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Best things to do in Rhode Island: Jan. 19-26 – The Boston Globe

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Best things to do in Rhode Island: Jan. 19-26 – The Boston Globe


It may be freezing out, but our calendar is hot this week, my friends. I found an eclectic grab-mag mix of fun in the 401 to cure both your cabin fever and your Frosted Windshield Blues: The Temptations and Bob Dylan tunes, a Joan Baez doc, wire sculpting, yoga, glass-painting, Dinosaur Jr., and more. Let’s roll.

OPENING NIGHTS!

Real Rhody stories make their world premiere with “La Broa’ (Broad Street)” by Orlando Hernandez at Trinity Rep Jan. 18. The show is inspired by “Latino History of Rhode Island: Nuestras Raíces” by Marta V. Martinez and directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo. Trinity says the play focuses on Doña Rosa’s Market on La Broa’ (Providence’s Broad Street) and is based on real stories of Latina/Latino who have made Rhode Island their home. Watch a behind-the-scenes clip here and meet the costume designer here. Tickets from $24. Through Feb. 18. 201 Washington St. Providence. Details here.

BOB DYLAN, NEIL YOUNG & THE GRATEFUL DEAD

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I’m not dreaming. The music of three of my favorites (the Venn diagram overlap of fans for these three are probably one circle) hits Rhody this week. Rock out with “Bob’s Heart of Gold Band: The Music of The Dead, Dylan and Neil Young” at The Met Jan. 21. Tickets $5. Doors 3:30 p.m., show 4 p.m.1005 Main St., Pawtucket. Details here.

LAST BITES

Foodies: the last dinner bell tolls for thee. Providence Restaurant Weeks runs through Jan. 20. Participating area restaurants feature deals and specials. For example: Nasturtium at Agawam Hunt in the Rumford neighborhood of East Providence offers a $40 prix-fixe dinner. You might start with sea bream crudo, then dig into Azorean cheese agnolotti with wild mushrooms, cauliflower and garlicky crumbs, before indulging in brown butter panna cotta with Meyer lemon ice cream. 5 Roger Williams Ave., Rumford. Meanwhile, Diego’s East Side offers a $28 prix fixe two-course lunch or dinner: You might start with Drunken Arrancini — crispy rice and sausage balls cooked in Rejects Beer with poblano queso fundido — before digging into al pastor tacos — al pastor pork, smoked pineapple salsa, ranchero sauce, onions and cilantro on flour tortillas. 195 Wayland Ave., Providence. #PVDEats. All details here.

PRINTMAKING LESSONS

Learn how to screen-print, cyanotype and more with AS220 classes this winter. This week, you might sign up for:

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Intro. to Cyanotype Printmaking with Andre Lee Bassuet (aka sun-printing) Jan. 20 and 21, 9 a.m. ($120) or Intro. to Screenprinting: Shirts & Totes with Sin Seven

Jan. 23 and 25 at 7 p.m. ($120) “You’ll walk out with items of your own bearing your very own unique printed designs,” according to billing. I love this. 95 Mathewson Street, Suite 204, Providence. Learn more here.

JUST MY IMAGINATION

Nope, I’m not imagining this: “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” hits PPAC Jan. 23-Jan. 28. Nominated for 12 Tony Awards, the musical follows The Temptations “journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” in a “story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal, as the group’s personal and political conflicts threatened to tear them apart during a decade of civil unrest in America.” Get ready to sing “Get Ready,” “My Girl,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and more. Tickets from $45. 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Details here.

DINOSAUR JR.

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This is not a drill. Massachusetts-born cult-fave indie-rockers Dinosaur Jr. plays Providence Jan. 25. According to their tour schedule, this show at The Strand is the only show this month — from Seattle to Burlington, Vt., — not yet sold out. Hop on this, Dino fans. They’re currently celebrating 30 years of “Where You Been.” From $35. Doors 8 p.m., show 9 p.m. 79 Washington St., Providence. Details here and here.

PAINT-YOUR-OWN MARGARITA GLASS

…. Sorry, I’m just looking for my lost shaker of salt. (Free glass idea.) Margarita lovers, and fans of the late great Jimmy Buffet, try your hand at painting your own margarita glass Jan. 25 at NYLO hotel. $25 per glass, includes all materials via Inebri-Art. Parrotheads, go forth! 6-9 p.m. 400 Knight St. Warwick. Details here.

JOAN BAEZ ON SCREEN

Catch “Joan Baez: I Am A Noise” Jan. 25 at The Columbus Theatre. Billed as “an unusually intimate psychological portrait” of the folk singer/activist, it’s “a visual memoir” anchored by “home movies, diaries, artwork, and audio recordings.” (Yes, she talks about her relationship with Bob Dylan.) I interviewed the Newport Folk fave previously here. Advance, $12; door $14.50. 270 Broadway, Providence. Details here; trailer here.

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WIRE ART WITH BEER

Tired: Being tired. Wired: Getting wired. Let’s get wired by making wire trees with Byfield, Mass.-based wire artist Ryan Kelley. Kelley will teach us how to wind wires into metal trees at PVD’s Long Live Beerworks Jan. 25 from 6-8 p.m. $75 includes one free beer and all tools and materials. 40R Sprague St., Providence. Love this. Learn more here and here.

