Rhode Island; a melting pot Global culture continues to homogenize, and American cultural elements have spread throughout the world. When everyone can watch Breaking Bad at the same time on their computers (or, unfortunately, Two and Half Men), it’s odd to recall a time when the expanse of an ocean was a barrier between ways […]
Should the Federal Government prohibit Cannabis? Though the Obama administration has been the first to open a dialog exploring marijuana prohibition’s end, the government’s message is convoluted and inconsistent with public opinion. While Attorney General Eric Holder discusses a shift in U.S. Marijuana Policy that respects state marijuana laws, the Republican-controlled House looks to pass […]
For the Love of Theater The energy level is high on a Wednesday night in February as three dozen kids head into their final rehearsal of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. They’ve been practicing for nearly two months, but with opening night now on the immediate horizon there’s the usual mix of excitement, anticipation […]
House Speaker Gordon Fox Resigns The irony was not lost on anybody who has spent any amount of time at the Rhode Island State House. On a quiet Friday morning last month, the Rhode Island State Police, accompanied by agents from the FBI and IRS, swooped in, making a beeline for the third-floor office suite […]
Over 500 people sat in the bleachers at Trinity Repertory Company’s main stage, as AS220 founder Bert Crenca explained, “Every time I go somewhere, somebody asks, ‘What the heck is AS220?’ Probably not anyone in this room. But it shows that we still have a lot of awareness to raise.” The event Monday night was […]
Dear Nick, How is your NCAA bracket holding up? With so many upsets, buzzer beaters and instant classics this year, it seems the rubbish bins from here to Burrillville are littered with the broken dreams of office pools dashed. I have our old friend Rick Pitino squaring off against Billy “The Kid” Donovan in the […]
The unique dysfunction Rhode Islanders have around parking has attracted a new warrior in the battle for transportation dominance around Providence. Lyft is a recent start-up from San Francisco that essentially crowdsources ridesharing using a phone app and volunteer drivers. After two years in San Fran and a year in LA, the app rolls out […]
This weekend saw the opening of a very puzzling art exhibit at the Machines with Magnets studio in Pawtucket. Part bar, part performance space, part gallery and part recording studio, Machines with Magnets could be a called a puzzling environment on its own. In the gallery section of the space, you can now […]
As my co-editor, Rhode Island College (RIC) President Nancy Carriuolo will tell you that the late Richard Walton clearly understood the power of the emerging Internet and the power social media would wield in our daily lives. The beloved social activist and educator who put tireless energy and effort into supporting many worthy causes began […]
Schools becoming a “fixer-upper” Like many schools of its era, Harry Kirzirian Elementary off Chalkstone Avenue needs a lot more than a facelift. From the outside, the school looks like it was built in 1959. But it isn’t until a visit inside that you truly appreciate the challenging conditions that teachers, staff and 600 […]