Have a ‘Misadventure with the Muse' at Imago Gallery April 25 – June 2

Artist Reception April 27, 5-8 pm

Imago Foundation for the Arts (IFA) is featuring collages created by IFA exhibiting artist Howard Windham along with the artwork of guest artists Olivia R. Watson and Carol Anne Teague (C.A.T.) Wiseman, two student guest video artists and other IFA exhibiting artists April 25 – June 2 at Imago Gallery, 36 Market Street, Warren, Rhode Island

A public reception for all the artists will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. with musical accompaniment by guitarist by John Birt.

Windham has titled his series “Misadventures with the Muse.”  The artwork he is presenting was partially influenced by the artistic quilt making of his wife, Carolyn Windham, and memorable, milestone quilt exhibits he saw at the Whitney Museum in New York in 1971 and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston in 2002.  He says, “I make quilts, too. Mine are perfectly useless, made of wood or, in this collection, paper.”

Windham is a Rhode Island School of Design graduate and professor emeritus from UMass/Dartmouth, where he completed his MFA. His collages, paintings, and sculptures have been exhibited throughout New England.

Watson is a multimedia visual artist. Originally from Oklahoma, she has called Rhode Island home since 2012. Currently she works primarily on mixed media paintings, but has created bodies of work in printmaking, video, and assemblage. She holds a B.A. in Modern Culture + Media and Visual Art from Brown University.

She says, “Through my work, I explore quiet moments, usually solo and introspective or intimate and tender. I get to daydream about the lives of houses, forest clearings, and red dirt plains and draw out their spirits.”

Wiseman, a RISD graduate so old she remembers when "cut and paste" meant using an Xacto blade and rubber cement, has had a long and --self-described-- checkered design career.  However, since 2000 she has concentrated on ribbons and fabric and sold her work in craft shows from Camden, Maine to Lincoln Center in New York, as well as on Etsy.  She currently works on fabric collages in her converted garage/studio overlooking the Providence River in Pawtuxet Village (Cranston), RI.

She says, “My widely varied career after RISD has included calligraphy, stenciling, visual merchandising, retail management, jewelry design in India, textile design in West Africa, polymer clay jewelry, ribbon weaving, and most recently fabric collage.  I love fabric but am less keen about sewing, so all of my pieced are collaged with occasional embroidery, both hand and machine. 

The two student video artists whose work will be displayed are Catherine Noa Ashley and Jiyeon Johnston. Ashley is currently finishing up her MFA in Digital + Media at Rhode Island School of Design. Johnston is currently pursuing a BFA in Digital Media with a minor in Art History at Rhode Island College, expected to graduate in May 2024.

IFA exhibiting artists who will be participating in this group exhibit include Bill Chisholm, David Clarke, Eileen Siobhan Collins, Mary Dondero, Stephen Fisher, Philip Gruppuso, Gary Heise, Carl Keitner, Lisa Lowenstein, Eileen Mayhew, Linda Megathlin, Catherine Moylan, Rina Naik, Mercedes Nuñez, Anne Marie Rossi, Howard Rotblat-Walker, Duff Schweninger, Pamela Seymour Smith Sharp, Lenny Rumpler, and Meredith Wolf.

As an accompaniment to this exhibit, Windham and his artist daughter Brett Day Windham will be offering a one-day workshop on collage called “Facing the Music” on Saturday, May 11, from 2-5 p.m. at Imago Gallery. The Windhams will provide a brief introduction to collage, share examples of their work and engage participants in making collage faces as they play with color, tone, texture, perspective, and reality. More information is available at: https://www.imagofoundation4art.org/collage-workshop. 

Regular hours at Imago Gallery for the exhibit are Thursday 12-3, Friday and Saturday noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

IMAGE: “Picasso’s Doves,” paper collage by Howard Windham

DAFFODIL DAYS ARE READY TO BLOOM THROUGHOUT NEWPORT 

With nearly one and a half million daffy buds now bursting forth in dazzling displays, Newport in Bloom’s 13th Annual Daffodil Days will be celebrating their arrival throughout April, 2024.

This year, the fun kicks off at Bannister’s Wharf at noon on Saturday, April 6 with an explosion of musket fire and a garland of daffodils cut by the newly crowned Ms. Daffodil, Dr. Kelli Armstrong, President of Salve Regina University, joined by Newport’s Mayor, Xay Khamsyvoravong.

