A Newport Summer - feat. Nick Mele

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Interview with Leslie Heaney – "A Newport Summer" Featuring Nick Mealy

Release Date: July 18, 2025

In the episode titled "A Newport Summer," host Leslie Heaney sits down with Nick Mealy, a lifelong Newport resident, acclaimed photographer, and co-author of the book A Newport Summer. This episode serves as the first part of a two-part series, focusing on Newport's hidden gems, favorite spots, and unique activities that make it an ideal summer destination. The conversation provides listeners with an insider's perspective on experiencing Newport beyond the typical tourist attractions.

Beaches and Scenic Walks

Nick kicks off the discussion by highlighting Newport's stunning coastal beauty and recommended beaches. A prominent feature is the Cliff Walk, a three-mile scenic trail that offers breathtaking views of the coastline. Starting at Easton's Beach (commonly known as First Beach), the walk continues towards what locals affectionately call Rejects Beach.

"It's probably my favorite public beach on the island. It's a little bit lesser known, and there's not a lot of parking around there, so you kind of have to park a bit farther down and walk to it."
— Nick Mealy [17:19]

Nick explains that Rejects Beach is an excellent spot for those looking to escape the typical tourist crowds, offering a more serene and secluded experience.

Additionally, Leslie mentions Second Beach in Middletown and Satchua's Point, enhancing the list of must-visit coastal spots. They also discuss Norman Bird Sanctuary and Sweet Berry Farm, which are perfect for nature lovers and families looking for engaging outdoor activities.

Cultural and Artistic Attractions

Newport's rich cultural scene is another focal point of the conversation. The Newport Art Museum is praised for its diverse exhibitions and community engagement. Nick shares his personal experience:

"I had a show there last summer, which was great. It was my first museum show, and it was amazing to showcase my work in my hometown."
— Nick Mealy [22:54]

Leslie also highlights the Redwood Library, one of the oldest libraries in the United States, known for its historical significance and rotating art exhibitions. This institution adds to Newport's charm, offering both educational and cultural enrichment to visitors.

Furthermore, the Newport Film Festival is discussed as a unique event where documentary films are screened on the lawns of Newport's grand mansions. This fusion of art and architecture provides a distinctive cinematic experience under the stars.

"You wouldn't otherwise be lying on that lawn like at the breakers at night getting to watch an incredible documentary or movie."
— Leslie Heaney [22:47]

Events and Festivals

August in Newport is bustling with activities, and Nick provides an overview of the key events:

1. Newport Folk Festival

   • A historic festival known for its acoustic performances and legendary artists. Nick recalls Bob Dylan's iconic electric performance:

     "The big focus of the Bob Dylan movie was how he played electric at the festival, which was considered sacrilege at the time."
     — Nick Mealy [25:02]

2. Newport Jazz Festival

   • A staple for jazz enthusiasts, featuring renowned jazz musicians and vibrant performances.

3. Coaching Weekend

   • Occurs once every three years, celebrating Newport's heritage with horse-drawn carriages touring the town. Nick describes the event:

     "It's this weekend where old great stage coaches tour the town, stop at different mansions, and provide a glimpse into Newport's storied past."
     — Nick Mealy [27:50]

These events not only entertain but also deepen visitors' appreciation for Newport's cultural and historical landscape.

Dining and Local Cuisine

Food and dining are integral to the Newport experience, and both Leslie and Nick share their favorite spots:

• Mama Louisa's

  • An Italian family-run restaurant on Thames Street, celebrated for its authentic pastas and cozy atmosphere.

    "It's this tiny little place run by a real Italian family. You feel like you're eating in someone's house."
    — Leslie Heaney [14:27]

• Barino and Stone Acre Pantry

  • Popular spots offering diverse culinary delights, including standout Mexican cuisine at Pero Salado.

• Black Pearl

  • A cherished establishment where Nick met his wife, adding a personal touch to their dining experiences in Newport.

    "The Black Pearl is where I met my wife on the patio. It holds a special place in my heart."
    — Nick Mealy [13:03]

These eateries provide a range of dining options, from casual to upscale, ensuring that every palate is satisfied.

