Recreation

  • Fall sporting events

    Kari Curtis
    Thu, Sep 20
    43rd Annual 15K Run Around the Block The 43rd Annual Run Around the Block will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. The racecourse is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) of rolling black top roads arranged in a loop. The starting line is at Fresh Pond, on Center Rd. The finish line is at...

  • Sweet September

    Kari Curtis
    Thu, Sep 20
    If you have not spent time on Block Island in the fall, you should. There is less traffic on the roads, the beaches are not as congested, the locals are, well, friendlier, and the fishing can’t be beat. Let’s face it — fresh fish and Rhode Island go hand-in-hand. Locally caught fish is a seafood...

  • A Step off Spring Street

    Kari Curtis
    Mon, Jul 30
    It is no secret that Block Island offers a slower pace of life — there are no stoplights anywhere on the island and its untouched beaches and spectacular sunsets are a perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. Stepping off the ferry you are instantly submerged into the Old Harbor...

  • Block Island Sports Lineup for August

    Mon, Jul 30
    Block Island Triathlon The Block Island Triathlon is on Saturday, August 4 at 9 a.m. This event is popular with both seasoned racers and beginners. The race starts with a quarter- mile open water swim off of beautiful crescent beach. After the swim racers hop on their bikes for a 12-mile ride...

  • Moving across the water: kayaking

    Corrie Heinz of Pond & Beyond Kayaks
    Mon, Jul 30
    The Salt Pond offers paddling options for all ages and abilities. Do a little research and you are certain to have a fantastic experience. Here are some insider tips and advice for paddling on the Great Salt Pond. Want peace and quiet? Kayak in the early morning or evening. New this season Pond and...

  • Fourth Annual Great Salt Pond Swim

    Anneliese Slamowitz
    Wed, Jun 27
    Swim because you can. Swim because you know how. Swim because your mother said it could save your life someday. She’s right, you know. Swim for your glutes. Your back. Your heart. Swim to start off a great day. Swim to shake off a bad one. Swim for your school. For your city. To turn disability...

  • Beach Reads

    Island Bound Bookstore
    Wed, Jun 27
    “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult Based on a true event, a nurse, who is a woman of color, with years of experience in the obstetrics unit of a hospital in a small town in Connecticut is told by a white supremacist man that she cannot provide medical care to his wife or his newborn son. The...

  • My Block Island

    Allie Duggan
    Tue, Aug 8
    Every year since I was four years old, my parents would pack me and my three siblings into our old blue Suburban to make the drive to the Point Judith Ferry in Narragansett. We would play the old Pac-Man games they used to have on the Traditional Ferry as we made the rocky ride to Block Island. My...

  • Block Island Wedding Guest Guide

    Jenna Mead
    Fri, Sep 2
    The invitation arrived months ago. The excitement did as well. Finally, the time has arrived, a Block Island wedding awaits! Coming to Block Island for a wedding is an added element for wedding guests. Based the location you are likely spending an evening (or more likely two) on the island. But...

  • 25th Anniversary Walk

    Wed, Jul 27
    BIT Category: 
    Community
    Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Nature Conservancy’s office on Block Island. Chris Littlefield is hosting one-time walks at different locations to highlight the island’s unique natural heritage and conservation history. Call (401)466-2129 for more specific location details. Co-sponsored...

  • Walk the Walls

    Wed, Jul 27
    BIT Category: 
    Columnists
    Come experience the topography of the agricultural fields that almost completely covered Block Island from the late 1600’s to the early 20th century. Meet at the corner of West Side Road and Old Mill Road. Co-sponsored by Block Island Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy.

  • Salt Marsh Exploration

    Wed, Jul 27
    BIT Category: 
    Community
    A salt marsh adventure for kids and their parents. Meet at Andy’s Way, off Corn Neck Road. (Kids need to wear water shoes and parents must attend.) Co-sponsored by Block Island Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy.

