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Good morning from the shoreline.

Hope you made it through Memorial Day weekend in one piece. I left town, but not for warmer weather. Summer is almost here so that means plenty of weekend events, festivals, and music shows are kicking off.

A heads-up: we teased the Crew Experts Corner last week. We're kicking it off today with our first expert, and we need your help to make it work. More on that below.

Here's what I've surfaced this week.

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

Saturday, May 30 · Mystic Seaport Museum · Mystic

If you've never seen a Newfoundland work, this is your chance. Mystic Seaport's water rescue demonstration brings out trained Newfoundland dogs — the breed that's been pulling drowning sailors to shore since the 1700s — for open-water drills along the Mystic River. These dogs are built for the job: webbed feet, a water-resistant double coat, and an instinct to swim toward anything in trouble. More info →

Thursday, May 28 · 5:30pm · Haley Mansion at the Inn at Mystic

Tonight. The Mystic & Noank Library's annual Spring Soiree returns to one of the most beautiful private settings on the shoreline, the Haley Mansion at the Inn at Mystic. Proceeds support the library's summer programs. Details →

Friday, May 29 · 7pm · La Grua Center, Stonington

The Arts Café Mystic spring season wraps with Philip Schultz, founder of The Writers Studio and winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his collection Failure. He's been writing about the things most people are afraid to name — inadequacy, ambition, the parts of life that don't come together cleanly. Event page →

Sunday, May 31 · 8:30am · Jonathan Edwards Winery · North Stonington

A 5K through vineyard rows with a glass of wine waiting at the finish line. Jonathan Edwards Winery hosts the Run the Vineyards series, and the course runs through the property. Runners, walkers, and people who mostly came for the post-race wine tasting are all welcome. Register →

Saturday, May 30 · 8pm · Hygienic Art · 79 Bank Street · New London

Stand-up comedy hosted by Dame Fk with headliner Chris Warren, cold drinks, a full lineup of 8 other comedians, and a $20 door. If you haven't been inside, this is a good excuse. Details →

This is the first installment of something new. The Crew Experts Corner is a rotating series where someone from our area shares what they actually know — and answers your questions directly.

First up: Suzie Fitzgerald, a.k.a. Garden Girl Suzie. Suzie's a fine gardener working in Mystic and surrounding towns — no chemicals, just hands in the dirt and an eye for what actually grows well in our coastal soil. She designs kitchen and flower gardens, maintains landscapes, does containers and window boxes, and runs a home delivery floral subscription. If it grows in the ground around here, she probably has an opinion on it.

Here's how this works: You send in your questions — what to plant right now, what's eating your tomatoes, how to start a raised bed in our coastal soil, whether that mystery vine in the backyard is friend or foe — and Suzie answers them in next week's issue.

Reply to this email with your gardening question. First names only, and we'll feature as many as we can. Suzie's tips will be built for our region, our soil, our growing season. No generic advice.

If this goes well, we'll rotate in other local experts over the coming months. Got a skill the Crew should hear from? Reply and tell me what you'd want to teach.

Opening a restaurant? Launching a new menu? Reply to this email and let us share it with the community!

Saturday, May 30 · 5pm · Yellow Farmhouse · Mystic

A cheese masterclass featuring artisan selections — the kind of thing where you learn the difference between a washed rind and a bloomy rind and walk out sounding like you've always known. Details →

Saturday, May 30 · 6pm · Kitch· Mystic

Cocktail masterclass: learn the techniques behind a proper build. Good date-night move if the cheese thing doesn't get you there. Details →

Sunday, May 31 · 5pm · Engine Room · Mystic

Engine Room's Sunday Supper Series brings in guest chefs for a collaborative, multi-course dinner. This week it's Corey Lein and Sean Carney. These sell out — book now if you're interested. Reserve →

Want to share a Featured Event ? Reach out and let’s talk.

Visit wailingcity.com for complete live music list and venue updates

A few things worth putting on your calendar now:

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

Tour De Noank 5K & Fun Run — Esker Point Beach · 9:30am · Groton

THURSDAY, JUNE 18

Patiopalooza 2026 — Official Start of Patio Season — River Bar Westerly · Westerly

SATURDAY, JULY 11

Celebrate New London — The Largest Firework Show in CT · 12pm · New London

SATURDAY, JULY 18

Floatswella — Music on the Water — Mystic River · Mystic

That's your week. Enjoy and talk Thursday!