I {heart} Rhody

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.

Sights ~ Clemence-Irons House ~ Johnston

2012-01-16T14:37:00.004-05:00

Clemence-Irons House
38 George Waterman Rd.
Johnston, Rhode Island

Situated smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood, on a main thoroughfare, is the house museum Clemence-Irons house, one of the oldest extant houses in Rhode Island. Bear and I took a tour last summer.

The house was built in 1691 by Richard Clemence, and is one of the few "stone enders" of that era that are still standing today. Stone enders are unique to Rhode Island, but the style originated with settlers from western England. The architectural style is defined by one wall being entirely comprised of a stone chimney.

The land was first purchased by Thomas Clemence in 1654, from a Native American named Wissawyamake. What started as an eight-acre parcel expanded to more than 110 acres by the time the house was built.

According to Historic New England, the current owner of the house:

"...the most popular theory, and the basis of the later restoration, was that it was built as a story-and-a-half structure with a rear lean-to, a large stone-end chimney, topped with a steep gable roof. Four small rooms (great room, kitchen, principal chamber, and smaller chamber) were located on the first floor, with a cellar below and a garret chamber above."

The house was sold to the Angell family, and then the Sweets-Irons family, with a lot of modifications to its original layout before it was finally sold to the Sharpe family. By this time, the land parcel, which had expanded to about 300 acres over the years, had been subdivided until the house stood on less than one acre.

In 1938 the Sharpes hired restoration expert Norman Ishman to bring the house back to its original form. Restoration lasted until 1947. It turns out that some of their efforts were been inaccurate, and the house is now used as a sort of timeline of changing restoration knowledge.

Our guide pointed out some of the errors that were visible inside the building, and allowed us to explore, but there is no photography allowed inside. We also learned that some of the restorative work is now hard to distinguish from what was already there.

Bear was completely charmed by the place and declared that she'd like to live in it. I think she'd have to make some major changes (indoor plumbing, electricity and insulation, to name a few) before it would be really comfortable, but who am I to argue with teenage romanticism?

The house is only open one day a month from June - October, so check the site and plan ahead or you'll miss it.

From the I {heart} Rhody Flickr group

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

After the Storm 1 by Amy Martira Photography

Smoke on the Water by BarbaraS2009

The Rhode Island State House by BlueisCoool

"Bridge #875 by (I {heart} Rhody)

Cindy's Diner by caitsherly

Watch Hill Lighthouse by cyberastrofolkie

Bristol Boats by dadofliz

58 of 111 by doubleagent

Falls by Dragonfly Island

IMG_6102 by E Godfrey

Pleasant Surprise on Thayer Street by GoProvidenceRI

Occupy Providence by italiangerry

Rocks by Jerri Moon Cantone

Edge of the lake by jpsphoto

102711_6 by jwessel

DSC_0811 by kacy johnson

Sakonnet Lighthouse, Rhode Island by nelights

DSC_0216.jpg by Phishyleo1

Westerly Boat Dock Sunset 2 by Perpetual Twilight Photography

Fall at the Lake by RIRed1

Sunrise at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge byRoyston_Kane

Rhody artists ~ Kary Miksis ~ Portsmouth

2012-01-12T11:37:00.001-05:00

Artist’s name: Kary Miksis
Business name: The Knotty Sheep
Location: Portsmouth
Etsy shop: The Knotty Sheep
Website: www.theknottysheep.com
Blog: www.sheepatthebeachartstudio.blogspot.com/
Twitter: The Knotty Sheep
Facebook: The Knotty Sheep
Google Plus: n/a

1. Tell us about your work : Well ... I am a Creative Spirit who dabbles in a few different mediums. I spin wool & other fibers into yarn; knit pretty things & paint lovely pictures - although, the painting/drawing has been on the back burner for a bit.

via

2. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter?: I am still in the process of becoming one! I have been drawing & knitting since I was a child. The spinning came into being several years ago. I am self taught and love the tactile nature of it all.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration? My dogs! I am totally devoted to them and all rescues.

4. What’s your favorite item to make? I don't have any particular thing ... I want to make it all!

via

5. What’s your best seller? My "Kitchen Sink Battz" ! This is wool that I have handblended with other fun things .... glitz, silk, cotton, etc. Totally for those spinners who long for a one of a kind item!

via

6. How long have you been in Rhode Island? My husband & I purchased a cottage several years ago & after a recent renovation - we are here!

7. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island? Having close access to the sea. What a blessing to be able to enjoy its beauty in an instant!

8. Please include anything else you’d like to add: I believe that people are beginning to crave individuality. I think that they are tired of being told what to wear / what to own - how to dress / how to decorate. Supporting artists has become more important to folks in recent years .... people want to know where their merchandise comes from.

Events ~ Cookies for Kids' Cancer Bake Sale ~ Cranston

2012-01-11T15:57:00.000-05:00

Free Family Fun Day &
Cookies for Kids' Cancer Bake Sale
41 Comstock Parkway
Cranston, Rhode Island
Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012
2:30 - 4:30 pm

image: Macaroni Kid

Macaroni Kid and Dream Big Gymnastics have partnered to provide a free family fun day, highlighted with a bake sale and raffle to benefit Cookies for Kids' Cancer.

