SO Rhode Island October 2020

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In This Issue

So Rhode Island October 2020 A haunting at Smith’s Castle

26

Spooky South County The legend and lore behind 13 real-life haunted sites

The Scoop

Life & Style

11 RI students’ app takes party

37 HOME: A Narragansett Pier

politics out of voting

home echoes its location

14 Local TV host releases kids

44 INFLUENCER: East Greenwich’s

book from a pup’s perspective

Brian Gross is part of a dynamic ad duo

16 Rising sea levels impact the

46 SHOP: Pink tourmaline jewelry to

identity of South County towns

support Breast Cancer Awareness

20 CALENDAR: This month’s

48 Get into the Halloween spirit with

must-do’s

these adorable spooky banks

22 RHODY GEM: Neighborhood

Food & Drink

farmstand offers more than veg

51 Bowls of goodness at Auntie’s Kitchen

54 Level-up your at-home cocktails

56 FOOD NEWS: Loaded donuts,

with Anna’s Kitchen Shrubs

green-geared poké, and diner-style hash on the go

South County Scenes 58 A stunning image from a local lens

ON THE COVER: Fort Wetherill in Jamestown is one spooky site. Illustration by Abigail Brown SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 7

Publishers Barry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell

General Manager & Creative Director Nick DelGiudice

Editor in Chief Elyse Major

Assistant Editor Abbie Lahmers

Managing Editor Megan Schmit

Senior Designer Taylor Gilbert

Editorial Designer Abigail Brown

Account Managers Louann DiMuccio-Darwich Ann Gallagher Kristine Mangan Olf Sascha Martin Elizabeth Riel Interested in advertising?

Email Marketing@ProvidenceOnline.com

Contributing Photographer

Interior Design Services ...starting at $295

Olivia Lecumberry Wilcox

Contributing Writers Robert Curley

Sofia Rudin

Karen Greco

Interns Andrew Binder

Tyler Harden

Gianni Dejesus Looking for an internship?

Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com

Distribution Services Special Delivery

Visit Our Shop!

Custom Sofas & Chairs

Quality Costruction, Made in America

Designer Fabrics & Wallpaper

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Home Consultations Unique Area Rugs Custom Window Treatments

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Tickets are online sales ONLY to purchase visit rwpzoo.org/jols

The Scoop

so & so | calendar | rhody gem

CAN-DO ATTITUDE Three Providence students develop Candivote, a free online platform that strives to take party politics out of voting Voter participation in local and municipal elections is low. Of the nationwide voting block, a mere 27 percent take part in their respective local elections. This number is only more glaring when the 500,000 local, electable positions across the US are in charge of $2 trillion collectively. This is spending power which could prove transformative provided it’s funneled into the communities and institutions that need it most.

Enter Arvind Sridhar, Shivesh Mehrotra, and Lucien Gaitskell. Together they developed Candivote, an online platform intended to raise participation in local elections by matching voters with candidates whose policies appeal to them. For the team, the creation of this platform is particularly timely; Sridhar and Mehrotra are both incoming college freshmen at Brown and Yale University, respectively, and Gaitskell is a rising senior at Providence’s Wheeler School.

Candivote itself is the product of many long days of research. First

launched in early June, it was refined in July as they reached out to local candidates, who answer the same questions as voters to ensure accuracy in the matching process. These questions take the form of scenarios regarding budget delegation, asking participants to designate whether they agree or disagree and rank the level of importance.

Most importantly, this questionnaire is free and therefore accessible; the platform was recently used in the mayoral elections in Cranston and Warwick, but Sridhar has high hopes for the app’s future.

“We also plan to explore the possibility of applying our ‘groundup’ mentality to state and national elections as we continue to grow,” Sridhar says. “Ideally, we hope that Candivote will become a tool to make all elections across the country transparent, increasingly equal, and more representative of our values and ideals as voters. Who knows, maybe Candivote will be available to use for the 2024 presidential election in a few years!” Candivote.org | By Tyler Harden

Photos courtesy of (left to right) Arvind Sridhar, Shivesh Mehrotra, and Lucien Gaitskell SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 11

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The Scoop | so & so •

by Megan Schmit

Puppy Love Local TV host releases children’s book exploring life and lessons through a pup’s perspective

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SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020

From page one, playful pooch Tilly will steal your heart as she and her faithful companion Tom adventure across the seashore in colorful illustration and sing-song rhyme.

But the darling pup isn’t just a loveable book character – she’s the real-life rescue adopted by Meaghan Mooney, Emmy award-winning TV host at NBC 10 WJAR, Rhode Island native, and author of Tilly Tails: A Day at the Beach.

