The British Are Coming
A new restaurant is open on State Street in Bristol. The British Beer Company, a local chain with a dozen or so locations throughout Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts, is set to open in the old location of The Anchor (29 State Street). BBC serves good quality pub food with some authentically English flair. When they open sometime in February or March, make sure to try the Guinness Stout Onion Soup, Bangers and Mash or their Pasty Pies.
That's Cheesy
The owners of Tortilla Flats in Providence have taken over The Cheese Plate (54 State Street, Warren). Stay tuned for more developments.
Get In the Spirit
The Newport Restaurant Group has two unmissable special dinners coming up this month. On February 9, 22 Bowen’s Wharf is hosting a Pacific Northwest Wine Dinner. The four-course dinner will be paired with wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Erath, Col Solare, Northstar and Snoqualmie wineries, and a winemaker from Chateau Ste. Michelle will be there to discuss the pairings. Then, on February 21 and 22, The Mooring will be hosing a Samuel Adams Beer Dinner, when a brewmaster from Sam Adams will pair their beers with a four-course meal.More
The folks at DeWolf Tavern are busy preparing for their Brunch for Babies event on June 3. Their waterfront deck will play host to this 2nd annual event, which raises money for the March of Dimes. Enjoy a brunch buffet, a cocktail and juice bar, a silent auction and beautiful scenery. Tickets are $25; all proceeds go to the organization whose mission is to help expecting moms to full-term pregnancy and research the problems that threaten the health of babies.More
Bill Pinelli’s Pinelli’s Express, located inside Seekonk Speedway on Route 6 in Seekonk, has just opened for the season. They will serve a select menu of Pinelli’s famous Italian specialties such as sandwiches, pizzas and calzones. Many of the dishes at Pinelli’s Express are based on the menu at B. Pinelli’s Simply Italian in East Providence, and Pinelli’s Café and Deli in West Warwick.More
The staff in our office has always been largely female (roughly a 3:1 ratio) and while that has mostly been for the good, we always knew it might come back to haunt us one day. That day has come. Shine America, the production company behind critically acclaimed scripted shows (The Office, Ugly Betty), reality TV hits (The Biggest Loser, Nashville Star) and, well, other things (MTV's Date My Mom, that short-lived American Gladiators reboot), is now looking to the biggest little for its latest reality TV inspiration. They're currently seeking male business owners for what is sure to be the thinking guido's answer to Jersey Shore: the soon-to-be-a-pop-culture-phenomenon Rhode Island Boys. According to the casting call, Shine America "has a fascination with Rhode Island's small businesses," and they're looking for male-owned businesses with predominantly male employees — which means our moment in the harsh, unflattering spotlight of reality TV will have to wait. However, we promise the fine folks at Shine America that if they'll reconsider maybe doing Rhode Island Boys and Girls, we'll deliver all the cussing, petty infighting, drunken tantrums, on-camera meltdowns and delusions of self-importance they could ever possibly hope for. In the meantime, if you think your business fits the bill, contact LDI Casting for more details.More
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon where the chill of winter was finally starting to wear off. I had cabin fever, and the only prescription was sunshine and a walk in the woods. I chose Fort Barton.
This is why you must go to Fort Barton. It is has fabulous views of Narragansett Bay including the Sakonnet River — which isn't actually a river but a tidal strait — and Mount Hope Bay. You can also see the Mount Hope Bridge in the background.
A few logistical things first: Parking is on the street across the Town Hall and is free. The location is a bit confusing so aim for the Town Hall. The hardest part of the trail is the steep incline going from the street to the trails.
After the initial steep incline from the street, the hiker will face a series of up and down inclines with steps as you make your way to the trails. I find the ups and downs interesting and a good workout. The novice will find it a safe challenge. Once you reach the trailhead, you have a few options of where you would like to hike. (For trail map click here.) With my brother and sister-in-law in tow, we decided to hike the entirety of the Red Trail. Fort Barton has a total 3 miles of trails; I think that the Red Trail takes up about 2.5 miles of that.
