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Contents
Photography: (L) Melissa Stimpson (R) Tiffany Medrano
APRIL 2014
Designs for Providence by Providence
21
This Month 27 Can You Find It? Our citywide scavenger hunt tests your local knowledge
43
Blaze heats up Hope Street
37 City Style A live/work space that is sew cool 48 Get Fit 39 The Look
43 Feast An East Side gem keeps bringing the flavor 44 Review 47 In the Kitchen 48 On the Menu 49 Behind the Bar 50 In the Drink 52 Rhody Bites
Every Month 6 Editor’s Note 8 ProvidenceOnline.com 9 Feedback
55 Get Out Think you’ve SENE it all? Join the citywide film festival 56 Calendar 59 Music 62 Theater
64 Savor Providence The best meat you can put in your mouth
15 Providence Pulse Spring into custom handbags with Kent Stetson 16 City 20 Malcontent 22 Scene in PVD
On the Cover:
Photographed by Melissa
Stimpson.
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
5
Editor’s Note A Different Kind of Street Smarts There’s street smart in the traditional sense. And then there’s street smart in the particularly Rhode Island way of giving directions in terms of where things used to be (Oh really, just that one Almacs? That’s where I should turn? Because there definitely weren’t, like, 27 Almacs in and around Rhode Island at one point.) But this month, we’re testing your street smarts in a whole different way: with our Great Providence Scavenger Hunt. Test your knowledge of Providence’s famous landmarks and hidden histories. Then, because nothing really happens if it’s not documented on Facebook, log on to
our page, post pictures of yourself in front of some of the quiz’s answers and win awesome prizes. What are you waiting for, Carmen Sandiego? Get exploring.
PROVIDENCE MONTHLY
Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell
Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre @JeanetteSTP
Executive Editor Julie Tremaine @JulieTremaine
Special Projects Manager John Taraborelli @JohnnyTabs
Associate Editor Grace Lentini @Gracie_NomNom
Digital Manager Samantha Pezza @SamPezza
Art Director Meghan H. Follett
Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas
Assistant Art Director Veatsna Sok
Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich: Louann@ProvidenceOnline.com Ann Gallagher: Ann@ProvidenceOnline.com Nicole Greenspun: Nicole@ProvidenceOnline.com Kristine Mangan: Kristine@ProvidenceOnline.com Courtney Melo: Courtney@ProvidenceOnline.com Dan Schwartz: DanS@ProvidenceOnline.com Elizabeth Riel: Liz@ProvidenceOnline.com Kimberly Tingle: Kim@ProvidenceOnline.com Contributing Photographers Amy Amerantes Mike Braca Corey Grayhorse Tiffany Medrano Melissa Stimpson Contributing Writers Keith Andrade @AndradeK
Contributor Corey Grayhorse Photographer California lost a great talent when Corey Grayhorse decided to relocate to Providence in 2001. Her desire to capture imaginative composition led to a study of photography at Santa Monica College. Influenced by culture, environment, art, fashion, pop culture and set design, Corey’s trademarks of color, consonance and lighting are apparent as consistent threads throughout her work, as is her attention to detail and manipulation of the medium that elevate her photos beyond. “Shooting for Providence Monthly has been a great experience,” Corey says. “It has given me the opportunity to meet some really great people on both a professional and personal level. The staff have become people I consider friends, which has created a very comfortable work environment.” Corey, who also freelances for Providence Pin-up and StyleWeek Northeast, photographed both the At Home and Look pages this month.
6
Providence Monthly | April 2014
Graphic Designer Caitlin Musso
Contributing Illustrator Ashley MacLure
Molly Lederer Stephanie Obodda @StephanieDoes
Anita Baffoni
Tony Pacitti @TonyPacitti
Sarah Bertness @SarahBertness
Cristy Raposo @foxywhite3
Michael Clark
Dale J Rappaneau, Jr
David Dadekian @dadekian
Jenn Salcido
Emily Dietsch
Jen Senecal @JenSenecal
Emily Jones
Erin Swanson
Interns Anita Baffoni Daren DeFrank Elizabeth Lorenz
Christina Micela Jasmine Phan Paige Snyder Stacy Swift Members Of:
Audited by:
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24 Hour Fitness Center 24 Hour Concierge 24 Hour Emergency Service Restaurant on site Tailor Shop on Site Salon on site
W E B E XC LU S I V E The incredible edible (and Searchable) egg
Spa Citron now located on the 1st floor!
Our rundown of brunches, egg hunts and photo opps is all the inspiration you need to get cracking on your Easter plans.
500 Angell Street, Providence • 751-7700 www.waylandmanor.com • info@waylandmanor.com
The Art of Permanent Makeup
PlUS An oral history of Olneyville, an Earth Day roundup and the best seafood for Lent and Passover
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FO L LOW U S Because we’re awesome on social, too
Feedback readership resonance
I just read John Taraborelli’s article, [“If You Can Make It Here…”, March 2014] and really enjoyed it. It completely resonated with me as a new mommy entrepreneur (“mompreneur”) trying to “make it” in this city. I am a newbie to Providence and have already fallen in love with this intimate city, but it does pose some unique challenges for small businesses as your article pointed out, but such is life! I laughed at the mini cupcake broom closet reference, I swear I have been to the same one in NYC! Again, great article, it’s given me a boost and made me laugh, which is always welcomed. Felicia Kinlock
s n r u t e r a e l F e h T in June Vintage Market
A Heartfelt Thank You
Just a quick note and “thank you” for the superior pictorial coverage of the Matty Fund’s Snow Angel Ball. More importantly, thank you for shedding light on this devastating illness affecting so many children and families dealing with epilepsy. Your media coverage enables the Matty Fund to grow and assist more families in Rhode Island. richard Siravo Founder, The matty Fund
Putting the Art in Party
At our grand opening, despite the weather, we still had a great turnout. Last month’s Providence Monthly story is [“The Art of Healing,” March 2014] is the icing on the cake. Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing our work with the community. I sincerely appreciate it. matthew Kaplan ceo & co-Founder Peacelove Studios
A Big Flowery Thank You
We would like to thank Providence Monthly for the Flower Show tickets this past weekend. We went Sunday and it was a great show, better than previous years. Barbara and rick Slade
DON’T MISS OPENING DAY
JUNE 1 | 10 AM - 4 PM
EVERY SUNDAY RAIN E SHINE across from
345 South Water StREET
providenceflea.com
Oysters from Rhode Island Waters!
Editor’s Note: Like us on Facebook to win prizes like tickets to events and dinner on the town.
correction
In last month’s “The Reality of Downtown Living” story, we accidentally omitted Regency Plaza from the list of rental options, which is ironic because it’s been around the longest. We regret the error.
Send us a letter
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Buck-A-Shuck!
Sunday through Thursday 3pm-5pm Open 7 days a week
Appetizer and Dinner Specials every day
Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar 250 Main Street, East Greenwich RI (401) 398-2462 • greenwichbayoysterbar.com
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
9
Since 1919
THE WHOLE MONTH OF APRIL WINDOW/WALL TREATMENTS & FABRICS PAINT
DECORATIVE HARDWARE
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
f 401/421-5157
www.adlersri.com
Go to ProvidenceOnline.com for our online camp directory BEST HOOPS Basketball Camp
Now in its 24th Year!
Make Great Music this Spring & Summer
At Bishop Hendricken HS, Warwick, RI
Everything You Need to Make Great Music
ExpERIENCE CAmp STAFF oF CollEGE, HIGH SCHool ANd mIddlE SCHool CoACHES.
3 Great Sessions At Southern New England's Top Instructional Basketball Camp For Boys & Girls
BEST HOOPS
• Kayaking Adventures • Hiking • Ocean Exploration • Surfing Adventure • River Tubing • Rock Climbing • Biking • Camp Outs
Monday-Friday: 9am-3pm July 21-25 & July 28-Aug. 1 & Aug. 4-8 Camp level & Ages: Grade School 8-10, Middle School 11-13, High School 14-18*
*The High School Level Has A More Advanced Schedule of Instruction
Cost: $195 (Family and 2 and 3 week discounts available) (Separate instruction for girls)
www.besthoopsbasketballcamp.com • 463-6490 • besthoops@email.com
Camp Directors: Coach Steve Ceseretti & Coach Jamal Gomes
Summer Youth Camps in the Arts www.ric.edu For more info, click “Summer Sessions” at
Music Institute (MIRIC) for high school students July 6-12
Summer Performing Arts Camp for grades 6-12 July 7-25
RI Writing Project (RIWP) for grades K-12 July 14-25 and July 28-Aug. 1
Multi-sport CaMp, traditional
CaMp, and sports speCialty CaMp We offer it all! Week long or Day registrations soccer roller Hockey flag footBall lacrosse skateBoarding
BaseBall softBall field Hockey volleyBall BasketBall
ContaCt us now for april VaCation CaMp! and suMMer CaMp too!
teaMworks
Warwick
Explore, Discover & Have fun!
170 Jefferson Blvd, WarWick • 401-463-5565 WWW.teamWorksWarWick.com
• Stand Up Paddle Surfing • Basic Survival Instruction • Map Making • Exploring Popular Beaches • Breach way fishing • Skim boarding
advzone.org • 487.9331
Instruments - Songbooks Lessons - Camps - and More!
Musical Instruments, Inc. 687 Quaker Lane, West Warwick 823-5459 • robertsmusicri.com Mon-Fri 12-8, Sat 10-5
What Are Your Kids Doing This Summer?
SUMMER CAMP 2014 We offer traditional day camps, dozens of specialty camps and a resident camp. All are filled with adventure, excitement and new friends. Activities for all ages range from art and music to sports and water fun. To register or for more information, visit gpymca.org. Barrington Cranston Warwick Providence South County North Kingstown Seekonk, MA
YMCA of Greater Providence is a 501c3 organization. Financial assistance available.
Go to ProvidenceOnline.com for our online camp directory
ART
ARTISTS’ EXCHANGE
Learn To Sail! In Providence
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
THEATER
R E M M U S P S M C A
CERAMICS
JUNE 23 through
AUGUST 22 ages 5 – 15 one and two week camps Monday - Friday, 9am-3pm Extended care available 8-9am & 3-5pm
Youth Summer Sailing Camp Adult Evening Lessons Too! NEW - Kayaks!
www.artists-exchange.org 50 ROLFE SQ CRANSTON 401.490.9475
BROWN UNIVERSIT Y
Summer Sports Camps An exceptional camp experience for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels, led by Brown University’s varsity coaches, their staff and current Brown athletes. Baseball • Basketball • Diving Fencing • Field Hockey • Football Lacrosse • Rowing • Rugby • Soccer Squash • Swimming • Tennis Volleyball • Water Polo • Wrestling
Sponsored by the Brown University Department of Athletics and Brown University Continuing Education. BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS CAMPS ARE OPEN TO ANY AND ALL ENTRANTS.
Learn more: 401.454.SAIL (7245) • www.communityboating.com
ROWING & SCULLING CLASSES
young artist summer camps for kids and teens ages 7–17
Sign up for an introductory rowing lesson at 9:00, 9:45, 10:30 and 11:15am for these Located on the East Side of Providence
For Adults & Kids (13-19 Years Old)
No rowing experience necessary
Open HOuse dates APR 19 • JUN 7 • JULY 26 • SEP 6 For more information including class schedule and rates, call or visit our website:
www.RowNBC.org • 401.272.1838
continuing education
401-454-6200
ce.risd.edu
Learn tO We need your help! Participants wanted for projects to discover how children play, think, learn, and develop.
FenCe!
learning through languages
1,2,3 SOLEIL Camps start
June 23rd
For Kids ages 8 & up Full & Half-Day Camps Beginner through Advanced Professional Coaches
See what opportunities are available for your family: www.kidthink.org pckidthink@gmail.com 401-865-2342
F R E N C H - A M E R I C A N S C H O OL OF RHODE ISLAND
RIFAC.Com • 401.434.2404
Summer Fun in French at FASRI 2014 • The FASRI Summer Program provides a unique opportunity for all children and young adults to gain French language skills through engaging, fun, and fulfilling activities. Travel to other countries through language learning all without leaving home.
Starting June 23, 201 4 For more information contact Anne Lacoste Kapstein alkapstein@fasri.org
Convenient location in East Providence
75 John Street Providence, RI 02906 Tel 401.274 3325 www.fasri.org
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CRANSTON | EAST GREENWICH | NEWPORT | PROVIDENCE MADE IN AMERICA WITH LOVE® | WWW.ALEXANDANI.COM
At Last!
