Providence Monthly August 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS & CITY LIFE

11 Domestic violence resource center connects new moms with mom mentors

14 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: Why leftover RI Statehouse marble was buried on the West Side

16 RHODY GEM: Find your green thumb with a Cromwell Street houseplant shop

18 OP-ED: The story behind the East Side’s massive stone wall

22 NEIGHBORHOOD

NEWS: Hyper local news and contact listings

28 FEATURE: Summer art markets are in full swing

FOOD & DRINK

47 West End’s newest burger joint o ers hot takes on diner eats

48 IN THE KITCHEN: How a Rhody classic got its snap back

50 EXPERIENCE: A Federal Hill staple’s East Greenwich iteration knows its seafood

52 FOOD NEWS: Plant cafe in Pawtucket, new brewery in South County & a small-butmighty co ee biz

54 RHODY EATS: RESTAURANT GUIDE

HIGHER ED 37

A look at what RI colleges and universities are doing to attract students and help them graduate

LIFE & STYLE

57 HOME: Rethinking neglected space turns a porch into a useful mudroom

64: FASHION: Mermaidcore may be trending, but it’s nothing new in the Ocean State

68: BEAUTY: Smallbatch products made naturally in RI for summer skin

ART & CULTURE

71 An initiative works to give a historic figure his due

72 MUSIC SCENE: Solo work by garage pop frontman is a thematic departure

76 RHODY READS: Six books for your summer beach bag

78 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s 80 PIC OF PVD

On the Cover: Engaging students is key to success. Photo by © luckybusiness / Adobe Stock

Photo courtesy of Bryant University

Photo courtesy of There, There

Photo courtesy of Ampersand Creative Company

Photo by Aaron Usher III Photography courtesy of Red House Design and Build

Photo courtesy of The Botanical Bar

LOU LOU’S DÉCOR

Make your beach house a home with a cozy & fun addition from Lou Lou’s Décor with locations in Tiverton & Newport. Full interior design services available.

3913 Main Road • (401) 816 4362 loulousdecor.com • @loulousdecor

TL HOLLAND REAL ESTATE

The Holland family business has been providing professional and personal attention for over 50 years. Call Bailey Holland for expertise in sales, rentals and commercial properties. (401) 266 4645 @homes_with_holland 3948 Main Road • (401) 624 8469 • www.tlholland.com

BARKSFIELD SHOP

FOUR CORNERS GRILLE

Offering fresh, quality food along with fast, friendly service at reasonable prices.  Featuring fresh, locallycaught seafood with an extensive & eclectic menu in a quaint, casual setting with a delightful patio.

3841 Main Road • (401) 624 1510   4cornersgrille.com

THE COTTAGE AT FOUR CORNERS

Featuring fne home furnishings, quality gift items and linen to live in, lush pillows, beautiful rugs, inventive lighting, fabulous bed linens & amazing artifcial fowers. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm & Sun 11am-4pm 3847 Main Road • (401) 625 5814 @thecottageri

FOUR CORNERS GALLERY

Collections of painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography & jewelry. Stop in and discover our artists and the new work!

Hours: Monday-Friday & Sunday 11am-4pm Saturday 9:30am-5pm  Open Daily

3848 Main Road • fourcornersgalleryri.com @fourcornersgalleryri

TIFFANY PEAY JEWELRY & HEALING ARTS

Explore the one-of-a-kind gemstone, pearl and gold jewelry handmade by Tiffany Peay. Also featuring Crystal Bed Light Therapy and the artwork of Peter Dickison. Open Daily 3851 Main Road • (401) 816 0878 tiffanypeay.com • @tiffanypeayjewelry

The captivating destination for eco-friendly artisan gifts, antiques & refurbished furniture. Enjoy beautiful grounds with ample parking; entrance at back of building. Open TH-SAT 10-5, SUN 12-5. Shop online at barksfeld.com

3988 Main Road • (202) 423-3106 @barksfeld

THE CHEESE WHEEL VILLAGE MARKET

Over 200 cheeses, local meats & produce; house-made bread, sandwiches, soups & spread and meals. Custom charcuterie & cheese boards available. Call to order! Open 9-5 Tues-Sunday 3838 Main Road • (401) 816 5069 @thecheesewheelri

STUDIO BY THE SEA

I transform your ideas into heirlooms! Internationally sourced Royal Blue Sapphire set with diamond components from an older family ring. What can Peter Tirpaeck, master jeweler create for you?

3848 Main Road • (401) 639 4348   www.studiobytheseari.com @studio_by_the_sea

WRIGLEY STUDIO

Visit the working artist studio and gallery of Brenda Wrigley Scott.

Open weekly and South Coasts Artists

Open Studio Tour Aug 19 & 20 3852 Main Road, Garden Entrance (401) 339 9676 • @Wrigley_studio

Photo by @silentjosh37

Photo by © digidreamgrafix / Adobe Stock

“As first-time home buyers and new to Rhode Island, we began this process needing a lot of hand-holding. We truly could not have done this without her! It took us nearly a year to find our first home, and during those times with our numerous questions and concerns, Rachael was so sweet and caring and never made us feel rushed. She gave us her honest opinions with every house viewing and never tried to ”sell” us the house; she truly cared for finding a home that worked for us. She is knowledgeable, professional, supportive, (and the list goes on) and overall a fantastic Realtor!”

“As first-time home buyers and new to Rhode Island, we began this process needing a lot of hand-holding. We truly could not have done this without her! It took us nearly a year to find our first home, and during those times with our numerous questions and concerns, Rachael was so sweet and caring and never made us feel rushed. She gave us her honest opinions with every house viewing and never tried to ”sell” us the house; she truly cared for finding a home that worked for us. She is knowledgeable, professional, supportive, (and the list goes on) and overall a fantastic Realtor!”

Jonah & Eunbee

Jonah & Eunbee

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Contributing Writers

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Adam Hogue

Ann Martini

Hugh Minor

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CITY LIFE

Moms Helping Moms

The city’s domestic violence resource helps new moms by pairing them with experienced mentors

What began in 1976 as a tiny volunteer agency with one hotline has grown into a multi-faceted organization that serves thousands of individuals. Sojourner House is a nonprofit based in Providence that helps victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human tra cking with an expansive list of vital services. Adding to that list, in 2022, they launched the MOSAIC Project, a unique peer mentoring program. Serving as a community advocacy group, the MOSAIC Project aids new and soon-to-be mothers who have experienced intimate partner violence by pairing clients with local moms who have completed a 10-week training program. Mentors and mentees then meet each week over phone or at mutually comfortable locations for up to 12 weeks. According to Vanessa Volz, executive director of Sojourner House, “The overarching goal of this project is to reduce rates of violence among new parents.”

Photo courtesy of Sojourner House

Born out of a five-year federal grant, the initiative was developed in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). “Prior to working on this project, we had been collaborating with the Department of Health on other projects, so we were known entities to each other,” Volz says.

With RIDOH’s focus on data and research and the on-the-ground experience Sojourner House brings, partnering on the MOSAIC Project came naturally. “It was nice to be able to have an opportunity to blend our individual expertise together,” Volz reflects. “We want to respond to the needs of our community, and this seemed like a good way to do that.”

While a majority of Sojourner House’s funding comes from federal grants, they rely on other sources too, including donations and fundraisers. Their largest fundraising event is the annual Masquerade Ball, which will take place November 17 at the Graduate Providence, with tickets typically going on sale in early September. Sojourner House is also currently running their Capital Campaign to pay for a new property to accommodate their growth. Until the end of October, donation dollars will be matched up to $250,000 by the Champlin Foundation, one of the oldest philanthropic organizations in the state known for awarding capital needs grants to nonprofits.

Still in its early stages, the MOSAIC Project is constantly evolving. Mother mentors are usually known to the agency, but Volz welcomes any mother who has had some experience with intimate partner violence to contact Sojourner House about becoming a mentor. Longterm goals include training hospital and clinic sta to identify potential victims and send referrals, giving Sojourner House access to clients who may not know about services or are unable to reach out for help. “This is a five-year grant, and our hope is that we’ll be able to continue it,” Volz says. To donate to Sojourner House or learn more about their programming, visit SojournerRI.org.

Photo courtesy of Sojourner House

Sojourner House’s drop-in center at 1570 Westminster Street in Providence

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Mystery Solved

Why leftover RI Statehouse marble was buried on the West Side

Farm Fresh Rhode Island, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable agriculture, was testing the soil for its new home in Providence’s Valley neighborhood a few years ago when it unearthed a lot of marble.

“We went 12 feet down and this is when we discovered marble,” recalled Lucie Searle, community and real estate developer for Farm Fresh. “And we’re like, ‘where did this come from?’”

The group started delving into why marble was buried beneath the nonprofit’s future home at Kinsley and Sims avenues. It turned out that the world-renowned architects of the State House, McKim, Mead and White, selected a Worcester firm, Norcross Brothers, to construct the seat of state

government more than a century ago.

“And the Norcross Brothers built in Providence, in the Valley neighborhood, on the site that Farm Fresh owns today – the exact 3.2 acre site – they built a state-of-the art cutting facility,” Searle said. “And here all of the marble that went into the State House was cut.”

An 1898 newspaper account cites how the stone-cutting plant’s size and scale enabled enough progress not just to satisfy a commission overseeing State House construction, but also “the fastidious tastes of the general public of Rhode Island as well.” It was a time when the Ocean State was prosperous and Providence was a hive of industry. So how did leftover marble wind up underground and forgotten for more than 100 years?

“As we’ve researched this, what we learned is that you have very, very big blocks coming up [by rail] from Georgia and these were cut to the architects’ specifications,” Searle said. “And there were pieces that were discarded, because they weren’t usable or maybe they made a mistake. And so it was very common to just put things in the ground, and this is what people did.”

Over time, new buildings covered the former stone-cutting yard. Then, a 2015 fire wiped out those buildings. Farm Fresh acquired the property two years later, began digging into the foundation and found the marble.

“So we decided to have our contractor save any piece of marble that was 20 inches or more in any dimension and he did,”

Photos by Ian Donnis

Lucie Searle of Farm Fresh RI sits with some of the rediscovered marble

Searle

said, “and we have tons of marble.”

The tons of marble include pieces as long as four feet – suitable for a bench or a landscape feature – while other remnants are as small as half a pound, just right for a paperweight.

Dave Allyn is one of five artists who answered a call to embellish some of the marble pieces with a design. His Sims Avenue studio is a stone’s throw from Farm Fresh Rhode Island. Allyn used screen printing to etch images of the construction of the State House onto some of the smaller marble pieces.

As he explained, “I’ve been able to adaptively reuse these artifacts and do some historical imagery on the top of them with

screen printing and then mount them onto a steel base and basically turn these into a piece of art.”

Rhode Island is known for its checkered political history, a lot of that connected with the State House.

As Lucie Searle noted, the Capitol is also a grand structure that has withstood the test of time, suggesting endurance, ambition and an ability to punch above our weight.

“It’s a building that makes a statement,” she said. “We’re the smallest state, but it’s saying, ‘look at me.’”

This article was originally posted on June 1, 2023. Ian Donnis can be reached at IDonnis@ThePubicsRadio.org

Artist Dave Allyn screen-printed Statehouse Images on some smaller pieces of marble

By Abigail Lebowitz

Botanical Bar Plant Store

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:

A speakeasy-style plant shop specializing in indoor greenery.

Where to find it:

Around the corner from Long Live Beerworks and upstairs from KNEAD Doughnuts’ West End location, once inside, look for the doorbell that says “Botanical Bar” to get buzzed in. Follow the leaf-wrapped handrails upstairs and take a left.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

If you don’t know a philodendron from a fern, co-owners Samantha Fontanez and Shalika Shoulders are here to help. Cultivating a welcoming space for plant enthusiasts is at the root of Botanical Bar’s mission, and in addition to browsing house plants at the store, site visits are available. “We don’t just drop o plants at your home or o ce and send you on your way. We take the time to evaluate your space, lighting, and your unique preferences to provide personalized plant styling that perfectly fits your lifestyle,” says Fontanez. “We then provide all the necessary maintenance required, so you don’t have to lift a finger. Our goal is to create an e ortless and enjoyable plant ownership experience for all of our valued customers.” With a belief that “education is key to fostering a love for plants and sustainable living practices,” Botanical Bar also hosts workshops and classes on plant care, propagation techniques, and more.

Botanical Bar

55 Cromwell Street Instagram: @_botanicalbar

Photo

By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

The Story of Ebenezer Dexter’s Farm

How Providence lost 39 of its most valuable acreage to Brown

“He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’

Before I built a wall I’d ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give o ense. Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, That wants it down.”

Excerpted from Robert Frost’s “Mending Wall,” one of his most beloved poems published in 1914

Stretching around the heart of some of the most valuable real estate on the East Side of Providence is an exquisitely built stone wall that stretches for over a mile, is three feet thick, and stands high enough to discourage climbing or visual intrusion. If you live on the East Side, you’ve probably driven by it hundreds of times.

It encircles the area that starts at Hope Street, across from Moses Brown, runs down a big block to Arlington Avenue, makes a right turn, and continues to Angell Street, where it turns right again and continues toward downtown before

ending at Stimson Avenue. But the relatively unknown story of how it was built is one of the more fascinating tales of old Providence, yet one that continues to dramatically exert its impact on our city to this very day.

The story begins with the passing of Ebenezer Knight Dexter (1773-1824), one of Providence’s wealthiest residents. He amassed considerable personal wealth in business and real estate but never lost sight of the plight of those less fortunate. He donated his huge 39acre Neck Farm to the city, along with funds

Op-Ed

Photos courtesy of Barry Fain

The former Dexter Asylum

to build the Dexter Asylum, a “poor farm” to house the “indigent, elderly, and chronically unemployed.” Poor farms were common before Social Security and welfare and were, at the time, considered a progressive method for dealing with poverty. Residents had to follow strict rules and work for communal benefit, usually in farming or cooking.

Dexter’s will was very specific, requiring “a stone wall three feet thick and eight feet high with a foundation made of small stones sunk two feet deep into the ground” to be constructed when the asylum was built in 1835. This massive wall took over eight years to build, cost a small fortune, stretches over 6,220 feet long, and contains 7,840 cords of stone (over 94,000,000 pounds!). Call it the Great Wall of Providence.

By the early 1900s, the “poor farm” model had fallen out of favor; the city started looking for alternatives and in 1919 began an almost 50-year legal process to sell the property. With rising real estate values and open space at a premium, city o cials tried to break up the property and sell it for house lots. When that didn’t work, they suggested making it a public park. In 1926, the Rhode Island Supreme Court upheld the provisions of Dexter’s will, declaring that no part of the property could be sold. In 1956, the last residents left and the asylum was closed.

Brown had been eyeing the property for decades and president Barnaby Keeney proposed that the city sell or lease it for a gym or athletic complex and the university would indemnify the city if the courts ruled against the plan.

Efforts to break the will had gone on for decades. A lawsuit filed in 1947 was finally resolved in 1957 when a Rhode Island Superior Court judge ruled that the “city could sell the property it had inherited under the pretext that the Asylum had ceased to fulfill its stated purpose of benefiting the poor.”

One can imagine the exhilaration of the city with this news. The mayor at the time was Walter Reynolds, who served seven terms and is remembered as a smart forward-thinking leader with a great track record of rebuilding the city’s infrastructure, but unfortunately allowed this important tract of land in the heart of the city’s most expensive real estate to be auctioned off rather than developed into a neighborhood.

Brown’s bid of $1,000,777 was the highest by $250,000, an early demonstration that price is perhaps a lesser concern when you’re not paying taxes. Brown paid $25,643 per acre – perhaps not as good a deal as the Dutch buying Manhattan for $24, but still very favorable. Today, the area would easily represent over $150 million in taxable real estate if it had become a neighborhood.

So where are we now? The Aldrich-Dexter fields have become athletic grounds, with a skating rink, aquatic center, tennis and squash courts, gymnasium fitness

center, both competitive and practice fields for football, baseball, lacrosse, and more –the list goes on. It also houses the school’s massive “facilities” operation and central heating plant.

The next addition will be an enormous new indoor sports facility. Once again, Aldrich-Dexter parking, which was once plentiful and a key metric in Brown’s ability to meet the institutional zone’s parking requirement, has been dramatically reduced as each new building was built.

When the Aldrich-Dexter wall was built it

Photo courtesy of Barry Fain

was the impoverished who were on the inside, the rich outside. With Brown’s billions of dollars in endowment and tax avoidance protections, we wonder if the situation hasn’t become reversed. But rather than debate the issue, we just hope the school remembers the words of Robert Frost: that good fences can make good neighbors – but only if both parties work together collaboratively. May the history of the Aldrich-Dexter relationship guide Brown as they begin to revisit their community responsibilities to the city that hosts them.

Ebenezer Dexter’s Neck Farm

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 Neighborhood Association’s new board members and interim president

The Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) has announced an influx of new leadership, including three new board members and a new interim president. With a passion for environmental protection and sustainable development and a background in finance, Lily Bogosian, FPNA interim president as of June 2023, is an advocate for preserving the unique character and charm that first attracted her and her family to Fox Point 13 years ago. “Small family businesses, unique shops, and local restaurants are the backbone of our neighborhood,” says Bogosian. “We are lucky to enjoy the benefits of a local experience within the larger province of Providence.”

New FPNA board members include Mike Bell, a visual artist who owns a media production company, Embee Studio, that he runs from his Sheldon Street home. Bell is committed to preserving the historic character that Fox Point is known for and ensuring that the neighborhood is a safe and vibrant community for businesses and residents. Judyth vanAmringe is a designer and ceramicist who came to Providence from New York City in 1997. Her dedication to architecture and design extends to her neighborhood support for sustainable and architecturally desirable land use projects, as well as advocacy for responsible development. John Woolsey is a retired architect with a special interest in old neighborhoods and historic buildings. He is currently co-chair of the Board of Trustees of Preserve Rhode Island. Historic neighborhoods and the character of old buildings have been some of Woolsey’s life-long interests.

Olneyville serves community with educational workshops and more

Since November 2022, Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA) has held three community forums and four pop-up clinics across Providence on driver privilege cards and permits, which are essentially drivers licenses that undocumented Rhode Islanders can apply for under a new law that took effect July 1, 2023. ONA and other community partners have fought for this right for over a decade.

At monthly community meetings, ONA invites speakers from local community partners, city and state o cials, and small businesses to discuss their services and programs in an effort to provide additional resources to their members. Because 95 percent of ONA members requested immigrant services, such as legal consultation, they recently recruited an immigration lawyer to volunteer once a month providing free legal consultation and Know Your Rights workshops. As of June, ONA also o ers three computing, typing, and literacy classes totalling 36 students. They recently expanded their literacy class to the Olneyville Community Library, with plans to o er these courses at Webster Avenue School and William D’Abate in the coming school year. Lastly, thanks to GrowSmartRI, Providence Streets Coalition, and the Rhode Island Department, ONA received a $15,000 grant toward launching a Walking School Bus at William D’Abate Elementary School located right in our neighborhood.

Housing and homelessness in the South Side

Nick Horton, co-executive director of OpenDoors, has done considerable outreach to Elmwood residents and nearby schools about the proposed transitional housing and homeless shelter at 572 Elmwood Avenue. His survey of residents and feedback from meeting participants have shown that some Elmwood residents are especially supportive and eager to help future residents in the site. Other Elmwood residents are opposed, primarily due to social service overload in the south end of Providence, mixed messages about OpenDoors’ ability to maintain the historic character of the building, and unanswered questions about management and security. It’s not yet clear if, how, and when the proposal might go ahead. At time of press, OpenDoors has not signed a lease. The person who is drafting the potential lease for the owner stated that the lease for transitional housing would be limited to six months. OpenDoors expressed their intent to buy the building, now appraised at $1.4 million.

