Bar Tabs: The Blackstone

Imagine if you and your friends decided to open up a bar, and you had no financial restrictions. What would you put it it? A pool table? Better make that two, and throw in foosball for a change of pace. A good jukebox? Of course. An area with comfortable chairs and couches you can just chill. Big TV's for watching the game. A stage for live music. A porch for smoking or hanging out on a nice night. Decent bar food. A nice wraparound bar with plenty of seats and a good beer selection. You would make it big enough that you always had room to move and relax. And you'd want it to be full of cool neon signs, some bar mirrors, and a general cool look.

Clearly, the people who run The Blackstone understand their audience, because their bar has all that and probably a few other nice features I'm forgetting. The Blackstone is the latest incarnation of a bar that has been open for quite a while, but in a couple of different locations. Now it has moved from Cumberland to a location within easy reach of anyone in Providence, at 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket.


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The Blackstone has quickly become my default watering hole. I enjoy it equally on the quiet weekday nights when I just want to drink a beer and watch a game with some company, and on the weekends when it is taken over by a stream of live acts, most of which are good to very good. (The only downside is that on Friday and Saturday, you'll likely to pay a $5 cover.)

A big part of the appeal is the space itself. The Blackstone is located in Hope Village, an old mill complex that is being redeveloped into living quarters, artists' space and shops. While much of it is still under development, dozens of businesses, most prominently the Blackstone, have already set up shop. The dimensions of the mill means that they have plenty of space to accommodate big crowds; the owners note that the bar is technically the third-largest live music venue in the state.

The crowd is very casual; jeans and t-shirts are the standard attire, though some of the bands may bring with them a more hipster or punk-ish crowd. But with so many things going on, you'll always be able to find a way to fit in and be comfortable here.