Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » providence design guide

[today's city guide comes courtesy of our providence guest blogger this week- christine chitnis. click here to check out her posts on the d*s guest blog]

providence has often been thought of as the “suburban sister” of boston, but whoever said that, obviously hasn’t been to providence in a while. downtown providence, while not quite bustling, is experiencing a resurrection, with a large mall and many new boutiques setting up shop. but the real heart and soul of this town is the higher learning institutes. providence is home to brown university, rhode island school of design (RISD) and johnson and wales (among others). these schools and their students add flavor and diversity to the area and are instrumental in drawing in the quirky stores and restaurants that appeal to the college crowds.

although Providence is not an incredibly large city, there are several different shopping sections, each with a very different feel. besides shopping, there are many university attractions and local activites, which are highlighted at the end of the guide. i hope you’ll enjoy the guide and check out some of the great shops and attractions that providence has to offer. CLICK HERE for the full guide or just click “read more” below. -Christine

Federal Hill: This is the Italian section of town, our very own “Little Italy” and while there is not a lot of shopping to be had, the food, art galleries and atmosphere make it a must see while in Providence.

-Diva’s Palace, 299 Atwells Ave., 401-831-0148; trendy womens clothing store

-My Sister’s Attic Consignment, 342 Atwells Ave., 401-351-4092; vintage clothing shop

-Area4zero1, 102 Dean St., 401-383-8509; Clothing store carrying a wide selection of upscale jeans

-Gallery Z (http://www.galleryzprov.com/), 259 Atwells Ave., 401-454-8844; fine arts gallery

-Royal Gallery, 298 Atwells Ave., 401-831-8831‎; newly opened, April 2008, fine arts gallery

-Chabot Gallery, 379 Atwells Ave., 401-432-7783, brand new art gallery opened August 2008

Where to eat:

Just as a side note, there are so many restaurants on Federal Hill that it would take an entire guide just to name them all, so here is a very, very small selection of a few favorites

-Tony’s Colonial Food Store, 311 Atwells Ave., 401-621-8675; hard to find, specialty Italian food store

-Caffe Dolce Vita, 59 DePasquale Plaza, 401-331-8240; enjoy your authentic Italian dinner on the patio overlooking the DePasquale Fountain.

-Pastiche, 92 Spruce St., 401-861-5190; Hands down the most amazing dessert place you will ever find, people have driven from Boston just to fill a Pastiche craving

Wayland Square: Set away from the universities, this area caters to an older, more upscale crowd. During the summer, all of the resteraunts here offer outdoor seating and the streets just come alive!

-Kyureo, 13 S. Angell, 401-437-6677; fine furnishings, art and gifts

-Myopic Books, 5 S. Angell, 401-521-5533; Amazing selection of rare and recent used books

-Books on the Square, 471 Angell, 401-331-9097; Fantastic independent book store

-What Cheer Antiques, 7 S. Angell, 401-861-4244; One of the best, most eclectic antique stores in Providence, tons of old vinyls and movies

-Dorothy Williams, 200 Wayland Ave., 401-331-8811; Upscale women’s clothing store, carries lines such as Theory and Vince

-CoMina, 201 Wayland Ave., 401-273-4522; high end furniture carefully selected from around the world

-Runcible Spoon, 195 Wayland Ave., 401-831-6600; Kitchen-ware, mostly European and American-made

-Wendy Brown Fine Linens, 183 Wayland Ave., 401-455-2337; as the name suggests, this shop carries fine linens as well as a nice selection of bath and body items

-Simple Pleasures, 6 Richmond St., 401-331-4120; An adorable gift store tucked a bit out of the way, but totally worth the trip. Unique selection of items, all with a very global, ethnic feel.

Where to eat:

-The Edge, 199 Wayland Ave., 401-490-2227: A great independent coffee shop specializing in cupcakes with frosting in all colors of the rainbow.