Residents and businesses in Washington Park are concerned about a large shelter being proposed for 1144 Eddy Street. State Senator Tiara Mack is circulating a Google survey that asks for a formal meeting for public involvement for the site that needs environmental remediation, which can be found at ENA-PVD.org/our-newsletter.html. Meanwhile, South Providence Neighborhood Association has focused on the impact of Crossroads on the broader community and concerns for the safety of people who look to Crossroads for shelter.

Providence Neighborhood Associations

Blackstone Parks Conservancy

Jane Peterson

P.O. Box 603141

Providence, RI 02906

401-270-3014

BlackstoneParks@gmail.com

BlackstoneParksConservancy.org

College Hill Neighborhood Association

Rick Champagne

P.O. Box 2442

Providence, RI 02906

CHNA@chnaprovidence.org

CHNAProvidence.org

Downtown Neighborhood Association

DNAPVD@gmail.com

DNAPVD.com

Facebook: Providence Downtown Neighborhood Association, DNA

Elmwood Neighborhood Association

Karen Hlynsky

ENA-PVD.org

Facebook: Elmwood Neighborhood Association PVD

Fox Point Neighborhood Association

Meeting Date: August 15

Amy Mendillo

P.O. Box 2315

Providence, RI 02906

FoxPointNeighborhood@gmail.com

FPNA.net

Jewelry District Association

Sharon Steele

Sharon@sharonsteele.com

JewelryDistrict.org

Facebook: Jewelry District Association Providence, RI

Mile of History Association

Charles Hewitt, Secretary

1 Governor Street, Providence

MileOfHistory@gmail.com

MileOfHistory.org

Mount Hope Community Center 401-521-8830

MHNAInc@gmail.com

Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Olneyville Neighborhood Association

Meeting Date: September 27

Yuselly Mendoza, Program Coordinator 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 Yuselly@ona-providence.org

Facebook: Olneyville Library

Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations

Info@provcna.org

ProvCNA.org

Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association David Talan

25 Santiago St. Providence, RI 02907 401-941-3662

DaveTalan@aol.com

Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

Wole Akinbi

400 Smith Street Providence, RI 02908 Suite #1

AAkinbi@half-full.com

Facebook: Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

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 21

P.O. Box 41092

Providence, RI 02940 401-400-0986

SNAProv@gmail.com

SummitNeighbors.org

Washington Park Neighborhood Association 237 Washington Avenue

Providence, RI 02905

BettyLinda@aol.com

Facebook: Washington Park Association

Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

Katherine Touafek

Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

WaylandSquareNeighbors@gmail.com

West Broadway Neighborhood Association

1560 Westminster Street

Providence, RI 02909

401-831-9344

WBNA@wbna.org

WBNA.org

The Fox Point Neighborhood Association has announced an influx of new leadership, including new board member Mike Bell, pictured

Photo courtesy of Mike Bell

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

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Art is in the Air Summer markets foster creative outlets and connection for makers and patrons alike

Art markets are a summer staple across the Ocean State, promising the thrill of an irresistible one-of-a-kind find for shoppers as well as providing an outlet for creatives to network, learn from their community, and grow their reach. Whether vending or

visiting one of the many regularly appearing events across Rhode Island this season, Field of Artisans founder Katrina Momenee advises: “Ask a question!” It could spark a conversation that inspires someone on either side of the table.

MAKING SPACE

Field of Artisans started as a weekly summer market at South Kingstown’s Matunuck Beach. “South County is the heart of our organization,” Momenee says. “The beach is blissful, and the best part is that vendors can

Photo by Natasha Meehan, courtesy of Field of Artisans

Shopper flock to summer Field of Artisans markets

jump in the ocean at the end of the market.”

An artist herself, Momenee founded Field of Artisans in 2015 when she returned home to Rhode Island after a brief stint in New York. She sold pieces from her own line of accessories at New York City markets, but quickly realized the same type of selling opportunities weren’t available to artists in Rhode Island. “There were big markets,” Momenee said, “but not a consistent weekly thing for artists looking for exposure.”

But as vendors began to turn their creative practice into full-time careers, the market grew to match their needs. “Artists need more than a summer or weekend platform, so we added weekday dates to our schedule and pop up yearround,” Momenee explains.

New venues now include breweries, the South County Museum, and the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge in Providence. Last year, the organization breathed new life into the 56-year-old General’s Market, which takes place at The General Stanton Inn in Charlestown. “That’s our only market that includes mindfully collected vintage and antique items, so it’s a whole di erent vibe,” Momenee explains.

Katie Vacca, a Westerly-based botanical artist and founder of erba, a line of energy cleansing products, regularly vends at the General’s Market. Vacca says she’s particularly impressed by the way Momenee curates each market to match the energy of its venue, but the opportunity for connection is what keeps her coming back. “I’ve grown to thrive o the connections I make with customers at the art market,” she says. “It’s important that I be there to put a face to my product, but it’s also inspiring to see how my work impacts someone else’s life.”

COMMUNITY APPROACH

A relative newcomer on the art market scene is Providence-based Anti-Robot Club’s Marketplace, founded and curated by local artist and musician Spocka Summa. The art market is just one of the projects Summa runs under the platform.

SUMMER ART MARKETS

ANTI-ROBOT CLUB’S MARKETPLACE

This monthly event encourages creatives and shoppers to connect IRL, featuring upcycled clothing, illustrators, ceramicists, and sculptors. Third Saturdays (August 19) at Farm Fresh RI, Providence, Anti-RobotClub.com

FAYERWEATHER CRAFT GUILD OUTDOOR CRAFT FAIR

Local artisans gather on the grounds of the Fayerweather House once a month for the craft fair. August 19, Kingston, FayerweatherCraftGuild.com

FIELD OF ARTISANS

This thoughtfully curated weekly art market takes place at several locations throughout the state. Find weavers, illustrators, ceramicists, and paper artists popping up at the following spots this summer. FieldOfArtisans.com

Tuesdays: Whalers Brewing Company, Peace Dale

Saturdays: South Kingstown Town Beach

Sundays: The General Stanton Inn, Charlestown

August 25: Narragansett Brewery, Providence

PROVIDENCE FLEA

This weekly vintage and indie maker market pops up outside during the summer months with vintage clothing, food, botanicals, and upcycled crafts. ProvidenceFlea.com

Sundays through September: 10am-3pm, 275 South Water Street

August 18: 5:30-9:30pm, Farm Fresh RI Market Hall

PROVIDENCE ARTISANS MARKET

Now in its ninth year this weekly market run by painter Mike Bryce sets up alongside the Hope Street Farmers Market. Find textiles, fine art, jewelry, and upcycled crafts. Saturdays at Lippitt Park, Facebook: Providence Artisans Market

THE STEEL YARD ART MARKET

Recurring bimonthly, this spotlight on Steel Yard resident artists and makers includes handmade industrial art pieces, art demos, studio tours, and more. September 9, Providence, TheSteelYard.org

UMBRELLA SKY PROJECT

Visit the temporary display of colorful umbrellas suspended above the air at Brick Marketplace through October 5, with music, craft fairs, and art shows on select dates throughout the season. Newport, BrickMarketNewport.com

The Anti-Robot Club fosters connection for seasoned and emerging artists

Photos by Rakeem Peace, courtesy of The Anti-Robot Club

“The Anti-Robot Club is not against technology,” Summa explains. “It’s against the idea of people not thinking for themselves or being present. I created a market under that platform to let people meet in person, network in person, share experiences in person, and present their artwork to the community.”

Anti-Robot Club’s Marketplace has a community-centered philosophy that less-seasoned vendors find welcoming. “I try to keep [the curation] organic and not too juried,” Summa says. “Everybody has to start somewhere.” For many artists, Anti-Robot Club’s Marketplace serves as that somewhere. Summa can schedule up to 125 vendors at his market, and reserves about 40 of those spaces for newbies.

Dorian “D” Epps, founder of clothing shop Blacktop Market, says that Summa’s marketplace is the perfect spot for newcomers. “If you’re just getting onto the scene, you’ll be able to see other products, learn from other vendors, and figure out what you’re doing well and what you could be doing better,” he says. “Seeing other people’s work has helped me define my identity and figure out how to distinguish myself as a creative.”

STUDIO STROLLS

ART NIGHT BRISTOL WARREN: Visit open studios and galleries at this monthly event and get to know local artists and their work. August 31, various Bristol/Warren locations, ArtNightBristolWarren.org

GALLERY NIGHT PROVIDENCE: Creative spaces open their doors to the public for a guided walking or trolley tour giving access to some of Providence’s hottest art spots. Third Thursdays (August 17), departing from The Graduate, GalleryNight.org

OPEN STUDIO TOURS: Download an app or pick up their brochure map before setting out on a drive around the coastal towns of Tiverton, Little Compton, Westport, and Dartmouth to experience studios in all media.

August 19-20, SouthCoastArtists.org

WESTERLY ARTS CRAWL: Get to know the coastal town’s thriving arts scene by following the yellow signs to studios, galleries, and even public art sculptures and murals. First Fridays (August 4), various Westerly locations, AnnieWildey.com

“Marketplace vendors draw inspiration from each other,” Summa says. “To create art, you have to have a sense of vulnerability, and we put out the message that everyone has a chance. That’s what sets us apart.”

Epps says the group of vendors at the marketplace is like a family. “It happens in such a beautiful space, and so many beautiful people are there to share advice and their time and their talent. Everyone wants to see everyone else succeed. Spocka created something special in Providence. He helped my business grow and he helped me grow as a creative. And I don’t have any issue with giving him his flowers.”

Peek inside studios with summer strolls like Art Night Bristol Warren

Photo courtesy of Art Night Bristol Warren

CELEBRATING THE ARTS

An annual summer sendo at the beautiful waterside Crescent Park in Riverside, the Loo Arts Festival in August is run by the East Providence Arts Council, whose mission is to promote the arts across the city. “It’s the perfect place for people from all over the

state to come enjoy some great music, some fine food and some fine arts,” says chairman of the council David O’Connell.

