Providence Monthly September 2021 by Hey Rhody Media Co.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Providence Monthly September 2021

THE VALLEY

The many ripple effects of cleaning the Woony on today’s Valley neighborhood – and the role former mills continue to play

Photo courtesy of The Woonasquatucker River Watershed Council

11 PVDFest rejoices Providence with its season finale programming this month 14 The Public’s Radio: Will the rise of the Delta variant mean a return to mandatory masking in Rhode Island?

16 OP-ED: The City’s ambitious Great Streets Plan

LIFE & STYLE

18 Skincare company founder built her brand through personal recovery

31 HOME: East Providence cottage exudes charm inside and out

22 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Hyper local news and contact listings

38 INFLUENCER: Meet The Public’s Radio’s political reporter

26 RHODY GEM: A Pawtucket cafe promotes community

ART & CULTURE 59 The artist behind many of RI’s handpainted signs

FOOD & DRINK

62 A review of local country music band’s latest LP

71 Picnic in style with curated experiences that think outside the basket

64 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s

40 SHOP: The artful marketplace rooted in supporting small-batch sellers

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Photo by Jake Schiffman

60 Providence Performing Arts Center returns with a rousing rom-com

On The Cover: Farm Fresh RI’s 60,000 sq. ft. facility at Kinsley and Sims. Photo by Nick DelGiudice. 6

62 Photo courtesy of Nick Casey

Photography and styling by Jenna Kinghorn

NEWS & CITY LIFE

72 EXPERIENCE: Whimsical takes on classic American cuisine in Downcity 74 IN THE KITCHEN: Valley neighborhood brewer’s foray into brick-oven pizza 78 FOOD NEWS: Middle Eastern food on Atwells, empanadas in Pawtucket & a vegan celebration 80 PIC OF PVD

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NEWS & CITY LIFE H e a l t h | O p - E d | P r o f i l e | N e i g h b o r h o o d N ew s | R h o d y G e m

Festival Reinvention PVDFest’s summer of arts programming is back and culminates in Rejoice with Providence Now in its seventh year, PVDFest reemerged this summer not with a single rollicking weekend but a steady build, with a full season of programming injecting art back into city streets, parks, and everyday spaces. “The last time we did the festival in ‘real life’ in 2019, over the course of four days of performances and ideas and all these different kinds of programs, 130,000 people experienced the festival,” says Kathleen Pletcher, Founder and Executive Artistic Director of FirstWorks. “Now, as we come to this year, we really needed to reinvent because we are learning – FirstWorks, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, the City – what we’re facing as a society together, so the reinvention was to take that festival spirit and kind of distribute it across the summer, and culminate it at the end of September.” Photo by Nicholas Millard, courtesy of PVDFest ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

NEWS & CITY LIFE

Fe st i v al | By Abbie Lahmers

D.R.E.A.M. Ring

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

From the music of Trinidad taking over the Roger Williams Park Bandstand for Carnival to block parties, movie nights, and dance performances that happened all through August, PVDFest has steadily gained momentum and isn’t slowing down for its final act: Rejoice with Providence. Along with more concerts at Roger Williams Park, headliner groups will feature world-class artists from Rhode Island performing downtown September 25-26. “FirstWorks is thrilled to curate special projects involving festival-goers, students, and our artistic community,” says Pletcher, “like the fusion of music and body percussion of Brazilian tap ensemble Music From the Sole,” featuring Providence-based

dancer Orlando Hernández, whose work highlights tap’s connection to Afro-diasporic dance and other forms. Meanwhile, Brooklyn-based D.R.E.A.M. Ring includes local hip-hop artist Sokeo Ros and employs street dancing as a form of protest. Requiem For the Living, Alive is a multimedia collaboration of Daniel Bernard Roumain and Carlos Toro that will bring Rejoice with Providence full-circle, as the work premiered online last year telling post-pandemic stories and now makes its in-person debut. Says Pletcher of this year’s reimagined festival, “It’s a uniquely Providence, joyous experience that weaves together the cultural fabric of our city.” PVDFest.com

Photos by Christopher Duggen (top) and Carol Dragon (L), courtesy of PVDFest

Music From the Sole

NEWS & CITY LIFE

H e a l t h | By Lynn Arditi

In partnership with The Public’s Radio • ThePublicsRadio.org

Will the rise of the Delta variant mean a return to mandatory masking in Rhode Island? The fast-spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus which emerged in Rhode Island just a few weeks ago is raising alarms in other parts of the country with lower vaccination rates. Nationally, the Delta variant makes up about 93% of new coronavirus cases, up from about 50% the week of July 3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The dramatic increase in the variant has been blamed for a recent outbreak on Cape Cod and surge in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in

places such as New York City. “The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 variants is to prevent the spread of disease, and vaccination is the most powerful tool we have,” Walensky said during a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday (July 20). In Rhode Island, health officials say they are monitoring the data locally and nationally “very closely” while continuing to follow the federal CDC guidance. Gov. Daniel J. McKee said Tuesday that he is not expecting any major problems

with the Delta variant in Rhode Island that would cause the state to have to “move backward” in restricting businesses or gatherings. McKee said Rhode Island is in good shape with vaccinations, citing data showing that about 80% of adults have had at least one shot. Addressing those concerns in an interview Thursday with NPR’s All Things Considered, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said recently on NPR’s All Things

Photo by Gretchen Etl/ special to The Public’s Radio

The pedestrian bridge in Providence, R.I. shortly after the state lifted its masking mandate for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people outdoors as of June 2

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Considered studies continue to show that vaccines are not only effective against the virus, they’re also highly effective at preventing serious disease or hospitalization. But a single-dose of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine “barely” offers any protection against the Delta variant, according to a peer-reviewed report published in the journal Nature and reported by The Washington Post. Almost 62% of all Rhode Islanders are now fully vaccinated, including 73% of all adults (age 18 and older), according to state health data as of the first week in August. But vaccination rates vary widely in different parts of the state. Fewer than half of all Woonsocket residents are fully vaccinated, the lowest vaccination rate in the state. And unlike the more affluent, seaside community of Tiverton, with a similar vaccination rate, the City

of Woonsocket is more densely populated and many residents live in multi-generational households where the risk of the virus spreading is greater. The state’s vaccination drive peaked in early April at nearly 9,200 doses per week, and declined steadily through mid-June, when it dipped below 1,000 doses, according to an analysis of state health data by The Public’s Radio. As of mid-July, the seven-day average has fallen below 700 doses. The Pfizer vaccine is about 80% effective in preventing infection from the Delta variant, Fauci said at a recent briefing. A UK study found it was 96% effective in preventing hospitalizations due to the virus. The Rhode Island Department of Health has so far identified 14 cases of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus which emerged in the state just a few weeks ago. But that may be an undercount, state

health officials said, since it takes a few weeks to perform genetic sequencing on specimens from positive tests. State health officials also have tracked 1,046 “breakthrough” COVID-19 cases among residents fully vaccinated against the virus, representing less than two-tenths of 1% of the more than 626,000 people in the state immunized. That’s “testament to the tremendous effectiveness of the vaccine,” Joseph Wendelken, a health department spokesman, said in an email. In New York City, state health officials have reported during the first six months of this year about 1.1% of cases of the virus in people who had been fully vaccinated, according to the New York Times. Ian Donnis and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the source of the undercount. This story originally posted July 22, 2021.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

NEWS & CITY LIFE

O p-Ed | By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

OP-ED: Great Streets Off to a Bumpy Start A look at the City’s ambitious plan to reshape South Water Street and others for pedestrians and bikers

Mayor Jorge Elorza’s 100-page Great Streets Plan, an ambitious attempt to reshape the city streets for biking and walking, has provided a rather bumpy ride so far. With input from only 275 City residents, (.001 percent of the population), it generated plenty of controversy as it introduced an ongoing series of bike lanes, bump outs, and snarled traffic into areas that in many cases had never faced them before. And while admittedly some of the projects remain intact, several others have had to be removed almost immediately. Eaton Street near Providence College, which was quickly undone in response to complaints from angry residents, actually cost more to replace than initially install – over $120,000 total. The response is not surprising to the few of us who have bothered to even read the Great Streets report, which includes a

