This was my first time to this event, and I had a great time. I thought the layout was simple and…read moreeasy to navigate; I thought the venders were great (I didn't realize there would be cider and liquor booths, so that was a nice surprise); and the fact that there was free pizza [donations accepted] was super rad. A couple of things that I thought would be helpful, after having been to Beervana (which does not make me an expert, mind you) are more rinsing stations... at Beervana there were orange coolers at every other booth with discard buckets beneath them, and this was a convenient way of rinsing cups. I didn't even realize there was a rinsing station at the GIBF until I was halfway through my night. The other thing that Beervana did that I found helpful was have a detailed list of what each vender brought to the event. This booklet had full descriptions of each beer and its ABV, but even just a list of names would be nice in case I wanted to purchase my favorite(s) later down the road but forgot what I had. (ex: I circled my favorites in the Beervana guide, because I'm the only nerd who paid attention to the book). Overall: I had a great time and would definitely go again next year!

So, I started attending the GIBF when I moved to Rhode Island around 5 years ago. I haven't gone…read moreevery year, but I would say between the Fall and Spring sessions, I've gone about 4 or 5 times. When I first started going, the Fall fest, evening session, was absolutely bonkers. The amount of vendors was more than double what it was this year. I couldn't believe how much smaller the event was this year. I noticed that breweries that had always been at the fest previous years, were missing (Ravenous, Crooked Current, ect). It was strange how many new and/or popular breweries would skip out on one of the biggest beer events in the state. The hall at the convention center is quite large, and made it feel even more noticable of how much smaller this year's event was. Still, despite some of my fave breweries in RI and MA missing, my friends and I had a great time sampling the many brews. The event ran from 6:30pm to 10pm, so plenty of drinking time. The lines weren't too bad, which in previous years had been an issue. There was pizza provided from Pizza-Pier which was "free" but most were willing to give the suggested donation to charity (I believe it was for the RI food bank). I was also able to obtain samples from several other food establishments, including the new Bao from Tom's BaoBao. There was live music, giveaways from the local rock station, and plentiful porta potty's (and also regular bathrooms were open, too). It was a fun time, but just disappointing when compared to past years.

Simply one of the best gatherings, regardless of your budget, this is just a wonderful day trip…read more I go every year for the past 7 with my dearest friend (crazy serious boater) and I just love the day! Take the family or stroll on your own and enjoy the day!

She has conquered land, air and sea. She is like a majestic Persian bird, whose wings take her…read morewhere she pleases. She is not bound to soil and she ventures out into uncharted waters. She is Homegirl. You are the pizza delivery guy so here are some TIPZZZ. This is homegirls second year attending the boat show. Boats as far as the eye an see. You got the sails, the yachts, the motor boats , rubber boats, everything with boats. All outdoors, all in the baking sun, and it was crowded. It was HOT. Homegirl is saved by the blood and should never be experiencing heat THAT hot. Her bronzey glow was at risk in that heat. Nonetheless she persisted and was on a mission to boat ittttt. Homegirls favorite part was exploring the cabins. The bedrooms, bathrooms, the granite, the fixtures, the seating! Of course compared to homegirls standards of welfare the yachts were quaint. Any who, Homegirl was dressed for that boating life. She was practical too though and wore flats. Homegirls driver had to circle around for 20 minutes to find parking. Lots were full, streets were packed. Homegirl had a long walk to the show and then had to walk on docks and take her shoes off to view every boat. If Homegirl wore her Choo's they'd be positively swiped! Homegirl has her assets, and her name to protect. Can you imagine the tabloids that would appear if Homegirl was shoeless at the show because she was robbed? Here's my HT-(Homegirl tip). Wear easily removable and normally priced shoes. The piggies need to be wrapped in Oscar Myer bacon, not Kobe beef. Speaking of food, Homegirl has got sophistication coming out of her day old bread. She turns that bread into croutons and makes it rain Parmesan. When at the boat show ((HT)) one must be respectful. Are these boats overpriced? Yes. Are the sweaty panties of nearly everyone here in a bunch? Yes. But remember, your panties are sweaty too. You paid for those tickets to look at boats all day boo boo sugar bear! Don't be hating on Lily Pulitzer Polly and Vineyard Vine Vince. Just ((HT)) enjoy an iced beverage, have fun looking at the boats and wear breathable cotton briefs. Homegirl has one last paragraph of quality HT. Homegirl is always ballin' on a budget. How else do you think Homegirl can afford the lifestyle she lives?! Look for coupon codes. Homegirl found $5 off per ticket bringing the price down from $17 to $12/ticket. That's $5 towards my leg of lamb roast dinner. Also be on the look out for freebies. Reusable bags, key fobs, pens, card holders-how you think Homegirl gets her ca$h fellas? Hate the game not the playa. There's money to be saved and fees to be waived. Overall Homegirl loved the boat show. The way wind blew through my blow dryed tresses, the way my eyes sparkled brighter than even the North Atlantic , and of course slaying my overall nautical look were the highlights of the show. Maybe I'll see you there next year and you can buy me somethin nice. Like a sweatshirt or something. Or one of those paddle boards. They look nice for Homegirl.

I recently checked out this event at the Newport Art Museum with a few of my girlfriends and we had…read moresuch a fun night. It was the perfect excuse to get dressed up and try something new, with a twist of course... delicious cocktails. The Edgar Allan Poe experience itself was really well done. The actors were fantastic and fully committed to their roles. I loved the costumes and the dramatic personalities. It made the whole evening feel immersive without being over the top. I'm actually at the museum about once a month for meetings, so it was fun to see the space used in a completely different way. My only wish is that we had a little more time to wander and take in the current exhibits, because it's such a beautiful setting. My one real downside is parking. With the recent changes, it has become pretty difficult to find a spot that is easy to get in and out of, especially during a New England winter. Definitely something to plan ahead for. Overall, such a unique and memorable night. I would absolutely recommend grabbing your friends and checking this out if it comes back around.

