This week, Rhode Island native John Picerne was among those honored by first lady Michelle Obama at the White House on behalf of his Our Family for Families First Foundation. This East Greenwich based organization, founded in 2006, supports military families in pursuit of higher education by aiding children of military service members through scholarship programs as well as military spouses through grants.
Picerne’s foundation was a part of the Joining Forces Community Challenge, a cause started last year by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to recognize the efforts of citizens and organizations across the country that are working to improve the lives of military families. Our Family for Families First was voted a “People’s Choice Winner”, meaning it was among five prestigious organizations that received the most votes from the public.
And what a winner this organization truly is. Annual scholarships of up to $50,000 and grants of $5,000 are awarded to high school seniors and military spouses respectively to aid them in their pursuit of education. As the president and CEO of the Rhode Island foundation, Picerne is certainly a role model. More
Imagine our surprise when these sweet cupcakes arrived at our office this morning. Clearly, someone at the newly renamed Big Blue Bug Solutions, formerly New England Pest Control, knows that the best way to get our attention is with food. It seems like the name change was inevitable, given the fact that their mascot, the famed "big blue bug" Nibbles Woodaway, is one of the best-known and most iconic corporate symbols in New England. We wish them luck with the name change, and thanks for the sweet treat (from the also iconic Wrights Dairy Farm, no less). More
This week, Roger Williams Park Zoo debuted a new program: animal feedings. Small groups can actually go inside the giraffe paddock to get up close and personal with the Zoo’s three giraffes: Sukari, Amber and Jaffa Prince. Our executive editor, Julie Tremaine, was the first non-employee to try out the program (and to get drooled on by a giraffe). More
We're fortunate that more and more of our troops here in Rhode Island are coming home, and Besos Tea House in East Greenwich is doing what it can to show them some appreciation. During the month of April they are offering a 50% discount on all meals for any active military members. That's right -- half off. It's just one small way the community can give back to the selfless soldiers who serve their country proudly. More
Holly Ewald of the Urban Pond Procession has teamed up with families through the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum’s Arts and Wellness program in Exeter to create a book of collages to help people imagine what Mashapaug Pond hundreds of years ago was like when the Narragansett settlement still inhabited it. A group of about 10 volunteers – consisting of children as young as eight and adults as old as 92 – have been working together to take photographs of Mashapaug and Arcadia Ponds and to make collages with all sorts of materials to give readers an idea of what it was like for indigenous people to live there in the 18th century. “It’s a local place and [the book] is made by local people who are descendants of the people that lived there. It’s an honest presentation of this place,” says Ewald. “It really helps people understand the native culture from their perspective.” A book release celebration will take place at the museum on April 28 and another procession and fundraiser will take place at The Mediator in Providence on May 12. Ewald is working with Loren Spears, the director of the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, to try to circulate the book to public libraries and create a curriculum so that the book could be taught at schools. More
The Sassy Ladies have built upon their belief that with the right guidance, proper resources and a little bit of teamwork (and networking), your dream of owning your own business can come true. The three brains behind the operation, Miriam Perry, Wendy Hanson and Michelle Girasole, have even written a book, The Sassy Ladies’ Guide to Start-Up Businesses, which was the recipient of the Small Business Trends’ 2009 Small Business Book Award. Clearly, these women know their stuff. They host Sassy Luncheon Networking Events, in which participants multi-task: eat, network and shop. Yes, you heard us right. Female business owners spend their lunch break meeting other women entrepreneurs, eating healthy food and learning about the latest styles. Try on some outfits – you’ll get a $40 credit towards the purchase of any item, meaning that the event practically pays for itself. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, May 1 from 9-10:30am at Camden's Restaurant, 756 Kingstown Road in Wakefield. Register ahead online. The speaker will be Patricia Raskin of Positive Living and Positive Business Radio. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. More
WHAT’S COOKING
We recently stopped in for lunch at the Celestial Café in Exeter’s Oak Harbour Village on South County Trail (Route 2). We hadn’t been there in years, and we were really impressed with the clean, modern look of this suburban restaurant. A spotless dark hardwood floor and grayish-blue walls set the stage for the light filled dining room. Many of the white linen-topped tables and chairs are a comfortable pub height. The long granite-topped bar offers 20 seats. Now 10 years old, the café has become a destination for people who know good food. The Celestial is known for its monthly farm dinners and its bistro menu, which is served Thursday through Sunday with a cost of $35 for five courses. All the food is very creative – sweet potato wontons, ginger scallops and citrus pesto calamari are among the appetizers; entrees include everything from jambalaya to Peach Marsala. We thoroughly enjoyed our sandwiches – Nana’s Grilled Chicken with sweet red pepper pesto,mozzarella, mixed greens and a balsamic reduction, and Homemade Chicken Salad with green onions, roasted red peppers and honey Dijon mayonnaise, both on grinder rolls. Whenever possible, they use seasonal ingredients from local farms and fisheries.
