Providence Monthly December 2023 by Hey Rhody Media Co.

66 Williams Street East Side of Providence $7,450,000 8 Bedrooms 5.4 Bathrooms 12,669 Square Feet The Blackstone Team 401.214.1524

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Mickey Silva 401.464.2158

REALTOR® Managing Partner Serving Providence & Beyond

Home for

the holidays.

Be settled into your new home

Before the company arrives. Ready to list your home? Call me today, I’ll get you moving. ThePVD RealEstateGuy.com Jim DeRentis Sales Associate 2023NATIONALLY

RANKED#1 Individual Agent In Rhode Island

(401) 553-6383 / JDerentis@ResidentialProperties.com

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May Peace & Love Fill Your Home This Holiday Season I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support throughout the year. Your trust and loyalty have been instrumental in my real estate business, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous and memorable holiday season.

170 Blackstone Blvd, East Side PENDING • $3,695,000

101 Mt Hope Ave, Jamestown NEW LISTING • $1,995,000

25 Orchard Pl, East Side SOLD • $954,000

T H E E A S T S I D E ’ S # 1 S E L L I N G AG E N T. * L E T ’ S C O N N E C T. . . REALTOR ® | FOUNDING AGENT KIRAGREENE_REALESTATE

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 - 10.27.23 in the Rhode Island State-Wide Multiple Listing Service.

IN THIS ISSUE

Providence Monthly December 2023

DECEMBER HAPPENINGS 25+ ways to get your jingle on in Providence

57 HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE: Photo by Erin Cuddigan, courtesy of WaterFire

FOOD & DRINK Photography by Bob Swartz courtesy of ECS

NEWS & CITY LIFE 11 The performing arts org bringing global acts to local stages 14 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: Spending still murky on RI AG’s $80M escrow agreement to protect safety-net hospitals 16 OP-ED: City issues on the naughty or nice list 18 RHODY GEM: Explore books and nooks inside an old mill building 20 Providence’s new police chief leads by listening 22 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Hyper local news and contact listings 28 FEATURE: Nonprofits to remember during the season of giving

76 IN THE KITCHEN: Two chefs shining a light on Jewish brunch fare 80 A North Providence baker’s take on holiday pies and cakes 84 Creative catering for seasonal celebrations 86 FOOD NEWS: Biscuit biz opens brick-and-mortar, wine paired with pizza & new sandwich shop

61 HOME: An artist’s abode sparkles during the holidays

87 RHODY EATS: RESTAURANT GUIDE Photo courtesy of Nice Jewish Boys Brunch

70 FASHION: A serendipitous meeting leads to a fab collab

On The Cover: A festive view. Photo by Erin Cuddigan, courtesy of WaterFire 4

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photo by Elyse Major

75 Toast to the new year with rooftop views

LIFE & STYLE

68 SHOP: Five presents with presence to gift this year

Your idea book for supporting small biz this season

ART & CULTURE 89 “Superman” shines in new coffee table book 90 INFLUENCER: Meet the dancer-turned-director reimagining ballet in RI 92 ON STAGE: Latin repertory company stages first Christmas show in their own theater 94 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s 96 PIC OF PVD

KEVIN FOX YOUR EAST SIDE REAL ESTATE EXPERT

Guiding y ou Home for the Holiday s. As the year comes to a close, and the holiday season is upon us, I want to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude and warmest holiday wishes to my valued clients, community members, and colleagues. As an East Side resident who loves our Capital City, it is a privilege to partner with you as a real estate advisor and advocate. I welcome new opportunities for our paths to cross in the New Year.

369 S. Main Street | kevin.fox@compass.com | 401.688.5556

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.

photo courtesy of Made in Warren Artist Cooperative

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

From NYE to All-Year Arts A Providence performing arts organization celebrates 20 years of hosting diverse talent “It’s kind of amazing,” says FirstWorks founder and executive director Kathleen Pletcher as she reflects on what the arts agency has accomplished over the past 20 years. Founded in 2004, FirstWorks has become one of the premier arts organizations in the region. Approaching its 20th anniversary, the Providence-based non-profit has come a long way from its origins as an extension of a once popular New Year’s Eve celebration. “I came to Providence as artistic director of First Night, the one-night New Year’s Eve festival. After 9-11, First Nights around the country started to go dark; it couldn’t get traction as a one-night festival,” says Pletcher, who went on to establish FirstWorks, an organization dedicated to bringing high-quality performing arts to communities across the region. Photo by JHsu media, courtesy of FirstWorks ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

P e r fo r mi ng A r t s | By Ken Abrams

Small Island, Big Song

From the beginning, FirstWorks has served an educational mission, presenting visiting artists in area schools and running a summer camp. “Education was part of something we did from the very beginning; there would always be a performance and a workshop,” Pletcher explains. “About 10 years ago, we made it part and parcel of our mission. We’re about live performance, but the idea of how live performance broadens out is really important to us. We now have a youth board, and their voices are helping us understand what is meaningful. We’re statewide, primarily serving under-resourced BIPOC youth, but also looking at ways to link us together and connect.” In recent years, artists as diverse as Rosanne Cash, Mavis Staples, and Blind

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Boys of Alabama have graced local stages, and FirstWorks takes the lead in securing talent for the annual PVDFest. Pletcher considers multiple factors when curating events. “I’m really inspired by the visions of artists, nationally and internationally, and increasing locally,” she explains. “Who are outstanding artists? Sometimes those are emerging artists who I’m getting introduced to, and sometimes it’s like, ‘are we really going to have Alvin Ailey for the first time ever in Rhode Island?’ We love doing that too.” Celebrating diversity and inclusion is at the core of FirstWork’s mission. “The diversity is deliberate – it’s part of our strategic plan,” says Pletcher. “FirstWorks has been this way since the very beginning. It is a real

On March 15, 2024, Small Island, Big Song is coming to The Strand. The performance features a cast of Asian-Pacific island artists who documented a trip across 16 countries. “The performance is a musical journey to the island nations, but also a piece about the impact of climate change, one of our key themes, which threads through our educational programming,” says Pletcher.

belief in respecting, celebrating, and honoring diverse voices. We’re coalescing people’s interests and doing work that we believe is relevant. This season, we have Rennie Harris, presenting the third project he and the company have done here. Listen to what he is saying through ‘Rome & Jewels’ about his belief in hip-hop being a means to unite us, how he’s hacking the classics.” From December 1-3, FirstWorks hosts Boston-based MASARY Studios, an experiential audio/visual project featuring an a cappella choir and commissioned composer. Following last year’s Three Nights of Lights, the event brings FirstWorks full circle, back to its First Night roots, by providing outdoor events during the holiday season. Learn more at FirstWorks.org

Photos by Kimmi Cranes, courtesy of FirstWorks

NEWS & CITY LIFE

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NEWS & CITY LIFE

N e w s | In Partne rship with The Public’s Radio • ThePublicsRadio.org

Spending Still Murky on RI Attorney General’s $80M Escrow Agreement to Protect Safety Net Hospitals Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha credits an $80 million escrow agreement he obtained in 2021 with helping to ensure the future of two local safety-net hospitals, at least for now. But two years later, it remains unclear what changes were made possible by the escrow. By Ian Donnis

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Peter Neronha

expenditures which are critical for the operation of those hospitals?” Callaci said. The hospitals’ operation was a top concern back in 2021, when Neronha outlined his findings about Prospect Medical in a 150-page report. He said Prospect put Fatima and Roger Williams at risk by taking a $1 billion loan in 2018, paying off some existing debt, and giving almost a half-billion dollars in dividends to two top Prospect executives, a Los Angeles private equity firm that owned part of the company and other investors. The company had cut jobs at its hospitals in Rhode Island, where workers complained of short-staffing

and difficulty getting basic supplies. Before Neronha weighed in, an advisory panel to the state Health Department recommended approval, without conditions, of an ownership change at Prospect Medical – even though a leading accounting firm cited concerns about the firm’s liabilities. Supporters of the transaction included Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, then president of the Providence City Council. A spokesman for Prospect’s Rhode Island hospitals, Otis Brown, referred questions about spending by Rhode Island’s third-largest hospital group since 2021 to Neronha’s office. After months of requests by The Public’s

Photos courtesy of The Public’s Radio

Two years ago, Attorney General Peter Neronha called it unprecedented when a California company, Prospect Medical Holdings, agreed to a lengthy set of conditions as part of a change in the company’s ownership. The most headline-grabbing aspect was the creation of an $80 million escrow account. The money would be used as leverage to ensure payment of operating expenses and guarantee tens of millions in capital improvements at Prospect Medical’s two Rhode Island hospitals, Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence. Two years later, Neronha’s office said the escrow has been monitored independently by the Chicago-based firm RSM and about half of the original escrow, or $45 million, is left. The remainder has been returned to Prospect Medical’s past and current owners as various conditions have been met. “We’re keeping a close eye on the finances, and that’s where our principal concern is,” Neronha said during an interview at his office. But for now, there is no public document specifying capital improvements at Fatima and Roger Williams since Prospect Medical agreed to provide the escrow in 2021. Neronha’s office said it has not yet received a monitor’s report on Prospect’s capital expenditures for the fiscal year ending in September 2022. As a result, Chris Callaci, the lawyer for United Nurses and Allied Professionals – which represents hundreds of workers at both hospitals – feels left in the dark about whether Prospect Medical met its obligations after that to do things like buy new equipment, renovate facilities and improve information systems. “A significant question for the union would be, have they complied with those capital

Wishing you peace and happiness this holiday season

UNAP lawyer Chris Callaci says he has unanswered questions.

