The Maker Faire RI is ongoing this weekend and into next. It all starts at the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, Slater Mill in Pawtucket RI. There are hands-on workshops, building & hacking competitions, culinary crafting, garage technology, arts and creativity for sale, and robot gymnastic demonstrations, culminating with a Waterfire in the Creative Capital, Providence, RI.

September 12:
Iron Chef at The Steel Yard
FUNDRAISER: Teams of artists and fabricators compete in our 2nd annual head-to-head sculpture competition at the Steel Yard. Enjoy grilled goodies and stick around for the Iron Chef sculpture auction.

September 14-17:
D.I.Y. Workshops at Slater Mill
FREE! 4 days of hands-on How-To workshops during the Pawtucket Arts Festival.

Pawtucket’s fan friendly McCoy Stadium will become even friendlier this week. The PawSox are back in town playing against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Buffalo Bisons, and the Rochester Red Wings over the next several days. But to enhance the spectator experience, several special promotions will be offered.

From 5pm to 7pm tonight with a donation of 3 non perishable food items (ex. can of soup, can of vegetables, box of cereal, box of pasta), fans will receive an autograph photo of a PawSox player from the player’s wife or player’s girl friend. All collected food items will be donated to the RI Food Bank.

Tuesday, August 25th is PawSox Back-to-School Binder Night. The first 4,000 fans ages 14 and under will receive a PawSox Back to School Binder compliments of Citizen’s Bank, Pepsi, Lite Rock 105 and CW28.

And then on Thursday, August 27th is PawSox Player Card Set Night. All fans will entering McCoy prior to the game will receive a PawSox Baseball Card Set compliments of Dunkin’ Donuts and NESN.

Finally, on September 2, the PawSox will be hosting an all-you-can eat pre-game BBQ. Tickets are $24 per-person, and proceeds benefit the Pawtucket Red Sox Charitable Foundation.

Come on out and enjoy.

Affordability was among the factors taken into account in this ranking for 2009.  Cranston and Warwick were runners-up for the state.

Click here to read BusinessWeek’s review of Pawtucket and the other featured cities and towns across the nation.

Click here to read the full article and view a video clip.