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

disclaimer on page one: “Information contained in this document is for planning purposes and should not be used for the final design of any project. All results, recommendations and commentary contained herein are based on limited data and information and on existing conditions that are subject to change.” By definition, any planning department worth its salt would drool at the opportunity to be given a blank piece of paper with the instructions to use their imagination and design a better way to move vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists around the community. The reality is that things change rather quickly in the real world and they cost real money to implement. We found very little discussion about the importance of taking existing livability and historic characteristics into account before

implementing a finished plan. Yes, Blackstone Boulevard’s seldom used bike paths slow down traffic, but they also create more and faster traffic on adjoining side streets during rush hours as well. And Olney Street? A visual disaster. The City’s next big project, scheduled for the fall, is likely to produce even bigger controversy as well. But in this one, the stakes to the larger community are potentially more onerous. The City’s current plans are to add a bike lane to South Water Street, reduce it from two lanes to one and limit parking on the west side of the street. The problem is that this street is also the major route for drivers coming out of downtown and the East Side onto I-195 East. The planning department’s supporting data is based on a traffic study taken in March of last year that recorded 329 cars

Photo by Wolf Matthewson

South Water Street, near the pedestrian bridge, is one area affected by the Great Streets Plan

Photo courtesy of Providence Warwick CVB

Great Streets Plan offers guidance for introducing bike lanes on city streets per hour. The threshold for two lanes is 600, which planning department spokesman Tim Rondeau says supports their decision. But, and it’s a big “but”, this data was collected just before the City was completely shut down due to the pandemic, which may have skewed the numbers. Even with the downtown at 20 percent of people back to work, South Water Street often backs up, especially when there is a highway issue and cars take an alternative route. Even more ominous is that the study was conducted before Trader Joe’s announced they would be opening on the street, which will add traffic. The Parcel 6 project will only offer 162 parking spaces

in the garage to service Trader Joe’s, 68 residential units, and an additional 10,000 square feet of retail space. Rondeau asserts that the Parcel 6 development was considered in the design, and no adverse traffic impact is expected. There seems to be an unexpected randomness to some of the current implementation of the Great Streets plan. “I haven’t heard about it,” noted a surprised Brian Kingsford, owner of Bacara on South Water Street. A manager of Plant City was equally surprised, as were several nearby residents. Others expressed additional concern over the loss of parking spaces given the increasing popularity of the new pedestrian

bridge for tourists. John Goncalves, Ward 1 Councilman, reports that one of his recent meetings on the subject drew over 100 Zoom attendees. What seems to be missing is transparency of upcoming plans as well as initial feedback from a wider network of people who will be affected. With every additional start/stop bike plan, both the dollars and the frustration of local residents and businesses ratchets up, and in this latest proposal, adds the potential of citywide slowdowns. For the cynical among us, speed bumps and bike trail markers may soon join poorly plowed snows and potholes as icons of urban frustration here in Providence.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

NEWS & CITY LIFE

P r o fi l e | By Allie Lewis

The Face of Success

Three years ago, Lexus Fernandez had just finished her sophomore year at Roger Williams University – majoring in political science and visual arts – and had big plans for the summer and future ahead of her. At the time, starting a skincare brand wasn’t among them – nor was relearning the use of the left side of her brain. At 20 years old, with no warning, Fernandez suffered a major brain aneurysm that robbed her of her language and math skills, and damaged her sense of time and memory. “It took a lot from me,” Fernandez says, including her ability to return to school or keep her job.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Worst of all, it stripped her of her confidence. She lost her hair and returned home from the hospital covered in scars and bruises. When she was finally able to get into the shower on her own again, the same products that had once nourished her skin now turned against her, covering her in rashes. Armed with books on herbalism, aromatherapy, and herbal remedies, and working out of her kitchen, Fernandez began crafting soaps and oils to help heal her skin. “Because the aneurysm flooded on the left side of my brain, the right side – where the creativity, the art lives – was heightened,” says Fernandez, who took the time she now

had in abundance to experiment with natural ingredients and derive products that worked wonders on her skin. Her products worked so well, in fact, that Fernandez wanted to find a way to share them with everyone. “I had no education in business, I had no net worth, I had no money,” Fernandez says, thinking back on how quickly she’d watched her savings account dwindle in the months after her brain aneurysm. “By the time the New Year came, I seemingly had nothing.” Fernandez had come a long way in a matter of months, regaining her ability to walk, speak, write, and even drive. She brought

Photos courtesy of Soulita

Soulita founder’s personal recovery blossomed into Olneyville-based vegan skincare line promoting healing

Soulita partners Lexus Fernandez and Evan Delpeche

her new soaps, branded Soulita, to small pop-up events and eventually began creating other products like dry masks, essential oils, and body butters. “Soulita gave me purpose again,” Fernandez says. “It gave me something to believe in.” At its core, Soulita isn’t just about having “these nice, green products help you on the outside, but also on the inside.” She adds, “Even at your lowest, you can still find ambition.” Just as Fernandez was getting Soulita off the ground, she heard about Brooklyn-based actor and model Evan Delpeche on social media through mutual friends. She reached out about modeling for a new beard oil she

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

NEWS & CITY LIFE

P r o fi l e | By Allie Lewis

was launching, and while he wasn’t available for that project, the two reconnected later while Delpeche was in Providence for work, and they instantly clicked. “As soon as we started working together, we were like, ‘This could work,’” Lexus said. “That’s the foundation of our relationship, because we saw how well we work together.” Delpeche eagerly offered suggestions for how to grow Soulita using his background in fashion marketing. Though he never envisioned entering the world of skin care, Delpeche describes his partnership with Fernandez as one of the best things to ever happen to him and an opportunity to work

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

on something bigger than themselves. With a new website and image they collaborated on, the brand took off, and can be found in retail spaces like Green Line Apothecary and Plant City. Soulita has expanded so much that Fernandez and Delpeche recently bought warehouse space in Olneyville, where they look forward to hiring a team to work in the laboratory they’re building out, as well as a photography studio to market new products. Once completed, the couple hopes to open their space up once a month for networking events and to provide free professional headshots to neighbors. “We have to give back

to the community before we give out to the world,” Fernandez says. “While we’re creating our base and our warehouse here, we’re also looking for ways to revitalize our community.” This includes neighborhood cleanups, and most recently, a small college scholarship to a graduating senior from Fernandez’s alma mater, Mount Pleasant High School, where she delivered a commencement speech to students about the importance of perseverance. While Soulita wasn’t part of her original career plans, Fernandez says she’s grateful for where life’s curveballs have led her. “The same thing that almost killed me is also what saved me.”

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

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

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

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

FPNA neighbors win on Williams, for now Fox Point Neighbors are celebrating a recent win in a grassroots effort to preserve a historic home and a centuries-old green space in the heart of the local historic district. About a year ago, developer Joseph Furtado shared plans to develop two adjoining plots on the western end of Williams and John streets; one of which contains a historic cottage, the other an empty lot. With the help of architect Friedrich St. Florian, Furtado applied to the Providence Historic District Commission (PHDC) to move and renovate the cottage, which has been nestled in the central, woodsy area on that block since the 1800s. Furtado and St. Florian then proposed removing most of the established woodlands of the adjacent lot, razing a historic wall, and building townhouses with views of Narragansett Bay. Over the course of the past year, more than 50 neighbors have objected to these plans, as did the PHDC, which delayed its vote on the cottage renovation three times. “The buildings are huge,” commented a neighbor about the proposed townhouses at a spring ‘21 FPNA meeting on this issue. “There are many garages and driveways. They come to within inches of the property lines…The [buildings] look like a big, unattractive mall.” In an apparent victory for preservationists, the developer has since placed the house and lots on the market. “I don’t know who will buy [the house and land],” the same neighbor commented recently, “but we have at least successfully avoided a potential complex.” Indeed, neighbors have confirmed that they are prepared to challenge designs by any new owners who “seek to densify or diminish the historic context of this unique community.”

