U.S. Senator for Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse was among an engaging and diverse group of international experts and change-makers who spoke Wednesday at the Ocean Race Summit, a virtual event broadcast from the Sail Newport facility. The event featured a curated line-up of panelists who shared their solutions and experiences around urgent issues related to […]
Sarah McClutchy
Posted inFood & Drink, News
Newport locals redefine fresh with Hoist & Crane Coffee
Back in March, we chatted with Newport residents Evan Carbotti and Ingrid Adolphs of Carbotti Experiences about the pandemic’s devastating impacts on the events industry. With their normally hectic schedule severely reduced, the husband and wife team got busy with a new project – a unique farm-to-consumer coffee company that’s redefining how fresh your cup […]
Posted inNews
10 ways to re-discover Rhode Island in August
This week’s news that neighboring states like Massachusetts and Connecticut added Rhode Island to their lists of states requiring a 14-day quarantine may have dashed some summer plans, but the bright side is that being stuck in the Ocean State during the month of August is that there are plenty of interesting and fun things […]
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More than 100 Rhode Islanders report receiving unsolicited seeds from China
Over the past several days the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has received reports from more than 100 Rhode Island residents who have received unsolicited packets of seeds from China, according to a press release sent by DEM today. DEM is working in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine […]
Posted inBusiness
Beauty industry veterans open new salon in Middletown
Now that you can make hair care appointments as part of the Phase 2 reopening, consider checking out a new local women-owned business that opened earlier this year – Kindred Hair + Beauty on East Main Road in Middletown. The salon, which began taking appointments again on June 4th, was opened by three partners who […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News
Onne van der Wal and family launch Pop-Up Dining Room to support local restaurants
Over the last 72 hours, Newport social media has been buzzing about The Pop-up Dining Room, a mobile dinner space launched by renowned nautical photographer Onne van der Wal and his family. The van der Wals’ innovative pop-up idea was borne out of a desire to support their favorite local restaurants during the pandemic as […]
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Two Newport locals ran 50+ miles around Aquidneck Island yesterday
On Sunday, in beautiful spring weather conditions, Newport residents Adrian Massie and Sandy Spitler set out to achieve a goal that would be physically impossible for most people, including many top athletes: They ran the entire perimeter of Aquidneck Island. The loop was just over 50 miles long – nearly the length of two marathons […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
How to get groceries without going to the grocery store
If the thought of going grocery shopping gives you major anxiety right now, it’s not unwarranted. Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported at large grocery stores and mass food production locations like industrial meat processing plants throughout the US. Fortunately, many alternatives to large grocery chain stores exist with accessible shopping and delivery options that will […]
Posted inNews
Mother’s Day gift and celebration ideas that support local businesses
In these trying times, many moms could use some extra special appreciation this Mother’s Day, Sunday May 10th. Luckily our innovative local restaurants, florists, and gift shops have come up with some creative ways you can appreciate mom while supporting local business and keeping everyone safe at the same time. Here’s a breakdown of ideas […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
“Quaranstreaming”: 22 films with Rhode Island ties
With this week’s cancellation announcements of many of our favorite cultural events in Rhode Island this summer, the reality hit hard that we’re going to have to keep entertaining ourselves at home for awhile longer. To give you some fresh movie ideas and celebrate our home state, we put together this list of 22 films […]
Posted inNews, Opinion
Opinion: Everyone’s talking about Tiger King for the wrong reasons
Hey all you cool cats and kittens. I bet you’re tired of hearing that cringey greeting by now – I know I am. But since it’s Earth Week, I thought it was worth talking about a few things that got largely overlooked in online discussions about the pandemic era’s most buzzworthy Netflix show: Tiger King. […]
Posted inBusiness
Rhode Island restaurant owners join Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart to help frontline workers
Through his YounGameChanger Foundation, Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart teamed up with regional businesses to donate over 425 meals this week to front line hospital workers at Boston Children’s Hospital, Tufts Floating Children’s Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. For the donation to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, three Rhode Island restaurants – Tallulah’s Taqueria (owner Jake Rojas), Scratch Kitchen (owner […]
Posted inNews
Sailing documentary ‘Sea of Dreams’ launches online
