Trinity Church opened its 15th Annual Pumpkin Patch to the public on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. This year’s pumpkin patch will be open daily outdoors on the lawn of Trinity Church from 12 pm to 6 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 6 pm on weekends through Tuesday, October 31. The patch includes cider, hot […]
Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
The take-out counter at Mother Pizzeria is now open
The take-out counter at Mother Pizzeria is now open. The quick service counter is reminiscent of a Roman café and offers a rotating selection of Roman-style slices, snacks, salads, and gelato. Fun fact – the pizza offered at the to-go counter is a completely different style than what’s offered in the dining room. The take-out […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Craft Beer with a Cause: Rejects Beer Co. and Potter League for Animals unite for ‘Whiskers Rebellion’
Rejects Beer Co. and the Potter League for Animals have announced the release of their creation, “Whiskers Rebellion,” a brew that’s as bold as it is compassionate. This extraordinary beer brings together the artistry of brewing with the spirit of rebellion, all in the name of furry companions and philanthropy. Potter League for Animals provided […]
Posted inBusiness
Flo’s Clam Shack announces end of season closing dates for Middletown, Portsmouth locations; new location in Naples
Flo’s Clam Shack dropped some “sad news, good news, and great news” on Facebook recently. “We have some 𝘚𝘈𝘋 𝘕𝘌𝘞𝘚, 𝘎𝘖𝘖𝘋 𝘕𝘌𝘞𝘚, and 𝘎𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘛 𝘕𝘌𝘞𝘚 to share! SAD NEWS: Flo’s Drive-In Island Park will be closing for the season on October 9th. GOOD NEWS: Flo’s Clam Shack Middletown will be open until November 27th! GREAT […]
Posted inBusiness
Frosty Freez closes for the season on September 30
Frosty Freez, the ever-so-popular ice cream shop located at 496 East Main Road in Middletown, has announced that it will close for the 2023 season on Saturday, September 30. Frosty Freez, a season business in operation since 1956, will reopen for the 2024 season around April 1. Frosty Freez is open from 11:30 am to […]
Posted inBusiness
Becky’s BBQ to close its doors after 25 years
Becky’s BBQ, located at 82 East Main Road in Middletown, is set to close on Saturday, September 30 after more than 25 years of service. In a conversation with What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, owner Bob Bringhurst told us that he has been wanting to retire and the time has come. “There are things I want to […]
Posted inNews
Climate change is lengthening growing seasons: How it's impacting every state
Hobby gardeners and professional farmers have long relied on weather predictions from farmers’ almanacs and other sources to guide how they start seeds and prepare for the upcoming season. Climate change, however, has altered the predictability of each region’s final spring frost and the first frost in fall, shifting their growing seasons. Stacker examined how […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Get Lost! ‘Six Picks’ Corn Mazes to explore on Aquidneck Island and beyond
A couple of weeks ago, we shared some of the best apple-picking spots in the region … this week, it’s all about escaping the corn maze. Here are six of our favorites in the area – be sure to stop at the farm stand on your way out… if you make it out … Escobar Farm in Portsmouth has a […]
Posted inThings To Do
Six Picks: Best Fall Festivals in Newport County and beyond
Whether you are celebrating sand sculptures, the grape harvest, German beer or pumpkin spice, fall festivals have officially arrived in southern New England. Here are my “Six Picks” of some of the best in the region over the next few weekends, along with a few honorable mentions. Have a great fall season! Sept. 15-17: Misquamicut […]
Posted inColumns
Tiny Kitchen Magic: Mushroom and Rice Soup
Happy almost Fall, everyone! Since the best season is approaching, with its foliage and cooler temperatures, I figured I’d get a head start on soup season. I will be honest, this recipe was BAD the first time I did it. I used a completely wrong ingredient and had certain ratios all out of whack. I […]
Posted inBusiness
Teen’s death leads to outpouring of concern over spicy chip challenge as sales are halted
By MICHAEL CASEY and STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The death of a Massachusetts teenager after his family said he ate an extremely spicy tortilla chip has led to an outpouring of concern about the social media challenge and prompted retailers to pull the product from their shelves at the manufacturer’s request. […]
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Pizza Wine to celebrate Newport expansion at Utility with Mother Pizzeria and Mission
Pizza Wine, a sparkling red wine that is made to be paired with pizza, announced its Rhode Island expansion into Newport this week, led by Mother Pizzeria and Mission. Pizza Wine will be the first and only canned wine at Mother Pizzeria, which opened last month. The restaurant, by the same owner of award-winning Italian restaurant Giusto, chef Kevin […]
Posted inThings To Do
‘Six Picks’ apple orchards – top spots in Newport County and beyond
Apple picking season has officially arrived in Rhode Island, and the above-average summer rainfall has strengthened this year’s crop. Local orchards are ready for crowds over the next few weekends, and many farms have a full slate of activities, including hay rides, nature trails, cider donuts, and pumpkin picking. NOTE: Due to last winter’s unseasonable […]
Posted inBusiness
Gardiner House, Newport’s newest boutique hotel, opens this week
Gardiner House, Newport’s newest boutique hotel, opens on Friday, September 8 at 24 Lees Wharf. “A labor of love over five years in the making, the much-anticipated Gardiner House provides a distinctly Newport vantage point of the beloved spaces, experiences, and colorful characters intimate to generational locals – led by co-owners and local Newporters, Howard Cushing and […]
Posted inCity & Government
‘Stuffie’ to travel the United States promoting Rhode Island
Rhode Island Commerce Corporation – the official full-service, economic development organization for the state of Rhode Island -today announced that it is excited to bring one of the Ocean State’s most iconic seafood dishes to life, the stuffed clam, or as it’s locally known, the “stuffie.” Kicking off in key flight markets such as Detroit on Sept. 2, and making its […]
Posted inColumns
Tiny Kitchen Magic: Guacamole Edition!
