The Bay April 2021

FREE APRIL 2021 TheBayMagazine.com

This Month’s Rhody Gem Your April Must-Do’s

Destination Tiverton Quaint is the new cool for this historic town that has city folks day-tripping and relocating in droves

Sleek Style in Rumstick • Game Show Fundraiser • Ice Cream Season is On • Farm Chef Preps for Spring

387 Washington Road

10 Nayatt Road

Barrington | MLS 1275344 $1,995,000 | (401) 338-3520

Barrington | MLS 1276765 $1,495,000 | (401) 529-5724

7 Willow Way

202 Narragansett Avenue

Barrington | MLS 1276482 $1,245,000 | (401)-225-0371

Riverside | MLS 1276651 $595,000 | (401) 323-1416

19 Beaver Road

15 Harrison Avenue

Barrington | MLS 1276268 $529,900 | (401)-699-6638

Barrington | MLS 1276273 $529,000 | (401) 699-6638

Barrington 401.245.9600

East Greenwich 401.885.8400

Providence 401.274.6740

Westport MA 508.636.4760

Cumberland 401.333.9333

Narragansett 401.783.2474

West Side PVD 401.457.3400

Relocation 800.886.1775

ROUTE 77 • TIVERTON, RHODE ISLAND WRIGLEY STUDIO & GALLERY

Spring into Summer with chickens and roosters! A working artist studio featuring the acrylic paintings of Brenda Wrigley Scott featuring birds, companion animals & flora on paper, canvas upcycled floorcloths & pottery.

3879 Main Road • (401) 339 9676 @Wrigley_studio

TIFFANY PEAY JEWELRY & HEALING ARTS

A gemstone lover’s delight featuring the collection of one-of-a-kind gemstone, pearl and gold jewelry handmade by renowned designer Tiffany Peay.

Discover Crystal Bed Light Therapy and explore your power with gemstones.

3851 Main Road • (401) 816 0878 www.tiffanypeay.com

KATHRINE LOVELL STUDIO

Paintings and Woodblock prints. Commissions happily accepted.Call to schedule a private studio appointment. www.klovell.com • (401) 743 6077 • klovell61@gmail.com

CREATED PURPOSE BOUTIQUE GROUNDSWELL

Locally roasted coffee, gourmet food & uncommon goods for your garden and home. Two buildings, one unique experience in Tiverton Four Corners.

Groundswell Café + Bakery – 3883 Main Road Groundswell Garden + Home – 3895 Main Road www.groundswellcafegarden.com

An artisan boutique with rooms of unique gifts and an extensive list of safe classes for children and adults. Seven weeks of summer art camp full of fun and creativity available!

3964 Main Road, Mill Pond Shops • (401) 816 4134 www.createdpurposeri.com

FOUR CORNERS GRILLE

Offering fresh, quality food along with fast, friendly service at reasonable prices. Featuring fresh, locallycaught seafood with an extensive & eclectic menu in a quaint, casual setting with a delightful patio.

3841 Main Road • (401) 624 1510 www.4cornersgrille.com

MILUKAS STUDIO

Teaching and Exhibiting Artist and Studio.

Joyful “in person” workshops, weekly classes, and private lessons. Kelly Milukas works with encaustic, pastel, water media paint, and dimensional sculptures. Gallery visits by chance and appointment.

503 S Lake Rd, Tiverton • (401) 480 3536 www.kellymilukas.com/events @kellymilukas

TIVERTON FARMERS MARKET

CÉDIAN PAINTING: STUDIO-GALLERY

Fine Art Painting and Decor by Jennifer Jones Rashleigh PILLOWS, PAINTINGS, TILES & TAPESTRIES wildlife cameos of birds, fish botanicals & beach scenes OPEN Wed-Sat 12-4 and by appoinment 3879 Main Road, Tiverton • (509) 951 0696 www.cedianpainting.com

STUDIO BY THE SEA

At The Studio by the Sea, finding the perfect jewelry item starts with YOU! Colors are sourced, designs are drafted and each piece is created just for YOU! Let’s create something special YOU will adore.

3879 Main Road • (401) 639 4348 @studio_by_the_sea

Safely connecting the community to local food, musicians, makers & artists. Featuring a growing collection of local & fresh produce & products with new vendors weekly. Every Tuesday 2-5:30pm at Sandywoods Center for the Arts.

43 Muse Way, Tiverton www.tivertonfarmersmarket.com @TivertonFarmersMarket

Fine Art, Antiques, Unique Decorative Furnishings & Handmade Goods for the Home, Gourmet Food & Amazing Open Space. Explore a Beautiful New England Village in Tiverton. #TakeARideTiverton4Corners •

@tivertonfourcorners

Local Knowledge, Global Network

PORTSMOUTH: Private Indian Avenue Waterfront Estate – $3,495,000 Tina Wiley – 447.9609

TIVERTON: Renovated Home with Water Views – $499,000. Bridget Torrey – 575.6522

TIVERTON: Waterfront New Construction $1,050,000. Bridget Torrey – 575.6522

G

PORTSMOUTH: West Passage 3-Bedroom $625,000. Nicki Lucenti – 439.9581

G

DIN

DIN

PEN

PORTSMOUTH: Sweeping Sakonnet Water Views – $1,450,000 Dina Karousos – 451.6461

PEN

LITTLE COMPTON: Fabulous Custom Home on Acreage – $1,275,000. Bridget Torrey – 575.6522

SO. TIVERTON: ‘SeaSmoke Landing’ Waterfront Lots on 12 Acres – $1,250,000. Jessica Chase – 864.3596

PORTSMOUTH: Sandy Point 4-Bedroom With Water Views – $789,000.

Dina Karousos – 451.6461

PEN

TIVERTON: 2.9 Acres Overlooking Sakonnet Passage – $450,000. Nicki Lucenti – 439.9581

TIVERTON: The Villages at Mount Hope Bay $853,900. Bridget Torrey – 575.6522

GustaveWhite.com | 401-816-4060 New Office Now Open in Historic Tiverton Four Corners

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We offer many on-site amenities including heated indoor parking garage, fully-equipped fitness center, community game room, library, bike racks, outdoor fire pit and grilling area. Our luxury apartments are within walking distance from many local restaurants and shops, parks, beaches and local museums. Looking for outdoor recreation? Enjoy immediate access to the East Bay bike path!

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Photography by Nick DelGiudice

In This Issue

The Bay Magazine April 2021

33

Destination Tiverton Quaint is the new cool for this historic town that has city folks day-tripping and relocating in droves

The Buzz

Life & Style

11 The illustrator behind Nitro

21 HOME: Minimalism rules the day

Bar Newport’s fanciful mural

in a Barrington home

12 Barrington woman responds

28 INFLUENCER: Instagram’s Ingrid

to hate mail from neighbor

Brown shares Ocean State love

14 Funny fundraising event takes

30 SHOP: Handmade goods

its cue from beloved game show

benefit the RI Community

Photo courtesy of Wishing Stone Farm

Food Bank

16 RHODY GEM: Women-owned flower and gift collaborative in Middletown

Food & Drink 43 Ice cream season opens with an egg-studded special

18 VOICES OF THE BAY: Bristol business owner hopes new hobby

44 The chef behind Wishing Stone

will pan out

Farm’s commercial kitchen

19 CALENDAR: This

46 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: 2020 was

48 EXPERIENCE: Take a tour of

Pic of the Bay

month’s must-do’s

a record year for new business filings

bakeshop stops along route 114

50 A stunning image from a local lens

ON THE COVER: Tiverton Four Corners. Photo by Meredith Brower

The Bay • April 2021 7

Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell Matt Hayes

General Manager & Creative Director Nick DelGiudice

Editor in Chief Elyse Major

Editor Abbie Lahmers

Managing Editor Megan Schmit

Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas

Senior Editorial Designer Abigail Brown

Senior Designer Taylor Gilbert

Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich

Local news for Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts

Ann Gallagher Kristine Mangan Olf Sascha Martin Elizabeth Riel

Discover a world of color at Caron Jewelers Caron Jewelers specializes in fine jewelry and estate pieces, custom wedding and engagement rings, luxury and vintage watches, artisan giftware, as well as its own Michi Designs featuring rare gemstones.

In-house jewelry and watch repair, battery replacement, layaway and cleaning services available.

CARON JEWELERS YOUR TRUSTED FAMILY JEWELER SINCE 1956

473 HOPE STREET | BRISTOL | 401-253-9460 | CARONJEWELERS.COM 8

The Bay • April 2021

Interested in advertising?

Email Marketing@ProvidenceOnline.com

Contributing Photographers Maaike Bernstrom

Kayla Mandeville

Meredith Brower

Erin McGinn

Brian DeMello

Nat Rea

Heidi Hope

Contributing Writers April Federico

Sean Morrissey

Kevin “Big Lux” Lowther

Nina Murphy

Andrea E. McHugh

Joe Tasca

Interns Maia Correll

Kaila Raymond

Looking for an internship?

Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com

PROVIDENCE MEDIA INC. 1070 Main Street, Suite 302, Pawtucket RI 02860 401-305-3391 • Mail@ProvidenceOnline.com ProvidenceOnline.com Copyright ©2021 by Providence Media.

All rights reserved.

Proud member of the Rhode Island Press Association

Online

Web Extra: Dan McKee gets his shot, but his success will depend on when we get ours

Newsletter

Photo by Meredith Brower

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The Bay • April 2021 9

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The Buzz Buzz on the Bay

Rhody Gem

Voices of the Bay

Calendar

The Nitro Bar, Newport

Wall of Color The pretty imprint of illustrator and muralist Liz Kelley If you’ve come face to face with a tidal wave of dusty pastel pigment, wavy fronds, floating black specks, and fluid lines while crossing the street or placing an order here in Rhode Island, chances are good that you’ve encountered a mural by Liz Kelley. At last count there were ten around the state – some on sides of buildings, some on interior walls – all providing a welcome infusion of color and whimsy to their surroundings.

“The scope of work varies from a simple black and white linear mural to a full wall of color,” explains Kelley, who is also an illustrator and creative consultant, and a former visual manager for West Elm in Wayland Square. While in school for illustration, she became very interested in painting, especially using gouache, a form of watercolor that dries with a matte finish. “I was used to working small-scale, but the pull towards larger and more impactful pieces was always there.”

The push to “go big” came from colleague Jayna Aronovitch, owner of LORE, a handmade lifestyle shop in Providence, who asked Kelley to design and install a temporary painting. Kelley accepted and found the experience to be liberating. “I fell in love with working on an art piece that was taller than me, that required buckets of paint instead of small tubes.”

Kelley explains that a mural can take anywhere from one to three weeks to complete installation. She does all of the design work herself, and until her son was born last May, did the painting as well. “Since then my husband Bobby assists with executing murals. This works out because he is also a designer and has a meticulous eye as well as a steady hand,” she says. To transfer designs from computer screen to paper to building, she once relied on the commonly used grid method – an involved process that she enjoyed – however, to accommodate the growth in her business, she now uses a time-saving projector.

“I love partnering with my residential and commercial clients to understand their vision and how we can bring it to life through color, texture, and statement pieces,” says Kelley. When asked, she admits that The Nitro Bar mural in Newport is her current favorite for a few reasons, including painting during late-spring weather, the texture of the wall, and the pleasure of working with the owners for a second time. “I am so grateful for the work that has come my way and I look forward to sharing current and future projects.”

Photo courtesy of Liz Kelly The Bay • April 2021 11

The Buzz

ON THE BAY

By Kevin “Big Lux” Lowther

Candace Breen Fights Back Barrington woman responds to hate mail from neighbor culminating in her neighbor posting a sign over her garden of Trump holding an AR-15.

Breen’s son had asked, “Mom, does that mean she wants to shoot us?”

Determined to set a good example for her son and take back her feeling of security, Breen went to the Barrington PD with the letter. She was interviewed by police, spoke with the Barrington postmaster, and even talked to the FBI. According to Breen, police interviewed her neighbor, Laura Larrivee, at which time Larrivee confessed to sending the letter.

While investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies are ongoing, Breen’s story has been debated in public forums, on social media, and in the Barrington Times.

Cameras on the Breen property captured three teens yelling “F- Black Lives Matter,” and “Swastika!” She obtained a No Trespassing Order after Larrivee walked onto

their property with a dog to confront Breen and her husband. To sleep at night, Breen now relies on sleeping pills.

Despite everything, Breen says she is humbled by the support and love from the community. Mel Bynum, educator and founder of East Bay for Diversity, organized a candlelight vigil in front of the Barrington Town Hall and a rally the following week.

“I know that I may face consequences for speaking up, but I will not be quiet when confronted with hate. I will not be quiet when confronted with insults. I will not be quiet when confronted with irrational beliefs, such as how my Black Lives Matter flag on my lawn needs to be taken down because it offends someone,” said Breen at the rally. “The fact that my life matters is not offensive. The belief that my life matters is not offensive, unless you believe my life doesn’t matter.”

Hate mail Breen received on Inauguration Day 12

The Bay • April 2021

Photos courtesy of Candace Breen

On the afternoon of the presidential inauguration, Candace Breen checked her mail and found a troubling letter. The writing was rough, with poor formatting and grammar, but the message was clear. It started “Dear Neighbors,” then dispensed with any civility.

