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In This Issue

So Rhode Island August 2021 The United seats await patrons

33 The Stage is Set Live performances return to Southern Rhode Island with venues premiering new spaces and programming.

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

Photography by Robert Brewster, courtesy of DiStefano Brothers Construction

The Scoop

56 Summer goods from

13 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: Timeline

Watch Hill’s Bay Street

of Weekapaug Beach Barrier

58 Meet a nurse who decompresses 20 New venture turns sea glass into custom jewelry

by catching waves

Food & Drink

24 RHODY PETS: Expert advice

63 Passed hors d’oeuvres infused

for introducing babies to pets

with care and Caribbean flavors

26 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s

64 EXPERIENCE: North Kingstown brewery raises their masts and glasses

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your summer wardrobe with

68 FOOD NEWS: Westerly surf cafe,

Photo courtesy of Distinguish Catering

a swim wear boutique

coastal comfort in ‘Gansett, and a

28 RHODY GEM: Level up

Life & Style

coffee truck’s new digs

South County Scenes

47 A South Kingstown tiny home

70 Restaurant-to-retail recipes

72 A stunning image from

is just right for grandparents

from South County eateries

a local lens

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The Scoop

so & so | calendar | rhody gem

An aerial shot from circa 1995 shows the beginning of the barrier beach where a now-blocked path is being reviewed by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council

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

“THEY WANT US OUT OF HERE”: HOW PRIVATE INTERESTS BLOCKED THE PUBLIC FROM ONE RI BARRIER BEACH The story of shoreline access in many parts of Rhode Island is one of haves and have nots. Come summer, fortunate oceanside property owners have it. Others have to fight for parking spots and somewhere to lay their beach blankets. The Quonochontaug Barrier Beach in Westerly and Charlestown is one place largely cut off to the public. For years, people used it freely. But today the beach is tightly controlled by a network of fire districts and conservation groups that has made it a flashpoint in the growing debate over shoreline access. When you walk the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach, you’re hard pressed to spot signs of human development—no seaside cottages, luxurious summer getaways, telephone poles, or paved roads. Piping plovers live here, but people don’t. The barrier beach starts in the Weekapaug section of Westerly and is wedged between Quonochontaug Pond and the Atlantic. Look south, and you see ocean waves, boats out on the water, and Block Island on the horizon. On a clear day, you can even see Long Island. It feels a world away from the bustle and noise of the state beaches, and that’s the way property owners in the Weekapaug section of Westerly like it and have fought to keep it. Today, they’re in a high stakes fight to keep one contested right of way at the start of the barrier closed off to the public. But ask the right people, and you’ll hear the barrier beach didn’t always feel so remote and exclusive. Photo courtesy of Westerly Library & Wilcox Park SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

By Alex Nunes, South County Bureau reporter for The Public’s Radio

“SOCIAL ENJOYMENT” FOR THE PUBLIC Eighty-eight-year-old Barbara Coon doesn’t consider herself much of a beach bum anymore. She lives away from the coast, on a suburban road in Pawcatuck, Conn., with her husband, George. “George is only nine months older than me,” she said during a recent interview at her kitchen table. “Yup, [a] pair of old farts.” These days, Barbara and George are looking forward to getting out on the road in their 1937 Ford Coupe parked in the garage, fully restored by George himself. “We just had a dustoff cruise for ice cream,” she said. “‘Dustoff’ is called getting your cars out of the garage and getting a dustoff. That was our first run we’ve had in a year because of this pandemic.” The day I visited, Barbara was feeling nostalgic. She took out an old photo album and went to the beach photos—pages of her family and friends gathered by the water. Her family had property on the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach, and she lived there as a young child in the 1930s. She paged through faded photos of crowds of people in old fashioned bathing suits; some men are in actual suits, and a couple of women carry parasols. “There were always people visiting all the time. We always had a good time,” Barbara said, pointing out photos. “They were social people. I mean, you can see here—the boats. These probably came from Charlestown, or people came over across the pond. And they park the boats and go clamming and stuff. But there was always somebody visiting us. Well, we weren’t the only ones living there. The other people had company, too.” Old accounts from before the turn of the century talk of church outings in the summer months and groups gathering almost daily in the broader Weekapaug area. One newspaper clipping cited in the book Weekapaug: Its First One Hundred Years even describes some 300 people leaving the neighboring town of Hopkinton for a day of “social enjoyment” in what was then called Noyes Beach. EARLY SIGNS OF EXCLUSIVITY But another side of Weekapaug was also emerging. Real estate investors were acquiring land, people with money were building shingled summer cottages in a Martha’s Vineyard style that’s still around today, and a more genteel society was growing. 14

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Barbara Coon’s father, front, with friends at the beach

Weekapaug could also be discriminatory, with one 1900 resort manual saying a Weekapaug establishment wanted references and “no Hebrews.” Among the people to get in early were Westerly locals, like Harvey Perry’s relatives, who bought property on Weekapaug Point. “My great grandfather, Charles Perry, built the house right on The Point, which is called ‘Oceanwide,’” Harvey said. “And his sister, Phebe, who was married to Fred Buffum, built a house next door on one side. And his cousin Alice and her husband, Samuel Pennock, built a house on the other side. So the three houses on The Point were family places.” Harvey’s family roots in Westerly go way back to the early 1800s. The Perrys were Quaker bankers who led the Washington

Trust Company and at one point owned nearly a third of its shares. They were also abolitionists who housed Frederick Douglass three times in their home near downtown Westerly. Harvey’s a New England Yankee who likes his genealogy as much as his faded plaid shirts and cable knit sweaters. And while he’s no provocateur, he’s happy to share the inside scoop on life in Weekapaug when other people won’t. “There was this vibrant pond community that included all the people who were around the pond,” Harvey said. “There was a very active Yacht Club, and twice a week there would be these sailing racing regattas.” At the center of activity in early Weekapaug was a property Harvey’s relatives the Buffums developed: the Weekapaug Inn hotel, built right on the barrier beach at the turn of the century.

Photo courtesy of Barbara Coon

The Scoop | so & so •

Photo courtesy of Westerly Library & Wilcox Park

It’s still around today, known for its simple elegance—the kind of place where someone might pay more than $2,000 a night for a room. Back then, it was home to Saturday night dances, bingo, and bridge tournaments. And it was known for attracting, as one book described, a “well-bred clientele.” Harvey said it was considered a hotel for people of means who “wanted to rough it a little bit.” “There’s a story that my grandfather’s cousin was over there,” Harvey said. “And one of the guests came, and he says, ‘Mr. Buffum, I’m very curious, I don’t understand this place.’ He said, ‘You know, the beds are uncomfortable. The bathroom facilities are really old. There are no telephones. And yet I talk to people, and they say they come here every year. I don’t understand it.’ And Mr. Buffum responded, ‘I don’t understand it either.’” At the same time, people in Weekapaug also wanted some modern amenities. In the late 19th Century, they formed the Weekapaug Improvement Society to bring things like electricity and better water service to the area. But a few decades later, a better option emerged: a fire district—a state sanctioned, hyperlocal, quasi-public entity that could raise taxes for fire fighting services. So in 1937, the property owners sought a charter from the state legislature, and “the Weekapaug Fire District came into being,” Harvey said. He continued: “But it was intended, I think, originally for communities to gather together to form their fire protection for their communities. But there was some language in there that created, I guess, what could be described as loopholes that allowed fire districts to do other things than fire protection.” Property owners were beginning to see that fire districts could also be useful in controlling private coastal land. Big changes were ahead for control of the barrier beach, and it started with one historic event. THE HURRICANE OF 1938 Barbara Coon was five years old on Sept. 21, 1938. And while she remembers only bits and pieces of that day, some memories are still clear. A storm arrived unexpectedly and began knocking over the outhouse at her family’s home on the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach. “Well, Dad, three times the outhouse went over,” she said. “He’d go out and set it back up again. He laughed and laughed. The third time he gave up.”

