Rachael Warren as Diana. Photo by Mark Turek. The Next to Normal audience is exposed to waves of raw emotions drowning your soul and dampening your eyes. You may wish you had premedicated with any of...
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....
WED 14 Sinful Valentine’s: Sin Bakery has a special event pairing high-lactose, irresistible desserts with wine and other romantic beverages. 6:30 – 11:30pm. Sin Bakery, 1413 Westminster St, PVD. eatwicked.com FRI 16 Romantic Rachmaninoff: Classical Rach. 6:30pm, The Vets. One Avenue of the Arts, PVD. thevetsri.com THRU SAT 17 Too Much Of A Good Thing: […]
1. Around 5,200 years old 2. Protection during pregnancy and birth 3. Emperor Constantine; he felt that tattoos disfigured that made in God’s image 4. It comes from the Tahitian word “tattau,” which means to hit or strike 5. Designs were cut into the skin, and then a soot-based pigment was rubbed into the wounds
Okee dokee folks… Are you single? Lonely? Well, we just got past the dreaded V-Day, and some of you may be looking for love or as Eddie Murphy’s Buckwheat says, “Wookin’ Pa Nub.” A local author sent me a copy of her book and asked me if I would be interested in writing a little […]
The Low Anthem – The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depth Of The Sea After 2016’s wildly experimental Eyeland, The Low Anthem return with a stripped-down collection of short songs on The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depths Of The Sea. The new album began with the wreckage of the previous album as The Low Anthem were […]
Many medical cannabis patients believe that cannabis is best used in harmony with other practices because the entourage effect (the interactive synergy between cannabis compounds) that happens within the cannabis plant extends to other practices of healing. In a culture in which self care is becoming increasingly more of a focus, incorporating cannabis into your daily […]
The year started dramatically for some Rhode Islanders. Students in Warwick and Cranston were sent home from school in January thanks to water damage and burst pipes from the cold snap. It’s an early sign of a growing crisis in our public schools; many of them are old and even more are falling apart. Governor Gina […]
Sieg Heil! Phillipe and Jorge are absolutely physically exhausted this week despite the daily attention of our masseurs, Romeo and Julian. The cause of this distress is training for our roles in President Pussy-grabber’s military parade, which we find a bit ludicrous since The Donald’s father paid off a doctor to say that his chickenshit […]
Skin cells continuously shed and regenerate, so how does the ink of a tattoo stay permanent? While the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, regenerates and sheds throughout a person’s life, a deeper layer, the dermis, does not. Tattoo ink penetrates into the deeper dermis where more permanent cells, as well as blood vessels, […]
Aries: The Solar Eclipse signals changes in friendships, group affiliations and plans for the future. After working long and hard to reach a goal you may discover it is not what your thought it would be or not what you want. Regroup and rearrange as you head into the future. You will find your way. Love […]
Former top Trump aide Rob Porter has officially retired from politics to pursue a career in boxing. In related news, his former wives have formed a band, and will soon release a greatest hits album. President Trump tweeted his support for Mr. Porter and sympathy for the tough time his former aide was going through. […]
