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Good morning from the shoreline.
Summer is starting to knock on our doors with our first toasty weekend of the year and there’s tons going on this weekend.
Two things worth flagging up top. First: Saturday is CT Open House Day, which means a lot of doors that usually cost money are free for the day — Fort Griswold, the Jabez Smith House, the Denison nature center, the Garde. Second: Olde Mistick Village throws its Strawberry Festival Saturday and Sunday — fresh berries, jam, pie, the works.
Here's what I've surfaced this week.
In today’s issue: CT Open House Day opens doors across the shoreline · Strawberry Festival at Olde Mistick Village · Schooners home all week at Fitch · Garden Girl Suzie answers your first question · Gardens by the Sea tour in the Borough
PRESENTED BY: Garden Girl Suzie
Meet Suzie Fitzgerald — fine gardener serving Mystic and the surrounding towns and our first Crew Expert. Scroll down to meet her properly and send her your toughest gardening question.
Get in touch: [email protected] · (860) 908-7689
Free Doors All Over the Shoreline — CT Open House Day, Saturday
Saturday, June 13 · Connecticut Open House Day · across all four towns
Once a year the state throws open its museums, historic sites, and cultural spots for free. Fort Griswold in Groton opens at 11am (read the Ship's Log below before you go — it's a better story than you'd guess). The Jabez Smith House, also in Groton, runs 11am–4pm with an America 250 theme. The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Stonington does free admission with a resident-animal presentation. And the Garde Arts Center in New London opens its doors too. See all venues →
Strawberry Festival — Olde Mistick Village, Saturday & Sunday
Saturday & Sunday, June 13–14 · Olde Mistick Village · Mystic
The third annual Strawberry Festival takes over Olde Mistick Village both days — fresh strawberries, jams, pies, and everything else you can do to a strawberry. Free to wander. Details →
The Schooners Are Home All Week — Fitch, Groton
Thursday 6/11, Friday 6/12, and Tuesday 6/16 · 6:30pm · Fitch Senior High School · Groton
The Mystic Schooners' NECBL summer season is rolling, and they've got a home-heavy week at Fitch. Thursday it's the Newport Gulls, Friday the Valley Blue Sox, and Tuesday the Martha's Vineyard Sharks. Schedule →
Horseshoe Crabs Are Mating at Bluff Point — Friday
Friday, June 12 · 6pm · Bluff Point · Groton
June is peak horseshoe-crab season, when these living fossils come ashore to mate and lay eggs along the tide line. This guided walk at Bluff Point goes looking for them and gets into the biology — they're older than the dinosaurs and weirder than you remember. Details →
Gardens by the Sea — Stonington Borough, Friday & Saturday
Friday & Saturday, June 12–13 · 10am–4pm both days · Stonington Borough · Stonington
A self-guided tour through the private gardens of the Borough — waterfront vistas, terraced beds, and tucked-away pocket gardens you'd never see from the street. Plein-air painters work in selected gardens, there's a tented marketplace, and everything's within walking distance with free parking. The Borough at its prettiest. Tickets start at $50 Details →
L+M Summer Stride 5K & 10K — Sunday Morning, New London
Sunday, June 14 · 8am start · L+M Hospital, Montauk Avenue · New London
The community road race is back — a flat, scenic 5K that welcomes walkers and strollers, plus a faster 10K double-loop with ocean views down Pequot Avenue. Both kick off at 8am from the east side of L+M Hospital; there's a FitKids run at 9:30. Everybody gets a finisher shirt. Register →
You sent questions, and our first Crew Expert is answering. Suzie Fitzgerald — Garden Girl Suzie — is a fine gardener working in Mystic and the surrounding towns: no chemicals, just an eye for what actually grows in our coastal soil. We'll run a couple more of your questions over the next few weeks. First up:
Ann asks: "We need to plant some greenery around our dog’s chain-link fence. We planted five beach rose bushes and only two survived. I should mention that we know nothing about keeping plants alive — we need something we cannot kill. Lower than low-maintenance. Any suggestions?"
Suzie: A lot of plants will do well provided the right conditions. Is the area full sun, partial shade, full shade? Is your soil sandy or more compact/clay-heavy? Choosing the right plants for the right environment is key to success - as well as regularly watering a new planting until it's established.
