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The Buzz
5 RI 250: State has big plans for nation’s birthday 10 HISTORY: Newport’s revolutionary past
VOICES OF THE BAY: Bristol instructor on the benefits of getting in the pool
14
GEM: A wellness sanctuary along a Bristol side-street
16 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s
Home & Style
A13 HOME: A Tiverton King’s Grant farmhouse is lovingly restored
A18 EXPLORE: Adorable animals worth bundling up for A22 RHODY READS: Hot new releases for long winter nights
A24 SHOP: Craftsmanship is the hallmark of these local treasures
Food & Drink
Photography by Nick DelGiudice
Photo courtesy of Newport Historical Society
Photo courtesy of Patty J
Photo courtesy of Save The Bay
ON THE COVER: Victoria Cimino of Discover Newport. Photography by Nick DelGiudice
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250th | Arts | Voices of the Bay | Rhody Gem | Calendar
Telling Rhode Islander’s Stories
RI secretary of state shares plans for semiquincentennial commemoration
By Ken Abrams
Rhode Island Secretary of State Greg Amore fondly recalls his small role in the nation’s bicentennial, which took place 50 years ago. “I remember walking down the middle of Taunton Avenue in East Providence in a parade with a tricorn hat on,” says Amore, recalling the 1976 celebration, a transformative event for many who experienced it. “My dad was actually on the RI-76 Commission.”
Amore now serves as chair of the RI 250 Commission (RI250), which is guiding the state through the year-long commemoration of the semiquincentennial, marking the founding of our nation. “It’s not a ceremonial position,” he explains. “The activities of the commission go through our office. I believe I’m the only secretary of state in the country that chairs one of the 250th commissions.”
Photo
Director Ken Burns stopped by Governor Dan McKee’s office in mid-October to share a preview of his new documentary with students in the Secretary of State’s Civic Leadership Program.
A YEAR OF EVENTS
Established in 2021, RI250 includes numerous stakeholders and dozens of organizations participating in the multi-year commemoration. The commission is dedicated to sharing the stories of all Rhode Islanders, especially those groups and individuals who have previously been underrepresented in the narrative, a fact the former high school civics teacher emphasizes. “When I first voted for this legislation as a member of the House of
Representatives, the belief was this was an opportunity to tell Rhode Island’s story as part of the nation’s story, and we have a great story to tell,” says Amore, a former Rhode Island History Teacher of the Year.
“Considering the divisive nature of our politics today, I think it’s a great opportunity to tell a story of unification and talk about our shared values, which are on display in the Declaration of Independence, the document
In addition to programming planned in cities and towns this year, signature events include a large-scale WaterFire on July 4, that includes a performance by the Rhode Island Philharmonic, and a massive American flag draped over the State House, and RI250 is sponsoring an honor flight for veterans in Washington DC. Learn more at RhodeIsland250.org
that gave birth to the Constitution. Besides telling Rhode Island’s story and engaging with Rhode Islanders about our history and our democracy, we have an opportunity to talk about what unites us as Americans.”
Amore says there is one notable difference between this year’s commemoration and 1976.
“I think one of the differences between the 250 commemoration and celebration from the 1976 commemoration and celebration is that
Members of the Pawtuxet Rangers at a professional development workshop
Photo courtesy of the Office of the Secretary of State
Starting the New Year with Gratitude
A new year brings new beginnings, and we’re grateful for the trust our clients placed in us throughout 2025.
From coastal cottages to spacious suburban homes, our strategic marketing, hands-on guidance, and high-level service helped deliver exceptional results across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
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most of these states are being really intentional about telling the whole story of their state, the whole story of the birth of the nation,” he explains. “In particular, we are highlighting the First Rhode Island Regiment, one of the first and most integrated military regiments in American history. They fought bravely and with distinction everywhere they went, and
they truly integrated two full companies of Black and Indigenous soldiers fighting alongside white soldiers, including at Yorktown, where Cornwallis surrendered – the First Rhode Island played a key role there.”
Amore is also among those leading initiatives to bring the commemoration into Rhode Island classrooms. “Rhode Island teachers
have embraced this,” he says. “I’ve embarked on a statewide school visit tour where we give a lesson on the Declaration of Independence, Rhode Island’s role in the founding of the nation, and a discussion of Nathanael Greene, as well as our two signers, William Ellery and Stephen Hopkins.” He plans to visit close to 100 schools by the end of the year.
Secretary of State Greg Amore presenting to Rhode Island teachers
Photo courtesy of the Office of the Secretary of State
The Road Where It Happened
Historical society’s two years of expanded programming kicks off with Newport’s role from the trek to Yorktown to the city’s revolutionary spirit today
By Emily Olson
As the Revolutionary War began, Newport was one of the busiest harbors in the American colonies. Nearly immediately, British forces seized the harbor town, recognizing its commercial value and military importance. But just two years later, those forces quietly left to prepare for bigger fights, and in the summer of 1780, nearly 6,000 French troops, led by army officer Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, AKA General Rochambeau, sailed in as the colony’s newest allies. Nearly overnight, Newport transformed from an enemy-occupied territory to a friendly host to the allies who would help end the war. In 1781, after spending a year in Newport, Rochambeau led his troops south to meet General Washington on the road to Yorktown, the site of the siege that brought the conflict to a close.
“Newport played a big role in the founding of America,” says Becca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society. “We like to say the march to Yorktown started in Newport, and we want visitors to understand how important this town was to the war’s outcome.”
Today, the organization charged with telling that story is the Newport Historical Society, founded in 1854 as the southern seat of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Among its extensive collections are six historical properties, a research library, 500,000 photographs, and 1,500 linear feet of manuscripts. The organization’s mission is to preserve and interpret historical information from Newport County and educate people on how it fits into American history. And for the country’s 250th anniversary, it’s going all out.
A central piece of its programming is a museum exhibition called “Occupied,” which explores the years immediately after the war began. “The occupation by the British was dramatic for Newport,” Bertrand says. “Then the
colonists had to deal with the French occupation. They were allies, but cultural and religious differences, as well as language barriers, made cooperation complicated. The exhibition explores how they learned to work together as they moved toward the march to Yorktown.”
In addition to the exhibition, the organization added a focus on the Revolutionary War to its regular Tavern Talks, lectures by local historians preceded by cocktails and a special viewing of the museum exhibition. The organization also added to its walking tours. “We’ve developed a tour based on ‘Occupied’ that has two guides – one who plays a loyalist and one who plays a patriot,” Bertrand says. “You can learn about colonial history anywhere, but what’s unique about Newport is that you can walk the same streets and see the same buildings. History feels close here.”
But there’s more to Newport’s history than the Revolutionary War, and Bertrand and her staff are particularly excited about their upcoming
Juneteenth Celebration. The occasion will be marked with the opening of a new center for Black history, housed in the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, one of the oldest surviving homes in Newport. “The center will have exhibitions, a sculpture garden, and space for reflection,” Bertrand says. “It will talk not just about Black Newporters from the 17th and 18th centuries, but also about the contemporary Black experience.”
Drawing a line from the past to the present is vitally important to the organization. As an example, Bertrand points to its approach to the press. “Even in the 18th century, there were influencers,” she says. “You might be hearing the news through word of mouth, and that’s no different than saying, ‘I heard a TikTok about this.’ Facts are open to interpretation and manipulation.” Ultimately, the goal is to help people learn from the past. “We want to make the past approachable and accessible,” Bertrand says. “History shouldn’t be stuffed in an attic.” Learn more at NewportHistory.org.
P hotos courtesy of Newport Historical Society
One of many walking tours in Newport
The Newport Historical Society provides year-round programming
Bridget has a deep-rooted passion for homes and the communities they shape. She is a proud Rhode Islander and deeply connected to the neighborhoods she serves. Whether you're buying your first home, selling a cherished property, or investing in your future, Bridget will be by your side every step of the way—making the process seamless, informed, and with confidence. A trusted partner who is as invested
your journey as you are.
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Voices of the Bay: Adam Dutra
A lifelong Bristol swimmer – and new Warren coach – on the benefits of getting into the pool
By Nina Murphy
Looking to kick off the new year with an all-body workout? Move over pilates, yoga, and pickleball. Instead, get into a pool, recommends Adam Dutra, a lifelong swimmer and seasoned swim coach who is passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of swimming. A graduate of Mt. Hope High School, where he was a member of the swim team and, in recent years, has been one of the team’s swim coaches, the Bristol native earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Rhode Island College and a Master’s degree from the University of Idaho in environmental science and conservation biology. After working in the field, he switched gears and followed his heart back to the pool deck as the aquatics manager for Pods Swimming in East Providence. This month, Dutra will take on a new role as a swim coach for Warren’s Kickemuit Middle School swim team.
ALL AGES APPLY: We have four-month-olds who are learning to swim, and I teach adult lessons for all ages. I had one student, a woman in her 80s, learning to swim. Swimming can help you at any point in your life.
FOUR B’S: Unlike other places I had worked, Pods doesn’t use any floatation devices, which I thought was pretty cool. It’s all about focusing on the four B’s: body position, balance, buoyancy, and breath control.
FULL BODY: There are so many proven benefits, mentally and physically, for swimming. I tell everybody that swimming is the only sport you can do that works every single part of your body, including your brain, and you aren’t putting strain or pressure on your joints. If you put in a good water workout, you will be tired, but in a good way.
H2O: Swimming works your cardiovascular system to build up your lung capacity and breath control. We have many athletes from football and hockey who use swimming to help with agility and breath control. Gymnasts make the best swimmers.
