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
It Takes a Mystic Barley Head Brewery, Groton June 2019 Here we are, together again. About to discuss yet another tiny Connecticut brewery no one ever talks about or seeks out. Owned and operated by a (surely) well-meaning guy whose friends all told him that his free garage homebrew was the best beer they’d ever … [Read more...]
Book Review: Mystic Seaport
Salty Mystic Seaport, 1974 By The Mystic Seaport, Inc. I was perusing the shelves at the Windsor Library the other day and happened upon this book. It’s a picture book. There is one page of text. I could copy those three paragraphs and delight you with them, but you can probably guess what they say. So … [Read more...]
NHL: James Merrill House
CT National Historic Landmark James Merrill House 107 Water Street, Stonington (Museum) Since the Merrill house is a museum, and since I have had the pleasure of visiting it, this NHL page will be somewhat truncated. After all, you certainly should want to read about Merrill’s whole story and MY story of my, um, … [Read more...]
James Merrill House
Hello? Helloooooo? Stonington (Google Maps location) June 14, 2016 Stonington is one of Connecticut’s most beautiful towns. I love it myself. And Stonington Borough within Stonington? It’s a real, live, New England seafaring movie set town. Museums, restaurants, jetties, history, curio shops, tree-lined … [Read more...]