From their site:

"There will also raffle items from local businesses, all proceeds will go to Cookies for Kids' Cancer!

Kids and adults can run around and play in the gym (for FREE)! They have balance beams, bars to swing on, rings, a giant swing, a trampoline and much more! You can check out the fitness classes for the adults too.
Be sure to come hungry, there will be LOTS of yummy baked goods for sale! We will also have some some other snacks courtesy of popchips and Zevia!"

You can just show up, or register at their Facebook page.

Dining ~ Jacky's Galaxie ~ North Providence

2012-01-11T11:21:00.002-05:00

Jacky's Galaxie and Sushi Bar
1449 Mineral Spring Avenue
North Providence, Rhode Island

I met a friend up at Jacky's Galaxie and Sushi Bar. It's a pretty place, with painted windows and art on the walls.

The menu was pretty extensive, going beyond the thick cloth-covered book our server gave us, and onto the placemats, which are illustrated various types of sushi.

Our server seemed a bit irritable, but she was quick and attentive through most of the meal.

My friend ordered a Cosmo, and gave me a sip. He declared it "refreshing," with a strong cranberry taste that packed a punch, and thoroughly enjoyed it. My one sip tasted like cough syrup, but I'd never tried a cosmo before, and it could be that it's just not my drink.

We ordered beef with Thai basil and lemon chicken, along with a side of pork fried brown rice (which our server suggested after we dithered over white, fried or brown).

The meal was served family-style and the quantity of food surprised both of us. Either entree would have been enough to feed both of us, and perhaps even a third person, and that's not counting the rice.

The beef and Thai basil was good. Spicy, but not overwhelmingly so. I'm not really a fan of spicy food, but I was able to eat and enjoy it without issue. My friend pointed out that the spice "brings out the caramelized saltiness and fragrance of the beef." It's in the same vein as Mongolian Beef, apparently, but more subtly seasoned.

The lemon chicken was very good. The crisp crumb coating was probably Panko. It held its own against the sweet and tart flavor of the sauce, which was well-seasoned and featured enough lemon to live up to its name. Several pieces of chicken were stacked on the plate, and the sauce was poured over, meaning the pieces on the bottom spent the most time in the sauce. A lesson if you like the sauce, is take from the bottom, up.

We opted for pork fried brown rice, because he wanted fried, and I wanted brown rice, so we got fried brown rice. The pork was middle ground, too. He had beef, I had chicken for entrees, so we split the difference and decided have pork in the rice. Unfortunately, it just didn't stand up to the entrees. The flavor was rather bland and unremarkable.

Once we received our meal, we were more or less on our own. Our server stopped by, but once my beverage was empty, I didn't see her again until she came to clear the table. By then we were ready to order tea, so it was moot.

The tea was good, a basic black tea you'd find in many Asian restaurants. Very hot, but with a strong flavor that would stand up to sweetener if you wanted it.

There were enough leftovers that I was able to take home a meal's worth to the girls (and that was just the chicken). C enjoyed it, but Bear was unimpressed. She's not a fan of either chicken or lemon. Nevertheless, it was gone within an hour.

I'd certainly go back to Galaxie, and the girls seemed interested in going, too. There are several locations around Rhode Island, but the one we visited on Mineral Spring is the original.

Food ~ Joey's Sweets and More

2012-01-10T08:40:00.003-05:00

Joey's Sweets and More
by Joey Richard

Hidden in a rather depressing little flea market off Bald Hill Ave. in Warwick is an impressive treat: Joey's Sweets and More

Joey, an enthusiastic and talkative young man, was eager to show off his various sweets. It was an impressive array of chocolate-dipped potato chips, strawberries, etc.

Sadly, my jumpy little camera phone doesn't do them justice. Joey also informed us that he makes a very popular chocolate-covered bacon strips. I was intrigued.

Around the other side of his display, he had a nice selection of truffles. We bought a half-dozen in different flavors to give them a try.

Joey explained that his truffles are a mixture of cake and ganache, so they aren't meltaway, but extremely moist. We tried a half-dozen.

The chocolate covered strawberry truffle, according to C, was "only okay."

Both C and the Bear agreed that the Red Velvet truffle was even better than a cupcake (saying a lot in Bear's case), and that if they could eat a cupcake's worth of truffles, it would be perfect.

The Brownie Delight was perfect. Exactly the right amount of chocolate, excellent texture. The clear favorite for all of us.

The Birthday Cake truffle was good, but as C put it, she'd rather have actual birthday cake.

The Chocoholic truffle was very good, however we preferred the Brownie. We felt it had a truer chocolate taste. Chocoholic I think is a darker chocolate, with chocolate chips in it as well.

Peanut Butter Surprise was excellent. A nice chocolate truffle with a nugget of peanut butter in the center.

We really liked the truffles, and would certainly have them again.

Joey does catering, and is interested in expanding into farmer's markets and so forth, so expect to see him around Rhode Island. And if you do, try some truffles.