Chatter
From our Readers
July
As a former Rhode Islander and a
dedicated summer visitor for more
than forty years, I had to write to tell
you how much I enjoyed this issue.
This year, due to COVID-19, my
family and I will not be coming to
Rhode Island for our annual vacation.
The issue had so many great features
and I especially enjoyed the old
photos of people at the beach. This
state will always be my “happy place.”
MARY JEAN STARK
AMBLER, PENN.
“Keep on the
Sunny Side,” July
I have always appreciated Rhode
Island Monthly’s efforts to have
articles and subjects that are inclusive
of our richly diverse community.
Perhaps it is the times we are in
that make some of us hyper-aware
of how glaringly white something
is, which is how [this issue] struck
me. I love all of the old photos
and appreciate a glimpse into how
people of yesteryear have enjoyed
the summer months. However,
the imbalance of photos of whites
frolicking at water’s edge versus
a single photo of Gertrude Ward
entertaining (working), a very
small photo of Native Americans
(I used a magnifying glass to decipher
what was in the photo) and a
Native American elder attending
an annual convention creates an
uncomfortable album of a majority
population rather than a full view
into the community as a whole that
existed decades ago. If the photo
selection was a result of those
sent in by Rhode Island Monthly
readers, then a sincere outreach
is in need to build the confidence
of our minorities to participate in
our joyful recounts of history. If
not, then a real effort to ferret out
photos from archives was lacking,
because I know for a fact that there
are numerous photos available of
people of color from past decades. I
hope Rhode Island Monthly considers
a charter going forward that
consciously ensures the content is
truly “Rhode Island” people.
AMANDA WOODWARD
PROVIDENCE
CORRECTION: In our Best of Rhode Island
readers’ poll, Blackbirds Consignment Shop
is a winner in the Providence region for
consignment store. Statewide, Bare Body
Skin and Wellness in Cranston is a winner
for locally owned day spa.
On RIMonthly.com
CULTURE
How inclusive is the local hospitality industry? We
compiled sixteen things you need to know about racism
and diversity in Rhode Island restaurants from a panel
discussion hosted by Amber Jackson.
THINGS TO DO
H EALTH
Something smells good: Our comprehensive
It’s cider doughnut season. coronavirus resource
Support local farms and page offers everything
bakeries by stocking up on you need to know about
sugar-coated goodies while COVID-19 in Rhode
they last.
Island.
Unsung Heroes of Nursing Photo Gallery
Get Social With Us
@RIMonthly
12 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l OCTOBER 2020
Log on to RIMonthly.com now through
October 31st and upload a photo of the nurse
in your life to our gallery. Help us shine a light
on more nurses in Rhode Island and share
with the community why they deserve to be
recognized for their hard work in the field.
FOOD AND DRINK
Apparently we’re the
“calamari comeback state.”
We’ll take it — with a heap
of banana peppers and
cocktail sauce — at our top
eight spots for squid.
HOME AND STYLE
If walls could talk, they’d
gush about our weekly
home column, House Lust,
featuring covetable
properties on the market
in Rhode Island.
PLUS! DINER’S UPDATE / FIVE CAN’T-MISS
EVENTS OF THE WEEK / SHOP LOCAL
Letters and comments may be edited for length and style.
GETTY IMAGES; NURSE: THINKSTOCK.