May Breakfasts
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Rhode Island's May Breakfast tradition was born in 1867 at the Old Quaker Meeting House in Cranston as a two-day fundraiser featuring homemade clam cakes, biscuits, cold boiled ham, cold chicken, mashed turnips and assorted jellies and pies. Four hundred and sixty-six people enjoyed a weekend of festivities including a Maypole dance, an evening of food and hymn singing, and the crowning of Anna Armstrong, the state's first May Queen.
144 years later, the tradition lives on — albeit adapted to the breakfast fare of our time. We've compiled a list of must-attend May Breakfast celebrations across the state:
April 30
Lincoln. May Breakfast, Christ Church of Lonsdale. Pancakes, eggs, bacon , sausage, homefries, muffins, fresh fruit and more. There will also be May baskets, plants, and baked goods for sale. 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., adults $7, children $5, children under 5 free, family maximum $18. 1653 Lonsdale Ave., 725-1920, www.episcopalri.org
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Cranston. 9th Reading Across Rhode Island Annual May Breakfast 2011 at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. Join honorary co-chairs U.S. Senator Jack Reed and Mike Stanton of The Providence Journal for traditional Rhode Island May Breakfast fare, displays, entertainment, Penny Social, and keynote speech and book signing by author Craig Mullaney. Copies of Mullaney's The Unforgiving Minute available for purchase. Donations of canned goods encouraged. Doors open 9 a.m., breakfast served, keynote 9:30 a.m., book signing 11 a.m., members of RI Center for the Book $25, non-members $30, registration required. 60 Rhodes Pl., 455-8134, www.readingacrossri.org.
Foster. 59th Annual May Breakfast, Foster Center Baptist Church. Bacon, eggs, toast, Johnny cakes, homemade pie, coffee and juice. May baskets and pansies for sale and quilt raffle. 7-11 a.m., adults $6, children 6-12 $2, children under 5 free. Howard Hill Rd., off Rt 94 in Foster Center, 397-3015.
Cranston. 29th Annual Gour-May Breakfast, Woodbridge Congregational UUC. Johnny cakes, eggs, sausage, corn beef hash and more. 8-11 a.m., donations: adults $7.50, children under 12 $4.50. 546 Budlong Rd., 942-0662.
Wakefield. Wakefield Rotary Club Annual Spring Breakfast for the Community, South Kingston High School. Scrambled eggs, home fries, sausage, biscuits, and pie. 7:30-11 a.m., adults $5, children $3, children under 5 free. 215 Columbia St.
May 1
Cranston. 144th Annual May Breakfast, Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church, Home of the original May Breakfast. Traditional fare of eggs, ham, cornbread, clam cakes, beverage, and homemade apple pie, served family style. May baskets and homemade fudge for sale. 6:30-11:30 a.m., adults $7, children 10 and under $4. 229 Wilbur Ave., 944-0864.
Cranston. Rhode Island Shriner's May Breakfast, Rhode Island Shriner's Imperial Room. Scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, baked beans, homefries, pancakes, juice, milk, coffee and tea. 7 a.m.-12 p.m., adults $7, children 5-12 $5, children under 5 free. 1 Rhodes Pl., 467-7102, imperialrm@rishriners.
Smithfield. 38th Annual May Breakfast Brunch, Smith-Appleby House Museum. Homemade blueberry and cranberry bread, chilled fruit cups, breakfast strata, Johnny cakes, Grandma's old fashioned baked beans, coffee and orange juice — served by Colonial-costumed volunteers. 11 a.m., $15 per person includes a house tour, reservations required. 220 Stillwater Rd, 231-7363, [email protected].
Providence. May Breakfast and Silent Auction, St. Martin's Episcopal Chuch. All-you-can-eat breakfast buffet and silent auction, all proceeds go to support local soup kitchens. 7 a.m.-12 p.m., at the door: adults $10, children $6, before May 1 (available at the church office): adules $9, children $5. 50 Orchard Ave., 751-2141.
Central Falls. May Breakfast, Sullivan Council. Ham, eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries, beans, toast, juice and coffee. 8-11 a.m., adults and children 10+ $8, children under 10 free. 20 Claremont St., 333-6245 or 724-6130 for tickets.
Warwick. Rotary Club's May Breakfast, Pilgrim Senior Center. 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m., $7 admission benefits Warwick Rotary charities. 27 Pilgrim Pkwy, 467-4025, www.warwickrotary.org.
Warwick. 86th Annual May Breakfast, Norwood Baptist Church. Eggs to-order, ham, bacon, homefries, baked beans, cereal, muffins, pies, rolls, coffee, tea, juice and milk. Special occasion gift baskets and May baskets featuring fudge or flowers for sale. 7-10 a.m., adults $7, children 5-12 $4, reservations suggestion for parties of 5+. 48 Budlong Ave., 941-7040, [email protected].
North Kingstown. 55th Annual May Breakfast, First Baptist Church of North Kingstown. Johnny cakes, home fries, ham, eggs, muffins, juice, coffee and tea. May baskets with homemade candy for sale. 6:30-10 a.m., adults $7, children 3-6 $3, children under 2 free. 1135 Tower Hill Rd., 401-294-4037.
Cranston. May Breakfast, Fellowship Hall at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church. Eggs, ham, "tradtional" Johnny cakes, baked beans, juice, coffee and tea. May baskets, homemade pies and cakes for sale. 7-10 a.m. 565 Pontiac Ave., 467-3300, www.phillipschurch.org.
North Scituate. 117th Annual May Breakfast, North Scituate Baptist Church. Family-style breakfast including juice, coffee, tea, milk, hot or cold cereal, ham, bacon, sausage, famous RI Johnny cakes, and a variety of rolls and doughnuts. Baskets filled with homemade fudge and plants for sale. 7-11 a.m., adults $8, children under 12 $5. 619 West Greenville Rd, 647-3238, www.northscituatebaptist.org.
East Greenwich. 41st Annual May Breakfast, First Baptist Church of East Greenwich. Open to all. 6:30-10 a.m., adults $6.50, children $3, children under 5 free. 30 Pierce St., 401-884-2322.
Lincoln. 44th Annual May Breakfast, Wesley United Methodist Church. Bacon, sausage, eggs, baked beans, home fries, toast, muffins, orange juice, coffee and tea. Baked goods and May baskets for sale by the United Methodist Women. 7-10 a.m., adults $6, children 5-12 $3, children under 5 free. 55 Woodland St., 724-7954
Warwick. Education in Action's 3rd Annual May Breakfast, The Crowne Plaza Hotel. Breakfast fare. Honoring Jeanne Cola, Senior Vice President and Director of Community Relations of Citizens Bank. 7:45 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. breakfast, $50 per person. 801 Greenwich Ave. RSVP 461-4224.
May 7
May 19
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