Here’s this week’s Sour Grapes; enjoy!
Newport County
Posted inNews
Your Newport County weather forecast: 7 days on land and sea
Whether you’re heading out on the water, planning a weekend event, or just trying to dress for the day, here’s your full 7-day forecast for Newport County — pulled live from NOAA’s National Weather Service and refreshed automatically. Weather Forecast Marine Forecast
Posted inNews
IYRS offers support to students affected by The Landing School closure
IYRS School of Technology & Trades is extending support to students, applicants and families affected by the recent closure of The Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design in Arundel, Maine, offering guidance and a pathway for those looking to continue their marine trades education. “We are saddened to learn of The Landing School’s closing and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charter Books to host bestselling author Annabel Monaghan at OceanCliff on June 8
Charter Books will host New York Times bestselling author Annabel Monaghan for a summer cocktail event at OceanCliff on Monday, June 8, to celebrate her latest novel, “Dolly All the Time.” The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m., with Monaghan, author of “Nora Goes Off Script,” in conversation with Kylie McCollough, founder of the […]
Posted inNews
Castle Hill Inn officially reopens Agassiz Mansion following February fire
NEWPORT, R.I. — Castle Hill Inn officially reopened the Agassiz Mansion on Thursday, welcoming guests back to the historic property just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, more than three months after a fire damaged the landmark retreat on Ocean Drive. The reopening encompasses the main level of the Mansion, including the lobby, The Lawn […]
Posted inReal Estate
Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Rhode Island
The real estate frenzy spurred by the coronavirus pandemic continues, though at a slower pace. Buyers are still competing for a limited supply of housing, driving up prices for affordable properties. The typical home value in the United States was $366,712 in April, 0.7% higher than the year before. Increasing mortgage rates have slowed growth, […]
Posted inBusiness
More than Storage: How Middletown Self Storage is keeping it in the family, and giving back to the community that built them
If you’ve driven down Valley Road or past Aquidneck Avenue lately, you’ve passed by one of Aquidneck Island’s quietly essential local businesses. Middletown Self Storage has two facilities, nearly 1,700 units, and nearly two decades of community roots. Last week, I had the privilege of sitting down with Hannah Snow, Chief Operating Officer, and Mackenzie […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Stanley Wayne Russell Sears
Stanley W. R. Sears passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026, with his daughters by his side. He was 85. Born on April 17, 1941 in Newport, RI to Charles E. Sears and Mary T. Nunes, Stanley was raised in a large family alongside his late siblings: Chuck, Shirley, Phyliss, Roger, Ronnie, and Gary. He […]
Posted inInstagram
On the Market: A look at every Open House happening this Memorial Day weekend in Newport County (May 23 – 25)
Memorial Day Weekend has arrived in Newport County, though Mother Nature may have slightly different plans than many of the visitors heading into town… With a cooler, wetter forecast expected for much of the weekend, the beach chair and boat day may need to wait. But in a place like Newport County, there’s always another […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Umbrella Sky returns to Brick Market for fourth season with “Flowers in Bloom” theme
The Umbrella Sky art installation returns to Brick Market Place for a fourth consecutive year, opening May 23 with a new theme transforming the sky into a floating garden. This season’s theme, “Flowers in Bloom,” features colorful umbrellas painted with bold botanical designs. The theme extends throughout the installation, incorporating garden trellises and vibrant hanging […]
Posted inNews
As Brown Health operating losses deepen, pressure mounts to save Newport Hospital birthing center
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current May 21, 2026 Staring down another quarter of operating losses, Brown University Health executives are unwilling to contribute a share of the $4.9 million needed to keep Newport Hospital’s birthing center open.“We want to see the money come from outside Brown Health,” Peter Markell, executive vice president and chief […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Foundation invites Newport County residents to free community dinner June 2
The Rhode Island Foundation is inviting Newport County residents to share their thoughts about the issues that matter most to them at a free community dinner on Tuesday, June 2. The event will be held at Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, from 5 to 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public, but seating […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Historical Society to open Center for Black History on Juneteenth
The Newport Historical Society will open the Edward W. Kane & Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History on Juneteenth 2026, marking what the society calls a transformative step toward a more inclusive telling of the city’s history. Developed in partnership with Newport’s Black community, the center will serve as a hub for research, scholarship, […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM reopens 462-acre Portsmouth shellfishing area for first time since 1975
