Barrington
East Bay Briefings
01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Woman’s Club: The Barrington Woman’s Club will meet Dec. 6 at noon at St. John’s Parish House, County Road. Banjo ragtimers Paul Gookin and Jim Haas will entertain with their musical presentation of “With a Banjo On My Knee.” Employing banjo, sax, clarinet, washboard and drums, they play old-time favorites.Members are reminded to bring along a gift for the club’s annual contribution to The Sexual Assault and Trauma Center. Stuffed animals, books, games, puzzles, crayons and coloring books are just a few ideas, as well as items for active young boys. Those who cannot bring items to the meeting are asked to call Donna D’Errico, or bring them to her house, 45 Charles St.
In other business, Ladies Day at Barrington Books, a fundraiser for the club, is Dec. 8. The store’s owner, Tony Allen, gives the club a percentage of purchases made by members.
Meetings scheduled for December include the reading group, Dec. 20, and the knitting group, Dec. 13. Both meetings will be held at Sheila Hutton’s home. Those planning to attend either meeting are asked to call her in advance. The next board meeting will be held Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. at Bay Spring Village. Members should note this is a change of date from the one previously noted in the yearbook.
Christmas bazaar: The First Congregational Church, High Street, will hold its 76th annual Christmas bazaar Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a lobster luncheon, along with many other foods, served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will include a silent auction, fine arts, a three-story doll house, attic treasures, a drawing for a quilt, seasonal gifts, jewelry, needlework, a country store and more. All are welcome.
Christmas at the Farm: The Governor Bradford House at Mt. Hope Farm, 250 Metacom Ave., will be open for tours Dec. 6 to 30. Tour times will be Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m., and Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. Admission is $6 per person. For more information, call (401) 254-1745.
Garden Club party: The Bayberry Garden Club of Bristol will hold its annual Christmas dinner Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Tuscan Tavern, Metacom Avenue. Members will exchange Christmas ornaments.
Annual holiday cocktail party: Mount Hope Farm will hold its annual cocktail party Dec. 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Gov. Bradford House, 250 Metacom Ave. The evening will include Michael DiMucci at the keyboard, fine food and bar and a book signing of Bristol Beyond Beautiful, which will be available for purchase.
Holiday concert: The Riverside Family Center’s After School with the Arts program will hold its annual holiday concert Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Riverside Congregational Church, Oak Avenue at Bullock’s Point Avenue. The students will offer performances in theater, dance, karate, piano, guitar, chorus, violin and cello, and percussion. The children’s artwork will also be on display. There is no admission charge but donations are appreciated. Gift baskets will be given away in a drawing at the concert. Tickets for the drawing can be purchased at the concert for $1 each or six for $5. Refreshments will be served during intermission.
For more information call the After School with the Arts program director, Kelly Sylvia, (401) 433-2822.
Christmas bazaar: The Rumford Towers Residents Association will hold its annual Christmas bazaar Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Included will be drawings for prizes, crafts, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, toys, home-baked goods and white elephant tables. There will be a variety of foods available including hot dogs, sandwiches and dinners, as well as coffee and doughnuts. Mr. and Mrs. Santa will be on hand with candy for children.
Holiday performance: The Little Compton Community Center will present Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, Dec. 7 to 10 at the Community Theater, 34 Commons. This musical presentation based on the story by Charles Dickens premiered in Little Compton last December. It includes song and dance in gospel, blues, rock and jazz, as well as lush madrigal harmonies. Evening performances begin at 7 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m. Tickets, which are $18 each or $15 for Community Center members, are on sale at the center. For information call (401) 635-2400.
Ebenezer will be directed and choreographed once again by Gloria Crist with musical direction by Dennis Robinson.
The Sleigh Bell Stroll: The Bellevue Avenue Business Association will hold Sleigh Bell Strolls on Thursday evenings until 8 through Dec. 21. The evening offers holiday specials, refreshments, carriage rides, carolers, Santa visits, trunk shows, etc. The BABA is newly formed and hopes this “stroll” will bring back open-air neighborhood shopping fun.
New Year’s Eve dinner dance: The Friends of Ballroom Dancing will hold its annual New Year’s Eve dinner dance Dec. 31 in the Grand Ballroom at the Officers’ Club, Naval Station Newport. The evening will begin with a social hour at 7:30 p.m. with a vocal performance at 8. Dinner will begin at 8:15 and dancing to the Duke Belaire six-piece dance band will begin at 9:15. A dance show, “Big Spender,” will be presented at 10 and at midnight there will be champagne served and party favors for all. Tickets are $100 per person, or $90 for FOBD members. For more information e-mail Skip Jones at SkipFOBD@aol.com or call him, (401) 847-2980.
