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THERE’S ONLY ONE PLACE
O Y A M E D O C IN C E T A R B TO CELE SEE YOU AT THE FLATS!
CELEBRATING CINCO DE MAYO SINCE 1973! 355 Hope Street, Providence • 401.751.6777
CONTEN TS Providence Monthly • May 2017
41
20
Nothing says “May” like Tallulah’s tacos
Meet the high-flying raptors that call our city home
This Month 20 Raptor City
22 Thought Couture
25 Providence 2.0
Photographer Peter Green gets us up close to downtown’s birds of prey
Get a sneak peek at the daring styles at RISD’s annual senior fashion show
This is a great city – here are five ways it will be even greater
Every Month 6 Editor’s Note
41 Feast
8 Online Exclusives
Grab a margarita with a smoky twist
13 Providence Pulse
42 Review 44 In the Kitchen 46 On the Menu 47 In the Drink 51 Dining Guide
Photography (L) by Meghan H. Follett, (R) by Peter Green
Saying a final goodbye to the circus 14 City 16 Scene in PVD
31 City Style A Thayer Street institution gets a new look 31 At Home 33 The Look 34 Get Fit 37 Shopping 38 Whole Body
59 Get Out Representing Rhode Island on a national stage 61 Calendar 63 On Stage 65 Music 66 Art
68 Hidden PVD Love is immortalized in an East Side mausoleum
On the Cover: Providence Skyline. Photography by Small Frye Photography.
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
5
EDITOR’S NOTE
PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
The Biggest Little City
We get a lot of great press about Providence, but it’s always with an asterisk of some kind. We’re a great small city. We’re “up and coming.” We have a lot of untapped potential. All of that is true, but we know that Providence is not just a great small city, but a great city, period. We’re primed to really turn some heads, but it’s going to take some work. This month, we take a look at the things we need to improve if we’re going to truly compete against larger cities that are pulling in bigger talent, bigger companies and bigger dollars. It’s
time to make our potential a reality. All of the pieces are in place for big things to start happening for Providence and without an asterisk in sight.
Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell
Media Director Jeanette St. Pierre @JeanetteSTP
Creative Director Julie Tremaine @JulieTremaine
Managing Editor Tony Pacitti @TonyPacitti
Content Coordinator Caitlin Howle @CaitlinMoments
Editor Sophie Hagen
Art Director Meghan H. Follett
Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas
Assistant Art Director Katie Leclerc
Graphic Designer Nick DelGiudice
Marketing Coordinator Kim Tingle Account Managers Shelley Cavoli: Shelley@ProvidenceOnline.com Louann DiMuccio-Darwich: Louann@ProvidenceOnline.com Ann Gallagher: Ann@ProvidenceOnline.com Kristine Mangan: Kristine@ProvidenceOnline.com Elizabeth Riel: Liz@ProvidenceOnline.com Dan Schwartz: DanS@ProvidenceOnline.com Stephanie Oster Wilmarth: Stephanie@ProvidenceOnline.com Contributing Photographers Tiffany Axtman Blink of an Eye Photography Ian Travis Barnard Mike Braca Michael Cevoli
Contributors Stacey Doyle Photographer
Brian DeMello Stacy Doyle Grace Lentini Tim Siekeira Brad Smith
Contributing Illustrators Alison Blackwell Contributing Writers
Stacey has been taking photos ever since she was a little kid. “I was a very shy child, and the camera was like my magical shield,” she says. Since then, she’s turned her love of photography into a successful business; for 15 years, Stacey has been shooting weddings, family portraits and assignments for Providence Monthly. When she’s not behind the camera, you can find Stacey and her boyfriend “thrifting, traveling, eating sushi, hanging with friends, and/or reading a good book – not in that particular order!” StaceyDoyle.com
Erin Balsa
Molly Lederer
Jessica Bryant
Grace Lentini @Gracie_NomNom
Alastair Cairns Bob Curley
Stephanie Obodda @StephanieDoes
Emily Dietsch
Jim Pierce
Amanda Grosvenor
Jen Senecal @JenSenecal
Tori Hitchiner Adam Hogue @hoguie
John Taraborelli @JohnnyTabs Chip Young
Interns Marla Gagne Olivia Perreault
Jacob Turpin
Members Of:
This Issue By The Numbers PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER. PAPER CONTAINS 20-25% POST-CONSUMER CONTENT
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New eggs in the falcon nest downtown. Enjoy the skies while you can, pigeons, these little suckers are coming for you (p. 20)
Degrees Fahrenheit in Providence the week this issue went out, which is enough for any Rhode Islander to start throwing the word “summer” around prematurely
Years since Roger Williams and his ideas of freedom and equality were banished from Massachusetts and took root in Providence (p. 25)
Facebook.com/PVDMonthly
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
@PVDMonthly
@HeyRhody
Providence Monthly 1070 Main Street, Suite 302 Pawtucket RI 02860 • Fax: 401-305-3392 ProvidenceOnline.com Mail@ProvidenceOnline.com @PVDMonthly For advertising rates call: 401-305-3391 We welcome all contributions, but we assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. No portion of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission. Copyright ©2017 by Providence Monthly. All rights reserved.
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RHODE ISLAND ANNUAL GRADUATE CONVENTION CENTER THESIS EXHIBITION HALL A ONE SABIN ST. PROVIDENCE, RI.
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PICK UP THE LATEST WICKED AWESOME ISSUE OF HEY RHODY Because when it comes to cool events, must-see places, things to try, good food and where to find it, we’ve got RI covered like syrup on a johnnycake. Find a new brunch spot, an Earth Day cleanup near you, master gardening tips, super green spa services and a whole lot more.
50 Ann Mary Street, Pawtucket • 401-365-6278 • PhoHorns.com On Providence/Pawtucket line behind LA Fitness
CHECK OUT OUR STATEWIDE SUMMER CAMP DIRECTORY ONLINE Browse locations, activities, sessions and everything you’d want to know about summer camps throughout RI this season. From pottery to water
The FLATBREAD COMPANY’S Catering and Mobile Oven is the ideal alternative to your desire to order Flatbread for large groups of parties of 50 to 250! All Natural Pizza Baked in a Primitive Wood Fired Earthen Oven
polo, find the perfect camp for your little yogi, rock climber, engineer, or whatever their interest is.
SHARE YOUR RHODY LOVE FOR SPRING TO WIN COOL STUFF Daffodils are everywhere and it’s warm enough to have Like no Udder outside. Next time you share a photo enjoying spring in your town, tag it with @ HeyRhody on Facebook or #HeyRhody on Instagram. You could win passes
161 Cushing Street, Providence Contact Jordan at 273-2737 Or at Jordanm@flatbreadcompany.com .
to the Newport Mansions, Roger Williams Park Zoo, dinner for two and more. flatbreadcompany.com
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
FO L LOW U S Because we’re awesome on social, too
Facebook.com/PVDMonthly
@PVDMonthly
HeyRhody
DINE WELL Our statewide dining guide will keep you informed and well fed
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SIGN UP Not-to-be missed events and city highlights delivered right to your inbox weekly
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May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
9
SUMMER Go to ProvidenceOnline.com for our camp directory
CAMP RAMSBOTTOM • • • •
June 26 – August 18 Convenient, safe, affordable Professional, caring staff 50+ years of creating memories!
Call 401.722.8840 or visit www.bgcpawt.org to learn more! Use code PM when registering and be entered to win one of 10 free sessions at Camp Ramsbottom (entry deadline 7/1/17).
Summer Camp university of rhode island
Alton Jones 2017
KIDS & TEENS AGES 6 TO 17
Summer Camps Section in: SUMMER Providence Monthly CAMPS & COURSES Size: 1/8 page (horizontal) 4.375”w x 2.875”h
Pack a summer of adventure into each week!
2D, 3D, AND DIGITAL ART & DESIGN STEAM OFFERINGS, TOO! Full-day camps and half-day courses
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
CAMPS
For Young Designers 8-18
TEENS 12-18
July 17-22 or Aug 7-12
TWEENS 8-12 July 24-28
AT JOANN'S STORES WARWICK (BOOK WITH US ONLY)
Go to ProvidenceOnline.com for our camp directory
Learn To Sail! In Providence
“SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD, SO SHE DID.” -R.S. Grey See what your child can become at Lincoln camps this summer! ACTING | SURF | #LIKEABOSS | SQUASH GIRL ON A HIKE | SOCCER | TENNIS FIELD HOCKEY | SWIMMING AT AGAWAM
LINCOLNSCHOOL.ORG/CAMPS
PROJECTFASHIONWORKS.COM • 461-1962
Youth Summer Sailing Camp Adult Evening Lessons Too! NEW - Kayaks!
Learn more: 401.454.SAIL (7245) • www.communityboating.com
BEST HOOPS BASKETBALL CAMP AT BISHOP HENDRICKEN HS, WARWICK An exceptional camp experience for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels, led by Brown University’s varsity coaches, their staff and current Brown athletes. Baseball • Basketball • Fencing Field Hockey • Football • Ice Hockey Lacrosse • Rowing • Rugby • Soccer Squash • Swimming • Tennis Volleyball • Water Polo • Wrestling
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Sponsored by the Brown University Department of Athletics and Brown University Pre-College Programs. BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS CAMPS ARE OPEN TO ANY AND ALL ENTRANTS.
