I've definitely seen some cool things at AS220, & I'm super glad & grateful for the programming they put out there. They make use of all of their space, coordinating music, burlesque, theater, art shows, etc, to be highlighted in the spot that makes the most sense for the medium. Does that make sense? No corner goes unused, you know? Once is a fluke, twice is a coincidence, & thrice is a pattern, right? Well then, unfortunately, the pattern here is that the bar staff is astronomically rude ): Like, noticeably mean. I wouldn't consider coming here for food or bev if there wasn't a very specific reason/show going on that I wanted to attend. That aside, I still have wonderful things to say about AS220 as an entity. Just a heads up for showgoers. read more

One Providence Place Advertised as follows: The year is 2003. Providence Place is in its youth, only four years old and shining with promise. Deep in the bowels of this commercial complex, a group of friends carve out a secret 750 sq. ft. home for themselves, away from the prying eyes of mall security and the daylight reminder of things they would rather not think about. But what comes of letting our hurt take up too much room inside of us? Does every empty space always need to be filled? Or sometimes, is it all right to let what is hollow stay hollow? Loosely inspired by a true story, One Providence Place is an original 90-minute musical dramedy about art, grief, family, and the most carpeted mall in America. The space- Black Box: The Black Box is a nice little space nestled all the way to the right of AS220. Enough to fit about 30-40 audience members. Every seat is a good seat and it has it's own bathrooms. The play: It was more drama than comedy. I was not expecting that. After re-reading the description, they advertised it as dealing with grief and it was more a play about exactly that. I wanted it to be more comical and closer to the actual story. It wasn't my cup of tea but Kudos where judos is deserved. Someone had a vision and they went after it! Everyone knew their lines, their was some excitement, there were songs, they used their space well. Overall a dedicated group of artists did their craft and kudos to them. I always appreciate bathroom art. read more

AS220 - Black box - Art Galleries Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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I came to the AS220 Black Box for the first time today to see One Providence Place: A Mall Musical by the Harpies. One Providence Place: A Mall Musical is playing from September 19, 2024 to September 22, 2024. The Black Box is located at 95 Empire Street in downtown Providence, next to the AS220 Bar. Once we walked in, our tickets were checked and we entered the performance space and chose our seats. The seats are all on the same level with no elevation. Some people bought in drinks from the bar. The musical was beautiful and wonderful. I can't wait to check out other aspects of AS220. read more

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Would give no stars if I could. 10/25/25 "Band" has offensive name of "Godf**k". They don't even play anything identifiable as music, just the lead literally screaming into the mic over the too-loud banging of the drummer. All while seeing how many times they can drop an F Bomb while encouraging the audience to run around & slam into each other. Not a concert... just a loud screaming riot to the banging of a drum. read more

AS 220 is a really interesting business....It combines visual arts, with music, with food. It's really a center for people to gather and to engage with the community. It's a local forum and home for the arts, through the maintenance of residential and work studios, galleries, performance and educational spaces. Exhibitions and performances in the forum are unjuried, uncensored and open to the general public. I have been many times to enjoy the exhibits, their small music concerts, and their food at the AS220 Bar. Their facilities and services are made available to all artists who need a place to exhibit, perform, or create their original artwork, especially those who cannot obtain space to exhibit or perform from traditional sources because of financial or other limitations. AS 220 believes there is magic and power in bringing people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, identities and perspectives together. They work to build genuine, reciprocal relationships with artists, audiences, peer organizations and community collaborators, and to honor the connections made. This is a great venue for all people to come together and to interact with each other by sight or sound. They always welcome and thank people who use their skills, knowledge, expertise and time to build community as volunteers. AS220 has a vision for a just and equitable world where all people can realize their full creative potential. They recognize that there are systems of oppression -- such as racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, and economic and environmental injustice -- in many Rhode Island communities, and they strive to work against their root causes. It really is a haven for the underpriviledged to let the world know about their talents and skills. read more

AS220 - a woman standing in front of a window - Art Galleries Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Finally made it into this highly regarded bar/restaurant during PVD Vegan Restaurant Week. We came in on a Friday night and only waited a few minutes before finding seats. This is a small place, but the crowd comes in waves, so just wait and you'll find yourself a seat. We ordered two local craft beers. Their list is very good! They do have a few cocktails too. We ordered the oyster mushroom calamari, tom yum soup and the vegan ramen. Every dish had fresh herbs and veggies. So good! There is really a dish for everyone here (omnivores and herbivores alike). Looking forward to trying more dishes! read more

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I LOVE AS220. They do so much good for the Providence music community. I have been here for concerts, comedy shows and art galleries. They are one with the community and that's hard to find these days. read more

