T UC
CO
M
OR
Y
D RO N T IN TIO RY EDI A T AL EN M GIT I PL DI
where the
$4.95
• SEPTEMBER 2022
WHALES are
Pica Chica Tacos
Shoreline’s new “taco dealer”
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrating community, culture, tradition
BEST OF THE BEST
The results are in!
Do you know how to play Wheel of Fortune?
If you have a hearing loss, you do it all the time. The reason is that with all hearing losses, some speech sounds may come through quite well, while others are missed. For example, in the sentence,
L E __’ __ __ 0 __ L A Y __ A __ E __ A L L , __ R A N __ A __ ! All of the high frequency sounds have been hidden. This common pattern of hearing loss leaves the individual struggling to understand what the person said, grasping to fill in the missing blanks that their hearing loss doesn’t allow them to hear. This pattern of hearing loss, over time, can lead to a lack of attention and loss of listening ability. It can make one cognitively slower and literally a step behind everyone else in the conversation. Fortunately, this pattern of hearing loss can be greatly helped when “Getting my new hearing aids treated by one of our Doctors of Audiology. In fact, our Doctors have from County Hearing and Balance had extensive, advanced training in learning about the acoustics was the best thing I ever did.” of speech, how different patterns of hearing loss affect speech understanding, and extensive experience in utilizing today’s modern hearing aids to correct an individual’s hearing problems. The complete sentence above is“LET’S GO PLAY BASEBALL, GRANDAD!”. Isn’t it easy when you have the complete picture?
Now is the time to schedule a FREE Complete Hearing Consultation
FREE PROFESSIONAL EAR EXAMINATION
One of our Hearing Professionals will provide a professional examination of your ears and assess your hearing. Specialized testing will determine how well you understand speech, particularly in background noise.
FREE DEMONSTRATION
In the event that you have a hearing loss, you will have the opportunity to evaluate hearing aids that have been accurately and professionally tuned specifically for your hearing loss. Your instrument will be chosen from several different brands based upon your specific needs, value, sound quality, and reliability.
County Hearing and Balance countyhearingandbalance.com
Waterford 167 Parkway North 860-443-6944
Old Saybrook 900 Boston Post Road 860-388-0022
Groton 495 Route 184 860-445-7476
Norwich 18 Oneco Street 860-886-6268
Madison 82 Bradley Road 203-245-1950
Middletown 198 S. Main Street 860-301-9984
Call one of our convenient offices to schedule your appointment.
SOLD! SOLD!
1 Selden Road, Lyme | LP $825,000 1Elegant Selden Road, sophistication Lyme | LP $825,000 Farmhouse describes this
box Antique on 6.19describes acres of this land. Elegantjewel Farmhouse sophistication jewel box Antique on 6.19 acres of land.
Who’s ready
Who’s ready to sell their to sell their house next? house next?
“SPECIALIZING ANDDISTINCTIVE DISTINCTIVE SHORELINE PROPERTIES” “SPECIALIZING IN IN UNIQUE UNIQUE AND SHORELINE PROPERTIES”
Madeleine “Maddy”Mattson Mattson Madeleine “Maddy” Top all Coldwell ColdwellBanker BankerSales Sales Associates Internationally Top 3% of all Associates Internationally
(860) 575-4344 (860) 575-4344
Maddy.Mattson@cbmoves.com | maddymattson.com Maddy.Mattson@cbmoves.com | maddymattson.com Old Lyme Office | PO Box 509/86 Halls Road | Old Lyme, CT 06371 | 860.575.4344 | ColdwellBankerHomes.com
Old Lyme Office | PO Box 509/86 Halls Road | Old Lyme, CT 06371 | 860.575.4344 | ColdwellBankerHomes.com ©2022 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, and the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury logo are service
marks registered or pendingBanker registration Coldwell BankerCompany. Real EstateAll LLC. Coldwell BankerColdwell Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and theLuxury, Equal Opportunity Act. Each OfficeGlobal Is Independently ©2022 Coldwell Real owned Estateby LLC. A Realogy Rights Reserved. Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Global and the Coldwell Banker Luxury logo are service Owned And Operated. Listingregistration informationowned is deemed reliable, but is not Real guaranteed. marks registered or pending by Coldwell Banker Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Listing information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
Thank you for Voting Us Top 3 Best Chef, Mexican Cuisine, Outdoor Dining & Server/Bartender Come dine with us and find out why we’re the Best!
La Llorona 13 Hope St., Niantic, CT 860-850-4291
65
WINNER OF THE 2022 OUTSTANDING HISTORIC THEATRE IN AMERICA AWARD.
thedaymag@theday.com THE DAY PUBLISHING COMPANY
47 Eugene O’Neill Drive, New London, CT 06320-1231 860-442-2200 www.theday.com
President and Publisher
Timothy C. Dwyer 860-701-4379 t.dwyer@theday.com
Regional Advertising Director
Louvenia Brandt 860-701-4247 l.brandt@theday.com
Editor
Traci Neal tracineal110@gmail.com
Layout Editor
Barb Dunn b.dunn@theday.com
Advertising Sales
Gary Mullen and The Works perform One Night of Queen, a spectacular live concert, recreating the look, sound, pomp and showmanship of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. This show will ROCK you! Sponsored by Nutmeg Building & Remodeling LLC
ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN SUN., SEPT. 11, 2022 | 7 PM
Kristen Lennon k.lennon@theday.com Elle Rahilly e.rahilly@theday.com Rebecca Angelastro r.angelastro@theday.com Paul Blanco p.blanco@theday.com Cindy Cody c.cody@theday.com David Gellar dave@d2marketingsolutions.com Sarah Mazzio s.mazzio@theday.com Randy Murallo r.murallo@theday.com Jim Schiavone j.schiavone@theday.com Laura Carpenter l.carpenter@shorepublishing.com Lori Gregan l.gregan@shorepublishing.com Lisa Martin l.martin@shorepublishing.com
Advertising Design/Production
Kara Conlon, Jennifer Corthell, Chris Dobbins, Troy Hall, Patrick Santiague, Richard Swanson, Heidi Toala
Additional Contributions by
Kathy Archambault, Ann Baldelli, Lisa Bousquet, Jennifer Carmichael, Betty J. Cotter, Phil Hall, Erica Moser, G.A. Peck, Richard Selden, Bridget Shirvell, Kitty Williams
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW Paint This Town Tour 2022 OPENER: Never Come Down SAT., SEPT. 24, 2022 | 8 PM The Grammy Award-winning Americana folk/bluegrass string band, Old Crow Medicine Show makes their Garde debut.
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM THURS., NOV. 10, 2022 | 8 PM Lindsey Buckingham is one of the most inventive and electrifying musicians of his generation. He returns to The Garde for a great night of music.
Scan QR Code for more details and a full calendar listing: 325 STATE STREET | NEW LONDON, CT | 860.444.7373 6
magazine
© Copyright 2022 by The Day Publishing Company All rights reserved. Reproductions without the permission of the publisher are prohibited. ATTENTION SUBSCRIBERS: This issue of The Day Magazine is considered one of The Day’s premium editions. You are receiving this premium publication for a fee equivalent to one issue of the newspaper; charged by moving your expiration date back by one day. If you would like to opt-out of receiving these publications please call Customer Service at 860-701-4400 or email memberservices@theday.com.
on the cover Water cascades off the tail of a humpback whale. photo by barb dunn
this month 2 0 2 2
photo courtesy of Adobe stock
S E P T E M B E R
40 BEST OF THE BEST WINNERS 44
ONE MAN’S VISION Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern
Connecticut mentors, empowers, promotes community
46 Arts & Entertainment 48 Food & Dining 56 Great Outdoors 58 Health & Wellness 66 Home & Garden
86
70 Lifestyle & Beauty 72 Pets 74 Services 78 Shopping 84 Weddings
WHERE THE WHALES ARE A trip to Stellwagen
Bank, New England’s only national marine sanctuary
september 2022 7
departments
10 E ditor’s note 11 Catching up
IN THE SPOTLIGHT 14 Interesting times
In her work, artist Catherine Christiano juxtaposes painted flora with newspaper front pages
photo courtesy of catherine christiano
CORRESPONDENCE
14
28
PEOPLE & PLACES 22 What makes us unique
Consultant Stephanie Johnson helps create welcoming workplaces for all
TASTE 28 The “taco dealer”
Pica Chica Tacos serves up authentic Mexican cuisine in Clinton
36 Restaurant listings 38 Restaurateur profile
Supawan “Tai” Au, The Spice Club and Pink Basil
TRENDING 96 5 international films you can watch at home
98 Turning pages
Books that reflect the Hispanic experience
photo by lisa bousquet
8
100 Local finds
Shop unique. Shop local.
104 LOOKING BACK 104 A celebration centuries in the making
The Road Church in Stonington prepares to honor 350 years as a congregational parish
112 Memories of American Velvet Mill
Former factory is now a thriving shopping district and creative community
EXPLORATIONS 120 Quirky Quiet Corner
A whimsical getaway on eclectic Main Street in Putnam
IT’S YOUR DAY Founder of Taino Productions
Carpet • Wood • Laminate • Tile • and More Quality You Can See. Comfort You Can Feel. Value You Can Appreciate.
CLUFF
1 1 8 C ro ss Ro ad, Waterford CALL TODAY • 860-447-0383
CT State Lic. #545566
2020 2019 2017 2016 2015
photo by g.a. peck
127 Willie Quiñones
Thank You for making us the #1 Floor Company in Eastern CT! We look forward to helping you with ALL your flooring needs. For free measure and financing approval visit us online at CarpetOne.com
september 2022 9
correspondence | EDITOR’S NOTE
dear readers, Mystic. Photo by Elizabeth Welshock
You can f ind your favor-
(picture of a cat as my headshot anyone?). I’m
ite local businesses among
fascinated by them, and I’m convinced that
more than 200 categories,
most of them are way smarter than we think
and in the process find doz-
they are.
ens of awesome new ones to
When I learned that we were doing an arti-
try. Personally, I’m excited
cle in September’s issue about whale-watching, I was
to try some of the places to
so excited. It’s one of my very favorite things to do.
shop, and even more importantly, some of the places
I love being out on the water with the wind in my
to eat. I’m sure I’ll make my way through the best
hair. Well, in my floppy hat to try to keep me from
burger joints, the best sweets shops, and the best
getting sunburned. Besides that, though, it gives me
breakfast places.
the opportunity to observe one of the coolest, big-
Hispanic Heritage Month starts on September
gest, smartest animals on the planet in their own
15, but here at The Day Magazine, we didn’t want to
environment. If you’ve never been whale-watching,
wait to begin recognizing the members of our local
I highly recommend it. We are so lucky to live only
Hispanic community. You’ll be able to feed your
a couple of hours away from a terrific marine sanc-
taco cravings at Latina-owned Pica Chica Tacos in
tuary, Stellwagen Bank, which offers a huge variety
Clinton (“The ‘Taco Dealer’”), learn about the legacy
of marine life to observe and photograph. I couldn’t
and future of the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern
resist using some photos of my own to supple-
Connecticut in “One Man’s Vision,” and discover the
ment the “Where the Whales Are” article. I hope it
man behind some of southeastern Connecticut’s
inspires you to take a trip or learn more about these
most exciting Latin music and dance events in our
amazing and majestic creatures.
interview with Willie Quiñones, founder of Taino
September’s issue is an extra special one for many
Productions.
reasons. One of those reasons is that we’re announcing and honoring the winners of The Day’s annual “Best of the Best Readers’ Choice Awards.” Make sure to check out the results. This is the eighth year we’ve run this contest, and as usual, it doesn’t disappoint.
10
magazine
Barb Dunn, layout editor
I’m way cuter. Right?
I
n case it’s not clear, I’m an animal person
CATCHING UP
| correspondence
we want to hear from you!
November means fall, food and family for many people. For our November issue, we want to know:
What's your funniest Thanksgiving story? What's your favorite fall comfort food? Does your family have any special Thanksgiving traditions? What’s your favorite fall or Thanksgiving recipe?
@TheDayMagazine
@TheDayMagazine
@ thedaymag@theday.com
Be sure to include the question you’re answering, your name and the town you live in along with your response.
Send your questions, comments, suggestions and ideas to thedaymag@theday.com. Or look us up on social media. You may even be featured on this page in a future issue. By getting in touch with us, you give us permission to reprint your comments.
ADVANCED BACK NECK CARE CENTER GROTON Thank you for your continued support!
565 Long Hill Road, Groton, CT
860-448-BACK (2225)
advancedbackandneck.com | grotondisccenter.com Open Monday-Friday by appointment september 2022 11
Foot and ankle pain treated with the greatest of care. Good mobility is fundamental to enjoying all that life has to offer. But when you experience chronic foot or ankle pain, it can make your life extremely difficult. At Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, our Foot and Ankle Program is here to treat everything from degenerative arthritis and complex sports injuries to total ankle replacement and limb preservation surgery. No matter your condition, our acclaimed surgeons can help you to get back out there and enjoy all those experiences that you’ve been missing out on. Because as a part of Yale New Haven Health, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital is committed to treating you with the greatest of care. Find your Foot and Ankle Specialist today: 800-562-2537
12
magazine
in the spotlight ARTS
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
C U LT U R E
photo by Catherine Christiano
interesting times by Catherine Christiano
september 2022 13
in the spotlight
Interesting IN HER WORK, ARTIST CATHERINE CHRISTIANO JUXTAPOSES PAINTED FLORA WITH NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES
F
By Phil Hall or many years, people assumed the expression “May you live in interesting times” was an ancient Chinese curse. However, there is no scholarly evidence to support that claim—indeed, there was no record of it being uttered
until 1936 when British statesman Sir Austin Chamberlain repeated it as a statement made to him during a visit to China. For Old Lyme-based artist Catherine Christiano, the national politics of recent years could be seen as the embodiment of the supposedly ancient curse. In her exhibit at New London’s Lyman Allyn Art Museum entitled Album of Flowers | Interesting Times, Christiano juxtaposes the tumult of contemporary society with the seemingly chaos-free existence of wild flowers that bloom throughout all political climates.
14
magazine
times “The idea for it came back in 2015 when I was looking to work larger, with a series of works that I had done to incorporate newspaper imagery with still life,” Christiano recalled. “I developed this idea called Album of Flowers, which is a traditional concept that has existed throughout art history where artists pair flowers with the different months of the year, and I thought it would be interesting to do a series of paintings based on a year, but using newspaper content from each month of the year for the background.” Christiano noted that back in 2015, there was the potential for a seismic shift in political history. “There was an election year coming up and it looked probable that Hillary Clinton would be running,” she continued. “At that time, there had not been a woman candidate from one of the major political parties, and it looked like there was a possibility that she could be our first woman president. So, when January came around, I started collecting editions of The New York Times, and I saved them all the way through the year.”
Album of Flowers | Interesting Times at New London’s Lyman Allyn Art Museum marks the first solo exhibit by Old Lyme-based artist Catherine Christiano.
september 2022 15
in the spotlight Of course, a very different history was made on Election Day in 2016 and Christiano found herself at a crossroads. “And at that point, I was thinking, ‘Well, should I just set this idea aside or should I pursue it?’” she said. “After about a month or so, I decided that it still would be an interesting project to work on.” In creating Album of Flowers | Interesting Times, Christiano juxtaposed painted seasonal flora with a collage of content taken from The New York Times’ front pages. “It’s what’s happening in nature, paired against what is happening in the world of man,” she said. “It places the still life directly within the social context of the time.” Christiano subdivided her series into 13 panels representing the 12 months of 2016 plus January 2017. The inclusion of the 13th above The artist in her Old Lyme studio. photo by Sophie Christiano below For the series, the artist created 36-inch by 36-inch newspaper collages for her backgrounds, including articles about the mundane as well as historically important and catastrophic events. photo by Catherine Christiano
panel as a postscript was to demonstrate what Christiano described as “the continuity of time—it’s about also how time continues and the calendars repeat year after year. And it also enabled me to include the inauguration.” Each panel measures 36 inches by 36 inches and the artist worked with Photoshop to create the newspaper collage, and then transferred the imagery using a process called acrylic gel transfer. “The panels don’t have any paper in them— they’re acrylic,” she said. “The backgrounds are from printmaking and then the paintings are done in oil on top of it.” In bringing the f loral aspect to her work, Christiano wanted to offer a stark difference between the vibrancy of the f lowers and the static nature of the newsprint. “I wanted to paint the flowers as if they’re alive and growing and not clipped and arranged in a vase,” she said. “With the internet, we have access to a lot of archives and museums, and I was drawn to the Chinese and Japanese artists and how they leave a lot of air around their floral paintings. They’re creative—they’re a bit more poetic feeling and lyrical.”
16
magazine
MORE AT THE LYMAN ALLYN MUSEUM
860-388-5815 | designessenceinteriors.com
Catherine Christiano’s exhibit,
100 Main Street • Old Saybrook
interior design and retail studio
We are grateful for your continued support! YOUR FURNISHED ROOMS OUR SPECIALTY
Album of Flowers | Interesting Times, runs September 10 through November 6 at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams Street, New London; lymanallyn.com. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Other exhibits on view include Sol LeWitt: Artist and Collector at Play through October 16, and an ongoing environmental art project called Poetry of the Wild Installation. Next month, the exhibit, America’s Instrument: Banjos from the Jim Bollman Collection, opens October 8 and features more than 40 banjos from an unparalleled private collection. In addition, the museum hosts several ongoing exhibits, including Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London, a look at Tiffany’s life and work; American Perspectives, which explores American arts in New London County and beyond; and Playthings of the Past for younger visitors, a hands-on exhibit with toys, books, games and dolls from many cultures and many eras of history.
september 2022 17
in the spotlight Album of Flowers | Interesting Times marks Christiano’s first solo exhibition—her work has been included in presentations by several regional museums and university galleries, including the New Britain Museum of American Art, and she has exhibited with the George Billis Gallery in Westport and Los Angeles. From 2013 to 2019, she was an active member of the itinerant artist cooperative group Gallery One. Within Old Lyme, she has been a prominent figure in preserving the past through art—she designed the seal for the town of Old Lyme and illustrated the 2006 memoir, Poverty Island, written by Neri A. Clark and published by the Old Lyme Historical Society. At the moment, Christiano does not have plans to bring Album of Flowers | Interesting Times to another venue after the exhibit closes in November, and she is using her near-future to expand her craft and explore new horizons. “I’m taking a worksheet workshop in Japanese painting techniques, and if the borders remain open, I’m supposed to be going to Japan in the fall,” she said. “And I want to take in what I see there. I’m thinking about creating another series of works as well—I’m still working that out in my mind on what exactly I want to do.”
“It’s what’s happening in nature, paired against what is happening in the world of man.” CATHERINE CHRISTIANO above Christiano photographs flowers in bloom in her Old Lyme garden for her art series Album of Flowers | Interesting Times, on display at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum through November 6. p hoto by Sophie Christiano left The painting “Crocuses | March 2016” on the easel in Christiano’s studio. photo by Catherine Christiano
18
magazine
You manage your Business. We’ll help improve your cash flow. chelseagroton.com/ growthatbusiness or call 860-448-4295
Feel good about your bank NMLS #402928
Giving residents what they need to thrive at every state in later life.
* Larger Apartments * Better Amenities * Greater Value * Exercise Physiologist * 24/7 Nursing * Life Enrichment Programs
Call to schedule an in-person tour today! LARGER APARTMENTS
BETTER AMENITIES
GREATER VALUE
380 Salem Turnpike, Bozrah, CT 06334
860-861-9704 elmbrookvillage.com
An Everbrook Senior Living Community september 2022 19
With the greatest of care: 8 straight “Best of the Best” awards We know that you have choices when it comes to medical care. So it means a lot to us that you’ve chosen Lawrence + Memorial Hospital as “Best Local Hospital” for the eighth consecutive year. We appreciate the confidence you continue to place in our staff and all the support that you’ve given throughout all the years leading up to this one. Now more than ever, it’s our honor to serve this amazing community–and to do so with the greatest of care.
20
magazine
people & places BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
FINANCE
PEOPLE
N E W & N O TA B L E
Haley Farm, Groton. P hoto by Peggy Traskos
discussing diversity with Stephanie Johnson
september 2022 21
people & places
What makes us unique CONSULTANT STEPHANIE JOHNSON HELPS CREATE WELCOMING WORKPLACES FOR ALL
“I feel like hiring is too focused on metrics alone.” STEPHANIE JOHNSON
T
By G.A. Peck
hough her professional title is “human
Shore Publishing completed a six-month course
resources consultant,” Stephanie John-
on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging that
son is really a champion for people. For
began in late 2021. The curriculum included vir-
more than two decades, she’s counseled
tual sessions with Johnson and work-at-your-
business clients on how to create better
own-pace digital exercises that sought to chal-
and more productive workplaces that f lourish
22
Under Johnson’s tutelage, staff of The Day and
lenge biases.
because they’re diverse, fair and equitable, and
The Day’s Audience Engagement Editor Karen
feel inclusive for all members of the organization.
Florin penned a column in May—“Passing the
magazine
Shoreline OB/GYN ‘ta lk ing stick’ on The Day’s diversity training”—in which she and a few of her newsroom
Thank You for Voting!
colleagues ref lected on the experience. “The hope is that as we continue to talk and listen to one
4 Shaws Cove, Suite 204 New London, CT 06320
Ph: (860) 447-2377
womenshealthct.com
another about issues of race, gender, ability, age and the many other traits that make us unique, we become more comfortable with the discussion and more aware of how we interact with one another and the com-
Thank you for Voting!
munity,” Florin wrote.
Top 3 Best Food Truck
Flor i n a nd Joh n s on a l s o recorded a follow-up conversation for The Storyline podcast, to talk about what they learned by working through the process. “We were able to work on some things together, which is rea lly the epitome of living the inclusive habits. … We were learning to focus on the goal, a common purpose, and
PRESTON TR ADING POST BEST FIREPLACE & ACCESSORIES BEST FURNITURE BEST DECOR & HOUSEWARES BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER:TAMMY
what happens then, some of the things that make us diverse start to subside and we are really focused on how can we get the job done together, and how can we bring more of us together to be better than we would be individually,” Johnson explained during their podcast. T DM fol lowe d up w it h Stephanie Johnson in July to learn more about her business. Johnson set out on her professional path as an accountant, but back in 1989, a human
Tammy
THE ENTIRE PRESTON TRADING POST FAMILY THANKS ALL OUR FRIENDS AND LOYAL FANS FOR VOTING FOR US!
