Providence Monthly December 2014 by Hey Rhody Media Co.

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Contents

Photography: (R) Stacey Doyle

DECEMBER 2014

Check out our statewide holiday spectacular

This Month 29 Blinding Us With Science Annie de Groot is curing major diseases right here in Providence

35 A Very Merry Month Celebrate the holidays all December long

Brews and barbecue in Cranston

49 City Style Shopping for a good cause on Gano 51 The Look 52 Get Fit 55 Shop Talk 56 Beauty

61 Feast Smoking up great barbecue in Cranston 62 Review 65 In the Kitchen 66 On the Menu 69 In the Drink 73 Rhody Bites

79 Get Out

Every Month

No humbugs allowed 80 Calendar 83 Art 84 Music 87 Theatre

88 Savor Providence

6 Editorâ€™s Note

Holiday meals to go that will impress your guests

9 Feedback

and your taste buds

10 ProvidenceOnline.com

15 Providence Pulse Art is everywhere in PVDâ€Ś even the highways

On the Cover: A Providence dreamscape

17 City 23 Scene in PVD December 2014 | Providence Monthly

Editor’s Note

PROVIDENCE MONTHLY

Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell

Publishing Director Jeanette St. Pierre @JeanetteSTP

Executive Editor Julie Tremaine @JulieTremaine

Digital Manager Elyena de Goguel

Associate Editor Grace Lentini @Gracie_NomNom

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright I’ll be honest with you. I spend most of the fall wishing that it was still summer. By the time I’m finally ready to embrace apple picking and pumpkin-flavored everything, it’s already Thanksgiving and most of the good parts of autumn are over. But when the calendar hits December 1, I’m all about the holidays. It’s only 25 days between then and Christmas to get in as much merriment and holiday cheer as humanly possible – you know, between shopping, wrapping, baking, writing out cards, more shopping, the occasional hour of sleep and, oh yeah, working. My point is this: you don’t have all that much time to fit in the great parts about the holiday season. That’s where Providence Monthly comes in. This year, we did the

heavy lifting for you, and planned out your entire month of holiday cheer. Read on, and discover the surprisingly numerous ways you can be merry and bright this month. Then get out there and celebrate. Come January, the only sparkle you’re going to see is from the falling snow. Happy holidays.

Art Director Meghan H. Follett Assistant Art Director Veatsna Sok

Advertising Design Director Layheang Meas Graphic Designer Caitlin Musso

Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich: Louann@ProvidenceOnline.com Ann Gallagher: Ann@ProvidenceOnline.com Nicole Fox: Nicole@ProvidenceOnline.com Kristine Mangan: Kristine@ProvidenceOnline.com Dan Schwartz: DanS@ProvidenceOnline.com Elizabeth Riel: Liz@ProvidenceOnline.com Kimberly Tingle: Kim@ProvidenceOnline.com Stephanie Oster Wilmarth: Stephanie@Providenceonline.com Contributing Photographers Mike Braca Force 4 Photography Brian DeMello Terace Greene Stacey Doyle Tim Siekiera Contributing Illustrator Kendrah Smith Contributing Writers Keith Andrade @AndradeK

Tony Pacitti @TonyPacitti

Erin Balsa

Cristy Raposo @foxywhite03

Michael Clark

Jenn Salcido

David Dadekian @dadekian

Jen Senecal @JenSenecal

Emily Dietsch

Providence is #1!

Molly Lederer Stephanie Obodda @StephanieDoes Interns Emily Davey Claire Flanagan Elizabeth Gallagher

We’re so excited about Travel + Leisure naming Providence America’s Favorite City that we’re throwing a party to celebrate. Join the Providence/Warwick CVB, the City of Providence, The Providence Tourism Council and Providence Monthly at the Vets on December 17 for a #1 party featuring tons of stuff that makes PVD so awesome: food trucks, art, live music, performances and, of course, beer. Check out goprovidence. com for more details.

John Taraborelli @JohnnyTabs

Alexandra Morel Morgan Pekera

Members Of:

Audited by:

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

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Season's Greetings Gift Certifcates Available

Fitness and Pilates Mind/Body studios

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Offering Reformer for Runners/Cyclists, JUMPBOARD Circuit, Reformer/Barre, Reformer Mix Up, Reformer ESST, Reformer INT MyOfASCIAl RElEASE SMAll GROUP SERIES

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273-CORE | Two East Side locations: 469 Angell Street & 208 Governor Street, Providence

Feedback From Our Readers The Core of the Matter Thank you for the story Jen Senecal wrote on our new MyZone fitness technology [“Get in the Zone,” November 2014]. She really got what CORE Fitness and Pilates Mind/Body Studios are all about. However, the photo that ran with the story was of a Core Sweat class, not the MyZone Training System. If you’re

interested in seeing the training system and screen in action, stop by our 469 Angell St. location for an Indoor Cycling class. Our schedule can be found at corefitprov.com. Denise Chakoian-Olney, CORE 469 Angell Street, 273-CORE corefitprov.com

From Our Facebook Friends In response to Tony Pacitti’s story on musician John Faraone [“Searching for Home,” November 2014]: I am blown away by this. I haven’t bought the album yet, but I will. I have been friends with John a long time (but don’t let that take credibility away from my praise, because I’m not just saying this as a friend). His music is great. I have been following a lot of his development from North Carolina. Since I’ve left Rhode Island he has come a long way. We were in a cover band in high school together, playing cover songs

of our favorite bands at the time. John was the drummer in our band (he was great too). We weren’t even 18 yet. I remember he could barely play a guitar, noodling around on mine at the time. Look at him now! Great lyrics, great writing and a picking hand that is humiliating to me seeing as I have been playing guitar a lot longer. Every time I see things like this it makes me happy, and proud. He is talented, smart and a great friend. This ends my corny sentiment/rant. Love you John Faraone. Vincent Piccirillo

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Correction In our November cover story, we misprinted the contact info for Providence’s two gourmet olive oil shops. Olive Del Mondo is located at 815 Hope

Street, 383-5733, olivedelmondo.com. The Olive Tap is located in Wayland Square at 485 Angell Street, 2728200, theolivetapprovidence.com

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Repurposed, Upcycled & Custom Painted Furniture, Unique Hand Made Goods, Jewelry, Artwork & More! Open Tuesday thru Sunday 800 West Shore Road, Warwick • 314-6403 • www.TheCrabbyLion.com

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

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Cafes & Boutiques right outside your door

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W E B E XC LU S I V E Ho Ho Ho… no. We love the holidays, obviously, but sometimes Santa’s jolly red face and all the constant caroling can just get a bit much. Need a break from the seasonal madness? Check out our online compendium of all the non-holiday happenings going on this month. It’s ok to be a bit of a humbug… on occasion.

Plus: Winter is here! And we’ve created a winter survival guide just for you with the best ways to stay warm and S.A.D. free during the darkest months of the year.

Win THiS

SHOP WITH US Can’t figure out what to get your loved ones this holiday season? Check out our online gift guide featuring your favorite local businesses.

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We’re giving away $2,000 in gift certificates. Follow us on Facebook for deals and remember to #ShopRhody this holiday

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

Hey Rhody (at providenceonline.com)

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

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Providence Pulse CITY / MALCONTENT / SCENE IN PVD

Art in the Streets Youth artist Wilson Aguilar’s photograph is displayed on a billboard as part of an art initiative

When it comes to art in Providence, we’re spoiled. We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to galleries and art events (not to mention our world-class art museum). Now, somehow, the city has found a way to become even artsier: Artboards RI have been installed along the highways in and out of the city. We can’t think of a better welcome to PVD.

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

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City

From Page 15

Taking Art to the Streets A continued art initiative uses billboard space as a canvas In 1974 Providence artist Ruth Dealy had an idea. A founding member of a new artists’ collaborative Loft Horizons, Dealy was looking for a way to bring the experience of enjoying visual art to “as large a group of people as possible.” She happened to read that the owner of Radding Sign Company (now Lamar Advertising) had a strong interest in public art and her idea took hold: Billboards as gallery space. With donated sign space and free installation services in hand, Loft Horizons secured a small grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and four hand-silk-screened prints were installed on eight billboards in the Providence area. The project received national acclaim. Dealy had always hoped that the project would be repeated and eventually turn into something more permanent. “I tried and tried, but the funding always fell through. It tortured me,” she says. No more. Artboards RI, a yearlong project launched in October, will once again showcase the work of local artists on billboards in the Providence area. The focus will be on bringing art into the urban neighborhoods of Providence and Central Falls, where access to art is often limited. By using smaller billboards, targeted to pedestrian and slower automobile traffic, Artboards RI hopes to engage the neighborhoods, especially the youth, in conversations about art. It is hoped that through

the use of print and social media the project will eventually reach beyond the neighborhoods, encouraging even visitors to Providence to seek out the experience of the “urban art gallery.” The works of Artboards RI’s first three featured artists will remain in place through most of January. Ruth Dealy’s Ground Fog can be seen at 384 Valley Street. Painted in 2003, it reflects on Dealy’s ability to finally “see the fog lifting” following surgery that successfully restored her eyesight. She hopes others will find it enlightening and encouraging. Mark Freedman’s NY RT 5 IV can be seen at 221 Allens Avenue. The original painting’s large size fit the format of a billboard, says Freedman, and its subject matter – an urban highway overpass – is appropriate to the Allens Avenue location. Freedman, who likes to paint from memory, is known for his stark (and starkly beautiful) urban scenes. The third featured artist is AS220 youth artist Wilson Aguilar. His photograph, a stunning juxtaposition of dog, urban rooftop and blue sky, can be seen at 800 Charles Street. His impressive photography portfolio is accessible through AS220’s website. Every 12 weeks, three new artists will be featured on three different billboards in Providence and Central Falls. Be on the lookout for the works of these artists: Ida Schmulowitz, Robert

Artboard art by Mark Freedman

Dilworth, Angel Quinonez, Entang Wiharso, Chesare DeCredico, Alfred DeCredico and AS220 youth artists Ariel Brito, Justin Espinal and Kyle Collins. The Central Falls installations will be done by RISD students. East Siders may easily recognize at least one of the artists, Ida Schmulowitz, by sight if not by name, as she is a somewhat established presence in Fox Point. Schmulowitz has been painting a series of urban landscapes from the same vantage point on the India Point pedestrian bridge (old and new) since 1983. She might also be recognizable as the person seen dragging very large, still wet canvases along the streets of Fox Point

as she makes her way back to her Ives Street studio. The bumpy ride, Schmulowitz has found, besides being the most practical way to get her canvases home, enhances the texture of her landscapes. Ida was drawn to participate in the project because she sees it as “a great way to get more people to see what Rhode Island artists do.” Artboards RI is sponsored by the Providence Tourism Council, Cornish Associates, AS220, Rhode Island School of Design, Attorney Marc Greenfield and Lamar Advertising. For more information contact Linda Holmes, lindaholmes.newton@gmail. com –Mary K Connor

Fashion Forward A Touch of Paris in Providence The scarf – le scarf, if you will – is a French staple, and the origins behind a Providence-founded company called Yorscarf. CEO Thao Ly Bui Tran was inspired by her studies in Paris, where she noticed how a single scarf could instantly transform an outfit. When she moved here for a job, a lack of scarves stood out, and a business idea crystallized. Yorscarf resulted, geared towards style-conscious women short on budget and time. A kickstarter campaign

generated funds, and buzz followed. A RISD-trained textile designer created “modernly vintage” prints for the company, and the co-founders settled on an L-shape that can twist into eight different looks. (P.S.: their scarves cost a tenth of what Parisian luxury brands charge.) Frenchifying local fashion is only part of the Yorscarf story, however. The company’s partners all hail from Ho Chi Minh City, and some even went

to middle school together. They’re committed to empowering Vietnamese women and families by providing jobs at fair wages, and by donating sewing machines as income sources. Their globally-minded, internet-savvy enterprise reflects the newest direction in Rhode Island’s historic textile trade – and that’s a good thing. Find the scarves online for now, with a brick-and-mortar shop to come. yorscarf.com –Emily Dietsch

Check out our Facebook page for Yorscarf’s giveaway contest and Providence Monthly readers get a 25% discount on Yorscarf’s website by using the promo code: PVDSPECIAL.

