Every $20 you spend during Warren Wonderland in participating downtown businesses enters you to win an epic gift basket of goodies & gift cards from local merchants. Follow us Facebook to get the latest details!
shops open ‘til 8pm!
We’ve tried to gather the scoop on what to do and where to go this February 14th: delicious chocolates, handmade gifts, local eats, and plenty of opportunity to celebrate with your sweetie. Read on!
shop & play
Woof! Woof! celebrates the holiday with their wildly popular Smooch the Pooch event! Treats for pups and people, sweet savings, and best of all, a charitable cause.
Check out the trifecta of Valentine’s Day must-haves — jewelry, chocolate, and flowers — at The Wooden Midshipman‘s annual chocolate sampling, tomorrow, Feb 12th! Stop by 146 Water Street from 5-8pm to sample the ‘Shipman’s selection of artisanal chocolates, MUSE American Handcrafted‘s Valentine’s Day jewelry picks, and unique floral arrangements from The Greenery.
Across the street, DISH is showing off their sweet, indulgent bath and body line from Red Flower. Non-toxic and deliciously scented, they make the perfect gifts for someone in need of a sumptuous pick-me-up (or just for yourself… you deserve it!). Choose from candles, body wash, fragrance diffusers, lotions, and other goodies. Best news ever? Red Flower is 20% off in honor of the holiday, now through Sunday, 2/15.
eat & drink
Warren’s acclaimed eateries are rolling out special Valentine’s Day menus, so hire a sitter and beat the cabin fever by treating yourselves.
New bistro Metacom Kitchen offers 3 courses for $45 (see menu here). Think Wellfleet oysters, their housemade burrata, and agnolotti with truffles–and that’s just from the appetizer selections.
Eli’s Kitchen is offering the same deal ($45 per person, 3 courses) but with their signature twist: you’ll find a mezze platter, saag “paneer,” and belgian chocolate all sharing menu space. See their menu on Facebook here.
Simone’s (also offering 3 courses for $45, or $68 with wine pairings) is embracing their rustic yet elegant Mediterranean vibe with lots of choices, including fresh seafood, their housemade pastas, wood-grilled entrees, and more. Check it out.
Valentine’s Day is still a Saturday night, after all, so if hanging with friends is more your speed you can still grab a burger and a pint at The Square Peg or CHOMP, take in the show UpStage at 2nd Story Theatre, or try the new bar menu at the recently opened Aruba Steve’s on Main Street.
Did we forget any special Valentine’s Day goings-on? Tell us at info@discoverwarren.com and we’ll make sure to add it!
Save the date for our annual fall festival! Stroll around town, grab a bite to eat, view open artist studios and demonstrations, shop the sidewalk sales and nibble on samples at the Taste of Warren and at eateries around town… #WarrenWalkabout
Check out the event on Facebook for more details and updates.
By E.A. Mann
Advanced Moves shines a light on the smaller, lesser-known joys of living in Warren.
For almost ten years I’ve lived down the street from Belcher’s Cove. In a realty listing, I would surely lie and say that I have a water view. Which I do…if I open my upstairs front window and lean out a bit.
But despite this panoramic oceanfront view, for years I never knew how to actually get to the cove. The strip of Market Street I live near doesn’t have any public access that I know of, and trespassing isn’t in my plans. One early summer night, with the sun setting and the cove smooth as glass, I saw a kayaker calmly paddling around. I grabbed my wife, pointed toward the kayaker and said, “I want to be that guy!”
Eventually I found my way to John Pesce Memorial Park, a calm spot to watch the water or drop in a kayak. From here, you can paddle right until you hit Market Street or go left as far as Swansea. You’ll rarely see another boat. For bonus points, find the small island twenty minutes north of Pesce Park, land your boat and pretend you’ve been stranded at sea. The island is a hundred or so feet across with a few trees and traces of illicit high school drinking. Ah, memories.
Your seafaring complete, stop in at the German American Club that abuts the park. This gem might own the best piece of real estate in Warren. It’s a private club, but be nice to the members (read: buy them drinks) and they may sign you in as a guest. And don’t worry about your lack of German blood; this full-blooded Italian was welcomed with open arms. After a half an hour there, you’ll be asking everyone in view how to become a member.
I took my first few trips with a kayak I rented from Steve’s Marine (this could be its own post) but I’ve since bought my own inexpensive vessel which I’ve christened The Ocean State Job Yacht. I’m ashamed it took me eight years of living in Warren before I went out on the water. I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you see me at Pesce Park with your own boat, give me a wave. I’ll show you the island.
Got an Advanced Move? Message the Discover Warren page or share it in the comments.
It is no secret that Warren has a vibrant culture and is populated with a distinct group of people. Yet, the town’s diversity begins first with its physicality. It is only a short walk from the shops and restaurants of Main and Water Streets to the East Bay Bike Path, which allows residents and visitors an intimate look at Rhode Island’s environment. Right alongside the path is the Jacob’s Point Salt Marsh, which plays an important role of which many residents are unaware.
A type of wetland situated between ocean and land, a salt marsh sustains many different types of plants and is one of the more productive of ecosystems. Warren’s Jacob’s Point Salt Marsh borders the bike path and measures 47 acres along the Warren River. It is one of many that are monitored closely by Save The Bay as part of their marsh restoration programs. Restoration includes strict water quality monitoring, as well as combatting invasive species that attempt to take over the marsh. Different types of plants can endure different levels of salinity, so keeping track of the levels of salinity is key step in protecting the salt marsh.
Salt marshes are a crucial part of any coastal area as they help to filter run off water and provide protection from various threats, such as storm surge or erosion, as well as offer support for different types of fish and plant species.
This is just another part of the town that makes it so special. The beauty of Warren is that it is so many different types of places wrapped into one town. Warren may be a small town in the tiniest state, but it surely is unique.
– Annabelle Everett
A native of Rhode Island, Annabelle is a summer intern for Discover Warren. She studies Writing & Rhetoric at Hobart & William Smith Colleges.