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Photo by Amy Mendillo

The PHDC and a coalition of FPNA neighbors objected to a development proposal put forward in 2020; the developer has since put the properties on the market

Brown’s growing importance in the Jewelry District

South PVD seeks residents to help identify preservation goals

Brown University has recently purchased River House on Point Street to offer affordable closeto-campus housing for graduate students. This brings Brown’s investment in the Jewelry District to $225 million over the last decade through such major projects as South Street Landing and the Innovation Center at 225 Dyer St. A university press release notes that roughly 1,600 Brown faculty, students, and staff work, teach, and conduct research daily in the Jewelry District. The subsidiary created to own River House will inherit the existing Tax Stabilization Agreement in full and “offered the best way to fully honor existing property tax commitments to the city,” according to the press release. On the new business front: Ocean Biomedical, a biotech company founded by Brown University’s Dean of Medicine Dr. Jack Elias and his colleague Dr. Jake Kurtis, is readying a public stock offering. The new company aims to provide a route to turn medical research findings into working solutions for patients. Not long ago, Dr. Elias expressed the hope that one day he’d be able to look out his office window and see the biomedical research industry thriving in the Jewelry District. Ocean Biomedical’s public offering brings that dream to reality. Soon, he’ll be able to look out and see another sign of life in the District: new trees. Over the past three years, with the help of City Forester, Doug Still, the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program, and Brown University, residents Olin Thompson and Allison Paschke and volunteers have planted 60 new trees as part of the JDA’s Greening the District program. Twenty more trees will go into the ground during the upcoming 2021 fall planting season.

Back in early 2020, South Providence Neighborhood Association (SPNA) and the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) started conversations about the racial disparities and negative impacts experienced by neighbors in the Southside as a result of the historic preservation policies and practices. It was determined that neighborhoods throughout the City have experienced the beneficial and harmful effects of historic preservation unevenly. Both organizations are now exploring how past harms may be corrected in local planning and preservation policy, along with how communities historically excluded from historic preservation may harness the power of its processes and resources to achieve their own goals. This fall, PPS with support from SPNA will launch a series of focus groups to receive feedback from neighbors of historically excluded groups about their experiences and impacts of local preservation-related decision-making policies. The initiative also seeks to learn about their priorities for the neighborhood in an effort to identify how preservation can support their goals. As part of this initial launch, PPS is seeking residents in the Southside who are interested in serving as compensated facilitators for the project, as well as residents who would like to contribute to the discussions in focus groups. Interested Southside residents should email southprovneighbors@gmail.com to learn more.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

NEWS & CITY LIFE

N e i ghbo r ho o d News

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

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

The Robert Smith House on Broad Street in South Providence; PPS is teaming up with SPNA to lead focus groups about preservation in the neighborhood

Mount Hope Community Center

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: September 13 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

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

401-521-8830 MHNAInc@gmail.com Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc. Olneyville Neighborhood Association Eduardo Sandoval 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 ONAProvidence@gmail.com Facebook: Olneyville Library Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations Info@provcna.org, ProvCNA.org Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association David Talan 25 Santiago Street. 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 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

Photo by Warren Jagger, courtesy of Providence Preservation Society

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

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WE WILL MOVE YOU #1 in East Side Sales Volume in 2021

With over $30 million in East Side sales alone, the passion and commitment we bring to our clients shows. If you are thinking of making a move, we’d love to hear from you! Kira Greene 401.339.5621 | Michael J. Sweeney 401.864.8286 *Ranking based in whole or in part on data supplied by the State-Wide Multiple Listing Service. The MLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Based on information from Statewide Multiple Listing Service, Inc. for 2021 as of August 2021.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

NEWS & CITY LIFE

By Emma Nicholson

Harvest Kitchen Community Program & Cafe 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 Farm Fresh RI program, Harvest Kitchen is a cafe and culinary training center committed to serving locally sourced meats, produce, and dairy, along with a seasonal menu.

What makes it a Rhody Gem? Hands-on job training and local farm love go into every jar of pickles, house-made sandwich, and applesauce you’ll find at this neighborhood cafe. A menu of fresh salads, from-scratch soup, baked goods, and other quick eats is complemented with value-added jarred products made from farm surplus, prepared by paid youth interns referred by DCYF. If you’re just swinging by for a cup of New Harvest Coffee to go, you might not realize the extent of Harvest Kitchen’s deep community roots. “Our cafe connects the community we live and work in to the farmers and producers of our region,” says program director Sean Kontos. “Students learn the importance of supporting their local food system, the value of hard work, workplace expectations, and team-based comradery among other things, all through a team of positive role models and mentors.”

Harvest Kitchen

2 Bayley Street, Pawtucket • 335-3766 FarmFreshRI.org • @harvestkitchenri

Photo courtesy of Harvest Kitchen

Where to find it: In downtown Pawtucket at the intersection of Bayley Street, Main Street, and Dexter Street, the cafe is conveniently located right on the RIPTA R Line.

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

Offering spaces to remember and celebrate your loved one.

In addition to providing a variety of burial options, Swan Point offers several chapels and reception rooms to honor your loved one. Our three chapels serve the community with committal services, full funerals or a spiritual place for the family to gather. Our reception rooms are designed to provide a convenient, elegant setting to host a large formal reception, post-funeral luncheon or simple gathering. To find out more about Swan Point and our chapel and reception services, please visit our web site or call 401-272-1314. 585 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence • 401-272-1314 • www.swanpointcemetery.com Pictured: Redwood Chapel and Gray Coale Reception Hall (inset).

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

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One2One with HarborOne delivers a truly personalized banking experience. Meet in person, on Zoom, or over the phone. Solve a problem, open an account, apply for a loan, discuss your savings goals, and more. No matter what you need, get it done One2One. Just visit harborone.com/appointments or scan the QR code with your smartphone’s camera.

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

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Photo Credit: Erin X. Smithers

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Photo Credit: Erin X. Smithers

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Produced by the City of Providence Founding Partner FirstWorks

LIFE & STYLE Home | Influencer | Shop

French Accent Crescent Park meets Provence in a cozy East Providence bungalow Since taking ownership of the home in the Riverside section of East Providence she shares with husband Iain, Jenna Kinghorn has started carrying a notebook. “I’ve included all the decor details for each room I’ve worked on,” she begins. “I also make lists for the remaining rooms and carry them with me. I always have it handy in case I spot something that could be for the cottage.” It’s evident that Kinghorn adores the house initially spotted by Iain. “He was determined to find us the perfect home – a fixer upper with good solid bones.” Photography and styling by Jenna Kinghorn ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

LIFE & STYLE

H o me | By Elyse Major

A weathered crate corrals goods for a convenient dry bar

Photography and styling by Jenna Kinghorn

The sectional couch offers ample seating with a small footprint

This is the eighth residence for the Kinghorns, who in their dozen years together have lived in Chicago, Boston, Stamford, Newport, Barrington, and Fall River. It’s easy to see why the couple would fall for the charming house situated on a corner lot with a white picket fence. “The cottage felt like a hug when we [first] walked in – and it still does.” Things that appealed most to the pair about this property were its layout and original 1928 architecture features like arched doorways, wood floors and moldings, and beadboard ceilings in

the porch. Says Kinghorn, “It was just the right size for us at 1,000 square feet.” Originally from Chicago, Jenna worked in retail management for Gap, Inc. for 25 years before changing careers for freelance interior decorating. Self-taught, she describes her style as classic and simple. In a striped Brenton shirt and ballet flats, it’s apparent that this aesthetic spans beyond her own personal look into her home and the goods stocked in the Bristol-based shop she co-owns with friend Rebekah Willenberg, Blanc + Bleu. Her decor is a

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

LIFE & STYLE

H o me | By Elyse Major

I’m Here To Help!

