(5.18) It’s been a challenging year for the merchants of Hope Street.  Construction, noise, and detours have disrupted the retail climate for business owners and customers alike, and they want to reward your patience with a bigger and better Spring Block Party . . . in and around the construction. It’ll be fun.

Join Providence Monthly and the Hope Street Merchants Association for our annual Hope Street Spring Block Party . . . bigger and better this year. ‘Beers for the Ballet’ will feature five great local breweries: Foolproof Brewing Company, Grey Sail Brewing of RI, Trinity Brewing, Narragansett Brewing Company and Newport Storm Brewery. New this year — win an iPad or a Grand Prize gift certificate package in the Street Scavenger Hunt.

Also: Gourmet Food Trucks * Sidewalk Sales * Kids Zone * Hayrides * Pedicabs * Outdoor Open Dance Classes * Roaming Street Entertainment.

The music lineup looks like this: 12:30pm Ben Walsh; 2pm the Silks; 3:30pm Ravi Shavi; 5pm the Rice Cakes.

Noon to 6pm, Saturday, May 18th, rain or shine (it’s totally going to shine), Hope north of Rochambeau

One way to know the days are getting longer is when Ladd Observatory changes its hours on Tuesdays, the night it’s open to the public. For me, spring feels official when I can stop by Ladd from 9pm to 11pm instead of 8pm to 10pm, giving the sky more time to darken.

The good folks there still can’t control rain or clouds, but tonight is supposed to be nice and clear (but chilly – bring a sweater). I’m not sure if the main (see: honkin’ big) telescope will be focused on our own moon or, as it was several weeks ago, the moons of super-visible-right-now Jupiter, but there’s so much going on up there you just can’t go wrong. Late April is the best time of year to see Saturn, and boy, those rings get me every time. David Bowie sings about the stars (not the astronomy kind, but hey…Give me this one thing) after the jump.

Photo by Bob Horton

Free and open to the public, Tuesdays, 9pm to 11pm, Ladd Observatory, 210 Doyle Avenue at Hope, (directions)

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Hey I can see my house from here (never gets old). Several neighborhood cleanups are scheduled to celebrate Earth Day, many on Saturday (Earth Day is actually Monday).

Start on Thursday and head down to Promenade and Kinsley Streets to volunteer at the Providence Woonasquatucket River Greenway Cleanup.

On Saturday the Blackstone Parks Conservancy has events planned throughout the day including trash and debris cleanup around the riverside and woods.

A comprehensive list for the week can be found at Eco RI News.

Image Credit: NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring

I’m just a little concerned that he’s going to bite off the tip of his tongue . . . when he hits the bus on Angell. Actually these guys had spotters further down.  No need for spotters when playing croquet (after the jump).

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(3.28) Another thrilling but short marathon reading coming up.

Not About The Buildings is ready to kick winter to the curb with its more-or-less annual March marathon reading. This time we’re tackling The Duel, the autobiographical tale by that notorious Casanova, Giacomo Casanova, as he flees one kingdom only to find himself challenged to a duel over the affections of a ballerina that no one actually seems to like very much. A witty comedy of manners and rigorous send-up of the noble classes, The Duel is highly entertaining and also not especially long. It’s not nearly as bleak as the stories we normally read at these events, either.

Come to the Athenaeum to read aloud, or just listen as other people read to you. The event is free (as always) and open to the public (also as always).

We’ll be reading the 2011 translation by James Marcus, which is readily available if you’d like to buy a copy; we’ll also have a limited number on hand, if you’d like to follow along.

Free, refreshments at 5pm; reading begins at 5:30pm, Thursday, March 28th, Providence Athenaeum
251 Benefit Street

(3.9) Although technically not in Rhode Island – and you know how far 20 minutes outside Providence can feel to some – the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River is a perpetual Providence Phoenix Best Folk Venue nominee. And no wonder: you can bring your own food and drinks, the sound is great, they have baked goods and rotating artwork, and a few years ago they upgraded their bum-numbing seating. Local rootsy rockers The ‘Mericans have helped raise RI’s profile at the Narrows, first by bringing Brown Bird and Route .44 as an amazing triple bill, then headlining another Providence-area showcase featuring Tig & Bean and Allyson Callery, and most recently joining several local bands and artists in a Gram Parsons tribute at the Americana Music Festival.