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

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If you were tuning in closely to the marathon mayoral election that ended last month, you may have discerned through all the shouting an occasional discussion of actual substantive issues. One of the more interesting and important topics was the future of the Providence waterfront. The term itself is something we’re not used to discussing (more on that later), but Cianci and Elorza spent quite a bit of time sparring over dueling plans for what both agreed is an underutilized area of the city. Mayor-elect Elorza favored a working waterfront, pushing for increased trade through the Port of Providence, continued industrial use for the 364 acres of waterfront along Allens Avenue, and further development for shipping and industrial use. (Full disclosure: I helped write Elorza’s plan.) Cianci, on the other hand, envisioned a mixed-use waterfront where cruise ships dock, hotels spring up, and kids play in ball fields. In my view, Elorza presents us with a realistic but uninspiring assessment of our waterfront capabilities, while Cianci offers a wonderful vision that is completely unworkable. The bad news is that there is little agreement about what to do with our waterfront, and zoning and environmental (not to mention economic) issues will make any plan difficult to execute. Under Mayor Taveras, the City agreed to “protect industrial and working waterfront uses” through an amendment to the zoning ordinance, and the Providence Working Waterfront Alliance (PWWA), an advocacy group of businesses located there, has been successful in opposing mixed-use. There are also serious environmental remediation issues that would factor into redevelopment for any purposes other than industrial. Then, of course, there is the potential economic impact of rezoning and redevelopment on a coalition of businesses that, according to the PWWA, sustains over 500 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect jobs. The good news is that there is broad agreement that our waterfront

is underutilized, and wide support for an effort to realize its full potential. Couple that with the once-in-alifetime redevelopment of the I-195 land, which is reshaping an area of the city that connects easily with the waterfront, and we have a tremendous opportunity to dramatically reimagine Providence’s shoreline and the ways we interact with it. The important thing here is to stop thinking about this in narrow silos like what to do with Allens Avenue or the old Shooters site, and start envisioning everything from Fields Point at the southern tip of the city up to India Point as one contiguous stretch of some of the most valuable (in more than just the monetary sense) land in the entire state. Perhaps we could even work with East Providence on a broad-ranging plan for the head of the bay that takes into account the needs of heavy industry, fishing, boating, recreation, commercial use, residential use, tourism and green space. We need to change the way we think about our city and its shores. Providence is a port city that really doesn’t culturally identify as a port city, and “the waterfront” isn’t in our vocabulary the way it is in places like Newport or Boston. Even a place as urbanized as Red Hook, Brooklyn feels more like a sailor’s town than Providence because we lack that natural, everyday connection to the water that defines coastal communities. We have only a small handful of full-fledged seafood restaurants and waterfront bars. Commercial fishing doesn’t have a presence on our docks. Residents have very few meaningful opportunities to interact with the waterfront and we don’t leverage our coastline as a draw for visitors in a state where tourism is the third largest industry. If we’re going to take full advantage of our waterfront, we first need to develop that connection and take pride in our position as a coastal community. Maybe then we’ll start to see more than scrap yards and strip clubs along the water. –John Taraborelli

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If you have been meaning to check out J. Marcel, the shoe and accessory boutique on Hope Street, but haven’t gotten around to it yet, I have a couple of things to say to you: 1) you’re crazy. They’ve been selling affordable and adorable jewelry, bags and shoes for years; and 2) they’ve just made it that much easier for you. J. Marcel owners Dixie Carroll and Bill Jette just launched a Vintage Airstream Pop-Up Shop. The 1970s silver bullet camper

has been making the rounds at outdoor festivals around the state this fall, and will be even more visible throughout the holiday season. Next time you see a vintage camper headed your way – don’t worry, it’s not your weird uncle coming to camp out in your yard until Christmas – take a look inside. You’ll find fab gifts (for you and for your shopping list) inside. 808 Hope Street. 383-9777, jmarcel.com –Julie Tremaine

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

Everyone remembers the girl who lost her glass slipper while fleeing the castle at midnight, so get ready to enjoy this classic tale all over again, except this time there’s a twist. Mark Binder and Steve Mardo work together to bring you Cinderella Spinderella, a unique tale about Eleanor, who is confined to a wheelchair and forced to clean up after her pesky stepsisters. What makes the story even more engaging is that it started as an eBook, featuring 25 “seasonal” variations so kids could create their own Cinderella and handsome Prince. It became so popular that they decided to create printed versions of the story. There are hard and softcover editions for the autumn, winter, summer, spring and Monsoon seasons so that your little ones can enjoy this classic fairytale any time

of the year. Even the pumpkin is replaced by a potato, beet, watermelon or jackfruit depending on which story your family decides to read. Books on the Square has them on their shelves and you can also find it on Amazon, iBooks, Kindle and more. Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street. 331-2845, booksq.com –Emily Davey

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Alumni + Student Hoilday Art Sale Alice O’Neill 06 PR

Nicole Aquillano MFA 12 CR

s y a d i l o for the h

Lindsay Degen 10 TX

Thursday, December 4,

4-8pm Providence’s Upper Hope Street (Seven Stars area)

For more information go to hopestreetprov.com

Providence Monthly | December 2014

Milisa Galazzi MA 96

Pictures with Santa Extraordinary Rendition Band Fire jugglers • Food trucks Petting zoo • Providence Children’s Film Festival Free refreshments & so much more!

RI Convention Center Saturday, December 13 10am to 5pm

Pulse |

Scene in PVD

Party guests donned their finest masquerade masks for Mysterium: The Eternal Masquerade at the Providence Public Library on Halloween. The party featured an innovative interactive performance by Ten31 Productions and food by Russell Morin Fine Caterers. Photography by Mike Braca.

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Fighting Disease from Providence Annie de Groot is making the world a healthier place with vaccine research… even on Ebola

Photography: James Jones

by Grace Lentini

Would you believe it if I told you that there is a company that could develop a vaccine for Ebola in 120 days? Well, the science of today is the technology of tomorrow, and this is true of the work done by Providence-based Annie de Groot, a vaccinologist and entrepreneur. She is the CEO/CSO of EpiVax, Inc, a vaccine design company she co-founded in 1998. She is also a research professor at the University of Rhode Island and director of the Institute for Immunology and Informatics (iCubed), which she founded in 2008 as part of the university’s emerging biotechnology program, located at URI CCE in the Shephard Building. Throughout her career she’s been recognized on the national, international and local level including just this past September, when VaccineNation named her one of the Top 50 Most Influential People. But what inspires a person to work in the field of vaccinology? For Annie, it was when she witnessed what was available to those who could pay for health care and those who could not – the consequences were often lethal. “Once the disparities became clear to me, there was no turning back,” she says. “As a medical student, I rotated through hospitals in Zaire, South Africa and Peru. Those experiences are indelibly etched into my memory. In those farflung places, I was witness to deaths from vaccine-preventable disease. Who was dying? Children. Their mothers mourned them. But to the outside world, they were just a number, a statistic, another death from measles that did not need to occur.” It is from those experiences that solidified her knowledge that vaccines are life-saving and that access to health care is a human right. She firmly believes that right should not be limited by geography or circumstances of birth. “I am driven to improve access to health care and to vaccines, everywhere in the world,” emotes Annie. URI has become a leader in the field of vaccine discovery since the addition of iCubed in 2008. The focus of iCubed is to apply cutting-edge bioinformatic tools to accelerate the development of treatments and cures for a number of diseases. The tool she uses is the iVAX toolkit, which was initially developed by her biotech company, EpiVax, Inc. These tools can be used with many diseases. Currently, in the lab and with collaborators, some diseases she is working on include Dengue, avian influenza and Lyme. This tool has also been made available to collaborators in cancer vaccines and she is beginning a project on transplant rejection, which may also be predictable using the iVAX toolkit. And like many other Rhode Islanders, this writer has had Lyme disease and still struggles with its side effects. Lucky for us, she is collaborating with URI’s “Tick

Vaccinologist and entrepreneur Annie de Groot

“We are always involved in real life situations. Although not through my work at URI. At EpiVax, where I am CEO, big companies, the size of Pfizer and Amgen, depend on us for screening their protein drugs, some of which are for autoimmune diseases, and some of which are for cancer therapy.” - annie de groot

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“When I worked with the measles vaccination campaign in Zaire and in South Africa, I learned about the power of vaccination against disease. Now I have the opportunity (with my colleagues at EpiVax) to research and develop an AIDS vaccine and vaccines against Hepatitis C, influenza, TB and, yes, Ebola too.” She believes that a vaccine is truly the only hope to stop Ebola in West Africa, seeing as vaccinations are so effective especially in rural African villages where developing world medicine hasn’t extended its reach. For Annie, “when addressing health inequality, rather than focusing on the reason why the inequity exists, I do not ask why it came to be – but why not make it change.” In true form, Annie’s company EpiVax has already analyzed the Ebola vaccine. The results of that analysis are available to the research world on the EpiVax website. And the reason there isn’t an Ebola vaccine yet? Well, it’s all about the lack of available funding in vaccine development. Despite proving that she and her colleagues can produce a vaccine in 120 days, and despite the fact that EpiVax has already analyzed Ebola, Annie’s offer goes unanswered. Unless the funding becomes available, they cannot do their work. In true form, Annie is just as passionate about this issue as ever: “I would like to thank Ebola for uncovering the dramatic inequities in health care in the developing world, and for revealing to the world how important vaccines can be.”

Institute for Immunology and Informatics University of Rhode Island, Shepard Building 80 Washington Street immunome.org EpiVax, Inc. 146 Clifford Street epivax.com

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Guy” Tom Mather on a project that may lead to a vaccine against Lyme disease. If you are unfamiliar, Lyme is caused by a bacterium contained in the saliva of a deer tick. When a tick pierces the skin, its saliva is injected into the host, and the bacterium with it. It takes an infected deer tick 3648 hours to transmit Lyme disease once you are bitten. Tom and his associate Wendy Coy Shattuck have identified a way of using the tick’s saliva to make a vaccine against the tick’s saliva. In other words, by having immunity to the tick’s saliva, anything that the tick injects along with the saliva will not be able to infect you. This type of vaccine approach has implications for other tick-borne pathogens. It is this ability to discover new things with the iVAX toolkit that Annie finds so fascinating. “Having access to so much genomic information, which wasn’t really even available to this extent ten years ago, is amazing,” she beams. “We can scan microbe genomes, we can scan parasite genomes and we can scan the human genome for triggers that drive immune response. In doing so, we are able to find [the] sequence in those genomes that turn the immune response off and on. Turning immune response on is important for vaccines and turning them off is important for autoimmune disease.” “Because I know that access to vaccines can be lifesaving, I find the work that we do at EpiVax and iCubed to be passionately interesting,” she says.

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Providence knows how to celebrate

the holidays in style – but just because winter is coming doesn’t mean that you should ignore the rest of the state. Check out our holiday guide, and then jingle all the way to your own perfect December.

Ring in the Season Close to Home

Photography: (Bottom) Courtesy of Trinity Repertory Company

An Old Favorite If you’re a Rhode Islander, it isn’t officially the holiday season until you’ve heard Tiny Tim squeak out his little holiday blessing over a giant Christmas goose. A Christmas Carol is a time-honored tradition in many places, but none moreso than the Ocean State. Yes, you’ve seen it already. But if your Inner Scrooge is saying “humbug” to going back this year, drive a stake of holly through his heart and get to the theatre. Trinity Rep reinvents the production every year to make it a new experience, so you get the best of both worlds: time-honored tradition and fresh creativity on stage. This year, Ebenezer is played by Fred Sullivan, Jr., whose booming stage presence makes Scrooge’s redemption all the more powerful. Think we’re kidding? Go ahead and think of the Fezziwigs’ joyous holiday party without smiling. We dare you. Performances run through December 31. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, trinityrep.com

Glide into Winter

There’s nothing more Christmassey than gliding across the ice at the Providence Skating Rink. Through the flurry of pink noses and mittens, you’re practically guaranteed to see a marriage proposal on the ice every day in December – after all, love (and ice) is in the air this month. If you’re feeling a little more Dorothy Hamill than Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, there are adult refresher courses and full-fledged skating lessons for the inexperienced (but if you’d just rather sit on the bench and sip hot cocoa, well, we aren’t going to judge you). There are deals all week long: during weekday lunch hour, admission and skate rental are only $5 each; same goes for Funday Monday afternoons, Wednesday night college nights and weekday after-work specials. On the first Saturday of the month, admission is free for PVD residents. Take advantage of the magic of the season: once the cold really sets in during the new year, the last thing in the world you’re going to want to risk is a faceful of hard ice. 2 Kennedy Plaza. 331-5544, providencerink.com

A Christmas Carol returns to Trinity Rep now through December 31

Feed Your Soul In the midst of all the shopping, wrapping, ribbon-tying and gifting that takes up so much of the holiday season, it’s easy to forget the abundant need that exists in Rhode Island, especially in December. This year, resolve to give something back. Lucky for you, the Rhode Island Food Bank is making it easy (and fun) to do just that. On December 13, visit the Food Bank with non-perishable food items to enjoy their Holiday Open House. The morning will feature performances by Voices of Christmas and the Wheeler School

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

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Help Raffa Yoga help Project Undercover Ring in the season of giving with the power of yoga. The students of the Raffa Yoga 200 Hour Teacher Training Program will be hosting a power vinyasa class to benefit Project Undercover. The Cranston-based charity provides undergarment necessities for children in need. 100% of the class fee and donations will go directly to Project Undercover. The event takes place on Sunday, December 7 at 1:30. The registration fee is $20.00.

