Woody Harrelson, a 'Sopranos' star, Travis Kelce's Super Bowl foe — and more — have been spotted in Rhode Island recently (2024)

Celebs

A round-up of recent star-sighting in lil' Rhody.

By Lauren Daley

March 11, 2024

Keep your eyes peeled in the Ocean State.

We’re just months and change into ’24, and the tiniest state is pulling more than its weight in terms of celebs spotted out-and-about in Rhode Island this year.

Chiefs star Travis Kelce — he dates a Westerly, R.I. homeowner, you may have heard of her — announced the Kelce bros’ “New Heights” podcast last week: He did not, however, eat sushi in California with Super Bowl foe Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers despite the the paparazzi pics that landed on Page Six. That was coincidence, Kelce said — but considering they both have partners with Rhody ties, it could happen again.

McCaffrey dined this week at Cranston’s Twin Oaks Restaurant with his fiancé/Cranston native Olivia Culpo. The former Miss Universe — and longtime fan of the restaurant’s chicken parm — snapped a shot of her boo with fans, including Jessica Schiano of 92 PRO-FM. (Travis and Taylor: date night idea.)

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Meanwhile, Jamie Lee Curtis, who made a splash at the Oscars Sunday night, was spotted Friday on Broadway in Providence filming “Ella McCay.” She dined last week at PVD pizza spot Figidini. (“Your energy was infectious & was radiating as hot as our oven,” @figidini noted on their Insta post.)

Curtis and castmates Woody Harrelson — also spotted filming on Broadway recently — Albert Brooks — wearing a black varsity jacket embroidered “Albert” (insert 100 emoji here) — director James L. Brooks, and others kicked off filming in the state Feb. 1 at Providence’s Vino & Contorni. (Internet, do your thing: It appears the film’s star Emma Mackey, also of “Barbie,” is left of Woody in one shot.)

A few days later, “Kingpin” Harrelson got his Roy Munson on in Cranston, at Lang’s Bowlarama. He’s not the only celeb who’s rolled recently: “Project Runway” season 17 designer Jamall Osterholm — a Cranston native and RISD alum — hit the lanes Feb. 17.

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Coming as a shock to no one: Harrelson also hit up a cannabis dispensary. He was spotted at Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket in February.

Keep your eyes peeled for more “Ella” stars: according to IMDB, the “Ella McCay” cast includes Dorchester’s Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri, Kumail Nanjiani, and Jack Lowden (“Dunkirk”).

Meanwhile, “Sopranos” alum Steve “Bobby Baccalieri” Schirripa returned for meatballs at Longo Ristorante Pizzeria in Westerly a few weeks ago to share a plate, quite literally, with his pup Willie.

“Willie loves it here. I love it here. Listen to me. Now listen,” Schirripa said in an Instagram video posted by the Italian restaurant. “The best meatballs I’ve ever had anywhere,” he said, taking a bite, then forking another piece to feed Willie. “And Willie loves it.”

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He’s not kidding about his love for these meatballs, folks.

In November, Longo posted that Schirripa stopped in again for his “meatball fix.”

He and Michael “Chrissy” Imperioli dined at the same spot last summer: “This is the best meatball you will ever ever eat anywhere,” Schirripa said then to the camera.

“The other thing is they know how to cook pasta to the right consistency,” Imperioli added.

I’m not sure, but I think a “Sopranos” cast endorsem*nt is officially the highest honor an Italian restaurant can get.

Oh, and baseball fans: Pete Rose also loves these meatballs.

Meanwhile, Rhody pizza is getting its share of the ’24 spotlight:

Dave Portnoy, of Barstool Sports and Internet-famous “One Bite Pizza Reviews,” brought his 1.24 million pizza subscribers on a tour of Rhode Island in January. For the record:

• Nice Slice in Providence (“No pun intended, nice slice.”)
• Francesco’s Pizzeria in Providence (While he prefaced he didn’t think he would like it, took a bite, and was shocked, “Oh I really like this!… what? I’m so confused… I like it for real.”)
• Merlino’s Pizzeria in Cranston (“Good middle-of-the-road pizza.”)

Then the true test: Cold red pizza strips — as traditionally Rhode Island as coffee milk — at Johnston’s D. Palmieri’s Bakery: “This is just tomato sauce on bread … This ain’t my vibe.” As for their “regular” pie? “It’s good stuff … I’m glad I tried this and didn’t stick just to strips.”

(Dave, it’s an acquired taste. A few more visits and you’ll be pairing with a tall glass of Autocrat.)

Picking up on a theme, here? Same. It seems Italian food is a common draw.

Both Henry Winkler and “Seinfeld’s” J. Peterman, a.k.a. John O’Hurley, have told me of their love of PVD’s famous Italian food.

“I’m always on Federal Hill wolfing down some Italian specialty,” O’Hurley told me in ’22. (The line is just so perfectly Peterman.)

In an Instagram post last spring, “Blossom” and “Big Bang Theory” alum Mayim Bialik called Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen Italian Restaurant “the best Italian food I think I’ve ever had.”

If you spot a celeb in Rhode Island, tag Lauren Daley on Instagram @laurendaley1, and your post could make the next roundup.Lauren Daley can be reached at [emailprotected]. She tweets @laurendaley1.