While Mooney originally adopted Tilly – a mini poodle/Pomeranian/ Pekingese mix – from a shelter in Colorado, the pup quickly bonded with Mooney’s father Tom here in Rhode Island. “The concept for the book stems from daily ‘Tilly Tails’ that Tom would text,” Mooney explains. “[He] would share adventures from their day – which would include photographs – told in Tilly’s voice.” Mooney would share these silly stories with her friend’s two kids, who couldn’t get enough. “It seemed to just make sense to turn

this concept into a children’s book!”

In June, Mooney’s brand MEAGnetic Media officially published the first installment of Tilly Tails, along with matching merchandise like masks and lanyards, featuring illustrations by California artist Marli Renee. The response so far has been overwhelming: Parents across the country have submitted notes to Mooney citing Tilly Tails as their kids’ new bedtime favorite. However, the book is not only fun and engaging, but also informative; A Day at the Beach works in lessons for little ones on water safety, something health and wellness guru Mooney finds important.

“There’s something special about the real-life Tilly,” Mooney says.

“People young and old have been drawn to her, ever since she became a member of our family…To be able to share her with others through this book has been very gratifying!” Learn more and order your copy at TillyTails.com.

SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 15

The Scoop | so & so •

By Sofia Rudin, Editor & Writer at The Public’s Radio

In Partnership with The Public’s Radio

South Kingstown’s Beaches are Shrinking, and the Town’s Identity is at Stake

Growing up, John LaCroix spent every possible moment at the beach.

“I’ve been blessed to spend 60 some odd years near the beach,” he reflects. “Sixty-eight years of sunsets and sunrises. It’s kind of a great thing to have.”

I’m standing with him across the street from the wood-shingled beach cottage his parents bought in the 50s. We’re leaning against a gate, peering between two ocean-front cottages. In the distance, you can just see Block Island through the haze.

“Matunuck Beach, went out a good 50, 60, maybe 70 feet. It was like a sand plateau that went out,” LaCroix recalls.

But today, waves crash just a few dozen feet from where we’re standing, tumbling pebbles as they go. Beachfront restaurants jut out over breaking waves, supported by a lattice of thick wooden struts.

“During the storms – nor’easters, hurricanes, etc – that was all swept away,” LaCroix says. “And whether it’s this home that we’re near, The Ocean Mist, The Pub, the houses to the left here, they’re facing the water at high tide every day.”

Climate change is accelerating the natural erosion of the shore. Sea level rise and intensifying storms are pushing the beach inland, threatening the safety of this community.

How long will the town be able to protect its coastal infrastructure? That question is an urgent one.

“We expect three feet of sea level rise in 30 years,” says South Kingstown Planning Director Kaela Gray. “Thirty years is the life of a mortgage. But it’s also the road designs; we try to think about 30 years out on those.

Bridges have a 50 year lifespan. That infrastructure for us starts being impacted now.”

And, Gray adds, “You don’t make those

16

SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020

large investments in your infrastructure very often. It’s something you need to sort of get right.”

Already, the town has taken modest steps to move infrastructure away from the coast, including moving the town beach pavilion a couple hundred feet inland.

But just down the road, the town is taking a different strategy. It’s building a seawall to protect Matunuck Beach Road, which curves into the heart of this beach-front village and is the only access route for 240 homes.

I checked it out with David Prescott, an environmental advocate with Save the Bay. Standing on the shoulder of Matunuck Beach Road, near the stocky, waist-high concrete wall, Prescott says, “We’re maybe not even 100 feet from the water. There’s a road that provides access in and out of here. And as you can see, it’s very, very vulnerable.”

Prescott points out the latest storm’s damage. The edge of the pavement is crumbling into the sand. A chain-link fence built along one part of the road hangs suspended, where the asphalt has been eaten away.

Orange and white plastic buffers act as a guardrail in a stretch where the town is planning a $3 million extension of the seawall.

It’s been controversial. Prescott testified against the wall at a Coastal Resources Management Council permitting meeting last fall.

“Building these walls is more of what we see as a band-aid approach that really doesn’t look to the long term,” Prescott says.

Where seawalls are built, erosion continues to wash the sand away until the beach is lost, leaving a concrete drop-off in its place. And the energy of waves refracting off a seawall speeds up erosion on either side. You can see this in action on many stretches of Rhode Island’s coast, including

Conimicut Point and Watch Hill. When the beach goes, it becomes impossible to walk the shoreline, and public access is lost.

Prescott argues, “If you’re gonna spend several million dollars on these sections of road, then why not really weigh out the benefits of keeping things where they are and trying to hold back nature, or actually trying to live with nature and move infrastructure away.”

