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...
Sponsored Content Disney Theatrical Group and the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of Disney’s THE LION KING will go on sale to the public on Friday, November 14 at 10A. Providence’s most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the PPAC stage on Wednesday, May […]
Punk may be one of the most commonly misunderstood genres in modern music. But if you’re a devotee, you’re used to being misunderstood – you might even thrive on it. Recently, at the Ramada Inn in Seekonk, the inaugural Punk Rock Marketplace event took place, accommodating hundreds of visitors and music enthusiasts. The punk movement […]
Searching for anything can be exciting and become a passion, like combing the beach for treasure. My friend invited me to go on a mushroom foray with a group of around 20 people, at Frenchtown Park in East Greenwich, and I found this group of people to be passionate about finding wild mushrooms. Three organizations […]
How did we get to wearing blue overalls while attempting Taylor Swift’s dance in “The Fate of Ophelia” music video, trying to be as (‘cool?’ Is that the right word? Please suggest) as ‘cool and slay’ as youngsters who have already memorized the Tik Tok. (Ah, the good old days of Musically and Vine, all […]
Join us for Motif’s 4th Annual Santa Stroll, led once again by the always amazing Providence Drum Troupe! This year we’ll be strolling through four stops downtown: Track 15 → Reiner’s → G Pub → Medici. Each stop along the way will feature things like holiday games, crafts, activities, caroling, tarot reading, festive bevs, and […]
Trinity Repertory Company presents its 49th annual production of A Christmas Carol, adapted from the novella by Charles Dickens, with original music by Richard Cumming. This year, the production is Co-directed by former Trinity Rep Artistic Director and Emmy Award–winner Richard Jenkins and acclaimed choreographer Sharon Jenkins. Due to ongoing renovations of the theatre, this […]
The Fox Are you quite certain that you’re safe in your bedroom? Were you not warned about the fox that’s been let loose from the zoo and prowls the hills of this city? Did you not see that he already passed your house? How did you not notice his paws resting on the window as […]
A dispensary that feels less like a transaction and more like a conversation. When you walk into Sweetspot in Exeter, the first thing you notice is how bright everything is, almost like it is humming with energy. Maybe it is that sort of feeling that puts you at ease before you have even looked at […]
Even normal winter conditions can be life-threatening to anyone without proper hats, clothes, and footwear, but extreme conditions are life-threatening for anyone outside of heated shelter. According to the RI Department of Environmental Management, the interior of the state (that is, not along the immediate coast) each year averages five days with a minimum temperature […]
Thanksgiving is still weeks away as I write this, yet there are now five aisles where it looks like Santa and the Hebrew Hammer have vomited up every holiday decoration made. I know I’m not the only one to immediately roll my eyes when I see the aisles packed with green, red, white, and blue. […]