The Rhode House is opening in the Kingston Emporium, 99 Fortin Road, in the former space occupied by Varanasi Indian Restaurant. The owner is Karen Boutros, who also owns International Pizza in the same strip mall.
TLC Coffee Roasters in West Kingston will open a second location in West Bay Plaza at 904 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett. Owner Ken Marot said the new shop will offer fair trade and organic coffee, espresso drinks, muffins and scones.
If you have news dealing with food, restaurants or chefs, feed it … More
You've spent your entire zoo-visiting life being told not to feed the animals, but finally your days has come. Beginning April 1, Roger Williams Park Zoo will host group feeding sessions, in which visitors will have the chance for an up-close encounter will giraffes, penguins and seals. There will only be a handful (cue rim shot) of spots available for these feedings, and tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. The first giraffe feeding is at 2pm on April 1, with penguin and seal feedings to begin later in the spring at 11am. They will take place daily until Labor Day, and on weekends in October. We know some of you out there are probably really excited about this, but please don't shove any little kids to the ground in your scramble to get one of those tickets. More
Rhode Island native Tina McDonough has accomplished her dream of building a library in Ole Partiata, Narok of Kenya. The library – which was officially opened on November 18, 2011 – currently has over 1,000 books, specifically targeted to be useful to the Maasai community. McDonough, founder of the Imagine Library & Resource Center says, “Of the 656,2000 libraries around the world, only 1,200 of them are in Africa.” In 2009, McDonough was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, and underwent four surgeries within a three-month period. The scare inspired her to visit Uganda for the first time, where she worked with the Beads for Life charity and vowed she would return to the area as soon as she could to make a difference. In order to buy the land for the library, McDonough donated all of her possessions and savings, as well as accumulated donations from local donors and friends to purchase books and the shelves to put them in. More
There are very few people who do not remember the tragic Station nightclub fire that occurred in February of 2003. The fourth deadliest nightclub fire in American history resulted in the loss of 100 lives. There are many stories of loss and survival from that night, and one local filmmaker hopes to highlight many of them in the documentary film, The Station (to be released in February 2013). With the fire’s tenth anniversary approaching next year, filmmaker David Bettencourt, in conjunction with Gina Russo and Paul Lonardo, co-authors of the book From the Ashes, is inviting anyone who wants to participate and share their stories as part of the film to do so; they hope to get as many people involved in the project as possible. Be sure to check out their website to watch a short trailer to the movie or to donate funds to be used in producing the film and developing a memorial at the site of the fire. More
Love shopping at consignment stores for great deals and funky fashions but sick of sifting through rack after rack to find that perfect item? Try out Karma Couture’s new in-store iPad to browse through their entire online inventory. When you find that perfect little black dress, one of the Karma girls will retrieve it for you, hassle free. More
What's Cooking
A new online food-ordering service called www.hungryrhody.com is available for University of Rhode Island students, faculty, staff and other area residents. It’s a collection of popular food establishments that allows customers to place orders online ahead of time so food is ready to be picked up without having to wait in line. They include: Domino’s Pizza, I-Slice, I-Zone, Subway, International Pocket, Bagelz, Ronzio Pizza & Subs, Simply Thai, Twisted Pizzeria & Restaurant, Peking Tokyo and PD’s Pizza. Some of the participating restaurants also offer delivery.
By the way, PD’s Pizza has a new owner, Amanda Auble of Coventry, who plans to spruce up the interior of her Peace Dale eatery and update the menu. Watch for the addition of fish and chips and garlic nachos.