-Farmstead/ La Laiterie, 186 Wayland Ave., 401-274-7177 : An incredible cheese store and restaurant combination. If you are in the mood for a very nice night out, you can’t go wrong with dinner at La Laiterie. The use of fresh, seasonal, local ingrediants is an important element of the dining experience here. They also offer an amazing wine selection.

-Red Stripe, 465 Angell St., 401-437-6950: Upscale bar and great dinner selection, nice for a relaxing after dinner drink and appetizers.

-Haruki, 176 Wayland Ave., 401-223-0332: The best sushi in town!

-Eastside Market, 165 Pitman St., 401-831-7771: Although grocery stores are not usually all that exciting, this is an exception with its dedication to local, organic foods at reasonable prices. The selection here is plentiful.

Wickenden Street: An eclectic mix of coffee shops, antique store and tattoo parlors, there is really no great way to sum up Wickenden Street. It is a busy, albeit random street.

-5 Traverse Gallery, 5 Traverse St., 401-278-4968; Contemporary art gallery, very cutting edge

-Adlers Hardware, 173 Wickenden, 401-421-5157; The best hardware store around; helpful staff, great paint selection and offers interior decorating services.

-Studio 539 Flowers, 174 Wickenden, 401-454-4400; high end floral design studio

-Curatorium, 199 Wickenden, 401-453-4080; as the name suggests, a well curated home accessories store

-Utrecht Art Supplies, 200 Wickenden, 401-331-3780; Large quantity of art supplies and often have coupons and deals going on

-Round Again Records, 278 Wickenden, 401-351-6292; Quality, hard to find vinyls, tapes and cd’s at great prices

-Mignonette, 301 Wickenden, 401-272-4422; This amazing little gem of a store feels like a Parisian boutique offering exquisite bath and body products, lingerie, perfume, clothing and jewelry

-Pleasures, 53 Hope St, 401-274-6545; another sweet little flower shop

-Adam Tamsky Fine Art, 395 Wickenden, 401-273-1307; fine arts gallery

-Refind, 436 Wickenden, 401-277-0606; Beautiful gift shop with an entire selection dedicated to buttons and ribbons of every color imaginable

-Curiosities, 460 Wickenden, 401-421-0023; Odd collection of random antiques, fun to dig around for hidden treasures

-Rustigians, 1 Governor St., 401-751-5100 , ; Plentiful selection of Oriental rugs from India, Pakistan, Turkey and more

-JRS Fine Art, 218 Wickenden, 401-331-4380; Fine arts gallery

-Red Bridge Antiques, 416 Wickenden, 401-453-3377; Antique store with a unique selection of furniture

-Wickenden Kilnworks, 398 Wickenden, 401-274-0022; Working studio offering gorgeous ceramics, pottery and even antiques

Where to eat:

-Amy’s Place, 214 Wickenden, 401-274-9966; breakfast and lunch served all day, every day, nice outdoor patio to enjoy sunny weather

-Coffee Exchange, 207 Wickenden, 401-273-1198; Top notch neighborhood coffee joint

-Taste of India, 230 Wickenden, 401-421-4355; best Indian food in Providence (personal opinion!)

-Brickway on Wickenden, 234 Wickenden, 401-751-2477; charming breakfast joint

-Blue Elephant, 312 Wickenden, 401-383-8149; cute cafe with great jewelry displayed for sale all over the walls, makes for nice eye candy while eating!

-Reflections Cafe, 468 Wickenden, 401-273-7278; can’t be beat for coffee and sandwiches

Thayer: Situated in the middle of Brown’s campus, Thayer caters to college students with lots of small, cheap food joints, an Urban Outfitter and the Brown Bookstore. During the school year, this street is bustling at all hours of the day and night! Shops go in and out of Thayer Street pretty quickly, so not many have websites. Be sure to check local listings to see if these shops are still around when you plan your visit.

-Tibet Gift Shop, 112 Waterman, 401-331-2005; Funky little store with beautiful scarves and those prayer flags you tend to see in every dorm room!

