Seen: Shanna Moakler + Vinny Paz?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Leah MIchaels, GoLocalProv Contributor

Two of Rhode Island’s own “superstars” were spotted eating together at 10 Prime Steak and Sushi in Providence. Former Miss USA, Playboy Playmate of the Month, and TV star Shanna Moakler was seen enjoying the company of Cranston-born boxer Vinny Paz, along with a group of friends. Paz, also known as “the Pazmanian Devil,” is a world champion in the lightweight and light middleweight weight classes, and Moakler has a child with Olympic champion boxer Oscar de la Hoya (that is, of course, before her marriage to Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker). Guess she has a thing for boxers…

His team may not be getting a lot of love around these parts, but that doesn’t change the fact that Will Blackmon is still a Rhode Islander. The NY Giants cornerback from Providence came through the state last week. On Thursday he received the honorary “Key to the City” from Mayor Angel Taveras, then headed to the Salty Brine Broadcast Center to talk to WPRO. The Bishop Hendricken grad now lives in Orange County, CA, but maybe if he ends up on the Patriots someday he’d move back home… 

Joy Bauer, the nutrition expert on The Today Show was in downtown Providence recently. The correspondent was the guest of honor at the Southern New England Go Red for Women Luncheon, which took place at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The luncheon was dedicated to spreading healthy heart awareness for women, with speakers sharing stories and experts teaching about heart disease and how to prevent it. I wonder if she had any time to visit former Today Show host Meredith Vieira… 

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Once again, the RI crew represents on the culinary scene. The 2012 James Beard Award semi-finalists were just announced, and include a remarkable number of folks from our tiny state. Congratulations to Matt Jennings of Farmstead/La Laiterie in Providence, Champe Speidel of Persimmon and Sai Viswanath of DeWolf Tavern (both in Bristol), for getting the nod for Best Chef/Northeast. Meanwhile, chef's hat off

to Rising Star semifinalist Benjamin Sukle of The Dorrance (and a Jennings protege), Outstanding Bar Program semifinalist Cook & Brown Public House, and Best New Restaurant semifinalist, The Dorrance in downtown Providence. Wish you all could win!

He wasn’t quite in Rhode Island, but it was close enough to avoid “controversy.” Musician, singer, songwriter, and actor Prince was at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, but he wasn’t there to perform. He came along with Portuguese vocalist Ana Moura, and actually intended to go on stage to perform a surprise duet with her during her concert, but for some reason decided to stay backstage and not come out after all. Too bad for the concert goers, who didn’t know what they were missing… 

The Grammy’s saw one Rhode Islander walk away with an award and another with…a police report. Adam Machado of Little Compton and Westport, MA, won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes at the pre-show. He won for the 136-page book he wrote for “Hear Me Howling! Blues, Ballads, and Beyond: The Arhoolie 50th Anniversary Box Set.” But after the show, Claudia Jordan of East Providence, who used to be a model on the game show Deal or No Deal, filed a police report after getting into a fight with another woman at singer Drake’s after party. At least we know how to keep things interesting… 

And stay tuned in the coming weeks for news of the Prince of Providence movie based on Buddy Cianci. Starring Robin Williams, Bradley Cooper, and Oliver Platt, the movie is starting to film very soon in Providence, so keep an eye out for those celebrities out and about….

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