Category

Inside Rhody

Romantic Restaurants For Your Next Date Night

By | food, Inside Rhody | No Comments

Looking to plan a special evening with your significant other? Here are our top-choice date night spots with cuisine sure to satisfy your appetite and provide a romantic ambiance!

Matunuck Oyster Bar

Address: 629 Succotash Rd, Wakefield, RI 02879
Menu: https://www.rhodyoysters.com/
Phone: (401) 783-4202

Farm to Table & Pond to Plate“, Matunuck Oyster Bar provides the freshest land and seafood cuisine. With award-winning food and scenic waterfront views, this restaurant stands as a favorite date night spot!

CAV Restaurant

Address: 14 Imperial Pl, Providence, RI 02903
Menu: http://cavrestaurant.com/
Phone: (401) 751-9164

Cocktails, Antiques, & Victuals – CAV Restaurant is a unique and historic restaurant. Enjoy a contemporary dinner while exploring the surrounding art gallery.

Terrazza

Address: 645 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Menu: https://www.terrazzari.com/
Phone: (401) 233-3223

Terrazza has a romantic atmosphere with a Mediterranean twist! With their focus on simple foods and fresh ingredients, you can’t go wrong with a date night here. Experience their outdoor seating under a beautiful heated igloo!

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Address: The Residences Providence, 1 W Exchange St, Providence, RI 02903
Menu: flemingssteakhouse.com
Phone: (401) 533-9000

Craving an exquisite steak dinner? Fleming’s has the best around! With prepared Prime Steak and an elegant wine selection, this is the perfect date night atmosphere.

Trattoria Romana Lincoln

Address: 3 Wake Robin Rd #1, Lincoln, RI 02865
Menu: https://trattoria-romana.com/
Phone: (401) 333-6700

Trattoria Romana will have you feeling like you’ve been transported to Italy! With homemade cuisine and authentic decor and murals, this family restaurant is the perfect spot to enjoy a romantic evening.

What’s Happening: Winters in Rhode Island

By | activities, entertainment, Inside Rhody, Whats Happening | No Comments

The Winter season is in full swing here in Rhode Island! Check out these fun activities you can experience with family or friends.

Yawgoo Valley Ski Area and Water Park

Address: 160 Yawgoo Valley Rd, Exeter, RI 02822
Phone: (401) 294-3802
Appointments: yawgoo.com
Number of trails: 12

Spend your day at Rhode Island’s only skiing resort! Yawgoo provides adventurous winter sports and activities. Shred the hills of the ski and snowboard area, or slide down the slopes of the tubing park.

Festive Igloo Pop-Up

Address: 1 Goat Island, Newport, RI 02840, Newport County
October 29, 2021 – March 31, 2022

Cozy up in the heated igloos of The Lounge & Firepit Deck at Gurney’s Newport Resort. Enjoy a delicate meal with up to four people per igloo. When you are done, mosey over to their rink for ice skating fun!

Book a reservation: https://bit.ly/35MisrH

RISD Museum

Address: 20 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 454-6500

Bring out your creativity at the RISD Museum! Explore the exquisite exhibitions and collections, or attend our events to show off your inner artists.

Purchase your tickets: https://risdmuseum.org/

The Providence Rink

It’s ice skating season! Skate the day away with family and friends at The Providence Rink. Ice Bumper Cars are also available for some high-speed group fun!

Address: 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 680-7390
Appointments: theprovidencerink.com

Don’t Miss These Upcoming Rhode Island Family Events!

By | activities, entertainment, events, Inside Rhody, Whats Happening | No Comments

Keep busy this winter season with events you and your family will not want to miss out on!

Providence Bruins

There’s nothing like the excitement of a Providence Bruin’s hockey game! The team is playing through the end of April with special fan event nights throughout.

Get your tickets quick! https://www.providencebruins.com/games

Providence Children’s Film Festival

Join your family from February 18th through the 27th for the 13th Annual Providence Children’s Film Festival. Whether the event will be in person is still being determined, but all programming will be fully available via their online portal.

For full information and updates, visit https://providencechildrensfilmfestival.org/

S’more Than Just a Hayride!