Providence Picture Frame
gallery
401.421.6196 www.ProvidencePictureFrame.com Monday - Saturday 8:30-6:30 I-95, Exit 24 Branch Avenue (next to Benny’s)
14
Providence Monthly | April 2014
Providence Pulse
Photo: Courtesy of Fashion @ Brown
CITY / MALCONTENT / SCENE IN PVD
Future Fashion Stars There’s nothing like the Style creations from Brown
unabashed risk-taking of the young and creative. Take in Brown University’s raw design talent at Fashion at Brown, the fourth annual fashion week at the school. Turn the page to read about how you can see designers now who will be on New York Fashion Week runways one day.
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
15
Pulse |
City
From Pg 15
Brown Stays Haute Even in the Cold As we finally shed the cozy layers of winter, it’s time for a fresh look on fashion. Save the date to see a kaleidoscope of color strolling down the catwalk at the fourth annual Brown Fashion Week. Fashion @ Brown is a student-run organization comprising 11 designers and a handful of photographers, stylists and other students looking to gain exposure in the business of fashion. The six events held during the week are ideal for those interested in the industry as well as for trendsetters seeking some new threads. The runway show has a variety of
inventive outfits that revamp vintage styles with an unflinching, edgy flair. Think delicate white lace and Doc Martens; or perhaps psychedelic splatters against the timeless white tee. The industry panel will be presenting both speakers and documentaries, and for those simply seeking a fresh look, check out the exclusive Madewell sale and the Urban Vintage Bazaar later in the week. And of course, don’t miss out on the after party. April 21-25. fashionatbrown. wix.com/home -Elizabeth Lorenz
Spend For A Cause
Look Fabulous for Less While Supporting the Wheeler School
Celebrate Brown’s Fashion Week April 21-25
Be Crafty
Craftopia Returns to Hope Artiste Village
Sarah Edmond’s Grinchy Bots are part of the
Spring into a new wardrobe at the 66th Annual Wheeler Clothing & More Sale. The end of winter means its time to get rid of those hats and gloves and dress for the new season, and that means an excuse to buy new clothes… right? The Wheeler Clothing & More Sale, April 10-12, is the perfect place to shop on a budget, and all for a good cause. The sale is free to attend and provides a variety of products including clothing, books, sports equipment, kitchen gear, décor, accessories and toys. The theme of the event this year is “Go Green.” Reusing
16
Providence Monthly | April 2014
is a great way to stay fashionable on a budget while being good to the environment. The proceeds benefit the Wheeler School Scholarship Fund and Breakthrough Providence. Their mission is to create a pathway to college for academically motivated students who come from low-income families in Providence Public Schools. Breakthrough Providence also encourages students to pursue careers in education in an effort to keep giving back. April 10, 10am-8pm; April 11, 9am-8pm; April 12, 9am-4pm. wheelerschool.org/ parents. -Daren DeFrank
Rhody Craft is hosting its biannual on April 27 at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket. The premier craft show will host 55 carefully selected New England artisans, showcasing an eclectic but balanced blend of jewelry, fine art, floral arrangements, bath products and much more. There’s a good chance you will see at least one thing you have never seen before, like a necklace made out of butterfly wings by PopkoShop, or the psychotropic dimensional-weave sculptures made by Anastasia Azure. Even the French Mint Lotion Bars made by
C’est La Bee are unique; each one has a honeybee delicately carved into the goldenrod disks. Everything is handmade and nothing is mass-produced, so you can expect originality and quality in Rhody Craft’s curated collection of artisan goods. Many of these products make great gifts, even if they’re just for yourself. Food trucks and hot coffee will also be available as you meander around the refurbished mill. $1 adult admission. 10am4pm. Hope Artiste Village. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. rhodycraft.com/ craftopia. -Elizabeth Lorenz
Photo: (Top) Courtesy of Fashion @ Brown
eclectic selection at Craftopia on April 27
Pulse |
City
the great, nearby escape Now that it’s safe to put the shovel and snowmelt into storage, fill up your gas tank and hit the road for a day trip. -Jeanette St. Pierre
you’re looking for...
a romp with friends
in the great outdoors?
do you have a designated driver?
yes
family fun
nO
yes an appetite?
nO
no
yes
By land?
nO
By sea?
yes no
yes
are you clumsy?
wet & wild?
yes
wild ride
no
animal wild
Get a taste of summer at Coco Key’s indoor waterpark. cocokeyboston.com
Grab a very cold drink at Frost Ice Bar in Boston. frosticebar.com
tour the dunes of nantucket at Coskata-Coutue Wildlife Refuge for a four-wheeling escapade. thetrustees.org
have an encounter with a Beluga whale at Mystic Aquarium. mysticaquarium.com
wild
nO
looking for adventure?
like physical activity?
twirl, sip and savor your way through the wine & Cheese trail of south Boston. masswinery.com
mild
Booze?
nO yes
yes
animal friendly?
a date
relax Bali style in the experience room at Boston’s G20 Spa. g20spasalon.com share a pizza, pitcher and a lane at HIgh Rollers at foxwoods. highrollersfoxwoods.com
>> Read more on ProvidenceOnline.com
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
17
Pulse |
City
For Foodies
Eat, Drink and Celebrate Local Garnish the weekend with a smooth finish at the Biltmore Hotel, which will be hosting the Grand Tasting on Saturday and the Grand Brunch on Sunday. There will be over 40 local exhibitors at the Grand Tasting. The Food & Drink seminars offered will allow you to relive this delectable dining experience in the comfort of your own home. On Sunday, pamper your palate with mimosas and live jazz overlooking the Providence skyline for the Grand Brunch. Rhode Island Philharmonic is providing the velvety sounds and New Harvest Coffee Roasters will be brewing your morning coffee. A portion of the proceeds will go to the AIDS Project Rhode Island and the RI Philharmonic Foundations in Learning Exploration. $65-$250. Thursday-Sunday. Go online for event schedule and locations. eatdrinkri.com/festivals. -Elizabeth Lorenz
001001001001
Providence Public Libraries Step Firmly Into the Digital Age In these days when so many of us read on Kindles, iPads or even on iPhones, some believe that the printed book has had its day. Wrong! Physical books are essential – particularly for children learning to read. Many of us take for granted the piles of books lying around our houses. But this is not the case in many homes in Providence. In fact, all too many children in Providence have no books except for those they get in school. This is just one reason why being able to borrow books from Providence Community Library (PCL) is so essential – whether to enable families to read together, to help children read during the long summer break (and prevent them from falling behind grade level reading), or just to allow children to explore the worlds of The Cat and the Hat,
18
Providence Monthly | April 2014
Harry Potter and more. To ensure that Providence kids have access to books, PCL is holding a fundraiser, Books to Bank On, at the Knight Memorial Library, 275 Elmwood Ave., on April 1 from 5:307:30pm. Highlighting the party will be readings from favorite children’s books by Ed Shea, director of 2nd Story Theater; Bob Colonna, the director of RI Shakespeare Company; Anne Scurria of Trinity Rep and Barry Press, director of Living Literature. Although Providence’s children might not have the luxury we will have of hearing their childhood books brought to life by great actors, with your help they will enjoy the needed experience of curling up with a good book at home. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at provcomlib.org/BooksBank. –Linda Kushner
The Grand Tasting at the Eat Drink RI Festival
Never Fear, Free Beer
PVD Hoot Puts Musicians Before Beer My first experience with PVD Hoot, Providence’s newest monthly open mic night, was on a particularly cold night after back-to-back snowstorms. Most roads in the city looked like they couldn’t pick a plow out of a line up, but people came. That’s because since starting back in October, Hoot has established itself as an open mic not just of considerable artistic quality, but as one where the main attraction is the performer and not that night’s dinner special. “A lot of bars and restaurants that have open mics are bars and restaurants that just happen to have an open mic,” says Hoot co-founder Josh Aromin. Sure there’s free beer and coffee courtesy of Narragansett and New Harvest, and Rocket Fine Street Food parks outside, but what’s important are the musicians, comedians and poets who show up to put it all on the line for the ten minutes
they get on stage. Adds Aromin’s partner, Sarah Mead, “The last thing you need is to be up there and have people talking and shuffling around. We want people to know we’re listening and we’re there for them.” Performers are granted a level of attention and intimacy from the crowd that you don’t see at your run of the mill open mic night, and as a result Hoot has attracted a steady rotation of brave souls and curious onlookers. Aromin and Mead pride themselves on the caliber of both their performers and their audience. At one of their first shows, local musician Rich Ferri told the room not to expect the same quality of music from every open mic they go to.“It was the best compliment we could get,” says Aromin. PVD Hoot goes down this month on Thursday, April 10 at 7pm. 42 Rice St. pvdhoot.com. -Tony Pacitti
Photo: Brad Smith
Celebrate the culmination of local culinary expertise at the Eat Drink RI Festival. The four day extravaganza from April 24-27 will include bountiful banquets and informational seminars. All event tickets will include a cocktail (or two), because really, what foodie can survive on food alone. The festivities will kick off on Thursday with a sixcourse feast crafted by eight of Rhode Island’s top chefs at Gracie’s in Providence. Jonathan Edwards Winery and Revival Brewing Company will be pairing the wine and beer for the evening’s featured dishes. Then, check out the Truck Stop at the Bank of America City Center on Friday and gorge yourself on local beer, wine and a “Jane Dough” from Noble Knots. Over 16 food trucks will deliver a diverse selection of uncommon eats and the bluesy Superchief Trio is sure to get you dancing.
Easter bunny & Easter treats Lots and lots at Sweenors
Get a New Lease on
REGENCY PLAZA
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Simulation of Renovated Living/Dining Room
Design Your Own Apartment Suite Generous Renovation Allowance • • • •
Garden City • 942.2720 | Wakefield • 783.4433 ww.sweenorschocolate.com
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Make It Yours! Contact Carolyn Panos (401) 861-0400
www.regencyplaza.com
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INDOWNCITY.COM SHOP AND DINE LOCALLY. VISIT US DOWNCITY.
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
19
Pulse |
City
Malcontent
Drive Like You Mean It
A springtime pep talk for Providence drivers People of Providence,
we’ve got to talk about your driving. It’s atrocious. Look, I’m not going to get up on my high horse. I make stupid mistakes when driving and at some time or another I’ve been guilty of every offense I’ll enumerate here. But at least I’m trying, which is more than I can say for many of you out there. You need to hear these things, and I come to you as one of your own. It’s taken me a long time to identify why exactly the driving in Providence is so bad. Of course, there are any number of factors that contribute to the problem, from pothole-riddled roads to the general awfulness of Rhode Island drivers, but there’s something particularly terrible about the driving I see in the city, and I’ve finally figured out what it is: nobody drives like they’re in a city. City driving requires aggression and precision. You have to drive like you mean it. There are cars and people and obstacles everywhere. The conditions are always shifting. It’s constant start and stop. And people have places to be. New Yorkers, of course, have this mastered: they’re impatient, ruthless, even downright hostile – but they’re effective. A good New York driver might just as soon run you over as smile at you, but they’ll never be in the way. They drive with purpose. To be effective while driving in New York City requires you to accept the possibility that somewhere along your way, you may need to intentionally kill someone. You
don’t want to, and you’ll do your best to ensure that only those who truly deserve it get hurt, but it might have to happen. That’s driving with purpose. People in Providence do not drive with purpose. They drift. They hesitate. They rubberneck. They expect others to compensate for their mistakes. Then there’s the infamous Rhode Island Roll-out – oh, lord, the Rhode Island Roll-out. You know the move: you’re trying to pull out into traffic so you gradually nudge your way out in a passive-aggressive attempt to be just in the way enough that someone has to slow down and let you go. Just commit to jumping out there and get it over with. It’s much more dangerous for you to just be awkwardly lurking on the fringes of oncoming traffic than it is for you to take the decisive action of asserting yourself, even if it might be a bit less than considerate. Providence is a tough place to drive, and it’s not going to get any easier. The potholes are so numerous and severe that they probably demand FEMA’s intervention more than Public Works’. The streets are not laid out in an easily navigable grid like New York’s – instead they seem to be arranged according to the terms of a dare. The traffic lights appear to be timed and controlled by the same sort of device found on a set of $4.99 twinkling Christmas lights from Walmart. What little signage does exist is about as useful to finding your way as the treasure map from The Goonies. The weather, as
Easy Money?
