Providence/Fox Point

Fox Point is a neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island. It is centered around Wickenden Street, which runs the length of the neighborhood, and is its commercial center.

Understand
Close in proximity to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, visitors to these schools – as well as business travelers – often choose to stay in Fox Point, rather than pay the exorbitant price of a downtown Providence hotel room. Business travelers who prefer not to be stuck in their hotel rooms for the duration of their trips give Wickenden Street high marks on Yelp.com.

Traditionally a Portuguese neighborhood, Fox Point has held onto its roots; although Wickenden Street offers a hodge-podge of various ethnicities and cultural traditions.

Wickenden Street is a nice break from the hustle of Providence. Wickenden Street in general can be described as eclectic, featuring twists on original and classic foods and coffee. Although there are a few original and small shops on the street, Wickenden is mostly renowned for a few relaxing hot spots. The artwork gracing the telephone poles is the first sign that Wickenden Street is big on personality. This stretch of Providence is a funky mix of galleries, antique shops, junk shops, restaurants and cafes. Also a formerly working-class Portuguese neighborhood that's been steadily gentrified, Wickenden Street has antiques stores, galleries, and trendy cafés. Professors, artists, and students are among the newer residents here. Many of the houses along Wickenden, Transit, Gano, and nearby streets are still painted the pastel colors of Portuguese homes.

By car
Wickenden Street is directly off of Exit 2 on I-195 East or West. If you are parking on Wickenden, park along the street. If you continue along and take a right at the Z Bar, your first major intersection, then you will see a large parking lot in front of you that is usually for free during the afternoon and at night. The only time that they charge is if there is a special event featured on the street. Bring your walking shoes.

By transit
By public transportation, you can board a replica trolley car at either end of Wickenden Street's hills. These trolleys route through the entire city of Providence before reaching the depot of Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence, which also offers transport to Wickenden Street for the price of $2.00/ride. An all-day pass costs $6.00.

Get around
Wickenden Street runs approximately two miles up and down the hills that mark Providence's East Side. It begins at the intersection of Gano Street (approximately 1/4 of a mile from the Radisson Hotel on the waterfront at India Point Park), and ends at the traffic light where Benefit Street intersects Point Street. From either starting point, you can move on up the hill that is Wickenden Street (Yes, it really is uphill, both ways, joined by the flat that is George M.Cohan Square, named after the father of the American Musical Comedy, who also happens to be a native son of Wickenden Street).

Do
If people watching is your thing, you can make your way down the block to The Coffee Exchange, an environmentally friendly, sustainable coffee serving coffee shop with tasty wares and a lovely, elevated view from the front porch or side and back decks. Inside, you will meet people from all walks of life; from college students to their professors and other non-academic types, with collars of every color. All are welcome, so long as they keep an open and respectful mind for the views of others. Often times, the conversations turn to spirited debate, making for interesting listening, too.

After visiting, you may find yourself a regular patron of Wickenden Street’s offerings – so feel free to inquire about the rest of what Fox Point and the East Side has to offer, including:


 * Walking tours. Guided tours take place often throughout the year (check local listings for times and dates); and Brown University has set up signs at several locations of locally historical significance as a part of the  “Speaking of Wickenden” cell-phone tour.  Use your mobile phone to call (401) 415-0206 wherever you see a “Speaking of Wickenden” sign to hear a pre-recorded history of the site.
 * Locally owned organic grocery stores; especially the East Side Marketplace (another Best of Rhode Island winner) which is just a short drive away in Richmond Square (the line of demarcation between Fox Point and the East Side). In addition to offering organic groceries, East Side Marketplace's Café offers a great, casual dining experience at reasonable prices.  Every month the Café holds various social events, with a different food theme.  Plus, there have been many celebrity sightings there – from the late George Harrison and John F Kennedy, Jr. to actress Natalie Portman (all connected to Brown University).
 * Saturday Sidewalk Sales along Wickenden Street occur every week, as merchants line the sidewalks with wares for sale and residents join in by hosting tables of their own unwanted treasures. It can be a lot of fun to peruse the one-of-a-kind items on display and for sale. If you plan to shop, be sure to bring cash because most residents do not accept checks or credit/debit cards, although the merchants of Wickenden Street do accept plastic.

Buy
Wickenden Street is about much more than just food and drink. In addition to the pubs and cafés – and the one “snuggery”– there are several antique stores and art galleries; as well as public art found in the murals displayed on many storefronts, all done by local artists. Unique places to shop include:

Eat
You will find a criss-crossing of coffee shops and cafes offering breakfast and lunch, juxtaposed by their restaurant counterparts offering lunch and dinner.

Sleep
In addition to hotels, longer-term rentals are available in store-front apartments right along Wickenden Street and duplex-style apartments off of the many side-streets that make up the Fox Point region. These apartments are especially welcoming of college students seeking off-campus housing.