Providence Monthly August 2022 by Hey Rhody Media Co.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Providence Monthly August 2022

ON A ROLL Photo courtesy of Ten Prime Steak & Sushi

Photography by Nat Rea, courtesy of SR Fine Home Builders

FOOD & DRINK

9 New hub fosters local food system bounties and training in South PVD

53 The city’s littlest cocktail patio has big art vibes

12 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: Will Rhode Island’s approach on social equity for marijuana live up to the billing?

54 EXPERIENCE: Root for your team over craft burgers at an EP sports bar

14 POLITICS: Three City Council candidates for the Ward 3 seat

16 Meet RISD’s 18th president 18 RHODY GEM: A skater’s shopping paradise on Westminster 20 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Hyper local news and contact listings

Photo by Shana Santow

LIFE & STYLE 39 HOME: An East Providence farmhouse gets an Arts and Crafts addition

58 IN THE KITCHEN: Two friends share their passion for southern Italy in Federal Hill 62 FOOD NEWS: A fusion food truck hits the road, new East Side fish market outpost & craft cocktails on Ives Street

48 INFLUENCER: First-time author pens a magical tale set in the city 50 SHOP: Rhody-made bath and body products perfect for summer living

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

ART & CULTURE 65 New public art makes waves at the corner of Fountain and Dorrance streets 66 ON STAGE: Programming a bold new theater season at The Gamm 68 RHODY READS: Six picks with local ties sure to inspire creativity 70 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s

Photo courtesy of Tiny Bar

On The Cover: Decadent maki rolls from Mambo Sushi. Photo by Nicholas Mendes, courtesy of Mambo Sushi 4

Photo courtesy of The Avenue Concept

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

Healthy Food For All Southside Community Land Trust’s Broad Street hub brings fresh produce and more to South Providence Southside Community Land Trust’s (SCLT) recently opened Healthy Food Hub brings a flurry of agricultural activity to 404 Broad Street, housing a marketplace of locally grown fruits and vegetables, educational programming, and food retail businesses. “In South Providence, we do not have enough fresh, healthy, affordable food for people, and that leads to diet-related chronic disease,” explains Margaret DeVos, executive director of SCLT. The land trust is a nonprofit dedicated to building a more just local food system and serving low-income neighborhoods that have limited access to fresh produce, a problem that affects one in four Black, Indigenous, and people of color in Rhode Island. First founded in 1981 when Hmong refugees joined together with local residents and Brown University students to grow healthy, culturally familiar food, the organization has expanded significantly since. They now own, manage, or support roughly 60 community gardens – mostly in Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls – and offer low-lease land to farmers growing food for their communities. Photo by Shana Santow ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Co mmuni t y H ub | By Katarina Dulude

Margaret DeVos, executive director of SCLT, and Senator Jack Reed at the June ribbon cutting

The Healthy Food Hub aims to bring fresh, healthy produce to South Providence neighborhoods, as well as providing an outlet for urban farmers to sell their goods via a farm-to-market produce processing center. “There are about 50 farmers – very smallscale farmers, many of whom live in these communities, and grow food on land that our organization manages,” says DeVos. “They’re growing it for their families, but they’re also growing it for sale.” Those farmers can drop off their extra produce – no matter how small of a yield – at the Healthy Food Hub, where it will be aggregated and then sold to wholesale consumers as well as South Providence neighborhoods. This Broad Street hub also serves as an educational center. SCLT already offers classes year round for people of all ages, including youth programs. Before, training would primarily take place on the farm, with no indoor spaces for courses, but now the hub is home to a training room for young students as well as a commercial

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

kitchen, where participants can learn about food safety and preparation as well as growing crops. “The whole point of the program is beyond training people how to grow food and learn about the biology of food growth and agronomy,” says DeVos. “It’s also about learning about all the other elements of the food system and really sustainable living.” The commercial kitchen is available for use by farmers and neighbors interested in starting a food processing business. Additional space houses three local businesses: two restaurants and one greengrocer. The two restaurants are run by Southside natives and the greengrocer sells the fresh produce from local farmers dropped off at the hub, as well as imported African foods. “Not only will the Healthy Food Hub be selling to general customers, but we will also be selling specifically to these three entrepreneurs, whose businesses will become known in the neighborhood as places to go to get a healthy meal or to get some fresh produce,” says DeVos. SCLT plans to partner with other

SCLT youth programs director Raffini and Mayor Jorge Elorza

organizations, such as Warren-based Hope & Main to offer classes to those interested in food safety training, and continues their partnership with Integra Community Care Network and the Family Care Center of Pawtucket to provide food-insecure Rhode Islanders with fresh produce through the VeggieRx program, a produce prescription service. Every week, SCLT purchases food from local farmers and brings it to the clinic for VeggieRx participants to pick up or have delivered. “We don’t have a system that works for all of us to access affordable healthy food – our existing food system doesn’t do that for us,” says DeVos. “We have to create these other independent entities and initiatives to get fresh, healthy, affordable food to people. The way SCLT does that is to make land affordable and make space affordable.” SCLT will host a grand opening celebration for the Healthy Food Hub in the fall, with details and updates to be posted on social media and on their website. @southsideclt, SouthsideCLT.org

Photos by Shana Santow

NEWS & CITY LIFE

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

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Will Rhode Island’s Approach on Social Equity for Marijuana Live Up to the Billing? Legislative supporters of Rhode Island’s new law legalizing marijuana say it will help people hurt by the war on drugs. But some observers question whether the law will live up to its billing in promoting social equity. By Ian Donnis

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Jason Rocha is a big believer in the benefits of marijuana. Despite that, he’s frustrated by the process of getting into the legit business in Rhode Island.

by to follow the process for becoming part of the legit marijuana business. “They’re hustling,” Ranglin-Vassell said. “They don’t have time to look at every single thing that’s happening at the Statehouse.” THE VIEW FROM THE STREET A few miles north, in Central Falls, Jason Rocha seems like a good candidate to be part of Rhode Island’s effort to address social equity in marijuana. He’s a cannabis enthusiast. “I enjoy marijuana,” Rocha said. “I believe in marijuana, marijuana has helped my life tremendously.” At the same time, Rocha said, his marijuana use has been held against him throughout his life, including when he wanted to join the military and ran into trouble with the law as a young man. “Well, everything always leads to marijuana,” he said. “So at that time if you’re riding around in your car, cop smells marijuana, that was probable cause for stop, search and seizure, just for the smell of marijuana.” Rocha spent time in prison years ago on a cocaine charge. He later co-founded an advocacy group called the Formerly Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island. He’s 42 now and runs a property

Rep. Ranglin-Vassell questions whether her constituents will have a fair shot at profiting from legalization.

management company based in a handsome brick building across from Central Falls City Hall. With Rhode Island becoming the 19th state to legalize marijuana, Rocha said he could grow a better product and sell it at a lower price than competitors. “I’m a grower,” he said. “This is my hobby. This is recreation for me. This is what I enjoy doing.” But Rocha said he’s not planning to seek a retail license, for lots of reasons. He’s frustrated that awarding licenses will take up to two years, and Rocha is concerned that the marijuana market could change dramatically over that time. If marijuana use is now legal, Rocha believes, he should be able to set up shop. He also said it’s hard to get information about the process and believes the deck is stacked against him, in part since if he had a retail shop, he’d be required to buy marijuana from existing cultivators. “To be honest with you, I quit,” Rocha said. “I’m just fed up, I’m disgusted, I’m disappointed.” THE COST FACTOR There’s no question the process of getting a retail license to sell cannabis will be difficult and expensive. The annual cost of a license will be $30,000.

Photos by Ian Donnis

Now that Rhode Island has legalized adult-use marijuana, plans call for the state to license 24 new retail shops in six zones around the state. One license in each zone is reserved for a worker-owned cooperative and another for a social equity applicant. A social equity applicant is defined as someone who lives in a low-income neighborhood or who has been disproportionately impacted by laws criminalizing marijuana. A fund being initially seeded with more than $1 million will defray costs for social equity applicants. During the House debate in May, state Rep. David Morales (D-Providence) praised some of these details and the agreement, also in the law, to automatically expunge by mid-2024 some past marijuana charges. “We’re taking a very thoughtful approach on this issue – one that is prioritizing equity and focusing on the harm that cannabis prohibition has disproportionately done to affect lower income people and people of color across Rhode Island,” Morales said. But some of his colleagues are more skeptical. State Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D-Providence) lives in the Wanskuck section of Rhode Island’s capital city, where, she said, a lot of men have spent time at the ACI due to what she calls the ‘war on weed.’ Now, Ranglin-Vassell fears that those hurt by the drug war will get left behind. “It has impacted my neighbors so harshly,” she said, “and that’s why I really believe those people should get the first go at this and not rich white people mostly and corporations.” The drug war has taken a heavy toll in Rhode Island. A national report released in 2016 by the ACLU and Human Rights Watch found that Black Rhode Islanders were arrested for drug possession at almost three times the rate for whites – a higher percentage than the national average. But Ranglin-Vassell doubts the new law will be equitable for her constituents. She said many of them are too busy struggling to get

Experience. Integrity. Results.

