Good morning from the shoreline.
Happy Halloween week! The holiday falls on a Saturday this year, so the trick-or-treating and the best parties allow for plenty of Sunday recovery. The forecast is sunny through Saturday, but Saturday night's low is about 33°. I hope you’ve planned a costume that fits over a coat.
Here’s what I’ve surfaced this week.
In today's issue: the next Dinner Club · Living on the Shoreline No. 3 · a lantern walk through a Mystic burial ground · trick-or-treat at the Seaport · Coast Guard Community Day · Rocky Horror at the Granite · Goth Prom on Bank Street · Billy Gilman at the UNITED
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START HERE
The weekend in 30 seconds
THE MARQUEE
Moonlit Mystic Graveyard Ghost Tour
Friday 7pm · Saturday 7pm and 9:15pm · Mystic · $35, ages 11+
Seaside Shadows leads a lantern walk through the Whitehall Burial Ground. The walk runs about an hour and 45 minutes. Tours meet at the cemetery gates at the end of Hendel Drive.
FOR FAMILIES
Saturday · 3–6pm · Mystic · Free
Kids trick-or-treat through the Seaport's village streets in costume, and admission is free for the three hours. Enter at the North Entrance.
AFTER DARK
Friday · 8pm–midnight (doors 7:45) · Stonington · 21+
Dock 9's Halloween party at The Mill has DJ Ryz Above, a photo booth, magic-themed cocktails at the bar and a costume contest. Best Overall wins a $300 Dock 9 gift card. Tarot readings, a potion-making station and custom typewritten spells cost extra.
ON THE WATERFRONT
Friday · 5:30–8pm · New London · Free
Local businesses and community groups host trunk-or-treating, costume contests, food trucks and family activities on the New London waterfront.
NEXT DINNER: NOVEMBER 10
Dinner Club Round three is two-thirds booked
Thank you to everyone who came out to the first two dinners, and to everyone who wrote to me afterward.
Round three is Tuesday, November 10, in downtown Mystic again. To clear this up, the Dinner Club is for meeting new people and making friends around here. It isn't a dating club. You book one seat, get matched to tables, and you meet new people over dinner.
Two-thirds of the seats for November are already taken. I'm keeping tickets capped so we don't overcrowd the bars when the group heads out after dinner.
The $15.99 booking fee holds your seat. You pay for your own food and drinks at the restaurant, which I reveal the morning of.
Tuesday, November 10 · 6:30pm · Downtown Mystic · $15.99
Can't make this one? Reply and I'll send you the next date first.
Additionally, I’m looking to Westerly or New London for the next few dinner club events. If you have any suggestions about eats and drinks, send my way!
READER SERIES · NO. 3
Living on the Shoreline
Back near Mystic, the way she always planned
She's in her late 70s, a retired educator, and she has lived in Connecticut for 47 years. When she retired, she came back to the Mystic area, and she recently moved to Groton. Her answers are lightly edited, with a few details generalized so she stays anonymous.
What do you do for work?
I retired from public education at 60, then went to work at a private school. I finally retired at 72, during the COVID lockdown.
How long have you been here, and what brought you back?
I started out teaching in Georgia, for a pittance at the time, and moved to Connecticut for a job. I've been here ever since, so 47 years now. I've been married here and divorced. I always knew that when I finally retired, I would move back to Mystic.
Where do you live, and where does your life actually happen?
Mostly my life happens in Mystic, although I recently moved to Groton.
Who's in the household?
Just me and my dog.
Tell me about your housing.
I live in Groton and pay about $2,400 for a two-bedroom.
How have you found friendship and community here?
My best friend from Georgia just left. We've been friends for 52 years. I have long-term friends here who I now consider part of my family. At my age, I'm now losing many people.
What routine keeps you grounded?
My dog keeps me grounded.
One restaurant that's worth the money?
Dog Watch Cafe in the Borough. I love their French onion soup and their tuna tartare.
The best free thing about living here?
Anywhere I walk my dog. It gives me serenity in this tumultuous time.
What counts as "wealthy" around here?
I feel wealthy now, particularly since I retired.
Want to tell yours? This series is about how people build a life here: the work, what housing costs, how you made friends, and what keeps you here. The form doesn't collect your name or email, every question is optional, and I remove identifying details before anything runs.
