Just when you think the CSPH couldn't get any better... it does. In January they moved to a larger…read morespace within the Grant Building and it. looks. incredible. The library area is very cozy, and all of their toys and educational supplies are neatly organized, making it easy for folks to look around and explore. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to answer any questions. They also have a great collection of antique vibrators which are beautifully displayed. I highly recommend checking out the Center for any and all sexuality/gender/women's studies related things. They have an expansive library and an education staff who can point you in the right direction. They also offer monthly workshops, trivia nights, and other fun events. Always a great place to explore and learn!

The Center is a great place to learn anything you'd like to know about sexual health, and they even…read moreoffer sex counseling! It's 18+, though, so please keep that in mind if you plan to visit. Megan Andelloux, who runs the Center, is fantastic and will answer absolutely any question you may have. She is really dedicated to keeping this resource open for anyone who wanders in and is not afraid to speak her mind about what she believes. The CSPH is a great addition to The Grant building, and is a great way to put Pawtucket on the map in terms of tourism.

Great costumes, brutal storyline…read more We would threaten our children with a big nazo performance if they didn't behave. To them, it was the serious punishment.

Passed by this place while on my way to the Biltmore and was like "what the hell is this place!?"…read moreSo when I was done at the Biltmore (a baby shower, not a trick, get your mind out of the gutter), I went back to take a closer look. The window display is really cool and incredibly interesting as you can see by the pictures. Of course I yelped them when I got home and then did some research....they're going to be performing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver! Excited to see them perform!

Love love love. Such a great innovative way to have fun with your kids or your friends. It's…read moreliterally great for all ages. I love this place in Natick and was so hopeful that they would open up one in Rhode Island. Beyond happy that they're finally in Providence Pl., Mall.

Came in for an event with a group I belong to. They set us up with a private area in the bar which…read morewas great. The drinks were very pricy and so so in taste. There is a great view of sunset from the back bar with huge windows! The games were very interesting but the rules weren't always clear. We were there on a Saturday afternoon and had to wait to get into most of the rooms which wasn't too bad but if it was busier I think that could be annoying. Overall fun but expensive.

World Class Ballet Company in Providence RI. I was fortunate last night to accompany my brother to…read morea performance of Up Close on Hope at Festival Ballet Providence. This was an intimate performance in one of the larger rehearsal halls that held ~140 patrons. Each of the numbers were original pieces choreographed by a company member, unique and wonderful in their own right. The performances were moving, emotional and uplifting. A pleasure supporting this up local talent!

this is the worst place in ri for ballet. not only do they treat their dancers horrible but they…read moretreat the parents the same when they try to speak up about the treatment. not to mention the director tried to rip off Boston ballet and tries to rip off local ballet companies names. have some honor and dignit. I swear since the last director passed this company has taken a nose dive downhill. Do not send your kids here for classes unless you enjoy being humiliated in front of other students.

I love love love Live Bait…read more Live Bait is "True Stories" from real people. (How real they are depends on how truthful the storyteller is...) It's unscripted, no notes, just you and a room full of 30+ Friends and strangers who had the go-nads to put their name in the fish bowl to tell a tale on the first friday of each month. There is a set theme monthly which each persons story should loosely tie into. One of my favorite themes as of late was "One Last Thing". Hearing the stories of life experiences of total strangers is similar to having a view into a small window of the participants life. For $7 It's cheaper than a movie and very entertaining. I've been to a handful of Live Bait performances but have yet to muster up the courage to get up and tell a story myself.... Maybe next time i'll bring over some liquid courage from AS220 to help me get the courage to go up. Be warned all of the hipster kids from AS220 hang out front of the theater smoking like chimneys. So, if you're not a fan of the cigs (like me...) keep your distance after purchasing your tix.

Perishable Theatre is an incredible demonstration of what happens when sheer will, passion for the…read morearts, dirty hard work, and a rare genetic disease intersect (for reals! See below). The shows are great (and getting better!), they have a slew of weekly events (improv! dance dance party party!), they offer affordable classes (playwriting! acting! belly dance!), AND they are a centrally-located studio rehearsal option for other performing artists. Jingle Belles and a Few Balls, their yearly fundraiser, is a well-cherished holiday tradition in Providence: a burlesque-heavy variety spectacular with a kooky theme - what else can get you in the holiday spirit but some breasts donning glittery Santa Claus pasties? Their tagline is 'Rhode Island's Research & Development Theatre' because they are one of the only theatres in Rhode Island that present original works from nation-wide sources. That's awesome, AND I think this label often gets them unfairly dismissed as a playground for the avant-garde theatre set. Although they do a fair share of experimental stuff, I have seen some incredible, super-audience friendly performances at Perishable. I've been attending shows at the theatre for the past five years, and the quality of performances increases steadily with each season. 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', performed this past April, was seriously some of the best theatre that I have seen in Providence. The theatre is a black box with handicap access, tickets are affordable to the masses, the bathrooms are clean and spacious (there's two one-at-a-timers), and you can bring in drinks from the AS220 bar next door (bonus!). Free parking can be a pain if it's a busy night downtown, but parking behind the library is usually a good, free bet on any night of the week. The staff of the theatre is small, but VERY dedicated and includes Amy Lynn Budd - director of the theatre arts school and momma of the burlesque scene in PVD. As part of Perishable's season, Amy Lynn is presently working on the third iteration of her biographical play called 'The Thing That Ate My Brain....Almost', a wacky Ed Wood-esque horror flick/comedy detailing her experiences living with a rare and nearly-fatal genetic illness called VHL. Amy Lynn's play is a great example of the kind of the bizarrely gripping tales of humanity you'll see onstage at Perishable. From such a small budget and rather limited space comes some really well-done theatre. I would caution more conservative patrons to do some reading about a show before you attend - there is no denying that some of their work can be, well....weirder than your average community theatre. If you're looking for safe, stick to PPAC. If you're down for a little theatrics - get to Perishable!

This bookstore is fantastic! There are so many affordable books to find at this charming spot. I…read morelove their huge selection of beautiful notebooks to pick from. It is a smaller bookstore, but it has a lot of popular books available and a great selection of used books. There is an entire section of used books marked at a great price. I loved all the natural lighting that spilled into the space. While I didn't end up interacting with anyone who worked there, it felt like the staff was ready to answer any questions based on an interaction I saw with a cashier and another customer. There is metered parking right in front. I'd recommend checking this bookstore out.

If you are in downtown Providence, this is a great stop not only for books but also for souvenirs,…read morefun items, and vinyl. The store is well stocked and large for a downtown shop. The selection of books and music will make you spend time searching for your favorite. Street parking or public transportation are the best ways to reach this store....in addition to walking....

Loud as hell, comfy seating, nice space, friendly & watchful staff, this place is awesome.read more

Nice place that hosts the local goth nights the last Friday of every month. I'd like the dance…read morefloor to be bigger, but it is what it is. Drinks are fine - a little small, maybe. Bartenders are always great. I've gone for disco, nights, too. There's some parking nearby, but not a lot.

So many beautiful jewelry and crafts to admire. This place was truly amazing and happens to be on…read morea street with more places such as a book store and more shops.

This is one of my favorite places in the Downcity to browse, get a gift, get something for me…read more They have lots of stuff that have a Rhode Island inspired theme or just fun, high quality stuff that you could find in any nice upscale gift shop anywhere in the world. Craftland is a mix of card shop, gift store and souvenir store. The staff is pleasant and very helpful if you need their help. The stuff is all colorful and well laid out, so when I walk in the store, it feels bright and cheerful. This last time I got some t-shirts for my nieces...they have lots of colors, patterns, logos, designs and sizes. You can fell the quality of the fabric when you grab them, not the thin cheap ones that you get like in the streets of New York...LOL..

Let me start by saying that Marx Entertainment provided both DJ services and Photo Booth services…read morefor our wedding. We were very unhappy with the DJ but happy with the Photo Booth set up and staff. My husband and I had DJ Craig for our wedding in September 2023. We had two meetings with him beforehand were we discussed how we would like the night to run. In addition to a list of "must-play" songs (something we were encouraged to complete), we discussed how we would like our table-dash, anniversary dance, alumni photo, and private dance to operate. We also noted on multiple occasions during both calls that we DID NOT want a lot of remixes. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with how DJ Craig managed all of these aspects except for the table dash and private dance. Here is where our issues lie: - Out of our 30 or so must play songs maybe half were played. - As laid out on the Marx Entertainment website we chose a "last song" for the dance floor. DJ Craig played the song we designated as our last song as a way to open the dance floor. - The first 30 minutes were exclusively remixes and bad ones at that. It got to the point where we said something to DJ Craig, and while the music did get better, he still continued to play remixes. Honestly, a Spotify playlist would have been better. - The anniversary dance was something DJ Craig suggested and we loved the idea. However, instead of doing what he had described to us where he starts calling people off the dance floor after some dancing and starting with short time increments, DJ Craig called for anyone married for less than 5 years to leave the dance floor after approximately 20 seconds. People hadn't even REACHED the dance floor to start dancing at that point, including the parents of the groom. Not to mention we are a young couple and that kicked more than half of the people off the dance floor in one sweep. - College alumni photo was announced at a very weird time and very rushed. Just felt awkward - We were immediately asked once the lights turned on to provide a positive video review for DJ Craig. This was extremely uncomfortable and we gave dishonest feedback during it. We would NOT recommend him. Like I said previously, the Photo Booth staff was excellent and we loved the book they made us. We also had no issues with booking or prior communication with Marx. While the set up and logistical execution of the event went well we didn't feel our opinions were considered at all in song selection and that the fun mini-events we had throughout the night went poorly

Marx Entertainment did an exceptional job with our wedding ceremony and reception. They provided a…read morededicated online portal where we could easily share lists of our song preferences and we were also able to meet both over the phone and in person with our DJ prior to the event to discuss details. Our DJ, Manu, went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a successful event. He was in touch with us via phone and text a few days prior to finalize details, he arrived several (4-5!) hours early to make sure everything was set up correctly and sounding great, and once things got started I don't think he took even a 5 minute break! The music was great, he was a welcoming and enthusiastic MC, and I can't think of a single complaint. He even thanked US at the end for such a fun and warm event. We were so happy. We would hire them again in a second!

It was a bit cold outside and I needed to kill time so I was delighted to stumble across this…read morebookshop! First, I love that they have free non perishable goods outside for people to help themselves as they need it. The shop inside is very cute, they have a diverse selection of books inside a cozy space. I liked how it was organized, enjoyed featuring of local artists work, including cards and bookmarks. Prices were what you can expect from a smaller book store, nothing incredibly expensive and overall a good deal. They also had a pile of books by the door that were completely free, which I thought was a great idea. Definitely a great place to stop by if you're looking for a new read!

My favorite bookstore, hands down…read more The team at Heartleaf has created such a welcoming & eclectic environment. They've carefully curating a wide variety of stories, accumulated so many sweet little goodies & knick knacks, & built a wonderful, irreplaceable community in Providence. They put a LOT of effort into highlighting BIPOC & queer authors in their collection. The range of genres & narratives - especially considering the tiny size of the store - is a masterclass in diverse inventory. The very best thing about Heartleaf, though, is the manager. She alone is worth a visit to the store. If she's napping, it's a cardinal sin to disturb her. You'll just have to come back another time to give her a scratch behind the ears. (Penny is the manager. Penny is also a cat. I promise I'm not randomly scratching humans behind the ears.) Thank you Caroline & Mads for everything you do. Long live Heartleaf!