Every great host needs a perfect vodka cocktail recipe up her sleeve. Vodka is the great equalizer. As a relatively neutral canvas, it makes for cocktails that appease the masses. And so we bring you the Dandy Lion, an enviable sour made with vodka (I used Snow Leopard – more on that below), fresh pressed lime, triple sec, and fresh watermelon juice, since September is when the finest melons hit farm stands. Top all this with bubbles, and sparkling pink satisfaction is yours…
I recently caught up with bon vivant Stephen Sparrow, creator of Snow Leopard vodka, at the the Chandler at Cliff Walk in Newport. We tested out the Dandy Lion recipe and – voila! – angels sang and seagulls cried, all with a salty breeze at our backs…
In fact, we’re SO EXCITED that we’ll be setting up shop @ The PVD Flea this Sunday and every Sunday through the last weekend of October! We’re calling this our ‘Little Bitte Brunch Residency.’ Sounds good, right?
We’ve been tweaking our Bloody Mary to unfathomable dimensions, sourcing bountiful, beautiful citrus for mimosas and picking a few new fabulous garnishes with our lovely pals at Sidewalk Ends Farm.
You’ve been asking & we’ve been listening- so come visit us already for a delish brunch cocktail! We’ll be on the dock across from 345 South Water Street
We’ve calculated a very simple equation for the occasion:
Oyster lovers, get ready to pack on the pounds in shellfish. Providence is gearing up for its second annual Ocean State Oyster Festival at Riverwalk Park on South Water Street on Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The day includes all the briny bivalves you can eat, food trucks and other food vendors, live music, local libations and a shucking contest. The day will be divided into early and later sessions from 11 a.m.−4 p.m. and from 4−9 p.m., to help spread out the crowds.
Eighteen oyster farms from all over Rhode Island are participating, and you get to sample from as many (or as few) as you wish. The $25 tickets (or $30 on the day of) include six oysters and one free beverage (wine, beer, a cocktail or non-alcoholic drink). You can purchase additional oyster tickets for $2 each, alcoholic drinks for $5 each and non-alcoholic drinks for $2 each.
Last year’s festival was very successful and the group of organizers, including Don Nguyen, Frank Mullin, Kaitlyn Frolich and Dave Roebuck, plans to keep the momentum going. “Part of the emphasis on what we did last year was paying attention to the flow of the place and the layout of it,” says Frank Mullin, the Ocean State Oyster Festival’s event programming and communications manager. “We like how we had the tent set up, and the spine model of the farms down the middle worked out really well. We realized it was the best spot for it and the weather was perfect.”
Photo by Stephanie Ewens.
While sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted guests last year, just in case, everything is located under a tent, so the event is on, rain or shine.
There will also be other food options available for those who are just not that into shellfish. “The Shuckin’ Truck will be there with lobster rolls and such, but there will also be Citizen Wing, Flatbread Company is going to do their wood-fired grill pizza trailer and Laughing Gorilla catering will also be there, so it won’t be just all oysters,” Mullin says.
A portion of ticket sales will be directed to Save the Bay’s afterschool programs as well as the Ocean State Aquaculture Association. The bivalves will be served on compostable trays and shells will be collected for conservation efforts. The Compost Plant plans to truck away compostable waste. “We are still going for that net zero status,” says Mullin.
Celebrating Rhode Island aquaculture is important to this group of event planners. “Oyster Farms are representative of the state and the health of the bay. Food tourism and ecotourism in Rhode Island is key,” Mullin says. “It all goes hand-in-hand with a cleaner bay. The bay is still not in the condition it was back in the old days – before the industrial revolution – but it’s working its way back, which is a fantastic sign.” oysterfestri.com
Sunset:7:15 p.m. Lighting time: 7:35 p.m.
The fires will remain lit until 12:30 a.m.
All Full WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park on the below scheduled evenings. Lighting begins shortly after sunset and the event continues until half past midnight.
