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...
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that can’t be wrapped. Whether that means signing your reluctant friend up for singing lessons (they have to go when it’s a gift) or buying a family a membership to the zoo, gifts that come in a flat envelope don’t have to be boring. From experiences that will […]
There are no characters with overly large eyes lurking in Pow! Science!, ready to pounce on young ones and commit parents to their endless supply of wallet-draining merchandise. Instead, the store is filled with open-ended, imagination-building toys and science-themed kits that will fool the young or not-so-young kiddo in your life into learning while they play. […]
Books are always wonderful gifts for kids, especially if they’re meaningful to the child. This year, why not pick up an RI-themed book for the little reader in your life? It’ll make local kids feel a little more connected to their state, and kids who live far away will feel a little more connected to you. […]
The winter solstice, when the Sun moves into Capricorn, is the true New Year. It is the longest night and signals the “return of the light” as the days begin to get longer. It happens every year, but what makes this particular Solstice unique is Saturn’s entry into Capricorn as well. The simultaneous entry of […]
Aries: Disrupted schedules, interruptions and change of plans are the order of the day. A cancelled trip or rerouting causes headaches. What’s important to a partner or other people in your life becomes an issue. Review important documents. While Mercury is retrograde, organize your space and establish some good habits. Taurus: Money and what you […]
THU 7 Pajama Party at Nick’s on Broadway: If you’ve never been to their famous brunch, you can capture the experience transported to nighttime, in your PJs. Sponsored by Gansett. 9pm. Nick’s on Broadway, 500 Broadway, PVD. FRI 8 Sparkle: Blithewold’s marshmallow roasting, Christmas carol singing, cocoa sipping, strolling through the twinkling garden paths, fun […]
No idea what to get for your canna-thusiast? We’re here to help! Any of these cannabis accessories are perfect to stuff in stockings. Just don’t forget to sneak a bag of snacks in there, too. NOVA Decarboxylator by Ardent Cannabis The NOVA is a compact, spherical-shaped appliance that perfectly decarboxylates your cannabis for edible, topical […]
Dear C; I was floored when I opened my browser and saw headlines that NBC “Today Show” host Matt Lauer had been fired. I’ve been listening to the news and it’s unbelievable – Kevin Spacey, Al Franken, George Bush Sr., Louie CK … unreal! Harvey Weinstein, that douche who set the ball rolling, was a […]
Hobbyist (non-commercial) drones, technically called “unmanned aircraft vehicles” (UAV) or “unmanned aircraft systems” (UAS), are still in the early stages of rapid growth in popularity. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimated in 2016 that there were about 1.10 million in operation with expected increases to 2.15 million by the end of 2017 and 3.55 million […]
Stuck for a gift? Almost everyone appreciates wine! Let’s narrow the choices to find the perfect bottle. The Hipster: Cousin Kai talks about grapes you’ve never heard of, and his favorite region is currently Slovenia. How do you know if the wine you choose is cool enough? Luckily, a couple of options will prove your gift […]
