Newport, RI (May 2001)

Hotel: 

• Adele Turner Inn (Augustus Littlefield Room) Link to my review

Restaurants: 

• Asterisk and Obelisk Link to my review
• Bouchard Inn Link to my review
• Cheeky Monkey Cafe Link to my review
• Castle Hill Inn Link to my review

Sights:

• Mansions
• Mohegan Sun

Newport: Adele Turner Inn (May 2001)

My spouse and I stayed at the Adele Turner Inn for three nights in late May 2001. Named one of New England and America's Top 10 Most Romantic Getaways, this bed and breakfast inn is tucked away in an historic, in-town neighborhood amid two and three-century-old homes. Framed by 27 distinctive round-top windows, the elegant Victorian was built in 1855 on the first gas-lit street in America. The Adele Turner Inn is also on the National Historic Register. Eleven finely appointed guest quarters feature fireplaces, beds with fine linens, antiques, and artwork. Luxury suites also feature whirlpools or steam baths. The highlights of the Adele Turner Inn are two course breakfast, and afternoon tea daily. Additionally, the inn offers wine tasting with select cheeses every Saturday. In the mid-1800s, most of the home owners on Pelham Street -- where the Inn is located -- were merchant shippers. One of the more successful mariners was Augustus Littlefield, who built the Adele Turner Inn building in 1855 for his crew, customers, and other guests. Bright and cozy, the room is decorated with a nod to Littlefield and his maritime past, and is accented in country rose and florals, with a cottage bed and sitting area. The room is petite but nicely detailed, and includes a television hidden in a cubby above the fireplace mantel.

Another vote for the Adele Turner Inn. Excellent location--just two blocks up from the waterfront area. We were able to walk to shops, restaurants, and of course, the mansions.

We stayed in the smallest, and therefore, the cheapest, room that they offer (two years ago on Memorial Day weekend it ran $135 per night, which we thought was great), but we did peek into some of the larger and more expensive rooms and all were quite uniquely decorated. The breakfast they served was wonderful--not just muffins and juice but a real, cooked-to-order breakfast, and afternoon tea was excellent as well. Off-street parking, too. I wouldn't hesitate to return there.

Newport: Castle Hill Inn (May 2001)

My spouse and I ate brunch at Castle Hill Inn in late May 2001. The Mansion's chefs artfully craft fresh local fish, regional meats, and produce into a distinctly native, seasonal menu, served in four dining rooms within the Inn. On The Lawn, the epitome of classic New England al fresco dining, think small plates and summer cocktails delivered right to your Adirondack chair. From creative cocktails to appetizers to desserts, imaginative presentation and exceptional taste characterize Castle Hill Inn's fine dining experiences.

Newport: Bouchard Inn (May 2001)

My spouse and I ate dinner at the Bouchard Inn in late May 2001. Bouchard Inn and Restaurant is one of Newport's premier dining and lodging establishments. For over 20 years, Bouchard has been providing artfully-inspired dishes and comfortable rooms and suites for visitors. All located within the very heart of Newport just steps from the harbor, Bouchard is close to everything Newport has to offer, from shopping and attractions along the waterfront to Newport's famous mansions. At the age of 15, Chef Albert Bouchard apprenticed for a French chef who was so impressed with Albert's potential, he wrote to the Cordon Bleu. Although Albert was accepted, he instead decided to attend Paul Smith's College and received a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He then attended and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. For many years to follow, Albert honed his skills working at four-star restaurants such as The Dupuy Canal House in High Falls, New York, Chez Hosten in France for 2 years (one of 60 2-star Michelin restaurants in all of France) and Le Chateau in South Salem, NY for 15 years. Albert and his wife Sarah loved the ocean and decided to settle in Newport, RI with their classic motor yacht once owned by Humphrey Bogart and start their own restaurant. With its proximity to Boston and New York, they felt Newport was an ideal place to be. With Albert as chef and Sarah managing the dining room, Restaurant Bouchard grew to become a culinary destination in New England. Today, Restaurant Bouchard is recognized both locally and nationally by such publications as Frommers, Fodors and The Providence Journal and has received the DiRona Award from the Distinguished Restaurants of North America from 1999 through 2005. Restaurant Bouchard prides itself on being a refined but not "stuffy" restaurant, with everything made on the premises to ensure the highest quality for our guests.

