There is a stretch of soft, pretty sand in southern RI that is frequently overlooked by Rhode Islanders. They say a prophet is never recognized in his/her own country. This strip of sand is similarly peculiar, in that its relaxed beauty and casual attractions lure sun-and-sand lovers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and beyond in droves, while drawing relatively scant RI beach traffic.
That town is Misquamicut. It’s the kind of get-away-from-it-all beach town that reminds you of summer coming-of-age movies of yore. The sand is clean, the water clear and the amusements plentiful. And everything has either recovered from hurricane Sandy, or been rebuilt in the wake of her devastation, which was extensive just a few years ago.
So if you’re looking for an alternative to the N-town beaches — Newport and Narragansett – here’s some of what you’ll find at the M-beach this summer.
Amusement park rides, bumper carts, a Ferris wheel and water slides are a constant all season, with a number of establishments along the strip offering rides. For the competitive types, there are also carnival games and the legendary hermit crab races, which pit determined crabs shell to shell to see if they can figure out which direction to head in. These free hermit crab races happen at the Purple Ape, 17 Winnapaug Rd., every Wednesday in July and August at 7pm. Yes, you can bring your own crab!
Fun Run
Want to race yourself instead of your crab? The weekly Tom McCoy Family Fun Runs held on Misquamicut Beach every Wednesday evening until August 24 can help. According to Nick Batone, who ran the event until recently passing the baton to Jeff Walker, it’s one of the largest runs in New England. “We sometimes get 200 participants on a Wednesday night,” he said.
Registration starts at 5:30pm at the Pleasant View Inn and at 6pm, the race starts. Runners can take on the 1-mile run and work up to the 5K as the summer continues. Kids can challenge themselves with a run around the block, which is about a third of a mile. “That’s the beauty of the fun runs,” says Tom McCoy, the namesake of the fun runs. “People can do whatever they want to do. Everyone’s there to have a good time.” Walkers are encouraged to participate and baby strollers and leashed fur babies also are welcome.
Adult runners for whom a FitBit is more than just a fashion statement can record their times for posting on the Westerly Track Club website. The club says it’s to measure your own improvement throughout the season. The top three male and female runners in the children’s run and 5K have their names and times posted on the website weekly and sent to The Westerly Sun. For kids, there are also prizes like engraved trophies and, sometimes, ice cream.
The Tom McCoy Family Fun Runs, every Wednesday from June 8 – August 24, start at the Pleasant View Inn (65 Atlantic Ave) at 5:30. westerlytrackclub.org
Magic Show
Magic by the Sea with Larry and David, held on Thursday nights at the Windjammer and sponsored by the Misquamicut Business Association, is an hour-long show of music, magic and humor — “Attempted humor,” quips Larry — and it appeals to audiences of all ages.
Larry Stangel and David Hill are professional magicians marking their sixth year performing together at Magic by the Sea. They baffle audiences with disappearing tricks, rope tricks, card tricks and illusions. “We usually call a few kids up on stage and cut them in half with a ribbon,” says Stangel. “Then we call an adult woman up on stage to be cut in half. Some guys come to the show just to see us cut their wife in half,” laughs Stangel.
Stangel says his partnership with Hill is a fruitful one. “He’s a lot younger than me, so he brings a different sensibility to the show. Trends change in magic, like in anything else, and he brings a very organic element to our performance.” Stangel hoped he’d be Hill’s mentor and raise him in the craft of magic. “It might have started out that way,” he says. “But he teaches me now.”
Stangel and Hill put on a new show every year and Stangel isn’t telling anyone what he’s hiding under his hat for 2016. He does reassure fans that the classic tricks aren’t going anywhere. “Sometimes there’s a moment of stunned silence before the applause when we do [certain tricks perfectly],” said Stangel. “I love it when that happens because it means we really got them.”
Magic by the Sea is at the Windjammer on Thursdays at 7pm. rimagicbythesea.com.
Cruise Night
Misquamicut Beach Cruise Night will once again arrive weekly at the Atlantic Beach Park. Whether you’re a casual observer or a true classic car motorhead, the free Cruise Night at the Atlantic Beach Park becomes the place to be every Thursday night from 5pm till dusk through the end of September. This marks the 15th year for the show overall, and 2016 promises plenty of thunder on the highway.
