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ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
CON T EN TS
Photo courtesy of DPPC
Providence Monthly • August 2018
Families can explore Brandon's Beach playground at Burnside Park (p. 23)
FEATURES
19 On the Beat
23 Park Yourself
New music, making a movie, touring the world – B. Dolan can't stop
Get out and explore the city's 116 – yes, 116 – parks and green spaces
DEPARTMENTS Every Month 9 Commentary
City Style
31 AT HOME: Inside a College Hill
Get Out
52 REVIEW: Yoleni's brings an au-
41 THE TO-DO LIST: This month’s
thentic Greek experience to downtown
home that honors family history
can’t-miss events
32 THE LOOK: Kreatilier's Pernilla
44 MUSIC: Ride the synthwave
for a night
Frazier talks personal style
with Triangle Forest
12 Celebrate the future by way of
34 GET FIT: Work it to the beat at
46 ON STAGE: Rhode Island
'80s sci-fi at NEON
VP Fitness's Zumba class
International Film Festival brings a
13 First Unitarian Church is open-
36 BEAUTY: Mix up your own
ing its doors to sanctuary seekers
custom fragrance at Providence
48 ART: Sculptor Chris Cox imag-
Perfume Company
ines a city full of art
39 SHOP AROUND: Find curated
Feast
Providence Pulse 11
The PawSox become wienies
54 IN THE KITCHEN: Xaco Taco shines in the Jewelry District
55 IN THE DRINK: Never the same cocktail twice at Tortilla Flats
56 ON THE MENU: Revival Brewery
world of cinema to the 401
14 This year's Fringe Fest is bigger and weirder than ever
cool at Lore Collection
16 Stylish tees that let you wear
wins big with a new brew
61 RESTAURANT GUIDE
Hidden PVD
51 TREND: Ganko Ramen ups
66 Browsing the Rochambeau
Thayer Street's noodle game
Library's Russian Room
your Rhody pride on your sleeve
ON THE COVER: The view of downtown from Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy. Photo by Brandon Harmon. ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
7
WEB E XC LUS I V E S
MONTHLY
Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell
Media Director Jeanette St. Pierre
Editor in Chief Elyse Major
Managing Editor Tony Pacitti
Editor Robert Isenberg
Assistant Editor Megan Schmit
Art Director Nick DelGiudice
Assistant Art Director Brandon Harmon
Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas
Graphic Designer Taylor Gilbert
Staff Photographer Savannah Barkley Marketing Coordinator Kim Tingle
HOLE FOODS The city’s artisanal donut and bagel movement is booming on the East Side, with four neighborhood favorites putting down roots and
expanding their operations. Meet the bakers behind this delicious, breakfast trend… without having to stand in a line around the block.
Account Managers Shelley Cavoli Louann DiMuccio-Darwich Ann Gallagher Elizabeth Riel Dan Schwartz Stephanie Oster Wilmarth For advertising information email: Marketing@ProvidenceOnline.com Contributing Photographers Mike Braca
Wolf Mstthewson
Stacey Doyle Meghan H. Follett Contributing Illustrator Lia Marcoux
Contributing Writers
MADE IN THE BAY The East Bay is home to some incredible craftspeople. Check out our profiles of four artists who are creating
nautically inspired paintings, custom pieces of leatherwork, hand thrown ceramics, and electric guitars.
F OL LOW U S O N S OCIAL /PV D M o n t h l y @ PVDM o n th l y ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
Stephanie Obodda
Meghan H. Follett
Chuck Staton
Amanda M. Grosvenor
John Taraborelli
Adam Hogue
Julie Tremaine
Jackie Ignall
even more awesomeness @ ProvidenceOnline.com
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Marrissa Ballard
FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Interns Caroline Boyle
Annie Furuyama
Distribution Services Special Delivery PROVIDENCE MEDIA INC. 1070 Main Street, Suite 302, Pawtucket RI 02860 401-305-3391 • Mail@ProvidenceOnline.com ProvidenceOnline.com
Photography by Michael Cevoli (top), photography by Wolf Matthewson (bottom)
Kristine Mangan
CO M M E N TA RY ALL HANDMADE
OUR READERS’ AWESOME APPETITE FOR AL FRESCO EATS
JULY 2018 #261 FREE
“Viva Mexico Cantina & Grill and Los Andes Restaurant are two of the best in the city, baby!” @Chris C. via Facebook
A Tasty Experience
“Make sure you read about the outdoor dining spots in Providence to spice up your summer.” @India Restaurant via Facebook
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MORE WICKED COOL FEEDBACK “The Richmond Fountain legends are true. We took a drink from there when we opened 20 years ago in September, and now we’re opening a climbing gym on the West Side, and super excited to be in Providence. Thanks Providence Monthly.” @RSCProvidence on “An Oasis on Benefit Street” via Instagram
ALL THE TIME
The controversy behind the Hope Point Tower
restaurants where the outdoor dining is as delicious as the menu
A mobile bookstore brings LA vibes to PVD
A Rice Cake flies solo with Nova One
212 Westminster Street Providence • 401-272-4285 “Yum! Culinary authenticity has been a hallmark of Providence and this is by far one of the most exciting branches yet! Can’t wait to bring my family over.” @AvaMarie05 on “Hellenic Gifts” via Twitter
craftlandshop.com @craftland
Gotta get out? Have no time to spend? Let Dakota’s Pet Services Care For Your Friend!
FOLLOW US FOR SUPER SUMMER GIVEAWAY CONTESTS Follow @PVDMonthly on Instagram and watch out for awesome giveaway contests all summer long! Participate for a chance to win prizes like a pair
of passes on the Block Island Ferry, tickets to a show at the Gamm Theatre, and gift certificates to great local restaurants.
Dog Walking • In-Home Boarding Hotel Sitting • Wedding Escort Pick Up & Drop Off Taxi • Overnites Administration Of Medications Pet Sitting & More! Pet CPR/First Aid Certified PSI Pet Sitters International Member Bonded & Insured
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PULSE City • Scene in PVD Outfielder Aneury Tavarez shows off the new jersey for the PawSox's one-night appearance as the Pawtucket Hot Wieners
BASEBALL, ALL THE WAY The PawSox and New York System are two great tastes that go great together Whether or not the Paw stays in PawSox is anyone’s guess, but politicking and a wooing Worcester aside, its seems like the team’s heart is in Rhode Island. Exhibit A would be this month’s most unexpected Ocean State crossover – the August 16 debut of the Pawtucket Hot Wieners. For one night only, the PawSox will don a new uniform and logo in a nod to the state’s favorite late night bite, complete with neon sign-style text treatment and a new mascot in the form of a Dachshund in a hot dog bun, naturally prepared “All the Way.” “The Hot Wiener, all the way, is a taste of Rhode Island,” says PawSox Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing Rob Crain. “We hope Rhode
Islanders enjoy this opportunity to have a little fun when we take the field on August 16 as the Pawtucket Hot Wieners.” In addition to the new look for the team, local vendors will be selling Hot Wieners, the first 50 guests wearing Pawtucket Hot Wiener swag (hats and shirts are for sale online) can join in a hot wiener eating contest, and fans with Dachshunds are invited to bring them to the park for a wiener dog parade before the game. The Durham Bulls might not know what’s happening, but maybe someone can take them out to New York System after the game and yell at them all for ordering their wieners the wrong way. PawSox.com –Tony Pacitti
Photo courtesy of Pawtucket Red Sox ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
11
PULSE • City
Retro arcade games and synthed out sounds get the spotlight at NEON Festival on August 24-26
The Future, ‘80s Style Providence has proven to be a mecca for large, geeky gatherings – Necronomicon, Comic Con, HasCon – and has recently embraced nostalgia for old-school video games at popular arcade bars like Shelter and Freeplay. This month, the first-ever NEON Festival – happening at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick – will put a bit of the two together, putting ‘80s retrofuturism in the spotlight for three days of music, gaming, and love for a future that never was. The term “retrofuturism” was coined in 1983, and while it can be expressed in many eras and genres, NEON co-founder and Creative Director Grant Garvin has a fondness for the ‘80s form. Garvin also believes that now is a particularly good time for a festival like NEON. “It seems like various media are making this a cultural touchstone with shows like Stranger Things,” he says. Though it can be hard to pin down an exact
12
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
definition for retrofuturism, NEON offers some handy definitions. “It’s a vision of the future looking through the eyes of the past,” Garvin explains. “It can be hard to predict the future from where you’re standing, so it can be easier to look at people’s past ideas about what the future would look like.” This theme of retrofuturism means NEON is not just an nostalgic ‘80s convention – it’s a nuanced look at how people in the past pictured the future, surrounded by the beginning of the computing revolution that now dominates our culture. For entertainment, NEON features just about every kind of media one can think of, including art shows, classic computer and video gaming, guest panels, and a B-movie film fest. “The largest part of NEON is the music festival,” says Garvin. “We’re bringing in musicians from all over the world, from places like Serbia, Sweden, and France.” The main
feature of the festival will be synthwave, a vibrant electronic genre with a soundtrack feel (think of the music from Blade Runner). If that wasn’t enough, Garvin and the team also want to create an immersive experience. “We want people to step back in time as much as we can, so we’ll be building out parts of the event with props,” he says. “We’re going to put our classic computers and [gaming] consoles in vignettes, laid out like how you would’ve seen them in a 1985 living room.” More than anything, Garvin is excited to see NEON bring people together. “When you talk to people who are into this aesthetic, it’s kind of an underground thing,” he says. “You have a lot of artists playing in this world, but they don’t know many people on the same wavelength, so we’re also creating a community.” August 24-26, NEONRI.com –Marrissa Ballard
Photo courtesy of NEON RI
NEON celebrates the sci-fi sights and sounds of yesterday’s tomorrow
feminine fancies
Saving Grace First Unitarian Church offers sanctuary to undocumented migrants facing deportation
YARD SA L E AUGUST 26TH SUNDAY 11-5 PM
No Early Birds! | Rain or Shine!
HURRICANE DATE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND
CASH & CARRY
ONLY
$1-$100
Some exceptions apply
Photography by Mike Braca
The First Unitarian Church of Providence will open its doors to those seeking sanctuary from deportation
In the beginning of June, the First Unitarian Church of Providence celebrated a bold decision: to provide sanctuary to any individual or family threatened with deportation. First Unitarian is the first religious institution in Rhode Island to offer this kind of sanctuary, according to Church World Services, but it’s one of 1,110 other churches across the nation to do so. “For us, it’s important to not just be professing things, but to be figuring out what our faith needs to look like in the world,” says Reverend Liz Lerner Maclay, the parish minister. “Offering sanctuary is absolutely what our faith needs to look like. This is a faithful act. A religious act.” The decision was a long time coming. As President Trump prepared to take office in 2016, the church’s Side With Love Committee researched ways they could support immigrants in Providence, according to Cynthia Rosengard, past president of the congregation. Many church members found parallels between their own immigrant ancestors and more recent migrants, whose citizenship status is now in jeopardy. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports that the number of deportations rose 34 percent after President Trump’s first year in office. “We’re damned if we’ll see the opportunities that saved our families’ lives denied other people whose lives are now at risk,” says Reverend Maclay.
(Sweaters, pants, skirts, tops, dresses, shoes, bags, etc.) Over several months, First Unitarian consulted with lawyers, local organizations, and church leaders from across the country to discuss the need for a Sanctuary Church in Providence. The group also addressed insurance concerns, says congregation president Jay Glasson, and worked with city officials to receive fire department and building permit approval. While no one has yet sought shelter, the Sanctuary Steering Committee hopes they will have 130 trained volunteers by the time someone arrives. About half of those positions so far have been filled by members of the congregation. ICE policy designates churches, schools, and hospitals as sensitive locations, discouraging agents’ entry, but there have been several reports of people being taken into custody upon leaving these areas. “We can use all the help we can get,” says Katherine Ahlquist, the committee’s chairperson. “We didn’t know what responses we were going to get, but so far it’s all been affirming and supportive,” says Reverend Maclay. “What I’m seeing is that Providence is an aptly named city with a big heart. We will provide for each other and make sure each other are provided for.” For more information, contact the committee at FirstUSanctuary@gmail.com –Annie Furuyama
Final Sales
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ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
13
PULSE • City
Theater on the Fringe Experimental performers take over the stage at FringePVD companies were getting,” explains Short. The organizers met with artists over coffee to convince them to perform in venues across downtown. “It was a great success,” says Short, “and the next year, we didn’t have to hustle so hard to convince people to do it.” Last year, Short describes, FringePVD received more applications than ever before, including from Europe and Canada. “It just goes to reaffirm our belief that there is a need for opportunities like this,” he said. The New York International Fringe Festival,
FringePVD will feature performances from more than 300 experimental artists from July 31-August 4
the largest multi-arts festival in the world, charges participants over a thousand dollars in fees, with a little less than half of ticket sales returning to the performers. By contrast, FringePVD uses a non-juried lottery process to pick 30 companies every year, who then receive “100% of the door [ticket sales]. It’s about making it as easy and accessible for the artist as possible,” says Short. “Whether it’s a one-man show or a big magic act, it’s their work and they take it seriously. So that makes it valid as far as we’re concerned.” This year, all the venues are in Olneyville and the West Side, connected by the winding Woonasquatucket River bike path. The organizers wanted “that festival feeling of running into people and seeing the artists
14
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
Photo courtesy of James Lastowsk
The Providence Fringe Festival is back for its fifth year in Olneyville this July 30-August 4. The weekend will showcase over 300 experimental artists from the Providence and New England area, including dancing, plays, improv comedy, and other acts. Josh Short is the artistic director of The Wilbury Theatre Group, which created FringePVD in 2014. “We felt like there were a lot of independent performing artists in the area that weren’t getting the recognition or opportunities that more established
out and about,” Short says, “that exchange of ideas and sense of community.” The Wilbury Theatre Group was not the only organization involved in planning this year’s festivities; the festival is supported by the WaterFire Arts Center, the Steel Yard, AS220, Yellow Peril Gallery, and the bookstore RiffRaff, as well as sponsorships from High Output, a production services company, and the Providence Tourism Council. The group also received a grant from the RI Council of the Humanities to make a newsletter by local artists that will be sent out every day of the festival. “There’s been a lot of community support and we’re very appreciative,” said Short. Various venues, FringePVD.org –Annie Furuyama
Open daily at Waterplace with the finest café fare, house-made baked goods and craft beverages
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PULSE • City
TEE IT UP
Rhode Island’s a weird place, but that’s why we love it. This summer, wear your Rhody pride on your sleeve by rocking these locally made designs, each one as quirky as this place we all call home.
I [Quahog] RI
Don’t Mess with RI Either
Available at
Designed by artist Hilary
Rhody Craft in
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at Craftland in
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Providence. $26. Craftlandshop.com
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ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
Paris London Tokyo Cranston Designed by artist AJ Paglia. Available at Frog & Toad in Providence. $25. FrogandToadStore.com
Providence Small but Mighty Designed by Milkcan Industries. Available at Craftland in Providence. $26
Bubblah Designed by artist AJ Paglia. Available at Frog & Toad in Providence. $25
Rhode Island, 3% Bigger at Lowtide Designed by artist Hilary Treadwell. Available at Frog & Toad in Providence. $26
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
17
ture & Natural Habitat:
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On The
Beat New music, making movies, touring the world – B. Dolan doesn’t know how to slow down
by Adam Hogue
as South Korea. In order to make it as a working artist, B. Dolan has had to be adaptable. “I’ve been fortunate enough to run into lots of talented people along the way who were looking for a writer or open to collaborating,” he says. “It also helped that I had
I’ve been living solely off my art since 2005 as an independent writer, performer, and musician
a policy of ‘never say no to any paid or interesting writing work’ for well over a decade. These days I have the ability and need to say ‘no’ to projects, but I’m still saying ‘yes’ to what interests me on all fronts.” A lot of artists can multitask, but the volume
of quality work that B. Dolan puts out is notable. His work with Sage Francis on Epic Beard Men – a moniker Dolan likens to Beyonce and Jay Z’s “The Carters” but way hairier – presents some of their best work. “Aside from guest spots, those are the only songs either of us have been working on for the past three years,” he says. “We’re in our last week of recording [the LP] as I say this, and I am beyond excited for how it’s all come together. Both of us have made some of our favorite songs we’ve ever been involved with as part of this album, and sonically I couldn’t be happier.” Epic Beard Men represents a more light-hearted side for Dolan and Sage, whose solo albums often carry serious political and social messages. “Sage is my actual best friend in real non-rap life,” Dolan points out, “So that definitely informs the feel of the whole project. We’re both very serious, think-until-it’s-no-longer-productive type guys, whose thoughts often wander to very dark places in isolation. There’s still some of that subject matter when we write together, but there’s also the presence of a friend in the process, so it stays somewhat looser and funnier. I think that B. Dolan (left) describes Epic Beard Men, his team-up with Sage Francis, as “Beyonce and Jay Z’s ‘The Carters’ but way hairier”
Photo courtesy of Steve Mitchell
“I’ve been living solely off my art since 2005 as an independent writer, performer and musician.” This is a bold statement to make in 2018. Given the way art is consumed in our current digital Wild West, to be living solely off of created work to the quality of art created. B. Dolan – a Providence-based rapper, musician, and screenwriter – is the kind of person who can make the term “artist” work as a personality trait and as a job description. As a true renaissance man, B. Dolan has worked on a diverse array of projects since first emerging as a slam poet in New York City in 2002. Since that time, he has recorded hip hop albums, EPs, mixtapes, worked on films, and even ran a consumer activist website called KnowMore.org. Earlier this year he released Epic Beard Men Season 1, an EP with frequent collaborator and partner in rhymes Sage Francis, and together they’re finalizing a follow up full-length release. Currently he’s scoring the locally shot and produced film Vault, which he also co-wrote. Between all that, he managed to find the time to take Epic Beard Men on the road with Sage for a tour that took them all across the US and as far
Epic Beard Men recently wrapped a tour that took them across the US and to South Korea
Photo courtesy of Keaton Foley (top), photo courtesy of B. Dolan (bottom)
B. Dolan on location in Providence earlier this year for the filming of Vault, which he co-wrote with director Tom DeNucci
comes across in the music and on stage. It’s a good time to add that lightness or lift, if you can. Life is heavy enough for the people in the audience right now.” Since returning from tour, Dolan has been hard at work scoring Vault, which tells the story of 1975’s infamous Bonded Vault Heist in which a group of men broke into the Hudson Furs Vault, the “unofficial bank” for the Patriarca Crime Family, and made off with upwards of $30 million dollars worth of valuables. The film is being produced by the East Greenwich based Verdi Productions, and Dolan co-wrote the script with another frequent collaborator, local writer-director Tom DeNucci. Filming took place in Providence earlier in the year, and the cast includes Sons of Anarchy’s Theo Rossi, Orange is the New Black’s Samira Wiley, and A Bronx Tale’s Chazz
Palminteri as Raymond Patriarca. For Dolan, writing scripts for movies has been a kind of antidote for writer’s block and this current project is no exception. “I was originally approached by Tom DeNucci, who I’ve written a number of movies with, about the idea that became Vault. As soon as he asked ‘Have you ever heard of the Bonded Vault Heist?’ I laughed and said yes to the movie. I didn’t need to hear another word,” Dolan says. Work as a collaborator on Vault helped Dolan to let go of some control over his work. Where he might obsess over the placement of a comma or breath in his own music, co-writing afforded him the opportunity to “let go” of his part and see what other artists make out of his blueprint. “The process of co-writing these movies basically involves bringing pages to Tom in chunks or