LOSE POUNDS: Swimming is great for people with weight issues. We’ve had people who tried running, walking, or going to the gym, but the weight put a lot of pressure on their bodies. If every time you leave [the gym] in excruciating pain, why are you going to keep going? It’s easier to sit on the couch and do nothing. In the water with buoyancy, you don’t have pain, and you can consistently exercise and lose weight.
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS: During COVID, we were one of the only facilities that remained open because we wanted to offer an opportunity for those with medical issues. So many people who came in said they were also coming in for their mental health. Swimming really helps with OCD and anxiety. As you swim, you are so focused on when to breathe, so it’s easy to not think about anything else. I even love to float in the water. It is so calming and freeing.
P hoto courtesy of Adam Dutra
Adam Dutra
Sanctuary Sauna Studio and Wellness
Alternative and Holistic Health
What it is:
A boutique wellness studio offering holistic therapies including sauna and plunge sessions, red light therapy, hyper-vibration, and energy work.
Where to find it:
Minutes from the Bristol waterfront, if you’re traveling south on Route 114/Hope Street, turn left onto Franklin Street, and then left onto Wood Street. The hanging “open” flag confirms you found it.
What makes it a Rhody Gem?
“Wellness, but make it luxury,” says owner and wellness practitioner, Jaclyn Vargas. “Sanctuary brings something truly special to our sweet hometown of Bristol. Every detail is designed to support deep restoration and replenishment within our private suite settings.” Vargas explains that services weave together ancient healing traditions with evidence-based modern therapies to create an experience for clients that feels both grounding and transformative. Many visit regularly not only for relaxation, but as part of a supportive routine while navigating stress, chronic wellness concerns, or autoimmune challenges, finding relief in the studio’s menu of restorative offerings. “Clients often tell us it feels like stepping into a peaceful retreat where they instantly feel relaxed, refreshed, and renewed,” says Vargas. “It’s a place to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and leave feeling better than when you arrived.”
Sanctuary Sauna Studio and Wellness
580 Wood Street, Bristol SanctuaryWellnessLLC.GoDaddySites.com @sanctuarywellnessllc • 401-598-6459
Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool, unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Email Marketing@HeyRhody.com to suggest yours, and we just might feature it!
Photo courtesy of Sanctuary Sauna Studio and Wellness
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The Must List
essential events this month
For weekly Musts, subscribe to our newsletter at HeyRhody.com
January 1: Brave the elements on New Year’s Day at the 22nd annual Polar Plunge at Easton’s Beach, a benefit for A Wish Come True, an organization that supports Rhode Island children with life-threatening illnesses. Newport, AWish.org
January 3: Celebrate a decade of musical innovation with 60s Thunder , playing songs from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Motown classics and more at the First Congregational Church. Bristol, StoneChurchCoffeehouse.Weebly.com
January 16: Design a critical tool for natural pest control around your property at Build a Bat Box , while learning about the importance of bats in the ecosystem with horticulture experts Dennis Taylor and Becca Christ. Bristol, Blithewold.org
January 17: Join the town of Barrington and the Prism of Praise Community Gospel Choir, a multiracial, ethnically diverse Christian choir, for an inspirational commemoration of Martin Luther King Day . Barrington, Facebook: PrismOfPraiseChoir
January 20: Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Virginia Woolf’s groundbreaking novel, Mrs. Dalloway , when the Bristol Bookfest kicks off with a weekly series of book discussions at Roger’s Free Library, led by event co-chair Steve Calvert. Bristol, BristolBookfest.com
January 21: Local comedians will provide the fun at Townie Clubhouse Comedy: Punchlines for a Purpose , a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of East Providence, a program that serves hundreds of area youth. East Providence, RIComedyConnection.com
January 22: Don’t miss the opening reception for Springboard , a members’ exhibition where artists are asked to explore cultural inheritance, artistic lineage, and collective memory. Note: the exhibit runs through May 31. Newport, NewportArtMuseum.org
January 23: Join award-winning cellist Jonathan Swensen for a program that includes works by Beethoven, Schumann, Bartok, and Shostakovich as Newport Classical kicks off its 2026 season in grand style. Newport, NewportClassical.org
January 24: Be there for the women’s Salve Regina University Seahawks Basketball game when the team takes on division rivals Smith College in a mid-season matchup as both teams compete for the NEWMAC league championship. Newport, SalveAthletics.com
January 29: Charter Books and the Newport Historical Society host Brown University professor Keisha Blain for a reading and conversation about her new book, Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights at Colony House. Newport, CharterBookstore.com
Photo courtesy of A Wish Come True
Polar Plunge
BY KEN ABRAMS, ELYSE MAJOR, AND ANN MARTINI PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK DELGIUDICE
FACING THE NEW YEAR
For decades, January’s “Who to Watch” cover story for Providence Monthly has signaled hope for the year ahead in the form of rising-star innovators and visionaries working to make life in the city better. 2026 marks the second year of expanding our selection and coverage beyond city limits to identify and spotlight change-makers across Rhode Island. Whether it’s building healthier communities through composting, conversations, and safe spaces, empowering the next-generation to redefine what STEAM education looks like, or boosting our state’s profile through tourism and the arts, this group of indefatigable people gives us many unexpected reasons to look at the future with optimism.
Save the Date: Look for our Who to Watch party to celebrate all honorees. Watch for details and ticket sales to be posted online, and follow @heyrhody for updates.
Who to Watch honorees each answered five questions about their work and plans for the community in 2026; answers were minimally edited or trimmed by our team to account for space. To learn more, follow each individual on social media or online.
Watch Kristen Adamo and Rosanna Ortiz give Providence the food and wine festival it deserves
Tell us about yourselves, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
Kristen Adamo: I am a born and bred Rhode Islander who left for college and for my first job, then came back. My work as President and CEO at GoProvidence is essentially to showcase the incredible people, places, and events that make Rhode Island great, so visitors will be encouraged to host meetings and sporting events here or take a vacation.
Rosanna Ortiz: I grew up in California but have been a New Englander for half my life, and I know and live the culture. As president and founder of RMO PR, I work with a diverse range of clients every day. I created STYLEWEEK Northeast to fill the need of shining a spotlight on our state’s fashion designers, and now I’m doing the same thing with wine.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
Adamo: We were on vacation in Napa Valley and Rosanna mentioned wanting to do something with wine. I added that I had always wanted to do a culinary festival. A few months later, Commerce RI announced a grant program to build tourism-focused events in what we call the “shoulder seasons,” (March-May and October-November); it provided a large chunk of the seed money the first year.
Ortiz: I think what’s great about how we developed the partnership is that they are two complementary initiatives with different goals.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
Adamo: In our first year, almost every Providence Culinary Collective and Wine X event sold out and we received national media attention. I am confident that we will continue to grow and that our local talent will receive the national recognition they deserve.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
Kristen Adamo (she/her)
Founder of Providence Culinary Collective GoProvidence.com
Rosanna Ortiz (she/her)
Founder of Rhode Island
Wine Experience
WineXRI.com, @winex_ri
Adamo: The economy is uncertain, which means there’s less corporate giving and it’s pretty hard to ask for money for a culinary festival when people need food and shelter. We’ve taken on a large part of the financial responsibility ourselves because it’s good for the city. We also have events at all different price points, so that everyone can enjoy a piece of the festival.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
Adamo: Last year, we launched PCC as a four-day celebration of the incredible local culinary talent we have. With the help of Wine X, Food Trucks In, Hope & Main, Feed the Children, and more, we are coming back bigger and better March 26-29, 2026.
Ortiz: Cheers to that!
Watch Akanksha Aga give rise to making mentorship accessible to entrepreneurs
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
I came to Rhode Island from India for college about 20 years ago. I am happy that I made that move. Rhode Island is home; it is where I found so many exciting opportunities and met people who made this home for me. Our vision at Breaking Bread is to offer mentorship and leadership development to anyone who is interested in growing.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
Nothing connects people like breaking bread together. Our unique peer group format offers a supportive environment to develop 4Cs: competency, connections, confidence, and community. I’ve been fortunate to work in leadership positions with national reach and global clients, but I knew that Breaking Bread belonged in Rhode Island. Breaking Bread is here to bridge the talent-opportunity gap. If you ask anyone with a successful career, they will probably recognize a mentor who guided them and opened doors for them.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
Small businesses, hospitality, restaurants, and tourism are central to Rhode Island’s economy. Running a small business is very challenging. I understand first-hand how difficult these industries are and unfortunately, training can slip through the cracks. We’re here to support people in their career growth and develop leadership skills needed at different levels. We want to partner with more local organizations for a true win-win. When people grow, it has a ripple effect on the families, community, and ultimately the economy.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
To be candid, if this work were easy, it would have been done by now. For the longest time, mentoring and training have been seen as nice to have, but they are actually much needed. Employee turnover, disengagement, team conflicts – these are the results of not investing in people. We’re already seeing positive results and want to show the impact of mentorship. Change is never easy, but my father taught me that stamina and determination can overcome many challenges. I’m in this for the long run.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
People. I am filled with hope when I see people being there for others. I will never forget the first time that a Breaking Bread program participant offered to pay for a future participant –quite literally pay it forward! This is the ripple effect we are looking for and makes me optimistic. The incredible support we received in 2025 has helped us build and scale for 2026. We’re ready for breaking bread and breaking barriers!
