Rhode Island School of Design
- Local Atmosphere

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Rhode Island School of Design - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Local Atmosphere

Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. Most streets aren't labeled, which makes for crazy adventures.
  2. Providence began as a haven for Puritans.
  3. Due to a clerical error in the late 1800s, for a time, "Providence" was the official Rhode Island state bird.
  4. Former Mayor, Buddy Cianci, has received the most votes for public office while serving probation or jail time since Eugene Debbs in WWI.
  5. Providence was the birthplace of pulp horror novelist H.P. Lovecraft, and it served as a temporary home to Edgar Allen Poe.
  6. CNN's Money Magazine labeled Providence, "The Best Place to Live in the East" in 2000 and 2001.
  7. Rhode Island has more than 400 miles of ocean shoreline, and RISD owns a farm with 33 acres of lawn and beach front on Narragansett Bay.
  8. Providence is home to the oldest mall in America, the Arcade, built in 1829.
Local Slang
  • Cab'nit: A milkshake
  • Dels: A slushy drink
  • Downcity: Downtown Providence
  • Quahogs: Clams
  • Soggie: A greasy hotdog
  • Take a Hat: Have a heart attack
  • Wicked: Very
Points of Interest
  • Cellar’s Stories (antique book shop)
  • Federal Hill
  • First Baptist Church of America
  • John Brown House
  • Narragansett Bay
  • Newport
  • Perishable Theatre
  • Providence Athenaeum
  • Providence Repertory Company
  • RISD Farm
  • RISD Museum
  • Traditional New England homes and atmosphere
  • Waterfire (bonfires along the Providence rivers from May-October)

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Providence, Rhode Island is absolutely New England. It is the largest city in New England outside Boston, and it behaves accordingly. While culturally, Boston is a big leap from Providence, there are things about the city that make it wonderful. One  is Waterfire, the celebration of Providence art that includes lighted piles of wood all along the canal and ambient music that fills the streets until midnight. Other wonderful things about Providence are its museums and galleries, the shops, and the food. Federal Hill is the mostly Italian section of Providence that hosts some of the best restaurants in the area. While there is a definite city feel, Providence is not devoid of green space, and there are several parks within walking distance that give really pleasant views of the city and its waterfront.

The main activity in Providence is built around RISD, Brown University, and Johnson & Wales University, so the town caters much of its business and attitude toward college students. The surrounding college neighborhoods are fairly quiet and pleasantly residential, and Providence is full of historic buildings that give it the small-town feel that you can’t often get while being exposed to the resources of a city. You get the benefits of being in a college town without the complete bubble. Providence’s size keeps it very accessible, and it doesn’t take long to know your way around. If you’re looking for a taste of the bigger city, New York is fairly close by, and a Commuter Rail train will take you to Boston during the week. In many ways, Providence has the ability to satisfy and frustrate everyone. It does not have the same excitement and culture of New York, and it doesn’t have the natural beauty of the American West but sits in a perfect middle ground, and it will give vistitors a little taste of both.

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RISD Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at Rhode Island School of Design

carmenrisd2013

Chemistry and Chemical Technology '14

3.8
B+

College Town

Providence is a college town, there's Brown JWU within steps of RISD's campus. I don't really interact much with people from the surrounding schools but I know others do. Providence doesn't really have much of a nightlife, so pretty much anything that happens is on campus. Don't go to clubs, lotta' townies.

May 03, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Rhode Island School of Design

knicknack

Printmaking '13

3.8
B+

Providence Local Scene

college town, lots to do, its actually a city but its really compact. most artists per capita

Mar 28, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Rhode Island School of Design

Lilyamelcher

Fashion and Apparel Design '16

3.8
B+

Beautiful City, Even Better Food.

Providence is an amazing city architecturally. Every building is unique especially in the area around RISD. Most students hang out on Thayer st. It is close and is lined with interesting clothing, craft and book shops. Oh and it is home to some of the best food you will ever eat. Nice slice pizza , all the sushi you could ever want/ need, bubble tea, burgers, crazy good ice cream and frozen yogurt. It is located in the middle of the Brown campus too so the few times you do interact with your non art student counterparts, is usually here. This is all , of corse , depending on the fact that you have somehow scrubbed your self clean of charcoal and peeled yourself off the floor of the studio. And if not (which is most likely) most places deliver, so before classes start go around the city and collect menus!

Mar 27, 2012

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User rating for Rhode Island School of Design - Local Atmosphere is 4.6 out of 5 based on 15 user reviews.

Photos of Rhode Island School of Design's Local Atmosphere

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • The Arcade
  • Providence Place Mall
  • Thayer Street
  • Wickenden Street
Major Sports Teams
  • Boston Red Sox: baseball
  • New England Patriots: football
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Boston: MA: 1 hour
  • New York City: NY: 3 hours, 20 minutes

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Avon Cinema
260 Thayer St.
(401) 421-3315

Cable Car Cinema and Cafe
204 South Main St.
(401) 272-3970

Providence Place Cinemas 16 & IMAX
10 Providence Pl.
(401) 270-4659

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Helen Koh
Hometown
Chicago, IL
Major
Graphic Design/Painting

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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