2nd Annual Local Food Fest to benefit Farm Fresh RI

Wednesday, August 6th, 5pm-8pm at Castle Hill Inn in Newport

As the keeper of the official guest list*, I can say that tickets are selling fast for this event. Buy your tickets 10 minutes ago if you want to come. (Tickets are $45 each.)

The Local Food Fest is such a deal. There will be live cooking of delicious dishes cooked with locally grown food, featuring 9 chefs from awesome restaurants I normally can’t afford (i.e. Gracie*s, Local 121, Nick’s on Broadway, New Rivers, Cafe Zelda, Castle Hill, Blackstone Catering, Newport Restaurant Group, and DeWolf Tavern). Newport Vineyards, Sakonnet Vineyards, Trinity Brewhouse, Newport Storm, and Narragensett Brewery will be offering tasting of their local beverages (a cash bar offers full sized libations). Plus cheese from Narragansett Creamery, bread from Seven Stars and Olga’s Cup and Saucer, Rhody Fresh Dairy, and coffee from Blue State and New Harvest.

Superchief Trio will be playing, offering you a more scenic opportunity for dancing, overlooking the beautiful views from the end of Aquidneck Island. There will also be a really wonderful silent auction with farm tours, cheese makin’ classes and cheese tastin’ classes, and a chauffeured tour of local vineyards.

Finally, your beloved, hard-working, and heroic local farmers will be showcasing their summertime harvest for your enjoyment. (more…)

(Thanks to tipster Amanda)

The push is on to ban the reviled Segway from the streets and sidewalks of ‘America’s Society Capital’ aka ‘the Queen of Summer Resorts’ aka ‘the City by the Sea’. aka, Newport:

NEWPORT — The Newport City Council is considering an ordinance to ban Segway personal transporters from city streets and sidewalks.

The two-wheeled, single-person battery-operated vehicles can go about 12 miles an hour. Riders stand and steer with a handlebar.

The city last year denied a request from a tour operator to run Segway tours around downtown Newport and to the city’s famous oceanside mansions, saying they could be a traffic hazard. Segways are used in other tourist destinations around the country to give tours.

A spokesman for New Hampshire-based Segway told the council Wednesday night that cars, scooters, roller blades and bicycles can go on city streets and sidewalks, and Segways should be no different.

But at least they’re not neon green, by default.