acts, sitting and getting notes, and returning to the drawing board, doubling back, and fleshing out,” he says. “As the director of the film, Tom’s often making me aware of production obstacles I need to either steer clear of or steer straight into because it’s something he wants to include. I’ve learned that once everything is in motion, the writing is also subject to change. Tom will often add or subtract scenes and dialogue throughout the process. In the case of Vault, Chazz Palminteri improvised a whole monologue in one scene that doesn’t exist in the script.” An inescapable part of the B. Dolan persona is his engagement as an activist fighting for social justice and corporate responsibility. An investigation he launched through his now-defunct website knowmore.org on American Apparel then-CEO Dov Charney even resulted in Dolan being called to testify against him in a sexual harassment trial. Whether it is through his writing or his music, Dolan uses his platform to comment on the things he finds unjust in society. However, between the light-hearted persona of Epic Beard Men and his work on Vault, some of B. Dolan’s more outspoken tendencies have taken a back seat to allowing his known views to speak for themselves. “While those things are part of our worldview and are always going to be present in some respect, the current crop of Epic Beard Men songs avoids obvious engagement with those things. [Sage and I] have already made it pretty clear where we stand on issues of social justice. For over a decade, while we were pigeonholed and labeled ‘preachy’ for focusing on those things, while others in our genre were busy chasing ‘cool’. We were classified and often dismissed by the music industry as ‘political rappers’ because we dared speak clearly and urgently on political issues in some of our songs,” Dolan explains. “These days every rapper is political, just like everyone with a Twitter account is an activist. Everyone’s commentary is happening at the same time, yet somehow things are not getting better.” That doesn’t mean they are any less angry. Dolan goes on to point out that, “the current social climate represents a kind of ‘mask off’ moment to our generation, I think. No one can deny what’s happening. No one really needs to be told. You’re either Big Mad or you’re little mad, or not mad at all. Should we make a rap song about the child detention centers in Texas? Or should we raise and send money and support to those working to close them immediately? “There’s a time for rap and there’s a time for action. If you need more convincing at this point, I don’t have many songs left to sing you.” ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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Escape to the city’s 116 – yes, 116 – parks and green spaces
by Amanda M. Grosvenor
Roger Williams National Memorial
Photography by Brandon Harmon
August is the perfect time to explore Providence’s 116 parks. Our public spaces make up 1/10th of the city – more than 1,600 acres – which is pretty unique given our size. You’re probably already familiar with the spots in your own neighborhood, but the Providence Parks Department and partner organizations have been revitalizing green spaces citywide, with playground renovations and new installations like rain gardens, sustainable playgrounds, parkour, skate parks, and much more. The 1903 plan for the city map had all its parks physically connected; obviously that vision wasn’t manifested, but the Parks Department is working to connect them through programming and design thematics that are “uniquely Providence,” according to Parks & Recreation Superintendent Wendy Nilsson. Over 25 free public fitness classes are currently offered, along with the Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative and children’s Little Libraries installed in parks all over town. The Parks Department is deliberately arranging park seating and amenities “in ways that facilitate conversations and connections” while using sustainable materials, best practices in storm water management, and repurposing/reusing whenever possible. Most work is now happening in-house through the department’s own design team and builders, making the process more efficient and cost-effective. “We’re making a really big effort to connect children and families to nature, so you might see big boulders, or logs, or berms, or swales,” says Nilsson. Aiming to make landscaping more creative and sustainable, “We’re looking at what’s there and how can we enhance this natural environment rather than take it down and put up something metal or concrete.” Nilsson cites Peace & Plenty Park in upper South Providence as a perfect example: a place with logs and rain gardens that is very small “but so wellloved and used in that community.” Whether it’s the Parks Department tearing down 12-foot fences and putting in grass in South Providence or the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) cleaning up and connecting Olneyville’s greenways through bike and
Photo courtesy of DPPC
Brandon’s Beach playground at Burnside Park
walking paths, the city’s parks-oriented organizations are working hard to create community spaces. Over 50 “Friends of” groups represent their respective parks and advocate for needed improvements to their communities, and the Partnership for Providence Parks works to help manage, organize, and facilitate these relationships and connect them to the resources they need. The Partnership also initiates public art initiatives, like the Unicorns that appeared all over the city several years ago. The goal was to “begin a citywide conversation around art and possibility,” says Helene Miller, the Partnership’s Executive Director.
When the organization is “doing its best work, it is making new friends and keeping the old,” facilitating dialogues with communities about how they want their public lands and green spaces “to look, what they want them to feel like, and even smell like” – such as pollinator gardens for bees. “Anyone can be a friend [of their park], and that’s the beauty of it,” says Miller, who encourages residents to join their own neighborhood Friends group, where they can advocate for their community, help with litter cleanups, paint, or help with art installations. “In many ways, the state of the park is a
reflection of the relationship” between the community, the Partnership for Providence Parks, and the Parks Department, explains Miller. “It creates a vibrant green hub for people to play, relax, and explore.” The easiest way to find the exact amenities you want is through the Parks Locator map on the Parks Department’s website, which allows you to search the corresponding term – or use their Park Story Map to browse by neighborhood and learn the history behind your favorite public spaces. In the meantime, here are some gems worth scoping out.
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Playgrounds & Water Parks Summit Avenue Park in the Hope neighborhood is a shining example of where playground design meets innovation: a little oasis featuring two tiny houses and bridges made out of durable Ipe wood, and a ship’s hull for children to play on. Joslin Playground in Olneyville is another exceptional stop for children, with giant boulders, native plants, rain gardens, a shade sail, a small dock and bridges, and a water park slide – not to mention softball, basketball, walking paths, and a handball court. It’s also wonderful for biking. At downtown’s Burnside Park, the now one year old, nautically themed Brandon’s Beach playground features rope obstacles, swings, and musical equipment.
Kickball at Dexter Training Grounds
Photography by Mike Braca (top), Photography by Tony Pacitti (bottom)
Woonasquatucket Greenway Bike Path
Roger Williams National Memorial
Billy Taylor Park on Camp Street is a more old-school model of a water park, but features a unique teaching garden and a new skate ramp. Fargnoli Park is “wonderful for families,” Nilsson says, and will soon have a brand-new baseball field and basketball courts as well as a “pretty spectacular” water park with wooden structures made out of Robinia or Black Locust wood. Amos Earley Park on Cadillac Drive in Elmwood boasts a tennis court and community garden, while small Pearl Street Park in Upper South Providence received lots of upgrades from the parks department in 2017, with more happening in 2018. India Point Park boasts a newly renovated playground as well as a soccer field, walking trails, access to the East Bay Bike Path, and two large docks for community sailing; it also regularly hosts festivals and other events.
Photography by Brandon Harmon
Walking, Hiking, Biking & Sports Elmwood’s famous Roger Williams Park is arguably best known for its Zoo, but the surrounding green, rolling grounds have undergone a transformation in the three years since Nilsson became superintendent. “Come to Roger Williams and fall in love with it again,” she urges, mentioning movie nights, free yoga, fountains that change color at night, and the much-used greenway bike track. Blackstone Woods off Wayland Square is a beautiful tucked-away, 45-acre wooded conservation area that many overlook; some of its trails and amenities were built as part of the the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration. There’s no better spot to enjoy downtown than Riverwalk, a stretch of park that follows the Providence River and includes a stop at Memorial Park, a poignant tribute to Rhode Island veterans. Wanskuck Park in Wanskuck is a lesser-known, beautiful 22 acres on the North End of Providence. Bucklin Park on Dexter Street in the West End has athletic fields and a playground right up the street from Dexter Training Grounds (a.k.a. Dexter Field) by the Cranston Street Armory, which hosts kickball matches, bocce, and chess, and will soon have a major playground upgrade and other amenities added.
Neautaconkanut Hill Park
The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) has been working for decades to revitalize Olneyville by cleaning up the river and surrounding areas, building fish ladders, and much more. One of its major projects has been to connect neighboring Riverside Park, John Donigian Memorial Park, and Merino Park along the Lippitt Greenway through a new bike path. “The parks, especially along the Woonasquatucket River, create the only real wildlife corridor in Providence,” says WRWC Executive Director Alicia Lehrer. While traveling the greenway from downtown to the West End of Providence, Lehrer vouches that anyone can regularly see great blue herons, ducks, geese, turtles, and fish, as well as enjoy fresher air and stay much cooler in the summer. “You don’t have to go to Yellowstone Park or Zion to feel the value of parks and connecting to nature; we can do it right here in Providence with our local parks,” Lehrer says – which helps our mental and physical health on a daily basis “while keeping our whole ecosystem thriving – us included.”
History Speaking of wildlife, Neutaconkanut Hill Park occupies 88 beautiful acres in Silver Lake, as well as an incredibly important place in our state’s history: it was the northwest boundary in the land agreement between Roger Williams and the Narragansett Sachems. It also boasts a playground, two baseball diamonds, a basketball court, water park, and tons of gorgeous trails where hikers can find Native American and Colonial artifacts or even glacial rock outcroppings from the Ice Age. Meanwhile, Roger Williams National Memorial on North Main Street belongs to the National Park Service and honors our state’s founder with an informative visitor’s center. Randall Park, located as a designated non-burying space within North Burial Ground, is another must-visit for history buffs.
