A thriving nightlife scene plays an often under-appreciated role in ensuring a city’s economic health. That’s especially true in a place like Providence, where restaurants are among the leading attractions. more

Would you like to meet a chef? Would you like to encounter an accomplished chef who very likely owns his or her restaurant to talk food, cooking and life? more

Providence hotels’ 2012 occupancy rate was higher than the national average and showed a 4.3 percent gain over the city’s 2011 occupancy rate, according to the Smith Travel Research, a global hotel data firm. more

A survey of nearly 17,500 brides from TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com found that Rhode Island is the fifth most-expensive place in the United States to get married. more

The South County Tourism Council was recognized Monday by the North American Travel Journalists Association for travel reporting “excellence” in its publication, the South County Style Guide. The guide won first place for working under a marketing budget of $400,000 or less. more

Like many Rhode Island businesses, The NYLO Providence/Warwick Hotel has learned from the string of storms that have caused flooding, power outages and other damage in recent years. This year the Warwick hotel posted warnings, including the one pictured above, cleared and sandbagged its deck and put in place an emergency-communication system for guests that included evacuation plans. Staff members also stayed in rooms there to limit unnecessary travel. more

Two Providence-area chefs – Nemo Bolin and Benjamin Sukle – are in the running for Food & Wine’s list of the 10 most brilliant up-and-coming chefs. more

Three Rhode Island chefs and two restaurants have been named semifinalists for the 2013 James Beard Foundation’s restaurant and chef awards. more

I was invited to Stowe, Vermont to broadcast from the Stowe Wine and Food Classic, a festival of wine and foods to be paired by chefs, winemakers and purveyors from throughout the culinary world. The headliners were nationally known winemakers and chefs who joined their colleagues based in the Green Mountain State to dazzle the crowd with their creations. The pairings were expert, even artistic. What I found most impressive was that two of the primary artists were from Rhode Island. One is a leading Providence restaurateur, the other an up-and-coming chef who helped launch two restaurants in the Ocean State between stints up north in ski country. more

The Preservation Society of Newport released plans today for a proposed welcome center on the grounds of The Breakers to provide ticketing, visitor information, restrooms and a small café. more