Have you ever been to New London CT during Sailfest? Well, it is this weekend up in Connecticut and I have gone off an on for years, the highlight of the whole weekend for myself was on Saturday night it the most incredible Fireworks by the Grucci Brothers out of New York.

The most amazing ones were the summer after 9/11/01. They went all out with the fireworks and the songs to go along with them. I will miss the Sailfest this year and am a bit sadden. To me the sailfest was for great music free all day on Friday and Saturday, the food from local restaurants, so if you have not been to them as of yet, you can try the food without breaking any bank an then of course the Fireworks. It is done over the water, so people on the Groton side can watch from Fort Griswold or anywhere on the Thames River. One year, I lived on Thames Street, so we walked a block up from our apartment and had the most amazing view without too much of crowd. Then of course, at the end of the fireworks is the contest between the Groton Side and the New London side on who is louder.

New London has come a long way and seems to be moving in the right direction to becoming a great little city. People need to give New London a chance, you have the places that have been there forever (or it seems that way), Marcus's for jeans. I remember for going back to school shopping, we always made a trip to Marcus's to get our Levi jeans, an tee shirts. We would go to lunch somewhere downtown usually the deli which is no longer there, but you have other options now. As, I grew up, I would go out in New London because my boyfriend at one time was a musician so we had to hear the music, to me live music is incredible. Bank Street Cafe, Stash's, Roadhouse all still open even under new owners names remain the same, and most have remained true to the original with some new twists. Bank Street used to be a big biker bar, and dark, dingy an the best Rock music around. It has cleaned up the place new floors, new bar an fresh coat of paint can do wonders. ( Done about 10 years ago). Has Pool Tables and even an outside patio ( which is good since CT is non-smoking inside anywhere).

Stash's was bought two years ago by Graham Thompson, who if you live in Southeastern CT you know who he is, he was the front man for the band "SugarDaddy" for many years. He kept the place virtually the same even with the same employees. He updated the Bar menu with some of his own creativity. I have known Graham for many years, he is an amazing cook an enjoys pleasing people. Being a musician himself he loves live music and gets some of the best bands around to fill his place. It looks like on the Web sight, Sugar Daddy played under Sugar with Marci as the lead singer on June 29, at Stash's, I am sure that was quite the show to watch.

Besides bars in New London, you have restaurants, shops, art galleries, the Hygenic and of course boating. There is Yacht clubs close to Mitchell College- which has a Sailing Class on Pequot Street, the beautiful houses on the water an on the way to Ocean Beach.

Museum and so much more, if you have never been to New London or have but not for many years, you need to go back and give it a second look, one of my favorite places is Brie and Bleu, right next store to Thames River Wine & Spirits, get a bottle of wine there or go for the wine tastings and get some great ideas for which wines to serve. Then go next door for some cheese and conversation. The same owner of Thames River Greenery my favorite florist ever!! She is amazing and has done so much for New London. Greene Book & Beanery has great couches to sit and read and have coffee and meet people.

Give New London a chance!!! Southeastern CT has a gem there and people should realize it.