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IN THIS ISSUE
Providence Monthly October 2020
31
SPEAKEASIES
Photo courtesy of Brown University Archives
Photo by Nick DelGiudice
11 Three students’ free online platform to takes party politics out of voting 13 Drawing parallels between Brown’s famous strike of ‘70 and today’s COVID crisis
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15 Sabina Matos talks City Council, family, and future in office
LIFE & STYLE
16 Providence author and esports expert examines the virtual entertainment industry
23 Home: Inside a Federal Hill at-home weaving studio
17 Rhody Gem: Cool and unusual finds at White Buffalo
26 Influencer: Meet the duo whose agency nails ad campaigns every time
18 Neighborhood News: Updates + info from around PVD
28 Shop: Pink jewelry benefiting breast cancer awareness
FOOD & DRINK 41 Popular off-menu item makes its public debut at Piemonte Pizza 42 In the Kitchen: Oatmeal gets a grownup makeover on wheels 44 Food News: Fed Hill gets Southern roots, Gracie’s tries teamshare model & Mexican ice pops from Miss Naomi’s
Photo courtesy of Oatmiel Cafe
NEWS & CITY LIFE
Photo courtesy of Studio Blue
The City’s snug ‘n swanky spots think outside the box to keep serving with style
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ART & CULTURE 49 DESIGN WEEK RI gets creative with this year’s offerings 51 Music: An Olneyville recording studio with a homey vibe 52 On Stage: PPAC uses brief intermission to restore iconic Weybosset facade 55 Calendar: This month’s must-do’s 58 Pic of PVD
On The Cover: New fall cocktail at The Walnut Room. Photography by Nick DelGiudice. ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell
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Managing Editor Megan Schmit
Dedicated… to serving YOU! Call me today!
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LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING • MEAL PREPARATION • GROCERY SHOPPING • OTHER ERRANDS • COMPANIONSHIP
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Ea c h O f f ice is I n d e p e n d e n t ly Ow n e d a n d O p e ra te d .
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
NEWS & CITY LIFE U n i ve r s i t y U p d a t e | S a b i n a M a t o s | E s p o r t s | R h o d y G e m | N e i g h b o r h o o d N ew s
Can-Do Attitude Three Providence students develop Candivote, a free online platform that strives to take party politics out of voting Voter participation in local and municipal elections is low. Of the nationwide voting block, a mere 27 percent take part in their respective local elections. This number is only more glaring when the 500,000 local, electable positions across the US are in charge of $2 trillion collectively. This is spending power which could prove transformative provided it’s funneled into the communities and institutions that need it most. Enter Arvind Sridhar, Shivesh Mehrotra, and Lucien Gaitskell. Together they developed Candivote, an online platform intended to raise participation in local elections by matching voters with candidates whose policies appeal to them. For the team, the creation of this platform is particularly timely; Sridhar and Mehrotra are both incoming college freshmen at Brown and Yale University, respectively, and Gaitskell is a rising senior at Providence’s Wheeler School. Candivote itself is the product of many long days of research.
First launched in early June, it was refined in July as they reached out to local candidates, who answer the same questions as voters to ensure accuracy in the matching process. These questions take the form of scenarios regarding budget delegation, asking participants to designate whether they agree or disagree and rank the level of importance. Most importantly, this questionnaire is free and therefore accessible; right now, the platform is being used in the mayoral elections in Cranston and Warwick, but Sridhar has high hopes for the app’s future. “We also plan to explore the possibility of applying our ‘ground-up’ mentality to state and national elections as we continue to grow,” Sridhar says. “Ideally, we hope that Candivote will become a tool to make all elections across the country transparent, increasingly equal, and more representative of our values and ideals as voters. Who knows, maybe Candivote will be available to use for the 2024 presidential election in a few years!” Candivote.org | By Tyler Harden
Photos courtesy of (left to right) Arvind Sridhar, Shivesh Mehrotra, and Lucien Gaitskell ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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In all the current uncertainty, make things simple. Let my expertise take the stress out of buying or selling. KEVIN FOX | 401.688.5556 KFox@residentialproperties.com
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NEWS & CITY LIFE
U ni v e r si t y U pdate | by Barry Fain
Academia During Chaos
Photo (L) courtesy of Brown University, (R) courtesy of Brown University Archives
Looking back – and forward – at Providence universities as they cope with chaos When COVID-19 shut down this year’s graduation at Brown, in addition to the havoc it created for the graduating seniors, it also squelched the reunion of one of its most provocative and idealistic predecessors: the class of 1970, which had been planning to return to the campus to celebrate its fiftieth. Let’s go back to May 4, 1970, the horrific day when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd of Kent State students protesting the Vietnam War, killing four, wounding nine. Here in Providence, after an on-campus appearance by NY Senator Jacob Javits, Brown students poured onto the Campus Green to vote on whether to initiate a university-wide strike just before finals. The result: 1,895 in favor, 884 against. A few days later, the faculty followed, voting 216 to 54 to join the students in protest. All classes were cancelled, replaced by discussion groups, draft card burnings, and impromptu rallies, demanding that our government end the war in Vietnam. As one of the few universities where both the students and faculty came together publically in opposition, Brown soon found itself at the epicenter of an exploding national crisis. Like universities across the country, Brown is now trying to figure out how to navigate the uncharted waters created by the pandemic as it debates the merits of on-site learning, going totally virtual, or anything in between. Early on, President Paxton, in a full-page oped in The New York Times, staked out Brown’s initial position as one of the country’s major universities on the importance of retaining as much academic normalcy as possible. Meanwhile, as many of its fellow institutions try that approach, unpredictable spot virus flare-ups are rendering even the most thought-out preparations moot. Unlike our current scenario, In 1970, the faculty and students were in lockstep on how to react to the situation. And given the mandatory draft that had been implemented, clearly it was the students who were most under the gun; this time, we all have some skin in the game. What happens or doesn’t on campus will affect all of us physically, and even to an institution as big as Brown, fiscally as well. So where are we now as we go to press? To
Brown’s credit, the school offered a well-attended Zoom presentation that tried to allay neighborhood concerns at the end of August. They reported that they have enrolled 500 students who will live on campus in addition to 2,000 who will live off. The students are required to attend an online educational model as well as sign a letter of commitment to abide by Rhode Island public health guidelines. It is assumed that Brown will take steps, as Providence College already has, to discipline students for non-compliance, though this was not spelled out. What the school has initiated is a new anonymous tip hotline (877-318-9184) and website (Brown. EthicsPoint.com) to report infractions that will be directly forwarded to the school for action. Additionally, they promise a regular stream of updates and data for both their on-campus and off-campus students. Should the numbers not meet expectations, they are poised to pivot to off-site options already teed up and ready to go. While appreciating Brown’s efforts for increased clarity, Councilperson Helen Anthony, who monitored the session, expressed some concerns. She worries that the school shouldn’t rely solely on Providence police to be
responsible for off-campus student behavior. Another attendee suggested additional monitoring by Brown of the streets around the campus, as has happened to address crime upticks in the past. Anthony also hopes there will be a clearer conduit for communicating off-campus student behavior to the community. Given the almost daily shifts in the terrain, glitches are not unexpected, but there has been some encouraging initial feedback: Dan Egan, president of the Association of the Colleges & Universities of RI, reports that fewer than 30 of the first 35,000 incoming students have tested positive. In terms of reinforcing student behavior with real action, PC has already suspended 17 students for violating their COVID-19 Code of Conduct. No one is naive enough to expect that there won’t be positive cases this fall, but all schools also have a responsibility to ensure they do all they can to keep their neighbors safe as well – including real-time reports on any upticks in cases and keeping all students accountable, both on and off campus, for following public health protocols – as we all count down the days until a vaccine.
ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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CITY KITTY Veterinary Care for Cats
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Tom Wegner
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Providence Office Sales Manager
Providence Sales Associate
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
Estate Planning (Wills & Trusts) Probate & Trust Administration Corporate Law & Business Planning Elder Law | Real Estate 4 Richmond Square, Suite 150 Providence | 401.272.6300
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NEWS & CITY LIFE
Sa bi na M a t o s | by A n n M . M a r t i n i
2020 Vision: A Sit Down with Sabina Matos
Photo courtesy of Sabina Matos
The Providence City Council President and all-around rising star is our own version of Kamala Harris: an achiever, mom, and politician with an outlook on the power of public service Days after Democratic presidential candidate and former VP Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate, Providence City Council President Sabina Matos was at home with her husband and two children, Diego and Annmarie. Matos was participating in an online fundraiser for the Democratic duo when her ten-year-old daughter entered the room to see what Mom was up to. When she spotted Harris on the computer screen and Matos explained who she was, Annmarie’s jaw dropped. “Mommy, she looks just like you!” The significance of the moment was not lost on Matos, and her daughter’s interest in the campaign has not waned. When Matos bought her daughter 2020 campaign action figures, Annmarie, who has already expressed an interest in politics, noted positively that they “look like they speak a second language.” Her son Diego is also considering following in the family tradition of public service: he might like to be a firefighter.
Matos was 20 when she and her sister and parents moved here from the Dominican Republic. Matos did not speak English. Her parents were eager for their daughters to succeed and encouraged them to go to college. Unlike her sister, Matos was never sure, even from a young age, what she wanted to do. “My sister always had an answer for ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’” Matos says. “My answer to that question was always ‘Everything.’” Eventually, Matos graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in communications and public relations. She worked locally for a Spanish radio station and continued to stay connected to the Latino community. In 2010, she had the opportunity to run for a Providence City Council seat – and won. In 2019, she was sworn in as president. The list of awards, affiliations, and honors bestowed upon her are too long to list. When asked if she might eventually consider a run for
Providence mayor, her answer is refreshingly straightforward: “Yes. Yes, I would.” Until then, Matos is entrenched in the business of city government. “We are problem solvers,” she says of the Council, which she wants to be better informed about differing viewpoints, encourage “new blood” to run for office, and take a closer look in the rearview mirror at the consequences – good and bad – of their decision-making. Matos admits it’s not always easy juggling family life with work, and she credits her parents and husband Patrick for their resounding support. “It’s not easy. Everyone talks about the ‘work and life balance.’ There is no balance. Every day is different. You have to be ready to pivot, to rely on your support network, to ask for help.” At the end of the day, she says, “You do what you can. If you’re criticized but you know you had the best of intentions, that’s what matters most.”
ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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NEWS & CITY LIFE
Espo r t s | by A n d r e w B i n d e r
Exploring the World of Esports East Side expert authors a guide to the fast-growing virtual entertainment industry Flashback to Providence during the ‘70s and ‘80s: The school day ends and East Side students walk down Thayer Street to Jake’s Ice Cream Shop – where Chase Bank is now – to play coin-operated classics like pinball, PacMan, Asteroids, Missile Command, and Miracle on Ice. After work, an older crowd binges oneoff arcade games at pubs and eateries across the city, including Spats and Oliver’s (Thayer), Penny’s (Wayland Square), Challenger’s Bar, and The Recess Pub (Downtown). For the fullscale arcade experience, some gamers travel to malls in Warwick and Swansea. Flashforward to Providence in 2020: Competitive video games played on internet consoles and computers – including Super Mario Bros, Fortnite, and Hearthstone – are now grouped under the umbrella term of “esports.” At Providence College, the esports club team boasts 150 members who compete in collegiate leagues like Tespa and the American Video Game League. In 2018, the team traveled among thousands to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to watch pro esports teams compete for slices of a $250,000 prize pool. In a matter of decades, our city’s relationship with competitive video games has changed dramatically. Why? And what will Providence’s role be in the future of esports? These questions are explored by East Side resident and industry luminary William Collis in his recently released guide, The Book of Esports. Collis earned his MBA from Harvard before moving to Providence to work at Hasbro, and after falling in love with the city, he never left. In the intervening years, Collis has been busy co-founding successful esports companies like the coaching platform Gamer Sensei, the pro team Oxygen Esports, and the analytics company Genji. He also earned an Honorary Professorship of Esports at Becker College, where he helped design one of the first-ever accredited undergraduate majors on the topic. The Book of Esports offers a colorful overview of esports for parents, students, and anyone curious to understand the fastest growing entertainment industry of our time. “I wanted to write something that would get everyone on the same page,” says Collis, “but
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
first and foremost, I wanted to write something that would be a blast to read.” Collis emphasizes that “the gold rush of esports is here.” The rise of live-stream broadcasts, platforms for sharing gamer profiles like Twitch and YouTube, competitive leagues with big-brand sponsorships, and game publisher sales have transformed esports into today’s $27 billion industry, according to an analysis by Collis and colleagues. With ample runway for growth, Goldman Sachs predicts that global esports viewership will be near that of the NFL by 2022, growing to 276 million and surpassing the audience size of the NHL and MLB. Like other marquee players in the big business world, esports has attracted major investments from celebrities, including Robert Kraft, Michael Jordan, David Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, Ashton Kutcher, and Will Smith. Although this revolution in digital gaming is a global phenomenon, Collis still believes that the appeal remains the same as ever: Above all else, games are creative, interesting, and really fun. As a kid, Collis recalls, “I had a real aha moment when I realized that games are really beautiful. They had great stories, engaging characters, and vivid worlds. All the elements you’d expect from art and literature.” Moreover, esports cultivates skill, strategy, teamwork, and decision-making. “It’s a notable skill,” explains Tim Loew, general manager of the Becker College Varsity Esports
Program, “just like being a varsity athlete or expert pianist. At Becker – and dozens of other schools around the United States – gaming skills will help get you into college. And maybe even earn a full scholarship, too.” Stories of stardom and success are woven throughout The Book of Esports, introducing down-to-earth perspectives that conjure up favorite tales from classic athletes; this may be why Peter Olson, former CEO of Random House and Professor at Harvard Business School, called it “one of the most important sports books of the decade.” As a university city, Providence is well-positioned to produce new leaders in the world of esports. “It’s a new industry, so the people making the biggest impacts will be college graduates,” Collis says, “and we have a spectrum of multidisciplinary talent, which plays enormously into Providence and Rhode Island’s favor.” With entrepreneurs and designers, venues and campus computer labs, and proximity to centers in Foxborough, Boston, and New York City, the Creative Capital is already making its mark on the future of esports. So, on your next walk down Thayer Street, keep an eye out for new arcades like Base Station VR Lounge. Though the consoles and graphics look different, the love of gaming felt by Providence’s pinball pioneers is still very much alive. Find The Book of Esports at your local bookstore.
NEWS & CITY LIFE
by A b b i e L a h m e r s
White Buffalo Gift Shop We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it! What it is: Among the curated collection of oddities, paper goods, jewelry, and vintage clothing, find one-of-a-kind handmade and fair trade gifts, including many pieces made onsite by owner Dana Kretzmann.
What makes it a Rhody Gem? Past the funky socks, clever cards, and vintage denim (all appealing in their own right), White Buffalo is a place to center yourself among the healing products offered, from crystals and candles to incense and herbal teas. A gathering spot pre-pandemic and still a place to social distance and hang out, guests can look through cards from tarot and oracle decks and visit with friendly shop dogs Honey and Trudy. Kretzmann also supports local makers and neighbors with popups and donation drives. “White Buffalo is the most tranquil shopping experience I’ve ever had,” one customer comments. “Laid back, but with care and thought poured into every corner.” Reopened just in time for the fall season, find spooky artifacts like taxidermy creatures in glass cases, coyote skulls, fossils, and astrological prints.
