A New Neighbourhood, A New Apartment

Last week, my dad and I travelled back to Providence, RI to find me housing for the Fall. Emma and I both had our hearts set on finding a place in Federal Hill, Providence’s “Little Italy,” and we were lucky enough to find a perfect place nearby.

When I first came to Providence I was struck by how different the city was from the Canadian cities I’m familiar with. Particularly in Federal Hill, the city seems so much older and more rundown than I’m used to. The streets and sidewalks are narrow and cracked; occupied houses seem to sit comfortably next to boarded up ones; and residential neighbourhoods will suddenly give way to auto body shops, chain link fences and empty lots without warning. But it also has much of the same charm as our old neighbourhood in Toronto, with amazing restaurants and a thriving nightlife.

Unlike our apartment in Toronto, however, the new place is a renovated condo unit on the third floor of a house. I think it’ll feel almost luxurious to us, with a dining room and living room, a washer and dryer in unit, a dishwasher, and even a garbage disposal (a longtime aspiration of Emma’s). Check out photos of our new apartment and neighbourhood below!

Living RoomLiving room of our new apartment. Check out those neat 80° walls!

Dining RoomThe dining room with hardwood floors, probably our future workspace.

KitchenThe kitchen. More hardwood, and new appliances.

Laundry and BathroomBathroom and in-unit laundry. You can also see a fusebox next to the laundry closet, which might come in handy if we blow a fuse. No awkward encounters with other tenants in the basement for us!

"La Pigna" Entrance Gate to Federal Hill“La Pigna” — the gate to Federal Hill, which references a similar sculpture in Rome.

Julian's on BroadwayJulian’s on Broadway. Great food, and always a lively place. They have a broad selection for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, plus a killer collection of Star Wars action figures near the washrooms.

Atwells Ave.Cafés on Atwells Ave., the heart of “Little Italy.” The one in the centre might be a hookah bar. There were a surprising number of those around.

DePasquale SquareRestaurant patios spill into DePasquale Square off Atwells Ave. 

Pastiche Fine Desserts on Spruce St.Pastiche Fine Desserts, tucked behind DePasquale Square on Spruce St. Wish we had a chance to try it out, as it came very highly recommended, but I’m sure Emma will want to make a visit ASAP once we move.

10 Comments

    • Thanks, cuz! Super excited we were able to find such a nice place in the neighbourhood we wanted. It definitely wasn’t easy.

      And of course, we’d be glad to have you and Morgan down, if you ever want to visit. There’s plenty to see around New England, and it’s all very close together!

  1. The new digs look terrific with great amenities and located close to an exciting part of the city. You and your dad did good Nate.Happy Move!

    • Agreed. They’re not really my thing, but they definitely contribute to the patio culture in Providence! Lots of lingering going on in Federal Hill.

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