Rhode Island

401 Fun: The best things to do in R.I. Sept. 20-27 – The Boston Globe

Published

2 years ago

September 19, 2024

401 Fun: The best things to do in R.I. Sept. 20-27 – The Boston Globe

My friends, it’s that weird week when we have one foot in summer, one foot in fall. As your loyal 401 Fun columnist I’ve hunted high and low for fun from both seasons: From a seafood fest and outdoor jazz, to a pumpkin trail and a Portuguese Oktoberfest (Oktobahfésta! It’s real.) Let’s go.

ONE PROVIDENCE PLACE: A MALL MUSICAL

Peak Rhode Island. The Providence Place Mall just keeps serving inspo. First, artists lived there. Then, a podcast about the artists. Then a documentary about them called “Secret Mall Apartment.” Now, a musical:

“One Providence Place: A Mall Musical” runs Sept. 19-29 at the AS220 Black Box Theater. According to billing: “Don’t expect this to be a straight-up retelling of the mall apartment saga. The folks behind this production… used the concept as a jumping off point” to talk about art, grief and family. $20. 95 Empire St. Providence. Details here and here.

NEWPORT JAZZ

BYO picnic to this Portsmouth vineyard to enjoy jazz from Kenya. Newport Live x Greenvale Vineyards Present “Aaron Rimbui: Jazz From Kenya” Sept. 20. Multi-instrumentalist and composer Harun Kimathi Rimbui, who was born in Nairobi, is regarded as one of the greatest pianists in East Africa, according to African newspaper Nation. $35. 7p.m. 582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth. Details here.

NEWPORT MANSIONS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

This annual Rhody staple is mostly sold out. But the festival also includes a series of wine dinners at participating restaurants Sept. 20 and 21. Details on those events here.

PORTUGUESE OKTOBAHFESTA

I love this so much. Head to Vigilant Brewing for their 3rd annual Oktobahfésta Celebration Sept. 21. Think beer, Portuguese food from Casa Tia Rosa food truck, malassadas, live music, and a Portuguese Azulejo Tile Painting Workshop. The ticketed event includes two tiles, lunch, dessert, and Vigilant beer. 44 Ballou Blvd., Bristol. Tile painting 2-4 p.m., $50. Otherwise free admission. Details here and here.

SOCCER TIME

Get your Ted Lasso on. The Ocean State’s pro men’s soccer team, Rhode Island FC, takes on FC Tulsa Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary. At Beirne Stadium at Bryant University. 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield. Details here.

DAVID SPADE

Whether you know him from “Tommy Boy,” “Grown Ups,” “Joe Dirt,” “Saturday Night Live”… you all know him. The comic plays PVD’s The Vets Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. From $45. 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence. Details here.

GETTIN’ SQUIDDY WITH IT

Saturday is the last day of summer, and fittingly, the Ocean State is closing the season with one last seafood fest: It’s squid time. The 7th Annual Rhode Island Calamari Festival in Narragansett is Sept. 21, and typically draws thousands from across southern New England to dig into 1,500 pounds of calamari, according to billing. Local restaurants compete for top honors and the “calamari crown” in three categories: Best Overall, Most Inventive, and Most Spirited Team, according to billing. (If you win the Calamari Crown, please send me a photo. I’m picturing golden tentacles.) Don’t like squid? Fear not: There will be food trucks. Adults $20 advance, $25 door. Free admission 12 and under. 35 Ocean Road, Narragansett. Details here.

LAST WATERFIRE OF SUMMER

It’s tradition, on the last day of summer, for Rhode Islanders to gather by river banks in Providence to light pyres. We’ve got a special WaterFire on Sept. 21.

As the daughter of two Rhody teachers, I love this: “WaterFire: A Salute to Rhode Island Educators,” includes an awards ceremony and torch procession honoring Rhody educators at Memorial Park at 4:30 p.m. At 6:40 p.m., some 90 District Teachers of the Year and educators will take part in the lighting ceremony.

