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Why Leave?: Stay local and tour RI
Narragansett Beach Everything has become way too expensive lately, including travel. Beside the cost, airports are a hassle and the potential of flight cancellations or getting stuck at an airport...
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Save the Bay: Dive into protecting Narragansett Bay
Eelgrass, the primary seagrass found in Narragansett Bay. (Photo courtesy of Save the Bay) I am the type of person who is constantly looking for an adventure. So, in the summer of 2022, I decided to...
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Two Feet, Two Bucks: Summer fun by bus
Suppose your world shrank to only places you could walk to with the assistance of public transit. After despairing over this newfound limitation, you would eventually explore this contained world and...
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Peace and Plenty of It
Tucked inland and surrounded by the city of Providence, the Peace and Plenty Community Garden lives up to its name. While it is a sanctuary for the peace-seekers, it is also a pollinator corridor that...
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Ocean State of the Arts: Art communities past, present, and future in East...
Dinner Table (detail), by Jungil Hong. (Photo: Gina Lerman) On a gloomy Sunday in late May, lovers of art had not just one – but two – reasons to leave their cozy homes and head to East Providence....
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Summer Happenings
Waterfire (Illustration: Sophie Foulkes) WATERFIRE Various Dates Apr – NovA fixture of Rhode Island summers, WaterFire presents a series of lightings in downtown PVD along the Providence River. For...
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Two Feet, Two Bucks: Miles and miles of beach to walk in northern Portsmouth
Suppose your world shrank to only places you could walk to with the assistance of public transit. After despairing over this newfound limitation, you would eventually explore this contained world and...
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Dog Days of Summer
As summer quickly approaches, excitement grows: beach and adventure weather is upon us, and the good vibes brought along with the sun are soon to be in full swing. Humans are not the only group...
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Two Feet, Two Bucks: Melville Park
So far, Two Feet, Two Bucks has introduced a very accessible Audubon wildlife sanctuary, as well as a walk through a park to a lifeguarded beach and miles of adventure along bay shores. Yet, we have...
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Cape Verdean History: The 49th Annual Cape Verdean Independence Festival
Rhode Island is home to one of the largest populations of Cape Verdean Americans in the country. An estimated 18,000 Cape Verdeans call the Ocean State home, a population second only to Massachusetts,...
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ROMANCE IN RI: A Review of Riss M. Nelson’s A Love Like the Sun
The debut adult romance novel A Love Like the Sun, by Providence writer Riss M. Nelson, is the quintessential social media love story. Released on June 11, the novel deals with relationships in the...
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Two Feet, Two Bucks: Pawtuxet Village
Next time a visitor to Providence with less than a day to spare wants to see as much as they can of Rhode Island in one little outof-town trip, send them on this Two Feet Two Bucks excursion to...
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Modern Watering Holes: The Herds at Open Mics, Part 2
Hello everyone, I’m David Attleborough, and welcome to Modern Watering Holes. A column where, each week, we explore the culture, habits, and environment of the various herds of people that gather in...
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Two Feet, Two Bucks: Just take me to the beach, Uncle RIPTA!
Two Feet Two Bucks loves places where a scenic walk from the bus stop is a feature, not a bug, and takes pride in field-checking every excursion before publishing. But in hot weather the question is...
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A Beautiful Noise Live at Providence Performing Arts Center
Okee dokee folks … I am VERY tempted to start off my review with the refrain, “So Good, So Good,” heard many times throughout the jukebox musical, A Beautiful Noise, but I am not that corny, or am I?...
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Two Feet, Two Bucks: Osamequin Nature Preserve/ Walker Farm kayaks
City dwellers with occasional need for a convenient-yet-genuine dose of nature take note: Nineteen minutes from Fox Point, door-to-door, RIPTA #60 brings you to Osamequin Nature Preserve, 42 acres of...
