Introducing...

Rhode Island, I owe you an apology.   I've misjudged you, and I'll be the first to admit I've been a bit of a snobby ex-pat over the past few years (St Andrews will do that to the best of us).

Growing up here, I got my mind set that the smallest state probably wasn't going to cut it for my cultural chops.  So I hightailed it out of here in search of the world and someplace more happening (Almost Famous reference entirely intentional).  First it was Australia, then Scotland, London, Australia again, and finally, when it seemed time to return state-side, New York City. 

But low and behold I'm back - and just in time, it seems. Fresh off the bus from Brooklyn, a week after Travel + Leisure dubbed Providence #6 Best City for Hipsters (read: good music, arts, coffee…), I got looking to see exactly where the plaid flannel was hanging here in the Ocean State.  And I've been pretty damn impressed with what I've found so far- Spencer Finch on show at RISD, super talented mixologists at The Dorrance, and one of my favorite musicians coming to town for a book reading gig on Thursday.  I could get used to this.

But there is one key thing missing.  How are you supposed to hear about all this stuff? Word-of-mouth is all well and good, and you've got the Phoenix once a week, but I've been really having to search to find out what's going on. Which let's face it, most of us don't have the time and/or patience to do.  And, not to call anyone out (ahem, Lupo's), but some of the places serving up the best gigs are seriously lacking an online presence.  If a venue is truly rocked, and no one is there to tweet about it, did that tree in the woods really fall?  I'm sure the saying goes something like that…   

So this is the goal: One blog, one twitter feed, one place to go to find out all the good stuff.  Rhode Island, get ready to get served up some culture. 


Tips more than welcome: tipstotherhodeislander@gmail.com; or tweet me @theRIslander

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Sarah