Additional Attractions

Beyond beaches and dining, Newport offers a variety of other attractions:

• Tennis Hall of Fame

  • A premier destination for tennis fans, featuring grass courts, exhibition matches, and annual inductions.

    "It's a great place to go any time of year to see exhibition matches with pro players."
    — Nick Mealy [19:38]

• Audrain Car Museum

  • Showcasing a collection of vintage cars, this museum is a must-visit for automobile enthusiasts. Nick notes Jay Leno's involvement:

    "Jay Leno actually has a house in Newport, and he's a huge car enthusiast. You might see him at car events."
    — Nick Mealy [20:08]

• Sidecar Rentals

  • Leslie and Nick briefly touch upon unique modes of transportation around town, adding a fun and adventurous element to exploring Newport.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Leslie expressing gratitude to Nick for sharing his invaluable insights into Newport. She teases the upcoming second part of the series, which will delve into Nick Mealy's impressive career in more detail. This first part effectively paints a vibrant picture of Newport as a multifaceted summer destination, rich in natural beauty, cultural depth, and culinary excellence.

Listeners are left with a comprehensive understanding of Newport's offerings, inspiring them to explore the city through the discerning eyes of a local expert.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "It's probably my favorite public beach on the island." — Nick Mealy [17:19]
• "I had a show there last summer, which was great." — Nick Mealy [22:54]
• "You wouldn't otherwise be lying on that lawn... watching an incredible documentary." — Leslie Heaney [22:47]
• "The big focus of the Bob Dylan movie was how he played electric at the festival." — Nick Mealy [25:02]
• "It's this tiny little place run by a real Italian family." — Leslie Heaney [14:27]
• "The Black Pearl is where I met my wife on the patio." — Nick Mealy [13:03]
• "It's a great place to go any time of year to see exhibition matches with pro players." — Nick Mealy [19:38]
• "Jay Leno actually has a house in Newport." — Nick Mealy [20:08]

This structured and detailed summary captures the essence of the episode, providing listeners with valuable information and enticing quotes that highlight Newport's allure.

Transcript

[Leslie Heaney]

Hey everybody, this is Leslie and you're listening to interview with Leslie Heaney. We are finishing off this week with a conversation with the great Nick Mealy. Nick is a photographer and co author of the acclaimed book A Newport Summer. He also happens to be a lifelong Newport resident. And being someone who spends their summer in Newport myself, I absolutely love comparing notes with Nick about all of our favorite secret spots. We actually even got our phones out to figure out how you all could get there using using Google Maps or an Uber. But we talk about our favorite walks, beaches to visit, restaurants, places for cocktails, stores, all the fantastic activities you can do in Newport. From visiting the Gilded Age mansions, which might be a more sort of obvious one, to having coffee on the lawns of those mansions on Sundays with classic cars. We talked about Coaching Weekend, which is an incredible event that happens in Newport every three years and is not to be missed. And we talked about the International Tennis hall of Fame, all the great things that are happening there and great fun, different things you can do like kayaking in the harbor as a cheat to be able to listen to the music from the Newport Folk Festival. So Nick and I talked for so long about his amazing career before we got to talk about Newport and all of our favorite spots that I decided to release this in two parts. So today you're going to hear Nick sharing all of his inside scoop on Newport. And then later in the summer I can't wait to release my conversation with Nick about his work and career. But in the meantime, here's Nick giving us all of this inside scoop on one of our all time favorite summer towns, Newport. I'm so excited about this week's sponsor, the 10 Mile Distillery. 10 Mile is an American south single malt distillery based in the Hudson Valley about 90 miles north of New York. And it is the maker of the award winning Little Rest Whiskey made through a slow distillation process with all New York State grains by master distiller Shane Fraser from Scotland. And when I say award winning, I mean it's earned a 95 out at the whiskey competition in San Francisco and a 96 at the New York International Spirits Competition. This is delicious. If you do not believe me about how delicious this is, the good news for you is that if you're in the New York area, you can go visit this incredible and beautiful distillery yourself. It's set among the most beautiful apple orchard with beautiful views of the mountains behind. Stop by for a leisurely tour or tasting or even enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail. They also have gin and vodka available. They also have this incredibly delicious Thai restaurant that is in residence there from Thursday through Sunday. To learn more about the distillery, you can visit them@tenmile distillery.com theinterview. All orders will receive 10% off if you put in promo code the interview at checkout. So go to www.tenmiledistillery.com theinterview to get that discount, that 10% off. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. Nick, I'm very happy to see you, so thrilled that you're up there in Newport and I can't wait to talk to you about all of your favorite things and places about summer in Newport. And I should mention for those of you who don't know you, that you're a lifelong Newport resident and also a wildly successful photographer. Sort of the slim errands of our time before we get into the kind of the Newport piece. Because, you know, this is sort of part of this, as I mentioned, kind of this summer summer series I'm doing for getting kind of behind the scenes of people that are in the know in these different towns because I actually got a text from a friend saying where should I stay in Newport? Or you know, I'm going to Millbrook, what should I do? And I thought, gosh, I should just roll this into the podcast and get people who actually really know what's going on to talk about it. So really grateful to you for joining the podcast.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, happy to be here. This is, it's not my first podcast, but it's definitely my first video podcast. So I had to make sure I had the lighting right in the background and you know, I had my wife had to approve my wardrobe, etc.

