Members Only: Gifts to Enjoy All Year Long

Today’s Hometown Holiday gifts are all about celebrating some of Newport’s best arts and cultural sites. Did you know that membership to the Preservation Society of Newport County, which owns and operates the Newport Mansions, is available in Individual, Duel, and Household levels? Even better, did you know you that from now through the end of December, if you purchase a membership at full price, you can buy another of equal or lesser value for the same price? It’s true (you can get both sides of the family one!), and members enjoy a ton of perks in addition to free and unlimited admission to regular tours at all Society properties. There’s savings on special events, lectures, films, academic programs and children’s activities, plus a pass to the Rooftop and Behind the Scenes Tour of The Elms, and discounts at the Newport Mansions Stores and exclusive members only privileges. Memberships start at $50; CLICK HERE to learn more about membership levels, costs and benefits.

I know you’ve passed by it a million times before, but have you ever been inside and enjoyed the Redwood Library & Athenaeum? On top of it being architecturally stunning, they have a ton of periodicals (like magazines to pour over), and members enjoy the privilege of borrowing books, recordings, and those magazines from the oldest lending library in America. They also receive the Library Newsletter, including the Booklist, and are entitled to a 10% discount on Library publications. This is the kind of gift any Newporter would love to find under the tree, because a membership can seldom be the kind of thing one buys for themself. An individual membership starts at $70.

There are also great memberships to the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS), the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Newport Art Museum—even the Jane Pickens Theater (be a “Pickens Star”).

For out of the area lovers of all things Newport, there are great discoveries at Newport Art Museum’s Griffon Shop, a consignment boutique with antiques, original art on paper, handcrafted jewelry and collectibles; in addition to the Museum Store. The Tennis Shop at the International Tennis Hall of Fame has a lot of great clothing, accessories and gear (including those “tennis whites” if you plan to hit their famed grass courts). Down on Lower Thames Street, the NRF Museum Store stocks decorative accessories, jewelry, stationery, books, kitchen goods, plus bath and garden accoutrements—even pet accessories—all inspired by the life and collections of Doris Duke. Not far from there is the Museum Shop at IYRS which has a handful of IYRS swag in addition to books about the craft of boatbuilding and more.

Mariposa Wreath Bottle Stopper $23.00, Marble House Tree Ornament $21.00 and Hinged Fish Ornaments $10.95/each; all from the Newport Mansions Store.