Rhode Island

Dating stories from RI as a survey places one city among the worst for singles in US

Published

1 month ago

December 15, 2024

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Dating stories from RI as a survey places one city among the worst for singles in US

I have bad news for single people in Warwick.

It’s supposedly one of the worst places for dating in America.

Out of 182 American cities surveyed by WalletHub, Warwick ranked in the bottom eight.

It’s below Grand Prairie, Texas – wherever that is – as well as Yonkers, New York, and Jackson, Mississippi.

Providence isn’t so great, either. It ranks 109^th.

WalletHub based this on percentage of singles, the cost of a meal for two, online dating “opportunities” and a few other metrics.

It got me thinking about dating in Rhode Island in general.

Not long ago, I did a story about Mary Hardy, 66, an X-ray and ER assistant from Smithfield who told me she’d been in the dating wars here for years.

I asked how it was going.

“Oh gosh,” she said, “frustrating, time-consuming. Basically, a full-time job if you really want to find somebody. But usually a big waste of time.”

She’d been on tons of apps – Bumble, Zoosk, Silver Seniors.

“I’m pretty much breaking my wrist swiping left,” she said.

At her age, the “supply” in Rhode Island isn’t perfect.

“Now, I’m not all that and a bag of chips,” Mary said, “but I know what lane I’m in. I’m not in the high-speed lane. But some of these dudes are in the breakdown lane.”

I have experience in this area, having dated in Rhode Island for years before I got married in 1988, and years after I got divorced in 2010.

There was more pressure the first go-around, since I was approaching my mid-30s while still never married. My Jewish mother would start phone calls with the same question.

“Anything new to report?”

Since that was before dating apps, there were probably more office romances – always a dicey gambit in a fishbowl.

Then again, all of Rhode Island sometimes feels the same. I was once on Thayer Street with a woman and walked right by someone else I’d been taking out. This led to a call later from the someone else, asking how I could be such a cad. I pointed out that we’d never talked about being exclusive, but it turns out there’s often an assumption that if you’ve dated 3.2 times, or even 2.3 times, you’re an item.

My brother “The Douglas” was much better at dating than I, being quite the schemer. For example, he always sent flowers to a woman at her place of work. That way, he said, the other women in the office will rush over and ask, “Who’s the great guy?”

A few times, he even sent flowers to a woman’s mother for having such an amazing daughter. That’s playing dirty, but it worked.

Once, he almost got into trouble when he brought a date home and suddenly, someone called on his answering machine. He had no doubt it was one of the other women he was dating, her voice about to sound on the machine’s speaker.

I asked what he did.

“I bearhugged the girl I was with around the ears and loudly said I was sooo glad to be with her.” Crisis averted. “She thought I was being really affectionate.”

Douglas frequently visited Rhode Island from Chicago for business and took up with a side-woman here. One night, I got a call from his hometown girlfriend who’d found a letter from his Providence paramour. The Chicago girlfriend wanted me to explain what was going on.

I had to weasel out of it on Douglas’s behalf, explaining that the Providence woman was, um, let me think – projecting a relationship that didn’t exist? Amazingly, she bought it. Forty years later, Douglas still owes me for that one.

We should give poor Warwick a break, because unsuccessful dating can happen anywhere in the state.

After being divorced, I had a date at what you’d think would be the ultimate Rhode Island locale for things to go smoothly – the restaurant at the Ocean House in Watch Hill. It was roughly halfway for both myself and a woman who was an ad hotshot at ESPN outside Hartford.

I think I blew it when I saw CNN notable John King – a Rhode Island guy – at another table. I excused myself to go chat with him, for probably too long, and the temperature at my own table had cooled when I returned.

Afterward outside, as she climbed into her car, I was about to ask through the window if she wanted to get together again, but before I got the question out, she peeled away, spraying a bit of gravel at my shins. I took that as a maybe.

In closing, I’d love to hear from any Warwick folks about the dating scene there. Is it better than what WalletHub says?

Or are you breaking your wrists swiping left?

mpatinki@providencejournal.com

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Rhode Island

Best One Bite Pizza Reviews in 2024: Top 4 spots Dave Portnoy ranked in RI

Published

3 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Best One Bite Pizza Reviews in 2024: Top 4 spots Dave Portnoy ranked in RI

Bar Stool Sports founder Dave Portnoy certainly loves a good pizza.

In 2024, Portnoy went all over the state and reviewed the pizzas of four Rhode Island establishments as part of his online show: One Bite Pizza Reviews.

