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,...
Free Beer The Band – Puppy Love Rock n’ Roll is alive and well in the new release from South County-based outfit, Free Beer The Band. With slow and heavy guitar riffs, dynamic vocals, and a hint of hip-hop lyricism, it sounds almost as if Led Zeppelin called up a young Eminem to give this […]
Okee dokee folks… It’s getting hard to focus on doing anything these days while the United States is being eaten away from within by an aggressive cancer. I thought of the band who played on the doomed Titanic as the ship went down. Is that what we should be doing, playing music while this country […]
The War in Kids – Tilting at Windmills With their third EP Tilting at Windmills, RI-based group The War in Kids is back to ensure that the pop-punk sound reminiscent of the early 2000s is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Evocative of groups such as Bowling for Soup, Blink-182, and Good Charlotte, not […]
Opened: Royal Fried Chicken: Upon first inspection, I wasn’t sure if this place was real or not. But, judging by the Yelp reviews, it boasts amazing popcorn chicken, fries, coleslaw, and five-star reviews all around. Also one that says, “Perfect spot for a date night.” So grab your hunny, or some friends, and get some […]
In recent news, the national administration has trimmed and furloughed workers in the FAA and NOAA. Because flight-safety and weather are clearly two concerns we are completely on top of right now. Thus we bring you post-populism, where we encourage the public to self-sabotage and act against their best interests in ways so blatant it […]
When studying energy in biology, students learn that the mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell; about the many chemical reactions of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain… but less covered is the great mystery of metabolism. We understand our pulse and that our beating hearts move resources around our bodies, but […]
Frozen Federal Funding Wreaks Havoc on Key RI Climate Issues PROVIDENCE — Funding for RI’s key climate initiatives remains illegally frozen by the Trump administration in defiance of a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge last month. Specifically, funds awarded to state agencies from the Inflation Reduction Act, or the Infrastructure, Investment and […]
The Vernal Equinox marks the day exactly between the Winter and Summer solstices, when day and night are in perfect balance and last an equal amount of time. It was a time of celebration for our ancient ancestors, signifying that they had made it through the harsh limits of the winter. While today we may […]
“Spring?? You want to talk about spring snowboarding?!” While the snow is pummeling New England harder than The Patriots pummeled anyone all season… It seems a little ridiculous to already be talking about postseason snowboarding. It feels like we are not even halfway through this winter. However, all good things, and all good times, must […]
Struggling to turn over the pedals as I climb up a hill on my bike with a 33-pound bag on my back – yes, I weighed it – I narrowly make my way through a traffic light before it turns red. It’s February, and I’ve just arrived in Washington, DC where I’m visiting friends for […]
