ridaily - What's On

2009-11-20

The Twilight Obsession

When I first heard about the Twilight saga a  year and a half ago, I at first felt a little squeamish. The idea of a vampire love story sounded childish , so I deflected the novel’s enticing advances. However, in the fall of 2008, my friends convinced me to see the film version of the first novel. While watching the amateurish special effects, I was lured into the story of a curious young girl who is swept off her feet by an introverted classmate...who may or may not be human. Fascinated by the story, I picked up a Twilight book, opened to page 1 and did not put it down. I begged people to read along to share my experience. Then, I soon began to understand that Twilight and its sequels are not really books about vampires, so much as about obsessive yet chaste love. No wonder they're a sensation, echoing as they do other romances in our theatrical history: Romeo & Juliet and Jack & Rose come to mind.
So here I am, a year later, a Twilight fanatic. I'm not the only one. The just-released Twilight sequel New Moon has smashed Fandango’s advanced ticket selling history, beating out Stars Wars Episode III,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Dark Knight, respectively. Romance beating out blockbusters...somewhere, my high school films teacher is having a laugh about this one. Love does conquer all.
I'm going to see it this weekend, so stay tuned for an update early next week!

 
 

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2009-11-16

Shooting Star

This is the last week for Trinity Rep's current production, a short, two-person play clumsily titled Shooting Star. Don't hold the name against it. If you're at all interested in theater - even if you're not -  this is the one to see. It's the kind of production that proves the whole point of theater - that a good play, done well, makes for a much richer experience than any movie, even 3-D IMAX.
Set in Trinity's smaller downstairs theater, with a sparse set that evokes a deserted, snow-bound airport terminal, the intimate production tells the story of former college sweethearts who collide back into each other's lives while trapped at stopovers during a winter storm. A slightly shaky start soon revs up into a play so involving that I could have sat on those folding chairs all night. When it ended, my companion - not exactly a theater buff - immediately declared his willingness to see it again. I would, but with only eight peformances left, it seems greedy. Everyone should get to see this play. Or at least, everyone older than 30 or so - the play is full of references to the 70s, as well as the poignancy of change and broken connections to the ones we love, all of which might fall flat for younger viewers.
The play is by Steven Dietz, whom I'd never heard of before but is apparently a prolific modern playwright, and the two actors who comfortably command the stage for the 80-minute production are a real-life married couple, Kurt Rhoads and Nance Williamson. The show's directed by Fred Sullivan Jr, whose productions are ones to watch. (For instance, he directed Much Ado About Nothing, about to return to the Gamm, which far outshines its companion Shakespearean production, Romeo and Juliet, also staged at the Gamm and directed by Tony Estrella.) Sullivan's pacing and the two actors' chemistry make for belly laughs and tears, while Williamson, in particular, is captivating. From the moment her character takes the stage, we were completely engrossed in getting to know her. It was well worth the time.
 

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2009-11-12

(Farmers') Market Watch

The Wintertime Farmers’ Market in Pawtucket started last weekend. I didn’t make it over there –– did you? –– but I plan on stopping by this weekend. According to the website, apples, squash, greens and root vegetables are all ripe for the picking, along with the usual locally made cheeses, eggs, maple syrup and baked goods. And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s the perfect excuse to go and start stocking up for the big feast.

For a complete list of vendors, click here.  

Wintertime Farmers’ Market, Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket. Market open Saturdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through May 29.
 

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2009-11-02

Still Spooky

I know Halloween's over, but I didn't get a single trick or treater, so I feel cheated. And while I was walking around downtown Providence Saturday night, I saw a group of people clustered around an old building on Benefit Street who looked like they were having a fun time. I asked around, and i guess they were doing this.
I live in the area and I've been hearing from neighbors that apparently everyone knows about the see-through guy who walks down Benefit. In fact, you're not really a resident until you've seen him. So, even if Mischief Night is over, I'm still thinking ghosts. And I'm going to give myself the best chance of success by finding out more about my otherworldly neighbors from an actual expert. I'm signing up for one of the remaining tours; they stop running in a couple of weeks. At $12 a head, I'm thinking bargain ghost nirvana.

Posted at 11:35 AM in What's On | Permalink | Comments

2009-10-26

Jack O Lanterns

The pumpkin thing at the zoo really is amazing.
I went last Friday, and it's definitely worth getting there early (or going late, post-kiddie bedtime). And being prepared for being in a long line (it actually prepped me for a NYC trip the next day - thanks all you other people who went Friday at 6 p.m.! You made the line at the Shake Shack on Sunday afternoon seem like a walk in Central Park).
There was so much to see, from pop stars to famous writers, from the victims of the Summer of Celebrity Death 2009 to headless horsemen and trompe l'oeil landscapes, all set around the zoo's freshwater pond walkway with music and lights reflected in the water. Magical. It's over this Sunday, Nov. 1, so put on your coat and hat and get down there. Thousands of pumpkins can't be wrong.

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2009-10-23

Halloween Happenings

Celebrate the scary season with these spooky upcoming events.

