canvases, employing negative space to bring out the wood’s organic texture.

David Choe, with whom Sok shares a street art background, is a big inspiration.

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The Buddhism instilled by Sok’s grandfather appears in his art, but “I wouldn’t say it’s super-religious. I don’t want to preach my religion to anybody, but I do want to share the love and my vibes.” Although his art usually isn’t trying to make a political statement, one painting features an iPhone, an observation on how social media can be a blessing for sharing unknown artists’ work, but also can promote self-tagging over the actual themes and meaning of the art itself.

“Life, death, and love” are Sok’s recurring themes. His first gallery show, “Hearts & Souls,” was in large part a tribute to the passing of his artist uncle, Daron. His next show at Skye Gallery on Broadway, a series of portraits following

Photography by Savannah Barkley for Providence Monthly

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Sok uses spray paint, markers, and acrylics and doesn’t plan his pieces in advance, preferring to do “everything at once”

in-depth conversations he will conduct with subjects from diverse backgrounds, will take place towards the end of March.

All of his subjects share “tougher upbringings,” and each “have a story or something they want to express.” Each painting’s colors and “vibe” will stem from “the connection between people.”

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61

GET OUT • Music

by Adam Hogue

Plunging Into New Musical Depths The Low Anthem takes a thoughtful voyage to the bottom of the sea

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The new album from The Low Anthem, The Salt Doll Went to Measure the Depth of the Sea, takes an inquisitive, almost scientific approach to song craft, relying on observation, hypothesizing, experimentation, repetition, and conclusions. Each song introduces various sounds and approaches in order to tell an open-ended story.

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CAN’T-MISS TRACKS “Gondwanaland” With a chugging quarter-note beat, piano arpeggios, and contemplative vocals, this song has a tactile feel of floating in the water while looking up. It’s bittersweet, it’s out of reach, and it all happens in under three minutes.

“Give My Body Back” Fast folk-guitar accented by a drummed heartbeat in this fast-moving snippet of vocal and piano back-and-forth. Plus this track has a catchy little chorus that sticks around long after the brief 2:02 fade-out.

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ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

of story, but more importantly, short, controlled environments to try out new cyclical sounds, melodies, and words.

“We’re always trying out new ideas. In Eyeland, the dense layering of a hundred tracks on a single song conveyed the feeling of vast networks of interconnected firing neurons,” says founding member Jeff Prystowsky. “With The Salt Doll, simplicity, space, and silence are the characters that come to the fore.”

What is immediately striking about The Salt Doll is the relatively short two-minute running time of most of the songs. This rapid turnover moves the record quickly, and each song offers a different shade of resonant and barren arrangements. The songs utilize meditative vocal melodies and striking imagery in verses separated by biological interludes – reminiscent of heartbeats, breathing, and firing synapses. Lush, blippy, lo-fi beats sit in the background, creating an almost peripheral sound that slowly pushes the songs in one emotional direction or another, almost subconsciously.

“We wanted to focus on the edges and

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The current lineup of The Low Anthem includes founders Prystowsky and Ben Knox Miller in addition to the talents of two friends: Florence Grace Wallis, “an exceptional poet, writer, violinist, singer, and person,” and Bryan Minto, “a builder, craftsman, guitar/harp soundscape artist and gentle soul.”

What becomes clear from both Eyeland and their latest album, despite the two being polar opposites in sound and scope, is the cohesive and collaborative nature of this current incarnation of the group. With the various sounds and dance-in-and-out moments on this album, it is clear that many heads are approaching each track, pushing impulse and inspiration into small shared spaces with unfamiliar instruments.

“It’s best to first hear a sound, then attempt to find a way to make it,” Prystowsky says. “When you start with an instrument you know well, your body is programmed to play certain licks. We try to eliminate this knee-jerk memory by focusing on the silence instead.”

The Low Anthem has also been the catalyst behind the revival of The Columbus Theatre as a go-to place for culture in Providence. In this setting, Prystowsky points to the butterfly effect of art.

