Providence Monthly November 2023

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$890,000 401.214.1524 Each office is independently owned and operated.

The numbers

TELL THE STORY TOP Individual Agents In RI For Volume & Transactions

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Over $71 Million in Volume 74 Transactions

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R E C O R D S S H O W T H AT 2 , 5 3 6 A G E N T S H AV E S O L D O N T H E E A S T S I D E O F PROVIDENCE SINCE 1 991.*

KEVIN FOX R A N KS IN T HE

TOP 2 N AV I G AT E T H E R E A L E S TAT E M A R K E T W I T H K E VI N O N YO U R S I D E .

401.688.5556 | kevin.fox@compass.com | 369 S. Main St. Kevin Fox is a real estate agent with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. *Data & rankings based on closed real estate transation count between 1.1.91 - 9.28.23 in the Rhode Island State-Wide Multiple Listing Service. **As of 2022, Closed Sales Volume, Source: RealTrends 3/9/23.

IN THIS ISSUE

Providence Monthly November 2023

37

BUY LOCAL

Photo courtesy of Lore

14 OP-ED: A prep school’s new head of school and the passing of a legend 16 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: Martina Martinez is documenting the stories of Latinos in Rhode Island 18 RHODY GEM: A must-see tiny studio/ shop on Acorn Street 20 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Hyper local news and contact listings 24 FEATURE: Honoring veterans with monuments and initiatives

51

LIFE & STYLE 51 HOME: An East Side Colonial gets a stylish makeover 58 INFLUENCER: On-air personality’s love of radio and Rhody 60 SHOP: Mount Hope maker builds furniture to last

Illustration by Jen Corace

11 A Providence woman brings warm, nutritious meals to the street

FOOD & DRINK 63 Farm-fresh boxes spread the love for Thanksgiving 64 EXPERIENCE: Delicacies for sinners and saints on Federal Hill

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ART & CULTURE

66 IN THE KITCHEN: Turkey tips from a homesteading cookbook author 68 FOOD NEWS: East Side smoothie shop, cocktail lounge in EP & Italian pastries in South County 70 RHODY EATS: RESTAURANT GUIDE

73 Children’s book illustrator ditches perfection in divine Providence 74 MUSIC SCENE: New album from PVD’s own famous alt rock-folk band

68

76 Rocker-turnedmanager’s pop culture life

Photo courtesy of In The Pink

Photo by Elizabeth Field Photography, courtesy of Cypress Design Co.Cypress Design Co.

NEWS & CITY LIFE

The city’s creativity abounds in stores, co-ops, and organizers dedicated to putting Rhody-made goods front and center

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

On The Cover: Holiday wrap session! Styled by Abigail Brown, sourced by Elyse Major, and photographed by Nick DelGiudice 4

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The best selection of Gifts & Rhody Swag in the state!

Cards, Jewery, Art Prints, Kitchen Goods, Baby & Kids, Puzzles, Ornaments & Stocking Stuffers, Stained Glass, Journals, Bath, Body & Candles, and more.

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WEB EXTRA: The ultimate field guide to adventuring outdoors across the state

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401-289-0900 Complimentary consultation Debra personally interviews and screens her clients Photo by @lenahmiro

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Redefining East Side Real Estate

170 Blackstone Boulevard PENDING • $3,695,000

518 Cole Avenue SOLD • $1,850,000

74 Hazard Avenue SOLD • $1,660,000

44 Montague Street SOLD • $1,650,000

28 Orchard Place SOLD • $1,305,000

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KIRA .GREENE@COMPASS.COM 401.339.5621

Kira Greene is a real estate agent with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. *Data & rankings based on real estate transations closed between 1.1.23 - 9.28.23 in the Rhode Island State-Wide Multiple Listing Service.

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NEWS & CITY LIFE O p - E d | T h e P u b l i c ’ s R a d i o | R h o d y G e m | N e i g h b o r h o o d N ew s | F e a t u re

Pastor Carl Balark, Jr. and Nellie Gaye with Mayor Brett Smiley

Tuesdays with Nellie A nursing specialist’s mission to serve nutritious meals to the hungry and homeless “You see the homeless walk the street, and they want to be heard but no one is listening. You just have to open your heart, give, and love,” says Nellie Gaye, founder of nonprofit One Less Worry. Having experienced homelessness in Liberia when she was 11 years old, Gaye was motivated to make it her life mission to help others and now serves fresh, warm meals in Providence, operating out of Ebenezer Baptist Church.

One Less Worry has been running since October 2021, feeding up to 150 people every Tuesday. It all started when Gaye was working in the detox unit at Roger Williams Medical Center as a nursing specialist and found her patients in need of more care than ever. She started donating used clothes to patients to wear once they were discharged.

“I relate to them by looking at my life as an 11-year-old child, and I see them in me,” says Gaye. “They just want to be heard. When people aren’t given the opportunity to express themselves, you don’t know what is going on.”

Photo courtesy of One Less Worry ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

N o npr o fi t | By Cynthia Munrayos

GIVING TUESDAY | November 28

Gaye is also motivated by a near-death experience she faced in 2019, when she became sick from a reaction to an antibiotic and was hospitalized at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence. She recalls feeling “so weak I couldn’t take it,” but she heard a voice telling her, “your job on earth is not done yet.” Once she regained consciousness, Gaye suffered memory lapses and couldn’t recognize her kids or other visitors, but eventually made progress regaining memories. “From that day on, I knew I had a calling to save people.”

Always an entrepreneur, when Gaye moved to Rhode Island at age 18, she

12

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

opened her own clothing boutique in Providence. Once she began finding her mission, she says, “I could feel a different energy that started to arise in me. I did not see [the unhoused] how other people saw them, and over the years, I told my kids that I would take care of them.”

Gaye approached her pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church with her plan to feed the homeless, setting the gears in motion for One Less Worry, which is partially supported by donations from the public, but is mostly funded by Gaye’s own retirement savings. Word traveled by handing out flyers in the street and posting on Facebook, and soon Gaye’s name was

One Less Worry volunteers hard at work serving nutritious meals

synonymous with the nourishing meals her organization serves on Cranston Street. More recently, she also worked directly with Mayor Brett Smiley and the City of Providence to help seek more ways to help the unhoused.

“It’s fresh food,” says Gaye. “It’s not canned.

I put my all into it because food makes a difference in people’s lives.” Meals consist of fresh veggies, rice, and a protein, along with some extra fruit to create an overall balanced meal for those she serves. Whether giving out food on the street or serving plates at her church, Gaye doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. She says, “The little help that I can do, I will do until God allows me to.”

Photo courtesy of One Less Worry

Since 2012, nonprofit organizations have relied on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving for a boost to their fundraising efforts. Consider donating or volunteering your time to One Less Worry or other nonprofits around the city this year. Learn more at OneLessWorryOrg.com

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

O p-Ed | By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

A Legend Passes and a New Leader Rises Moses Brown School welcomes a new head of school while honoring an old grand master

King B. “Doc” Odell (center) with colleagues and friends

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

She prides herself as a leader, a learner, and a listener, with expertise that ranges from strategic planning and curricular innovation to enrollment and fundraising. In short, she understands education, not just as it has been and where it is now, but how it needs to evolve to meet the global challenges children will face in a rapidly changing world.

Just a few weeks into the new season, Moses Brown also lost perhaps one of the most beloved and iconic of its old grand masters, who taught and served at the school for over 70 years. King B. “Doc” Odell continued as both the school’s historian and someone with the unique ability and irreverent sense of humor to bring generations of alumni together.

Generations of students remember his distinct fashion: a blue sport coat and black raincoat with large black square glasses that never missed a thing. Odell taught French and chaired the Language Department. He

was opinionated, forthright, and didn’t take prisoners, famously telling then-presidential candidate George McGovern, whose son was a student at Moses Brown at the time, “You’re a nice looking man, but you’re a Democrat and I’d never vote for you!”

He was a coaching legend in track and field, winning three RI Interscholastic Winter League Championships, 22 NE Prep School Winter Championships, eight NE Cross Country Championships, and 14 NE Prep School Spring Championships.

Over 500 people attended Odell’s retirement dinner. He had a passion for teaching and a gift for relating to people and his legacy lives on through the lives of hundreds of students that he mentored.

This is the proud tradition that the new head of school looks forward to combining with her own unique perspectives. Titus grew up in Fair Haven, Vermont, a town of

Photos (R) by Jason Henry, (L) courtesy of Barry Fain

This fall has been a particularly active one for Moses Brown School. As students began a new semester, they were welcomed

by Katie Titus as the new head of school.

She’s maintaining a frenetic overbooked beginning as she is engaging students, faculty, parents, and alumni in her new role.

Titus brings a wealth of experience to the new position, most recently as the interim head of school at the prestigious Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. During her 26-year career, some of her previous positions included heading Mercersburg Academy, where she was the first woman to lead the 125-year-old institution in Pennsylvania, associate head for school life at St. George’s School in Middletown, and director of college counseling at Pingree School in Massachusetts, where she also taught math, served as an advisor, and coached the champion varsity basketball team.

Katie Titus

2,700 known for its slate quarries, where she attended public school. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in secondary education from Middlebury College, where she was a standout on the women’s basketball team, scoring more than 1,000 points in her four-year career and serving as a two-year team captain. She received a master’s in educational leadership from Columbia University in New York City.

