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Rhode Island
Best things to do in Rhode Island: April 26-May 3 – The Boston Globe
May Day! May Day! Sorry, no emergency. I’m just excited for May. Yup, cue the Justin Timberlake memes. It’s gonna be May and we’ve got 20,000 rubber ducks, tight-rope walkers, trolls, guacamole and more.
Let’s ride, friends.
THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rolls into PVD. Expect six shows from April 26-28 at the AMP. Some 75 performers hailing from 18 countries will put on a show that includes, according to a press release: stunts like “The Triangular Highwire” and “Double Wheel of Destiny,” comedic performances, “a modern take on clowning,” juggling, acrobatics, and dancing. Plus a skate park where BMX riders perform stunts, and trapeze artists, aerialists, music and more. 1 LaSalle Square. Tickets from $20. Details here.
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY RETURNS
Beep beep beep! You know summer is returning to Rhody when the food trucks migrate back to Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village. It’s #FoodTruckFriday season: From April 26 through Sept. 27 — weather permitting — some 15 local food trucks park at Roger Williams Park at 5 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and soak up live tunes from local artists, jump on the carousel, hop the train ride. Free admission; pay for what you eat. 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Details here.
SOCCER IN RHODE ISLAND
The Ocean State now has a pro men’s soccer team, Rhode Island FC, and you can get your Ted Lasso on this week. According to the Globe, they play in the USL Championship league, the second tier of American men’s soccer, a notch below Major League Soccer. There are a number of ways you can buy tickets, from “Beer 2-pack” to “single match” or “mini plans.” This week’s game is April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Smithfield against Phoenix Rising FC. Ticket prices vary. At Beirne Stadium at Bryant University. 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield. Read more here. Details here.
20,000 RUBBER DUCKS
It’s time for one of the most whimsical of Rhody traditions: the 24th Annual Pawcatuck River Duck Race. Watch 20,000 rubber ducks race the Pawcatuck River in Westerly on April 27 to benefit dozens of local charities. This full-on spectacle is free to watch — plus there are children’s games, rides, food booths, bounce house, and other activities. The event typically raises some $60,000 for groups involved, according to the event’s website. Plus: 90 prizes are up for grabs, including a trip to Disney World. The fun starts at 11:30 a.m., with a corporate race at 1 p.m., and the main race at 1:30 p.m. Downtown Westerly on the Westerly/Pawcatuck, Connecticut line. Details here and here.
EARTH WEEK
Earth Day truly is every day. Aquidneck Island is celebrating all week. Upcoming Aquidneck Island Earth Week events include:
- Albro Woods Work Party April 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Nearly all the beech trees in Albro Woods are infected by beech leaf disease and large sections of the forest canopy are at risk,” according to billing. Volunteers are invited to lend a hand in removing invasive species and planting new trees. Afterward, everyone is invited to enjoy a potluck meal.” 125 Mitchell’s Lane #41, Portsmouth. Free. Details here.
- Help with an “Easton’s Beach Clean-Up & TrashBlitz” April 27 from 1-3 p.m. at Easton’s Beach. 175 Memorial Boulevard, Newport. Details here.
- Take time to notice birds on a free bird hike April 28 at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, 8-10 a.m. 583 3rd Beach Road, Middletown. Details here.
- Bonus for the 21+ set: Newport Vineyards, in honor of Aquidneck Island Earth Week, offers a free wine or beer flight to folks to help clean up. Participants are asked to pick up a bag or bucket of trash at their choice of location and take a photo. When they arrive at the event, they can enjoy a free tasting. Through April 27 during operating hours. Must present ID to show proof of 21+. Details here.
- Bonus for all ages: Scavenger BioBlitz is on — bring your BioBlitz scavenger hunt sheet to the Norman Bird Sanctuary for free admission for the whole fam through April 27 — and Earth Week Bingo encourages kids “to take environmental actions around their homes. There’s a sweet treat for kids who make five environmental actions in a row,” according to billing.
TAYLOR SWIFT DANCING FOR PUPPIES
A Westerly woman dropped a new album that broke Spotify this week (though she needs a grammar check on that title) And yes, there’s a Taylor event in Rhody: “Tailored for Tails: A Swift Promenade” is a night of human dancing to benefit the East Greenwich Animal Protection League. Billed as “an enchanting adult prom,” Swifties can dance the night away and enjoy a buffet. Dress to impress in “elegant attire” or “favorite Swiftie concert wear.” $60. April 28, 6-10 p.m. at the Event Factory, 144 Metro Center Blvd., Warwick.
CURL UP
I don’t know what intrigues me more: The shoes? The brooms? I vow every Winter Olympics to learn this sport. The Ocean State Curling Club hosts a “Learn to Curl” session April 28, 2:15-4:15 p.m. at Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink. Must register. $45. 109 Pleasant View Ave. Details here.
TROLLS! TROLLS!
