I {heart} Rhody

Art scene ~ "Witness to Hunger" ~ City Hall Art Gallery

2012-02-28T08:48:00.000-05:00

Witnesses to Hunger
A photography exhibit by the RI Community Food Bank
Tuesday, Feb. 14 to Monday, March 9
Providence City Hall
25 Dorrance Street
Providence, Rhode Island
During normal City Hall hours, 8:30 - 4:30

image via providenceri.com

From the Food Bank's website:

"This powerful photo exhibit portrays Rhode Island mothers raising children in a world of hunger and poverty, a project made possible by the Women Ending Hunger volunteer group of the Food Bank."

Witnesses to Hunger is an exhibit of photographs by four local women to document the issues of hunger and poverty.

These women, who all have young children, were given digital cameras to document their experiences with hunger and its impact on themselves, their children, and their community.

The purpose of the exhibit is to start a dialogue about their ideas for improving the lives of low-income families with young children.

Food cans for the Nothing Campaign will be available in the City Hall gallery space so that visitors can take immediate action to donate towards the cause.

From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group

2012-02-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

American oystercatchers by nelights

Warren's Point, Little Comton RI. aka "Secret Spot" by robert.rinkel

Great Egret-Explore May 8, 2011 by R Joanne

From a Guy's Yard in E. Providence, Rhode Island #9 by MyDay247

Untitled by provbenson2009

IMG_2667.2 by Amy Martira Photography

Marina at Sunset by BarbaraS2009

Red Tailed Hawk and Lunch by BlueisCoool

Pontiac Avenue, Cranston by Carly Sabatino

Exeter Hollow Mill by cyberastrofolkie

Pawtuxet by dadofliz

Sunrise at Gooseberry Island 1 (Westport, MA) by Dave Amadio Photography

Snowy bench by jpsphoto

111 Photographs of 111 Westminster Street in Providence, RI by doubleagent

Lincoln by Dragonfly Island

Around Providence by Jraymay

Providence River by jpsphoto

Another one of the "BRIDGE" by Jerri Moon Cantone

giant hamsters by Jef Nickerson

fall-28 by GoProvidenceRI

IMG_7632 by E Godfrey

Events ~ The Northeast International Auto Show ~ Providence

2012-02-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

The Northeast International Auto Show
Providence Convention Center
1 Sabin St.
Providence, Rhode Island

I dragged two rather disinterested young women with me to the Northeast International Auto Show. "There will be cars there," I encouraged. Both of them gave me the so? look that children seem to perfect in their teens.

Then we arrived. We started at the far end of the Mezzanine and worked our way back around. There were hundreds of cars, from many of the local dealerships and from around the globe. The first stop, Bear was in love.

The Suzuki SX4 was the right body type and color. We must have gone back to it three times in the course of the evening. She stood in line to sit in the driver's seat.

C seemed really into it, too. She was carefully checking mileage, and comparing fuel efficiency among the models she liked. She doesn't drive, but by the time we left, I think she may have changed her mind about getting her license.

This was my favorite: the Nissan Juke.

I liked the body style and the interior. It looks like it would be a fun car to drive.

Unsurprisingly, the star of the show was the Corvette ZR1. It was displayed like most of the other cars, just standing on the showroom floor, but every time we passed it, there were about half a dozen guys clusterd around.

C has always been a fan of the VW Beetle. First the old-school design, then the 2000. But the 2013 was a disappointment. She said that the body style now looks like someone had smooshed a 2000 bug so that the roof was lower and the body elongated. I have to agree. It diminishes the classic Beetle look and brings it closer to the cookie-cutter sedan.

C and I both liked the look of the Fiat Gucci.

and we all liked the Mini Coopers.

We weren't shopping for cars, but for someone who is, this is a great opportunity to make a one-stop shop and check out dozens of models in an evening. Once you've narrowed it down, you can visit the local dealers for test drives and negotiations.

Artists ~ Kent Stetson ~ Providence

2012-02-22T07:57:00.001-05:00

Artist’s name: Kent Stetson
Business name: Kent Stetson Handbags
Location: Providence, RI
Website: Kentstetson.com
Facebook: Kent Stetson Handbags

1. Tell us about your work. When I was a student at Brown, I recall a professor mentioning in passing by during a critique of my work that I made "nice wall decorations". This comment really upset me at the time, but a couple years after I graduated I remember thinking about the way that I was framing my fine art. Instead of putting a piece in a picture frame, I decided to make a handbag out of it. I sold this piece to the first person I showed it to. I made several more bags, which were intended to be more sculptural than functional, but people insisted on using them. In a small way, I think that I have helped to cultivate a new kind of art-buyer- someone who may have a great appreciation for unique and artistic work, but may value the functional component of the bags I make and their element of interaction.

