Seen: Michelle Kwan, Deer Tick + More
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
America's favorite figure skater was spotted in Providence recently. Michelle Kwan was seen at a party on the East Side, mixing it up with some high powered young Rhode Islanders. The most decorated figure skater in U.S. history doesn't skate in big competitions anymore, but that doesn't mean she hasn't been busy. She is currently a graduate student at Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy, she promotes skating for children around the world, and a few months ago she was added to the board of the Special Olympics. Also, we've heard a rumor that she's dating a member of one of Rhode Island's most well-loved political families. More on that as it develops...
DownCity seems to be getting a lot of press these days! Last week a reality TV star stopped by, and this week it was an icon of the drag world. Hedda Lettuce (also known as Steven Polito) was the special guest at one of DC's after dark events, following the Halloween drag brunch earlier in the day. He has appeared on MTV, Comedy Central, The People's Court, Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, and The Tyra Banks Show. He is also well-known for his stint as a model and client on season 5 of Project Runway, where the many disagreements he had with his designer Suede led the other contestants to nickname any model that is hard to work with a "Hedda Lettuce." Well, he didn't make his name as a performer by being timid...
One of the biggest bands to ever come out of Providence returned here last week. Indie folk-rockers Deer Tick played two shows at The Met in Pawtucket, one on Wednesday night and then another on Thursday. The first show was extra special, because the band had been in New York earlier filming for the Late Show with David Letterman. When they went on air at around midnight (after Letterman finished interviewing Bill Clinton) everyone watched them on a big projector. It was pretty surreal watching the band watch themselves on TV, then play the same song they had just performed live, and in the same outfits. Deer Tick was also selling their new album, appropriately titled "Divine Providence," which is due for official release next week. They were happy to be back in Little Rhody, and we were happy to welcome them back...GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
On Friday, Rhode Island College students and staff got a special treat as Meredith Vieira came back to her home state to talk about her Portuguese heritage. The former Today show co-host and current host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was the featured guest for RIC's Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies conference, which was held in the college's Alger Hall. The East Providence native was born to two first generation Portuguese Americans, and she spoke of her upbringing and reconnecting with her Azorean roots. After her talk, she was presented the Presidential Medal, given to individuals of special distinction within the college community. Always nice to see our homegrown celebrities return for special occasions...
With RISD students involved in Fashion's Night Out and Styleweek Providence right behind us, it makes sense that a TV fashion icon would make his way through Rhode Island. Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn was seen giving his own special brand of advice to students at Portsmouth Abbey recently. He took time from his own Bravo spin-off show, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, to talk to the students about his book, Gunn's Golden Rules. He told them "The clothes we wear send a message to the world. Clothes are clothes, they do not change...It is fashion that changes." Those wise words are great, but what I really wanted to hear some dirt on show host Heidi Klum...
Also, some of horror's biggest names are going to be on hand at the Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival over Halloween weekend--Tony Moran, who played the original Michael Myers in the Halloween series, and Robert Englund, who created Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. Check here for information about showings and tickets. We'll have more details about their visits later in the month...
Have you Seen anyone famous in the 401? Let us know. Email Seen at [email protected]. We'll make you famous, too!
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