Favorite Color Tattoo Evan Olin, Powerline Tattoo Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray with Color Steven McDonough, Secret Safe Tattoo Runner-up: Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art...
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...
The national tour of Hamilton is on its way to Providence, with performances starting next Wednesday on December 11 and running through Sunday, December 22 at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC). This will be the second return engagement of Hamilton at PPAC; the Theatre has presented the cultural phenomenon in 2019 and 2021. In […]
The Winter Solstice is a solar celebration that marks the shortest day of the year. Astronomically, the Winter Solstice occurs when the Earth’s axis is tilted farthest away from the sun, generating the least illumination (on our half of the globe). This gives us the year’s shortest day, and also signifies that the light will […]
Tradition has always been important. It evolves as the years, decades, and centuries pass, but still serves as a guide for everyday life. Traditions vary based on geography and religion. For instance, not all people celebrate Christmas on December 25. With the holiday season (too) quickly approaching, we took a look around the world to […]
A loud buzz filled the Thirsty Beaver for the RIFC official watch party. The place was full of yellow and blue shirts, showing support for the team’s first-ever playoff game in Indianapolis, against Indy Eleven. The bartenders strategically worked their way to serve the eager crowd. There was a wait for drinks and food, but […]
Ah yes, the sun has finally retired. The slight anxiety of longer days can finally be put to rest. The air is cold, all your windows are shut, and you light a candle – It’s 5pm and you have nothing to do. So what do you do? Turn off the TV, put down the phone, […]
RI ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS BRACE FOR IMPACT OF TRUMP ELECTION PROVIDENCE – Efforts to combat climate change took a blow when former president Donald Trump was elected to a second term. With Republicans also commanding majorities in Congress, the president-elect is expected to be far more hostile toward climate priorities than he was in his first […]
There’s nothing hidden about the gem that is Colt State Park – or is there? Thousands enjoy spectacular vistas through their windshields, attend picnics, fly kites, fish, or just relax overlooking the Bay. Formerly the wellgroomed private estate of Samuel P. Colt, nephew of the firearms Colt, a financier with a sideline in bootlegging, Colt […]
Most of us have made the choice to cut back on drinking for the New Year or not drink the month of January (“dry January”) at some point in our lives. If you are planning on this, I am here to help you decide how to end 2024 making your last delicious decisions. Are you […]
The growing movement of sobriety in both Millennials and Gen-Z raises the question: what do you have to offer to your sober companions this holiday season? Most holiday celebrations center around signature cocktails or wine with soda or juice – often intended for children – as the only alternative. However, if all we offer is […]
Who doesn’t love the classic hot toddy cocktail? First introduced so long ago that its origins are shared at bars like ghost stories around a campfire, the hot toddy now sits comfortably in our hands on cold days or after enduring the ever-changing New England weather. This Indian-inspired take on the toddy offers a new […]
