Good morning from the shoreline.
It’s late August on the shoreline, and the evenings are starting to come a little earlier. The water is about as warm as it gets all year.
Forewarning to the weekend, it’s looking like rain so you might want to have a backup plan!
Here’s what I’ve surfaced this week.
In today’s issue: The Gipsy Kings play the UNITED Friday · a makers market runs till 9 at the Velvet Mill · family crabbing on the Mystic River · seven free sculptures on the Avery Point waterfront · one quick question for you
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The weekend in 30 seconds
THE MARQUEE
Saturday · 2–9pm · Stonington
Local makers and vendors fill the mill from mid-afternoon until 9 at night, with Beer’d Brewing pouring in the same building. The full plan is in Saturday’s listings below.
FOR FAMILIES
Sunday · 12–2pm · Mystic
DPNC supplies nets, bait and lines at its Peace Sanctuary. $20 ($17 for members); pre-registration required. Wear shoes that can get wet.
FREE ALL WEEK
Any day · UConn Avery Point shoreline walkway · Groton
Seven outdoor sculptures along the water, on view daily through October 4. It’s free.
SLOW SUNDAY
Sunday · 3pm–sunset · Stonington
Live music in the field, food and drinks from 85th Day for purchase, and leashed dogs welcome.
CREW POLL
One quick question for you
One thing I’ve been wondering about: how everybody around here actually keeps up with what’s happening in our corner of the state. Vote below and I’ll tell you what you all said next week.
Besides this newsletter, where do you keep up with local news?
EDITOR’S PICKS
The Digest
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 · 2–9PM
The Velvet Mill’s Makers Market Runs 2 to 9 Saturday
The Velvet Mill, 22 Bayview Ave · Stonington
The Makers Market brings local makers and vendors into the Velvet Mill for seven hours Saturday, and the long window means it works as an afternoon errand or a Saturday night out. Beer’d Brewing pours in the same building, and the mill’s resident studios and shops are right there. If you want the full mill day, the Stonington Village Farmers Market runs there Saturday morning, 9 to noon.
ON VIEW DAILY · THROUGH OCTOBER 4
Seven Sculptures on the Avery Point Waterfront, Free Through October 4
UConn Avery Point shoreline walkway · Groton · Free
Open Air 2026, the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery’s outdoor exhibition, has seven sculptures and installations by nine artists set along the shoreline walkway at UConn Avery Point. It’s free, outdoors on the water, and open every day of the week, so it fits whichever day gets the good weather.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 · 12–2PM
Crabbing on the Mystic River, Nets Provided
Peace Sanctuary, 233 River Road · Mystic
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center runs Family Crabbing Sunday at its Peace Sanctuary on River Road, with nets, bait and lines provided at what they call their secret location on the Mystic River. $17 for members, $20 for everyone else, pre-registration required. Wear shoes that can get wet.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 · GATES 7PM
Saturday Night at Hygienic: the Naked Canvas Bodypainting Competition
Hygienic Art · New London
Hygienic Art runs its Naked Canvas bodypainting competition Saturday night on Bank Street, and this year’s theme is cosplay: a $1,000 first prize, live aerialists, guest hosts, and music from DJ E@ZY. Gates open at 7 and the competition runs 8 to 11.
Reach shoreline locals every Thursday
We work with organizations who care about this community. Presenting partnerships, featured events, Crew Corner campaigns, and local notices are available.
THE FULL RUNDOWN
This week’s events
Thursday, August 20
Lyman Allyn Open Collections Day
10am–3pm · Lyman Allyn Art Museum · the museum opens its library and collections work to visitors · NEW LONDON
In the Garden of Grace: Dahlia Tours
11am · St. Edmund’s Retreat, 1 Enders Island · guided garden tour with lunch; a second session starts at 12:15pm · MYSTIC
Thirsty Thursdays at Deans Mill Farm
5:30–8:30pm · Deans Mill Farm · weekly beer garden: live music and food trucks · STONINGTON
Roode Concert: The Kenn Morr Band
6pm · Mystic & Noank Library lawn · free; see Music · MYSTIC
MISFIT Karaoke
7:30pm · The MISFIT Club · MYSTIC
Friday, August 21
Nick Bosse
4:30–7:30pm · Mystic Seaport Museum, Spouter Tavern lawn · the After Hours summer music series; free entry after 5pm · MYSTIC
Modern Southern at Kitch
5:30–8:30pm · Kitch, Olde Mistick Village · see Food & Drink · MYSTIC
Family Hike and Picnic
5:30–7pm · Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center · pack your own picnic dinner; s’mores around the fire after; pre-register · MYSTIC
Mark Joseph Stelzner: Growth Machines
6pm · Bank Square Books · author talk and signing · MYSTIC
Sip ’N’ Spin Pottery Workshop
6–8pm · Stonington COMO Pottery Studio, 45 Cutler St · ages 21+; bring your own wine or beer; three pieces fired and included · STONINGTON
The Gipsy Kings featuring Tonino Baliardo
8pm · UNITED Theatre · see Music · WESTERLY
Fireworks with Dancing Dream