*The High School Level Has A More Advanced Schedule of Instruction. Separate instruction for girls
Camp Directors: Coach Steve Ceseretti & Coach Jamal Gomes
www.besthoopsbasketballcamp.com 463-6490 • besthoops@email.com
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
PROV I DEN CE P U LS E City / Scene in PVD
Photography by Tony Pacitti
WHAT WOULD ROGER DO? Our city’s founding father, Roger Williams, was a bit of a forward thinker for his day. He thought that church and state should be mutually exclusive, that the native inhabitants of the New World deserved to be treated as equals and that every man and woman should be allowed to worship any way they liked. Indeed, some of the United States’ core values as outlined in the Bill of Rights originated a century earlier than that document’s signing right here in Rhode Island. The Roger Williams National Memorial recently unveiled
its new permanent exhibit, New and Dangerous Opinions, to frame Williams’ liberal philosophies within a contemporary context. Debates that have defined our modern culture are put alongside examples of Williams’ advocacy for liberty of conscious and civil equality. The pairing illustrates how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go, and serves as a reminder that as long as people are willing to fight for it, progress will always be possible. 282 North Main Street. NPS.gov/ROWI
New and Dangerous Opinions, an exhibit at the Roger Williams National Memorial, reveals how the Rhode Island founder’s ideas are more relevant than ever
PUL SE
City
Striking the Right Chord
Not Your Ordinary Grade School Choir What happens when two
band geeks who grew up playing in garage bands are given the opportunity to teach elementary school music? The result would be East Providence’s Kids Rock Chorus. Not content with singing the likes of “Kumbaya “ and “This Old Man,” Taylor Temple and Nicholas Hurd founded the Kids Rock Chorus as a creative outlet. Since bringing contemporary music into their chorus classes, Taylor and Nick have seen a sort of School of Rock-esque embrace of the music they create with their students. Their covers have been shared by the likes of CeeLo Green, The Monkees, Daniel Johnston, Blind Melon, Soul Asylum and Bebe Rexha. But, even with the hype and attention, the Kids Rock Chorus is at its core a snapshot of what’s possible when music is made relevant and children are allowed to not just sing,
but fully enjoy and embrace the music they create. Following the success of “Hey Jude” at one of Taylor’s spring concerts, he and fellow music teacher, URI alum and childhood friend Nick teamed up to take that approach full scale and have their schools sing 100% popular music. “At that time each of us taught at two schools and had each school perform their own concert,” Nick says, “That following year we decided to combine our four schools to make it a much bigger event with a much larger audience.” In the future, Taylor hopes to take the Kids Rock Chorus concept to other classrooms, but for now, he and Nick will continue to prepare for their May 31 concert at East Providence High and put out videos on social media to welcome the world into their classroom. Facebook: Kids Rock Chorus –Adam Hogue
The East Providence Kids Rock Chorus brings pop music and attitude to their performances
Celebrating Rhode Island’s Tastiest Traditions
Mayor Elorza, C. Morgan Grefe of the RI Historical Society, Jack Martin of the Providence Public Library and First Gentleman Andy Moffit at the A La Rhody kickoff
14
PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
The fact that Rhode Island is one of the country’s culinary darlings shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone at this point. Whether it’s our restaurants earning national acclaim or putting a uniquely Rhody twist on regional trends (they’ve really been into barbeque lately), Rhode Islanders are always cooking up something amazing and they always have been; our past, particularly in the realm of aquaculture, is quite storied. Basically, our foodies, chefs, brewmasters and growers are all crazy talented. Everyone knows it, so in a delicious, year-long humblebrag, groups including the Providence Public Library, the Rhode Island Historical Society, the Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism, Discover Newport, the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau have teamed up to create A La Rhody, an ongoing events series that puts our state’s past, present and future food culture front and center. “Rhode Island’s food traditions are a large part of our state’s history and its food expertise will be a large part of our state’s future,” says First Gentleman Andy Moffit. “This collective effort showcases just how the culinary community is woven into the fabric of Rhode Island.” That collective effort bit is key, as A La Rhody isn’t just about authors or award-winning chefs. Rhode Islanders are encouraged to share their family recipes and traditions, which will be added to a digital cookbook and preserved by the Rhode Island Historical Society, on A La Rhody’s website. Just because your grandma never won a James Beard Foundation Award doesn’t mean her homemade spaghetti and clam sauce isn’t the bomb. ALaRhody.org –Tony Pacitti
Photo (top) courtesy of Ryan T. Conaty, (bottom) by Nicholas Millard courtesy of Go Providence
Good Eats
PUL PULSE SE
City
The Last Show on Earth
The Circus Comes to Providence for Its Curtain Call I don’t remember my first trip to the circus - or, at least, I don’t remember which one was the first one. My childhood memories of the bright lights, the daring acrobatics, the roaring animals that filled the Providence Civic Center are all a blur. A happy blur, uncomplicated by any of the things I would learn later about the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. There were women bedecked in sequins and feathers leading elephants through the arena, men doing dazzling motorcycle tricks inside a metal sphere, whole families sailing through the air on the flying trapeze. There was Gunther Gebel-Williams taming his tigers, coaxing them to jump through hoops of fire. We didn’t know then, or at least didn’t have any real proof, about the treatment of those animals. Sure, we heard rumors, but in the ‘80s, we didn’t have the access to information we have now. But also – and I think I’m speaking for more than just myself here – we didn’t want to know whether those rumors were true. The circus was all glamour and excitement, and when it left town for the year, I had a glossy picture book, something to write about in my school journal, and another plastic souvenir mug that once held a snow cone. Everything else, like that vague shadow in the back of my mind, was gone with the circus trains. Later, when we knew more about the animals’ living conditions, about what it took to get them to perform those tricks, about how elephants have feelings and families and memories like humans do, the
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performs for the last time in Providence from May 4–7
circus lost some of its shine, for me and for a lot of other people. But every time I saw those trains pull into Providence, I would still feel a spark of the excitement I used to feel sitting in the audience, being wowed by the greatest show on earth. There’s something really beautiful for me, and for countless other Rhode Island kids who have memories of the circus’s glory days, that the last stop on
the last-ever Ringling Bros. tour is happening in Providence, from May 4–7, at what is now The Dunkin’ Donuts Center (but what will forever be the Civic Center in our memory). The elephants are gone now, as are the most dangerous of the stunts, but I’m going to be in that audience one last time, snow cone in hand, in memory of the circus’s history, and of mine. Ringling.com –Julie Tremaine
Life Cylce
Two Wheels, 31 Days Pump up your tires and grease your spokes: it’s time for Bike Month
May is Bike Month, and with that comes a lineup of events that are – ahem – geared towards encouraging citizens of all ages and genders to embrace cycling culture. Workshops and classes will be offered throughout the month on bike maintenance and responsible cycling habits, and cyclists can join in on group rides like Bike to Breakfast and the Ride of Silence, which raises awareness for cyclists’ rights to the road. But the flagship event is Bike to Work Day on May 19, which is exactly what it sounds like. Fun fact: Mayor Elorza rides his bike to work, like, all the time. We don’t care how busy you are. If the mayor of a capital city can ride his bike to work, so can you. Adding to this year’s cause for celebration are planned improvements to bike paths and infrastructure all over the state. In March, state officials announced a number of bike-related projects that will be funded with $10 million from the $35 million Green Economy Bond, which Rhode Island voters agreed to on last November’s ballot. Among the projects announced are three extensions to the Blackstone Bikeway totaling $4.1 million that will add more than 2.5 miles to the bikeway. RIBike.org –Tony Pacitti May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
15
PUL SE
Scene in PVD
On March 15, we raised a toast to our 2017 Leading Ladies at The Dorrance. The event, co-sponsored by the PVD Lady Project, saw more than 100 inspiring women from all over Rhode Island come together for an evening of great music by WRIK Entertainment and a killer live performance from the Girls Rock! RI Ladies Rock Camp band. Photography by Blink of an Eye Photography
Touba Ghadessi, Katie Beebe, Pamela Baldwin, Lauren Foley and Tracy McLaughlin
Kristen Ullrich and Jeanne Abate
Laken Smith, Jenn Galyon and Tara Henriques
Knead Donuts
Megan Moran and Amy Newman
16
PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Hilary Jones, Tara Frye, Christin Cali and Crikkett Young
PUL PULSE SE
Scene in PVD
It was a delightfully mad time on April 1 at Amenity Aidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third annual Foolishly Fun Tea Party at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Warwick. Guests turned out for the Wonderland-themed fundraiser to support Amenity Aidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to provide essential hygiene products for homeless, at-risk and low-income members of the community. AmenityAid.org Photography by Mike Braca
Ruth Serrant, Manuela Birner and Ciara Faccenda
AJ Bothun and Lisa Letarte
Gabrielle Dworkin and Meryn Flynn
Erica Gebhart and Brittanny Taylor
Michael and Brittany Ryan
FREE ADMISSION all day
at the Museum of Natural History & Planetarium & Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
more info & a detailed schedule www.rwpconservancy.org Leslie Nevola, Liz Duggan, Lauren Silveira, Katie Politelli and Patsy Culp
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
17
Relax Like You Mean It SUMMER OF 2017
SEASON STARTS MAY 12
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Pawtuxet Village & Edgewood Shop, Dine and Be Charmed by this Historic Cranston Neighborhood
The Classic Man Barber Shop This truly classic style barbershop provides elite service for all of their clients for every age, from classic shaves to trendy cuts and everything in between. Their services include hot towel shaves, scissor cuts, fades, tapers, designs and traditional shaves. Priding themselves on the smoothest cuts and shaves, you can be confident that your hairstyle and fresh shave will leave you looking classic. Walk-in appointments are welcome. 2216 Broad Street, Cranston. 781-2389 TheClassicManRI@gmail.com
Save The Date: May 27, May 28, May 29
Gaspee Days Arts & Crafts Festival See handcrafted art from over 100 fine artisans and enjoy three days of outdoor shopping, dining and live music along the Narragansett Parkway in Warwick. Family friendly and free to the public.
The Imperial Room
Edgewood Wine & Spirits
Located in the historic Pawtuxet/Edgewood area, this event space can comfortably seat 180 guests with a dance floor or 200 guests without dancing. This beautiful room is the perfect setting for a wedding reception, corporate dinner, community gathering, holiday party, fundraiser, banquet, a birthday or an anniversary celebration. When hosting an important event, why not make it Imperial? One Rhodes Place, Cranston. 467-7102 RIShriners.com
This full-service liquor store with a robust wine selection is your one stop shop for the finest in adult beverages. Known for their knowledgeable, friendly and helpful staff and affordable prices, they also carry a wide selection of craft beers, including locally brewed options such as GreySail and Foolproof. Inquire about their free delivery service to boaters when travelling to the area by sea. 1992 Broad Street, Cranston. 785-2286, Facebook. com/Edgewood-Wine-and-Spirits
Noon Designs
Salon KG
Part shop, part artisan studio, Noon Designs features a curated selection of handmade jewelry, letterpress greeting cards, home goods, body products and more. Their thoughtful design aesthetic makes this one-of-a-kind business fun to browse. Each piece in in their collection is handmade with integrity using the highest quality materials, created by masters of their craft from around the country. Visit their storefront or shop online for their playful designs. 18 Post Road, Warwick. 455-1222, NoonDesignShop.com
The beautifully restored 19th century manor that houses this salon provides a fitting backdrop to beautify yourself. Staffed with ten hand-picked trusted professionals, this salon boasts a range of hairstyling services, including cuts, colors and foils, as well as a host of facials, nail, waxing, eyelash extensions, and makeup application. They also offer bridal party services at the salon as well as on location, making your special day even more spectacular. 2144 Broad Street, Cranston. 785-2144, SalonKG.com
Twice Told Tales Celebrating over 30 years, this unique shop is a must visit in Pawtuxet. They feature an eclectic array of clothing, including Habitat Clothes’ newest line, as well as jewelry and accessories to match. The boutique also offers books by local authors, plus cards and gifts crafted by local artisans. With popular brands such Trollbeads and Crabtree & Evelyn, there’s something for every shopper. An independently owned business offering locally crafted wares makes shopping here twice as nice. 2145 Broad Street, Cranston. 785-9599, TwiceToldTalesRI.com
Village Nail and Spa Whether you have lackluster nails or just need a little glam, you’re in good hands here. This full service nail spa offers full sets, white tips, full and gel manicures and pedicures, shellac and spa pedicures. In addition to their vast array of affordable nail services, this sparkling salon prides itself on precision, giving you plenty of time to shop and stroll the area for the rest of the day. They also offer gift certificates, as well as convenient parking. Walkin appointments are welcome. 2197 Broad Street, Cranston. 781-4347
RAPTOR CITY Hawk-eyed photographer Peter Green believes Providence is for the birds By Tony Pacitti • Photos Courtesy of Peter Green Peregrine falcons might have the most enviable view in town from their nest atop the Superman Building
Peter Green, the photographer behind Providence Raptors, is pointing up towards the Superman Building. He’s directing me to a tiny white-ish square on the edge of the building’s exterior. It’s not really something that you’d notice, even from our current vantage point atop the Peerless Building. It’s not a particularly exciting piece of hardware. Suddenly a group of pigeons flying near the building do a chaotic about-face, flying from it as fast as they can. “There, you see how they’re all going nuts?” he says. “Chances are they spotted one of the falcons.” Peregrine falcons have been the Superman Building’s lone tenants since Bank of America left. They nest high on the building, up where there’s nothing but clear sky between them and their unsuspecting prey. Back to the teeny square he was pointing out: it’s WPRI’s Live View camera. Earlier that day Peter had spotted a falcon perched on top of it. If the camera’s not much of an attention grabber from that distance, consider the falcon: nothing but a speck. But like the birds he captures with his camera, Peter’s got a sharp eye.