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This year get yours straight from the farm Some of us prefer the easy, brightly lit, pre-packaged artificial Christmas tree. We can’t blame them: there are environmental and financial benefits, not to mention the blissful lack of pine needles littering your floor for a month. But for some of us, the holiday feeling that comes from that fresh pine scent can’t be duplicated - sap, needles and all. The Rhode Island Christmas Tree Growers Association is a resource for buying local, farm-fresh Christmas trees. Besides all the benefits to shopping local, the trees last longer (and you can usually score a cup of hot chocolate at the farm). richristmastrees.com Celebrate the holidays in Downcity

Jazz Ensemble. Guests can help sort food donations, tour the Food Bank and enjoy hot chocolate, cider and cookies. It’s a good way to help a great cause (not to mention giving your kids a valuable lesson in what’s really important during the holidays). 200 Niantic Avenue. 942-6325, rifoodbank.org

Holiday Spirits

Photography: (Top) Courtesy of Downcity, (Bottom L) Courtesy of Festival Ballet, (Bottom R) Dan Schwartz

It might not be Miracle on 34th Street, but downtown Providence has holiday cheer to spare. On Saturdays through December, Downcity will be merry and bright with the Downcity Holiday Social. Think festive activites for kids and adults alike, in between shopping at your favorite merchants for holiday gifts (because you do your holiday shopping at independent stores, right? Right?). Aurora, the mixed use arts space, will host all of the activities – starting, as all good things do, with cocktails. Purchase one of their signature bloody marys and get access to the delicious bagel bar. For kids, there’s hot chocolate and cookies, as well as a holiday movie series presented by Movies on the Block, showing classics like A Christmas Story. Santa and his elves will be on hand to take photos, and kids can write letters to Santa. There will also be food vendors and performances that change weekly, and a Rock and Roll Yard Sale on December 13. Westminster Street. indowncity.com

Christmas on Pointe

If there’s a season to experience the ballet, it’s during the holidays. The Nutcracker is practically the official soundtrack of Christmas. See it live for the first (or 50th) time at PPAC, as Festival Ballet performs its annual staging of the holiday classic, from December 19-21. The performance includes a 25foot Christmas tree, life-size dolls and The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies in all its glory. For another literary classic, take in a performance of Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by the Providence Ballet Theatre at Rhode Island College. The show, on December 19, will feature professional dancers and local kids. For something more modern that literally turns the holidays upside down, check out Cirque Dreams: Holidaze. The mix of dance, aerial arts and acrobatics is fun for the whole family. Festival Ballet

and Cirque Dreams: 220 Weybosset Street. 421-2787, ppacri.org; Providence Ballet: 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue. 456-8144, ric.edu

Run Your Jingle Balls Off Just because winter is coming doesn’t mean the running season is over. Freeze your jingle balls off at the Amica Downtown Jingle 5k on December 14. The race kicks off from the Convention Center, and starts with a kids run before the main event, where your most festive holiday finery is encouraged – though if you’re fantasizing about a Providence version of Boston’s Santa Speedo Run, keep dreaming. Prizes go to winners in individual adult and kid categories, as well as families and corporate teams. The race supports Toys for Tots, Project Undercover and sellers of sparkly elf ears everywhere. 952-6333, downtownjingle5k.com

Shop and Stroll You have to give it to Providence: we have so much city love that now we have an overabundance of neighborhood love, too. Areas all over town are hosting their own holiday strolls and neighborhood parties. SoMa (the South Main Street district) is hosting a Holiday Stroll on December 6, featuring carolers, shopping deals and a bake sale, with proceeds going to the Rhode Island Food Bank. Hope Street is bringing back their Winter Stroll on December 5, featuring a night parade with Santa himself, as well as food trucks, hayrides, a petting zoo, street performers like fire jugglers and Extraordinary Rendition Band, an installation from the Providence Children’s Film Festival, free food and drink – oh yeah, and shopping. Wickenden Street presents their first Holiday Ramble on December 11, featuring photos with Santa, a gift raffle, shopping events and lots of delicious hospitality. On December 14 – you know, after all the students are gone and you can park again – head to Thayer Street for their Holiday Stroll, featuring music and fun festivities. SoMa: facebook.com/SoMaPVDRI. Hope Street: hopestreetprov.com. Wickenden: facebook.com/wama.pvd. Thayer: thayerstreetdistrict.com

Dancing through the Snow

The Dancing Cop is as much a part of Christmas in Providence as Santa Claus himself. This year is the 30th year of former police officer Tony Lepore dancing in the streets. While we aren’t sure where he will be stationed this year as of press time, last year he was at the intersection of Dorrance and Westminster every day at lunchtime. Lepore even has his own television special he’s currently taping, set to air on local cable access. Find “Providence Dancing Cop” on Facebook Santa arrives at the Hope Street Holiday Stroll

Festival Ballet presents The Nutcracker

Celebrate All Over the State Bright Nights Yes, WaterFire lights up the night in Providence... But it’s not the only event with glowing reviews in the state. The 18th annual Westerly Holiday Stroll and Luminaria illuminates downtown Westerly and the Pawcatuck River on December 3 from 5-8pm. Strolling carolers and twinkling lights set the scene for shopping and entertainment, while hayrides with Santa keep the kids happy. Downtown Westerly and Pawcatuck. 596-7761, westerlychamber.org

Get Wild For a refreshing take on a holiday classic that’s a little less “God bless us every one” and a little more “God help us,” check out Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge. The show, on stage at Wakefield’s Contemporary Theater Company from December 5-21, is a parody of A Christmas Carol that has all of the familiar characters and none of the familiar plot line. In this musical reimagining, Mrs. Cratchit is a modern woman who drinks to escape the pressures of her hardscrabble life in 1840s London and of raising her – count them – 21 children. Add Scrooge and The Ghost who can’t quite manage to get him through his life lessons because her magic is on the fritz and you’ve got one surprising holiday show. 327 Main Street, Wakefield. 218-0282, contemporarytheatercompany.com

Decked Halls You’ve seen how the other half lives, but have you seen how the other half celebrates? Christmas at the Newport Mansions shows the summer cottages of America’s royalty in a whole new light. The Breakers, The Elms and Rosecliff are decorated to the rafters with stunning holiday decorations, like the floor-to-ceiling tree made of poinsettias at The Elms. Events like caroling, concerts and kidfriendly fun keep the party going all month long. The Nutracker performed by Island Moving Company at Rosecliff is a performance not to be missed – and unless you want some unhappy kids on Christmas morning, make sure to take them to meet Santa at The Breakers on December 7. One good thing about the short days this month is that there’s more time to see the gorgeous mansions lit up with holiday cheer. Bellevue Avenue, Newport. 847-1000, newportmansions.org Christmastime at the Marble House

Craft your Christmas at Blithewold Mansion

A Monthlong Christmas Party

During the warmer months, Blithewold Mansion in Bristol is a special event destination. Its historic manse, rolling lawn down to the water and sculpted gardens make it the perfect spot for weddings or just a weekend tour. Once the cold sets in, though, Blithewold becomes a winter wonderland. We’re pretty sure “Deck the Halls” was written about this place. Festive events take the spotlight all month long, like the Children’s Story Hour on Wednesday afternoons, where kids can listen to a holiday story while parents peek around for a house tour, followed by snacks and crafts (because all that envy can make you hungry). Blithewold also does frequent workshops: this month topics include wreath-making and how to build your own holiday fairy terrarium. Take a lesson from what they do best, though, and head to Style at Home: A holiday party workshop... or just attend their Evening of Holiday Food and Drink on December 10. The delicious party will send you home full, and with recipes to try at home. The Blithewold Christmas Sparkle happens every Friday evening this month, and is a festive holiday mixer with hot cocoa, roasted marshmallows and live music. 101 Ferry Road, Bristol. 253-2707, blithewold.org

Light It Up If you think Narragansett shuts down for the season once the temperature drops below 70, think again. The Narragansett Festival of Lights, an all-day celebration that culminates with fireworks and a tree lighting, happens on December 7. Meet Santa at Pier Marketplace, participate in holiday crafts, a free staging of A Christmas Carol and festive entertainment. 782-0658, narragansettri.gov

To Grandmother’s House For some good old fashioned family morals, the Granite Theatre in Westerly presents Over the River and Through the Woods. Channeling the New England family theme from the original 1844 Thanksgiving poem, this holiday show focuses on a young man with two sets of wackily overbearing grandparents and one big life decision ahead of him. 1 Granite Street, Westerly. 596-2341, granitetheatre.com

Photography: (Top L) Contemporary Theater, (Bottom L) John Corbett Courtesy of The Preservation Society of Newport County, (R) Courtesy of Blithewold Mansion

Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge at the Contemporary Theater

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Christmas Carols

Not just for your kids’ school pageant

Christmas at Smith’s Castle

Ye Old Fashioned Christmas For a taste of a Colonial christmas, travel back in time to Smith’s Castle in North Kingstown for Christmas at the Castle. From December 6-7, the 17th century living history museum brings old fashioned holidays to life. Think costumed historical interpreters, halls decked with old fashioned decorations, colonial treats, music from a bygone era and an exhibit on the history of Santa through the years. 55 Richard Smith Drive, North Kingstown. 294-3521, smithscastle.org

Jingle All the Way

Channel your inner Rudolph to find the finish line of the Jingle Bell Run in Narragansett. On December 7, head to Narragansett Town Beach in your finest holiday running gear – if you’re not wearing light-up antlers, you’re doing it wrong – and raise money for The Arthritis Foundation. About 500 people participate in the 5k every year, so you’re in good, if chilly, company. Run, walk, tie bells to your shoes… whatever you do, jingle all the way to the finish and raise money for a good cause. Narragansett Town Beach North Beach Club, 79 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett. 739-3773, narragansettcoc.org

Historic Holiday

Celebrate a historic holiday at the Whitehall Museum House in Middletown. Whitehall, built in 1729, sits on the remnants of an 18th century farm and is a remarkably well preserved example of colonial life. On December 7, head to the museum for Christmas festivities including caroling, seasonal music and plenty of holiday cheer (including wassail, which is a real beverage you can actually drink – who knew?). You might even spot the Ghost of Christmas Past. 311 Berkeley Avenue, Middletown. 846-3116, whitehallmuseumhouse.org

Santa by Boat Wickford is gorgeous at any time of year, but never moreso than during the annual Wickford Festival of Lights. What’s arguably Rhode Island’s most picturesque Main Street turns into a winter wonderland from December 4-7, illuminated with thousands of twinkling white lights and made merry with roving bands of carolers. Seriously, is there anything more “holidays in the Ocean State” than Santa arriving by boat to the town dock? Festivities kick off with a tree lighting in Updike Park, and continue throughout the weekend, with most shops in Wickford VIllage staying open late to encourage the most possible shopping local. wickfordvillage.org

You know how everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day? Well, during West Side Caroling, everyone is a West Sider, too. On the Sunday night before Christmas, gather at Loie Fuller on Westminster Street with your singing brethren in all of your holiday finery, get a lyric sheet and embark on a mostly-family friendly adventure. We’ve seen a man wearing a whiskeyfilled keg barrel around his neck (definitely not us) and a woman wearing Christmas lights in her hair (definitely us) while caroling. Friendly neighbors hand out eggnog both spiked and not. This is definitely not your grandmother’s singalong. wbna.org Get in the holiday groove at Getting Merry Like Christmas on December 6. This concert, hosted by the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, is a mix of jazz, gospel and holiday spirit. Robb Dimmick directs the show, which features local and regional talent, at the RISD Museum. ribhs.org Head to Bristol’s Blithewold Mansion for all the fa la la-ing you can handle. On December 14, Silver Belles, an a capella group, performs a holiday concert. Or, bring the kids to a Singalong with Santa on December 4 and 11. Better yet, make an afternoon of it and treat yourself to afternoon tea at the mansion. blithewold.org If you prefer your carols with a side of rock, check out the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Dunk on December 19. The orchestra will perform their album The Christmas Attic live for the first time. They’re performing two shows full of holiday enchantment and mischief that day. dunkindonutscenter.com If all that Christmas shopping puts you in a singing mood, join Christopher Carbone and the Thompson Middle School Chorus for Christmas Caroling on Broadway in Newport. Meet in Washington Square and carol your way up Broadway, stopping at local businesses and City Hall along the way. 481-5135 Head to the Aldrich House on December 6 for the Rhode Island Historical Society’s annual Holiday Open House. The event features musical performers VoX (Voices of Christmas) and the Ocean State Songbirds. In between concerts, Elyssa Tardif, Director of the Goff Center at the RIHS will present a short talk (with samples) entitled, “‘Here We Come A-Wassailing!’: The ‘Rude Reveling’ and ‘Mad Mirth’ of Holidays Past.” rihs.org Doo wop your little heart out at The Jersey Four Holiday Show at the Greenwich Odeum in East Greenwich. Hitting the stage on December 13, the show is a tribute to Frankie Valli that covers all the tiny troubador’s hits and some holiday classics. theodeum.org Infuse your holidays with some luck o’the Irish at A Celtic Twilight Christmas. Phil Coulter and Andy Cooney croon traditional songs with the Irish Pops Orchestra on December 5 at the Park Theatre in Cranston. parktheatreri.com

Photography: (Top) Courtesy of Smith’s Castle

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Enjoy the Bounty Take a moment to appreciate your loved ones at 2nd Story Theatre’s staging of The Trip to Bountiful, a show about homecoming and the true meaning of family at the holidays. 28 Market St, Warren. 247-4200, 2ndstorytheatre.com

Merry Days There’s just something irresistible about celebrating the holidays in a quaint seaside town. Lucky for us, this is New England, and the nautical charm abounds, especially this month. Celebrate at the Bristol Christmas Festival. Have a pancake breakfast with Santa on December 7, spend the day making holiday crafts and taking in festive entertainment, and stick around for the Grand Illumination at 6pm, featuring a recitation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and a Christmas carol sing-a-long. facebook.com/BristolChristmasFestival

Holiday Finery

Oh what fun it is to ride… to Bristol, to celebrate Christmas at Linden Place. The 200-year-old Federalist mansion is bedecked and bedazzled for the season, including some larger than life Christmas trees that are probably going to make yours feel inadequate. A special exhibit of vintage and antique children’s toys adds to the spirit of the season – and will remind your kids that yes, life did exist before iPads. Seasonal concerts like The Clancy Legacy Celtic Christmas happen throughout the month. 500 Hope Street, Bristol. 253-0390, lindenplace.org

