East Side Monthly July 2011

July 2011

Happy Anniversary to Us Pre-Sorted Standard US POSTAGE PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 34

Let’s Hear it for Dads pg 17

Providence offers 200 creative ways to celebrate our 375th Jazz and Folk Festival Previews pg 26

New Listing! $399,000

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Elegant 2 bed, 1.5 bath condo on historic Benefit St. Original architectural details include soaring ceilings, marble-faced fireplaces, large windows. New highefficiency boiler and water heater. Private patio and garden. 2 car parking.

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New Listing! $399,000 Great custom built mid century Ranch in desirable location. Central air, hardwoods, 3 beds, 1.5 baths, den, open living room/dining room, large private yard, attached garage. Worth the look!

Linda Mittleman

New Listing! $287,000

New Listing! $1,450,000

Elegant 2 bedroom 3rd floor condo within walking distance to Brown and RISD. Fireplaced living room, eat-in kitchen, hardwoods, central air. 1 year leased garage parking space. Furniture included.

Roxanne Gordon

New Listing! $269,000

Myra Braverman

New Listing! $375,000

Extraordinary, spacious custom home set on nearly half acre of beautifully landscaped grounds. First floor master suite opens onto garden. A rare find!

Charming Colonial near Blackstone Blvd. has beautiful features including open spaces and unique details. Eat in kitchen with breakfast nook. Great finished basement. Attic storage with cedar closet. Underground sprinklers. Screened porch. Wonderful yard.

Lise Holst

Linda Mittleman

New Listing! $649,500

Beautifully redone condo features wonderful details with modern conveniences. New kitchen, ss appliances, & granite countertops. New bath/windows, central air, gas fireplace, high ceilings, patio. Leased parking space. True move-in condition.

Myra Braverman

Fabulous Ranch located on large corner lot features 2 plus beds, dining room with pyramid ceiling, family room with cathedral ceilings and skylights. Atrium doors lead to beautiful, manicured grounds.

College Hill gem on historic street. Updated kitchen and baths join with traditional East Side luxury - high ceilings, decorator colors, hand hewn woods. Private city garden. Central A/C installed in 2008.

New Listing! $2,500,000 World renowned architect Friedrich St. Florian created breathtaking panoramic views. Modern masterpiece with crisp lines and elegant design offers comfortable living with every amenity. Impeccable style. Elevator makes every level accessible.

Michael Young

Linda Mittleman

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Contents July 2011

This Month 17 Father’s Days

A new group connects local dads

21 Happy Anniversary to Us

Providence celebrates 375 years in a big way

26 Where Legends Are Made

Preview this year’s Newport Jazz and Folk Fests

45 Opinion

When life hands you lemons…

Every Month 7 Letters/Editorial 10 Other Side 13 Community News 29 On the Menu Restaurant Weeks return

21 36 Movies

54 East of Elmgrove

Bridesmaids and The Double Hour reviewed

The no-fuss wardrobe

39 Education

East Side Monthly is now online!

The most important meal of the day

Visit www.providenceonline.com to read the entire issue

41 Finance The stress of retirement planning

30 Dining Guide Your resource for eating out

43 Pajama Monologues Cover Photography courtesy of Roger Williams Park

Dinner with the Great One

34 Art Compelling journeys at the RISD Museum

47 Calendar All the info on July’s happenings

Summertime Easy Living

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summer fun

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Annual *East Side*

block party!

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Join us for a day of family fun, charitable giving and delicious food!

sunday, july 17 • noon – 4:00pm

In front of Whole Foods Market on Waterman Street

Waterman Street will be closed from Wayland Square to Butler Street *

Music and live performances from Everett and the Carriage House and the Rhode Island Kung Fu Club

*

Contests and games

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Local Artist outdoor gallery

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Live wrestling demonstrations from Heatwave Wrestling Federation

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Grilling to benefit Everett and the Carriage House

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Editorial

Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell

Congratulations to the City On Getting It Right As one rides around the northern tip of Blackstone Boulevard, it’s a pleasure to see what wonderful improvements have come to Lippitt Park. Through a combination of dogged determination by a local neighborhood group (aka the Summit Neighborhood Association), a generous $58,000 donation from the Champlin Foundation and the extraordinary efforts of Bob McMahon and his minions from the City’s Parks Department, the Henry Bowen Anthony Fountain, which has been non-functioning for almost three full decades, has now bubbled back to life. The park, already an active, vibrant meeting place for families, local open air markets and rotat-

ing arts festivals, now has what it deserves: the look of a real, welldesigned urban setting that serves as a source of pride for the adjoining neighborhoods.

There were some false starts at first, and certainly the unexpected cutting down of some sheltering trees didn’t help. But soon cooler heads and well orchestrated neighborhood meetings were able to get this worthwhile project back on track. True, it took a little longer than expected, and maybe it cost a little more. But it’s difficult to argue that the results aren’t worth it. The new brick walkways, piping and fixtures are as handsome as they are practical. And lest you have envi-

Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre

ronmental concerns, the restored fountain appropriately relies on recycled water.

Kudos to all parties for their persistence, commitment and energy.

The park now stands not just simply as a handsome restoration effort timed to coincide with our city’s celebration of its 375th year, but as one of those rare examples that sometimes the powers that be can actually get it right. Thanks to good planning, thoughtful collaboration and cooperative financing, Lippitt Park has become a dashing, userfriendly example of the best of urban life. It is an amenity that we should all appreciate and enjoy. Thanks to everyone who made it happen.

Letters Moms Rule!

To the editor: Bravo, East Side Monthly, for bringing to our attention “Power Moms” in the May edition (“Balancing Acts”).

Your article struck the right balance, showing in human and community terms how the activities of these women, in caring for their families and bringing their remarkable talents to bear, enrich our neighborhood and city in meaningful ways.

We all benefit from their creative contributions.

Susan Hardy Providence

Great Job, Graduates To the editor: Thank you for the glimpse of the wonderful kids who are headed off to college next fall (“The Honor Roll,” June 2011). I know the four who went to Nathanael Greene and they are wonderful people, now four

Managing Editor Barry Fain City Editor Steve Triedman Executive Editor Julie Tremaine Special Projects Manager John Taraborelli Art Director Alli Coate Assisant Art Director Karli Hendrickson Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas Graphic Designer Meghan H. Follett Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich, Ann Gallagher, Nicole Greenspun, Nellie Lima, Dan Schwartz, Elizabeth Riel, Sharon Sylvester, Jessica Webb Classified Advertising Sue Howarth

years older than when I saw them daily. It’s fun to catch up with them.

Sarah Morenon School Librarian Nathanael Greene Middle School

Senator Perry Doesn’t Get It… To the editor: I read with great amusement this morning on the website GoLocalProv.com that they consider Senator Rhoda Perry as one of the “hot” people in politics today. One of the reasons they cite is the passage of her bill prohibiting female prisoners in the late stages of pregnancy from being cuffed or shackled. Now there’s landmark legislation! If this does not get the economy moving, nothing will.

Sarcasm really should not have a place in politics, but when unemployment is over 10%, with businesses struggling to keep people employed, or even just stay open, and with foreclosures killing the

American dreams of so many, sarcastic indifference is the only way I can read such an article. Is this what Ms. Perry thinks she was sent to the State House to do?

One of the many great things about living on the East Side is that so many of our businesses here are small and family-owned – in other words, people living the American dream. Has Ms. Perry taken the time to walk down Hope Street in her district and ask those business owners how they are doing in this economy? How legislation proposed at the State House is affecting them?

What about proposed changes to the sales tax? How will that affect the small businesses in your district, Ms. Perry? Have you ever bothered to ask?

Ms. Perry, you champion yourself the biggest bleeding heart in the RI Senate. My question is when are you going to start bleeding for your district?

Phil Lagoy Providence

Contributing Writers Keith Burkitt, Bob Cipriano, Mary K. Connor, Jill Davidson, Emily Dietsch, Renee Doucette, Don Fowler, Mike Fink, David Goldstein, Bob Mariani, Betsey Purinton, Elizabeth Rau, Dan Schwartz Calendar Christina Evon Interns Thomas Anderson, Erin DeVito, Nathaniel Fuller, Devin Karembelas, Rebekah Lindquist, Emily Nissensohn, Chelsea Sherman, Christopher Sionni, Kimberly Tingle Contributing Photographers Dan Schwartz Contributing Illustrators Ashley MacLure, Jessica Pollak

Calendar announcements and news releases should be submitted by the 1st of the preceding month. We reserve the right to omit and edit items. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters without exceptional circumstances. East Side Monthly is not responsible for typographical errors. Corrections will be run at discretion of editor.

Copyright ©2011 by East Side Monthly.

All rights reserved. Printed by TCI.

July 2011 East Side Monthly

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pe O w No

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Letters

continued...

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East Side Monthly July 2011

To the editor: As a resident of Providence, it was with much interest that I read Myrth York’s defense of former mayor and current congressman David Cicilline (Letters, June 2011). I too have read the auditor’s report. While I think most Providence residents would agree that one of the reasons this mess happened was because we gave the house away in previous administrations, Mr. Cicilline still had eight years to foresee the storm. That is what a leader does.

It does not take a genius to use reserves to balance budgets.

The pilot agreement with the universities that Mr. Cicilline signed is an absolute joke. (Providence residents have finally realized that the nonprofits need to contribute more.) In his last year of office, he didn’t even get a budget approved. And then he didn’t veto the increase on non-owner occupied properties, which resulted in 40-60% increase, saying he had to let tax bills go out even though the General Assembly had given towns more time to pass their budgets.

The greatest recession since the great depression didn’t hang its cloud only over Providence. Every city/town received reduced funding from the state. Please explain to me how Warwick has a $5.6 million surplus? Did the hurricane miss them?

To his credit Mayor Taveras, who is caught between a rock and a hard place, has been open about what’s going on. Agree or disagree with his decisions, he’s at least being upfront about it and with Council President Michael Solomon hopefully we can come out ahead.

The only sharing of the sacrifice has always been by Providence residents. We’ve always done our part.

It’s time for every other party to

step up to the plate now.

Keith Fernandes CEO Ecars Worldwide American Real Estate Holdings Beat This Price Construction

Cicilline: Stop the Blame Game To the editor: As a longtime resident of the city of Providence I find myself getting more and more angry as I see the way our former mayor “shot his way out of town” and misrepresented the sorry state of affairs here so he could get himself elected. I also am getting tired of his willingness to blame everyone but himself for the crisis. For seven years everything was blamed on Buddy Cianci. Now he’s blaming the well-respected Gary Sasse for being the messenger. Does this mean that if he’s unable to match the success of former Congressman Kennedy to bring federal bucks back to the state, he’ll put the blame on Kennedy’s substance abuse issue as poisoning the federal well for us? At some point, it’d be nice if Cicilline actually manned up and admitted that either he or his incompetent financial staff screwed up. I for one would respect him more.

A former Cicilline supporter and contributor (Name withheld by request)

Don’t Go Westerly Young Man To the editor: The article “The Westerly Purchase”

by Keith Burkitt in June’s issue is probably the biggest waste of a page in your periodical that I have ever seen, and I wouldn’t even spend my time finishing it. This new contribu-

tor comes across smug and arrogant, not funny at all, and obviously has never spent much time in the town, which offers great cultural activities, the best ocean front in the state and makes incredible contributions to the state’s coffers through tourism. If this imbecile continues to fill your paper with his instigating, waste-of-time articles, cross me off your readership.

Jared Sedam Editor’s Note: We asked Mr. Burkitt to respond the criticism. Here is his response: I agree entirely. It’s articles like this that give articles like this a bad name, don’t you think? Mr. Sedam should understand that not only am I nearly 100 percent behind him on this matter, but if I had one, I’d make it a point to cancel my subscription to East Side Monthly for printing this sort of typical, let’s-sell-partsof-our-state-to-Nebraska swill.

I do have one quibble, however. While his referring to me as an imbecile is nothing short of prescient, Mr. Sedam also states that my article was instigating. I’d go along with insulting, immature, idiotic, irreverent, irresponsible, insipid, inane and, even more likely, in jest, but I just can’t countenance instigating as being a correctly used adjective in this instance.

As a result, it is incumbent on Mr. Sedam to provide a more apt descriptor post haste or to be forever branded as an adjectively challenged varlet (a sobriquet so horrible it can surely only be worn in shame). Until I see a better adjective coming from Mr. Sedam, the fuzzy, day-glo yellow, Dunlop-emblazoned orb remains in his court.

Also, thank you, East Side Monthly, in advance for not bringing this matter up during my next annual salary review.

KB

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Other Side by Barry Fain

East Side Block Party on July 17 Sponsored by Waterman St. Whole Foods and ESM Whole Foods, Wholesome Summer Entertainment, Whole-y Cow! The Waterman Avenue Whole Foods will hold its Third Annual East Side Block Party on Sunday, July 17 from noon-4pm, billed as a day of “family fun, charitable giving and delicious food.” Waterman Street will be blocked off up to Wayland Avenue. Live music performances and games, raffles and Good Will from the Grill will be doing what they can to benefit Everett Dance Theatre and the Carriage House. Local artists will be on hand creating an open outdoor gallery. But, wait, there’s more. Would you believe live wrestling demonstrations from the Heatwave Wrestling Federation plus performances from the Kung Fu Club? There’s plenty of action inside the Whole Foods Market as well. In short, as they used to say on TV, this’ll be “one wild and crazy Sunday afternoon.” Sponsored by the Waterman Street Whole Foods and your friends at good, old East Side Monthly.

A Wickenden Street Institution is Moving On One of the nicest of our local business owners has decided it’s time to call it a day. Jim Schmidt, the popular and well-respected owner of JRS Fine Art on Wickenden Street, will be closing his gallery at the end of June. Low key to the end, he is selling off his inventory, but has nixed any public farewell parties. “I came in quietly about 29 years ago and that’s the way I want to go out,” he reports.

The good news is that Jim plans to stay in the area, although he’s not sure exactly what that will entail. One thing’s for sure: whatever he chooses to do, it will be done well and with class. Goodbye and good luck, Jim. We’ll miss you.

Time to Pony Up? We may be the smallest state in the union, but in the summer especially, we sure pack a wallop.

How many other states, for example, can offer a summer full of Saturday polo matches that draw competitors from around the world? Every Saturday afternoon down at Glen Farm Polo Grounds on East Main Road in Portsmouth, we’re all invited to bring our picnic lunches, champagnes or what-

10

East Side Monthly July 2011

ever and watch the ponies gallop up and down the field in pursuit of those elusive little white balls.

It’s a fun and offbeat way to spend a delightful summer’s day. Then between periods (chukkers they’re called), we’re even invited to help replace the divots on the field. How civilized! Call 8460200 or visit www.newportinternationalpolo.com for times, schedules and directions. In the past, these Glen Farm matches have been known to attract British royalty. Don’t expect to see Prince William though, now that he’s obviously got better ways to occupy his time.

Adding Real Water to Watercolors While Rhode Island has art festivals up the whazoo during the summer, leave it to the City by the Sea to come up with something different. An inaugural arts festival will be held aboard a 228foot, Newport-based yacht called the SeaFair from July 1-4 and 7-11. Before you get concerned about the bounding main becoming too bounding, not to worry. The boat will be safely dockside. On display will be fine art glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry and collectibles. Can’t speak to the quality, but the setting sounds super. Newport Shipyard. 1 Washington Street, Newport. www. expoships.com.

Fox Point Goes Festive Perhaps the biggest and best of our local ethnic festivals will be held from noon to 7pm in India Point Park on July 10 with the 35th annual celebration of Cape Verdean Independence Day. The Fox Point waterfront comes alive with food, music, crafts and revelry that befits one of state’s biggest and oldest ethnic communities. You’ll learn a lot about their heritage between bites too.

Check it out at www.ricapeverdeanheritage.com for details and event times.

Rhode Island “Current” Events What is it about the number 35 this month? Also celebrating its 35th anniversary is the annual Save the Bay Swim. This classic event attracts hundreds of hardy supporters and their friends who do their best to swim across Narragansett Bay, from the Newport Naval Station to Potter’s cove in Jamestown. It’s still an impressive distance of

1.7 miles and it raises money for Save the Bay. Some participants do the actual swimming; some row the support boats nearby in case a tired swimmer needs to be fished out, while others just wait at the finish line with a blanket and a hug. It’s all for a great cause and makes for wonderful pictures. Call 272-3540 or visit www.savethebay.org/ swim to get the official starting time. Organizers usually try to send the swimmers off when the water is calmest and the currents are right. Kudos to everyone who’s participated and allowed this incredible event to stay afloat for three and a half decades.