Titus enjoys staying active, whether walking the family’s black Lab, Ivy, gardening, or rollerblading. She’s an avowed podcast fanatic, continuing to learn through the experiences and stories of others. She and husband Stuart have two daughters: Natalie, a junior in college, and Samantha, a senior in high school, and the family will be living on campus.

Titus looks forward to embracing and

expanding the wonderful traditions of her new school, speaking for both herself and her students: “You can expect that we will have high expectations of you because we know what your potential is, and we want you to reach it.” She leads from truth and optimism with her own values of collaboration and deep commitment to her communities.

Moses Brown is the sixth oldest prep school in the country with roots dating back to 1784.

Op-eds express the authors’ opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Providence Media. Readers are welcome to send responses or letters to the editor to be considered for print publication in a future issue or posted online. Letters can be emailed to Abbie@providenceonline.com

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

Happy to assist you with all of your real estate needs.

Jane Driver Broker Associate 401.641.3723

jdriver@residentialproperties.com

Jane Driver is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

I nt e r v i e w | In P artnership with The Public’s Radio • ThePublicsRadio.org

Nuestras Raíces Marta Martinez is Documenting the Stories of Latinos in Rhode Island

By Mareva Lindo Marta Martinez didn’t set out to make an oral history. Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, when she moved here in the mid-1980s to attend Providence College, she just wanted to know more about the local Latino community. Out of that curiosity came Nuestras Raíces, which means “our roots,” a project collecting stories from the Rhode Island Latino community since 1991. Martinez sat down to talk about her oral history work with Laura Tamayo, a student at Brown University who’s been working on the project.

Marta Martinez (left) and Laura Tamayo (right).

Martinez is the founder and community oral historian of Nuestras Raíces, an oral history project of the Rhode Island Latino community. Tamayo is a student at Brown University who’s been working on the project

MARTA MARTINEZ: I met some really wonderful people, and they were not really the people I was looking for. I was – to clarify, looking for Mexicans – which is where my community is. Instead, I found some Dominicans and Caribbeans, Puerto Ricans. And I really was very impressed with the neighborhood. It reminded me of the neighborhood I grew up in. It was, all the businesses were Latino run, there was a lot of Spanish being spoken, it was a very positive and happy neighborhood that I found.

So I went to the library, wanted to know a little bit more, to see what else I could find, like on paper. And there was nothing, I found a few articles. And it was mainly about the negative side of the Latino community – who was arrested and all the drug addicts and those kinds of images. And I knew that was not the case after spending a week on Broad Street. And so I did not go out to do oral histories, I just knew that I wanted to create a narrative to find a more positive side of the Latino community.

And so I just started putting it together myself. I started writing and building the narrative.

And that turned into the history project. Now it was an oral history project. But now it’s more of the history project of Rhode Island Latinos.

TAMAYO: And what did you find during your time then and during your time now doing oral history that you felt like you enjoyed the most?

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

MARTINEZ: What really inspires me is the response I get. First it’s more of a quizzical, like “why me, you know, I don’t have a story to tell.

I’m just a person doing what I do.” But then, as I set up the interview and we start to talk, they feel comfortable. I’m gaining trust of a community that I did not belong to before, and I think just the idea that somebody wants to listen to – like the everyday citizen just goes through life – and many times they don’t have a chance to sit down and really tell people who they are. Nobody knows who they are until possibly after they’re gone. And so that moment of – somebody is interested in my story – that really tells them that there’s something that they’re saying that somebody is interested in. It makes me feel like the project is really making an impact in the community.

TAMAYO: Do you have any specific memories or wisdoms from oral histories that you’ve done? Any stories that have really, really stuck with you?

MARTINEZ: The one that sticks the most with me is the very first one I made because I really watched the family. I was in a situation where I interviewed somebody named Josefina Rosario. We know her as Doña Fefa, and she’s become the center of my oral history. She was the very first person, but it was really her story that led to the connections of others that I’m interviewing. And it was a family of Dominicans, and we’re sitting around with a house full of people, and they’re not necessarily listening to us. But when she started telling her story, there were young kids who were playing at her feet and all of a sudden they stopped playing and they looked up and then they started listening to her. And when that happened, the adults who were sitting in the next room in the kitchen noticed that, so they came into the room. And they just sat down and started to listen to the story. And the faces of the kids in particular, that they, when they heard the story of her

Photo by Mareva Lindo

LAURA TAMAYO: And when you got to Rhode Island, how did you find out that there was an oral history story, or a Latino story to be told in Rhode Island?

Anna Gitelson-Kahn MFA 09 TX

Desiree Scarborough 20 AP

RISDmade

Photo courtesy of Marta Martinez

life in the Dominican Republic and what it was like living under Trujillo, the dictator, and they turned to each other – and I got the sense, and later on they told me, they had never heard those stories before. And it’s that moment that made me realize that this is what oral history is. It’s having – not just somebody telling you their story – but having those around, you realize the importance of communicating and having conversations with somebody who you see every single day. And that’s how I approach the work that I do, I really make sure that everybody reflects, and realizes that their stories really do make a difference.

TAMAYO: Lastly, I wanted to ask how you would like to be remembered.

MARTINEZ: I hope that people remember as they start to read this history that did not

Jeff Nordhues MID 09

Josefina “Doña Fefa” Rosario (left) being interviewed by Marta Martinez (right), the founder and community oral historian of Nuestras Raíces, an oral history project of the Rhode Island Latino community.

exist – I mean, it did not exist until I started pulling it out of newspaper articles, and then the oral histories. And maybe 10 years, 50 years from now, the kids who are picking up their textbooks in school will be reading the history that was put together by this woman who lived in the 2000s. And that’s my contribution to Rhode Island’s history and to the Rhode Island Latino community.

Part one of a series of intergenerational conversations highlighting the stories of Latinos in Rhode Island, in collaboration with oral history project Nuestras Raíces. In part one: Community oral historian Marta Martinez talks about her work with Laura Tamayo, a student at Brown University who’s been working on the project. Learn more at NuetrasRaicesRI.net. This article originally posted September 27, 2023. Mareva Lindo can be reached at mlindo@thepubicsradio.org

Holiday gifts by RISD makers and designers from around the world. risdmade.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

By Elyse Major

Olefson Art Optical Eyeglass Frame Maker 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: The mobile tiny house studio/store of Laurie Olefson, creator of one-of-a-kind handmade eyeglass frames (some with matching earrings), all suitable for prescription.

What makes it a Rhody Gem? If you are looking for spectacles that make a statement, this is the place for you. Former magazine art director (TIME, New York Times special publications, among others) Laurie Olefson makes eyeglass frames that she describes as “quirky” and “deliberately imperfect.”

Each finished product has been cut, printed, hammered, grooved, sanded, and polished by hand from cellulose acetate inside the studio built to spec down to the circular windows sketched from John Lennon’s iconic glasses.

The Olefsons are regulars on the craft and fine arts festival circuit, but no need to travel when crates are filled with colorful frames and artful readers right here. “We moved from New Jersey to hip Providence over a year ago, and we think we’re a good addition to the vibrant small business scene here!” explains business partner and proud husband Victor Olefson. “We have a story to tell and unique niche jewelry for the face!”

Olefson Art Opticals

3 Acorn Street • OlefsonArtOpticals.com 732-687-0193; Instagram: @lolefson

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

Photo by Elyse Major

Where to find it: Once on Acorn Street, go through the archway at number 23 to find a white-and-blue tiny house in the parking lot. While there’s no mistaking the building, a sign just below the roof peak confirms you found it.

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

OUR ROOTS MAY BE IN PROVIDENCE BUT OUR BRANCHES ARE STATEWIDE If you are thinking of selling or buying across Rhode Island, reach out to us.

We’d love to work with you!

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SWEENEY ADVISORY 401.864.8286

OUR RECENT RI SALES: 8 PINE TREE LANE, LINCOLN SOLD FOR $1,430,000 138 LAUREL RIDGE LANE, NORTH KINGSTOWN SOLD FOR $885,000 9 LAMSON ROAD, BARRINGTON SOLD FOR $829,999 30 COOKE STREET, OAK HILL SOLD FOR $795,000 14 COUNTRYSIDE DRIVE, NORTH PROVIDENCE SOLD FOR $760,000 53 SANDY POINT FARM ROAD #3, PORTSMOUTH SOLD FOR $725,000 5 SYLVIA LANE, LINCOLN SOLD FOR $710,500 27 DON AVENUE, RUMFORD SOLD FOR $680,000

NEWS & CITY LIFE

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

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

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

PPS offers restoration training and DIY workshops The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is a leading voice in what has become a nationwide conversation about expanded training in the preservation trades. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently featured PPS’s Building Works initiative for their role in collaborating with Providence craftspeople and social service organizations to train a 21st-century workforce to care for historic buildings.

Starting in 2020, PPS began working with Heritage Restoration Inc. and Dorcas International to provide a six-week training program in wooden window restoration for under- and unemployed Rhode Islanders with barriers to employment. The paid workforce development program includes hands-on carpentry, preservation, and job readiness training. Social justice and economic mobility are key strategic goals of the program, and successful graduates receive support in finding new careers or additional training in the preservation trades. The results are encouraging: following the program, several graduates started their own window repair businesses and 80 percent of graduates found full-time employment.