A 462-acre shellfishing area along the Portsmouth shoreline just south of the Mount Hope Bridge will reopen for the first time since 1975, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management announced. The area has met water quality and shellfish sanitation criteria and will be upgraded from prohibited to approved for harvest on May 23. DEM […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to take up FY 2027 budget at May 27 meeting
The Newport City Council will take up the city’s fiscal year 2027 operating budget when it meets Wednesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 43 Broadway. The budget items lead the docket, with second readings scheduled for the ordinance appropriating revenues and the personnel ordinance, along with a resolution […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: May reminds us of our progress and challenges with mental health
A lot has changed since the first Mental Health Awareness Week back in 1949. What started as a seven-day observance now lasts all of May, and we have no shortage of events to raise awareness about mental health. Far more important is the progress we’ve made. Treatments for mental health conditions have improved, care is […]
Posted inNews
People’s Credit Union named 2026 Bicycle Friendly Business of the Year at Newport’s Bike to Work Day
The first bikes rolled in at 7 a.m. and the camaraderie continued through the morning at the annual bike commuter breakfast in front of Newport City Hall on Friday, May 15, as the city marked National Bike to Work Day with coffee, snacks and swag from Bike Newport and RIPTA’s Commuter Resources. Later in the […]
Posted inInstagram
Jamestown’s Beech partners with James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schlow, debuts new menu May 27
The Jamestown restaurant Beech has partnered with James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schlow, who will join as chef and managing partner to oversee operations, the restaurant announced. The Conanicut Restaurant Group, comprised of Jamestown residents, brought on Schlow, a longtime friend, who will introduce a new menu beginning May 27. While remaining true to the […]
Posted inNews
Newport police name suspect in Harbor Base Inn homicide; victim’s son believed responsible
This story was originally published at 1:19 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. It was updated on Wednesday, May 20 at 5:55 p.m. with additional details from the Newport Police Department. Newport police have identified a suspect in the death of an 85-year-old woman found at a local hotel, saying her son is believed to be […]
Posted inNews
West Place Animal Sanctuary to host Spring Visitors Weekend May 30-31 in Tiverton
West Place Animal Sanctuary will open its grounds to the public for its Spring Visitors Weekend on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, the season’s first public visitors weekend at the Tiverton sanctuary. The nonprofit farm animal sanctuary invites the community to take 90-minute guided tours of its historic grounds, where visitors can get […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jane Pickens Theater announces Memorial Day weekend lineup headlined by “Saving Private Ryan” screening with WWII Foundation Q&A
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center will mark Memorial Day weekend with a lineup of comedy, live music and classic films, headlined by a special Memorial Day screening of “Saving Private Ryan” in partnership with Rhode Island’s World War II Foundation. The Steven Spielberg film, winner of five Academy Awards including Best Director, will […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island Department of Health reminds residents to take precautions during extreme heat
The Rhode Island Department of Health is reminding residents to take safety precautions during the ongoing heat. When it is very hot and humid, sweating isn’t enough to cool the body, and body temperature can rise quickly, the department said. High temperatures can cause heat stroke, heat exhaustion or heat cramps. Certain populations are at […]
Posted inNonprofit
Champlin Foundation awards more than $1.25 million to Newport County nonprofits in spring grants cycle
The Champlin Foundation announced Tuesday that 10 nonprofits across Newport County will share more than $1.25 million in its 2026 Cycle 1 grants, part of a broader $12,192,398 in awards distributed to 103 Rhode Island organizations operating in 28 cities and towns. The Cranston-based foundation funds capital projects for Rhode Island nonprofits and has awarded […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport School Board, City Council in dual meetings tonight as $2.1M budget gap looms
Newport Public Schools and the Newport City Council will hold competing meetings Tuesday night, with Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain calling on families and community members to turn out for the council’s special budget meeting even as the School Committee conducts interviews for an interim superintendent at the same time. The City Council convenes at 6:30 […]
Posted inSports
Rhody Regatta registration and fundraising off to strong start ahead of May 30 race
The fourth annual Rhody Regatta, set for Saturday, May 30, is off to an impressive start in both registration and fundraising for its beneficiary, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island. The single 18-mile course circumnavigates Conanicut Island and offers a mix of open-water sailing and tactical shoreline strategy. Early registrations include some notable entries: Wendy […]