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News Bites: Celebrate Downcity 2021 / RI Brewers Guild Puzzle Fundraiser / Melvin Brewing and Kühl Porter and Clothing Drive / Farm Fresh Providence Farmers Market Wintertime Season

by David Dadekian November 3, 2021

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.

Soulita and InDowncity to Launch Weekly Providence Holiday Shopping Event

Shop local and support small businesses downtown with a marketplace, live music, and food vendors at Celebrate Downcity 2021

InDowncity and Soulita are excited to announce their first ever collaboration, Celebrate Downcity 2021. The event will be held at Grant’s Block and on Westminster Street, between Eddy Street and Union Street, in downtown Providence. The weekly holiday festival will kick off on Nov. 27 for Small Business Saturday and continue each Saturday, including Dec. 4, Dec. 11, and Dec. 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each Saturday will feature local small businesses, musicians, artists, and food vendors.

Celebrate Downcity brings together Providence’s local creative community and small businesses to offer guests the best holiday shopping experience the city has to offer. A marketplace at Grant’s Block—organized by Soulita—will welcome over 20 local vendors. Merchandise will include a range of products, including clothing, jewelry, skincare items, accessories, housewares, greenery, and more. Each marketplace will be accompanied by festive live musical performances featuring local talent.

“Come experience Celebrate Downcity 2021,” says Evan Delpeche, Co-Owner of Soulita, “as we establish a cornerstone of local makers and sellers of Rhode Island. At Soulita, we continuously strive to unite, inspire, and create through artistic expression in public environments.”

On Westminster Street, shoppers can also enjoy a well curated selection of gifts at Craftland, Queen of Hearts and Modern Love, Symposium Books and Records, The Vault Collective, Civil, Homestyle, and Eno Fine Wines. Each shop offers a variety of unique items, from handmade cards to vintage clothing to skate equipment, providing shoppers with a one-stop location for holiday purchases.

“Our local businesses experienced a tremendous setback last holiday season,” says Joanna Levitt, Director of Commercial Leasing and Marketing for Cornish Associates. “InDowncity and Cornish Associates are here to encourage and celebrate their path towards recovery. This holiday, these businesses will be vibrant, filled with unique goods and ready for their customers to shop safely. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Soulita, bringing creatives from throughout the city to downtown to showcase the best local holiday shopping our community has to offer.”

For event dining, InDowncity will welcome a line-up of favorite food and beverage vendors, along with cafe-style outdoor seating on Westminster Street. Visitors are invited to sit under the heaters and enjoy refreshing beverages from Long Live Brewery and delicious food from weekly rotating food vendors. Restaurants and cafes on and along Westminster Street will be open for dining as well, including Small Point Cafe, Sura, Kleos, Little City Coffee and Kitchen, Serendipity Gourmet, and the Malted Barley.

RI Brewers Guild Fundraiser

https://ri-brewers-guild.square.site

Warming Inside and Out: Melvin Brewing and Kühl® Launch NEW Scenario Porter with KÜHL® Giveaways and a Clothing Drive

Get the warm fuzzies this fall with a new collaborative release from Melvin Brewing and premier outdoor apparel brand Kühl®. In conjunction with Scenario Porter’s debut, Melvin and KÜHL® are giving back to the local communities where Melvin’s beer is sold and warming bodies on the outside by giving regional charities one premium quality KÜHL® jacket for every 10 cases or two kegs of Scenario Porter sold. Scenario Porter is available in limited release for three months starting Nov. 1 at select retailers coast-to-coast.

A robust porter made with oats and midnight wheat, Scenario Porter (6% ABV/MSRP $9.99/12-ounce six pack) is a beer fit to warm your insides with the rich, warming flavors of burnt sugar, cocoa and toast. It’s the first in a series of rotating seasonal releases from Melvin focusing on less-hoppier beer styles.

Melvin Field Hoperatives will be hosting Scenario Porter tap events throughout the country where they’ll collect gently-used gear and warm clothing in good condition for donation to regional charities. Everyone who shows up at an event with donations will be entered to win a KÜHL® jacket of their own.

“As a fellow independent brand, we feel a kinship with the good folks at Melvin. We are proud and honored to collaborate on such a worthwhile promotion,” says Jonny Atencio, Director of Strategic Partnerships, KÜHL®.

Availability: Look for Scenario Porter in 12-ounce six-packs starting Nov. 1 at independent retailers in WA; OR; CA; ID; MT; AK; WY; CO; UT; SD; NE; MO; OH; MA; RI; DC; VA; and FL.

