New London CT Historic Church Tour

It's a Holiday Church Tour in New London, CT 

with New London Landmarks!

Visit three historic churches in New London for a holiday tour with live music at each location on Saturday, January 7th 2017 starting at 1:00pm!  New London Landmarks hosts this family-friendly walking tour that will be held rain or shine!

• First Stop and Check In: St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, 200 Hempstead Street. The Sistine Chapel of New London will include St. Sophia's Choir singing Christmas hymns in Orthodox faith tradition.
• Second Stop:  St. James Episcopal Church, 76 Federal Street. See several original Tiffany windows in this 1850 Richard Upjohn masterpiece with performance by Kia A. Baird, Soprano accompanied by Sue Caplet, piano.
• Third Stop: St. Mary's Star of the Sea, 10 Huntington Street. Decorated for Christmas, enjoy sounds of magnificent organ in this 1876 Gothic Revival Church.
• Final Stop and Refreshments:   Reception at New London Landmarks, 49 Washington Street. Enjoy coffee and treats at the historic David Bishop House.

(approximately 1 mile walk round trip)

The walking tour starts at Sophia’s Church at 200 Hempstead Street in New London on Saturday, January 7^th at 1:00p.m.  

See magnificent architecture, learn history of building and listen to live music.  $15 admission / $10 members.  

Tickets can be purchased by credit card up to one day before event online or by cash or check at the door.  For more information call 860-442-0003 or visit www.newlondonlandmarks.org

Meet at St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2017.

200 Hempstead Street, New London. Parking available on street and in lot behind church.

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New London Landmarks is a non-profit corporation to promote the preservation and development of the urban environment of New London, Connecticut, including significant individual structures, streetscapes, neighborhoods, and open spaces. They are actively working to preserve New London’s historic resources through educational programs, house tours, and collaborations with other historic organizations in the city.

New London Food Stroll is Back on October 12 2016

Annual Fall Food Stroll in Downtown New London

Get ready New London - because the streets of downtown will soon be filled with strollers celebrating New London's very best in food and music.

WHO: New London Main Street and Citizens Bank with support from sponsors City of New London, The Day, Garde Arts Center and Dime Bank. Premiere local talent will perform along the stroll route.

WHAT: New London Main Street continues its most popular tradition of celebrating New London's Historic Waterfront District at its Annual Fall Food Stroll

WHEN: Wednesday, October 12th from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Participants experience a vibrant downtown New London filled with people, music, good cheer and welcoming businesses.

Using an advanced purchased button as your ticket to taste, stroll through dozens of different restaurants, shops and arts and cultural institutions in downtown New London, tasting bite-size samples of dishes or drinks that range from seafood to sweets, organic to ethnic and everything in between. Participating venues are expected to include: 2 Wives Brick Oven Pizza, Bangkok City, Bulkeley House Saloon, Carmelo's Italian Cafe, Caruso's Music, Cathedral Etchings, Chaplin's and Friends Bistro (*NEW), Copperwood Grill, Daddy Jack's, The Drunken Palette, East Coast Catering at the Atrium Café, Edible Arrangements, the Eyeglass Lass, Fiddleheads Food Co-op, Flavours of Life - The Fair Trade Store, The Flava of Jamaica, Garde Arts Center, The Hispanic Alliance, Homeward Bound Treasures, Jasmine Thai Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Le Gout Caterers at Liberty Bank, Mambo Bar & Restaurant, Muddy Waters Café, New London Antique Center, Northern Light Gems, The Oasis Pub, Octane (*NEW), Po Chi Lam Clinic, The Old Roadhouse, Refresh Organic Day Spa, The Seehund German Pub & Restaurant, Studio 33 Custom Framing and Art Gallery, State Street Saloon, The Steaming Kettle, Tony D's, Washington Street Coffee House, Wings 'N Pies and more.

JUDGING: Food served will be judged in a lighthearted competition. Awards of Excellence will be awarded to participating restaurants in the areas of Most Creative, Best Dessert, Best Seafood, Best Vegetarian, and Fan Favorite based on the dishes appearance, texture and taste. Judges include: Elissa Bass (former breaking news editor at The Day and currently CEO of elissabass.com), Bob Forcier (Department Chair of Hospitality and Tourism at Mitchell College), Chef Thomas Johnson (Culinary Program Manager at New London High School), Chef David Perkins (Chef Manager at Connecticut College), and Patty Startz (Business Banking Officer for Citizens Bank) who will be deciding the event's Fan Favorite dish.

