I’m so excited! The rumor was that a donut shop was going in here. Donuts are ok but I think Providence has enough of them. This looks great.

> am recovering from a liver transplant I received three weeks ago

Good Lord, man! Wishing you a full and speedy recovery! 💐

What genre?

>they were doing telegraphy

I know this is a typo, but I love the mental image of a therapist practicing via telegraph. 'We've recieved another message, Olive! She wants to know how that makes us feel. Let us compose our reply and contact the telegraph operator after tea.'

My fiancée and I live in the west end. Our best friend moved to Portland Maine a few weeks ago and we have yet to fill the void. I love FreePlay and pool, though I am also trash. I can’t drink on account of I am recovering from a liver transplant I received three weeks ago. But once I healthy and less immuno-compromised I would love to get out and meet new people!

I live right near Dexter Park. We have a dog and walk her through the park and take her to the Bell Street Dog Park. I also play piano and guitar and would be wicked into playing music with folks if there are any musicians.

Highly recommend free play

Also upstairs plays 80s 90s and early 00s music usually a fun time

Got any more information? What kind of music?

It's funny because when you said "black" neighborhoods in your original comment, I thought of south prov after the east side area. The area between eddy, broad and south of the hospital. Which, let's be honest, is rough.

I agree this conversation needs to happen. I want to understand why you say it is racist. Is it because these new businesses charge more and that prices generational locals out of the area? And by doing that you are forcing people out of the area without explicitly making them leave? And if that is the assertion isn't that more classist than racist? Or is it racist because there neighborhoods are specifically targeted for this kind of thing?

Pretty sure the “Black” neighborhoods of Providence consist only of South Providence and this part of Mt. Hope, what used to be called Lippitt Hill. Basing that only on my own experience and no demographic studies or anything, though. Either way - I’m certainly not saying the gentrification is a bad thing. I too have noticed its improvements. But this conversation should be happening. And my point was more that the kinds of businesses popping up in the area now would very likely tell you that gentrification is racist and wrong.

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I work right in that area and have obviously noticed the gentrification over the last ~5 years. Rebel was a corner store, black and white was and is now this, there was a convenience store at the bottom.of Pleasant by Providence bagel that is gone. The multi-family homes are being renovated and sold as apartments or condos.

I also have witnessed less fights in the streets, less what appears to be drug traffic and there have been less shootings. People where being killed less than half a mile from million dollar homes. Do you think they'd buy a house for that much and not pressure for change in the area?

Also, is it really one of the city's only largely black neighborhoods? This is not a combative question, but an honest one.

you’re all so kind! thanks for the info & thank you for having me

Also can’t help but notice the serious gentrification happening on Camp St. One of the city’s few largely Black neighborhoods getting filled up with “progressive” businesses and entities, like the bakery, the poke restaurant, the socialist bookstore—all of whom I’m sure will tell you how terrible gentrification is, and how important it is for that area to maintain its historical identity as a Black enclave.

I'm not certain what you mean, pretty walkable over there. What is your experience?

Oh my gosh we just moved in right down the street and we’re wondering when you’d open! So excited. May have to visit often :)

Small Format, but honestly most places I'm Prov are incredibly queer friendly

Hey, I'd be down. Freeplay is a great spot if you like a drink and classic arcade games. You only pay a fee to enter, you don't pay to play any of the games :-) And the fee is CHEAP

Check out Rhode Island BeerClub on instagram

savages.

I’m with you. But you said it yourself, they are packed

People are open to drink their union busting artificial sugar cotton candy burnt coffee all they want.

Yeah Rebelle is 2 blocks south of Oak Bakeshop on Camp & Doyle. Completely different owners (though I've learned through this thread that the owners of Oak also own PVDonuts)!

Not likely

There’s a beer club that meets every 1st and 3rd Friday in a month at a different brewery. We’re hitting up Narragansett in Providence at 7pm tomorrow so you should totally join if you’re a beer fan!