South Kingstown Planner Kaela Gray says the town did look at other options for Matunuck Beach Road, including relocating the road. Ultimately, she defends the decision.

“Matunuck Beach Road is the heart of Matunuck. And so, the town made a decision

Photo by Sofia Rudin/The Public's Radio

Sea level rise and intensifying storms are speeding up erosion of Rhode Island’s coast. Homes, businesses and residents are at risk in unprecedented ways. Communities are wrestling with a daunting question: when is it time to retreat from the sea. In South Kingstown, that’s a question that threatens the core identity of the town.

The beach in front of Matunuck Beach Road is eroding by about three feet per year, threatening the only access route to 240 homes.

that that was an area where we wanted to protect” Gray explains.

This decision was partly about residents’ safety – making sure that first responders could still reach people in Matunuck. The town’s manager says that for the next couple decades, this is the town’s strategy: protect infrastructure in place along the coast.

But the debate over Matunuck Beach Road is just a taste of the dilemmas to come. It’s fast becoming unrealistic to protect every low-lying road. In 30 years, the town projects that 13 miles of road would be flooded by a major storm, breaking down the asphalt and requiring costly repairs.

And Gray says, protecting this infrastructure

isn’t just about catering to the town’s richest taxpayers. It’s also about the economy of a small town and the jobs these seaside businesses create.

“As we see more erosion on beaches, we have less sand there,” Gray says. “We have to actually think about what it means to stay a tourist economy as our coast changes, as we start looking at pulling things away. What does it mean to be a beach town when your coast is one of your scariest features?”

John’s house is one of the 240 that the seawall is designed to serve. But he’s decided he can’t stay in Matunuck. He and his wife are selling the beach house he grew up in. The rising cost of flood insurance is

pricing them out.

“It’s a tragedy,” LaCroix says. “Really, it is. It’s a tragedy for the people that grew up here, and because of time and tide are slowly being forced out. I don’t know if there’s a solution to that. I think that’s part of the new reality of living along the coast.”

The wall isn’t a solution for John, and it won’t be for many of his neighbors.

While the wall might protect a couple hundred feet of road, there are tens of thousands of feet of roads that snake through the salt ponds and marshes of South County. The people who live on those ponds are just as threatened, and there’s no way to build a wall for them.

SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 17

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The Scoop | calendar •

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October 8:

Find all your favorite food trucks in one place at Pump House Music Works, along with curbside liquor pick-up available from Sons of Liberty across the street.

Bring a blanket and make it a picnic on the lawn. Wakefield, PumpHouseMusicWorks.com

Through October 27: Celebrate fall at Frerichs Farm with Pumpkin Palooza events every weekend – from a ride on a magic pumpkin coach and pumpkin painting to a DIY scarecrow workshop.

Warren, FrerichsFarm.com

October 24-25:

Through November 1: Take in the intricately carved spooky pumpkin faces from your car at Roger Williams Park Zoo’s Jack-oLantern Spectacular, the drive-through edition. Order tickets online for this immersive Halloween drive. Providence, RWPZoo.org

Peruse the works of local makers at your own pace as you meander through North Kingstown, Warwick, and East Greenwich for West Bay Open Studios, a self-guided tour of artists and maker spaces.

WestBayOpenStudios.com

Photos by Olivia LeCumberry Wilcox

The Farmer’s Daughter hosts Family Fall Fun daily on their grounds, offering a unique selection of heirloom gourds, hayrides, mazes, and other socially distanced outdoor fun. South Kingstown, TheFarmersDaughterRI.com

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The Scoop | rhody gem •

by Abbie Lahmers

Pasquale Farms Farmstand

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

What it is: A self-serve, family-owned farmstand that mostly goes on the honor system to offer fresh veggies, eggs, and flowers, along with local goods and gifts like gardening supplies and planters, handmade soap, fishing flies, maple syrup, and more.

Where to find it: Watch for the quaint, lean-to shed with large rustic letters identifying the farmstand along the woodsy stretch of Usquepaugh Road.

Watson Wax. The stand blossomed during the pandemic to offer essentials to neighbors in a safe, outdoor space and has since become a tucked-away hub for hyper-local finds. Fall brings plenty of pumpkins and mums, along with seasonal decor, and expect wreaths and holiday greens for your winter needs. A true family operation, you can call the phone number on the stand, and one of the Pasquales will pop over to help. Nursery stock and landscaping services are also offered, along with local delivery.

