Photo by Lillian Karboski. 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 Producer...
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,...
VOTING OPEN NOW! VOTE HERE 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 community. The live celebration,...
What’s the next new big beer style? God, would I love to know. I don’t mean a style that comes back from obscurity like a gose or a new twist on an existing style like any of the millions of IPA varieties, but a brand new, never-before-seen or duplicated style that has a unique process […]
If you thought that the Providence punk and hardcore scene wasn’t already brutal enough, well, you can expect to see an up-tick in aggressive and pissed-off jams produced in response to the recently elected Donald Trump. No villain, no matter how strong, frightening or tangerine-hued, can succeed for very long. At least that’s what I’ve […]
There’s at least one among every collection of family and friends: the vegetarian, the cousin with the peanut allergy, the girlfriend who’s gluten intolerant. In the past, the dietary impaired were regarded as strange, perhaps even mentally ill, and there were few options for them at the traditional feast other than to sip water, nibble […]
Aries: After months of turmoil your focus shifts to a more far-reaching/big picture mode. Arguments with friends help to sharpen and clarify your thoughts. A feminine influence offers help and brings favorable reviews. Helpful people enter your life, bringing new ideas that help you to open your mind to the never-ending possibilities before you. Taurus: Taurus is […]
Federal Hill has always been a contradiction to me. It’s a place that, from the outside, exudes glamour and luxury, with a rich history imbued in its very spirit. To a lot of people it’s the epicenter of Providence itself. On the other hand, I think: expensive and stuffy with crowds that will just not […]
Between the spectacle of crazed shoppers on Black Friday and the celebrations on Christmas Day, St. Nick’s opposite is coming to RI. Krampus and his goaty friends are coming — not to put children in sacks, but to welcome them and their families on a terrifyingly merry stroll through Providence. Saturday, December 3 will mark the […]
We asked our music writers to share with our readers a short playlist of songs they’d like to listen to as background music while stuffing themselves with stuffing on Thanksgiving day. Whether you want to shock Grandma or find some common ground with those family members on the opposite side of the political divide, we’ll hope […]
Intimidated. That’s how I felt when I first saw the website for LaMei Hot Pot, the new restaurant on Broadway. Their gallery photos were stunning: vivid black and red décor, sizzling broth and plates of brightly colored ingredients. But as I read through their menu items (which ranged from “corn on the cob” to “pig’s […]
The unofficial start of the Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier, much to the chagrin of consumers. But most people eventually give in, getting swept up in shopping in hopes of giving a loved one the perfect present, spare no expense. But the Christmas season isn’t all consumerism. A lot of people use […]
At this particular course of American history, we find ourselves off the precipice and rolling down a rocky cliffside toward Thanksgiving. Yes, Thanksgiving, despite what every major drugstore and retailer might tell you, Thanksgiving comes before Christmas. And usually before Hannukah, and sometimes before or after Ramadan and also before Kwanza, but after Diwali. Now […]