Building Works offers programs for DIYers, too. A new workshop space at 50 Sims Avenue supports not only the windows training program, but also homeowners and renters taking workshops on everything from water management to remediating lead paint.

The shop is a place for people to practice new skills and work on projects in the community, sharing their interest in maintaining older buildings and helping to revitalize their neighborhoods.

PPSRI.org 20

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

The Mile of History starts decorating for the holidays

Developments and news from the Jewelry District Association At the September Jewelry District Association (JDA) meeting, Lieutenant Matthew Jeanette reported that the Providence Police Department had seized 161 ATVs, and newly appointed Fire Chief Derek Silva said the Fire Department will soon graduate 30 new trainees. Chris Blazejewski, house majority leader and District 2 State Representative, talked about the value (and ease) of mail-in voting, then gave a broad outline of initiatives, from increasing housing starts to combating sea-level rise.

JDA president Sharon Steele and Al Dahlberg, Brown assistant vice president of government and community relations, presented the City’s pending 20-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Brown, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Johnson & Wales University for $177,472,813 in payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT). A separate memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Brown for $46 million makes it a combined total of $223,472,813, a 138 percent increase over past payments. The far-reaching agreement includes appointment of a Quality of Life Work Group, which will hold regular meetings.

RI Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor reported that RI has the lowest housing starts per capita in the US. The Jewelry District has enjoyed a boom in new housing on the I-195 land, and there’s hope for stimulus from a $30 million housing tax credit. The new Amtrak station in Pawtucket demonstrates the appeal for development close to transit hubs.

Mile of History seeks helpers for holiday stroll

Photo courtesy of The Mile of History Association (MoHA)

The Mile of History Association (MoHA) will host this year’s Benefit Street Stroll on Saturday, December 2, starting at noon. The prior weekend, on Sunday, November 26 (weather permitting), volunteers are invited to help assemble and install wreaths on Benefit Street lamp posts, gathering at 9am at MoHA treasurer Roz Rustigian’s house, 329 Benefit Street. Neighbors are invited to join in on the fun of decking the halls with MoHA, and encouraged to decorate their own doors in the spirit of the holiday season.

I’m here to help!

Neighborhood party kicks off park renovation in Fox Point Fox Point neighbors gathered in Brassil Park, located at the corner of Brook and Arnold streets, in late September to celebrate its upcoming renovation. The project, which originated as part of a pre-COVID initiative by then-Mayor Elorza, will involve replacing the park’s play structures, building a ground-level slide into the contours of the park’s hilly landscape, reworking a small blacktop area for popular games, and updating much of the ground cover and landscaping.

The final plans for the park represent months of collaboration, thanks to a new local group, Friends of Brassil Park, that emerged informally last year as a collection of invested parents. Says Fox Point resident and the group’s current leader, Peter Erhartic, “We participated in several plan reviews and went back and forth several times” with city leaders on elements of the design. “There was a good push and pull,” he says about the process. “We [as a group] really wanted to be helpful. I think the plans are great.”

The project was slated to break ground in October (at time of publication), shortly after neighbors gathered to celebrate with Wickenden-area pizza and live music. And while the group has fulfilled its goal to offer input on the renovation, Erhartic adds that it has also served as a meaningful way to strengthen bonds within the community: “It’s been a lot of fun, and a great vehicle to bring people together.”

401.440.7483 jroch@residentialproperties.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

N e i ghbo r ho o d N ews

Providence Neighborhood Associations

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: November 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 • November 2023

Families gathered in Brassil Park in late September prior to the upcoming park renovation

Mile of History Association Charles Hewitt, Secretary 1 Governor Street, Providence MileOfHistory@gmail.com MileOfHistory.org Mount Hope Community Center 401-521-8830 MHNAInc@gmail.com Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc. Olneyville Neighborhood Association Yuselly Mendoza, Program Coordinator 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 Yuselly@ona-providence.org Facebook: Olneyville Library Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations Info@provcna.org ProvCNA.org Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association David Talan 25 Santiago St. Providence, RI 02907 401-941-3662 DaveTalan@aol.com Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative Wole Akinbi 400 Smith Street Providence, RI 02908 Suite #1 AAkinbi@half-full.com Facebook: Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

South Providence Neighborhood Association c/o Dwayne Keys P.O. Box 5653 Providence, RI 02903 401-369-1334 SouthProvNeighbors@gmail.com Facebook: South Providence Neighborhood Association Summit Neighborhood Association Meeting Date: November 20 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 Amy Mendillo, courtesy of FPNA

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

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

Fe at ur e | By Emily Olson

Serving on the Homefront What Rhode Islanders are doing to honor and uplift military families right now

Dawn Dove delivering a blessing for the monument unveiling

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

The recently dedicated monument honoring Indigenous veterans at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Photos courtesy of Lorén Spears

As Hurricane Lee blazed its way up the coast in September, masons rushed to put the finishing touches on a low stone wall that would complete the newest monument at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter.

The hurricane turned out to be a non-event, so with the wall complete, the state’s first monument honoring Indigenous veterans was dedicated on September 20 in a ceremony that included speakers, blessings, and honor songs.

This dedication was the culmination of a project that started in 2020 when Charles Smith, a cemetery specialist at Veterans Memorial and member of the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe, approached the Tomaquag Museum. “He was concerned that there was no monument for Indigenous veterans,” says Lorén Spears, museum executive director, who helped create the Honoring Indigenous Veterans Committee to move the project forward. Over several years, the committee raised $80,000 to hire Indigenous masons to bring their carefully sketched design to life. The monument is made up of an archway that curves over a memorial stone engraved with the names of the 12 tribes represented by Indigenous veterans interred at the cemetery.

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“The reality is that Indigenous people have served in all branches of the military,” says Spears. “Since the Revolutionary War, the Indigenous have had the highest number of people, per capita, in the armed services. In my community, if you’re not a veteran, it’s likely your life is touched by one.” Spears says this is owed to multiple factors. “Indigenous communities have warrior societies. There’s a lot of respect for warriors and pride in protecting your family and community. Of course anyone who protects their country does it with pride, but there’s an extra

layer of pride when it’s your homeland.

And the lack of any kind of monument to Indigenous service [in this state] is an oversight that was long due to be corrected.”

Nicole O’Brien, owner and founder of Warwick gift shop Operation Made, is a former military spouse who was the recipient of a different type of community support.

Years ago, O’Brien was stationed in Japan with her then-husband, and other military members offered her much-needed encouragement as she launched her fledgling art business. When she returned to the states, she found great success with her business,

and opened a manufacturing facility that had more space than she needed. So she reached out to other creatives in her military community, inviting them to join her.

“On Veterans Day in 2018, I opened a little shop with 12 vendors in it,” O’Brien says. Today, Operation Made serves as a consignment platform for 80 different vendors who have either served in the military or are family members of veterans, creating a space for them to grow their product-based businesses. “I had no idea there was such a need for this,” she relays. “Military makers really want a platform.”

Photo courtesy of Operation Made

Goods made by veterans and family members on display at Operation Made

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

Fe at ur e | By Emily Olson

Operation Made uplifts those who have served in myriad ways

RHODY RESOURCES

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

To support veterans’ mental health, she recently turned a portion of her shop into what she calls the Impact Room, a space dedicated to bringing awareness to the high rate of suicide among veterans. “On average, 22 veterans commit suicide every day,” says O’Brien. The Impact Room will have a memorial to veterans who have died by suicide, and there will be resources for veterans struggling with mental illness. “If they want to make stuff or learn to make stuff, I’m here with the resources to help them do that,” she explains. “Art is so therapeutic.”

Bob Mastin, owner of Custom House Coffee in Middletown, pays particular attention to those he calls “the codgers” who visit

CUSTOM HOUSE COFFEE Middletown, CustomHouseCoffee.com NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MONUMENT Exeter, HonoringIndigenousVets.org OPERATION STAND DOWN Johnston, OSDRI.org OPERATION MADE Warwick, OperationMade.com

Photo courtesy of Operation Made

Among the products on display are everything from pet toys to hot sauce. “We have a wide range,” O’Brien says. But she does much more for military makers than offer them shelf space in her shop. “I keep everything low cost so that they can test their products and pricing strategies,” she says. “And if they need help creating a manufacturing process or promoting themselves, I assist them with that, too.”

Although O’Brien’s store is designed to help makers build a business, she recognizes that not all of her vendors are interested in selling their products in volume on their own. “A lot of veterans started making art as therapy, so they simply want to make stuff,” she says.

Whether honoring veterans’ sacrifices or bolstering businesses run by military families, here’s how to connect with the organizations included in this article:

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

Fe at ur e | By Emily Olson

his shop; like O’Brien, he understands the struggle veterans face. “I like to look out for veterans, especially those from my era,” he says. “We weren’t treated very well after we returned from Vietnam. Let’s just say you wouldn’t advertise your military association.”

Mastin opened Custom House Coffee over two decades ago, and nearly every year since has hosted Military Mondays, when active duty and military veterans

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

receive half-off brewed coffee and freshly roasted coffee beans. “It’s been a big hit,” says Mastin. But about 10 years ago, he decided he wanted to do more and started Veteran Coffee Roasters, an offshoot of Custom House Coffee. One dollar of every pound sold goes to veteran support organizations. “The majority of our support goes to Operation Stand Down Rhode Island,” Mastin continues, describing the

Johnston-headquartered non-profit that supports veterans at risk of homelessness.

