English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Providence, RI

A mix of old-school and modern Italian restaurants and food shops line Atwells Avenue, its main thoroughfare, while dining spots featuring other cuisines continue to pop up along this bustling stretch of road in Rhode Island’s capital as well.

With its old-fashioned streetlights, gateway arch, charming DePasquale Square in the heart of the neighborhood and storefronts with neon signs, Federal Hill gives Boston’s North End a run for its money as a destination for lovers of Italian food, but there is more to this part of Providence, just west of downtown and Interstate 95.

If you head south of Atwells’ main commercial strip, you’ll quickly see quiet streets (some of which still have cobblestones), charming houses and pockets of industry that give hints to its working-class past. One section of Federal Hill that is far enough away from Atwells Avenue to make you think you’re in another neighborhood is a little pocket of side streets just north of Westminster Avenue that has quietly become one of the most interesting destinations in the entire city, with its mix of restaurants, bars and shops, whose centerpiece is W. Fountain Street.

This short road — which has a brief section that’s cobblestoned — is part of a very walkable area that has become a cultural hub of sorts, pulling in artists, musicians and other creative types. W. Fountain is where locals (and those in the know) head to for its dining and drinking variety, all within sight of each other.

Much of the activity surrounds a long commercial building that has the feel of a warehouse (which it may indeed have been back in the day) that hosts several places for food and drink, including the unassuming Y Noodle & Bar, a friendly little restaurant that doesn’t get a whole lot of press but rivals some of the best Asian restaurants in the city.

Like all of the businesses at 425 W Fountain Street, Y Noodle isn’t the most spacious, but it makes the most of what it has, including three sections: a comfortable outdoor patio out front which is great for people-watching, a cozy bar by the front door and a dark, quiet dining room just to the left of the bar. All three options are good for both dining and drinking (assuming the weather is nice for the patio), and the bar area is usually pretty quiet as customers tend to gravitate toward the dining room. When the weather cooperates, the front door is often open, allowing fresh air to permeate through the bar and dining areas.

Eat New England Sep 20

Y Noodle may be a small restaurant, but its menu, basically separated into five main sections, has an extensive array of food items.

The main attraction here is the ramen, and it actually rivals some of the best ramen places in New England, including such highly regards spots as Ganko in Brookline, Massachusetts, and Anju in Kittery, Maine.

One of the highlights among the ramen options is the Szechuan Tan Tan, which has a real kick to it, but not so much that it overwhelms the wonderful flavors coming from the ground pork, chewy noodles and rich sesame-based broth. Every bit as good is the Umami Ramen, which gets a silky texture from a flavored egg and a complex savoriness from such items as sliced pork and roasted garlic oil. The Spicy Miso is a bit like the Umami but has some real heat to it that only gets more intense as you start to reach the bottom of the bowl.

Ramen options include the use of soba and udon noodles, and there is a dan dan noodle dish that’s included within the ramen section but is really more of a noodle dish, with no broth.

PHOTOS: Noodles and dumplings are just the start at Y Noodle & Bar

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As great as the ramen is at Y Noodle, the soup dumplings may be even better (depending on your food preferences, of course). The “original,” which includes pork-stuffed dumplings, is perfectly fine, but for a real treat, the crab and pork soup dumplings are tough to beat, with an intoxicating mix of sweet and savory flavors. For dumplings that hit both your taste buds and your sense of smell, the truffle dumplings with pork are terrific, while shrimp and vegetable dumplings are a good option if you want soup dumplings that have a slightly milder taste.

Other dumpling options at Y Noodle include bao, which come with a bread-like wrap, and the more familiar pan-fried gyoza, which can be found in the Otsumami (small plates) part of the menu, which also includes other worthwhile dishes such as the smoky pork belly cotton candy and a popular street food called takoyaki, or octopus balls, which are basically another type of (small) dumpling and a great shareable dish.

From the outside, it may not look like the type of place that would have an extensive list of drink options, but Y Noodle has a little something for everyone when it comes to adult beverages.

A handful of beer and wine options are available, including beers from Japan, and sake and Korean soju (a colorless spirit that comes in various flavors) are served as well, with some high-end sake on the drinks list. Other spirits, including whisky, can also be ordered from the bar, and some interesting cocktails can be had, using everything from vodka to tequila to whisky to yuzu, the last of which is a citrus liqueur that is popular in Japan.

Providence has the type of food scene that puts many other midsized cities to shame, and Federal Hill is certainly one of its best-known neighborhoods for dining out. And the southern edge of the Hill helps make the neighborhood even more of a special spot because of its quirky and lesser-known restaurants and bars, including Y Noodle, which should be on anyone’s shortlist, especially for its exquisite ramen and soup dumplings.

Y Noodle & Bar, 425 W Fountain St #100, Providence, RI, 02903. ynoodlebar.com

Adults spend the holiday season busy as bees. We shop for gifts, wrap the presents, stuff the stockings, bake the cookies, and more. All of that work can leave you feeling a little Grinchy. Chase away the holiday blues and give yourself a grown-up gift by visiting this Christmas-themed bar in Rhode Island.