Photography by Brandon Harmon
Wildlife Watching
Chess tables at Dexter Training Gounds
Photography by Wolf Matthewson (top), Photography by Brandon Harmon (bottom)
Teen Adventures The best spots for trying your hand at parkour or skateboarding are Father Lennon Park on Smith Hill (often referred to as Camden Avenue Park), which has custom installations and will be adding a bike track to complement its playground, walking paths, and volleyball courts; Brown Street Park on College Hill, which has parkour elements; and Ascham Street Park in Charles, which has parkour-like equipment for younger children, a new massive mural painted by local and regional artists, as well as a playground and softball field. Trinity Mews (also referred to as Adrian Hall Way) sits downtown on Fountain Street and is home to a skate park designed by youths, as well as an informal outdoor performance space. Soon, a spot near Merino Park that was originally home to the Lincoln Lace & Braid building (razed in 1997) will become what Nilsson calls a “teen adventure park� with biking and parkour, thanks to a DEM grant and multiple partners.
Furry Friends Running Free Franciscan Park (also referred to as Bell) on Federal Hill welcomes dogs off-leash, as does the Waterman Street Dog Park. Gano Street Park also has a fenced off area for our canine companions, in addition to bike paths. ProvidenceRI.gov/Parks-Recreation
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CITY STYLE At Home • The Look • Shop Talk • Whole Body • Get Fit
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
Photography by Mike Braca
Xay Khamsyvoravong’s College Hill home honors his family’s history and Providence’s It was a long road from Xay Khamsyvoravong’s childhood home in Barrington to his current one in Providence - one that went by way of Wall Street and California before bringing him to College Hill, where he lives in a historic 1846 home built by Charles Shaw. Since his job with Webster Bank takes him out of town often, living within walking distance of Amtrak was a huge selling point. “I don’t think there are a lot of cities with historic neighborhoods that close to a major train
station,” he says. From his house, he can also see both the State House and the original State House, which is fitting. Khamsyvoravong is on the board of Grow Smart RI and chairman of Providence Water. “To be able to see both and be as civically engaged as I am,” he says, “I thought that was really fun.” Khamsyvoravong attributes that engagement to his family: his grandfather’s service in World War II, his father’s life as a refugee, and his mother’s career, which started as a community health
doctor. Inside the home, there’s a modern feel balanced by historic character in details like wide-plank pine floors with square-headed nails. There are also subtleties that represent his family, like his grandfather’s hunting bow, and the oar from his fishing boat. “On the mantle, there’s a picture of when I took my mom to meet Hillary Clinton,” he says. “I thought that was pretty great.” Your parents must be proud, I say. “Well,” he says, “I’ll keep working hard just in case they aren’t.” -Julie Tremaine
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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CITY STYLE • The Look
by Jackie Ignall
Mix Master
My style can best be described as something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue (or yellow, red, or green). I love color and mixing patterns and textures. My husband once summarized my style as ‘Little House on the Prairie punk,’ a quote from Transparent. I grew up in Sweden where people dress in a fairly monochromatic way with an emphasis on famous brands. Sometimes, I think my style is a result of those two things. When looking for a piece of clothing, I go for either a fun pattern or a solid-colored piece, a three-dimensional interest — an asymmetrical feature, fun buttons, or interesting detail. I live and breathe colors, textures, and fabrics and apply the same rules to my dress code as to my decorating style. I like to be irreverent and unpredictable, and pair a vintage piece with something modern. I love cute dresses, but always make sure to combine it with not-too-cute accents. Boots and Doc Martens look great with a floral dress and there is nothing prettier than lots of pearls paired with jeans. I use the same handbag until it is worn and wear a few pieces of custom jewelry that I alternate between. I love big and chunky choker necklaces. Wendy Baker, a local jewelry designer, is my absolute favorite and has made some special pieces using my grandmother’s jewelry. Most of my clothes are purchased in second-hand stores. It’s like treasure hunting (I also love antiquing) and find interesting pieces for a bargain. I love the store Anthropologie, but mostly go for inspiration. Summer is my least favorite time of the year since I don’t like the heat. I wear sleeveless dresses or skinny pants with flowy tops, dreaming of fall when I can wear more layers. I also wear a lot more white, somehow thinking that it cools me down.
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Photo by Mark Lohman, Styling by Fifi O’Neill
Kreatelier’s in-house senior design consultant Pernilla Frazier on her dress code rules and combining cute with cool
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CITY STYLE • Get Fit
by John Taraborelli
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A Zumba instructor shows her class the moves at VP Fitness
showed me. Recently, Joe and his team celebrated their fourth anniversary with some upgrades to the equipment and facilities. Located right in the heart of Downtown, VP Fitness bills itself as “full-service,” which means they offer a whole lot more than just a weight room and some classes. There is a smoothie bar, professional massage service, lounge, more than 10 group classes, even a meal prep service. That’s all well and good, but I just wanted to dance (or at least was assigned to). Our instructor, Elia, brought us into a small, open studio space within the gym and queued up her playlist. If you’ve never been, Zumba is all about the music. Unlike the soundtrack to most fitness classes, which tend toward a sort of monotonous, thumping four-four club beat, Zumba mashes up the swinging, often-polyrhythmic grooves of salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton, soca, and just about anything
Photography by Wolf Matthewson
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After doing this column for a few years, I’m always game for something new – a fact my editors like to exploit from time to time by providing me with assignments intended to humiliate and/or kill me. Thus, this month. “There is something so inherently endearing about Zumba – it’s egalitarian and unapologetically upbeat,” wrote my editor. Challenge accepted. Somehow, I had made it this far into my tenure as fitness columnist/guinea pig without trying Zumba, the high energy, Latin-Caribbean dance fitness. Well, that’s not entirely true. Technically, I had done Zumba once before, but I was drunk at a resort in Jamaica and the class was conducted right next to one of the outdoor bars by a man named Jose Bowwow. Maybe that wasn’t the best representation of the art form, so I figured why not give it another shot? VP Fitness offered to oblige me. The fitness club was one of my first subjects back when I started this column, and to this day I still diligently do push-ups the way manager and master trainer Joe DePena
else you can swivel your hips to. Now, it should be noted that I am a horrible dancer. As Elia guided us mostly without words through a series of different moves for each new song, I struggled mightily to achieve even the most basic facsimile of what she was demonstrating. For those on the other side of the windows, it must have been mildly entertaining to see the one guy in the class sweating and stumbling, moving off-beat, going left when everyone else was going right, and occasionally making an attempt at a hip shimmy that was so pathetic it would have embarrassed a bunch of aunts doing “The Electric Slide” at a wedding. (I did, however, discover that a regular habit of doing squats at the gym made me surprisingly able to “drop it like it’s hot”). Here’s the thing, though: it didn’t matter that I’m a bad dancer. Zumba is not about impressing anyone, and the emphasis isn’t precision, form, or even staying on beat. It very much belongs in the “just don’t stop moving” school of fitness. Who cares if I zigged when I should have zagged? Whatever inept movement I made at any given moment was faster and more aerobic than anything else I was going to do that day. It wasn’t about finding the beat so much as it was about keeping my feet moving and my core engaged. After 60 minutes and what seemed like at least a dozen different sub-genres of music, we were all sweating, panting and – here’s the important part – smiling. None of us (except for Elia) was going to get recruited as a back-up dancer for Pitbull, but we had jacked up our heart rates, worked our cores and glutes, and even got in a little bit of light stretching for a cool down. I think Jose Bowwow would have been proud.
Discover Burnside Park SUMMER FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IN BURNSIDE PARK! Downtown Farmers Market & Kidoinfo Play in the Park: Tuesdays 3 – 6pm Kidoinfo Storytime + Art in the Park: Thursdays 10:30am – 12:30pm Burnside Music Series + Beer Garden: Thursdays 4:30 – 7:30pm Imagination Center is open Tuesday & Thursday 11 – 6 & Wednesday 11 – 2. Visit the Open Air Reading Room at the Imagination Center! For directions & complete schedule of events, visit: www.provparksconservancy.org | @KennedyPlazaPVD
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CITY STYLE • Whole Body
by Elyse Major
Make Your Own Perfume The only custom botanical perfume bar in the United States is around the corner at Wayland Square
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Bottles of essential oils, extracted and distilled from flowers, fruits, seeds, and plant roots, are available for fragrance-making at Providence Perfume Co.
where I want to select sunflower essence upon learning it’s produced by a little old man in France, but opt for lemony bergamot instead. Prior to the final blending, I’m asked if I want my perfume to be alcohol or oil-based (spritzed and smelled by others, or rolled on and kept close to the wearer)? I select the new-to-me roll-on oil. Sourced from around the globe using laborious techniques, essential oils are expensive and so I’m careful. Drop by drop the oils are added to the small beaker followed by a gentle stirring and the
dipping and sniffing of test strips. Once the smell is where I like it and deemed sound by Ethier, she pours the potion into a slender bottle and advises giving the contents a few days to settle. I’m so pleased with my bespoke fragrance that smells garden-fresh: kind of leafy and green with a hint of roses. If you happen to see me around town sniffing my wrists, you’ll know why.
Providence Perfume Co. 13 South Angell Street • 455-2325 ProvidencePerfume.com
Photography by Elyse Major
What do I have in common with Sarah Jessica Parker, the Olsen Twins, and Rihanna? We’ve all created custom fragrances. What sets mine apart is what it lacks – besides a household name and an enormous marketing budget, my perfume is missing chemicals. I’ll call my signature scent Elyse, after all I never can find anything with my name on it; Elyse has no synthetics, petrochemicals, or dyes. I created it by appointment under the tutelage of Charna Ethier, proprietor and “head nose” of Providence Perfume Co. The sign on the door reads, Come In We Smell Awesome, and it’s true. Unlike the sensory assault of department store counters, Providence Perfume Co. smells fresh. The luminous space is airy and pretty and stocked with bath, body, and beauty products handcrafted from natural ingredients. There is even a cache of gumball machines by the front door and for a quarter you can get a tiny sample, sachet, or sea shell. For my session, Ethier leads me to a tall white table set with a note card and pen for recording my fragrance “recipe,” which will be kept on file in the shop’s card catalog. Like an elegant laboratory, the workspace is equipped with glass beakers, small mixing tools, and droppers. A ball of wool is within reach should my nasal palette need refreshing between whiffs. The focal point of the table is the threetiered pedestal holding cruets of colorful oils sorted by their “note” or staying power. We begin with the bottom tier of base notes, the last fragrance to linger on skin after the other notes have evaporated. Ethier has me sniff from each cruet in a game of this or that to pick favorites. This first intense group includes scents like patchouli (nope), frankincense (that’s real!?), and honey (yes). The process of elimination continues to the second tier of heart or middle notes where I surprise myself by favoring tomato leaf over sweeter options like raspberry or apple oils. Finally the top notes,
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CITY STYLE • Shop Talk
words and photos by Meghan H. Follett
Curated Cool Lore Collection offers a wide range of gifts worth giving Jayna Aronovitch decided to start Lore Collection as a place to share her passions. As a photographer familiar with the local gallery scene, she wanted to provide her friends and fellow artists with the kind of place they’d been looking for to display and sell their works. Armed with a knack for merchandising, Aronovitch created a space to fill that need. From its origins at the Arcade, Lore has evolved and expanded into the airy and inspired space you’ll find to-
day on Brook Street over on the East Side. Lore showcases handmade goods from independent local makers as well as others from around the country. Aronovitch likes to be able to offer a wide range of items from housewares to jewelry to clothing, even easy-care succulent plants. She’s got an eye not only for what’s cool, but also for timelessness (and is always looking for new items, so artists and designers take note). Stop by the space to see what kinds of stuff
she’s curated for the season; there’s always something new to discover. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Paper goods, $7-$26 Donut socks, $12 each Geo soaps, $5. Lovewild teas & bath, $18-$25
Lore Collection 144 Brook Street LoreCollection.com
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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August 25: Brew at the Zoo
GO WILD August 25: Lions, tigers, and… beers? Oh, my! The annual fundraiser Brew at the Zoo is back with an adults-only evening soiree featuring beer, music, and animal encounters at Roger Williams Park Zoo. As Rhode Island’s largest outdoor beer festival, the Brew offers samples of over 170 beers from over 80 different brewers,
both local and beyond, including favorites like Revival Brewing Co., Newport Storm, and Grey Sail Brewing. Guests can also purchase diinner from food carts or two of the zoo’s cafes and wander the open parts of the zoo. You’re sure to have a wild time. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, RWPZoo.org
Photography by Mike Braca ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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GET OUT • Calender
by Megan Schmit
THE TO-DO LIST As the season winds down, don’t miss these summertime events
August 18: Foo Fest
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August 3-31: Food Truck Fridays at Roger Williams Park Zoo is a summer tradition. Visit your favorite food trucks, hop on the historic carousel, and even ride a camel, weather permitting. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, RWPZoo.org
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August 4: Providence Performing Arts Center welcomes Yanni 25 – Live at the Acropolis Anniversary Concert Tour this month. The world-renowned composer will take center
stage to celebrate 25 years since the release of his iconic live album recorded in Athens. 220 Weybosset Street, PPACRI.org
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August 7-12: The Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival returns for its 22nd year to showcase the best of the world’s independent cinematic talent right here in the Ocean State. Various Venues, Film-Festival.org
Photo courtesy of Mike Braca
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August 11: Take a stroll along the waterfront for The Looff – East Providence Arts Festival to admire the work of local artists, including photography, metal works, and sculpture. Crescent Park, EastProvidenceArts.org
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August 17-19: Players assemble at the Rhode Island Convention Center for Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix, a two-day event with cash prizes, artist signings, and more. 1 Sabin Street, Magic. Wizards.com
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August 17-19: Pawtucket goes Greek for a weekend during the Grecian Festival, where you can try traditional cuisine and coffee, shop the indoor/outdoor marketplace, and watch costumed Greek pride dancers. Opa! 97 Walcott Street, Pawtucket, AssumptionRI.org
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August 18: Empire Street will be transformed for AS220’s Foo Fest, a block party for all ages, featuring the most creative art, music, and culture the city has to offer. Empire Street, FooFest.AS220.org
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August 22: “Do You Realize”…that The Flaming Lips will be coming to PVD? The psychedelic rock band will be performing at the Strand with Le Butcherettes. 79 Washington Street, TheStrandRI.com
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August 23: Country music fans rejoice, for Hunter Hayes is bringing a little bit of Southern charm to Bold Point Park this month, along with opener Maggie Rose. Bold Point Park, East Providence, RIWaterfrontEvents.com
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August 24: The seventh annual Theatre in the Park will make you laugh, cry, and cheer with an hour-long performance. Enjoy a series of short sketches performed by the Players of the Barker Playhouse. Pawtuxet Village, Warwick, PlayersRI.org
27 Dryden Ln. Providence RI 02904 www.ProvidencePictureFrame.com 401.421.6196 ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
43
GET OUT • Music
by Adam Hogue
Synth Happens Triangle Forest embraces the electronic sounds of yesterday’s future
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The technological singularity is fast approaching and for synthretro-call-it-what-you-will-wave band Triangle Forest, it can’t come fast enough. “We like synthesizers, and we like synthetic music,” says Triangle Forest singer Brendon Britton. “I wish we could be more synthetic.” According to MIT, the technological singularity is “the idea that... ordinary humans will someday be overtaken by artificially intelligent machines or cognitively enhanced biological intelligence, or both.” For those of you who have been lucky enough to catch a Triangle Forest show – an array of electronic sounds fused with the work of live musicians programmed with the sole purpose of making people dance – the idea of singularity does not seem so far off. Made up of brothers Brendan and Ben Britton on synth and drums and Martin van Etten on synths, Triangle Forest has been making infectiously danceable retro music since 2006. Following a WBRU Rock Hunt win in 2007, critical acclaim for their
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TOP TRACKS: “Pluto” This track, released as a free download, pays homage to our favorite denigrated planet with a John Hughes approved cinematic synthline and a chorus made for shouting out into the cosmos while driving alone at night. “Tokyo” Off of Hostile Takeover, “Tokyo” hits all the right hooks and pockets of groove. The icing on the cake is the almost raspy vocals on the chorus. Somewhat raw, super catchy, and menacing.
album Hostile Takeover and tours, Triangle Forest is still a regular fixture around the city. “We are definitely a live band,” Britton says. “We like to practice, and we like to perform. We actually record in our studio a lot between gigs, but it’s always a very tortured process. We only share those songs that we feel satisfied with and that’s not too often.” A casual visit to the Triangle Forest Bandcamp reveals this release-as-they-come approach to songwriting with them following up Hostile Takeover with periodic singles. “When we record a new track and
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Hey Walter, Is it really true that RI is the smallest state? think it’s worth sharing,” Britton says, “we usually send it to a few friends and put it up online for listening. An album would be nice, we have the material for it, but I’m not sure if it makes sense to release all those songs at once anymore.” With a sound reminiscent of The Police, Triangle Forest brings rock sensibilities to their music with an emphasis on live performances. “We sound our best when when it’s just the two of us hanging out, drinking beer, and playing in the studio,” Britton says. “But during live shows, when the audience is feeling it, and it sounds good onstage, we occasionally channel some very intense energy, and that might be when it is most fun to watch.” For those unfamiliar with a Triangle Forest live performance, people descend on the venue out of seemingly nowhere, dance furiously, and know every word to every track before disappearing from whence they came. Despite being a rock band at heart, Triangle Forest has fallen into an emerging synth-wave scene that goes by many names. The Retro-futurist sound of synthwave/outrun/retro/darksynth has been coming into its own, employing old technology as far-reaching as vintage game consoles and computers to vintage synthesizers to portray the future as envisioned by the past. Triangle Forest, along with local acts Beta Motel and Lame Genie, have found themselves to be a part of this scene. This month, Triangle Forest will be a part of the first NEON Retrofest being held at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, where vintage arcade games, live synthwave, cult film, retro tech, and guest speakers will converge to bring us one step closer to singularity and show what retro-futurism is all about.
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ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
RIIFF brings together filmmakers from around the world – and gives them a shot at the Oscars
to the screen, Flickers and RIIFF hold an accreditation with the Academy Awards, meaning that they have the power to send films in for Oscar consideration. After that, films are judged in the hopes of making it to the final nomination list. “Having that relationship with the Academy is something we don’t take for granted,” says DiNobile. “We’ve been an Oscar qualifier since 2001 and have had over 50 Oscar nominations at this point because of our festival.” Notably, RIIFF is one of the few festivals in this area with this relationship with the Academy. “People sometimes have a
Photo courtesy of RIIFF
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Now in its 22nd year, the Rhode Island International Film Festival is dedicated to shining a light on independent films and filmmakers that otherwise might stay in the shadows. Flickers, the parent organization of the festival, has a 36-year-long history of promoting these films on a global scale. When choosing the 300 films to screen, Public Relations and Program Coordinator Gabbi DiNobile says their judges invite audiences on a journey, making sure to mix genres to allow for comedic relief between heavy films. Films that make it to RIIFF also undergo quite a few rounds of judging, since the festival receives over 6,000 submissions. In addition to bringing brilliant pieces
mentality that there’s not much here in RI,” says DiNobile. “But a lot of people call RI the ‘East Hollywood’ because we have so much going on.” Last year, one of RIIFF’s submissions to the Academy, The Silent Child, actually made it to Oscar night and took home a trophy. “We saw how special it was, because [the filmmakers’] passion matched ours, and we locked them in for a world premiere,” she says. “We’re hoping to have them back this year for our opening night.” This year, the festival will be dedicated to Dr. Winnie Brownell, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at URI for over 40 years. “She basically set the foundation for film education in RI, so we really want to pay tribute to her,” says DiNobile. “I’m pretty sure our executive director, George Marshall, had her in class.” In addition to screenings, the festival will include panels and workshops with people in the industry. “It’s a really supportive and collaborative environment,” she says. “It also gives people the resources that they might not be able to get to and helps them build connections.” For DiNobile, the best part of the festival is getting to meet new faces and see unique films. “It’s a great opportunity to see things that you wouldn’t otherwise,” she says. “People will discover new films and filmmakers and maybe even get to talk to someone who ends up way up there someday.” The Rhode Island International Film Festival runs August 7-12. Tickets are $10 for individual screenings, or audiences can purchase a five-pack for $40. Tickets are available online on Eventbrite or at each of the box offices.