Watch Lupe Aguilar and Ed Brady showcase a community of local creators
Co-Founders of Quahog
Creative • (he/him)
@quahogcreative
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
Lupe Aguilar: I’m a community builder and event producer rooted in Cranston. Rhode Island raised me on neighborhood hospitality and big-hearted creativity, and that’s exactly what I pour back into the state through community and food-forward gatherings that spark connection and local pride. With Quahog Creative, Ed Brady and I, along with our team, produce and organize experiences that spotlight our restaurants, food trucks, brewers, bakers, and makers.
Ed Brady: I am a social entrepreneur, producer, and community leader born and raised in Cranston. Lupe and I, with our creative team, established RI Night Market, among many other events and popups. Our mission is to continue to cultivate a vibrant community and marketplace that celebrates local businesses and the unique talents of our region’s artisans, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs. We also produce annual music festivals and events like Character Con and Kids Con.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
Aguilar: My mission is always the same: use food, music, and art to bring people together, keep dollars local, and show the world how much heart fits inside the smallest state.
Brady: My personal mission is to bring people back together through continued action. I will continue to protect the arts in Cranston and Rhode Island while helping to create sustainable jobs through my connected network. My focus will remain on helping our local small business community in collaboration with our community leaders to grow a better, more equitable future for our children and the next generation.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
Aguilar: To make the smallest state feel even closer – one market, one vendor success story, one activated block, one event – at a time.
Brady: As I continue to actively work with our local community leaders, I will continue to lead by example in putting political party aside to get people back at a table for common compromise and the good of our beautiful state.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
Aguilar: The challenge every year is hearing “This is just how we’ve always done it,” but the goal is to always find those fellow dreamers in each town, department, chamber, and government office who are open to new and fresh ideas.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
Brady: We have so many incredible hard-working and passionate people here in Rhode Island. I look forward to working in collaboration with many like-minded, passionate people who feel the same about our state.
Watch Julie Christina transform a secret garden into a botanical state jewel
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
Having lived in Rhode Island for more than 15 years immersed in public gardens and the horticultural community, I am eager to leverage this experience in my new role as executive director at Kinney Azalea Gardens. My focus will be on enhancing community engagement, promoting environmental education, and fostering a vibrant space that supports both visitors and biodiversity.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
I am passionate about creating opportunities to connect people with nature. Kinney Azalea Gardens is a uniquely inspiring space that deserves greater recognition and community support to thrive. Its value as a tranquil refuge, outdoor classroom, historical gem, and natural habitat benefits not only Rhode Islanders but others as well.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
As a new nonprofit, my focus is on raising awareness of Kinney Azalea Gardens and securing members, donors, and grants to ensure its long-term public accessibility. With a small team, we are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the beauty of our 16-acre property for generations to come.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
We do not currently charge admission. Instead, we rely on membership, donors, grants, and programming. It’s a model that is currently falling short as we establish ourselves as a new nonprofit amid high demand statewide for funding. We need to secure resources to retain staff year-round, maintain the property, and implement essential enhancements.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
The answer is straightforward: Kinney Azalea Gardens is a worthy cause that must be preserved. With support from those who share our passion for this mission, alongside the commitment of the Kinney and Faella families, we can thrive and ensure the garden’s lasting impact on the community.
Watch Victoria Cimino infuse small business vitality through tourism
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
I previously served as director of the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development and as director of international marketing for the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. Having both vacationed in and visited Newport for business, I often imagined what it might be like to call the region home. That dream became a reality in March when I stepped into my role as president and CEO of Discover Newport, leading the non-profit destination management team dedicated to the promotion of its nine townships in Newport and Bristol Counties including Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
I’m motivated by the opportunity to align tourism growth with community well-being. The hospitality industry is a vital driver of jobs, small business success, and economic vitality, and it thrives when residents see its value. Today, I have the privilege of representing nine communities across Newport and Bristol counties, each with its own character, history, and sense of place, yet all united by a shared commitment to hospitality and quality of life.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
I hope to strengthen Rhode Island’s reputation for thoughtful, sustainable tourism that benefits both people and places. In the years ahead, we’ll be fostering collaboration, investing in research, and supporting initiatives that drive success while preserving the character and authenticity that make Newport and its coastal communities so exceptional. My focus is on bridging the gap between job creation, small business success, and economic vitality that thrives when residents see its value. We’ll use data, collaboration, and transparency to ensure that tourism benefits both visitors and the people who call the region home.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
In 2026, navigating an uncertain economy will be our biggest challenge. Maintaining stability amid shifting travel trends will require adaptability and focus to ensure Discover Newport continues to drive results for our industry and communities.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
The dedication and creativity of our region’s hospitality partners – and the outstanding team at Discover Newport – make me truly optimistic. Their collaboration continues to elevate our destination and inspire confidence in the future.
Watch Karen Dalton help veterans find hope and purpose through holistic hands-on programming
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
I am the founder and executive vice president of Dare to Dream Ranch in Foster. We offer alternative therapy programs for service members, veterans, and their family members throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. I have lived in Rhode Island since 1990 and raised three children here in the town of Foster. Before starting my nonprofit, I was the executive director for the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians (RIAFP). Dare to Dream Ranch offers a wide range of holistic, alternative therapy programs, including equine-assisted therapy, gardening, woodworking, fly fishing, psychiatric service dogs, and collaborations for deep-sea fishing and hunting experiences. We also provide practical supports such as food security assistance, housing stability resources, and psychiatric service dog training. Each program is designed to build resilience, restore purpose, and help veterans heal in a supportive community.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
My father was a Marine, and that wasn’t easy on us kids. It affected my life. Through gardening, horses, spending time in nature, and surrounding myself with positive, like-minded people, I felt better. Our ultimate goal at Dare to Dream Ranch is to help our veterans become successful civilians who feel they serve a purpose after returning from their time spent on the battlefield. I am a Certified Health Coach (CHC) and Equine Specialist (ES), and have dedicated my life to supporting veterans and their families through holistic, trauma-informed care. Drawing from personal experience and decades of service, I developed the Ranch’s unique, integrative program model that promotes mental, emotional, and physical healing. Dare to Dream has helped hundreds of veterans find hope, purpose, and a path forward.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
I hope to create a supportive, peaceful environment for our veterans and their family members, offering them the opportunity to heal and have hope for the future.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
As the need for nonprofits continues to grow, competing for grants and sponsors remains one of the biggest challenges.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
The positive outcomes and increased awareness of our programs will help us secure new funding to expand our offerings and support more veterans and their families.
Watch Manya Glassman bring film opportunities to Rhode Island
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
I was born and raised in Providence. I always had a camera in my hands, constantly gathering friends to make movies. I went to Providence College (Go Friars!), and later moved to New York City for the New York University Tisch Graduate School film program, which was a life-changing experience. I collaborated with peers from all over the world – China, Nepal, France, Iran, and beyond – people I never would have met otherwise. During COVID, I created a pod of six NYU grad students who stayed in Providence to make six short films. Providence served as both a safe haven and a catalyst for the arts. I shot How I Learned to Die , a story about a 16-year-old girl who learns she may have only four days to live, here. It’s a coming-of-age comedy drama based on my own experience in high school, when I learned of a deadly tumor in my vertebrae. Shooting here was incredibly important to me because the community of teachers, doctors, friends, and parents was such a supportive and influential part of my experience. I am developing the short film into a feature, and we are currently in pre-production.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
I want to explore what it means to be human and mortal, the complexities of good and evil, right and wrong, love and tragedy. Filmmaking is a way we can explore our own lives, the lives of others, and connect with lives that otherwise would never have been connected.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
I hope to impact the Ocean State by shooting my films here and by developing stories in RI. Most importantly, I hope to utilize local students and professionals – production assistants, designers, and actors – as well as other local resources. My film premiered this year at two prestigious film festivals, Tribeca and the Rhode Island International Film Festival. Rhode Island has given me so much, and I hope to be able to give some back.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
I’d like to find like-minded individuals who value the human experience and questions in life, and who will not give up as they follow their dreams alongside me.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
Director/Writer • (she/her)
ManyaGlassman.com, @manyaglassman
I’m incredibly excited to shoot the film in Providence. I am currently in film development with two producers based in New York, working with production companies and agencies. I’m thrilled to bring together my New York collaborators and local talent for the perfect combination of cinematic creativity.
Watch Roberto Gonzalez empower youth to redefine what science means
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
I’m a hip-hop nerd and Spiderman fiend from Providence’s Washington Park. I’ve spent my career giving young people autonomy to find their voice, their confidence, and their purpose through creativity, innovation, and real-world application. Through STEAM Box (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), we’ve built programs where students don’t just learn about technology, they create with it.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
My motivation comes from watching students transform when they realize their voice and their story have power. I started this work because I saw a real gap between what young people are capable of and the antiquated public school systems. Too often, students are talked at, instead of listened to. Through STEAM Box, I created a space where youth could lead, where their ideas, energy, and experiences could shape projects that matter to them; the goal has always been to help young people see themselves as innovators and leaders.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
We’re developing a new centralized learning hub in Providence, continuing our practice of bringing together youth from across the state to collaborate on podcasts, engineering projects, and creative media. This hub will serve as a launchpad for student voice and community connection, helping Rhode Island’s next generation build the confidence, technical skills, and emotional resilience they need to lead.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
One of the biggest challenges we’ll face is scaling our work without losing the authenticity of the youth voice. The students are the ones leading conversations, designing solutions, and setting the tone for our programs. Another major challenge will be sustaining resources; we need partners, schools, and policymakers who recognize that this kind of work takes long-term investment. Our goal isn’t just to react to the crisis, but to create a culture of care, creativity, and belonging, and that means constantly learning, listening, and evolving.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
My optimism isn’t blind, it’s based on what I see every day: students turning challenges into breakthroughs, and Rhode Island rallying behind them. Every week, I see young people showing up with bold ideas, empathy, and a determination to make things better, not just for themselves, but for their communities, and they’re fulfilled by it. It’s that energy that’s going to define 2026.