[Leslie Heaney]

I was going to say you're looking good. You're looking really good.

[Nick Mealy]

Oh, thank you.

[Leslie Heaney]

And your shirt actually like is the perfect. I don't know if your wife kind of like gave you some feedback there, but it looks great with the background. So she really, she art directed in a know in a really, really, a really great way. She's, she's on. So let's maybe we should like take it from the top in terms of like people listening that want to go visit Newport, see Newport. Where would you like if you're going to do like a three day, three day in Newport, like what would be your first stop of a place that you might want to stay if you're not, you know, staying with a friend or someone in the know, you're going.

[Nick Mealy]

Up the first choice? I would definitely recommend staying with a friend. Because if you know someone up here, they're going to be able to show you their Newport.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yes.

[Nick Mealy]

Which is great. I know some people are like, oh, I don't want to impose, but, you know, things like that. But Newport. Newport is definitely the type of place to stay with a friend.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah, yeah, you just brought that up. It just really. It struck me, I was just thinking that, like, there are so many parts of Newport like that. The sailing community, for example. Like, in and of itself, there are people that I know who go up to Newport and they spend their entire time on the water and they're in sailing races or they're with other sailors and they're experiencing Newport only in that way. Or people that are just going to see the mansions as tourists are going for the weekend, or they have a home there and they're playing tennis or they're doing whatever they're doing. There's so many different ways to experience it in different types of people that are in Newport. It's a pretty diverse community, I guess, is what I'm getting at.

[Nick Mealy]

Totally. And that's why, when I say my book, that it's my perspective of Newport because this is a huge sailing community and I don't sail.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah.

[Nick Mealy]

So there's maybe like three photos in my book of sailboats. You know, I have a picture of the Volvo Ocean race. You've interviewed Nick Dana earlier. I saw that. And, you know, there's like one picture of Polo. Like, I never go out to Polo. Like, so that's not my, My. My world. So the book and the things I capture are very much my world. But there are whole sections of Newport that. That someone else who comes to Newport could experience it completely differently than I do. And it is a huge tourist town. You know, there's a. I. I barely ever go into town because, you know, town is so focused on the tourist side of things.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah.

[Nick Mealy]

I kind of stick, you know, to the outskirts and to. To the beach and the club that I go to and my house and my friends and things like that. But there's a whole downtown that's.

[Leslie Heaney]

That.

[Nick Mealy]

That really is geared towards tourists and people coming just for the day, coming from the weekend, coming from New York, coming from Boston. You know, it's really accessible from Boston. It's about an hour and 15 minutes away. New York is about two and a half hours from. By train, maybe about three hours if you drive. Not during rush hour, not during traffic. People try and come up here from New York on a Friday, driving, and it's taken them six Hours, seven hours.

[Leslie Heaney]

It could be three or it could be. Yeah, it depends on when.