Legistlative sponsors Sen. Josh Miller and Rep. Scott Slater say that legalization offers broad benefits for Rhode Island

And setting up a brick-and-mortar marijuana shop could cost a few million dollars. Cannabis will be taxed at a rate of 20 percent. Marijuana remains illegal federally, so conventional bank loans are not available, and business expenses can not be deducted for taxes. These factors suggest that rich people still have a big advantage in profiting from legalization. The state’s top cannabis regulator, Matt Santacroce is optimistic that the state’s legalization approach will be a tax revenue-generator. But he said that Rep. Ranglin-Vassell is on target in asking whether those hurt by the drug war will be left behind as others cash in. “I think by and large, she’s right,” Santacroce said. “I think that this is a very difficult, very heavily regulated industry, in this state and in every state, And with that comes costs to participate, to participate compliantly.” The state’s legalization law requires social equity applicants to own at least 51 percent of a new cannabis business. That creates an opening for investors to enter the new sector with a 49 percent stake – or just less than half of the ownership – in an individual enterprise. And there are still questions about how the effort to boost social equity will work

in Rhode Island. That’s because the Cannabis Control Commission, which will create regulations and decide who gets 24 new retail cannabis licenses, won’t take shape until after Gov. Dan McKee makes three appointments in the near future. House sponsor of the cannabis bill, Rep. Scott Slater (D-Providence), says an advisory board included in the new law will advocate for social equity applicants and recommend changes if needed. And he says legalization will keep marijuana spending from migrating to Massachusetts while offering a product free from impurities. “This is a safe and healthy way to go,” Slater said, “to have adult recreational cannabis that is tested, safe and accessible and people who want to use it as recreational.” As new pot shops get established about the state, annual net state revenue is expected to grow to about $7 million by fiscal 2025. While some, including Rep. Ranglin-Vassell, say that revenue should go to the communities hardest hit by the drug war, state lawmakers will retain discretion over how the money gets spent. This article originally posted July 5, 2022. Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org.

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

P o l i t i cs | By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

The Race is On Of the 42 candidates vying for City Council seats, a closer look at three running for Ward 3 As the Democratic primary approaches on September 13, most of the attention is on the showdown between three candidates looking to succeed the term-limited Jorge Elorza as Mayor of Providence. But, simultaneously, 42 candidates – many of them first-timers – spread among the City’s 15 wards are running for the City Council. About half of the council seats are open, so there will be a lot of change. A hotly contested race is unfolding in Ward 3, whose seat is being vacated by mayoral candidate Nirva LaFortune. The ward includes sections of the East Side, including all of Summit and Mount Hope neighborhoods. The three candidates vying for the seat are Sue AnderBois, Corey Jones, and Bradly VanDerStad, who all hold similar progressive views, with each having one issue they are more passionate about. They share a global perspective but also have a real ground-level understanding of the local issues. All three are out-of-state transplants who have logged significant time in getting themselves involved in the local community. Sue AnderBois Sue AnderBois, 38, grew up in New Jersey, and she’s ready to make an imprint on Providence. She served as Rhode Island’s first director of food strategy and is an advocate for climate, food systems, and systemic social issues at The Nature Conservancy. She and husband, Scott, live on Fifth Street and have been residents of Ward 3 for seven years. Her husband, a Brown professor, recently earned tenure so they expect to be here for the long haul. AnderBois chose to get an MBA at Yale over one in public policy, a decision she feels provides her with a good understanding of the city’s budget and financial issues. She supported the recent pension bond issue. “Housing, infrastructure, public safety, and climate change” are the major issues she’s identified throughout the ward. “I

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Sue AnderBois

think that these are also citywide issues that have to be addressed from their root causes,” she adds, indicating that her hands-on experience with the city will serve her well. Quality of life issues are also important to AnderBois. She is a bike and traffic-calming advocate but believes there needs to be a “look back” after implementation to see if the effects are an improvement. “We have to respect the businesses’ needs, like on Hope Street, with workarounds on some of these issues,” she says, as well as the North Main Street plan being studied. She loves living in Ward 3 because it’s a true microcosm of the city’s diversity on every level.

Corey Jones

Corey Jones Corey Jones, 25, grew up in Chicago and Iowa, but when a friend told him how great Providence was, he packed up and moved here (with a car that barely made it!). Jones is the founder and former executive director of the Black Lives Matter RI PAC, a former advisor to Governor McKee, and currently works at the Department of Labor and Training. In 2016, he was a National Delegate at the Democratic National Convention for Bernie Sanders. He has been a resident for over four years and lives at University Heights. Jones was endorsed by the Black Lives

Bradly VanDerStad

Matter RI PAC and State Senator Tiara Mack, who represents District 6, which includes most of Mount Hope. He believes that “addressing the root causes of many city and social problems at a grassroots level is the best way to create change and resolve many of the significant issues that young people face in the ward and the city.” Regarding key neighborhood issues, Jones has been working with the state and the city to expand the community violence intervention program, which he believes will make great progress at addressing the neighborhood public safety issue. Affordable housing, schools, climate

change, and quality of life issues are other priorities. Increasing economic development on North Main and in the ward are also priorities. “I support bike lanes and traffic mitigation, but I think residents who will be directly affected must be part of the conversation, and the impact on quality of life on nearby streets must be considered.” He supported the pension bond, but is concerned that the numbers may no longer work. Bradly VanDerStad Bradly VanDerStad, 27, hails from New Jersey and came to Providence as a student at Johnson & Wales about 10 years ago. Since then he has come to love his adopted state, so much so he sports a tattoo of a map of Providence on his forearm and actually gives walking tours of the city in his spare time. He is the current vice president of the Summit Neighborhood Association and takes special pride in what SNA has been able to accomplish. He is the assistant editor for Motif Magazine and lives on Lippitt Street. His three most important priorities are to make sure North Main Street, a long-ignored potential asset to the city, is developed properly. He is especially concerned about a 165,000-square-foot trucking center that is being planned for the old Microfibres building in Pawtucket, right near the Providence line, and worries about its impact on traffic, as well as if it will complement possible projects on the street. As a former AmeriCorps teacher, dealing with Providence school issues is at the top of his agenda. Housing and public health needs are his second and third priorities. VanDerStad prides himself on doing the proper research to build coalitions to ensure success. After addressing his initial concerns, he voted in favor of the pension bond. He is also a bike rider and advocate, but prefers that a sensible approach, with community buy-in would be best.

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

P r o fi l e | By Barry Fain

A New Era in the Arts RISD’s 18th president Crystal Williams gears up to tackle challenges of inclusivity and carry out the art school’s legacy

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

RISD’s 18th president Crystal Williams

graduates need to possess the flexibility to thrive in our rapidly changing world. So when the school assembled its presidential search committee, seeking a candidate to tackle these challenges, it paid special attention to ensure they represented all facets of its community: faculty members, administrators, trustees, and, of course, students. Williams was chosen in a national search that included well over 100 interviewees. Her background in both teaching and inclusion are indeed impressive. Williams spent her first 10 years of teaching at Reed College on the West Coast, where she honed her pedagogical skills and also developed her passion as a faculty activist working with peers on equity and diversity. Her upward trajectory then turned eastward with teaching and administrative stops at Bates College in Maine and later Boston University, where she became the

school’s first vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion. Her reputation in the academic community is that of a warm, collegial, and collaborative thought leader, a respected consultant on inclusion and equity issues, and a passionate and patient champion for developing solutions to educational issues. But what makes president Williams stand out as a particularly exciting choice for RISD is a background dramatically different from her 17 predecessors and many of her peers. Adopted at an early age by an educator and musician couple, she was raised in Detroit and Madrid. In her bio-film presentation to the RISD student body, she details her unusual path to the presidency. “I confess it took me about 10 years before I finally got my college degree,” she says with a laugh. “During that time, I guess you can say I learned by living. I ran a

Photos by (L) Jo Sittenfeld, (R) Matt Watson

Now officially on the job and with her first June graduation behind her, the 18th president of the Rhode Island School of Design, Crystal Williams, has settled comfortably into her downtown office. In appointing its first Black president, RISD is following the path of several other respected arts institutions, from the hiring of Eric Pryor at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts to Kymberly Pinder at Yale. With a BA from New York University and MFA from Cornell University, Williams arrives at the school with solid academic credentials. She’s an award-winning poet and essayist with four published collections of poems; has been widely anthologized; and was the recipient of several artistic fellowships, grants, and honors. Early in her career, she excelled in national poetry slam competitions. In her initial communication with RISD students, one asked the obvious question: “But what do you know about art?” Flashing an infectious smile, she admitted, “To be frank, I can’t even draw a triangle. In fact, I don’t do doodles well either. But, I have spent over 20 years as an English professor and pride myself on being able to work productively with my students, trying to coax out of them what they are trying to say even when they feel they lack the actual words to say it.” Recently there has been recognition within the art world, from museums, collectors, and, especially, students that something must be done in terms of creating more diversity and inclusion. Following RISD student-organized public protests two years ago calling for a commitment to diversity among both students and faculty, as well as more affordable tuition, the school is well attuned to nationwide efforts for increased equity. Among the great art schools – and RISD is arguably at the top of that list – are two additional challenges: an educational commitment to the craftsmanship that underlies the arts as well as developing what RISD calls the “whole artist,” knowing their

I’m Here To Help!