This year, in addition to food trucks and artists, there will be five performers on the main stage: Superchief Trio, Down City Band, Hit Rewind, Roger Cerisi’s All Starz, and Liquid

Courage. In the gazebo, local man-about-town Rich Watrous will host folk musicians planning to perform at the RI Folk Festival, which happens two weeks after The Loo . “I love music and am fascinated by people who can play,” says O’Connell. “I can’t play a note.”

But he can use art to bring people together.

The Loo Arts Festival promises creative fun for all ages (and BIG NAZO space creatures!)

Photo by Eric Johnson, AOK Photography, courtesy of The Loo Art Festival

“The people on our board are artists, so we realize the value of the arts. And we understand that making art is their business, so we want to give them a nice venue to sell their work.”

Joseph Mushipi is a sculptor and painter who moved to the US from Zambia in 2021. “My first experience with The Loo was amazing,”

he says. “I come from a small country where we don’t have big festivals like that.”

Mushipi shares that he owes his growth as a small business owner entirely to art markets, where he sets up what he jokingly refers to as his mobile gallery. “As an artist, I create art for people, and those people like meeting

the artist. I’ve found that once they hear my stories and hear about my life, they end up buying my art because of our conversation.”

O’Connell isn’t surprised that Mushipi’s success is driven, in part, by that connection. “Art is part of being human,” he says. “It makes it nice to be alive.”

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THE STATE OF ADMISSIONS THE STATE

WHAT RI COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ARE DOING TO ATTRACT & KEEP STUDENTS

BY ANN MARTINI

Even before COVID, college admission numbers have been on the slide. But armed with some forward-thinking programs, degree programs that everybody wants, and easier online education, Rhode Island colleges and universities are bucking the downward trend and keeping Rhode Island oh-so-solidly in the higher-ed game.

“I’m really excited! It’s such a great program!” says Maeve Palumbo, a 17-year-old Cranston High School East graduate who, in September, will become a Talent Development Scholar at the University of Rhode Island (URI). She will be one of about 330 scholars accepted into the program, which provides additional resources and support to these students. According to Debbie Suggs, URI’s director of special populations in the O ce of Admission, Talent Development Scholars are “traditionally marginalized” – typically first-generation students of color, or students who otherwise come from backgrounds where the challenges of earning a four-year-college degree might have once seemed insurmountable.

In July, Palumbo will spend two weeks living on campus and attending classes to give her a sense of college curriculum. She’ll be a orded tutoring opportunities, extra advising, social occasions, and more, all designed to support her in earning a degree in education (she would like to follow in the footsteps of her parents, John and Jessica, both teachers). “I was a good student in high school,” Palumbo says, “better at writing and English than math and science. I applied to a couple of schools in Florida, but knowing I’d have some extra support made URI my first choice by far,” she says.

URI Talent Development has been a harbinger of the new and very necessary norm on Rhode Island college campuses. The program was born in the wake of the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination in 1968, designed to give students of color, or those from disadvantaged backgrounds a fair shot at college. “It is absolutely a model program,” says Suggs, that other colleges and universities have recently, and successfully, copied.

And it’s clear to see why. Nationally, statistics are grim. The Brookings Institution, a Washington, DC-based public policy research group, in June reported that college enrollment is down overall, especially at community colleges. Retention e orts aren’t working that well either, they said –fewer students are finishing college, and fewer are transferring to four-year colleges after finishing an associate degree. But here’s the thing – the drop has been occurring for more than a decade. From 2010 to 2021, Brookings reports, college enrollment dropped by an unprecedented 15 percent. The nosedive has been fueled by rising tuition, generational attitudes toward traditional roles about education and careers, and slowed population growth. In March, a Wall Street Journal poll found that 56 percent of Americans no longer think a college degree is “worth the cost.”

INSIDE THE RANGER HALL SCREENING ROOM AT URI’S HARRINGTON SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA

THE QUAD

Photos courtesy of URI

76 NATIONS ARE REPRESENTED IN URI’S STUDENT BODY

DEGREE LOCAL

Colleges and universities in Rhode Island regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education:

BROWN UNIVERSITY

BRYANT UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE UNBOUND

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND

JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY

NAVAL WAR COLLEGE

NEW ENGLAND INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY

SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

That’s the bad news. The good? Rhode Island is beating those grim stats. The same Brookings article cited that while no Rhode Island college has escaped the downward trend, enrollment numbers here have held steady – much better than the national average. A Boston news outlet reported recently that Rhode Island is the 12th most educated state in the country, and the quality of education from a Rhode Island institution is high – fifth in the nation.

“There is still a benefit to attending college,” says Chris DiSano, a partner and vice president of client services at RDW Group in Providence. DiSano has led enrollment initiatives at colleges all over the country since 2014 (full disclosure: he is not currently representing any Rhode Island college in such initiatives) and says that the key to strong admissions numbers lies in the hands of each institution. “Schools have to know how to engage their audiences,” he explains, “so they can authentically demonstrate up front how a degree from that school will benefit over the course of a lifetime.” The best schools, DiSano explains, will listen to the community, stay mindful, and stay out in front of the trends, meeting them head on.

For some local schools, the post-COVID bounce back has been concocted by a recipe that DiSano might have written: programs focused on trade- and certificate-driven careers; recruiting underserved populations such as Black, Hispanic, and firstgeneration applicants; appealing to non-traditional populations such as older students who started but didn’t finish a degree; and making e orts at retention – giving students support while they are in school to keep them on the path to graduation.

Since COVID, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) has rejoiced in strong admissions numbers. “We’re experiencing our fifth consecutive term-over-term comeback,” says Michael Parente, director of communications. In March CCRI announced four new certificate programs focusing on workforce training: court reporting, surgical technicians, mental health and wellness, and case management. “The modern student experience has to be personalized to the individual,” Parente says. “It’s our job to meet their needs.”

And so they all are. Bryant University in Smithfield has made “significant efforts to recruit a more diverse student body,” according to Edinaldo Tebaldi, executive director of strategic planning and institutional effectiveness. “The percentage of students of color has doubled in the last 20 years,” he reports, and “Bryant has seen a record number of applicants during the last two years – an increase of 36 percent. Our first-year classes of 2022 and 2023 are the largest classes in Bryant’s 160-year history.”

Providence College reports similar results from their strategic plan, which “has provided a roadmap for the admission o ce to stay ahead of the changing landscape of college admission,” says Raul A. Fonts, senior associate vice president and dean of admission and financial aid. “The addition of the new School of Nursing and Health Science has been a driving force in our growth this year, but our business school continues to be 40 percent of our undergraduate population. Our application pool grew by 12 percent this year,” he says.

BRYANT’S ACADEMIC INNOVATION CENTER OPENED IN FALL OF 2016

BRYANT’S EDINALDO TEBALDI

Photo courtesy of Bryant University

Rhode Island students will soon be able to get a high-quality, four-year degree for less than $25,000. We don’t think any other state in the country, let alone any other school, can say that.

- JACK WARNER, RIC

RIC OFFERS 25 MASTER’S DEGREES AND 90+ MAJORS AND CONCENTRATIONS

At Salve Regina University in Newport, retention has been a major focus. “Our retention and graduation rates have increased precipitously over the last decade,” says James R. Fowler, the VP for enrollment management. “Our sixyear graduation rate has increased by 13 percent in the last decade. The majority – 93 percent of students – complete their degrees in four years. Our retention rate this year is projected to be north of 85 percent, well above the national average.”

Rhode Island politicians have gotten behind the e ort to make college more a ordable, especially for non-traditional populations. Bolstered by the Rhode Island Department of Education’s initiative, Rhode Island Strategic Plan for Public Education: 2022-2027, URI, CCRI, and Rhode Island College (RIC) are supported in their e orts to close equity gaps, increase college a ordably, help more adults attain degrees and certifications, and expand workforce training opportunities.

In 2021, Governor Dan McKee made the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship, a precursor to RIDE’s plan, permanent. The program, created in 2016 by thenGovernor Gina Raimondo, makes tuition at CCRI free for students entering directly from a Rhode Island high school.

In June, RIC, the General Assembly, and McKee’s o ce announced a similar program. The Hope Scholarship will make the final two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree at RIC tuition-free for Rhode Island residents who meet the criteria, starting in the fall of 2023. “This will be a game-changer,” says RIC President Dr. Jack R. Warner, because “Rhode Island students will soon be able to get a high-quality, four-year degree for less than $25,000. We don’t think any other state in the country, let alone any other school, can say that.”

Warner feels an obligation to the state’s workforce, and he knows that RIC grads help sustain it. “According to a report by labor economist Paul Harrington, Rhode Island’s workforce is growing at a slower pace than any state in New England,” Warner says. “RIC is an economic engine for the state. We provide pathways to career success and economic opportunity for more Rhode Islanders, and not just at the bachelor’s level. Our robust graduate and terminal degree o erings are meeting crucial demands in Rhode Island.”

Photos courtesy of RI College

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE HAS A 4-YEAR GRADUATION RATE OF 84 PERCENT (2013 COHORT)

JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY’S PROVIDENCE CAMPUS

Photos (bottom and top

L) courtesy of PC, (top R) courtesy of JWU

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT

RANKED BRYANT #7 IN THEIR REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES NORTH CATEGORY FOR 2023

Warner knows that capital investments, recruitment initiatives, and new programs are necessary parts of the strategic puzzle. But as CCRI’s Parente notes, it’s about providing personalized support, and RIC gets that, as well. Micaela Daley, a 25-yearold East Greenwich resident who has been a case worker with Lifespan for three years, recently applied to RIC’s super-competitive Master of Social Work (MSW) program, ranked in the top 10 nationally. While her application was rejected in April, the program’s director of admissions, Paula

Coutinho, invited Daley in for a meeting to discuss how she might strengthen her odds. “She really took the time to sit with me and explain how I could be a stronger candidate,” Daley recalls of the meeting. Coutinho suggested Daley take a class in the program as a non-matriculating student. If she does well, she can reapply to the program at no cost. “They didn’t just write me o ,” Daley says. She will enroll in the fall for that class and hopes to reapply for the MSW early next year. Consider it all a kinder, gentler approach to the

admissions process. And perhaps it’s been long overdue. Gone are the days of the form letter that wishes rejected students good luck in their “future endeavors.”

