News Analysis – Iran War Update: The world faces deadlines only weeks away
The Iran war cannot continue as it is for much longer, and this is a result of simple math.
Steadfast Heartbreak: A Conversation with MorganEve Swain of The Huntress and Holder of Hands
Babylon cover art; band photo; image credits: The Huntress and Holder of Hands At a recent record-release concert in Providence, Rhode Island, MorganEve Swain teased a nearly full house that her band The Huntress and Holder...
THE GREAT GATSBY BRINGS JAZZ AGE GLAMOUR TO PROVIDENCE NEXT WEEK
Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade. The party doesn't have to end after Halloween weekend. Keep the festivities going with a trip back to the Roaring Twenties when the North American tour of The Great Gatsby...
2026 Food Truck Award Voting
The 2026 Food Truck Awards are coming up soon – November 10, the day before Veteran’s Day. We’re excited to make it a true industry night – no food trucks will have to serve anything......
Where the Two Oceans Meet: Synergy Brings Art and Science Together at URI
Artwork: AMOC by Ewa Romaszewicz in collaboration with Ambarish Karmalkar, PhD. For many of us, our most common run-ins with the scientific disciplines happen in two places: the classroom or a news headline. I think it’s...
Screech: Platforming the Arts
What does it feel like to be in a room beaming with creative thinkers and artists? What does it look like when a group of motivational, dedicated, hard-working artists comes together? What creative forces can...
Grounds for Celebration: A conversation with Rik Kleinfeldt of New Harvest Coffee Roasters
(New Harvest “It’s Party Time” poster; poster design: Britta Gustafson / New Harvest; photo credit: Sean Carlson) Photos by Ampersand Creative Co. From one former industrial site to another, New Harvest Coffee Roasters has expanded from humble...
Learn How To Homebrew: The Rhode Island Brewing Society
L-R: President Patrick Canary and Secretary Chris Meringolo. Photo by Scott Barnett. Have you ever wanted to homebrew? Yes? I have great news! The RI Brewing Society is holding a “Learn to Homebrew Day.” The American...
Space Cowboy Newt is Turning Heartbreak Into Harp-Pop
When I sat down on a comfy couch at Big Nice Studio in Carrington, RI, for an interview with Space Cowboy Newt, one of the first things they told me was that they’re a rambler....
Proving Day 2026!: Recording Studio Celebrates Talent and Builds Connection
A new chapter for digital recording studio, The Proving Ground, has begun and owner and producer, Dylan Titus, is ready to celebrate two-and-a-half years of operation by putting together an event showcasing artists who have...
Roots Report
Okee dokee folks… Soon we should know whether this country is going to completely fall into fascism, erupt into civil war, or maintain democracy, as it should. A few weeks ago, Tom Morello presented the Power...
Rhode Island Haunts
Swan Point Cemetery. Some of the eeriest places in RI are ready for you to check out, if you dare. As the first crisp, damp breaths of autumn begin to catch at the lungs and the trees...
Open & Closed
Open: Rollers: A new sports bar has arrived in Providence as of June 12. Rollers hosts watch parties, serves a variety of diner-style food and drinks, and offers both private and semi-private party events. The spot...
What else is on the Ballot?: On November 3, Rhode Islanders will have the chance to vote on five bond measures. Here’s a quick guide.
1. Higher Education Facilities Bond Measure -- $275 million This bond would use $165 million to create an integrated health building at the URI campus, open to the public, which would also be used for labs...
ON THE COVER: Mishki Thompson
For cover artist Mishki Thompson of Hopkinton, love helped her conquer a disability and embark on a journey of learning and practicing the art of beadworking, and passing on her Indigenous traditions to the next...
Simsalabim Sabrina: How a ’90s US-sitcom Totally Bewitched Kids in Germany & Austria
It’s 2003, Thursday afternoon, in a quiet little town called Eberndorf, in the deep south of Austria, surrounded by fields, trees, and medieval churches; 10-year-old me is in my parents’ living room, glued to the...
Smuggling in Social Commentary: One actor takes on 12 characters and issues of immigration
Photo by Cat Laine. The logistics, physical, and emotional demands of the production are mind-boggling – one actor spending 80 minutes morphing among 12 characters with unique accents and mannerisms while delivering lines almost non-stop and,...
SAME DIFFERENCE: Finding Survival-Driven Solidarity In A Fractured Society
Henry Nwaru in SAME DIFFERENCE at Wilbury Theatre Group. Photo by Erin X. Smithers. It’s 1993 in Providence. A gang leader from Harlem lands at his ex-girlfriend's apartment in the middle of the night — wounded,...
An All-New, Reimagined “The Bodyguard the Musical” Returns to PPAC October 23 – 25, 2026
A reimagined production of the international, award-winning musical The Bodyguard will arrive at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), October 23 – 25, 2026, as part of the Theatre’s 2026/2027 *Encore Series. Based on the 1992...
Bands Battle Fiercely in Great Weather
All photos by Lillian MK Photo. RI Battle of the Bands had a smooth run this year, every performance dodging the monsoons that have plagued past iterations. The year started out with 16 highly accomplished, but...
Roots Report
Okee dokee folks… I mentioned this in my column a few months ago and now it is coming close to being (IS) a major issue. GASOLINE. Before the mango moron started his war of distraction...
