If you’re down in the Southern part of the state this weekend, you might want to head over to the Newport International Boat Show. This annual event features new sailboats and powerboats, and thousands of products and services from both domestic and international exhibitors. This show is the biggest selection of boats and boating products in the Northeast and will cover over 13 acres along America’s Cup Avenue in Newport.

Sail for Pride is the show’s official Charitable Partner this year. Founded in 2001 in response to the horrific attack on 9/11, the group has since raised money for victims and their families plus over a dozen charities.

In addition to the boats, you can go to topical lectures on subjects like Cost Control While you Cruise. And if you’re looking for something to do in the evening, you might want to hit the Latitudes & Attitudes Cruisers Party, which provides the perfect way to meet others with your same passion for boating.

More information can be obtained at the Newport International Boat Show website.

This got us thinking. Time works differently in Rhode Island. Instead of living by that clock thing hanging on the wall, nostalgia seems to be the dominant rhythm of life here. While new construction may change the terrain, the Rhode Island conscious is embedded in the past. Just ask a true Rhode Islander for directions. Instead of street names, they will most likely be given by landmark. And usually this landmark will be outdated, like where the old I-195 used to be. With this trait in mind, we’ve created a list of some famous Rhode Island Used-To-Be’s that are important to our culture.

If you live in the Ocean State and are over the age of 20, there’s a really good chance you have some childhood memory of Rocky Point Amusement Park. This Warwick Park, established in 1847, grew quickly in popularity, and from the 1850’s through the 1980’s it was the most popular attraction in New England. Tom Flanagan remembers spending Saturdays there, full of laughter and cotton candy. The park closed in 1995 and was demolished in 2007. The town of Warwick is currently looking to make the land into a public park.

Much like Rocky Point, Crescent Park in East Providence (named for the crescent shape of the Riverside beach) was renowned in its time. Founded in 1886 by George Boyden, the venue was known as the “Coney Island of the East”, with hot air balloons and extravagant carousels providing the Park’s main attractions. Tom Flanagan also remembers the delicious candy apples he enjoyed here (there is a theme here with Tom about amusement venues). The park closed in 1979, and the surrounding area was developed. The only remnant of these sweet roots is the Crescent Park Carousel, which remains open to this day.

Today, The Towers set the backdrop to the Narragansett social scene, but they once provided entrance to the Narragansett Pier Casino, another source of turn-of-the-century entertainment. The Casino was completed in 1886 and provided a refuge for the areas social elite, offering a variety of recreational opportunities, such as boating, tennis, billiards, bowling, cards, and shooting. The venue also had restaurants, stores, reading rooms, a theater, a bandstand, a ballroom, and a beautiful beach. While Residential Properties Ltd. has been around for a long time (this year is our 30th anniversery!), none of us were there to enjoy the pleasures of The Casino, since the building burned down in 1900. However, locals like Anita Langer cherish The Towers for uniting a community with their granite walls.

Our final used to be is much less romantic, but is a part of Rhode Island history none-the-less. In the 1980s, Providence was included in the Guinness Book of World Record for holding the distinction of World’s Widest Bridge. Known as the Crawford Street Bridge at 1,147 feet, the structure grew when several normal sized bridges were covered with decking and turned into a parking lot. Oh yeah, this monstrosity was located across the Providence River. Ed Hardy remembers thinking this bridge was gross in his youth. This monstrosity has since been dismantled; the river has been moved; Waterfire caldrons line the center of where the bridge was; and the whole transformation turned the area into an asthetically pleasing area. While this demolition was integral in developing our Capital Center, we just couldn’t let you erase this Used-To-Be from your memory. So, remember, you can get to the downtown area from the East Side by crossing over the river where the world’s widest bridge was.

Admittedly, we’ve left out numerous landmarks that could be used for directions, so you can expect another Used-To-Be compilation in the near future.

