The Omni Providence Hotel and the Rhode Island Convention Center
Downstairs in the subterranean basement is GPub,an upscale yet hipster- esque gastropub, featuring over 50 craft brews. Meanwhile,up on the top of the building is the Rooftop at ProvidenceG,a spectacular scene on-high, featuring a true cocktail nation flare,delectable Mediterranean small plates,wood fired pizzas,and family-style meals in this - the city’s only rooftop restaurant and bar.
I ducked into Carmen and Ginger Vintage Goods. This quirky store holds real-deal Americana goods like a true step back in time. I meanVINTAGE. The coolest of kitschy-cool stuff. The place actually smells - how else to describe it? Vintage.
At one entrance, Adirah Gallery showcases African art, jewelry and textiles. The noble,nubile wood-carved human figures give off a feel much as they look - like they possess spirit still.
Lunch is at one of the city’s top dining destinations, Hemenway’s Restaurant, offering spectacular river views from this giant glass enclosed cube. Inside, Hemenway’s has an old-time seafood house feel (lots of wood and brass), yet it’s tweaked with modernity thanks to neon embellishments high overhead. I enjoyed the freshest and sweetest local oysters with mignonette,and a pristine pan-seared scallop salad. Afterward, I noted the Regatta Room at the back of the restaurant - a private space with its own equally spectacular views.
If Hemenway’s typifies this city’s storied past, then ProvidenceG complements its present. It is situated in the old Providence Gas Company building, a multi-faceted luxury apartment complex with a sleek (and very NewYork City) look and vibe to it.
There’s also the Ballroom at ProvidenceG, three individual karaoke studios (great places to be for crooning while partying),and then,back down- stairs on the first floor, Garde de la Mar, featuring a seasonal menu of coastal French inspirations (with coastal New England touches). I eyed the swordfish au poive, but opted for the yellowfin tuna with a white asparagus aioli instead.
Disclaimer: I only order raw fish (and raw oysters for that matter) at the greatest of fish houses. At Garde de la Mar, I’m glad that I did. Outstanding!
That night I took in the city’s street scene. I stopped in to The Ferry, which is known for its amazing mixologists: alchemist- like masters of tippling-innovation (the bartender even hand-cracks each and every cube of ice for their specialty cock- tails); on to The Dorrance,a large-scale restaurant with a timeless elegance (and event space capabilities); followed by The Dean,a fifty-room boutique hotel that is similar to ProvidenceG in its Manhattan-like resonance and sensibili- ties…
They’re all a part of the exciting new guard here in a city full of strong, stalwart classics.
On my final morning, I was back on Federal Hill to a place calledVanuatu. The name says it all. Rare,artisan-crafted single origin coffee beans are its primary feature; beans that not only come direct-
ly from the Island Nation ofVanuatu,but the café’s co-owner and roaster, Jimmy Lappia, actually contracts local farmers directly to raise and harvest his share of those volcanic-soiled beans; a truly farm-to-table (or in this case farm-to-cup) experience.
I sampled Jimmy’s fruit-ily acidic light roast,his smoky dark roast,and I went completely gah-gah over his cold brewed iced coffee which he calls,aptly, “The Rhody.”
If Jimmy’s looking for the ultimate hook then he’s found chilled liquid gold in that supremely sweet and milky iced coffee concoction! (Vanuatu is as real as it gets for good coffee.)
At the end of my journey, I mentally counted all of the people I met along the way: coffee bean-grinding (and nicely caffeinated) Jimmy Lappin; and sales director Arlene Oliva from the Providence,RI Convention Center; Morgan (my amazingly gifted server at Hemenway’s); and Brendan Moran, the adroit property manager who oversees ProvidenceG; Armando from Zooma; and Anne,who owns Small Point Café; and,of course,Taz - that beautiful, mysterious stranger I was fortunate to meet at the start of this trip.
They all personify Providence, perfectly -
Friendly representatives within a most
welcoming place.
For more information,visit:
www.GoProvidence.com
Ken Alan is a corporate concierge for CBRE.He is the founding member of the Philadelphia Area
Concierge Association and serves as the organiza- tion’s events
director.Ken is also a contributor to several regional publications.
ken.alan@
cbre.com
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 73
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