What’s Happening This Week
(From Discover Warren site)
Looking for something to do this week?
Look no further.
Becky Chase at the Church Street Coffeehouse
Finder’s Keepers Celebration of Hope & Light
Sunday, Dec 11th from 11am to 6pm, stop by Finder’s Keepers for a little retail therapy. Complimentary Sweets, Savories & Wines, Jazz, Fireplace, Tree
Free Energy Balancing, shop in a calm atmosphere. Check out their Facebook pagehere for more information.
Warren Artists’ Happy Hour!
The Warren Arts Initiative will host another “Artists’ Happy Hour” on Thursday December 8th, 2011 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cutler Mill Gallery space (2nd floor), room 220.
Creative people (that’s all arts, design, writers, music, dance, theatre, etc. people) who live or work in Warren are invited to attend this free event (but there’s a suggested $2 donation).
The night will include delicious food by the Preppy Pig BBQ, refreshments, music by Stevie Lightnin’, a door prize, and a brief discussion about past and upcoming art-related news and events. Discussion will include: “Art Night” — a new joint initiative in 2012 by the Warren Arts Initiative (WAI) and Bristol Independent Galleries (BIG), the Town of Warren business license status, and results of a WAI survey of Warren’s creative community.
Questions relating to this event, WAI or Art Night, should contact organizers by email: warrencreatives@yahoo.com
Bike trip! Mt. Hope Farm
View from my spot...Taken with an old iPhone too!
Have you visited Mt. Hope Farm yet? I know, it’s not in Warren. It’s in one of those towns that begins with B. BUT! You can easily bike there from Warren (it was a vigorous 40 minute ride on a super-packed bike path) with only a small bit of road-riding. Once you are in Bristol, stay on Hope St until State St. Watch out for parked cars and pedestrians, ride slow and be alert. Go ahead and hog the lane if you need to. You have the right! From State St, take a right onto Dewolf Ave to avoid the crazy busy and life-threatening Metacom Ave. Take a left onto Mt. Hope Ave which will take you to Metacom. Be extremely careful while riding on Metacom. Luckily, you are practically crossing the road, so don’t be intimidated. The entrance will be on your left hand side. Once on the grounds of Mt. Hope Farm, breathe a sigh of relaxation. Then inhale the scents of the wildflowers in the meadow, the sounds of the babbling brook, and make your way to my favorite spot (but not if I’m there, I prefer solitude) and take in the view of the Mt. Hope Bridge spanning the sparkling waters of Bristol Harbor. Do this while you can. The winter, she is coming.
Here’s a map.
Weekend!
Here it is, what to do with yourself this weekend in Warren!
Saturday
- It’s all happening. The Warren Quahog Festival begins today at 10am. You name the activity, they’ve got it! Pony rides? Of course. Rock climbing?? Heck yeah! Bungee jumping??? What? But yes, they have that too! Not to mention, you know, quahogs and a variety of seafood that would make Neptune himself jealous. Music, art, and the famous lobster raffle round out the festivities. If you can’t make it today, there’s still Sunday! (Burrs Hill park, 10-8, free parking and admission)
- Wanna look fine for the festival? We all do, sweetheart. That’s why it’s a brilliant idea to hit up L’Atelier’s cut-a-thon. The lovely ladies at L’Atelier will be cutting hair all day and donating all the proceeds to the Gloria Gemma Foundation (that’s funding breast cancer research). Stop by even if you don’t need a cut to contribute and be in the running for a gift certificate to Blue Suede, a gift basket of hair goods, or Paw Sox tickets. Going from 10-4
- The Wharf Tavern opened last night! If you didn’t know, it had closed for a bit while the new owners (from Grist Mill fame) did a little reno and polishing. Go ‘head, treat yourself to a little seafood and water views tonight. You deserve it (or not, but who’s counting?).
- Summer Debate by 2nd Story Theatre is playing tonight at 8pm and can you believe it, it’s not sold out?
- KAPOW! There is a flash sidewalk sale going on in various shops on Water and Main St. Find out who’s participating by taking a little stroll!
Read Warren: Summer Bliss Books
I love summer for many, many reasons (weather, fresh fruit & veggies, vacations) but what really does it for me is all of the reading time I recover during the summer months. There are so many opportunities to dig into a good book whether you are at the park, beach, or your backyard hammock. Every year, it seems the pace of living slows down and I remember to take the time to just lay about and read. Is it just me?
