About Providence County, RI

One of the best and easiest ways to keep your home insurance policy cost down is to take safety precautions in your home. Here are 8 ways to protect your home against electrical fires:

• Use a power strip instead of an extension cord in an electric socket when you need to plug in a lot of things.

• Never run electrical cords under “areas of wear” such as rugs, over nails, or in traffic areas.

• Never use a standard extension cord for a major appliance or a heat-producing appliance; instead, use a heavy-duty extension cord.

• Choose only electrical devices that carry the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) rating.

• Don't yank plugs out of the electric socket – you could bend the prongs and up the chances of it becoming dangerous.

• Replace any cord or plug that is cracked, discolored, or feels hot to the touch when in use.

• If your lights flicker and/or appliances run slowly, or if you have a fuse that repeatedly blows, call an electrician. That means your system is overloaded.

• Don't use a bulb with more wattage than a lamp or fixture is rated to accommodate, or the unit will overheat.

Podmaska Insurance is an independent insurance agency in the Pawtucket, Rhode Island area. To learn more about Pawtucket, Cranston, Johnston, and Providence home insurance, contact them today.

It’s unfortunate how many car owners find auto insurance premiums so complicated. They sit with an insurance agent, lost as the agent builds their policy. What is the agent doing? Are they trying to rope me into getting coverage I don’t need? I don’t understand what everything means…

But in actuality, auto insurance premiums are based on very simple principles. Your agent will basically determine what risk factors you have, and once you reach a place where you’re comfortable with your coverage, that’s really all that’s involved.

The risk factors will be based on things like your gender, age, occupation, driving record, type of vehicle, and where you live. As you can see, some of these risk factors are under your control and some aren’t.

However, the decision on what coverage to purchase will be up to you. The agent will make strong suggestions (see below), but you have to choose what makes you feel safe. Normally, the three main types are Liability Coverage, Comprehensive Coverage, and Collision Coverage, but there are other sub-options as well, such as Personal Injury Protection and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance.

The types of coverage that are normally strongly recommended by agents are Liability Coverage, Comprehensive Coverage, and Collision Coverage, so don’t be surprised when those are suggested. Liability will cover the damages you’re responsible for when you’re involved in an accident. Collision covers damage to your own vehicle in the event of an accident, and Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicle that is not accident-related, such as damage caused by a natural disaster, vandalism, or theft.

It’s never a good idea to settle only for the minimum coverage required by law. The more auto insurance you buy, the cheaper it is, meaning you can get more coverage with just a slight increase in your policy. It comes down to you deciding what will make you feel safe when it comes to insuring the safety of your vehicle. The agent is there to help you – not confuse you!

Podmaska Insurance is an independent insurance agency in the Pawtucket, Rhode Island area. To learn more about Pawtucket, Cranston, Johnston, and Providence auto insurance, contact them today.

Welcome to a new series of posts regarding some of the more interesting spots in Providence.  Today, I decided to start with a place near my home to which I've walked several times.  I passed by today, only to learn that I had mis-remembered the hours, so I thought it made sense to share that, and more with you. 

The East Side Prescription Center is a pharmacy located in the Mount Hope neigborhood on the East Side of Providence.  One of the city's few independant pharmacies, and the only one on the East Side, it is a welcome respite from the corporate pharmacy chains that dominate that industry. 

The small store has a relatively wide selection of the kind of products you'd expect a pharmacy to have: over the counter medication, first aid supplies, spiral bound notebooks, and Chef Boyardee canned spaghetti. 

It has an even wider selection of something that you might not expect to see in a pharmacy - a great wine selection. 

How different is that?  Pick up your prescription and choose a bottle of wine or a 6-pack.  They even offer occasional tastings guided by their own sommelier, Daniel Nuzum.  In addition to roughly 500 wines and 75 beers, the store also carries a full selection of liquor for those so inclined.

The East Side Prescription Center is located at the corner of Hope and Elgin Streets, at 632 Hope Street.  It is open until 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and until 3:00 PM on Sundays. 