White Buffalo
498 Washington Street @WhiteBuffaloRI
Photos courtesy of White Buffalo
Where to find it: The recently reincarnated storefront still lives in the West End, but now off of Broadway on Washington Street, about midway between The Avery and Ogie’s.
To submit your Rhody Gem, please email Abbie@ProvidenceOnline.com
N e i ghbo r ho o d News | Curated by A b b i e L a h m e r s
Neighborhood News Welcome to Neighborhood News, a space made available to Providence’s neighborhood associations free of charge.
Fro m The Neighbo rh ood s
HOT TOPICS
An overview of what’s happening in your neighborhoods right now
Quality affordable housing proposed for Lower Fox Point The Fox Point Neighborhood Association recently endorsed a $23 million mixed-use development proposed for Parcel 9 of I-195 land, located in lower Fox Point just south of Wickenden Street, near the Our Lady of the Rosary Church. The “Ernestina” project, which was submitted for approval to the 195 Commission in August by the nonprofit organization ONE Neighborhood Builders, will include affordable apartments, a Children’s Friend child care center, community space, and a combination of onsite and nearby (leased) parking. ONE Neighborhood Builders adheres to the City’s Comprehensive Plan in developing this project, and FPNA points out that they have been responsive to the needs of the community by providing quality affordable housing and childcare. ONE Neighborhood Builders has also responded to neighbor feedback by pledging to preserve nearby natural landscaping and make conservative use of airspace. RISD graduate takes on the task of restoring Benefit Street fireboxes
Photo by Robb Dimmick
NEWS & CITY LIFE
The Ernestina project is a mixed-use development proposed by the nonprofit ONE Neighborhood Builders for lower Fox Point. This image depicts a work in progress. Photo by DBVW Architects
Experience. Integrity. Results.
Community weighs in about the fate of the Columbus statue The Christopher Columbus Statue was removed from the Elmwood neighborhood in June following incidents of vandalism and public outcry over its prominent position in the community. Now, as the statue resides in an undisclosed location, Mayor Jorge Elorza, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism (ACT), and the City Council formed the Special Committee to Review Commemorative Works to deliberate on the cultural and artistic value of city monuments like the statue. With artistic merits derived from the sculptor, Auguste Bartholdi, who also designed the Statue of Liberty, Providence’s Columbus statue was commissioned
by Gorham Manufacturing Company to highlight their silver casting ability. While the Providence Preservation Society has not, at time of press, released their official position on the issue, Executive Director Brent Runyon states that “PPS is examining the merits of the proposals we’ve heard so far, including destruction and relocation. As preservationists, we take scholarship and history seriously, but we also recognize the impacts of monuments with difficult histories that take up space in our communities. There is no solution that will please everyone, but we have to do the best we can with these decisions.”
Firebox restoration project on Benefit Street
Washington Park transforms streets with new trees
Noticing the century-old, cracked and faded fireboxes all around College Hill, Ray Rickman, Executive Director of Stages of Freedom, was inspired to restore one of the boxes on Benefit Street as his personal contribution to beautify the Mile of History. Dan Mitrovic, a recent RISD graduate, was hired to complete the meticulous job of bringing the box back to its original 1920s glory. All of the boxes are still in active service, which means that stripping and repainting them requires care to preserve their mechanisms. Mitrovic, whose background in furniture design gave him the tools to honor the original craft, spent July removing the paint, prepping the surface, painting, and finishing. Down to the minute embossed lettering and its brass plaque, “Everyone can tell that an artist from one of America’s finest design schools did the work,” says Rickman. The success has encouraged Rickman and Benefit Street resident Wendy Marcus to raise additional funds to restore two more fireboxes on Benefit Street, one at the corner of Halsey and the other at Church. Donations can be sent by check to Stages of Freedom, or visit online for more information. StagesOfFreedom.org
October means tree-planting, and Washington Park is planning to add 22 new trees to the approximately 100 that have been planted over the past five years, transforming streets like Virginia Avenue from a bleak wind tunnel to an increasingly attractive thoroughfare lined with shade and fruit trees. Association President Linda Perri has headed this effort, working with the City Forester, the Department of Transportation, and City Councilman Pedro Espinal. This year’s focus will be Allens Avenue. For the first time, the city will plant shade trees inside yards in areas that lack curbing, as well as along the street. South Providence and particularly Washington Park have fewer trees than other neighborhoods and are considered “heat islands” within the city, due to the parking lots around hospitals, industries, and the Port of Providence. The replanting effort is complicated by absentee landlords and a transient population of students and others who may not know they need to water new trees, especially in their vulnerable first two years. Neighbors are encouraged to “adopt” a tree if they see one that needs water.
CALL Gerri Schiffman (401) 474-3733
A Trusted Advocate for Buyers & Sellers for 27 Years
gerrischiffman.com
residentialproperties.com gerri@residentialproperties.com ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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NEWS & CITY LIFE
N e i ghbo r ho o d News
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: October 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
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
Photo by Savannah Barkley
Providence Neighborhood Associations
Wayland Square Mile of History Association Wendy Marcus c/o Providence Preservation Society 24 Meeting Street Providence, RI 02903 MileOfHistory@gmail.com MileOfHistory.org Mount Hope Community Center 401-521-8830 MHNAInc@gmail.com Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc. Olneyville Neighborhood Association Eduardo Sandoval 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 ONAProvidence@gmail.com Facebook: Olneyville Library Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations Info@provcna.org ProvCNA.org 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 Annual Meeting: October 5 Monthly Meeting: October 19 P.O. Box 41092 Providence, RI 02940 401-400-0986 SNAProv@gmail.com SummitNeighbors.org Washington Park Neighborhood Association Meeting Date: Third Tuesdays of the month 237 Washington Avenue Providence, RI 02905 BettyLinda@aol.com Facebook: Washington Park Association Wayland Square Neighborhood Association Meeting date: October 21 Katherine Touafek Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association WaylandSquareNeighbors@gmail.com West Broadway Neighborhood Association Meeting Date: October 6 1560 Westminster Street Providence, RI 02909 401-831-9344 WBNA@wbna.org WBNA.org
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LIFE & STYLE Home | Influencer | Shop
Looming on the Horizon A textile designer and weaver crafts a colorful studio within her Federal Hill home For many artisans who call Providence home, there’s a palpable connection to the region’s manufacturing history. This holds true for silversmiths who cite being part of a new wave of makers in what was once called the Jewelry Capital of the World, and for weavers like textile designer Kristin Crane, who have a reverence for being minutes away from the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. “My neighborhood of Federal Hill was home to many mill workers over the years. I like being close to that history,” says Crane. “I also love that Providence is a city that values creativity and connection. There are so many people doing really interesting things and people love to share what’s going on and what they’re working on.” Photography by Mike Braca ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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H o me | by Elyse Major
Crane and her husband live in a carriage house, and while charming, it was the property’s doorway and staircase that were deciding factors in taking residence. Topping the must-list was a space for a home studio and most importantly, Crane’s Macomber 16 harness floor loom, which is comparable to owning a piano. “It’s safe to say that we looked for our home based on what a studio for me would look like,” Crane says. “And that doesn’t even take into consideration the yarn, my warping mill, and other supplies.” She notes that being
a weaver involves a certain commitment to space. “When we saw this place available for rent, we loved it and knew the loom would make it up the stairs.” To make the studio work-ready, Crane aims to keep surroundings minimal, letting tools and yarn provide interest and color. “When I was in smaller spaces all I ever wanted was shelves with plenty of space for yarn – I love seeing it all in there now,” she says. Also on display is a finished piece from a workshop in Guatemala, and a piece she wove with three of her nieces who Want your home featured in Providence Monthly? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
Photography by Mike Braca
LIFE & STYLE
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all visited at different times. Neutral walls feature art on floating shelves, and area rugs add warmth and pattern. “Since my space isn’t huge, it needs to function well. I can’t make good work if there are piles of stuff everywhere,” Crane explains. “If it’s organized, then I can get messy when I’m in the middle of something, but it’s easy to tidy up when I need a cleaner space to think. Also, if it’s well organized, it doesn’t take forever to tidy up!”