Breen, a Black woman, had signs in her yard supporting Black Lives Matter and other progressive causes. According to the letter, this made her a “disgusting, filthy American who should pray for forgiveness.” The letter demanded she take down the signs and concluded with a handwritten note dated January 6: “BLM and Antifa storm capital proven on video people arrested [sic]. Stop watching CNN you’re brain dead.”

“Time stood still,” Breen remembers. “I can’t understand how someone could say that to a Black person.” She thought about ignoring the letter, but remembered earlier provocations

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The Buzz

ON THE BAY

By Megan Schmit

Comedy for a Cause Charlie Hall hosts star-studded virtual game show to raise funds for East Providence nursing homes When Rhonda Marzetta called up Charlie Hall, she was facing a dilemma: Aldersbridge Communities, a nonprofit network of skilled nursing and assisted living homes based in East Providence where she volunteered, was looking for a way to raise funds online, in lieu of live events. The team had bounced around a few ideas, including a talent show, when Marzetta asked comedian and friend Hall to help them brainstorm over Zoom.

“At the meeting, I lamented on how tough it was to do live comedy online,” Hall begins, pointing to struggling late night TV comics, “but that maybe something I came up with years ago might work: The Rhodywood Squares.”

Rhodywood Squares is a spin-off of the hit game show Hollywood Squares, the original of which ran from 1966 to 1980 on NBC and was followed by new productions on various networks till wrapping up for good in 2004. The concept is simple: Two contestants compete in a game of tic-tactoe for the chance to win cash and prizes – except the “board” is a 3x3 stack of openfaced cubes occupied by celebrities who are each asked a question, and the truth of their answer is judged by the contestants to earn squares. Notable appearances included Paul Lynde, Joan Rivers, and Rose Marie; as you can imagine, Hollywood Squares was much more about the delivery of one-line jokes or zingers from its celebrity guests, making it as much a comedy show as a game show.

Hall had hosted a successful, in-person Rhodywood Squares before to raise money for RI Meals on Wheels at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, and, he explains, “The idea of using this Hollywood Squares format on Zoom had been swimming around in my head ever since COVID hit.”

When Hall brought this up to Director of Development, Public Affairs & Philanthropy Elise Strom, “PR guru” Betty Galligan, and Marzetta, he was met with enthusiasm: “We fell in love with the idea,” says Galligan, “and voila – the event was born!”

Hall wasted no time; within 60 seconds

14

The Bay • April 2021

of logging off that initial Zoom meeting, he texted his good friend and local news anchor Gene Valicenti, who immediately agreed to be their center square, and other local celebrities followed: the Cardi Brothers, Judge Frank Caprio, and WPRO’s Tara Granahan.

Strom and Galligan secured NAACP’s Jim Vincent, film director Mike Corrente, and Miss RI USA 2020 Jonet Nichelle, while Marzetta brought in her cousin Bob Perlow, former Hollywood Squares joke writer and Jay Leno Show crowd warmer.

Once the celebrity guests were lined up, Hall faced the biggest challenge: writing the questions, which are tied to Rhode Island or a particular star’s forte, like law for Judge Caprio or news for Valicenti.

Featuring: Judge Caprio, Jonét Nichelle, Cardi Brothers, Tara Granahan, Gene Valicenti, Bob Perlow, T.J. Del Santo, Michael Corrente & Jim Vincent Hall also devised a bluff answer and funny answer for each celeb to have on hand in addition to the real one, to “alleviate some stress on their part.” Of course, they can also take a stab at their own zingers: “Judging from the folks we’ve got lined up, they are sure to come up with hilarious lines of their own, too,” says Galligan.

On the night of April 10, attendees will purchase a “ticket” at Aldersbridge.org to receive the link to tune in. They’ll be treated to a “red carpet pre-show” with fellow

comedian Doreen Collins posing as Joan Rivers, who will interview the celebs and special guests before Hall takes over to start the show. What will ensue? Well, you’ll just have to sign up and watch.

“This fundraiser has been more complicated than I thought it would be, but I think the payoff will be well worth it: To see Gene Valicenti’s impression of Paul Lynde,” says Hall. “I told him I would even buy him a polyester suit to complete the look. He said

it’s not just about having fun. For Hall, working with the team at Aldersbridge, including tech genius Jim Gracik, has been his favorite part, and “it’s helped to temper the ‘glum’ of not being able to perform this year.” He’s also excited to make the concept work to raise funds for other nonprofits in the future, and already has a few lined up.

For Aldersbridge, the funds raised will help COVID-19 relief efforts such as purchasing PPE, cleaning supplies, and equipment;

and services for residents; and support their ElderVentures wish-granting program.

“Bringing all of the local celebrities and the community together to raise much needed funding to support our nonprofit organization is heartwarming, because we are raising awareness that elder lives matter,” says Galligan. “It will be a nice way to celebrate the fact that there is goodness and hope, even in the most challenging of times.”

To learn more about Aldersbridge Com-

no. He already had one.”

While the event itself is sure to be a riot,

sustaining the many physical, social, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing programs

munities and register for the event on April 10, visit Aldersbridge.org.

Charlie Hall of The Ocean State Follies

Doreen Collins as “Joan Rivers” on the Red Carpet

The Bay • April 2021 15

The Buzz

RHODY GEM

By Abbie Lahmers

Farm and Flora Collective Garden Shop

We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it!

What it is: Actually three small women-owned green industry businesses under one roof, the collective houses their studio, growing hub, and retail shop selling flowers and gifts.

What makes it a Rhody Gem? Fans of The Flower Recipe Book and The Wreath Recipe Book will delight in knowing co-author Jill Rizzo is part of Little State Flower Company and often behind the counter, should you want your book signed. LSFC is part of this cohort that also includes Wild Season Florals and Brigid Finn Fine Gardening. “Our retail shop offers customers an opportunity to engage with flowers and plants in a way that is educational, inspiring, and grounded in environmental principles,” explains Victoria Canel of Wild Season Florals, who notes that the collective also partners with the James L. Maher Center to provide training opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Inside, pastel walls backdrop shelves of miniature potted plants, bouquets of stems from their in-house growing center, and, this season, delicate eggs strewn among daffodil terrariums and ceramic bowls. For floral services with a distinctly local touch, you can’t get closer to the source than this trio of nature enthusiasts vetting flowers from seed to bouquet.

Farm and Flora Collective 910 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown 401-846-7911 • @farmandfloracollective FarmAndFloraCollective.com

16

The Bay • April 2021

Photo courtesy of Farm and Flora Collective

Where to find it: Taking up residence in the former Maher Garden Center, watch for their green sign out front along Aquidneck Avenue.

