Pride in What You Wear

June is not only Pride month, but the one year anniversary of a new Rhode Island-based podcast called “Your Queer Story.” “Your Queer Story” (YourQueerStory.com), from Evan Jones and Paul Hobbs, is a weekly free LGBT comedy podcast that covers queer history, personal stories, religion, politics, sexuality and more.

Jones, an LGBTQ activist, decided to celebrate Pride through fashion and flags on his personal Facebook page. Focused on the podcast’s mission of educating as many people as possible about the LGBT community, Jones found a great way to grab attention while “sporting various work outfits this #pridemonth that coincide with flag colors and showcase the different members of [the] community.”

Throughout the month, Jones shared selfies in colorful coordinating business attire. “I just wanted to show my support for the community and I like to dress up,” Jones said. He started off with the familiar rainbow Pride flag encompassing all the communities and then moved on to 11 other flags, including those representing the communities of genderqueer, intersex, asexual, , trans, pansexual, queer POC, bisexual, leather, polyamorous and queer. Jones used socks, shirts, buttons and even a small ax. Each post’s caption was filled with its corresponding flag’s creation history, symbolic meaning, fun facts and myth-busting. “I come from a background that doesn’t have a lot of education on the queer community. So that’s what I do with the podcast and with queer issues.”

During his fashion foray, Jones was surprised by what he learned regarding the Labrys Lesbian flag. “It was beautiful and deep in meaning. I went back hundreds of years and the mythology it had for . I really liked the rich history of that flag. I didn’t see it until this year; it’s just not very popular, which is unfortunate.”

Jones is passionate about everyone educating themselves on the struggle of other communities, and one way of doing that is by listening to his podcast. “We can’t have true empathy without education. You can’t empathize and show kindness if you don’t understand the issues.” The best part of Jones’ response from his Facebook community has been that even his queer friends have shared with him that they learned something new about their fellow communities, allowing their newfound education to help them support everyone.

To see Jones’ fashion posts, view his Facebook page.

Swiper, No Swiping!: Local entrepreneur to engage local singles in face-to-face meet-cute moments

Anyone who has tried to jam their whole being into a thoughtfully crafted profile with six photos that show a well-rounded human being knows how it feels to put faith in the internet to make our search for a date faster, better, easier. What starts as a game-like app can turn us into brainlessly swiping automatons. We might begin to feel defeated and slightly jaded as we stare at disposable profiles, failing to recognize the person behind them. We want to connect. But we aren’t.

That’s why 32-year-old entrepreneur and bachelorette Yosefa Kornwitz is trying to claw her way out of Tinder burnout by helping singles get off the internet and join her for alternative speed dating. She plans to provide a bi-monthly event at local bars where alternative singles in the Providence area — including her! — can meet. “I want it to be fun,” she told me during a recent conversation. Kornwitz plans to have an engaging host to entertain and help ease nervous participants. The event format will include dates and non-cringey games. And when the formal event ends, participants can stay and enjoy the hosting venue while Kornwitz sends emails out reporting who matched. Matching is anonymous and discreet. If you want to give someone your information, she will pass it along and if you don’t want to give anyone your information, that’s okay too.

The virtual date will never replace the physical date. Kornwitz told stories of meeting someone virtually, spending countless days, nights and work breaks talking and texting only to meet in person and know instantly it wasn’t meant to be. Unless we engage all of our senses when meeting someone new, we will never truly know if there’s some spark of something worth pursuing.

“My soulmate is probably out there somewhere doing the exact same thing as me: eating popcorn and watching ‘The Office’ on Netflix,” Kornwitz said. “I need to spiritually magnetize him to come to an event!”

Watch this space for news about Yosefa Kornwitz’s alternative speed dating events, which will come to PVD in the near future.

Robot Takeover: They Were Robots brings a new sound to PVD Two years ago, two members of The Copacetics, an eight-piece Providence-based reggae/ska band, decided they wanted to start a project to play music as an artistic outlet, and what they’ve built is an experimental, hard rock machine with horns front and center. You’ve never heard a robot wail like this before.