The Young Wolves of Wall Street Kevin Roose has a knack for finding controversy – his first book explored the conservative Christian world of Liberty University from the perspective of a liberal Brown student. His latest book, Young Money, follows eight entry-level corporate finance people who got their golden ticket from college to the all-consuming life of investment banking at behemoths like Goldman Sachs. Roose is a thoughtful writer and approaches his subjects like an anthropologist – more Studs Terkel’s Working and less The Wolf of Wall Street. His book contains details of day-to-day operations (hello Excel spreadsheets) and demystifies any romance of the debauched investment banker life. These guys are putting in upwards of 100 hours a week at the office, primarily data crunching and selling financial products. And Roose has sympathy for these young
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
analysts, who beyond trying to prove that they can hack it on Wall Street occasionally wrestle with the larger question of doing meaningful work. When Roose probes his subjects about ethics and morality, the responses are “I’m just trying not to f--k up,” and “dude, I’m so far away from anything like that.” Roose mentions that many of the best and brightest recruited from college aren’t really sure why they want to head into investment banking – besides the allure of money – and that this uncertainly itself becomes the main draw. Going to Wall Street provides a clear bridge into the working world... bam, decision made. But the darker question Roose asks is, can this type of job change you as a person. Young Money at times feels like a warning to ambitious college students. It’s definitely worth a read. -Dan Schwartz
we have seen many times over this winter, invariably compounds these difficulties by claiming broad swaths of roads with snow and ice, then making them look like the aftermath of a mudslide when the weather warms up. The adverse conditions in which we drive every day demand a higher caliber of skill behind the wheel, but we seemingly interpret them as permission to simply pay no attention whatsoever to what we’re doing, alternating between unfocused, inept aggression and aimless drifting. Again, this is a city, and you need to get on your game people. We’ve just made it through a tough winter. The Public Works’ crews will be out soon patching up the craters that we ironically call “potholes” (kind of like when you nickname a really fat guy “Tiny”). The conditions in which we drive will be, if not optimum, at least less reminiscent of set design for a post-apocalyptic action movie. So, together, let’s use spring as the time of renewal nature intended it to be, and get a fresh start on some new driving habits. Get off the phone. Leave the Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee in the cup holder. Stop and wait your turn at busy intersections. Learn what the term “right of way” means. Use your turn signals. Pick a lane. Pay attention to your surroundings. In short, drive like you’ve been somewhere before. And, in the name of all things right and decent, just get out and make the damn turn already. –John Taraborelli
Pulse |
City
Slip into Something new for Spring T LIS
EW
So Clutch
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EAST SIDE 47 Transit #3
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EAST SIDE 11 Cady
W NE
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EAST SIDE 77 South Angell
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EAST GREENWICH 7 Brayton Meadow
CRANSTON 117 Turner
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EAST SIDE 157 Waterman #2-3
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BARRINGTON 7 Wright Place
N PE
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Showing Your PVD Love on Your Arm
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EAST SIDE 160 Taber
ELMHURST 16 Elmcroft
MARKHAM
Providence-inspired handbags by Kent Stetson
Serving Providence’s East Side & West Side, Elmhurst, Edgewood and Oak Hill M AR K H A M
Handbag designer Kent Stetson has a following that has grown from a few inthe-know fashionistas in Providence to well-dressed women across the country. That doesn’t mean, though, that he’s forgotten where it all started. Kent recently debuted a line of Providence-themed purses at Nude, the designer collaborative in the Arcade. “When I was asked to be a part of Nude, I found myself spending a lot of time downtown,” he says. “I wanted to make something that quite literally embraced the theme of locally-made-in-Providence.” He made
one of his iconic clutches with an image of the Arcade on it, which inspired a line of bags featuring the city’s most iconic landmarks, like the Superman Building and the Turk’s Head Building. “A handbag can be a great ice-breaker, be funny and chic, and also tell a story,” Kent says. “Providence has given me a niche to explore this, and each of these handbags is a chance for me to tip my proverbial hat to the city and people who have made this possible.” Available at Nude at the Arcade. kentstetsonhandbags. com -Julie Tremaine
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De R E N T I S
Platinum Plus Producer associates Greater Providence Board of Realtors®
Markham + DeRentis Associates - Residential Properties Ltd. Jim DeRentis | Nancy Markham | Office: 401.553.6383 www.jimandnancysold.com
Way To Go, Brainiac
Photography: Melissa Stimpson
High Stakes Scrabble… For Kids You don’t need another reminder that kids, on the whole, are much smarter than you. They understand technology with an intuition that you can only dream of, rattle off facts faster than you can say “hold on a second, let me think,” come up with remarkably inventive ways of getting pretty much everything they want. They can also, more than likely, completely decimate you at Scrabble. This month, hundreds of tiny geniuses descend on Hasbro for the 12th annual National School Scrabble Tournament, April 26-27. Kids from across the United States and Canada
will compete for a $10,000 prize. You might not be able to play – and you probably have better ways to spend your weekend than being shamed by a 7th grader – but you can watch the tournament via an innovative live stream at hasbro.com/Scrabble. But, if you are up for a friendly challenge, Julian’s still has their informal Monday night Scrabble league. Just show up with a board, sit down at one of their designated tables, and wait for an opponent to bring his or her best double word score. 318 Broadway. 861-1770, juliansprovidence.com –Julie Tremaine
Visit downtownprovidence.com see, eat, and do downtown—events, shopping, dining, selfguided tours, news, and more! Photo: Marianne Lee
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
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assoc
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Pulse | Celebrating
Scene in PVD
the Seasons One Plate at a Time
Single or not, the crowds came out for Providence Monthly’s Mix and Mingle in February. Partygoers sipped signature tequila cocktails by Olmeca Platos Tequila at the Whiskey Republic and rubbed elbows with our most eligible singles. Photography by Mike Braca. Johanna Rodriguez, Jeffrey Rodriguez, Congessman Jim Langevin, Ann Little
a place to go, to eat, to see, to hang out
Rue De L’Espoir American Bistro Cooking
99 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906 info/reservations 751-8890 therue.com open daily breakfast, lunch, dinner
Seth Shapiro, Gabriel Rei, Wendell Clough,
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OFFICE: 401.453.1355 HOME: 401.245.0676 | CELL: 401.595.4571
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
The Rhode Show Team: Ashley Erling, Michaela Johnson, Will Gilbert, Brendan Kirby
Crystal Santos, Jenn Pereira, Deidre Fraser, Lisa Marie
hope street Explore our diverse group of independent shops, restaurants and more!
CHEZ PASCAL
CITI NAILS & SPA
D’AMBRA’S SERVICE STATION
EAST SIDE PRESCRIPTION
960 Hope St., 421-4422
783 Hope St., 861-8500
761 Hope St.,
632 Hope St., 751-1430
www.chez-pascal.com
Tuesday special: manicure and
621-2348
www.eastsiderx.com
Also home to the Wurst Kitchen/
pedicure for $28! Shellac mani-
A Hope Street staple for over 60
Your neighborhood pharmacy car-
Window, a cozy open kitchen lo-
cure, pink & white, acrylic nails, nail
years, this full service station pro-
ries a full selection of fine wine,
cated in Chez Pascal. House made
overlay, gel nails, sculptured nails,
vides exceptional customer ser-
craft beer and spirits. Prescriptions
sausages, sandwiches and more.
nail art, air brush design. Walk-ins
vice and expertise car repair.
filled for all health plans.
welcome.
FROG & TOAD
HOPE STREET PIZZA
IVY TAVERN
KITCHEN BAR
795 Hope St., 831-3434
772 Hope St., 273-5955
758 Hope St., 421-4489
771 Hope St., 331-4100
www.hopestreetprov.com
www.hopestreetpizza.com
www.ivytavernri.com
www.kitchenbarri.com
A special little neighborhood shop
Thanks their customers for 15 years
Now open for lunch daily! Serving
New spring menu! Hope Street’s
with an ever-changing selection
of patronage and great memories!
craft brews and the popluar Ivy Tav-
hottest restaurant. Contemporary
that ranges from odd to incredible
Pizza, grinders, salads and com-
ern burger ($6 burger Mondays),
comfort cuisine in an elegant set-
and features tons of locally-made
fort food like fish and chips and
plus unique fare like oysters ($1 oys-
ting. Terrific bar area.
gyros in a family friendly setting.
ter Sundays) and Korean Bibimbap.
Adjoining bar with flat screens.
Catering too!
treasures.
LuLi Boutique 7 8 2 H o p e S t r e e t, p r ov i d e n c e
KREATELIER
LULI BOUTIQUE 782 Hope St., 369-4332
NOT JUST SPICES/ NOT JUST SNACKS
OLIVE DEL MONDO: OILS & VINS
804 Hope St., 432-7995 www.kreatelier.com
www.luliboutique.com
836/833 Hope St.,
www.olivedelmondo.com
Offering home décor and uphol-
A fun fab funky boutique! Featur-
351-6555/831-1150
A fun, independent shop with a
stery services, plus unique fabric
ing lines by Moontide Dyers, Habi-
Enjoy authentic Indian cuisines in-
mind-blowing selection of over 70
creations for life and home. Cre-
tat, Chalet, Comfy, Cut Loose, lo-
cluding biryani, kebabs, naans and
unique, fresh extra virgin olive oils
cal artists and more!
curries. Cross the street to shop for
& vinegars on tap + local goodies,
the ingredients to make your own.
imported delicacies, sensory/ edu-
ative sewing workshops as well!
815 Hope St., 383-5733
cational classes & more!
eat. shop. play.
On Providence’s East Side • hopestreetprov.com
THE PIZZA GOURMET
THE RHODE GUIDE REAL ESTATE CO.
SEVEN STARS BAKERY
SPITZ-WEISS REALTORS
820 Hope St., 521-2200
785 Hope St., 272-6161
www.sevenstarsbakery.com
www.spitzweiss.com
Celebrating 10 years on Hope! Taste
780 Hope St., 415-9777 www.therhodeguide.com A boutique real estate firm that
coffee
Your friendly neighborhood real
bud tantalizing wood-grilled pizza
estate agency. Family owned and
delivered to your home, for pick-
specializes in apartment rentals
along with breads and morning
and house sales. Have all your real
pastries, all made from scratch
operated for over 50 years. Assist-
up or take-and-bake for cooking at
ing buyers, sellers and renters.
home. Gourmet artisan sandwich-
estate needs met here.
and baked fresh daily.
WINGS OVER PROVIDENCE
357 Hope St., 751-0355 www.thepizzagourmetri.com
Serving
locally
roasted
es, salads, appetizers and more!
STOCK CULINARY GOODS
STUDIO HOP
TORTILLA FLATS
756 Hope St., 521-0101
810 Hope St.,
355 Hope St., 751-6777
725 Hope St., 274-9464
www.stockpvd.com
621-2262
www.tortillaflatsri.com
www.wingsoverprovidence.com
Stock Culinary Goods is devoted
Studio Hop blends contemporary
Mexican and southwestern
to kitchen culture, with tools, gifts
fine art, jewelry and fine crafts
comfort cuisine right here on the
and resources for those who love
with period furniture and jewelry.
East Side! Plus absolutely killer
to cook. Come visit them for fresh
They also feature unique wedding
margaritas and an extensive list
ideas as you plan your Spring holi-
and engagement rings and hand-
of craft beers on tap. Ándale!
day menu.
made clothing.
Regular and boneless chicken wings, savory ribs, sandwiches and burgers. Delivery to all of Providence (until 2am Thursday-Saturday!)
For more, including links to business websites, visit ZACKS CAMERA REPAIR 791 Hope St., 273-7247 www.zackscamerarepair.com Old images moving or still or old sound recordings you can’t play anymore? Zacks can rescue and convert them!
ProvidenceOnline.com
A Providence Original... Come celebrate 12 years of fine dining for the discerning palate; featuring local & seasonal ingredients, served impeccably in an 18th century tavern setting
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The GreaT
PROVIDEI s c av e n g e r h u n t By Julie Tremaine and John Taraborelli
Think you know your city’s history and hidden landmarks? Prove it. Take our PVD quiz to test your street smarts in a whole new way. Then post pictures of yourself on social media in front of the answers to win awesome prizes – check out facebook.com/ PVDMonthly to find out how.
a super-duper day of art, craft, food & fun!
Sunday,
4 APRIL 27, 201 10am - 4pm @ Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI {free parking behind the building}
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craft 1 00 rhody
Food Trucks, Yay! 28
Providence Monthly | April 2014
www.rhodycraft.com
100% local . handmade . delightful
start
West of the city
1.
Start on a college campus in the northern part of the city. There is a dormitory that is reputed to be haunted by the ghosts of the victims of a 1977 fire. What campus are you on?
2.
Head over to the other college campus on the north side. There you’ll find an elementary school housed within that college, named for the college’s founder. What is it?
You could use some air. Take a walk towards the West Side. At this point you’re walking past a huge castle. WTF is that place?
6.
Bonus: Two movies have been filmed there. Name one.
Head over to Broadway, where you’ll walk past a giant white mansion in serious disrepair. It’s one of the city’s most beautiful and most endangered homes, and it finally got a restoration grant this year. What’s the house nicknamed?
7.
Bonus: What’s its actual name?
3.
Make your way over to Federal Hill, and find the restaurant that allegedly hosted both Frank Sinatra and John Gotti. Where are you?
Most people only think of Atwells Avenue when they think of Federal Hill. But you know better than that, right? Head over to the main street that represents the southernmost border of Federal Hill, marking the line between it and West End.