Winter Season Kicks Off at Farm Fresh Providence Farmers Market

The year-round Farm Fresh Providence Farmers Market kicks off its renowned Wintertime season on November 6, 2021. Now in its 15th year and the largest indoor market of its kind in New England, the farmers market runs every Saturday 9am to 1pm. The winter season runs through April 30, 2022, and the market runs year-round. For more information: farmfreshri.org/PVDmarket.

Market goers can shop with over 65 local farm and food vendors in a custom-built facility designed for hosting year-round markets. Think plenty of parking and room to move around. The new Farm Fresh building is also home to other local small businesses that will be open during market hours for a full range local farm, food, and beverage experiences. Anchor Toffee, New Harvest Coffee & Spirits, Red Tomato (no retail), and Rhed’s Hot Sauce are open now and Providence Brewing Company, Robin Hollow Farm, Tallulah’s Taqueria, and Wright’s Creamery will be opening over the coming months. (Opening dates vary, stay tuned.)

Special Holiday Market — Wednesday, December 22
The regular Saturday market will be closed on Christmas and New Years Day, 12/25/2021 and 1/1/2022. But a special Holiday Market has your holiday shopping covered — Wednesday evening, 12/22, from 3 to 7pm.

Local Vendors at the Farmers Market
The wintertime season kicks off with these local farms and food artisans at the market: African Alliance of RI, Allen Farms, Barden Family Orchard, Barrett’s Garden, Beautiful Day, Beth Bakes, Black Leaf Tea & Culture Shop, Bonetown BBQ, Buns Bakery, Butter Cuisine, Chi Kitchen, Clover Desserts, Cluck & Trowel, The Coffee Guy, La Creperie, Dee’s Little Sweets, Deep Roots Farm, Delicious Deli, Distinguish Catering, Earth Essence Herbals, Fairland Farms, Farmacy Herbs, Fearless Fish Market, Flying Carrot Farm, Fully Rooted, gC Farm, Great Harvest Bread Company, Harmony Hill Farm, Harvest Kitchen, Herbs and Mylk, Hopkins Southdowns, Incred-a-bowl, Jack’s Snacks a Dog Bakery, June Love’s English Bakery, Just Like Nana’s, Kane’s Kitchen, Knead Doughnuts, Lafleur’s Wildflower Honey, Langwater Farm, Lara’s Cuisine, The Local Catch, Lucayda Farm, Luluna Kombucha, Martinelli’s Meats, Matilda, Moonlight Rose Alpacas, Narragansett Creamery, Newport Sea Salt Co., Nuts & Bolts Nursery Coop, Ocean State Pepper Co., Pat’s Pastured, Pickily, Provencal Bakery, Rebelle Artisan Bagels, Rhode Island Spa Products, RI Mushroom Co., Rocket Fine Street Food, Sanctuary Herbs of Providence, Secrets in the Kitchen, Seven Stars Bakery, Silk Tree Farm, Silver Thistle Farm & Cheesery, Simmons Farm, Skydog Farm, Slowhand Sharpening, Soul Fresh Proteins, Steere Orchard, Sweet and Salty Farm, Sweet Possibilities, Triton Seafood, Ward’s Berry Farm, Wishing Stone Farm, Zeigler’s Market Garden.

Bonus Bucks Doubles SNAP/EBT Benefits
The market accepts cash/check, credit/debit, SNAP/EBT, and Bonus Bucks. Farm Fresh RI’s Bonus Bucks nutrition incentives program provides an additional 100% bonus for customers using EBT—to increase access to fresh fruits and veggies for low-income individuals receiving federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. That means for every $1 spent with SNAP at the farmers market, shoppers receive a FREE $1 in Bonus Bucks tokens to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables.

November 3, 2021 0 comment

chefs & restaurants news wine & drinks

News Bites: Black Business Week 2021 / Social Enterprise Greenhouse Spring 2021 Virtual Incubator Program / New RI Brewers Guild Board Members

by David Dadekian November 10, 2021

written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.

Black Business Week Rhode Island 2021

Black Lives Biz honors Black History Month by highlighting Black Businesses and hosting the first Black Business Week of Rhode Island.

Black Lives Biz is hosting Rhode Island’s first Black Business Week from February 15th – 20th 2021. The week will be filled with discounts, specials and sales from over 35 participating Black owned businesses along with two virtual events. Among the participating businesses are Nubian Nailz, Glow Cafe and The Black Leaf Tea & Culture Shop.

