Live music, luck dragons and living fossils: Rhode Island weekend picks

From Nick-a-Nee’s 30th anniversary bash to ‘The NeverEnding Story’ under the stars, here are local events to keep on your radar

Exterior of a green building with a red sign with gold lettering saying "Nick-a-Nees." Bar patrons sitting outside near large planter boxes.
Nick-a-Nee’s on South Street in Providence
Mareva Lindo/ Ocean State Media
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Exterior of a green building with a red sign with gold lettering saying "Nick-a-Nees." Bar patrons sitting outside near large planter boxes.
Nick-a-Nee’s on South Street in Providence
Mareva Lindo/ Ocean State Media
Live music, luck dragons and living fossils: Rhode Island weekend picks
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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.

30 years of Nick-a-Nee’s

The beloved little bar in Providence’s Jewelry District has a reputation as a great live music venue and community hub. It’s celebrating its 30th anniversary with a three-day music festival this Friday, Saturday and Sunday with more than two dozen local bands, including Nick-a-Nee’s favorites like The Teledynes, Sourpunch and Ghost Cat Rodeo. There will also be food offered all weekend, including the tacos from their popular ‘taco Tuesdays.’

Where: Nick-a-Nee’s, 75 South Street, Providence, RI
When: June 12, 2:00 - 10:00 p.m.; June 13, 12:00 - 10:00 p.m.; June 14, 12:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Details: Nick-a-Nee’s Facebook page

Movies on the Block - ‘The NeverEnding Story’

Presented by InDowncity, Cornish Associates and your favorite downtown small businesses, Movies on the Block is the city’s only outdoor movie theater. Thursday is this year’s first installment of the monthly summer series. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the classic 1984 children’s movie with the unforgettable Luck Dragon.

Where: Grant’s Block, 260 Westminster Street, Providence, RI
When: Between sunset and dusk (8:15 p.m. ish)
Details: InDowncity.com

Horseshoe Crab Family Walk

Explore the fascinating world of horseshoe crabs. Discover why these remarkable “Living Fossils” have survived for over 300 million years, learn about their significant contributions to medical research and understand their crucial ecological importance to Napatree Point and Little Narragansett Bay. This informative outdoor experience offers a unique opportunity to appreciate these ancient creatures and their role in our local ecosystem. This walk is perfect for all ages!

Where: Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Rd., Westerly, RI
When: June 13, 9 - 10 a.m.
Details: Oceanchamber.org

Garden City Center Farmers Market

It’s the second weekend of the seasonal market in Cranston, which runs through October 18. Each Sunday, Garden City Center’s historic gazebo green transforms into a vibrant, open-air Farmers Market. Stroll the lawn, sip something local and discover fresh finds from some of Rhode Island’s most beloved growers, makers and culinary creatives.

Where: Garden City Center, Cranston, RI
When: Sundays, June 7 - Oct. 18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Details: Gardencitycenter.com

PVD Monthly is turning 30!

What was happening in 1996 that led two local institutions to start that same year and still be going strong? Providence Monthly is also holding a party to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Join them at Medici Lounge for an evening filled with local connections, light bites, music and the kind of energy that reminds you why this city feels like home.

Where: Medici Lounge, 127 Friendship Street, Providence, R.I.
When: Wednesday, June 17, 6 - 9 p.m.
Details: Eventbrite.com

All 73 of the unionized food and beverage workers at T.F. Green Airport refused to work on Thursday, saying they haven’t received a pay raise in two years from Grove Bay Concessations, which operates the airport’s restaurants and bars
The Rhode Island string band is playing a pair of shows at Myrtle on Sunday, showcasing their many unique cover songs as well as originals spanning the swing, bluegrass and folk genres, with a few curveballs thrown in
Despite having never held elective office, Guckian says his vision of reduced state spending can break the Democratic hold on Rhode Island
Voters had been slated to see a ballot question this fall that sought to bring rent control back, but the state’s highest court knocked it down
A majority of employees on the editorial team at Ocean State Media, Rhode Island’s joint NPR and PBS organization, voted to form a union with SAG-AFTRA Wednesday.
Ross Amos died in May. Prison officials say an investigation is underway