Benefit Street’s “Enchanted Garden”

by Levi Lionel Leland

It was a sultry July night in 1845 when Edgar Allan Poe, the world-famous American author and poet, walked north on Providence’s Benefit Street. During this visit to the city, he became aware of a local poet named Sarah Helen Whitman, who lived in a [...]

Seven Things to Know About the Proposed Providence City Budget and Tax Changes

by Bob McMahon

As the early summer days slip from June into July, there is some certainty in Providence life.  The weather forecast will start using the phrase “heat wave,” frozen lemonade will be sold by the cup, and the first quarter City of Providence tax bills will [...]

The Plan to Make Public Street a Public Good

by Joshua Geaughan, Alana Lemene

Sandwiched between scrap metal recycling and mounds of salt, Providence’s Public Street is getting a makeover. As a result of the Washington Park community’s efforts to find a way to cohabitate with the Port of Providence, Public Street — one of the 234 public right-of-way [...]

The Lonely Road of Monsters: A review of Selene Shade, Resurrectionist for Hire

by Diane Josefowicz

Selene Shade runs a successful small business in Goat Hill, a quirky little city that will strike  readers who know Providence as distinctly familiar. Which is good, because Shade’s line of work is distinctly strange. Shade’s a resurrectionist: She raises the dead for a living. [...]

Filling the Gaps: New Housing Popping Up in Previously Vacant East Side Lots

by J. Hogue

It’s been less than nine months since the City’s Comprehensive Plan was approved. As a guide to Providence’s long-term growth and development, it’s not too early to observe its effects on neighborhoods. Even the East Side — which may be perceived as slow to grow because [...]

Trinity Square: From Trolleys to Transit Troubles

by Jackson Bahr, Emad Muzaffar, Byron Gonsalves

Trinity Square is a historic gateway to South Providence, known for its vibrant mix of cultures —  lower Broad Street is often referred to as the “Latino Cultural Corridor of Providence.” Today, the diverse culture of Broad Street continues even as the area faces various [...]

Seeing Providence’s History in the Story of a Very Old Church

by Peter Laarman

Situated across the street from the Hope Club, a private social club on College Hill, and outfitted with the biggest bell ever cast by Paul Revere & Sons, the First Unitarian Church looks like an imposing historical institution. It is that, but it’s not solely [...]

What Does the Future Hold for Literary Arts in Providence Schools? A Conversation with Tina Cane

by Julia Yakirevich

Literary arts can play a crucial role in developing students’ critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, and sense of civic engagement. Tina Cane, former RI Poet Laureate In a city rich with cultural history and a vibrant arts scene, the state of literary arts in Providence [...]

The Freedom to Read– In Providence, Librarians, Authors, and More Speak Out on Banned Books 

by Eloise Narrigan

“Our public and school libraries are more than just buildings with books. They’re spaces where kids can grow and learn, students find the resources they need to succeed, and community members of all ages and backgrounds can explore different ideas and perspectives,” said Representative David [...]

How Ingrid Neuman Conserves Sculptures at the RISD Museum

by Kristine Yang

This past November, Ingrid Neuman, senior conservator at the RISD Museum, wheeled a twelfth-century Japanese wooden Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara into Hasbro Children’s Hospital for a CAT scan. Conservators have repaired the ancient figure, a revered Buddhist symbol, over centuries — Neuman’s examination would reveal exactly where [...]