Photo from GCPVD 

When things in life go really, really wrong, I take a few hours to shake my fists at the heavens, talk a mean streak through my best friend’s ear, and then spend too much money eating somewhere other than my miserable kitchen. “Comfort food” is as much a culinary genre as “Italian” or “French fusion” at this point, with restaurants billing themselves as purveyors of brownie sundaes, home-style grits or macaroni and cheese “just like Mom used to make.” Beyond this marketing pretense lies a very serious undertaking: good food should comfort us. It should serve as a salve to the injuries of daily life and make things just a little bit better. Plus, nothing beats eating a great meal without worrying about the dishes. Living off-Broadway, when I need my version of comfort food, I walk over to the Broadway Bistro for their version of chicken potpie.

more »

Backyard Movie Nights @ 155 Vinton Street
Starting August 2nd

Love movies? So do we! Join us in our Vinton Street backyard for screenings every Saturday night and some Fridays. Movies start at sundown. Bring a blanket or a chair and bring your friends. Donations of snacks, cash, or grilling supplies will be gladly accepted… we’re not rich, but we do have surround sound! Help us enrich our community by participating in these fun weekend events! more »

…Especially all you chain-smoking hipster types. Today is the first day of the Armory Park Farmers’ Market. Which is a good thing, as many of us know that it’s pretty tough to get groceries on the West Side:

Armory Park Farmers’ Market

Along Parade St. on the West Side

4pm-7pm, every Thursday

This week, strawberries, salad greens, and some herbs are in season. If my word is bond, non-salmonella tomatoes will be available, too.

I’ll be there, of course. And I guess my day job is becoming increasingly obvious to you, readers.

From a source deep inside this elite unit:

“Tonight, the Coed Fight Club for Girls converts E&O Tap into Providence’s only Feats of Strength sideshow, as they host the First Annual Strongest Girl in the Room contest. Starting at 8 pm, marvel as the area’s toughest ladies perform mindbending displays of physical prowess. Witness the carnage as they arm wrestle, thumb wrestle, and just plain regular wrestle for the right to declare themselves the Room’s Strongest Girl. Participate in these and other events: including large-man piggyback races, chicken fights, and a night-closing bodybuilding pageant. Bring your own heavy object and get a free shot.” E&O Tap, tonight, leave your fear at the door.

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

 But not all in the same place, which would be incredible. And as a general disclaimer, I am in The Cold War, but I write about a lot of bands so whatever.

•  AS220  The Cold War, the ‘Mericans, Sunny Winter (NYC), Anthony Loffredio (from Barn Burning). 9pm, $6?
• Penalty Box  Six Star General, Chris Evil and the Taints, Suicide Bill, The Propellers.  9pm, Free
• tazza  Go-Go Power: Francophile Edition. Ye-ye, punk rock, new wave, soul a la francaise 10pm, $5
• Firehouse 13  Providence Is Burning with Micah Jackson and Certified Max (Certified Bananas) 10pm, $5, free w/ rsvp, send ‘em an email