Festive parties and finalizing those (ever-growing!) shopping lists are already on the calendar for many as the height of the holiday season rapidly approaches. Thankfully, there’s ample opportunity to slow down and enjoy the magic of the season as Christmas in Newport is back and in full swing.
The tastiest beacon in town is up and running at the Newport Marriott: The Giant Holiday Gingerbread Lighthouse. This favorite Christmas cookie on steroids towers over children and on-lookers as they marvel at the “sweet” sight. The house is open for viewing from 8am to 9pm daily and is free for all to see. (Don't forget to stop by the Newport Visitor Information Center next door for Christmas in Newport calendars and tour information.)
If you are looking to get outside and enjoy that crisp winter air, the captivating Holiday Lantern Tour begins this week (Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 4:30pm) departing from the Brick Market Museum & Shop. Learn the history of winter holiday traditions and hear how the colonists did or did not celebrate the holidays on a walk through the streets of Newport. For more information, click here.
The all-new Franklin Street Holiday Stroll unfolds this Saturday, Dec. 8, from 12-6pm with more than a dozen participating local retailers. Franklin Street is located between Thames and Spring Streets and features jewelry, apparel, home décor shops and more.
Finally, don’t miss out on the Holiday Open House, Reading of The Night Before Christmas and a visit from Santa Claus at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum this week. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention.. all three of these events are FREE! What better gift could you ask for?
Visit ChristmasinNewport.org for dates, times and details.
The Polar Express, a beloved holiday tradition, rolls into the Newport station this month for the Christmas season. Families have come to love the magic of the transformed Newport Dinner Train as it whisks passengers away to the North Pole.
The Polar Express leaves at 4:00pm and 6:00pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 16th from the America’s Cup Avenue train depot.
Capture the holiday spirit as the conductor reads the Chris Van Allsurg classic of a young boy’s unforgettable journey to the North Pole. Children enjoy caroling, hot chocolate and cookies. Santa also gives each child a special gift for those who truly believe.
Reservations are STRONGLY recommended, as there are only a few time slots left. Tickets are $32.95 for adults, and $22.95 for children. Call (401) 841-8700, or book online at http://www.formstack.com/forms/?131708-yewS8MCPlT
Don't forget to check out this and more holiday events happening throughout Christmas in Newport by CLICKING HERE.
This weekend, Fort Adams will transform into the magical site for the 2012 Northeast Regional Quidditch Tournament! Twenty-five college and university teams will compete on five fields inside and outside the fort walls, overlooking Narragansett Bay. Tournament play is from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. both days (rain or shine).
The Harry Potter game is now played at over 300 universities and high schools in the US and 12 other countries. New York University, Tufts, Middlebury College and Harvard are just a few of the schools competing in this year’s tournament held by the International and Northeast Quidditch associations. Make sure you cheer for the host team: the University of Rhode Island!
“Wizards” of all ages can enjoy this weekends tournament with special “Kidditch” games– or kids Quidditch – on Saturday and Sunday from 1-2pm. Kids will be able to run around with brooms, toss around the Quaffle, throw Bludgers or chase the golden snitch in a designated training area.
In addition, spectators can take a guided tour of the Fort on the hour from 10:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m., or test out the Airsoft Target range.
This event is free admission, thanks to the sponsor IHOP of Middletown and owners Bill and Karen Cardinal. Food and beverages will be available for purchase through out the day. Don’t forget to pick up a “butterbeer” recipe, a favorite non-alcoholic drink of Harry Potter and his fellow Quidditch champions.
I can’t begin to describe how thrilled I am that Newport Restaurant Week is back this week (Nov. 2-11). As a restaurant-obsessed college student, I have found that dining out on a budget can be more than challenging, especially in Newport. With $16 prix fixe lunches, and $30 three course dinners, Newport Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience local eateries across Aquidneck Island without breaking the bank.
Castle Hill is the first stop on my list for lunch destinations. Located off of Newport’s famous Ocean Drive, I have only dreamt of finally being able to eat inside this elegant inn. Later in the week, I plan on heading over to America’s oldest tavern, The White Horse Tavern. Their flat iron steak with organic mushroom risotto and bread pudding for dessert sounds like the perfect fall lunch.
