Blaq Sav. Photos by Lillian MK Photography. Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word 2026 Ashley Hosa Sending out a big congrats to Ashley Hosa, who came to the Spoken Awards with a multitude of wonderful supporters (shoutout to Ryan!)....
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...
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”...
This beautiful Solstice moment, June 21, 2026 brings the winds of change into our lives. The pivotal points among the planetary movers and shakers of the Zodiac find Gemini, with Uranus and Ceres, reaching across...
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...
We sat down a few months ago with one of the organizers of RI’s Deportation Defense Line. The Defense Line’s origins are organic and multifaceted. No one person is in charge of it. No one...
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...
One would think that after the appalled responses that Cranston received some months ago, the rest of the school districts would learn: Stop singling out kids for what they can’t control. The Warwick School Department recently rolled out a new rule stating that any student with a lunch account that has yet to be paid […]
Okee dokee folks… Max Weinberg, drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien fame will be bring his Jukebox Show to the Greenwich Odeum On Thursday, May 16. I had the opportunity to speak with Max by phone and talk about the show and whatever came up. Read on… […]
Katie Kleyla has what many jazz vocalists would call a “dream gig.” The classically trained vocalist who received her BA in music from URI is the lead singer for the impeccable 18-piece New Providence Big Band. After just a few seconds of watching a video from one of the band’s swinging New Year’s Eve […]
It’s allergy season, and we all know what that means – itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing – all the symptoms of a cold, without an end in sight. Here are some practical steps to take, even before you hit the drugstore. Check up-to-date pollen counts in your neighborhood every day. The pollen count is […]
Don’t forget to celebrate your mom this weekend! Check out these events picked just for her! Musica Dolce: Classical music. 2pm. The Towers, 35 Ocean Rd, Narragansett. towersri.com Glenn Miller Orchestra: One of the most popular big bands in the world. 3pm. The Greenwich Odeum, 59 Main St, East Greenwich. greenwichodeum.com Mother’s Day with Monkees […]
Ever see the one about the Roman slave who tries to win his freedom by helping his master shag the girl next door? Oh yes, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, that bawdy door-slamming, toga-wearing, swinging ’60s romp of a musical is back onstage in all its glory at Barker Playhouse […]
WED 8 Nirvana Night Vol 2: Local bands cover a little-known artist from the ‘90s. 8pm. Dusk, 301 Harris Ave, PVD. duskprovidence.com THU 9 Bloodies and Brunchin’: Learning how to make the perfect boozy breakfast. 6pm. Newport Vineyards, 909 E Main Rd, Middletown. newportvineyards.com FRI 10 Cannibal Ramblers and Low Cards: Growling blues with a […]
Whether non-fiction books are entitled to the same sales tax exemption as fiction books is a dispute that has been simmering for years, resulting in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed Tuesday, May 7, by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA) and three of its […]
I Hate Hamlet, Paul Rudnick’s 1991 comedic sendup of both the relevance of Shakespeare’s characters in today’s television culture and the cost of fame, opened last night at Attleboro Community Theatre’s home in the lower level of the Ezekiel Bates Masonic Lodge, 71 North Main Street, Attleboro. The venue itself dates back to 1929, […]
The Last Night of Ballyhoo is the second installment of the “Atlanta trilogy” by playwright Alfred Uhry, all of which are set among the Jewish community of the American South in the early part of the 20th Century. Ballyhoo won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play and is the only comedy of the trilogy. […]