Call Joe Roch

401-440-7483 Happily assisting buyers and sellers in Providence and throughout Rhode Island

combination of farmhouse and coastal, mixed with inspiration from travels abroad. Iain is from Scotland and Jenna cites the English countryside and areas of Northern France like Brittany and Normandy as influences for her “cozy brocante style,” referring to Parisian flea markets. “I like a mix of new and vintage pieces.” Repeated use of white and neutrals creates visual space in the small house

while giving rooms a cohesive flow. Textures such as chipped finishes and grainsack textiles contribute interest throughout. Kinghorn incorporates “hints of blue” in accents as location cues “and it’s my husband’s favorite color,” she says. Get updates on Kinghorn’s home projects on Instagram at @lepetitecottage and her shop at @blanc.and.bleu

JoeRoch.com

jroch@residentialproperties.com ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Home

GET RHODY STYLE What’s blue and white and worn all over? Here’s a look at the style of Jenna Kinghorn. SHOP SMALL Visit Kinghorn’s workshop and showroom in the historic Wood Street Mill Complex in downtown Bristol for monthly pop-ups of Blanc + Bleu, the handmade, salvaged, and local goods business she co-owns. Other nearby faves are Epilogues and Grasmere, Bristol; Stillwater Antiques, Smithfield; Tish Bodell Hopkins Permanent Botanicals, Pawtucket; Fabric Connection, Middletown; and Wish Consignment in Newport. EXPLORE RIVERSIDE This section of EP is loaded with old-timey seaside charm; in fact, it was once known as the “Coney Island of the East” back when Crescent Park was a booming destination with shore dinner halls and hotels. Today a 1895 Crescent Park Looff Carousel remains and still runs during summer. Meander side streets and head south to Narragansett Terrace for coastal views and cottages. DIY SHED The Kinghorns also built themselves a greenhouse. “Our goal was to use as much reclaimed materials as we had on hand to keep costs down, but sometimes you’ve got to spend a little bit on new stuff.” In total, the project cost $250. “Every morning this is where I come to have my coffee. My sweet greenhouse still has some things on the checklist to be done in it, but for now it is the best place to start my day.”

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

Photography and styling by Jenna Kinghorn

LIFE & STYLE

“When it was time for us to look for the house to combine our families, we knew we could rely on Rachael to do her magic. Rachael sold our unique live-work property in the past, and created a huge amount of interest and got us an amazing offer for the house. Purchasing the right home can be stressful and challenging, but Rachael guided us with her professional expertise, insights, and amazing sense of humor to secure our dream home. We are so happy here, thank you Rachael!” Ayako, Asha, and the Kids

@ rachsellshouses 401.484-7015 rdotson@residentialproperties.com

photo: www.stephanieewens.com

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

LIFE & STYLE

I nfl ue nc e r | By Sascha Martin

Meet Ian Donnis The Public’s Radio political reporter talks baseball, Buddy, and BBQ Where did you grow up and what brought you to Rhode Island? I grew up in New Jersey, went to college in Boston, and had my initial Rhode Island experience while commuting to be a temporary reporter in Providence. Years later, I was looking for a change from a newspaper job in Massachusetts and took over as the lead writer/news editor for the now-defunct alt-weekly Providence Phoenix. It was April 1999 – two weeks before the FBI raided City Hall and Power Street, signaling the unveiling of the Plunder Dome investigation that eventually landed Buddy Cianci in prison. I knew I was in a great place to be a reporter. I joined what we now call The Public’s Radio in 2009. What is your favorite Rhody activity? My fave is the variety we have in our small state, being able to do so many different things in close proximity: beaches, hiking, etc. I also like our identity as Rhode Islanders, as denizens of a very idiosyncratic state. Plus, our motto is “Hope,” which is pretty awesome. What led you to pursue a career in journalism/broadcasting? I was interested in writing and journalism from a young age, thanks in large part to my mom. She was a gifted (unpublished) writer and loved words and language. I was young during the Watergate episode and that gave me a strong impression of the importance of the watchdog role of reporters.

What are your favorite local small businesses to dine, shop, and have fun? I’m a big fan of our great local restaurants, including Avenue N, Matunuck Oyster Bar, Durk’s BBQ, and Al Forno. Some of my fave spots for a drink include the Wild Colonial and Nick-a-Nee’s. When you’re not writing/reporting what are your interests? My wife and I have two dogs, and they are a constant source of joy and entertainment. I’m a big Red Sox fan and I play in a recreational hardball league. I also enjoy reading, cooking, and working out. Follow along on Twitter @iandon.

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

You cover Providence often – what do you like best about being part of this community? One of the great things about Providence is how you usually can’t go out for coffee, a drink, or a sandwich without running into a few people you know, from very different walks of life. Politicians expect interaction with reporters since we’re such a small state. I can’t imagine what it would be like being a reporter in a place like California, with so many different media markets.

LIFE & STYLE

Sho p | By Elyse Major

Bloom Report

For many budding entrepreneurs not quite ready for a retail space of their own, cooperatives and pop-up shops are integral vehicles for not only selling their goods but getting their name out there. When lockdown hit in 2020, friends Savannah Barkley and Heather Wolfenden instantly saw their schedules of upcoming market events cancelled. Rather than sit back, the plucky pair transformed a vacant storefront on South Main Street into a stunning pop-up shop and named their venture Bloom Collective. The success demonstrated the need, and today the blooming continues in a different non-

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

permanent location, hence the pop-up. “Bloom has become a new way to collaborate with makers and creatives across the board where we can all come together to take part in one-of-a-kind pop-up experiences for the community to enjoy,” Barkley explains. Bloom Collective is currently rooted in the former home of Loie Fuller’s on Westminster Street. This snug shop houses products from 50+ local businesses as well as a weekly outdoor marketplace with rotating food trucks and a garden cocktail bar by Little Bitte Cocktails. “We are so excited to be able to bring Bloom

to new spots across the city and create a unique platform for small businesses like our own” says Barkley, who under the label Sir Milky Quartz, is building a lifestyle brand where goods both hand-picked and handmade share a similar aesthetic. Wolfenden owns Fresh and Fossil, a collection of vintage apparel and quirky items with the tagline Garb for Good. “Our goal is to make use of underutilized spaces in the city and bring new life to and creative energy wherever the collective finds its next home,” adds Barkley. And about the name, she answers with a dreamy smile, “Bloom Collective was inspired

Photography by Savannah Barkley

Providence artisan pop-up extends season and branches out

Sprouting pop-up events are an additon to the current storefront on Westminster Street

by the nature of blossoms popping up in various locations for a brief moment – they are incredibly beautiful and unique – just like the creative community in Providence.” Learn more at WeAreBloomCollective.com

Bloom Collective x West End 1455 Westminster Street Open thru the end of October

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

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because he believes in Providence. “None of the potential candidates understands city politics better than Cuervo, who worked for Mayors David Cicilline and Angel Taveras.”

Gonzalo was born here, has been a community organizer here, bought his first home here, raised his children here, ran a small business here, and has more than two decades of proven leadership experience in our neighborhoods, in Providence City Hall, and at the State House.

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• Located On a Beautiful Campus With Walking Paths Ideal for Residents, Family and Dogs • Private, Luxury Car Service • Select Apartments available within our affordable program Call 401-273-6565 to learn more or schedule a tour. ResidencesOnBlackstone.com • 353 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

By Karen Greco

Take Me

to the River HOW THE CLEAN-UP OF THE WOONASQUATUCKET HELPED TRANSFORM A BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOOD INTO AN INDUSTRIAL ARTS HUB

Photo courtesy of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Paddle tours on the Woonasquatucket River run through September

“I have a dream,” Jill Davidson, Development Director of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, confides with a wide smile. Her gaze moves to the Woonasquatucket River just across Kinsley Avenue. “In it, people are in inner tubes, floating down the Woony through the Valley and into downtown Providence.” On this muggy Saturday, sitting on marble slabs in front of the Farm Fresh Rhode Island headquarters, her vision is like lemonade for the soul. To tell the story of Providence’s Valley neighborhood, you have to first tell the story of the river that runs through it.