“The last 10 years have taught us a lot about how we anticipate the trends,” says Dean Libutti, associate vice president for enrollment and student success at URI. “We have to think about the whole student experience – give students a sense of place and identity,” he says. “That’s what it means to be a university these days. Ultimately, to evolve.”

& FOOD

DRINK

Here, Here

A food truck favorite opens permanent digs on the West End, serving diner faves with twists

For fans of Dips Dips – the popular orange food truck posted up at Moniker Brewery – There, There is now here on West Fountain Street to stay, where Bucktown used to be. Cursive lettering appeared late spring above the well-known Coca-Cola sign that remains from the former chicken spot, and in June, the new eatery opened for business.

“The notion of opening a diner-ish burger joint that was equal parts cozy and weird seemed like a direction we really wanted to explore,” shares There, There owner Brandon Teachout, who originally opened Dips Dips as a high-quality, fast-casual sandwich concept. “We’re jazzed to mess around within the canon of American diner and burger culture.”

This includes their mainstay Dream Burger, a monstrosity of two grass-fed patties, American cheese, special sauce, sherried onion jam, and shredded iceberg lettuce on a grilled sesame bun. Fans flock for their selection of “dawgs,” which are “kind of a hot dog, kind of a bratwurst, all ground, seasoned, and cased in-house,” explains Teachout, who dresses it up in the WF (West Fountain) Dawg with house mustard, chili, sweet onion, and hot sauce. On the beverage end of things, Sam McCaughey has devised a Co ee Milk with his own “cowboy” co ee syrup shaken with ice, Wright’s Dairy Farm whole milk, and sweetened condensed milk. “Once you try it, everything else just clicks – old and new all at once,” says Teachout.

Despite operating out of a small building resembling a summer camp snack shack, the team takes full advantage of its history and charm to invite patrons inside for a handheld, or takeaway is always an option. “We are really excited to have our little nook in our rad neighborhood. We just want to use our space to have fun, cook our butts o , and o er a level of hospitality that can only come with a little neighborhood joint like ours,” says Teachout. “We’re just happy to be here.” 471 West Fountain Street, ThereTherePVD.com |

By Abbie Lahmers

Photo courtesy of There, There

Hot Diggity Dog!

Let’s get frank about Rhode Island’s favorite summer dog and its rise to the head of the pack

It’s a beautiful warm Sunday, and the first annual Saugy hot dog-eating contest is about to start as the highlight of the Cranston Spring Festival. Ten-year-old Elijah from Providence is the youngest and smallest of a dozen builtand-burly male competitors lined up at a table in Rolfe Square. So far Elijah has had three false starts, lunging at his basket of a half-dozen Saugys before the o cial start bell. “No, no, no, no, no, not yet!” the event emcee would shout with a laugh. “Aargh!” he complains with a dramatic eye roll and head flip. “I want my Saugys!”

We all do, Elijah – and it’s been that way in Rhode Island since 1869. The local German-style hot dog known for the distinctive snap of its natural casing came to Rhode Island as the brainchild of German immigrants Augustus and Alphonse Saugy, who successfully operated the

company for decades, with a brief hiatus during World War II, when food rations prevented the couple from sourcing the high-quality meats and spices that makes the dogs so distinctly flavorful.

Saugy’s current owner, Mary O’Brien, is the granddaughter of Leo McCaughy, who started working at the company in 1912 at the age of 14 and eventually became its CEO and president. As a teenager, Mary knew that her family’s franks deserved universal attention. She took over in 2001, bringing with her updated manufacturing technology and thoughts about growing the brand with new recipes (bratwurst and a “skinless” ballpark-style dog), products such as relish and mustard, and fun marketing initiatives including the hot dog eating contest. Not that Rhode Islanders need reminding that Saugys are great – “They

ON A ROLL

Find the Saugy Food Truck popping up at events all summer, including all full WaterFire lightings and many Providence College events. Find their event schedule at Saugy.Square.Site.

Photos courtesy of Saugy

are very loyal customers,” Mary says, and she’s got a faithful cadre of out-of-staters to whom she ships as evidence.

Rhode Islanders can find Saugys in just about every local supermarket, and increasingly on the menu at places such as Tomaselli’s at Rosario in Providence, Valley Country Club in Warwick, and several Chelo’s throughout the state, and they’re the exclusive hot dog served in Brown University’s dining halls. You’ll find Haley Meiklejohn and her dad, Scott, enjoying the dogs at Proclamation Ale in Warwick. “He used to get them all the time when I was little and cook them on the grill,” Hailey says. “I didn’t love the snap back then, but now I absolutely love them! When he wants to cheat on his diet, we head straight here!” Even late-night talk show veteran and part-time Rhode Islander Jay Leno was known to regularly enjoy Saugys at Wally’s Wieners in Newport.

Today, despite his best e orts, Elijah doesn’t lead the pack when it comes to eating Saugys. No, today the biggest Saugy fan on the planet is Johnathan Gonzalez of Cranston, who wolfed down 10 Saugys – ketchup on the side – in 10 minutes to claim his crown at the first annual Saugy contest. How was the experience for him? “Piece of cake!” he says with a laugh and two thumbs up.

Big City Vibes in the Burbs

With over 400 miles of shoreline, Rhode Islanders know their seafood – so you can imagine a restaurant with “oysters” in its name would work extra hard to live up to its discerning coastal clientele. Providence Oyster Bar does just that. The Federal Hill staple set its sights on being even closer to the water when they opened a second location in East Greenwich just over a year ago, bringing big city vibes to the quaint waterfront town.

Located on bustling Post Road in the former Sweet Twist candy shop, Providence Oyster Bar is a welcome addition to the East Greenwich dining scene, with a sophisticated yacht club feel featuring lots of dark shiplap and many nautical touches. A large bar area is the perfect spot to grab a round of appetizers with a couple of cocktails, choosing from a list that’s creative without being too over the top. I ordered a Paper Plane – made up of Bulleit bourbon, Aperol, St. Agrestis amaro, and lemon juice – which was well-balanced and delicious. My friend enjoyed the Blood Orange Cosmopolitan.

As the name alludes to, Providence Oyster Bar has a robust raw bar. On the night we visited,

For a nearly identical menu –including everything mentioned in this article –without leaving city limits, visit Providence Oyster Bar at 283 Atwells Avenue.

they were showcasing oysters from Walrus and Carpenter in Charlestown, and some from just over the border: Beach Plum Oysters harvested in Westport, MA, and Connecticut’s Mystic Oysters. I can’t get enough of Walrus and Carpenter mollusks, so I ordered a dozen. They were fresh, buttery, and briny – a perfect way to start the meal. (Pro-tip: catch Appy Hour nightly from 3-6pm and load up on discounted clams, shrimp, and oysters – in EG and Providence!)

Following our server’s recommendation, we also ordered a couple of appetizers. Our surprise favorite was the Loaded Greek Hummus, featuring the creamy spread topped with olives, feta cheese, red onion, and tomato. The grilled naan on the side was excellent even on its own. A round of Bacon Wrapped Scallops arrived cooked to

CUISINE: Seafood

ATMOSPHERE:Sophisticated Yacht Club

Photos courtesy of Providence Oyster Bar

A Providence seafood joint’s second location impresses city and coastal diners alike

Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna

perfection and drizzled with the most delicious espresso maple syrup.

For dinner, I ordered the Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna, which was served with a side of fried lobster wontons. My dining companion ordered the Lobster Gnocchi and was surprised by the huge portion. The dish contained plenty of sweet and tender lobster morsels. We were both impressed by the elevated yet unpretentious meals.

We were too full for dessert but did see the tray of sweets circulating, which included crème brûlée, New York cheesecake, and chocolate cake. They also have daily flavors of house-made gelato or sorbet – the perfect end to the night or palate cleanser.

If you’re looking for a fun night out, Providence Oyster Bar is sure to please. The menu has something for everyone (even the landlubbers). The sophisticated atmosphere, excellent cocktails, and tasty food will bring me back for more.

Must-Try Items

Loaded Greek Hummus ($15)

Hummus with tomato, cucumber, red onion, feta, Kalamata olives, and grilled naan bread

Wasabi Ginger Calamari ($16)

Calamari topped with pickled cucumber, peppadew peppers, pickled ginger, and wasabi aioli

Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna ($35)

Ahi tuna, lobster wontons, baby bok choy, and sweet soy glaze

Providence Oyster Bar

EG: 715-2526

PVD: 272-8866

ProvidenceOysterBar.com

Wasabi Ginger Calamari

Plant-forward cafe puts down roots in Pawtucket

Like many new entrepreneurs, Chris and Mandy Aubin used the pandemic as an opportunity to refocus their lives. “I’ve always loved co ee and like a lot of people, my wife got really into plants during the pandemic,” says Chris. “We thought, maybe there’s a space for retail products unique to what we are interested in.” The couple decided to follow their passion and Seed Café and Espresso Bar, a space selling co ee and plants at Still on Main in downtown Pawtucket, was born.

“The whole concept of the co ee shop is essentially wanting to show co ee as a sense of place, where the co ee comes from, focusing on single origins,” says Chris. “Customers can get multiple brewed co ees in di erent ways – drips, pour-overs, and iced, without it being too complicated.” The cafe also o ers build-your-own breakfast sandwiches at affordable price points. Additional menu items, including toasts and sandwiches, as well as in-cafe events will be added later this summer. Look for their products at the Pawtucket Farmers Market at The Guild Brewery through October. Pawtucket, Facebook: Seed Cafe RI

The state’s newest small-batch brewery is scheduled to open in South Country Commons in late summer. Named for popular Route 1 landmark, the Hannah Robinson Tower, Tower Hill Brewery is a dream come true for four lifelong friends. Like many new projects in the food service industry, it’s been a long time coming. “There are still supply chain issues due to the pandemic,” says co-founder Brian Hubert.