Watch Ella Kilpatrick Kotner complete a compost hub to create healthier communities
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
I grew up on a farm, digging my bare feet in compost piles and delivering produce to local grocery stores. When I moved to Providence about 10 years ago, I became fascinated with how the food and composting systems I was used to differed in an urban environment. In 2021 I began serving as the program director for Harvest Cycle, a community composting program within the nonprofit Groundwork RI that collects food scraps from across Providence via bicycle and processes them into compost, which is then redistributed to the people whose food scraps it is made from.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
Composting food scraps supports this foundation by building up local food systems, urban canopies, resilient cities, and empowered communities. We are building the West End Compost Hub because food scraps are a valuable resource that should be infinitely recycled and utilized in our communities, rather than thrown away. Community composting has a myriad of benefits in addition to landfill diversion, including job creation, carbon sequestration, local food production, and community engagement.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?
We are currently redeveloping a brownfield site in the West End of Providence into a compost hub. The West End Compost Hub will create compost for the community and be a place for gathering, training, and education. Two federal grants that would have funded the final construction phase were terminated, leaving a funding gap and an uncertain future for the hub. We know the value that the hub will bring to the community, so we remain committed to bringing it to life. Finding the funds to replace the terminated federal grants and complete construction will be our biggest challenge to overcome in 2026.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
In a time when the large-scale systems meant to protect us are failing and being dismantled, local self-reliance is more important than ever.
I am energized and motivated by the incredible ecosystem of community composters in Rhode Island working to reshape how society conceptualizes waste and build local, circular models that are environmentally, socially, and economically beneficial for all.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
Composting is the ultimate redemption story – it turns what many consider trash into something that nourishes life and builds community, microbial and human. This cycle and the connections formed through it give me hope and keep me optimistic about the future.
Watch Jennifer Lima work to foster a climate that encourages diversity
Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.
I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, but I’ve lived in North Kingstown for the past 33 years. In 2020, I founded a nonprofit called TANK – Toward an Anti-Racist North Kingstown, and our main focus was advocating for anti-racist reform in the school district. This year, we changed our name to TANK – Transformative Action for North Kingstown, to reflect that our work has expanded to include advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant justice, and combating all forms of discrimination.
What’s your motivation for doing this work?
The summer of 2020 forced me to think long and hard about what specifically I was doing to effect positive change in our world. My husband and I tell our kids to get involved, get out there, be the change they wish to see in the world, but how could I expect my children to do those things if I was sitting on the sofa? So, I started reaching out and connecting with others who wanted to make change right here where we live. It’s my belief that it’s just as, if not more important, to do this work in predominantly white communities like North Kingstown where inequities are often dismissed because they’re not always visible to everyone. If even one person pauses and thinks, “Just because it hasn’t happened to me doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” that matters.
In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year? By bringing in speakers, sharing resources, connecting people to one another, and encouraging engagement with local policy. Small shifts add up.
What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?
There is a growing push at the federal level to strip words like diversity, equity, and inclusion from our shared vocabulary. Despite what some would have you believe, these aren’t “dirty” words. But they’ve become such lightning rods that schools, organizations, and even corporations are becoming hesitant to support anything that uses the language. DEI is about identifying and removing barriers to opportunity so that everyone can participate fully, not just those who have always been able to.
What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?
Because you have to be. As Mariame Kaba [American organizer, educator, archivist and curator] says, hope is a discipline. You can choose to focus on the obstacles, or you can choose to focus on the times when you have made an impact. And I’ve seen what’s possible when people decide to show up for one another.
IN PRINT
Leading Ladies is a multi-page section within the March 2026 issues of Providence Monthly, So Rhode Island, The Bay, and Hey Rhody!
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LEADING LADIES
HOME & STYLE
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Crowning Touches
A crumbling King’s Grant farmhouse gets brought back to life
By Elyse Major
No one seemed to want to take on such a large project, so we decided to,” says Blair Moore with resolve, describing the ramshackle saltbox on a patch of farmland in Tiverton. “We craved the space we once owned in Australia, and had driven by this farm many times.”
The “we” is her family, an industrious clan originally from the land Down Under who relocated to the US in 2009. Based in Rhode Island and New York City, and doing business as Moore House Design, they specialize in sustainability, transforming neglected properties – including a rag-tag architectural assortment ranging from cottages to a Quonset hut, and a farmhouse that needed rescuing.
“We have been watching this building deteriorate for many years,” says Moore, who refers to the 18th century farmhouse affectionately as “her”. One of Rhode Island’s original King’s Grant farmhouses, in the 1700s land was given as a grant from the king of England to start building estates. “This late 1730’s farmhouse was one of ten of these properties. A long and unconventional
project, we’re preserving history while bringing 21st century elements to the over 6,000 square feet home,” says the designer. The majority of the remodel for the kitchen, living, dining room and master suite, involved restoring original floorboards, custom paneling details, and beautiful windows. This project also includes a large open plan garage section and a silo with a secondary
master suite. “It’s a beautiful example of new and old living in harmony,” says Moore. Endeavors like the farmhouse require time and patience. “If you are in the middle of a renovation phase, create some zen zones within the space. Something that is cohesive and tonal in color will help relax your senses from the chaos of design,” she advises.
Photography by Erin McGinn
Herringbone tile from Nemo Tile, in the style ‘Strada Warm NM 04 NAT’ in the 4x24 size
Paneling lends subtle texture
A print stands-in for a window in the small kitchen
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An interior designer, Moore has a vision for each dwelling and her signature aesthetic of farmcoast simplicity runs through the family’s myriad properties. “Each has its own story and style. It is up to the designer and homeowner to pay attention to what the architecture is telling you,” she offers. Describing her vision as minimal with a sustainable vibe, Moore looks for reclaimed wood and salvage, uses mixes of leftover paints from projects, and seeks furnishings
“BEAUTIFUL FLOORS, WALL TREATMENTS, AND CEILINGS ARE 100-PERCENT WHERE IT’S AT,” says
by
Photography
Erin McGinn
Propping art on a chair turns a brief wall into a gallery space
Blair Moore
at antique shops as much as possible, layered with modern shapes and décor.
“We usually live in a space for about a year or two before we deep dive into the land of renovation,” explains Moore of the process.
“Time tells you a lot about a home and your wants and dreams about what it can become.
I believe it is our duty to pay attention to these aspects in every home to help tell the home’s story for generations to come.”
Get Rhody Style
Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.
Moore to Love
“We pride ourselves on design for generations. With a philosophy informed by our respect for historical architecture, our intention is to design with out-of-the-box creativity while staying true to the original character of a structure. We create cohesive interiors that focus on function while layering organic and sustainable elements that bring depth and sculpture into your space. We think like architects, but we blend structure with design and comfort, taking a holistic approach throughout your home.” Learn more at MooreHouseDesign.com
Material Matters
Bringing the outside in with large windows and plenty of plants, and grounding spaces with old and vintage pieces, are pieces of advice from Moore that are applicable to most any room.
Brunch with Babs
If you follow NYT bestseller cookbook author-turned-social media sensation Barbara Costello AKA @brunchwithbabs you may already be familiar with the work of Blair Moore, as Costello’s Norwalk, CT home is part of the Moore House Family portfolio. Look for The Basket House story on the blog at MooreHouseFamily.com/blog
Go Wild This Winter
Five animal experiences worth bundling up for
By Hugh Minor
Tis the season to hibernate, but not everyone shutters themselves away during the coldest months of the year. Plenty of our animal neighbors are still up for a visit, so make a plan to spend some time with this set of furry, finned, and feathered pals.
Dine with Darwin the Tortoise at Biomes
Do you know what a tortoise eats? You can find out when you join Darwin for mealtime at Biomes
Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown. He is a youngster at 26, as tortoises are known to live to be 120 years old. Feedings are scheduled for 1:30pm in the afternoon on Saturdays and Sundays during the school year and on Rhode Island public school vacation days. Darwin is surrounded by friendly New England marine life including sharks, rays, and seahorses. BiomesCenter.com
Fantastic Friends at Fantastic Umbrella Factory
The charm of Charlestown’s Fantastic Umbrella
Factory is that you can find a little bit of everything under the sun at this 19th-century property. Whether you’re shopping or visiting the animals roaming their gardens, you’ll be mesmerized by what you discover. You can meet George the emu, feed his clucking chicken friends, and pet the goats as they gently nibble on your coat sleeve. Head on down for a fantastic experience. Open only on weekends in January and February then back to a full schedule in March. FantasticUmbrellaFactory.com
Photo courtesy of RWP Zoo
The Humboldt penguins at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Pack-a Your Bags for Matunuck Alpaca Farm
Thirteen is a lucky number when it comes to alpacas. That’s how many of these fuzzy, furry friends you’ll meet at the Matunuck Alpaca Farm. You can meet the alpacas in person on the first Sunday of every month. The small fiber farm creates products that you can purchase at Dove & Distaff Rug Gallery in Wakefield Village. The alpacas would also like you to know that they love baby carrots, so please plan accordingly. Plus they recommend a visit to the Mews Tavern while you’re down their way. MatunuckAlpaca.online
Sail Away with the Seals of Narragansett Bay
The seals are back and, like most of us, they love Narragansett Bay. The difference is that they love the freezing cold of winter for their swim time. From November through April, Save the Bay offers educational tours departing from Newport Harbor, where you’ll have the chance to watch the finned mammals and other wildlife in their natural habitat. At the same time, you’re supporting a nonprofit organization committed to protecting and preserving our waterways. Now that gets a seal of approval! SaveBay.org
Take a Trip to Penguin Point
Feeling a little humbug after the holidays? The Humboldt penguins at Roger Williams Park Zoo will bring a smile to your face. These adorably friendly marine birds are a relatively recent addition to the area, but they quickly adapted to their new home at Penguin Point. There are other cold-weather lovers at the zoo as well, like the red panda and the snow leopard. All of these inhabitants are considered vulnerable in their natural habitats, so sheltering them at the zoo is a critical component of their conservation. See them all and much more during a winter visit. RWPZoo.org
Tortoise Darwin (known to disco from time to time) at Biomes Marine Biology Center
Photo courtesy of Biomes
January
February
Rhody Reads
Six hot-off-the-press books for long winter nights
By Deborah Goodrich Royce
The holidays have passed and we find ourselves settling into the cold and dark as the world is called to stillness. If you can, slow down too and find a comfy spot to luxuriate over a good book. Here are some great new releases to help you do just that. Several of the featured authors will join me, Martin House Books, and 95.9 WCRI-FM at the Ocean House Author Series this summer, and we would all love to see you there.