Miracle is a holiday pop-up bar offering seasonally inspired cocktails. It had its humble beginnings in New York City in 2014. The bar was a smash hit and the concept has spread like wildfire to include 75 locations in the United States this year and many more in other countries.

Discover Rhode Island's Miracle in the Twin Rivers Casino. It is currently open for Christmas spirits, Thursday - Saturday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. through New Year's Eve.

Find a variety of cocktails full of holiday cheer. Fun containers holding boozy concoctions are a fitting way to reward yourself for all of your hard work this season.

Each bar is decorated to the nines with kitschy holiday decor. The vibe is similar to a spirited Christmas office party.

You'll have a difficult time choosing your cocktail. One fan favorite is the Snowball Old Fashioned (pictured below) that is a fun combination of Gingerbread Bourbon, Wormwood Bitters, and Lemon Zest.

Crafted with care, these holiday inspired beverages have been perfected by mixologists. Try a Jingle Bells Nog or Christmaspolitan for a much needed boost.

Feel free to don your Santa hats and ugly sweaters and bring friends. The more the merrier at Miracle.

Miracle will be located on the second floor next to Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse at the Twin Rivers Casino. The address for your GPS is 100 Twin River Rd., Lincoln, RI 02865. Learn more by visiting the casino website. You can also check out the Miracle website to discover other locations.

Do you know someone that would adore this Christmas-themed bar? If you are looking for a holiday activity where you can involve the kids, take a walk along this Christmas tree trail.

MIDDLETOWN – Fourteen dogs from a rescue in South Carolina damaged by Hurricane Helene will arrive at a Middletown rescue Thursday morning.

The Potter League for Animals, which will take the dogs, is also asking for donations of pet food and other supplies that it can send to its longtime partner in South Carolina, the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

The shelter lost power when Hurricane Helene hit the area and is likely to be without power for "the foreseeable future," the Potter League said in a press release. Aiken is about 55 miles southwest of Charleston.

When will the rescued dogs be available for adoption?

The dogs are expected to arrive at the Middletown rescue agency around 8 a.m. Thursday. The dogs arriving in Rhode Island will receive necessary medical care, vaccinations and behavioral assessments before becoming available for adoption, the Potter League said.

How to help pet owners affected by Hurricane Helene

"While the transport of these dogs to safety is crucial, the Potter League is also asking the community to step up and assist by donating essential supplies to be sent back with the transport to South Carolina," the Potter League said.

Many residents of the area can't get "much-needed resources, including those for their pets" because of gas shortages, the Potter League said.

“The devastation from Hurricane Helene has hit the Aiken County Animal Shelter especially hard, and we’re doing everything we can to support them during this challenging time. These 14 dogs are just a part of the story – many more animals and people still need our help,” Brad Shear, Potter League CEO, said. “We’re incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with Aiken County Animal Shelter, and now more than ever, they need our support.”

The shelter is in "dire need" of dog beds, food for adult dogs and puppies, as well as dog toys, according to the Potter League.

The dogs are being brought to Rhode Island by a nonprofit group called the Friends of the Animal Shelter. The group is also delivering pet food and other supplies to local residents affected by the storm, the Potter League said.

"These efforts are critical in providing relief to both animals and their caretakers during this challenging time," the Potter League said.

Donations can be dropped off at 87 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, no later than Thursday morning, to be included in the shipment back to Aiken County. For more information, please contact the Potter League for Animals at (401) 846-8276.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A long-time custodian at a Providence elementary school goes above and beyond to make Friday's special for students.

In 1998, Freddy Bucci became employed at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School.

His mom worked in the kitchen while he went into janitorial services.

“Everyone here, they’re very nice and kind to me, they're like a family here," said Bucci. “I enjoy doing my work. I enjoy doing my job. You know I come in and take pride in my work.”

Besides being the head custodian, PrincipalMatthew Brown said Bucci is their go-to guy for almostanything.

“He goes really goes above what his job requires every single day. He is the school handyman. He is the individual who if a kid is upset or sad, he will go and cheer him up. So yes, he's the lead custodian but he really does it all," said Brown. “When I came to Vartan the first person I heard about was Mr. Freddy."

“He’s not one of the custodians who sitsin a building and is just a fly on the wall, he interacts with the people in the building," said Stacey DeMello, a third grade teacher at Vartan. “Freddy really loves the school he works for; he puts his heart and soul into everything he does here.”

Five years ago, Bucci said he had an idea during lunch.

“The cafeteria gets boring in here, it does, it gets boring. You’re in here, and you wait for a spill or something so I threw a couple bags up in the air all of a sudden like the kids got like 'oh wow.”' said Bucci.

From there- 'Freddy Friday's' were born.

