About the Festival

In the Press

Come hungry to the 'Taste of pawtucket'
By VINAYA SAKSENA
The TImes (Pawtucket) 09/07/2007

PAWTUCKET - Slater Mill and the nearby Visitor Center will get considerably spiced up tonight, as food and entertainment bearing eclectic flavors will be in plentiful supply there for the Pawtucket Arts Festival Gala and aptly named "A Taste of Pawtucket" event.

The evening will begin with entertainment by Celtic music sensations the Gnomes, who will kick off their set at 5:30 at Slater Mill.

At 7:30, a tent across the street from the mill will be the site of Zydeco music and dancing, with the soundtrack to the fun being provided by one of Louisiana's most respected performance groups in the genre, C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band.

Patty Zacks, program chairwoman for the Pawtucket Arts Festival, said that Chenier and his band were picked in part to provide entertainment that would bridge the gap between older and younger audiences, offering music that both could appreciate.

"Zydeco has a great, upbeat sound and a large following," Zacks said. "Zydeco seems to be ageless. It attracts young people, it attracts older people. It's just a happy, feel-good music."

For the benefit of those new to this musical form, Zacks said that a dance instructor would be on hand shortly before the performance to give the audience a Zydeco dance primer. And of course, she said that the Gnomes, featuring members of Pendragon and other respected Celtic acts, would also fit in with this feel-good vibe.

In between these two widely reputed purveyors of feel-good music, those attending the gala will also be able to check out some of the community's most respected culinary artisans, with food available from at least 15 different restaurants.
The dishes available will run the gamut from traditional American food to various ethnic foods of Greece, India and elsewhere. Bernie Watson, chef and owner of L.J.'s BBQ, said he planned to bring a generous helping of the grilled chicken (with homemade barbecue sauce, of course) that gave his business its reputation.

He pointed out that the chicken would actually be smoked with hickory wood before being grilled for a short period of time. Having moved his business into Pawtucket a little over a year ago, Watson said he hoped to make a good impression on the public.

"This is my first time involved with this," he said. "But it sounds like a very nice thing. Basically, we like to support Pawtucket."

Paul Gaudette, owner and operator of Hose Co. #6, shared that sentiment. He added that he would be bringing a dish that he thought would be especially appropriate given the presence of a zydeco band on the bill.

"We're bringing seafood jambalaya," he said. "It seems like it fits the theme of the Cajun music, and we're also (bringing) some chili."

There will also be welcoming remarks from Mayor James Doyle, before the unveiling of something called "Wind Rotor."
Created by local sculptor Donald Gerola, "Wind Rotor" is a 23-foot sculpture that will move with the wind while it is on loan to the city and kept at the site.

Gerola, who studied physics in college, loaned the city a previous sculpture of his, called "Eiffel Town," which was previously installed in Slater Park. Herb Weiss, economic and cultural affairs officer for the city of Pawtucket, said he hoped that the presence of the "Wind Rotor" sculpture would generate more outside interest in the city.

"That sculpture may be one of the biggest in the state of Rhode Island," Weiss said. "We're hoping his sculptures will become as well known as the blue bug, and that people will come to the city to see them."

Admission to the festival gala is $10. Food is free until 8 p.m., after which restaurant vendors on site will be allowed to begin selling food.

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