The RISD Museum is worth a visit. I'm sharing photos of the pieces that stood out to me most. I…read morestarted in the RISD student galleries, which were full of impressive work. my favorite was a floor installation that looks like a woven rug but is actually made entirely of salt. So many pieces made you stop and think, "How did they do that?!" I visited the whole museum, but my favorites were the Costume & Textile galleries, the exhibit on kingfishers in art and poetry, the European Grand Gallery with its oil paintings and the 18th/19th‑century American rooms in Pendleton House. I also loved how the museum's architecture fits together like a puzzle across several older buildings and street entrances. That was a surprising add-on to the visit. Extra tip: street parking is nearly impossible. Check their website for the free weekend parking lots (within walking distance) they make the visit much easier.

I get to visit the RISD Museum for free as a Brown University student!…read more Had fun spending a morning walking through the exhibits on all the floors. There was a room dedicated to costumes and textiles from different cultures around the world! As a sewist and costumer, this was very fun for me to have the room to myself and go through the drawers (everything was behind glass). I want to say I was here for roughly 2 hours and saw everything and took lots of photos.

We had so much fun here. It's nice to do nostalgic things while not being either considered weird…read morefor being in "kids spaces" and also not having to navigate thru children. Drinks were good. Games were good. The space is so cool. It's indoors and outdoors they do music and karaoke. It's self service other than drinks and they were nice. No complaints.

Did not have food, but I did hit the bar and the service was great. The place is pretty cool if you…read morelike old school arcades. I loved the pinball machines and the original Mario. I will be back didn't get to play all the games I wanted.

Don't be fooled by the name, the Box Office isn't an office where tickets are sold. Even better!…read moreIt's an architectural and design wonder - an office building comprised of 32 colorful, recycled shipping containers on the former Harris Lumber site (formerly abandoned). So why review it? It's a breathing, functional, permanent art exhibit. An architectural and design wonder. A cutting edge example of urban revitalization and green design. And it's right here in Providence, RI. In addition to using recycled steel from the shipping containers, the design incorporates energy recovery ventilation, storm runoff reduction, and light fixtures sensing daylight - encouraging 25% less energy than most office buildings. Current tenants include social enterprises like Maternova, nonprofits like Social Venture Partners RI and the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, design firms like Morris Beach Design and Kelly Taylor Interior Design, and a handful of other local businesses, including the 3 collaborators who made this architectural experiment possible: distill studio, Stack Design Build, and truth box inc. Stop by, climb the stairs, appreciate the intentional graffiti, take some photos, and dream.

Basing this review off the aesthetics from the outside. It definitely looks interesting and…read moreinspires recycling and innovative eco-friendly alternatives.

We knew we were going to be in the area around the time of WaterFire so we made sure to find a…read moreplace to stay and spend the night here. We had never been to anything like this or even really heard that much about it so we were interested to see what it was. WaterFire started about 30 years ago as an art installation that was meant to bring more people to the area and it definitely works. They light the braziers along the rivers, pipe beautiful music through the air and have volunteers on boats going from spot to spot, tending the flames and refilling the wood. There are tons of people there. Just walking and enjoying being outside and being together. The vibe is so relaxed and so peaceful but yet busy and exciting at the same time. It's kind of hard to describe unless you see it for yourself. We headed out around dusk when there was still light in the sky and it was a little chilly but I soon forgot about that. Words can't really express how you're just sort of drawn into the piece and beauty of this whole thing. I feel like this review can't even do it justice. We walked around for over an hour but our dog did start to get cold even though we had her in her jacket, so we headed back to where we were staying for a little while. Once it was dark and we were all warmed up, we headed out again because it was just so enjoyable to be there that we really wanted to come back. The second time we wandered through the street fair area and looked at some of the tables and street vendors. I got a really cool ring that was made out of a an old ornate spoon. There were also food vendors but everything was pretty busy so we ended up getting food on the way back to our hotel. There were families and groups of friends and couples, all just soaking in the magic and ambiance and ultimately we drifted back towards the water again because that is where the real magic is. We sat for a long time watching people float by in gondolas and watching the volunteers slowly push the boats through the canals, adding wood to the flames causing them to rise up. Everyone was friendly and in a good mood and strangers were chatting with each other. There was a real sense of community and peace. This was honestly one of the most romantic evenings I've had with my husband in a long time as well. We nuzzled noses and shared a few kisses to the music and the flame. If you are anywhere near Providence during WaterFire, don't even think about it just go. It's totally free! You don't need tickets or even to plan really. You can just enjoy the fire light and the music and being together in a beautiful place. It's absolutely unforgettable.

Last night, the Waterfire theme was Clear Currents. A yearly event that brings kayak enthusiasts…read moreto the river and basin with brightly lit paper fish figures. One of the Chinese dragon boats from the Pawtucket Dragon Races made an appearance as well. The event was very well attended, with many areas of the Riverwalk at capacity during peak times. Foot traffic jams made it difficult to navigate freely around the basin area. Lots of vendors and food trucks located around the RISD campus gave the event an even more festive flair. A great way to bring downtown Providence alive !

