the east side of providence

the bus tunnel

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t been through the bus tunnel at least once. If they haven’t, they’ll claim to. If only once, they’ll say a few times. The buses don’t run at night, but nobody quite is certain from what time, and someone always makes note of where to hide if lights emerge behind you.

mike, the glasses guy

You can usually find him on the RIPTA. They say he rides the One, but if you talk to him he might say he recognizes you from another bus. He goes back and forth from Cranston, getting off to walk around and go in stores (where he browses, but never buys), then boards the bus again. He will ask to try on your glasses. It’s best you say no; they will not be willingly returned to you. “I just want some glasses,” he’ll say, “nobody gives me glasses.” He tries to buy reading glasses and shades at Eastside Marketplace, but never has any money to pay at the register and has to leave. His name is Mike.

waterfire

Nobody will admit to liking waterfire. But everyone still goes anyway. You might complain and roll your eyes at tourists and curse the downtown mobs of people and lack of parking, but you’ll join the crowds anyway. On a clear summer night, you’ll walk up and down the stone sidewalks looking out onto those rivers that Cianci gave us… They never do keep it up late enough, and around 12:45 am you’ll ask someone to throw some more wood on one of the fires, and they’ll say no.

snake guy

Snake guy is often at waterfire. You might catch him walking down the hill from somewhere, making a stop at Prospect Park where people can point at and and touch his snake. He will be the first to make a vulgar joke about them doing so. Snake guy tells stories and lists facts about his snake that usually don’t check out and vary with the day of the week. You would like to meet his three-headed snake, but he did not bring it with him today.

pembroke

Pembroke field is across from school but feels like many miles away. You will walk by and call out to someone you know. Depending on the ardor of their shout and strength of their wave you may join them or move along. There are people who, if you are looking for them, you can usually find sitting on Pembroke. You might ask them if they'd like to grab a bite on Thayer.

thayer street

The capital of the east side, the go-to meetup spot, and the greatest food you’ve ever tasted. Everyone has their handful of favorite places, and will strike up an argument in their defense. You will see someone you know. Expect longtime locals to reminisce of a less corporate Thayer street, when you could get this or that before the "big corporate chains" started to move in.

bajas

Everyone loves Baja's. It is the best and the service is terrible but nobody complains. It is easy to spot a novice who orders “one of those” with “some of that” or would like a “wrap.” You hope your expertise is acknowledged. You have your burrito ingredients memorized. You will never know what they put in the seasoning.

the creperie

Although there is only one Creperie, you may not have been to every version of it; the manager-run lite-rock-105 sunday afternoon surely cannot be the same establishment as the Lauryn Hill / Amy Winehouse, no-you-can’t-have-a-wrap monday morning shift. For the best experience, visit during a friday or saturday night, but not too late, as the ‘90s hip-hop and metal can only keep the staff alive until maybe 11, but they have to stay a while longer. The crepes taste ok.

the brown fields

Everything has happened on the Brown fields. There is little point in specifying. Relatively underutilized by Brown students. Beloved by everyone else.

the pool place

On the bottom floor of one of Brown University’s many buildings there is a room with two pool tables. Usually there are balls and cues, as long as the name tag kids don’t vandalize the area and cause for their removal. The cues are all broken at the tips and many of the balls are chipped, but you make do.

the name tag kids

High school age foreigners who seep into Providence during the summer for the Summer at Brown program. Sometimes referred to as lanyard kids. They wear their temporary Brown IDs on red lanyards at all hours of the day. We assume they are trying to improve their chances. They are rude and do not tip.

the coffee exchange

Wickenden street is the old hipster’s version of Thayer, and the Coffee Exchange is its core. It is frequented by those friends of yours who have work they must get done and are not just saying that. Nothing there is particularly good, but finding a table is not an easy task. People do not seem to leave the coffee exchange.

lupos

Everyone has seen a concert at Lupo's. It is where the concerts are. A tourist would say it is not very nice but Lupo's is where you go to see a show. It is no longer called Lupo's but it is doubtful anyone will ever call it anything else.

eastside mart convenience store

They will catch you stealing.

prospect park

The most beautiful view of the city. Usually slightly obscured by marijuana smoke. For some reason the cops still haven't caught on.

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