Not sure what to do with your visiting family after the big Thanksgiving meal is over? Can’t decide between hitting the Black Friday sales or participating in “Buy Nothing Day”? Sick of your big brother from the Big Apple complaining that there’s nothing cool to do in Rhode Island?

Not to worry – the Skating Rink downtown is OPEN for ice skating 4pm-10pm Thanksgiving day and all day Friday through Sunday!  Still cheaper than the movies, it’s affordable for the whole family, too. Check out rink hours & prices!

Burn off that turkey or tofurkey and sweet potato pie with a fun outdoor activity framed by the Providence skyline. Tell your big city brother that downtown Providence’s 14,000-square-foot skating rink is twice the size of Rockefeller Plaza’s in New York City. Take grandma and the kids to the rink, and sneak out to buy them some gifts at locally owned businesses like nearby Craftland. Hit up Tazza for some hot cocoa and coffee! Or stay and feel the holiday stress melt away as you glide on the ice in the crisp fall air and you reflect on what this season is all about.

Worried about parking downtown? Don’t!

Take advantage of the annual free holiday parking program, which starts Friday! It allows shoppers downtown two hours of free parking from 10am until 6pm beginning Friday, November 26th through Wednesday, January 1, 2011.  Now that’s easy!  For more info go here.

Lace up your skates! Ice skating season begins this weekend!

We cordially invite you to join us for opening weekend at the Bank of America Skating Center. The ice will be ready for you to enjoy under the stars at 5pm tomorrow, November 20th. And starting Sunday, we will begin normal operating hours:

Monday through Friday 10am - 10pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am - 10pm

Skating at the Bank of America City Center is truly affordable entertainment for families wanting to have fun without breaking the bank. We encourage everyone to experience the exhilaration of gliding on the smooth ice in the crisp cool air in the heart of downtown Providence.

A New Vision For Kennedy Plaza from Ben Chace on Vimeo.

Produced by Friends of Kennedy Plaza and Coalition for Community Development, this video presents a new vision for the Greater Kennedy Plaza in Downtown Providence, Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has pledged the use of federal stimulus funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to design, construct, and install information kiosks on the perimeter of Burnside Park and the corner of Exchange Terrace and Kennedy Plaza by RIPTA’s bus stop Q that will help bolster GKP’s accessibility and vitality for transit riders and other pedestrians.   The immediate goals of the information kiosks are to enhance the GKP area and provide more access to transit and other information for pedestrians.  For more information please click here.

Just 5 more dates remaining in the season for the Thursday night Burnside Park Music Series. Here is the schedule, with the last two shows expected to be pretty exciting.

September 2nd: WBRU Presents: Johnny Lingo - Alt pop singer songwriter; WBRU Rock Hunt Winner 2004; Providence Phoenix best male Vocalist 2009.
myspace.com/johnnylingoband

September 9th: Oom Pa Pas - Super fun Bavarian band for that ultimate German biergarten feel! myspace.com/oompapaband

September 16th: Afrosonic Collective - DJ BlackDove’s electric relaxation - beer and beats! afrosonic-ri.blogspot.com

September 23rd: Debo Band featuring Fendika - An exhilarating 11-piece Ethio-groove collective created as a means of exploring the unique sounds that once filled dance clubs of 1970s Ethiopia.
This is the debut U.S. tour of Debo Band and their Ethiopia-based guests, Fendika. deboband.com

September 30th: Death Vessel - Sub Pop recording artist - Rooted in a traditional feel of folk and early Americana—- this music sounds as progressive, experimental and modern as it is antique and old-world. deathvessel.com

Relax with this after-work music series. Check out bands and DJs from all over New England before you head to dinner and Movies!  on the Block! Free! Thursdays, beer garden runs from 4:30-7:00pm with performances from 5:30-6:30pm.

Check out the full story here!

The Beer Garden is back and in full swing!

Relax with this after-work music series every Thursday between 4:30-7:30pm with music from 5:30pm-6:30pm. Check out bands and DJs from all over New England before you head to dinner and outdoor movies! Free! Upcoming shows include:

June 17th - Double Decker Dance Band

June 24th - Superchief Trio

July 1st - WBRU Presents: Sean P Rogan

See you there!

UPDATE: Please note - the start date for yoga classes has been moved to June 17th, at 12:15pm. See you then!

Free Lunch Hour Yoga for All | Burnside Park in Greater Kennedy Plaza
Thursdays 12:15 – 1:00 pm

Take a mid-day break to relax the mind and refresh the body under the trees of Burnside Park in Kennedy Plaza with your teach Chris Belanger from Whole of the Moon Yoga.

This unique experience was conceived with both new-comers to yoga and city office workers in mind.  Each session will include a period of centering, simple & relaxing guided breathing exercises, gentle yoga postures & movements and a period of deep relaxation.  Come as you are!  Classes are intended and designed to be accessible to all. All shapes, sizes, ages and ability levels are welcome.

We meet in Burnside Park – directly between the fountain and Washington St.   Dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat, blanket or towel.

Tip: keep a yoga mat in your office so you won’t forget it each week! Ocean State Job Lot carries them for around $7 — a great price especially when the class is free!

Greater Kennedy Plaza is undergoing a transformation full of vibrant activity and we want you to be a part of it!  We’ve got a great lineup for this season, but there’s still time to get your spot.  Deadline for the June Bazaar is May 26th.  Download an application here: http://www.kennedyplaza.org/weekly-events/

We encourage vendors of all kinds to present their wares in this exciting, urban setting.  Delicious food, treasured antiques, vintage books, crafty art, handy merchandise, and fun!

The Market Bazaar will be held every first Tuesday of the month from 11am – 5pm on the sidewalk along the Washington Street side of Burnside Park.  At $15 the Market Bazaar is an affordable opportunity to reach new customers.  Questions? Please contact Jen Smith at jen@kennedyplaza.org