greg-  last yr for the New England fest me and my gf stayed in downtown Providence like 1 night.  The Holiday inn I think- there was some Police tape wrapped round the hot tub, sort of like a scene in Lethal Weapon or something.  Next to the Dunkin Donuts Center or something where they have non-NHL hockey or something.  Providence seemed rather uneventful, possibly on par with Worcester.  Does that sound right?  I mean Worcester's got non-NHL hockey too  (the minor league affiliate of the Blues actually- WORCESTER ICE CATS).
 
btw, what the hell is an ice cat?