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Good morning, Providence. This is PVD Current, the newsletter that’s like waking up to a white Christmas. ❄️

What to expect in today’s Current:

• Dune Brothers new location 🐟

• 15 things to do this weekend 🤩 

• The Independent Man is back 🏛️

Let’s get to it.

— Oscar Punchak

Coastal Cafe Chronicles

Where I Tried: Cafecito Taiyaki (102 Dean St, Providence, RI 02903)

What I ordered: Iced mocha with almond milk + blueberry muffin

What it cost: $12.15

I’ve seen Cafecito Taiyaki a bunch on Instagram - mainly their hot chocolate and their cubed croissants. Funnily enough, I didn't get either. It was easy for me to park early in the morning but it seems like it could get difficult later in the day. I liked the mocha - which wasn’t on the menu, but I asked and they said they have them. What I really enjoyed was the muffin. It was different from any other place I’ve been and had a unique texture and really good taste. It’s definitely worth going back for. Next, I just need to try their s’mores hot chocolate which looks really special. I recommend checking them out if you’re in the area.

Reply to this email with how many guesses it took you!

Currents & Waves

🐟 Dune Brothers Expands in PVD

Dune Brothers Seafood is opening a year-round sit-down restaurant at 170 Ives St. in Providence. The new location includes indoor and outdoor seating, a fish market, and a takeaway window with late-night hours coming soon. Owners Nick and Monica Gillespie will keep their “seafood for the people” motto alive, offering fresh, locally sourced seafood and New England-inspired drinks. Chef Luke Mersfelder will run the fish market, featuring premium cuts and local catches. Looking ahead, they’re opening a retail market in Warwick to bring even more local seafood to the community.

🏛️ Independent Man is Back

The Independent Man statue has returned to the top of the Rhode Island State House. Originally planned as a statue of Roger Williams, it was reimagined as "Hope" by sculptor George T. Brewster in 1895 to match the building’s Renaissance Revival style. The statue was first removed for repairs in 1975 and has now been taken down and returned a second time.

Weekend Events

Comedy 😂 

• Live Comedy | 8PM Dec 20 (Learn more)

  • Location: Hide Speakeasy @ The George on Washington St.

  • Description: Every weekend enjoy live comedy with the best comics in the North East.

• Live Improv | 8PM Dec 20-21 (Learn more)

  • Location: Kismet Improv

  • Description: Kismet’s hilarious and high-energy performers are ready to dazzle you with their signature improv show.

Family 👪

• Photos With Santa | Daily (Learn more)

  • Location: Providence Place Mall

  • Description: Don't miss Santa pictures at Providence Place! Walk-ups welcome every day until closing time.

• Holiday Lights Spectacular | Nightly through Jan 4 (Learn more)

  • Location: Roger Williams Park Zoo

  • Description: Stroll through a dazzling 3.5 million light winter wonderland, roast s’mores, and enjoy festive displays perfect for all ages!

• Kids Christmas Party | Dec 20 (Learn more)

  • Location: The Bubbler VR

  • Description: Christmas Party filled with holiday joy and exciting activities, including virtual reality gaming, PC gaming, crafts, t-shirt decorating, ornament making, and more

• Brunch With Santa | Dec 21 (Learn more)

  • Location: Fogo de Chao

  • Description: Includes: the full churrasco experience, dessert, coffee, tea, fountain beverages, our delicious Market Table with waffles, fresh fruit, made-to-order omelets, and more!

• Holiday Story Time Breakfast | Dec 21 (Learn more)

  • Location: 999 Main St. Pawtucket

  • Description: Enjoy a delicious breakfast! There will be photo opportunities, activities, and a Holiday Story Reading.

Arts 🎨 

• Hamilton | Dec 11-22 (Learn more)

  • Location: Providence Performing Arts Center

  • Description: Experience the groundbreaking musical blending history and hip-hop in this Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning show.

• NOISE by Cesar Alvarez | Dec 5–22 (Learn more)

  • Location: Wilbury Theatre Group

  • Description: A participatory, dreamlike new musical where musicians create songs that model a society they actually want to live in.

• The 120th Annual Little Pictures Show & Sale | Nov 10–Dec 22 (Learn more)

  • Location: Providence Art Club

  • Description: Featuring over 700 original small works from 120 local artists, perfect for collectors or finding a unique gift.

• Twas The Night Before Christmas | Dec 20-21 (Learn more)

  • Location: Rhode Island College

  • Description: Inspired by Clement Clarke Moore's classic poem, our stage is transformed with visions of sugar plums, prancing reindeer, swirling snow, and a magical appearance by jolly St. Nick!

• The Nutcracker | Dec 20-22 (Learn more)

  • Location: The VETS

  • Description: The beloved holiday spectacular whisks audiences away as a fantastic dream unfolds before your eyes!

Markets 🍅 

• Pawtucket Farmer's Market | 4:30PM Dec 20 (Learn more)

  • Location: Jordan’s Jungle, Pawtucket

  • Description: Shop local vendors, food, and art at this weekly farmers market in a tropical oasis!

• Farm Fresh Winter Farmers Market | Dec 21 (Learn more)

  • Location: Farm Fresh RI

  • Description: The largest indoor wintertime farmers market in New England.

• Providence Flea Holiday Market | Dec 20 & 22 (Learn more)

  • Location: Farm Fresh RI

  • Description: This unique marketplace features carefully selected small businesses offering handmade and vintage goods.

Drinks 🍷 

• Bottles Holiday Market | Dec 20-22 (Learn more)

  • Location: Bottles Fine Wine parking lot

  • Description: Enjoy themed wine, spirit, and beer tastings, food trucks, farmers market stands, makers’ markets vendors, gift sellers, entertainment, and even a cash bar.

• Wine Tasting | 6PM Dec 22 (Learn more)

  • Location: Little Sister

  • Description: Taste four hand-picked wines with Latin-inspired tapas at this limited weekly wine-tasting event!

• Wine Flights in the Gracie's Lounge | 5PM Dec 22 (Learn more)

  • Location: Gracie's

  • Description: Enjoy a curated 3-glass wine tasting experience with a new theme every week in a relaxed lounge setting!

If you got this far please check us out on Instagram and give us a follow @PVDCurrent

Seaside Skies

FRIDAY

40°🌡 24° | ❄️ | 💧 77% | 💨 NNE 12 mph

SATURDAY

32°🌡 12° | 🌥️ | 💧 15% | 💨 NW 16 mph

SUNDAY

23°🌡 7° | ☀️ | 💧 0% | 💨 NNW 12 mph

(The forecast as of the night before this newsletter was published.)

Sound Waves

FRIDAY

Ladder 133 | Local Music | 6:30pm

Moonshine Alley | The Morris Brothers | 9pm

SATURDAY

FETE Music Hall | Goodwin Live with Maddy Wood | 7pm | Tickets

Moonshine Alley | Ben Quinn | 5pm

Moonshine Alley | The Mick Louis Band | 9:30pm

SUNDAY

First Baptist Church in America | Candles, Carols, n' Jazz | 2pm

Maritime Matches

FRIDAY

🏀 Amica Mutual Pavilion | Providence College vs. Saint John’s | 8PM | Tickets

SATURDAY

🏒 Amica Mutual Pavilion | Providence Bruins Blizzard Beach & Sunglasses Giveaway | 7PM | Tickets

That’s all for today…

Thank you for reading all the way through! Feel free to email us with any questions or suggestions. You’ll hear from us again on Monday.

Thanks,

Oscar Punchak | Publisher, PVD Current