via Kent Stetson Handbags on Facebook

2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter? By several twists of fate, I ended up going to the World Shoe Association show in February of 2008. While I was there, I showed some samples to various buyers and was able to find representation with a showroom based in Los Angeles. Several weeks later I had sales orders from Nordstrom, Fred Segal Rocks, Patricia Fields, and numerous other exclusive retailers throughout the US and Asia. All during this time, I was managing a large real estate investment portfolio in the Providence area. I filled my orders all by hand, without hiring any assistance, and at the same time continued my "real job". I took on management of a large amount of work in my career field, and as the economy slumped, orders tapered off. This past May, I had a catharsis one day and decided that I was done with my career. I immediately started making bags and art, and entered craft shows and independent markets. Almost immediately the response was overwhelming. I made a conscious effort to focus on selling bags directly to end users, and limiting the amount of energy I had previously put into my wholesale and online business.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration? I try to draw inspiration from life. The day I quit my job back in May I went out and purchased a hammock. Lying in my hammock trying to sort out the major life decision I had just made, I took a photograph of the sky. This photograph became the basis for a pattern from which I made a bag. Toy cars, googly eyes, fabrics, and materials I encounter manifest themselves into bag designs. I try to create bags from the unexpected- which generates designs that are authentic and convey a sense of humor.

via Kent Stetson Handbags on Facebook

4. What’s your favorite item to make? I love to make things that I have never seen before. Anything that is the result of the process of discovering how to translate materials into a design that can create a unique experience for it's owner is what ultimately captivates my interest.

5. What’s your best seller? The form that sells best for me is a tri-fold envelope clutch. The bag that got me into major retailers was made from thick crocodile-embossed patent leather with 18-inch gold chain fringe dangling from the bottom. I play around with proportion using this basic design- sometimes exaggerating the dimensions or making the flap asymmetrical, creating fabrics for the lining that relate to the image on the outside (one bag has apples on the outside and a print of snakes on the inside).

via Kent Stetson Handbags on Facebook

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island? I came to Brown University as an undergraduate in 1997, and stayed here upon graduating.

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island? I love the anecdotes that arise from coming from such a small place- the feeling that we are all only one degree of separation from each other, the colorful politics and public figures, the amusing attitudes, the thick native accent, the endlessly entertaining subject of the weather, oysters, and the seemingly infinite space between two points that are more than a 10 minute drive from each other.

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add: What I do is ultimately about relationships. I aspire to be the kind of designer whose work you cannot find online or in a store- to generate the kind of business that is based on sharing an experience, and passing what I have made along to the person who is going to use it- seeing what I make going to a good home where it is going to be appreciated and make people happy.

From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group

2012-02-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

"Rose Island Lighthouse at night by nelights

Tuckerman Ave. Summer of 81. Perfect drop and tuck on a small summer swell. by robert.rinkel

Mallard, Male by R Joanne

A renaissance city by provbenson2009

Kennedy Plaza by boliyou (I {heart} Rhody)

50. I can see clearly now by R Joanne

Rocky Shore by robtm2010

"IMG_2646.2 by Amy Martira Photograph

Matunuck RI, looking to the west by BarbaraS2009

Yellow Sunflower by BlueisCoool

RI Capitol Building 6 by Carly Sabatino

363/365 - east greenwich, ri by dracisk

87 of 111 by doubleagent

Bay Day by dadofliz

Dock Ep by cortneyrita.miclette

DAP_5027 the gallery is below. by Dave Amadio Photography

Horseshoe Falls by cyberastrofolkie

First snowfall of 2012 by Ken Zirkel

Lippitt Park by GoProvidenceRI

warren skiffs by jambori39

Dame Farm by Dragonfly Island

India Point Park by jpsphoto

Scarborough Beach, Rhode Island by colorob

Artists ~ Carolina Arentsen ~ Providence

2012-02-15T13:17:00.000-05:00

Artist’s name: Carolina Arentsen
Business name: Hint Studio
Location: The work is in several shops in Providence. Lola, Paloma, Runcible Spoon and Green Envy in Newport..also Shift Boutique in Hyannis.
Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hintstudiostore?ref=ss_profile
Website: http://www.hintstudio.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ #!/HintStudioShop
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carentsen

1. Tell us about your work: I have a variety of artwork. I make paintings and illustrations in different styles, jewelry.

2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter? I was always drawn to it.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration? Right now, recycling, and also a certain meditative vision I suppose.

4. What’s your favorite item to make? I make parts to use in jewelry from things most people never thought to make things with.

via Etsy

5. What’s your best seller? Jewelry made with recycled materials. It solves the mining metals issue, saves products to be reused.

via Etsy

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island? Since 1987, when I attended RISD

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island? I like the community, though it always changes, it is small and easy to jump around in a reasonable time. Also, the buildings are beautiful.

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add: My posters of historical buildings in Rhode Island are now being sold at "Picture This"

via Etsy

Events ~ Providence Children's Film Festival ~ Feb. 16-21

2012-02-12T13:49:00.000-05:00

Providence Children's Film Festival
February 16-21
Various locales in Providence, Rhode Island

From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, Rhode Island by nelights

Rob Rinkel, circa 1986, "Gas Chambers". Almost non-existant spot anymore due to shifting sands over the years. by robert.rinkel

Great Egret Male by R Joanne

Providence skyline at night by boliyou (I {heart} Rhody)

