Happy Friday, Providence. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! In today’s edition: Winter electric bill savings, a Golden Girls murder mystery, story hour with Jimmie the Highland cow, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Seasonal relief for ratepayers: RI Energy reversed its withdrawal, and regulators approved a winter savings plan. Customers will see $32 off electric bills monthly from January through March, and gas service is not included — get the new savings details.

Community marks school milestone: Officials cut the ribbon this week on East Providence’s new Edward R. Martin Middle School, with a three-story addition and renovated facilities. Students begin classes next week — get details on the opening.

Architects detail compact site: Pawtucket’s Planning Commission approved Pennrose’s six-story, 72-unit Tidewater Landing riverfront project at 177 School Street, with mixed AMI affordability and a completion target of May 2028 — get all the project details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: Last week, my step-dad got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Annual plans are 55% off until Sunday — check it out here.

Highlights this week

• Providence residents enjoy free RWP attractions
• Immerse in Liberia’s vibrant culture
• Library launches annual Holiday Raffle
• Shop Providence’s indoor winter farmers market
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals
• Pet parents: Don’t miss Chewy’s Black Friday sale

🫶 We got your back

Support local kids this season: Starting Nov. 29, PPAC will serve as a Toys for Tots drop-off site throughout the holidays. A collection box will be in the Theatre’s Arcade by the box office during select shows, from The Music of Pink Floyd to Boston Pops. Bring new, unwrapped gifts for ages up to 18. Last year, RI Toys for Tots distributed 195,000-plus toys. See what to bring and when.

A new chapter begins: North Providence is getting a rare gem: a bookstore. Forget Me Not Fables is opening at 1986 Smith St. in a former barbershop, aiming to be a cozy community hangout with new and used reads, local-author shelves, and “blind date” books. Soft opening Nov. 29 (ticketed), with a public grand opening targeted for Dec. 13. Get all the details.

Cue the crate-digging: Providence’s underground has a home at Armageddon Shop, a long-running trove of wall-to-wall vinyl, plus tapes and CDs. The crew has built the collection since the early 2000s. When “what should I listen to?” paralysis hits, a lucky flip often picks the next obsession.

Health drinks that don’t taste like grass: With tasty tea and matcha blends for everything from recovery and radiant skin to energy without the crash, a metabolism boost, and immune support, everything in Pique’s lineup tastes as good as it makes you feel. They’re clean, there are no additives, and all new monthly subscriptions are 20% off for liferight now. Yup… literally forever (or until you cancel).

📆 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.

Today

🍲 Federal Hill House’s Annual Feeding Families Fundraiser @ McBride’s Pub | Friday (11/28) at 7:30pm – Federal Hill is doing what it does best, feeding people and having a good time. Hit Federal Hill House for music, raffles, and real-deal eats, all to back the Swiss Street Food Pantry that keeps 3,800 neighbors fed every month. Bring generosity, leave full.

🎬 The Room Interactive Screening with Live Cast @ AS220 | Friday (11/28) at 9:00pm – Consider this your excuse to yell at a screen in public, with the RKO Army staging a live, interactive re-enactment of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. Expect tossed spoons, shouted lines, and gloriously awkward romance, Providence style, oh hi Mark.

This weekend

🌍 Songs and Poems for the Earth and the Season @ North Providence Library | Saturday (11/29) at 11:00am – Trade your leaf blower for a North Providence Library chair and soak up songs, poems, and a smart stormwater talk. Notable Works brings a chamber ensemble, special guests, and an open mic, free and welcoming. Bring shampoo, soap, or socks, and your inside voice.

🕵️ A Golden Girls Murder Mystery @ Hope Events on Main | Saturday (11/29) at 2:00pm – Think you can solve a case with Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia without spilling your drink? This Golden Girls murder mystery drops into Pawtucket with cheesecake-level drama, snappy one-liners, and audience sleuthing. Grab your sharpest friend, your sassiest cardigan, and play along.

🎄 Printable Holiday Ornaments – Painting Class @ Paint and Vino | Saturday (11/29) at 7:00pm – Holiday ornament painting is taking over the Pawtucket studio with brushes, seasonal cheer, and a complimentary drink. Skip the mall, make something that only sheds compliments, and leave with handmade bragging rights, a mild buzz, and a handmade keepsake you’ll actually want to give.

🧺 Flea at Farm Fresh Market Hall @ Farm Fresh RI | Sunday (11/30) at 11:00am – Skip the mall and hit the indoor Flea at Farm Fresh, where 75 plus local makers, vintage hunters, and purveyors of coffee and cocktails keep you fed and stocked with one-of-a-kind gifts. Sundays all season, with a Black Friday kickoff, because Providence shops together.

🍷 Sip & Savor @ Strive Kitchen + Bar | Sunday (11/30) at 3:30pm – Strive Kitchen & Bar is pouring the good stuff for Sip & Savor, a tequila-forward night with real flavor, music, and no sticky margarita machines in sight. Spring for the optional tasting if you like nuance, or stick to sipping and people-watching.

Next week

🔥 Enameling 101: What the Flux @ The Steel Yard | Monday (12/1) at 6:30pm – Ever wanted to melt glass onto metal on purpose? Learn the basics of enameling with artist Nicholas Hesson, from prep to firing, color layering, and finishing, yes there is flux. It is hands-on, oddly soothing, and you leave with something you will actually show off.

🍽️ Clay to Table @ The Steel Yard | Monday (12/1) at 6:30pm – Clay to Table showcases ceramicist Fred Gorman’s functional pottery, the kind you want on your dinner table. Browse, chat with the maker, and upgrade your bowls, mugs, and serving dishes. Food just tastes better when it’s served in something handmade.

🐮 Story Hour with Jimmie the Highland Cow @ Cranston Public Library | Tuesday (12/2) at 5:30pm – Bring the littles ages 2 to 8 to Central for story hour with Jimmie the Highland cow, a gentle Highland cow who’s great with kids. They’ll hear a cow story, sing a few songs, make a craft, then pet Jimmie. Registration required, space is limited.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 11/29 The Agents @ Alchemy – 5 pm
• 11/29 Maplight.Oggvorbis and more @ AS220 – 8 pm
• 12/3 The Planet Smashers and more @ The Parlour – 7 pm
• 12/3 Black Cat Crossing @ Nick-A-Nee’s – 8:30 pm
• 12/4 Greg Abate @ Laurelmead – 7:30 pm
• 12/4 The Hoodies @ Mezzo Lounge – 9 pm
• 12/5 7th Annual Holiday Show @ Alchemy – 5 pm
• 12/6 The Band Feel @ Alchemy – 5 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: Kira Greene (Compass)

Renovated East Side townhouse condo with classic bones and modern polish. The open first floor frames a firelit living and dining area, flowing to a quartz tile kitchen with premium cabinetry and stainless appliances. Upstairs offers three bedrooms, a sleek bath with walk-in shower, laundry, and a cozy library niche. The third floor is a private primary suite with ensuite bath and treetop light, plus all new windows.

New HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and refinished hardwoods join crisp fixtures. A redesigned Trex deck, private driveway, and shed add everyday ease. Steps to Blackstone Boulevard, Wayland Square, and Hope Street.

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