I am going through a few books a week and have already exhausted that list I kept all year of “Books I Would Like to Read but Can’t in the Five Minutes a Day I Have to Myself.” So I asked people for the recommendations and came up with a new list. Wanna hear? Of course you do! This list is made up of “easy-reads”; books you can come in and out of without losing the plot. You don’t need to interpret much here and most can be read in an afternoon (except Diana Gabaldon’s books). But they are still well-written and completely fascinating.
My recommendations:
1. Bossypants by Tina Fey. I double-dog dare you to read this and not literally laugh out loud (no faux-LOLs here!). I am a huge Tina Fey fan, both her comedy and her take on life. She spits it real about what it was like to grow up as an awkward teenager (I can relate…I had a mullet at one point too!). Her sections on the role of women in comedy and showbusiness were endearing, insightful, and again, hilarious. Take that Christopher Hitchens!
2. The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. This book is also recommended by Kate Dickson, owner of The Wooden Midshipman. These books are long. And there are seven of them! This will take you through the entire summer or if you are like my friend Kary, a week. (She’s kind of a pro at this reading thing, being an amazing English teacher and all.) What are these books about? Well, you name it, it’s in there. From Ms. Gabaldon herself, they include
history, warfare, medicine, sex, violence, spirituality, honor, betrayal, vengeance, hope and despair, relationships,
the building and destruction of families and societies, time travel, moral ambiguity, swords, herbs, horses,
gambling (with cards, dice, and lives), voyages of daring, journeys of both body and soul…
you know, the usual stuff of literature. Hooked yet? Seriously, these books are very very addictive. You’ve been warned.
3. The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. These books are total fluff and I love them. Perfect after finishing something serious like Proust or Ulysses or some other Very Important Work. Because complicated and full of hidden meaning these are not! And you know, for a lazy beach read, that’s freakin’ awesome. You can fall asleep while reading it and not be totally lost or confused when you try to pick it back up. Plus, they are funny. Another example of books I have embarrassed myself when reading by laughing out loud in public. Seriously, I look like a nut-job. Ah well.
Recommended by Eric (the author of the esteemed column Away Entropy on this blog)
The Odd Sea by Frederick Reiken. This is a quick one at only 170 smaller pages. The plot is deceptively simple; the book focuses more on the emotional trajectory of the characters. Without giving anything away, it is about a boy who goes missing and how that tragic event affects the people left behind.
Recommended by Kate (owner of The Wooden Midshipman, a store that sells books, amongst other equally fantastic things)
- The Bride Quartet series by Nora Roberts. Four books about women involved with wedding planning and then, of course, how they got to planning their own weddings. Romance novels? Yeah they are! But they also include stories of friendship and who doesn’t like that?
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris. And any David Sedaris. Mr. Sedaris is a sarcastic and witty humor-writer. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. This book is a collection of essays pondering various facets of life, such as bad clothing and accessories, a situation where his throat lozenge falls on a stranger, using album covers as scarecrows, and icebreaker conversations. Funny, insightful, and caustic, David Sedaris helps us see the humanity in the eccentric.
- The Sally Lockhart Mysteries by P. Pullman. Techinically in the Young Adult section, but we won’t tell. And come on, you know you’ve read some YA books and loved them. Harry Potter? Hunger Games? Twilight? Don’t lie. These books are crowd-pleasers about a Victorian era teenage girl who was taught to handle finances and shoot firearms by her father. These skills come in handy when she is suddenly orphaned with a mystery to unravel. Name the gender, name the age, and they will like these books.
- How to do Nothing with Nobody All by Yourself by Robert Paul Smith. According to Ms. Dickson, this book is “for boys who didn’t go to Scouts but always wanted to”. What is it about? Read the title! It contains an assortment of delightful entries on how to spend your spare time, like making toys with buttons and knife tricks. It has an old-fashioned tongue-in-cheek tone that can fascinate your afteroon away.
Recommended by the George Hail Free Library
- The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Apparently, this book is so good, you will be waking up in the middle of the night to find out what happens next. A perfect fit for insomniacs? The story follows a woman who is trying to figure out a mystery surrounding her past and her origins. According to Lisa Anderson from Library Journal, this book is the “perfect mix of scandal, drama, mystery, and just a hint of fairy-tale wonder”.
Which books would you add to this list? Help a girl out!
Weekend – USA edition
Holiday weekend plus a fairly good weather outlook? Weeeee! Here’s how to spend your long weekend in the W. (Um, you know, Warren.)
Friday
- Channel your inner Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore and drop in to the Mudstone Studios’ pottery class. From 11-3, $15.
- Brian Mitchell is getting down at Stella Blues. 9pm people!
- Bradford Mercantile is hosting an Under the Tent event from 11-3 featuring 2 local artists. Stock up on beautiful note cards and get yourself some fabric covered boxes for a variety of reasons!
- Stella Blues is serving up some Nicky P!
Away Entropy!
Away, Entropy! is a new series of articles that deal with the joy and frustration of improving and maintaining an old house.
Part of the joy of living in Warren is the unfussy way we deal with our history. Buildings from the 1700s exist side by side with newer houses. None of the streets give me that that heavy-handed, you are in a historic area please keep your voice down and think about churning butter vibe some of our nation’s older towns have. Some of our houses even have <gasp> chipped paint.
This is an actual historic building
However, and much to my dismay, there is a difference between historic and old. The armory is historic. My house is old. When I bought my four bedroom cape cod in 2005 and made the epic move from Bristol to Warren, it would be kind to say I didn’t know anything about home repair. And I didn’t care either. When I bought my house I simply didn’t have the knowledge to evaluate whether it would be high maintenance or not. Turns out, it was. Since the day I moved in, I have spent every waking hour keeping the house upright. They say there are no atheists in foxholes, and by the same token there was no way I could survive in my house without becoming some kind of hack handyman. If I had to pay for every emergency repair I’ve done over the last six years, I would be broke and living in one of the many giant boxes that came with my replacement heaters and refrigerators.
Since 2005 I have, among other things: built a wall to separate a large room,
This is not a historic house.
removed carpeting, sanded and polyurethaned wood floors, painted wood paneling, tiled two floors, replaced toilets, replaced just parts of toilets, replaced gutters, replaced stop valves, repaired vinyl siding, laid down new wood floors, replaced countertop and replaced sink fixtures. I’m not bragging here; I have to stress that at no time did I really know what I was doing. I don’t have a contractor uncle that can come over and tear a wall down. Most of my learning consisted of asking coworkers and family for advice, reading books and internet forums, wandering through home depot like a child lost at the mall, and just plain trying to figure things out in my head. If you turn a pipe and water starts spraying out, turn the pipe back the other way. I have no more lucid advice for you than that.
That’s what I’d like this column to be: the diary of a mind thinking on the fly, trying to repair a house that has charm but just does not want to cooperate. There’s still a lot of work to be done over here, and I hope you’ll get a kick out of seeing it in progress. If you own an older home in Warren, I’m sure you can relate. At it’s best, I’d like this column to capture the moment when the mouse (me) starts to smell the cheese and makes a bee-line for that last stretch of the maze. That epiphany moment when I realize, hey, I can actually do this. My next project, and the first I’ll write about, is to turn this mess:
into a respectful garage front. My only plan at first was to remove the old, sagging piece of gutter and replace it with something clean and new. However, in this case the sagging originated from rotted wood. An old house always has at least one secret waiting for you. But I think I have a plan for dealing with it. Entropy never dies, but we can keep it at arm’s length.
Crap on a Stick! Father’s Day is Tomorrow?!
I know this day creeps up on you too. And if your dad is like my dad, then oof, this gift is a rough one. Don’t bother asking what he may like, you’ll get the old “I don’t need anything…just a visit would be nice…please, nothing, God in heaven, don’t make me anything!”
So here we are. Father’s Day is tomorrow and despite the protesting the first, most important man in your life deserves some kind of trinket, no?
And since it is a near-impossible job, you put it off until the day before. Good idea. No problem, though. I foresaw this possibility and took a little walk around town, chatting up the local shopkeep to get some ready-to-go gifts. Hope this helps.
Dapper Dads
There are always ties! Muse has eco-friendly microfiber options that are silk-screened with interesting graphics. The two featured designs are beer hops and absinthe which could be truly appropriate for the beer-aficionado or the bohemian dad.
The Wooden Midshipman offers handmade wool and cotton ties in more subdued patterns. Either way, let’s move away from the atrocious paisley and vomit patterns and get the men in our lives looking better. If you don’t buy them horrible ties, they don’t have to wear them. And moms, why not get dads what they really want for Father’s Day?
Occupado 😉
Not many men wear cufflinks today. Of course we have become a more casual society and therefore men are not wearing suits and ties or even shaving in the militant way they did in previous generations. This is not a lamentation; I love my guy’s scruff and a suit every day would seem rather stuffy to me. However, I do lament the falling away of the details, including cufflinks (and handkerchiefs, but that is for another time). These small pieces of jewelry are an elegant way for a man to adorn himself when dressing up. Why not surprise your stylish father with a pair of cufflinks and let him know its ok to be the most stylish man in the office.
Another option for the refined man is a shaving kit from The Greenery. To be persuaded on the luxuries of toiletries, read this post from Roger Ebert. Scroll down a bit to get to the shaving part. The all natural soap with lather brush is your most affordable option, so best for the budget-minded.
Foodie Dads
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Actually the way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach, right? Taken literally, kind of a gory statement, don’t you think? Anyhow.
Lots of options for the dad who likes his chow. Of course, you can take him to lunch/brunch/dinner tomorrow (yes, you have to treat) to any of our fine establishments. Sunnyside, Blount Clam Shack, Trafford’s (285 Water St and brand spanking new!), Stella Blue’s, Tinker’s Nest for the Celtically inclined, Admiral Pub or Tav Vino. Gift certificates work too.
Serve up dad some delicious sushi on a set from local potter John Boland available from The Greenery or a selection of cheese on a cheese board from local artisan O&G available at The Wooden Midshipman.
You can’t go wrong with coffee and chocolates, so maybe a gift certificate to The Coffee Depot for some beans and Garrison Confections from The Greenery?
And let’s face it, most dads straight up need a drink sometimes. You can either get him a bottle of something or other from one of our spirit shops, take him out for a cold one, or grab him some paraphernalia if you are not of age. The Wooden Midshipman has you covered there. The mermaid bottle opener is a favorite!
Rockin’ Dads
Music is such an easy way to bridge the generation gap…sometimes. There is this great moment when you realize that the music your parents listen to is actually good. And now you have another thing (or, finally, something) to talk about. If this applies to you, then why not get your dad a music-themed gift? The folks at In Your Ear on Main Street are super helpful at finding something for your dad.
How about a 1973 Fender Bandmaster Reverb Amp? Fully remastered, ready to go with speaker cabinet! It could totally make up for that dent you put in his car back in the day.
Or an 8 track player with an array of his favorites ON 8 TRACK! A bit more affordable than the amp and has a great nostalgic flair to it.
Turntables are a great choice for the hipster dad and the older dad as a throwback and IYE has a few to choose from as well as a massive amount of vinyl. Does your dad have this Styx record? I didn’t think so.
Why not return the favor of all the lessons your dad paid for you to get and get him a gift certificate for drum lessons? Or guitar, bass or piano? Sounds like fun and you could turn the tables and tell him he can’t go out until he practices for 20 minutes! Nothing like exacting a little revenge when giving a present.
On top of the unique equipment, In Your Ear also has CDs, box sets, rare recordings, and books that will appeal to the audiophile. With expert staff that are happy to spend time picking out the perfect gift and a return policy you can actually use (unlike Best Buy or other major chains), this is the place to buy your music.
New Dads
For those guys that are new to the game, they probably mostly want a nap. But maybe they would also like a diaper bag that is not pink? Try Luca Boutique on Water St. You’ll find a collection of man-friendly bags that can hold diapers both new and old. It is a consignment shop so hooray for the wallet!
Pop in to find other delights for the new dad including books and baby-friendly hiking equipment.
I hope this got you out of a bind. Remember, in the end it truly is the thought that counts. Sometimes the best present can be a heartfelt note. Happy Father’s Day everyone.
Weekend!
Yet again the weekend has come! Here’s what’s going down:
Friday
- Farmer’s Market at Colt State Park (I know, it’s Bristol, not Warren. Maybe we should have a farmer’s market too?) 2-6 pm
- Coffee Depot is holding its buzzworthy acoustic open mic night. Time to audience test your acoustic cover of Dirty Deeds. Be there or be square at 7pm
Saturday
- St. Mary of the Bay is old, man. 160 years old. But that will not get in the way of a killer party! All weekend they are holding it down with a festival like only a church could hold. A giant yard sale is part of today’s festivities from 8-3. See what kind of treasures you can score!
- Warren Baptist Church is having a movie night. For only one clam, you can watch Cocoon, a favorite amongst the old and extra-terrestrial. Starts at 6
- An estate sale will be held at Bradford Mercantile from 9-3. More treasure hunting!
