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...
The tattoo artist who goes by Mish, of Fall River, MA, created this month’s cover. “I got the nickname when I was younger, and it just kinda stuck,” she says. Also, it stirs a little...
On the “Weekend Update” satirical news segment on Saturday Night Live. anchor Colin Jost displayed a snapshot of an unhinged rant laced with profanity in the form of a Donald Trump post to Truth Social,...
Aries: You make your New Year’s resolutions early. You’ll want to revise and review them when Mercury goes retrograde on the 19th. Implement them after Mercury goes direct on January 8. You’re in for a direction change, and things will be much clearer to you then. Until that time, conserve your energy and get your ducks […]
A New England winter guarantee: When snow comes down, kids’ energy levels go up. On snowy outings, there are a lot of moving parts for parents to corral from where to go and what to wear to different ideas of what it means to “sled” for different ages. With that in mind, Rhody Ramble has […]
On New Year’s Eve, Tight Crew will be throwing a “Retro Rewind” Party, taking up three floors at the Hope Artiste Village. For those who like to rave all night and bask in the glow of the black light, their events are the local gold standard. Providence punches above its weight when it comes to […]
It all started during a sushi dinner in 2011. Co-owners Jessica Lavoie and Morgan Woodard became close friends after meeting in 2007 while working in the massage therapy field. They saw a field that was run by business owners who viewed massage therapy as a luxury, but they dreamed of operating a business run by […]
You may be saying to yourself, “What is Ricky doing in Newport in the middle of a cold snap? Is he a crazy?” Well, yes I am a crazy, and like a lot of you I’m sure, never go to Newport unless it’s summertime and I’m itching to soak up sun or grab fishy grub. […]
New Year’s resolution time is around the corner, and if you want to quit smoking, you’re not alone. I want to quit, too. And I have to admit, this isn’t easy to write about. Most days I am suffering in my car with a cigarette clenched between my lips after a long day or an […]
It is often assumed that as a food lover I must also be a good cook. This is where my parents would interrupt with laughter and tell the story about the time I had an episodic breakdown at 17 years old trying to make stove-top mac-and-cheese (from a box) and got stuck on “Step 1: […]
Help support 20 years of local arts coverage.Get your commemorative Bandana or T-Shirt now! Check out our profile on Patreon, a site devoted to raising funds for artists(including, now, the art of arts journalism). And if you choose to support us and what we do, thank you very much! Note: Patreon is set up […]
THU 15 SantaCon 2016: RI’s largest Santa gathering! Santa costumes, ugly sweaters and other holiday attire are strongly recommended but not required. A portion of every ticket sold will be going to the Toys for Tots Foundation & Crossroads RI. 10pm. Rebel Lounge, 50 Exchange Terrace, PVD. fb.com/events/1175430402539514 Sabrina Blaze: Ring in the new year […]
Okee dokee folks… I am wondering if I should make a New Year’s resolution this year. I never do. I do, however, NEED to get organized. I live in a state of perpetual chaos. Maybe that is good, especially now, because I think things are going to get very chaotic in a few weeks. I […]
