Providence Nightlife

While the visual sight of Foxwoods will stop you in your tracks, it is the breathtaking interior that will win you over here. From floor to celing, this casino is a delight to the eyes. One of the casino floors is dotted with artificial rock formations topped with life size wolves that have occasion to watch you while you walk around the room. A little further along, through the retail stores, one can't help but notice the enormous waterfall that cascades to the floor where you will find a striking bar. While the view is incredible, the water is a bit loud and can impede conversation a bit. The restaurant behind the waterfall is one I would like to visit sometime. Also near the waterfall is a retail store, with the front wall and doorway housing a giant aquarium, a curious new way to look at fish. Just beyond the waterfall lies what I consider to be the gem of this location. A giant marble mountain rises from the main floor, three stories to an open top floor. Each floor has large amounts of open celing to view the sky above. This martini bar is one of a kind and worth the trip, even if you don't want to gamble.

Dress Code: As with Foxwoods, I have seen just about every type of dress here, but prefer to dress a little nicer than casual, when I want to feel comfortable.

Providence is full of entertainment. Providence Performing Arts is a gorgeous restored theater where you can see Phantom of the Opera to the Nutcracker Ballet. Previously known as Leow's State Theater....there was vaudeville and Maurice at the organ (lifted from under the floor to orchestra level....very dramatic) I was fascinated as a kid...still am!
Trinity Square Reperatory Theatre -- also in a beautifully restored theater -- does innovative and intimate theater (in the round). Brown University and Rhode Island College offer wonderful performances (check schedules) and then you can do the clubs.. L'Elizabeth's for desert & coffe w/ liquer in a laid back setting (couches and comfy chairs) -- the Fish Company....younger set getting acquainted. Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel -- recent rock and pop. Long list of clubs and restaurants to be discovered in Prov. and Newport.

Somehow Perishable finds a way to bring in America's cutting-edge and those who love the cutting-edge together for dynamic nights of theatre (case in point: Perishable recently brought in D-Projects, a hip-hop-theatre troupe from Miami, to put on one of their works as well as to have a dance-off with local b-boys, but they've also brought in Phillip Glass- and they host an international Women's Playwriting Festival). ...coming up is a multimedia play called Sweet Disaster, which combines animated films with a dramatic production about love in the face of disaster. Perishable is right next door to the too-cool AS220 tacqueria and bar, making it the quintessential Providence "downtown" spot for hip dance, theatre, and puppetry.

Dress Code: No dress code!

They set fire to floating fireplaces set in the river that flows through the downtown. Music is piped in along the river and there are live music acts on some of the nearby streets. Lots of food and drink.

We visited L'Elizabeth's recently and were absolutely stunned by the prices. See below:

2 - Coffees with Zambuca - $35.00 (what?)
1 - Regular Coffee - $5.00
1 - Hot Chocolate with Butterscotch Schnapp's - $15.00
2 - Slices of mediocre dessert $12.00

Total bill for 4 people with tax/tip - $90.00

This is downtown Providence!!! And the coffee wasn't even hot. When we questioned the waitress to see if there was an error on our bill, she stated "I know it's pricey, but you're paying for the ambiance. What ambiance, a room full of old furniture?? Beware of this overpriced establishment, there were no prices on the menu. I guess that should have tipped us off.

Bovi's Tavern is the best place you can go for good jazz in Providence. All the local musicians get together every Monday night for a jam session and they've been doing it for about 30 or more years. The bar is small and plain... looks like a local mens bar...but here you will find about 20 musicians playing the best of the big band sounds and Bruebeck, Basie, whatever. I'm amazed at them every time I go and wonder at the fact that the tradition continues over so many years. Don't expect to have a conversation with anyone while you are there...all you can hear in that little place is all those horns. Treat yourself. Check out Bovi's on a Monday night. Nothing else is happening in town on Mondays....and that's why the musicians can jam at Bovi's.

actually a bit outside of the city...in East Providence. Only takes about 10 minutes from whereever you are around the city.

Hey, looking for a concert to go to? Well, this place is great! Parking is relatively cheap, and it's not so huge that you'll get a nose-bleed seat from the worst seat in this place.

Check out the website for the list of current events!

This building is near the Providence Place mall and is visible from I-95.

Dress Code: Dress as you would for the event.

The Lederer Theater Center was built in 1917 as the Majestic Theater. This historic building has served as a vaudeville house, a movie palace, and, since 1973, home to Trinity Repertory Company. The Lederer houses two unique theater spaces — the Chace and the Dowling — suited for events such as meetings, receptions, and conferences. The lobbies were refurbished in the summer of 2006 and the stained glass dome which crowns the lobby has been restored to its original splendor. The newly transformed lobbies of the Lederer Theater provide a grand and elegant venue for receptions, parties and gatherings.

From intimate to spacious, the individual spaces in the Lederer can be combined to accommodate a variety of events and include: the Dowling Theater (capacity 281), the Chace Theater (544), the main lobby (200), the Chace Theater lobby (100), and The Square at Trinity Rep (35).

The Lederer Theater Center is home to Trinity Repertory Company with a performance season of September through June. The availability of space for rent will be dependent on the production schedule for the resident theater company.