Chris Mitchell (keys/lead vocals) and Mike Cirino (guitar/lead vocals) have been friends and co-writing songs since middle school, but the music wasn’t complete until they teamed up with their current lineup of Matt Smith (bass/vox), Keith Harriman (trombone/vox), Alex Colburn (trumpet/French horn) and Tim Eskey (drums/percussion).

“I was looking for a drummer and I got an email from a trombone player,” Mitchell recalls of his first exchange with Keith Harriman. “He just showed up!” laughed Cirino while Mitchell added, “We’ll find something for him to do.” Matt Smith was another Copacetics member ready to join his bandmates, and they found Tim Eskey after an arduous series of drummer auditions. They thought the band was complete, but Harriman invited his friend Alex Colburn to see a show and Colburn wanted in. “So we rearranged all our music for a horn section,” said Mitchell.

“There’s no specific tethers in this music to what we can or can’t write. It’s just an amalgamation of everything we all listen to. These guys [Mitchell and Cirino] write the lyrics and bring a general sound, but once they bring it into the room with everyone else, that’s when we do some of the genre-bending that we really like to do. We create a new sound through that,” stated Harriman.

There is a certain level of energy that the horns inject into the catchy chorus of a song or as they guide the song through a new section. Their instrumentation is complex, but fun and upbeat even if their lyrics are deeper, and there are multiple colors and textures throughout a single song. They would be a sound engineer’s dream, but they’ve worked on albums in the past and with their own upgraded equipment and plan to self-record to have a full free EP available this spring.

Cirino draws his inspiration from his frustration, and writing lyrics is his outlet. “It’s like painting a picture; it’s very therapeutic.”

“[My songs] at least are half taken from personal experience, half taken from my favorite literature and movies. I like to think my songs come from an exaggerated persona that I put on,” Mitchell admits.

Harriman confirmed this. “If you read the lyrics Chris puts out, it’s almost a sarcastic view of himself. There’s self-reflection, but it’s almost an in-the-moment reflection where it carries that self-depreciation element that we’re all trying to get rid of.”

Their ultimate goal is to give the audience an in-the-moment interactive interpretation of the music in their heads. They take great pride in their music, paying attention to the smallest detail. They realize that it will never be perfect, but it will always be authentic to this collection of individuals that makes up They Were Robots.

They Were Robots opens for The Copacetics, Motif Music Award winners for Best Alt Act 2018, on February 2 at The Parlour (theparlourri.com). They are planning shows in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts, in addition to their Rhode Island home. They can be found online at TheyWereRobots.com.

Growth at the Renovated Garden Grille Pawtucket is Rhode Island’s vegan mecca. Nowhere else in this great state can you find an exclusively vegan bakery (Wildflour) alongside a vegetarian/vegan (v/v) eatery.

The Garden Grille opened its doors in 1996. The original bright and colorful decor was more reminiscent of a Mexican establishment than a trendy v/v joint. “Until I met Uschi, my wife, I didn’t have a direction for style,” stated co-owner of both establishments, Rob Yaffe. He credits the direction of both Wildflour, which underwent a renovation in April and May, and the Garden Grille’s major improvement to his wife’s European aesthetic and designer Libby Slader. “If it were up to me, it would be a hippie enclave. This is more zen with a clean look and earthy feeling. The tree was designed by Kyla Coburn and added seven years ago.”

Regulars of the Garden Grille (GG), upon hearing of the renovations, were quick to ask two things: Would the GG keep everyone’s favorite butternut squash quesadillas and the iconic tree? Happily, both are still at the GG. The tree remains exactly where it took root behind the bar, but it’s been cleaned, the twinkle lights were removed and it has a fresh coat of paint on its “treetop.” Rob mentioned, “The tree was a wink and a nod to tree huggers.” And although not many people were hugging trees, the who’s who of regulars were hugging each other and chatting throughout the warm, fresh, more open space during last week’s soft opening.

