Poor Oversight: DoH drops the ball on optometrist accused of sexual assault
“He had an obvious erection, and just started grinding on me. There was nothing ambiguous about it.” This is not how you would expect someone to describe their last visit to their optometrist. Yet this woman, who has asked to have her identity withheld, has. She describes the most vulnerable part of an eye exam […]
High Quality: RI tests the waters of cannabis testing
Since the legalization of compassion centers for medical marijuana patients in Rhode Island in 2013, there has been a law on the books requiring that cannabis products be tested in state. That’s all the law says, leaving the hows, whens and wherefores up to the Department of Business Regulation (DBR) and Department of Health (DoH) […]
The Real Deal
Rhode Island media lost a heavyweight in early 2021 with the passing of long-time TV news investigative reporter Bill Rappleye, who succumbed to brain cancer last week. Bill left a mark on RI journalism that will affect generations, setting an example as the political reporter for Channel 10. He was a distinctive combination of respectful […]
Publisher Mike Ryan
Mr. Ryan has been publishing Motif for almost 12 years, and wrote the film column for a number of years before that. After graduating from Portsmouth Abbey, he earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Princeton University, a degree in graphic design from RISD and an associate’s in marketing from Johnson & Wales University. He spent his early […]
Executive Summary
What We Are Motif is an arts and entertainment publication in Rhode Island. Its team publishes free papers for more than 60,000 local print readers (audited), online content for another 20,000 and videos, social media, community events and other media for thousands more. The Opportunity amid this Chaotic Current Business Environment Print is consolidating and […]
One Hell of a Film at Barnaby Castle
“Let’s throw a par- … I mean, a movie,” decided Kaitlyn Frolich, head spook at Barnaby Castle. Barnaby Castle — the grandiose, gothic mansion on Broadway in Providence that has gathered national attention at times for its ornate, baroque interior design and history dating back to the industrial revolution — including acclaim as a murder […]
Motif x RI ComicCon Cosplay Contest
Miss Comic Con? Or Halloween? Both? Or just love to cosplay? Motif to the rescue! Teaming up with RI Comic Con, which would normally happen at the beginning of November, we’re holding a virtual cosplay contest. Get your best cosplay on, take a selfie, show us your craftsmanship and win prizes from Motif and RI […]
Supporting Portland: Protesters gathered in PVD Saturday night
Protesters gathered in front of the Providence Public Safety Complex on Saturday night, with law enforcement in riot gear standing a block away. One hundred and fifty mostly young people came out to protest police brutality and called to defund the police. The rally’s original intent was to show solidarity with the city of Portland, […]
Providence Tours go Viral: A monumental scavenger hunt
There is a lot of history hidden throughout Providence in plain sight. The memorials, monuments or statues you may encounter in your daily travels probably pass you by without you ever noticing what they stand for or where they came from. The Providence Tour Company normally would take you on a fun-filled amble through local […]