Good morning from the shoreline.
We got a nor'easter for the first weekend of fall. Maybe this one will be better.
Dinner Club round two is booking now for Wednesday, October 14, and about a third of the first group is already coming back. Details below.
The first Living on the Shoreline profile runs today, with the form for your own story at the bottom of it.
If you want to know what's happening in Stonington's arts world, stoningtonculture.com keeps the town's culture listings in one place: upcoming events, a directory of galleries, museums and groups, and walks around the Mystic and Stonington cultural districts. The Stonington Cultural Districts Commission runs it. If you make art in Stonington, you can add your own listing to the directory in a few minutes.
Here’s what I’ve surfaced this week.
In today’s issue: Dinner Club round two · our first Living on the Shoreline profile · Randy Travis at the Garde · the Garde's 1926 opening night, restaged · a rodeo in North Stonington · Stonington's literary festival · the Wild Mushroom Festival · a harvest party at Jonathan Edwards
Heads up: Gmail sometimes cuts this email short. Read the full issue online →
START HERE
The weekend in 30 seconds
THE MARQUEE
A Night to Remember at the Garde
Saturday · 6pm · New London · $26–$126 plus fees
For its 100th year, the Garde recreates its 1926 opening night: a cocktail reception, a vaudeville and silent-film show at 7:30, then a speakeasy on stage until 11.
FOR FAMILIES
Saturday · 11am–1pm · New London · Free
Kids can pick and paint a pumpkin, first come, first served. Xen's Critters brings its mobile petting zoo, and museum admission is free all day.
FREE SATURDAY
Saturday · 10am–4pm · Niantic
Local artisans and vintage sellers set up in several spots around downtown Niantic.
SLOW SUNDAY
Sunday · 10:30am–5pm · North Stonington · $30 advance, $35 at the door
The winery's 25th-year festival has three bands, hayrides and a grape stomp. Anyone under 21 gets in free with a ticketed adult.
DINNER CLUB
Book a seat at the next Dinner Club
On September 22, 36 of you sat down to dinner with people you'd never met, and 20 kept going at the after-party at Dive. About a third of that group has already booked again.
You book one seat, I match the tables, and you meet the rest of the Crew over 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.
Wednesday, October 14 · 6:30pm · Downtown Mystic · $15.99
READER SERIES · NO. 1
Living on the Shoreline
Three jobs and a boat slip for a shore house
The first answers came in the morning #26 went out. She's in her mid-40s, works three jobs and lives inland. Her place on the shoreline is a boat she and her partner keep in a Mystic slip, where they spend most of their time off.
What do you do for work?
I'm a school nurse and a part-time OR nurse, and from May through October I work a seasonal job on the water. Basically, I have three jobs, because apparently one income stream felt too relaxing for a single-mom household.
How long have you been here, and what brought you back?
I grew up spending every weekend in Noank with my boating family, then took a little detour for babies, a marriage and a divorce. When I discovered just how expensive raising athletes is, I picked up a summer job back in my happy place, and somehow ended up with a partner, a boat of our own, and a life where we spend half our time on the shoreline working and the other half pretending we're relaxing.
Where do you live, and where does your life actually happen?
I live inland, but most of my time off happens in Mystic, usually floating. It's about half work, half relaxing, and somehow the two have completely blended together.
Who's in the household?
My partner and I live in separate Connecticut towns, but we blend our families in Mystic, where we spend most of our time together on the boat. Between us, we have three kids.
Tell me about your housing.
Our shoreline housing is a boat slip. My partner and I pay less than $10,000 a year to have a floating shore house.
What do you earn?
My partner and I make about $300,000 combined.
What's one local decision that has made your money go further?
Big meals at "home," drinks and apps out. We love to visit local businesses and barter our services, but cooking and eating our core meals on the boat has kept us accountable to our budget.
How have you found friendship and community here?
I found my partner boat shopping. He had listed his boat on Facebook Marketplace, we went to look at it, and we've been inseparable ever since.
What routine keeps you grounded?
Walks, jogs, early-morning sunrises and hot coffee on the Mystic River.
One restaurant that's worth the money?
Red 36. The raw bar and the skinny margs!