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

FUN

FRIENDS & ADVENTURE

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IMC ’s premier ballet academy

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ASK ABOUT OUR KIDS SUMMER CLASSES! 10 Anoka Avenue, Barrington • (401) 337-5578 KnitOneQuiltToo.com • Tuesday–Saturday, 10 am–5pm The Bay • April 2021 17

The Buzz VOICES OF THE BAY

By Nina Murphy

Gold Fever

Last spring proved to be the perfect time for Patty McCobb, owner of Allerton Framing in Bristol, to try her hand at gold panning when she was faced with delays from suppliers due to the pandemic. With time on her hands, McCobb dug out a gold panning kit purchased ten years ago, took a class, and was hooked when she spotted her first sliver of gold. A long-time metal detector and former lobster woman, McCobb is putting in 75-hour work weeks to keep up with the demand of her framing customers. But once the temperature starts to rise and the ground thaws, she will resume her trips in search of gold in the running waters of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

STRIKE GOLD: I took a day-long class with American Gold Prospecting Adventures in New Hampshire on the Ammonoosuc River and everyone found tiny, tiny flakes of

18

The Bay • April 2021

gold. All you need is a little flake to get you hooked. Once you get the gold fever, it’s over. I would equate it with people’s love of collecting sea glass: It’s beautiful, you find it yourself, and you never know when you’re going to find it. Most everyone keeps their sea glass, which is the same with gold.

stay in that place. It tests patience and is back-breaking work. I wear clamming boots and quick-drying pants. When the black flies are out, there is no bug spray that will keep you safe so I wear a bug hat. I use what looks like an eye dropper – called a snugger bottle – and vacuum those flakes into it.

ALL THAT GLITTERS: For newcomers, it’s easy to confuse pyrite, which is very lightweight and called “fool’s gold”, with the real thing. Gold is beautiful buttery yellow and is 19 times heavier than water so it sinks to the bottom of the gold pan and sticks. Gold, black sand, and garnets are the heaviest. If you get black sand you are in a pretty good area, though not a guarantee.

ROAD TRIP: I try to get on the road by 2am to be set up by 6am. I could be gone for 18 hours and the only person I’ll see is at the toll booth. I’ve seen a lion, black bear, snakes, and wolf spiders.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM: A good piece of advice is don’t leave the gold to find the gold.

If you are in a spot and finding little pieces,

MORE THAN MINING: When I’m not gold panning I am constantly looking at charts, reading, and researching. I love doing crazy fun things. I got into metal detecting 25-30 years ago and I did lobstering on the Cape.

People will say, “I always wanted to do that” – so just do it, what’s stopping you?

Photo courtesy of Patty McCobb

Bristol business owner Patty McCobb has an interesting hobby

The Buzz

CALENDAR

By Abbie Lahmers

THE MUST LIST

5 essential events happening this month Daffodil Days

April 9-18:

Photos courtesy of Discover Newport

This year’s Newport Daffodil Days will be a socially distanced stroll rather than a festival, but the yellow blooms will also backdrop Restaurant Week and the annual Rhode Race on April 17. NewportDaffyDays.com

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

April 4:

April 9:

Celebrate the season sipping estate-grown wine at Newport Vineyards for their Easter Brunch, featuring a menu of spring flavors along with beer flights from Taproot, all in a socially distanced setting.

NewportVineyards.com

Capacity may be limited, but energy will be high at the Greenwich Odeum thanks to local Steely Dan tribute band Hey Nineteen! If you miss it, the full show will stream online the next day. East Greenwich, GreenwichOdeum.com

April 8:

Through April:

RI Council for the Humanities hosts a virtual Reading Across Rhode Island event with author Jason Reynolds on his book, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, for a live reading and discussion. RIHumanities.org

Askew, the sister venue of Alchemy in Providence, is back with limited-capacity live shows and events, like weekly comedy and open mic nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus local band performances. AskewProv.com

The Bay • April 2021 19

THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER Purveyors of unique and unusual plant material, pottery, fountains & garden décor

716 Mooresfield Road (Rt. 138), Wakefield 401-792-1340 • Open Daily 9am-5pm thefarmersdaughterri.com

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When you list your home with [ THE BLACKSTONE TEAM ] you're working with the most experienced team in the Providence metroplex. With decades of collaborative and collective know-how, we're ready to do the research and share your home's story to find your perfect buyer match.

blackstone.team@mottandchace.com 20

The Bay • April 2021

401.214.1524 Each office is independantly owned and operated.

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Laid-Back Luxury A Barrington home is a study in minimalism-meets-coastal While the architectural type might be classified as Colonial and the location is steps from the water, don’t anticipate finding any wrought iron or wicker at this Rumstick Road address. The interior design stems from sensibilities succinctly described by the husband as “urban super-modern minimalist.” Sitting on 1.6 acres, the property boasts many luxe features like seven fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen, and a master suite with closets clocking in at 18 feet. However grand, spaces throughout maintain a clean simplicity by design.

Photography by Nat Rea courtesy of Kelly Taylor Interior Design The Bay • April 2021 21

Life & Style

By Elyse Major

Originally from London, the homeowners were lured to Rhode Island by Hasbro, Inc. for a two-year stint. Twenty years, two teenagers, and new ventures later, the couple continues to enjoy life in the Ocean State. “We love being surrounded by the water, so close to Boston and New York,” says the husband. When it was time to refresh the Barrington estate, award-winning interior designer Kelly Taylor of KTID was enlisted. Taylor got an immediate sense of

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The Bay • April 2021

the couple’s aesthetic and despite the large footprint, worked to give spaces the vibe of a cool London flat.

“We like clean, simple, non-fussy, and one palette: black, gray, white, navy,” says the husband. Mindful of the preferences, Taylor worked with her clients to infuse an additional hue or two. “I encouraged a little color in the main living area, so we went with purple as a neutral with their colors,” says Taylor adding, “I love purple.” Textures

Want your home featured in The Bay? Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more

and patterns were brought in to add visual interest and warmth.

Taylor also coordinated structural modifications which included updating the staircase with sleek glass rails, replacing floors,

Photography by Nat Rea courtesy of Kelly Taylor Interior Design

HOME

Life & Style HOME

24

The Bay • April 2021

By Elyse Major

Photography by Nat Rea courtesy of Kelly Taylor Interior Design

and adding “modern lighting where the house craved it.” Some furnishings were replaced but, notes Taylor, “We also left anything bare that called for simplicity.”

