Happy Friday, Providence. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let PVD Current serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Painted anchors on an art trail, the library’s 150th anniversary with cuneiform tablets and whaling logs, and a JJ Abrams thriller filming in Providence — catch up here.

State-level stories: Providence’s new crime center links cameras and 911 feeds, Rhode Island sits near bottom for fun, and JJ Abrams films scenes around Providence — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Previously hacked data repository relaunches, ramen packs recalled over missing soy warning, and crypto markets tumble on inflation fears — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Celebrate ancestral futures through procession and art
• Enjoy free live music supporting youth arts
• Enjoy free backpacks and carnival fun
• Earn makerspace equipment badges on Mondays
• Explore Philippine HIV advocacy and resilience
• This home warranty is 50% off until 8/24

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Three generations. Eleven locations. One unwavering commitment to excellence. Koopman Lumber has been serving Massachusetts contractors and homeowners since 1939, building lasting relationships through quality products and expert service.

Lumber, hardware, paint, kitchen design, or equipment rental, their local pros have you covered. With 475 employees dedicated to your success, they’re more than a supplier – they’re your project partners.

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🫶 We got your back

Attorneys: After a fender bender or slip-up, the last thing you want is to sort through lawyer talk and fine print. These personal injury pros in Providence have the track record to back up your claim.

Benefits: You could be leaving money on the table if you’re not tapping into every program you qualify for. Our guide breaks down all the benefit programs that can help cover groceries, bills, and more.

Kitchen: Forget those $800 monsters that could probably blend your iPhone and the $30 lumps that choke on ice. Our 2025 blender guide cuts through the hype so you get a blender that actually works without leaving you $200 poorer.

Vintage: Whether you’re after a perfectly broken-in leather jacket, a band tee older than you, or something that makes strangers say “wait, is that…?”, Bangled Tiger is a treasure trove of retro finds, funky one-offs, and the kind of closet gold that’ll have you feeling like you time-traveled (in style).

Home: Many homeowners have no idea they’re sitting on thousands in equity they can use to redo their bathroom, kitchen, or whatever their hearts desire. This free equity loan comparison tool can help you find the best fit and get started on the right foot.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →

Today

🎬 Friday Flicks @ Lincoln Public Library | Friday (8/22) at 10:00am – Catch Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on the big screen (well, library-sized) with your fellow movie buffs. It’s blue blur vs. mysterious menace as Shadow enters the scene—and yes, Knuckles and Tails are along for the ride. Free, fun, and family-friendly… just bring your popcorn-eating A-game.

🎨 Golden Reflection Painting Class @ Paint and Vino | Friday (8/22) at 7:00pm – Swap your usual bar crawl for a paint-and-sip sesh in that cozy Main Street studio, where your first beer, wine, or soda’s on the house. You’ll walk out with a 16×20 masterpiece, even if your art school résumé is nonexistent.

This weekend

💻 Intermediate Microsoft Excel @ Cranston Public Library | Saturday (8/23) at 10:00am – Ready to graduate from spreadsheet rookie to data wiz? This free class dives into conditional formatting, tables, filters, and pivot tables—aka the good stuff. Laptops are provided, so all you need to bring is your curiosity and a basic handle on Excel.

🗣️ Raise A Voice @ Nick-a-Nees | Saturday (8/23) at 2:00pm – Imagine jazz, surf rock, and a stacked local lineup on the patio, all fueling Youth Pride and New Urban Arts without charging a dime. Donations are accepted, so raid your couch cushions, pack your sharp wit, and bask in the glow of backing local talent.

🕺 Awesome 80s Party with Michael Jackson Tribute Artist @ Medicci Lounge | Saturday (8/23) at 7:00pm – Trade your modern playlists for leg warmers and synth grooves this weekend. Our 80’s throwback night is serving up neon nostalgia, moonwalk mastery from Joby Rogers, and enough shoulder pads to power a Jane Fonda workout video.

🧘 Flow & Sing @ Public Shop & Gallery | Sunday (8/24) at 1:30pm – If yoga feels too zen, try Flow & Sing, a 90-minute vinyasa that crescendos into a group singalong because why pick between warrior poses and belting tunes. It’s sun salutations, soulful harmonies, and zero judgment, just locals finding their inner yogi and diva.

🌱 Paint and Plant @ Chilangos | Sunday (8/24) at 2:00pm – It’s the perfect excuse to buy fresh paints you’ll use only once and pretend you have plant-parenting skills. Paint your canvas, tuck in a potted plant, and end up with wall art that might actually stay alive. Low stakes, lots of color.

🎶 Concerts in the Garden: Becky Bass | Sunday (8/24) at 4:00pm – If you’ve been craving backyard vibes without hedging your bets on the weather, bring your best picnic spread, folding chair, and sunhat for Becky Bass’s Caribbean soul set under the elms. Her silky vocals and steel pan will have even your skeptical neighbor tapping along.

Next week

🏺 Exhibition: “Echoes of the Andes” @ Providence Public Library | Monday (8/25) at 8:30am – Stroll up to the library’s special exhibit room for a sneak peek at pre-Hispanic Peruvian ceramics, no passport required. Handcrafted Chancay, Nasca, and Huaura pots whisper ancient Andean stories, perfect for bragging rights at your next trivia night. Think Indiana Jones meets your local librarian.

🔍 The Lost Park Tour @ Museum of Natural History and Planetarium | Tuesday (8/26) at 10:00am – Midweek at Roger Williams Park means tagging along with Mike McGinity to unearth vanished fountains and statues, exactly where history left them. Slip into comfy shoes, squint at every empty pedestal, and drop three bucks, free if you’re already on the museum’s cool list.

💆 DIY Spa Day @ South Street Landing | Tuesday (8/26) at 12:00pm – Think your kitchen’s only good for burnt toast? Head to South Street Landing in the Jewelry District for DIY Spa Day with Jennifer Zartarian, where you’ll whip up foot soaks, body scrubs, and kid-friendly hair treatments, all while earning wellness rewards toward next year’s program.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/22 Jules Mann and more @ Flipp – 7:30 pm
• 8/22 Hot Wing Roast Battle @ Providence Firefighters Hall – 8 pm
• 8/22 Nokturnal “Cybernok” @ Alchemy – 9 pm
• 8/22 Stunna Sandy @ Lo Vera – 10 pm
• 8/23 Gaspee Celtic Jam @ Governor Sprague Mansion – 4 pm
• 8/23 Sage King and more @ Alchemy – 5 pm
• 8/23 Greatness of Gospel XVIII @ Mixed Magic Theatre – 6 pm
• 8/24 Satan and more @ Alchemy – 6 pm
• 8/24 Rhode Island Folk Festival @ Crescent Park Carousel – 7 pm
• 8/25 Spill The Chai @ Alchemy – 7:30 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Providence edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Kathleen Flaherty (Residential Properties Ltd.)

Classic center-hall Colonial vibes meet modern upgrades in this 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath East Side standout. French doors connect a formal dining room to a chef-ready kitchen, while a sun-drenched family room and a mudroom keep things practical. The second floor’s primary suite comes with three closets, including one lined in cedar, and the third level’s two bedrooms are flooded with natural light. Gleaming hardwoods run throughout, and there’s a bonus room for office or lounging.

Out back, a sunny, landscaped yard with an open porch and deck is made for impromptu gatherings. Tucked on a quiet street yet just a stroll from Wayland Square, Hope Street, Brown, and RISD, this spot nails the balance between peaceful and plugged-in.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →