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,...
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,...
With a loud, psychedelic tinged garage rock ‘n’ roll sound, Atlantic Thrills have risen to be one of the premier bands to see in the Providence music scene. They’ll be sharing the stage with Detroit party rockers Electric 6 and Attleboro, Mass, energetic wildmen The Sweet Release at Fete on 103 Dike St in Providence […]
On July 1, Rhode Island’s “Good Samaritan” law expires, repealing immunity from legal repercussions for those who contact emergency services for someone overdosing on narcotics. In a sadly ironic twist, the bill flatlined due to warning of legal repercussions by the Attorney General’s office based on an overdose of leeway injected into the original bill. […]
“People are going to die,” said Rebecca McGoldrick, executive director of Protect Families First, describing the consequences of a bizarre political stand-off that, unwanted by anyone and unexpected by everyone, allowed the expiration of Rhode Island’s 2012 “Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act” that protected from criminal drug charges those who called for needed medical help, […]
The Wolfpack is a documentary that deals with the Angulo family, and more specifically the six Angulo brothers. The six teenaged brothers were born and raised in Manhattan’s lower east side, but spent the majority of their lives locked away in their family’s public housing apartment with their parents and sister. Their mother and […]
The Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club (BVARC), whose government-issued club “callsign” is W1DDD, on the weekend of Sat, Jun 27 and Sun, Jun 28 will set up a radio transmitting and receiving demonstration station using tents and trailers on the grounds of the Scituate Senior Center, 1315 Chopmist Hill Rd, Scituate, the former location of […]
After Marine Kyle Wincott is killed during combat in Afghanistan, a series of events finds his family, and more importantly his younger brother, taking care of his combat service dog, Max. Max now suffers from PTSD and reacts unpredictably and violently toward most people except Kyle’s brother Justin, who at first wants nothing to […]
Playwright David Ives is a polarizing figure: audiences either love him or hate him. His work often has an irreverence that some find hilarious and others find off-putting. At his best, Ives can be as funny as Monty Python, as in his classic six-minute short play Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread (performed by […]
What do you never leave home without? I’d like to say something clever like, “a sense of wonder and curiosity,” but the real answer would be chapstick. It’s a mild to moderate obsession. What’s your favorite book? I’ve been devouring Modern Classic Cocktails by Death & Co. recently. It’s a wealth of information on everything […]
Over in the Berkshires, a wild and amazing event will take over the little town of North Adams this weekend from Jun 26 – 28. Happening at the beautiful Massachusetts Museum Of Contemporary Art, the Solid Sound Festival will showcase some spectacular independent musical acts along with eye-popping art installations. The whole experience is curated […]
We’ve all attended fundraisers — the spaghetti suppers, the car washes, buying those discount books. And sure, a fundraiser is a fundraiser. They’re wonderful to support, and they are a staple in our society. But what about a fundraiser that people are clamoring to attend? A fundraiser that you will attend multiple times for multiple […]
