Travel 2013

Getting to Providence

1. Train
If you live anywhere on or near the Boston - Washington DC corridor, we strongly recommend you consider traveling here via Amtrak. The Providence train station is a 2/10 mile, downhill, line of sight walk from the hotel, there are many trains in each direction starting at $67 each way, and they allow two bags per person and generally don't search them.

2. Plane
Look for T.F. Green Airport, code PVD, on Kayak (link, etc.) or any other airline site. From there, it's just a short bus ride into Providence. [I'll get more info on this soon…I don't even know what route number serves the airport yet.]
Another, possibly cheaper, option is to fly into Boston's Logan Airport, code BOS, and then take the commuter rail into Providence. It stops at the same train station as Amtrak, above. [Once again, I'll get more info on this. I think it starts with a tram ride to South Station?]

3. Bus
Greyhound and several other national and discount bus operators serve Providence. All of them will stop at Kennedy Plaza in Providence, which is also the hub for city and state bus service. It's also a line of sight walk to the hotel.

Venues

O: the Omni Hotel, our home base for the weekend.
P: the Hotel Providence, our overflow hotel.
L: Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, the site of our Friday events all day, including Shock Treatment and the Tight Crew afterparty, Time Warp.
C: the Columbus Theatre, site of our Saturday events all day, including Repo: the Genetic Opera and the main event finale of Rocky Horror! Shuttles will be running all day, and it is an easy 10-15 minute walk along safe and well-lit streets as well.
M: the Providence Place Mall. (It's actually one big building spanning the river, regardless of what Google thinks.) It's connected to the Omni by a skybridge, and it has everything you'd expect an upscale shopping mall to have: CVS, Sephora, Hot Topic, a food court, etc. Our Thursday night events will be held at Dave & Buster's, located above the food court on the top level. Our Sunday farewell brunch will be held at Fire & Ice, located at street level on Francis St., very close to the hotel.

Important note: do NOT attempt to cross Memorial Blvd. to the mall at street level. It's a multi-lane freeway exit and entrance ramp, and there is always traffic through it. Cross using the skybridge on the second level of the Omni, and from there you can enter the mall or descend to street level.

Transportation

O: the Omni Hotel, at 1 West Exchange St., Providence 02903.
P: the Hotel Providence, at 139 Matthewson St., Providence 02903.
B: Buses. Kennedy Plaza is the hub for both local (RIPTA) and national (Greyhound, Peter Pan) buses. Transportation to almost all of the state can be found here.

Already marked at the top of the map: the Providence Amtrak station. The commuter rail from Boston also stops here. It's an easy downhill walk to the Omni.

If you're arriving by car, you want Exit 22A off Route 95. From 95 North, you can take a right turn at the bottom of the exit ramp onto Francis St. and then another immediate right turn onto West Exchange St. and the doors of the hotel. From 95 South, the exit is the leftmost of a three-way ramp split, and you can't turn right onto Francis St. You'll need to continue straight on Memorial Blvd., take the first right onto Exchange St., and then the next right onto Exchange Terrace to loop around to the hotel front doors.

Valet parking (expensive) is available at the hotels, and local parking is available at the following garages:

U: Ultimate Parking
S: Union Station Parking Lot
C: Civic Center Parking Garage (closer to Hotel Providence)

Coffee

Rhode Island has the highest number of coffee and donut shops per capita in the US, so you should have no trouble finding your caffeine here.

O, P:  The Omni and the Hotel Providence. The Omni has a small cafe on the second level.
D:  Dunkin Donuts is the local brand, and there are four of them within walking distance of the hotels. From north to sourth, they're at the mall food court, 81 Washington St. (right next to Lupo's), 78 Dorrance St. at the corner of Weybosset St., and 69 Empire St.
S: There are two Starbucks Coffees nearby. One is at 11 Dorrance St. in the lobby of the Providence Biltmore, and the other is at 21 Atwells Ave.

Others:
K: Coffee King, 66 Fountain St.
E:  Eddie & Son Diner, 74 Dorrance St. Open for 68 years, this serves standard diner fare for breakfast and brunch.
F: Cafe La France, Fulton St. facing Kennedy Plaza.

Supplies

O, P: the Omni and the Hotel Providence
M: the Mall. CVS. Sephora. Hot Topic. Department stores. Apple Store. What do you need?
C: another CVS drugstore is at 70 Kennedy Plaza, near the bus station.

Liquor Stores
In Rhode Island, all alcohol is sold in liquor stores. Supermarkets and drug stores do not sell any, including beer and wine. We've got you covered, though, within walking distance of both hotels.
E: Eno Fine Wines and Spirits, at 225 Westminster St.

Tobacco
The Omni has a cigar bar on the premises, called Cigar Masters. Drugstores and convenience stores sell the standard stuff.