If you're looking for coverage of the fence area and something that's easy to grow you can try some nepeta or daylilies if you have full sun. These fill out quickly and are easy to maintain. If it's a shady area try various ferns and hostas - using different shades of green will make it more interesting. Once either are established you can always add more interest by adding in different perennials with various colors of flowers and bloom times.
Once you plant - water thoroughly every other day for the first month or two until they've established.
Got a gardening question for Suzie? Reply to this email and we'll feature as many as we can. Ready to work with Suzie? She's at [email protected] · (860) 908-7689.
Opening a restaurant? Launching a new menu? Reply to this email and let us share it with the community!
A Martini Masterclass — Saturday Night, Mystic
Saturday, June 13 · 6pm · Mystic
Bond preferred his shaken, not stirred — but do you know why? This masterclass runs through the history and technique of the martini, from the classic build to the espresso version that took over every cocktail menu in the last decade. A good date-night move. Details →
Two farmers markets worth the stop this weekend: the Stonington Village Farmers Market at the Velvet Mill (Saturday, 9am) and the Denison Farmers Market at the Denison Homestead in Mystic (Sunday, noon–3).
Want to share a Featured Event ? Reach out and let’s talk.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Summer Lecture: "Betsy Ross — The Life Behind the Legend" — Mystic & Noank Library · 2pm · Mystic (Marla Miller, author of Betsy Ross and the Making of America)
Mystic Schooners vs Newport Gulls — Fitch Senior High School · 6:30pm · Groton
MISFIT Karaoke — The Misfit Club · 7:30pm · Mystic
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Gardens by the Sea Garden Tour — Stonington Borough · 10am–4pm · Stonington
Red Cross Blood Drive — 15 Rope Ferry Road · 12pm · Waterford
Rick Koster: White Ghost Blues — Author Talk & Signing — Bank Square Books · 6pm · Mystic (in conversation with Luanne Rice)
Horseshoe Crab Walk at Bluff Point — Bluff Point · 6pm · Groton
Mystic Schooners vs Valley Blue Sox — Fitch Senior High School · 6:30pm · Groton
Shakey Graves — Fondness, Etc. Tour — UNITED Theatre · 8pm · Westerly (see Music)
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Stonington Village Farmers Market — The Velvet Mill · 9am · Stonington
The Town of Groton Outdoor Market & Classic Car Show — Groton · 10am · Groton
Gardens by the Sea Garden Tour — Stonington Borough · 10am–4pm · Stonington
CT Open House Day — Fort Griswold — Fort Griswold · 11am · Groton (free)
CT Open House Day — Jabez Smith House — Groton · 11am–4pm · Groton (free)
Strawberry Festival — Olde Mistick Village · Mystic
Summer Block Party — Mystic · 12–8pm · Mystic
CT Open House Day — Meet Our Resident Animals — Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center · Stonington (free admission)
Pond Dipping Adventures (free kids' program, ages 6–10) — Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center · 2pm · Stonington
A Martini Masterclass — Mystic · 6pm · Mystic (see Food & Drink)
Dance Saturday at The Misfit Club — The Misfit Club · 7:30pm · Mystic
SUNDAY, JUNE 14 — Flag Day
L+M Hospital Summer Stride 5K & 10K — L+M Hospital, Montauk Ave · 8am · New London
CT State Flag on Flag Day — "Abby Slocum" presentation — Groton · 11am · Groton
Strawberry Festival (Day 2) — Olde Mistick Village · Mystic
Denison Farmers Market — Denison Homestead · 12–3pm · Mystic
Paint Palettes Pottery Workshop (16+) — Stonington COMO Pottery Studio · 12pm · Stonington
Marvel Universe Trivia — The Taproom · 2pm · Mystic
The Comedy Craft Beer Tour: Mike Hanley — Garde Arts Center · New London
MONDAY, JUNE 15
Adult Beginner Sailing — Mystic Seaport Museum · 5:30pm · Mystic
Trivia Night at Friar Tuck's Tavern — Friar Tuck's · 6:30pm · Mystic
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
Derek Piotr's Folk Music Across the Globe — Public Library of New London · 12pm · New London (see Music)
