This year you have read in this column about many contributors to the state’s successful restaurant community, from chefs and restaurateurs to winemakers and farmers. All can be considered stars of the industry. more

While the number of Rhode Islanders who visited Twin River declined 9.1 percent from 2010 to 2012 to 161,726, those who came from Massachusetts increased 8.8 percent to 385,348, helping the Lincoln gaming facility gain less than one-half percent in visitors to 582,662 in the time period. more

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

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

Whose cuisine reigns supreme? 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

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

Two Rhode Island hotels – The Attwater in Newport and Westerly’s Weekapaug Inn – earned spots on Conde Nast Traveler’s 17th annual May Hot List, which touts itself as “the ultimate insider’s guide to the hottest new hotels and spas of the year.” more

The John Brown House in Providence is known for brick Georgian architecture and its namesake’s place in 18th-century Rhode Island – not fire alarms or wireless technology. more