Local Neil Young tribute band Forever Young is continuing the ‘Mericans’ work. This project, comprised of well-established RI musicians, singers and songwriters, has sold out several prior Narrows shows with their fantastic interpretations of Neil’s hits and rarities. Now they’ve been asked to host an entire weekend at the Narrows – so if you miss them tonight, you’ll have another shot tomorrow, but with different material. (Tickets are going fast, so you may want to call first.) It’s nice that a venue that attracts amazing national and international stars has room in their hearts and their building for Rhode Island’s great artists.

$18 in advance or $20 at the door or $30 both nights, Friday (3/8) and Saturday (3/9), 8pm showtime, 16 Anawam Street, Fall River.

photo by Denise Bass

There’s a new seat in town. Or a couple hundred.

Ocean State Theatre Company has migrated north from their five-year run at Theatre by the Sea, converting an old Verizon office building near Iron Works Tavern into a sleek, stadium-seat venue. They just opened their fourth production in the new space, RENT.

Jonathan Larson’s urban, AIDS- and drug-themed musical is pretty heavy but offers some light moments and nice harmonies. The cast members seemed to enjoy genuine friendships, and from what I overheard, more than one audience member was pleased with Maureen’s skin-tight leather pants. I’m not sure which impressed me more: than the designers managed to locate a payphone for the set, or how effortlessly Angel jumped from floor to tabletop in those high heels. My one nitpick is that a few actors struggled to be heard against the live professional musicians who scored the production.

OSTC used RENT to help spread AIDS awareness via literature and handouts. One staff member seemed disappointed that I didn’t accept a free condom (even after being assured they came in different flavors). Maybe next time, sweet older lady.

RENT runs through March 10th at Ocean State Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick. Schedule and ticket sales here.

(2.14) It’s the teeth isn’t it. I’m not sure why I picked this particular image (from The Maker by Christopher and Christine Kezelos) but not to worry, the fourth annual Providence Children’s Film Festival has a wide range of films, both animated and live action, appropriate for all age groups. The festival opens Thursday at the Metcalf Auditorium (in the Chace Center) with a reception at 6pm and a screening of “Alfie the Little Werewolf” at 7pm. Screenings start Friday at the Cable Car Cinema and run every day through the end. The RISD Auditorium will have screenings on Saturday and Sunday only.

Go to the website for all the details and a useful printable schedule. (Tickets for screenings marked “FREE!” are available the day of the screening on a first-come first-serve basis and may be picked up at the festival information table located outside the RISD Museum Metcalf Auditorium.)

$7.50 adults/$5 kids, students seniors/family package deal available/assorted venues Thursday the 14th through Tuesday the 19th

Free and Warm: The art is kept indoors and sometimes it’s free. The RISD Museum of Art charges no admission on Sundays, and the third Thursday evening of each month (details and schedule here).

Cheap and Bracing: It’s Winter Wonder Days at Roger Williams Park Zoo with special half-off winter rates through January and February. A partial list of the cold-hardy animals you might see includes; aoudad, bison, bald eagles, camels, emus, farmyard animals, kangaroos (?), pronghorns, moon bears, penguins, red-crowned cranes, seals, snow leopards, and (seen here) the red panda. While you’ll always see some animals on each trip to the zoo, which ones may change depending on weather conditions.

Our animal care team follows guidelines for each species pertaining to temperature, icing conditions and wind chill, and adjusts their environment accordingly.

This means that certain cold-hardy animals will almost always be on exhibit, while other animals will be allowed to choose whether they’d like to be outdoors or stay in their indoor space (which may or may not be viewable by the public, depending on the exhibit). Animals that are particularly sensitive to the cold may be kept off-exhibit in their indoor space whenever the temperature or other conditions require it.

Interior zoo exhibits are still open and there’s always the Wilderness Café where you can warm up. Adult admission $7.50/children ages 3 through 12, $4.95.

(12.2) The Annual Holiday Celebration at the RISD Museum of Art runs Sunday, December 2nd, from 1pm to 5pm (museum opens at 10am) featuring live music, dance performances, art-making activities, storytelling in the galleries, holiday refreshments, and a visit with Santa Claus.

This year’s special events include festive music in the galleries by the St. Mary Academy-Bay View Chamber Ensemble and the Moses Brown School Chorus and String Quartet, as well as tunes from Joe’s Backyard Band in the Metcalf Auditorium. Also in the auditorium, JUMP! Dance Company performs “Scenes from Polar Express.”  Enjoy seasonal tales from master storyteller Rob Dimmick and author Cathren Housley or try your hand at an origami art project to take home. Enter a raffle for gift prizes including a one-year family museum membership. See if you can spot the RISD Museum’s own “Claus célèbre”—William Holbrook Beard’s portrayal of St. Nicholas sailing over Victorian-era London in a swan sleigh—visiting the galleries only for the holiday season!

