Thayer Street, Providence (must see)

Thayer Street is a historic street in Providence that continues to be a popular spot today. It was renamed from Cross Street to Thayer Street in 1923 after Dr. Williams Thayer. The original street was built in 1799. Thayer Street serves as a communal center for Brown University students and locals. Unlike similar streets in other university towns that are taken over by chain stores, Thayer Street is known for hosting a large number of independent shops and restaurants.

There are a number of popular spots on Thayer Street. Some of these include Blue State Coffee, Rockstar Body Piercing, Avon Cinema and NAVA apparel. A few chains like Starbucks and CVS Pharmacy exist on Thayer, but these are the exception. Restaurants on Thayer Street represent a wide array of cuisines from Middle Eastern to Mexican to Asian offerings.

In addition to shopping and dining, Thayer Street hosts the annual Thayer Street Arts Festival. Outdoor films and exhibits take over the street in late September.