Groceries and Prepared Food:
7: there are two 7-11s close by. One is at 10 Dorrance St. near the bus station, and the other is at 141 Weybosset St.
G: Gourmet Heaven, 173 Weybosset St. General groceries, snacks, by-the-pound takeout bar, plus sandwiches and breakfast.
J: JW Market, 187 Matthewson St. General groceries and convenience store.
O: Ocean State Market & Deli, 385 Westminster St. General groceries and convenience store.

Bars

O, P: the Omni and the Hotel Providence
D: Dive Bar 201 Westminster St. This is really here because it wouldn't fit on the Main Events map, but if you arrive on Wed. night, our pre-kickoff party will be here as part of their usual Wed. night DJ'd dance night. RKO has a good relationship with them, and we'll be performing our 22-minute club version of RHPS during the night.
T: Trinity Brewhouse, 186 Fountain St. Providence's oldest brewpub. They always have at least six local brews on tap, plus the standard bar and pub food, and live entertainment on some nights.
M: Murphy's Pub, 100 Fountain St. at Matthewson St. Irish pub. RKO's float in the Providence Pride Parade has set up directly in front of them for the past several years, and they've always been friendly to the costumed people using their bathrooms, so they're worth going to.
B: Blake's Tavern, 122 Washington St. General unthemed bar.
R: Ri-Ra Irish Pub, 1 Union Station facing Burnside Park. Pretty self-explanatory, excellent Irish pub food.
F: Finnegan's Wake, 397 Westminster St. at Empire St. Another Irish pub, with less sports and more live music.
C: The area of the map roughly south of Weybosset and Richmond St. is downtown Providence's club district. All Providence bars and clubs close at 2AM, but entertainment can be found here until then.

Food & Drink

O, P: the Omni and the Hotel Providence. The Omni has Centro Lounge(open all day, mid to high-priced Italian) and Fleming's (pricy, steaks and chops) in the lobby.
M: The Mall. It has a food court with all the standard offerings if you need something quick. At street level along Francis St., there's Fire & Ice (our Sunday farewell brunch site), Pizzeria Uno's (pizza, pasta), The Melting Pot (fondue, sandwiches), Joe's American Bar & Grill (bar, pub food) P. F. Chang's (Asian), Panera Bread (sandwiches, pastries), Napa Valley Grille (Italian), and Cheesecake Factory (generic food).

Late Night Options (they're open during the day and serve sandwiches and quick food as well):

H: Haven Bros. Diner. A Rhode Island legend, this is a diner on a trailer. Every afternoon around 4PM, it's trucked into downtown and set up right next to Providence City Hall, and they stay open until at least 3AM if not afterwards. Man vs. Food did an episode here about their burgers. If you're looking for food after events end each night, you and your stomach won't forget a visit here.
L: Luxe Burger Bar, 5 Memorial Blvd. Burgers, quick food, open till midnight. luxeburgerbar.com
B: Bar Louie, 1 Union Station. Bar and pub food, open till 2AM. barlouieamerica.com

Sandwiches and Quick Meals:

D: Dragon 2000 (Chinese takeout) is right next to the Hotel Providence.
F: Figidini Woodfire, Washington St.
A Subway sandwich shop is at the corner of Burnside Park, very near the "M" marker on this map.
K: Korean Terriyaki House, 217 Westminster St.
S: There are two restaurants at 230/232 Westminster St. There's the Small Point Cafe, which has reasonably-priced sandwiches, juices, and coffee. Next to it is Sura, which serves Korean, Japanese, and sushi.
C: Providence Coal-Fired Pizza, 385 Westminster St.
W: Subway, 255 Weybosset St.
Q: Pizza Queen, 215 Weybosset St. Slices and whole pies to go.
P: Parkside Rotisserie and Bar, 76 South Main St.

Pricy, "splurge" Options:

A: attached to the Hotel Providence is Aspire. This one is a little less pricy than the others here, but it's still an attached hotel bar and restaurant, and food is priced higher here.
R: Ruth's Chris Steak House is east of Francis St., facing Waterplace Park.
N: Cafe Nuovo, 1 Citizen's Plaza. The Providence Riverwalk starts at Waterplace Park and follows the river south towards its end at India Point and Narragansett Bay. Cafe Nuovo is located right at the confluence of two rivers.
V: New Rivers, an American Bistro, 7 Steeple St.
O: Hemenway's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, 121 S. Main St. Hemenway's is near the park at the (current) southern end of the Riverwalk.
1: Local 121, 121 Washington St. Sustainable, locally-sourced food.
M: McCormick & Schmick's Seafood is located in the lobby of the Biltmore Hotel.