“We are able to donate an average of more than $300 a month to them.”

No matter if the coffee is sold under the Custom House label or the Veteran Coffee label, Mastin puts his exacting attention to detail into it. “We roast our own coffee because it has to be the absolute best. We never do anything halfway,” he says, explaining that

Photo courtesy of Custom House COffee

Inside Custom House Coffee in Middletown

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

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Custom House roasts a new batch every day.

“It’s not the most efficient way to roast, but it keeps the beans as fresh as possible.”

In addition to selling bags of beans direct to consumers, Mastin has plenty of wholesale customers across the country. Locally, Tom’s Market in Warren stocks their beans and Belle’s Cafe at the shipyard in Newport pours Custom House’s Bosun’s Blend. “The name is short for Boatswain’s Mate. That’s a real salty job on the Navy ship – real sailor kind of stuff,” says Mastin.

If these businesses and initiatives are any indication, Rhode Island has a fiercely supportive community that’s making a real difference in the lives of local veterans.

MORE WAYS TO UPLIFT Veterans Day is on November 11.

Spend the day attending your town’s local parade, paying your respects at memorial services and cemeteries, or donating to organizations supporting veterans’ causes. A special Salute to Veterans WaterFire lighting takes place November 4 recognizing veterans, military personnel, and family members.

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS Providence | DAV.org

MEMORIAL WALL OF HONOR AT THE LINCOLN PARK CEMETERY Warwick PORTUGAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AT THE RI VETERANS CEMETERY Exeter | RIDayOfPortugal.org

A portion of coffee proceeds goes towards Operation Stand Down via Veteran Coffee Roasters

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

VETERANS MEMORIAL MUSEUM RI Woonsocket VeteransMemorialMuseumRI.org

Photo courtesy of Custom House COffee

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The most important thing you can do while you’re here is to ensure the world will be better when you’re not.

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Shop Where You Live

BY ANDREA E. MCHUGH

IT’S A WRAP!

A Noon Design Shop tea towel works double-duty as a gift and wrap, with ornaments as embellishments: Seahorse by Darrien Segal, Anchor by Design WhatHaveYou, all available at Craftland. Whale Flat Note from Middletown-based E. Frances.

The city’s long tradition of being a special place to go shopping lives on with stores stocking uniquely local goods and brands

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Celebrate your favorite indie sellers on November 25 and all year long by shopping small! Additionally, help boost biz by following social media pages, posting about them, and telling friends!

This time of year, on the doorstep of the frenzied holiday season, Providence’s Westminster Street is a vibe. Strings of glowing market lights extend for blocks, a luminous canopy guiding shoppers as they mill about, looking for just the right treasures for just the right someones. Shopkeeps stock their shelves with wares selected months ago for this very moment, and the charismatic east-west artery radiates the city’s “Creative Capital” moniker.

Unquestionably, it’s the artists, artisans, crafters, and makers who are the heart and soul (so much soul) of the city’s creative identity, and it’s the dedicated store owners, artist cooperatives, organizers, and art supporters who allow the scene to survive and thrive.

Of course, shopping is a centuries-old tradition on Westminster Street (Cherry & Webb!

Gladdings! Shepard’s! Woolworth’s!), and the shops here today are equally woven into its colorful tapestry of culture and history. To recommend a single artist-centric shop in the area is an exercise in futility, as almost all are extraordinary gems in our creative crown.

Photos courtesy of Craftland

Craftland

Craftland dipped its toes in the proverbial holiday shopping season waters more than 20 years ago, first as a holiday pop-up event before planting more permanent, yearround roots at the corner of Westminster and Eddy streets in 2009. Owned and operated by a self-identified “lovable, rag-tag gang of artists,” like Forrest Gump’s folkloric box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get in this wondrous space. The bulk of the fortuitous finds — artwork, cards and stationery, handmade jewelry, accessories, ceramics products, wellness, and more – are the handiwork of more than 150 artists, mostly from Rhode Island, plus some of our neighbors, with a few “pieces of artistry and weirdness from across the country.”

Powerful prints by Jacques Bidon, pottery

by Bri Larson, super cool glass magnets and keychains by glassblower Suzanne Tanner of Tanner Glass, non-toxic natural candles, jewelry and funky flour sack tea towels by Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) alumni Nora Alexander and Maie Vaga of Noon Design Shop (you can find their flagship in Pawtuxet Village), and more – even toys and kids items – are tucked into seemingly every nook and cranny. But it’s the shop’s annual Holiday Extravaganza, a veritable take-no-prisoners month-long artisan-a-thon that’s an abundance of artistic splendor.

The Matchbox window display

SHOPPING LIST Just a handful of the many other businesses specializing in local and handmade across the city: EVOLVE APOTHECARY

GALLERY BELLEAU GATHER GLASS GREEN RIVER SILVER THE MATCHBOX RELIABLE GOLD LTD STUDIO HOP Missed your fave? Let us know at Marketing@ProvidenceOnline.com

Photo (L) by Elyse Major, (R) courtesy of Craftland

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Craftland’s range of unique paper goods includes letterpress items

“This month we’re revamping the store, painting the displays, and changing things up so it looks fresh and new, and then we get all this new work and fill the store right after Thanksgiving, so for Christmas, it’s just like a brand new store,” says Craftland manager and jewelry maker Darrien Segal. “You go in now and you think it’s full, and you’re like, ‘It couldn’t possibly add more inventory!’ but somehow we just keep on piling more stuff in!” Segal, a RISD alumna, says the store’s owner, Margaret Carleton, is enormously supportive of fellow artists and arts organizations, and crafters who participate in the Holiday Extravaganza are selected through a jury process, an opportunity that marries curatorial vision with a wider audience.

It’s especially fun to have students come in, many with their parents, and see for themselves that one can successfully pursue their passion in the creative arts, says Segal. “It’s nice for them to see where it ends up… They’re like, ‘Oh, okay, you’re still doing your thing — working, making jewelry, having a job.’”

Photos courtesy of Craftland

make parking easier

CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH A NEW HOME

Tried-and-true tips for alleviating the pain that can be finding a place to park

BY ELYSE MAJOR

METER MADE According to the City, there are over 2,300 metered parking spots located in Downtown, the Jewelry District, College Hill, Wayland Square, Atwells Avenue, and Smith Hill. Parking meters accept coins, but the easiest way to pay for parking is with a credit or debit card through Passport Parking, which is integrated into the PVD311 app available for download on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Using passport parking through the PVD311 app, add money to your passport account using the wallet feature by credit card and avoid the two-hour minimum requirement. Pro-tip: no promises but the City usually announces free two-hour parking in designated commercial districts throughout Providence through December. Look for announcements at ProvidenceRI.gov

VALET AWAY Plan ahead and make dining reservations at a restaurant that offers valet parking in the area you plan to shop; bonus points for free valet parking! Simply exit your car, have it parked, enjoy a meal, and do some shopping before calling for your car. Pro-tip: bring along a parking key if you have one, and keep bills ready for tips; some valets also accept payment apps like Venmo.

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Feel like you’re on a class field trip in the city by riding the bus! Take advantage of the RIPTA system, as all bus routes start and end at Kennedy Plaza downtown. If you live in Providence, walk, ride, or take a ride-share. Pay using exact change, or the Wave smart card or mobile app. Find details at RIPTA.com/wave ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

43

a little retail history of providence DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS WORTHY OF A CLOSER LOOK

BY CHRISTINE FRANCIS, CARMEN & GINGER Until suburban shopping malls became the norm and driving yourself to a parking lot replaced taking public transportation, a visit to downtown Providence was a retail treat. It’s hard for those who did not grow up in Rhode Island to imagine the past, and it is just as hard for those who grew up in the state to reconcile the present. For this reason we should embrace and share the history so that it is not lost. Some points of interest for your next trek downtown: • The Outlet Company was the biggest store downtown and drew people for Christmas as well as throughout the year. Sadly, a fire destroyed the building in 1986, creating the space that is now the main green for Johnson & Wales University.

• The former Tri-Store Bridge is still visible from Westminster Street. It formerly connected department stores The Shepard Company (Shepard’s), Gladdings, and Cherry & Webb to allow shoppers access to all three without going back outside.

• Look west from Dorrance up Westminster to see the name Kresge’s cast into that building; the large window that showcased the Fur Department at Peerless, formerly The Boston Store, is now a unique feature of one of the Westminster Lofts in the Peerless Residential building.

• Directly across the street at Westminster and Union facing south is another former department store now mixed-use; this was the O’Gorman Building, which housed The Big Store and later Dimonds. At the other end of Westminster, at Mathewson Street, stood Gladdings. See more before-and-after photos at CarmenAndGinger.com/blog

Images courtesy of Carmen and Ginger

• Although currently home to the University of Rhode Island’s downtown campus, the iconic Shepard’s Clock on Westminster serves as a keeper of its retail history.

