In today’s world of ubiquitous smart phones and mobile computing, we’ve almost arrived at a point where it’s not real until there’s an app for it. In fact, we’re almost certain that some programmer somewhere is working on an app to determine if a tree falling in the woods makes a sound when no one’s there to hear it. Smart phones are ingrained into so many aspects of our lives, and outdoor activity is no difference. We’re strapping them to our arms and using them to listen to music, track our mileage, measure the calories we burn and 100 other things. We’ve rounded up a list of apps specific to the cyclist that you may find useful.
For Troubleshooting
Bike Doctor bills itself as “your personal pocket bike mechanic.” If you run into trouble on the go, simply open the app and tap the part of your bike that’s causing you problems to find detailed instructions on how to fix it. You can also preempt problems by reading the handy guides to things like avoiding common maintenance errors and preventing tire punctures. Available for Apple and Android devices. $4.99
With 64 repair tutorials and 85 troubleshooting problems/solutions, Bike Repair will help you keep moving. You can also use it to track the maintenance history of your own bike and get alerts on when you’re due for service. Need a new part? Bike Repair will compare prices across 13 online retailers for you. Available for Apple and Android devices. $3.99
For Tracking Your Ride
We have a friend who says your ride doesn’t count as “real” unless someone you know sees you. Well, in case you don’t cross paths with any familiar faces, BikeBrain will track all the proof you need for the folks back home. The GPS-enabled app logs speed, distance, altitude, elapsed time and much more data – and the customizable interface will only display the stats that are important to you. It also allows you to take photos … More
June 21-July 3: Bristol Fourth of July Concert Series
Rolling out a weeks-long musical fete in Independence Park, Bristol is hosting its concert series in the celebratory spirit of our patriotic holiday. Featuring acts like acoustic/electric trio Rendition to Journey cover band Scarab, audiences can expect one to two acts every day. Free.
June 23: Firemen’s Field Day
Come watch volunteer firefighters battle it out in a variety of competitive and fun challenges, including the famous “Water Battle,” at Guiteras Elementary School. Bring your game face! Free, 1pm.
June 23: Interfaith Service
Rotated amongst local religious organizations, the Interfaith Service is sure to provide everyone in the community with a chance to be represented in their faith. Come see who is this year’s chosen Interfaith Speaker!
June 26: 27th Annual Fourth of July Foot Races
Strut your stuff at the annual foot races with a one-mile race for children ages 3-12, and the two-mile race with no age restrictions. Prizes and trophies will be awarded, and refreshments provided. Free. Registration 5:15pm in front of the Courthouse. All participants receive tickets to following day carnival.
June 27-July 4: Rockwell Amusements Carnival
Nothing quite screams “America” like a good old fashioned carnival. Bring the kids and enjoy rides, games, and some of that irresistible carnival popcorn and cotton candy on the Bristol Town Common. See website for times.
June 29: Bristol Fourth of July Ball
Enjoy one of the last days in June with a touch of elegance at the beautiful Herreshoff Marine Museum overlooking the Bristol Harbor. Promising dinner by Blue Rocks Catering, and music by Plaid Daddy, this night of sophistication begins with cocktails at 5:30pm. $85 per person, 5:30-11pm. Valet parking available
July 3: Drum & Bugle Corps Competition Summer Music Preview
Offering up talent from Drum and Bugle Corps from the US and … More
We love cycling along the East Bay Bike Path for all the obvious health reasons: improved cardiovascular fitness, toning and building muscles, burning calories, increased lifespan, blah blah blah. But see, we recognize that a little indulgence is as important to living a good, full life as physical fitness, which is why we relish any opportunity to combine both. That’s why we love using the bike path to travel to some of our favorite restaurants: we can enjoy the meal guilt free, knowing that we got a good workout on the way there and we’ll have a chance to work off more of it on the way home.