From day one celebrating what You do . A community treasure in so many ways. New food menu and unbelievable original art of all kinds. Politicians and poets gather for beers and food. Musicians of all sorts art on every surface. Providences geek elite come to meet once a month in creative meat space. Stop in and see what all the fuss is about. read more

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The cocktails here are awesome. They've got all kinds of house-made vodkas. Big fan of the lemon-ginger with gingerale, and the apple-cinnamon, which literally tastes like you're drinking an apple pie. Delicious and dangerous. I like the vibe here, and while it can sometimes be too loud to have a conversation if there's music going on next door... I still heart it cause the bartenders make some mean drinks. My only real complaint is that they should serve food much later than they do. read more

AS220 - Art Galleries Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

We went to AS220 to see an improv show and grab a drink, and my husband was there once before for the same routine, and so I'm confident in this 5-star review. The theater (Blackbox) was really nice and intimate; not a bad seat in the house! We loved being able to grab a drink, and easily move into the theater for our show all in one swift move. Next time we'll definitely plan on having dinner there as the food at the tables next to us looked really good. We'll be back for sure. read more

Cool place! I ate, drank, and hung out here during the Providence Improv Festival. Stellar vegan options - creative, fresh, and reasonably priced. Friendly staff. What a great spot in a great city! read more

AS220 - Art Galleries Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I LOVE AS220!!! In particular the printshop. Morgan and crew run it and teach class for Americorps in the afternoons/evenings as well as workshops on the evenings/weekend in silkscreen, letterpress, intalgio, and more. Pretty much, you name it they've got it. The environment is cool and hip and everyone is super creative and fun to be around, very nurturing. Also, after you take a class or have an orientation you can use the facilities by becoming a member - there are a number of memberships for various needs. http://www.as220.org/printshop/ Its also one of the only places that has a letterpress available for printing - which is one of the best maintained Vandercook's I've used. (There I go again, giving away tips and sharing secrets about things I love.) read more

I think I was scared of how hipster people told me it was here. I have no beard and no half-sleeve of tattoos, will I be an outcast? No! Stop being judgmental and As220 has something for literally everyone!!! I am obsessed with the poetry slams on 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. They also have amazing shows on the weekends and I recently learned (and tried) several fitness classes upstairs. They have yoga, pilates, ballet, dance, etc. The drop-ins are pretty cheap $5-$10. They also have art galleries, rap slams, host events, and amazing food!! Really though, for one minute lets talk about the food. Fresh, local, and great ingredients. A lot of vegetarian options but the ones with meat, have high quality meat and you can tell. LOVE IT HERE read more

This is a great venue downtown that hosts everything from live music to Geek Dinners while remaining a great little gallery with quirky local art. The staff next door at the bar and food counter are very friendly, and they've got a great selection of draught beers and bottles with an emphasis on local brews. Very cool. My heart broke when Taqueria Pacifica laft a few years ago, but Food at AS220 has filled the void to some extent with their vegan-friendly soul food. You heard that right. The gallery space itself is cool - a little grungy, not too huge, but very manageable with a collection that changes frequently to showcase different artists from Providence. Personally, I love the Geek Dinners. Once a month, nerds from all corners of the city drag themselves away from their computer screens to take in a presentation from an up-and-coming PVD tech company, share ideas, socialize, network and drink beers. AS220 is the perfect scene for this mingling. My one complaint? Parking is a complete bitch. Other than that, it's like a clubhouse for PVD. Sweet! read more

AS220's concept alone is awesome: it's an artist collective/co-op, open-mic space, art gallery, and cafe all rolled into one. In theory this is great, but most nights are hit-or-miss. Sometimes there are some stellar artists and bands. Other times, you'll find yourself swimming in a sea of drunk white vegan guys who think that yelling about their "right to smoke" is unbelievably profound poetry. Check out AS220 for the obscure nights, the silk-screening facility (you pay a monthly membership), and the bands that will range from "electric experimental" to punk/death metal/screamo. read more

I've never been to a show or other event at AS220. I haven't bought anything from the cafe, bar or restaurant. I've only visited for the Rock-N-Roll Yard Sale. But I must say, the AS220 bathrooms are the nicest, cleanest, "fucked up" bathrooms I've ever seen in my life. What I mean is they aspire to be "fucked up music venue" bathrooms. There is graffiti on EVERY visible surface. However, the bathrooms themselves are cleaner and more well maintained than most bathrooms NOT in a music venue. They're unbelievable, almost as much a work of art as the actual works of art hanging on the venue walls. read more