4. 5.
Head down Atwells and into Olneyville. Stop for a drink in Olneyville Square. Find the bar hidden in the back room of a lingerie store. What’s it called?
8.
Head into the South Side. See where Sollitto’s Liquors used to be? Find the new home of the giant chicken statue that once sat outside the store.
9.
You’re probably hungry already. Stop for a snack at Johnny’s Chimis, one of the oldest food trucks in the city. What street are you on?
Bonus: If the truck is open, what time of day is it?
While you’re on the South Side, head over to the Allens Avenue/waterfront area, where you can both eat at a diner or see an exhibit on the history of the diner at a museum (or at least you will when it re-opens after renovations in September). What college campus are you on now?
10.
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
29
then
heaD DoWntoWn
11.
Make your way to the Jewelry District. What name is the City trying to rebrand that area as, in part of an effort to encourage tech startups to make their home there?
12.
Don’t look now, but there’s a huge Chinese dragon coming for you. What building in the Jewelry District is he crawling down?
16.
Find the building downtown that has a landing pad for a blimp on the top. What is it?
17.
Pay homage to Providence’s bearded heritage at the statue commemorating the man who invented sideburns. (And, also, did some stuff in the Civil War.) Who is he, and where will you find his statue?
18.
Walk across the street to the building that houses the Rhode Island Foundation, and several restaurants. What was its original purpose?
13.
At this point, you could use a drink. Find the only bar in town that’s housed in a former Masonic Temple. Where are you?
19. 14.
Secret societies not your speed? Clearly rules aren’t your thing. There’s a bar and restaurant on Washington Street that used to be home to a speakeasy (and, technically speaking, still is). What is it?
Stay with us here – don’t get distracted by the green line running across many downtown sidewalks that will lead you on a whole other journey through the city’s history and architecture. What is that line, anyway?
20.
15.
You could probably use some fresh air by now, and a non-drinking activity. Walk a couple of blocks to find the home court of the Providence Bocce League. Where do they play?
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
Time to head towards the East Side. You could hop on a bus and head through the tunnel at the base of College Hill. That’s the only acceptable way to pass through that tunnel – do not try to drive or walk through it. But once upon a time there was a different mode of travel that passed through the tunnel. What was it?
)
finally
m a k e y o u r Way e a s t
21.
Start walking up College Hill. Take Hopkins Street and you’ll walk past the oldest building in Providence, built in 1707. George Washington even stayed there once. Whose house was it then? (Hint: the name is the same now.)
26.
22.
27.
Brown has extensive archives, including a book made of human skin. Find it.
28.
Which legendary composer has his own statue on Wickenden Street?
29.
Even though you’re on the East Side, you’ve found the Narragansett Boat Club. Where are you?
If you’ve spotted the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, you’re probably on Benefit Street. What building there is he rumored to haunt?
23.
Keep walking on Benefit, and find the members-only theatre on the street. What’s it called?
Bonus: How long has it been in existence?
24.
Head up College Hill, but stop to pay your respects to our city’s founder. Where is Roger Williams buried?
By now you’re at Thayer Street, where Brown has spent most of its 250 years. Where was the college founded?
Bonus: What was its original name?
Bonus: What river are you boating on?
???? ????
25.
Maybe it’s time for a breather. Stop at RISD and take in a sporting event. The school has a basketball team and a hockey team. What are their names?
Bonus: What’s the mascot’s name?
30.
Ok, Carm e n Sandiego. You’ve made it through the scavenger hunt, which ends on Blackstone Boulevard at Swan Point Cemetery. Which famous author rests here?
Bonus: What does his grave say?
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
31
CELEBRATE SPRING AT OSTC! The Diary of Anne Frank
ANSWERS
March 26–April 13
The moving adaptation of the true story of the young Jewish girl, by Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich.
WEST SIDE 1. Providence College.
42nd Street April 23–May 18
2. Henry Barnard School.
This “Lullaby of Broadway” is the greatest tap-dance musical of all time. For tickets, call 401.921.6800 or visit OceanStateTheatre.org
3. Camille’s. SEASON SPONSOR
1245 JEFFERSON BOULEVARD, WARWICK
4. Westminster Street. 5. Justine’s, Providence’s only currently operating speakeasy.
Professional theatre with a personal touch
Upscale Mexican Cuisine on Historic Federal Hill
3 Course Dinner Monday thru Thursday
Now Open 7 Days A Week For Lunch & Dinner
Lunch Specials Under $10
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Margaritas & Sangria Over 70 Premium Tequilas!
351 Atwells Avenue, Providence • 454-8951 • donjosetequilas.com
Tuesday special: Manicure and Pedicure for $28! Offering Shellac Manicure Pink & White • Acrylic Nails • Nail Overlay • Gel Nails Sculptured Nails • Manicure • Pedicure • Nail Art Air Brush Design • Extra Massage Available Walk-Ins Welcome • Gift Certificates Available
Professional Nail Care for Ladies & Gentleman
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Monday-Friday 9am-7:30pm • Saturday 9am-6pm / Sunday 10am-5pm
The Magic
B ox
April 11-12, 2014 The Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts Sapinsley Hall, RI College
All new collaboration between Eva Marie Pacheco, Roger Seitz and Rhode Island School of Design. Tickets: www.ric.edu/pfa/orderinfo.php 401-456-8144
32
Providence Monthly | April 2014
to running successful campaigns in North Carolina and Tennessee during the Civil War, he was also an industrialist and a U.S. Congressman.
6. The Cranston Street Armory, which once housed the National Guard, but is now vacant save when it’s used for party space. The two movies that used the Armory are Outside Providence and Underdog. 7. The Wedding Cake House, which is actually the KendrickPrentice-Tirocchi House. 8. Antonelli’s Poultry on the Hill. Owner Chris Morris had his eye on the giant cock for years and finally bought it when the liquor store went out of business. 9. Broad Street. There’s a group of Latin American food trucks that do a booming business after dark there. 10. Johnson & Wales (Harborside Campus, to be exact).
DOWNTOWN 11. The Knowledge District. 12. The Providence Children’s Museum. 13. Public Kitchen and Bar, housed in the Renaissance Providence Hotel, which was constructed in the 1920s as a Masonic Temple. 14. Local 121, in AS220’s Mercantile Block on Washington Street. The basement held a speakeasy during Prohibition, which is why their downstairs live music space is called The Speakeasy. 15. Grant’s Block, at the corner of Union and Westminster, which is also the summer home of Movies on the Block and hosts Food Truck Tuesdays year-round.
18. Union Station was the original home of Providence’s train station. 19. The Independence Trail, Providence’s answer to Boston’s Freedom Trail. 20. The trolley, which is what the tunnel was originally built for. EAST SIDE 21. Governor Stephen Hopkins House. 22. The Providence Athenaeum, where literary giants like Poe, Thoreau and Emerson all spoke in their heyday. 23. The Barker Playhouse, which staged its first show in 1909, making it 105 years old. 24. Prospect Park, on Congdon Street, where the iconic statue of Williams doing “The Roger” overlooks downtown. 25. RISD’s basketball team is called “The Balls” and their hockey team is “The Nads,” both cheered on by an anatomically correct mascot called “Scrotie.” You read that right. 26. Brown University’s first home was in Warren, under the name “The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.” 27. The gruesome human skin bible isn’t on display, but it’s housed in the John D. Rockefeller Library. 28. George M. Cohan, who grew up in Fox Point and now dances into eternity in George M. Cohan Square. 29. River Road, on the Seekonk River.
16. The Superman Building.
30. H.P. Lovecraft, whose tombstone says, “I am Providence.” So are you, if you made it through this quiz.
17. General Ambrose Burnside, whose statue sits in Burnside Park next to Kennedy Plaza. In addition
Give yourself a pat on the back and now try to win a prize. Like us on Facebook to find out how.
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City Style AT HOME / GET FIT / THE LOOK About the Homeowner Jonathan Joseph Peters wears many hats – he’s a fashion designer, creative director for StyleWeek, and part-owner of Nude, the designer collaborative – but he manages to fit all of them into his live/work microloft at the Arcade.
1
2
3
5
4
Photography: Corey Grayhorse
Lofty Design 1. At first I was really intimidated at the idea of living in a micro-loft because design takes so much space, but there’s so much storage built into the loft. My unit in particular has an extra area where I can put my cutting table, so working in my live space is totally possible. 2. This red cocktail dress that Amy Diaz wore during the American Heart Association Go Red Show during StyleWeek is one of my more popular designs. 3. I like my designs to be bold and humorous,
so that includes mixing patterns, textures and colors. I like my designs to be very vivid and eye catching. 4. My sewing machine is a pink singer sewing machine from the ‘60s. I bought it from a consignment shop for $20. All the parts are metal, so it’s much more durable than the machines made today. 5. These are threads for my serger machine. Because I have so many colors of them, I like to keep them out like they’re artwork.
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
37
Liquid Starters Experience the Difference
City Style |
Get Fit
By Jen Senecal
Pampered Perspiration
Walk into a workout experience in Davol Square
Three Convenient Locations
149 Main Street East Greenwich 398-2822
261 Thayer Street Providence 273-8844
727 East Avenue Pawtucket 728-5500
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
There are gyms and
there are premier health clubs. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys state-of-the-art equipment, ambient and inviting atmospheres, stellar customer service and country club amenities (and frankly, who isn’t?), Providence’s Synrgy Health & Fitness is for you. When I first walked through the doors of Davol Square’s Synrgy, I immediately noticed how large the space was. The 25,000 square foot facility, which spans over two floors, impressed with their beautiful vintage chaise lounges in the waiting area, friendly greeting staff behind the juice bar, ceiling to floor glass walls, sleek cardio and circuit equipment (each cardio machine has its own computer, fitness apps, TV, games and Internet service), modern weightlifting equipment (even the plates were pretty), multiple stretching areas and low, soft lighting (also known as “not those bright fluorescent lights that showcase every hangnail”). I felt like I’d walked right into the latest downtown hotspot, but one where you wear gym clothing and kick some serious ass. Greeted by everyone from owner Michael Owen, to Group Fitness Director Marcianne Andreozzi, to members of the marketing and sales teams, I made my way with them around the stunning facility as I learned about all of the unique features that Synrgy had to offer. Michael, having been a personal trainer and consultant in the fitness industry for over ten years, wanted to create a health club environment that got people excited when they first walked through the door, before they even stepped onto a treadmill. He had a vision for an experience, rather than just a gym, and, upon my first few glances, I’d say he successfully pulled it off. As I made my way toward the group fitness room, where I’d be taking the Fusion Focus class, I took notice of other fine details that set this gym aside from the rest. The chilled eucalyptus-infused towels for gym-goers, the full service women’s and men’s rooms, which boasted beautiful wooden lockers, an enormous gorgeous ornate wall mirror (these mirrors were everywhere and I may have thought about stealing one every time I passed by) and full showers with plush towels and all necessary bath and body products. There were two luxurious steam rooms, which include aromatherapy, chromatic therapy
Get inspired to break a sweat at Synrgy Health & Fitness
and relaxing music and a full-service concierge desk that is available to members who want to book travel arrangements, make restaurant reservations, order car service or do just about anything that someone might need help with. I’m pretty sure I could have walked out of the gym and onto a private jet to Hawaii if I wanted to. I took my spot in one of the three group fitness rooms and chatted with the super friendly and helpful instructor, Maureen, and other participants as they entered for class. Fusion Focus is a halfhour full body workout that focuses on one muscle group at a time and works it until exhaustion before moving onto the next. In other words, it’s gonna burn. Class began and after we stretched, and we jumped right into leg exercises. From various squats to lunges to jumps and calf movements, we moved through slow, steady and controlled positions so that every muscle in our legs were shaking by the end of the exercise. For someone like me, who is used to primarily focusing on using her legs to lift nothing but heavy weight, it felt great to confuse my muscles by incorporating the slow, controlled burn, using my own body weight. Once our legs were taxed, we moved onto abs. Varied planks, vups and sit-ups worked our core to the point where I knew it would be difficult to sneeze the next day. Thirty minutes flew by quickly, but my body felt the workout in every minute that we spent on those mats. While I think a great class will leave you wanting more, I admit that I judge a lot of fitness classes by their instructors. If the class is good but the
instructor isn’t someone who takes the time to be sure everyone is in correct form or someone who pushes you to your max or someone who smiles, then it’s not a class for me. It was clear that Maureen was more than all of this by the love she got from everyone in the room. She was the type of person whom you felt you already knew for years, and she kicked our butts in the happiest of kickbutting styles out there. I was a big fan. I took one of the bajillion classes Synrgy hosts in their extensive exercise programming, but the options are endless. They don’t just provide the typical gym fare, but pride themselves with unique class offerings like Internal Inferno, Revolution, JUMP, Body Blast, Insanity and SynBurn, to just name a few. Their SPINergy indoor cycling studio is equipped with 36 bikes and a projection screen with virtual roads, to give you the feeling that you’re actually riding the Appalachian Trail. And the health club offers salsa dance classes – something you don’t often see at a gym. The team at Synrgy created a space for those who wanted a modern, luxurious home away from home. A place where someone could enjoy a workout and a peaceful and pampering moment to his or herself all at the same time. A reason to want to shower.
