The tattoo industry and its requisite artists have gained an ever-brightening spotlight over the past two decades. The industry has seen growth not only for everyday consumers and tattoo enthusiasts but also for individuals wishing to make permanent or semi-permanent changes to their appearances with procedures like eyebrow tattooing, microblading, and scalp micropigmentation.
When it comes time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, one way to spread holiday cheer is by creating homemade decorations.
Instead of purchasing festive decorations, Ursula Brandl, president of the Kingston-based Fayerweather Craft Guild, said making holiday decor allows the crafter to have fun before the holidays even begin, as well as have the freedom to make things exactly how they want.
South County is full of picturesque, charming New England downtowns and quaint main streets that look like a scene out of a Hallmark movie during the holiday season. Festive decorations, horse and carriage rides, and luminaria make the holiday shopping experience special. From East Greenwich to Wickford and Wakefield all the way down to Westerly, local shops offer something unique for everyone on your list.
For its 300th anniversary, South Kingstown seems to have borrowed — in spirit at least — a former University of Rhode Island motto.
“Think big, we do!”
Spotting Mary Shurtleff at Shickasheen Farm is not as common as it once was. But if you stop by the farm on Route 138 in West Kingston, you’ll find the next best thing: Her grandson, Rob Phaneuf and his wife, Emma.
Rob helped Mary run the 12-acre farm and garden center for the last eight years – juggling it with a full-time job at Electric Boat. He and Emma bought her out this year and he runs it full-time now.
Marc J. Seifer’s newest book, “Tesla: Wizard at War,” explores the life, work, and contributions to the Allied forces and the technological advancements we use today by Nikola Tesla leading up to and during World War II.
Tesla, called the patron saint of electricity by Seifer, was the topic of his doctoral thesis at Saybrook University and the subject of Seifer’s non-fiction work, “Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla,” a predecessor to Seifer’s latest book.
It is true that pumpkins have a purpose, such as for making pie, beer and jack-o’-lanterns. However, the orange squash gourd also brings in the green at a local church.
Greenbacks, that is, commonly called dollar bills. For the last six years, “Pumpkins for a Purpose” has contributed more than $50,000 to the Welcome House homeless shelter at 8 North Road in Wakefield through the sale of thousands of pumpkins.
To everything there is a season, so goes the Biblical phrase, which includes a time to plant and a time to pluck what has been planted, even for fall beer at harvest time.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 references that turn of the season, when beer was by definition seasonal, and that season, in large part, was fall: a true beer season.
“We often say that fall is our best season of the year. It’s hard to beat. Our Oktoberfest sells like crazy for us onsite and in distribution,” said Chip Samson, owner of Shaidzon Brewery in West Kingston.
Whether it be hot, iced, or frozen there can be no doubt that Rhode Islanders love coffee, and a new provider of this rich and robust caffeinated beverage has opened its doors in North Kingstown.
Serving freshly roasted, ground and brewed cups of java, Lighthouse Coffee Roasters and Cafe focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of roasting and preparing fresh coffee while working to build a place their growing family and the local community can be proud of.
It could be that Christina and Ken Procaccianti, owners of Town Made are ahead of the curve at their rent-a-kitchen on Main Street in Wakefield.
For instance, this creative couple in business developed the throw-back Green Line Apothecary that offers the old-style fountain with ice cream, soda as well as other eats and drinks like pharmacies did years ago along with filling prescriptions. They also have a delivery statewide when other pharmacies have stopped that service.
South County has some of the region’s best beaches, seafood, restaurants, fishing and many vacation activities. Yet, pizza never gets mentioned.
A crowd-sourcing survey by South County Life on Facebook, however, found that over 150 residents of area towns have some very strong opinions about pizza. It’s not just what they like, but who has the best and why.
Cassie Pennoyer wrote on Our Town North Kingstown, “The Place is the best in (North Kingstown). The food is high quality and the staff is friendly and accommodating. Just all around a top-notch place.”
An integral part of most mornings is a delicious mug of coffee and West Kingston’s TLC Coffee Roasters strives to have the perfect cup for everyone.
David Turchetta, co-owner of TLC Coffee Roasters, said TLC Coffee is a special cup of coffee because the beans are locally roasted in their own facility in South County. By having the coffee roasted so close to the cafe, every sip of coffee is going to be fresh.
Juice and smoothie bars are becoming vastly popular and with good reason. Who wouldn’t want to drink their fruits and vegetables if they taste great?
Now North Kingstown is getting into the action as T’s Vault Smoothie and Juice bar in The Gateway opened last month and is already getting amazing reviews.
As one customer posted on their Facebook page “excited to have an actual legit protein shop in town!”
“We’re so thrilled to be here and see a constant flow of people already coming in,” said owner Erika Tioumou.
The creative talent behind Wakefield’s new Native American/Puerto Rican/American fusion restaurant have been crafting one-of-a-kind meals since its grand opening this Memorial Day weekend.
Willie Johnson, owner of Willie’s Place, has been passionate about cooking his entire life. He said the idea for a Native American and Puerto Rican fusion restaurant came to him after attending powwows and being unable to find Native American tacos anywhere.
Whether you’re a fan of rock music, jazz, showtunes or anything in between, the Contemporary Theater Company and Theatre by the Sea have you covered with impressive live music line-ups this summer.
The Contemporary Theater Company is putting on a summer concert series for the first time this year, titled “Afterglow.” Each Thursday night beginning at 8 p.m., a local act will perform as the sun sets behind the CTC’s stage.
South County hosts hundreds of scintillating stops for tourists’ tracking fun of almost any kind. So, imagine having just 48 hours to visit this playground seacoast area.
How would you spend those precious few hours when there’s so much to do? What might be on the insiders’ “Do Not Miss” list for a visitor?
