Another Providence Trip

Another fun trip to Providence--albeit a lot more brief that the previous two trips. Dan flew to Boston for work, and was visiting friends M & A in Providence, so I drove down to see him (and give him a ride back up to Logan that evening).

M & A were great tour guides for my brief visit. Brunch was at Modern Diner--a 1940's-era diner that has survived to now--the first diner to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to that web page.


They had an amazing menu of specials, including cheese grits with pesto, and lobster Benedict. Mmmm... runny poached eggs.... hollandaise... lobster simmered in butter... oh, hurt me, baby.


Afterwards, we wandered over to the RISD Alumni Art Sale--many booths with a wide variety of arts--from clothing/hats to ceramics to furniture to metal sculpture to... oh, you get the idea. Everything from the sublime to the kitsch (including creepy dolls).



One interesting discovery at a booth--RISD has an offical class ring (part of a student's senior thesis, circa 1994). RISD had a generic-big-ring-company ring before then, until somebody said, "Wait, we're a what school, here?" and designed a ring. I gotta say, it's pretty cool and distinctive--check out this image. It looks like a cross between sculpture, jewlery, and a machine part.

Another great exhibitor was a furniture maker--Nojo Design--beds, tables, cabinets. His sample pieces had some gorgous figured woods (burls, birds eye maple). They are out of Easthampton MA--their studio is a former 1920's vaudeville theater that they painstakingly restored--check out this photo.

We were looking at his exhibit beds--take a headboard and footboard, and put a 3 foot long mattress in between, so it will fit in an exhibit space, while still showing off the work. The owner told us that he can gauge the caliber of people at an art show when he sees couples looking at it, thinking out loud, "So how could we use a bed that size?" (and completely failing to realize what it's for). The owner said they're typically really embarassed when he tells them.

On the walk back, we passed by the Lauderdale Building--an 1894 building, according to this PDF--terra cotta cladding, with a great big open first floor. Dan pointed the building out--once again, the golden hour makes my amateur hack snapshots look pretty.



I got Dan to the airport with plenty of time to spare. As always, wonderful to see him--however briefly. And also fun to re-acquaint myself with M (and meet A).

A quiet Saturday evening followed. And on Sunday, the first apple pie of the season. Yay pie!