Rhode Island

Best things to do in Rhode Island this week: Nov. 10-17 – The Boston Globe

Published

1 year ago

November 9, 2023

Best things to do in Rhode Island this week: Nov. 10-17 – The Boston Globe

MORE STARGAZING

Take advantage of the longer nights. On Nov. 10, head to the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center’s Sky Theatre for telescopes and free stargazing and astronomy. They’ll “showcase the Rings of Saturn, the cratered lunar surface, the Galilean Moons of Jupiter, the polar ice caps of Mars, the phases of Venus, massive stars, speckled star clusters, vast nebulae, distant galaxies, and the best views of the Milky Way in Rhode Island.” 61-62 Park Lane, Charlestown, R.I. Tickets are free but required. Details here.

NEWPORT RESTAURANT WEEK

Newport’s Restaurant Week is on, now through Nov. 12, and here the array of delish dishes, specials, and deals from local restaurants are the stars of the show. For example, Newport Vineyards offers a $30 three-course autumn-y meal: you might start with house-made pumpkin pork sausage with apple-squash mostarda and grilled bread, then dig into bacon pumpkin pizza with gruyere. For dessert? New England Fall Forest Cake — chocolate butternut brownie, chai Chantilly cream, and spiked poached apples. See menus and participating restaurants here.

MARVEL ON ICE

It’s Marvel Super Hero Weekend with the Providence Bruins Nov. 10 and 12. Expect costumes, characters, “special game theme” and more. I need to see Baby Groot and Rocket out there on the ice. At the AMP. Nov. 10 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Springfield; Nov. 12 at 3:05 p.m. vs. Hartford. Tickets from $20. 1 La Salle Square, Providence. Details here and here.

CHEERS TO BEERS

Westerly’s Grey Sail Brewing turns the big 1-2 on Nov. 10, and they’re celebrating with a free-admission party. Expect food, live music, free swag bag for the first 25 tap room customers, prizes and an anniversary Triple IPA release. 63 Canal St., noon to 8 p.m. Details here.

IRON POUR & SIMS AVE FEST

Welp, this sounds amazing. The Steel Yard’s 18 Annual Iron Pour & Sims Ave Festival is set for Nov. 11 as they “melt over 2,000 pounds of luminous iron in our custom-built tilt furnace.” A trained crew will “activate larger-than-life sculptures with fire and molten metal.” Plus food, drinks and artisan vendors, glass-blowing and blacksmithing demonstrations. Free. 27 Sims Ave. Details here.

ARTLAB

PVD isn’t called the Creative Capital for nothing: WaterFire launches “ArtLab@WaterFire” a free creative lab workshop series for all ages on weekends at the WaterFire Arts Center. Workshops will be taught by local artists. On Nov. 12, you might try your hand at ornament-making and linocut printmaking (10 a.m. to noon.) Later, try jewelry making 2-4 p.m. I love this idea. Let’s get hands on, Rhody. 475 Valley St. Space limited. RSVP and details here and here.

JAKE BLOUNT

Jake Blount, PVD’s own 2020 recipient of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize and two-time winner of the Appalachian String Band Music Festival plays a home-state show Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. in Warren.

An Afrofuturist, traditional folk scholar and specialist in the early folk music of Black Americans, Blount is a queer Black fiddler and banjo player whose bread and butter are traditional tunes. The 20-something’s debut solo album, “Spider Tales” (2020), landed on NPR’s and The New Yorker’s Best Albums of that year lists. The gorgeous video for “Once There Was No Sun” landed in Rolling Stone. And as an LGBTQ activist, he was on the founding board of Bluegrass Pride.

I interviewed Blount last year on his Smithsonian Folkways album, “The New Faith” (Must-listen: “The Man Was Burning.”) He told me he moved to Providence from DC in 2020 for our vibe:

“Often when you play trad/acoustic folk music, you wind up playing for an audience of older white people. What I found unique about Rhode Island, a crowd would always show up who had no idea what was going to happen…people who were like: ‘Hey, an interesting thing is happening, I’m gonna go to this weird house show.’” Love it. At Imago Gallery, 36 Market St., Warren, RI. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. $18. Details here.