Freedom’s Just Another Word for... a Walking Tour Given all the attention that will be directed at our Capital City in honor of our 375th anniversary, there’ll be no shortage of events, many of them free, to keep you occupied this summer. While our cover story offers you everything you need to know, the good folks at the Rhode Island Historical Society are taking a more stylish, academic approach by offering free walking tours based around the four central themes of the five-month celebration. This month’s theme is “Freedom.”

The tours start at 130 Westminster Street. Call 621-6122 or visit www.rihs for info on this freebie as well as other walking tours the Society is conducting. Roger would have wanted nothing less.

A Cure for those “Providence is Broke” Blues?

Sure the news coming out of Providence lately has been pretty dismal, but perhaps some welcome relief is just a mouse click away. All you need to do is go to the website for the Daily Telegraph, Britain’s biggest newspaper, and check out the article they ran on Providence a few weeks back in which we were labeled “The Coolest City in New England.”

In fact, the writer went so far as to suggest we were on her shortlist as one of the “coolest small cities in the country.” She nailed all the obvious points: our history, our RISD-fueled art scene, Federal Hill, Waterplace Park, our restaurants. But what she seemed to like best was the fact that we are indeed the Ocean state, with over 2500 miles of sandy beaches, none more than a hour from the capital.

In short, she saw no bummer to our summer. So on that note, go out and enjoy!

Other Side by Dan Cahill

Is It Summer Yet?

Old Faithful

The Children's Workshop offers quality

The fountain at Lippitt Park flows once again

Summer Programs for all ages!

Photo by Art Norwalk

10 RI locations For the first time in 28 years, the Henry Bowen Anthony fountain is running in Lippitt Park! On the sun-splashed morning of June 4, Mayor Angel Taveras led city and neighborhood leaders and over 200 guests in the countdown to start the water flowing.

The ceremony culminated a lengthy effort joining advocacy and fundraising by the Summit Neighborhood Association (SNA) with planning and support from the Providence Department of Parks and Recreation. Two critical pieces for the project funding were a $58,000 grant from the Champlin Foundations and a major contribution from the Parks Department. SNA also contributed $10,000.

The construction includes new cement and brick walkways and approaches. New piping and fixtures were installed in the fountain, which was originally constructed in 1940 of granite in the Moderne style, a form of Art Deco. Water now gushes from 11 different openings. Lest you be concerned ecologically, the fountain uses recycled water, as required by present regulations. The pumping and filtration stations are housed in a small building on the Hope Street side of the park.

SNA president Dean Weinberg said, “This fountain flows because of the generosity of the people, the work of the neighborhood and the tremendous efforts of Bob McMahon and his Parks Department colleagues.” Sheila Perlow, an SNA Board member, remembered the

fountain as an important part of her childhood, saying she welcomes its return “with hopes of continued community spirit flowing strongly.”

Parks Superintendent Bob McMahon acknowledged several important aspects of the project: neighborhood tenacity to get it done; the originality of the fountain’s design and its rehabilitation; and the commitment to public art that enhances public spaces. He also traced the history of the fountain’s namesake, U.S. Senator Henry Bowen Anthony and his contributions to the state. McMahon also asked that the neighbors be vigilant against vandalism and graffiti.

City Councilman Kevin Jackson joined other speakers in giving tribute to SNA members who were instrumental in the fountain restoration, including Jesse Polhemus, Dan Cahill, Jim Kelley and George Schietinger.

Jackson said a major factor in getting it done was the city’s confidence in SNA as an effective partner.

The G Notes, a vocal group from the Gordon School, sang several songs. After operating seasonally for 42 years, the fountain was turned off by the Parks Department in 1982 because it no longer met Providence Water Supply Board and Narragansett Bay Commission regulations or health codes. Beginning in 2007, the Summit Neighborhood Association, aided by Councilman Jackson and the Parks Department, spearheaded an effort to restore the fountain.

www.ChildrensWorkshop.com



    

 July 2011 East Side Monthly

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East Side Monthly July 2011

Community News Community News is space that East Side Monthly makes available to community organizations free of charge. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of this publication.

Brown Street Park

By Wendy Nilsson Friends of Brown Street Park Phone Number: 454-8712 Website: www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Email Address: wendy@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Mailing Address: 30 Pratt Street, Providence, RI 02906 Summer Concert Series Join us for the Fourth Annual Providence Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative summer concert series on Wednesdays at 5:30pm. July 6: TBA, July 20: Tevellus, August 3: AS220 Criss Cross Orchestra, August 17: Infusion Experience. Healthy snacks and beverages from our featured sponsor, Whole Foods University Heights, will be available for a small donation. The Food Truck from RISD, Rosie’s, will be curbside at all of our concerts this year.

Summer Fitness Schedule Outdoor exercise classes are underway!

The Brown Street Park’s fitness partners are geared up and ready to start exercising in the park.

Join the Y’s hybrid training classes on Mondays at 5:30pm and Friday mornings at 7:30am. Hybrid training is an

all body workout including aerobic and strength building exercises. Both classes are free and include free childcare for children ages two-plus. If the weather is questionable, call the Y at 521-0155 to find out if there will be class outside at the park. If outdoor classes are cancelled, you are welcome to take a class at the YMCA facility on Hope Street.

Please send your questions and feedback to our Fitness Coordinator Kara Kelley at fitness@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org Theater at Brown Street Park All Children’s Theater will be touring an audience-participation play at Brown Street Park, Beauty & the Beast, appropriate for ages 5-12, the week of August 2. Please check the website for details of this free performance.

Athenaeum Story Hours in the Park It’s that time again! Brown Street Park welcomes all to join the Athenaeum Story and Craft Hour in the cool of the afternoon. Meet me under the trees for lively stories and simple craft activities every Wednesday through the summer.

If the weather looks poor please call Lindsay at 421-6970.

Fox Point

By John Rousseau Fox Point Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 270-7121 Website: www.fpna.net Email Address: fpna@cox.net Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603177, Providence, RI 02906 FPNA Monthly Board Meeting, 7-8pm, July 11 at the Vartan Gregorian Bath House Library.

FPNA President Named to Committee Ian Barnacle, president of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA), was one of 40 persons named to help lay out the rules for developing land uncovered by the Interstate 195 realignment. The appointees will advise Mayor Taveras on land use, zoning and other issues that come with redeveloping the strip of land that winds through the heart of the city.

Development of the I-195 land has been defined as a top economic priority by the mayor and Governor Lincoln Chafee. Earlier this year, Taveras hired the Perkins + Will design firm to create new zoning and planning regulations to expedite the development of downtown Providence.

Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, will lead the 21-member policy advisory committee (including Barnacle), and John Sennett, vice president of Gilman Inc., will chair a 15-member technical committee.

Seth Yurdin, Fox Point’s councilman and council majority leader also was named to the committee, which is expected to begin meeting in mid-June and deliver its recommendations within three months.

FPNA Receives $2,500 Grant for Signage FPNA has received $2,500 from the Providence/Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Community Relations Fund to construct a historical marker on the Seekonk Shoreline in Gano Park.

The sign will provide historical background on Roger Williams crossing the river in June of 1636 to establish an English colony that grew to become the City of Providence. The signage also will direct visitors across Gano Street to the monument at Roger Williams Landing Park, which is considered Williams’ actual debarkation point.

FPNA Remains at Odds with RIDOT Plan Lambri Zerva, supervising engineer with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), indicated that time remains for residents to impact the final design plan for Wickenden and I-Way access streets at the April 28 FPNA Membership Meeting. “We are at the 10 percent level,” of study before we present the final concept for the design, Zerva said.

That progress assessment seemed to be contradicted by a May 2 letter from RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis to FPNA, indicating RIDOT is at “a point where we need to proceed into the design process, and move toward the construction phase.” Lewis was apparently responding to an FPNA letter that supported Senate Bill 0014, requiring non-profit institutions like medical centers and universities to negotiate a tax agreement with the City of Providence, or pay full property taxes on any of the Interstate 195 parcels.

The letter from FPNA President Ian Barnacle, presented at an April 14 senate committee hearing, also said the organization was opposed to the sale and lease of the I-Way Parcels being controlled exclusively by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the State Properties Commission.

FPNA has been repeatedly and unsuccessfully asking RIDOT, to revise its current design plans for the Wickenden and I-Way access streets into Fox Point.

Foremost, FPNA opposes a crossing median for Wickenden Street, “which widens the roadway and makes pedestrian access more difficult.” Barnacle also has called for other changes, including a pedestrian crossing at the intersection of the South Main Street off ramp and Pike Street; construction of a municipal garage near Wickenden Street; and a return of Benefit Street south of Wicken-

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Community News continued... den, back to two-way traffic.

At the membership meeting Zerva also confirmed that noise along the I-Way is “much worse and a lot higher than expected.” He pledged to continue working with FPNA’s Noise Committee and provide periodic updates.

Zerva also said the I-Way landscaping design study will receive input, leading towards a planting date next year. The end of 2011 expects completion of the Washington Bridge Project, including its bike path, as well as construction of a new intersection of India and Gano Streets.

Head of the Bay Gateway Co-Chair David Riley also noted that partial demolition of the Shooters’ building would be completed by August, allowing for the site to be properly cleaned up. “Janet Coit, the new director of the Department of Environmental Protection, has spoken with the mayor about the project and is very enthusiastic to issue the requests for proposals for the demolition.”

Riley also noted that Councilman Seth Yurdin has been supportive of the initiative to have the power lines in India Point Park removed. “It’ll cost Providence and East Providence rate payers about 15 extra cents a month to complete the project.

Wayland Square

By David Kolsky Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waylandsquare Events this Month: MONTHLY MEETINGS: Wednesday, June 22 and Wednesday July 27 at 7pm.

Books on the Square, street level, 471 Angell Street (at Elmgrove, next to CVS).

Free and open to all. Future meetings will be at the same place and time on the fourth Wednesday of each month through October 2011.

A Word from Lt. Ryan: Providence Police Lieutenant John Ryan, who commands the district based at the Brook Street substation, and two of his officers came to our May meeting. They noted a rise in property-related crime in this part of the East Side, sometimes after the release from prison of particular

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East Side Monthly July 2011

professional thieves but more generally following the increase of economic distress in recent years. (This seems to run counter to a current national decline in crime despite the economic downturn.)

The police advised neighbors to lock their doors at any time (including the workday) that their house or flat is empty. Residents of multiple-unit housing – which is more common around Wayland Square than on the rest of the East Side – should make sure that entrances to common hallways, as well as their own individual doors, are always locked. Burglar alarms and dogs are also helpful deterrents.

a regular meeting date (right now the fourth Wednesday of every month), a regular meeting place (Books on the Square), a Yahoo! Group to exchange messages, and this column in East Side Monthly. Thanks to the businesses who help us continue.

But we could accomplish much more with a little more participation. Anyone who’d like to help maintain or expand the group’s activities, with anything from tracking city agendas to posting meeting notices to watching an information table to taking photographs, would be more than welcome.

The Providence Athenaeum recently held a celebratory picnic and lecture on the life of former Brown President and Baptist minister Francis Wayland at his family plot in the North Burial Ground. On hand were Thomas Augst, NYU professor, Cristina Bevilacqua from the Athenaeum, historian Nancy Austin, Athenaeum director Alison Maxwell, Historian Robert O. Jones, and historian Jane Lancaster. Wayland was one of the founders of the Providence Athenaeum and an important pioneer in the local public library movement.

Call 911 or 272-1111 if you see anything significant (such as a descriptive detail) about an incident that might occur, is in progress or has just happened, so that the police can attend to it immediately.

For later or more general reports, you can call the non-emergency police number, 272-3121.

Providence 375 If you have any ideas for tying a Wayland Square event with this year’s six-monthlong celebration of the 375th birthday of Providence (founded 1636), please share them. You can see the City’s anniversary web site at www.providence375.com.

Five Years On The Neighborhood Discussion Group started just five years ago, in June and July of 2006.

The group has never had dues, a treasury, a board, elected officers, sharp geographical boundaries, strict membership requirements or by-laws.

It’s too small, and attendance is too irregular. I’ve acted as organizer pretty much by default. However, we do have

Blackstone Parks

By Jane Peterson Blackstone Parks Conservancy Phone Number: 401 270 3014 Website: www.blackstoneparksconser-

vancy.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906 Events this Month: The Conservancy is holding five concerts on Blackstone Boulevard at the Trolley Shelter on alternate Wednesdays at 6pm, beginning June 29. We thank Butler and Miriam hospitals for their generous gifts.

We celebrate the year-round lighting of the Trolley Shelter. Thanks to the Parks Department and all donors.

The Witherby Statue has a patio thanks to Don Cordner.

And the final stage of the Boulevard pruning is now complete. Thanks to all who contributed.

Old Growth Trees in the Park A hike along the ravine ending at York Pond immerses you in a moist, green world quite unlike the central plateau favored by most visitors to the Blackstone Park Conservation District. On a late May evening, wood thrushes fill the air with music, and the weary participants of a quest for old-growth trees that began earlier on Butler Hospital grounds are almost giddy seeing this familiar place become exotic. Spring may have something to do with it.

See those tall black birches leaning over the ravine near Lincoln School?

Though they’re not very big, forester Matt Largess thinks they may be members of a dwindling club, twoto-three-century-old urban survivors of ax and storm. Common wisdom holds that any very old trees in Blackstone Park had blown down in the hurricane of 1938. But Largess, an expert on old-growth trees, says these black birches are venerable.

Several BPC board members, another forester, and a Friends of Blackstone Woods representative joined Largess and the man who inspired the quest, James Dealy.

Dealy often walks in the Providence greenway that stretches from the Conservation District up through Swan Point Cemetery and beyond.

He wrote to the Blackstone Parks Conservancy in February speculating that certain trees might be much older than the usual 60-100-yearolds found in these woods. Secondary old-growth trees, he explained, aren’t necessarily huge. Especially in cities or difficult sites like ravines, conditions may push them into bizarre shapes or stunt their growth.

The fact of their survival – simply having escaped predators and invasive species for centuries – may be meaningful. They are genetic banks and habitat for wildlife, including rare and endangered species.

People have long felt a spiritual connection with trees, and scientists now pinpoint the health benefits of a walk in the woods. At the very least, being among these old trees inspires profound feelings of ease and belonging – feelings hard to come by in modern times.

The enthusiasm of new visitors for the park and the entire greenway of which it is part sparks new energy among Conservancy volunteers distracted by problems like erosion and invasive species.

Maybe it is possible to preserve and even restore this precious resource!

Maybe healthy urban green space for all is a realistic vision!

Please check out our newly refurbished website above. We need more collaborators to work with the Providence Parks Department on behalf of Blackstone Park on the Boulevard and the Blackstone Park Conservation District.

Kindly send your Eastside Market receipts to the Conservancy (address above).

2. We’ll create a map of participating houses, then send it to all Summit residents and post it at public places throughout Providence.

3. We’ll send you a special sign. Display it at your yard sale on September 17 (or the rain date of September 24) to show you’re an official participant.

Farmer’s Market and Open Market Dates The Farmer’s Market will be held in Lippitt Park at Hope Street and Blackstone Boulevard on Saturdays from 9:30am-12:30pm beginning June 4.

The 2011 Providence Open Market of crafts and collectibles operates from June 11 through September 24. Selling day is Saturday and selling times are from 10am-2pm.

2nd Annual Summit Music Festival The second annual Summit Music Festival will be held on August 14 in Lippitt Park. Slated to perform are Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, Midnight Honey and one additional act to be announced.

Similar to last year’s festival, there will be food, arts and crafts. Participating vendors and other details will be announced at a later date.

College Hill

By Diane Greco Josefowicz

Summit Neighborhood

By Ben Grisi Summit Neighborhood Association Website: www.summitneighbors.org Address: PO Box 41092, Providence, RI 02940 Join the listserv at: http://sna.providence.ri.us/mailman/listinfo/summit_ sna.providence.ri.us Sign Up for the Second Annual Summit Yard Sale!