Ladd observatory is a great place to take the kids if they are curious as mine is about space and…read moreall the astronomical wonders out there. Tue nights is open to the public. It houses a refractor telescope which makes it great for observing the planets and other dark-sky objects. One thing they were sure would be visible very clearly was Saturn and it's rings.. wouldn't that be kool to see! But not in the day which was the time I was there.Definitely i learnt a lot from just one short visit. I hope to go back again and explore and experience more.

Nice place for young and old. On certain Tuesday nights (weather permitting), you can go in and…read morecheck out the stars and planets on the telescope. The view is set to whatever the scholar has pre-set, but still it is a great easy outing. The rest of the place has much literature and information on the planets, solar system and stars. Small venue for astronomy, but easy access if you live in the city or nearby areas.

The collection of taxidermy was amazing, this is a phenomenal resource for RISD students and a…read moregreat exhibit for those visiting.

I had no idea the Nature Lab even existed until I wandered in one day. This is definitely a hidden…read moregem! The Nature Lab is a repository of plants, animals, and minerals, both alive and dead, which was started as a resource for RISD students. They have a pretty amazing collection, and anyone can go in and check it all out. A nonexhaustive list of cool stuff in there: trilobite fossils, live snakes and birds, at least a hundred stuffed animals, a mummified cat head, and hoards of bones and skulls - including real human skeletons. They have a lot of space to draw if that's your thing. My only wish is that more stuff was identified - the material in the lab obviously isn't rigorously curated. It could be a great resource for scientists if it were!

I've been going to Movies on the Block for 3 years now. This year for the first time for purposes…read moreof rain evasion, they moved it indoors to nearby Aurora. As much as I love sitting outdoors on a nice day, I actually really enjoyed watching it at nearby Aurora because they already had chairs set up and there weren't extra noises from cars, headlights, etc to distract from the movie. Even with the potential for additional noise and distraction sitting outside, I really have loved my experiences going to Movies on the Block over the years. Sitting on the ground hurts my back, so I always bring a chair of my own, and for the most part people with chairs are respectful to people will blankets by not sitting in front of them. There's a basic understanding among movie-goers. Over the years there have been some really great movies in the mix, including everything from Psycho to The Breakfast Club and so much more. I love that this free outdoor movie event has been continuing for years, and even with the closing of Tazza which partially hosted it, I'm glad to see it still going strong.

I love love love Movies On The Block. Just another reminder of why I love living in Providence so…read moremuch! They post what movies they are showing throughout the summer, and it is completely free. There is a paid lot right behind the seating area, and several other lots and garages around. We like to pack a small cooler and our camping chairs, plus a blanket since it gets cold. It's so nice to sit surrounded by historic buildings, and the street is lit with cute strand lights. There are great nearby restaurants and bars to go to beforehand or after. This is a fun spot for families, couples, and everything in between!

This small book shop is located inside The Arcade. It's focus is on 'the weird', aka books related…read moreto sci-fi, horror stories, tarot, witchcraft, and more. They have a few t-shirts for sale too. Books include local authors, famous authors, fiction, the history of witch trials such as in Salem, MA and several other non-fiction topics. I picked up a book I have been hoping to find for years now; the original stories by the Brothers Grimm. None of this tinkerbell fairytale stuff. This is raw, gorey, brutal stuff. The woman who assisted me was such fun to chat with and made some recommendations based on my interests. Definitely more books here I plan to return for. They even have a small area out the door (in the center of the building) to sit and read if you have time, or can't wait to begin your new book. Seriously, I have passed this shop half a dozen times and didn't realize what I was missing until I read their write up in Rhode Island Monthly magazine. Very glad I did!

I love this bookstore! (Now called "Weird Providence.") Great staff; great selection; I make an…read moreeffort to visit every time I'm in New England.

Best $35 spent, well plus some because I couldn't help my self but to try the delicious strawberry…read moremoscato and gratuity for the amazing employees. Shoutout to our awesome instructors Pat and Row! love that the whole setup is taken care of. I appreciate that the set up is taken care, no need to worry about paint, brushes, or cleanup. They also provide aprons. I went with a group (seems like most people do), but honestly I was so focused on my canvas I barely socialized. So it definitely could be a fun solo date!

I hosted a private Paint your Pet night event here for my work team and we had an absolute blast!…read moreThe team there works really well together, the service is great, and everything is very reasonably priced. Even though many of us had zero painting experience, we all came away with beautiful works of art! Our instructor was very kind and patient.

I was invited by the owners to come check out The Bubbler, as they are also the new location for…read moreStackhouse PVD. This is definitely going to be one of my new lunch spots! I tried a dirty soda (this is the only spot you can get one in Rhode Island), and I got the "Pikachu" which was really good. I also tried their chicken and waffles along with the french fries, and everything tasted so good and well seasoned. My favorite dipping sauce was the jerk chicken barbecue sauce.

We had such a great time at this gaming lounge! My husband frequently games and uses virtual…read morereality (vr) equipment and he was very impressed with their set up and large selection of games! We each played a variety of VR games and I really enjoyed the driving simulator! The staff was very friendly and helpful, guiding us along and making sure we were set up. They also have a soda fountain to make custom drinks with boba and all sorts of add ons. They also have computer games in case you get sick in VR like me... great gaming spot!