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Rhody Treats + Tactics 💎
Treat yourself to a sweet Rhody Gem in PVD, insider strategies to strengthen your finances from local pros, our newest Hey Rhody Weekly, + more!
Okay… so I may have spoken too soon in Tuesday’s newsletter. In my defense, I hadn’t yet consulted the weather app, which was apparently quietly plotting New England’s favorite pastime: a dramatic Sunday snow designed to sabotage Monday morning. There’s nothing quite like waking up to a winter wonderland you very specifically did not order. But instead of spiraling into full bread-and-milk panic mode, we’re choosing optimism. Today’s newsletter is your warm escape – packed with all the local goodness, from beloved Rhody gems to fresh new openings – because if the forecast insists on chaos, at least our weekend plans (and dinner reservations) can remain delightful.
Rhody Gem: A Sweet Staple on Federal Hill
Tucked along Spruce Street, Pastiche Fine Desserts has spent more than four decades quietly becoming a go-to for everything from everyday treats to milestone celebrations, drawing devoted dessert lovers from across the Northeast. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the beloved bakery adds heart-shaped cakes, cookies, and chocolate-dipped delights to its classic lineup, proving that some neighborhood gems never go out of style. Read more online.
Presented by Anna’s Taqueria
Anna’s Taqueria Rolls Into Cranston with a $3.50 Throwback Deal
Boston favorite Anna’s Taqueria is bringing its cult-loved burritos to Garden City Center, opening its first Rhode Island location on February 24. To celebrate, the brand is honoring its 1995 roots with $3.50 super burritos on opening day, alongside fresh flavors, new protein-packed bowls, and community-minded festivities. Read more online.
Presented by Rhode Island International Film Festival
Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival Brings Global Spotlight to The Ocean State
Providence may not be the first city that comes to mind during awards season, but Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival is once again changing that narrative. This year, films screened at New England's largest film festival are earning major recognition on the world’s biggest stages, including nominations from both the Academy Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Four films from last year’s Flickers lineup are currently in the running for Oscars, while three additional titles have landed BAFTA nominations. It’s a headline moment for the festival as it heads toward its 30th annual edition and marks more than four decades of championing independent cinema. For Rhode Island, it’s proof that global storytelling has a strong local address.
Flickers has long been known as a festival where short films shine. Ranked among the top ten film festivals in the United States, the festival has helped launch nearly one hundred films to become recognized as Oscar Nominees, with fifteen ultimately earning Academy Awards. As an official qualifier for BAFTA, the Goya Awards, and the Canadian Screen Awards, Flickers offers filmmakers something rare: a respected pathway from passion project to global platform.
Executive Director Shawn Quirk says moments like this affirm the festival’s mission. Flickers focuses on bold, original voices from around the world, and seeing those filmmakers recognized at the highest level is both thrilling and deeply rewarding.
That energy carries into August, when Flickers returns August 4-9 with screenings and events at venues across Rhode Island, including PPAC, The Vets, WaterFire Arts Center, Avon, and The Odeum in East Greenwich. Panels, premieres, and conversations turn the state into a creative crossroads each summer. Learn more and explore the lineup at rifilmfest.org.
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 |
|---|---|
Friday 2/20 | After Valentine's Cookie Decorating Class Artisan Bites in Cranston hosts a hands-on cookie decorating class from 6:30-8:30pm, where guests can design five heart-themed treats with guided instruction. The relaxed evening pairs creativity with café bites and BYOB-friendly vibes for a sweet night out with friends. Learn more online ⸻ Sketch Rhode Island Show Catch Sketch Rhode Island in Providence next week with back-to-back shows at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, where fearless local talent takes big comedic swings and keeps the Ocean State laughing one bold, brilliantly awkward sketch at a time. Learn more online ⸻ Bonsai Bar Workshop at Tilted Barn Brewery Tiny trees meet craft brews in Exeter as the Bonsai Bar Workshop begins at 6pm at Tilted Barn Brewery, inviting guests to sip farm-fresh ales while learning the fundamentals of potting, pruning, and designing their own beginner-friendly bonsai. Learn more online ⸻ Knickerbocker All Stars Live roots music takes center stage in Westerly as the Knickerbocker All Stars perform at 7pm at The United Theatre, delivering a high-energy mix of blues, jazz, jump blues, and soul in a tribute to the legendary sounds that shaped the historic Knickerbocker Cafe. Learn more online |
Saturday 2/21 | Fasching 2026 From 6-11pm, The Ratskeller at the German American Cultural Society in Pawtucket hosts its annual Fasching celebration with live music, festive costumes, German fare, and carnival-style merriment. Learn more online ⸻ Let’s Sing Taylor Swift - A Live Band Experience The Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket welcomes Let’s Sing Taylor from 7:30-9:30pm for a live band tribute that turns Taylor Swift’s biggest hits into a full audience singalong. Fans can expect a spirited night of themed outfits, shared nostalgia, and a concert-style celebration of the pop icon’s expansive catalog. Learn more online ⸻ Black and White Ball in Celebration of UNITED Centennial Glamour goes full Gatsby in Westerly as the Black & White Ball kicks off at 7pm at Ocean House, where live Jazz-Age tunes, an open bar, and Roaring Twenties flair set the scene for a dazzling night of dancing and decadence in support of UNITED’s next 100 years. Learn more online ⸻ LitArts RI Writers' Block Party Head to Providence for Writers’ Block Party at LitArts RI from 9:30am-4:30pm, a full-day creative sprint packed with micro workshops, generative prompts, brown bag bonding, and