Meg, Wildflour’s manager, was overheard saying, “I missed all of the crew from Garden Grille,” as she embraced a server. The fact that a conversation could be overheard is a testament to the details considered in this renovation. Manager Nicholas Ventura shared, “This renovation is what the staff and customers deserve.” Rob agreed, “Every detail was carefully considered.”

In the old GG, patrons would often complain that it was too noisy, but unfortunately, due to the previous construction, nothing could be done. Now with a new sound-absorbing floor and drop ceiling, light jazz can be heard floating throughout the dreamily lit space. “The lights are the same,” Rob added, pointing to the round spots of soft light scattered all over the ceiling creating a magical atmosphere. “It’s slightly more refined. It’s still earthy, but the kitchen is bigger so that three or four line cooks can work together to get food out faster.” Rob wanted to make sure that people feel at home in the space. The simple shelves are adorned with plants and framed GG memories. A hand-painted sign behind the new hostess booth requests patrons wait to be seated in new more comfortable chairs, and everyone, especially the staff, seems happy to be back. Vegan regular, Randelle Boots, revealed she ordered the famous quesadillas because she “missed them” but coveted her tablemate’s crispy chickpea wrap. From looking at the menu she was happy to see the break out of tacos. GG has added zucchini and portobello tacos and roasted root tacos alongside the favorite Korean BBQ tempeh tacos because as Randelle says, “Everyone loves tacos!” She was glad they kept many of the favorites and the beloved tree. From a construction standpoint, she was happy that the “weird doorway thing” or vestibule had been removed. GG had corrected its negative air pressure problem and no longer would patrons feel a cold burst of air when the door opened on cold New England nights as they had previously endured.

The fresh and locally sourced food has always been the real reason why v/v have flocked to GG’s door. With a menu and functional kitchen update, the food and flavors served can now be showcased in a grounded, warm and inviting space suitable for regulars, newcomers and staff. “The renovation process is a very organic natural progression,” said Rob. It had been nine years since the last renovation and updates had been made when needed until now. Rob concluded, “It’s still the GG, but it’s now the dining experience I wanted to share with the [v/v] community.”

For more information visit: GardenGrilleRI.com

Camping: We’re Worth It!

You’re sitting in a canoe in the middle of a river surrounded by trees and dark, cool water full of living things like water lilies, a flock of floating geese, fish and bugs. The sky is bright and blue. You look around and something feels off. You can’t see a street or a car. You can’t see a telephone pole with wires stringing across the sky. You can’t see them because they aren’t there. You’ve set off on an adventure with no cell phone.

Paddling down a river to a beautiful New England island is an easy way to leave the world behind. I’ve done it, and I want to encourage you to consider taking a night or weekend to unplug from your technology and your life, and explore this beautiful world that you are a part of.

We spend so much time focused on screens that we need to give our brains a break. We’re worth it! Being in nature can reduce stress, and turning off our constant connection to others can allow us a moment to breathe, reflect and look inward. Camping is a relaxing form of escape. It’s also an economical one, so your wallet can breathe easy, too. It’s not too hard to make camping comfortable — I don’t like sleeping on the ground, so I plan ahead and bring what I need to make me happy. Here are my tips for a first timer:

Borrow equipment for your first time out to save money, but be sure to test everything in your living room or backyard prior to your departure so you can figure out how to set up your tent or blow up your mattress. You will also be able to make sure your mattress doesn’t leak. When you’re at your campsite, be sure to build camp before it gets dark. Plan and prepare your food ahead of time. Everyone says it because it’s so important. The more you prepare ahead of time, the less you will have to clean, and that’s good because it’s harder to wash things in the woods. You’ll also save time cooking, and you can make some delicious meals. Instead of packing your favorite spices, put them in a resealable bag with some olive oil, and toss the bag in your cooler to marinate with your meats or vegetables. My favorite things to make are campfire packets in which your meats, veggies and marinade are all pre-wrapped in a heavy duty tin foil packet. When it’s dinner time, place the packet over campfire coals. Let it cook for about 40 minutes or until the meat is cooked and veggies tender, and you’re opening this hot, delicious dinner al fresco. Forget fashion, bring layers. I love clothes, but camping is less about how cool you look and more about the right clothing for the season. You’re in control of your comfort, not a thermostat. Be prepared. Bring extra toilet paper in a resealable bag with matches. You want your toilet paper to be dry, and extra toilet paper can work as a starter when your fire pit/wood is a little damp. Don’t pack unnecessary weight, and bring lots of water. Choose H2O and weed over heavy beer and glass bottles for your camping fun. You already smell like a campfire. Buy yourself a cool headlamp. You’ll look like a dork, but you will be the happiest dork in the woods if you can find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Go camping with people you like. Camping is not fun with your needy, high-maintenance, super- trendy or annoying friends. Go with the chill, self-sufficient friends who have control of their lives and have the most survival skills. Check the weather and go when it’s nice. Sometimes it’s worth losing the campsite registration fee to take a trip when it’s sunny and dry.

When you camp, you leave everything you find familiar behind. When you leave your phone behind, you remove yourself from your connection to others and a stream of constant information. Once you set up home base and your campfire, your basic needs of sleeping and eating will be satisfied, allowing you to wonder, be with yourself and explore inward.

You might discover how stressed you really were at work, constantly checking for new emails or returning phone calls, texts, or other messages. You might have a lot of feelings that you can notice and reflect upon in detail. It’s the same detail you will begin to notice in your new surroundings. The variety of trees, the smell and crunch of the earth, the sound the wind makes and every other new experience will calm, delight and help bring you new insight into yourself and your place in this beautiful world. Or maybe the weed will. Good luck and adventure safely.

Bringing Nonmonogamy into the Open

Are you looking for that special someone? Your one and only? The person to be everything to you? That is a lot of pressure to put on someone you haven’t even met. What if I told you that finding for “your lobster,” as Pheobe from Friends might have said, isn’t real?

We’ve all been there before, something happens and we’re left to say goodbye to another relationship. But there is another option: nonmonogamy. Nonmonogamy means “never having to say goodbye,” says Spyce, a former PVD resident, sex educator, relationship expert and love empowerment coach. When something goes awry in a relationship, instead of saying “goodbye,” the people in the relationship can ask, “What does this mean for us?” Spyce wants nonmonogamy to no longer be taboo and be a viable alternative to monogamy.

“It’s a spectrum,” says Spyce. “Polyamory [multiple loves] refers more to people who want to have deeply committed relationships. Nonmonogamy [multiple relationships] is a really good word that represents the whole of any kind of relationship that is not monogamous. Something that people like to say in the poly world is that there are as many different configurations of nonmonogamy as people practicing. It’s really about finding your boundaries with your relationship and with the person you are with and figuring out how to make that relationship work in a way for every person involved.”

People who practice nonmonogamy have to put a lot of time and effort into working on themselves and building good relationship skills. They have to be good communicators who are in tune

with their emotions, desires and mental well-being. Time management and respect for others’ time and needs is another area where they tend to excel. “Something that’s said in the poly community is ‘Love is infinite but time is finite,'” sayd Spyce. “Sure we may want to love and have however many partners, but how many people do you really have time to connect with and be intimately connected to? Because that’s a whole other level of support, time and effort that people may give each other. You have to know within yourself what’s going to be a good amount for you or what you have the capabilities to do.”

The idea that one person can have multiple caring and loving relationships may be hard to understand, especially for people who struggle to maintain one relationship. But a lot can be learned from people who are nonmonogamous. How about jealousy? Jealousy is the number one topic brought up when the mainstream thinks about multiple relationships. Jealousy is often seen as a bad thing, but according to Spyce, it’s not.

“Jealousy is a feeling, and it’s an indicator of something else that’s going on in your life and in your psyche,” she says. “Usually, it means something like you either have a fear in yourself or you have a fear in the relationship. So when jealousy comes up, it’s a really great opportunity for people to ask, ‘What’s really going on here, why am I jealous? Is there some way where I’m not feeling good about myself, or I’m feeling deficient or I’m feeling like this person really doesn’t love me? Am I feeling something else in the relationship that we need to address?’ [Jealousy is] a really wonderful way for people to look at themselves and become clearer with who they are and their relationship skills.”

