Information For:

Brown Shops Local!

The University is pleased to offer the Brown community access to trolleys that will bring people from campus to four local shopping hubs on Thursday, December 6 from 4-8 p.m. The holidays are a time for festive gatherings with friends and, of course, shopping. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to cross items off your shopping list while supporting the local economy and enjoying the good company of friends, colleagues, and peers.

You can RSVP to this event on Facebook!

The three trolleys will pick up and drop off from George Street between Brown and Magee Streets at Rhode Island Hall. Each will loop exclusively to one area (Westminster and South Main Streets will be served by one trolley), so you will have to decide where you’d like to go before boarding. The trolleys will have a sign in the window next to the door indicating their destination area. The areas are:

  • Westminster Street
  • South Main Street
  • Wayland Square
  • Hope Street

Below you will find information on the Buy Providence/Buy Art initiative and what is happening in each shopping hub on December 6 and beyond.

Buy Providence

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and the City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism have launched this year’s Buy Providence campaign. Brown is happy to be supporting this effort with our Brown Shops Local event.

Mayor Taveras has established FREE 2 HOUR PARKING in Providence commercial districts from November 23 – January 1.

Click for more information about Buy Providence and the free parking areas.

Buy Art

BUY-ART

A component of Buy Providence, Buy Art is an initiative that recognizes the world-class artistic talent located right here in Providence. Many merchants and performance organizations have signed up to be part of this program.

At 5 p.m. on December 6 at Craftland, located at 235 Westminster Street, you can celebrate the 5th year of the City’s BUY ART campaign and get a chance to mingle with the artists whose work adorns this year’s crop of I BUY ART buttons while also viewing some of their original work on display. Purchase a crafty, locally made item at the event and receive a free BUY ART button! As a fun option, you can RSVP to this event on Facebook.

Click for more information about Buy Art and the celebration event, to see the I BUY ART buttons, and to view a list, by neighborhood, of venues participating in the Buy Art campaign.

Westminster Street

A trolley will be running a route that includes both Westminster & South Main Streets.

  • In addition to the complimentary Buy Art celebration at Craftland, you can find shopping, galleries, health and beauty service providers and retailers, restaurants, and more.
  • Show your Brown ID at Veggie Fun located at 123 Dorrance Street and receive a complimentary miso soup with your meal!
  • Show your Brown ID at Civil and receive 15% off your purchase
  • ENO Fine Wines will be doing a holiday beer tasting from 4 - 6 p.m.
  • Show your Brown ID at Craftland and receive 10% off your purchase
  • At Cilantro Mexican Grill, get a free burrito coupon with the purchase of a $20 gift card.
  • Po Gallery will stay open until 7 p.m., offering a 15% discount on handwoven scarves if you show your Brown ID
  • Providence Coal Fired Pizza will give you $5 off your pizza order when you show your Brown ID

Click for a wealth of information about the downtown area including a merchant directory, event listing, and a map.

You can download a map & guide of downtown (PDF).

South Main Street

Have you visited South Main Street lately? You might be surprised by just how much the area has to offer!

The evening of December 6 is also the night for the South Main Street Holiday Stroll! These festivities will include:

  • StyleWeek Closing Party with 3 featured designers
  • Dr. Dennis Karambelas & Associates will give you 20% off all their eyewear when you show your Brown ID, and the store is featuring a Marc Jacobs Eyeglass Trunk Show
  • Wine Tasting at Bin 312
  • Closing Party at Shoppe Pioneer, plus receive a 15% discount when you show your Brown ID
  • Source at 128 North Main Street is having a shopping spectacular with complimentary snacks and a glass of merriment. Free gift with a $100 purchase.
  • Touched by Green will have some items marked down 50% and will give 10% off to shoppers with a Brown ID
  • Enjoy drink specials at The Wild Colonial Tavern
  • Soma Cigars will be hosting a holiday party and offering specials to Brown ID holders

A trolley will be running a route that includes both Westminster & South Main Streets.

Wayland Square

Just down the street from campus you can find an impressive assortment of restaurants and retailers from an educational toy store to a fine bistro and cheese shop, from a pet supply boutique to an Irish pub, and from designer men’s and women’s clothing to sushi and everything in between.

Click for more information about Wayland Square including a directory, map, listing of specials, and event announcements.

If you miss the December 6 Brown Shops Local event, be sure to visit Wayland Square on Saturday, December 8 for its annual Holiday Stroll!

Show a current Brown ID at the following locations and receive these very special promotions:

  • Mrs. Robinson: 20% off all purchases
  • South West Passage: 10% off all purchases
  • Clad in: an additional 10% off all 25% discounted sale merchandise
  • Wine tasting at Wayland Square Fine Wines
  • Whole Foods Market at Waterman Street: spend $25 or more, receive a $5 gift card and be entered to win a 365 Pantry Makeover; also, buy a gift and receive a gift
  • Gabrielle: 25% off one item (jewelry and accessories excluded)
  • Paper Nautilus/Myopic Books: 20% discount and extended store hours

Hope Street

Hope Street in the Summit neighborhood of Providence has a fabulous mix of retail, service, dining, and the arts. Also known as East Side’s Main Street, this area has much to offer just a short ride from campus.

Hope Street’s Holiday Stroll is happening the night of December 6! Looking to embrace the warmth and nostalgia of small town holiday festivals, in addition to its shops and restaurants, the Hope Street Holiday Stroll will feature:

  • Street performances by Festival Ballet and A Different Spin, an acrobatics and juggling troupe
  • Food trucks
  • Children’s craft activities
  • Parade at 5:30 p.m. with Santa Claus and the Extraordinary Rendition Band
  • Jewish Community Center members will be on hand to display many Hanukkah traditions including cooking, lectures, and performances
  • Live demonstrations by various Providence arts organizations, including the Steel Yard’s blacksmiths, and area glassblowers and ice sculpture carvers
  • Seven Stars Bakery will convert their exterior to a movie screen featuring short films from the Providence Children’s Film Festival
  • Baby animal petting zoo
  • Horse-drawn carriage rides

Click for more information about Hope Street including a directory.

For more information about this event, please contact Jen Braga, community liaison, at Jennifer_Braga@brown.edu or 863-3717.

Happy Local Shopping!