Radio, Neronha’s office last week released a document showing $12 million in capital expenditure spending at Fatima and Roger Williams from October 2019 through June 2021. Some other documents released by the AG are harder to scrutinize, including a series of reports by the independent monitor, with the financial details redacted. The general escrow agreement between Prospect Medical and Neronha’s office is heavily redacted. And Neronha’s 2021 decision on Prospect Medical, despite its scathing tone toward Prospect’s management, redacts many details about the company and its top executives. “It doesn’t appear his office was as transparent as possible when they redacted information in this document,” said John Marion, executive director of Common Cause of Rhode Island, who noted that Neronha’s stated view is one of favoring transparency. But Eileen O’Grady of the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a Chicago-based nonprofit watchdog group, praised Neronha’s 2021 decision and its impact. She credited Neronha with imposing unprecedented accountability, thanks in large part to a state law known as the Hospital Conversion Act, which gave him authority to regulate such health care transactions. “It’s really impressive what this office did,” O’Grady said. “And I think it’s a good sort of lesson for how other states can design their laws and their hospital merger and acquisition review processes to ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again.” Neronha said the redactions in his 2021

decision are due to confidentiality considerations that he didn’t consider necessary to challenge. “I think we laid out in great detail what the problems were, how we got there,” he said, “and so I think the public had a pretty good understanding, not only the history of how these hospitals came to be acquired by Prospect, but what the current situation was and why we got there.” What happens moving forward, however, is unclear. Under the Hospital Conversion Act, Neronha can regulate changes in Prospect Medical’s ownership for five years. He said all bets are off when that clock runs out. “The real question for me at least is what happens in 2026,” Neronha said. An Atlanta-based nonprofit, The Centurion Foundation, is continuing an effort to buy Prospect Medical’s Rhode Island properties. Centurion says its mission is increasing access to community-based healthcare. But the union representing workers at Fatima and Roger Williams, United Nurses and Allied Professionals, used a recent mailer to say that Centurion has failed for months to make any commitments against layoffs, hospital closures or terminating services. A revised offer by Centurion to buy Prospect Medical’s Rhode Island properties, following a requested extension, is now due by Nov. 14.

Gerri Schiffman is a trusted and reliable advocate for all of your 2024 real estate needs CONTACT GERRI TODAY! 401-474-3733 gerrischiffman.com

This article was originally posted on October 30, 2023. Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@thepublicsradio.org

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

NEWS & CITY LIFE

O p-e d | By Barry Fain and Steve Triedman

Naughty and Nice List Hot takes on city issues to wrap up 2023 ‘Twas the month of the holidays, and all through the city, some things were good and others were gritty. The stockings were hung. The weather was cold and some people got coal while others got gold.

To the leadership in charge of educating our children: An empty sock At a recent Rotary fundraising gala for literacy

programs to help the Providence Preservation Society, attended by the mayor, the governor, the house speaker, and prominent members of the community, education commissioner Infante-Green promised that test scores she would be announcing the next day “would really surprise everyone and that we are on the right track.” The scores are still below 2019! Time’s up for patting everyone on the back. It’s time for the governor to step up and show some real leadership. To the awaited return of Neil Steinberg: Gold The exciting news that the state is about to launch a full-blown, all-hands-on-deck initiative to build on the effort led by Brown, Lifespan, and the state to go after research dollars… and we already have money in

Photo by Pixel-Shot / Adobe Stock

To the PILOT – payment in lieu of taxes – negotiations with Brown: Coal The city showed up to a gunfight with a butter knife. PILOT is a payment made to compensate a host city for some or all of the property tax revenue lost due to tax exempt ownership; it couldn’t be more clear or well defined. Brown has made it a give-get situation and now Mayor Smiley, ignoring all of the counsel to the contrary, pushed through a deal showing big numbers, but with more gives and too many outs. We really wish that Brown negotiated with the city the way they play football!

To the PILOT negotiators for Lifespan: A very large lump of coal C’mon guys, let’s be fair here. Lifespan has stiffed us for the past two years by refusing to pay the city what they promised in the last PILOT, and until very recently, wouldn’t even sit down with the mayor to discuss. Meanwhile, they’re discussing changing their name to Brown Medical, perhaps affiliating with the university to pursue those lucrative life science research grants? Exciting prospect. Keep the distinction between doctors’ office rents and commercial offices very clear (and this should be done before all parties move forward).

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Experience New England’s Favorite Winter Tradition this business led by Amgen. We have the built-in infrastructure and with someone of Steinberg’s reputation and background, this time the concept might fly. More importantly, getting him out of the house will give his lovely wife, Genie, a chance to get things done. To the RI Department of Transportation: Coal (with a helmet) How can you spend $250 million on the new Route 95 connection to Route 146 and create one of the most dangerous driving situations possible? Trying to one-up the Pawtucket S-curve? Drivers have an extremely tight window to take 146 or the State House exit and the number of accidents is increasing, and it’s creating rather than reducing backups through the city as drivers struggle to stay on the right road. To the Providence Bus Hub: Could be gold Everybody wants a new bus hub to replace Kennedy Plaza with a covered loading area, a parking garage, a temperature-controlled seating area, shops, and apartments, and the Eddy Street site built by a blue ribbon five-firm consortium was a great answer. Now there’s talk of using a 195 parcel near Coro Center and Route 95. Stop talking and build! To WaterFire: Gold The fires are still keeping tourism hot! To Helen Anthony’s Return: Gold And, of course, with a stocking overflowing with best wishes on Providence City Councilwoman Anthony’s return, a true Christmas miracle.

November 24 – December 31, 2023 This year is bigger and brighter than ever, featuring festive, larger-than-life dazzling displays with more than 3 ½ million illuminated lights that transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland! From radiant reindeers to sparkly snowmen, this is a must-see experience this holiday season. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For information visit rwpzoo.org/holidaylights

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

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

NEWS & CITY LIFE

By Ruthie Wood

Riffraff Bookstore and Bar 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: An independent bookstore with a builtin cafe and bar.

What makes it a Rhody Gem? Riffraff opened in 2017, but when it went up for sale this year, Ottavia De Luca and Lucas Mann were quick to take over the legacy of their favorite indie bookstore (they even held their baby shower between the stacks before taking over the store). De Luca and Mann kept the original name and mission: to host a highly curated book selection in a relaxed atmosphere that encourages community bonding and readers to socialize with one another. It is a place where customers can “browse books, sit and do some work, meet friends for a drink, and attend events in the evening,” De Luca explains. Events include book launches, author readings, open mic nights, trivia nights, and private parties. The space also boasts a beautiful courtyard, perfect for sipping one of the store’s specialty cocktails or coffees, meeting people, and getting fresh air – even in the winter when the heat lamps are rolled out for comfort.

Riffraff Bookstore and Bar 60 Valley Street, Unit 107A RiffRaffPVD.com, Instagram: @riffraffpvd

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photo by Atomic Clock Photography, courtesy of Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

Where to find it: Tucked inside THE PLANT, a repurposed mill building in Olneyville also housing spots like Hungry Ghost Press and Troop, Riffraff’s entrance can be found in the courtyard on Delaine Street.

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

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ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

NEWS & CITY LIFE

I nt e r v i e w | By Steve Triedman & Barry Fain

Leading by Listening Oscar Perez, 38th police chief for the City of Providence, and the first Colombia-born police chief, explains what he sees as the key to being successful in his new job: “Listening! I get extensive feedback from the mayor, other city department heads, patrol and command officers, and residents, which is all critical to our success as all of these stakeholders ultimately hold the keys to our ability to deliver a safe city. We [the police] can’t do it alone. We need everyone involved.” “As chief, I understand that the real challenge is ‘The buck stops here,’” explains Perez. “Decisions affect the force and the public and it’s critical to get it right. You know decisions will be scrutinized on many levels. Perception has never been more important. And, there’s a lot more eyes on everything that we do.” Perez is down to earth in both his mannerisms and speech. He is relaxed and confident in his ability to do the job, and the respect and admiration within the force are clear when you inquire about him. Patrol officers share that he treats everyone fairly, doesn’t lead with superiority or arrogance, and genuinely cares for their wellbeing. Born in Medellin, Colombia, Perez and his family moved to Elma Street in South Providence when he was 13. He couldn’t speak English, but discovered a boxing gym near his home where he learned a number of life lessons, like what it takes to remain standing in a fight! (His boxing days are mostly behind him now, he joked.) He admits his neighborhood had many social challenges and he saw how the police officers handled them, some better than others. “But, I was happy that they were there … protecting my neighborhood.” Perez went to Roger Williams Middle School, graduated from Central High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University. He became one of the few Latino officers in the department in 1994. Over the next almost three decades, Perez worked his way up the ranks, gaining hands-on experience in virtually every aspect of urban policing. Starting in the patrol division, subsequent years included

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

time in the detective division, youth services, administration, gang intervention, neighborhood response teams, and organized crime, among others – in short, the full gambit. Somehow, Perez also found time to serve as an adjunct professor in the Administration of Justice Department at both Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University and he has served on the RI State Parole Board, where he has been noted for his professionalism and compassion using his knowledge of the streets. “I’m a big believer in second chances,” he notes, “and I think that good policing with a true understanding of the socioeconomic situation can have great effects on people’s lives.” Perez is a firm believer in the importance of community policing and was fortunate to be able to work closely with his mentor, friend and predecessor Hugh Clements, who now works

in Washington DC as the director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for the Department of Justice. “Better training and community policing have both proven to have great effect on how officers interact and provide safe neighborhoods,” says Perez. Perez admits he would like to see a larger force. He inherits a department with a full complement of 491 police officers; with the newest recruiting class, it should hit 473, but another wave of retirements will impact the count. Perez plans to make recruiting a yearround effort, though it’s a constant challenge not just in Providence, but nationally. But given Perez’s impressive story, he may be one of the best recruiting tools the department has ever had. “I still believe that it’s a great job with plenty of opportunity for growth and development and a good career.”

Photo courtesy of Oscar Perez

Providence’s new police chief brings a laundry list of experience and love of the city to the role

It’s a Wickenden

Wonderland

Come visit Fox Point, one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in Providence. Find shops, art galleries, salons, pubs, cafes, restaurants and more!

Red Bridge Antiques Cultivating thirst with a wide selection of small production, organic, & naturally made wines, and thoughtfully chosen beer & spirits for statewide delivery.

Red Bridge Antiques and Estate Services has been serving New England for over twenty years. The store buys, sells and liquidates fine art, antiques and estate collectibles.

127 Brook St. • 621-9650 campusfinewines.com • @campusfinewines

416 Wickenden Street • 453-3377 redbridgeantiques.com

A collaborative store between local artists Milkcan Industries and Parched. Come to The Matchbox for original designs and Rhode Island themed t-shirts, mugs, gifts and more. 163 Brook Street • @thematchboxri thematchboxri.com

A lifestyle shop highlighting local and artisan makers, with a curated selection of clothing, jewelry, home decor, gifts, and vintage items. 197 Wickenden St. • 453-6282 @shopnava • shopnava.com

A neighborhood bar for EVERYONE. Come enjoy our friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, seasonal cocktails, local beer, private patio and late kitchen.

Roasting and serving some of the finest socially responsible Fair Trade Organic coffees from around world since 1984.