The beach as it appeared circa 1929

Things got a lot more serious from there. The storm was, in fact, a hurricane that’d been making its way up the east coast with sustained winds reaching more than 120 miles per hour. By the time Barbara’s family realized the severity of what we now call the Hurricane of 1938, it was too late. Ocean water was surging and flooding their home. “The house is floating around. It had water in it,” Barbara said. As Barbara recalled the story, she flipped through an old photo album for evidence of the storm’s destruction. She pointed out photos of cottages strewn about the shore like beach toys. “Alright, here,” she said. “These are houses floating all the way around. We’re up here and the water had to come up to float those houses. You know, we got waves going over us.” Barbara also had an old front page from The Westerly Sun newspaper nearby. The faded paper is more than an artifact to Barbara. Nearly 83 years later, Barbara still remembers her father wrapping her and her brother Billy in blankets and walking north out into the dunes away from the surging water. “To seek refuge, not to be washed away,” Barbara said. Westward, down the barrier beach, more people were stuck in the Weekapaug Inn. Harvey Perry’s relatives were among them. “They had to go upstairs,” he said. “The walls were battered in, and they had to go upstairs and in the back to stay alive.” At one point, a torrent of ocean water ripped a breachway through the barrier beach west of the Weekapaug Inn, effectively turning the peninsula into an island and cutting off the people in the hotel from the rest of Westerly. “I remember a story that there was a strapping young man who tied a rope around his

waist during a lull of the storm, swam across the breachway, and then one by one people were brought back to the mainland by pulling on the rope,” Harvey said. By the time the storm passed, the inn, like other cottages on the barrier beach, was destroyed. Harvey recalled one story about a cottage named “Windswept.” The storm moved the building across Quonochontaug Pond, where its owners left the home and renamed it “Swept Away.” Barbara Coon’s house was still intact and on the barrier, but moved some 50 yards down the beach. She left the area on foot with her family and trekked some eight miles to her grandparents’ house. “We walked to Westerly,” she said. “We were a mess. I was traumatized by it. Yes. It was years before I could even take a shower, let water go over my head. That’s what it did to me.” Rather than stay on the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach, Barbara’s parents put their small, wooden shingled house on a flatbed truck and moved it to a new property away from the coast. Harvey’s relatives on the Buffum side of the family, who owned the Weekapaug Inn, wouldn’t stay on the barrier beach either. They rebuilt their hotel inland on the western edge of Quonochontaug Pond. “It opened for business the following spring,” he said. “It was just amazing that you could do this back then. I mean, it was destroyed the end of September, and it opened in June. And I guess that just demonstrates the lack of regulatory restrictions at that time that you could do something like that.” Around this time, well-connected people in Weekapaug also began making other plans. The barrier beach was leveled and, a few years earlier, Weekapaug had started its own fire district. SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

By Alex Nunes, South County Bureau reporter for The Public’s Radio

Those two seemingly unrelated facts actually presented a chance to grab a foothold on control of the barrier beach. Special fire districts in southern Rhode Island were about to turn into something far beyond entities that provide firefighting services—and Weekapaug would get in early. “What ended up happening was that they realized this was a pretty clever way to also control large areas of land as shoreline property became valuable,” said Dennis Nixon, professor emeritus at the University of Rhode Island. “We are unique in calling them fire districts. In most other states, they call them a community association, a village association.” FIRE DISTRICT SEEKS “FULL CONTROL” Here’s how the Weekapaug Fire District did it: The property owners went back to the Rhode Island legislature and got an amendment to their 1937 founding charter. That allowed them to purchase prime beach lots left in the hurricane’s wake. It was all finalized one night in July 1942. America had entered World War II, and a lights out order—or dim-out—was in effect that evening. According to The Westerly Sun, the meeting got off to a memorable start. “Soldiers of the United States Army raided the Weekapaug Fire District meeting Friday night when they found the chapel all aglow with lights,” the article reported. “[N] o one had thought about the dim-out. Soldiers came in, ordered the lights out and the meeting proceeded.” According to The Sun report, with the soldiers satisfied, the residents came to a unanimous decision: to buy up more than two dozen plats of land at the start of the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach. The purchases would include former Weekapaug Inn property and land held by a real estate firm called the Weekapaug Beach Company. The total was about $10,600 dollars, about $172,000 dollars in today’s money, to be paid for with fire district tax dollars. The Sun made note of the significance. “By the Weekapaug people buying their own beach they have full control of that area and it will never be built upon,” The Sun reported. Eight years later, the district spent even more to acquire additional Weekapaug Beach Company land. By the end of 1950, the district controlled nearly half the peninsula. Many decades later, the barrier beach still has no cottages or hotels on it. And the public 16

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Barbara Coon’s family home is pictured at center, moved some 50 yards by surging ocean water during the Hurricane of 1938

shoreline, once largely accessible to summer beachgoers, is now mostly a private beach for the residents of Weekapaug and neighboring coastal fire districts they allow in. PRESENT DAY: “THEY WANT US OUT OF HERE” Dave Burke doesn’t own a beach house. He lives in rural Hopkinton away from the coast. But, first thing in the morning, he does like to take his Tacoma pickup and fishing poles to the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach. You can catch a lot at the beach: fluke, sea bass, stripers, and even sharks. But if you stay too long past sunrise in the summer, you can also catch heat from the private security guards on patrol. “Nine o’clock comes—bang. They want us out of here,” Dave said in a recent interview by the barrier beach shore. “So we just [say], ‘Alright, fine.’ We put our hands up and we leave. I mean, what other choice are we going to have?” Dave doesn’t have a lot of options because he parks his car on property owned by the Weekapaug Fire District. The quasi-municipal entity doesn’t directly fight fires, but it owns more than 60 acres of coastal land. And while the shoreline is public, Dave has to cross over fire district property to fish. Security guards tell him he can go look for a public parking spot at the start of the barrier beach and walk back about a third of a mile. But that’s hard because Dave has knee issues. And even if the walk was easy, the small row of public spots is usually full. As we rode along a bumpy sandtrail to leave the area, Dave summed up the whole situation in a word: unfair. “I know they want to keep it nice for their guests and everything else, and their people from their little villages, or whatever they want to call them. But we got rights, too,” he said. Those rights are outlined in the Rhode

Island Constitution, which guarantees the public use of the shoreline. Today that’s defined as below the mean high tideline. But no law says you can cross over restricted private property to get to the public shore. That’s why access to the barrier beach shoreline is so hard. A COMPLEX WEB OF OWNERS The Weekapaug Fire District isn’t the only private property owner on the barrier—the undeveloped peninsula is almost entirely privately owned, much of it bought up decades ago by local property owners who wanted to keep the beach private and undeveloped. The ownership structure has evolved into a closely knit web of fire districts and conservation groups that share goals, members, and even resources. One of them is the nonprofit Nope’s Island Conservation Association. “They say that they are very much for conservation and things of that nature. Whether they use that then as a means to another ends, I don’t know,” said Jim Milardo, a member of the Rhode Island Mobile Sportfishermen, a private club that owns land toward the end of the barrier beach. He added, “Every time we talk to them, it just doesn’t seem to work out very well.” Milardo’s group has been at odds with the other property owners. His organization wound up in court with the Nope’s Island Conservation Association because of a dispute over land the fishermen were driving on to get to their property. Milardo said it wasn’t just Nope’s Island they were battling. According to public records, at the time, the Weekapaug Fire District was spending budgeted money under a line item titled “Nopes Island & Legal Defense.” “Basically, they kind of forced our hand into the lawsuit,” he said. “So that cost us about $100,000 dollars. That wasn’t very nice. That wasn’t very neighborly.”