The Merriest Nobody south of the North Pole celebrates the season quite like the City by the Sea. Newport throws down all of the holiday cheer you can handle this month. During Christmas in Newport, there is literally something fun happening every single day in December – and usually more than one thing. The celebration kicks off on December 1 with a tree lighting ceremony (one of three happening in Newport this month) complete with a cannon salute and live entertainment. Throughout the month, check out events ranging from the boozy (a Decorate the Brewery event at Coastal Extreme) to the literary (Living Literature Presents: Owen Meany’s Christmas Pageant), from the educational (Holiday Histories Walking Tour) to the black tie (the 38th annual Governor’s Ball at Salve Regina). Christmas concerts happen all over the city all month long, and thanks to some holiday decorating contests, there’s plenty of eye candy to take in while you’re on your way. At the Bellevue Avenue Stroll on December 4, stores will have treats and carolers to entertain you as you shop. You can even take a moment to appreciate what Christmas is really about at a living nativity on December 11, or at the 103rd annual Medieval Christmas Pageant at St. George’s School. We could keep going and going… or you could just go check it out for yourself. christmasinnewport.org

Christmas at Linden Place

Shop Local for the Holidays

Unique shopping events and holiday sales Summer isn’t over – at least according to the PVD Flea. The wildly popular outdoor market full of vintage, art and kitsch moves inside Hope High School for two Holiday Bazaars on December 7 and 14. Live music and food trucks add to the lively atmosphere. providenceflea.com The Foundry Artists Holiday show is back from December 5-7 at the Pawtucket Armory. Shop locally made paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography and more. If there’s one gift guaranteed to make a big impression, it’s handmade art – and it can be more affordable than you think. foundryshow.com Over 45 local artists will gather in the Pawtucket Armory Arts District for the Third Annual Holiday Sale at Mad Dog Artist Studios and Gallery, December 4-14. Shop Pean Doubulyu glassware, jewelry, industrial modern furniture, woven and knitted textiles, ceramics, prints and various holiday items. maddogartiststudios.com

Skip the grocery store for your evergreen branches, and head to the Holiday in the Park Wreath Sale at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center on December 6. Shop for live decorations, meet Santa, enjoy kid’s crafts and treats from La Creperie. Admission is free with a canned good donation. providenceri.com/ botanical-center Buy work from tomorrow’s stars of the art world today at the RISD Alumni and Student Holiday Art Sale on December 13 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Browse prints, paintings, photographs, jewelry, ceramics, textiles and more – all made by current or former RISD students. facebook.com/RISD.Alumni.Art.Sales You drive by the Providence Art Club all the time – but when was the last time you stopped to take a look? There’s no better time than at the Little Picture Show – the 110th Little Picture Show, to be exact – running through December 23. All works are 12”x12” or smaller and are priced under $250. providenceartclub.org The charming Old New England hamlet that is Tiverton Four Corners is never more beautiful than at Christmas. Head there for their Winter Arts and Artisan Festival from December 13-14. The boutique artist showcase offers an opportunity to talk with makers about their craft (and don’t forget, Gray’s Ice Cream next door is open every day, even on Christmas.) tivertonfourcorners.com See artists at work during the Shady Lea Mill Open Studios on December 6-7 in North Kingstown. Meet working painters, sculptors, soap makers, weavers, woodworkers, glass blowers, guitar makers and more. Bring a canned good to support the North Kingstown Food Pantry. themillatshadylea.com

Providence Art Club

The 44th annual Holiday Art Show and Sale is happening at the South County Art Association in Kingston, now through December 18. Over 70 local artists will display their works of pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry and more – and did we mention it’s all tax free? southcountyart.org

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

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City Style

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Photography: Mike Braca

A Well-Crafted Life 1. The felt leaf garlands are a fall decoration that I made a few years ago. I like to add a little something different to the room for each season or holiday. 2. The yellow sculpture leaning against the wall was done by my husband, Doug Bosch. We love to change things around in the house, so we experiment with putting his latest works in different places in the house. 3. The paper on the wall is a drawing done by my six-year-old daughter. We use tacky stuff or clothes pins to temporarily display the kids’ art around the house. 4. I have lots of old story records from when I was a child, so

instead of spending time digitizing them, I bought an inexpensive record player and let my kids have fun playing the old records. 5. The needlepoint pillows on the couch were made by my mother whose handiwork is so fine that the reverse looks almost as good as the front! The little abstract pillow is made from a scribbly picture that one of my daughters drew when she was a toddler. 6. The couch is one of my favorite pieces of furniture. It’s a vintage piece that we bought from Studio Hop – then I went to Kreatelier, where Line and Pernilla reupholstered it in this amazing chenille fabric.

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

City Style |

The Look

Kristen Lazzareschi Advanced Hair Stylist Studio 101 How would you describe your personal style? Modern/glam with an edge. At work I tend to wear booties with a dress rather than a playing it up with heels. That gives my look more of a glamorous versus edgy feel. I love dresses and layers. Tell me about your outfit. I like to mix classic pieces with trends. I created interest in my outfit by picking modern pieces and working with my shape – I always want to look put together on a daily basis. I began with the lace leg wear and then picked out the pink top to brighten up the look and add some texture with the print. I tied it together with the black skirt to create dimension in the outfit and I chose the grey suede pumps to create softness.

Photography: Mike Braca

How does your hairstyle and color affect your style? Color and hairstyle can make the same outfit look so different. Hair is our best accessory and number one statement. If our hair is not the right shape or color then we don’t feel our best. I’m always changing with the seasons and the same goes for my hair. There are so many simple things that you can do with hair to create a subtle change within in your look. I’ve been many colors and have had many hairstyles. I do it to keep my look interesting. When I’m a vibrant copper redhead, watch out! The brunette has more of a glam vibe and I’m on my way to being a blonde. That’s different for winter. It warms my skin up and makes me feel brighter. For me, long hair glams up my look and a shorter, modern bob adds a little more edge to my outfit. What is the best part of working with hair? I love my job and working at Studio 101. I’ve been doing this for 18 years and I’m always excited to do what I do. I’m creating positive change for people on the outside that affects how they feel on the inside. I’m very excited for our new color bar that is almost completed – it’s just one more way to make our guests feel amazing.

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December 2014 | Providence Monthly

City Style |

Get Fit

By Jen Senecal

The Best Offense is Great Fitness Train like a pro with retired football player Kerry Taylor By now, I’ve visited

212 Health and Performance circuit training

HKC (Hardstyle Kettlebell), AOS (Advanced Oxidation System) Instructor and is also the Speed and Conditioning Director for the state, as well as a high school football coach. Working as the head trainer for a large gym chain for years, he decide to make the jump into opening his own place five years ago, where he could utilize and share all of the knowledge he has acquired, in teaching proven and effective techniques that he believes in. These techniques paved way to one hell of a workout. After a run-through demo of what exactly we’d be doing and a good warm-up of kettlebell carries, stretches, Indian club swings and jumping jacks/ running/jump rope, we partnered up, two to a station, and began the circuit. Spending 30 seconds at each station, we moved through eight different exercises for two sets (with a break between sets), and then all eight changed and we ran through those two full sets of 30 seconds each, again (switching station partners so that we’d get to know someone new in the class). Included in the 16 different exercises we performed were heart-pumpers like kettlebell

counting down the seconds. What I’ve come to love most about circuit classes are that they consist of short bursts of intense work, which improves overall conditioning, endurance, strength and aesthetics. Every muscle in your body feels the burn. And they are never boring. I especially loved that this class switched up the exercises halfway through and the overall vibe of the facility was inviting and stimulating. 212’s philosophy is all about pushing beyond what you think you can do. Going that extra second, and, by doing so, your progress and transformation begins. I couldn’t agree more and I’m happy to have found a new team-building, gut-busting atmosphere to revisit.

212 Health and Performance 20 Newman Ave #2002 Rumford 383-5959 212healthandperformance.com

Jingle All the Way

Hoops for Health If you’ve always wanted to learn how to hula hoop, here’s your chance. On December 6, No Risk Crossfit will host a Hoop Dance Workshop with local hoop dance performer and fel-

swings to flip with squats, man makers, plank kettlebell pull-throughs, various forms of battle ropes, TRX rows (using rope rings), ball slams, one-armed kettlebell bottoms-up carries, kb clean and carries, side lunge jumps, lateral slide squats and some core plank work that probably has a legitimate name but I refer to as “those things that kill your abs.” As we worked through each station, the music pumped loudly and Kerry walked around, helping class members with form while motivating and pushing us through, which was necessary for someone like me, who hadn’t done all of the exercises before. I never felt lost or out of place for one second in this class, even if I was confusing the hell out of my workout partner (and myself) when I was forced to use the metric system when deciding which kettlebell to use. I don’t do math on Thursdays, so I was thankful that someone was there to do it for me. The team camaraderie and individual enjoyment around the room was palpable, even if we were all sweating our asses off while silently

low crossfitter, “Wild Spiral.” Basic waist and hand techniques are covered, along with some tricks and a short flow loop of choreography. noriskcrossfit.com/events

Providence Monthly | December 2014

Take your holiday decorating from the tree to the streets of Providence and gear up in your favorite red, white and green costume for the annual Downtown Jingle 5k and youth

1K on December 14. Supporting three charities this year, the brisk city run will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. downtownjingle5k.com

Photography: Mike Braca

endless fitness studios and workout classes and I can say, without hesitation, that no two are ever the same. That’s the beauty of modern fitness – the options today are incredibly diverse, compared to the handful to choose from 20 years ago. (You know, when I was three.) I can walk into a kick-ass gym in any of the lovely greater Providence cities and know that I’m walking into a new experience, fitness community and inspiring tribe of driven and relentless staff and members. The moment I opened the door to Rumford’s 212 Health and Performance to join their circuit class, I had no doubts I’d fit right in. Glancing around, the open-spaced room showcased all kinds of goodies that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. Endless kettlebells, battle ropes, globe barbells and dumbbells, weighted pins, Indian clubs, sleds, medicine balls, plus more happily crowded my vision, in a room with chalkboard walls displaying workouts and inspirational words, and a perfectly laid out circuit station with more chalked out exercises written on the floor in front of each station. I was impressed (and happy) that it was all written out for us and that this class wouldn’t require that I have to memorize anything (since I stop using my brain after the 23rd time I hear “mommy” for the day, which is by 8:30am). After feasting my eyes, 212’s owner, Kerry Taylor, greeted me, walked me around the facility and began to chat about their space and mission. Kerry’s athletics and fitness training runs deep, dating back as captain of his high school and college football, basketball and track teams (which included UMass Amherst National Football Champs). After his collegiate career, he went on to play football for the NFL for both the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. Continuation of his professional experience in both the XFL and AFL led way to retirement into his passion of training and coaching. Kerry’s certifications include Strength and Conditioning Specialist,

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City Style |

Shop Talk

By Claire Flanagan

Glittery Gifts

Feel-good shopping on Gano Street

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A New Leaf is part florist, part gift shop and all non-profit

Photography: Terace Greene

When I was little,

I went through a total fairy phase (didn’t everyone?). I loved the idea of believing that there were pockets of magic in nature just waiting to be found. Obviously, I eventually outgrew the fairy phase, but still find pleasure in magical little things – so you can imagine my delight when I walked into A New Leaf, Gano Street’s own little fairy garden of sorts. What started out 30 years ago as a flower shop has grown into so much more, a charming gift boutique with something for everyone. The little shop is bursting with cozy sweaters, cute handbags, home decorations, bath and body goods and unique jewelry from local artisans. They also carry Sweenor’s chocolates and other candies and sweets. And for the winter season, they have an upstairs holiday loft, which is full of Christmas decorations, gifts, candles and more. A New Leaf also still holds to its original roots as a flower shop. They specialize in wedding arrangements, but A New Leaf is an excellent go-to spot for any of your floral needs. I asked the store’s manager, Brie Leddy, for tips on the perfect floral arrangement. “Texture. Different textures, different types of flowers – you don’t want too much of the same flower in the whole arrangement or it’ll end up being boring,” she says. The whole feel of the shop is like a girly fantasy – the perfect blend of cute shopping and goodies and a dreamy flower garden. There’s even a little alcove greenhouse right off the main floor, where you’ll find goodies for your garden, including a make-your-ownfairy-garden station. They also have an outdoor garden center, where you can get soil and fertilizer, and which currently

features Christmas trees and wreaths that the New Leaf team will happily install in your home for you. A New Leaf is also a non-profit, affiliated with the Providence Center, whose mission is to, as part of their training program, help people who have difficulties getting jobs gain the skills and experience they need to enter or get back into the workforce. The team provides plant maintenance for businesses and learns skills in their greenhouse in floral arrangements and plant care, as well as customer service skills in the store. So you can feel good about yourself when shopping for gifts this season, for every purchase is helping to give back to the community. The shop also hosts a number of events, like Ladies Nights, where you can host a party for you and your friends in the shop that A New Leaf will arrange. You tell them the date, time and who to invite, and they’ll send out the invites and provide drinks and hors d’oeuvres as you and your friends chat and shop around the store after hours. And the hostess gets 15% off her total purchase. Also, be sure to stop by the store on December 6 for their open house. From 10am to 3pm, you can munch on hors d’oeuvres and browse the store as they offer holiday giveaways, discounts and coupons. So, whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts or just browsing for fun, exploring this little gem of a shop is a truly charming experience.