Vote for your Fan Favorite on social media with #NLFoodStroll.

ENTERTAINMENT: The Advantagers, Clan O'Cleary Band at Captain's Pizza, FrankenPhil, Hart Strings Duo, Kevin Wade, No Mind, Performers from Common Ground Open Mic, Roxy 100.9 FM, Q105, Tim Quinn, WCNI, face painting by Advai-Doodlez, a social media booth and more.

WHERE: On the day of the event the Stroll's headquarters are at Harris Place, 165 State Street, New London from 10:00 a.m. A map containing stroll and entertainment locations will be available there and at www.newlondonmainstreet.org.

Special $2 parking from 4:30–9:30 p.m. at Water Street Garage, 161 Water Street (across from train station) with your food stroll button.

Tickets are available until they sell out at Harris Place, 165 State Street or at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street.

Winners of the food judging contest will be announced at 9:00 p.m. at Harris Place, 165 State Street, and judges will travel to each winning venue to announce their award immediately following the announcement.

Tickets are available online at www.newlondonmainstreet.org

New London CT Annual Spring Food Stroll 2015

New London Main Street Presents Annual Spring Food Stroll

DOWNTOWN NEW LONDON'S ANNUAL SPRING FOOD STROLL Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Streets of downtown filled with strollers celebrating New London's best food with music. WHO: New London Main Street with support from Presenting Sponsor Dime Bank, City of New London, The Day, Legrand and Garde Arts Center. Premiere local talent will perform along the stroll route. WHAT: New London Main Street continues its most popular tradition of celebrating New London's Historic Waterfront District at its Annual Spring Food Stroll on Wednesday, May 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. www.newlondonmainstreet.org. Participants experience vibrant downtown New London filled with people, music, good cheer and welcoming businesses. Using an advanced purchased button as your ticket to taste, stroll through dozens of different restaurants, shops and arts and cultural institutions in downtown New London, tasting bite-size samples of dishes or drinks that range from seafood to sweets, organic to ethnic and everything in between. Participating venues are expected to include:  2 Wives Brick Oven Pizza,  Bankok City,  Berry's Ice Cream & Candy Bar,  Blissworks Yoga,  Bulkeley House Saloon,  Carmelo's Bean & Leaf (*NEW),  Copperwood Grill,  Custom House Maritime Museum,  Daddy Jack's (*NEW!),  Dev's on Bank,  The Drunken Palette,  Edible Arrangements,  the Eyeglass Lass,  Fiddleheads Food Co-op,  Flavours of Life - The Fair Trade Store,  Flava of Jamaica (*NEW),  Garde Arts Center,  Hanafin's Public House,  The Hispanic Alliance at Provenance Art Gallery,  Hive Skate Shop,  In 'N' Out Caribbean Cuisine,  Jasmine Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar,  Mambo Bar & Restaurant,  MS 17 Art Project,  Muddy Waters Café,  Nathan Hale School House featuring Charter Oak Brewery,  Northern Indian Restaurant,  Northern Light Gems,  The Oasis Pub,   The Old Roadhouse,   Refresh Organic Day Spa,  Sarge's Comics,  The Seehund German Pub & Restaurant,  Shaw Mansion,  State Street Saloon,  The Steaming Kettle,  Studio 33 Custom Framing and Art Gallery,  Thames Club,  Thames River Winery,  Tony D's,  Washington Street Coffee House,  Visual Arts Library,  Wings 'N Pies,  Zaria & Bella's Gift Shop (*NEW)  and more. TASTING COMPETITION: Food served will be judged in a lighthearted competition, and judges include Timothy Grills, Director of Nutrition Services, TVCCA; Jill Blanchette, Production Editor, The Day; Joan Gordon, Restaurant Reviewer, the Norwich Bulletin, and Peter Lehmuller, Ed.D. Dean, College of Culinary Arts Cuisinart Center for Culinary Excellence, Johnson & Wales.   By analyzing taste, texture and appearance, judges will determine  Most Creative,  Best Dessert,  Best Seafood taste,  Best Vegetarian taste,  Best All Around Taste  Fan Favorite (decided by votes on Instagram).   ENTERTAINMENT: Christian Brunelle, Heartstrings Duo, CBYD, The ISAAC School "8th Notes," Noah Feldman, Jerome King, Tim Larson, Ron Lynch, Teresa McShane, Philip Oesau, Roxy 100.1 FM, Q105, Tim Quinn, WCNI and many more talented musicians.  WHERE: On the day of the event the Stroll's headquarters are at Harris Place, 165 State Street, New London from 10:00 a.m. A map containing stroll and entertainment locations will be available there and at www.newlondonmainstreet.org. TICKETS: are $30 in advance ($25 for military, students and groups) in advance and $35 on the day or (if available) and are on sale now at the following locations: www.newlondonmainstreet.org, all day every day The Garde Arts Center box office, 325 State Street, M-F 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. New London Main Street, 147 State Street, Suite B, M-F 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 860-444-2489. **Tickets purchased online can be picked up on the day of the stroll from 10:00 a.m. at Harris Place, 165 State Street, New London. Tickets are available on the day of beginning at 10:00 a.m. until they sell out at Harris Place, 165 State Street or at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street. Winners of the tasting contest will be announced at 9:00 p.m. at Harris Place, 165 State Street, and judges will travel to each winning venue to announce their award immediately following the announcement. WHEN: May 13, 2015, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; contest winners announced at 9:00 p.m. New London Main Street is committed to the ongoing revitalization of New London's Historic Waterfront District. The goal of Main Street is to build community through activities and programs that enrich the cultural fabric, preserve and enhance historic streetscapes and support and expand the economic base of the city center.