Photo courtesy of Barbara Coon

The Scoop | so & so •

For now, state lawmakers for Westerly are shying away from this and other shoreline access debates, which public shoreline advocates say contributes to the problem. Neither state representative Brian Patrick Kennedy nor Sam Azzinaro agreed to be interviewed for this story. Westerly state Sen. Dennis Algiere has previously said taking on fire districts is not on his agenda.

Photo courtesy of Westerly Library & Wilcox Park

A postcard of the Weekapaug Inn from circa 1905

“IT’S HARD TO KEEP FIGHTING” Advocates for shoreline access say the barrier beach is a perfect example of a larger trend that’s angering beachgoers. “All up and down the coast, things have changed, things have been restricted,” said John Ornberg, a Westerly resident who advocates for more shoreline access. “It’s really hurt the public.” Ornberg is 76 and remembers a time when you could move freely about the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach and other coastal spots. Today, advocates say areas they used to go to are now harder to gain access to or blocked, and private property owners are even trying to keep people off land that is public. The controversy took off last year when restrictions increased during the pandemic. Ornberg blames the erosion of public access on heavy handed property owners but also public officials who aren’t willing to fight for public access. “It’s that attitude that the public just doesn’t belong,” he said. “And it’s hard to keep fighting. I mean, I’ve been going to town council meetings and writing letters to the editor since 2011, and nothing happens. The public, to me, is not being served.” The state agency responsible for looking out for the public’s shoreline rights is the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council. “Our role, in terms of access and the public, is constantly looking for new rights of ways that we can designate as CRMC rights of ways,”

said Laura Dwyer, CRMC’s spokesperson. The agency has the goal of one public access point for every one mile of Rhode Island’s nearly 400 mile shoreline. But, Dwyer said, CRMC has no budget for designating new public rights of way, and in some situations, the agency can only do so much. She said the Quonochontaug Barrier Beach—which stretches for 1.7 miles—is one of them. “There’s not a lot of opportunity for additional public access or rights of way here,” Dwyer said. “Being the nature of a barrier, it’s not a lot of room, basically. If ownership is clear on this, then it’s kind of a no-go.” A CONTESTED RIGHT OF WAY The Coastal Resources Management Council is looking into one possibility: an overgrown and fenced-off path at the beginning of the barrier beach advocates insist is public. The Weekapaug Fire District says the stretch of land is theirs. Historical maps show an opening between properties there, and current town maps don’t depict it as platted land. But the fire district says the town never formally recognized it as a public road and the district acquired it six years ago from the Weekapaug Beach Company, a more than 100-year-old real estate firm the district had become the only shareholder in. If deemed public, the right of way would be the only designated public path to the barrier beach shore. “I think, right now, the best opportunity is the one that we’re considering,” Dwyer said.

WEEKAPAUG PROPERTY “FOR WEEKAPAUG TAXPAYERS” The Weekapaug Fire District has repeatedly turned down interview requests. But their meetings, unlike their beaches, are by law open to the public. On a recent Saturday morning, over Zoom, council members went over details for the upcoming summer season: security, beach passes, and parking—also special arrangements they have allowing some select people who aren’t Weekapaug Fire District residents to access the barrier beach. They have legal agreements with neighboring fire districts, the Weekapaug Yacht Club, and the upscale Weekapaug Inn. At the meeting, they reviewed a request from someone in the nearby Haversham community who lost his access and wanted special permission to use one of the district’s parking lots. Member-at-large Dan Richards said Weekapaug property owners won’t like it. “Every time it comes up, we get just lots of incoming emails from the taxpayers saying, ‘We don’t want this. This needs to go away,’” Richards said. “That’s feedback we’ve continued to get over time from our taxpayers: that they’d like to see these programs wound down and, obviously, Weekapaug properties used for Weekapaug taxpayers.” The request was denied. The guy who got turned down knew it was a possibility. He’s no stranger to how things work in Weekapaug. It was Harvey Perry, whose relatives founded the Weekapaug Inn and weathered the Hurricane of 1938. “My privilege has been revoked, which is too bad,” Harvey said. “It’s just indicative of decision-making and the exclusiveness. But on the other hand, there are also many other people who can’t go there, or never could go there at all.” Harvey can still go to the barrier beach. But he’s got a boat to row across Quonochontaug Pond. Most beachgoers looking for a public place to enjoy the coast don’t have that option. SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

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The Scoop | so & so •

By Megan Monte

Turning Beach Treasures into Business Woman-owned and -operated business hand-makes memorable pieces from local sea glass

Sea glass can easily be considered the treasure of Rhode Island beaches. What was once regular glass that has been eroded and weathered by the ocean, the frosted-looking find comes in various pastel shades, hidden among shells, rocks, and sand. It takes concentration and a keen eye to spot the fragments, but the focus can be rewarding. For Victoria Woolard, this process is more than just a fun beach activity; it’s the foundation of her pandemic-born business. Woolard is founder and owner of Still Waters USA: a new small business that makes intricate jewelry and decor with local, handpicked sea glass. It’s a one-woman show, with Woolard doing every part of material collection, design, production, and distribution on her own. “My goal is for the pieces to

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

not just be intricate and beautiful for people, but also to share the beauty and peace of being by the water and in the environment,” Woolard says, and the effort behind her products is a testament to this desire. While other companies will always outsource or get man-made sea glass, Woolard personally picks nearly all her pieces from RI and CT beaches. “I pride myself on it being real, authentic sea glass,” she states, and makes her business even more unique by customizing pieces by request. “Someone will reach out to me and ask if I can make a specific or new product, and I’ll make it,” she says, adding, “we will incorporate people’s own sea glass if they request it and turn it into a memorable piece.” Woolard will even source sea glass from either state

if customers have a preference, and when it comes to gift-giving, she offers a “message in a bottle” that can accompany the piece. She also places care instructions that describe how to clean and care for jewelry in every package, ensuring that pieces last. It may be surprising that this intricate and thorough process was completely selftaught. When the pandemic hit, Woolard was a healthcare worker with a new preemie at home, and she and her husband turned to the beach as a safe escape with their newborn. “I was finding tons of sea glass at the time. I just had so much sea glass that I was accumulating and didn’t really know what to do with it, and my husband was like, why don’t you see about crafting jewelry? Everything was self-taught, so I went

Photo courtesy of Stillwaters USA

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Meadowbrook Waldorf School has expanded their outdoor learning for all grades. Occupying a thoughtfully rebuilt school on their 28 acre woodland campus, MWS crafts meaningful learning experiences both indoors and outside. Learn more at meadowbrookschool.com

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The Scoop | rhody pets •

By Belinda Jones, Animal Rescue Rhode Island

Rhody Pets: You’ve seen the sigh-inducing images of dogs doting on snoozing babes on Instagram, but for some pets the arrival of a mysterious, attention-grabbing sibling can be highly stressful. Before The Gurgler meets The Woofer check out these game-changing steps to encourage a harmonious union. Did you know that the choices you make in the first 15 minutes of bringing home your baby set the tone for the whole relationship with your pet? “While you were at the hospital, your dog was missing you and worrying about you,” begins Jane Greco Deming, former director of education for the American Humane Society. “So when you return you need to spend at least 15 minutes of quality time solely with that pet, showering them with affection and high value treats!” Only when your dog is relaxed and safely on a leash can you make the introductions. Prior to this, Greco Deming recommends a number of desensitization techniques, including familiarizing the pet with all the new baby equipment from carriers and cribs to baby lotions and powders. “One of the most beneficial things you can do is carry a lifesize baby doll close to you while playing crying sounds,” she says.

