Good morning, Providence. Settle in, sip whatever gets you going, and let PVD Current serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead ☕️
In today’s edition:
It’s about to get busy 🚧
Spring sports are here🥍
Full Napa vibes 🍷
20+ things to do 📆
Let’s get to it.
Currents & waves
🚧 Weekend plans?
Tens of thousands of foodies and comedy fans are expected to pack into Providence this weekend. On top of that, RIDOT is shutting down part of Gano Street. More details.
🥍 Spring sports are here
While your March Madness bracket may be in shambles, Rhode Island’s spring high school sports season is just warming up. From powerhouse lacrosse squads to a boys tennis division shake-up, here’s Providence Journal’s full spring primer.
🍷 PVD is going full Napa this weekend
The inaugural RI Wine Experience is pouring now through Sunday (3/30), featuring curated tastings, culinary pairings, and panels for everyone from wine snobs to box-wine believers. It’s all part of the Providence Culinary Collective.
Other highlights this week:
Bunny Photos | Friday @ 11 am
Providence Winter Farmers Market | Saturday @ 9 am
Spring cleanup at the Library | Saturday @ 10 am
Bruins vs. Wolf Pack | Saturday @ 7:05 pm
Low cost pet care clinic | Sunday @ 10 am
Bruins vs. Thunderbirds | Sunday @ 3:05 pm
Haffenreffer Museum is moving | Thursday @ 6 pm
Here’s your weekly Providence brief, featuring (at least) 20 things worth checking out around town over the next seven days 👇
Today - March 28th
🐟 Fry-day’s hottest catch is curbside
5 pm: It’s Lent season, which means Fish Fry Fridays are back at Gilligan’s Pub, courtesy of The Galley food trailer. Expect golden, beer-battered cod straight from the docks, crispy fries, house-made slaw, and chowder locals swear by. Dine in or take it to go—either way, here’s where to find it.
🍷 Sip, swirl, support local public media
6 pm: Uncork your Friday night at Uncorking the Future, a wine-soaked celebration at WaterFire Arts Center. With international vintages, local distributors, and bites worthy of your fanciest napkin, this benefit bash supports Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio. Learn more and grab tickets to help toast their newly merged media empire.
🎤 A billion laughs (and views) later…
7 pm: Viral comedian Michael Blaustein is bringing his Taste Me tour to The Vets for Lil rhody Laugh Riot and a night of irreverent, internet-breaking laughs. Score seats before it sells out.
Tomorrow - March 29th
📚 Book it to the finale
12 pm: Rhody Readathon is closing the chapter on a month of literary love with a drop-in celebration at LitArts RI. Expect snacks, camaraderie, book recs, and one last cozy corner to polish off your final read (registration suggested but not required).
🎭 One dead guy, six weirdos, and a phone
2 pm: When a woman answers a dead man’s phone, things get very complicated, very fast. Through the Glass Theatre Ensemble presents Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl—a quirky and contemplative dive into how we mourn, remember, and totally misunderstand each other. Catch the performance.
🎤 One night, three comedians
Lil Rhody Laugh Riot is under way and there are three performances tonight (if you’re able to snag some last minute tickets). These shows have a few left at the time of writing:
4 pm: Leslie Jones at The Vets.
7 pm: Aziz Ansari - Tickets here.
7 pm: Triple The Laughs - You know what to do.
Sunday - March 30th
👾 Free Play opens early
11 am: Free Play Bar & Arcade is hosting a special Autism Family Day with unlimited games, including skee ball, pinball, air hockey, and more. It’s $10 at the door for anyone who wants in on the fun. It’s family-friendly and sensory-considerate. Check out the event info here.
🎨 Art openings worth leaving the couch for
2 pm: The Providence Art Club is throwing not one, not two, but three gallery receptions this Sunday—featuring everything from local legends to fresh community talent. The art’s great, the building’s historic, and admission is always free. Here’s who’s showing and how to get there.
🎤 More comedic gold
Lil Rhody laugh Riot continues on Sunday with a stacked lineup. Tickets are incredibly low, if not sold out entirely by now. These shows have a few left at the time of writing:
🍹Tequila, tipsy creativity, and a $100 prize
7:30 pm: Monthly Mixology Madness returns to Kimi’s with Codigo Blanco as the star ingredient. For $15, you’ll sample tequila cocktails, vote on your faves, and witness bartenders throw down for cash and bragging rights. All the details here.
Monday - March 31st
🐤 A Monday morning for the birds (literally)
9:30 am: Help turn the Woonasquatucket Greenway into a five-star bird hotel. This hands-on event is all about installing birdhouses, learning about native species, and enjoying a little fresh air. Sign up here and bring shoes you don’t mind getting muddy.
🧠 Paint, prizes, and philanthropy
6 pm: The 401Gives Kickoff Rally is your chance to drink beer, paint by numbers, and flex your trivia brain—all while supporting Saint Elizabeth Community. Trivia starts at 7, but swing by earlier to add your brushstroke to the collective masterpiece. See what it’s all about.
🎺 Big band jazz that’ll blow your Monday away
8 pm: The John Allmark Jazz Orchestra is back at Alchemy with a wall of brass, rhythm, and swing. Doors at 8, show from 9 to midnight—perfect for a night of toe-tapping, head-bopping jazz. Get your tickets here and prepare to be wowed.
