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Rediscover the

Blackstone Valley

 

 

We hope you will find some fun ideas and ways to rediscover the valley with our redesigned newsletter!

 

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Holiday Traditions: Food -

Cookies for Santa and Other Treats

 

 

Food plays an important role in some Holiday traditions from baking cookies to leave out for Santa at Christmas, to making Latkes for the Hanukkah celebration. Perhaps you make tamales or Bûche De Noël (Yule log) in your home.

 

Most of our food traditions at the holidays were probably brought over with Immigrants that settled in New England to work in our factories including the Blackstone Valley.

 

Making a La Buche De Noel is a holiday tradition of the French, Scandinavians and the Swiss.  The Buche is a Christmas dessert. Made in the shape of a log, it represents the Yule Log that goes back to medieval times. The pagans would burn the log to bring comfort in winter and symbolize the return of daylight (see last week’s blog). When fireplaces were replaced by wood stoves the Yule log lost its prominence and was eventually replaced by a dessert especially popular in France, Canada and Britain. It is traditionally a family-time experience to make La Buche De Noel; but if time is of essence, this dessert can be purchased in some of our local bakeries including Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery, North Smithfield and Ivy and Lace Bakeshop, Greenville. Hmm! We’ll have to try one this year.

 

Here are a few restaurants offering Holiday menus:  

 

·     Savini’s Pomodoro, Woonsocket - Catering for Christmas Eve and Christmas orders must be placed by Sunday, December 20 and picked up Thursday.

·     Andrew’s Bistro, Cumberland, is offering a La Vigilia Christmas Eve Dinner the Annual Feast of the Seven Fishes 

·     Make Chicken Family Style a Holiday tradition at Wright’s Farm in Harrisville - Order Curbside take-out and visit their extensive gift shop while you wait.

·     GottaQ BBQ in Cumberland offers some great smoked meals for the holidays for pick-up on December 24.

 

Read On

 

 

 

 

·     December 19 through January 3 - Discover Rhode Island History Challenge-Holiday Traditions, a virtual event with Rhode Island Historical Society/Museum of Work & Culture, Woonsocket. More Info.

 

·     Through January 2nd - Home for the Holidays, an Online Watercolor Exhibit, Rhode Island Water Color Society, Pawtucket More Info

 

·     Saturday, December 19 @ 1:00 -5:00 pm - Gallery Night - Blackstone Herbs & Coffee Bar, 3 Dexter Street, Cumberland. More Info

 

·     Saturday, December 19 @ 8:00 pm- Cherish The Ladies, Christmas in Ireland Livestream Event with Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland More Info.

 

·     Monday, December 21 @ 7:00 pm - Culture Shock Virtual Music & Art Festival Pawtucket. More Info.

 

·     Saturday, December 26 @ 8:00 pm - James Montgomery, Chans, 267 Main Street, Woonsocket. More Info.

 

·     Sunday December 27 @ 1:00 - 5:00 pm - Old-Fashioned Christmas Self-Guided Tours - Hearthside House, 677 Great Road, Lincoln. More Info. 

Looking Ahead

·     Thursday, December 31 @ 8:00 pm - Ring in the New Year with a Virtual New Year's Eve Dance Concert - Metamorphosis Dance Company & Ten31 Studios, Pawtucket 

 

More Events

 

 

 

At Home with Family

The Holidays is a great time with the family, and with family gathering at home more often, we would like to share a few opportunities for things to do with your kids.

 

Of course, with snow comes lots of fun things to do inside.

 

Plan ahead and check out the local libraries and other places for DIY crafts to check out or take home. Here are just a few in the valley that are offering some DIY crafts for adults, kids and families:

 

·     Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library in Harrisville has DIY mini gift bags, teen DIY holiday card kits and scratch ornament kits and be sure to check out the virtual escape room. See who can get through 2020 first. More Info.

 

·     Greenville Public Library offers virtual programs and a craft program on December 22nd. More Info.

 

·     Cumberland Public Library is offering a Movie Kit Madness in addition to crafty kids kits and book ornament kits for adults. More Info.

