New England - Eastern USA - page 390

Providence Performing Arts Center PERFORMING ARTS
( 401-421-2787; www.ppacri.org ; 220 Weybosset St) This popular venue for touring Broad-
way musicals and other big-name performances is in a former Loew's Theater dating
from 1928. It has a lavish art-deco interior.

AS220 CLUB
( 401-831-9327; www.as220.org ; 115 Empire St; 5pm-1am) A longstanding outlet for all
forms of Rhode Island art, AS220 (say 'A-S-two-twenty') books experimental bands
(Lightning Bolt, tuba and banjo duos), hosts readings and provides gallery space for a
very active community. Hours given here are for the bar, but the gallery opens midday
Wednesday through Saturday, and the cafe closes at 10pm.

Shopping
Providence Place ( www.providenceplace.com ; 1 Providence Place) in the city center is Rhode
Island's largest mall. For more individual, quirky shops head to Westminster St, Thayer
St and Wickenden St.

Information

Providence Visitor Information Center (

401-751-1177; www.goprovidence.com ; Rhode Is-

land Convention Center, 1 Sabin St; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat)

Getting There & Away
TF Green Airport (PVD; www.pvdairport.com ; I-95, exit 13, Warwick) , 20 minutes south of
downtown Providence, is served by major US airlines and car-rental companies.
Peter Pan Bus Lines ( www.peterpanbus.com ) connects Providence with Boston ($8,
one hour) and New York ($35, 3¾ hours). Amtrak ( www.amtrak.com ; 100 Gaspee St) trains
also link cities in the Northeast with Providence.
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA; www.ripta.com ; one way $2, day pass $6)
runs city-wide bus services from downtown Kennedy Plaza; other RIPTA buses link
Providence with Newport.

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Newport