[Nick Mealy]

So. So it really depends on how you know when you're leaving and stuff, that it's a little bit less accessible than, than the Hamptons and things like that. So, you know, from New York. So that will deter, deter some people. But anyway, to get back to your question, if you're coming in and you're looking at where, where do you stay? It used to be for a while, there weren't very many options. It was either Viking Hotel, which is in serious need of a makeover, or it was bed and breakfast, small little bed and breakfast, which could be hit or miss. And in the last, you know, 10 years or so, 15 years or so, the options have gotten a lot better. One of my oldest friends in the world opened a hotel downtown called the Gardener. It's been open for about two years now, and it's fabulous. They really put a lot of thought into the lobby and the bar and the restaurant and living spaces. And it's right on the water downtown off of Fame Street. And it really, more than any other hotel, I would say, in town, gives you the vibe of old Newport, of, of kind of the Newport I was trying to. To showcase in, in my book. You know, the wallpaper in the lobby is all taken directly as a copy of the wallpaper from my friend's house growing up that was hand painted by his grandfather, Howard Gardner Cushing, who is this, you know, very famous painter at the turn of the century. And, and the bar, the bar feels more like somebody's living room where you can really. Yeah. My friend Howard, who owns the hotel, is the consummate host and is just so good at creating an atmosphere that really, really gives you an experience. And the restaurant, Flores, it has become kind of the, the place to be, the place to go out. The food is fabulous. It's overlooking the water, the bay.

[Leslie Heaney]

Oh, Narragansett Bay.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah. Is that right? Is it Narragansett Bay or. It's the. It's the harbor, basically. And so that's a great place to say. And then there's the, the Albers, the Vanderbilt. The Arbaars Group owns the Vanderbilt Grace in town, right in the center of town. And that used to be a house, a huge house. And it's been turned into this fabulous hotel. It's really, I think, top notch and it's an experience and it has a really also has kind of a. A vibe. It's a little dark, but because it's managed by this big Hotel group that knows what they're doing. It just every, every detail is, is taken care of. And, and they have these amazing experiences. You can, you know, do whiskey tastings and they have vintage cars that you can rent and they have a rooftop bar that overlooks the whole city. So that, that's another great place to say. And then if you don't want to be in town, you can go to Castle Hill. Outside of town is probably one of the best views in, in Newport. And you can sit out there at sunset with your, with your drinks. I mean, I would recommend going there even if you're not staying there to just go and have dinner or. Sunset cocktail. You know, I was going to ask.

[Leslie Heaney]

What'S your other favorite cocktail spot?

[Nick Mealy]

I think, you know, growing up, everybody went to the Clark Cookhouse. That was kind of the place to go. It's right in the middle of town and it's, it's open. It's right on the harbor as well. And it's gigantic. There are four floors and each floor has a different vibe. The downstairs is called the Boom Boom Room and. Yeah, like a disco.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah.

[Nick Mealy]

Where you can kind of really go and dance. And then the main floor is the restaurant and then the top floor is called the Sky Bar. And you have to wear a jacket and tie to get in there. And there is a velvet rope. And it's very much, you know, everything you would expect out of that. But it's really is an experience. And they have a DJ up there and at the end of the night they play God Bless America to kind of wind everything down.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah. To usher everybody home.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah. And it really is one of those last few places where you have to get dressed up to, to go and everybody. It kind of harkens back to a bygone era of kind of Newport that.

[Leslie Heaney]

Is, I think, one of the great, the great restaurant spots. And it's. And it's Flores. Right. And the Gardener is also awesome. Any other restaurants that you like, you feel like, oh, and you, you talked about Castle Hill. Castle Hill. That also. They have a, that restaurant there. Right. That you can have dinner outside if you want to. You, you know, you're going to make a reservation. But this, the view is so.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, I mean that, that's a place you almost have to make a reservation two weeks in advance and yeah. Get on your computer at midnight to, you know, getting Swift tickets.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah.

[Nick Mealy]

You're like make it very difficult there. But you might also be able to show up and they, they have space. And then what about like Any.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah. Any other to think of. Barino is great. In Washington Square.

[Nick Mealy]

I love Barino. I love Stone Acre Pantry, which is right. Right there as well. There's a great Mexican spot right around the corner from Barino called Pero Salado. Yeah, it's got kind of a tree growing in the courtyard and. And the food is great. Kind of the staple of Newport that everyone has to go to is the Black Pearl.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah.

