Daily Briefing: Why the man behind the secret apartment at the Providence Place mall wants to return

ALSO: Join The Providence Journal for a meet and greet with the "Wallace the Brave" creator. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Wed May 8 2024 Will Richmond | Managing Editor Communities & R.I. [@Will_Richmond]( Good morning, I'm Will Richmond at [The Providence Journal]( and this is the Daily Briefing. It's been 17 years since Michael Townsend has stepped foot inside the Providence Place mall. It's not that he does his shopping elsewhere, it's because Townsend is banned from the mall. If you don't recognize the name, you'll most likely remember the story. Townsend is the person who created a secret apartment inside a corner of the mall's parking garage and he like to come back, but this time he's hoping to do it with mall ownership's blessing. [ORG XMIT: PROVIDENCE, RI -- 12/07/07 -- Artists Michael Townsend, who set up an apartment inside Providence Place mall, is recreating their apartment at a downtown gallery at 70 Eddy St., near City Hall. Journal photo/SANDOR BODO] Michael Townsend re-creates his secret Providence Place mall apartment inside an art gallery near Providence City Hall in December 2007, three months after mall security discovered the apartment and had him arrested for trespassing. Sandor Bodo/The Providence Journal, file Townsend and producer Jeremy Workman created the documentary “Secret Mall Apartment" and with the film gaining critical acclaim, Townsend is making plans for a Rhode Island debut and he thinks the cinemas in the mall would be the perfect spot. [The Journal's Tom Mooney recently talked with Townsend about the film and the past 17 years. Could there be room for forgiveness? See what Townsend thinks.]( • At 25 years old, Maggie Cole is part of a rising tide of young farmers in Rhode Island who, despite the challenges, are making a go of it. Why do they do it? [The Journal Amy Russo examines why young farmers are getting into the business despite the many challenges.]( • By now you've probably filed your taxes and in this case our elected officials are just like us having done the same. What do those filings look like? [The Journal's Katherine Gregg looks into the forms to find out and while there aren't any jaw-dropping surprises she says the latest batch raises a few questions.]( • With the weather warming last Saturday my family decided to brave an early dinner outside at Chelo's on the Waterfront. It was one of the fastest meals we've had as the wind blew off the water. Still, the idea of warm weather and seafood is getting closer to reality and not just right now. The Journal's Gail Ciampa reports that the husband and wife team behind [Dune Brothers is about to expand with another location and more to offer as they place a renewed focus on Providence.]( Speaking of dining in Providence, Gail also serves up the latest in [her "Highly Recommended" series where heavenly aromas and juicy meats welcome diners.]( Meanwhile, if you're thinking about celebrating brunch this Mother's Day, a Rhode Island restaurant has been named one of America's best placed to dine. [Except, as Gail reports, they don't have a brunch menu.]( • Each day the work of Rhode Island comic artist Will Henry graces the pages of the Providence Journal as he shares the adventures of "Wallace the Brave." Now you can meet Will and learn about his work. The Providence Journal is hosting a Meet and Greet with the "Wallace the Brave" creator on Wednesday, May 15 at the new Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett. The event is free and family-friendly, but registration is required as space is limited. [Click here to register.]( More from The Providence Journal [Find the latest obituaries here.]( [Subscribers can read the eNewspaper here.]( WORTH A READ ⚖️ 'Oh my god:' [Stormy Daniels testifies on spanking Trump, his gold tweezers, and silky PJS]( 😷 [There's a new COVID-19 variant called FLiRT:]( Here's what you need to know about it 📰 [Where are ticks found?]( Maps show where the disease-carrying parasites live RHODY RANKS Every day we receive emails ranking Rhode Island. While the work behind the ranks may be dubious, they can be fun. Each day I'll share where Rhody Ranks from one of the latest emails. New research has discovered the states most likely to remove or cover their tattoos, with Rhode Island ranking ninth. 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