Celebrate September with 3 new signature cocktails, fresh pressed juices, edible blossoms, natural wine & delicious snacks. General revelry to ensue with local artists, games & aura photos!
*This event is free, family friendly & open to the public*
Cash bar available & Aura photos for $30 Bright Future Aura Photography is an aura photography business based in Providence, RI. We specialize in aura portraiture and energy readings for all occasions. How does it work you may ask?! Our polaroid Land Camera has two hand sensors that read your unique bio feedback. Once the hand plates collect your electrical output, the data is correlated to the frequency within the color spectrum. After the film develops, we will talk about where the colors are in your field and what they signify! Are you ready to unveil your cosmic colors?
Follow Bright Future’s adventures on Instagram @bright_fuchsia
The Darius Inn is named after Captain Darius B. Dodge, a druggist, who made & sold medical elixirs on the property in the 1800s. The newly renovated Darius Inn was also the former switchboard house, the Wayside Inn and the Gables 2 Inn. This iconic Block Island property was renovated under the new name The Darius Inn in the Spring of 2013 by a pair of sisters, Christy and Becca, who are originally from the Philadelphia area. The building now offers 6 guest rooms upstairs & 5 pet friendly suites on the first floor – all are walking distance from the ferry landing, in the heart of old harbor & steps from the beach. All accommodations include happy hour, beach chairs/towels, TV, WIFI, grill access and exceptional service. Many are pet friendly, feature private bathrooms, kitchenettes, ocean views, private porches, air conditioning and include a delectable hot healthy breakfast.
<3 The Sisters of Little Bitte, Bright Future & The Darius Inn
Join us for the 2nd Annual Ocean State Oyster Festival on Sept. 17th featuring over 20 oyster farms from Rhode Island serving up a fantastic array of locally grown oysters!
Last year was a blast! So much so, they were named “Best in Rhode Island” from Rhode Island Monthly and it’s readers this year.
Highlighting craft cocktails, fine local beer, wine, and refreshments, food trucks, local bands, activities for kids, culinary exhibitors, educational exhibits, a shucking contest and yes, even a rare appearance by our mascot, Oscar!
Choose from two convenient ticketed sessions– Session 1: 11am until 4pm Session 2: 4pm until 9pm
General admission tickets are $25 each in advance ($30 at the door) and gets you a half dozen oysters and an ice cold beverage of your choice. Additional oysters and refreshments available for purchase.
Children under 12 FREE.
We’re tented, so the event is RAIN or SHINE.
Partial ticket proceeds go to Save the Bay‘s After School Programs.
Stats from the 2015 festival
Last year, 1,300+ attendees downed over 12,000 oysters from 18 farms (all located here in the RI); we diverted over 2.5 tons of compostable waste (including the oyster shells) from landfills thanks to our friends at The Compost Plant; and, donated $2,500 to Save the Bay‘s after school programs (allowing 300+ more youth to participate in their wonderful programs). We hope to up all those numbers this year with your help and your love of delicious Rhode Island oysters!
Gerbermuhle: Biergarten Unter den Weiden will feature drinks fromLittle Bitte Artisanal Cocktails. The new beer garden with beer and cocktails focusing on Frankfurt specialties is located just upstream of Waterplace Basin in the heart of the downtown river park, under the willow trees at the foot of the IGT building. Forty five tables, specially made by WaterFire will mount on the river railing overlooking the double row of bonfires for your dining pleasure. Please join us for a cocktail or a mocktail at WaterFire this summer.
This is truly one of our favorite venues to make cocktails!
Providence Share Space, 140 Broadway, Providence, RI
Join Little Bitte & our pals Field of Artisans at Providence Share Space to celebrate their final night market if the season on 8/18/16. Come taste a lil’ collaboration we’ve got cooking with Farmer Willies Ginger Beer & 2 new signature cocktails!!
Providence Share Spaceis a member of Providence Gallery Night, and trolley stop, which happens on the third Thursday of every month. Thursday evening will be the last round for this season<3 Little Bitte