“Like me, the homeowners don’t want the house to be a cliche. Just because it is on the water doesn’t mean everything needs to be blue with nautical themes; a waterfront home doesn’t need to mean clinging to certain colors or ocean themes but rather a modern representation of clean living,” says Taylor. “My mantra is ‘redefine’ coastal living and that’s exactly what we have done here. The bay is the backdrop, and with the white walls, cabinets, and minimalist color palette, Rhode Island is actually the star of the show.”

Says the husband, “Our minimalist style allows the view to become the art around us.”

Taylor adds with a smile, “It’s British style with a stunning Rhody backdrop.”

GET RHODY STYLE Inspired to make spring-forward updates? Here are some ideas along with shop local leads to discover.

SEATING ARRANGEMENT Chairs can be a low-risk way to bring color, shape, or texture into a room. For example, the mid-century counter stools in the kitchen are durable, chic, and affordable.

B IS FOR SMALL BIZ The homeowners list the following as faves around town: Barrington Books, Brickyard Pizza, Bagels Etc. in Barrington, and Madrid Bakery and Bacaro in Providence.

NATURAL INSTINCTS A potted plant with interesting leaves or fronds, or large bloom will add organic shape and color instantly.

DESIGN LOCAL From design strategy and space planning to whole-scale gut renovations and fit outs, Kelly Taylor and team guide clients through the complex process of creating personal design. KTID.net

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Life & Style INFLUENCER

By Sean Morrissey

Meet Ingrid Brown Our contributor and Insta-influencer on loving and sharing her life in the smallest state

Originally from Brazil, you’ve lived all over the country from New York to Phoenix, and appear to truly adore Rhode Island.

What makes the Ocean State home?

Rhode Island will always be home to me. It’s where we brought one of our daughters into the world, and where my husband started his solar business, Rooftop Power. My family embraces everything that Rhode Island has to offer. I don’t take anything for granted, especially the seasons.

The content on your Instagram (@ingridbrown_) is both aspirational and relatable, and explains why you have over 82K followers! We would love to hear about what you create and share on your feed.

Thank you! I’m a mom of two little girls and that is the hardest job in the world. I want to let other parents know that they are not alone. The days are long but the years are so fast! I post photos of everyday moments: my girls, my beauty routine and favorite products, our favorite Rhode Island restaurants, and places to explore.

With spring just around the corner, any clothing trends you can’t wait to wear?

Spring dressing is all about optimism, and I can’t wait to wear the bright colors and bold prints (especially florals!) of the season.

I am obsessed with all things statementshoulder, from puff sleeves, to oversized shoulders, and padded boyfriend jackets.

Honestly, I love following the trends but at the end of the day, wear what makes you feel comfortable and beautiful. It’s about personal style – there are no rules!

What is your advice for other influencers on getting started?

Be true to who you are. Talk about something you’re passionate about, whether it’s lifestyle, travel, fitness, awareness, etc. Stay humble and be kind to everyone.

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The Bay • April 2021

Photo by @heidi_hope courtesy of Ingrid Brown

What are some of your favorite restaurants?

This is a very hard question! There are so many delicious places in Rhode Island! For a casual easy pizza night, my family loves Federal Hill Pizza on Main Street in Warren.

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The Bay • April 2021 29

Life & Style SHOP

By Elyse Major

Warm Fuzzies From her Pawtucket studio, Roberta Shapiro designs and hand-makes a range of charming items: felted wool trivets and magnets; zip pouches from vintage sari silk and linen; Swarovski crystal earrings packed in glass vials; and enough crocheted produce to fill a market tote.

Shapiro donates all profits from her Fuzzy Goods line to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, only keeping

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The Bay • April 2021

enough to cover the cost of materials.

“This means that at least 60 percent of your purchase helps hungry people in Rhode Island,” she says. Fuzzy Goods recently went online as Shapiro saw the indoor craft shows where she sells being cancelled. In the last two years, Shapiro has raised $10,000 for the Food Bank. “I don’t want to fail them this year, when they need donations more than ever.”

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Tiverton is having a moment The once-sleepy coastal town is awakening

with fresh faces, a farmers market, and more that give it a sense of place all its own

This Main Road spot is always buzzing with activity

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

By Andrea E. McHugh

As she flees a bustling Providence after a long day and drives south along Route 24, Rosanna Ortiz, CEO of RMO Public Relations, can already feel the demands of her work and stressors of everyday life in the rearview mirror. She exits in Tiverton and weaves past dry-docked vessels perched skyward at Standish Boatyard, a cluster of coffee connoisseurs outside Coastal Roasters, and the sail shade pavilion marking Grinnell’s Beach, where families gather to dip their toes in the Sakonnet River. A lone dory bobs quietly on Nanaquaket Pond and as she cruises past Evelyn’s Drive-In, the smell of fried clams wafts through the salty air as it has for 52 years. Rosanna and her husband Mark aren’t the only city folk who have fallen for Tiverton’s coastal tranquility and Rockwellian vibe and become homeowners here.

Photo by Meredith Brower

“In all my years in Tiverton, I have never seen it shine more brightly than it does right now,” says Diana Bothelo, lifelong resident who in 2018, along with husband Bill, bought The Cheese Wheel Village Market in Tiverton Four Corners. This historic district is peppered with 18th- and early 19th-century cedar shake buildings and serves as the town’s commercial center with local-owned shops, galleries, and studios. The centuries-old village was a perfect fit for the original cheese shop that opened there more than a dozen years ago, joining retailers like The Cottage, a home furnishings and accessories store; Courtyards, a barn-turned-gift shop known for impressive garden sculptures; and Salt, where apparel and goods are inspired by the coast. There are also longtime businesses like The Metal Works Corporation, marking their 40th anniversary this year, and Gray’s Ice Cream, a year-round Tiverton favorite since 1923. Tiffany Peay Jewelry & Healing Arts is one of the few places in Rhode Island offering Crystal Bed Light Therapy, a deep meditative experience designed to align and clear your energy pathways. Dating back to 1870, the Mill Pond Shops was originally erected as a public hall and later became the town grange. Today, it houses offices, galleries, and shops, like Created Purpose, which not only purveys artisan-made goods but has a crafting classroom for all ages.

The Cheese Wheel Village Market

Photo by Meredith Brower

For the Bothelos, investing in The Cheese Wheel’s future simply made sense, and they’ve just completed a months-long expansion project (and Gray’s is currently doing the same). Diana attributes the enduring success of Four Corners with the commitment and kinship shared among the consortium of small business owners there. “From the beginning, we’ve been very embraced, encouraged, and supported,” she says.

“It’s really great energy. I can’t say enough about the people around us.”