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Photo by Megan at Moments Baby Photography

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“Softly at first, with lots of treats and positive association, and then getting louder. This will help prevent your dog from startling or reacting instinctively; this is especially key in dogs with high prey drives as baby noises sound similar to wounded wildlife.” Greco Deming was compelled to create a class after hearing about the tragic accidental death of a local infant on the news. She teamed up with renowned animal behaviorist Katenna Jones to educate expectant families on everything from identifying stress signals to the importance of designating a “baby free” zone for your pet. A solution is offered for every eventuality – including dogs such as German Shepherds that are prone to becoming overly protective of small family members. If you have a specific concern regarding your dog’s temperament, you can ask Greco Deming during her Pet Meets Baby workshops held at Animal Rescue Rhode Island in Peace Dale. Sessions are free, packed with vital insights, and everyone’s invited, including friends and relatives lined up for babysitting duties. According to one attendee, it’s “as essential as child-proofing your home!”

Join the PET MEETS BABY workshop on Thursday, August 12, from 6-8pm in Wakefield and receive a free handbook of tips and guidance. Register at AnimalRescueRI.org

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The Scoop | calendar •

By Abbie Lahmers

THE MUST LIST

5 essential events happening this month

ide statew For a f events o listing online! s visit u m ody.co h HeyR

Saturdays through August 21: With makers from all over New England, the Field of Artisans Market can be found popping up at the South Kingstown Town Beach with a curated selection of art goods. Matunuck, FieldOfArtisans.com

Through October:

Spend a day touring public art around the island, which Jamestown Arts Center has installed as part of their Spacing Out(side) exhibit, a collection of three sculptures by local artists. JamestownArtCenter.org

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

August 5, 12, and 19:

The Village at South County Commons continues their Outdoor Summer Concert Series with local bands for free and family-friendly evenings of music, fun, and giveaways. South Kingstown, SouthCountyCommons.com

Photos courtesy of Field of Artisans

The Field of Artisans market pops up at South Kingstown Town Beach this summer

OCEAN FRONT DINING OPEN DAILY THROUGH OCTOBER

August 6-8: Eat lobster rolls and more to your stomach’s content in Ninigret Park for the Charlestown Seafood Festival, a weekend of food, live music, a car show, and even fireworks Saturday night. CharlestownRIChamber.com August 7: Spread out a blanket on the lawn at Casey Farm and enjoy a Big Ol’ Clambake hosted by Contemporary Theater Company, featuring entertainment from a Wakefield Idol star, games, and clamcakes. Saunderstown, ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com August 7-9: The Block Island Arts and Artisans Festival, held at Narragansett Inn, will be a day of perusing handmade wares including pottery, paintings, and jewelry by local talent. Facebook: 2021 Block Island Arts and Artisans Festival August 9-15:

Flickers’ RI International Film Festival takes a hybrid form this year with drive-in, outdoor, and online screenings of film submissions from around the world, along with industry events and workshops. Film-Festival.org

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Smith’s Castle invites tea enthusiasts to their monthly educational series, in August featuring Tea & A Speaker with a historical reenactor sharing the secrets of collecting and steeping herbs. North Kingstown, SmithsCastle.org

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The Scoop | rhody gem •

By Emma Nicholson

JC’s of Watch Hill

Women’s Clothing Boutique 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: Swimsuits are their specialty, but JC’s of Watch Hill has everything from beach bags to hats and accessories, making it a one-stop shop for building your summer wardrobe.

What makes it a Rhody Gem? Fifty years is quite a legacy for a swimsuit specialty shop, but this is what JC’s of Watch Hill boasts – and for good reason. The moment you set foot inside and take in the racks of colorful swimsuits and beachy displays of clothing, you’ll know you’re in good hands. Friendly sales associates will help you find the perfect swimsuit, no matter the shape, size, or style. Owner Lisa Zuchowski also stocks the shop with a versatile range of beach attire, including colorful sundresses, fun sunglasses, stylish flip flops, and cute totes, keeping her clientele and summer styles in mind. “JC’s is definitely a favorite store in Watch Hill for many of our customers,” says Zuchowski. “As the new owner this year, I love to hear customers say they’ve been coming here for 30 or even 40 years!”

JC’s of Watch Hill 62 Bay Street, Westerly 348-8415 Facebook: JC’s of Watch Hill - Clothes for Her

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Photo courtesy of JC’s of Watch Hill

Where to find it: Across from Little Narragansett Bay, this boutique has an ideal location on Bay Street in Westerly amid a row of charming shops – keep an eye out for their bright pink door!

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

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The Stage is Set

Live performance returns to a culture-starved South County with venues like The United premiering new spaces and programming

By Karen Greco Hungry for live performance experiences? After an 18-month fast because of the pandemic, South County culture vultures can once again feast upon a smorgasbord of live theater, music, film screenings, and arts events. Most notable is the hotly anticipated opening of the United Theatre in Westerly. The long-shuttered historic vaudeville theater and movie house received an extreme makeover over the past two years, turning the theater — and its neighboring connected building, the former Montgomery Ward department store — into Westerly’s first year-round arts hub. Leading the transition from construction site to a buzzing arts campus is Lisa Utman Randall, whose superpower appears to be launching new arts centers. Randall founded Newport Island Arts in 1990 before heading to the Jamestown Arts Center for its opening. When she got the call to lead The United ahead of its launch, she was initially skeptical about leaving her home at Jamestown — that is until she toured the construction site and learned its vibrant history and vision for the future. Buoyed by an engaged board of directors, as well as 250 founding donors, this worldclass arts venue was the brainchild of Westerly champion Chuck Royce, who has spearheaded a large portion of Westerly’s downtown revitalization, including the rehabilitation of the iconic Ocean House.

