‘Accidental Racism’ The Song, Not The Practice
The sensational buzz around country star Brad Paisley‘s song “Accidental Racist” is perfect fodder for a Twitter blurb- but is this the extent of racial analysis we can muster in America? If someone stops reading this article at the first sentence, I feel like this provides a more appropriate response than the shallow condemnations filling the [...]
Our Stories: Rhode Island Human Library Project
I’ve always been fascinated with hearing people’s stories. To learn about another person’s experiences and history is to begin to truly understand who they are. I’ve always considered peoples’ previous learned experiences and the circumstances from which they came as the fundamental foundation for their existing belief system. Rhode Islanders will have the opportunity to [...]
State To Hold Arts Economy Forum Today At Fidelity
Note to State House leaders who organized a forum on building a better arts economy today: maybe a mutual fund and retirement investment corporation located in the suburbs isn’t the best place to have this conversation. How about a downtown museum, library or art gallery? Or maybe even the Columbus Theater on Broadway, the poster [...]
Come to the Wooly Fair Town Meeting Tonight
If you have not attended Wooly Fair, you are either a recent transplant or make mediocre decisions. Wooly Fair is an event so unique and so awesome that it literally defies description. Seriously, I can’t count the number of times I’ve spent 10 minutues trying to answer the simple question “What is Wooly Fair?” only to [...]
‘Les Mis’: Jean Valjean Is a Friend of Mine
Most reviews of Les Miserables discuss the singing, editing, and acting, disregarding the original text of Victor Hugo. I write the simple reflections of a former prisoner who read this ex-con tale while sitting in a cell, with only a feint hope of ever being an ex-con at all. The movie, by the way, is a masterpiece. To me, [...]
What Happened to Hollywood East?
It seemed that just a few years ago the film and television industry was on the rise here in the Ocean State. Underdog, 27Dresses, and Showtime’s Brotherhood series were some of the more notable productions based here in Rhode Island. The studios liked Rhode Island for a number of reasons. Locations ranged from rural settings, [...]
Columbus Theatre Revival: This is How We Rebuild RI
Saturday night I went to the Revival! show, which reopened the Columbus Theatre on Broadway after years of vacancy, finally allowing the Theatre’s years-old ’Opening Soon’ marquee to host a far cheerier message: “Sold Out.” The Columbus was packed and the sets by Brown Bird and The Low Anthem were, unsurprisingly, excellent. And the building, [...]
Help the RI Food Bank, and Laugh While Doing So
This Saturday, two of Rhode Island’s best musicians are getting together to raise money for the RI Food Bank. Bill Harley and Keith Munslow are playing together and celebrating the release of a new CD single: ”It’s Not Fair to Me.” I’ve known Bill and Keith for a long time, and thought they were pretty cool [...]
Interview: The Low Anthem on the Columbus Theater
The Low Anthem are a wonderful folk rock band who tour the globe but call Providence home. This Saturday they reopen the Columbus Theater on Broadway for the first of what I hope will be many, many shows and communitarian happenings. (I’m pretty sure the last formal-ish show I saw in there was by Lightning [...]
Labor History Society to Honor URI’s Molloy Tonight
If you believe singer Utah Phillips, the long memory is the most radical notion in this country today. It is in that vein some of us gather tonight in Providence at the Roger Williams Park Casino to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rhode Island Labor History Society. For a quarter century Rhode Island’s organizers, [...]
Downtown Skater
After persistent rain this June, the sun finally came out on downtown Providence. A roller-blader takes advantage of the nice weather by practicing in Kennedy Plaza’s melted ice rink across from the Rhode Island Foundation. This weekend is supposed to be warm and sunny.
Post-Script to TEDx PVD
Several hundred people (including professionals, academics and students) gathered at the Rhode Island School of Design’s Metcalfe Auditorium and witnessed the first-ever TEDx Providence event in the Ocean State on April 15. But at the end of the day, what does it really mean? One day after the historic event, I asked myself that very [...]
Haven Brothers: Legacy of the American Diner Movie
If you live in Providence, there are certain landmarks you learn about almost immediately. The Superman Building located in the heart of Kennedy Plaza, the statue of Roger Williams overlooking the city from College Hill, and of course, Haven Brothers situated each day next to City Hall. When the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities [...]
VP Candidate Talks Politics, Race, Music at RIC Friday
There is room at every election for new voices – including the ideas of former communists and those of modern-day socialists. That’s my premise and I’m sticking to it. Well actually, I’m doing more than that this Friday at a panel discussion I’m facilitating at RI College called “Race, Politics and Music: A Look at [...]
Tedx Conference Comes to Providence on April 15
TedxProvidence co-founders, Tino Chow (left) and Peter Haas (right). Tedx is coming to Providence on April 15. I recently met with one of its co-founders, Peter Haas, to discuss the upcoming event. What is TEDX? TEDx is an independently organized TED style event operated under a license from TED. According to TED: “TEDx was created [...]
Farmers’ Market Comes to the Jewelry District
Rhode Island is home to one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the U.S. Its diversity of farmers’ markets throughout the state, urban education programs on farming and nutrition as well as food delivery programs for restaurants makes this the place to be when it comes to growing it…and consuming it locally! Once considered [...]
First Providence Maker Monday Tonight
AS220 Labs and KippKits are hosting Providence’s first Maker Monday Meet-Up on April 2 from 7pm-10pm. Led by Brown Professor, Kipp Bradford, this is a family-friendly event which helps to turn on the maker switch that lives inside most of us! Here’s more: “Get Made Monthly!” Drinks and demos meet-up for Rhode Island Makers who design and build for fun [...]
Two Great Events Tonight: Pecha Kucha, Concentric
Out of 502 cities around the world that host Pecha Kucha Nights bringing together creatives from all walks of life. Providence Pecha Kucha Night holds the global record for having 36 straight events (one each month) over the past three years–unprecedented! This also highlights the fact that Providence (and Rhode Island) are home to innovative, [...]
Synchronicity at SXSW
If there is one word I can use to describe my experience so far down at South by Southwest, it would be synchronicity. On at least two occasions, I’ve mentioned people I wanted to see only to see them no more than 12 hours later, and I met a Rhode Islander working at a car [...]
Reza Rites and RI Future at SXSW in Austin, TX
Heard of South by Southwest, but can’t be in Austin yourself? Pop in daily to “Take 5 with Reza Rites” on RIFuture.org for photos and live updates about her adventures at the annual festival – or follow her on Twitter and Facebook @rezaclif. Besides blogging for RI Future, Reza will be recording interviews and footage [...]
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