YOGA AT COMMON FENCE

Going nuts with cabin fever in this freezing weather? Same. Get your blood flowing and your mind settled with some gentle yoga for all levels at Common Fence Point Jan. 25 at 9:30 a.m. Suggested donation $10. 933 Anthony Road, Portsmouth. Learn more here.

JAZZ IN A MANSION

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Attention, hep cats: Rhode Island Music Hall of Famer Greg Abate brings his jazz to Bristol’s Linden Place mansion Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. The saxophonist/flutist/composer is a 1971 Berklee College of Music alum who went on to play with Ray Charles Orchestra and the Artie Shaw Orchestra, and “ventured out as post hard bop soloist,” according to his website. At Linden Place, Abate will be joined by bassist Paul Del Nero, drummer Gary Johnson and pianist Matt DeChamplain, according to billing. $25. Reservations encouraged. 500 Hope St., Bristol. Learn more here.

HOT TICKETS

I launched this subsection of this column because (hopefully) Globe Rhode Island readers rely on this column to plan weekly fun, and I care that you rock Rhody to the fullest. These are big name or otherwise wicked cool events that I predict will sell out before I get time to alert you to them week-of. These two are coming soon:

FEW FOR BREW: There are few tickets left for the 11th annual Rhode Island Brew Fest — billed as “a celebration of American craft breweries featuring the best brews the Ocean State has to offer” — Jan. 27 at the WaterFire Arts Center. The fest hosts some 55 breweries offering samples of some 175 beers. $65.21. 475 Valley St., Providence. Details here and here.

VEGGIE TIME: OK, veggie fans: Feb. 3 GA tickets are sold out, and few Feb. 4 GA tickets remain for RI VegFest at PVD’s WaterFire Arts Center Feb. 3-4. They’ve now opened “late entry” tickets for both days, meaning you go from 2:30-5 p.m. The fully vegan fest showcases plant-based foods, beverages, artists, makers, and businesses. According to billing, this year’s lineup features some 85 vegan/vegan-friendly brands “from Rhode Island and 10 other states.” Shop vegan products, eat, drink, and learn. From $8. 475 Valley St., Providence. Details here.

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ONGOING WINTER FUN

Baby it’s cold outside. That means…

ICE BUMPER CARS AND SKATING: A winter Rhody tradition: Grab your crew, and head to PVD’s BankNewport City Center rink. Bumper cars, from $13 per ride per person. Skating $9; seniors and kids 12-and-under, $6. Skate rental $8.41. Check online for weather notifications, register online. 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence. Details here.

ZOO CREW: Beat the winter blues by hanging with the crew at the zoo. Roger Williams Park Zoo offers half-off admission now through Feb. 28. You can’t not smile when hanging with Keweng the tree kangaroo, or mom-and-son sloths Fiona and lil’ Jeffrey. I mean… c’mon. PSA: Providence residents score free admission to the zoo the first Saturday of each month. (If you have a Rhody library card, you might also be eligible for a discount.) See here for all details. Discount applied at checkout. 1000 Elmwood Ave.

HORSING AROUND: Liberty Farm & Carriage Company in Burrillville is a working farm that offers private horse carriage (or sleigh rides) year-round. As you might imagine, this is their busy season. As of this writing, they still have various private ride time slots available this week, according to their website. Prices vary. 60 Ironmine Road, Burrillville. Details, video and live schedule here.

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WINTER WINE TASTING: Who says wine tasting is just for summer? West Greenwich’s Leyden Farm Vineyard & Winery invites guests to taste five wines and learn about each. Post-tasting, you might purchase a glass or bottle and stroll the vineyard, according to event billing — and keep the tasting glass. Ongoing, closed Wednesdays. Tasting for two $12. Tasting for four $22. 160 Plain Meeting House Road. Details here.

Until next week, Rhody: Keep rockin’.

Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1.





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Rhode Island

Thieves steal $470K worth of electrical wire from Rhode Island highways

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10 hours ago

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December 11, 2025

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Thieves steal 0K worth of electrical wire from Rhode Island highways


PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is facing a costly and dangerous problem after thieves stole roughly 11 miles of electrical wire from highways across the state, leaving long stretches of road without lighting and drivers at risk.

RIDOT spokesperson Charles St. Martin said there have been at least 16 thefts in recent weeks, mostly in Providence, but also in Cranston, Johnston and Warwick. The agency first realized something was wrong after drivers began calling to report unusually dark sections of highway.

“Right now, about 16 sites or so around the Providence Metro area down into Cranston and Warwick and Johnston that we have different lengths of highway where the lights are out,” St. Martin said in an interview with NBC10.

Cars driving on the highway with no overhead lights. (WJAR)

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St. Martin says thieves accessed underground electrical systems through manholes, cutting and removing large quantities of wire.

RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, speaking on WPRO Radio with NBC10’s Gene Valicenti, said the scale of the problem is staggering and growing.

