Topic: Rhode Island Scottish festival

[jamesie]

Howday misfits,
This is gonna be a new one for us....Rhode Island....never been out there so we are looking forward to this!
Hope to see some of the New England misfits make the trip....

Any cool things to see while there ????
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.riscot.org%2F&h=c3ac2


ALBANNACH...

[Fraoch]

Well, for starters, I went to University right down the road at University of Rhode Island, but I don't think that's what you had in mind.   

The beaches of Narragansett are pretty nice, and the mansions of Newport are a relatively short drive away.  Mystic, Connecticut (with the Seaport and Aquarium, if you like that sort of thing) aren't too far in the other direction.

As for food, be sure to have some jonny cakes and coffee milk.   

[lil T]

Rhode Island is nice, Providence is a small but fun city.  They have a HUGE mall.    Watch out for the crazy drivers tho.

[Rose Marie]

Providence may have crazy drivers, but they are no worse than Chicago's....or not much. Providence does have a couple of very helpful auto mechanics. They fixed up a window which stopped going up and down so we had a trip home without a window down in October. I think they would have fixed it, even though we got there at closing time, if they had had the part in stock.

Providence to Boston isn't more than a couple hours and there is lots to see in the Boston area, if you would like to learn some US Revolutionary War history. We spent a couple of days there while on vacation and could have spent the whole week. Boston has the Freedom Trail where you can visit Old North Church, Paul Revere's house and lots of other sites significant in America's fight against the British. There is also the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," the world's oldest commissioned warship. There is no admission fee for the tour, which is conducted by active US Navy personnel wearing the uniforms of sailors from the War of 1812. Just watch your heads if you go - the ship was built for short people. 

Concord Massachusetts is also an interesting day trip for Revolutionary War history (site of the first American victory), and a great little wine and cheese shop with a truly amazing variety of blue cheeses.

Have fun, take (and post) pictures, and let us know what you liked and didn't like.

[Hope]

Rhode Island is nice, Providence is a small but fun city.  They have a HUGE mall.    Watch out for the crazy drivers tho.

Nik and I took a trip to Providence a few years back for a Godsmack Concert. The city was gorgeous (fall colors and everything) and yeah, the mall was huge. lol

[jamesie]

Johny Cakes.....WTF ???

[Fraoch]

Johny Cakes.....WTF ???

Jamesie, jonny cakes (or johnny cakes) are basically pancakes made with cornmeal instead of wheat flour.  There's a recipe at the link.  They could probably be made without the bacon drippings and be more man-rabbit friendly.

 


http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Johnnycakes.htm

[patdusa]

Jamesie, if you like hush puppies, you will love johnny cakes. Pretty much the same ingredients, just in a different shape.

[macshorty]

Jamesie, if you like hush puppies, you will love johnny cakes. Pretty much the same ingredients, just in a different shape.

In that case, you'll need to eat them with honey!!  SO GOOD!!

[patdusa]

Yep, McShorty! OR REAL maple syrup. Wonder if Jamesie like hush puppies????

[WeeBlondeC]

I'm right down the road so to speak so should be able to get this one in EASY!
Don't forget the two casinos are within a short distance 

[HeilanWoman]

Johny Cakes.....WTF ???

It only SOUNDS like those little things you see in the port-a-potties to freshen the urinal.  I don't think that's what they are, tho.  

I wasn't clear on what time of year this is (too lazy to look at the schedule right now).  There is always the PawSox!!!  I have actually never been to a game there, I hear it's a nice little park.  I could be persuaded.

I second Newport.  

I should have no problem making it to this one.  Glad to see more Northeast dates.
 

[lil T]

ROFL Deb!!!

Mikey and I lived 20 minutes from Providence, the inlaws are still there, so lodging wouldn't be an issue for once, .

Considering RI is 45 minutes long north to south....it's aaaall good.

[PaddyJJ]

if he likes maple syrup i'll have to bring some of my friend martins, he makes a very limited craft batch every fall, it sells out fast.  3 generations of his family been makin genuine fresh New Hampshire maple syrup, no preservatives or fake junk.

http://www.journeysendmaplefarm.com/

[Vicki]

mmmmm Maple Syrup. Wonderful stuff! Bought a gallon at the Sterling Fair this year. Also discovered maple syrup cotton candy  and maple syrup martinis! .

Sooooo happy about a Rhode Island Albannach event! It's just "down the road a bit"

[HeilanWoman]

If'n you can ever get your hands on maple soda, that stuff is amazing.  I've only ever found it in single bottles at the food co-op up in Hanover/Lebanon NH. 

Magic!

[KISSfan94]

Sooo pumped for this!!

[Patches]

Hello All,
From one of the very quiet peep here, I am a native Rhode Islander, I now live in PA, but still visit family in the state of RI.