Wendy Walker’s Blade publishes February 1. As a former family practice attorney, Walker is familiar with childhood trauma. In Blade , she reveals the complex world of competitive figure skating, one she knows well having spent her own adolescence in it. Defense attorney Ana Robbins had been set for Olympic stardom until tragedy struck. When her former coach turns up dead years later, Ana is pulled back into the scene she fled as a teenager, and long-buried secrets are unearthed.
Susan Lucci – AKA Erica Kane from ABC’s beloved soap, All My Children (and, fun fact, my TV-sister from my role as Silver Kane in the 80s!) – releases La Lucci , her follow-up memoir to All My Lives , on February 3. With her signature warmth and honesty, Lucci shares pivotal moments that shaped her perspective and ability to move forward with gratitude, hope, and grace. Stay tuned for the date she will be my guest at the Ocean House Author Series this summer!
February 10 delivers The House of Eve by New York Times bestselling author, Sadeqa Johnson. When Ethel Gathers – wife of an American officer stationed in post-World War II Germany –discovers an orphanage filled with the abandoned mixed-race children of German women and American GIs, she determines to find them homes. Her vision will change the course of countless lives, and demonstrates that love in its myriad of forms – familial, parental, and forbidden, even love of self – can be transcendent.
My newest thriller, Best Boy , publishes February 24! A gripping psychological thriller, Best Boy teeters on the knife-edge of memory and identity when the arrival of a shocking letter threatens the carefully constructed life of a woman desperate to outrun her past. A heartfelt exploration of the mistakes we make – even unwittingly – and how they haunt us years later. Please join me in conversation with Robin Kall at the United Theatre in Westerly at 5pm on Sunday, February 22.
On March 10, Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post , returns with It Girl , a sensational novel about a model and showgirl at the turn of the last century whose dramatic journey echoes through the decades. Inspired by real-life Ziegfeld and Gibson Girl, Evelyn Nesbit, whose story climaxed with the murder of Stanford White by her jealous husband (who claimed America’s first insanity defense!), It Girl takes that story to an engagingly different conclusion.
Marie Benedict, known for her “delightful blend of historical fiction and suspense” (People), delivers Daughter of Egypt on March 24. A sweeping tale of a woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, who ruled three thousand years ago. Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, this is the story of two adventurous women who lived centuries apart but were both forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes. Ultimately, they each changed history.
ABOUT DEBORAH GOODRICH ROYCE
Royce began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films before transitioning to the role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago and A Wrinkle in Time . She holds a bachelor’s degree and two honorary doctorates, from both Lake Erie College and the University of Rhode Island. With her husband, Chuck, she has restored the Ocean House Hotel, United Theatre, Martin House Books, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island and the Catskills. She serves on multiple governing and advisory boards.
Please consider shopping local when making book purchases
Royce’s upcoming psychological thriller Best Boy , will be published on February 24. Reef Road , a national bestseller, was named one of the best books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews and an Indie Next pick by the ABA. Her Ocean House Author Series, in partnership with Martin House Books and WCRI, brings world-class authors like Sarah Ferguson, Chris Bohjalian, and Katie Couric to Watch Hill. With fellow authors, Luanne Rice and Amy Scheibe, she created the Deer Mountain Writers’ Retreat in the Catskills. For tickets and more, visit OceanHouseEvents.com.
National Treasures
Rhody goods to revolutionize your style
By Britt Machado
For centuries, resourceful Rhode Islanders have created beautiful things. Our state is home to a variety of independent thinkers continuing a tradition of making, and shopkeepers who recognize the value of pre-loved pieces to seek and sell in their shops. Whether its furnishings fashioned from shells, the return of the woodworking art of coopering, fabricating jewelry from quahogs, or discovering a Gorham silver set ready for a fresh start, our small state punches well above its size when it comes to cultivated style. By supporting these crafts, we ensure our hometown products continue to be so
Colonial Mills | Rumford
Coopered Vessel
Providence | KateDannessa.com
Eco-Printed Pillow Case
Providence | Sashoonya.com
Gorham Flatware Set
Pawtucket | RIAntiquesMall.com
Lace Napkins
Warren | LadyNextDoorVintage.com
Light
Providence | Shellflife.com
Pewter Candle Holders
Warren | BeehiveHandmade.com
Spindle-back Chair
Providence | RowanShawJones.com
Wampum Necklace
Charlestown | Instagram: @thepurleshellgifts
Founded in 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade is part of the oldest celebration in the US, earning the town the nickname, “America’s most patriotic town”
FEATURE
A Banner Year
Revisiting Rhode Island as America turns 250
By Elyse Major
This July 4th marks the semiquincentennial of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. This milestone isn’t about when Rhode Island was settled (140 years prior, thank you very much), or even a history of a region inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, but reflections on the past 250. Looking back at the often-complicated past, there can still be a sense of patriotic spirit knowing that not only was Rhode Island the first US colony to renounce British rule, but more than a year before the Boston Tea Party, our colonists led the first uprising against the Crown with the burning of the HMS Gaspee in Warwick.
After winning independence, Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution, refusing to sign until the Bill of Rights was added in 1791. Over the centuries, our state has been at the center of innovation as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution – where river-powered mills led workers from farm to factory (and resulted in all of those small village names) – and party to progressive movements like the Dorr Rebellion which aimed to expand voting rights in the 1840s, or having five capital cities to balance power until Providence became the sole capital in 1900. After the Civil War, manufacturing shifted from textiles to metals, and the smallest state became a world leader in the jewelry industry throughout the 20th century. To many of us who make our home in the Ocean State, any quirks are offset by a close proximity to everything from the ocean, to the arts, to a rich tapestry of dining, and vestiges of the past juxtaposed alongside the present.
Through 2026, discover a historical thread weaving through our pages, connecting Rhode Island’s past with the present and future.
39 Facts About 39 Municipalities
FROM BEN FRANKLIN TO BETTY THE ELEPHANT, THE SMALLEST STATE IS LOADED WITH LORE
By Emma Bartlett
1. BARRINGTON: Even though the 21st Amendment ended prohibition in 1933, Barrington remained a “dry” town – meaning you couldn’t order a drink or buy alcohol –until 2011, when the town council approved the opening of two liquor stores.
2. BRISTOL: Following the American Revolution, King and Queen streets became Church and Constitution streets, to reflect the independence of the colonies as the United States.
3. BURRILLVILLE: The Harrisville Post Office was built by entrepreneur and philanthropist Austin T. Levy in 1950, and marked the first time a private citizen built a post office as a gift to the federal government.
4. CENTRAL FALLS: By land area, the smallest city in the smallest state featured one of North America’s earliest water-powered chocolate mills. For more than 25 years, the smell of roasting cocoa beans permeated a stretch of the Blackstone River.
5. CHARLESTOWN: Quonochontaug Pond was the setting of a short-lived mining operation financed by inventor and businessman Thomas Edison, where magnets separated iron from sand.
6. COVENTRY: Waterman Tavern was one of the first stops taken by Count de Rochambeau’s army during its 1781 march from Providence to Yorktown, Virginia, during the American Revolution. The officers stayed at the tavern while the main army camped nearby.
7. CRANSTON: Hi Neighbor! In 1890, Narragansett Brewery was originally founded by six GermanAmerican entrepreneurs and later became one of the largest brewers in the region. The brand fell on hard times by the 1980s, but was revitalized under new ownership in 2005.
8. CUMBERLAND: In 1980 a Cumberland High School student successfully sued the school
for the right to take his boyfriend to prom (Aaron Fricke v. Richard B. Lynch). A federal court ruled that taking a same-sex date to a prom is a matter of free expression under the First Amendment, and the pair was allowed to attend together.
9. EAST GREENWICH: Benjamin Franklin was such a frequent guest at the home of his friends Governor William Greene and his wife Catharine Ray, that a window on the west side where he enjoyed sitting is called “Franklin’s Window.”
10. EAST PROVIDENCE: Nearly 12 million people (and counting) have taken a spin on the Crescent Park Carousel since it was built in 1895 by Charles I.D. Loof. Featuring 62 handcarved figures and four chariots, it’s known as the largest and most elaborate example of Loof’s work.