Call Joe Roch

401-440-7483 During her first RISD commencement as president, Williams greeted grads from the class of 2022 as well as many 2020 alumni who walked on this year’s ceremony stage

bookstore, tended bar, entered national poetry slam competitions, acted in plays… It was quite a trip.” When asked about her specific plans for the college, she shares, “For the next few months, I plan to listen intently and learn as much as I can about the communities both in and out of the school.” As for her perception of her relationship with the city, she acknowledged she was aware of the long-term and positive relationship between the school, the museum, and the broader community, and looks forward to expanding it. “I’m especially well aware of the important role artists play in helping to develop neighborhoods especially in less affluent areas.” Past RISD presidents have often found unusual ways to make their presence known in big and small ways, from relocating dorms from the East Side to

downtown to RISD officials frequently attending the first organizational meetings of the College Hill Neighborhood Association. Roger Mandle, who served as president for 15 years, housed students in extra rooms in the president’s house and gave out crayons instead of candies to trickor-treaters on Halloween. The Jolly Roger Deli on South Main Street serves as a reminder of his popularity. Based on her background, experience, and what she calls her “radical passion for inclusiveness,” there’s reason to expect exciting developments ahead for the school. “I can’t believe a school as spectacular as RISD can’t be made accessible to a family earning $40,000 and that the creativity of its students and faculty can’t be used for the benefit of its host city.” And on that note, let the Williams years commence.

Happily assisting buyers and sellers in Providence and throughout Rhode Island

JoeRoch.com

jroch@residentialproperties.com ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

NEWS & CITY LIFE

By Karen Greco

Civil Skate Shop We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it! What it is: This skate rat’s paradise offers industry-leading skateboards, footwear, apparel, and more.

What makes it a Rhody Gem? Founded by two veteran skateboarders, Civil is one of the few true skateboard shops in the state. Tailored to all ages and abilities, the store is a cornucopia of skate culture. With a wide variety of decks (including ones from local brands Novo, Deforestation, and Swan Common), trucks, bearings, and more, their knowledgeable staff will design the perfect board to your specs, or you can grab a pre-assembled one that’s ready to ride. Their assortment of streetwear tailored to fit the skate lifestyle includes brands like Nike SB, SLVDR, and Alltimers, as well as the store’s own branded line. Items range from hoodies, tees, cargo pants and denim, to button-downs and beanies. Customers rave about the staff’s knowledge and friendliness, putting first-timers and the skate-curious at ease. Keep an eye on the sidewalk: they drag out a flat bar during lulls, where you can catch employees grinding a rail.

Civil

231 Westminster Street • 383-1622 WeAreCivil.com • @civilprovidence Facebook: Civil Providence

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Photo courtesy of Civil

Where to find it: In the heart of downtown on Westminster Street, next door to Homestyle and across from Symposium Books.

To submit your Rhody Gem, please email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com

FULL SUSHI MENU | AGED SIGNATURE PRIME STEAKS | AWARD-WINING COCKTAILS | COMPLIMENTARY VALET 55 Pine Street, Providence, RI 401.453.2333 tenprimesteakandsushi.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

NEWS & CITY LIFE

N e i ghbo r ho o d N ews | Curated by Abbie Lahmers

Neighborhood News A space made available to Providence’s neighborhood associations free of charge.

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

Fox Point neighbors fight Gano development As some Fox Point neighbors know, local developer Bahman Jalili is planning to build four apartment buildings, with a total of 133 units, on Gano Street at the intersection of Power Street. At a November 2021 Fox Point Neighborhood Association meeting at which Jalili presented early designs, neighbors expressed concerns about a potential influx of vehicles near a heavily trafficked roadway, as well as a potential safety hazard at the proposed entrance to a ground-level parking garage. The garage driveway, according to the developer, will be located on Power Street adjacent to the entrance to Gano Park, where individuals and families travel to access the playing fields and community garden. Neighbors had a second chance to express their concerns in late June at a public meeting of the City Plan Commission. After hearing testimony from traffic engineer Herman Peralta claiming that the proposed development should have “a very minor impact on traffic on Gano Street,” neighbors faulted the study for collecting data during a low-volume time of year and overlooking what neighbor Scott Moran characterized as the “lived experience” of residents who actually use the space. “It is currently impossible for two vehicles to enter and exit [from Power Street] at the same time,” he said to the Commission. “There is more use of the park than you can possibly know right now,” added resident Norma Anderson. Neighbor Nina Tannenwald of the Wayland Square Neighborhood Association went one step further, characterizing Jalili’s proposal as a “sleight of hand,” since his single project is slated to include four separate structures, each of which, on its own, is small enough to skirt City requirements for adequate parking. “While [the project] is compliant with the letter of the law,” commented neighbor Thom Mitchell, “it is definitely not compliant with the spirit of the law.” Despite these objections, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the project with the stipulation that a comprehensive follow-up traffic study must take place after the buildings are constructed and occupied. 20

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Fox Point neighbors raised traffic- and safety-related concerns about a 133-unit apartment project slated for Gano Street at the entrance to Gano Park

Brown’s plans for life sciences building and notable Jewelry District anniversaries With approval to proceed with selecting an architect, Brown University has taken a critical first step toward realizing a long-held vision for a new integrated life sciences building in Providence’s Jewelry District neighborhood. According to a Brown spokesperson, the facility would feature stateof-the-art laboratory space for researchers in a variety of health and science disciplines, and “a location in the Jewelry District would offer researchers the proximity to enable close collaboration with scientists and physicians at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School, the School of Public Health, the School of Engineering, and the university’s affiliated hospital partners.” On June 29, Brown announced the purchase of properties from the Care New England health system located at 200 Chestnut Street, 70 Elm Street, 261 Richmond Street, and 300 Richmond Street. After Brown selects an architect for the life sciences building, an extensive programming phase will assess factors ranging from space needs and site requirements to conceptual design and projects scale and scope. As part of that process, the university will begin to consider Jewelry District site possibilities in depth. The Jewelry District celebrates two anniversaries: the Providence Children’s Museum and the Jewelry District Association (JDA). A gala open house in June marked 45 years of the Children’s Museum entertaining and enlightening the young and old. “This is a museum that was founded by a group of community members who really saw a need to help children in the community of Rhode Island,” says executive director Caroline Payson. This year also marks the JDA’s 26th anniversary. Since 1997, the association has been working with the businesses and residents of the Jewelry District to make it a great place to live, work, and play. JDA president Sharon Steele pointed out how the challenges have changed over the years. “Back when the JDA was formed, the district was transforming abandoned factories into educational facilities, offices, and residences,” says Steele. “These days, we’re going through an exciting period of massive development projects: South Street Landing, the Cambridge Innovation Center, a new hotel, apartment complexes, our new riverside park, and the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge. Projects of this scale call for close monitoring on design and zoning issues to ensure they ‘fit’ and bring valuable amenities to the community. Our volunteers are really busy!” For those looking to get involved, monthly meetings take place at South Street Landing on the second Tuesday of every month.

Photo by Amy Mendillo

Events and developments around the Mile of History Mile of History Association (MoHA) recently hosted a screening of filmmaker Salvatore Mancini’s Divine Providence: The Rebirth of an American City. A must-see for those seeking deeper understanding of the city’s changes over the past five decades, the feature-length film is about the infrastructural developments and feats of engineering that have made Providence the city that it is today. For music lovers, Music in the Garden continues with boot-stomping bluegrass tunes from Saddle Up the Chicken on August 24. MoHA is a proud sponsor of the summer concert series presented by Providence Preservation Society at Shakespeare’s Head. Visit PPSRI.org for tickets. In their efforts to help shape the development of the I-195 Parcel 2, which is the land bounded by James, South Main, Dollar, and South Water streets, MoHA brings serious concerns about the height and mass of the building currently proposed for the site. Meanwhile, the four-year project to restore the street lights along Benefit Street is proceeding, albeit at a slow pace. The proposed design of the new lanterns is under review. If approved, the first shipment may happen early in November.