Vegetarian / Vegan & Gluten-Free

Key (Green is vegan, brown is gluten-free, red has both):

O, P: the Omni and the Hotel Providence
A: Foo(d) at AS220, 115 Empire St. Extensive Vegan selection. Menu changes with the seasons.
V: Veggie Fun, 123 Dorrance St. Completely vegetarian pan Asian cuisine. Mostly vegan, and kosher-certifed too!
P: P.F. Changs at the Providence Place Mall has clearly-marked vegetarian and gluten-free menu sections. The mall also has Pizzeria Uno, The Melting Pot and Tadka India with gluten-free items.
W: Waterplace Restaurant, 1 Finance Way. Pricy, has gluten-free menu items and a spectacular view of Waterplace Park.

Plus, at various locations around the city, you may find:

Like No Udder: The world's first vegan soft serve ice cream truck.
Sprout, the Vegetarian Food Truck: Changing Vegetarian menu with some Vegan.

Broadway & Atwells Ave

H: Hotels (and the rest of downtown) are this way, to the east. (Any of the other maps will show you this area if you need it. The Omni is visible from most points along these streets.)
C: the Columbus Theatre, at 270 Broadway.

Broadway, from west to east. Guest descriptions here from the vivacious Kat Harvey:

M: Broadway Mart, 449 Broadway. Convenience store.
A: Armageddon Shop, 436 Broadway. Used records and CDs, specializing in punk, metal, industrial, and indie.
L: Broadway Liquors, 361 Broadway. You know what to do.
7: Seven Stars Bakery, 342 Broadway. Just a block away from the theatre, they have coffee, tea, baked good and sandwiches. Grab & go, but also has indoor and outdoor seating. Offering both Soy milk and Almond milk in their beverages, as well as other vegan-friendly options.
J: Julian's, 318 Broadway. Bar/Restaurant (sit-down but does offer take-out if you call ahead). Just a 2 minute walk from the theatre, and serving Brunch, Lunch and Dinner. Vegan-friendly food options, craft beer menu, amazing mimosas. Star Wars action figures in the bathroom.
E: E&O Tap, 289 Knight St. Dive bar. Down to earth people, good beer selection. outdoor patio in the back.
V: Avery Lounge, 18 Luongo Square. Fancy bar. Good selection of booze, pretty inside but also darker and more confidential.
P: Pizzeria Gusto, 259 Broadway. Pizza, subs, salads, gyros. Directly across the street from the theatre.
D: the Phoenix Dragon, 256 Broadway. Mid-priced Chinese and Japanese food, sushi. They're open until 11, and they do takeout with no card minimum. And, they're right next to the Columbus Theatre. What's not to love?
I: Iouino's Market, Kenyon St. Convenience store. No card minimum.
B: Broadway Bistro, 205 Broadway. Mid-priced bistro food.
G: Grange / Chicory, 166 Broadway. Bar/Resturant (sit down but Chicory has to-go options). All Vegan/Veggie and locally sourced organic food. Also has a small to-go section with vegan baked goods, coffee, smoothies and juices.

Atwells Avenue: This street, to the west of the hotel, is part of the Federal Hill neighborhood, and is the city's unofficial "Little Italy". The Patriarca crime family ran operations from here for many decades. If you want Italian food, go here.

Basically, a walk anywhere in this area will give you lots of quality food choices. A few standout choices at all price levels, from west to east:

P: Pane E Vino, 365 Atwells Ave. Award-winning Italian, has gluten-free options.
J: Don Jose Tequilas, 351 Atwells Ave. It's not all Italian on this street, and this is some of the best Mexican food in Rhode Island.
C: Caserta Pizza, 121 Spruce St. Best true-Italian pizza in Rhode Island.
R: Roma, 310 Atwells Ave. Affordable sandwiches and meals.
D: DiPasquale Square, 265 Atwells Ave.. This plaza, set back from the road, has good mid-priced choices in Venda Ravioli (homemade pasta, gourmet Italian, takeout available), Caffe Dolce Vita (Italian appetizers and dinners), and Constantino's Ristorante Cafe.
N: Nara Restaurant and Hookah Lounge, 248 Atwells Ave. Appetizers and snacks, and hookah smoking. You'll know if you want to go here or not based entirely on that description.
B: Scialo Brothers Bakery, 257 Atwells. Old-world-style Italian cookies, biscotti, cannoli, more.
S: Siena, 238 Atwells Ave. Tuscan soul food.
G: Blue Grotto, 210 Atwells Ave. Fancy, mid-high-priced meals, extensive wine list.
O: Andino's Italian, 171 Atwells Ave. 1940s styling
A: Angelo's, 141 Atwells Ave. Mid priced Italian like your mother used to make.
M: Mediterraneo Cafe, 134 Atwells Ave. RKO's choice for a "splurge" Italian meal (i.e. it's pricy, but oh so worth it).
L: Camille's, 71 Bradford St. Another "splurge" option.