“The crowd on Thursday nights is a good mix of old timers coming up from the beach with their ice cream, kids on vacation, families and local guys who come up to spend summers in Misquamicut,” says John Hodis, President of the Misquamicut Classic Car Club. “There are about 50 of us who have a real bond, and these Thursday nights are like family reunions.” Adding to this laid-back atmosphere are a couple of snack bars that serve soda, ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers and it all goes down to a classic rock soundtrack broadcast by Mike English and The Wolf at 102.3FM.
“Every week, we do something a little bit different,” says Hodis. “We do a Letterman-style Top 10 List one night and another night we play Let’s Make a Deal.” And everyone gets excited for the 1920 Rolls Royce that shows up a few times a year.
“We also offer free passes for people who bring their cars to the Misquamicut Drive-In across the street,” says Hodis. The drive-in movie usually starts shortly after the Cruise Night winds down. There’s genuine excitement in Hodis’ voice when he says, “This is the only place in Rhode Island where you can see a couple of hot rods parked in a drive-in where Grease is playing — it’s real life mimicking what’s on the screen.”
Every Thursday, 5pm, jbigjohnh.wix.com/cruise.
Drive-In
Speaking of that drive-in, the Misquamicut Business Association (MBA) is bringing that classic summer treat back to the beach for the sixth year in a row, with a fun line-up of classic films.
The Misquamicut Drive-in has a cozy, backyard-party feel to it. “You might see the same people there every week, or during the second week of August, you might find that person who’s always there the second week of August on an annual vacation,” says MBA Executive Director Caswell Cooke. Adding to the cozy atmosphere is an old-fashioned popcorn machine and Coke served from those little glass bottles. The whole thing is also very DIY. “We have a couple of cargo containers stacked on top of each other with a screen attached,” says Cooke. “We project the movies onto it from the back of a Jeep, using two DVD players. There’s nothing worse than a scratch when you have a parking lot full of people, so I always have a back-up!” he jokes.
The season runs through October with films every Friday night in the parking lot of the Misquamicut Tourist Center at 316 Atlantic Avenue. The 4th of July weekend marks prime drive-in season with a traditional screening of Jaws. “It’s my favorite,” says Cooke. “July is when summer really begins. Everything kicks into high gear.” In July and August, films are shown on Thursdays as well as Fridays.
Films begin at 9pm (8pm in September and October) and eager movie-goers are encouraged to arrive early for a prime spot in the 100-car lot. After you’ve picked your spot you can enjoy a reel of ads for local events and businesses (including Motif, full disclosure) with the occasional retro TV commercial thrown in that harkens back to the days of a drive-in that Sandy and Danny would recognize. “It’s funny to see how different things were back then,” says Cooke. “People actually dressed up to go to the movies!”
316 Atlantic Avenue, Wuskeanu Town Beach pond side. Admission is $10 per car. Hot dogs, popcorn, candy, water, soft drinks and restrooms are available. misquamicut.org
Tunes in the Dunes
Feel the rhythm in your feet and the sand between your toes. Every Monday and Wednesday night from July 6 through August 22, pack a picnic, grab a blanket or beach chair, and make your way to the old Westerly Town Beach for Tunes on the Dunes, where you can dance the night away.
Tunes on the Dunes is really two separate concert series — Monday Night Jams, which has a heavy rock and roll vibe, and Blues on the Beach, which will let you set your soul free on Wednesday nights. This year, the roster of performers includes Commander Cody, who formed Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen in the late ‘60s and has continued a solo career, and the talented Jeff Slate playing the tunes of Tom Petty.
“I’m excited for the B. Willie Smith Band,” said Nick Castagna, founder of Blues on the Beach, about the band that kicks off the Wednesday night series this year. “I was a fan of them when I was in my 20s, and they only play one week out of the year now — you can’t really see them anymore! That band is just filled with energy.”
When Castagna started Blues on the Beach, he said he expected it to draw a crowd that was about 30 to 60 years old. “But,” he said, “we get a crowd of 8 months to 80! My favorite thing about Tunes on the Dunes is seeing the variety of people in the audience. There are a few things that really can bring people together, and one of them is music.”
Concerts take place from 6pm to 8pm on the “old” Westerly Town Beach, rain or shine. Admission is free. tunesonthedunesri.com.
These activities are just a sample of what goes on during the Summer in Misquamicut – so take advantage of all the tourist-pleasing amenities and activities the next time you plan your RI summer staycation. More at misquamicut.org.