Specializing in Historic Property on the West Side, Broadway Armory District and Historic Elmwood for the past 20 years.

Call Jane Driver

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jdriver@residentialproperties.com ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

NEWS & CITY LIFE

N e i ghbo r ho o d N ews

Providence Neighborhood Associations Blackstone Parks Conservancy Carrie Drake P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906 401-270-3014 BlackstoneParks@gmail.com BlackstoneParksConservancy.org

Downtown Neighborhood Association DNAPVD@gmail.com DNAPVD.com Facebook: Providence Downtown Neighborhood Association, DNA Elmwood Neighborhood Association Karen Hlynsky ENA-PVD.org Facebook: Elmwood Neighborhood Association PVD Fox Point Neighborhood Association Meeting Date: August 8 Amy Mendillo P.O. Box 2315, Providence, RI 02906 FoxPointNeighborhood@gmail.com FPNA.net

Providence Children’s Museum celebrated their 45th anniversary this summer Mount Hope Community Center 401-521-8830 MHNAInc@gmail.com Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc. Olneyville Neighborhood Association Eduardo Sandoval 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 ONAProvidence@gmail.com Facebook: Olneyville Library Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations Info@provcna.org, ProvCNA.org Providence Preservation Society 24 Meeting Street info@ppsri.org PPSRI.org

Jewelry District Association Meeting date: August 9 Sharon Steele Sharon@sharonsteele.com JewelryDistrict.org Facebook: Jewelry District Association Providence, RI

Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association David Talan 25 Santiago Street. Providence, RI 02907 401-941-3662 DaveTalan@aol.com

Mile of History Association Wendy Marcus c/o Providence Preservation Society 24 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02903 MileOfHistory@gmail.com MileOfHistory.org

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

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

South Providence Neighborhood Association c/o Dwayne Keys P.O. Box 5653, Providence, RI 02903 401-369-1334 SouthProvNeighbors@gmail.com Facebook: South Providence Neighborhood Association Summit Neighborhood Association Meeting date: August 15 P.O. Box 41092, Providence, RI 02940 401-400-0986 SNAProv@gmail.com SummitNeighbors.org Washington Park Association Linda Perri 401-241-3522 BettyLinda@aol.com Wayland Square Neighborhood Association Katherine Touafek Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association WaylandSquareNeighbors@gmail.com West Broadway Neighborhood Association 1560 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02909 401-831-9344 WBNA@wbna.org WBNA.org

Photo courtesy of the Providence Children’s Museum

College Hill Neighborhood Association Rick Champagne P.O. Box 2442 Providence, RI 02906 CHNA@chnaprovidence.org CHNAProvidence.org

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Louis Iasimone, life-long Rhode Islander, is a proud member of a family of leading plumbing and heating professionals. With over 35 years of experience, Louis and the crew at IASIMONE PLUMBING, HEATING & DRAIN CLEANING, INC. provide customers the highest level of service. “It’s so rewarding to have clients call us year after year,” Louis says. Making sure every client understands their options is an important part of what keeps people coming back to Iasimone each year. The company, a years-long recipient of Angie’s List’s Super Service Award, offers a variety of plumbing and heating services, as well as no-cost estimates. They specialize in installation and repairs of sinks and faucets, bathroom fixtures, water lines, dishwashers, water heaters and boilers, and also offer water and sewage services. With the summer months here and entertaining at a maximum, Louis recommends giving some extra attention to your drains. To keep your sinks worry-free, be sure to try and clean your drains regularly, at least once a month. If you have a garbage disposal, try using a couple tablespoons of salt and a cup or two of ice to try and eliminate any grease in the disposal. Follow that with some cold water and a lemon to flush it out and keep it smelling fresh. Don’t forget to flush your drains with hot water after washing your dishes (particularly any greasy ones) to keep the grease from building up. If the worst does occur and there’s a blockage you can’t rid, you’ll know to call Iasimone for your drain cleaning solutions.

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Photo courtesy of Jacky's Galaxie

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Summer in the city calls for traditional and adventurous sushi from a host of eateries BY A N UO N G

f peak summer temps have you hungry for cold, refreshing eats, look no further than raw sushi delicacies prepared with care. Providence is no stranger to this Japanese staple, with a growing presence of over a dozen spots to choose from. Each place offers its own unique contribution to the city’s sushi scene, whether it’s the freshest fish traditionally prepared or a surprising fusion that plays with your taste buds. From trusted neighborhood mainstays to the new kids on the block – spanning Fox Point to Federal Hill – there’s no shortage of sushi to sample in Providence this summer.

H A R U K I E AST In the heart of Wayland Square, Haruki East stands out immediately with colorful paper lanterns lining its awning. Inside, a bar runs the length of the restaurant, offering guests a direct view of the artful assembly happening behind the counter. Haruki’s menu is extensive to say the least, spanning appetizers, sushi a la carte, rolls, noodles, and even donburi (Japanese rice bowls). Haruki East is a must for fans of fresh, raw fish on its own, with the Sashimi Deluxe offering chef’s choice of seven assorted filets. 172 Wayland Avenue, HarukiSushi.com

“Brett will be a mayor for every neighbor and every business. We need a leader who makes it easier to do business with city hall and who listens to our needs. I know that Brett is ready for the job.” Ramon Guzman Small Business Owner

“We’ve known Brett for years & we’ve seen him in action– both in his work at the city & the state level. Beyond his government work he has fought hard for reproductive healthcare, marriage equality & our city over the years & we’re proud to support him as the next Mayor of Providence.” State Representative Edith Ajello & Former State Stenator Myrth York

Try %is: For those who want a bit of

color on the table, the Rainbow Roll won’t disappoint: it’s topped with eel, tuna, salmon, avocado, and masago (capelin fish eggs). ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Photo by Nicholas Mendes, courtesy of Mambo Sushi

The Mambo 36 is a fusion of shrimp tempura, fried plantains, guacamole, and more Even the simplest sushi roll impresses with subtle details

N A MI Head west to Federal Hill – a destination for multi-cultural cuisine – and you’ll find NAMI, which brings a contemporary twist to the sushi it serves. With a full-service bar and lounge, this joint also offers an extensive wine list. The whimsical names for their specials reflect the creativity within the rolls themselves, from Summer Sunset, with tempura lobster tail and wasabi peas, to Shooting Star, an eel roll that surprises with a potato crumble. NAMI is also unique in that it offers an omakase experience, a 14-course prix fixe meal following the tradition of having the chef curate the entire set of courses, including seasonal selections, artistic spins, and fresh ingredients. 198 Atwells Avenue, NAMIProv.com

Try !is: Perfect for summer, Sunshine

Dreamer is a shrimp tempura and avocado roll topped with lobster salad and spicy mayo.

Photo courtesy of Ten Prime Steak & Sushi

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Know Your Sushi SASHIMI: Thinly sliced fresh fish eaten without many adornments, aside from soy sauce and wasabi. NIGIRI: A slice of raw fish gently pressed over hand-molded rice. MAKI: Perhaps the most commonly recognized variety, fresh fish and other ingredients are rolled in dried seaweed and rice, often topped with more fish, eel sauce, fish eggs, or a combination.

A Tuna Tartar from Jacky's Waterplace & Sushi Bar is edible art

RAN Z AN JAPAN E S E Right across the street from Lippitt Park on Hope Street is Ran Zan Japanese, a sushi spot that has served the East Side for over 20 years. From its intimate seating to its simple menu, Ran Zan is the epitome of “no frills,” in the best of ways, where you’ll find classic offerings such as nigiri, sashimi, and maki rolls. If visiting for lunch, Ran Zan also offers bento boxes that deliver a main (teriyaki, tempura, fried chicken, or rolls) with soup, salad, and dumplings. There are also noodles on the menu, ranging from soupy udons to stir-fried yakisoba dishes. 1084 Hope Street, JMBCommunications.com/ranzan/

Try !is: Among the restaurant’s maki

rolls, the signature Dragon Roll is certainly one to keep an eye out for, with carrot “horns” and avocado “scales” layered along its back.

