Rhode Island

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

Published

2 years ago

January 18, 2024

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

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:

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Target 12: State of RI’s fire hoses

Published

8 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

With wildfires becoming more frequent in Rhode Island, the state’s stockpile of specialty hoses to battle these blazes is being stretched thin.

Target 12 investigator Tim White got a firsthand look at the condition of the critical firefighting tools in Rhode Island and learned what’s being done to repair or replace them.

Watch the Target 12 exclusive Tuesday at 5 p.m. on WPRI 12.

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Rhode Island

32 photos capturing Rhode Island Pride’s nighttime magic

Published

18 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

32 photos capturing Rhode Island Pride’s nighttime magic

Rhode Island Pride celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 20 as thousands gathered in downtown Providence for a day of performances, community, and celebration.

The event featured PrideFest with hundreds of community organizations, businesses, vendors, and performers, including headliners Adore Delano, Juicy Love Dion, and Paris Bennett, followed by Rhode Island Pride’s signature Illuminated Night Parade—one of the few Pride parades in the country to take place after dark.

Held under the theme “We Are the People,” this year’s event honored the activists who organized Rhode Island’s first Pride march in 1976 while recognizing the generations who continue to shape the state’s LGBTQ+ community today.

“Our founders understood something that remains true today: change happens when people show up,” said Rodney Davis, president of Rhode Island Pride. “Fifty years after that first march, more than 100,000 people stood together in downtown Providence to declare that we are still here, still visible, and still proud. ‘We Are The People’ is more than a theme—it is a recognition of every person who has contributed to this movement, from the pioneers who marched in 1976 to the young people who will shape the next 50 years.”

“This year demonstrated the incredible power of community,” added Jess Motyl-Szary, director of Rhode Island Pride. “Every volunteer, performer, sponsor, vendor, parade participant, and attendee helped create a space where people could feel welcomed, celebrated, and connected. The energy throughout the day and night was extraordinary, and it showed why Pride remains so important.”

Take a look at some of the most memorable moments from Rhode Island Pride’s 50th anniversary, courtesy of photographs from Ryan Welch, Kris Laliberte, Jordan Roberts, Kristen Beres, Brian Felsenthal, Leo Selvaggio, Willow Hicks, and Maxwell Snyder.

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Rhode Island

RI becomes first state to establish grocery self-checkout limits

Published

2 days ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

RI becomes first state to establish grocery self-checkout limits

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island is now the first state in the country to implement self-checkout lane restrictions at grocery stores.

Gov. Dan McKee joined local workers and leaders in Providence Thursday to publicly sign the Restrictions on “Self-Service Checkout Stations Act” into law. It initially passed in the Senate last month, but a revised version was sent back by the House on June 10. The Senate passed the amended bill the next day, advancing it to McKee’s desk.

“Today, we’re protecting jobs and strengthening customer service,” McKee said. “Whether it’s helping a customer with an issue, assisting a senior, or ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, this law is about preserving choice and keeping people at the center of the shopping experience.”

Under the new legislation, all grocery stores in the state will be required to have one manually staffed cashier lane for every three self-checkout stations. It also limits the tasks a worker can be assigned, stating that their employer must relieve them of all other duties — including running a manual lane — while monitoring self-checkout stations. Additionally, one manual cashier lane must always be open in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Grocery stores that violate the law can be fined based on the wages for one full shift at the highest hourly pay rate, up to $1,000 per day. If a store continues not to comply after being notified of a violation, it may face more penalties under the state consumer protection laws.

Employees and consumers are entitled to file complaints with the R.I. Department of Labor & Training without fear of retaliation if they notice a store is out of compliance, according to the legislation.

Senate President Valarie Lawson said she introduced the bill out of concern for cashier workers, as well as customers who might struggle with “frustrating” self-checkout experiences.

“We’ve all experienced an issue using a self-service checkout and had to wait for an overtaxed employee to come over to resolve it, an experience that can be far more challenging for elderly members of the community,” Lawson said. “This bill would provide options for the consumer by making sure staffed checkout lanes are always available while also improving the store environment for workers and consumers.”

Last week, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and UFCW Local 328 released statements celebrating the bill’s passage, calling it a major win for workers and shoppers.

“UFCW Local 328 members in the grocery industry are often overburdened, having to monitor too many self-checkouts while shoppers face delays,” UFCW Local 328 Secretary-Treasurer Domenic Pontarelli said. “Staffing ratios fix this issue for all parties.”

“This technology has always been a raw deal for shoppers and workers, shifting the labor onto customers while taking hours away from workers,” UFCW International Vice President Ademola Oyefeso added. “We applaud the Rhode Island legislature for passing this bill, making it easier and faster for families to put food on the table, and we look forward to Governor McKee’s signature.”

Meanwhile, Scott Bromberg, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Food Dealers Association, expressed strong disdain for the measure, arguing that it puts traditional grocery stores at a “competitive disadvantage.”

“On behalf of the grocery industry, RIFDA has been vehemently opposed to self-checkout legislation,” Bromberg said in a statement to 12 News. “Our industry is being unfairly targeted, when checkout automation has spread to all retail environments including hardware stores, mass merchants, dollar stores, pharmacies, and even fast-food chains.”

Bromberg also said the bill will only make it more difficult for Rhode Island grocery stores to operate “as they see fit,” noting that it could lead to longer lines and higher prices.

“Grocery retailers run at razor thin margins and need flexibility to effectively and efficiently operate their stores, offer competitive prices, and provide great customer service,” he continued.

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