What to Expect:

How to transition a side hustle into a scalable business is one of the week’s highly anticipated virtual events hosted by Sterling Clinton-Spellman, founder and CEO of Polished, alongside Chip Douglas and Karriem Kanston. This event will highlight stories of converting lifelong passions into successful and profitable businesses. During the event they will share tips, best practices and local resources on how to convert a hobby into a scalable business.

To RSVP for How to transition a side hustle into a scalable business and a full schedule of Black Business Week RI, see https://fb.me/e/1YazO1kyM

Black Lives Biz is the nation’s leading search engine for Black-owned businesses with over 180,000 businesses listed nationwide. Our mission is to strengthen the alliances between Black owned businesses and to highlight all Black owned businesses through a digital portal. Visit www.blacklivesbiz.com to learn more.

Social Enterprise Greenhouse Announces Spring 2021 Virtual Incubator Program for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses – Apply by March 5, 2021

Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) has opened applications for its Spring 2021 Virtual Incubator program. The SEG Virtual Incubator is a five-week business education program that covers social entrepreneurship, business model planning, finances, and other important topics for startup organizations. More than 150 startups representing a wide variety of industries have graduated from the program since it began in 2017.

The SEG Spring 2021 Virtual Incubator begins with an orientation on March 15 and then meets twice weekly from March 22 to April 22 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The program will be conducted virtually using Zoom. Participants benefit from the experience of learning together with a cohort of fellow early-stage business owners and receive continued professional support after the program ends.

SEG’s Incubator program is designed for anyone who has an idea for a business or nonprofit that will create positive social impact while being financially sustainable. Motivated and coachable social entrepreneurs and small business owners from Rhode Island and beyond are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by March 5, 2021. More information and the application are available at www.bit.ly/SEGIncubator.

The SEG Incubator is sponsored by the RI Department of Labor and Training’s Back to Work RI program, Rhode Island Foundation, Central Providence Health Equity Zone, Citizens Bank, Island Foundation, van Beuren Charitable Foundation, and EJMP Fund for Philanthropy.

Rhode Island Brewers Guild Welcomes New Board Members

Three new members join the five-person board

The Rhode Island Brewers Guild, the official association focused on promoting Rhode Island’s beer manufactures and brew pubs, recently held elections for their Board of Directors. The board is made up of five representatives from member breweries who are voted on by the 31-member organization. The 2021 Board will retain two key members, Jeremy Ruff, owner/brewer from LineSider Brewing in East Greenwich and Morgan Snyder, owner/brewer at Buttonwoods Brewery in Cranston.

Joining the Board of Directors for 2021 are Matt Richardson, owner/brewer at the recently expanded Tilted Barn Brewery in Exeter, Armando DeDona, owner/brewer of Long Live Beer Works in Providence and Matthew Gray, President of Ragged Island Brewing Company in Portsmouth. These new members replace Board members Jennifer Brinton of Grey Sail Brewing of RI, Tamara McKenney of Appanoug Brewing Company and Tony Barber of Ragged Island Brewing Co, whose terms have expired.

At their first monthly meeting on January 25^th the board selected Jeremy Ruff to continue in his position as President and selected Matt Richardson as Vice President, Matthew Gray as Secretary and Armando DeDona as Treasurer. The Board is charged with enhancing the marketing and promotion of the Ocean State’s growing brewery scene, legislative initiatives to spur business development and ensure compliance, as well as pursuit of technical training opportunities to enhance the quality of beer brewed in R.I.

“The Rhode Island brewing community has seen significant growth in the number of beer manufacturers licensed in the State over the past 10 years.” said Executive Director, Gary Richardson. “Today we have over 30 member breweries in the Guild with several more in planning phases.”

The RI Brewers Guild was a recent recipient of funding from the RI Commerce Corp’s “Take it Outside” grant which helped many brewers create or enhance outdoor beer gardens and seating areas to help safely retain tasting room sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years the Guild has successfully lobbied for changes to State laws that allow for on-site sampling and takeout sales directly from the breweries. In the Spring of 2020, the Guild launched the RI Brewery Passport App. This digital passport allows beer fans a chance to visit each of the member breweries and earn prizes for milestones met along the way. The Guild looks to focus on additional legislative initiatives in 2021 as well as promoting a collaboration beer series between member breweries throughout the year.

