Antiquing: Sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday. For someone else. But before you judge too harshly, think beyond a stereotyped collection of scuffed bread boxes and threadbare furniture best described as farmhouse chic. Several antique shops have adopted an organization plan where separate vendors set up their own booths within the store. These booths […]
Though the Internet has taken over our lives, there are still a few things that can’t be done with a computer, smart phone or tablet. The services of mechanics, chefs and hair stylists still need that human touch. These are jobs that will always be in high demand, which suits Giuliano Uribe, owner of Hillside […]
Rhode Island has fast become synonymous with creative small business. You can hardly find a street corner or loft office in the Providence or Warwick area not adorned with the humble and vibrant signs of local-owned businesses selling everything from artisan food to eclectic art and handmade furniture. One such office in Pawtucket holds the […]
There was no Black Friday advertised at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, but word is that they might start offering a gift card of sorts. I’m not much for using gift cards (I feel pressure to go the mall) nor do I frequent the auction houses (too much historical thievery for my taste), but I do make […]
There’s nothing like the city at Christmas — twinkling lights, ice skaters, bustling shoppers excitedly ticking items off their Christmas lists. And this year, InDowncity is teaming up with Aurora and Cornish Associates to give shoppers one more reason to head for the excitement of downtown. Every Saturday, from Nov 29 through Dec 20, shoppers […]
Being a plumber is a seemingly thankless job. It’s the type of work no one truly appreciates until the toilet becomes so clogged that water flows over the side or a pipe bursts at 3am. Plumbers are more known for their infamous crack than their dedication to the craft. A lot of work goes into […]
The last time I sat facing an easel with a paintbrush in hand was 10 years before I was legally able to hold a glass of wine in the other. Thanks to Paint Drops paint bar in Pawtucket, however, I was able to fill my hands with one of each and still walk away with […]
When my husband and I were dating, I decided to replace his holey pajama pants with a handmade pair. I envisioned the height of romance. These pants would be with him when I wasn’t. I thought of him lovingly as I cut the fabric and taught myself to stitch the seams, convinced he would feel […]
The shopping days countdown till Christmas has started, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve been scoping out gifts for your friends and family for months. (Haha, yeah right!) Most people I know wait until after Thanksgiving to start shopping. Or the day after. The formidable Black Friday. If you’re living under a rock, Black […]
If the thought of the holiday season fills you with an icy, quivering dread, if the sound of silver bells sends flurries of cold nausea tinkling down your spine, if the idea of holiday gift shopping invites a retching panic to engulf your heart, then you are experiencing a completely normal mammalian stress responses to […]