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2 Feet, 2 Bucks: Take me to fall foliage, uncle RIPTA
Gazing at trees as they change color is a mainstay of New England sightseeing for residents and visitors. Few of us need to go far from home to enjoy the season. It’s impossible to list all the places...
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Creating an Understanding of the Richness and Diversity of Aging
For years, media managers have clung to the erroneous notion that advertising sales are primarily driven by millennials, holding the mistaken belief that older consumers on fixed incomes are less...
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Two Feet, Two Bucks: Colt State Park and environs
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...
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It Pays to Walk
It may seem that walking is merely obsolete transportation, superseded by faster, drier, effortless means. But never indulging in a good walk may be a fate more sad than never knowing the joy of a...
View ArticleThe Power of Clothing
As a self-proclaimed fashionista, I can confirm that not many things on this planet beat the feeling you get when you construct a killer outfit. Putting on an outfit that you feel confident and...
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Two Feet Two Bucks: Rome Point
Don’t let another winter go by without visiting the seals on Narragansett Bay! Prepare for a day at Rome Point on Narragansett Bay by packing a lunch, binoculars, and an extra layer of warmth so you...
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Two Feet Two Bucks: Whale Rock Surf Jam
Thinking about a spring hike? Have you been to the ocean since last summer? Everything you love about the ocean is there all year long, everything except for swimming… unless you happen to be a...
View ArticleBUZZING INTO SPRING: A look at Little Rhody Beekeeping
Cindy Holt, an EAS certified Master Beekeeper, has always been a fan of insects. A large part of her childhood was spent checking flowers and under rocks, in hopes of finding a creature. She...
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A Family That Forages Together: The matriarch mycologist
Amidst the golden rays of forest light filtering through the leaves and ferns, where the Earth smells damp and sweet, a little boy giggles. Before you see him, you hear the excited patter of little...
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Pedals & Plates: Rhode Island bike paths that feed the soul (and stomach)
RI’s bike paths are one of the state’s best-kept secrets — especially if you’re the kind of cyclist who rides for the snacks. From converted rail trails to scenic coastal rides, the state quietly...
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I Wander From Bar To Bar: One man’s journey to walk every street in PVD
On social media I saw a guy on a mission to walk every street in Providence, so I invited Daniel Morris for a Motif interview along his next walk. We met up, and sure enough, he was already a 2F2B (my...
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A 2 Feet 2 Bucks Daycation in Warren
“You can’t make a wrong turn” is why downtown Warren is so perfect for wandering on foot. Get off the bus in the middle of town. In every direction are narrow streets full of centuries of well-loved...
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What’s Happenin’, Summer?: All the things you don’t want to miss
Winter is finally gone, and summer is rearing its big and beautiful head. Now, we all know Motif is known for its listings, especially its Summer Guide listings (which, if you don’t know, encompass...
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Subterranean Jungle: Hot times, summer in the city…
Craig Finn This column marks 20 years at the Motif for me so without further adieu, let’s get through as many things ‘till I hit my word limit and hit send. SUMMER JAMS: Throwing Muses — Moonlight...
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Wicked Cool, Wicked Refreshing: Devilishly delicious summertime cocktails in...
Walk down the four steps to the dark door of The Jefferson Speakeasy on Kilvert Street in Warwick. No need to give a secret knock, or say “Louie sent me” like in the movies. Just walk in and step back...
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Island Rhythms: A local’s view of life and labor on Block Island
There’s a quiet stretch of winter on Block Island where time slows to a gentle crawl — the kind of quiet where you can count the cars passing by in a single afternoon on one hand. It’s in this rare,...
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Pedaling for Purpose: One cyclist’s journey to raise funds for social causes
On April 10, Jon Stenning set out on what would become the most grueling, yet deeply rewarding, experience of his life — a solo, five-day, 512-mile cycling journey from North Scituate, Rhode Island to...
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Picnic Perfect: Local favorites for picnic-ready fare
Summer is for slowing down, eating outside, and grazing all afternoon. Whether you’re spreading out a blanket under the trees or parking yourself on a sun-warmed bench with a view, a great picnic...
