Two Separate Periods Precipitation Mon – Wed: Snow and Freezing Rain, then Rain

At Providence, a clipper low Mon night followed by a shortwave Tue night into Wed morning will bring two separate episodes of precipitation, the first beginning as minimal snow possibly changing to freezing rain and...

Suspect Dead in Brown Mass Shooting and MIT Professor Murder: Authorities say crimes committed by single suspect

Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, identified by authorities as the suspect in both the Dec 13 mass shooting at Brown University in Providence that killed two and injured nine and the Dec 15 murder of MIT Professor...

YEAR-END REVIEW: Opening amidst adversity and budget cuts, here are five favorite PVD-area stage productions, 2025

Cibber-Vanbrugh’s The Provok’d Husband, a comedy about an extravagant wife, was a huge success in Newport. And Nicholas Rowe’s brooding The Tragedy of Jane Shore, inspired by the life of the mistress of Edward IV, drew standing-room only...

RI Video Roundup

We asked Motif’s resident video production supervisor to recommend some locally grown vids that made his year: 1. Dawn the Duck You may think you have a robust social life, but just know that there's a duck...

Read Locally: Top book picks by RI authors

By Steven R. Porter Rhode Island is known nationwide for its vibrant arts community. But the state’s published authors, despite their talent and success, are too often an afterthought. The year 2025 saw an absolute cornucopia...

COUNTDOWN TO THE LAST TEN BEST PINTS OF 2025

  The holidays, over the years, have changed. This may be true for you as well. As a toddler most of us have followed family traditions. My late sister and I would wait for my father...

Roots Report

Heather Rose in Clover Okee dokee folks… If you listen to music enough you can always find lines in a song or whole songs that relate to the world around you. Lately I have been elder-Ubering...

Subterranean Jungle: Hol-i-dazes Best of 2025 

Crash Space It’s that time of year where every asshat wants to spew their “Best of whatever year” list like someone out in the ether really gives a flying fart. These lists can be dumb, but...

Predictions for 2026 Include Increasing Crises: US pushing the envelope of political and economic instability

I am not optimistic in the short term, but I am in the long term. I’ve watched the country go through terrible upheavals, back to the Vietnam War and the election of Richard Nixon as...

Are you Penguin or Polar Bear?: A 2026 Polar Plunge Guide

It's coming to the point in the year where we all announce resolutions that we don’t keep. So why not start with one that’s easy too? Albeit, it might take a small act of bravery....

What Are You Doing New Years?: New Years Eve Celebrations

Every year there is the great debate; Should I remain home and watch the ball drop in my Care Bear jammies, or should I open my horizons by bringing in the new year with style...

ON THE COVER: John Gendron

“I make art in the same way you walk, or breathe, or eat a meal,” says illustrator and designer John Gendron of Providence, who created the cover for Motif’s year-end issue. “I try to process...

Solar Aurora Possible Mon Night: May see G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm

At Providence, solar aurora may be visible overnight Mon into Tue and, to a lesser extent, Tue into Wed. Aurora is unusual at latitudes this far south, but it typically happens a few times every...

Warming Centers Save Lives: Local facilities open for protection during extreme cold

Even normal winter conditions can be life-threatening to anyone without proper hats, clothes, and footwear, but extreme conditions are life-threatening for anyone outside of heated shelter. According to the RI Department of Environmental Management, the interior...

Roots Report: Holy daze

Okee dokee folks… People apparently totally gloss over Thanksgiving now, not that I care. I am a vegetarian and the ritual slaughter of turkeys for holidays has always bothered me. The fact that my ears...

In the Stars: What to expect for the 2025 Winter Solstice

You don’t need to be a card reader or clairvoyant to know that the world is in an uproar. When the slower moving outer planets are in play the world moves and changes. And when...

Thank God For Thank God For Science

In an era of content slop, pseudo-art, and AI, Thank God For Science is a breath of fresh air — proof that there are still art-weirdos out there who value creativity over commercial appeal. To...

Resonant Oscillations: Lost in a metaphysical hex with doom pioneers Earth

After paving a distorted pathway in the early ’90s with three albums on Sub Pop Records, the band Earth — bearing a name chosen in homage to Black Sabbath’s original moniker — marked their emergence...

Cool Spots: A map of winter activities!

Icons by Mina Miki LIGHT DISPLAYS Rhode Island Holiday Light Show2150 Scituate Ave, Hope 02831 Slater Park Pawtucket Winter Wonderland401 Newport Ave, Pawtucket 02861401-726-3185 Roger Williams Park Zoo - Holiday Lights Spectacular (Santa M&G)1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence 02907401-785-3510 Sparkling Lights...

Subterranean Jungle: Your Winter Survival Kit

Six Star General It’s good to have local indie guitar swingers Six Star General back, rocking out after a bit of a hiatus. Both of the bands at this show bring noisy, pre-grunge rock & roll....

Local gift spots

The holidays are near, which means it’s time to go shopping. Here’s an assortment of local spots we visited with something uniquely RI to offer. Taking Stock As a fellow coffee and tea drinker, my eyes were...

How to Pick a Christmas Tree: Advice from the woodcutter’s daughter

Thinking back about trees and the meaning of the holidays, a warm, fuzzy feeling comes over me. I am a woodcutter's daughter, and trees have a special meaning and purpose in our lives. During the...

ICE-proofing Our Courthouses: Open letter advocating virtual court appearances

Over 30 Rhode Island organizations, court workers, and politicians, including the Providence City Council, penned an open letter calling on Governor Daniel McKee, Chief Justice Paul Suttell, and the RI Judiciary to immediately implement virtual...

ON THE COVER: Carey Good

Who spit on our cover? The cover art chose itself for this issue, says photographer and printmaker Carey Good of Providence, who created it.“I started etching on three copper plates. Soon, I discarded the biggest of...

TS 12: The Life of a Showgirl Review For Motif Magazine

If you didn’t stay up until midnight on the night of the TS12 album release, covered in glittery friendship bracelets from the Eras tour and a friend’s small business clinging to both wrists, slightly tipsy...

La Niña Makes Warmer Winter Likely: Precipitation forecast complicated, but overall average expected

Scientific models forecasting the upcoming winter season are driven mostly by observations of such factors as Pacific Ocean temperature, since weather moves from west to east across the continental United States. It has been known...

Frankie and Johnny at Gamm: Passion and confusion in the moonlight

Is it true love or a rewarding romp in the sack? You’ll go back and forth for two hours trying to decide in “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.”  Photo by Cat Laine What’s undisputed...

Thank You to our Patreon Members!

Support SocietyJennifer JolicoeurAmato A DeLucaPaul Rochford You’re On a Lobstah ROLL TierDon RhodesSI RosenbaumDaria Phoebe BrashearJeannine PetersonAlex You’re a Weiner TierHannah ChasonSarah SummersMary Paolino You’re Not So Awful Awful TierVincent FugereMadiganSeeDubs And THANK YOU to our anonymous donors! PATREON ...

BTS with DMK: Behind The Scenes with filmmaker Kristen Falso-Capaldi

If you haven’t noticed yet, Rhode Island is bursting with endless creative energy. Providence has named itself the Creative Capital and is the home of the Rhode Island School of Design, WaterFire, and PVDFest --...

RISE Medical & Recreational Cannabis Dispensary Warwick: Where regulars feel at home 

While built for quick, seamless visits, this dispensary does it without losing its sense of community. What used to be known as Agaves Mexican Grill on Jefferson Boulevard has now become a community-driven dispensary for medicinal...

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