Posted by roxybina on Oct 29, 2009 in
awesome 
I grew up in the cozy state of Rhode Island and wanted to share my favorite places and things in this charming, historic smallest state in the union. Obviously, The Family Guy ranks number one. An artist’s haven, the city of Providence, has many nooks and crannies of cool areas (and FANTASTIC restaurants), including the Italian Federal Hill district. My absolute favorite place to have cake IN THE WORLD is Pastiche. The lemon cake is to die for. Literally. I have devised many attempts to have this cake Fedex-ed to me in California, but all failed. So, I gorged myself with Pastiche’s yummy cakes for one week straight.
Be sure to check out Diva’s Palace, a very hip boutique with some vintage and gorgeous in-house designs. The store front itself is beautifully decorated!
Of course, my trip included a lobster (lobstah) dinner… mine was a lady lobster. How did I know? Because she had a million black eggs in her tummy. Yeah, gross! I scooped out the eggs and ate the lobster anyway, because that’s how much I love lobsters! My 4 year old son was spooked.
So, after a week of clam chowda, Del’s lemonade, Pastiche, Italian cold cuts, and more ( when I say more, I didn’t have enough time for everything!)- I think my body’s ready for the Californian detox: fruits, smoothies, sushi, and a Korean spa! I’m already thinking about my next trip back….
PS- Be sure to check out The Roger Williams Park Zoo during the month of October. A spectacular evening display of hundreds of intricately carved pumpkins line a trail located near a breathtaking lake. Also, Waterfire is a must see in downtown Providence!
photos: Federal Hill, Moi!
Tags: del's lemonade, diva's palace, federal hill, italian, italy, korean spa, little rhody, pastiche, providence, rhode island, roxanna bina, the family guy
Posted by roxybina on Jul 16, 2009 in
effed up,
handbags,
weird 
Belgium born, Natalia Brilli, must have watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom one too many times. She designed a hard case purse in the shape of a skull (let’s pretend it’s a monkey) that opens like those chilled monkey brains in the Palace in the Indy movie. Everyone remembers that scene. The eyeball soup, the chilled monkey brains, the child emperor. Click here if you don’t what the eff I’m talking about. Okay! Let’s think of rainbows and waterfalls and fairies and glitter, now! Surprisingly, what’s more bizarre is the pineapple. Maybe she was making a statement with ‘abundance and quality’. Pineapples are a symbol of abundance and quality in Italian culture. Or maybe she’s a fan of Dole. In any case, these are purses that will break the ice at any party.
photos: Natalia Brilli
Tags: abundance and quality, and the temple of doom, chilled monkey brains, deer, dole, federal hill, handbag, indiana jones, italian culture, natalia brilli, pinapple, pocketbook, purse, roxanna bina, skull
Posted by roxybina on Feb 17, 2009 in
awesome,
hair,
weird 
Then this is for you. It’s a key holder. This mustache looks like the kind a certain Italian named ‘Papa Gino’s’ would sport.
For those who don’t know what Papa Gino’s is- it is only the bestest place (outside of Federal Hill, RI) to get an Italian grinder! When I was pregnant with my son and I was back home, I would eat those day and night! I even begged the worker to unlock their doors after hours and make me a grinder ASAP! He did! He probably thought this crazy pregnant lady’s gonna go ape sh*t on me- I’d better give her what she wants! Anypiggy, I do remember dropping some of the sandwich contents onto the driveway at home (it was summer) and watched it for at least a week UNCHANGED! Yeah- That’s why it’s so damn good.
So, going back on track- visit this dude’s Etsy.. it’s pretty cool.
photo: Ben Floeter’s Etsy
Tags: ben floeter, etsy, federal hill, italian grinder, key holder, mustache, papa gino's, pregnant, roxanna bina, Suddeny it's real, venda ravioli
