Rhode Island School of Design - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

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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Students Speak Out

hkoh01 says: Rhode Island School of Design 2016 Arts, Visual and Performing

Providence is very much a college... Providence is very much a college city with Providence College, Johnson and Wales, RISD, Brown University, and Rhode Island College. The people here are mostly students or older adults. Stay away from downtown Providence past 10 p.m.—it can be dangerous. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 21, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Providence is a cute New England... Providence is a cute New England city, where there is a great balance between tradition and modernity. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere’s New England-y.... The atmosphere’s New England-y. Visit the Russian Sub. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The East Side and College Hill are... The East Side and College Hill are rather student friendly. It’s not a large city, it’s pretty small actually, but it still has the same kinds of benefits that a larger city has. I wouldn’t venture out into the south end of Providence alone at night. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Obviously, visit the RISD Museum... Obviously, visit the RISD Museum and other galleries scattered throughout. Those things are underused. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Providence:

• Most streets aren’t labeled, which makes for crazy adventures.
• Providence began as a haven for Puritans.
• Due to a clerical error in the late 1800s, for a time, “Providence” was the official Rhode Island state bird.
• Former Mayor, Buddy Cianci, has received the most votes for public office while serving probation or jail time since Eugene Debbs in WWI.
• Providence was the birthplace of pulp horror novelist H.P. Lovecraft, and it served as a temporary home to Edgar Allen Poe.
• CNN’s Money Magazine labeled Providence, “The Best Place to Live in the East” in 2000 and 2001.
• 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.
• 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

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