FREE DEAD TUNES

Deadheads, if you missed the free Playing Dead show at Fearless Fish’s Oystermania last week, take solace: we have another free Dead-cover concert with Violin River show at Askew on Nov. 12 from 1-4 p.m. 150 Chestnut St., Providence. Details here.

AFTERNOON AT THE OPERA

Opera + bubbly + mansion. Put on the ritz in Bristol as Linden Place hosts mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Kinder pianist Adam Welch and “surprise guests” Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. The concert will feature operatic arias, the Rosenkavalier Trio, and Broadway duets. Seating limited. $45, includes a glass of Prosecco. Reservations required. 500 Hope St. Details here.

MARC COHN

Keep your eyes out for a Silver Thunderbird, because your True Companion Marc Cohn is not Walking in Memphis — he’s heading to East Greenwich. The Grammy winner brings his hits to the Greenwich Odeum Nov 16. And now I have “Ghost Train” stuck in my head. From $57. Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. 59 Main St. Details here.

NEWPORT’S THAMESGIVING

Newport’s ThamesGiving aims to bring that ol’ holiday hustle and bustle to the brick-and-mortar shops of downtown Newport on Nov. 16 and 30. Shop, dine and see Thames decked for the holidays as some 80 participating shops, hotels, restaurants and public spaces offer specials, with extended hours. Meanwhile, you might take part in a “Copper Pumpkin Passport scavenger hunt” that covers 80 locations. Find them and you’ll be entered into a raffle. For a full list of participating spots and deals, see here.

GALLERY NIGHT

All aboard! Gallery Night is part of what makes PVD the Creative Capital. Where else can you hop aboard a trolley to soak up art? Hop on Nov. 16 to see galleries, museums, and other creative hot spots. There are also free walking tours, or go it on your own. #GalleryNightProvidence. Details here.

RHODE READS

I’m a lifelong book lover and want to spread the Ocean State literary love. Rhody is so packed with authors and stories, I’ve started a little subsection of this column, Rhode Reads. If you’re a local author or a bookstore hosting a local signing, hit me up and you just might get featured. In this week’s Rhody Reading News…

Rhody Reader Box Returns: Ink Fish Books in Warren is doing another Vanessa Lillie Rhody Reader box. Similar to what they did with the Providence thriller writer’s first two books, the ‘23 Rhody Reader Box features Lillie’s new thriller “Blood Sisters,” locally made products by Juniper Hill Apothecary and Freya Soapworks, and Indigenous made artwork by Cherokee Copper, Kayla Miller, Gehdi Lynn Wilson and Trisha Johnson. A portion of the proceeds to support the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter. $74.99 plus tax. You can also get a basket with all three books for $110 plus tax. Details here.

MUSIC FROM UKRAINE

They must love Rhody as much as we love them, because Ukraine’s DakhaBrakha is back. The folk quartet from Kyiv played Providence last year, after making Rolling Stone’s list of “The Best Things We Saw at Newport Folk Festival 2022.” The group returns to play Westerly’s United Theatre Nov. 17. According to their website, the group sits at the crossroads of Ukrainian folklore and theater, with music “plumbing the depths of contemporary roots and rhythms, inspiring cultural and artistic liberation.” Learn more here. See their Tiny Desk Concert for a sense. Nov. 17, 8 p.m. 5 Canal St., Westerly. $35. Show details here.

SPARKLING MANSION

It’s Go Time: Newport’s 4th Annual Sparkling Lights at The Breakers opens Nov. 17 for the season. According to billing, it includes a “50-foot long, 26-foot-tall light display on the back lawn in the outline of a train from the Vanderbilts’ New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.” Warm up by fire-pits with treats, s’mores, drinks and adult beverages for purchase. Tours at 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Gates close at 6:30 p.m.; house and grounds close at 8 p.m. Adults $40, youth $10. 44 Ochre Point Ave. Details here.

