ridaily - August 2009
2009-08-31SchoolSitting at my desk, I'm literally sick with nerves. It's that familiar old mix of dread and anticipation. Will I be smart enough? Will I make friends? Will life still feel safe and good when so much is going to change? No, I'm not going anywhere. My daughter is. She starts kindergarten this week. The orientation is this afternoon. Wish us luck!And in my defense, while all this probably sounds like a pathetic case of projection, there's new stuff ahead for both of us. I know that the Providence public school system is going to take some navigating on my part as well as hers - I've already experienced a few bumps, from the intake process to simply getting information from the right person. The school she'll be attending is one of the better ones, but it's still going to take some... |
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2009-08-28Stress TestFeeling tense? It’s no wonder: We’re living in the fourth most stressful area in America, at least according to Forbes’ recently released rankings. Analysts looked at quality of life factors, such as cost of living, population density, air quality, median home price drop and even the number of sunny days per year to come up with the fact that apparently the livin’ is not easy here in PVD. The only areas that faired worse are Chicago, which ranked first again this year, Los Angeles and New York.Last year, the ranking wizards said Providence was only the ninth most stressful city. Not bad at all. But this year we’re tied for fourth with Cleveland. What accounts for the jump? Who knows, but we did notice Forbes and the Census Bureau... |
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2009-08-27If You Ever Said the East Bay Was Boring, Watch ThisLast week I blogged about a Brooklyn artist who was showing his love for Rhode Island in the form of paintings of Del’s lemonade. This week, I’d like to bring your attention to a little East Bay love in the form of this. It’s a YouTube video that’s making its way through Bristol and Warren (right now it has more than 6,400 views since its release on August 5). In it, two youngish looking guys rap their way through the towns’ businesses and landmarks. And while I don’t think they’ll be making waves on the Billboard charts anytime soon, I have to give it props for creativity and effort. It had to have taken hours to cover everything, and some of the lyrics (“You can go to Stop and Shop if you please, or you can shop at Seabra if you’re... |
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2009-08-26Getting Real: Top Chef EditionMy name is Sarah and I'm a reality show addict. Well, not entirely. I draw the line at "The Bachelor," and I've never seen an episode of "American Idol." But if it's food related, I'm there, glued to the tube. I've seen them all: "Iron Chef"; "Chopped." I even slogged through "The Restaurant," the short-lived NBC series starring Rocco DiSpirito and his nemeses/banker Jeffrey Chodorow that ended in litigation.Naturally, I'm watching the latest season of "Top Chef," which debuted last Wednesday on Bravo. This time we're in Vegas, because according to judge Tom Colicchio, Sin City is also the dining capital of the country, second only to New York (who knew). Last week we met the seventeen new contestants, including two brothers... |
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2009-08-25The Ten-Year ItchBy now you’ve noticed our snappy new logo on the cover of the September issue. Nothing against the old one, which we had for more than ten years, and which was nicely serviceable and solid and stalwartttttttt… sorry, I just totally fell asleep for a second. Anyway, with all the changes happening around here, we needed a logo with personality! Something with a little zip! So, we bid that old logo a fond farewell (“It’s not you, it’s us,” we said, tossing its suitcases into the parking lot) and waited to see what our art department would do next.There were a lot of meetings. A Logo Transition Team was dispatched to rid us of all traces of the ex-logo. We heard whisperings that a local type-design star had been hired to create our new look. Then... |
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2009-08-24Carpe AshesIt's two weeks until Labor Day, the bookend of summer (but hopefully the start of a good Indian summer this year, since we're kinda owed). And there's even less time - ten days - until school starts. The good news is that the weather forecast looks great. There's still plenty of baseball season left. And (talking of drawn-out and semi-incomprehensible summer sporting traditions) England just won the Ashes! If I were back there right now, I'd doubtless be in the pub, with several Pimms and a Ploughman's lunch in my future. But this is Rhode Island, so I'm going to celebrate with a nice cheap bottle of vinho verde and homemade lobster rolls at the Rustic. (It being moulting season in a year of bountiful lobster harvests, I got some soft-shell lobsters off a boat in Point Judith yesterday... |
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2009-08-21Market ResearchIt turns out, farmers’ markets are great places to discover fledgling local businesses along with those perfect peaches and salad-ready greens. Here are three recent finds. Stella Marie SoapWhat: Handcrafted, vegan-friendly soaps inspired by people, places and pop culture. There’s a Queen tribute soap, Killer Queen, with honey and eucalyptus, a streaky strawberry and cream scented ode to the movie Carrie, and a beachy geranium and tea tree oil spiked soap named Ocean State. Where: Soapmaker Kim Gonzaga sells suds on Friday afternoons at the Downtown Providence Farmers’ Market, and will set up shop in Lippitt Park when the Providence Open Market gets going again on Saturdays beginning September 12. http://stellamariesoap.com The... |
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2009-08-20Del's Me, BabyLately there’s been a lot of Etsy love going around the office (See: the July 2009 Current and the Style section in our upcoming October issue, featuring some necklaces by Etsy artisans). It’s a veritable playground for anyone who likes to make or own one-of-a-kind artwork, jewelry or clothing. Then a friend sent me a link to Etsyian John Tebeau’s page. A Brooklynite paying homage to Del’s? I had to know what was up. Turns out, Tebeau is not a Rhody transplant, like I originally assumed, just someone who straight-up loves our little state: “I’m in love with Rhode Island. Rhode Island beaches are the best around. The Hamptons?? Pfff. The Jersey Shore? Surely you jest, knave. Keep ‘em. I heart RI. And DEL’S...Man! As refreshing as it is... |
2009-08-19Palin Does Providence?WTF?http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/08/palin-moving-to.htmlInsert your own can't-see-Russia-from-Rhode-Island-remarks in the comment section. |
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2009-08-18Hawking A Better Shot of CoffeeWe get a lot of press releases, for all sorts of products. Most of which have nothing to do with Rhode Island. We also occasionally get cool free samples (thanks ecoTOOLS for the sustainable hand cream, and Ms. Pedicure for the DIY kit). Yesterday I got a release, actually a kit (sans free demo model, unfortunately), from Nespresso. It caught my eye for three reasons, one of which was not the sleep-inducing PR speak about “the newest offerings from the worldwide pioneer and market leader in highest-quality premium portioned coffee.” Yawn. My reasons? 1. I actually own — and heart — a Nespresso. 2. For a no-muss-no-fuss-insert-pod-and-push-button machine, it makes a shockingly good espresso with a perfect layer of crema, and 3. The photos of their new CitiZ line... |
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