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45

Rhode Island pride thrives at Rhody Craft, a gallery of handcrafted goods on the East Side. With an address appropriately personifying the official state motto emblazoned on the state flag – Hope – this Rockwellian residential enclave is also home to the highest concentration of independently owned businesses in Providence (and nearly all are owner-operated). Handmade enamel pins, quirky kitchen gear, wearables, paper goods and lots of Ocean State must-have swag nests here (Del’s Lemonade soy candle? Yep. An Awful Awful-inspired tote bag? Of course. A

Rhode Island-themed koozie by Eileen Pollina of Eileen Graphics in Newport? Obvi.).

While some may caution not to make the mistake of confusing the artist-centric shops of Hope Street with the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, we think such a switcheroo can only serve to explore even more Rhode Island talent. One of the largest successful mill restoration projects in the state, Hope Artiste Village is a convergence of creativity, community, and artistic expression. A blend of art studios, shops, light industrial workshops, and live/work lofts – plus some

professional office spaces – the village is where you’ll find pieces by native Rhode Islander and accessories designer Lisa Mackey, fashionable clutches by Kent Stetson, contemporary handcrafted jewelry by Thea Izzi, extraordinary oil paintings on glass by Nicole Chesney, custom artwork by Gail Ahlers (Ahlers Designs), bags and jewelry made of cork by artist Kim McMahon of MACS Boutique Cork Jewelry & Accessories, and funny, irreverent T-shirts, mugs, and gifts by Milkcan Industries, AKA “Rhode Island’s most self-deprecating T-shirt company.”

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

Rhody Craft carries pins, puzzles, bowls, totes, Tees, and more

hope artiste

Hope Artiste Village

Photo (top) by Elyse Major, (bottom) courtesy of Lore

Lore

Lore

One can’t discuss Providence’s prolific art scene without acknowledging RISD, one of the top-ranked art and design schools in the world. The lynchpin of the artistic community, Rhode Island has generously reaped her rewards. Lore, a curated, handmade lifestyle shop tucked into the city’s Fox Point neighborhood since 2016, is owned and operated

by RISD alumna and artist Jayna Aronovitch.

Bridging the gap between past and present, the space carries mostly women-owned brands, which is apropos as RISD was founded by a small group of women led by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, and the idea behind the college was driven by the desire to increase the accessibility of design education to women and support the state’s thriving textiles and jewelry industries. Today, Lore exemplifies that legacy of creativity, stocking the bright and airy shop with beautiful, carefully chosen pieces, many one-of-a-kind or limited edition, including textiles, home decor and accessories, ceramics, and paper goods. Think handmade kiln-fired glass flower coasters by DOT, Lazuli Handcrafted jewelry designed by Newport-based Erika Young, and RA HA Jewelry made by Julia Sullivan in Providence. “Most all of my vendors are women, or POC, or queer,” says Aronovitch. “We have a queer-owned apothecary brand, Goddex Apothecary, that’s one of our best sellers.”

Lore

Aronovitch says that when she started her business, artist-owned shops were somewhat of an anomaly in Providence. “To be honest, I was kind of in the forefront of making it okay to have an art business or follow your interests in the field of being a self-employed artist. I feel like we were kind of one of the first shops that opened up back in the day,” she recalls. “Ten years ago, I think there was White Buffalo – she’s still around which is incredible – and Queen of Hearts/Modern Love; when Karen [Beebe] opened her shop, she was like the real MVP of creative businesses supporting other artists.” That reciprocal support, elevated by opportunities like the Providence Flea, she explains, helped grow the creative community.

“I feel like when I graduated RISD, I didn’t know that I could run my own business and be a professional creative, independent of working for other people, and now, most of the students I see that graduate, it seems like that’s what they’re all doing…back when I was starting out, it was kind of this really risky, weird thing to do.”

Photos courtesy of Lore

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LIFE & STYLE H o m e | I n f l u e n c e r | M a ke r

The Wild Colonial A 1920s East Side home gets a contemporary update with pattern, shine, and style Fall on the East Side of Providence is an autumnophile’s dream. Tree-lined streets are covered in fallen leaves, a non-stop parade of walkers briskly traverse Blackstone Boulevard, and there’s a general air of bookish academia – especially when the Bears play and cheering fans can be heard bellowing from Brown Stadium on Elmgrove Avenue. It was all this and more that a couple wanted when they purchased their 1920s Colonial in the Blackstone neighborhood nearly 10 years ago. However, recently retired and spending more time cooking at home, the pair decided it was time to give the kitchen an update, and turned to Cypress Design Co. in nearby East Providence.

Photo by Elizabeth Field Photography, courtesy of Cypress Design Co. ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

51

H o me | By Elyse Major

To improve workflow for cooking, larger appliances were added, plus a prep sink, large island, and interior cabinetry accessories

Craig Couture, design manager at Cypress explains that the kitchen, not original to the house, didn’t quite function the way the couple needed it to. He was tasked with creating a larger kitchen with better functionality that would be open to the dining room, resulting in a single space for cooking, entertaining, eating, and enjoying time together. He notes that the biggest challenge was making the kitchen feel like it fit into the architecture of the home, but still presented the personality and contemporary aesthetic of his clients.

“The homeowners love to infuse their contemporary style with the traditional elements of the home. They love bold colors inspired by their personal art collections: clean lines, quality materials, and unique elements that add personality,” says Couture.

Photos by Elizabeth Field Photography, courtesy of Cypress Design Co.

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53

LIFE & STYLE

H o me | By Elyse Major

Photos by Elizabeth Field Photography, courtesy of Cypress Design Co.

Ceilings and lighting help designate zones in the open space

A pair of teardrop pendants with fused glass fragments from Lighting & Design by J&K Electric, Johnston illuminate the fashionable surroundings

Aiming for a sleek space that worked with the existing structure of the kitchen, Couture notes that the decision to inset cabinetry with flat panel doors truly set the tone: “This one decision really allowed us to create a contemporary design that works in the traditional architecture of the home.” He explains that similarly, woodlook tile was installed to blend with the existing flooring; however, it was given an elegant twist with a custom marble inlay to resemble an area rug.

Another challenge was creating a balance within the space. To accomplish this goal, a two tray ceiling – with a wallpaper insert and pair of pendant light fixtures – was employed to visually divide the kitchen from the dining room while still having an open concept. “We also included a new window that mirrored an existing window. This allowed us to create symmetry for the range wall,” says Couture.

“The clients love the ample space, large bar area, and now the newly renovated kitchen.”

Let the entertaining begin!

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

55

LIFE & STYLE

Small spaces like this half-bath are ideal for vivid wallpaper

H o me | By Elyse Major

A SHORT FICTION COMPETITION FOR RHODE ISLAND STUDENTS SUBMIT IN DECEMBER!

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

LIGHT TOUCH For a no-fail coastal vibe, Couture recommends balancing wood tones and good design with blues, grays, and whites.

“Don’t go overboard if you are not necessarily close to the water,” he says.

Photo by Elizabeth Field Photography, courtesy of Cypress Design Co.

MIX MASTER The use of various metals throughout the kitchen lends collected character. Faucets and cabinetry hardware are gold and connect to the brass of the backsplash, while the chrome of the bar stools echoes the appliances, and even the quartz of the countertops.

BUILD LOCAL The entire project included a full bathroom, wet bar, and kitchen with Cypress Design Co. at the helm. Says Couture, “We believe in the power of communication.

Our personalized approach guarantees a custom-tailored design that reflects your vision, while our attention to detail ensures a flawless execution.”

He notes that appliances for the kitchen and wet bar, and lighting for the bathroom are from Wickford Appliance, construction by East Side Construction. Learn more at CypressDesignCo.com; WickfordAppliance.com; EastSideConstruction.com

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

57

LIFE & STYLE

I nfl ue nce r | By Ashley Erling

Meet Bekah Berger Lifelong broadcast enthusiast brings her love of Rhody to the airwaves weekday mornings

How did you get into radio?

I’ve always loved pop culture and had a special interest in music fueled by rushing home from school to watch TRL (Total Request Live) on MTV. The concept of a “VJ” fascinated me, and I did the morning announcements in high school (shout-out to Bolts Broadcasting Corp at Cranston High School East!). When I was a student at the University of Rhode Island, I studied journalism and communications and participated in two radio internships, one of which being with the WPRO newsroom, which is how I got my foot in the door. It took one rush of turning the “on air” light on and I was hooked! I’ve had several mentors who have helped me along the way as well.

What are some of your favorite things to do in Providence?

I love seeing shows at PPAC. I’m always in awe of how majestic that theater is. Like any good Rhode Islander, I love visiting and dining on Federal Hill and catching a WaterFire for a date night with my husband, Tony. My kids (two daughters Arielle, 4 and Iris, 2) enjoy going to Roger Williams Park Zoo. My friends and I recently had such a good time on the Comedy Bus. Speaking of, I always recommend taking in a show at The Comedy Connection or heading to any Rhode Island beach, which is my happy place.

Any autumn-in-Rhody must-dos for you and your family?

My “basic girl fall” comes alive during this time!

Every year we have a few traditions: apple picking at Jaswell’s Farm in Smithfield, pumpkin picking at Adam’s Farm in Cumberland, and then indulge in apple cider donuts and maybe an adult beverage back at home by the firepit! Listen to Berger, weekdays 6-10am on 92 PRO-FM, 92PROFM.com 58

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

Photo courtesy of Dollinger Strategic Communication for Cumulus

You’ve recently started a new role at 92 PRO-FM on Giovanni in the Morning. How does it feel to become part of such an iconic and well-known program?