  • Beach Meet-up & Clean-up

    Wed, Jul 27
    BIT Category: 
    Community
    Everyone loves a clean beach. Come for a stroll and lend a hand! Different locations each week. Co-sponsored by Block Island Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy 7/27......Settler’s Rock 8/3........Mansion Beach 8/10......Scotch Beach 8/17......Town Beach 8/24......West Beach

  • Super Scavenger Hunt

    Wed, Jul 27
    BIT Category: 
    Community
    Kids and their parents locate all sorts of species special to Block Island. Meet at the Rodman’s Hollow parking lot on Cooneymus Road. (Parents must attend.) Co-sponsored by Block Island Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy

  • Block Island - A Natural Introduction

    Tue, Jul 26
    BIT Category: 
    Community, All Around the Block
    Join the Nature Conservancy for an exploration at Hodge Family Wildlife Preserve that is fun and educational. Meet at the parking lot for Hodge on Corn Neck Road (3 miles from town on the left).

  • View from Behind the Table

    Emily Cahill
    Sun, Jul 3
    For vendors, the Farmer's Market begins long before the 9 a.m. bell rings. Up with the sun, we have to pack our cars full of goods and head down to the market an hour ahead of time, even if we were up late the night before finishing last touches.  Once there, cars back carefully into the vendors...

  • Blues on the Block

    Sat, Jul 2
    Don't forget to stop by a Blues on the Block concert this summer! This summer’s concerts will be on August 7 and August 14. The concerts are family friendly, for all ages and are held at the Fred Benson Beach Pavilion on Corn Neck Road from 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your beach chairs and blankets, a light...

  • July Fishing is Awesome

    Sol Schwartz
    Sat, Jul 2
    July Fishing is Awesome! Last July, Block Island had a very strong month of fishing. If you were anywhere near the docks in Old Harbor, you couldn't miss all the giant striped bass being brought in by charter boats. This year should be no different. All of our fishy friends are already here in...

  • Celebrating 25 Years on Block Island

    The Nature Conservancy
    Fri, Jul 1
    This year, The Nature Conservancy is celebrating its 25th anniversary since opening a field office on Block Island. In 1991, the Conservancy, an international conservation organization, identified Block Island as a “Last Great Place” for its abundance of rare and endangered plants and animals, as...

  • July Calendar

    Fri, Jul 1
    July: 2 Block Island Club Open House. 4 p.m. 3 Fireworks Picnic at B.I. Maritime Institute. Tickets $35 Adults/$15 Kids ( www.cgspblockisland.org ) 3 Pre-fireworks live music at the Fred Benson Beach Pavilion. 7 - 9 p.m. 3 Fireworks at Crescent Beach at dusk (around 9 p.m.) 4 July 4th Parade. Theme...

  • Block Island 101

    Fri, Jul 1
    Whether you are here for the day, a week or the whole summer, try to do at least one of these things — you'll be glad you did! 1. Swim at Sunrise Plan to be up before the sun, that alarm clock may come in handy — even on vacation. No need to make a fuss about what to wear, just throw on a bathing...

  • On the Screen: Sonic Sea

    Mary McAvity Cerulli
    Fri, Jul 1
    My life so far has been twists and turns. Working in financial services for 20 years, I now find myself back at my roots, my true nature as a geologist turned environmental activist. A fortuitous turn happened two summers ago when Chris Littlefield agreed to take me on as a volunteer at The Nature...

  • New Biz: Mutt Hut

    Zoe Estrin-Grele
    Tue, Jun 28
    BIT Category: 
    News
    There's a new business to help care for our four-footed, drooling friends on Block Island. Mutt Hut is run by Meg Vitacco and Josh Maldonado and of course their dog Radar. The idea for the business came after the humans discovered that it was difficult for them to find high quality dog food without...

  • Captain's Recipe

    Capt. Matt King
    Wed, Jun 15
    It seems that bluefish sometimes get brushed aside as the last resort fish to put on the dinner table. Its true that sometimes these toothy, ferocious fighters can taste as strong as they fought getting into the boat. If properly handled and cooked within a day or two these buggers will taste as...

  • Rentals: Bikes, Cars and Mopeds

    Wed, Jun 15
    Whether you want to enjoy the scenic roads, explore the whole island or just cruise around town, renting a bike, a moped, or a car is ideal.  Anytime is a great time to bike Block Island. And if you haven’t yet ridden around the island, there’s a fun new way to do it – the Block Island Bicycle Tour...

  • Block Island Music Festival 2016

    Zoe Estrin-Grele
    Wed, Jun 1
    BIT Category: 
    News
    This year marks the 16th year of the Block Island Music Festival, the musical celebration geared for the local Block Island population. The Festival is run by Marc Scortino, owner of Captain Nick's. Every year he receives hundreds of demo tape submissions from bands wanting to take part, from every...

