Living Sharks Museum The Living Sharks Museum provides guests with an intimate look into the world of , you guessed it , sharks , examining everything from their history to sharksploitation to modern conservation . The museum houses and features founder Keith Cowley ’ s personal collection of prehistoric shark fossils , shark film memorabilia and exhibits that show the human impact on these often-misunderstood creatures . Westerly , livingsharks . org
Coggeshall Farm Museum Set on forty-eight acres of coastal farmland , Coggeshall Farm Museum recreates the daily experience of eighteenthcentury tenant farmers through live interpretation , historic structures , heirloom plants and heritage-breed animals . Bristol , coggeshall farm . org
Sing Along
From folk to rock , here ’ s where all the music lovers flock for live acts .
The Strand Formerly known as Lupo ’ s Heartbreak Hotel , the Strand continues the longstanding tradition of bringing in acts both national and international that , well , rock . Providence , thestrandri . com
The Met Located in Hope Artiste Village , the Met is a versatile music club that books everything from rock and punk to folk and blues . Pawtucket , themetri . com
Fete Music Hall Catering to an audience as diverse as New England , Fete Music Hall features two stages ( the Ballroom and Lounge ) and a mission to transform the local and regional live music experience . Providence , fetemusic . com
Knickerbocker Music Center Named after a train that once passed through Westerly on its way to New York City , the Knickerbocker Music Center has been around since 1933 and hosted the likes of Big Joe Turner , Johnny Copeland and Stevie Ray Vaughan . Today , the Knick aims to preserve , cultivate , celebrate and teach local music ( especially the blues ). Westerly , knickmusic . com
See also : Columbus Theatre in Providence , the Dunkin ’ Donuts Center in Providence , AS220 in Providence , Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland , Bally ’ s Twin River in Lincoln , Newport Blues Cafe in Newport and the Greenwich Odeum in East Greenwich .
ODE TO ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO
ILLUMINATE THE NIGHT
Created by artist Barnaby Evans , WaterFire highlights the beauty of the Providence River at night , illuminated by giant cauldrons of fire . Here are a few insider tips for first-time spectators .
WHERE TO PARK : Though WaterFire starts at dusk , arrive earlier to get close-by parking . There are non-metered spots on Benefit Street and parking is free after 6 p . m . elsewhere in the city , with prime spots on North Main Street .
WHAT TO BRING : Water . Trust us , the fires get hot . A light jacket or sweater . Even though we just said the fires get hot , the nights get chilly and the trek back to the car will take you away from their warmth . A blanket . Unless the idea of sitting directly on cold blocks of granite or stone appeals . Cash . It will come in handy for the food truck-lined streets . Or you can pack a picnic with your fave meal and a bottle of wine . If neither a food truck nor picnic suits , consider grabbing dinner at Jacky ’ s Waterplace and Sushi Bar or Cafe Nuovo ; both have prime views of the river .
Almost every Rhode Islander , no matter their age , holds dear a cherished Roger Williams Park Zoo memory , whether it involves witnessing the immensity of an elephant for the first time , hopping up on the sentinel dog statue for a photo or taking home a stuffed monkey from the gift shop . As they should ; it ’ s a local treasure . The third-oldest zoo in the nation , RWPZ is set on forty acres of beautiful woodlands and is home to more than 160 species , including red pandas ( the zoo ’ s mascot ), sloths , snow leopards , bears , a Komodo dragon and more . In addition to traversing different parts of the world ( each |
section of the grounds is themed and modeled after different continents ), guests can also feed a giraffe , pet a barnyard animal and soar through the sky with an on-site zipline . Furthermore , they can feel good about supporting RWPZ as it actively participates in many conservation initiatives . These include the New England Cottontail Breeding Program , the Timber Rattlesnake and American Burying Beetle species survival plans , the Saving Animals from Extinction program and a number of global conservation efforts . Providence , rwpzoo . org |
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BEST PLACES FOR VIEWING : Near the bridges at RISD . Along the Canal Walk are a few bridges that offer great views of the gondolas gliding down the water . If you get there early , you can snag a seat on the side of the canal where large granite blocks ( and your blanket ) will provide the perfect impromptu bench . Waterplace Park . With an outdoor theater-like setup , it ’ s a great place to catch the initial lightings and see the river aglow . For more information , visit waterfire . org |
GRAPHICS : GETTY IMAGES ; LOGO COURTESY OF WATERFIRE . |
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY ’ S NEWCOMERS ’ GUIDE l 2022 25