Join the Simmons Farm family on Saturday afternoons for a winter wonderland hayride. Upon arrival, you will receive a rich cup of hot chocolate for a historic hayride through the farm. S’mores kits will also be provided to roast at our fire-pits.

Check it out: https://bit.ly/3rjIHOp

St. Patrick’s Day Parades

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! Mark your calendars for the festive annual parades taking place in both Providence and Newport.

Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday, March 19th, 2022
Smith Street, Providence
12:00 pm start time
http://providencestpatricksparade.org/

Newport’s 66th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday, March 12th, 2022
Newport City Hall, Newport
11:00 am start time
http://www.newportirish.com/parade.html

Start Your Loan Process Early!

By | Inside Rhody, service | No Comments

If you are looking for mortgage lending with a personal touch, look no further than Sierra Pacific Mortgage! The team, located in North Providence, takes the time to get to know you through one-on-one meetings to gain a full understanding of your unique goals and financial situation.

The spring season is around the corner, so it’s best to start your pre-approval process before the spring market is in full swing. At a glance, the loan process may seem complicated. The good news for you, as a Sierra Pacific client, is that your involvement is made simple.

The first step in the loan process is prequalification—how much you can borrow based on your income and debts—and the selection of the right loan program for your financial situation and the home you want to buy. From there, with the assistance of one of their loan officers, you will complete the loan application and provide the requested documentation.

Sierra Pacific Mortgage exists to support your goals, whether it is buying your dream home, your first home, renovating the home you are in right now, or refinancing your existing mortgage. Their dedicated loan officers will always make your needs their top priority. If you are ready for outstanding mortgage service, visit sierrapacificmortgage.com/johnston and contact a loan officer today!

Protect Your Pets from the Cold

By | health, Inside Rhody | No Comments

The winter months are upon us and it’s important to remember to care for your furry friend! As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to watch over your pet and protect them from harsh weather conditions. Here are some ways to keep your pet safe!

Time How Long They Are Outside

Most pets love to play in the snow, so be sure to let them play for a little while. Make sure to limit their exposure to the cold, though. Know when it is time to bring your pet back into the warmth of your home!

Don’t Shave Them

Animals don’t have the luxury to put on layers when they are feeling cold. All they have is their fur! During the winter months, don’t shave your pet, or else they will be cold!

Let Your Pets Inside

Some owners prefer to keep their pets outside all day, not allowing the animal inside of their home. We ask you to reconsider, and let your pet inside during these harsh months. Exposure to the cold is incredibly unhealthy and potentially fatal for an animal.

Wipe Down Their Paws

After a playful time outside, make sure you wipe down your pet’s paws, or else they will be slipping and sliding all around the house!

Find your Irish Spirit in Rhody

By | food, Inside Rhody, restaurant, Whats Happening | No Comments

It is never too early to start planning your St. Patrick’s Day festivities! You don’t need the luck of the Irish to find some of the best spots in Rhode Island; we can do that for you! From Newport to Woonsocket, these pubs and taverns will exceed your St. Patrick’s Day expectations.

O’Brien’s Pub
501 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840

O’Brien’s A.K.A OB’s is a Newport Staple. OB’s has been voted Best of Rhode Island’s “Best Neighborhood Bar”. Celebrate Saint Paddy’s day with an Irish Coffee or a Guinness at OB’s!

Muldowney’s Pub
121 Empire Street
Providence, RI 02903

Muldowney’s pub is one of downtown Providences’s best bars. Operating for over 30 years, they are proud to be the neighborhood’s dive bar. With over 35 beers and holiday jello shots to choose from this is one of the best places to celebrate Saint Paddy’s day.

Ciro’s Tavern
42 Cherry St
Woonsocket, RI 02895

Ciro’s is known for its delicious food in a cozy setting. Their potato skins pair perfectly with a glass of Guinness. Plus, the ambiance is amazing with its rich history and architecture.

McBride’s Irish Pub, Providence, RI
161 Wayland Ave
Providence, RI 02906

Known for their, yearlong Irish spirit, McBride’s is a family-owned pub. What better way to get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit than immersing yourself in an Irish-inspired atmosphere.

