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Can Hipsters Save Providence?

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor

Providence earns high marks for its hipster quotient -- but what does that mean for the city?

Providence regularly lands on the lists of top hipster cities and top hipster colleges for its cool factor, having earned plaudits from Travel and Leisure to Buzzfeed for live music, coffee shops, and hip culture.

But can hipsters save Providence?

In 2013, when Providence took the number four slot on Travel and Leisure's list of America's Top Cities for Hipsters, the publication stated of Rhode Island's capital city, "On the west side, you can order vegan cuisine at The Grange, hear concerts at the Columbus Theatre (with a clever 1492 seats), or browse the vintage fashions, ceramic poodles, and kitschy kitchenware at Rocket to Mars."

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SLIDES: See Top Providence Hipster Hangouts BELOW

Aaron Renn, urban analyst and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, offered his perspective on the "hipster impact" in Providence -- and nationally.

"There are not enough "hipsters" to plausibly resurrect the urban economies of America," said Renn. "If you're in downtown Providence, in the proximity to its center, you can live an eminently hipster lifestyle, and ask yourself, 'Where would Providence be without it?' And it would probably not be as great."

"Is that the solution to the jobs issue on the south side of Providence? No. [The hipster economy] has its positives, but it's something that's happening more now everywhere," said Renn. "I was just in Indianapolis. There were plenty of beards, plaid shirts, and locally sourced food there."

Part of Economy

AS220 on Empire Street.

"It's a great thing to be considered a livable city with a vibrant nightlife and art scene," said Providence City Council President Luis Aponte. "Our goal is to have a city that draws interest and investment at all levels. The artists and designers need to be part of the city -- but so do blue collar and white collar workers as well."

Renn noted that in his view, Providence's relatively rooted hipster culture put it in a different position than newer hipster destinations.

"People are going to come and go, that's the nature of a college town, but the people that I know that decided to stay in Providence did so for relatively concrete reasons," said Renn. "They're 'sticky'-- they didn't seem like the people to flee to Detroit because it's the next hip city. Many people have reasons that they picked Providence that aren't applicable to a Detroit. Having New England roots, for instance, or wanting to be close to New York, Boston, but having a lower cost of living."

"I'm not anticipating there's going to be any mass exodus of the creative class, that's a positive note -- the people that are in Providence are loyal, but if you don't have a job, that's a big problem," added Renn.

Renn noted some advantages that emerging hipster markets have that Providence does not.

"Take Detroit and its collapse," said Renn. "The ability for the government to function is barely coming around. That's allowed people to take chances, to know the building inspector isn't necessarily going to bother you. New England is so heavily regulated, it's a daunting process to come in and do something. I think the people who move to Providence have a reason, they didn't just up and move because they heard it was cool."

Urban Growth Factor

"I think Providence has fallen flat compared to hipster cities such as Portland [Oregon]," said Renn. "There's more of an economy build in say Portland [Oregon] for small business. For a lot of people, to go to Providence, you have to bring money from somewhere else, there's not a ton of jobs. For the most part, if you're a younger, creative person, there's simply a limited number of positions in Providence right now. You've got to figure out how to make money, and that's namely exporting services and goods, and that brings some wealth in."

City Council President Aponte noted that the firm that the City Council recently hired to do cluster analysis identified that at least a fifth of Providence's workforce are contract workers.

"What they found is that 21% of folks earning in Providence are 1099 workers," said Aponte of the classification of contract workers. "That's high as compared to other parts of the region and the country as a whole. If people are disconnected to an employer, and selling their services as consultants, how much spin off does that create? We have an older housing stock, which is attractive to hipster types, and having them here means something for our tax base. We need to see where the jobs are though, and enable growth there."

Renn spoke to where he saw Providence could succeed.

"Rhode Island has had some wins in the past, we just need a lot more. On a whole, if I were Providence, I'd feel pretty good about the number of people in that creative class who have an affinity for the city and aren't likely to leave," said Renn. "The industries that are booming, however, are ones where Rhode Island isn't necessarily well placed. Everybody and their brother is chasing biotech. Boston is booming, and Rhode Island just doesn't have the assets. There are only so many coders -- if you're that good, you're going to another city."

"Where Providence and Rhode Island has the skills is in design," said Renn. "The question is how do you parlay that beyond a boutique firm. You can argue Alex and Ani did it, that it's effectively a design firm that leverages the state's jewelry expertise. That's just one example. Providence needs lots of people starting businesses. Very few will become successful, and usually it takes on average 7 to 10 years to make it. But to do so you have to build it."