I have been waiting a year for this. Recycle artist/activist Thomas Dambo, who makes giant trolls from recycled wood all over the world, is bringing his trolls to Charlestown’s Ninigret Park. Dambo takes stage April 30 at 7 p.m. at the United Theatre to talk about his life in Denmark, larger-than-life trolls — and to inspire you to think about trash and recycling differently. Stay tuned for my exclusive interview with the fascinating Dambo. 5 Canal St., Westerly. $5. Details here.
HOLY GUACAMOLE
Who makes the best guac around? Avocado fans, get to Providence Brewing Company May 1 for a “Wicked Best Guacamole Showcase and Tasting.” Local restaurants will also throw down in a “friendly competition.” Bonus: first 100 Early Bird passes get a free beer, according to billing. 10 Sims Ave. #Unit 110, Providence. From $15. Details here.
PARTY IN THE BALLROOM
FirstWorks — a Providence-based nonprofit with a mission “to enrich the social, educational and economic fabric of Rhode Island by engaging diverse audiences with world-class performing arts experiences” — is turning 20 and you’re invited to the party.
Head to the Ballroom at the Providence G on May 2. Your $75 supports FirstWorks programs in Rhode Island, according to the website. Expect to “mix and mingle with fellow supporters and friends” with “drinks and small bites.” On the evening’s docket: two “sets” from dancers Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca, steel pan and vocals by Becky Bass; Sidy Maiga with DJ Brazao, and raffle. 100 Dorrance St., Providence. Learn more about the artists here, here and here. Event details, FirstWorks details and artist videos here.
PAINTING BIRDS
When I interviewed an Audubon educator/artist this week about the power of noticing — and drawing — birds, Clare Walker Leslie told me: “Once you become aware, you care.” An advocate for nature journaling and drawing, Leslie had me reaching for my sketchbook. With that vibe in mind, head to Rhode Island Audubon’s Maxwell Mays Art Studio for “Watercolor From Nature 101.”
The first session on May includes experimenting with brushes, paper and paint to create a landscape with birds. In the second session on June 7, you’ll learn color theory and drawing basics. No experience necessary, all materials provided. Meet in the parking lot. Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry. Last day to register May 2. $125/non-members, $100 for members. Details here.
RHODE READS
As a Rhody book lover, I started this subsection because every week, there are great Rhode Island author and book events. In this week’s book news…
April 27 is National Independent Bookstore Day and women-owned Ink Fish books in Warren hosts its 6th Indie Bookstore Day Party. Expect free books, raffles, including a signed-copy giveaway of Jamie Brenner’s “A Novel Summer,” and two talented local authors:
Did you love Rhody’s own New York Times bestselling author Jessa Maxwell’s hit “The Golden Spoon”? Same. If you haven’t read it yet, the book — which earned raves — was billed by its publisher as “Only Murders in the Building” meets “The Maid” and that’s accurate. Maxwell, of Jamestown, will be on hand for the party, along with an Empanada Assassin pop-up from noon to 5 p.m.
Plus, Rhody native author Christa Carmen signs copies of her gothic novel “The Daughters of Block Island,” from 1-3 p.m. according to Ink Fish. 488 Main St., Warren. Details here.
For my picks on other Rhode Island indie bookstores, see here.
Until next week, Rhody: Keep rockin.’
Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1.
New East Bay Bike Path bridges are open and ready for bikes
What’s it like to ride over the new East Bay Bike Path bridges? We sent a reporter to try them out.
I’ve long thought bike paths are among Rhode Island’s premier attractions, up there with the beaches, the mansions and the bay.
We like to knock government, but credit where it’s due, the state has done an amazing job building out an incredible pedaling network.
It’s clearly a priority.
At least I thought it was.
But they’ve just dropped the ball on what should have been a beautiful new stretch.
The plan was to finish a mile-long connector from the East Providence end of the Henderson Bridge all the way to the East Bay Bike Path.
There was even $25 million set aside to get it done.
Except WPRI recently reported that it’s now been canceled.
The main fault lies with the Trump administration, which is no friend of bike paths, and moved to kill that $25 million.
But it gets complicated, as government funding always does.
To try to rescue that money, the state DOT reportedly worked with the administration to refunnel it into a road project. Specifically, the $25 million will now be spent helping upgrade the mile-long highway between the Henderson Bridge and North Broadway in East Providence, turning it into a more pleasant boulevard.
That totally sounds worthy.
But it’s insane to throw away the bike path plan.
Especially for a particular reason in this case.
They’d already put a ton of money into starting it.
When state planners designed the new Henderson Bridge between the East Side and East Providence, they included a bike path.
It’s a beauty – well protected from traffic by a barrier, a great asset for safely riding over the Seekonk River.
The plan was to continue it another mile or so along East Providence’s Waterfront Drive, ultimately connecting with the East Bay Bike Path, which runs all the way to Bristol. Which, by the way, is one of the nicest bike paths you’ll find anywhere.
But alas, that connector plan has been canceled.
