NOT JUST SNACKS (833-835 Hope Street, Providence, 401.831.1150), an oddly named East Side gem serves up some of the best Indian food at the best prices around. A heaping portion of chicken biryani costs just under $8, with enough left over for another meal, and the starter delicacies, from samosas to pani-puri, are all under $5. The unassuming space, friendly staff and BYOB policy make this the perfect spot for an easy and totally satisfying meal. Not Just Snacks is not just a restaurant, however. In addition to the sweet and savory pastries available for takeaway at the counter, there’s a rental selection of Bollywood classics on DVD and VHS. What’s more, this place is just one outpost in a Hope Street mini-empire of South Asian goodies, with Not Just Handicrafts next door and Not Just Spices across the way.
Part artists’ collective, part technical training facility, THE STEEL YARD (27 Sims Avenue, Providence, 401.273.7101, www.thesteelyard.org) is a creative center of Providence’s West Side, bringing industrial art to the masses through open-enrollment courses, community events, and more. With a fully-equipped, 5612-square-foot industrial shop, and loads of outdoor space at the former Providence Steel & Iron mill building, the Steel Yard offers relatively cheap instruction in everything from bicycle maintenance to sculptural welding, as well as exhibition space for working artists. The grassroots industrial arts center has also been known to host some of the best festivals and open parties in the city.
Jessica Kerry, who broke her wrist and pines for her bicycle like a long-lost love, can be reached at Jessica_Kerry@brown.edu.
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