New London Daily Briefing

Good morning, New London. Here is a quick look at what is shaping the city as the weekend gets underway.

Capitol Theater sale breathes life into Bank Street

A long-vacant landmark downtown is finally headed for a comeback. The historic Capitol Theater on Bank Street has been sold to a new ownership group that plans to turn the building into a live music and entertainment venue.

The buyers paid about a quarter of a million dollars for the property and have outlined a two-phase renovation, starting with the entrance and a smaller performance space before opening a larger hall. The theater, which opened in the 1920s and has been closed since the 1970s, could reopen in a few years if work stays on track.

City officials have already approved a special permit allowing food and alcohol service and late-night hours, signaling strong support for bringing regular shows back to the downtown strip.

New exhibit spotlights New London architecture

Across town, a new photography and design exhibit at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum is putting New London’s streetscapes in the spotlight. The show by artist G. Roger Clements focuses on the facades of local buildings, using traditional film photography and scale models to capture how light and time change familiar corners of the city.

The exhibit is scheduled to run into April, giving residents a chance to see their own blocks and landmarks reframed as works of art during the quieter winter months.

Snow gives way to dangerous cold along the shoreline

After light snow early today, an arctic air mass is dropping temperatures sharply across Connecticut. Along the shoreline, including New London, afternoon highs are expected to stay in the 20s with strong wind gusts making it feel much colder.

Wind chills are forecast to fall well below zero tonight and into Sunday morning. Residents are being urged to limit time outdoors, check on vulnerable neighbors, and keep pets inside. A gradual warmup is expected by the middle of next week, but the next 24 to 36 hours will be the harshest stretch of this cold snap.

Regional student protests echo New London activism

Student walkouts at high schools in Groton and Newington on Friday added new energy to a wave of demonstrations opposing federal immigration enforcement. Organizers cited a recent rally at New London City Hall as part of the inspiration for their action, underscoring how local activism is resonating across the region.

The demonstrations remained peaceful, and students say they plan to keep organizing in the weeks ahead.

Sources

• https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/capitol-theater-new-london-revitalize-21333076.php
• https://www.ctinsider.com/living/article/ct-culture-corner-bridgerton-data-centers-21316085.php
• https://www.ctinsider.com/weather/article/ct-weather-forecast-snow-dangerous-cold-02-07-26-21336337.php
• https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/connecticut-high-school-anti-ice-walkout-21337792.php