Jacki’s Seaside Café is taking over the former location of the Boon Street Diner at 148 Boon Street in Narragansett. They plan to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The new Giro’s in Peace Dale has closed after being open for only one month.
The Maharaja Indian Restaurant & Lounge at the Village Inn in Narragansett has closed, but the good news there is that another concept is on its way just in time for spring.
News Flash
We can’t reveal the details just yet, but watch for a famous Providence chef to be taking over a well-established restaurant in Narragansett in the coming months. We’ll have more news on that next month. More
The Contemporary Theater Company, which has been staging shows in various locations around South County since 2005, is establishing a permanent home in downtown Wakefield at 327 Main Street. The benefits are twofold, in that it will finally give CTC its own space to grow and create, and it will enhance the bustling downtown area as the town's only theater. The grand opening is scheduled for July 6, in tandem with neighboring Phil's Restaurant opening its new rooftop dining -- a perfect accompaniment to the new entertainment offerings.
So how can you help? By attending a Zoning Board hearing on Wednesday, February 15 at 7pm. Because the parking lot is slightly smaller than regulations require, the board needs to sign off on the plan. There is ample municipal parking in the area, and several neighboring businesses have offered up their parking lots in support of the project. CTC Artistic Director Christopher Simpson and Phil's proprietors Carl and Ken Tetzner are calling on residents to come down and voice their support, or if they can't make the meeting, to send a letter of support: South Kingstown Town Hall, Attn: Zoning Board of Review, 180 High Street, Wakefield, RI 02879. More
Nicholas Jon Beaubien and Ricky Adelon Laprade of Cut to the Chase Productions are co-directing a feature-length suspense/horror film titled Erebus to be shot entirely on Block Island, beginning in March. Building on the foundation of their last soon-to-be-released feature, Villanelle, the Rhode Island natives plan on taking both the gore and the thrill-factor up a few more notches.
According to the production website, Erebus is “an anthology horror film inspired by the well-documented history of supernatural phenomenon in Rhode Island.” Much of the action will take place in and around the Gorham House, a mysterious old hotel with a history of bone-chilling occult activity. “In Erebus, we don’t just spit out ghost stories,” says Beaubien, “we make you feel as if you lived one.”
As part of their Kickstarter campaign (in which the duo hopes to raise funding for the film), Beaubien and Laprade offer the rare opportunity for anyone to be in the movie as an extra. Spend the day on Block Island – ferry fees covered – with the entire cast and crew. Receive full make-up and wardrobe services, an official call sheet and an IMDB named cast credit. It’s an opportunity to live out your actor fantasy while also supporting local indie film; pledge rewards will be finalized by February 17 so don’t delay. To find out more, or to watch trailers and interviews, visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/rickyalaprade/erebus?ref=live More
It’s time to recognize the people making a big difference in southern Rhode Island – well, the younger ones, anyway. The United Chambers of Southern Rhode Island are hosting their first 40 Under 40 awards, and it’s time for you to start nominating the people in your community who are making a difference. To be eligible, a candidate must live or work in Southern RI, and work to promote the community by helping to foster small business, to preserve or utilize a historic site, to create a neighborhood initiative, or a host of other good things. Check out the United Chambers' webiste for more information on the nomination process. The winners will be recognized at a dinner at the Ocean House in Watch Hill on March 23, and will be profiled on this site. More
Jonathan Feiler, sommelier at Ocean House in Watch Hill, has announced the schedule for upcoming wine weekends at the posh hotel. Festivities begin on Friday nights with a wine and cheese reception in the Club Room. On Saturdays, Feiler will discuss the qualities and flavor profile of the wines being tasted. On February 17-18, the wines of Bordeaux will be examined. On March 16-17, the difference between Barolo and Bar- baresco will be explored. The cost for these monthly sessions is $38 per person. For more info, call 584-7000. More
This year is off to a positive start as far as the local restaurant scene is concerned. Where one door closes, another opens.
The Post Office Café in East Greenwich is expected to reopen after being closed for the past year. The interior isn’t the only thing being renovated. Other updates will include menu changes (with light fare such as gourmet burgers being offered), added entertainment and perhaps even a new name for the restaurant, which has occupied that historic spot on Main Street since 1995.
