Brian Damage
04-03-2011, 01:40 AM
PAWTUCKET –– Bob Billington wants everyone to see the Blackstone Valley, from Chepachet Farms in Glocester to the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket to McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.
Billington heads the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, which is sponsoring six different bus tours this spring, plus one wild card –– a statewide tour inspired by the animated TV show “Family Guy,” which is set in the mythical town of Quahog, R.I.
In years past, the Blackstone Valley tours were part of a statewide effort called Tour RI, which started eight years ago and included more than 20 tours, with participation from tourism organizations in Providence, Warwick, Newport and South County.
This year, Billington said, the other organizations chose to focus their resources elsewhere.
So the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council decided to go it alone. “Of all the areas in Rhode Island, the Blackstone Valley is probably the least known,” he said.
That means the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has to work harder to show off the area to southern New Englanders, and Billington said the tours are one way to do that.
“Besides, we love showing off the district,” he said.
The tours will take place on Saturday, May 7. Two of them, “Rhode Island Myths and Mysteries,” and “Country Fun in the Blackstone Valley” are already sold out. Seats are available for the others; cost is $49 each. For details about the tours go to http://www.tourblackstone.com)
The remaining tours are “Favorite Pastimes of the Blackstone Valley,” “Blackstone Valley Sampler,” “Blackstone Valley Experience,” and “Hidden Treasures of the Blackstone Valley.”
And then there’s the “Family Guy Rhode Island Road Trip,” inspired by the popular animated TV series.
Created by RISD graduate Seth MacFarlane, “Family Guy,” is peppered with Rhode Island references, from Buddy Cianci Junior High School to Pawtucket Patriot Beer.
Co-executive producer Danny Smith, a former Smithfield resident, was honored by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at its 2009 dinner.
For the occasion, Smith made a video containing nothing but Rhode Island references, subtle and otherwise, from “Family Guy.” (Watch it at www.projo.com/lifebeat/familyguyri.htm)
Quahog itself is imaginary, but among the sites on the “Family Guy” tour itinerary are McCoy Stadium, Del’s Lemonade, Brown University, and The Drunken Clam in Johnston. A buffet lunch will be served at Wes’s Rib House.
There was a bumper sticker on the show that read: “I lost my self-respect at Wes’s Rib House.”
http://www.projo.com/news/content/TOUR_BLACKSTONE_04-03-11_2JN961L_v21.5caf6.html
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/b/b8/Quahog_Thrift_Store.jpg
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/7/7f/Lake_Quahog.png
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/0/0e/Quahog_Oil.png
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/0/06/Quahog_Acres.png
http://familyguycutaways.com/images/Pictures_Online/Family_Guy_Drunken_Clam.gif
Billington heads the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, which is sponsoring six different bus tours this spring, plus one wild card –– a statewide tour inspired by the animated TV show “Family Guy,” which is set in the mythical town of Quahog, R.I.
In years past, the Blackstone Valley tours were part of a statewide effort called Tour RI, which started eight years ago and included more than 20 tours, with participation from tourism organizations in Providence, Warwick, Newport and South County.
This year, Billington said, the other organizations chose to focus their resources elsewhere.
So the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council decided to go it alone. “Of all the areas in Rhode Island, the Blackstone Valley is probably the least known,” he said.
That means the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has to work harder to show off the area to southern New Englanders, and Billington said the tours are one way to do that.
“Besides, we love showing off the district,” he said.
The tours will take place on Saturday, May 7. Two of them, “Rhode Island Myths and Mysteries,” and “Country Fun in the Blackstone Valley” are already sold out. Seats are available for the others; cost is $49 each. For details about the tours go to http://www.tourblackstone.com)
The remaining tours are “Favorite Pastimes of the Blackstone Valley,” “Blackstone Valley Sampler,” “Blackstone Valley Experience,” and “Hidden Treasures of the Blackstone Valley.”
And then there’s the “Family Guy Rhode Island Road Trip,” inspired by the popular animated TV series.
Created by RISD graduate Seth MacFarlane, “Family Guy,” is peppered with Rhode Island references, from Buddy Cianci Junior High School to Pawtucket Patriot Beer.
Co-executive producer Danny Smith, a former Smithfield resident, was honored by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at its 2009 dinner.
For the occasion, Smith made a video containing nothing but Rhode Island references, subtle and otherwise, from “Family Guy.” (Watch it at www.projo.com/lifebeat/familyguyri.htm)
Quahog itself is imaginary, but among the sites on the “Family Guy” tour itinerary are McCoy Stadium, Del’s Lemonade, Brown University, and The Drunken Clam in Johnston. A buffet lunch will be served at Wes’s Rib House.
There was a bumper sticker on the show that read: “I lost my self-respect at Wes’s Rib House.”
http://www.projo.com/news/content/TOUR_BLACKSTONE_04-03-11_2JN961L_v21.5caf6.html
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/b/b8/Quahog_Thrift_Store.jpg
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/7/7f/Lake_Quahog.png
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/0/0e/Quahog_Oil.png
http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/0/06/Quahog_Acres.png
http://familyguycutaways.com/images/Pictures_Online/Family_Guy_Drunken_Clam.gif