Some good news for those who love sailing and have already watched everything on Netflix: The sailing documentary Sea of Dreams was released for online viewing this week and can be watched for free. Sea of Dreams (1) from Apsu Limited on Vimeo. The film, which focuses on Nick Moloney’s solo trip around the world […]
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COVID-19 and Jaws: A Resonant Metaphor
When debate over whether or not to cancel the Newport St. Patrick’s Day parade broke out last month – a conflict that seems like eons ago now – I couldn’t help but notice that the argument to “Cancel the parade!” paralleled the cry to “Close the beaches!” in the film Jaws. The Jaws metaphor fit […]
Posted inNews
Easter Bunny will hop through Newport on Saturday
Some good news for kids – the Easter Bunny is scheduled to hop through Newport on Saturday, April 11th. With the help of Newport Recreation and Newport Police Department, the bunny will try to drive through every neighborhood in the city for a quick visit, but will be following social distancing guidelines. The Easter Bunny […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Newport County Restaurants offering Easter take-out
Hard to believe it, but Easter is almost here (April 12th for those who have also lost track of what day it is). Here is a list of restaurants in the area that are offering special take-out/deliery options on Easter. Many are requiring pre-order, so make sure you call ahead this week to get your […]
Posted inNews, Opinion
Reflections on one month of social distancing
Today marks one month that I’ve been practicing social distancing, though it feels like much longer. I returned home from a weekend ski trip on Monday, March 9th and that day, my husband and I decided that we’d begin taking social distancing seriously given that he falls into a high-risk category. Since then, we’ve only […]
Posted inNews
The JPT Launches Virtual Screening Room
At the JPT Film & Event Center, the show must go on – virtually. On March 26th, the new JPT Virtual Screening Room initiative launched to give audiences the opportunity to see films that would otherwise be playing on the big screen from home. The historic theater temporarily closed its doors on March 16th due to […]
Posted inNews
Unsung Heroes: Robert Young
Like all public school districts in the state, Newport’s schools were faced with unprecedented challenges when they were ordered close and shift to distance learning last month as the COVID-19 crisis escalated. For the Newport Public School Technology Department, the recent departure of the department’s director left a void in leadership at a critical moment. […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink, News
Rhode Island distilleries commit operations to make hand sanitizer
Their tasting rooms are closed, but Rhode Island distillers are joining the fight against COVID-19 by repurposing distilled ethanol to produce hand sanitizer for those in need. They join a growing list of hundreds of distilleries in the United States that are now producing ethanol-based hand sanitizer to address shortages in medical offices and essential […]
Posted inNews
Whats Up Podcast: A convo on comedy and quarantine with Doug Key, founder of Rogue Island Comedy Festival
Doug Key, founder of Rogue Island Comedy Festival, is currently quarantined in his apartment in the Bronx and recovering from an illness that may be COVID-19. In addition to being a touring comedian, Key, who grew up in Portsmouth, works in a nursing home in New York. He began feeling symptoms associated with COVID-19 several […]
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Winner Winner Offers Buckets of Love
In partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, the team at Fifth Ward chicken shop Winner Winner is helping members of the community in need during the COVID-19 pandemic with Buckets of Love. The restaurant is offering customers a “Bucket of Love” for $25. With each purchase, Winner Winner will provide a […]
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What’s Up Podcast: COVID-19 upends events industry, a conversation with Carbotti Experiences
With the cancellation of sporting events, concerts, trade shows, conferences, and virtually all other types of gatherings, the >$1 trillion global events industry is being upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Event industry veterans and Newport residents Evan Carbotti and Ingrid Adolphs, who operate Carbotti Experiences along with Evan’s brother Jordan, are facing unprecedented challenges and […]
Posted inNews
Unsung Heroes: Katie Imswiler
Citizens throughout the state are rapidly mobilizing in all sorts of creative, innovative and unexpected ways to help the fight against COVID-19. For Rhode Islander and swimwear designer Katie Imswiler, mobilizing meant an abrupt change from designing bikinis to designing protective face masks for healthcare workers. Imswiler owns IMSY Swimwear, a Providence-based company with a […]
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The Reef and Stoneacre Brasserie Offer Free Meals to Hospitality Professionals
Two Newport restaurants – The Reef and Stoneacre Brasserie – are stepping up to help local hospitality professionals through the COVID-19 crisis. Starting today, Friday, March 27th, the Reef will begin offering free Family Meal Fridays to those who work or have recently worked in the hospitality industry. Orders can be placed on Fridays between […]