In most monogamous relationships when jealousy occurs, the partners identify what is making them jealous and eliminate it. If it’s not there to make them feel jealous, then they won’t feel jealous. Problem solved, right? But just because we can’t see the ice cream in the freezer doesn’t mean we don’t know it’s still there waiting for us.

Being honest about your feelings or understanding why you are feeling jealous is part of self-work and becoming a better communicator and partner no matter what type of relationship style you prefer. Understanding your sexuality is also essential. “When you start being open to different relationship styles and to be with different people, you start learning different things about yourself. Sexploration leads to discovery.”

Polyamory and nonmonogamy are more than just ways to have safe sex with multiple partners. They are a step toward self-enlightenment and happiness in relationships in all forms. It’s about finding your strengths and working on your weaknesses in the areas of communication, time management, honesty/emotional depth and caring. And when there’s love, we shouldn’t think it taboo to love more and be happy.

Revue Year’s Eve at AS220

It’s New Year’s Eve. The holidays are over. You’ve seen all of your family, you’re fat with love/comfort food and now it’s time to celebrate 2018 with friends. You want to go out and you want to have fun. Providence has so many options. How to choose? You can go to a show. You can go out dancing. Or you can do both! Instead of New Year’s Eve, try Revue Year’s Eve.

After 11 years of gracing the stage at AS220 with their monthly sketch and variety show, the Empire Revue is ready to help you ring in 2018 with a “Night Time is the Right Time” themed episode followed by a dance party. (Check out .com/EmpireRevue for past episodes.) The ever-nocturnal director and lifetime Providence musician Keith Munslow intends to lead the audience through an evening of comedy and music alongside the interesting cast of characters known as the Sparkling Beatniks. These improv actors and comedic writers work together each month to create a one-of-a-kind live show full of hilarious and heartfelt sketch and musical comedy.

Between fits of laughter and merriment, audience members are provided with hand-picked talent from special guests like musicians Matt and Amy as well as comedians Casey Malone and Andrew Mayer. More guests are soon to be announced on the group’s Facebook page (facebook.com/EmpireRevueProvidence).

The cast is accompanied by a live band, The Superchief Trio, otherwise known as the largest trio you’ve ever heard and a major part of the Empire Revue family. This musical power group can bring in a crowd on their own and they end the evening with their boogie-woogie dance party leading toward midnight.

AS220 will have their restaurant, Foo(d), open for guests to enjoy vegan and gluten-free apps, sandwiches and more prior to the show’s start. The craft beer and drink selection at AS220’s bar is great, only surpassed by its service; it will be open until the end of the night and will offer a midnight champagne toast.

I’ve spent the last two New Year’s Eves with the Sparkling Beatniks, and never before had a more enjoyable, laugh-out-loud and stress-free New Year’s Eve. The friends I’ve brought with me have been impressed with the show and its intellectual level of humor, and danced the night away. Tickets are reasonably priced. Most clubs and venues use the holidays as an excuse to charge more for not much more, but in this case, you get both the show and the dance party. With dinner, rounds of drinks and an Uber home, you aren’t going to start 2018 in the hole.

Empire Revue’s New Years Eve show takes place at AS220 at 9pm. Get your tickets at revue-years- eve.brownpapertickets.com before they sell out.

Holiday Joy Without Emptying Your Wallet

As the song goes, “‘Tis the season to go bankrupt!” Or maybe not … but you would go bankrupt if you bought everything for everyone you wanted to. So what do you do? Get creative! The best gifts are those that no one expects or someone truly needs or appreciates.

Homemade Gifts

Have you considered homemade gifts? NOW IS YOUR TIME. And best of all, you can customize your gift to your gift receiver. You know them better than most.

If you aren’t an artist but often scroll through Pinterest in awe of the cool things made out of recycled materials, why not try your hand at it? The worst that will happen is you’ll have a great Pinterest fail story (with photos!) and you’ll read the other sections of this article.

Personal Coupons

Remember when you were a kid and you would make coupons for Mom and Dad that said things like, “Good for one car wash” or “Good for one family game night”? These coupons still work! My favorite to give my friends is, “Good for One Jax Favor.” My friends know my skill set and can use their coupon to call upon me for a big favor like helping to plan an event, making a costume, helping them move or giving them my full attention when they need it most. You would more than likely help a friend out no matter what, but sometimes we tend not to ask when we need it the most. These favor coupons make asking easy. On the sexy side, what current crush wouldn’t love a sensual massage, home cooked meal or movie marathon?

Dollar Store Gift Kits

The dollar store is a great place to stretch your limited funds. Wander around and put together a basket with items for your gift receiver to enjoy. This could be a candy and snack pack for your next Netflix and chill session or a beauty pack with lotion, soaps, nail supplies and more. The dollar store has all the supplies you need to make it look like a REAL DEAL gift basket with crinkle paper filling, containers to hold items, bows and balloons.

Recycled Gifts

Is your gift receiver passionate about the environment? Then consider taking a stroll through the local thrift store or even your apartment. Be super prudent in your thrift purchases. Check for tears or holes, stains, crack, wear and tear or missing pieces. Clean anything used to the Nth degree. Use alcohol on a cotton swab for those tiny crevices or an additional ½ cup of baking soda in the wash for clothes. If your recipient is a good person, they will appreciate your thoughtfulness. If they suck, they will continue to suck. There’s nothing you can do about that except get new friends.

What if every time your friend comes over he tells you how much he loves that thing you’ve had on your wall since college or a weird item you scored at a garage sale? Give it to him! You’ve enjoyed your time with said item and now it’s time to pay it forward. Not only will he be thrilled, you’ll make space for something new in your life.

Remember that the holiday is not about things. It’s about looking back upon the year and the people you spent it with, and thanking them for being awesome. ‘Tis the season to be jolly. Jolly is defined as (adjective) happy and cheerful, (verb) encouraging in a friendly way, or (noun) a celebration. Let’s celebrate and encourage each other to be happy and cheerful together. Happy holidays!

Go Local on Shop Small Saturday

It’s funny to think about. Not even a day after being thankful and celebrating with family, friends and neighbors, at midnight, sometimes earlier, people will enter big box stores to become obsessed with holiday shopping and saving a buck. More often than not, kicking and pushing other shoppers in order to obtain their “precious” commodities.

Fortunately there is another option. In a time when people are simultaneously angry at the state of the world and concerned with organic eating and no-waste living, we can choose to be better humans, neighbors and shoppers by sending a message of support and participating in campaigns like Small Business Saturday.

Saturday, November 25, will mark the 7th annual nationwide Small Business Saturday. Wedged between other holiday shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, shoppers are encouraged to shop and dine local with small businesses. Many will be offering incentives to encourage shoppers to participate. Frog and Toad on Hope Street is giving away one in-house designed patch with every purchase, while Queen of Hearts and Modern Love on Westminster will offer free mimosas while you shop!

If you want to go hardcore bulk-small-bizness (which seems almost oxymoronic), there is a Small Business Showcase happening at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick (801 Greenwich Ave, 9am – 4pm) which combines the forces of over 100 small businesses like a small-biz collection of Power Rangers. Does that officially make them a large business? You can decide at this event, which includes Farm Fresh RI, Social Venture Enterprises, Jewelry makers, crafts, custom wood products, books, pretzels and goat milk. Sponsored by the Photographic Society of RI, admission is free (see our center spread for a long list of craft and art fairs filling out the year). With backing from the city of Providence’s coinciding #ThinkPVD campaign, which encourages residents and visitors to “think, shop and buy locally,” everyone will be able to take advantage of #ThinkPVD’s most popular and reoccurring incentive: two free hours of parking for shopping and dining in commercial districts from #SmallBizSat until New Year’s Day.

