Dust & Static: Lost in the Grey of Providence
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. 1271891… seriously, what was i even doing with that number? it just popped into my head. and 1356509839? doesn’t even register. it’s like a phantom limb of a thought. i landed in providence yesterday, and honestly, it’s… grey. not aggressively grey, just a persistent, thoughtful grey. like a well-worn denim jacket.
It’s 26.12 degrees Celsius, feels like 26.12, temp min 26.12, temp max 26.12, pressure 1006, humidity 17, sea level 1006, grnd level 986. yeah, i checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. i’m staying in a place called ‘The Wren’ - it’s basically a converted warehouse with exposed brick and a surprisingly aggressive collection of succulents. the owner, Silas, keeps offering me kombucha. i politely decline. i need something stronger.
I spent the afternoon wandering around Benefit Street, which is… intense. Like, seriously intense. Every house is meticulously restored, painted in these pastel shades that clash spectacularly. it’s like someone took a Pinterest board and decided to build a whole town. someone told me that the best clam chowder in the city is at Nick’s on Bartholomew Square - I’m skeptical, but desperate. i’m checking Yelp now. https://www.yelp.com/search?query=clam+chowder&sort_by=relevance&location=Providence%2C+RI
I overheard a conversation at a bar called ‘The Parlor’ - it was loud, sticky, and smelled faintly of old beer. `
Someone said, “Don’t trust the guys down by the river. They’re always talking about ‘the collection.’”’
Seriously? The collection? What even is the collection? It’s giving me major ‘Twin Peaks’ vibes.
I’m trying to capture the feeling of this place, you know? The quiet desperation, the faded grandeur, the way the light hits the brick at dusk. i’m mostly just taking blurry photos and scribbling in my notebook. my camera roll is already a disaster. i need to remember to back up my files. i’m a professional, dammit! (sort of).
I stumbled across a street artist, Leo, painting a mural on a building near the RISD campus. He was using this incredible shade of teal - it was almost electric. He said he was trying to capture the feeling of ‘urban melancholy.’ i get it. it’s a vibe. i bought a small print from him - it’s probably going to end up framed and gathering dust in my apartment, but it felt right.
If you get bored, Boston is just a short drive away. I heard that the food scene there is insane, but Providence has a certain…charm. a slightly unsettling charm, maybe. i’m thinking of checking out Federal Hill tomorrow - apparently, it’s a huge Italian neighborhood. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g36933-d226333-Reviews-Federal_Hill-Providence_Rhode_Island.html
I’m seriously considering just buying a used record player and spending the rest of my days listening to vinyl and staring out the window. it’s a valid option, right?
Okay, one more thing. i found this tiny little shop selling vintage buttons. seriously, buttons. it was a whole thing. i bought a handful - i have no idea what i’m going to do with them. but they’re pretty.
I’m going to grab another coffee. and maybe that clam chowder. wish me luck.
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