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.

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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 »

Join YUGA in our second annual Move to Stop AIDS Dance-A-Thon! We are raising awareness about the fact that there are 40 million people in this world living with HIV/AIDS and millions more affected by it.

Friday, November 30th, 2007
Firehouse 13
41 Central Street
Providence, RI 02907
7:00 PM - 1:00 AM

There will be a live dj, dance contests, artwork, food, a cash bar and a huge raffle that you won’t want to miss!

It’s time to get moving and hold our world leaders accountable to reach the Millennium Development Goal of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS. more »

Tonight (Monday, I mean) 9-11pm. At The Underground, 75 Waterman.

$3/person fundraiser for homeless women in Providence, sponsored by Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE), in the form of a concert/open-mic/poetry slam.

The Fox Point Community Garden will be holding its first fundraiser on December 3rd from 7-10 PM at the Portuguese Sporting Club at 92 Gano St. The garden just finished up its second season, with 120 plots tended by hundreds of people. And thousands of butterflies.

There’ll be music and food and auctions and such. Suggested donation of $5, but more would be deeply appreciated.

(Those who can’t make it can mail checks made out to Fox Point Community Garden to 104 Sheldon St, Providence, RI 02906)