Photo Essay: Kix at Mohegan Sun
Bands Battle Fiercely in Great Weather
By Lillian MK Photo. RI Battle of the Bands had a smooth run this year, every performance dodging the monsoons that have plagued past iterations. The year started out with 16 highly accomplished, but not necessarily...
Roots Report
Okee dokee folks… I mentioned this in my column a few months ago and now it is coming close to being (IS) a major issue. GASOLINE. Before the mango moron started his war of distraction...
WITCHES BREW AND SPOOKY BEERS
We all know that women were the first to make beer, right? It was discovered by accident when grains were used to make other foods digestible. Dried grain was stored and used to make bread....
Haunted Attractions Map
Haunted Attractions 1. Factory of Terror Terror experience for all ages, including a variety of imaginative themes and thorough design. 120 Pearl Street, Fall River, MA 774-415-0153 factoryofterror.com 2. Scary Acres Fall festivities with the main attraction - a three-part terror experience...
ON THE COVER: Nilton Cárdenas
Cover artist Nilton Cárdenas of Cranston refuses to stand still. “I am constantly moving, and creating art,” he says in an interview at Sharks Peruvian Cuisine on Broad Street in Central Falls. And when he’s not...
Magda León: An Immigrant Woman Full of Fire
Photos by the author. Magda León is more than a multidisciplinary artist; she is an immigrant woman who uses art to explore her identity, her roots, and her connection to community. When I asked her how...
The Art of Giving Back: Nilton Cárdenas Is Creating More Than Art
Photo by Scott Lapham. For the Rhode Island artist, educator and muralist, creativity has become a way to open doors, strengthen community and help others discover possibilities within themselves. For Nilton Cárdenas, giving back does not begin...
OUR HERITAGE. OUR FUTURE.: Guest Editor's Letter
Every Hispanic Heritage Month, we are given an opportunity to look back.We celebrate the pioneers who came before us, the traditions they preserved, the institutions they built, and the sacrifices they made so generations that...
WONDER OF THE WORLD: More Than One Wrong Way To Take The Plunge!
Photo by Dave Cantelli. Ever rummaged through your spouse’s sweater drawer expecting to find argyles, yet instead stumbling across a secret fetish so utterly demented that it immediately sent you bolting toward a new life? Deftly...
Getaway: Drives too slowly, but gets you there
Rachael Warren as Clare. Photo by Mark Turek. If there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, The Getaway Driver at Trinity Repertory Company is it. The world premiere of the two-person play...
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: Or Maybe Malicious Melancholy, Masked Revelry And Tongue Fencing
Photo by Jesse Dufault. Hark, spectators of the realm! If thy soul doth hunger for a "reverent irreverence" turning a 77-seat black box into a roaring arena of wretched romance, get thee to the Burbage Theatre...
Rudy Cheeks — Passing of a True RI Icon: A personal perspective and remembrance
RI Music Hall of Fame plaque honoring Rudy Cheeks/The Fabulous Motels/The Young Adults. (Photo: Michael Bilow) Much has already been written on the passing Sep 18 at age 76 of Bruce McCrae, who used the stage name...
Grinding On: Changing gears on the espresso machine at Crook Point Brewing Company
Crook Point Brewing Company, 65 Massasoit Ave., East Providence; photo credit: Sean Carlson Over the past year, The Grind has gleamed as one of Rhode Island’s coffee gems. Set up at Crook Point Brewing Company (65...
Four Things You May Not Know About the Award-winning Comedy Musical, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Natasha Hodgson in the Broadway Company of Operation Mincemeat. Photo by Matt Crockett. The Tony Award® and Olivier Award®-winning musical launches the North American leg of its world tour at the Providence Performing Arts Center September...
You've Still Got a Friend: Theater by the Sea presents a rousing world premiere tribute
Hunter Brown, Allie Seibold, and Seth Eliser in You've Still Got a Friend, playing at Bill Hanney's Theatre By The Sea from August 20 - September 13, 2026. Photo by Michael Derr Okee dokee folks… Tonight, at Theatre By The...
They didn’t strike, they picketed: Local librarians find a new way to educate the public.
Photo by Steve Ahlquist. The unionized workers of the Community Libraries of Providence have been without a contract for two years now. Their patience, which had been wearing thin, was stretched to the breaking point by...
Flickers 44: Celebrating film from around the world and right here in the Ocean State
Photo: L-R: Pénélope Rose, Manya Glassman, Emeline Easton, and K. Elisa Garcia. by Mike Ryan. The Rhode Island International Film Festival, also known as Flickers, took place August 4 through August 9, bringing filmmakers, actors, industry...
Welcome to the Neighborhood: RI’s Newest Black-Operated Museum
I think museums and the culture around them have historically gotten a bad rap. When you think of museums, you might associate them with classism, inaccessibility, and wealthy donors and patrons. There’s also the issue...
Lawn Beers to Harvest Cheers: Summer's Last Pours to Autumn's Fresh Taps
As the leaves change to amber hues, so do fall beers. Our local brewers are excited about the opportunity to offer these loved styles of craft beer. If you are looking forward to cozy sweaters...