a closing mixer designed to bulldoze your writer’s block and get the words flowing again. Learn more online ⸻ RI VegFest Plant-based paradise is popping up in Providence as RI VegFest takes over the WaterFire Arts Center from 12–5pm, bringing 85+ vegan vendors, crave-worthy eats, spirited sips, and a feel-good community vibe to Rhode Island’s original fully vegan festival. Learn more online ⸻ Newport WienerFest Things are heating up in Newport as Newport WienerFest takes over Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. at 12pm for an afternoon of loaded hot wieners, drink specials, free samples, and a 1:30pm eating competition that separates the casual snackers from the condiment-coated champions. Learn more online ⸻ Barrel of Laughs Comedy Show An evening of stand-up and sips unfolds in Middletown as the Barrel of Laughs Comedy Show kicks off at 8pm at Newport Vineyards & Winery, where host Jeremy Furtado introduces a lineup of regional comedians for a night of punchlines best paired with local wine, craft beer, and a pre-show dinner reservation. Learn more online |
Sunday 2/22 | Superhero Party Event Phantom Farms in Cumberland invites little heroes to suit up for a Superhero Party featuring interactive time with Spider-Man from 12-2pm. The family-friendly event blends crafts, photo ops, and action-packed fun for kids ready to step into their own comic book moment. Learn more online ⸻ Tiverton Farmers Market Tiverton Middle School hosts the Tiverton Farmers Market from 10am-1:30pm, bringing local vendors and seasonal finds indoors for the winter season with a rotating lineup that makes Sunday shopping feel like a weekly ritual. Learn more online ⸻ Paint Your Pet Class Crafted Hope Brewing Company in East Greenwich hosts Paint Your Pet from 1-4pm, where guests can turn a favorite photo into a custom canvas keepsake. With a pre-sketched portrait and step-by-step guidance, the creative afternoon blends art, pets, and plenty of personality. Learn more online ⸻ Pancakes & Play With Spider-Man & Ghost Spider Pancakes & Play with Spider-Man & Ghost Spider swings into East Providence from 10am-12pm for a web-slinging morning of mini pancakes, open play at FUNdamentals, and meet-and-greet photo ops that’ll have your tiny Spidey fans flipping with excitement. Learn more online ⸻ Maple Tapping with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council Winter’s quiet woods come to life in Providence as Maple Tapping with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council begins at 12pm along the Greenway, inviting families to learn how to tap local maple trees and explore the cultural roots of sugaring traditions. Learn more online ⸻ Hot Chocolate with Roger Williams History warms up in Mapleville as Hot Chocolate with Roger Williams begins at 2pm at Mapleville Farm, where actor John McNiff brings the state’s founder to life in an interactive portrayal followed by a Q&A and light refreshments. Learn more online ⸻ Lúnasa Irish supergroup Lúnasa brings its high-energy blend of traditional reels and contemporary arrangements to Cumberland at 3pm and 7pm at Blackstone River Theatre, delivering the award-winning sound that has made the band a global force in Celtic music. Learn more online |
Monday 2/23 | Traitors: A Real Life Competition of Traitors and Faithfuls A night of strategy and suspicion unfolds at Long Live Beerworks in Providence from 6:30-9:30pm, as guests are secretly cast as Traitors or Faithfuls in this live-action social game. Challenges, dramatic eliminations, and playful deception turn a typical evening out into an interactive battle of wits. Learn more online ⸻ Cribbage Night Lops Brewing in Woonsocket hosts a laidback Cribbage Night from 6-8pm, welcoming players of all ages for a friendly round of cards. No experience needed, just bring your game face and settle in for a classic pub-style evening. Learn more online |
Our Rhody Rec list is refreshed with every newsletter, so be sure to check back for the latest events!
Your Local Blueprint to Building Wealth
New year, fresh financial game plan. From fine-tuning your tax withholding and claiming unclaimed cash to building home equity and investing with intention, our 2026 Financial Guide breaks down smart, local strategies to make, save, and grow your money right here in Rhode Island — with expert advice to keep your “wise mind” (and wallet) in balance. Read more online.
This Week on Hey Rhody Weekly: The Unexpected Winter Tradition Taking Over Rhode Island
Seal watching in Rhode Island is one of the best winter activities you can experience in February. 🦭❄️ From Wickford Harbor and Newport boat tours to Rome Point’s scenic shoreline hikes, dozens of seals haul out along the coast during peak season.
The Neut Gets Its National Moment
Providence’s favorite skyline lookout just earned a spot on the national stage as Neutaconkanut Hill Park joins the National Register of Historic Places. The designation honors more than a century of community care and cements the Silver Lake landmark’s role as both a recreational haven and a living piece of the city’s history. Read more online.
⭐ What would you do if a second chance came with a $7,000 price tag? In Cumberland, The Hotel for Homeless Dogs is rallying the community around Luna, a rescue pup who recently underwent life-saving surgery to remove bilateral mammary tumors and is now on the road to recovery. Supporters can donate or share her story to help cover the cost of her care and give this brave girl the future she deserves.
⭐ Are you ready to bite into bragging rights? Newport Burger Bender is here until February 22, serving up a juicy, town-wide showdown where more than 50 beef, seafood, chicken, bison, and plant-based creations compete for Best Burger honors. Sample your way through Newport’s hottest spots, then cast your vote and help crown the bun that rules them all.
⭐ Looking for a summer job that trades fluorescent lights for fresh air? The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is hiring seasonal staff, from lifeguards to park rangers, to help keep beaches, parks, and campgrounds running smoothly while gaining hands-on experience and competitive pay. With roles offering professional development, potential bonuses, and even pathways to future careers, interested applicants can explore openings and apply now at apply.ri.gov.