Make way for the extravagant Lobster Bowl

Photos courtesy of Jacky's Galaxie

From the Mekong River to PVD Rice and fish are inseparable in our modern-day perception of sushi, but before the familiar rolls found their way to 21st century Providence, early sushi looked quite different. Its roots can be traced back to third to fifth century BC in Mekong River rice paddies in Southeast Asia. During the monsoon season when fish would swim into the paddies, they were salted and packed away with cooked rice for at least a year. Later, they were dug out and eaten without the rice, which was discarded. By the 14th century, this practice made its way to Japan, where people started to eat the fish along with the rice, often after only months of fermentation instead of years. Around this time, the use of vinegar was also on the rise, which eventually brought a sourness to the rice when people consumed the fermented fish within just days after box-pressing it over rice. In Edo (known as Tokyo today) during the late 19th century, workers who came to the city to rebuild communities devastated by fires often ate fish, quickly cured within hours, over vinegar-seasoned rice. When refrigeration was introduced to food practices in the 20th century, curing the fish faded away altogether, and raw fish became the norm. By the time sushi made its way to the United States in the 1960s, Los Angeles was the first city to pick it up and even add its own spin: the insideout roll with fish on the inside and rice on the outside – the most common style you’ll find here in PVD, too!

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SA KU RA R E STAU RA N T

Photo by Nicholas Mendes, courtesy of Mambo Sushi

Something of a cult classic in Fox Point, Sakura is a corkage-fee BYOB sushi spot that also offers a tatami-style room – their upstairs space is set up in the vein of minimalist Japanese living rooms, complete with low tables and seating mats. Downstairs, the dining space is dimly lit, offering an intimate ambiance adorned with playful flags and banners. Their menu covers all the standards and then some, such as hibachi steak. Along with a full menu of maki rolls, nigiri and sashimi, and a variety of sushi dinners, there’s also Kobe Sanshoyaki – beef cubes sauteed with Japanese black pepper – and negimaki, barbecued beef rolled around scallions. SakuraProvidence.com

Try !is: For tuna lovers, the chef’s

special Sweet Heart Roll has spicy tuna inside and filets outside, playfully shaped and arranged into little hearts.

Mix and match your sushi experience with nigiri and maki rolls

Photo courtesy of Ten Prime Steak & Sushi

From Sunday brunch to Tuesday sushi platters, watch for specials from Mambo Sushi

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Photo courtesy of Ten Prime Steak & Sushi

THEY SEE ME ROLLIN’ MORE SUSHI MUSTS AROUND THE CITY EL NINJA Self-described as a “Latin fusion sushi experience,” El Ninja’s menu offers inventive creations such as the Taki Taki Roll (churrasco, bacon, cream cheese, maduro, guacamole, and chimichurri sauce). 1007 Broad Street, ElNinja.net JACKY’S WATERPLACE & SUSHI BAR Enjoy waterside dining at Jacky’s Waterplace & Sushi Bar right by the Providence River. Their extensive menu not only offers sushi, but also noodles, fried rice, steak, and even wings. 200 Exchange Street, JackysGalaxie.com LIM’S FINE THAI & SUSHI RESTAURANT Come for the Pad Thai, stay for the sushi. Lim’s in Wayland Square can satisfy cravings for raw and roasted entrees, from Lim’s Love Boat (their special platter of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls) to their signature Roast Duck Noodle Soup. 18 South Angell Street, LimsRI.org MAMBO SUSHI Mambo brings a Peruvian twist to sushi with specialty items like the Mambo Roll (shrimp tempura, yuca, avocado, ceviche) and Arroz Chafes, their Peruvian take on fried rice. 380 Atwells Avenue, MamboSushiProvidence.com MT. FUJI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE For an immersive culinary experience, head to Mt. Fuji Japanese Steakhouse, offering all the classics plus hibachi so you can watch the chef sear steak and grill veggies right at the table. 80 Dean Street, MtFuji-RI.com SOMO KITCHEN & SUSHI Somo opened in the Jewelry District during the peak of COVID with a menu that challenges the idea of what a sushi spot should serve. When you visit, definitely try the Burrata Peaches (trust us) and Momiji Volcano. 373 Richmond Street, SomoPVD.com YAMA FUJI Over in Mount Hope, Yama Fuji’s extensive menu includes beautifully arranged rolls in addition to Chinese classics such as scallion pancakes and egg drop soup. 1190 North Main Street, ProvidenceYamaFuji.com YOO SUSHI FUSION ASIAN RESTAURANT At Yoo Sushi, you can find fun rolls such as Mango Jalapeño or Kani Pineapple Tempura. Explore their fusion offerings for summer seafood appetizers like fried oysters, and kimchi calamari. 412 Douglas Avenue, GoYooSushi.com

A Ten Prime roll uses vibrant masago as a finishing touch

Photo courtesy of Jacky's Galaxie

S U RA Looking for some date night dishes? Pay a visit to Westminster Street staple Sura, an intimate Japanese and Korean eatery with an expansive menu listing favorites like Spicy Tuna Rolls and more playful options such as their Pink Lady Roll, a union of tuna, salmon, avocado, egg, and crab in soybean paper. Special to Sura is the Chef’s Izakaya Menu – referring to a Japanese drinking establishment – filled with hearty dishes to complement soju, a rice-distilled wine, and other beverages. They’re also known for Korean classics like Bibimbap rice bowls and Chap Chae vermicelli noodles. 232 Westminster Street, SuraProvidence.com

Try !is: The Providence Roll is made with shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with spicy salmon and sweet and spicy sauce.

Think outside the roll with Tuna Dumplings

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TEN PRI M E STEAK & S U S H I Part steakhouse, part sushi restaurant, Ten Prime is the perfect downtown destination to bring friends and family for a celebratory evening out. Along with a handful of traditionally influenced rolls, find “Uniquely Ten” offerings like a Sushi Sandwich, and the Prime Roll with Maine lobster, asparagus tempura, beef carpaccio, and an unexpected kick from truffle chili oil. Ten Prime also boasts a raw bar and extensive cocktail menu that changes to highlight seasonal flavors. Enjoy your fair share of Rhode Island classics, too, including calamari with jalapeño tartar sauce. 55 Pine Street, TenPrimeSteakAndSushi.com

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LIFE & STYLE Home | Influencer | Shop

The new addition on the left side blends seamlessly with the existing house

Farm Fresh Arts and Crafts meets Farmhouse Style in a Rumford renovation/addition Ever find yourself on a drive, spot a big ol’ farmhouse, and wonder what it would be like to make it your own? This was the case for a pair of empty-nesters who were aware of a vacant property not far from where they lived in the Rumford section of East Providence. Off a main street, close to a reservoir sat a charming white farmhouse built in 1860. The couple, who’d been searching for a historic renovation project, saw possibilities in the 1,200-square-foot dwelling and had the vision to make it into their “forever farmhouse.” Photography by Nat Rea, courtesy of SR Fine Home Builders ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

H o me | By Elyse Major

Black accents against white connect elements throughout the home

To begin, the couple hired Gail Hallock Architect and SR Fine Home Builders to collaborate on the project, two North Kingstown-based firms with solid reputations for attention to detail on old homes. “The challenge with a historic renovation project often lies in the retention, rehabilitation, and/or replication of original details and materials,” says Nick Vanasse, chief operating officer of SR Fine Home Builders. “Not only did we need to ensure the new addition matched the existing structure in detail, but since the house sat vacant for several years, it needed a lot of time and attention to be sure that it would last for years to come. Every portion needed to be repaired, rebuilt, or refreshed in some way.”

Photography by Nat Rea, courtesy of SR Fine Home Builders

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H o me | By Elyse Major

An oak cross buck design with steel cable creates a beautiful – and safe – stairway design

The renovation and addition that followed more than doubled the home’s square footage to 2,750 and resulted in space for a living room, an additional bedroom, a screen porch, and a finished basement that houses a home gym. “The homeowners wanted a family gathering space in their new home, designed around the fireplace – as would be seen in a traditional farmhouse – so we crafted the space with shiplap and a custom mantle featuring a Carrara marble fireplace surround,” says Vanasse.

A round mirror and patterned textiles soften the hard lines of the shiplap and marble 42

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Photography by Nat Rea, courtesy of SR Fine Home Builders

LIFE & STYLE

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LIFE & STYLE

H o me | By Elyse Major

utility, a hallmark of the Arts and Crafts movement, while shiplap (once simply used for sheathing) and architectural details like a porch and fireplace check the farmhouse boxes. Interior design choices echo these themes, like the trestle-style

dining table by Lorimer Studios of Wickford, or bare windows that show their muntins. Of course, being nestled among tall trees, a rolling lawn, and surrounding stone walls gives a pastoral vibe that simply can’t be replicated.