Ye olde I-Way by provbenson2009

Waterfire 1 by WMH Photos

Barrington Town Hall by robtm2010

Pizzico, Hope Street by GoProvidenceRI

Night Sky Jamestown by E Godfrey

101 of 111 by doubleagent

DAP_2133 by Dave Amadio Photography

Conimicut Point, Warwick, RI by dadofliz

Scattered Sky by Carly Sabatino

Golden Days of Summer by BarbaraS2009

IMG_2658.2 by Amy Martira Photography

BARRINGTON,RI SNOW by jambori39

Outback by markv20

Jamestown Bridge by kobrienjewelry

Providence by Jerri Moon Cantone

Untitled by jpsphoto

Events ~ Sugarbird Bakery Grand Dessert Tasting ~ Providence ~ Feb. 23

2012-02-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

Centro Restaurant
1 West Exchange St.
Providence, RHode Island
February 23, 2012 6-9:00 pm
Tickets: $30.00
401-764-0406
info@sugarbirdbakery.com

From their press release:

SUGARBIRD PRESENTS: A GRAND DESSERT TASTING

Sugarbird Bakery, located at 2842 Hartford Avenue in Johnston, Rhode Island will host a gluten free dessert tasting event on Thursday, February, 23rd 2012 from 6-9:00pm. The event will be held at Centro Restaurant in the Providence Westin at One West Exchange Street, Providence, Rhode Island. Featured musical entertainment will be The Bloom-Colangelo Trio, playing live jazz.

Sugarbird Bakery will present selections from its vast dessert menu focusing on the classic, small-batch sweets that focus on quality ingredients and elegant presentation. Menu items will include gourmet cookies, tarts, and cakes in both exotic and traditional flavor profiles, including Lavender Cupcakes, Limoncello Shortbread, Chocolate Torte with Pistachio Dacquoise, and Heirloom Almond Biscotti. Sugarbird Bakery is a 100% gluten free bakery that operates in a completely gluten free facility.

The Bloom-Colangelo Trio will perform throughout the evening, featuring local music notables Eric Bloom and Mauro Colangelo. Flowers and table displays will be presented by Flowers by Semia. Photography is courtesy of Maximilliane Schinabeck of Mauzi Photography.

This event requires ticket purchase. Tickets, which include a complimentary glass of wine or Prosecco are $30.00 each and are available by calling 401-764-0406 or by email info@sugarbirdbakery.com.

Artists ~ Jaclyn Altieri Murphy

2012-02-08T10:43:00.000-05:00

Artist’s name: Jaclyn Altieri Murphy
Business name: LuniacStyle
Location: Rhode Island
Etsy shop: www.luniacstyle.etsy.com

Website: www.luniacstyle.com

Blog: www.luniacstyle.wordpress.com

Twitter: Luniacstyle
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Luniac-Style-Accessories-for-Fabulous-Women/96726...

Google Plus: n/a
Pinterest: Jaclyn Murphy

1. Tell us about your work – My business is focused on making the world a little more colorful, fun and unique. I hand make all of the jewelry and accessories in my shop. Each piece is made with love and with the intention to make women stand out and feel amazing.

via Etsy

2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter? I have always been in love with creating, and keeping my hands busy. Luniacstyle came about because it was something I “needed” to do and not just something I really liked to do. I was a social worker for 8 years and loved it, but I felt like I was always looking for something else. I wanted to take my craft to the next level but wasn’t quite sure how. I took a leap a little over a year ago, and went full fledge into jewelry and accessory creating. It’s literally been a dream come true.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration? I get inspiration from the colorful world we live in. The passion I have inside that drives me to keep pushing, and keep creating. Music, celebrity icons (I LOVE BEYONCE AND JAY Z), and dreams coming true. My dreams of living the life I want to live versus the life I felt I had to live (this is probably the BIGGEST motivator of all)!

via Etsy

4. What’s your favorite item to make? I go through phases. But currently I am completely in LOVE with making my mix and match Turbands. I love the fabric choices of different patterns, and bright happy colors.

via Etsy

5. What’s your best seller? It depends. This also goes in phases. My rings are a great seller, and people seem to really love them. But currently and especially at Style Week Providence, my turbands were a huge hit!

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island? I’ve lived and Rhode Island for most of my life, with a few short stints of leaving to live in Boston for college, and St. Thomas (USVI) (because I wanted to live in a summertime climate all year round.

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island? I love the summertime in RI. I love the Italian food, the amazing history and culture here, my family, and being able to be just a few short minutes away from any place you want to be. Besides the wintertime, Rhode Island is by far the most amazing place to live.

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add: DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. Persevere, persevere, persevere!!!
xo
Jaclyn

From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Castle Hill Lighthouse by nelights

Standing guard by robert.rinkel

Great Egret Male by R Joanne

toes by boliyou (I {heart} Rhody)

Untitled by provbenson2009

Cherry Hallworth House by robtm2010

Lighthouse (Mike Dooley) by mike_dooley

The Rhode Island State House -The Rapture by BlueisCoool

night shooting 12-27-11 030 by Carly Sabatino

USA - Rhode Island - Newport by Chris&Steve

Watch Hill Sunset by kylenolin

Untitled by jpsphoto

Slater Mill - Pawtucket, Rhode Island by Jewishfan

Pleasant Surprise on Thayer Street by GoProvidenceRI

Fish Ladder Construction by cyberastrofolkie

Waterfire 2 by WMH Photos

IMG_2585.2 by Amy Martira Photography

The Hope Mill by Mike St. Jean

Potowomut Sunrise by mediaguy4

HDR image of THE WAVE statue on America's Cup Avenue by RI PhotoMan

Crescent Park Carousel by siriusthinking

279 by S-400

Caricature by wildiris

Rocky Point pier by Wilks2010

Dining ~ The ROI ~ Providence

2012-02-02T17:00:00.000-05:00

The ROI
150 Chestnut St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 272-2161

C and I actually ended up at the ROI on the wrong night. We'd intended to go to the Grand Opening on Thursday, but I'd written it on my calendar for Wednesday. It was a lucky bit of chance that they were open. We nearly had the place to ourselves, which I don't expect will be possible in the future.