Because of the way the state is shaped, the shore line / beaches have different surf.
Most popular beaches:
Narragansett – family beach, low waves
Scarborough – teenagers and young adults, college students, medium waves
Misquamicut – higher waves, could have a strong undertow if a storm is near.
1st Beach/Easton Beach Newport- My personal favorite, the 3.5 mile Cliff walk, that runs behind the Newport mansion is next to this beach.  If you don’t like sitting in the sand all day, walk the cliff walk.
Donnie will definitely need sun block.

Providence- very nice little city, the capital building is made of Vermont Marble, the second largest self supporting dome in the world.  Center city / Federal Hill has many Italian Restaurants very strong traditional Italian influence in downtown Providence. 

Food
Clamcake – don’t think Maryland Crab cake, the Clamcake is the Rhode Island Junk Food.
It is shaped like a hushpuppy but it has clams.  It’s deep-fried corn batter with clams.  Delicious, greasy, very addictive like french fries.  Best place is Iggy, they have several location near the shore and inland.

Ice Coffee vs Ice Tea  - This may have something to do with the Boston Tea Party, but you will see much more Ice Coffee than Ice Tea in New England.

Dell’s Lemonade – looks like a 7/11 slurpys but it’s not.  Think frozen lemonade that has been shaved, perfect for hot summer day.  You don’t drink it with a straw or eat it w/ a spoon; you basicly suck it out of the cup.

Quahog (Cawhog) big friggin clam.   Quahog chowder = Clam chowder

Summer travel, leave real real early in the morning.  Everyone is heading towards the shore for the weekend.  I was in RI last July and had to travel back to PA.  I left RI at 4:15 am on a Sunday morning.
I made it to New Haven in Conn and then got stuck in traffic at 6:15 am on a Sunday Morning.

Patches

[lil T]

K....two things:

Clamcakes = YUMMY NOMS.  Period. :P

And don't forget the coffee milk!   (Think Nestle chocolate syrup in milk....only coffee flavored.   My hubby loves it.

[Valkyrie73]

Wow, Patches, you're wonderful descriptions make me want to come there just to see and do the attractions and food

[GardenMiss]

Cool beans!  I'll try to make this one!  Hey you natives...  Where to stay?

[jamesie]

sorted...am having Johnny cakes, ice coffee and am gonna park my ass on 1st beach.....sounds like a plan!

[Patches]

Jamesie,

Johnny Cakes are different from Clamcakes.

Johnny Cakes are basically a thick pancakes traditionally made from stone ground corn meal.
They are usually served at breakfast with butter and maple syrup.  Don’t think light fluffy breakfast food; they can be heavy and very filling.    The word “Johnny” is a corruption of the word “Jonikin” from the local Native Americans; the Narragansett tribe.  Some people think the word may have come from Journey Cake, which refers to a cornbread that travels well in a saddle bag.

Clamcakes, are the deep-fried corn batter with clams.  Delicious and greasy, you just sprinkle a little salt on them.  They are additive like French fries you can’t eat just one.  Keep in mind; they are much bigger than French fries.  If you want a snack; you get the usual six.   If you are with someone who doesn’t order clamcakes’ for themselves; you better order a dozen or more, because other people will be eating yours.

Newport is very old historical town, narrow streets, can be very touristy.  There are plenty of shops and restaurants in town along the harbor (route 138, America’s Cup Ave).  Because of the narrow streets, you may want to consider walking everywhere.   There should be a visitor’s center for Newport RI.  Surf the web for more details.

 From the Newport bridge (not the Jamestown bridge) stay on route 138 south/east into the center of Newport (route 138/America’s Cup Ave); To get to the beach, route 138/America’s Cup Ave turns into Memorial Blvd as you go up the hill away from the wharfs.  You cross over Bellevue Ave (all the mansions are on Bellevue) and at the bottom of the hill to the right is 1st beach.  The beach is probably about two miles from the wharfs.   

Because I have family in RI, I never had to book hotel accommodations, Newport is can be very touristy and expensive, so I suggest looking for rooms closer to the RI Scottish Highland Festival.  Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union, so getting from one place to another won’t take too long.

If you are really going to park you derrière on the beach all day, remember the sun screen.
Also because the ocean current comes down from Canada, the water will still be quite cool in the beginning of June, so if it’s a hot day, the water should be very refreshing.

Patches

[SallyT]

This is the best news I have had since johnny cakes, which I now need to try because I love things made with corn meal!

I am psyched for this- it's the weekend after I get back from my 6-day business trip to Savannah, GA- when I first saw the dates I was worried I'd miss this RI show. This is an easy drive, about an hour.

Now, if I can make sure my leg does not go all haywire on me again like it did before PIV 

[lil T]

Hope to see you there, Sally!  Its been awhile!

[Will]

for a Games it was a wee bit small...but none the less nicely done