Outdo the Great Gatsby as You Live Better than a Billionaire in Newport, Rhode Island This Summer and Fall

Good morning, Happy Mansion Lovers!

Are you feeling motivated this morning? I certainly hope so.

You may be wondering why I ask that question. I used to travel on business to San Francisco on an almost weekly basis. Whenever possible I would stay at the Hyatt on Union Square. The doorman there was one of the most inspirational people I've ever met. He would always ask me that question when I left each morning for work while sporting a wide smile. He really made my day!

Today, we'll travel back in time to when the equivalent of today's billionaires all traveled to Newport, Rhode Island every summer to escape the New York City heat. They stayed in summer cottages . . . what we now refer to as the Newport Mansions.

No visit to Newport is complete without having lunch at the mansions there, taking tours, seeing how the staff lived and imagining yourself at a glamorous garden party. Sounds expensive, doesn't it? Newport is running a special this summer. For $49 per adult ($19 for youths 6-17 and free for children under 6), you can visit several mansions, have lunch and take Newport's best mansion tours. Be sure to join the Gilded Age Summer Party at the Elms After Hours while you are there. For more information and to order tickets, go to tickets.newportmansions.org.

But that's just the beginning. Glamorous social events literally stalk Newport. The highlight of the summer season was the International Polo Ball on August 19. The Jamaican Polo Team was honored this year. Dress was "tropical black tie."

If you like polo, international matches are held every Saturday during the summer and fall at Glen Farms in Portsmouth, Rhode Island . . . about 8 miles north of downtown Newport on Route 138. You can attend for $10. For more details, go to www.newportinternationalpolo.com.

You can also take polo lessons and get ready for next year's polo season!

For music fans, the Newport Jazz Festival arrived on August 11-14. The main events were on the 13th and 14th. Tickets for a whole day of wonderful music are less than what most individual summer concerts cost for a single performer. It was a steal!

Newport is full of great exhibitions and parties this summer. You can go to a murder mystery at a mansion, attend a roaring 20's speakeasy, and choose from among many different clubs featuring live music. To find out schedules and locations check out www.gonewport.com.

If you come wearing your own costume from the 20's or the Gilded Age, you can really feel yourself step back into the age of Newport's most brilliant social events.

While you're there, check out holding an event at one of the mansions. You can run catered weddings, anniversaries, family reunions or whatever that would make the Great Gatsby envious!

So bring your imagination, a little money and a big smile to live better than a billionaire in Newport this summer. It's my choice for this summer's top bargain events that any billionaire would love.

Please feel free to let me know what else you would like to learn and I'll do my best to help in future blog entries.

May God bless you.

Donald W. Mitchell, Your Dream Concierge

Copyright 2005 Donald W. Mitchell