Related Slideshow: 20 Hipster Hotspots in Rhode Island

White Electric

711 Westminster St, Providence

Hipsters love coffee almost as much as they love their beards. Located in the up-and-coming West End, White Electric is famous for their coffee and their baked goods. Especially popular amongst the hipster set is the avocado and bean sprout on a bagel. They also cater to all of you vegetarian/vegans out there, featuring soy milk and "tofutti" cream cheese (that's cream cheese made from tofu instead of dairy) alongside more standard fare.

What Cheer? Tavern

228 New York Ave, Providence

What do hipsters love more than their beards and their coffee? Craft brews and whiskeys, of course. What Cheer? Tavern, named for the first thing the Narragansett Indians said to Roger Williams upon his arrival in Rhode Island, has an ample supply of both. The beer selection focuses on American craft beers like Long Trail and Goose Island, and they offer up creative tasty meals like the "bacon wings", a kimchi hot dog, and of course, The Hipster Taco, consisting of "2 Soft flour tortillas, 5 Spice Tofu , kimchi, and quick pickle."

Photo Credit: Mike L/Yelp

AS220 Food

115 Empire St, Providence

Hipsters love to Yelp. Perhaps Philip Peter W. of Brooklyn NY said it best about AS220 Food:

When you live in a city that isn't very hip, a little hipster goes a long way--in a good way! I'm vegan/vegetarian...we ordered mac and cheese, kale/tempeh/butternut squash salad, and hummus with pita...I appreciate a place that focuses on a small, conscious menu and getting those few items right.

There's a decent craft beer selection at the bar and some inspired cocktails; i had one that involved american vodka, ginger beer, muddled basil, and bitters. Beer is a little pricey.

...it's great that these folks are putting local/sustainable/vegetarian food, craft beer, art, and music all in one place.

Small plastic cups for water is a bit questionable from an environmental standpoint. No annoying TVs = major +
Bartender kinda looked like Amy Winehouse...

Olympic Records

580 Wickenden St, Providence

You won't find the latest One Direction CD at Olympic Records. In fact, you won't find CD's at all. Olympic specializes in used vinyl, and stocks a selection of new titles, as well. Hipsters love to "spin the black circle," or at least love to be seen with them as a status symbol or fashion accessory. Sure, you can buy records at Urban Outfitters or Newbury Comics, but a true hipster knows you can find gold (and maybe some leftover seeds from a bygone era) in those used stacks of vinyl.

Pour Judgement

32 Broadway, Newport

Pour Judgement is the hipster haven of Aquidneck Island. Offering "Cheap bites, and an amazing craft beer selection," you can also make your own postcard at the "postcard station" and share a selfie through the old fashioned US Mail. What do hipsters love more than a real life anachronism? (Besides beer and whiskey and beards and vinyl and...)

The Avery

18 Luongo Square, Providence

The Avery in Federal Hill has lots to offer the Providence hipster - a beautiful, hand carved bar, dim lighting, many whiskeys available, and, in true hipster fashion, no sign on the door outside. USA Today compared The Avery to a 1920's speakeasy. Some of the facial hair on the hipsters harken back to that decade, as well.

The E + O

289 Knight St, Providence

The E + O Tap is your classic dive bar. It's located in the middle of a neighborhood, they have an outdoor patio 'round back, and have all kinds of beer - from cheap hipster favorite Miller High Life to craft beers on tap, there's something for every shade of hipster at the E + O.

Nick-a-Nees

75 South St, Providence

This south-side hipster mainstay is known for having one of the best jukeboxes in the state- plus, it's dog friendly, so hipsters-best-friend can tag along while his owner enjoys a PBR or two. Nick-a-Nees is too cool to have a website, but they do have a Facebook page. There's never a cover, and there's always an interesting music act - from bluegrass to blues. Also: Shuffleboard! Hipsters love playing the games of your grandfather's generation.

New Harvest Coffee

65 Weybosset - In the Providence Arcade

Downtown hipsters need their coffee and booze, too. Complete with a "speakeasy" side entrance, New Harvest Coffee and Spirits is located in the historic Providence Arcade, the first indoor shopping mall in America. New Harvest boasts coffee and whiskey - alone or together. It's two great hipster tastes that taste great together. Coffee is roasted in the Hope Artiste Villiage in Pawtucket, and is single sourced and sustainable.

The Grange

166 Broadway Providence

The Grange is a vegetarian restaurant in the West End that has the goal of "expand(ing) the array of choices available to this community as they move toward a mostly plant-based diet and a more wholesome way of living." There is also a bar boasting quirky cocktails and all sorts of beer ranging from your standard hipster issue Narragansett tallboy to an impressive selection of craft beers on tap. The interior is made of "100% repurposed materials," like the wardrobe of many hipsters.