Pasquale Farms 190 Usquepaugh Road, West Kingston 595-8871 @pasqualefarmsri

Photo courtesy of Pasquale Farms

What makes it a Rhody Gem? While the outside is lush with plant starters and farm-fresh produce, owners Frank, Mark, and Lauren Pasquale have fostered the inside as a space to display wares from local makers, from woodworking pieces by a high school crafter to all-natural soaps from Wakefield’s

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

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From glowing ships to vampires, a demon dog, and more, local ghost writers shares legends and lore sure to give you a chill this Halloween

by Bob Curley

South County doesn’t have a Great Swamp Devil or a Big River Bigfoot, much to the disappointment of local author Christopher Rondina, a fan of all things supernatural who has penned books on New England spirits, vampires, and ghost ships.

“Rhode Island doesn’t really have a monster story,” Rondina laments. His macabre mood lifts, however, when talk turns to the state’s abundant haunted sites, many inhabiting the historic villages and deep forests of Southern Rhode Island. “In some ways, I think Rhode Island is one of the spookiest states in New England, with woods full of old graveyards,” he says. And, he points out, we do have at least one paranormal pooch pawing around the ruins of an old fort in Jamestown.

As the leaves turn during fall and Halloween draws near, these South County sites are worth visiting for a few genuine chills.

Photo courtesy of RIDEM, modified by Providence Media

Camp Greene, Coventry The Advent Christian Church began holding religious camp revival meetings in the village of Greene in the 1880s, and ruins of the former Camp Greene can be found in the woods off Hopkins Hollow Road. “Abandoned cabins, enormous crosses, and bat houses nailed to every tree – this decaying former religious retreat in one of Rhode Island’s most rural corners feels like the backdrop for a Stephen King novel,” says Rondina. “Urban legends persist regarding murderous camp counselors and other dark deeds, but these grim accounts seem more like campfire tales than genuine history. Even so, it’s not a place most people would linger after sundown.”

Chestnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Exeter Rhode Island has more than 2,800 historic cemeteries; #22 on Route 102 in Exeter is the final (?) resting place of Mercy Brown, who died of tuberculosis in 1892. Suspected by her family of being a vampire, Mercy was exhumed and found to be weirdly well-preserved; in desperation, a piece of her heart was fed to her brother (also ill with the disease) in an attempt to ward off death. “Mercy was one of a dozen such revenants thought to prowl the graveyards of Rhode Island between 1796 and 1892, a cursed history which may have inspired Bram Stoker, author of Dracula,” says Rondina.

Devil’s Footprints, North Kingstown Devil’s Foot Road in North Kingstown runs along a granite ledge known as Devil’s Foot Rock, so named for a series of indentations attributed to Satan himself. “‘Old Scratch’ is said to have left footprints in the woods near Quonset while in pursuit of a virtuous native maiden in the 1600s, and his diabolical prints are still visible today,” says Rondina. The satanic stone is located just south of Quonset Point, off Route 1.

Druidsdream, Narragansett This historic home just south of Narragansett Pier on Gibson Road was owned by 19th-century spiritualist Joseph Peace Hazard, who claimed to be able to talk to the dead and “scandalized Rhode Island’s Gilded Age society with his research into ancient religions and occult sciences,” according to Rondina.

The woods near the home contain Hazard’s crypt, built in the manner of a druid’s circle, and the Druid’s Chair, where Hazard was said to make sacrifices to the Old Gods.

Rhode Island may not have its own monster, but a demon dog is believed to wander the grounds of Fort Wetherill — a legend that Haunted Rhode Island author Thomas D’Agostino says could date back to British occupation of the fort during the Revolutionary War. Even if you don’t run into a spooky pup on your visit, it’s creepy enough to explore the ruined World War II era fortifications, which include underground tunnels (technically) off limits to the public.

Jamestown

General Stanton Inn , Charlestown Enough spirits are said to roam the halls of this 17th-century inn and restaurant that it attracted investigators from the show Ghost Hunters.

An apparition that inhabits the inn’s Washington Room is said to be particularly lively, occasionally tapping guests on the shoulder. “Visitors from the past are reported to mingle with modern-day guests, though by all accounts most of the lingering spirits are pleasant company,” Rondina says.

Great Swamp Massacre Site South Kingstown Some spooky spots in South County have fanciful stories, but the terror and violence that took place in the Great Swamp in 1675 was all too real.

In the middle of King Philip’s War, a colonial militia descended upon a peaceful encampment of the Narragansett tribe in South Kingstown and massacred hundreds of women and children, with many more dying after fleeing into the frozen swamp.

The Great Swamp Fight Monument is located off Route 2, near the site of the fortress.

