Spring in Newport is one bash after another-it can make your head spin. All the businesses want to entice you to visit their shop or restaurant or venue. By being a visitor with a sense of curiosity you can crash a “happening” event without even knowing it!

The shops in the new hip part of Bellevue Avenue across from the Viking Hotel (one of my favorite places to dine-surprise the food is amazing!) vary from Frank Antonio Hair and Make-up. My spies tell me he is a hairdresser to many Broadway and Runway stars. It’s about time we had a classy and edgy hair designer in Newport.

CK Bradley has those adorable dresses with matching accessories that work for the young and maybe a few of us who do yoga or pilates.

Newport Wine Cellar’s classy shop has weekly specials and afternoons with wine and cheeses to tempt the wine connoisseur. With themed evenings like wine and chocolates by local Master Chocolatier Laurent Vals and often vintners explaining their wines with cheeses of the region-make sure you get on Maria’s email list.

MacDowell Pottery on Spring Street on your way to Washington Square has the most imaginative gifts for reasonable priced Deb MacDowell does her pottery and has an extensive collection of creative cards, window glassware, vases, soaps and jewelry for very reasonable prices.

On Mill Street House is one of those shops that make you walk in and want to do over your whole apartment. Kathleen Vanderveer, owner and the gal with the “eye” (as well as her manager Marilyn Jones) will make you feel at ease-from high end furniture to classy jewelry or that perfect present for an anniversary or wedding gift.

Buy local! We need all our businesses to survive so whenever you think about crossing the bridge for a mall to buy a present factor in the gas money, parking and think about what our shops here have to offer.