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- This one’s extra cheesy 🧀
This one’s extra cheesy 🧀
Discover a local cannabis brand grown with intention, experience a tableside cheese wheel in Coventry, tour Ocean State coastal homes through a designer’s lens, + more!
Today is National No Housework Day, and frankly, we’re not arguing with that. Why spend your time sweeping floors or playing matchmaker with missing socks when you could be diving into today’s newsletter instead? Inside, you’ll find a mix of stories worth your scroll and a lineup of can’t-miss events happening across Rhode Island this week. Consider this your official permission slip to leave the chores for later.
From Lifeline to Local Legacy
What began as one Rhode Islander’s search for relief turned into Hank’s Herbs, a 13-time award-winning cannabis brand rooted in care, science, and family. Built from personal experience and grown with intention, it’s a story that proves the best things don’t just grow, they mean something. Read more online.
Say Cheese (Then Spin It Tableside)
At Blackstone Coventry, the night builds itself, but it’s the flaming cheese wheel pasta that turns dinner into a full-on moment, coating each bite in rich, melted indulgence. From martini flights to shareable plates and a come-as-you-are energy, the locally owned spot delivers a laid-back, linger-longer kind of night that feels equal parts casual and unforgettable. Read more online.
Presented by Providence Children’s Museum
Where Play Leads the Way
If you think play is just for kids, the Providence Children's Museum would like a word.
For nearly 50 years, this South Street staple has been redefining what it means to learn, grow, and connect as a family. Inside, you won’t find quiet galleries or hands-off displays. Instead, it’s a lively, hands-on world where children build, climb, experiment, and create, often all before lunch. It’s all part of PCM’s belief that play isn’t extra. It’s essential.
Every exhibit is designed with intention. Kids are encouraged to solve problems, test ideas, and explore STEM concepts in ways that feel natural and fun. Along the way, they’re building confidence, creativity, and social skills without even realizing it. For parents and caregivers, it’s a place that feels equal parts joyful and meaningful.
What truly sets PCM apart is its commitment to access. Through free and reduced admission programs, partnerships with community organizations, and specialized initiatives for families in foster care and other support systems, the museum works to make sure every child has a seat at the table. Or more accurately, a turn at the building station.
That mission takes on a festive twist this spring with Cocktails and Kicks Anchored in Play, a fundraising gala on April 16 from 6 to 10 pm. The evening brings the community together for a good cause, with live entertainment from Kara McKee, a collaborative LEGO mural led by Rhode Island brick artist Andy Grover, and a raffle and auction that directly support access programs.
It’s a night built on the same idea that powers the museum every day. When play is accessible, everyone wins. Learn more and purchase tickets online at providencechildrensmuseum.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 |
|---|---|
Wednesday 4/8 | Stock Culinary Goods & PopUp Rhody: Station Tastings Spring Lineup Watch live cooking demos, sample seasonal dishes, and shop curated kitchen finds from 5:30-7pm at Track 15 in Providence. Learn more online ⸻ Pollinator Habitat Workshop Learn how to attract bees, butterflies, and more from 5-6pm at Spruce Acres Farm in Middletown, where this hands-on workshop breaks down simple ways to build a pollinator-friendly garden just in time for spring. Learn more online ⸻ Springtime Vibes Paint Party Sip, paint, and lean into spring from 6:30-8:30pm at Tremblay’s Bar and Grill in Portsmouth, where a laid-back, all-levels paint night brings color and good company to the midweek mix. Learn more online |
Thursday 4/9 | Hannibal Buress Live Catch comedian Hannibal Buress live at The United Theatre in Westerly for a sharp, offbeat set that hits the stage at 8pm. Learn more online ⸻ Daffodil Days in Wickford Village Kick off opening day of Daffodil Days, running through April 12, with a Sip & Stroll from 5-8pm through Wickford Village, where spring shopping, snacks, and sips set the tone for a weekend in full bloom. Learn more online ⸻ Lunch & Learn with Aaron Ellison Get a behind-the-scenes look at ecology and photography with Aaron Ellison at 12pm at the Nature Lab Biodesign Makerspace in Providence, part of RISD’s spring lineup of creative, hands-on events. Learn more online |