Synrgy Health & Fitness 3 Davol Square 519-6555 synrgyfit.com
Photography: Amy Amerantes
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Christina Robbio
How would you describe your style? Classic trendy chic. I love putting a modern trendy twist on classic attire, like a classic suit with leather trim. What advice would you give someone who is skeptical about wearing bold colors? Wearing bold colors is an expression of yourself. I have always believed that beauty comes from within, and what we wear can be a reflection of who we are. Every color is not for everyone. My advice would be to get out of the “classic black” and start to experiment with different colors. Find a color that you are attracted to in other areas of your life, and try on one item of clothing in that color.
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and pairing of different garments and materials. Much of my inspiration in my wardrobe comes from seeing the designers at StyleWeek Northeast. The creativity behind their collections is astounding and motivates me to experiment in my own wardrobe. How do you determine what accessories to wear? I believe accessories are the staple part to any outfit. They can take you from day to night, and I have been asked many times about my “sleeve” of arm candy. I am big fan of stacking bracelets, which is the only accessory I truly change. Flaunt Boutique in Smithfield is my go to for everything to accessorize. With the different brands, and unique nature of her collections, I am able to create different looks on my wrists, incorporate different shapes, colors and shades of metal. Spikes are one of my favorite shapes in any accessory, even down to my phone case.
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April 2014 | Providence Monthly
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
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Feast
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
IN THE KITCHEN / oN THE MENu / bEHINd THE bar / rEvIEw / IN THE drINK
World’s Fare Hot as a Mutha pizza with a Grand Gold Margarita
Blaze’s eclectic cuisine has been pleasing palates on Hope Street for nearly a decade. Turn the page to see what their new chef is cooking up next.
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
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Feast |
review
By Stephanie Obodda
Heat a Cold Night
blaze warms hearts and stomachs on the East Side Friday night and an inch of ice turned the sidewalks into a skating rink, even where wellintentioned shovelers gave their best attempt. We were hoping to find some heat on Hope Street under the fiery sign of Blaze, a neighborhood fixture since it opened almost ten years ago. Blaze occupies a desirable corner spot on the busy upper Hope Street strip. Shortly after five on a Friday night, the restaurant was already busy. We started with cocktails. I had a Caramel Apple Mojito ($8), made with white and spiced rums, amaretto, caramel, apples, cinnamon, clove and mint. I liked the flavors but the caramel hardened in the cold drink. Still, the flavor was pleasant and I always appreciate a seasonal experiment. My husband warmed up with a Rhode Island Local Coffee Cream ($8), a warm drink with coffee, Uprising whiskey, Dave’s Coffee Syrup and chantilly cream. This was a delicious, though potent, combination, and a great showcase of local products. Our
Jerk Eggplant
friendly server brought over some garlicky hummus and bread with our drinks. Blaze’s menu is extensive and can seem a bit overwhelming, but everyone, regardless of food preference or allergy, is bound to find something. Vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree options are plentiful and well marked. If this menu was a band it would be loud classic rock, carrying a boisterous tune with favorite multicultural tastes like creole, jerk and curry, as well as classic flavorful American comfort food like burgers and short ribs. Two appetizers tempted us. The Kickin’ Lobster Mac & Cheese ($10.95) was large, almost enough to pass as an entrée for smaller appetites. A lidded cast iron baking dish ensured that the dish kept warm and the cheese stayed smooth. Recognizable pieces of lobster were visible in the pasta, and the flavor was rich and pleasant, though the lobster flavor may have been slightly overshadowed by the sharpness of the cheddar. The
rhode Island Local Coffee Cream
New England Crab Cakes ($8.95) had plenty of crab and not much filler. A spicy creole remoulade, served on the side, was a nice addition to the three cakes. Even better, our crab cakes happened to be part of the night’s 5@5 menu, special $5
appetizers and martinis offered from 5-7pm and later at 10pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. After our appetizers, we were ready for the challenge of the Hot as a Mutha pizza ($10.95), a spicy combination of andouille sausage and pickled and fresh peppers. Like a few other menu options, diners are encouraged to choose a heat level, and we ordered ours “extra hot.” The pizza was rectangular and served on a board, cut into eight equal pieces. The toppings went right up to the edge of the pizza, leaving little crust, a nice touch when you are sharing the pizza as an appetizer and everyone wants plenty of toppings. The “extra hot” version was pleasantly spicy but didn’t leave us in tears. With our pizza we ordered the special salad of the night ($9.95) a fetching combination of bitter mustard greens, shaved parmesan, apples and candied lemon zest with a lemony dressing. The night was so cold, more spice was difficult to resist. We decided to share the Jerk Eggplant ($14.95). This eggplant dish is one of many
ONE MORE BITE: Blaze hosts monthly vegan tasting menus featuring five meat-free courses for $25 not inclusive of tax/gratuity. 44
Providence Monthly | April 2014
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
It was a frigid
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Photography: Tiffany Medrano
New England Crab Cakes
vegan selections on the menu. Several large slices of eggplant were coated with jerk spices, grilled and accompanied by black beans, jasmine rice and plantains. We ordered this one extra hot as well, and it was definitely a notch hotter than the pizza - but we asked for it! The beans and rice provided a helpful cool down and the plantains, a sweet foil to the heat. The spiceaverse should not be scared off by this description, as there are plenty of choices with less of a kick. I drank the Zin91 Paso Robles Old Vine Zinfandel ($9) with this dish and my husband tempered the heat with a Grand Gold Margarita ($8). We finished the night with a slice of Pecan Pie ($5.95). Unlike most
pecan pies, this one was made with finely chopped nuts and a graham cracker crust. Since we were still feeling the heat, we added a scoop of ice cream ($1). Blaze’s spices certainly added warmth to our night, and so did the welcoming staff and cheerful clientele in the deceptively large dining space. With this kind of comfort, it’s easy to see why Blaze has plenty of fans and regulars.
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
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Feast |
In the Kitchen
By Grace Lentini
Straight From Italy
Modern cuisine meets traditional recipes at Zooma hard, otherwise when you put them in water they just dissolve. It’s a process. Do you have any special menu plans for Easter? We are doing what we call a Fritelli. It’s a traditional savory crêpe. In my town, we make the Fratelli with milk, eggs, flour, salt, pepper, herbs. Then we make it into a crêpe and stuff it with ricotta and ham, bake it with béchamel and smoked mozzarella and serve it as an appetizer. For the meat we are planning to serve agnello, lamb. I’ll do a lamb loin with peas and artichokes. It’s a traditional dish.
Executive Chef Marcello Floria keeps Italian recipes alive at Zooma
Photography: Mike Braca
Marcello Florio has been the executive chef at Zooma on Federal Hill since August of 2012. Born in Pescara, Italy and trained at the Villa Santa Maria culinary institute, his love of cooking stems from a childhood filled with waking up on Sunday mornings to the smell of his mother and grandmother cooking Sunday dinner. These memories, as well as the passion for what he does, continue to propel him to the forefront of authentic Italian cuisine. Is there a recipe from your childhood that you still make today? The Bolognese. It is mine. This recipe is 70 years old. My great grandmother gave it to my grandmother. It’s six hours of cooking certain kinds of meat, certain kinds of fat, red wine, no white wine, vegetables. It’s just carrots, onions and celery and you let them braise for 45 minutes. After that you add ground veal, ground pork and ground beef with a certain percentage of fat. You braise that for at least an hour and a half. Then you add the red wine – I suggest Burgundy – for another 40 minutes. Then, you add the San Marzano tomatoes, which are the top of the line. Then,
let that simmer for around two and a half to three more hours. When the fat comes up I skim some of it off and then it is ready to go. I serve it on top of pappardelle, which they call jumbo tagliatelle. It’s a really wide noodle. Tell me about the fresh pasta. We make all the fresh pasta in house with my recipe in the Pastificio, a room you see as soon as you walk in the front door. It was here before I got here but we added more pastas. It was and still is the forte of Zooma. Could you describe a bit about the fresh pasta making process? You have to remember that with the pasta, you don’t just put it in the pasta machine and cut it. With the ravioli, for example, you need to press it between 11-15 times in the machine, otherwise they won’t stretch and when you put them in the water they will break. With the tagliatelle, you must only put it through twice because you want it to shrink a bit. With the squid ink pasta you need to press it six or seven times, otherwise the squid ink tends to pull back and it breaks. And with the small pasta you have to press them very
What is a traditional dish you’ve adapted to meet modern tastes? The Italian name [of the dish] might change but the concept is the same – like the Spaghetti alla Chitarra. This pasta came from Abruzzo. We put the fresh spaghetti on top of a guitar, press and the edges are squared on the spaghetti. I’ve incorporated this pasta into a classic Neopolitan dish called sciue sciue, which basically means quick quick. It’s garlic, a little pasta water, basil and cherry tomatoes. That’s it. With the Chitarra pasta, it’s like you’ve been sent back to Italy. What is comfort food to you? I love pizza. I love simple pizza with tomato and mozzarella. And I love meat. I am picky about steak. The meat must have the right marbling and I don’t grill it. I love to pan sear it because it locks in all the juices. The juices start to boil from the inside and come out when you put it in your mouth. That’s what I love. I will cook that at home, same with fish. I like to cook the whole fish at home. I will stuff it with herbs and garlic, seal it with rope and cook it in the oven. Describe some of your seasonal dishes. Right now we are making cod the Livornese-style, meaning from Livorno a town in the northwest of Italy. It is made with fresh plum tomatoes, capers and olives. In another dish we stuff trout with pine nuts and spinach, and we serve that with polenta. Another fish we serve is tuna. I buy the
sushi grade tuna, which is expensive but people appreciate it. I just pan sear it, and crust it with pistachios, butter and tarragon. We serve it with asparagus, confit, red onions and sometimes when it is in season we will put raw pesto on it. All of that has a mustard sauce, which I do with my own mayo and my own mustard and put that on top. I hear you have amazing wood-fired pizza. We use a wood-fired oven that is 800 degrees and the pizza cooks in three or four minutes. We are famous for our Neapolitan-style pizza, which is different from other kinds of pizza. Our pizza doesn’t stand stiff. Ours is crispy on the bottom and soft on top, so it folds when you pick it up. We also don’t cut the pizza because in Italy we take it straight from the oven and put it on the plate and eat it with a fork and knife. We buy imported buffalo mozzarella from Campania and Naples and we import it every week. My favorite pizza is the Queen Margherita, which is just tomato sauce, olive oil and the buffalo mozzarella. We also have our tri-color pizza, which is made with arugula, ricotta and tomato and it looks like the Italian flag. What have you learned after all these years of being a chef? Being a chef, you either hate it or you love it because it is a life of sacrifice. If you want to do this career you must know that there are no holidays. Being a chef is not just cooking. You must have a good relationship with your team. I cannot do anything by myself. You must know how to build a team. You must know which one is good in which area. To deal with the pressure I have to be cool because I have to lead 20-25 people at a time. This is being a chef, not just cooking.
Zooma Trattoria 245 Atwells Avenue 383-2002 zoomatrattoria.com April 2014 | Providence Monthly
47
Feast |
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Eat Well, Do Good
dining out For Life proves the way to the heart is through the stomach
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stomachs, heads and hearts alike, but when dining on delicious dishes also benefits a good cause, it’s even better. This year marks Rhode Island’s 10th annual Dining Out For Life, when restaurants donate a portion of checks to benefit AIDS Project RI. “It’s a great and caring way to celebrate the spring season,” says Thomas Bertrand, MPH, AIDS Project Rhode Island’s executive director. “Step out on a Thursday night for dinner, help people living with HIV and AIDS, and help Rhode Island achieve zero transmission of HIV.” Dining Out for Life can raise up to $20,000, which assists those living with HIV/AIDS and funds prevention and education efforts throughout Rhode Island. Dining Out For Life takes place all day April 24. aidsprojectri.org New Owners of an Old Favorite Hudson Street Deli, the longtime favorite on the West Side, has gone through multiple incarnations since being Westminster Street’s go to grocer in 1922. As of last month, the deli once again finds itself under new ownership. Bryan Rinebolt and Chrissy Teck local residents who share a passion for community and wholesome eats - do not not plan on implementing another round of drastic changes. Instead, the new owners will keep the current sandwich menu the same while adding a variety of options such as fresh pressed juices, healthy smoothies and more vegetarian/vegan/gluten free selections. 68 Hudson Street. 228-8555, hudsonstreetdeli.com
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
Biggie & Brunch at Farmstead Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can’t you see, sometimes your, uh, poutine and fried eggs just hypnotize me… especially when they are whipped up by twotime James Beard nominee Matt Jennings over at La Laiterie. If you share an affinity for delectable breakfast and slick 1990s rhymes then Farmstead has literally carved out a slice of heaven just for you. On the first Sunday of each month, the restaurant features Biggie & Brunch, a creative, locally sourced brunch menu served to the spins of a live DJ. The menu varies, but expect your mouth to water over dishes like cornmeal-fried oysters, poutine with polenta frites, Blackbird Farm pork bubble and squeak, and Kate’s buttermilk biscuits. Biggie & Brunch takes place from 10am till 2pm April 6th and every first Sunday of the month. 186 Wayland Avenue. 274-7177, farmsteadinc.com Easter is Just a Hop Away Cute golden chicks, adorable ducklings and big eyed baby bunnies are pretty much the poster children for any sort of Easter celebration... so what better way to spend your Easter Sunday than by munching on eggs at the Duck & Bunny? The Wickenden Street snuggery is trading its regular brunch menu for a three course pre-fixe. Expect to see crepes and unique egg dishes. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny. Then again, if you do see a bunny trying to give chocolate eggs to children, you may have indulged in a little too much Easter booze. 312 Wickenden Street. 270-3300, theduckandbunny.com
Photography: Tiffany Medrano
More Toys than the Devil has Sinners
Feast |
behind the bar
Prom 2014
By Cristy Raposo
The Perfect Pour
wine flows from the tap at Mill’s Tavern on the menu. We added 70 bottles last year to our list. I look for taste profiles from different regions and different varietals; we don’t like to have a lot of the same thing on the menu. We also have wine on tap at the bar.
Shawna dietz mixes up fresh cocktails at Mill’s Tavern
Shawna Dietz is an Arizona native and JWU grad who loves this foodinspired city. She came onto the Providence mixology scene as a cocktail server at Dave & Busters ten years ago. Now, you can find her at the bar Tuesday through Saturday at Mill’s Tavern as their lead mixologist and assistant wine buyer. Pick her brain about wine, booze or her two adorable pugs.
Photography: Mike Braca
How describe Mill’s Tavern? Mill’s Tavern, located inside the historic Pilgrim Mill’s Building, is a beautiful restaurant serving great contemporary American food with some French inspiration. We offer a wide range from wood grilled steaks to oven roasted duck. Everything is made in house, including all the pastries and our bar infusions. Our dinner and cocktail menu changes seasonally.
What else can you consistently find on the cocktail menu? Mojitos. We change the flavor profile monthly. I’ve been to too many bars where they are terrible. I know they can be hard to make, but we take the time to do it right and muddle it. Right now, we’re featuring a mojito made with blood orange, served with crushed ice and a dark rum float.
What are you infusing this spring? The spring cocktail menu will feature Rhubarb infused vodka with housemade strawberry meyer lemonade and rhubarb bitters.
I hear you have a new wine system. Yes, it’s pretty cool. We recently installed two temperature controlled wine coolers that hold over 150 bottles each. The coolers keep the wine at 62 degrees – the maximum tasting temperature. Over 100 different varieties of wine featured on our wine list are stored here. Some wines do need to be cooler, but great storage helps with the flavor profile of the wine. We continually update and rotate bottles. I’ll check with Wine Spectator to make sure that the wines are rated at least 86 points and above; we revisit and update as necessary.
Tell me about your signature drink. You’ll find the Orange A’peel on the menu year-round. It’s made with orange- and ginger-infused Edinburgh Gin, Cointreau, dash of orange blossom water, fresh Valencia orange juice and fresh lemon juice.
What is your role as assistant wine buyer? I assist with the tasting and purchase of new wines. We’re constantly updating growing our wine list. We try to keep a little bit of this and that; you won’t just find $80 bottles
Wine on tap? Mill’s installed the Cruvinet wine system at the bar. It’s a temperature controlled dispensing system that keeps the wine from touching the air. You can enjoy a glass of wine from a $80-$90 bottle without having to purchase the entire thing and you still get the same great quality. My favorite is the 2012 Belle Glos Las Alturas Pinot Noir Central Coast. It’s a bit young, but very delicious with toasted vanilla and chocolate notes. What inspires your wine purchase? The story behind the wine is what interests me the most. I love to hear a great story about the winemaker, the vineyard, or what the brand represents. I have a true appreciation for good wine and always want to know more about it. I love to educate people on what it is that they are actually drinking. Wine is a really wonderful thing. Being able to pair with food and having it taste better with the food and vice versa. What’s your favorite wine here? My favorite wine is the Beni di Batasiolo Vigneto Corda della Briccolina Barolo. It’s a wonderful Italian red. It’s not too acidic and pretty delicious. It’s definitely one of the nicer wines we have. What’s a good cocktail to impress your Easter guests with? Keep it simple. Add some Pamplemousse Grapefruit Liqueur to your champagne.
Mill’s Tavern 101 North Main Street 272-3331 millstavernrestaurant.com
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April 2014 | Providence Monthly
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Feast |
In the drink
By Emily Dietsch
Coffee and Whiskey Concoctions
Two delicious beverages combine at New Harvest
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
are two of mankind’s most favored beverage categories. (Well, apart from commune dwellers and health nuts, that is, but we all know they don’t count.) And yet, despite sharing the world’s adoration, booze and coffee tend to be awkward friends when brought together. Think of the aged drunk’s morning beverage of choice, for example: dicey whiskey doused into even dicier coffee. Or consider the so-called espresso martini, which criminally violates both the espresso and the martini. Heinous, all of it, which leaves a person wondering whether booze and coffee ought to keep separate quarters, nice as they are on their own. Enter Pawtucket-based New Harvest Coffee Roasters, who aim to prove otherwise. A stalwart presence in the state’s local coffee scene for well over a decade, the company recently opened up a café in downtown Providence, in the revamped Arcade building. Rather than do a standard café, though, they added spirits to the mix, hoping the merger of the two might set them apart. According to the café’s General Manager and longtime roaster, Corey Stroffolino, the concept was something that evolved organically. Opening a café and not just a retail space had been on the company’s agenda already – and then a property manager added an intriguing possibility offhand: why not think about securing a liquor license, too? “At first we thought, what in the world would we do with that?” Corey explained. “And then it seemed so obvious. After coffee, the thing we like most in this world is whiskey.” The initial concept involved putting coffee and whiskey in the same house, but not necessarily in the same glass. They would choose excellent but unpretentious bottles from distilleries who know what the hell they’re doing, rather than ones with nothing but ad hype to them. Spirits education would feature in, too, to match the company’s similar approach to coffee sales. Themed whiskey flights would help customers gain a foothold in a sometimes
daunting and cost-prohibitive arena. “American Craft” brought together whiskeys from Brooklyn and Texan small distilleries, for example, and would give a taste of what’s happening lately among American upstarts. All that went very well. And then, whiskey and coffee inched closer, and invited other spirits to the party, too. Corey worked with Benjamin Terry, who knows a thing or two about mixed drinks, to develop coffee drinks that make the best of both components, rather than giving one the short shrift. “Coming from the coffee world, I tend to begin from the coffee side,” Corey told me, thinking about the beans and what will bring out their flavor profiles. Benjamin happens to hail more from the bar side, and so begins his thinking there. “And then we somehow meet in the middle, and it works,” he said. And does it. The Wired Evan, a Manhattan riff named for the owners’ son, blends espresso, bourbon and Cointreau instead of the classic cocktail’s typical vermouth. “Coffee gives it a base note that’s unexpected,” Corey says, and the Cointreau was swapped in to add
a freshness that vermouth didn’t. Some drinks make use of a cold brew, such as a spin on the whiskey sour called the Full City Sour, which is the kind of invention that earns experts their cred. When someone turns “it can’t be…” into “it is… and I’ll have another, please,” it’s worth the price of admission. It can’t hurt that all New Harvest’s mixed drinks begin with superior ingredients, of course. House-roasted beans and damn good whiskey go a long way. But it’s the thoughtful use of those ingredients that impresses most, from the way that the team determined African beans work best for cold brews through trial and error, to their restraint with frippery. More is not more at New Harvest, which is just the antidote we need in the era of sugar-shock jumbo lattes and maximalist cocktails.
New Harvest Coffee & Spirits The Arcade 272-4604 newharvestcoffee.com
Illustration: Ashley MacLure
Undeniably, booze and coffee
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Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Tuesday, April il 29 Under Alonzo King’s g’s visionary direction, n, this San Francisco-based company is highly trained in ballet, yet performs ms with the speed and energy that belong to the 21stt century, renewing and transcending traditional ballet.
7 : 3 0 P. M . | T H E A U D I TO O R I U M I N RO O B E RT S H A L L
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
51
RHODY BITES A Sponsored Statewide Dining Guide
Waterman Grille Nestled in one of
the most beautiful waterfront locations in the city. Waterman Grille offers unparallelled views to pair with its unique and refined take on comfort food. The menu marries the quality of fine dining with the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere of a more casual eatery. Waterman Grille specializes in wood fire grilling, offering an extensive selection of small plates and entrees, carefully sourced
with local, seasonal ingredients. The grand water views present the perfect backdrop for a leisurely brunch, and Waterman Grille offers one of the best every Saturday and Sunday. The downstairs Riverview Room offers a sweeping view of the river for your private event, including weddings, parties and formal functions for up to 100 people. Or dine out on the covered patio for one of the city’s best al fresco experiences.
