Good morning from the shoreline.
Date night at River Bar on Saturday. Popcorn and a movie after. Brunch at Nana's the next day. If you haven't tried the gluten-free banana bread muffins with a black coffee, you're missing out.
It’s Easter weekend and just about every restaurant in Mystic is doing specials. I’ve highlighted a few below, but if you haven’t made reservations yet your time may be running out!
Also: if anyone knows a good hairdresser for a preschooler, I'm asking for my daughter, whose hair has reached a length where I'm pretty sure I'm feeding it more than I'm feeding her. Reply to this email. I will owe you one.
Here's what I’ve surfaced this week.
In today’s issue: Two James Beard nods from one Mystic block · Gold Star Bridge closures are here (for the next four years) · Easter brunch roundup · Tox Brewing turns 7 · Egg hunts, pottery workshops, and your week on the shoreline
PRESENTED BY: Gillian Rae Photography
If your wedding photographer asks you to do a stiff pose in front of a hedge, Gillian Mattern is not your photographer. If you want someone who'll capture the real stuff, the laughing, the crying, the look your partner gives you when they think nobody's watching, she is. Gillian is a shoreline local, a documentary-style shooter, and one of the most genuinely easy people to be around on what can be a genuinely stressful day.
Tox Brewing Turns 7
Tox Brewing on Bank Street is celebrating seven years with a full-blown party — beer, pizza, live music from John Fries, Corina Malbaurn, and Brad Bensko, plus cake and vendors. Worth stopping by.
Two James Beard Nominations — Both from Mystic
David Standridge of The Shipwright's Daughter is up for Outstanding Chef, a year after winning Best Chef Northeast. The Port of Call earned a nod for Outstanding Wine and Beverages Program. Both restaurants are part of the 85th Day Food Community group — two nominations from one block in Mystic.
Gold Star Bridge Lane Closures Start This Week
Lane closures on I-95 across the Gold Star Bridge are running weekdays 7am–3:30pm through a $721 million project that won't wrap until fall 2030. Scope may expand. Build in extra time and check the project site for updates.
Electric Boat Plans to Hire 8,000 This Year
EB is bringing on 8,000 new employees this year, with over 4,000 positions in Connecticut. If you've noticed more out-of-state plates and longer waits at lunch, this is why, and it's accelerating.
Dogs Banned from Esker Point Beach Starting April 1
Starting yesterday, dogs are no longer allowed at Esker Point Beach in Groton through the second Sunday of September. State regulation, not a local call. Find a new morning walk spot until fall ☹ Groton-ct.gov
230-Unit Development Planned for New London
A developer has filed to build 230 residential units on Howard and Hamilton Streets in New London. Public hearing is May 7 — a significant project for a part of the city that could use the investment. The Patch
Build a Bowl Kids Program at Yellow Farmhouse Education Center
email [email protected] with questions.
Want to share a Featured Event ? Reach out and let’s talk.
SUN 5 | Easter Sunday at S&P Oyster S&P Oyster · Mystic |
SUN 5 | Easter Brunch at Nana's Westerly Nana's Westerly · 9am · Westerly |
SUN 5 | Easter Brunch at Rocks 21 Rocks 21 · 10am · Mystic |
SUN 5 | Easter Brunch at Favorites Favorites Bistro Bar · 10am · New London |
SUN 5 | Easter Brunch at River Bar River Bar · 10am · Westerly |
Opening a restaurant? Launching a new menu? Reply to this email and let us share it with the community!