[Nick Mealy]

Which is right next to the cookhouse and is owned by a great friend of mine and is actually where I met my wife. I met my wife on the patio. The Black Pearl.

[Leslie Heaney]

Stop it.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, so it. So it holds a special.

[Leslie Heaney]

I was gonna say, do you guys have anniversary dinners there? I love that you. You met your favorite place. That's so awesome.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, no, it was very cool. She was actually on a blind date with my good friend who owns the. The Black Pearl now. And I met them for drinks afterwards and. And swooped in and stole her.

[Leslie Heaney]

That's a story for another. Another episode, Nick. The romances behind some of these things. Okay, so Barcino, Parasolado. And then there's also, like, if you want to do, like, diner dives, there's, like, Franklin Spa or. Oh, yes, Jack's Handy Lunch, like, for breakfast. Oh, mentioned Bell's, too, on the. In the shipyard, which is a really cool experience.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, Bell's is great. I haven't really been back there since it was bought out by the big corporation.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Nick Mealy]

Was great when it was owned by the Dana family and. And Isabella Dana kind of started it and ran it. It was fabulous. And, yeah, there's a ton of, like. Yeah, great kind of diners. Annie's is another one right up on. On Bellevue. Yeah, Lots of, like, dive diner, breakfast places a little bit out of the way. One of my favorite Italian restaurants anywhere is this place called Mama Louisa's.

[Leslie Heaney]

Oh, yeah, I know. I love Mama Luisa's.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, that's, like, way down on Thames street, and it's this tiny little place, and, you know, it's run by a real Italian family. They have great pastas and Dover Sol and things like that. And.

[Leslie Heaney]

And that's kind of right in a residential. Almost doesn't feel like there should be a restaurant there. And it kind of makes it feel like you're eating in someone's house. I mean, you are eating in someone's house. It's in a house. Yeah, but that. That's a really great option, too. I forgot about that one.

[Nick Mealy]

Every time I go to Newport, I have to get Mama Louise's at least once.

[Leslie Heaney]

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[Nick Mealy]

I mean it is very touristy but you have to do Cliff walk. Cliff walk is the 33 mile walk along the coast that goes basically starts at Easton's Beach, first beach where there's actually another great hotel called the Chandler and it's.

[Leslie Heaney]

Oh, that's a nice place for a drink to add to our cocktail spots. Right? Yeah, if you want to sort of have that view.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, that's right. Overlooking. That's on the other side of town. Right. Overlooking Easton's beach which everybody calls First Beach. They have a great burger there and, and the rooms are all different there kind of. Yeah, very cool place. And and so you start the cliff walk there. It's about three miles. It used to be really rocky terrain, but they fixed up a lot of it. And you don't have to walk the whole thing. You can get off in different places. And then it ends kind of on the other side of the island over by where I live, around what people call Rejects Beach. I don't know actually what the. What the technical name for it is, but it's called Rejects beach by the locals. And it's probably my favorite public beach on the island. It's a little bit lesser known, and there's not a lot of parking around there, so you kind of have to park a little bit farther down and walk to it. And it's a small little beach, but I think it's, you know, if you're trying to avoid kind of that straight tourist crowd, I think that's kind of the one to go to that.

[Leslie Heaney]

Definitely. That's a great. I forgot about that. I was thinking more of like second Beach, Middletown. But you're right. Like that little sliver there at Rejects, which I also don't know what the. What the actual name is, is such a good spot, you know, spot to go to. You've got a fun parking. Might be a challenge. You might want to Uber, but. But that's at the end of Bel. Like where Bellevue meets in the curve. And I don't know how you would tell an Uber driver where to go there, but it's kind of like where Bellevue goes.

[Nick Mealy]

Ocean Drive, kind of. If you type Rejects into Uber, it might actually even be.

[Leslie Heaney]

Okay, hold on. We're going to keep talking. I'm going to do that now and see if it comes up. When you put in reject speech, it comes up as Bailey's Beach.

[Nick Mealy]

Okay.

[Leslie Heaney]

So at least it's going to get you there for people that are listening, which is. So it's next to. It shares the beach piece with a beach club.

