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BEST BLASTS FROM THE PAST

Now in their 38th year, Museum Concerts of Rhode Island are still dedicated to bringing the best early music groups from around the country to Providence audiences. With five concerts per season, all held on Sunday afternoons at St. Martin’s Church in Providence, this organization has presented medieval ensembles, groups with a Renaissance repertoire, and small chorales doing Mozart and Haydn. The upcoming December 5 concert, "A Medieval Christmas," will bring back the Boston Camerata quintet, one of the foremost early music ensembles. The Parthenia Consort of Viols in February will mix airs from Renaissance England with modern compositions, including one by Rhode Islander Will Ayton. March blows in the Arcadia Players (a Baroque ensemble) with a Vivaldi concerto and Telemann’s Don Quixote Suite. And the April concert will reach into the latest era designated "early music," with the Zivian-Tomkins duo on cello and fortepiano, respectively, for their interpretations of Beethoven and Mozart. Orchard Avenue near Wayland Square, Providence, (401) 621-6123.

BEST NOVEL PAIRING

The unveiling this year of a new outdoor patio at the Decatur Lounge was cause for celebration. Aside from offering respite for fresh air fiends at the bar on Providence’s West Side, the patio offers an opportunity for the sumptuous feeling of sousing al fresco. Things climbed to a new qualitative level, though, with the Tuesday through Saturday arrival of Taqueria Pacifica, a truck operated by Tyler Long, the husband of Decatur bartender extraordinaire Allison Kyner, that dispenses curbside cheap, fresh, and delicious Mexican food. A Seattle native, Long grew up eating burritos in the way that East Coast kids devour pizza and hot dogs. After not being able to find much locally of the favorite culinary fare of his youth, the experienced cook launched his truck-based seasonal business. With an emphasis on locally grown produce, the taqueria’s menu runs from tostados (a mere $1.50) to a high of $6 for the fish burrito. Although Long — whose taco truck has been known to turn up at AS220 for hardcore shows and other locations — is winding down for the winter, he’s given us another reason to look forward to spring. 18 Luongo Square, (401) 351-5492.

BEST RHODY SOCIAL STUDIES BOOK

Not every book that strives to cover the grandeur of our state capital focuses on a crooked politician and his misguided deeds, but of course there’s plenty of Buddy and much, much more to be discovered in Providence:The Renaissance City. Rhode Island College poli-sci professors Francis J. Leazes, Jr. and Mark T. Motte lend an unbiased and highly informative look behind the rebirth — 261 pages worth, to wit: "The evidence uncovers a true comeback of a city solidly remade, not merely a grimy urban skeleton with a postmodern veneer." Chapters 6 and 7 offer vital insight about the development of highways atop the Providence River and the retail behemoth known as Providence Place Mall. Such innovative ideas were tossed around back in the days of Garrahy and Paolino. The easy-reference 62-page appendix breaks down Rhody milestones chronologically. The overhead photos and fact-digging throughout, and the insightful emphasis on the ups and downs (and all the legal bullshit) that comes with urban planning, make The Renaissance City a true marker for Providence history buffs. www.atsweb.neu.edu.

BEST REAFFIRMATION OF TRADITIONAL SHENANIGANS

When Buddy Cianci was jailed in 2002, and a handful of less ethically burdened politicians took office at the State House and Providence City Hall a few months later, some wags complained that Rhode Island politics was about to get a lot less interesting. Fear not. A vein of civic skullduggery, running from mind-numbing lapses in judgment to old-fashioned corruption, is as much a part of the state as quahogs and the ubiquity of Dunkin’ Donuts. Lest we have any doubts, state senator John A. Celona, a North Providence Democrat, became Rhode Island’s latest poster child for queasy dealings after the ProJo’s Kathy Gregg revealed how the legislator, the chairman of a Senate committee overseeing health-care issues, was a paid consultant to the CVS drugstore chain. Showing the shamelessness for which some local pols have become famous, the solon refused to step down until the pressure became unbearable. Still, although Celona wasn’t alone among Democratic legislators in running into ethics quandaries, his seemingly blithe spirit helped him to set the pace. It just goes to show that the necessary prescription for curtailing shady political dealings, as with preserving liberty, is eternal vigilance.