302 Wickenden Street @thepointtavernpvd

207 Wickenden Street • 273-1198 thecoffeeexchange.com

Revival Massage & Bodyworks is an awardwinning massage therapy and skincare studio and will be running their annual 10% off gift card sale during the month of December.

Rhode Island’s best source for handmade or custom designed area rugs, along with hand-woven flat or pile carpets, wallto-wall carpeting and stair runners.

269 Wickenden Street • 270-5077 revivalmassageri.com• @revival_massage

1 Governor Street • 751-5100 rustigianrugs.com

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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

Olneyville Neighborhood Association celebrates 25 years Last month saw a landmark anniversary celebration for the Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA): 25 Años Unidos en la Lucha: Past, Present, & Future was a night dedicated to commemorating the transformative history of ONA, as well as a call for support to fully fund their transformative grassroots community organizing mission. ONA’s roots trace back to neighbors organizing in the basement of St. Teresa’s Church on Manton Avenue as a response to gentrification, xenophobia, and poverty in Olneyville – many challenges that the neighborhood still faces due to underinvestment in the community. In response, ONA provides a growing number of resources locally and throughout Rhode Island, including free adult education, community support, job opportunities, informative meetings, hot dinners, and more. Support is essential to helping ONA purchase essential supplies, compensate instructors, and expand reach and impact in empowering communities with the resources they need to work together for transformative change. Their fundraiser remains open until the end of the year to help keep programs running. GiveButter.com/ONA25

New projects and president for Mile of History Association The Mile of History Association (MoHA) held its annual meeting at the end of October at the Benefit Street Arsenal. The members honored Vincent Buonanno with a standing ovation, recognizing his service as president since MoHA’s founding in 2017. Buonanno will retire at the end of the year, and in his place, the board of directors has elected Liz Mauran as the next president. Attendees also celebrated the installation of new streetlights along Benefit Street and heard progress reports on the current projects, including one underway to install signage along Benefit Street to inform visitors of historical events and significant buildings that make the Mile of History a special part of American heritage. 22

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photo courtesy of Olneyville Neighborhood Association

Help ONA keep essential community programming running by contributing to their fundraiser

Fox Point neighbors make headway on Wickenden

Composting hub updates on the West End

Neighbors, merchants, Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) members, and leaders of several neighborhood groups packed the room at a mid-October meeting of the City Plan Commission (CPC) to share their opinions about a controversial six-story development proposed for 269 Wickenden Street. A FPNA-led contingent argued that the proposal, at six stories and 75 residential units, would dwarf the current streetscape, cause problems with parking and deliveries, cripple local businesses, and destroy neighborhood character while opening the door to similar developments in the area. Several local advocates supported the project, arguing that dense development is necessary in light of climate change and the urgent need for housing in the state, but FPNA members pointed to the 1,000 housing units already slated to be built on nearby parcels of the 195 Commission. “This project is very short-sighted,” commented neighbor Toyoko Schieferdecker. “It is going to be [occupied by] national chain stores.” At the conclusion of the five-hour hearing, members of the CPC voted to grant general approval of the building proposal, but rejected a related request to waive a 20-foot rear

Over the past month, the site of the future West End Compost Hub has undergone environmental remediation. The site, which is leased to Harvest Cycle Compost by West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, was a brownfield, formerly serving industrial uses before standing for decades, and the soil was contaminated with lead and hazardous chemical compounds. Harvest Cycle Compost, an initiative of Groundwork RI, secured funding from the RI Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to clean up the site, and after years of planning, it’s finally complete. The remediation contractors started by removing trash and small vegetation from the site, then ripped up and removed the old asphalt, and dug up the northwest corner of the site. There were higher levels of leachable lead in that section of soil than anticipated, so they mixed that soil with a binding agent to stabilize the lead before moving the soil to a disposal facility. A total of approximately 600 cubic yards of soil was removed from the site. Contractors then leveled the ground, and it’s now ready for composting infrastructure. Part of the remediation includes a cap,

setback requirement, thus compromising the developer’s ability to design a profitable project. “With the denial of a rear setback and the conditions attached to the master plan, we made significant headway,” said FPNA president Lily Bogosian. “I remain hopeful that our collaborative efforts will be successful in preserving Wickenden Street.”

which will be installed when the rest of the construction happens. At press time, Harvest Cycle Compost was putting the finishing touches on the designs for the compost hub with plans to put the project out to bid. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin in the spring. Learn more at Ground GroundWorkRI.org/harvest-cycle-compost/

WISHING YOU and YOURS a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON! I am grateful to the clients, companions, and close-knit neighbors who have trusted me with their real estate dreams. Happy Holidays, PVD!

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ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

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: December 11 Amy Mendillo P.O. Box 2315 Providence, RI 02906 FoxPointNeighborhood@gmail.com FPNA.net Jewelry District Association Sharon Steele Sharon@sharonsteele.com JewelryDistrict.org Facebook: Jewelry District Association Providence, RI

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

MoHA’s annual meeting in October celebrated their retiring president and welcomed new leadership Mile of History Association Wendy Marcus c/o Providence Preservation Society 24 Meeting Street Providence, RI 02903 MileOfHistory@gmail.com MileOfHistory.org Mount Hope Community Center 401-521-8830 MHNAInc@gmail.com Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc. Olneyville Neighborhood Association Eduardo Sandoval 122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909 ONAProvidence@gmail.com Facebook: Olneyville Library Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations Info@provcna.org ProvCNA.org Reservoir Triangle Neighborhood Association David Talan 25 Santiago St. Providence, RI 02907 401-941-3662 DaveTalan@aol.com Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative Wole Akinbi 400 Smith Street Providence, RI 02908 Suite #1 AAkinbi@half-full.com Facebook: Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

South Providence Neighborhood Association c/o Dwayne Keys P.O. Box 5653 Providence, RI 02903 401-369-1334 SouthProvNeighbors@gmail.com Facebook: South Providence Neighborhood Association Summit Neighborhood Association Meeting date: December 18 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 courtesy of the Mile of History Association

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

ATTENTION ALL ACTIVE DUTY, VETERANS AND WOUNDED WARRIORS Having had a father and two uncles in the military during WWII, with one uncle not returning, I understand service and sacrifice. To show you I value your service, I would like to offer you a very special benefit to show my gratitude. U.S. Military on the Move (MOM) is a free real estate rebate program that allows you to earn cash back when you sell or buy a home with me (in states where allowed by law*). When you sell or buy a home through me, the MOM program allows you to receive a cash rebate* based on the commission of the transaction side(s) you are on with no dollar limit on the rebate.

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Fe at ur e | By Emily Olson

Keeping the Lights On Three mission-driven organizations focused on helping neighbors in need live their best lives

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PANTRY In his depth of experience working in food pantries, Donver Gardiner realized the need for nutrition was greater than many of these organizations were able to meet. With this in mind, in January 2023, he and six colleagues opened Your Neighborhood Food Pantry on Branch Avenue to serve Providence’s North End. “There is another food pantry in this neighborhood,” explains Gardiner, who serves as operations director. “It’s on the bus line, so people can access it, but it’s only open one day a week. Your Neighborhood Food Pantry is on the bus line, and it’s one of the few food pantries in Rhode Island that’s open three days a week.” Your Neighborhood Food Pantry also shares a block with the Boys and Girls Club and The San Miguel School. “We’ve reached out to both places to see how we can support their kids,” Gardiner says. “We’re trying to talk to different organizations in the neighborhood to let them know we’re here to help them.” The pantry is a member agency of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which stocks the majority of their shelf space, but they also rely in part on Hope’s Harvest RI to fill the facility with fresh produce. “Over the last six or seven years, I’ve seen the need increase,” says Gardiner. “Every time I open the doors, I see new people who have never visited a food pantry before. Just

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Your Neighborhood Food Pantry collects fresh produce along with shelf-stable goods

Photo courtesy of Your Neighborhood Food Pantry

With higher-than-average inflation rates putting many individuals and families into budgetary corners, sometimes the best way to help is to start small. Many Rhode Island nonprofits are doing just that by focusing resources around small communities of neighbors, and although the need has always been great, over the last few years it’s become greater, with lengthy waitlists for help growing. With the holiday season upon us, those with the ability to give back can look to a few worthy causes that do a lot with a little – and despite difficulties of their own, are hoping to make positive impacts in their neighborhoods.

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Fe at ur e | By Emily Olson

yesterday, there were 18 new faces.” He attributes this to the rising cost of food and stagnant wages. “People just aren’t making enough money.” Your Neighborhood Food Pantry gratefully accepts food donations from the community, but cash donations literally help keep the lights on. “We have to keep paying our rent and bills so we can be here for the people who need us,” Gardiner says.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS For many, just staying in one spot can be a challenge, and it’s a struggle that Susan Jaquith, board president of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, is intimately familiar with. Her nonprofit was established in 2012 with the goal of reducing homelessness in South County by repairing homes free of charge. “We started out as a church organization helping people with home repairs

two weekends a year, but we quickly realized that wasn’t enough,” says Jaquith. When she retired, she used her new-found free time to help expand the organization as a way to give back to the community. “Our mission is to keep structures livable and safe so that people can remain in their homes,” she says, describing everything from roof replacement projects and handrail installations to plumbing and electrical repairs.

Photo courtesy of Your Neighborhood Food Pantry

Keeping shelves stocked at Your Neighborhood Food Pantry

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

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Fe at ur e | By Emily Olson

HOW YOU CAN HELP For details on donating time, goods, and funds, visit each of these nonprofits online. Find more local nonprofits to support this holiday season and beyond by visiting 401Gives.org. NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS Charlestown, NeighborsHelpingNeighborsri.org THE VILLAGE COMMON OF RI 401-228-8683, ProvidenceVillageRI.org YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PANTRY 533 Branch Avenue, Providence, YNFP.org

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Neighbors Helping Neighbors volunteers

“We’re currently installing a furnace for someone who has been without heat and hot water since July,” Jaquith says. The organization sometimes also sets up temporary structures, like a wheelchair ramp, so that a homeowner can be discharged from the hospital. “When they’re done with the ramp, we’ll take it back and store it for reuse,” she says. Jaquith acknowledges that her organization has a waiting list. “We do as much as we can with what we have, but while we work on four or five projects at a time, we often have a backlog of 12.” This summer’s torrential rains necessitated a lot of roof

repair work for the group. While cash donations certainly help Neighbors Helping Neighbors fulfill its mission, so do like-minded partners. “Much of the work we do requires a licensed, insured contractor,” she says. “We find that when these contractors meet the homeowners, they develop a real heart for the work and often donate a job a year or give us a break on labor.” Although their volunteers can paint a wall after a patch job, Jaquith says she would love to have a general handyman or carpenter on her list of volunteers who can take on the small jobs.

