Dust & Echoes: A Week in Providence, RI
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. i landed in providence yesterday, and honestly, it’s… a lot. like, a beautiful, slightly unsettling lot. the humidity is clinging to everything - 67% and climbing, feels like 32.9, and the pressure’s sitting at 1009. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it’s weirdly comforting, in a ‘i’m-about-to-collapse’ kind of way.
I was supposed to be photographing the *waterfront, but i ended up just wandering. it’s all brick and cobblestone, you know? and the buildings… they’re like, crammed together, whispering stories. i found this tiny record store, ‘Vinyl Vortex,’ and spent a solid hour just inhaling the smell of old paper and wax. the guy behind the counter, Silas, he just stared at me with this knowing look. he said, "You’re a listener, aren’t you?" - which, fair. i’m a drummer, mostly. i’m always listening for the pocket.
Someone told me that the Providence Athenaeum is a seriously cool place to just… be. like, soak in the quiet. i didn’t make it, but i’ll add it to the list. i did check out Yelp, and the reviews are mixed. mostly just people saying it’s ‘charming’ and ‘a bit dusty.’ which, honestly, fits the vibe. i heard that the coffee at WaterFire Coffee is legendary, but it’s always packed. i’ll try to snag a spot tomorrow.
I’m staying in this Airbnb - it’s in a converted warehouse, which is cool, but the plumbing is… enthusiastic. let’s just say i’ve had a few close encounters with a rogue showerhead. my neighbors are… interesting. if you get bored, Smithfield and Cranston are just a short drive away. they seem to be obsessed with antique tractors. seriously. it’s a thing.
I stumbled across this street art piece - a giant, iridescent beetle - near Federal Hill. it was just… there. like it had always been. it made me think about all the hidden stories in a city. i’m trying to capture some of that on film, but it’s hard to translate the feeling. i’m using my Sony Alpha 7 IV and a Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 lens - it’s a good combo, but i wish i’d brought my drone. i’m thinking of checking out the RISD Museum tomorrow. TripAdvisor says it’s worth the visit, and i need a dose of culture, stat.
Speaking of locals, i overheard a group of guys at a bar - they were practically slurring their words - talking about the Providence Performing Arts Center. apparently, they’ve got a show coming up with a really famous drummer. they were arguing about whether he was actually good or just a hype man. i don’t know, man. i just want to feel the rhythm.
I’m trying to keep my gear minimal - camera, lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, notebook, pen, and a healthy dose of cynicism. it’s a good starting point. i’m also trying to avoid tourist traps. i’m more interested in the quiet corners, the forgotten alleys, the places where the city breathes. i’m heading to Benefit Street* tomorrow - apparently, it’s all Victorian houses with brightly colored facades. it sounds… chaotic. but maybe that’s what i need.
Seriously, the humidity is a beast. i’m considering investing in a dehumidifier. or maybe just a really, really big fan. I found a local board with some great recommendations for hidden breweries - definitely checking those out. And I need to find a decent cup of coffee. This place is serving something called “artisanal pour-over” that tastes suspiciously like burnt dirt. Ugh.
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- https://votoris.com/post/new-yorks-disjointed-dance
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- https://votoris.com/post/seberang-jayas-economic-pulse-whats-actually-keeping-this-place-alive
- https://votoris.com/post/kibanseke-premires-economy-a-messy-look-from-a-freelance-photographer