860.886.1484 | PRESTON TR ADING . COM september 2022 23
people & places resources director at her tech employer said to her, “What’s all this personality doing behind the desk? You’d be a fabulous trainer,” Johnson recalled. She was tasked with developing a diversity training program for the company, way back in the late-1980s. “So, that was my first diversity class, but as soon as I stepped in front of that group, I knew that’s what I was supposed to be doing,” she said. Johnson started her own company, Cornerstone Training and Consulting, in 2002, and in 2020, the business was acquired by OneDigital, an insurance, financial services and human resources consulting firm based in Atlanta. Her clients range from small businesses to large corporations, organizations in both the public and private sectors. Some have “very progressive” organizational cultures, and may be further along—conversationally and practically—in their diversity and inclusion journeys. Make no mistake, this is indeed a journey, Johnson explained—meaning, progress isn’t measured by completing a single seminar or even a series of them. She explains that there’s a four-part evolution that happens with clients as they move their culture from “unconscious biases” to “inclusive
NANCY MESHAM HEIDI HOSS HILARY REID WENDY VISGILIO
habits.” Many of Johnson’s clients are just starting out on this path, new to talking about why a diverse organization is healthier, and how to create a more inclusive organizational culture, so that all members feel seen, heard, respected and valued. Johnson encourages clients to form cohorts or “employee resource groups,” through which colleagues can network and share their ideas and concerns in a respectful and nonjudgmental environment. They might talk about anything at all, Johnson explained—diversity, benefits, how to better balance work and life, or professional development opportunities, for example. No topic should be forbidden, she suggested. Members of the groups should be encouraged to speak freely, even if the opinions they express
NANCY MESHAM (860) 227-9071
Trust the team with proven results in every market.
nancymesham.com
860.227.9071 | nancymesham.com | 86 Halls Road | Old Lyme, CT 06371
24
magazine
THE ROAD CHURCH
are unpopular. Respectful and
First Congregational Church of Stonington
honest communication is para-
Serving The Community for 350 Years
mount, and it will expose others
Worship Services 10 am Every Sunday At The Historic Road Meetinghouse 903 Pequot Trail, Stonington, CT 06378
to alternative viewpoints. Aspiring to be a diverse organization isn’t just about hiring practices, Johnson explained. “I fe el l i ke h i r i n g i s t o o
Rev. Norm Erlendson (860) 759-6720
focused on metrics alone,” she
www.fccstonington.org
said. In addition to broadening their recruitment and hiring practices, companies should consider how they’re going to retain talented candidates once
Thank You for your continued Support!
they’ve been hired, she advised. Employers should also know that Gen-Z—the future labor force—is “demanding” that the companies they work for are diverse and inclusive. “They feel, ‘If I don’t belong, I will
914 Hartford TPKE, 202 Waterford CT 06385
www.SirenaMedSpaCt.com 860-333-9177
leave,’” Johnson said. Even as she approaches 25 years as a training consultant,
COME JOIN THE GROTON TOWNHOUSE COMMUNITY,
she said there’s never been
AND FEEL AT HOME!
a dull moment. She appreci-
COMPLETELY ALL NEW RENOVATED UNITS
ates that every day is different, every client is unique. A self-described “lifelong learner” and avid reader, Johnson takes pr ide in teaching new concepts, broadening others’ perspectives and offering practical solutions. “I design, deliver and empower,” Johnson said of her work as a trainer and consultant. “I feel like it’s in my DNA. I love when students leave with a level of empowerment and options to deal with whatever they were struggling with.”
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US INTO THE TOP 3 FOR BEST APARTMENT COMMUNITY! 126 LITTON AVENUE, GROTON, CT 06340 (860) 445-7307 • www.grotontownhouses.com september 2022 25
Our Reputation is Spotless!
Thank You!
to our customers, our dedicated staff and everyone who voted for us making these awards possible. You are the foundation of our business success and we appreciate your continued loyalty.
Full Services, Including: • Dry Cleaning • Shirts Laundered • Draperies & Duvets
dry cleaner
dry cleaner
2018
2019
Alterations & Tailor ing thing Clo
2017
• Seasonal Storage • Alterations & Repairs • Leather & Suede Cleaning • Wedding Gown Preservation
Barry’s Cleaners
Cleaners and Launderers
www.barryscleanersct.com
565 Colman St. New London 860.447.8220 M-F: 7am-8:30pm, Sat; 7am-6pm
79 Pennsylvania Ave. Niantic 860.739.7867 M-Sat: 7am-6pm
308 Flanders Rd. East Lyme 860.691.1680 M-F: 7am-6pm, Sat: 8am-6pm
It feels good to know that the time, energy and money we put into our local communities helps make the places we all live and work stronger.
Thanks, once again, for voting for us as Best Bank, Best Financial Advisor, and Best Mortgage Company.
Feel good| 860-448-4200 about your bank| chelseagroton.com 26
magazine
RECIPES
taste
E N T E R TA I N I N G
R E S TA U R A N T S
FOOD & DRINK Photo by lisa bousquet
Pica Chica Tacos serves addictive mexican cuisine
september 2022 27
taste | RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
taco dealer
“ the
”
PICA CHICA TACOS SERVES UP AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE IN CLINTON
28
magazine
At the time, the pandemic was in full swing, and
F
By Jennifer Carmichael Photos by Lisa Bousquet
Lee’s friend and owner of Chow, Jeff Mastroianni, offered his food truck to her.
or 20 years, Aunt Shirley’s Pizza & Deli had
“Mari is a wonderful person with a great family,”
been a local staple on West Main Street in
says Mastroianni. “I ate food at her house three
Clinton. Closing its doors in March 2021,
years ago, and it was amazing. I knew she wasn’t
the owners shared their mixed emotions
loving her career and had a passion for food. So,
on their Facebook page, while announcing
when the opportunity presented itself, I just gave
some very good news—Pica Chica Tacos would be taking over.
her a little nudge.” “Jeff and his entire staff, especially Kate
The community was no stranger to Pica Chica
Connolly, helped me get my feet on the ground,”
Tacos’ authentic Mexican cuisine. Before sign-
says Lee, who grew up in Texas, but learned how
ing a lease in May 2021, chef/owner Mari Lee had
to cook from her parents, who were from Mexico.
a food truck for about five months, parked right
Her father taught her a lot about flavors and
outside of Chow Food & Beverage Co. in Clinton.
what food and ingredients go well together, while her mother taught her how to use everything to avoid waste. “I had been working in the insurance industry, which had taken a hit because of the pandemic, and I was also laid off from a part-time job as a food consultant,” she continues. “We were struggling. So, Jeff pushed me off the cliff and I had to fly.” Lee sold her car to obtain the capital for products and permits and began introducing her food in October 2020. Offering two completely different food genres and business models—one Mexican takeout and delivery and the other a sitdown restaurant serving new American cuisine— Pica Chica Tacos and Chow Food & Beverage Co., operated in harmony. “People would come out in the snow and wait in line,” says Lee, who was surprised by how much they loved her food (the restaurant calls itself a “taco dealer,” urging patrons to “feed your addiction”). “I just saved every penny. And then, this space came available,” she says. “Somebody who knew the owner of Aunt Shirley’s knew that it was going up for lease. It hadn’t been published yet, so I called and set up a meeting and we became instant friends. And he said, ‘You’re the one I want in here.’”
september 2022 29
taste | RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
“There are so many people in this community who have helped me get here.” MARI LEE While the restaurant is built around takeout and delivery, there is also indoor and outdoor seating in a fun and color-
Aestheec Plasec Surgery and Medspa www.bethcollinsmd.com
Transform yourself this Fall Dr. Beth Collins is a double board cersfied plassc surgeon specializing in surgical & non-surgical procedures including but not limited to: • Faceliis & facial rejuvenason • Body contouring (Tummy tuck, breast surgery, mommy makeover, thigh & arm lii) • Non surgical aesthescs and wellness Fillers and Botox ® Laser skin procedures Hair restorason IV Fluid therapy
55 Willow Street, Myssc, CT 06355 Phone: (860) 572-6122 Mon-Fri 09:00am - 05:00pm 2614 Boston Post Road, Willow Hall, Suite 16C, Gu ilford CT 06437 Phone: (203) 689- 8828 Mon-Fri 09:00am - 05:00pm
30
magazine
ful atmosphere. The food is made fresh daily, from the guacamole— which is usually made twice a day—to salsas. And the meats are slow-cooked for more than four hours each day. “We don’t use any ground beef here, which sometimes disappoints people. We only use beef brisket,” says Lee, who also uses to-go containers made of recycled paper. Other menu items that are different include Lee’s “JuanTons,” wonton wraps filled with roasted corn, poblano peppers, onions and cheddar jack cheese and fried crispy. Named after her husband, John, these are a favorite on the menu.
FRESH BEER BREWED HERE !
Front Building: (860) 391-8636 More Antiques in Rear (860) 339-5706 Thetroveoldsaybrook.com Thetrove@comcast.net
Now 8,500 Sq.Ft. Full of Antiques, Rugs, Jewelry, Furniture, Collectibles and Treasures!
1353 & 1383 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT “Everyone who tries them, loves them,” she says. “Making them is time-consuming, but, if I don’t have them, people will cancel their whole order.” Lee says that they also sell a lot of their fried cauliflower tacos made in-house with a special polenta breading served with cilantro lime crema. Chips and queso is popular too, along with the Mexican soda, which comes in
Dr. Foong-Yi Lin
BEST PEDIATRICIAN
a variety of flavors. And her Dulce Chica Bites, profiteroles stuffed with dulce de leche and whipped cream and then rolled in cinnamon-sugar and frozen, was her answer to dessert when she had
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT
the food truck. Jessica Robison, who lives and works in Clinton, applauds the food. “It’s phenomenal. Every bite is delicious and when you’re done, you just feel satisfied and
Accepting New patients.
Call for an appointment 860-464-7248 september 2022 31
taste | RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT content. The fish tacos are my favorite and the best from anywhere I’ve ever been. They are perfect every time.” Lee lived in Texas until she joined the U.S. Air Force right out of high school. While in the Air Force, she met her husband. For 14 years, they lived in San Antonio until John, who is originally from the Bronx, wanted to come back to the East Coast to be with his family. His mother lived in Old Saybrook until moving to Clinton, and they’ve now been here on the shoreline for 20 years. “I didn’t have any money for college,” says Lee, who has seven sisters and three brothers. “We lived on a small ranch, and we grew our own food and had our own animals that we slaughtered. We grew up poor. Food-wise, we weren’t poor, but for
Dog Daycare, Training, Grooming, Boarding, Swimming, & Field Trips “Where clients are friends, & dogs are family”
860.490.4755 1567 Route 85, Oakdale CT 06370 allbrightcanines@yahoo.com 32
magazine
Thank you for Voting Us Top 3 Formal Wear!
WE ARE HONORED YOU CHOSE US AS YOUR FAVORITE JEWELER THANK YOU -FOR ALL YOUR 3 YEARS IN A ROW! SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS!
WE ARE HONORED YOU CHOSE US AS YOUR PLEASE VOTE FOR US!JEWELERMALLOVE’S OF MYSTIC FAVORITE MALLOVE’S OF WATERFORD - 3 YEARS IN A ROW! MALLOVEJEWELERS.COM
262 Boston Post Road Waterford, CT 06385 860.442.4391
4 Holmes Street Mystic, CT 06355 860.536.1600
MALLOVE’S OF WATERFORD 262 Boston Post Road Waterford, CT 06385 860.442.4391
MALLOVE’S OF MYSTIC 4 Holmes Street Mystic, CT 06355 860.536.1600
Jackie Lefebvre Independent College Counseling
MALLOVEJEWELERS.COM
• 20+ years as a college counselor and educator • BA/MA in English; taught freshman writing at Boston College and Fordham PLEASE VOTE FOR US! • Develop individualized college list and admissions strategy • College essay and application consultant • Athletes, artists, gap years and transfers welcome
Contact Information: jklconsult@missiontoadmission.com www.missiontoadmission.com (800) 936-9594 MALLOVE’S OF WATERFORD MALLOVE’S OF MYSTIC Mission to Admission lastStreet year were 262 Boston Post Road students 4 Holmes Waterford, CTto 06385 Mystic,colleges: CT 06355 admitted the following 860.442.4391
Berklee College of Music Boston University Brown University Carnegie Mellon University University of Chicago Colgate University Connecticut College Davidson University Duke University Emory University Fordham University Furman University Kenyon College
860.536.1600
Lawrence University Lehigh University
MALLOVEJEWELERS.COM Macalester College Mount Holyoke College New York University Northeastern University Oberlin University Parsons School of Design Rutgers University Smith College St. Olaf College Temple University Tulane University
UC Berkeley UCLA UC San Diego University of Connecticut UNC Chapel Hill University of Massachusetts University of Richmond University of Rochester Washington and Lee Washington University (St. Louis) Wake Forest University Wesleyan University Yale University
september 2022 33
taste | RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
34
magazine
everything else, we were materi-
Thank you for making us Best of the Best!
alistically poor.” Pica Chica Tacos is a family affair. John helps with prep when not working his full-time job, and their 14-year-old daughter
Serving Connecticut for Over 50 Years Lending & Savings Solutions
works in the restaurant as much as she can. “It takes a village, it really does,” says Lee. “There are so many people in this community who have helped me get here. The list is so long, including many shoreline restaurant owners, who
®
• scientfcu.org PROUDLY SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE
been so supportive and amaz-
we live in and we all should feel very blessed.”
Allergy Testing & Treatment
L&M ENT SURGEONS Russell Otto, PA Frank R. Dellacono, MD David S. Boisoneau, Boisoneau, MD Richard L. Vincent, Vincent, MD
offered to help. They have all
community on the shoreline that
NOW OFFERING
Both of our offices conveniently located near the coast on Route 1 in Waterford & right off of Route 1 in Mystic.
I had met, who reached out and
ingly encouraging. It’s a great
Federally insured by NCUA.
Russell Otto, PA is seeing patients in our Waterford Office.
Treating families for generations. Call us if you or a family member need a check-up from the neck up. Dr.Vincent now offering Cochlear Implants and bone anchored hearing aid options to our patients locally. We submit to all insurances for covered services. Licensed Audiologists Bethany C. Bonnano, AU.D., CCC-A; Nancy Trostler, AU.D., CCC-A; Christine H. Kendall, MA
Full service hearing aid centers in both locations. Call Us Today or Visit us online at www.entofsect.com
WATERFORD 201 Boston Post Rd. • (860) 442-0407 MYSTIC 14 Mason’s Island Rd. • (860) 536-3078
Thanks For Your Continued Support In Voting For Us!
Make retirement a masterpiece. Painting, writing, singing in the choir, making things with clay or wood — it’s all incredibly good for you. And good fun, too. At StoneRidge, you’ll find endless opportunities to be creative with people who share your interests. Who knows, you might even discover a hidden talent.
A Life Plan Community
To schedule a visit, call 860-980-0489 or go to www.StoneRidgeLCS.com. 186 Jerry Browne Road | Mystic, CT 06355 september 2022 35
taste | RESTAURANT LISTINGS ASIAN
FAMILY STYLE
GIULIANO’S BAKERY
PINK BASIL
GROTON TOWNHOUSE RESTAURANT
Hometown bakery known for crispy bread, rolls and pastries. Also serving breakfast sandwiches. Come see us for our large diverse variety of baked goods. Open daily 5 a.m.–8 p.m.
Our menu reflects the time-honored traditions of authentic Asian cuisine. With influences from Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, our dishes can transport you around the world in one bite. Open Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 12–9 p.m.
284 Main Street, Niantic 860-739-5495; nianticbakery.com
We are a family-style restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. We also have a large assortment of fresh-baked pies and cakes daily. Open daily 6 a.m.–9 p.m. 355 CT-12, Groton; 860-449-0355 grotontownhouserestaurant.com
27 Coogan Boulevard, Building 3B, Mystic 860-245-4470; pinkbasilct.com
BARBECUE
FINE DINING
NOBLE SMOKEHOUSE
BAKERY
85 MAIN
DEKE’S BAGELS
WE LIVE, BREATHE AND SMOKE BARBEQUE! With a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University, our chef Christopher Lusk is excited to present our unique sauces and flavors to you. Open Wednesday & Thursday 12–7 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 12–8 p.m.; Sunday 12–7 p.m.; Monday 4–7 p.m.; Closed Tuesday
Deke’s Bagels sells fresh bagels, sandwiches, muffins, coffee, smoothies and more. Order online or come visit our Niantic or new Guilford location. Open 7 a.m.–2 p.m. 157 West Main Street, Niantic 1013 Boston Post Road, Guilford 860-739-9509; dekesbagels.com
4 Roosevelt Avenue, Mystic 860-415-9564; noblesmokehouse.com
Price range Online ordering Open late
36
magazine
Take out
Breakfast
Brunch
Delivery
Entertainment
Lunch
Outdoor dining
Cash only
Fresh, contemporary fare, seasonally influenced. Fresh seafood, steaks and locally grown produce. High quality sushi and full raw bar. Enjoy creative cocktails while dining on our patio, weather permitting. Open Sunday–Wednesday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. 85 Main Street, Putnam 860-928-1660; 85main.com
Dinner
Kids’ menu
Alcohol served Twitter
Call ahead Instagram
JAPANESE
NANA’S BYREK
SAMURAI NOODLE
Authentic Japanese ramen noodle soup, Asian BBQ and sushi in downtown Mystic. Noodles are made fresh daily on-site. Happy hour 4-6 every day. Open Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 12–10 p.m.
SEAFOOD
J & R SEAFOOD
At Nana’s Byrek everything is made fresh daily, in house. We offer the following: pizza, byrek, entrees, grinders, paninis, quesadillas, salads, dessert, catering, birthday parties. Kids make their own pizza. Open Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday 12–8:30 p.m.; Closed Monday Open Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday 12–8:30 p.m.; Closed Monday
27 West Main Street, Mystic 860-415-9317; samurainoodlemystic.com
J&R Seafood market is much more than fresh seafood. Enjoy market-made chowders, prepared meals, and made-toorder food menu, catering options & raw bar events! Open daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 45 Williams Avenue, Mystic 860-415-4656; jrseafoodmarket.com
Retired Armed Forces Association
WOODFELLAS PIZZA
FRIDAY FISH FRY
PIZZA
184 PIZZERIA
Family-owned and operated, located in the Haley Brook Plaza, on Rte. 184. Check out the GRAB & GO fridge—varieties change daily. Pizzas, grinders, sandwiches, wraps, calzones. Open Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Closed Sunday 2440 Gold Star Highway, Mystic 860-245-0800; 184pizzeria.com
Woodfellas opens second location in New London in the former space of 2 Wives! Serving quality food! Contact us regarding our Rolling Pizza Truck and New Mobile Salute Bar Cart! Open Wednesday-Friday 4–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 12–8 p.m.; Closed Monday & Tuesday The Velvet Mill, 22 Bayview Avenue, Stonington; 860-715-9663 woodfellaspizza.com
Open to the public every Friday. Enjoy chowder, lobster rolls, fish & chips and more! PLUS join us on the second Saturday each month from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. for breakfast. Open Friday 3–8 p.m. 135 Garfield Avenue, New London 860-447-0055; armedforcesretirees.org/home
september 2022 37
taste | RESTAURANT LISTINGS SPORTS BAR
THAI
THE STUMBLE INNE
C.C. O’BRIEN’S
THE SPICE CLUB
Friendly Irish sports cafe serving a variety of pub food. Award winning burgers and wings with sports on 23 TVs! Pool and darts. 28 draft beers. Serving food Tuesday 3–9 p.m.; Wednesday & Thursday 11 a.m.–9.p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday 12–9 p.m. Bar open later
Great food, happy hour, live music, pool tables, darts, trivia, karaoke. Nominated for best burger! Open Monday–Saturday 3 p.m.–12 a.m.; Sunday 1–10 p.m.
We serve healthy, home-cooked Thai, sushi and Pan-Asian cuisine in a casual, family-friendly environment. Open since 2012. Open Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–3 pm and 4–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 12–9 p.m.
8 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck 860-599-2034 | ccobriens.com
90 Halls Road, Old Lyme; 860-434-2342 facebook.com/thestumbleinne
Price range Online ordering Open late
Breakfast
Take out
Brunch
Delivery
Entertainment
Lunch
Outdoor dining
Cash only
239 Main Street, Niantic 860-451-8121; thespiceclubct.com
Dinner
Kids’ menu
Alcohol served
Call ahead Instagram
To advertise your restaurant on these pages, email thedaymag@theday.com
Supawan “Tai” Au, Restaurateur
W
“
e are so grateful for both the locals and the tourists who visit us on a daily basis,” says Tai Au, co-owner of Pink Basil, The Spice Club (celebrating its 10th anniversary) and Samurai Noodle. Both The Spice Club and Pink Basil were voted among the top three “Best of the Best” for the sixth year in a row. When asked what their secret is, Tai insists it’s a lot of
teamwork. “[Olde] Mistick Village is such a special place, and all of the businesses really work hard at drawing tourists and making this a destination. We are lucky to be a part of that culture. With Pink Basil, we also have our locals who come in often and know most of our staff.” The most popular dishes at both locations are curries, sushi, noodle dishes and soups. Tai says, “We also hope people that haven’t experienced [The] Spice Club or Pink Basil will stop in.”
THE SPICE CLUB Open 7 days a week 239 Main Street, Niantic 860-451-8121 thespiceclubct.com
38
magazine
PINK BASIL
Open 7 days a week 27 Coogan Boulevard, Building 3B, Mystic 860-245-4470 pinkbasilct.com
Thank you
for voting for Sound Community Services as The Day’s Best of The Best 2022 in the Home Care Services (non-medical) category!
Sound Community Services is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to education, assisting, and supporting individuals with persistent mental illness and/ or substance use disorders.
We help these individuals with behavioral health needs to achieve independence and integrate them into the larger community. Our current multi-program approach offers social rehabilitation, community support, supportive housing, residential, clinical, psychiatric services and much more for anyone 18 years of age or older. Our vision is to be the premier behavioral health and wellness provider, building healthy communities where every person’s unique experience is valued without judgement.
soundcommunityser vices.org • 860-439-6400
2 1 M o n t a u k Ave n u e , N e w L o n d o n , C T 0 6 3 2 0 september 2022 39
HISPANIC monthly feature | CELEBRATING HERITAGE MONTH
One man’s vision HISPANIC ALLIANCE OF SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT MENTORS, EMPOWERS, PROMOTES COMMUNITY
By G.A. Peck
W
transition the organization her hus-
hen Alejandro Melen-
band started in the months follow-
dez-Cooper ca me to
ing his death.
the United States in
“ The m ission of t he Hispa n ic
1987, he was highly ed-
Alliance is to advance the contribu-
ucated—he’d studied
tions of the Hispanic community in
architecture at the National Univer-
New London and surrounding areas,”
sity of Engineering in Lima, Peru—
she explained. She a nd their son, Claud io
but he spoke little English. When he settled with his family
Melendez-Cooper—who is prepar-
in New London, he discovered, like
ing to start law school in the fall, his
so many immigrants, that life can
mother noted—led the organiza-
be challenging without a support
tion through the transitional period,
network. He decided to work to create that community, forming the
above Alejandro Melendez-Cooper below Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut director Lina Agudelo. photo by dro lope
new executive director. Lina Agudelo assumed the role in August.
Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern
Agudelo is not new to the organi-
Connecticut in May 2000. His goal
zation. In fact, she considers herself
was to provide networking, educa-
“a product of the Alliance,” which
tional and supportive services in a
helped her family settle in as immi-
number of key areas: health, college,
grants, start a business and flourish.
community, arts and culture, social
“When we came to New London,
services and entrepreneurship.
we had just arrived in the United
The founder spent two decades
States a year or two before that,” she
developing programs and partner-
explained. “We were interested in
ships with philanthropic and educa-
40
until the Alliance could recruit a
purchasing a local business.”
tional organizations, and changed for the better an
Agudelo was only 20 years old at the time, and
untold number of lives along the way. When he died
one of the first people she met in New London was
in November 2021, the loss was profound for his wife
Alejandro Melendez-Cooper. He helped the Agudelo
and children, as well as for the entire community he’d
family tap into local resources and create a blueprint
uplifted.
for starting their business, she recalled.
