One never knows what you might stumble into at the invitation of a friend. Last night was one of those evenings as I attended a show performed by Margarita Martinez called “Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History (or Thanks for the Bumper Sticker)” at The Roots Café in Providence. The Roots Café, an arts and cultural center, is reminiscent of the spirit that redefined Providence as a “happening” place in New England. 
I entered a little biased about Margarita’s performance, since I know her through the theater club “The Players” on Benefit Street, but her performance was nothing short of breathtaking as she weaved through stories and songs – all of her own creation. Be sure to check out anything she does. But is was the space and their commitment to the arts in the downtown that really peaked my interest. Since being created in March of this year by Providence Inner City Arts (PICA), The Roots Cafe is their venture dedicated to reaching out to the Providence community and showcasing lively, energetic performances and impressive art. PICA was formed 40 years ago by a group of artists motivated for the need of arts and culture within this diverse community. They are a non-profit focusing their energies to many festivals and events in Providence, the Roots Café being one of them. Roots is an extremely interesting place with a lot going on and the prices are very affordable. Check out their schedule of events on their home page and take in a performance instead of rushing out of town at the end of your day's work. It is also another good reason to look at those condos and lofts in the downtown area. Of course, for people on the East Side of Providence, it is an easy walk down Westminster Street.
I entered a little biased about Margarita’s performance, since I know her through the theater club “The Players” on Benefit Street, but her performance was nothing short of breathtaking as she weaved through stories and songs – all of her own creation. Be sure to check out anything she does. But is was the space and their commitment to the arts in the downtown that really peaked my interest. Since being created in March of this year by Providence Inner City Arts (PICA), The Roots Cafe is their venture dedicated to reaching out to the Providence community and showcasing lively, energetic performances and impressive art. PICA was formed 40 years ago by a group of artists motivated for the need of arts and culture within this diverse community. They are a non-profit focusing their energies to many festivals and events in Providence, the Roots Café being one of them. Roots is an extremely interesting place with a lot going on and the prices are very affordable. Check out their schedule of events on their home page and take in a performance instead of rushing out of town at the end of your day's work. It is also another good reason to look at those condos and lofts in the downtown area. Of course, for people on the East Side of Providence, it is an easy walk down Westminster Street.
