☕ Warwick's Spring has Sprung

Monday, March 9, 2026 | Edition #15

GOOD MORNING, WARWICK. Happy Monday! The city woke up this morning to something completely unfamiliar: actual, honest-to-God sunshine and temperatures that don't require a pep talk to go outside. Some people cried. We're not judging.

Here's what's going on in your neck of the woods.

After weeks of snowbanks, icy sidewalks, and quietly questioning every life decision that led you to New England, Warwick is getting a taste of spring today. Just a taste. Read the fine print.

Monday's forecast: sunshine, temps pushing 60°F, and the collective sound of 82,000 people opening their windows at the exact same moment. Somewhere out there, a guy is already firing up the grill. His neighbor is already in shorts. Neither of them has checked next weekend’s forecast, and honestly, good for them.

Meteorologists have a name for this: False Spring. It's that glorious two-day window where you think winter is finally over, you emotionally detach from your heavy coat, and then March looks you dead in the eyes and says "lol, not yet."

But today? Today is not that day. Today the snowbanks shrink. The iced coffees flow. And Warwick residents everywhere will step outside, feel the sun on their face, and say the same five words:

"Wow… this actually feels nice."

Enjoy it. You've earned it.

If it feels like Rhode Island roads are constantly under construction yet somehow never getting smoother, you’re not imagining things.

Despite a transportation budget that now tops $1 billion a year, the Ocean State still ranks among the worst in the country for road conditions. A recent report from WPRI 12 explains that a large share of the money goes toward major bridge projects, federal requirements, and maintaining aging infrastructure — leaving less available for routine paving.

Rhode Island also has one of the oldest and most densely packed road networks in the country, which means there’s simply more pavement packed into a very small state to maintain.

Translation: plenty of patching, and not always enough full repaving.

So if your commute through Warwick lately feels a little like a suspension test sponsored by your local mechanic, it’s not just pothole season — it’s part of a much bigger statewide challenge.

For my Catholic compadres — we are officially entering week four of Lent. If you've made it this far without demolishing a Friday night Big Mac, genuinely impressive. If you also gave up swearing and have managed to keep it clean… we'll just say we believe you and move on. (Nobody made it through that blizzard without sinning. God understands.)

The good news: navigating the Lenten diet in Rhode Island is basically easy mode. This state runs on seafood. We didn't give anything up — we just got more intentional about chowder. Call it what it is: a Lenten loophole. Fish and chips are available at virtually every restaurant in Warwick. Even Walgreens is one bad corporate decision away from a clam strip promotion.

For those who have fallen off the wagon but are interested in hopping back on later this week, here are a few spots worth hitting on your Friday Funday of Sacrifice:

Cooking at home? Some Friday-friendly options that absolutely count (with links embedded):

Lent is a season of sacrifice and discipline. Rhode Island is a state of fried seafood and stubbornness. Somehow, it works out perfectly.

⛽ Pumped Up — Rhode Island's average gas price jumped 17 cents this week to $3.04, per AAA Northeast — driven by rising global oil prices and renewed tensions in the Middle East. In other words, events occurring thousands of miles away are about to make your local commute significantly more annoying. The good news: Warwick has approximately one gas station on every corner, so there's really no excuse to be that person coasting into the Shell on fumes at 7:45am. Fill up this week. You've got enough going on.

🏗️ More Than Just Apartments — New details on the Skye City Centre project near T.F. Green Airport reveal the apartment complex will be designed in a doughnut-shaped layout, surrounding two landscaped courtyards. Planned amenities include a fitness center with yoga and spin studios, a game lounge, rentable office space for remote workers, a pet spa, and a resort-style pool area. The development will also include ground-floor retail and a 150-seat restaurant with an open-air sidewalk café.

🏀 Madness is Here — The countdown to NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament is on, with Selection Sunday coming next weekend when the tournament bracket is finally revealed. For local fans, it may be more of a casual viewing experience this year — with local teams likely watching the tournament the same way the rest of us are — from the couch. On the bright side, that means we’re free to pick our brackets with absolutely no emotional consequences whatsoever. On the women’s side of things, The URI women’s basketball team secured their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1996, winning the A-10 tournament on Sunday. The lady Rams march on!

Each week we’ll post a zoomed-in photo from somewhere in Warwick — your job is to figure out where it is. Could be a building, sign, statue, weird landmark, or random corner of the city you’ve driven by 1,000 times but never really noticed. The answer will be revealed below.

Image:

Apricity (noun) — The warmth of the sun in winter.

"Warwick residents experienced peak apricity on Post Road this Monday, which scientists confirm is the exact moment three people independently decided to wear flip flops, someone dug their convertible out of the garage, and everyone agreed the Blizzard of 2026 was actually 'not that bad.'"

⛸️Ice Skating at Warwick City Hall — The rink is still open, but not for long. Warm weather is coming and the season is winding down fast — if you've been telling yourself you'll go "one of these weekends," this is the weekend. Bring the kids, lace up, and get there before it's too late.

🍺 Pairings at Proc: Beer & Cheese — This Wednesday, March 11 at 6PM at Proclamation Ale Company. Five craft beers, five cheeses, all expertly paired by the folks at Edgewood Cheese Shop. $45 per person, and tickets are going fast.

🎹 Dueling Pianos — Harbor Lights, Friday, March 13. Two pianists, crowd requests, and at least one person who thinks requesting "Don't Stop Believin'" is an original idea. Great time regardless.

📍 Where in Warwick Answer: The image shown above is The Point Avenue scenic overlook on the way to Conimicut Point. Beautiful, peaceful, and sitting right there in your backyard this whole time.

That's it for today. Have a tip, a story suggestion, or some wild Warwick tea? Hit reply.

Stay safe, Warwick ☕

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