After Opening Ceremonies, merriment and music continue as the annual “Daffy Doggy Paw-rade” trots off to Queen Anne Square for the judging of the daffiest dressed dogs (and their humans).

The following Saturday, April 13, the Newport Rhode Races — a running series with a full marathon, half marathon, and 5K —  depart Easton’s Beach, where thousands of daffodils will wave as runners pass by.

Last fall, 38,000 daffodil bulbs were planted at Miantonomi Park, which will be the largest field in Newport. In celebration of their arrival to Newport’s north end, “Daffy Fun” in the park will take place on Sunday, April 14, featuring a “daffy color dust-up,” pie-eating smackdown, storytelling, music, food and more.

On Saturday, April 20, bicyclists will “petal on” to view Newport’s fields of daffodils, including a private garden with over 20,000 blooms to welcome yellow-clad arrivals. They’ll be eager to dismount at McAuley Hall on Salve Regina’s Cliff Walk campus for the first “I Scream” daffy social, compliments of the University.

On Sunday morning, April 21, the Audrain Automotive Museum’s annual “Driving Miss Daffodil” parade of over fifty daffy-decorated cars and drivers meet up at Easton’s Beach and escort Miss Daffodil for a cruise through Newport.

RHODE ISLAND CEMETERY WEEKS

Free programs in historic cemeteries in April and May

Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Awareness and Preservation Weeks (Rhode Island Cemetery Weeks) will feature dozens of free programs in April and May. Rhode Islanders of all ages are invited to participate in tours, clean-ups, hikes, talks, and other programs at and about historic cemeteries throughout the state. Rhode Island Cemetery Weeks is organized by the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historical Cemeteries (RIACHC) and Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) in collaboration with many individual and organizational partners.

Rhode Island Cemetery Weeks will include walking tours of large landscaped cemeteries like Moshassuck Cemetery in Central Falls and River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, as well as visits to small burial grounds. A special tour of Arnold Burying Ground in Newport salutes the efforts of Alice Brayton to restore its colonial gravestones in the 1940s. For those who prefer to walk in the woods, there are hikes to rural burying grounds in Exeter, Lincoln, and Richmond.

Ready to volunteer? There will be dozens of clean-up events throughout the state. Since 2015 the R.I. Advisory Commission on Historical Cemeteries has promoted volunteer projects to clean, maintain, and improve historic cemeteries. They welcome volunteers to help with raking, trash pick-up, light brush cutting, weed trimming, and other activities. At some sites, gloves, bags, and tools are provided, and volunteers are encouraged their own gloves and tools as well. Clean-up sites include the Nicholas Thomas Lot in Scituate and Brayton Cemetery in Warwick.

Several Rhode Island Cemetery Weeks programs honor the memory of those who served our country in wartime. RIACHC Commissioner Debbie Suggs will make a presentation on Revolutionary War patriots buried in Washington County, and her Newport colleague Lew Keen will lead a Decoration Day tour of soldiers’ graves at the Island Cemetery on May 26. Also on Memorial Day weekend, Blackstone River Valley National Historic Park rangers and the North Smithfield Heritage Association will share the stories of Civil War veterans at Slatersville Cemetery. There are opportunities to place flags on the graves of those who served in Exeter and Richmond, and a ceremony at the Babcock Lot in Westerly.

Professional archaeologists will lead a pair of Cemetery Weeks events at the central Cranston Public Library. On April 8, the Public Archaeology Laboratory will be part of a program about the 2006 disturbance of graves of residents who died at the State poorhouse in the early 1900s. On April 24, State Archaeologist Charlotte Taylor will present on Rhode Island cemeteries and the laws that govern them. Interested in nature? Check out the Birds & Burials tour at Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, a nature tour of North Burial Ground in Providence, and a geology-themed tour in Coventry. Love local libraries? Visit local cemetery exhibits in Middletown and Newport.

RIACHC Chair Pegee Malcolm said, “The Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historical Cemeteries is very happy to be working with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission on Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries Awareness and Preservation Weeks. We strive to protect all the historical cemeteries in Rhode Island. This year we will be leading clean-ups, tours, and demonstrations to give the public a chance to see the beauty, history, and nature found in historic cemeteries.”

