(East Providence, RI.)–The largest Home Show in southern New England returns to the Rhode Island Convention Center, this afternoon through Sunday, April 3rd, with some exciting new features! It’s Rhode Island’s longest running show with over 400 exhibitors, a Fine Arts Showcase, how- to- seminars, children’s entertainment, cooking demonstrations, sampling and endless opportunities to win valuable prizes!

In addition to useful information on home building and remodeling trends, this year’s show promises attendees an unbelievable value for the price of admission! For 10 dollars you can learn from the pro’s, check out what’s new, sample wine, beer and other libations, taste award winning dishes, enjoy fine art, learn how to save money, enjoy children’s entertainment and take advantage of thousands of dollars in discounts, savings and give-a-ways!

New-The Fine Arts Showcase will feature over 80 artisans, representing galleries from New York and New England. Daily demonstrations will allow attendees the opportunity to see how these works of art are created! Fine art, pottery, glassware and more will be displayed and available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will go to RIBA’s Builders Helping Heroes charity. At the end of the show, 14 pieces of fine art will be given away.

This year’s seminar line-up includes the popular How to Hire a Contractor, New Kitchen and Bathroom Trends and “The Coupon Queen” Kathy Spencer. Kathy, who has been featured on Good Morning America, Inside Edition and the Food Network will offer her popular, nationally known “How to Shop for Free” seminars on Saturday and Sunday. This mother of four amazingly, feeds her family and shops for everything virtually free and you will too after attending this seminar!

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The popular Rejuvenation Room returns to the Home Show Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6-9pm. Attendees can relax with free chair massages from Back in Balance and Therapeutic Impressions LLC while sampling fine wines from the vineyards of the Jonathan Edwards Winery, Rhode Island’s own Newport Storm Beer, Cabot Cheese, delectable chocolate treats from Sweet Occasions and more!!

The award winning chefs from Newport Restaurant Week return to the Home Show demonstration kitchen. Cooking demonstrations and recipe sampling from the kitchens of Newport and Bristol County Restaurants will take place Thursday and Friday evening from 6-8, Saturday from Noon-6pm and Sunday from 11am-3:30pm. At the end of the show, the Frigidaire Gallery edition dishwasher, refrigerator and range from the demonstration kitchen will be given away to one lucky attendee! The appliances have been donated by Gil’s Television and Appliance, J&A Appliance and Home Theater Center and S & W TV and Appliance.

Also featured throughout the Home Show will be the Designer Dog House Competition, with entries built by area career and technical school students. Visitors will be able to vote on their favorite entry for the People’s Choice Award, and prizes will be awarded in several categories. The schools competing are Warwick Area Career & Technical Center, Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center, Wm. M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School, Chariho Area Career & Technical Center and Burrillville High School. Winners will be judged by a panel of judges comprised of residential building industry professionals.

The categories include: Most Green, Most Creative, Most Functional and Best in Show. Winning teams will receive a $250 gift card from one of these generous RIBA members: Douglas Lumber Home Center, JT’s/Riverhead Building Supply, Arnold Lumber Co., Inc., Coventry Lumber, Inc., L. Sweet Lumber Co., Inc.
There will be plenty of events for kids, including performances by Kaleidoscope Theatre, balloon animal artist Lon Cerel, a visit with Paws the Pawtucket Red Sox Mascot and a craft area located in the Fine Arts Showcase.

Kaleidoscope Theater brings your favorite fairy tale characters to life in a wonderful interactive performance, “Happily Ever After Fairy Tale Hour”, filled with songs, fables, fantasy, and fun. Parents, bring your cameras! These charming costumed characters will be roaming the show floor to meet and greet children of all ages!

Balloon artist, Lon Cerel, will entertain and amaze with his animal creations on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. Lon Cerel is a keen combination of performer, comedian, and magician – the total entertainer. He has been working audiences with skill, wit, and a love of his craft for more than 18 years.
Lon Cerel, the “world’s fastest balloon animal maker,” has written a how-to for all of us who wish we could make poodles, elephants, and such out of balloons the way Lon and some of his fellow artists do. Lon Cerel’s How To Blow Up Animals: A Beginner’s Guide to Fun with Balloons will be on sale at the show with partial proceeds going to Builders Helping Heroes.

The Art Project area, provided by VOILA, will offer free classes for both Children and Adults during the show. Henri Matisse inspired Construction Paper Cut-out Designs Class will be created as children and adults are introduced to Henri Matisse with a brief biography, and shown examples of his most famous “paintings”. They will be able to design and create their own Matisse inspired collages.

The second class is Georgia O’Keefe inspired Watercolor Pencil Paintings – children and adults will be introduced to Georgia O’Keefe with a brief biography, and shown examples of her famous flower paintings. They will be taught how to use watercolor pencils and can create their own Georgia O’Keefe inspired work of art.

Ticket Prices
Adults – $10
Seniors – $8 (65 and older)
Children – 13 and under are free
Prices subject to change.
Show Hours: March 31 – April 3, 2011
Thursday – 2:00pm to 9:00pm
Friday – 2:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday – 10:00am to 9:00pm
Sunday – 10:00am to 6:00pm

Box office closes one hour prior to show closing each day.

Thursday is AAA Day
“Show Your Card & Save” $4 on Full-price Adult
Admission, valid for March 31st only.