Photography by Nat Rea, courtesy of SR Fine Home Builders

The builders refer to the project as the Arts and Crafts Farmhouse, which is fitting since the home boasts details from both movements. Structural elements like the staircase with oak cross buck railings emphasize craftsmanship and beauty in

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

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H o me | By Elyse Major

GET RHODY STYLE Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State. LOCAL TALENT SR Fine Home Builders founder and CEO Jeremy Sherer and COO Nick Vanasse lead a team of craftsmen and construction managers across new construction, whole-home renovation, and historic renovation projects. They pride themselves on bringing unequaled transparency to all they do. CUSTOM WORK Once the original front door was restored, glass panels were added by Golden Rule Designs of West Kingston (GoldenRuleDesigns.com). The custom, handmade, solid-wood farmhouse dining table is from Lorimer Studios (Wickford.com). NEWMAN AVENUE EATS Minutes from Wayland Square, cross the Henderson Bridge and head to Newman Avenue. For coffee and baked goods, there’s a Seven Stars Bakery located in the mill that once housed Rumford Baking Powder with plenty of outdoor seating. Next door is Avenue N American Kitchen and The Pantry, owned by wellknown Rhody chef and author Nick Rabar and wife Tracy. Enjoy a range of inventive apps, soups and salads, entrees, pizza, and more.

Want your home featured in Providence Monthly? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more

Photography by Nat Rea, courtesy of SR Fine Home Builders

LIFE & STYLE

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LIFE & STYLE

I nfl ue nc e r | By Hugh Minor

Meet Riss Neilson The author of Deep in Providence on the joy of getting published, making writing personal, and what’s ahead

Congratulations on the publication of Deep in Providence. How does it feel to have your first book out there in the world? Thank you so much. It’s honestly still a shock. Three years ago I didn’t know anything about publishing and now there’s a book out there with my name on it. Most days, I forget that it’s published until someone tags me in a post or I see it in a bookstore. People are reading my story. It’s incredible that my words will live on forever. The story about four friends rooted in the city seems very personal. What inspired you to write this tale? It is personal. One of the things that inspired me was doing “magic” with my friends in high school. We would go to the botanica after school to get oils and candles and we’d do spells in my auntie’s living room. We even tried to call to the spirits. It’s also inspired by the fact that we lost a friend from our group to an asthma attack in 11th grade.

What advice do you have for up and coming authors? Believe it can happen for you. I used to write fanfiction in my room at night and never thought about publishing my books. I never thought it was a possibility, until a few years ago when a mentor suggested I take my writing more seriously. Aside from believing in yourself, keep putting down the words. Don’t aim for perfection because no book will ever be 100 percent perfect and that’s just putting pressure on yourself. You need to love what you’re writing and it should shine through. It’s tough to break into publishing, but there is no time or age limit. Just keep trying if it’s something you really want! Learn more at RissMNeilson.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Photo courtesy of Riss Neilson

The book definitely has a lot of buzz behind it. How have readers responded? Readers are responding really well. I receive messages from people who tell me how they see themselves while reading it and how much it made them cry. Those are the best messages. I always look for myself in books, so I’m happy to play a small part in that for others. It feels like there’s a lot of genuine love in messages I receive and even in the reviews that I read. Deep in Providence deals with some heavy-hitting topics, and I’m happy it’s finding readers who need it.

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LIFE & STYLE

Sho p | By Elyse Major

Shore Things One of the best things about an Ocean State summer is that first trip to the beach on a hot day. Even though it may have been many months since your toes were in the sand, it feels like yesterday, like childhood.

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

We surrender our cares – and our hair – to the salty wind. The next best thing follows: the after-beach shower. Senses are awakened by a day in the sun and somehow everything smells so nice. There are a

host of bath and body products designed with that sensation in mind, perfect for switching up your routine for the season or holding onto that feeling all year long. Plus, they’re all made in Rhode Island.

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WARM SAND ROLL-ON FRAGRANCE This little roll-on packs a seaworthy punch of jasmine, mandarin, and sea spray, perfect to keep handy for outings that go from dunes to dinner. Newport, ShoreSoapCo.com

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FOOD & DRINK Experience | In The Kitchen | Food News

Art Meets Aperitif Rotating murals complement patio sipping at Providence’s littlest cocktail bar “Our summer aesthetic is urban oasis,” says Tiny Bar owner Joanne Chang, describing the bright, airy outdoor space Providence’s smallest cocktail patio brings. Bright orange umbrellas, criss-crossing strands of twinkling lights, and Insta-worthy drinks are enough to lure a passerby over for happy hour, but Tiny Bar is also home to rotating art installations in partnership with The Avenue Concept. Amid the pockets of greenery are unexpected sculptures – Liquid Sunshine (Poured) and Beacon by Michael Alfano – and the newest mural on the front-facing wall, Antidote Seeking by Boston-based artist Lena Mac. “It’s our first art piece at Tiny Bar by a female artist which we’re pretty stoked about,” shares Chang. “It’s explosive, powerful, colorful, and feminist.” The colorful art provides a splashy backdrop to their menu of flashy drinks concocted for porch sipping, like the ever popular Amethyst, a purple bevvie featuring Espolòn tequila, lemon, creme de violette, lavender bitters, and a lavender sprig to garnish. Gin-lovers will want to try Tiny Bar’s very own gin, made in partnership with Bully Boy in Boston. Find it in Soiree, a fruity, floral offering with pamplemousse, lemon, blueberry, and thyme, or skip the gin for a zero-proof version. Birds of Paradise, which Chang describes as an “adult Capri Sun,” is made with Grey Goose pear vodka, strawberry-infused Aperol, lime, and kiwi. There’s no better season to sit back, sip craft cocktails, and admire outdoor art, and this month Tiny Bar is hosting the artists behind the patio masterpieces for a Meet the Artist event. Follow @tinybarpvd for date and details. | By Abbie Lahmers Photo courtesy of The Avenue Concept ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

FOOD & DRINK

Expe r i e nc e | By Laura Afonso

Game Day Haven A neighborhood sports bar in East Providence redefines pub fare with scratch-made burgers and tots The Local Burger

Photos by Jacquelina Paiva

Whether you’re a sports fan looking to kick back and catch a game or just a fan of elevated pub fare and cold beers in a lively atmosphere, The Local is the place to be. Not your typical sports bar, this East Providence mainstay features a menu of scratchmade comfort foods, which give the hangout a familial vibe. From football to field hockey, you can count on seeing your team broadcasted on one of many TVs. Executive chef Sarah Bleich keeps her patronage in mind in developing approachable eats. “Our menu was designed to appeal to what people would expect in a sports bar, but to make sure that we take the time to highlight scratch-made signature items that belong to us,” she shares. Stepping inside The Local, the sporty energy is strong – but with plush leather couches and luxurious high tops, these

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

are box seats, not the nosebleed section. Sports memorabilia lines the walls, including jerseys encased in glass where you can spot the signatures of iconic athletes scribbled across the numbers. A small corner even has wall-to-wall faux turf, so you can feel like you’re part of the front-row action. For those less athletically enthused, there’s no need to have this season’s stats down pat to enjoy a visit. The Local is a place where you can bring the family during the day, shares Bleich, and “we have an energetic and fantastic mix of people at night once the music comes on.” The food

CUISINE: American comfort, elevated bar foods ATMOSPHERE: Casual, inviting, lively sports lounge

Elevated game day eats at The Local in East Providence

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Expe r i e nce | By Laura Afonso

Chili Cheese Tots

is the real draw for diners like me. Bleich goes the extra mile to make sure everything that leaves her kitchen will impress, from braising meats in house and pressing burgers daily to prepping house-made sauces and dressings. I couldn’t pass up The Local Burger, one of the most popular items on the menu. A gleaming, buttery brioche bun holds two juicy patties, smothered in gooey cheese, bacon, house-fried crunchy onions, and finished with a tasty sauce (a secret recipe, according to Bleich). I detected some tangy mustard notes, but whatever it is ties the whole burger together. The ultimate game day snack, the Chili Cheese Tots are not to be overlooked. The pile of crispy, golden nuggets are topped with melted cheese, seasoned beef, and finished with fresh-cut hot jalapeños – totally irresistible. All of The Local’s shareable apps offer a choice of base (nachos, tots, or

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Thanksgiving Sandwich

Must-Try Items The Local Burger ($14): Double beef patty, American cheese, fried onions, and Local sauce on a brioche bun (add bacon for $2.75)

Chili Cheese Tots ($13): House slow-cooked all-beef chili, cheese sauce, sour cream, and jalapeños

Thanksgiving Sandwich ($13): Warm sliced turkey, stuffing patty, mashed potatoes, cranberry mayo, gravy, and fried onions on toasted brioche

sides) and different styles like Carnitas and Buffalo Chicken for a customizable starter. What’s a fun night out without an enticing cocktail? From spicy-rimmed margaritas to blueberry Moscow mules, diners can choose from traditional and original bevvies, plus

a rotating seasonal menu. It wouldn’t be a sports bar without plenty of local brews on tap, too. In the mood for a dessert cocktail, I went for the Peanut Butter Cup Martini, served on the rocks. The ultimate indulgence, this sweet martini is garnished with mini peanut butter cups skewered on a toothpick and perched on the rim. The Local is giving EP townies a new place to visit over and over, while also drawing a crowd of out-of-towners looking to recharge their game-day routine with a new spin on familiar snacks. This joint lives up to its identity as a neighborhood place that makes everyone feel right at home. Follow @bunsandbites on Instagram for more of Laura Afonso’s foodie best bets.