Can’t-Miss dish: The Lobster Mac & Cheese with cold water lobster, four-cheese sauce and basil breadcrumbs
4 Richmond Sq., Providence 401-521-9229
braised Short ribs
10 Prime Steak & Sushi Gourmet steaks and sushi. 55 Pine Street, Providence, 453-2333. LD $$$
Bon Asian Bistro Sushi and hibachi, stylish bar scene. 1386 Atwood Ave, Johnston, 270-0777. LD $$
Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 100 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$
Flatbread Company Artisanal pizza, local ingredients. 161 Cushing Street, Providence, 273-2737. LD $-$$
2 Pauls’ City Grille Comfort food with a family feel. 315 Waterman Ave, East Providence, 228-7285. BrLD $-$$
Breachway Grill Classic New England fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 213-6615. LD $$
DeWolf Tavern Gourmet American/ Indian fusion. 259 Thames St, Bristol, 254-2005. BLD $$-$$$
Giros Hometown Grille Pub-style food, friendly service. 501 High St, Peace Dale, 887-752-0794. BrLD $-$$
Arturo Joe’s Italian food close to the beaches. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 789-3230. LD $$
Caprice Restaurant & Bar Upscale Italian, romantic atmosphere. 455 Main St., East Greenwich, 398-2900. D $$-$$$
Dragon Palace Fresh sushi and Asian cuisine. 733 Kingstown Rd, Wakefield, 789-2308. LD $-$$
Gourmet Heaven Deli, salad bar and prepared foods. 173 Weybosset St., Providence, 536-9000. BLD $
Aspire Seasonal Kitchen Contemporary New England fare. 311 Westminster St, Providence, 521-3333. BBrLD $$-$$
Casa Della Luce American/Italian bistro and gourmet pizzeria. 105 Franklin St, Westerly, 637-4575. LD $$
Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$
Guytanno’s Cafe Inspired international cuisine. 62 Franklin St, Westerly, 3846221. LD $$
Besos Kitchen & Cocktails Tapas and eclectic cuisine and cocktails. 378 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-8855. BrLD $$$
CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in a historic setting. 14 Imperial Place, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$-$$$
Enn Japanese Creative sushi and Japanese food. 600 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, 333-0366. LD $$
Hanley’s Ale House Full service pub, great fun. 52 Pine Street, Providence, 861-0001. LD $-$$
Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, 508-999-6975. LD $$
Centro Restaurant & Lounge Contemporary cuisine and cocktails. 1 W Exchange St., Providence, 228-6802. BLD $$$
Fieldstones Relaxed family setting, something for everyone. 980 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, 293-5200. LD $$
Harry’s Bar & Burger Creative sliders and cocktails. 121 N Main St, Providence, 228-7437. LD $-$$
b breakfast br brunch L lunch d dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+ 52
Providence Monthly | April 2014
Kartabar Mediterranean-style cuisine, chic setting. 284 Thayer St, Providence, 331-8111. LD $-$$
Oceanside at the Pier New England fare overlooking the Atlantic. 1 Beach Street, Narragansett, 792-3999. BrLD $$
Seasons Fine dining at the Ocean House. 1 Bluff Ave, Westerly, 584-7000. BLD $$$
The Sea Goose Seafood with New England and Southern flair. 265 Post Rd., Westerly, 315-0788. LD $$-$$$
Kon Asian Bistro Sushi and hibachi, stylish bar scene. 553 Main St., East Greenwich, 886-9200. LD $$
Paragon & Viva Contemporary dining and nightlife. 234 Thayer Street, Providence, 331-6200. BrLD $-$$
Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. locations in Providence, East Greenwich, Smithfield. sienari.com D $$-$$$
The Twisted Vine Romantic wine bar with tapas and full meals. 3 Canal St, Westerly, 596-4600. D $$
Luxe Burger Bar Build your own creative burger. 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $
Pavilion Steakhouse & Banquets Grand, banquet-hall style dining. 15A Frontier Road, Hopkinton, 377-9900. BrLD $$$
Sweet Cakes Coffee shop and gourmet bakery. 1227 Kingstown Rd., Peace Dale, 789-5420. BL $
UMelt Fun twists on grilled cheese. Providence and Kingston, 383-6732. LD $
Mariner Grille Creative seafood, pub atmosphere. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 284, 3282. LD $$
Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily inspirations. 120 Francis Street, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$
T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, Narragansett, 946-5900. BL $
Vetrano’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Italian cooking like grandma made. 130 Granite St., Westerly, 348-5050. LD $$
Meeting Street Cafe Huge sandwiches and cookies. 220 Meeting St, Providence, 273-1066. BLD $
Rasa Authentic and contemporary Indian. 149 Main Street, East Greenwich, 398-2822. LD $$
Tara’s Tipperary Tavern Oceanside Irish-American pub fare. 907 Matunuck Beach Rd., Matunuck, 284-1901. BLD $
Vittoria’s NY Pizza Best pizza north of Manhattan. 224 Post Rd, Westerly, 3221901. LD $-$$
Mews Tavern Family dining, with a whiskey bar. 456 Main St., Wakefield, 783-9370. LD $-$$
Rasoi Vegetarian-friendly Indian cuisine. 727 East Ave., Pawtucket, 7285500. LD $$
Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$
Waterman Grille Riverfront New American dining. 4 Richmond Sq., Providence, 521-9229. BLD $$$
Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$
Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950. BrLD $$
The Dorrance Fine dining with exquisite cocktails. 60 Dorrance Street, Providence, 521-6000. D $$$
Whiskey Republic Delicious dockside pub fare. 515 South Water St., Providence, 588-5158. LD $-$$
Nami Fun, stylish sushi and hibachi. 198 Atwells Ave., Providence, 383-6559. LD $$$
Rick’s Roadhouse House-smoked barbecue. 370 Richmond St, Providence, 272-7675. LD $-$$
The Malted Barley Gourmet pretzels and craft brews. 42 High St., Westerly, 315-2184. $
XO Cafe Creative cocktails and New American fare. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$
Oak St. B&B Delicious, inventive burgers and breakfast. 87 Oak St, Westerly, 315-2520. BLD $
Rue De L’Espoir American cooking with French soul. 99 Hope St., Providence, 751-8890. BBrLD $$
The Restaurant at Weekapaug Inn Quintessential New England fare. 25 Spray Rock Rd., Westerly, 322-0301. BLD $$$
Zooma Trattoria Fresh Italian using house-made pasta. 245 Atwells Ave, Providence, 383-2002. LD $$
RhodyBites.com
Worth The Drive:
Kon Asian Bistro Kon Asian Bistro is a sleek and stylish steakhouse, sushi bar and hibachi restaurant serving upscale and creative Asian fusion cuisine. Gather around the table to watch the chef
prepare your meal on the flat top grill. The sushi menu is extensive, with fresh sashimi and classic and creative rolls. Kon also features a full bar with creative cocktails.
Can’t-Miss dish: Blackened Tuna: Seared sesame tuna with Japanese miso sauce, fresh from the sushi bar.
553 Main St, East Greenwich 401-886-9200 For full restaurant profiles, go to RhodyBites.com
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April 2014 | Providence Monthly
53
EASTER SUNDAY BRUNCH $39. 99 $17.99
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Let’s face it, this winter was tough. The snow, ice and bone-chilling temperatures ruined lots of plans, leaving people depressed, disappointed, and just plain fed up.
View a complete list of events and buy tickets at w w w.ric.edu/pfa or call (401) 456-8144
Duo-Pianists John and Richard Contiguglia Sunday, April 13
verday
APRIL We Demand a Do-Over.
12
Join GoProvidence.com for the first-ever Do-Over Day on Saturday, April 12. Support local restaurants, shops, hotels, attractions and more by doing all the things that you had planned to do this winter but got snowed out.
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Identical twins John and Richard Contiguglia have collaborated as a piano duo since the age of ve. Their program is scheduled to include “A Four-Hand Tribute to Schubert.”
2 : 3 0 P. M . | R H O D E I S L A N D C O L L E G E , S A P I N S L E Y H A L L
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
Get Out
EVENTS / ART / MUSIC / THEATRE
Cable Car Cinema hosts the SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival from April 22-27
Lights, Camera, Action! 1.
Photo: Courtesy of Altaville Pictures
April 22-27: Now in its sixth year, the SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival has established itself as a premier New England festival that’s dedicated to promoting independent cinema, music and art. Join in the fun as participants enjoy six days of films, live music, art exhibits and parties. Rub elbows with talented filmmakers from around the world as well as local artists and musicians. Events take place at venues in both Providence and Cranston including Columbus Cinema, Cable Car Cinema, Warwick Museum of Art and more. Go online for a full schedule as well as pricing information. senefest.com.
2.
April 17: Prepare to be entertained by the Drag Diva of Providence, Miss Kitty Litter and others at the monthly Drag Bingo featuring surprise guests, musical interludes, witty jokes and over $2,000 in cash and prizes. $20. 6pm doors; 7pm start. 1612 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston. 521-3603, aidscareos.org.
3.
April 23-30: See the play that Regis Philbin calls “Hysterically funny” as Trinity Rep presents My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m In Therapy. This 90-minute comedy is based on the writer’s own family. $41-$51. 2pm & 7:30pm. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, trinityrep.com.
4.
April 18: Don’t miss your last chance of the season to catch a Providence Bruins game as they take on the Manchester Monarchs at the Dunk. The first 2,000 fans receive a team keychain so be sure to arrive early. $21.25-$38. 7:05pm. 1 LaSalle Square. 273-5000, providencebruins.com.
5.
April 17: It’s the third Thursday of the month, which means it’s Gallery Night Providence. Hop aboard the art bus and visit 26 fabulous urban galleries. Guided tours begin at 5:20pm and leave every 20 minutes ending at 7pm. 5-9pm. One Regency Plaza, Providence. 4902042, gallerynight.info.
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
55
Get Out |
Calendar
By Erin Swanson
This Month
April 1-13: The Gamm Theater presents Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An eerie prophecy and greed lead to a couple’s downfall in this classic tale. $48. 2pm, 7pm & 8pm show times. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 7234266, gammtheatre.org. April 1 & 15: Take a Guided Architectural Library Tour at the historic Providence Public Library on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Free. 10:30-11:30am. 225 Washington Street. 455-8000, provlib.org. April 1-29: Stop by Blue State Coffee every Tuesday night for Got Poetry Live Open Mic Nights hosted by the Frequency Writers. The open mic is followed by a feature. $3. 8-10pm. 300 Thayer Street. frequencywriters.org. April 1-29: Take a look at the night sky every Tuesday night at the Ladd’s weekly Telescope Observing Night, weather permitting. Free. 9-11pm. 210 Doyle Avenue. 8632323, brown.edu/Departments/Physics/Ladd/. April 1-29: Head to Trinity Brewhouse every Tuesday night for Stump! Trivia. Winning teams go home with prizes so be sure to bring your smartest friends. 8pm. 186 Fountain Street. 453-2337, stumptrivia.com.
now is your chance to find out. The Yardies offer free public tours on the first Wednesday of every month. Stop by and say hi. Noon. 27 Sims Avenue. 273-7101, thesteelyard.org. April 2-30: Hope Artiste Village opens its doors every Wednesday and Saturday to host the Wintertime Farmers’ Market, selling everything from local eggs to oysters. Wednesday 4-7pm; Saturday 9am-1pm. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. farmfresh.org. April 3-24: Each Thursday stop into Bin 312 for a free Wine Tasting. The shop is full of eclectic, exclusive and interesting wines. Find your new favorite… and be sure to share. 312 South Main Street, Providence. 11am9pm. 714-0040, bin312.com. April 4: Hit The Met for a CD Release show featuring three awesome bands. Roz and The Rice Cakes headlines with openers The Low Anthem and Dr. Jones & The Shiners. $10. 8pm doors; 9pm show. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. 729-1005, themetri.com. April 4-25: Every Friday it’s Friday Night Live at Everett. Performers improvise on song, dance and skits that are appropriate for all ages. Prepare to laugh, cry, snort and wet your pants. $5. 7pm. 9 Duncan Avenue. 831-9479, everettri.org. April 4-25: Drop in the Providence Athenaeum on Friday evenings for the weekly Salon Series, a conversation on topics from art to philosophy. Free. 5-7pm. 251 Benefit Street. 421-6970, providenceathenaeum.org.
April 1-30: Be sure to visit the RISD Museum of Art this month for Andy Warhol’s Photographs. See the American pop genius’s prints, drawings and photographs. 224 Benefit Street. 454-6500, risdmuseum.org.
April 4-26: Swing by Bottles for a weekly beer or wine tasting. You may even Skype with a faraway winemaker as you sip his wares! Free. Fri beer tasting 4-7pm; Sat wine tasting 4-7pm. 141 Pitman Street. 3722030, bottlesfinewine.com.
April 2: If you’ve ever wondered what goes on at The Steel Yard,
April 4-26: Artists Exchange and EPIC Theater Company present Hurly Burly,
April 12: Join the Audubon Society for a Camouflaged Egg Hunt. Children ages 3-10 will hunt for brown eggs in a natural setting. Prizes are awarded to all. Registration required. $5-$7. 9:30am check-in; 10am start. 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield. asri.org. a dark comedy. $15 general admission; $12 seniors and students. 8pm Fridays and Saturdays. 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 490-9475, artists-exchange.org. April 4-26: Drop on into ENO every Friday and Saturday for a free Wine Tasting. It’s the budget-friendly way to kick off your weekend. You may even discover a new favorite blend. 225 Westminster Street, Providence. 521-2000, enofinewines.com. April 5-26: Saturday Nights bring Improv Jones to the 95 Empire Black Box. Enjoy a fantastically funny world that’s different every week. $5. 10pm. 95 Empire Street. 831-9327, improvjones.com. April 5-26: Make a date with your little one for the Brown University Bookstore’s weekly Children’s Story Time each Saturday, a magical world where tots can learn. Free. 244 Thayer Street. 863-3168, bookstore.brown.edu/. April 6: On the first Sunday of each
month, from now ‘til forever, head downtown to AS220 for its Empire Revue, a night of sketch comedy and more. $8. 8-11:30pm. 115 Empire Street. 831-9327, as220.org. April 6-27: Every Sunday at AS220 you can hop into your leotard for a drop-in Beginner or Intermediate Ballet class with Stephanie Albanese. $13. 10:30-11:30am beginner; 12-1:30pm intermediate. 95 Empire Street. 831-9327, as220.org. April 7: The Muir String Quartet returns to RIC for its 21st season performing works by Haydn, Kreisler and Mendelssohn. $35. 7:30pm. Sapinsley Hall. 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. 456-8465, ric.edu. April 7-28: Got music? The Spot Underground does. Check out Dropout Night each Monday with hosts Kris Hansen and Big Jon Tierney. You never know who might drop in to play. Free. 9:30pm. 101 Richmond Street. 383-7133, thespotprovidence.com.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE For an up-to-date statewide calendar and to submit your own listings visit providenceonline.com 56
Providence Monthly | April 2014
Photo: Courtesy of Audubon Society of Rhode Island
April 1-5: The Wilbury Group presents Blasted by British author Sarah Kane. This highly controversial play is set in an expensive hotel room and explores themes of sex, violence, suicide and death. 393 Broad Street 400-7100, thewilburygroup.org.