Mystic Dead at The Hounds — The Hounds · 6pm · Mystic (Mystic River Jam benefit — see Music)
Mystic Schooners vs Martha's Vineyard Sharks — Fitch Senior High School · 6:30pm · Groton
Summer Sounds: Time & Changes Jazz Orchestra — Mystic River Park · 7pm · Mystic (see Music)
Trivia Night at The Jealous Monk — The Jealous Monk · 7pm · Mystic
A few named shows worth circling this week, on top of the usual venue lineup:
Shakey Graves — Fondness, Etc. Tour · Fri June 12, 8pm · UNITED Theatre · Westerly (the Americana one-man-band heavyweight at the area's nicest room — likely the marquee ticket of the week)
Summer Sounds: Time & Changes Jazz Orchestra · Tue June 16, 7pm · Mystic River Park, by the drawbridge · Mystic (the Noank-Mystic Community Band's free outdoor series, 29th season, Tuesdays through August 5 — bring a chair)
Mystic Dead at The Hounds · Tue June 16, 6–9pm · The Hounds · Mystic (Mystic River Jam co-hosts a benefit for Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center & Always Home — light bites from Dog Watch, cash bar)
Derek Piotr's Folk Music Across the Globe · Tue June 16, noon · Public Library of New London · New London (field-recording archivist on global folk traditions — a quiet, fascinating one)
| Nick Bosse @ Deans Mill Farm |
Thu 5:30pm
Stonington
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| Jazz Improv @ Daniel Packer Inne |
Thu 9:30pm
Mystic
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| Ernie Lewis @ Par 4 Restaurant |
Fri 5pm
Groton
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| Natalie Paige @ Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard |
Fri 5pm
Stonington
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| Ethan Cash @ Lighthouse Inn & 1902 Tavern |
Fri 6pm
New London
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| Peter Mainelli @ Lighthouse Inn & 1902 Tavern |
Fri 6pm
New London
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| Three Of A Kind @ Angie's Pizza & Pier 27 Lounge |
Fri 6:30pm
Mystic
|
| Phil Smith @ On the Waterfront |
Fri 7pm
New London
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| The Rivergods @ Steak Loft |
Fri 7pm
Mystic
|
| The Experience (Jimi Hendrix tribute) / Ruby Grove @ Social Bar & Kitchen |
Fri 8pm
New London
|
| Dr K's Uke (Kevin Salley) @ Daniel Packer Inne |
Fri 9:30pm
Mystic
|
| DJ Mikey V @ Chapter One |
Fri 10pm
Mystic
|
| Michelle Saylors @ Golden Owl |
Sat 2pm
Westerly
|
| Peter Mainelli @ Lighthouse Inn & 1902 Tavern |
Sat 6pm
New London
|
| Nate Martel @ On the Waterfront |
Sat 7pm
New London
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| Tim Fioravanti Jazz Orchestra @ Ocean Beach Park |
Sat 7pm
New London
|
| Wild Nights @ Milestone |
Sat 9pm
Mystic
|
| Revenge Body / The Forest Room @ Oasis Pub |
Sat 9pm
New London
|
| Shiloh & Emily @ Daniel Packer Inne |
Sat 9:30pm
Mystic
|
| Izzy Malek @ Milestone |
Sun 3pm
Mystic
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| Ty Marshall @ Saltwater Farm Vineyard |
Sun 3pm
Stonington
|
| Collin Van Pelt @ Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard |
Sun 3pm
Stonington
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| The Cartells @ Steak Loft |
Sun 5pm
Mystic
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Visit wailingcity.com for complete live music list and venue updates
A few things worth putting on your calendar now:
THURSDAY, JUNE 19
Juneteenth Commemoration — Mystic Seaport Museum · 3pm · Mystic
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Chorus of Westerly Summer Pops — Wilcox Park · 8pm · Westerly (free outdoor pops + Grucci fireworks finale)
FRI–SUN, JUNE 26–28
WoodenBoat Show (34th annual) — Mystic Seaport Museum · Mystic
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra — Garde Arts Center · New London
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Mystic Pride 2026 — behind the Mystic Museum of Art · Mystic
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Ocean Beach Park Fourth of July + Fireworks — Ocean Beach Park · New London
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That's your week. Enjoy and talk Thursday!