The service was excellent: attentive and knowledgeable, willing to answer questions and go to find out what she didn't know. She was formal and friendly at the same time.

Chef Paul Shire stopped by the table a couple of times. He's very enthusiastic about his new place, and even tempted us with a couple of excellent appetizers.

I'm getting ahead of myself. The meal started with fresh bread (white and raisin nut), still warm from the oven, including grilled pita with a creamy cucumber/dill dip.

I was quite excited to see pecan crusted chicken fingers on the appetizers menu, since it's a particular favorite of mine. C and I split an order.

The chicken fingers were fresh and very tender. They were more bland than I'd hoped, with the pecan ground very fine and hard to make out in the rest of the coating. The blackberry glaze, though, was a nice accompaniment.

Chef stopped by with another couple of hors d'ouevres for us to try.

The grilled mozzarella was delicious. So much fresher and creamier than the typical mozzarella sticks. It was served over a fresh marinara of plum tomatoes and fresh basil that really brought out the flavor of both. C said it tasted like homemade.

The photo of the other appetizer - fire-grilled large shrimp with pesto - didn't come out. But they were delicious, just the same.

For dinner, C ordered the signature meatloaf with mashed potatoes and Jack Daniels gravy.

Normally she prefers a beef-based gravy, but she enjoyed the Jack Daniels gravy and didn't feel that it overpowered the meatloaf. She liked the consistency of the meatloaf, feeling it was neither too crumbly nor too gummy.

She liked that the mashed potatoes had the skins of the red potatoes left on. I tried both, and the potatoes were creamy delicious. The meatloaf had a good flavor, and it appeared that it had been sliced and then cooked. Bear also tried both (we brought home leftovers.) She devoured the mashed potatoes in an instant and asked for more. For Bear, the meatloaf went more slowly, but she enjoyed it just the same.

I tried the ROI salad, which is spinach with pecans, dried cranberries, goat cheese and cider vinaigrette.

It was delicious. Whole pecans and spinach added crunch, the cranberries and goat cheese added tartness and chewiness. A perfect combination. When C and I switched plates so we could try each others' meals, I had a hard time getting my salad back.

The portion sizes were perfect: neither skimpy nor oversized.

The atmosphere was also very nice. There's a stage for live music, nice lighting and some interesting architectural features, including an old elevator door that used to be used in the building.

I just love the mural on the back wall. I didn't get a picture of it, and have to swipe one from ROI's site, but it makes a great impact.

We had a great experience at ROI, and will recommend it for guests and anyone asking for a recommendation. In fact, I already have.

Dining ~ Cheeseboy ~ Providence

2012-02-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Cheeseboy
Providence Place Mall
Food Court
1 Providence Place
Providence, RI.
(401) 383-9294

Normally we don't review restaurants that are part of a chain, or headquartered outside Rhode Island, however we were approached by Cheeseboy to post about their fundraiser for Hole in the Wall camps. The fundraiser coincided with the opening of their only store in Rhode Island, at Providence Place.

I had a phone interview with Michael Inwald, the president and founder of Cheeseboy, because like a lot of people I had to wonder, "Why grilled cheese?"

"I'm a cheese fanatic," he told me, and went on to describe how he started making grilled cheese for himself, and then as an easy, inexpensive and delicious offering for guests when he was in college and just starting out. He played with combinations of cheeses and toppings, and his sandwiches were very popular with friends and family. With their encouragement, and his newly-minuted Master's degree, Michael opened up his first shop.

When I asked him what brought him to Rhode Island, he was very enthusiastic. He spends a lot of time traveling through Rhode Island for work, and has family in the area. "I love Providence, and its food culture. Our customers come from all walks of life, and Providence epitomizes New England's cultural diversity." He's currently looking for franchisees and exploring adding more stores in Providence and Warwick, saying that he and his employees are passionate about food and hospitality. That passion definitely comes across in his voice.

When I asked him what his favorite grilled cheese sandwich is, it was hard for him to decide, although he ultimately settled on the classic of his youth: tomato basil on Italian breed with creamy white cheese.

C and I went to the store at Providence Place, and found that, even at 8:30 it was active.

The staff was friendly, happy to let us take pictures and to answer our questions. The cooking area was open and clean, even at the end of the day, and it was clear that they stay on top of it. Bear loved the color and layout of the store.

I ordered a Healthy Melt (that's multigrain bread with light Swiss, roasted red pepper and spinach), minus the red pepper. C got the make your own with Cabot cheddar on Italian bread. Turnaround time was quick, and we had our food in just a couple of minutes.

They arrived in these mini-pizza boxes. I was happy to see that they weren't Styrofoam or plastic. C, who is more knowledgeable about all things green and sustainable, was concerned about the likelihood of their being recycled or composted. Few people are willing to take home items for recycling. It would be cool if there was a station to discard empty boxes for shredding and composting, but I imagine it would be a sanitary issue as well as a cost issue. Honestly, I wish more restaurants and stores would look into the sustainability of their carry-out containers, but that's a rant for another day, and nothing to do with Cheeseboy in particular.

