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2012-02-02Rob Gronkowski, How Do We Love Thee? Let Us Count the Ways.
As we approach the Super Bowl, we are hoping and praying for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's speedy recovery from an ankle injury so that he can play in the big game this Sunday, which will be his first. Although he was not able to practice with the team yesterday, word on the street is they're working on a specialized shoe for him to wear on game day. One of the most charismatic players on the Patriots, Gronk never fails to let his true personality shine through, and that is why he is so well loved. From the frightening full-body somersault that landed him on his neck (but he still scored the touchdown!) to his extreme-velocity spikes and his famous line—“Yo soy fiesta”—translated to “I am the party” in Spanish—following the Patriots win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game, everything Gronk says and does has become news. What’s not to love about the guy? He risks everything for his team, always giving 120 percent. He holds the record for most touchdown receptions by a tight end in a single NFL season. Though he may have gotten himself in some hot water earlier in the season, he did so in a way that was still hilarious and endearing. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite articles, videos and photo tributes. Let Gronk be Gronk. And please let Gronk be okay for game day! 1. This Boston.com video tributes Gronk by changing the lyrics of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock” to “I Wanna Gronk.” They teamed up with thinkforward and the band New Hong Kong to get New Englanders pumped for the big game.
2. This awesome video sets Gronk’s touchdowns and spikes to the tune of the 1812 Overture.
3. This fun photo of the “Make Way for Ducklings” bronze statues in the Boston Public Garden has gotten people saying “Make Way for Gronklings.” Photo via Twitter/@BostonTweet
4. Pats fan Erich Pobatschnig of Old Port Jingles in Portland, Maine, wrote this fantastically bad rap song, and created a parody video to go with it. Here’s one great line from the song; ” 6 foot 6 he's never been in any danger, even though 3 years ago he was a teenager.” 5. Even New York's a Gronk fan. Yesterday's New York Times article "Science of the Spike" paid tribute to the Gronk by measuring the velocity of his explosive spikes. Ironically, the post-touchdown display first became popularized by former Giants player Homer Jones, who is believed to be the first guy ever to do it in 1965. It's only fitting that a Patriots player has brought the spike back into vogue this season. Posted at 12:36 PM in ridaily State of Mine | Permalink | Comments |
2012-02-01RISD Students Help Design Embassy Sculpture
Ten RISD students have spent the winter in Rhode Island, learning about Moroccan culture and art. They're participating in a studio course at the school called "Art in Embassies: Morocco," where they're helping visiting artist and RISD alum Jim Drain come up with a design for a large-scale outdoor sculpture that will eventually adorn the outside of a new United States Embassy in Rabat, Morocco. The project is being funded in part by RISD alum Lisa Pevaroff, whose own work is currently on display in the U.S. embassy in Montenegro, according to RISD spokeswoman Jaime Marland. The sculpture is scheduled to debut at a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United States State Department on Nov. 30 in Washington D.C. Then it will be shipped to Morocco, once the new embassy is completed. Check out the class's work here:
Posted at 12:11 PM in ridaily State of Mine | Permalink | Comments |
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2012-01-31Arcade Revival
The Westminster Arcade in downtown Providence has sat vacant since 2008. I know I’m not the only person who wondered why. A grand, imposing Greek Revival structure, the Arcade — best known as the oldest shopping mall in the country — was one of many local businesses that couldn’t fight the economic downturn in 2008. Renovations were planned, but didn’t go through. It’s not like the Arcade just shuttered its doors and faded into the recession landscape. Prefaced by a vacant slab of concrete (a rarity in downtown Providence), the Arcade is one of the first buildings to greet walkers, bikers, drivers and bus riders entering onto Westminster Street from Memorial, setting a grim tone for a still-flourishing downtown way. Since its closure in 2008, the Arcade also made its way onto the Providence Preservation Society's "Ten Most Endangered Properties in Providence" list. There were talks of reconfiguring the space for a single tenant, and that idea landed the Arcade on the Preservation Society's list for three consecutive years. According to the 2011 report, "the integrity of the interior space, especially the public corridor, will be severely jeopardized" should the space be reconfigured for a single tenant. But out of the blue, all that changed: Last week, Evan Granoff of Westminster Street Associates announced plans for a $7 million renovation of the Arcade, which was recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1976. "It will be called the Arcade Providence and it will be a historic revival," Granoff said on January 25. "This historic revival will create an Arcade community, increase the energy in the heart of downtown, help drive business to surrounding retailers, attract new retail and restaurants and bring micro-loft residents into downtown to live, eat and shop. And it begins today.” Wait. What’s a micro-loft? Granoff announced that, in addition to new retail spaces, the re-branded Arcade Providence will host forty-eight micro-lofts on the second and third floors. The majority of the apartments will range from 225 to 270 square feet in size, and will be completely furnished with built-in beds, storage and seating. Rents will start at the cut-rate price of $550 per month, including utilities.