Like most Rhode Islanders, I grew up listening to 92 PRO FM. I even called in once to the morning show in 2004 to talk about the finale of Friends! I’ve known both Gio and Jay Buff my entire radio career, but we are just now getting to work together closely. Getting to know them in a different way and collaborating daily has been really fun. It’s never lost on me that this is an iconic brand and show. If you told 12-yearold Bekah, who was probably taping songs on cassette like “Bye Bye Bye” and “Hit Me Baby (One More Time)” on PRO FM, that she would be working here, she definitely wouldn’t have believed you. I also want to acknowledge how much I respect those who have come before me.

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59

LIFE & STYLE

M a ke r | By Callie Bisset

Built to Last Remedy fast furniture fatigue with purpose-driven pieces made in Providence

The Reents Credenza with an optional cutout for LPs

60

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

Photos courtesy of Nolan Wells

Solid, well-constructed furniture can be difficult to find, even more so if the goal is locally made. With his brand Wellsbuilt, East Sider Nolan Wells designs and builds collections with balanced proportion, functionality, and quality at the forefront. “Each piece is individually handcrafted with select hardwoods utilizing traditional joinery,” Wells begins, “with an aim to produce minimal, elegant furniture with details that are driven by purpose.”

Wells was introduced to woodworking at a young age. His stepfather was a carpenter

PLACE FOR SUSHI and he recalls learning the basics in their home-garage workshop. After college, his interest in woodworking was renewed and he toyed with the then-hobby while working as a photojournalist and later a graphic designer in Chicago. “I was mostly experimenting with joinery and making rustic tables from reclaimed lumber, but that was when working with my hands with wood really got a hold of me.”

After a move to Rhode Island with his family in 2020, Wells decided to make a career shift and pursue woodworking full time. “Good craftsmanship is an essential practice whether you’re working on a screen or with your hands,” says Wells.

Today, his work best aligns with principles of Shaker, mid-century, and Scandinavian furniture design, and his studio turns out high-quality pieces that fuse traditional and modern elements. “I’m trying to find something in between the two that balances design, proportion, functionality, and quality,” he explains.

The Wellsbuilt made-to-order collection relies on sustainably sourced domestic hardwoods with natural oil finishes, and includes credenzas, tables, benches, and storage options. “I always have an idea stewing for something new I want to add to the collection, and the initial phase of design exploration is one of my favorite parts of the process.”

These signature pieces are customizable, with choice of wood species, dimensions, pulls, and handles. Wells also offers custom countertops and built-ins.

On the local creative scene, Wells says, “Makers and artists are everywhere here including my neighbor Phil Gibson, who is also a woodworker right next door. We bounce back and forth between each other’s shops almost daily to pick each other’s brains, borrow tools, help with lifting, etc. He’s an incredible resource and a good friend.” Smiling, Wells adds, “We are really happy to be in Providence and Rhode Island overall.” Learn more at Wellsbuilt.co

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Thanksgiving Helpings Providence food hub helps put hot holiday meals on the table For families facing food insecurity, a Providence organization is easing some of the concern over what will go on the Thanksgiving table this year. Nonprofit food hub Farm Fresh RI brings festive cheer in the form of holiday boxes stuffed with local produce and herbs, delicious sides, and even a pumpkin pie – essentially, everything except the turkey, and enough to feed a family of eight.

Farm Fresh RI has been taking the work out of preparing your own holiday feast by assembling and selling Local Thanksgiving Boxes since 2020, but this is the first year customers can elect to purchase a box to donate to a family in need, an initiative ensuring income isn’t a barrier to folks accessing farm-fresh, nutritious food. Their goal is to donate 250 boxes to hunger relief agencies, feeding 2,000 Rhode Islanders.

“Support from the community to donate these boxes will not only mean the world to the families who receive them, but also to the small local farms we are purchasing the produce from,” shares director of giving Nikki Ayres. Pumpkin pie from Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery in Smithfield, cranberry sauce from Harvest Kitchen in Pawtucket, veggies from Schartner Farms in Exeter and Zephyr Farm in Cranston, and baby bellas from RI Mushroom Co. in West Kingston are a handful of the farm-to-table fare customers can look forward to.

“Food has the power to transform,” says Ayres. “A hot meal – prepared with love – on a holiday surrounded by family is a gift that is hard to quantify.” Boxes sell for $85 each, and ordering closes on November 6. FarmFreshRI.org/thanksgiving. | By Abbie Lahmers Photo courtesy of Farm Fresh RI ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

63

FOOD & DRINK

Expe r i e nce | By Ann Martini

Feed Your Temptations A new addition to Federal Hill’s dining scene delivers masterful meals sure to please saints and sinners alike

food risotto, Venezuelan arepas, Calabrian lamb chops – and Southern-style chicken and waffles. That’s right, in the land of latenight cocktails and antipasto, now you can brunch among the best.

Divided in two distinct sections, Saint invites patrons to choose between heaven and hell – with a black and red motif of tarot card depictions painted over the brick walls on the right side, and opposite it is “heaven,” with a decidedly lighter mood, displaying a trio of faux stained-glass windows behind the bar. In my experience, themed restaurants can feel gimmicky and often belie a menu that’s lacking, but my cautious optimism soon gave way to joyful enthusiasm – and it started with the hash browns.

When you’ve been writing about food for as long as some of us in the industry have, there are certain things you pick up on; one is that brunch is rarely done right. Even great restaurants can be reduced to the boring fatal foursome of eggs, bacon, toast, and home fries. The latter are hard to manage as they have to be pre-cooked and kept warm throughout service, resulting in driedout, unappetizing nuggets. On a Sunday morning at Saint, however, the Arepas Benedict I ordered arrived with the most velvety, buttery, and tender potatoes I’ve ever had at brunch. Along with the delectable sweet corn cake topped with poached eggs and smoked chili hollandaise, it was my first sign that this kitchen knows what it’s doing.

Whether ordering from the Sinner or Saint menu, this Federal Hill eatery delivers on creative fare

CUISINE: Upscale, creative dinners and brunch ATMOSPHERE: Sinfully elegant eatery

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

Photos courtesy of Saint

When you think “dinner on Federal Hill,” there are plenty of things that come to mind: cheesy chicken parm, piles of prosciutto, delicious pizza, and pasta for days, right? Well, hold onto your burrata – there’s a new restaurant in town bringing a paradigm shift to fine dining on the Hill. Saint opened in the spring and is making an impression on a street where it can be hard to compete. Think New Orleans-inspired sea-

Sinners Chicken and Waffles

Saint is the latest restaurant opened

by Alex Tomasso, who also operates The George on Washington Street in downtown Providence – a downtown piano lounge and dining room. The idea at Saint, according to manager (and Johnson & Wales grad) Pablo Grave, is to create harmony in dining; the heaven and hell theme is more about balance, showcasing two sides of the same coin, according to Grave. Hell’s menu features a selection of fusion dishes, some fiery, inspired by global trends.

Asian Carnitas Sliders play up sweet and spicy flavors of soy-glazed pork, sriracha, and apple. The Latin Stuffed Chicken Breast features chorizo and cheese alongside Chofán fried rice and sweet plantains.

The heaven menu is a bit more traditional to appease diners who, while appreciative of the fusion menu items, might also be looking for something more typical of Federal Hill. Here you’ll find perfectly

executed renditions of classics: Point Judith Calamari with garlic butter, cherry peppers, and marinara, alongside Tuscan Ribollita Soup and mains like Chicken Francese or steaks in the form of a 16-ounce Heaven Striploin with adobo and chili and fig balsamic glaze. The Saints Cioppino brims with Maine lobster tail scallops and squid in a tomato broth served over polenta.

But it’s the Sinners Chicken and Waffles where Saint’s chef Raul Ibarra really strikes a sense of balance. An absolute highlight, the sweet cream waffle is topped with a big Shio Koji fried chicken breast and a chili-roasted apple glaze – a more decadent chicken dish than you’d expect. Ibarra’s deft touch and creative abilities are reason alone to come to Saint. He honed his skills in the city at The Dorrance and Mediterraneo, but here he really shines – you could say he’s an angel in the kitchen.

Must-Try Items Arepas Benedict ($18) Sweet corn cake topped with black beans, avocado, chili candied bacon, two olive oil poached eggs, smoked chili hollandaise, and home fries

Chicken Francese ($26) Tender chicken breast cooked in lemon, white wine, and sweet cream butter, served with roasted tomato risotto and vegetables

Maple Duck Two Ways ($42) Ancho chili-rubbed duck breast and duck leg confit with heirloom carrots, garlic parsnip mashed potato puree, and maple chili butter

S aint 289 Atwells Avenue SaintFederalHill.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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FOOD & DRINK

I n T he Ki t c he n | By Abbie Lahmers

Cooking on the Homestead Prior to Kimberly Ragosta and her brood living on more than six acres of land with a river running through it, back when writing and publishing a cookbook was just a distant dream, and before three of her five children were born, the now-author was an egg washer at Pat’s Pastured in East Greenwich. The experience would shape her understanding of how important it is to sustain and uplift a local food system.