We both enjoyed our sandwiches. C's Cabot cheddar was nice and sharp. C also got a moon pie, which she enjoyed. I liked what the spinach brought to the sandwich, and the multigrain bread is excellent. I wished the cheese were a bit more sharp, and would love to see avocado as a topping option.

It was a good experience, and we'd suggest it to anyone looking for fast, comfort food at the mall.

Artists ~ Ed King ~ Bristol

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Artist’s name: Ed King
Business name: 02809 Photography by Ed King
Location: Bristol, Rhode Island
Etsy shop: 02809Photo www.etsy.com/shop/02809photo
Website: 02809photo.com/
Blog: 02809photo.com/blog/
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/02809Photo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/02809Photography
Google Plus: plus.google.com/111584384391407513657/about?hl=en
Pinterest: N/A

1. Tell us about your work – I’m a very active photographer with a special passion for seascape and long exposure photography. I especially enjoy capturing the light and emotion of the first light of the day, in all the sunrises I have witnessed, there has never been a carbon copy making each image truly unique.

via 02809 Photography on Etsy

2. How did you come to be a professional photographer? I’m self taught and I continue to learn and explore in and out of the camera, I have also had the support of my peers from all over the world thanks to social networking both at the hobby and pro level. My hobby became a quick passion and after having many requests for prints early on I was motivated to start 02809 Photography by Ed King.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration? At one time I would look at images from across the world and think about traveling to faraway lands to capture stunning images. Then one morning shooting the sunrise in Jamestown it hit me that I am so lucky to live in an area with so much diversity as New England.; the coastal areas, mountains within a short drive and historic towns that dot the coast perfect for a day tripper and multi-day adventures. I’m also motivated and inspired by an old friend and fellow photographer Frank Grace of Trig Photography. Frank and I were childhood friends who lost contact for 20 years or so, when we finally connected again we both realized we had each developed a love of photography and we have since become active shooting partners and inspiring each other to chase that perfect picture.

4. What’s your favorite thing to photograph? I would have to say New England lighthouses; right now especially I have really been focusing on my lighthouse images. These can be as easy as a short drive to Newport or my most recent winter five mile hike to across a sandy beach to the Race Point Lighthouse.

via 02809 photography on Facebook

5. What’s your best seller? “Good Morning Newport” This image was a turning point in my seascapes and from there I have developed my own take on seascape photography.

via 02809 Photography on Etsy

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island? I have been living in Rhode Island since my wife Karen and I first got married in 1990.

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island? The history and traditions, the beaches and Narragansett Bay!

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add: In 2011 I’ve had a great year and was presented the opportunity to share my photography with others through several gallery events including being juried for “Artists for Save the Bay” show this past December. I’m interested in looking at other opportunities and possibly working with a gallery or another outlet within the state.

Events ~ Northeast International Auto Show ~ Providence ~ Feb. 2-5

2012-01-31T17:00:00.000-05:00

Northeast International Auto Show

February 2 - 5, 2012
Rhode Island Convention Center
1 Sabin St.
Providence, Rhode Island

From their press release:

"Attendees can get a jump-start on researching their next new vehicle purchase at the Northeast International Auto Show. Several exciting all-new or redesigned vehicles will be making their auto show debuts including the Acura TL, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Sonic, Dodge Charger, FIAT 500, Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry and more. The auto show offers even more vehicles for car lovers to check out this year with nine additional brands on display, including BMW, FIAT, Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche, smart and Volvo. Showgoers can even get a sneak peek of vehicles not yet in dealerships, including the pre-production 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and 2013 Ford Taurus. With so many new vehicles to survey, the auto show is the ideal place to try these on for size.
New this year, the auto show will showcase the 40+ MPG Club, featuring vehicles that offer the fuel-saving advantage and capability of reaching 40 miles (or more) per gallon on the highway. Manufacturers planning to have 40+ mpg models on display include Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Nissan, smart, Toyota and Volkswagen. To find these fuel-sipping vehicles, look for the 40+ MPG Club badges along the auto show highway carpet.

Attendees will want to check out the Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car on display. This car is powered by a V8 Boss Engine that produces 8,000 horsepower and can go 0 to 100 MPH in just 0.8 seconds! Also, don’t miss the autograph appearance by the driver of this fast machine, Bob Tasca III. He will be signing FREE autographs on Friday, February 3, between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Attendees are not guaranteed to see driver during advertised hours."

Events ~ Style Week Providence ~ Providence

2012-01-30T22:26:00.000-05:00

Style Week Providence
Providence Biltmore
Jan. 22-28, 2012

Style Week Providence was a fascinating and fun look into the upcoming couture and ready-to-wear styles coming up for Winter/Spring of 2012. There were hundreds of people milling around in L'Apogee, atop the Providence Biltmore.

Bear and I attended three days of the seven-day event, and we were impressed (and sometimes a little intimidated) by the fashions, not only on the runway, but in the crowd. It was everything we'd imagined a fashion show might be, from the tall, slender women dressed all in black, to the avant-garde jewelry and clothes that swirled through the halls and among the vendors in the Accessories Showcase. I felt every extra pound.