ONGOING SEASONAL FUN

I rounded up more autumn fun around New England for you here, but for Rhode Islanders in particular, try these:

It’s s’mores season, baby. Blithewold Mansion Gardens & Arboretum provides the fire pits, chairs, s’mores kits and mansion garden views — just grab your crew and come ready to get deliciously messy. Weekends through Nov. 19. 1-2 p.m. or 2:30-3:30 p.m. $55 for up to six people. 101 Ferry Road, Bristol. Details here.

The Chanler at Cliff Walk’s Apple Cider Bar is open weekends through Nov. 19. Sit out in the crisp open air to sip mulled cider crafted from Rose Hill Heirloom apples to refuel after your Cliff Walk. 117 Memorial Boulevard, Newport. Details here.

It’s still pumpkin-picking and apple-picking (and cider donut) time, and Rhody’s orchards are ripe with all three. Pick a peck, a pumpkin or grab donuts for the road — with our guide here.

Until next week, Rhody: Keep rockin’.

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

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

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Rhode Island

Travis Kelce’s watch found in Rhode Island after Kansas City mansion was burglarized of $20K in cash: report

Published

2 mins ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Travis Kelce’s watch found in Rhode Island after Kansas City mansion was burglarized of K in cash: report

Travis Kelce’s stolen watch was reportedly found in Providence, RI, this week after the NFL star’s mansion in Leawood, Kan., was burglarized last month.

Sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News Friday that a watch taken from Kelce’s residence — and not previously disclosed to the public — was recovered.

Details have yet to be revealed on what type of timepiece was stolen or how much it was worth.

Authorities previously shared that the unidentified criminals stole $20,000 cash from Kelce’s home. They did not specify whether any other items were taken at the time.

Sources told ABC News that they think the athlete’s home was specifically targeted — and thoroughly surveyed — before the Oct. 7 burglary.

Just two days before Kelce’s pad was broken into, burglars also raided the home of his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes.

Authorities have theorized the burglars may have targeted the athletes as their public football schedule reveals when they will be away from their residences.

“There is a concern about what happens if the athlete or his/her family members are present,” a security source told the outlet.

The insider shared that the burglars have gained access to Kelce and Mahomes’ houses by “posing as delivery men, maintenance workers or joggers to learn about residences, neighborhoods and security systems.”

Captain Jason Ahring from the Leawood, Kan., Police Department told Page Six that they are not releasing any information pertaining to an open investigation and maintained they will not be commenting.

Meanwhile, a Providence Police Department Public Information Officer told Page Six that they do “not have any record or involvement related to this incident.”

Kelce, 35, has yet to address the crime, but Mahomes, 29, previously expressed how “disappointing” the violation was.

“I can’t get into too many details because the investigation is still ongoing, but it’s obviously something you don’t want to happen to anybody — and obviously yourself,” Mahomes said during a press conference earlier this month.

Meanwhile, a source told Page Six that Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was “thankful that no one was hurt and that neither of them were home during the robberies.”

Kelce’s home was broken into around 7:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 7 – just 15 minutes before his team kicked off against the New Orleans Saints.

Meanwhile, Mahomes’ mansion was burglarized while he was celebrating Kelce’s 35th birthday on Oct. 5.

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Rhode Island

Are you owed back wages? Here’s where you can find out.

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Are you owed back wages? Here’s where you can find out.

U.S. Labor Department is encouraging Rhode Islanders to use their online tool to find out if they’re among those owed more than $2.5M in back wages

PROVIDENCE – More than 1,500 Rhode Island workers are owed a total of $2.5 million in back wage, and just in time for Christmas, the U.S. Department of Labor wants to put it in their hands.

The money, $2,576,342, was recovered from employers in Labor Department investigations.

