Low: The entire city was shut down in February when "Snowicane Nemo" sucker punched us.
High: In April, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy unveiled a plan to revamp Kennedy Plaza into a more pedestrian-Friendly city center.
Low: After giving out 16 staff buyouts, the Providence Journal laid off 11 employees in October.
High: To the delight of stoners everywhere, marijuana was decriminalized by the state in April, providing the highest high of them all.
Low: The government shutdown left approximately 7,000 Rhode Islander out of work for over two weeks in October.
High: The legalization of table gaming at Twin River, which started in July.
Low: Building 19 filed for bankruptcy in November, proving that their “good stuff cheap” was, in fact, too cheap.
Low: At a photo shoot at Taj Mahal, Miss Universe Olivia Culpo accidentally posed in front of a sacred space, spawning world-wide internet backlash.
Highs and Lows From our Readers #pvd2013
Joshua Klemp, High: Gay marriage legislation being passed by our lawmakers.
Scott Champagne, High: I love that the Arcade reopened, love supporting local businesses. Low: The number of tickets and lack of parking ruined a lot of my year.
Frederick J Harkins (@HarkinsWealth), High: The City’s new master #bike plan just released by the mayor.
Susan, Low: The murder of Aynis Vargas. A devastating acknowledgement that gang violence continues to grow in this city.
Michaela Johnson (Michaela_J_), High: Finally trying The Grange for the first time! Their bartender took home top prize during #pvdcocktailweek!
Philip Eil (@PhiEil), High: I didn’t attend the whole thing, but by all appearance @NecronomiConPVD was a HUGE success. #Lovecraft #Cthulhu It was pretty damn cool when we legalized #samesexmarriage, too.
The Best & Worst Of City Real Estate
The Best: The reopening of the Arcade
In October, America’s oldest indoor shopping mall reopened, and with an enviable makeover. The Arcade now features local artists like Jessica Ricci, who makes fine jewelry from internationally found objects, and the six StyleWeek designers who have collaborated to open clothing and accessory shop Nude, amongst other offerings like New Harvest Coffee’s bar and LunicacGlamour’s salon that features a walk-in blowout bar. Eleven businesses have opened so far, with more on the way.
The Worst: Lights out at the Superman Building
What’s arguably Providence’s most iconic structure went dark in March when the building’s only tenant, Bank of America, moved out. Massachusetts-based High Rock owns the building and is trying to get credits to convert it into offices and condos, but Rhode Islanders won’t risk another 38 Studios debacle, so develop- ment is at a standstill. Now High Rock and Bank of America are suing and countersuing each other. Even NPR and The New York Times have reported on the Superman Building’s first total vacancy in 85 years.
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