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,...
Newsies, the high-energy, Tony Award-winning musical leaps into Providence for a limited run October 20-25 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. While on Broadway, the show broke numerous attendance records and received 23 theatrical award nominations. The show has developed an almost cult-like following of fans across the country. Joey Barreiro stars in the touring […]
Few cartoons and actions figures are as iconic, popular and recognizable as Transformers. Whether you grew up with the ’80s TV series, the original 1988 film or even the current blockbuster franchise, you most likely know the difference between an Autobot and a Decepticon. The original voices behind the eternal foes Optimus Prime and Megatron, […]
For nearly a century the two-story brick school on Mineral Spring Avenue has educated thousands of students living in the eastern end of North Providence. Built in the 1920s, Marieville Elementary has served the community well. But take a closer look inside and you’ll see a building that has become a headache for maintenance crews […]
Okee dokee folks… The other night I went to a house concert in Connecticut where my friend Michelle Malone from Georgia was playing. Michelle has been been performing for about 30 years, toured all over the world, has over 17 CDs in her catalog and collaborated with artists such as Indigo Girls, Jackson Browne, Steve […]
Everett Stage is presenting The Freedom Project, a multi-media theatrical experience interweaving dance, personal stories and videos detailing the lives of men and women in our nation’s prisons, specifically the lives of African-Americans. The United States has 5% of the world population and 25% of world prisoners. African-Americans now constitute nearly 1 million of the […]
On Sunday, October 19, alt-country stalwarts Two Cow Garage will roll through Firehouse 13 along with Mutts, Six Star General, and Lucky United, and it is an event not to be missed. Sunday night is a time most 9-to-5ers dread. You’re thinking about having to deal with your overbearing boss and your nincompoop co-workers, and […]
For most of us, October is the month of Halloween bringing costumes, candy and flying bats, along with TV reruns of every horror movie ever made. But for the followers of Wicca, October holds a much deeper meaning: It is the month of Samhain, one of the four greater Sabbats of the year. It symbolizes […]
On Saturday, October 17, as the sun hides behind the horizon, the dead shall walk the streets of downtown Providence once more! The Reverend Al Mighty has promised to go above and beyond to present this year’s Providence Zombie Night – a freakishly fun 21+ block party held at the Dark Lady at 19 Snow […]
One of the attendees at this year’s Comic Con is Dean Cain, probably best known for playing Clark Kent opposite Terry Hatcher’s Lois Lane in the 90’s hit TV show “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” Before he donned the cape, he was a defensive back on the Princeton Tigers football team (he went […]
You know that reoccurring nightmare everyone has where you can’t escape your 10th grade math class? You know, the dream where you’re stuck until you get at least a B on the mid-term, which is frankly impossible because geometry is really really hard, guys, and why couldn’t this have happened to me in ENGLISH CLASS? […]
