Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - October 7, 2022

HOT

Marc Allen Fine Clothiers Buys Building and Expands Old Cable Car Cinema

The old Cable Car Cinema in Providence has a new owner — and will soon house the expansion of an existing business.

Marc Streisand with Marc Allen Fine Clothiers made the announcement on Wednesday. 

“We have purchased both our existing building and the building next door (The Cable Car Cinema),” said Streisand. “We will remain open in our existing location while we begin building the next version of Marc Allen, right next door.” 

The Cable Car closed in 2019 after 42 years; a coffee shop went briefly in the space prior to the pandemic. 

New Look on South Main 

Streisand said the following about the move. 

“I have to say, this acquisition has left me feeling several different emotions: excitement, fear, trepidation, exuberance and especially, pride!

With the help of a great team of people, (Colin, Will, Kenia, Josh, David, Mary, Petr, Kenny, and of course my family), @marcallenfineclothiers has taken a huge step into the future. 

With our new space, we will revolutionize the way men experience shopping for their lifestyle.  With the most special and unique brands the world has to offer, most only be found at our shop, we will help transform a man’s style into the look he wants and the fit he needs. 

Keep an eye out for the very cool and exciting changes we are making to the iconic Providence spot.”

HOT

The Healing Power of Narragansett Beer

Narragansett Beer fixes all problems, is the tongue-in-cheek claim in the brewery’s newest commercial online. 

“I feel bloated, headaches…I’m tired all the time,” says the older actor, looking for a remedy at a pharmacy. 

The younger actor playing the pharmacist says he has just the cure for his ills — Narragansett Beer. 

“Oh, I’m not a doctor…neither am I impersonating the title of a physician,” he does acknowledge, looking straight into the camera. 

If you’re looking to try some of the cure yourself — Narragansett is hosting Oktoberbest fest celebrations at its India Point location in Providence throughout the month of October. 

HOT

Rhode Island International Airport Ranked #4 in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards

Condé Nast Traveler has announced the results of its 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards with Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport recognized as the “4th Best Airport in the United States” based on traveler rankings and reviews. 

This is the third consecutive year that Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport has been named as one of the nation’s Top Five Airports by Condé Nast Traveler, improving to 4th place after 2021’s Top Five ranking. 

“It is truly a privilege to serve all those who travel through Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport who have honored us with their help in achieving this recognition,” said Iftikhar Ahmad, President, and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC). “We are thankful for the support of our community and we will continue our efforts to be recognized as the best airport in the nation.”

HOT

King Edward From Chalkstone Avenue

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli, who grew up off of Chalkstone Avenue this week, has a tremendous column about how he was named Edward.

The death of Queen Elizabeth reminded me of my connection to royalty. How so? Well, I was named after a king. “Edward, I loved the king, so I named you after him,” revealed Mom. Dad called me Ed, my grandparents called me Ed-a-Wood, and my friends called me Eddie, but to Mom, I was Edward.

“After King Edward, the same man who abdicated the British throne?”

“Yes, that guy.”

“But he abdicated.”

“Oh, get off,” a favorite quip of Mom’s when she wanted to dismiss someone.

“Mom, something else. He met with Hitler. Bad form.” Edward had pre-war Nazi sympathies and was once honored by Nazi officials. “And, Mom, he was having an affair with Wallis Simpson, a married woman once divorced.” Another ‘get-off’ followed.

The royal family disapproved of Edward’s married mistress, but by 1936 the prince was intent on marrying Mrs. Simpson. Before Edward could discuss this plan with his father, George V died in January 1936, and Edward was proclaimed king. 

The new king proved popular with his subjects. His coronation was scheduled for May 1937. His affair with Mrs. Simpson was reported in American and continental European newspapers, but a gentlemen’s agreement between the British press and the government kept the affair out of British newspapers. On October 27, 1936, Mrs. Simpson’s preliminary decree of divorce with the intent of marrying the king precipitated a major scandal. To The Church of England and most British politicians, an American woman twice divorced was unacceptable as a prospective British queen.

Edward could not be dissuaded. The scandal broke on the front pages of British newspapers and was discussed openly in Parliament. With no resolution possible, the king renounced the throne. The next day, Parliament approved, and Edward VIII’s reign came to an end. The new king, George VI, made his older brother the Duke of Windsor, and on June 3, 1937, the Duke and Wallis Warfield married.

“So what. He was a good guy. I loved the way he dressed; I named you after him. Get off.” Mom was a fashion buff, so I suspect another reason was that the prince socialized with the fashionable London society of the day.

