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...
Not many things scream “summer” like a barbecue in the backyard. Add an extra dose of fun and relaxation to your weekend afternoon feast with some delicious infused barbecue staples. Be sure to keep these items out of reach of children, or better yet, serve them at adults-only parties! Cherry Limeade 2-liter bottle Sprite […]
Opened: Vanuatu Coffee Roasters, beloved for its Rhody coffee creation, sadly closed on Feb 26. Good news is, they posted on Facebook that they will be reopening under new management with the same great coffee and an extended menu. An opening date has not been released. facebook.com/vanuatucoffeeroasters294 Dash Bicycle has relocated to 228 Broadway (from 267 […]
Aries: You may as well give up trying to maintain a schedule or budget these days. While you’ll be super busy, maintain a list to keep you on track as the disruptions won’t quit. You’ll be tempted to spend money on a luxury item, something that is beautiful and appeals to your soul. Down the line […]
It’s the sort of job most kids wouldn’t believe an adult could actually have. Don Fleck travels the world inspecting amusement parks. Fleck works for CLM Entertainment — a Woonsocket company employed by insurance companies and international organizations to make sure amusement parks, water parks and anything that falls under the umbrella of “amusement” is […]
Misquamicut is a bit of a mystery to many Rhode Islanders. Sure, we’re among the rarified few who have a shot at pronouncing it correctly, but its beachfront allure seems to draw people from exotic, far away New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, while Rhode Islanders at some point “discover” this local treasure. A beachfront community, […]
It’s possible we take WaterFire for granted. That in and of itself may seem impossible. Surely — if you’ve spent any summers in Rhode Island since 1994 — you’ve braved the crowds and spent an evening circling the river basin in Waterplace Park, tried to catch a human statue blinking in Memorial Park and stood […]
If you’re a fan of electronic dance music, kick-ass theme parties or both, you’ve got a lot to look forward to this season in Rhode Island. Coming up on Wednesday, June 7, Grammy-winning EDM-pop DJ/producer duo The Chainsmokers are taking their “Memories: Do Not Open” arena tour to the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence. We […]
This summer, if you’re looking beyond big studio emoji, fast moving CGI cars or the latest superhero mashup, prequel or sequel fare, join me as we head off the beaten path. For films slated to debut around June, we have for starters, from Israel’s Avi Nesher, a mysterious tale of two sisters called Past Life, […]
Summer is a perfect time for kids to explore their interests. Without the obligation to daily homework, they have ample time to pursue other activities. Music lessons may not be the first thing that parents associate with summer vacation, but these eight weeks are actually a great time for kids to experiment with instruments […]
With a growing number of weekly sessions and plenty of new shows popping up each month, Rhode Island is quickly becoming a beacon in the Northeast to see killer live jazz. Since most locals are looking for excuses to get outside after a harsh winter, let’s start with a quick refresher on all the regular […]
