When Rhode Island-based but nationally read blogger Jennifer Leal of Savor the Thyme and her husband were looking for a little off-season getaway, she looked no further than Newport.
“As parents of two young children, a staycation allowed us to reconnect and focus on each other rather than household chores yet we are not far from our children,” she said. “Being close to home allowed us to feel less stress while being away.”
The two were happily surprised to find most all of the local restaurants open and dishing up divine meal,s and learned a little bit more about Newport’s history on the Viking Tours of Newport Trolley Tour. “We highly recommend the trolley tour, a number of trips up and down Ocean Drive, and to stay at one of the charming inns,” she says.
The two hopped around the City from their centrally-located base camp at Mill Street Inn and enjoyed attractions like the International Tennis Hall of Fame while taking time to savor local flavor at The Mooring, Perro Salado, the Hungry Monkey and more!
Read all about Jennifer’s adventures in the City-by-the-Sea on Savor the Thyme, which focuses on family-friendly, healthy food and lifestyle. “I love to share and show how one can feed their family in a healthy way that can also be easy, fun, silly, and magical,” she says. “Be sure to stop by Savor the Thyme every day if you like to eat yummy, healthy food and giggle every day.”
CLICK HERE for Pt. 1 of Jennifer’s adventures, and HERE for Pt. 2
We're so excited to feature Felicia Whiting, Providence Ambassador for national online women’s magazine, GalTime as today's guest blogger on From Stem to Stern! For more great stories on food, fashion, relationships, parenting and the arts, follow GalTime on Facebook and Twitter.
This past Monday, I had the wonderful opportunity to dine at Leo’s Ristorante for Newport Restaurant Week. Located on historic Hope Street in Bristol, Leo’s is a family style restaurant that has been a Bristol tradition since 1948. Their menu is a mix of traditional American fare, Greek, Mediterranean, seafood, vegetarian and more. Breakfast is also served on the weekends.
For my $16 prix fixe lunch I chose a salad and lobster club, which also came with dessert. The portions were large and the quality was superb. The Mixed Field Greens Salad was topped with pine nuts, sprouts and slices of avocado that added a very special touch to a starter salad.
Whenever I dine out, if a lobster roll is on the menu, that’s what I order! But their Lobster Club (pictured above) was made in a way I have never tried before: with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye bread. It was so delicious and so filling; served with a very generous portion of french fries.
From the desserts that were offered, I chose a very large piece of Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake served with whipped cream and chocolate covered strawberries. Oh my! At this point I was very full, but there was no way I could pass this up! The cheese, the berries and the whipped cream were a perfect medley of delectable delight!
Needless to say, I am very happy with my restaurant choice during Newport Restaurant Week! With over 45 participating restaurants to choose from, it’s a great chance try something new!
Choose your next Newport Restaurant Week dining adventure by CLICKING HERE. You can read more on Felicia's local adventures on GalTime.com.
Jack and Jill went up the hill to dance to Mother Goose rhymes. Jack spun 'round, and broke his crown, and Jill came pirouetting after!
Rosecliff will be playing host to the Island Moving Company’s newest ballet, Mother Goose, directed by Miki Ohlsen and specifically designed for the mansion's spectacular rooms. The contemporary ballet company will perform throughout the mansion in matinee performances the weekend of March 2-4, marking their Thirtieth Anniversary Season, while a special opening celebration on Saturday, March 3 at 7pm will include highlights from the company's celebrated performances of Dracula and the Newport Nutcracker.
Performances are as follows:
Saturday March 3: 3pm, Opening Evening Celebration: 7pm
Sunday March 4: 3pm
To purchase tickets, visit Island Moving Company.
We were so excited when travel writer Alison Tibaldi, who reports for offManhattan (oM), My Family Travels and Mommy Poppins as some of her outlets, let us know she was headed to Newport a few weeks ago. She had recently written a 
piece for oM on the Newport Winter Festival, counting in among one of the Best Winter Carnivals of 2012, and wanted to learn more about the City-by-the-Sea for some upcoming assignments. “This was my first time visiting Newport and I was struck by the natural beauty of the harbor,” she tells us. “I was also pleasantly surprised by the number and variety of restaurants in town.” Though the mansions are stately and elegant, she was delighted to find them to be so family friendly. “The audio tours really bring the Gilded-Age to life,” she describes. Allison had a full itinerary so she could enjoy as much of our city as she could while here, but there was one attraction that really surprised the avid traveler. “Don't miss the Tennis Hall of Fame, even if you don't particularly love tennis,” she advises. “Anyone with an appreciation of any sport will be impressed by this interactive and enjoyable ode to sportsmanship.”
Read more about her winter adventures in Newport on the Family Travel Forum by CLICKING HERE.
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.
“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!
Family film buffs need to look no further than newportFILM’s November mini-fest this weekend for a pre-holiday delight that will put us all in the spirit of imagination and creativity. From a Friday night flick on football perfectly suited for any older child to adult, to a fantastic kid film on snowmen, school, and silly kid shenanigans, there is a little something suited for all the various ages and stages of kids and families about town.
On Friday: UNDEFEATED (PG-13) 7pm, Jane Pickens Theater Got any little football lovers in the house? This “Friday Night Lights” type film documents the Manassas High Tigers, an inner-city Memphis football team that has seen it’s share of hardship and challenges in past. Unfolding a full season, from the first kick-off to the final game, families will be moved by this film’s passion, the coach’s compassion, and the team’s undeniable perseverance and youthful spirit. It'll make a great family night out with any child who loves this sport, or date night! (PS: Come an hour early to the theater for the pre-film wine reception hosted by Salvation Café starting at 6pm)
Saturday Day: SNOWMEN (PG) 1pm, Jane Pickens Theater Three cheers for a kid film full of enthusiasm, and remembering to make the children the main characters! This heartfelt film will leave the kids giggling and the parents smiling. Smartly written, the film follows three elementary aged boys on a mission to gain some notoriety in town (school) through building snowmen and capturing a new Guinness World Record. All the typical mayhem of bullies, to a crush, to a mentor follow suit, but the real spirit lies in the film’s main character, a boy who believes in himself and everyone around him. A smart (and always welcomed) lesson that each child will take home with them…that, and the gleeful anticipation of setting their own records!
Saturday Night: BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY (Unrated Documentary) 7pm, Jane Pickens Theater This documentary has gotten a lot of buzz (and awards) in the film industry! Being Elmo tells the tale of the man, Kevin Clash, behind the lovable red puppet. Come spend an evening inspired by how one boy’s dream of becoming a puppeteer and working with Jim Henson, came true. You’ll be just as captivated by Kevin as your children are by Elmo. With an impressive list of actors, and behind the scenes glimpse at all that create the magical world of Sesame Street, this film is a great family night out for an older child, a puppeteer in the making, and parents alike. (PS: Come an hour early to the theater for the pre-film wine reception hosted by Salvation Café starting at 6pm)
Keep posted on newportFILM events by visiting their web site here and stay on top of these and other family happenings in and around Newport by visiting Newport Connext here.
“The sea captain has returned from his mysterious journey, and brought back a creepy crew of gray faced ghouls and walking dead goons….ooooh!” I creepily whispered to my six-year-old and his best pal as we passed two (very friendly) men caked in impressive zombie makeup. To my delight, the Newport Yachting Center has been eerily transformed into three clearly sectioned haunted adventures called The Haunted Shipyard.
The Haunted Pier 23 (where all the zombies hail) is too scary for any kids under the age of ten, and parents should decide if their child could handle this eerie tour for the older ones, but the “Lights-On” Spooky Wharf is perfect for 2-8 year-olds ready for a sweet, simple, and playful treat.
The kid tent is a NON-SCARY tent with six activity stations ranging from the Witches Brew, to Pirate Digging, to Alligator Pond, along with Sully the fuzzy blue monster from Monsters
, Inc. Each activity is joyfully rewarded with a treat for the kid’s goody bags that they are handed upon entering. I noted the 2-5-year-olds really enjoyed the pirate digging, witches brew, and decorating masks. Meanwhile, the 6+ crew thoroughly enjoyed the candy rewards of each activity and the bumper boats, where they can slam and smack into each other at a simple puttering speed…tons of giggles!
For the older (I’d say elementary age) kids, head across to the third tent called The Armory…a.k.a. the Zombie Hunt. This space resembles something straight out of a Wii combat zone; it’s pretty darn cool. After meeting the targeted zombie and werewolf, my son was game for getting behind the appointed partition area, wearing his safety mask, and shooting pink paint pellets at his moving targets. To my delight, the safety and expertise on hand allowed this nervous mom to enjoy such a big-kid moment. And oh boy, did those kids love this activity!
Top off your night with a quick bite at the Creepy Canteen (the bloody aprons are fantastic), a drink for the parents (yes, please) at the Boo Bar, and I’d say you’ve had a gruesomely good evening!
The Haunted Shipyard at the Newport Yachting Center continues tonight through Halloween. Click here for hours, tickets and prices.
I love when we stumble upon bloggers who visit Newport and soak up the best the City-by-the-Sea and its surrounding coastal communities have to offer, so when I came across this recent post on much-loved Carrots 'n' Cake written by Boston-based Tina Haupert, I had to share (her blog has been featured in People, Shape, Women’s Day and Health magazines). Carrots 'n' Cake (such a great name, right?) focuses on Tina’s love of food and fitness, so naturally, she combined the two when spend this past weekend here on Aquidneck Island. Her adventures included apple picking at Rocky Brook Orchard in Middletown, a run along Ocean Drive and Bellevue Avenue, sailing, an afternoon at Castle Hill, a night of dancing and more. Read the weekend round up by clicking here (or here for apple picking or here for the sights along Tina’s run)!
(Pictured: Tina and friends aboard schooner Aquidneck!)