OK, I get that this place is a source of cultural pride in Providence. I think it's really cool to have this great melting pot of art and liquor and food all in one location. That being said, this place gets points for trying but still misses on the execution. It's great to have such a cool space, but let's be honest, if the food isn't right, the restaurant won't succeed in the long term. Sadly, the food here is inconsistent at best. The two times I've been here haven't really bowled me over. I did order a side of chickpeas and those were outstanding. Overall, I'm giving this place a big shoulder shrug of ambivalence for the food but an enthusiastic high five for the effort. read more

I was in Providence for a wedding, and AS220 was highly recommended as a great place to get tasty vegan food. It's really hard to find a place with vegan offerings, even harder to find a place with a huge variety of vegan offerings and even harder than that to find a place with super delicious vegan offerings - AS220 delivers on all points! The restaurant counter is on one side, the bar on the other. Seating is at both bars, between the bars around the rest of the space and outside. There is an art gallery attached to the restaurant. Apparently they also have artist studio space, as well. The people that worked there were all very friendly. The two chefs were open to chatting about their food and the restaurant. All ingredients are locally grown, so the menu changes as the seasons change. I can't say enough about the amazing food. My boyfriend and I were in Providence for two days and we ate there twice, once for dinner and once for lunch. It is important to note that AS220 is not an all-vegan place - there are plenty of choices for carnivores, too! Some places that cater to the artist/vegan/bar scene can be very stuck-up and unwelcoming, and AS220 was not like that at all. There should be more places like this in the world! I will absolutely visit again next time I'm in Providence. read more

This is a cool hippie bar without hippie prices - $6.50 for a vodka seltzer. OK crowd.. lots of Converse and wool hats.

Wonderful venue-has so much to offer. Make sure you grab one of their monthly calendars or check it out online. They have different types of music shows-all original music- rhode island songwriters shows and cd releases- geek dinners- movies and a cheap fun warm bar. Generally a young 20s crowd read more

I love AS220 and give it 4 stars on vibe/atmosphere alone. The artwork on the wall makes me feel like part of an artist collective despite my lack of talent, skill, or artistic sensibility. And the underground country rock fiddle group playing at a table in the corner was just so crazy eclectic and cool. Right on friends, right on!! I think it's pretty fun having the community-style seating too, where you have long benches and large tables w/ open seats. Strangers sitting together, a homeless man shouting wildly at the guy behind the counter, an open kitchen where you see all the action go down... now that's good times. I will say that the food is pretty good and cheap, but not every dish is a home star runner. The sweet potato fritters were AMAZING. The fish I had... maybe not the best. Now... if the fish had been fried in the sweet potato fritter stuff... MAN that would have been explosive. A Moneyball home run. I definitely plan on visiting AS220 often. Love it. read more

$5 for poetry night a person from 8-11 pm. It's a very happening place with a bar/restaurant connected so you can bring over for the poetry slam. What a cool fun idea! read more

My friend and her bf took me to this place for dinner after they met me @ the bus I got off of. First off- there aren't any regular bus boys that come and wipe off the tables, and our table was a little dirty. I had the spicy seitan sausage sandwich- which did not please me at all. The sausage was bland, cold and under cooked, the cheese was gross and oily, and the bread it was on was burnt and tough. I couldn't even cut it in half with a knife. Cos my meal lacked any kind of goodness, my friend offered me half of her dish- which consisted of marinated tofu, veggies and rice. Now that was really delicious. I'd probably return, should I visit Providence again. But I just won't order the spicy seitan sandwich. read more

This is a really fun music venue. They also have improv sometimes and all sorts of things. The acts are wide ranging. Lot of local stuff. It can get pretty crowded and loud so come prepared. But that's the kind of more intimate atmosphere you expect at this kind of place. The drinks are good and usually cheap. Sad that they aren't serving food and have a limited bar right now during construction. Looking forward to coming here when the remodel is done. read more

GOOD ART + GREAT FOOD + COLD BEER = HAPPY PEOPLE. Went to AS220 tonight and had a delicious, healthy meal (roasted chicken with celery root and some delicious greens over brown rice). Good atmosphere, really nice friendly bartender, great beer selection. What more could you ask for? read more

Youth Poetry Slam - awesome! Thursday nights are my favorites. $5 and you get to hear a lot of talent. read more

Second only to the far-pricier Garden Grille for vegan food in Providence, as good as the best anywhere -- with hearty portions at $10 a pop. The drinks at the bar are excellent as well. Add the friendly bartenders, ambiance of performance-space music, excellent people-watching, and conversations with regulars, and this place really does live up to the hype. read more

