cliff walk & ocean drive

The sun wasn't out much for our few days in Newport, but Sunday all the bad weather cleared out and it was a sunny, but windy day. Just before we haded back home we hit the Cliff Walk to check out a few of the big homes and take in some sea air. It was a specatactular view along the coastline.




















That little black speck in the white foam is a surfer. what a brave soul. It must be freezing out there

































We guessed this tent is up for Salve Regina's graduation and if so, that is one heck of a backdrop for a diploma ceremony! I sat on this very tree over 15 years ago, the last time I was in Newport. I had spent the night in a Salve dorm room and later announced it was the prettiest campus I'd ever seen.


















There were loads of families out to enjoy mother's day sunshine, but this puppy stole the show every where he ran.
























Are we in Hawaii? Nope, just watching some crazy guys in wet suits looking for a ride on the Rhode Island surf.

























...And we're off the island and heading back home! As our final seafood stop, I wanted to go to the Sea Swirl in Mystic, but we hit Bill's Seafood in Westbrook instead.

breakfast on broadway

When traveling with others, I try to remain flexible because you can't always set your own agenda. Sunday was our last day in Newport and I was excited to call my own shots. I wanted to try Norey's for breakfast. It was closed. We saw the Hungry Monkey already looked quite full so we went across the street to Jack and Josie's. it looks more like an internet cafe, but we were quite happy with our meal and the quiet ambience. I had hot cakes stuffed with lemon zest and ricotta with a bit of cool sour cream on the side.























I was glad we wandered futher afield from downtown to check out the Broadway restaurants. I fell in love with the Gulf sign inside Salvation Cafe and noticed Tucker's Bistro where I had hoped to eat on Thursday, but alas we didn't make it to Newport early enough.

Jack & Josie's
111 Broadway
http://www.jackandjosies.com/

Norey's
156 Broadway

Hungry Monkey
124 Broadway
http://thehungrymonkeycafe.com/

Salvation Cafe
140 Broadway
http://www.salvationcafe.com/

Tucker's Bistro
150 Broadway
http://www.tuckersbistro.com/


For more dining recommendations here's a great place to start:
http://www.bestofnewport.com/newport-rhode-island-restaurants.htm

downtown walkabout

scales & shells

Friends of ours have a second home in Narragansett and we were lucky that they know Newport well enough to recommend Scales for our dinner. It's all seafood and it's nothing fancy inside, but had a lovely meal. We began with clams and oysters on the half shell. D had a skate wing piccata and I had a toro tuna, cooked medium rare over a wood grill. It was simply the best fish I've eaten since we were at Fore Street in Portland. I also enjoyed their grilled veggie kebab that even has a mini corn-on-the-cob jammed on the end!

A few things to note: Scales does not take reservations (luckily it was off-season and we walked right in around 7PM) and they do not take credit cards. I'm also told there is a fancier version above, called Upscales, but I was would be perfectly happy to return to the same spot.

Scales and Shells
527 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 846-FISH (3474)
http://www.scalesandshells.com/

After dinner we headed to Cafe Zelda for dark and stormies, but the bar also serves food and we had alternately planned to go there first for apps there if we had to wait for a table at Scales.

The Viking

Last weekend I had a business meeting at the Viking Hotel in Newport. We stayed 3 nights on the 4th floor room 4023. Our room had extremly high ceilings and every time you got out of the elevator you could look out onto the Top of Newport rootfop bar (opens Memorial Day, but we snuck out for a peek when we found the door open on Saturday). There is a nice front porch with white rocking Adirondack chairs and a London style cab for zipping guests around the downtown area. I found all of the staff extremely friendly and thought the hotel did a surprisingly tasty job with our banquet meal of losbter and filet in the Colonnade Room.

Hotel Viking
1 Bellevue Ave.
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 847-3300
http://www.hotelviking.com/

Next year's meeting is in to Portsmouth NH, so I am looking forward to finally trying the Friendly Toast for breakfast.