Well, hello, everyone. Sorry for the delay this month. Sometimes, the real world gets in the way, but enough about that. Let’s talk about one of the most popular and delicious dips one can have: guacamole. Labor Day is coming up, and there will be cookouts. You may be attending one of the said cookouts. […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Things To Do
RI VegFest’s ‘RI Vegtoberfest’ returns to Trinity Beer Garden on Sept. 23
RI VegFest, Rhode Island’s only fully vegan festival, will again host their annual “RI Vegtoberfest” at Trinity Beer Garden, located at Biltmore Park in downtown Providence, on Saturday, September 23, 2023 (rain date is September 24th). This fun, one-day celebration of compassionate plant-based living is proudly sponsored by Bootstrap Compost, World Centric, and Sam’s Solutions, and […]
Posted inCity & Government
$400,000 in grants awarded to help Rhode Island farmers expand market access for specialty crops
Governor Dan McKee and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today are announcing that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded through DEM $137,983 in mini grants to Rhode Island farmers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and over $270,000 to DEM through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to help Rhode Island […]
Posted inCity & Government
Oysters from Rhode Island harvester recalled following a Vibrio outbreak
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is letting consumers know that Rocky Rhode Oysters Co., LLC, doing business as Walrus and Carpenter Oysters, is recalling all oysters harvested from the Walrus & Carpenter Oysters, LLC Farm with harvest dates of 7/28/2023 until 8/19/2023. This product is being recalled due to a potential link of the harvest area being to a Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak investigation. RIDOH is working closely with partners on the investigation.
Only the Walrus & Carpenter Oysters, LLC Farm, in the Dutch Harbor area of harvest area 7B in Rhode Island is impacted. (The other lease areas in harvest area 7B are not impacted.) Oysters from this lease may be listed on the shellfish tags as B2015-09-105. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) closed this area for harvesting on August 19, 2023.
RIDOH is working with the dealer to ensure that the product is removed from commerce. RIDOH has confirmed that the product has not been distributed out of state and was only sold directly to Rhode Island restaurants.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, and chills. The illness is usually mild or moderate, although some cases may require hospitalization. Symptoms usually last two or three days. Children, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system can develop more serious symptoms. Anyone who has eaten raw or improperly cooked shellfish and has these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Posted inNews
From pandemic essential to the new normal: How QR codes rose to prominence
The COVID-19 pandemic gave black-and-white-speckled QR codes their moment in the spotlight—one many hospitality industry professionals predicted would fade in the coming years. To better understand how QR codes rose to popularity, Flowcode analyzed data from Insider Intelligence and information from news coverage and industry reports to identify why QR code use is sticking around […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News
Two Connecticut deaths linked to bacteria found in raw shellfish
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Two Connecticut residents have died this summer from infections linked to a bacteria found in raw shellfish or seawater, the state Department of Public Health said Tuesday. Three people in the state are known to have been infected with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which doesn’t make an oyster look, smell or […]
Posted inFood & Drink
2023 Charlestown Seafood Fest a great success
When a small town in the Ocean State holds a seafood event at a former Naval Air Station adjacent to a salt pond famous for buttery smooth oysters, it would have to be a success, right? This year, by almost every metric, the 38th Annual Charlestown Seafood Festival surpassed every expectation. According to Charlestown Chamber […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Things To Do
Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival tickets are now on sale
Tickets for the 18th Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival Presented by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, scheduled for Sept. 22-24 at Rosecliff, are now on sale to the general public. Closed since January 2 while undergoing an extensive restoration, Rosecliff will host 21 seated tasting seminars featuring fine wines and other beverages from around […]
Posted inBusiness
Kevin O’Donnell of Giusto and Mother Pizzeria in Newport appointed to the 2023 RIHEF Board of Directors
Cranston, RI – July 18, 2023 – The RI Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) has announced the appointment of North Kingstown, Rhode Island native Kevin O’Donnell to its 2023 Board of Directors. O’Donnell started his hospitality journey at a young age, working various roles in local establishments including the Bonnet Shores Beach Club and Junction Pizzeria in Wickford, where […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Things To Do
Brew At The Zoo returns to Rogers Williams Park Zoo on August 26
Celebrate the 10th annual Brew at the Zoo on August 26 at 5 pm. Guests will tap into their wild side at this adults-only evening event, where they can sample over 170 beers, hard seltzers, and ready-to-drink cocktails from 80+ local, regional, and national brewers. Partygoers will enjoy live musical entertainment by The Niteflies, animal encounters, […]