Visits with Santa Claus: Children can visit with Santa Claus amidst the grandeur of the Gilded Age at The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House this December. Santa will make public appearances from noon to 3 p.m. at The Breakers on Dec. 3, Marble House Dec. 10 and The Elms Dec. 17.
The visit with Santa is included in the regular admission price. Admission to The Breakers is $15 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 17; Marble House and The Elms are each $10 for adults and $4 for children ages 6 to 17. Tickets can be purchased online at www.NewportMansions.org, or at each property.
Holiday Evenings at the Newport Mansions: Holiday Evenings at The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House will provide a unique opportunity to see these historic houses in a different light. Guests can take a leisurely self-guided tour through the mansion, enjoying continuous live holiday music and a stop for holiday sweets, eggnog and cider.
Holiday Evenings at The Breakers are scheduled for Dec. 2, 9 and 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. On Dec. 16, guests can enjoy a Holiday Evening Duet — The Elms and Marble House, both for the price of one, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Holiday Evenings musical performance schedule is as follows (schedule subject to change):
Dec. 2, The Breakers, Coastline Show Chorus (female barbershop harmony chorus)
Dec. 9, The Breakers, Narragansett Bay Chorus (male barbershop harmony chorus)
Dec. 16, The Elms, Cabaret Elegance (mixed voice theatrical chorus)
Dec. 16, Marble House, Voices of Xmas (mixed voice chorus); Dyadic Duo (classical guitar); Ocean State Starletts dancers
Dec. 30, The Breakers, Pamela Lancaster & Tom Jones
Also performing each night will be Ron Eastwood on the piano and soloist Maria Tavarozzi.
Admission to Holiday Evenings is $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Children ages 6 to 17 are admitted for $10. Preservation Society members enjoy reduced admission, $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
On Dec. 16, a single ticket provides admission to both The Elms and Marble House. Advance tickets will be available online at www.NewportMansions.org or call (401) 847-1000.
Holiday luncheon: The Portsmouth Garden Club will hold its annual holiday luncheon Dec. 13 at noon at Sakonnet Fish Co., Park Avenue. Members are asked to bring a wrapped gift worth $10 for the gift exchange. For reservations and information call (401) 683-2340 or (401) 683-4239.
Also, a holiday workshop will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Atria Aquidneck Place, Quaker Hill Lane. Those planning to participate are asked to bring a container with a prepared oasis and clippers. Flowers will be available for $5. Members are asked to help decorate wreaths for town buildings Friday.
At the club’s November meeting, Brother Joseph of Portsmouth Abbey School showed slides and spoke about the Abbey’s new wind turbine and a layout was presented by Eileen Gleason for the landscaping at the new parking lot at the Portsmouth Free Public Library. The club voted to plant and maintain a garden at the left of the entrance.
In other business, club members prepared 30 flower arrangements which were give away in a drawing at the Portsmouth Free Public Library’s annual “Taste of Portsmouth” festival. Arrangements were designed by the following members: Annette Jarvis, Rita Spero, Irene Smith, Peg Tomis, Rochelle Kieron, Pam Barry and Madeline Beaucage. A layout was presented by Eileen Gleason for the landscaping at the new parking lot at the library. The club voted to plant and maintain a garden at the left of the entrance.
Christmas party: The Woman’s Club of Newport County will hold its annual Christmas party celebration Dec. 6 at the SeaFare Inn in Portsmouth. Beginning with a social hour at 11:30 a.m., the luncheon will follow at noon. For reservations call Doris Drapeau, (401) 624-4530 or Claudia Waddicor, (401) 624-6822. Anyone in need of transportation is asked to call any officer or board member in advance.
Holiday sale: The knitting and quilting volunteers and the participants of the watercolor class at the Tiverton Senior Center will hold a sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center, 207 Canonicus St. There will be handmade items including hats for infants, children and adults, sweaters, scarves and mittens, afghans, lap robes, wheelchair caddies, dog bone pillows, adult bibs, quilts and more. The watercolor class will offer prints and original watercolor paintings created by members of the class.