The US Small Business Administration, which provides technical assistance, capital access and more for small businesses through education and small business partners, hopes the holiday shopping season will help local small businesses reach year-end sales goals. SBA economic development specialist Ryan Brissette said, “It’s a huge event we promote to help small businesses reach the black.” The 2014 census reported more than 8,000 small retail businesses across our small state, which employ more than 18,000 people. SBA district director Mark S. Hayward stated that, “95.8% of employers in Rhode Island are small businesses. These are your friends, your family and your neighbors, and by shopping small, you are sending a message that we support you.”

It’s easy to ignore the little things. But in our small state, it’s the small that will make the bigger impact toward building a strong community and a better economic future for everyone involved. Consider shopping and dining at your local small businesses this holiday season and throughout the year and see how big you’ll feel.

For more information, go to sbsshopri.com/about.php

Brian O’Halloran Comes to RICC — and He Is Supposed to Be There

Three years ago I attended my first Rhode Island Comic Con. After a day of enjoying the convention, I went to the after party dressed as a vampire. From the corner of my eye I recognized Dante Hicks, the character who runs the Quick Stop Market in . O-M-G! He was hanging with the Chewlies gum guy. I’m not the type to just go up to a guy like that, so I went to the bar. On my way back from the bar Brian O’Halloran, who plays Dante, stopped to tell me he loved my hair. I thanked him, blushing, and later was officially introduced to him. The next day I returned to the con in a new costume, and visited Brian’s table. He didn’t recognize me, which was a compliment to my talents as a cosplayer, but he was gracious as he threw me, as Jay, and Silent Bob out of his booth, just as he kicked out of his market in the film. Since then I’ve had other opportunities to work with Brian, but without Rhode Island Comic Con I would not have met Brian, taken the perfect photo with Dante or interviewed him.

Jax Adele: This is Rhode Island Comic Con’s 6th year. I met you in 2015. How many times have you attended?

Brian O’Halloran: This will be my 3rd time attending the RICC.

JAX: Does Rhode Island Comic Con stand out from other conventions?

BO: It has to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, comic con in New England. There’s a great selection of comic book artists, writers and celebrity guests. There are tremendous vendors and artisans, and there are fantastic panels and events.

JAX: What is your favorite part of going to a convention?

BO: Meeting the other guests and artists, meeting with the fans and exploring the cities they are held in and enjoying the dining and entertainment available.

JAX: How does Providence stand out from other cities?

BO: Providence has a great history and wonderful people. It’s always friendly and the dining choices are awesome.

JAX: Dante Hicks returns! Jay and Silent Bob get a Reboot is slated for 2018. How excited are you and what can we look forward to?

BO: I am super excited to be back in a View Askew film. has created such a fantastic world to play in. Now, I haven’t read the script yet, but I’ve been told that this will be a cameo-heavy film with some of the most hilarious stories told of these characters.

JAX: Are you even supposed to be her today? Sorry — I’m glad I can keep doing my Jay and Silent Bob cosplay. Do you get a lot of cosplayers? When I visited you as Jay, you knew to throw me out of your booth.

B: I really enjoy and am flattered when fans cosplay any of the View Askew characters. I try to make any and every meeting with a fan memorable. I’m very blessed that people continue to enjoy the work I have done.

JAX: You have a bunch of projects coming up. Off-Time as Principal Hicks? Coincidence? Do you want to share any updates?

B: Off-Time is a film in post production. The filmmaker is a fan and thought it would be cute to make the last name Hicks.

JAX: Any personal projects or nonprofits you’re currently supporting? B: I have a few. There’s a bio-pic of Kevin Smith called Shooting Clerks, which is touring the film festival circuit and should be released soon. I’m a part of the cast of a Amazon Prime series called “Fireball Run – AdventureRally.” I started on season 10, which is available now, and just wrapped filming on season 11 due to be released in 2018. I am currently filming an independent film called Right Before Your Eyes, which is a drama about recovery from alcohol abuse. That is due out in 2018. I’m also appearing at various other comic cons and film festivals. The best way to stay up to date on what I’m doing is to follow my Twitter @BrianCOHalloran, Instagram @BrianCOHalloran and Facebook @TheBrianCOHalloran

JAX: What are you looking forward to during your visit in November?

B: Catching up with good friends, perhaps some karaoke and a great meal or two!