-Foreign Affair, 219 Thayer, 401-274-1484; great vintage clothing finds

-Pie in the Sky, 225 Thayer, 401-861-3954; fun little gift store

-Facing Thayer, 297 Thayer, 401-331-4777; Spa services and shopping in this little beauty store, which stocks brands like Fresh, Bliss and Red Flower

-Second Time Around, 294 Thayer, 401-455-2050; Another vintage clothing store (notice a Thayer Street trend?!)

-ZuZu’s Petals, 288 Thayer, 401-331-9846; dress shop stocking high end brands such as Nicole Miller, Tibi and BCBG

-Beadworks, 290 Thayer, 401-861-4540; Amazing bead store for all your crafting needs

-NAVA (New and Vintage Apparel), 281 Thayer, 401-453-6282; Yes, another vintage clothing store

Where to eat:

Again, there are a ton of little eateries on Thayer, here are just a few good ones

-Juniper Frozen Yogurt; 229 Thayer, 401-421-4851; frozen yogurt joint similar to the famous Pinkberry

-Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer, 401-383-8393; organic, fair-trade coffee served in a politacally charged environment

-Kabob and Curry, 261 Thayer, 401-273-8844; tamed down Indian food for those who like it light on the spice

-East Side Pockets, 278 Thayer, 401-453-1100; amazingly cheap and delicious middle eastern pockets, great taste on a college budget

-Meeting Street Cafe, 220 Meeting St., 401-273-1066; fresh sandwiches and famous cookies the size of your head

South and North Main: The strip of Main St. that runs through the East Side is home to many RISD building as well as a mix of cute shops and great restaurants.

-Providence Art Club, 11 Thomas Street, 401.331.1114; The second oldest art club in the country

-Ramson House, 120 North Main, 401-273-5700; incredible selection of chandeliers

-Lotus, 128 North Main, 401-351-1010; Wide selection of Asian antiques

-Fains Fine Carpets and Rugs, 126 North Main, 401-331-5260; Family owned carpet store with a high end selection

-Mark Allen Clothiers, 200 South Main, 401-453-0025; upscale mens clothing store

-Social Expressions, 295 South Main, 401-831-1000; Gift shop stocking Vera Bradley, Lollia, and MOR soaps

-Mary Ann Coffey Interiors, 245 South Main, 401-456-1551; Interior design services

-David Charles Gallery, 263 South Main, 401-421-6764; fine arts gallery housed in a charming spot

Where to eat:

-Al Forno, 577 South Main, 401-273-9760; THE culinary desitination of Providence

-Chinese Laundry, 121 North Main, 401-272-8676; shoebox sized restaurant with upscale Asian cuisine

-Mills Tavern, 101 North Main, 401-272-3331; Great tavern environment, with upscale cuisine

-Cafe Choklad, 2 Thomas St, 401-383-4764; Good, cheap eats for lunch

-Parkside, 76 South Main, 401-331-0003; Open kitchen makes dining here an unusual experience

-New Rivers, 7 Steeple St., 401-751-0350; All local food, can’t get any more fresh and upscale than this cozy spot

Hope Street: Set back from downtown and the college scene, this little section of town appeals to those in search of quiet residential streets. During the day, strollers line the block and at night, families who live in the area can delight in the quaint restaurants.

-Clarke Flower Shops, 398 Hope St., 401-421-6700; great selection of potted flowers and herbs as well as cut fresh flowers

-Frog and Toad, 795 Hope St., 401-831-3434 ; chock full of great finds, a sure thing for unique hostess gifts

-Fresh Purls, 769A Hope St., 401-270-8220; the only knitting store on the east side, but luckily it’s a great one

-Studio Hop, 810 Hope St., 401-621-2262; a great little art studio featuring the work of over 40 Rhode Island artists, also offers a small selection of vintage home decor

Where to Eat:

-Not Just Spices, 836 Hope St., 401-351-6555; a very authentic Indian grocery store with shelves full of naan, tandoori masala and other items that you won’t find in the regular grocery store

-European Deli, 756 Hope St., 401-277-1170; another ethnic grocery store, offering a unique selection of hard to find European food items

-Seven Stars Bakery, 820 Hope St., 401-521-2200; the most AMAZING bakery ever, an absolute must if you are in Providence, their almond chocolate croissants and lemon cake are to die for

-The Blue Cottage, 748 Hope St., 401-383-7307 ; a sweet little diner with an all day breakfast menu

-Hope Street Pizza, 722 Hope St., 401-273-5955; best pizza on the Hope Street strip

-Three Sisters, 1074 Hope St., 401-273-7230; great little ice cream shop!

-Chez Pascel, 960 Hope St., 401-421-4422; upscale French dining at its best, offers a three course Bistro menu worth checking out

-Garden Grille, 727 East Ave., Pawtucket, 401-726-2826; amazing vegetarian and vegan options

-Not Just Snacks, 833 Hope St., 401-831-1150 ; authentic Indian food

-Rue De L’Espoir, 99 Hope St., 401-751-8890; Everyone’s favorite neighborhood restaurant and brunch spot

-Restaurant Oak, 959 Hope St., 401-273-7275; fresh food with an interesting twist, creative upscale dining

Broadway: An up and coming area, Broadway is still a bit light on the shops and restaurants, but the ones that are there, make it worth the trip.

-Rocket to Mars, 144 Broadway, 401-274-0905; great vintage clothing finds

-Relish, 377 Broadway, 401-273-8883; Sweet little gift store featuring lines like Perch and a great selection of paper products

-Jephry Floral Studio, 432 Broadway, 401-351-3510; Best place for gorgeous flower arrangements

-Armageddon Shop, 436 Broadway; 401-521-6667; hip indie music store

Where to eat:

-Nick’s on Broadway, 500 Broadway, 401-421-0286; Very popular diner with an upscale twist, make reservations

-Avery, 18 Luongo Memorial Square, Chic new bar raising the nightlife scene in Providence

-Seven Stars Bakery, 342 Broadway, 401-632-4496; Offshoot of the Hope Street Seven Stars, equally as yummy baked goods

-Julians, 318 Broadway, 401-861-1770; ridiculously good brunch!

-Loui Fuller’s, 1455 Westminster Street, 401-273-4375, ; authentic French bistro vibe, opened in 2007 to rave reviews

Westminster and Downtown: With downtown Providence experiencing a sort of resurrection, with a large, new mall at the center, many unique boutiques and fabulous restaurants are calling this once vacant area home.

-Homestyle, 229 Westminster, 401-277-1159; Stylish homewares store

-Oop! Contemporary Gift Gallery, 220 Westminster, 401-270-4366, Quirky gift store

-Butterfield, 232 Westminster, 401) 273-3331, Incredibly upscale home furnishing store

-Symposium Books, 240 Westminster, 401-273-7900, Indy book store with low prices and plenty of hard-to-find titles

-Figments, 717 Westminster, 401-588-5180; Supplies design savvy Rhode Islanders with brands like Sesame Letterpress, Linea Carta, and Peculiar Pair Press

-Elsa Arms, 231 Westminster, 401-383-5558; Nili Lotan dresses and Clu tops fill the racks of this minimalist clothing store

-Eno, 227 Westminster, 401-521-2000; Hip wine store, great staff

-Design Within Reach, 210 Westminster, 401-831-1452; Needs no introduction!

