Walk this way - in Providence

Me standing in front of Water Place Park in downtown Providence this week.

One of my favorite things to do when I visit Providence is to walk this charming city. Each of the red-bricked buildings have stories to tell and I can't help but whip out my smartphone and snap some images during my city walks by Providence Place, Brown University, India Point Park and Blackstone Boulevard.  (Yes, I walk a lot!)

Here are some places that inspired me enough to feature them in scenes in my new novel Looking for Providence.

The view along the river in Water Place Park. 

There's a romantic date (a walk and gondola ride) set here at Water Place Park in my book between Ronnie Reyes, a goofy but sweet 25-year-old Business writer, and his love interest, Phil, a handsome toy executive from Providence. Perfect place for a first kiss (or two.)

Like me, (ahem!), Ronnie enjoys taking in the city during his walks but Ronnie does this while at work. This is a view of downtown from Providence Place Mall where Ronnie likes to grab lunch between his story assignments.

Ronnie writes about pretty much anything Business-related in Providence. During one assignment, he writes about the development of the Arcade as a mixed retail/residential complex on Weybosset Street. The first floor features shops, boutiques and cafes and the upper floors feature boat-inspired micro units (studios.) 

Ronnie also enjoys running along Blackstone Boulevard which has a paved trail in the center. The street is lined with majestic estates and bricked-faced condos.

Ronnie also enjoys writing haikus while sitting at the top of India Point Park where couples have weekend picnics, teams play futbol and couples stroll hand in hand. Ronnie gets all Zenned-out looking out at the bay as he writes poems in his composition notebook while thinking of Phil.

Ronnie lives in Wayland Square, a neighborhood that is a shaded graceful abode of homes and brownstones with wide streets and a few blocks from Brown University's football stadium. It's a gayborhood with small restaurants, pubs, and specialty furniture and designer stores.  (That's me above sitting on someone's front porch near Wayland Square)

Crimson-bricked buildings pop up on every block in Providence including these along Pine Street in downtown. This one is home to Capriccio, an elegant European restaurant.

The skywalk that connects the convention center with Providence Place Mall over Memorial Boulevard. This is another spot where Ronnie writes his poems or in his journal.