Since two of East Greenwich’s much-loved breakfast spots – Audra’s and Jigger’s – closed last year, many were happy to see the Village Café open on Main Street. Let’s hope the third time’s the charm; this is where The Sweet Nest and Twisted Dogs used to be located. The Village Café, owned by Anne Steger, offers traditional diner fare with eggs, waffles and pancakes on the breakfast menu and soups and salads at lunch. Early morning specials include banana split waffles and cranberry-walnut pancakes. Midday specials will have an Italian bent with veal and chicken parmesan on the menu. Open every day of the week, the café will serve dinner on Fridays with chowder and fish and chips available.
It was sad to see Tricia’s Tropi Grille in Jamestown close, but the good news is that it will reopen as Jamestown Fish, an upscale seafood restaurant, thanks to the owners of the Narragansett Café across the street. We hear the chef there has an impressive resume, having worked at three New York kitchens: Colicchio & Sons, Gramercy Tavern and Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
It was also sad to learn that the Cheeky Monkey closed for good in Narragansett. However, that space is now taken by SoHo, a contemporary Italian restaurant with a martini list that features a 10-ounce martini and drinks named after famous artists. Located at 21 Pier Marketplace, SoHo is the dream of Lisa Delfarno-Lavigne … More
For the second month in a row, Vogue magazine has shot a cool, blonde, Oscar-winning Hollywood A-lister along the equally cool Rhode Island coastline for its cover. In December, it was Charlize Theron, shot in Newport...
This month, Meryl Streep kicks off the New Year Charlestown...
Who's next? Kirsten Dunst in Little Compton? Cate Blanchett in Watch Hill? Here's hoping they ditch the blondes and graduate redhead Emma Stone to big girl Vogue. Oh, Emma...
One of the hottest chefs in Providence has relocated to the suburbs. Kevin Millonzi, the culinary star who made the Atomic Grille and Restaurant Prov shine, has opened Millonzi’s in West Warwick. This is a modern-day neighborhood restaurant serving global cuisine. One of Millonzi’s signature appetizers, the Tuscan Potato Chips with Gorgonzola Gravy is not to be missed. The menu also offers pizza, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and a good selection of entrees, from New York sirloin to ribs with root beer barbecue sauce. And for dessert, I recommend the Baklava Cheesecake.
Siena Cucina and the Savory Grape will host a wine dinner on January 17 at 6:30pm. The all-inclusive cost is $65 per person. Call 885-8850 for details and reservations.
Good news! The Post Office Cafe on Main Street in East Greenwich will reopen after being closed for the past year. The once-popular restaurant is undergoing renovations and is expected to reopen early this year, possibly with a new name.
The culinary program known as Farm + Vine at the Ocean House in Watch Hill is dedicated to the rich bounty of Rhode Island, on land and in the sea. Monthly dinners with different themes will take place in the hotel’s restaurant, Seasons. Culinary weekends, led by experts in the field, are being planned, specially designed to provide unique experiences and to demonstrate the farm-to-table philosophy of the Ocean House. Farm + Vine dinners are set for January 4 and February 1. A local cheese weekend is tentatively scheduled for February 12. Stay tuned for details.
If you have news dealing with food, restaurants or chefs, feed it to Linda Beaulieu at Lindab2720@aol.com. More
Looking for something to do this winter instead of staying bundled up indoors until spring arrives? Westerly has just opened its very own ice rink, the Washington Trust Community Skating rink, on Main Street. The ice rink is now open seven days a week through March. If you do not have your own skates, the rink has over 250 ice skates for people to rent, making for an affordable day out. Skaters can take a little breather and visit the concession stand, located in the skate shack, for a well-deserved snack. The rink will be open Monday-Friday from 3pm-9pm and then on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-9pm. Aside from their regular hours, you can also schedule the ice rink for use for private parties or lessons. Admission for children and seniors will be $5, adults $7. The Washington Trust Community Skating Rink is something that can be fun for everyone. Perhaps you will learn to be the next Scott Hamilton or Sasha Cohen. 85 Main Street, Westerly. 742-7563, www.westerlylandtrust.org. More