“The theater is a constant well of creativity for me,” he says. “I go to every show the theater puts on, to be inspired by new music, in order to create more. It’s like a cycle of creativity. And the theater is home to all the musical instruments I love, a musical community to talk to, and our favorite recording equipment. So, it’s a dream to me. A palace of music.”

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GET OUT • On Stage

by Marrissa Ballard

On His Home Stage Actor and Rhode Island native John Michael Dias talks about getting to perform at PPAC “It’s a dream to be performing at home again,” says Tiverton native John Michael Dias. “I grew up watching all the big shows coming through PPAC and it’s really an honor to be performing on that stage for the fourth time.”

Dias is currently touring as part of the company for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and has previously acted in Oklahoma and Jersey Boys, the first of which brought him to PPAC in 2004. In Jersey Boys, Dias played the “dream role” of Frankie Valli, touring across the U.S. as part of the original Chicago company and on Broadway.

Dias began acting young at community theaters in RI, and this inspired him to attend college at the Boston Conservatory. Looking back on his early days on the stage, Dias credits his love of acting to his start at the Little Theatre of Fall River. As a teen, he played in Stop the World – I Want to Get Off and The Secret Garden, productions that he remembers fondly for their emotional impact. “It was the first time I was part of a production where you could see everyone crying in the audience and on stage,” he says. “It was the first time I realized that theater wasn’t just production, numbers and glitter… it can move people.”

“My time there definitely shaped the performer I am today and helped me decide to do theater as a career,” he says. Other aspects of theater also guided his choice: acting, for Dias, was a place of acceptance, where you could have fun and become new people through characters. “Theater is an escape,” he notes. “Not only for the people watching but for the people on stage, and I find that fascinating.”

Now, Dias returns to PPAC to take viewers to the ‘70s and play many different characters. His roles include Neil Sedaka, Lou Adler, Bobby Hatfield, and others, each of which forces him to change wigs and personalities throughout the show. If he succeeds, he hopes audiences won’t be able to recognize him. Aside from the characters, Dias really enjoys the music of Beautiful. “One of the best parts is getting to sing “You’ve Lost That

Dias toured the country as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. His love of acting started at the Little Theatre of Fall River.

Loving Feeling” every night,” he says. “And, of course, the audience’s reactions to all the song performances.”

More than anything, Dias is excited for audiences to learn new things about Carole King. “They’ll see how she blossoms from a teenaged songwriter with big dreams in Brooklyn to a household name with the Tapestry album,” he says. He also thinks the show is extremely relevant right now. “I think her story was always an important one to tell, but right now it’s especially important to tell a story about a strong woman in a man’s world.”

Audiences can see Beautiful at PPAC through March 4.

Providence Performing Arts Center 220 Weybosset Street PPACRI.org

SPRING 2018

Dublin Irish Dance Tuesday, March 13, 2018 7:30 p.m.

The Auditorium in Roberts Hall Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an all-star cast of Irish singers, dancers and musicians. Experience the epic tale of Celtic culture, with traditional melodies and steps in a gala celebration. The journey begins in rural Ireland, prior to the Famine and leads us to the present, celebrating the evolution of traditional Irish dance and music, and showcasing the pioneers now defining the standard of Irish music and dance.

Purchase your tickets at www.ric.edu/pas or (401) 456-8144.

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FEAST In the Kitchen • On the Menu • Review • In the Drink • Dining Guide

Vegan Delights

By CHLOE arrives on the square with a scrumptious, veggie-based menu On paper, by CHLOE is an up-market vegan restaurant. The genre is known as “fast-casual,” but by CHLOE is no suburban drive-through: the eatery debuted only three years ago in Manhattan and it’s already won a voracious fan base, popping up in fashionable parts of Boston, Los Angeles, and even London. This January, Thayer Street joined the list of by CHLOE’s hip locations.

