The online magazine of travel, life, dining, and entertainment for people who love Rhode Island
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Rhode Island Roads
The online magazine of travel, life, dining, and entertainment for people who love Rhode Island |
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East Greenwich, close to the center of Rhode Island, has enough history, art, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and landscapes to occupy anyone exploring Rhode Island. Most of it is squeezed in the town's "Hill and Harbor District", which includes its classic Main Street.
Coming south on Post
Road, you enter Main Street at the historic red brick Varnam Armory. The
armory was constructed in 1913, so the term 'historic' may be a bit
misleading. It was built by the Varnam
Regulars, a local militia in the days before the National Guard. But where the armory
may be 20th century, the Varnum Regulars militia dates from the Revolutionary War.
In the years since then, the armory has been a regular site for political
ralleys and public gatherings. Its museum is open by appointment and
features military weapons, uniforms, medals, and other military artifacts.
Across from the armory is the Post Office Cafe, one of East Greenwich's
excellent restaurants. Seafood and Italian, the speciality of all of Rhode
Island, is done exceptionally well, here, inside an antique brick post office.
Wine, linen, candles -- the kind of Italian restaurant you'd normally find on Federal Hill.
Since East Greenwich was a historic sea port, there's no shortage of history.
The Old Kent County Courthouse (Now the East Greenwich Town Hall) was
built in 1805 where it served as the State Hall for the next 49 years. Churches
served as meeting halls during the colonial era, so they, too, had their share
of history. On the hill above Main Street are houses of Revolutionary War
generals, famous poets, and the collection of famous people that a town like
East Greenwich collects over 350 years. In particular, you might want to
check out the Varnham House, on Pierce Street. Pierce street is also home
to a couple of B&B's and the Kentish
Guards (a military unit with actual historical roots back to 1774).
Down the hill and under the railroad tracks from the Old Kent County
Courthouse is the harbor. In the days of wooden ships from exotic lands, the
harbor was constantly teeming. Now it's home to seafood restaurants and
yacht clubs. It's also home to some lovely views of Narragansett Bay,
Greenwich Cove, and Goddard State Park.
Some of these harborside restaurants feature live music on summer
weekends. Parking is usually a pain during these prime times, so expect to
walk or take advantage of their valet service. You might also be able to catch
plays and live performances at the Odeum, a restored silent movie house back
on Main Street.
This list is constantly growing, thanks to suggestions from our readers.
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