Portnoy grades a pizza shop off his personal criteria: the store-owners’ vibes and the attitude of the patrons eating there, the ambience and atmosphere of the place and, arguably the most important part: the quality of the pie.

Lower ratings on Portnoy’s scale tend to be around 6.0 to 7.5, with the highest ratings being in the 8’s and 9’s.

Here are 2024’s best pizza restaurants in the state, according to Portnoy’s pizza reviews.

4. Merlino’s Pizzeria — Cranston, Rhode Island

Most of this review was Portnoy complaining about the then-recent backlash he received for his comments on the return of Ed Cooley, a former Providence College basketball coach.

Concerning Merlino’s Pizzeria at 889 Dyer Ave, he said it was good and that the pie had “Papa Gino’s vibes.”

He gave Merlino’s Pizzeria an 7.4 out of 10.

“Good, middle-of-the-road pizza,” Portnoy said.

3. D. Palmieri’s Bakery — Johnston, Rhode Island

At first, Portnoy got pizza strips from D. Palmieri’s Bakery at 624 Killingly St., having been told to review the local classic. He tried a cold pizza strip and said it was an acquired taste, giving the Rhode Island delicacy a 5.8.

“If this is Providence food, then everybody’s going hungry,” Portnoy said.

The owner then came out and convinced Portnoy to try their hot bakery pizza.

After approximately 10 minutes of waiting and locals taking selfies with Portnoy, the actual pizza came. Portnoy took a couple bites and gave it a 7.5, complimenting the crispy crust.

“I’m glad I tried this,” Portnoy said.

2. Nice Slice Pizzeria — Providence, Rhode Island

Visiting Nice Slice Pizzeria at 767 Westminster St, Portnoy took one bite and exclaimed “nice,” following up with a “no pun intended,” commenting that he was glad that he and his team picked Nice Slice.

“I take back Providence not having good pizza,” Portnoy said. “This is really good.”

He gave Nice Slice a 7.7.

1. Francesco’s Pizzeria — Providence, Rhode Island

This Providence spot was the standout champion of One Bite Reviews in 2024 in Rhode Island; the restaurant owners heralded Portnoy’s arrival with a sign saying “We Want Portnoy.”

Portnoy said he really liked the pizza at Francesco’s Pizzeria at 357 Hope St. He was surprised by his enjoyment of the pizza, calling it a distant relative of a New Haven pizza.

“This is as good as you can really get from me without getting to the eights,” Portnoy said.

He gave the pizza at Francesco’s Pizzeria a 7.9.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 18, 2025

Published

11 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 18, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 18 drawing

14-31-35-64-69, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 18 drawing

04-12-13-32-43, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 18 drawing

Midday: 7-3-2-6

Evening: 3-1-7-0

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 18 drawing

05-14-25-29-33, Extra: 22

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

Snow and bitter cold are on the way. Here’s where to find emergency warming sites in RI

Published

19 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Snow and bitter cold are on the way. Here’s where to find emergency warming sites in RI

With snow predicted on Sunday night and frigid temperatures in the forecast for the week ahead, authorities are once again opening emergency winter hubs.

Hundreds of people are currently on the state’s shelter intake waitlist, and the lack of shelter beds combined with bitter cold has pushed homelessness to the forefront of Rhode Island politics this winter.

In Providence, the City Council and mayor’s office are organizing a temporary warming center at the DaVinci Center at 470 Charles St., which will be open on Monday and Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The city is seeking volunteers and donations for hygiene items, blankets and snacks.

People interested in volunteering or donating supplies can fill out this form.

At the state level, the Department of Housing has activated additional overnight capacity at several warming sites. The Emergency Management Agency will update its website at riema.ri.gov with the latest details. These emergency hubs and existing drop-in shelters are open for walk-ins and do not require referrals from the Coordinated Entry System the way standard shelters do:

West Warwick: West Warwick Civic Center, 100 Factory St. – Open Monday at 4:30 p.m. to Thursday at 10 a.m.
Westerly: WARM Center, 56 Spruce St. – Open 24/7
Woonsocket: 356 Clinton St. – Opens Monday at 5 p.m.
Pawtucket: OpenDoors, 1139 Main St. – Open 24/7
Providence: Crossroads Rhode Island, 160 Broad St. – Open 24/7
Providence: Emmanuel House, 239 Public St. – Open 24/7
South Kingstown (Peace Dale): Welcome House of South County, 8 North Road – Open 24/7

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