The Ladd School, Exeter Founded as The Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded in 1908, the Ladd School was essentially an overcrowded prison for the mentally ill and women accused of violating the morality codes of the day. This place of misery, neglect, and murder was finally razed in 2013, but not before being used as the setting of a horror movie called Exeter. “Haunted by dark memories and an aura of hopelessness, the site remains stigmatized to this day by its past,” Rondina says.

Coventry

The 1770 home of Rhode Island’s foremost Revolutionary War hero is one of a handful of haunted houses that are open to the public. Rondina says supernatural phenomena have reportedly included a baby carriage that moves by itself, the smell of baking bread from long unused ovens, and the sounds of militia members preparing for battle. Not for nothing did Greene himself refer to the place as “Spell Hall.�

The Narragansett Rune Stone North Kingstown Two rows of Runic letters, visible only at low tide, were carved into a granite boulder on Pojac Point, some say by early Norse explorers. Nobody is quite sure where the carvings originated or what they mean, although the closest translation seems to be “screaming river.” The stone was relocated for safekeeping to Library Park in Wickford in 2015.

Old Narragansett Cemetery North Kingstown Church cemeteries are consecrated ground, but what happens to the unfortunate souls buried in the churchyard if the church moves away? One of Rhode Island’s oldest cemeteries can be found off Shermantown Road, with headstones dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, but the Old Narragansett Church itself was spirited off to Wickford in 1799.

The Palatine Light Block Island According to legend, wreckers lured the Dutch sailing ship Princess Augusta onto the rocks of Block Island in 1738; the ship burned and sank, costing the lives of dozens of passengers. Some of the dead, who hailed from the Palatine region of Germany, are buried on Block Island, and an eerily glowing ghost ship is said to visit the island’s shores each winter, “eternally seeking vengeance on the descendants of the wreckers who sealed her fate,” according to Rondina.

North Kingstown

Monica L. Gross, MD, MPH Maria A. Como, APRN, CNP

At least two ghosts are believed to roam the halls of Smith’s Castle — perhaps not surprising for a building that dates back to 1678. The spirit of Elizabeth Singleton, a Newport woman who fell down a staircase and died after an overindulgence in rum, is said to be buried on the property and haunts the old building to this day. The building was once owned by the family of author John Updike, who used Wickford as the fictional inspiration for his book, The Witches of Eastwick.

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Life & Style

home | influencer | shop | spooky banks

Endless Summer A Narragansett Pier beach bungalow reflects a passion for the surf The home of Matt and Kaitlin Rapoza is Exhibit A of a place that reflects its surroundings. One look at the ready-for-anything hardwood floors, furnishings in a colorway of an ocean sunset, and seating made for sitting – perhaps even with wet bathing suits – and you get an immediate vision of this surf-loving family of five. Their Narragansett home, a short bike ride from the Pier, started as your typical 1950s Cape but today, after some purposeful additions and minimalist decor, it’s a beach bungalow by design.

Photos by Marial Maher, courtesy Kaitlin Rapoza SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 37

Life & Style | home •

by Elyse Major

The couple met in Boston when Kaitlin was in grad school; after she finished, they moved to Providence to be closer to Matt’s work but found themselves heading to Narragansett every chance they could. Less than a year later, they started living near the Pier in a student rental and began looking around to buy a place of their own. With the timeline of their lease running out, the search was getting discouraging until one fateful day, Kaitlin spied a dumpster in the driveway of a house. “I knocked on the door, and the rest is history!”

Ten years later, the Rapozas have put their imprint on the house. Three years ago they worked with their good friend Rob from Horrigan Building on a design that resulted in the addition of a dining room and mudroom. “We didn’t want our home to look like an addition was just ‘slapped’ onto it – we wanted it to vibe with the timeless coastal feel of the Pier,” Kaitlin explains.

“Our home is very intentional – there is an efficient use of space – every room has a

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SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020

Photos by Morgan Galipeau, courtesy of Kaitlin Rapoza

A sectional sofa provides ample seating without taking up much space

SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 39

by Elyse Major

Matt fashioned a surfboard rack from old mahogany decking

40

SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020

Photos by Morgan Galipeau, courtesy of Kaitlin Rapoza

Life & Style | home •

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“Our taste is often nicer than our budget – we are willing to put in the work to get the end result we want,” adds Kaitlin, who recently started styling homes, making high-end vacation rentals more inviting and functional, helping friends with renovation projects, and

Want your home featured in So Rhode Island?

Email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com to learn more

getting into real estate investing. Matt has worked for Gilbane Building Company as a superintendent for the past 14 years.

“I typically have the vision and Matt executes. He is extremely detail-oriented and loves building, creating, and problem solving.”

