What Cheer?, 80 Angell St. (Corner of Thayer and Angell, Upstairs), 401-861-4244. Sells Vinyl Records + CDs + Antiques + Vintage Stuff. From a shopper’s review: “This little place is like stepping down into a secret room that only you and a few other special people know about. It’s one of the only antique/collectibles shops I’ve ever seen with a really great paper ephemera collection– menus, postcards, letterhead, etc. They also have a really good selection of vintage eyeglasses, and adorably organized little bits and baubs like old hotel keys, key chains, furniture hardware, and game pieces.”

Spectrum-India Inc, 252 Thayer St., 401-421-1010. Indian imports and and an array of other interesting items. The owner seems to be universally adored by local shoppers. “If you’re looking for an experience… have Jagdish do your handwriting analysis right there in the shop – $15 or something. You’ll be asked to meditate for a little while in a chair in the back before you write freely, plus write your ABC’s. Then you hang behind the counter and off he goes, mostly from memory but he refers to cards as well to explain how he’s reaching his interpretations. Anyone’s who’s been in the shop knows the man is masterfully intuitive, genuine, and also intense, so that all applies here.”

Pleasant Surprise, 297 Thayer St., 401-273-1202. “Always an eclectic mix of fun gifts, home accessories, quirky books, cards, and toys. Our design sensibility combines the contemporary with the nostalgic.”

South Main Street
South Main Street is at the base of College Hill. John’s previous post pointed us to a Boston Globe article highlighting the eclectic shopping experience here. You might also want to watch this video from the South Main Street Neighborhood Association.

Marc Allen Fine Clothiers, 200 South Main St., 401-453-0025. High end men’s store offering custom-made suits and ready to wear pieces of the highest quality style and craftsmanship.

Shoppe Pioneer, 253 South Main St., 401-274-7467. “A fashion and lifestyle boutique featuring indie designers, contemporary & vintage fashion and hand picked treasures”

 Hegeman & Co., 361 South Main St., 401-831-6812. Fine jewelry, including custom design and craftsmanship on nearly any style in the store; includes estate and designer pieces.

Wickenden Street
Also south of College Hill and to the east of South Main is the Fox Point neighborhood. Wickenden Street packs loads of independent shops, art galleries, and restaurants into a surprisingly small space. From an article by Jan Faust Dane: “It is a narrow and compact strip, about 1/3 of a mile from stem to stern. If you wanted to throw the ultimate, but walkable, scavenger hunt, this is where you’d do it. You couldn’t get obscure enough: “‘bring me one guppy, a towel rod, a tube of indigo gouache, two peonies, an eel sushi roll and a picture of yourself with a bronze bust of George M. Cohan.’ That would take about eleven minutes.”

Examples of some of the interesting shops you’ll find there:

Adler’s Hardware, 173 Wickenden St., 401-421-5157. A longstanding family business, Adler’s features the predictable hardware staples, but also to home design supplies that include fine decorative hardware, wallpaper, fabrics, and C2 paints.

The Curatorium, 197 Wickenden St., 401-453-4080. “Part design store, part Natural History Museum, part small-town gift shop, The Curatorium offers something for everyone, and gifts for all occasions, in all price ranges.

Curiosities, 460 Wickenden St., 401-421-0023. “Among the many curious items found here is one-of-a-kind costume and vintage beaded jewelry. Also, old photos or “Instant Relatives”, records, ephemera and lots more!” From a Yelp review: “Entering Curiosities is a little like entering a shop if it was run by someone who was once on the show Hoarders.”

Small Circle, 464 Wickenden St., 401-437-8338. “A community marketplace of 100% locally made products.”

Olympic Records, 580 Wickenden St., 401-301-9266. This record store sells vinyl only, specializing in “new and used indie rock and the like.”  Bring some quarters for their vintage pinball machines.

Downtown
The colorful array of shops and boutiques that have appeared in downtown Providence recent years bear witness to the revitalization of Downcity. A sampling:

Heir, 65 Eddy St., 401-331-5680. “Antiques, art, and covetable goods.” An eclectic offering of folk art, industrial objects, and vintage pieces mixed with new items such as high-end bags, candles, and art books.

Noon, 75 Weybosset St., 401-455-1222. “Unique local handmade jewelry, letterpress cards and goods.”

WHARF Clothing & Wares, 212 Westminster St., 401-272-1231. High quality men’s clothing in classic styles.

Craftland, 235 Westminster St., 401-272-4285. “Downtown shop and gallery specializing in unique, handmade objects and the people who make them.”

Symposium Books, 240 Westminster St., 401-273-7900. An independent bookstore. “We are proud to have excellent Art, Architecture, Design, and Photography sections, as well as academic books (huge Philosophy section!), Literature/Fiction, Children’s/Young Adult, Film, Poetry, Lit Crit, GLBT, Travel Writing, and more. Our Graphic Novel section is the best in town!”

Providence Place Mall, One Providence Place, 401-270-1000. Need to find the big department stores and shops in the area? This is a huge mall with all of the mainstream staples, located just across the river to the northeast of the Biltmore.

Federal Hill

Ada Books, 717 Westminster St., 401-432-6222. A cozy, inviting bookstore that includes used books; literary and cultural magazines like Adbusters, McSweeney’s, and The Believer; and a good selection of zines, comics, and graphic novels.

