It’s a hustle bustle world out there, perhaps now more than ever in the days leading up to Christmas, which makes the opportunity to take things a little bit slower sound even more tempting.
Whether following a guide cloaked in 18th century garb along Newport’s cobblestone while learning about the city's remarkable history and its role during the American Revolution; walking in the footsteps of the sailors, merchants, immigrants who once lived and worked in the Lower Thames neighborhood; exploring where scoundrels lived, where pirates profited and where criminals were put on trial and punished; or being led by lantern as you hear the history of winter holiday traditions in the City-by-the-Sea, seeing Newport by foot ensures you won’t skip a beat.
Organized by the Newport Historical Society, even the most seasoned local will take home a nugget of new knowledge on these memorable strolls. Offerings include Holiday Lantern Tours, The Working Waterfront Walking Tour, Discover Colonial Newport Walking Tour, Discover Newport in Costume Tour, the Rogues & Scoundrels History Walking Tour and more. Visit GoNewport.com for times, dates and details.
Some folks take the little ones to see Santa at a mall, others at a department store, parade or tree lighting ceremony, but here’s a new one: see Santa on the Sea!
This weekend, The Majestic welcomes the young and young at heart for a 1 ½ hour cruise through Newport Harbor where hot chocolate will be served, carols will be sung, and face painting and crafts will entertain the kids, all while Santa hears the wish lists of all the good girls and boys. Take family photos with the big guy 
and take in the serenity of Narragansett Bay during this magical time of year.
Santa on the Sea sails on Saturday and Sunday with departures at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are $25/adult, $15/child (3-12, kids on 3 free!). The majestic sails from 2 Bowen’s Ferry Landing. To purchase tickets, please visit www.NewportMajestic.com or call (401) 849-3575.
We’re delighted today to welcome guest blogger Leanne Orabona from AroundTheTableRI.blogspot.com. We discovered Leanne when she entered our Foodspotting contest during Newport Restaurant Week and since then started following her blog for its unabashed restaurant reviews and tasteful recipes from her own kitchen. Dining out throughout Rhode Island (and the world!) is her passion, and when we invited her to pen a guest blog for us, she was in a comfort food frame of mind, and headed out to Middletown’s Blue Plate Diner. Here’s what she had to say:
I’ve wanted to go to the Blue Plate Diner for a long time now. I have heard rave reviews from locals that have had amazing meals there and finally decided to go with my friend Darci after work on a Friday night.
When we parked our car in the lot outside and stood in front of the building I felt like we went back in time. I
wasn't alive when diners were all the rage in the 50s and 60s, but I am pretty sure this is exactly the way they were. We were greeted by a friendly host who sat us under a rafter that playfully said: "Thou Shalt Not Worship Golden Arches." And really we shouldn't. When you have a place like this putting so much love into locally grown food made from scratch, why would you ever go to another burger joint like that?
At first glance I noticed a well-wounded group of patrons—lots of families, old and young couples alike. First things first: drinks. Here you’ll find an array of milkshakes, artisan beers and fun cocktails. I was tempted to get the "hard coffee milk," but we both decided on a top shelf margarita. This one was heavy on tequila low on sour mix—just how I like them (top shelf indeed). For a starter we were stumped. We wanted the garbage fries, portabella fries and the Southwestern eggrolls, but seeing as there was only two of us, we thought all three would be a bit excessive. We decided on the eggrolls as a nice complement to the margaritas. When they came to the table we were so excited because there were six, which means we didn't have to battle for them. They were filled with pulled chicken, black beans, corn and cilantro, and served with a wasabi ranch dipping sauce. Amazing! The table next to us got the garbage fries, which looked equally fabulous (I will be getting those next time for sure)! Something to add if you didn't know already: this diner serves local produce, seafood and eggs to hand make all of the dishes and don't use frozen pre-made food like many other establishments do.
Choosing an entree was so much harder than appetizers! There was so much to choose from, truly something for everyone including burgers, sandwiches, and tons of gourmet-style entrees. One of their specials was a meatloaf Beef Wellington. What a great idea! As tempting as it was, I was pulled in by the chicken souvlaki. OMG am I happy I chose this! The chicken was marinated in lemon and oregano and, oh, could you taste that pop of flavor— light and tangy! It was in a pita with lettuce, tomato, onion and a yogurt-cucumber sauce. Might I add, the pita was one of the best I have had; crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The sandwich came with a Greek salad, which was a nice departure from fries. The dressing was delicious and I continuously dipped the sandwich in it because it was so good!
Darci chose the chicken pot pie three days ago when I showed her the menu and she did not waiver in her
decision. Good choice Darci. This dish was enormous, topped with a flakey and delicious puff pastry. We ate for a good 30 minutes, and then looked at Darci's bowl--it looked like she didn't eat any of it. The girl didn't put a dent in this dish!
