ridaily - December 2009
2009-12-31Take the PlungeNothing erases the after-effects of a night of heavy drinking (temporarily, at least) quite like a swim in the Atlantic in January with a couple hundred (equally crazy) people. So if you’re feeling particularly brave tomorrow morning, head down to one of several local beaches for a bracing New Year’s Day swim. Most events ask for a donation to go towards a local charity, so you don’t have to feel totally off your rocker for participating. Newport Polar Bear ClubJoin them at noon at Easton’s Beach to benefit A Wish Come True. Memorial Blvd., 846-0028. The Block Island Lion’s ClubKicking off at noon at Fred Benson Town Beach on Block Island, donations go toward local charities. Corn Neck Rd., 800-383-2474, blockislandchamber.com.Seawall SplashThis second... |
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2009-12-30Helpful Hangover Tips'Tis the season to indulge -- or in our case, overindulge. Knowing we may have a little more Champagne than we should tomorrow night, we decided to come to the party prepared. Here's what three local bartenders say you should do to prevent that oh-so-pleasant I-think-I've-been-run-over-by-a-freight-train-carrying-cotton-balls side effect often linked to forgetting the meaning of moderation. Cheers! Steve Lydon, bar manager, Capital Grille, Providence"Make the last three drinks big glasses of water and take two asprin with the last glass. The next morning, go for a really fatty breakfast, like bacon and eggs."Kyle Poland, bartender, Ten Prime Steak & Sushi, Providence"Right when you wake up, take a shot of room-temperature vodka (it numbs everything). Then take... Posted at 01:00 PM in ridaily Eating Out | Permalink | Comments |
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2009-12-29Night-Before French ToastWe posted this recipe for French toast in our online "Current," but it's so good, I wanted to put it here as well. The recipe comes from Joe Simone at the Sunnyside in Warren, and the toast reheats perfectly in the morning, which means you can whip it together the night before and indulge without fuss before work. It's very good on freezing, post-holiday-blues mornings (do you know it's nineteen degrees right now?) or for those of us who will never be found up and about, baking, before work.Oven Baked Raisin and Almond French ToastPrepare the night before and let rest in the fridge until morning.Serves 4-6 4-6 thick (1inch) slices cinnamon-raisin Babka or Challah bread*4 eggs1 cup milk1 cup Half and HalfPinch salt to taste1 tsp vanilla or almond extract¼ tsp... Posted at 01:00 PM in ridaily Eating In | Permalink | Comments |
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2009-12-28The Roku RocksMy brother sent me a Roku for Christmas, and that little black box has had me glued to the screen ever since. The Roku is a small device that allows you to stream video instantly from your Netflix account to your television. Now, I know friends who’ve already been doing this with their home computers, but sadly mine doesn’t have the right kind of chip, having hatched in the dark ages of 2003 from a diplodocus egg. But I told myself this was no big deal since I don’t watch a whole lot of tv. (I don’t have cable or satellite, largely because if I do, my daughter will drive me nuts by spending all her time in front of the telly and failing to hear anything I say.) But it turns out that I can peacefully co-exist with this particular form of tv. The Roku, which sits on top of my... Posted at 07:30 AM in ridaily State of Mine | Permalink | Comments |
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2009-12-23Happy Holidays!All of us at Rhode Island Monthly wish you and yours a joyful and restful next few days. We're taking a break from blogging December 24 and 25 and will resume posts on December 28. |
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2009-12-22A Little LessI don't know about you, but I'm glad to see bottled water on its way out. The stuff has taken a beating lately as being garbage for our health and the planet, and Brown University is making headlines today with their recent ban of it. Usually I am wary of being told what seemingly innocent item is about to ruin everything, but this time I can't help but hope that water filters will be the next thing to go.It's just that I have the loveliest, long-lost memory of bringing a glass to the kitchen sink and drinking what came out of the tap. Sometimes (sometimes), it is a relief to see modern life take a tiny step backwards. |
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2009-12-21Snow ShowMy neighborhood looks beautiful in the snow. It was fun to walk around it yesterday, taking pics and stopping for brunch at the one place that was open and generally doing anything possible to postpone going home and shoveling out the four feet of snow drifts blanketing my driveway.Then yesterday evening I left the warm confines of the couch to walk down to PPAC. A friend had offered me a ticket to Wicked and neither of us were about to pass it up because of the snow. Apparently everyone else felt the same way, because it was a full house. And with good reason.The show, as most people probably know, is based loosely on the Wizard Of Oz. It tells the story of how Glinda and the Wicked Witch got that way, right up to and through the familiar plot elements of the film we know, but with a... |
2009-12-18RI RunwayNow that "Top Chef" is over, I have to admit I'm missing reality TV. A little. So I was thrilled to learn that not only is the new season of "Project Runway" starting January 14, but that Jonathan Peters from Woonsocket !!! is on the show.The "Project Runway" website has all the details on the 29-year-old womenswear designer. There you can check out Peter's portfolio, watch his over-the-top audition tape and even get a glimpse into his house and closet. |
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2009-12-16A Bottle for the Host, A Bottle for MeI don’t know about you, but I’ve got a handful of holiday get-togethers slated for the next couple of weeks. I always like to bring a bottle (or four) with me — one for the host, the rest to pop open on the spot and drink with friends. In search of something interesting (pass on the pinot grigio) but still budget conscious (under $20), I phoned Eno Fine Wines in Downcity. Owner Jerry Ehrlich wasted no time rattling off his favorite of-the-moment bargains. All of these wines are a little unusual (read: good conversation starters) and very drinkable (with food or without). Cheers! WHITES 2008 Line Shack Roussanne, San Antonio Valley, Monterey County, $14.99 2008 Tre Monti Albana Secco Vigna della Rocca Albana, $15.99 REDS 2007 Domaine St... |
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2009-12-15Odds and Ends1. I believe in owning at least one travel guide for the place where you live. The new eat.shop new england is the perfect size, fun to read, has great photos and features some very neat locally owned shops and restaurants in the five coolest little cities in New England: Newport, Providence, Portsmouth, Burlington and Portland. It made me want to go wandering. (Check it out at www.eatshopguides.com.)2. I took an hour-and-ten-minute break from errands last night to catch "Santaland Diaries" at the Gamm. It was pretty good to kick back with a glass of wine, contemplate life as a Macy's elf and then head out for a round of late late-night shopping. As I stood in line a few hours later behind a woman buying a stack of pink bathrobes, boxed panatone, watches, picture frames... Posted at 02:30 PM in ridaily What's On | Permalink | Comments |
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