“We have a coastal boho vibe,” says Kaitlin. “Lots of blues and pops of coral for fun. We definitely don’t take ourselves too seriously. There are glass beads, lots of light oak… all the natural colors and textures of Rhode Island!” Find Kaitlin on Instagram @RenosAndRaps

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BUY ART Whether commissioned or spotted at art shows at the Pier, Kaitlin likes to support local artists. “The majority of items filling our walls serve as a way for us to incorporate all of our favorite things,” she says.

Pieces include a custom PIER sign by Nick Gorham and Tara Henriques, a commissioned oil seascape by Nick Gorham Art, a print from The Local Rhody, and a drone shot of Narrow River by PJ Dorothy.

ADD GREEN Kaitlin likes to keep things light and bright

and says, “Use pops of color and other natural elements, tons of greens, and play with texture.”

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Life & Style | influencer •

by Elyse Major

Meet Alec Beckett and Brian Gross Creative Partners, NAIL Communications The alleged immortal founders of the Providence-based ad agency responsible for some of the most innovative and memorable campaigns talk T-shirts, snark, and keeping the creative spark lit while working remote.

Photo courtesy of NAIL

Brian displays ad props; Alec daydreams about donuts

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Your recent commercial for Lifespan was NAIL’s first socially distanced production – concepted, shot, and posted without anyone working together in the same space. What has this process been like for you to work out concepts and collaborate apart?

It has sucked. But we have done it – frankly better than we imagined possible.

We have managed shoots in LA and NYC remotely. We have brought on new employees that we’ve never sat in a room with. We have welcomed employees’ new babies by Zoom. But we know that we are missing out on all the magical conscious and unconscious inspirations and connections that happen when we are physically together.

Any tips for maintaining the collaborative give-and-take flow of the creative process while independently working from home?

We are fighting hard to keep some semblance of company culture while all trapped in our mansions. For instance, we did a virtual escape room together; we took pictures of everyone’s desks at work so they could use them as Zoom backgrounds; we are watching Master Class videos together and talking about them; and we do a monthly meeting where people volunteer to give presentations.

You’ve orchestrated some of the most memorable campaigns both locally and nationally. For example, the breakup of Mike and Ike. How did you sell that idea?

Was that a favorite campaign?

Agencies often get all the credit for creative campaigns but the reality is that every single great campaign out there – either by us or anyone else – had a brave, smart client who had the vision and guts to say “yes.” Mike and Ike was a great example. When we proposed the idea of the breakup, it hinged on the idea of “defacing” all their packaging by crossing

out either name – Mike or Ike. We never really believed that they’d be willing to pull the trigger. But they did. The hard truth is that we have had many more good ideas die for lack of a “yes” than have made it out into the world. Our favorite campaign has to be the “Nothing Can” for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. While Mike and Ike was creatively successful, the Nothing campaign was soulfully successful. We love using our powers for good and giving back to our community.

A trade magazine described NAIL as having a “palpable snark” – is that something that comes natural to you both?

I had a palpable snark, but the doctor was able to remove it. I couldn’t sit for a week!

[Brian] We definitely don’t take ourselves seriously. For two main reasons: One, it’s a lot more fun to work at a place with that kind of spirit. And more importantly – we’ve learned that doing great work requires an atmosphere where everyone feels safe to try things, suggest crazy ideas, and screw up royally. So that means we are loose, tolerant, and endlessly making fun of each other.

NAIL has been around for 22 years now.

Are you starting to feel like the elder states-people of the ad world? Does this mean you’ll start wearing ties to work?

We’re actually a lot older than we look: Brian will be 124 years old on Sunday and Alec just turned 219. How do we do it? After much debate, we have decided to share our closely guarded secret to eternal youth: Ironic T-shirts. Yup, science has shown that regularly wearing sardonic, faux nostalgic, non-sequitur T-shirts will add decades to your lifespan. The flip side is, of course, that should we accidentally put on a tie, our ancient bodies will desiccate to dust almost immediately.

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Life & Style | influencer •

by Elyse Major

1

2

3

4

In the Pink While Halloween conjures the iconic orangeand-black color combo, wearing pink all October long shows support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual campaign best known for pink ribbons takes shape in many forms, including purchasing items where proceeds go to a related charity. This October, locally based national jewelry retailer Haverhill Collection will donate 20 percent of proceeds from their Pink Awareness Collection to BrightPink.org, a national breast and ovarian health nonprofit that

providers. Haverhill Collection is the namesake of its founder, Haverhill Leach, who lives in Rhode Island and is a fifth-generation jewelry maker. The Pink Awareness Collection consists of dazzling pieces featuring hand-faceted and hand-set pink tourmaline gemstones and solid 14k yellow gold, all crafted in New England. Lore has it that pink tourmaline can be energized in the light of a full moon, of which there are two this month – the Harvest Moon on the first, and the Hunter’s Moon on Halloween. Sounds like

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Life & Style | Spooky Banks •

by Megan Schmit

WICKED CUTE Peter Pots Pottery handcrafts special “spooky” banks for Halloween

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SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020

These adorably spooky coin banks started as a fun experiment for Carl Tuoni, chief pumpkin carver for Peter Pots Pottery. The West Kingston business has been quietly producing stoneware for nearly 70 years from its workshop in the woods, but when Tuoni crafted the first miniature pumpkin and black cat banks a few years ago, they were immediately snapped up. Since then, the small but mighty staff of five has more than quadrupled the number made each year.

“Last year, the entire crop sold out within three minutes when they went live on the website,” says owner Jeffrey Greene, “and the ones reserved for the showroom caused a long line to form at the door until opening time.” Greene remembers the rush of enthusiastic, “pumpkin-hungry” customers now fondly remembered as the Pumpkin Riot of 2019.

The making of these popular Halloween specials begins long before leaves even begin to change. The cat banks, while a Peter Pots staple, only appear in black once a year to play on the spooky season. Stephanie Coffey and Tuoni create and carve the pumpkins, Karina Bay finishes and smooths each, and Justin Boiano applies the glaze – gloss orange or matte green – before firing in the kiln. Finally, Catherine Scott names, photographs, posts, and finds a home for each pumpkin, the exact number of which remains a secret.

While these spooky banks are available for purchase starting October 1 – flickering LED candle light included for an extra eerie effect – Greene warns that they cannot be made after Halloween. “That’s when we need to turn [our] attention on the light-up Christmas trees,” says Greene, “so there won’t be a repeat of last year’s Christmas Tree Frenzy.”

He adds slyly, “but that’s a story for another time!” Pick your pumpkin at PeterPots.com.

SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 49

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Food & Drink

health food | in the kitchen | food news

BOWLS OF GOODNESS Zero-pretension health food is the focus at Wakefield diner Auntie’s Kitchen Health food bowls, whether they feature protein or greens, might be

Auntie’s Kitchen reopened to the public in May with renewed vigor to

all the rage lately with a widespread focus on wellness, but Auntie’s

ensure their patrons had access to hearty, substantial take-away options,

Kitchen has long been tossing up Kale Super Salads, Detox Bowls, and

rolling out menu items like Sweet Potato Lasagna, Vegan Fried Rice, risotto,

quinoa dishes from their cozy, homespun nook in Wakefield. Specializ-

and tomato sauces, along with a vegan burger that quickly garnered fol-

ing in whole, or unprocessed, ingredients to concoct a variety of veg-

lowers over the summer. With a plant-based slant, many of these options

gie-forward, healthy combos, dishes start with grains or greens as a

are vegan or have vegan variations, and new offerings are written up daily

base and incorporate seasonal flavors for raw bowls or baked frittatas.

on a specials board, which is posted on their Instagram, too. “We work hard

Owner Kathy Curley explains their Buddha Bowl, the most popular of-

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marinated beets, and carrots with a house dressing.”

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Photo courtesy of Auntie’s Kitchen SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 51

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Food & Drink | in the kitchen •

by Karen Greco

Kicked-Up Cocktails Anna’s Kitchen Shrubs puts a Colonial-era elixir back on the menu

A serendipitous stop at Friendly Fruit in New Bedford, where Anna Scott procured a huge bag of pre-peeled ginger for $1, ended up launching Anna’s Kitchen Shrubs. “Who wouldn’t buy pre-peeled ginger? For a dollar?” Scott asks, adding, “but then I had to figure out what to do with it.”

After making ginger ale and ginger beer (“I nearly blew up my kitchen,” she says, not realizing the fermentation process could cause bottle bombs), Scott decided to make her first shrub. Before refrigeration, fruit was preserved in barrels of vinegar. The vinegar

54

SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020

with its fruity essence – the shrub – made a refreshing addition to spirits. Shrubs lost their appeal with the advent of refrigeration but are enjoying a resurgence from the craft cocktail movement.

Scott was introduced to shrubs at her favorite restaurant in her native St. Augustine, Florida, where there was a shrub mimosa on the cocktail list. At first, the combination of champagne, vinegar, and blueberries made it a no-go. “But I was feeling kind of spunky, so I tried it and loved it,” she says. “Then over the next year, shrubs just kept popping up.”