Festival Ballet Providence The Widow’s Broom                                                                                      

Providence author-illustrator Chris Van Allsburg’s books “Jumanji” and “The Polar Express” have been made into blockbuster films, of course. What most people don’t know is that his “The Widow’s Broom” was transformed into a ballet by choreographer Viktor Plotnikov. Festival Ballet performs it just three times, with a pre-show “Spellbound Soiree,” including lunch, face painting and reading of the book, slated for October 31. The Details: Oct 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.; Nov. 1 at 2:30 p.m. $20-$65. VMA Arts and Cultural Center, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, 421-ARTS (tickets), 353-1129, www.festivalballet.com.

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2009-10-22

Primetime With a RI Twist

I was flipping through channels the other night when a scene on the Discovery Channel caught my eye. It looked awfully familiar, and I realized I wasn’t imagining things: I had stumbled across “Lobstermen,” a new documentary-style show in the same vein as “Deadliest Catch” with (almost) as much drama. But making this show even more intriguing than the one that follows Alaskan king crabbers is that it chronicles the trials and tribulations –– lost traps, sand flea infestations, etc. –– of lobstermen based out of ports in Hyannis, Mass., and Point Judith, RI. Currently, the plot centers on the vet lobstermen fending off the new guys as they try to infringe on territory off George’s Bank in the North Atlantic that their families have been lobstering for generations. It’s a unique perspective on how those crustaceans we enjoy so much with drawn butter go from sea to table. 
 

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2009-10-20

Drop And Give Me Ten

I’ve been working on a short weight loss piece for our (post-holiday-binge) January issue that centers around all things self improvement. While weight loss issues obviously come in all shapes and sizes, I’m most interested in shedding that dreaded last ten (or perhaps fifteen) pounds. To guide our readers through the process, I’ve enlisted the help of Dr. Vincent Pera; he’s the top guy at the Miriam’s Weight Management Program, so I can ensure you that this piece is not going to be about any of those crazy fad diets (all set with the grapefruit). His approach is totally practical and goal oriented and he deals with the issue from both physical and behavioral angles.

I’m not going to give away any secrets – you’ll have to spring for the January issue. But I will tell you that yes, it is actually, factually harder to lose that last ten pounds; it’s not just in your head. So go ahead, eat that fruitcake, toss back the bubbly. When all the merriment has ended, we’ll have a plan to drop ten lbs in ten weeks (hint: that’s a healthy goal).

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2009-10-19

Let's Shabu

I've been hearing about a  new Japanese restaurant that's near my new work digs and serves hot pot, and serendipitously, it's where Connect Providence is meeting this month. Prescription for fun! On a Wednesday night, no less.
Ebisu is the name of the restaurant, at 38 Pontiac Ave in South Providence near the Cranston line. It's the brainchild of three former Haruki employees, including a chef with Japenese and French training. They offer shabu shabu, a way of cooking your food at your own table in a big pot of steaming broth, as well as kushiyaki (yummy things on skewers), noodles, tempura, and lots of sake and interesting sounding sake cocktails. Everything but the (sushi) roll, in fact. I think I can live with that.
Connect Providence, with its usual spot-on foodie instincts (co-organizer Mike Ritz recently started Rhody Food Tours), is holding its monthly meetup there this Wednesday, October 21, from 6 - 8 p.m. There'll be free food and a cash bar. Sounds groovy.

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2009-10-15

One last look at the dating trenches

The last installment of quotes from real singles about what it's like to be out there, in Rhode Island, dating.

From an early 30s female doctor: In the 30 to 40 age group, most people are having kids.

From a 50-year-old divorcee: I really don’t know where to go to meet people. I have a lot of friends in the same situation. We don’t want to go to bars.

From a late-20s teacher: I grew up here. You go out and see the same people all the time and if I didn’t like them in high school, I’m not going to like them now.

From a 30-year-old sales assistant: One guy, on a third date, asked “Can I have some sugar?” That’s far more training than I have time for.

From a mid-30s education professional: I have a good job, a house, no debt. I want to meet someone who brings the same things to the table I do. It’s a small pool to choose from.

From a female doctor: I don’t think guys my age really want an independent, successful woman.

From a male doctor: Unfortunately my schedule doesn’t allow me to get to New York City very often –– it’s so much more happening there, and more multi-cultural.

From a late-30s male real estate developer: I’ve been here since 1989 and there are a lot more jobs and reasons for people to stay now.

From a 22-year-old bartender: Why would I pay money to go on a website and maybe hook up with a girl when I can pay money for drinks at a bar and maybe hook up? At least I know I’ll get the drinks.

From a college student: Rhode Island is such a small state. If I’m interested in a particular female I can easily find out her friends and entire dating history.

From an early-30s banker: The average age of the person I’m dating is often younger (currently 19). I don’t think professional women my age are looking in the same places as me.

From a late 30s male professional: I met a guy online and we dated for two and a half years; it was a good experience. But meeting in person in much easier and more comfortable –– the eye contact, that assurance of knowing who you’re dealing with.

From an early 40s photographer: With my career, it’ll be ten years before I can have kids, so I tend to look for younger women. And you know what I think? Yoga classes. The best relationship I’ve had, I met her in yoga class.
 

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