Peter came to Providence ten years ago and was among the first group of tenants to move into the Peerless Building lofts. You’d think someone who has happily become an authority on city-dwelling birds of prey would have picked the high corner apartment specifically because of its views overlooking downcity and the falcons’ high-rise home. “I didn’t really care much about birds at all,” he says, laughing. Peter just happened to move into the perfect spot to observe these wild animals in their unlikely urban environment. “I would start to notice from my window when pigeons would get together in a big flock. Then I’d see one of them go off on its own. I took out some binoculars and it wasn’t a pigeon, it was something I didn’t recognize tearing a pigeon apart.” He explains the carnage that unfolded – feathers flying, blood dripping down the brick of the Dorrance building. A falcon grabbing some lunch. Soon after that he stumbled upon a hawk eating in Burnside Park. He was hooked. For almost a decade Peter’s been documenting
Providence’s native raptors through his photography. Odds are you’ve come across his shots, even if you aren’t following Providence Raptors on Facebook or Instagram. They tend to get a lot of shares, which makes sense; when most of us think of urban wildlife, we aren’t thinking of majestic hawks swooping through Kennedy Plaza or a young kestrel – a kind of small hawk – posing in front of a graffiti covered brick wall. For all of us sharing his work on social media, it’s exciting to discover these creatures on our familiar streets. “A blue sky could be anywhere in the world,” he says, “that’s why I like the urban setting.” For him, it’s about establishing a sense of place. Because of his photos he’s become the go-to guy for bird-related questions and concerns. When neighbors in his building see an owl, they text Peter. If someone finds an injured bird in the city, they track down the “raptor guy.” “There was one rescue where a bird wasn’t being fed by the mother and someone found it on the street,” he explains. “I went and picked him up, and
FalconTV Mama Peregrine laid her first eggs at the end of March, which typically take 30 days to hatch. Three weeks later the Audubon Society will visit the nest to weigh, measure and band, adding identifying labels to the ankles of the new birds. Keep tabs on them through Audubon’s live This shot of a young kestrel sums up why Peter Green loves shooting these birds in a city: they pop up in unlikely places
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
24-hour webcam at ASRI.org
while I was waiting for the clinic to come get him from me, someone came up and said, ‘Oh wow, is that one of the falcons? You should call Peter Green, he’d know what to do.’” He’s developed relationships that afford him access he could have only dreamed of when he started. He knows the owner of the Turk’s Head building, so he’s been allowed on the roof. Recently he finally got permission to get up on top of the Biltmore. For years, its iconic red sign had been teasing him just outside his window. “It was torture,” he says. “I could see a tiny little falcon up there but I couldn’t get close.” Work he’s done with the Audubon Society has spread awareness and understanding, particularly of the peregrines who nest on the Superman Building. Now, instead of snapping shots from his rooftop, Peter gets to accompany Audubon every spring when they band the newly hatched birds, which he’ll document on his site. But one of the most rewarding relationships he's developed has been with Born to Be Wild, the Westerly-based rescue center that focuses exclusively on birds of prey. In 2014, hawks were roosting on top of exhaust pipes at the Johnston landfill that would periodically expel burning hot gas. Born to Be Wild took in two hawks that were perfectly healthy, but had all of their feathers burned off. Peter documented the six-month recovery process, and together with Born to Be Wild was able to work out a plan with the landfill to install perches that would be more appealing to the hawks. There haven’t been any incidents since. These are the kind of rewards that Peter gets excited about. He’s not in it for the Facebook likes or the reshares. He does this because he’s come to love these creatures that he has met, of all places, in the heart of the city. Down in his apartment, Peter shows off the view from his workspace. Out of the window to the right is the Superman Building and its falcons; to the left is a view of City Hall. Out of that left window Peter has a perfect view of the corner of the building next to his, where pigeons – lots and lots of pigeons – build their nests. That’s where those little hawks – kestrels – make out like bandits by slipping in and making off with that sweet, sweet pigeon meat. It’s like an all-they-can-catch buffet, he tells me. And the shots he captures are only what he’s lucky enough to observe. He’s not at his window 24/7, and the idea of what happens when he’s not watching seems just as exciting to him. As he tells me about the kestrels, a few things catch his eye out the other window. Nothing, it turns out, worth grabbing the camera for, but just like his sharp-eyed raptors, Peter’s always on the lookout. I ask him where his favorite spot to shoot is and he smiles. I know the answer is going to be the room we’re standing in. “It’s amazing. I can't say it enough.” He’s not wrong. It is a spectacular view. ProvidenceRaptors.com
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THOUGHT COUTURE RISD students’ mindful designs hit the runway for Collection 2017 By Kim Tingle
The 18 seniors about
Design by: Daniel Cloke
Design by: Kylie Mara
to graduate from RISD’s Apparel Design Department have been working tirelessly as they prepare to debut their creations at Collection 2017. For the past four years, these students have been in a program designed to meet the highest requirements of the industry. On May 13 they will have the chance to showcase their skills, innovation and originality to a jury of respected fashion professionals. The long-standing fashion show and community event will have a new location this year, moving to Brown University’s George V. Meehan Auditorium. Department Head Neil Gilks explains that, “the move to the Meehan Auditorium offers a larger runway and more immersive experience for attendees.” Neil describes Collection 2017 as a, “diverse approach with visually rich and thought-provoking offerings fueled by the students’ creative freedom, allowing them to explore what is important to them.” Giving us a glimpse into the show, he reveals that “senior students are utilizing their collections to raise important timely issues and underline the need for change. This is their platform to address their ethics and design language.” Each year the panel that critiques the seniors’ collections consists of highly accomplished designers and fashion industry professionals with varying concentrations. Panelists are selected based on their vast experience in the industry and their ability to offer guidance to the students, as well as to open doors post graduation. Involved throughout the collection-building process, they offer their insights and professional opinions to the Apparel Design seniors in conversations leading up to the show – bringing, as Neil puts it, “encyclopedic knowledge of the entire industry past, present and future.” This critical feedback ultimately helps the students determine which of their garments make it to the runway. Critics have included design directors from Diane Von Furstenburg and J. Crew, fashion news directors from runway magazines such as Elle, and leading designers including Tommy Hilfiger and RISD alumni Nicole Miller and Robert Geller. The panel of guest critics for the 2017 show will include Sara Kozlowski, a fashion design strategist for the Council of Fashion Designers of America; Lisa Z. Morgan, a British artist, designer and writer; Dean Sidaway, an artist and educator at the Pratt Institute; and Kate Wallace, the design director of Women’s Knits, Sweaters and Cold Weather Accessories for Club Monaco. Collection, says Neil, “offers the exposure of ideas and frames the time-honed craftsmanship” of the Apparel Design senior students. But most importantly, the show is an “arena to provoke questioning and the exchange of perspectives.” This is the students’ chance to display their technical and conceptual skills, as well as their unique, personal creations. Many of the collections are inspired by their life experiences, with their hearts and souls sewn into every stitch. One senior’s collection will be a tribute to the liberation her mother experienced years after leaving Communist China. Another senior will feature corset boning in each look of her collection, a restrictive force symbolizing her concern about the current administration. Another will investigate the intersection between queer identity and fatherhood. One collection will challenge stereotypes of modern black men. Another will focus on gender-equal garments. As clothes, style, trends and design thinking have adapted over time, Neil explains, “the core of the show is the celebration of a
Design by: Paige Ryan
Design by: Teagan Lindsay
dedicated practice.” Another constant of the show has been the years of support from David Shwaery and Gerry Hammel of Squires Salon. Over the past two decades they’ve created the model’s runway looks; Neil expresses his true appreciation for, “their commitment in supporting us and the next generation of design thinkers.” Although nothing can compare to the amount of work and preparation that goes into building a collection for a runway show in the real world, Neil is well aware that the Apparel Design students understand “the need for commitment and execution of the highest standards.” He would like to think that, “collectively, the Apparel department is arming the students with the technical, creative, problem solving and communication skills that will aid their progression into their chosen fields post RISD, forming the basis of a fulfilling career.” Many AP Graduates, even those from the class of 2016, are already pursuing their passions, from research to entrepreneurship. Collection 2017 may be your only chance to see these designers without having to “periscope,” an industry term for having to watch the runway through your smartphone at a show. That is, if you’re even able to get a seat at their show in the first place.
May 13 with shows at 4pm and 7pm at the George V. Meehan Auditorium at Brown University. 225 Hope Street. RISD.edu/Collection
STYLISH ALUMNI RISD’s Apparel Design alumni have gone on to become some of the most well-known names in the fashion industry, including: • American fashion icon Nicole Miller (AP ‘73), who built a clothing line and then branched into furniture and home products, eventually becoming an entire lifestyle brand. • Tae Ashida (AP ‘87), daughter of legendary designer Jun Ashida, whose work has been used in uniforms for major corporations, including at Tokyo Disneyland. • Marcia Patmos (AP ‘91), who was honored with the 2015 International Woolmark Prize for women’s wear, which included international distribution at Harvey Nichols and Saks Fifth Avenue. • Tess Giberson (AP ‘96), who began her career at Calvin Klein and later launched her own collection, earning her one of the first Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation awards. • Nicole Romano (AP ‘00), a former intern for Nicole Miller, whose jewelry has been worn by many trendy celebrities, including the cast of Sex and the City. • Robert Geller (AP ‘01), who began as an intern at Marc Jacobs, eventually launching his own line that earned him GQ’s 2009 award for “Best New Designer in America.” • Sally Lapointe (AP ‘06), who has dressed celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. • Alumni with top positions at leading design houses, including Vanessa Pang (AP ’95), senior design director for Michael Kors Men’s Collections, and Julia Han (AP ’15), assistant designer at Calvin Klein.
Design by: Layla Saito
Design by: Redat Davison
19 Sanderson Road Smithfield 949.4849 @FLAUNTRI www.FlauntRI.com
Five things that need to happen to make Providence even more awesome By Julie Tremaine • Illustrations by Meghan H. Follett
IF WE’RE BEING HONEST, Rhode Island is kind of killing it these days. We have huge corporations promising to bring jobs and tax revenue into the state in the next year, like Johnson & Johnson, GE and Virgin Prime. We’re finally getting smart about capitalizing on the things that make us wonderfully weird, like the way we’re leveraging our aquaculture, and the fact that Autocrat just broke ground on a multimillion-dollar research and development facility… for the science of coffee milk. Our current unemployment rate is below the national average, for the first time in 12 years. A lot of this progress, in fairness to critics and supporters alike, is due to Governor Raimondo’s generous incentives to encourage business development, including big tax breaks. A lot of it, though, is unarguably Providence, and the quality of life the city offers. And while we’re pretty awesome, we could be better, especially in our small town mentality and big picture thinking, and specifically when it comes to downtown. Here are five things that are in the works – or should be – that are going to improve the city center and sustain the progress we’re making towards being a truly great city.
Photography by Tony Pacitti
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A more accessible, rider-friendly RIPTA would go a long way to break Providence’s “drive everywhere” mentality
We need to think smarter about transportation.
Anyone who’s lived in Providence for a long time will tout the city’s driveability as one of its best assets. It only takes 10 minutes to drive anywhere in the city! There’s free valet everywhere! Anyone who is new to the city, especially people who have come here by way of the bigger cities we’re trying to catch up to, thinks this is absolutely insane. They can’t understand why anyone would drive from the East Side or the West Side to downtown, when it basically takes the same amount of time to walk as it does to drive and park. They can’t understand why this city doesn’t quite
get biking, or embrace public transportation. Yes, we’ve got a small town mentality when it comes to our cars – but we’ve historically been so attached to automobiles that cultivating other, better methods of transport hasn’t really been a priority for the city. It would be easier to lessen our dependence on cars, though, if we had better bike lanes, and the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition has been lobbying for those for years. In January, the City announced that Providence had been chosen as one of 10 cities to benefit from The Big Jump Project, which brings in national experts to advise us on cultivating bike networks and building better
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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infrastructure for bicycling. Their work here will focus on the City Walk corridor, currently under development, which will eventually connect eight Providence neighborhoods by pedestrian and bike paths from Roger Williams Park to India Point. Partly because of the ride-sharing explosion over the last few years, and partly because it’s not that convenient, RIPTA’s ridership has been steadily decreasing. Last month, they announced a plan to add more routes with the goal of boosting ridership, and routing fewer lines through Kennedy Plaza. The new transit corridor will have hubs at the train station and Rhode Island Hospital, with buses running every five minutes. At each of six stops along the route, there will be shelters, ticket machines, arrival clocks and bike share stations, which will hopefully be the seed of a citywide bike share program.
Photography by Tony Pacitti
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Plaza, but the City is also utilizing more of Providence’s natural creative resources, and in a better way. “To further the Mayor’s idea of having this be more like South by Southwest, we’ve added a maker faire this year,” says Emily Crowell, Director of Communications at City Hall. “We’ve gotten interest from all along the East Coast from makers who want to participate.” That’s happening in partnership with AS220, and there are curators organizing stages throughout the event. A Lively Experiment, an ideas conference, is happening at URI’s downtown campus. There’s also going to be a community dinner in Burnside Park, a Global Food Village (including a pop-up Rhode Island Oyster Festival) and a public tour of the Woonasquatucket River Corridor. The expansion outside of downtown is particularly smart. Sunday, the day after the downtown festivities, there’s going to be a second day of art and music at the Dexter Training Grounds by the Cranston Street Armory, including a FirstWorks musical project and a concert by Community MusicWorks.
We need to take PVDFest to the next level.
When Mayor Elorza held the first PVDFest, in 2015, thousands of people packed the streets for what was a major success for a first-year festival. While the consensus was that it was a great first try a marquee event that could (maybe) one day have the prestige and national draw of something like South by Southwest, the detractors - this is Rhode Island, after all - complained that there was too much of a focus on national acts, and that to truly be a PVD festival, it had to put Providence’s creativity at the forefront. Then, last year, when the second PVDFest substantially scaled back its national performers and focused the majority of the festival on local talent, the festival felt smaller. While it was a good time, people seemed to agree, it felt more like a block party than a major event, and tsk, tsk, that’s not the kind of thing that attracts national attention. So, what happens next month at the third PVDFest? Clearly, we can’t have it all: an event that encapsulates current Providence while drawing the big, marquee attention that famous performers can. We don’t know the answer, but we’re getting closer. This year’s event, June 1-4, is partnering with FirstWorks to bring in major acts like Bandaloop, who are once again dancing through the air in Kennedy
3
We need to become a national event destination.
Basically, the formula for scalable events is this: if it’s a niche event that has a built-in audience, it takes off. If it’s an event like PVDFest, or EatDrinkRI, the food festival that happened at the end of April, the public interest stays too narrowly within the city. When Rhode Island Comic Con started in 2012, it’s doubtful anyone expected it to be the first event to
Striking the right balance between showcasing local talent and national spectacle will make PVDFest the marquee event it aspires to be
ever shut down the Convention Center for being over capacity. Comic Con has exploded over the last five years, bringing in huge celebrities. They’ve already announced appearances by major cast members of The Walking Dead and Stranger Things, and the event isn’t until November. This August, Necronomicon, an H.P. Lovecraft convention that attracts the horror writer’s acolytes from all over the world, is throwing its biennial celebration. It started in 2013 with an impressive 1300 attendees, and given the surge in popularity for Cthulhu and the rest of Lovecraft’s monsters lately, it looks like this year is going to be bigger than ever. Hasbro, capitalizing on the national boom in niche conventions, is launching HasCon this fall, from September 8-10 at the Convention Center. It’s going to feature mega-brands like Transformers, My Little Pony and Magic: The Gathering, and all signs point to HasCon being another major niche event happening in the city. Beyond that, it just feels like a big step forward that a major company is choosing Providence to launch a marquee event. “Hasbro has been headquartered in Rhode Island since our founding in 1923, and we are excited to welcome fans and families to our hometown for the most memorable Hasbro fan-mily experience ever,” says Jane Ritson-Parsons, Group Executive of Hasbro Brands. But, we shouldn’t be able to count
events of this scale on just one hand. Rhode Island has a lot more things that are worth attracting a national audience. And yes, people have heard about “that Fire Water thing” all over the country, but we need to position WaterFire as a bucket list item for people outside of Rhode Island. That all comes down to tourism dollars. “It’s easy to market our festival within the state,” says David Dadekian of EatDrinkRI. “People here get it. We’ve been trying to do that externally, and that hasn’t been easy. The Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau does a great job with the resources that they have, but I’m not sure I see that from the state side. State tourism needs more, and they need to do a better job. There’s a clear economic value to spending more on tourism.” Since the tourism debacle last year involving The Temperatures that Shan’t Be Named, RI Tourism has kept a low profile with its efforts to regroup and restrategize. As of press time, there are reportedly three new groups involved, that will roll out a soft summer marketing plan and debut something larger for the fall, but there’s no official word just yet.
4
We need to be able to host more visitors.
The buzzword this year when it comes to change in the city has unarguably been: hotels. Right now, there are five in the works, expected to add 500 hotel rooms by 2018: a Homewood Suites, which has broken ground near Kennedy Plaza; a Best Western just off the west side of the highway; a Holiday Inn on Pine Street; a Marriott where the Fogarty
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Building on Fountain Street is currently being demolished; and the hotel that’s part of the Wexford Science & Technology development on the 195 land. The Wexford project – one building for startuporiented office space, and the other for a hotel with a first-floor restaurant and an outdoor area designed for public events like concerts and farmers markets – is still in approvals. As of press, it just passed a major milestone, and optimists are hoping it will usher in a new wave of jobs and commerce for the city. On an average Saturday night, our hotels are over 90 percent booked. When large events happen, like a graduation weekend or a festival, visitors need to book in Warwick, or in Massachusetts. According to Martha Sheridan, president of the Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, that’s a detractor for high-profile conventions who are considering hosting events in the city. “Engineering, scientific and marine trade conventions would prefer to keep their delegates closer so they can walk to the Convention Center,” Martha says. Those added rooms “allow us to go after larger, more lucrative groups that boost our economic development.” The math is simple: more people come to the city, so they spend more in the city, not just at hotels, but in restaurants and shops that keep residents’ quality of life high, too. “We’ve not seen growth in hotel capacity for several years now,” she says, “and most of the region has. The fact that we’ve got five developers investing in hotel projects in Providence shows they’re
bullish on the hospitality industry, and that’s a very positive sign.”
5
We need to create a better downtown experience. When it comes to talking about improvements to Providence, the elephant in the room is really more of the elephant in downtown: Kennedy Plaza. The city’s transportation hub – well, it isn’t great. Though RIPTA did a major overhaul to bus stops and traffic patterns a few years ago, the better lighting and signage didn’t really change the experience of walking through Kennedy Plaza and not quite feeling safe, especially at night, when the illicit activity is more pronounced. For Dan Baudouin of The Providence Foundation, which runs the Downtown Improvement District, Kennedy Plaza’s improvements hinge on, “RIPTA reducing their bus presence in the short term, and building the bus hub by the train station in the long term. We want to have good bus service, we just don’t want Kennedy Plaza to be a major transfer hub.” The Downtown Improvement District works with The Downtown Parks Conservancy to make sure Kennedy Plaza
and Burnside Park are “clean, landscaped and secure,” Dan says. “It’s not unsecure now, but any time there are a lot of people coming through a space, there are going to be a lot of issues.” The Downtown Parks Conservancy plans programming throughout the warm weather, including food trucks, beer gardens, children’s story hours and concerts. “The idea that it’s not safe is a lot more about pushing agendas,” says Cliff Wood, executive director of the DPC. “I waited 30 minutes at a food truck today. People are definitely there. We’re not Central Park, but we’re making a lot happen with a little. The notion that Kennedy Plaza and Burnside Park are dangerous is not acknowledging the incremental progress we‘ve made.” He hints that there’s a major grant about to be announced, but is not public information as of press. Whether it’s about the messaging or it’s about the experience, it’s clear that the quality of the heart of downtown is central to the Providence experience, whether you’re a visitor or a resident. “We’re starting to look at all the parks as a network,” Dan Baudouin says. “With the 195 Commission building two new parks and the pedestrian bridge, there’s a lot of talk about how to coordinate and manage a downtown parks system.” “It’s very important,” he says. “It’s not just a nice thing to have. It’s a necessity for economic development. People and companies, when they’re choosing a location, really want to have a great environment. We need to have great parks and great public spaces downtown.”
Photo by Rachel Hulin
The Downtown Improvement District works to maintain downtown’s public spaces, which are valuable assets in attracting new businesses and residents
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are always vets, dentists, horse massage therapists here giving the kids demonstrations.” At the end of each week, the kids have a show demonstrating to family and friends all they have learned on the farm’s safe, patient and well-trained school horses. Faith Hill Farm also offers birthday parties and other events. Pam trained extensively in Germany, and is an accomplished rider, winning medals from the U.S. Dressage Federation. With 18 years coaching at the collegiate level for IHSA and IDA teams, Pam has coached countless students, adults and children alike to regional and national championship awards. The farm’s program includes two assistant trainers who bring an extensive background in eventing and hunt seat equitation. “Being involved with horses develops such depth of character in a person,” Pam says. “It takes hard work, dedication and perseverance. Horses demand a standard of behavior and levels of kindness that we as humans then strive to maintain.”
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C I T Y ST Y L E At Home / Shop Talk / The Look / Beauty / Get Fit
DRAMATIC BY DESIGN Matthew Goldberg and his partner Robert live with their dog Tutti in a mid-century home in the Dean Estates in Cranston. Matthew works for Entertainment Cinemas and Theatre by the Sea in Matunuck.
“I wanted the light fixture to be an art piece that hangs in the room,” he says. “There’s a lot of detail on it.” The trim is from Stout and d’Kie and the fabric is by Maxwell. Jewels hang down through the middle – but the beads were $12 on Amazon. “If you see something you love in a magazine or Pinterest, you can always find things that are comparable and cost effective.”
“This wallpaper by Anita Vella Kashmir just spoke to me. I love the patterns,” Matthew says. “Wallpaper has come a long way. You can get creative and you can find certain things affordably, once you start working. I work with Adler’s Hardware a lot. They have great wall coverings. You could be there for days.”
“In addition to entertainment work, we do a lot of property management, so we work with a lot of homes and movie theatres,” Matthew says. “I’m passionate about interiors and inviting, comfortable space.”
Tutti, their adopted Havanese-terrier mix, is a member of the family. “She’s like a cat,” Matthew says. “She’s very loving. This is how she is all the time. She also likes to sit on the window seat and watch the squirrels.”
Photography by Mike Braca
“We like clean lines and bold components to a room,” Matthew says, but he always emphasizes comfort, including the soft, custom pillows by Lulu DK Fabric from Sew Many Things in East Greenwich. “They do upholstery, but they have every fabric you can think of.” When he and Robert moved in, they took down walls to create an open-concept living space that’s both relaxing and perfect for entertaining.
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CITY STY LE
The Look
by Amanda M. Grosvenor
Adam Olenn
Photography by Stacey Doyle
Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Moses Brown School My style education is courtesy of my wife, Jennifer, who worked in fashion publishing in New York City. She taught me that style is another kind of composing – a visual composition, like taking a picture. I do a lot of photography as Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Moses Brown, and fashion is making a sort of living image. Humans are massively visual creatures, and we make snap decisions. So putting a little attention into the artistry of ‘What do I want your first thought to be when encountering me?’ is not misplaced. As a branding and marketing guy, I know that everyone will find a hook for you; if you
don’t choose it, they’ll choose for you. Put some thought into it: does it fit the environment? Does it say what you’d like to say? And it can’t be fake. I actually started wearing bow ties in high school here, and when I was preparing for this job, I thought: ‘Bow tie guy’ will be the easy way for people to identify me. I started wearing one every day to work. I probably own about 50. I got to where my hands can tie them automatically, without a mirror. I hear the word ‘dapper’ a lot. A bit of Southern charm in the North? Definitely. A light or seersucker suit and a mint julep? Absolutely. I loved
my undergraduate years at UVA; there is so much about the South to love. In some ways I’m shooting for the Garden and Gun magazine aesthetic: refined, but a little down-home. Not snooty. Skating the seam between civilized and rustic. One last piece of advice from Jen: get a tailor. Whether you’re built like a wedge of pie, a pear, a stick or a block, if the clothes fit well, they make you look great and feel great. Take anything off the rack from Target or Old Navy, and if it fits right, your happiness and confidence are the things people notice more than anything else. MosesBrown.org
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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CI T Y S T Y L E
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Get the mood lighting and post-work meditation you want from your favorite bar without that pesky hangover at All That Matters’ Candlelight Flow Yoga class
Normally, if I’m heading downtown at 9 o’clock on a Thursday night… well, to quote the great Levon Helm, I ain’t in it for my health. Those are peak hours for boozing and carousing and not normally given over to exercise. The evening is for bars, not barres. Sometimes, however, my liver needs a break – or maybe I’m looking for a less expensive and calorie-rich nighttime activity, or just didn’t have time to work out earlier in the day. In those circumstances I could choose to visit the 24-hour Planet Fitness (I’m still curious to see who’s there at 2am) or risk an after-dark run in the streets. But I recently discovered a new option: Candlelight Flow Yoga at All That Matters. Over the past two decades plus, All That Matters has become a mini-empire of yoga and holistic wellness in Rhode Island. It began in 1995 in downtown Wakefield and now boasts locations in East Greenwich and Providence, offering more than 100 different yoga and meditation classes every week, plus health services (acupuncture, reiki, massage, etc.) and a retail store at the original Wakefield location. The Providence studio opened in 2015, but in February of this year it expanded into the empty space next door, adding a second yoga space and bathroom along with a reception/ retail area. (Coincidentally, the expansion puts All That Matters in the
former Fain’s Rug storefront where, once upon a time, this magazine’s offices were housed.) Erika Lucas, a yoga instructor and reflexologist, manages the Providence location and teaches the Candlelight Flow class. The cozy yoga studio looking out onto North Main Street is softly lit and immediately projects calm. Through partially covered windows you can see hints of people passing to and fro on their way to the bars and feel comfortable in the knowledge that you’re making a better choice for your body (or perhaps just preemptively alleviating some guilt before joining them at the bar). This is first and foremost a flow class, so the focus is on connecting movements and breathing in order to work the body and release tension. The Candlelight class is on the gentle side – a slow pace and no complex positions – so it’s a great choice for relative novices like me. At times it’s still challenging enough to produce a light sweat, but the meditative vibe means that the overall effect is more about unwinding and caring for oneself than a vigorous workout. Erika took our small group through more than an hour of simple poses and movement, one flowing into another, and never allowed us to lose focus on
mindful breathing. She was a calming presence with a soothing voice, guiding us through each phase, but offering gentle encouragement to disregard her instructions if necessary and do what felt natural for our bodies instead. Not feeling upward facing dog? Opt for a simple plank or feel free to go right back to downward facing dog. After taking us through the entire set, Erika devoted a considerable – and welcome – amount of time to postworkout relaxation. She demonstrated how to create a makeshift recliner from yoga blocks and bolster pillows and instructed us to lie back, close our eyes and just breathe. Meanwhile, she made her way around the room, gently nudging us to make way for another block or pillow, or draping blankets over our legs. By the time we opened our eyes, she had essentially built each of us our own personal wellness-enhancing pillow fort. I’ve tried a number of yoga classes and enjoyed them all, but I’ve never encountered an instructor so attentive to comfort and hospitality. Now fully stretched and soothed, we gathered our belongings and headed back into the night, wherever it would take us. What cocktail pairs well with warrior pose?
All That Matters 128 North Main Street • 782-2126 • AllThatMatters.com
Photography by Ian Travis Barnard
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CITY STY LE
Shop Talk
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Proven Results With Stacey Herman of SkinCeuticals Tell us about SkinCeuticals. SkinCeuticals is a clinical grade skincare brand, based on decades of skin cancer research. They’re known in the industry as the antioxidant authority. It’s skincare backed by science. We truly believe it’s the best anti-aging product around!
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How do you work with the brand? In addition to being an aesthetician, I am the Account Executive for the brand. I work with dermatologists, plastic surgeons and high-end spas in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, training them on how to partner skincare with inoffice treatments to offer patients enhanced results while helping the office grow. We are a true authority in the skincare market, and were recently ranked the #1 medicallydispensed skincare line. Our main goal is to change someone’s skin and improve their life.
It’s hard to think of Thayer Street shopping without thinking of Berk’s Shoes. That’s probably because they’ve been outfitting the East Side with trendy kicks for over four decades. The history of Berk’s actually goes all the way back to 1900 in Burrillville, owner Steven Berk shares, where his grandfather opened the original family shoe store location. A Moses Brown alum, Steven moved the family business to the current Thayer Street location after graduating college in the mid-’70s.
In the time since, he’s seen trends evolve from disco-era platform heels to Birkenstocks and everything in between. Having a wide customer base including both lifelong East Siders and college students, Berk’s carries shoes, clothing and accessories for all walks of life, from casual comfort to dressier options. For both women and men, today’s trends are now leaning towards earthier basic styles both affordably priced and built to last. With brands such as Birkenstock and Converse currently in high demand, you can
expect to find an array of athletic styles that can be worn just for fun. Carrying fresh new designs each month, the warm weather will also bring an increased selection of sandals and flip-flops. After 117 years, they’re still keeping the family tradition alive. Steven’s daughter Lauren has joined the business and is involved with most decisions, including which styles to carry. After years of trendy shoes and happy soles, it’s no wonder that Berk’s is a staple of Providence style.
