Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - August 25, 2023

HOT

The Boys of Summer Brought Great Joy

The Smithfield All-Stars were the highlight of the summer.

They went 2-2 at the Little League World Series.

They were a fun team that made Rhode Island proud. 

HOT

Gilded Age Season 2

The Emmy-Award-winning HBO series “The Gilded Age” season two premieres on MAX on October 29.

On Wednesday, the teaser trailer was released — and scenes filmed in Newport are prominently featured. 

It marks the second major trailer for productions filmed in Rhode Island released this week. 

HOT

A Popular RI Food Truck Opens a Brick-and-Mortar Location on East Side

A popular Rhode Island food truck now has a brick-and-mortar location in Providence. 

Lotus Pepper, which had up until now served “Vietnamese home cooking” from its truck, is now located at 752 Hope Street. 

The menu features items such as fresh summer rolls, fish sauce chicken wings, rice and noodle bowls, and banh mi Vietnamese sub sandwiches. 

According to their website: 

"We started Lotus Pepper as a family run and operated food truck on the streets of the East Side college community in 2013 with a mission of bringing the colorful, healthy, and traditional flavors of Vietnam to Rhode Island. Cooking anchors a Vietnamese family, and growing up on the Mekong River in Vietnam, Lotus Pepper owner Young learned the importance of this from an early age while helping her mother prepare everyday meals to feed their large family of 14. Cooking complex authentic Vietnamese food is in her blood. 

Today, Young is joined in the kitchen by her son Thang to create an ever evolving menu of savory traditional flavors - always fresh and exciting, with delightful options for everyone, from the omnivore to the vegan. Come join our family and try the beautiful flavors of Vietnam!"

Lotus Pepper is open on Hope Street Wednesdays through Sundays; they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. 

HOT

Good Burger 2

This past spring, GoLocalProv was first to report locally that major Hollywood sequel Good Burger 2 would be filmed in Rhode Island. 

Now, the teaser trailer is out — and Providence has a starring role. 

Variety reports: 

"The film was originally announced back in March. Along with Thompson and Mitchell, the cast for the sequel includes Lil Rel Howery, Jillian Bell, Kamaia Fairburn, Alex R. Hibbert, Fabrizio Guido, Elizabeth Hinkler and Emily Hinkler as Cindy and Mindy, and Anabel Graetz as Ruth. The film will also feature original “Good Burger” cast members Josh Server, Lori Beth Denberg, and Carmen Electra.

HOT

Nikki Haley

The clear winner of the first GOP Presidential debate on Wednesday night.

Haley stood out of foreign relations issues; she offered a strategy for the GOP on abortion that would help the party in a general election and balanced both passion and composure.

HOT

Raimondo's Portrait

Gina Raimondo, the former governor of Rhode Island, was at the State House on Thursday night to unveil her official portrait.

Raimondo was Rhode Island’s first female governor when she was sworn in January of 2015.

Today, Raimondo serves as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Commerce.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) announced in May of 2022 that Raimondo selected Patricia Watwood of New York to paint her official gubernatorial portrait.

Watwood was paid $50,000 by the State of Rhode Island.

About the Artist

Watwood said about her selection, according to RISCA, “It is a great honor to be selected to portray Rhode Island’s first woman governor.  In creating this work of art for the State House, I look forward to celebrating her inspiring service, and show young women, girls, and the people of Rhode Island that there is a place in leadership at the highest level for all of us."

Previously, Watwood’s commissioned portraits include two mayors of St. Louis for City Hall and two historical portraits of pioneering women, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin and Ida B. Wells, both in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. Other institutions that have commissioned her work include Weill Cornell Medical Center, St. Louis University, and Washington University. Originally from St. Louis, she has created portraits for many families in the St. Louis area as well as around her current home, New York.

HOT

Trees, Trees, Trees

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) – along with partners the RI Tree Council, Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Arbor Day Foundation – is giving 1,000 trees away to Rhode Islanders this fall through the Energy-Saving Trees program. 

Now in its seventh year, this popular semiannual program helps Rhode Islanders save energy and lower their utility bills by strategically planting trees on their property. 

“Planting trees in our neighborhoods makes them greener and provides shade to keep people cooler and healthier in hot weather. These are investments in our communities and the quality of life throughout Rhode Island, particularly in our cities. From an environmental perspective, planting a tree in the right place can improve air quality, capture and store carbon, and help manage stormwater runoff,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “It’s a terrific way for Rhode Islanders to reduce their energy costs today and in the years to come, and a tangible way to stand up to climate change.”

Registration opens Friday, August 25. 

Get the details here.

NOT

Fire Devastating Block Island

The fire that destroyed the Harborside Inn was a tragedy and a big loss for Block Island.

The structure had many names over the years and a "rich" history. 

According to one highly knowledgeable Islander, back in the 1950s and 1960s, the Inn, then named The Hotel Royal, was a house of ill-repute.

See the photos here. 

NOT

Two More Community News Papers Closed

The Coventry Courier and The Chariho Times will close at the end of the month.

The two papers are owned by an Illinois company that operates under the name "Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers."

The company also owns the Westerly Sun, Woonsocket Call and Kent County Times - newspapers that are just a shadow of their former selves.

Providence Business News is only published twice a month.

Less and less local journalism.

Other than GoLocal there are no significant news organizations in Rhode Island that are locally owned.

NOT

Not America's Best Look 

Former United States President Donald Trump turned himself in at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday evening. 

Trump had been charged with 13 counts related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state.

His bail had been set at $200,000; he was processed and released.

"I did nothing wrong," he told reporters at the airport as he prepared to head back to New Jersey, according to CNN. 

NOT

Federal Hill 

GoLocal first reported that a man was shot during a robbery on Federal Hill in Providence early Monday, August 7. 

Now, GoLocal has obtained video showing the crime taking place. 

As GoLocal reported: 

"The victim — a male in his 30s — told police he had been sitting in his car with his girlfriend in front of the Walgreens at 333 Atwells Avenue around midnight. 

According to police, the victim said an unknown male suspect approached the driver’s side and drew a handgun, and demanded anything of value in the vehicle. 

The victim said before he could hand anything over, the suspect fired a shot, hitting him in the buttocks. 

The suspect then reportedly reached into the car and took jewelry, including necklaces and a Rolex, and fled on foot.

The victim was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries."

NOT

Matos' Loss

One of Rhode Island Lt. Governor Sabina Matos' early endorsers in her run for the Democratic nomination for Congress is pulling his endorsement.

In a phone call with GoLocal, Smithfield Town Councilor Sean Kilduff said he is revoking his support for Matos.

Kilduff said, “She is surrounding herself with people that can’t get the job done. It reflects poorly on her and those who support her.”

The Rhode Island State Police have an ongoing investigation into questions regarding her signatures for her endorsement papers.

The Board of Elections invalidated more than 500 of her submitted signatures.  And the Board of Election may subpoena campaign workers and volunteers after the primary.

“There seems to be a lack of valid information from her campaign; I am not comfortable with it. It reflects on all of us,” said Kilduff.

“At this time, I am not endorsing anyone in the race,” said Kilduff.

Kilduff has served on the council since 2018 and was one of the three Council members who supported helping the town's Little League with a small grant for the Little League World Series.

The Matos campaign did not respond to questions about the Kilduff announcement.