“

”

We talked to local activists, to the neighborhood, to find out what they wanted. It was green spaces, transportation, a safe place for their kids to play. - JILL DAVIDSON, Development Director of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Photos courtesy of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

The Woonasquatucket River Greenway links Providence, Johnston, and North Smithfield

THE WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER bisects Providence, running through Olneyville Square all the way through downtown Providence and out to the bay. A narrow river with a swift current, it was an ideal power source for the burgeoning mill industries that drove Rhode Island’s industrial revolution. Steam power’s introduction in the early 20th century solidified the river as an economic driver for the neighborhoods it traversed. When Providence’s industrial tides changed, a depleted and polluted Woony was left in their wake. The once bustling neighborhoods at its banks became burned out shells of capitalism. “The river was a dumping ground,” says Davidson. She describes the Valley neighborhood of the 1990s and early aughts as one of burned-out buildings with industrial trash scattered throughout the lots. “We talked to local activists, to the neighborhood, to find out what they wanted. It was green spaces, transportation, a safe place for their kids to play.” Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council formed in the early 1990s to clean up the river, which runs from Glocester to Narragansett Bay. With financial assistance from the federal and state government, they began an ambitious plan to turn a blighted area into an eco-conscious neighborhood where industry could thrive beside residential homes. This proved transformative for the Valley. “It took us almost 20 years to get through our environmental clean-up and to fix up the building to maximize our space,” explains Howie Sneider, Executive Director of The Steel Yard. A neighborhood pioneer, the industrial arts center purchased the old Providence Iron and Steel Company building in 2002. But, it was the past three years, Sneider explains, that the neighborhood experienced a dramatic shift. The City’s ambitious Woonasquatucket Vision Plan, which included money from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up brownfield sites in the Woonasquatucket corridor, spearheaded this transformation. “Cleaning up the river gave the neighborhood economic leverage,” explains Davidson of the Watershed Council. “People were willing to invest in the neighborhood.” After the troubling attempts of real estate developers in the early to mid-aughts to gentrify the area with luxury lofts, which brought protests from artists and neighborhood activists, today investment in the Valley is slow and mindful, with non-profits leading the charge.

One recent investment includes the opening of Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s 60,000-square-foot food hub. Built on a brownfield site where a burned out factory once was, Farm Fresh worked with the Watershed Council not only on remediation of the site but also on the landscaping that includes the storm water management on the grounds, so that polluted runoff does not enter the river. Farm Fresh hosts a year-round indoor farmers market on Saturdays and also serves as a distribution hub for their popular delivery service Market Mobile, which brings produce and related items direct to consumers’ homes twice a week. In the coming months, local food makers will begin moving into new production facilities within the building, leased at below-market rents, that also serve as small retail spots.

Along with volunteers, WRWC River Rangers work on projects that sustain, improve, and expand the Greenway and its parks

The Steel Yard “Historically, this is an industrial neighborhood,” says Leigh Vincola, Director of Advancement for Farm Fresh Rhode Island. “Agriculture is part of a new, green industry, one that fits into the history of the neighborhood.” “We came into the neighborhood in a very thoughtful and intentional way. We want to be a resource for food access for families in the neighborhood, while also providing jobs for local residents,” Vincola continues. “There’s a strong arts community there and we integrate with them.” This community of artists relies on the affordable industrial space to create their work. A number of pioneering artist collaboratives – like The Wurks, Ajay Land Co, Nicholson File Art Studios – took over the empty mill buildings, turning them into studios and shop spaces for industrial artists. A loose collective has formed between these diverse neighboring businesses, where they all meet regularly to talk about individual plans so they can promote each other’s events and lend support.

Neighborhood revitalization comes with a cost, and issues surrounding gentrification loom in the background. With Olneyville, the neighborhood with the highest crime rate in the city, abutting the Valley, more needs to be done to address inequities within the neighborhood as well as the Providence community at large. “There is a fear of displacement in the neighborhood,” admits the Steel Yard’s Sneider. “Small businesses and artists feel the risk of gentrification.” “The Valley is unique because it has been less residential and more of an industrial/maker neighborhood,” says Jennifer Hawkins, executive director of ONE Neighborhood Builders, a community development organization. “The conversations are less around displacing residents as it is businesses who, all of a sudden, their noise or the fumes from their work become a problem for newcomers. It’s about balancing adaptive reuse with what’s been here all along.”

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

The Role of Eagle Square BY STEVE TRIEDMAN

In the early 1990s, the City of Providence identified the Valley section, a once thriving manufacturing area that had become an abandoned disaster zone, as a new opportunity. The plan called for a supermarket and retail at Eagle Square that would serve as the catalyst for revitalization of the area. However, there was little interest, and artists and squatters had taken over many of the buildings. Fort Thunder, a vibrant place full of many artists and bands, as well as a weekend flea market, housed in a second-floor warehouse of a pre-Civil War former textile factory, drew many students and young artists to the area from 1995-2001. But,

there were three major problems. First, no one was interested in investing money in the area; second, it was a very high crime area; and, third, many of the buildings were considered dangerous fire traps. When the City finally got a developer interested, he initially wanted to tear down Eagle Square, and a war between the artists, musicians, squatters, and eventually Providence Preservation Society began. When the battle was over, a compromise saved four of the mill buildings and an investment of $36,000,000 in retail, office, and residential complex was made. As a condition of the compromise, rentable artist studios and work/display spaces were incorporated into the project.

Long-time residents of Olneyville have benefitted from Eagle Square’s retail component and Eagle Square became the catalyst for revitalization of the Valley neighborhood with hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Monohasset Mill, the Steel Yard, the Plant, Firehouse 13, Rising Sun Mills, Calender Mills, and Alco. A fragile balance between gentrification, development, and the need for affordable housing remains, anchored by the United Way on the southern end of the street and the Steel Yard and the Waterplace Art Center in the north. But what’s impossible to ignore is the impressive positive growth of this once neglected part of Providence.

“

We came into the neighborhood in a very thoughtful and intentional way. We want to be a resource for food access for families in the neighborhood, while also providing jobs for local residents.

”

- LEIGH VINCOLA, Director of Advancement for Farm Fresh Rhode Island

In addition to exhibits such as Mary Beth Meehan’s recent Eye to Eye, WaterFire Arts Center provides opportunities. Young students from the Manton Avenue Project (MAP), helped by funding from United Way at the southern end of Valley Street, worked on a summer project with the Wilbury Theatre, currently housed at the Center, where it was curated and presented to the public for two weeks in August.

Bird’s-eye view of the reception for Eye to Eye Photographs and Projects by Mary Beth Meehan, which ran at WaterFire Arts Center on Valley Street through August 22

Photos by Matthew TW Huang, courtesy of WaterFire Arts Center

Not just for exhibits: weddings, trade shows, and more can all be held at WaterFire Arts Center

WaterFire Arts Center built their beautiful new space with exactly that in mind. While best known for their eponymous annual summer blockbuster that turns downtown’s waterfront into a blazing arts destination, the organization’s office and storage spaces were in the Valley. With deep roots already planted in the neighborhood, the decision to create their state-ofthe-art arts production complex was done mindfully. “We’ll only continue to exist if the community wants us. How do we build for the next 25 years? We need the community’s buy-in,” says Laura Duclos, their Director of Creative Services. Building community-centered events was the impetus behind their

Thursday TroopTop nights. Through a partnership with neighboring restaurant Troop, they offer cocktails and snacks on their rooftop while community DJs spin music. This partnership helps introduce the neighborhood to the work happening at the arts center. One Thursday, there’s an artist doing live painting outside. Another features a more traditional gallery show. While each event is unique, it all serves to bring art to an underserved audience in an accessible and welcoming space. “We want people to enjoy where we live. Participate, walk, bike, bring people into the neighborhood,” says Duclos. “This is about enriching people’s lives.”

