About Town

Fashion About Town: End of Fall Tourist Style

Tourists and locals flaunt autumn looks in downtown Newport.

Even though winter's slowly creeping upon us, tourists still flock the streets of Newport. Although vacationers have traded their sandals and skirts for warmer apparel, they're still adding their out-of-state style to Newport's fashion scene. This weekend, I met four hip sisters from Westchester County, N.Y., who had just shopped at Pink Pineapple and wore sleek, city looks. Philadelphia resident Melissa Petriw sported a fabulous leather BCBG handbag in burnt orange that made me drool. Local favorites: Newporter Kelsey Anderson rocked a hot vintage leather jacket and Salvation Army scarf. Lynn de la Valette, owner of Royal Male, showed off a beautiful Native American necklace made of antique ivory.

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'Nutcracker' Enchants Rosecliff

Island Moving Co. presents Tchaikovsky's classic ballet

Sugar plum fairies and mini mouse kings will dazzle the ballrooms in Rosecliff Mansion in Newport this week. Island Moving Company presents its ninth season of "The Nutcracker," featuring Tchaikovsky's classic score. The ballet moves with the audience throughout the luxurious Bellevue Avenue mansion to create an intimate, memorable performance. Company dancers, guest artists and a large children's ensemble perform 14 performances of the ballet from Nov. 26 through Dec. 3. New to the ballet this year are the Mini Mouse Kings, with members from the company's new boy's class. Choreographer Miki Ohlsen added a new, majestic Snow Scene at the end of the first act that features a flurry of snowflakes and white tutus in Rosecliff's grand ballroom…

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Two Funny Reasons to Cross the Bridge

Comedians perform at The University of Rhode Island in early December.

Here are two good reasons to cross Newport's Pell Bridge next month... Funny men are taking over The University of Rhode Island during the first weekend of December. Comedian, actor, musician Nick Cannon, host of "America's Got Talent" and husband to Mariah Carey, will perform stand-up comedy on Friday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. in Edwards Hall at 64 Upper College Road in Kingston. Cannon starred, directed and executive produced "The Nick Cannon Show" and MTV's improv show, "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out" and starred in 2002's "Drumline." Tickets available at the door: $3; $2 for URI students with ID. On Sunday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m., Bill Hader, cast member of "Saturday Night Live," speaks at the Ryan Center at 1 Lincoln Almond Plaza in …

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Retail Buzz: SpaTerre, Island CrossFit, Cupcake Charlie's & More

The latest business news, deals and specials at Newport's local shops and restaurants.

It's the season for shopping, food, exercising and donating. Check out the buzz in Newport: SpaTerre's Jewelry Trunk Show Nov. 17 SpaTerre at the Hotel Viking hosts a trunk show Wednesday Nov. 17, from 5-8 p.m. of handmade jewelry by Arment Designs, owned by Newport designer Tyler Arment. The one-of-a-kind designs are inspired by vintage jewelry and nature and are made from vintage materials. SpaTerre, Hotel Viking, One Bellevue Avenue, Newport. (401) 848-4848. Visit Arment Designs online. Island CrossFit Offers Free Boot Camp Training About a month ago, Island CrossFit opened at 999 West Main Road in Middletown in the former Eblens location. From now until Jan. 1, the facility, run by coaches Matt and Mark Cameron, is offering free group …

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Bitter Truth About Chocolate at Salve Regina

Social work students raise awareness of cocoa and child labor; "The Dark Side of Chocolate" screens on Monday at 7 p.m.

Cold and strung together with rope, Salve Regina University students stood up against slave labor chocolate along the walkway to O'Hare Academic Center on Thursday, Nov. 11. As a group of 25+ students wore T-shirts with an emblem of a Hershey's chocolate bar wrapper that read, "Exploitation" and "Slave Labor Chocolate," they held signs and told passersby about child labor and trafficking in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the world's leading supplier of cocoa. The initiative stemmed from a social action project in the university's International Social Work course. In the class, a group of four social work students banned together to design and distribute 100 t-shirts to students and faculty and assembled outside of O'Hare Academic Center five…

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Fashion About Town: Sunny Day Style

Stylish gals shed layers, add shades in downtown Newport.

Good day, sunshine in Newport on Friday. With highs in the upper 50s, fashionable shoppers downtown wore minimal layers and their trusty summer sunglasses. The much-welcomed fall warmth gave way to exposed necks, lighter jackets and lots of leggings. This week's favorites: Anne Beneville, who rocked a short gray skirt and ruffly feminine top, and Alison DeSanctis, who paired a sophisticated bouclé blazer with an edgy metal necklace, plaid scarf and distressed jeans.

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What They Wore: Early 19th Century Seamen

Newport Historical Society lecture debunks myths about early U.S. Navy uniforms.

The image of early American Navy seamen working barefoot on a ship is a myth, said historian Matthew Brenckle during a recent talk presented by the Newport Historical Society at The Colony House in Newport. In "Suited for Sea: U.S. Navy Enlisted Uniforms During the War of 1812," Brenckle presented research that debunked how popular fiction, film, and famed reference books, like "Uniforms of the Sea Services" by Robert H. Rankin, have falsely portrayed what Federal-era sailors wore on ships. Even re-enactors on the USS Constitution in Charlestown, MA, where Brenckle works as research coordinator, have replicated erroneous uniforms. Because there are almost no existing images (paintings or drawings) of U.S. sailors from the early 19th …

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‘Big Miniature’ Goes Up at Newport Art Museum

Artist Kim Salerno, 40 URI students install exhibit set to open Friday.

For many of Kim Salerno's 40 students, it was the first time they'd ever entered the Newport Art Museum. But on Monday, the University of Rhode Island students drew lines, painted huge shapes and taped designs on the walls of the museum to help their art professor install "Big Miniature," which opens to the public on Friday, Nov. 12. Salerno first created the installation—originally titled "Big Miniature: Moving Through a Picture of a Room" on her grant proposal—at the Cushing Martin Gallery with students at Stonehill College in Easton, MA, in 2008. A portion of the work was shown at the University of Rhode Island, but this is the first time the colorful, multi-part installation will be shown in its entirety in Rhode Island. "I kind of …

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Newport_Florist

6:39 am on Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The exhibit looks very interesting and I can't wait to go see it...   more ›

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Fashion About Town: Rainy Day Chic

Newport fashionistas wear weatherproof boots, coats & activewear.

Even though it's rainy and windy, you can still look stylish as you fight the weather on the streets of Newport. Despite the dreary weather—which unfortunately draws out way too many natty sweatshirts and puffy coats—these gals spotted around town still sported put-together looks that incorporate this season's trends, such as leather jackets, combat boots, boyfriend jeans and a well-fit blazer. My favorite piece of the week? Tiffany McClanaghan's black raincoat with bubble skirt hem—adorable, chic and memorable.

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