Looking for some tips on what to do this weekend and beyond? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few recommendations from Ocean State Media’s afternoon host, Mareva Lindo and producer, James Baumgartner.
PVD Cello Fest
Rhode Island is home to several cellists who have expanded the instrument beyond the classical music world. This two-day festival celebrates the beauty and versatility of the instrument. There are performers playing pop, folk, jazz, improvisation and experimental music. Naseem Alatrash plays Saturday night with percussionist Tareq Rantisi. Alatrash will also lead a workshop on Saturday morning for string players of all levels who are interested in learning the basics of Arabic Maqam, a style of melodic improvisation. Admission to all events is donation-based, or “pay-what-you-can.”
Where: AS220, Providence Public Library, CHOP, CMW Center
When: Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 9, at various times
Details: https://www.pvdcellofest.com/
Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story
Maria Bamford has spent her entire career saying the quiet parts out loud and turning the fears most people bury into comedy that’s both catharsis and chaos. Paralyzed By Hope: The Maria Bamford Story, directed by Judd Apatow and Neil Berkeley, is an intimate portrait of an artist who’s spent decades mining her mental health, family history and everyday misadventures for something honest…and hilarious. Presented by NewportFILM.
Where: The Greenwich Odeum, 59 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI
When: Thursday, May 7, 7:00 p.m.
Details: https://newportfilm.com/films/paralyzed-by-hope-the-maria-bamford-story/
Play / Pretend
From building blanket forts to inventing elaborate storylines for dolls and action figures, childhood play allows us to test roles and imagine new possibilities. As adults, that instinct evolves. We continue to construct narratives about who we are and how we are perceived. Play / Pretend traces this continuum between early imagination and adult self-construction, revealing play as a lifelong act of discovery. Featuring historic dolls and automata, works from the Redwood Library & Athenaeum, and contemporary artists, the exhibition places 19th- and 20th-century toys in dialogue with contemporary artists.
Where: Newport Art Museum
When: Opening - Thursday, May 7, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Exhibition runs through January, 2027
Details: https://newportartmuseum.org/exhibitions/play-pretend/
ArtWeek SouthCoast
The 10-day event is a region-wide celebration of art, culture, and community, where creativity shapes connection. Each year, artists, performers, organizations, and venues across the SouthCoast bring neighborhoods to life through performances, workshops, exhibitions, and hands-on experiences. With dozens of events to explore, ArtWeek invites everyone to experience the power of local creativity and the artists who make it possible.
Where: Multiple locations in Southeast Massachusetts
When: Friday, May 8 through Sunday, May 17
Details: https://artweeksouthcoast.org/
Ghost Cat Rodeo at Nick-A-Nee’s
Cosmic twang, hippie country, plenty of pedal steel and perhaps an accordion. Dog and people friendly.
Where: Nick-A-Nee’s, 75 South St., Providence
When: Saturday, May 9, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dp7qWkxgW/
PVD Cello Fest and ArtWeek SouthCoast are underwriters of Ocean State Media. Coverage and editorial decisions are made independently of business support.