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Paddle Away: Breaking boundaries in, and out, of the water
“Oh, you’re our guide? You weren’t’ who we were expecting,” the participant said, eying me up and down as I introduced myself. It wasn’t the first time I’d received this kind of remark, and I knew it...
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West End Woes: A PVD summertime choose-your-own-adventure
For those unfamiliar with the Choose Your Own Adventure book series, DO NOT read the following in order. Start with paragraph 1, then see where it goes. While mostly fiction, the locations here are...
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Roots Report
Okee dokee folks… “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” Well, the lyrics of this Beatles’ song went through my head a couple of weeks ago. I turned 64. I don’t celebrate my...
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Chalumeau: A duo defying genre, creating soundscape, and shaping their own...
In today’s ever-evolving musical landscape, few projects and musical acts manage to both break the mold and blend seemingly disparate genres seamlessly and in a way that maintains a consistent sound....
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Stop, Rock, N’ Roll
Say hello to another edition of Stop, Rock n Roll! We’re back in quick succession with some local releases, several of which are from recent winners of various Motif Music Awards. Check out these...
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Chasing the Sound: Why so many bands keep the Grateful Dead alive
Skeleton Krewe Trio As I write this, I’m listening to the Grateful Dead’s legendary 1977 Cornell concert — considered by many Deadheads to be the band’s finest live performance. I only started...
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Rhode Island Beach Access Guide 2025: Sun, sand, and smart planning
Rhode Island summers, simply put, hit different. For a small state, we’ve got an enormous amount of shoreline — over 400 miles — with public beaches ranging from classic boardwalk hotspots to chill...
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Big Feeling: Scooping out joy one cone at a time
If you’ve strolled down PVD’s Westminster Street in the West End over the past few months, you might have noticed something sweet happening. Big Feeling isn’t just another ice cream shop — it’s a...
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Grilling Beyond the Burger: Kielbasa & bratwurst, steak & shrimp, smoked ribs
Nothing says summer like a backyard barbecue; spatula in one hand, beer in the other, hamburgers on the grill, hot dogs to the side. And for us grillers, it’s wicked fun to get adventurous and go...
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Grilled Bruschetta Toast With Herbed Ricotta & Crispy Prosciutto: A simple...
Tomatoes, toast, and a little ricotta magic — your new go-to for summer gatherings. There’s something magical about the way tomatoes taste in the summer: sun-warmed, bursting with flavor. This grilled...
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Get Outside and Smoke Up: The joys of nature and cannabis
Everyone deserves a moment outside, either by themselves or with friends, to take in the beauty and serenity of nature. As summer approaches in the Ocean State, it is the perfect time to take...
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Rhody Laugh Riots: A key to the RI summer comedy scene
Looking to tickle your funny bone this summer? Take a moment to step outside of the every-day existential dread, and lay into the loving lap of laughter. From Shoreline to Seekonk, RI is jam-packed...
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It’s Showtime: There’s a rich and robust crop of RI summer theater awaiting you
It’s the season of splendor, abundance, and vibrancy. We are, of course, referring to the summer theater scene in Rhode Island and its varied, homegrown bumper crop of entertaining and...
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Move and Let Move: The joys of parkour
Parkour started in France in the 1990s with a nine-member group dubbed Yamakasi (meaning strong in one’s person). They based their challenges on martial arts and Asian culture, and considered George...
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Date Day PVD: Outdoors Edition
In the shadow of the concrete chaos that is the Washington Bridge closure, along our city’s Route 195, is a pristine park that we all know and love. I won’t pretend that India Point is under the...
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Bi Squared: A trip in the TARDIS
Bi squared. That’s me, with bipolar and a proud bisexual. It’s taken me a while to coin this term, from a terrified 20 year old coming out to her family, afraid of their reactions and acceptance. I’ve...
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