8 MAY 16, 2014 | the providence phoenix | providence.thephoenix.coM
providence.thephoenix.coM | the providence phoenix | MAY 16, 2014 9
best the
READERS’ PICKS
Arts +
EntErtAinmEnt
2014
Top-notch amusements and enjoyment BEST ART GALLERY: AS220
115 Empire St + 93 Mathewson St, Providence | 401.831.9327 | as220.org/galleries | To an art
Newport). His Twitter handle sums it up: @dbshootsfilm. And Phoenix readers deemed him @TheBest.
The Columbus Theatre
world that defines itself based on discriminating by taste, AS220’s slogan — “Uncensored, unjuried, always” — reads like a recipe for random bullshit. But somehow AS220 has become a consistent venue for great art, supporting green beginners and ripe veterans, theorists and activists and the occasional outsider sculpting a tape and cardboard Shangri-La. Maybe the secret is to be so wondrous and meaningful that all the cool kids want to get on the waiting list.
BEST FOLK VENUE: COLUMBUS THEATRE
270 Broadway, Providence | columbustheatre.com | “All music is folk music,“ Louis
twitter.com/frankocomedy | Frank has been making people laugh for more than 30 years. And his resume is beyond impressive: he’s written jokes for Bob Hope and Jay Leno, shared stages with the who’s who of comedy, hosted TV and radio shows, and discovered fresh talent with the longrunning Catch a New Rising Star Contest. His new weekly gig (with bawdy hypnotist Frank Santos Jr.) is at Olives on Friday nights. Oh, and in October he’ll be the fourth inductee in the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame. Yep: He’s one of The Best.
BEST COMEDY CLUB: COMEDY CONNECTION
39 Warren Ave, East Providence | 401.438.8383 | ricomedyconnection.com | Comedy Connection has been the yearround destination for national headliners and the best homegrown talent for 25 years. A lot has changed since it opened its doors in a former bank building in 1989, but one thing hasn’t: people enjoy going to a room full of folks and laughing their asses off. Comedy Connection is Rhode Island’s Comedy Central. What’s so funny? Head to East Providence and find out.
BEST COVER BAND: RUN FOR COVERS
run4covers.com | Each year, this category is one of the biggest Best vote-generators, and for the second consecutive year, Run For Covers have earned the right to cover “We Are the Champions.” The quintet think way outside the cover box, having “made a vow to not cave to fit the norm and bring something truly new to the club circuit.” And their fans notice and appreciate the difference. Matt, Mark, Rusty, Dave, and Jesse know no boundaries, raging from the White Stripes to Metallica to Journey to Montell Jordan. For a double dose of Bestness, head to Rí Rá — the Best Cover Club (see the next item) — on May 16 and get ready for a helluva high-energy musical roller coaster ride.
BEST COVER CLUB: RI RA
50 Exchange Terrance, Providence | 401.272.1953 | rira.com/providence/ri-ralate-night.html | We’re fond of quoting
slogans in these Best blurbs, and Rí Rá has a good one: “Riverdance me arse! Live
frank c. grace
BEST COMEDIAN: FRANK O’DONNELL
music, live DJs, and real live wires.” Rí Rá has you covered five nights a week, with the area’s top hit machines (the Rock, the Regulars, Little Blue Pill, and 2013/2014 Best Cover Band Run For Covers) on Friday and Saturday, Josh Cramoy taking requests on Wednesdays, and karaoke on Thursday and Sunday. Live it up!
BEST DANCE CLUB/NIGHT: THE SALON
57 Eddy St, Providence | 401.865.6330 | thesalonpvd.com | The Salon is The Best be-
cause the Salon’s calendar is bursting with diverse sounds and attractions six days a week (Sundays are for reading), from Wednesday’s Reggae Dancehall with DJ Red Beard to House music mastermind DJ Handsome J on Thursdays to the dazzling array of weekend wizards — DJs Dox Ellis, Nick de Paris, Knowlton, Pauly Dangerous, Oscar Champagne, Ill Will, Nick Bishop, Zak Drummond, Damian Daviid, 11:11, and the AfroSonic Collective’s Soul Teknology. On Mondays, you can get yr dance on from 6 to 8 pm with Handsome J and chuckU’s After Work Jams. And on Tuesdays, watch the images dance across the screen at Kimi’s Movie Night (a double feature with free popcorn). As the song says, you should be dancing, yeah.