2014 Toys for Tots Collection by Mike's Harley Davidson New London CT

Toys for Tots and the Marines team up with Santa and Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson at the former Coca-Cola® Factory to Bring Hope to the Community

Santa and Mrs. Clause will ride into the new Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson in New London this Saturday, December 13, from 12 - 3 p.m. to join United States Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Joe Courtney in supporting the U.S. Reserve Marine Corps annual Toys for Tots campaign.

The free event will include photos with Santa and the whole family ... even pets are welcome. Santa will greet visitors in a Harley-Davidson® sidecar set in front of a traditional stone fireplace within the former Coca-Cola® factory. Local sports celebrities including Casey Cochran (UConn football player) and Roger LaFrancois (former Boston Red Sox player and St. Louis Cardinal's coach) will be on hand to sign autographs. The brand new showroom not only features motorcycles, ATVs and watercraft, but also boasts an extensive selection of riding gear, accessories, clothing, and toys; there's something fun for every member of the family at this exciting new venue. Each child will receive a free gift from Santa, and festive refreshments will be offered.


Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson is the New London County collection and staging headquarters for Toys for Tots, locally sponsored by the Thames River Detachment Marine Corps League.  For months, the community has been donating toys and the Marines have been collecting, sorting and staging the gifts inside of Mike's Famous®. The initiative will provide toys to children represented by dozens of charities and non-profit organizations this holiday season.  Additionally, non-perishable food items are being accepted for donation to the Gemma E. Moran United Way Food Center.


"We are thrilled beyond belief to be working with Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson this year on our annual toy drive," said Jim Reid, Junior Vice Commandant of the Thames River Detachment Marine Corps League.  "Mike has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has spent a lot of resources to accommodate our needs. In past years, we have worked in unheated warehouses and other tough conditions.  Our very comfortable headquarters at Mike's Famous is absolutely fantastic, and his staff has been great to work with. We are extremely grateful," Reid added.

Following the Bureau of Labor Statistic's positive November jobs report, the 2015 economy looks bright for the region. This bodes well for U.S. businesses like Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson, and its owner, Mike Schwartz, who invested in the City of New London this past year.  He purchased the former Coca-Cola® bottling plant on Bank Street in the late summer of 2013, and by soliciting suggestions from the community, transformed the crumbling building into a customer led showroom and retail destination, which opened in the spring of 2014.  This adaptive reuse project has created 40 full and part-time jobs in a fun, unique, authentic environment which merges two iconic brands, Coca-Cola® and Harley-Davidson®.

Coca-Cola's® 2014 holiday campaign, "Make Someone Happy," focuses on the spirit of generosity and togetherness, and encourages small acts of kindness.  Coke® is bringing back their original Santa, imagined over 80 years ago by artist Haddon Sundblom, to elicit a feeling of history and nostalgia. In keeping with this theme, elected officials, local celebrities, Boy Scouts, Young Marines, senior Marine officers and military personnel are donating their time on Saturday to participate in the Toys for Tots event at Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson, bringing the larger community together to help others.



About the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program:
The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation's most valuable resources - our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.


About Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson:
Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson is located at 951 Bank Street in New London, CT.   The new dealership opened in March of 2014 in 55,000 square feet within the former Coca-Cola® bottling plant.  It also represents the Can-Am® brands of ATVs, Side-by-Sides, Spyders® and Sea-Doo® Watercraft, and carries the full line of Polaris® recreational products.