RIHPHC Executive Director Jeffrey Emidy added, “Rhode Island’s nearly three thousand cemeteries are among our most unique and often overlooked cultural resources. Historic cemeteries tell the stories of individuals and families, landscape design, artistry and technology, religious beliefs, traditional cultural practices, and community development.”

Visit https://rihistoriccemeteries.org/events.aspx for more information and a calendar of events. Listings will be updated throughout the spring with many more events to come, especially in May. The online listings will have information about times, locations, tour size limits, registration (if required), and other key details.

EVENT CALENDAR

(full descriptions at https://rihistoriccemeteries.org/events.aspx and more events to come)

APRIL

4/3 Birds & Burials Tour | Norman Bird Sanctuary, Middletown
4/4 Colonial Newport Burial Sites & Stones Presentation | Edward King House, Newport
4/6 Clean-up/Flagging | Isaac Collins Lot, Richmond
4/6 Pokanoket Royal Burial Ground Tour | Burr’s Hill Park, Warren
4/8 The Poorhouse Graves of Route 37 Panel Discussion| Central Cranston Public Library
4/13 Clean-up | Jonathan Foster Ground, Westerly
4/20 Clean-up | Old Baptist Church Yard, Exeter
4/20 Arnold Burying Ground and Alice Brayton Tour | Arnold Burying Ground, Newport
4/20 Tour | Hotchkiss Cemetery, North Smithfield
4/21 Hike/Clean-up | John Gardner Lot, Exeter
4/23 Birds & Burials Tour | Norman Bird Sanctuary, Middletown
4/24 Living with the Dead in Rhode Island Talk | Central Cranston Public Library
4/27 Tour | Hotchkiss Cemetery, North Smithfield
4/27 Clean-up | Nicholas Thomas Lot, Scituate
4/27 Tour | Common Burying Ground, Newport
4/27 Flagging | (meet at) Exeter Public Library
4/27 Clean-up | Babcock Lot, Westerly
4/27 Clean-up | Brayton Cemetery, Warwick
4/28 Walking Tour | Moshassuck Cemetery, Central Falls
4/28 Walking Tour | River Bend Cemetery, Westerly

MAY

5/2 Gilded Age Graves in Newport Presentation | Edward King House, Newport
5/4 Clean-up | Common Burying Ground, Newport
5/4 Tour | Hotchkiss Cemetery, North Smithfield
5/4 Tour | North Burial Ground, Providence
5/4 Hike/Flagging | (meet at) Clark Library, Richmond
5/6 Revolutionary War Patriots Buried in Wash. Cty. Discussion | URI, South Kingstown
5/11 Clean-up | Common Burying Ground, Newport
5/11 Tour | Hotchkiss Cemetery, North Smithfield
5/11 Hike | George Beverly Lot and Unknown Lot, Richmond
5/18 Clean-up | Common Burying Ground, Newport
5/18 Tour | Silas Casey Cemetery, Casey Farm, North Kingstown
5/18 Tour | Hotchkiss Cemetery, North Smithfield
5/18 Clean-up | Hall-Vars Ground, Westerly
5/25 Tour | Silas Casey Cemetery, Casey Farm, North Kingstown
5/25 Tour | Hotchkiss Cemetery, North Smithfield
5/26 Decoration Day Tour | Island Cemetery, Newport
5/26 Local Veterans’ Service Stories Tour | Slatersville Cemetery, North Smithfield
5/26 The Power of Nature Hike | Lincoln Woods (including Olney Burial Ground), Lincoln

ONGOING (APRIL - MAY)

4/2 - 5/31 Newport Historic Cemeteries Exhibit | Newport Public Library, Newport
4/10 - 5/18 Middletown Historic Cemeteries Exhibit | Middletown Public Library, Middletown

DATES TBD

Geology Walk | Knotty Oak Cemeteries, Coventry
Programs in Block Island, Cumberland, East Providence, Little Compton, Smithfield, Tiverton, Woonsocket, and many more to come

PHOTO: Will Morgan

The Lupus Foundation New England is hosting a Free Lupus Community Health Seminar

Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024

Place: Big Brothers Big Sisters of RI

           188 Valley Street

            Providence, RI 02909

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Topic: “Let’s Talk Lupus” Connect with local medical experts and patients on how to live well with lupus

For more information about this event contact [email protected]

What does the Twist-o-flex have to do with Providence's Jewelry District?

