heavyweights) have included Amity Gaige, who penned Heartwood, and Annie Hartnett, the author of The Road to Tender Hearts. Books are available to purchase at each event courtesy of Books on the Square, where Kinnell is a bookseller. bookedauthorseries. com
RAD ROLLOUTS
Galactic Roller Disco With an arsenal of rehabbed roller skates and endless good cheer at the ready, Ainsley Forness is spreading her love of roller sports throughout the Ocean State. You’ ll find her and Galactic Roller Disco— her mobile roller rink business— at the Providence Rink holding Pride events and skating lessons for beginner and advanced skaters and hosting roller skate popups and private parties. So dust off that pair of roller skates you bought during the pandemic and go spin your wheels with a roller-skating pro. galacticroller disco. com
INCLUSIVE DANCE SPACE
In Your Skin Studio Salsa, bachata, hip-hop in heels, pole, Afrobeats, contemporary— you’ ll find almost every dance style at In Your Skin Studio in downtown Pawtucket, where owner Sada Velasquez doles out confidence like confetti. Whether you want to learn sexy moves on the pole or empower yourself in your first set of Pleasers, In Your Skin is a safe space to get your groove on. 21 Broad St., Pawtucket, iysstudio. com
KITTEN NURSERY
Tiny Paws Kitten Care of Rhode Island Tiny Paws Kitten Care of Rhode Island is the state’ s first kitten nursery, nurturing and caring for neonatal kittens under eight weeks old. The newly formed nonprofit focuses on the most vulnerable kitties, who must be bottlefed and monitored closely until they’ re old enough for adoption. You can find founder Angela Senerchia at events throughout the state, raising awareness and selling kitty necklaces, keychains and plants( featuring a sticker of Pretzel, the organization’ s furry“ fundraising director”) to raise critical funds for every tiny paw. You can find more ways to help the growing nursery at its website, tinypawsri. org.
ART CELEBRATION NIGHT
Gallery Night Providence Getting to know Providence’ s art scene is easy thanks to Gallery Night Providence. This monthly free event takes art enthusiasts on trolley rides and walking tours throughout the city, stopping at various galleries, public art murals and sculptures. Small bites and wine are offered on a few tours, if loads of art don’ t fill your cup up enough first. 484-0726, gallerynight. org
BACH PARTY PLANNING
Blush and Coral Hospitality Newport is the bachelorette party capital of Rhode Island, and for a weekend that’ s unforgettable in all the right ways, maids of honor turn to Abby Prescott to pull it off. Prescott founded Blush and Coral Hospitality( aka BACH Newport) to put her party planning skills to work making brides’ bachelorette dreams come true. From delivering custom itineraries, to procuring ring-shaped balloons, to supplying hangover remedies, the business is a one-stop shop for all things bach. It also offers day-of wedding coordination for couples sticking around for the big day. Newport, blushandcoral. com
NOSTALGIC NIGHT OUT
Little Lena’ s Calling all’ 90s kids: For a double chaser of nostalgia with your vodka cranberry, head up to Woonsocket and party like it’ s 1999. With cocktails like Lady of the Night( served in a mini garbage bin) and Christmas at Memere’ s, and vibes reminiscent of a Lisa Frank notebook, this is where grown-ups go to have fun. Skipped lunch? Snacks like dino nuggets, Dunkaroos, tater tots and cafeteria-inspired pizza will bring you back to the lunch bell( minus the weird cafeteria smell). 144 North Main St., Woonsocket, 306-5072, littlelenas. com
SOCIAL STANDOUT
Curls & Cuisine This multifaceted Instagram account first caught our eye when local influ- encer Kate Powers visited the Fairy Tea Room in Warren. The Massachusetts transplant started the account in May 2023 while getting to know the Ocean State and asking locals what staples she should check out. Since then, Powers has amassed nearly 36,000 followers, and now they come to her for the recs. She also uses the platform to spotlight Black-owned businesses and outline unique date itineraries. instagram. com / curlsandcuisines
COMEDY CALLOUTS
Laugh till it hurts!
The Ocean State just keeps getting funnier. 2025 saw the debut of the Lil Rhody Laugh Riot( lilrhodylaughriot. com), a new live event that brought some of the industry’ s biggest stars— think: Leslie Jones, Kevin Hart and Jonathan Van Ness— to our front door. The four-day festival was an instant hit, but it’ s got a way to go before it catches up to the Rogue Island Comedy Festival( rogue islandcomedyfest. com), the OG fest that’ s been cracking up Aquidneck Island since 2015. With real star power and a down-home feel( comedy show in a barn, anyone?) this festival proves the state punches above its weight on the comedy scene. No one knows that better than Matt Rife( mattrifeofficial. com), the twenty-nine-year-old comedian who moved to Little Rhody in 2024. Since putting down roots here, Rife has made regular appearances at comedy clubs in the area, most notably the Comedy Connection in East Providence. We’ re proud to call him an honorary Rhode Islander— just remember you’ ve got to put in some time here before you get to make fun of the accent.
96 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I AUGUST 2025