Good morning from the shoreline.
Three seats remain at Tuesday’s Shoreline Dinner Club, and reservations close Sunday at 6:30pm. I’ve seen the restaurant list and I’m getting so excited! Details are below.
Here’s what I’ve surfaced this week.
In today’s issue: the Harvest Food & Wine Festival at Stonington Vineyards · the Garlic Festival in Mystic and the Oyster Festival in Niantic · whaling-era portraits at the Lyman Allyn · Don Winslow in Old Mystic
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The weekend in 30 seconds
THE MARQUEE
Harvest Food & Wine Festival at Stonington Vineyards
Saturday and Sunday · 11am–6pm both days · Stonington · $30 one day in advance, $35 at the gate; $50 weekend pass
Four bands, food trucks and about ten artisan vendors take over the vineyard lawn for two days. Admission includes a glass of wine and a keepsake glass. Rain or shine.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Friday · 5–7pm · New London · Members free, $10 otherwise
The opening reception for a new exhibition of Isaac Sheffield’s 1830s and ’40s portraits of New London’s whaling captains. Wine and hors d’oeuvres are included; RSVP requested.
ALL WEEKEND
Saturday 11am–7pm, Sunday 11am–6pm · Mystic · Free admission
More than 50 farms, bakeries and craft vendors fill the Olde Mistick Village greens, with 16 performers and garlic worked into just about everything.
SLOW SUNDAY
Sunday · 3–5pm · Groton · $30 suggested donation
The Avery-Copp House Museum holds its annual fundraiser on the lawn of the 1916 Schellens House overlooking the Thames, with hors d’oeuvres, Revolutionary-era music and painters working outdoors. Reservations required.
THREE SEATS LEFT
Dinner Club Reservations Close Sunday
The first Shoreline Dinner Club is Tuesday at 6:30pm in downtown Mystic. Book a seat, answer a short matching quiz and we’ll place you at dinner with five other people from around the shoreline. The restaurant is revealed Tuesday morning, and the full group can meet afterward for an optional drink.
Tuesday, September 22 · 6:30pm · Downtown Mystic · $15.99
Reservations close Sunday at 6:30pm
Can’t make this one? Reply and I’ll add you to the list to hear about the next one.
EDITOR’S PICKS
The Digest
SATURDAY–SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19–20 · 11AM–6PM BOTH DAYS
Harvest Food & Wine Festival, Two Days at Stonington Vineyards
Stonington Vineyards, 523 Taugwonk Rd · Stonington · $30 advance day pass, $35 at the gate, $50 weekend pass
The vineyard’s harvest festival runs all weekend with four bands, food trucks and about ten artisan vendors. Nick Bosse & The Northern Roots close Saturday, and Wicked Peach closes Sunday. Admission includes one pour and a keepsake wine glass; advance tickets are $5 less than the gate. Rain or shine.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 · GARLIC FESTIVAL 11AM–7PM (SUNDAY 11AM–6PM) · OYSTER FESTIVAL 12–6PM
Garlic in Mystic, Oysters in Niantic
Olde Mistick Village · Free · St. John’s Green · Niantic · Free, $5 parking
Olde Mistick Village’s Garlic Festival brings more than 50 farms, bakeries and craft vendors to the greens, with 16 performers and garlic in just about everything. Admission is free. In Niantic, the Oyster Festival fills St. John’s Green with raw bars, seafood vendors, brewery sampling, live music and cornhole. Admission is free, parking is $5, and proceeds support the Miracle League’s adaptive baseball program.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 · 5–7PM
Isaac Sheffield’s Whaling-Era Portraits Open at the Lyman Allyn
Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St · New London · Members free / $10 non-members
Sheffield painted New London’s whaling captains in the 1830s and ’40s, when the city’s fleet was at its height. His portraits and miniatures go on view Friday with a wine-and-hors-d’oeuvres reception. RSVP requested.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 · 5–7PM
Don Winslow in Conversation at Snediker Yacht Restoration
Snediker Yacht Restoration, 35 Campground Rd · Old Mystic · $125
Crime novelist Don Winslow, author of the Cartel Trilogy and City on Fire, joins Rick Koster of The Day inside the Snediker restoration shop. Winslow’s new collection, The Final Score, will be available for purchase. The event benefits the Mystic & Noank Library, and seating is limited.