We saved absolutely no room for dessert, but as we walked out I was bummed to see what we had missed. There was a case of homemade desserts including red velvet cake (my weakness), pies, and more. Next time I will save room. Overall this was such a great dinner experience. The service was excellent, the food was made with love and I left full. So go ahead and step back in time.
Read more of Leanne’s culinary adventures at AroundTheTableRI.blogspot.com.
We’re thankful that the weather outside hasn’t been particularly “frightful,” and we’ve been indulging in all the holiday fetes that are so “delightful!” Tonight is one such must-do event—the Bellevue Avenue Christmas Stroll!
From 4-7 p.m., merchants throughout Bellevue Avenue (from the gourmet trio across from the Hotel Viking all the way up to the Tennis Hall of Fame Casino Block), William Street and Mill Street will welcome strollers, offering tasteful delights and refreshments to make your local shopping experience even more memorable. Check out some of the beautifully decorated storefronts on the Living with Libby blog here, and come see them for yourself!
Speaking of Bellevue happenings, don’t forget that Santa visits to the Tennis Hall of Fame this Saturday,
December 10th! The THOF’s Holiday Open House begins at 9:30 a.m. and in additional to be all decked out for the holidays, families can enjoy a little friendly competition playing Wii tennis on the big screen, engage in a museum scavenger hunt, explore the museum on an engaging tour and more! At 2:30 pm, local storyteller Cindy Killavey will present a fun and dramatic reading of The Night Before Christmas, followed by a visit from Santa Claus himself! (Free for all ages with the donation of a non-perishable food item.)
“Let the festivities begin!” …Cue the holiday music please! Newport is adorned in the soft white shimmer of twinkling lights, fresh greens
and holly, and the sound of holiday music trails from our downtown shops and restaurants. My favorite part about this holiday is our city's captivating sparkle. As the temperature begins to drop, you still feel this encompassing warmth from all the golden hues of lights that adorn our city’s streets to the merriment of all those bustling around you.
In a season when families are adoringly celebrating their special holidays and traditions, you can’t help but feel the palpable energy of community and blithe spirit. Oh, and those children…hands cupped with cocoa, high pitched giggles, and excited little voices (repetitively) dolling out their lists…thank goodness we live in a city that savors every moment of this special season!
Click the link below for my picks for family Holiday Happenings in Newport. Although many are Christmas related, town’s seasonal spirit is honoring each and every child’s special holiday!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO NEWPORT CONNEXT'S HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS GUIDE!
Today the spotlight shines on blogger Kate Dickson, the voice behind the lovely Discover Warren. Kate, a Warren resident, owns the beloved Wooden Midshipman shop, chock full of books, gifts, and delightful treasures. We’re featuring her most recent blog post which dishes on Warren Wonderland, a fun shop local event taking place this Friday starting at 5pm. Click here to get the scoop!
Newport’s own Vanderbilt Grace recently shared the spotlight with top hotels across the globe when renowned travel guide publisher Fodor’s included the hotel on its annual “Top 100 Hotels" list. The property was recognized in the "Clubby Atmosphere" category, one of eight creative categories, and is the only hotel in Rhode Island to receive the accolade.
The award is particularly impressive as the hotel was just bought by the Grace Hotels group, known for its collection of exclusive boutique hotels around the world, in April of this year. Since the acquisition, the company completely reinvented the fine dining restaurant there, Muse by Jonathan Cartwright, who is best known as Chef de Cuisine at the White Barn Inn Restaurant in Kennebunkport, Maine. (The restaurant was just bestowed the Forbes 5-Star for the 7th time--yowza!)
Once owned by the prestigious family that bears its name, the mansion that houses Vanderbilt Grace was built in 1909, is conveniently located in downtown Newport, and boasts 33 rooms and suites, a spa and fitness center with indoor and outdoor pools. The hotel also just introduced its Bespoke by Grace feature, which allows guests to customize their experience and amenities in advance of their stay--click here for details. For more information on the hotel, visit VanderbiltGrace.com.
Our intern, Melanie Saltys, a senior at Roger Williams University, weighs in on food, friends and family tradition on this Thanksgiving eve. Wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours this holiday!
Occasionally people attend two Thanksgiving dinners because of an insistent mother-in-law or an unrelenting girlfriend who asks her new guy to stop by to meet the entire family. In my case, I enjoy three Thanksgiving dinners, all by choice. Go ahead and take a minute to judge me…
For the second year in a row, all of my college friends and I created our own Thanksgiving feast. Being an upperclassman comes with its perks: bigger living areas, better equipped kitchens and the privilege to sip on some cider (the adult version, finally!). About fifteen of us gathered together late last week for the first feast of the season. Our kind hostesses were my good friends Caity and Bridget who politely asked everyone to cook (or buy) their favorite dish to share. With my green bean casserole in tow, I arrived at their warm and inviting apartment which had been decorated with everything Thanksgiving-themed you could imagine. A little squished on desk chairs and couches, we made the college-version of Thanksgiving go off without a hitch.