Once again, we’re bringing Summit together with a yard sale that spans the entire neighborhood. After a small fee that benefits SNA, all the profit from your sale is yours to keep! It’s easy as one, two, three: 1. Fill out the form and send it with your check no later than August 1.

(Forms available at www.summitneighbors.org.)

College Hill Neighborhood Association Phone Number: 633-5230 Website: www.collegehillna.com Email Address: chna@collegehillna.com Mailing Address: CHNA, P.O. Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906 Brown’s Mike McCormick Presents Institutional Master Plan CHNA’s Board convened for a public meeting on Monday evening, June 6 at Lippitt House Museum, 199 Hope Street. Attending Board members were Allison Spooner, Alex Payson, Diane Greco Josefowicz, Sara Bradford, Ed Bishop, Yvonne Schilling, Ted Trafton, Mary Crandall, and Leslie Kellogg.

At this meeting, Mike McCormick, assistant Vice-President of Planning at Brown, presented a recent draft of the Institutional Master Plan, which outlines the university’s development plans for the next 5-10 years.

Of the projects described in the Master Plan, those most salient to College Hill were proposed changes to Brown’s real estate holdings,

and to student, visitor and faculty/ staff parking. Although the university intends to build three new buildings on “The Walk,” the current green space between Waterman and Olive near the Granoff Center, no significant changes to the exteriors of properties within the College Hill Historic District are being proposed in this draft of the master plan.

McCormick clarified that the parking garage proposed for the Erickson Athletic Complex (behind the OMAC) will accommodate 300-350 cars, and is intended for employees and facilities users. Even with the parking garage, the total number of parking spaces will increase by 55 within the athletic complex area.

The designated parking areas have shifted to accommodate a large, open “green” space ringed by the buildings. According to McCormick, the garage will not increase delays at the intersection of Lloyd, Hope and Brook Streets, so long as the lights are synchronized properly.

(The university recently re-synchronized the lights, but the attempt, while an improvement, was not completely successful.)

While the Plan did not include new dormitories, the university does intend to increase on-campus student housing with the eventual aim of bringing all students on campus except for seniors who have secured off-campus permission. The university has not yet selected sites for the proposed new dorms, but Pembroke Field and Brook Street, near Charlesfield, are among the contenders. These projects, which will be included as amendments to the Master Plan, will be presented to the community for feedback in upcoming public meetings.

Unlike the IMPs proposed in previous years, this plan – while ambitious – seemed to reflect a new sensitivity to what CHNA sees as the neighborhood’s most pressing concerns, particularly intensification, traffic, tree coverage, parking, and historic preservation. Encouraged by this shift, CHNA submitted a letter endorsing the plan on behalf of its membership, with the caveat that revisions and amendments will continue to exhibit the same – if not more – awareness of resident concerns and openness to feedback.

Cocktails Series Boosts Membership CHNA is delighted to report that our

“Cocktails on College Hill” series has been a success! In May and June, CHNA organized a series of cocktail parties, held at the homes of CHNA Board members and with the support of many generous donors, which has resulted in a 20 percent increase in paid membership as well as almost 80 new additions to our email list. Best of all, the parties are bringing neighbors together, and we’re having fun. A second cocktail party series is in the works – watch this space.

CHNA Endorses “Stronger Providence” Legislative Agenda In other Board business, the Board reviewed Providence’s legislative agenda, a set of six bills shortly to be presented to the General Assembly for a vote. Taken together, the bills could represent in excess of $40 million in savings. In a letter to the General Assembly, CHNA endorsed the agenda, but expressed reservations about the proposal to require hospitals and universities to pay 25% of the assessed property tax in the city or town in which they reside. While the Board recognized the city’s need for support from nonprofits – and the appropriateness of this support at a moment of exceptional difficulty and sacrifice for the city – the Board was somewhat divided over the form of the tax, as a demand for a lump sum – even a substantial one – might meet less resistance than a demand for a percentage.

By agreement of the Board, CHNA’s annual meeting was postponed until October 20. The Board will meet again on Monday, August 1. This meeting is open to the public.

And, finally, a plea for your support: Please join CHNA! Dues are $20 per calendar year, and membership, which is open to all, includes invitations to events, as well as timely email crime alerts and our free, mostly monthly e-newsletter which reports on neighborhood news as well as CHNA’s activities. All new members receive a welcome packet with coupons, so your membership practically pays for itself! To join (or renew), visit our website, www. collegehillna.com and click “Join CHNA.” Or send a check for $20, made out to College Hill Neighborhood Association, to the Treasurer, Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906. Be sure to include your email address.

July 2011 East Side Monthly

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Celebrating Fathers’ Days A new East Side group brings dads together

By Mary K. Connor • Photos by Joshua Deaner

Listen up, all you

new dads out there. There is a new game in town – Providence Dads – and your participation is requested, welcomed and free of charge.

It comes naturally to new moms, apparently, this undeniable urge to meet up with other new moms. And, why not? There is a lot to talk about.

Having a new baby in the house is both wonderful and mind-boggling.

But somehow dads get the shorter end of the gender stick. Let’s take a look.

A quick online search for “New Moms, Rhode Island” yields dozens of options for those looking to share experiences with, lend support to or seek advice from other new moms. There are local affiliates of the national nonprofit Moms Clubs in many Rhode Island communities. Rhode Island New Moms facilitates new mom groups throughout the state and has established a robust Facebook presence. Rhode Island Moms – A Circle of Friends is based in East Providence and connects members to each other through outlets such as book clubs and kid-oriented day trips. If you are a non-

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Jewish mom raising Jewish children, you can turn to The Mother’s Circle Rhode Island for support. The web log resource KidoInfo offers a “hip guide” for parents of both genders, although its very informative website seems to have a plethora of mom-centered information. And on it goes. There are mommy blogs galore. Mom and baby yoga classes abound. Hospitals sponsor more serious support groups for new moms as well, such as the East Side’s Families First, located on Stimson Avenue.

On the dad side of things, however, it is a different story. Where can a new dad turn for feedback, networking support or play group opportunities? A quick online search for “New Dads, Rhode Island” yields – well, it yields absolutely nothing. Can this be true? Here we are, in the second decade of the 21st century, and there are no groups in Rhode Island specifically targeting new dads?

Two East Siders, Jesse Kenner and Marc Gertsacov, noticed this lack of opportunity for dads, and decided to do something about it. In January, they founded Providence Dads (www.provi-

dencedads.com), an informal group that meets two Saturdays a month for the purpose of providing a “place and time for dads to hang with their kids and with other dads.”

Kenner grew up on the East Side (he went to Moses Brown) and lives on Hope Street. He has a 15-month-old daughter. He works during the week and quickly realized that weekends would come and go, leaving him little one-on-one time with his daughter. “It was always the three of us,” he notes.

“I also began to notice how moms have many choices. There are moms and babies groups of all sorts: music, story hours, etc. Moms just have an amazing ability to network with other moms.”

Dads, he thought, needed a networking venue of their own.

Co-founder Gertsacov, an attorney and friend of Kenner, is an old hand at parenting, having three children; his youngest just turned two. His take on the genesis of Providence Dads is similar: “There is more of a natural social networking for moms. ‘Dad friends’ are always the husbands of the wives’

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friends. If you are local to Providence, that can work out just fine, but sometimes, even then, you want to break out on your own.”

Providence Dads began meeting in February, on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, in space donated

by Om Kids Yoga in Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket. “We are very grateful for their generosity,” says Kenner. Beginning in June, however, the group will be moving outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather. Providence Dads will meet for an hour, beginning at 10am, at the Gladys Potter Playground (aka the Baby Park, aka the Frog Park) at Humboldt Avenue and Elton Street. The group is informal and unstructured. “Dads have a different way of communicating. Moms like the structure provided with some groups. As for dads,” Kenner surmises, “if it were structured, they wouldn’t be as willing to participate.”

Gertsacov agrees, noting, “We are learning as we go along. We would like to create a group of 10 or 15 or 25 dads who come regularly.” It could eventually become something more formalized, he says, but for now it is best to “keep it light and low-key.”

So, what exactly constitutes informal talk within an unstructured group of dads, this writer, being a mom, naturally wondered? Kenner says it is wide open: “Jobs, partners (in a good way), kid issues, education issues, financial ques-

tions. Maybe even talk about changing a diaper. It is just connecting with people – there is always that Rhode Island connection thing coming up.” Providence Dads is also a way for people new to Providence to meet, adds Gertsacov. “It is a good social outlet.”

“Fathers who come usually have new babies, first babies,” says Kenner. There are no rules, of course, but the group so far has appealed to dads with kids from about three-months-old up to about three years. People are hearing about Providence Dads through word of mouth. Kenner and Gertsacov have posted flyers at area coffee shops, and Families First recommends the group to its dad clients. Kenner does not think there are any similar groups in the region, although there are some in New York City.

There was one more pressing question for Kenner to address: Is there any food involved? He had what could be considered a typical (also in a good way) dad answer: “We are thinking of getting a coffee shop to donate something.” Perhaps that is the difference between moms and dads. For moms, it would never be so simple; dads win that one, hands down.

Mark your calendars, dads: 10am, the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Go to www.providencedads.com for any schedule updates and for contact information for Jesse Kenner.

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375 Years Young Providence celebrates a milestone all season long

By Emily Dietsch

Quirky. Inimitable. Vexing. Strongwilled. Apt descriptors for rogue preacher and Providence’s founding father, Roger Williams, these words apply equally to the city’s modern spirit. We’re a chip off the old block, with remarkable consistency to his traits throughout our 375 years. Physically, too, we’ve kept up appearances: Through preservation efforts, development campaigns and environmental activism, Providence’s pretty face hardly looks its age. Commemorating nearly four centuries of continuity and change, and conveniently timed to fight summertime blahs, Providence 375 is an outsized celebration for every-

one’s favorite little city-state. Yet how much do residents really know about the celebrations, or their occasion? And, more importantly, can they move us to re-engage with the place we call home?

Conceivably, if marketing has done its job, Providence 375 already registers a blip on residents’ collective radar. In June, celebrations kicked off noisily with an unusual birthday party for Roger Williams and the city of Providence. Mayor Taveras cut a mammoth cake while the I-95 Band strummed happy birthday, a Roger Williams impersonator channeled colonial spirit, and members of the First Light Pow-

Fireworks at India Point Park will cap off the city’s Fourth of July celebration

22

East Side Monthly July 2011

Providence 375 is a sprawling collection of over 200 events that will last throughout the summer and into October. wow performed an honorary routine.

More than this singular fete, however, Providence 375 is a sprawling collection of over 200 events that will last throughout the summer and into October, when the months-long spree will culminate in a formal gala.

Those celebrations are the work of a sizeable planning committee that primarily involved Providence’s Department of Art, Culture + Tourism (ACT), the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB), the National Park Service (NPS) and Providence Media (publishers of this and other fine magazines), in addition to dozens of other contributing entities. Yet despite ample reach and multiple moving parts, organizers contend that the planning process pleasantly defied conventional wisdom about state agencies’ inability to coordinate… well, anything.

In fact, according to Martha Sheridan, President and CEO of the PWCVB, the undertaking was an exercise in organized but organic development, with no set vision at the start beyond a desire to do something befitting Providence’s major milestone. “We knew we were coming up on a big year for the city,” Sheridan says. “We wanted to produce something that reflects that.” Working with that lofty but flexible goal, results far surpassed original expectations.

Refreshingly, the committee’s desire to generate a megawatt commemoration never evolved into a highly guarded, top-down affair.

Instead, committee members maintained a democratic, fluid approach, open to change and attuned to what the greater Providence community wants. Speaking on behalf of the National Parks Service, Jennifer Smith contrasts Providence’s goals and planning process with those of similar events that have been produced elsewhere. “In researching similar commemorations in other cities and states such as Santa Fe, New Mexico and Connecticut, it is evident that the primary motivation is to use these milestone celebrations to increase tourism,” she offers. “Sponsorship is often corporate, and programs are often marketed to visitors from outside the community.” In those instances, programming tends to be driven by historical societies and cultural organizations, and often exists within the fairly limited confines of museum exhibitions, lecture series or school essay contests.

According to Smith, Site Manager for the Roger William National Memorial on North Main Street, organizers of Providence 375 expressly aimed to resist that rather bleak scenario. How could they not, after all, in a town founded on principles of self-initiative and anti-establishment thinking? Indeed, for all its immensity and bureaucracy, Providence 375 is a significantly grassroots affair, dependent on the largesse of multiple individuals rather than the strong-arm tactics of a few.

This distinction is not lost on Stephanie Fortunato, Special Projects Manager for ACT. She notes that

the committee routinely encountered an inspiring amount of creative energy and community spirit among those they consulted. When asked what most impresses her about what came together, Fortunato focuses her praise on small, singular contributions rather than top-level administration or the ultimate whole. “I love the way participants are drawing on their expertise,” she offers.

For something much bigger than their own interests, “people are being extremely generous in sharing their time and talent.”

Local blogger Jef Nickerson of Greater City: PVD, for instance, is devoting his digital space exclusively to Providence 375 events.

Or consider the celebration’s signature logo, which a group of graphic designers contributed without charge. (Ahem, no six-figure charges for cultural branding here.)

Especially given the challenges of a recession year, this summer’s celebrations may have been far more modest and scattered without an evidently widespread, generous commitment to the cause.

To help link events together, including both new ones planned specifically for the celebration and existing ones yoked into it, organizers selected four common themes

inspired by Providence’s founding ethos. Whatever an event’s specific details, the committee stipulated, it had to somehow invoke one of those four themes: Hope, Freedom, Roots and Ingenuity. While WaterFire organizers planned a special 375th-themed lighting, for instance, Wooly Fair’s annual do-it-yourself art carnival joined the fray through its intrinsic ties to – what else? – the theme of ingenuity. Perhaps the most creative thematic use belongs to the Providence Public Libraries, however, which hosted a 375-related speed-dating event at the East Side’s Rochambeau branch. The theme? Why, Hope, of course.

In a novel twist, this collaborative, open format didn’t end once Providence 375 was announced and the cake was cut. Instead, the planning committee chose to keep it going throughout the celebrations, from June through October, harnessing the potential of digital media to do so. Individuals and organizations that wish to get involved can easily do so through the Providence 375 website, which features a special tab for exactly that purpose. Those who visit the site can submit an event for inclusion by filling out a simple form, or contact organizers to suggest ideas and lend feedback. There

The Iconic Statue of Roger Williams at Prospect Terrace inspired the Providence 375 logo below

is no final deadline, rigorous approval process or steep participation fees. All are welcome to contribute, whether an art piece or an event or merely one’s two cents. Organizers anticipate that events will keep streaming in, fattening an already plump calendar.

This is not to pooh-pooh tourist dollars and attention, of course.

Goodness knows that our beloved but beleaguered city-state, lately cash-strapped and portrayed somewhat unflatteringly in national media, could use a boost. After all, though director Wes Anderson’s latest film project, Moonrise Kingdom, has been an exciting and lucrative coup for Rhode Island this summer, we can’t rest on those cultural laurels alone. More marquee happenings mean more ability to attract capital and raise visibility, plain and simple. Providence 375 organizers are well aware of the celebrations’ potential to lure money and regard, and plan to make the most of that opportunity. As Sheridan notes, the

occasion’s high profile and extensive listings are an almost unprecedented chance to promote the region as a leisure attraction, and to edify a broader public about its history, culture and diversity.

Nevertheless, there is a decidedly homegrown aspect to Providence 375 that admirably emphasizes and involves the community. For denizens who think of Williams’s legacy as mere fodder for the likes of grade-school plays, or who haven’t kept up with Providence’s impressive developments, the celebrations offer a compelling and multifaceted look at what 13 generations have wrought. While certainly Williams’s idiosyncratic spirit is still recognizable in today’s Providence, its multicultural and lively face is a stunning turn of affairs worthy of a renewed look.

As is the case for many small towns, however, this sea change is too often taken for granted by longtime residents.

Encouragingly, the excitement surrounding July 2011 East Side Monthly

23

Providence 375’s genesis suggests no shortage of love among locals, even if these residents sometimes under-appreciate the city in their everyday lives. “There’s a lot of love for Providence,” Fortunato confirms.

“This celebration is a showcase of that civic pride as much as it is a collaborative marketing effort.” Sometimes, a big event is a necessary catalyst to freshen tired perspectives and rejuvenate staid bonds.

Even for the laziest and least impressionable in Providence’s fold, five months and 200-plus events are sufficiently big. As of press time, 42 events are listed for July’s calendar alone, and organizers expect that tally to expand. Among those 42, visitors and locals alike can take their pick from educational programs, innovative theater offerings, farmer’s markets, gallery exhibits, art installations, multiple summer

concert series, WaterFire, a birthday party-cum-picnic at the Southside Community Land Trust, an anniversary wine dinner at Capital Grille, special Independence Day festivities, and a first-annual Powwow put on by the Affiliated Tribes of New England Indians. Phew.

Where, oh, where does one start?

Five weekly farmers markets and the Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) fete present a perfect chance to witness the city’s urban farming renaissance, which has truly flourished over the past decade.

Farm Fresh RI has done a stunning job as a facilitator and coordinator of the area’s farmer’s markets, and the Providence Urban Agriculture Task Force estimates that the city now holds over 1000 smaller food gardens. There’s still much room to, er, grow, since that number only amounts to about 2% of families

Free concerts at Waterplace Park will be a regular part of the Providence 375 celebration

24

East Side Monthly July 2011

“There’s a lot of love for Providence. This celebration is a showcase of that civic pride.”

– Stephanie Fortunato of the Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism

who are producing food in their own gardens, and too many of those 2% fall in more affluent tax brackets. Still, as regular visitors to markets and community gardens can attest, Providence has made amazing strides from its rather barren, blighted condition at mid-century, and plans further development in years to come. Take a moment to honor these achievements by strolling around downtown’s teeming stalls, which set up shop weekly on Fridays, or packing a basket for the SCLT’s bash on July 17. To celebrate an astonishing 30 years in operation, the SCLT will host their bash at the 35-acre Urban Edge Farm, replete with birthday cake, beverages, games and live music from Grammy Award winner Bill Hartley.

The acclaimed Theater of Thought, brainchild of actor and director Amber Kelly, presents a more avant-garde option through interactive theater staged in downtown Providence. As theater critic Bill Rodriguez has observed, Theater of Thought doesn’t just break the proverbial fourth wall, but dissolves it through intense audience engagement with its productions.

For Providence 375, Theater of Thought will put on several performances – though that standard word hardly applies here – of Executor, a

piece inspired by Providence’s foremost Gothic writer, H. P. Lovecraft.

Its premise is somehow novel and old-fashioned, putting a new spin on familiar horror conventions and childhood scavenger games. Beginning with news that an old man has died with no surviving relatives, audience members are recruited to make sense of his mystery and execute his final wishes. A hunt for the story throughout Providence ensues, led by bits of information garnered along the way.

Think death and suspicion are too macabre as summertime fare?

Plenty of sunnier choices mark Providence 375’s calendar as well.

Providence’s July 4th events are an obvious must-do, as an opportunity to celebrate both our fair city’s birthday and the nation’s at once. Celebrations will be anchored at India Point Park, with music and performances capped off by fireworks over the bay. Ongoing tours such as “Discovering Roger Williams” and “Main Street U.S.A.”, both guided by Roger Williams National Memorial staff, will take history lessons to the streets for a bit of fresh air. Several concert options abound, too, including the Providence Community Library’s summer series, the Rhythm & Rebellion festival at Roots Café, and a Latin Dance Party with

Roger Williams by the Numbers National park ranger, historian, historical reenactor and Roger Williams impersonator John McNiff is, suffice it to say, a multitasker. As a staffer at the Roger Williams National Memorial (RWNM) on North Main Street, and an authority on our ornery founding father, we asked Ranger McNiff to help track the man’s impressive stats.

0

Dollars Williams originally paid to Narragansett Indians for land that would become Providence.

5

Instances that the iconoclast was booted from various colonies, including Boston, Plymouth and Salem twice over.

Park Ranger John McNiff recreates Roger Williams for the Providence 375 celebration Santa Mamba. The first annual library series welcomes the Sweet P Blues Band (July 8) and the Throttles (July 15), both free of charge on the lawn outside Knight Memorial Library. Roots Café, in the space that formerly housed the Black Rep, will host a festival on July 9 designed to celebrate local artists’ creative freedom and showcase their diversity. Running from noon to 1am, the daylong festival will take place both in and surrounding the café, helping to fill the Black Rep’s once boisterous imprint in the city.

Finally, Santa Mamba’s “Latin Roots Rock” will liven crowds at the Spot Underground on July 16.

Not to be left out, those who prefer to avoid Providence’s sweltering July weather can pick from suitably air-conditioned events, too. Creatures of comfort should begin with the Capital Grille’s anniversary wine dinner on July 2, which will feature a multi-course menu with wine pairings.

Local art fiends can delight in the wares showcased at Saving (Type) Face: Printers of Providence, at the downtown library branch on July 21.

The event, an opening reception and talk on Providence’s historic printers, will inaugurate the exhibition of historic print works from the library’s collection. Heat-weary parents can find salvation in the stacks, too, with children’s programs that are part of the Providence Community Library’s “One World, Many Stories” series. “Writing a Story” (July 11, at the Wanskuck branch) will groom budding scribes with a lesson from journalist and author Steven Krasner. “Dave Marchetti: Animal Experiences” (July 14, at the downtown branch) will feature an intensely hands-on exploration of the beastly kingdom.

Given the maximalism that marks this 375th celebration, one wonders how organizers can top themselves in another quarter century, when Providence turns a ripe, old 400. Asphalt botox? Genetic advances to clone Roger Williams? The organizers themselves seem a bit flummoxed, including Fortunato, who coyly responds, “Great question!” to the challenge. If Providence’s uncommon history tells us to expect anything, of course, it’s the unexpected – that, and an absence of clear street signs to mark the way.

For continually updated information, check event listings and other details at www.providence375.com. To read more about the celebration and Providence history, pick up a copy of our official Providence 375 guidebook, available at the PWCVB welcome booth at the Convention Center, as well as events and locations throughout the city all summer long.

6

Children that Williams fathered.

7

Languages William spoke, including Narragansett, classical and European languages.

80

Approximate age at which our stubborn hero breathed his last.

383,376

Average cost in dollars per acre of retail land in Providence today.

2.4 million

Living descendants that hail from Williams’s sevenperson brood, according to the Roger Williams Family Association. (Yes, one exists.) Governor Lincoln Chafee claims an entry on that extensive family tree.

You’ve passed RWNM’s familiar headquarters countless times, surely, but have you inquired within? If not, you may be surprised to learn that, like Ranger McNiff, the memorial is a multitasker: No mere shrine to Williams or Providence’s distant past, the site is very much plugged into the city’s present, and as versed in historical trivia as it is in current happenings. For a user-friendly guide and links to key resources, visit www.nps.gov/rowi.

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East Side Monthly July 2011

Newport: home of prestigious mansions, fine dining and shopping, picturesque scenery and two world-famous festivals that launched a worldwide tradition. The Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals return this summer, July 30-31 and August 5-7 respectively, drawing thousands to New England’s favorite resort town for fabulous food, friendly gatherings and, of course, incredible music.

Scenic Fort Adams State Park’s three stages are home to the Newport Folk Festival in its 53rd year. The acclaimed two-day celebration blends traditional folk and more modern styles of music, featuring such outstanding musicians as Emmylou Harris, The Decemberists, Tegan and Sara, Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples, Amos Lee and many more.

The world-renowned event was founded in 1959 when jazz impresario George Wein partnered with folk idol Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi. It famously presented Bob Dylan’s “premiere national performance” as a guest of Joan Baez in 1963 and his switch to electric guitar two years later. The same year as Dylan’s controversial electric performance, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf made their own notorious festival debuts, introducing country and blues to the mix. The revivals of gospel, Cajun and blues music are also associated with the

festival. The ‘80s and ‘90s brought reggae, rock and indie music to the stage.

Icons like Joan Baez, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Arlo Guthrie all appeared in Newport before making it big.

Three groups with Ocean State roots will take the stage this year. Brown Bird, a talented duo influenced by blues, country, roots rock and early American folk, to name a few genres, makes its first Newport Folk Festival appearance.

David Lamb (guitar, banjo, percussion, vocals) and MorganEve Swain (vocals, fiddle, cello, upright bass) will deliver haunting yet soothing, foot-stomping melodies with unique instrumentation and memorable lyrics. Swain raves, “The enthusiasm we’ve seen from our fans has been really wonderful, and only adds to our own excitement to be playing. Hopefully this won’t be the last time!” Brown Bird’s recently released four-track EP, The Sound of Ghosts, is available on brownbird.bandcamp.com.

When three gifted musicians came together in 2009 in hopes of preserving the traditions of rousing figures such as Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, indie folk supergroup Middle Brother was formed. John McCauley of Deer Tick, Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes will perform songs from their debut record,

Middle Brother, released in March. “Very rarely does a supergroup manage to come up with something as good as the sum of its parts,” Paste magazine notes of the album.

“Newport is just down the road from where most of us grew up, so that festival certainly has a big impact on us musically,” McCauley enthuses. The Deer Tick frontman will be performing backstage with other artists for a benefit with proceeds to benefit Rhode Island public arts education programs. “I honestly could not be more excited about that,” McCauley adds.

Heads will turn when Providence’s What Cheer? Brigade charges the festival grounds for its second year. This 19-piece brass-and-drum band was named “Best Category-Defying Act” last year in the Providence Pheonix’s Best Music Poll. The refreshingly eccentric clan describes their music as “an aggressive mix of Bollywood, the Balkans, New Orleans, Samba and Hip-Hop, played with the intensity of metal.” Last year the group stirred the crowd to their feet so profoundly that one festival employee compared it to when Buddy Guy went wireless with his electric guitar and jumped off the stage. The group is ecstatic to be back at the festival this year, and will hopefully be able to col-

Photography: Autumn DeWilde, Erik Jacobs, Jimmy Katz

laborate with other musicians to bring the cheer to Newport. Trombone player Susan Sakash promises, “We are looking forward to the challenge of discovering new ways to surprise people.”

A week after the folk festivities, America’s first outdoor jazz festival makes its 57th appearance. Inspired by the Lorillards and founded by Wein in 1954 (five years before the folk fest), the Newport Jazz Festival is a three-day celebration of jazz and jazzinfluenced music, old and new.

The festival has come a long way since its successful debut at the Newport Casino more than five decades ago, but has continued to be every bit as legendary. Musical geniuses such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane and Miles Davis all fascinated audiences in Newport. Topflight artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman and Esperanza Spalding (Best New Artist at the Grammys this year) made their debuts on the festival stage, and some still continue to perform there today.

Often referred to as a Mecca of jazz, the Newport Jazz Festival is renowned for staging the revivals of Miles Davis in 1955 and 1984 and Duke Ellington in 1956. After Wein famously brought the festival to New York City in 1972, and five years later carried the Newport Jazz Festival name to Saratoga Springs. The festival has since sprung up in other locations worldwide, including Madarao, Japan.

In 1969, jazz, soul and rock music were brought into the fold. James Brown and Miles Davis shared the lineup with B.B. King and Led Zeppelin.

Since then, it has been customary for the festival to feature traditional jazz musicians alongside contemporary blues and rock performers.

This year’s festival, sponsored by Natixis Global Asset Management, features an all-star line-up. The weekend will kick off on Friday night at the Inter-

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Join the NEN Sitter Club David Wax Museum performs at the Folk Festival national Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino with Michael Feinstein (“Come Fly With Me”) and special guest Joe Negri, as well as Wynton Marsalis. Saturday and Sunday’s concerts will take place at Fort Adams Park and feature the Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band, Grace Kelly with guest Phil Woods, Mostly Other People Do the Killing, the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, and many more.

Jazz and folk enthusiasts of all generations travel to the shore every year to enjoy the brilliant mix of veterans and younger artists. “The festivals express the evolution of the art forms,” Wein explains. “It is about recognizing and acknowledging changes while still paying attention to tradition.” This year, such pioneers as Earl Scruggs (bluegrass), Randy Weston (jazz) and Eddie Palmieri (salsa, Latin jazz) will showcase years of dedication to their respective genres.

Both festivals are produced under Wein’s recently established Newport Festivals Foundation, a nonprofit orga-

Grace Kelly and Phil Woods perform at the Jazz Festival

nization promoting the education of young people in folk and jazz music by establishing partnerships with local grade schools, colleges and universities.

Besides maintaining the highly praised festivals for years to come, one of the foundation’s missions is “to present all forms of jazz and folk music from yesterday, today and tomorrow.” After selling the Festival name in 2007, Wein took back the reins in 2009 for Folk Festival 50 and Jazz Festival 55. His hope for the future of the festivals is that they will remain a permanent part of a worldwide cultural scene. Of the foundation, Wein notes, “It is not a business, it’s a cultural monument that will maintain its stability for years to come.”

Local eco-friendly jewelry manufacturer Alex and Ani is the stage sponsor for both festivals, and recently opened a ticket office at its flagship store on One Bowen’s Wharf in Newport.

Mr. Wein, an accomplished pianist at 85, is still performing with his handpicked Newport All-Stars, including such musicians as Howard Alden, Lewis Nash and Law Tabackin, and will play shows in Saratoga and Montreal at the end of June. He is not currently scheduled to perform at the Jazz Festival this year.

The founder’s worldly influence on jazz and folk culture has been recognized for decades by heads of state, educational institutions and publications.

His dedication to the preservation of traditional sounds and appreciation for new, innovative contributions to the world of music will live on far beyond our years.

The Newport Folk Festival will take place July 30 and 31. The Newport Jazz Festival runs August 5, 6 and 7. NPR will be streaming the concerts live online.

For more information and the complete line-up, see www.newportfolkfest.net and www.newportjazzfest.net.

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East Side Monthly July 2011

On the Menu

by John Taraborelli

Get the Best for Less Restaurant Weeks heat up summer dining In the 2010 edition of its annual “America’s Favorite Cities” readers’ poll, Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Providence in the top ten for all four food categories (#10 for big name restaurants, #8 for farmer’s markets, and very respectable #3 for both ethnic food and neighborhood joints), bringing our fair city to #3 in the overall rankings, behind only New Orleans and San Francisco.

(Voting for the 2011 edition is still going on; visit www.travelandleisure.com to cast your vote for your hometown.)

That culinary treasure trove is why Providence Restaurant Weeks have been so successful. The now semiannual event (the first winter Restaurant Week was in January) provides costconscious (or even just curious) diners an opportunity to experience some of the finest (and often most expensive) restaurants in the city with little risk to their budgets. From July 10-23, nearly 100 restaurants in and around Providence will offer three-course, prix-fixe lunches and dinners for a mere $12.95 and $29.95 respectively. Restaurant weeks have sprung up around the country, especially in most major cities, as a way to both showcase food scenes, and keep restaurants humming in a bad economy or slow month. Here in Rhode Island, the restaurant week idea has already spread to Narragansett, Newport and the East Bay. But enough back story – you just want to know what you’ll be eating this month. Here are some of the highlights: The best part of Restaurant Weeks is eating at otherwise expensive places for only $30. To that end, Cook and Brown Public House (959 Hope St., 273-7275), neighboring Chez Pascal (960 Hope St., 421-4422), Gracie’s (194 Washington St., 272-7811), La Laiterie at Farmstead (184-188 Wayland Ave., 274-7177), Siena (238 Atwells Ave., 521-3311) and Bacaro (262 South Water St., 751-3700) are all offering dinner only. For lunch options (as well as dinner), there are Capital Grille (1 Union Station, 521-5600), Rue De L’Espoir (99 Hope St., 751-8890), Capriccio (2 Pine St., 421-1320) and Ten Prime Steak and Sushi (55 Pine St., 453-2333).

Continuing its tradition of trumping

Welcoming Executive Chef Providence Restaurant Weeks everyone during Restaurant Weeks, Pizzico (762 Hope St., 421-4114) is making its entire menu fair game for the meal deal. Also, several highly regarded restaurants outside Providence are throwing their hats in the ring, including DeWolf Tavern (259 Thames St., Bristol, 254-2005), La Masseria (223 Main St., East Greenwich, 398-0693) and Vintage (2 South Main St., Woonsocket, 765-1234). Eat up.

MORE DEALS FOR DINERS XO Café (125 North Main St., 273-9090), which just made its welcome return to the local restaurant scene after morphing into Café Noir for a couple of years, is now offering Daily Dining Deals in addition to Sunday brunch.

On Monday, all bottles of wine are half off the list price. On Ladies Night (Wednesday), women can enjoy a complimentary three-course tasting menu, with selections changing weekly. From 5-7pm on Bar Fling Fridays, all bar menu items are half-price. Finally, on Sunday’s Pajama Brunch, all guests who show up in their PJs receive a complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary.

UP ON THE ROOF On July 31, Gracie’s goes sky high with its first ever rooftop wine event, Wines of the World, on the roof of the Peerless Building, where the restaurant maintains a garden. Guests will enjoy 50 wines, craft beers and spirits selected by Wine and Spirits Director Brendan Roane, as well as hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment.

Tickets are $75. For tickets to either event, call 272-7811.

L.A. COMES TO PVD That famous Los Angeles treat, Pinkberry, the frozen yogurt and upscale dessert chain, arrives not quite in Providence, but close enough, this month. On July 9, their first Rhode Island location opens at Garden City Center in Cranston. The company launched in West Hollywood in 2005, and has since become a sensation, with over 100 stores around the world. Prior to this, the closest locations were in Massachusetts.

Got food news? Send it to John at onthemenu@providenceonline.com.

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Wayland/Elmgrove HARUKI EAST 172 Wayland Avenue; 223-0332. The chefs behind this sushi bar provide a minimalist, upscale, comfortable dining experience. Try the toro ankimo – sauteed fatty tuna and monkfish liver pate with eggplant tempura, served with a black bean sauce. LD $-$$$ MAD ERNIE’S 485 Angell Street; 331-1031. Mad Ernie’s serves an array of soups, homemade ice cream, and sandwiches, including corned beef, reuben, chicken salad and lobster rolls. LD $ RED STRIPE 465 Angell Street; 4376950. Red Stripe serves classic comfort food with a French influence.

Their food is reasonably priced and made with passion. LD $$-$$$ Wayland Square Diner 208 Wayland Avenue; 421-2712. An East Side classic (formerly Ruffuls) lives on. With fantastic breakfast and now lunch, this is the spot for great daytime dining in Wayland Square.

BBrL $ WATERMAN GRILLE 4 Richmond Square; 521-9229. With its covered outdoor seating overlooking the Seekonk River, Waterman Grille offers seasonally inspired New American fare in a comfortable setting. BrD $$-$$$

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244 Wickenden Street; 831-1566. This cozy, classic bistro offers value, and a wide range of fare including, steaks, panini, salads and house made ravioli with an emphasis on fresh, local and organic ingredients. BrLD $$

Downtown ASIAN BISTRO 123 Dorrance Street; 383-3551. Chinese, Japanese and Thai, hibachi and sushi – they’re all under one roof at Asian Bistro. For the freshest flavors in a convenient downtown location, this is the place.

LD $-$$$ ASIAN PALACE 1184 North Main Street; 228-7805. All the flavors of Asia are here: from Chinese classics to new Thai favorites to fresh, impeccably prepared sushi. The gorgeous banquet room is available for private functions. LD $-$$$ CAV 14 Imperial Place; 751-9164. The New York Times’ choice as one of Providence’s five best restaurants,

30

East Side Monthly July 2011

CAV’s contemporary upscale cuisine is available al fresco for lunch and dinner daily. They also feature weekend brunch. LD $$-$$$ HEMENWAY’S 121 South Main Street; 351-8570. A true Providence classic, Hemenway’s has been serving topnotch seafood for 20 years. Their oyster bar features everything from the famed Prince Edward Island variety to the local favorite Poppasquash Point. LD $$-$$$ MILLS TAVERN 101 North Main Street; 272-3331. The only restaurant in RI to receive the Mobile Four Star Award for five consecutive years, Mills Tavern provides traditional American cuisine in a warm, friendly setting. LD $$-$$$

Hope/Thayer CHEZ PASCAL 960 Hope Street; 421-4422. Chef Matt Gennuso’s East Side kitchen offers French food with a modern twist. Try the Bistro Menu (Tue-Thur), which features three courses for $30 per person. Delicieux! D $-$$$ GOURMET HOUSE 787 Hope Street; 831-4722. Beautiful murals and décor set the mood for delicious Cambodian and Southeast Asian cuisine, spicy curries and noodle dishes. The tamarind duck is a must.

LD $-$$ KARTABAR 284 Thayer Street; 3318111. This European-style restaurant and lounge offers a full menu of unique dishes with Mediterranean flair and eclectic flavors. They also offer a top-notch wine list and martini menu. LD $-$$ NOT JUST SNACKS 833 Hope Street;

831-1150. Indeed, it’s not just snacks, but rather some of the tastiest, most authentic Indian food around served in a comfortable, homey setting right in the heart of Hope Street.

LD $-$$ RUE DE L’ESPOIR 99 Hope Street; 751-8890. In business for over 30 years, the Rue has only gotten better. Beautifully prepared with the freshest ingredients, the innovative, constantly changing menu keeps diners on their toes. Superb brunch.

BBrLD $$-$$$ SAWADDEE THAI 93 Hope Street; 831-1122. Serving authentic Thai cuisine since 1984 (originally under the name Bangkok Cuisine), Sawaddee Thai continues to set the standard, while providing a comfortable, neighborhood atmosphere. LD $ TORTILLA FLATS 355 Hope Street; 751-6777. You can’t go wrong with the laid-back attitude and exceptional Mexican fare at Tortilla Flats. Sample a Margarita from the bar and try the “Nawleens”-style Catfish. LD $-$$

Wickenden TEA IN SAHARA 69 Governor Street; 709-3252. Tea in Sahara brings a little taste of Morocco to Providence, with a selection of traditional appetizers, panini, coffees, teas and more in a relaxed atmosphere decorated with Moroccan handicrafts. LD $ WINGS AND THINGS 250 Brook Street; 369-7551. This family run business offers fresh, never frozen, chicken wings bathed in hot sauce made by hand from freshly ground chili peppers, plus 20 sauces, appetizers, sandwiches and soups. LD $

Outside Providence LJ’S BBQ 727 East Avenue, Pawtucket; 305-5255. LJ’s features ribs, pork, chicken and beef cooked low and slow in their customized pit, made with recipes from co-owner Bernie Watson’s grandmother, Miss Leola Jean. It’s great food at a great value. LD $-$$ VINEYARD EAST 315 Waterman Avenue, East Providence; 432-7000.

Wine-influenced dining meets casual down home atmosphere, and an eclectic menu of regional fare like local seafood favorites and Italian and Portuguese classics. LD $$

Photo: Dan Schwartz

Dining Guide

Spotlight

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Boarding and Daycare for Your Canine

Summer is in full swing and that means a lot of East Siders will be heading somewhere for vacation. The question is what to do with your dog, because while your neighbors might love Sparky, they probably don’t want to take care of him for nine days while you’re at the Cape (hate to break it to you). Luckily, The Dog House is right around the corner on North Main Street, where you can affordably board your dog with rates of $40 per night and $250 per week. Owner Jed Sheckley is a certified dog trainer and he ensures not only the safety of your dog, but also that your dog will have fun too.

Jed lives on the premises, so there is 24/7 monitoring. The dogs are separated into big dog and small dog areas, and there is an enclosed outdoor play area as well. Boarding is available seven days a week and you can drop off your pooch between 10-11am and 5-6pm. The Dog House also offers doggie day care, so you can go to work or do errands knowing your dog is being looked after. Jed says, “We offer small play groups, individual attention and free training.” All of the behavior modification is done through verbal corrections, with the goal of cutting down excessive barking and extreme rough play. Daycare rates are $25 per day; $22 per day when you bring your dog more than once a week; and $20 per day when you purchase a package of 20 days or more (pre-paid packages never expire). The Dog House is open for drop-off and pick-up between 7:30am and 6:30pm, Monday through Friday.

First time customers can take advantage of a special deal of one free day of daycare. The Dog House uses the East Side Veterinary clinic, and if your dog requires any medication it will be taken care of. Call Jed for expert boarding and daycare; he also offers East Side dog walking services. The Dog House is fully licensed and insured.

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The Dog House

1255 N. Main Street, Providence 455-DOGS (3647) July 2011 East Side Monthly

31

Spotlight by Dan Schwartz

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A Multitude of Fun Summer Camps Having a discussion with Shannon Boucher, Director of Children’s Programs at the JCC, you realize how many different summer programs are available for kids right here on the East Side. For your junior athletes, there are Soccer and Basketball Camps, plus the general Sports Camp which covers a number games.

There are specialty camps with intriguing titles like 3D Computer Animation, Jungle Robotics and Science Magic Camp. The general J Camp has a little bit of everything, including swim lessons a few days. Every camper enjoys swim time every day. It makes you want to be a kid again. Shannon says, “I’ve had kids who’ve come to us from kindergarten who later became Counselors in training and then Junior Counselors.” Each program is a week long, so your child can change activities throughout the summer. There are Performing Arts Camps and programs that take kids on field trips throughout the state.

What makes the JCC so great is the quality of the people leading the programs. “I have participating in a lot of leadership development, and I interview so many people,” Shannon explains. “It’s definitely the staff that makes our programs great. They are safe and responsible, and they are a lot of fun.” All summer camps are available for kids in kindergarten through 7th grade. The deadline for signing up your child is the Wednesday of the week before the camp begins.

See the JCC website for a complete list of camps available this summer: www. jccri.org.

Mark your calendar for a cookout scheduled for Sunday, August 28th that is open to everyone. There will be an obstacle course bounce house, activities, food and information about the fall. If your child attends school in Providence or nearby, they have an after school program and offer enrichment classes. Kids are bused over or walked to the JCC, given a snack, engaged in activities and given assistance on homework. Keep an eye on the website for a lineup of fall programming. Check them out!

Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island 401 Elmgrove Ave. 861-8800 / www.jccri.org

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East Side Monthly July 2011

Spotlight

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Tip of the Month We are living in an age in which getting a short-term loan can be rather difficult. Jeff Keithline, co-owner of Empire Loan on North Main Street, explains one of the primary barriers: “Banks have gotten so big that they don’t want to loan small amounts of money. When I was a young man I could walk into my local bank branch and borrow $500 for a personal loan; you can’t do that anymore.” Empire Loan’s primary service allows customers to secure short-term loans using jewelry as collateral. People have mixed notions about pawnbroking, but it is a highly regulated industry and Empire Loan closely abides by all the state statutes.

Jeff himself is an interesting guy, who describes how the practice of pawn broking began in agrarian societies where farmers received literal “seed money” to plant crops with the agreement that a portion of the crops would be given back as payment. He explains how his business doesn’t punish the customer for not repaying the loan. “Banks, mortgage lenders and credit card companies can alter your credit score and force you into bankruptcy,” Jeff says. “With us, if the loan is not repaid with the interest and fees, the property that’s pledged serves as payment for the loan and it’s over.” And he does mention that in all the years he’s been in business, over 90% of the loans are repaid.

Empire Loan is a family business that started in 1985 in Boston and has since spawned into multiple locations, with two in Providence. They offer a large selection of pre-owned jewelry and watches, plus new wedding rings by Stuller Jewelry at 40% off. The North Main Street location also has an impressive musical instrument wing, Empire Guitars, with an array of vintage guitars, bases and amps. Empire Loan also buys gold and silver, and they will match any price.

Jeff is heavily involved with the North Main Street merchant’s group, which is currently planning a street beautification project. Visit Empire Loan today and see how they can serve your needs.

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July 2011 East Side Monthly

33

Art

by Renee Doucette

The Journey Beyond Wanderlust for those who dare to wonder As children,

we all possess a sense of curiosity for exploration, regardless of whether the destination is the neighborhood library or the great outdoors of the local park. Often, when we make the transition to become adults, we tend to abandon our sense of wanderlust. Plagued with other concerns, we move through our daily lives unaware, but there are still some individuals out there who have not forgotten their innocent curiosity to see what is around the bend or beyond the stars.

This month the RISD Museum displays the work of Brit Conrad Shawcross and Bahamian Tavares Strachan. These two artists seek to discover areas forgotten and taken for granted by those of us engrossed in our own lives. Though they are from different parts of the world, both share a common thread of discovery and personal insight that recall the words written in the journals of Henry David Thoreau or Galileo Galilei.

Tavares Strachan is not unfamiliar with RISD, as he is an alumnus of their undergraduate glass program. Since his youthful art school days, he has exhibited across the country and now returns to Rhode Island with his first exhibit in Providence since 2002. He spent two years at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia and traveled to the Arctic.

This exhibit includes the 2009 piece Blast Off and is truly a culmination of mixed media and well-executed research. The work consists of the actual rocket Strachan made of island sand glass, fueled by sugarcane for its launch in Nassau, Bahamas. After the rocket’s crash landing back to earth, Strachan searched for its many glass shards in order to reassemble it for display. The work also includes a video and a series of photos of the launch.

Strachan’s art not only represents his creativity, but his sense of exploration and discovery. For Blast Off, he combined his knowledge of glass and

34

East Side Monthly July 2011

Pre-retroscope VI (Gowanus Canal Journey, NY, 2009) space, and his love of the unknown to give Nassau its own mini space program, which is now is a small reminder that our own NASA space program is no longer. His work and research remind the viewer that there really are no limits to exploration. Even though the glass rocket never completes its journey into outer spheres of space, a desire to never be confined only to the earth is conveyed his work.

The other explorer in this interesting exhibit is Conrad Shawcross, whose work takes the viewer to a place closer to home than outer space. In his piece Pre-retroscope VI (Gowanus Canal Journey, NY, 2009), Shawcross allows you to join him on a voyage down the Gowanus Canal through video footage. This small river is not known for its beautiful landscape; instead, the canal is New York City’s opaque river of industrial sludge. Shawcross documents his trips down the polluted

waterways in his camera-rigged, handmade rowboat. The boat and a map are included in the exhibit in addition to the video footage.

Being from the United Kingdom, Shawcross finds himself rowing down uncharted waters. This insight from an outsider brings new attention to the state of our environment. This project is a work of art, but it is also a work of revealing investigation, which is an area that hits close to home. Shawcross is aware of the power of the image, and his journey down reminds us of areas that still exist, but have experienced abuse resulting from industry. The handmade boat is an eye-opening ship of journeys, no matter where the destination.

Every map, photo and video reel is a part of the journeys these artists took to create these works. While many people will recognize paintings or sculpted pieces of marble as undeniable works of art, these two artists go

beyond the boundaries of what is truly art. Strong works of art are more than just something to look at; they create their own private journey for the viewer to experience. The ability to translate this experience is a rare skill that both Strachan and Shawcross possess, clearly an attribute that Judith Tannenbaum, Richard Brown Baker Curator of Contemporary Art, was able to identify in their work. Even though these two artists took two very different journies, they both unabashedly share their discoveries with the audience and remind them to not be afraid to explore what’s beyond the reeds or the stars.

Journeys: Conrad Shawcross and Tavares Strachan July 8-October 23 RISD Museum 224 Benefit St 454-6500 www.risdmuseum.org

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35

Movies

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East Side Monthly July 2011

Women in Trouble

Bridesmaids and The Double Hour reviewed Happily-ever-after isn’t exactly what it used to be. Neither are leading ladies, as witnessed by two unusual films and their equally unusual protagonists.

R-rated comedies with weddings in the mix are typically the stuff of naughty little boys (Wedding Crashers, Knocked Up, The Hangover and its sequel jump to mind). Get drunk, behave badly, and let the women lend comic support as ditzy, bitchy, patient, fussy or sensual girlfriends and wives. There are numerous packaging clichés for women as well, from various states of undress all the way up to poofy wedding gowns.

How refreshing, then, to see a film like Bridesmaids, where women play out the usual male-exclusive, outrageous clichés: talking dirty, throwing up on other women’s heads, and evacuating the debris of food poisoning into the street, under a wedding gown, no less.

If those strike you as excellent reasons to stay away from Bridesmaids rather than celebrate it, hold on a minute.

First, though hardly foremost, this film is as funny as The Hangover, Wedding Crashers and all the other cinematic little brothers that draw water from the same

well. More important, its vulgarity underscores some interesting observations about weddings, their planning, friendships among women and the often dubious role of men in both the big picture of a woman’s life and its petty little details.

