By Olivia Lunger By Lillian MK Photography ...
Favorite Color Tattoo Evan Olin, Powerline Tattoo Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray with Color Steven McDonough, Secret Safe Tattoo Runner-up: Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art...
By Lillian MK Photography By Olivia Lunger ...
Photo by Lillian MK Photography. Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word Ashley HosaRunner-up: Jeff Daniellian Favorite Social Justice Spoken Word Erik AndradeRunner-up: Mx Asher Favorite Youth Poet Angel CruzRunner-up: (by one vote) Josselyn Wolf Favorite Poetry Event Apothica's Monthly Poetry NightRunner-up: Afroverse Favorite...
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...
Photo: Christopher Mongeau. 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...
“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...
Photo: mortal/women, OutLoud Theatre. Recast the back-to-school anticipatory excitement of your youth into enthusiasm for the start of the 2023-2024 theater season. From drama to comedy to the opening of Broadway touring productions, the next few months promise to hit every human emotion while reaffirming the quality of options available to Rhode Islanders seeking live […]
Zane Zapata (Frankie Valli) with Kyle Braun and Drake Leach. Photo: Mark Turek. Theatre By The Sea is elated to finally offer the Tony® Award-winning hit Jersey Boys, which runs through September 10. Jersey Boys is presented in a documentary-style format, taking us through the formation, success, and eventual breakup of the 1960s rock & […]
Photo: Drazen Nesic The start of a new season can be a time to try something different. Fall is a wonderful time to be outdoors, with the crisp air and changing of the leaves. Mountain biking is a good way to get a good look at the beauty of fall. “Fall riding is my favorite […]
Photo: Alison O’Donnell What is hurling, you ask? No, not THAT kind of hurl. Think of it as field hockey – on steroids! A team is composed of 15 players or “hurlers.” The hurley or hurl stick is generally 24 to 36 inches in length. The ball, known as a sliotar, has a cork center […]
Photo: Randy Robertson And on the sixth day, God invented the salty-sweet flavor profile. Looking for a fall-themed recipe to mimic the effect a seasonal TJ Maxx candle has on your salivary glands? Look no further. This cannabis-infused salted caramel popcorn recipe is the perfect snack to accompany a crisp night watching “Buffy the Vampire […]
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline rebranded in 2022 and became the Suicide and Crisis Hotline. 988 made the number simple to remember, and the demand for its services has only increased in the past year. Their text line takes away the anxiety that can come with making phone calls. 988 is available for any reason […]
Henry in the leaves. Photo: Meg Coss Fall is a time for hoodies, pumpkin everything, and fewer hours of daylight. The air gets cooler and a brisk scent fills the air, signifying the changing of the season. The leaves turn beautiful colors before falling off the trees, covering lawns everywhere. This, along with a final […]
Okee dokee folks… I was saddened to learn about the passing of someone that I greatly admired, Bob Jones. If you are not in the folk world you may not know the name, but Bob was a big part of that community for decades. He basically ran the Newport Folk Festival since its revival in […]
Dear C; I really want to lose about 15 lbs before my high school reunion. I know this sounds vain and stupid, but I would really feel like crap if I showed up looking like I had a baby when I didn’t. The event is in a couple of weeks and I need something to […]
Late summertime in Rhode Island, and between torrential rains and random tornados, everyone is hoping for one more clear beach day with unpolluted water, followed by clam cakes that now cost more than a buck apiece. But there’s a feeding frenzy here in the Ocean State. When David Ciccilini pulled the ripcord on his political […]
