FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Year of Living Differently
2020 , the year of Plan B .
For the past twenty-five years , Rhode Island Monthly has hosted and published our annual design awards . A panel of expert judges has been invited in from out of state to scrutinize submissions from local architects , builders and designers both in residential and commercial space . Apropos of a silver anniversary , we were planning an awards celebration , as we have for the past several years , at the Rhode Island Design Center . COVID changed all that .
In this issue , our creative staff decided to look back at their favorite projects of the past twenty-five years . Albeit not new , they ’ re still award-winning and worth emulating . Many of the winners are still doing some great work in these fields , which we hope to showcase again in the future .
2020 , the year of Zoom .
I can ’ t imagine a time when collectively we have had a greater appreciation for technology . For months now we have ramped up a learning curve to find a new way to communicate , to meet , to work , to talk with family , friends and colleagues remotely .
So , it is fitting that once again in partnership with the Tech Collective , we present the Tech Ten awards , a program that is dedicated to recognizing outstanding technology professionals . They often work in obscurity , but their contributions are invaluable to life as we know it . Our usual lavish evening awards program is also not in the cards . Appropriately , technology will be making it a reality virtually on November 12 . Visit RIMonthly . com or tech-collective . org to watch .
2020 , the year of appreciating simple pleasures .
Yes , many of us have hiked , walked , visited sanctuaries , forests , parks and more during this mandated socially distanced time . Some are birders out to spot a rare feathered visitor , as we learn in John Taraborelli ’ s feature about the intense world of birding . He reports back on what makes birders so passionate about their pastime .
It ’ s just one example of a safe , often solitary , communing with nature that helps ease the stress of life during a pandemic .
2020 , the year that can ’ t end soon enough . To the Rhode ahead . – J . J . P .
12 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l NOVEMBER 2020