From the opening scene forward, Kristen Wiig, who stars and co-wrote the screenplay with Annie Mumolo, is having a hard time of it. The bakery she sank all of her money into has failed, forcing her to work behind a jewelry counter for a guy who only hired her only because her mother is his sponsor at AA. She endures occasional sex that is one-notch above humiliation with a sleazy businessman just to have something to do.

She shares an apartment with a brother and sister who are beyond weird, and would be scary of they weren’t hilarious.

She can’t pay her share of the rent. Her junk car barely runs.

Then her lifelong friend, Maya Rudolph (excellent), asks her to be maid of honor at her long-anticipated wedding, which would be great news if Rudolph’s friendship and availability weren’t the only aspects of Wiig’s life that bring her any happiness.

When your life has stopped making any sense, it seems sensible to get involved with something, so Wiig throws herself into the planning of an event she would prefer never takes place.

Enter the rest of the bridesmaids: Rose Byrne as Rudolph’s other close friend: married, wealthy, beautiful and determined to take over the wedding plans; Melissa McCarthy, a tough, heavyset wise-cracker and sister to the groom; Ellie Kemper, a shy, gushy newlywed; and Wendi McLendon-Covey, a desperate housewife, disgruntled by years of marriage and children.

These characters seem familiar; it’s easy to draw blatant comparisons with The Hangover: beautiful Byrne for handsome Bradley Cooper, overweight and outrageous McCarthy for male equivalent Zack Galifianakis, and naïve young Kemper for the equally green Ed Helms.

The banal casting ploys combined with uninventive direction by Paul Feig (the most you can say about him is that he brings a measure of restraint to the vulgarity) make Bridesmaids an easy target.

However, the comic writing is far above average. And Wiig, as she proves

Movies

continued...

Creating Stylish Kitchens with Lasting Value for over 50 years

FOX KITCHENS 1064 Fall River Ave., (Rt. 6 & 114A) Seekonk, MA 508.336.3111 weekly on Saturday Night Live and as a standout supporting player in films like Knocked Up, Adventureland and Date Night, is a solid comedian who, it turns out, can shape a character both on page and on screen. She deftly removes her character from any kind of womanneeds-a-man cliché, and grants her the independence to be someone who is simply reacting to some hard times, seldom sensibly, rationally or with anything resembling poise, but just temporarily and very, very humorously.

The film takes a hard look at weddings from a satirically feminist perspective (Rudolph doesn’t discharge on a busy city street in that big, poofy wedding gown for nothing), just as it looks at female friendship, an absolute necessity that can nevertheless be made vulnerable by rivalry, jealousy and bad taste. Men are pointedly coincidental rather than essential to almost everything that happens, so that even when a nice one (Chris O’Dowd) shows up, he doesn’t register.

Speaking of casting ploys, Jill Clayburgh, in her final performance, plays Wiig’s mother. It was Clayburgh who set some incredible standards back in 1978 in Paul Mazursky’s An Unmarried Woman, which holds up well today and which Bridesmaids, in times like this, can’t live up to or even resemble much.

But Wiig and company can at least pay respect, in essence if not in theme. That’s both worth seeing and talking about.

A thriller with psychological overtones, The Double Hour is also a romantic mystery laced with ironic humor.

Neatly played, particularly by Ksenia Rappoport as the heroine who must deal with life-threatening danger, tragedy, irony, love and betrayal, and well directed by Giuseppe Capotondi, the film is a fascinating puzzle in three fastmoving acts.

Rappoport is a Slovenian woman relocated to Italy, working as a chambermaid at a Turin hotel, where she seems blithely content if not happy, even in the face of bosses who range from cold to predatory, and hotel guests who commit suicide.

In what at least appears to be a timid

attempt to socialize, she visits a speeddating bar, where she is uncomfortable among the men who join her to plead their cases. Then she meets Guido (Filippo Timi), a regular at the place. A former cop turned security guard, he is charming enough and good-looking enough to be assured of regular, empty, one-night stands among the clientele. But in Rappoport he discovers a quiet reserve that sets her apart.

The short first act of this tricky little film establishes sympathy and high hopes for its principal characters, introduces peripheral characters and small events that figure in the mystery to come, and ends with a jolt. As their romance begins to blossom, Rappoport and Timi are involved in a robbery at the estate where Timi works. There are guns.

And death.

Or did something entirely different take place? The film jumps forward in its second act, and we learn details through dialogue, after the fact. The details seem straightforward enough, except for a nagging policeman, his suspicions and the apparitions that haunt Rappoport.

“What’s going on here?” is not just a valid question, but a fascinating one, because it’s clear from the opening scenes that there are sure hands (ones that took a lot of notes while watching Hitchcock classics) behind the making of this film. All will be revealed, and the clues, masquerading as insignificant details as innocuous as a red bedspread, will become clear and satisfying.

All you know for certain after the first act is that Rappoport was hurt during the robbery and is better now. But as the policeman (Michele Di Mauro) continues what becomes a more and more logical line of questioning, everything that meets your eye seems doubtful, making everything you thought you knew earlier doubtful too.

The film’s title, The Double Hour, refers to digital timepieces, when they display identical hours and minutes, like 11:11. Timi tells Rappoport that when you catch sight of such a moment, you should make a wish.

Well, okay, but just be careful what you wish for.

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East Side Monthly July 2011

At School Today by Jill Davidson

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1. Every morning just before we head off for school, my three blearyeyed and crazy-haired sons eat breakfast: yogurt, cereal, milk, a bagel, waffles – on a really good day, a piece of fruit.

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2. Every morning just after the school bell rings, teachers unzip coolers, one with milk and juice and the other with food: muffins, yogurt in a tube, cereal bars or pancakes that are served in a bag at room temperature.

3. During breakfast at home, we multitask. We make lunches, sign permission slips, scan fliers fished out of backpacks.

They fight over the sports section. They eat. We leave.

4. During breakfast in the classroom, teachers and kids multitask. They take attendance, collect homework, listen to P.A. announcements. Breakfast in the classroom is available for all. Within ten minutes, the school day continues.

5. Breakfast at home happens because our family represents what is possible, not necessarily what is typical. We have resources and systems that provide enough time, money and clarity to shop for food, roust the kids from bed and ensure that they are passably clean, dressed and ready to roll. Some days, despite our best intentions and favorable conditions, the whole circus of our morning routine disintegrates. One kid or another abandons breakfast in favor of last-minute homework completion, a lost shoe or a temper tantrum. That kid is hungry until lunch, or was, before the breakfast in the classroom option.

6. According to Rhode Island Kids Count, before Providence’s breakfast in the classroom program began this year, 34 percent of the city’s lowincome children participated in the universal breakfast program. Eighty-eight percent of Providence Public Schools’ students qualify for free or reduced price lunch. While some of those children may eat breakfast at home, many do not. Unless they ate breakfast when they arrived at school, those kids were hungry until lunch.

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Steven M. Kane, Ph.D. 7. Prior to the breakfast in the classroom program, Providence Public Schools already provided free breakfast for every student without regard to financial status. Most schools served it in the cafeteria before the school day started. Kids had to get there early enough to grab some breakfast, and they had to be hungry and focused enough to eat it in the same space where all of their friends were running around, playing, gossiping and blowing off steam before the school day started. Though everyone could theoretically have breakfast, not enough kids actually did.

8. Hundreds of low-income urban communities nationwide are implementing the breakfast in the classroom program. Food manufacturers produce items for the program that meet state nutrition standards. More food eaten means more food purchased. Follow the money, if you’re so inclined.

9. Kate Keizler, parent, Vartan Gregorian Elementary School: “When I look at the breakfast in the classroom program, I see students who have what they need to take command of their morning, and that sets the tone for them to feel in control for the rest of the day. I see a society that is committed to making sure that kids get what they need to be ready to learn and enjoy school.”

10. Kathy Sullivan, third grade teacher at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School: “I think that the breakfast in the classroom program is a good

thing because more kids actually eat breakfast, and it doesn’t really take up any extra time at the start of the day.

But it’s not right to say that it doesn’t require extra time during the day. The kids are having an extra drink, and that means an extra bathroom trip later. We don’t have that kind of time. Kids can’t miss ten minutes of the most important teaching time of the day.”

11. If kids are going to earn the NECAP scores needed to demonstrate that they are learning at the pace the state has set for them, they need both that breakfast and that extra bathroom break. Somehow, we need to find a little breathing room.

12. Ellen Santaniello, parent of a second grader at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School: “I worry that our kids are being required to take highly processed, sugary food at 9am. For my kid, this is like being given drugs.

Since this program began, her lunchbox comes home nearly full, she is frantically hungry at 3pm, and both her teachers and I have noticed a decrease in focus and self control. I felt I had no choice but to tell her teacher that she can’t participate, but now she feels isolated and ostracized while the other kids eat.”

13. Does the choice really need to be between no breakfast at all and an industrially produced breakfast in a bag? What would it take to create other options?

Jill Davidson can be reached at whathappenedatschool@gmail.com or her blog, providenceschools.blogspot.com

Providence, RI 401-454-5700 kanesmk@verizon.net Inquiries invited

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July 2011 East Side Monthly

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East Side Monthly July 2011

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Finance by Betsey Purinton | illustration by Ashley MacLure

Morocco in Providence?

• • • •

Under Stress Recognizing the emotional needs in money management nisms, not the causes. As a result, I failed to develop the kind of honest rapport that comes when an advisor works with the ebb and flow of a client’s emotional life and understands when to press an issue and when to step back.

Two years later Jan died. She didn’t run out of money; she left money.

As I looked back on my relationship with Jan, I realized that I could have provided her with a more meaningful and helpful relationship. Since then I have

played a stronger, supportive role with clients, without giving up the necessity of being candid and forthright.

I haven’t seen too many cases like Jan’s, where clients are at risk of running out of money; most of my clients are still accumulating money or have a workable retirement income plan. But recently I had a similar experience with a client, Theresa. Not unlike Jan, Theresa sold her house after an unpleasant divorce. Theresa’s difficult situation was compounded when she left a very stressful job and had to tap into her savings. When she finally did land a new position, it was at lower pay, and she still needed to use her savings on occasion.

This time I took a different approach.

Theresa listed the things she might have to give up in order not to dip into savings and sought my advice. She was relieved when I told her not to

downsize her modest but comfortable two-bedroom apartment, advised her to keep her pet, and recommended that she should continue giving to her favorite charity because it created meaning in her life.

However, I was tough on the question of whether and when she could work part-time and when she could retire. In Theresa’s case, full-time employment is critical to the success of her retirement plans. In the end, she will still likely run out of money before the end of her life, but she can forestall this by continuing to work as long as she can.

When a client is at risk of eventually running out of money, it becomes critical to create at least one back-up plan. While I am encouraging Theresa to work, one day she may not be able to. My error with Jan was that I was focused solely on her and didn’t explore possible extended family/friends contingencies, which might have provided a little breathing room and less urgency to make painful adjustments. My approach with Theresa is different. She has three sons, with whom she has good relationships. But she has never had a serious talk with them about her money.

Many clients are loathe to turn to their children for help. Financial independence is a compelling motivation to keep money out of family discussions. And there never seems to be a good time to have a financial talk with children.

Theresa is bringing one of her sons to meet with me and I will share his mother’s finances. I haven’t decided how much to say yet – it really is a meeting to start a dialogue – but hopefully I can reduce some of Theresa’s anxiety as well as introduce her son to the kinds of help he may be able to provide.

Stress in people’s lives is not going away. As difficult as life is for my clients, I derive great meaning helping them navigate today’s disappointments in order to prepare for tomorrow.

Betsey Purinton, CFP® is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at StrategicPoint Investment Advisors.

You can e-mail her at bpurinton@strategicpoint.com.

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I started my career in wealth management, I inherited a client from one of my colleagues. As a recent, eager graduate of Bryant University’s Certificate Program in Financial Planning, I was anxious to apply the concepts I had learned. What my client taught me was that academic theory and life can be two different things.

Jan was a long-term client of the firm. She was older, divorced and living alone. There was a son, but she didn’t have much contact with him. When I first met Jan and asked about her life, she had an aura of sadness about her.

Life had been difficult, and she sought solace in small but expensive luxuries: massages, private piano lessons and group therapy. She lived a quiet but interesting life, in a manner that allowed her to do what she enjoyed most.

Jan’s lifestyle was not extravagant.

However, she was on a strict budget, having sold her home to provide herself with needed income. If she went through her cash and investments, there was no back-up plan. In essence, she would outlive her assets.

If there is a primary theme to financial planning, it is to help clients manage their investments and cash flow in order to grow and protect their assets over the course of their expected lifespan.

Certified Financial Planner practitioners create retirement projections that show, under certain assumptions, how long a client’s assets will last. From there, the advisor and the client discuss ways to handle the risks surrounding their money and the lifestyles they have chosen.

Dutifully, I ran Jan’s retirement numbers, which revealed what I expected: she was on track to run out of money in seven years, at age 75. When I approached Jan with the findings, she was resistant, not wanting to recognize that some of her small pleasures might have to end.

I remember feeling frustrated. Jan had no sense of alarm or urgency. Did she not worry about what might happen when the last penny was spent? In my inexperience I failed to recognize that Jan was struggling under a great deal of stress which I couldn’t fully appreciate – I saw the coping mecha-

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East Side Monthly July 2011

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Pajama Monologues

by Bob Mariani

Dinner with the Great One A restaurant and a meeting to remember DentPlus

I think what I

like best about this story is that years from now my daughter, Jennifer, will be telling it to her children and probably her grandchildren.

It began when at 15 she was smitten enough with the talents of operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti to go out and spend her own hardearned babysitting money on a CD of his.

So when I received an invitation from my brother to attend the opening of a new Italian restaurant in Purchase, NY at which Pavarotti was rumored to be an honored guest, I suggested to Jen that she should come with me and perhaps see the Great One up close and personal. The prospect seemed so far beyond the realm of possibility to her that she agreed somewhat reticently, aware that such momentous occasions are all too often disappointing. In other words, it seemed just too good to be true.

I also invited my Aunt Marilyn to the evening’s festivities. Marilyn, at 65-plus, has been a lifelong opera singer and devotee, and happens to think a religion which worships Luciano Pavarotti would be a wonderful idea. My brother and I decided it would be more fun if we did not even tell her she might meet Pavarotti that night. She expected nothing but an evening out and a tasty repast.

When we arrived a fashionable half-hour late, the parking lot was nearly full, and a long, white stretch-limo was already parked at the front entrance.

The restaurant was an informal trattoria, a single large room where everyone could see and be seen.

We came in the door and standing not 25 feet from us was Luciano Pavarotti himself! He’d just finished his brief speech wishing the restaurant owner success.

There was no mistaking his broad face and smile, his effusive Italian gestures.

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Pavarotti Jen and I stared in starstruck disbelief. My Aunt Marilyn was still checking out the room and hadn’t yet noticed Pavarotti.

“Look, Aunt Mar’. See who that is?” I said.

Maybe in a Bugs Bunny cartoon I’ve seen Elmer Fudd’s chin drop like hers did just then, but never in real life. I thought for a moment she might have dislocated her jaw.

“It’s Pavarotti,” I said, knowing that she was not believing what she was seeing. Marilyn was, perhaps for the first time in her life, speechless – but not for long.

Pavarotti was surrounded by eager fans, but Aunt Marilyn grabbed Jen’s hand and wrangled her way into the receiving line. In a few moments they were faceto-face with Pavarotti. My intrepid Aunt reached out to shake the Great One’s hand.

“And this is my niece, Jennifer,” she said boldly. “She came all the way from Rhode Island to meet you.”

Pavarotti made brief eye contact with Mar’ and then looked at my daughter’s incredulous young face.

He smiled and extended his large operatic hand to hers.

“Aaah, la belle flower!” he intoned in a mixture of Italian and English.

Even his speaking voice sounded musical. Jennifer smiled shyly as Pavarotti gently kissed her hand.

Later on, at a table across the room from Pavarotti, we had a wonderful meal. But Jen’s eyes, which still had not quite returned to their normal size, never left the Great One. I knew she was wishing she’d had the self-confidence to ask for his autograph, and so after supper, I went over to Pavarotti’s table.

