OH WELL HEY AGAIN just serial blogging to remind you not to forget to immediately buy tickets to AS220′S totally brutal, wicked hottttt, ultra-provi-chic party of your LIFE annual fun(d)raiser FOOL’S BALL.

WHY? because where else will you be june 28th? SITTING AT HOME CRYING INTO YOUR GLASS OF CARLO ROSSI CAUSE YOU’RE NOT AT FOOL’S BALL, THAT’S WHERE.

ANYWAY GREAT what you SHOULD DO is buy fool’s ball tickets from me for $15 as opposed to buying them at the door for $20, because paying $5 extra for being wishy-washy sucks wicked hard. and if you DON’T, i’ll be forced to attempt to hustle money out of you in public places, such as the taqueria, possibly during friendly lunches, especially if your name is dave segal. and i’ll never stop. NEVER!!!!

ALSO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, and i’ll try to say this gently so not to crush any egos, no matter how VIP you think you is you won’t get in for free UNLESS you volunteer to help out, OR are performing (OR obnoxiously hustling… email chloe@as220.org to volunteer) SO you might as well buy a ticket. from me. or the bar. or one of the various other potentially less thrifty (and certainly less wordy…also: less attractive) ticket-hustlers running around town hustling tickets.

AND SO, TO CONCLUDE, hunt me down, buy tix, have fun, you won’t regret it. HERE, LOOK, I’LL EVEN MAKE IT EASY: you can buy tix (or sandwiches) from me monday, tuesday and thursday before 3pm at CAFFE PAZZO (YEAH, REMEMBER THAT PLACE?) on steeple st, next to new rivers (where all your best friends work).

UHHH for more possibly less spazzy info on fool’s ball: [HERE]

Does it count as shameless self-promotion to promote my promotion of a friend’s event? Hopefully not. Scope my piece in this week’s Phoenix on the upcoming criminal justice reform festival, Justice or Just Us?, taking place at AS220 real soon.

With the primary now in the wrap-it-up stages, DNC Chair Howard “Doc” Dean was in town for a secret powwow with state deomcratic powerbrokerz and moneybagz, ostensibly to drum up buy-ins for a big “upcoming fundraiser.” The guest list included a bunch of Hillary prominent delegates and backers of HRC.

Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean visited Providence for a private dinner meeting with leading Democrats at a Federal Hill restaurant….

Among those at the dinner last night, held at Providence Prime Restaurant, were Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr., current Mayor David N. Cicilline, Alan Hassenfeld, a business leader, Lynch, Chris Vitale, a leading Democratic lobbyist and fundraiser, state Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, D-Coventry, and Democratic activist Susan Weiner, wife of Mark Weiner.

Scott Mackay’s got the scoop.

Interestingly enough, there seems to be a ‘lil rift growing in Camp Hillary RI over how, when, and under what circumstances to end the race. Which dems are getting the picture? More after the jump. (more…)

Michaela Zacchilli is an amazing graphic artist and sender of insane missives like the one below. If I were you I’d be scared not to go to this, she’d probably show up at your house and start drawing on your face. 

hello hello hello, dear friends!
plz join us @ narwhal arms (mathewson/washington–above blake’s) this SATURDAY may 3rd 11am-3pm for DIRTY/CHEAP PRINT-BRUNCH (a tiny
fundraising event for as220 community printshop!), which involves FREE
brunchy-type food items (like, HELLO, vegan LENTIL SOUP not brunchy
more lunchy but whatevs, free COFFEE i’m gonna drink it all so watch
out BAGELS which are hard to come by i hear and really brutal PANCAKES
personally flipped by yours truly that may or may not be gluten free
just to keep it alt-lyfe u know; anyway) and besides all the free
food, bring your dolla$$$$ ‘cuz we going to have a wicked cheap print
sale (some nice prints&posters from $3-$15!!!!!!!!!!!) AND a RAFFLE
(raffle is the new keg party) for a print and a fish pillow (which
bleeds authentic fire). it’s going to be really special (friends).
p.s. ALL $$ from prints sold goes to p-shop (aka as220 community
printshop).

Oh, there’s more… (more…)

The Friends of Rochambeau are holding one of their bi-annual book sales, and it’s going on right now through Saturday. I just took a quick look around and there is some pretty good stuff — hardcover and paperbacks as well as A.V. items. It would appear that someone has purged their ‘Star Trek: TNG’ video collection for one thing. And there is an MST3K tape that I would have bought but I already have it. Everything seems to be either 50¢ or $1.

