CALENDAR: This

THE MUST LIST

10 essential events happening this month

Improv duo Brotha Brotha – Denzel Belin and John Gebretatose – will make an appearance at Contemporary Theater Company

For a statewide listing of events visit us online! HeyRhody.com

June 9-12:

Performers from across the country join Contemporary Theater Company for Ocean State Improv Festival, a week of shows, workshops, and opportunities to connect with fellow artists and learn tricks of the trade. Wakefield, ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com

June 2: The Dune’s Club hosts the Gathering to Give Gala supporting Adoption Rhode Island. Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and ocean views, along with a live auction for an Italian villa stay and more. Narragansett, AdoptionRI.org

June 4: The artist studios at the Mill at Shady Lea host a special Open Studio, the first since the pandemic, featuring works in all mediums, artist demonstrations, and a fundraiser benefiting Ukraine relief. North Kingstown, TheMillAtShadyLea.com June 10-11: The Stonington Garden Club invites guests to visit Gardens by the Sea, their triennial walking tour featuring a handpicked collection of rarely seen gardens of Stonington Borough’s historic properties. StoningtonGardenClub.org

June 10: A regional touring group, the Warwick Symphony Orchestra puts on a concert of classical, orchestral, and Broadway favorites at The Gamm Theatre for A Tidbit of This…and a Hint of That. Warwick, WSORI.org June 12: The Sea Glass Festival makes a splash at The Windjammer Surf Bar with ocean-themed artists and vendors displaying their works at this beachy venue. Shop, grab lunch, and enjoy live music. Westerly, Eventbrite: Sea Glass Festival

June 17: Celebrate Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday at the Greenwich Odeum with special event Maybe I’m Amazed, a journey through concert footage and interviews with Beatles historians ChaChi Loprete and Erik Taros. East Greenwich, GreenwichOdeum.com

June 18: Grab a blanket and lawn chair and head to Wilcox Park for The Chorus of Westerly’s 40th Annual Summer Pops concert with the Pops Festival Orchestra, ending on a bang with a fireworks display. ChorusofWesterly.org

June 18: The Strawberry Festival at Smith’s Castle o ers a day of family fun, from pony rides to puppet performances, not to mention plenty of fresh strawberries and homemade baked goods for sale. North Kingstown, SmithsCastle.org

June 25-26: Returning for its 39th year, the Narragansett Art Festival showcases local fine artworks in oil and acrylic, along with photography, jewelry, and sculpture beneath the Narragansett Towers. WakefieldRotary.org

Please note that events may require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test and mask-wearing regardless of vaccination status. Be sure to check each venue for updates.

Dr. Tokarz answers

What’s best for my skin every day?

The very best way to keep your skin healthy is to apply a moisturizer or daily cream with SPF 30 or higher EVERY DAY! This will reduce pigmentation, wrinkles, skin cancer, and other signs of aging.

Are there any other creams for my skin that are helpful?

Science has shown us that Vitamin-A derived retinoids, especially prescription (also known as Retin-A or Tretinoin) will keep the skin texture smooth, reduce pigmentation, and enhance collagen remodeling for firmness.

What is “botox” and how would it help the way I look?

A class of medications, called neuromodulators, including Botox®, work by preventing muscle movement and are useful when trying to soften wrinkles from frowning or crows feet. It’s temporary and you’ll want to maintain the e ect with injections every 3-4 months. The goal is for gentle relaxation of movement to make you look “rested." There are several risks and possible complications so be sure whoever is injecting botox is a health care professional well-trained in facial anatomy (or is under the supervision of a physician who is!). Every person’s anatomy is di erent and dosing is variable, so even if your friend had a certain dose and points of injections, yours may be very di erent.

Common cosmetic dermatology questions

I’ve heard laser treatments may help me look better. How does that work?

Lasers have been used in dermatology for many years and the science is getting better with time. These devices work because they “target” certain colors or tissue types in your skin and work well to help clear background redness, sunspots and can help texture, tone, wrinkles, and scars. Your skin color, ethnicity, health and environmental exposure all have a significant role in which lasers work for your skin. Dermatologists are skin experts and are the best physicians to help you decide which laser treatment is appropriate for your condition. Some lasers will cause very minimal downtime and others require patients to have a few days “social downtime” due to swelling and redness. Because the treatments can be tailored, you need a consultation to determine what is the best plan for you. Also realize, that as we age, we need to continue good skin care and repeat laser treatments to maintain the benefits.

What other procedures are helpful for improving signs of aging?

Platelet rich Plasma (PRP) can help with skin remodeling and darkening under the eyes; it has become a favorite at our o ce. This uses your own platelets so it’s very natural, performed in the o ce, and with minimal discomfort. There can be a few days of “social downtime” with under-eye injections, so you need to plan for that.

Dermal fillers can help gently improve some volume loss, especially for cheeks, nasal folds, jowls, and even lip lines. You’ll want a doctor familiar with the physiology of the aging face and facial anatomy due to risk of complications and avoid the overfilled pu y face. These “gels” are semi- permanent and repeat injections every 1-2 years may be needed to maintain the results.