Additional AAA Discounts Friday through Sunday
“Show Your Card & Save” $2 on Full-price Adult Admission, valid for April 1st, 2nd & 3rd.

Newspaper Discounts
Watch the paper for a “post-it” coupon to save $2 on Full-price Adult Admission, valid for March 31st & April 1st only.

Parking Discount – Thursday & Friday
Save $2 on Convention Center garage parking on March 31st & April 1st, by BRINGING YOUR PARKING TICKET to the Rhode Island Builders Association’s booth, #900.

Seminar Schedule
Saturday April 2nd and Sunday April 3rd

11am- 12:30pm 3-4:30pm
How to Shop for Free with Kathy Spencer

For Kathy Spencer, clipping coupons is more than just a money saver — it’s a money maker. The Massachusetts mom of four founded an online community called How to Shop for Free, in which she helps more than 15,000 members make the most of their money. The members post links to online savings, swap tips and tricks, and share information about sales in their areas as well as some really inspirational stories about great savings deals, but Kathy really takes the cake. She is able to stockpile amazing amounts of household goods and groceries without spending a dime out of her own pocket. After this seminar you will be able to too! Special surprises and give-a-ways make this a must see event! Come early for a good seat!

1:00pm
HOW TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR

Whether you’re building or remodeling, there are good resources to identify contractors in your area. Find out how to interview prospects, verify a contractor’s background, check references, and narrow the field by recognizing warning signs. Learn what details should be contained in your written contract. Doing background work is the key to a successful project! This informative seminar is hosted by Felix Carlone – Chairman of the RI Contractors’ Registration & Licensing Board.

2pm
Kitchen and Bath Design Trends for 2011

Two of the most renovated areas of the home are kitchens and baths. Both require a great deal of planning as kitchens and baths should reflect your lifestyle and address your needs. Additionally, a well constructed and designed kitchen or bath adds significantly to the overall value of your home.

But kitchen and bath renovations can be daunting tasks. How do you start? What should you consider when choosing cabinetry, appliances, fixtures, hardware? Prudence Stoddard, Kitchen and Bath Designer with R.I. Kitchen & Bath presents a fun and informative session, examining the latest trends in both kitchen and bath design and options available for every component from floors to backsplashes to cabinetry and more.
Prudence Stoddard is a certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) at Rhode Island Kitchen & Bath and is also a course instructor in kitchen and bath design at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Newport Restaurant Week Demo Schedule
Home Show March 31-April 3, 2011

Thursday March 31 6pm-8pm

6-7pm: Samuel Adams 101: Samuel Adams expert Erin O’Connor will give a brief history of the famous brew, and provide a taste of some of the “new brews” for the season. Sam Adams is the official beer of Newport Restaurant Week

7-8pm: Back for a second year in a row, the ever popular, as in Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine magazine Chef Sai Viswanath of DeWolf Tavern in Bristol creates his fabulous “Seafood Stew” one of his Newport Restaurant Week masterpieces before your very eyes.

Friday April 1 6pm-8pm

6-8pm: Chef Kevin Gaudreau from the Pier Restaurant in downtown Newport returns again to the culinary stage to create the ever popular “Shrimp & Grits” a Newport Restaurant Week menu item right before you.

Saturday April 2 Noon-6pm

12-1pm: Known as one of the hottest chefs on the scene, Chef Kevin Thiele of One Bellevue Restaurant at the Historic Hotel Viking, prepares his award winning” One Bellevue Clam Chowder”

1pm-2pm: Watch and learn from the best, as The Cocktail Guru, Jonathan Pogash creates a signature cocktail “Spring Into Cork” with sponsored spirits Jameson’s Irish Whiskey

4pm-5pm: Enjoy your favorite Cheese Cabot, made from with milk from area Rhode Island farmers, and learn how to properly pair this delicious cheese with your favorite Samuel Adams beers. Educate your palate on the finer points of cheese and beer partnering!

5-6pm: Back by popular demand, Chef Eric Steinhauer from Fathoms Restaurant at the Newport Marriott will tickle your taste buds with his creation of an Irish Stew

Sunday April 3 11-3:30 pm
11-12: Once again Chef Steve Renshaw of 15 Point Road Restaurant in scenic Portsmouth unleashes his culinary powers and creates his award winning “Seafood Hash” for you to sample.

12-2pm: Meet the Jameson “promotional team” and sample some of the product.

12 -12:30pm: Watch and learn from the best, as The Cocktail Guru, Jonathan Pogash creates a signature cocktail “Spring Into Cork” with sponsored spirits Jameson’s Irish Whiskey.

12:30-1:pm: Learn how to make and sample the award winning “Best Jameson’s Cocktail in Rhode Island, ”The Spring Fever”, prepared by bartenders Becky and Jessa of the Hot Club in Providence.

1 -2pm: Back by popular demand, Chef Albert and wife Sarah from Bouchard Restaurant in Newport will create “poulet farci” Stuffed poached chicken breast a delectable culinary creation.

2-3:30pm: New to the Culinary stage is Chef John Giardino from Spark, an upbeat modern restaurant on Newport’s “colorful” historic Broadway area, featuring creative, global cuisine will create “Ginger and coriander noodle bowl with seared scallop and cilantro coconut lime broth with crispy carrot”.