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: Downtown’s roller party grooves under disco lights, local farms cash in on hefty energy grants, and Providence’s health lab gears up for ultra fast genome tests — catch up here.
State-level stories: Rhode Island’s top ranked airport impresses with swift check ins, student divers map hidden shipwrecks in 3D, and movie buffs chase clues citywide — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Infrastructure to study post-viral syndromes, full retirement age to increase by two months, major food recalls, and a new study on asteroid deflection — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Browse thousands of bargain books and media
- Get personalized computer help every Monday
- Sew quilts and bibs for local hospitals
- Kids enjoy free healthy library lunches
- Get free computer, resume and media help
- Unlock dozens of travel deals with AARP
🫶 We got your back
Money: Tired of big banks? Credit unions are known for offering more personalized service, better rates, and easy access to neighborly humans ready to help with whatever you need. Here are some of our favorites.
Music: Spotify playlists are fine for folding laundry, but if you’re after something a little rowdier than your earbuds can deliver, our picks of live music venues bring the kind of energy that makes you remember why you used to stay out past 10 pm.
Food: Sure, you could grab a salad, but sometimes you need food that’s good for the soul—AKA a burger that actually lives up to the hype. Our favorite burger joints serve up the kind of indulgent perfection that makes you forget you ever cared about counting anything.
Community: There’s something magical about Sunday farmer’s markets, pop-up concerts, annual gatherings, and block parties that turn strangers into neighbors. Local events don’t just entertain—they spark conversations and create a sense of belonging. Discover why local events matter more than we realize.
Pets: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
Own or manage a local business? Thousands of your future fans read our emails — advertising your products, services, listings, and events with us is easy.
You can advertise with us or submit an event for free.
📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🎄 Christmas in July Sea Glass Angel or Tree Workshop @ MoonStone Art Studio | Friday (7/11) at 6:30pm – Moonstone Art Studio is decking the halls in July with a sea glass workshop where you craft an angel or tree from beach-worn shards. Everything’s provided, you choose your palette, and no crafting chops are needed, so embrace your Picasso or klutz vibes.
🎭 The Lake Como Show @ East Providence High School | Friday (7/11) at 7:00pm – Adriana Trigiani is rolling into East Providence with a crowd-pleasing cocktail of comedy, live music, and heartfelt tales from her Italian roots, all to benefit the East Providence Public Library. Tickets come with a signed novel and premium bragging rights.
This weekend
🌿 Herb and Garden Weekend @ Coggeshall Farm Museum | Saturday (7/12) at 10:00am – Summer mornings belong in flower fields, not bumper-to-bumper traffic. Mosey out to the farm for Herb and Garden Weekend, where you can sniff chamomile, press blooms, plant a souvenir seedling, and sip fresh herbal tea. Saturday’s star guest is Bee-loved Apiary, buzzing around.
🌳 Bonsai Workshop @ Smug Brewing | Saturday (7/12) at 1:00pm – Think your weekend could use some green therapy, and a hoppy sidekick? Grab your pals, a pint at Smug Brewing, and learn to pot, prune, and shape your very own bonsai under friendly guidance. Guaranteed survivable tiny trees, or they’ll replace it.
🦞 Cousins Maine Lobster @ Narragansett Brewery | Sunday (7/13) at 12:00pm – Think you can handle fresh Maine lobster and local craft beer without a life vest? Cousins Maine Lobster is docking at Narragansett Brewery for Shark Week with buttery rolls, crisp fries, and pints of that smooth Rhode Island ale we’ve sworn is gourmet water. Come for the seafood, stay for the community vibe, just leave the floaties at home.
🧘 Beach Gong Bath @ Rocky Point Park- near the arch | Sunday (7/13) at 6:00pm – Ready to trade your inbox anxiety for ocean waves and gongs? At Rocky Point Park, a beachside gong bath promises zero small talk and maximum chill. Pack comfy layers and a blanket—and let the sound of waves do the talking.
🎤 Ralph Barbosa @ Veterans Memorial Auditorium | Sunday (7/13) at 7:00pm – Ralph Barbosa’s taking over our favorite downtown haunt with his self-effacing, attention-hogging stand-up, fresh off a Netflix hit and a shiny Hulu special in the works. He’s the kind of shy comic who steals the spotlight by barely reaching for the mic, turning every awkward pause into gold. If you’ve been surviving open-mic seasons, this is your upgrade. We’ll see you there, just don’t blame us when your cheeks hurt.
Next week
⛳ Summer Academy 2025 @ Topgolf | Monday (7/14) at 9:00am – It’s like summer camp—but with golf balls, Toptracer tech, and way more swagger. Five mornings of swings, snacks, and friendly competition for kids who’d rather perfect their follow-through than their Fortnite skills. Expect laughs, sunscreen, and maybe a hole-in-one.
🍄 Mushroom Hunting @ Cumberland Public Library | Tuesday (7/15) at 6:30pm – Think of it as a monastery ramble in search of summer’s finest fungi. Ryan and Emily will teach you ID techniques, how to get that perfect fungi shot, and how not to be bested by your own boots. Just leave the suede loafers at home.
🎨 Resin Art @ Paint and Vino | Tuesday (7/15) at 7:00pm – Nothing pairs better with a cold, complimentary beer than a puddle of glossy resin you convinced yourself is high art. Swing by the studio, pick your colors, and leave with a 16×20 masterpiece that’s uniquely yours, beverage in hand and zero Pinterest guilt.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/11 Chan the Human @ The Parlour – 5 pm
- 7/11 Mel @ River Island Art Park – 6 pm
- 7/12 Daveapalooza 2025 @ Proclamation Ale – 12 pm
- 7/13 Standby and more @ Alchemy – 1 pm
- 7/13 DJ Blend Battle @ The Strand Ballroom – 3 pm
- 7/13 Epochsis and more @ Alchemy – 4 pm
- 7/15 Diva and the Playboys @ The Overlook – 6 pm
- 7/15 Matt York @ Seekonk Public Library – 6 pm
- 7/15 ZG Smith @ Galactic Theatre – 7 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).
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Derek Simpson (Residential Properties Ltd.)
The Wesley C. Martin House pulls off the rare trick of being both stately and wildly inviting, thanks to a grand foyer that spills into sunlit rooms and a kitchen with a ten-foot island built for culinary marathons. Original butler’s pantry? Still here, now conveniently attached to a mudroom that can handle any level of chaos. The formal dining room leans into its English roots with wood paneling and just the right amount of drama.
Upstairs, the primary suite comes with a dressing room, luxe bathroom, and private deck, all recent additions that play nicely with the home’s early 20th-century bones. The third floor delivers bonus space with treehouse vibes, while new systems and a two-car garage keep things practical. Perched above Blackstone Boulevard, the house serves up leafy views and a front-row seat to one of the East Side’s most coveted addresses.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