Fall Happenings Map
Illustration by Sadie Levine. 1. Adams Farm (pumpkins, hay rides, corn mazes) Plus: Variety fall farm stand 158 Burnt Swamp Road, Cumberland 401-714-4425 2. Appleland Orchard (apples) Plus: Cider, wine, and donuts 135 Smith Avenue, Greenville 401-949-3690 3. Barden Family Orchard (apples, pumpkins) Plus: Farmers...
Roots Report
Okee dokee folks… I just realized that I have been attending concerts for 50 years now. In that span of time I have seen countless shows. I honestly have no idea how many I have...
YourFriendM00n Wants You to Know You’re Not Alone
Moon Leone didn’t set out to make your run-of-the-mill pop songs. They build whole worlds, embodying different characters and using visuals to tell stories that ultimately help people heal from trauma. Performing as YourFriendM00n, they...
Art Focused Forum
On August 12, Motif cohosted a forum on the Arts in Providence featuring Democratic Primary Mayoral candidates Brett Smiley and David Morales. In Providence, the real election typically happens in the primary. The winner will go...
In Their Own Words: 2026
Every election cycle, Motif brings you the candidates in their own words so you can try to compare apples to apples. It’s our way of contributing to the political process while not having the fact-checking...
ecoRI News Roundup
Environmental Organizations Endorse Foulkes for Governor PROVIDENCE — The Providence Streets Coalition, a grassroots activist organization devoted to increasing funding, safety, and reliability in the state’s transit network, announced July 21 that it is backing former...
ON THE COVER: Nicholas "Niko" Tolentino
For the cover of Motif’s Fall Guide, painter and muralist Nicholas “Niko” Tolentino of Cranston drew inspiration from his childhood days, he relates in an interview at White Electric Coffee Co-Op in Providence. Roger Williams Park...
No Concert is an Island
Centerville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket hosted its first live music event in August. It started big with the Island Roads Fest, featuring popular reggae/ rock bands including Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, Iration, Action Bronson, DENM, Bumpin...
Tatting at the Convention Center
Stepping into a tattoo convention without a tattoo or an array of piercings can be intimidating, like stepping into a gallery show without reading the title first. Aside from a pair of basic ear studs,...
Arts Focus Forum
August 12, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Southside Cultural Center - 393 Broad Street, Providence What do the candidates for Mayor of Providence have in mind for the future of arts engagement in the “Creative Capital”? Find...
MEOWS, MALTS, DOGS AND DRAFTS: Have a pint to rescue a paw
Can art by Joey Visco Dogs and drafts? Is there any better way to celebrate yappy hour? If you are an animal and craft beer lover, this is an event you do not want to miss!...
Stuff to Do
Alt-Nation: Starting May Off Right
Rough Francis The sons of Death return to the Columbus Theatre to lay a smackdown of ’70s Motor City inspired rock ‘n’ roll. I call them the sons of Death because three members of the band are sons of the Hackney brothers who had the band Death in the early ’70s. Death has come back to […]
Album Of The Week: And So I Watch You From Afar’s Heirs
A wave of electrifyingly experimental rock has been coming out of Ireland & Northern Ireland over the past few years. At the forefront of this underground explosion is Belfast’s And So I Watch You From Afar. With a sound that hits numerous dimensions, at times being progressive then flowing into a hyper metal and hardcore punk […]
The SENE at the Limelight Party
The organizers of SENE, the 7th annual Southeast New England Film, Music, and Arts Festival, honored individuals who have made outstanding contributions to promoting the arts. This took place during the Limelight Party, which was held Thurs, April 23, at the Warwick Museum of Art. Among the honorees were John and Betty Jane Berberian, owners […]
Pin-up: Karina Arbing
Do you have a nickname? Rina What do you never leave home without? My phone What’s your biggest pet peeve? That’s a tough one. I’d say being interrupted when I’m talking. What’s your favorite movie? Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind What’s your favorite book? Me Talk Pretty One Day – David Sedaris Would you […]
Deadly Dull “Dancing” Lacks Rhythm
In order for a musical to work, it needs a few key ingredients. An engaging story, terrific songs, lots of dancing and interesting characters. Dirty Dancing, which opened at Providence Performing Arts Center Tuesday, is deadly dull. Based on the smash 1987 movie starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the show is hampered by a clichéd […]
In The Mood For Ska?
I’m in the mood for ska. I’m ALWAYS in the mood for ska. But what kind of ska? Third wave? Traditional? Maybe some Two-Tone or ska punk? There are a few traditional ska shows coming up in Providence — The Skatalites are playing the Spot on May 8! Wait, what? Traditional Ska? You know … the original […]
Providence Lady Summit Brings Together Over 250 Women
One of the most common comments I get is that I have a lot of energy. However, after watching Sierra Barter, Co-Founder of The Lady Project throw her third annual summit on Saturday, I can certainly state I am middle-aged. Her energy astounds me. The third annual Lady Project Summit was held in PVD on Sat, […]
Roots Report: Getting Out
Okee dokee folks … Got out to a few shows this week and want to let you know what you all missed and what I thought of them. On Thurs, Apr 16, John Cougar Mellencamp made a stop with his Plain Spoken tour at Providence Performing Arts Center. It seemed like it was a full […]