slides: COLLEGE GUIDE: Famous Grads’ Inside Tips

John G. O'Hurley, Jr.

Providence College '76

Now he's an actor and television personality who is best known for his role of J. Peterman on Seinfeld and as the host of Family Feud from 2006 to 2010.

Favorite RI spots:

When O’Hurley was at PC, Julio’s Pizza with a pitcher of beer and Brad’s were among his favorites. Today, Capital Grille and Lobster Pot are his favorite RI spots.

Robert C. Gallo, MD

Providence College '59

Now he is a physician and researcher best known for discovering HIV as the cause of AIDS, developing the HIV blood test and he has been a major contributor to further HIV research.

Favorite RI Spots:

Restaurants: Oats Tavern, anything in the “Italian Hill”

-Bars: None except Oats… “I thought bars were for high school days”

Roger Williams for dances and Brown for parties (both for girls, as there weren't any at PC then)

Overall, "I worked and studied too much!"

Andy Husbands

Johnson & Wales ’90

Now he is the award-winning chef of Tremont 647 and an established cookbook author. Husbands competes with his internationally recognized BBQ team: iQUE BBQ, the first New England Team to become world champions of BBQ by winning the Jack Daniels World Championships in 2010.

Favorite RI Spots:

The Rocket: Husbands went every Thursday and Sunday night and usually Fridays and Saturdays

The Living Room: Husbands saw Janes open for Red Hots there

Haven Brothers: "For late night eats"

The Recess: "Cheap beer in small glasses"

Snookers: "Shooting pool was my minor"

Al Forno: "When my folks came to take me out for dinner"

Justine Mainville

Rhode Island College '10

Now she is the keyboardist, drummer, singer and merch girl for Math the Band

Favorite RI Spots:

“We loved (love) AS220! White Electric! Nick’s on Broadway! Lived over on the West End back then!”

Andrew D. Goldberg

Bryant University ’02

Now he's a Global Market Strategist at J.P. Morgan Funds

Favorite RI Spots:

Parente’s Restaurant next to Bryant’s campus in Smithfield was a staple

Haven Brothers food truck for late night eats in downtown Providence

Kartabar on Thayer Street for the international scene

Michael Hurley

Roger Williams University '09

Now he's a sports reporter for NESN

Favorite RI Spots:

“I was a big fan of Aidan’s for a more quiet spot. I remember (foggily) a lot of nights at Topside down by the water, but I guess that’s no longer Topside. That was the spot for tons of cheap wings and pitchers of beer.

My best bar night in college was senior night at Aidan’s. I think we paid something like $5 and then got free pitchers of beer all night. That was always a fun place, but that was a particularly fun way to go out.”

Jason Mattera

Roger Williams University '05

Now he is a New York Times bestselling author, the youngest editor of a national periodical, Human Events, and the host of “The Jason Mattera Show” on News Talk Radio 77  WABC in New York.

Favorite RI Spots:

“Not sure if these place are still even around, but Thursday night was definitely reserved for the Bean in Bristol. And I ate way too many hot dogs at Spike's in Providence.” (Photo: Kristina Hernandez)

Kristin Hersh

Salve Regina University

Now she is a singer and songwriter who performs as lead singer and guitarist for alternative rock group, Throwing Muses, and the hardcore punk-influenced trio, 50 Foot Wave. In addition to performing solo acoustic concerts, Hersh wrote a memoir, Rat Girl, and she co-founded CASH Music, the non-profit software project for recording artists.

Favorite RI Spots:

“I bet they’re all gone now except for the beach, the Living Room and the Swan Point Cemetery...I don’t know why we all thought the cemetery was fun, but we did...” (Photo: Rtsanderson)

Marissa Nadler

RISD '03

Now she's an internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter. Nadler's songs are often about imagined, idealistic times with a cast of created characters. Nadler sings in a mezzo-soprano with her acoustic guitar and often along with several other instruments.

Favorite RI Spots:

Lily Marlene's on Federal Hill, The Custom House, Julian's on the West Side, The Garden Grille in Pawtucket, and as220 in Downcity.

Diana Eng

RISD '05

Now she's a clothing designer who started her career as a designer on Season 2 of Bravo’s Project Runway. Eng started her line, Diana Eng, in 2010.

Favorite RI Spots:

Cafe La France - "Chicken salad sandwich with potato salad side"

Gordito Burrito - "I always asked for a squirt of nacho cheese in my burrito"

The Creperie

Sonya Sklaroff

RISD ’92

Now she is an artist who is best known for her paintings of New York City.

Favorite RI Spots:

"I loved going to Federal Hill for delicious pizza and Italian food. Sometimes my friends and I would wander around until we found great stuffed pizza. I still dream of those pizzas. The Cable Car Cinema had these cozy couches that were so comfy and it was a great place to watch an indie film. Geoff's made good sandwiches and they had this big pickle barrel in the middle of the shop where the pickles were free - I sure did eat a lot of those pickles.

I used to do my reading and liberal arts homework in a small beautiful park overlooking Downtown Providence - I think it was called Prospect Terrace."

Håvard Homstvedt

RISD ’00

Now he's an artist, notably with a large scale sculpture in Art Unlimited at Art Basel 40 (2009).

Favorite RI Spots:

East Side Pockets - "I probably ate here more often than most other food venues during my college years. Great kabobs and falafel.

Geoff's Sandwiches - "I lived on Benefit. This was nearby. Really great food and friendly staff."

Cable Car Cinema - "Pre-movie live shows, couches and drinks."

Foxy Lady - "Legs and Eggs. Bizarre way to sex up your bacon and bagels. It's a Providence breakfast tradition on Fridays."

The Met - "Lost my hearing here. Small venue. Good live shows."

Paolo Rivera

RISD '03

Now he's a comic book artist whose best-known work is Mythos, a series of six richly-painted origin stories written by Paul Jenkins. He now limits his painted work to covers including The Twelve, The Iliad, The Amazing Spider-Man, and the Wolverine Art Appreciation Month series.

Favorite RI Spots:

I probably went to East Side Pockets the most. Gordito Burrito and Antonio's opened my senior year, and I made my fair share of stops. Mostly, I ate at RISD's Met for just about every meal. Sad, perhaps, but it saved me a lot of time.

I didn't go to a single show or concert while I was there, but I did usually put a lot of effort into making costumes for the Artists' Ball at RISD. I'm not sure if non-RISD kids can go, but it's definitely worth a visit if so. I spent my junior year in Rome, so I was only old enough to drink (legally) my senior year. As a result, I mostly went to potlucks and house parties

Robert Geller

RISD '01

Now he's a fashion designer who helped create four collections at Marc Jacobs before joining Alexandre Plokhov to revamp Cloak. In 2007 he launched a men’s collection, Robert Geller Collections.

Favorite RI Spots:

I remember Nick-A-Nees was our hangout. Kind of divey bar with great juke box. One Up sometimes. The Cable Car for movies. Savers thrift store. (Photo: Chiun Kai Shih)

Matt Gallant

URI '86

Now he's a TV personality, having hosted Animal Planet’s popular series, The Planet’s Funniest Animals, for five seasons. Matt also hosted ABC's primetime reality show, American Inventor, as well as X-Treme Energy, for ESPN2; NBC’s Friday Night Video; syndicated teen show, PETV; ABC’s Pranks; and FOX’S Not Just the News.

Favorite RI Spots:

When I was in school my pals Tom Foley, Frank Lauder, Sean Smith, John Tucker  & I would go to Kingston Pizza which was at the top of campus. On a rare occasion we'd head into Newport and go to a bar called The Candy Store.