The Labor Department encourages anyone who believes they may be owed back wages or knows someone who may be owed wages use their Workers Owed Wages online tool. Anyone who uses the WOW search tool can simply input their current or former employer’s name to learn if the division is holding wages on their behalf.

“The laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division provide the foundation for U.S. workers’ rights, including the rights to be paid legally required wages and other important protections,” the Labor Department said in announcing the effort.

The tool is available in both English and Spanish.

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Rhode Island

McKee names new RI housing secretary. What we know.

Published

17 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

McKee names new RI housing secretary. What we know.

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Dan McKee has named a new housing secretary: Deborah J. Goddard.

Who is she? Goddard, the former managing director for policy and program development at MassHousing, currently leads the Massachusetts-based DJ Goddard Consulting, which has done consulting work for the Rhode Island Department of Housing among other public, quasi-public and nonprofit agencies, according to a press release from the McKee administration.

Prior to this role, Goddard served at the executive vice president for capital projects at the New York City Housing Authority from 2016 to 2019, where she oversaw $3 billion of construction builds and helped advance the agency’s energy and sustainability programs, the press release said.

She is scheduled to start her new $238,597 job on Dec. 2. In the interim, her name has been submitted to the Rhode Island Senate, which is in recess, for advice and consent after the legislature convenes in January.

“Deborah Goddard is a deeply committed and accomplished housing professional whose work has benefitted people from all backgrounds,” said McKee. “Housing affordability and availability in Rhode Island have never been more important than they are right now. I am confident Deborah’s knowledge and experience will guide the department to achieving our housing goals.”

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said he “look[s] forward to the Senate’s thorough review of Ms. Goddard’s appointment through the advice and consent process.”

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said he met with Goddard for the first time a day earlier “and she was very impressive.”

In her own turn, Goddard said her career has been “dedicated to creating and preserving housing opportunities … for the unhoused, for renters and homeowners, alike, with attention to equity.” As such, she said, “I am very aware of the persistent headwinds that we face in this arena, but they are not unique to Rhode Island nor are they new.”

The Rhode Island Department of Housing has been run by an interim chief – former Senate Majority Leader Daniel Connors – since Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor’s last day in July in one of the state’s most critical jobs.

A former Senate majority leader, Connors – who quit a job as a top aide in the Raimondo administration after his arrest for driving under the influence – had most recently been chief of staff in the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, making $184,000 annually.

On the day of his interim appointment, the governor’s office said: “He is not being considered for the permanent position and will return to his role at EOHHS at the end of this process.”

Pryor is now a partner in Palm Venture Studios, which “works to rescue and build companies that positively impact human and planetary health,” according to his LinkedIn profile..

How did we get here?

Spokesman Andrea Palagi told The Journal at that time that McKee’s office would interview local candidates for the permanent position over the coming weeks, and a national search would only be initiated if a qualified candidate could not be found. As it turned out, there was no national search.

Pryor announced that he was leaving in late June after close to a decade leading Rhode Island’s economic development efforts as its first commerce secretary and, for a year-and-a-half as head of its Department of Housing,

The hunt for his replacement stretched out over several months, amid significant jockeying between the many arms of Rhode Island’s housing community for advantage − and appointment.

The Department of Housing is responsible for managing hundreds of millions of previously dedicated state dollars and the newly approved $120-million housing bond.

But the picture that has emerged in the wake of Pryor’s departure was of an agency beset by employee infighting, leaks about end-runs in the award of contracts, and complaints to the governor’s office about the management styles of both Pryor and Assistant Secretary Hannah Moore, whom Pryor brought into the department with him.

More recently, Rhode Island’s deputy housing secretary, Deborah Flannery, resigned to take a job with the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. Her last day is imminent.

The Department of Housing was unable to pinpoint the amount Goddard and her firm have been paid as a consultant or promised. As for her role, spokeswoman Emily Marshall listed non-specific duties, such as: “drafting regulations for internal review, and co-authoring multiple grant applications, among other responsibilities.”

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