I presume the first name I sported was Baby Boy Iannuccilli which became Edward Anthony on my birth certificate. The adults in our three-tenement home called me Edward as in, “Edward, put on your rubbers. Edward, come home when the streetlights go on.” In the neighborhood, it was Eddie. When I outraced my friends, I was Fast Eddie. In later years, they called me Ed. I liked that.

A college professor once called me Yankanelli, so thereon after, I was Ed Yank to my college buddies. In my years of medical practice, I was Dr. Ed. I liked that.

In many families, it is not uncommon for the first male child to be named after his father or even his paternal grandfather. My mother, like the king, defied convention and connected me to royalty. “Get off.”

HOT

Winner, Winner Red Hot Dinner

A Rhode Island hot sauce company just got even hotter. 

Rhed’s Hot Sauce — based in Providence — just notched three medals at the NYC Hot Sauce Expo. 

Made with peppers and vegetables sourced seasonally from local Rhode Island Farms, including Brandon Family Farm, Lucky Foot Ranch and Chris & Kristina's Market Garden, Rhed’s announced this week that it earned plaudits at the recent New York event for its Smoky Habanero Salsa, Deja Vu Hot Sauce, and Spicy Mustard BBQ Sauce. 

So just who is Rhode Island’s Rhed’s? 

According to their website: 

“Owner & Pepper Head Deja Hart came to love hot sauce while growing up in Southern California. Her true love of hot peppers began when she became the executive chef at a boutique Thai and Indonesian fusion restaurant in Manhattan Beach, California where she worked with two wonderful Thai ladies.

Upon moving to Rhode Island, Deja's red-headed husband Karsten (hence "Rhed's) started a pepper garden in their backyard. Each year, the pepper varieties that they planted became more unique, thus spurring on Deja's goal to create the most flavorful, well-balanced hot sauces.”

NOT

Investigation Grows: More Destinations, Travel Cost Near $100,000, and Many Questions Unanswered.

Serving as Mayor of Central Falls gave James Diossa the opportunity to see the world -- trips across the globe and stayovers at luxury hotels. The nearly 50 trips during his tenure as mayor of Rhode Island's poorest community were paid for by third parties and Central Falls taxpayers.

On Tuesday, the City of Central Falls turned over an additional 37 pages of documents relating to the global travel of then-Mayor James Diossa.

The new documents were delivered to GoLocal a week after the materials were required to be disclosed according to state law. And, the documents continue to be incomplete -- despite the near endless trips, there are backup materials and receipts for only a fraction of the junkets. 

Diossa is the Democratic candidate for General Treasurer and, if elected, he will oversee nearly $10 billion in retirees' pension funds.

New Documents Show Previously Undisclosed Trips to Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, Kansas City, and Other Locations

The additional documents provided by the City of Central Falls on Tuesday show that Diossa also traveled to multiple previously undisclosed locations, including Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Puerto Rico.

In 2017, there was a trip to Miami with his then-girlfriend and now fiancé Sandra Cano to a mayor's conference. The two stayed at the four-star beachfront Maimi beach Confidente Hotel. She is a State Senator representing Pawtucket and works for the City of Pawtucket now. It appears that the City of Central Falls paid some portion of her trip -- city document shows a $975 payment for Cano and there is no corresponding documentation of reimbursement by Cano or Diossa.

READ MORE

NOT

Barbara Cottam

Barbara Cottom has stepped down as the chair of the board of education.

A GoLocal investigation found she failed to visit any Providence schools for years while chairing the board.

What is that saying, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything?

We will just leave a hyperlink.

NOT

Shortage of Bus Drivers Is Just the Beginning, RI’s Job Market Is a Mess

The implications of the new order of the state of Rhode Island’s workforce is having a bigger impact than if your entree comes out cold.

Rhode Island's restaurants are down 3,000 workers. The state's hospitals combined have thousands of vacancies and are losing tens of millions a quarter due in part to overtime costs. Overall, the state’s workforce is 8% smaller than it was before the pandemic.

Rhode Island has some big plans for the future. It has set aside more than half a billion dollars to build affordable housing and reinvent the energy infrastructure.

But, Rhode Island can’t even staff public transportation. Hard to reverse the course of climate change when you are forcing more people to abandon public transportation and get back in cars to get to work, school, or the hospital.

We don't have enough workers, many don't want to do certain jobs, and achieving the goals of improving housing, healthcare, and climate change simply won't be possible without a major change to the availability of workers.

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NOT

195 Commission and NOT HOT Are Redundant

The former Providence Mayor calls the most recent decision by the 195 Commission idiotic and says that the members should resign.

Photo of the Commission's chair Bob Davis seen here.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE