Congratulations, you survived the record-breaking Blizzard of 2026. With the anticipated arrival of clear skies and warm temps, how will you be spending your well-earned, much-needed downtime this summer? If you’re adventurous, you could explore some of...
Artwork by Bob Eggleton. Godzilla has been a cinematic icon for over 70 years. However, there are important themes around the monster that have gotten lost with international audiences. There is no gigantic monster that has had...
Tie-dye by Spun Laundry. BEACHES Atlantic Beach Park: Family beach, amusements, kiddy rides, snack bars, antique 1915 carousel, batting cages, bumper boats, go-carts, mini golf, game room, waterslides, gift shop, beachware and an ocean-view cocktail lounge. 321...
Photos by Lillian Karboski. Every time you listen to a song, there is always something more than the words or catchy melody. On Friday, May 1, right in the heart of downtown Providence, an extraordinary group...
Okee dokee folks… Rising costs of everything is what’s on my mind this month. It really should be on everyone’s mind. The main things I will talk about here are gasoline and concert tickets. One...
Ravi Shavi, a band that has been around since 2011 and started as a moniker for Rafay Rashid’s music project, has evolved and become more rooted in its creative approach and performance, as evidenced by...
“Can I go to X?” is the question 2 Feet 2 Bucks has answered with “Yes” dozens of times, where X = place worth going out of your way to, to take a walk, short...
Artist of the Year: Favorite Song: Favorite Music Video: NOVA ONE; "chlorine" by NOVA ONE; "chlorine" - NOVA ONE (Dir. Frankie Ferrari) nova one: “nova won!” Providence’s own nova one won (!!) four 2026 Motif Music Awards: “artist...
Photo by Matthew Murphy. The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King last played the Providence Performing Arts Center in 2017. After nearly ten years, The Lion King is back astounding Providence for a limited...
“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). This is the core theme behind William Shakespeare's darkest comedy, Measure for Measure, one of Shakespeare’s most exciting, underperformed and underappreciated plays, currently presented by Burbage...
Smithfield, RI: A town known for its forests, trails, ponds, and well, wealth. An unlikely location for a potential AI-Data Center, one may think. Yet, this rural community, despite data center construction being illegal under...
This is the story of visiting Providence’s newest Rotisserie and Bistro, Thermia, and being so intrigued by its menu and feeling so welcomed by the staff, that I went twice in one week! To give...
Check out extensive listings for every show we could find this season. But some are bigger or just fundamentally represent summer in our eclectic, hyperactive, tiny-yet-overachieving state. Here’s a selection of special events to keep...
“Industry wants us to believe the sky will fall if there’s reform," said Council President Rachel Miller. "But for working families, the sky is already falling..." Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13) “In front of you is...
The eggplant piece featured on the cover of Motif is the first completed work in Chenlu Hou’s Garden series, making it a perfect fit for this issue’s theme of Summer. A low-fire terracotta sculpture, airbrushed and...
[See prior update: motifri.com/iran-war-update-01] The Iran war cannot continue as it is for much longer, and this is a result of simple math. Time is running out for energy and food supply US Consumer Price Index for All...
Voting is now closed -- Join us to see who was selected Wednesday, May 276 – 10pmMyrtle, East Providence Join us for the 4th annual Motif Spoken Awards! We are excited to be returning to Myrtle to celebrate RI’s spoken word...
Ann Morrison and Marcus Phillips in the National Tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO. Photo by Joan Marcus KIMBERLY AKIMBO is a musical with a lot of heart, a lot of wit, and a lot of rave reviews...
Processed with VSCO with 6 preset When Steve DelMonico (vocals/guitar) approached John Faraone (drums) with an impossibly unique band name, there was no way of knowing that 10 years later they’d be sitting at Nolan’s with...
Photo: Dave Rezendes. John Faraone: a man of many bands, many instruments, and one poetic voice. While John wouldn’t call himself a poet, I certainly believe that his lyrics are simply stanzas waiting to be printed....
Photo by James Brooks. Okee dokee folks… I have referenced the Jethro Tull song, “Too Old to Rock & Roll, Too Young to Die,” A few times in my 22 years of writing for Motif, and...
(Photo credit: Keith J.G. McCurdy, from the cover art of Vudu Sister’s Adynata; photograph of the art installation LO SGUARDO - Humanitas - Physis by sculptor Igor Mitoraj at the Neopolis Archaeological Park of Siracusa...
Mount Pleasant. Elmhurst. The Valley Arts District. These are all neighborhoods whose offerings I thought I knew well, having worked in and around Providence over the last few years. But you can certainly miss a...
Buddy Mott. Once upon a time, if you wanted a tattoo, one of the things you could do was traipse to Newport from any of the four corners of the world and get yourself a tattoo...
The actual declaration of Independence was first proclaimed to the people of Newport from this building in July 1776. (Photo by Maureen O'Gorman) It doesn't take long for a person new to Rhode Island to find...
The RI Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced a major initiative to repair potholes caused by a harsh winter. A new Pothole Service Requests Dashboard site on the web – https://www.dot.ri.gov/travel/potholes.php – allows the public to...
The tattoo artist who goes by Mish, of Fall River, MA, created this month’s cover. “I got the nickname when I was younger, and it just kinda stuck,” she says. Also, it stirs a little...
On the “Weekend Update” satirical news segment on Saturday Night Live. anchor Colin Jost displayed a snapshot of an unhinged rant laced with profanity in the form of a Donald Trump post to Truth Social,...
VOTING OPEN NOW! VOTE HERE Wednesday, May 276 - 10pmMyrtle, East Providence Join us for the 4th annual Motif Spoken Awards! We are excited to be returning to Myrtle to celebrate RI’s spoken word community. The live celebration,...
VOTE HERE! "May your tattoo ink never run dry," as the ancient Portlandian blessing goes, has rarely been more applicable. Motif is proud to partner again with Narragansett Brewery to bring you the RI Tattoo Awards,...
I am a hopeful romantic and a huge fan of romcoms. The films often have a woman in the lead navigating adventures in love, love lost, and love reclaimed. There’s always a happy ending. I sure was surprised to learn about a twist in that formula in a recently released film, Solo Mio, starring Kevin […]
Curtis Lovejoy — “F Is For” www.facebook.com/reel/772015405947064 Devon Sproule – “Gargle My…” www.facebook.com/reel/1954653128787987 Curtis Brand – “A Murder In Minnesota” youtube.com/watch?v=UGdU_DA2mi4 Neutral Nation- “People’s Lives” facebook.com/reel/1583621439396277 Big Merla-“The Mantrum Jig” (sent by Beth Barron) www.facebook.com/reel/1196386395954257 Billy Bragg-“City Of Heroes” www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKOW2ZikGW8 Samara Jade – ”Turn A Blind Eye” www.facebook.com/reel/1221998632741450 Eric “Red” Schwartz — “Asshole’s Day” www.facebook.com/reel/2172011930312115 […]
Rhode Island Football Club (RIFC) is entering their third year in the USL Championship league and second at homebase Centreville Bank Stadium. The first two seasons have had some exciting, and some rocky moments on the field, but ended in surprising deep playoff runs that keep expectations high. The offseason brought about some changes that […]
Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. As the snow melts (or doesn’t, given the amount still on the ground at the time of this writing), the muddy ground dries, leading to blooming annuals and soil ripe for planting gardens and flowers. Leaves grow, decorating bare trees, showing signs of life. The days get […]
I’ve never known much about growing flowers. The few gardens I’ve started in my life ended all too unceremoniously, in death. And I’ve never known much about 3-D printing, either. In fact, probably attributed to my lack of knowledge and skill in both realms, I never really cared much about either subject. But when my […]
At Providence, a clipper system will likely bring snow possibly changing to rain in a first burst Wed 7am – 1pm and a second burst of all snow Thu 6pm – Fri 4am, but the chance of any precipitation at all in the second is less than 20%. Total accumulation will be under 1 inch. […]
Drivers and cyclists often seem to carry an almost antagonist relationship with one another. People all too often forget courtesy for the fellow citizen when driving on the roads and that, combined with a lack of safe bike access, can and often does lead to accidents. On average the city sees 262 reported crashes per […]
“Thank you for saving me.”Jeff Zurowski’s words to his would-be kidney donor. Individuals in need of a kidney transplant could be on the waiting list for 5 – 7 years for a deceased donor. Finding a living donor that is a match saves crucial time, gets someone off the waitlist and has a longer expected […]
Amid sharp cuts in federal monies to the arts by the Trump administration and a drop in funding from some other sources, The Steel Yard (TSY) in Providence’s Industrial Valley has been hit by a financial crisis. As Drake Patten, who was recently named interim director, put it: “The current fragility of the nonprofit world […]
“In the end, though, love is relationships, and that is why we are here: to build relationships of caring, durability, strength, and connection. Love is a participant.” Emcees Moira Walsh, Cody Frazier, and Jordan Garces “Welcome to ‘A Love Letter to Tomorrow,’” said Moira Walsh, one of the three emcees, after a terrific musical performance […]