Only in RI!

By | Inside Rhody, Whats Happening | No Comments

Iggy’s Clam Shack

As Rhode Islanders, we all know what it’s like to take a trip to the beach and grab some delicious seafood from Iggy’s. A staple of Rhode Island’s many beach and roadside clam shacks, their clam cakes are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and stuffed with meaty Rhode Island quahogs. Best served hot, they come beside a bowl of Rhode Island clam chowder which is perfect for dunking!

Del’s Frozen Lemonade

When Del’s opens up every spring, you know that summer is just around the corner! Only in Rhode Island, Del’s Lemonade has become a staple for the summer season. Originally founded in Italy, the yummy treat was made with snow and lemons. This idea traveled to Rhode Island as descendants brought it here in 1948. The large amount of Del’s Lemonade stands throughout Rhode Island cover the map, making it easy to find refreshment when you need it.

The Breakers Mansion

The Newport Mansions are some of RI’s biggest tourist attractions, but the Breakers stands out from the rest. Originally built by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1895, the mansion’s beautiful decor and fascinating history draw people from all over to take a tour. If you live in Rhode Island and haven’t visited this mansion, what are you waiting for? Start your tour now and see the marble columns, ceiling paintings, and beautiful mosaics for yourself!

Retro Blast – Yawgoo Valley

By | activities, Inside Rhody, outdoors, RetroBlast | No Comments

When we think of skiing in Rhode Island, we immediately think of Yawgoo Valley in Exeter. As the only ski resort in RI, Yawgoo originally opened in 1965 and has been running strong ever since. The resort uses 100% snow-making through the winter to make sure conditions are just right for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. But that’s not all! They also offer a skiing lesson program for beginners. Their expert staff will have you gliding down the mountains like a pro in no time! Whether you prefer to learn with a group, or privately, they offer loads of skiing fun!

Aside from skiing, Yawgoo Valley also includes snow tubing! With up to 7 perfectly carved lanes and tow ropes, you can sit back and have fun with your friends and family! The tubing is open from December to March, so be sure to experience the fun before it is closed for the season! Remember to purchase your tickets in advance by visiting their website!

But wait, there’s more! In the summer months, take a trip down to Yawgoo to visit their awesome water parks! Have some summer fun with the family when the water parks open this June. Yawgoo Valley changes with the seasons, so why not experience all of the various events that Yawgoo has to offer!

How To Avoid Winter Autobody Damage

By | Inside Rhody, service | No Comments

In Rhode Island weather, it’s easy to see why winter is one of the harshest times of year for your vehicle. Icy roads and a buildup of snow make up just a few of the many hazards that come with the colder temps – and there are many more factors that could leave your vehicle in need of bodywork this winter. To help you and your vehicle brave the colder months, Reliable Collision put together this guide to avoid body damage.

Driving Tips

Driving tips for winter may sound like common sense, but they can be easy to forget. Avoid driving in snowstorms unless it’s absolutely necessary and drive slowly with windshield wipers and lights on if you do have to venture out in the snow. If you have a choice, leave the sports car or other two-wheel-drive vehicle at home and opt to use a vehicle with all-wheel drive. Even if you do have all-wheel drive, DO NOT overestimate the power of your all-wheel-drive system.

No matter what you drive, when temperatures drop, you should accelerate and decelerate slowly and leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the next. Tailgating is even more dangerous when you need all the time you can get to stop safely.

Road Salt & Sand

While salt and sand can help melt ice and provide more traction when you need it most, these road maintenance products can corrode your paint and even cause your vehicle’s body to rust prematurely. Cleaning the salt off of your vehicle can be helpful, but applying wax can be your best defense against corrosion. If you do visit a car wash, look for one with an under-carriage spray to help prevent your frame from rusting.

Check Those Brakes

Get your brakes inspected to make sure all of the components are in good shape. As we mentioned earlier, you need all of the stopping ability you can get in winter conditions and worn brakes can be the difference between avoiding an accident and winding up in a collision.