Berk’s Sh oes & Clothing 272 Thayer Street• 831-0174 • BerkStore.com
What do doctors say? Dr. Sarah Levy of Facial Aesthetics Center in East Greenwich loves our products. “The SkinCeuticals company, and Stacey in particular, strongly believes in educating physicians and skincare professionals in the science behind their products,” she says. “SkinCeuticals has excellent clinical-grade products, and in my practice we create a personalized regimen for each patient, using those products, often with additional procedures like lasers and peels. Patients see improvement within weeks.”
SkinCeuticals 219-6917 SkinCeuticals.com May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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CI T Y S T Y L E Interested in
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Take a Load Off The Weight of the World Massage can combat pretty much any stress life throws at you When I got to Harmony on Hope, I had had a headache for, oh, about a month. A really full month that included packing up a house for a cross-country move, a weekend trip to North Carolina to chase around my favorite toddler, a bout of (what I’m definitely sure was) typhoid, and a lot of first-one-in, last-one-out days at the office in between. I was more than tired: I was totally run down and exhausted to my bones. You might be able to guess why I was particularly excited to have a Weight of the World Massage at Harmony on Hope. The studio’s philosophy is that massage isn’t just a luxury, it’s a part of whole body wellness. I had had a massage at their previous location, and as I trudged up the stairs to their new front door near Hope High School with an overfull purse on my shoulder, I had high hopes that I’d leave feeling a little bit less like roadkill and a little bit more like my usual self. Kelly DeNicolo Huggins, who owns HOH with Shannon Sexton Potter, greeted me in a tranquil waiting room with walls the color of the ocean and an installation of art made from birch boughs. It was a major step up from their previous location. The women designed the Weight of the World to ease chronic tension in the neck, shoulders and back. It’s for people who spend their days at a desk, typing away and squinting at a screen – like me and pretty much everyone else I know. Kelly started me out on my back and began with light compression on my face and scalp, especially near my eyes. When she first put her thumbs under my brow bone, in the hollow against my nose, I was a little surprised – but when I felt the tension in my forehead start to calm down, I knew I was going to be in for a really therapeutic 75 minutes. She moved on to gentle neck stretches, using slow, light strokes that were rhythmic and repetitious. “The movements follow your exhalation,” Kelly explained, “but they also encourage it to deepen.” Her hands moved in time with the chill music, which was mostly ladies with guitars
and soothing voices. The music was a deliberate choice, she said. “I like to try to match the legato tempo of the music, with strokes varied in pressure the more you begin to relax.” Once I turned over, Kelly devoted her attention to my shoulders, neck and arms. The time she spent working on the muscles in my poor, tired wrists felt like I was in heaven. I’d never had a massage before that so specifically addressed my life stresses, rather than just promising a vague idea of relaxation that, while nice, faded about a minute after I left the treatment room. Kelly
worked quite a lot on the muscles in my back that felt “stuck,” she said, and finished the service with a warm towel to really relax them. Those 75 minutes felt like a space out of time, and I had a bit of a struggle pulling myself back into real life after existing on that cloud. I apologized to Kelly as I was leaving. “I usually have better questions,” I said to her, “but my brain is a little foggy at the moment.” A good kind of foggy, though. The best kind. I took that relaxation home with me, gave myself the evening to relax, and woke up the next morning feeling better than I had in weeks.
Harmony on Hope 335 Hope Street • 270-8877 • HarmonyOnHopeMassage.com
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A European Oasis The Villa, a luxury home in Lincoln, has distinctly Old World inspiration The Villa isn’t your average Rhode Island home. It’s a palatial Mediterranean Revival estate, with fine European details around every corner. Housed on three and a half acres, in Lincoln’s exclusive Estates at Dennell, this home offers the best of both worlds: total seclusion, just a short drive away from the city. It was developed by Yelena and Vladimir Suslovich of ZS Real Estate Investments. “I just wanted to create a very European, modern home,” Yelena says. “Something completely different.” The Villa’s architecture feels totally modern, though it’s inspired by classical European design, and built with imported materials. It boasts a hand-fashioned brick facade, soaring ceilings and two travertine marble fountains. Walking into the grand foyer, you immediately see a crystal chandelier reflecting light onto the silk wallpaper. Beyond, the great room features a hand-carved marble fireplace with gold leaf and wrought iron accents, illuminated by floor
to ceiling windows. Hanging above the dining room is an amber Murano hand-blown glass chandelier, Rasch-papered walls and a mother of pearl accent wall. In the chef’s kitchen, a Wolf appliance suite includes a gas cooktop, double oven, steam oven, drawer microwave, built-in coffee system, sub-zero refrigerator and a dual-temperature wine cooler, all complemented by a mother of pearl ceiling and backsplash, quartz countertops and custom Italian cabinets. The entertainment room has a custom mahogany pool table and a 100” theatre screen, and the library has built-in bookshelves and mahogany floors. “Because the house is so big, the main thing was to create something that has almost zero upkeep,” Yelena explains. “With the materials and the quality we’ve put in, the marble and stone won’t need any repainting or retouching in years to come.” The bedroom suites – there are four or five – have views of the estate’s grounds, and each has a
private bath. The master suite, in a private wing, has mahogany wood floors, hand-plastered ceilings and a sitting room that opens into a private courtyard. His and hers baths feature radiant floor heating, a soaking tub, a steam shower for eight and his and hers dressing rooms. The private guest wing has a separate entrance, and has a sitting area, two baths and a kitchen. All of the living spaces share a courtyard, and are connected by a curved, Venetian-style veranda. The smart house has iPad stations that control lighting, music, security and cameras. Though you’ll never want to leave, eventually you’ll have to, in a car from the attached two-car garage or freestanding sixcar garage. “This home is for anybody who appreciates beauty,” Yelena says. The Villa (MLS: 1152657) is truly a unique property. It’s listed at $3,500,000. To arrange a showing, contact Stella Fitzsimmons at 401789-6666. To take a virtual tour, visit LilaDelman.com.
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FEA ST In the Kitchen / On the Menu / Review / In the Drink / Dining Guide
Photography by Meghan H. Follett
IT’S GONNA BE CINCO DE MAYO It’s finally May, and you know what that means. Well, yes, you get to use that sweet Justin Timberlake meme we’ve been waiting for, but more importantly… it’s officially taco season. One of the best bites around the city can be found at Tallulah’s Taqueria on the East Side. Chef Jake Rojas opened this brick and mortar location after offering his popular tacos and burritos at farmers markets and pop-ups and leaving his
customers wanting more. The menu there is what you make it: Chef Jake and crew have created a variety of tasty and authentic Mexican flavors for you to mix and match. Now that the patio is open for the season and they’re back at the outdoor markets, we can finally prove our theory: everything tastes better when eaten outside. 146 Ives Street. 272-8226, TallulahsTaqueria.com
At Tallulah’s Taqueria, choose your own taco adventure from a full menu of fresh ingredients
FEAST
Review
by Stephanie Obodda
Old Favorites Revisited Parkside defines timeless dining with a classic menu and an eye for innovation
Butterscotch Old Fashioned, made with bourbon, butterscotch schnapps, chocolate bitters and cherries. You’ll find plenty of classic bistro fare on the menu - the appetizers are no exception. The Moules et Frites featured plump mussels from Prince Edward Island with onions, cherry tomatoes and chunky bacon lardons. We enjoyed the mussels, but the broth was even more of a star with its smoky tomato flavor. Though it’s traditional to serve mussels with fries, I wished I had a whole loaf of bread as well for the broth. The small matchstick fries were fun for snacking without ruining our appetite. Our server was kind to bring some smoky aioli for dipping at our request. For our other appetizer, we went with a Parkside favorite: the Colossal Thai Dumplings. These large dumplings, made of lean pork in wonton wrappers and nicely fried, are a couple of bites larger than your usual dumpling. They were served three to an order with a red cabbage orange slaw and two dipping sauces. One
Butternut squash and kale salad with spicy fried chick peas
dipping sauce was a spicy mustard, and the other, a sweet orange ginger. Ask a friend about Parkside and you’ll probably hear them rave about these.
Angus sirloin on a bacon and gorgonzola croquette
THE SCOOP 42
CUISINE: American Bistro PRICES: Appetizers: $10-$19; Entrees: $15-$39; Desserts: $7-$9 ATMOSPHERE: Upscale-casual
PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Next, we split the Classic Caesar. We offhandedly mentioned we were splitting it, so it was a nice surprise that our server asked the kitchen to put it on two plates. Even split in half, the salad portion was generous. Parkside’s specialty is rotisserie, with meats including chicken, duck and pork. The descriptions are mouthwatering, so it was difficult to decide which to order on this visit. Though rotisserie chicken is classic, the duck and pork dishes were too alluring. I ordered the Duck à l’Orange, which always conjures visions of the adorable hand-drawn Canard à l’Orange dish in my eighthgrade French textbook. This version was glazed with an orange and Grand Marnier reduction and served with fingerling potatoes and haricots verts (green beans, for those of you without the eighth-grade French). I was looking for a medium to bold red with my duck and the Thomas Goss Shiraz fit the bill. My husband ordered the White
Photography by Stacey Doyle
We love to revisit classic films and albums. So why not a classic restaurant? Parkside has been a Providence mainstay since 1994. Glance in the large windows during lunch or dinner, and you’ll see a busy, fast-moving operation. Chef-owner Steven Davenport has kept the high quality and welcoming atmosphere going for years. A new menu launched in January, mixing in some new features with the old favorites. We snuck in immediately after work on Friday night before a play at Trinity Rep. The happy hour crowd here is serious. Though there were plenty of tables at this early hour, the bar was full with a cheerful crowd who looked like they had just left the office. Parkside’s cocktail list is classic with a few twists. I had the Cosmo Fleur, a refreshing mix of vodka, elderflower liqueur and freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice. My husband had the Blackberry Sidecar, with Courvoisier VSOP cognac, Cointreau and blackberries. We stopped there with the cocktails, but everything on the menu was tempting, even the unconventional
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Pork tenderloin with littleneck clams and bacon lardons
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Photography by Stacey Doyle
Season Sponsors Farms Organic Pork Rack. The tender pork had a Dijon mustard cream sauce and was served with brussels sprouts, pearl onions and bacon lardons. Both of our portions were large, especially the pork. He drank a glass of the Crusher Petit Sirah. We’ve had this wine before, but for some reason it surprised us with a nose similar to one of our preferred scents, Bulgari Black. It’s a cologne with notes of smoky tea, vanilla and wood, scents that are quite at home in a glass of wine. Intrigued by the list of craft liquors,
we shared a glass of Barrell Bourbon. I loved it – too bad it would be difficult to pick up the exact bottle because each batch is very limited. You might want to share this one because it’s bottled at cask strength, which is usually close to 60% compared to the 40% typical of bourbon. I thought it was a great bourbon to sip with dessert. While we passed it back and forth, we shared a Berry Tart with ice cream. It was a rustic, hand-formed tart served with a delicious scoop of vanilla ice cream, an appropriately classic ending at a longtime Providence favorite.
Pa rk s i d e Ro t i sse r i e a nd Bar 76 South Main Street • 331-0003 • Facebook: Parkside Rotisserie and Bar
PiCturEd: oCtAviA ChAvEz-riChmoNd
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FEAST
In the Kitchen by Jessica Bryant
Good Parma Chef Ryan Mancini dishes on what keeps Twin Oaks and its epic menu going after 84 years Known for its considerable size and consistently good food, Twin Oaks has been a Rhode Island go-to for generations. We sat down with Chef Ryan Mancini, who took over as head chef three years ago, to chat about what makes this 84-year-old restaurant so successful.
Chef Ryan Mancini of Twin Oaks in Cranston works fast to perfect more than 200 menu items
How did you get into the culinary world? I went to culinary school at Johnson & Wales in 2006 and 2007. I was working at a couple of different restaurants, and then I did a culinary internship through Johnson & Wales at Twin Oaks. After that, I was working in Europe and then Texas, so it’s kind of funny that I ended up back here years later.
How do you decide what makes the cut? I run about 20 specials a day and a lot of them are high-end dishes, like grass-fed rib eye. That’s what sells. If something does really well for an extended period of time, then we’ll put it on the menu. What are some of the most popular dishes on the menu today? Our classic customer favorites are our scrod [Baked Scrod with seafood salad dressing], the Open Steak Filet Mignon and our Chicken Parmesan. I’ve heard a lot about the Chicken Parm. We could never change that dish because we sell about 100,000 a year. Twin Oaks can seat up to 650 people. How many people work there on any given night? Right now, our total kitchen staff including cleaning crew is 46 people. We
have such a system in here, and some of them – like our in-house meat cutter or main salad bar produce man – have worked at the restaurant for 30 years. They know the trends and what to prep each week. We’ve got about 100 people in the front of house. What do you think has been the secret to keeping its doors open for so long? I think it’s the consistency. We have such a great core group of people who put everything together each day. Some of our employees have been at the restaurant for 50-plus years. We take care of our good help without a doubt. We have a 401K and health care, and try to provide as much as we can. Twin Oaks is unlike any place I’ve ever worked; it’s a machine. What we do in a normal night, people probably don’t do in a month of business, which is crazy. It’s really tough to manage – some days are easy while other days are extremely hard. What I think really helps keep this place going are the owners, Billy and Susan. Without them, this place wouldn’t go on.
