What do you get when you cross wine bar with bookstore and gallery? Curiosity & Co.
When I walked into a quaint bookshop on Narragansett Avenue in Jamestown, I didn’t expect to see a wine bar.
Curiosity & Co., which opened at the beginning of 2022, effortlessly combines a cozy bookstore aesthetic with a modern art gallery and a chic wine bar. Housed in the former location of Jamestown Fish, the shop is two stories, with artwork winding up the steps to the gallery on the second floor. This bookshop is truly one-of-a-kind and perfect for when you want a taste of the ocean but the weather isn’t cooperating.
I was lucky enough to make a stop at Curiosity & Co. the day before the opening of its “LIVING ROOM” exhibit, featuring installation and traditional artwork by Jane Kim. The finishing touches of the exhibition were still being put in place when I was there, but in taking a quick peek at the upstairs gallery, I could already see Kim’s sweeping botanical prints draping the walls, along with pillows, pen and ink drawings, and even sneakers created by Kim. Co-owner and Jamestown resident Liz Newton explained that Curiosity & Co. hosts around three to four exhibits per year.
“I wanted to create a more cultural center rather than a retail shop,” Newton said.
The bookstore area features beautiful wooden furniture that reflects the sun in a way that makes the room look like it’s softly glowing. Counters line some of the bookshelves, letting you take a seat as soon as a book caught your eye. Beach reads, non-fiction, inspirational, and even children’s books grace the shelves. Cubbies are even built into the bookshelves in the children’s sections, making a unique and comfy reading spot for kids. Newton explained the juxtaposition of the shop’s wine bar with the intended audience of some of its books.
“I created a space that I would want to visit,” Newton said. “I’m a mom, I like books and wine, and I love art.”
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Speaking of which, the wine bar features a variety of choices — all of which are organic and biodynamic, and even gives you suggestions as to which bottles go best with certain books! If you’re not in the mood for wine, treat yourself to complimentary lemon-infused water or a coffee and sit out on Curiosity & Co.’s deck with a good read.
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Curiosity & Co. also hosts regular programming events, including book clubs for different age groups and genres, game nights, dinner and breakfast events, speaker series, and even special sessions like bookmaking! A fan-favorite event is its “Flight Club Fridays,” which occur every other Friday. For $25, attendees are privy to four wine tastings and a flight at these themed evenings. I might have to make an appearance at the next Flight Club Friday, which is Harry Potter themed!
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This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: What's Great Off 138: Curiosity & Co. bookstore/wine bar in Jamestown