Down in the Valley

The Industrious Spirit Company makes its home on Sims Avenue With the river as the connector, once the construction on the aqueduct and the bike path is complete, the vision of a Providence arts corridor will be fully realized. As the Valley becomes a destination for arts lovers, and as the continued river clean-up invites investment dollars from real estate developers, maintaining the delicate ecosystem between residents, artists, and commerce is imperative. But so is the need for locally owned enterprises that energize the neighborhood. “The densification by adding properties like Farm Fresh and the Steel Yard, the Valley enlivened a ghost town. It brought commerce and people to support locally owned businesses,” Hawkins from One Neighborhood Builders points out. Along with artists and arts organizations, those businesses include Revival Brewing Company, The Industrious Spirit Co, and the Garden of Eve Caribbean Cuisine. “The Watershed did a Herculean job of restoring the river,” continues Hawkins. “The river is a place-making feature. It connects the community.” Photography by Nick DelGiudice

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Independent Senior Living Located on Providence’s East Side Beautiful apartments available for every taste and style.

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

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S p e c i a l A dv e r t i si ng Se ct i o n

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If you have been stalling on making that phone call to have the trees in your yard assessed, don’t wait too long because the first available appointments for T.F. Morra Tree Care, Inc. are now in 2022. Business owner Tom Morra and the arborists at T.F. Morra are your professional tree experts. “A typical mature tree on the East Side is in more than one yard,” Tom explains. “You may be a new homeowner, or have new neighbors, and it’s important to be proactive and know who’s taking care of the trees on all sides.” Having healthy trees for a lush and thriving neighborhood is in everybody’s best interest. Typical fall services include fertilization, late season pest management, structural pruning, and winter storm preparation, such as installation of structural cables or even anti-transpirant treatment for evergreens. “Severe weather is a factor and seems like it’s here to stay,” Tom explains. To learn more about anything related to tree health and their pest mitigation program, visit their website at TFMorra.com for comprehensive information and an updated blog on seasonal topics. Now is the time to analyze the current situation of your trees and formulate a plan, but don’t wait on that call, because the remaining available slots are filling up.

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@the_jonesgroup ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

ART & CULTURE Theater | Music | Calendar

Sign of Things to Come A local painter helps small businesses showcase storefronts with style Next time you walk into your favorite local business, take a look at their signage. There’s a good chance it was handcrafted by Jayson Salvi, a Providence-based sign painter. Working from his in-home studio, Salvi has created signs for businesses all over the state. Notable clients include Rooftop at the Providence G, Rogue Island, and Green Line Apothecary. “I was always pretty artistic,” says Salvi, who mentions taking art classes in high school, “but I didn’t even know sign painting was a thing.” During his eight years in the Navy, Salvi volunteered for a variety of art projects, honing his skills; once back to civilian life, he founded Jayson Salvi Hand Painted Signs. In addition to the actual painting of the signs, Salvi enjoys working with fellow small business owners, knowing what he helps to create is often a customer’s first impression. “A sign is an extension of your personality,” he says. In addition to business-specific work, Salvi sells old skateboards repurposed into signs. “During the pandemic I kept busy. People were still in business so I did a lot of individual signs,” says Salvi, noting that 2020 was one of his best years so far in a 15 year career. “When a client sees the reality of ‘this is for my business’ and gives a handshake or a smile, it makes my day,” says Salvi. When asked to name a favorite sign, he pauses. “They are all so different. I love doing them all.” Learn more at JaysonSalviSigns.wixsite or on Instagram @jayson_salvi_ signpainter | By Emma Nicholson Salvi’s work on Rochambeau Avenue, photo courtesy of Jayson Salvi ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

ART & CULTURE

T he a t e r | By Robert Isenberg

Cinderella Story Providence Performing Arts Center kicks off its 2021 season with Pretty Woman: The Musical – and spearheads the return of live theater

“It’s the perfect Cinderella story,” says Jerry Mitchell. “When [Vivian Ward] is offered everything, she turns [Edward Lewis] down. She doesn’t want money. She wants love.” Mitchell is talking about Pretty Woman: The Musical, the adaptation he first directed for Broadway in 2018, but he could just as well be talking about Providence Performing Arts Center, where he is currently directing a fresh new production. PPAC stopped staging live productions in March 2020, along with nearly every theater on earth. Now that Rhode Island is heavily vaccinated, the Downcity hotspot is kicking off a new season – and they’ve been selling 100 season subscriptions per day. Cinderella, indeed. “I think it’s helpful that people know what Pretty Woman is,” says J.L. “Lynn” Singleton, president of PPAC. “It’s not Equus.” In other words, PPAC wouldn’t say no to

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

a runaway hit. COVID-19 was devastating to the global economy, and few industries were hit harder than the performing arts. For 17 months, PPAC’s 3,100-seat auditorium has sat empty. PPAC never fully closed, but employees worked remotely and performance dates were repeatedly pushed back. Even as vaccines were approved, PPAC couldn’t commit to shows in January, and the lineup was reset for September. “I always felt that our industry was vaccine-dependent,” says Singleton. But he takes pride in the fact that all PPAC employees have returned to work, as of September 1. At its height, PPAC had to furlough about half of its staff, yet not a single healthcare plan was dropped. Nearly all of the big shows remained on the calendar, just for fall instead of spring. There was only one replacement: Hamilton, one of the most successful musicals in Broadway history.

The PPAC staff has gone to great lengths to keep audiences healthy, earning it a STAR accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC). Every single employee or associate at PPAC has been verifiably vaccinated. The theater has 90 stations for hand sanitizing. Ushers scan tickets, and even concessions are contactless. Most importantly, PPAC installed a new filtration system, reducing airborne contamination. Mitchell also kept busy during lockdown, collaborating with writers and mentoring students remotely from his home in New York. Mitchell is well known among Broadway enthusiasts, as both director and choreographer. Now, directing Pretty Woman in Providence is something of a homecoming: He first directed Legally Blonde here in 2008, and the production went on to tour nationally – the first such production launched at PPAC. Pretty Woman is the

Photo by Core Photographic

It’s showtime for the “Jewel of Weybosset Street” – a world class venue listed on the National Register of Historic Places

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20th national tour to begin at PPAC, and Mitchell is again at the helm. “I saw the movie [of Pretty Woman] for the first time in 1990,” recalls Mitchell, “and I immediately tried to acquire the rights. The characters were larger than life. Those are the characters I’m attracted to.” In 2018, Mitchell got his chance: He directed the world premiere of Pretty Woman in Chicago, and the show became a Broadway hit. This summer, Mitchell directed a production in London as well. He has already seen the effect of live performance on a post-lockdown audience, and he looks forward to seeing it again at PPAC. “Art is ephemeral,” says Mitchell. “There’s no way to hold onto it except in your mind. It’s like a rollercoaster; you can’t experience it until you’re on that ride. It’s just going to be spectacular for everybody.”

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ART & CULTURE

T he M usi c Sce ne | By Adam Hogue

Record Review Swagger meets simplicity in Nick Casey’s latest Ghosts Like Me

Like so many country artists before him, Nick Casey lets the oft-repeated words of songwriter Harlan Howard be his muse: The only thing a good country song needs are “three chords and the truth.” As the tracks of Casey’s album Ghosts Like Me play through, that phrase clings to each song. There is a simplicity and earnestness coupled with swagger and gravitas buoyed by a dependable skeleton of bass, guitar, and drums with each part doing exactly what it’s supposed to in the delivery of a story. An accent harmony on the chorus, a chicken-picked Telecaster solo, a haunting fiddle melody all laid on top of reliable strummed chords, and the song as a whole becomes

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

the delivery of an experience. Sometimes given the tag “outlaw country,” Nick Casey and The Full Damn Band is composed of Ryan Tremblay on lead guitar, Uncle Jarod Cournoyer on bass, and Ethan “Big Dog” Lyons on drums; Olivia Baxter played fiddle on the album recorded at Lakewest Recording Studio in West Greenwich. A low baritone reminiscent of Johnny Cash, Casey delivers stories that bring to mind the ballads of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, or Willie Nelson, backed up with a band rooted in a chugging blues momentum that gives a nod to the country elements, but very much delivers more than a few jams in a style all their own.

