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...
Do you hear the people sing? It’s probably coming from PPAC, where the cast and crew of Les Miserables are preparing to kick off the national tour. Fresh off of its Broadway revival, the beloved musical joins the ranks of the many shows that have chosen Providence as the first stop on their tours over […]
Lina Tullgren is putting a different spin on the singer-songwriter style. The 23 year-old from southern Maine strums an electric guitar with a deep tone that forms a signature sound. Ty Ueda contributes his talents on organ and guitar to compliment Tullgren in stellar fashion while Petey Mclaughlin provides the foundation via percussion. Tullgren’s debut […]
THU 21 Dave Death’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Art Show: The stylistic guru of the striking 13 Folds Magazine brings his artwork and a night of serious rock with Kris Hansen and Nate Cozzolino. It’s Dave’s first show in over 20 years! Alchemy, 71 Richmond St, PVD. alchemyri.com THU 21 – SAT 23 14th Annual Providence […]
Patriots Diner, 24 hours, 65 Founders Dr, Woonsocket. Frank’s Restaurant, 24 hours, 614 Smithfield Ave, Lincoln. Montecristo Restaurant, 24 hours, 488 Elmwood Ave, PVD. Haven Bros, 3am / 4am Fri & Sat, 12 Fulton St, PVD (next to City Hall). Green Apple, 10pm, 3am Fri & Sat, 168 Atwells Ave, PVD (highway end) Wise Guy’s Deli, 1am seated / 4am […]
“You’ll love it!” my rising 1st-grader enthused as he prepared his baby brother for preschool. “You get to play all day. There’s play dough and dress-up and puzzles. And they always take you outside — even if it’s snowing!” Then a shadow fell across his face. “In my school, I don’t get to play that […]
It happens during my last class of the day: A seventh grader raises her hand and asks, “It’s a bad thing if you want to date more than one person, right?” The task I’d assigned my students was supposed to be a simple — list some things that might tell us if a relationship is healthy […]
As the summer winds down, there is still an abundance of delicious local produce available for fresh, colorful meals. The following recipes use cannabis-infused olive oil, which you can pick up at your local dispensary or make with the easy recipe included. Green Gazpacho with Shrimp Serves: 4 1 1/2 cups plain low-fat yogurt 1/4 […]
The entering freshman class at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) for fall 2017 includes the first beneficiaries of a new program that offers free tuition to RI residents who in 2017 either were graduated from high school (public, private or homeschooled) or completed the General Educational Development (GED) test while younger than 19 […]
We find ourselves in that season once again where a single overly hyped flavor dominates every single possible food that can have flavors added: Pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin roast beef, pumpkin potato chips, pumpkin Mountain Dew. That last one was a joke, but god help me, I’m sure there’s an […]
“Oh fall semester, we meet again. Far too many times have we faced off. I, still beaming with the glow of whimsy from summer vacation, welcoming you into my life with the promise of the nourishing knowledge I have yet to absorb from you. You, waiting there for me with a with a warm comforting smile. […]