Fifty-seven years, three generations, and who knows how many meatballs. ▲
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GET RHODY STYLE Here are ways that Kristin Crane resets her creativity after spending hours at her home weaving studio: SPECIAL TREAT “I absolutely love Roma on Atwells Avenue. My special treat for lunch is, in my opinion, Providence’s best sandwich. It’s pork loin, sharp provolone cheese, broccoli rabe, on a delicious roll, which then goes into the oven to warm it all up. So. Good.” STACKS OF INSPO “The Providence Public Library is a rich resource. They have an incredible collection of books and you can make an appointment to view items in their special collections.”
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DEBBIE GOLD 401-640-0403 Debbie.Gold@NEMoves.com
The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2018 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker 231653NE_12/17 Real Estate LLC.
ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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LIFE & STYLE
I nfl ue nc e r | by E l y s e M a j o r
Meet Alec Beckett and Brian Gross Creative Partners, NAIL Communications The alleged immortal founders of the Providence-based ad agency responsible for some of the most innovative and memorable campaigns talk T-shirts, snark, and keeping the creative spark lit while working remote.
Your recent commercial for Lifespan was NAIL’s first socially distanced production – concepted, shot, and posted without anyone working together in the same space. What has this process been like for you to work out concepts and collaborate apart? It has sucked. But we have done it – frankly better than we imagined possible. We have managed shoots in LA and NYC remotely. We have brought on new employees that we’ve never sat in a room with. We have welcomed employees’ new babies by Zoom. But we know that we are missing out on
all the magical conscious and unconscious inspirations and connections that happen when we are physically together.
videos together and talking about them; and we do a monthly meeting where people volunteer to give presentations.
Any tips for maintaining the collaborative give-and-take flow of the creative process while independently working from home? We are fighting hard to keep some semblance of company culture while all trapped in our mansions. For instance, we did a virtual escape room together; we took pictures of everyone’s desks at work so they could use them as Zoom backgrounds; we are watching Master Class
You’ve orchestrated some of the most memorable campaigns both locally and nationally. For example, the breakup of Mike and Ike. How did you sell that idea? Was that a favorite campaign? Agencies often get all the credit for creative campaigns but the reality is that every single great campaign out there – either by us or anyone else – had a brave, smart client who
Photo courtesy of NAIL
Brian displays ad props; Alec daydreams about donuts
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had the vision and guts to say “yes.” Mike and Ike was a great example. When we proposed the idea of the breakup, it hinged on the idea of “defacing” all their packaging by crossing out either name – Mike or Ike. We never really believed that they’d be willing to pull the trigger. But they did. The hard truth is that we have had many more good ideas die for lack of a “yes” than have made it out into the world. Our favorite campaign has to be the “Nothing Can” for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. While Mike and Ike was creatively successful, the Nothing campaign was soulfully successful. We love using our powers for good and giving back to our community.
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A trade magazine described NAIL as having a “palpable snark” – is that something that comes natural to you both? I had a palpable snark, but the doctor was able to remove it. I couldn’t sit for a week! [Brian] We definitely don’t take ourselves seriously. For two main reasons: One, it’s a lot more fun to work at a place with that kind of spirit. And more importantly – we’ve learned that doing great work requires an atmosphere where everyone feels safe to try things, suggest crazy ideas, and screw up royally. So that means we are loose, tolerant, and endlessly making fun of each other. NAIL has been around for 22 years now. Are you starting to feel like the elder states-people of the ad world? Does this mean you’ll start wearing ties to work? We’re actually a lot older than we look: Brian will be 124 years old on Sunday and Alec just turned 219. How do we do it? After much debate, we have decided to share our closely guarded secret to eternal youth: Ironic T-shirts. Yup, science has shown that regularly wearing sardonic, faux nostalgic, non-sequitur T-shirts will add decades to your lifespan. The flip side is, of course, that should we accidentally put on a tie, our ancient bodies will desiccate to dust almost immediately. ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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LIFE & STYLE
Sho p | by E l y s e M a j o r
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In the Pink While Halloween conjures the iconic orangeand-black color combo, wearing pink all October long shows support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual campaign best known for pink ribbons takes shape in many forms, including purchasing items where proceeds go to a related charity. This October, locally based national jewelry retailer Haverhill Collection will
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
donate 20 percent of proceeds from their Pink Awareness Collection to BrightPink.org, a national breast and ovarian health nonprofit that strives to educate women and their healthcare providers. Haverhill Collection is the namesake of its founder, Haverhill Leach, who lives in Rhode Island and is a fifth-generation jewelry maker. The Pink Awareness Collection consists of
dazzling pieces featuring hand-faceted and hand-set pink tourmaline gemstones and solid 14k yellow gold, all crafted in New England. Lore has it that pink tourmaline can be energized in the light of a full moon, of which there are two this month – the Harvest Moon on the first, and the Hunter’s Moon on Halloween. Sounds like the makings of a bewitching evening!
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How Providence’s coziest spots are finding inventive ways to keep their snug vibe alive, even if it means taking the party outside By Abbie Lahmers, Elyse Major & Megan Schmit
Blame old movies. We’re talking 1920s black-and-white movies. We’re talking the days when you got dressed up to go out for a night on the town. Remember those? Nights out of the house, on the town? Providence’s beloved speakeasy-style bars harken back to the romance of an evening in the big city. They mix up fancy drinks. They keep the lights low. Heck, sometimes there isn’t even a sign on the front door – you just gotta know. In a society that’s all about surveillance capitalism and every click leads to a digital footprint that sticks like gum on your shoe, isn’t it nice to unplug, read a magazine (yes!), put on clothes with buttons, and head out for a grown-up drink? Some of these places have needed to shift their business plan on the quick, now offering hand sanitizer alongside cocktails, making sure patrons wear masks, and even taking the whole shebang outside – but doesn’t that just add to the mystique? Sure it does. Put the yoga pants away, shut off Netflix, and let’s be grown-ups tonight!
