Let the folks at Frerichs Farm whisk you away to a magical land of pirates, fairies and enchantment. The Fantasy Faire promises fun for all ages. See a real pirate boat and hear their lively music. Stroll the fairy walkway, shop for unique crafts or take a ride on Snap the Dragon and the pumpkin coach. And speaking of pumpkins, this two-day event will kickoff Pumpkin Palooza, which runs every weekend through the end of October. Make your own scarecrow or take a walk through Western Town. September 7-8. Free. 9am-5pm. 43 Kinnicut Avenue, Warren. 401-245-8245.
Well, it's here: we've reached the end of the line for our East Bay Bike Path blog. It's time to sign off for the season – but that is by no means the end of the bike path fun. The weather is gorgeous and the path is active throughout the late summer/early fall, as are many of the stops along its run.
For instance, our friends at Blount remind us that although Labor Day is the last day of the year for Warren clam shack, they've got two other locations that are easily accessible from the bike path that will still be satisfying your seafood cravings well beyond the coming weekend. The shack at Crescent Park in Riverside (pictured left) will remain open throughout September from 11am-8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 11am-7pm on Sundays. Their Providence clam shack and soup bar, which is just a quick jaunt from the path's terminus at India Point Park, is open year-round for lunch Tuesday-Thursday (11am-3pm) and lunch and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays (11am-9pm). (Closed Sunday/Monday.)
Speaking of India Point Park, you can also find Blount there during the third annual RI Seafood Festival on September 7-8. It runs Saturday and Sunday from 11am-7pm and admission is free. There will be tons of food, plus local beer and wine, live entertainment and family fun. Just remember, although the bike path ends at India Point Park, the direct line to get there, the Washington Bridge, is currently closed to bike traffic. You'll need to take a short detour over the Henderson Bridge (aka the Red Bridge), which connects from East Providence at North Broadway or Massasoit Avenue to South Angell Street in Providence. But use caution – there's no protected bike lane.
Other events and points of interest that will keep you on the path through September and October include:
-The Audobon Society's Environmental Education Center, which is easily accessible from the bike path in Bristol, remains open Wednesday-Saturday from 9am-5pm and Sunday from noon-5pm. The … More
Joe is tall. He likes sticking his neck out into the world. His friend, Sparky, is short and more cautious, but their friendship takes them places together. Joe is a giraffe, Sparky a turtle in books for young readers by Barrington resident Jamie Michalak. Jamie’s third book about Joe and Sparky, Joe and Sparky Go to School, came out this summer.
In the latest adventure, Joe and Sparky discover school is a surprising place. They learn the school’s rest room is actually not designed for taking a nap, but contains a “magic pond” that appears and disappears. The author’s previous two books about Joe and Sparky, Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels and Joe and Sparky Superstars have earned her a following of fans who enjoy the hilarious stories and playful illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz.
Each Joe and Sparky book is four short chapters, designed for five to eight year olds. Jamie said writing can be a solitary occupation, and she enjoys the opportunities she has to talk to young students about writing. The latest book was inspired by one of those visits. “I looked out at the kids in the audience and imagined Joe and Sparky sitting with them. I wondered what it would be like if Joe and Sparky went to school, too.” The book also incorporated pieces of her family life in Barrington, including the S.T.A.R. incentive program at Sowams School and the guinea pig who lives in the public library. A launch party is planned for Saturday, September 7 at Barrington Books. 184 County Road, Barrington. 401-245-7925.
Marcel Arsenault grew up in a Bristol home where the art of storytelling through music, acting and writing were encouraged and celebrated by his parents Bob and Denise. This love of telling a story took shape with the family singing folk songs and playing instruments to Marcel acting in Mt. Hope High School productions. These days Marcel is bringing storytelling to a worldwide audience as the Director of Development for Sharp Entertainment, one of the fastest growing production companies of unscripted and reality television in the country.
Having made household names of Adam Richman and Man vs. Food, Doomsday Preppers, “Turtleman” Ernie Brown, Jr. of Call of the Wildman and Punkin Chunkin, to name just a few of the popular shows behind Sharp, Marcel and the company are building on Richman’s popularity with Fandemonium, which debuted in July on The Travel Channel.
In 2007 after graduating from Georgetown University, where he majored in American Studies with a focus on music, film and television, Marcel returned to Bristol with the intention of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles or New York. “I applied for any job that said entertainment, television, film or music.”
The application process played out like an episode of a Sharp production. After realizing he was not getting interviews with New York City companies with his home address, he put a New York address on his resume. Then one ad really caught his eye: Executive Assistant to the President at Sharp. It requested a creative cover letter be sent to the then current EA, a woman named Marisa. Marcel penned and recorded a love song on why he should be considered for the job. Within an hour of hearing the emailed song he was called for an interview and after another round of interviews he had the position which came with the job description: “Doing anything that didn’t fall under the job description of anyone else.” So began the glamorous life of answering the … More
As far as pastries go, nothing says élégance and saveur quite like a fruit pie. With the apples, peaches and berries reaching the peak of their season, we couldn’t help but indulge in some fresh from the oven varieties. Read on to taste some of our local faves.
Wishing Stone Farm’s sweet little galettes might have won the cuteness contest: we loved the caramelized sugar that bejeweled the top dough folds and the savory, juicy filling. The peaches and blueberries had obviously just been picked. 25 Shaw Rd, Little Compton. 401-592-0285.
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We evidently received Sweet Berry Farm’s signature pie – the assorted berries had the irreplaceable natural sweetness you find in the ripest of fruits. When we saw the braided crust and latticed center, we knew it had been baked with love. As one of our staff-members said, “it’s like grandma made it.” 19 3rd Beach Rd, Middletown. 401-847-3912.
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The best part about the Johnson’s Roadside Farm apple pie – apart from the gently cooked apple slices – was the buttery, flaky pastry crust that gave it an ideal crunchy consistency. The light cinnamon and lemon zest finished the pie with a subtle, delicious taste. 445 Market St, Swansea. 508-379-0349.
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Young Family Farm’s peach pie had the ying and the yang of tartness and sweetness. The mellow, generously sized peach wedges melted on our tongues and our teeth joyously sank into the pie’s signature soft crust. 260 W Main Road, Little Compton. 401- 635-0110.
If you are planning on spending a day on the East Bay Bike Path it is always good to be prepared, especially if you have children in tow. You want to be comfortable, protected, and you're probably going to want to eat at some point. Take care of all those concerns with this great gear.
First, lets start with your biking accessories. Safety is always a priority so sporting a helmet that fits you is essential. East Providence Cycle offers a variety of helmets for adults and kids. Oh, did we mention they are currently having a sale?
If you're going to be carrying supplies to make your day a bit more pleasant, you're probably going to need a rack. Your Bike Shop in Warren has a variety of racks and the store is literally right off the path. Mount the rack and use it to hold bags and other items.
You are going to get thirsty. Barrington Books now carries Vapur water bottles. These collapsible, foldable and reusable water bottles can even be frozen for some ice cold H2O.
If you’re planning on covering the whole path, there’s a good chance it’s going to be a bit of a pain in the butt. Literally, your buns are going to be sore from all of that sitting. Add a little comfort to your ride with one of these cushioned seats, also available at Your Bike Shop.
Biking with kids? If your children are still too small to ride their own bikes you can pick up one of these handy buggies at East Providence Cycle. It attaches to the back of your bike so the kids get to sit back and take in the sights while you get in your workout.
No one likes sun in their eyes, including your kids. Protect them with these sunglasses from Teddy Bearskins in Barrington.
Okay, enough about your kids – what about you? Treat yourself to some new athletic apparel and bike in style. Gob Shop carries a variety of athletic clothing like these compression shorts and shirts. They also do embroidering, so buy a bunch and start that cycling … More
One event that’s worth the drive is the annual King Richard’s Faire, running every weekend through October 20 in nearby Carver, MA. As soon as you enter this magical forested world, you’ll never want to leave. Lords are leaping, ladies are dancing, knights are jousting and the mead is flowing. Gnaw on a turkey leg as you wander the realm, shopping for corsets and jewelry and stopping to try your hand at archery or to watch a comedy show. September 7-29. $28 adults; $16 children. 10:30am-6pm. 235 Main Street, Carver, MA. 508-866-5391.
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups fresh corn
2 teaspoons of baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup corn oil
*add one cup of bell peppers or any berry if desired
Directions:
Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, corn, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix egg, milk, sour cream and corn oil in a small bowl. Fold liquid mixture into dry mixture until just moistened; pour into 8” square bak- ing dish that is lightly greased. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
Four Town Farm’s new venture, Harvest Delights, was introduced over the summer. Early in the summer, the farm stand began selling their own line of quick breads, muffins, cookies and brownies, all baked on the farm’s property, and all featuring Four Town Farm produce.
The farm, owned by the Clegg family, converted the kitchen of one of their family homes, and Jessica White is in charge of all the baking, doing so in addition to her full-time job off of the farm.
Flavors are inventive as they utilize the produce that is in season on the farm, so you may find parsnip-blueberry muffins during blueberry season, various squash breads, raspberry brownies and corn bread using Four Town Farm’s famous sweet corn.
Prices range from $1.75 for individual serving sizes of quick breads and cookies to $7 for pies, and the bakery items are available for purchase every day at the farm stand. 90 George Street, Seekonk. 508-336-5587.
Aspiring food entrepreneurs finally have an incubator space in Rhode Island. After years of planning and fundraising, the non-profit organization Hope & Main Culinary Business Incubator has purchased the former Main Street School building from the Town of Warren, and is renovating the space and accepting applications for new businesses interested in utilizing the space and the organization’s resources.
“We’re not just giving people a kitchen and turning them loose,” Hope & Main founder and president Lisa Raiola says. “We’re helping them and guiding them through business planning, financing, and licensing. We know that making a successful business is more than just having a great recipe or a catchy idea.” To that end, incubees will have access to the facility’s kitchen space, storage and business center, guidance on developing a business plan, secur- ing licensing and following regulations, and training on Hope & Main’s equipment, as well as the support of mentors in the food industry.
“The board is made up of really great people. They’re in the business, and they want to help other people succeed at it,” Raiola says. “This is what they want to do. They want to mentor.”
The build-out of the space includes three commercial kitchens, one of which is gluten-free, a business center, shipping and receiving area, a demo kitchen and a 2,000 square foot community room for events and seminars. These resources, along with Hope & Main’s mentor programs, will help the program meet its goal of graduating new businesses into the community once they’ve met goals that they’ve set in their business plans. 691 Main Street, Warren. 401-297-7294.
Local and national celebrity chefs will descend upon Newport this September 20-22 for the 8th Annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, which will be held at Rosecliff, The Elms and Marble House.
Headlining the Grand Tastings are Alexandra Guarnaschelli, Food Network star and executive chef of Butter Restaurant and The Darby in New York City, and Chef Michel Richard, whose Central Michel Richard in Washington, D.C. won the 2008 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in the United States. The Las Vegas outpost of Central Michel Richard is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and he recently added a Central Michel Richard location at the resort, Revel, in Atlantic City.
Local chefs such as Champe Speidel of Persimmon, Jake Rojas of Newport’s Tallulah on Thames, and Castle Hill Inn’s executive chef, Karsten Hart, will appear along with local authors, including Karen Covey, author of The Coastal Table, a book celebrating the cuisine of the South Coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The festival opens with a gala event held at Rosecliff featuring fine wines and ocean views. The Grand Tasting at the Marble House spans two days, and the festival closes with a Collectible Wine Dinner at The Elms, during which guests will taste and learn about an assortment of rare, collectible wines while enjoying a fine dining experience. For those interested in expanding their knowledge of wine, there will be wine seminars held daily, with topics ranging from Wine 101 to Whiskey Camp to Fresh, Aged, and Textured – Italian Cheese UNCENSORED! All wine seminars are $40.
On Saturday night, mingle with the stars of the weekend at the festival’s Newport After Dark Party, held from 9pm-12am at Forty 1° North, where you’ll be able to enjoy wines from Sakonnet Vineyards, appetizers and an assortment of libations, all for $65 per person when purchased in advance, or $85 at the door. 401-847-1000.
We love the East Bay Bike Path. With scenic views, a level trail and so many great stops along the way, how could you not be in love with this local gem? It seems we are not alone in that feeling. The folks at Blount Clam Shack & Blount Market also have a passion for the trail and here's why...
"It brings the community together and promotes wellbeing and family bonding." -Hazel Baldwin-Krest
"I like to ride my skateboard to Del's with my friends on really hot days." -Steven Anagnostos
"The bike path in Bristol is right on the water and leads into a lot of great restaurants, bars and shops. Perfect for summer!" -Kelly Zimmerman
"Training for the Avon two-day breast cancer walk this past spring, our team here from the Blount Market spent countless hours walking and training on the bike path, enjoying each other's company while taking in the beautiful scenery along the way" -Carrie Anagnostos
"As an avid byciclist I often do the ride from Providence to Bristol and love the view along the way" -Patty Osbourne
"Having two small children, the bike path is a great place to be in the outdoors as a family and enjoy all of the beautiful nature that surrounds us. I use it as an opportunity to teach my children anything from the trees and leaves, to stopping at the ponds along the way to feed the ducks, not to mention promoting healthy exercise and enjoying the things that God created for us" -Rachael Girard
Feel the same way about the path? Share it with us! Leave comments of your favorite bike path places and memories so others can enjoy them too. More
After attending school and living in Providence for the past three years, I had the opportunity to go on an Experience Rhode Island tour of our beautiful capital city. My very knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide Jon Stricklin explained to me that he sometimes prefers giving tours to locals rather then visitors, since so many Rhode Islanders don’t realize how much history our state has to offer. Here’s my photographic account of my experience along the tour:
Our tour departed from Visitor’s Information center at the RI Convention Center located downtown. Jon began our tour with some interesting facts about the size of our state. Obviously, I knew Rhode Island was the smallest state in the country, but I didn’t know that King Ranch located in south Texas is about 1,800 square miles larger than our beloved Ocean State and Rhode Island is only about half the size of Delaware.
The tour continued on to Farm Hill or, to us 21st century folk, Federal Hill and proceeded through downtown.
We drove past the steps of City Hall where a pre-presidential John F. Kennedy once stood and gave a speech to the people of Providence – hence Kennedy Plaza.
We went down Westminster Street past Johnson and Wales University and found ourselves in India Point Park, once a crucial spot for maritime trade.
Our tour continued to Wayland Square, where we had the chance to stop at one of the most popular new cafes in Providence, Teas and Javas. I recommend the mixed berry gelato – delicious!
After our break we continued to Blackstone Boulevard and learned about the five Brown Brothers – who surprisingly didn’t start Brown University. Originally located in Warren, and called the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Brown University moved to its current spot on College Hill in 1770 and was renamed in 1804 after Nicholas Brown, one … More
1. It’s been reported that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has invested $21.2 million into the Washington Bridge construction project on the bike path.
2. The original petition developed to persuade officials to allow bike path construction included over 4,200 signatures.
3. The East Coast Greenway is currently trying to create a 3,000-mile trail from Florida to Maine which would include the East Bay Bike Path.
4. The path is ten feet wide and mostly flat with the exception of one large hill in East Providence.
5. Crescent Park Carousel was designated a national landmark in March 1987.
6. The East Bay Bike Path is not plowed during the winter months, making it a great option for cross-country skiers.
7. The salt-water ponds on the east side of the path and wooden bridges crossing between Barrington and Warren are local favorite fishing spots.
8. The bike path was constructed in four phases.
9. Roger Williams canoed along what is now the India Point Park shoreline.
10. Colt State Park has over 400 picnic tables.
11.The name of the bull statues that guard the gate at Colt State Park are Conrad and Pomeroy
12. The path is used by over a million people annually More
Wednesday night was Federal Hill Pizza’s first (we hope of many) wine and food pairings and learning never tasted so good. Guest instructor Steve Krohn of Somerset Wine School (by Somerset Liquors) explained the six different Italian wines as they complemented each course and gave a bit of a background about the region, varietal, producer and method used to create each wine.
The best part of the instruction was that it was casual. It felt more like a conversation than a lesson. Often with wine classes you feel like you need to be a sommelier to even understand the lingo, but Steve and his company made us all feel completely comfortable and we definitely learned a lot. For instance, did you know the term passamento refers to an intense and elongated drying process which gives grapes a deeper, richer flavor? Well, I didn’t either, but now I do and I’m glad it exists because the Pinot Grigio/Verduzzo we tasted from the Venezia region was unlike any white wine I’ve ever tasted – and I’ve got passamento to thank for that.
Chef Billy Manzo of Federal Hill Pizza was responsible for the food portion of the pairing, and it certainly didn’t seem like his first time doing so. Each course was delicious as a stand-alone dish, but paired with the wines became elevated to a whole new level. The food was served family style with big platters at each table. It was the perfect environment to meet some new people and enjoy a family meal away from home. The dinner was bookended with a Sicilian Orange Salad to start, which was bright and clean, and Italian Doughboys to close, which were infused with orange sugar and lick-your-plate good. A fan favorite at our table was the “Poor Man’s Meatball Sandwich” which came open faced on sliced Italian bread with two huge meatballs and a marinara sauce that had been simmered with pancetta. Paired with a Sangiovese wine from Tuscany, the dish became a meal on its own.
We knew … More
Ah, Rhode Island: Over the past decade, our tiny, exclusive sanctuary of a state has developed a serious problem with "self-esteem," as the Rhode Island Foundation describes it, and they are dedicated to fixing that with Rhode Island: It's All In Our Backyard, a campaign showcasing and supporting the bounty which can be found right here in our… well, you get the point. Okay, we have unemployment – a lot of unemployment – but what poses a bigger problem to the morale of Rhode Island is that even through all of the economic growth, new start-ups and growing small businesses, there are still people – quite a few people – who manage to completely look past our triumphs and focus only on our hardships. To those people, I urge you to take a stroll through Providence’s art district or East Side, or Newport's Thames Street or Bellevue Avenue, taking in the idiosyncrasies of our one-of-a-kind restaurants, boutiques, wine shops, farms, cafes, bars, colleges, serene landscapes and antique architecture. Even the most pessimistic minds wouldn't deny that we are host to a vibrant community, spanning vast cultural gaps and showcasing some of the most innovative, artistic, ambitious minds in the country. This campaign will be advertising throughout the state as a way to re-connect our citizens with the local businesses and resources. The Rhode Island Foundation has partnered with Rhode Island based businesses, including farms, manufacturers, universities and more to help spread the word. The message that this campaign is trying to spread is that everything that we need really is right here in our backyard. More
The Blount family and their various namesake businesses – the clam shacks in Warren, East Providence, Providence and Fall River; the market in Warren; the company store in Fall River – go back generations in the East Bay, so it's no wonder that they would want to sponsor a blog about the East Bay Bike Path. However, the connection to the bike path goes deeper than just broad East Bay roots: there is also a very specific connection to a very specific place along the path.
Riders passing by Lombardi Park in Barrington may note one of several plaques along the way offering bits of bike path history. This one tells the story of the Blount Family and their connection to "Little Echo", as the adjacent pond is known. This flooded claypit was used by area residents as a source of ice since the 1800s, and in 1918 the Willis E. Blount Ice Company was founded on its banks to provide ice for the Blount Oyster Company in Warren. An ice house was built on the pond's west bank to store huge blocks of ice harvested from the frozen water.
Back in these days before in-home refrigeration, the ice was harvested during the colder months, when workers would actually go out onto the frozen surface with saws and cut thick blocks from it. Those blocks would then be pushed onto a conveyor belt and brought into the ice house where they were stacked in layers of sawdust. Believe it or not, in the right weather conditions that simple method could keep the blocks frozen well into the summer.
The ice from Little Echo would be packed into railroad cars to keep Blount Oysters chilled during transport. But Blount Ice was also available to home customers as well. Residents were provided with one-square-foot cards bearing the numbers 25, 50, 75 and 100. They would simply post the card in a front window with the number of pounds they wanted facing up, and the Blount Company would deliver it straight to their iceboxes. Think about that next time you take that ice maker in your … More
If you want to hear some great music and you want to feel good about doing it, come to the Venus de Milo in Swansea on August 2 for the Rock The Fight Against CHD (coronary heart disease) Four. Event coordinator and local musician Donnie Wilson is reuniting with his uncle Ed Violette as the acoustic duo Back-2-Back who rocked the southeastern Massachusetts area throughout the 90s. In 2009, Wilson’s son Jacob was born with a congenital heart defect, which inspired Wilson to record his album Sedated Echo in 2010. The doctors at Women and Infants Boston Children’s Hospital saved Jacob’s life and many other children with CHD, and served as the inspiration for his song “Super Hero Fantasy,” which is being used nationally in other CHD awareness efforts. Along with the Back-2-Back acoustic duo, the night will be hosted by comedienne and Somerset native Lizz Furtado and special guests include 16-year-old singer/songwriter Andrea LeClaire and comedian and fellow CHD dad, Tom Riles (who currently warms up the studio audience for the Ellen DeGeneres show). The night is sure to be a blast, and proceeds go to CHD awareness and research. Adults $25; under 18 $10. 6-10pm. 508-678-3901, 75 Grand Army Hwy, Swansea, MA. Reservations can be made online or by calling the Venus de Milo.
If you haven’t taken your chopper out on a summer joy ride yet, the 21st annual imPossible Dream Mystery Ride is the place to do it. The imPossible Dream Foundation for Chronically III Children is having their 21st annual motorcycle benefit ride, Sunday, August 4. imPossible Dream has no paid workers (volunteers only) and accepts donations only. Registration is $25 for drivers and $20 for passen- gers. The ride leaves at 12pm from East Warren Rod & Gun Club, 24 Long Lane, Warren, and ends at Scampi Restaurant, 657 Park Ave., Portsmouth. All money from the event goes directly towards bringing hundreds of children their impossible dream come true. Registration … More
When we think of the Massachusetts Bay Colony of 1630, we often recall puritanical first governor John Winthrop, whose famous “city upon a hill” speech urged the colony’s devout denizens to lead pious lives and set a religious example worthy of reforming the Church of England. With ports flourishing from its successful fishing commerce, however, it quickly became apparent that Massachusetts was as much built on cod as it was on God. Continue to pay tribute to the Bay State’s founding fish 400 years later by participating in the 6th annual 2013 Art Drive, which features the “Classic Cod” exhibit in Dartmouth and Westport. Join in a preview of the event on August 2 from 6-8pm at Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery, where art and fish enthusiasts can admire a school of four-foot long artist-decorated cod “swimming” around them on the green, all while enjoying live music from the Sunset Music Series. Food and drink will also be available for purchase. The preview will remain on display at the vineyard until August 3.
The Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society will also be hosting the beautiful fish on August 10-11, which will be available for bids on eBay through the Art Drive’s website. Best of all, your participation in these events will help preserve the cod’s watery home: 5-10 % of all sales will be donated to the Lloyd Center for the Environment, which helps educate the community on Mass’ natural environment.
Finally, during the Art Drive weekend (Aug 10-11), journey along the 15-mile long Open Studio Tour through the scenic coastal villages of Dartmouth and Westport to explore the work of 30 diverse and passionate artists. With the Art Drive’s wealth of paintings, ceramics, jewels and woodworks honoring Mass’s rich seafaring history and culture, there’s no doubt they’ll have you hooked. August 10-11, 10am-5pm. More
The rolling fields and lush green grass of Westport Vineyards provide the perfect backdrop for Westport Rivers Vineyard’s weekly outdoor concert series. The Sunset Music Series takes place each Friday night as the sun sets over the pastoral grounds. Bring a blanket, chairs and a corkscrew – wine, beer and local food is served for a fee. You can also choose to bring your own food to the picnic style concert event; just be aware that you can’t bring booze. But with all that delicious wine on hand why would you ever want to? August 2-30. $10 per carload. 6-8pm. 417 Hixbridge Road, Westport, MA. 508-636-3423.