QE2 in Old Saybrook, CT

Dock & Dine, located at the mouth of the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook, CT is home to  local artist Steven Cryan, who just so happens to be a big fan of Queen Elizabeth 2 and her replacement Queen Mary 2. Steven's interests mirror my own to a great degree; ocean liners, trains, tugs, and model railroading.  He has been painting and photographing his interests for years.  His small studio, located at the entrance to the restaurant, has on display and for purchase photograghs and artwork of all his interests.  If you're so lucky, as we were tonight, you can catch him working on a new painting.

Tonight, we stopped in for dinner and to view the breathtaking view of the river and Long Island Sound at sunset.  It's times like these that bring back the reason why I wanted to move to this area that I had spent so much of my early years mucking about the river in my little 13' Boston Whaler.   In fact, looking at the center console boats out fishing for Striped Bass and Shad this night, reminded me that I need to get our 25' Whaler back in the water for this season.

View looking south at the breakwater, the inner lighthouse, Brewers Marina, and Long Island in the distance

As mentioned, we caught Steven Cryan actually at his studio, working on a painting of the outermost lighthouse located on the Old Saybrook breakwater, which reminded me of the painting we witnessed being painted onboard QE2 on our final trip.  With one of my QE2 hats on, Steven recognized a fellow QE2 fan and we struck up a conversation on our favorite liner.  He then showed me an impressive recent painting of QM2.  He also has a nice photograph of QE2 taken in 1983 in the very brief period that the ship was painted white.  I large version of this print is on display in the restaurant near the restrooms.

Steven has photographed, painted, and even played in a band onboard QM2.  Back in 2004, with his connections to Moran Tugs, he was onboard a Moran tug as QM2 approached New York City for the first time.  I have a video he offered of this historic event with some fantastic early morning video of QM2.  Unfortunately, Steven doesn't have much of a website, but if you're in the area, stop in and see his work.  Dock & Dine is just okay as far as the food goes, but the main draw is definitely the view.  Steven's model railroading work can also be seen locally on permanent display at the Pizzaworks Restaurant located at the Old Saybrook Amtrack Station.

 View looking North up the river.  The Amtrack train bridge and Route 95 bridge are way off in the distance.