-Clover, 233 Westminster, 401-490-4626, Another great clothing store stocking hard-to-find hipster labels

-Cellar Stories Bookstore, 111 Mathewson, 401-521-2665; amazing selection of new and used books

-Ada Books, 330 Dean, 401-432-6222; Tiny, well-stocked book store around the corner from White Electric Coffee

Where to eat:

-Cuban Revolution, 50 Aborn St., 401-331-8829; Authentic Cuban food served in a lively atmosphere

-Gracies, 194 Washington St., 401-272-7811; Upscale American cuisine, great wine list

-White Electric Coffee, 711 Westminster St., 401-453-3007, amazingly hip coffee shop

-Farmstead Lunch, 223 Westminster St., 401-274-7177; Offshoot of Wayland Square Farmstead, serves lunch to-go and offers a large selection of cheeses and specialty foods

-Tazza, 250 Westminster St., 401-421-3300; Lively cafe offering movies on monday nights and live music most evenings

-Local 121, 121 Washington Street, 401-274-2121; Farm fresh local food and a great night life in this restored 1890’s hotel

-DownCity, 50 Weybosset St., 401-331-9217; Best of RI Brunch award, don’t miss the monthly drag brunch!

Jewelry District: Formerly the industrial part of Providence, many of the old warehouses have been converted into lofts and interesting restaurants. There is no shopping to be had, but a few amazing little breakfast and lunch places are springing up to serve the employees whose offices are housed in the converted warehouses.

Where to Eat:

-Olga’s Cup and Saucer, 103 Point St., 401-831-6666; great little breakfast and lunch place with the cutest outdoor seating area

-Rue Bis, 16 Bassett St., 401-490-9966; Can’t beat their coffee with a free, homemade muffin for a quick breakfast

Farmers’ Markets:

Providence has a number of wonderful farmers’ markets. The best part about it is that they are spread out over the course of the week, so is you miss the regular Saturday market, you can still find fresh produce!

-Best Market: Hope High School Farmers’ Market; 324 Hope St, Saturdays 9:30am-12:30pm, June 7-November 29.

For more information: http://www.farmfreshri.org/

Libraries:

Providence has an amazing network of libraries, with classes on everything from email basics to starting your own blog (and their all free). They also have great author book readings and childrens activities. Another wonderful thing about the Rhode Island library system is their online queue, so similar to Netflix, you can request popular titles and when they are available, they will hold them for you!

-Best Library: Central Library; 150 Empire Street

For more information: http://www.provlib.org/

Theaters:

-Avon Cinema, 260 Thayer, 401-421-3315; A great indie theater nestled into the bustle of Thayer Street

-Cable Car Cinema, 204 South Main St., 401-272-3970; An amazing little artsy theater that has replaces uncomfortable theater seats with couches! An annual host for the RI International Film Festival (http://www.film-festival.org/)

-Providence Place Cinema and Feinstein IMAX Theater, One Providence Place, 401-270-4646; the major theater in town with 16 screens and an IMAX Theater

-Movies on the Block, Corner of Westminster and Union; Different movie every Thursday night at dusk, all FREE

Other Attractions:

-Brown University: This Ivy League university draws a diverse crowd of students, whose accomplishments put most of us to shame! The campus rambles through Providence; beautiful buildings, green spaces, and amazing architecture are all part of its charm.

-RISD Attractions: A renowned school of design, all their museums and galleries are worth a visit!
RISD Museum
Chase Center
Graduate Gallery
RISD Works
Fleet Library

Children’s Shops and Activities

-KidOInfo Blog- The best blog for kids activities in Providence!

-Mod Mama, 16 South Angell, 401-273-7800, Fashionable moms shop here

-Pow Science, 192 Wayland Ave., 401-432-4070, Learning is tops at this toy store that offers science workshops

-CreaTOYvity, 808 Hope, 401-351-5718, A toy store with old-fashion fun and all the latest toy fads

-Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South Street, 401-273-5437; Hands-on museum is a great way to pass an afternoon

-Bambini, 251 South Main, 401-490-6952; Upscale baby boutique

-Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, 401-785-3510; Who doesn’t love a great zoo?

Other fun things to check out:

-Four Town Farms, 90 George St., Seekonk, MA, 508-336-5587, U-pick farm with a farm stand for all your produce needs

-Roger Williams Park Botancical Center, 401-785-9450; New England’s largest indoor garden

-Blackstone Boulevard, Historic East Side Providence neighborhood with beautiful homes and a greenway with a bike path and running trail

-East Bay Bike Path, A 14.5 mile bike path running from India Point Park in Providence to Independence Park in Bristol

-Waterfire, Providence is famous for this art instillation which consists of fires burning all down the river in downtown. Music, food and beer gardens makes this a crowded, lively event. Waterfire occurs on Saturday nights, see their website for the calender.

Where to Stay

-Hotel Providence, 311 Westminster St.; 401-861-8000; The stand-by hotel that Providence is known for

-Old Court B&B, 144 Benefit, 401-751-2002; Great B&B in the heart of the East Side, your stay includes a great breakfast every morning

-Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance, 401-421-0700; Gorgeous hotel with a Starbucks and Red Door Spa inside, can’t beat it for a romantic over-night stay

Glad to see you feature my hometown! One note, though: unfortunately, the Relish boutique on Broadway has recently closed. I wish I knew whether the owners were going to re-open in another location, that place was awesome! Make up for the loss with an extra-long visit to Simple Pleasures — it is tiny but fantastic!!!

Nice guide! I’m from Long Island, but I used to live in Providence, off Hope St.

Mill’s Tavern is one of the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of dining in anywhere. Just thought I’d mention that…

I read d*s all the time, but this is the first time a city guide has made me so excited! Since graduating from Brown four years ago, I remember and miss many of these areas, restaurants, and stores often. I would like to make one restaurant suggestion not included above: Sawadee has the best Thai food I have ever eaten(even after living in Manhattan for three years!). I highly recommend their curries, but everything on their menu is delicious. It is located on Hope street, near the intersection of Hope and Wickendon. I can’t wait to go back myself!

I LOVE PROVIDENCE and lucky for me I live on Benefit Street right in the heart of the historic district. My husband and I have been renting a house there for a year and we LOVE it. Thanks for the post, you are spot on with your recommendations.

So happy you featured Providence. Looks like you covered everything but don’t forget AS220. Their music venue, bar, PRINT SHOP, and live/work spaces are taking over downtown.

http://as220.org/printshop/
.http://www.as220.org

Ah-hem. AND Providence College which is a pretty impressive school - might merit more than a “and others” inclusion. At least, that is the opinion of one proud Lady Friar… not digging being lumped in with CCRI… at all…

I always forget how many great little shops and restaurants there are in Providence… Wanted to recommend a few more places. Ran zan-on Hope Street way down by Blackstone is a great mom and pop joint with very fresh and tasty sushi. Its less pricey and tastier than Haruki! If your downtown check out Bowl & Board for some great kitchen stuff and other housey things! Also my fav Indian is Rasoi- very far down on Hope for reasonably priced and very good Indian food in Providence and next to it LJ’s for the best brunch in Providence, they have sweet potato pancakes! If you are in for the true Providence experience then I also have to recommend Trinty Rep Brewhouse (downtown)- Monday night has really cheap buffalo wings and Louis’ (286 Brook st.) This is a classic diner hangout that serves breakfast,beer and dinner all hours they are open. Really cheap food with some traditional diner stuff as well as vegetarian. Heavy diner food but the best place to go after pulling an all nighter. I think they open around 5:30 in the morning.

Is this not a RISD love-fest?

Providence has changed SO drastically in the last 10 years, I’m thrilled to see Cianci’s vision come to fruition- Providence is now a thriving artistic community. A recent trip back made me giddy with Waterfire and the amazing boutique shopping to be had.

With so much local talent to inspire, what else should you expect?

Let me just say - I am so happy to see some highlighting of the Providence scene. I live in Somerville, so admittedly I am more in tuned with the Boston arts scene, but I visit Providence frequently and to see someone else take note makes me really really happy.

I’m so glad you’re guest blogging and I can’t wait to see what else you’ve got in store! Welcome to designsponge and so happy to see a fellow east coaster slash new englander here!

Thank you to everyone for their wonderful comments. I apologize to those restaurants, shops and colleges that I left out…it was certainly not intentional. When you really dig in, Providence is a large city and it was a big job trying to cover everything without missing any key components!