When Scott and her family arrived in Barrington soon after, the former corporate exec turned stay-at-home mom spent her days exploring her new ‘hood. That’s how she ended up at Friendly Fruit. That fateful bag of ginger led to her first flavor: Apple Cider Ginger. It was a big hit.

“Then I kind of went down the shrub rabbit hole.” It was her husband who encouraged her to come up with additional flavors. So she dug out her well-worn copy of The Flavor Bible and got to work concocting four additional flavors: Cranberry Mint, Banana Turmeric, Strawberry

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At first hindered by the lack of cottage laws in Rhode Island, which allow smallscale makers to use their home kitchens for commercial food projects, it was kismet that food incubator Hope & Main was one mile down the road. Scott went through their incubator program and used their commercial kitchen to make one batch of each of her shrub flavors. That yielded ten cases of each flavor. She simply wanted to break even: Pay for the incubator program, the ingredients, and the bottles.

“I needed something to sell so I planned to

sit on the cases and see how it was received.

And a local distributor bought it all, pretty much immediately.”

Now Anna’s Kitchen Shrubs can be found statewide, at restaurants like Milk Money, Celestial Café, and Mill’s Tavern, and on the grocery shelf at Dave’s Marketplace. Plant City recently added them to their mocktail menu, and Scott just secured her first national account: Her Cranberry Mint shrub will be featured in Delta’s Sky Club Lounges. While she admits that the novelty of shrubs makes it a bit of a hard sell, she points out that “nobody heard of Kombucha” at first, either.

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865 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett 789-8153 • TwinWillowsRI.com SORhodeIsland.com • October 2020 55

Food & Drink | food news

Gansett Poké leads in going green With origins as a one-of-a-kind solar-powered mobile food cart, Gansett Poké has always taken a green approach to food service, and their brick-and-mortar digs are no different. Takeout is a popular choice for many, and you can expect to find your colorful poké bowl made up in a recyclable or compostable container if you’re grabbing a bite to-go. These Hawaiian-inspired eats also feature responsibly sourced seafood and produce to create a variety of fresh veggie bowls with hot rice, cold protein, and house-made sauces.

“Our most popular bowl is The Swell,” explains owner Michelle Frank, “[made of] gorgeous ahi tuna on a bed of steaming rice with crisp greens, cucumbers, green and sweet onions, topped with seaweed salad and our most popular gluten-free sauce, maui shoyu. Add a hard boiled egg and it’s your best meal of the day.” Online ordering makes curbside pick-up easy from their storefront, or you can follow on social media to track down their food truck schedule. Narragansett, GansettPoke.com -Abbie Lahmers

Get your fried dough fix at Black Dog Donuts The recently opened Black Dog Donuts food truck brings loaded mini donuts on wheels to South County. Indulge in some homemade fried dough or their unique spin on donut treats called Squad Cups, which feature to-go trifles layered with cake, cream, and sweet toppings all piled into a cup. A favorite fall special is the Basic Witch Squad Cup, an autumn-spiced delicacy reminiscent of a Thanksgiving pie made with layers of mini donuts, pumpkin cheesecake mousse,

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ginger snap pieces, and whipped cream.

“We love donuts, and after some research, we realized there was no one in the area selling donuts from a food truck,” says owner Michelle Colberg, who, along with her husband Charlie, decided to open up their own. Catch Black Dog Donuts popping up at spots like Pump House Music Works and other local venues, and their full schedule is posted on social media. @blackdogdonutsquad -Gianni Dejesus

A mobile food cart specializing in hot sammies and potato hash, you may have spotted Teddy’s Griddle popping up at farmers markets across South County this past summer. A new offering to satisfy a growing need, the griddle on wheels now caters micro weddings, too. Husband and wife duo Scott and Theresa Chamberlin are the event planning and catering gurus behind the larger venture, O’Chamberlin Hospitality, which goes mobile via Teddy’s Griddle and Little Buddy, a bar on wheels.

Dedicated to tossing only fresh and local goods on the griddle, sandwich specials take advantage of what’s available, like late-summer BLTs during the peak of tomato season. “We serve Everbreeze Farm eggs, Quonnie Farm greens and veggies, and our brioche bun is from Great Harvest in North Kingstown,” Scott explains. “Our sandwiches, salads, and hash are all cooked to order but take only minutes to prepare. Most guests wait less than five minutes for their breakfast or lunch. This year, due to COVID, everything is packaged to go for folks to enjoy at home.”

OChamberlinHospitality.com -Abbie Lahmers

Photos courtesy of Black Dog Donuts

Griddle-fried sammies take over micro events

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South County Scenes

October is the perfect time of year to explore some of our beautiful trails!

Arcadia Management Area, Richmond

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

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