What’s the draw? Brilliantly textured salads, burgers that taste better than meat, plant-based ice creams, and a flair for millennial culture. All

by CHLOE restaurants have funky decor and a row of peppy cashiers, Photo courtesy of by CHLOE

but each has unique elements as well. In Providence, it’s the seating: two bamboo chairs are suspended from the ceiling, beckoning passersby with their playful tie-dye cushions.

“Our chefs worked for over a year to create a diverse menu of delicious plant-based fare,” says Samantha Wasser, founder of by CHLOE. “We thought about everything from how to make our food delicious for everyone, to how each dish would photograph on the table surfaces, to the graphic wallpaper in the bathrooms that would make the perfect selfie.” Thayer Street, EatByChloe.com –Robert Isenberg

FEAST • Review

by Stephanie Obodda

Hop to It

Chicken Ragu with Crispy Gnocchi

Think of a German beer hall, and you’ll probably imagine a boisterous place with heavy food and even heavier drinking. Bayberry, tucked into a quiet street on the West Side, is Providence’s lighter take on the concept, a self-described “modern American beer hall.”

Bayberry is as much garden as hall. The lofty former stable is strung with small globe lights and brightened by a wall of live vines. A photo of the space might fool you into thinking it’s outside.

But Bayberry is far from traditional. Beer isn’t available in Oktoberfest-style liters; patrons instead sip from dainty tulip glasses. The food is light and creative, showcasing a variety of local ingredients. And don’t expect dirndl-clad waitresses toting trays of beer – Bayberry is self-service unless you sit at the bar. Some may balk at the lack of waitstaff, but Bayberry’s setup is advantageous: you can order separately and avoid complicated check-splitting, or you can order before the rest of your table arrives, putting less pressure on the kitchen during a

busy Saturday night.

Bayberry has another fine feature: brunch.

My husband and I recently found a seat at one of its picnic tables, which are communal and have a modernist angularity. The brunch menu is short but covers all the bases, with breakfast dishes alongside a smattering of dinner items.

I ordered the Seasonal Frittata, made with turnips, shallots, and feta. I often find myself disappointed by brunch potatoes, but the “peewee” potatoes accompanying my dish were exceptional, crispy and well-seasoned. My husband’s Huevos Rancheros, a special, was a colorful plate of blue and white corn tortillas, beans with pork belly, and two sunny-side-up eggs.

The Kale Caesar surprised us as our favorite dish of the meal, with lacinato kale, radicchio, and fennel providing a hearty base for a creamy cashew dressing. Our side of Slab Bacon had a sweet drizzle of Bourbon maple syrup. The daily pastry, a raspberry coffee cake, was moist and subtly sweet.

With fourteen beer taps and even more

bottles and cans, Bayberry’s craft beer menu spotlights New England breweries. Though we are beer lovers, this time we set our sights on brunchier drinks. My husband tried the Nitro Stout, made with stout beer, Nitro Cart cold brew (available on tap), and amaro. Topped with whipped cream and nuts, it was indulgent and a bit boozy. Craving something light and fresh, I had the Kombucha, a fizzy, fermented, non-alcoholic drink, this one made by Rhode Island–based Luluna Kombucha.

Though Bayberry is an alcohol-focused establishment, it’s surprisingly accessible to family dining. Perhaps because they are recent parents, owners Tom and Natalie Dennen added child-friendly touches to the restaurant. Noting these on a previous visit, we brought our month-old baby for his first restaurant experience. The restroom’s wicker chair was a quiet place to nurse, and the designated marble surface in the ladies’ room will probably be the

CUISINE: American beer hall PRICES: Appetizers: $4–$12; Entrées: $10–$26; Burger with Fried Peewee Potatoes

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Desserts $5–$6 ATMOSPHERE: Festive and casual

Photography by Kendall Pavan St. Laurent

Bayberry brings an iconic German experience to Providence

Get your treats & fill your basket at Sweenor’s Chocolates!

