Atwells Ave. - August 4

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This is a church up on Federal Hill that until last night, I had never seen before.

 Beautiful expensive cars. Valet parking. Girls in tight dresses. Old people dancing to Francis Sinatra music at DePasquale Square near America Street in Providence, Rhode Island. Free parking if you know where. Eat your heart out, North End of Beantown.

Everyone was out last night. So many new Italian restaurants.

I sent my Navy friend John a photo of an old, perfect, black and chrome Harley that was sitting sideways on Atwells Ave, at the cigar store across from the tattoo place.

I had an iced cappuccino with a shot of sambuca as a night cap. Hmmm . . . It was the perfect night to be "on the Hill."

Rhode Island girls make me smile. Rhode Island mafioso types make Sandy smile.

Google “DePasquale Square in Providence” and find the 1:17 winter video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDQ4_1feZO4

The girls go by

dressed up for each other.

And the boys do the boogie woogie

on the corner of the street.

And the people passin’ by

just stare in wild wonder.

And the inside jukebox

roars out just like thunder.

“Wild Night” by Van Morrison

An Evening in Providence

We went to Water Fire last evening in Providence, Rhode Island. Oak wood fires in the river, gondolas from Italy, Italian opera from Eeetaly . . .

The city was packed. Swing dancing and jazz listening there for the taking. If you have never been to Water Fire you need to go. Maybe you were there but we didn't see you. Grazie, Mayor Buddy Cianci!

It was a steamy night in more ways than one. Last night on Federal Hill the young beautiful Italian girls made me feel old. Some so gorgeous you just burst out smiling. At the plaza some young crooner was singing Frank Sinatra tunes. Giovanni commented on all the beautiful automobiles parked in front of Andino's: Porsches , Ferraris, BMWs and even low riders. You can get a tattoo or a cigar on the Hill, no problem. Helmet-less motorcycle riders cruise the avenue. It is always a shock to cross into Rhode Island from Massachusetts and see that.

John and I were ahead of Sandy& Barb, walking back to the car along Atwells Avenue, when we came upon the best looking girls yet. I doubled back and asked Sandy for my high blood pressure medicine. She and Barb got the joke and just laughed.

The highlight of the night of girl watching for John and me was either the two bartender girls in low-cut black tops and short skirts at the bar at Zooma's, or the black chicks, goin’ out dancin’ , at midnight, in dresses as tight as socks. Their asses sticking WAY out. More than Jennifer Lopez. I burst out laughing at that one. Remember the Supremes? It was quite a fashion show on the Hill last night.

"Makes a young man smile, makes an old man moan" -- lyrics from an old song. How appropriate.