Rhode Island Monthly’s Favorite Things
Our top ten favorite things of the year make great, locally sourced gifts.
Here at Rhode Island Monthly, we spend lots of time sorting through the good, the bad and the ugly. We’ve tasted the tipples; we’ve lathered up the body products; we’ve searched high and low for the best pom hats — some earnest, others utterly ridiculous.
While there were many worthy contenders, we’ve narrowed it down to ten items and experiences, as nominated by seven in-the-know staffers.
Here are Rhode Island Monthly‘s favorite things:
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From Sarah Francis, editor in chief: "I want every Kent Stetson bag on the planet (I bought my first at a silent auction this summer and it’s become my gateway drug). If I had to choose, however, I’d go with his sweet cherry blossom clutch with its 3-D blossom." $208, kentstetson.com
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From Casey Nilsson, associate editor: "J Schatz's Aurora Borealis stoneware collection is, hands down, my favorite dinnerware set. The pops of purple, blue and coffee are reminiscent of a late-season hydrangea. The smaller bread and butter and appetizer plates are white with a rustic edge, a touch of reserved simplicity that I wholly appreciate." $225 for a four-piece place setting, jschatz.com
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From Cathrine Nelson, social media coordinator and marketing assistant: "I'm going with Rhody-themed art. Over the past year, I have explored more of the local artists and started a collection of Rhody-themed art I love. My favorite piece is “Drinking Buddies” (above) by SepiaLepus Illustration. I’ve also picked up an awesome 'Gansett logo sign for my boyfriend from Jayson Salvi Hand Painted Signs. etsy.com/shop/sepialepus; jaysonsalvisigns.wixsite.com
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From Samantha Eckel, marketing manager: "Nothing feels more like winter to me than cozy outwear. Pom hats are the trend this year and I’ve been taking full advantage of it. Retailers like Pink Pineapple Shop and J. Marcel are great spots to pick up the perfect colors to coordinate with your outwear look. The bigger the pom the better, I say!" pinkpinappleshop.com; jmarcel.com
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From Jamie Coelho, associate editor: "My pick is Newport Sea Salt. You can add a pinch of it to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, or sprinkle a bit on the top of vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce. Of course, you can always enhance the flavor of a good steak or soup, too. Newport Sea Salt Co. is a local business started by a veteran who harvests pure, natural sea salt from Newport’s Brenton Reef along Ocean Drive. It’s a finishing salt, so add it sparingly to your favorite dishes. As a gift, you can also pair it with a jar of Anchor Toffee’s caramel sauce for adding salted caramel flavor to any dessert." newportseasaltco.com; anchortoffee.com Photo by Katie Kelly.
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From Grace Kelly, copy editor: "If anyone else loves the very hygge idea of fondling a glass filled with Sons of Liberty bourbon, a few cubes of ice, a dash of bitters and a maraschino cherry whilst sitting by a roaring fire, call me for a good time — just kidding. But for real, Sons of Liberty ages a mighty fine bottle of bourbon, all dark and sweet with notes of caramel and brown sugar. Keep a bottle on hand to convert self-proclaimed whiskey haters, or for the perfect post-work winter tipple." solspirits.com
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From Kaitlyn Murray, associate editor: "My favorite thing this season is by far the Rhode Island Wildflower Honey and Oatmeal bar of soap by Providence-based Cathryn Violet Artisan Soap, which I was fortunate enough to keep after an Engaged photoshoot. It’s everything I could ask for from a beauty product: It’s locally made, uses local resources (shoutout to Aquidneck Honey), smells absolutely divine and makes for a perfect dry skin remedy in the colder months." $7.50, cathrynviolet.com
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From Casey Nilsson, associate editor: "This hand-woven scarf, from Bristol Looms, is dyed with natural indigo. It's stunning, it's made by a local craftswoman and it's super cozy to boot." $225, bristollooms.com
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From Grace Kelly, copy editor: "Anything from the RISD Store (particularly this Go Nads hat). Cool, handmade paper to wrap gifts? Check. Stacks upon stacks of watercolor, drawing, charcoal, ink and multimedia paper? Check. Paint, pastels and a RISD Pricks fencing patch? Check, check, check. Whether you’re a wannabe artist like myself or simply find RISD’s sport mascot a ball of laughs (ha!) and aren’t embarrassed to wear something that says “Go Nads,” there’s something here for everyone who has even a tiny speck of weird in them. For the more stoic amongst us, the RISD Store also has some great art books to get down and nerdy with." risdstore.com
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From Samantha Eckel, marketing manager: "The Dorrance is one of my favorites in Providence. There is something so magical about sitting in this ornate room while sipping delicious, unique cocktails (or wines!) – especially around the holidays. The Dorrance has become my go-to spot to gather with friends and celebrate the season together. The decor combined with the live jazz music on the weekends also makes it the perfect romantic spot for a winter date night." thedorrance.com