Open today until 5:30PM

Thursday: 1 - 8:30PM

Friday: 10 - 5:30PM

Saturday is fill a bag for $5 day: 10 - 5PM

Rochambeau Library/708 Hope Street/351-3063

Don’t forget about two awesome events happening tonight:

• The Black Air Foundation Fundraiser to Benefit the Lambert Lima Flying Squadron Cadet Program from 7:00-9:00PM at the Cape Verdean Progressive Center, 329 Grosvenor Avenue, East Providence.
• The Incarceration Rate for Males of Color In the State of Rhode Island, hosted by the Rhode Island Young Professionals, taking place from 6:00PM and 9:00PM at Brown University’s MacMillan Auditorium, 167 Thayer Street.

St. Patrick’s Day Eve: Tonight is Pub Quiz night at the Wild Colonial. Teams can be up to four people and you just show up and sit down. The rules are explained as you go along. Categories might be ‘current events’, ’sports’ or ‘famous Irish marine biologists’ — stuff like that.
Pub Quiz/Sunday/8:00PM/250 South Water Street/ample parking

St. Patrick’s Day: The Wild Colonial will open at 11AM. Between the hours of 3:00 - 5:00PM the full purchase price of every Guinness will be donated to The Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Go hoist some girders.

The classic Irish corned beef boiled dinner will be available both days and is superb.

Just wanted to pass on to the good bikers of Providence that a friend of mine from Boston is organizing a two day cycling event and fundraiser in support of Barack Obama. The two day tour begins in Cambridge on Friday, April 4, at 10:00am and ends in Provincetown on Sunday, April 6, at 1:00pm. (more…)

In case you didn’t know, Monday night at the DuDo’s Ctr is Phoenix Rising! Musicians United to Benefit the Victims of the Station Nightclub Fire. With the New York Times and the ProJo running longer retrospectives on the five year anniversary of the tragic blaze, hitting up this show might be a good way to support the victims.

Among the monster acts who have announced thus far: “John Rich (Big & Rich), Alabama’s Randy Owen, Dierks Bentley, Kellie Pickler and Gretchen Wilson will be joining Aaron Lewis (Staind), Tesla, Twisted Sister, Kevin Max and Stryper featuring Tom Scholz and Gary Pihl of Boston and the just added, Winger among others.”

John Rich will host the country portion of the concert while Dee Snider [of Twisted Sister] will do the honors for the rock segments. Emmy-nominated composer and musician Marc Bonilla who will serve as music director for the benefit, Carmine Appice’s SLAM!, Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Danny Seraphine with CTA, Gary Hoey and others still to be announced.

“What happened at the Station Nightclub could have happened at any rock venue across the country,” said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1. “We want to help raise awareness of the survivors’ challenges to a national level through both VH1 Classic and VH1. We are hoping to tap into that huge community of music lovers and remind everyone about the redemptive power that music, and the great people who make it, can provide.”

VH1 Classic and VH1 will air “VH1 Classic Presents: AFTERMATH: The Station Fire Five Years Later” a one- hour special of concert highlights on Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:00 p.m. (more…)

Well that settles it, I may just have to see what this whole E&O fuss is about because you see, today this missive arrived in our inbox. I will print it in full, because its awesomeness is quite obvious.

“Providence, it’s time to bring whatever “it” happens to be. Coed Fight Club for Girls, a ragtag assemblage of Providence’s most motivated exercisers, is guest bartending at the E&O Tap tonight, starting at 8:00 pm. Pulling their inspiration from Jane Fonda, Billy Blanks, professional cheerleading, and the Eric Prydz “Call on Me” video, CFCFG’s mission is to sweat, wear spandex, and eternally over-extend our personal best. A Curves for the post-irony crowd, the Club strives to foster a supportive workout environment for those who love exercise but hate the idea of Gold’s Gym. The ladies will be serving drinks in their finest thong leotards, to a backdrop of workout videos and high-energy music. All money raised during the night will go to acquiring more fitness gear for the club. Free shots go to anyone in spandex.”

Coed Fight Club for Girls meets Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm at 479 Washington Street. Workouts are free with a suggested donation of $2-$5. For more information email coedfightclubforgirls@gmail.com

Call me a flaming nelly, but I think it’s hysterically funny whenever anyone performs at the Columbus Theater and describes it as being Live On Broadway.