Enjoy!

Last night, Melissa and I went out for dinner with our friend Julie.  We chose Andreas on Thayer Street in Providence.  I had never been, but my dining partners couldn't wait for me to try real Greek food.  I can't wait to go back!  We ordered a bunch of appetizers to share:

• Dolmathakia (Dolma)- both regular and vegetarian.  I prefer the vegetarian - more of a lemony flavor.  They are grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs and spices.  The non-vegetarian version comes with ground beef. 
• Fried Calmari - With cherry peppers.  Perfectly done, and not greasy at all.
• Spanikopita - Their version came in a wedge, and not too much phyllo. STUFFED with spinach, feta and herbs.  Also not greasy.
• Grilled Haloumi Cheese - They had a special last night - grilled Haloumi cheese with mint.  I really hope to see this on the menu again - or in a store so I can make my own!
• Sauteed Shrimp Santorini - garlic, sundried tomatoes and olive oil
• Greek Sausage Saute - with lemon, olive oil and pita
• Marathon Salad - Romaine with grilled figs, sundried tomatoes and gorgonzola.  I think the dressing was made with sundried tomatoes as well.  I didn't know I liked figs!

Everything was so fresh and perfectly cooked.  The table was covered with plates of food. It was a fun night and our server, Raul, was very attentive and helpful.  We all rolled out of there stuffed and happy. 

I haven't been able to find a website for Andreas, but here's a link to a review from the Providence Journal a couple of years ago, if you'd like to read more.

Bob Black - REALTOR
Prudential Gammons Realty

BBlack@PrudentialGammonsRealty.com

401.942.8844 ext 28

www.LivingInRhodeIsland.Blogspot.com

If you've ever lived in Rhode Island, chances are you've been to or at least heard of Twin Oaks Restaurant in Cranston. The Oaks has been around since 1933, with its speakeasy roots running back to 1928. William DeAngelus Sr opened his home to friends in '33 after Federal Agents destroyed his still. The original Twin Oaks consisted of two small dining rooms and one larger function room. Today in its current location, the restaurant seats close to 650 people in six dining rooms - not to mention the beautiful outdoor deck overlooking Spectacle Pond.

Melissa and I went for a late lunch/early dinner sort of thing last week. Earlier that morning I had seen Joe Zito, "The TV Maitre d'" eating out on the deck. He was enjoying a massive pile of the most succulent lobster salad anywhere in the Northeast! I would be willing to match this dish up against any other lobster salad in New England purely based on size although I'm sure they would compete successfully in flavor as well. It had just the right amount of mayonnaise, minced celery and seasonings. We made the mistake of each ordering one of these colossal plates without thinking. Once it arrived I think we both gasped a little.

Bite after bite I felt like neither one of us was making a dent. We finally asked our waiter for some grilled hot dog buns so we could make a lobster roll out of it. What a great idea this turned out to be. The roll was warm and buttered - it turned into the best lobster roll I've ever had. And being a life long New Englander I've had many a lobster roll. The Oaks does offer a lobster roll that's not actually on the menu but if you want more bang for your buck I'd recommend paying a few dollars more for the lobster salad and then asking for a grilled hot dog bun in order to build your own. It's fantastic!  There was no way either of us was finishing, and we brought the rest home - we were able to make 4 more rolls out of it the next day!

The service is always consistent and extremely good. They have the fastest most dedicated waiters anywhere. Anytime we needed anything they were there to take care of things. Bread, water, dessert  - you name it, they did it. Not only are you made to feel like a friend but also they make sure you don't leave hungry. Portion control doesn't exist inside these walls. 

If you do anything at all this summer or fall, please make sure to get to Twin Oaks for a little taste of how one of the best restaurants in the country does things. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Bob Black - REALTOR
Prudential Gammons Realty
401.942.8844 ext 28
BBlack@PrudentialGammonsRealty.com