There was wine everywhere, as well as Vitamin Water Zero (a sponsor). I did learn that the XXX and Spark are both pretty good. The rest... eh.

Our time at the shows was limited due to Bear's midterms the same week - you'd think Providence school district would schedule their midterms around Style Week... but no.

Nevertheless, we were able to see some very nice runway shows:

Sunday night we saw Jess Abernethy's "Alpine Dream" collection. It seemed to be targeted to the apres-ski set, and all the models wore white earmuffs.

Tuesday was a very special show called SEED, where design students from local schools got to compete for prizes including cash, an installation at another show and publicity from Style Week.

From the Style Week Providence site: "Students were asked to support that theme by exploring recycled and sustainable fashion."

The entries were conceptual, and as you might imagine, unique.

I think this was my favorite. The model seemed exceptionally tall, and I think was probably on high platforms. The back detail is wonderful, too.

I also got a kick out of this one.

Naturally, some of the contestants took the term "recycled" quite literally, and we saw clothes made of magazines, empty juice packs, garbage bags and so forth.

I found this one the most intriguing. The top is made of folded newspaper, and the skirt appears to be a kitchen trash bag with grocery bag flowers.

But for Bear the star of the show was this number. Apparently the judges felt the same way, because it took home the prize for the evening. If you're wondering, yes that's an industrial mop and clothes pins.

Thursday night I was back by myself (darn those midterms!), so I was able to stay for all three shows of the evening.

First up was Karen Sabag. She had a line of evening and wedding gowns that was just dazzling. The dresses were flirty and feminine, but the biggest reactions of the walk were for a barely-there red lace number with a flounce at the waist

via EastBayRI.com

and a fluffy skirted wedding dress with a crystal beaded bodice.

via EastBayRI.com

Click through for larger pictures. You'll especially want to see the fascinator (blusher?) on the bride. It's stunning.

Next was Candice Wu, with a collection that was definitely edgier, with lots of leather and black, and focused on day wear.

I really liked this outfit, especially the OD green shirt.

She also had a lovely gown that played in the same style, with the leather gloves and jacket toughening up the soft falls of fabric.

The look carried through to the straps and buckles on the back of the jacket.

Last, but not least, was Chances R, by designer Toni Lyn Spaziano. I'd gotten to meet with Toni before the show and was eager to see her designs.

Most of it was daywear, with a definite vintage sensibility. I could see inspiration from the mid-century in the suits and dresses. The color scheme was mostly black and white.

I thought it was charming that a couple of her designs included age-appropriate matching dresses for girls.

Her eveningwear added some green, metallics and feathers.

Prior to and between shows was the Accessories Showcase (by Blue Suede), a collection of accessories vendors from around the area. Bear and I talked to most of them, and are looking forward to featuring their work individually.

We had a great time at Style Week, and hope we get the opportunity to go again this summer, when the 2013 Spring/Summer fashions will be showcased.

From the I {heart{ Rhody Flickr group

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Conimicut Lighthouse by nelights

Slash! Off the top of a cold NE wave. by robert.rinkel

Sailboat at Sunset by BarbaraS2009

Creative Billboards Providence R.I. by BlueisCoool

Turk's Head building by boliyou (I {heart} Rhody)

After the Storm 2 by Amy Martira Photography

ceiling at l'artisan bakery in wayland square by kobrienjewelry

Incoming V.2 by kylenolin

melon by M4D1

Winter Sunrise by mediaguy4

From a Guy's Yard in E. Providence, Rhode Island #11 by MyDay247

Fancy upshot by nat_19901

I-Way project by provbenson2009

Dr. Eugene M. & Jane S. Nelson House by robtm2010

Thanksgiving Sunrise by Royston_Kane

Newport, Rhode Island by Šarūnas Burdulis

Crescent Park Carousel by siriusthinking

View from Castle Hill Inn by sobodda

Rhode Island by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region

Calligraphy by wildiris

Dining ~ The Square Peg ~ Warren

2012-01-26T15:33:00.001-05:00

The Square Peg
51 Miller St.
Warren, Rhode Island

We read on Yelp that The Square Peg had just opened, and were excited to give it a try. It got good recommendations.

Bear, C and I stopped in after our trip to Blue Suede, since they're not far apart. The first thing we noticed about it was the smartly dressed fire hydrant outside. It was so cute! The restaurant looked similarly charming.

Once we went in, we quickly chose one of the window seats, enjoying the novelty. There's not a lot to see in this part of Warren - chiefly residential - but it was fun to sit by the window with the fairy lights.

The menu is fairly limited. It's soup and sandwiches for lunch and dinner, plus brunches.

Bear ordered her favorite: a Reuben, and C and I each got a cheeseburger.

Bear was happy with her sandwich, but didn't note that it was anything special.

Likewise, C and I found our cheeseburgers to be fine, but not out of the ordinary.

We did really like the atmosphere, though. The place is clean and the service is prompt. We'd likely go back to try brunch if we're in the area. Parking is a bit of an issue, though, so be prepared to walk up an appetite, and walk off your meal.

Artists ~ David Dadekian

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Artist’s name: David Dadekian
Shop name: David Dadekian Photography & Eat Drink RI
Website: http://www.dadekianphoto.com/
Blog: http://www.eatdrinkri.com/

Twitter: @dadekian
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dadekian

1. Tell us about your work
My work is two-fold, one part is “traditional” photography: weddings, portraits, commercial imaging interiors, products, etc.) and some art sales. The other part is culinary which includes photography along
with writing (and now some personal chef work and cooking education).