“I was drawn to country by an uncle of mine who lives in Texas,” begins Casey. “He always loved the music of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, and my mother loved the country stars of the ‘90s and early 2000s. Driving to school, we were always listening to Reba McEntire or Trisha Yearwood.” Casey continues, “since my first shows in 2013, I’ve always related more to those country legends, Waylon, Johnny, and The Hag. Between the older music and the more traditional artists making names for themselves today like Jamey Johnson, Tyler Childers, and Colter Wall, I’ve found my own sound that I think works pretty well.” Country music is very much its own

Photo courtesy of Nick Casey

Nick Casey performs regularly throughout New England

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fixture with storytelling at its core and for the most part, Casey stays true to these roots. “I think the storytelling aspect of country music comes from my own personal experience. People hear a song and they feel like they’re hearing their own life story. That’s what makes country music great,” Casey muses. “The approach to a song comes in a million different directions. I’ve sat down and wrote the lyrics out as a poem first to try and get stronger lyrics. After that, I put it to chords. Other times, I’ve come up with a guitar melody and the lyrics sometimes just pour out of nowhere.” Learn more at NickCaseyMusic.Weebly.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

ART & CULTURE

Cal e ndar | By Ab bie Lahmers

The Must list 10 essential events this month

September 4, 18, and 24: WaterFire returns this month with three partial lightings once again illuminating Waterplace Park and commemorating COVID heroes, the organization’s 15th anniversary, and education, respectively. WaterFire.org

ide atew a st events r o F g of ne! listin us onli t i vis om dy.c Rho y e H

September 9:

September 10-19:

September 11-12:

Supporting local musicians, poets, magicians, comedians, and other Providence artists, Askew’s Sweet Little Variety Show is a monthly cabaret promoting feminist, anti-racist, and LGBTQ+ acts. AskewProv.com

From open studios and hands-on crafting to live performances, including from the RI Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pawtucket Arts Festival celebrates creatives at Slater Memorial Park. PawtucketArtsFestival.org

Sample your fill of lobster rolls, oysters, fish tacos, and clamcakes (washed down with a cold beer or Del’s, of course) at the RI Seafood Festival, spotlighting Ocean State purveyors at India Point Park. RISeafoodFest.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Photo courtesy of Providence Warwick CVB

WaterFire prepares to reignite this month

September 11-12: Peruse artisan vendors and sample tasty treats along the Narragansett Parkway for the Gaspee Days Fall Fest: a crafts market and Saturday block party of live music celebrating local history. Warwick, Gaspee.com

September 17-19: Head to the beach for the Misquamicut Fall Fest, where you can take in the view of the Block Island Sound from atop a ferris wheel, snack on food truck fare, and admire classic cars. MisquamicutFestival.org

September 18: Since it couldn’t happen in March, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take to the streets of Providence a few months late with all the revelry intact and a 5K race happening in the morning. ProvidenceStPatricksParade.org

September 19: Arts in Common presents the Bristol PorchFest, a family-friendly music event of local talent performing acoustic sets on neighborhood porches all over town for listeners and strollers to enjoy. Facebook: Bristol PorchFest

Candy Trays • Salt Water Taffy • Wide Assortment of Chocolate Assorted Chocolates • Buttercrunch • Turtles • Gourmet Truffles Sugar-free Chocolates & Non-Chocolate Novelties • Gift Baskets

September 24: Widely regarded for his genre-bending music, Ben Folds’ In Actual Person Live For Real Tour is coming to The Vets, as the venue celebrates the return of live shows this month. TheVetsRI.com

September 25-26: The German American Cultural Society of RI invites guests to their biergarten and Ratskeller bar for an Oktoberfest of live music, dancing, Festbier, and traditional cuisine. Pawtucket, GACSRI.org

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ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

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FOOD & DRINK Experience | In The Kitchen | Food News

Out of the Basket Traveling picnic business curates experiences with farm-fresh menus and all the accoutrements Though a wedge of cheese, sleeve of crackers, and paper napkins unfurled on a woodsy table will do the trick in a pinch, Perfect Picnix dares to take the experience further, transporting guests to a faraway Bohemian scene where grapes, artisanal meats, gourmet jams, and soft pita are abundant, seating is plush pillows, and wine flows in crystal vessels. A sturdy pallet of fresh fruit and cheese rests on a colorful knit blanket, and a curated playlist backdrops lawn games or scavenger hunts even after the feast has diminished. “We reinvent the nostalgic tradition of lovingly handmade picnics that transform an ordinary day into a magical occasion,” says co-owner Alyssa Ann Heller. “We can do something as simple as preparing a romantic picnic for two, which can be picked up at our Warren facility. Or we can do a larger-scale custom event, delivering to the destination of your choice,” whether that’s India Point Park overlooking the water or your own backyard. And Bohemian isn’t the only theme: Personalized picnics out of wicker baskets can include sweet or savory charcuterie boards, experiential props like cornhole or bocci, and with their recent acquisition of Sweet Streams Chocolate Fountains, cascading waterfalls of fine chocolate, cheese, or barbecue sauce to elevate even an outdoor gathering thanks to plexiglass enclosures. For fall, watch for the bounty of late harvests incorporated in autumnal grazing: butternut squash and dried cranberries with pomegranate dressing, spiced pumpkin quinoa salad, and farm-fresh granny smith apple slices topped with pecorino cheese, truffle honey, corn kernels, and roasted hazelnuts. Uptown Food & Spirits, Warren, PerfectPicnix.com. | By Abbie Lahmers Photo courtesy of Perfect Picnix ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

FOOD & DRINK

Expe r i e nce | By Jenny Currier

Bistro Bravado It’s telling when a dessert menu includes a “Carnival Row,” described by our waiter as “everything you wanted as a kid in one dish”: funnel cake, popcorn ice cream, a cracker jack crumble with a vanilla caramel drizzle. But this is just the beginning (or, more appropriately, the finishing note) of the creative combinations that make Res American Bistro unique in their palate. Located on the corner of Empire and Washington Streets, the recently opened Res – which combines the three owners’ initials, Ryan, Evan, and Stephen – pays homage to its predecessor, Bravo Brasserie, by maintaining a French bistro vibe of wood paneling and large windows. The corner of the dining room holds 50 small succulents on mirrored shelves; vines crawl down from ceiling fixtures and vases of tulips adorn every table. Before the sun goes down, the restaurant is wonderfully airy and full of light. While my friend and I decided on drinks, the waiter brought us rolls fresh from the oven, delivered in small paper bags. We each opted for a drink from the cocktail list: The Sanchez – an espresso martini made with fresh Nespresso, Grainger’s Organic Vodka, Kahlua, and Baileys – and Family Practice, made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, blood orange juice, vanilla syrup, and fresh lemon juice. Usually I enjoy bourbon-based drinks in the winter, but the citrus from the juices brightened the drink and made it perfect for late summer. The rotating menu is divided into three parts: “In the Beginning” featuring appetizers and small plates, “Soon After” for salads, and “The Middle”, where you’ll find your mains – filets, tenderloins, and lobster rolls – though the menu leans heavily on smaller shared plates. Unable to pick just two “Beginnings,” we opted for a trifecta, starting with Bacon Teriyaki: six long strips of bacon skewered on sticks, marinated, and crisped before delivery in a red, Chinese-lettered take-out bag. “I’ve never eaten bacon on a stick before,” my friend said, but we were pleased

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

to find it both crispy and sweet, like glazed honey ham. The Pan-Fried Halloumi, a Mediterranean favorite, is a salty white cheese that doesn’t melt but instead becomes golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside when heated. Topped with a spicy Pomodoro sauce, the first bite had a nostalgic quality – like a sophisticated (and healthier) rendering of childhood mozzarella sticks. Lastly, and a first for me, the Scotch Egg, a soft-boiled egg wrapped in flavorful sausage, surrounded by a crisp golden shell, served atop tomato jam. It was perfectly

cooked: the yolk still runny, the sausage shell crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, a combination of sweet, savory, and spicy in each bite. This is the appetizer of champions. For the “Middle” dish, we ordered the Fresh Pappardelle, a large bowl of wide noodles tossed with roasted pulled chicken, bacon, and kale in a parmesan broth. Served with a giant spoon and tongs, this

CUISINE: Creative twists on American favorites PRICES: Starters $12-22; Mains $20-45 ATMOSPHERE: In vogue bistro

Photos by Jenny Currier (R), Jeremy Mularella (L)

Newcomer to Empire Street elevates American favorites to fun and creative heights

Fresh Pappardelle

pasta hit all the right spots. The most difficult part of the evening was saving enough room for dessert. Thankfully we did: the Sweet Tart – blueberry filling in a pastry crust, a scoop of homemade blueberry basil ice cream, and a sprinkle of brown butter almond streusel – won us over. Although it wasn’t the Carnival Row, the swirling dark blue of the berries and towering bright turquoise of the ice cream completed with streusel and balsamic drizzle created a fun-house of a dessert. Res American Bistro truly captures sophistication wrapped in festivity.