Meanwhile, Washington Street Bridge will see “Robots on Fire” 5:30-10 p.m. Don’t be scared: it’s just 20+ robotics teams showing us their latest projects. Plus fire-spinning, stargazing, and more WaterFire Fun. Details here.

RHODE ISLAND HERITAGE FEST

Get to know your neighbors at the free-admission 46th Annual Rhode Island Heritage Fest Sept. 21 at the WaterFire Arts Center. Billed as a lively celebration of our state’s rich cultural heritage, expect culture, music, and dancing from around the world. Explore cultural exhibits, visual art, craft demonstrations, dance, music, and food trucks. It’s a jam-packed schedule, including a Puerto Rican drum group, a Bavarian folk dance group, Bollywood Dance, Rhode Island Black Storytellers, singing from the French American School of Rhode Island, dancing from the Colombian American Cultural Society, Swedish Folk Songs, Irish dancing, Korean harp, and much more. Plus face-painting, arts and crafts for kids. 475 Valley St., Providence. Details here and here.

HISTORIC HOMES

If you love historic homes, head to Bristol for the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society’s House Tour Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rain or shine event features 11 houses in downtown Bristol, according to billing. Shuttle vans will be available to take visitors to the homes. Advance tickets $45; day of $55 at 48 Court St. Details here.

BALLET IN THE PARK

Leap into fall — literally. Sept. 22 is the first day of fall, and Ballet RI is hosting a free day of dance at Roger Williams Park Temple to Music. According to billing, you can take an “open creative movement class at noon,” then watch a performance from the Ballet RI Company Dancers at the pet-friendly event. Plus local artists, vendors, and food trucks. Free. Noon to 3 p.m. 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Details here.

AUTUMN NIGHT MARKET

Rhode Island Night Market hosts an Autumn Marketplace Sept. 26, 6-9 p.m., at the Event Factory in Warwick. Hit up a local artisan makers market, with full bar, music, line dancing, paint and sip, giveaways and more. The first 100 attendees receive a $5 Dunkin’ card, according to their Insta. Free entry. 144 Metro Center Blvd. Details here.

HOPOSIUM: BEERS OF OKTOBERFEST

You think you know beer? Hop-heads, School yourself for Oktoberfest season and head to Westerly’s United for “Hoposium: Oktoberfest & Festive Fall Brews” Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Hosted by master beer judge Max Finnance, you’ll explore seasonal beers like pumpkin ales, and learn more about the history of the world’s biggest beer festival. (I think I can get an A in this class.) 21+ Tickets include “3-4 beer tastings.” $32. 5 Canal St., Westerly. Details here.

LAST FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY

Say it ain’t so! Summer truly is over when the last of the food trucks in Roger Williams Park migrate to their winter homes. The final #FoodTruckFriday is Sept. 27. Bring a chair or blanket and soak up live tunes from local artists, jump on the carousel, or hop the train ride. Free admission; pay for what you eat. 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Details here.

PUMPKIN TRIVIA TRAIL

What WaterFire is to Rhody summer, Roger Williams Park Zoo Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular is to Rhody fall — part of our customs and rituals. Yes, my friends, it’s time to see thousands of pumpkins as the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular returns Sept. 27. This year’s theme: “Trivia Edition.” Show off your trivia knowledge as you wander through the display filled with thousands of carved pumpkins. Open nightly 6-10:30 p.m. Online purchase only. Mondays through Thursdays: $19 adult, $16 child (babies 1 and under free). Fridays through Sundays: $22 adult, $19 child. 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Details here.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: ONGOING FUN

MAIZE MAZE: Escobar Farm’s Corn Maze is now open for the season. Dare to escape Portsmouth’s maize maze. Plus concessions and hayrides. Adults $10, ages 4-10 $8. Under 3 free. 255 Middle Road, Portsmouth. Details here.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?: It’s apple-picking season, baby. From Jaswell’s Farm, to Steere Orchard in Apple Valley, it’s time to skip the supermarket and pick your own treats. Obviously, check online before you hit up any farms — Mother Nature is in charge here — but I rounded up some Ocean State orchards for apples, cider, doughnuts, pumpkins and peaches here.