More This Week
Thursday, September 17
Open Collections Day
10am–3pm · Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St · Included with museum admission · watch the curatorial staff work in the Hendel Library · NEW LONDON
In the Garden of Grace: Dahlia Tours at Enders Island
morning tour 11am; afternoon tour 1:30pm, check-in 12:15pm · St. Edmund’s Retreat, 1 Enders Island · the afternoon tour is $50 with lunch in the Enders House · MYSTIC
Thursdays Aboard Argia: Sea Music with Geoff Kaufman
5:30–7:30pm · Argia Mystic Cruises, 15 Holmes St · the Seaport’s longtime chantey man on deck; bring a picnic, book at argiamystic.com · MYSTIC
The Days of Dylan Thomas
5:30pm · Mystic Luxury Cinemas, 27 Coogan Blvd · restored 22-minute Dylan Thomas film and a preview of a new Rollie McKenna documentary · MYSTIC
Mike Hanley, The Comedy Craft Beer Tour
7:30pm · The Oasis Room, Garde Arts Center · $27.50 plus fees · NEW LONDON
Saturday, September 19
New London Harbor Lighthouse Tour
12–12:45pm · 810Pequot Ave · $35 / $30 NLMS members / $25 ages 8–18 · climb 116 steps to the lantern room; sneakers required, reserve 48 hours ahead · NEW LONDON
Celtic Music Workshop with Aoife Clancy
3:30–5pm · Mystic & Noank Library, Ames Room · Free · the Grammy-nominated singer teaches songs passed down from her father, Bobby Clancy; registration required · MYSTIC
Sunday, September 20
New London Harbor Lighthouse Tour
12–12:45pm · 810½ Pequot Ave · $35 / $30 NLMS members / $25 ages 8–18 · NEW LONDON
Monday, September 21
Hurricane of ’38 with Lou Allyn
6pm · Mystic & Noank Library, Spicer Reading Room · Free, registration required · photographs and accounts of the September 21, 1938 storm, 88 years to the day · MYSTIC
Tuesday, September 22
Gungywamp Equinox Hike
4–6:30pm · Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, meets at 500 Gungywamp Rd · $30 / $25.50 members, pre-register · two miles through the stone structures and glacial erratics; adults and older kids · GROTON
Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America’s First Spy
6pm · Groton Public Library · Free · author M. William Phelps, on the 250th anniversary of Hale’s execution · GROTON
Jordan Freeman, Portrayed by Kevin Johnson
6:30pm · Waterford Public Library · Free, registration suggested · Col. William Ledyard’s body servant in the Revolutionary War · WATERFORD
Food & drink
Seasonal Mediterranean Cooking at Kitch
Friday 6–9pm · $115 · hands-on three-hour class; four seats remaining · MYSTIC
New London Rotary Club Brewfest
Friday 6–9pm · Ocean Beach Park · $30 in advance, $35 at the door · 15 sampling tickets, live music and food included; proceeds go to the New London Rotary Foundation · NEW LONDON
Denison Farmers Market
Sunday 12–3pm · Denison Homestead · MYSTIC
Live Music
NRBQ at the UNITED
Friday 8pm, doors 7pm · Westerly · $35 · barrelhouse R&B, power pop, rockabilly and free jazz in the Black Box · Tickets →
Amy Gallatin opens Friday Night Folk
Friday 7:30pm · All Souls, New London · $20 advance / $25 door · bluegrass and country with resophonic guitarist Roger Williams · Details →
She Sings Dylan at The Hounds
Tuesday 6–9pm · Stonington · benefit for the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center’s dog-care program; bring a chair · Details →
Also: Adam Lomeo and Marcus McLaurine at La Grua Friday, free; a three-band indie bill at Oasis Pub Friday, 21+; Colin Van Pelt and South Country BBQ at Saltwater Farm Sunday.
Full live-music calendar at wailingcity.com.
SAVE THE DATE
On the horizon
THURSDAY–SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24–27
Mystic Film Festival: The ninth annual festival runs four days across Mystic and Westerly venues, with opening night at Mystic Luxury Cinemas. Tickets and passes are on sale now. · Mystic
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Magic Rocks: illusionist Leon Etienne at the Garde, 8pm. $39–79 plus fees, and a family four-pack for $100 with the code MAGIC4LEON. · New London
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Maritime Trades & Foodways Day at Mystic Seaport, then the Planetarium Full Moon Cruise aboard the Sabino that night. · Mystic
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
The Pioneer, the City of Groton firefighters’ annual fundraiser at Outer Light Brewing on Bridge Street, 1–8pm, free admission, with a Juicy IPA brewed for it. · Groton
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
The Garde at 100: A Night to Remember reenacts the theater’s 1926 opening night, with a cocktail reception at 6pm, classic cars out front, the reenactment at 7:30 and a speakeasy with live jazz after. $26–126 plus fees. · New London
COASTAL WEATHER
The weekend outlook
FRIDAY
79°
Clouds early, then sunny
SATURDAY
69°
Mostly sunny
SUNDAY
70°
Showers likely, mainly after 2pm
Saturday should stay dry for both festivals. Showers are most likely after 2pm Sunday, so a morning at the Garlic Festival or the lighthouse should be fine, and the Harvest Festival runs rain or shine either way.
That’s your week. Pick one thing off the list and get out the door.
If you want one of Tuesday’s remaining Dinner Club seats, reservations close Sunday at 6:30pm.
Talk Thursday.
Reach shoreline locals every Thursday
Presenting partnerships, featured events, Crew Corner campaigns, and local notices are available.