 

In addition, the Empowerment Factoryin Pawtucket presents 12 Days of Wishmas with opportunities for adults and kids to get involved with their community as well as creative opportunities.

 

Of course, with the recent snowfall, why not get outdoors and build a snowman, take a walk in the winter wonderland or find a safe place for some sledding with the kids.

Try winter birding, The Christmas bird count runs from mid-December until early January. Learn about the Christmas bird count.

 

Photo courtesy AJ Coleette

 

100 Ways to Buy Local

If you are looking for more ways to shop local this holiday season, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has partnered with the Providence & Warwick Convention Bureau, RI Foundation and the other regional tourism council to compile a list of 100 ways to buy local.

 

Here in the Blackstone Valley and in Rhode Island our restaurants, retail shops and attractions need our support more than ever. We have shared a few places and you will find more by visiting buylocalri.

 

Below we are listing a few other shopping deals and online places to visit.

 

·     Wright's Farm gift shop in Harrisville is offering Exclusive VIP Holiday Shopping by appointment through December 22nd. You may also visit the shop during regular restaurant take-out hours. You can order a meal and while you wait do some shopping. Thursday & Friday from 4:00-7:00 pm or Saturday & Sunday from 12:00-7:00 pm.

 

·     With the newly fallen snow on the ground, maybe you are thinking of someone who likes winter sports. Did you know we had a ski shop in the Blackstone Valley? The Ski Shop Plus, a family-owned business, is located off 146 North in North Smithfield. They have skis, snowboards, and winter clothing for everyone in the family. They also rent and offer seasonal leases on equipment.

 

·     If you've been to our Christmastime Marketplace in Central Falls and were in awe of the wonderful decorations, you can visit our friends over at Vose True Value an independently and locally-owned True Value in Woonsocket. They have craft supplies or maybe some birdseed for the bird lovers on your holiday list. Better yet stop by our marketplace and see some of the wares along with specialty gifts from St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center, one of shop vendors.

 

·     You may also want to gift an experience by purchasing a gift membership or certificate from one of many attractions or restaurants.

 

 

 

Visit our Holiday Page

 

Give back this season with a purchase of locally made blankets from Northwest Woolen Mills! All proceeds benefit Blackstone Valley educational programs. 

Purchase an extra blanket, and we will donate it to a veteran in need.

 

https://polarexpressgiftshop.com/products/winter-blanket

 

Former President Trump is complaining that he can't be on the campaign trail because of what he calls a ridiculous trial in New York City. Speaking right after the 12 jurors were selected on Thursday, Trump said the "whole world is watching this scam" and went on to read news articles criticizing the case. The judge hopes to have the six alternates selected by Friday.        House Speaker Mike Johnson needs the help of Democrats to get his foreign aid package across the finish line. Johnson is moving forward with a plan to vote on separate bills to send military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, as well as a bill that includes border security measures. However, several conservatives quickly came out against the plan, arguing border policy changes should be directly tied to any additional funding for Ukraine.        The United States plans to veto a Palestinian bid to be recognized as a full member of the United Nations. The State Department calls the Palestinian Authority's effort to gain member status premature. The department said the Security Council's 15 members do not fully agree that the Palestinian Authority met the membership criteria, including standing questions about who governs the Gaza Strip.       The FBI is concerned about threats to Jewish communities in the U.S. as Passover approaches. FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke during an event on Wednesday hosted by a Jewish community nonprofit safety and training organization called Secure Community Network. Wray told the group of security officials the FBI looks for "lone actors" who might target high profile events or religious locations for violence.        Attorneys for Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger filed their client's alibi defense just ahead of the deadline. The 29-year-old Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November of 2022, and has pleaded not guilty. Late Wednesday, Kohberger's lawyers submitted a ten-page filing that claimed he was out driving in the early morning hours of November 13th, "as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars."        Allman Brothers Band singer-guitarist Dickey Betts has died at the age of 80. They said Betts passed away peacefully Thursday at his home in Osprey, Florida surrounded by his family. Betts wrote and sung on the Allman Brothers Band hit "Ramblin' Man" which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.        

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