Sunday gave Narragansett a traffic report nobody was expecting when a truck tipped over near Galilee and sent thousands of pounds of squid across Point Judith Road. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and we’ll leave the rest of the cleanup to the professionals. In today’s newsletter, the stories are considerably less slippery: meet a Warwick tattoo artist turning personal history into custom ink, catch up with The Zombies’ Colin Blunstone before his Westerly stop, browse a Little Compton thrift shop that’s been going strong for 57 years, and find a full weekend’s worth of local happenings. Rhode Island rarely has trouble giving us something to talk about.
Warwick Tattoo Artist Alex Quinn Turns Personal Stories Into Custom Ink
From family handwriting and song-inspired portraits to a frog dressed as Bob Ross, Warwick tattoo artist Alex Quinn builds each piece around conversation, honesty, and the story behind the idea. Inside her private Sola Salons studio, Quinn is creating tattoos meant to feel personal long after the appointment ends. Read more online.
The Zombies’ Colin Blunstone Brings a Legendary Voice to Westerly
The Zombies co-founder Colin Blunstone heads to The United Theatre on September 6 alongside Peter Asher and The Fixx, bringing more than six decades of British Invasion history with him. Ahead of the show, Blunstone reflects on Odessey and Oracle, life on the road, and why writing every song on his next album feels both exciting and a little terrifying. 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 8/19 | Field to Fork Farmers Market Sample locally inspired bites from Rhode Island farms and chefs at Johnson & Wales University’s rarely opened Culinary Arts Museum on Wednesday from 4:30-7:30 PM, with proceeds supporting FeedRI’s school pantry program. Learn more online. ⸻ Dancing at The Towers with Roger Ceresi and the Allstars Hit the dance floor at The Towers in Narragansett from 7-10 PM as Roger Ceresi and the Allstars bring the rhythm and blues with a full nine-piece band. Learn more online. ⸻ Arboretum Tour at Oakwood Wander through five acres of garden drama at Newport’s historic Oakwood estate from 10-11:30 AM, where a wisteria arbor, lily pond, beech collection, and towering fernleaf beech await. Learn more online. |
Thursday 8/20 | A Taste of North Kingstown Take a tasting tour of North Kingstown at Quidnessett Country Club from 5:30-8 PM, with bites and sips from Rhody Slice, South County BBQ, Wickford Cheese & Sundry, Grey Sail Brewing, Gooseneck Vineyards, and more local favorites. Learn more online ⸻ Gallery Night Providence Let someone else map the art crawl as Gallery Night Providence returns with six pay-what-you-can bus and walking tours, including behind-the-curtain stops with Trinity Rep and a spin through the Valley Arts District. Learn more online ⸻ Taps & Tiles Portuguese Tile Painting Workshop Pair a pint with a paintbrush at Crook Point Brewing Company from 6:30-9 PM, where you’ll decorate Portuguese-style ceramic coasters with stencils and instructions provided, plus a drink and 10 percent off food included with your ticket. Learn more online |
Friday 8/21 | 99th Annual Pawtucket Greek Festival Feast your way through a Greek village in Pawtucket from August 21-23 with gyros, moussaka, baklava cheesecake, Greek dancing, baking demonstrations, and live music, all with free admission. Learn more online ⸻ Blooms, Burgers & Brews Butterfly Farm has Friday night figured out with farm-raised burgers, cold drinks, live music from Michelle Saylors, hayrides, and sunflower-field strolls in Lincoln from 5:30-8:30 PM. Learn more online ⸻ All Your Friends Dust off the digital camera and relive the Tumblr-era indie sleaze of Passion Pit, LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, and The Strokes at Alchemy in Providence from 9-11PM. Learn more online |
Saturday 8/22 | Providence Vintage Fest Send your closet back a few decades at 195 District Park from noon-6 PM, where more than 50 vendors bring the vintage, Y2K, and streetwear finds alongside food trucks, DJs, and free admission. Learn more online ⸻ Free Day of Play at Providence Children’s Museum Give the family budget a day off when Providence Children’s Museum welcomes visitors for free hands-on fun, creativity, and plenty of play in Providence. Learn more online ⸻ Urban PowerFest Broad Street turns up the volume in Providence from noon–9 PM as the Southside Cultural Center fills with local music, artists, vendors, food trucks, and a wellness corner offering reiki, breathwork, and more. Admission is free. Learn more online |
Sunday 8/23 | General Stanton Inn Blues Music Festival Pull up a lawn chair at the General Stanton Inn in Charlestown from 2–7 PM for live sets from Duke Robillard & His All Star Band, the Neal Vitullo Band, and Pat Halpin and the 351’s, plus food and cold drinks. Learn more online ⸻ Red Not Chili Peppers & Nirvani Flannel meets funk at Phantom Farms Brewing in Cumberland from 2-7 PM as Red Not Chili Peppers and Nirvani bring the ’90s alt-rock nostalgia outdoors with food and cold drinks nearby. Learn more online ⸻ PVD Flea in the Park Spend Sunday treasure hunting at 195 District Park in Providence from 11AM-3 PM, where more than 75 vendors bring vintage finds, handmade goods, baked treats, food trucks, and live music. Admission is free. Learn more online |
Our Rhody Rec list is refreshed with every newsletter, so be sure to check back for the latest events!
Gordon School Honors Beloved Librarian with a Little Literary Magic
After 30 years of helping Gordon School students find stories, community, and plenty of reasons to get curious, retiring librarian Frances Martindale has become the inspiration for a story of her own. Magic Will Happen, written by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and illustrated by Barrington artist Laurel Aylesworth, turns Martindale’s joyful approach to the library into a picture book designed to keep that magic going. Read more online.
This Little Compton Thrift Shop Has Been a Local Gem for 57 Years
Follow the “open” flag to Thursday Thrift Shop, where $4 gardening jeans, wedding-ready tuxedos, housewares, and other secondhand treasures fill the racks. Run by volunteers, the longtime Little Compton favorite turns every bargain into support for its community outreach mission. Read more online.
⭐Know a kid who’d happily trade Saturday morning cartoons for turtles and lizards? Bierman Autism Centers celebrates its Lincoln grand opening from 10 AM-noon with a free, sensory-friendly reptile adventure designed for children with autism and their families. Gentle animal encounters, hands-on crafts, sweet treats, center tours, and a quiet comfort corner let families explore at their own pace.
⭐Ready to crash into fall with Dave Matthews Band? The group’s newly announced 2026 fall tour includes a stop at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence as part of a run through major arenas nationwide. Warehouse Fan Association presales are underway, with general ticket sales opening Friday, August 21 at 10am.
⭐What happens when island time meets molten glass? Blackstone River Glass Center brings live music, Ja Patty’s Caribbean flavors, fire dancing, and glassblowing demonstrations to the riverside in Cumberland on September 11 from 6–10pm. New hands-on workshops let guests make an island mosaic, fused-glass fish, or blown-glass fishing float, with advance registration recommended.
Little Known RMD Strategy Allowed by the IRS
For investors with $1M+ in retirement accounts, the tax code allows specific strategies that can reduce your tax exposure once RMDs begin—but only if used before then.
The window is open for anyone within ten years of 73. A fiduciary advisor can review which may apply, at no cost.
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A sunny stretch along the Providence River.
Photo by @mrb_th
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