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Get Out |
Calendar
By Erin Swanson
• Custom Résumé Writing • Career Coaching and Assessments • Interview Training • LinkedIn Profiles April 11: Brown’s David Winton Bell Gallery opens its doors for Artist Talks and Opening Reception: Brown University 250th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition Part 2. 64 College Street. 863-2932, brown.edu/campus-life/arts/bell-gallery. April 12: Jonesing for the Winter Olympics? Get your fix at the Dunk with the Stars on Ice 2014 Tour featuring several of the men and women who competed at Sochi. $27-$137. 7:30pm. 1 LaSalle Square. 331-6700, dunkindonutscenter.com. April 12: Head downtown for some grown up fun this month as Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel presents legendary blues musician B.B. King. $50-$75. 6:30pm doors; 7:30pm show time. 79 Washington Street. 331-5876, lupos.com. April 13: Identical twin duo-pianists John and Richard Contiguglia have been performing together since the age of five. See them live at RIC’s Sapinsley Hall. $35. 2:30pm. 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence. 456-8465, ric.edu. April 18: Fête welcomes one of the coolest bands in all the land to its stage this month. The Devil Makes Three blends bluegrass, folk, blues,
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April 22: The Columbus Theatre welcomes Horse Feathers to its intimate stage for the band’s 10th Anniversary Acoustic Tour. $15 advance; $17 day of. Doors 8pm; show 9pm. 270 Broadway. 621-9660, columbustheatre.com.
April 25-26: Providence College presents a Spring Dance Concert, a showcase of student choroegrapny at its Angell Blackfriars Theatre. 8pm Friday, 2pm Saturday. One Cunningham Square, Providence. 865-2084, providence.edu/theatre.
SMALL LUNCH • BIG LUNCH
WALLY KEENAN
country, ragtime and rockabilly. $20$40. 8pm doors. 103 Dike Street. 383-1112, fetemusic.com.
April 23: Help feed the poor and homeless of Providence by attending PICA’s Silent Auction at the Regency Plaza lobby. Place bids on items while enjoying a cash bar and good company. $50. 5-8pm. 1 Regency Plaza, Providence. 454-7422, ripica.org.
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April 27: On the last Sunday of the month stop in at Wildflour for a free tarot card reading. Simply sign your name on the list and grab a coffee while you wait. 4-6pm. 727 East Avenue, Pawtucket. 475-4718, wildflourveganbakerycafe.com.
Now Accepting Resumes for Editorial, Marketing, Design, Multimedia and Photography Internships Send your resume and sample work to: resumes@providenceonline.com
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Providence Monthly | East Side Monthly | SO Rhode Island | The Bay
Veronica Meadows a new play by
Stephen Thorne April 3 – MAy 4 (401) 351-4242 • trinityrep.com 201 Washington St. • Providence • RI April 5: Register now for the second annual Rhode Island Yoga Festival at Nathan Bishop Middle School. Your ticket price includes 12 classes with top teachers, talks, meditations, kirtan, gongs, lunch and more. 8:30am-5:30pm. 101 Sessions Street, Providence. rhodeislandyogafestival.com.
sponsored by AlAn & MArie Weiss season sponsors
trinity repertory company THE STATE THEATER OF RHODE ISLAND
April 2014 | Providence Monthly
57
6:17 PM
SHOP SALE the
THE LARGEST SALE IN NEW ENGLAND FOR 66 YEARS!
April 10-12
Three Days Only • Free Admission Thursday, Apr. 10, 10 am-8 pm Friday, Apr. 11, 9 am-8 pm Saturday, Apr. 12, 9 am- 4 p.m. In the Wheeler School gym at 407 Brook St. (off Angell) in Providence, Rhode Island
phone 401.421.8100 web www.wheelerschool.org/clothingsale facebook: facebook.com/wheelerclothingsale
Opening Day 2014 Season
Herreshoff Marine Museum / America’s Cup Hall of Fame One Burnside St, Bristol, RI - herreshoff.org
FREE Museum Admission April 27 10am-5pm
New Museum Exhibits Guided Tours Family Activities Book Store Sales 58
Providence Monthly | April 2014
Get Out |
Theatre
By Jenn Salcido
15% off
A Brand New Mystery
any interior or
exterior project!
Local playwright Stephen Thorne creates drama at Trinity Rep
Photo: Michael Guy
For a young, book-loving
little lass, was there anything so magical as the mysteries of Nancy Drew? I remember having my demands being uncharacteristically capitulated to when I constantly asked to go to the bookstore or library to purloin the latest edition. I’m not sure if my parents were consciously trying to redirect my propensity to be a bossypants (I was the eldest child and supreme ruler of two pesky brothers). And what young lady wouldn’t want to be like Nancy Drew? She wasn’t beholden to her boyfriend (a sensitive studmuffin, if the cover designs were to be believed). She was essentially a truant (she’s remarkably well-spoken for a school-skipping hooligan) but was well respected in her community. She was smart and always adorned in tasteful, well-tailored frocks. Simply put, she kicked butt. So much so, in fact, that it wasn’t just bossy little girls who took notice of her powers and prowess. Local playwright and actor Stephen Thorne, a resident company member at Trinity Repertory Company, found himself so enthralled by the idea of this girl detective and her successors (Katniss!) that he penned the world premiere play Veronica Meadows on stage at Trinity Rep this month. Featuring Stephen’s wife, acting company member Angela Brazil, as the eponymous heroine at the play’s center, Veronica Meadows is essentially a play about one of these mid-century sleuths (Director Michael Perlman, via Stephen, describes it as being “set in a kind of nostalgia”). Returning patrons to Trinity will no doubt recognize how skillfully Angela and Stephen both have handled nuanced, smartly-realized turns in the theater’s past, particularly in some of the complicated comedies we’ve seen from them. Stephen describes this play as having many ingredients, but says that it does have a darkly comic sensibility about it. At the beginning of the play, Stephen says, Veronica and her best-friend slash sidekick are very much entrenched in the world they have always inhabited, like many of us. They wake up and go to work – in this case, solving mysteries.
Angela Brazil as crime-solver Veronica Meadows
But that’s not all that lies ahead for Ms. Meadows. “I try to create stories that you discover as you go along. You’re not going to walk in and have everything happen from that first moment; that’s part of the fun,” says Stephen. “For anyone who has loved literature, they’re going to love this play, I just know it,” says Artistic Director Curt Columbus. Stephen, who carefully chooses his words, not wanting to give away too much of, well, the mystery at the heart of the thing, says it best: “this sort of starts to change once she understands that it can. It’s almost like how a person doesn’t realize that things could be different until they say, hmm, what happens if I do this? And does it. And they start opening doors, and the old life gets left behind.” Much like the close reading of the girl detective characters, though, there’s more than meets the eye about what’s unspooling with Veronica. Curt offers his take on the global themes of the play as being about what can happen not just in this particular woman’s life, but in the lives of all of us as we age, as our lives evolve and as we are faced with what’s left when we have the option to change. Lines blur, and the black and white go all fuzzy and pixelated on us. It’s just as true of what happens when Veronica rustles free from the constraints of her genre’s formula as it
is with the world around us. “It’s also a play about American exceptionalism. This idea that in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s you fought the Nazi, you solved the crime, you did all these things. But what does that mean to us in 2014? And what if the problem is you? If the problem you have to solve is you then that becomes a whole different kettle of fish,” Curt says. This is Stephen’s second play staged by the company, which has been holding annual company workshops under the direction of Artistic Director Curt Columbus for the past eight years. These workshops have borne some remarkable fruit; not only was Stephen’s first play, the delightfully macabre …Edgar Allan Poe, a product of one of these company powwows, but the very ethos of the company has been nurtured here as well. As Curt says, this is a place where “the people who make plays happen can make comments on how to make these plays better.”
Veronica Meadows Trinity Rep April 3-May 4 201 Washington Street trinityrep.com
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
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Get Out |
Music
Tony Pacitti
COLOR SENSE April 17 – May 15
featuring artists Nick Paciorek, Mary Jane Andreozzi, Kate Hoyer, and Judy Araujo Volkmann
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
Hungry for Music
Roz and the Ricecakes return with a bold new record Roz and the Ricecakes’
new album, Need to Feed, opens with a blistering soundscape. Sounds echo and drone across an infinite, cosmic expanse while Roz Raskin’s voice bleeds in, pushing everything to the point where you feel it in your gut and your speakers strain against the raw sonic power. The scope of that first track, “The Birds,” is massive and as each new sound builds off of the last it’s clear that this is different in the Ricecake camp. The Ricecakes have always sat confidently behind the stick of their pop-prog rocket, piloting it expertly across an album and several EPs, injecting their music with a constantly bright, youthful energy. From the get-go that the Roz and the Ricecakes sound has existed, it is self-assured in knowing that even as the band continues to evolve there seems to be a single, common source all of their music can be traced back to. That still applies, but Need to Feed feels bolder, more daring. It feels like the band has boldly gone where no Ricecake has gone before. If “The Birds” is an ambient rush through sound and space, than “Castle” is an atmospheric re-entry, buffering up against oddball time changes that keep the listener guessing while Roz Raskin, Casey Belisle and Justin Foster dance around one another. Landing on sonic terra firma brings us to the title track, “Need To Feed,”
where Raskin’s spine tingling keys and haunting “oohs” set up a richly textured pop ballad that wonderfully demonstrates the themes and new directions on display throughout the record. The rest of the album plays out similarly varied as the band deftly alternates between wide, open sound spaces and claustrophobic moments of intimacy. “Follow Suit” will make your soul weep, “Hay Fever” will make it want to rip out of your body and dance. One songs seeps into another with hard static, another with a panning “wub wub wub,” only to find a soft warm sound on the other side. It’s a kitchen sink record and the fact that it works so beautifully is a testament to its creators. “Trying to create an album that has a similar feel the whole time just isn’t who we are,” says Justin. “Everything that we’ve put out so far we’re really proud of,” adds Casey, “But it’s always been pretty tiny. Three songs, six songs. But for this release it was really the three of us working together to try to figure it out. We’re hungry.” Hunger is a recurring lyrical theme throughout the album, in both the literal and figurative sense, and even comes across in the instrumentation. That big, daring boldness in sound suggests a grab at next-level creative fulfillment. “I remember going through the lyrics and everything had to do with grabbing at something, overusing, obsession,” explains Roz. “We’ve been
going so hard as a band, and we want so badly to make this what our lives are, I feel like there’s a hunger there.” That hunger is hardly one-sided. After shelling out to record the album, the band turned to Kickstarter and the kindness of strangers to secure funds for mixing, mastering and the pressing the album to CD and vinyl. They gave themselves 45 days to raise $5,000. They got it in seven. “I know that we have a fan base, but it was very comforting to know that people cared that much,” says Roz. “People trusted us to do something awesome with it.” Awesome would be a modest assessment. Need to Feed is a force to be reckoned with and a reminder that great things happen in our own backyard. It’s a record that will take you places and demands to be given your full attention. Shut your eyes, pop on a good set of headphones and let your ears eat their fill.
The Met 1005 Main Street Pawtucket 331-1005 themetri.com Need to Feed official release April 4 with The Low Anthem and Dr. Jones & The Shiners
Photo: Tim Siekiera
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Savor Providence
By Grace Lentini
The Hottest Meat in Town Don’t be mad. We can’t help pointing out all the humor opportunities involved in our hot dog variety taste test. It’s meat in buns people! All jokes aside, there’s a reason people come back time and time again for these salty, savory, porky or beefy mouthfuls. Whether your preference is enjoying these meaty treats one at a time or double-fisting your way through handful after handful, the truth is plain and simple: there’s plenty of meat to go around.
Going All the Way
The Best Kind of Wurst
Who can seriously come to Rhode Island and not try hot wieners all-the-way from Olneyville N.Y. System? Although they are mostly reserved for the late night crowd, these hand cut links always have just the right ratio of meat sauce, mustard, onions and celery seed in the warmed and steamed bun. All we needed was some coffee milk to wash it all down. 18 Plainfield Street. 621-9500, olneyvillenewyorksystem.com.
If you’ve never had a gourmet house-made sausage it’s time to head over to the Wurst Kitchen at Chez Pascal. The wurst we tried was plentifully topped with the house mustard that had a slight sweetness to it, sweet pepper relish and house relish all nestled in a perfectly grilled bun. The savory and well-seasoned pork sausage was encased in a natural casing that had that just the right snap to it once you bit into it. And you know what they say, once you go snap you’ll never go back. 960 Hope Street. 421-4422, chez-pascal.com.
Let’s Be Frank
Who Let the Dogs Out?
The 100% all-natural beef franks from Spike’s Junkyard Dogs hit the spot, especially since they were served on a soft and pillowy French roll. We tasted the Texas Ranger, which was teeming with barbecue sauce, bacon and cheddar cheese. Just one of these dogs was enough to satisfy even the biggest of appetites. 640 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston. 781-7556, spikesjunkyarddogs.com.
You may not expect a tasty jumbo hot dog from a well-known burger joint but that is just what you get at Harry’s Bar & Burger. Their Coney Island Dog is extralong, juicy and topped with caramelized onions, sweet relish and grilled up just right. So, the next time you stop in to Harry’s, give the hot dogs a second look; it’ll be love at first bite. 121 North Main Street. 228-7437, harrysbarburger.com.
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Providence Monthly | April 2014
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