“I was a lways inspired by A lejandro’s work,
Agudelo joined the Alliance’s La Latina Network
by his ideas and his vision,” said his wife, Maria
and was embraced by its supportive community. For
Amparo Cruz-Saco, Ph.D., a full-time professor
the past few years, she’s worked as a housing coordi-
of economics at Connecticut College who helped
nator for two nonprofits, including one that matches
magazine
above Maria Amparo Cruz-Saco is a full-time professor of economics at Connecticut College; she’s also been leading the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut, an organization founded by her late husband 22 years ago to support the Hispanic community in and around New London. p hoto by pam mola below High-school juniors in the Hispanic Alliance’s BRILLA program take part in a week-long workshop intended to prepare them for their future college and professional careers. photo by pam mola
september 2022 41
HISPANIC monthly feature | CELEBRATING HERITAGE MONTH domestic abuse survivors with afford-
years since its founding, it’s given out
Another initiative is the Alliance’s
able housing. The experiences per-
more than 320 scholarships. Recently,
La Lat i na Net work , a g roup of
fectly prepared her for taking on the
the Alliance formed a partnership with
women that meets every other week
executive director’s role w ith the
Eastern Connecticut State University,
to talk about community issues and
Hispanic Alliance.
which will enable scholarship students
opportunities. The group recently
to study at the college.
started another program known
“I a m ve r y pr oud t o c ont i nue Alejandro’s legacy,” she said.
Students who have been awarded
as BRILLA—which translates to
Today, the Alliance is focused on four
scholarships have gone on to become
“shines” in English, a one-week
primary initiatives, including its flag-
doctors and nurses, teachers, social
workshop, partly funded by the
ship scholarship program. Over the 22
workers and lawyers, Cruz-Saco said.
Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, for Latina students in
“I was always inspired by Alejandro’s work, by his ideas and his vision.” MARIA AMPARO CRUZ-SACO
their junior year of high school. Held in July, this year’s BRILLA brought in guest speakers from major area employers, like Pf izer, General D y na m ics/Electr ic Boat a nd Citizens Bank to speak with the students about career opportunities. “The BRILLA students are provided training to facilitate self-identification, self-awareness and strategic thinking about their future college education and career,” CruzSaco explained. BRILLA students also took f ield trips to Eastern Connecticut State University and Connecticut College for immersive college experiences. A third Alliance initiative focuses
above BRILLA students spent a day at Eastern Connecticut State University, which has a new scholarship partnership with the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut. photo by pam mola
on local arts and culture, and this
below Approximately 30 Latina students applied for the BRILLA program this summer; 13 were chosen to participate. The students are seen here with the Hispanic Alliance’s Maria Amparo Cruz-Saco, far right. p hoto by pam mola
ways. The organization hosts art
work manifests in a number of shows for emerging Latino artists in its studio on State Street in New London. In August, Alliance youth members will be performing a play, The HisPANICk Zone, written by Chilean author Guillermo Reyes, at the Chestnut Street Playhouse in Norwich. The Alliance is also working to help families in crisis with emergency support and funding through
42
magazine
its AY UDA (meaning “help”) Program. Through AYUDA, the Alliance has gotten COVID-19 test kits
Servicing New London County for the past 90 years Thank you for your continued support!
a nd PPE out to the com munity in collaboration with the
marvelhomedecorating.com (860) 451-8437
Con necticut Depa r tment of
Come visit our new location at 283 Boston Post Road, East Lyme, CT 06333
Public Health; helps Spanishspeaking residents navigate processes like preparing and filing tax returns; and, in partnership with the New London Area Food Pantry has helped to distribute
Find the Perfect Formalwear for Any Occasion at Love Me Forever Thank You for continuing to shop local!
food and pantry items to families in need. Food insecurity doesn’t just
Call or book online to book your formal wear consultation today.
happen to people who have lost their jobs, Cruz-Saco noted.
15 Merchants Avenue, Taftville, CT 860-888-3535 • loveme4everbridal.com
“We also assist people who have jobs but their income is not high
All hours are by appointment only
enough to provide for their families, especially families that have grown a little bit larger than they were before COVID.” The pandemic made multigenerational living a practical necessity for so many, she said. Cruz-Saco said the organization’s approach has been modest and quiet, but effective. She said there’s no shortage of goodwill across southeast Connecticut. In addition to grant funding, the Alliance is also sustained by private donations and passionate volunteers. “We have people who come from Groton Long Point, from Stonington and Old Saybrook just to volunteer their time working here,” she said. “It’s amazing.”
Thank You for Voting Us Top 3
for Best Dermatology Practice and Best Dermatologist Let us help you with your To Do List 1. Skin cancer exam 2. Botox and fillers 3. Laser skin resurfacing 4. Treat acne 5. Soothing Hydrafacial
6. PDO Threads 7. PRP Hair Restoration & Facials 8. QWO 9. Coolpeel/Deka 10. O-Shot®
Integrated
Dermatology anD meDSpa of groton Specializing in Aesthetics, Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery Robert Ecker, M.D. | Luanne Hespeler, MPAS, PA-C | Christopher Thompson, MPAS, PA-C
481 Gold Star Hwy Ste 201 • Groton, CT 06340 • 860-445-8020 www.integrateddermatologyofgroton.com
september 2022 43
best of the best
Best of the Best READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
winners list 44
magazine
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US TOP 3 BEST SPA Family Owned
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
Landscape Appeal | Design | Installation | Maintenance
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
scaping company land
2018
scaping company land
2019
Voted Best Landscaper 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021!
CALL TODAY for a FREE QUOTE 860-917-4873
SPICERSLAWNCARE.COM
Fully Insured HIC0645082
september 2022 45
arts & entertainment
& best of the best | ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
area attraction
Garde Arts Center best live music venue,
best live theater or entertainment
Mystic Aquarium
55 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic mysticaquarium.org 860-572-5955 second place Board & Brush Creative Studio, Mystic runner-up Mohegan Sun, Uncasville
art gallery The Hygienic
79 Bank Street, New London hygienic.org 860-443-8001 second place Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme runner-up Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London
bowling alley Groton Bowling Center 27 Kings Highway, Groton facebook.com/ grotonbowlingcenter 860-445-6500 second place High Rollers Luxury Lanes Foxwoods, Mashantucket runner-up Norwich Bowling & Entertainment Center, Norwich
dj DJ Eazy (James Jackson) facebook.com/therealdjeazy 203-685-0857 second place DJ JD Jason Dawson runner-up DJ Flip
46
magazine
The Garde is proud to serve the greaterNew London area as an economic catalyst and cultural gathering space for the last 37 years and invites you to come enjoy a live performance or unique cinematic experience in the nearly 100-year-old historic vaudeville movie palace. Learn more about the Garde and its upcoming programs online. 325 State Street, New London; gardearts.org; 860-444-7373
guided tour Cross Sound Lighthouse Cruises 2 Ferry Street, New London longislandferry.com 860-444-4620 second place Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport, Mystic runner-up
Mystic Boat Adventures, Groton
live music venue Garde Arts Center
325 State Street, New London gardearts.org 860-444-7373 second place Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville runner-up Foxwoods Premier Theater, Ledyard
live theater or entertainment Garde Arts Center
325 State Street, New London gardearts.org 860-444-7373 second place Mohegan Sun, Uncasville runner-up Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam
local band or musician Red Light
redlightband.com 860-710-3987 second place Wild Nights runner-up Dan Watson
local podcast or podcast host Bronx Baseball & Beer
facebook.com/ bronxbaseballandbeer second place Sports, Drinks & Entertainment runner-up Super Retro Throwback Reviews
local radio host Shelly Martinez, WCTY 40 Cuprak Road, Norwich wcty.com 860-887-3511 second place Pebbles, 107.7, Ledyard runner-up Lee Elci, 94.9 News Now, Ledyard
museum Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center 110 Pequot Trail, Ledyard pequotmuseum.org 860-396-6910 second place
Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic runner-up
Mohegan Sun best regional gambling & casino
Mohegan Sun is one of the largest and most spectacular entertainment and gaming destinations in the United States. Guests can enjoy two world-class hotel towers, 40+ dining offerings including TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge, incredible shopping and award-winning entertainment at Mohegan Sun Arena, soon playing host to Wisin Y Yandel, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Smashing Pumpkins and more. Visit Mohegan Sun online to plan your visit! 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville; mohegansun.com; 888-226-7711
Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
music festival or series Esker Point Summer Sound Waves
900 Groton Long Point Road, Groton groton-ct.gov/business_detail_T12_ R141.php 860-536-5680 second place Sailfest, New London runner-up Rock the Docks in Norwich, Norwich
painting or crafting studio Board & Brush Creative Studio 80 Stonington Road, Suite A-2A, Mystic boardandbrush.com 860-325-1650 second place Pinspiration, East Lyme runner-up Get Fired Up, Pawcatuck
The Hygienic best art gallery Hygienic Art is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to creating an enriching cultural experience in the city of New London. 79 Bank Street, New London; hygienic.org; 860-443-8001
regional gambling & casino Mohegan Sun
1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville mohegansun.com 888-226-7711 second place Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard
september 2022 47
& best of the best | FOOD DINING
barbecue
Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant
Dog Watch Mystic
food & dining
appetizers 22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme flandersfish.com 860-739-8866 second place
Tullis Taphouse, Griswold runner-up
20 Stonington Road, Mystic dogwatchcafe.com/mystic 860-245-4911 second place Chester’s Barbecue, Groton runner-up Uncle D’s Blazin BBQ, Norwich
Nana’s Byrek & Pizza, Waterford
best-kept secret
asian cuisine
184 Pizzeria
Johnny’s Peking Tokyo
12 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic johnnysushibar.com 860-572-9991 second place Pink Basil, Mystic runner-up The Spice Club, Niantic
2440 Gold Star Highway, Mystic 184pizzeria.com 860-245-0800 second place Nana’s Byrek & Pizza, Waterford runner-up The Tin Peddler, North Stonington
bakery
breakfast
Sift Bake Shop
Herb’s Country Deli & Restaurant
5 Water Street, Mystic siftbakeshopmystic.com 860-245-0541 second place Flanders Donut & Bake Shop, East Lyme runner-up Zest Fresh Pastry, Stonington
1115 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Montville herbsdelicountrystore.com 860-848-9888 second place Somewhere In Time, Mystic runner-up When Pigs Fly, Waterford
Herb’s Country Deli & Restaurant best breakfast Herb’s Country Deli and Restaurant is a quaint family-owned restaurant with a tradition of great food served in a family-friendly atmosphere. Herb’s chefs are intent on perfection, ensuring that every meal is delivered hot and fresh and tasty every time. Herb’s takes pride in its food, service and atmosphere and has for more than four decades. 1115 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Montville; herbsdelicountrystore.com; 860-848-9888
48
magazine
brewery or brewpub Beer’d Brewing
22 Bayview Avenue, Stonington beerdbrewing.com second place These Guys Brewing Company, Norwich runner-up Tox Brewing Company, New London
brunch Engine Room
14 Holmes Street, Mystic engineroomct.com 860-415-8117 second place Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme runner-up Jake’s Restaurant, North Stonington
burger Engine Room
14 Holmes Street, Mystic engineroomct.com 860-415-8117 second place Tullis Taphouse, Griswold runner-up Uncle Kranky’s Cafe, Jewett City
cajun cuisine Bayou BBQ & Grill
221 Shaw Street, New London bayoubbqandgrill.wordpress.com 860-326-7947 second place Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme runner-up Mr Crab Cajun Seafood, Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant, Groton
Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant best appetizers, best chef, best fish & chips; shopping: best seafood Flanders Fish Market is Connecticut's premier fresh fish and
seafood marketplace, restaurant, bar and caterer, keeping it fresh since 1983! With award-winning food and exceptional service, Flanders Fish is a shoreline staple named to CT Restaurant Association's Hospitality Hall of Fame and featured on the Food Network, Rachael Ray Magazine, Coastal Living Magazine and more. Now shipping nationwide online! 22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme; flandersfish.com; 860-739-8866
chowder Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock 80 Hamilton Street, New London captscottsnl.com 860-439-1741 second place Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme runner-up The Mariner, Mystic
coffee Muddy Waters Cafe
40 Bank Street, New London muddywaterscafenl.com 860-444-2232 second place Cream Coffee Shop, Norwich runner-up Ashlawn Farm Coffee, Old Saybrook
casual dining
chef
The Shack Restaurants
Olivia Formica, FLANDERS FISH
131 Boston Post Road, #3, Waterford shackrestaurants.com 860-442-6660 second place Sneekers Cafe, Groton runner-up Tullis Taphouse, Griswold
caterer Gourmet Galley Catering 138 Norwich-Westerly Road, North Stonington gourmet-galley.com 860-415-9589 second place
Par 4 Curbside Catering, Groton runner-up Nana’s Byrek & Pizza, Waterford
MARKET & RESTAURANT
22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme flandersfish.com 860-739-8866 second place Oscar Yanez, La llorona Progressive Mexican Cuisine, Niantic runner-up Calvin Silva, Tullis Taphouse, Griswold
deli, sandwich & grinder Hartford Giant Grinder
8 Hope Street, Niantic facebook.com/hartfordgiantgrinder 860-739-3181 second place Mystic Market, Mystic runner-up 184 Pizzeria, Mystic
Beer’d Brewing best
brewery or brewpub Beer’d is an independent craft brewery based out of the American Velvet Mill in Stonington, and now open at a second facility in Groton. Officially considered a microbrewery, its combined 1,085 gallon/35 barrel brew houses proudly produce a wide variety of brews each year—from its tried-and-true favorites to its experimental small-batch brews. 22 Bayview Avenue, Stonington; beerdbrewing.com september 2022 49
& best of the best | FOOD DINING
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock best chowder, best fried
fried clams Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock
clams, best lobster roll, best seafood Established in 1996, Captain
Scott’s Lobster Dock is a New London landmark. Captain Scott’s menu offers a variety of delicious dishes, most famously their hot lobster rolls, New England and Rhode Island clam chowders, and their homemade clam fritters. Plus, their popular food truck is available for your events! 80 Hamilton Street, New London; captscottsnl.com; 860-439-1741
dessert menu
fine dining
Sift Bake Shop
On the Waterfront Restaurant
5 Water Street, Mystic siftbakeshopmystic.com 860-245-0541 second place Flanders Donut & Bake Shop, East Lyme runner-up The Shack Restaurants, Waterford
diner The Shack Restaurants
131 Boston Post Road, #3, Waterford shackrestaurants.com 860-442-6660 second place Groton Townhouse Restaurant, Groton runner-up Jake’s Restaurant, North Stonington
doughnuts Flanders Donut & Bake Shop 327 Flanders Road, East Lyme flandersbakery.com 860-739-6320 second place Dixie Doughnuts, Norwich runner-up Deviant Donuts, Mystic
50
magazine
250 Pequot Avenue, New London onthewaterfrontnl.com 860-444-2800 second place
80 Hamilton Street, New London captscottsnl.com 860-439-1741 second place
Sea Swirl, Mystic runner-up Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme
gourmet to-go Pasta Vita
225 Elm Street, Old Saybrook pastavita.com 860-395-1452 second place Mystic Market, Mystic runner-up Ivy’s Simply Homemade, Waterford
Tony D’s, New London runner-up S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar, Mystic
fish & chips Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant
22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme flandersfish.com 860-739-8866 second place Gold Star Pizza, Groton runner-up Tullis Taphouse, Griswold
food truck The Rolling Tomato
505 Long Hill Road, Groton therollingtomato.com 860-445-9663 second place Luigi’s Wood Fired Pizza Risto runner-up Par 4 Curbside Catering
Hartford Giant Grinder best deli,
sandwich & grinder Hartford Giant Grinder is a little hole-in-thewall grinder shop in the heart of Niantic. The newly renovated shop offers unlimited friendly service, warm smiles and meat galore grinders that are homemade with top quality products. Hartford Giant Grinder is known for its homemade chicken cutlet, roast beef and turkey made fresh with local bread. If you haven’t checked out this gem of a grinder shop, you should add it to your summer checklist! 8 Hope Street, Niantic; facebook.com/ hartfordgiantgrinder; 860-739-3181
Flanders Donut & Bake Shop best doughnuts
Flanders Donut & Bake Shop thanks you for voting it “Best of the Best.” It is extra special this year as Flanders celebrates its 50th anniversary as a family tradition. Whether it is a donut, bagel, pastry, sandwich or some other wonderful treat, quality is its number one ingredient. Flanders’ wonderful customers are what keep the team waking up in the early morning hours. Serving southeastern Connecticut and beyond. 327 Flanders Road, East Lyme; flandersbakery.com;860-739-6320
happy hour Breakwater
66 Water Street, Stonington breakwaterstonington.com 860-415-8123 second place Harp & Dragon, Norwich runner-up Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme
ice cream & frozen yogurt
indian cuisine
Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream
929 Bank Street, New London thespicepaletteus.com 959-201-6913 second place
473 Shetucket Turnpike, Griswold buttonwoodfarmicecream.com 860-376-4081 second place
Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream, Salem runner-up
The Spice Palette
Mirch Masala Cuisine of India, Groton runner-up A Taste of India, Mystic
Cowlick’s Creamery, Waterford
WE’RE RIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
Auto • Home • Business • Life We work hard every day to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Thank you for your continued support
For professional insurance advice
byrnesagency.com september 2022 51
& best of the best | FOOD DINING
The Spice Palette best indian cuisine The
Spice Palette brings you the best spread of traditional and modern Indian food and tastes. The Indian subcontinent is a land of great diversity and great harmony that is seldom seen elsewhere. The Spice Palette menu encompasses this harmony and diversity, bringing together a plethora of Indian flavors and spices. It aims to bring the joy and sumptuousness of Indian food and cuisines to your taste buds and soul. 929 Bank Street, New London; thespicepaletteus.com; 959-201-6913
late night dining
mexican cuisine
Sneekers Cafe
La LLorona Progressive Mexican Cuisine
568 Poquonnock Road, Groton sneekerscafe.com 860-445-1967 second place Groton Townhouse Restaurant, Groton runner-up Uncle Kranky’s Cafe, Jewett City
223 Thames Street, Groton paulspastashop.com 860-445-5276 second place Tony D’s, New London runner-up Buon Appetito Ristorante & Pizzeria, North Stonington
kids’ menu The Shack Restaurants
131 Boston Post Road, #3, Waterford shackrestaurants.com 860-442-6660 second place Nana’s Byrek & Pizza, Waterford runner-up Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme
52
magazine
Rio Salado, Mystic
outdoor dining
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock
80 Hamilton Street, New London captscottsnl.com 860-439-1741 second place
mediterranean cuisine
Paul’s Pasta Shop
Ortega’s Mexican Restaurant, Groton runner-up
lobster roll
Ford’s Lobster Restaurant, Noank runner-up Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme
italian cuisine
13 Hope Street, Niantic lalloronact.com 860-850-4291 second place
Caffe NV
57 Boston Post Road, Waterford nvbakeryandmarket.com 860-444-8111 second place Pick Pockets Deli, Groton runner-up Buon Appetito Ristorante & Pizzeria, North Stonington
The Rolling Tomato best food
truck Congratulations to all of the nominees! Rolling Tomato caters and serves every kind of event. It is honored to be voted “Best of the Best” once again. “It’s the wood that makes it good” at Rolling Tomato! 505 Long Hill Road, Groton; therollingtomato.com; 860-445-9663
80 Hamilton Street, New London captscottsnl.com 860-439-1741 second place La Llorona Progressive Mexican Cuisine, Niantic runner-up Tullis Taphouse, Griswold
oysters S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar 1 Holmes Street, Mystic sp-oyster.com 860-536-2674 second place
Oyster Club, Mystic runner-up Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! 903 Hartford Turnpike Suite 27 Waterford, CT 06385
860-442-1123
147 Water Street,
Stonington Borough Wine is our passion but being a part of this community is a lifelong commitment that we consider both a privilege and an honor.
Join us Fridays for Tasting at the Cove! CALL FOR DETAILS
(860) 980-6069 Stonington’s Best Kept Secret
WE OFFER FREE LOCAL DELIVERY!
Thank you for Voting! Best Feed & G r a i n S t o re
Grimm’s
Furry Tails
Family owned and operated since 2005 We are celebrating 17 years and counting! We would like to thank everyone for voting for us again and give special thanks to our loyal employees and clients. We will continue to provide a loving environment for your pets’ grooming needs. Congratulations to all of the salons that were nominated!
