We Need to Double Down on Eating Outside in RI: Adamo LIVE

We Need to Double Down on Eating Outside in RI: Adamo LIVE

Kristen Adamo, the President and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, appeared on GoLocal LIVE to talk about tourism and restaurants heading into November - and encourage people to “double-down” on outdoor dining. 

“The state’s ‘Take it Outside’ program has been really helpful. My organization has distributed about 120 heat lamps, and organizations like the RI Hospitality Association have donated like 400 or more,” said Adamo. “With that sort of baseline, restaurants have been able to get really creative and do more outdoor dining, and get people accustomed to going outside and staying outside long into the season.”

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On Friday, the Raimondo administration announced an additional $3.1. million in “Take It Outside” grants to help entities across the state accommodate outside dining and entertainment options. 

“I think we need [need to have] a cultural shift and a different sort of mindset and double down on eating outside in the colder weather,” said Adamo. “At the end of the day, if you’re going to want to go and have a nice dinner, you’re going to have to bundle up and have a blanket and I think we need to be accepting of that. For some restaurants where they have a small inside, they’ve been able actually to expand their footprint, so it’s been a good thing.”

“We’re getting into the tough season, and [restaurants] are going to need our support,” she said. “I think we’re just going to have to be a different kind of Providence. And some of that might even stick after the pandemic’s over — and that’s good.”