Learn about the connection and more on the Historic Jewelry District Walking Tour

And what about Peter Lorre?

The Providence’s Historic Jewelry District started as a residential community, became America's jewelry manufacturing capital and into today's growing commercial and residential center. With those phases came changes in people, architecture and building techniques.  

Learn about the history of the Jewelry Industry (why did costume jewelry take off in the 1930's?)

Stand at one intersection and discuss and compare the three main building types

Understand the current and future impact of the former I-195 and Brown University on the Jewelry District

Learn how Providence had the highest income levels in the US in 1900.

And, who is Little Nemo?

Register at EventBrite 

Saturdays 1 to 3 PM, rain or shine
Dates -  5/25, 6/22, 7/20, 9/14, 10/12

Meet at 1 PM at the intersection of
Richmond and Ship Streets

Race is on for Tickets to Linden Place’s 150th Kentucky Derby Party

While those at Churchill Downs are celebrating the 150th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4th, attendees at Linden Place’s Derby Day Party will be getting down.  Having been sold out each year, everyone who participates in this premier fundraising event for the Bristol landmark can feel like a winner by securing a ticket.  

With everything planned for this year’s Derby Day, it’s a sure bet everyone will have a ball while supporting Bristol’s landmark and cultural hub.   The party begins at 5:30 with a spirited cocktail hour, followed by a live-stream viewing on the big screen of the 150th Kentucky Derby with other “spectators.” Patrons will then dine on Southern-inspired cuisine by Russell Morin Catering, followed by desserts. The evening continues until 10:30 with bourbon tastings, an open bar and dancing under the big tent to the sounds of the Down City Band.  

Live and silent auctions during the evening will allow attendees to bid on a wide array of products and services, every penny of which will go towards supporting important initiatives at Linden Place. Festive attire is encouraged; prizes will be awarded for best dressed and best hat. 

Tickets for the event are $175 per person ($165 for Linden Place members). For more information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, or to reserve your spot, call (401) 253-0390 or visit www.lindenplace.org. Because the event historically sells out, everyone interested is urged to act promptly.

The Providence Flea

Providence Flea's indoor markets return on Sundays* to Farm Fresh Market Hall just in time for Valentine's Day, now through May 5 from 11 am - 3 pm, with 80+ local indie makers, artisans, vintage vendors, food trucks, hot fresh local coffee and spirits, craft beer and cocktails, ice cream, baked goods, fresh flowers and plants, and more! (*No market on Easter Sunday.) Free to enter and park.

No tickets necessary. Farm Fresh Market Hall, 10 Sims Ave, PVD. More info at providenceflea.com. 401-484-7783

Artist Karen Roarke Exhibits
“Betwixt”

“Betwixt,” an exhibition of recent paintings by artist Karen Roarke, is on view in the Hunter Gallery at the Drury and Grosvenor Center for the Arts at St. George’s School from March 29–May 10, 2024.
  
Though the large-scale canvases included in “Betwixt” refer to the natural world, for Roarke the process of crafting engaging paintings is primary. By mark making, layering, obscuring, removing and revealing, she creates surfaces that explore figure and ground, line, fluidity, pattern, transparency and opacity. 
“I’m interested in distilling the visual properties that captivate my attention: light, color, the sky’s palette of ephemeral gradations, negative shapes, lines and patterns found in vegetation and shadows. I never tire of watching how light and fleeting colors are constantly shifting,” states Roarke.
Karen Roarke holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, an M.A. from California State University, Fullerton and an M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University. Roarke resides and maintains her studio in Middletown, RI. 
To learn more about the artist and her work, please visit: http://www.karenroarke.com
 
The Hunter Gallery is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday. 
 
St. George's School is an independent boarding and day school with 370 students in grades 9-12. For more information about St. George’s visit: http://www.stgeorges.edu/huntergallery.
 
 

Picante Salsa Bachata Weekender: A Fusion of Rhythm, Culture, and Art

Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of dance, music, and culture at the Picante Salsa Bachata Weekender, a two-part dance arts experience and exhibition presented by Martin Rivera Baldera and Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra.

Hosted at the Event Factory kitchen and stage, located at 144 Metro Center Blvd in Warwick, RI, the Picante Salsa Bachata Weekender promises to be an unforgettable weekend of rhythm and passion. The event will take place on Friday, May 10th, from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM, and on Saturday, May 11th, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 AM.

Attendees can expect a dynamic lineup of live performances, dance workshops, exhibitions, dance mixer, full service bar/kitchen, 50+ dance artists representing the New England region, all curated to celebrate the rich heritage and diversity of Latin dance forms. From the sultry moves of salsa to the sensual rhythms of bachata, the Weekender offers something for everyone, whether you're a seasoned dancer or a newcomer eager to learn.

Martin Rivera Baldera, renowned choreographer and dance enthusiast, expresses his excitement about the event, stating, "The Picante Salsa Bachata Weekender is a labor of love, dedicated to showcasing the beauty and joy of Latin dance. 

We invite everyone to join us for a weekend of rhythm, connection, and celebration."

Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra is proud to support this electrifying event, which embodies the spirit of community and inclusivity. As the leading Spanish-language television network in New England, Telemundo is committed to highlighting the diverse cultural tapestry of the region and providing a platform for artists and performers to shine.

Tickets for the Picante Salsa Bachata Weekender are available now, with options for single-day and weekend passes. Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of Latin dance and culture in the heart of Warwick, RI.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.com/2024 Picante Salsa Bachata Weekender or follow us on instagram at PSBWevents 

PHOTO: Ardian Lumi, Unsplash

4th Annual Mother’s Day Specialty Market - A morning out for moms.

Sunday, May 12th, 10 am - 2 pm

Join us for a heartfelt celebration at our 4th Annual Mother’s Day Specialty Market! It's the perfect opportunity to show your love and appreciation for the incredible moms in your life. This special event will be held on Sunday, May 12th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a unique morning out for moms and their families. The market will take place once again at the spacious Tiverton Middle School, located at 10 Quintal Drive, Tiverton, RI 02878.

Our Mother’s Day Specialty Market is your one-stop destination for all things delightful and thoughtful to make Mother’s Day truly unforgettable. With over 50 vendors participating, you’ll have the chance to explore a wide variety of artisanal foods and beverages, delicious grab n’ go meals, exquisite jewelry, functional pottery and so much more. Plus, don’t miss out on the beautiful selection of herbs, plants, and veggies - perfect for adding a touch of nature to your Mother’s Day gifts. But that’s not all! Our market is also a celebration of creativity and talent, featuring all-original and live music to keep the atmosphere lively and enjoyable for everyone.

Admission to the market is absolutely free, and we’ve made sure there’s ample parking for all attendees. Additionally, we’ve ensured that the venue is accessible to everyone, with handicapped access available at door #2. Don’t miss this opportunity to create lasting memories with your mom while supporting local artisans and vendors. Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift, looking for unique decor, or simply wanting to enjoy a day out with your loved ones, our 4th Annual Mother’s Day Specialty Market is the place to be.

Come join us for a Sunday Funday like no other, and let’s make this Mother’s Day a SPLASH together!

Location: Tiverton Middle School Cafeteria, 10 Quintal Drive, Tiverton, RI 02878 (Door 2)

Food trucks are open to the public in the Jewelry District. The trucks are located at 111 Chestnut Street in the parking lot.

Every other Wednesday from 12 – 1:30 (please follow individual trucks for schedule changes)

Brought to you by DBVW Architects.

April 10 - Nanu Burmese Fusion https://www.nanuburmesefusion.com/

April 24 - Rocket Fine Street Food    https://rocketstreetfood.com/menu/

May 8 - Teddi’s Asian Food Truck  

https://www.facebook.com/p/Teddis-Food-Truck-100092216109034/

Rhode Island Historical Society Celebrates Historical Innovation and Creation at Spring Forward Fundraiser

Join the Rhode Island Historical Society at the Aldrich House on Thursday, May 16, 2024, for our annual fundraising benefit Spring Forward: Drafts From the Past, a showcase of the best-laid plans from our collections, including blueprints, patents, models, recipes, sheet music, and more.

The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a VIP reception featuring tastings from Bottles inspired by Oliver Hazard Perry's cellar book, as well as the opportunity to speak with collections staff about Making History: Handmade in Rhode Island, the new exhibit in our changing gallery.

The main event will begin at 6:30 p.m. when guests will enjoy performances by the Vox Hunters, who will discuss their work to rediscover historical music in our archives, delicious food paired with recipes from our collections, plans and drawings for existing and never-built Providence landmarks; and much more. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see the impact of their support by viewing award-winning projects from the RI History Day State Competition and meeting students and teachers before presenting at the national competition.

Announcing the New Sheep and Wool Festival at Coggeshall Farm

Rain or Shine, May 18th, 2024, 10 AM-4 PM

See the historic process of wool making from farming to finished product at Coggeshall Farm’s new Sheep and Wool Festival this spring. See demonstrations of sheep shearing, wool processing, dyeing, weaving, and spinning. Once called FiberFest, Coggeshall Farm’s newly reinvented textile event, the Sheep and Wool Festival, will feature vendors and artisans from all over New England. Visit the farm’s sheep and see visiting animals that provide us with the fiber for our craft. There will be hands-on and take-home crafts for all ages, shopping, raffles, and a “sheep to shawl” event. Enjoy live music and food from local food trucks. And, of course, explore and enjoy Coggeshall’s 48 acres of historic salt marsh farm. The event happens rain or shine!

Tickets are on sale now to the public. We have plenty of spots for vendors and we welcome community support and offer sponsorship opportunities for the event. For more details go to https://coggeshallfarm.org/event/sheep-and-wool-festival/

Southside Community Land Trust's 32nd Annual Rare & Unusual Plant Sale

Raffi will perform at The VETS in Providence on Sunday, May 19, 2024

Raffi is a singer, songwriter, producer, author, lecturer, and tireless advocate for children.  He is best known for his work as a children’s entertainer and advocate whose string of gold and platinum-selling recordings includes his iconic song, “Baby Beluga”.  Once called “the most popular children’s singer in the English-speaking world” (Washington Post) and “Canada’s all-time children’s champion” (Toronto Star),

Raffi is also a recipient of the Order of Canada and the United Nations’ Earth Achievement Award.  He has published three books for adults and holds five honorary degrees. He has never advertised to children or made any commercial endorsements aimed at kids. His commitment to treating his young fans with respect has changed society’s outlook on music made for children.

“I love singing for children and families,” says Raffi. “In 2024, I look forward to hearing more ‘beluga grads’ and their kids singing favourites like “Baby Beluga,” “Down By The Bay,” and Bananaphone!” and others from my Best of Raffi album.”

In 2010, Raffi founded his non-profit Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring. With the motto “Respecting Earth & Child,” the Foundation is at the heart of a global movement that views honouring children as the best way to create sustainable, peacemaking societies.

Proceeds benefit the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring.

The Rolling Stones have announced they are going back on the road with a brand-new tour performing in 16 cities across the U.S. and Canada, stopping in Foxborough, MA on May 30, 2024 at Gillette Stadium.

Fans can expect to experience Mick, Keith and Ronnie play their most popular hits ranging from “Start Me Up,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Satisfaction” and more, as well as fan favorite deep cuts and music from their new album HACKNEY DIAMONDS. The legendary rockers will be returning to the road following the success of their history-making and chart-topping studio album HACKNEY DIAMONDS, which has just received a Grammy nomination for the project’s lead single “Angry.” Showcasing a new stage and high energy that only the Stones can bring as one of the world’s most iconic artists ever, this tour will guarantee a show to remember.

Hackney Diamonds is their first studio set of new material since 2005's A Bigger Bang. Since then, the Stones have continued to smash box office records on a series of global sell-out tours and released 2016's GRAMMY® Award winning Blue & Lonesome, which featured their brilliant versions of many of the blues tracks that helped shape their sound, and topped album charts around the world. Last year, they thrilled European audiences totalling nearly a quarter of a million on the anniversary Sixty tour. The Rolling Stones have sold over 250 million albums worldwide.

Jay Wheeler Announces “TRAPPii Tour”, presented by Loud and Live

Friday, June 14, 2024 - 8 pm

Amica Mutual Pavilion

Tickets on sale at ticketmaster.com and the AMP Box Office

The Newport Flower Show, one of New England’s premier flower show 

For information and to purchase tickets, go to www.newportmansions.org/events/the-newport-flower-show-at-home.

This year’s show, June 21-23, marks its return to Rosecliff after a one-year sojourn to Marble House with the theme “At Home.” The displays will celebrate the variety of florals and horticulture that we enjoy in our own homes, showcasing the relationship between flowers and the homes they beautify.

“During last year’s Flower Show, Rosecliff was closed for extensive restoration work, which we completed later that summer,” said Trudy Coxe, CEO and Executive Director of The Preservation Society of Newport County, which organizes the show. “Now Rosecliff looks fabulous with its exterior gleaming, a new ballroom floor, a refurbished back terrace, restored statuary and fountains, and much more. It will once again make the ideal setting for this wonderful event.”

The popular Botanical Arts division will include artists’ interpretations of items found in many homes: dolls, picture frames, the family dog and more. As always, the show will include dozens of floral designs and hundreds of horticultural specimens, all competing for awards from the Newport Flower Show Committee’s discerning judges.

The oceanside back lawn of Rosecliff will feature a Marketplace of shops offering a variety of floral and plant options, home decor items and fashions.

As always, the Opening Night Reception on Friday, June 21, will be a great way to kick off Newport’s summer season. A special ticket is required.

Special features for Flower Show ticket holders this year will include:

• A beautiful series of garden displays on the back lawn, centered on a large wildflower orchard designed by R.P. Marzilli Landscape Professionals and complemented by sustainable landscape installations by Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, What Cheer Flower Farm, Norman Bird Sanctuary and Green Animals Topiary Garden.

• Free lectures twice daily by Lucy Hunter, award-winning landscape designer and author of “The Flower Hunter: Creating a Floral Love Story Inspired by the Landscape." A special ticket will be available for the lecture plus a copy of the book to be signed by the author.

• A "palais du poulet" – upscale chicken coop – complete with planted green roof, live chickens of exotic breeds and artwork created by Newport grade-schoolers.

• Summer flowers courtesy of Proven Winners filling the front courtyard to overflowing.

• A floral vignette created by students from Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton, Massachusetts.

• An installation of "My Favorite Plants" from some of Newport’s professional estate gardeners.

Anyone who wishes to submit an entry for the Flower Show Horticulture Division is encouraged to see the rules and guidelines at www.newportmansions.org/events/the-newport-flower-show-at-home.

Now in its 28th year, The Newport Flower Show is one of The Preservation Society of Newport County’s premier annual events. All proceeds from the show are dedicated to the ongoing restoration and preservation of the Preservation Society’s 88 acres of gardens and landscapes.

Secret Garden Tour Announces June 2024 Tour Dates

Join the Benefactors of the Arts for the June 2024 Secret Garden Tours.  Take a self-guided walking tour through Newport, RI’s historic Point section June 28-30.

The tours run daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and tickets are limited with only 350 to be sold for each day.  In Spring 2014, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine named Newport, Rhode Island “one of the best walking cities in the U.S.” and specifically mentioned The Secret Garden Tour through the city’s historic Point section as one of the highlights.

    Tickets are now available for the 2024 Tours and can be purchased in advance online at http://www.secretgardentours.org for a discounted rate of $30. 

     Since 1984, the organizers and supporters of The Secret Garden Tour have been dedicated to enhancing art education and cultural programs in Aquidneck Island's Public Schools, funding dozens of programs in music, theater and fine arts for local schoolchildren.  To date, The Secret Garden Tour has given more than $1 million to Aquidneck Island students in public schools for cultural programs and the arts.

For additional information, be sure to visit the website: www.secretgardentours.org

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 80th season of programming with the 2024/25.

TACO Classical Series led by new Principal Conductor, Robert Spano, who will conduct two series concerts this season, plus the yet-to-be-announced 2025 Season 80 Gala! Subscriptions are available now at tickets.riphil.org/subscriptions. Subscribe today and select one Spring 2024 concert to attend for free. Single tickets will be available beginning July 29.

“This is an exciting time as we enter our 80th season,” said Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School Executive Director, David Beauchesne. “Anniversaries are about celebrating the past as well as the future. With Robert Spano debuting as Principal Conductor, the anticipated conclusion of our Music Director search and 13 RI Philharmonic Orchestra premieres, Season 80 is very much about the future. We also have many favorite conductors and guest artists returning, and a lot of familiar music from past seasons. We think audiences will enjoy this blend of looking forward and looking back.” Beauchesne also noted the presence of works by five living composers, including Jessie Montgomery’s Rounds, performed by pianist Awadagin Pratt, whose recording of the work recently won Montgomery a GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.