drinks, and atmosphere to share ideas; it’s what he describes in their business plan as “the foundation of a functioning democracy.” Taking a seat around the fountain with a cocktail in hand and other masked patrons around you, it’s clear at least that this tenet hasn’t been lost. For fall, The Avery continues to offer their usual menu of classic cocktails, along with some seasonal specials. Summer saw the introduction of frozen daiquiris while autumn is all about warmth, featuring a Black Manhattan with 100-proof rye whiskey, savory amaro, and a mix of bitters. The bar itself doesn’t serve snacks, but check across the street at big king for take-away onigiriazu specials (local fish and veg wrapped in nori) or around the corner at Bucktown for Southern comfort staples to enjoy on the patio. 18 Luongo Square • AveryProvidence.com • @theaverypvd
“
If you look at where we are since March, we’re at 34 percent of last year’s sales. We’ve had to pivot to exclusively using our outdoor space for service. -John Richard, owner of The Avery
“
A few blocks off of Broadway into residential terrain, you come upon The Avery, a blue-and-purple house occupying a quaint little square with a group of benches and bubbling fountain, and know you’ve discovered something special. While you may have heard of this spot from friends or a quick Google search for hip bars, there’s nothing quite like unwittingly catching a glimpse of it down a little ways where Carpenter Street meets Knight – a lively epicenter of the West End, now even more bustling with patrons spilling outside while the art deco interior remains shuttered – for now. “Since the start of the year, we’re at 54 percent of sales compared to last year,” owner John Richard explains, listing off the grim statistics many bars are facing amid the challenges of COVID-19. “If you look at where we are since March, we’re at 34 percent of last year’s sales. We’ve had to pivot to exclusively using our outdoor space for service.” This speakeasy (a moniker Richard resists but admits to its uncanny resemblance to a 1920s-style joint) is fortunate to have a spacious, open square to stagger socially distanced tables. But the vibe is different from the dimly lit, golden-hued bar space configured by designer Kyla Coburn, with coffered ceilings, leather chairs, and intricate wall art. The guiding principle behind The Avery is to create what Richard refers to as a “Third Place,” or a space outside of work and home where people can congregate over good service,
While currently closed, The Avery’s signature bar will be patiently waiting for the return of indoor customers
Visit these speakeasy-esque juice joints to get your fill of creative autumn-themed cocktails. Many are only open for outdoor reservations, carry-out, or limited indoor visits at time of press, so squeeze in a trip while the weather is nice.
The Dean Bar The discreet cocktail lounge tucked into The Dean is anything but your run-of-the-mill hotel bar, known for crafting elegant drinks with surprise twists like egg whites, amarillo chiles, and pomegranate honey. While the bar is currently closed, find food and drink from north to-go during Open Air Saturdays, when the Dean Marketplace sets up in the parking lot. “Soon enough,” they promise, “we’ll be drinking whiskey neat hiding in the shadows of The Dean Bar.” 122 Fountain Street, @thedeanbar
The Eddy This classy downcity bar boasts a dimly lit, minimalist interior with a penchant for creative concoctions. Find 1920s-style snacks like deviled eggs and pickled veg to indulge while you imbibe, available for to-go orders and spacious patio dining by reservation. While the inside remains closed for the time being, order an old fashioned or negroni to enjoy outside, or try the popular bartender’s choice: You choose the spirit, and a mixologist will take care of the rest. 95 Eddy Street, EddyBar.com
Far West Recently reopened with a lush patio nestled in the Rooms & Works lot with greenery between each table, Far West isn’t quite as much of a secret as it used to be, but plenty worth stumbling upon. The inside exudes industrial charm, and their variety of cocktails combine different styles, like a classic negroni but with mezcal. Add popcorn and finger-food snacks, and enjoy an autumn evening outdoors. 55 Cromwell Street, FarWestPVD.com
Justine’s Perhaps the most authentic speakeasy joint you can find in 21st-century Providence, Justine’s looks like a lingerie shop from a first glance at the mannequins in the windows. But once you enter through curtains, the bar room drips with low-key ambiance, featuring art nouveau light fixtures and blue-and-gold crane wallpaper. A favorite cocktail is Free Man in Paris, a gin drink with a few dashes of absinthe, aperol, and citrus. Try it inside where limited capacity seating is enforced or outside on their secluded patio. 11 Olneyville Square, @isadoras93club
The Royal Bobcat Framed portraits of dapper felines lining the walls are this joint’s defining feature, and they’re now available on T-shirts to make up for not being able to see the real deal in person. The Royal Bobcat currently offers carry-out cocktails, along with Korean-Cajun fusion eats from the in-house Hanju Kitchen, with a few outdoor seats. Seasonal specials infuse jalapeño, sage, and basil into some favorite classic cocktails. 424 Atwells Avenue, TheRoyalBobcat.com
“
It is really odd to have a bar, and not let people sit at it. There is absolutely a change in the space having those seats empty; we are missing out on a lot of conversations and connections.
“
-Candida Musanti, owner of The Walnut Room
Nestled on the corner of South Main and Power Streets is Providence’s newest cocktail lounge, and one of the few still offering the intimacy of indoor service. The Federal-style facade was most recently an interior design studio, though its history reaches back to the early 1800s when it was built; present day, it’s a prime location for those spilling from across the Pedestrian Bridge or finishing a meal at Plant City looking to end the night with a drink. It might even make you forget you’re in the middle of a pandemic, and transport you to a different age of ‘20s. First-time bar owner Candida Musanti took her time to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a Prohibition-era speakeasy: warm woods – hence the “Walnut” – velvet curtains, gold accents, stone hearth, cozy nooks, and crystal glasses. The menu features specially curated cocktails, plus beer and wine, and Musanti and staff are masked up and ready to serve tableside. “Given the restrictions and hesitation to go out, I’m really happy with how business has been,” says Musanti, noting a mix of new faces and regular patrons spilling into the bar Thursday through Saturday. While The Walnut Room opened this summer amid the pandemic and quickly embraced safety and social distancing measures
(including limited outdoor sidewalk seating), it hasn’t sacrificed the snug sensibility characteristic of the speakeasy bar. “I want it to be an experience for people,” says Musanti, offering a dreamy description of patrons sipping cocktails and chatting, surrounded by rich music and elegant trimmings. But, of course, it’s not entirely what she envisioned at the moment. “It is really odd to have a bar, and not let people sit at it,” Musanti muses. “There is absolutely a change in the space having those seats empty; we are missing out on a lot of conversations and connections.” However, in lieu of the intimacy created by patrons leaning over a bar, they’ve made sure to focus on the atmosphere to keep it both comfy and cozy, including the decor and a playlist of music curated by a local DJ Brown Bread. “The staff has also done an exceptional job,” she adds, “and the space would not be the same without their personalities shining during their shifts.” This fall will be the first for The Walnut Room, and Musanti is preparing some subtle shifts to the menu to “match the feel of the season”: “You will see some cocktails with warmer tones and seasonal flavors,” she says, like spiced pear and orange, nutty flavors, and caraway. 245 South Main Street • @thewalnutroompvd
100 years ago you couldn’t get a drink in this city… or could you? • By Elyse Major You think things are tough now? Imagine no liquor! That’s what was going on just about 100 years ago when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution banned nearly all things boozy – from buying and selling to transporting and serving. While research tells us that Rhode Islanders, being the independents we are, didn’t quite take the law fully to heart, it was still a thing and you had to be sneaky if you wanted to imbibe. Since patrons could no longer belly up to the bar at their local watering hole, people got plucky and started pouring drinks at secret in-the-know spots – places like hotel basements, drug stores, even private homes. According to the New England Historical Society, what’s now Camille’s Restaurant on Federal Hill has a speakeasy past (né Camille’s Roman Garden) and during that time fashioned cozy nooks by hanging curtains in alcoves to serve basement-made libations. It was the Roaring Twenties and filled with gangsters, bootleggers, and the law. Once Prohibition ended about a dozen years later, things settled down some. Today’s speakeasies are not so secret and even have Yelp reviews, but continue to provide an atmosphere of noir for an alluring evening.
