Jamestown

Latest Articles

An education funding formula, hailed as a breakthrough, faces its critics

Fuzzy math
For years, Rhode Island was one of just two states in the union without a funding formula for its public schools. And then, for a time, it was the only state with that dubious dis-tinction.
By DAVID SCHARFENBERG | June 24, 2010

Election attracting urine stains

Drama queens and vampire squids
For those who have felt that the entertainment value of Our Little Towne’s mayoral elections has been in serious decline since the Bud-I’s extended stay in New Jersey, look no further than the RIFuture blog.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | April 21, 2010

Party like it’s 2010

Get your New Year’s Eve on — and hit the ground running on New Year’s Day
Your usual lackadaisical approach to New Year's Eve — just see what happens and go with the flow — is not going to cut it this year. So to help you make this one count, here are some sure-thing NYE happenings, and some suggestions for the first day of '10.
By JIM MACNIE | January 06, 2010

Take a look

New spaces and fresh faces
A year ago the future looked bright as the RISD Museum debuted its shiny new Chace Center.
By GREG COOK | September 17, 2009

Water, benign and fierce

Sailing photos at Moses Brown, Katrina’s aftermath at Brown
In Onne van der Wal's sailing photos, it seems the weather is always balmy and the golden sun always setting. The Jamestown resident's exhibit at Moses Brown School's Krause Gallery (250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence, through October 2) depicts a world that's forever at its endless summer, can't-get-any-better-than-this peak.
By GREG COOK | September 15, 2009

RISD's hope-less situation

Outrage over the Alswang 'Resignation.' Plus, too many sad passings
On August 3 it was announced by the Rhode Island School of Design that Hope Alswang had resigned as the director of the RISD Museum. Those who have followed the coverage of this story may be somewhat confused by the revelation that absolutely everyone acknowledged that Alswang was a superlative museum director and that absolutely no one involved in the arts scene at RISD or in the state of Vo Dilun thinks that she voluntarily "resigned." It was said that she loved the job, and the vague announcement that Alswang left to "pursue other opportunities" sounds as suspicious as elected officials dropping out of election campaigns to "spend more time with their families."
By PHILLIPE & JORGE | August 12, 2009

Bridge to nowhere

What's in a name? Plus, a curious consultant, and bashing Obama.
The Department of Transportation has taken quite a few knocks in this space over the years. So to try to offset that, spurred by the story in the June 8 Urinal about the Pawtucket River Bridge, let us throw them a compliment: they do a hell of an artist's rendering.
By PHILLIPE and JORGE | June 10, 2009

Ride, Captain, Ride

Sundlun gets off the road. Plus, as A for the Gamm, and corporate lies
The mighty Captain Blowhard was back in the news quite prominently with his stop sign-rolling, curb-jumping antics behind the wheel that led the Jamestown police to suggest that he come out with his driver's license and hands up, following similar assessments by the North Kingstown gendarmes and the URI security force.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | May 12, 2009

Cheap jokes R us

Plus, the Times discovers Jamestown, the Globe in peril, and casino hypocrisy
Phillipe and Jorge's esteemed columnist friends from the Urinal, Bob Kerr and Edward Fitzpatrick, both picked up last week on the new bright orange "P" that is now meant to be the symbol of Providence to the outside world
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | April 08, 2009

Slice of Heaven

All this and bagels, too
Like mama used to say, don't fix what's not broken. In the kitchen, after requisite recipe fine-tuning and repair, after you have it tasting wonderful, slowly step away from that mixing bowl.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | April 08, 2009

Phillippe and Jorge: Fixing the system

Suggestions for the next visit to the voting booth
The always reliable Tom Sgouros raised some interesting issues in his February 7 e-mail newsletter, "Rhode Island Policy Reporter," that P+J were unable to find space for last week.
By PHILLIPPE AND JORGE | February 18, 2009

Search continues for our next chief justice

Maureen is no Diana for the RI Supremes
Ah, the PR campaigns and infighting continue to see who will be chosen as Vo Dilun's newest Supreme Court chief justice.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | January 14, 2009

