Greta Granite at the Troll Trail in Ninigret Park. Photo by Jamie Coelho. The weather was iffy last weekend, but I decided to take a chance on it and drive down to South County with my kiddos to see the magical trolls at Ninigret Park. I knew what the outdoor wooden sculptures looked like, but I didn’t quite know what to expect. I refrained from telling the kids what we were doing because I wanted it to be a surprise and to see their firsthand expressions since they have never seen pictures or videos of the trolls before. When the trolls were first announced, my social media feeds blew up w ..read more

Marissa Stashenko and James Davids. Photo by Clare Rok Photography. As the saying goes: When one door closes, another one opens. In a recent joint statement, Marissa Stashenko and James Davids, co-founders of Anchor & Hope, explained the multiple challenges the award-winning local wine purveyor has faced over the last few years, including pandemic setbacks, shipping and supply chain issues, insurance and interest rate increases and the unstable financial climate of the beverage industry. Despite their best efforts, they made the difficult decision to declare bankruptcy and terminate ope ..read more

Courtesy of the Big Bounce America Start stretching and kick off your shoes! The Big Bounce America’s summer 2024 tour will be the spectacle of the season for two weekends in nearby Seekonk, debuting the newly expanded 24,000 sq. ft. inflatable course on June 22. Starting at $22 per session, families of all ages can visit Seekonk Speedway and receive unlimited access to seven massive bounce houses, each with a wide variety of attractions and games to fit the likes of all visitors. Local food and beverage vendors will also be on site! This year’s event will be the first of its kind in this a ..read more

Michelle & Tony Cozzaglio. Photo courtesy of the Oddities and Curiosities Expo Who doesn’t like to get a little weird every once in a while? Well, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo will let Rhode Islanders fulfill that urge with its first visit to the Rhode Island Convention Center on June 22nd and 23rd. Dry-Preserved Lizard Fortune Teller Diorama by Toddities Animal Preservation. Photo courtesy of the Oddities and Curiosities Expo For the unfamiliar, the traveling showcase is a celebration of all things peculiar and extraordinary. Featuring more than 150 vendors and artists from acro ..read more

One of several IMOCA boats docked at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard last week that demonstrates the new hazard button technology. (Photos by Lauren Clem) Picture this — you’re the skipper of a sailing vessel, speeding across the Atlantic toward New York Harbor. Behind you, a dozen or so boats follow the same route, all competing for a coveted first-place finish. Suddenly, a dark shape looms in the water up ahead, and you alter course to avoid it. Passing by, you witness the majestic shape of a North Atlantic right whale. With fewer than 400 of this endangered mammal left in the world, vessel ..read more

  VT Haiga Mai rice risotto with shellfish. Photography by Angel Tucker For longtime fans of Oberlin, dinner at 266 Westminster is still a little disorienting. The restaurant came into its reputation in a quirky space on Union Street that thrived on contrast: plates of refined food rooted in Italian culture, showcased in what felt like a makeshift dining room decorated with an attic aesthetic. Everything was unexpected: pairings of raw fish with hand-formed pasta, crackling bread fresh from the fire preceding whole roasted fish lying dramatically on top of rough-cut vegetables. Owner a ..read more

Courtesy of Special Olympics Rhode Island With more than 1,000 athletes and 1,200 volunteers, this is the organization’s biggest event of the year. Registration for the games will start at 9:30 a.m. in the Olympic Village, at Meade Stadium — volunteer registration is available throughout the games as well. The fortieth anniversary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Rhode Island (LETR RI) will be one of the opening events, with “Guardians of the Flame,” who have been raising funds for the organization, will run the “Flame of Hope” from the State House to the Opening Ceremo ..read more

Courtesy of InDowncity / Cornish Associates. After a slew of recent departures in the local food scene, the news of doors being shut in any capacity can be cause for alarm. But in this particular case, it’s reason to celebrate: Ellie’s, the beloved Parisian-style cafe and sister eatery to the fine dining stalwart Gracies, has not only bucked the closing trend but is on to bigger and better things, securing new digs at the Cornish Associates’ (a.k.a. the team behind InDownCity) Alice Building on Westminster Street. Or, as Rhode Islanders would say, “where Kleos used to be” — the Greek restau ..read more

Photograph courtesy of Mystic Seaport Museum/Joe Michael In 2005, representatives of the Newport Historical Society working on the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House found a bundle of items concealed beneath an attic floorboard. The items, known collectively as an nkisi bundle, were likely owned by Cardardo Wanton and held spiritual significance for their owner, a man enslaved by the Wanton family in the late eighteenth century. “African spirituality is as deep and as complex as Christianity,” says Akeia de Barros Gomes, vice president of maritime studies at the Mystic Seaport Museum and curator of ..read more

Natick Nights. Photo courtesy of MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau. Discover MetroWest Boston, a treasure trove of hidden gems, unique attractions, and vibrant communities just 30-60 minutes from Providence, with something for every visitor, from young singles to couples, and families to seniors. Get Culture! Welcome summer at Franklin’s fabulous Porchfest on June 1 to hear free live concerts all over town, or take in a play, concert or special event at one of MetroWest’s many performing arts centers like Hopkinton Center for the Arts or TCAN. Be sure to visit the Danforth Art Museum, a jew ..read more