One of the newer neighbors is Christine Francis, owner of Carmen & Ginger, a vintage shop housed for six years in Providence’s iconic Arcade building. In 2020, the building’s developer sold the units as condominiums, forcing Francis to rethink the next chapter of her business. When she saw the Benjamin Seabury House in Four Corners was available, a Greek Revival built around 1840 that offered retail space on the ground floor and living space upstairs, she decided to make a life-altering decision.

“It just seemed like a good fit. I said, ‘Let’s do it’,” Francis recalls. “The day I came down to sign the lease, I literally cried on my way down here…I was overwhelmed with both how beautiful it was and how much of a change it was going to be.” But she didn’t miss the big city for long: “The fellow merchants here are just great; they are very welcoming. I feel like immediately that I had a community down here.”

Photo by Meredith Brower

“In all my years in Tiverton, I have never seen it shine more brightly than it does right now.”

-Diana Bothelo, owner of The Cheese Wheel Village Market

The Cottage, a longtime favorite for homegoods

“It’s completely what we’re built around: Creating moments and memories for people without bastardizing the structures around [the town] and that history that tells its story.”

-Blair Moore, co-founder of Moore House

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

Inside the Quonset Hut, a former ammo shell turned rental by Moore House

Photography by Maaike Bernstrom

Occupying nearly two-thirds of the Sakonnet peninsula it shares with Little Compton, Tiverton fits a spectrum of diverse topography within its 36 square miles. Generations-old family farms offer a dose of nostalgia: Many residents grew up on the milk (and legendary coffee milk) from Arruda Dairy, established in 1917, and roadside farm stands offer a slice of Americana, brimming with tomatoes, corn, and berries in summer. Celebrating the spoils of coastal living, the decidedly unfussy Bridgeport Seafood has been stocking the local catch since 1937. It’s these authentic touches that lured the Moore family from Newport (and originally Australia) more than eight years ago and inspired them to create a series of guest cottages, collectively known as Moore House, for travelers who seek a boutique-style homestay experience in a quintessential New England coastal enclave.

“People want nice places to stay. People don’t want to stay in the Best Western or in a hotel that doesn’t love them,” explains Blair Moore. “A lot of people have been to Newport or Little Compton but they’re looking for somewhere beautiful where a family looks after them and they’re not an afterthought.”

Moore oversees the design of the cottages while her mother, Sharon, is the doting hostess and her father, Mark, is the architectural eye (and the muscle). Their five short-term rental properties collectively welcome 5,000 guests annually on average, and this past year, despite the pandemic, the cottages were in constant demand.

“People want to experience smaller, quainter places; that’s something that we get a lot from people. It’s completely what we’re built around: Photo by Erin McGinn

Photography by Maaike Bernstrom

Creating moments and memories for people without bastardizing the structures around [the town] and that history that tells its story,” explains Moore. She points to Groundswell Café + Bakery as a textbook example of honoring the integrity of a 171-year-old Tiverton building while offering a contemporary visitor experience: “They put in modern elements on the inside, but they didn’t change that architectural draw that Tiverton Four Corners is known for,” she explains.

Tiverton’s ability to lure more first-time visitors and transform curious vacationers into second homeowners doesn’t surprise Moore or her parents one iota. “It was only a matter of time, to be honest. I knew it was going to happen.”

Taylor Johnston was a horticulturist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston when iconic fashion photographer, the late Bill Cunningham, serendipitously snapped her photo.

Upon seeing the image in The New York Times, she was inspired to create Gamine, a women’s workwear line that is equally fashionable and functional, that launched in 2014 and found its home on the outskirts of Four Corners.

“I love Tiverton, especially our little shop zone because it represents a unique slice of garden history,” says Johnston. The landscape around Gamine was once gardened and designed by the late Tiverton-based renowned garden designer Lloyd Lawton, and Johnston is working to bring it all back to life. “The special connection to the landscape here really drew me to relocate my shop to the Davenport House…I’m excited to have a space that really reflects the symbiotic relationship between work clothing and textiles and working with plants/nature outdoors.”

Aaron DeRego, whose wife’s family owns Ferolbink Farm, a 275-acre potato farm founded in 1870, spent nearly two decades in the local restaurant industry when his friend and longtime owner of The Red Dory announced his retirement in 2019. DeRego purchased the restaurant that was just five miles from his home.

Across from the newly restored and postcard-perfect Stone Bridge Pier, The Red Dory enjoyed steady business until the pandemic hit and they were forced to pivot from everything they had known.

“We didn’t do takeout; we turned our noses up to it,” says DeRego. But he and his chef soon found themselves making menu decisions based on how well the food was going to travel. “Now we have a group of core customers for takeout; we’ve been fortunate. We have customers who order takeout from us once a week that have never been in here,” he says.

Families who often spent the summers or warm weather weekends in Tiverton, DeRego noticed, relocated to their summer homes as the pandemic was unfolding and have stayed throughout, experiencing their first winter on the Farm Coast – and it’s created a new dynamic.

“People are making Tiverton more of a lifestyle than just a place to go when you’re getting out of the city. To me, that’s real sustainability: to have that level, that economy, all the time, and it keeps us busy on the weekdays, not just the weekends... it’s great, not just having to rely on the summer,” explains DeRego, adding that “up at the farm” they’ve been watching property values skyrocket amidst a robust real estate market. He says the Tiverton he’s always known and loved is still there; it’s just getting a little upgrade. “It definitely looks nicer, and it feels fresher,” he says. “It’s nice to have fresh blood.”

The Red Dory

Photo by Brian DeMello

Photo by Meredith Brower

“People are making Tiverton more of a lifestyle than just a place to go when you’re getting out of the city.”

-Aaron DeRego, owner of The Red Dory

Tiverton Farmers Market at Sandywoods Center for the Arts

Tiverton Farmers Market founder Meredith Brower has watched Tiverton evolve as the decades have gone by, and says unequivocally that there are more conveniences compared to yesteryear. “When I was a kid, if we wanted pizza, we had to go to North Tiverton or Fall River,” she laughs. “We would have to pack up the family and make it a day!”

Living close to Four Corners amid the lush farm landscape, Brower realized she was driving to Bristol, Middletown, or Westport to buy goods from producers in her own backyard, and the idea for the town farmers market was born.

As a board member at Sandywoods Center for the Arts – a performance center, art gallery, and kitchen incubator completed in 2010 – Brower knew the venue and its surrounding green space would be ideal for a farmers market. She started with the farmers, polling them on their preferred day of the week as many are committed to other markets and/or have their own farm stands to operate. A professional photographer, she knew her artist community would be interested as well, including her contemporaries at the Hotpoint Emporium artist cooperative in Bristol and her fellow South Coast Artists, known for their annual open studio tour.