Friday 4/10 | Aquarius: 1960's Superband Take a groovy trip back in time with live hits from the ’60s from 7:30-10pm at the Courthouse Center for the Arts in West Kingston. Learn more online ⸻ Annual RI Home Show Kick off opening day of the Annual RI Home Show, running through April 13, at the Rhode Island Convention Cente in Providence, where design inspiration, garden showcases, and home trends take over all day. Learn more online ⸻ 1st Pawtucket Flamenco Night feat. Alba Musik Experience Pawtucket’s first Flamenco Night with a hands-on workshop at 6pm followed by a live performance at 7:30pm featuring NYC-based Alba Musik’s flamenco, Latin jazz, and world music fusion at Flamenco Rhode Island in Pawtucket. Learn more online |
Saturday 4/11 | Roger Williams Park Botanical Center: Fairy Garden Days 2026 Kick off Fairy Garden Days, running through April 26, with a whimsical day of hidden fairy houses and family-friendly fun from 10am-4pm at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence. Learn more online ⸻ Fun with Rumi, KPOP Demon Hunters Join a high-energy morning of K-pop fun with dancing, singing, and a scavenger hunt from 10am-12pm at Phantom Farms in Cumberland. Learn more online ⸻ Select Markets Providence Thrift Market Browse 40+ vendors, sip free drinks, and catch live DJs from 12-6pm at Bally’s Event Lawn at 195 District Park in Providence for Select Markets’ first-ever city pop-up. Learn more online |
Sunday 4/12 | Bloom Flower and Home Market Catch the second day of Bloom Flower and Home Market from 12-5pm at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, where 90+ vendors, plants, and a drink in hand make it very easy to leave with one more (or five more) houseplants. Learn more online ⸻ Fused Mezuzah Workshop Create a one-of-a-kind glass mezuzah in a beginner-friendly workshop from 1-2:30pm at Blackstone River Glass Center in Cumberland, where color, craft, and a little molten magic come together. Learn more online ⸻ Sapphic Spring Sip and Paint Paint, sip, and connect with fellow queer community members over mocktails and vintage vinyl art from 2:30-5:30pm at Public Shop & Gallery in Providence, for a spring-inspired creative hang. Learn more online |
Our Rhody Rec list is refreshed with every newsletter, so be sure to check back for the latest events!
Inside Rhode Island’s Coastal Homes, Through a Designer’s Lens
In Summer by the Sea, architect Thomas Kligerman captures the quiet magic of Rhode Island’s shingle-style homes, from Weekapaug to Block Island, where open windows, weathered wood, and salt air define summer living. Paired with Read McKendree’s striking photography, the book reads as both a design study and a deeply personal tribute to the Ocean State’s enduring coastal charm. Read more online.
A Slower, More Meaningful Way to Make Wedding Rings in Rhode Island
At RA HA Jewelry in Providence, couples trade the traditional ring shopping experience for something far more personal, carving their own bands in a hands-on workshop led by designer Julia Sullivan. The result is more than jewelry, it’s a shared moment of focus, connection, and craftsmanship that lingers long after the rings are worn. Read more online.
⭐ Looking for a reason to stretch your Newport afternoon a little longer? At Little Clam, Bar Bites brings coastal snacks, oysters, and chef-driven small plates to the table daily from 3-5pm, all paired with special pricing on drinks. It’s an easygoing, no-reservations-needed hang where the only plan is to snack, sip, and settle in.
⭐ What if your next night out put you face-to-face with Rhode Island’s rising stars? Join us from 6–9pm at Medici Lounge for Who to Watch 2026, where we’re gathering the creatives, changemakers, and names you’ll soon be hearing everywhere. Expect live music, electric energy, and a signature cocktail in hand as you celebrate what’s next.
⭐Are Rhode Island teens scrolling more than they’re questioning what they see? NewportFILM and Salve Regina University unpack the answer with a new pilot study on middle school social media habits, revealing both heavy daily use and a growing awareness of misinformation. The findings power Loud & Clear, an interactive initiative blending media literacy, hands-on learning, and civic engagement to help students navigate today’s digital world with a sharper eye.
Play / Pretend at Newport Art Museum Explores Identity Through Imagination
Opening May 7, Play / Pretend at the Newport Art Museum brings together historic artifacts and contemporary works to examine how play continues to shape identity well beyond childhood. The cross-generational exhibition moves from nostalgic to thought-provoking, inviting visitors to see imagination not as something left behind, but as something continuously redefined. Read more online.
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