For dinner, I plan on checking out Fluke Wine Bar & Kitchen on Bowen’s Wharf for some great seafood offerings. From crispy oysters to coconut shrimp for starters and fresh Atlantic cod for an entrée, I don’t think I will have any problem getting my seafood fix. Salvation Café on Broadway is another restaurant that I have been dying to eat at. Their roasted cauliflower bisque, teriyaki salmon and pumpkin panna cotta for dessert sounds delicious. Salvation also has a great selection of vegan options that will be greatly appreciated by my vegetarian roommates.
You can start making your own restaurant wish list after checking out the participating restaurants and their menus at (gonewportrestaurantweek.com)! Make your reservations soon, this is not an opportunity that you want to miss, trust me!
Meredith Mason is a junior at Salve Regina University in Newport and is interning at Discover Newport in the marketing department for the fall semester.
Sure, the cool, crisp fall air has officially settled into our neck of the woods, and though we’ve bid adieu to tan lines and 80
degree weather, that doesn’t mean our local outdoor adventures are put on hold. Fall in Newport and Bristol Counties provides plenty of activities to get the whole family outdoors!
For those who enjoy breathtaking views of the Newport landscape, take a stroll on one of the city’s most famous attractions: the Cliff Walk. The 3.5 mile walk winds its way along the rocky New England coast and past the well-known mansions of the Gilded Age. For spectacular views of Narragansett Bay, Newport Harbor and the Pell Bridge check out the Bay Walk at Fort Adams State Park.
If walking is a little slow paced for your liking, why not rent a bike to explore the island? Start at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown and make your way past Second and First Beach then up through downtown Newport. For cyclists searching for a longer bike route, the famous Ten Mile Drive, better known as “Ocean Drive,” combines miles of shoreline, public parks and historic summer “cottages.” This is also an ideal time of year to ride all or part of the 14-mile, tree-lined East Bay Bike Path, which stretches from Providence to Bristol along the Narragansett Bay shoreline.
But adventures don't always have to get the heart pumping. It's an amazing time of year to experience our local wineries as the autumnal harvest is peaking and the plump grapes that grace our vines are beautiful and will soon yield a fine vintage. Click here for local wineries and breweries.
From corn mazes to pumpkin picking, the farms in Portsmouth and Middletown offer traditional fall activities for the whole family. Check out a list of local farms here.
Celebrities are taking full advantage of how perfect Newport is this time of year! Just last weekend, author/crafter/publisher Martha Stewart arrived in the City-by-the-Sea to visit good friends and enjoyed her time outdoors strolling Cliff Walk and visiting the International Yacht Restoration School—two signature Newport experiences which she shared on her blog here and here.
Earlier this month, Modern Family star Sofia Vergara soaked up the rays at Castle Hill and this past weekend, singer, dancer and television personality Paula Abdul took in a Newport Polo match at Glen Farm in Portsmouth. The former American Idol judge watched Team Italy take on Team USA (even though it was Italy’s debut on the grounds, the home team won!). This weekend, the New England Challenge takes place at the polo grounds. For schedule and ticket information, click here.
If you didn’t get a chance to catch a glimpse of these stars, don’t fret. There will be another opportunity to see some famous faces this weekend! Two of sailing’s most famous skippers will be in town for the 2012 12 Metre North American Championships raced on Rhode Island Sound (history repeating itself!). Media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner will compete against “Mr. America’s Cup,” Dennis Conner in what promises to be some heated (but friendly) competition.
This weekend's Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival is also bringing the star-power! World renowned chefs Emeril Lagasse and father-daughter duo Jacques and Claudine Pépin will headline the festival with
Emeril making his first-ever festival appearance at a cooking demonstration and book signing on Sunday, September 23, at Marble House. Chef Jacques returns to the festival this Saturday, September 22, for brunch with twenty lucky diners at the Marble House along with his daughter, Claudine.
Keep your eyes open--you don’t want to miss your chance at a celebrity sighting!