Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - February 18, 2022

HOT

The Gilded Age

HBO has picked up "The Gilded Age" for a second season.

The first season of the show -- developed by Julian Fellowes -- was filmed in part in Newport. 

The Hollywood Reporter writes, "The speedy pickup comes just three weeks after the New York-set period drama launched following nearly a decade of development that started at NBC."

“Julian Fellowes and the entire Gilded Age family have thoroughly captivated us with their tale of late 19th century New York City extravagance. Along with our partners at Universal Television, we couldn’t be prouder to embark on a season two journey with this extraordinarily talented team,” said Francesca Orsi, Exec VP of Programming at HBO Max.

HOT

Rose Weaver

There is hot for the week -- and then there is a lifetime of hot.

Rose Weaver has returned to Rhode Island. 

The accomplished, award-winning actress had moved back to her home state of Georgia in 2021, but has since come up again for a starring role in Trinity Rep’s production of August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean.”

“I’m in my last quarter — I’ve been saying it since I was 70,” said Weaver, now 73 and in residency in Providence. “I’d planned on commuting back and forth like I did when I worked in LA, but Rhode Island is my home in so many ways.”

Weaver spoke with GoLocal about tackling the “monumental” role of Aunt Ester, how she is preparing for the grueling run — and what comes next. 

“[Wilson] in one of his interviews said he saw a woman in her early 70s in this role. Phylicia Rashad on Broadway was much younger,” said Weaver, of the former Cosby Show actress’ turn in the role in the early 2000s. “Trinity is making me a fabulous wig. I’ve never been ashamed of my age.”

READ THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW

Newport Burger Mania

The Newport "Burger Bender" competition -- a rivalry between Newport chefs for who can create the tastiest variations on that all-American pub staple -- returns this month.

Creations including the "Chuck Norris," "Pretzel Bomb," "Jive Turkey," and "V-Rex" are just some of the names for burgers -- beef, non-beef, and plant-based -- that will appear on menus in local restaurants, from February 18 - 27.

“It’s a magnificent event for everyone; residents, visitors, and the restaurants," said Executive Chef Brian Ruffner from Jo’s American Bistro, whose Crispy Pancetta Burger in 2020 landed Jo’s in the Top Ten—out of nearly forty entries.

Read more here.

HOT

RI's Brent Lang

Rhode Island native Brent Lang has been promoted to Executive Editor of Variety.

His family has long-time roots in Rhode Island's journalism community and owned the Block Island Times for years.

Variety reports:

In his new role, Lang will help guide the venerable showbiz brand’s editorial operations across digital and print platforms. He will continue to oversee Variety’s film, media and theater coverage, and he serves as leader of the New York bureau. 

“There’s an infinite number of words I would use to describe Brent Lang and my admiration for his breadth of genius, talent and skills as a journalist,” said Claudia Eller, Variety Editor-in-Chief. “He is also one of the most trustworthy, thoughtful and collegial people I’ve ever worked with and it’s a joy to watch him continue to flourish.”

Lang most recently served as Executive Editor of Film and Media and New York Bureau Chief. He joined Variety in 2014 as a senior film reporter. 

HOT

Mitch McConnell

For many Americans, including Republicans, there has been the hope that a top GOP leader would speak the truth and slap down the Trump lies.

McConnell has been doing it.

HOT

New Urban Arts Turns 25 Years Old

This year marks 25 years of New Urban Arts empowering youth through art.

The nationally-recognized community arts studio has provided a safe space for local high school students during critical after-school hours.

Over the past 25 years, over 5,000 Providence high school students have walked through the New Urban Arts studio doors to participate in their choice of nearly a dozen youth programs.
 

Learn more at newurbanarts.org.
 

HOT

Too Hot?

The prices of houses have been on a dramatic upward swing for years, but now there are virtually no houses for sale in Rhode Island.

As of last week, there were only five homes for sale on the East Side of Providence and two of them were over $1 million.

In East Greenwich, realtor Allen Gammon reports that the inventory in the highly desirable suburb is almost nonexistent. “The least expensive single-family home active for sale in East Greenwich is $574,000. The next [least expensive home] is $1.1 million," said Gammons.

“There are no homes in the $600s, $700s, $800s, $900s, or $1 million [range]. Three of the seven available for sale are not built yet,” adds Gammons.

Mott & Chace’s Sarah Huard tells GoLocal that she tried to connect a Boston buyer with a house that just went on the market last week. The seller’s realtor “had 17 showings yesterday afternoon and he has 16 as of this morning”  according to Huard who said that home went to pending in three days.

Huard says, “Everyone knows that you can sell quickly but then how are you going to be able to buy quickly when inventory is less than a month. You know the absorption rate decreased 55 percent.  It's just like I said, what's here today is gone tomorrow.”

Read more here.

NOT

The Most Ridiculous Annual Press Release

On Monday, Mayor Jorge Elorza announced that "the City of Providence reported a year-end operating surplus for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) of $3.68 million. This is the sixth consecutive year the capital city is realizing an operating surplus."

As he sends out this release the Mayor is trying to get state house authorization to issue bonds to borrow $500 million towards the $1.3 billion. Oh yea, the city owes another $1 billion to workers and retirees for unfunded benefits like healthcare.

NOT

Speaker's Refusal to Hold Meetings of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services

The story sounds like government from another era or in a dictatorship in Eastern Europe.

Rhode Island's legislative leaders spend $46 million dollars - no meetings, no public hearings, and no accountability.

The chair of the JCLS is Speaker Joe Shecharchi and he continues the tradition of Nick Mattiello -- no meetings.