BEST TRUE CRIME STORIES

Caught In Providence is an absurd slice of Rhody life served up courtesy of the Providence municipal court system. The honorable Judge Frank Caprio is the star of the show, which is constantly replayed on public access and currently celebrating four years of exposure on our ABC affiliate. Local scofflaws half-asleep at 8 a.m. miss a full day of work just to get their 30 seconds of fame (read: shame) and hang their hat on a "guilty with an explanation" plea. It’s a risk financially, but Downcity’s favorite judge still has a heart after 19 years on the bench, and after watching a few episodes it’s obvious that a good sob story with a few kids in tow undoubtedly helps. Mercy is lent unless you’re a stressed college student with a pile of tickets with the redundant yet legit argument about the lack of parking, or a panhandler with a prior record. A recent episode found Caprio on fire as he sent a repeat offender to the ACI for 30 days after a night of aggressive panhandling downtown, which has become more than an annoyance. The infamous cameraman scanned the room and focused in on a 70-year-old woman quaking in her goulashes. Equally entertaining are the floods of inane phone-in comments ending each episode. On Cox Channel 13 and ABC6.

BEST WEST BAY DUCK HUNTING

It was just another NFL Sunday at our beloved Picasso’s Pizza in Warwick. Pints of Newcastle and oversized scorpion bowls were going down too easy as friends were drowning their collective sorrows (damn those teasers and parlays) while our fantasy football team continued its downward spiral, if you will. We needed to vent so we walked across the street to Meadowbrook Lanes to shoot some ducks. Duckpin bowling originated in Baltimore in 1900 (the similar candlepin game began in 1881 in Worcester), and this local landmark is one of the 60 duckpin alleys remaining in the country (spread across only 10 states). If you have never bowled a string of duckpin, you’re missing out. Hurling a bocce ball at pear-shaped objects seems easy, yet various duckpin sites attest that a perfect game has never been bowled. The next time you’re lost in the bowels of Warwick, stop by Meadowbrook Lanes and knock down some pins. 2530 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, (401) 737-5402.

BEST SPORTS-RELATED BARGAIN

The unfortunate flip side of the euphoria surrounding the Red Sox’ first World Series victory in 86 years is that tickets for Fenway Park — more than two million of which were sold by the start of last season — will be even harder to come by in 2005. Fortunately, an affordable, authentic, and otherwise high-quality pro baseball experience is as close as McCoy Stadium, the home of the Pawtucket Red Sox. Woonsocket native Ben Mondor, who revitalized the bankrupt franchise after buying it in 1977, has scaled back his involvement in the day-to-day management of the triple-A team. But Mondor’s spirit continues to flourish in the family-friendly service, excellent sightlines from throughout the park, and — most importantly — invitingly cheap ticket prices. Box seats go for a whopping $9, while general admission seats are a mere $6 ($4 for seniors and kids 12 and under). As one of the better teams in the International League, the PawSox also offer to chance to view up-and-coming major leaguers. Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon cut their teeth in Pawtucket, and Bronson Arroyo, the cornrowed wonder, pitched a perfect game before hometown fans in 2003. Although going to Fenway might carry more of a charge, the proximity and modest cost of an outing at McCoy — plus the unpretentious spirit of minor league baseball — offer their own special pleasures. 1 Ben Mondor Way, Pawtucket, (401) 724-7300; www.pawsox.com.

BEST INSTITUTIONAL ANNIVERSARY

One of our specialties here at the Phoenix is giving (appropriate) grief to the Providence Journal, the venerable daily that serves as the dominant media institution in Rhode Island. Although the ProJo’s 175th anniversary didn’t come without some revisionist history (full-page house ads extolling the once-nativist newspaper’s early 20th-century coverage of emigrants to Rhode Island), it’s also worthy of accolades. In a reflection of prevailing trends in the newspaper industry, the Journal is thinner and less well-staffed than in the past. That said, it still compares favorably with dailies in many American cities, in large part because of the seriousness with which the newspaper still regards its role as a watchdog of government. And while a special commemorative section published on July 21, the date of the ProJo’s anniversary, may have been a little top-heavy in emphasizing the efforts of various publishers, it still offered an impressive overview of the newspaper’s history.

BEST USES FOR MUD

No, the folks at Dew Claw do not comprise a rock band, despite the random moniker. A dew claw is that useless little mini-thumb that dogs have. Why not use that to name their pottery studio, Kris Petersen and John Mitchell thought, instead of Clay Cottage or something else as boringly obvious. After all, creativity is what is being offered. The couple have set up shop in a factory building with enough room to not only produce their own work, but also to provide work space, kilns, and supplies for two dozen members, plus classes for anyone else interested. The various potters produce work from bowls and vases to sculptures, using every technique from slab and coil to raku and soda glaze. Twice yearly there are open house shows, the next being December 3 through 6 (snow dates December 10 through 13) and June 3 through 6 (rain dates June 10 through 13). 95 Hathaway Street, Providence, (401) 461-2069.

BEST FUNDRAISERS

We’re not particularly demanding in what we seek in a fundraiser. Just give us dapper gents, devastating babes, a liberal amount of lubrication, and enough boisterous outrageousness to lend the evening its own propulsive force. Although many worthy fetes are staged in greater Rhode Island throughout the year, delivering much-needed bucks for a panoply of good causes, two events tower above the rest. AS220’s Fools Ball, a prominent source of revenue for the nonprofit Providence arts space, brings together a reliably rollicking multi-story house party each May with hot music, an unadulterated dose of AS220’s own brand of idiosyncrasy, and a cast of hundreds, bohemians and burghers alike, carrying on through the throbbing wee hours. The Providence Newspaper Guild Follies, staged annually on the last Friday in February by the largest union at the Providence Journal, creates its own beautifully surreal world. Launched to heal the wounds of a bitter 1973 strike at the newspaper, the Follies lures more than 1200 local luminaries to the classic Venus de Milo function hall in Swansea, Massachusetts (by statute, the event can not take place in Rhode Island), for an evening of intoxicating drink, food, and entertainment. The much-anticipated highlight is a theatrical revue, featuring surprisingly gifted Guild members and their friends, that savagely skewers Rhode Island newsmakers, most of them in attendance. Proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for children of Guild members. www.as220.org; www.riguild.org.

BEST INPUT FOR THE MONETARY OUTPUT

In the Rhode Island tradition of giving directions by specifying "where [insert long-ago demolished site here] used to be," we can describe Whole Foods Market with "you know, what Bread & Circus used to be." More than 10 years ago, the latter merged with the former natural foods chain. Since then, the operation moved to North Main Street and expanded to humongous size, like a kid who listened to his parents, ate his spinach, and now towers all grown up with bulging biceps. It’s the world’s largest organic foods supermarket, with 162 locations and counting. In addition to the health-consciousness commitment, sustainability is supported here, whether for agriculture or seafood, favoring regional sources. Meats are from free-range, nitrate- and antibiotic-free animals. And you gotta love a store that places a roast date on their bags of house-brand, equitably purchased coffee. 601 North Main Street, Providence, (401) 621-5990; 261 Waterman Street, Providence, (401) 272-1690; www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

BEST SIGNS OF LIFE

The idea of remaking downtown Providence as a vibrant arts and entertainment district has been more chimera than reality for the better part of 15 years. For too long, the concept remained in a state of suspended animation, in part because of the exorbitant cost of rehabbing old buildings. Thanks, though, to the enactment in recent years of a state historic tax credit, and the steadfast efforts of developer Arnold "Buff" Chace, the long idle vision of injecting fresh residential life into downtown is gathering momentum. Chace’s perceived critical mass of 200 downtown apartments will be complete in early 2005, and nearly 500 RISD students will move into the old Hospital Trust bank building later that year. A growing number of small retailers and eateries are setting up in Downcity, joining such arts bastions as AS220, Trinity Rep, Lupo’s, the Providence Black Repertory Company, Perishable Theatre, and the Providence Performing Arts Center. For some, the less-than-cheap cost of downtown housing is cause for trepidation. But faced with the selection of a largely desolate old retail core or an increasingly energized one, it’s really not much of a choice.

BEST ALL IN THE FAMILY BARBERSHOP

For a new look the old-fashioned way, stop by Joe’s Barber Shop, currently celebrating 80 years of brisk business. "We still use a straight razor, and we do it right," says Warwick Neck native Joe Laquale Jr., who has worked alongside his dad for the past 15 years in the same modest, two-chair shop in Warwick’s Oakland Beach ’hood. We still don’t know how this guy hasn’t found his way onto the set of The Sopranos, and his "ay-yo fuggedaboutit" non sequiturs are equally ridiculous and entertaining. No frills, no appointments, no telephone — it’s all about the cut ($12) and shave ($10). Known throughout town simply as "Joe da Bahbuh," he was one of the first in the state to cash in on the famous Air Jordan Jumpman logo, carving it into countless craniums back in 1989. Laquale recalls another ol-skool memory when a teenager requested a 3rd Bass (!) logo etched into the back of his head. A steady hand tediously traced it with a straight-edge razor and shaved the remainder bald. "Hey, three hours later it looked pretty damn good," Laquale unabashedly boasts. And be sure to ask him for some of his special "Oakland Beach clam juice" to refresh the pores after the cut. Closed Mondays, of course. 771 Oakland Beach Avenue, Warwick.