Curated by local teens of the RISD Art Circle
LISTEN !
Getaway
Let ’ s leave today Let ’ s get away
— Earth , Wind and Fire
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Meredith Stern , We Are Power ( detail ). Gift of Edward Morris
Now on View
Through JAN 5 , 2025
Free Sundays
SABRINA SCOLARI PHOTOGRAPHY
I guess when one reaches the sixty-plus club for trips around the sun , there is a tendency to reflect with amusement on how things have changed .
As you will see in this issue , getaways , minivacations , excursions and jaunts are far more accessible and can be more ambitious than one ever imagined .
Our trips were limited to wherever our 1965 Rambler station wagon could take us . It had no air conditioning , plastic seat covers that were installed before it left the lot , and a “ wayback seat ” facing the cars behind us . Preparation included bags of discount snacks purchased in bulk , sandwiches prepared a week in advance , and a cooler of watery Kool-Aid , of course .
Our “ Disney ” vacations were short , long-weekend trips ( like many today ) to Story Land and Santa ’ s Village in New Hampshire . Of course , there was our visit in nearby Hudson to Benson ’ s Wild Animal Farm , a menagerie that was the 1890 reconstitution of a traveling circus featuring Betsy , a beloved elephant , and Colossus ( aka Tony ), a 500-pound silverback gorilla .
In this issue , our editorial team traveled near and not-so-near to provide you with some creative ideas for your next “ jaunt .” Thanks to advances in air travel and affordability , you do not have to survive those sticky plastic car seat covers . Our “ throw it in a bag and go ” mantra of today means the baloney and cheese sandwiches on white bread are not needed .
The team brainstormed getaways as close as Newport and the Cape to Montreal and Greenville , South Carolina . The latter is a tribute to the improvements in air service at Rhode Island T . F . Green International Airport , the longest name in the nation ( and a product of the state ’ s General Assembly ).
To be clear , we — the magazine — were not compensated in any way for featuring these locations . Some expenses were covered or were discounted once the location was contacted . Rhode Island Monthly covered the remaining expenses . Who says journalism is not a lucrative career pursuit ?
We are also quite proud of our collaboration with the Rhode Island State Nurses Association for our “ Excellence in Nursing Awards .” This has been a ten-year partnership . It is an honor to have the opportunity to recognize the health care professionals in this state who are critical components in the system .
To the Rhode ahead . — J . J . P .
P . S . I found a vintage T-shirt website , and this summer I ’ ve been sporting a Benson ’ s Wild Animal Farm tee when I walk the dogs .
10 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2024