With that in mind, we were triple excited to find out about Blount Clam Shack’s new trivia night, which runs Tuesdays from 5-7pm beginning June 18. It combines three of our favorite things: a solid bike path workout, fresh local seafood, and the chance to prove we’re smarter than everyone else. An easy jaunt off the path in Warren will take you to Blount’s beautiful waterfront location (335 Water St.), where you can enjoy dinner under the tent and take your best shot at trivia. Feel free to stay for just a few questions or the whole two hours. Correct answers can win you tokens to use on your next meal at Blount. Plus, they’ll be offering specials like “Beer & Cakes”: a half-dozen clam cakes, a bowl of chowder and a Narragansett Tall Boy for only $11.99. Just be responsible, which means no more than one beer if you’re riding (you wouldn’t want to have to burn off extra calories anyway), and remember that the bike path officially closes at sunset. More
If you haven’t heard already, thanks to the folks at Blount Clam Shack, we are giving away a brand new bike on our Facebook page this month. To enter, all you have to do is like us on Facebook and tell us your favorite thing about the bike path. One lucky commenter will win a $300 gift card to BikeWorks on July 1.
This got us thinking, what type of bike would our winner pick? There are so many options out there and the purchase can be a confusing one. We want the win to be exciting, not daunting, so we put together a guide on how to choose the right bike.
The First question you have to ask yourself is what kind of bike is right for you? Things have come a long way since your training wheel days. Today there are bikes that are specific to different terrains and activities and it is important to determine how you will use yours. Here is a very basic breakdown of bike types and purposes:
Road Bikes: These lightweight bikes feature skinny tires and curved handlebars. They are designed for speed and used on paved terrain. Road bike riders sit bent forward during their ride. These bikes are typically good for racers and commuters.
Mountain Bikes: This style of bike is typically used for rugged terrain. They are built with a heavier frame, straight handlebars and wide tires with treads for durability. If you like to bike off-trails and on dirt paths and hills this is your best option.
Hybrid Bikes: The hybrid model is a compromise between road and mountain bikes. They have thinner tires like road bikes for speed but a more upright position and straight handle bars like the mountain bike. If you bike for a variety of reasons on various terrains this may be your most practical option. These are great for folks who are mostly riding on streets and bike paths.
Cruisers: Cruisers are built for comfort. These bikes have wide tires, wide seats and riders sit in an upright position. They are best on flat terrain for leisurely biking –think pedaling … More
Welcome to the launch of our new blog, "The Bike Lane," which we'll be using all summer long to talk about the East Bay Bike Path and all it adds to our communities. This coincides with the publication of our second annual Guide to the East Bay Bike Path, which is inserted into the June issue of The Bay. Be sure to pick up your copy before they're gone! Inside, you'll find useful information about the bike path and the parks it runs through, news about further development of Rhode Island's bike path network, events you can ride to throughout the summer, a handy map and more.
From now through Labor Day, we'll also be adding to the discussion with this blog. We'll be talking about fun explorations along the path, must-see sights, expert advice on biking, outdoor events – even summer foods to pack for your ride. We'll also be engaging with your on social media and giving away a free bike. The good folks at Blount Clam Shack are sponsoring our contest in which you can win a $300 gift card to BikeWorks in Swansea. All you have to do is like us on Facebook, and tell us your favorite thing about the bike path. One lucky commenter will win the bike in a drawing on July 1. Now get out there and ride... More
The Little Compton Garden Club, formed in 1924, invites the public to Country Gardens of Little Compton and Westport, a Tour of Eight Gardens. In addition to gaining access to some of the most enchanting local gardens, the intimate event includes a box lunch at scenic Wynfield Farm of Westport. All participants are entered into a raffle to win a six-panel needlepoint rug with a sunflower motif. Proceeds will go towards the Sakonnet Preservation Association and the Westport Land Conservation Trust as well as area beautification projects and scholarships. Purchase your ticket today online or at Partners Village Store, Milk and Honey or the Little Compton Community Center. June 12. $45. 10am-4pm. More
Every Saturday you can Wake Up in the Barnyard with Coggeshall Farm. Costumed interpreters will guide participants through morning chores while teaching about farm life in 18th Century Rhode Island. Children can hunt for eggs, brush cows and feed turkeys before helping to cook traditional Jonnycakes on the hearth of a 1790s farmhouse. Visitors are asked to dress for a morning in the barnyard... leave the new sneakers at home. $7 member adults, $10 non-member adults; $5 member seniors and children 3-12; $6 non-member seniors and children. June 1-29 at 9am. 1 Coggeshall Farm Road, Bristol. 401-253-9062. More
It’s that time of year again. The Fourth of July is almost here, and there is no better way to celebrate its coming than with Bristol’s 4th of July festivities. Here are some June events to help you get a head start on the holiday:
Cultural Night, June 1: Held at Jacky’s Galaxie at 6:30pm, enjoy classic Doo-Wop, refresh with snacks and enter raffles. $18 donation requested.
