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...]
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...]
330. 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...]
Dodge Paddock/Beal Preserve
Couldn’t Dodge Sandy Dodge Paddock/Beal Preserve , Stonington May 16, 2015 This post pretty much represents everything I love about these particular tiny little land trust properties – and every reason why I continue exploring them and writing about them. This little place is only 3.68 acres. The “hike” on the … [Read more...]
Cheese Boro Whey (RIP)
I Guess It's The Cheese Boro Way Cheese Boro Whey, Stonington May 16, 2015 Reports say Cheese Boro Whey closed in 2018. Man, it’s been quite a while since I’ve done a new CT Cheese Trail post. (If curious, the CT Cheese Trail is not a real thing. I made it up, but I maintain a pretty good list of CT cheese … [Read more...]
Enders Island
This Is It: The Enders Enders Island, Mystic May 16, 2015 Every once in a while I'm tasked with writing a page that I find difficult to write for reasons that may surprise you. In this case, it's because Enders Island is a confusing, strange, stunningly beautiful, relatively unknown, mixed bag of a place - with a … [Read more...]
33. Mystic Aquarium
Lion(fish) and Tiger(sharks), Oh My! Mystic section of Stonington (Google Maps Location) October 11, 2007, etc. I've been to the Aquarium a few times since the initial visit that most of this page is based upon - and have gained a greater appreciation for it over the years. In 2016, I fixed up the pictures here a … [Read more...]
ALC: Knox Family Farm Preserve
Knox on Wood Knox Family Farm Preserve, Stonington February 1, 2014 [This page is part of my ongoing series, “Hikes with my Boys.” The full list of those hikes can be found here.] I used this hike as sort of a test. Could I drive to the farthest (by time) spot in Connecticut (more or less) alone with my two … [Read more...]
Avalonia Land Conservancy Trails Intro
Avalonia Land Conservancy Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington, Preston, Stonington Okay, who took geology in college? You did? Awesome. I did too and while it was just one sort of side class for me I really enjoyed it. And no, “Rocks for Jocks” doesn’t count, I mean a real geology class. UConn has a … [Read more...]