Photo courtesy of Neighbors Helping Neighbors

NEWS & CITY LIFE

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VILLAGE COMMON OF RI Small jobs, like changing a lightbulb, are outside of the scope of Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ work, but that’s where The Village Common of RI comes in. With a mission of helping people age in place, the organization has “villages” in Barrington, Burrillville, Edgewood, Glocester, Providence, and Westerly, but beyond helping older adults stay in their homes rather than move into a care facility, volunteers strive to reintegrate older adults into their own communities. “There’s such a negative spin put on aging,” says executive director Caroline Gangji.

“Instead, I think a community should see examples of healthy aging.” The Village Common is driven by 275 volunteers organized into six villages with six more in development, including one dedicated to Spanish speakers and another dedicated to LGBTQ+ adults. Volunteers, who often join the organization after hearing about it through word of mouth, do things like drive older adults to appointments, take them grocery shopping, or bring their garbage cans to the curb. “Our volunteers do whatever is needed. They are an important lifeline for people,” says Gangji,

“and they’re the gems of our society.” Many of the people they support are older women living alone without family nearby or with family busy working and taking care of children. “A lot of what we do is mitigate isolation and loneliness,” says Gangji. Volunteers might organize a potluck, book club, or walking group. They sometimes organize virtual karaoke nights or film discussions. “Sometimes simply receiving an invitation reminds them they’re part of a community,” she continues. “For these older adults, our work can be life changing.”

The Village Common of RI organizes a range of services for seniors

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photo courtesy of Village Common of RI

NEWS & CITY LIFE

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City Celebrations Providence pulls out all the stops for special activities all month long BY THE EDITORS

Photo by @the_hidden_worlds_of_pvd

C“

ity sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style,” goes the song “Silver Bells,” which aptly describes the many commercial streets of Providence. Every corner of the Creative Capital shines during December, whether you’re shopping beneath the strands of lights on Westminster, being tempted by the aromas of Federal Hill restaurants beckoning you inside for a bite, strolling specialty shops amidst East Side streets’ historic charms, reveling in the cool vibes of the West End, or popping into bakeries around Elmhurst and Mount Pleasant, among many other destinations. Wreaths on lampposts, colorful displays, candles in windows, and illuminated greens give us all excuses to stop and savor the most magical time of year. We’ve done all the research to provide dozens of things to do, along with all you need to follow Santa around the state all month long. So, get out your calendars, make some plans, and enjoy!

DECEMBER 1

DECEMBER 1-3

THREE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS: Last year’s stellar festival returns, complete with five-foot glowing snowflakes, tree lightings, video projection, a partial waterfire, and special holiday storefronts. GoProvidence.com

DECEMBER 2

BENEFIT STREET STROLL: Don’t miss a walk down the charming East Side street known as the “Mile of History” for its collection of 18th and 19th century architecture, festooned in holiday cheer by volunteers and homeowners. MileOfHistory.org TREE LIGHTING AT NARRAGANSETT BREWERY: Raise your pint glass and toast the holiday lights, or join in with carolers singing timeless melodies at this tree lighting event. Facebook: Narragansett Beer OUTDOOR MARKETPLACE: Federal Hill retailers and restaurants offer shopping and tastings al fresco style, all to the tune of caroling, holiday performances, and a lighting extravaganza. FederalHillProv.com 40

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

PROVIDENCE CITY HALL

THREE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS

Photo (top) courtesy of Providence Warwick CVB, (bottom) courtesy of Three Nights of Lights

CITY OF PROVIDENCE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY: 25 Dorrance Street is the place to be for festivities capping off with the lighting of the tree. ProvidenceRI.gov

FROM ORNAMENTS T O O W N E R S H I P. . . Let’s Get You Home for the Holidays! I take pride in serving the city we love. As a trusted Providence real estate expert, I’m committed to connecting buyers and sellers in this vibrant community. Whether you’re searching for a charming historic home on the East Side, a lucrative investment property, or a suburban retreat in the surrounding neighborhoods, I have the local knowledge and expertise to make your real estate dreams a reality. ¡Hablo Español!

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Santa Tracker

THROUGH DECEMBER 23: The Bristol Santa House is a free-of-charge holiday destination for children with special needs and their families, run by volunteers. Various dates, BristolSantaHouse.org

DECEMBER 1: Bowen’s Wharf 53rd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting: Newport’s historic waterfront is festooned in holiday lights and decorations for a special evening of music, caroling, tree lighting ceremony, and visit via boat from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Newport, BowensWharf.com

DECEMBER 2: All Lit Up Christmas Parade: Smithfield channels the holiday spirit with an annual parade packed with festive floats, walkers, music, and more. Facebook: Smithfield’s All Lit Up Christmas Parade

DECEMBER 2, 3, 9 & 10: Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration: Travel back in time as you tour decorated rooms of the historic Hearthside House, complete with festive music and, of course, Santa. Lincoln, HearthsideHouse.org

DECEMBER 4 & 18: Sing Along with Santa: Bring the whole family for some good old-fashioned caroling with the beloved man in red, who will read The Night Before Christmas, followed by cookies and cocoa. Bristol, Blithewold.org

DECEMBER 7, 14 & 21: Candlelight Shopping: Explore historic Chepachet Village by the glow of antique street lights during this series of special evenings full of music, shopping, and entertainment. Glocester, CandlelightShopping.com

DECEMBER 8-23: Santa Checks In: Sleepy Santa is having a vacation from all that holiday madness, but before he goes to bed, children are welcome to visit him, take a photo, and receive their first gift of Christmas. Westerly, OceanHouseEvents.com

DECEMBER 9: Strolling Rolling Apponaug Winter Festival: Sip, stroll, walk, and roll to this fun Christmas festival and parade featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus, food trucks, vendors, arts and crafts, horse-drawn carriages, and more! Facebook: Warwick RI Tourist Department

DECEMBER 17: Meet and Greet with Santa Cruise & Holiday Bubbly Cruises: Mix, mingle, and get your jingle on aboard the Coastal Queen during this special cruise with Santa, hot chocolate, and candy canes, and a cruise with prosecco later in the afternoon. Newport, CoastalQueenCruises.com

BRISTOL SANTA HOUSE

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

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VISIONS OF SUGARPLUMS Extend the fun with a stay at the La Dolce Vita Holiday Suite – all decked out all month long, complete with a lit tree, decorating station, treats, and a wine flight from Bellini Providence. As a bonus, guests also have exclusive access to Bellini Rooftop, a private members club, to soak in twinkling city views from above. TheBeatrice.com

DECEMBER 2-3

FINE FURNISHINGS SHOWS WINTER MARKET: This exceptional weekend shopping event features holiday decor and vendors galore. WaterFire Arts Center, FineFurnishingsShows.com

DECEMBER 3

HANDEL’S MESSIAH OPEN SING: All are welcome to sing along with the Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra performing the Christmas portion of Handel’s celebratory work at the Church of St. Sebastian. RICCO.org

DECEMBER 8

THREE NIGHTS OF LIGHTS 44

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

KRAMPUSNACHT AT NARRAGANSETT BREWERY: It’s a nightmare before Christmas in this delightfully frightful event filled with thrilling costumes, live music, and dark brews. Facebook: Narragansett Beer

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DECEMBER 9

FIELD OF ARTISANS AT NARRAGANSETT BREWERY: The one-of-a-kind artisan market sets up shop in the iconic brewery’s Fox Point tasting room. FieldOfArtisans.com

DECEMBER 10

HANDEL’S MESSIAH: RI Philharmonic and Providence Singers bring the beloved holiday concert to life. TheVetsRI.com GIRL GANG CRAFT HOLIDAY FAIR: Celebrate the women in your life with this fem-craft fair. Over 100 women-owned businesses and makers come together to show off their goods. WaterFire.org 46

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photo (top) by Ashley Symons, courtesy of InDowncity, (bottom) by Elyse Major

DECEMBER 8-9

LA CUESTA MÁGICA (THE MAGIC HILL): Five lost brothers embark on an extraordinary adventure in this magical holiday musical with songs and dances from Latin America, performed in Spanish, with English translations simulcast. TeatroEcas.org

Photo (top) courtesy of Jewish Rhody, (bottom) courtesy of Mile of History Association

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DECEMBER 12

SHINE YOUR LIGHT - A HANUKKAH CELEBRATION: Everybody loves games around the holidays! Come share your skills at the talent show and take part in the festivities on this special night with the Temple Emanu-El community. JewishRhody.com

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DECEMBER 13

BENEFIT STREET

UGLY SWEATER PARTY: Homemade, thrifted, gifted, or bought – break out those chunky sweaters for a friendly ugly sweater competition and a night of holiday-inspired flights. Providence, Facebook: Narragansett Beer

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

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

THE NUTCRACKER

TIPS FOR AVOIDING THE SHOPPING CRANKIES

DECEMBER 14

THE NUTCRACKER: Don’t miss Ballet RI’s fresh take on the enchanting classic, featuring a 38-foot tree, Nutcracker by Big Nazo Lab, and creative choreography by Yury Yanowsky. The VETS, PPACRI.org

DECEMBER 15 & 17

HOLIDAY POPS: “Unwrap the Magic” with The Boston Pops, featuring classic songs and new takes on seasonal favorites in a celebration of New England’s very own wintry wonderland. Providence Performing Arts Center, PPACRI.org

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Dress in layers. If possible, keep that bulky coat in the car.

•

Be the bigger person; hold the door open for others and smile.

•

Have cash, credit cards, or apps loaded and ready for purchases.

•

Bring tote bags for purchases.

•

Use passport parking through the PVD311 app.

•

Dine (then meander) at restaurants with valet parking.

•

Leave the car, take the RIPTA.

DECEMBER 15-24

LINDSEY STIRLING: SNOW WALTZ TOUR: Classic jingles get recharged with Lindsey Stirling’s electric violin and acrobatic performances of favorite carols and original holiday tunes. Providence Performing Arts Center, PPACRI.org

PROVIDENCE BRUINS WINTERFEST: Catch two hockey games of fun and fundraising to celebrate the winter season. Amica Mutual Pavilion, ProvidenceBruins.com

•

DECEMBER 16

Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy of Ballet RI

The better you prepare for a day of bustling crowds, the jollier you’ll be. Here’s some tips for keeping merry:

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DECEMBER 16-17

PROVIDENCE ARTISANS MARKETS: Kick off the shopping season with 80 local artists exhibiting handmade works, including paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography, clothing, accessories, mixed media, and more, along with food trucks. WaterFire Arts Center, Facebook: Providence Artisans Market

DECEMBER 27-31

DISNEY ON ICE: FIND YOUR HERO: The magic of the holidays (or Disney) continues in this performance featuring former and future Olympians, skating to favorite heroes from Encanto, Frozen, Moana, and more. AmicaMutualPavillion.com

DECEMBER 31

NYE: GHospitality (which includes Sarto, Providence GPub, and other spots) offers a range of NYE events for all kinds of revelers. SartoProvidence.com 52

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

NEW YEARS EVE AT THE ROOFTOP AT PROVIDENCE G

Photo (top) courtesy of Disney on Ice, (bottom) courtesy of The Rooftop at Providence G

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HOLIDAY LIGHTS SPECTACULAR: This magical walk-through experience returns with 40 acres of dazzling light displays featuring over two million lights – now that’s what we call merry and bright! Roger Williams Park Zoo, RWPZoo.org A CHRISTMAS CAROL: The Rhode Island holiday tradition returns with Trinity Rep’s reimagined telling of Dickens’ classic. TrinityRep.com CRAFTLAND HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA: The holiday season gets even jollier with the whimsical charm of Craftland, a landmark purveyor of handmade gifts celebrating its 20th year. You’re sure to find everything on your wish list – plus a little extra. Shop.CraftlandShop.com

THROUGH JANUARY 3

CHRISTMAS ON THE HILL: Admire twinkling Italian lights criss-crossing Atwells Avenue and decorated trees while shopping and dining around Federal Hill throughout the season. FederalHillProv.com

FRIDAYS & SUNDAYS

CHRISTMAS ON THE HILL 54

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

PVD FLEA HOLIDAY MARKETS: Beginning on Black Friday, the Providence Flea hosts special shopping events leading up to the holidays, featuring your favorite regional small brands and makers. Farm Fresh RI, ProvidenceFlea.com

Photo (top) courtesy of Roger Williams Park Zoo, (bottom) courtesy of Federal Hill Commerce Association

119TH LITTLE PICTURES SHOW & SALE: You read that right – the Providence Art Club’s oldest and largest exhibit returns for another landmark year, featuring artwork all under 16 inches. ProvidenceArtClub.org

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LIFE & STYLE Home | Shop | Fashion

All is Bright A homeowner pulls out all the stops to make a magical Christmas for her family “At one point I had 50 nativities, 75 Santas, and one nine-foot Christmas tree. I now have five nine-foot trees, eight seven-foot trees, one nativity, and four Santas,” says Rosemary Heydt. No matter how the math shakes out, one thing is for sure – she enjoys decking the halls, setting the table, and making things merry and bright. “I like every year to be different and over the top, so the style is always changing,” she says with a warm smile. Photo by Bernadette Heydt, courtesy of Heydt Home ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

H o me | by Elyse Major

Photo by Bernadette Heydt, courtesy of Heydt Home

LIFE & STYLE

The stage is set for Christmas dinner

If her last name is familiar, it’s likely due to her husband William, an artist known for capturing the people and places of Newport via vibrant watercolor paintings. His beloved work can be found all over the City by the Sea with prints, paintings, and his book Working Newport displayed in shops, cafes, and hotels. For 18 years, the couple has lived in Newport’s Historic Hill neighborhood in a

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

house that dates back to 1836. Heydt relays that the home’s original owner, Captain Augustus Littlefield, asked his builder to design an authentic copy of a villa that he’d seen during a trip to Southern Italy. Inside, the Heydts have outfitted interiors with an eclectic blend of furnishings and accents, adhering to neither a villa nor coastal vibe. “We have a lot of different art throughout our home, and a life-size horse made out of junk

in our entrance hall. Not very New England!” The Heydts have three grown children, a grandchild, and dog Luna. “I decorate my home for my family. They are the reasons I do what I do,” says Heydt. “Last year I decided to decorate each nine-foot tree for each family member. My husband Bill and son Eric’s tree was decorated with all gold ornaments; my daughter Bernadette and her husband Andrea’s tree had all white

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LIFE & STYLE

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ornaments and white doves; my daughter Samantha had a tree of different colors; and my new grandson had his nine-foot tree decorated with Santas and candy canes. The family tree was a collection of ornaments from when the kids were young up to today. “I am very happy that my children are always home for Christmas,” says Heydt. “The room I enjoy the most is the dining room, where the white Christmas tree is. It is where we sit and have friends and family over for dinner, so basically it is the heart of our home.”

Photos by Bernadette Heydt, courtesy of Heydt Home

Trees can be seen from every doorway. The table is set in Royal Albert China in Old Country Roses.

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Wickford Village Festival of Lights Horse-drawn hayrides with Santa ... Elf Parade ... Festive entertainment ... Stress-free holiday shopping & more !

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For more details visit us online: www.wickfordvillage.org For real-time updates and year-round fun follow: ‘I Love Wickford Village’ on Facebook & Instagram ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

LIFE & STYLE

H o me | By Elyse Major

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

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

Photos by Bernadette Heydt, courtesy of Heydt Home

MERRY REMINDER Love a good Christmas shop? Check out A Christmas to Remember at 130 Thames Street in Newport. Find ornaments, nutcrackers, coastal-themed Santas, and more. HOLIDAY HILL The area known as Historic Hill might be tight for driving but is perfect for a stroll – taking in plaque houses, cobblestone streets, and charming architecture along the way. Plan your visit at TheHillNewport.com. NEWPORT ARTIST While best-known for his watercolors, William Heydt has a vast body of work which includes etchings, photographs, figure drawings, and more. For info visit WilliamHeydt.com

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

Winter may bring cold weather, but it also brings people together. That’s where we come in. Rhode Island Energy’s Customer Assistance Toolkit offers you a range of tools designed to help you save energy, manage your bill, and access financial help if you need it so, together, we can power through this winter with confidence.

Discover all the ways we can help at RIEnergy.com/Toolkit ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

LIFE & STYLE

Sho p | by Hugh Minor

Give the Gift of Adventure From forging to floating, five experiences that can’t be regifted No one needs more stuff. Rather than wrapping the latest trendy gadget and risk it being banished to the closet or putting a bow on yet another pine-scented candle doomed to be regifted, try something different this year by giving an experience that will create memories to last a lifetime. From creative or relaxing to physically challenging, here are five ideas for truly unique presents.

CREATE A WORK OF ART For the more artistically inclined, a class at the Steel Yard is a great way to help someone express themselves creatively. Class offerings include welding, blacksmithing, jewelry making, or ceramics. Skilled instructors walk students through the process, who leave with a gift they made with their own hands. Plus the Steel Yard is a nonprofit so you’re supporting a great cause. Providence, TheSteelYard.org PERFECT THAT THROW Toss your cares away with a trip to the Axe Bar at R1 Indoor Karting. With a full bar and 10 state-of-the-art throwing lanes, your gift will set the stage for excitement. If axe throwing isn’t their thing, your recipient can throw darts, go karting on an asphalt track, play games at the arcade, or solve the puzzle that is TimeMission, a time machine challenge in a portal! Lincoln, R1IndoorKarting.com CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN Your gift-giving is sure to reach new heights when you deliver a day pass to Rock Spot Climbing. With three Rhode Island locations, you can be bouldering or belaying in Lincoln,

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Solitude at Float RI

Providence, and Peace Dale – a great way to get moving and grooving after all those big holiday meals. Look for special events and sessions, too. Send someone up on their own or join them for a wild bonding experience. RockSpotClimbing.com FLOAT YOUR CARES AWAY Give the gift of peace and quiet via a float in a tranquil salt water pod – 850 pounds of epsom salt and 10 inches of water heated to skin temperature. Float RI offers this heated anti-gravity environment that relieves stress and tension, leaving floaters refreshed and relaxed. Other wellness services include halotherapy, infrared sauna, and therapeutic massage. Warwick, FloatRI.com

A smashing good time

Photo (top) courtesy of Float RI, (bottom) courtesy of Smash ‘N’ Splash

GET SMASHED Everyone needs to let loose once in a while and Smash ‘N’ Splash, Rhode Island’s first rage room, is a great way to do it. Choose between smashing – literally breaking fragile items with a variety of instruments – and splashing, which means splattering glow-in-the dark paint everywhere in sight. You can even plan a party for small groups. For smash sessions, participants must be over 13 with a parent present. West Warwick, SmashNSplashRI.com

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LIFE & STYLE

Fa shi o n | By Ruthie Wood

It’s All in the Bag A chance meeting leads to two designers collaborating on a unique line

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Laura Burkett and Elizabeth Crane Swartz

Photos by Bob Swartz, courtesy of ECS

Laura Burkett worked in corporate marketing and brand management for 20 years before her life changed dramatically. An assignment in Europe led to a year-long immersion stay in Italy to learn the language and appreciate the culture firsthand; this turned into three years, where she apprenticed under an Italian leatherworker and learned how to make and design leather goods. In 2008, she moved back to the US and started her handmade leather goods business, featuring totes and bags under Laura Burkett Designs. Elizabeth Crane Swartz started to experiment in the handmade jewelry business in 2005. When she moved to Providence in 2017, she made the jump to become a fulltime artist with the retail name Elizabeth Crane Swartz Designs. During the pandemic, Swartz taught herself needlepointing – not just the stitching, but also designing her own canvases after becoming disenchanted with many of the more “traditional” designs available in stores. With her online followers and customers gaining interest, Swartz expanded her needlepointing: “I used to be a hand-painted jewelry designer who liked to stitch, and now I’m a needlepoint designer who also makes jewelry,” she jokes. “Needlepoint,” Swartz explains, “is basically paint-by-numbers.” Many crafters buy pre-designed canvases, choose the desired fibers, and follow along with the painting. Completing the sewing aspect of a needlepoint project could take between a few days to a few months. “Finishing” a needlepoint project – the process of sewing a finished canvas into an object, such as pillows, cuffs, or even shoes (Swartz has a pair of those, herself) – can take as long as six months; many needlepoint shops are backlogged because of the boom in popularity due to the pandemic. Magic occurred when Burkett and Swartz met a year and a half ago. At the time, Swartz rented a space at Mad Dog Artist Studios in Pawtucket. Burkett had recently taken over the 6,000-square-foot art complex, and while passing by Swartz’s space one day, noticed a needlepoint clutch and

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was drawn to the bright, bold, geometric shapes in the design. Burkett had already been using bright colors and stripes from durable Sunbrella material on the inside of her bags, so the contemporary aesthetic of Swartz’s needlepoint canvases felt perfect for a color pop on the outside. Burkett, realizing the long process of needlepoint, decided to design a bag that would showcase needlepoint fashion without the hassle and long wait periods of a custom finishing. Instead of finishing just one of Swartz’s pieces into the leather bag, it instead has a clear sleeve so that the sewn needlepoint canvases (designed by Swartz or others) can be interchanged.

