Cacao Ka-Ching! Mystic River Chocolate Cafe, Groton August 2024 Do you like chocolate? Do you like really expensive high-quality chocolate? The kind where you talk about single-sourcing and Ecuadorian vs. Nicaraguan cacao? Well, then hit up my man Fernando at Chokaico at one of his pop-up events. Or, … [Read more...]
Mystic River Chocolate Cafe Brewery
Mystic Mystery Mystic River Chocolate Cafe Brewery, Groton August 2024 If you were to ask anyone how many breweries there are in Groton in 2024, I don't think anyone would say five. But the correct answer is (was in 2024, anyway) five. Outer Light is proudly Groton, but the other three are in the Mystic … [Read more...]
NHL: Charles W. Morgan
CT National Historic Landmark Charles W. Morgan Stonington This old whaling ship was built in 1841 and had a massively successful whaling career for 80 years. It has served as a museum ship since the 1940's. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1966. The entire Mystic Seaport living museum was built up … [Read more...]
Mystic Sweet Shop
Hallelujah Mystic Sweet Shop, Groton November 2022 Way back in late 2013 I visited this place with my family. My young sons and beautiful wife enjoyed the shop's homemade ice cream on an autumn day out in the southeast corner of the state. If you go back and read that page (and smile at my incredibly cute boys), … [Read more...]
Mystic River Historical Society & Portersville Academy
Skeletons in the Closet Groton (Google Maps location) June 2016 I know you all just love when I insist on geolocating things in either Groton or Stonington and refuse to say "Mystic." Even now, with the Mystic River Historical Society of... Mystic. Look, it's in Groton. Groton, Groton, Groton. Of course … [Read more...]
NHL: Sabino
CT National Historic Landmark The Sabino Stonington I believe I'm supposed to italicize Sabino because I think that's how boats are to be written about. However, in my reading, I've seen SABINO and I've seen "Sabino." So I don't really know. What I do know is that the Sabino is a small steamboat that is still … [Read more...]
Mystic River Bascule Bridge
BasCOOL Bridge, Am I Right? Mystic River Bascule Bridge, Stonington/Groton The Argia Cruise no longer travels under the bridge. Who among us hasn't been delayed and annoyed by the Mystic River Bridge? Anyone? Didn't think so. Who among us hasn't been fascinated by watching the massive concrete blocks force … [Read more...]
Argia Mystic Cruise
Some Argle-Bargle Argia Mystic Cruise, Groton & Stonington October 2014 The Argia Cruise no longer travels under the Mystic River Bascule Bridge. I owe this experience entirely to my friend Julie who arranged an Argia Mystic Cruise for her husband Tim and some friends for his 40th birthday. Tim and I have been … [Read more...]
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Pretty Women Mystic Pizza, 1988 There are a lot of movies on my Connecticut Movies list, but you'll be hard-pressed to find one that more Connecticut than 1988's coming of age flick, Mystic Pizza. It was almost entirely filmed in Stonington and Groton and anyone with a passing familiarity with the area will … [Read more...]
Barley Head Brewery (Closed)
It Takes a Mystic Barley Head Brewery, Groton June 2019 The brewery closed in July 2024... then reopened with new owners as The Misfit Club a month later. The new owners are thinking of opening a brewery called Misfit Brewery at some point. Here we are, together again. About to discuss yet another tiny … [Read more...]