Reality Check
FROM THE PUBLISHER
“ Life imitates art far more than art imitates life .”
– Oscar Wilde
Drawing Closer
Four Hundred Years of Drawing from the RISD Museum
March 12 – Sept . 3 , 2022
Anton Løvenberg , Study of a Sculptural Male Torso ( detail ), 1800s . Gift of Frederick Lovenberg .
RISDMUSEUM . ORG
MEAGHAN SUSI
Having spent the better part of three decades in the publishing business , I have always been intrigued , and yes , amused , at how this industry has been portrayed in the media .
As a kid , for me it was the fictitious Daily Planet in Superman with the intrepid Clark Kent as a reporter who moonlighted in tights and a cape , liberally changing in newsroom restrooms . In the early 2000s , it was the sitcom “ Just Shoot Me ,” portraying a national women ’ s magazine newsroom . The show was more about office politics and pratfalls ( literally and figuratively ) than it was about deadlines , journalism and competition .
Netflix ’ s biodrama “ Inventing Anna ” is the latest addition to my viewing portfolio . The show portrays Anna Delvey , an Instagram influencer and legendary fake heiress who manages to swindle New York ’ s business and society elite in a series of mindbending schemes , scams and just plain lies . Driven magazine writer Vivian Kent of the , yes , fictious news monthly Manhattan Magazine , is relentless , driven to redeem herself from past missteps to get the story . Apparently , at Manhattan Magazine , the “ newsroom ” is cavernous , with enough writers and staff to constitute a small town and plenty of folks with nothing better to do than assist Ms . Kent in her holy grail-like quest .
I guess the only remote resemblance to publishing reality these days is the “ driven ” reference .
We are driven — as a small , focused and multitalented team — to deliver the best possible look at life in Rhode Island and nearby regions of Southern New England as we can . Our editors and art directors work as a team because that ’ s what it takes to deliver good comprehensive , local journalism . That has never been more evident than in this issue .
Editor-in-Chief Jamie Coelho was at the helm of “ Best Brunches ,” our look at the culinary excellence for morning options . Assisted by many current and former staff members , the team tackled the state ’ s omelet and mimosa scene to serve up the best combined meals of the day at local restaurants . Brunch would not be complete without coffee . We went to see what the buzz is all about at a new coffee shop down in South County that was opened by celeb owners and former “ Bachelor ” franchise stars Jared Haibon and Ashley Iaconetti (“ Here for the Right Reasons ”). And coffee would not be complete without a handcrafted mug to drink from : enter “ Rhody Makers ,” a feature edited by Editorial Assistant Edelinda Baptista that features some of the state ’ s most creative craftspeople .
The search for the perfect omelet or perfect ceramic mug or platter may pale in comparison to intrigue and mystery , but rest assured , we have some of that in store for you as well in the coming months .
To the Rhode ahead . – J . J . P .
10 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l APRIL 2022