by JULIE TREMAINE
The Open
Market
System
Celebrate the warm weather
with outdoor shopping
in the city
After a long winter and cold spring, there’s
nothing better than spending a warm afternoon strolling around one of Providence’s
most picturesque spots and soaking in the
sun you’ve undoubtedly been missing. Why
ave
Date
EAST SIDE
the
Across the
Universe
Tuesdays
See the stars—you
know, the ones that
actually last—at the
Ladd Observatory. On
Tuesday evenings, this
Brown University facility opens its doors for
free public stargazing.
brown.edu/Departments/
Physics/Ladd
FEDERAL HILL
Twinkling Stars,
Twinkle Toes
Fridays
Fill yourself with the
romance of warm sum-
mer evenings at Walter’s
Ristorante d’Italia,
where you can dance
under the stars to live
music in the picturesque
courtyard of an old-
world, Italian institu-
tion. chefwalter.com
CITY GUIDE
Providence
not view a little art while you’re at it? Every
Saturday, starting in late May, artisans and
craftspeople convene for the Providence
Open Market, an outdoor bazaar of unique,
handmade creations. Browse tables filled
with jewelry, clothing, works of art and more
as you take in the scenery of the East Side’s
Lippitt Memorial Park, enclosed on both
sides by beautiful Blackstone Boulevard.
The Open Market coincides with the
farmers market at Lippitt Memorial Park.
After you’re done shopping, stop by the farmers market for fresh produce, farm-raised
beef and shellfish, locally made cheese and
confections—or just grab a sandwich for an
impromptu picnic in the park. There’s no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
providenceopenmarket.com.
A Trip to Remember
Celebrate the
life of one of the
country’s great-
est presidents
with a special
event, Abraham
Lincoln Visits the
Blackstone Val-
ley. On May 15,
depart by rail from
the Providence
Amtrak station,
accompanied by
“Lincoln” himself,
and take a trip
back in time. The
historical fes-
tivities include
a recitation of
the president’s
Cooper Union
speech, live music
by the Heritage
String Band and
an afternoon to
explore Woon-
socket. The event
coincides with the
150th anniversary
of Lincoln’s visit
to Rhode Island
and is part of the
ongoing celebra-
tion of the 200th
anniversary of his
birth. This is the
closest you’ll ever
get to meeting the
great man, so hop
on board for a ride
that will go down
in history. tour
blackstone.com/
lincolntrain.htm.
DOWNTOWN
A Fashionable
Collection
May 22
See the future stars
of fashion design at
Rhode Island School
of Design’s Collection
2010, a fashion show
at Veterans Memorial
Auditorium highlighting
the year’s best student
work, and then shop the
collection the following
day. risd.edu/collection
DOWNTOWN
When Dinosaurs
Roam the Earth
June 23—27
Jurassic Park might have
been fiction, but you’ll
doubt it at “Walking
with Dinosaurs.” Fifteen “live” dinosaurs,
including a 42-foot-long
Tyrannosaurus rex,
chronicle the evolution of the beasts in
this interactive sho w.
dinosaurlive.com
CITYWIDE
A Fashionable
Affair
June 6–12
Leap fashion-forward
into summer at Style
Week Providence.
This week of fashion
shows, including work
by designers such as
Betsey Johnson and
Samuel Vartan, is sure
to give you some warm-
weather wardrobe ideas.
styleweekprovidence.com