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LIFE & STYLE

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It’s a chic, utilitarian way to “self-finish” a needlepoint canvas; the artist can show off their stitching and use their product right away. One bag: many different fashion options to display all of your needlepointing. “It’s instant gratification,” says Swartz, who has since relocated her studio to above Your Bike Shop in Warren. The bag doesn’t offer a permanent “finished” solution, but it does offer satisfaction and versatility. Learn more at LauraBurkettDesigns.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photo by Elizabeth Crane Swartz

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Countdown Downtown Ring in the new year with magical acts, prix fixe dinner, and spectacular rooftop views It’s December 31 and Providence’s twinkling skyline is calling to you, and while bar-hopping the night away is always a viable option, what about a 2023 send-off with a little panache? How about ushering in bright tidings for 2024 above the city – and why not throw in a little magic? This is the experience Rooftop at the Providence G has cooked up for the evening, in two acts: one featuring a dinner and show from 6-9pm, and the second event, kicking off with a 9pm seating, offering a special edition of Rooftop Fireside After Dark. “Fully weatherized, even on a cold winter night, guests will be nice and warm in our enclosed bar and dining room,” assures Brendan Chipley Roane, director of marketing and communications at GHospitality, “and as the only rooftop restaurant and lounge in Providence with massive outdoor firepits, guests can venture out onto the Rooftop’s two terraces to party by the fire.” When not taking in the outside atmosphere, the first event keeps guests entertained with live music by singer and guitarist Adam Hanna over a three-course prix fixe meal prepared by the talented culinary team. And for the uninitiated, Fireside After Dark is a variety show of everything from circus spectacles to magic acts. Expect the usual cast of whimsical performers, along with dancing and a latenight three-course dinner – and complimentary bubbly, of course. While GHospitality (which includes Sarto, Providence GPub, and other establishments) offers a range of NYE events for all kinds of revelers, Roane notes, “There will always be something magical about ringing in the New Year atop the Providence G taking in the starry night, cityscapes, and unparalleled views from above.” For tickets and full schedule, visit RooftopAtTheG.com | By Abbie Lahmers Photo courtesy of Rooftop at the G ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

FOOD & DRINK

I n t he Ki tche n | By Ann Martini

Brunch That Would Make Bubby Proud Two chefs’ takes on Jewish cuisine channel family traditions and creativity

A decade ago, during a visit to Israel for an episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, the incomparable cook-turnedfood-journalist called Jewish food “insanely delicious.” But even if a jar of gefilte fish languishing on your local supermarket shelf makes you raise an eyebrow at such a statement, you’ll delight in the interpretation of traditional Jewish dishes that Jordan Fleischer and Moshe Karlin are prepping for brunch. The two local chefs are both Jewish, in their 20s, and graduates of Johnson & Wales University, but it wasn’t until they started working

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

together at The Slow Rhode this past March that their paths merged. “From the moment we started working together, it was obvious we had so much in common, from our religions and family traditions to the way we approach restaurants,” says Fleischer. “We balance each other and want to take traditional Jewish dishes and bring them upscale a bit, make them more appealing.” A shared desire to reinterpret dishes that have fallen victim to the cliches of “mushy” or “tasteless” sparked a fire in their respective sensibilities and led the duo, under the moniker of Nice Jewish Boys Brunch,

to launch a pop-up series at the West End restaurant where they work. Fleischer and Karlin pitched the idea of serving their brunch menu on occasional Sundays to The Slow Rhode owners Patrick Lowney and James Dean (who also own nearby Broadway Bistro), and they were all in. While the pair hasn’t thought ahead to anything permanent for their concept, for now, the pop-up model serves them well. “We’re spreading our culture and cooking amazing food in a new and innovative way,” Fleischer says. The first Nice Jewish Boys Brunch took

Photos courtesy of Nice Jewish Boys Brunch

Moshe Karlin and Jordan Fleischer, the chef-duo behind Nice Jewish Boys Brunch

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Owner and East Side Resident Auctioneers, mom & pop shops, pawn brokers, internet consignors, and private buyers all offer very limited solutions with high risk factors. At the R.I. Antiques Mall, we have 35 years of experience helping folks to navigate all aspects of the liquidation process while optimizing the sales potential of every item. Fall Pumpkin Kugel

place in late September and was a big hit. The menu featured Lox Cheesecake with pickled shallot, crunchy capers, and dill; Challah French Toast with crème d’amondes, cranberry compote, and mint; Bubby’s Brisket Hash with a fried egg and chermoula, as well as craft cocktails – the Borschty Mary and Meshuggeneh Mimosa (translation: crazy). The Bubby behind the brisket hash is Karlin’s grandmother. “I remember her during the holidays, even in her 70s, sitting in a chair by the stove cutting chicken and vegetables and tossing them into

a pot,” says Karlin. It was a deeply engrained tradition that he and his siblings embraced then and still do today. “We have a constant group text going where we share recipes and pictures of what we’re cooking.” Karlin began cooking in a restaurant in New Jersey before applying to Johnson & Wales. After graduation, he worked at CHOMP and Bayberry Garden before moving to The Slow Rhode. “Being here, in such a positive work environment, inspires us to celebrate our shared history through food,” Karlin says. Fleischer’s experience growing up with

Don’t Know Us Yet? Ask Your Neighbors! BUY – CONSIGN – APPRAISE AUCTION – RESTORE LIQUIDATE www.RIAntiquesMall.com 401-475-3400 345 Fountain St. Pawtucket, Rhode Island The Rhode Island Antiques Mall is a 100% Woman-Owned Business.

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

FOOD & DRINK

I n t he Ki tche n | By Ann Martini

food was a bit different. He began working in restaurants at the age of 15, majored in small business management and entrepreneurship at Indiana University, and eventually moved to Providence to attend Johnson & Wales. He did a stint at Gracie’s and fell in love – with the city, fine dining, and the support he gleaned from chef Matt Varga and owner Ellen Gracyalny. “Matt said he couldn’t hire me. So I showed up for work every single day… until he did,” says Fleischer, noting that he’s a type-A personality. But throughout his youth, his

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

relationship with food was complicated. “I struggled with childhood obesity,” he explains, and learned to cook healthy to get his weight under control. “Eventually I had to kick my mother out of the kitchen,” he says with a chuckle. “Now I’m the one in the family everyone looks to to cook on the holidays. I’m really proud of that.” Another observation Bourdain made about Jewish cooking in that Parts Unknown episode is that it’s “vastly underrated.” Traditional Jewish cooking, Fleischer says, relied on preserving foods in various ways,

and using cheaper cuts of meat (hence brisket) that may seem unappealing. “But we’re going to make really creative, delicious interpretations of classic Jewish dishes, so good that you’ll love to enjoy them with a nice cocktail,” Fleischer says. A few bites of Nice Jewish Boys fall pumpkin kugel with mole negro and pepita granola, or their chicken and waffles – a pickle-brined Cornish game hen with a latke waffle and honey mustard jus, and we’re convinced. Follow @nicejewishboysbrunch on Instagram from upcoming pop-up dates.

Photos courtesy of Nice Jewish Boys Brunch

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FOOD & DRINK

B a ke r | By Jenna Pelletier

Season’s Sweet-ings From custom cakes to pecan pies, holiday flavors take over the menu at this Mineral Spring bakery

As the holidays approach, Syroya Eugene is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her North Providence shop, Syroya’s Bakery – and she’s in the midst of ramping up production of her scratch-made cakes, cupcakes, pies, and other sweet treats that will play a starring role in many customers’ festive feasts. Eugene has become known for her signature cakes, which come in flavors like strawberry crunch and chocolate deluxe Heath Bar. As beautiful as they are delicious, her intricately decorated custom designs, in both

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

buttercream and fondant, have included everything from winter wonderland- to crawfish boil-themed cakes. “A lot of my clients give me the theme or the colors and the inspirations, and they allow me to be creative with how I design things,” she says. “Now that I’ve built up a reputation with many of them, I’m able to kind of freestyle with what they give me.” This season brings a selection of pie flavors, too, including pecan, apple, pumpkin, and sweet potato, as well as a new cheesecake made with cranberry liqueur. In

addition to made-to-order desserts available for pick-up, her shop is always stocked with freshly baked items available for walkin customers: mini banana breads, scones, and cupcakes fill the cases, with New Harvest coffee at the ready. “My biggest challenge is just getting the word out that I’m here on a regular basis for retail and not only doing custom orders,” says Eugene. Before following her sweet passion, Eugene worked for many years as a clinical laboratory scientist. “[Baking] was an outlet for me

Photos courtesy of Syroya’s Sweets

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outside of my regular job,” she says. “I liked baking from scratch because I like to know what’s in my food.” She initially launched her business as a part-time operation with support from Warren food incubator Hope & Main. Eugene describes the move as “a leap of faith” and says she was motivated by the opportunity to be creative at work. “I started at Hope & Main in 2016, and they helped me license my business and learn how to run a food business,” she says. “Then I went back to work full time in the lab for personal reasons. I still made cakes here and there for

friends and family, but baking was a passion of mine that I really wanted to pursue.” Eugene has since left the lab and now runs her business (which also includes catering) full time. There are some similarities between the two professions, she says, including the importance of staying organized and being precise. “With baking, if you add the wrong ingredients, or you don’t use the right measurements, you could ruin the whole batch,” she says. Self-taught in the science of baking, Eugene first learned through watching her grandmother in the kitchen as a kid

An almost-too-cute-to-eat strawberry cake by Eugene

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

growing up in Providence. “She baked everything from scratch, and she taught me her recipes and techniques,” Eugene says. She adds that she’s proud to have opened the first Black woman-owned bakery in North Providence. “It’s an achievement of mine to be a minority woman and have a business in a busy area of Rhode Island, where I can connect with people from all different cultures.”

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Photos courtesy of Syroya’s Sweets

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ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

FOOD & DRINK

Cate r i ng | By Patty J

Catered Affair Skip the prepwork and let one of these pros handle the main course this season My advice for fully reveling in the holidays this season? Call on the professionals to do the cooking. That way you get more time catching up with your guests – and perhaps enjoy a pre-din-din cocktail – and less time in the kitchen chopping vegetables and laboring over a hot stove. Luckily for you, we’ve done the legwork of finding a selection of local Rhody restaurants and caterers specializing in a range of styles for any kind of festivity you’re celebrating this season.

AFRIQUE D’LOUNGE This Federal Hill eatery is a popular go-to for those in search of classic African dishes. Regulars love their fried plantains, fried fish, kebabs, and smoothies. For Kwanzaa, their to-go menu includes salads, attieke (a cassava dish from the Ivory Coast made with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and onions), jerk chicken, and shrimp. Providence, AfriquedLounge.com ELLIE’S Bring a bit of Paris to your intimate gathering by ordering a custom-made signature cake from Ellie’s, choosing from mouth-watering flavors like Chocolate Salted Caramel or Raspberry Rose Champagne and more, which will have you saying, “Oui, oui!” Or DIY with one of their pie making or cake decorating classes – sign up early! Providence, ElliesProv.com INDIAN ACCENT CATERING Searching for authentic and scrumptious Indian food for a winter gathering? This catering

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Indian Accent Catering company, an offshoot of Chaska, offers a gourmet spin on traditional favorites, with everything from savory snacks like samosas to chicken tikka and other mains, along with and sweets like chocolate sandesh to finish off the meal. Pawtucket, IndianAccentCatering.com ISLAND TIME CATERING Who says seasonal meals needs to include turkey and stuffing? For a non-traditional spin on the foodie holiday, Island Time transforms your gathering into a tropical getaway, bringing globally inspired flavors to you and yours with a delish buffet of BBQ ribs and chicken with cornbread and fried shrimp, or even a full taco bar. Middletown, IslandTimeCatering.com KEANE’S WOOD-FIRED CATERING It only follows that a catering company specializing in BBQ would know a thing or two about brining and smoking a turkey. For this a la carte option, which comes with rich gravy and cranberry chutney, choose between

whole or pre-carved, and add on terrific sides like their cheddar mac and cheese, potato rolls, and buttermilk potato salad. Warwick, KeanesWoodFired.com THE MOSAIC TABLE Private chef Anat Sagi is winning over customers near and far with her outstanding food and five-star service. Now that the holidays are upon us, she’ll be bringing that same culinary magic with autumnal soups and hearty entrees, from Shabbat Dinners to mezze platters. Warren, TheMosaicTable.com WILLIE’S CATERING Owner William Johnson, a Narragansett Tribal member, has transitioned from a full-service restaurant in Wakefield to catering, thus expanding his traditional Native American fusion menu, which now includes casual bites like fry-bread tacos and chowder, along with dishes like honey garlic salmon over three sisters rice, made with corn, beans, and squash. WilliesPlaceRI.com

Photo courtesy of Indian Accent Catering

ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE Founded by Deb Blazer, this catering company specializes in certified kosher gourmet food for all your Hanukkah celebration needs. Think brisket with special gravy and an amazing side of potato kugel. Blazer also prides herself in personalizing every client’s order and experience, which comes through in the many glowing reviews she has garnered. Providence, AccountingForTaste.net

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Fo o d N ews

Biscuit shop opens West End brick-and-mortar

Classic sandwiches in Narragansett

A wine for sipping with pizza expands statewide

If fried chicken and hot honey or country ham and eggs between two fresh-baked biscuit halves is your style of breakfast, a popular pop-up’s new brick-and-mortar will give you something worth waking up early for. Formerly occupying The Tailor Shop space on Broadway every weekend

A new sandwich shop in Narragansett is taking a back-to-basics approach by focusing on their specialty: delicious sandwiches. “We keep the menu pretty tight, with about eight or nine sandwiches,” says Philip Dimin, who opened The Salty General in August, after moving to Rhode Island with his

Pizza and wine: a match made in heaven. One Rhode Island company is embracing this love affair by offering a new canned beverage called Pizza Wine. The lightly carbonated drink is expanding to restaurants around the state after being piloted earlier this year when chef Robert Andreozzi and mixologist Jesse Hedberg

at brunch time since 2020, Irregardless Biscuits is stretching their legs in the former Kitchen, just a few blocks away on Carpenter Street. Owned by James Dean (of Slow Rhode fame) and Joe Hafner, the southern-style breakfast biscuit spot is led by head baker Erin Richer with an aim to “satisfy a taste of home,” says Hafner. “We are going to continue to offer the breakfast biscuit menu with a few additions, as well as adding some evening hours with new menu items we will announce when we open,” shares Hafner, estimating, at press time, a late November opening. “We had a lot of fun at the space on Broadway and we want to carry over that fun fast-paced atmosphere we had there.” Providence, @irregardlessbiscuit – Abbie Lahmers

family. The shop is popular among locals and URI students, and a welcome addition to the north end of the seaside community. Menu highlights include “the Roast Beef, which has horseradish aioli, cheddar cheese, pickled onions, tomato, and arugula,” says Dimin. “Another is the Calabrese, which is basically our Italian, with a Calabrian chili aioli so it’s got a little heat.” Dimin’s personal favorite is the Mortadella Fritto on 5/8inch bread, layered with provolone, salt and vinegar chips, and iceberg lettuce, which he describes as “crunchy and delicious.” “A sandwich is not rocket science, but a sandwich with a little extra thought, with really good bread and a really good sauce can be special,” says Dimin. Narragansett, TheSaltyGeneral.com – Ken Abrams

began serving the bubbly beverage at Pizza Marvin in Providence. The team partnered with Elizabeth McDonnell, former owner of Providence’s Fortnight Wine Bar and the branding duo of Bristol native Alaina Andreozzi and Christiana Guzman. “The wine is made from grapes grown in the Finger Lakes (NY) region, called De Chaunac – a really beautiful, juicy, delicious, easy-to-drink wine,” says Andreozzi. “People who are newer to drinking wine have really responded to Pizza Wine; it’s been an entry point into wine for them,” says Andreozzi. “Reviews have also been strong from industry people, who may be more skeptical of canned wine. We‘ve seen positive feedback across the board.” Look for Pizza Wine to expand into area bars, restaurants, and liquor stores in the coming months. ItsPizzaWine.com – Ken Abrams

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photos courtesy of Irregardless Biscuit

FOOD & DRINK

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

All Favorites Cafe 1678 Broad St, Cranston | 401-941-3550 allfavoritescafe.com | A Breakfast/Lunch restaurant serving a mash up of Southern and French inspired flavors. Everything from French Toast to Cubanos.

The Coast Guard House Restaurant 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett | 401-789-0700 thecoastguardhouse.com | Waterfront dining - local raw bar, lobster, pasta, steak & seafood. Award-winning wine list. Dining rooms, bars, patio & deck.

MainStreet Coffee 137 Main Street, East Greenwich 401-885-8787 | MainStreet-Coffee.com Casual coffee house meets hip martini bar. Best Espresso Martinis in Rhode Island.

CAV Restaurant 14 Imperial Place, Providence | 401 751-9164 CavRestaurant.com | Bistro style Brunch and Lunch. Fine Dining Dinner.

Dave’s Fresh Marketplace Ten Locations throughout Rhode Island 401-558-0190 | davesmarketplace.com/WeeklySpecials Made fresh daily in our kitchens - 60+ Take Out Options!

Marcelino’s Boutique Bar 1 W Exchange St, Providence | 401-666-0088 marcelinosboutiquebar.com | Craft cocktail bar serving Mid-Terranean Fusion Mezze and World-Class Craft Cocktails | #ItsMarcelinos

Chelo’s Hometown Bar & Grille 8 locations across RI! Chelos.com | A Rhode Island staple since 1955! Fresh, homemade deliciousness in every bite.

El Paisa Restaurant Patio and Bar 598 Dexter Street, Central Falls 401-726-8864 | ElPaisa.com | Since 1978, El Paisa Restaurant and Bar has served home-cooked, classic Colombian recipes and cocktails with great joy.

Twin Willows 865 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett 401-789-8153 | TwinWillowsRI.com | Water-view dining with fresh lobsters & steamers served daily in this casual sports bar/restaurant.

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Al l erg en Fri en d l y Op t i o n s ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

DEC. 15-24

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ART & CULTURE Influencer | On Stage | Calendar

Tower of Power

Art by Chris Hytha

The state’s tallest skyscraper shines in new art deco book The Industrial Trust Tower is an icon of the Providence skyline. Built in 1928 and clocking in at a modest 26 floors, it’s the tallest building in the state and housed banks for 85 years until it became vacant in 2013. Known as “The Superman Building,” it shares the nickname with a sister building in Los Angeles due to the resemblance to The Daily Planet in the Superman comics (though the LA building was actually used for a 1950s TV show). Now the historic skyscraper is receiving renewed attention: not only is the building undergoing redevelopment to become an apartment complex, but it’s also featured in an architectural collaboration between Philadelphia-based digital artist Chris Hytha and Pittsburghbased skyscraper historian Mark Houser. The project spotlights art deco skyscrapers from all over the US, and was started by Hytha after he realized that this type of historic skyscraper is often neglected, not taught in architecture school, and often tucked away in small cities, like Providence. Hytha used drone photography and digital art to capture the ostentatious crowns, and connected with Houser to write summaries of each building. Together, the duo created a book, Highrises Art Deco: 100 Spectacular Skyscrapers from the Roaring ‘20s to the Great Depression. But the collaboration is more than just documenting aesthetics; appreciating the history behind each building goes hand in hand with understanding its significance in time. “It’s all about power,” says Hytha. “There’s a whole series of events that goes behind the construction of a building. People faced struggles and risks, and skyscrapers were a technology that radically changed every single city.” Learn more at Highrises.HythaCG.com | By Ruthie Wood

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

ART & CULTURE

I nfl ue nce r | By Ashley Erling

Meet Kathleen Breen Combes The former ballerina stays on her toes making the art form accessible starting with a very Providence Nutcracker

Tell us about your role at Ballet RI and your vision for the company. I am the director, which encompasses both the artistic and administrative leadership of the organization. My overall vision is to bring world class ballet to Rhode Island and provide access to that art for all. I’m focused on breaking down the stereotypes and barriers to entry typically associated with the art form and challenge everyone to reimagine ballet with us. What is it about Providence and its community that makes it such a great homebase for Ballet RI? Providence is so many things: interesting, quirky, refined, yet edgy. We have a passion for art here and I think Ballet RI can continue to expand our reach and bring in new audiences who may not know ballet is for them yet.

What can we look forward to at this year’s performance on The Nutcracker? You can be assured you will see a spectacular show with incredible artists who have moved to Rhode Island to join our professional company alongside our cast of over 100 students. Filled with magic, joy, whimsy, and adventure, there is truly something for everyone. Our Nutcracker has expanded from just four shows in 2019 to 15 shows this year! Providence has embraced our production at The VETS and we are so thrilled this has become a holiday tradition for Rhode Island families. Speaking of holiday traditions, have you and your family developed any RI traditions around this time of the year? Besides seeing 15 performances of The Nutcracker, we also love the Holiday Lights Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo, and taking part in the Three Nights of Lights downtown – where you may spot a nutcracker or two as well! December 15-24: The Nutcracker, The VETS, BalletRI.org

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Photo courtesy of Kathleen Breen Combes

What are some of your favorite places to visit around the city? Hope Street is where I spend most of my time, and I just love all the quaint stores on our street with such eclectic offerings. I also have been absolutely blown away by the diversity and quality of food here. Whether it be Mokban Korean Bistro for an incredible bibimbap, Bacaro for a date night, or The Eddy for a drink, I am always so grateful to have so many great food options, and am continually trying out new places!

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ART & CULTURE

O n St age | By Ken Abrams

All the World’s a Stage

This year has been an exciting one for Teatro ECAS (Educational Center of Arts and Science Theater), New England’s only Spanish-language repertory company. Last spring, the Providence non-profit moved into its own space, a renovated building on Valley Street that is now being utilized as a theater, educational space, and art gallery, with a cafe in the works. Since 1997, Teatro ECAS has provided an opportunity for Latin actors and theater-goers to experience Spanish-language performances around Rhode Island. “It began as an after-school program for students in Providence high schools, and later for Spanish-speaking students from all grades and any part of the state,” explains executive artistic director Francis Parra, a native of the Dominican Republic, who has led the organization since its founding. “We did performances for children, youth, and adults.” “This year is the biggest moment for us,” says Parra. “We never had our own space before. In April, we established a space that is open to anyone who would like to watch presentations in Spanish with English supertitles. All the plays have Latinx themes and Hispanic cultural aspects.” While the majority of a typical ECAS audience is Spanish or bilingual, staging includes using English translation supertitles. Already underway, the 2023-24 season features exciting and diverse programming. “Plays represent what our work is all about – mixing comedy, drama, and family performances to create a space for Spanish and English speakers to enjoy the thrill of live performance,” says Parra. For the holiday season, the company is staging La Cuesta Mágica (The Magic Hill), a tale of five lost brothers who embark on an adventure in search of toys to share with children everywhere. Along the journey, they encounter Santa Claus, the Three Wise Men, and La Vieja Belén (Old Lady Bethlehem), a mythical figure in

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Francis Parra

Dominican culture. “The author is from the Dominican Republic,” says Parra. “It is a fantasy story. We have this one character who is found only in the Dominican Republic. Because of the socio-economic conditions there, many people are really disadvantaged and have never had the chance to meet Santa Claus or the Three Kings, so they had an old lady bring presents to their children. Children in the United States are learning about the culture of the Dominican Republic. There is a lot of singing and dancing; we have an intergenerational cast. Even non-Spanish speakers will enjoy it for Christmas.” December 8-9: La Cuesta Mágica. Learn more at TeatroECAS.org

2024 SEASON MARCH 21-31: La Ternura (Tenderness) by Alfrendo Sanzol JUNE 6-16: La Cooperativa (The Cooperative) by Francis Parra For tickets, subscriptions, and more, visit TeatroECAS.org

Photography by Jeny Hernández-Watson for the Providence Revolving Fund, courtesy of Teatro ECAS

New England’s only Latin repertory company celebrates 25 and stages bilingual Christmas show

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ART & CULTURE

Ca l e nda r | By Ken Abrams

The Must List 10 essential events this month

December 2-3: Over 40 artists and artisans from the artist enclave at The Mill at Shady Lea will be exhibiting their wares at the semi-annual Open Studios at the historic site. North Kingston, TheMillAtShadyLea.com

December 9: The Tubes return to the Greenwich Odeum with a set of quirky punk-inspired tunes including “What Do You Want From Life?” and “White Punks on Dope.” East Greenwich, GreenwichOdeum.com

December 13-14: Take a trip to South County to experience the Geminid Meteor Shower at Frosty Drew Observatory, and see the sky lit up in a dazzling display that rivals holiday lights anywhere. Charlestown, FrostyDrew.org

December 19-31:

The re-Tree Art Community Exhibition is part of Tiverton’s Holiday Bright Night

Enter a world of splendor and romance, eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur, and glory when 10-time Tony Award-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical comes to Providence. PPACRI.org

Through December 23:

December 1:

Spend an evening with your favorite A Christmas Carol characters, along with disco dancers and more at Mrs. Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge. Wakefield, ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com

Luminaries light the way at Holiday Bright Night, an annual event celebrating over 30 shops and galleries selling art, antiques, handmade jewelry, gourmet food, home furnishings, garden accents, and more. Tiverton, TivertonFourCorners.com

December 1-3, 8-10:

December 1-2:

December 29:

Browse a curated selection of art, participate in a silent auction, and bring canned goods to donate in lieu of an admission fee at The Foundry Show, created and run by the artisans themselves. Pawtucket, FoundryShow.com

The third annual Walk Through the Wildwoods lights display and vendor market includes artisans, bakers, and creators displaying hundreds of ornaments, gifts, and holiday home decor for visitors to see and purchase. East Greenwich, WildwoodRI.com

Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy brings laughter and more when the comedian, actor, and producer, best known for the hit TV shows Impractical Jokers and The Misery Index visits Little Rhody. Providence, TheVetsRI.com

ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

December 22: Legendary singer Judy Collins brings her Christmas show to the Stadium Theatre for a night of seasonal classics, along with songs from her Grammy Award-nominated 2022 album, Spellbound. Woonsocket, StadiumTheatre.com

Photo courtesy of Tiverton Four Corners

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ProvidenceOnline.com • December 2023

Ph oto cour tesy of David

Pic of PVD

It’s the season of twinkling lights in the city!

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

E L E VAT I N G R H O D E I S L A N D ’ S R E A L E S TAT E E X P E R I E N C E .

Brokerage in the United States* ACTIVE

$883M+ Total Sales Volume Year-to-Date More than any other RI Brokerage*

Brokerage in Rhode Island*

RECORD SALE

ACTIVE

20 Red Brook Crossing, Lincoln

101 N Main Street, #600, Providence

132 Everett Avenue, Providence

5 BD 6F 1H BA 7,189 SF $2,200,000 Fava + Vieira Group 401.919.7445

Highest Condo Sale in Providence, YTD* Rebecca Rubin 401.481.1500

4 BD 2F 2H BA 2,383 SF $1,164,000 Justin Hetherington 401.952.6096

SOLD

ACTIVE

25 Orchard Pl, Providence

19 Whiting Street, Providence

50 Woodbury Street, Providence

5 BD 3F 1H BA $954,000 Kira Greene 401.339.5621

8 BD 3 BA 2,550 SF $950,000 Stephanie Basile Group 608.628.9283

3 BD 2 BA 1,635 SF $749,000 Kevin Fox 401.688.5556

SOLD

PENDING

34 Drowne Pkwy, Rumford

10 Apple Blossom Lane, Cranston

61 Gardiner Ave, East Providence

3 BD 1F 1H BA 1,669 SF $610,000 Kelly Zexter 401.225.0502

3 BD 1F 1H BA 2,742 SF $499,900 The Modern Collective 401.744.2692

2 BD 2 BA 1,395 SF $385,000 Rebecca Mayer 401.447.8040

369 S Main Street

Compass Providence

401.274.1644

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. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. *Data is based on sales volume of real estate transactions closed between 1.1.23 – 10.2723 in the Rhode Island State-Wide Multiple Listing Service. Sales volume for Compass in Rhode Island includes Lila Delman Compass, Randall Realtors Compass, and Compass.

H A P P Y H O L I D AY S ! WISHING YOU and YOUR’S A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON and HAPPY NEW YEAR! BL ACKSTONE WAYL AND SQUARE BL ACKSTONE

35 ORCHARD AVENUE $4,795,000 6 BD 5.2 BA

BL ACKSTONE BLLINCOLN ACKSTONE

Sweeney Advisory Group 401.864.8286

COLLEGE HILL BL ACKSTONE

17 THAYER STREET $2,200,000 Four Units

BURRILLVILLE FOX POINT

Ross Burch 401.954.5638

DOWNTOWN BL ACKSTONE

1 W. EXCHANGE ST. #1707 $875,000 2 BD 2 BA

BROADWAY E A ST SIDE

94 SOUTH SHORE ROAD $1,379,000 3 BD 3 BA

Tom Wegner 401.383.0999

COLLEGE FOX POINTHILL

Gerri Schiffman 401.474.3733

147 BENEFIT STREET #3 $750,000 2 BD 1.1 BA

BARRINGTON NEWPORT

Tom Wegner 401.383.0999

33 DENNELL DRIVE $1,999,999 4 BD 4.2 BA

214 BROADWAY STREET $995,000 5 BD 5.2 BA

Jim DeRentis 401.529.2188

JEWE LRY DISTRICT E A ST SIDE

Therese Vezeridis 401.864.4364

14 IMPERIAL PLACE #504 $659,000 1 BD 1 BA

CUMBERLAND

EAST GREENWICH

PROVIDENCE

SOUTH COUNTY

Jim DeRentis 401.529.2188

LITTLE COMPTON

WEST SIDE PVD

WESTPORT

Residential Properties is a licensed real estate brokerage and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. #1 Ranking based on individual firms in RI MLS data for sales in RI for period 1.1.23-9.25.23. #2 Sale based on sales in RI MLS data for period 1.1.23-9.25.23. The MLS does not guarantee and is not responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.