Thank you to Alley O. for telling us about AS200 (http://www.as220.org/about/). I checkout out the link and it is amazing- so sorry that I missed it!

Keep up the great comments because as far as I am concerned, they are just creating a more comprehensive guide!!

It’s so nice to see Providence mapped out for the D*S community!

I cover this lovably quirky region for Artscope Magazine, and am constantly AMAZED by gritty little Providence’s self-sustained ART (and FOODIE) scene - With that, I wanted to add to the roundup a few standout arts destinations!

DOWNCITY:
The arts & cultural scene of Downcity Providence owes a huge debt of thanks to AS220’s ever-growing Empire Street (and Matthewson St) complex. http://www.as220.org

Artist-conceived, developed and managed, this all-around arts org boasts eclectic programming with an “art is for everybody” message. Their main location (115 Empire Street) hosts a large gallery space, also doubling as a performance space featuring local/regional/national music acts, a true “beer-lovers” bar, and the Taqueria Pacifica taco counter to feed the starving artist crowd yummy, affordable vittles. Additional visual art shows are presented at the AS220 project space at (93 Mathewson St).

With an eye towards giving back to the community, AS220 offers affordable residential and studio space to artists, and offers classes in various printmaking media in the AS220 print shop.

Last, but not least, AS220 provides essential outreach/mentorship through art-making to local area teens through the Broad Street Studio program.

OLNEYVILLE
At the bottom of colorful Federal Hill, Olneyville boasts a large cluster of artists live/work studios and co-ops. It wouldn’t be Olneyville without THE STEELYARD (http://www.thesteelyard.org/) located at 27 Sims Ave. A fully equipped industrial art studio cooperative, The Steelyard offers classes and programs in steel fabrication, sculpture, ceramics and more. Many local artists utilize the well-appointed cooperative studio to realize public art projects enjoyed throughout the city.

JEWELRY DISTRICT
In a beautiful, brick-walled space, CAV is a lovely restaurant that doubles as an antiques gallery. Dine on affordably-priced french-inspired cuisine in the cozy and exotic ambiance of lush kilims, glittering antique chandeliers and hand-carved african wooden sculptures - all items displayed are for sale should you fall in love.
http://www.cavrestaurant.com/
14 Imperial Place #101

BROADWAY/ARMORY
Nestled nearby the Broadway portion of this guide - fledgling alternative art space Firehouse 13 http://www.firehouse13.org presents regularly scheduled gallery shows, art events and lectures, as well as hosting artists in residence. 41 Central Street.

OTHER THINGS TO CHECK OUT:
With one happy September weekend left to us, the 27th is our last chance to browse local independent designer & crafter creations at the Providence Open Market: http://www.providenceopenmarket.com/
Located at Lippitt Park, at the corner of Blackstone Blvd. and Hope Street.

I am soooo happy Providence is finally featured! I’ve lived here all my life but I’ve traveled all over the world so I have to say, some of the best restaurants are right here.

I strongly recommend Julian’s. I LOVE the atmosphere and have never been disappointed with a meal. And if you can’t find a place on a busy Friday/Saturday night, Wickedend Street always offers great food (especially sushi!) without a huge wait.

And I do have to admit that Rhode Islanders have a bad reputation for being rude (and most definitely bad drivers!) but for a small city, Providence is remarkably diverse. All my out-of-town guests fall in LOVE with the city. So definitely put it on you “to do” list : )

JWU grad here - moved from IL to RI to go to college here and never left nor will I (I’m also a RISD alum too - you can go to RISD for a certificate in interior design - at night - totally worth it) - Providence is such a great place - we’re completely not a sister-city to Boston, I hate it when I hear that - Boston is great and all but Providence has such amazing restaurants and the art scene is to die for - and the new shops on Westminster are really amazing - Butterfield’s is an interior designer’s dream. So glad you featured Providence - I agree w/Jen above, the Rhode Islanders can be a bit rude and odd but Providence is so wonderful that you overlook that plus there are tons of people like myself that moved here to go to college, fell in love w/the city, and never left! Christine - you did such a great job w/this!

