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Yacht Club Soda’s Soda Pop Poll Is Ready To Go With Kamala’s Berry Surprise Entering The Race Against Donald’s Trumpian Punch

Yacht Club Soda, The Official Soda of Rhode Island, knows that unprecedented times call for unprecedented bottling. This week sees the release of Kamala’s Berry Surprise taking over for Joe’s Bidenomics Berry in the Soda Pop Pollagainst Donald’s Trumpian Punch.

What began as Round Two when the first two new Limited Release flavors were released in June is now Remixed, with a new label for Vice President Harris. Just as Harris is taking over the Democratic race for President Biden, the VP’s flavor is taking over in the Soda Pop Poll. Sales figures for Joe’s Bidenomics Berry will be collected until August 22^nd when bottles of Kamala’s Berry Surprise will hit shelves and have its sales tracked.

You may find Joe’s Bidenomics Berry on sale after the changeover date, but sales won’t be counted toward the poll. The final poll results will reflect the combined sales with no overlap. There’s no rigging a Soda Pop Poll! That certainly makes the Biden bottle a collector’s item now, so you might not want to pass it up.

“Like the rest of America, and the world, we were surprised by President Biden’s unprecedented decision to drop out of the race,” said Yacht Club Soda owner John Sgambato. “But making soda at Yacht Club never stops and our team is fired up to release Kamala’s Berry Surprise.”

While the soda in the bottle for Kamala’s Berry Surprise is the same blueberry-raspberry soda as in Joe’s Bidenomics Berry, the team at Yacht Club had to leap into action to produce the new bottle label. As before, Frankie Galasso, nationally syndicated sports, editorial and entertainment cartoonist/artist and Rhode Island resident, drew the Limited Release label art. Kristina Cinquegrana Petrilli, graphic designer and artist, and co-founder of Faith & Grace Design Studios created the new label. You can find more about Galasso, including his limited-edition lithograph celebrating the Celtics latest world championship at www.thefrankiegalasso.com. More information about Petrilli and her design work, including shopping her co-founded line of greeting cards, can be found at kristinapetrilli.com.

Both Soda Pop Poll flavors are now available at the Yacht Club Factory Store in North Providence—see their Facebook page at facebook.com/yachtclubsoda for hours, will be sold at farmers markets and can be found in local stores and restaurants through multiple distributors. Plus, you can order online from Yacht Club Soda’s site at yachtclubsoda.com and they ship all their flavors anywhere in the United States.

As with the last two presidential Soda Pop Polls, Yacht Club will release the results of the poll this fall to see which political pop people like best. Donald’s Trumpian Punch and Kamala’s Berry Surprise will only be available through election season, or while supplies last, so don’t miss out on your chance to vote in the Soda Pop Poll!

Newport Restaurant Group Celebrates Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s 20th Birthday with a ‘Fruits from the Field’ Fundraiser

For the Month of August, $2.00 from every local tomato dish sold will go to Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Newport Restaurant Group (NRG), an award-winning collection of unique restaurants and hospitality venues located throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts, will celebrate Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s 20^th birthday with a special ‘fruits from the field’ fundraiser. NRG is Farm Fresh’s top tomato purchaser, and has been every year since the organization began. 

From August 1^st through August 31^st, NRG restaurants Avvio, Bar ‘Cino (Newport), and Waterman Grille (Providence), will offer a special, locally-grown tomato dish using produce from Farm Fresh and Greenview Farms, and will donate $2.00 from each dish sold to Farm Fresh. 

Waterman Grille will feature a summery Grilled Peach and Farm Fresh Tomato Salad for the month. Bar ‘Cino and Avvio will offer a daily special featuring Greenview Farms tomatoes.

“We have been a proud partner of Farm Fresh since its inception, from utilizing its Market Mobile to hosting the annual Local Food Fest at Castle Hill Inn,” said Kevin DiLibero, Director of Culinary Arts, Newport Restaurant Group. “What the organization has done to not only connect farmers with restaurants, but also to increase access to fresh local food for those who need it the most, is nothing short of amazing. We look forward to another 20 years of the organization’s positive impact.”

When Farm Fresh was created, Newport Restaurant Group quickly became its largest customer. Since then, NRG has continued its support of the organization, landing in its top three largest customers every year, and regaining the title of largest seven times, including this year. “Farm Fresh Rhode Island is honored to have Newport Restaurant Group’s support in celebrating our 20th anniversary. Their commitment to sourcing local produce has not only strengthened our organization but has also provided vital support to our local farmers,” said Nikki Ayres, Director of Giving, Farm Fresh Rhode Island. “This partnership has been essential in our mission to connect farmers with the community and ensure access to fresh, local food. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and look forward to many more years of collaboration and shared success.”