The best free thing about living here?
A walk through downtown Mystic. It's easy to find free parking, there's always something different to see, and I get my salt-air fix.
What counts as "wealthy" around here?
I don't feel like wealthy is a number in this neighborhood. I never feel like locals are pretentious. Wealthy is a perspective. You can be rich in life without a large yearly income.
How much would it take to feel genuinely free?
I don't think there's a number that allows someone to be free. It's a mindset. I've met so many people in this area who make ten times as much as we do and don't allow themselves the freedom to truly enjoy financial security.
What do you know now about building a good life that you wish you'd understood earlier?
I'm still figuring out what a good life looks like, but I know now that it isn't something you arrive at. It takes balance, hard work, and being willing to adjust when life changes course.
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 3 · 6PM
The Garde Restages Its 1926 Opening Night
Garde Arts Center, 325 State St · New London · $26–$126 plus fees
The Garde recreates its 1926 opening night with a cocktail reception from 6–7pm, a 7:30 vaudeville and silent-film program with live music, and an onstage speakeasy with jazz and dancing from 9–11pm. Dressing for the 1920s is optional.
FRIDAY–SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2–3 · GATES 3PM FRIDAY, 2PM SATURDAY
Bison Brook Rodeo in North Stonington
42 Button Rd · North Stonington · tickets from $25.24 with fees, online only
Two nights of rough-stock rodeo, with bull riding in the main arena, plus food, drinks, vendors and music. The rodeo runs 7–10pm Friday and 5–8pm Saturday, with live music around it both nights. Kids 6 and under get in free. There's a bar, so bring ID if you plan to drink, and parking is $10 cash per car at the checkpoint. There are no tickets at the gate and no refunds, and it runs rain or shine.
FRIDAY–SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2–4
Stonington Literary Festival for the James Merrill Centennial
La Grua Center, 32 Water St, and other Borough venues · Stonington · Free to $25 a session, registration required
The James Merrill House marks the centennial of the poet's birth with three days of readings, talks and tours in the Borough. Open sessions include Mark Doty and Mark Wunderlich on queer life in the 20th century Saturday at 11am ($25) and Hilton Als reading Sunday at 2pm at La Grua ($25), followed by a free reading of Merrill's "Water Street" at 3. Every session needs registration, the free ones too, and students get Saturday and Sunday daytime sessions free with the code STUDENT.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 · 12–4PM
Wild Mushroom Festival at Deans Mill Farm
Deans Mill Farm, 1189 Pequot Trail · Stonington · $36 adults, $18 children, advance tickets only
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center's festival includes woodland walks and talks with naturalists, foragers and mushroom experts, plus a mushroom identification table and a marketplace of growers, artists and chefs. The adult ticket includes 12 food tickets for mushroom dishes from local chefs (children get 6), and extra food tickets are $1. Tickets are advance-only, and DPNC expects them to sell out.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 · 10:30AM–5PM
Harvest Festival for Jonathan Edwards Winery's 25th Year
Jonathan Edwards Winery, 74 Chester Maine Rd · North Stonington · $30 advance, $35 at the door
The John Fries Trio, The Fake Experience and Sugar play, with food trucks, an artisan tent, hayrides, pumpkin painting and pumpkin bowling, free kids' activities, and a grape stomp contest for adults. The ticket covers a glass of wine, a keepsake glass, parking and every activity, and anyone under 21 gets in free with a ticketed adult. It runs rain or shine, and the bars close at 4:30.