We start by walking over a few wooden bridges with streams gently flowing underneath. Hiking in the woods is my zen moment. Its also the perfect time of year to appreciate the little buds starting to form on the trees and shrubs. Everything is about to wake up and you are there just as it's about to happen.
Beautiful rock formations, moss, and blue sky.
Lovely stream flowing near the Red Trail
Throughout the hike we see a few families — obviously this is a kid friendly place — a few dogs and a few solo hikers. Personally I have hiked this place many times and have always felt safe. My only warning is about the easternmost end of the Red Trail, where the signs get a bit confusing to the point where we went off …More
Sarah Schumann doesn't fit the stereotypical image of a commercial fisher: she's a woman, first off, with a master’s degree in Environmental Policy. As she explains in this month's So Rhode Island cover story, her goal is to make the ecosystem a more stable and sustainable environment for people and fish to exist co-dependently.
Schumann now has the opportunity to spread her message even further than her base here in Rhode Island, now that she's earned a TogetherGreen Fellowship award from Toyota and the National Audubon Society. The Fellowship was launched in 2008 to encourage diverse environmental leadership and fund innovative conservation projects and ideas. The TogetherGreen Fellowship gives 40 local leaders $10,000 to help engage a wider audience in environmental conservation, which works well with Schuman’s mission to involve and educate fisherman and their customers about the ecosystems from which their seafood is sourced.
Her project, Eating With the Ecosystem, is a culinary tour of the native species from the fishing areas around New England, with a marine scientist and local fisherman explaining the ecological context behind each item on the plate. The next part of this dinner series will take place at Cook & Brown Public House in Providence on September 10, with a focus on the seafood native to Southern New England. Buy tickets here.More
Beauty Bar at New Leaf Hair Studio recently launched FACE time, which is a private makeup sesh with up to four friends and makeup artist Danielle Crugnale. I was invited to show up with some friends for the ultimate girls afternoon. During the beautification process Danielle taught us some awesome tips about figuring out the right shade for your skin, how to take a daytime look to nighttime, and the secret to that flawless airbrushed look. It’s the perfect treat for you and your besties before a night out, special event, or even just because. FACE time can also be booked for networking events. As if an afternoon of pampering isn’t enough, the host walks away with a SWAG bag full of amazing products – so hurry up and book FACE time for the ladies… before one of them beats you to it!More
2012 will be a year to remember, as the town of Seekonk celebrates its 200th anniversary with a slew of monthly celebrations to include a ball, a parade, barbeques, “birthday bashes” and musical performances. The exciting events will take place at various venues around town throughout the year. The town will be selling bicentennial merchandise such as baseball hats, magnets, T-shirts and a special 2012 calendar filled with photos of historic Seekonk. Once home to the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe, the town of Seekonk was incorporated in 1812 after break- ing away from the eastern part of Rehoboth, almost 40 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In 1861, a large chunk of the town was allocated to Rhode Island in order to resolve a border dispute with Massachusetts.
Highlighting the year’s festivities are the Kiwanis Annual Taste of the Town event at the Johnson & Wales Inn in February, the Seaconke Wampanoag Annual Pow Wow on Rehoboth’s Redway Plain in September and holiday house tours sponsored by the Seekonk Historical Commission throughout November. Don’t forget to also check out the annual Memorial Day parade, which will feature special floats and period dress. More information can be found on the Seekonk town website or download the full schedule below.More
Those who want to learn a thing or two about hip-hop dance would do well to go to the source: New York City. However, this Sunday only, a bit of NYC will come to do. Just Dance! studio in Warren will host a two-hour workshop from 11:30am-1pm on April 1 with professional hip-hop choreographer Dister Rondon, who has worked with singer Fantasia and choreographed ads for Apple, Verizon and the Gap. It's a rare opportunity to learn a unique dance form from a working professional in a fun, low-pressure environment; dancers of any skill level are welcome, and no one is expected to be able to master the moves in one day. Rondon only asks that students "show respect for the culture and be willing to participate when and if they feel comfortable." Students will also be learning for a good cause: of the $45 sign-up fee, $10 goes to support the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Space is limited, so call 401-486-4478 or email swinn11@cox.net to sign up today.
See footage of Rondon at work here:
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