BIG BEAUTIFUL BAMBOO BIRDS: You’ve heard of the Charlestown trolls — now there’s the big beautiful birds of Bristol. Noted artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein are talented artists in their own right. When they team up, they are The Myth Makers, and they’ve created big beautiful bamboo birds at the 33-acre Blithewold estate in Bristol. Each bird ranges from 15 to 30 feet tall, and each has a story to tell. Free to see with admission through next summer. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. General admission for adults, $22, ages 11-16 $11; children ages 6-10 $6; ages 0-5 free. 101 Ferry Road. Details here.

BROWN’S ART WALKING TOURS: Brown University now offers free public art walking tours led by Brown students every weekend. Learn about Brown’s public art collection with a 40-minute student-curated tour, exploring six works of art. All tours are outdoors, rain or shine. No registration required. Meet up at 1 p.m. On Saturdays, meet at the Eli Harvey sculpture, Bronze Bruno, on the College Green (79 Waterman St.) On Sundays, meet at Tom Friedman’s Circle Dance, on the Campus Walk. Tours run weekends through Nov. 17. Map and all details here.

FOOD AND ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR: Food, art, and architecture come together for Downcity Providence Food Tours, noon to 3:30 p.m., on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through November. Get an insider’s view of creative and lively Providence during a tour lasting more than three hours over 1.7 miles. Discover some of the city’s award-winning restaurants, its hidden art and historic architecture. Tickets $76-$94 per person. 1 Ship St., Providence. Details here.

Until next week, Rhody: Keep rockin.’

Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1.

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Rhode Island

R.I. grandparents fighting for visits with 4-year-old granddaughter rest their case – The Boston Globe

Published

5 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

R.I. grandparents fighting for visits with 4-year-old granddaughter rest their case – The Boston Globe

Naso’s in-laws, Dr. Siavash Ghoreishi and Dr. Jila Khorsand, took him to Family Court in July 2024, three months after their daughter, Shahrzad “Sherry” Naso, died from metastasized breast cancer.

Naso had refused to let them see Laila, their only grandchild of their only daughter, saying he wasn’t comfortable with their behavior and was alarmed by their medical care of Sherry and Laila.

Scott Naso and his daughter, Laila, in their Portsmouth, R.I., home.Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff

The retired physicians used a little-known state law that allows grandparents whose children have died or divorced to petition the Family Court for the right to visit with their grandchildren.

It’s led to a bitter trial that began in October and has continued off and on over the last six months, with testimony about medical negligence, abuse, and control.

Naso, a Middletown narcotics detective, accuses his in-laws of prescribing dozens of medications and providing poor medical care, which he believes contributed to Sherry’s death and sickened Laila. Ghoreishi and Khorsand deny any wrongdoing.

“We love that child with every fabric of our beings and have never harmed her in any way or shape,” Khorsand testified in October. “I love that child to death and would never do anything to harm her. … Why would she be deprived of this love?”

Naso has argued that the expense of the trial and the state law allowing grandparents to sue parents for visitation violates his constitutional parental rights.

But Gill said on Monday that the state law was “narrowly tailored” to respect the constitutional rights of parents, and he denied Naso’s motions to dismiss or stay the ongoing trial.

Now that Michael Ahn, the lawyer for Ghoreishi and Khorsand, has rested his case, Naso’s lawyer will argue that the grandparents haven’t met their burden under the law and the case should be dismissed.

Veronica Assalone told the judge that she will argue for the dismissal on Thursday.

If her motion is denied, and the Supreme Court justices reject the emergency motion, the trial proceedings will resume, with at least a dozen witnesses expected to testify on Naso’s behalf.

On Wednesday, the court heard more testimony from Cheryl Allspach, the former longtime office manager for Ghoreishi’s pediatric practice and a close friend of the family. She had testified glowingly on Tuesday about Ghoreishi and Khorsand’s relationship with Laila.

She also testified about Ghoreishi’s recordkeeping at his practice and his medical treatment of Scott, Sherry, and Laila Naso, and explained the process for billing and filing for insurance claims.