BEST DANCE COMPANY: FUSIONWORKS DANCE COMPANY fusionworksdance.org | Fusionworks
has been dazzling audiences since 1987, performing an adventurous modern dance repertoire and offering classes in creative movement, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop, guided by the vision and drive of artistic director Deb Meunier. Their mission is “to engage and enrich” audiences — “to always go beyond the edge of the stage.” Phoenix readers say: mission accomplished.
BEST DJ NIGHT: DJ LADYRUCK
In the words of Queen Latifah, “ladies first!” Veteran turntablist and on-air personality DJ Ladyruck (aka Sharon Ashley) was born and raised in Providence, and got her start on 90.3 WRIU-FM more than 20 years ago. She held down a five-year tenure as host of “The B-Side,” inspired by cut-chemist cohorts such as Ulysses and the late, great Kurty Kut. Ladyruck eventually landed regular gigs at ol-skool spots ranging from the Living Room to Jovan’s, and currently spins hip-hop and R&B as a resident DJ at Fête. Check out more from DJ Ladyruck at musicfeen.com and hit up the venerable rap site Datpiff.com for free downloads of Ladyruck’s recent mixtapes The Storm and Remixed (The First Lady).
BEST EROTIC ENTERTAINMENT CLUB: THE CADILLAC LOUNGE 361 Charles St, Providence | 401.521.7469 | the cadillaclounge.com | Every industry has its version of the Best, and the Cadillac Lounge has often been named the Club of the Year in the Northeast. The sprawling venue offers a seductive feast, with three full bars, food, five rooms, an all-nude room, three floors, 20 VIP sections, an outdoor patio, and more than 200 female entertainers from around the world (and visits from the stars of the adult film world). What happens at the Cadillac Lounge stays at the Cadillac Lounge.
BEST FILMMAKER: DAVID BETTENCOURT
davidbettencourt.com | It’s fitting that
David Bettencourt won our first Best Filmmaker award, since his work documents quintessential Rhode Island subjects: Rocky Point Park (You Must Be This Tall), legendary punk rockers Neutral Nation (It’s a Bash!), and our seaside aristocracy (Behind the Hedgerow: Eileen Slocum and the Meaning of
Armstrong famously said. “I ain’t never heard no horse sing a song.” We’ll use the big umbrella that is “folk” to honor the Columbus, which has become a beloved space for unique and inspired musicmakers, from mega-string bands (Mother Falcon) to deep-voiced savants (Bill Callahan) to soul shouters (Charles Bradley). They also present comedians — Fred Armisen, Tig Notaro (September 28) and films (catch the world premiere of the Haven Bros. documentary on June 7). The space was built in 1926, has a very lively history, and was lovingly restored and reopened in 2012 by the Columbus Cooperative (including Ben and Jeff of the Low Anthem). Folks think it’s The Best.
BEST HIP-HOP VENUE: FÊTE
103 Dike St, Providence | 401.383.1112 | fete music.com | Many clubgoers were skepti-
jazz bookings these days — especially in out-of-the-way venues. The Woonsocket institution has made improvised music one of its cornerstone elements since 1977 and, because the menu at John Chan’s place is just as sumptuous as their programming, audiences abound. Said musical menu is also brimming with blues, so let’s proclaim Chan’s Best Blues Venue, too.
BEST KARAOKE SPOT: THE HOT CLUB
575 South Water St, Providence | 401.861.9007 | hotclubprov. com | Are you a karaoke pro, ready to dazzle fellow imbib-
ers with your song? Are you an occasional participant, who can be prodded into joining the fun? Or do you just like to listen and watch? Whatever your inclination is to join the rotation, the Best place to get your karaoke on is the Hot Club on Mondays at 9 pm. Here’s an idea: to celebrate the victory, they should devote a night to songs with “Best” in the title! We’re signing up for Ben Folds Five’s “Best Imitation of Myself” ....
BEST LGBT CLUB/NIGHT: THE DARK LADY
17 Snow St, Providence | 401.272.6369 | darkladypvd | There are many reasons why the Dark Lady Bested this category. Phat Ass Fridays, with Sabrina Blaza and DJ Joey Dee, is at the top of the list. The Tuesday night karaoke sessions get the weekend started early. And things get really rowdy on Pong ’n’ Thong Thursdays. And we haven’t even mentioned the gogo boys, drag shows, and pole dancers? As they proudly proclaim, “There’s always something going on.”
