An Afternoon with Bettie Bearden Pardee, Author of Living Newport: Houses, People, Style

This summer, I was honored to receive an advance copy of Bettie Bearden Pardee’s Living Newport: Houses, People, Style, the third release from the accomplished hostess, community leader and former contributing editor to Bon Appetit.

I eagerly paged through the chapters, which “showcases both the heirs of the old guard who contribute a contemporary continuity to traditional Newport and the ‘new’ Newport social set, all of whom bring a vibrant energy to their life here year-round.” More simply, the pages are like peering through the windows of some of Newport’s most legendary homes including Oakwood, Clingstone, The Ledges and arguably the most famed, Hammersmith Farm, known as the “summer White House” during the Kennedy administration. (Considering the number of journalists I have worked with who have unsuccessfully hoped to cover, feature or visit Hammersmith during their stay in Newport, I know what a coup it for Living Newport to feature the home.)

Just last month, following the official release of Living Newport, I was delighted to be invited by Bettie to join her at her Bellevue Avenue home, “Parterre,” for tea and conversation. Amiable and elegant, the author and former host/creative producer of the PBS series The Presidential Palate: Entertaining at the White House, shares an indisputable enthusiasm for the City-by-the-Sea. Knowing readers have a keen curiosity in how private Newport entertains, decorates, celebrates, gardens and dresses, Bettie showcases 17 properties in Living Newport alongside lively personal anecdotes. As one might expect, the book is aesthetically beautiful and exceptionally intriguing—a perfect Christmas or holiday gift. Suffice to say I came to Bettie’s for a casual interview and left with a new friend!

Living Newport: Houses, People, Style, with 224 pages and 188 four-color photographs, is available for $65.00 at Preservation society of Newport County shops ( located at The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms and on Bannister’s Wharf in downtown Newport) and online at NewportStyle.net

Take a peek inside the book with the images below or by CLICKING HERE.

Follow Bettie on her blog by CLICKING HERE.