It’s likely that the closest thing to a celebrity encounter you’ll get in Providence is catching Pauly D at Ultra. Though like a well-groomed, greasy Bigfoot, DJ Pauly D is elusive, along with other viable options for under 21 clubbers.
Ultra is arguably the go-to standard of the Providence night- club circuit for loud music and a cover charge that floats around 15 to 20 dollars. If you’re looking for excitement however, there are other options for the 18 plus crowd in
the capital city.
Lupo’s, the last institution of the music scene in Providence, has a split personality. When headlining bands aren’t playing Lupo’s, it becomes Roxy; an 18 plus nightclub with standard electro/house theme nights such as all-white and foam parties. Expect youngins’ from all over the South Coast to party with you, blow- outs and Hollister shirts included.
Thayer Street is always bumping on the weekends. Byblos Hookah bar has a wide array of flavored tobacco to split with friends, and a selection of Middle Eastern fare like hummus and grape leaves. It’ll run you about 20 bucks for a hookah session, but with multiple hoses per pipe, Byblos is a fairly inexpensive option if you’re the sharing type.
If for some totally innocent reason you find yourself up into the wee hours of the evening, most grab-and-go joints, like Nice Slice and East Side Pockets, stay open until 2 a.m. and can satisfy even the most voracious of appetites for under 10 dollars.
Of course, there’s the infinite parade of national and international acts coming through Providence to occupy your evening. The Met is the choice venue for catching underground acts for cheap; a perfect-sized venue that’s as good for stage dives and mosh pits as it is for fist pumps. The real headliners – the ones you get tickets for months ahead of time – come to Lupo’s. Electronic dance acts, like Dada Life and Girl Talk, have been known to rattle bones and shake booties at Lupo’s as well as any Thursday night at Ultra.
Providence is not a huge city. But the content of its social scene is enormous. The previous examples and suggestions don’t even scratch the surface. New things are happening in the city constantly, often off the beaten path of Thayer and Federal Hill.
It’s the perfect size to explore and experience yourself.