THE REST OF THE WEEK
More this week
Thursday, October 1
SFL After Hours: Ghost Stories & Cider with Jeff Belanger
6pm · Stonington Free Library, 20 High St · 21+, pay what you wish ($15 suggested) · the New England Legends host, with Tapped Apple cider; costumes welcome · STONINGTON
Thriller Dance Workshop
6–7pm · Groton Public Library · registration required · two sessions, Oct 1 and Oct 8; sign up for both · GROTON
Friday, October 2
The Tempest
7:30pm · the COMO, 28 Cutler St · STONINGTON
Saturday, October 3
One of One Run or Walk at Clyde's Cider Mill
8am · B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill (park at 49 N Stonington Rd) · an easy-paced 5K, walkers welcome · MYSTIC
Marbled Textile Sketchbook Covers with Carol Mann
10am–1pm · Mystic Museum of Art, 9 Water St · $70, $60 members, plus $12 supplies · MYSTIC
Outer Light Fall Fest
12–8pm · Outer Light Brewing, 266 Bridge St · axe throwing, Carly's Critters, Mr. Hot Dog, Mystic Cheese and Six Penny Oysters; Austin Neal plays 4–7 · GROTON
2nd Annual Toxoween Market
12–5pm · Tox Brewing Co, 123 Bank St · Free · NEW LONDON
Hygienic YART Sale
12–3pm · Hygienic Art, 79 Bank St · unclaimed artwork, prints and Hygienic shirts, priced to go · NEW LONDON
CT State Poet Laureate Inaugural Program
2–4pm · Waterford Public Library · Waterford's José B. González starts his term with original poems · WATERFORD
All Things Pumpkin Magic Show with Ed Pop
3:30–5pm · Mystic & Noank Library lawn · no registration · MYSTIC
Sunday, October 4
Run for The Cove Memorial Walk & Kids Fun Run
9am · Bluff Point State Park, 55 Depot Rd · raises money for The Cove's free grief support for children · GROTON
SCULPT41° Mat Class at Kingdom of the Hawk
9:30am–12pm · Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyards, 113 Pendleton Hill Rd · $115 · a 35-minute outdoor class, then a social hour with rosé and breakfast bites · NORTH STONINGTON
Manhattan Short Film Festival
3–5pm · Garde Arts Center, 325 State St · ten finalist shorts, and you vote for Best Film and Best Actor · NEW LONDON
Last Call: A Farewell to Patio Season
4pm · River Bar, 37 Main St · WESTERLY
Food & drink
Drag Munch at Pub 181
Sunday 12–3pm · 318 State St · New London · Free with RSVP, 21+, food and drinks sold separately · Carmen Cyde, Mr Magpie and Crayloca perform. Seating is first come, first served, so get there early. RSVP →
Denison Farmers Market
Sunday 12–3pm · Denison Homestead, 120 Pequotsepos Rd · Mystic · Free. Details →
Live Music
Randy Travis: The More Life Tour at the Garde
Thursday 7:30pm · Garde Arts Center, 325 State St · New London · $72–$122 plus fees · James Dupré, Travis's co-star in The Price, sings all 16 of Travis's number-one hits, including "On the Other Hand," "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "Three Wooden Crosses," backed by Travis's longtime touring band. It is the band's first tour with him since just before his 2013 stroke. Travis comes on stage and talks with the crowd, but he does not sing. VIP passes with a meet and greet are sold at the show. Tickets →
SAVE THE DATE
On the horizon
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
Pours With Purpose at Outer Light runs 4–8pm: $1 from every pour and all tips go to Mystic Seaport Museum, and the museum's president and CEO, Chris Freeman, pours behind the bar. Details → · Groton
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
What Lurks Beneath: Ghost Ship at Mystic Seaport Museum is a walk-through Halloween show on the waterfront with ghost whalers from an 1826 mutiny. It runs on select nights from 6 to 9pm with timed entry. It's recommended for ages 8 and up. Nonmember tickets are $41–$46 for adults and $29–$30 for youth. Members pay less, and capacity is limited. Details → · Mystic
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11
Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE is at the Garde at 3pm, with free family activities in the lobbies from 2pm. Tickets are $29–$75 plus fees. Tickets → · New London
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
Harry Chapin's Greatest Stories Live with the Chapin Family is at the Garde at 8pm. Tickets are $39–$79 plus fees. Tickets → · New London
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
The Rocky Horror Picture Show with the RKO Army shadow cast is at the Garde at 7pm. Costumes are encouraged, and tickets are $26 plus fees. Tickets → · New London
COASTAL WEATHER
The weekend outlook
FRIDAY
77°
Partly cloudy; showers possible after 8pm
SATURDAY
69°
Mostly sunny
SUNDAY
64°
Partly sunny, chance of showers
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.