THU 2 | Drawing: Seeing Differently (Ages 11–14) Mystic Museum of Art · 4:30pm · Mystic |
THU 2 | DPNC Presents: Signs of Spring Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center · 5pm · Mystic |
THU 2 | First Thursday Lyman Allyn · 5pm · New London |
THU 2 | Ladies Night with Tito's at Milestone Milestone · 5pm · Mystic |
THU 2 | Fright Club Stonington Free Library · 5:30pm · Stonington |
THU 2 | AI for Everyday Use Learning Session Groton Public Library · 6pm · Groton |
THU 2 | MISFIT Karaoke The Misfit Club · 7:30pm · Mystic |
FRI 3 | Woodland Egg Hunt Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center · 10am · Mystic |
FRI 3 | Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO® Bricks Mystic Seaport Museum · 11am · Mystic |
FRI 3 | Sip 'n' Spin Pottery Workshops (Ages 21+) Stonington Community Center · 6pm · Stonington |
FRI 3 | RuPaul Viewing Party The Misfit Club · 7:30pm · Mystic |
SAT 4 | Stonington Village Farmers Market The Velvet Mill · 9am · Stonington |
SAT 4 | Make a Mug Workshops (Ages 16+) Stonington Community Center · 10am · Stonington |
SAT 4 | Easter Bunny visits Mystic Aquarium Mystic Aquarium · 10:30am · Mystic |
SAT 4 | Free First Saturday Lyman Allyn · 11am · New London |
SAT 4 | Twilight Woodcock Walk at Manatuck Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center · 7pm · Mystic |
SAT 4 | Dance Saturday at The Misfit Club The Misfit Club · 7:30pm · Mystic |
SUN 5 | Egg Hunt at TreeTrails Adventures TreeTrails Adventures · 10am · Mystic |
SUN 5 | Brunch with Bottomless Mimosas Jealous Monk · 10:30am · Mystic |
MON 6 | Family Storytime with Ms. Jenna Waterford Public Library · 10:30am · Waterford |
MON 6 | Preschool Craft with Miss Connie Mystic & Noank Library · 11am · Mystic |
MON 6 | Free Open Studios at the Mystic Museum of Art Mystic Museum of Art · 1pm · Mystic |
MON 6 | Writers Group – Free-write Session Mystic & Noank Library · 4pm · Mystic |
MON 6 | Booked in the Borough Writers Group Stonington Free Library · 5:30pm · Stonington |
| Eric Nicolas (One Love) @ Saltwater Farm Vineyard |
Fri 3pm
Stonington
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| Brad Bensko @ Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard |
Fri 5pm
Stonington
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| Dan Watson @ Angie's Pizza & Pier 27 Lounge |
Fri 6:30pm
Mystic
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| Acidhenge / Grogach / Noise To Most / Kosmographers @ 33 Golden |
Fri 8pm
New London
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| Marty Stuart & Molly Tuttle @ Garde Arts Center & Oasis Room |
Fri 8pm
New London
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| Dallas Wax / Pencils Down / Return To Sender @ Oasis Pub |
Fri 9pm
New London
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| Ethan Cash with Garnish & Graze @ Stonington Vineyards |
Sat 1:30pm
Stonington
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| Mystic Dead @ Social Bar & Kitchen |
Sat 8pm
New London
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| Phil Smith @ Saltwater Farm Vineyard |
Sun 3pm
Stonington
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| James Harris @ Angie's Pizza |
Tue 5pm
Mystic
|
Check out wailingcity.com for music and venue updates
This month in 1868, the State of Connecticut handed 112 acres along the Thames River in Groton to the U.S. Navy. The Navy didn’t know quite what to do with the place for almost fifty years. Then WWI & the submarines showed up. That quiet stretch of waterfront became the home of the Submarine Force and a big part of the reason a lot of you are reading this from a new zip code.
What is the best way to spend a Saturday morning on the shoreline?
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A few things worth putting on your calendar now:
Free Tree Giveaway — The Nature Conservancy is giving away native trees to New London residents. Pick up at Calkins Park on April 4 or Connecticut College Arboretum on April 15. Reserve yours online before they're gone.
Spring Paper Artichoke Workshop — Crepe paper flower-making in a historic greenhouse at Stone Acres Farm in Stonington. April 10, 5:30pm. $100, includes canapés.
Espresso Martini Class — Veritable Distillery is launching a Saturday series. First up: hands-on espresso martinis, April 11. Ten seats.
Friend of a Fisherman Dinner — The Shipwright's Daughter is hosting a community benefit dinner April 14 for a local small-boat fisherman recovering from surgery. Family-style, all proceeds to the family. Book at shipwrightsdaughter.com/events.
Pirate Days at Mystic Seaport — Treasure hunts, cannon drills, a pirate parade. April 16–17. If you have kids, this one's worth planning around.
Sushi, Sips & Island Vibes — Hands-on sushi-making with tropical cocktails at Rum Tropic Distillery in Stonington. April 19. No experience needed.
That's your week. Easter's Sunday, the bridge is already a mess, and Tox is throwing themselves a birthday party. Pick one thing off the list and get out the door this weekend.
One question before I go — I'm building this newsletter for you, so I want to know: what's the one thing you wish someone had told you when you moved here? A restaurant, a shortcut, a beach, a weird local rule — anything. Reply to this email. Best answers will show up in a future issue.
See you out there!