Photo courtesy of The United

Spanning two buildings, The United campus is like a mini-Lincoln Center. Its main theater is a flexible space, which can fit up to 600 people for live performances. By stripping out the rake and having movable seating, the space encourages innovative and creative configurations. “It keeps the space dynamic and exciting,” says Randall. “It will feel like a whole new space for our audiences.” A screen comes down in front of the balcony, creating a 100-seat

cinema. There are two additional screening spaces, one with 85 seats and a “micro-screening room” that seats 24, which will show art-house movies as well as be available to rent for parties. All three cinema spaces have first-run capacity, which means the latest Marvel film can screen beside quirky indie fare and revivals of classics. A gallery space looks out at Canal Street and will feature local, regional, and national artists. The first gallery exhibit is local

photographer Josh Behan’s Faces of Westerly portrait series. A local storytelling event, Voices of Westerly, will be held concurrently. The United is also talking to Savoy Bookshop & Cafe, which is situated right across Canal, to host author events and book signings in the gallery space. While The United plans on booking nationally and internationally acclaimed artists to perform and show their work, its roots are firmly planted in the South County

It will feel like a whole new space for our audiences. – Lisa Utman Randall

Photo courtesy of The United

Concerts are among the performances at The United

All South County’s a Stage After a forced intermission, beloved venues are ready to put on shows for real-live audiences CONTEMPORARY THEATER COMPANY Innovation was key for the Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield to move forward throughout the pandemic, even growing their full-time staff from four to six. Because of their outdoor performance space, they were able to host some small, socially distanced, and masked events throughout last summer. A number of virtual events kept them connected with their audience, including their 24 Hour Play Festival, which was bigger than ever. However, Artistic Director Tammy Brown is quick to point out, “screens are not our medium. But it allowed us to expand the scope of our work, and we are thinking about how to incorporate some virtual elements,” even as they return to a live model. “Theater is built on connection, community, and relationships,” says Brown. “The art form is about being together and sharing space. Seeing the community come back together is really special.” NOW PLAYING The Contemporary Theater Company returns to scripted shows this month with Bethel Park Falls by Jason Pizzarello, a play about the residents of the small town Bethel who are about to lose their beloved park (August 6 – 29). The crowd-pleasing Wakefield Idol returns for a summer concert on August 12. 327 Main Street, Wakefield | ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com Scenes from Patio Musical: An Improvised Musical on the Patio!

Photos courtesy of Contemporary Theater Company

Diversified Stages

Contemporary Theater Company’s Black and Funny Improv Fest launches new vision to address racial inequities BY KAREN GRECO In summer of 2020, in the midst of our global pandemic, theaters across America faced a reckoning. BIPOC artists came forward with stories of racism and harassment within even the most progressive and acclaimed institutions. In response, theaters drafted statements in support of equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. But the Contemporary Theater Company used the pause of regular operations during COVID to spring into action around their new vision. Longtime Artistic Director and Founder Chris Simpson transitioned to executive producer, ushering in new creative leadership under Tammy Brown in December. Brown, who served as associate artistic director and was a longtime performer with the ensemble, took the creative reigns with vigor. Her very first month she created and launched a Christmas Caroling program, sending masked performers out to homes and businesses to sing. This idea born under the pandemic was such a hit that they plan on turning this into a holiday staple. “It was a good time to reassess. We created a new vision for the theater with a strategic plan to address racial inequities,” she explains. “We wanted to realign with how we see the future.” That future includes the inaugural Black and Funny Improv Fest, happening over Labor Day weekend. Focused on Black improv comedy performers, national headliners perform beside local Black comedy talent over the long weekend. “We want to encourage Black audiences to feel welcome and included in our space and within our community,” says Brown. “Theater belongs to them, too.” Learn more at ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com

We want to connect the arts to the community and education wherever we can. – Lisa Utman Randall Photography by Nick DelGiudice

community. “We want to fit into the local ecosystem,” explains Randall, which means local partnerships form the backbone of the organization. “We want to connect the arts to the community and education wherever we can. It adds to the breadth and depth of the work.”

Through the pandemic, The United partnered with neighboring music venue The Knickerbocker to present virtual music performances, ranging from the Grammy-nominated Jon Batiste to local favorite The Huntress and the Holder of Hands, a partnership they plan on continuing as live

Photos courtesy of The United

performance comes back. A news hub for The Public’s Radio’s expansion into South County is in the works that will include office space and a podcast studio. With both the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals, The United has created “On the Way to Newport,” a performance series that will showcase

THE COURTHOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS Cranes in the air in Westerly

West Kingstown’s Courthouse Center for the Arts has a unique mission: community enrichment through inclusive free music, acting, and art programs for kids and families. The pandemic put the organization in dire straits. After sending out a fundraising plea last spring, they were able to raise $57,000 from the community to make needed repairs to the building and kickstart their programming. While some shows went on when restrictions were partially lifted, the audience was limited for social distancing. Many of the perks of attending a show, like meet-andgreets with the artists, were curtailed. Now that restrictions are lifted and audience capacity has returned, the bookings are growing and the kids are returning. Executive Director Mariann Almonte is excited to see cheerful crowds return to the venue. As she wrote on the venue’s Facebook page back in June, “it’s been killing me not to see people smile.” NOW PLAYING The Courthouse is jamming all month with an eclectic lineup of bands, including The Legendary Steve Katz with Kala Farnham (August 7); Chicago Total Access, dedicated to the music of Chicago (August 14); The Pousette-Dart Band (August 26); and The Troublemakers covering The Allman Brothers and more (August 28). 3481 Kingstown Road, West Kingstown | CourthouseArts.org

THE GAMM THEATRE “Our audiences are amazing,” says The Gamm Theatre’s Artistic Director Tony Estrella. “It was remarkable to see the outpouring of generosity throughout COVID.” Even though their mainstage theater in Warwick remained closed from the pandemic, The Gamm stayed busy with online programming, including their novel interview series Brush Up Your Shakespeare, which featured conversations with leading performers that aimed to demystify the Bard’s language and plays. There was also the wildly successful audio adaptation of It’s A Wonderful Life, co-produced with The Public’s Radio, that aired over Christmas and the New Year. With the entire staff now back in the building, Estrella is looking forward to sharing space with unmasked audience members, pointing out that there is nothing quite like the live experience. “For over a year, just breathing the same air has been a hazard. I can’t wait to get people in the same room again, sharing a story.” NOW PLAYING With his new play A Lie Agreed Upon, Artistic Director Tony Estrella tackles a modern adaptation of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, beginning in September. 1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick | GammTheatre.org Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella

Photos courtesy of The Gamm Theatre

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

We want to create as many opportunities as possible for kids and adults to explore the arts. – Lisa Utman Randall

music artists performing at the famed festivals but on their own more intimate stages. “We want to have world-class performers as much as we can,” Randall says, noting that their programming will be eclectic. “Cross referencing different mediums creates opportunities for people to explore the arts and not just from an audience perspective.” Education is a key component. Through the music school, podcast classes through The Public’s Radio, the use of the micro-screening room for student film projects, and master classes with visiting artists, The United emboldens the community

to be more than passive observers. They forged one of their earliest partnerships with the RI Philharmonic, creating an ultramodern music school for their students in the lower level that can fit up to 350 students. A state-of-the-art Dante system runs through all the performance spaces, effectively turning the entire building into a recording studio. “We want to create as many opportunities as possible for kids and adults to explore the arts,” says Randall. “How do we encourage people’s relationship with the arts? And how can we support it?”

The pandemic, surprisingly, didn’t curtail their plans. They used the downtime to strengthen their bonds within the community by hosting a series of popup events like movie screenings and concerts in the neighboring Wilcox Park as well as the aforementioned Live from the Knickerbocker music streaming series. They hosted screenings of indie films from their Virtual Screening Room. They also transformed Misquamicut’s drive-in movie theater into a live concert space, hosting a concert by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band.

THE GRANITE THEATRE Over the pandemic The Granite Theatre’s been busy. They presented seven “Zoom” plays as well as a production of The Belle of Amherst that was filmed on their stage for streaming. The theater underwent some significant upgrades to repair structural issues and included an extensive makeover of their lobby, which now has space for local visual artists to install their work. “We are open ten months out of the year, so there’s never time to address any significant changes,” explains Paula Brouillette, Granite Theatre’s board president. With renovations complete, the Westerly theater is looking forward to welcoming audiences back through its doors. “We all struggled with the isolation,” she says. “Now we are ready to enjoy the camaraderie of watching a play in a darkened space with audiences.” NOW PLAYING Three iconic First Ladies share the spotlight when the Granite Theatre serves up Tea For Three: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty, beginning August 20, for the venue’s grand reopening. 1 Granite Street, Westerly | GraniteTheatre.com

THE GREENWICH ODEUM A mix of small-capacity live events and private movie screenings, as well as a clever marquis campaign, kept the Greenwich Odeum going throughout the pandemic. “It was great to have these moments of entertainment during the pandemic, but the experience just wasn’t the same,” admits Operations Manager Shana Vanderweele Ortman. By the middle of July, all events at the theater went back to normal. The Odeum team stressed that they could not have survived without community support, stating that their membership went up during COVID. “Our small screenings gave families a way to get out of the house and be together.” As important as that was to experience during the past year, audiences are hungry for things to return to normal. “We’re looking forward to giving our performers and patrons a normal experience again,” she says, “being together, enjoying performances with friends and strangers.” NOW PLAYING After the past 18 months, we could all use a laugh. The Greenwich Odeum supplies it with one of Comedy Central's "100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time," Jim Breuer and his Freedom of Laughter tour on August 7. 59 Main Street, East Greenwich | GreenwichOdeum.com

A Main Street mainstay since 1926

Photo courtesy of The United

Photos courtesy of The Greenwich Odeum

The United opened in 1926 as a vaudeville theater

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

Most notably, then-Governor Gina Raimondo approached The United to create an event celebrating the 2020 graduating class who saw their commencement curtailed by the pandemic. The United for Grads virtual concert event brought together musicians like Jon Batiste and Deer Tick and celebrities like Stephen Colbert and Shepard Fairey to celebrate Rhode Island’s high school seniors; through donations from corporate sponsors, The United was able to raise over $80,000 for local artists in need. While their doors are now open and they are ready and eager for live audiences, The United isn’t quite done expanding yet. Part of the basement level is still raw space, where Randall envisions art classes. A section of the third floor, which could make great editing bays, remains up for grabs. An attached restaurant will open to the public in the fall and there are plans for a grab-and-go cafe concept. It all converges to make The United one of the state’s premiere arts destinations.

THEATRE BY THE SEA When COVID curtailed their 2020 season, it became a waiting game in Wakefield at Theatre by the Sea. Owner and producer Bill Hanney, who calls COVID the theater’s 21-month intermission, says, “we had a few bucks in the bank” to keep the theater in tip-top shape while it was shuttered. The theater’s patrons helped keep the lights on, too. “Our audiences love this theater. Ninety-eight percent of our subscribers allowed us to change our season, not once but twice. I was overwhelmed by their generosity.” Their abbreviated summer season featured a concert series for July, but the razzle dazzle fully returns in August with Broadway’s mega-hit Mama Mia! “I can’t wait to see people in their seats, and at Gazebo before the show and during intermission. Get some singing and dancing on the stage,” he says, adding, “It’s what we do best.” NOW PLAYING Broadway’s mega hit Mama Mia! lights up Theatre by the Sea’s historic Barn Theater from August 18 – September 5. 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield | TheatrebytheSea.com

Mama Mia! returns this month to Theatre by the Sea

NOW PLAYING It’s a busy August at the United, which features a concert from the Bruce Harris Young Jazz Masters (August 13); a screening of the Sesame Street documentary Street Gang followed by a Q&A from Sesame Street Muppeteers (August 19); as well as a number of first run films like Marvel’s Black Widow; the Questlove-directed documentary Summer of Soul; the Anthony Bourdain documentary Roadrunner; Disney's Jungle Cruise with The Rock and Emily Blunt; and Stillwater, starring Matt Damon. 5 Canal Street, Westerly | UnitedTheatre.org

Photos courtesy of Theatre by the Sea

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Life & Style home | shop | influencer

Tiny House, Big Style An accessory dwelling unit is the perfect solution to keep a South Kingstown family connected When Kumar and Lucille Madom’s married son moved to Rhode Island and started a family, the retired physician and his wife began spending a lot of time in the Ocean State. Five years of frequent visits and four grandchildren later, the Florida-based pair decided it was time to have a place to call their own. The solution to be separate but oh-so-close? Build a tiny home on their son’s property in South Kingstown. Photography by Robert Brewster, courtesy of DiStefano Brothers Construction SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021 47

By Elyse Major

A furnished veranda becomes a true outdoor living space all summer long.

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Photography by Robert Brewster, courtesy of DiStefano Brothers Construction

Life & Style | home •

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This wasn’t an all-hands-on-deck family build – the Madoms turned to DiStefano Brothers Construction in nearby Wakefield. “This was our first and we have more on the way. Building on family land can allow better care for loved ones as well as offer a secondary means of income,” begins Peter DiStefano, president of DBC. “Accessory dwelling units (ADU) are a growing market due to the advantages they offer homeowners with the extra land, and as you see, designed correctly, can fit right into the neighborhood. We’re

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SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021 49

Life & Style | home •

By Elyse Major

Photography by Robert Brewster, courtesy of DiStefano Brothers Construction

excited to be leading the way!” The 650-square-foot Craftsman cottage built by DBC checks all the boxes for the Madoms and despite its small size, doesn’t feel cramped thanks to all-white walls, plenty of windows, recessed lighting, and furnishings that are at once casual but refined with hints of modern transitional style – and

Want your home featured in So Rhode Island? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more

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Life & Style | home •

By Elyse Major

Built-in shelves offer display space for personal accents

Wall lamps help remove the need for bedside tables

Tips for making the most of what you have – inside and out.

GOOD VIBES “Keep your spaces calm and casual; think about the area you live in and what makes you happy!” says Lucille. WHEN IN RHODE The Madoms enjoy Wakefield’s Belmont Market and Brickley’s Ice Cream.

often work double-duty. Plentiful built-in storage helps keep clutter at bay. Throughout, a muted palette of grays, as seen in tiled bathrooms, takes its cue from the coastline. “This home is packed full of details and clever ideas of storage, with a full area for laundry, floating bedside tables, high ceilings, and lots of natural light, never making you feel closed in!” says Lucille.

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Of course to the Madoms, the best feature is the location – being a stone’s throw from their four grandkids. “Next is the back porch and all the natural light that comes into the house. And the front door color, and being so close to shops and the water,” says Lucille. “We are excited about venturing out to all of the local restaurants, shops, and culture.”

LOCAL RESOURCES Arnold Lumber, Wakefield; Blinds and Design, Jerry’s Hardware, Narragansett; and Supply New England in Warwick were all vendors used by DiStefano Brothers Construction for this project. Learn more at DBCRI.com

Photography by Robert Brewster, courtesy of DiStefano Brothers Construction

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Life & Style | Shop •

By Elyse Major

In the Good Ol’ Summertime Craving a one-day vacation? Head over to Bay Street in Watch Hill. Along this coastal stretch, experience a charm that mirrors Cape Cod’s Chatham, a flying horse carousel that beats the one in Oak Bluffs (these horses are suspended and swing

out!), and on a clear day, views of Montauk and Block Island. They say that most Rhode Islanders haven’t been to Block Island, and the same might hold true for this idyllic spot at the most southwestern point of the state on a peninsula. The shopping district

is dense and pretty and like any seaside town worth its salt, has a candy shop with a striped awning. Make a full day of exploring a range of retail shops and wonderful waterfront dining. Here is a mere sampling of wares worth parking for.