16 questions · about 15 to 25 minutes · no name, no email
EDITOR’S PICKS
The Digest
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 · 10AM–3PM
Coast Guard Community Day
U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 15 Mohegan Ave · New London · Free activities
The Academy opens the campus for face painting, kids' costume activities, poster making, player autographs and food vendors, with free parking. Coast Guard plays Springfield College at noon; football tickets are $10 for adults and free for anyone 18 and under.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 · 7–8:30PM
Crime and Punishment in Lost New London
Meets in front of Union Station · New London · $25
Bill Morse walks the north side of the Parade, Atlantic Street and lower Bradley Street, telling stories of the people who lived and sinned there before the 1960s redevelopment. The ticket includes a souvenir guide with a period map and photos. The walk runs rain or shine, and reservations are strongly recommended.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 · 11:30PM AND SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 · 7:30PM
The Rocky Horror Show at the Granite Theatre
Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St · Westerly · $80
Last year's Granite cast comes back for two encore fundraiser shows. The ticket covers bites, a goodie bag, a costume contest and a raffle. Anyone under 17 needs an adult.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 · 8PM–CLOSE
Goth Prom 2026: Carnival of Souls
The Social Bar + Kitchen, 208 Bank St · New London · $10
Spark Makerspace's annual Halloween dance party raises money for the makerspace. The costume contest has three categories this year: Saddest Clown, Horror Under the Big Top and Carnival Couture. Eventbrite tickets include an entry in the Goth Art Raffle; door tickets don't.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 · 11:30PM–1:45AM
Paranormal Investigation at the Burial Ground
Mystic · $45, ages 11+
After the last graveyard tour, Seaside Shadows takes guests into the historic burial ground for a late-night paranormal investigation. Cameras are welcome (photos only), pets aren't, and it runs rain or shine.
THE REST OF THE WEEK
Thursday, October 29
It's Alive! A Frankenstein Presentation & Screening
6–8:30pm · Groton Public Library · free; the 1931 film, with popcorn and cider · GROTON
Friday, October 30
Opening Reception: Lydia Viscardi, Time Takes Time
5–7pm · Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St · $10, members free · NEW LONDON
Artini: Timeless Fall Blooms
5:30–7:45pm · Mystic Museum of Art, 9 Water St · $45, members $40 · MYSTIC
Sip 'N' Spin Pottery Workshop
6–8pm · Stonington COMO Pottery Studio, 45 Cutler St · 21+; bring your own wine or beer · STONINGTON
Cult Horror Classic: Messiah of Evil
8pm · Hygienic Art, 79 Bank St · $5 at the gate · NEW LONDON
Saturday, October 31
CFA 5K Run & Walk for Mental Health
10am · Eastern Point Beach · $48.70; costumes encouraged; register until 9:30am race day · GROTON
Spooky Seas at Mystic Aquarium
11am–3pm · Mystic Aquarium · included with admission · MYSTIC
Trick or Treat in the Borough
5:30–7:30pm · Water Street · STONINGTON
Light the Night
6pm · 72 Broad St · free; chili, cider, games and candy · GROTON
Food & drink
Halloween Potions at Kitch
Saturday, 6–8pm · Kitch, 27 Coogan Blvd · Mystic · $65, 21+ · Chef Anthony Caporale shows you how to make three Halloween cocktails, the Pumpkin Spice Martini, the Cranberry Monster Mash and the Chocolate Lovers Potion, with spirits from Spencer & Lynn. Details →
Pinot Noir Blanc Release Party at Stonington Vineyards
Thursday, 5:30–7:30pm · 523 Taugwonk Rd · Stonington · $25 · The first pour of the vineyard's Pinot Noir Blanc before it goes on sale, with passed apps from Dog Watch catering, winemaker tours with Mike McAndrew and label artist Tricia Caracappa on hand. Details →
Live Music
Billy Gilman: 25 Years of Hits & Showstoppers at the UNITED
Sunday 7:30pm (doors 6:30) · The UNITED, Black Box, 5 Canal St · Westerly · $35 seated, fees included, all ages · The country singer became a child star in 2000, and this show runs through 25 years of his hits. It was moved from September 26, and September tickets are honored. Tickets →
Also this weekend: Grateful Dead tribute band Mystic Dead plays its monthly Shakedown Sunday at The Social, 208 Bank St in New London, at 3:20pm.
SAVE THE DATE
On the horizon
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Yellow Farmhouse's youth cooking classes at the COMO start their November three-class bundle, Thursdays 3:45 to 6pm for ages 8 to 12. It's $55 a class for members and $65 for nonmembers, or $150 and $180 for all three. Details → · Stonington
FRIDAY–SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6–7
Coast Guard Academy cadets stage their own production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Full details next week. · New London
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10
The Garde screens the documentary Join or Die at 5:15pm, then hosts a join fair where local nonprofits, clubs and service groups look for members and volunteers. It's free, but you need a ticket. Tickets → · New London
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21
The ECSO plays Gershwin's An American in Paris, Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Tchaikovsky's Sixth at the Garde, 7:30pm, with guest conductor Simon Holt. Tickets are $32 to $84 plus fees. Tickets → · New London
COASTAL WEATHER
The weekend outlook
FRIDAY
70°
Sunny · low 38°
SATURDAY
59°
Sunny · low 33°
SUNDAY
61°
Mostly sunny · low 42°
That's your week.
Pick one thing off the list and get out the door.
As always, if you are enjoying the newsletter or have any critiques, please reply and let me know!
Talk Thursday.
Reach shoreline locals every Thursday
Presenting partnerships, featured events, Crew Corner campaigns, and local notices are available.