11. EXETER: Scholars suggest that Bram Stoker based the character Lucy Westenra, in his novel Dracula , on Mercy Brown. The Exeter woman’s story made international headlines surrounding her death from consumption and exhuming, spawning the New England vampire panic in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
12. FOSTER: Built in the early 1900s, local lore has it that The Old Jail only ever held one prisoner for one day.
13. GLOCESTER: On May 25, 1826, Hakaliah Bailey walked Betty the Learned Elephant around Chepachet on a Sunday; a religious type didn’t like the diversion from church and gunned her down. Find the commemorative plaque on the Chepachet River Bridge, and note that May 25 is Elephant Day in the village.
14. HOPKINTON: The town was named for Founding Father Stephen Hopkins, who, among other things, introduced a bill in 1774 while serving in the Rhode Island General Assembly, which prohibited the importation of slaves into the colony; one of the first anti-slave trade laws in the United States.
15. JAMESTOWN: Beavertail Lighthouse is the thirdoldest lighthouse in North America. Built in 1856, it marks the entrance to Narragansett Bay.
16. JOHNSTON: During the Revolutionary War, the village of Graniteville was the site of the state’s only gunpowder mill, which was run by James Goff until it exploded in 1779, killing Goff and destroying the mill.
Photo (L) courtesy of Newport Historical Society, (R) courtesy of South County Museum
Chocolate Mill Overlook
RI’s panel in the America’s Tapestry project
JANUARY 1: America’s Tapestry Embroidery Event, Narragansett | SouthCountyMuseum.org
FEBRUARY-DECEMBER: Occupied! Newport and the Fight for Independence, Newport | NewportHistory.org
FEBRUARY 7: Saugatucket Skirmish, South Kingstown | SouthKingstownRI.gov
MARCH 13-15: Behind the Lines: Unsung Women of the American Revolution, Portsmouth | Brigade.org
17. LINCOLN: Lincoln Woods State Reservation was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln and opened on his birthday: February, 12, 1909. Until the 1940s, the park was known as Quinsnicket, a faux Indian name invented by white settlers.
18. LITTLE COMPTON: In the 1830s, poultry farmers cross-bred chickens to create the Rhode Island Red, with the goal of outstanding egg production in a bird large enough to eat. The poultry became one of the most successful and widespread of farm breeds, and our state bird.
19. MIDDLETOWN: While British forces occupied Isaac Barker’s home, the farmer pretended to be a loyalist while gathering intel in an elaborate spy operation where he employed a system of signals to inform American troops across the Sakonnet River in Little Compton of British activities.
20. NARRAGANSETT: The Narragansett Pier Casino was designed by McKim, Mead and White, the most prominent American architectural firm of the era, and landscaped by the revered Frederick Law Olmstead, whose portfolio includes Central Park.
21. NEWPORT: Obour Tanner was an enslaved woman who corresponded with and acted as an agent for Phillis Wheatley, the first professional African-American woman poet in America and the first African-American woman whose writings were published.
22. NEW SHOREHAM: In the 1690s, notorious Scottish privateer Captain Kidd visited the island where he was supplied with provisions by Mrs. Mercy Raymond. The story goes that before his exit, he asked Raymond to hold-out her apron, which he then filled with gold and jewels as payment for her hospitality.
23. NORTH KINGSTOWN: Born on December 3, 1755 in
Witness flags will begin appearing at properties around Newport to mark the 250th
a room above his father’s snuff mill, artist Gilbert Stuart left a legacy of over one thousand portraits. His unfinished Athenaeum portrait of George Washington appears on the US one-dollar bill.
24. NORTH PROVIDENCE: At the turn of the 20th century, the village of Fruit Hill was an arts district, and among its residents was landscape painter George William Whitaker. Known as the “Dean of Providence painters,” he was a founding member of the Providence Art Club, and RISD’s first oil painting instructor.
25. NORTH SMITHFIELD: The Marquis de Lafayette is said to have dined at Seth Allen Tavern in Union Village during a visit in 1825. Then a transportation hub, the first bank in the area opened here in 1805, hence being called Bank Village back in the day.
26. PAWTUCKET: The birthplace of industry was also home to the first organized labor strike
when in May 1824, 100 women walked off the job in protest of cut wages at area mills. After an “incendiary device” was tossed into Walcott’s Mill causing a small fire, a settlement was reached, and workers were back at their machines by early June.
27. PORTSMOUTH: From 1862 to 1865, Lovell General Hospital treated more than 10,500 sick and wounded Union and Confederate soldiers who arrived by steamship. Prior to the Civil War, it was the Portsmouth Grove House, a hotel with amusements and clambakes.
28. PROVIDENCE: Born in Providence in 1878, George M. Cohan is considered the father of the American musical comedy. He wrote 300 songs, including “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and “(I’m a) Yankee Doodle Dandy”. Find a statue of Cohan in Times Square, NYC, and closer to home at the corner of Wickenden and Governor streets.
Next time you’re at Fox Point, give your regards to George M. Cohan
29. RICHMOND: While residents supported the American Revolution by sending troops and setting aside monies for the manufacture of munitions, in March, 1787 they voted against the adoption of The Constitution, which was widely unpopular across Rhode Island.
30. SCITUATE: A Chopmist Hill farmhouse served as a top-secret listening post and intercepted messages during World War II. Also known as the Scituate Monitoring Station, it was the largest and most effective of 13 similar installations that comprised a national network. The site was later considered for the headquarters of the United Nations.
31. SMITHFIELD: Born in 1806, Elizabeth Buffum Chace became a well-known anti-slavery activist and women’s suffrage advocate, and was the first woman to be memorialized with a statue in the Rhode Island State House.
32. SOUTH KINGSTOWN: At the South Kingstown Public Library in Peace Dale, take a look at The Weaver , a bronze high-relief sculpture by Daniel Chester French, a sculptor best known as the creator of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, and The Minute Man in Concord, MA.
33. TIVERTON: During the British occupation of what is now Aquidneck Island, Tiverton was a refuge for colonists, and a gathering spot for colonial forces during the American Revolution.
34. WARREN: New England’s oldest Masonic Temple was built in the 18th century with timbers from British frigates sunk in Newport Harbor during the American Revolution. Washington Lodge No. 3 is the second oldest continuously operating Freemason’s Lodge in the United States, first opened in June of 1796.
35. WARWICK: The Fruit of the Loom brand, once housed in Pontiac Mills, was a major producer of Union uniforms for the Civil War. Local legends say its bell tower was dedicated by President Lincoln at its grand opening in 1863, but alas, this is unsubstantiated.
36. WESTERLY: Rhody’s first Yale graduate, Dr. Joshua Babcock, hosted both Ben Franklin and General George Washington at his Georgian mansion. He also served as a state militia
ROAD TRIP FOR HISTORY BUFFS
Chances are good that you’ve come across those blue, red, and gold W3R signs on local roads and wondered what they meant. It’s the National Park Service’s Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, and follows the path taken by the French army under Rochambeau on its journey from RI to the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. Spanning more than 680 miles through nine states and the District of Columbia, the trail commemorates the land and water routes that secured American independence, while emphasizing that the march to Yorktown was not just a military route, but a vibrant network of real communities whose stories continue to shape America’s identity. Find maps, merch, and more at W3R-US.org
The American Dream
For many immigrant groups, the Port of Providence served as a primary point of entry and the Fabre Line was their vessel. The steamships offered the only transatlantic route to southern New England from places along the Mediterranean. It’s documented that nearly 84,000 people, mostly from Portugal and Italy, were admitted to the country between the years 1911 and 1934, almost one in nine settling in Rhode Island after landing in Providence. However, both the line and the families hoping for a new life faced major obstacles including World War I, the immigration restriction laws of the 1920s, and the Great Depression.
general, as Rhode Island Supreme Court justice, and as Westerly’s first postmaster, operating the post office and a general store out of his home, now the Babcock-Smith House museum.
37. WEST GREENWICH: The New London Turnpike was one of the earliest toll roads. Opened in 1821, it shortened the distance between Providence and New York by 12 miles and transformed the area into a bustling thoroughfare. Competition from steamboats, railroads, and public roads led to its failure and the road fell into disrepair – as did its reputation – becoming known as Hell’s Half Acre.
38. WEST WARWICK: Incorporated in 1913, West Warwick is the youngest town in Rhode Island. Home to the third oldest cotton textile mill in the state, Lippitt Mill; among its founders was Christopher Lippitt, an officer in the American Revolution.
39. WOONSOCKET: The Woonsocket Harris Public Library, then known as the Harris Institute Library, opened its doors to the public on October 3, 1868. The library has the distinction of being the first fee- and subscription-free public library in the state. The library was located directly below Harris Hall, where Abraham Lincoln delivered an anti-slavery address in 1860.
A portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart
Field Trips:
BABCOCK-SMITH HOUSE MUSEUM: Visit the home of Dr. Joshua Babcock, a 1734 Georgian mansion that hosted the likes of George Washington and Ben Franklin, while serving as a post office and general store. Westerly, BabcockSmithHouse.org
CHOOSING SIDES IN REVOLUTIONARY NEWPORT: This two-guide 90-minute walking tour brings both perspectives to life, asking you to decide whose cause you would follow in a city torn between rebellion and loyalty. Newport, NewportHistoryTours.org
THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM: Exhibits and objects reflecting Rhode Island’s role in the Revolution and participation in slavery and the slave trade. Providence, RIHS.org
SIX PLACES TO GET YOUR HISTORY ON
MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE: Explore the transformation of this textile city over 200 years on an interactive touch table. Exhibits are presented in both French and English. Woonsocket, RIHS.org
SOWAMS HERITAGE AREA: Ten self-guided tours offer a unique way to explore Sowams’ past and present, connecting visitors to Indigenous landmarks, historical sites, and cultural pathways that shaped this land. Warren, Sowams.org
VARNUM HOUSE MUSEUM: The 250-year-old house of James Mitchell Varnum, a general serving under Washington, he was a brilliant lawyer who proposed the formation of the Black Regiment; its guests included Generals Washington and Lafayette. East Greenwich, VarnumContinentals.org
25 RHODY FIRSTS
FIRST INDOOR SHOPPING MALL: The Arcade, Providence
FIRST RESTAURANT: White Horse Tavern, Newport
FIRST DISCOUNT DEPARTMENT STORE: Ann and Hope, Cumberland
FIRST LUNCH WAGON IN AMERICA: Haven Brothers, Providence
FIRST FULLY AUTOMATED POST OFFICE: Providence
FIRST OFFICIAL CIRCUS PERFORMANCE: Newport
FIRST PENNY ARCADE BUSINESS: Burrillville
FIRST WATER-POWERED COTTON MILL: Slater Mill, Pawtucket
FIRST GAS-LIT STREET IN AMERICA: Newport
FIRST COLLEGE IN AMERICA TO ACCEPT STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Brown University
FIRST NINE-HOLE GOLF COURSE: Newport
FIRST COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE WIND FARM: Block Island
FIRST WOMAN NEWSPAPER EDITOR IN AMERICA: Ann Smith Franklin of The Mercury , Newport
FIRST WOMAN LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER: Ida Lewis, Newport
FIRST WOMAN TO ESTABLISH AN AMERICAN TOWN: Ann Hutchinson, Portsmouth
FIRST TEMPLE: Touro Synagogue, Newport
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH: Providence
FIRST ANTI-SLAVERY LAW SIGNED IN 1652
FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN UNIT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
FIRST NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: Newport
FIRST FORMAL NAVY CREATED IN 1772: East Greenwich
FIRST TO SEND TROOPS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S REQUEST FOR HELP DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
FIRST ACT OF ARMED REBELLION AGAINST THE CROWN: Pawtuxet Village
FIRST PROPONENT OF THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: Roger Williams
FIRST PRESIDENTIAL PHONE CALL: Alexander Graham Bell called President Rutherford B. Hayes at a Rocky Point clambake, from the City Hotel in Providence
Photo courtesy of Newport Historic Society
Built between 1739 and 1741, the Colony House in Newport is the fourth oldest state house still standing in the US. During the American Revolution, George Washington met General Rochambeau here.
Photo courtesy of B. Michael Zuckerman via WikiMedia
First discount department store in the US: Ann and Hope, Cumberland
A Stunning Historic Apartment Community
Welcome to US Rubber Lofts
This luxurious historic mill community has been fully renovated to capture Providence’s chic, urban spirit! Each unit features a modern kitchen and designer finishes, with some showcasing original exposed brick and beams. US Rubber Lofts is steps from the RIPTA bus line and minutes from the commuter rail. Downtown Providence, the River Greenway Bike Path, and Federal Hill are all nearby, offering easy access to dining, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife!
Resort Style Amenities
Rooftop Deck BBQ / Picnic Area / Fire Pit
Indoor Putting Green
Indoor Basketball Court Garage *Additional Fee
FOOD & DRINK
Experience | Recipe | Round Up | Cocktail
Happy as Little Clams
From ingredients to furnishings, locality shines at a Newport hotel restaurant helmed by a chef in the spotlight
By Elyse Major
Remember that scene from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy steps into Oz, and her drab coffee-colored world instantly transforms to dazzling Technicolor? That’s how it felt walking into Wayfinder Newport on one of those frigid days where sky and sea merge into a singular grayscale. I’d crossed two bridges in the soupy fog for my brunch reservation at the boutique hotel’s restaurant, Little Clam, and once inside the lobby, my eyes immediately went to the mod focal point – a central suspended JC Bordelet Eva 992 fireplace in tangerine. Around the corner in a cozy lounge area, a 50” x 36” oil on canvas of a retro Sea and Ski suntan lotion bottle by Providence artist Mea Duke confirms it – I’m not in Newport anymore . Well, I am, but it’s neither fancy Gilded Age nor classic striped New England trappings; instead, it’s a different spin – one rich with a vintage travel poster aesthetic, abstract art, and mid-century-esque furnishings, exuding the chill vibes that say: beach digs by day, Alps chalet by night.
FOOD & DRINK
Even though this is my first visit to the property, I know all the lore. The 2020 renovation of the former Mainstay Hotel and Conference Center into hip accommodations, the tragic fire in May 2020, partial reopening in 2023, and full reopening the following year. Last June saw the launch of Little Clam, led by executive chef Antonio Wormley, a Johnson and Wales University alum and current competitor on FOX’s hit TV series Hell’s Kitchen , and consulting chef Jake Rojas, an acclaimed local. Among their creds, both are advocates of sourcing and promoting the hard-working folks behind the ingredients – oyster farmers, foragers, and family-run farms – so I knew brunch would be a treat. Despite an aversion to seafood, I invited my best friend as my plus-one
at Little Clam, knowing the menu features many items besides the humble mollusk.
Our friendly host leads us into the 161seat dining room which is outfitted in warm neutrals with cool blue accents. I’m quick to spot a framed mixed-media piece by Providence artist Jenny Brown, and chairs by Warren’s O&G Studio. Before I’ve even looked at the menu, I’m reveling in the local flavor. Hot, freshly brewed Nitro Bar coffee arrives and I’m ready to focus. We decide to start with Morning Sippers: I get the Aperol spritz – refreshingly orange and bubbly – and my BFF orders the Bloody Mary, which is essentially the drink that eats like a meal as it features bacon-washed vodka. After the first sip, her expression says it all. It’s excellent.
Must-Try Items
BLT: Applewood-smoked bacon, local field greens, heirloom tomato aioli, rustic sourdough
BROWN BUTTER BANANA
BREAD: Whipped honeycomb butter, Maldon sea salt
FARMHOUSE SPECIAL: Two localfarm eggs, toast with house-made seasonal jam, home fries; add breakfast pork sausage or house bacon
Cuisine: Seasonally crafted comfort foods
Atmosphere: Contemporary coastal
A top-down view includes the BLT, huevos rancheros, and the Farmhouse Special
There are so many fantastic-sounding dishes on the menu that we decide to each get our own meal plus things to share. It all arrives at once, resulting in a glorious flatlay of striped cloth napkins, silverware, and plated foods embellished with sprinkled herbs and artful drizzles. I get the farmhouse special: two eggs from nearby farms, sunnyside-up, bordered by a breachway of chunky home fries, and brioche toast served with a ramekin of tasty house-made seasonal jam. The brown butter banana bread sounded irresistible and it was; the thick slice arrived topped with an oval-shaped quenelle of whipped honeycomb butter, the sweetness tempered by a finishing of Maldon sea salt. A BLT for the table? Yes, please! A hand-held feast on rustic sourdough of applewood smoked bacon, field greens, tomato slices, and heirloom tomato aioli, all secured with toothpicks, and served alongside a heap of thinly sliced French fries. My bestie devoured her huevos rancheros, a seemingly simple dish leveled up by touches like avocado cream, charred tomatillo salsa, and crispy heirloom corn tortillas.
As a maple syrup snob, I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t order the pancake or the brioche French toast. The dinner selections look pretty amazing, too. Perhaps a weekend of sampling the entire menu while staying at Wayfinder Newport is in the cards! Check for offers on room discounts and deals like the Newport Mansions Escape, which includes two tickets and a $50 dining credit during your stay.
Little Clam
151 Admiral Kalbfus Road Newport 401-849-9880 • WayfinderNewport.com
VALENTINE’S MARKET
Brown butter banana bread
Comfort Served
Fresh herbs and skippable steps make this cozy chicken pot pie a winner
By Kayley McCabe
These little pot pies are sure to be a hearty fall and winter favorite. Tender dark-meat chicken is thrown together in a creamy sauce with rosemary, shiitake mushrooms, and celery root, and topped with a flaky round of puff pastry. If you’d like to skip a step, you can shred a rotisserie chicken instead of cooking chicken thighs. Make the filling ahead of time if you like; it’s even better once it’s sat in the fridge for a day and the flavors have deepened. Just heat the chicken filling mixture in the mini pie dishes in the oven until heated through, then top with the cooked pastry rounds. These pot pies can be made as minis or as one big pie.
