Newport Wine and Food Festival

So we just came back from an amazing weekend in Newport RI.  This was the 4th year I attended the Annual Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival.  It was incredible.  

Robby B has joined me the last three years but this year, we decided to make it a girls trip (for the most part) and have the guys come down and join us for dinner after the actual festival.

It has always been a wonderful time.

You can read about our first one in 2015 HERE 

Then our great time in 2016 HERE 

AND...

In 2017 HERE

Now it is time to recap the 2018 trip for you!

Friday

The girls headed down first thing. I drove Beth Ann and we spent the entire time catching up and having another fun and deep conversation.  We made our obligatory stop at Starbucks and enjoyed a virtually traffic-free ride down to RI.

Once we got there, we parked at our hotel and walked down to lunch at an amazing restaurant called 22 Bowens.  Check them out HERE 

This year the weather was INCREDIBLE!  The only part that put a damper on my time was when I received a note from my client that my candidate I just placed left during his first week- yep my biggest placement of the year- it took all of my strength to not let my blood pressure sky rocket and to remember that everything is meant to be. Trust me- very difficult but I tried my best to keep it in check and live in the present to enjoy my time.  

Anyway....the sun shone...the girls had a ball and we even pulled another stranger over to take our pic (of course!)

  

This restaurant is so good and in such a perfect location- right on the water- in the wharf!

After lunch, we walked around a bit and then grabbed a cocktail at the outdoor hotel bar until it was time to check in.  Once we checked in, we unpacked, freshened up and walked around a bit more stopping in some shops (including the ever favorite Lilly store)  Newport has the cutest shops- clothing boutiques, an olive oil store and even a fudgery...what more could you want? :)

After we had our fill, we headed back to the hotel and got our snacks ready for a fun night in of chatting and celebrating Laurel's bday...such a great time!

 Saturday

It was time for the Main Event and it was the best one yet (in my humble opinion)....the food was that much better...I tried several wines that I LOVED this year AND our cop friend, who we met last year, greeted us with many jokes and had us laughing before and after the festival...we also captured the best pics....and met more strangers than we have before...everyone  sharing hugs and laughs...and oh so much fun....

Sat Night

After the festival, everyone met up at Sardella's- an awesome Italian Restaurant...Check them out HERE   I was so excited to finally see my hubby!!  Yeah!!!  

After dinner, most of the group hit a bar with a dance club to dance the night away...we were spent so Rob and I and Lea and Mike hit the outdoor hotel bar for a night cap and chill chit chat...so much fun...and so grateful the next morning!  

 

Newport....you exceeded our expectations this year...until next year.....