On the Road Again

I wouldn't quite classify this as a Rick's Roadshow, as it is more of just a weekend away to visit family. I'm in Rhode Island for the Memorial Day Weekend, to see my nieces in a dance recital. I flew into Providence quite late, it was well after 1:00 AM Saturday by the time I picked up my rental car. (My connecting flight was delayed in Washington, Dulles due to some thunderstorm activity in the South East and Mid-Atlantic I guess.) I had plenty of work to do so I was on my laptop the entire cross-country flight so it went by quickly. I'll try to snap a few photos in and around Providence this weekend. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
-Rick Rockhill

Happy Labor Day To You....

My visit to Rhode Island has been filled with fun family time. I've been enjoying my two little nieces- having fun outside, telling stories, and playing any number of board games that strike their fancy. Speaking of fancy, apparently a story called Fancy Nancy is all the rage with little girls these days (who knew?). Like most girls, they love dress-up, shoes, accessories and all things pink and purple. They sure are fun to spend time with.  

Yesterday I took my grandmother to visit two of her sisters, neither of whom she has seen in several years. It was great to see the look on their faces as they saw each other again. It was also a treat for me to see my aunts and catch up on all the family gossip. It's tough living 3,000 miles away from family, we were all so close when I was growing up. I sure miss everyone. Today I'll be spending Labor Day with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and the nieces just relaxing outside and savoring our time together. Whatever you do today, I hope you enjoy the day as well.

-Rick Rockhill

Rick's Roadshow: Providence Waterfires

Welcome back to another scintillating edition of Rick's Roadshow: Providence Waterfires. If you have never heard of, or been to the Providence Waterfires, it is an amazing sight to see. The Providence Waterfires are truly an artform- a type of sculpture created by world reknowned artist Barnaby Evans. It features over 100 wood-burning bonfires situated along three rivers in downtown Providence.

The bonfires have a fragrant scent and flicker firelight on the surface of the waters that illuminate the arched bridges. Gondolas and torch-lit vessels travel gently down the river, set against enchanting music that appeals to and engages all the senses of passersby. It evokes wonderful emotions from those who stroll the cobblestone paths of Waterplace Park. Run from private funds and donations, the Waterfires are truly magnificent and distriguish Providence as a jewel of the Northeast United States. (The first two photos are from the Waterfires website, but I took the ones below. I hope you enjoy these photos:

above: the volunteers pass the fire from torch to torch along the Providence River, starting after dusk. Note: Blogger is giving me a hard time formatting the photos and text, so the next few photos won't have any explanation, I'm sorry. I hate this new udate to the blogger software...Grrrrr!

above: looking west, toward the Providence Plance Mall in the distance. You can see the basin of the water place, with the waterfires glowing in the early hour of dusk.

above: three "original" buildings of the Providence financial building skyline.

above: looking due west, along the Providence River. As we stopped here, there was an opera singer giving an improptu performance to the music along the rivers. It was so moving, and gave credence to the fact that Providence is a modern renaissance city.

above: A view East, toward the Citizens Bank building.

above: the waterfires have individual braziers, filled with chopped wood, and are light by special teams on gondolas, coordinated to music that is piped along Water Place Park. Thanks for stopping by Rick's Roadshow: Providence Waterfires.

-Rick Rockhill