grimmsfurrytails.com | 860.536.7077 1939 Center Groton Rd. | Ledyard Open Monday - Saturday | Appointments only
september 2022 53
& best of the best | FOOD DINING
salad
sports bar or lounge
Recovery Room Restaurant
Hot Rod Cafe
Caffe NV, Waterford runner-up
Friar Tuck’s Tavern, Mystic runner-up
184 Pizzeria, Mystic
Longshots Sports Cafe, Uncasville
Pink Basil best thai
seafood
steak
Asian cuisine, Pink Basil is your destination for time-honored dishes and an enchanting ambiance. 27 Coogan Boulevard, Building 3B, Mystic; pinkbasilct.com; 860-245-4470
Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock
Steak Loft
pizza
Ford’s Lobster Restaurant, Noank
Tony D’s, New London
server or bartender
sushi
Lori Miller, 99 RESTAURANT
Johnny’s Peking Tokyo
445 Ocean Avenue, New London recoveryroomnewlondon.com 860-443-2619 second place
cuisine Specializing in authentic
Nino’s Pizzeria
1031 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville facebook.com/ninos-pizzeria408800515901222 860-848-2020 second place 184 Pizzeria, Mystic runner-up Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Montville
80 Hamilton Street, New London captscottsnl.com 860-439-1741 second place Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, East Lyme runner-up
117 Long Hill Road, Groton 99restaurants.com 860-449-9900 second place Noemi, La Llorona Progressive Mexican Cuisine, Niantic runner-up Kerri Poirier, David’s Cafe, Preston
114 Bank Street, New London hotrodscafenewlondon.com 860-447-2320 second place
27 Coogan Boulevard, #24, Mystic steakloftct.com 860-536-2661 second place Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, Uncasville runner-up
12 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic johnnysushibar.com 860-572-9991 second place Go Fish Restaurant, Mystic runner-up Mahzu Japanese Restaurant, Norwich
La Llorona Progressive Mexican Cuisine best
mexican cuisine La Llorona Mexican Cuisine is a family-owned business that offers its customers a cozy and warm atmosphere, where they can enjoy a little piece of Mexico directly on their plate. La Llorona prides itself in offering very authentic and traditional Mexican dishes, but at the same time adding a little twist to make this food even more interesting and pleasant to the palates of its customers. 13 Hope Street, Niantic; lalloronact.com; 860-850-4291
54
magazine
Right Path Organic Cafe best
vegetarian & vegan cuisine Right Path Organic
Café is a plant-based café. Its goal is to prepare sustainably healthy foods that are locally sourced. Right Path Organic Café maintains the integrity of the food in its natural state so as not to destroy the vital nutrients and enzymes it has to offer. It uses only organic, non-GMO ingredients, just as nature intended. Right Path Organic Café wants you to feel confident that its food will nourish your mind, body and soul. 147 Bank Street, New London; rightpathorganicca. wixsite.com/right-path-food/home; 860-437-9700
sweets & candy Munson’s Chocolate
27 Coogan Boulevard, #14, Mystic munsonschocolates.com 860-536-4351 second place Flanders Donut & Bake Shop, East Lyme runner-up Gumdrops & Lollipops Candy & Ice Cream, Niantic
thai cuisine Pink Basil
27 Coogan Boulevard, Building 3B, Mystic pinkbasilct.com 860-245-4470 second place The Spice Club, Niantic runner-up Jasmine Thai Restaurant, New London
vegetarian & vegan cuisine Right Path Organic Cafe
147 Bank Street, New London rightpathorganicca.wixsite.com/ right-path-food/home 860-437-9700 second place Paul’s Pasta Shop, Groton runner-up The Tin Peddler, North Stonington
waterfront dining On the Waterfront Restaurant
250 Pequot Avenue, New London onthewaterfrontnl.com 860-444-2800 second place Red 36, Mystic runner-up S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar, Mystic
winery/vineyard Jonathan Edwards Winery 74 Chester Maine Road, North Stonington jedwardswinery.com 860-215-3725 second place
Stonington Vineyards, Stonington runner-up Saltwater Farm Vineyard, Stonington
wings Hot Rod Cafe
114 Bank Street, New London hotrodscafenewlondon.com 860-447-2320 second place Smokey O’Grady’s, East Lyme runner-up Uncle Kranky’s Cafe, Jewett City
Hot Rod Cafe best sports bar or lounge, best wings
Hot Rod Cafe is a fun, eclectic place for all people who enjoy wings, beer and atmosphere. Enjoy wings and beers on the beautiful deck overlooking the Thames River. Hot Rod Cafe is downtown New London’s premier place to enjoy great food, awesome service and fun people! 114 Bank Street, New London; hotrodscafenewlondon.com; 860-447-2320
september 2022 55
best of the best | GREAT OUTDOORS campground
corn maze
Odetah Camping Resort
Preston Farms Corn Maze
great outdoors
38 Bozrah Street Extension, #1300, Bozrah odetah.com 860-889-4144 second place Acorn Acres Campground, Bozrah runner-up Hidden Acres Family Campground, Preston
Preston facebook.com/ prestonfarmscornmaze 860-886-6293 second place Buttonwood Farm Corn Maze, Griswold runner-up Holmberg Orchards Corn Maze, Gales Ferry
charter fishing company
festival & fair
Blackhawk Sport Fishing
5 Waterfront Park, New London sailfest.org 860-444-1879 second place
11 East Main Street, Niantic blackhawksportfishing.com 860-448-3662 second place Captain Seth Sportfishing, Groton runner-up Sunbeam Fleet - Captain John’s Sport Fishing Center, Waterford
christmas tree farm Geer Tree Farm
137 Norman Road, Griswold geersfamilytree.com 860-376-5321 second place Yetter Road Christmas Tree Farm, Mystic runner-up
Sailfest
Mystic Irish Parade, Mystic runner-up Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, Mystic
golf course Shennecossett Golf Course
93 Plant Street, Groton facebook.com/shennygolf 860-448-1867 second place Great Neck Country Club, Waterford runner-up River Ridge Golf Course, Griswold
marina or boatyard Mystic Shipyard
100 Essex Street, Mystic mysticshipyard.com 860-536-6588 second place Noank Village Boatyard, Groton runner-up Boats, Inc., Niantic
pick-your-own Holmberg Orchards
1990 CT-12, Gales Ferry holmbergorchards.com 860-464-7305 second place Scott’s Yankee Farmer, East Lyme runner-up Wicked Tulips, Preston
summer camp New London County 4-H Camp
37 Kahn Road, North Franklin my4hcamponline.com 860-886-7476 second place Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Mystic runner-up New England Science & Sailing, Stonington
Maple Lane Farms, Preston
Sailfest best festival & fair Sailfest is
southeastern Connecticut’s premier summertime event—complete with a major fireworks display, amusement rides, free entertainment, ships and over 200 vendors lining the streets. There is plenty to see, buy and eat, so make sure to come hungry and ready to try new food! Visit neffproductions.com to learn about additional events! 5 Waterfront Park, New London; sailfest.org; 860-444-1879
56
magazine
Blackhawk Sport Fishing
best charter fishing company From porgies and seabass to bluefish and cod, and other unique catches—Black Hawk Fishing has something for everyone out on the water. Black Hawk’s boat is built specifically for the party boat fishing industry. 11 East Main Street, Niantic; blackhawksportfishing.com; 860-448-3662
DREAMS
& Memories
October 1, 2022 through May 14, 2023
Old Lyme, CT • FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org Edmund Greacen (1876-1949), The Lady in the Boat (detail), 1920. Oil on canvas. Florence Griswold Museum, Gift of the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company
september 2022 57
& best of the best | HEALTH WELLNESS
Fairview best assisted living facility Located on 70 acres of riverfront land in Groton, Fairview was founded in 1892 by the Connecticut Independent Order of Odd Fellows Grand Lodge as a nonprofit provider of senior housing and health care. 235 Lestertown Road, Groton; fairviewct.org; 860-445-7478
chiropractor (individual)
dance studio or school
Back & Body Chiropractic
Dr. Alexandra Robin, BACK
Aerial Arts Fitness
health & wellness
alternative medical practice 24 Putnam Pike, #3, Dayville backandbodyct.com 860-412-9016 second place Natura Medica, Mystic runner-up Stonington Natural Health Center, Stonington
alternative medical practitioner Sarah Noel, BACK & BODY
CHIROPRACTIC
24 Putnam Pike, #3, Dayville backandbodyct.com 860-412-9016 second place Dr. Michael Thomas, Advanced Back and Neck Care Center, Groton runner-up Dr. Joseph Mascaro, Advanced Back and Neck Care Center, Groton
(practice)
Advanced Back and Neck Care Center
assisted living facility
dance instructor
Fairview
FITNESS
StoneRidge, Stonington runner-up Elmbrook Village at Bozrah, Bozrah
magazine
39 Wedgewood Drive, Jewett City aerialartsfitnessct.com 860-367-2302 second place Arthur Murray Dance Center Niantic, Niantic runner-up Miss Nikki’s 5678 Dance!, Niantic
chiropractor
24 Putnam Pike, #3, Dayville backandbodyct.com 860-412-9016 second place Dr. Huan Zhang, Advanced Back and Neck Care Center, Groton runner-up Dr. Megan Marco, Stonington Natural Health Center, Stonington
235 Lestertown Road, Groton fairviewct.org 860-445-7478 second place
58
& BODY CHIROPRACTIC
565 Long Hill Road, Groton advancedbackandneck.com 860-448-2225 second place Back & Body Chiropractic, Dayville runner-up
East West Chiropractic, Groton
Jenn Pierce, AERIAL ARTS 39 Wedgewood Drive, Jewett City aerialartsfitnessct.com 860-367-2302 second place Lana Cohen Davison, Montville Parks and Recreation, Uncasville runner-up Kyle Blatchford, Arthur Murray Dance Center niantic, Niantic
Dr. Jason R. Campbell best
dentist (individual)
Dr. Campbell is Invisalign certified and has completed orthodontic training with the United States Dental Institute, which is a well-respected and comprehensive orthodontic training program designed specifically for general dentists. Waterford Dental Health; 177 Boston Post Road, Waterford; waterforddentalhealth.com; 860-447-2235
Advanced Back and Neck Care Center best chiropractor (practice) Advanced
Back and Neck Care Center would like to thank all its loyal and dedicated patients who have helped it achieve the honor of “Best of the Best” for eight years in a row. Advanced Back and Neck Care Center strives to continue improving and diversifying its services in order to better care for its family of patients. 565 Long Hill Road, Groton; advancedbackandneck.com; 860-448-2225
dentist (individual) Dr. Jason R. Campbell, WATERFORD DENTAL HEALTH
177 Boston Post Road, Waterford waterforddentalhealth.com 860-447-2235 second place Dr. Erik Hekkert, Coastal CT Dentistry, Waterford runner-up Dr. Kenneth P. Nogacek, Waterford Dental Health, Waterford
dentist (practice) Waterford Dental Health
177 Boston Post Road, Waterford waterforddentalhealth.com 860-447-2235 second place Coastal CT Dentistry, Waterford runner-up Bridgeworks Family Dental Center, Groton
dermatologist (individual)
Dr. Mary Ann D. Bentz, DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT
425 Montauk Avenue, #2, New London ctmedderm.com 860-442-1346 second place Dr. John R. West, Seaport Dermatology, Mystic runner-up Luanne Hespeler, MPAS,PA-C, Integrated Dermatology of Groton, Groton
dermatologist (practice)
Integrated Dermatology of Groton
481 Gold Star Highway, Suite 201, Groton integrateddermatologyofgroton.com 860-445-8020 second place Seaport Dermatology, Mystic runner-up Dermatology Associates of Southeastern Connecticut, New London
doctor/general practitioner (individual)
Dr. Paul Deutsch
86 New London Turnpike, Norwich pauldeutschmd.net 860-889-6967 second place Dr. Rosemary C. Bontempi, Hartford HealthCare Internal Medicine, Mystic runner-up Dr. David Golden, ProHealth Physicians, Waterford
Integrated Dermatology of Groton best
dermatologist (practice) Integrated
Dermatology of Groton’s expert staff is trained to handle both adult and pediatric cases. It maintains state-of-the-art services and equipment addressing most medical and cosmetic treatment concerns. 481 Gold Star Highway, Suite 201, Groton; integrateddermatologyofgroton.com; 860-445-8020
september 2022 59
& best of the best | HEALTH WELLNESS
Advantage Personal Training best gym/fitness
center Calvin McCoy and Greg Drab have always loved fitness and athletics. They started working out in middle school and loved how it made them feel physically and mentally better. Fitness became such a passion for them that they pursued careers in exercise science. Calvin and Greg both got their master’s degrees in Exercise Science at UConn and made the decision to bring their passion and education to their community as teachers in a gym setting. 2906 Gold Star Highway, Mystic; advantagepersonaltraining.com; 860-245-0388
home care services (medical)
Visiting Nurses Association 403 North Frontage Road, Waterford vnasc.org 860-444-1111 second place
Masonicare Home Health, Norwich runner-up Hartford Healthcare Independence at Home, Norwich
home care services (non-medical)
Sound Community Services 21 Montauk Avenue, New London soundcommunityservices.org 860-439-6400 second place
ear, nose & throat
gym/fitness center
Dr. David Boisoneau, EAR, NOSE
Advantage Personal Training
& THROAT ASSOCIATES OF SECT
201 Boston Post Road, Waterford entofsect.com 860-442-0407 second place Dr. Frank Delacono, Ear, Nose & Throat Associates of SECT, Waterford runner-up County Hearing & Balance, Waterford
2906 Gold Star Highway, Mystic advantagepersonaltraining.com 860-245-0388 second place Pure Barre, Waterford runner-up Crowned Fit, Groton
Care at Home, New London runner-up Seniors Helping Seniors, Mystic
hospital Lawrence + Memorial Hospital
365 Montauk Avenue, New London lmhospital.org 860-442-0711 second place Hartford HealthCare Backus Hospital, Norwich runner-up Westerly Hospital, Westerly, RI
Sound Community Services best home care services (non-medical)
Sound Community Services is a nonprofit agency that is dedicated to education, assisting and supporting individuals with persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Sound Community Services helps these individuals with behavioral health needs to achieve independence and integrate them into the larger community by offering social rehabilitation, community support, residential and clinical services. 21 Montauk Avenue, New London; soundcommunityservices.org; 860-439-6400
60
magazine
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US TOP 3 FOR BEST OF. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
ALWAYS ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! cleanings & prevention • restoring a confident smile • cosmetic dentistry dental implants • invisalign improve your smile • teeth whitening • complete whitening sedation dentistry • relaxation dentistry 177 Boston Post Road, Waterford, CT • 860-447-2235
www.waterforddentalhealth.com september 2022 61
& best of the best | HEALTH WELLNESS
martial arts studio
ob/gyn (individual)
Yamashita International Karate Mystic Dojo
Dr. Michael Lavallee, SHORELINE
3175 Gold Star Highway, B, Mystic mysticdojo.com 860-572-0430 second place 360 Defense Martial Arts, Norwich runner-up Top Game Martial Arts, Plainfield
medical specialist Dr. Jenny Temnogorod, SHORELINE EYE GROUP
741 Broad Street, Waterford shorelineeyegroup.com 860-442-5663 second place Dr. Steven Wei, Orthopedic Partners, Niantic runner-up Dr. R. Justin Thoms, Orthopedic Partners, Niantic
OBGYN
4 Shaws Cove, #204, New London womenshealthct.com/practices/ shoreline-ob-gyn/providers/ michael-lavallee-jr-do 860-447-2377 second place Dr. Elena Poloukhine, Day Kimball Healthcare, Putnam runner-up Dr. Edward Watson, Northeast Medical Group, New London
ob/gyn (practice) Shoreline OBGYN
4 Shaws Cove, #204, New London womenshealthct.com/practices/ shoreline-ob-gyn 860-447-2377 second place OBGYN Services, Norwich runner-up Coastal OBGYN & Midwifery, New London
Shoreline OBGYN best ob/gyn (practice) Women's Health Connecticut is ready to provide you with the OBGYN care and compassionate support you need, no matter age or what stage you are in life. Its expert physicians and clinicians are committed to addressing all the unique needs you may have and work to provide coordinated, comprehensive care. 4 Shaws Cove, #204, New London; womenshealthct.com/practices/shoreline-ob-gyn; 860-447-2377
Dr. Kevin Cranmer
best ophthalmologist (individual) A board-certified
eye surgeon, Dr. Kevin Cranmer practices comprehensive ophthalmology. He sees children and adults, and takes care of patients with a wide range of eye diseases, including cataract, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration and many others. He has performed thousands and thousands of surgeries of many types. Southeast Connecticut Eye Care; 12 Case Street, Suite 215, Norwich; see-care.com; 860-373-4148
ophthalmologist (individual)
Dr. Kevin Cranmer, SOUTHEAST CONNECTICUT EYE CARE
12 Case Street, Suite 215, Norwich see-care.com 860-373-4148 second place Dr. Lior Haim, Shoreline Eye Group, Waterford runner-up Dr. Peter Famiglietti, Famiglietti Eye Associates, East Lyme
ophthalmology (practice)
Shoreline Eye Group
741 Broad Street, Waterford shorelineeyegroup.com 860-442-5663 second place Southeast Connecticut Eye Care, Norwich runner-up Norwich Opthamology, Norwich
62
magazine
Dr. Jenny Temnogorod best
medical specialist Dr.
Temnogorod is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a fellowshiptrained oculoplastic surgeon. In addition to providing comprehensive eye care, she specializes in the treatment of eyelid lesions, droopy eyelids, lower lid malposition (ectropion/entropion), eyelid defects after MOHS surgery, blepharospasm, tearing and other disorders of the eyelids, orbit and tear ducts. Shoreline Eye Group; 741 Broad Street, Waterford; shorelineeyegroup.com; 860-442-5663
optometrist (individual)
Dr. Paul Hyder, SOUTHEAST CONNECTICUT EYE CARE
12 Case Street, Suite 215, Norwich see-care.com 860-373-4148 second place Dr. Keith Lemire, Shoreline Eye Group, Old Saybrook runner-up Dr. Katina Simmons, Griswold Eye Care, Jewett City
optometrist (practice) Shoreline Eye Group
741 Broad Street, Waterford shorelineeyegroup.com 860-442-5663 second place Groton Eye Center, Groton runner-up Southeast Connecticut Eye Care, Norwich
orthodontist (individual)
Dr. Paul Hyder best optometrist (individual)
Dr. Jeff Kozlowski, KOZLOWSKI ORTHODONTICS
190 Hempstead Street, New London kozbraces.com 860-440-7695 second place Dr. Gregory Hack DDS, Orthodontic Associates of Southeastern Connecticut, Waterford runner-up Dr. James M. O’Leary, Orthodontic Associates of Southeastern Connecticut, Waterford
orthodontist (practice)
Orthodontic Associates of Southeastern Connecticut
196 Waterford Parkway South, #305, Waterford oasect.com 860-443-1827 second place Kozlowski Orthodontics, New London runner-up Family Orthodontic Care, Norwich.
Dr. Paul Hyder practices comprehensive optometric care for adults and children. He has over thirty years of experience in treating ocular disease, with clinical interests in retinal disorders and dry eyes. He manages pre-operative and post-operative care for all types of eye surgery, including laser vision correction, cataract, glaucoma and oculopastics. Southeast Connecticut Eye Care; 12 Case Street, Suite 215, Norwich; see-care.com; 860-373-4148
Shoreline Eye Group best medical specialist, best ophthalmology (practice), best optometrist (practice)
Shoreline Eye Group is committed to providing you and your loved ones with the highest level of personalized, quality eye care and service. Its team of dedicated eye care professionals includes ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians. The Shoreline Eye Group eye doctors specialize in cataract surgery, the diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases, same-day emergency eye care, comprehensive eye care and contact lens fittings. 741 Broad Street, Waterford; shorelineeyegroup.com; 860-442-5663
september 2022 63
& best of the best | HEALTH WELLNESS
Orthodontic Associates of Southeastern Connecticut best orthodontist (practice) Dr. O’Leary, Dr. Hack and
the entire team at Orthodontic Associates are truly thrilled and honored to be “Best of the Best” this year. Since 1958, the practice has been providing the best possible treatment in an environment that is caring and fun. It embraces the most modern technologies and works hard to continuously improve its techniques. Orthodontic Associates thanks its many patients and families for voting! 196 Waterford Parkway South, #305, Waterford; oasect.com; 860-443-1827
pediatrician
pharmacy
Dr. Foong-Yi Lin, NORTHEAST
Electric Boat Family Pharmacy
(individual)
MEDICAL GROUP PEDIATRICS - GALES FERRY 1527 CT-12, Gales Ferry northeastmedicalgroup.org/ physicians/foong _yi-lin 860-464-7248 second place Dr. Fred Santoro, East Lyme runner-up Dr. Maria Lopez, Flanders Pediatrics, East Lyme
pediatrician (practice) Northeast Medical Group Pediatrics - Gales Ferry
McQuade’s Pharmacy, Mystic runner-up Simply Pharmacy, Waterford
physical therapist
physical therapy
(individual)
(practice)
Mike Penta, WATERFORD FITNESS &
Independence Physical Therapy
132 Cross Road, Waterford waterfordfitness.com 860-701-9111 second place MacKenzie Orzechowski, Champion Athletics & Fitness, Waterford runner-up Abigail Brankin, GOAT Physical Therapy and Wellness, Gales Ferry
magazine
Bayview Health Care, Waterford runners-up Avalon, Stonington Beechwood Post Acute, Transitional Care & Long Term Care, New London
THERAPY AND WELLNESS
personal trainer TRAINING
235 Lestertown Road, Groton fairviewct.org 860-445-7478 second place
Colleen Davis, GOAT PHYSICAL
Dr. Fred Santoro, East Lyme
Flanders Pediatrics, East Lyme runner-up
Fairview
(individual)
1666 CT-12, Gales Ferry goatpt.com 860-572-6657 second place Travis Lombardi, Best Health Physical Therapy, Groton runner-up Heather Geyer, Independence Physical Therapy, Mystic
1527 CT-12, Gales Ferry northeastmedicalgroup.org/locations/ gales-ferry-1527-route-12.aspx 860-464-7248 second place
64
32 Chicago Avenue, Groton gdeb.com/qp/employee_resources/ EBFP 888-578-3457 second place
skilled nursing facility
2440 Gold Star Highway, #201, Mystic independencephysicaltherapy.com 860-536-1001 second place GOAT Physical Therapy and Wellness, Gales Ferry runner-up Best Health Physical Therapy, Groton
Colleen Davis
best physical therapist (individual) GOAT Physical
Therapy and Wellness is a fitnessforward physical therapy clinic in Gales Ferry offering one-onone sessions and fitness classes coached by physical therapists. GOAT Physical Therapy and Wellness bridges the gap between rehabilitation and fitness training. Let GOAT help you be your greatest of all time! GOAT Physical Therapy and Wellness; 1666 CT-12, Gales Ferry; goatpt.com; 860-572-6657
Dr. Foong-Yi Lin best
pediatrician (individual) For over two generations, Dr. Foong-Yi Lin has been committed to providing quality health care to children and their families. Dr. Lin has the privilege of helping to educate parents on how to best care for their children to set them up for a healthy, successful life. While practicing medicine is serious work, pediatricians also get to have fun because they get to work with children. Northeast Medical Group Pediatrics — Gales Ferry; 1527 CT-12, Gales Ferry; northeastmedicalgroup.org/physicians/foong _yi-lin; 860-464-7248
weight loss center Thin’s In
40 Boston Post Road, #8, Waterford thinsin.net 860-437-0772 second place Incredible Weight Loss Center, Groton runner-up “Weight” No Longer, Old Lyme
yoga or pilates studio Pure Barre
903 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 27, Waterford purebarre.com 860-442-1123 second place Hot on Bank, New London runner-up GOAT Physical Therapy and Wellness, Gales Ferry
SEA WELL SEAFOOD
THE LOCAL LEADER IN FRESH NATIVE LOBSTERS, FISH & SHELLFISH SINCE 2007 THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN VOTING FOR US FOR BEST SEAFOOD STORE
3 LIBERTY ST., PAWCATUCK, CT
860-599-2082
106 MASONS ISLAND RD., MYSTIC, CT
860-415-9210
WHOLESALE DIVISION, STONINGTON, CT
860-535-2626
Dr. Pecher’s Family Medical Center offers quality care at our Walk-In at our Urgent Care facility.
“The Country Doc”
Independence Physical Therapy best
physical therapy (practice)
Independence Physical Therapy’s mission is to return you to the quality of life you expect and deserve. Its compassionate and knowledgeable staff is trained in the latest skills, techniques and practices helping you to have freedom from pain and independence for life. Check out its website to see all the conditions and special programs available to meet all of your rehabilitation needs! 2440 Gold Star Highway, #201, Mystic; independencephysicaltherapy.com 860-536-1001
Dr Stefana Pecher, MD/Holistic Physician and her team of professionals provide traditional and holistic medical services.
