If you're still looking for a place to stay for the Newport show, there's a very nice inn right on the beach that's owned by a friend of a friend of mine. It would be a big step up from your run-of-the-mill hotel down there, and it's not much more expensive than the budget places. I think you'd be quite pleased. They tell me it's about 15 minutes drive to the show (it's quite close, but with traffic and all, y'know). I was going to stay there, and then I got an offer from a friend to stay with her. Tell them I sent you.
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