Handing him a pen and a menu, I asked him for his autograph. “For la belle flower,” I reminded him.

His face lit up again as he scrawled something unintelligible.

I returned to our table and gave it to Jen who regarded me as if I had just presented her with the Hope Diamond.

I like to think it made her realize that sometimes life actually delivers on what it promises.

Bob Mariani and his brother, John, have published a memoir, Almost Golden, about growing up in the North Bronx in the fifties. Available at www.bbotw.com or on Amazon. com.

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Bonded & insured July 2011 East Side Monthly

43

Thank you for your patience.

We are working hard!

Follow us on Facebook or our website for our opening but it looks like McBride’s will be “Born on the 4th of July.”

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44

M&M

East Side Monthly July 2011

401-397-7662 www.mmlandscapingri.com

"The LJ's BBQ 2U Food Truck is Rolling!

Opinion

by Keith Burkitt

Track us on Facebook, Twitter or LJsBBQ.com

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Overcoming the small business blues Like me, you probably had a challenging spring this year: day after day, week after week, month after month of clouds, rain, fog and whining. (OK, so it was a couple weeks, and unlike last year, we have not had to fish off our porches or shop while using snorkel gear; that still doesn’t mean we’re willing to accept this sitting down.) In short, Rhode Island had a typical spring, and we resented it.

My annual spring weather depression was acutely exacerbated by paying way too much attention to Rhode Island politics. However, several weeks ago, I brightened when I saw the entire Rhode Island House rise as one in applause for beleaguered Representative Robert Watson following his floor speech explaining how it was he came to be arrested in Connecticut, suspected of driving under the influence while simultaneously in illegal possession of marijuana.

Less enlightened organizations might have required one of their members to come up to a certain standard of behavior when operating a moving vehicle, but that’s exactly why those other organizations are not our state legislature.

Since our legislature is the home of our future magistrates, judges and federally indicted wrongdoers, we should probably pay attention when it gives standing ovations.

(I think the whole episode sends a clear signal to the Narragansett Indians that if they ever want to win legislative approval for a casino, they can assure themselves of a far more enthusiastic response if the casino in question includes an area called the “Bong Room.”)

Even after having dodged the well-advertised rapture bullet in late May, with the rain predicted to

continue, I was disconsolate (probably not as disconsolate as David Cicilline reviewing his current poll numbers or any number of former North Providence politicians after sentencing, but disconsolate nonetheless). As with other Rhode Islanders, I was wearing body language clearly reflecting the potential for a major road rage incident if things didn’t change.

Then one morning as I lay in my bed experiencing the very depths of absolute gloom, a voice came to me. It was one of those clairaudient moments where the voice was so clear it was as if someone were right next to me saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Well, there it was, wasn’t it? I had forgotten that there is brightness in even the bleakest times if only we look. Yes, I would make lemonade.

Without hesitating, I dressed and went down to the local food store to get myself as many lemons as would fit in one of those clear plastic bags. (A shockingly large number as it turns out, and if you ever decide to get a large number of lemons, you may want to gain from my experience and double bag. While not entirely intuitive, when those little yellow suckers break through a bag, start rolling around, and then get run over and trampled by store patrons, well, floor conditions quickly go from bad to approximately lethal. Even worse, in the episode’s aftermath, there’s every chance you’ll be looking at years of litigation – or at least the store may be. [Hopefully I’m not on any surveillance tapes.])

Coming home and using recycled building materials (I consider myself both planet friendly and cheap), I had, by mid-afternoon, erected what I consider a more

than acceptable lemonade stand, which sat proudly at the very end of the driveway. My quick construction was explained by my zeal and also my wanting to accomplish the whole effort before the new Rhoda Perry sponsored tax on sugary drinks (a penny per ounce) took hold, eating hungrily into my profits. To her credit, Senator Perry says that the tax on sugary drinks is, according to her own words, “a matter of public health,” a view of public health that must have eluded her a couple years back when she championed the continuation of legal indoor prostitution. But then, I suppose we shouldn’t lump together childhood obesity and STDs. Perhaps in my haste to heed the aforementioned voice and avoid the incipient tax, I had overlooked the effects that 1) the economy, 2) my pricing model, 3) the constant rain, and/or 4) my use of the garden hose as my water source had on people’s spending habits. After two days, my sales remained lackluster – that is if you consider zero sales in two days to be lackluster.

Being the entrepreneurial, neversay-die sort I am, I viewed the situation as a challenge to be met, one that demanded a never-wavering effort, one which would necessarily be combined with the mega-hours empire builders have to put in to be successful. My wife looked at it in somewhat harsher terms, pointing out that since we live in the last house on a dead-end street, putting up a lemonade stand was lunacy exemplified and I, in turn, was a moron.

Sometimes she’s just not supportive.

If you’d like to buy some of Keith’s lemonade or comment on his article, he can be reached at kburkitt@ymail.com.

1860 Broad Street • Cranston www.thecupcakerie.net • 467-2601 Kristin@thecupcakerie.net

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July 2011 East Side Monthly

45

Why do this?

We put the "Life" in

Lifestyle

• Colds & Flu • Minor Trauma • Sprains & Strains • X-Ray/Labs Available

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46

East Side Monthly July 2011

100 Grove Avenue East Providence, RI

401.434.6913 • www.oceanstatemontessori.org

Calendar

by Chelsea Sherman

July

Summer Special

music | performance | social happenings | galleries | learn | sports

$7 OFF Manicure/Pedicure Monday & Tuesday

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DON’T MISS THIS MONTH: 10 events at the top of our list

1

Angell Nails and Spa

490-3137 • 15 So. Angell St, Providence

Mon-Sat 9-7:30, Sun 10-5, after hours appts available

Wings Done Right

Wooly Fair, July 30 at the Steel Yard in Providence, 27 Sims Ave. www.thewooled.com.

Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, July 21 at the Comcast Center. www.livenation.com.

2

Concerts Under the Elms, July 14, 24 & 28 on the John Brown House Museum lawn. www.rihs.org.

3

Newport Summer Comedy Series Presents Steven Wright, July 21 at the Newport Yachting Center. www. newportcomedy.com.

4

20 sauces

. We Deliver!

Burgers, sandwiches & more

369-7551

250 Brook St, Providence

Hedwig and the Angry Inch presented by Perishable Theater in association with Trinity Rep, June 23-July 31 at the Pell Chafee Performance Center. www.perishable.org.

5

MUSIC arena & club | classical arena & club COMCAST CENTER July 9: Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow. July 10: Soundgarden. July 13: Vans Warped Tour. July 16: Brad Paisley. July 17: Lil Wayne. July 19: Motley Crew, Poison & New York Dolls. July 21: Phil Lesh & Bob Weir. July 22: Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. July 23: 311 & Sublime with Rome. July 24: Tim McGraw.

885 South Main Street, Mansfield, MA. 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.

DUNKIN’ DONUTS CENTER July 27-31: Cirque de Soleil: Quidam. 1 La Salle Square. 800-745-3000, www. dunkindonutscenter.com.

EFFIN’S LAST RESORT July 1: *batteries not included. July 9: Take 3. July 16: The Rock. 325 Farnum Pike, Smithfield. 349-3500, www. effinsri.com

FIREHOUSE 13 July 13: Truckfighters, a progressive rock band from Sweden. 41 Central Street. 270-1801, www.firehouse13.org.

FOXWOODS July 1-Sept 4: Legends in Concert, including tributes to Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Cher, and more. July 15: Loretta Lynn. July 26: Salt-N-Pepa. July 29: Steely Dan. Rte. 2, Mashantucket, CT. 866-646-0609, www.mgmatfoxwoods.com.

LADDER 133 Jun 25: The Criminals. 133 Douglas Avenue, Providence. 272-7427.

LUPO’S July 10: Stephen Marley. July 18: Matisyahu. July 26: Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto. July 29: The White Panda. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, www. lupos.com.

Rhode Island Cape Verdean Independence Day, July 10 at India Point Park. www.ricapeverdeanheritage.com.

6

Providence Restaurant Weeks, July 10-23 in Providence. www.providencerestaurantweeks.com.

7

Movies on the Block, Thursdays thru Sep 29 on the corner of Westminster and Union Streets in Providence. www.indowncity.com/news.

8

35th Annual Save The Bay Swim, July 23 beginning at the Newport Naval Station. www.savebay.org/swim.

9

Providence 10 Downtown Walking Tours, July 14

beginning at 130 Westminster Street. www.rihs.org.

July 2011 East Side Monthly

47

Add some life with Aqua-Life

Aqua-Life Aquarium Celebrating our 30th Year!

Specializing in new and rare species of fish 389 Wickenden Street, Providence 401-331-5376 • www.aqualifecentral.com

Calendar

continued...

GOVERNOR HENRY LIPPITT HOUSE MUSEUM GARDEN July 10: Flannery Brothers Band performs 3:00-4:00 pm in the Lippitt House Garden. Suggested donation is $5/family. Location: 199 Hope Street. For rain date, call 453-0688 after 1pm the day of the concert. www.preserveri.org THE MET July 1: Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons. July 8: KRS-ONE. July 15: NRBQ. July 16: The Slip. July 30: Tribal Seeds.

Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. www.themetri.com.

MOHEGAN SUN July 4: Uncle Kracker. July 9 & 10: Keith Urban with Jake Owen. July 14: Warrant.

July 22: Rihanna with Cee Lo Green.

July 23: Tim McGraw with Luke Bryan and The Band Perry. July 23: Saving Abel. July 30: Josh Groban. Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-4776849, www.mohegansun.com.

PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER July 15: Brian Mcnight. 220 Weybosset Street. 421-ARTS, www.ppacri.com.

CLASSICAL & SUCH OPERA PROVIDENCE Jun 10-31: Free outdoor concerts every Sunday evening from 5 pm to 6:30 pm on the corner of Charles Street and Branch Avenue. 331-6060, www.operaprovidence.org.

music fests

New England’s Most Authentic Home-Style Indian Restaurant and Indian Spices/Groceries Store

48

Not Just Spices

Not Just Snacks

Indian Spices & Groceries Store

Snacks, Biryani, Kababs, Naans, Veg and Non-Veg Curry

836 Hope Street, Providence 351-6555 Open 7 Days

833 Hope Street, Providence 831-1150 Open 7 Days

East Side Monthly July 2011

NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL July 30-31. Includes The Decemberists, Freelance Whales, The Felice Brothers, Typhoon, The Ebony Hillbillies, Earl Scruggs, Amos Lee, Gillian Welch and more. Fort Adams State Park, Newport.

848-5055, www.newportfolkfest.net.

NEWPORT MUSIC FESTIVAL July 7-24: The Newport Music Festival presents a series of 57 concerts in the Newport Mansions and at other venues around Newport. 37 American and international artists from 17 countries will perform. 849-0700, www.newportmusic.org.

BLITHEWOLD’S MUSIC AT SUNSET SERIES Jun 15: Dick Lupino Jazz Trio. Bring your own picnic and wine. 101 Ferry Road, Bristol. 253-2707, www.blithewold.org.

Concert Under the Elms CONCERTS UNDER THE ELMS July 14: Duke Robillard Band. July 24: Pendragon. July 28: The Driftwoods. John Brown House Museum lawn, 52 Power Street. 331-8575 x 33, www.rihs.org.

PHILHARMONIC SUMMER POPS SERIES July 4: India Point Park, 7 pm. July 8: Narragansett Town Beach, 8 pm. All performances by the RI Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Resident Conductor Francisco Noya. Free of charge and open to the public. 2487024, www.ri-philharmonic.org.

SUNSET MUSIC SERIES July 9: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones.

July 10: Keb’ Mo’ Benefit Concert for the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. July 14: An Evening with moe.

July 22: The Robert Cray Band. July 29: Doobie Brothers. Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport.

846-1600, www.newportwaterfrontevents.com.

COMEDY CONNECTION July 1-2: Corey Manning. July 5: Carlos Mencia. July 8-9: Harrison Greenbaum. July 15-16: Artie Rob. July 22-23: Corey Rodriguez. July 29-30: Shaun Bedgood. 39 Warren Avenue, East Providence. 438-8383, www.ricomedyconnection.com.

FOXWOODS & MGM GRAND July 1-3: Rich Vos. July 2: Tracy Morgan. July 7-9: John Caparulo. July 14-16: Broken Lizzard’s Kevin Heffernan & Steve Lemme. July 21-23: Bobby Lee. July 23: Cedric the Entertainer. Rte. 2, Mashantucket, CT. 866646-0609, www.mgmatfoxwoods. com.

COMEDY

MOHEGAN SUN July 1-2: Jim Dailakis featuring Mike Burton with special guest Daren Dillon. July 9: RC Smith featuring Keith Anthony with special guest Quentin Heggs. July 15: Paul Bond featuring Perry Gardner with special guest Tracy Tedesco. July 16: Gilbert Gottfried featuring Perry Gardner with special guest Tracy Tedesco. July 22-23: Gary DeLena featuring Mike Siscoe with special guest Dave Konig. July 29: Al Lubel featuring Randy Levin with special guest Helen Hong. Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT. 800-477-6849, www. mohegansun.com.

CATCH A RISING STAR July 1-2: Max Dolcelli. July 8-9: Marion Grodin. July 15-16: Joe Moffa. July 22-23: James Dorsey. July 29-30: Eddie Clark.

Fridays: Comic Hypnotist Frank Santos Jr. Twin River, 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln. 723-3200, www.twinriver.com.

NEWPORT SUMMER COMEDY SERIES July 2: John Pinette. July 7: Bob Saget.

July 21: Steven Wright. July 23: Jeff Dunham. July 30: Lisa Lampinelli. July 31: Brian Regan. Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport. 800745-3000, www.newportcomedy.com.

PERFORMANCE comedy | dance | theatre

Never too late for breakfast

DANCE STADIUM THEATRE July 9: Rising Stars Dance Academy presents their 9th Annual Recital. July 17: The Fancie Dancers Visit Fabulous “Las Vegas.” 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 762-4545, www.stadiumtheatre.com.

THEATRE PERISHABLE THEATRE June 23-July 31: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, presented by Perishable Theatre in association with Trinity Rep; at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire Street. Perishable Theatre, 95 Empire Street. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.

TRINITY REP Thru July 2: The Family: A Musical About the Mob, based on the book by Arlene Violet. Trinity Rep, 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, www.trinityrep.com.

VARIETY PERISHABLE THEATRE July 1: Live Bait: True Stories From Real People. Thursdays and Saturdays: Improv Jones comedy troupe. 95 Empire Street. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.

SOCIAL HAPPENINGS expos | fundraisers | seasonal festivals

ing traditional music, dance, food and more. India Point Park. 617-9833, www. ricapeverdeanheritage.com BLACK SHIPS FESTIVAL July 14-17: This festival emphasizing Japanese art and culture offers a variety of events including a formal gala, arts and crafts such as origami and ikebana, martial arts and a Japanese tea ceremony. Newport. 846-2720, www. blackshipsfestival.com ST. MARY’S FEAST July 20-24: Festival and parade honoring the annual St. Mary’s Feast Honors in Cranston. The festival includes carnival rides, amusements, food vendors, arts and crafts, and a fireworks display beginning at 8 pm on the 24th. www.sangennarofeast.com/feast-cranston_main.htm

for foodies PROVIDENCE RESTAURANT WEEKS July 10-23: Choose from menus at nearly 100 restaurants with three-course lunch specials for $12.95 and dinner specials for $29.95. www.providencerestaurantweeks.com.

EAST PROVIDENCE HERITAGE FESTIVAL July 15-17: three-day outdoor food and music festival. Pierce Memorial Stadium and Field. 435-7514, www. epheritagefest.org.

for movie buffs NEWPORTFILM July 7: Free outdoor community screening at Queen Anne Square at Trinity Church in Newport, sundown. July 14:

MOVIES ON THE BLOCK Thru Sep 29 (Thursdays): Providence’s only outdoor movie screen, showing pop hits and cult classics at dusk.

Check website for updates. Corner of Westminster and Union Streets. www. indowncity.com/news.

FAMILY FILM SERIES July 30: Art Behind the Scenes. Magicians Penn & Teller bring the magic and mystery of artistic creation to video by going behind the scenes to discover the creative process. Free to the public.