The Wellness Center is Now Open! We offer an array of therapies including: Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, Infrared Sauna Therapy, Reiki, Sensory Deprivation (Float) Tank, Halotherapy, CBD Products
391 Norwich-Westerly Rd, North Stonington, CT 06359
Call today 860-389-2697 or visit us at
https://www.country-wellness.com/
september 2022 65
& best of the best | HOME GARDEN
Thomas Garbati Builders best builder or contractor, best roofing, windows & siding Having been
in business since 1989, Thomas Garbati Builders, LLC is well known and well respected. Residential roofs, windows, siding, decks, new construction, garages or complete renovations—no job is too big or too small. Thomas Garbati Builders does whatever it takes to make sure its customers are happy with the job before it’s done. 179 Butlertown Road, Waterford; garbatibuilders.com; 860-443-1232
electrician
Groton Estates
9 Soljer Drive, Waterford macrinoelectric.com 860-625-2127 second place
home & garden
apartment community 260 Shennecossett Road, Groton grotonestates.com 860-445-8519 second place Groton Townhouse Apartments, Groton runner-up StoneRidge Senior Living, Stonington
builder or contractor Thomas Garbati Builders 179 Butlertown Road, Waterford garbatibuilders.com 860-443-1232 second place Noank Fence & Construction, North Stonington runner-up
R-Value Construction, Preston
decor & housewares Preston Trading Post 651 CT-165, Preston prestontrading.com 860-886-1484 second place
Azalea, Niantic runner-up Marvel Home Decorating, East Lyme
66
magazine
Macrino Electric
Bazinet Electric, Lisbon runner-up Jamco Electric, East Lyme
fireplace & accessories Preston Trading Post
651 CT-165, Preston prestontrading.com 860-886-1484 second place Family Hearth & Patio, New London runner-up Dennis O’Sullivan Masonry, Salem
Preston Trading Post best fireplace & accessories, best furniture, best interior designer or decorator For 48 years, Preston Trading Post has
been serving the hearth and home needs of southern New Englanders. Preston Trading Post is driven by its passion for top performing products at lowest possible prices. The caring and very knowledgeable staff is here to assist you. 651 CT-165, Preston; prestontrading.com; 860-886-1484
flooring company
gas & oil
Noank Fence & Construction
Andersen Oil Company
Wintechog Hill Road, North Stonington facebook.com/ noankfenceconstructionllc 860-879-6404 second place Advanced Group, Mystic runners-up
Mystic Coastal Flooring, Stonington Route 85 Flooring, Oakdale
furniture Preston Trading Post 651 CT-165, Preston prestontrading.com 860-886-1484 second place
Gorin’s Furniture, Norwich runner-up Leader Store, Norwich
garden center & nursery Holdridge Home & Garden 749 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard holdridgegarden.com 860-464-8400 second place Plants by the Pool, Stonington runner-up
4 Colby Drive, #1539, Ledyard andersenoilcompany.com 860-464-7628 second place Densmore Oil Company, Mystic runner-up Guy’s Oil Service Station, Inc., Niantic
heating & cooling Andersen Oil Company
4 Colby Drive, #1539, Ledyard andersenoilcompany.com 860-464-7628 second place Duncklee Cooling & Heating Inc., Stonington runner-up Rich’s Heating, New London
home inspection company Anchor Home Inspection 16 Deer Trail, Montville anchorhomeinspection.com 860-961-3213 second place
Sound Home Inspection, LLC, Mystic runner-up Tiger Home Inspection, Madison
Smith’s Acres, Niantic
Andersen Oil Company best gas
& oil, best heating & cooling Family-owned and
operated for over 45 years, you can count on Andersen Oil Company to save your time with regular heating oil deliveries. For your protection, Andersen Oil Company is fully licensed, bonded and insured. 4 Colby Drive, #1539, Ledyard; andersenoilcompany.com; 860-464-7628
Anchor Home Inspection best home
inspection company Anchor Home Inspection has a team of well-experienced home inspectors. Its inspectors are highly trained and certified by InterNACHI. Anchor Home Inspection has built a name for itself in the market by providing the best inspection services. Its services are trustworthy and affordable. 16 Deer Trail, Montville; anchorhomeinspection.com; 860-961-3213
interior & exterior painting East Coast Pro Painting 48 North Road, Groton eastcoastpropainting.com 860-912-8779 second place All Star Painting, Norwich runner-up Rouns Painting
interior designer or decorator Tammy Klinikowski, PRESTON TRADING POST
651 CT-165, Preston prestontrading.com 860-886-1484 second place Marvel Home Decorating, East Lyme runner-up Jan Blonder, Design Essence, Old Saybrook
september 2022 67
& best of the best | HOME GARDEN
Homestead Funding, Keith Turner best mortgage company Keith Turner of Homestead
Funding Corp. lives and works in the New London area. As someone who has been in the mortgage industry for two decades, Turner is confident in his ability to guide his borrowers seamlessly through the mortgage process. Turner’s strength is his ability to walk his clients through each step of the mortgage process so that they feel comfortable. 8 Union Street, New London; homesteadfunding.com/loan-originators/keith-turner; 860-444-0650
landscaping services
pest control
tree service
Serluca Dumpster & Land Service
Griggs & Browne Co Inc
Satti’s Family Trees
Bee Smart Pest Control, East Hampton runner-up Atlantic Exterminating
Rainville Tree Service, Lisbon runner-up
145 Ashcraft Road, New London serlucadumpster.com 860-995-7357 second place Spicer’s Lawn Care & Landscape Design, Preston runner-up Peak Landscaping and Snow Removal
mortgage company Homestead Funding, Keith Turner
8 Union Street, New London homesteadfunding.com/ loan-originators/keith-turner 860-444-0650 second place Gateway Mortgage Services, Tori Satti, Waterford runner-up Chelsea Groton, Groton
152 Cross Road, Waterford griggsbrowne.com 800-962-3296 second place
plumbing company Elite Plumbing Services LLC 86 Whippoorwill Hollow Road, Lot B, North Franklin facebook.com/eliteplumbingct 860-367-3174 second place Maxum Irrigation and Plumbing, Waterford runner-up J&J Plumbing and Heating, Waterford
roofing, windows & siding Thomas Garbati Builders
179 Butlertown Road, Waterford garbatibuilders.com 860-443-1232 second place Henderson Roofing, Westerly, RI runner-up Advanced Group, Mystic
68
magazine
1049 Poquonnock Road, Groton facebook.com/sattisfamilytrees 860-405-4134 second place
A & D Tree Service, Colchester
Buy 4 Pizzas, Get One Free!
BEST
LIVE THEATRE LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Check out the GRAB & GO Fridge
- different varieties daily
Thank you for your continued support in voting for us. Best Kept Secret!
2440 Gold Star Hwy. · Mystic · www.184pizzeria.com (Inside the new Haley Brook Plaza on Rte. 184) OPEN 7 DAYS • DELIVERY AVAILABLE
860-245-0800
WINNER OF THE 2022 OUTSTANDING HISTORIC THEATRE IN AMERICA AWARD. FOR MORE DETAILS & A FULL CALENDAR LISTING: 325 STATE STREET | NEW LONDON 860.444.7373 | GARDEARTS.ORG
Featuring Beautiful Original Art
“Girl in Surf ” - David Schock
“Amazing Grace” - Amy Ryan
4 8 We s t M a i n S t re e t , M y s t i c • 8 6 0 . 5 3 6 . 8 3 3 9 • w w w. f i n e r l i n e g a l l e r y. c o m september 2022 69
best of the best | &LIFESTYLE BEAUTY That Look Salon best hair salon or hair
lifestyle & beauty
dresser That Look opened its doors in 1982, and since
then the salon’s goal has been to create a culture where the expectations of employees and clients alike are consistently exceeded. Through a positive salon environment and continued education, That Look aspires to provide its clients with the latest hair trends and a memorable salon experience. 166 Boston Post Road, East Lyme; thatlooksalon.com; 860-739-3459
barbershop or barber
facial cosmetics or surgery
I Got You Next Barbershop
Liz Almanzar Esthetics at Swoon Salon & Spa
1289 Gold Star Highway, Groton igotyounext.com 860-405-4787 second place Chris Frye, Frye’s Barbershop, Ledyard runner-up The Cave Barbershop, Groton
brows Brows By Pamela
116 Bank Street, New London facebook.com/browsbypamelaa 860-705-7608 second place Bow Chicka Brow Wow, GlamLabz Salon, Uncasville runner-up FACE it we WAX it & MORE, Groton
70
magazine
126 Gallup Hill Road, Ledyard lizalmanzaresthetics.com 860-319-3191 second place Stephie’s Beauty Boutique, Gales Ferry runner-up Sirena Medical Aesthetics, Waterford
hair salon or hair dresser That Look Salon
166 Boston Post Road, East Lyme thatlooksalon.com 860-739-3459 second place Mystic River Hair and Nail Salon, Mystic runner-up Morgan Duffy, Hair Stop, Waterford
lashes Lashes by Jenni, SWOON SALON & SPA
126 Gallup Hill Road, Ledyard vagaro.com/lashesbyjenni 860-514-1303 second place Stephie’s Beauty Boutique, Gales Ferry runner-up Lashes by Lee & Co., New London
Vanessa Villena Beauty Co. best
makeup artist Vanessa Villena Beauty Co. is a full-service salon offering all hair, makeup, lashes, brows and bridal services. Owner Vanessa is a loving mother whose passion for hair and makeup began in 2002. She is certified with the company Elleebana to do henna brow treatments and lash lifts. Vanessa has added brow lamination to her list of services. Vanessa is always expanding on her extensive knowledge, staying current with the latest techniques, trends and fashions. 187 Central Avenue, Norwich; vanessavillena.com; 860-574-3756
Nailed It Mystic best nail salon
makeup artist
Annie McGuire is an independent nail specialist at Mystic River Hair and Nails. She has years of experience helping people look their best with personalized service. Call, text or book online for an appointment. Mystic River Hair and Nail Salon; 7 Roosevelt Avenue, Mystic; naileditmystic.com; 860-857-7803
Vanessa Villena Beauty Co.
187 Central Avenue, Norwich vanessavillena.com 860-574-3756 second place Amanda Flickner, Split Personality, Groton runner-up Stephie’s Beauty Boutique, Gales Ferry
massage therapist Bethany Wilson, SWOON SALON & SPA
126 Gallup Hill Road, Ledyard facebook.com/swoon-salonspa-2211312425793335 second place Sarah Noel, Back & Body Chiropractic, Dayville runner-up Kathleen Kokomoor, Advanced Back and Neck Care Center, Groton
spas or facials
tattoos & piercing
Swoon Salon & Spa
Red Skies Collective, Tommy Slocum
126 Gallup Hill Road, Ledyard facebook.com/swoon-salonspa-2211312425793335 second place The Spa at Norwich Inn, Norwich runners-up Stephie’s Beauty Boutique, Gales Ferry Tranquil Balance, East Lyme
175 Thames Street, Groton facebook.com/redskiescollective 860-445-0098 second place Midnight Angel Studio, Groton runner-up Flats Tattooing, Groton
nail salon Nailed It Mystic, MYSTIC RIVER HAIR AND NAIL SALON
7 Roosevelt Avenue, Mystic naileditmystic.com 860-857-7803 second place Nails by Cindy, Swoon Salon & Spa, Ledyard runner-up Cozy Nail Spa, Mystic
YOUR FURNISHED ROOMS OUR SPECIALTY • Home Furnishings • Consultations • Project Management • Floor Plans • Space Planning
• Finish Selections • Color Coordination • Decor Placements • Window Treatments
designessenceinteriors.com
interior design and retail studio
860-388-5815 •100 Main Street • Old Saybrook
september 2022 71
pets
best of the best | PETS best daycare or pet sitting Amber's Pampered
Pets is a professional dog walking and in-home pet sitting company serving the southeastern Connecticut region. It offers a variety of services and features, including daily puppy care visits and administering medication, all of which are expedited by professionally trained staff. Amber’s Pampered Pets provides exceptional care to its pet clients while delivering great service to its human clients. 16 Lena Drive, Montville; amberspets.com; 860-885-8512
animal rescue
pet grooming
pet training
Connecticut Humane Society
Doggy Stylez Mobile Grooming
All Bright Canines
169 Old Colchester Road, Quaker Hill cthumane.org 860-442-8583 second place Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Mystic runner-up Freedom First Wildlife Rehab, Inc., Waterford
5 Point Street, Preston doggystylezmobile.net 860-705-8115 second place
Sharp K-9 Clippers, Groton runner-up Grimm’s Furry Tails, Ledyard
boarding
pet supplies & accessories
All Bright Canines
Mystic Pet Shop
1567 CT-85, Oakdale allbrightcanines.com 860-490-4755 second place Norwichtown Pet Resort and Spa, Norwich runner-up
28 East Main Street, Mystic mysticpetshop.com 860-572-4424 second place
Fun. Play. Bark., Groton
Paw Print Pantry, Niantic
daycare or pet sitting Amber’s Pampered Pets, LLC 16 Lena Drive, Montville amberspets.com 860-885-8512 second place
All Bright Canines, Oakdale runner-up Fun. Play. Bark., Groton
72
Amber’s Pampered Pets, LLC
magazine
K9 Cookie Confectionery, Montville runners-up Fleming’s Feed & Grain, Stonington
1567 CT-85, Oakdale allbrightcanines.com 860-490-4755 second place Rhodes Collar, Mystic runner-up Fun. Play. Bark., Groton
veterinary services Colchester Veterinary Hospital
364 Old Hartford Road, Colchester colchestervet.net 860-537-3435 second place Four Paws Veterinary Services, Mystic runner-up Norwichtown Veterinary Hospital, Norwich
All Bright Canines best boarding, best pet training All Bright Canines offers a comprehensive training program for dogs and their owners struggling with behavioral issues like aggression. Training can occur during daycare, in a class, a private session or on-location. All Bright Canines also provides overnight services to its daycare dogs with different levels of comfort, so they feel right at home. All services are catered to accommodate the needs of the individual dog and their family. 1567 CT-85, Oakdale; allbrightcanines.com; 860-490-4755
Financing available for qualifie d applicants .
AS OIL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE WE HAVE THE SOLUTION!
Wood and Pellet Inserts & Stoves to fit every lifestyle.
With the cost of oil getting out of control, let us help put your mind at ease this winter. Come visit our showroom to select a wood or pellet heating alternative that is right for you.
FamilyHearthAndPatio.com 571 Broad Street, New London, CT | 860.574.9388 september 2022 73
best of the best | SERVICES accounting firm/tax preparer Ed Lorah & Associates LLC
49 Boston Post Road, Waterford elorahandassoc.com 860-442-1999 second place Austin & Macione CPAs, Groton runner-up Garvey, Steele & Bancroft, LLP, Mystic
attorney Jason Burdick, MESSIER, MASSAD, BURDICK & ASSOCIATES, LLC
107 State Street, New London massadins.com/partners/lawyers/ messier_massad_burdick_ associates_llc 860-443-7014 second place Chris Albanese, Law Office of Albanese & Knauer, Gales Ferry runner-up Attorney Richard J. Pascal, Norwich
Lou’s Computers best computer and electronics
repair Lou's Computers began in 2001 as a work-from-home IT service and support provider for the community and surrounding local businesses. In 2009, it transformed into Lou's Computers, LLC, a retail sales and service center. Since then, Lou's Computers has grown its personal customer base including local and regional businesses. 45 Williams Avenue, Mystic; louscomputers.com; 860-415-4663
auto repair
bank
Sireci’s Automotive
Chelsea Groton Bank
CIC Automotive & Sales, Gales Ferry runner-up
Liberty Bank, Middletown runner-up
Cardinal Honda, Groton
Dime Bank, Norwich
385 Boston Post Road, Waterford facebook.com/sirecisautomotive 860-442-9560 second place
904 Poquonnock Road, Groton chelseagroton.com 800-816-2472 second place
car wash/detailing
services
Chelsea Groton Bank best bank
Chelsea Groton Bank helps individuals, families and businesses succeed in big ways and small by putting more effort into everything it does. And the bank is focused on bringing together the best in digital, remote and in-person capabilities—an approach designed around the lives of its customers so they can manage finances when, where and how they want. Chelsea Groton Bank proudly puts time, energy and money into its local communities to make them stronger. 904 Poquonnock Road, Groton; chelseagroton.com; 800-816-2472
74
magazine
Submarine Car Wash 591 CT-12, Groton submarinecarwash.com 860-449-9992 second place
Alpha Detailing, Groton runner-up Rapid Car Wash, New London
childcare/daycare Precious Memories Place
168 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic preciousmemoriesplace.com 860-415-9744 second place Carelot Children’s Center, Waterford runner-up Precious Memories Preschool of Sandy Hollow, Mystic
clothing alterations & tailoring
financial advisor
Lauren Rush Alterations
135 Boston Post Road, East Lyme edwardjones.com 860-440-6741 second place Tom Dittmeier, Shoreline Wealth Management, Waterford runner-up Chelsea Groton Financial Services, Groton
18 Overlook Drive, Waterford facebook.com/rushbridal 215-435-4570 second place
Teresa Wilensky, Waterford runner-up Barry’s Cleaners & Launderers, New London
computer & electronics repair Lou’s Computers
45 Williams Avenue, Mystic louscomputers.com 860-415-4663 second place Wireless Zone Repair Zone, New London runner-up Star Computers, Niantic
David Cikatz, EDWARD JONES
hotel, inn, bed & breakfast Foxwoods Resort Casino
350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Ledyard foxwoods.com 860-312-3000 second place The Spa at Norwich Inn, Norwich runner-up Stonecroft Country Inn, Ledyard
funeral services
insurance agency
Byles-MacDougall Funeral Service
Bouvier Insurance
99 Huntington Street, New London byles.com 860-442-0343 second place Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Homes, New London runner-up Mystic Funeral Home, Mystic
1020 Hartford Turnpike, Waterford binsurance.com 800-357-2000 second place Massad Insurance Agency, New London runner-up Byrnes Agency, Norwich
credit union Charter Oak Federal Credit Union
1055 Hartford Turnpike, Waterford charteroak.org 860-446-8085 second place Navy Federal Credit Union, New London runners-up Core Plus Credit Union, Norwich Scient Federal Credit Union, Groton
dry cleaner Barry’s Cleaners & Launderers
565 Colman Street, New London barryscleanerssect.com 860-447-8220 second place Pier Cleaners, Westerly, RI runner-up Plaza Cleaners, Groton
Barry’s Cleaners & Launderers best dry cleaner Since 1952, Barry’s Cleaners & Launderers has dedicated
itself to providing customers with a complete range of laundering, dry cleaning, tailoring and alteration services. Barry’s Cleaners’ capabilities include laundry and dry cleaning for everyday items, fine garment cleaning, stain removal and treatment, and cleaning for tablecloths, bedding and draperies. Let Barry’s help you prolong the life of your garments by preserving their color, form and feel. 565 Colman Street, New London; barryscleanerssect.com; 860-447-8220
september 2022 75
best of the best | SERVICES preschool/pre-k
self storage
Precious Memories Place
Cross Road Rent-A-Space
Friendship School, Waterford runner-up Precious Memories Preschool of Sandy Hollow, Mystic
The Storage Yard, Norwich runner-up
168 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic preciousmemoriesplace.com 860-415-9744 second place
David Cikatz best financial advisor David
Cikatz’s main focus is helping individuals and business owners looking for comprehensive financial strategies, working alongside their CPA, their estate attorney and their loved ones. Cikatz looks to partner with other professionals and collaborate with them to get the results their clients are striving to achieve. Edward Jones; 135 Boston Post Road, East Lyme; edwardjones.com; 860-440-6741
law firm Messier, Massad, Burdick & Assoc. LLC
107 State Street, New London massadins.com/partners/lawyers/ messier_massad_burdick_associates_ llc 860-443-7014 second place Suisman & Shapiro, New London runner-up Law Office of Albanese & Knauer, Gales Ferry
photographer or videographer Joshua Jordan
279 West Main Street, Norwich joshuajordanphoto.com second place Sara’s Photography, Niantic runner-up Boudie Calls Boudoir Studio, Sprague
76
magazine
real estate agency RE/MAX Coast and Country
27 Coogan Boulevard, #1B, Mystic coast-and-country100427953.remax.com 860-536-7600 second place Luque Realty, LLC, New London runner-up Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties
realtor Greg Broadbent, RE/MAX Coast and Country
27 Coogan Boulevard, #1B, Mystic remax.com/real-estate-agents/ gregory-broadbent-mystic-ct 860-460-6939 second place Angela Bergstrom, Berkshire Hathaway, Niantic runner-up Carlos Luque, Luque Realty, New London
175 Cross Road, Waterford rent-a-space.com/ connecticut-locations/ cross-road-waterford-2 860-444-1912 second place
Terra Firma, Gales Ferry
taxi or limousine service Joshua’s Worldwide
172 Stoddards Wharf Road, Gales Ferry joshuasworldwide.com 860-464-0336 second place Curtin Transportation Group, Waterford runner-up Legends Alumni Livery Limited Limousine Service, Oakdale
travel agent/agency AAA
117 Boston Post Road, Waterford aaa.com 860-701-7000 second place KarmaVacations, Groton runner-up HMS Consulting, Susan Hull, Lisbon
Joshua’s Worldwide best taxi or limousine service
Joshua’s Worldwide is the industry-leading, trend-setting ground transportation for all your travel needs. It offers exclusive attention and service to you and your clients. Joshua’s Worldwide has connections across six continents and is known for the best service in the industry. With 40 years of combined experience, Joshua’s Worldwide can meet any request anywhere in the world. 172 Stoddards Wharf Road, Gales Ferry; joshuasworldwide.com; 860-464-0336
Congratulations to our
EAST LYME OFFICE Finalist Best Real Estate Agency in The Day’s Best of the Best Reader’s Contest
316 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357 860.739.6666 A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC.
without Compromise! Quality
Thank You for voting McQuade’s for voting for McQuade’s for
BestBest Locally Owned Locally Owned Grocery Store Pharmacy! Grocery Store &&Pharmacy! We appreciate the support. We appreciate the continued continued support.
