The End of Winter: A New Beginning
There’s only one objective for the next week: melt this snow! It was pretty, for a while, when it was white and untainted. We’re still amazed by the sheer quantity of snow, some of which towered over our heads in drifts. It will be a storm we talk about for years (“I survived the Blizz with the Rizz”). But that’s enough. Time to move along. Let’s put away the snowshoes and bring out the mud boots. The crocuses are ready to sprout. The St. Patrick’s Day pipers are tuning up.
If Mother Nature plays along (and with a forecast in the low-50s for the week ahead, she just may), we’ll be in spring mode soon. Just in time, too. The sun-loving citizens of Aquidneck Island have been kept inside too long. Once the snow is gone, we’re going to slowly start emerging from our dens like hibernating bears. We’ll be hungry for food, drink and fun. It’s almost perfect timing, too, with the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 15. Have you got a case of the winter doldrums? Don’t worry. We’ll clear the streets, have a parade, sing songs in the bars and streets and raise our glasses in joy. We’ll have plenty of corned beef, too.
A Slow Return to Normalcy
Winter time is never a busy time for our area restaurants and bars. The cold and snow will keep the travelers away, and the locals will think twice about dealing with the parking and frigid temps down by the water. Throw in a record snow accumulation season, and things tend to stay quiet around town. A blizzard that shuts things down for almost three straight days is never good for business. That’s why everyone is looking forward to a strong St. Patrick’s Day to help kick off the spring season in Newport. All those businesses are looking forward to your support, and they, too, are ready to have some fun.
You should have a plan for the day – it’s going to be a long one. Maybe start with breakfast at IHOP in Middletown. That may be off the parade route, but did you know that the IHOP is this year’s “Big Daddy Award” winner given annually to the business that is the largest financial supporter of the Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a title they have held over 20 times? You can enjoy that short stack knowing you are helping the cause.
If you want to get on the parade route early, if you are lucky enough, you can grab a hot cinnamon bun and coffee at Co-Dough inside Market on Broadway. They will sell out fast, but you’ll be the envy of every parade watcher if they see you munching on one of those deliciously gooey buns (just bring extra napkins for yourself).
All your favorites will be anxious to see you. Sip a South County Mule at Pour Judgement. Hoist a Guinness at The Fastnet Pub. Warm up with a Hall of Fame Irish Coffee at Brick Alley Pub. Toast to good health with a Magner’s Cider at Busker’s Pub. You’ll be surrounded by amazing restaurants and bars that are anxious to see you. If you get hungry, get your corned beef fix at your favorite spot, too. It’s almost a city requirement that you serve good corned beef on parade day, so try them all.
And when the parade is over, no reason to go home. Join the raucous crowd at O’Brien’s Pub for some more Guinness and some chowder fries. Join the crew at Midtown Oyster Bar for some Pickleback Oyster Shooters. A Wally’s Weiners espresso martini could help put an extra step in your jig.
Wherever you land, appreciate it. We’ve waited all winter for this. The good times have been buried under mountains of snow for too long. Time to start the thaw and get back out there for some good ol’ Newport frivolity. And thankfully, the city is throwing a parade so we can enjoy it all. Sláinte!
Dan Lederer is a Middletown resident with 30 years experience in the food service industry throughout New England. He continues to work locally behind the scenes within the industry and remains a devoted fan of all things restaurant and hospitality-related. His column appears on newportri.com and in The Daily News. Cheers!
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Here’s your plan to eat and drink on St. Patrick’s Day in Newport