[Nick Mealy]

So.

[Leslie Heaney]

But you can access it from the. That's a secret, secret tip. You're hearing it right here live on the pod that it's. You can put in rejects and it will take you to this place called Bailey's Beach. But you just have to go into the public. The public side. Okay. Any other, like, activities or like. I know. I loved how you're describing the different months of the summer and how you kind of had laid your book out, you know, with that in mind. And August does have so many events. I think also, like the Tennis hall of Fame has a bunch of events during the Year. Right.

[Nick Mealy]

And yeah, the Tennis hall of Fame is great. Just, it's just a great place to go any time of year to see they have the grass courts and it's beautiful. And if you're into tennis at all, you know, it's it, it is the hall of Fame for tennis. Yeah. So it's a. Just a very cool place to, to check out. And then they do have the induction every summer. I'm not sure what time of year where they induct the, the new hall of Fame is. And they have, you know, kind of exhibition tennis matches.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah.

[Nick Mealy]

With a lot of pro players or former pro players and things like that. And that's.

[Leslie Heaney]

I, I think they're, I think Sharapova is the honoree this year. I think it's late July or early August. So they do get, they, they get sort of super well known tennis, professional tennis players that come in. Maybe they've sort of past their prime. Right. They're not active anymore, but as part of their induction they have these like exhibition matches there. And it's right next to the, the car museum too. I'm, I'm going to look it up.

[Nick Mealy]

The Audrain Car Museum, which is very cool. It's, you know, exactly what it sounds. It's a museum with all these vintage cars that you can go in and check out. And Jay Leno actually has a house in Newport and he's a huge car enthusiast. You can see him at a lot of these kind of car events. They have a lot, they have a. I don't know when it is, but they do cars with coffee on the lawn of a lot of these fabulous houses on Sundays.

[Leslie Heaney]

Oh, stop it.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah. And you can go and you know, get coffee and look at these vintage cars in the background of these fabulous houses. And you might see Jay Leno there.

[Leslie Heaney]

And I did not know about that. We all, I guess also should, in thinking about activities besides like touring the mansions, which is always, you know, an unbelievable thing to do because you can only really. That's a, that's truly Newport experience. Right. Having access to that many different mansions and the history behind them. And you can do so the trousers.

[Nick Mealy]

Like this in general, I mean, there's not very many places in the US where houses like this exist anymore that haven't been renovated or torn down or anything like that. So just to be able to see them period is kind of a uniquely Newport experience. But it's also cool to do activities on the grounds of these houses with these houses on the background. Another thing that they do during the summer is called Newport Film. And they show documentary films on the lawns of these houses right at sundown. And you go and you bring a picnic and they have. A lot of times they have food trucks and stuff like that, but you bring a picnic blanket and you go and you watch these documentary films on the lawns of these great Newport mansions. You can go on the Newport Film website and kind of look at their schedule and stuff like that.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah, I was just going to say that I was going to that. You know, to look at the website. You can get a rundown of what they're showing. But you're so right. That is such a great way to bring kind of art to some of those incredible spaces, because you wouldn't otherwise be lying on that lawn like at the breakers at night getting to watch an incredible documentary or movie.

[Nick Mealy]

You know, of course, if we're talking about art, there's the Newport Art Museum, which is a fabulous little museum here in Newport. They get.

[Leslie Heaney]

But you had an expedition. You had an exhibition there last summer.

[Nick Mealy]

I did. I had a show there last summer, which was great. It was amazing to. It was my first museum show. And it was great to do it in my hometown or what I now consider sitter, my hometown. And really to be able to showcase my stuff there. It's. It's really a great museum and they do a lot of fantastic exhibitions. I don't know what is on there this summer, but it's right in the middle of town and it's worth checking out. And right next door is the Redwood Library, which also a lot of times will have different exhibitions that are worth checking out.

[Leslie Heaney]

That. That too is the. I think Trudy Cox told me. I'll misquote. But it's either the oldest or one of the oldest libraries in the US So that from like a historical perspective, that's another great one to visit. And then you talked about Dar's Duke's house and the Camels. That is its own.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah. It's not part of the Newport Preservation. Preservation.

