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

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

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

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