Scotch Egg

Must-Try Items Sea-Cuterie ($22) Cold smoked salmon pastrami and calamari salad, dill Havarti, shaved prosciutto, marinated olives, pesto, and pita

Scotch Egg ($12) Sweet and spicy sausage, runny yolk, and tomato jam

Re s A me r i c a n Bi st ro 123 Empire Street, Providence • 272-3965 ResPVD.com • @resamericanbistro

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

FOOD & DRINK

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

Pizza Revival Providence brewer and chef carves out space in the Valley for brick-oven pies, brews, and art

There aren’t many people around town who don’t know Sean Larkin: The “Jon Snow” of Olneyville, whose brewery has recently drawn local artists to Garage Markets and even an appearance from Kevin Bacon. But fewer of his disciples likely know how the head brewer and pizza chef of Revival Brewing Company began his culinary journey. Growing up on Harris Avenue in an Irish and Italian home, food was always communal and robust, paving the way for Larkin’s passion for cooking. From fast food to country clubs, Larkin started out washing dishes at Pizza Hut before becoming part of the kitchen staff of Camp Fuller at 14 and continued working in the industry through his teen years. A stint at Johnson & Wales taking cooking classes helped Larkin finesse his skill, but it was cut

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

short to continue his education in the field. He found himself in the kitchens of Smuggler’s Cove on Block Island, Cactus Grill in Providence – where he learned to make authentic sauces from scratch – and eventually, Trinity Brewhouse. The brewing seed was planted. After working his way up to head brewer of Trinity, and developing award-winning craft beers along the way, Larkin branched off on his own to open Revival Brewing in Cranston in 2013. Pizza was on the menu, among the likes of crowd-pleaser Crab Rangoons. On a busy day in 2019, Larkin recalls they ran out of wontons for the rangoons, and he had an idea: “What if we took the crab/cream cheese filling and piped it on a pizza?” The result was a savory pie that married umami flavors and cream cheese with Italian spices.

Today, This Pizza Has Claws is topped with a homemade schezwan crisp, fresh thai basil, and a blend of secret sauces – and you can find it at Revival Brewing’s recent reincarnation on Sims Avenue in Providence, amid skateboard motifs, astroturf over concrete floors, DJ music, and retro vibes. It was over the pandemic when Larkin had the opportunity to move the brewery into one of the Valley neighborgood’s trademark industrial buildings neighboring ISCO and the Farm Fresh RI food hub. During the walkthrough, Sean had his “aha” moment when he spotted an old chimney inside the manufacturing building: “We will convert this chimney into a pizza oven!” Larkin was lucky enough to have Joe Cecchinelli’s (father of Figidini’s Frankie Cecchinelli) build out the oven, now a

Photos by Jake Schiffman

Sean Larkin of Lost Valley Pizza & Brewery

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glorious sight that heats up on average 800 degrees with room for up to four pies at a time, from the 100 neapolitan-style balls of dough scratch-made daily. Larkin thrives on locally sourced foods from community partners and friends he’s made along the way. All of the wood they use is kiln dried from Simply Local Wood in Tiverton, and high-quality vegan products are from Providence-based Born From Pain Baked Goods and Barrett’s Garden. Dubbed Lost Valley Pizza, Larkin’s journey to wood-fired pies lands serendipitously where he began, close to the valley, in the midst of revival. When asked what type of pizza he makes, Larkin answers simply, with no hesitation: “It’s Providence Pizza.” Lost Valley Pizza & Brewery, @lostvalleypvd

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Fo o d N e w s | By Abbie Lahmers

Middle Eastern fare joins Atwells’ vibrant offerings

Pawtucket foodie fest is an empanada feast

A celebration of plant-based eats at Trinity Beer Garden

OURS is the newest neighbor on Federal Hill, and they’re not keeping the unique flavors of Kurdistan to themselves. Italia Sousa and Srood Barwary bring family recipes and warm, tropical vibes to their restaurant and lounge concept. “OURS incorporates a modern design, Middle Eastern-inspired dishes

Along with all the global cuisine you can fit in the square mile of Pawtucket and Central Falls participating in their joint Restaurant Weeks, this year’s festivities include the first ever PCF Empanada-Fest. The friendly competition will highlight local makers of these traditionally Latin American pastry pockets

A longtime vegan herself, Robin Dionne was inspired by the veg fests she saw popping up just outside of Rhode Island. “I thought they provided a fun and informative day for vegans and non-vegans who are curious about making a lifestyle change – the ‘Plant Curious’, as I like to call them!” Dionne

and a chic, high-energy atmosphere,” says Sousa, who anticipates the Atwells destination becoming “a haven for locals and visitors who appreciate a refined experience with elevated cuisine and innovative cocktails.” Start with small plates like handmade Dolma (stuffed grape leaves) and Kubba, a crispy fried potato and rice appetizer filled with beef, and travel to Turkey with a selection of shawarma wraps and traditional Middle Eastern entrees, from kebab platters to Beef Biryani. “Dayas Kofta is one of our most favorite dishes; it’s a family secret recipe with a balance of different herbs,” says Sousa, describing a dumpling stuffed with minced beef and served in a broth of garlic, celery, and onion. Pineapple, passion fruit, and coconut star in summer drinks garnished with dried florals and salted rims. OursPVD.com

filled with pork, chicken, or beef and veggies. Participants can register for a judging card to keep track of their favorites as they sample each vendor and vote for their top three of 10, which includes JA Patty, La Arepa, Matos Bakery, and more. “Pawtucket and Central Falls are two of the most diverse communities in Rhode Island and we want to host an event that highlights and celebrates our cultural and culinary diversity,” says Anthony Hebert, who serves on the PCF Restaurant Weeks committee. “Our two communities are home to dozens of empanada-makers… we are a destination for those seeking authentic Latin American and Caribbean cuisine.” PCF Restaurant Weeks runs August 27-September 19, with the Empanada-Fest on September 18 in Slater Park. TourBlackstone.com

says of her inspiration for organizing RI VegFest, which debuted in February 2020. This month, she and husband BJ Mansuetti look forward to launching Vegtober Fest, an outdoor gathering celebrating all things veg with 15 local restaurants and three breweries at Trinity Beer Garden. “Our goal is to encourage people to live a more compassionate lifestyle and showcase all the great plant-based options that are out there,” says Dionne. “The restaurants we work with are not all strictly vegan, but they all recognize the importance of making options available to the plant eaters of the world.” From Yeye’s plant-based ceviche to Born From Pain Baked Goods’ scratch seitan and more, a marketplace of restaurants and vendors will offer a taste of vegan eating on September 19. RIVegFest.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • September 2021

Photos courtesy of OURS

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Providence Monthly September 2021

Articles inside

IN THE KITCHEN

PIC OF PVD

FOOD NEWS: Middle

EXPERIENCE

CALENDAR: This

A review of local country music band’s latest LP

Providence Performing Arts Center returns with a rousing rom-com

RHODY GEM

The artist behind many of RI’s hand- painted signs

SHOP: The artful marketplace rooted in supporting small-batch sellers

HOME: East

INFLUENCER: Meet

Skincare company founder built her brand through personal recovery

The Public’s Radio

OP-ED: The City’s ambitious Great Streets Plan