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,...
The Kendall family is on the verge of collapse; parents Ed and Elaine have been pushed apart by the stress of caring for their mentally handicapped adult daughter Deedee and their son Kent who returned from Iraq with severe PTSD and a painkiller addiction. All while their other son Todd tries to hold things together […]
Do you have a nickname? Sex-ed Warrior Queen What do you never leave home without? Headphones What’s your favorite book? When Breath Becomes Air What’s your favorite movie? Orca the Killer Whale What’s your biggest pet peeve?When people tell others they don’t need lubrication during sexy time, that it should just “happen naturally.” Tell us about your […]
A large crowd, initially about 100 but growing to about 150 despite wind-whipped bitter cold and light snow that began falling an hour into the event, assembled on the Smith Street side of the Rhode Island State House for a scheduled rally at 4pm on Tuesday, February 23, to protest Governor Gina Raimondo’s proposed changes […]
Frost/Nixon, which focuses on interviews British journalist David Frost conducted with President Richard Nixon in the 1970s, is a fascinating look at a very flawed man. In 1974, Nixon resigned from office following the Watergate scandal. The break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices and his administration’s cover-up of the crime led to congressional hearings […]
A group of women share an unconventional narrative of their recollections in Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Writers Delia and Nora Ephron have crafted a series of monologues based on a book by Ilene Beckerman. At Beckerman’s request, the actresses performed a staged reading of the play. The tales the women share are alternately […]
On February 12, 2016, amidst RI Music Hall of Fame’s (RIMHOF) displays of some of the state’s most talented musicians, they announced eight new inductees to be added to the club of “the greats.” The new inductees, Greg Abate, Frankie Carle, Bill Harley, Carl Henry, Carol Sloane, Sugar Ray & The Bluetones, Richard Walton, and […]
Pippin is sheer perfection — a show filled with dazzling acrobatics, energetic dancing, romance and a wacky, offbeat sense of humor. It is also a heartfelt coming of age tale, as Pippin (Brian Flores), son of King Charles, struggles to find his purpose in life and considers joining a roaming group of circus performers, presided […]
In this indie serial killer thriller we meet Mara, a special effects artist whose fear of being alone leads her to risky situations and terrible actions. When a lover, even a one night stand, tries to leave her she takes desperate measures to keep them around and the only thing that seems to calm her […]
Every day, pretty much everyone on the planet makes enough mistakes to fill a swimming pool. Each one helps individuals grow, whether they want to or not, and while some can be redeemed, most can’t be erased, unless it’s a tattoo. Richard Rosol retired from a busy pediatrics practice to become a full time screenwriter. […]
Their truck is an understated white rig with black lettering on the side that reads “fine street food.” And indeed, that is what owners Patricia Natter and Joe Meneguzzo provide at rocket, one of several food trucks in the greater Providence area that is turning food from a truck into a genuine culinary experience. Natter […]