BEST MOVIE THEATER: CABLE CAR CINEMA
204 South Main St, Providence | 401.272.3970 | cablecarcinema.com | Every midsize city needs its art house (or two;
the Avon was a very close runner-up). Since 1976, the Cable Car has been a key part of the College Hill cultural scene. Their fare is ever-challenging and captivating (they’re not afraid of taking chances), they host a dizzying array of film fest screenings (Rhode Island International, SENE, Providence Children’s, and Providence French), and quite a few directors have been on hand to show and tell about their films. Skip Netflix (or Amazon Prime) (or Hulu) tonight and head to South Main St. And pass the popcorn.
BEST MUSEUM: RISD MUSEUM
224 Benefit St, Providence | 401.454.6500 | risdmuseum.org | First there’s the encyclopedic depth of the RISD Museum’s collection. Then there are the temporary exhibits featuring ancient Egypt, Andy Warhol, hot-off-the-presses graphic design, and last year’s “Locally Made” showcase of 300 artists who make stuff around these parts. On top of that, the fashion curators — clearly some of the best in the nation — knock you out, intellectually and sensually, with a show like “Artist/Rebel/Dandy.” Is there any question why the museum is winning this prize for the 17th consecutive year?
cal when Fête opened its doors a few years back — a beautiful ballroom (and side lounge) in the heart of Olneyville? Well, it worked —magnificently. Fête takes this hotly contested category thanks to a rich parade of local and national rap acts coming through (from THR33 Piece Suit to Kool Keith), the PizzaBoyz and DJ Born Casual’s steady Saturday night jumpoff (21+ and free of charge), and the “Church of Providence” residency hosted by Strange Famous Records (held on the final Thursday of each month). The lineups Sage Francis and B. Dolan assemble are downright insane (where else can you see Olneyville Sound System and accordionist Cory Pesaturo share a stage?), complemented by burlesque dancers and a full-sized wrestling ring in the middle of the ballroom.
Facebook post said, “Sign ups start at 730. Sing, dance, tell jokes. The mic is OPEN!” Every Tuesday from 7:30 to 10 pm, creativity and freedom of expression is the draw. If you want to share it, they want to hear it. The Parlour’s overall mission statement certainly applies to the weekly free-for-all: “Everyone is welcome as long as you are keeping up the vibes.”
BEST HOOKAH LOUNGE: OPA
BEST PLACE TO BOWL: LANG’S BOWLARAMA
themed Opa carries on the tradition of Phoenician culture through traditional cuisine and hookah smoking. The knowledgeable staff will bring you a drink and then recommend one of their many flavors of hookah for your lung-filling pleasure. An extensive menu features some of the city’s best Middle Eastern offerings and, believe it or not, the smoke doesn’t linger and mess with the flavor of your food. And if smoking’s not your thing, sit back and take in some live music or a bellydancing show three nights a week.
larama still has the lively look of a retro alley but has been totally tricked out for the modern age. Their pristine lanes are open to anyone, or you can start a team and play on league nights with your pin pals. Enjoy a full food menu and an extensive bar featuring Lang’s Signature Cocktails and an array of craft beers on draft, including selections from Allagash, Foolproof, Revival, and more. With trivia, karaoke, and live music under the same roof at the Skyline Lounge, even non-bowlers will be happy.
230 Atwells Ave, Providence | 401.351.8282 | opaprovidence.com | The Mediterranean-
BEST JAZZ VENUE: CHAN’S
267 Main St, Woonsocket | 401.765.1900 | chanseggrollsandjazz.com | It takes lots of
faith and more than a little TLC to sustain
BEST OPEN MIC: THE PARLOUR
1119 North Main St, Providence | 401.383.5858 | facebook. com/ParlourRI | “Open” means open at the Parlour: a recent
225 Niantic Ave, Cranston | 401.944.0500 | langsbowlarama. com | A Cranston institution since 1960, Lang’s Bow-
BEST PLACE TO PLAY POOL: RHODE ISLAND BILLIARD BAR & BISTRO
2022 Smith St, north Providence | 401.231.2020 | ribbb.com | RIBBB is a seasoned victor in this category for its multiple tables, tournaments, reasonable rates (and what‘s more reasonable than free games on Sundays from 6 pm-close), and many other distractions — the 108 beers! The bands on weekends! Poker! The full menu with all-you-can-eat
401.232.1330
pasta and pizza deals! The dart league! You’ll feel right at home whether you’re an oft-scratching novice or billiard ball veteran.
www.ribbb.com
2026 Smith Street, North ProvideNce ri
BEST ROCK VENUE: LUPO’S HEARTBREAK HOTEL
best the
79 Washington St, Providence | 401.331.5876 | lupos.com |
The house that Rich Lupo built has dominated this category for 17 years — there’s simply no better place to see a concert in the state, no matter the genre. Since opening 39 years (and three locations) ago, they’ve presented thousands of acts, from up-and-comers to established hitmakers — Jerry Lee Lewis, Radiohead, Beck, the National, and Willie Nelson have all graced their stages. And the upcoming lineup — which includes T-Pain, moe., Future, and Interpol — proves they’re ever-diverse and not slowing down.
