<p>My daughter will be spending 3 weeks at the Brown University summer program, starting on the 16th. I will probably spend one night in Providence, and we will also need to buy some practical things (fan, desk lamp, etc.) for her stay once we get there. Any suggestions for things close to campus? We'll probably be traveling from Boston (we are from California so are combining the trip with a first visit to Boston for her) and will not have a car, so hints from parents familiar with the area around Brown would be most welcome, including fun student places for a meal, etc. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>My daughter goes to RISD, so I have visited Providence and College Hill several times. Will you be staying downtown? Providence Place Mall has lots of shopping and restaurants. I have stayed at the Courtyard, Westin and Holiday Inn downtown. They are convenient to the mall and then there is the long walk up the hill. The walk up College Hill is a good trek. Thayer Street on the Brown campus has lots of restaurants--many different types. Daughter loves to hang out and eat there. RISD has a great museum. Hopefully you'll get to enjoy Waterfire while you are there, too.</p>
<p>Try posting in the Brown thread, if you haven't already.</p>
<p>Nice place to eat: Rue de L'Espoir on Hope Street is a casual french place with good food. Ate there recently.</p>
<p>Why not check the "Bed Bath & Beyond" or Home Depot websites for nearest places? I suspect the Brown Bookstore on Thayer street will have basic stuff too.</p>
<p>Patient, My son was very interested in Brown so we scheduled a long weekend in Providence. Much to our surprise it turned out to be a Waterfire weekend, which was quite the event. I don't know that I'd wholeheartedly recommend it but it was memorable!:)</p>
<p>If you like B&B's I would wholeheartedly recommend The Old Court Bed & Breakfast. It's in the historic and charming part of town and is within walking distance of the Brown campus, RISD and Thayer Street. </p>
<p>We also really liked the New Rivers American Bistro and would have gone back again had Waterfire not made reservations impossible.</p>
<p>The Radisson offers free van shuttles to and from the Brown campus to the hotel, as well as to local shopping, the train station, etc... I've stayed there several times now.</p>
<p>If you like the bed & breakfast experience, try the Annie Brownell House. (You can google it to get the website.) It's an historic building within walking distance of Brown, and the proprietor (Annie Tunderman) is absolutely delightful. My husband and I stayed there last fall for RISD's Parents Weekend and plan to go back again this fall because we enjoyed it so much. Another option that we have tried and would also recommend is the Courtyard by Marriott downtown.</p>
<p>Did you know that you can pre-order stuff from Bed, Bath & Beyond for pick-up in Providence? Just go to your local BB&B store and tell them what you want to do. They'll give you an optical scanner and you just walk through the store and pick out what you want to buy. Tell them to send the order to the Providence Place store. (It's just a few blocks from there to Brown, but I'll warn you -- walking UP College Hill is no picnic!) It will save you some time, so you can spend your time in Providence enjoying the sights. (We were rather surprised by what a nice little city it is.)</p>
<p>Thanks all so much! I would do the BedBath and Beyond package idea but she will need her bedding etc. the day she gets there (Sunday) and the mail room is only open M-F, according to the summer website. But to cut down on the number of suitcases, since we'll be traveling on the East Coast for several days before going to Brown, I'm sending half of her clothes via UPS to Brown--less luggage to lug around....</p>
<p>Waterfire is the night before we arrive but there will be another one while she is in the program. </p>
<p>Thanks all for the tips on everything!! I think you all pointed me in the directions I needed to go! Will report back with any tips, after the trip is over. We will also be in Virginia, where my son is for the summer (Shenandoah Valley), then to Boston, then to Providence. We'll tour Harvard (my alma mater) while in Boston. (Marite, you listening? ;) )</p>
<p>Patient:</p>
<p>Yes, I'm listening and you're very welcome to drop by (I was going to respond earliert). I'll be around on those dates, as will my rising soph if you think your D would like a student to show her around. PM me if you need directions. </p>
<p>You should be able to pick things up at stores on Sunday, stores are usually open.</p>
<p>My daughter is an RA for the 3 week dorm. Tell her to ask for Lindsey.</p>
<p>My S will be a freshman this Sept. We have stayed at the Marriott Courtyard-10 min walk to campus. It is right next door to the Providence Place Mall and they have a Bed, Bath and Beyond right on the first level. What I will do, after checking with my local Bed, Bath and Beyond, is order and pay for the things he needs here at my local store, and then the one in Providence gets it ready and you just pick it up. This way you don't have to schlep things from home. You can order everything online as well. Yes, they are open on Sundays-I have checked. From the Courtyard, there is Federal Hill, which was a 7 minute walk from the hotel. It is a several block long area full of Italian restaurants-all delicious. Also, as one poster said, Thayer street has tons of eateries, a CVS for toiletries etc. Have fun!</p>
<p>THANK YOU all! Audi, The Marriott Courtyard didn't have rooms for the night I will be there ;(...so I booked a room at the Westin although I can change it if there is another place that people recommend above that. Marite and bandit, PMessages coming your ways!</p>