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...
There are a few major blockbusters planned for this summer that our AltFacts writers are particularly looking forward to. Admittedly, even when the content is so new it seems almost ripped from the headlines, the underlying tropes remain old to the point of triteness. But since when was novelty any fun in a summer blockbuster? […]
The astrology wizards around the globe cast a horoscope for the Solstices and Equinoxes to gain insight and/or get a handle on trends and events that will unfold during the upcoming season. This summer’s horoscope presents a variety of energies with a prominent Neptune (illusion and delusion), an opposition between Venus and Mars, (I love […]
By Heather Rigney The 43rd Annual PrideFest will start at noon and continue until 7 PM on South Water Street and will feature a mix of live entertainment on the main stage, a business marketplace with over 200 plus vendors, Kid’s Zone, food trucks, arts, Youth Center, and a beer, wine, and spirits garden. […]
Bettye LeVette A few years ago I was in Ogie’s when this song came on that was a burst of old school ’60s soul, almost like a female version of Otis Redding. That was my introduction to Bettye LeVette. She isn’t really strictly a soul artist as she has done rock and R&B as well. […]
Summer Car Shows: Sun Jun 10 Classic Car Show 10am – 3pm with DJ Harry Day. Registration $15 per car, spectators are free! Sat Jul 28 “Christmas in July” Car and Craft Show with over 70 vendors (indoor and outdoor)! 10am-4pm. Registration is $10 per car, spectators are free! All proceeds to the RISPCA. Sat Aug 18 The […]
What if you looked into the mirror, and did not see yourself there? This question is being posed by the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Arts and Culture Program (in conjunction with the Rhode Island State Council of Churches) with an original work by Frank V. Toti Jr. titled Trans View. It is an oral history project, with […]
Yes, Rosanne’s show had to go. “It is the ultimate presumption of #WhitePrivilege when you think you can call a black woman an ape… When it’s a black woman that signs your checks.” – Star Jones It wasn’t long ago that Serena Williams adorned the cover of Sports Illustrated in the buff. A hurricane of comments came […]
When it comes to musicals about French revolutions, Les Mis has the market cornered. But there is another oft-forgotten musical about the same topic. The Scarlet Pimpernel came about a decade later, and like Les Mis, it was adapted from a novel. In addition to the glaring similarity in subject matter, there are some similar […]
Justin Marra talks during movies. Not in a negative way. More in like a “Oh no she didn’t!” way. Why do I still invite him, when I know halfway through the film, I’m going to hear a sarcastic, “Oh yeah, you should TOTALLY trust THAT guy!” interrupting the flow of a perfectly crafted scene? The […]
WED 30 Illana Glazer: One of the stars from Comedy Central’s hit sketch show “Broad City.” 7:30pm, Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway, PVD. columbustheatre.com THU 31 Mike Birbiglia: The New Ones: The national comedian takes over Trinity Reb for four evenings at 7pm, bringing his NPR-friendly storytelling humor about American lives. 201 Washington St, PVD. trinityrep.com […]
