April is without a doubt “right around the corner.” Intervals of warm weather and heavy rain let us know that spring has arrived. With this in mind, there are many ways to spruce up the exterior of the home for curb appeal, whether or not you’re selling your home. Here are five great ways to get your house ready for spring:

Clean up the yard – you may have winter toys, decorations, lights, or snowplowing machines that can now find a home for the warmer months.

Weed and plant – Weeding can be done now that the ground has thawed. Remember to weed any flowerbeds and walkways as well as clearing out any window baskets. Stopping by a local garden center or nursery will help you determine what is in season for early planting and preparation.

Trim bushes, hedges and trees – Freshening up the edges of bushes and hedges will help the growth of the plant and make it easier to trim in a few more weeks. Broken branches from trees can be dangerous; getting them out of the way earlier in the season will make life easier when you’re trying to enjoy the outdoors.

Clean out the garage – You’ll probably have some idea of what you will be using for the spring and summer. Clean out the garage, get rid of anything that has accumulated in the garage over the winter – it happens to the best of us.

Prepare outdoor appliances – Make sure weed-whackers, lawn mowers, power washers, grills, pool machinery, or any outdoor equipment is clean, rust free, and ready to use.

Today is it – the last day of winter. And mother nature really made it seem like spring has already arrived. We sent our intrepid photographer out to capture what this day is all about.

If you are still reeling from your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, take heart that it kicks off the start of the new season. Many of the winter activities are ending, such as Ice Skating at Bank of American City Center, which ends March 20. The opportunities to get out in Providence and have some fun are just starting to fill the events calendars. This Saturday is the first official day of Spring, but the weather implies it’s beginning much earlier in the week.

I discovered on RIMonthly.com‘s Social Datebook that Saturday will be Providence’s official St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  This very green parade will start at noon and will proceed east down Smith St. towards the Statehouse. They won’t tell us where it starts, but I think Patrick’s Pub has something to do with it. There will be many post parade celebrations all over town. The St. Pat’s 5k race is on the same route, so get out and encourage those energetic souls.

However, before that comes the return of Gallery Night, on Thursday, March 18, 2010. There will be a kick off party starting at 5pm at One Regency Plaza, celebrating the 14th season! Look forward to sample refreshments from local restaurants including United BBQ, Seven Stars, and Nancy’s Fancies, along with entertainment provided by Big Nazo. A Celebrity Guided Tour starts at 5:30pm with Karen Adams, an award winning anchor from Eyewitness News.

New this year at Gallery Night, you can hop on one of five art buses at Regency and visit Historic/Traditional Galleries, University East or West/Educational Galleries, International/Contemporary Galleries, Contemporary/Emerging Galleries, or Artisan Shops. The buses will depart from One Regency Plaza at 5:30pm, 6:00pm, 6:30pm, and 7:00pm. This is a great way to see the city and experience some of the talent from Rhode Island. Gallery Night will operate on March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, and November 18 of this year.

Go spend some time outdoors in a city that thrives on the arts.

Barrington, Warren and Bristol comprise the top half of the East Bay and over there are a variety of restaurants offering cuisines that will please anyone. After consulting with our local agents, we developed a list to be checked out whether you live in the area or just passing through.

Going out in Barrington? Check out these great restaurants:

Chiazza Trattoria offers an upscale dining experience with traditional Italian cuisine.
Tyler Point Grille is family run and offers a contemporary Italian/Seafood menu. Have a large group? They also accommodate events and functions.
Billy’s was recognized by RI Monthly Magazine for being the “Best New Neighborhood Restaurant”. It is an American Bistro/Tavern and has just opened in April 2009. Recommended as a great spot in East Bay to drink and dine.

Next stop, take a short ride over to Warren, RI and spend some time trying some different cuisines. These great spots offer completely different experiences which make them restaurants you can’t miss!

Stella Blues Restaurant & Pub is a popular upscale pub and offers live entertainment in the evening. Stella Blues allows for casual meals or having fun on the “big night out”.
The Sunnyside is located on Water St and offers breakfast, lunch or brunch. Don’t miss this adorable place to have an awesome meal to start your day. They offer anything you could image to eat for great breakfast.Wharf Tavern is best known for its views of the ocean. This is a great spot to eat outdoors, enjoy the weather and have a decent meal prepared by this family owned restaurant.

Adventuring down into Bristol for a couple more restaurants:

DeWolf Tavern is located in a historic renovated stone warehouse and offers traditional American cuisine. This upscale tavern located in the heart of Bristol is a great spot for special occasions.
Aidan’s Pub was recommended by a Residential Properties employee and is located at 5 John Street, Bristol, RI, 02809. A casual Irish pub great for the whole family!

Sometimes we get to branch out of the local area and see what is happening in the other towns and cities in the state. Pawtucket sounded like a pretty good place to visit and see what is going on. I read recently that Slater Mill was getting a retrofit to the turbine to start producing off grid electricity and heat for the building.

We missed the Press Conference on that, and though it seems that things are getting ready to open up, spring is still just around the corner and we’ll have to wait unitl then for some of the real excitement. As you will see in this video, Slater Park and McCoy Stadium are still there, but waiting for the people and players to arrive.