{"id":20766,"date":"2011-03-28T14:44:24","date_gmt":"2011-03-28T18:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=20766"},"modified":"2025-09-02T02:56:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T06:56:48","slug":"east-side-providence-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/20766\/east-side-providence-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"Good Things Come in Small States: Providence&#8217;s Eco East Side"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>PROVIDENCE&#8217;S EAST SIDE HAS ALWAYS HAD A GRITTY, URBAN HIPSTER ATTITUDE<\/strong>\u2014one that makes it decidedly cool without trying too hard. Lately, its eco quotient has also been quietly rising, as more sustainably-minded individuals, artists, and foodies open up new spaces around the city\u2019s eastern streets. To explore its four centuries old past and ever-changing present, book a weekend trip and stick with this insider guide.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Start with Brunch in a Snug Spot<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Duck &amp; Bunny <\/strong>| 312 Wickenden St. | 401.270.3300 | theduckandbunny.com<br \/>\nProprietors Daniel and Lauren Becker opened this modern \u201csnuggery\u201d (defined \u201ca cozy and comfortable place\u201d) last year and filled it with sparkling chandeliers and posh bourgie decor. The menu features tasty small bites, such as tea sandwiches and scones, in addition to stand-out crepes, filled with sweet or savory fillings, and delicious omelets. Most of Duck &amp; Bunny\u2019s ingredients are provided by <a title=\"Farm Fresh website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.farmfreshri.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Farm Fresh<\/a>, a non-profit that culls fruits, vegetables, and cheeses from local farms, while the spreads, such as mustard and jams, come from Wicked Good based in Bristol. Arrive early, though, as there\u2019s usually a wait for a seat; if the weather\u2019s nice request a table in the ivy-covered outdoor garden in back.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Next Shop for Treasures From the Past<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Benefit Street Antiques<\/strong> | 243 Wickenden St. | 401.751.9109 | benefitstreetantiques.com<br \/>\nLocated at the intersection of Wickenden and Benefit streets, this neat and tidy antique shop specializes in vintage furniture, chandeliers, lamps, and design goods from a variety of decades. The owners buy from New England homes, picking out pieces with character and history, and often give them a fresh coat of paint or shiny finish that imbues a modern style. Besides, shopping for reclaimed items does the planet and a sparse corner of your apartment a favor, right?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Refuel with A Fair Roast <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Coffee Exchange<\/strong> | 207 Wickenden St. | 401.273.1198 | <a title=\"Coffee Exchange\" href=\"http:\/\/sustainablecoffee.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sustainablecoffee.com<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/5610171542_56b7b07c76.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright lazyload\" title=\"5610171542_56b7b07c76\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/5610171542_56b7b07c76.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"340\" height=\"263\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright lazyload\" title=\"5610171542_56b7b07c76\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/5610171542_56b7b07c76.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"340\" height=\"263\" \/><\/noscript><\/a>Rhode Islanders have an undeniable fondness for coffee\u2014it\u2019s the rumored birthplace of coffee syrup, a sweet liquid made of water and sugar strained through coffee grounds that\u2019s often added to milky confections. Coffee Exchange has been sourcing organic, fair-trade harvested beans for years, roasting handfuls in small batches to draw out their defining flavors (the popular French Roast produces a bold smoky flavor with a heady aroma, while the Vienna Roast coaxes out the savory ambrosial quality of the bean). Decaf drinkers aren\u2019t snubbed here either, as the owners use an all-water method, called Swiss Water Process, to decaffeinate the beans without any chemicals. Consider this coffee paradise.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Head Up the Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Wish Salon<\/strong> | 120 Governor St. | 401.272.9474 | wishhairsalon.com<br \/>\nNew York hairstylist Tara Siani recently opened up this tiny eco-conscious salon in a brownstone on Governor Street. Her team works with natural shampoos and conditioners from Phyto and skillfully paints on non-toxic dyes from Intelligent Nutrients. Book an appointment in advance (alas, there are only a few chairs) or drop in spur of the moment to pick up an organic hair mask or two.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/megadriver_large.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32046 alignleft lazyload\" title=\"megadriver_large\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/megadriver_large.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"50\" height=\"71\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32046 alignleft lazyload\" title=\"megadriver_large\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/megadriver_large.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"50\" height=\"71\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/megadriver_large.png 74w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/megadriver_large-17x25.png 17w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 50px) 100vw, 50px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a>How to get there: <\/strong><em>Get tickets at<\/em><em> <a title=\"megabus website\" href=\"http:\/\/us.megabus.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">megabus.com<\/a> or consult oM&#8217;s <a title=\"offManhattan&#039;s guide to getting to Providence\" href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/manhattan-to-providence-public-transportation-advisor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">public transportation guide to Providence<\/a>. For hotel recommendations, consult oM&#8217;s article: <a title=\"Permanent Link to Little Kid, Mid-Sized City Part IV: Kids Activities in Providence\" href=\"..\/2010\/09\/20\/providence-kids-activities\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Little Kid, Mid-Sized City Part IV: Kids Activities in Providence.<\/a> To explore Providence by bike, visit <a title=\"bike ri\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dot.ri.gov\/bikeri\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dot.ri.gov\/bikeri<\/a> for the best bike routes. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><br \/>\nPhotos: Courtesy of respective establishments. La Laiterie food shot by <a title=\"Jennifer Hess blog\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lastnightsdinner.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jennifer Hess<\/a><br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PROVIDENCE&#8217;S EAST SIDE HAS ALWAYS HAD A GRITTY, URBAN HIPSTER ATTITUDE\u2014one that makes it decidedly cool without trying too hard. Lately, its eco quotient has also been quietly rising, as more sustainably-minded individuals, artists, and foodies open up new spaces around the city\u2019s eastern streets. To explore its four centuries old past and ever-changing present, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":34555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[743,353,316],"tags":[265,40,39,1617,306,363,299,133,617,57,475,84,421],"class_list":{"0":"post-20766","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-megabus-getaways","8":"category-rhode-island","9":"category-weekend-getaways","10":"tag-antiques","11":"tag-art","12":"tag-cafe","13":"tag-events","14":"tag-farm","15":"tag-garden","16":"tag-locally-sourced","17":"tag-outdoors","18":"tag-plays","19":"tag-restaurant","20":"tag-shakespeare","21":"tag-shopping","22":"tag-sustainable"},"acf":[],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":34555,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/215196_206325162718705_7977559_n-300x156.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/56"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20766\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}