Road Trip: Providence, Rhode Island
Wednesday- July 21, 2021
Dear Marion,
Our road trip took us to Providence, Rhode Island and it did not disappoint. We were off to a bumpy start on the train as our car did not have air conditioning and the train was sold out but we persevered and stayed hydrated if not wilted around the edges. I still hold Providence close to my heart as there are so many wonderful memories from my days at RISD including post-college and the many trips back to visit friends. At this point, friends have since relocated, but there's still that wonderful diversity of people due to the number of varied schools in the city and what they have to offer. Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design(RISD), Brown University, Johnson and Wales all contribute to the variety of interesting people that you can encounter while strolling through the historic yet contemporary city. In fact, Rhode Island has a surprising number of schools and a variety of landscapes when you think of the size of the state. The train ride is a visually beautiful experience but if you choose to drive a car there are so many places to stop and enjoy from Mystic to Newport and Wickford to name a few each with their own personality offering restaurants, shops, and beautiful areas to stroll and take in their beauty.
One of my favorite walks in Providence is tree-lined Benefit Street as there has been great care taken of the interesting historic homes which are equally beautiful during the day as evening where they are still illuminated by the old-fashioned street lamps. There is a romance in the air of Providence that I felt from the first moment we drove up the steep hills on the east side more than a few decades ago. It was here that I grew to love and appreciate all things old and historic, prior to this discovery I would have considered myself modern or at least contemporary. On this trip on a school tour, we heard that Providence is considered and ranked as one of the most artistic cities in the country and after our trip came to a close we agreed that art was all around us and made for a memorable experience.
The food in Providence can be enjoyed as a picnic through the food trucks and sandwich shops whether on Thayer Street or downtown, to the many bakeries situated throughout the town. Restaurants abound from the delights of Federal Hill (Little Italy) to steakhouses and seafood restaurants downtown, a handful of which enjoy the views of the river. I remember my first awareness of vegetarian and vegan choices was discovered in this city and there are still some fine choices to be discovered.
Sometime after my college days, the city redesigned the flow of the river which runs right through downtown to accommodate a more friendly use of the space. Not long after, as a part of their graduate project, a former RISD student designed the River Fire. After the incredible response, the city continued with this beautiful installation attracting newcomers regularly as well as the hometown crowd. We did not get to partake in the experience on this trip, but when they light up the river, there is music pumped in throughout, and many areas for crowds to take in this spectacular event.
Design and art are what threads this community together and it is something to experience whether on foot, local bus, bike riding, or in the comfort of your own car. Wickenden Street is a nice stop for breakfast, off of Benefit Street, where there are a few shops housing local art and supplies. Meandering in and around the residential area we worked our way back to Brown University and Thayer Street where a welcome frozen lemonade was purchased from a stand to cool our truly hot day.
During our stay, we took the public bus a handful of times and had the pleasure of meeting some very nice drivers, one in particular left an impression. She was friendly from the start and gave us some great advice as to where to go and what areas to be careful..walk with a friend or avoid walking and catch a ride(ie. Uber). The bus was so convenient and you could obtain a transfer so that you could come and go on the bus for $2. or $3.00(incl transfer). What left an impression on me was the relationship we witnessed between the young children, students, older folks, and the bus driver. There was such mutual respect I believe due to the friendly demeanor of our bus driver. They were waving and pumping fists in greeting and saying goodbye while updating each other on life. This was a perfect example of how someone can make a difference in their community. A smile, kind word, and genuine care makes change...there wasn’t any sign of politics or line drawn in the sand, simply people caring and putting it forward.
Whether you are sports-minded, enjoy a day at a museum, music, or a foodie there are many ways to experience Providence. As a city that thrives during each of the four seasons, there is an excuse to come back more than a few times in order to take in the variety of joys it has to offer. I remember you and I loving every moment of the deep and rich colors of the fall foliage as the backdrop to parents’ weekend. The beautiful snowfall walking through the campus green and down the, albeit slippery, hill with the well-lit capital staging the emotion of the evening. Blustery winds and frequent rainfalls in Spring rewarded with the beautifully landscaped east side neighborhoods in May. Summer can be brutally warm but shady areas and the quiet streets are your reward as many have escaped to the beautiful ocean beaches. Upon our return, as the heat continued, we were fantasizing about that incredible frozen lemonade. We were inspired but made a slight alteration(as oranges abound in our kitchen at the moment) to Orange Julius and it did not disappoint. Wish we could enjoy together!
Talk soon,
Forever Yours
Quote:
“Don’t let fear or frustration- or the fact that others around you seem to be all set- immobilize you. But do, from this day forward, open yourself up to possibilities you might never have considered. Step up. Step out of your comfort zone. Consider saying ‘yes’ even when ‘no’ feels much safer.”
Meredith Vieira
American broadcast journalist, television host
Born 1953