There's No Place Like Bristol

As the holiday season is approaching and the is tonight, I just wanted to speak about shopping local and this wonderful town. Having lived here for only a mere two years, I can honestly say I am home. Now I know that I cannot call myself a Bristolian and I wasn’t even born in RI (I know, I know) but I do call myself a Bristolite (with respectful permission of course). I try to shop local whenever I can and I am extremely excited about the preview and the new winter’s farmer’s market at Mt. Hope Farm this weekend.

What makes me feel at home are the wonderful people that inhabit this place. In such a short period of time I have become so integrated into the community just by being in some of the local establishments. My first trip to , “Kate” and I discovered that her son went to college with my husband in upstate NY.  Michelle, who is an employee there, ended up inviting me to a wonderful wine dinner at and subsequently has become my friend.  I felt honored to have met the chef, Sai Viswanath, at Dewolf that first night, and now I see him coming out of the kitchen to greet the guests frequently.

It’s not hard to meet Linda & Sue, the owners of Paper, Packaging and Panache. I purchased wedding supplies from them and after getting to know them, they  offered to let me borrow a tree from their back room to hang my place cards. (It was perfect with our décor). When I came in to return their prop, they sat and looked through my wedding pictures with me (on my cracked iPhone no less).

I cannot forget one of my favorite places to unwind; Alayne White Spa. Alayne is truly someone to look up to. You couldn’t ask for a better role model. The best part is sitting down with her and having a great conversation. You know that she cares. Oh yes and the treatments & services are wonderful too!

This August was my nephew’s birthday so I wandered across the street from my office on Hope Street to the Toy Shop where Wayne Kneeland walked me around the entire store to find the perfect gift for him. Service like this is so special.

I can go on and on about these personal stories however Bristol makes everyone feel at home. Come visit thethis Friday night and the Mt. Hope Farm Farmer’s Market and support your local businesses.