New London Annual Fall Food Stroll

Save the date for a wonderful fall event!

Downtown New London's Annual Fall Food Stroll! 

 Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 5:30pm-8:30pm

Streets of downtown filled with strollers celebrating New London’s best food and fun.

Join the fine merchants on New London Main Street with support from Presenting Sponsor Citizen’s Bank, City of New London, The Day, Dime Bank and Garde Arts Center.  Premiere local talent will perform along the stroll route.

New London Main Street continues its most popular tradition of celebrating New London's Historic Waterfront District at its Annual Fall Food Stroll on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 5:30 to 8:30pm.  www.newlondonmainstreet.org/stroll.  Participants experience a vibrant and safe downtown New London filled with people, good cheer and welcoming businesses.

Participants will stroll through over 40 different restaurants, shops and arts and cultural institutions in downtown New London, tasting bite-size samples of dishes or drinks that range from seafood to sweets, organic to ethnic and everything in between.

Participating  venues are expected to include:

2 Wives Brick Oven Pizza,
Bankok City,
Bean & Leaf,
Blissworks Yoga,
Bravado Barbershop,
Bulkeley House Saloon,
Chaplin’s,
Copperwood Grill,
Daddy Jack’s (*NEW!),
Dev’s on Bank,
The Drunken Palette,
Edible Arrangements,
Ernie’s Café,
Fiddleheads Food Co-op,
Flavours of Life – The Fair Trade Store,
The Firehouse Gallery,
Franks Place,
Garde Arts Center,
Hanafin’s Public House,
Hive Skate Shop,
Hot Rod’s Cafe,
In 'N' Out Caribbean Cuisine,
Jasmine Thai,
Lazy Leopard T
hai Café (*NEW!),
Mambo Bar & Restaurant,
Muddy Waters Café,
Nathan Hale School House,
New London Fire Department,
New London Maritime Society’s Custom House Museum,
Northern Indian Restaurant,
Northern Light Gems,
The Oasis Pub,
The Old Roadhouse (*NEW!),
Provinance Center,
Sarge’s Comics,
Seehund German Restaurant and Bar,
Shaw Mansion,
Spoiled Salon,
Studio 33 Art & Frame Gallery,
Thames Club,
The New Roadhouse,
State Street Saloon,
The Steaming Kettle,
Subway,
Tony D’s,
Washington Street Coffee House,
Wings ‘N Pies,
...and more.

And there's even a Contest!!! Food served will be judged in a competition, and judges include Jack Chiara of the Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts; Thomas Johnson, Executive Chef for New London Public Schools and the Interactive Cooking School, Culinary Secrets with Chef Tomm, Citizens Bank AVP Stacey Taylor, and more to be announced.

 On hand to provide entertainment are: Paul Brockett Roadshow, Frankenphil at the Seehund, Writer’s Block Street Team, Jeff Marttson, Tom Burgess, Teddy Gudias, Roxy 100.9, Q105, WCNI, and many more.


Where to start??? ==> On the day of the event the Stroll’s headquarters are at Harris Place, 165 State Street, New London from 10:00am.  A map containing stroll and entertainment locations will be available there and at www.newlondonmainstreet.org.

Ticket Information:  $30 in advance ($25 for military, students and groups) in advance and $35 on the day or (if available) and will be on sale as of September 15, 2014 at the following locations:

• www.newlondonmainstreet.org, all day every day.  
• The Garde Arts Center box office, 325 State Street, M-F 10:00am-5:00pm.
• New London Main Street, 147 State Street, Suite B, M-F 10:00am-3:00pm.

 **Tickets purchased online can be picked up on the day of the stroll from 10:00am on at Harris Place, 165 State Street, New London.


Tickets are available on the day of beginning at 10:00am until they sell out at Harris Place, 165 State Street or at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street.


Winners of the food judging contest will be announced at 9:15pm at Harris Place, 165 State Street, and judges will travel to each winning venue to announce their award immediately following the announcement. Winners will be announced October 15, 2014, 5:30-8:30pm; contest winners announced at 9:15pm.

 The Food Stroll celebrates one of New London’s best features - abundant and delicious eateries - and attracts visitors from around the region to explore the downtown and experience its vibrancy, beauty and safety.

New London Main Street is committed to revitalizing New London's historic downtown. The goal of Main Street is to build community through activities and programs that enrich the cultural fabric, preserve and enhance historic streetscapes and support and expand the economic base of the city center.