WITCHES BREW AND SPOOKY BEERS
We all know that women were the first to make beer, right? It was discovered by accident when grains were used to make other foods digestible. Dried grain was stored and used to make bread....
Haunted Attractions Map
Haunted Attractions 1. Factory of Terror Terror experience for all ages, including a variety of imaginative themes and thorough design. 120 Pearl Street, Fall River, MA 774-415-0153 factoryofterror.com 2. Scary Acres Fall festivities with the main attraction - a three-part terror experience...
ON THE COVER: Nilton Cárdenas
Cover artist Nilton Cárdenas of Cranston refuses to stand still. “I am constantly moving, and creating art,” he says in an interview at Sharks Peruvian Cuisine on Broad Street in Central Falls. And when he’s not...
Magda León: An Immigrant Woman Full of Fire
Photos by the author. Magda León is more than a multidisciplinary artist; she is an immigrant woman who uses art to explore her identity, her roots, and her connection to community. When I asked her how...
The Art of Giving Back: Nilton Cárdenas Is Creating More Than Art
Photo by Scott Lapham. For the Rhode Island artist, educator and muralist, creativity has become a way to open doors, strengthen community and help others discover possibilities within themselves. For Nilton Cárdenas, giving back does not begin...
OUR HERITAGE. OUR FUTURE.: Guest Editor's Letter
Every Hispanic Heritage Month, we are given an opportunity to look back.We celebrate the pioneers who came before us, the traditions they preserved, the institutions they built, and the sacrifices they made so generations that...
WONDER OF THE WORLD: More Than One Wrong Way To Take The Plunge!
Photo by Dave Cantelli. Ever rummaged through your spouse’s sweater drawer expecting to find argyles, yet instead stumbling across a secret fetish so utterly demented that it immediately sent you bolting toward a new life? Deftly...
Getaway: Drives too slowly, but gets you there
Rachael Warren as Clare. Photo by Mark Turek. If there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, The Getaway Driver at Trinity Repertory Company is it. The world premiere of the two-person play...
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: Or Maybe Malicious Melancholy, Masked Revelry And Tongue Fencing
Photo by Jesse Dufault. Hark, spectators of the realm! If thy soul doth hunger for a "reverent irreverence" turning a 77-seat black box into a roaring arena of wretched romance, get thee to the Burbage Theatre...
Rudy Cheeks — Passing of a True RI Icon: A personal perspective and remembrance
RI Music Hall of Fame plaque honoring Rudy Cheeks/The Fabulous Motels/The Young Adults. (Photo: Michael Bilow) Much has already been written on the passing Sep 18 at age 76 of Bruce McCrae, who used the stage name...
Stuff to Do
Bats Take Hell: New roaming Meat Loaf musical
Okee dokee folks… Tonight I attended a performance of the Bat Out Of Hell musical at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. Usually, I do not like to know too much about a show before I see it because I prefer to enjoy it fresh and to see if it stands on its own without […]
MOTIF’S 2026 RI SPOKEN AWARDS
This event — the 4th annual –took place on May 27, 2026 The live celebration, included performances for each category and live voting, as well as the results of the online voting, and took place at Myrtle, 134 Waterman Ave, East Providence. See who won, complete with write-ups on the artists See candid and formal photos from […]
KIMBERLY AKIMBO is Playing at PPAC Now Through May 10 and It May Just Be “Your New Favorite Musical” (Hollywood Reporter)
KIMBERLY AKIMBO is a musical with a lot of heart, a lot of wit, and a lot of rave reviews and awards. And now it’s playing at PPAC through this Sunday, May 10—Mother’s Day outing, anyone? KIMBERLY AKIMBO, which won a total of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is about a teenage girl named […]
Lunar Notes: May 2026
Aries: You keep moving around physically as well as mentally. Your ideas may seem to be crazy, nuts, bananas to others but you know you are on the right track. By mid-month you will prove to be correct. This may have something to do with money, investments, or something or someone you value. A bit […]
BTS with DMK: Ed Brady
Everybody loves Ed. No matter who you talk to about this guy, the love for Ed Brady shines through in every conversation. It is also clear how much he loves his home state. Ed is a social entrepreneur, producer, and community leader. He was born and raised in Rhode Island. After graduating from Bryant University, […]
Closing Night
Makeup wipes and ripped tights are my remnants scattered on the floor. When the walls of cloth separate me from you, I become nothing. All that’s left of my beauty: a face print on a piece of paper soon to be discarded. Steady gaze, is your recognition going […]
My Magical First Tattoo: London called
It’s my first time in London all by myself. My first time ever, I had my family and friends with me, but now it’s different. I want to mark my journey with Harry Potter, expressing my love for JK Rowling, while sporting a spell that emits love and light on my body at all times. […]
Water Fire
Torches dance above Providence streams. Sparks rise to the urban stars. The river mirrors our brightest passions. Magic is all around, and the most peculiar thing happens: Though my face is wrinkled and my hair is gray I feel the hope and contentment of a child I’m in Rhode Island to stay. by Hellen Schweizer
Opened & Closed
Opened Black Sheep: Reopening under new management, the venue that serves both comfy food and strong drinks, set to live performances ranging from bands to drag shows, wants to welcome you back with its grand reopening party on May 9. The night will feature live music by The Moon Trippers starting at 6pm as well […]