AS220 has sure come a long way since it was the little art space above Club Babyhead on Richmond Street (in the space that I think is now the Providence Social Club). For a very long time AS220 was just a place for visual and performing arts, with an emphasis on indie/underground/youth culture stuff that didn't have other venues. So there were punk shows, poetry slams, unjuried gallery exhibitions, drawing classes, etc. I still have a hard time thinking of AS220 as a restaurant/bar, as most folks seem to now. The art space is still there, but it's in a separate room. The main space at AS220 now has a bar and a "restaurant" called Eat. I put "restaurant" in quotes because it's more like a take-out stand that's inside. You order at the counter, get your food and then go grab a table cafeteria style. There is no table service or even bussers that I noticed. The bar and food counter take up a good portion of the space, so there aren't even that many tables or places to sit. On a nice day you can sit/eat outside at tables on the sidewalk. I've eaten here once and the food was good. I've had drinks at the bar a few times before or after a show. But I still would only think of eating/drinking here if I was already planning to go to AS220 for an event. I generally wouldn't make a trip downtown and try to find parking just to eat at AS220. read more

The stellar reviews are well-deserved, and then some. Terrific, very tasty food at ridiculously low prices. Very casual, serve-yourself atmosphere. (You order and pickup at the counter.) The prices were so low that the six of us ordered one of every appetizer on the menu (except 1), which came in enormous portions, and so created a tasting of appetizers, plus five entrees, for well under $100, plus drinks. (Drive down from Boston - even paying for gas it'll be cheaper than most comparable restaurants up north.) And then there's an art gallery and performance space right there, etc. Trendy crowd, with lots of students and others dressed in black about. A fun, delicious night out. read more

I've heard so much about this place and was excited to try it. Ordered a basic salad and it was exceptional and more than I expected! Love the whole concept of supporting local artists. I think every city should adapt this idea. Love it. There just so happened to be a free art show after we finished our dinner so we sat in on that. Highly recommend AS220! read more

This week I had lunch there twice! one was: Curried tofu salad with roasted sweet potatoes, leafy greens, sun flower seeds, cucumbers and rice wine dressing! and the other was: Brown rice with curried mango, tofu, chickpeas and broccoli florets. read more

AS220 - Rice with chickpeas, curried mangos and tofu! - Art Galleries Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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AS220 is a great spot and it does great things for Providence. It's so important to have an accessible place for local bands, and AS220 does a great job at getting them all in. Not to mention their support (or creation) of local art and festivals. The bar they have there is a great place to drop in, even if you aren't headed to whatever show is happening in the performance space. Fantastic bartenders who know how to sling the suds... or whatever else it is you're in the mood for. read more

This is just a review on the bar: The bartender completely ignored me for 30 MINUTES and proceeded to serve everyone else at the bar around me who walked up well after me. I was staring right at her waiting to order. I know and understand how to order a drink at a bar - I do it all the time. This was insane. Very very odd. The bar was not super busy so I do not understand the issue???? read more

This place is stupid. Bar tender has no sense at all. Served me the wrong beers after passing me twice for people who got there after me. read more

AS220 - The only good thing about this place with the shitty bartender. - Art Galleries Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I don't go to AS220 for the booze as the swill is expensive there, but the art gallery is always full of neat things to look at and interesting music. I've see a wide variety of bands play at AS220 from Ted Leo to Lightning Bolt to Verse and I've never had a complaint about the prices. The food is pretty swell and tasty. The crowd is a mixture of crust-punks, hipsters, and artists which makes for a colorful and sometimes silly atmosphere. read more

Food options are amazing seems to have a bit of a Hispanic fusion. The live music is great since it's up and coming bands the bar is on the cheap side which is good lol .plus they have a really cool Tupac painting so love the atmosphere read more

Excellent service. Outstanding food. Lot of vegetarian or vegan options. Attached menu is for September 2017. Loved it!!! Will definitely go back. read more

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I went to this place for a social/networking type event. The food was mainly chips and dip with very basic food that didn't have any "wow" factor. It has a bar so if you don't like the food it is a great and small place to have a few drinks. I believe they have bands play there on some nights. I did feel that the crowd that hangs out here to be a bit on the eccentric side for me. read more

I have only gone to a few shows at AS220 and most of the time they are the Empire Revue. I wrote on my blog about the review and thought I would share it here for anyone looking for a great show, it's the first Sunday of the Month at 8pm. https://jaxadele.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/empirerevuenov2015/ read more

We are so freaking lucky to have AS220 in Providence. Seriously. It's definitely appreciated by tourists, if you're in Rhode Island, you should check it out. Really amazing art work, fun, cool, weird stuff. The galleries are shining gems in our city! If you are an artist, sign up for a show. The waitlist is long, but it's worth it. In a time when people are spending more time on devices and watching teevee, it's even more valuable and has something for everyone, every age!!! read more