T he Local 478 Waterman Avenue, East Providence 337-9337 • TheLocalRI.com

Photos by Jacquelina Paiva

FOOD & DRINK

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FOOD & DRINK

I n T he Ki t c he n | By Jacob Schiffman

A Culinary Adventure The connoisseurs behind Federal Hill’s newest Italian market, cafe, and wine bar

In the last few months of a tumultuous 2021, perhaps it’s ironic that Bonanno Vinicola, which translates to “good year” in medieval Italian, opened its doors. Or it was a sign of the delicious eats and experiences to come. Emerging Federal Hill foodie icon Armando Bisceglia of neighboring Bacco Vino & Contorni founded Bonanno, with Max Ragosta and Luigi Sabino at the helm leading operations and purchasing. They took over two storefronts originally inhabited by Carrara’s Shoes (which moved across the street) and Enoteca Umberto, and now bring a blend of traditions from their Italian

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

roots and a contemporary atmosphere to the cafe and wine bar concept. Hailing from Johnston and Lincoln, respectively, Ragosta and Sabino are hungry 20-somethings who share a vision of transporting diners to a seaside village in southern Italy, showcasing the simplicity of the cuisine of their heritage in the products they stock. Bonanno is easily spotted on Atwells Avenue by its door, with a colorful rendering of the Queen of Sicily, depicted to represent bounties of both the land and sea. At this market, deli, cafe, and wine bar all in one, the duo takes pride in selecting wines

sourced from the Sicily, Puglia, Campania, and Lazio regions, as well as offering fresh bread and desserts made specially for Bonanno by their friends across the street at Scialo Bros Bakery (one the oldest – if not the oldest – Italian bakeries in Rhode Island). “We want to showcase the flavors and influences from the southern regions of Italy,” says Ragosta, estimating that 75 percent of everything sold in the store is procured from Italy and other specialty vendors. Ragosta and Sabino met in homeroom as students at La Salle Academy and quickly became friends, bonding over their Italian

Photo courtesy of Bonanno

Cafe eats from Bonanno Vinicola take advantage of local and internationally sourced goods

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FOOD & DRINK

I n T he Ki t c he n | By Jacob Schiffman

Mozzarella di Bufala

TOUR OF ITALY Though Bonanno Vinicola’s options are numerous and exploration encouraged, here’s a handful of highlights. MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA Start with the mozzarella, sourced from Grazzanise – just 20 minutes away from where Ragosta’s and Sabino’s families grew up in Italy – with an exquisite flavor all on its own, olive oil optional.

CAPONATA Next stop is the Panini Al Morso section, where you’ll find owner Bisceglia’s Sicilian sweet and savory eggplant relish on panini buns made fresh from Scialo Bros Bakery.

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

upbringings and love of soccer. They later went on to work at Pane e Vino together for a handful of years, advancing from bussers to servers and fostering a deeper appreciation for Italian food preparation along the way. “We are fortunate to have found our passion early,” says Sabino. He and Ragosta both cite their nonnas as their biggest early influences. Further deepening their connection, their sets of grandparents grew up only a short distance away from one another in two towns in southern Italy.

Now, having been open for several months, the menu at Bonanno consists of 10 sections (not including spirits and beverages) and feels like a culinary chooseyour-own-adventure, except you can’t make a wrong choice. Down to the fluent Italian you’ll hear coming from the cafe, Ragosta and Sabino aim for an immersive experience. “We are here to educate – we teach you about what you are eating, and then you take it all home with you at the end.” Nonna would be proud. BonannoPVD.com

Photos courtesy of Bonanno

PESCE SPADA AFFUMICATO Found in the Tagliere Pesce section, this Italian Smoked Swordfish is served with ricotta and blood orange and plated to resemble a star.

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FOOD & DRINK

Fo o d N e w s | By Karen Greco

A second life – and a new food truck – for a brewery fave

East Side opening of a West End favorite

These handcrafted cocktails are easy to swallow

The pandemic nearly did in beloved Dominican Mexican fusion pop-up Cultrō. With their business mostly dependent on brewery collabs, the COVID shut-downs meant they closed down too. “We tried to stay afloat,” says owner and chef Daniel Núñez, who posits the fledgling business

Fearless Fish, the fish market that made a splash on the West End, is opening a second location across town on the East Side. Owner Stuart Meltzer expects to open their doors on Hope Street in September. “It feels like we’re stepping into history,” he says of their new location in

Alexa Trembly and Emory Harkins, the couple behind the Twenty Stories book phenomenon, opened the cocktail lounge Glou just a few steps away from their Ives Street bookstore. “In French it means glug, the noise you make when drinking wine that goes down easy,” says Trembly.

saw its best months in the ones leading up to the pandemic. But the stoppage proved too much, so Núñez closed up shop and studied to become an electrical apprentice to pay the bills. But the Cultrō dream remained. He and his fiancé put all their money into buying a food truck, which Núñez painstakingly built out by hand. After a year of fabrication, Cultrō hit the road. Within a few weeks – and a slew of sell-out events – Núñez once again quit his day job. He plans to have regular hours near the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge while continuing to pop up at breweries and events across the state. @Cultro_Pvd

the old Davis Dairy building, which had been a kosher deli run by the same family since 1906. “There’s a lot of nostalgia that goes along with the place.” With their new build-out, the space is “going to look amazing.” The fishmonger plans to bring the high-quality, unique local catch that customers love while adding more smoked fish varieties. “The big thing for us from the beginning was access, making it easy for people to buy fish, cook fish, and try new things. We’re excited about serving the folks on the East Side who are excited about fish.” FearlessFishMarket.com

Glou’s menu of creative cocktails changes seasonally, with all juices fresh pressed in house. There are zero-proof options as well as a selection of natural wines and a small beer list. Snacks include house marinated olives, a cheese board, and on Wednesdays, tamales. With their experience in creative community building, the extension into cocktail culture doesn’t feel like such a stretch. While their two entities are separate, Glou has a patio space where they can host author readings and other special events. “You can always pick up a book from Twenty Stories and grab a drink and read at the bar,” says Hawkins. @Glou.Pvd

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Photos courtesy of Cultrō

Dominican Mexican fusion fare from Cultrō

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ART & CULTURE On Stage | Rhody Reads | Calendar

Taking It to the Streets The Avenue Concept’s latest sculpture installation includes Carlos Davila’s Sine Wave Think Providence looks a little different these days? It’s probably the five new sculptures The Avenue Concept (TAC) stealthily installed around downtown over the months of May and June. “It takes people a while to notice,” says TAC’s sculpture program manager Brian Dowling with a chuckle. The sculpture Sine Wave, at the corner of Fountain and Dorrance, is a traffic stopper. The formal, abstract piece is placed in close proximity to Breaking Bad Habits, a sculpture of a stubbed out cigarette (that includes burning embers that glow at night). This juxtaposition is by design, with the more accessible cigarette serving as “a gateway to other work,” says Dowling. “The sculptures are a backdrop to the city. How you place the piece within the city, what’s behind it, are people walking directly past or is the work viewed at a distance,” he explains. “We also consider what’s in proximity to other artworks – you want them to be in conversation with each other.” Sine Wave changes dramatically depending on the angle it is viewed. The Peru-born, Bridgeport-based artist Carlos Davila often finds inspiration in ancient cultures while imbuing his art with futuristic leanings. Sine Wave, made up of multiple triangles, is a play on geometry. The spiral draws the eye to the top, where, depending on your approach, the iconic Superman building looms just beyond. The arresting orange hue gives the work an optical vibration. “Your eye has a hard time focusing on the edge because the color is so lush,” says Dowling. “It’s super dynamic.” To take a self-guided walking tour of the new installations, which includes Sine Wave, download the app at TheAvenueConcept.org/Programs/Wayfinding | By Karen Greco Photo courtesy of The Avenue Concept ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