EASTER IS APRIL 1ST

Wakefield • 783.4433 | Garden City • 942.2720 www.sweenorschocolates.com

Must-Try Items Kale Caesar A salad of radicchio, shaved fennel, and cashew dressing

Chicken Schnitzel A sweet roll sandwich with chicken, garden remoulade, and arugula

Nitro Stout A beer cocktail of rotating stouts and Nitro Cart coffee topped with whipped cream

most elegant place I’ll ever change a diaper.

Though the similarity to Munich beer halls might end at the delicious house-baked Sourdough Pretzels, Bayberry is a uniquely Providence place to seek craft beer and community.

Bayberry 381 West Fountain Street • 383-9487 BayberryBeerHall.com

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FEAST • In The Kitchen

by Robert Isenberg

A Barbecue Dream Come True Brian Ahlquist waited decades to open his own Southern food joint Brian Ahlquist has managed many restaurants in his career, but he never had a place of his own. Last November, he opened The Carolina Barbecue Co., a meaty new restaurant and bar in Cranston. The ribs and pulled pork are closely modeled on Southern traditions, but with its sleek furnishings and bright interior, Carolina is a far cry from a back-country BBQ shack. Ahlquist also offers seafood like barbecue salmon, Cajun popcorn shrimp, and Creole mussels. We talked with him about this exciting new chapter.

How did you decide to open Carolina Barbecue?

I’ve been managing restaurants for 30 years, mostly chain restaurants. I started when I was 16, and it just became something I did.

There are a lot of good things about chains, like good managing systems, but there’s not much creativity involved. Before I got too old, I wanted to give [my own restaurant] a shot.

This is kind of a 30-year dream.

How did you develop the menu?

I wanted to make a lot of people happy, and you can’t go only by your own palate – you have to see what other people like. We host a lot of functions at my home, and I’m always polling people about the food. One relative said, “I’ve been a guinea pig for you for the

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Barbecue is Ahlquist’s favorite food and he named his restaurant after its birthplace

last five years!” The brisket is the hardest. We tried a lot of different rubs. It took a lot of experimenting and time. But I think we’ve figured it out.

How has it been, finally having your own place?

It’s been fantastic. It’s terrifying, but it’s really rewarding. You can’t question every decision you make, but it’s nice not to be questioned about every decision you make.

I have a really good corps of people, and it would be impossible to do it without them.

I hired a lot of people I knew. My opening serving staff had only two people I haven’t worked with in the past.

What makes Carolina different?

[Carolina has] a more traditional, sit-down

restaurant style. We have some fun with the second side of the menu – traditional barbecue on the left, and on the right, a few different items, like shrimp and grits, mac and cheese with chorizo. And I really feel like we have the best wings in the world. We marinade them for at least 24 hours, and then they’re smoked, and then they’re grilled. You can order them fried, but it keeps that smoky flavor. Fall-off-thebone isn’t what you expect from wings, but my goodness, is it a good time. It’s something we’re really proud of.

Carolina Barbecue Co. 1265 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston • 437-6350 TheCarolinaBarbecueCompany.com

Photography by Savannah Barkley for Providence Monthly

You’ve managed so many types of restaurants. Why barbecue?

I’m passionate about food, all kinds of food, and barbecue is probably my favorite. I’m also a student of the history: Carolina is the birthplace of barbecue. I never lived in the South, but I look at barbecue as a great American cuisine, and our food is authentic. I think some people, like the guys on Guy Fieri’s show, exaggerate their style a little bit, with the overalls and everything.

We’re not looking for license plates on the wall – not that there’s anything wrong with that. But I grew up in Warwick, and we’re a Rhode Island restaurant. We want it to reflect a certain honesty.

