Dust & Distortion: Lost in the Grey of Providence
okay, so, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. 3665900 and 1170426927 - don’t ask. it’s a thing. the humidity’s clinging to everything like a damp wool blanket, 78% and dropping, and the pressure’s a solid 1015. feels like 26.25, max temp 26.25, min 26.25. it’s…sticky. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. i landed in Providence yesterday, Rhode Island, and honestly? it’s a weird, beautiful mess. like a thrift store curated by a slightly unhinged art student.
I’m staying in this tiny Airbnb above a bakery - the smell of sourdough is permanently embedded in my brain now. it’s seriously the only thing keeping me upright. the guy who owns it, Silas, he’s… intense. keeps sketching in a notebook and muttering about the ‘resonance of the brickwork.’ i don’t get it, but it’s kinda cool.
Spent the morning wandering around Benefit Street, which is basically a street crammed with Victorian houses. Seriously, it’s like stepping back in time. Someone told me that the houses are haunted by the ghosts of mill workers - a local warned me about wandering alone after dark. I’m not saying it’s true, but the shadows are thick.
Then I stumbled into this record store, ‘Vinyl Vortex,’ run by a dude named Leo who looks like he hasn’t slept in a decade. He was rambling about the sonic properties of different turntable cartridges. it was…a lot. I bought a copy of ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’ - felt like a good investment.
Lunch was at a place called ‘The Parlor.’ It’s tiny, crammed with mismatched furniture, and the menu is handwritten. I had a lobster roll - it was okay. Someone overheard gossip that the chef, a woman named Beatrice, used to be a competitive eater. Seriously. I’m not making this up.
I tried to catch a show at The Strand - a legendary music venue. It’s a dive, but a good dive. The sound system was ancient, the crowd was buzzing, and the band was playing some seriously raw, chaotic punk. It was exactly what I needed.
Here’s the gear list, because apparently, that’s what people want:
Camera: Canon R6 - still my baby.
*Lenses: 35mm, 50mm, 85mm - the holy trinity.
*Notebook & Pen: Because ideas hit you at the weirdest times.
*Headphones: Noise-canceling, obviously.
*Portable Charger: Don’t be caught without it.
*Snacks:* Trail mix, dark chocolate, the essentials.
Seriously, Providence is a weird place. It feels…forgotten, in a good way. Like a place where things are happening, but nobody’s really paying attention. If you get bored, Boston is just a short drive away, but honestly, you probably won’t.
I’m heading to Federal Hill now - apparently, it’s the Italian district. Hoping for some good pasta and maybe a little more weirdness.
Check out this map:
And if you’re looking for more local haunts, check out this Yelp page: https://www.yelp.com/directory/providence-restaurants
And TripAdvisor for some hotel recommendations: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g33964-Providence_RhodeIsland-Vacations.html
Oh, and this local board for events: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ri--providence/
Okay, I’m going to go find a coffee. I need it.
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