For more information about the RI Brewers Guild visit www.ribrewersguild.org

Kara and Matt Richardson, owners/brewer of Tilted Barn Brewery

Matthew Gray, President of Ragged Island Brewing Company — Kara and Matt Richardson, owners/brewer of Tilted Barn Brewery

November 10, 2021 0 comment

news wine & drinks

Moniker Brewery Opens in Providence

by David Dadekian December 20, 2020

written by David Dadekian

Moniker Brewery, Rhode Island’s newest brewery (though there are always a few on the way) is now open in Providence with a Grand Opening happening on Saturday, December 26th. Currently offering curbside pickup for three beers, as well as some merchandise. When Moniker is open for beers in their tapoom and beer garden, another nearby business, Bucktown, will be providing food service.

Eat Drink RI emailed with Bryan Benedict, Moniker’s owner and co-founder, who had previously worked at Beer’d Brewing in Stonington, Connecticut and Horizon Beverage in Rhode Island. Benedict described himself and teammates Jeff Goodno and Ben Estes as “lager lovers, so we will always have some sessionable, crisp lagers available. That’s not to say we are going to shy away from hops.” Goodno, Director of Operations at Moniker, most recently helped build Taproot Brewing Company at Newport Vineyards and was previously at Victory Brewing Company, SoMe Brewing Company and Tributary Brewing Company. Estes is the Head Brewer at Moniker and was previously at Proclamation Ale Company and The Guild in Pawtucket.

Moniker’s first beers, which are available now for curbside pick up, are:

G-dangit – a Citra and Mosaic IPA
Debut Single – a light, sessionable cream ale
Modern Chemistry – an American Pale Ale

When I asked Benedict about the name Moniker, he replied, “The name came about through the realization that what we were building here was not unique. There are over 10,000 breweries around the country. No amount of branding or stories would change the fact we are 1 in 10,000. We wanted to focus on the core attributes that make craft beer so appealing. It shouldn’t matter what the name on the building or can is. It’s about the beer, the experience and those who share both with you. So our focus is dedicated to providing the best beer and taproom experience and building a community here in Providence.”

Moniker is located at 432 West Fountain Street, across from the complex housing Y Noodle & Bar, Fearless Fish Market, The Slow Rhode and fellow brewery Beer On Earth, and down the street from Bayberry Beer Hall. Their site is at monikerbrewery.com and you can follow them on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

Cosmic Intoxication from Moniker Brewery

Bryan Benedict and Jeff Goodno of Moniker Brewery

December 20, 2020 0 comment

news wine & drinks

Newport Storm Annual Release ’11 Is Rhode Island’s First Major “Collaboration” Beer

by David Dadekian December 20, 2020

written by David Dadekian

On Friday evening, November 11, Newport Storm Brewery is holding a “Celebration of ’11” to showcase the release of their newest annual release. This year’s brew is particularly special as well as particularly Rhode Island having been bottle-conditioned with Aquidneck Honey, hopped with locally grown hops from Ocean State Hops, aged in Thomas Tew Rum barrels and brewed through the collaboration of all six of Rhode Island’s professional brewers: Derek Luke of Newport Storm, Dave Sniffen of Mohegan Café and Brewery in Block Island, Sean Larkin and Tom Tainsh of Trinity Brewhouse in Providence, Aaron Crossett of Union Station Brewery in Providence, and Marshall Righter of the Coddington Brewing Company in Middletown.

Derek Luke, brewmaster at Newport Storm, explains the motivation behind the beer, “Collaboration beers are a great chance for brewers to exchange knowledge, pool strengths and come up with a beer that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Since we come from the smallest state, the Rhode Island brewers often don’t get enough exposure for the great beers they’re making. For the ’11, we want to make an awesome beer together. When you drink it, it will be obvious exactly how great Rhode Island beer can be.”

Jeff Mello, beekeeper owner of Aquidneck Honey, added, “I loved the clip, especially when it mentions only RI’s best ingredients and there we are: a jar of Aquidneck Honey is bee-ing poured into the brew. Hopefully it will catch on, more breweries will use Aquidneck Honey and bee a regular item available on the East Coast. You know me, and our passion, 1039 hives strong as of this fall and not one penny collected for pollination services to RI and Southern Mass. You know my slogan . . . “No Bees = No Farms = NO FOOD.” The amended one is going to read more like this . . . “NO Bees = No Farms = NO BREW!”

The beer has been bottle-conditioning since its February 5th brew date. A “Celebration of ’11” is planned for 11/11/11 at the Newport Storm Brewery. Brews from all of RI’s breweries will be on tap, as well as the ’11. Tickets are $11 and are available at www.NewportStorm.com. Newport Storm ’11 will be on sale in CT, MA, and RI liquor stores, as well as on draft at each Rhode Island brewer’s establishment and select venues around the Ocean State. Below is the “Newport Storm Annual Release ’11” promo video.

December 20, 2020 0 comment