Looking for a quick getaway this summer? Why not go Providence.
A comfy and convenient place to stay is the Omni Providence Downtown at 1 West Exchange St. It has the feel of a convention hotel, but this isn’t a bad thing if you want everything to be modern, well-appointed, on top of all the action, and within walking distance of all the sights.
With welcome cookies laid out in the afternoon and with a lobby bar open in the evening, it feels like your home away from home. Staff and visitors are as friendly as can be and all the Uber drivers know how to get there. It’s also a manageable walk from the train station — if you feel like walking!
For a small city, Providence certainly has its share of suggested activities when you visit. Begin with its pride and joy, its arts and historic district. These include but are not limited to the RISD Museum (one of the most comprehensive art museums in New England boasting examples of the best in design from the ancient to contemporary worlds), the Providence Athenaeum, Benefit Street/John Brown House and the East Side, Downtown or West Side where you can take your own, self-devised historic walking tour.
There’s history on every corner in Providence, and much of it is women-focused. For example, Gertrude Johnson and Mary Wales founded Johnson & Wales University in 1914 and ran the school until their retirement in 1947. And Maritcha Remond Lyons campaigned to end school segregation at the age of 16 and became the first African-American graduate of Providence High School.
Providence is emerging as a foodie destination and one of the best meals I had this past winter was at the newly-revived Dorrance Street, the city’s “eats street,” which has the benefit of boasting some lovely old buildings from the city’s Industrial-era heyday that are being lovingly restored and are heralding in a new era of destination dining.
One such example is Sarto, which has a chic industrial vibe, an impeccable contemporary design aesthetic which is characteristic of the area’s re-emerging buildings, and an Italian menu to die for. Drop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but if you’re visiting for dinner, start off with some sharable bites from the salumeria, the deviled eggs, prosciutto breadsticks, some Italian wine, and take it from there!
The pasta and the entrees are all superb and worth ordering family style so you get to try everything — which is how an authentic osteria should be! After dinner continue on with cocktails at Courtland Club, 51 Courtland St.
One of the most pleasant ways to spend a day in Providence is by walking and exploring the architecture, public art, street sculpture and murals. But first, you need to file up and you can do this healthfully by treating yourself to breakfast at Yoleni’s, 292 Westminster St. This local treasure is part cafe, part deli, part providor with freshly-made coffee and a sumptuous array of Greek yogurt to choose from.
Take a table and order handmade pita, authentic, healthy and hearty Greek sandwiches and salads to get you on your feet for the day. The staff are super-friendly — and LGBT-friendly, too!​
Then it’s off on the Avenue Concept public art walking tour. The Avenue Concept supports the public art ecosystem of Providence, which is architecturally unique in its infrastructure to showcase amazing public art projects, from large scale murals on the sides of buildings, to small but strategically placed street sculptures. The organization was founded in 2012, and since then it has installed or exhibited more than 150 works of public art and invested more than $1 million in artists and artwork.
Providence is well on its way to becoming a festival town, and one of the main event drawcards is WaterFire, which takes place throughout the summer and fall. The first basin lighting was in May, and until October, there will be numerous themed and sponsored WaterFire extravaganzas which involve the ceremonial lighting of giant braziers positioned along the river, to the accompaniment of specially selected music.
Later in the evening as the fires burn you can take a gondola ride up and down and bask in the elemental atmosphere. The event is truly special and best of all it’s free of charge and open to all, with donations appreciated.
Dinner at The Dorrance is a highlight of any visit to Providence. This grand property located at 60 Dorrance St. harks back to the glory days of the city beginning with the location itself: the opulent 19th century building with ornate, soaring ceilings in the heart of downtown Providence.
The Dorrance is regularly voted as one of the top 100 restaurants in the United states and this is the spot for a dozen local oysters, the finest New England cuisine such as the pan-seared Bomster scallops with lobster jus, French champagne, and a perfect vodka martini. It’s a celebratory kind of establishment, family-owned, and dedicated to making memories restaurant maintains the timeless elegance of yesteryear in a gleaming, contemporary way.​
Summer in Providence is the time to visit and there are two key festivals that showcase much of what the city has to offer. The weekend prior to PrideFest is the signature arts festival PVDFest, which is just 5 years old but already presents a taste of the city’s cultural variety: live music, street artists, installations, parades, food fairs, and lots of fun.
From June 6-9, PVDFest is a way for Providence’s world-renowned art, culture and culinary community to join forces with local and visiting artists and take over of public spaces, parks and outdoor to turn the heart of Providence, into a civic stage.
And then there’s actually Rhode Island Pride’s PrideFest, which organizers reveals is even bigger and better with more entertainment, more vendors, and more activities than previous years. It’s all about living out loud and living your truth, with more than 200 vendors, social resource organizations, food trucks, as well as live entertainment, a kids’ zone — and for grown-ups, the beer, wine and spirits garden. The Illuminated Night Pride Parade is on Saturday, June 15, stepping off at 8:30 PM at Fulton & Dorrance Streets.