Acme Video Lives On...

The Reel Deal at our Local Libraries
When Acme Video closed its doors a few months ago, it sent shock waves to film lovers across the East Side. So it’s good news indeed to learn that their legendary collection of films, many of them hard-to-find vintage and international classics, will remain on the East Side for us to enjoy after all. Ed Graves, regional librarian for the Providence Community Library, reports that they have purchased about half of the inventory from owner Ralph Goudreau and hopes to successfully fundraise to secure the rest. The films will be available for library patrons beginning immediately. Sorry, popcorn is not included.

Hopefully Her Skill Set and Enthusiasm are Infectious Too
Dr. Lynn Taylor, an infectious disease specialist at Miriam Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at Brown, will be honored as this year’s Rhode Island Medical Women’s Association (RIMWA) Physician of the Year at their annual meeting and dinner on Tuesday, May 13 at the Providence Marriott. A graduate of Harvard and later Brown Medical School, Dr. Taylor developed and now directs Miriam’s HIV/Viral Hepatitis Co-infection program. She was also one of the two recipients of the Rhode Island Foundation’s Innovation Fellowship last year, a grant awarded by philanthropists Letitia and John Carter that provides up to $300,000 over three years to develop, test and implement innovative ideas that have the potential to dramatically improve any area of life in RI. Her project, RI Defeats Hep C, aims to make us the first state to eradicate Hepatitis C. The event to honor this very impressive woman is open to both the medical and non-medical communities. For information about tickets, contact Jane Coutu at jcoutu@rimed.org.

Local Designer has Designs on Jimmy Fallon
East Side resident Eugene Lee has achieved legendary status thanks to his years of Tony Award-winning designs on Broadway for shows like Wicked, his innumerable set designs for Trinity and his ongoing work for Saturday Night Live. Recently he added another notch to his creative belt by designing the handsome set for the new Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Congrats to Eugene for his continuing and apparently never ending lifetime achievement award.

There Go the Neighborhoods
But in this case that’s a good thing. We’re always excited to support our local East Side shopping areas (it’s our job after all), but especially this month since two of them are hold ing their once-a-year neighborhood spring festivals. The first will be held on South Main Street on Saturday, May 17. The merchants there now call themselves the SoMa District (nice touch!) and this is their big seasonal event. The day will include pilates in the park, an obstacle course, food trucks, live music, shopping and family fun for everyone. The second event will be on Hope Street, which always knows how to throw a party. Theirs will be held on May 31 (rain date June 7) and includes sidewalk sales, live music, hayrides, street painting, tons of kids activities, Beers for the Ballet (a beer tent with all the state’s own breweries where half of all proceeds go directly to Festival Ballet Providence) and even our own John Taraborelli emceeing a not to be missed Hope Street Fashion Show. Sounds like May’s going to be jumpin’ here on the East Side.

It’s Graduation Season, Again
After surviving the pothole attack of 2014, May at least gives us the opportunity to remember how beautiful the East Side can be. And it never looks better than during the Brown Memorial weekend graduation ceremonies. The magnolias and rhododendrons usually burst into color as if on cue. The main green shimmers with exotic overhead lanterns illuminating the all classes campus dance. Students frolic amidst thoughts of graduation and moving on to the real world. Their visiting parents frolic amidst thoughts that their financial bleeding is over. It’s also an ideal time for all of us East Side residents to visit the campus, attend some great free lectures on Saturday, rub shoulders with the rich and famous and basically get blown away by arguably one of the most picturesque college graduations anywhere in the country. It’s the East Side at its best and it should not be missed.