64th Orange Crate Derby, June 9: This double-elimination race will be held at Bayview Avenue.
Foot Races, June 26: Includes a one-mile race for children and a two-mile race for all ages around the Town Common.
Carnival, June 27-July 4: Offering old-fashioned fun at the Town Common.
4th of July Ball, June 29: Located in the Herreshoff Marine Museum at the Herreshoff Tent. Cocktail hour at 5:30pm. Dinner at 7pm. More
Head to the grand Rosecliff mansion for the 18th Annual Newport Flower Show (June 21-23), a Far East-themed weekend of all things exotic and beautiful. Benefitting the Preservation Society of Newport County, the festivities will kick off with an Opening Night Party on Friday from 6-9pm with a cocktail buffet, seaside supper, live music and dancing. The show continues with floral exhibits, garden design and children’s programming, in the mansion and on its grounds. And don’t forget to browse the Gardeners’ Marketplace to shop for specialty plants, flowers and accessories. 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport. 401-847-1000. More
Ingredients:
6-8 fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice
2-3 oz. bourbon
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. water
Directions:
1. Muddle mint leaves, sugar and water in a glass.
2. Fill glass with crushed ice.
3. Pour in bourbon.
4. Garnish with a sprig of mint
Enjoy. More
Mother’s Day only comes once a year, so make sure to stop by the historic Tiverton Four Corners during their Spring Nestival to snag a perfect gift with surprise deals. During Mother’s Day Weekend, on May 11 and 12, shoppers can pay $1 to receive a prize-filled egg containing a coupon to one of the Four Corners shops. Some of the offers include a coupon for a free item or a percentage off of your purchase.
After the success of their Balloon Bash event back in October of last year, the Four Corners is bringing the event back with a new theme. “We did an event last fall and we had balloons with coupons inside of them. This time we’re doing eggs to go with the spring theme,” says Kristin Silveiraof Sakonnet Farm, located within the Four Corners. Some of the participating retailers are Milk & Honey Bazaar, Tiffany Peay Jewelry, Katherine Lovell Studio & Gallery, Sakonnet Farms, Courtyards and Gallery 4.
The Nestival is the perfect celebration of spring, and a great day to grab a gift for Mom or to enjoy a fun day of shopping with her. “The weather should be nice and people will be able to walk around the village,” says Silveira. “It’s a great opportunity to find a nice gift.” Although the Nestival takes place on Mother’s Day Weekend, the event is open to all shoppers, so feel free to spoil yourself too. More
The East Bay Food Pantry is hosting the 5th annual Get Off Your CAN! 5K Run/ Walk to End Hunger on May 11. It is amazing what you can do to help just by walking down the block. Registration is $25, which can buy 250lbs of food for those in need. The race is located at Colt State Park in Bristol and ends at the Bristol Town Beach. Even if you are not able to attend, any donation helps. Early registration at the Bristol Town Beach Pavilion ends on April 25 for $25 or $30 for the day of the run. Join with your family and friends to raise money for this local organization. Sponsors are always a benefit if you wish to raise more money for such an exceptional charity. The race is made possible by the USA Track & Field and medals will be awarded for the top female and male runners. More
Bed and breakfasts aren’t just about quaint accommodations – they’re about delicious food, too. Eleonora Rezek of Seekonk’s Jacob Hill Inn shared her famous stuffed French toast recipe with us.
Ingredients:
1 tsp butter
2 eggs
1/8 c milk
½ tsp vanilla
6 slices Cinnamon Swirl bread
1/2c cream cheese, room temperature
3 Tbsp orange marmalade
powdered sugar
Garnishes: orange slices and parsley
Optional: bacon or sausages cooked, maple syrup
Directions:
1. Spread three slices of bread with the softened cream cheese.
2. Spread the other three slices of bread with about a tbsp. of orange marmalade each.
3. Put together bread slices: one with cream cheese, and one with marmalade, like a sandwich.
4. Melt a tsp. of butter on a non-stick fry pan or electric griddle set at 300 degrees or medium heat.
5. Break the eggs into your bowl, and add a splash of milk and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
6. Dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture and lay on the griddle or pan. Brown each side, flipping with the spatula.
7. Cut on the diagonal and arrange three pieces on each plate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and add a garnish. Serve with sausages or bacon and maple syrup if needed. More
Ingredients:
(Serves 6)
Cooking spray
1 1/2 tbsp dry breadcrumbs
1 bag baby spinach
2/3 c milk
2 tbsp all purpose flour
salt
pepper
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c parmesan cheese, grated
2 large egg yolks (room temperature)
4 large egg whites (room temperature)
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
Directions:
1. preheat oven to 425F. place baking sheet in oven.
2. Spray six ounce ramekins with spray and coat with
bread crumbs. pour out excess.
3. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Coatpan with spray and add spinach. Cook until spinach wilts. Remove from heat. place spinach in colander and let cool. Squeeze excess liquid from spinach and chop.
4. Combine milk, flour and a dash of salt and pepper in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to remove lumps. Cook for two minutes until mixture thickens and is bubbly. Spoon into a large bowl and let stand for ten minutes. Stir in spinach, cheese and egg yolks. Set aside.
5. Combine egg whites and cream of tartar in mixing bowl. Beat at high speed until medium peaks form. do not over beat. gently stir 1/4 of egg whites into spinach mixture just to bring together and lighten up mixture. Fold in remaining egg whites.
6. gently spoon mixture into breadcrumb-coated rame- kins. Sharply tap on counter 2-3 times to level. please ramekins in oven on baking sheet. immediately reduce heat to 350F. Bake for 21 minutes, until soufflés are puffed up and golden. do not open the oven door while cooking. Serve immediately. More
It’s back! The towns of Bristol and Warren are hosting ART Nights again until the end of October. On the last Thursday of every month from 5-9pm visit the studios of artists and get inspired. The art studios in Bristol and Warren are charming and vibrant so do not pass up this VIP way to experience the work of local artists. There is a free trolley service that will be running between the galleries at the time of the events. If you are in walking distance from these areas we suggest taking a stroll down the streets: the galleries and restaurants will be offering specials. Start at the Bristol Plaza on the corner of Gooding Avenue and Hope Street or from any ART Night venue. The next ART Night will be on May 30, so if you missed the last one head down to this months because it is sure to be exceptional. More
I’ve been writing about food, restaurants and chefs for SO Rhode Island since this magazine made its debut in September 2007, and since 1998 for its parent company which also publishes Providence Monthly and The Bay. I figure I’ve written hundreds of articles and restaurant reviews during my career as a food writer, which began in 1983. During that time I’ve also written several books about Rhode Island, its wonderful restaurant scene and its many talented home cooks.
It has been a dream job, but now it’s time to slow down a bit, and this is my final column for SO Rhode Island. I’m giving up almost all aspects of my career as of this month. The only thing I’ll be doing from now on is writing cookbooks and restaurant guides. That will keep me more than busy.
In 2006 I wrote The Providence and Rhode Island Cookbook, which was published by Globe Pequot Press. Last year, my publisher asked me to update the book, and The Providence and Rhode Island Cookbook, Second Edition came out a few months ago. The 292-page book has been totally updated and now features 30 new recipes from some of the hottest restaurants in the area. The second edition also features new color photography that illustrates how beautiful our state is, and how appealing our delicious food is – from arancini to zeppoles.
The book contains more than 200 recipes that are unique to Rhode Island, especially from the southern part of the state. I write about our beloved johnnycakes, the thin variety from Newport County and the thicker version found in South County. I sing the praises of Allie’s Donuts, Block Island doughnuts, May breakfasts and the breakfast sandwich favored by local sportfishermen.
And then there’s our amazing seafood – real Rhode Island chowder with its clear broth, the red clam chowder we enjoyed at Rocky Point and the creamy scallop chowder from The Mooring Restaurant in Newport. So many of my favorite recipes are in … More
On Tuesday, May 14, join DeWolf Tavern’s Chef Sai Viswanath and Sous Chef Jennifer Chapman for a vegetarian cooking class. An assortment of dishes will be paired with wines from Jonathan Edwards Winery and Newport Vineyards, as well as a Blackberry and Cucumber Collins (see recipe below). Class begins at 6:30pm. $55 per person, limited to 25 people. DeWolf Tavern, 259 Thames Street, Bristol. To reserve a spot, call 401-254-2005. For additional information, visit www.dewolftavern.com.
Blackberry and Cucumber Collins
Ingredients:
1.5 ounces Sky Ginger Vodka
.5 ounces Fresh lime juice
.5 ounces simple syrup
1 ounce of Gingerbeer
4 thin slices of cucumber
4 Blackberries cut in ½
Method:
1. Fill a Shaker with ice ¾ way full. Add first 4 ingredients and shake.
2. In a Collins glass or large tumbler; Add cucumber slices and berries.
3. Pour the drink over the cucumber and berries, add two sip straws and enjoy! More
The first EatDrinkRI Festival kicks off April 19-21, showcasing the best and brightest of the local culinary scene. The Sunday morning Grand Brunch features some of the area's best chefs, including James Mark from north, Jonathan Cambra from Tiverton's Boat House and Melissa Denmark and Danielle Lowe from Ellie's Bakery. Here, they share the recipe for their blue cheese and walnut scone.
1. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or fork work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture appears sandy and the pieces of butter are slightly smaller than a pea.
2. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, mix in the blue cheese and walnuts.
3. Slowly add the heavy cream. Fold everything together until the ingredients are almost fully combined. Be careful not to over mix, as this is what causes tough and chewy scones.
4. Remove the mixture from the bowl and place on a floured surface. Roll the dough into a rectangle (about 10” x 20”). Fold the left side into the center, and then fold the right side on top, like folding a letter to fit in an envelope. This is called a tri-fold.
5. Roll the folded dough out again to the same size rectangle and repeat the folding two more times. This technique is what creates flaky layers.
6. Once you have done three tri-folds, roll the dough to the same size rectangle and place onto a sheet pan and put in the freezer for 1 hour.
7. Once the dough is very cold and stiff, you can cut the scones into desired shapes. Use a knife to cut scones into squares or triangles, or use a circle cutter to make round scones.
8. Place onto a parchment lined sheet pan. Brush each scone with egg wash and a small pinch of sea salt. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom.
This scone from Ellie's Bakery, will be served at the EatDrinkRI Festival's Grand Brunch at the on Sunday, April 21. More
We have exciting news for girly girls everywhere: Barrington Books is hosting the premiere launch event for My Little Pony: Under The Sparkling Sea. The My Little Pony brand has been a childhood favorite since its inception in the early ‘80s. Little girls everywhere have followed the ponies’ tales through film, television, books and toys. This latest story line follows pony Twilight Sparkle as she visits the underwater city of Aquastria.
Award-winning illustrator and author Mary Jane Begin will be signing books at the premiere. There will also be face painting, My Little Pony prizes, and giveaways. The event is on Saturday, April 27 from 1-4pm. More