The image on the left shows The Grange's Stumptown Coffee and a vegan pastry.

Brooklyn Coffee House

209 Douglas Ave, Providence

The Brooklyn Coffee and Tea House in Providence combines several hipster loves - coffee, tea and independent filmmaking: RHODYWOOD. Plus, they host live music nights that "resist corporate music," in other words, all music performed must be original work or in the public domain. Hipsters love sticking it to "the man" - and what's more symbolic of "the man" than the music industry?

The Steel Yard

27 Sims Ave, Providence

Perhaps the most unique spot on our list, The Steel Yard is a non-profit that "acts as a catalyst in the creative revitalization of the industrial valley district of Providence."

The Steel Yard serves over 300 people annually through community education classes, introduces dozens of teens to metal fabrication through special youth programming such as Camp Metalhead and educational partnerships, and has prepared dozens of Rhode Islanders for the metalworking trade through the Weld To Work program. The Yard is also home to Public Projects, which produces one-of-a-kind street and park amenities, including art bike racks, tree guards, and trash cans that can be seen throughout New England.

Pretty awesome stuff.

The Parlour

1119 North Main Street, Providence

The Parlour is a bar/live music venue that hosts quirky local and national acts, and serves interesting dishes that feature only local organic & all-natural ingredients. For example: the "Bill Walton" consists of roasted organic portobella, pickled jalapeno & candied organic beet quesadillas w/ all natural cheeses in house made, organic flour tortillas.

Image: Hillary H/Yelp

7 Stars Broadway

342 Broadway, Providence

Hipsters cannot live on coffee, whiskey, and beer alone. 7 Stars has several locations throughout the city, but the Broadway location is a hipster favorite. All sorts of bread and pastries are available, plus sandwiches, and of course, coffee.

7 Stars has a simple mission statement: "Bake great stuff and treat our customers well."

The Scurvy Dog

1718 Westminster St, Providence

The best way to describe The Scurvy Dog is spelled out on it's own website:

Punk rock and roll pub in the West Side of Providence.

Twenty taps, no crap. Forty-five bottles, forty plus whiskeys.

Hamburgers with wacky, delicious toppings.

Huge, breezy and shady outdoor beer garden overlooking scenic Olneyville.

Tasty punk rock and roll, garage, death metal, outlaw country, blues, rockabilly, etc. etc.

What more could a hipster (or anyone else) want?

PS- the Scurvy Dog may have the greatest FAQ section of any bar's website we've come across.

Justine’s

11 Olneyville Square, Providence

Justine's is an unassuming, signless storefront that masquerades as a lingerie shop, but behind the velvet curtain, you'll find a hipster-paradise old school speakeasy.

Chandeliers and matching sconces enhance the dark atmosphere. Justine's is so secret, they don't even have a web page, but you can check them out on Yelp. Check it out, if you can find it.

Photo via Ben S/Yelp

In Your Ear

462 Main St, Warren

In Your Ear was once a Thayer St mainstay before the gentrification and rents went sky high. This old school record shop is now located on Main St in Warren, giving East Bay hipsters (but it's worth the drive from anywhere in the state) a place to dive for vinyl treasure - plus they also sell vintage equipment, so trash that junky turntable you got at Target and pick up something that will actually show off the sound quality of that vinyl treasure.

Wickenden Pub

320 Wickenden St, Providence

This Fox Point dive bar mainstay on Wickenden has been around forever. They have over 99 beers from around the world with 19 on tap. Beer aficionados can join the Beer club, drink all 99 beers, and get on the wall of shame. Hipsters need goals, too.

Loie Fuller

1455 Westminster St, Providence

Hipsters love brunch, and the art nouveau Loie Fuller's delivers brunch in spades. Named for Loie Fuller, a pioneer of modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques, this hipster favorite also offers interesting appetizers and entrees, such as striped bass with potato leeks and a vegetable and grits combo.

Woody Allen filmed parts of his latest film here, too.

Prov. Kickball League

Dexter Field (Armory Park)

During the summer, kickball is hipster ground zero in Providence. Nothing says hipster like kickball. The Providence Kickball League starts up this year on May 30, and you can still sign up for a team. Games are played at Dexter Field near the Cranston St Armory, and wrap up September 6.

There's even a championship cup named after Stephen Olney, a Revolutionary War hero. The loser's cup is the "Vincent Cianci" cup. Seriously. The Providence Kickball League even has a sponsor, fittingly, Narragansett Beer.

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