Minutes from busy Atwells Avenue in an enclave of mostly multi-family homes stands a nondescript building that’s obviously a business – but sans signage. You might notice people exiting with cups of green ice cream (that’s sweet pea) or cocktails packaged to go, or dining outside on the patio. What is this place simply identified with the number “51” on a transom window? This storied property has housed various bakeries in the 1920s and ‘30s, and after World War II became a social club briefly referred to as The Old Man Club; today it’s the cool AF spot known as Courtland Club. Don’t let the “club” part scare you off – you don’t need to be a member – but get this – pre-COVID you could be and you can be again soon. Benefits are on hold for now but Jason Shechtman, founder and director, explains the option as a way to honor the history of the building and region, and for patrons to feel more vested. “Membership is for people who really enjoy spending time at Courtland Club, or think of it as a sec-
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“
Membership is for people who really enjoy spending time at Courtland Club, or think of it as a second home and want to be even more involved. -Jason Shechtman, founder, director of Courtland Club
ond home and want to be even more involved.” The big new feature of membership will be a complimentary Members’ Cocktail of the Month. Additionally, members will get invitations to complimentary wine and spirit tasting events, first access to special event tickets, and early access to general reservations along with private bottle lockers. Like other businesses, Courtland Club found itself closing on March 15 due to COVID-19 but just days later reopened with curbside pick up. Once to-go cocktails were greenlit, Shechtman wanted to make sure they translated their signature emphasis on presentation for takeout: “We didn’t want to just throw a drink in a deli container and call it a day.” The Club succeeded by packaging cocktails in test tubes, naming a drink Tony and serving it in a jar with googly eyes, among other clever vessels. Currently guests can enjoy outdoor seating on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights by reservation, and cocktails, pizza, and ice cream to-go every day but Monday. When Shechtman and company decided to open outside, it was something they had never done before, and being in a residential area, immediately sought feedback from their neighbors as to how to proceed in a way that would keep everyone happy. “Their input ultimately informed the outdoor floor plan that we went with,” says Shechtman, who built a hinged fence to separate the area for service hours, which collapses when not in use. In late summer, Courtland Club launched their first “Magic Hour” event, a ticketed prix fixe cocktail and small plate tasting menu with limited seating on the new patio, described as an “evening under the stars”. “The experience was incredibly fulfilling for us, and the public response was way more than we could have hoped for, so we plan to be doing those monthly,” Shechtman explains. “We are also launching Saturday and Sunday brunch, which believe it or not, was originally scheduled to start the weekend of March 14, when everything shut down.” 51 Courtland Street • @CourtlandClub
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We Stay Safe to Keep Your Pet Healthy. At Providence River Animal Hospital, we believe that access to pet care should extend beyond the walls of an office. You can always contact us by phone at 401-274-7724(PRAH) or now you can contact us virtually thru our new Airvet App. The app provides 24/7 access to a veterinarian even if the hospital is closed.
Download the app at AIRVET.com
PROVIDENCE RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL 401-274-7724 (PRAH) | 131 Point Street, Providence | ProvidenceRiverAnimalHospital.com | 38
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DEQ
FOOD & DRINK S e c r e t P i z z a | O a t m e a l o n W h e e l s | F o o d N ew s
Slice of Life Piemonte Pizza releases a popular “off-menu” item In the five years since Piemonte Pizza & Grill opened on Doyle Ave, and in the 25 years John Oner has been in the pizza business, the Kurdish specialty pizza has only been offered as an off-menu item. Customers knew about it through word of mouth, or saw it posted on social media, or got lucky and received a free slice from Oner “just because.” But now that his sons Izzy and Elias have taken over the restaurant in their parents’ retirement, the first order of business is to let people know this pie exists. “It was part of our tradition growing up – we ate it for all major gatherings,” Elias explains. Known elsewhere as Lahmajoun, or “meat with dough,” this type of pizza is popular throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East, each region with its own style and flavor. Particular to the Kurdish region of Turkey, where Elias and Izzy grew up, is Urfa chili. This dried red pepper is spicy and smoky, and when blended with minced meat, roasted potatoes, onions, tomato paste, and garlic, it is delicious. Notably missing from this pie is cheese, making it a great option for dairy-free folks, or anyone who wants to eat an entire pizza by themselves without feeling guilty (note: there are vegetarian and gluten-free versions, too). It’s served on a thin, crispy crust, and garnished with lemon. Expert tip: Squeeze the lemon over the pizza. “The citrus paired with the spices really intensifies the flavor,” says Elias. In addition to pizzas, Piemonte offer pastas, salads, sandwiches, and addicting garlic butter knots. But you’ll also find stuffed grape leaves, lentil soup, and baba ghanoush. “Everything is made from scratch,” Elias says. “We don’t just want to be known as another pizza shop. We want to be known for the cultural foods we enjoy back home.” 114 Doyle Ave, PiemontePizza.com, @piemontepie | By Jenny Currier Photo by Jenny Currier ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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FOOD & DRINK
O at me al o n W he e l s | by Abbie Lahmers
Oats on the Go How a cross-country cycling journey inspired Providence’s only mobile oatmeal cafe You might mistake it for an ice cream truck at first. The teal-green refurbished horse trailer regularly posts up on the West End at Dexter Park or Blackstone Boulevard’s Lippitt Memorial Park, but the comfort food they’re peddling isn’t of the frozen variety. Instead, find made-to-order wholesome bowls of oats, beloved by both kiddos and adults seeking a reminder of simpler, kitchen-table mornings waiting for the kettle to boil and ripping open a paper bag of the Quaker quick-cook version. “[Our oats] have become a bedtime conversation for one family,” owner Courtney Ellis explains, describing young sisters who
look forward to their Tuesday morning ritual of visiting the truck with their mom. “One of their favorites is Bee Fruitful, which consists of steel-cut gluten-free oats, flax, chia, strawberry, kiwi, banana, and coconut chips.” Ellis is all about infusing positivity into each offering, with titles preceded by “Bee,” a play on the typical honey sweetener found in oatmeal and the affirmative biddings infused in each: Bee Present, Bee Seasoned, Bee Kind. The idea behind Oatmiel Cafe was devised somewhere between Idaho and Michigan on a cross-country cycling journey Ellis and her sister embarked on in 2011. “We
started our adventure off with pots and pans to cook elaborate meals, but as days went on, we realized oatmeal was the most practical thing for us to eat,” says Ellis of the lightweight hot cereal. “It could easily be topped off with an Irish creamer from the nearby gas station, a banana, peanut butter, honey, etc. We got creative.” Looking for ways to make the trip meaningful, she co-founded nonprofit Bike for Better, raising money for Indigenous communities and also developing her entrepreneurial roots with skills that would later carry over into her business plan for Oatmiel Cafe. In 2017, Ellis made the leap and purchased
Photos courtesy of Oatmiel Cafe
Autumn specials include Cinnamon Roll and Pumpkin Pie oat bowls
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
Specializing in Historic Property on the West Side, Broadway Armory District and Historic Elmwood for the past 18 years.
Call Jane Driver 401.641.3723 a vintage horse trailer she found in Pennsylvania. “When I wasn’t working extra hours to save for this business, I was researching every aspect of business ownership,” she explains. “At the time, I didn’t know how I was going to convert [the trailer] or the time and energy it would exert.” She did know that she wanted to do it herself and outfitted the mobile cafe to fulfill her vision. Find both sweet and savory bowls (think chourico, sauteed veg, and fried egg over oats and chia) made with nutritious ingredients. Ellis mixes up seasonal menus,
too: “This summer we featured two vegan options inspired by campfire s’mores and tropical fruit. In the coming months we look forward to launching some new autumn flavors, such as Pumpkin Pie, Cinnamon Roll, and Mocha Latte.” Or, she encourages, don’t be afraid to “bee” creative and make your own bowl! Find the mobile cafe October 2 on South Water Street celebrating a year in business, or Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays dividing time between Dexter Street and Lippitt Memorial Park. OatmielCafe.com
Happy to assist you with all of your real estate needs
jdriver@residentialproperties.com ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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I live here.
FOOD & DRINK
Food News | by A b b i e L a h m e r s
I work here. I love it here!
