TonightInRI, is a new website that brings together all of Rhode Island’s restaurant and nightlife scene. The site is sort of like a Facebook for Rhode Island bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Bar owners themselves are encouraged to post information about their venues and upcoming events
Currently, sixty different RI establishments appear on TonightInRI. While the number of bars may eventually be capped, according to the TonightInRI’s spokesman, currently, the site has no maximum number of RI venues.
“We listen to a lot of different people, and we learn about various places Rhode Islanders truly enjoy, and visit most frequently,” stated Joshua Unseth, the site’s director of Online Marketing “Our goal is to include the State’s top venues on our site, with the basis being grounded in a running conversation with Rhode Islanders. Our goal is to continuously please them by having their favorite establishments on the site. That’s what we mean by ‘premier.’”
Rhode Island is well known for its wonderful dining. TonightInRI is a convenient solution for both locals and visitors to the state who want to explore Rhode Island’s premium dining venues. “The site provides me with a very simple way to display my information, and push it out to people via the internet,” Bravo Brasserie’s owner, Fred Goodwin, stated. “It increases my web presence at a time when people are acquiring a lot of information from their laptops and cell phones.”
Site visitors aren’t just browsing through dinner menus, though. Much of the site’s usefulness centers around the nightlife scene in Rhode Island. Providence, Newport, and Narragansett venues dominate much of the site’s content, displaying nightly specials, DJ and live band schedules, VIP info, karaoke nights, and much, much more. The site arrives at a time when social media websites, such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, are emerging as popular marketing mediums for businesses, including bars and restaurants. TonightInRI follows suit, combining its own unique form of marketing with a social media strategy.
“We utilize all the latest forms of social media to promote TonightInRI and our member venues,” said Kyle Rowley, one of the site’s creators. “And at the same time, our site allows the members to step out of the noise of Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter, and into a space designed specifically for them and their target audience.”
In addition to menus and information, Rhode Islanders can find great deals at our participating venues. TonightInRI reports that a good amount of site users are navigating pages designated for displaying venues’ daily specials, and many venues are using their presence on the site to showcase their low prices. Don Jose Tequilas, a Mexican restaurant on Federal Hill, boasts a three-course dinner special for only $19.99. Charlie O’s in Narragansett promotes free pool and $5 Bud pitchers.
According to The Nielsen Company’s data, the areas where people are primarily cutting back are gas, electricity, entertainment, and clothing. But they are also “shopping down” on food. People are eating at home more often than a year ago. And when they do eat out, they choose less-expensive restaurants, or places that offer some enticing deals. TonightInRI helps users select the right venue for them.
Tonight in RI is a site featuring RI bars. If you are looking for something to do tonight, consider checking out Red Room Ri.
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