Newport Vineyards is brewing up something new: their inaugural Cider Festival that will take place Sunday, September 29, from 12-5 p.m. While of course “cider” is in the festival name, the celebration is open to all – drinking age or younger – who love fall. Live music will play all day from Straight Outta Rehab, […]
Ruthie Wood
Ruthie Wood is a recent graduate from Johns Hopkins University and burgeoning writer. As she works on her dreams of becoming a novelist, you can find her writing about Rhode Island living for What'sUpNewp. She has also written articles for Hey Rhody, Providence Monthly, The Bay, and SO Rhode Island magazines.
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What’s in Season: Red and green okra are in abundance at Anna D’s Backyard Farmer’s Market
Tucked behind Anna D’s Café – a staple in town for nearly twenty years – is Portsmouth’s very own farmer’s market. Of course, the town has roadside farm stands, some PYO’s, and CSA programs, but this is truly a collaborative effort between multiple farmers, producers, and makers who all come together and share a space […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Revive the Roots presents the fourth annual Rootstock festival in Smithfield
Revive the Roots, a nonprofit organization based in Smithfield, is dedicated to cultivating spaces where people and the environment thrive through sustainable practices, community building, and education. The organization stewards Mowry Commons, a unique 23-acre landscape that offers walking trails, sustainable agriculture fields, permaculture and pollinator gardens, and spaces to wash, store, and process the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Giant bamboo birds nest at Blithewold for one year
Rhode Island birders have already started recognizing the signs for the fall migration season. Some species who summered in the state are taking wing to the south, while other species are passing through on their journey from the borealis forests in Canada. Six birds, however, have made the trip from Massachusetts to over-winter and spend […]
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What’s in Season: White acorn squash makes its debut at Tockwotton Farm
September 22 is the first day of autumn this year, and already the days are cooler and nights require layers to ward off the chill. The shift in season also marks the transition from summer fruits and vegetables to autumnal bounties. It is about time to say goodbye to tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons, and welcome […]
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The Chanler at Cliff Walk celebrates Rhode Island cuisine with its second annual Harvest Dinner
The Chanler at Cliff Walk is Newport’s only mansion-turned-hotel to perch on the Cliff Walk, overlooking the bluffs, the Atlantic Ocean, and Aquidneck Island’s extensive coastline. The hotel is home to the restaurant Cara, a Forbes Five-Star fine dining experience. With its history, unique setting, and a team of world-class chefs, The Chanler is the […]
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Fall Visitors Day at West Place Animal Sanctuary showcases new friends and old success stories
An emu, two donkeys, and three cows are out in a pasture together. That may sound like the start of a dad joke, but at West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton, it’s simply reality. Near the barn, in other pastures, across the grounds, and in separate enclosures, there are also three peacocks, four guinea fowl, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The historic Newport Navy sex scandal of 1919 resurfaces in an immersive musical documentary experience
Newport, February 1919, Chief Machinist’s Mate Ervin Arnold is transferred to Naval Station Newport. Arnold has severe arthritis, and he almost immediately checks into the hospital for medical attention. There, he overhears snippets of a thriving underground subculture within the Navy: drinking, partying, drugs, cross-dressing, and queer sex. Enraged, Arnold “takes it upon himself to […]
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What’s in Season: In August, find eggplant, peppers, ground cherries, and donut peaches at the Jamestown Farmer’s Market
August 4-10 marked the 25th annual National Farmers Market Week. Marked by a proclamation by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) each year, National Farmers Market Week celebrates the role of local farms and farmers markets in the United States food system. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) acknowledged the celebratory […]
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Stories From The Garden: How the Maher Garden Center is reblooming into success
The roots Residents of Aquidneck Island may be familiar with the Maher Garden Center from their hand-made wreaths and Christmas trees. But the roots of the center run much deeper than the Christmas season. “The Maher Center itself started 76 years ago as a resource for parents with special needs kids,” Lynn Maher, the executive […]
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What’s in Season: Sweet corn and tomatoes from Fales Farm are classic end-of-summer staples
Crunchy, juicy, sweet, and acidic, corn and tomatoes are must-haves for a stocked summer pantry. Barbeque might come to mind first with this combination – thick slices of tomatoes stacked on a juicy burger, corn on the cob on the side. Corn cobs might be used in Cajun-style seafood boils, or, for those who have […]
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Aquidneck Land Trust to host a wild bee walk and talk at Spruce Acres on August 3
The Aquidneck Land Trust is hosting a walk and talk event at Spruce Acres Farm all about wild, native bees and other pollinators. The walk, which takes place on Saturday, August 3 at 10 a.m., will be led by Casey Johnson, a research associate at the University of Rhode Island Bee Lab. George Christie from […]
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Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, visits Newport and The Great Elephant Migration