401-440-7483 Happily helping buyers and sellers in Providence and throughout Rhode Island
JoeRoch.com jroch@residentialproperties.com 44
ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
Saje Kitchen’s spin on southern Americana cuisine A recent addition to Federal Hill, Saje Kitchen serves up New American cuisine infused with a southern influence and hospitality to match. Owners Jessica Wilkin and Ethan Jaffe, who spent some time in North Carolina before settling in Providence, knew they wanted to open up their restaurant on the lively and historic stretch of Atwells. With a vision of crafting topnotch entrees and cocktails in a chic yet unpretentious setting, Jaffe explains, “Saje Kitchen is a place where anyone can come in, feel relaxed, feel well taken care of, and enjoy their time.” Hams from Virginia, grits from South Carolina, Love Point oysters from Maine, and seasonings from Tennessee create a menu that runs the gamut of Americana. “Southern food actually works really well in conjunction with the local seafood and produce in the area,” Jaffe explains. “We’re able to take these authentic ingredients and create dishes that work with our local purveyors.” Favorites include Dirty Crab Rice, with blue crab and egg yolk, and Chicken and Waffles starring a bourbon barrel-aged brown sage butter. Plexiglass dividers, frequent cleaning, and other measures ensure a safe and leisurely dining experience. 332 Atwells Avenue, SajeKitchen.com
Specialty ice cream by the pint or paleta Miss Naomi’s Ice Cream blossomed out of lockdown as owner Yojaida Heredia revisited an idea she had earlier in the year to start her own business. It seemed like too big of a lift at the time – “But the world shifted,” she explains, “a lot happened, and spending time at home made me realize my passion for ice cream, Providence, and my grandmother being appreciated while she’s here.” Named after her grandmother, and inspired by Heredia’s Afro-Latina upbringing, Miss Naomi’s is a pop-up ice cream purveyor featuring fruity paletas, or Hispanic-style popsicles, and rich ice cream flavors developed and created from scratch. Along with Cafe con Leche – “a Bustelo coffee ice cream with toasted Maria cookies” – and a vegan horchata flavor featuring rice milk, Heredia offers the creamsicle-like Morir Soñando, which means “to die dreaming” in English. Miss Naomi’s Ice Cream debuted at the Dean Market this summer during Open Air Saturdays. More pop-up plans are in the works and announced on Instagram, along with new paleta flavors, collabs with local businesses, and giveaways. @MissNaomisIceCream
Photos courtesy of Saje Kitchen
Call Joe Roch
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Gracie’s returns with new TeamShare service model Gracie’s reopened in August to serve up their classic seasonally curated dishes both indoors and on a new outdoor patio, but not without first re-examining safety protocols and their service model in this postCOVID-19 era. Director of Operations Alan Freudeman explains, “When we started to reimagine the dining experience at Gracie’s, we also felt it was essential to look inward and reimagine the working experience for our team of dedicated professionals.” The TeamShare initiative is a more sustainable and equitable model that replaces the standard practice of tipping with a 20 percent service charge added onto all checks, which is distributed to the team in the form of consistent wages and benefits. This means team members won’t have to suffer any loss of income when taking paid sick leave, avoiding the difficult position of having to choose between wages and health. “Every member of our professional team, from dishwashers to cooks to servers, plays a part in ensuring an outstanding guest experience,” says Freudeman. “This model rewards everyone for their hard work and dedication.” 194 Washington Street, GraciesProv.com
1 4 0 Wic ke n d e n St r e e t - P r o v id e n c e, R I
For more than two centuries, Moses Brown has fostered personal excellence and integrity in students who aim to make a positive difference in the world.
See how a Quaker education can make a difference for you. Overwhelmingly, my teachers have been obviously enthusiastic about sharing their expertise, incredibly thoughtful in their interactions with students, and excellent role models for others in our community.”
Open House: Oct. 17, 2020
Visit mosesbrown.org/admission for more information.
MOSES BROWN SCHOOL Providence, RI 02906
Nursery-Grade 12, Co-Ed Mosesbrown.org
ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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We’re all in this together. Take care of Providence.
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• Free Video Orientations offered weekly • Medically-supervised, individual plans to lose 20-100+ pounds • Comprehensive Telemedicine Evaluations
New Online Weight Loss Program Now Accepting New Patients
• Personalized One-on-One and Group options available • Lighten Up – Teen Program • Curbside Pickup of Optifast Meal Replacements • Convenient & HIPAA compliant For more information, call 401-793-8790 An online orientation is available at lifespan.org/center-weight-wellness
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
ART & CULTURE D e s i g n We e k | M u s i c | O n S t a g e | C a l e n d a r
Solutions by Design Year seven of this annual event adapts with a mix of live and virtual At first, the word “design” might make you think of graphics and stylish home interiors, but in reality, that’s hardly scratching the surface. “In the past decade, design has become a critical factor in how we engage with the world through devices, smart home technology, and lifestyles,” elaborates Jennifer Bialek, director of business development at creative nonprofit DESIGNxRI. “Given the global pandemic, design is becoming more critical in how we move forward.” DESIGNxRI is the organization behind the week-long annual celebration dedicated to the state’s most innovative designers through curated talks, events, and interactive programming. This year, of course, DESIGN WEEK RI will look a bit different, including virtual tours and workshops and a half-day SPARK DESIGN Summit that encourages creatives to learn more about the design sector and workforce, plus opportunities to network. There will be a behind-the-scenes tour from Farm Fresh RI, Bialek says, a bike tour of youth-built design properties around Providence, and a podcast about digital health design. “Our community was challenged to bring their talent, inspiration, solutions, and design mind when submitting proposals,” says Bialek, “and they did not disappoint.” For tickets and details, visit DESIGNxRI.com. | By Megan Schmit Photo by Cat Laine, courtesy of DESIGNxRI ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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ART & CULTURE
M usi c | by Adam Hogue
Sound Investment
Photo by Captain Notonight, courtesy of Studio Blue
Studio Blue in Olneyville provides atmosphere for recording more than music
At 62 Dike Street in Olneyville lies Studio Blue, a transplant from upstate New York focused on not just recording artists but providing an environment that’s the right place and right time for creation. The overarching mission of Studio Blue is to “curate and manage inspirational environments for artists and musicians to live, learn, and work together in,” says owner, engineer, musician, and artist Rick Scianablo. Studio Blue stands out as a place devoted to bringing artists together, realizing artistic visions, and engineering ways to bring those visions to life. “The engineers, artists, and producers here are multi-talented creators who write songs and create music, art, and everything else here,” says Scianablo. “We refine our equipment and spaces together, share gear, knowledge, and skill to help each other’s machines produce the best possible results. So, when you come to us for help to make something, record or rehearse, or even live here, you are most certainly contending
with an intentional energy that exists. It has a sort of limitless flavor dynamic, and we usually have the means to make it happen.” What is immediately striking about Studio Blue is the atmosphere of the space. Every square inch is covered with words, memorabilia, statues, signs, lights, and just about anything else you can imagine. What emerges from the cacophony is whatever you need to see. This attention to physical details plays into the Studio Blue sensibilities that the right space plus the right time equals quality moments. “There is a certain intimacy and family atmosphere here for sure,” says Scianablo. “The energy of the space is very important to me, it inspires people in different ways. That reaction, mixed with every individual’s personality, is the character we want to capture.” Scianablo shares a story of recording one of his favorite local bands, The Viennagram, in 2010: “We started throwing things at the vocalist and poking the guitar and keyboard player with a stick while they were tracking to get
them out of their heads and into the moment – it worked wonders – and we still do this regularly.” When talking about life during corona-time, Scianablo says, “Self-exploration is a human instinct and an important building block in our struggle to survive as a species, but it hasn’t been a priority value in our culture for far too long. No doubt a contributing factor in the ‘slow’ speed at which our culture is evolving. We need more artists and musicians and less police and politicians. Someday everyone will agree.” This month, look for the release of Studio Blue’s PRINCESS, a heavy progressive legacy rock n’ roll megaband with Greg Aaron, Dylan Stankowitz, Johnny Sage, and Zigmond (Ziggy) Coffey, produced and engineered by Sammy D’Ambrosio at Studio Blue. Also in the works is a music shop and rock n’ roll cafe in the Olneyville neighborhood. “That’s all I can say about that,” Scianablo mutters. 111 Summer Street, TheStudioBlue.com
ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
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ART & CULTURE
O n St age | by Megan Schmit
Providence’s Aging Star Gets a Facelift PPAC uses a brief intermission to restore iconic facade to its former glory Before it was the Providence Performing Arts Center, our beloved Weybosset theater with the iconic lights and opulent interior had many identities. It opened in October of 1928 as Loew’s State Movie Palace, entertained a brief stint as a rock concert venue in the early ‘70s, was on the brink of being demolished in 1976 until city members (including the infamous Buddy Cianci) stepped in, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and finally transformed into a nonprofit performing arts space. It wasn’t until 1982 that what had become the Ocean State Performing Arts
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ProvidenceOnline.com • October 2020
Center added Providence to its name, in honor of the city that saved it. “Like any 92-year-old, the Grande Dame is starting to show her age,” says Alan Chille, Vice President at PPAC, playfully referring to the building’s original facade which has survived decades of New England winters and two major hurricanes. In July, the theater announced a restoration project that will include replacing one-third of the stone face and repairing and resurfacing the rest, making the building lustrous – and waterproof – once again.
