My Mélange

Newport: Around the Wharf

You may remember then we first talked about the Where in the World I am Going on July 4th? game, one of the clues was about street lights.

Well, here is the proof in that pudding.  The first street in the U.S. to be lighted with gas.

Some boats on the Newport Harbor

I love the shot of this Gorton's Fisherman look-alike in his fishing boat complete with American Flag flying proudly from the aft.

You can faintly see the Newport bridge, or Claiborne Pell bridge, which spans over Narragansett Bay,  in the background.

Adirondack chairs, lined up neatly on the dock next to the Coffee Grinder, on Bannisters's Wharf.  A perfect spot to sip your coffee while watching the boats sail by in the harbor.  Can you hear Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, playing?

Or the sailboats on the harbor.

How bout a ride on this one?

Italy is never far from my heart or mind, and it turns out Newport is no exception!

Bowen's Basin

Lots of shops, galleries and seafood restaurants line the wharf area.

Looking back on the city of Newport, with the Trinity Church steeple in the background.

Where are the best harbor towns you have visited?  Why do you love them so?

Don't forget, today is the last day to enter the La Cucina Italiana cooking contest.  Head over to Blog from Italy to get the details. Time is running out!!

Love Thursday:Lobster Love

My apologies to Vegetarians and Vegans everywhere for what I am about to say. 

I love eating a good lobster.

Dripping lobster juices down your arms, shards of shell flying off and hitting your dining companion, a puddle of ocean water on your plate and a designer plastic bib wrapped around your neck..oh there is nothing like it!!

Oh, yeah.  Lobster is a lot of work.  It ain't pretty and it sure ain't cheap!

So, it is a special treat to have a fresh lobster for dinner.  A treat only to be enjoyed when vacationing on the coast where you know the lobster was trapped that day.

But, once you dunk that firm, sweet flesh into the warm drawn butter and pop it in your mouth...It's on.  It is heaven on earth.

Meet Barnacle Bill

and Coral.

They were our lobsters at The Landing in Newport on our recent trip.

And we loved every finger-lickin', leg-suckin', shell-crackin', tail-splittin', butter-dunkin'  bit of 'em!

Happy Love Thursday everyone!!

Newport : Ten Mile Drive

You can't go to Newport and not take the Ten Mile Drive, also known as Ocean Drive.  You just can't.

Part of the Ten Mile Drive is Bellevue Avenue, which is the street lined with the famous stunning mansions.  The Elms is the official start, and I will talk much more about the Elms in another post.

You could rent a scooter, but we preferred to drive our car.

 

The day was a hazy, hot and humid one, and even though visibility was low, the view was still spectacular.

Fishermen were out in full force.

The real estate here is amazing, jaw-dropping and out of my price range.  This one reminded me of something in the South of France.  Provence perhaps?

We stopped at a little cove and got out to get a closer look.

A close up of the shale reveals layers of grey, white and terracotta.  

There were sailboats at every twist and turn.

We stopped at Fort Adams State Park for a quiet and secluded picnic with a view of Newport Harbour.

And it sure didn't disappoint.

Chris decides to explore, while chicken little (me) stays ashore and snaps photos.

We even saw some water fowl along the way.

And of course, you pass by the beach.  This is Easton's Beach.

Castle Point is another stunning stop along the Ten Mile Drive, but I took so many wonderful shots, including the resort, sailboats and the lighthouse, that it deserved its very own post to follow.

Hope you enjoyed the drive.  The best part, it is free of charge!

Newport : Chateau-sur-Mer

When I heard that there was a mansion on Bellevue Avenue in Newport called Chateau-sur-Mer.  I flipped!

What true Francophile wouldn't?

Chateau-sur-Mer translates to mansion by the sea and that it is.  That it is.

The mansion itself was originally built in an Italianate-style, but converted by the owners in the 1870's to the Second Empire French Style.  It is in under a bit of construction, but I took it upon myself to sneak around and snap some pictures anyway.

That delicious blue-green trim just exudes French decor to me, not to mention the Mansard style roof. It is known for its high class Victorian architecture, furnishings and wallpaper.

The mansion was the grandest residence in Newport, for almost forty years.  That is until the Vanderbilt's came to town and constructed The Breakers.

I snuck around back and found another little cottage.

And some beautifully manicured gardens.

As I came to the end of the property, I saw this gate.  Trés French non?  I walked up slowly and heard men's voices.  I took the shot, but hurried away, as I did not want to get caught.

I did wonder what was on the other side.  Guess I will never know.

Through the trees, I saw the neighboring mansion.  Same delicious French blue.

These massive graceful trees are scattered about the property.  They are European Weeping Beech trees and the pictures don't do them, nor their size, justice.

You could fit your head in that hole.  I think it is only fitting that the birds living on the grounds of these mansions have a bird-house fit for royalty too, don't you?

This side of the house showcases a lovely covered veranda, complete with a wooden awning painted to coordinate with the trim on the house.  I imagine that this is the side of the house where the Fete Champetre, an elaborate country picnic for over two-thousand guests, took place.  

