Summer is here, at last

From the editor ~ July/August 2024

Dear Readers,

As I write this, my kitchen windows are wide open, the birds — very chatty, lately — are chirping, the sky is a soft blue, the sun is shining, and I am sheathed in linen. Summer is here, at last.

And with it, our third (third!) summer issue. As I told a friend recently: time is a wild, unwieldy thing. In fact, many of the stories in these pages delve into various aspects of Aquidneck Island’s history, shedding light on how things have changed, and also stayed the same. How some traditions and rituals are timeless. The inspiration for this issue was the idea of a “vintage summer” and what it might look like, feel like, taste like, smell like to dip into the past, even if only for a moment (hint: it could be the scent of smoke at a clambake, or a bonfire at the beach, or fresh basil harvested straight from the earth, or saltwater during an early morning ocean swim).

I learned many things while putting together this issue, among them the lore of clambakes (the most essential ingredient? Seaweed!); the legacy of Slim Aarons — war correspondent-turned-lifestyle photographer; what it takes to be an NBC commentator at the Olympic Summer Games, where our cover star will be July 26 to Aug. 11; how many pounds of basil one Portsmouth farm is growing in the hopes it will be served in school cafeterias (quite a bit); and the history of Summer is here, at last seasonal workers in Newport, who not only aid the hospitality industry but add to the city’s cultural character.

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I do, and that this magazine will accompany you to the beach at least once (see page 22 for our Favorite Finds Seaside Chic inspiration) and to a few art exhibitions (full round-up of summer shows on page 16), and wherever else you end up this summer.

Until September,

Helena

Managing Editor

p.s. Wondering where to find the magazine? Check out this list of retail locations: https://www.newportlifemagazine.com/where-to-buy-nlm/

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