RISD Museum’s Chace Center Galleries, 20 North Main Street. 454-6500, www. risdmuseum.org

FUNDRAISERS ANNUAL ADOPTION RI SUMMER CAMP FUNDRAISER July 27: Join Adoption Rhode Island for a night of food and festivities to raise money to send the children in the care of the state of RI to summer camp.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. The Harborside Lobstermania, Water Street, Warwick. 865-6000, www.eventful.com.

TALC ART GALLERY OPENING AND FUNDRAISER July 7: The Adolescent Leadership Council of Hasbro Children’s Hospital will be showing an exhibit of artwork of current and previous participants

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ART NEWPORT ABOARD SEAFAIR Thru July 4, Jul 7-11: Inaugural arts festival takes place aboard the SeaFair, a 228-foot yacht, which will remain dockside during the events. Includes fine art glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and collectables. Newport Shipyard, 1 Washington Street, Newport. www. expoships.com.

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WOOLY FAIR July 30: Providence’s own do-it-yourself art carnival. 2pm-1am. The Steel Yard in Providence, 27 Sims Ave. www. thewooled.com RI CAPE VERDEAN INDEPENDENCE DAY July 10: 35th annual celebration featur-

Free outdoor community screening at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, sundown. July 22-23: Mini-festival weekend, including newportFILM kids. See website for prices and details. 6492784, www.newportfilm.com

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49

Calendar

Digitize!

continued...

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beginning the month of July. Tickets to the opening and fundraiser are $25 and include appetizers and drinks. Brown/ RISD Hillel Gallery. 444-7563. www. hasbro-brown-talc.org.

MARTINIS FOR MELANOMA July 17: The Melanoma Foundation of New England is holding an event at O’Briens Pub in Newport to raise money to help spread the word about sun 6:17 PM Page 1 safety and educate the public about skin cancer. Tickets are $25 at the door or online and include beer and wine for the first hour. 501 Thames Street, Newport. www.melanomafoundationne.org.

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East Side Monthly July 2011

Benefit Street: A Mile of History

DISCOVERING ROGER WILLIAMS WALKING TOUR Thru August 29: Walk from Slate Rock Park on the corner of Power and Gano Streets, continuing for 1.5 miles to Roger Williams Memorial. 944-5134.

DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE WALKING TOURS July 14: The RI Historical Society and The Providence Foundation have partnered to host free walking tours following the four celebration themes of Providence’s 375th anniversary. July’s theme is “Freedom.” Starts at 130 Westminster Street. 621-6122, www.rihs.org.

WATERFIRE July 2: Full lighting. July 16: Full lighting.

July 30: Full lighting. See website for full schedule. www.waterfire.org.

GALLERIES BELL GALLERY AT BROWN Thru Jul 10: Among the Breakage: New Painting from Providence, including works by Sam Dukat, Shawn Gilheeney, Ernest Jolicoeur, Maria Napolitano, Lisa Perez, Ara Peterson, Masha Riskin, Monica Shinn, Dan Talbot, and Jason Travers. List Art Center, 64 College Street. 863-2932, www.brown.edu.

GALLERY NIGHT July 21: Featuring more than 20 galleries, live music, refreshments, celebrity guides, and free Art Buses. Central Art Bus depot and info booth at One

GALLERY Z Thru Jul 2: Photographers and Sculptors of Our Times. July 7 – Aug 6: Portrait of Self-Reflection. 259 Atwells Avenue. www.galleryzprov.com.

PAWTUCKET ARTS COLLABORATIVE Thru July 31: Masked and Unmasked.

PAC Members’ Exhibit. PAC Gallery, 17 Main Street, Pawtucket. www.pawtucketartscollaborative.org.

PROVIDENCE ART CLUB Thru July 1: Tanya Trinkaus Glass and Mary Kosowski in Dodge House Gallery; and Marjorie Ball and Nancy GaucherThomas in Maxwell Mays Gallery. July 5 – 22: Open Painting Exhibitions. 11 Thomas Street. 331-1114, www.providenceartclub.org.

Investigators. 100 South Street. 2735437, www.childrenmuseum.org.

ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO Thru Aug 19: Summer ZooCamp, with weekly sessions for kids ages 4-5 and 1st to 12th grade. July 13: Sunset Safari, providing families with an opportunity to experience the zoo with no crowds and an interpretive guide, snack and story time. Registration required. July 15: Zoo Birthday Club: Bald Eagle Celebration. July 22: ZooARTyssey. July 23: Zoo Family Overnight. 1000 Elmwood Avenue. 785-3510, www.rwpzoo.org.

STADIUM THEATRE July 5-29: Kids Kamp, a summer theater camp for children that runs in three-week session intervals. Each session is $325 per child. 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. 762-4545, www. stadiumtheatre.com.

RISD MUSEUM Thru July 31: Cocktail Culture, the first multi-disciplinary exhibition to explore the social ritual of drinking and entertainment through the lens of fashion and design. 224 Benefit Street. 4546500, www.risdmuseum.org.

MARCH OF DUCKS July 7: Sponsor a rubber duck to help Middletown students support the Middletown Education Collaborative. Third Beach Boat Ramp, Middletown. 8496840, www.mecmec.org.

KIDS +FAMILY

LEARN discussion | instruction | tour

PROVIDENCE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Wednesdays: Wheels at Work, where kids can explore and learn about a different vehicle each week. July 7: Discovery Studio, the museums new open-ended art and science exploration space, opens. July 14-17: Nature

discussion GOVERNOR HENRY LIPPITT HOUSE MUSEUM Fridays: May-Oct., tour this amazing 19th century house at 11 am, 12 pm, 1

pm and 2 pm. Adult $10, children under 12 free. Tours can also be scheduled by calling the Museum office in advance at 401-453-0688 www.preserveri.org

INSTRUCTION LIFE DRAWING CLASS Tuesdays: Bring your drawing utensils and paper and sketch from a live model. AS220, 115 Empire Street. 8319327, www.as220.org.

MEN’S A CAPPELLA SINGING Thursdays: Open rehearsals with the Narragansett Bay Chorus. Open to men who like to sing a cappella.

Knights of Columbus Hall, 15 Bassett Street, North Providence. www.singnbc.com.

PERISHABLE THEATRE Sundays: Intermediate Ballet, and American Tribal Belly Dance. Wednesdays: Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance. Thursdays: Hop to the Beat Hip Hop classes. Saturdays: Belly Dance. 95 Empire Street. 331-2695, www.perishable.org.

SPORTS 35TH ANNUAL SAVE THE BAY SWIM July 23: Swimmers and kayakers participate in the 1.7 mile route from the Newport Naval Station to Potter’s

Cove in Jamestown to advocate for the Bay and raise critical funds to support work in advocacy, habitat restoration and education. 272-3540, www.savebay.org/swim.

NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL POLO SERIES Thru Sept 24 (Saturdays): Public exhibition polo matches, featuring teams from around the world competing against USA. Glen Farm Polo Grounds, 715 East Main Road, Portsmouth. 846-0200, www.newportinternationalpolo.com.

PAWSOX July 1: Rochester Red Wings. July 2-3: Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. July 9-10: Buffalo Bisons. July 14-17: Durham Bulls. July 18-21: Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. July 30-31: Louisville Bats.

McCoy Stadium, 1 Columbus Avenue, Pawtucket. www.pawsox.com.

CAMPBELL’S HALL OF FAME TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS July 4-10: The Van Alen Cup. Top male players come to Newport direct from Wimbledon to compete for the cup and $442,500 in prize money.

Newport, RI. www.tennisfame.com.

To have your listing included in the East Side Monthly Calendar, please send press releases or event information to esm@providenceonline.com.

Please send submissions at least one month prior to event date.

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51

Classifieds

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A+ INTERIOR PAINTING Fine interiors. 20+ yrs. experience.

Highest quality work. Many references. Fully insured. Based on the East Side. (RI Reg. #19226). Call Patrick, 226-8332.

BEST FRIENDS PET SERVICE N- More. Are your pets ready for your summer vacation? Petsitting & overnights, your home or mine.

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CHRIS’ LAMP REPAIR We Make House Calls!!! ✯ Repairing all types of Lamps ✯ Vintage Lighting Specialist ✯ Chandelier Repairs ✯ Serving the East Side for over 15 years ✯ Fully Insured

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East Side Monthly July 2011

Cellars, Attics & Garages Cleaned Unwanteds Removed ❖ Small Demolitions Garages, Sheds, etc.

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AUDIO/VIDEO HELP If you need some help with your TV, home theater or stereo, call me at 401-383-4102. Jon Bell, Simply Sight & Sound. Reasonable rates.

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DOROTHY’S CLEANING We clean your home as our own!

References & free estimates. Call 401-274-7871 or 401-524-7453.

EAST SIDE HANDYMAN 34 years. Repairs, upgrades & renovations. References. Insured. Reg. #3052. Call 270-3682.

We Purchase Junk Vehicles and Repairable Vehicles For Recycling at Premium Prices. High Mileage, Emission Problems, Accident Damage or Junk Vehicles Call Paul @ 401639-9425 or visit us @ www.JunkThatAuto.com

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53

East of Elmgrove

by Elizabeth Rau | illustration by Jessica Pollak

The No-Fuss Wardrobe The joys of forgoing style for comfort I’m sorry to admit that I know Maria and Arnold have split. Maria grew tired of Arnold’s womanizing, which included fathering a child with a household maid and, even worse, groping, a truly detestable offense. (Hands off fellows!)

I know about this celebrity breakup because it was on the front page of the greatest newspaper in the world, just below a story about those courageous rebel fighters in Libya getting blown to bits by pro-Gadhafi forces.

The Shriver-Schwarzenegger story was an all-time low for the New York Times. Mixing the trivial with death makes my stomach turn.

But these are tough times for daily papers.

With a decline in the number of people reading newspapers, editors across the country are scrambling to sell their product. Hence we see drivel.

We see stories about Angelina’s bump – not.

We see stories about Pippa’s slinky dress.

We see the weekly yoga pose.

The most egregious example of this vacuous journalism is a new column in the Times called What I Wore. Women prattle on in exhaustive detail about the clothes they wore during a week in their hectic lives, what with all those gallery openings and charity dinners. No detail is spared.

I nearly dozed off reading a recent post by Amanda Hearst, a 27-year-old editor for Marie Claire magazine: “I was still kind of groggy from being in Europe for the shows, so I woke up trying to figure out a way to incorporate flats into my outfit. I just can’t deal with heels anymore. So I put on black Chanel boots over ribbed DKNY tights and a blue and white batik-print Zara tulip skirt with an ivory short-sleeved turtleneck sweater from Michael Kors. I headed to a Core Fusion class at Exhale, for which I wore black Lululemon leggings with a white American Apparel tank top.”

Let’s all take a deep breath for Amanda.

So many choices. What to do?

If it’s any consolation, I, too, have had it with heels. It’s impossible to herd 11 boys off the playground wearing my black grosgrain Kate Spade pumps with 54

East Side Monthly July 2011

6-inch glitter spikes that light up a room when I make an entrance. Fed up, I chucked the shoes into the forest behind Patterson Park, where they sit today among a bed of lilies.

What I Wore should be called What A Bore.

I don’t care about Miu Miu flats or Jimmy Choo totes or Akris shirtdresses with blue watercolor prints of Capri on them. That should be obvious to anyone who knows me. Most days I look like I just stepped off the midnight train from Fargo, North Dakota. My beloved uniform consists of cords, clogs and a turtleneck, which I wear year-round, except in August, sadly, the only warm month in New England.

Clothes are not a big priority in our house. My two young sons tend to wear the first thing they touch in their dresser drawers, usually a stained Red Sox T-shirt and jeans roughed up at the knees. Now and then I encourage them to put on a clean shirt for church. That pleading is inevitably met with, “Mom, I’m not changing. It’s my life.’’

I’ve taught them well.

When did this obsession with clothes begin? Sure, some grown-ups have always enjoyed getting dolled up, even

for a trip to the market. But over the years this preoccupation with dress has trickled down to the masses, most notably to teens and young adults (like Amanda), who spend far too much time and money worrying about the way they look. Do they really need those $250 Ugg boots for a math class?

When I was kid we wouldn’t be caught dead in anything but jeans, flannel shirts and desert boots. We wore peacoats in the winter and cut-offs in the summer.

Cheerleaders were the only ones who wore lime-green Pappagallo flats and plaid wool skirts with big safety pins on the side.

My advice to all, young and old alike, is to resist the temptation to be stylish.

Do not search for your aesthetic. If we all dressed like slobs – jeans, comfy tops, shoes with no elevation – imagine how much time we’d save, not to mention money. A boardroom of ladies and gents in Levis!

To help others make the switch to simplicity, I’ve started my own blog about attire: I rolled out of bed feeling achy all over so I decided to wear clothes that barely touch my body. I retrieved from the banister my black cotton sweats

from Bob’s that say, “Sweet Princess’’ on the snug-fitting part. My sons were appalled by my choice and begged me to change. I did.

I put on my black cords from Gap and discovered, to my dismay, that they had a large white spot on the right knee, marred during a tub cleaning with Clorox-laced Soft Scrub. I called my best friend in Cleveland and she suggested coloring the spot with a black marker.

Brilliant idea. Go Indians!

As usual, it was freezing in our house, so I put on my pink striped long-sleeved undershirt from the Layabout Laura line and a gunbolt gray turtleneck from LL Bean. I peeked out the window. Torrential rain, again. I would need more.

I picked up off the floor my two-tone sunset-orange fleece jacket from Ocean State Job Lot and a marine blue puffer coat I found in a box on our front steps one winter morning with the note, “Return to Building 19 if unsuitable.”

I usually get dressed in 15 seconds, but today it only took four.

My sons said, “You look great, Mom.” I said, “Thanks guys.”

Elizabeth Rau is an East Side resident who can be reached at erau1@verizon.net.

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www.asianpalacedining.com July 2011 East Side Monthly

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Loring. Rare new construction on the East Side. Shingled residence features classic elegance and modern amenities. 4 beds, 3.5 baths. 10’ ceilings, inlaid floors, paneled library, chef’s eat-in kitchen which flows into a roomy den, fabulous master bedroom with private deck. Green design. $1,825,000.

Blackstone. Custom built mid-century brick and redwood estate features handsome detail and quality finishes. Fabulous open floor plan is great for entertaining. 4 beds, 3 full baths, 3 half baths. Truly a signature property with the finest in design and comfort. $1,250,000.

Jenckes. Spectacular 1890 College Hill Carriage House and attached Victorian Cottage. Gracious entertaining space, soaring ceilings, original details. 7 beds, 2 full and 2 half baths.

3-car garage or studio. Lovely gardens, elegant urban privacy. $1,095,000.

Grotto. Spectacular renovation on picturesque Grotto Ave. Elegant open space ideal for entertaining. French doors to private deck. Master suite plus 2 guest bedrooms. 3.5 baths. Rec room with catering kitchen in walkout lower level. New: heat, A/C, roof, windows & more! $975,000.

Hope. The Horation N. Campbell House (1877) is an 8000sf mansion in the heart of Brown University. This exquisite property is a forceful chateauesque Second Empire statement.

Deserving of a patron of rare character to steward this gem into the 21st century. $949,000.

Benefit. Stunning 3 story Greek Revival. Cooks kitchen open to family room, beautiful details, high ceilings, 3 fireplaces, sauna, 3rd floor in-law suite, Capitol House view & membership to private Benefit St park. Must see! $699,000

Keene. A handsome 1876 Victorian townhouse in College Hill with fabulous period detailing: inlaid floors, mouldings, high ceilings, light fixtures, grand staircase. 7 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, au pair quarters. Set on a big, lovely lot. $690,000.

Williams. Outstanding Greek Revival (c1849) in prime College Hill neighborhood! 4 beds, 3 full baths. Charming period details preserved. High ceilings, wide-board pine floors, 3 fireplaces. Lovely city garden & patio. $599,000.

Arnold. 1814 charmer in the heart of the Historic District.

Lovely formal rooms, terrific kitchen/family room opens to enchanting city garden. Master suite, 2.5 baths, wide plank floors, pretty period details. Freshly painted exterior, newer mechanicals. $549,000.

401.274.6740 • ResidentialProperties.com

BARRINGTON CUMBERLAND EAST GREENWICH NARRAGANSETT PROVIDENCE RELOCATION