  • 25 Must See Things on Block Island in the Fall

    Scott Comings at The Nature Conservancy
    Wed, Jun 1
    Here are 25 natural wonders (in no specific order) to see in on Block Island in the Fall. How many have you seen? 1) North Blazing Star – Block Island is the only place this state-endangered species is found in Rhode Island. This purple wildflower is best seen at Turnip Farm. 2) Hodge Family...

  • Island Traditions

    Jenna Mead
    Mon, Mar 28
    The sign normally goes up on Friday, but the anticipation for the Tuesday night Bingo held at the Fire Barn has been building for much longer. The event is held four times throughout the summer with the remaining two nights on August 4 and August 18. The line to buy boards begins at 6:30 p.m., with...

  • On the Dock

    Tue, Jun 30
    BIT Category: 
    Community
    Fishing is a favorite island sport. The island hosts many fishing tournaments each summer like the Bluefish Derby Tournament, the B.I.V.F.D. Fishing Tournament, and the Tri-State Canyon Shootout. Both Old Harbor and New Harbor are home to charter boats that are ready to give you a taste of the...

  • First Love is Second Nature

    Kari Curtis
    Tue, Jun 30
    BIT Category: 
    News
    Something you might not expect to see when you visit Block Island is a pair of Bactrian camels, a pair of kangaroos, a Zedonk or a troop of Lemurs. Exotic animals on Block Island? Yes, there sure are — and you can find them at Abrams Farm. Justin Abrams and family, owners of the Hotel Manisses and...

  • Surfing is an obsession

    Cassius Shuman
    Tue, Jun 30
    Surfing is a sport enjoyed by people in all walks off life at all times of the year in a variety of conditions. If you’ve had the fortunate experience of catching a wave, you’ll understand the true meaning of being at one with nature. “Surfing is the source,” said 15-year old Block Islander Gavin...

  • August is Just Peachy

    Susan Middeleer Mleczko
    Tue, Sep 2
    “The walls were wet and sticky, and peach juice was dripping from the ceiling. James opened his mouth and caught some of it on his tongue. It tasted delicious.” – Roald Dahl , James and the Giant Peach...
  • One Last Thing

    B.I. from a Biplane

    Tue, Sep 2
    Renée Meyer captured this look at the Great Salt Pond from the totally Peanuts-like red biplane we’ve been seeing in the B.I. skies all summer. The plane is a recently restored 1940 Waco UPF-7 that was originally used as a WWII trainer. Did she feel like the Red Baron? Most definitely. For more...

  • In Vogue at North Light Fibers

    Isabella DeLeo
    Tue, Sep 2
    The path to the North Light Fibers mill, store and farm is marked by the sight of exotic animals from Abrams Animal Farm in the periphery: the cool stare of the caged lemur, a llama eating kibble from a child’s hand, even kangaroos and a giant tortoise stand by. Walk past these animals and through...
  • Worker’s Perspectives

    A Week in the Life of an Instructor at the Block Island Club

    Brooke Hammarskjold
    Tue, Sep 2
    For the past 13 summers on Block Island, the majority of my time here has been spent at my home away from home, the Block Island Club. Located on the northeastern side of the Great Salt Pond, the club was a place for me to further my passion for sailing, expand my (short-lived) interest in tennis,...

  • Wading with the Birds at Andy’s Way

    Judy Tierney
    Tue, Sep 2
    It’s never hard to convince me to go on a bird walk at Andy’s Way with Kim Gaffett, director of the Ocean View Foundation, whether it is a Crazy as a Coot meet-up or another OVF activity, it’s always fun and informative. I’ve done a few and will likely do many more. They are almost always at low...
  • Beach Reads

    Top of the Pile

    Cindy Lasser, Island Bound Bookstore
    Tue, Sep 2
    All summer long people come into the store to tell me how good certain books are, to tell me I simply must read this or that. But summer on the island is so (happily!) busy for island shopkeepers that I don’t get around to reading most of these recommended books until winter. Winter on the island,...
  • I Tried It!