Analog Underground, 504 Broadway, 401-274-4123. Mostly a vinyl shop (the per capita music stores offering vinyl selections tells you something about the sensibilities of the Providence music scene); also offers a small selection of CDs and even cassettes. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff makes this a great place to browse for the unexpected.

Armageddon Shop, 436 Broadway, 401-521-6667. Specializing in underground metal, punk, hardcore, and grindcore, with a selection of other genres and styles. Includes vinyl, CDs, and more.

Diva’s Palace, 299 Atwells Ave., 401-831-0148. From the Best of Rhode Island 2009 Editors’ Picks: “There seems to be a real reverence for glamour at Diva’s Palace, where the two Michaels are designing one-of-a-kind pieces for the bold and beautiful. Try on one of their Valentino-inspired bustier tops, a brocade coat, or any of their eighties-inspired dresses, and let them fuss over how it flatters you. Chances are, with their interesting use of draping and detail, it does.”

Rocket To Mars, 144 Broadway, 401-274-0905. The creative window displays are just a start. Step inside for a great selection of quality vintage housewares, furniture, clothing, and other random items. Who knows, maybe you’ll find that orange wall-mount rotary telephone you’ve been seeking, or a roll of Smurf wallpaper.

• Eat Drink RI: Upcoming food outings and restaurant news.
• In Downcity: Blog that documents businesses and events in the downtown area (with a special focus on members), from restaurant and concert reviews to items on city planning and urban design.
• Insider’s Guide to Rhode Island: A terrific mobile-only guide featuring information on dining, shopping, sightseeing, events, and deals. The 2012 Insider’s Guide can be browsed online (cool page-turning functionality), and dowloaded as a PDF is desired.
• Providence Daily Dose: “We are here to bring you the latest news/events/randomness that Providence has offer.”
• Providence Journal: The city’s daily newspaper with local and national news, events, sports, weather, politics, lifestyles, etc. The longest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States.
• Providence Monthly: Includes articles on city life, food and drink, arts and style, and arts and culture.
• The Providence Phoenix: Alternative newspaper that offers local arts and event listings.
• Providence Warwick: From the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. Includes sections visitors, things to do, and meetings & events.
• Rhode Island Monthly: “Brings readers the very best of what Rhode Island has to offer — from people to politics, food to finance.” From the folks who bring us the Insider’s Guide to Rhode Island (see above).
• Urbanspoon Providence: Restaurants and reviews from critics, food bloggers, and friends.

The story of downtown Providence begins with the manufacturing boom of the mid-19th century. The city grew westward, across the river and into what is now called Downcity. Numerous Federal and Victorian mercantile buildings from that era remain. Following several decades of postwar urban decay, urban planner began strategizing the city’s Renaissance. The revitalization of the downtown area is still unfolding, and you’ll see it all around. Waterplace Park and its companion Riverwalk are testaments to the success of Providence’s urban renewal, and can be found by the river just to the north of the Biltmore. The park is connected to the cobblestone sidewalks and Venetian-style footbridges of Riverwalk, and is a popular summertime destination for locals and tourists alike.

Shopping, dining, and entertainment abound in downtown Providence within easy walking distance from the Biltmore. For unique shops head three blocks to Westminster St., where independent and quirky establishments now flourish in the abandoned department stores of yesteryear. Examples include Craftland, featuring locally created jewelry, art, and clothes; Symposium Books, an independent bookstore with a great selection of new, used, and remaindered titles that include, among many others, excellent art, architecture, design, and photography sections, and a claim to the best graphic novel selection in town; Queen of Hearts/Modern Love, adjacent sister shops offering hip and vintage-inspired clothing, shoes, and accessories; and lots of other boutiques, bars, and cafes.

Contemporary art lovers will want to visit AS220, a non-profit community arts space with a mission to provide an unjuried and uncensored forum for the arts. It’s six blocks to the southwest on Washington St. (away from the river) and half a block south on Empire St. A number of theaters and other performing arts venues are located in the area as well. Check out the Downtown Directory for more ideas and information.

More posts on shopping, dining, and entertainment all around Providence to come!

CVS Pharmacy: 3 blocks.
70 Kennedy Plaza, 401-861-5050
Head east on Dorrance toward Washington. (to the right as you exit the hotel). Walk two blocks and turn left on Fulton. CVS will be about 3/4 of a block on the right.

Gourmet Heaven: 7 blocks.
173 Weybosset Street, 401-536-9000, gourmetheaven.com‎
Head east on Dorrance (to the right as you exit the hotel). Walk five blocks to Weybosset and turn right. Walk two blocks to Union. Gourmet Heaven will be on the right.
Organic snacks and meals, imported candies and nuts, and everyday grocery essentials. Includes hot/cold buffet tables and deli.

Whole Foods: 1.5 miles (farther away, but easy to get to by bus and good to know about if you have special dietary restrictions).
261 Waterman Street, 401-272-1690
Take the 78 bus toward 78 Pawtucket. The bus stop is around the corner from hotel — head east on Dorrance, to the right as you exit the hotel. Make a left on Washington. Bus stop is on the right about halfway down the block. Approximately 10 minutes and 9 stops to the stop at Butler Ave. (it will be the next stop after Gano St. then Wayland Ave.). Whole Foods is right there across Butler on Waterman. Find schedule and fare details on the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Web site.

Providence’s South Main Street features slower paced shopping