The weathered white stone urns, aged with sun-ripened green moss, stand symmetrically in a row, just begging to be filled with flowers cascading down the sides.  Ivy, petunias, bacopa perhaps? 

A closer look reveals the back of a gold French cane chaise, elegant window dressings, creamy white shutters and a gold curtain tie-back as big as my forearm, in the living room.

A peek through another window shows the small slice of a candelabra with crystal garland and clock resting on a fireplace mantle.  A gold mirror reflects a rose pattern wallpaper on the other side of the room.  I wonder if this is the way it looked in 1889 for Miss Edith Wetmore's debutante ball?

An upholstered ivory linen french chaise is centered in the window while an ivory silk balloon valance is pulled up to let in some light, while a second layer of cream draperies pool on the floor below.  

And this is the adorable little guest house, located in the front of the property.  That little French green garden bench is calling my name.  That would be plenty of room for me to live.  I wonder if they need a gatekeeper?  Or a caretaker?

You leave with the same elegance in which you arrived.  Those arches and urns are just so graceful.

Though I always prefer to tour the outside, tours are available inside as well.

If you are just interested in touring Chateau-sur-Mer, one ticket is $11.00.  You can tour five mansions in the Preservation Society Group for $31.00.

Click here for more information on tours and hours of operation.

Chateau-sur-Mer

474 Bellevue Avenue

Newport, RI  02840

Newport : Flo's Clam Shack

There's a great little joint that has been around since 1936.  It is where both the locals and tourists head when they are in Newport for inexpensive, fresh and delicious seafood.

It is a cute place. The decor is coastal kitchy. Nothing fancy.  In fact, it used to be a chicken coop.  It has come a long way since then, baby!

It's the kinda place that might get rowdy at night and the faint whiff of stale beer, ocean salt and fried food mingle in the air.

But the menu is extensive and the prices are more than reasonable for what you get.

It is called Flo's Clam Shack.

We shared a Lobster Roll

And a plate of Fried Clams. 

 

Just look at the size of these clams!!  The batter was perfect.  Light and crispy, not heavy or greeezy at all!!

Flo's is a fixture at the edge of First Beach in Newport and a must on your list if you visit!

Newport : The Breakers

We continue our stroll along the Cliff Walk, heading toward the breakers along the coast.  We arrive at the grand stone entrance, marking the point on the path where you are entering Breaker property.

Let's get a closer look at the gates surrounding the 11 acre property on Ocher Point Avenue.

The ornate wrought iron details are just amazing.  The gates are over 30 feet tall.

 

These lanterns are larger than most people I know.

And I love the details on the gates.  One of my favorite symbols, the Fleur-de-Lys, is prominently displayed.

 

Another fine display.

There are some lining the top of this entrance gate.

 

Beyond the gates, we get a sneak peak of just a slice of the mansion.  I love the swag detailing showcasing the round window.

Just look at the view they have, back to Newport.  Not bad, eh?

Finally, we see the full shot of this 70 room, 65,000 sq. foot Italianate style mansion that was the summer home to the Vanderbilt family. It took two years and seven million dollars to build in the late 1800's.  I live near and frequent the Vanderbilt Mansion in historic Hyde Park, so I have an idea of the size of that home. This one puts that house in the cottage category.

As the tide comes in, the ocean water slams up against the jagged rocks in front of the mansion.  Now we know why they named the mansion, The Breakers.

The ornate, moss covered gates, signal the end of the property, and beginning of another.

It is no surprise that we find the Fleur-de-Lys motif again.  But, check this out...

And that concludes our tour of The Breakers on Cliff Walk.

Join me next time as we continue our walk passed The Breakers, and a few surprises on our way back.

So, what do you think?  Would you like to live here?  What could you imagine doing if you did?

Newport- Cliff Walk

Lets go for a little walk.  A Cliff Walk.

We begin on a cloudy, hazy, day with the clouds sprinkling now and then.

We start out at the intersection of Narragansett Avenue, where the path is paved.  We walk South.

We come upon the Forty Steps.  This is where the servants of the mansions that line the coast would gather after work for parties into the wee hours of the morning.  Some met an untimely death at the cliffs edge.

We curve around and we see a view to the North.  You can barely see the Harbor and downtown Newport in the background.

We come to this cool stone tunnel.  Up above is the property of one of the mansions.

And of course, a peak back the other way.

The coast is lined with jagged rocks.  We see unidentified birds hanging out on the rocks.

The backyards of the mansions meld into the path and the rocks below.  What a view to have from your window.

 

This gorgeous gem is part of the Salve Regina University.  Not a bad campus, eh?

All of the grounds are beautifully landscaped and manicured.

Again, looking back too see how far we have come.

The drop is much higher than it looks.

A shady spot on the walk complete with a lovely combination of brick and stone, red and gray, curves and
angles.

The giant moss covered tree trunk here is a reminder of how old this area really is.  I love its position right next to the equally old and weathered stone wall.

And finally we get close enough to see that the birds are Cormorants.  They seem to be enjoying the spray from the surf, or looking for food.

Join me next time when our walk continues down to the famous Vanderbilt summer home, The Breakers.