    Full Moon Paddle

    Brooke Hammarskjold
    Tue, Sep 2
    On July 12th, as many admired the super moon (a full moon that appears even larger than usual because of its closeness to the earth) from their houses, I was lucky enough to be out on the Great Salt Pond, part of a group of kayakers on a tour led by Corrie Heinz, owner of Pond and Beyond Kayak...
  • Cottage Industry

    Johanna Ross’s Island Mist

    Isabella DeLeo
    Tue, Sep 2
    The beauty of Block Island can be as arresting as a siren’s call: rolling hills, salty air, the resplendent smell of Rosa rugosa. It’s no surprise then how...

  • B. I. Cruise Control

    Meg Vitacco
    Fri, Aug 29
    Cars and dogs... We can’t help but notice how these two go so well together, especially when the sun comes out and the wind is just right. Perhaps it’s the necessities in life that never go out of style. Vintage or new, capricious or predictable, dogs and cars have personalities all their own...

  • Under a Pink Pearl Moon

    Judy Tierney
    Thu, Jul 31
    On the island with three friends in the house, I was looking for something interesting to do at night during their visits besides the usual drinks with dinner or a movie, and while I was thinking, I happened to focus on a postcard lying on the dining room table in a large pile of recent mail. Maybe...
  • I Tried It

    Banana Boating

    Isabella DeLeo
    Thu, Jul 31
    From a distance, I have often watched the banana boats serpentine through the harbor. With great curiosity, I would listen to the shrill cries of the people aboard these absurd canary yellow, banana-shaped tubes as they tore through the water with accelerating speed. I would watch them send a few...

  • Crazy as a Coot, Happy as a Lark

    Judy Tierney
    Tue, Jul 1
    On winter mornings when even the sun has difficulty deciding whether it should rise, almost nothing stirs on Block Island, not man nor beast nor machine. On our road, unless the transfer station is open, Howie’s yellow school bus is often the first and only vehicle to pass by my house until mid...

  • Marching with Adrian’s Army

    Renée Meyer
    Tue, Jul 1
    The group of volunteers meets at a most civil hour – 9 a.m. at the office of The Nature Conservancy on High Street. On this Wednesday there are a dozen. Some have done this for years, some, such as this writer are first timers. They are quite good natured for an army, and quite welcoming of the new...

  • My First Time

    Judy Tierney
    Mon, Jun 9
    In our house we mark the passage of our lives not just by our jobs or child rearing experiences, but by where we live and what we drive. One of our automobile eras was that of the El Camino, a Chevrolet that was a compromise between a truck and a car. Behind the sleek front seat compartment was a...

  • The Block Island Club Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

    Brooke Hammarskjold
    Mon, Jun 9
    This summer, the Block Island Club will celebrate 50 years of providing recreational activities to its members. The club, a not-for-profit run by a Board of Governors, is situated on the Great Salt Pond, and offers its members lessons in tennis, arts, swimming, sailing and other water sports. In...

  • Let it grow!

    Renée Meyer
    Mon, Jun 9
    When visiting Block Island you may be struck by the beauty of all the wildflowers, the sight of song and shore birds, the occasional glimpse of a butterfly, the darting iridescent beauty of the dragonflies. It doesn’t matter the season, there is always the beauty of nature here, be it the flash of...

  • Walking with Leonard

    Judy Tierney
    Mon, Jun 9
    I first met Leonard Perfido last spring after he and his wife Ruth returned from a Great Ape Encounter tour in Africa. Like them, I am intrigued by the works of gorilla researcher Dian Fossey and chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall, but unlike them, I have never entertained the notion of trekking to...

  • Kayak for Conservation

    Corrie Heinz
    Mon, Jun 9
    The Great Salt Pond is Corrie Heinz’s home away from home. As the owner/operator of Pond and Beyond Kayak, she’s out on the pond whenever the weather allows, so she knows the ins and the outs of the place and all the ecosystems and subcultures it holds. She grew up out here, went to school here...
    corrie heinz, pond and beyond kayak

  • A is for Alphabet Book

    Lisa Stiepock
    Mon, Jun 9
    Gloria Hall Daubert wrote a book. To those who know her primarily as the longtime (29 years and counting) bartender at Winfield’s, the news come as a bit of a surprise. But the truth is she’s been pondering the book almost as long as she’s worked at Winfield’s. “It’s a bucket list thing,” says...
    gloria hall daubert

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