The idea took off like wildfire. Vendors gave her checks to pay for the whole season. The Tuesday market, which operates weekly from 2-5:30pm (until May 4, when it will stay open until 6pm for the summer), with some special Saturday pop-up events from time to time, was an instant success despite debuting in the middle of a pandemic. Brower says there’s a true sense of community at the market, with vendors lifting one another up and bringing more than just goods to the hundreds of shoppers each week. “There are socially conscious mission driven companies… and I love meeting these young entrepreneurs. Most are women that are just driven. They have their business plan, their vision, their logo and branding. It’s a great group.”

When Rosanna and Mark were first looking to make a home in the area, “We were blown away how the ocean and farm life coexisted – it was breathtaking,” Rosanna says. “When we leave the city and arrive 30 minutes later in Tiverton, it feels we are three hours away. The moment you take that right hand turn on to Seapowet, your whole world changes. Providence is my home and always will be, but Tiverton has my heart.”

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

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The Bay • April 2021

Food & Drink In The Kitchen

Food News

Experience

Seasonal Scoops Clementine’s opens for spring with an Easter special starring candy eggs April means finally trading the frosty weather for frosty treats, and Clementine’s has the perfect special to usher in ice cream season. An Easter-themed spin on a classic, a vanilla base gets some springtime cheer with mini Cadbury eggs mixed in. “It may be simple, but the vanilla ice cream goes perfectly with the milk chocolate eggs, and their coated shells add a great crunch,” says owner Warren Sternberg, who’s looking forward to bringing the annual Easter special back, just in time for both the East Greenwich and Middletown locations to reopen for the season.

“All of our ice cream is homemade on site, which makes it extra rich and creamy.”

Fans will remember past specials, like Red Velvet Cheesecake, Blueberry Lemon, Black Raspberry Oreo, and other flavorful variations, too, which Sternberg hints will see a comeback this summer, along with some new creations. Online and walk-in options make ordering a breeze.

Along with some limited outdoor seating, Sternberg says, “We will be opening up the shops mostly to-go. As we get closer to the summer, we are hoping to get back to indoor seating.” And for the Middletown location that opened in those early pandemic months, this will be their first time slinging scoops for hungry patrons to eat indoors.

In the meantime, subvert your gaze from any lingering snow on the sidewalks and grab a Cadbury ice cream to-go. Watch for photos of the colorful egg-studded treat popping up on Instagram (@clementinesicecream), along with summer specials. Middletown and East Greenwich, ClementinesEG.com | By Abbie Lahmers Photo courtesy of Clementine’s The Bay • April 2021 43

Food & Drink IN THE KITCHEN

By Abbie Lahmers

Field to Kitchen

Hardly dormant during the colder months, Little Compton’s Wishing Stone Farm has spent the past months harvesting root crops to sell at winter markets while Asian greens, chard, spinach, and lettuce flourish beneath row covers, but around April is when things really begin to pick up again. “Spring is when we do the majority of our seeding,” says Silas Peckham-Paul, the son in the familyrun operation. “Crops like onions, leeks, tomatoes, and peppers need to be started early to have a timely harvest in the summer.”

It’s also a busy season in their commercial kitchen where Chef Benny Little begins churning out prepared foods to get the most

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The Bay • April 2021

Leafy greens are mixed into light spring pestos with parmesan, lemon, olive oil, and cracked pepper

out of what’s left over from winter harvests.

This takes creativity and resourcefulness, which Little fully embraces, especially when it comes to using lesser-known ingredients like garlic scapes – the green stalks of flowering garlic plants that would otherwise be thrown away – in pesto recipes. With a little dill and mustard seed, kohlrabi can be pickled, excess bok choy is used in kimchi, and green tomatoes – salsa verde.

“Watermelon radishes are one of my favorite things I always love to work with because they’re so sweet, and when you pickle them, they get this crazy vibrant magenta color.”

Cutting his teeth in the Coast Guard’s culinary program beginning at 19, Little bounced around for a while before trading an 80-hour grind as executive chef at a barbecue catering company for the life of a farmhand at Wishing Stone, where he could return to the literal roots of our food system.

As for the work itself, “I ultra-romanticized it,” Little confesses now, laughing as he recalls the grueling 90-degree days picking green beans in the field. But when they offered him

Photos courtesy of Wishing Stone Farm

Prepared goods from Wishing Stone Farm use every part of the harvest

a position in the kitchen, he found his niche.

“It’s so different than when you’re working in just any other restaurant,” Little says. “Silas comes in with a giant harvesting basket full of basil, and it still has all the dirt on the roots, and it’s just that kind of stuff gets me excited, you know – going out in the greenhouse and picking tomatoes right off the vine. It’s transformative, it’s a completely different world.”

Everything made in the commercial kitchen uses produce from the farm, with local tastes in mind. Sauces, pickles, soups, and salsas give at-home cooking that added flair without a lot of extra effort spent over the stove. “We have a lot of summer people, and they’re looking for those quick little fixes when it comes to eating during the summertime,” says Little. Visitors can swing by the farm to see what’s fresh, and a CSA membership, Peckham-Paul explains, is essentially an upfront investment that gets you a debit card you can spend all season on the farm. “We only bring what we grow at the farm up to Providence, but down in Little Compton at our farm stand, we sell lots of other things like baked goods from the kitchen, meats, and pantry items.”

Expect a variety of pestos and pickled vegetables hitting the stand this season as the Peckham-Pauls and Chef Little gear up for the spring demand. While it’s a lot of stress, it’s a close-knit ecosystem of passionate food producers, too. “I call them my farm-ly,” Little says with a laugh, and adds, “They welcomed me in with open arms in the beginning, and it’s great to work for a family operation... I see the hours they put into it and all the blood, sweat, and tears of what it takes to grow for your community.”

Red Napa Cabbage grown on Wishing Stone Farm

Wish in g St one Far m 25 Shaw Road, Little Compton • 592-0285 WishingStoneFarm.com

The Bay • April 2021 45

Food & Drink FOOD NEWS

By Joe Tasca, Weekend Host for The Public’s Radio

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

2020 was a record year for new businesses in Rhode Island Rhode Island saw an unprecedented number of business closures in 2020, but it was also a record year for new business filings in the state.

Erin Trumpetto of Westerly loves to cook. After working as a waitress for six years, Trumpetto decided last summer it was time to pursue her dream.

comfortable with the idea of dining in public.

“I guess the toughest part is every week, there’s no set number of people that are going to come in the building and you’re hoping

for when we actually get up and running.”

Trumpetto’s restaurant is one of over 10,500 new businesses that began operating in Rhode Island in 2020. It’s the first time the state has

“I’ve always wanted to own a restaurant,” she says.