A New Leaf 135 Gano Street 351-4330 anewleafflorist.org

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December 2014 | Providence Monthly

City Style |

Beauty

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

With all the holiday prep you’re squeezing into your already overbooked life right now, it’s easy to run yourself ragged and lose sight of the most important thing: your sanity. Admittedly, I’m speaking from experience here – I come from the “you can sleep in January” school of thought – and I was definitely feeling a little frayed when I walked into Christiaan Salon. My skin was dull, my face had signs of stress all over it, my hair was dry and frizzy. When I’m maxed out, me time is the first to go. I’ve driven past Christiaan a million times, at the confluence of Benefit and North Main on the East Side, but I had never stopped to go inside. When I did, I was amazed at how expansive the place is while still being housed in a historic building. The upstairs, where you walk in, is a hair salon. Downstairs are spa treatment rooms and a nail salon. I was there for a trifecta of pampering: a salt scrub, a facial and a wash and hair style. In short, three hours to a total mental reset. And I was ready. In the cozy treatment room, Desiree handed me a robe and instructed me to lay down (and, by extension, to forget everything I had been worried about). For the next hour, she indulged me in a Body Glow Salt Scrub. It’s exactly what it sounds like: Desiree went limb by limb, massaging a warmed salt scrub infused with essential oils into my skin. The result is supple, glowing skin that feels toned and looks summer fresh. When that was finished – and really, I never wanted it to end – I headed to another treatment room for a facial with Tasha. I loved that she addressed my skin’s needs, and gave me a professional assessment without the guilt trip

that some estheticians give you for not taking good enough care of your skin. I had been slacking, but she brightened up my face with deep cleansing, masks and an enzyme peel – without making me feel like a bad person. I was finally able to mentally pause (I’ll admit, I had checked my email between rooms) and allow myself to breathe. I felt rejuvenated, and ready to be pampered. Which is great, because that’s exactly what Carla did. She led me to her styling chair, looked at my hair, and decided to give me a Moroccan Oil Hair Masque for hydration, but instead of a blowout, she decided to let my curls run wild. Every curl is different, but as the masque did its work, Carla gave me some tips to properly hydrate my curls. She suggested skipping shampoos on certain days, and just conditioning instead. She also suggested using a wet brush in the shower to make sure my conditioner hits every strand equally, and using a home hair masque every week – all things that I’ve tried at home, and have made a noticeable difference in how my hair looks. When that was done, she styled my hair with DevaCurl cream, which was a refreshing alternative to my usual mousse: more hydration, softer curls, a looser, more laid back look. For once, my appearance matched my state of mind. Make yourself a priority this month: at the top of your list (and, if you’re like me, your list of lists) put “I’m giving myself the gift of relaxation.” Then call Christiaan.

Christiaan Salon 4 Benefit Street 521-5050 christiaansalon.com

Illustration: Caleigh McGrath

Taking time out to relax this month

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1. Carmen & Ginger

Providence Arcade, 65 Weybosset St., Providence, RI 02903 Monday - Saturday 10:00 - 6:30 & often until 8:00 weekends. 401-274-1700 carmenandginger@gmail.com www.carmenandginger.com

2. Cellar Stories

111 Mathewson St., Providence, RI 02903 Monday - Saturday 10:00 - 6:00 401-521-2665 info@cellarstories.com www.cellarstories.com

3. Foreign Affair

140 Brook St., Providence, RI 02906 Mon - Wed 11:00 - 6:00; Thurs - Sat 11:00 - 8:00 ; Sun 12:00 - 6:00 401-274-1484 foreignaffairvintage@gmail.com

4. Frog & Toad

795 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906 10-6, Monday-Saturday, 12-6 Sunday 401-831-3434 info@frogandtoadstore.com frogandtoadstore.com

145 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903 Wed. - Sat. 12:00 - 6:00; Sunday 12:00 - 5:00. Closed Mon. & Tues. Also available to open off-hours by appointment. 401-272-0000 hallsonbroadway@aol.com

6. joyride traders

181 Courtland St., Providence, RI 02909 See Facebook page for business hours. Facebook: joyridetraders 401-274-1095

7. Leviathan Exchange

745 Westminster St., Providence, RI 02903 Monday - Saturday 11:30 - 6:30 Facebook: LeviathanExchange 401-323-9992

8. Nostalgia Antiques & Collectibles

236 Wickenden St., Providence, RI 02903 10:00 - 5:00 Seven days a week. info@nostalgiaprovidence.com www.nostalgiaprovidence.com 401-400-5810

9. Pillbox Holiday

445 West Fountain St., Providence, RI 02903 Tues. 12 - 5; Wed. 2 - 7; Thurs. - Sat. 12 - 6; Sun. 12 - 4 (& often open later!) pillboxholiday@gmail.com

881 Westminster St., Providence, RI 02903 Monday - Friday 11:00 - 6:00; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 - 4:00 401-861-6872 www.rjlgallery.com

11. Studio Hop

810 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906 10:00 to 6:00 Mon - Sat; 12:00 to 5:00 Sun; call for extended holiday hours

401-621-2262 studiohop@aol.com hopestreetprov.com

12. Suite Tart

150R Broadway, Providence, RI 02909 (set back from the street between 2 bldngs) Tuesday -Saturday approx. 10-7. Additional hours by appointment 401-272-TART suitetart150@gmail.com www.suitetart.com

13. The Vault Collective

235 Westminster St., Providence, RI 02903 Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 The Vault is a Pop-up, open now to Feb. 28, 2015 401-250-2587 thevaultri@gmail.com www.thevaultri.com

14. What Cheer Records + Vintage

180 Angell St., Providence, RI 02906 (Upstairs at Thayer & Angell Streets; stairs at rear) Mon - Thu: 11:00 - 7:00; Fri - Sat: 11:00 - 8:00; Sun: 12:00 - 5:00 401-861-4244 whatcheerantiques@gmail.com

Find Woodchuck Hopsation at these fine establishments: The Abbey, Providence • The Wharf Pub, Newport High Spirits, Providence • Knights Liquors, Johnston Moriarty’s Liquor Locker, Portsmouth

Feast

Photography: Stacey Doyle

IN THE KITCHEN / oN THE mENu / rEvIEw / IN THE drINK

Smokinâ€™ Hops The BBQ Combo Plate

What do you get when you combine an award-winning brewmaster with finger-licking barbecue? A recipe for success. From beer flights to brisket, Brutopia is spicing up the not-so-mean streets of Cranston.

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

Feast |

review

By Stephanie Obodda

When Pigs Fly

Innovative brews and barbecue in Cranston Hush Puppies ($8), Fried Pickle Chips ($7) and the House Smoked Wings ($9). The hush puppies were golf-ball sized with a nice sweetness and fluffiness, and the Creole mayo had just the right kick. The pickle chips were lightly dusted with cornmeal and not at all soggy. The smoked wings were then fried and topped with a choice of sauce (we went for the spicier Fire Starter). On our last trip to Brutopia, the beer list was considerably shorter. This time, we ordered flights ($5 for four beer samples) so we could make our way through the entire roster of the six year-round and five seasonal beers. My favorites were the First Coast Belgian Double IPA (nice hops), Valhalla (more interesting than a typical amber) and Hello Darkness (a strong stout made with White Electric coffee). I was also surprised by The Patch, a spiced blend of the Oktoberfest, Blossom, Bonfire, Munk and Dark Marvel beers. Blending may sound unconventional, but it’s actually an accepted practice.

Brutopia Flights

The Home-Style Biscuits

The beer averse can find solace in Brutopia’s Southern-inspired cocktail list. The BBQ Combo Plate ($25) included all four of Brutopia’s barbeque meats with a side – we chose

baked beans – and cornbread. To turn this into dinner for two, we added two additional sides (Cole Slaw and Mac and Cheese, each $4 à la carte) and an appetizer-sized special, the Home-Style Biscuits ($6). The baked beans and cole slaw were typical versions of these classic barbeque sides, the kind you’d happily eat at a summer family picnic. The cornbread was cakey and sweet, almost like cake mix. Our mac and cheese had a good, tangy flavor and was made with ruffled fisarmoniche pasta, but the texture was a bit grainy. Our biscuit special was served in a deep bowl, biscuits slathered in a delicious white gravy with bits of brisket. We were grateful that our server, Zane, had some extra time to take care of us on a quiet weeknight. We asked a lot of questions about the sauces, and he brought us a few samples to satisfy our curiosity. My favorite was the Fire Starter, made with Scotch Bonnet peppers, molasses and the Dark Marvel stout. The

ONE MORE BITE: On Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays during football season, Brutopia is offering a $10 beer and smoked turkey leg special. 62

Providence Monthly | December 2014

Photography: Stacey Doyle

Plenty of restaurants tout celebrity chefs, but when Cranston’s first brewpub opened this spring, it was with a celebrity brewer. Sean Larkin has been brewing for Trinity Brewhouse for over a decade, developed some of Narragansett’s seasonal beers like Fest and Porter and started the acclaimed Revival Brewing Co. in 2010. I’m not sure how he found the time for another venture, but this small state is happy to drink more of his beer. Brutopia Brewery & Kitchen is only a 15 minute drive to Cranston’s Atwood Avenue, though it may seem like uncharted territory to citybound Providence residents. The building is non-descript, so look for the nicely designed sign featuring an adorable flying pig. When you walk in, the huge stainless steel tanks will be on your left; compared to many brewpubs, Brutopia has quite a substantial brewing facility. The remarkably large interior has a number of seating areas and an appropriately industrial décor. We started with three appetizers:

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Fried Pickle Chips and Hush Puppies

others were appealing too, especially the mustard-based Gold Edition and the vinegary Carolina Style, both just thick enough to cling to the meat. Since Brutopia bills itself as a barbecue restaurant and proudly displays a hickory smoker outside the restaurant, I was eager to try the meat. Brisket is difficult and often dry; this version was mostly moist and tender with a nice crust, though it lacked the common red smoke ring. The pulled pork was the weakest part of our combo platter. Our baby back ribs were dry rubbed with nice flavor. Pulled chicken usually isn’t noteworthy, but I thought this one had a pleasant cumin-y rub. Our waiter, perhaps humored by our enthusiastic quest to try all the

beers and sauces, kindly bought us dessert. He had no trouble convincing us to try the oreo cheesecake in a jar, even though we were at the limit of our appetite. Barbecue is such contentious food, loaded with personal and regional preference. Still, Brutopia is definitely worth a visit for the barbecue-curious and fans of beer and bar food, a combination that pairs perfectly with a game on one of the restaurant’s many televisions.

Brutopia Brewery & Kitchen 505 Atwood Ave., Cranston 464-8877 brutopiabrewery.com

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50 Ann Mary Street, Pawtucket (off N. Main) In former Shaw’s Plaza 365-6278 • phohorns.com

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December 2014 | Providence Monthly

32nd AnnuAl

Foundry Artists AssociAtion HolidAy sAle DECEMBER 5th–7th & DECEMBER 12th–14th

Grand Opening & Reception Thursday, december 4th From 5pm–9pm live music and refreshments 65+ artisans • Fine art and Functional Craft

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

Feast |

In the Kitchen

By Grace Lentini

Southern Vittles A taste of Louisiana in North Providence

Every Member Of Your Family Deserves

thE bEst!

Chef James Tolento

When James Tolento moved to Louisiana for college to study architecture, he quickly discovered that the hospitality industry, where he worked to finance his education, was his real passion. After stints in multiple Southern restaurants, he decided to return home, after learning that his father purchased a restaurant in North Providence, to run his own kitchen. We talked about Cajun cooking, family recipes and how to get along with family when you work together. Did someone inspire your passion for cooking? My biggest inspiration for cooking would have to be my father, Thomas. Since I was little he has been teaching me how to cook different meals, from scrambled eggs to his famous Stuffed Chicken we serve in the restaurant. I also have to thank my grandmother Mary and my mother Patricia, from whom I learned our family baking recipes and Italian dishes.

Photograohy: Mike Braca

What dish at Tolento’s epitomizes Cajun cuisine? Simple: The Chicken and Andouille Sausage Jambalaya. It’s a Cajun Staple, a unique twist of rice, meats, vegetables and spices. It’s on our menu every day we’re open and every other weekend I switch between Gumbo or Etouffee, two major Creole staples. Tell me about how you’ve filled in the niche for Cajun food in RI. I couldn’t believe how many people come in and tell me they’ve traveled to, lived in or know someone from Louisiana. I never knew there were this many people that love Cajun food. Seeing first hand how much of the jambalaya sells is remarkable.

What’s a non-Cajun must-try dish at Tolento’s? My fathers Specialty Stuffed Chicken Breast filled with hot sausage, mozzarella cheese, pulled chicken and pistachio nuts. If you don’t want the full meal, try the Tolento’s Specialty Eggrolls. If you’re allergic to nuts, our Prime Rib has been put up against the best. Can you tell me more about the Chef’s Table? Guests that have received our exclusive seven course meal were beyond ecstatic about their experience. The Chef’s Table is, a four to five seat table with an exclusive dinner prepared to that group’s liking. It’s completely overfilling and guests have loved every minute of it. I actually cook and bring out the dishes myself, interact with the guests and make the whole experience seem as if you were royalty. What are some challenges you face working with family? Talk about the biggest challenge of our lives! My father and I undoubtedly get into arguments – it’s family love – but we focus on the bigger picture of why we are here. We are here for my godchild Gavin, my brother’s son, so he can have a bright future. And we want to give a different dining experience to our guests with our service and by enjoying fresh cooked American, Cajun and Italian dishes.

