By Kaitlyn Boisvert –
It is no secret that college life is not an easy transition. It is a very scary time, where newly recruited students are bombarded with new settings, names, responsibilities, and opportunities. In a sense, students must assert the role of a chameleon, adapting and adjusting to the new environment and leading out a new, exciting chapter in their lives.
Although many freshmen can relate, being like a chameleon is not easy, and it takes a while for students to begin to blend in with their new environment and begin to consider it as a new home.
Thankfully, Salve Regina’s Student Activities offers a unique opportunity for students to smoothly transition into the newness of Newport life and literally get a taste of what the community has to offer.
The special offering involves a yellow packet of coupons, branded “Free Stuff for Freshmen”, and each coupon pitches a special, limited time offer at a local attraction. Most of the places featured are restaurants, which tend to garner a lot of interest and popularity.
Whether it be through a bowl of clam chowder or a small cup of Bubble Tea, the coupons succeed in helping students become more at ease in adjusting and helps expose them to secret gems of Newport that all act as welcoming invitations to the Newport community.
The Mad Hatter Bakery-Stationed in front of this little bakery is a sign that proudly announces: “Mad Hatter Bakery, Ruining New Year’s Resolutions since 1998!”
With all of its offered treats and specialties prove that such a reputation is justified. Owner Audra Lalli specializes in making elaborate cakes, which are locally praised for their delicious tastes. They also tend to be very creative.
The bakery, inspired by a monumental character in Lewis Carrol’s Alice In Wonderland, has earned multiple awards since its opening, the most recent being “Best Cakes/Cupcakes,” which was rewarded by Newport Life magazine in 2011.
While her cakes have earned a lot of love and have brought happiness to many tummies, Lalli also uses her culinary skills to make other treats, such as banana bread and cupcakes. The smaller novelties earn just as much love as her cakes, and customers are given a chance to experience happiness and bliss in a pint-sized form.
Newport residents and visitors are encouraged to stop by the bakery, where they can nibble on a lovingly prepared treat and balk at Lalli’s portfolio of past creations.
The Hungry Monkey-The name of this restaurant alone captures the essence of fun and optimism that the establishment strives for. The interior is colorful, the people inside are often boisterous and talkative, while a row of stuffed animal monkeys sit above the restaurant’s back kitchen, grinning at customers in welcome.
Store owner Lisa Janes says that she had opened the restaurant with both her husband and sister-in-law, when all three of them felt inspired to bring a shared dream to reality. They decided on the name and theme of a smiling, “hungry” monkey because it was fun, and had the potential to appeal to customers and make them feel like they are being invited to a fun, exciting environment.
The Hungry Monkey revolves around its mission of pleasing people with food. While it offers both breakfast and lunch, the restaurant is often frequented for its breakfast foods, as the corn beef hash and the Ruben sandwich. One unique trait of the restaurant is that everything is homemade, and thus the owners and crew members take pride of offering customers many different tastes of contemporary New England.
The restaurant opened its doors in 2009, and was met by an influx of intrigued visitors. What fascinates Janes is that they had not generated any official publicity—no big announcement was officially made. Yet The Hungry Monkey met success through the old strategy of “word of mouth,” a case of friends recommending it to their friends. The strategy brought in a lot of new customers, and word of mouth still remains as the restaurant’s public exposure.
Such a success truly shows that the Newport community approves of The Hungry Monkey, as it leaves them “oo-Ooohing” and “Ah-hhing…”
Media Credit: Emily Ferro - Empire is one of the most popular coffee shops among Salve students.
Empire Tea and Coffee-A popular favorite among Salve students, as it is considered a “go-to place” for students wishing to complete homework in an atmosphere where they can relax and remain productive, with a cup of good coffee on hand.
The independent café has earned much love from Newport, and it has come to be regarded as a quaint artistic place where different types of people can mingle, sip chai, and pursue their artistic interests. Wifi is granted within the café, local leisure clubs such as knitting and chess often use the café as a meeting place, and the café often features the live performances of talented musicians.
Empire earns the distinction as a café that offers patrons over 60 varieties of loose leaf tea. Courtesy of the coupon, new students get to sample Bubble tea, a flavored ice tea that has chewy Tapioca bubbles fluttering at the bottom.
The drink always gains immense popularity amongst students, and has become known as a Salve favorite.
A café employee said that in his experience the coupon offering has always generated a lot of positive reception, as hordes of Salve students would always return. The offering embodies the fun, yet considerate and welcoming approach that the café encourages. The worker joked that as freshmen, Salve students are probably afraid to venture off campus, and thus the coupon is a safe way to get them to explore a little.
With its vibrant energy, unique teas, and relaxing theme, Empire makes students put their paws up for tea time.