Glad to see so many great restaurants from my college days are still in existence! But under libraries you’ve missed the best one: the Providence Athenaeum on Benefit St! Gorgeous adorable little neo-classical egyptian revival gem,

Seven Stars bakery is awesome!! Their danish’s are great. They look like they would only taste so so but don’t be fooled. As someone said to me they are very close to what a real danish “danish” tastes like. I try to get one at least once a month!!

AWESOME - it reminds me how much I love living here! You forgot PICTURE THIS GALLERY on Wickenden street…http://www.picturethisgalleries.com/benjamin.html
The sell AWESOME prints of RI by Richard Benjamin. I love this site!!!

One other well-kept secret on the west side: Broadway Bistro at 205 Broadway. Fresh, well prepared, well proportioned food in a great atmosphere, and a menu that’s smallish but rotates often, guaranteeing something new all the time. Their bar is strictly beer and wine, but it’s open late, and in the summer there’s nothing like a late appetizer and a glass of wine au terasse on Victorian Broadway.

While on the west side, you should check out the Hudson Street Market, at the corner of Hudson and Sycamore, for great sandwiches and a view of the cartoon show of life. Take your food to eat at the Armory Park around the corner, next to the looming gothic revival state armory building. The park is also lined with impressive, richly painted Victorian homes.

Though primarily historic, the west side offers PLENTY of inner-city grit and intrigue too!

Oh! Also, I almost forgot to mention the Columbus Theater on Broadway as well. It’s not always open, but it hosts a mix of art house films and live performances. I would highly recommend seeing ANYTHING there, simply because the theater itself is breath taking, and in need of a long list of repairs.

Ah, Providence! Lil’ sister just graduated RISD (apparently a theme in the comments) and it was the most fun to visit!

Hotel Providence is great, since it’s in the middle of fun shopping, and it is nearby to FARMSTEAD (lunch!), which of course you mentioned but it just made my mouth water. Delicious, delicious, delicious sandwiches.

…and of course, the RISD store and RISD Works are both fabulous.

(I also got fabulous spur-of-the-moment haircut there at Salon Marc Harris, if you find yourself in need of a new look)

Great guide, but I just have to add my two cents… If you are in Providence, and enjoy dance, you must check out Festival Ballet Providence: http://www.festivalballet.com. Besides their tremendous mainstage offerings (at the PPAC and Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium) If you’re looking for an interesting night out they do a series at their Hope Street studios called “Up Close On Hope” where you get to see new contemporary dance works in an intimate setting.

Love this city guide and seeing the city I live in!! I must agree with Catherine, being a fellow friar, about Providence College - a very impressive school. And the best sushi in town - Tokyo on Wickenden Street. And though it is seasonal shopping - Craftland on Westminster Street downcity - starts December 5th!

There’s a wonderful new addition to Downcity shopping, practically next door to Salon Marc Harris: http://heirantiques.com. This is one of the most impeccably-styled stores I’ve ever been to, this antique shop-cum-gallery space features beautiful, large-scale framed decoupage pieces, artfully restored salvaged antiques, and pharmaceutical glass re-purposed as vases and decorative pieces. The shop also carries a small selection of clothes and small gift items.

Extra points for the charming signage by Decemberists illustrator Carson Ellis.

You cannot come to Providence and miss out on the following:

Providence Black Repertory Company
http://www.BlackRep.org
featuring live music, DJs, amazing theater, and the most diverse social scene in New England
They present Sound Session, a genre-defying music festival every summer
ProvidenceSoundSession.com
Please come and join!

And for DIY craft folks who want to take advantage of the local artist’s output:
QueenofHeartsProvidence.com
at 186 Union St. downtown, stocking only handmade items like clothing, jewelry, home goods and more!

xoxox

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