ART & CULTURE

O n St age | By Karen Greco

Showstopper Artistic director Tony Estrella on The Gamm’s provocative new season There’s an alchemy to putting together a theater season and Tony Estrella, artistic director of The Gamm Theatre, is well attuned to that magic. “I think of seasons like a record album, where the songs are sequenced for a reason,” he says. “I want that same connection for the season, where the plays speak to each other. I want resonance for the subscriber, for us all to be in this collective headspace.” In the spacious Gamm lobby, it’s incredible to think that this established and thriving Warwick theater has its roots on the fringe. A group of artists who grew out of Trinity Rep founded Alias Stage, the precursor to The Gamm, which was structured as an intense artist collective. Bold and adventurous, they leaned into the intimacy between actor and audience. It was a production of Antony and Cleopatra in a garage on Elbow Street that put the fledgling company on the map. Fittingly, their season opener, Rajiv Joseph’s Describe the Night – which bundles 90

years of Russian history in one play – feels as audacious as doing Shakespeare in a car port. Estrella explains that the play was a last-minute addition to the season, one he didn’t think about until Russia invaded Ukraine. “It rang a bell in my head about this great play.” Estrella leans forward, his whole body kinetic as he describes the play. “It’s dealing with these characters like [Isaac] Babel and Putin, but what it’s really about is how we manufacture truth, politically, and the play posits a kind of conspiracy theory that is very attractive, but factually, as far as we know, untrue. So how do we draw the line between fiction and reality? It’s increasingly hard, right? What theater can do, what art can do, is help contextualize this.” The second play in their season, Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Sweat, was the pre-pandemic play that got away. A topical look at America’s economic decline through the lens of a community of blue-collar factory workers whose lives are ripped apart by

layoffs, it felt apropos for the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. But The Gamm’s original request was declined, with the rights going to Trinity Rep. However, that production was curtailed by the pandemic. When it came time for The Gamm to plot out this year’s season, Estrella saw the rights to the play were back on the table, so he folded it into the season. “[Trinity Rep] has precedent, as they should; the playwright needs to get the biggest audience possible,” says Estrella. “But we’re fighting from this smaller theater perspective.” This means Estrella keeps his eye on original work from more farflung locales, particularly Great Britain. “Every morning, the first thing I do is read The Guardian theater section,” he says with a laugh. The second half of the season has that anglophile bent. Estrella considers The Faith Healer, by the Northern Irish dramatist Brian Friel, a sort of seasonal shift, moving from the topicality of Russia and fading factory

Photo by Peter Goldberg

Artistic director Tony Estrella in The Gamm’s 2021 production of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, which returns for the holidays for their 2022/23 season

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

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towns to a play that weaves a more pensive, but no less spellbinding, story. In interlocking monologues, a traveling healer and his companions recount a tragic night. “It’s like a four-part symphony,” says Estrella, who considers it a ghost story, one that commands the audience to sit back and listen. “I think it gets to the mythic roots of storytelling, and why we need live theater,” he says. “There’s a fundamental thing in us that needs to try to understand [life’s] complexities on a deeper level.” The penultimate play in the season, Let the Right One In, is an adaptation of the horror novel-turned-cult-classic independent movie that premiered off-West End in London before transferring to St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, where it created a mini-sensation, not the least of which was because of the amount of blood spilled on stage. (It is a vampire tale, after all.) Jack Thorne, who went on to pen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway as well as His Dark Materials for Netflix, adapted it. “I’m not the biggest horror movie fan in the world, but there’s something about that play that gets underneath your skin and moves you to your core in kind of an eternal way,” says Estrella. It’s also a complicated bit of stagecraft, that calls not only for copious amounts of blood but a heart-pounding scene that involves plenty of water. “We’re coming up with an exciting way to do it that hopefully will surprise people.” Playwright Thorne’s Harry Potter faced off with Lucy Kirkwood’s The Children, which wraps up The Gamm’s season, for the Tony Award for Best Play back in 2018. (For the record, “the boy who lived” won.) Set at the end of a nuclear disaster, the play is a three-hander whose small cast belies its oversized impact. That could serve as a metaphor for The Gamm. “I think that’s part of our identity as a theater,” Estrella says. “One does that kind of work – meaning bold, certainly provocative – with all the complexity intact and a nice variety of plays that are surprising.” GammTheatre.org

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LIFE & STYLE

Rho dy Re a ds | By Hugh Minor

Rhody Reads Six selections to inspire your inner artist Art is all around us in the Ocean State – from murals on city walls to festivals to books that bring the creative world closer to home. In this edition of Rhody Reads, we’ll highlight six titles connected to the arts and Rhode Island. Take a look and find one that inspires you. And, of course, pick it up at your local bookstore. Stan Lee was a legend in the comic book industry. The writer, producer, editor, and publisher was known as a consummate artist. Rhode Island-based journalist and author Abraham Riesman digs a little deeper into his story in True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee. The laboriously researched biography reads like a thriller exploring a host of questions that linger around the larger-than-life enigma. With Dining in the Dark, restaurant critic Bryan Miller artfully tells the story of his struggle with debilitating depression, a struggle that cost him everything. A former reporter for the Providence Journal and culinary arts student at Johnson & Wales University, Miller rose to the top of his field writing a column for The New York Times until it all became too much to handle. Experience both the depths of despair and true hope and inspiration in this compelling memoir. With great artistry, Rhody-based author Padma Venkatraman weaves the tale of a young Indian boy who has only known life in prison since birth. Born Behind Bars tells the heartbreaking story of Kabir, who is unprepared for the challenges and obstacles he faces in the outside world. But maybe, with the help of a new friend, he’ll find a way to get by. A thought-provoking read for middle schoolers.

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Graphic designer and former Providence Monthly art director Scott Leta illustrates a new series of books that give kids the opportunity to visit nearby places from an intimate perspective. With bright colors and delightful artwork, Local Baby: Queens highlights some of the most famous landmarks in this wellknown borough including Rockaway Beach, Forest Park, and even a Met’s game. Also in the series is Local Baby: Maine. Join author and traveler Daniel Seddiqui in his journey across the country meeting artists and creative thinkers in his book, Piecing Together America. See where he chose to visit when he came to Rhode Island, attempting to learn an age-old craft that takes years of practice to perfect. The results may just blow you away. Let him inspire you to explore a new craft and see where it takes you. Got writer’s block? Even Shakespeare needed a little spark to get those creative juices flowing, which is why North Kingstown resident and book coach Lisa Tener developed The Joy of Writing Journal. With page after page of inspiring prompts, you’ll put pen to paper before you know it, finding your flow and the momentum to produce your best work. Unleash your hidden writer with this invaluable tool.

Send your Rhody book recommendations to Hugh at RhodyReads@gmail.com

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ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

ART & CULTURE

Ca l e nda r | By Carol ine Mitchell

Statewide Must-Do’s 10 essential events this month August 14:

Flower fans rejoice: What Cheer Flower Farm’s festival returns

Four-time Grammy-nominated trombonist William Cepeda performs his blend of progressive jazz with his Afro-Rican Jazz band at the Roger Williams Park Bandstand, part of FirstWorks’ Summer Beats Concert Series. FirstWorks.org

August 15: Celebrate Korean Independence Day with a free-admission event featuring authentic food, musicans and dancers from New York and South Korea at PC’s Bishop McVinney Auditorium. EventBrite: Korea Day Celebration

August 18-21: Experience a celebration of weird fiction and art at NecronomiCon, four days of movie screenings and workshops as well as a Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Lovecraft Arts & Sciences Council. EventBrite: NecronomiCon Providence 2022

August 27:

by Niteflies and Farm Dog Band. RWPZoo.org

August 6:

August 8-14:

August 27:

InDowncity hosts Open Air Saturdays at Grant’s Block, Aborn Street, Union Street, Biltmore Park, and the BankNewport City Center. Enjoy live music performances, a rotating lineup of food trucks, beer gardens, marketplaces, games, and more. InDowncity.com

Drive-in, outdoor, or online, the Rhode Island International Film Festival returns with offerings in multiple locations throughout the city. A full roster of activities includes filmmaking workshops, industry events, seminars, and more. Film-Festival.org

What Cheer Flower Farm hosts the 2022 Flower Festival, an all-day outdoor floral-themed event benefiting the Olneyville-based flower charity. Find floral displays, children’s activities, themed food and drinks, music, and more. WhatCheerFarm.org

August 6 & 27:

August 13:

August 28:

The Providence Marriot Downtown hosts Rhody’s “largest comedy murder mystery dinner” with an interactive theater performance from The Dinner Detective paired with a threecourse meal. TheDinnerDetective.com

In a full lighting of WaterFire, the Starry, Starry Night display returns with 100 blue paper stars and donation lanterns to celebrate Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. WaterFire.org

The locally grown Rhode Island Folk Festival has three stages with over 50 artists from around the state and beyond, plus vendors and food trucks, at Rose Larisa Park on Narragansett Bay. Riverside, RhodeIslandFolkFestival.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • August 2022

Photo courtesy of What Cheer Flower Farm

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Providence Monthly August 2022

Articles inside

CALENDAR: This

RHODY READS: Six

RHODY GEM: A

ON STAGE

INFLUENCER

EXPERIENCE

FOOD NEWS: A

Meet RISD’s 18th president

IN THE KITCHEN

HOME: An East Providence farmhouse gets an Arts and Crafts addition