About a month ago, Ace Frehley took the stage at the newly renovated Uptown Theatre in Providence. We didn’t know it at the time, but this would end up being Ace’s final live performance. The Uptown Theatre had just reopened, ushering in a new era for the historic venue. A landmark since 1926, the Uptown […]
In the living room of his childhood home, a young Rich Lupo would sit as if under a spell, transistor radio pressed to his ear while the television played in the background. Especially at a young age, humans can soak up whatever they’re exposed to like sponges, albeit sometimes subconsciously. His father, a singing bartender, […]
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been increasingly scary and threatening under the Trump administration. A few days ago, armed and masked agents converged on a Chicago apartment house, some even rappelling onto the roof from military helicopters. They forced men, women, and children outside, even naked, restraining them with zip-tie handcuffs. Most of […]
Every city has that one neighborhood spot that feels like a little oasis — the place you can wander into and instantly run into friends, grab an affordable drink, and feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. For me, and for many people in Providence, that place is Ogie’s. So imagine my surprise […]
PVDFest 2025 was a step toward the festival’s roots and toward a more local foundation, a vision espoused by Lizzy Araujo Haller as the first city director of the event. “We have a small team for this, working closely with City resources and FirstWorks, but there’s no way it would be possible without all the […]
Our 2025 Battle of the Bands turned out to be a battle of bands vs. nature, as rain persistently threatened each band’s performance and eventually opened up the floodgates to pour silence on the ironically named Sun of Sound. Sun of Sound was the third of four contestants. Our hearts go out to them, and […]
Do you ever have those seasons where you become hyper fixated on a specific interest for a time? I’ve been through many, whether it’s one musical artist, a new TV show and all of its accompanying lore, or a certain style of dress. A few years ago, I found myself drawn to the Afrofuturist movement […]
Naylea Hernández of Providence paints in vibrant colors like her favorite contemporary artist, Rocio Cabrera. The cover artist for Motif’s Hispanic Heritage issue, Hernández makes a point of using slime green in a number of her paintings. It’s her favorite color, she says, reminiscent of Nickelodeon’s iconic and signature substance. In her composition for the […]
On September 15th, Rhode Island—like other states across the nation—will begin a month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15). This annual event is meant to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Yet, as the founder of Rhode Island’s first statewide Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration back in 1988, I […]
“988 isn’t just a number. It’s a promise: that no one has to go through a mental health crisis alone.” -988 Lifeline Supervisor Stephanie Clifford at 988 Day Event Horizon Healthcare Partners announced that there has been a 212% increase in calls since 988 became the crisis behavioral health hotline. Co-authored by RI Senator Jack […]