Newport: Cheeky Monkey (May 2001)

My spouse and I ate dinner at Cheeky Monkey Café in late May 2001. The original Cheeky Monkey Cafe was located in Newport, Rhode Island and founded in 1996 by Henry Kates. The fun behind the restaurant's whimsical name is credited to a British pastry chef, Lulu, who worked for Kates and loved to refer to his co-workers as cheeky monkeys. Ten years later, when Kates ended his run as the owner and the Executive Chef, Jeff Cruff and his wife, Stephanie, decided to reopen the Cheeky Monkey in beautiful Narragansett. The elegant black and white decor will leave you smiling as you enjoy an intimate dining experience, perhaps being lucky enough to sit in a table near the portrait of the Cheeky Monkey herself! Best known for their tastings, this restaurant also offers a family style dinner where the food is placed in the center of the table and everyone helps himself.

Newport: Asterisk and Obelisk (May 2001)

My spouse and I ate dinner at Asterisk and Obelisk in late May 2001. This is one of Newport's most progressive restaurants, and it serves modern fare in a converted auto garage. Asterisk Restaurant and Bar is an upscale bistro located in the lower Thames Street area of Newport. Formerly an automobile service garage, the building has been transformed into a warm, ultra-hip, Manhattan style dining room and martini bar. The existing garage doors are open all summer long providing fresh air and sunshine High-minded diners fill Asterisk's high-ceilinged dining room to enjoy French-influenced, Mediterranean fare. Rich risotto dishes vary nightly from mixtures of Asiago cheese to topped with crispy salmon. Lobster fricasee is a rich standout--chunks of fresh lobster served in a sea of spring veggies (peas, spinach, baby carrots) and coated with brandy-tinged, lobster bisque-based sauce.

Theatre: Jane Eyre (May 2001)

Jane Eyre is a musical drama based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë. The musical debuted on Broadway in 2000 and closed in 2001 after 245 performances. The actress who played the title character won a Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Days after the Tony Award nominations were announced, a closing date of May 20 was announced. Alanis Morissette, a friend of Paul Gordon's, bought $150,000 worth of tickets to the musical and donated them to various charity groups, which would allow the show to be open past the Tony Award telecast, although the show closed a week after.

Act I

Jane Eyre, a young orphan, is living at Gateshead but is ill-treated by her Aunt Mrs. Reed and cousin John Reed. Jane is sent to a boarding school. Over the years, Jane becomes a teacher at the boarding school but longs to see other sights. She becomes a tutor of Adele Varens, a young French girl who lives at Thornfield Hall as the ward of the owner, Edward Rochester. When a fire breaks out, Jane puts it out and saves Edward's life, and the two become close. Edward, however, cannot accept his affection for Jane, and so invites wealthy guests as a distraction. It appears that Blanche Ingram and Edward may be getting married, and Jane is unhappy over this.

Mason, an old friend, arrives, and Edward is disturbed. He asks Jane whether she would leave if he had a terrible secret, and she vows her faithfulness.

Act II

When Mason is attacked in the attic, he is helped by Jane and Edward and leaves.

Edward, pretending to be a gypsy, tells Blanche Ingram that he is not rich, and she hastily departs Thornfield. Edward at last tells Jane that he loves her and proposes marriage, and Jane happily accepts. However, on the day of the wedding, Mason tells the secret. Edward is already married to Bertha (who is Mason's sister) and his mad wife lives in the attic of Thornfield. Jane, unwilling to live with Edward without being married, leaves. Bertha meanwhile sets fire to Thornfield, and dies in the flames.

Jane, hungry and exhausted after wandering the moors, has returned to Gateshead Hall, and discovers that her aged aunt is near death. Mrs. Reed has tried to steal her inheritance, but Jane forgives this last evil treatment. St. John Rivers, a clergyman, proposes marriage and Jane almost accepts. But, she hears Edward calling out to her. She returns to Thornfield to see that it has been destroyed. Jane and Edward, blind and crippled in the attempt to save his wife, are married. Edward's sight is partially restored as Jane shows him their new-born son.