So the expensive stretch over the Henderson Bridge to East Providence is now a bike path to nowhere. Once the bridge ends, the path on it continues a few hundred yards or so and then, just … ends.
Too bad.
We were so close.
Most of the stories on the issue have been about the complex negotiation to rescue the $25 million by rerouting it to that nearby highway-to-boulevard project. But I don’t want to get lost in the weeds of that bureaucratic process here because it loses sight of the heart of this story.
Which is that an amazing new addition to one of the nation’s best state bike path systems has just been scrapped.
You can knock the Rhode Island government for blowing a lot of things.
The PawSox.
The Washington Bridge.
But they’ve done great with bike paths.
And especially, linking many of them together.
Example: not too many years ago, Providence bikers had to risk dicey traffic on the East Side to get to the more pleasant paths in India Point Park and on the 195 bridge to the East Bay Path.
But the state fixed that by adding an amazing connector that starts behind the Salvation Army building and beautifully winds along the water of the Seekonk River for a mile or so.
That makes a huge difference – and no doubt has avoided some bike-car accidents.
We were close to a comparable stretch on the other side of the river – that’s what the $25 million would have done.
But it’s now apparently dead.
Online commenters aren’t happy about it.
On a Reddit string, “Toadscoper” accused the state of being “complicit” with the feds in rerouting the money from bikes to cars.
And there was this fascinating post from FineLobster 5322, who apparently is a disappointed planner who worked on the project: “Mind you money has already been spent on phase one so rejecting it at this point is wasting money and also against the public interest … but what do I know? I only worked on the project as an engineer … I didn’t get into this to build more highways. I do it … to give back to communities and give them more access to their environment.”
Wow. One can imagine the state planning team is devastated. That’s not a small consideration. Good people go into government to make life better in Rhode Island, and it’s a bad play to take the spirit out of the job by first assigning a great human-scale project and then, after a ton of work, trashing it.
A poster named Homosapiens simply said, “We just accept this?”
Hopefully not.
The first stretch of the path over the Henderson Bridge is done, money already sunk.
What a shame to leave that as a path to nowhere.
It doesn’t have to happen.
Between Governor McKee and our Washington delegation, there’s got to be a way to get this done.
There’s got to be.
mpatinki@providencejournal.com
WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — Two people are dead and another person seriously hurt after a crash involving two vehicles on the highway in Warwick Saturday.
Rhode Island State Police said the crash happened around 1:34 p.m. on the ramp from Route 113 West to I-95 South.
According to police, a Hyundai SUV that was driving in the middle lane of the highway started to drift to the right, crossed the first lane, and then crossed onto the on-ramp lane. The car struck the guardrail twice before driving through the grass median.
The Hyundai then struck the driver’s side of a Mercedes SUV that was on the ramp, causing the Mercedes to roll over and come to a rest. The impact sent the Hyundai over the guardrail and down an embankment.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 73-year-old man, and his passenger, a 69-year-old woman, were both pronounced dead at the hospital.
A woman who was in the Mercedes was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition.
State police said all lanes of traffic were reopened by 4:30 p.m.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app.
A federal judge on Friday tossed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit aiming to force Rhode Island to hand over its voter information as part of the Trump administration’s push to acquire voter data from several states.
Rhode Island U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy wrote that federal law does not allow the DOJ “to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here,” siding with Rhode Island election officials. She added that the DOJ did not provide evidence to suggest that Rhode Island violated election law.
McElroy, a Trump appointee, wrote that she sided with the similar decision in Oregon. That decision ruled that the DOJ was not entitled to unredacted voter registration lists.
“Absent from the demand are any factual allegations suggesting that Rhode Island may be violating the list maintenance requirements,” she said in her ruling.
Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore (D) praised McElroy’s decision. He said in a statement that the Trump administration “seems to have no problem taking actions that are clear Constitutional overreaches, regularly meddling in responsibilities that are the rights of the states.”
“Today’s decision affirms our position: the United States Department of Justice has no legal right to – or need for – the personally-identifiable information in our voter file,” he said. “Voter list maintenance is a responsibility entrusted to the states, and I remain confident in the steps we take here in Rhode Island to keep our list as accurate as possible.”
The Hill reached out to the DOJ for comment.
The DOJ called for the voter lists as it investigated Rhode Island’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which allowed Americans to register to vote when they apply for a driver’s license.
The DOJ sued at least 30 states, as well as Washington, D.C., in December demanding their respective voter data. This data includes birth dates, names and partial Social Security numbers.
At least 12 states have given or said they will give the DOJ their voter registration lists, according to a tracker operated by the Brennan Center for Justice.
The department stated after it lost a similar suit against Massachusetts earlier this month that it had “sweeping powers” to access the voter data and that, if states fail to comply, courts have a “limited, albeit vital, role” in directing election officers on behalf of the administration to produce the records. The DOJ cited the Civil Rights Act as being intended to unearth alleged election law violations.
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