[Leslie Heaney]

It's its own animal. And you make reservations there, right? Separately.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah. So if you need reservations, I think you can probably just go and buy tickets. Yeah, it's its own thing. It's Newport Restoration foundation, which was Doris Dukes charitable thing to. To. To fix up the houses in town. You know, for people who don't know, Doris Duke was one of the richest women in the world at. When she was alive. You know, Duke University. I think the. The. The money comes from cigarettes. I think her Family was the first tobacco. Yeah, I think they were the first ones to create rolled cigarettes, like already rolled cigarettes.

[Leslie Heaney]

I mean, God bless them. That's what it's. I don't do it anymore, but it's one of my. It was one of my favorite pastimes. I know.

[Nick Mealy]

So she died about 25, 20, 25 years ago, and her house became a museum or, you know, tourable. And now they have great topiary camels on the property as a tribute to the real camels that were there when I was growing up.

[Leslie Heaney]

Oh, that's right. I forgot about that. That is a great, great detail to mention. And then. So you talked about August. August is like. There's so many events in August, Right? The Folk Festival is a huge one.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah, the Folk Festival is great. I mean, if you just watched the Bob Dylan movie that came out last year with Timothee Chalamet, the big focus of that was the Newport Film Festival and how he played electric at the festival, and that was considered sacrilege at the time. But, you know, it's. Has a history of getting fantastic artists, Bob Dylan, you know, Simon and Garfunkel and, you know, James Taylor, all these huge artists. And they still. They get some really great headlining acts, even to this day. And it's all at Fort Adams, which is right at the end of Ocean Drive. I think it's like kind of. Yeah. The end of July, early August. And tickets at this point are probably. Are already sold out. But if you can think of in advance for next summer, it really is kind of this cool acoustic concert thing that people even bring their boats around because it's right on Newport Harbor. They'll bring their boats right up to the. To the Fort Adams and listen from their boats and things like that. So it's a great. That's a great one. And then there's also the Newport Jazz Festival, if you're into jazz. That comes in August as well.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yeah, I was going to say that even just like, if you can get out on the harbor that, you know, that you mentioned the tickets being sold out, like a great way to do. I mean, you're not going to hear the music as well, obviously, if you take it. So you're at Fort Harmon, but having that option of being on the water so you can kind of hear the music, can sort of, you know, be on the water listening to music is a great way to get to do and get to, you know, be out on the harbor, which is a fun thing to do anyway. If you go down to Bowens Wharf. Right. I think you can just like find a charter there if you want to. To go out and.

[Nick Mealy]

Well, there are even people who will rent kayaks and kayak over, you know, listen that way. So there's definitely ways to. If you, if you're determined to get.

[Leslie Heaney]

Over there that I also forgot about just like walking down Thames Street. Right. Antiquing and there's so much to do. You and I could be on for two hours. I mean we got a Thames street would be a good one if you want to just sort of like see a bunch of little shops and there's some antique shops there and it's kind of touristy and crowded but it's a place people go. And off of it the people can rent those. I don't even know what they are but they're like those sidecar things that you can take around the.

[Nick Mealy]

The bane of, of every.

[Leslie Heaney]

Exactly. Maybe I shouldn't be encouraging getting caught.

[Nick Mealy]

Behind one of Those sidecars going 5 miles per hour down Bellevue Avenue.

[Leslie Heaney]

It is. There's probably nothing worse actually. There's probably nothing worse but I, I had to plug it. If people don't have a mode of transportation around town.

[Nick Mealy]

Oh, I want to point out one thing for August this year, which is cool that only I don't know the exact date. I think it's around like the, the 17th or 18th of August that weekend. It only happens once every three years. Which is coaching weekend.

[Leslie Heaney]

Yes.

[Nick Mealy]

Which the Preservation Society sponsors and it's this year. And all these old great stage coaches basically that are privately owned by people around the country. They all descend on Newport and kind of tour the town for the whole weekend and they stop at different mansions and, and do a little show and they stop at different private homes and you can really just kind of go and see them and take pictures and people, the people who own them and, and ride on them, dress up in top hats and all the kind of old school garb that you would expect. And it's really just kind of. It's not more than anything, you know, to just go and view. But those horse drawn carriages with the background of Newport and the houses is really kind of interesting to see.