“The Weybosset Street facade provides the grand and ornate face to the actual theater that sits well back from the street,” Chille explains. The developer, movie house mavens Rapp & Rapp, designed the interior to feature a grand lobby, vestibules for retails shops, auditorium, plus office space in the above four stories; the frontage was wrapped in hand-carved and molded terracotta to mimic the European Renaissance style popular at the time. “One of only a few surviving terracotta facades such as this still exist in the City,” adds Chille.
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The restoration is a multi-faceted effort between PPAC’s own funds and grants from The Champlin Foundation and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. The project is expected to take five months, ready to debut alongside the national tour launch of The Prom in late January. “The Providence Performing Arts Center is historically important to the City,” says Chille, “as it represents one of the few grand movie theaters left in the country – truly a gem.” 220 Weybosset Street, PPACRI.org
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ART & CULTURE
C alendar | by Abbie Lahmers
Roger Williams Park Zoo’s Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular
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OCT
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Find your favorite food trucks in one place at Pump House Music Works, along with curbside liquor pick-up available from Sons of Liberty across the street. Bring a blanket and make it a picnic on the lawn. Wakefield, PumpHouseMusicWorks.com
Peruse the works of local makers at your own pace as you meander through North Kingstown, Warwick, and East Greenwich for West Bay Open Studios, a self-guided tour of artists and maker spaces. WestBayOpenStudios.com
OCT
through
08:
With safety always a top priority, 18: the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will take a new form this year. Sign up early to stay in the loop about this annual fundraising tradition. MakingStridesWalk.org/ProvidenceRI
24-25:
Frerichs Farm has fallthemed events every weekend at their Pumpkin Palooza – from a ride on a magic pumpkin coach and pumpkin painting to a DIY scarecrow workshop. Warren, FrerichsFarm.com
OCT
27:
Photo by Taylor Gilbert
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At KITCHEN GUYS, you simply never know what you’ll find. They carry unique products like full-length mirrors and beautiful farmhouse sinks to specialty appliances like ice makers, wine units, microwave drawers, plus outdoor grills and smokers. In addition to their everchanging appliance collection, they carry cookware, small appliances, and other eclectic finds, like a chandelier, vacuums, and even a special room with display cases of sparkling minerals. The main draw, of course, is still the enormous selection of appliances available at 30-60 percent off the retail price. The showroom, a 20,000-square-foot space conveniently located in Pawtucket, features over 400 scratch-and-dent appliances. “There is no shortage of anything,” says owner Michael Gaffin. The seemingly endless space offers row upon row of kitchen and laundry appliances, including stainless steel refrigerators, dishwashers, front-loading washing machines, and much more. The inventory is constantly changing, so come experience the thrill of the hunt. With Kitchen Guys offering expert service, delivery, and an unmatched selection, you’ll never want to pay retail again once you shop here.
Bob Moreau at AUTOWERKS has made remote auto care literally worry-free. He’ll arrange pickup, repair, cleaning, sanitizing, and then deliver your car back to your driveway. All you do is leave the key! Technicians wear masks and fresh gloves for each service. Once completed, your invoice arrives via email. Looking to upgrade? AutoWerks can do that remotely as well! Bob offers free oneon-one consultations by phone or using your preferred virtual meeting software. With decades in the business, Bob will help you establish the best option for your budget, usage, and goals. Next, he literally shops for you. You’ll receive photos and vehicle reports and Bob will walk you through the pros and cons of each option, whether you desire a new or “pre-loved” car. Once you choose, he will purchase your dream car, service, clean and inspect it, and then personally deliver it to your door sanitized and ready to drive. What could be simpler or safer? With AutoWerks, you get a knowledgeable expert to help you avoid the pitfalls of car repairs and car buying – all from the convenience of your home. Contact Bob today to get the conversation started.
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“This is the place to go if you are in Providence and have a German make car. They do excellent work at a fair price, and on time. And if you're a customer, they do all they can for you in an emergency or case of need.” – Marc R., Providence, BMW 3 Series
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Pic of PVD
The fall foliage at Roger Williams Park never disappoints.
ABOUT KAYLA @k___elizabeth Awkward millennial sarcastically MacGyvering my way through marriage, motherhood & life with my camera in hand.
L I L A D E L M A N R E A L E STAT E I S YO U R P R OV I D E N C E CO U N T Y A LT E R N AT I V E . . .
1 in Rhode Island Luxury Real Estate
53 STIMSON AVE. | EAST SIDE OF PROV., RI SOLD: $1,337,500 | 401.465.3975 WATCH HILL NARRAGANSETT
141 WINSOR AVE. | JOHNSTON, RI Pending Sale: $799,900 | 401.265.8316 PROVIDENCE BLOCK ISLAND
*This representation is based on information from the RI Statewide MLS for 1/1/19 - 12/31/19. No. 1 Luxury ranking based on sold dollar volume of $1M+ properties in 2019.
SOLD 31 INDIAN HILL RD. | WARWICK, RI SOLD: $1,400,000 | 401.465.3975
PENDING
297 HOWLAND RD. | WESTPORT, MA Pending Sale: $1,495,000 | 401.383.0999
PENDING
SOLD
6 OLIVE ST. | EAST SIDE OF PROV., RI SOLD: $1,710,000 | 401.465.3975
NEWPORT JAMESTOWN
*
PENDING
SOLD
No.
27 LANTERN LN. | BARRINGTON, RI Pending Sale: $775,000 | 401.662.7993 LILA DELMAN REAL ESTATE OF PROVIDENCE 369 SOUTH MAIN STREET | 401.274.1644
10 Cooke Street East Side of Providence $1,300,000 | 401.553.6315
585 Elmgrove Avenue See the Video Tour at 10Cooke.com
98 Benefit Street East Side of Providence $995,000 | 401.447.8040
83 Hope Street See the Video Tour at 98BenefitStreet.com
Kettle Point East Providence $600,000s | 401.742.9988
East Side of Providence $1,200,000 | 401.474.3733
East Side of Providence $578,000 | 401.447.7840
52 Princeton Avenue See the Video Tour at KettlePointHomes.com
Providence $399,900 | 401.641.3723
Barrington 401.245.9600
East Greenwich 401.885.8400
Providence 401.274.6740
Westport MA 508.636.4760
Cumberland 401.333.9333
Narragansett 401.783.2474
West Side PVD 401.457.3400
Relocation 800.886.1775