Twin Oaks Restaurant 100 Sabra Street, Cranston • 781-9693 • TwinOaksRest.com
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Photography by Michael Cevoli
Twin Oaks has an insanely large menu. Does it ever change? I believe there used to be 267 items on the menu. I’ve cut it down to the low 200s. We usually redo the menu about twice a year – once in the summer and another during the winter, right before the busy season. But lately we’ve been switching it up to only once a year because when you make an edit, you have to print about 500 menus.
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FEAST
On the Menu by Grace Lentini
A History of Naples, By the Slice Federal Hill Brick Oven Pizza opens a second location on Chalkstone Avenue
Taco Fest features five purveyors of your favorite portable dinner
Soft and chewy Neapolitan-style pies at Federal Hill Brick Oven Pizza
Everyone has a favorite style of pizza – Sicilian, Greek, deep dish, thin crust, New York. I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and appreciate all styles for what they are, and also for what they aren’t. Sicilian pizza will never be thin. New York pizza will never be thick. And Neapolitan pizza will never be crispy. Neapolitan pizza is made to be soft and chewy, airy and light. In fact, to be considered authentic, it must meet these guidelines, and Billy Manzo, Jr. of Federal Hill Brick Oven Pizza follows these rules to a T. After showcasing his love for the style by selling dough out of his Federal Hill cigar lounge, he opened his Warren location in 2010. Now, he’s opened a second location on Chalkstone Avenue, a few blocks up the road from Los Andes. Billy is one of two master pizzaiolos born in the United States. Being a master pizzaiolo means that he’s taken numerous classes to understand the foundation of Neapolitan pizza: the ingredients, the tools to make it and the history of the pizza itself. “I went to Italy and got educated on a deeper, more scientific level,” he says. “I am certified to teach how to make Neapolitan pizza in America and can consult on Neapolitan ingredients. You have to understand the history of pizza to make a great pizza.”
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
As much as Billy is keeping pizza tradition alive, he’s also revitalizing the restaurant’s space. The space used to be the Castle Theater. Billy grew up (and still lives) in the neighborhood and saw Jaws, Star Wars and Rocky at the theater. Although the building has changed hands and purposes over the years, it’s remained a landmark in the community. Billy expected to open a restaurant; he didn’t expect to see so many community members come in and thank him for revitalizing the space. People who used to go to the cinema as kids can now bring their kids to the “Castle” and make new memories. There are more plans for the space as well. Billy and his wife, Christine Arvanigian, started the nonprofit Chefs Feeding Kids. “We are teaching kids about healthy cooking, and we’re learning from chefs,” Christine explains. “Each chef has something different to give, and we’re getting chefs together to help kids.” Of course, Billy will be serving up more than Neapolitan pizza. His toppings can go on a square pizza that’s a bit thicker but made with the same dough, called al taglio. There are also salads, pasta, burgers, sandwiches and desserts on the menu. Just know that you’re getting a piece of history with every pie, and it tastes darn good, too. 1039 Chalkstone Avenue. 331-3310, FederalHillPizza.com
InDowncity is throwing their sixth annual spring party with Taco Fest on May 6. The free celebration is bigger than ever this year, and features Mijos Tacos, Laughing Gorilla, Poco Loco Tacos, Tallulah’s Taqueria and Fugo for savory options. Like No Udder and Millie’s Macaroon Cart are on board for something sweet. There will be cocktails available at Grant’s Block, kid-friendly drinks and live music all day. Plus, the Rock n’ Roll yard sale returns because nothing says spring like shopping downtown with a taco in one hand and a margarita in the other. 11am-6pm. 260 Westminster Street between Eddy and Mathewson streets. Facebook: InDowncityPVD
Harry's Bar and Burger expands its business - and our stomachs
NICE BUNS, WHERE YOU FROM Harry’s Bar and Burger is expanding again, this time with a location in Lincoln. What started on North Main Street and grew to Federal Hill is now heading out of the city. The menu will remain the same, so diners can still look forward to the M.O.A.B. (mother of all burgers) with bacon, mushrooms, cheese and shoestring onion rings and an adult spiked milkshake. 200 Front Street, Lincoln. HarrysBarBurger.com
Photography by (left) Grace Lentini, Photo courtesy of (top right) InDown Taco Fest, (bottom right) Harry’s Bar and Burger
LET’S TACO ‘BOUT IT
F E A ST
In the Drink by Emily Dietsch
Not Your Regular ‘Rita Mezcal makes for a smoky spin on a springtime favorite
Photography by Mike Braca
In a month that
features Cinco de Mayo in its inaugural week, we’ve picked a margarita to spotlight. (A “mezcalrita,” to be specific. More on that in a minute.) Think we’re unoriginal? Well, if we were offering some frozen, neon-colored, toothachesweet monstrosity, then I suppose the charge would hold. Instead, we turned to Don Jose Tequilas on Federal Hill for something different. Something smarter and more authentic. Their bar program is driven largely by owner Jaime Gaviria’s passion for tequila and Mexican culture. Jaime has grown the program to include over 75 high-end sipping tequilas, and travels regularly to Mexico to deepen his knowledge. For this column, Jaime and his bartender, Claudia Loiselle, created a new drink for us based in mezcal, the smoke-tinged cousin to tequila. A quick primer: Both tequila and mezcal are made from the agave plant, but the production of mezcal involves smoking the agave almost as if for pit barbecue. Mezcal has a long history as the more rustic and commonplace of the two liquors in Mexico, with each region and region-within-a-region serving up its own take. In short, if you like the smokiness and terroir aspect of Scotch, then mezcal is your go-to Central American spirit. But, like Scotch, it’s not for everyone when served unadorned. With that in mind, Jaime and Claudia sought to balances mezcal’s assertiveness with fresh juices (lime and pineapple). They added pomegranate liqueur for a blush color “because it’s pretty,” Claudia relayed, laughing. And it is. The end result, “Don Jose’s Mezcalrita,” isn’t on their printed menu, but just ask for it. Seriously, please do – and thank us later. By the way, Claudia’s birthday just so happens to be May 5, and she’ll be working at the restaurant’s massive Cinco de Mayo block party that runs a full day (10:30am-2:00am). Turn up and wish her well, dance and try the mezcal.
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The off-menu “mezcalrita” at Don Jose Tequilas balances smoky mezcal with fresh fruit juice
DAVID HASSLINGER 401.465.8625
I LOVE WHAT I DO AND IT SHOWS RESULTS MATTER
Don Jose’s Mezcalrita Serves one • • • •
4 oz El Buho mezcal 4 oz fresh lime juice 2 oz pineapple juice 1 oz pomegranate liqueur (such as PAMA brand) • 1 T agave nectar • Ice, for the cocktail shaker and to serve • Kosher or sea salt, for glass rim
Prepare the salt-rimmed glass by putting salt on a small plate or saucer. Wet only the rim of the glass, and tip it into the salt to coat lightly. (Too much salt can ruin the experience, so don’t cake it on.) Carefully add a few ice cubes, but don’t fill the glass to the top. Combine all the other ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend, then strain and serve in the prepared glass.
Don Jose Tequilas 351 Atwells Avenue • 454-8551 • DonJoseTequilas.com May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
47
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268 Thayer Street Providence • 331-7879 AndreasRI.com It’s hard to find good barbecue and even more difficult to find great barbecue. Smoked meat enthusiasts don’t have to look any farther than GottaQ Smokehouse BBQ. Originating as a food truck, GottaQ was voted the number three food truck in the nation by Mobile Cuisine, and they’re not stopping there. After four years operating the truck and motivated by a passion for their food, the team decided to open a restaurant. Owners Janice Sullivan, Michael Strout and Anthony Mardenly are proud to debut their first brick-and-mortar GottaQ restaurant in Cumberland. Smoke is key to tasty barbeque. And while most places use gas-fired smokers, GottaQ only cooks with wood. This gives their smoked barbecue a rich and unique flavor. The menu is full of specials that will leave you wanting more. We suggest starting with the Pulled Pork. A barbecue staple, the pork is a savory experience that your mouth won’t soon forget. GottaQ also puts a special twist on popular meals like Smoked Chicken Salad and
Sausage, while serving classic favorites like the delicious Beef Brisket and mouthwatering ribs. Try the delicious eats with barbecue sauce from the Carolinas - a spicy vinegar sauce - or their Kansas City sauce with sweet tomato hickory. No barbecue would be complete without comfort food sides, though. At GottaQ you can enjoy classic mac ‘n cheese with your pulled pork sandwich or skip right to the warm cornbread that accompanies the ribs perfectly. Other favorites include cole slaw, potato salad and Texas caviar - a three bean and corn salad that’s a total palate pleaser. The team behind GottaQ loves to serve. They’re always on the road and waiting for the next opportunity to bring their personal take on barbecue. Take advantage of their catering services that bring pulled pork or sirloin right to your door. Whether you’re out for dinner at the restaurant or just stopping by the food truck during your lunch break, grab a meal and get the full barbecue experience. You won’t be disappointed.
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DINING GUIDE I N YO U R N E I G H B O R H O O D
The Grange The Grange is much more than a place to eat. With a farm fresh focus and a community-minded approach, The Grange is a place to make genuine connections. “Customers come for an experience and for the opportunity to make connections to food and people,” says owner Rob Yaffe, who along with his wife Uschi owns and operates three plant-centric eateries. With a seasonal, vegetarian menu that is completely dependent on what’s growing regionally, The Grange works closely with the Farm Fresh network and directly with a handful of farmers. Using only in-season produce can be challenging, but it also fosters creativity. That innovative spirit is evident everywhere at The Grange, where everything is handcrafted. “We make our own ketchup, mustard, dressings. We pickle our own vegetables,” says Rob. Even the bar, which has been lauded for its progressive cocktail program, uses syrups and herb-infused spirits made from scratch. 166 Broadway, Providence 831-0600, ProvidenceGrange.com
PROVIDENCE COUNTY 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Fashionable prime steakhouse with award-winning sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 4532333. LD $$$ Cafe di Panni Italian American dining with an available banquet facility. 187 Pocasset Ave, Providence, 944-0840. LD $-$$ Capri Swedish-influenced Mediterranean cuisine. 58 De Pasquale Ave, Providence, 274-2107. LD $$-$$$ Catering Gourmet Premiere catering company providing food made from scratch. 333 Strawberry Field Rd, Warwick, 773-7925. $-$$$ CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in a historic setting. 14 Imperial Pl, Providence, 7519164. BrLD $$-$$$ Centro Restaurant & Lounge Contemporary cuisine and cocktails. 1 W Exchange St, Providence, 228-6802. BLD $$$ Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline.
3000 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$ Character’s Cafe & Theatre 82 Hybrid art space with all-day breakfast, coffee and theatre-inspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 490-9475. BL $ Cucina Rustica Rustic, Italian-style dining combining comfort food and sophistication. 555 Atwood Ave, Cranston, 944-2500. LD $-$$ Flatbread Company Artisanal pizza, local ingredients. 161 Cushing St, Providence, 273-2737. LD $-$$ Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 2283901. D $-$$ 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 $-$$ Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambiance. Locations in Cranston and Providence.