Ocean House Introduces An Extraordinary Land And Sea Yacht Experience Combining A Stay In The Nautical-Inspired Morgan Suite And Cruise Aboard The Historic Aphrodite Yacht

Guests Will Have the Opportunity to Sail on the Completely Restored 1937 Vessel that Once Carried Luminaries Such as ShirleyTemple, Fred Astaire, Nelson Rockefeller and President Roosevelt

Cruises Aboard the Aphrodite Can Also be Reserved Independently for Regional Voyages Exploring the Scenic New England Coastline and Celebrated Summer Destinations

Ocean House, a Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, will introduce the first-of its kind Land and Sea Yacht experience combining an unforgettable suite stay with a scenic sunset champagne cruise for up to six guests aboard the historic Aphrodite yacht. A professional photographer is also on hand to capture images prior to departure, enhancing the transporting experience only available to guests of the Relais and Chateaux property. Guests-in-residence can also reserve the Aphrodite for leisurely sailing discoveries in and around the area.

The Land and Sea Yacht Experience

The package includes a three-night stay in the sprawling nautical-inspired Morgan Suite, reflective of Watch Hill’s maritime heritage and inspired by the classic sailing and motor yachts that take to local waters. The bi-level suite includes four guestrooms, a private outdoor terrace, and garden space with beach-level access. In the living room, the custom-milled, vertical-grain beams, doors and floors pair seamlessly with the custom-made hardware of the suite, enhancing its warm seaside surroundings. The dining area with demonstration kitchen features a classic Molteni range and encourages conversation while allowing dining companions to admire expansive ocean views. The lower level is complete with vintage nautical touches. A private beach cabana is also offered daily.

Aphrodite’s Storied History

Originally built by the Purdy Boat Company in May of 1937 for Wall Street financier, John Hay (Jock) Whitney of Long Island, Aphrodite has a storied history of its own. Best described as a “Commuter Yacht”, this elegant and sleek 74-footer would take Whitney on a daily journey down the Long Island Sound to his Wall Street office. Over the years, Aphrodite’s guest list became a “Who’s Who” for summer day cruises with such luminaries as Fred Astaire, Sir Laurence Olivier, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Ford II, FDR advisor Harry Hopkins, Shirley Temple and Nelson Rockefeller. In April 1942 she was commissioned as a Coast Guard auxiliary vessel and spent her wartime career ferrying dignitaries and transporting President Roosevelt to and from his Hyde Park home. In 1983, John Pannell, owner of the Harbor View Marine repair company, restored the yacht which had fallen into disrepair and relaunched the Aphrodite in 1984.

In 2003, Pannell sold Aphrodite to her present owner, Charles Royce, the owner and proprietor of Ocean House. A classic boat enthusiast, Royce began a complete restoration of the yacht to bring her systems up to today’s standards while using the original boat as a template to ensure its authenticity. True to Royce’s nature and aligned with how he approached Ocean House’s careful restoration in 2004, the first stage of the project was to extensively catalog all aspects of the boat for later reference. Once this historical documentation was completed, reconstruction began with the replacement of the original backbone, stem, floors and the reframing of Aphrodite’s signature torpedo stern. Once the framing work was completed, the hull was then re-planked, as originally built, with two layers of Philippine mahogany and copper rivets. A new deck, along with the crafting of Aphrodite’s distinctive cabin and interior accommodations was then finalized, and in October of 2005, Aphrodite traveled to its new home in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

The Aphrodite Yacht Experience

Guests of Ocean House can reserve a private cruise aboard Aphrodite during their visit and select from a variety of curated tour immersions to scenic destinations and popular regional locales. Onboard, they’ll learn more about the yacht’s legendary history and surrounding areas from a knowledgeable captain while being well-cared for by an attentive crew. Whether venturing out for a scenic excursion to Fisher Island or Montauk; being dropped off on Block Island with a picnic lunch for an afternoon of exploration; or embarking on a sunset cocktail cruise to enjoy a gourmet dinner in nearby Stonington; a selection of two to three hour curated journeys at sea await.

The package and yacht sailings are offered August 1 through October 31, 2024, The package is priced at $42,000.00 plus taxes and fees, and the individual yacht sailings are priced from $5,000. For information and reservations for the package, please call 401-584-7000 and visit Ocean House Special Offers. For information and reservations for the Aphrodite Yacht Experience, please call 401-584-7000 and visit Ocean House Experiences.