Assalone questioned her about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s payment policy, since 2009, regarding self-treatment and treatment of immediate family members. The insurer’s policy follows the American Medical Association code of ethics, which warns physicians not to treat or prescribe medications for themselves and close family members, and does not cover those services.

Allspach read the two-page policy aloud for the court. “Why did you bill?” the judge asked when she concluded.

“I just did it as part of normal billing, and truly I didn’t realize that,” Allspach said. “If I realized, I would have said to [Ghoreishi], ‘you cannot treat your family members.’”

The judge quickly stopped more detailed questions about billing practices, chart-keeping, and whether Allspach was aware that it was a felony for physicians to prescribe narcotics to relatives.

“It’s a grandparent visitation case, not a medical malpractice case,” Gill snapped at Assalone. He added that she should take her claims about illegal prescriptions to the state police, “not here.”

Julie Emmer, the owner of Strengthening Family Foundations, testified that Naso had alleged “serious things” about his in-law’s medical care when she was handling the supervised visits between Laila and Ghoreishi and Khorsand.

Emmer testified that Naso told her “there were prescriptions in different names for his late wife” and that his in-laws were being investigated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the state police.

“He thought they shouldn’t have visits,” Emmer said. “He thought they were responsible for what happened to his wife.”

Emmer began supervising visits in September 2024, after then-Family Court Judge Debra DiSegna temporarily ordered one-hour supervised visits every other week. The visits continued until late January 2025 and were suspended after Naso filed a complaint with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The investigation was closed, but Naso has refused to resume visits.

Emmer supervised nine visits, all at public places, and performed a home inspection at the grandparents’ condo in Jamestown at Ahn’s request in December 2023. They wanted to visit with Laila at their home, but Naso refused, Emmer said, and he is the custodial parent.

Emmer testified that the grandparents abided by the court order not to give Laila any gifts or medication.

Khorsand played with the little girl, while Ghoreishi stayed in the background, filming them or taking pictures, Emmer said. (Some of the photos and videos have been entered as evidence in the trial.)

Emmer said she noticed over time that Laila was anxious at the start of the visits and said she didn’t want to go. During one visit, she said, Laila whispered to her over and over “they are bad people.” At another visit, Laila was late because she vomited on the way over, she said.

She told the court that Laila would eventually warm up to her grandparents.

Emmer said she saw Naso crying and shaking, but that he was careful to compose himself so Laila didn’t see him becoming emotional. She testified that she didn’t hear him make any derogatory comments about his in-laws in Laila’s presence.

She said that Laila was reluctant to leave her father during the visits, but he encouraged her to go. “He often made comments, ‘Go have fun with Miss Julie. You’ll be safe,’” she said.

Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island shifts its primary to Wednesday, Sept. 9, easing a Labor Day poll setup crunch

Published

17 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Rhode Island shifts its primary to Wednesday, Sept. 9, easing a Labor Day poll setup crunch

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island’s primary elections will now be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9, moving it back from the typical Tuesday election day because it fell too close to Labor Day.

Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat, signed off on the change earlier this week. The primary election had been scheduled for Sept. 8, which is the day after the holiday weekend.

State and local officials had requested the change after raising concerns about having enough time to set up polls for voters. However, under the legislation enacted, the filing deadlines will remain the same.

“We have to set up over 400 polling places around the state on the day before the election,” Nick Lima, the registrar and director of elections for the city of Cranston, told lawmakers at a hearing in January. “That’s very difficult to do on a holiday because many of our polls are schools, social halls and churches.”

It’s not unusual for states to change their election day. Lawmakers in neighboring Massachusetts changed the state’s 2026 primary election day from Sept. 15 to Sept. 1, arguing that doing so will help improve voter turnout.

Only four states hold their primary elections in September: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Delaware, which has the latest primary date in the U.S., taking place this year on Sept. 15.

Legislation seeking to move up Delaware’s primary election by several months has been introduced in the statehouse, but previous attempts to do so have stalled.

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