Providence is already known for its fabulous food, cocktail culture, architectural delights, and nightlife variety,  but did you know there is a burgeoning style and fashion scene as well? It’s true, and here at TheRhodeGuide.com we like to keep you informed, so we’re going to let you in on a little secret.…

Ever wonder who “fixes up”  the fabulous historic buildings on Providence’s West Side, Elmwood and DownCity  neighborhoods? It’s always “those people” and  “they”  fix them up, right? Providence has a rich, historic fabric of wonderful architectural structures all over the city which is why so many of us are drawn here to  enjoy all that our city has to offer and call it home.…

Are you looking for a house to purchase and love a certain neighborhood? Wondering what color you should paint the walls, but have no idea where to start? Are you picking out furniture and having a hard time visualizing where the pieces will go? Here at TheRhodeGuide.com, we love sharing tips and here are some great apps to try no matter what your search!…

Wondering what to bring as the perfect host/hostess gift? Don’t know anything about wine, beer or spirits? Know everything there is about cocktail culture and looking for that one special ingredient to wow your friends? Bottles has it all! Opening two years ago with much anticipation by Wayland Square residents, Bottles is a sophisticated  space, brightly lit with graphics and store signage that brings the largess of the space down to an intimate level, making it a pleasure to shop.…

So you’ve started to look for a house and are quickly realizing that everything in your price range “needs a little work”, or you’ve found a perfect house, but there are a few repairs that need to be made and that makes the purchase a little or a lot beyond your budget.…

Ever wondered what happened to the old scratch and dent stores where you could get fantastic savings on appliances for your kitchen? You probably thought the only way to find great deals like that was online now. WRONG! Right here in Rhode Island,  just over the border of downtown Pawtucket is Kitchen Guys, the answer to every homeowner, or remodeler’s dream.…

WaterFire Providence is a unique experience unlike any other  in any city or state anywhere. Perhaps you have heard of it, and perhaps not, but this phenomena, which has grown to receive national and international acclaim started right here in Providence! Originally created by artist Barnaby Evans as a commissioned sculpture installation to celebrate the tenth anniversary of First Night Providence in 1994, its lighting occurred once and then only again in 1996 for the International Sculpture Conference where it was seen by visitors from all over the world.…

Have you ever had one of those working lunches you get sad during because you know it’s going to end soon? We’re not necessarily talking about a leisurely 90-minute feast at which your boss announces your promotion in front of your whole department including that one guy you can’t stand. We mean those elusive, satisfying, reasonably priced and, dare we say, even memorable meals you eat at your desk and don’t even realize you’re enjoying until they’re nearly over.…

Located on Rhode Island’s border with Massachusetts, Scott Davis and his wife Rae opened the Rhode Island Antiques Mall four and a half years ago in the former home of Jabour Electronics. Business has been booming ever since.

“This place is out of control,” Scott Davis told Cool Things of his prominent piece of Pawtucket property.…

Like many successful artists, Marc Trachtenberg’s career trajectory has been nontraditional. A keyboardist from Pawtucket, Rhode Island who studied music education at NYU, Trachtenberg started Rock-a-Baby, classes he refers to simply as “rock music for babies,” in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 2007.

“I’m from Pawtucket but I had my heart set on New York for awhile,” Trachtenberg told Cool Things.…

As you may already be aware, two Wednesdays ago Cool Things attended PechaKucha at Fête in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. It was the thirty-fifth PechaKucha for Providence and presenters did not disappoint. One speaker, Caroline Mailloux, shared photographs of her trip to Poland, mind-blowing memories of TEDx Warsaw and information on the upcoming TEDx Providence event.…

PechaKucha Night Providence is an event like no other. Technically speaking, any event could quite easily claim to the whole “like no other” high ground but PechaKucha is actually sort of peculiar. Now held in nearly 500 cities all over the world, PechaKucha started in Tokyo in 2003 as a way for young designers to connect and present new work in public.…

Here at Cool Things, it’s important to us that you know that we know that the following post is about a thing that would not under ordinary circumstances be considered cool. It is our fervent hope that, out of your sincere respect for our mission to educate as well as entertain our clientele, you will choose to read it anyway.…

Cool Things visited iolabs this week and we were astonished by some of the work Ted Peffer and his team are doing. Of the company’s humble print shop beginnings owner and cofounder Peffer remembered, “iolabs started in 2000 in a small garage in Providence. It was dusty, cold and windy.”

Back then, Peffer explained, iolabs was focused more on commercial uses for their digital printing and imaging—signage, trade show displays and similarly business-oriented large-scale printing.…

Are you looking for something cleverer than candy this Valentine’s Day? Well, look no further. Cool Things caught up with Alex Payson from New England’s own Blue State Coffee who had a sweet suggestion for the caffeine crazed Casanova.

“On February 14^th, we’re doing a coffee and food pairing,” said Payson.…

Now you can pay your parking meter with your cell phone. ParkMobile.com

Spotted in Downcity on Westminster Street – Providence, RI…

A great way to help save energy and money. Check out the “Learning Thermostat” from NEST…