ConvergenceRI: An impromptu tour of the West End, the cultural mecca of Providence

PROVIDENCE - The latest national magazine to sing the praises of Providence was Vogue, in its March 15 edition, in an article entitled, “Why Providence Should Be Your Next Weekend Getaway” when looking for great food, music and art.

The story by writer Julia Sherman began with an evocative opening sentence: “For now, I bounce from coast to coast, but I plan to die in Providence.”

Sherman continued: “I was a student at the Rhode Island School of Design more than a decade ago, and the magic of that jewel-box of a city still pulls on my heartstrings. It's the Victorian homes, industrial buildings, the charmingly gruff New England personalities, and concentration of Italian-American markets that have kept me coming back.”

In Sherman's view, “The town is divided by the Providence River, separating the posh, College Hill area to its east, and the grittier, fast-developing downtown, Olneyville, Federal Hill, and Atwells to the west. Most tourists will cling to the picturesque, colonial Benefit Street, with its gas lamps and pristine mansions, but that's only a tiny sliver of what the city has to offer. This place has chutzpah. It's the blue-collar dive bar and the Ivy League, it's Mayflower meets crust punk.”

To view the complete article, visit ConvergenceRI

Courtesy of ConvergenceRI