"Turk's Head and Glass"

2. How did you come to be a professional artist?
I always tended toward the arts. I made short films in high school and did some writing, then I went to NYU film school where I really focused on writing and the visual end of things (and film music too). Around 1990 I was doing a lot of still photography and some of my mother’s clients (she was an art consultant for RI businesses and homes) would ask her for local photography. She would show some of my photos and they sold well to lots of law offices, accountants, banks, etc. It was never enough to live on, but it was a nice supplemental income for many years. Then in 2003 I went at it full time when I invested in a very good (at the time!) digital camera and weddings became a joy instead of a chore with film. As for the writing end of
things, I’ve always written and been published. Some years were very good. Some were very lean. I’m back to very good at the moment!

3. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I’d like to say it’s easy if I’m excited by the subject, but let’s be honest, not every subject is inspiring. I am fortunate enough to say the vast majority of them are. Even when I’m photographing a bathroom my clients tend to be contractors who make these amazing bathrooms that are bigger than my house so it’s kind of fun and inspiring.

Weddings are always fun because they are a big, beautiful party (thankfully I’ve never had any terrible brides). The food work is easy to be inspired by. My wife Brenda gives me a lot of inspiration as well. Mostly the inverse inspiration of realism when I’m trying to do some crazy work, which is VERY helpful.

4. What’s your favorite item to photograph?
That’s a super tough question. I think the best answer is people at work cooking. I like the food and all, but there’s rarely anything radically new whereas the actual cooking always turns up new things. I also still love doing landscape art work. I have tons of photos from around the world that rarely get seen. I need to change that.

"Monument Valley Tree"

5. What’s your best seller?
I always laugh at this question because truthfully, to me, it’s the most boring stuff. Usually lighthouses or standard Providence or Newport views sell really well. I had a client once, a buyer at a big law firm in one of the high rises in downtown Providence, who asked me if I had anything outside of RI. I was very excited because no RI business ever asks for that. I brought in a ton of photos from the American southwest (Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, etc.), the partners came in and all of them wanted my Providence cityscape photos. It’s good to sell, but it’s a little disappointing people don’t stretch a bit.

"Ireland"

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I was born here in 1971, moved to NYC in 1989 and then moved back here in 2003. I spent a bit more time here as I bounced around jobs in L.A., Massachusetts and NY in ’94 so it’s kind of hard to put a number on it. But I think I’m a lifer now (though I would live in Ireland if I could!).

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
Clearly the food and the whole culinary community. It’s a spectacularly helpful and innovative culinary environment here. Some of that has to with the size of the state and that we can get anything anywhere in around an hour or less, but the people are just wonderful. I also have always appreciated RI’s diversity. I remember when I moved to NY as a freshman at NYU and I met people at school from around the country, I was always surprised when they had never met anyone Armenian or Jewish or in some cases any race from Asia. Having grown up in RI I just always assumed the melting pot was all around everyone in this country and it wasn't.

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
I think it’s so great that you, Erika, a non-native, has embraced RI as much as you have. It’s a quirky place! Thank you!

Dining ~ Ichiban ~ Cranston

2012-01-24T11:46:00.002-05:00

Ichiban
146 Gansett Ave.
Cranston, Rhode Island
(401) 432-7220

Our first experience at Ichiban was when a server nearly bowled us over as she came barrelling out of the restaurant to chase down a couple of women who had forgotten their leftovers. It gave us a hint about the service that was right on target.

Very shortly after we were seated, we were presented with an array of appetizers.

Our server was happy to name and explain each one for us. Since I'm not very knowledgeable about Japanese or Korean food, it was very helpful. From left to right, you see fish cake, black beans, kimchi and pickled cucumber.

Not being a fan of fish, I didn't expect to care for the fish cakes, but we all really liked them. They were served cold, and were firm, not falling apart as they sometimes do. The black beans were a bit sweet, and al dente. It was our first experience with kimchi. Bear found it too spicy, and C doesn't care for cabbage. I thought it was okay, kind of earthy and not as spicy as I'd expected, which was a win for me. The pickled cucumber was spicy but sweet, and very fresh - like a fresh-made pickle with a bite to it. It may have been my favorite of the offerings.

For our appetizer we ordered shumai, agedashi tofu and edamame.
The shumai was sweet, with a salty dipping sauce. Bear and I both thought it was good.
The agedashi tofu came with a creamy sauce that was surprisingly delicate. C, who is an afficionado, declared it good. She liked that the sauce was served on the side and allowed her to soak the tofu. She rated it 8 out of 10.

We ordered hot tea, which looked pale and tasted weak and earthy to us. It smelled vaguely of rice. When we asked the server about it, she explained that it was barley tea, which immediately made more sense. We did enjoy it, once we stopped expecting it to take like black tea.

Our entrees arrived after much dithering on my part, and a lot of help from our waitress, who recommended a couple of dishes for the Korean food newbie.

Bear likes sushi, and was delighted with her choice of California Sunshine: crab and avocado sushi with strawberries, kiwi and sweet orange sauce over it. She said the ingredients were very fresh, and the presentation was nice. She was so enthusiastic she said it was a dish she'd order all the time.

