Bob was an irresistible force in the fabric of the local acting community. A frequent partner with Oscar Nominee Richard Jenkins both in local theater and at Trinity Rep in the ’70s, Bob also founded The Rhode Island Shakespeare Theater (TRIST), especially esteemed for its Shakespeares in the park. Colonna grew up in show biz. […]
The founder of the long-standing hipster-ish West Side restaurant Julians hadn’t been involved directly with the restaurant in quite some time. But his legacy persisted. A larger-than-life personality, you never knew at what event Julian might show up, his square jaw ready-to-fire sarcasm preceding him by a few paces. He pioneered the “this wait staff […]
Renowned supporter of local music and arts Lisa Gourley (Sometimes Lisa Gourleyx) passed away on June 15. Reading reactions on social media, you can’t help but notice how often the words “nice,” “kind,” and “photography” come up. Lisa won Motif’s Favorite Photographer award a few times, most recently in 2023. Here’s how our reporter Bobby […]
Okee dokee folks… “Sto lat, sto lat.” It’s a traditional Polish song that is meant to wish a long life to a person. “Sto lat” roughly translates to “100 years” and is a common Polish way of wishing someone a happy Birthday. I bought a poster of the song lyrics for my father while I […]
There are more than seven-hundred members in my town’s pickleball club. It’s mostly seniors, with some regulars who show up daily. The rest are faces in the crowd. Jeff Lawrence was a rare exception. Though he only played about two-dozen times, he left a crater-sized impression, and even inspired some new rules of conduct. From […]
At Motif, we are heartbroken to share news of the loss of DJ Pauly Danger, a pillar of Providence’s music community. Pauly was so much more than a DJ. He was a friend, a father, and a genuinely kind soul. He brought light and warmth everywhere he went, and we are so grateful for the […]
I met Alan Hassenfeld, former Hasbro chairman and CEO and unrivalled philanthropist, in the early 1990s, when he and H. Philip West Jr. led a coalition to bring badly needed ethical reform to Rhode Island politics. It was ultimately successful. I discovered then what a unique man he was, along with his family, which had […]
The longtime Democratic member and president of the RI Senate passed away on April 21 after battling cancer for over a year. Ruggerio was the longest-serving member in either the RI Senate or House of Representatives. Ruggerio resided in North Providence and is survived by his two children, Charles and Amanda. Proceedings in the legislature […]
The intersection of Power and Hope will forever conjure thoughts of artist The Mad Peck for Providence residents familiar with his iconic poster. His other alias, Dr. Oldie, was known for hosting The Original Rhode Island Record Collectors Flea Market and Swap Meet. But to many, he was simply known and loved as John Peck. […]
If you’ve ever enjoyed a meal at Pawtucket’s Garden Grille or a vegan dessert at Wildflour (or back in the day at the still-missed Grange in PVD), you have Rob Yaffe to thank. His passion for all things vegan led him to create and lead these fine establishments, providing some of the first and most […]