Expect the brewery to have a widespread selection of popular beers. “We’ll have a great o ering of hazy IPAs, which everyone loves,” says Hubert. “Ivan, our head brewer, who has been homebrewing for several years, has an amazing porter that he is going to scale up.”

Tower Hill will also serve seasonal brews such as winter ales, summer blondes, and Oktoberfests. A seasonal beer garden will o er “800-900 square feet of outdoor space that will open into the main area inside,” adds Hubert. “We’re going to really encourage our customers to become patrons of the restaurants in South County Commons. We’re also hoping to do some live entertainment.”

South Kingston, TowerHillBrewing.com

A green concept for roasting co ee beans inspired Vincent Emery to establish The Lil’ Rhody Co ee Company while still a student at St. Raphael Academy in 2022. “When you look at how co ee is traditionally roasted using fossil fuels, and the global supply chain that fuels it, nothing has really changed in the past 100 years,” explains the Bryant University sophomore and CEO of the company that he runs alongside his father Patrick.

“We decided to roast our co ee using 100 percent electricity, with no fossil fuels, resulting in over 80 percent fewer CO2 emissions. We’re doing these small things to set ourselves up for long-term success.”

The co ee will initially be sold online and at farmers markets throughout the region.

In true Rhode Island fashion, the co ee varieties are named for landmarks including Rocky Point (cold brew), Federal Hill (espresso blend), and What Cheer (medium blend). “You’ll be able to go to the website and purchase bags, tools, merchandise, and other brewing products,” adds Emery. Pawtucket, LilRhodyCo ee.com

Photos courtesy of Seed Cafe

Discover the flavors of Rhode Island! From fresh seafood shacks to farm-to-table eateries, little Rhody o ers a diverse culinary landscape that caters to all tastes. Indulge in delicious seafood, global cuisines, and locally-inspired dishes, and experience the culinary richness of the Ocean State with a dining experience that will leave you craving for more.

Dave’s Fresh Marketplace

1000 Division Street Suite 20, East Greenwich | 401-558-0190 | davesmarketplace.com/WeeklySpecials

Made fresh daily in our kitchens - 60+ Take Out Options!

All Favorites Cafe

1678 Broad St, Cranston | 401-941-3550 allfavoritescafe.com |

A Breakfast/Lunch restaurant serving a mash up of Southern and French inspired flavors. Everything from French Toast to Cubanos.

Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grille

8 locations across RI!

Chelos.com |

A Rhode Island staple since 1955! Fresh, homemade deliciousness in every bite.

El Paisa Restaurant Patio and Bar

598 Dexter Street, Central Falls 401-726-8864 | ElPaisa.com |

Since 1978, El Paisa Restaurant and Bar has served home-cooked, classic Colombian recipes and cocktails with great joy.

BLU On The Water

20 Water St. East Greenwich | 401-885-3700

bluonthewater.com |

Fresh seafood daily and live outdoor entertainment make BLU RI’s premier waterfront destination.

Chelo’s Waterfront

1 Masthead Dr. Warwick | 401-884-3000

Cheloswaterfrontri.com |

Fresh food, family friendly, and unparalleled views of Greenwich Bay.

Mambo Sushi

380 Atwells Ave, Providence 401-642-8439 |

mambosushiprovidence.com

Peruvian Flair to Asian Cuisine

CAV Restaurant

14 Imperial Place, Providence | 401 751-9164

CavRestaurant.com |

Bistro style Brunch and Lunch. Fine Dining Dinner.

The Coast Guard House Restaurant

40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett | 401-789-0700

thecoastguardhouse.com |

Waterfront dining - local raw bar, lobster, pasta, steak & seafood. Award-winning wine list. Dining rooms, bars, patio & deck.

Marcelino’s Boutique Bar

1 W Exchange St, Providence | 401-666-0088

marcelinosboutiquebar.com |

Craft cocktail bar serving Mid-Terranean Fusion Mezze and World-Class Craft Cocktails | #ItsMarcelinos

Slice of Heaven

32 Narragansett Ave. Jamestown

401-423-9866 | sliceofheavenri.com

| Serving breakfast, lunch and daily handcrafted pastries. Family and dog friendly with a great outdoor patio.

Stack House

99 Fortin Road, Unit 108, Kingston

401-854-7470 | Stackhouseus.com |

New England’s Premier Brunch, Fried Chicken and Southern Cuisine Restaurant with a menu boastings over 20 chicken flavors.

Tallulah’s Taqueria

Three Locations:

West End • Fox Point • Jamestown

tallulahstaqueria.com |

Order by App, Online, or In-Store. Chicano Street Food...Rooted in Hospitality.

Twin Willows

865 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett

401-789-8153 | TwinWillowsRI.com |

Water-view dining with fresh lobsters & steamers served daily in this casual sports bar/restaurant.

& LIFE

STYLE

Mod Mudroom

An overlooked screened-in porch becomes a useful entrance with storage to boot

A place for everything and everything in its place – that’s the dream, right? And it’s just what Tiverton homeowners Jason and Lindsey Methia wanted for their family of four, which includes two young boys. “We enjoy hanging around the house, watching movies, playing games, and going for hikes around Tiverton and the Farm Coast,” says Lindsey, who notes that youth baseball is also a family affair with their sons playing, Jason coaching, and Lindsey herself working the concession stand.

Photo by Aaron Usher III Photography, courtesy of Red House Design and Build

The elongated shelf acts as a bench

The Methias moved into the home, a big old house built in the early 1800s, days after their oldest son was born. Fast-forward over seven years and a few home updates later, and it was time to focus their attention on what to do with the drafty screened-in porch. They sought the advice of Red House Design and Build who

suggested creating a dedicated entryway for guests and plenty of stylish storage.

“As a screened-in porch, the room didn’t provide a proper entrance to the home and guests didn’t know if they should knock on the door to enter or not,” begins Justin Zeller, RHDB founder and project developer. “Our clients wanted to transform

the porch into a well-insulated four-season multifunctional space. We designed and built a contemporary space that houses an entryway, mudroom, and playroom for their kids.” Zeller explains that the original porch lacked purpose and suffered from moisture infiltration from above and below; structural issues aside, the family wanted

Photo by Aaron Usher III Photography, courtesy of Red House Design and Build

A heating pad beneath the herringbone tile keeps things cozy underfoot

to increase the functionality. The solution was to divide the space into separate zones: an entryway and a separate mudroom/playroom.

In the mudroom, a custom storage area was added, consisting of four large cubbies with additional shelves and cabinets to hold coats, shoes, and equipment. Removing the wall that originally separated the porch from the kitchen and dining room created an open-concept space, perfect for Jason and Lindsey to work from home while keeping an eye on the kids.

Photo by Aaron Usher III Photography, courtesy of Red House Design and Build

Original beadboard detail in the ceiling was kept

WE SERVICE & REPAIR ALL FOREIGN & DOMESTIC MODELS

Graphic

Photo by Aaron Usher III Photography, courtesy of Red House Design and Build

“We like the mix of old details, and the updated, more modern finishes make the house livable but also retain some of that old charm,” says Lindsey. And the best part? “There’s enough space where everything has a place, which is why the new mudroom was needed. What makes us most happy is that most of what we need is here and so we can spend long periods of time at home, together and being comfortable.”

GET RHODY STYLE

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

COFFEE TALK

The Methias’ side hustle is Methia Co ee Roasters, a micro roaster housed in the barn on their property, and note that Coastal Roasters’ Donald Machado has been a huge help.

DESIGN LOCAL

“We make what is important to you, important to us. Our mission is to enhance the quality of time our clients spend in their homes. By o ering a full-service experience with unparalleled customer service, Red House Design Build is committed to helping achieve your hopes and dreams for your home,” says Bridget Bacon, sales and marketing manager from their o ces on Sherburne Street on the south side of Providence. Learn more at RedHouseCustomBuilding.com

NATURAL INSTINCTS

For the custom storage, maple was a style choice to give contrast to the surrounding cabinets (painted in Greenfield Cabinetry’s Eucalyptus) and also provide a durable hard-working surface for the children to toss their gear.

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

The space was heated and insulated to work year-round

The Life Aquatic

With Disney’s The Little Mermaid packing movie theaters this summer, there is a resurgence in popularity for all things mer; there’s even the trending hashtag “mermaidcore,” which celebrates an aesthetic of shimmery sequins and paillettes, dreamy shades of aqua and coral, and mermaid-like silhouettes in fashion. Far from new, these

fantastic creatures with the upper body and head of a human and tail of a fish have been swimming about in folklore and mythology for centuries, long before Hans Christian Anderson penned the fairy tale in 1836. With 400 miles of shoreline, it seems quite natural that the Ocean State would have its share of mermaids – and businesses

devoted to these enchanting sea dwellers.

“I am a Rhode Island native and grew up making memories on all of the beaches across Rhode Island,” begins Alyssa Wick, founder of The Rhode Island Mermaid, a venture providing professional mermaid entertainment for parties and public events. This year Wick, who is Freedive/PADI certified

More than a trend, Mermaidcore is about embracing life by the sea

Photo by Classic Beauty Photography, courtesy of The Rhode Island Mermaid

Alyssa Wick, The Rhode Island Mermaid

(Professional Association of Diving Instructors), will debut the region’s first and only transportable viewing tank, which holds 2,400 gallons of water and has a seven-bysix-foot acrylic window – “so that people can enjoy watching a mermaid in her natural underwater habitat,” she explains.