30 on 30

30 local luminaries look back on 30 years of the New Paper and the Providence Phoenix
The Providence Phoenix celebrates 30 years with 30 interviews
By PROVIDENCE PHOENIX STAFF | October 24, 2008

How to eat seed corn

Fiscal due-diligence is a concept unfamiliar to denizens of Smith Hill
It is now revealed that the first quarter revenue projections for the state have come in an additional $33 million less than expected, running our deficit up to $66 million.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | October 16, 2008

Going with the flow

Gamblin’ Hands dives right in
Business is picking up for East Bay newcomers Gamblin’ Hands, who perform their first headlining show tonight (the 2nd) at the Living Room.
By CHRIS CONTI | October 02, 2008

Volunteers power Habitat for Humanity

Good deeds
On Wednesday mornings, retirees George Issa and Gene Jolie, each 61, can be found at the ReStore on Route 2 in Charleston, one of dozens Habitat for Humanity ReStores.
By AMY LITTLEFIELD | September 25, 2008

The Quiet Power of Jack Reed

Without seeking the spotlight, the senator and his star continue to rise
As he closes out his second six-year term in the Senate, perhaps the most elite club in politics, Reed is the subject of ongoing speculation about his future.
By IAN DONNIS | August 13, 2008

Johnny Carlevale and the Rollin’ Pins live it up

Gettin' real gone
Over the years, Providence’s Johnny Carlevale has served as a kind of musical archivist.
By BOB GULLA | June 10, 2008

Old Dogs, new tricks

The mighty Indestructibles
After the Jungle Dogs went down in 1998, bandleader Tom Kutcher was keen on lightening things up.
By BOB GULLA | April 23, 2008

RIPTA drones thrown under the bus

It’s high time for a better mass transit system
Beautiful! The people responsible for the longstanding mishandling of RIPTA have earned their brownie points, but little else.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | April 23, 2008

Local heroes 2008

Ramon Martinez, Bill Harley, Ren Whitaker, and Bob Fusaro
In this, the eleventh annual edition of the Providence Phoenix’s “Best” issue, we highlight people and organizations who are doing exceptionally good work.
By PROVIDENCE PHOENIX STAFF | April 17, 2008

Rockin’ ’n’ writin’

Don Hammontree’s Baptized in Formaldehyde
Fall River artiste Don Hammontree has done his share of recording, with a couple of solo discs out since debuting in 2003.
By BOB GULLA | April 10, 2008

RI DOT marks the spot

A veritable treasure trove of dubious state doings
Just when you think questionable doings couldn’t get any more questionable in Rhode Island, along comes the state Department of Transportation.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | March 26, 2008

Bouncing back

Good news for Black Rep and Stone Soup
There couldn’t be a more deserving venue.
By BOB GULLA | January 29, 2008

Stormy weather

Snow cleanup undermined by incompetents and flying monkeys
Phillipe + Jorge are not upset or disappointed that Governor Don “Laughing Boy” Carcieri was out of the country, in Iraq, during the recent winter storm imbroglio.
By PHILLIPE AND JORGE | December 19, 2007

Last call

A changing of the guard at the Narragansett Café
All good things must come to an end.
By BOB GULLA | December 12, 2007

Green local heroes

Ten people and organizations highlighting Rhode Island’s environmental vanguard
Decades after the birth of the modern environmental movement, the US and other nations are still struggling to come to terms with humanity’s impact on the planet.
By IAN DONNIS | November 07, 2007

Comings and goings

Low Anthem, Scarce, Johnny Lingo, and more
Low Anthem’s new record is a barnwood-built corncrib of pastoral vibes.
By BOB GULLA | October 02, 2007

The good fight

The Cold War; Daughters; Summerfest Providence; and more!
The Cold War’s first recording doesn’t sound like anything on the Providence music scene, which is curious.
By BOB GULLA | August 14, 2007

Pushing to replace Bush

Rhode Islanders are getting busy while supporting their favorite democrats
On an overcast night in early June, nearly 100 of US Senator Barack Obama’s local supporters crowded into the Peerless Lofts in downtown Providence.
By MATTHEW JERZYK | July 11, 2007