22nd Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival Various Venues • August 7-12 Film-Festival.org
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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GET OUT • Art
by Amanda M. Grosvenor
Art in the Wild Wild Canary’s Chris Cox makes a big statement with public sculpture
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to making art professionally when Providence’s I-195 redevelopment commission put out an open call for sculpture in 2015 – Cox’s proposal was accepted. Cox was “raised to be a creative child” with a hobbyist mother, “DIY-er” father, an aunt who teaches art, and a carpenter grandfather who taught shop. “I was taught to build things and that ‘weird is wonderful,’” Cox says. In 2010, he graduated from Newport’s International Yacht Restoration School, where he took a nine-month program with composite expert Henry Elliot. Elliot would become a long-term mentor, and at the end of the program, he purchased “a trailer with a crappy boat on it” and gave Cox the boat: a Sea Sprite 23 named Wild Canary. Although
Chris Cox, the artist behind South Water Street’s “POD” installation, has dreams on seeing his work displayed all over the city
the boat “doesn’t float yet,” it inspired Cox’s artist name: Wild Canary. Cox’s next large-scale public project debuts at the end of August in South Hamilton, Massachusetts as part of the Flying Horse Exhibition: an 11-foot-tall, 12-foot-wide, 17-foot-long abstraction of a happy dog named “Windy” (the name of the dog he’s had for eight years). Funds to build it were raised through a Kickstarter campaign in April. Due to the size of his pieces, Cox scaled down his silhouettes to create smaller unique art pieces for supporters
Photography by Savannah Barkley
While crafting fiberglass and aluminum composites at a marine industry custom fabrications shop in 2014, Bristol-based sculptor and boat builder Chris Cox had a flash of inspiration: “I [envisioned] sculptures being built on a monumental scale using the same tools and materials I was working with on boats.” He thought, “Yeah, I can do this.’” The results of this vision are probably familiar: Cox’s enormous “POD” sculpture has lived at 345 South Water Street’s riverside parkway since May of 2016. It consists of multiple flat “monolith” panels constructed out of sturdy, weather-resistant composite fiberglass-reinforced plastic, all shaped and placed to evoke the image of a sperm whale. He was still new
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to display in their own homes. Thirty paintings and three tabletop sculptures were sold, which were essentially duplicates “directly mimicking the original concept of the sculptural design,” he says. The original sculpture is the “content maquette” that smaller iterations mimic. Each derivative painting or “monoprint” is “completely individually unique, and they’re created using a self-developed process of controlled randomness using stamps and stencils cut based on silhouettes of sculptural design,” Cox says. The monoprints are between one inch and 2.5 inches square, and Cox will soon sell them in packs of five “like baseball trading cards.” All of Cox’s sculptures are “based in a kind of spirituality, almost, that has to do with interactions between living things.” “POD” stands for People of Difference, and by evoking sperm whales, it represents the idea that “people of difference are getting cornered and hunted to extinction, much like whales are.” While attending high school in Providence, Cox was inspired by Shephard Fairey’s ubiquitous “Andre the Giant has a Posse” stickers. He first dabbled in public art by leaving “graffiti sculptures” in towns or cities where he hoped it would be noticed; the pieces were rudimentary but large, six feet tall by four feet wide, and made of cheap scrap wood and plywood. He started an “anonymous gallery campaign,” leaving sculptures in plastic bags outside of art gallery entrances. Eventually, his work did get noticed, and he was offered space to show at Alta Luna Studio in Bristol. In late 2017, his wooden Reindeer sculpture debuted at the Arcade Providence, and his work is also currently displayed at Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery at Bristol Community College in Fall River. Cox’s goal is to someday “make Providence synonymous with [his] art” by creating a legacy through large-scale sculpture. He envisions even larger public art installations for the city someday.
Chris Cox, Wild Canary
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ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
FEAST In the Kitchen • On the Menu • Review • In the Drink • Restaurant Guide
NOT YOUR COLLEGE RAMEN Ginko Ittetsu elevates the undergrad’s favorite noodle on the East Side The Gankara Miso bowl is a typhoon of flavors: sliced Chashu and TanTan pork, a five-minute egg, sautéed bean sprouts, Nappa cabbage, Wakame seaweed, scallions, corn, and sesame seeds, all floating in a bronze-colored broth. But the main ingredient is ramen, that special brand of Japanese noodle that nearly every college student has at some point stockpiled. But as fans of East Asian cuisine now know, ramen isn’t just a microwavable packet you buy at 7-Eleven; the versatile pasta has garnered gourmet attention. Over in Massachusetts, Ganko Ittetsu Ramen is a staple of the Brookline dining scene, ladling high-end noodle bowls for hungry Bostonians. But Ganko isn’t just popular - Boston Magazine named it one of their
Top 25 New Restaurants in 2016, and Improper Bostonian called Ganko one of Boston’s Best. Most Providence foodies would blanch at the idea of fighting through Boston traffic for an hour and half for a taste of Hokkaido goodness, but luckily Ganko is opening a second location on Thayer Street, nestled between the brand-new by Chloe and Pokéworks. Ganko’s menu has roots in Sapporo, one of the northernmost cities in Japan, where the cool and rainy climate is very similar to New England’s. Ramen is pretty much always a hit, but when the weather turns autumnal, there’s nothing like a steaming bowl of miso-flavored consommé. 215 Thayer Street, GankoRamen.com –Robert Isenberg
Photo by Shuhei Teshima courtesy of Ganko Ramen ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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FEAST • Review
by Stephanie Obodda
A Market Difference
As I walked down Westminster Street one day in May, I did a double take. Since I last passed the historical Tilden Thurber building, once an appointment-only antique furniture showroom, it had undergone a stunning transformation into Yoleni’s, a gourmet Greek market, deli, and restaurant. Yoleni’s may have taken Providence by surprise, but the company already operates a thriving online food store as well as a large culinary center in Athens. Providence’s location is their first American outpost. Any Greek market in downtown Providence would be exciting enough, but Yoleni’s goes a step above, showcasing traditional and regional products by smaller producers. The market and deli are open daily from morning through evening, and the dinner menu (Topos) is offered six days a week. Yoleni’s space is open and sunny, with the deli counter on one side, ample seating to the other, a neatly arranged market in the rear, and a central staircase leading to a mezzanine with extra tables. On my first visit during opening week, I tried a pita from the deli. In this case, pita refers not to bread, but to a filled pie similar to a small calzone. Happy with my experience, I
was eager to try the Topos menu. A dinner experience at Yoleni’s starts with warm flatbread pieces served with olive oil and herbs. Our bread did double duty with our Mixed Spread Variety sampler, which included taramosalata, a creamy fish roe spread; Kopanisti, red pepper and goat cheese; and tzatziki, a garlicky yogurt dip. We enjoyed all three but especially the tzatziki, which showcased the luscious Greek yogurt also available at the market and deli. We made quick work of the Marinated Octopus appetizer, impressed by the tenderness of the octopus slices. Our Choriatiki Salad was a summer rainbow of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, capers, and feta. The salad was a large portion, even for two. At the time of our visit, there were eight entrees on the menu and I would have been happy to order any one of them. If you made a Venn diagram of traditional, creative, and healthy, these would fall in the intersection. I chose Sea Bass with Beetroots and Seasonal Greens. I’m not sure if this is typical, but my portion of sea bass was enormous, easily half a pound. I loved the contrasts in this dish – crispy fried skin with smooth white
fish, room temperature jewel-like beets with warm, wilted greens. It was such a vibrant and healthy dish. My husband had Papoutsakia, eggplant halves stuffed with ground meat and bechamel sauce. The dish’s name means “little shoes” in Greek (halved eggplants look a bit like shoes, right?) We both requested the recommended wine pairings with our entrees. Mine was a mineraly white made from vidiano grapes, an ancient grape from the island of Crete. My husband’s red came from Nemea, arguably Greece’s most important red wine region. True to the restaurant’s mission, all wines, beers, and spirits on the menu are from Greece. For dessert, we enjoyed the Chocolate Mosaic Cake. A similar dessert in Germany and Italy is known as “chocolate salami,” which should give you a clue about its appearance. A cylinder of dense, fudgy chocolate cake studded with crumbled biscuits is sliced into salami-like rounds. We were so enthused I had to Google a
CUISINE: Greek PRICES for Topos Menu: Appetizers: $6.50-$14 Entrees: $15.50-$22.50 Desserts $7-$10 ATMOSPHERE: Casual
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Photography by Stacey Doyle
Yoleni’s market, deli, and restaurant showcase quality Greek ingredients downtown
PIZZA’S ON THE LINE. 401 632 0555 Must-Try Items “Choriatiki” Greek salad Cherry tomatoes, yellow cherry tomatoes,
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cucumbers, red onions, capers, salt, unpitted Kalamata olives, oregano, feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil
Marinated Octopus Tender slices of octopus tentacle marinated with herbs
Chocolate Mosaic Cake Dense fudgy chocolate cake formed into a cylinder and thinly sliced into rounds
recipe on the drive home. If you enjoyed the menu, you can shop it – many of the ingredients are available for sale at the market. And the market is open until 10 or 11 pm most nights, so you can finally get some shopping done after dinner instead of on an empty stomach.
Yoleni’s 292 Westminster Street • 500-1127 Yolenis.com
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53
FEAST • In The Kitchen
by Chuck Staton
Taco Talk Jeff Shabo talks about his Jewelry District taqueria, Xaco Taco
Xaco Taco (phonetically “zah-ko” taco) sits right off of Point Street in the heart of the Jewelry District and provides RI residents with traditional Mexican cuisine in a relaxed-yet-energized setting. With its mix of reclaimed wood, corrugated steel, and an entire vintage food truck stationed by the kitchen, the aesthetic is striking and fits right in with the food. Xaco Taco dropped a few new menu items earlier this summer, including their Seafood Coctel (a take on ceviche including Royal Red shrimp, crab, green olives, smoked tomato, avocado, and habanero salsa), their Crispy Potato Flautas, and a Calabacitas Taco (summer squash a la plancha, sweet corn, pepita, caramelized onions, and salsa guajillo). Jeff Shabo is the general manager of Chow Fun Food Group, the league of acclaimed Providence restaurants that include 10 Prime Steak and Sushi and Luxe Burger Bar. Shabo was instrumental in converting the muchloved Rick’s Roadhouse into a completely new Mexican concept. Shabo took some time out of his breakneck schedule to fill us in on the background of Xaco Taco. Besides “manager,” your business card also lists you as “el Gran Luchador.” What does “el Gran Luchador” mean for your responsibilities at Xaco Taco? I designed the restaurant, helped build our culinary team, and assisted in beverage creation and staff training.
pit and will launch our newly designed game room featuring skee-ball, which is available for private functions.
This location at 370 Richmond Street has quite a history. Where do you appear in that history book? The building housed an auto body shop, then a dairy. We bought it out of bankruptcy in 2003. We created Big Fish, then flipped it into a barbecue restaurant called Rick’s Roadhouse, and now Xaco Taco.
What is your favorite thing on the menu? Our house salsa is made by roasting tomatillos, serrano chiles, and onions – creating a nice smoky flavor served with our freshly made chips and guacamole. Our baja fish taco, al pastor taco, and carne asada tacos are our most popular. My favorite is our fried oysters taco, which will be back on the menu in the fall.
little I knew about it. So I started researching it and traveled extensively, eating tacos from Mexico to Chicago. One thing Andy and I both agreed on was that we would use local ingredients when it made sense and make our own tortillas using only organic white corn. Our beverages are primarily tequila and mezcal with our base margarita being with fresh juices, and street food (antojitos) are created using traditional regional techniques and ingredients. We wanted to recreate the fun, buzz, and activity of a street in Mexico.
How has Providence reacted to the opening of Xaco Taco? The response to Xaco Taco has been overwhelming. We recently added an outdoor fire
What was the inspiration for Xaco Taco? Our chef, Andy Pyle, lived in San Diego and is very passionate about farm-to-table regional Mexican food. When we spoke, I realized how
370 Richmond Street • 228-8286 XacoTacoRI.com
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Xaco Taco
Photography by Brandon Harmon
Manager Jeff Shabo (right) and chef Andy Pyle bring a passion for Mexican food to Xaco Taco
FEAST • In The Drink
by Robert Isenberg
Mojitarita, Mi Amor
Photography by Robert Isenberg
Tortilla Flats combines a mojito and margarita for the perfect summer cocktail
Each week, Jessie Donnelly puts together three cocktail specials – and with rare exception, each cocktail has never before graced the bar of Tortilla Flats. The Hope Street restaurant has barely changed its menu in 47 years, but Donnelly has dutifully created brand-new libations for nearly a decade. Donnelly is also a trained chef, and she loves to incorporate seasonal fruits into her concoctions, including berries she sometimes picks herself. When it came to creating the “mojitarita,” Donnelly saw two great things – the Cuban mojito and the Mexican margarita – and mixed them together with some tropical garnish. The mint, pineapple, and limes combine nicely, but the surprise is a top layer of Kraken dark rum, which complements the salted rim with a licorice spice.
“People love it,” says Donnelly, who has hundreds of one-off cocktails to compare it to. “I’d say it’s the fifth most popular we’ve ever served.”
THE MOJITARITA • • • • •
Muddled mint, chunk of pineapple, and two limes 2 oz. Casamigos Blanco tequila 10 oz. each pineapple juice and sour Splash of seltzer Topped with 1 oz. Kraken dark rum
Tortilla Flats 355 Hope Street • 751-6777 TortillaFlatsRI.com
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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FEAST • On The Menu
by Robert Isenberg
Drink Pink
At first sip, Revival Brewing Co.’s Pinky Swear is a very cute beer. The name is cute, and so is the pink hue. The can is also pink, and the cover art shows two flamingoes, their necks cutely intertwined. When you order Pinky Swear from its home tap, in Cranston, you can expect the bartender to pour it into a cute tulip glass. Even the alcohol content is endearing, at 3.7 percent. But don’t underestimate Pinky Swear, because Revival just took home a silver medal for Best Sour Ale and Best Fruit Beer at the World Beer Championships, hosted by
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Tastings.com. A bushel of blueberries and raspberries may seem harmless, but Revival has fermented them into a formidable Berliner Weisse. “I couldn’t be prouder of my team,” said Sean Larkin, Revival’s owner and celebrated local brewmaster. “It’s great to see our hard work and dedication be rewarded like this.” The World Beer award is hardly his first formal accolade. Larkin has served as a brewer for nearly two decades, creating beers for Providence brewpub Trinity and also for Narragansett Brewing Company,
and his work has garnered 14 awards from the Great International Beer Festival. Revival alone serves a wide range of beers, from its Aloha Amigose Pineapple Gose to its Doug & Scarpetti Vanilla Porter, and three of these won Beer Festival Awards. Revival’s brightly colored cans are available across the state, but fans are welcome to celebrate on their home turf at the Revival tasting room, located in the basement of Brutopia in Cranston. Should be a good time – we pinky swear. 505 Atwood Avenue, Cranston. RevivalBrewing.com
Photo courtesy of Revival Brewing Co.
Revival Brewing wins major award for its tartest beverage, Pinky Swear
SPIRITED GRAPE STARTS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN WINE AND SPIRITS
SUMMER FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY EVERY WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY FROM 4:00-10:00PM! SCHEDULING CHANGES FOR WEATHER AND SPECIAL EVENTS WILL BE POSTED
There are so many ways to study alcohol, but starting this fall, Spirited Grape will offer a different kind of education – you can get certified in the very theory of wine and spirits. “This kind of certification is recognized widely in the industry,” says Brenda Audino, creator of Spirited Grape and its chief education officer. “You know that [graduates] have a particular base-level knowledge. I have so many people who say, ‘I want to do something in wine, because I like wine.’ But there are also enthusiasts – people who collect wine, who want to know more about it.” Audino has worked in the industry for 18 years. There are only 9,000 people in the world who hold a diploma from the UK-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and Audino is one of them. She taught extensively in Texas and California, first in retail settings and later at the Napa Valley Wine Academy. Courses will be held at the Providence Marriott, and students will study theory, participate in tastings, and learn cocktail preparation. In the past, Audino says there’s been a 50-50 split between aspiring sommeliers and curious consumers, but the courses are particularly beneficial for professionals. “I always find that [participants], once they’ve gone through a program, feel a lot more confident,” says Audino. “They go out on the floor and engage with customers. They want to talk about what they know.” SpiritedGrape.com
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RESTAURANT GUIDE Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
Find Peace at
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Massimo
Full Service Holy Fire Reiki Massimo has a long culinary tradition behind it. Restaurateurs Joseph and Esther DeQuattro also own and operate Pane e Vino, the beloved Italian mainstay at the other end of Atwells Avenue. With its expansive outdoor seating and wall of windows that opens up to the lively street, Massimo is hard to miss. What’s inside, though, is even better. Massimo brings the regional flavors of Italy to
life, while still serving a menu that allows guests to eat with the seasons and enjoy fresh, organic food. The restaurant imports its Mozzarella di Bufala and Burrata cheeses and its Prosciutti di Parma directly from Italy – and it’s recognized as a Prosciutto di Parma specialist by the makers. Massimo also offers an extensive gluten-free menu, including pastas.
134 Atwells Avenue, Providence 273-0650, MassimoRI.com
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PROVIDENCE AREA 10 Prime Steak & Sushi Fashionable prime steakhouse with award-winning sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 453-2333. LD $$$
CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in a historic setting. 14 Imperial Pl, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$-$$$ Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 3000 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$
Al’s Waterfront Restaurant & Marina A fine mix of surf ‘n’ turf eats and sinful cocktails on a waterfront setting. 28 Water St, East Providence. 434-0590. LD $$-$$$
Character’s Cafe & Theatre 82 Hybrid art space with all-day breakfast, coffee, and theater-inspired entrees. 82 Rolfe Sq, Cranston, 490-9475. BL $
Caserta Pizzeria Casual, kid-friendly pizza spot offering traditional Italian crisp-crust pizza and calzones. 121 Spruce St, Providence. 621-3818. LD $-$$
Chez Pascal & The Wurst Kitchen French eatery with take-out window serving house made hot dogs, sandwiches, and more. 960 Hope St, Providence. LD $-$$$
Handcrafted Items Handmade Vegan/ Gluten Free Natural Soaps & Scrubs Crystals • Jewelry Incense • Art Home Décor
REIKI BY APPOINTMENT
(914) 216-8660 150 Broadway, Providence HolisticHippie.org ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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RESTAURANT GUIDE
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Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch D dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+
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Don Jose Tequilas Restaurant Homestyle Mexican fare plus beer, wine, and cocktails in a colorful setting. 351 Atwells Ave, Providence. 454-8951. LD $-$$
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Harry’s Bar & Burger Called the “Best Burger in America” by CNN. Over 50 craft beers. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437; 301 Atwells Ave, 228-3336. LD $-$$
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Haruki Japanese cuisine and a la carte selections with casual ambience. Locations in Cranston and Providence, HarukiSushi.com. LD $-$$ Heng Authentic Thai street food served – including noodles and rotisserie chicken – in Providence’s College Hill neighborhood. 165 Angell St, Providence. LD $ Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen Italian Restaurant High-end Italian restaurant serving up specialty dishes and drinks. 120 Atwells Ave, Providence. 751-5544. LD $$-$$$ Julian’s A must-taste Providence staple celebrating more than 20 years. 318 Broadway, Providence, 861-1770. BBrLD $$ Luigi’s Restaurant & Gourmet Express Handmade Italian classics and prepared foods to go. 1457 Hartford Ave, Johnston. 455-0045, LuigisGourmet.com. LD $$ Luxe Burger Bar Build Your Own Burger: You dream it, they build it! 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $ Madeira Restaurant Classic Portuguese cuisine in a lively dining room or on a sprawling outdoor patio. 288 Warren Ave, East Providence. 431-1322. LD $$-$$$ Massimo Locally sourced brunch, lunch, and dinner inspired by Italian regional cuisine. 134 Atwells Ave, Providence. 273-0650 BrLD $$-$$$
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Pane E Vino High-end Italian food serving pasta, meats, and seafood featuring an extensive wine list. 365 Atwells Ave, Providence. 223-2230 D $$-$$$
Par & Tackle Restaurant and Bar at Harbor Lights Post-and-beam restaurant featuring a full bar and a farm-to-table menu. 200 Gray St, Warwick. 737-6353. LD $$-$$$ Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats. 76 South Main St, Providence, 331-0003. LD $-$$ Pat’s Italian Fine Italian favorites, natural steaks, and handcrafted cocktails. 1200 Hartford Ave, Johnston, 273-1444. LD $-$$$ Pizza J A fun, upbeat atmosphere with thin-crust pizza, pub fare, and gluten-free options. 967 Westminster St, Providence, 632-0555. LD $-$$ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 3982900. BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ Sydney Providence Australian-inspired cafe and coffee shop featuring breakfast and light lunch options. 400 Exchange St, Providence. 648-4994. BL $-$$ Tortilla Flats Fresh Mexican, Cajun, and Southwestern fare, cocktails, and over 70 tequilas. 355 Hope St, Providence, 7516777. LD $-$$ Xaco Taco Late-night Mexican-style street food featuring made-from-scratch tortillas. 370 Richmond St, Providence. LD $-$$ Pho Horn’s Authentic Vietnamese restaurant specializing in Vietnamese noodle soups and classic dishes. 50 Ann Mary St #403, Pawtucket. 365-6278. LD $-$$
SOUTHERN RI Bistro 1230 Ocean Classic New England seafood on the waterfront with a patio and downstairs bar. 1230 Ocean Rd, Narragansett. 789-6159. LD $-$$ Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$ Celestial Cafe Fresh, locally sourced ingredients from farms and fisheries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 567 South County Trail, Exeter, 295-5559. BLD $$ Chair 5 Locally sourced and seasonally inspired menus with a main restaurant and rooftop lounge. 1208 Ocean Rd, 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 $$$
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Johnston
Colvitto’s Pizza & Bakery Calzones and baked goods made fresh daily. 91 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 783-8086. BrLD $ Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$ Frankie’s Italian Bistro Fine dining with imported wines from around the world. 1051 Ten Rod Rd, North Kingstown, 295-2500 D $-$$$ Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar Locally sourced seafood and sandwiches in a casual tavern setting. 240 Main St, East Greenwich. 398-2462. D $-$$$ George’s of Galilee Fresh caught seafood in an upscale pub atmosphere. 250 Sand Hill Cove Rd, Narragansett, 783-2306. LD $-$$
Al Fresco Dining at its Finest www.TorreRestaurantGroup.com | 401.333.6700 ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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RESTAURANT GUIDE Maharaja Indian Restaurant Indian cuisine and traditional curries in a warm setting. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 363-9988. LD $-$$ Maria’s Seaside Cafe Mediterranean influenced seafood and Italian cuisine in an urbane atmosphere. 132 Atlantic Ave, Westerly. 596-6886. D $$-$$$ Mariner Grille Seafood, steaks, and pasta in a fun setting, with live entertainment. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 284-3282. LD $$ Pasquale’s Pizzeria Napoletana Authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza with exclusive ingredients imported from Naples. 60 S County Commons Way, South Kingstown, 783-2900. LD $-$$ Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food with a great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield, 783-4073. BBrLD $
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Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 437-6950; 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. BrLD $$ Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, and Smithfield, 521-3311. D $$-$$$ T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, and Narragansett, TsRestaurantRI.com. BL $ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/ American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$ Tavern on Main Comfort foods with an eclectic twist in a family friendly environment. 195 Main St, Wakefield. 4729280. BrLD $-$$$
The Cove A traditional bar and grill serving burgers, sandwiches, and classic New England seafood favorites. 3963 Old Post Rd, Charlestown, 364-9222. LD $$ Twin Willows Fresh seafood and water views in a family-friendly atmosphere. 865 Boston Neck Rd, Narragansett, 7898153. LD $-$$ Tong-D Fine Thai cuisine in a casual setting. 156 County Rd, Barrington, 2892998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 783-4445. LD $-$$ Sonoma Bistro Family owned restaurant serving up internationally inspired dishes. 7366 Post Rd, North Kingstown. 2950800. LD $-$$$ Uptown
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RESTAURANT GUIDE Chomp Upscale comfort food featuring award-winning burgers and sandwiches. 440 Child St, Warren, 289-2324. D $$
Tav Vino Waterfront dining with an Italian and seafood focus. 267 Water St, Warren, 245-0231. D $$ The Lobster Pot New and classic surf ‘n’ turf fare on the waterfront. 119 Hope St, Bristol. 253-9100. LD $-$$$
EAST BAY / NEWPORT
Harry’s Bar & Burger Fresh-ground sliders, 50+ craft beers, and alcoholic shakes in an industrial-modern space. 464 Thames St, Newport. 619-3617. LD $-$$
Bluewater Bar and Grill Casual restaurant with modern seafood dishes, patio seating, and live music. 32 Barton Ave, Barrington, 247-0017. LD $$-$$$
Redlefsen’s European-style dining with a waterfront view focusing on traditional German foods. 444 Thames St, Bristol, 254-1188. LD $$
Cafe Water Street Locally roasted coffee, gourmet crepes, and freshly baked goods on the Warren River. 279 Water St, Warren. 245-7071. BBrL $-$$
Richardson’s Kitchen & Bar Gastro pub with craft cocktails and made-from-scratch dishes. 15 Child St, Warren. 245-8000. BrD $$-$$$
Tong-D Fine Thai cuisine in a casual setting. 156 County Rd, Barrington, 289-2998; 50 South County Common Way, South Kingstown, 783-4445. LD $-$$
Roberto’s Italian Kitchen Rustic fine dining featuring traditional Italian meat and pasta dishes. 450 Hope St, Bristol. 254-9732. D $$-$$$
Quito’s Restaurant Family-friendly seafood eatery and raw bar with waterfront views. 411 Thames St, Bristol. 253-4500. LD $-$$$
handcrafted burgers shakes, and sides featuring organic, local produce. 36 S County Commons Way, South Kingstown. 783-7888. LD $-$$
Christian’s Wood-fired grill serving up inventive American cuisine. 382 Thames St, Bristol. 396-9811. D $$-$$$
The Statesman American comfort fare, craft beer, wine, and cocktails in a relaxing tavern atmosphere. 31 State St, Bristol. 396-5115. BrD $$-$$$
ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2018
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HIDDEN PVD
NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND The Russian Room in Rochambeau Library is mysterious, but also a great place to quietly work Deep inside Rochambeau Library, there is a small and stately room packed with books. A large table stands in the center, and the windows offer generous views of the stacks beyond. But you may do a double-take: all the books here are covered in Cyrillic writing – hence its nickname, The Russian Room. The exact origins of The Russian Room are unclear, but the space used to contain reference books, such as atlases and almanacs. Then, in the 1980s, a wave of Soviet immigrants arrived in Providence, thanks to the Perestroika thaw. Although no one can remember exactly when or how, the librarians recall a period of book Photography by Robert Isenberg 66
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donations and local advocacy, and The Russian Room was born. Today, this little antechamber is the quietest corner of the library. Rochambeau doesn’t have an official study room, but patrons are often referred to The Russian Room because they can close the heavy wood-and-glass door. There, you will find hundreds of volumes, their spines printed with elegant Slavic fonts. If you don’t speak the language, you’ll struggle to read a single word, or even a title. But if you’re looking for something to pore over, there’s a stack of glossy magazines with plenty of pictures. 708 Hope Street, ProvComLib.org –Robert Isenberg
N EW WE S T S I DE OF F I C E NOW OPE N !
376 Broadway - Providence, RI
R E SI DE N T IA L PROPE RT I E S LT D Residential Properties Ltd. is proud to announce the opening of its new West Side of Providence office, as well as the addition of Realtors® Jane Driver, Joe Roch, Kevin Darrow, and Joe Elliot. Whether your’re considering buying or selling, our local real estate experts will provide you with the market knowledge and advice needed to achieve your goals. Stop in and see them at our new office located at 376 Broadway.
JANE DRIVER Broker Associate
JOE ROCH Broker Associate
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KEVIN DARROW Sales Associate
376 Broadway - Providence, RI
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JOE ELLIOT Sales Associate
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