A great little art musuem in Newport. Maybe a little overpriced given the size, but considering…read moreits all local it can be overlooked. Its a little wonkey in that you have to go outside through a courtyard to get to the 2nd part of the musuem, which I would imagine is a major inconvenience during colder or inclement weather. No staff or docents other than the person at the front desk. A goodbye quick time.

Never knew this place even existed until my child's art was submitted by their teacher for…read moreconsideration in an Emerging Young Artists exhibit! I arrived after/hours for the Closing Reception for the participants & was relegated to only 1 room for the event. It was a relatively small space & I'm not sure if there were other rooms. I also can't speak to what kind of art they normally display as I was only there for the event. What I can tell you is that the staff very enthusiastic about the gallery. They were so approachable & full of historical information about the venue. They certainly convinced me to come back at a later date! I was told by one of the patrons that this is one of the most under-appreciated galleries in the state & how they come here monthly. That being said, if you're looking for a museum, this isn't the place for you. But, if you're looking for a place to view local artwork, you should check it out & help support this community gem. I love a place that loves supporting the community!

An very under appreciated…read more museum A woman that works at the museum told me that the Warwick Museum of Art was voted the most under appreciated Museum in all of Rhode Island. I'm not sure if she told me exactly who did the voting but the statement is easy to believe. The museum is in the cool old Kentish Artillery Armory located right in the center of historic Apponaug. It's a place many people go by every day but probably not many actually stop to visit. Parking on the street is usually impossible and the whole area is a mess. They have been talking about fixing the road forever but probably never will. You have to be a bit creative in finding parking. The museum is more of a cultural center than an actually museum because the emphasis is on the new and not the old and things are always changing. The main display area is one large room and they have about a dozen or so exhibitions a year. Different things by different local artists throughout Rhode Island. A chance to check out the talent in the area. The last time I dropped in the exhibition was art by talented middle school kids and their teachers. Although I have to admit I wasn't very excited when I heard the display was going to be by kids, I was pleasantly surprised. Many very creative and original pieces were present and the talent was obvious. Besides the art shows the museum also has various music, theater, comedy and poetry readings through the year. Things are constantly changing but the one constant is the emphasis on local talent. There is no fee to see the art exhibitions and different prices for the other performances. The Warwick Museum of Art is a small place that offers a lot of different talent. It's a shame that instead of just driving by more people didn't actually take the time to drop in.

Yellow Peril is a small modern art gallery located in The Plant, an artist collective / residential…read morecommunity in Valley. At only two rooms, the space is pretty intimate with a cool industrial vibe. I like that you can just pop in and look around; so many of the galleries in Providence are by appointment only, which always strikes me as pretentious. The owner definitely made me feel welcome. The fact that there was a dog around didn't hurt either... Beware that the hours on Google are NOT correct! If you're planning a visit, it might be best to just call ahead and check the most updated schedule. I'm not sure if I would visit Valley specifically to come here, since it's pretty small, but if you're in the area I would definitely recommend stopping in and getting a taste of this artistic community.

We visited for the closing night of Todd Jones' Stereo Balance show consisting of a mix of mixed…read moremedia and electronic music brought together around a central table equipped with headphones for simultaneous listening and viewing - cool concept! The gallery is an intimate and beautifully appointed live/work loft in the Plant run by Robert and his partner who are recent transplants from NYC. I had the opportunity to sit in the living room, sip champagne, and really talk with both the artist and gallery owner. Keep an eye on Yellow Peril Gallery listings and make a stop before or after dinner for a night out with a splash of art.

My traveling companion and I recently toured The Breakers and found the tour to be absolutely…read morewonderful. Provided with headsets, we were able to wander through the rooms without major disruption and at our own pace. It was a glorious visual experience that was without compare in Newport. Upon leaving and as we were driving home, we decided to become members of the Preservation Society. This morning, I went through with the transaction. Since I couldn't figure out how to apply my previously purchased tickets to my new membership, I called the office to ask for guidance. Greeted with an easily understood and navigated menu, I connected with Meridith Ingram, a membership associate with PSNC. What a wonderful young woman. Meridith took our information efficiently, offered several different options when it came to getting proof of ticket purchase over to her and handled the transaction with ease. We are now proud members. Further, upon our initial contact with the office (when we'd just arrived in Newport and were unable to find our destination), we found each associate to be completely charming and quite helpful. The direction and advice given at the office helped to make our day complete, and we are grateful for it. Exactly what one would expect from a historical society, especially in Newport. We were very impressed.

Great costumes, brutal storyline…read more We would threaten our children with a big nazo performance if they didn't behave. To them, it was the serious punishment.

Passed by this place while on my way to the Biltmore and was like "what the hell is this place!?"…read moreSo when I was done at the Biltmore (a baby shower, not a trick, get your mind out of the gutter), I went back to take a closer look. The window display is really cool and incredibly interesting as you can see by the pictures. Of course I yelped them when I got home and then did some research....they're going to be performing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver! Excited to see them perform!

Great event. Held this year on Saturday September 2nd. Eight restaurants participate to give…read moresamples of empanadas. Some fried, some baked. Great deal for $10. The block party here this was held was in downtown Pawtucket About 300 people enjoyed the delicious empanadas. At the end of the tasting we voted for the top two. Yum!!!

Price!! Pay 6 and 5 dollars per one empanada, then 10 parking and 10 entrance? This is ridiculous…read more Empanadas should be at most, $3