The Grange, with its menu focused on locally produced foods, serves the freshest flavors of the season
HarukiSushi.com LD $-$$ Iron Works Tavern A wide variety of signature American dishes in the historic Thomas Jefferson Hill Mill. 697 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, 739-5111. LD $-$$$ Jacky’s Galaxie Local Pan-Asian chain offering sushi and classic entrees in a modern atmosphere. Locations in Providence, North Providence, Bristol and Cumberland, JackysGalaxie.com. LD $-$$$ Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating more than 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$ Luxe Burger Bar Build Your Own Burger: You dream it, we build it! 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $ McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare in Wayland Square. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 751-3000. LD $$ 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 $-$$ Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$ Momo Dessert restaurant with crepes, home-made stir fry ice cream and bubble tea. 100 Washington St, Providence, 521-6666. BLD $ Mosaic Restaurant Syrian cuisine served in an intimate setting. 91 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 808-6512. BLD $-$$$ Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza Classic Italian fare and traditional New Yorkstyle pizzas. 100 East St, Cranston, 383-7722; 380 Atwells Ave, Providence, 273-2400. LD $-$$ Ocean State Sandwich Company Craft sandwiches and hearty sides. 1345 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 155 Westminster St, Providence, 282-6772. BL $-$$
Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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DINING GUIDE
organic apothecary
Opa the Phoenician Authentic Lebanese food served in a fun atmosphere with hookahs. 230 Atwells Ave, Providence, 351-8282. D $-$$$
Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 273-1444. LD $-$$$
Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily specials. 120 Francis St, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$
Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 3310003. LD $-$$
Pizza J A fun, upbeat atmosphere with thin-crust pizza, pub fare and gluten-free options. 967 Westminster St, Providence, 632-0555. LD $-$$
Red Ginger Traditional Chinese restaurant and bar with a relaxed environment. 560 Killingly St, Johnston, 861-7878; 1852 Smith St, North Providence, 353-6688. LD $-$$ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Rick’s Roadhouse Honest, authentic BBQ with a large selection of whiskey. 370 Richmond St, Providence, 272-7675. LD $-$$
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Rocco’s Pub & Grub Five-star menu in an intimate, pub-like atmosphere. 55 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 349-2250. LD $-$$
Wayland Square
Rosmarin at Hotel Providence Bar and restaurant serving Swiss-inspired small plates, craft cocktails and an eclectic wine list. 311 Westminster Street, Providence, 521-3333. BLD $$$
13 South Angell Street Providence • 401-455-2325 ProvidencePerfume.com
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Coast Guard House reopens its roof deck for Memorial Day, serving the same perfectly fresh fish as they do in the main dining room
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knows about the Coast Guard House. Perched on rocks directly over the Atlantic at the end of Narragansett Town Beach, the restaurant has been a local favorite for decades. When you walk into the restaurant, there’s a board displaying the local food and drink items available that day, like Narragansett Creamery cheese, Walrus and Carpenter oysters, Sons of Liberty whiskey, RI Mushroom Company produce and more. The restaurant’s sommelier oversees an excellent wine selection, especially by the glass. For cocktail lovers, they have a Locally Crafted Cocktails section on their menu. Just in time for the warm weather, the roof deck at the Coast Guard House gives a whole new meaning to waterfront dining, offer a casual lunch menu from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, weather permitting.
40 Ocean Road, Narragansett 789-0700, TheCoastGuardHouse.com
BABSetc.com 52
PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ Spirito’s Restaurant & Catering Classic Italian fare served in a stately Victorian home. 477 Broadway, Providence, 434-4435. LD $-$$$ Starbucks Coffee, tea, bakery items and lunch options. Multiple locations. Starbucks.com BL$-$$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich and Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $ Tavolo Wine Bar and Tuscan Grille Classic Italian cuisine with an extensive wine and beer list. 970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, 349-4979. LD $-$$ The Crossings New American favorites in a chic, urban setting. 801 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, 732-6000. BLD $-$$$ The Dorrance Fine dining with exquisite cocktails. 60 Dorrance St,
For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com
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Providence, 521-6000. D $$$ The Grange Vegetarian restaurant serving seasonal dishes with a juice bar, vegan bakery and cocktail bar. 166 Broadway, Providence, 831-0600. BrLD $-$$ The Pizza Gourmet/ The Catering Gourmet From scratch wood-grilled pizzas and Italian American favorites. 357 Hope St, Providence, 751-0355. LD $-$$$
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
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Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, 508-999-6975. LD $$ Bluewater Bar and Grill Casual restaurant with modern seafood dishes, patio seating and live music. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington, 247-0017. LD $$-$$$ DeWolf Tavern Gourmet American/ Indian fusion. 259 Thames St, Bristol, 254-2005. BLD $$-$$$
The Salted Slate An agri-driven American restaurant with global influences. 186 Wayland Ave, Providence, 270-3737. BrLD $$-$$$
Ichigo Ichie Traditional Japanese cuisine, creative sushi and hibachi. 5 Catamore Blvd, East Providence, 4355511. LD $-$$$
The Villa Restaurant & Banquet Facility Family Italian restaurant with live music and entertainment. 272 Cowesett Ave, West Warwick, 8210060. D $-$$
Jacky’s Galaxie Local Pan-Asian chain offering sushi and classic entrees in a modern atmosphere. Locations in Providence, North Providence, Bristol and Cumberland, JackysGalaxie.com. LD $-$$$
The Village Lively bar and grill with comfort fare, bar bites and beer. 373 Richmond St, Providence, 228-7222. BrLD $-$$
Starbucks Coffee, tea, bakery items and lunch options. Multiple locations. Starbucks.com BL$-$$
Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun and Southwestern fare, cocktails and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 751-6777. LD $-$$
The Old Grist Mill Tavern Fine dining located over the Runnins River. 390 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, 508-3368460. LD $-$$$
Trinity Brewhouse Rhode Island’s original brewpub. 186 Fountain St, Providence, 453-2337. LD $-$$
The Wharf Tavern Serves fresh seafood and steak with bay views from almost every table. 215 Water St, Warren, 289-2524. BrLD $-$$$
Tony’s Colonial Specialty store offering the finest imported and domestic Italian foods. 311 Atwells Ave, Providence, 621-8675. $-$$$
The Vig Contemporary sports bar with craft tavern fare. 21 Atwells Ave, Providence, 709-0347. LD $-$$ Vinya Test Kitchen Vegan cuisine accompanied by creative mocktails (BYOB). 225A Westminster St, Providence, 500-5189. D $-$$
RELIABLE F U R N I T U R E G A L L E RY
EAST BAY / NEWPORT
The Rosendale Bar and grill with welcoming atmosphere and creative menu. 55 Union St, Providence, 4213253. LD $-$$
Twin Oaks Family restaurant serving an extensive selection of Italian and American staples. 100 Sabra St, Cranston, 781-9693. LD $-$$$
189 Cole Avenue, Providence • 480-0193 providencepilatescenter.com
New Inventory To Bring in Spring
DINING GUIDE
XO Cafe Acclaimed farm-to-table cuisine with a fantastic Sunday #PajamaBrunch. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$
SOUTHERN RI Besos Kitchen & Cocktails Tapas and eclectic cuisine and cocktails. 378 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-8855. BrLD $$$ Blu On The Water Home to Rhode Island’s largest waterfront deck and three outdoor bars, with a wide menu and full raw bar. 20 Water St, East Greenwich, 885-3700. LD $-$$$ Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$ Chair 5 Locally sourced and seasonally inspired menus with a main restaurant and rooftop lounge. 1208 Ocean Rd,
For full restaurant profiles, go to ProvidenceOnline.com
DINING GUIDE Narragansett, 363-9820. BrLD $-$$$ Champlin’s Seafood Dockside fresh seafood serving easy breezy cocktails. 256 Great Island Rd, Narragansett, 783-3152. LD $-$$ Coast Guard House A new American menu with a seafood emphasis and extensive wine list, open seven days a week. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 789-0700. BrLD $$$ Dante’s Kitchen American food with Southern flair. 315 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-7798. BL $-$$ Dragon Palace Chinese cuisine, sushi and bar. 577 Tiogue Ave, Coventry, 828-0100; 733 Kingstown Rd, Wakefield, 789-2300; 1210 Main St, Wyoming, 539-1102. LD $-$$ Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$ Frankie’s Italian Bistro Fine dining with imported wines from around the world. 1051 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, 295-2500. D $-$$$ Fresco Italian American comfort food with international inspirations. 301 Main St, East Greenwich, 3980027; 140 Comstock Pkwy, Cranston, 228-3901. D $-$$ George’s of Galilee Fresh caught seafood in an upscale pub atmosphere. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett, 783-2306. LD $-$$ Jigger’s Diner Classic ‘50s diner serving breakfast all day. 145 Main St, East Greenwich, 884-6060. BL $-$$ La Masseria Upscale Italian cuisine served in a chic setting with a rustic, countryside vibe. 223 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-0693. LD $$-$$$ Maharaja Indian Restaurant Indian cuisine and traditional curries in a warm setting. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 363-9988. LD $-$$ Matunuck Oyster Bar Destination dining enhanced by a raw bar sourced onsite and a water view. 629 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, 7834202. LD $-$$$ Ocean House/Weekapaug Inn Multiple dining room options offer
comfortably elegant dishes that highlight the best in seasonal, local produce. 1 Bluff Ave, Watch Hill, 5847000; 25 Spray Rock Rd, Westerly, 637-7600. BLD $-$$$ 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 $-$$ Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food with a great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 7834073. BBrLD $ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Sa-Tang Fine Thai and Asian fusion cuisine with gluten-free selections. 402 Main St, Wakefield, 284-4220. LD $-$$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$
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Starbucks Coffee, tea, bakery items and lunch options. Multiple locations. Starbucks.com BL$-$$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$ The Nordic Surf and turf buffet selections perfect for family gatherings. 178 E Pasquisett Trl, Charlestown, 783-4515. LD $$$ Twin Willows Fresh seafood and water views in a family-friendly atmosphere. 865 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, 789-8153. LD $-$$
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Tong-D Fine Thai cuisine in a casual setting. 156 County Rd, Barrington, 2892998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 783-4445. LD $-$$ TwoTen Oyster Bar and Grill Local oysters and upmarket seafood dishes with a full bar menu. 210 Salt Pond Rd, South Kingstown, 782-0100. BrLD $-$$$
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
FEDERAL HILL The Heartbeat of Providence
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From their beautiful dining room, which is available for special occasions, to their fully stocked bar, Opa has something for everyone. Choose from mouthwatering options like Baba Ghannouj, a traditionally grilled eggplant with garlic, olive oil and tahini sauce, or their Coquille St.
For Reservations call 351-8282
230 Atwells Avenue, Providence • OpaProvidence.com
Experience The Art Of Glass Blowing
Jacques, a medley of shrimp, salmon, calamari and jumbo
LESSONS:
scallops topped with a melted Gruyère, as an appetizer.
Up to 4 people (1 hour class)
For an entrée, try the Kafta Plate, an appetizing mix of
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lamb and beef with onions and seven spices or Souvlaki, a traditional Greek kabob of pork tenders marinated in black pepper and grilled to perfection. If meat is not your thing, Opa offers a full vegan selection, too. The must-have at Opa is the choice to let Chef Joe prepare for you a traditional Lebanese mezza. These custom platters range from appetizers and salads to seafood, vegetables and a mix from the grill such as lamb, filet mignon, chicken and kafta with Mediterranean rice. Meals are of course followed by the chef’s choice of dessert. This special dining experience can be had with a minimum of two people any night of the week. For other special nights at Opa come on Wednesdays and Sundays, when the kitchen is open late for Lebanese music night starting at 10. For this special treat it’s better to call ahead - make your reservations early. Fridays and Saturdays feature dinner and a show with a belly dancer making her way through the dining room.
Opa the Phoenician 230 Atwells Avenue 351-8282, OPAProvidence.com
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Glass Blowing Studio and Gallery 521 Atwells Avenue, Providence • GatherGlass.com
120 Atwells Avenue • 751-5544 www.TheOldCanteen.com
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May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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OV R P N W O NT W O D
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A WALK IN THE PARK Join the Roger Williams Park Conservancy for Celebrate Roger Williams Park on May 6. The day will have plenty of events to get you excited about the season, including food trucks, yoga at the Temple of Music and a guided
trail walk. Added bonus: The Natural History Museum and Planetarium and the Botanical Center will offer free admission all day long. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 785-3510, RIFoundation.org
The Roger Williams Park Conservancy invites you to Celebrate Roger Williams Park on May 6
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
For a complete calendar of events and more information, visit: www.gaspee.com 401.781.1772
GE T OUT
Calendar
by Jake Turpin
THE MUST LIST 10 essential events happening in May
1.
May 1–21: Find laughs – and maybe some advice – in the premiere of the hilarious farce that is Faithful Cheaters. Trinity’s latest comedy takes a serious look at modern marriage and what it takes to be happy in today’s busy world. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, TrinityRep.com
2.
May 1–28: You’ve totally binge-watched The Crown on Netflix, now see King Elizabeth at the Gamm Theatre. Follow the battle of wills between Queen Elizabeth and her imprisoned cousin, Queen Mary of Scotland, as they rage in a war for a throne within the patriarchy of 16th-century England. 172 Exchange Street. 723-4266, GammTheatre.org
3.
May 6: Don’t miss your chance at a stunning night view of the city with delicious
Photo courtesy (top) The Gamm Theatre
Join Val Kilmer as he screens his filmed one-man play Citizen Twain on May 14 at the Columbus Theatre
cocktails to boot at REVEL! A Gala for the Wilbury Theatre Group. Party in the historic Superman Building while enjoying live music, savory bites and an open bar. 111 Westminster Street. 4007100, TheWilburyGroup.org
4.
May 6: More than 50 local artists are opening their studio doors for the Valley Arts Annual Open Studios. Stroll the Woonasquatucket River Valley and peek behind the scenes at Nicholson File (350 Kinsley Avenue), The Wurks (33 Acorn Street), The Steel Yard (27 Sims Avenue) and others. Facebook: Valley Arts Open Studio
5.
May 7: Chuck Staton from Providence punk band Senior Discount and his buddy Brad are coming up on the 300-episode mark of their hilarious
Have a royally good time with King Elizabeth at the Gamm Theatre May 1–28
weekly podcast Agreeing to Disagree. In that time they’ve geeked out about all things pop culture and interviewed local comics, artists and musicians. To celebrate the milestone they’ll be recording their 300th episode in front of a live audience at Fete. 103 Dike Street. FeteMusic.com
6.