Wick’s original plan was to become a rescue swimmer but that dream was sunk during her senior year of high school when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and didn’t qualify to join the US Coast Guard. Fast forward to today, and after years of building a career in the corporate world and juggling life as a single parent,

Wick felt disconnected to the buoyant side of herself and returned to the water as a means of rediscovering playfulness with her daughter. “An important part of who I am and felt I had lost was brought back to life through this as a hobby, before it ever turned into a business,” says Wick. “The challenge of consistently growing this skill set and the associated accomplishments and experiences under the water, and the joy of being part of such magical moments for kids… that makes this side of my professional life so special to me.”

“Mermaids embody the spirit you feel when you are underwater watching the

rays of sunshine through the surface,” says Jessie Jewels of Warwick, a Save the Bay beach captain, full-time mermaid, underwater model, and artist. Additionally, Jewels represents the state in pageants, and since 2021 has held the title of Miss Mermaid Rhode Island. “My platform is working with Save the Bay to help make our bay clean and accessible for all,” says Jewels, who founded her own charity last year, Save the Bay - Save the Mermaids, where a portion of proceeds from her mermaid-themed art and events go directly to the nonprofit dedicated to cleaning up and improving Narragansett Bay.

Photo by Brett Stanley, courtesy of Jessie Jewels

Miss Mermaid Rhode Island Jessie Jewels

GOODS & MERMAIDING SWIM LESSONS

Behind a blue door on Bristol’s State Street discover a treasure trove in this gallery, shop, studio and Center for Oceans Watch, an international non-profit dedicated to conservation and sustainability. Owner Bonnie Blue is a sculptor, artist, author, and certified swim instructor so along with selling artwork and books, you can enroll in Mermaid/Merboy lessons in a swimming pool with a photo shoot. HealingDolphins.com

VISITS & PARTIES

If you’re looking to make a splash at your next event in water or on land, Alyssa Wick’s mermaids and sirens are available to make the scene, o ering performances that include sing-a-longs, charades, bubble wishes, and more. TheRhodeIslandMermaid.com

MEETUPS

Feeling mer-curious? Take part in an Ocean State Merfolk Meetup led by Erin Walsh, where like-minded merfolk are encouraged to join the pod and swim (often at the Smithfield YMCA). Please note this is an adults-only cosplay group. OceanStateMerfolk.com

MAKEOVERS & ART MAKING

Ever dream of swapping your legs for a shimmering tale? Jessie Jewels can work her magic and turn humans of all ages into mermaids, sirens, or selkies. And to prove it all happened, there’s a photoshoot on the beach. JessieJewelsArt.com

HANDMADE ACCESSORIES

From her Bristol studio, Melonie Massa handcrafts stunning sailor’s valentines, wine stoppers, jewelry, and more all fashioned from “an ocean of treasures” for her Mermaid’s Baubles brand. Pieces are available at Hotpoint Emporium, Bristol; Harbor View Artisans, Wickford; and similar art co-ops.

KNITTING SHOP

A short walk from Wickford harbor, The Mermaid’s Purl is the perfect place for spinning a yarn. Owned by Lizzie Shriner, who says, “I’ve always considered myself part mermaid,” the shop is a destination for

knitters, stocked with skeins bearing names like Siren Song, along with Mermaid Mitt Kits, and more. Merch bearing their lovely mermaid logo includes a custom stitch marker by local maker Katrinkles, a pin, apparel, tote bag, and more. TheMermaidsPurl.com

BEACH FOOD

Tucked behind Alfie’s Surf Shop on Westerly’s Atlantic Avenue is Little Mermaid’s. The name implies that it could be owned by Ariel herself but whoever is manning the grill keeps beachgoers happy and full with solid breakfast and lunch diner classics that you can sink a dinglehopper into. Did we mention ice cream? Instagram: @LittleMermaidsRI

NOVELTIES

Cast a glow with a Mermaid Tail Glitter Lamp, be styling with a Flip Sequin Mermaid Tale Drawstring Backpack, or keep cozy with a Mermaid Tale Wearable Blanket. All this can be yours from Rhode Island Novelty, a seller of toys and gifts since 1986. RINovelty.com

JEWELRY

Nearly all Rhody-based jewelry sellers have pieces that harken the sea, like the Sea Life Station Necklace by RS Pure, a subsidiary of Ross-Simons, sure to add allure with its small charms on 14kt yellow gold (RSPure.com), and the Iconic Mermaid necklace at Pink Pineapple at 380 Thames Street in Newport (PinkPineappleShop.com).

SWEETS

Along with other sweet treats, Chocolate Delicacy in Warwick makes beautiful molded Mermaid Pops for sale in both milk and dark chocolate, and Sweenor’s Chocolates (Wakefield, Wickford) sells seashells and starfish. ChocolateDelicacy.com; SweenorsChocolates.com

LIBATIONS

Toast King Triton on Block Island with a glass of Tipsy Mermaid Red Sangria at Poor People’s Pub. A colorful mix of organic red wine, açai berry, and orange juice with a splash of soda is perfect for landlubbers.

FINDING YOURSELF MER-MYSTIFIED? HERE ARE WAYS TO DIP YOUR FIN INTO THE WATER.

Farm to Tub

Nourish summer skin with small-batch bath and body products made naturally

Ocean State summers are filled with long days relaxing on beaches, riding on bike paths, and kayaking waterways. Everything seems a little more magical, and we dream of the perfect sun-kissed radiant skin. Unfortunately, reality is sometimes a bit different. There’s bug bites, sunburns, and dry skin to combat. Thankfully, we have products made right here to help keep safe, hydrated, and glowing well past Labor Day.

BUG SPRAY

Tick season is predicted to be bad this year, so if your plans include woodland adventures or just spending time outdoors, you need to protect yourself. Enter Tick Off! from Hope Valley-based All Things Lavender. Formulated by a husband-and-wife team using homegrown lavender, herbs,

attest to their spray keeping ticks at bay. DEET-free, it gets its strength from a mix of essential oils. Find products at Peter Pots Pottery, West Kingston, and at community markets across the state; for event schedule, visit AllThingsLavender.com.

BODY BUTTER

Want a bronzed look without the sun damage? Cranston’s own Slay Natural’s GLOW Bronzing Body Butter gives all that plus a hint of shimmer. Body butters are made from high-quality, unrefined ingredients and are jam-packed with nutrients to nourish and heal the skin. Even better, Slay Natural’s products utilize Fair Trade shea butter that helps support the women of Ghana. SlayNaturalBody.com

Protecting skin from the sun means also protecting your lips, and a sweet way to do that is with Beeswax & Honey Lip Balm from Aquidneck Honey. Made from pure raw honey from Je Mello’s East Bay apiaries, this SPF 15 stick available in six lip-smacking flavors will keep your kisser from stinging. Feel like heading to Hive HQ in Tiverton? Just call first (862-2171), or shop online at AquidneckHoney.com.

POWDER

Keep fresh, dry, and sweet smelling with a dusting of this all-natural body powder drawing its light scent from finely ground lavender buds, thyme flowers, and sage. Part of the Farmaesthetics herbal skincare line, it’s perfect for use after a post-beach shower or to start your day with a preventative sprinkle

LIP BALM

that helps reduce chafing by on summer sweaty places like under arms, inner thighs, and feet. Shop online or head to their popup shed on the grounds of Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown. Farmaesthetics.com

SOAP

Rich soaps handcrafted at Heavenly Homestead Farm in Foster are perfect for after-sun skin care. All soaps are made from raw goat’s milk right on the farm, and boast minerals and vitamins ready to nourish and hydrate. Soaps are as pretty as they are luxurious with vibrant swirls and designs making each a work of art. Look for seasonal scents like Watermelon, Stars & Stripes, and Campfire S’mores. See for yourself at Beauty and the Bath, Wickford; Brown & Hopkins Country Store, Chepachet; or online at HeavenlyHomesteadSoaps.com.

& ART

CULTURE

A Bannister Year

Celebrations honoring a historic city visionary will culminate with a bronze statue – and QR code plaque

In 1880, a group of artists and art enthusiasts founded the Providence Art Club; among them was Edward Mitchell Bannister, an award-winning African American artist, intellectual, abolitionist, and philanthropist who spent the later years of his life working with his wife Christiana Carteaux Bannister to put Providence on the cultural map. In 2017, a street on College Hill was renamed to honor the couple, and more recently the club created The Bannister Community Art Project (BCAP) to keep his legacy top of mind.

According to BCAP co-chair Nancy Gaucher-Thomas, the project helps initiate “a public dialogue that encourages community partnerships and hopes to build and foster cross-cultural relationships.” The crown jewel is a bronze life-sized sculpture by Pawtucket artist Gage Prentiss. Financed by public/private donations and grants, it will reside at Market Square (RISD) and have a plaque with a QR code to access information about Bannister’s life and times. The unveiling is set to occur during PVDFest (September 8-10), where on Sunday, a team of “pied pipers” will lead people to the dedication ceremony.

Festivities began in May and will close out in November with Bannister’s 195th birthday. These programs and events have not only emphasized Bannister’s artistic influence, but also honor both he and his wife as activists, entrepreneurs, and abolitionists.

“We have had a love a air with Edward and Christiana Bannister, lifting them up through countless lectures, exhibits, and walking tours,” say Ray Rickman and Robb Dimmick, founders of Stages of Freedom, a non-profit dedicated to African American causes. “We are thrilled that 2023 is the year of the Bannisters.” Learn more at BannisterProject.org |

By Elyse Major with Rebekah Swenson

Photo courtesy of Providence Art Club

Wabi Sabi Vibes

In the long lineage of confessional singer-songwriters, Rafay Rashid has quietly emerged with a personal account on his new solo album Kitchen Weapons . Removing the bravado, swagger, and character of his ‘20s-dominating band Ravi Shavi, we glimpse Rashid opening up his journal and like a sommelier on some remote vineyard, pairing those entries with an array of fitting sounds, voices, tempos, and influences.