“You would not believe how many locations throughout the state that we are experiencing the theft of our underground electric cables,” Alviti said. “They’re pulling it out and then selling it for scrap to make money.”

The thefts pose serious safety risks. St. Martin said the suspects are cutting into live electrical wires leaving drivers to navigate dark highways and roads.

The cost to taxpayers is also significant. According to RIDOT, the stolen wire alone carries a material cost of about $470,000, not including labor to reinstall it.

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“When you just look at the amount of wire that we are talking about that we are missing now, it is about 11 miles worth of wire,” St. Martin said. “Just the material cost about $470,000.”

RIDOT says it will likely take several weeks to fully restore lighting along impacted highways, including I-195, I-295, Route 37, Route 10 and Route 6. The agency plans to install heavier, anti-theft manhole covers in the coming months and is working with state and local police to identify those responsible.

Drivers like Perry Cornell say the outages make already challenging roads even more dangerous.

“Dangerous,” Cornell said when asked how it feels driving through dark stretches of highway. “It’s unsafe.”

Lights off on the highway. (WJAR)

Lights off on the highway. (WJAR)

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Cornell said the situation raises questions about whether more could have been done to prevent the thefts.

“Why wasn’t this stopped and why wasn’t there a preventative action taken by RIDOT to stop this from continuing to happen?” he asked.

RIDOT is asking the public to remain vigilant. Anyone who sees suspicious activity near highway manholes is urged to contact local police immediately.



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Rhode Island

Former Pawtucket police officer pleads no contest to DUI, disorderly conduct – The Boston Globe

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22 hours ago

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December 11, 2025

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Former Pawtucket police officer pleads no contest to DUI, disorderly conduct – The Boston Globe


Dolan was also ordered to pay a $100 fine, and has completed community service and a driving while impaired course, the records show. Dolan previously lost his license for three months.

“This plea was the culmination of two years of hard work and negotiations by both sides, resulting in a reasonable, fair, and equitable resolution which allows all concerned to move forward,” Michael J. Colucci, an attorney representing Dolan, said in a statement.

Dolan was arrested and charged in September 2023 in Coventry, where he also allegedly threatened to shoot police officers.

A felony charge of threatening public officials was downgraded to the misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge on Wednesday, according to court records. A third charge of reckless driving and other offenses against public safety was dismissed.

Dolan resigned from the police department in November 2023 while the City of Pawtucket was attempting to fire him. He was acquitted by a jury earlier that year after he shot a teenager in 2021 while off-duty that summer outside a pizza restaurant in West Greenwich.

Dolan, who had an open container of beer in his truck at the time, had argued he pursued the teen and his friends after seeing them speeding on Route 95. The group of teens saw him coming at them in the parking lot of Wicked Good Pizza and tried to drive away, while Dolan claimed he wanted to have a “fatherly chat” and shot at them fearing he was going to be hit by their car.

The teen driver, Dominic Vincent, of West Greenwich, was shot in the upper arm.

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In 2022, Dolan was also charged with domestic disorderly conduct and domestic vandalism after he allegedly grabbed his 10-year-old son by the neck and threw him outside, according to an affidavit by Coventry police supporting an arrest warrant.

Then, while the children were in the car with his wife, Dolan was accused of throwing a toy truck at the vehicle and breaking the windshield, according to the affidavit. The domestic case against Dolan was dismissed about a week after it was filed, per court records.

Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report. This story has been updated to include comment from Michael Colucci.

Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.





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Rhode Island

Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo nominated to Costco board – The Boston Globe

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1 day ago

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December 10, 2025

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Former Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo nominated to Costco board – The Boston Globe


Costco is nominating former US commerce secretary and Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo to serve on its board of directors, the Washington state-based retail giant announced last week.

“We are very pleased to nominate Secretary Raimondo for election to our Board,” Costco chairman Hamilton James said in a statement. “Her vast experience in global business, politics and international security at the highest level will add an important dimension to our current expertise. We look forward to her contributions.”

Raimondo served as Rhode Island governor from 2015 to 2021, when she was tapped to serve as the Biden administration’s secretary of commerce. Before entering politics in 2010, she worked in venture capital.

Her nomination will likely be voted on at the company’s next shareholders’ meeting, scheduled for Jan. 15.

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The nomination comes days after the warehouse store announced it would sue the Trump administration over its tariff policy. Costco says the administration’s tariffs are unlawful, since they were imposed under a law that has historically been used to impose sanctions against other nations.

Earlier this year, Raimondo said she is considering running for president in 2028, becoming one of the first Democrats to do so. She also criticized the direction of the party and suggested it had ignored bread-and-butter economics issues in 2024 election loss to Donald Trump.

She added, though, that “if I thought somebody else would be better, or better able to win, I’d get behind that person in a minute.”

Costco does not currently operate any stores in Rhode Island. The nearest location is located on Interstate 95 in Sharon, Mass., according to the company’s website.

Last year, the company seemed to back away from a plan to build a warehouse at a shuttered correctional facility in Cranston, WPRI reported. Officials in Warwick and Smithfield have also expressed interest in bringing the box store to their communities.

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Material from previous Globe coverage and Globe wire services was used.

Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.





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