Sunday
- Sunday is Father’s Day. Yes, this Sunday. Don’t worry, tomorrow I’ll have a little round up of local treasures to present to Pop that will look like you thought about this day all year. Or give dad my best idea: a collage of all the things you DIDN’T get him. I mean, there are a lot of shitty father’s day gifts. And if you are a dad, happy father’s day! At the very least you contributed 23 chromosomes to make life (one of those chromosomes determined the sex of your child!) which is huge. But probably you are somebody’s superhero, support, foundation, small business loan officer, funny man, taskmaster, lovable curmudgeon, role model, coolest guy ever, smartest guy ever, strongest guy ever…you get it.
- St. Mary of the Bay festival is cooking up some BBQ at 1pm. For $6 you get half a Willow Tree Farm chicken, coleslaw, corn on the cob, baked potato, and watermelon. There is also light gambling in the form of a 50/50. What’s that saying? Life is….something positive. BBQ goes down at the Pete Sepe Pavilion on Hugh Cole Road.
New Kid in Town
The town was buzzing today with news. Did you hear? Are you going? What time? I’ll meet you there. You’d think the excitement would be surrounding the Bruin’s game 7, but in this case what got us locals excited is that Trafford’s, the large waterfront restaurant on Water St., finally opened up tonight after much anticipation. I needed no excuse to do a little field investigation, for the blog of course, to find out what Trafford’s is all about.
I walked down Water St. to find a crew of young men in blue polo shirts valet parking cars at the entrance to the restaurant. Yeah, ya heard me. Valet. It is always such a nice touch; it makes me feel indulged.
The extremely friendly hostess greeted us immediately (something I take note of in restaurants) and gave us our choice of seating, inside or out. Inside was bright and sunny thanks to tall ceilings and an airy color scheme accentuated by blond woods and a few bold accent colors. Outside overlooked the water and a tent protected patrons from the sun. While my seat faced towards the town, I realized that I had a peaceful view as well with full lush trees shadowing over the historic homes of Water Street and the spire of the Warren Methodist Church poking through the canopy.
Outdoor seating just in time for summer!
The menu is a pleasant surprise. If you have been to Marguerite’s, the other restaurant owned by the Kane family, you’ll find the offerings at Trafford’s to be a bit younger and fresher. The hostess told me they aim to use local products; the menu detailed these facts for me.
I had a red sangria and I deemed it delicious. If I wasn’t the type of person who can’t order the same thing all the time, the sangria would be my drink there. It was well-garnished; no worries about scurvy over here. And yay! Two maraschino cherries! The sangria was not cloyingly sweet like other sangria, it also was a cocktail that was worth the $8. Another one of those and this post would probably be a little inappropriate. My husband liked the beer selection. This is not an inane statement – he likes a decent beer, as do most people in Warren. He enjoyed a Brooklyn Summer Ale which was elegantly served in a stemmed beer glass.
We just ordered snacks and therefore weren’t able to give the menu a full work out. The oysters Trafford were one of those snacks, and they were mind-blowingly wonderful. Sorry for the hyperbole, but they were really that good. I can’t recall everything that was on the oysters, but they had an artichoke pesto, some greens, and a bread crumb topping then baked. There was a lemon flavor in there too that burst in your mouth and made the bitter, buttery, and saltiness all make sense together.
We ate them all then remembered to take a picture. Woops!
The rest of the menu was very appealing and I have placed it in the category of restaurants that will please everyone – your foodie friends and your traditional grandparents. I could see it being very romantic as well as a damn good time. At the very least, I look forward to many more cocktails outside watching the sunset. See you there!
This Weekend in Warren, RI
Sunshine? Rapture? Either way (or both) it will prove to be an exciting weekend. I am simply looking forward to a relaxing weekend after a long and particularly smelly week at work. Don’t ask.
Friday (that’s tonight!):
- Imago: Opening reception “Floral and Fauna” featuring Lisa Legato along with many other guest artists. Starts at 7.
- Stella Blues: Brian Joseph Duo
- Coffee Depot: Acoustic Open Mic Night
Saturday:
- Stella Blues: Bud & Me
- Muse, The Greenery, and Wedding Belle NYC: Warren Wedding Weekend! Discounts on wedding accoutrement for couples about to take the plunge. Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday:
- 2nd Story: In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play. The only day this weekend when tickets are still available get on it!
As always, if you have something going on and I didn’t mention, please! add it! Thanks and enjoy this sunshine. Oh and good luck in the upcoming Rapture. Is that capitalized?
This is Warren 