Skate with Captain Hemoglobin! 1/21 from 11am - 2pm

Please join us THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 21st at the Bank of America Skating Center at 2 Kennedy Plaza in Providence for the next blood drive. The blood drive will run from 11:00am-2:00pm on the Bloodmobile.

THE RHODE ISLAND BLOOD CENTER MASCOT, CAPTAIN HEMOGLOBIN, WILL BE AT THE BLOOD DRIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE PICTURES. THE CAPTAIN WILL EVEN TRY OUT HIS SKILLS ON THE ICE!

ALL PRESENTING DONORS WILL RECEIVE A COUPON FOR A FREE POUND OF DUNKIN’ DONUTS COFFEE!

Remember, each donation can help save three lives. The Rhode Island Blood Center needs to collect up to 280 pints of blood every single day to meet the needs of area hospitals. This blood is used to treat cancer patients, burn victims, accident victims, major surgery patients, and more.

Please roll up your sleeve and give the gift of life!

You may schedule an appointment for the Bank of America Skating Center Blood Drive by clicking the link below, or simply walk in.

Hope to see you there!

Make an appointment.

New promo for the Bank of America City Center!

Courtesy Russ Dougherty, Video Excellence

Bright Night Lights Up the Rink this Saturday

This Saturday don’t miss a very special 2012  Bright Night celebration at the Bank of America Skating Rink.

From noon until midnight enjoy half-priced ice skating for the whole family. Then catch a new year skating spectacular at 4pm with special appearances from the Snow Queen, Banished Fools and guests! See schedule below:

4:15 PM: Ice Skating Spectacular: “That’s Entertainment”, a 30-minute performance on ice that will capture the best of Hollywood, Broadway and Film.

5 PM: Entrance parade by Banished Fools followed by remarks by Adam Gertsacov, Festival Director of Bright Night Providence and Lynne McCormack, Director of  the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism.   Closing with a surprise from Clare Vadeboncouer, Rhode Island’s own Snow Queen.

For more information visit: http://www.providenceri.com/ArtCultureTourism/bright-night-providence-tickets-now-on-sale

Disney Takes the Ice!

If you were to look out at the Bank of America Skating Rink this afternoon you may have seen a surprising sight.

Honoring members of the Rhode Island National Guard and their  families, Disney On Ice and the National Guard Child and Youth program came together to bring a tropical-themed holiday spectacular to the rink.

Families and onlookers gathered around the ice as local youth dance troup, Napua O’ Polynesia, brought the warmth of the Polynesian islands to the winter day with traditional dances from Hawaii, Samoa and Fiji.  A special skate by Disney’s playful pair Lilo & Stitch followed and even Mickey & Minnie Mouse joined the fun, taking pictures with their favorite fans throughout the afternoon.

The magic continues this weekend with a special Bright Night celebration at the rink this Saturday starting at 4pm.  For a full schedule see: http://www.brightnight.org/schedule.html

Special holiday hours! 12/24 and 12/25

Bank of America City Center is open for special skating hours on Saturday and Sunday!

Friday, December 23rd, 10am - 10pm
Saturday, December 24th, 11am - 6pm
Sunday, December 25th, 4pm - 10pm
Monday, December 26th, 10am - 10pm

Get out of the house and come on down to the 14,000-square-foot skating rink for some family-friendly fun.

We have skate rentals in sizes from toddler 8 to men’s 13, as well as locker rentals and skate sharpening. In case of inclement weather, please call 401.331.5544 to confirm that the rink is open.

Ice Skating Season Begins November 24th

Join Greater Kennedy Plaza on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th for the first skate of the season at Bank of America Skating Center!  From 4-10 pm the ice will be fresh, the tunes will be playing, and the lights will be aglow as we kick-off the skate season in style.

The temperature is dropping, but there is no need to rush inside! The Bank of America Skating Center provides outdoor family fun all winter long.  Get in a quick work out at lunch, decompress after work, or spend a Saturday with family and friends at the rink.  Affordable fun in the heart of downtown Providence!

2011-2012 Skating Season

Opening Night: November 24th, 4pm to 10 pm
Regular Hours: November 25th, 2011 - March 17th, 2012
Monday - Friday: 10am to 10pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 10pm

Looking for a venue for a special celebration? We offer birthday and group packages as well as lessons for adults and children throughout the season.  And check out our special rates for college students and mid-day/afternoon skates.

As one of New England’s most popular winter destinations,  the Bank of America Skating Rink offers fun for any age.  And  at 14,000-square-feet our rink is twice the size of the Rockefeller Plaza ice rink in New York!

For more information on the 2011-2012 skating season visit: http://www.kennedyplaza.org/skating-information/.