Opening with “Landlines” – a slow, staccato ballad all in on the downbeat piano, strumming guitars, and minor-fourth-resolved chords – the tone for this album immediately sets this project apart from Ravi Shavi. (I always thought of Ravi Shavi as fully Rashid with a band behind him, but this solo e ort leads me to think that Ravi Shavi was a more band-oriented effort and this is something much di erent.)

“The album is so autobiographical that it only made sense for me to put this out under my own name,” Rashid says. “It’s charged by the fuel of coming to terms with my life as it really was. I think with a band there’s a certain desire to transcend the personal into something universal; this allowed me to just really stick in the pocket of relaying my own personal narrative. Oh, and it’s pretty much a breakup album, but also about addiction and growing up in America as a Pakistani immigrant, so it all just felt too personal to come from anywhere else. Parts of it just felt like writing in a journal.”

For those folks who have come to appreciate the garage pop aura of Ravi Shavi, they will be pleased to hear that same warm, tube-filled reverb sound on this effort. The overall ascetic remains Ravi-Shavi-esque in terms of production and tone, but has an analog feel with stand-out individualistic instrumentation that taps the various talents of Robbie Crowell, Amatto Zinno, Liz Isenberg, Steve Delmonico, Nick Politelli, Florence Wallis, Chris Ryan, and John McCauley of Deer Tick.

Photo courtesy of Rafay Rashid

Ravi Shavi’s Rafay Rashid embraces the imperfect on personal solo e ort

OUR CREDOS

• The Hippocratic oath must always be observed

• Informed consent must always honored

• No mandatory treatments

• Humanistic medicine

• Prevention, not disease management should be paramount

• We treat causes of illness, not just symptoms

• We believe in the body's native healing powers —the "vis medicatrix naturae" or healing power of nature

SPECIALIZING IN Naturopathic Medicine • Nutrition

Integrative Medicine • Reiki Functional & Environmental Medicine

Homeopathy • Energy Healing Thermography • Herbal Medicine

www.RenaissanceIntegrativeHealthcare.co

MARK BRODY, MD AMANDA KUGLER, RMT

LISA LOPES NBC-HWC

JILLIAN VAN NOSTRAND, RN • MARTINE DELONNAY, N.D.

Album Art courtesy of Rafay Rashid

LINER NOTES

Kitchen Weapons

Engineered, mixed, and produced by Dennis Ryan

More at RaviShavi.Bandcamp.com

“Dennis Ryan was the mastermind behind the overall production and I trusted his vision completely,” Rashid notes of the producer/engineer/drummer and co-writer of arrangements. “The piano we recorded all the tracks on is slightly out of tune, so maybe that’s my signature piano tone now. I think it fits with how kind of messed up I was at the time of recording it. But, looking back, it was also like a moment of clarity while writing the songs.”

Each track stands out individually, with “Monogamy” having a kind of ‘60s bedouin, equatorial discotech dub vibe that sounds wide open to live jam sessions and in a snap, the next track “Lizards and Iguanas’’ hits with slinky trombones, soprano sax solos, and duet vocals. Still ahead are tight, almost electronic-sounding drums and simple piano, accordion, and violins, as the tracks play forward. “I think this was the first album to not use my signature beat-up Traynor tube amp,” says Rashid.

The album release show took place July 21 at Machines with Magnets and Rashid is busy promoting the album, touring with Deer Tick, followed by plans to record with Lookers in the fall, and Ravi Shavi this winter.

Mastered by John Baldwin

Recorded at 145 Allston Street, Providence

Cover art: Photography by Zantiana (@surrealisticportraits), layout by Peter Cardoso @ghosttownstudio

Summer’s in the Bag

Six engaging books with local connections to bring to the beach

August is like the Sunday of summer, which means it’s almost mandatory to sit back, relax, and enjoy a good book. We have six selections this month for every taste, ranging from romance to thriller to family drama. Whether you’re sprawled out on your beach blanket or curled up in your hammock, you’ll find something new that you can pick up at your local bookseller.

The Golden Spoon by Jamestown’s own Jessa Maxwell is a suspense-filled thriller for both mystery bu s and bakers. This debut novel about a culinary competition is set on a gorgeous estate in Vermont where anything could happen, and once the cake is out of the oven, everyone is a suspect. You won’t be able to put it down until you know whodunit and, perhaps even more importantly, to find out who wins the Bake Week championship!

When a successful Hollywood actor returns to his Block Island home, sparks fly as his family struggles with fame, jealousy, and regret in Meg Mitchell Moore’s Summer Stage

As they work together to put on a play, their true feelings for one another, some hidden and buried for years, act themselves out in the small theater where they’re preparing their new production. Will the bonds of family be what brings them together – or what tears them apart?

From the award-winning Providence-based author and psychiatrist Peter D. Kramer comes a political satire for our times. Death of the Great Man tells the story of Henry Farber, a psychiatrist treating the nation’s narcissistic national leader who just happens to turn up dead on the consulting room couch. As Farber delves deeper into the mystery, he explores what it means to live in a society devolving into a culture of lies.

Wendy Grossman brings her imaginative vision to life in Dreamcycle: (my days and nights with John Leguizamo) , her debut poetry chapbook. Through memoir and fantasy, the Providence writer weaves tales from a very special period in her life – adventures in NYC’s East Village in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Often on the outside looking in on a culture all its own, Grossman shares that dreams are not always what we expect when they become a reality.

Rhode Island musician and author Thomas Lane enlightens readers with The Karma Factor , a thriller taking place in both the physical and metaphysical realms. NYPD detective James Early was ready to die but the universe had other plans for him, leading him on a journey to discover why he’s still standing. In unique and inventive ways, Lane takes crime fiction and turns it on its head to dig deeper into the very meaning of our existence.

Rosemary’s family thinks that her life is a disaster but in Courtney Denelle’s debut novel, It’s Not Nothing , she keeps on keeping on, and that counts for something. Recovering from addiction and having experienced homelessness, Rosemary is trying to bounce back but constantly wonders whether the people who tell her she doesn’t stand a chance may be right. Based on the Providence photographer/ author’s own experiences, the book is a collection of moments, memories, and lessons in resilience.

SHOP INDIE

A statewide listing of Rhode Island booksellers:

Arc{hive} Book + Snackery: Warren, ArchiveBookSnackery.com

Barrington Books: BarringtonBooks.com

Books on the Square: Providence, BookSq.com

Charter Books: Newport, CharterBookStore.com

Curiosity & Co.: Jamestown, Curiosityand.Company

Heartleaf Books: Providence, HeartleafBooks.com

Inkfish Books: Warren, InkFishBooks.com

Island Books: Middletown, IslandBooksRI.indielite.org

Island Bound Bookstore: Block Island, IslandBoundBookstore.com

Lovecraft Arts & Sciences: Providence, WeirdProvidence.org

Paper Nautilus Books: Providence, PaperNautilusBooks.com

Rarities Books & Bindery: Wakefield, RaritiesOnline.com

Ri ra Bookstore + Bar: Providence, Ri Ra PVD.com

Savoy Bookshop & Cafe: Westerly, BankSquareBooks.com

Stillwater Books: West Warwick, StillwaterBooksRI.com

Symposium Books: Providence, SymposiumBooks.com

Twenty Stories: Providence, TwentyStoriesLA.com

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

Wakefield Books: Wakefield, WakefieldBooks.com

The Must List

10 essential events this month

August 6:

Postponed in May due to rain, the rescheduled Hope Street Summer Block Party has family-friendly activities including live music, food trucks, beer and cocktails, and vendors o ering vintage and artisan items. HopeStreetPVD.com

August 7-13:

The Flickers International Film Festival held at several locations around the state is a week-long Academy Award-qualifying festival that presents over 350 films representing works shot and produced in over 100 countries. Film-Festival.org

August 15:

The world’s leading drag extravaganza, RuPaul’s Drag Race comes to Providence on the Werq The World Tour, with stars Asia O’Hara, Lady Camden, and Mistress Isabelle Brooks from Season 15 of the popular television show. PPACRI.org

August 16:

The Providence Preservation Society and Mile of History Association host Soul Circle, a collaborative of Mixed Magic Theatre musicians appearing in the Music in the Garden series on the lawn of the Shakespeare’s Head building. PPSRI.org

August 17-27:

The Academy Players present the dark comedy Heathers the Musical, the story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique in her high school. AcademyPlayersRI.org

Through August 20:

Waterfire Arts Center hosts concurrent exhibitions POIESIS: Street Culture & The Art of the City by Melaine Ferdinand-King, and REMEDY by Joel Rosario Tapia. WaterFire.org

Photo courtesy of Ampersand Creative Company

The rescheduled Hope Street Block Party celebrates summer on the East Side

August 24:

New York-based comedian llana Glazer, star of HBO special The Planet is Burning and co-creator of the critically acclaimed series Broad City, performs at The Vets. TheVetsRI.com

August 26

Brew at the Zoo returns to Roger Williams Park with over 170 beers, hard seltzers, and ready-to-drink cocktails from 80+ local, regional, and national brewers, plus live music by The Niteflies, animal encounters, and more. RWPZoo.org

August 27:

Now in its third year, the Flower Festival & Sunset Party at What Cheer Flower Farm is a fundraiser with a full schedule of botanical activities culminating with a chance to mingle among hundreds of blooming dahlias. WhatCheerFarm.org

August 27-28:

Shiza Fest is a two-day event held at Dusk and The Parlour honoring the life of the beloved late drummer Nick Iddon with dozens of local bands including Hope Anchor, Dust Ru es, and Sex Co ee. DuskProvidence.com

Pic of PVD

Providence shows its colors after a rainstorm

ABOUT DAVID

@runofthemillshop

David Lawlor is an avid filmmaker and documentarian who lives in Providence, with an interest in telling the stories of places undergoing transformation and historic mill buildings.

Those ranked are among the top 1.5% of 1.6 million real estate professionals in the United States. With 19 agents included, Compass is proud to have more agents on the list than any other Rhode Island brokerage — including fve of the top ten individuals ranked by total sales volume.*