Displayed on Fox Point Neighborhood Association’s (FPNA) website are the words “historical and hip.” And sometimes it is both of these things. Consider the corner of Transit and Brook. For many years, Acme Video (fairly hip) and Rainbow Bikes held down two sides of Brook Street. Acme hung on as long as we still rented videos and owned VCRs, until a games shop moved in. Later, the big red building was turned over for rentals. “No one wants commercial,” a carpenter told me. Rainbow closed – it was not the kind of place to put fancy bikes in the window – and Foreign Affair opened, and then there was LORE, a gift shop with a lot of artisan goods.
This spring, an artist started working on the north wall. The words “Knit Club” and “Pretty Snake” appeared, sparking intrigue around the neighborhood. Inside, the windows were papered and the walls separating the two stores were ripped out. In July, two RISD artists, Joe Segal of Pretty Snake and Lindsay Degen of Knit Club, met the public. It turns out the two have a lot in common: both have studios in Olneyville, have taught at RISD, and make knitted garments, but the stores operate in different artistic dimensions. Pretty Snake feels a bit like Dali or maybe a party night with Hieronymus Bosch. Knit Club is light and simple; customers wind their own wool and there’s a Tuesday night knit club. Fox Point is changing – gentrifying, the sociologists say. A $900,000 home ask is commonplace. FPNA fights for historic preservation as the developers gather. But it is hip. – Peter Phipps
The Annual Meeting of the Mile of History Association (MoHA) will take place at the Armory, 176 Benefit Street, on Sunday, October 29, at 5pm. Directors will be elected for the coming year and attendees will hear the progress of projects and activities. Neighbors are encouraged to meet, mingle, and enjoy refreshments. MoHA is proud to announce that GoProvidence selected the association to receive its 2024 James McCarvill Leadership Award, recognizing MoHA’s Heritage Signage project. The award, named for the late executive director of the RI Convention Center Authority, recognizes a person or group that has shown outstanding community leadership benefitting the tourism industry. The event was celebrated on September 17 at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
The Summit Neighborhood Association (SNA) is gearing up for our annual Fall Cook-Off, scheduled for Thursday, October 24, with the location to be determined. All are invited to attend and submit their favorite fall-themed dish to the competition. This year’s featured ingredient is cranberry! Attendees will vote on their favorites, and the most popular entrants will win fun prizes donated by local shops and merchants. The little ones (and big ones, if they are so inclined) are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween finest. Follow for more details at Facebook: Summit Neighborhood Association.
Whether you’re new to Summit and looking to meet people and get more involved in the community or are a long-time resident with a great idea for improving the neighborhood, SNA is seeking interested candidates to join the board. Those with a passion project in mind that they’d like help bringing to life or neighbors looking to connect with others to work on grass-roots projects are encouraged to get involved. Joining the board is a great way to get to know the community and your neighbors, while volunteering on excellent projects like food pantry support, tree planting, street improvements, park development, the Rochambeau Library’s outside classroom, and so much more. For those interested in volunteering, email snaprov@gmail.com to join the newsletter delivery group, or for other volunteer opportunities as they arise.
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