Posts tagged ‘ri blog’
Newport Goes Hollywood Tonight…
The grande dame of award show season unfolds tonight with fans as excited for who wears what and which picture takes top honors. Your favorite place to watch may be from the comfort of your own home, but if you want to change things up a bit, there’s some fun happening around town celebrating Hollywood’s biggest night.
Vanderbilt Grace is celebrating the 85th Academy Awards with an Oscar-themed evening that will be held inside MUSE by Jonathan Cartwright. The evening will begin at 7pm and feature Oscar-themed cocktails, Gold popcorn, Oscar trivia and cookies in the shape of the Oscar statuette. The cocktails taking center stage include:
Les “Not So” Misérables: Vodka, Chambord, Pineapple Juice, Champagne, $15 
The Life of “Hot Apple” Pi: Hot Apple Cider Tuaca, $12
Tarantino Unchained: Malibu Rum, Captain Morgan’s, Ginger Ale, Cranberry Juice, $14
Honest Abe: Pama Liquor, Stoli Blueberry Vodka, Cranberry Juice, $12
Zero “Dirty” Thirty Martini: Grey Goose Martini with Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives, $15
Call 401-846-6200 to make reservations.
At the Jane Pickens Theater, enjoy the 3rd Annual Red Carpet Gala featuring a LIVE telecast of both the Oscar’s Red Carpet Live pre-show and the 85th Academy Awards. Watch as the movie stars arrive at and check out the stellar fashion statements and lively commentary. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants and champagne, wine and beer from the cash bar. The telecast segues into the 85th Academy Awards at 8:30pm and coffee and dessert will be served shortly thereafter. Tickets are $35.
Wanna Get Away?
Even the heartiest New Englander groans at forecasts that include word like “arctic” and “frigid,” and with more than 30″ of fallen snow in Newport this season, a mid-winter getaway is sounding just about heavenly. No fashion line is more bright and sunny than Lilly Pulitzer, and the following sneak peek at the Spring 2013 collection will inspire warm thoughts for the promise of spring. Pieces from the collection will be arriving at Island Outfitters soon, and with JetBlue’s new daily service to sunny Florida from T.F. Green, you can have that piña colada with the sand between your toes in a snap!
Baby, You’re a Firework…
Sometimes in the dead of winter you need a little sparkle, and tonight’s fireworks display over Newport Harbor at 6:30pm might just be the best way to kick off a holiday weekend (and Newport Winter Festival). The weather peeps are calling for clear skies (but there’s a rain date for tomorrow at the same time, just in case). There’s some excellent viewing points–perhaps over dinner at The Mooring, craft cocktails on the top floor of Fluke Wine, Bar & Kitchen, happy hour at Celtica, or the divine Vanderbilt Grace, which will welcome guests and residents to watch fireworks from the hotel’s rooftop which offers an amazing vantage point. The cost is $8 per person and that includes hot chocolate and a cozy blanket. Even better, why not toast the night with a some bubbly???
Cheers!
Be Mine
Oh, the “Be Mine,” is referring to the fab finds at bargain prices I’ll want to be mine at the Kristina Richards sale, which begins today. What did you think I meant??
Oh, yes. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Kiss This…
Seeing as though most local restaurants have recovered from the 2-ft. snowfall, all should be business as usual by Valentine’s Day this Thursday. Whether you plan on spending the evening making googly eyes across the table with a loved one or painting the town red with a group of good friends, start the evening with a complimentary tasting of sparkling wines at the Newport Wine Cellar from 4-6pm to find the perfect bottle to start off the evening.
THE LOOK
How apropos is this strapless chiffon dress (a.k.a. the Marianne dress) by Erin Fetherston with a shirred bodice, fluttery skirt and exposed zip back all in a flirty lipstick print spotted at Kristina Richards? (It’s also perfect for the Potter League’s Have a Heart fundraiser tomorrow night at the Hotel Viking or newportFILM’s “For the Love of Film, Marilyn’s Hollywood” Benefit on Feb. 23!)
…Or how about getting in touch with your animal instincts with these 4″ leopard-print heels by Jessica Simpson on sale at Sole Desire? (Was $85, now $63.75!)
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow…
We hope everyone in the Northeast is hunkered in as “Nemo” blasts its snowy wrath upon us. It might be a long haul, so I’m sharing this favorite Irish Coffee recipe (I suppose I still have Ireland on my mind) to keep you toasty warm as the temperature drops. If you start going a little stir-crazy, some Newport hotspots that will be happy to make you a warm cocktail (or three) this afternoon include The Mooring, Fastnet Pub, Brick Alley Pub opening at 4pm), The Fifth Element (open at 5pm) Gas Lamp Grille, Clarke Cooke House and more. Visit What’s Up Newp for a complete, live-time update of restaurant/bar openings and closings.
RECIPE (serves 4)
4 tbsp. good-quality Irish whiskey (I prefer Jameson as I had my fair share in County Cork last week)
8 tsp. sugar (I use substantially less in my cup, like 1 tsp., if any)
1/3 cup freshly brewed coffee, preferably strong French roast
1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks if desired)
Place 1 tbsp. of whiskey and 2 teaspoons sugar in each of 4 warm Irish coffee or 8-ounce heat-proof glasses. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Pour enough hot coffee into each glass to fill it about three-quarters full.
Hold a tablespoon (with the back of the spoon facing you) over the coffee in one cup, and ladle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the whipped cream over the spoon so that it gently falls into the coffee. Adding the cream this way will help it float on top of the coffee instead of sinking immediately to the bottom. Repeat to make 3 more servings. Serve immediately.
Recipe from epicurean.com
Emerald Isle Style
Apologies for the hiatus! During the past three weeks or so, I’ve traveled 5,994 miles by air, 1962 miles by road, 530 miles by rail, and 165 miles by bus … so it’s been a bit busy. A large chunk of that time was spent in Ireland, where I traipsed around Dublin, Cork and briefly, Kerry. I‘d been to the Emerald Isle before, but never to Newport’s sister alluring city of Kinsale. Like the City-by-the-Sea, it’s an extraordinary place full of extraordinary people with cobblestone streets, amazing restaurants, welcoming accommodations and fresh, salty air.
It’s easy to see why Ireland’s unofficial mantra is Céad Míle Fáilt—a hundred thousand welcomes. From cab 
drivers to pint pour-ers and everyone in-between, it may just be the friendliest country in the world. There’s also a hundred thousand reasons to experience Ireland, and if you (are lucky enough) to boast Irish American heritage or simply appreciate Irish interests, 2013 is the year of The Gathering. Described as “a spectacular, year-long celebration of all things Irish,” The Gathering invites those who have moved away, their relatives, friends and descendants to come home and discover from whence you came. Find out more by clicking here.
And of course, I made notes of Irish style, which was perhaps best displayed around Dublin’s Trinity College, Temple Bar (which was hosting an amazing TradFest event, part of The Gathering festivities) and fashionable Grafton Street areas. Trends included peplum dresses and tops:
Fabulous faux lashes and extensions (get lash extensions locally at Wavelengths, Invidia, KiRa, RaNEW and more): 
And platform, studded footwear EVERYWHERE– on heels, flats, boots, and shooties (the last of which is very popular paired with everything from skinny jeans to dresses). I guess it’s a global trend because I featured it on Newport Stylephile just two weeks ago in THIS POST. Here’s some shoes I snapped in Dublin:
