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...
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 evidenced by...
“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,...
VOTE HERE! "May your tattoo ink never run dry," as the ancient Portlandian blessing goes, has rarely been more applicable. Motif is proud to partner again with Narragansett Brewery to bring you the RI Tattoo Awards,...
Invisible UpSouth is an original stage work currently playing at the Wilbury Group’s space at the Southside Cultural Center in Providence. The work is the brain-child of Christopher Johnson and Vatic Kuumba, inspired by the book from 50 years ago, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, 1952, addressing issues facing African-Americans of the time. Through a […]
Do you like green beer in hand? I am, Irish, yes I am. I don’t like green beer in hand. Yes, I’m Irish, yes, I am….. Just because it’s March – St. Patrick’s Day approaches – doesn’t mean you have to drink green beer. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, if that’s your, erm, […]
Aries: Action-oriented Aries slows down and takes time to explore the inner landscape. As you become aware of the spiritual nature inherent in your existence, you realize your physical well-being is connected to your spiritual well-being. Your physical, emotional and intellectual health are entwined and caring for one cares for the other. Taurus: Your peer […]
It’s about to be that time of year; the north part of our state is on the cusp of turning into a steamy, empty wasteland dotted with internationally acclaimed events while the south welcomes millions of visitors who treat the place like the Vegas of the east. Before these phenomena, colloquially known as “summer,” we […]
Relatively speaking, wine making is a simple process. If you crush grapes and leave them in a cool, dry place, the juice will ferment into wine because of the naturally occurring yeast on the skins of the fruit. Using modern techniques and equipment, vineyards can produce wine like never before; however, home wine making hasn’t […]
“You have to try the duck confit,” my friend told me the moment after she informed me there was a new restaurant beside Long Live Brewery, the latest addition to the West Side. She described the restaurant — Slow Rhode — as a tapas-kind-of place, and the hippest spot in her neighborhood. “So, it’s good?” […]
I really want to compost. I even bought this functional plastic bin with a lid and some compostable biodegradable bag liners. I shoved the bin under my sink and threw in some scraps. Then the scraps got stinky and moldy because I couldn’t get to the next step, so I threw them in the garbage, […]
Congratulations on surviving another brutal New England winter! I applaud those of you who left your homes and ventured out into the frigid unknown to do whatever folks do in the freezing cold. As for the rest of us, cabin fever may be five steps beyond ‘setting in’ and this cold, dark reality may seem […]
Holly is a strange girl with a dark side who is drawn to her co-worker Rob who recently attempted suicide after his girlfriend Nina died in a car accident. Things seem to be going fine for Holly and Rob until their relationship becomes sexual because whenever they become intimate, Nina returns if only to mock […]
Rose’s Money is a comedy-drama about a downtrodden family fighting over an inheritance. After Rose dies, $87,000 is discovered in her hope chest. Rose didn’t leave a will, so who gets the money? There’s Billy (Rudy Cabrera), a recovering drug addict with a pregnant fiancee, Sarah (Kerissa Rodrick). Rhonda (Danette Briggs), a highly insecure woman, […]