RIPTA and the City of Providence Will Hold 3 Open Houses to Hear Feedback on Streetcar Proposal

In September, 2011, RIPTA and the City announced their recommendation for a new streetcar route connecting Upper South Providence with College Hill.

This 2.5 mile route would connect over 2,700 households, 50,000 people working along the route, and about 25,000 students enrolled at five local college campuses.  The route would reinforce RIPTA’s existing bus system by passing through Kennedy Plaza, would allow for connections with our regional rail system, and would pass within walking distance of the Convention Center, the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, three major theaters, and more than 2,100 hotel rooms.  By better connecting activity centers within our expanding downtown core, this new transit line would encourage economic development and strengthen the vitality and livability of local neighborhoods.  Based on the benefits realized in other US cities with streetcars, we believe a Providence streetcar would generate an additional 3.1 million square feet of new development, above and beyond what is currently already projected over the next 20 years.  This new development would bring an additional 6,090 new jobs and 1,770 new residents to our downtown core, broadening our local tax base and generating new revenues for the City of Providence.

RIPTA and the City are hosting three Open Houses to answer questions about this proposal and to hear your thoughts. Please join the community discussion and attend one of the following events:

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 from 5 to 7 PM
CCRI Liston Campus Auditorium,  1 Hilton Place, Upper South Providence
Informal drop-in session, with brief formal presentation at 6 PM

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from 12:30 to 2 PM
Providence Municipal Building (Dept. of Planning & Development)
444 Westminster St., 1st Floor, Providence
Informal drop-in session, with brief formal presentation at 1 PM

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from 5 to 7 PM
Brown RISD Hillel Center, 80 Brown Street, College Hill
Informal drop-in session, with brief formal presentation at 6 PM

For more information, please visit our study website at www.ProvidenceCoreConnector.com.

Noon Tunes Returns to Burnside Park

On Thursday September 1st, lunch-time music series Noon Tunes returns to Greater Kennedy Plaza.  Join us each Thursday in September for a midday concert under the trees at Burnside Park.  Pick up lunch at one of the Washington Street food trucks and take a quick break while being serenaded by sweet tunes!

Thursdays, 12pm - 1pm! Free and open to the public! Plus bubbles and chalk for the kids.

September 1st - Too Human - Jazz standards with a fresh twist

September 8th - Tatsuya Nakatani - solo improvisational percussion, and special guest Jim Hobbs on saxophone

September 15th - Kirk Feather Trio - upbeat swinging jazz

September 22nd - Tesfamichael Welldeselassie - Eritrean keyboard star

September 29th - TRUA - multi-cultural folk tunes

Burnside Park Beer Garden Music Series: Boo City on 8/18, AS220 Criss Cross Orchestra on 9/1

UPDATE: The 8/25 AS220 Criss Cross Orchestra performance has been postponed to next Thursday 9/1 due to forecasted thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. See you then!

Boo City : rooted in Rock, Rhythm & Blues, a fresh new sound that is soulful and melodic.

Thursday, August 18 · 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Burnside Park - Kennedy Plaza
2 Kennedy Plaza
Providence, RI

The Burnside Park Beer Garden Music Series takes place by the fountain in the park and runs every Thursday from July to August. Beer garden is open from 4:30 - 7pm with music from 5:30 - 6:30pm. Trinity Beer, De Las Olas Tacos, and Jake’s Sweet Meat BBQ on site!

FREE, all ages | RSVP on Facebook invite.

This evening is generously sponsored by:

——

Thursday September 1st, As220 Criss Cross Orchestra, 11 member group based in Providence directed by award winning West African Ghanaian musician and composer, Obuamah Laud Addy.

This evening is generously sponsored by:

And we’d like to extend very special thanks to our season sponsors for the Burnside Park Beer Garden Music Series 2011:

New Vendors at Friday Farmers Market

If you haven’t made it to the Downtown Farmer’s Market, don’t miss another great week. Stop by this Friday between 11 am and 2 pm  for a delicious lunch, quick snack, or to get a head start on your weekly groceries. This Friday try gourmet Indian food from New Dawn, nuts and candy from Virginia & Spanish Peanut Co., or a delicious treat from The Cupcakerie.   The Downtown Farmer’s Market is now on the Fulton Street side of Kennedy Plaza and features a great selection of new and returning vendors; come support local businesses including:

Absalona Greenhouse

Barden Family Orchard

Blue Skys Flower Farm

Hill Orchards

Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ

New Dawn

Palmieri’s Bakery

Providence Granola Project

Schartner Farms

Simmons Farm

The Cupcakerie

Tina’s Jamaican

Virginia & Spanish Peanut Co.

Questions? Contact the Market Manager at kayla@farmfreshri.org.