“It wasn’t until 2021 that I had a great idea,” shares Ragosta. With a growing family and passion for cooking farm-fresh meals from scratch, she started reaching out to farmers to establish a symbiotic relationship, bringing home fresh meat and produce in exchange for recipe development. With the harvests, she would create and photograph recipes the farm could use on their websites, blogs, and social media.

“This was a win-win for both of us and an amazing blessing to my family.”

Under the moniker of Little House in the Forest, Ragosta shares recipes and homesteading life on Instagram. Devising everything from creamy pasta with wild-hunted turkey to hearty stews and bakes, each meal features ingredients from Rhode Island fields and pastures. “I have always wanted to create a cookbook since I started developing recipes over 16 years ago,” she reflects.

This fall, the fruits of her labor reached bookshelves in the form of A Time to Gather, a whopping 560-page cookbook filled with over 500 farm-to-table recipes that Ragosta has developed over the years, published by Stillwater River Publications. “It was the hardest project I have ever worked on in my life, but I am so proud of the book that I have created,” says Ragosta. “I like nothing more than immersing myself in the local food community and sharing recipes with people.”

Follow @littlehouseintheforest on Instagram for more events, and find local retailers stocking A Time to Gather by visiting KimberlyRagosta.com.

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Thanksgiving turkey at the Ragosta household

FARM HARVESTS A handful of local growers featured in Kimberly Ragosta’s recipes: CEDAR VALLEY FARM, Exeter

PAT’S PASTURED, East Greenwich

EMMA ACRES, Exeter

WICKED ROOTS MICRO FARM, Charlestown

LUCKYFOOT RANCH, Saunderstown

WILD HARMONY FARM, Exeter

OUR KIDS FARM, Exeter

WINDMIST FARM, Jamestown

Photo (L) by Kimberly Ragosta, book cover photo (R) by Belmont & Bliss

Farm-to-table family dinners fueled this outdoors enthusiast’s dream of writing a cookbook

THANKSGIVING TURKEY & GRAVY From campfire cooking to everyday meals, Ragosta’s recipes span the gamut of farm-totable feasting – and the perfect turkey is no exception. Here’s what will be cooking in the Ragosta household on Thanksgiving, followed by a game of football in the yard!

•

1 whole turkey

•

2 sticks of butter at room temperature, divided

•

Bundle of fresh parsley, tarragon, and thyme

•

1 Tbsp each of chopped fresh parsley, tarragon, and thyme

•

Salt and pepper to taste

•

4 cups chicken stock

FOR GRAVY: •

Pan juices from cooked turkey

•

4 Tbsp butter

•

½ cup flour

Additional materials: Twine, scissors, tin foil, and roasting pan

1.

On the day of cooking, after defrosting the turkey in the refrigerator for 3 days (this worked for a 15-pound bird), preheat oven to 425ºF.

2. Rinse turkey inside and out, making sure to discard giblets.

Pat dry. Put half a stick of butter, the bundle of herbs, and a generous amount of salt and pepper inside the cavity.

3. Mix 1 stick of butter with the chopped herbs. Massage the turkey with the herb butter mixture all over; sprinkle salt and pepper.

4. Loosely tie the legs together with twine, place turkey breast side up in an oval roasting pan, and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Turn heat down to 350ºF and roast for 30 more minutes. Add 1 cup of broth on top of turkey and 1 tablespoon of butter in the roasting pan after each 30-minute interval of cooking. Do this repeatedly until the meaty part of the thigh reaches about 165ºF. If the turkey is browning too much you can cover it with foil.

5. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest with a foil tent for 30 minutes before slicing. Reserve pan juices for gravy.

6. Prepare gravy by melting butter over medium heat in a skillet. Whisk in flour to create a roux (flour and fat cooked together to thicken the sauce).

Slowly whisk in pan juices.

Keep whisking over medium heat until a gravy is born.

Serve with turkey, and enjoy!

Note: A 15-pound bird took about 3 hours in my oven, but let the temperature of the meat be your guide.

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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Fo o d N e w s | By Ken Abrams

Feeling good with fresh smoothies on Thayer Street

Eclectic cocktail lounge comes to East Providence

Italian-style cafe opens in South County

Providing healthy, fresh, and delicious food is the goal at In The Pink, a new addition to the thriving Thayer Street foodie scene. Named after a phrase that means “feeling great,” it’s no wonder owner Chris Cancel’s shop, tucked in a small plaza across from the East Side bus tunnel, sees customers leaving in good spirits.

One of the newest nightspots on the East Bay is Myrtle, a hip cocktail lounge and performance space located across the street from Jeff’s Pizza in East Providence. Inside the old Tool Crib building on a residential corner, Myrtle opened in September. “I’m finding most people coming in are really

Galleria Dolce Café opened in July in Narragansett and aims to provide an authentic Italian experience in Mariner Square, along with contributing to South County’s local art scene. “We do traditional Neapolitan. We offer breakfast and a quick bite to eat for lunch,” says owner

“The smoothies and bowls are by far the highest selling items; people really love our iced coffee, too,” says Cancel, who expects to be brewing warmer drinks like hot chocolate and lattes as winter approaches. Menu highlights also include vegan options, oatmeal bowls, cold-pressed juice, and protein-packed treats.

“Healthy eating is especially important given some of the other options on Thayer Street,” says Cancel. “You’re going to feel a lot better when you leave. After an acai bowl, with fresh fruit toppings and chia seeds, you’ll feel cleaner, not like you need to go lay down and take a nap.” There’s space to dine in, although take-out between classes is more popular among many of In The Pink’s Brown University clientele.

Providence, InThePinkRI.com

enjoying our cocktails, so we’re going to continue focusing on spirits,” says co-owner Natalie VanLandingham, who opened the business with her husband. “We also have a pretty large selection of domestic and craft beers and some interesting wines.

It’s our mission to use as many local distillers, brewers, and distributors as possible.”

Drinks are only part of the experience at Myrtle. Beyond the traditional bar, the venue is filled with an eclectic array of vintage second-hand furniture and wall hangings. “It’s nice to know it’s actually possible for two weirdo artists with essentially no money to be able to start a business in the great Ocean State,” adds VanLandingham. East Providence, Instagram: @myrtle.rhodeisland

Sabrina Labbadia. “We also display works from local artists and most of the art on the wall space here is for sale.”

The menu includes toasts, paninis, smoothies, salads, and Italian pastries.

“We serve a frittata, a 20-egg omelet with sausage, a vegetable, and potato every day. We make Italian desserts including crostata di nonna, a traditional open-faced pie with weaving on top, and fruit filling on the inside,” adds Labbadia.

Guests can also enjoy biscuits prepared in house, and other baked goods from Scialo Brothers Bakery on Federal Hill.

The cafe serves Italian coffees including Sicilian espresso imported from Italy and other drinks made to order. Narragansett, Instagram: @galleriadolcecafe

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

Photos courtesy of In The Pink

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

ART & CULTURE Music Scene | Artist | Calendar

Drawing Interest

artwork courtesy of Jen Corace

A children’s book illustrator on being a working artist in the Creative Capital Jen Corace knew she loved to draw, but she didn’t know that her creativity would lead to the life of an artist. “Originally, I wanted to become a marine biologist,” Corace reminisces.

“So much of what I did in biology was creating diagrams of the different sections” – art at its most technical.

But through her mother’s steady encouragement and support of the arts from an early age, Corace felt comfortable leaving behind a STEM career and applied to art schools. She was accepted by the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and fell in love with Providence.

Originally from New Jersey, Corace had a long-distance love affair with the city as she, like many young people and hopeful artists, moved around the country after graduation, working odd jobs to pay the bills and submitting her work to various galleries. It was in a Seattle gallery where her work was noticed by an agent for children’s book illustrations, launching her 20-year career as an illustrator.

Using only by-hand processes like pen and ink, Corace creates images of familiar spaces that have a “fairy tale, surreal quality” and “feel rather isolating or a bit haunted or uncertain.” Deliberately avoiding the digital art world, which she believes would take away the consequences of making art, Corace explains, “It’s about learning to let things go, or how to work with the problem that you’ve created.”

With the success of having an agent, Corace was able to move back to Providence and thrive in the city’s art scene. “All the people who I knew doing art and working were here,” she says. “It’s a much more supportive artistic community.” Community was what roped her into helping Craftland transition from an idea to a pop-up back in 2002. Her friends needed handmade goods from artists to sell in their store, so Corace rose to the call. Today, Craftland is a well-known brick-and-mortar on Westminster Street, and continues to support regional makers.

Support is key, a lesson that has been prominent in Corace’s life, from her mother’s death while she was still at RISD, to finding her community in Providence, to adjunct teaching illustration at the University of Connecticut, where many students who take her classes have never been exposed to the arts at all. Her goal is to provide encouragement and instill her own artistic philosophy into her students: make art better, not perfect. Let go of mistakes; make problems into something beautiful. Growth, not flawlessness, is the truest success.

This philosophy is what carried her through the past few years of challenges. While working on her own children’s book, Growl (out this past June), she had to learn the intricacies of balancing a story in visuals, words, and sound. When she became burnt out with the art-aswork mentality and from the stresses of the pandemic, she turned to a ceramics class at the Steel Yard to connect back with her roots; working with clay reminds her of her grandmother’s clay room, and when anything and everything can go wrong in the process of clay creation, ceramics is a tangible reminder to let go, rehabilitate mistakes, and grow.