Opening Night

Rachmaninoff & Gershwin

Open Rehearsal: Friday, September 13, 2024, 5:30PM

TACO Classical Series: September 14, 2024, 7:30PM

Leonard Slatkin, conductor

Olga Kern, piano

NELSON: Sarabande: For Katherine in April

CINDY MCTEE: Tempus Fugit

RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of a Paganini

HOVHANESS: Symphony No. 2 (Mysterious Mountain)

GERSHWIN: An American in Paris

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra’s 80th Season kicks off with Rachmaninoff & Gershwin conducted by Leonard Slatkin and featuring Olga Kern on piano. Kern is a highly-praised soloist whom The New York Times calls “a whiz at the piano.” The performance features the RI Phil premiere of Sarabande: For Katherine in April by Ron Nelson, composed in 1954. Leonard Stalkin calls Nelson, who passed away in 2023, “the quintessential American composer.” Also included in the program is the RI Phil premiere of Tempus Fugit the second of two movements from Double Play by Cindy McTee. Commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the first performance was in 2010, under the baton of Leonard Slatkin. Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of a Paganini is inspired by a simple tune by the early nineteenth-century violin virtuoso, Niccolò Paganini. Written for solo piano and symphony orchestra, Rhapsody on a Theme of a Paganini is his most significant work for piano and orchestra and, as The New Yorker said in a review of an early performance, “The succession of brilliances for the piano and old-fashioned bravura…It’s something for the audiences.” Next in the program is Hovhaness’ Symphony No. 2 (Mysterious Mountain) which had its premiere broadcast nationwide on NBC radio in October 1955. The piece’s crescendos, decrescendos, and giant melodic arcs certainly work as musical metaphors for mountain skylines, although the natural world served as inspiration for much of Hovhaness’ work. Last in the program is Gershwin’s An American in Paris, a jazz-influenced symphonic poem for orchestra, first performed in 1928. Gershwin describes the work as a “a rhapsodic ballet…the most modern music I’ve ever attempted.”

Zukerman Plays and Conducts Beethoven

Amica Rush Hour Series: October 18, 2024 at 6:30PM

TACO Classical Series: October 19, 2024, 7:30PM

Pinchas Zukerman, conductor/violin

HAYDN: Violin Concerto in C major

HAYDN: Symphony No. 49 (La passione)*

BEETHOVEN: Romance No. 1

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2

Seals—and Save The Bay Seal Tours

Save The Bay education vessel will departs from Bowen's Ferry Landing in Newport Harbor, marking the organization's 22nd seal tour season in the “City by the Sea.”

Between November and April, the environmental nonprofit organization will run one-hour seal tours complete with expert narration by Save The Bay staff. These one-of-a-kind excursions offer passengers of all ages the opportunity to experience the beauty of Newport, catch spectacular views of the Claiborne Pell Bridge, learn the history of the harbor, and spot Rhode Island's state marine mammal, the harbor seal, in its natural environment.

Passengers of all ages will appreciate the Save The Bay Seal Tour experience.

“Harbor seals are the most common marine mammal in New England,” said Save The Bay Captain Eric Pfirrmann. “While their population was once in steady decline due to human activities, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 helped reverse the trend. Following the guidelines of the MMPA, we make sure that our tours stay at a safe distance so that we don't disrupt these amazing animals, but we do provide guests with binoculars so they can see the seals in perfect detail."

"While we see a variety of seal species in Narragansett Bay, we can identify a harbor seal by its size and its 'puppy-dog' face. We usually spot them resting ‘hauled out’ on rocks or in a ‘bottling’ position, where they float upright like a glass bottle.” 

Gilded Age

Spectacular Settings – Exceptional Elegance – Fascinating Families

Newport - Ongoing

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The Gilded Age comes alive with engaging audio tours of life in the Newport Mansions. From the soaring marble columns that greet you at Marble House to the platinum wall panels at The Breakers, immerse yourself in these social and architectural landmarks. Hear the fascinating stories of people who lived and worked in these grand houses.

PHOTO: HBO