Even so, she showed a lot of interest in C's dinner, spider roll and spicy tuna. C particularly liked the spider roll. The spicy tuna's sauce was different from what she was used to, and it took her a bit to adapt, but she ended up enjoying that as well.

I tried the bulgogi, which is a kind of Korean barbecued beef. It has a sweetish sauce that's more of an au jus than the traditional thick sauce I normally think of. It came mixed with carrots, broccoli and scallions. All of us tried it and we all thought it was very good.

Did I mention the service was fantastic? That extends to when I left my camera there for a week and a half, and they had it there waiting for me when I finally realized where I'd left it.

Shop local ~ Blue Suede ~ Warren

2012-01-23T10:06:00.001-05:00

Blue Suede
91C Main St.
Warren, Rhode Island

Blink and you'll miss it, especially at night. What you're most likely to notice as you're driving down Main Street in Warren is the Samsonite sign. Blue Suede is right there.

But there's no missing what's inside: a whirl of women's accessories - glittering jewelry, fun and funky boots, bags, shirts, scarves. Everything is selected with a careful and talented eye by the shop owner, Dixie.

Bear, C and I went there during Blue Suede's "Renew Yourself" event, so they also had other vendors, including spas, massage and yoga, catering, sweets and a color expert. We looked and sampled, but we kept getting pulled back to Blue Suede's own selection.

As you can see, the event drew quite a crowd. Everyone raved about the shop, as well as the event. Bear, C and I, who all have very different tastes in fashion, were all able to find several things that we loved there.

The item that really caught my eye was this peacock necklace. It also has matching earrings. I don't know where I'd wear it, but I want it like mad! Attention future boyfriends: you have been warned.

Music ~ Local Lights ~ Providence

2012-01-21T17:37:00.001-05:00

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://locallights.bandcamp.com/track/providence"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Providence by Local Lights&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Enjoy!

From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

Beachhouse on Atlantic Beach by Perpetual Twilight Photography

Great Egret Male by R Joanne

Wedding Del's by red army photography

Reflection of light at sunset by robert.rinkel

Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse & Mount Hope Bridge, Rhode Island by nelights

First Unitarian Church by boliyou (I {heart} Rhody)

From a Guy's Yard in E. Providence, Rhode Island #7 by MyDay247

MOON OVER WARWICK by as_jim_seez_it

NewYears 2011-92 by Carly75

A swan in the fall by cdsisti

Naragansett Cat Boat by hbp_pix

Sunset in Newport, Rhode Island by McSnappy

Trinity Church Pumpkinfest by ADKsunflower

Fisherville Sunrise, Exeter, RI by Royston_Kane

Crescent Park Carousel by siriusthinking

View from Castle Hill Inn by sobodda

Newport Harbor, Newport, Rhode Island, United States by Swissrock

Boyd's Grist Mill by Will 46 and 2

Events ~ Fundraiser for Hole in the Wall Camps ~ Providence ~ Jan. 22, 2012

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Fundraiser for Hole in the Wall Camps
Cheeseboy: Grilled Cheese to Go
Food court, Providence Place Mall
Providence, Rhode Island
January 22, 2012

Cheeseboy: Grilled Cheese To Go recently opened a new location in the Providence Place Mall. To celebrate, they're hosting a fundraiser at the new location to support the Association of Hole in the Wall
Camps, an international organization that provides year-round camp experiences to children with chronic and life-threatening conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, AIDS, sickle-cell disease, motor-neuron diseases and many other medical conditions.

Cheeseboy will donate 100 percent of the restaurant’s sales on Jan. 22, along with customer donations, to
the camps.

It sounds like a worthwhile event, and I'm sure Bear, C and I will stop in.

Art/Food ~ AngeLfood Beautiful Cakes and Cookies ~ Providence

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

Artist’s name: Mary Morgan
Business name: Angelfood Beautiful Cakes and Cookies
Location: Providence, RI
Etsy shop: www.angelfood.etsy.com
Facebook: Angelfood Beautiful Cakes and Cookies

1. Tell us about your work: I am an artist, but I have always enjoyed working with sugar and fondant, too! I have been decorating cakes and cookies since I was about ten years old.

via Etsy

2. How did you come to be a professional baker? I was a personal chef, and I also made many cakes and cookies for friends and relatives...they kept telling me I should have my own cake business, so I started Angelfood.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration? I love organic designs, like flowers leaves and vines. I also like architectural and fashion details and use those as well. As far as cake flavors, I am always experimenting with different combinations of cake, fillings and frostings!

via Etsy

4. What’s your favorite item to make? My favorite thing is when someone requests something I have never made before! I enjoy the challenge, and I really love it when the customer is so pleasantly surprised at what I came up with!

5. What’s your best seller? I'd have to say my Wedding Monogram cookies, and also the Yo Gabba Gabba cookies. Kids must really love that show!

via Etsy

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island? I have lived here for almost nine years.

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island? I love it here!! It is so beautiful, and it really is amazing how many different landscapes and microcosms there are. You can easily go from laid-back beach mode, to hipster city life, to rustic country living. I love it!

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add: I raise and care for my own free-range chickens, and use their eggs in my baking. We compost and have a huge vegetable garden every year. I sincerely hope that the "locavore" movement continues to grow, and that people realize how important and valuable it is to support local farmers and artisans.