pharmacy
2019
ned grocery sto lly ow re loca
2019
Mystic 860.536.2054 • Westerly 401.596.2054 • www.mcquadesmarketplace.com september 2022 77
best of the best | SHOPPING Grace best
accessories, best boutique, best women’s clothing What is Grace? Grace means “elegance, finesse and poise.” As a verb, it can mean “to adorn, embellish or decorate.” Come experience all of this and more at Grace's Niantic location. 46 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic; shopatgrace.com; 860-739-4333
shopping
accessories Grace
46 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic shopatgrace.com 860-739-4333 second place Loving Life Boutique, Pawcatuck runner-up Anna Pearl’s Curiosities, Niantic
antiques Past to Present
260 Main Street, Niantic pasttopresentct.com 860-449-3312 second place Fun and Funky Vintage, Stonington runner-up 2 Sisters Trading Post, Salem
78
magazine
appliances Keith’s Appliances
320 West Thames Street, Norwich keithsappliances.com 860-889-2093 second place Shore TV and Appliances, Groton runner-up Jerry’s Appliance, Norwich
auto dealership (new)
Cardinal Honda
531 CT-12, Groton cardinalhonda.com 860-449-0411 second place Valenti Family of Dealerships, Mystic runner-up The M.J. Sullivan Automotive Corner, New London
Wild Birds Unlimited best
auto dealership (pre-owned)
Cardinal Honda
531 CT-12, Groton cardinalhonda.com 860-449-0411 second place Valenti Family of Dealerships, Mystic runner-up East Coast Auto Sales & Service Center, Griswold
bath & body products Main Street Soap Emporium
22 East Main Street, Mystic mainstsoap.com 860-389-0155 second place Becca Rose, Mystic runner-up Kettlepot Soap, Ledyard
feed & grain Wild Birds Unlimited of Niantic thanks you for voting it “Best of the Best!” It specializes in bringing people and nature together through the hobby of backyard bird feeding and nature products. The store offers the highest quality products—including bird food, feeders, houses, baths and more. It is an authorized dealer of Swarovski, Zeiss, Opticron and Vortex optics. Stop in to see why it’s voted number one! 190 Flanders Road, Niantic; niantic.wbu.com; 860-739-7302
boutique Grace
46 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic shopatgrace.com 860-739-4333 second place Loving Life Boutique, Pawcatuck runner-up Valomie Boutique, Stonington
Johnson’s True Value Hardware best hardware & home improvement Johnsons
Hardware Rental and Repair has been family-owned and operated since 1921. Johnsons specializes in great customer service and has a knowledgeable staff. Whether it's plumbing, paint, lawn and garden or small engine repair, “if you don't start there, you'll end there!" 40 Fort Hill Road, Groton; johnsonsrental.com; 860-448-1760
bicycles Mystic Cycle Centre
25 Stonington Road, Mystic mysticcyclecentre.com 860-572-7433 second place Niantic Bay Bicycles, Niantic runner-up Wayfarer Bicycle, New London
books The Book Barn
41 West Main Street, Niantic bookbarnniantic.com 860-739-5715 second place Bank Square Books, Mystic runner-up Savoy Bookshop and Cafe, Westerly, RI
children’s clothing The Blue Horse Children’s Shop 1 West Main Street, Mystic thebluehorse.com 860-536-4895 second place
Baby-Go-Round, Groton runner-up Practically Perfect Consignments, Westerly, RI
children’s consignments Baby-Go-Round
333 Long Hill Road, Groton babygoroundinc.com 860-446-8174 second place Thread & Nail, Colchester runner-up Practically Perfect Consignments, Westerly, RI
consignments or thrift store Deja Vu Consignment Room
116 Granite Street Westerly, RI facebook.com/deja-vu-consignmentroom-239792833039667 401-742-5431 second place Jonnycake Center of Westerly, Westerly, RI runner-up 2 Sisters Trading Post, Salem
crafts & scrapbooking Driftwood Yarns
1 Fort Hill Road, Groton driftwoodyarns.com 860-415-8118 second place Twist Yarn Shoppe, Niantic runner-up KnittyGrittyYarnGirl Mobile Yarn Shoppe
eyewear Shades of Mystic
3 Water Street, Unit 101, Mystic facebook.com/shadesofmystic 860-572-0081 second place Shoreline Eye Group, Waterford runner-up The Eyeglass Lass, Mystic
Mallove’s Jewelers best jewelry, weddings: best jewelry & accessories For over 100 years, Mallove’s Jewelers has
remained southeastern Connecticut’s most respected jeweler. It is committed to its historic legacy of trust. Through generations of old to generations of new, Mallove’s is honored to be part of the stories of so many beautiful families and looks forward to sharing in all your special moments to come. 262 Boston Post Road, Waterford; mallovejewelers.com; 860-442-4391
september 2022 79
best of the best | SHOPPING Studio 33 Art & Frame Gallery best picture framing Custom picture framing in a
range of styles and budgets, a large readymade custom frame selection, a gallery featuring local artists and artisanal gifts— there’s something for everyone at Studio 33 Art & Frame Gallery, a fixture of downtown New London since 1979. 140 Bank Street, New London; studio33gallery.com; 860-442-6355
feed & grain Wild Birds Unlimited
190 Flanders Road, Niantic niantic.wbu.com 860-739-7302 second place Fleming’s Feed & Grain, Stonington runner-up Mystic Pet Shop, Mystic
flowers Hoelck’s Florist
341 Boston Post Road, Waterford hoelcks.com 860-443-7673 second place Thames River Greenery, New London runner-up Fisher Florist, New London
footwear Kelley’s Pace
27 Coogan Boulevard, #15C, Mystic kelleyspacemystic.com 860-536-8175 second place Bestemors, Mystic runner-up Ideal Skateshop, Norwich
gifts & souvenirs The Bowerbird
46 Halls Road, Old Lyme thebowerbird.com 860-434-3562 second place The Shop at the Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme runner-up Studio 33 Art & Frame Gallery, New London
grocery store
jewelry
McQuade’s Marketplace
Mallove’s Jewelers
Fiddleheads Food Co-op, New London runner-up
Grader Jewelers, Groton runner-up
TriTown Foods, East Lyme
Nigrelli’s Jewelry, Westerly, RI
hardware & home improvement
men’s clothing
Johnson’s True Value Hardware
9 Canal Street, #1, Westerly, RI 401-596-2584 second place
14 Clara Drive, Mystic mcquadesmarket.com 860-536-2054 second place
40 Fort Hill Road, Groton johnsonsrental.com 860-448-1760 second place Cash True Value Home Center, East Lyme runner-up
magazine
Toscano’s Mens Shop
Burgee Mystic, Mystic runner-up Jonnycake Center of Westerly, Westerly, RI
Holdridge’s Home & Garden, Ledyard
music or instruments
hearing aid retailer
Stewart’s Music
County Hearing & Balance 167 Parkway North, Waterford countyhearingandbalance.com 860-775-4339 second place Eastern Connecticut Ear, Nose & Throat, Waterford runner-up
Thames Hearing Service, East Lyme
80
262 Boston Post Road, Waterford mallovejewelers.com 860-442-4391 second place
171 Main Street, Niantic stewartsmusicct.com 860-739-4141 second place Spindrift Guitars, New London runner-up The Telegraph, New London
organic/ health & wellness Fiddleheads Food Co-op 13 Broad Street, New London fiddleheadsfood.weebly.com 860-701-9123 second place Natural Food Store, Niantic runner-up Becca Rose, Mystic
picture framing Studio 33 Art & Frame Gallery 140 Bank Street, New London studio33gallery.com 860-442-6355 second place
Framers of the Lost Art, Mystic runner-up Art Emporium of Old Saybrook, Old Saybrook
Fiddleheads Food Co-op best organic/ health and wellness, best specialty food store Fiddleheads
Food Cooperative is a full-service grocery store specializing in local, organic and natural products. Open to all, Fiddleheads is New London’s only downtown grocery store. It’s owned by over 3,000 households throughout southeastern Connecticut working together to create a locally focused, sustainable and health-driven food system. Stop in for products from over 90 local Connecticut farms and businesses offering everything from Brussels sprouts to beer. 13 Broad Street, New London; fiddleheadsfood.weebly.com; 860-701-9123
Thank you for your continued support. (860) 536-7007 Olde Mistick Village | 27 Coogan Blvd #8c, Mystic, CT 06355 beccarose.com september 2022 81
best of the best | SHOPPING produce & farm stand Scott’s Yankee Farmer
436 Boston Post Road, East Lyme scottsyankeefarmer.net 860-739-5209 second place
Verizon Wireless Zone of Groton & New London best wireless and electronics As a Verizon
authorized retailer, each individually owned and operated Wireless Zone® location combines the power of Verizon with the dedication of a local business. Visit the stores in Groton next to Kohl’s, New London in Marshall’s shopping center, and Westerly at Dunn’s Corner for competitive prices on today’s most popular phones, tablets, watches, 4G and 5G home, connected devices and accessories. 351 North Frontage Road, Suite B11, New London; facebook.com/wirelesszonenl; 860-439-1000
Whittle’s Willow Spring Farm, Mystic runner-up Malerba’s Farm, Norwich
seafood Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant
22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme flandersfish.com 860-739-8866 second place Sea Well Seafood, Pawcatuck runner-up J&R Seafood Market, Mystic
wine & spirits
women’s clothing
Grand Wine & Spirits
Grace
McQuade’s Marketplace, Mystic
Mermaid Liquors, Niantic
Loving Life Boutique, Pawcatuck runner-up Deja Vu Consignment Room, Westerly, RI
sporting goods
wireless & electronics
specialty food store Fiddleheads Food Co-op 13 Broad Street, New London fiddleheadsfood.weebly.com 860-701-9123 second place Mystic Market, Mystic runner-up
Dick’s Sporting Goods
915 Hartford Turnpike, A1, Waterford stores.dickssportinggoods.com/ct/ waterford/153 860-447-2886 second place Eastern Mountain Sports, Waterford runners-up Ideal Skateshop, Norwich M&P Firearms LLC, Groton
82
magazine
255 CT-12, Groton grandwineandspirits.com 860-445-1044 second place Spencer & Lynn Wine and Spirit Merchants, Mystic runner-up
Verizon Wireless Zone of Groton & New London
351 North Frontage Road, Suite B11, New London facebook.com/wirelesszonenl 860-439-1000 second place Best Buy runner-up T-Mobile
46 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic shopatgrace.com 860-739-4333 second place
HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU
So much to celebrate! Thank you for voting us BEST CREDIT UNION FINALIST.
u o y k n a h
t
THANK YOU FOR VOTING GUMDROPS & LOLLIPOPS FOR BEST SWEETS & CANDY!
BE A PART OF
THE BEST!
Smart Banking Starts Here.
860.886.0576 CorePlus.com Groton • East Lyme • Waterford • Norwich Foxwoods Resort • Plainfield • Pawcatuck
NOW HIRING $1500
SIGNING BONUS
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US BEST OF THE BEST! wireless-careers.com
Sargent, Whistler Venetian & Glass American Artists and the Magic of Murano
OPENING OCTOBER 15
Sargent, Whistler and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
september 2022 83
best of the best | WEDDINGS
weddings
Wright’s Mill Farm best wedding venue/banquet hall Wright’s Mill Farm has
been owned and operating as a family business since 2004. The farm is all about keeping a family-oriented relationship intact both behind the scenes and in front of the house. Its staff is one of the best around and its couples and clients end up making their way into the "farmily" as well. 65 Creasey Road, Canterbury; wrightsmillfarm.com; 860-774-1455
formal wear Love Me Forever Bridal
15 Merchants Avenue, Taftville loveme4everbridal.com 860-889-3535 second place Melissa Ashley Brides, Westerly, RI runner-up Mishalé Bridal & Tux, Niantic
hair & makeup Smudge Makeup
2 Anna Williams Drive, Mashantucket smudgemakeup.net 860-245-8282 second place Beauty by Nicki J at GlamLabz Salon, Uncasville runner-up Vanessa Villena Beauty Co., Norwich
jewelry & accessories Mallove’s Jewelers
262 Boston Post Road, Waterford mallovejewelers.com 860-442-4391 second place Northern Light Gems, New London runner-up Rosalie Faith Fine Jewelry, Stonington
84
magazine
planning, consultant & services
wedding venue/ banquet hall
Lauren Rush Alterations
65 Creasey Road, Canterbury wrightsmillfarm.com 860-774-1455 second place Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard runner-up Stonecroft Country Inn, Ledyard
18 Overlook Drive, Waterford facebook.com/rushbridal 215-435-4570 second place
Joshua’s Worldwide, Gales Ferry runner-up Jen Strunk Events
Wright’s Mill Farm
Love Me Forever Bridal best formal wear
Love Me Forever Bridal is a familyowned and operated business specializing in bridal, formal wear and tuxes. Kirsten Nicholas opened the doors to the boutique six years ago, inspired by her mother’s work as a tailor in the 1970s. Kirsten takes pride in the special attention and service she provides each customer who comes into the shop, helping each one look and feel their best for their wedding or any other occasion that calls for nothing less. 15 Merchants Avenue, Taftville; loveme4everbridal.com; 860-889-3535
Start Your Career in
Thank you FOR VOTING US TOP 3
Professional Beauty
RIVER VALLEY ESTHETICS INSTITUTE
Offering Licensing Programs in Esthetics. Nail Technology and Lashes for CT & RI
15 Chesterfield Rd., Unit 2, East Lyme, CT 06333 860-850-4138 • pinspiration.com/locations/eastlyme
THANK YOU FOR VOTING! Congratulations to all the nominees!
90
th
Lyman Allyn A R T
M U S E U M
Celebrating the power of art since 1932
625 Williams Street • New London, CT lymanallyn.org • Exit 83 off I-95
Payment Plans Available www.myrvei.com
For the 7th year in a row, the trainers of Advantage Personal Training have been recognized as “The Best of the Best”, but for the last 20+ years we’ve known that it’s our clients who are simply... “THE BEST”
Thank you to our clients, families and friends for your continued support! 2906 Gold Star Hwy, Mystic 860-245-0388 6 Liberty Way, Niantic 860-691-1616 www.AdvantagePersonalTraining.com
Thank you for your continued support and voting for us.
independencephysicaltherapy.com MYSTIC 2440 Gold Star Hwy., Suite 201 (p)860-536-1001 (f)860-536-1527
UNCASVILLE 80 Norwich New London Tpke., Suite 2E (p)860-892-8683 (f)860-892-8684
september 2022 85
cover story
where the
whales are A humpback whale and her calf (right) prepare to dive. Humpbacks can remain underwater for up to 30 minutes. p hoto by Barb Dunn
86
magazine
A TRIP TO STELLWAGEN BANK, NEW ENGLAND’S ONLY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
H
By Richard Selden
waxes—used widely in the past in consumer goods like
ave a steady whole sail breeze at
cosmetics and perfumes, lubricants and candles (and
WS W. S t e e re d N W. S aw s e v e ra l
still being sold in some parts of the world, according to
humpbacks and finbacks. At 9 AM,
the International Whaling Commission).
saw the land, the coast of Asia near
The good news is that since the U.S. Marine Mammal
Kamchatka. Steered for the land until
Protection Act of 1972 and later conservation efforts,
sunset. Saw 6 ships in shore. The sun sets clear
including a 1986 global whaling moratorium, whale
and beautiful. The land mountainous and cov-
populations are recovering from the 19th- and early
ered with snow.
20th-century slaughter. Even better, you don’t need to voyage to Kamchatka
So wrote Frederick Olney, third mate of the New
to see humpbacks, finbacks and other species. At
London whaler Merrimac, on August 4, 1845 in a jour-
the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, just east of Boston
nal he kept aboard the whaling ship. Donated to the
between Cape Cod and Cape Ann lies Stellwagen
New London Maritime Society and transcribed by
Bank National Marine Sanctuary, New England’s only
dozens of “citizen scriveners,” Olney’s 156-page jour-
national marine sanctuary and an increasingly popu-
nal chronicles the Merrimac’s three-year journey, one
lar site for whale-watching and whale research.
of more than 1,100 such voyages from Connecticut’s “Whaling City” on the Thames. Many of us are both captivated by the maritime adventure of whaling yet repelled by the mass killing of whales for their body parts—oils, bony cartilage and
This 842-square-mile plateau, first mapped around 1854 by U.S. Navy Lt. Henry Stellwagen for the U.S. Coast Survey, is visited every year by humpbacks, fin whales, baleen whales, dolphins and porpoises. Upwelling, when warmer surface water is replaced by cooler, nutrient-rich water from below, turns Stellwagen Bank— at a n aver a ge depth of 100 to 120 feet—into a picnic table for the marine food chain of plankton, krill, fish and whales. On a recent tr ip host ed by New England Aquarium, we boarded the Aurora at Boston’s Central Wharf during a rainstorm. With four- to sixfoot swells predicted, some would-be passengers bailed out. Seated in the Aurora’s enclosed section during the hour-long cruise to Stellwagen Bank, we peered at the
september 2022 87
cover story docked lightship Nantucket, the Logan Airport Tower, Fish Pier, the Conley Container Terminal and the harbor islands, described by our naturalist-guide, Colin Greeley. We passed historic Boston Light, opposite the hilly town of Hull, and Graves Light, 11 miles out. Flat screens displayed informative slides, along with multiple-choice questions such as: “What is the average width of a humpback whale’s fluke?” (Correct answer: 12 feet.) Past the harbor, there was a gentle roll; the rain stopped by the time we reached the bank. The Aurora, now slowed, tipped forward and back and side to side, items sliding off tables as we turned into the waves and people doing the classic “drunk walk” as they made their way out onto the deck. We scanned the waves for spouts and for petrels flying above schooling fish. Greeley suggested we look for “body parts”—that is, flukes (or tails, like the “whale-tail fountain” in New London’s Parade Plaza) and dorsal (back) and pectoral (side) fins. The trip’s stars? Humpbacks—bigger than a city bus, measuring roughly 50 feet long and weighing 30 tons or so. Humpbacks are identified by their long, white pectoral fins and narrowing heads with knobby hair follicles. The underside of each inditop A whale calf breaches the surface, giving viewers a look at the smallest whales visiting the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. photo by Kate Laemmle / Boston Harbor City Cruises above Humpback whales feeding in sight of the Provincetown shore and the Pilgrim Monument. photo by Richard Selden below Two humpbacks breach together, a rare moment to catch on film, during a whale watch tour in early August. photo by David Lockwood / Boston Harbor City Cruises right The Asteria, one of New England Aquarium’s whale-watching vessels, takes adventurers out on a watch in the waters off Cape Cod in July. p hoto courtesy of New England Aquarium
vidual’s fluke, we learned, has a unique white-on-black pattern (except when there are no white markings), enabling researchers to identify and name the whales. First to be spotted was a humpback named Nile with a calf. Next, only a few dozen yards from the boat, another female humpback, Music, repeatedly flapped a pectoral fin, “double flipper-flapped”—waving both white fins above the water while on her back—and breached, or arced out of the water three times. Humpbacks are known for breaching, believed to be a form of communication. Last Memorial Day, a family out boating near Race Rock filmed a humpback breaching the waters just west of Fishers Island, and their video made the rounds online and on the TV news. While humpback populations are in the tens of thousands, the North Atlantic right whale—hunted both for its quantity of oil and tendency to float after being killed—is critically endangered, with fewer than 440 remaining, according to the Ocean Conservancy. A positive note: Greeley said he had observed Canada-bound right whales in April and May. The nex t day, I went f rom bustl ing Boston to sa ndy Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod. Based at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston’s redeveloped Seaport District, the Bay State ferry scooted across to Provincetown in about 90 minutes.
88
magazine
Saw several humpbacks and finbacks. At 9 AM, saw the land, the coast of Asia near Kamchatka.
“All these whales have grown up around whale-watch boats.” DENNIS MINSKY
Because Experience Matters Popular Inspections ∙ Home ∙ Septic ∙ Well ∙ Water Quality
∙ Radon ∙ Termite ∙ Pre-Listing
Call (860) 445-1236 today!
Thank You for Voting Us Top 3 Salon!
166 Boston Post Rd, East Lyme, CT • thatlooksalon.com • 860.739.3459
CLOSED 73 High Meadow Lane, Mystic $850,000 Represented the Buyers
Contact me to help you sell your home
860.235.2665 jacqueline.hoyt@cbrealty.com september 2022 89
cover story A few commercial fishing vessels still dock at Provincetown’s MacMillan Pier, but it is mostly given over to charters, souvenir booths, outposts of the nonprofit Shark Center and Center for Coastal Studies—keeper of the Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog—and whale-watch boats including the one I rode: Dolphin X of the Dolphin Fleet, “Originators of the East Coast whale watch.” Our guide and naturalist, Dennis Minsky, quipped that the boat’s front viewing area would open “when we get to whales—the animal, not the country.” On a poster, he pointed to the species we were likely to see: finbacks, humpbacks and minkes (a baleen species just 30 feet long). In thousands of trips, “I have never seen a sperm whale,” he said, due to their preference for remote waters. Though the “population explosion” of gray seals has attracted great white sharks, more than 250 of which have been tagged around Cape Cod, it hasn’t lured orcas, he noted.
above Music the humpback whale breaching, believed to be a form of communication. photo courtesy of New England Aquarium / Boston Harbor City Cruises top right Boarding the Aurora in the rain at Boston’s Central Wharf, next to the New England Aquarium. p hoto by Richard Selden right A humpback whale expels a breath at the surface in Stellwagen Bank in the Atlantic Ocean, creating a spout visible hundreds of feet away in clear weather. photo by barb dunn
90
magazine
THE IMAGES IN THIS STORY WERE TAKEN ON TRIPS WITH THE FOLLOWING TOUR COMPANIES: New England Aquarium Whale Watch / Boston Harbor City Cruises
1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 617-973-5200; neaq.org Adults $65, seniors (65+) $57, ages 3-11 $45, under 3 free. Combination tickets with aquarium admission available.
Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
307 Commercial Street, #1, Provincetown, MA 508-240-3636; whalewatch.com Adults $70, seniors (62+) $60, ages 5-12 $45, 4 and under free
Cape Ann Whale Watch
415 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 800-877-5110, seethewhales.com Adults $55, seniors (60+) $50, ages 4-16 $40, 3 and under $10
7 Seas Whale Watch
63 Rogers Street, Gloucester, MA 978-283-1776, 7seaswhalewatch.com Adults $55, seniors (55+) $50, ages 3-17 $40, under 3 $10
The fluke of a diving humpback whale. photo by Barb Dunn
Thank you for Voting us Top 3 Best Landscaper
Call for a free, quick estimate 860-415-3684 peaklandscapingct.com september 2022 91
cover story HOW TO PREPARE FOR A WHALE-WATCHING TRIP Layers of clothing
Consider a rain jacket or windbreaker (waterproof jacket) if you get cold easily or don’t like getting wet.
Sunscreen & lip balm Even on cloudy or
foggy days, sunburn is a real possibility for many people.
Polarized sunglasses! sunglasses Polarized lenses cut through the water better so you can see a whale before it even reaches the surface! A Hat Make sure it fits snugly so it
doesn’t fly off your head while underway.
Anti-nausea remedy Most of these are preventatives, so use it BEFORE you start to feel sick for maximum effectiveness. Closed-toe, flat shoes Walking on a
moving boat is difficult enough! Shoes with a rubber bottom, such as tennis shoes, are best.
Camera (with zoom lens) Your tour
will be following their local whale-watching guidelines and/or regulations, and that will involve giving whales some space. The whales may decide to come closer, but it’s likely you’ll need a zoom lens to get that money shot you’re hoping for.
Binoculars There is no fancy equip-
ment on board that will help your crew find whales, so you can help them look if you’re scanning the distance with your own binoculars.
Extra batteries and/or charger for your camera Don’t miss the photo of a
lifetime because your batteries died! If you are using your cell phone as a camera, your battery is likely to die more quickly at sea while out of range.
Pack snacks or cash to purchase food on board . Not all vessels accept credit cards so plan ahead just in case.
adapted from whalesense.org/2020/10/09/what-to-bring-on-a-whale-watch/
Never out of sight of the 252-foot Pilgrim Monument, for over an hour after reaching Stellwagen Bank the whale viewing was continuous. The final tally: roughly 20 finback whales—a sleek species second in size only to the rarely seen blue whale—and 10 humpbacks, including Glow, Anvil, Ember and Etch-a-Sketch, and one calf. Several times, humpbacks poked their “noses” out to feed, which they do by swallowing quantities of fish-filled water, pleated throats expanding, then pushing the water out through their baleen plates. One humpback wiggled up in a sort of spyhop, the term for a vertical look-around. “All these whales have grown up around whale-watch boats,” Minsky explained. Both of the tour companies are members of the Whale Sense program, promoting responsible whale-watching and educating the public about the main threats to whales: vessel strikes, fishing-gear entanglement, ingestion of plastic and underwater noise. After turning the boat so that everyone aboard had the best view of the many whales, the activity and presumably the feeding ceased. This was whale-watching’s “ebb and flow,” according to Minsky. And unlike Frederick Olney, we had experienced it over three hours, not three years. Top left A whale’s fluke creates a waterfall. p hoto by Laura Lilly / Boston Harbor City Cruises middle left A group of humpbacks bubble-net feeding. The whales appear to cooperate with each other, diving deep below schools of fish, then using bubbles blown from their blowholes to trap the fish closer to the surface. photo by Colin Greeley bottom left A humpback whale breaches in the waters of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Another whale can be seen breaching in the distance. photo by David Lockwood / Boston Harbor City Cruises
92
magazine
READ FREDERICK OLNEY’S MERRIMAC JOURNAL ONLINE
top While underwater, a humpback whale’s white flippers appear green because of the chlorophyll produced by plant-based phytoplankton, which is also part of the whale’s diet. photo by barb dunn above A humpback called “Wyoming” displays its flippers during a New England Aquarium-hosted whale watch. p hoto by Laura Lilly / Boston Harbor City Cruises
To read more of the Merrimac journal by Frederick Olney, visit the online exhibit, “Voyage of the Whaler Merrimac,” on the website of the Frank L. McGuire Library of the New London Maritime Society, at mcguirelibrary1998.omeka.net. The nonprofit Maritime Society and its Custom House Museum promote, protect and celebrate the maritime history and current life of the port of New London and the surrounding region.
below Naturalist Dennis Minsky talks about the whales that can be seen aboard the Provincetownbased Dolphin X on a recent whale watch trip to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. photo by Richard Selden right The easiest way to spot a whale at a distance is to look for the spouts, or exhaling of air through the whale’s blowhole. p hoto by Barb Dunn
september 2022 93
Thank You For Voting We have an excellent staff of SPFA trained professionals, who are equipped for: • Spray Foam Insulation • Fiberglass blown and batt installation • Blown fiberglass removal • Residential and Commercial. Call or e-mail for more information or to schedule your free estimate.
r-valueinsulation.com
E A S T LY M E 94
magazine
•
•
Preston, CT 06360
MYSTIC
•
•
860-383-2965 office
WILLIMANTIC
BOOKS
trending SHOPPING
APPS
FA S HIO N
BE AUT Y
MEDIA Morgan Point Lighthouse, Noank. Photo by Jack Knox
the silver screen goes international
turning pages book reviews
september 2022 95
trending
F
5 international films you can watch at home By Kitty Williams
ilm is an incredible medium—one that can transport you to countries you love and miss or introduce you to countries that are new to you. The idea of watching a film in an unfamiliar language may sound intimidating to some, but, as South Korean director Bong Joon Ho said in his Academy Award acceptance speech, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced
to so many more amazing films.” Here are five such films that you can stream from home and enjoy from the comfort of your couch.