Trumpetto said her husband Jayson came home one day and asked her if she was interested in opening a restaurant in town.

A 4,400 square-foot building along Route 1 had caught his eye. The building was for lease after a seafood restaurant that had been operating there closed in March.

“You know, with COVID, it probably wasn’t the best time to be investing in a restaurant just because of (reduced) capacities, but we were just like, ‘You know, let’s go for it!” says Trumpetto.

And with that, the No Bull Steak House and Pub was born. Its doors opened back in October. Trumpetto says the capacity restrictions have been challenging so far, along with the fact that some people aren’t yet

people are going to go out,” says Trumpetto. “That’s one thing for us. Obviously, we are doing quite a bit of takeout, but the toughest thing is the anticipation of ‘Are people actually going to come out this week?’”

Trumpetto says she’s been operating with a limited menu and a small staff this winter, which is helping to reduce expenses. Her husband is also a carpenter, so that saves money on labor. Despite all the uncertainty, Trumpetto says opening during the pandemic has been beneficial in some ways.

“For us, it was kind of like, with less people being able to come in, we can get all the kinks out and figure out how to run this business so when COVID, you know, goes away and gets better and we have more people in the building, we’re going to learn from having less capacity that we’ll be ready

surpassed 10,000 new business filings in a single year. One person who is not surprised is Ed Mazze, a distinguished university professor of business administration at URI. “It’s very, very easy to start a business because, frankly, the information that you need to do it is so readily available on the internet,” says Mazze.

That may be so. But it doesn’t explain why so many people are starting businesses in a time of economic uncertainty. The fact is new business filings fell in Rhode Island following the financial crisis of 2008. But Mazze says the pandemic has completely changed the paradigm. He says so many people have lost their jobs, and many of them are worried about the stability of industries they’ve worked in for years. As a result, more people are pursuing self-employment.

“In this type of pandemic situation,

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The Bay • April 2021

Photos by Joe Tasca

The No Bull Steak House and Pub in Westerly opened in October

South County Distillers opened last March

because of the changing business models and because of its universal impact, it’s really caused people to do things out of necessity and opportunity,” Mazze says.

Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea says the key to starting a business is finding where those opportunities are, and that can be a challenge when the business landscape is in flux. The pandemic has caused people to spend more time at home, and that’s causing a dramatic shift in consumer behavior. Consequently, Gorbea says her office has seen business growth in specific areas.

“You’re seeing that business owners are identifying a gap in the marketplace, right?”

Gorbea begins. “And that’s something that they can fill. You can think about things like businesses in beauty or cleaning, construction, daycare, food, or investors that are taking advantage of low mortgage rates and are building or acquiring properties that they’re now putting into an LLC.” That’s what Lauren Ezovski of Lincoln is

doing – building a business around new consumer demands. And she’s doing it all online. Ezovski established a website selling various products at a discounted rate, such as tools and hardware. It’s been a slow go so far, but she’s confident that things will get better.

“People buy stuff. It doesn’t matter what it is. People will buy stuff off the internet. All this is very new to me, so I’m learning to right my wrongs and do everything else. But I think once I get a grove and we get a clientele and everything else, I think it’ll be amazing,” says Ezovski.

Many new business owners have tried to improvise during the pandemic to stay relevant. Last March, Jennifer Brinton teamed up with four partners to create South County Distillers, which produces craft gin and vodka spirits. The business launched just as bars and restaurants were being shut down, so the demand for her product took a hit. But instead of despairing, Brinton decided to use the distillery to make hand sanitizer.

“It started as a 100-percent donation project,

so we made it, we donated it to food pantries, fire departments. We had a police department in Massachusetts that came down to get some. My job for about a month was maintaining the spreadsheet of who was getting what and who picked up and when we were going to have another batch ready,” she explains.

New business owners like Brinton are doing their best to adapt to a changing business climate, but URI professor Ed Mazze says most of the businesses established in 2020 won’t survive long-term.

“Easily 50% of them will probably fail because of one of three reasons: there’s no market for what they’re doing, or they lack capital, or that they go back to a job that they may have been working at before the pandemic began,” he says.

Statistics indicate Mazze is being conservative with that 50% number. In reality, about 65% of new businesses go belly up within ten years. And that was before we had a global pandemic.

The Bay • April 2021 47

Food & Drink EXPERIENCE

By April Federico

A Slice of the East Bay’s Bakery Scene Hop in the car for a tour of five favorite bakeries along Route 114 Colorful macarons at The Perfect Sweet Shoppe in Warren

Whether you’re the kind of person who likes to splurge on brunches and baked goods or an adventurous soul who wants to get out and go for a drive, East Bay towns are perfect for enjoying scenic views and grabbing something sweet with a cup of coffee. To take some of the work out for you, my mother and I went on what we dubbed the “East Bay Bakery Tour” – starting with Warren and working our way through Barrington and Bristol – to discover favorite small businesses specializing in pastries and sweet treats.

I suggest spreading the tour across a few weekends, and many offer curbside pickup to match all comfort levels.

with soups and savory offerings. Their red velvet truffle cake with blueberries is to die for and the zeppole are filled with a delicate, not-too-heavy cream. BlueTileBakery.com

WARREN

Blue Kangaroo Cafe: Though technically a cafe, you can still find a variety of baked goods among their deli lunch specials. We couldn’t pass up a slice of blueberry cheesecake, which is washed down nicely with a hot or iced Raspberry

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The Bay • April 2021

Vienna Bakery: Out of all of the bakeries we toured, this was certainly among the most notable for their authentic European pastries. Ask a staff member for their recommendation and they’ll quickly say the Bismarck pastry, a German raspberry-filled donut, their specialty. Our favorites were the chocolate and peanut butter tart and chocolate chunk cheesecake. ViennaBakeryRI.com BRISTOL

BARRINGTON Batista Bakery and Pastry Inc.: Though the last stop in our trip, Batista is great for a morning visit as their perfectly flakey pastries including elephant ears (their most popular offering) pair well with a cup of coffee. Transactions are cash-only, so make sure you hit the ATM before stopping by. 401-253-9832

Photos by April Federico

Blue Tile Bakery: Tucked away in a plaza next to Family Dollar, the Blue Tile Bakery is easy to miss, but inside it’s fully stocked with zeppole, chocolates, and cakes, along

The Perfect Sweet Shoppe: A gem on Joyce Street, walking around this bakery is like walking through a field of colorful flowers – every dessert offered is impeccably arranged. I recommend their cookies and cream, pistachio nut, milk chocolate, anything fruit-flavored, and salted caramel macarons. ThePerfectSweet.com

Beret or the decadent Max’s Turtle Latte.

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