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, made a trip to Rhode Island, in part to promote her latest novel A Most Intriguing Lady at the Ocean House in Watch Hill. The duchess made Newport a stop on her itinerary Thursday, July 25, to visit The Great Elephant Migration that has taken over parts of the Cliff […]
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Newport Classical closes out summer Music Festival series with pianist Lara Downes at The Breakers
Classical pianist Lara Downes returned to Newport to conclude the 55th Newport Classical Music Festival. The closing night concert took place at The Breakers on Sunday, July 21. Attendees who came for the finale of Newport Classical’s summer music series were treated to the glitz and glamor of Gilded Age architecture, expansive ocean views, and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
What’s in Season: Sweet and juicy blueberries are ready to eat at Almy-Thurston Farm in Portsmouth
Summer berries are iconic. Seen on commercials, social media posts, and countless other media forms, berries scream “summertime” with their vibrant colors and their fun, careless, pop-able eating style. They fit perfectly with coastal summer “vibes” and “aesthetics,” with buckets of berries being sauntered through fields and glass containers of fruit being placed on picnic […]
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What’s in Season: From bulbs to herbs to salad greens, Long Lane Farm in Warren offers a full summer bounty at their local farm stand
Traveling to farmer’s markets is an excellent way to support small, local farms while getting fresh, in-season produce. The bigger the farmer’s market, the larger the variety of fruits and vegetables available. But traveling to markets is not always feasible for everyone. Other ways to achieve the same results are signing up for CSA programs […]
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Two new restaurants and dining opportunities debut in Newport County, bringing a taste of European affairs to Rhode Island
Newport County in the summer is dazzling and luxurious – sailing, harbor cruises, beaches, shopping at boutiques, and al fresco dining are all on the itinerary. This summer, county residents have two new dining opportunities to enjoy, one in the heart of downtown Jamestown, the other perched over the iconic Cliff Walk. Locals can experience […]
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What’s in Season: Strawberries are ripe for picking at Quonset View Farm
The signs are up on East Main Road and scattered throughout Portsmouth: U Pick Strawberries. They seem to appear magically overnight, and for children in the public schools, it is the first sign that the school year is drawing to a close. In this way, you can literally taste summer. Leading traffic from sign to […]
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New small business, Newport Sailing Lessons, opens this summer
Aquidneck Islanders and Newport summer visitors alike will be delighted to discover new sailing opportunities out of Newport Harbor. Kate Richardson, a native Rhode Islander and U.S. Navy veteran, is now the proud small business owner of Newport Sailing Lessons. She runs the lessons out of her 1978 Pearson 30 sailboat, Hope, in Newport Harbor. […]
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Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation offers community sailing opportunities in Jamestown
New this summer, Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation (CISF) is offering community boating lessons and bay adventures geared towards adults. The foundation is traditionally involved in youth programming out of Fort Getty; STEM classes, coastal camps, youth sailing, and after-school programs all make up their robust offerings for Jamestown’s kids and teens. “There’s a really strong […]
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Newport’s Spring Park celebrates its grand opening
Newport’s new Spring Park celebrated its grand opening on June 1 with a gathering of Newport and Rhode Island officials, as well as committees and project managers that were involved with the site’s conception, design, and protection. The park is situated at the corner of Touro and Spring Street, in front of the Loeb Visitors […]
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Friends of Newport Skatepark celebrate groundbreaking ceremony for new Newport outdoor skatepark
It’s now official: construction has started on the Newport Public Skatepark at John Chaffee Boulevard. The Friends of Newport Skatepark (FONS) held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 31 at the active construction site. FONS and Newport officials gathered around to celebrate the beginning steps of building Rhode Island’s first modern skatepark. Credit: Ryan Slivinski / […]
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Rhode Island Slave History Medallions honors Juneteenth with programming and inaugural Black history walking tours in Newport
Rhode Island Slave History Medallions (RISHM) is hosting a free, family-friendly celebration of Juneteenth, the nation’s second independence day that marks the emancipation of all trafficked and enslaved people of African descent. Juneteenth is celebrated June 19 each year, but the RISHM event will be held Saturday, June 15 from 11 am to 4 pm […]
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Newport Historical Society unveils first-of-its-kind exhibit on the experiences of Black Newporters
After four long years of research and review, the Newport Historical Society (NHS) presents the exhibit “A Name, A Voice, A Life: The Black Newporters of the 17th-19th Centuries” on May 29 at 6 pm. The exhibit, located in the Historical Society, is free and open to the public through November 2024, but registration is […]
Posted inFood & Drink
What’s in Season: Memorial Day at Fishermen’s Memorial Farmer’s Market offers bee-utiful bounty
Memorial Day weekend is here, and for many, the long weekend is the first opportunity to kick-off the summer block party season. Outdoor cooking, cornhole, drinks, and friends are all on the menu for a fabulous time. For quick bites that appeal to all ages and tastes, something sweet and versatile should make an appearance […]