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rumfordpetcenter.com December 2014 | Providence Monthly

Feast |

on the menu

By Alastair Cairns

Sliding Into Federal Hill Harry’s Bar & Burger opens a second location on Atwells

Providence Monthly | December 2014

Harry’s Bar & Burger slides onto Atwells

in your slider, there’s not as much cow on the wall as the North Main location. Harry, along with his father and sister worked on decorating the interior, and did so with a haul from the Brimfield Antique Show in Massachusetts. Like most antique show attendees, I’m sure he didn’t go in thinking “Indonesian Wedding Hall Chairs” but that’s what he got, along with mirrors from an old iron works in New York City, with beautiful hammered copper frames and a wooden barn door. The new location also has a shuffleboard, which is what you’re ready to play as a drinking game, now that you’re too urbane for ping pong balls and swill. They also had the opportunity of making operations a little easier and service a little quicker with far more storage. With more bar and less dining room, you’ll be able to get to your craft brew faster. If instead you are there for a hard float – which combines the creamy, comforting goodness of a milkshake, with the alcohol of an alcohol – servers will have an ice cream dipping well close at hand. 301 Atwells Ave, Providence. 228-7437, harrysbarburger.com Pizza Pie-er Goes Green If you spend too much time on Reddit, you may have already seen video of the GreenBox, a 100% recyclable

pizza box that breaks up into plates and a smaller box for leftovers, reducing waste. Pizza Pie-er is rolling out the GreenBox at all of its locations, including the Providence location on Wickenden. To celebrate their newer greener boxes, Pizza Pie-er will give you a $2 discount for your crusty used pizza box. 374 Wickenden St, Providence. 3513663, pizzapie-er.com A Change In Character The Character’s Cafe at Theater 82 has reopened after its first year with a new look, and a new kitchen, offering a more ambitious full-course menu. The new menu features locally sourced grub, from places like Reynold’s Farm, as well as New Harvest Coffee. The overhaul of the interior is more than just a fresh coat of paint, with murals designed by RISD Graduate, Mariah LaMontagne, and furniture from their own Artists’ Exchange designers. The result is a vibrant, bohemian space that suits coffee house music and theater down to the ground. 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 781-2200, artists-exchange.org/ theatre82.html Send all food, beverage, restaurant and chef news to alastairjcairns@ gmail.com

Photography: Karsten Schulz

At Harry’s Bar & Burger, good things come in pairs. While they offer dogs and other sandwiches, those in line on North Main on a WaterFire night are mostly there for burgers with their beer, two sliders at a time. Eyeing those lines, their brisk business, and the plaudits they’ve won since opening, it’s understandable Harry’s would be looking to duplicate that success. The newly opened Harry’s on Federal Hill sets out to do just that. Part owner, general manager and namesake Harrison Elkhay is no stranger to restaurant openings. His father’s company, the Chow Fun Group, has several successful restaurants in the state. Normally their experience building on existing restaurants has involved reevaluating concepts that aren’t as successful as they liked, and finding the right new direction and concept. This is very different. With Harry’s, it’s a matter of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Harrison said that Federal Hill was the natural choice for their second location. In addition to the vibrant community and food culture already in play, he felt there was “nothing like Harry’s in the area.” When a prime spot at 301 Atwells presented itself, they jumped on the opportunity. Conscious of the formula that worked so well at the original, the new location has the same capacity: just shy of 50. According to Harry, and at the risk of making him sound like he’s one of those people who speaks in the third person, “Harry’s is about delivering quality in a fast, easy spot and this means both a smaller, intimate space with a small kitchen where it’s easy to be efficient.” If you tried to graft the same concept to a larger space, “it would lose the appeal.” This is no franchise though. They want everything people like about Harry’s, but they don’t want a clone. While the menu is mostly the same, they will have offerings unavailable at the other location, and in a nod to the neighborhood, currently they are playing around with putting a meatball sandwich, chicken parm and even a ravioli slider into rotation in the future. The interior of the new place is a little warmer with a lot more wood, and while it’s still 100% Hereford beef

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

Feast |

In the drink

By Emily Dietsch

That’s Cool

A wintery sip of peppermint at The Grange

Fine Thai and SuShi ReSTauRanT Good HealtH StartS WitH Good Food Way l a n d S q u a r e 18 South Angell Street, Providence • 383-8830 • www.limsri.com Tues-Thurs 11:30-10pm• Friday & Sat 11:30-10:30pm • Sunday 12-9:30pm

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Photography: Force 4 Photography

When Tom Waits

warbled about a “neon swizzle stick stirring up the sultry air,” surely his mind was on the Caribbean, and the swizzle cocktail. Named for the pronged tool used to stir it up, the swizzle’s hallmarks are lots of crushed ice, lots of rum and citrus for kick. It’s an ideal summer salve. At The Grange this month, bar manager and beverage director Kayleigh Speck is stirring up a very different kind of swizzle. Inspired by wintery peppermint, Kayleigh paired a peppermint liqueur with a mint-tinged gin. Next came crushed ice. “I decided to play up peppermint’s coldness, rather than warm it up,” she said. Finally, French creme de cacao and cassis liqueurs rounded things out. The result is novel, holiday-ish and well worth a shiver. Wear mittens if you must.

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Royal Mint Swizzle Serves 1 Kayleigh recommends using a real swizzle stick here, rather than any old thing with a long handle. What’s the difference? Well, a swizzle stick smoothly blends an ice-filled drink without roughhousing – plus it looks cool, and comes with a story. Key ingredients in any memorable cocktail. • • • •

1 1/2 oz Edinburgh Gin 1/4 oz Giffard Menthe-Pastille 1/2 oz Giffard Cassis Noir 1/4 oz Marie Brizzard white creme de cacao • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice • Cubed and crushed ice • Fresh mint Fill a Collins glass with crushed ice. Add gin, liqueurs and lemon juice. Stir with swizzle stick until the drink well-blended. Garnish with fresh mint.

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

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McBride’s Pub If you’re looking

for a traditional Irish meal with a unique twist, McBride’s Pub, located in the Wayland Square part of Providence, is the place to be. With the first item on the menu being a tall glass of Guinness aptly labeled the “Perfect Pint,” patrons know they’re in the right place for some Irish-inspired fare. With the many enticing options on McBride’s menu, one can’t help but notice the deliciously surprising mix of American, Irish and other types of culinary

cuisine, like American Nachos, topped with diced tomatoes, black olives, pepper rings and cheddar, or Irish Quesadillas, filled with corned beef, cabbage, mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Traditional entrees include customary meals such as McBride’s Corned Beef and Cabbage, and the pub also offers a variety of salads, pizzas, burgers, “pubwiches,” appetizers and “sliders”. If you’re craving good food and great drink, look no further than McBride’s.

Can’t-miss dish: The Guinness Beef Stew made with beef sirloin and Guinness Stout topped with a hearty scoop of mashed potatoes... perfect for the chilly winter nights!

161 Wayland Ave, Providence • 401-751-3000

Photography: Brad Smith

10 Prime Steak & Sushi Gourmet steaks and sushi. 55 Pine St, Providence, 4532333. LD $$$

fare, plus NY-style pizza. 1 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown, 2136615. LD $$

2 Pauls’ City Grille Comfort food with a family feel. 315 Waterman Ave, East Providence, 228-7285. BrLD $-$$

Caprice Restaurant & Bar Upscale Italian, romantic atmosphere. 455 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-2900. D $$-$$$

Andreas Authentic Greek food since 1966. 268 Thayer St, Providence, 3317879. BrLD $-$$

Casa Della Luce American/Italian bistro and gourmet pizzeria. 105 Franklin St, Westerly, 637-4575. LD $$

Arturo Joe’s Italian food close to the beaches. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 789-3230. LD $$

CAV Eclectic cuisine and art in a historic setting. 14 Imperial Place, Providence, 751-9164. BrLD $$-$$$

Aspire Seasonal Kitchen Contemporary New England fare. 311 Westminster St, Providence, 521-3333. BBrLD $$-$$

Centro Restaurant & Lounge Contemporary cuisine and cocktails. 1 W Exchange St, Providence, 228-6802. BLD $$$

Besos Kitchen & Cocktails Tapas and eclectic cuisine and cocktails. 378 Main St, East Greenwich, 398-8855. BrLD $$$

Chapel Grille Gourmet food overlooking the Providence skyline. 100 Chapel View Blvd, Cranston, 944-4900. BrLD $$$

Black Bass Grille Classic seafood, historic waterfront setting. 3 Water St, South Dartmouth, 508-999-6975. LD $$

DeWolf Tavern Gourmet American/ Indian fusion. 259 Thames St, Bristol, 254-2005. BLD $$-$$$

Bon Asian Bistro Sushi and hibachi, stylish bar scene. 1386 Atwood Ave, Johnston, 270-0777. LD $$

DiMare Seafood Fresh seafood restaurant and market. 2706 South County Trail, East Greenwich, 885-8100. LD $$-$$$

Breachway Grill Classic New England

Dragon Palace Fresh sushi and Asian

Beshoff’s Fish’n Chips

cuisine. 733 Kingstown Rd, Wakefield, 789-2308. LD $-$$ Eleven Forty Nine City sophistication in the suburbs. 1149 Division St, Warwick, 884-1149. LD $$$ Enn Japanese Creative sushi and Japanese food. 600 George Washington Hgwy, Lincoln, 333-0366. LD $$ Fieldstones Relaxed family setting, something for everyone. 980 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, 293-5200. LD $$ Flatbread Company Artisanal pizza, local ingredients. 161 Cushing St, Providence, 273-2737. LD $-$$ Giros Hometown Grille Pub-style food, friendly service. 501 High St, Peace Dale, 887-752-0794. BrLD $-$$ Guytanno’s Cafe Inspired international cuisine. 62 Franklin St, Westerly, 3846221. LD $$ Hanley’s Ale House Full service pub, great fun. 52 Pine St, Providence, 861-0001. LD $-$$ Harry’s Bar & Burger Creative sliders and cocktails. 121 N Main St,

Providence, 228-7437. LD $-$$ Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House Classic clam shack fare, plus famous doughboys. 889 Oakland Beach Ave, Warwick, 737-9459; 1157 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 783-5608. LD $ Kartabar Mediterranean-style cuisine, chic setting. 284 Thayer St, Providence, 331-8111. LD $-$$ KitchenBar Contemporary comfort cuisine. 771 Hope St, Providence. 3314100. BrLD $$ Kon Asian Bistro Sushi and hibachi, stylish bar scene. 553 Main St, East Greenwich, 886-9200. LD $$ Lim’s Restaurant Upscale Thai and fresh sushi. 18 South Angell St, Providence, 383-8830. LD $$ Lobster Pot Serving traditional New England classics and seafood. 119 Hope St, Bristol, 253-9100 Br L D $$-$$$ Luxe Burger Bar Build your own creative burger. 5 Memorial Blvd, Providence, 621-5893. LD $ Mariner Grille Creative seafood, pub a

Key: B breakfast Br brunch L lunch d dinner $ under 10 $$ 10–20 $$$ 20+

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

Seasons Fine dining at the Ocean House. 1 Bluff Ave, Westerly, 584-7000. BLD $$$

The Twisted Vine Romantic wine bar with tapas and full meals. 3 Canal St, Westerly, 596-4600. D $$

Pavilion Steakhouse & Banquets Grand, banquet-hall style dining. 15A Frontier Rd, Hopkinton, 377-9900. BrLD $$$

Siena Impeccable Italian cuisine. Locations in Providence, East Greenwich, Smithfield. sienari.com D $$-$$$

Tolento’s Ice House Grille Upscale bar featuring authentic Cajun food and more. 1460 Mineral Spring Ave, North Providence, 353-3100 . LD $-$$

Phil’s Main Street Grille Classic comfort food; great rooftop patio. 323 Main St, Wakefield. 783-4073 BBrLD $

Simone’s Gourmet brunch followed by upscale Mediterranean cuisine. 275 Child St, Warren, 247-1200. BLD $$-$$$

PJ’s Pub Mediterranean-influenced pub food. 135 Boone St, Narragansett. 401-789-3200. LD $-$$

Sweet Cakes Coffee shop and gourmet bakery. 1227 Kingstown Rd, Peace Dale, 789-5420. BL $

Portsmouth Publick House Gourmet pub food with a variety of spirit flights. 1 King Charles Dr, Portsmouth. 6822600. BrLD $-$$

T’s Restaurant Plentiful breakfast and lunch. Locations in Cranston, East Greenwich, Narragansett, 946-5900. BL $

atmosphere. 140 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett, 284-3282. LD $$

76 South Main St, Providence, 3310003. LD $-$$

McBlarney’s County Tap Modern, upscale pub with daily specials. 632 Metacom Ave, Warren, 289-0887. LD $$ McBride’s Pub Traditional Irish pub fare. 161 Wayland Ave, Providence, 7513000. LD $$ Meeting Street Cafe Huge sandwiches and cookies. 220 Meeting St, Providence, 273-0166. BLD $ Mews Tavern Family dining, with a whiskey bar. 456 Main St, Wakefield, 783-9370. LD $-$$ Mia’s Prime Time Café Classic cafe comfort food. 1 West Broad St, Pawcatuck, CT. 860-599-3840. BBrLD $ Mile & a Quarter Eclectic cuisine and wine bar. 334 South Water St, Providence, 331-1500. LD $-$$ Mill’s Tavern Historic setting for New American gourmet. 101 N Main St, Providence, 272-3331. D $$$ Nonni’s Italian Restaurant Traditional Italian eatery and pasta shop. 1154 Stafford Rd, Tiverton, 624-3087. LD $$ Oak St. B&B Delicious, inventive burgers and breakfast. 87 Oak St, Westerly, 315-2520. BLD $ Oceanside at the Pier New England fare overlooking the Atlantic. 1 Beach St, Narragansett, 792-3999. BrLD $$ Paragon & Viva Contemporary dining and nightlife. 234 Thayer St, Providence, 331-6200. BrLD $-$$ Parkside Rotisserie & Bar American bistro specializing in rotisserie meats.

