Most of us know Martha’s Vineyard to be a beautiful island with gorgeous beaches and celebrity guests, but not many know what goes on behind the scenes. The island actually hosts over 42 working farms, 16 oyster cultivators and local artisanal cheese, charcuterie, honey, chocolate, coffee, beer and elixirs of all kinds.
If you’re interested in exploring this unfamiliar side of Martha’s Vineyard, check out the group Farm.Field.Sea, makers of experience that connect sea and soil directly to diners. The group is collaborating with the island’s farmers, food producers and fisherman to inspire people to think differently about the food they eat every day. Take a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard to be a part of Farm.Field.Sea’s Pop-Up conversation and dinner series GATHER, and discuss the island’s unique culinary culture at Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard and Featherstone Center for the Arts. Each dinner has a different theme and provides an intimate space where guests experience an authentic Island feast while learning more about the food on their plate, while benefiting island non-profits.
Be sure to check out the next event on Food and Waste with Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe's who helped found Daily Table, on July 27, and the event on Food and Art with Jennifer Rubell, an internationally-renowned artist who creates art using food and drink as the medium, on August 10. More
Cross the state line into Massachusetts and enter a whole new world of luxury. Harwich’s Wequassett Resort and Golf Club is worth a visit in any season, but now that spring has arrived in New England and the weather is warmer every day, it’s time to get in the car and go. The tulips are blooming in their manicured gardens, life is back in the frog pond, and it’s finally warm enough to take a barefoot walk on the beach.
With sweeping views of Pleasant Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Wequassett was recently awarded the prestigious five star rating in Forbes Travel Guide - one of only six added to the list this year, and the only property on Cape Cod to hold the distinction. It’s not hard to see why. The property is home to a collection of historic buildings that hold 120 luxurious guest rooms and suites, with not just two pools, but two private beaches as well. The four restaurants offer casual and fine dining options for any meal. And the golf at Cape Cod National - an 18 hole championship course - is unmatched.
Twenty-eight Atlantic is the hotel’s signature fine dining restaurant, where Executive Chef James Hackney serves a menu of gourmet twists on iconic New England dishes. Thoreau’s, in the bar area of twenty-eight Atlantic, is a casual and delicious tavern. The Outer Bar and Grille serves impeccable coastal cuisine. Libaytion, a beachfront bar, is a place to relax and enjoy a cocktail in the summer months.
For fun, Wequassett offers boating and sailing lessons, kayak rentals, tennis courts and endless bike paths. The Children’s Center offers innovative and educational programming for toddlers through teenagers, and boasts a pirate ship playground straight out of a storybook. Swimming, sailing and tennis lessons will keep them engaged during the day, and at night there are movies and teen activities. The annual Cape Cod Jazz Festival starts June 30, and offers live music every Tuesday and Wednesday night through … More
I’m just going to be honest here: I did not want to go up Mount Washington on a rickety old train. But given that my options were either driving, which any local will tell you to rent a car to do to avoid the significant wear and tear to your own vehicle, or hiking, which, just, no, a train it was. And so I found myself on a chilly, sunny fall day, standing at the platform, gazing up a cool 6,000 vertical feet.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is an institution in the White Mountains. It’s been ferrying passengers up the East Coast’s highest peak since 1852. Thankfully, we’d be going up in a biodiesel engine installed in 2008, and not the original coal-burning train.
I wouldn’t say that I’m afraid of heights. I have distinct memories of my 10-year-old self on the Observation Deck of the World Trade Center in New York, pressing my forehead against the windows to get a better perspective on the 110 stories below. I’m just, to put it mildly, an accident waiting to happen. I fall out of chairs when I’m sitting still. I once fell out the front door of a bar that I wasn’t even leaving. So tell me I’m going up a single track up the side of a huge mountain, and all I see is possibilities for my imminent doom.
But, as a great poet once said, “a promise made is a debt unpaid,” and I had been promising my mother that I would ride the Cog Railway with her for juuuuust about two decades. So I got on the train. In the front row. And you know what? I’m really glad I did. The view was gorgeous, and we had the best possible vantage point for photography. It’s just one more time that I conquered my (considerable) fear and came out happier on the other side.