Not that I bunk at the Breakers or anything, but 225 to 270 square feet seems a bit tight. In my quest for layouts of tiny apartments online (and the people who inhabit them), I stumbled upon this fun blog, thetinylife.com, To the right is an actual floor plan for one of the Arcade's third floor micro-lofts. My fascination with tiny spaces aside, the new and improved Arcade will also boast fourteen small and mid-sized shops and eateries, with at least one restaurant offering outdoor seating in the warmer months. The Arcade renovations are projected to finish by August, with doors opening to the public in early fall. Who’s excited? For more information on the project, visit arcadeprovidence.com. To add your name to the micro-loft waiting list, email microlofts@arcadeprovidence.com. Posted at 12:30 PM in ridaily Shopper | Permalink | Comments |
2012-01-30StyleWeek Day 7: Yellow Clover by Sarah Prost, Peach Carr and Ben Chmura
StyleWeek Providence's final presentations on Saturday evening spotlighted some of the most notable talent of the week, including fashion shows by two "Project Runway" alums. The vibe of each show could not have been more different, as the night kicked off with everyday girly wear by Yellow Clover by Sarah Prost, followed by sporty looks by Peach Carr, and finally, extraterrestrial fashion by Ben Chmura. A video below features snippets from Carr's and Chmura's shows.
More information about the designers: Yellow Clover by Sarah Prost The women’s sportswear featured in Prost’s “An Ageless Reflection” show included the type of clothing any woman of any age could wear. The dresses were soft and flirty, incorporating fabrics like silk and boiled wool, chiffon and silk chiffon. Dresses and skirts featured calming colors of dark blues, charcoals and whites with splashes of bright blues and greens. Prost also incorporated vintage glass buttons into her ready-to-wear designs.
Photos taken by Todd Lee Photography. For more information about the designer, go to yellow-clover.com. Peach Carr You may recognize Peach Carr from “Project Runway: Season 8.” For her StyleWeek show, the spunky designer crafted sporty looks for which any woman could easily go from a workout to lunch with the gals. Fun dresses, tanks and skirts in black, white, gray and hot pink incorporated bike shorts underneath so that athletic women do not have to sacrifice feminine style at the gym, track, tennis court or golf course. The looks can be paired with cowboy boots and heels just as easily as with sneakers. I loved how her show incorporated women of all shapes and sizes. Some of the models wearing tennis wear also walked the runway with rackets and casts to show off broken arms. Proud of their hard-won injuries, these women strutted the catwalk with confidence and style.
Photos taken by Hilary B. Photography. For more information about the designer, go to peachcarrdesigns.com. Ben Chmura “Project Runway: Season 7" featured the designs of Ben Chmura. His StyleWeek Providence “NIBIRU” show was of another planet. The atmosphere made audience members imagine that a UFO had landed on the runway, and that aliens were taking over the models' bodies. Chmura's streamlined contemporary sportswear featured dark purples, blacks, charcoals and blues, but the models' faces were covered with full face masks and eerie black sunglasses, or they wore dark hoods to mask their identities. The music’s intensity spellbound the audience as the extraterrestrials showed off Chmura’s work.
Photos taken by Hilary B. Photography. For more information about the designer, go to benchmura.com. Check out a video on Peach Carr’s and Ben Chmura’s runway shows.
Posted at 03:04 PM in ridaily Off the Rack | Permalink | Comments |
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2012-01-28StyleWeek Day 6: More Photos from Karla Marie, Brianna Moon and Harpy by Jen Greeke Shows
Here are some more close-up runway shots of the Karla Marie, Brianna Moon and Harpy by Jen Greeke shows, taken by talented photographer Hilary Block of Hilary B. Photography. Thank you Hilary! Karla Marie "FROZE in KHAOS"The designer’s Froze in Khaos collection tells a story of a winter wonderland and ends with a finale of fiery reds.
Brianna Moon "Navigation"The 1940's and aviation inspired Brianna’s Navigation collection. Learn more about Brianna at briannamoondesigns.tumblr.com.
Harpy by Jen Greeke "Double Eagle"Jennifer found inspiration in the classic golf styles and casual wear of the late 1930’s. Go to harpyfashion.com to see more of Jennifer’s work.
For more information about the designers, go to StyleWeekProvidence.com. Posted at 03:24 PM in ridaily Shopper State of Mine | Permalink | Comments |
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2012-01-28StyleWeek Day 6: Karla Marie, Brianna Moon and Harpy by Jen Greeke
The second to last night of StyleWeek Providence featured a mix of whimsical and wearable styles. Attendees were transported from a winter wonderland before heading back in time to the 1930s and 1940s. And unlike some collections where the theme can be too literal and weigh down the looks, the styles in Friday night's lineup used fun details to get across the message without taking it too far. The night opened with FROZE in KHAOS by Karla Marie. The winter-inspired collection incorporated metallic fabrics, sequins and frothy tulle to add an icy note to the flirty dresses. Sparkly snow in the models' hair and covering the shoes was a sweet touch to looks that eventually morphed into fiery red as they neared the end of the line-up (perhaps a nod to the approach of Valentine's Day?) But perhaps most impressive was the designer's age. At just 21, Karla Marie has yet to graduate from URI, where she's majoring in textiles, fashion merchandising and design. With such a successful debut, it's safe to say there will be many more collections in her future.
Next up was Brianna Moon's Navigation collection. Looks ranged from the sweet (pencil skirts, fascinators, and muffs) to the sexy (ultra-short pin-up-style shorts). The 1940s influence was obvious, but it was given a modern twist in the form of lots of leather. Moon also drew inspiration from the aviation craze of that period, outfitting some of the models in bomber-esque jackets and goggles. Her final look was a gorgeous ivory dress covered in delicate rosettes and trailing several long pieces of fabric from the shoulders. It was a dramatic and beautiful finish.
Capping off the night was the Double Eagle collection for Jen Greeke's Harpy line. A nod to 1930s golf-wear, plaids were featured prominently, as were sheer blouses and drop-waist pleated skirts. Models walked in stacked heel, tasseled shoes that only added to the mens' wear vibe. It was a collection that any fashion-forward working woman would love to have in her closet.
Tonight's shows conclude StyleWeek Autumn/Winter 2012. The line-up includes Sarah Prost and Project Runway alums Peach Carr and Ben Chmura. |
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2012-01-27StyleWeek Day 5: Karen Sabag, Candice Wu and Toni Lyn Spaziano
Last night’s Providence StyleWeek shows featured something for everyone. From curve-hugging evening dresses and bigger than life ball gowns to military meets biker-girl designs and “Mad Men”-like looks, each show had a personality of its own. Karen SabagIf I were lucky enough to attend the Oscars, I would choose one of these gowns by Karen Sabag (top row). Her evening wear ranged from hip-hugging crystal beaded dresses to the show-stopping wedding ball gown, which had layers and layers of ruffles and a gemstone-embellished corset-like bodice. The runway transformed into a wedding aisle as the model glided across the stage; every onlooker worshipped its beauty. I said I’d get married again (to my current husband, of course), just to wear the dress pictured in the middle of the bottom row.
Candice Wu "Esoteric"For the bad girl in all of us, there’s Candice Wu’s “Esoteric” line. She featured black faux leather leggings with mesh cutouts around the thighs and calves for which showing a little skin becomes a fashion statement. I loved how she paired edgy elements with buttoned-up military-inspired coats and furry boots. Again juxtaposing gentle and tough elements, she teamed one black and tan chiffon gown with a structured leather bolero vest and leather gloves that stretched past the elbows, which would be perfect for a bridesmaid gone badass.
Chances R by Toni Lyn SpazianoNow this is a line I can see myself wearing on a daily basis, since I am a nine-to-five gal, working in an office setting. Spaziano's line featured professional looks in tweed, wool and lace with a soft and sexy vibe. Pencil skirts, bow blouses, shift dresses and blazers channeled Chanel and Tory Burch. She even included two endearing “mommy and me” looks that gave her show a fun and carefree feel, so as not to take ourselves too seriously. The looks are ageless and they’re flattering to all shapes and sizes. Spaziano also featured evening wear in emerald green, adorned with black feathers. My favorite is the short blue and black feather cocktail dress.
After last night's show, I attended the post event at the Biltmore's L'Apogee, where I got the chance to chat with Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen from "The Real Housewives of New York," who came in from the Big Apple to support Providence StyleWeek. McCord met StyleWeek founder and President Rosanna Ortiz Sinel at New York Fashion Week, and now she comes to the events to support her work and the city of Providence. The couple plans to visit restaurants all over the city this weekend, so be on the lookout! Tonight's show will feature an accessory showcase presented by Blue Suede (free and open to the public), a fashion installation by Marchesa, and runway shows by Karla Marie, Brianna Moon and Harpy by Jennifer Greeke. Visit styleweekprovidence.com for more information. Posted at 01:23 PM in ridaily State of Mine | Permalink | Comments |
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2012-01-26StyleWeek Day 4: Out-of-this-world Designs Rock the Runway
Designers Nicole Lebreux and Marcel Plante took fashion buffs back in time and to faraway lands at StyleWeek Providence Wednesday night. Egyptian pottery inspired Lebreux’s Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, and the influence was evident in the playful geometric lines and zigzags on each piece. Not only are her designs complex, but they look incredibly comfortable; Lebreux makes use of organic-knit fabric and zipper-free designs. While the entire collection is flirty and ready-to-wear, here are a few of our runway favorites:
Marcel Plante’s collection, “Doll Boys,” crosses gender boundaries with special-occasion works of fashion/art hewed from silks and animal skins. According to his designer bio, Plante channeled the underworld culture of Weimar Berlin (1920–1933) for his Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. His muses were the drag queens, performance artists and androgynes who lived for the period’s glittering nightlife. Here are some of Plante’s remarkable designs, which received a standing ovation during the final walk:
Tonight’s show will feature an accessory showcase presented by Blue Suede (free and open to the public), a fashion installation by Emily Muller, and runway shows by Karen Sabag, Candice Wu and Toni Lyn Spaziano. Following the show, “Real Housewives of New York City” stars Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen will host a cocktail event. Visit styleweekprovidence.com for more information. Posted at 01:05 PM in ridaily Off the Rack | Permalink | Comments |
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2012-01-26RIM's Pets Feature: The Ultimate Guide to Unconditional Love
Pick up the issue on newsstands or download the issue to learn more about our pet-friendly state. Here's a web-extra article to give you an idea of what's in the issue. Pet-Friendly Bookstores If you’re a bookworm, there’s a good chance your dog might be one, too. Several bookstores throughout the state permit owners to browse the stacks with pets. Barrington Books loves to see pups pop in for a visit. Some customers even end up bringing home a new friend — a pet frog — as a tank displays the little critters for sale in the store. 184 County Rd., Barrington, 245-7925, barringtonbooks.com Books on the Square has been dog-friendly for twenty years. About a dozen drop by daily, including several “usuals,” like one staff-favorite shih tzu named Buster, who is a hit with kids. 471 Angell St., Providence, 331-9097, booksq.com Kingston Hill Book Store owner Allison B. Goodsell has a dog of her own. She puts a water bowl out front and says that dogs are welcome inside if they’re well-behaved.
2528 Kingstown Rd., Kingston, 792-8662, abgbooks.com
All Ears Grab a copy of Trouble at Betts Pets and its sequel Canaries and Criminals by Rhode Island author Kelly Easton so kids can read to animal pals at home.
Posted at 10:10 AM in ridaily State of Mine | Permalink | Comments |
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2012-01-25The Fancy Feet At StyleWeek Providence
Do you linger over displays of stilettos even though you already have a closet full of shoes? Or do you just love someone who does? An array of shoes have been on display both on the runway at StyleWeek Providence and among show attendees. We asked people who attended the show Tuesday night about their fabulous footwear. Here's what they had to say:
StyleWeek Providence continues tonight with shows by designers Nicole Lebreaux and Marcel Plante. Posted at 04:27 PM in ridaily Off the Rack | Permalink | Comments |
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which offers near-endless examples of pint-sized homes and apartments, many of which fall within the Arcade micro-loft square footage.
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The February issue of Rhode Island Monthly features a pet guide called "The Ultimate Guide to Unconditional Love." The article covers everything from pawticures and puppy birthday parties to customized collars and mobile vets. And if you're looking to adopt animals, Rhode Island is also packed with possibilities. Plus, we have the top vets in our area as voted by their peers.