Take Care of Your Tires

Not only does the cold cause tire pressure to drop, but it also causes the rubber to stiffen and sometimes crack. Make sure your tires are inflated properly to give you the best contact and handling possible and make sure your tire tread is in good shape. When testing tire treads, you can use the penny test to give yourself an idea of whether you need new tires. If you do need new tires, winter tires may very well be worth your while to give you some extra traction.

Parking Smarter

One major cause of body damage that is easy to miss is not a driving tip or maintenance tip – but practicing the art of smart parking. You won’t always get to pick the perfect spot, but being selective about your parking spots can go a long way in preventing damage. Avoid parking towards the bottom of icy hills on city streets or in parking lots and opt to park farther away from other cars whenever it is safe to do so.

No plan to avoid damage is perfect. Be prepared to call Reliable Collision Repair.

The team at Reliable Collision Repair understands that no matter how careful drivers try to be, accidents will always happen. When your vehicle needs repairs, even for a parking lot fender-bender, it can feel like your life has been turned upside down. That’s why they do everything we can to get you back on the road. From handling the appraisal to dealing with your insurance company and even providing rental vehicles or helping to tow your vehicle to our shop in some cases – we can help you at every step of the way.

As a class-A autobody shop, when you use Reliable Collision, you can rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands. If you give us a call at (401) 823-4770 or schedule an appointment with us through Carwise, we’ll be happy to help get your vehicle back on the road in tip-top shape.

Put Purpose in Your Financial Planning

By | business, Inside Rhody | No Comments

One of the most important questions we help our clients answer is, “What’s the money for?” After all, if the purpose of your financial plan was just to keep growing your nest egg, then the best financial strategy would be to keep working and growing that nest egg as long as you physically could.

Our happiest retirees have improved their Return on Life not by earning as much money as possible, but by using that money in ways that make every day meaningful. Here are three ways you can start planning to build that same sense of purpose into your own financial plan.

1. PUT YOUR GIFTS TO THEIR HIGHEST USES.

A financially independent retiree might consider time to be their most valuable resource. Now that you don’t have to spend 40+ hours every week at a job, you can organize your days around using your personal and professional skills to do work that’s important to you.

So, what do you do best? And, just as importantly, what do you enjoy doing? Somewhere there’s a community organization that could benefit from your pro accounting skills or graphic design background. You could volunteer as a tutor at a local school or adult education center. If you’d like to maintain some ties to your old professional world, you could start your own consulting firm or serve as a mentor to the next generation. Or perhaps your favorite part of the workweek was the spare hours you could focus on exciting new initiatives. Could you grow one of those unrealized ideas into your own company?

2. CREATE A CHARITABLE GIVING STRATEGY.

Do you feel an extra bit of joy around the holidays when you donate to families in need? With proper planning, you can make giving back a part of your year-round routine.

The most effective giving strategies usually focus on making regular contributions to a couple of core causes that are personally meaningful. When you have a special relationship with a particular organization, it’s that’s much more fulfilling to see your generosity in action. You might even feel inspired to start your own charitable organization and work on building a legacy that could impact your community for generations.

3. HAVE SOME FUN!

Some retirees embrace an ‘endless weekend’ mentality about their retirement. That can be negative if your typical weekend involves lots of time on the sofa watching television.

But if you’re the kind of person who packs as much fun as possible into your off days, you might really enjoy filling out a new daily retirement schedule. Set a few weekly tee times with your retired friends and family and see how low you can get that handicap. Take your spouse out for date nights at your favorite restaurants – and between courses, start planning that dream vacation you never found time for when you were both working. Try a new exercise routine. Schedule some extra trips to visit your grandkids and catch their soccer games and dance recitals.

Perhaps most importantly, give yourself some space to experiment. Very few seniors get retirement right on their first try. It’s possible that some things that made you feel purposeful when you were working don’t excite you as much at this new stage of your life. Be open to new experiences. Follow your curiosity.

And if you ever feel your financial plan and your sense of purpose drifting apart, schedule some time to talk to one of our advisors. We can review your plan and work through some of our interactive Life-Centered Planning tools to reestablish that connection and make sure you’re getting the best life possible with the money you have.

Call us 401.241.6693 or Email Us hello@dreambuilder-ri.com

Visit Us Online
www.dreambuilder-ri.com
@