In the mornings, he tells a joke during theirannouncementsand then each week, he uses his custodial equipment, including his leaf blower, to put on a performance for kids during the school's two lunch periods.

To make it happen, Bucci purchases other props for his shows too , and does research on fun things to do for the kids.

“I create stuff or I get the ideas in my head of what can I use," said Bucci. 'I usually have a theme. Like for Halloween, I get stuff for that. “I keep changing things and I’ll buy certain stuff from the stores.”

Each Friday, Bucci sets up his stage in the cafeteria.

There's a large blow-up dragon that reads 'Freddy Friday's' and kids even wear a shirt that says the same.

“When the t-shirts started being made that’s when I knew he was making it big," said DeMello. “He all of a sudden rose to fame in the past few years and the kids definitely look forward to Friday's to see what Freddy has up his sleeve."

“When I first saw it, my first thought was, I wish I had this in elementary school and that’s typically when people come and see that’s their first reaction as well," said Brown. “It really gives you this sense of welcoming. This is feeling of joy and excitement and it really is one big factor on why kids want to come to school because 'I want to see Mr. Freddy' and they want to see what the show was all about on Friday.”

The performances last a few minutes.

Sometimes, Bucci asks for students to volunteer during them.

“I have kids who come in on Friday because they don’t want to take a sick day they want to come in. They don’t want to miss a day," said Bucci.“It’s a great feeling. I’ve got my fan club. You can’t ask for anything else, it’s priceless. If I can make someone else’s day better I feel even better you know?”

“It’s really special everyone’s face glows up when they hear, 'Oh it’s Freddy Friday time," said 5th grader, Inde Crevier. “He’s definitely a very special janitor. He’s not like everyone else. I think we are really lucky to have him as a janitor.”

“I love seeing Freddy being so joyful with the other kids it just makes me so happy," said Luca Venezia, who is also in the 5th grade.“Freddy is the best janitor in the whole wide world.”

Not only does Freddy put on performances on Fridays, if a classroom at his school wins a competition or something of that nature, he's asked to do special performances for them too.

He even dresses up as the school's mascot, as needed.

“There’s not one person more important than the other here and Mr. Freddy truly embodies that," said Brown. “but it's really what he does every single day that makes the biggest impact and he’s really been doing it for so many years."

Landlords have until Tuesday to register their apartments with the state and, if the homes are in older buildings, produce proof that they are lead-free.

The state Department of Health has been working to build Rhode Island's first statewide rental registry, a priority for tenants' advocates and Attorney General Peter Neronha, since it was approved by the General Assembly in summer 2023.

All rented living spaces, including short-term rentals, are supposed to be registered under the law, with $50-per-month penalties for landlords who fail to do so. Apartments in buildings constructed before lead was banned in 1978 also have to provide a "lead certificate," proof that they were deemed safe by a certified lead inspector.

The state, however, is not going to be issuing any fines for failure to register at this time.

The Department of Health "is currently focused on educating landlords about this new requirement and allowing landlords enough time to schedule [and receive] an inspection from a licensed lead inspector," agency spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth wrote in an email that explains why fines are not being issued.

Is there any consequence of not registering?

While landlords, for now, won't be cited for ignoring the registration deadline, they could still be fined eventually.

The law requires properties to be registered and in lead compliance for their owners to evict a tenant for not paying rent.

The Department of Health has not given any indication of when it might start issuing fines for noncompliance.

How many landlords have registered so far?

As of Sept. 26, 2,923 properties had been registered and another 3,648 had begun the process but had not completed it, Beardsworth said.

There is no fee to register but obtaining a lead certificate for a building built before 1978 isn't always easy.

Although the Department of Health won't state it publicly, the delay in issuing fines appears to stem in large part from a shortage of personnel to do the required inspections and lead remediation.

At a meeting of the state House study commission on housing affordability, commission chairwoman June Speakman relayed information a Department of Health official gave to a webinar, which suggested professional licensing requirements are getting in the way of lead remediation.

"It is a solvable problem, but we impose a requirement and there aren't enough lead inspectors," Speakman said. "To get a a lead inspectors' license, you need not only 40 hours of training, but you need to be an apprentice and the lead inspectors are too busy doing all these lead inspections that we have required them to do that they can't be mentoring new lead inspectors.

"So, it is an impossible situation, which is why they are not imposing fines on the Oct. 1 deadline."

Last year, Gov. Dan McKee proposed delaying the registration deadline until fall 2025 but lawmakers didn't go for it.

McKee also wanted to remove requirements that landlords provide a current address, email address and telephone number on the registry but that didn't happen.

What is next?

The owners of rental properties have been required to remediate lead and obtain lead certificates since 2002, but without knowing where all apartments are and who is renting them, enforcement has been lax.

In Rhode Island, lead is estimated to harm as many as 1,000 children per year and the registry is seen as a key tool for pushing landlords toward cleaning up old units.

But, when the registry bill was passed, opponents and proponents noted that having a database of all apartments could also be used in the future to enforce other tenant protections.