I expected the hour up to be difficult, but considering that the conductor sat outside the train on the front platform, I probably could have guessed that the trip would be easy and painless. We waved at hikers heading up to the … More
Newport's Vanderbilt Hotel hosted a special VIP screening of Wes Anderson's new The Grand Budapest Hotel on its rooftop. I may have attended this event in a completely backwards fashion. I had never before been to hotel, and I had only seen brief snippets of The Life Aquatic. Apparently, I’m a terrible Newporter and I usually just tuned out of conversations involving Wes Anderson. Who were they talking about again? Wes Craven? Wesley Snipes?
I am now fairly certain that The Vanderbilt Grace has one of the best rooftop views in Newport, and come warmer weather... Oops. Don't want to give away this best-kept secret right before the tourists come stampeding in... Um, I mean, “supposedly” there is an outdoor bar up there, open air seating, a panoramic view of Newport Harbor, and something about movie screenings with truffled popcorn during the summer. No reason to venture up from Thames Street, really.
I’m also fairly certain that if your local cinema both supports and encourages drinking Prosecco through a straw, then you should in turn support them. Cheers, Jane Pickens.
Oh, and I think I need a second opinion on this one, but if Tim Burton and Quentin Tarantino had a one night stand in Paris, would Wes Anderson be their lovechild?
As the credits rolled down the screen, it became clear that the pairing of these two venues, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Vanderbilt Grace, made perfect sense for the event. There are some striking correlations between this fictional place and the boutique hotel. For instance, one might expect a stuffy, snooty, no Maxxinistas allowed type of atmosphere with any establishment rhyming with the word Shmanderbilt. However, upon walking through the door, it’s immediately noticed that every staff member of the The Vanderbilt Grace is incredibly friendly... like your dental hygienist on lithium friendly. I could only imagine that would be the standard of hospitality expected by Gustave H., concierge, … More
Now that it’s safe to put the shovel and snowmelt into storage, fill up your gas tank and hit the road for a day trip. Check out this infographic for our top picks of nearby attractions.
You didn’t have to be coupled up to feel the love at Zenabelle in February. Deborah Ventrice and staff encouraged Facebook friends to “love yourself all month long.” Each day, they posted a “love yourself tip of the day” on their Facebook page. Some posts were product related and included beauty tips and promotions and some were inspirational. You can check out their blog to read all of the posts.
All of the promotions and posts culminated at the end of February at the "Love Yourself Ladies Night." Guests were greeted with complimentary sangria or wine, and there were snacks available throughout the store. Special promotions were available that night only and the event was very well attended. Guests walked around the store and shopped and tested products as they enjoyed their snacks and wine. Zenabelle staffers were available to give product recommendations and assist customers as they enjoyed the multi-sensory treats.
Guests also got to peak at the newly added meditation space where holistic facials and henna hair applications are available. The space offers zero gravity relaxation as well as brainwave music therapy. More
It was announced Thursday, February 27 that the British Beer Company would be closing its doors for the last time on Saturday, March 1. Despite the short notice, the people of Bristol and the surrounding towns came out in throngs to show the staff support, and send them off in traditional small town fashion: lots of die hard regulars, laughter and story swapping, and of course drinking.
Although the BBC had only been in Bristol a few years, it had quickly become a town favorite thanks to the cozy atmosphere, interesting beer selection, and unparalleled service. If you’ve been into the BBC more than one time, chances are good that Kevin knows your name, and your beer.
The owners came out on the final night and applauded the staff, customers, and town in a truly heartfelt toast. The BBC is a franchise throughout MA and Bristol was their only RI location. Bristol residents and enthusiasts are all hopeful that the space doesn’t stay vacant for long and whoever moves in is up for the challenge – they’ve got big shoes to fill. More
Raspberry Bars (standard 1/2 sheet pan-12"x17")
All Purpose Flour: 278 grams
Sugar: 148 grams
Toasted Almonds: 67 grams
Butter (cold-cubed): 230 grams
Raspberry Jam: 278 grams
- Preheat oven to 350
- Weigh out all ingredients except raspberry jam and put into food processor
- Pulse ingredients until they are the consistency of peas. Don't overpulse or it will form a dough
- Spread out half of the above mixture on the greased sheetpan and press down into the pan. Put the other half into the fridge
- Bake this bottom crust until set and just starting to color
- Pull out of oven and immediately pour the jam onto the hot crust and spread evenly
- Crumble the remainder of the dry mixture onto the raspberry jam and bake again until just starting to color.
Cool completely and enjoy!
This dish utilizes all possible uses of these incredible carrots that we get from our favorite farm. We glaze the carrots in their own juice, add a touch of cream and then purée them in a blender. Next, we try to make the dish interesting by adding carrots cooked by different methods to add some texture and depth. For a touch of luxury we add gently cooked lobster, which goes beautifully with carrots. Finally we add a hint of caraway, fennel and dill, as they are all part of the same botanical family, Apiacaea (or Umbelliferae). All this is very simple, indeed, and should not take more than an hour from start to finish.
For the soup:
1 cup carrot juice, from about 2-3 orange carrots
2 cups assorted carrots, e.g.: Chantenay, orange round, red dragon, pink yellow and purple (Use caution when adding too many purple or red carrots, as they will bleed into the others, creating a very unpleasant brown color.)
2 cups water
Pinch of sugar
Salt, as desired
½ cup cream
1 tsp toasted caraway seed
In a heavy pot large enough to hold all the carrots in one layer, add the carrot juice, salt, sugar and bring to a boil. Skim any froth or scum off the surface of the liquid and allow it to reduce down to a glaze. This may take 5-7 minutes but every stove is different. Check the pot often to ensure it does not burn. Once the juice boils down to a glaze, stir the carrots to coat evenly and then add the two cups of water. Bring the liquid back to a boil, then turn down to a simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
In another small pot, toast the caraway seeds until fragrant, then add the cream to the pot and bring to a boil. Once the cream comes to a boil, remove from the heat and cover with plastic wrap or a lid to infuse for at least 15 minutes. After the infusion, add the entire mix to the simmering carrot soup and bring back to a boil.
Once it’s boiling, start tasting the soup for proper seasoning – it’s easier to fix the … More
Join the Friends of the Bristol Animal Shelter at the 7th Annual Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday, March 1 for a night of food, live music and silent auctions all benefiting rescued animals. The non-profit organization is dedicated to providing a safe and healthy environment for abandoned, neglected and abused animals that come into the shelter’s care. Continuous veterinary services are given to the loveable companions until they find their future home. At the Linden Place Ballroom in Bristol, entertainment from The Rockin’ Soul Horns Band will be jamming throughout the night and elegant edibles will be catered by Blackstone Caterers. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased online on their website or at the Bristol Animal Shelter. 10 Minturn Farm Road, Bristol. 401-253-4834.
On Saturday, March 22, the non-profit organization, M.O. Life Inc. (Murphy and Others Living Interdependently for Future Endeavors) is hosting their 18th Annual Charity Ball at White’s of Westport from 6pm-midnight. Supporting this great cause will bring assistance to those with developmental disabilities. Not only does M.O. Life Inc. give employment opportunities and speech and language therapy to those individuals, educational opportunities and independent living options are also available.
Dance the night away with your best semi-formal attire for plenty of entertainment, along with raffles and a silent auction. The $50 ticket price includes dinner, so come hungry and ready for an exciting night benefiting such a generous organization. Order tickets online or call 508-992-5978.
Have you ever thought about your self? And not in the I-need-a-vacation way, or the I-should-buy-a-boat way. No, have you ever contemplated your physical and mental existence, while also remaining mindful of the way in which you love and understand your self?
It’s a heavy question, for sure, but it’s one that the Rhode Island Community of Mindfulness seeks to nurture and support. Here, within this community of seven meditation groups, or sanghas, scattered around the state, one of which calls the East Bay home, individuals attempt to “deepen [their] understanding of mindfulness” and engage in “Buddhist practices.” All meditation meetings are open to the public and newcomers are encouraged to participate.
The East Bay’s group is called Mind Tamers, and they meet at the Saints Matthew and Mark Episcopal Church (5 Chapel Rd, Barrington) from 6:30-8:30pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
So, while a vacation or boat may bring about temporary satisfaction, it’s the inner exploration of the self that provides lasting, irreplaceable happiness.
Stargazing isn’t just reserved for warm summer nights on your front lawn. With the chill of winter still upon us, move the starry movie in-doors to the Krupowicz Planetarium for their Family Fun Moon Rock Night. On March 13, they will have real moon rocks and meteorites, educational space activities and a full dome planetarium show – Cosmic Collisions. During the show, you will see these cosmic collisions, and learn how those impacts drive the dynamic and continuing evolution of the universe. $3, children under four not permitted. Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 6:30pm. Seating capacity is 60 people, first come first served. 1113 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown. Contact Renee Gamba for more information.
Simone’s (formerly the Sunnyside) isn’t wasting any time settling into their new location in Warren. The first of their Monday cooking classes will be on March 10 and March 31 from 6:30-9:00pm. Classes cost $50 and will include recipes, wine and tasting. The March 10 class will coincide with their grand opening, so expect bubbly in addition to instruction on a variety of different new and old favorites. The March 31 class will be focused on making fresh pasta and the dishes that accompany it. 275 Child Street, Warren. Call 401-247-1200 to sign up.
Uber, the uber-popular car service app, will be offering up to three free rides, at a maximum of $20 per ride, to any and everyone in Rhode Island between now and 6pm on Saturday. Yes, you read that right. Free rides. For everyone.
The company recently expanded into Rhode Island, and it's been known for making a big splash when it enters a new market. They once offered free rides to all of Brooklyn for the weekend. For those who aren't familiar, the service uses a mobile app to connect people in need of a ride with Uber drivers in their area. You can request a ride anytime from anywhere, and you don't need any cash – you pay for the ride through your Uber account. Needless to say it's become very popular very quickly with young urban dwellers and professionals.
Now the #RILOVESUBER promotion is on. Just sign up for Uber or download the app, request a ride, and the rest is on them. Of course, they expect high demand, so if you already know what you're doing this weekend you might want to start booking your rides now. And if you need somewhere to go with your free ride, your Uber receipt will get you discounts and bonuses at over a dozen Providence bars and restaurants, including The Avery, The Eddy, Hot Club, Vanity and even StyleWeek.
Find more info here, and get your free ride. More
Rhode Island Mushroom Company heads into its second year with an expanded growing operation in West Kingston. What began wedged in a basement at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown has grown to a 50-foot-long greenhouse nested inside a warehouse. This additional room means more of our favorite fungi of course; they expect their current production of 200-250 pounds a week to swell to 1,500-2,000 pounds. Bob DiPietro and Mike Hallock of Rhode Island Mushroom company will use this extra production to serve more farmers markets, as well as increase sales to restaurants. They sell a wide variety of mushrooms you can’t find anywhere else, both their own and some wild-harvested imports. The golden oyster mushrooms they grow are perhaps my favorite. They are delicate, sweet and visually stunning. Some places you can find the golden oysters and many more are the Portsmouth Aquidneck Growers Market and Mount Hope Market in Bristol.
A couple of new restaurants are coming to Warren. Aruba Steve’s is opening a second location in Warren after success with their bar and grill in Providence. Paving the way for their acquisition of the Old India Restaurant on Main, owner Steve Correa has acquired a liquor license for the venture.
In addition, beloved restaurant Sunnyside is rebooting in Warren as Simone’s. While munchers can expect the same approach to cooking and level of quality that won Sunnyside so many plaudits, Chef Joe Simone conceives of this as a new chapter, which significantly will now include dinner service. The restaurant is expected to open on 275 Child Street in Warren late February/early March.
Have you ever looked at the design of our magazines and thought, I would love to do that? Are you an experienced graphic designer looking for a fun and exciting workplace? Then join our team!
Providence Media is currently seeking both a full-time and a freelance graphic designer to work with our top-notch Art Department. This is a fast-paced, challenging environment in which you will enjoy a level of responsibility and artistic input that is rare in this industry. Some of the qualifications we're looking for include:
• Strong grasp of graphic and digital design for magazine publication
• Proficiency in Adobe CS4 and up
• Ability to work well in a fast paced environment
• Ability to work well as part of a closeknit team
• Strong organizational skills and high level of self-motivation
• Ability to multitask and prioritize multiple projects in multiple phases of design
• Photography and web experience a plus
Responsibilities include, but aren't limited to: ad design, editorial layout, photo retouching, collateral design, email campaign design, logo development and more. If interested, send your resume, salary requirements and a link to your work to resumes@providenceonline.com. More
At the 9th Annual Illuminated Garden at Ballard Park you’ll see thousands of lights plus exhibits installed by local students, artists and community groups to include a one-acre vernal pond and a 30-foot rock wall. The event is part of Newport Winter Fest, which is ten days of seasonal fun in the City-by-the Sea. February 20-22. Free. 6-9pm. Hazard Road at Wickham, Newport. 401- 619-3377.
Celebrate the winter season with the Herreshoff Marine Museum on February 8 at their 2nd Annual Frost Biter’s Bash, and enjoy the history of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and the America’s Cup competition. This bash welcomes guests to explore the museum, try food from food stations provided by local vendors and drink at multiple bars. There will also be dancing in the museum’s historic Hall of Boats. Food and drinks are included in ticket cost, which can be purchased on their website. Money raised at the event will help fundraise for the museum on their off-season. $100. 6:30- 11pm. 1 Burnside Street, Bristol. 401-253-5000. www.frostbitersbash.com.
Save the date for the Potter League’s Have A Heart Cocktail Party & Auction on February 7 at the Viking Hotel in Newport. The preview party includes a wine and beer tasting, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and a live auction. Afterwards, the main event kicks off with a silent auction and other events like a 50/50 cash raffle, culinary stations and more. Tickets can be purchased online, and the cost of preview party tickets includes main event admission. Proceeds are raised for the Potter League for Animals in Middletown. $60-85. 1 Bellevue Avenue, Newport. 401-846-8276.
Once, factory runoff and dumped dredging material marred a tidal estuary in West Barrington, Allin’s Cove. Now, the cove is a pleasant place to take a walk or paddle a canoe or kayak.
In 1993 Sandra Wyatt moved into the Bay Spring Neighborhood, and wondered about the cove – three-and-a-half acres of marshland and water – just steps outside her door. During that first year she noticed erosion threatening the bank supporting the road.”
Sandra discovered old mills had once dumped dyes and heavy metals into Allin’s Cove. In 1959, the US Army Corps of Engineers used the cove to dump dredge material after digging navigation channels nearby.
She first got involved about 1995, and spent time meeting with local people who cared about the cove, town officials and members of environmental agencies. She learned of a federal bill requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to “right past wrongs.” In 2005, with the help of funding from federal sources, the town of Barrington, the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and the Army Corps restored the salt marsh and took some measures to control erosion. Shortly after that work was completed, 100 volunteers planted thousands of marsh grasses on the upland side of the cove.
Since that time, work on the cove has included setting down more “core logs,” coconut fiber wrapped around sand, to help hold down the shore. It is not easy in a tidal environment to establish a protective barrier for the long term. “This is probably the fourth attempt at making something stay,” Sandra says.
The most recent work in October of 2013 involved eradicating invasive plants Japanese knotweed and Phragmites, then planting salt marsh grasses Spartina alternaflora and Spartina patins in the lower marsh area, close to Sandra’s home. Planning for much of the ongoing work was accomplished by consultants with Save the Bay and CRMC. The town of Barrington helped on multiple … More