1. Bang Bang! (stream on Hulu) / India This 2014 Bollywood film is a remake of the 2010 American film Knight and Day, starring Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise. Bang Bang! stars Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif as a pair who serendipitously meet at a restaurant and who are then whisked into a dangerous and thrilling adventure. What makes this film such a joy is not the action or the comedy sprinkled throughout, but the song-and-dance numbers. You’ll be singing “Tu Meri” and “Bang Bang” for weeks to come.
2. Petite Maman (rent on Apple TV+) / France Céline Sciamma, the director of the acclaimed Portrait of a Lady on Fire, has emerged from the pandemic with a film made for children. Do not be mistaken; you will be moved by this film whether you are 10 or 90. The film follows a young girl named Nelly as she grieves the death of her grandmother. As Nelly and her parents clean out her grandmother’s home, she finds herself traveling through time and emerging with a greater understanding of her mother and grandmother. Through Nelly, this film offers a gentle and moving exploration of grief.
3. Parasite (stream on Hulu) / South Korea This film, directed by Bong Joon Ho, was the Best Picture winner (and others) at the 2020 Academy Awards. It explores themes of class and wealth disparity. A young man, Ki-woo, from a low-income household, gets a job as a tutor for a wealthy family. One by one, each member of Ki-woo’s family gets a job working for that family. Unless you’ve had the end of this film spoiled for you, you won’t believe your eyes as it unfolds.
96
magazine
4. Honeyland (stream on Hulu) / North Macedonia Honeyland is a documentary film that follows a woman named Hatidze Mura tova w h o is a tra dition al wild-beekeeper in North Macedonia. She lives in the mountains with her mother, for whom she is a caregiver. When a nomadic family arrives in her village, she teaches them all she knows about beekeeping, but the family’s actions have devastating effects on the bees and Hatidze’s livelihood. It is such a gripping story with beautiful cinematography that you will forget it is a documentary.
5. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (stream on Netflix) / Bhutan
In this 2021 Bhutanese film, Ugyen is a teacher who, feeling uninspired, daydreams about moving to Australia to pursue a singing career. He begrudgingly accepts a teaching position in a secluded village called Lunana. After an eight-day journey on foot, he arrives to find the living and teaching conditions unbearable. The crew of the film made a similar trek to the village with all their equipment. When they arrived, they recruited locals to star as schoolchildren, but you would never know they weren’t professionals from the touching performances that were captured onscreen.
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US AS ONE OF THE TOP 3 BEST APARTMENT COMMUNITIES FOR 2022!
Call 860-445-8519 Mon thru Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm | Sat 10:00am - 2:00pm Groton Estates 260 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340
Thank you for Voting!
A Family Tradition Since 1972
Flanders Rd, East Lyme 860-739-6320 september 2022 97
trending | TURNING PAGES
Books that reflect the Hispanic experience
I
By Betty J. Cotter n my literature class, I often start by writing a quote on the board from the Mexican-American writer Sandra Cisneros. “When I teach writing, I tell the story of the moment of discovering and naming my otherness. It’s not enough to simply sense it; it has to be named, and then written about from there. Once I could name it, I wasn’t ashamed or silent.”
Perhaps no living writer today better expresses what it is like to feel “other
than,” an experience that all of us, in one way or another, can relate to. The quote is from an essay reflecting on the 10th anniversary of Cisneros’ novel in stories, The House on Mango Street. A fictionalized account of her Chicago childhood, the book marked a breakthrough—into discovering her own voice and, in doing so, helping others to recognize and rejoice in theirs. Mango Street tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, a girl who longs for a real house, with “a great big yard and grass growing without a fence.” Each chapter records her gradual loss of innocence in a world that rarely comports to our desires. In The House on Mango Street and her short story “Eleven,” about a girl whose birthday is ruined by a bullying teacher, students and readers see that stories can reflect their own experiences. They also learn empathy, and after all, isn’t that the point of good literature? For too long, voices like Cisneros’ were kept to the margins, not included in anthologies and published only by small presses, if at all. In our selections this month, we consider a variety of works that reflect the Hispanic experience.
The Diary of Anaïs Nin (Volumes 1-4)
edited by Gunther Stuhlmann (Harcourt Brace, 1966-1971) Born in France, raised in Cuba and the U.S., Anaïs Nin would become one of literature’s premier diarists when the by-now legendary volumes were published beginning in the 1960s. The daughter of a Spanish musician and a wealthy woman of Danish, French and Cuban ancestry, Nin wrote her early diaries in French but later switched to English. In Paris during the 1930s she began her bohemian life, associating with the likes of Henry Miller and the Peruvian Communist Gonzalo Moré. The diaries were highly constructed narratives that provide an important account of life in Paris leading up to World War II, but they cannot be taken as spontaneous truth. She makes no mention of her banker husband, whose money she loaned to her literary friends and on whom she frequently cheated. Although much attention has been paid to her erotic writings, Nin had a narrative gift and an independent spirit that still inspire today. Deirdre Bair’s excellent biography (1995) fills in the gaps of this extraordinary woman’s life.
98
magazine
The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea (Little Brown, 2004) If all you know about immigration on our southern border comes from cable news, you need to read this searing account of the desperate attempts people make to reach a free country. Through the story of one ill-fated expedition across the remote and unforgiving Arizona desert, Urrea digs deep into what motivates our southern neighbors to risk their life savings, and often their lives, to come to America. Like Cisneros, Urrea evokes human empathy to tell an important story.
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (Harper Collins, 1999; reprinted 2020) In this sweeping novel, Allende embraces the cultures of a Chilean orphan, Eliza, her British foster parents, her lover Joaquín, and the Chinese doctor who befriends her. All of this takes place against the backdrop of 19th-century Valparaiso and the California Gold Rush. Eliza, whose ancestry is both Chilean and British, shifts in and out of various worlds with aplomb, challenging cultural and gender norms. Along the way the reader is treated to a colorful cast of characters in a story that has all the heft and charm of a Dickens novel. The audio version, narrated by Blair Brown (Harper Audio, re-released 2020) is especially fine.
Afterlife by Julia Alvarez (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2020) Dominican immigrant Antonia Vega lives in Vermont, a strange mix of hippie liberalism and conservatives like her dairy farmer neighbor, Roger. Retired and widowed, Antonia wants to hide from the world, but it keeps knocking at her door. And that world is confounding: Roger is a grumpy Yankee who hires two undocumented immigrants for his own benefit, yet he also sends one of them to fix her gutters. Ultimately, the disappearance of Izzy, one of her three sisters, forces Antonia to come out of mourning and reckon with the outside world. Along the way, Alvarez, an awardwinning poet and novelist, shows us we cannot hide from that world no matter how difficult it becomes.
A House of My Own: Stories from My Life by Sandra Cisneros (Vintage Books, 2015)
A series of essays forms this memoir, each one introduced by some contextual notes. Cisneros traces her life from poverty in Chicago, enrollment in the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a journey to a Greek island, where she wrote The House on Mango Street. In one of the most revealing passages, she explains her epiphany that the literature she was studying didn’t reflect her experience. “In graduate school, I was aware of feeling like a foreigner each time I spoke,” she writes. Cisneros soon began writing in her own voice, startling, clear and child-like, and in so doing spoke for so many who felt that their lives didn’t count.
september 2022 99
trending | LOCAL FINDS
Shop unique. Shop local. B
C
A
D
issing is is m t hair. h t ll a A ttle c is a li m on it! I’
E A. CALLIE BRACELET
Each Callie bracelet is handmade in Old Saybrook and can be personalized to include a loved one’s name, coordinates of your favorite place, a special date—whatever means the most to you! These lovely pieces are made-to-order and come in a variety of colorways. $20 Pearls & Plaid, 117 Main Street, Old Saybrook 860-662-9630; shoppearlsandplaid.com
B. AUTUMN SUNSET
Located in the heart of New London’s Historical Waterfront District Heritage Trail, Studio 33 Art & Frame Gallery offers a curated collection of one-of-a-kind artworks you won’t find anywhere else, including this stunning 18×12-inch oil-oncanvas painting by local artist Donna Gilberto in a gold-tone frame. $500 Studio 33 Art & Frame Gallery, 140 Bank Street, New London 860-442-6355; studio33gallery.com
100
magazine
C. OXFORD PENNANT
A retro Oxford Pennant is perfect for the dorm as college starts back up this fall, featuring traditional cut-and-sewn wool felt construction with a vintage flair. North Swell is a Mystic-based company on a mission to clean our shores one beach at a time through community services and awareness. $26 North Swell, 18 West Main Street, Mystic 860-415-9442; shopnorthswell.com
D. VINTAGE UCONN HUSKY WINDBREAKER
Keep warm in this XL vintage UConn windbreaker with the ‘96 Husky logo from Extinct Styles, an online shop based out of North Haven carrying quality threads from every decade. Extinct Styles is a Latino-owned business that partners with community organizations to donate a dollar from every item purchased online to help dress those in need. $35 Extinct Styles; extinctstyles.com
Take a look at our cozy and fabulous finds for September!
Happy shopping!
Keep an eye out for Sundae’s pawprint of approval on any item that might be purr-fectly suited for a cat (or other pets) to enjoy!
You’ll also find out why I like it!
Contact thedaymag@theday.com to feature your product.
All this coo ls and the wo tuff rl best book d’s too?
F G
E. ABC GIANT COLORING POSTER
This giant coloring poster brings the alphabet to life through adorable illustrations of animals and objects. Designed for little ones, this educational print is a great first discovery of the alphabet with a creative and vibrant twist. Frame upon completion for decoration. $17 Bluebird Day, 149 Water Street, Stonington 860-245-4766; bluebirddaykids.com
F. HOLMBERG ORCHARDS HARD CIDER
For five generations, Holmberg Orchards has been producing some of the finest quality fruits that Thames River Valley has to offer. Each can of Holmberg’s crisp, refreshing hard cider is crafted with delicious apples that were handpicked, pressed and packaged right on the farm in the hills of Gales Ferry. $5/ can; $14/4-pack Holmberg Orchards, 1990 CT-12, Gales Ferry, CT 860-464-7305; holmbergorchards.com
H
G. FLORENCE GRISWOLD: THE KEEPER OF THE ARTISTS
Florence Griswold: The Keeper of the Artists by Connecticut author Deb Adamson and illustrator Anne Zimanski (Little Red Tree, 2019) tells the true story of Miss Florence Griswold, who made American art history by establishing the Lyme Art Colony—the epicenter of American Impressionism which still exists to this day. $17.95 hardcover, $9.95 paperback Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Bookstore 323-782-1010; scbwi.org/bookstore-landing
H. NEST GIFT BOX
All gift boxes from this locally owned shop start with a beautiful hand-carved wooden heart dish. From there, the Nest team will add their favorite gifts from around the shop— jewelry, bath and body, home décor, books and more. Each package will be handpicked specially for you! $50 Nest, 80 Stonington Road, Mystic 860-536-5400; nestmystic.com
september 2022 101
Thank You for
VOTING
— Radon Testing — WDI/Termite Inspection — Water Testing — Water Flow Testing — Pre-Listing Inspection
— New Construction Inspection — Re-Inspections — Mold Testing
Serving all of Connecticut
102
(860) 961-3213 | anchorhomeinspection.com magazine
looking back HIS TO RY
LOCAL & REGIONAL
PA S T T O P R E S E N T
Mystic River, Mystic. photo by Amanda Lawrence
Road Church gets ready to turn 350
now and then at the Velvet Mill
september 2022 103
looking back
centuries in the making a celebration
104
magazine
The First Congregational Church in Stonington—also known as the Road Meetinghouse and the Road Church—will celebrate 350 years as an organized parish in 2024. Church leaders are planning a series of events to mark the occasion and to reintroduce the church to the community. photo by g.a. Peck
T
By G.A. Peck he Rev. Norm Erlendson is planning an epic celebration. In January 2019, Erlendson became the pastor at the First Congregational Church of Stoning ton, one of the
state’s oldest churches, located on the historic Pequot Trail. It wasn’t long after he assumed his position that he began to plan how to properly honor the parish’s 350th anniversary in July 2024. And his plans were just beginning to take shape when the pandemic came to Connecticut. It not only stopped the momentum of planning for the historic occasion, it impeded all the business of the church, including Sunday-morning worship and Bible study classes. But this pastor is particularly innovative. He set out to bridge the physical divide between the church and its 40 or so members. In 2020, when they couldn’t safely meet in person, Erlendson had a video system installed, so sermons could be recorded and broadcast on YouTube. He posted to the church’s Facebook page more frequently, another line of communication with the public and the parishioners. He began writing the “Pastor’s Blog,” published on the church website, fccstonington.org. Some parishioners have since returned to regular in-person services, but about half still watch online. It’s the pastor’s hope that they will “normalize services” again, but the digital outreach will carry on. “We’re hoping that it will help keep us vital and in contact with the community,” he said.
THE ROAD CHURCH IN STONINGTON PREPARES TO HONOR 350 YEARS AS A CONGREGATIONAL PARISH
THE MAKING OF A MEETINGHOUSE
Stonington’s earliest Anglo settlers wor-
shiped in their private homes until 1664, when the townspeople decided they’d like to build a church. But first, they needed a minister to lead the congregation. They sent a delegation north to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and extended an invitation to James Noyes to become their
september 2022 105
looking back This “stepping stone” dates back to the 18th century. It made mounting horses and entering carriages easier for parishioners wearing their Sunday best. photo by g.a. peck
pastor. Noyes would also go on to graduate from Harvard and found Yale University. Noyes settled in Stonington in 1664, but it wasn’t until 1669 when the town petitioned the General Court of Connecticut to make the parish “official,” with a blessing not just from the court but from England it sel f. They were g iven t he greenlight, and that year, the First Congregational Church of Stonington came to be, according to church records. It took another five years to build the church on a site they called “Agreement Hill,” a little knoll overlooking the only road running through the region at the time. The setting inspired it s br a nd i n g a s “ The R oad Meetinghouse,” or “The Road Church,” names that endure today. The church opened its doors with nine patriarchal members —t he R ev. Noyes; Thomas Stanton Sr. and his son Thomas Stanton Jr.; Nathaniel
!
T
NK YOU HA
Chesebrough; Thomas Miner and his son, Ephraim; Nehem i a h Pa l mer a nd h i s brother, Moses; and Thomas Wheeler. Descendants of many of these settling families still live in or around Stonington today. Noyes served as the minis-
OVERNIGHT
DELIVERY
N A T I O N W I D E FLANDERSFISH.COM
106
magazine
ter for a remarkable 55 years, until his death in 17 19. Ten years later, the church was dismantled to build a larger structure on the site. They expanded
the foundation and built up, using reclaimed lumber from the original church. There was a fire in the early 1800s, and the church had to be rebuilt again. It reopened in 1829, and it’s that building that church members and the public enjoy today. Iron tie-up rings for horses
Dr. Katina Simmons
Proud to be named a 2022 Best of Finalist for Individual Optometrist
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! 8 N Main Street Women owned business fulfilling Jewett City, CT 06351 the eye care needs of each individual 860.376.2848 www.griswoldeyecare.com
and carriages, hammered into the exposed stone foundation long ago, still dangle there. Before the Revolutiona r y Wa r, t he t ow n t e ch n ic a l ly owned the land on which the church stood, and by proxy, England owned it. This entitled the town to hold the King’s Court and Magistrate’s Court proceedings on the site. The British didn’t merely own
Divorce Mediation and Collaboration Real Estate • Personal Injury Wills and Estate Administration www.AttorneyAdamsct.com 1260 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook, CT 06498 • (860) 322-2030 Cheshire office by appointment • (203) 272-2010
the property; the English King ruled over the settlers, too. “The laws then were that you had to go to church,” Erlendson said. “It was a sign of being a good Englishman. It was patriotic. It was the national church.” “ The Histor y of the Road Church,” a pamphlet published by the church and given to new
THE CARVÃO COLLECTION Inspired by the volcanic lava caves of the Azorean Islands Made in USA
members or folks taking tours, recounts how church-and-state shared the building for centuries. In the 1920s, the town began using the basement as a voting place, and that practice carried on until the mid-1960s. During the mid-1880s, the church founded its first Sunday school program, held in the one-room schoolhouse adjacent to the church. The District One School house ha s been
Fine Gifts, Collectibles & Jewelry Since 1975
Olde Mistick Village 7A Mystic , CT 06355 860-536-2964
georgetti.com
september 2022 107
looking back preserved and today is known as the John Lopez Library, in honor of a beloved church member. By t he 1980s, Sunday school classes were held in the church basement. The architecture and interiors of the church today remain traditional, simplistic, without adornment and embellishment. A simple wooden cross presides over the pared-down pulpit. The seating is assigned again today, but for a different reason. In the interest of keeping parishioners safe as they return to church during the pandemic, the pews are given numbers, to help maintain physical distance. Erlendson toured the U-shaped balcony overlooking the sanctuary below. There’s a pipe organ there, a n d s o m e ho w — m i r a c u lou s l y, maybe—they managed to install a grand piano, too, despite the shallow and steep staircases. There are rustic wooden pews, too, which he believes date back at least 200 years, if not more. At the back of the balcony, distinctively separate from the rest of the gallery, is another pew. The pastor has been told (though he cannot confirm) that it may have once been reserved seating for Native Americans and enslaved people. It is challenging and expensive to maintain historic buildings of this kind and relevance. Thankfully, the church is kept up through a philanThe Rev. Norm Erlendson stands at the staircase leading up to the church’s bell tower. A church deacon is bestowed the honor of bell-ringing on Sunday mornings. photo by g.a. peck
108
magazine
thropic endowment established by the Congregational Ecclesiastical Society of Stonington, which traces its own roots back to the 1660s. Erlendson walked through the Parish House in mid-July. It’s an outbuilding the church believes
wa s bu i lt by one of Noyes’
We provide you with the highest quality pediatric Healthcare!
sons for his family and their
flanderspediatrics.com
de s c end a nt s . It w a s r eno -
Serving the community for over 20 years!
vated in the 1980s and today— equipped with air conditioning—it affords an expansive meeting room and a fully outfitted kitchen, which the pastor said is perfect for meetings
Thank You for Voting!
and events. Half of the building is leased to a fitness club, which helps cover some of the church’s costs. It’s on the pastor’s to-do list to have split-system air conditioning units installed in the church, too, sometime before next summer.
Thank You for Voting Us Top 3 Best Deli!
He said he’d like to see the Su nd ay s cho ol cl a s s r o om s bustling with children again. Former Sunday school students went on picnics together and performed Christmas pageants and Easter plays. They v isited local farms and food pantries, and went on overnight
Thank You
Pequotsepos Nature Center.
for voting us one of the 3 finalists for
The children also participated
Best Real Estate Agency
camping trips at the Denison
in service programs, sending care packages and Christmas gifts to underserved children
in The Day’s Best of the Best Readers’ Choice Awards!
or those in war-torn countries. As the church’s congregation grew older in recent years, the Sunday school classrooms
At Luque Realty our mission is providing the highest quality of service, knowledge, and communication throughout every step of the real estate transaction with every client.
became extra storage space. It’s been a challenge for the church to attract new members, particularly young families, Erlendson said. As he took TDM on a tour of the church this summer, he com mented about prag ma-
Luque Realty LLC 860.912.4245 34 Menghi St, New London www.luquerealty.com
tism, and how the church is at
september 2022 109
looking back
Above Located on the church’s five-acre property, the First District Schoolhouse still stands today. Though its origin isn’t certain, it was likely built in the late 1700s and was used as a schoolhouse from the early 1800s until 1932. It is the last standing one-room schoolhouse in Stonington. Photo by G.A. Peck right Photo taken late 19th century/early 20th century. photo courtesy of Maurice La Grua Collection bottom right Pictured is a framed historic document, representing the church’s seating chart. Rev. Erlendson explained that parishioners used to clamor—and pay—to procure the best seats in the house. photo by G.A. Peck opposite top The balcony gallery looks down on the sanctuary from one story above. Pews that date back centuries still provide seating there, in addition to a pipe organ and grand piano that fill the space with music during worship. photo courtesy of william pitt sotheby’s opposite middle Photo taken late 19th century/early 20th century. photo courtesy of Maurice La Grua Collection opposite bottom Buttressing the pulpit today are two iron lamps (seen in detail here)— artifacts that have been preserved. Though their precise age is unknown, they appear in a historic photo from around 1874. Photo by G.A. Peck
110
magazine
a crossroads, accelerated by the pandemic. He hopes that his plans to modernize and to engage the community will renew Stonington’s interest in communal worship and in the preservation of the historic site. He spoke solemnly of an “end-of-life plan” for the church, should he not succeed at his goal to grow the congregation. Faced with that unfortunate scenario, he’d like the historic buildings and the land to live on as something new, vibrant and treasured, like a special events venue or civic center. But Erlendson is a man of faith and hope, so he’s planning for a glorious future, when the pews are filled, when children look forward to Sunday school, when the choir lifts its collective voice again, and communal worship—and community— fully returns to the hallowed sanctuary. Erlendson had just finished hosting a Bible study class on Zoom, when he sat in his office in the church basement on a Wednesday afternoon, laying out his plans for the 350th anniversary celebrations: a series of concerts and culinary events, community gatherings and special occasions for families. “It will be more than a singular event,” he explained. “We hope to have events through the latter part of 2023 and throughout all of 2024 to celebrate.”
september 2022 111
looking back
TOP LEFT Postcard, 1910. Gift of Dorothea H. Gould. Catalog record reads: American Velvet came to Stonington from Long Island left there due to outbreak of malaria. Building erected 1892 by Town to entice new industry to Stonington. PHOTO COURTESY OF STONINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY; TOP RIGHT The Velvet Mill’s roster of tenants today. PHOTO BY ANN BALDELLI; MIDDLE LEFT American Velvet President Jacques D. Wimpfheimer and Joseph Sposato, president of textile Local 110, on the mill floor, undated. PHOTO COURTESY OF STONINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY; MIDDLE RIGHT A photo of a frozen Elihu’s Pond at the Velvet Mill taken in January 1900. Gift of Marjorie W. Anderson. PHOTO COURTESY OF STONINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY; BOTTOM American Velvet as it looks today. Its creative re-use has been a boon to the town. PHOTO BY ANN BALDELLI
112
magazine
Memories of American Velvet Mill FORMER FACTORY IS NOW A THRIVING SHOPPING DISTRICT AND CREATIVE COMMUNITY By Ann Baldelli ucia Pinto was an 18-year-old newlywed and had just emigrated from Brazil when she went to work at the American Velvet Mill in Stonington in September 1979. She didn’t speak English when she was hired to work the third shift in the mill’s shearing department, a job that required moving the heavy rolls of sandpaper-like velvet just off the loom to a machine that smoothed the fabric. It was hard work, but the young Pinto liked it and was grateful for the employment. She stayed 22 years and cried the day she left, when the mill—with just a few local employees left—was preparing to close for good in 2001. “I have no regrets at all. It was a very good place to work and I stayed almost to the very end,” said Pinto, who in her two-plus decades there worked in a variety of positions, ending up in the mill’s office, handling accounts payable. “That’s where for me, and a lot of other Portuguese and Italian people, we built our comfort zone,” she said, explaining it is where she learned to speak English, made lifelong friends and acclimated to living in America. “It was a very happy place and it allowed us to buy a house and put our kids through college,” said Pinto, who recalled the mill’s profit-sharing program and the opportunities to work overtime. There was a period, she said, when 15 of her relatives all worked at American Velvet at the same time.
september 2022 113
looking back She fondly recalled the mill’s owners, the Wimpf heimer family, and their kindness toward employees. Her starting wage, she said, was $7 an hour, an amount she marveled over at the time. John Lopes, now 86, also worked there, taking a job in the dye house two months before he graduated from Stonington High School in 1954. Lopes was getting married that September and the full-time work and the good wage the mill paid was welcomed. “I started at American Velvet in the dye house for a while, and then I moved to the weave shop,” Lopes recalled. “The biggest paying jobs were in the weave shop. They had these big looms and the strings, the threads, would break and the loom would shut down. We would have to go in and find the break. … It was the best paying job, but I hated it because it was tedious piece work.” Lopes left the mill to work as a clerk at a paint store and eventually landed at Electric Boat, where he stayed for 39 years. He always remembered his time at the Velvet Mill, and the lessons learned there. “One of those lessons was a different kind,” he said, telling the story of the day he bet his pay envelope in a friendly dice game and lost it all. He never picked up dice again. His wife, the late Louisa Beverly Ostman Lopes, worked as a housekeeper for the Wimpfheimers, and her husband said they were always kind and generous with her and all of their employees. The town of Stonington built the Bayview Avenue mill not far from the seaside borough in 1888, hoping to encourage employment opportunities. The concern, A. Wimpf heimer & Bro., was founded in 1845 in Great Falls, N.H., and had been importing velvets from overseas to resell when passage of the McKinley Act in 1891 made it possible to start manufacturing velvet in this country. Initially, the Wimpfheimers opened a mill to weave and dye fabrics in Astoria, N.Y., in the borough of Queens, but because of a malaria epidemic, they relocated to Stonington.
