HOT

She’s From Cranston, He’s From the DR - Together, They May Have Created the Next Hot Restaurant

Nathaniel Lopez was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States when he was 21 — and always dreamed of owning a restaurant.

Michelle Gradus Parenteau grew up in Cranston, went to school for fashion marketing, and is now a top residential and commercial interior designer. 

And in typical Rhode Island fashion, they were introduced through a mutual friend.

Lopez -- along with partner Henry Casso -- was planning on opening “Nathaniel’s Bistro” in Lincoln, when he saw Parentau’s work.

“I did a kitchen in Cranston, and my client is a friend of Nathaniel’s, and I got a text message out of the blue from him,” said Parenteau, who owns Michelle Lee Designs. 

For Parenteau, it was a match made in heaven — when she first sat down with Lopez, he embraced her vision. 

“I always talk with the client about the story they’re trying to tell,” said Parenteau, whose interior design resume includes working on Wickford on the Water, Mesa Cafe in Cranston, Mews Tavern, and more.

“I love when they’re not afraid of color. They wanted wild and a wow factor at Nathaniel’s Bistro — I said I will create that ‘wow’ for you with materials and texture," she said. 

And for Lopez, the recent opening is the culmination of a lifelong journey. 

“I have always dreamed of running a big restaurant like this,” said Lopez. 

READ MORE

Nathaniel's Bistro. PHOTOS: Grace Lentini

HOT

Honoring the Late Sen. Maryellen Goodwin

On Saturday, family and friends joined together for the dedication of Maryellen Goodwin Memorial Way along Orms Street.GET THE 

Providence City Councilors approved a resolution establishing the ceremonial designation in July to honor the life, work, and legacy of the late senator.

Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) died after a long battle with cancer in April.

She was one of the highest-ranking women in Rhode Island Senate history and a noted fighter for working people and the poor.

Goodwin served in the Senate representing Smith Hill since she was first elected in 1986.

PHOTO: Richard McCaffrey

HOT

URI Women's Basketball Coach Tammi Reiss

The women's team is pre-season ranked #1 in the Atlantic Conference.

The men are pre-season picked for 14th out of 15 teams.

Go Tammi.

HOT

Billionaire, Dominates Pop Culture, and Is the Most Talked About Person in the NFL

Sometimes-Rhode Islander Taylor Swift has recently been dubbed a billionaire.

Between her music, fashion, and persona, she may be the biggest thing in pop culture.

Now, she is the biggest thing in the NFL.

FLICKR: Ron Woan CC: 2.0

NOT

Hot, But Now Ice Cold

Over 1300 Rhode Islanders have received support from the state’s Statewide Down Payment Assistance Program. 

The program, which launched in January of this year, offered $17,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance grants to eligible first-time homebuyers across the state.

Given that the funds for this program have been exhausted, the program is now closed.

 

NOT

Brutal Gun Violence in New England Last Week

18 killed on Wednesday in Lewiston, Maine

2 shot, one of whom died on Friday night at Worcester State University.

2 killed in Providence overnight Friday night, and a teenager was shot Saturday night in a separate incident.

NOT

Forbes Loved Siedle, Then It Didn't

For about a decade, Forbes magazine gave former SEC investigator Ted Siedle free rein in writing his column.

Over that decade, he wrote on many financial issues, including his take on the performance of Gina Raimondo's pension reform.

Siedle, who is an expert at uncovering financial crimes, wrote repeatedly that the dollars realized from slashing state workers' retirement benefits then went to pay high fees -- with little to no transparency --- to Wall Street hedge funds under Raimondo's strategy.

As GoLocal unveiled this week, when Raimondo went big time, Forbes first limited Siedle's columns and then fired him.

NOT

"Pharmageddon"

The latest industry to be flipped upside down is the retail pharmacy industry.

Pharmacists are walking out in protest to working conditions and the disruption of the industry potentially has a profound impact on the health of Americans.

READ MORE

NOT

Venture Capitalists

Warren Buffett’s business partner took a big shot at venture capitalists, saying on a podcast VCs are “not great investors or great at anything." The VC industry in the US also doesn’t do a good job of supporting founders of early-stage companies. 

NOT

One Less Newspaper in RI, Globe Down, and Projos Parent Company Stock Gets Hammered.

This week, the owners of the Woonsocket Call and Pawtucket Times announced the two newspapers would be merged.

Neither paper has been much of a news factor in recent years, but the coverage of local items will be further depleted.

"The Boston Globe Media's weekday paid print circulation is down under 60,000 for the first time in decades, a 13% decrease from a year ago. That's a loss of around 6,000 customers who pay anywhere between $884 and $2,340 a year," according to Boston Business Journal.

The Globe print edition is now less than half it was five years ago.

Gannett, the parent company of the Providence Journal and hundreds of other papers, fell 15% - it was down more than 25% earlier in the day after the company announced it missed its numbers.

NOT

Democrats Leading to Ban Assualt Rifles? NOT IN THIS STATE!

The mass slaughter in Lewiston, Maine this week saw a member of the Army Reserve take his assault rifle and walk into a bowling alley and a community bar and restaurant, kill 18, seriously injure nearly 20 more and destroy the sense of safety for an entire state.

The amount of carnage he carried out was only possible because of the weapon he had. His assault weapon was never intended for hunting Bambi in the back woods of Maine — it is a weapon designed for war.

A war he brought against families bowling and people eating dinner.

Back in Rhode Island, Democrats control every statewide and legislative leadership position in the General Assembly, but it is far simpler than that.

If Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Governor Dan McKee agree on legislation it passes.

Rhode Island has faced shooters with assault rifles, but has been spared the body count, but that is not because of brilliant strategy and foolproof controls; it is just luck.

Maine just found out that it just takes one person to change a state’s luck.

Ask Connecticut about the slaughter of 20 1st graders and six others.

At least 10 of the 17 deadliest mass shootings in America saw the gunman use an AR-15-style rifle, according to The Washington Post.

Banning assault rifles will not end gun violence, but it will decrease the carnage, the body count, the lifetime of damage caused to the survivors in medical costs and rehab.

By the way, Mr. Senate President, Mr. Speaker, and Governor — it was corn hole night for the deaf at the bowling alley in Lewiston.

No Tweets. No press conferences. Just take action.