WINTERTIME FARMERS MARKETS
Look for fresh and local ingredients at the following locations. Find additional details at FarmFreshRI.org
Farm Fresh RI Winter Farmers Market
10 Sims Avenue, Providence Saturdays through April 25, 9am-1pm
Mount Hope Farm Farmers Market
250 Metacom Avenue, Bristol
Saturdays, 10am-12:30pm, January - March 28
Pawtucket Farmers Market
Jordan’s Jungle
545 Pawtucket Avenue, Pawtucket
Fridays, 4:30pm-7:30pm
South Kingstown Farmers Market
Independence Square, URI Kingston
25 W. Independence Way, Kingston
Saturdays, 8:30am - 12:30pm
Tiverton Farmers Market
Tiverton Middle School Cafeteria
10 Quintal Drive, Tiverton
Sundays, 10am - 1:30pm, through April 26
INGREDIENTS
• 8 chicken thighs, bone-in
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 sprig thyme
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 red onion, diced large
• 1 large celery root, cut into half-inch cubes
• 4 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 lb. mushrooms, cut in half and then thickly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• ⅓ cup flour
• 3 cups chicken broth, reserved from cooking juices
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 egg, beaten
FOR THE CHICKEN
1. Place the chicken thighs, chicken broth, thyme and rosemary sprigs in a slow-cooker and cook on high for four hours.
2. Allow to cool slightly and then remove the bones and cartilage.
3. Shred the chicken just slightly and set aside.
4. Strain the broth in the base of the slow-cooker and set aside as well.
FOR THE FILLING
1. Melt the butter in a large stock pot over medium/high heat. Add the onion, celery root, and celery, along with a pinch or two of coarse salt, and sauté 4-5 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
2. Reduce heat to medium. A little browning is fine.
3. Add the chopped herbs and mushrooms to the vegetables and sauté for another 2 minutes.
4. Add the flour to the vegetables, stirring to coat, and allow to cook for 1 minute.
5. Add 1 cup of the reserved chicken broth to the vegetables and stir well until it thickens and the sauce is smooth.
6. Add the remaining 2 cups of broth and stir until combined and smooth. Allow the filling to simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly until the vegetables are very tender.
7. Add the cream to the filling. Check the seasonings and add more salt and pepper as needed.
8. Add the chicken into the filling and stir very gently, evenly distributing the chicken through the sauce (don’t stir too much or the chicken will shred into strings). Keep warm.
ASSEMBLE AND BAKE
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Cut four large circles out of each sheet of puff pastry for a total of eight puff pastry circles, and place on the baking sheet, leaving an inch of space in between each circle.
4. Brush the tops of the puff pastry circles with the beaten egg, and bake in a preheated oven for 9 to 10 minutes, or until puffed and golden-brown on top.
5. Fill pie dishes with chicken-mushroom filling and top each with a puff pastry circle.
Find more recipes at TheKitchenMcCabe.com
by Kayley McCabe
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Photo by Mac Olink
Photo by Nick DelGiudice
Photo by J. Nicole Captures
Savoring Rhody
Historic restaurants and taverns worth traversing the state
By Patty J
As one of the original 13 colonies, Rhode Island brims with historical significance at every turn, which also extends to its storied food and drink scene. I mean, how lucky are we to have a number of taverns throughout the state that have been around for hundreds of years?
Carriage Inn (1760)
This cozy restaurant used to be a stagecoach stop back in the day. After briefly shuttering in 2016 and reopening in 2017 under current owner Roy Ring, the spacious yet cozy place continues to embrace its past while offering a decidedly modern menu of American favorites. Regulars rave about their Cape Cod reuben, Carriage burger, and pulled pork sandwiches. North Kingstown
Clarke Cooke House (1780)
This Bannister’s Wharf mainstay, named for a wealthy sea captain, serves up delicious fare in well-preserved (and relocated) 18th-century dining rooms. Always lively, the vibe is rooted in Newport’s yachting culture. The kitchen is helmed by Ted Gidley, who brings a Mediterranean-spin to American classics. Don’t miss the chowder and save room for dessert. Newport
DeWolf Tavern (1818)
This lore-filled restaurant in the heart of downtown Bristol started as the headquarters for the DeWolf family’s businesses, including a stint as a rum distillery. Since taking ownership in 2019, Chef Sai Viswanath has introduced Indian dishes such as the naan bread sampler, tandoori chicken, and pakora vegetable fries, alongside classics like lobster popovers. Bristol
General Stanton Inn (1740)
Owners Jackie and David Moore embarked on a major renovation of the inn and restaurant
after scooping it up in 2022. Over the years, the General had played host to everyone from Al Capone and Tallulah Bankhead to Ben Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt. Nowadays, folks flock to the tavern for their Sunday brunch, garlic bread tower, and burgers. Make it a spirited stay! Charlestown
Olympia Tea Room (1916)
Thanks to its art deco interior, a meal at Olympia feels like stepping into an old Hollywood movie. Owned by Marcia and Jack Felber since 1980, this 110 years-young eatery is still the place to see and be seen in Watch Hill. Regulars live for their salads, grilled pizza, linguine and clams, and wine list. Watch Hill (reopens Spring 2026)
Tavern on Main (1799)
“Eat, drink, and be scary,” is the tagline of this cozy restaurant and bar under its recent ownership of Phil Zahlany and Chelsea Lumnah, who wholeheartedly embrace the whispers that this restaurant may indeed be haunted. See for yourself on any given night with their hearty dinner specials (their parms and seafood get
glowing reviews), old faves (popovers, prime rib), and creative cocktails. Chepachet
Treehouse Tavern & Bistro (1860)
Nestled along busy Centerville Road is a rustic retreat serving up handcrafted micro-brews, a scratch-made menu, and a tap selection featuring unique beers crafted with the finest hops, barley, and wheat. Love a dessert cart? This place has one, and much more. Their lobster mac and cheese, chicken wings, noodle bowl, and tea selections keep people coming back again and again. Warwick
White Horse Tavern (1652)
Built in 1652 as a private home and turned into a tavern in 1673 by a retired pirate (namely, William Mayes, Sr.), WHT has the distinction of being the oldest operating restaurant in the entire US. It was actually occupied by British troops during the American Revolution. Now owned by Jeff Farrar, people from all over go to enjoy their seafood, steaks, and a Dark and Stormy cocktail or two. Ask to see the picture of their resident ghost, which they keep behind the bar. Newport
Photo (top) courtesy of Carriage House, Photo’s (bottom) courtesy of Discover Newport
Carriage Inn
DeWolf Tavern
Patty J at White Horse Tavern
Clarke Cooke House
$825,000
Welcome to this 3/4 bedroom 2.5 bath colonial in the Gardners Neck area with deeded beach rights and close proximity to marinas beach club and major highways. This home has many upgrades from its in ground pool with cabana with a half bath and kitchenette, 20 KW house generator and a two-level barn perfect for car or toy storage or to convert to an ADU unit.
The main level has a fireplaced living room/dining room combo with hardwoods. Gourmet style kitchen with two full ranges built into the breakfast bar, family room with fireplace primary ensuite with walk in closet. Second level has 2 bedrooms, den and a full bath. The lower level is a finished media room with wet bar and laundry room and access to a heated sunroom.
FATHOM REALTY GROUP
Real Estate & Appraisals
Chris Howard • 508-801-7485
757 Stevens Road • Swansea, MA
ChrisJHoward@Hotmail.com
Starting in Reverse
Why a Newport foodie thinks you’ll flip over Julia Child’s favorite drink
By Ann Martini
Rhody’s-own content creator Teon Owen Cromwell, Jr. has been posting cocktail-making videos on his social media since 2021 (@newportrifoodie, across all platforms including YouTube and TikTok). Here, he shares some inspiration to get you through Dry January.
Cocktails are such a huge part of the holiday season, but is Dry January still a thing?
Dry January is still a thing because there are plenty of people out there who are very health conscious or don’t drink at all. I’ve also noticed that some people who do drink during Dry January tend to go the low-ABV route (which stands for “alcohol by volume” and refers to drinks with a lower alcohol content), or stick to a mocktail. This January I’m drinking an Upside-Down Martini, aka the Reverse Martini. It’s a variation on the classic martini that flips the proportions, which makes it a low-ABV cocktail.
Tell us why you like this drink.
I love the simplicity of this drink. It’s easy to make and a very smooth cocktail to drink, emphasizing all of the characteristics of vermouth, a fortified, aromatized wine characterized by a complex flavor profile.
What makes this drink special for wintertime?
I think it’s a perfect wintertime drink because after months of eating a lot of heavy foods, this drink is lighter, and it’s a nice fireside sipper.
What is the history of this martini?
Although there is no exact history of the Reverse Martini, many date its roots back to the early 1900s. Although a specific “inventor” is not documented, most people identify it with Julia Child, who called it her favorite version of a martini. Its reversal of traditional proportions brings back elements of pre-Prohibition-era drinks and is known for being a lower-alcohol option.
What are tasty snacks to pair with your martini?
I like to have cheese and crackers and even potato chips with this drink. One time I had potato chips with crème fraîche and caviar and that was delicious!
When you go out for a drink, where are places in RI you like best?
Troop PVD in the capital city, a craft cocktail and wine lounge in Newport called Bar 12, and The Wharf Fishhouse & Tiki Bar on Bowen’s Wharf have amazing cocktails. My favorite gin and tonics are from Tavern on Broadway in Newport.
RECIPE
Upside-Down Martini, AKA the Reverse Martini
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 oz (60 ml) dry vermouth
• 1 oz (30 ml) gin
• 1 dash orange bitters (optional)
• Lemon peel or olives, for garnish
In a mixing glass, add all of the ingredients, plus ice, and stir vigorously until wellchilled (about 30 seconds). Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass, garnish with a lemon peel or olives and serve immediately.
Photo courtesy of Teon Owen Cromwell, Jr.
The Upside-Down AKA Reverse Martini
PIC OF THE BAY
ABOUT KAYLA @k___elizabeth
Awkward millennial sarcastically MacGyvering my way through marriage, motherhood & life with my camera in hand.
It’s a new year - if a move is on your mind, now is the perfect time to prepare to sell smarter, not harder.
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5. Step out for showings to let buyers imagine themselves living there
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