May 12–14: If the recent Beauty and the Beast release didn’t satisfy your craving for Disney tales, you will surely want to check out Festival Ballet’s Cinderella at the Vets. This inspiring take on the classic fairy tale is sure to move you. One Avenue of the Arts. 4212787, TheVetsRI.com
7.
May 14: Get ready to see Val Kilmer in a whole new light. The movie star is hosting a Columbus Theatre screening of his filmed one-man play, Citizen Twain, where he portrays the famed author in hilarious fashion. And to think this guy was once Tom Cruise’s arch nemesis. 270 Broadway. 6219660, ColumbusTheatre.com
8.
May 17–21: See the wonderful story of Matilda at the Providence Performing Arts Center, a musical based on the novel by Roald Dahl. Yeah, you may have seen the movie, but
the true magic lies in the stage performance of this zany take on the beloved children’s story. 220 Weybosset Street, 421-2787, PPACRI.org
9.
May 20: The Hope Street Spring Block Party is returning for another year, full of fantastic food and everything else your favorite stores have to offer, plus live music. There will be a beer garden, lots of activities for the whole family and plenty of vendors to celebrate with. Facebook: HopeStreetProv
10.
May 26–27: For a dose of laughter make your way to Comedy Connection where native Rhody Brian Beaudoin is taking center stage. When a comedian is billed as being bigger than his home state, you should probably raise your expectations. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 438-8383, RIComedyConnection.com
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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Plus Northern Lights for chorus, chimes, and water-tuned glasses, by Ēriks Ešenwalds, and sparkling works by Franz Berwald, Edvard Grieg, Leevi Madetoja, Arvo Pärt, Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, and Jean Sibelius.
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GE T OUT
On Stage
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The Bard of Providence An aspiring teen actor finds his voice through Shakespeare
Photography by Brian DeMello
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This month, Steven Rosario
is heading to New York City to the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition for high schoolers – for the second time. Last year, he was a semi-finalist. This year’s win in the state competition, Steven says, has helped convince him of his own acting skills: “I realize that it’s not a fluke.” Steven is a junior at the Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (TAPA), a public charter school for grades 7 to 12, at which students declare a major in one artistic discipline. Steven started as a film major but, in ninth grade, was taken to see Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie. Beyond igniting a steadfast devotion to Williams (Steven’s “main man” when it comes to playwrights), the play drew Steven in with its characters – particularly Tom Wingfield, a poet who struggles to free himself from the monotony of daily life. Tom “wanted more,” Steven explains. “I felt like I could connect with him. I wanted more. I didn’t feel fulfilled being behind a camera.” He switched his major to theatre. One of Steven’s first and favorite theatrical roles was in Prospect High: Brooklyn, a play written by URI graduate Daniel Robert Sullivan and the 46th St. Collective and performed at URI. Playing the role allowed Steven to express feelings he had previously concealed, and to claim credibility in front of an audience of adults. “As a teenager… people look at me and say, ‘You haven’t really experienced life,’ but I feel like it’s different when I’m on stage.” With all eyes on him, “I have the ability to talk about what I want to talk about.” Steven’s family moved often as he was growing up and his parents got divorced. “I didn’t have anything or anyone to look up to,” he says. “I wanted so much attention that I would often get in trouble.” Like his character in Prospect High, he felt lost and angry without the ability to express himself. Steven’s arrival at TAPA in seventh grade set a different course. He learned new skills, including memorization and public speaking. “I definitely would not have had so many people who support me in my life as support me now” without coming to TAPA, he says. Steven is similarly dedicated to his community, serving as a teen ambassador for the
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Steven Rosario prepares for his second shot in the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City
Trinity Repertory Company and helping his fellow students (and competitors) at TAPA prepare for the Shakespeare competition this year. “I do theatre to inspire other people just like I was once inspired,” he says. Each participant in the Shakespeare competition performs a monologue and a sonnet. Steven plans to deliver a speech by the villainous Angelo of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, in which he crows that his lecherous advances towards the nun Isabella are impossible to expose (“The character’s just so damn evil!”). To temper the villainy, he’ll be pairing it with the more starry-eyed Sonnet 116. Shakespeare “was infatuated with the relationship he had with his craft,” Steven reflects. “He devoted so much time [to] what he did. It reminds me of the legends of today. Everything they do is to be better.”
And no one personifies that work ethic more, for Steven, than actor and professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He cites the Rock’s range: from Pain and Gain (religious, mildmannered) to The Fast and The Furious films (more furious and fast-tempered). Johnson’s positivity encourages Steven to start the day committed to self-improvement and to end it feeling fulfilled. Also “he keeps his body in good shape.” For now, Steven keeps his nose to the grindstone. He’s learning about musical theater and commedia dell’arte at school and recently received the Anthony Quinn Foundation Scholarship for young adults in the arts. “I really don’t know what life is gonna throw at me,” he says. “I know that I’m gonna take the approach that best makes me happy.” Still: “It’s a bit scary that my life is moving really, really fast.”
Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts 150 Washington Street • TAPAProvidence.org
Experience Connect Have Fun! Providence Media
is accepting resumes for
Internships Editorial • Marketing Video • Web Send inquires, questions or a resume to
CaitlinH@providence online.com The Bay • Providence Monthly East Side Monthly SO Rhode Island • Hey Rhody
May 2017 | PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
GE T OUT
Music
by Adam Hogue
Zero Holds’ new EP, The Struggle, is the right kind of loud
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Zero Holds brings their anthemic punk to Providence
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Photography by Tim Siekiera
Maybe there were too
many drinks, maybe there was a fight, maybe you’re overworked, undervalued, underpaid, our politicians suck; but there’s always that Friday night when you can shout along with a punk band and be perfectly fine with all of it. Like it says on the band’s T-shirt, “Zero Holds, Zero F--ks.” Zero Holds has let their newly released EP, The Struggle, define who they are. In five songs, Joe Touchette, Mike Rague, John Thomas and Tyler Leadbetter fall right in line with anthemic punk rockers Alkaline Trio, Saves the Day and Millencolin in crafting songs for working folk, howled in a language they can understand. The wall of octave chords that introduces the opening riff of the song “Plunge” lands the listener in familiar territory with anthemic hooks that become mantras and calls to arms for the restless, everaging youth. As with the songs of like-minded bands, the lyrics of Zero Holds’ songs offer glimpses into struggles that seem to come from
very personal places. “We write only what comes naturally in the first place,” Joe says. “I always spit things out and worry about what they mean later. A lot of times when we look back at the songs and lyrics, we realize they don’t just pertain to us but to everyone around us.” Joe, Mike and John formed Zero Holds with drummer Tyler as a continuation of the previous work the three did with the band The Roman Numeral III from 2009 to 2015. A listen to The Roman Numeral III’s On Baker Road offers a lo-fi lead-in to the all-out emo punk sound of The Struggle. The hastily recorded, honestly worded, chunky Telecaster sound of On Baker Road is a nice primer for the band, giving some context for Zero Holds to anyone who isn’t familiar with the band or their Southcoast Massachusetts history. While the other members of Zero Holds still reside out of state, Joe made the move to the West Side
Restoration • Rebuilding April 5, 2017, East Side Monthly, May Issue in the Humidity Control April 3, 2017, Providence Monthly, May issue works
to be more directly involved Providence music scene. He at a few of the venues around the city, booking shows and working the door. “Making my life just bands and shows is what I wanted,” Joe says, “and now I’m here. The band has always played the city, but now we call it home.” While The Struggle EP is the kind of raw meat any fan of the genre would dig, the live show is really the best place to hear Zero Holds’ music. With a wall of people up front singing the band’s lyrics right along with Joe and the crowd fanning the flames of every guitar solo, it’s a solid reminder of why you should get off the couch, leave your f--ks at the door and check out live music in the first place. You can scoop up a copy of The Struggle EP on the Zero Holds Bandcamp page and while you’re on the site, give The Roman Numeral III a listen too. It’s worth it.
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65
G ET O UT
Art
by Amanda M. Grosvenor
New Ceramics, Old Space J. Schatz breathes new life into Olneyville’s Weybosset Mills In the early 2000s
A fun and FREE event 5-9 pm every 3rd Thursday of the month March - November next gallery night providence
May 18, 2017 find out more at
gallerynight.org
in Upstate New York, Jim Schatz decided he was unhappy with the lackluster wooden bird feeder he had hanging outside his window. He decided the birds deserved something much nicer, and set about learning ceramics by teaching himself and working with local artisans. He had always been fascinated by the shape of eggs, and had made lamps previously, but had no formal training other than a degree in fine arts from San Francisco State. His final design, the Egg Bird Feeder, was one of Fortune Magazine’s 25 Best Products of 2004. He went on to experiment with new shapes, functionalities and techniques – a hobby which grew into J. Schatz, a ceramics company making houses and feeders for many different bird species as well as lighting lines, table and kitchenware, and more. Jim describes his aesthetic as “brutalist, yet elegant” and his lines as “small, beautiful, detailed products you can’t find anywhere else.” Some pieces are made freehand, like the Brutal Coffeemaker with matching cups, while some use molds and extreme precision for a perfectly uniform look in glazed stoneware or porcelain, like the Star Egg nightlights which project points of light onto the wall through tiny openings. Many items are glazed with extremely bright and whimsical colors, while some are white or more subdued and earth-toned. Currently, J. Schatz sells 25,000 products
Jim Schatz and Peter Souza make, as they describe, “brutalist, yet elegant” creations
in 14 countries worldwide. During his time in upstate New York, Jim met his partner Peter Souza, who creates ceramics and runs the business alongside him. For about a decade J. Schatz was based in Los Angeles, but eventually the couple sought more spacious and affordable pastures – while remaining close to the water. After scouting all over New England, they found that Providence had the right attributes and vibe they were looking for, but it was a series of coincidences that ultimately led to their stunning new headquarters in a converted Olneyville textile mill. A disappointing Airbnb rental when they first landed here near the end of 2015 ended up being a blessing in disguise, because it inspired them to stay at the boutique Dean Hotel downtown. They became hotel fixtures for a couple of weeks, meeting all kinds of folks while hanging out at the hotel’s bars and restaurant. Disproving the stereotype that all New Englanders are insular and unfriendly to outsiders, Peter and Jim soon made friends with a number of movers and shakers in the city. A server they chatted with at the Grange suggested they head up the street to Olneyville to check out the studio spaces there, and the
perfect building awaited them: the old dye house for Weybossett Mills. Unfortunately, it was recentlyunder contract; they toured it anyway. Within days, the contract with the initial buyers fell through, and J. Schatz’s bid was accepted. The couple set about transforming the 5,200-square-foot space into a working studio, a showroom and living quarters, as well as two small guest apartments for visitors. With 20-foot ceilings and plenty of light coming through the high windows, the building has become a beautiful, modern, airy-feeling space while still retaining its rustic old mill charm through touches like original wooden support beams and painted brick walls. Peter and Jim are currently advocating with city planners to keep the Olneyville area affordable for artist residents over the long term. They’re also committed to keeping their company growth sustainable and sourcing products inside the U.S.; their one employee helps apply the non-toxic painted glaze and assist with other aspects of product creation. An obvious commitment to quality and community and a love of design and good living have made them an excellent fit for Providence’s ethos.
J. Schatz 46 Dike Street • 344-5267 • JSchatz.com
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Photography by Brian DeMello
the guide to visual arts in providence
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HID D EN P V D
Dearly Departed Love lasts forever at the Annmary Brown Memorial Photography by Brad Smith and Words by Tony Pacitti
As the great philosopher
Huey Lewis once mused, “The power of love is a curious thing.” We never know how or when love will find us, but when it does it tends to stick, for better or worse. Take General Rush Hawkins who, after the death of his wife, decided that the library he had been planning to build for his collection of rare books and art would also serve as a mausoleum for his beloved Annmary Brown.
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PROVIDENCE MONTHLY | May 2017
Brown University was deeded control of The Annmary Brown Memorial in 1948. Home to the university’s only permanent collections, it currently boasts an impressive display of antique figurines and British swords, as well as artifacts from Rush Hawkins’ time as a Brigadier General during the Civil War, portraits of the Hawkins and Brown families, and the late general’s stunning collection of European and American art. But
the real showstopper is the tomb at the back of the building, the final resting place of Hawkins and his wife. Hawkins wrote that the building was “first of all a memorial to a woman of noble character. It is secondarily a collection of art treasures.” The sentiment has endured. Every March 9, Annmary’s birthday, fresh flowers are placed on her and the general’s graves and left there for the year. 21 Brown Street, Library.Brown.edu
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The Village is one of the first restaurants in the state to be certified by the Green Restaurant Association.
Wednesday - Trivia & Musical Bingo + Thursday - Karaoke Friday - Friday Night Live + Saturday - Live Music and DJs Sunday - Super Sports Sunday & Karaoke Wednesday & Thursday - 4pm-1am Friday & Saturday - 11am-2am • Sunday - 9am-1am The Kitchen open till midnight Wednesday to Saturday & Till 10pm on Sunday Online reservations available at TheVillageRI.com Contact us for Private Parties and Special Events • 401-228-7222 373 Richmond Street, Providence RI