One never knows what you might stumble into at the invitation of a friend. Last night was one of those evenings as I attended a show performed by Margarita Martinez called “Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History (or Thanks for the Bumper Sticker)”  at The Roots Café in Providence. The Roots Café, an arts and cultural center, is reminiscent of the spirit that redefined Providence as a “happening” place in New England.

I entered a little biased about Margarita’s performance, since I know her through the theater club “The Players” on Benefit Street, but her performance was nothing short of breathtaking as she weaved through stories and songs – all of her own creation. Be sure to check out anything she does.

But is was the space and their commitment to the arts in the downtown that really peaked my interest. Since being created in March of this year by Providence Inner City Arts (PICA), The Roots Cafe is their venture dedicated to reaching out to the Providence community and showcasing lively, energetic performances and impressive art.  PICA was formed 40 years ago by a group of artists motivated for the need of arts and culture within this diverse community. They are a non-profit focusing their energies to many festivals and events in Providence, the Roots Café being one of them.

Roots is an extremely interesting place with a lot going on and the prices are very affordable.  Check out their schedule of events on their home page and take in a performance instead of rushing out of town at the end of your day’s work.  It is also another good reason to look at those condos and lofts in the downtown area.  Of course, for people on the East Side of Providence, it is an easy walk down Westminster Street.

If you’re in the Providence area this weekend, you might want to check out the Providence Rotary Street Painting Festival. This event, held downcity in the skating rink, is sure to be a day of family fun and artistic expression. Hundreds of artists flood Kennedy Plaza each year for this event, and take up sidewalk chalk to create large, detailed drawings that celebrate a specific theme. This year, the artistic prompt is “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity” in honor of the Rotary Club’s 100th anniversary.

One of the great things about Providence is the abundance of art and culture. Just think of all the venues—the Rhode Island School of Design, PPAC, Trinity Rep., The Providence Art Club, AS220. These haunts are a reason why the Creative Capital is such a wonderful place to live. Artists have the ability to see the beauty in their surroundings, enhance it, and create something worth keeping, and this is what they bring to our city on a daily basis.

Art makes areas more enjoyable to live in. The Street Painting Festival provides the opportunity for artists to create on an uncommon canvas, and for the public to see these detailed images come to life. This is a promising way to spend a bright autumn day.

Cumberland Manager, Holly Applegate and I are members of this group. More information can be found on The Rotary Club of Providence website.

Our Cumberland office recently underwent a service upgrade for internet. In the process of this effort, we’ve discovered that the house (that is our office) was formerly the home of Ray Mullin, owner of Ray Mullin Music. His popular store was founded in 1929 and originally headquartered in Pawtucket next to the LeRoy Theater. In fact, there was a tunnel between the theater and the music store, so when big acts performed, they could sneak out through this passage. Sandy Soares got her first guitar (a Les Paul) from Ray Mullins and Debby Smith used to babysit his grandchildren. Today, both the Pawtucket store and the LeRoy Theater are gone; the Company has relocated to Swansea.

This got us thinking. Time works differently in Rhode Island. Instead of living by that clock thing hanging on the wall, nostalgia seems to be the dominant rhythm of life here. While new construction may change the terrain, the Rhode Island conscious is embedded in the past. Just ask a true Rhode Islander for directions. Instead of street names, they will most likely be given by landmark. And usually this landmark will be outdated, like where the old I-195 used to be. With this trait in mind, we’ve created a list of some famous Rhode Island Used-To-Be’s that are important to our culture.

If you live in the Ocean State and are over the age of 20, there’s a really good chance you have some childhood memory of Rocky Point Amusement Park. This Warwick Park, established in 1847, grew quickly in popularity, and from the 1850’s through the 1980’s it was the most popular attraction in New England. Tom Flanagan remembers spending Saturdays there, full of laughter and cotton candy. The park closed in 1995 and was demolished in 2007. The town of Warwick is currently looking to make the land into a public park.

Much like Rocky Point, Crescent Park in East Providence (named for the crescent shape of the Riverside beach) was renowned in its time. Founded in 1886 by George Boyden, the venue was known as the “Coney Island of the East”, with hot air balloons and extravagant carousels providing the Park’s main attractions. Tom Flanagan also remembers the delicious candy apples he enjoyed here (there is a theme here with Tom about amusement venues). The park closed in 1979, and the surrounding area was developed. The only remnant of these sweet roots is the Crescent Park Carousel, which remains open to this day.

Today, The Towers set the backdrop to the Narragansett social scene, but they once provided entrance to the Narragansett Pier Casino, another source of turn-of-the-century entertainment. The Casino was completed in 1886 and provided a refuge for the areas social elite, offering a variety of recreational opportunities, such as boating, tennis, billiards, bowling, cards, and shooting. The venue also had restaurants, stores, reading rooms, a theater, a bandstand, a ballroom, and a beautiful beach. While Residential Properties Ltd. has been around for a long time (this year is our 30th anniversery!), none of us were there to enjoy the pleasures of The Casino, since the building burned down in 1900. However, locals like Anita Langer cherish The Towers for uniting a community with their granite walls.

Our final used to be is much less romantic, but is a part of Rhode Island history none-the-less. In the 1980s, Providence was included in the Guinness Book of World Record for holding the distinction of World’s Widest Bridge. Known as the Crawford Street Bridge at 1,147 feet, the structure grew when several normal sized bridges were covered with decking and turned into a parking lot. Oh yeah, this monstrosity was located across the Providence River. Ed Hardy remembers thinking this bridge was gross in his youth. This monstrosity has since been dismantled; the river has been moved; Waterfire caldrons line the center of where the bridge was; and the whole transformation turned the area into an asthetically pleasing area. While this demolition was integral in developing our Capital Center, we just couldn’t let you erase this Used-To-Be from your memory. So, remember, you can get to the downtown area from the East Side by crossing over the river where the world’s widest bridge was.

Admittedly, we’ve left out numerous landmarks that could be used for directions, so you can expect another Used-To-Be compilation in the near future.

This Sunday, August 7th, Providence will be “rocked” by the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. The race starts  and ends at the statehouse, and the course loops around the East Side and DownCity. But this isn’t your average half marathon. Combining athletics, music, and culture, bands will be stationed at every mile of this 13.1 mile course, entertaining runners and spectators alike as they tread down some of the most scenic, and historic, streets in Providence. A special treat  awaits at the finish line, where the popular band Sugar Ray greets participants with their classic tunes. It has been reported that 10,000 or more runners have registered for the event.

The music every mile will be performed live by Providence bands, featuring a variety of music—from alternative to classic rock, punk, funk, and blues. Weather permitting, this is sure to be a perfect summer weekend. The race kicks off at 7:00AM and Sugar Ray will be performing at the Statehouse from 9:30AM to 11:00AM. More information can be obtained on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon website.