PVD Current
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Design Week RI & URI's Good News

Design Week RI & URI's Good News

+ a PVD Wordle & Providence's investment in recovery

Oscar Punchak
September 13, 2024

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Good morning, Providence. This is PVD Current, the newsletter that’s here to chase away the bad vibes on Friday the 13th! 👻

What to expect in today’s Current:

🐏 URI’s back-to-back good news
What to know about Design Week RI 🎨
Providence’s investment in recovery efforts 🙌

Let’s get to it.

— Oscar Punchak

Coastal Cafe Chronicles

Where I Tried: LaSalle Bakery (685 Admiral St, Providence, RI 02908)

What I ordered: Small iced mocha with almond milk + chocolate croissant

What it cost: $11.36

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the order I always get when doing these reviews. I like to keep it consistent to keep the reviews fair. Iced mocha + chocolate croissant = go-to order.

LaSalle Bakery is a great spot to check out. They have plenty of parking either on the street or in their lot. Inside they have a ton of treats and food to choose from for breakfast, lunch, or whenever. The croissant was very large and very good, and so was the mocha. It seems like their iced drinks are one size, so maybe it’s unfair of me to call it a small. I’ve already been back since I went for the review. I definitely recommend stopping in to see what they have to offer.

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Currents & Waves

Source: DESIGNxRI

RI Design Week Starts Today 🎨

DESIGN WEEK RI is a fun event that happens every year, organized by DESIGNxRI to celebrate design in Rhode Island. It starts today, September 13th, with a party at Moniker Brewery, followed by a weekend of open studios where people can visit different design spaces around the state. From September 16th to 20th, there will be talks, tours, workshops, and activities for families, ending with a big celebration on Friday, September 20th. This week helps people learn about Rhode Island's designers, from new talent to experienced pros. If you're interested, you can learn more on their site here.

Providence Invests in Overdose Prevention & Recovery Efforts 💪

As part of National Recovery Month, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announced new investments to support the City’s Overdose Prevention Strategy. This plan aims to expand recovery efforts and improve access to behavioral health services. Providence also received a multimillion-dollar CARA grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Providence is focusing on a multi-step approach to address both short- and long-term needs. This includes funding over $250,000 for the Project Weber/Renew Overdose Prevention Center, the first of its kind outside New York City, set to open later this year. The City is also offering over $600,000 in new grants for local nonprofits, funded by Opioid Settlement Funds from the 2021 National Opioids lawsuit.

Source: athleticademix.com

Great News for URI 🐏

Earlier this week the Wall Street Journal put out their rankings of the best U.S. colleges. URI appeared on the list as the number 1 public school in New England, and the 35th best public school nationally. URI received a record number of applications for fall 2024, and the student body is comprised of over 17,000 students. The rankings score colleges based on student outcomes (70%), learning environment (20%), and diversity (10%).

This week URI also announced a gift from David Barrett, a 1978 URI alumnus, and his wife, Kristin Cobb Barrett, who have committed $5 million to URI. Their gift includes the creation of the David E. Barrett Business Scholarship, supporting student-athletes pursuing an MBA. This donation continues the momentum from URI's recent $300 million fundraising campaign. Barrett, a successful technology entrepreneur and venture capital investor, aims to give back to future generations of students.

Coastline Commerce

Source: Brand St.

East Greenwich Square Sold for $47M 💼 🤝

East Greenwich Square, previously owned by Edens, a company that owns and develops retail property, was sold to Brand Street Properties recently. The plaza was sold for just under $47M. East Greenwich Square is a 160,000 sq. ft. shopping center in East Greenwich, RI, anchored by Dave's Fresh Marketplace. This location is Dave's flagship store and has the second-highest customer visits of any grocer in Rhode Island.