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If you’re like me, March makes you desperate to feel like spring has finally sprung… and in my opinion, nothing says warm weather like a good gin beverage. Well, lucky for me (and all you fine people like me), there’s Figidini’s Alpine Spring to help

ALPINE SPRING * 2.5 oz. Death’s Door Gin * 1 oz. Génépi Des Alpes * 0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice * 3 pulls of house-made laurel bitters Stir with ice and strain.

you emerge from the winter blues. Created by General Manager Kevin Toth and Bar Manager Katelyn Verissimo, the drink was inspired by the herbaceous spring flavors of Figidini’s kitchen. Toth yanked both bay and basil from the prep station to create his laurel bitters, which are key to the green, vegetable-like brightness of the cocktail. Mixed with a bit of the herbal liqueur Génépi Des Alpes and some fresh lemon and stirred to perfection, this cocktail tastes like warm times ahead.

Figidini 67 Washington Street • 808-6886 Figidini.com

FEAST • On The Menu

by Erin Belknap

Something to Taco ‘Bout

Stepping into Xaco Taco is like entering a Mexican street fair, complete with the smell of fresh corn tortillas and – get this – a fully operational 1972 Volkswagen van converted into a taco truck. Replacing Rick’s Roadhouse, Xaco Taco is the most recent restaurant from John Elkhay and Chow Fun Food Group. After nearly two years of planning, the highly anticipated downtown taco joint opened in January. “I’ve always loved Mexican and Central American food, and I traveled there often,” says Elkhay. “Our executive chef Andy Pyle moved here [to Rhode Island] and was passionate about Mexican regional farm-to-table, so it was a perfect fit.” Elkhay points out that the tortillas mimic an ancient Aztec recipe, using lime, water, and organic white corn. Popular menu items include the Carne Asada and the Baja Fish Tacos, but many vegan and vegetarian options are available as well. Each taco sells for $3.50 to $4, except for weekdays from 3 to 5pm and late nights when tacos are just $2.

The bar also stocks 60 varieties of mezcal and tequila to cap off your meal. Richmond Street, XacoTacoRI.com

GEOFF’S IS MAKING MOVES It’s the same Geoff’s that we know and love, just a little farther south.

After nearly 40 years in the same spot on Benefit Street, Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches encountered some unexpected leasing issues and had to move to South Main Street.

But the staff is glad to remain in the same vicinity, less than a mile away from their previous location.

“We still want to keep our same atmosphere,” says Geoff’s general manager Myles Cox. And so far, it

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looks like they’ve been successful: the space is bright and open, with colorful handwritten menus and the traditional pickle barrel. “Tuesdays are buy one get one free and there’s been a line out the door,” adds Cox. Now that they’ve settled into their new location, they plan to increase their social media presence and employ online order platforms like Grubhub and Eat24. South Main Street, Facebook: Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches

Photography by (bottom) Robert Isenberg, (top) courtesy of Xaco Taco

Xaco Taco brings Mexican street eats to the Jewelry District

THE NEW FRISKIE FRIES IS OUT OF THE BAG

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1253 North Main Street, Providence RI • 401-272-2590 • TheSandwichHut.com Friskie Fries started as a, late-night hankering for some French fries. Today, Tom Wright and Randy D’Antuono own two food trucks and two storefronts, all serving fries heaped with toppings. In addition to their original location in Johnston, Friskie Fries opened their second location last November on Washington Street in downcity. Since their inception four years ago, Friskie Fries has steadily built a reputation for their best-in-class French fries and heavyweight flavor combinations, like the Cluck U (crispy chicken, buffalo sauce, blue cheese dressing and crumbles) and the Miss Potato Head (sour cream, smoked bacon, fresh chives, sharp cheddar). Wright and D’Antuono masterminded the whole menu themselves, and they have even more French fry goodness on the horizon. “We’re introducing The Wild Cat, [named] after the mascot for Johnson & Wales University. It’s going to be like cheeseburger French fries. We’ll also have a special order for St. Patrick’s Day.” St. Patrick’s Day weekend will mark the start of Friskie’s truck season, so customers (proudly called “Friskettes”) can expect to see their food trucks out and about in the greater Providence area soon. Washington Street, Facebook: Friskie Fries

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CAV Restaurant is an award-winning restaurant that has wowed guests for over 25 years. Inspired by cuisines and cultures from around the world, the eclectic menu offers a creative selection of housemade pasta, fresh seafood, and unique entrees like duck confit and filet mignon. A diverse wine and cocktail

list complements the mix of European, Asian, and New England flavors. The beloved, one-of-a-kind restaurant has been featured in the New York Times, Bon Appetit, Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels, and the Providence & Rhode Island Chef’s Table.

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PROVIDENCE AREA 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Fashionable prime steakhouse with award-winning sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 453-2333. LD $$$ Blake’s Tavern Premier Irish pub with two event rooms in the heart of downtown Providence.

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CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in a historic setting.

14 Imperial Pl, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$-$$$

Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 3000 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$ Character’s Cafe & Theatre 82 Hybrid art space with all-day breakfast, coffee, and theaterinspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 4909475. BL $ Harry’s Bar & Burger Called the “Best Burger in America” by CNN. Over 50 craft beers. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336. LD $-$$

Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambience. Locations in Cranston and Providence, HarukiSushi.com.

LD $-$$ Heng Authentic Thai street food served – including noodles and rotisserie chicken – in Providence’s College Hill neighborhood. 165 Angell St, Providence. LD $ Iron Works Tavern A wide variety of signature American dishes in the historic Thomas Jefferson Hill Mill. 697 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, 739-5111. LD $-$$$ Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating more than 20 years.

318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770.

BBrLD $$ LaMei Hot Pot Authentic Chinese cuisine in a unique, casual setting. 256 Broadway, Providence, 831-7555. LD $$ Luigi’s Restaurant & Gourmet Express Handmade Italian classics and prepared foods to go. 1457 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 455-0045, LuigisGourmet.com. LD $$ Luxe Burger Bar Build Your Own Burger: You dream it, we build it! 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $ McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$ McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steak Mixed grill selections and signature fish dishes sourced locally and seasonally. 11 Dorrance St, Providence, 351-4500. BLD $$-$$$ Meeting Street Cafe BYOB eatery with large menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day. 220 Meeting St, Providence, 273-1066.

BLD $-$$

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Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331.

D $$$

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RESTAURANT GUIDE For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com

Ocean State Craft sandwiches Westminster St, BL $-$$

Sandwich and hearty Providence,

Company sides. 155 282-6772.

Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 331-0003. LD $-$$ Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 273-1444. LD $-$$$ Pizza J A fun, upbeat atmosphere with thincrust pizza, pub fare, and gluten-free options.

967 Westminster St, Providence, 632-0555. LD $-$$ Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily specials. 120 Francis St, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro.

465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900.

BrLD $$

Winter Water Factory

SPRING COLLECTION HAS ARRIVED!

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Twin Oaks Family restaurant serving an extensive selection of Italian and American staples. 100 Sabra St, Cranston, 781-9693. LD $-$$$ XO Cafe Acclaimed farm-to-table cuisine with a fantastic Sunday #PajamaBrunch.

125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090.

BrD $$

SOUTHERN RI Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$ Celestial Cafe Fresh, locally sourced ingredients from farms and fisheries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 567 South County Trail, Exeter, 295-5559. BLD $$

Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine.

Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$

Chair 5 Locally sourced and seasonally inspired menus with a main restaurant and rooftop lounge. 1208 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 363-9820.

BrLD $-$$$

Tavolo Wine Bar and Tuscan Grille Classic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine and beer list. 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 349-4979. LD $-$$

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

The Grange Vegetarian restaurant serving seasonal dishes with a juice bar, vegan bakery, and cocktail bar. 166 Broadway, Providence, 831-0600. BrLD $-$$

Coast Guard House A new American menu with a seafood emphasis and extensive wine list, open seven days a week. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 789-0700. BrLD $$$

The Salted Slate An agri-driven American restaurant with global influences. 186 Wayland Ave, Providence, 270-3737. BrLD $$-$$$

Colvitto’s Pizza & Bakery Pizza Calzones and baked goods made fresh daily. 91 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 783-8086. BrLD $

Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun, and Southwestern fare, cocktails, and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 751-6777. LD $-$$

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

Trinity Brewhouse American pub fare and craft beer in a downtown setting, with lunch, dinner,

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and late-night menus. 186 Fountain Street, Providence, 453-2337. LD $-$$

Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 8841149. LD $$$

Frankie’s Italian Bistro Fine dining with imported wines from around the world. 1051 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, 295-2500. D $-$$$ Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228-3901.

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

LD $-$$ Jigger’s Diner Classic ‘50s diner serving breakfast all day. 145 Main St, East Greenwich, 884-6060. BL $-$$ Maharaja Indian Restaurant Indian cuisine and traditional curries in a warm setting. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 363-9988. LD $-$$ Mariner Grille Seafood, steaks, and pasta in a fun setting, with live entertainment. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 284-3282. LD $$ Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana Authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza with exclusive ingredients imported from Naples. 60 S County Commons Way, South Kingstown, 783-2900. LD $-$$ Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food with a great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 783-4073. BBrLD $ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch.

Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, and Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/

ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 2945771. LD $$ The Cove A traditional bar and grill serving burgers, sandwiches, and classic New England seafood favorites. 3963 Old Post Rd, Charlestown, 364-9222. LD $$ Twin Willows Fresh seafood and water views in a family-friendly atmosphere.

865 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, 789-8153. LD $-$$ Tong-D Fine Thai cuisine in a casual setting. 156 County Rd, Barrington, 289-2998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 7834445. LD $-$$

EAST BAY / NEWPORT Aviary Creative, locally sourced menu featuring

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rotating craft beers and from-scratch cocktails.

2229 GAR Highway, Swansea, 508-379-6007.

BrLD $$ Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, 508-999-6975. LD $$ Blount Market & Kitchen Traditional New England seafood summer favorites offered year-round for dine-in and takeout. 406 Water St, Warren, 245-1800. LD $$ Bluewater Bar and Grill Casual restaurant with modern seafood dishes, patio seating, and live music. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington, 247-0017. LD $$-$$$ Chomp Upscale comfort food featuring awardwinning burgers and sandwiches. 440 Child St, Warren, 289-2324. D $$

East Bay Oyster Bar Local seafood meets innovative preparation in a rustic setting.

308 County Rd, Barrington, 247-0303. LD $$ Ichigo Ichie Traditional Japanese cuisine, creative sushi, and hibachi. 5 Catamore Blvd, East Providence, 435-5511. LD $-$$$ Redlefsen’s European-style dining with a waterfront view focusing on traditional German foods. 444 Thames St, Bristol, 2541188. LD $$ Tav Vino Waterfront dining with an Italian and seafood focus. 267 Water St, Warren, 245-0231. D $$ The Old Grist Mill Tavern Fine dining located over the Runnins River. 390 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, 508-336-8460.

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by Robert Isenberg

A Catalog of Crops An old card catalog finds new life as a seed bank at the Providence Public Library For half a century, visitors to the Providence Public Library would open little drawers and find ranks of index cards. But when the library went digital, one of its card catalogs found a new purpose – as a seed bank.

The cabinet was repurposed last year as part of the library’s “On the Table” exhibition. During the growing season, amateur gardeners can search its 32 drawers and walk away with up to five packets of seeds.

Instead of alphabetical labels, the catalog now has little tags marked “tomato,” “basil,” and “sweet peas.”

Alisson Walsh, a consultant for the library, first cultivated the idea,

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ProvidenceOnline.com • March 2018

procuring seeds from URI’s Master Gardener program. Since the bank relies on the honor system, it’s hard to tell who’s taken the seeds and how many plants they’ve harvested, but hundreds of packets had vanished from the drawers by the end of December. The seed bank has hibernated through the winter, standing in an inconspicuous corner of the first floor; this spring, the librarians expect its drawers to blossom again.

“We will definitely be bringing it back,” says Tonia Mason, the library’s marketing director. “People love it. And there’s a lot of room to grow.”

Empire Street, ProvLib.org

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