“It’s a process of letting things be how they progress and then responding to it, not reacting to it,” she says. “Perfection is overrated.”

Learn more at JenCorace.com. | By Ruthie Wood ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

73

ART & CULTURE

M usi c Sc e ne | By Adam Hogue

Emotional Growth A sit-down with Deer Tick’s Ian O’Neil about getting personal on latest effort

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

Don’t miss Deer Tick’s end-of-tour celebration shows at The Columbus Theatre on November 24 and November 25.

ColumbusTheatre.com

Ian O’Neil at McShawn’s Pub, Cranston

In between up-tempo, guitar solo-filled hops and shuffles, such as “Forgiving Ties,” “Grey Matter,” and “Disgrace,” Deer Tick finds themselves taking more introspective turns on tracks like “My Ship” and “A Light Can Go Out in The Heart,” bringing it all down midway with Dennis Ryan’s “Running From Love” before the brooding epic “The Real Thing” closes things out with an ending that could just keep going and going and going.

What stands out on Emotional Contracts is the narrative personal nature of the lyrics that creates small scenarios and vignettes residing in sonic landscapes that venture into varying terrain, all while remaining uniquely Deer Tick.

The powerful puff of a tube amp in overdrive, the Strat-driven jangle, the rumbling, clean steady bass, McCauley and O’Neil’s voices, and the heavy-handed crash cymbal are all present, but there’s also an exploration in sound and content the band hasn’t shown us yet.

“A big lesson on some of the songs we’ve

been writing comes from Lou Reed,” O’Neil begins, “that the best lyrics don’t have to rhyme, but say something real. We played around with the details in these songs to say what we mean and connect with people through specific observations and narratives.”

When listening to Emotional Contracts, snapshots and brief glimmers of Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen, and Blues Traveler come into focus for the briefest of seconds, all within a very ‘90s context. The Grateful Dead has In the Dark, Neil Young has Harvest Moon, Mark Knopfler has Golden Heart, and Deer Tick has Emotional Contracts.

“We’re at a point where we want to satisfy ourselves first before we go out of our way to satisfy others with our music,” O’Neil says. “As our audiences age with us, that allows us to more fully be ourselves and create the music and sing about the things that matter to us.” For music, merch, and more, visit DeerTickMusic.com.

Photo by Adam Hogue

What began as largely a solo project for singer-songwriter John McCauley, Providence-based Deer Tick has morphed over the course of six studio albums and continuous touring into the realm of a legacy band, adding keys, horns, and orchestration into their sonic palette on top of guitar-and-lyric song writing.

Coming by way of punk band Titus Andronicus, Deer Tick guitarist Ian O’Neil found his way into the band while playing the local DIY scene in NYC in 2009. Since then, O’Neil, along with McCauley, Dennis Ryan on drums, and Chris Ryan on bass, have become a creative unit centered around the live shows people love.

It is that live atmosphere and persona that seems to lay the foundation for the music the band creates. Deer Tick strikes a balance between what people appreciate about seeing them live and what the band members want to bring on the road with them, allowing their songs to venture into new territory without straying too far from home.

On their new release, Emotional Contracts, the band stakes claim in jam-band territory with numbers like “If I Try to Leave,” a song that very much puts the band, guitar solos, heavy bass, and driving drums front and center, making space for instruments to explore and expand.

“At the core of our song writing is malleable songs,” O’Neil comments. “Living as a live band has very much influenced where we go with our music. We want to put our best foot forward with our new tracks and we’re lucky to have fans that come along for the ride. So even though we have an extensive back catalog, people are right there with us when we play them eight new songs in a set.”

Under the direction of producer Dave Fridmann, Deer Tick recorded most of the album live, but explored many nuanced sounds, tunings, instrumentations, and styles that set this album in a more mature and self-realized place than some of their past work.

“After the breaks we took and with John [McCauley] returning to Rhode Island after living in Nashville, we finally got a chance to just jam and write together in an open, collaborative spirit,” O’Neil says. “Once a week we get together and just play; we haven’t been able to do that in a long time and it’s really pushed our songwriting as a band.”

“The MBA program has already propelled me to a rewarding career, even before graduation.

Enrolling in grad school was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”

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thefarmersdaughterri.com ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

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ART & CULTURE

A r t i st | By Ken Abrams

King of POP

POP Emporium’s Darren Hill has worked almost every job in the music industry, from T-shirt seller to opening for U2. The East Greenwich resident and owner of the eclectic storefront in Providence’s Warehouse District has lived a life in music, first as a founding member of the New Orleans punk band Red Rockers, and later as a manager of acts including Dropkick Murphys and The Replacements. Most weekends, you can find him at POP Emporium, a business that sells everything from baseball cards to mid-century furniture, making it one of the funkiest stores in the region.

How did the Louisiana native and former

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ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

bass-playing rebel end up dealing antiques in Providence? Hill shared his story in a recent call from New Orleans where the band was rehearsing for their first show in 40 years. “The last time we played together was 1983. We started in a garage; we were best friends and always have been,” says Hill of the band that once scored an MTV hit with “China,” the lead single from the critically acclaimed album Condition Red. Following Red Rockers’ break up, Hill moved to Boston in 1984. He connected with RI music legends Mark Cutler and Emerson Torrey, formerly of The Schemers, and together

they formed The Raindogs, along with Jim Reilly of Stiff Little Fingers. Later, Hill played with Paul Westerberg of The Replacements and other bands into the 1990s before family obligations took over. At that point, he began his career as a manager, a role he had informally served in previous bands. “The first band I signed was The Dropkick Murphys and then The Royal Crowns, Combustible Edison; my roster was mainly local,” says Hill. He currently manages The Replacements, The New York Dolls, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, among others.

Now, as the owner of POP, Hill jokes, “It was supposed to be my retirement gig; it sort of

Photos courtesy of POP

How a New Orleans rocker ended up with the coolest gig in town

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customers. “The key is trying to find stuff that looks cool, not the expensive designer stuff. I try to find stuff that’s affordable, that people can buy,” says Hill. “A huge portion of what we do is sets, props, and decorations for film and TV. We’ve done 26 movies now. POP also allows me to exercise my creative urges by having shows, art exhibits, and other events. It seamlessly flows back and forth from my management company.”

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snowballed quicker than I thought.” With an extensive inventory, POP is a space where you’ll fall in love with things you didn’t know you needed. Hill opened the business about 10 years ago, prompted by searches for one-of-akind items that you’d have a hard time finding elsewhere. “A lot of it is stuff that I accumulated touring on the road; I would chase down antiques. I look for anything that is unusual that you wouldn’t be able to find any place else, with an emphasis on art and mid-century furniture, lighting, and a lot of pop culture items.”

Lately, college students and production companies are among the store’s major

ProvidenceOnline.com • November 2023

77

ART & CULTURE

Ca l e nda r | By Ken Abrams

The Must List 10 essential events this month

An evening of celestial enchantments is planned for the Masquerade Ball

November 11: The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes guest conductor Morihiko Nakahara and acclaimed violinist Randall Goosby for TACO Classical, performing Debussy’s “La Mer” alongside other selections at The VETS. RIPhil.org

November 16: Learn how to create spectacular centerpieces for the holiday dinner table while enjoying specialty mocktails and cocktails at the Thanksgiving Floral Arranging Workshop held at XO Bar. BloomBackFlowers.com

November 17: With an enchanting theme of celestial visions, the 13th Annual Masquerade Ball at Graduate Providence is Sojourner House’s biggest fundraiser event, promising an out-of-this-world night of cocktails, dancing, and fortune-telling. SojournerRI.org

November 18-19: The Good Trade Makers Market includes nearly 100 of the nation’s top independent makers and manufacturers offering their wares to holiday shoppers at the WaterFire Arts Center.

GoodTradeMakersMarket.com

November 3-5:

November 10:

Get ready for a weekend of cosplay fun at Rhode Island Comic Con, held at the RI Convention Center and the Amica Mutual Pavilion, with cast members of Star Trek, X-Men, Power Rangers, iZombie, and more. RIComicCon.com

Enjoy the sophisticated sounds of Acute Inflections for Jazzy R&B Vibes in Providence, featuring originals and covers of everything from Erykah Badu to Billie Holiday, with two separate admission sets at the Music Mansion. AcuteInflections.com

November 18:

November 4:

November 11:

November 25:

WaterFire’s annual Salute to Veterans is an evening offering support and thanks to Rhode Island servicemen and women commencing at sunset on the banks of the Providence River. WaterFire.org

Fresh off a national tour, Providence’s Nova One headline a cool night of indie rock at the Columbus Theatre. Ava Mirzadegan and Dogs On Shady Lane are also on the bill. ColumbusTheatre.com

Support local commerce on Small Business Saturday at the Holiday ArtMart, with over 80 curated artists and makers of original, slow-made, non-mass-produced works, plus live music, food trucks, and more at the WaterFire Arts Center. WaterFire.org

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Rennie Harris, one of the greatest hip-hop choreographers in the US, presents Rome & Jewels, an interpretation of the classic Shakespearian drama played out on the streets of Philadelphia. FirstWorks.org

Photo courtesy of Sojourner House

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Ph oto cour tesy of David

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