The next feast is all thanks to Roger Williams University which offers a Thanksgiving dinner to all students and staff members. The dining hall is packed from 5-8 p.m. with ravenous college students and enough food to feed an army. The patient dining hall staff serves up turkey, stuffed shrimp, mashed potatoes, various vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls and the list goes on. As a senior, I never eat at the dining hall since I no longer have a meal plan but seeing everyone come together for a much appreciated feast is my favorite part of the whole event.
My third and final feast will be spent with my family. While the previous two meals are delicious and pleasant,there is no place like home. I will be spending the holiday in Connecticut with my dad’s extended family. I don’t know if it’s because this will be my 21st Thanksgiving with these people, but for some reason this holiday is so predictable. The women will be in the kitchen preparing dinner, while the mens eyes are glued to the television pretending to care about the score of the football game that their team isn’t even playing in. When my aunt proclaims the food is ready, the men will magically be seated, already serving themselves. After dinner, the women head back to the kitchen to clean up the mess and the men will resume their positions on the couch; except this time the only thing their eyes will see is the inside of their eyelids.
Gobble gobble…
Our family blogger, Alexandra West of Newport Connext, believes Thanksgiving is such a great time for children to be thankful before the mayhem of lists, toys, and all things Santa-fun, but as The Polar Express is such a popular event and sells out quickly, she wanted to share this post so you can take a ride on the rails!
In a season bustling with family, friends, and giving thanks, comes the timeless delight of many holiday traditions that leave everyone feeling like a kid again. Guess what’s pulling into Newport’s train station this weekend? The Polar Express! Based upon the beloved children’s book about a boy’s journey to the North Pole, The Polar Express train delights children of all young ages with its storytelling, a joyful visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and tempting trays full of hot cocoa & cookies.
With a majority of the dates already sold out (wait lists are available), this weekend may be the perfect time to start a new family tradition- climbing aboard the magical world of the North Pole before sitting down with loved ones to a meal full of thanks. (After all, children can live gleefully amongst their memories of Santa, snow, and magic all year long!)
So whether you come aboard before “gobbling” up a meal with family, or pile in after, this heartwarming tradition has all children excited about the many illuminating festivities that follow. Snuggly pajama attire encouraged!
To ride aboard The Polar Express, click here for hours and information.
For more family-related topics and fun, visit Newport Connext!
Today's guest blogger is none other than Newport This Week (and companion web site Newport-Now.com) reporter Meg O'Neil. While she covers a diverse range of topics at the popular weekly newspaper, it didn't take a ton of arm twisting to convince her to take advantage of the specials offered during Newport Restaurant Week. Here's what she had to say:
Newport Restaurant Week – the one designated week in the fall that I allow myself to splurge a little more than I usually would and treat myself like the foodie queen that I pretend to be in my head; allowing myself to try new places that I have never tried before or usually wouldn’t be able to on account of a general lack of funds.
Thursday’s weather was less than appealing, with a steady rainfall for the majority of the day. Thinking that a little more water couldn’t hurt, I donned my best raingear and headed to the aptly named H2O Restaurant & Lounge, nestled on Christie’s Landing right off of Thames Street. Settling in to our table for two, my dining partner Caitie and I examined the veritable feast of options that we had to choose from.
Perusing the menu, we had several selections to choose from for the appetizer round. Since I don’t eat seafood (blasphemous, I know), I decided on the local green garden salad, perfectly drizzled with a lemon citronette dressing. My dining companion chose the pan fried calamari for her first course, jazzed up with hot banana peppers, roasted garlic and cherry tomatoes that complimented the lightly battered calamari.
While sipping on our adult beverages, we awaited the second course, took in the casual and laid back atmosphere of H2O and chatted with our waiter, Danny, and Executive Chef Kevin Radke.
Our main courses arrived piping hot, fresh out of the kitchen. Prepared for the usual smaller portions that one typically receives during Restaurant Week, I was pleasantly surprised by the generous serving on the plate. Torn between the options, I went with the oven roasted chicken breast, sided with a sautéed spinach, artichoke and pepper ragout, and oven-roasted potatoes. Succulent, with a delightful crisp skin, the chicken was beyond words, so I’ll make one up right now off the top of my head: scrumptrulescent.
As for my dining companion, she ordered the grilled flatiron steak (at a perfect medium temperature), sea-salt mashed potatoes, topped with a wild mushroom demi-glace.
While we questioned whether it was socially acceptable to unbutton the top button of our pants to allow more room for food, our desserts arrived at the table. Sharing the cheesecake topped with fresh fruit and chocolate cake with strawberry sauce, my companion and I filled ourselves to the brim, enjoying every last sweet crumb. This may have been our first time eating at H2O, but it certainly won’t be our last.