BEST THEATER COMPANY: TRINITY REP
201 Washington St, Providence | 401.351.4242 | trinityrep.com | This season at Trinity Rep — their 50th anniversary, if you didn’t hear — included a timely adaptation of Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the New England premiere of Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, the world premiere of Veronica Meadows by company member Stephen Thorne, Lynn Nottage’s moving drama Intimate Apparel, and the crowd-pleasers Oliver! and A Christmas Carol. And Sam Shepard’s family drama, A Lie of the Mind, is still to come. Trinity has always embraced the classic and the contemporary, and their artistry and craft is second to none.
2014
beSt Place to Play Pool iN ri
Friday may 23
Register Online Now!
miNNeSota FatS
Burger Challenge www.ribbb.com/maNvSFood
BEST THEATER VENUE: PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
220 Weybosset St | 401.421.ARTS | ppacri.org | This category is brimming with opulence. The nominees — the Columbus, Park, Providence Performing Arts Center, the Stadium, and the Vets — are stately and swanky and majestic, evoking the grandeur of bygone eras. But they’re alive and well and awe-inspiring, and PPAC is the grandest of them all. It opened in 1928 as the Loew’s Movie Palace, has seen good times and bad, and was lovingly restored and renovated in the mid-’90s. It welcomes Broadway road shows, concerts (the July 14 Queens of the Stone Age show is it’s rockingest booking in years), comedians, and other unique entertainments. The next time you go there, arrive early and soak in the splendor.
Never a cover charge! Sat 5/17
Erik Narwhal
BEST TRIVIA NIGHT: TRINITY BREWHOUSE
186 Fountain St, Providence | 401.453.BEER | trinitybrewhouse.com | Did you know that in Roman
mythology, Trivia was the goddess of sorcery and witchcraft, who haunted crossroads and graveyards? That fact could come in handy at the Tuesday trivia sessions at Trinity Brewhouse. Or maybe you need some Trinity trivia. It’s the title of a novel by Leon Uris, a song by Fleetwood Mac, and a character played by Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix films. With the speed of info flow these days, everything is fodder for trivia — you blink and you miss it. Go easy on Trinity’s Best Brewpub brews so you can dig up trivial-yet-significant data from the deepest recesses of your noggin.
BEST VISUAL ARTIST: WILLIAM SCHAFF
Fri 5/23
DiviNg DuckS
Monday Night Pool & Poker
Best 8 Ball tournaments Poker hosted by eastern Poker tour
facebook.com/william.schaff.1 | Perhaps you have one of
William Schaff’s giant octopi crushing a sailing ship tattooed across your back. Or you’ve received a letter on which the head on the stamp becomes part of a body sitting in a fire. Or you’ve witnessed his haunting dioramas, masks, embroidery, paper cuts, and fierce drumming for the What Cheer? Brigade. There’s an apocalyptic fervor to it all. Yet this righteous creativity goes down like an antidote. As a slogan in one drawing proclaims: “Come hither my friend, hope.”
BEST WEEKLY JAM: SUNDAY NIGHT BLUES JAM @ MURPHY’S LAW
2 George St, Pawtucket | 401.724.5522 | murphyslawri.com | Check our listings: there’s a jam almost every night of the week. But there’s a bit more fun on a Sunday, when the participants are holding onto the pleasures of the weekend before succumbing to the rise and grind. And a lot of said fun is in Pawtucket: 2012 Best Jammers Wolf & the Jam Daddies hold forth at Boundary Brewhouse at 5 pm, and this year’s Best crew, aka the Big City Band, encourage you to bring your axe/chops to Murphy’s Law ’round 8:30. Drummer Ben Ricci is the powerful anchor; saxist Justin Breault, guitarist Travis Colby, and bassist Jeremy Kindsvatter usually share the stage, and funk and jazz and more are always a part of the musical mix. Join the fun, and get ready to hit the snooze bar in the AM . . . .
wedNeSdayS ladieS Play Pool For Free
Free Pool SUNday 6 - cloSe
108 beerS available iN bottleS aNd oN taP
tUeS Night 9 ball leagUe & dart leagUe StartiNg SooN