RIIHEA

BRISTOL, R.I., Nov. 25, 2008 – In the spirit of community service and in support of Roger Williams University’s core values, a group of RWU students are coordinating RogeFest 2008- a first-ever free interactive festival which explores the question of “Who in the World is Roger Williams?”

Expanding on the community’s knowledge of the University’s namesake has been the mission and class assignment for the fall semester of Professor Ron Tippe’s Entertainment Production course. The students dutifully researched the life and achievements of Roger Williams and planned related educational events and activities all free for the general public.

The celebration will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Upper Commons at the main campus of Roger Williams University. Components of the festival include:

A short student-produced film that takes the form of a “man-on-the-street” documentary and includes interviews from various community members including students, faculty and alumni, in addition to local business owners and Bristol residents. The interviews will be accompanied by visits to other “Roger Williams” named organizations such as the Roger Williams Zoo, Hospital and Park.

A theatrical presentation based on significant events from Roger William’s life told through a series of factual anecdotes. The show will resemble James Lipton’s “Inside the Actor’s Studio” format and will feature an interview with Roger Williams as portrayed by a professional actor in period clothing.

“Walking Rogers”- Two actors portraying Roger Williams at separate stages of his earlier life will mingle with festival guests for photo opportunities. In addition, a walking time-line with major historical events highlighted will be offered, food and drink common from the era will be served and live period-based music will be performed by local artists specializing in instruments and music from the 1600’s.

· To conclude the event, a birthday cake will be presented and shared to celebrate what would be Roger William’s 405th birthday this year.

Proof that taking over at the Rhode Island School of Design hasn’t changed his ways, John Maeda has stayed true to his cooler than cool roots and has just teamed up with Threadless, being the first guest-curator for their Select Series t-shirts. Maeda came up with a concept to base the designs off of, newness, and then chose the artists to put their pens to fabric to come up with something. The shirts were just unveiled last night at the RISD’s Chace Center building and we were fortunate to get an early sneek peek before they’re officially launched on Threadless’ site on Monday the 10th. Here’s a bit, with images of the shirts after the jump:

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By Richard C. Dujardin
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE — It didn’t take long at all for the word to get out.

Five months after closing its doors for want of a new leader, the soup kitchen at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John has reopened, offering up the same kind of full-course meal that had long made it one of the city’s most popular meal sites among the destitute and the hungry.

The food program closed in May when Tom Veronneau, the executive consultant who was the volunteer director, moved on after 10 years of volunteering, and no one could be found at the time to replace him. But now a new cadre of volunteers and organizers has come forward to reopen the meal site. Veronneau, who said he would remain on board as executive director for another month or so, is helping them get started.