JC ’s of Watch Hill*

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*This month’s Rhody Gem! See page 28.

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021 57

Life & Style | influencer •

By Sascha Martin

Meet Abby Boone This pediatric nurse loves catching waves, spicy margaritas, and all things summer in Lil’ Rhody

What makes Rhode Island such a great place for surfing? Rhode Island has a great variety of waves from point breaks to beach breaks. Its beautiful rocky coast provides some really fun longboarding and shortboarding waves. The waves can be a little inconsistent here in Rhode Island, but when it’s good, it can get really good! What are your favorite area surf spots and shops? I have a lot of favorite spots! The swell and wind directions dictate where I decide to surf on any given day. I also try to find a spot that isn’t too crowded which can be difficult these days. My go-to shop is Matunuck Surf Shop, I’m also a fan of Narragansett Surf and Skate. Thank you so much for your work as a pediatric nurse, especially during the pandemic. When you’re not helping others or catching waves, what are you up to? Work can be so hectic that I just like to chill on my days off. I love spending time at home with my dogs and cats, working on house projects, playing cards, making spicy margaritas, cooking vegan dinners, and taking trips to Maine to see my family when I can.

What are some of your favorite businesses to hit up around the Ocean State? I frequent Sa-Tang and Whalers in South Kingstown; BOL, Ocean Mist, and The Mews in Wakefield; and Crazy Burger in Narragansett. One of my all-time favorites is in Providence: CIVIL Skateboard Shop. Vegan favorites are Garden Grille in Pawtucket and Plant City in Providence, Middletown, and soon Warwick. Follow Abby on Instagram: @abbyboone + @cold.water.women

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Photo by Corey Favino, @cjfavino

Now that summer is upon us, what are you most looking forward to doing when you’re not on a surfboard? I’m really excited to get my gardens up and running. I love love love growing my own vegetables in the summer! I’m also looking forward to beach days with friends and spending more time outdoors.

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Food & Drink

experience | food news | restaurant retail

APPETIZERS WITH DISTINCTION Rhode Island catering business infuses Afro-soul flavors in sumptuous small bites Hors d’oeuvres are a quintessential primer for any party but the small plates you’ll find from Distinguish Catering turn finger food into an art form, from deviled eggs whipped with sweet potato puree to Blackened Shrimp Tostones drawing color and flavor from pickled red onions, seared shrimp, and fresh guacamole, all atop a yellow plantain. “We specifically engineer and hand-craft each item to incorporate an Afro-soul or Caribbean flavor profile to give each bite a taste of home,” says executive chef Jessica M. Zeon, a Johnson & Wales graduate who founded her boutique catering business around devising gourmet food influenced by her African American and Liberian roots. Take Fried Lobster Shooters, for example – breaded in panko and fried to crispy perfection, these seafood bites are served on a stick and cradled in a tall glass with sauce at the bottom, for optimum ease. Zeon explains, “The house-made Smoked Pepper Aioli Sauce is derived from the Ultimate Smoked Pepper Sauce, a family recipe that dates back centuries in Liberian food culture prepared with assorted peppers, onions, and smoked seafood.” While seafood is a staple of Ocean State and Distinguish Catering cuisine, Zeon also offers vegan appetizers like seared potato pancakes with charred corn and a smoky filling, and menus can be personalized around an event. “We strive to bring innovation to the food culture in Rhode Island,” Zeon says, “by providing exceptional flavors with the freshest ingredients from farms and local markets, while infusing our motherland’s flavors and cooking techniques into our vision of soul food.” DistinguishCatering.com | By Abbie Lahmers Photo courtesy of Distinguish Catering SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021 63

Food & Drink | experience •

By Ann O’Neill

Raise an Anchor A new North Kingstown brewery/restaurant takes pride in malt-forward brews and coastal cues

As a lifelong sailor and avid craft brewer since his days as an undergrad at Binghamton University in New York, Scott Monroe formed West Passage Brewing Company with two intents in mind: first, to develop good beer accessible on a college student’s dime and second, to infuse the coastal themes Ocean State dwellers seem to love into a brewery that doubles as an eatery. Along with two partners, wife Cheryl and Al Hollenbeck, Monroe chose a 1920s building that was once a gas station, turned the service bays into a space to house fermentation tanks, and furnished the interior with

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

driftwood and nautical accents. The first thing I notice is a jar of grains on the table labeled Red X Malt. Not just for show, Monroe encourages us to sample them. This is the actual malt that is steeped like tea and used in several of the brews. Where hops lend bitterness, malt is responsible for imparting sweetness and nutty, caramel flavors along with a darker color. Naturally, a flight is in order. Advised to taste from lightest to darkest, I begin with Full Body Wag, Monroe’s favorite. Hops give this beer a pleasant bitter note that’s more complex than the light color would indicate.

In the IPA family, there’s Slack Sheet, which is definitely sweeter and features a prominent citrus kick, thanks to Amarillo hops. Each batch of Slack Sheet will differ as the acids and oils released from these hops vary with the length and temp of each brew’s boil. Tipsy Mouse, which Monroe refers to as “IPAish”, is a milder sip by comparison. With only a light bitterness, it is the last variety before malt makes an appearance.

CUISINE: Classic American Pub Fare PRICES: $8-$16

Photos courtesy of West Passage Brewing Company

West Passage brews are best sampled light to dark

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021 65

By Ann O’Neill

Enter: Sarcastic Charlie. Though light in color, there are distinct caramel notes and a hint of malt here, and despite the snarky demeanor its name would suggest, this one is an easy-drinker. If you’re looking for a fuller malt experience, a pour of Full Keel Brown will do the trick. It’s darker in color and sweeter, the trademarks of a malty profile. A light dusting of Cascade hops,

Full Keel Burger

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known to be floral with notes of grapefruit, keep Full Keel well rounded, less bitter, and my personal favorite. Drunken’ Horseman is the last and darkest of the six, and surprisingly, an IPA. First on the nose is coffee, which follows on the palate. A roastiness on the finish, similar to a dark pretzel, rounds out this full-bodied brew. The menu is designed around beer pairings,

Must-Try Items Smoked Tri-Tip Street Tacos ($14): Smoked tri-tip, pico de gallo, avocado sour cream, cilantro, and cojita cheese

Full Keel Brown ($6): Well-rounded, malty beer with low bitterness

Photos courtesy of West Passage Brewing Company

Food & Drink | experience •

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so classic pub fare reigns supreme: salads, sandwiches, burgers, and tacos, plus a few desserts. The Full Keel Burger, served on a pretzel bun, was an easy choice because the house-made cheese sauce uses my favorite brew, plus cheddar, gouda, and secret seasonings. The French fries are a dark-fry lover’s fantasy. Thin, well fried and at once crispy and soft, they complement both the char on the burger and the malty caramel notes of the cheese sauce, which also appears in the Cheddar and Ale Dip appetizer. Intrigued by the in-house smoker, I also tried a trio of street tacos loaded with Smoked Tri-Tip. Smoke flavor permeates the perfectly medium tri-tip and traditional taco garnishes, including pico de gallo, in this fresh take on a California classic. Despite having not been open long, West Passage is a full house by 5pm on a Friday, so reservations are advised. With daughters McKenzie (in the kitchen) and Reilly (as hostess) working with dad for the summer, this true family business is guaranteed to be a lively night out for you and yours.