[Leslie Heaney]

Oh totally. I mean it's something you wouldn't see I don't think anywhere, I mean anywhere else really but there. And I mean I know that there are coaching events other places but as you mentioned, not with the backdrop of those Gilded Age mansions and kind of giving you sort of a feel of what it, you know, what it must have looked like. When people were using this to get around. Okay, what did we miss? Do we miss anything?

[Nick Mealy]

Oh, that's a good question. I'm sure we've missed a ton. Like you said, there's a polo field, so it's a little bit. It's in Portsmouth, but there is polo, which is cool to go to if you're interested in that sort of thing. There are great boats to charter in the harbor, like you said as well. There's the Tennis hall of Fame.

[Leslie Heaney]

There is so Satuist Point. Statues Point. I looked it up.

[Nick Mealy]

No, that's not it. I feel like that's not it.

[Leslie Heaney]

It's Satuist Point in Middletown, Rhode Island. It's right. You see my.

[Nick Mealy]

Maybe it is called Saturn right there.

[Leslie Heaney]

Statues Point.

[Nick Mealy]

Now you're going to have me like break out my phone.

[Leslie Heaney]

Should have. This is like, I don't know. I know you're young, like hashtag, this is 51 with me, like forgetting the names of places that we just talked about.

[Nick Mealy]

But okay, yeah, so that is Satchua's Point. But there's also out there. There's the Nor and Bird Sanctuary.

[Leslie Heaney]

Oh, yes, great, Great call.

[Nick Mealy]

Which is another one that's worth. Worth checking out. And while you're out there, there's Sweet Berry Farm, which is this great farm where you can go berry picking. They have a little restaurant there where you can get prepared foods and things like that. And so that's right in kind of Middletown, right near the Norman Bird Sanctuary.

[Leslie Heaney]

That is a great call to. For kids, like doing the Norman Bird Sanctuary and then Sweet Berry after. Oh, you know what? The other place we didn't mention, which I think we probably should, is Pasta Beach. If you want like a casual pizza, pasta dinner, Pasta beach is great. Bellevue. And there's some great little stores there, like dress stores and some antique stores there. Oh, great store. Look, if you're looking for some lamps or lampshades, which I know sounds like, why would you go shopping for lamps or lampshades? But it's so such a unique store and has other home goods is Newport Lamp and Shade.

[Nick Mealy]

Yeah. Owned by Patrick Dolot, who's a great guy. And it's a very cool place. I've had a book signing there back when my book was new. My book, by the way, I think it just sold out. So you might be able to get. Having plugged it this entire podcast, you probably can't get a copy, but maybe if you go on Amazon, there are a couple copies left, but it's very close to being completely gone. So if you are, and I have a few copies on my website so if you are at all interested, get them now while you can.

[Leslie Heaney]

I am so grateful to you to like, you know, taking the time to give people that are listening all the listeners sort of this kind of inside unique perspective of someone who loves Newport and and has grown up there. And anyway, so nice to see you and thank you so much and thank you once again. That brings us to the end of this episode of the interview. A huge thank you to Nick Mealy for joining. I really enjoyed our conversation and can't wait to release our second part of that conversation later on this summer where we talk about Nick's incredible career. Also, big shout out to my summer sponsor, the 10 Mile Distillery. Don't forget to visit their website so you can purchase some of their delicious award winning whiskey and other spirits. That's 10mile distillery.com and don't forget to use the promo code theinterview and last but not least, Cozy Earth. I want to thank them also for sponsoring. They have the most luxurious temperature controlled sheets and pajamas and all different kinds of apparel and goodies so you don't want to miss that. So please go Visit their website cozyearth.com this is the last day, really, you can do it. To use the interview promo code you get 40% off all of their amazing products. So be sure to go visit cozyearth.com and use the interview promo code at checkout. And as always, thank you listeners for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate or review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Next week we are taking a pause from the summer series releasing one episode and we'll be back with more favorite summer spots the week after. So until next Wednesday, this is Leslie and thanks for joining the introduction.

[Nick Mealy]

You.