Tuesday - April 1st
🌳 Forests and jackfruit rebellions
12 pm: Geography meets resistance in The Forest as Refuge, a talk by Alexandro Solórzano at Brown University’s Meiklejohn House. From African diasporic ecologies to the role of introduced species like jackfruit, this one digs into how forests become places of survival, culture, and radical environmental legacy. Details here.
🪕 BYO banjo (or anything else that makes sound)
6 pm: The High Tone Jug Band Ensemble invites you to bring your spoons, guitars, harmonicas—whatever you’ve got—and jam out at Fox Point Library’s Monthly Jug Band Jam. No pressure, no stage fright, just joyful noise with your neighbors. Get the lowdown here.
Wednesday - April 2nd
📖 Books and bargains
April 2nd – 5th: The Friends of Rochambeau Spring Book Sale is back and book lovers, this is your Super Bowl. Dealer’s Day kicks off Wednesday ($30 entry), followed by free entry for Friends members that evening. The public’s invited Thursday, everything’s half-off Friday, and Saturday’s the grand finale: just $5 to fill a bag. Full schedule here. Pro tip: bring a tote (or five).
📝 Watch poetry, drink wine, write something
6 pm: Kick off Def Poetry Month at Public Shop & Gallery with a chill Wednesday night watch party and live performance from local poet Louie. Expect Def Poetry (Season 1), snacks from Black Beans PVD, and wine or beer for whatever mood you’re in.
🎸 Unplugged sets, full-on vibes
7 pm: The Parlour goes acoustic for a stacked Wednesday night featuring the raw, stripped-down sounds of SexCoffee, father-son duo The Berger Boys, and solo singer-songwriter Caleb Ezra Poirier. It’s the kind of night where you listen to lyrics—and maybe even feel something. Grab a ticket.
Thursday - April 3rd
🍖 Hamlet goes full barbecue at The Wilbury
2 pm: What if Hamlet was queer, Southern, and set during a backyard BBQ? Fat Ham reimagines Shakespeare’s classic into something funnier, messier, and more liberating. Check out the full run and grab tickets—this one's already making waves.
🎉 Big joy at The Strand
7:30 pm: Red Baraat’s Festival of Colors is bringing its high-energy mix of bhangra, funk, jazz, and punk to Providence, just in time for spring. Inspired by Holi and led by dhol master Sunny Jain, this kaleidoscopic concert promises dancing, visuals, and serious joy. Snag your ticket here and wear your brightest threads.
🎷 Funk is free and the horns are heavy
8 pm: The Autocrats are taking over Alchemy with a throwback dance party fueled by Parliament, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rick James, and more. Ten musicians, all funk. No cover. Get the details and start stretching—it’s about to get groovy.
⛸️ Solo spins and showcase stars hit the ice
April 3rd – 6th: The Providence Open returns to Schneider Arena as part of the 2025 Solo Dance Series. Expect everything from up-and-coming skaters to crowd-pleasing showcase routines—and a whole lot of sequins. Here’s the full schedule.
Live music, gatherings, & entertainment
This weekend:
3/28 Twinsick @ The Dockside in Newport – 9:30 pm
3/28 Wicked Rhode @ Free Play – 8:00 pm
3/28 Alec Flynn @ The Vets – 9:45 pm
3/29 WINO; Hard Acoustic, wsg/ Jim Healey @ Alchemy – 6:30 pm
3/29 Joanne Shaw Taylor @ Historic Park Theatre – 8:00 pm
3/29 Quahogs, Scaffolding, and more @ The Parlour – 8:00 pm
3/29 Dan Lilley and the Keepers @ The District – 9:00 pm
3/29 Rock Out @ Union Station Brewery – 9:00 pm
3/30 Funky Sub @ The Parlour Providence – 1:00 pm
3/30 Voices in Vain and more @ Alchemy – 2:00 pm
3/30 5th Sunday Jazz @ The District – 4:00 pm
Next week:
3/31 JazzCurrent @ The Red Door – 7:00 pm
4/1 RED INK Community Library Show @ Red Ink Community Library – 8:00 pm
4/3 The Autocrats @ Alchemy – 8:00 pm
4/3 A Tribute to Tom Petty @ Historic Park Theatre – 8:00 pm
Price Is Right - Providence edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
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Listed by: Lavonne Lopes
This East Side beauty has six bedrooms, three bathrooms, and 4,124 square feet of 1886 craftsmanship with soaring ceilings, cherrywood details, original hardwoods, and three fireplaces. There’s a grand foyer, sun-soaked living spaces, a spacious kitchen, and a legal in-law apartment.
It sits on a 7,500-square-foot lot with mature landscaping, no HOA, and a newer boiler with two heating systems. Bonus: full basement and prime location near Brown, RISD, and Blackstone Blvd.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
Providence fun & games
As always, this week’s word search features the most fun, unique, or Providence-esque words from this edition.
Trivia question of the week
❓Question: It’s National Tsunami Awareness Week. How fast can tsunamis travel in the open ocean?
🤔 Hint: They can cross an entire ocean in less than a day.
Reply and shoot us your best guess (no cheating!) - Same time, same place next week → we’ll share the answer and a fresh question to ponder.
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Last week’s answer: Sight and hearing are both correct.
See ya next week!
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