Hand-thrown & Heart-grown 👩🏻‍🎨

Fall in love with a Smithfield creative hub born from a couple’s dream, check out a PVD bar’s big transformation, meet the artist who turns memories into art, + more!

January 20, 2026

Is it just us, or did Sunday’s win rewind the clock in the best way possible? We know everyone’s been saying it feels like 2016 again – but hear us out: this week, it’s giving 2018 energy. Why? Because the Pats are so back, baby! After that W, we’re riding high – and we’re betting you are too. Let’s keep the vibes going strong with today’s Hey Rhody newsletter. From fresh community hubs to hidden Rhody gems (and all the other Rhody goodness in between), today’s roundup is packed, playful, and proudly local.

Studio Glob Turns a Pipe Dream Into a Pottery-Filled Community Hub

What started as a shared “what if?” between two creatives has become one of Rhode Island’s most welcoming places to get your hands dirty. From spinning a sign on the street corner to spinning pottery wheels in Smithfield, Studio Glob proves that clay, community, and a little courage can go a long way. Read more online.

Blu Violet Returns With a Sultry Rooftop Glow-Up

Providence’s favorite rooftop escape is back on February 6, and it’s moodier, sexier, and more speakeasy-coded than ever. Perched atop Aloft Providence Downtown, Blu Violet’s bold redesign pairs skyline sunsets with elevated cocktails, shareable bites, and an atmosphere that invites you to linger well past golden hour. Read more online.

Presented by Tom D’Amore Art

Meet the Artist Turning Moments Into Art

From comedy stages to wedding dance floors, Rhode Island artist Tom D’Amore captures fleeting moments as they happen, transforming live performances and celebrations into hand-drawn keepsakes. With lightning-fast illustration and a front-row seat to the action, his work proves that some of the most meaningful art is created while you’re living it. Read more online.

Rhody Recs is your weekly roundup of what’s happening across the state, a built-in excuse to rally the crew early instead of scrambling for plans at the last minute. Because let’s be real, life’s too short to leave the fun for last minute.

Date

Event

Wednesday 1/21

Beer & New Year at Narragansett Brewery

Ring in the new year at this community fundraiser in Providence, happening from 5-8pm, with beer, a buffet-style meal, and proceeds supporting Feed RI’s fight against food insecurity. Learn more online

⸻

Crescent Moon Wreath Making Class

Enjoy a calming, hands-on workshop at The Rustic Rhode in Warwick from 6-8pm, where guests will craft a 12-inch crescent moon wreath in a relaxed, intention-setting atmosphere. Learn more online

⸻

Stranger Things Drag Trivia

Test your knowledge and cheer on the chao in Providence from 7–9pm, where drag trivia, prizes, and high-energy fun take over Black Sheep with host Ladda Nurv. Learn more online

Thursday 1/22

Winter Blues Be Gone Party

Bundle up and head to Providence for a high-heat winter party at ISCO, featuring sauna sessions, immersive music and visuals, free bites, craft cocktails, and the launch of their Banana Bread Aquavit. Learn more online

⸻

Warm Wool Society’s Sip & Stitch Event

Head to Brewology in Cranston at 6pm for a cozy Sip & Stitch night where guests can bring any craft, grab a drink, and enjoy a relaxed evening of creativity and conversation. Learn more online

⸻

LitArts RI’s Winter Showcase

Spend the evening in Providence from 7–9pm, enjoying readings from local writers as LitArts RI’s community shares fiction, essays, poetry, and more inspired by their fall workshops. Learn more online

Friday 1/23

Rocky Horror Picture Show at AS220

Catch the cult classic with a live shadowcast performance in Providence from 9–11:30pm, as the RKO Army brings Rocky Horror to life on the AS220 main stage with audience participation and prop bags included. Learn more online

⸻

Martinis & Pilates Event

Move, sip, and unwind in at Blooming Bodies Boutique Pilates in North Providence with reformer Pilates sessions at 5pm and 6:30pm, plus small bites and an espresso martini station for a feel-good night that blends fitness with a little flair. Learn more online

⸻

Author Event: Peter Brannen's The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything

Head to Providence from 6–7pm for an engaging author talk with science journalist Peter Brannen, who’ll discuss his new book on how carbon dioxide shaped our planet, with signed copies available at Symposium Books. Learn more online

Saturday 1/24

Floara ✕ Sunu Body Launch Party Social

Stop by The Luxe Studio in Johnston from 1–4pm for an immersive wellness launch party blending movement, matcha, bouquet-making, and African-inspired self-care. Learn more online

⸻

Make a Mosscape Event

Get creative in at Phantom Farms Brewing in Cumberland from 7–9pm with a hands-on mossscape workshop, a included drink, and a feel-good night that supports The Hotel for Homeless Dogs and the Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary. Learn more online

⸻

Suis Dessert Matcha Pop-Up

Sweeten your afternoon at The Village in Providence from 12–3 PM with fresh salt bread, assorted cake boxes, and cozy matcha drinks as Suis pops up at The Village PVD with fan-favorite desserts. Learn more online

⸻

1st Annual Chili Festival at Crafted Hope Brewing

Warm up in East Greenwich from 11 AM–1:30pm with unlimited chili samples, craft beer, and a friendly vote-for-your-favorite showdown at Crafted Hope Brewing’s first-ever chili fest. Learn more online

Sunday 1/25

Kitten Cuddle Event

Get your dose of feel-good fluff in Providence with ticketed kitten cuddle sessions at PARL, where guests can enjoy 25 minutes of pure joy while supporting local rescue kittens. Learn more online

⸻

Haus Flow

Slow down and reset in at Hauscall in East Providence from 6–8pm with a hybrid yoga flow and social hour at Hauscall, blending movement, meditation, mocktails, and community connection. Learn more online

⸻

Pasta & Sauce Perfection Class

Sharpen your skills at Qhali Kitchen in Bristol from 11am–2pm during this hands-on pasta-making class, where guests will learn fresh dough basics, sauce techniques, and sit down to a family-style meal with wine included. Learn more online

Our Rhody Rec list is refreshed with every newsletter, so be sure to check back for the latest events!

Behind the Green Door in East Greenwich

Tucked behind a literal green door on Main Street, The Green Door is an elegant maze of florals, gifts, and home décor that’s been delighting shoppers since 1991. From Susan Swanson’s one-of-a-kind silk arrangements to European finds, Rhode Island–made gifts, and heirloom-worthy pieces, this East Greenwich shop proves that some of the best discoveries are hiding in plain sight. Read more online.

⭐ Ready to start the year with a book that’s already sparking statewide conversation? Reading Across Rhode Island kicks off its 2026 selection with a free, public launch event at the Rhode Island State House from 2–4pm, spotlighting Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. The afternoon brings together community leaders, readers, and literature lovers for an engaging introduction to the book, with complimentary copies provided while seating lasts.

⭐ Looking for a family-friendly dinner deal that actually feels like a win for everyone? At Sombra Lounge in East Greenwich, kids eat free Sundays through Tuesdays, with any dish from the children’s menu, while parents can dig into the restaurant’s full lineup of crowd-pleasing plates. It’s an easy excuse to bring the whole crew out, enjoy a relaxed meal, and keep weeknight dining both delicious and budget-friendly.

⭐ Ever wondered what’s happening beneath your feet in Rhode Island’s changing landscape? On January 29, Norman Bird Sanctuary hosts a Winter Speaker Series lecture from 5:30–7pm in Middletown, where environmental scientist Peter Lockwood explores the overlooked role of grasses and grasslands in Southern New England.

Garage Headquarters Launches Custom Design Division

After 50+ years of keeping things running smoothly, Garage Headquarters is giving garage doors their design moment. The longtime Rhode Island company has launched a new Custom Design Division, offering architects, designers, and homeowners a more personalized, design-forward approach that treats garage doors as a statement piece, not an afterthought. Read more online.

#HeyRhodyPhotos

The kind of sunset that makes you stop mid-scroll in Jamestown. 🌅

Photo by @hillary4297 

Use #HeyRhodyPhotos to share your Rhody views, and it might be featured here!