Rave: Bahn Mi, Point Judith Seafood Shacks, Brickley's and Del's

Vietnamese sandwiches, Vietnamese street food. Until this summer, I had no idea that this was a specific thing (which isn't to say that I hadn't eaten them before). What can I say? They are absolutely delicious. I can unequivocally recommend Silent h on North 9th and Berry in Brooklyn and Banh Mi Saigon Bakery at Mott below Grand. Check out this Gridskipper post for more (and this Time Out New York "Cheap Eats" article for a wider variety of cheap sandwiches...)

While we're on the subject of eating, let's not forget Aunt Carrie's in Narragansett, RI, where clam cakes, lobster rolls, clam strip rolls, and chowder were the order of the night on Saturday evening, followed by rich, homemade ice cream at Brickley's on 1A, and preceded by a refreshing Del's on the beach. Who says you can't eat like a king in South County?

Michelle, Why Would You?

Rhode Island produces the greatest people. The greatest. The greatest.

Penguin, Robot, Monster

First, let's have a little test. See if you can match the pictures above with their corresponding titles below:

"Giving Up"
"Two Penguins, One Hammer"
"Six Penguins, One Hatchet"
"Flashing Santa"
"Astronauts and Baseball"
"Swimmers and Zombies"

Did you do well?

I spent the afternoon in Narragansett, RI, visiting my folks, collecting a few things (CDs that I've recently bought and books that I am still reading, mostly, while the rest stays moth-balled). We took a walk down to the village green, where the Narragansett Art Fair was going on. There was some all-right stuff there - decent photography of New England land and sea-scapes, some nice metalwork and a few nice oil painters, but mostly decorative, nothing surprising. But then I stumbled into Greg Stones' tent. Modestly sized-stuff, but wonderfully detailed and laugh out loud funny. Really, really great. It was a shame that the artist had stepped out, probably for a Del's, but check out his website - there's tons of fun stuff to see. For example, titles I've left out:

"Zombie, Robot, Flower"
"Penguin, Robot, Revolver"
"Monster and Giant Penguin"

And on top of charming paintings, how about this charming About the Artist description:

I am a Rhode Island-based graduate of Bates College who majored in Studio Art, minored in Music, and married a visually appealing smart girl last year. Oh yes, and I have spent the past nine years working as a full-time artist. Why am I a full-time artist? Because I have no other skills. Also, I am extremely lucky, because not only do people like how I paint, they like what I paint, and that makes all the difference. Zombies, penguins, blue aliens, naked people, people flashing animals, barns, landscapes, UFOs, quiet human interactions...all these various elements of my work strike chords with enough people that I am actually able to do what I love to do every single day of my life: watch television. Oh, and paint. I almost forgot about the painting part. Painting. Gotta love it. Good stuff. (Did I mention the visually appealing smart girl? She's my wife.)

I guess the only question left is, JJK, Emster, exactly how many of these paintings and prints would you like as gifts for your wedding?

Photos of Providence Downcity

Spent an afternoon taking photos in downtown Providence a few weeks ago, just finally got around to posting them. Downtown Providence has undergone an absolute transformation in the twenty five years that I have lived in and kept ties with Rhode Island - rescuing itself from the bleak gray doldrums of industrial recession into a fairly vibrant, artist-friendly downtown with a wonderful heritage of early and mid-century brick and stone buildings in the center of downtown. Worth a visit if you are every passing through on 95.

Octupus, Chandalier, Necktie

Wired on-line has a nifty set of photos about a "shape-shifting chandelier"(above). Check it out.

Went to the RISD alumni sidewalk sale on Benefit Street in Providence yesterday. Surprisingly, and disappointingly, I disliked most of the stuff there - it was too crafty and humorless. The two highlights (not counting all the artsy girls and boys) among the vendors were some really nice designer ties from SovereignBeck and some very amusing postcards (for which I can't find the link!)
ENW sends a link to 3quarksdaily, an excellent blog, more professional and prolific than this one, about science, art, culture, etc., leading me to this awesome collection of photos (which I believe are real sea creatures, but ENW would know better than me, what with his new island lifestyle...)

Finally, this video of the experiments conducted on the British Army to evaluate the war time effects of LSD has made the rounds once before, but it's still worth a look.

Buddy, The Prince of Providence

For the past month, I've been making modest excursions out in to the wild charms of my home state -- remembering what a quaint and insane little place I come from. Walking around the beautiful but unnervingly quiet and weirdly populated Downcity Arts district of Providence on Monday, I picked up a copy of the Providence Monthly. Gracing the cover of the magazine was the beloved and enigmatic talisman of the city: former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, Jr.

The occasion for a giant, smiling Buddy in a tan suit and bright red boxing gloves jabbing at the Providence skyline? His imminent release from prison. Or more precisely, the federal penitentiary, having served due time on corruption charges, stemming from "Operation Plunder Dome."

And Rhode Island welcomes the convicted ex-mayor back, with open arms. Again. For the second time. (To be fair, the mood is more mixed this time -- but there is also more than enough adoration to go around).

In case you aren't familiar with one of the best politicians in America, a couple of quick, unsourced tidbits:

• "I'm not afraid of this. Ninety-seven times zero is zero" - the Mayor's reaction to the 97-page indictment in the Operation Plunder Dome case, in April 2001
• The secret of the "Mayor's Own Marinara Sauce," a well-regarded bottled pasta sauce, is in the carrots. Thus according to the Mayor, from prison. The sauce was widely available in Providence, and all of who proceeds go to local school charities. Sort of like Paul Newman, if Paul Newman were a mob-tied twice-convicted felon who singlehandedly resurrected a moribund Providence downtown.
• Once threatened to have Harry Connick Jr.'s stage manager "whacked."
• First jail term was for assault and kidnapping of a friend that he believed to be sleeping with his estranged wife. Buddy's driver testified against him, and some of the apocryphal stories of that fateful evening include Buddy beating his friend with a log from the fireplace, putting a cigarette out on his friend, and urinating on his friend.
• Buddy was re-elected as the Mayor of Providence as an Independent immediately after his release from prison.
• Buddy was the visionary and motivating force behind the revitalization of Providence's once-decrepit downtown. It's safe now. There is a waterway and a real gondola from Venice. Public art flourishes. Families bring their children out on summer nights.

What can you to prepare for the second coming of Buddy?

• Learn more about Buddy
• Befriend Buddy on MySpace
• Watch the Buddy Cianci musical or documentary film