Public Kitchen & Bar American food with changing daily inspirations. 120 Francis St, Providence, 919-5050. BrLD $-$$ Rasa Authentic and contemporary Indian. 149 Main St, East Greenwich, 3982822. LD $$ Rasoi Vegetarian-friendly Indian cuisine. 727 East Ave, Pawtucket, 7285500. LD $$ Red Stripe Casual French-American bistro. 465 Angell St, Providence, 4376950. BrLD $$ Rick’s Roadhouse House-smoked barbecue. 370 Richmond St, Providence, 272-7675. LD $-$$

Tara’s Tipperary Tavern Oceanside Irish-American pub fare. 907 Matunuck Beach Rd, Matunuck, 284-1901. BLD $ Tavern by the Sea Waterfront European/American bistro. 16 W Main St, Wickford, 294-5771. LD $$ The Coast Guard House Upscale New England fare with Bay views. 40 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 789-0700. LD $$-$$$ The Dorrance Fine dining with exquisite cocktails. 60 Dorrance St, Providence, 521-6000. D $$$ The Malted Barley Gourmet pretzels and craft brews. 42 High St, Westerly, 315-2184. $

Two Ten Oyster Bar & Grill Enjoy fresh seafood and sushi by the water. 210 Salt Pond Rd, Wakefield, 782-0100. LD $$-$$$ Trinity Brewhouse Rhode Island’s original brewpub. 186 Fountain St, Providence, 453-2337 LD $-$$ UMelt Fun twists on grilled cheese. Providence and Kingston, 383-6732. LD $ Vetrano’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Italian cooking like grandma made. 130 Granite St, Westerly, 348-5050. LD $$ Vittoria’s NY Pizza Best pizza north of Manhattan. 224 Post Rd, Westerly, 3221901. LD $-$$ Waterman Grille Riverfront New American dining. 4 Richmond Sq, Providence, 521-9229. BLD $$$ Wes’ Rib House Missouri-style BBQ, open late. 38 Dike St, Providence, 4219090. LD $$ Whiskey Republic Delicious dockside pub fare. 515 South Water St, Providence, 588-5158. LD $-$$

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 $$$

XO Cafe Creative cocktails and New American fare. 125 N Main St, Providence, 273-9090. BrD $$

Scampi Seafood and Italian with expansive water views. 657 Park Ave, Portsmouth, 293-5844. LD $$

The Sea Goose Seafood with New England and Southern flair. 265 Post Rd, Westerly, 315-0788. LD $$-$$$

Zooma Trattoria Fresh Italian using house-made pasta. 245 Atwells Ave, Providence, 383-2002. LD $$

Worth The Drive:

Mia’s Prime Time Café Recently renovated and under new ownership, Mia’s Prime Time Café sits spretty on the Pawcatuck River. At Mia’s you can find a variety of fresh, hand crafted simple American eats like classic breakfast dishes, delicious salads and

sandwiches, fresh seafood and mouth watering pasta entrees (gluten free too!). With so many options to choose from, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, Mia’s Prime Time Café is the place to be.

Can’t miss dish: Stuffed French Toast filled with fresh fruit and cream cheese Classic Cobb Salad

For full restaurant profiles, go to RhodyBites.com 74

Providence Monthly | December 2014

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December 2014 | Providence Monthly

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

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Get Out

EVENTS / ART / MUSIC / THEATRE

Shop local at the Foundry Artists Association Holiday Sale December 5-7 and 12-14

Shop ‘til you Drop in December 1.

December 5-7 & 12-14: Now’s the time to get those last minute gifts! Browse the works of over 65 different artisans at the Foundry Artists Association Holiday Sale. Find the perfect gift at any of the two weekends the sale is happening. Come by as well for the grand opening and reception Thursday, December 4 at 5pm. The Pawtucket Armory Arts Center, 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. thefoundryshow.com

December 12-14: Support local gymnastic talent (and see several gymnasts who are ranked in the top 10 in the country!) by attending the Rhode Island Invitational at the Rhode Island Convention Center. This exciting regional meet begins the competition season. 1 Sabin Street. 458-6000, rhodeislandinvitational.com.

December 5: Ring in the holidays at Cranston’s Park Theatre with the Celtic Twilight Christmas Concert featuring world-renowned Irish musicians Phil Coulter and Andy Cooney along with special guests Geraldine Branagan and the Irish Pops Orchestra. $45-$65. 8pm. 848 Park Avenue, Cranston. 4677275, parktheatreri.com.

December 5-26: This month, heat up a cold Friday night with an incredibly hot Argentine Tango Class. The weekly class is followed by free dance time… Perhaps you’ll meet a sexy stranger to practice your new moves on! Free. 7:30-9pm. 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. 288-1170, providencetango.com.

December 4: Take a break from all that holiday cheer and present wrapping and hit the RISD Museum for a Listening Party where you’ll raise a glass, enjoy refreshments and enjoy an audio program that tells stories about various objects in the collection. Free with admission. 6-8pm. 224 Benefit Street. 454-6500, risdmuseum.org.

December 2014 | Providence Monthly

Get Out |

Calendar

By Erin Balsa

This Month December 1-21: David Winton Bell Gallery presents SHE: Picturing Women at the Turn of the 21st Century, a selection of paintings, sculptures and videos. From pop art renderings to reproduced images from soft porn, the exhibition is accompanied by artist talks. 64 College Street. 863-2932, brown.edu/campuslife/arts/bell-gallery. December 1-29: Got music? The Spot Underground does. Check out Madcap Mondays each – you guessed it - Monday night featuring host Nate Cozzolino. You’ll never know who might show up to perform at this weekly open mic night. Free. 7pm-midnight. 101 Richmond Street. 383-7133, thespotunderground.com. December 2 & 16: Take a onehour Guided Architectural Library Tour at the historic Providence Public Library on the first and third Tuesday of every month. The historic 1900 building features sweeping high ceilings and gorgeous woodwork. Free. 10:30-11:30am. 225 Washington Street. 455-8000, provlib.org. December 2-30: Indulge your curiosity by taking a look at the night sky every Tuesday evening at the Ladd’s weekly Telescope Observing Night. The telescope is available for public use year round so long as the weather is permitting. Free. 7-9pm. 210 Doyle Avenue. 863-2323, brown.edu/ Departments/Physics/Ladd/. December 2-30: Love beer? Love cheap wings? Love rubbing the fact that you’re brilliant in other people’s faces? 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. December 3: If you’ve ever wondered what goes on at The Steel Yard, now is your chance to find out. The Yardies offer free public tours on the first Wednesday of every month.

Stop by and take a tour of the interesting building where creative “Yardies” live, work and teach. Noon. 27 Sims Avenue. 273-7101, thesteelyard.org. December 3-28: Prepare to have your heart warmed with the Ocean State Theatre Company’s rendition of the 1944 MGM classic film Meet Me in St. Louis. The production is geared for all ages, making it the perfect way to celebrate the holidays with the whole family. $39-$54. 2pm & 7:30pm show times. 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick. 921-6800, oceanstatetheatre.org. December 4-18: Why drink at home when you can drink for free in the company of others? 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. 11am9pm. 714-0040, bin312.com. December 4-18: At the glamorous yet understated Thursdays at the Biltmore you can indulge in signature cocktails and complimentary hors d’oeuvres while enjoying the ambiance of the gilded historic downtown hotel. Free. 5-8pm. 11 Dorrance Street. 421-0700, providencebiltmore.com. December 5: Bookworms should pencil in time to attend the monthly Athenaeum Book Discussion Group at the Providence Athenaeum. This month the group is reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, a book that’s sure to lead to stimulating conversation. Free. 10am. 251 Benefit Street. 4216970, providenceathenaeum.org. December 5: This Friday evening it’s Friday Night Live at Everett Company Stage School. Veteran performers act alongside young up-and-comers to 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.

December 20: The Providence Singers along with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra present G.F. Handel’s Messiah, a dazzling Baroque-era oratorio. This Providence Christmas tradition is now in its eighth year. 7pm. The Vets, 1 Avenue of the Arts. 751-5700, providencesingers.org. December 5-26: Get your java fix at the weekly Coffee Tasting at New Harvest Coffee Roasters’ Hope Artiste Village location. Each Friday, coffee lovers can sample and learn about delicious coffees from around the world. Free. 3-4pm. 1005 Main Street #108, Pawtucket. newharvestcoffee.com. December 5-27: Swing by technology-savvy Bottles Fine Wine for a weekly beer or wine tasting where you might get the opportunity to Skype with a faraway winemaker as you sip his wares here in Providence! Free. Fri beer tasting 4-7pm; Sat wine tasting 4-7pm. 141 Pitman Street. 3722030, bottlesfinewine.com. December 5-27: Drop on into ENO any and every Friday and Saturday afternoon for a free Wine Tasting. It’s the budget-friendly way to kick off your weekend. You may even discover a new favorite blend. 4:306:30pm Friday; 3-5pm Saturday. 225 Westminster Street. 521-2000, enofinewines.com. December 6-27: Hope Artiste Village opens its doors every Saturday to

host the Wintertime Farmers’ Market, selling everything from local eggs to oysters to flowers to deck the dining room table with. 4-7pm; Saturday 9am-1pm. 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. farmfresh.org. December 6-27: Since 1992, Improv Jones has been gathering together the area’s best improvisational comedy performers for a weekly Comedy Show at the 95 Empire Black Box. Each Saturday you’ll enjoy a fantastically funny world that’s different every week. $5. 10pm. 95 Empire Street. 831-9327, improvjones.com. December 7: On the first Sunday of each month, from now ‘til forever, head downtown to AS220 for its Empire Revue, a night of sketch comedy, improv, live music, burlesque, magic, special guests and general devilment. The show is hosted by Keith Munslow. $8. 8-11:30pm. 115 Empire Street. 831-9327, as220.org. December 7-28: Were you the child who dreamed of tutus and sugarplum fairies? Well, it’s never too late to become a ballerina. Every Sunday hop

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE For an up-to-date statewide calendar and to submit your own listings visit providenceonline.com 80

Providence Monthly | December 2014

Get Out |

Calendar

By Erin Balsa

Trinity

Brewhouse rewery Providence’s largest b

Serving award-winning beer and tasty pub-inspired entrees into your leotard for a drop-in Beginner Ballet class with Stephanie Albanese at AS220. $13. 10:30-11:30am beginner; 12-1:30pm intermediate. 95 Empire Street. 831-9327, as220.org. December 11: Be a part of the next installment of Projections, the RISD Museum’s new program of film and video screenings. This month visitors will experience Sejla Kameric’s 1395 Days Without Red with post-screening insights on works presented. Reservations recommended. Free with admission. 6:30pm. Metcalf Auditorium, Thayer Street. 454-6500, risdmuseum.org. December 17: Come out to Anchor for the 13th installment of Providence Hoot, a free event that’s open to both musicians and listeners. Enjoy great live music pumping through a top notch sound system along with New Harvest Coffee and Narragansett Beer. Free. 7-10pm. 42 Rice Street. pvdhoot.com. December 18: It’s the third Thursday of the month, which means it’s Gallery Night Providence. Hop aboard the art bus and visit 28 urban galleries. You never know which artists will be present for a chat. Tours begin

at 5:20 and leave every 20 minutes ending at 7pm. 5-9pm. One Regency Plaza. gallerynight.info. December 18: The popular Drag Bingo features surprise guests, musical interludes, witty jokes and over $2,000 in cash and prizes. The fun goes down the third Thursday of each month. Arrive early – it fills up quickly. $20. 6pm doors; 7pm start. 1612 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston. 521-3603, aidscareos.org. December 27: Families are invited to the Artists’ Exchange for a free Craft Bash. Little fingers will keep busy as bodies and minds play, learn and create. Craft bashes will be held on the last Saturday of every month. 11am2pm. 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. 4909475, artists-exchange.org.

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Meet Me in St. Louis December 3 – 28 “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with this wonderful musical based on the 1944 MGM classic. Now-December 21: Trinity Reps production of Barefoot in the Park follows the lives of two newlyweds, Paul and Corie, as they start their lives in a 5th floor walkup in New York City. This Neil Simon play explores, through wit and humor, how two people can accept one another for who they are. 201 Washington Street. 351-4242, trinity rep.com.

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December 2014 | Providence Monthly

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

Get Out |

Art

By Liz Lee

Painting from Instinct

Photography: Brian DeMello

Stephen Coyle is compelled by his art I can tell Stephen Coyle is a smart guy by how comfortable he is talking about what he doesn’t know. We’re wading through decades worth of canvases at his Pawtucket studio, and he says he doesn’t know whether it’s motivation or addiction that sometimes prompts him to paint for 14 hours a day. He says he’s in the midst of an artistic transition, but then throws up his hands with a surrendering smile and says, “I don’t know what the hell I’m going through.” When I ask him what it’s like making a living as an artist, he says he doesn’t know when the next check will come in the mail. And he says he didn’t know anything when he took a bus from Boston to LA in the late 1970s and decided to become a painter. Stephen’s studio takes up the entire first floor of the two-family house where he lives with his wife, and contains a dizzying maze of paintings spanning the breadth of his threedecade career. The floor of the apartment’s double parlor is spackled with years of paint, and the rooms are filled with work – like the still-life of two Old Milwaukee beer cans kept company by only their shadows; a series of triptychs telling the life story of a movie theater popcorn container; a larger than life depiction of an antique Bozo the Clown weeble-wobble; and his current work in progress, a large-scale beach scene that he’s hoping to finish in time for this year’s Art Basel in Miami. “I was pulling out some stuff to give you an historical overview,” he says, as we walk back towards the kitchen, where printouts of inspirational phrases (Find what you love and let it kill you!) are taped to the wall, “and I realized that it’s all my daughter’s fault,” he says. What he means is that when his daughter was born in 1996, his life and his creative process changed indefinitely. As a baby she was colicky, so he could only paint at night when she was asleep. When she was a toddler, he started painting still lifes of her Beanie Baby collection. When she got a little older, he found inspiration in the way a sensor light illuminated her kiddie pool while he was taking out the trash. That inspiration turned into a series of night scenes in his backyard, which turned into a show entitled Pools of Light and Dark at the Chase Young Gallery in Boston in

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2004. The paintings are both humorous and haunting – colorful folding chairs fading into darkness, a young girl staring at you, jumping on an unmade bed in the night. “When these came out, I got a great review in The Boston Globe,” he says. “They called it a ‘tour de force of painting.’ I didn’t sell a single one.” Before long, Stephen’s daughter outgrew the kiddie pool, so they started going to Walden Pond, where he did another series. “And after that,” he says, “she was tired of Walden Pond, she wanted to go to the ocean… so that lead to the beach stuff.” We walk back into the parlor, where Stephen talks about his current beach scene, an impressionistic sprawl of sand littered with sunbathers that he says is partly inspired by 16th century painter Pieter Bruegel. On the wall adjacent to this is a series of freeway paintings – rear window views of cars on a drizzly highway, headlights cutting through the grey. “There’s really no difference between a freeway with all the cars and a beach full of people,” says Stephen. “It’s really the same painting in way.” Stephen grew up in Boston and, after a short stint going to school for radio, TV and film, he tells me, “I just said to hell with it. I bought a one-way bus ticket to Los Angeles. I was out there for a couple years trying different things, like

acting – horrible. Trying to write – horrible. I was walking down Sunset Boulevard and there was a sign advertising painting and drawing classes, and I said ‘oh, I could do that.’ I don’t know why. I just walked in and after the first drawing I knew that was it.” Since then, Stephen has shown his work at solo and group exhibitions all over the country, and is currently represented by galleries in San Francisco and Naples, Florida. Recent work includes a series of portraits of rotary phones on sunny disheveled beds, stark views of the apartment buildings on his street in Pawtucket and more beaches populated with people and their untold stories. Incidentally, Stephen’s daughter is now away at art school in LA. I ask him what motivates him to wake up and paint these days, aside from the looming threat of tuition bills. “I have no idea what makes me come down here, but I know I have to… you know, instinctually or subconsciously, sometimes you just know stuff, and you have to follow that instinct.”

You can see some of Stephen Coyle’s past work at stephencoylefineart.com or view his current exhibitions at paulthiebaudgallery.com and trudylabellfineart.com

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Music

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Mister Sister Erotica CelebraTing 5 YearS!

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

Music With the Lights Out Brett Davey chronicles Providence’s music scene On a Tuesday night

in October I found myself in a lovely Victorian in Cranston where Brett Davey shoots the In The Dark sessions. “I shoot it at my house in the basement, like Wayne’s World!” he told me in an email leading up to our meeting. Unlike Wayne’s parents house, Brett’s basement lacked that “couple of chimps on a davenport” vibe. But like the cable access show that briefly took the Aurora area by storm in the early ‘90s, Brett’s video work is something of a staple in the local music scene. Brett’s transformation from a casual friend of local musicians to the Providence music community’s go-to video guy started a couple of years back when he picked up a Canon 7D and was looking for something interesting to shoot with it. He started with music videos, the first being for his friend Pat Baron’s old band From: The Inside Out. Later he shot and cut music videos for Allysen Callery, Vudu Sister and Joe Fletcher. “I was doing it more to help them,” he says. “When you’re a musician and you’re trying to get booked, the only video that might be out there of you is [on] someone’s cell phone. I thought it was an interesting thing to do.” From there Brett plunged himself into darkness. For the uninitiated, In the Dark is a web series Brett has been doing for just over a year. Each installment features a local musician or band in front of

a black backdrop. No fancy tricks or unnecessarily elaborate production, just an artist, their instrument and a seemingly endless black void behind them. “I’d seen that other people had done these sessions, The Living Room Sessions and things like that,” Brett told me in his dining room while down in the basement the aforementioned Pat Baron and John Reddington of Pawtucket’s Swan Point set up for their shoot, and Brett’s 21st entry in the series. The series has served as a spotlight the likes of Roz and the Rice Cakes, Forts/Gainsville and Dan Blakeslee, as well as most of the other artists already mentioned in this article. The videos are very raw in that there’s nothing on-screen to distract you from the performer. It’s an intimate experience. Each installment opens with the performer staring silently right at you followed by alternating medium and close-up shots of their performance, with light revealing only what’s important: A creator and their work. “I wanted to give it a look that didn’t let you know where it was – something that would keep people looking. It could have been shot anywhere, and I think that has some appeal to it,” he says. Though sometimes even the creator is left relatively out of sight, as was the case with the first In the Dark, which featured a hardly there Joe Fletcher.

Finding that right balance between too little and just enough light was tricky at first, as was getting the sound just right – why bother filming musicians if the sound isn’t spot on – but Brett’s clearly figured out the formula. At this point artists are asking him to shoot them for In the Dark instead him cold calling them. “I think they all got wind of this guy who was doing all of this stuff for free and it looked halfway decent and sounded good,” he jokes, adding, “I see this as a way to help some of these musicians reach a wider audience. Most of them are pretty broke, so I see it as a way I can help them along.” That he does all of this video work for free is worth noting. It’s not exactly easy work, especially on location shoots, not to mention the time and cost of equipment. For Brett the real reward isn’t money or fame, but the respect and trust of the music community. It’s also about something a little more personal than all of that. “It’s like getting a one-on-one concert with a really talented musician. Yeah, I don’t get paid to do it, but to sit there and listen to a great musician literally sing to you one-on-one is kind of a priceless experience.”

See more of Brett Davey’s work at inyourburn.com

Photography: Tim Siekiera

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Providence Monthly | December 2014

Get Out |

Theatre

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a living doing theater exclusively, but that a hard worker who’s willing to put in hours at a day job can make time for his art in the off hours – provided that someone has worked to make that possible. And striking that balance is something he knows more than a little bit about, too: he works full time as the fiction specialist at the Mohr Library in Johnston, buying books and staffing the circulation desk. “I’m very, very lucky, because I have a job that I like and doesn’t leave me feeling emotionally dejected at the end of the day, and so I can write. And I’m also a night owl. Staying up until 3am is a regular night for me,” he says. Characteristically, Kevin has a lot on his plate these days. In the fall, he had two shows up and running at the same time: The Diner and Mr. Stone, an original two-hander focusing on a father-daughter relationship set in a local diner, at Mixed Magic; and The Visit, which he adapted from the original by Friedrich Durrenmatt, a darkly comic tragedy about wealthy benefactor with cruel intentions. In February of 2015, he’ll be organizing a ten-reading cycle of August Wilson plays for Mixed Magic as part of his residency (“It’ll be a great opportunity for theater lovers to see all of these readings,” he says, recalling how he felt after seeing The Henriad produced by Trinity Repertory Company), as well as getting another new work to workshop level for the group.

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is atypical in a couple respects. For one, he seems to have boundless energy to devote to limitless projects, and works at a pace that I would only expect a toddler on espresso to keep up with (unlike a toddler on espresso, though, his work is actually produced to more acclaim than on a kitchen fridge). But what strikes me the most about him is that, unlike many young theater artists in the Ocean State (Kevin recently just turned 30), he has no plans to shove off for brighter lights and bigger cities. “I’ve lived here all my life,” says the Johnston resident, who was recently named playwright-in-residence for the current season at Mixed Magic Theatre. “I’ve made a home here, I like it here and I’m doing well here. But I still have people say to me, ‘Oh, when are you moving to New York?’ That seems to be the default expression, especially in the arts. And people wonder why we don’t have a lot of young professionals in the area – we’re telling them to move!” For Kevin’s part, for that reason, he says he’s “pretty militant” about working to carve out a space for collaboration in community theater in the area, hoping to create enough opportunities to help combat the city’s creative brain drain. And by all accounts, that space is thriving. The Rhode Island Theater Alliance (RITA), formed in 2011 by Epic, Mixed Magic and Contemporary Theater Company, is one example of how some of these artists have banded together to turn their shoestring budgets and youthful energy into larger creative forces. The trio of groups hit it off right away, said Kevin, but decided to formalize their collaborative arrangement in an effort to draw more attention and resources. Since then, he says, they’ve been sharing ideas (and actors), making sure their seasons complement rather than cannibalize each other, and even mounting shows from one theater with the intent of taking them to another’s space (and audience). “We need to do everything humanly possible to show a 22-year-old kid graduating from a local college with a theater degree that there are opportunities around here,” he says. He adds that he knows it’s not realistic for that same 22-year-old to make

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Photography: James Jones

Playwright Kevin Broccoli

And then there are his ever-present side projects: the “one show season” he just finished writing – where he wrote five plays in a week with the idea that they would comprise a coProvidence Media hesive season – for instance. One of Spot ads: 2.125" x 2.875" the plays has already been picked up October 31, 2014 Hours for production by a company run by a TUE, WED, THU, FRI 11am-2pm friend in the Midwest, and he’s hoping or by appointment that some of the other playsOctober can find a 31, 2014, East Side Monthly, December Is Additional Holiday Hours home locally, as well. November 4, 2014, Providence Monthly, December I Thursday, November 20, 5-9pm Although he’s definitely one of the Saturday, December 6, 11am-5pm November 11, 2014, SO Rhode Island, December is hardest working people in the local Saturday, December 13, 11am-5pm theater community, it can be said that Thursday, December 18, 5-9pm he’s clearly having a good time do150 Chestnut Street, 3rd Floor ing it. With all the sharp wit and the Providence | 401 641 5182 affinity for the absurd that you’d find in a character penned by Ayckbourn, ArtProvidence.com Kevin has more than a few other tricks up his sleeve – he’ll produce an all-pug production of Hamlet next year, a project that began as a satirical stunt but that garnered national attention from about your environment the likes of Good Morning America and BuzzFeed. Not bad for a Johnston boy.

Get Smart

RITA Theaters Epic Theatre Company epictheatreri.org Mixed Magic Theater www.mmtri.com Contemporary Theater contemporarytheatercompany.com

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December 2014 | Providence Monthly

Savor Providence

By Grace Lentini

Holiday Snacktacular Exactly how many holiday parties did you pencil in this season? I bet it’s a few too many. But, hey, it’s time to eat, drink and be merry. So while you may not be able to cook a dish for every party you go to, the least you can do is pick something up on the way. We’ve sampled portable and, more importantly, tasty dishes that will be a big hit wherever you take them.

Toasty Warm The bruschetta platter from Pauly Penta’s Gourmet Italian Deli dazzled us with the array of choices (you only see a sample here). There was an artichoke, roasted red pepper and mozzarella; sausage, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers and mozzarella; spinach, feta, sliced black olives and mozzarella; and a caprese bruscetta with fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. They were all crispy, delicious and a great holiday appetizer option. 1290 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, 722-3222, paulypentasdeli.com

Get Sauced Need to bring a side dish to dinner? Pick up the tortellini with Bolognese sauce from the Italian Corner Deli. The tortellini was cooked al dente and the cheese filling did not overwhelm the chewy pasta. This dish traveled well and reminded us of our childhood, sitting around the dinner table. It’ll be a crowd-pleaser for sure. 10 Boyd Avenue, East Providence. 431-1737, italiancorner-ri.com

Sprouting Joy “These Brussels sprouts are perfect,” was the response by our resident Brussels sprouts-loving staff member to the Pantry at Avenue N’s Brussels sprouts with crispy pancetta. The sprouts were cooked perfectly, not too hard or soft, and had a great sear so that there was a bit a caramelization on them. The crispy pancetta added a great hint of salt and the right amount of savory. 20 Newman Avenue, Rumford. 270-2836, avenuenamericankitchen.com.

A Side of Cheer

Sweetening the Night What better way to end the night than to nosh on desserts that you don’t have to make? L’Artisan Cafe and Bakery’s signature dessert platter really hit the spot. With choices like rich and creamy chocolate cheesecake, espresso-packed tiramisu, a fresh fruit tart, carrot cake and éclairs (only a few are shown), there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. Now all we need is a nice cup of coffee to enjoy these delectable treats. 9 Wayland Avenue, Providence. 331-4444, lartisan-cafe.com.

Providence Monthly | December 2014

Photography: Meghan Follett

No holiday meal would be complete without tasty side dishes. And Via Roma’s broccoli rabe with house made Tuscan-style sausage really hit the spot. This garlic-forward dish with tasty bits of bacon really complemented the juicy, full-of-flavor house made Tuscan-style sausage. To top it off, the rustic bread had a great crust while maintaining a delightful chewy center. 310 Atwells Avenue, Providence. 331-1717, viaromaprov.com

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