Originally started as a family event, the show has grown to over 6,000 dealers, who represent the best of the New England Community. But size isn’t the only thing that makes this show stand out. In line with its more humble beginnings, the event provides a highly personalized experience, which we think, makes for much more rewarding antiquing.

While Brimfield is located over an hour outside of Providence, we think it’s definitely worth the trip. You might just stumble across that perfect find for your home. More information can be obtained at the Brimfield Antiques Show website.

Sailors and lovers of the nautical lifestyle will be pleased to learn that it’s currently Bacardi Sailing Week. This is the first time the event has been held in Newport, and each day until the 26th, visitors can flock to Fort Adams State Park to watch sailors from across the world compete in exciting races. The park is beautiful as well, so even just going to see the scenery would be worthwhile.

If you’re going to be in the area but aren’t that into sailing, you may enjoy going to see the Newport Summer Comedy Series at the Newport Yachting Center. The featured performer will be Aziz Ansari, from the hit comedy Parks and Recreation on NBC. His show will start at 7:30 on Friday, the 24th and looks like a good opportunity to start the summer off with a laugh.

Gardeners and lovers of beautiful homes will love America’s premier summer flower show, The Newport Flower Show, which will be open Friday-Sunday. This beloved Newport staple for the past sixteen years will be held in the beautiful gardens of Rosecliff mansion on Bellevue Ave. Even more, proceeds from the event are going to support a good cause, the Newport Preservation Society, the organization that makes mansion tours possible for thousand of Rhode Islanders each year.

Perhaps the most attractive characteristic of Newport is its ability to appeal to a variety of lifestyles and interests, and we can see this in the variety of events that will be there this weekend. So if you have the opportunity to get on the island, check out some of the above opportunities.

Travel + Leisure assessed the following categories: Best Time to Visit, Culture, Food/Dining, Hotels, Local Specialties, Nightlife, People, Shopping, Type of Trip, Quality of Life and Visitor Experience. The only category we lost overall was the Culture section, due to fewer classical music venues, historical sites/monuments and museums/galleries.  What this Culture loss doesn’t show, however, is that Providence was rated #2 in the entire country for the Theater/Performance Art sub-category, 2nd only to New York City. With exceptional professional and amateur theater venues and a thriving community of performance artists, this designation may not come as a surprise.

Our Capital City also earned high marks in the other categories. Although Providence beat Boston in the “Best Times to Visit” category for all seasons, we scored #3 overall as a Fall travel destination. Not only does Providence possess the characteristically beautiful New England foliage, but the city also has many unique spots for viewing. Whether looking down at the statehouse from Prospect Park or admiring the colorful view from India Point, there’s no doubt that the season brings spectacular sights to the area.

Even more, Providence beat Boston in every single Food/Dining subcategory and placed #3 overall at a National level. Our high ranking for  Ethnic Food and Neighborhood Joints and Cafes contributed to this score. Anyone who lives in, or has visited the area should have no trouble understanding this one. For its size and population, Providence has a wide variety of dining options, offering virtually any type of food you desire. Meanwhile, the multitude of high quality neighborhood joints and cafes are a constant favorite for anyone who has worked or studied in the area.

The remarkable part of this study is that it confirms the feelings of Providence residents. That is, we believe the city is the best kept secret of the northeast and has long been overshadowed by our neighbor to the North.

To start off, how would you like to be treated like the stars?  The Rhode Island International Film Festival is the only officially sanctioned host for an Academy Awards party. It is being held at the VMA on March 7 starting at 6:30pm – complete with the red carpet treatment. The cost is $55 per person, and the proceeds of this “dress to impress” event benefit the RIIFF.

If you are not into the movies, how about live theater? Perishable Theater is having a fundraiser which features internationally-acclaimed mandolinist & bandolimist Marilynn Mair performing choro, samba, bossa nova and some of Marilynn’s original Rio-inspired compositions. This is also on the 7th but starts at 5:00pm and costs $25 per person.

For more detailed information, go to the Providence Arts, Culture and Tourism site.