Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - October 1, 2021

HOT

Andrew Burnap

No one is hotter than this guy!

Andrew Burnap has won Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a play at the 74th Annual Tony Awards for his performance as Toby Darling in The Inheritance. This is his first Tony nomination and win. He is a 2013 graduate of the University of Rhode Island.

Burnap beat out fellow nominees Ian Barford (Linda Vista), Tom Hiddleston (Betrayal), Jake Gyllenhaal (Sea Wall/A Life), Tom Sturridge (Sea Wall/A Life), and Blair Underwood (A Soldier’s Play).

He grew up in South Kingstown.

Kudos for being recognized as one of the best actors in America.

HOT

Elizabeth Beisel

Rhode Island’s own three-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel made history on Saturday becoming the first woman to swim from the “mainland” of Rhode Island to Block Island.

Beisel is a native of North Kingstown and swam in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic games

Her swim raised $133,363 for Swim Across America, an organization raising funds for cancer research and treatment. You can donate HERE

GoLocal named Beisel one of the 50 Greatest Living Rhode Islanders.

HOT

Belichick v. Brady

Sunday night - sports at its very best.

HOT

Two Fan Favorites

A new business in downtown Providence is combining two crowd favorites — ice cream and cocktails. 

Zero Degrees Celsius has opened next to NicoBella’s at 155 Westminster Street. 

And while it features “boozy” frozen treats — there are non-alcoholic options as well. 

The business recently held a wine and paint night, and according to its website, stays open late for WaterFire. 

Ice cream parlors can be found around the city in neighborhoods, but Zero Degrees Celsius might just have found a unique niche downtown.

In 2019, a Forbes article said that boozy ice cream is a “cocktail trend that isn’t going away” — stay tuned. 

HOT

Marvin Abney

The House Finance Committee Chair has all but formally announced that he is a candidate for RI General Treasurer.

An Abney v. RI Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor in a primary would be two heavy and knowledgeable hitters going head to head.

HOT

Never Looked Better at 90

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) marked Rhode Island International Airport’s 90th anniversary on Monday, celebrating 90 years of serving the state and region. 

Originally founded as Hillsgrove State Airport, the airport became the first state-owned and operated airport in the United States and was formally dedicated on September 27, 1931. 

The airport was later renamed in honor of Theodore Francis (T. F.) Green, an avid supporter of aviation who served as Rhode Island's Governor from 1933-1937, then served as U.S. Senator.

A timeline of the 90 years of history at the airport from Hillsgrove to T. F. Green to an international airport can be found here.

“Despite the many hardships of the pandemic, the 90th Anniversary of Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport provides an opportunity for all to take pride in the accomplishments of the past decades, while looking ahead to prosperity in our future,” said Iftikhar Ahmad, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

“I want to congratulate Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport on their 90 year anniversary,” said Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi.

NOT

Can't Get an Economic Development Director Who Lives in Providence?

The selection of former state economic development director Keith Stokes to serve in a similar position for the city of Providence drew criticism from many GoLocal readers.

They criticized his role in the collapse of 38 Studios. He was sued by the state.

But, what also should raise concerns is why is the city of Providence hiring a Newport resident to run economic development for the City of Providence?

NOT

Commercial Office Space in Providence 

GoLocal reported Tuesday that the 12-story Citizens Plaza tower is for sale. Then, GoLocal learned that another major Providence commercial office building is up for sale.

“Gateway Center offers potential investors the opportunity to acquire a Class A office building with an aesthetically modern feel and ideal location with large and accommodating floor plates allows for the flexibility that current tenants seek in today’s environment,” according to the marketing material for property prepared by CBRE.

The Gateway Center office building today has a 43% occupancy rate. The building was originally built more than 30 years ago and American Express was the major tenant. It had been wrapped in controversy.

Construction was financed through $23 million in Rhode Island state bonds, which the state retirement system acquired. In 2004, the building’s developer went bankrupt and the pension fund took control of the property.

In 2006, a Connecticut developer acquired the building. Most recently, in 2009, U.S. Bank purchased the property at a foreclosure auction for $13 million.

And the building has sold again and again.

The Sale of Two Major Class A Buildings Raise Questions About the Future of Class A Office Space in Providence

The two buildings are a major portion of Providence's Class-A office space. Citizens Plaza is 218,850 square feet of Class A and Gateway is 117,982 square feet. Combined the two buildings are 336,832 square feet.

With some companies returning to the office in part or in full, questions continue to be asked about the future of the office workplace. Some workers want to continue to work from home avoiding painful commutes. Others want to return to the office to enjoy face-to-face collaboration and socialization.

NOT

Toxic

GoLocal this week secured a copy of an independent investigative report that finds repeated allegations of workplace bullying in the Providence City Council office. 

The report conducted by an independent law firm found that "the evidence reflects that [City Clerk Shawn] Selleck has violated the City Code of Conduct (which includes an anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy) and the Workplace Violence Policy.”

In addition, the report states, “A toxic work environment presently exists in the Clerk’s Office and the issues recited herein need to be properly addressed by the City in order to avoid further harm to the employees.”

The report comes after GoLocal first reported in August that Providence City Council President John Igliozzi hired a top-flight labor attorney to investigate allegations made by multiple members of the Providence City Clerk’s office against Selleck.

NOT

Vision

If anyone finds Dan McKee's vision for the future of RI, please call the GoLocal newsroom.