The museum gift shop has great stuff at all price points.

Museum free and open to the public, 10am to 5pm, Sunday, December 2, RISD Museum, two entrances: 20 North Main Street and 224 Benefit Street (directions)

Ice ice baby. The downtown skating rink will open for limited hours on Wednesday and Thursday, with regular hours starting Friday. Children under 16 years must accompanied by an adult or reasonable facsimile. Thanksgiving holiday hours are:

Wednesday, November 21st open at 4pm
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 22nd open at 4pm
Friday, November 23rd 10am to 10pm

Saturday and Sunday 11am to 10pm as usual. The Brown University hockey team will skate with the public and sign autographs on Friday afternoon. Skate rental $4. More information at Greater Kennedy Plaza.

$6 adults, $3 children, Bank of America skating rink, Kennedy Plaza

(11.20) Glad I bumped into this music. The name Sweet Love threw me off at first; I pictured ukeleles and dulcimers. What I had not expected to find was a fuzz-rock power trio totally kicking ass, but there you are. Even on the slower cuts, these guys crank it (lots of those chunky riffs that rattle your ribcage when you stand too close). In a recent enthusiastic review of the band’s debut album “Motor” Chris Conti of the Phoenix had this to say;

These three dudes click and fire on all cylinders, with musty pulses laid down by Roberge, Menard’s vocals bobbing atop feedback-drenched chords, and Hunter’s crisp and concise skills behind the kit. The songs here glow red-hot like the business end of a reefer-stuffed blunt.

Conti hears Queens of the Stone Age. I hear a little Wolfmother. My favorite song is ‘The Circle.’ Go to Sweet Love to listen. Openers are Owl (from Oakland).

Wednesday — @AS220, Neon Piss, Funeral Cone, In Heat

Thursday — @Dusk, Noose, Taboo, Russian Tsarlag, Timeghost @Fête Lounge, Barnaby Bright, Liz Longley @Black Box 95 Empire, Tongue Dynasty, Sea of Bones, Atriarch, Queen Elephantine @the Met, the Sword, Gypsyhawk, Eagle Crew

(Photo of Sea of Bones by Meghan McInnis)

Wednesday — @Dusk, Bog of the Infidel, Obsidian Tongue, Sarcomancy @the Met, Womack Family Band, the Viking Jesus, the Can’t Nots

Thursday — @AS220, Math the Band (CD Release Party) Downtown Boys, Hank Sinatra Jr., In Glove With Bach, Randy Bush @the Met, Smith and Weeden, Coyote Kolb, Shotgun

(Photo of electro-punk spazz duo Math the Band by Keena)

Wednesday — @the Met, Dark Dark Dark (try “Last time I Saw Joe”), Emily Wells, Sugar Honey Iced Tea @Local 121, Agent Ribbons (RIYL Holly Golightly, Rasputina, Social Studies, The Raincoats, Beirut, Dum Dum Girls. Video after the jump.)

Thursday — @Firehouse 13, Peelander-Z, Electric Eel Shock, Hank Sinatra Jr. (Peelander-Z seem to be Japanese animé nerdcore with costumes and bowling; this band in this venue? You should probably go. OR, tour starts up the night before in Cambridge at the Middle East . . . with openers Math the Band!)

Photo of Peelander-Z

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The nationally renowned Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular returns to Roger Williams Park Zoo from October 4 through November 3. Visitors view the nighttime display of 5,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns as they walk along the wetland trail. Well over 100 of the pumpkins are carved into veritable works of art, and presented in themed scenes with music.

This year’s Spectacular, titled “All the World’s a Stage,” features scenes from iconic and popular movies, Broadway hits and television series. Another section pays homage to man’s best friend with an array of carved pumpkins conveying the amazing variety of dog species. In addition, the night wouldn’t be complete without the annual Halloween scene and the kids section filled with childhood favorites. The climax, as always, is the incredible Laughing Tree display comprised of hundreds of pumpkins of every size and the distinctive “laughing” music.

Proceeds from the Spectacular will support the zoo’s education and conservation efforts as well as zoo improvements.

Event Hours: 6pm to 11 pm, with the last admission at 10pm. NEW extended hours on Saturdays and Sunday, October 7: 6pm-midnight, last admission at 11pm.

Event runs Thursday, October 4 thru Saturday, November 3, Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue (directions)