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Food & Drink | food news •

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Westerly’s newest cafe and specialty foods spot exudes coastal vibes, from the custom RI Surf Co. surfboards hanging inside to the patio water views. STICK + FIN owners Brian and Chiyoko Samuelson bring West Coast vibes from 20 years spent in Southern California back to their new South County graband-go destination. “The brand was born around a creative space where like-minded people come to gather to slow down, view local art, enjoy music, and most importantly enjoy a precision cup of premium coffee,” explains Brian. “We have something for everyone, including both gluten-free and

sourdough bread options loaded with fresh and local seasonal flavors,” like Bruschetta Avocado or Nutella Banana Walnut toasts. A perfect first stop before heading out on the waves, you can find a variety of fruit juices, wellness shots (including one called the Rhody!), and kombucha, along with hot and cold espresso drinks and loose-leaf teas. Instagram-worthy superfood bowls layer fruits with health add-ins, like the crowd-pleaser Nosara Bowl with acai, banana, blueberry, and pink pitaya powder. At the end of the day, it’s all about “coffee, juice, and kindness.” Westerly, @stickandfin

Photo courtesy of STICK + FIN

Surf life and superfoods rule at new Westerly spot

Cozy cabin dining comes to Gansett with restaurateur’s latest project The former Catarina’s Italian Village is now home to The Coastal Cabin Restaurant, but chef and owner Christian D’Agostino is hardly a new face to the South County dining scene. You’re likely familiar with his other establishments, Tavern on Main in both Wakefield and East Greenwich, and the owner of Catarina’s, Anthony Mollo, was also one of D’Agostino’s mentors. Set in a genuine log cabin, the feel of this new project is both rustic and breezy, from the decor to the menu. Looking for New England coastal fare like lobster rolls? You’ll find it here, but D’Agostino’s approach to seafood favors creativity over cliches, with comfort food like Pistachio Crusted Shrimp Skewers, Bouillabaisse (a hearty fish stew popular in French cuisine), and even a Miniature Seafood Pot Pie. Curating a warm yet sophisticated atmosphere, guests are invited to kick back with craft cocktails and half-price appetizers for happy hour every day from 4-6pm and 9pm to close or for weekend brunch with Crabcake Benedict, seafood crepes, and house-made breakfast sausage sandwiches. Narragansett, CoastalCabinRI.com

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Magical coffee truck sets up permanent digs in Warwick Take a menu of decadent iced lattes, specialty sammies, and a wall painted in greenery, and presto! You’ve got a coffee shop – but not just any coffee shop. When Jessica and Jason Case trundled onto the scene with the Presto Strange O Coffee Truck in 2010, food trucks were scarce in Rhode Island compared to the caravan of eateries on wheels you’ll find today. Looking for a change of pace after years working in the film business, they forged ahead: “We started small, with a trailer and as business grew, we grew,” says Jessica. “Now we operate two coffee trucks and just opened our shop in Warwick.” Along with creamy coffee bevvies made popular by the trucks, new specials pop up at the cafe, like an Iced Vanilla Taro Latte, plus lemonades and coffee drinks by the jug. Breakfast and lunch menus include apple fritters, BLTs, wraps, and desserts. To complement their colorful and creative drinks, the decor is distinctly whimsical and organic, with winding vines and botanical accents at every turn. Warwick, PrestoStrangeO.com

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WAKEFIELD • 401.783.4433 | GARDEN CITY • 401.942.2720 | WWW.SWEENORSCHOCOLATES.COM SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021 69

Food & Drink | restaurant retail •

By Abbie Lahmers

A Dish Best Served To-go Hope & Main helps South County restaurants get their iconic staples and sauces retail-ready produce, “and customers are showing up from throughout New England for Cooking Con Omi’s Sofrito.” Since a spring launch, marked with a celebration at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace in East Greenwich, these goods and a dozen others have been flying off the shelves, with many having already sold out a few times over. A successful first run underway, a second official launch day is planned for September 10 to spotlight these makers, and Raiola looks forward to seeing the program expand, as other restaurants have already inquired about participating. In the meantime, watch the shelves (and the WhatsGood online app) for South County offerings like Aunt Carrie’s Original Clam Cake and Fritter Mix, Fresco Restaurant sauces, frozen pub pizza from Grainsley’s Kitchen, curry spice mix from Rasa, The Shanty’s Thai Chili Marinade, and red and green sauces from Tallulah’s Taqueria. MakeFoodYourBusiness.org/DishUpRI

AUNT CARRIE’S A local destination, you haven’t experienced a Narragansett summer without a visit to Aunt Carrie’s (which recently celebrated 100 years!). Now, you can recreate their famous clam cakes at home with a mix, with packaging that relays the story of Carrie and Ulysses Cooper forging the tradition in 1920. Aunt Carrie’s Clam Cakes • 1 package of Aunt Carrie’s Original Clam Cake & Fritter Mix • 2 large eggs • 16 oz fresh minced clams and juice (canned clams may be substituted) • 12 oz water • Canola oil 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Food entrepreneurs gather for the launch of their retail goods at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace in East Greenwich

SORhodeIsland.com • August 2021

Heat canola oil (4” deep) to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients and stir until smooth. Using a soup spoon, drop batter into hot oil. The mix makes approximately 3 dozen fritters. Cook for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until all sides are golden brown. Check doneness with a fork in the middle of the clam cake. Remove from oil and place on a paper towel to drain excess oil, and enjoy! Photo (L) by Rupert Whiteley Photography, (R) courtesy of Aunt Carrie’s

Seeing a need in the restaurant industry to diversify offerings in our post-pandemic world of more time spent in home kitchens and backyard grills, the foodie creatives behind Warren incubator kitchen Hope & Main devised DishUp RI: a program that lets food businesses take their signature sauce or menu item and make it market-ready. “Hope & Main assembled a team of experts to provide the technical assistance required to take a product from ideation to the starting line,” explains President and Founder of Hope & Main Lisa Raiola. “This is a complex process. It involves everything from working with a research chef for recipe formulation and scaling to developing packaging and labelling for the product,” not to mention licensing, pricing, and merchandising. “Chomp Burger Sauce has been a huge hit,” says Raiola, listing some of the new restaurant-to-retail products the program has teamed up with local eateries to help

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South County Scenes

A peaceful summer evening at Napatree.

ABOUT LINDA @lll_images Based in Westerly, I was born and raised in Newport. Photography has been a favorite hobby of mine since high school. I love to be outdoors, and over the past few years, I have developed an interest in photographing the natural beauty of our area.

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Rankings based in whole or in part on data supplied by the State-Wide Listings Service. 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. Based on information from Statewide Multiple Listing Service, Inc. as of April 2021.

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SO Rhode Island August 2021

Articles inside

FOOD NEWS: Westerly surf cafe coastal comfort in ‘Gansett, and a

Restaurant-to-retail recipes from South County eateries

Meet a nurse who decompresses by catching waves

New venture turns sea

THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: Timeline

Passed hors d’oeuvres infused

A South Kingstown tiny home is just right for grandparents

RHODY PETS: Expert advice for introducing babies to pets