The staff in our office has always been largely female (roughly a 3:1 ratio) and while that has mostly been for the good, we always knew it might come back to haunt us one day. That day has come. Shine America, the production company behind critically acclaimed scripted shows (The Office, Ugly Betty), reality TV hits (The Biggest Loser, Nashville Star) and, well, other things (MTV's Date My Mom, that short-lived American Gladiators reboot), is now looking to the biggest little for its latest reality TV inspiration. They're currently seeking male business owners for what is sure to be the thinking guido's answer to Jersey Shore: the soon-to-be-a-pop-culture-phenomenon Rhode Island Boys. According to the casting call, Shine America "has a fascination with Rhode Island's small businesses," and they're looking for male-owned businesses with predominantly male employees — which means our moment in the harsh, unflattering spotlight of reality TV will have to wait. However, we promise the fine folks at Shine America that if they'll reconsider maybe doing Rhode Island Boys and Girls, we'll deliver all the cussing, petty infighting, drunken tantrums, on-camera meltdowns and delusions of self-importance they could ever possibly hope for. In the meantime, if you think your business fits the bill, contact LDI Casting for more details.More

Now that you're read our recent story about Rhode Island's first whiskey distillery since prohibition (right?), you're probably ready for a taste of Sons of Liberty's Uprising whiskey. Well, Tuesday, May 15 is the perfect opportunity to do so, while at the same time supporting live, local theater in South County. Contemporary Theater Company is preparing to open its new home at 327 Main Street in Wakefield, and it's time to celebrate. They're throwing a party at Sons of Liberty's South Kingstown distillery where you'll get to tour the facility and taste their products. Of course, while you're there, you might want to consider making a pledge to support the theater... just a thought. Check out CTC's website for more info. And cheers.More

Who can forget all the buzz last summer regarding a movie being filmed in our area starring powerhouse celebrities Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton? The time has finally come to see our beloved state and its beautiful scenery up on the big screen in acclaimed director Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. The film is set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965 and tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact and run away together in the wilderness. You may have heard rumors of Bruce Willis and Bill Murray spottings at Tiverton’s Standish Boatyard. (The boatyard was just one of the many staging areas for the film.) The Hollywood stars were said to have been very friendly and down to earth. Be sure to look for the much-anticipated motion picture, set to premiere as the opening film of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival on May 16. It’s scheduled for an American release on May 25.More

Wine Down Wednesdays are offered from 5-7pm at Trio, 15 Kingstown Road in Narragansett. A flight of three red or white wines paired with appetizers is available for $19.95 per person. 

Cucina Twist at 2095 Kingstown Road in South Kingstown has halfprice pasta entrees every Wednesday. Appetizers are also half price Tuesday

through Friday from 4-6pm, and all night every Sunday at the bar.

The Grille on Main, 50 Main Street in East Greenwich, has a taco special, two for $5 or four for $8. Chicken wings are 25 cents each at the bar every Monday from 5-10pm. 

Ritrovo Italian Pub & Grille, Main Street in East Greenwich, is now open for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Wednesday is ladies night with 50% off all nightly specials. 

We hear that Dave’s Coffee on Old Post Road in Charlestown hopes to open a second location on Main Street in Wakefield, where Orbie’s and Town Meats used to be located. Owned by David Lanning, Dave’s is a craft coffee roaster that hand roasts its coffee. 

There is another “Dave’s” event this month: Dave’s Marketplace at 1000 Division Road in East Greenwich will be hosting a book signing with Ted Allen from Chopped. The event will take place May 15 from 5-7pm. 

Woodhouse Fire N Coal Pizza at 402 Main Street in Wakefield now serves beer and wine.

David Roebuck, owner of the Salt Pond Oyster Company in Narragansett, now has a raw bar in his mobile food truck called Shuckin’ Truck. He will sell oysters from his aquaculture farm as well as fresh scallops and lobsters. Look for the truck at farmer’s markets and festivals. 

Giro’s Restaurant at 501 High Street in Peace Dale has reopened, serving Italian-American food in a completely renovated dining area and bar. Lunch and dinner are offered every day but Tuesday. Luncheon specials are $5.95 to $6.95.More

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

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