Slide images taken by Emily Lynch, c. 1980s of the American Velvet Company. photo courtesy of Stonington Historical Society
114
magazine
W he n t he y s t a r t e d p r o -
Party Boat Fishing at its Finest
duction, the Wimpf heimers were operating 25 looms and employing 35 people, but their enterprise would grow to 300 broad looms and 450 employees, according to documents at the R.W. Woolworth Library & R e s e a r c h C e nt e r at t h e
THANK YOU FOR VOTING!
Stonington Historical Society. Velvet produced by the company was used in many ways, but it was primarily for clothing, jewelry boxes, displays and coffin linings. For more than a century the company thrived in Stonington, employing hundreds of people, many of them immigrants, in its weave shop, shearing department, dye house, finish-
860.388.1419 578 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 artemporiumoldsaybrook.net Call for Appt. for Best Service
Thank you for Voting Us Top 3 Frame Shop!
ing room, as well as other jobs. But in 1996, citing the high cost of doing business in the state, American Velvet made the decision to relocate to Virginia. At
THANK YOU! Elmbrook Village would like to thank everyone who voted in this years “Best of the Best” Reader’s Poll.
the time, the Wimpf heimers s a id p er s on nel c o s t s wer e more than 20 times higher in Connecticut than Virginia. The company kept a skeleton operation in Stonington, and Pinto hung on until 2001, but eventually the mill ceased all operations in Stonington, and by 2008, despite the move out of state, declared bankruptcy. The Bay v iew Avenue mil l was shuttered for a time, until it was sold at auction in 2009 to three men from Westerly for $310,000. Less than a year
SENIOR LIVING
ASSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE
380 Salem Tpke • Bozrah, CT • 860-861-9704 • elmbrookvillage.com september 2022 115
looking back
later, they resold the property to Ernest Schemitsch and Eric Pivko, for $2.7 million. Pivko is the managing partner who is on site and continually working to promote the twostory, 180,000-square-foot property for retail and creative uses. Today, there are about 130 tenants in the mill, including a barbershop, vintage marine shop, seamstress, Beer’d Brew ing Co., Whitecrest Eatery, Charter Oak Scanning, Zest Bakery, Bali Bungalow, and many artist studios, other retail and collectible
Come experience the world’s largest Native American Museum and discover the story of the Pequot people, their connection to their environment, hardships and their resurgence.
shops, and outlets for personal services like fitness and massages. The Stonington farmers market is held year round at the Velvet Mill, moving outdoors in good weather and inside when it gets cold.
116
FOX_89013_2022_GenericMuseum_PRNT_4-75x4-625.indd 1
magazine
7/27/22 3:54 PM
LEFT Today the Velvet Mill is home to a thriving creative community of artists, entrepreneurs and businesses that offer goods and services including visual arts, design, unique crafts, events and classes, a farmers market and food and drink. P hoto by Ann Baldelli
The large atrium is also used for special events, fundraisers, f lea markets and other public gatherings.
Trusted, Reliable, Efficient Solutions for Tech info@louscomputers.com
Thank you for your continued support in voting for us! Best Computer & Electronics Repair
860.415.4663
45 Williams Avenue • Route 1 • Mystic
Pivko said he would like to attract more tenants who provide regular public sales or services, like a cheese shop, mini market, luncheon place, hair salon and coffee shop. He wants businesses that are open every day and that customers can depend on for a coffee or a pedicure when they drop by. There is potential, he said, for unused portions of the second f loor, but that will
Jane Buglione MSN, RN 10 Vista Drive, Old Lyme CT 06371
Thank you for Voting!
• Ideal Protein Weight Loss Protocol • Lipotropic B 12 Injections • Botox • Juvéderm • Versa • Latisse (eyelash serum) • Sclerotherapy (spider veins) • CBD
require future investment. The red brick mill is a destination for many who visit on business, for a meal, or to see the
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
artists and artwork there. After initial construction in the late 1880s, there were a number of additions, including a section with a sawtooth-roof that was erected around 1900 to house winding and weaving operations. Portions of that roof were later removed, but there’s a section, along Meadow Avenue, that’s still in use. Heating and cooling are a challenge at the Velvet Mill and Pivko said there is always a project under way to improve the property for tenants and visitors. But for John Lopes or Luca Pinto, the mill holds memories of employment there many decades ago.
BEST CATERER! 860.415.9589 | GOURMET-GALLEY.COM
september 2022 117
We are so grateful to all that voted for us! 46 Pennsylvania Ave. Niantic, CT 06357 860.739.4333 shopatgrace.com
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US TOP 3 BEST SPA 118
magazine
explorations T R AV E L T I P S
D AY T R I P S
G E TA W AY S
Gillette Castle, East Haddam. Photo by Jessica Torres
a day trip through Putnam
september 2022 119
explorations | DAY TRIP
Quirky Quiet Corner
PUTNAM
A whimsical getaway on eclectic Main Street in
C
By Bridget Shirvell
onnecticut is full of charming, walkable streets waiting to be explored. Picture yourself, for instance, sipping on an orange latte while window shopping. It sounds like a Saturday well spent, right? Make it a reality this September on Main Street in Putnam. Nestled into Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, Putnam is anything but. The artsy, quirky former mill town’s Main Street is full
of charming shops and delectable restaurants. From that coffee to window shopping to oysters on the half shell, here’s how to have a dreamy day in Putnam.
GET A MORNING JOLT
Start your day at Chubby Dog Coffee Co., named for owner Adam Rondeau’s adopted slightly chubby pit bull Bella. You really can’t go wrong with any order of coffee, although if you’re feeling adventurous, opt for one of their creative lattes such as the Toasted Marshmallow Lavender, the Almond Joy or The Floridian. Not into coffee? They have a selection of loose leaf teas as well. After ordering, settle into a seat in their game room and lounge for a bit. Maybe try your hand at a board or arcade game. Pro tip: pick up some of their locally roasted beans to take home with you, or sign up for their coffee subscription. 164 Main Street, Putnam; 860-234-0814; chubbydogcoffee.com Photo courtesy of Chubby Dog Coffee Co.
120
magazine
HUNT FOR NEW OLD TREASURES
After you’ve torn yourself away from the Chubby Dog Coffee Co.’s
game room, it’s time to explore Main Street’s shopping. Head to Antiques Marketplace, the self-described “largest antiques and collectibles mall” in central New England. More than 350 vendors sell an array of goods throughout the mall’s floors. Browse the vinyl collections or see if you can spot your favorite superhero in the comics selections. Or maybe you’ll discover a piece of artwork for your home office or even a chest of drawers for that guest room you keep meaning to spruce up. You truly never know what new old treasures you’ll find at the Antiques Marketplace. 109 Main Street, Putnam; 860-928-0442; Photo courtesy of Antiques marketplace
facebook.com/antiquesmarketplace
Thank you for Voting BEST HARDWARE STORE
We Repair All Makes & Models 40 Fort Hill Rd. • Groton • johnsonsrental.com september 2022 121
explorations | DAY TRIP CREATE A PIECE OF ART
Get your hands dirty and your creative juices flowing at Sawmill Pottery. The studio and gallery offers classes and workshops for all ages and experience levels. Learn how to throw clay and make your own bowls during an introto-wheel workshop, or try hand-building pottery. They also offer paint-your-own pottery at select times during which you can pick a piece of pottery, paint it, and leave it for them to glaze and fire (you’ll have to come back in about a week to pick it up). If you’re not in town during one of their workshops or paint-your-own days, it’s still worth checking out Sawmill Pottery. In addition to the studio, they have an on-site gallery where they sell selected works from their own potters, as well as jewelry and other items from local artisans. 164 Main Street, Putnam; 860-963-7807; sawmillpottery.com
Photo courtesy of sawmill pottery
HAVE A COZY LATE LUNCH
After working up an appetite,
meander to 85 Main for a cozy late lunch. The sister restaurant to The Vanilla Bean Café in Pomfret, Dog Lane Café in Storrs and Fenton River Grill in Mansfield is known for its fresh seafood, locally sourced ingredients and comfortable atmosphere. Ask for a table on the outdoor patio (we’ve got to savor pleasant outdoor dining weather for as long as possible, right?) and treat yourself to oysters on the half shell or the cheese plate, followed up by the fish and chips or the egg salad wrap. You’ll be happy with whatever you order here. Pay attention to the daily specials. 85 Main Street, Putnam; 860-928-1660; 85main.com
Photo by winter caplanson
122
magazine
Thanks for Voting Us Top 3 Dance Studio and Dance Instructor! 287 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357 | 860-739-3991 | arthurmurrayniantic.com
Thanks you for your continued support in voting for us. Best Gas & Oil Company 4 Colby Dr., Ledyard, Connecticut 06339 Tel: 860-464-7628 | Fax: 860-464-9942 | www.andersenoilcompany.com
We’ve got you
covered
100% satisfaction guaranteed
Attention, Homeowners: The 6 reasons to have your roof replaced or repaired by The Roofing Store 1. Our phones are staffed by real people 2. Our “guaranteed appointments” mean we show up on time 3. We don’t make extra trips - we bring everything on our first visit 4. We have a large selection of roofing options for you to choose from 5. We have a worry-free financing program that allows you to plan ahead 6. The concrete guarantee. With us, you have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are unhappy for any reason, we will redo the repairs for FREE!
496 Norwich Rd., Plainfield 860-564-8300 www.roofingstorellc.com
Mention this ad for $500 off a complete roof renovation! september 2022 123
explorations | DAY TRIP
STOCK UP ON CHIC GOODS
Before you head back home, don’t miss checking out chic August & March Home. But
consider yourself warned, it’s hard to leave this gardeninspired shop without buying a single thing. You’ll find
Photos courtesy of August & March Home
smudge makeup
On-site luxury hair and makeup team! We travel to you, serving Connecticut and beyond!
everything from beautiful woven baskets perfect for stashing odds and ends to candles and vases that would make lovely hostess gifts to cozy throw blankets that will have you wishing for a chilly day. There’s also unique handmade jewelry, and the staff always has great ideas if you’re looking for a special gift or simply need advice on how to store some clutter. 130 Main Street, Putnam; 860-630-5312; augustmarchhome.com
Thanks for your continued support in voting for us! Call (860) 245-8282 or visit CT Wedding Hair and Makeup (smudgemakeup.net)
124
magazine
NOT READY TO STOP EXPLORING QUITE YET? A few other notable spots to check out include Silver Circle Studio (134 Main Street), Skeeter’s Toybox (112 Main Street #13), and Bear Hands Brewing (75 Main Street, Suite 1). And a few blocks from Main Street, you’ll find the Putnam River Trail, an easy path offering scenic views of the Quinebaug River.
SHORELINE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
We will makeunderstanding your financial plans and goals crystal clear. Thomas Dittmeier is a registered representative offering securities and advisory services through Lincoln Financial Securities Corp., Member SIPC. Lincoln Financial Securities and Shoreline Wealth Management are not affiliated. LFS-3603805-052421
Call Tom at Shoreline Wealth Management to help solve your financial needs.
99 Rope Ferry Road • Waterford • 860-442-2398
SHORELINE
401k Rollovers | IRAS | Roth IRAS | Stocks | Annuities
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
PANINIS • SALADS • QUESADILLAS • DESSERTS
MALLOVE'S
Nana’s Byrek na’s Byrek PIZZAByrek • GRINDERS Nana’s Nana’s Byrek LEADER OF THE BANDS
===JEWELERS===
PANINIS • SALADS PIZZA • GRINDERS ZA • GRINDERS PANINIS • SALADS • DESSERTS 316 Boston QUESADILLAS QUESADILLAS •GRINDERS DESSERTS NINIS • SALADS Post•Road PIZZA
COMING SOON• DESSERTS QUESADILLAS OMING SOON SOON COMING PANINIS • SALADS
WATERFORD ADILLAS • DESSERTS 860-437-3030 nanasbyrek.com
COMING SOON Thank You for all your support over the years! • Offering Curbside • Dine In • Take Out • Delivery • Catering • Follow us @nanasbyrek
WWW. MALLOVEJ EWELERS. COM 4 HOLMES ST. MYSTIC, CT I 262 BOSTON POST RD. WATERFORD, CT september 2022 125
interview INFLUENCERS
Harkness Memorial State Park, Wateford. Photo by Pat DeMott
Q&A
get to know Willie Quiñones
126
magazine
Willie Quiñones F O U N D E R O F TA I N O P R O D U C T I O N S
Willie and Liz Quiñones at the Noche Latina event at Ocean Beach Park in July. photo courtesy of Willie Quiñones
Quiñones said. One person who he said has been great to work with is Dave Sugrue, manager at Ocean Beach Park (and the subject of TDM’s July Q&A). Quiñones, 43, has also been involved with the New London communit y by ser ving on the
I
By Erica Moser
Parks & Recreation Commission for 10 years and
f you’ve seen a Latin music or dance performance
now serving on the New London Housing Authority
in recent years at a festival or outdoor venue in
Board of Commissioners.
New London—or even elsewhere in Connecti-
For his day job, Quiñones spent more than
cut—there’s a decent chance Willie Quiñones and
16 years at the Interdistrict School for Arts and
his company Taino Productions were involved.
Communication, as facilities manager, and now holds
Quiñones founded Taino Productions in 2018 to help
the same role for North Stonington Public Schools.
connect Hispanic and Latino cultures to the greater
He’s been living in New London, which he called “a
community through the arts and music scene in south-
small city with great potential” since 2000. And he
eastern Connecticut and beyond.
loves being close to the water, which has been the
He started Noche Latina at Ocean Beach Park,
case wherever he’s lived.
and he had the new experience this year of running
Quiñones met his wife, Liz, when they were
the Latin stage at Sailfest, at the Hygienic Art Park.
neighbors in New Haven, and when she was offered
He was also part of the first Puerto Rican Festival in
a teaching position at Regional Multicultural Magnet
Norwich, held in June.
School, they decided to raise a family in New London.
“I am connected with all the Puerto Rican festivals
They have two adult daughters.
and parades in Connecticut,” he said. “There’s a
They visited Puerto Rico, where Liz was born
group of us throughout the state, so we just try to
and where his parents are from, a few times. They
get the information out to all the people, so we’re not
reminded their daughters it’s good to be able to
clashing on dates and people understand and know
speak Spanish and English, and to visit their families,
what’s going on.”
and to enjoy “the wonderful foods that we have,”
He said it’s been great working with organizations
such as rice and beans and pernil, or roast pork.
from Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, Bridgeport
They wanted their kids to be “mindful that we have a
and Meriden. And he also works with businesses to
beautiful history in Puerto Rico, and not to lose sight
help broaden their outreach.
of what our people are.”
“It’s just connecting with business partners, people
Quiñones talked to TDM about Taino Productions
that have been wanting to tap into the Latino/
and his life. Here are some excerpts from that
Hispanic population, but just didn’t know how,”
conversation.
september 2022 127
interview | Q&A TDM: You founded Taino Productions in 2018. How did that
and we’ve run Christmas events. We’ve also done some
come about, and what was your original mission or goal?
other salsa events in the Hartford and Wallingford area.
WQ: That was based on an event that we did at Ocean Beach the prior year, Noche Latina. I had reached out to
TDM: What does it mean to Latino and Hispanic cultures
the director, I said, ‘Hey, I noticed you don’t have Latin
throughout the state?
events during your summer months. How can we make this
WQ: It brings a different aspect as far as different cul-
happen?’ And he said, ‘I would love to do something like
tures. At our Noche Latina in Ocean Beach, we’ve hired a
that but I don’t have the connections,’ and so I said, ‘Yeah,
mariachi band, we’ve hired a band that plays a variety of
we’ll help you with that.’
different music, Colombian music.
From there, we started thinking: How can we bridge the
A lot of Latino Hispanics, they have backyard parties,
gap? There is a gap there between the greater community
which is great, but it’s nice to see them out in the commu-
and the Latino/Hispanic population, so we started brain-
nity, interacting and just enjoying where they live. I think
storming on events that we can do, just to get more people
there’s so much that we have to offer, and it’s nice to see
out, and not only our people out, but also just getting the
everyone part of a nice night out.
greater community to come to the events.
TDM: Where did you grow up, and what role did Puerto
TDM: Where does the name of your company come from? WQ: Taino, it’s the native people of Puerto Rico, and actu-
Rican music, dance and culture play in your childhood?
ally the Caribbean. They were the ones that first greeted
ents—more so my mom—only spoke Spanish. When we
Christopher Columbus and all the explorers that went down
would go over family members’ homes for events, that’s
to the Caribbean, so they are the indigenous people from
where we would hear a lot of the cultural music and so on.
WQ: I was born and raised in Jersey City, N.J., and my par-
that region.
TDM: What are some of the
Carelot Children’s Center, Inc.
events you’ve produced or been involved in, both in New London and throughout the state?
WQ: We started out with Noche Latina at Ocean Beach. We also
“Building Strong Foundations for a Lifetime of Learning”
had done salsa events where we brought salsa instructors into the New London area from other
Thank You for you continued support!
parts of the state, and also from Springfield and Providence. We also had incorporated a live salsa band during one of our Hispanic Month celebrations, Salsa con Guayabera. We’ve been running that one successfully for about the same time we’ve done Noche Latina, for five years, and that one is held at Hygienic Art Park. We’ve also collaborated with the Puerto Ricans United of New Haven,
128
magazine
Enroll your child today!
NOW ENROLLING!
Locations in Waterford, East Lyme*, Danielson*, Chaplin, and Brooklyn
** Enrolling 6 weeks-12 years of age ** Hours: 6:30am to 5:30pm (*6:00pm) Phone: 860-739-1993 for more information www.carelot.net
I would say as I grew up, I really didn’t think too much
beach itself, which was kind of strange. They said, ‘We’re
about it until I became an adult and had our own family,
definitely coming back, we saw a restaurant we want to go
and I said: It would be nice if we could continue the tradi-
here next time we’re here,’ so I think we helped the local
tion. The United States being a big melting pot, cultures
community.
often kind of disappear, and families forget the traditions. So, I think just being able to bring that back, or just play-
TDM: What are some of your favorite things to do and
ing a small part in bringing it back, was important to us.
places to go and places to eat in New London?
We did have Puerto Rican festivals; we did have the big
WQ: One of my favorite places—which isn’t in New
national Puerto Rican festival and parade in New York that
London; it’s in Waterford—is Filomena’s. I do like On the
we would attend occasionally. You would always walk by a
Waterfront. Pollos a la Brasa, they’re a great Peruvian
house and you would hear the music blasting out the win-
restaurant. We do like the Mi Familia restaurant that’s on
dow; that was typical for all types of music. The demo-
Montauk Avenue. Hot Rod’s is always a fan favorite. I do
graphics in Jersey City when I was growing up was very
like Jasmine Thai.
multicultural. My best friends, some were Italians, some were African-Americans, some were Asian. We had a big
TDM: What impact did the pandemic have on Taino
mix, so I think for me, that’s what’s helped me as an adult
Productions and everything that you were doing?
be inclusive with everyone, because the people we grew up
WQ: The pandemic obviously definitely slowed us down,
around were from all walks of life.
which was sad to see in the sense that we like to put smiles on people’s faces; we weren’t able to see that. We went on
TDM: How have you seen the frequency of Latin music
social media and people were just, some were depressed,
performances and dance grow since founding Taino
some just couldn’t handle what was going on with this
Productions?
pandemic.
WQ: With the events we have at the beach and the
As far as us personally, thankfully we have our own full-
Hygienic, we’ve had a ton of support from the Hartford
time jobs, so what we do with Taino Productions is not
area, Springfield area, the Providence area, because for
something that we live off of, so it didn’t affect us finan-
whatever reason, they just seem to follow and like what I
cially. But it did affect us in the sense that we weren’t able
do. I think it’s because the people in those areas, the big-
to do the events to get people to come out and enjoy a
ger cities, they look for different places to go, so we’ve done
good time. So I think overall that’s the most important
a good job of being able to attract people outside of New
piece on my end, is that we just weren’t able to connect.
London to come in and see what we have here.
I tried to do a virtual freestyle night, and it’s just not the
I met a lot of people through this journey who said,
same as being there in person.
‘Wow, we’ve never known what New London had,’ even the
Where You Live The A Team of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty specializes in helping Buyers and Sellers find homes where they love to live. Contact us to find out how we can help you! ALLYSON COTTON | LIZ SQUILLACOTE GARY SCHMID | CORY WINKELMANN 860.227.6016 | theateam@williampitt.com | theateam.williampitt.com TheATeamSothebys | TheATeamLyme | Old Lyme • Niantic • Mystic Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
september 2022 129
Taxi or Limousine Service Wedding Planning Consultant & Services
joshuasworldwide.com
Great Smiles Start Here!
CALL US TODAY! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! We pride ourselves on making world class dental care convenient & affordable. Our experienced team of award winning dentist and board certified specialists are devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile using a full spectrum of general, cosmetic, surgical and sedation dentistry resulting in beautiful, long lasting smiles! Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve.
ALWAYS ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! cleanings & prevention restoring a confident smile cosmetic dentistry • dental implants invisalign improve your smile teeth whitening • complete whitening sedation dentistry • relaxation dentistry
NEW PATIE NTS is coupon to re
Bring in th
$50.00
ceive
toward yo ur treatmendental t
Kenneth Nog ac Melissa Nog ek, DMD ocek Jason Camp , DMD Ross D. Sanfi bell, DDS lippo, DMD
Dr. Jason R. Campbell • Dr. Melissa J. Nogacek • Dr. Kenneth P. Nogacek • Dr. Ross D. Sanfilippo
177 Boston Post Road, Waterford, CT • 860-447-2235
www.waterforddentalhealth.com
Eastern Connecticut’s Automotive Leader for Over 39 Years
2022 HYUNDAI IONIQ 5
www.mjsullivanhyundai.com
CALL NOW
860.443.8432
BROAD & COLMAN STREETS NEW LONDON, CT