8pm · Ocean Beach Park · fireworks night with the ABBA tribute band · NEW LONDON
Saturday, August 22
Stained Glass Class: Plant Propagation Station
10am–2pm · Spark Makerspace, 7 Union St · beginner-friendly · NEW LONDON
The Makers Market
2–9pm · The Velvet Mill · see the Digest · STONINGTON
Free Pilates in the Park
2pm · Wilcox Park · free pop-up class from Positive Vibes Pilates; bring a mat and water; reserve a spot on the MindBody app · WESTERLY
Nature Night Out
5–8pm · Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center · ages 6–12 drop-off with live animal encounters; the parents get a night out · MYSTIC
Naked Canvas Bodypainting Competition
gates 7pm · Hygienic Art · see the Digest · NEW LONDON
Dance Saturday
7:30pm · The MISFIT Club · MYSTIC
Sunday, August 23
Black Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told
11:45am · Thames River boat tour · NEW LONDON
Family Crabbing
12–2pm · Peace Sanctuary, 233 River Road · see the Digest · MYSTIC
Kid Creature Pencil Holders Pottery Workshop
12–2:30pm · Stonington COMO Pottery Studio, 45 Cutler St · ages 7–15; $40 ($37 members) · STONINGTON
Relief Printing on Fabric: Clothing
1pm · Spark Makerspace · beginner linocut printing on cotton, linen or denim · NEW LONDON
In Our Nation’s Defense: Military Stories on the Thames
1:30pm · Thames River boat tour · NEW LONDON
Sunday Chill at Stone Acres Farm
3pm–sunset · Stone Acres Farm · see Food & Drink · STONINGTON
Revisiting Creedence
7pm · Garde Arts Center · see Music · NEW LONDON
The Outer Light cookout and the Kitch class are in Food & Drink.
Food, drink & music
FRIDAY
A Hands-On Southern Class at Kitch, Friday
Friday, August 21 · 5:30–8:30pm · Kitch, Olde Mistick Village · Mystic · Sold out
Kitch’s Modern Southern class with Chef Amanda is Friday night. Here’s the menu: grilled corn and tomato panzanella, coffee-rubbed flat iron, smoked gouda grits, and brown butter bourbon peach bread pudding. It’s hands-on, capped at 10 seats, comes with a complimentary wine tasting, and you can bring your own bottle. Kitch classes fill; if this one is gone, the link shows what’s next. Details →
SUNDAY
Sunday Chill at Stone Acres Farm
Sunday, August 23 · 3pm–sunset (listed to about 7:30) · Stone Acres Farm, 393 North Main St · Stonington
Stone Acres runs its weekly Sunday Chill from 3 to sunset: live music in the field, food and drinks from 85th Day available for purchase, and room to wander the farm. Leashed dogs are welcome; outside alcohol is not. Details →
ALSO ON THE TABLE
The Monthly Cookout at Outer Light, Sunday
Sunday, August 23 · 2–6pm · Outer Light Brewing Company · Groton
Outer Light’s Grill, Chill and Pour community BBQ is Sunday afternoon at the taproom: the monthly cookout, with classic grill food alongside the beer list. Details →
The shows to plan around are Friday at the UNITED and Sunday at the Garde.
THURSDAY · MUSIC
The Kenn Morr Band, Thursday at the library
The Mystic & Noank Library’s free Roode Memorial Concert series puts the Kenn Morr Band on the library lawn at 6pm. Free. Details →
FRIDAY · MUSIC
The Gipsy Kings featuring Tonino Baliardo, Friday at the UNITED
The Historia Tour stops in Westerly at 8pm Friday. Ticketed. Details →
SUNDAY · MUSIC
Revisiting Creedence, Sunday at the Garde
Dan McGuinness and Kurt Griffey, who toured with members of the original band, play the Creedence Clearwater Revival catalogue at 7pm in New London. Ticketed. Details →
Full live-music list at wailingcity.com →
If I missed your gig, reply and I’ll get it in next week.
SAVE THE DATE
On the horizon
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Stone Acres Farm hosts the August Full Moon Festival, 6 to 9pm: live music, vendors, and a night on the farm under the full moon. Tickets are on Resy and presale has been live for a while. · Stonington
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12–13
The Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival runs at Fort Trumbull and Waterfront Park, 10am to 5pm both days: vessel tours, a Kids Nautical Zone, living-history encampments, free water taxis between the two sites. Saturday night is the one to circle: the Burning of Benedict Arnold march steps off from The Social on Bank Street at 7:30, and a 300-drone light show flies over the Thames at 8. · New London
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
The Fall Market at Grey Sail Brewing runs 1 to 5pm on Canal Street in Westerly: 20+ local vendors, food trucks, yard games, and live music from Casey Rivers and Shane Patrick & Elemental Groove Band. They’re running it with South County Distillers. · Westerly
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2–3
The Bison Brook Rodeo comes to Bison Brook Farm, 42 Button Road in North Stonington: two nights of bulls and broncs, 4 to 10pm each night. Tickets are through Eventbrite. · North Stonington
COASTAL WEATHER
The weekend outlook
FRIDAY
77°
Chance of showers
SATURDAY
75°
Showers
SUNDAY
78°
Chance of showers
Showers are possible all three days, and Saturday looks wettest, so have an indoor backup ready.
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 suggestions, please reply and let me know!
Talk Thursday.
