Although Providence is a relatively small city (ranked 144th in size here in the US) it is a popular destination for many reasons as highlit in this glitzy survey of 30 cities. In the restaurants category I’m of course rather partial to our excellent on-campus dining, but there are quite incredible local dining options whether it be to-die-for pizza, haute Italian cuisine, or an authentic American hotdog. We have boffo theater, elegant sounds, world-class exhibitions, and of course the scintillating summer experience of a Waterfire. There’s always a road race, refined merchant, or a legendary landmark not far away. And I almost forgot our gorgeous beaches that mark our designation here in Rhode Island as the “ocean state.”

So as this new year slowly starts to take off, I am particularly proud of our creative capital and the special role which RISD plays in keeping the creativity and inspiration running strong locally and globally. -JM