Although the odds of catching a show on Broadway are far less likely than the odds of getting a haircut or tattoo, you’ll have two chances for a good old-fashioned theatrical show at the under-utilized Columbus this week.  This Friday and Saturday, local drag performer (and Tuesday night Dark Lady karaoke hostess) Sabrina Blaze puts on a one-queen show as a benefit for AIDS Care Ocean State.  Last year’s event sold out, so you might want to get your tickets in advance by calling 821-7728, although the going rate for tickets ($30 and $35) is a little on the steep side.

I can’t believe I haven’t found the time to post re: the ceiling collapse at Black Rep, but now that we’re opening our doors again tonight for Latin Jazz & Salsa, I think it is finally appropriate to lay the cards on the table and dispel any last remaining rumors. From Artistic/Executive Director Donald W. King:

Following a two-week closure caused by the sudden collapse of 1/3 of its café ceiling on December 27th, The Providence Black Repertory Company will host a Re-Opening Celebration on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 5pm until closing.

(more…)

Friday, December 7th – Providence City Arts 10th Annual All That Glitters Gala 10th Anniversary Celebration and Online Auction! Music by Eight to the Bar…Fine Foods by Freakin’ Nana’s…..Silent and Live Auction…Entertainment Galore with Ten 31 Productions and Big Nazo!!! Held at the American Locomotive Works 555 Valley St. Join the auction fun and online here. For more information, please call Jeanne at (401) 831-7323 ext. 19.

In culinary terms, the amuse bouche refers to the tiny bite-sized morsel that precedes the first course, an introduction of the chef and preview of the meal to come. Amuse My Bouche refers to the food column that you find here on Providence Daily Dose, promising local restaurant reviews, Providence food&bev industry gossip, and general sass on the subject of eating & drinking.

Forget Italy, Providence is Now the Center of the Slow Food Universe!

I’ve already pointed out how much I dislike the holidays, but there’s always some silver lining to the grey clouds of December. For me, it’s that last jolt of social activities before my hibernation period from January to March. There are holiday parties and fundraisers with free booze and hors d’oeurves which double as my meal for the night.

Tomorrow is December 1st, and already it’s shaping up to be a busy holiday celebration season. This weekend is especially exciting, as there are three different events that will let you celebrate and sample, or perhaps purchase, some of the finest locally grown and produced foods in our little state. If there was any doubt in your mind that Rhode Island is home to some of the highest quality food in the whole wide world, the next few days will give you the opportunity school yourself.

On the agenda: It’s Local Veggies in Abundance and Why You Should Buy Them, Fox Point Gardeners Do Contra Dancing, and The Honorable David Cicilline Cuts the Cheese.

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Fashion is commonly thought of as a guilty indulgence, but this Friday, November 30th, at 7pm in RISD’s Metcalf Dining Hall (30 Waterman Street), you can enjoy some beautiful and unique designs while supporting a good cause.

Project Apron: Fighting Hunger With Fashion, hosted by RISD Dining, will raise funds to fill the shelves at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. 50 or so RISD students and faculty members have agreed to design aprons that will be auctioned off. The aprons will be modeled on the runway, some by none other than yours truly! (Here’s hoping I don’t stumble on the runway and get run over by Heidi Klum like Ms. Carrie Bradshaw here…)

All proceeds will go to buying food for the Food Bank, but here’s what I like most about this event: half of the money will be used to buy fresh, local fruits and veggies through Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s Holiday Food Drive, and every farmer has agreed to match those cash donations with an equal amount of food, donated throughout the upcoming year. That’s a lot of healthy food going to the members of our community who really need it!

The event is open to the public, and your admission is just a can of food. You can also make a cash donation or bid on one of the super-hip aprons designed by those super-hip RISD kids.

See you on the runway.

Dear Readers,
We recieved this very urgent email in our tipbox this morning. I cannot underestimate the seriousness of Ms. Kojo’s plight. We, as a compassionate city must band together to lend help where we can, so what we need to do is open a bank account…well, I’ll just let you read the whole letter:

“From Maimuna Kojo
Treichville Abidjan Ivory coast,

How are you and your health that is very important to me? [Ed: that’s very nice of her!] I am Maimuna Kojo, The only child of late Mr and Mrs Kojo, My Late father was a very wealthy Cocoa Merchant based in Abidjan, the Economic Capital of Ivory Coast before he was poisoned to death by his Business Associates [Ed: !!!] in connection with my uncle who was with him that day on the business outing to discuss on a business deal with some of his foreign business partner… (more…)