Let’s talk about the weather for a second, because we have to.
Saturday’s 2nd Annual Lifted with the Locals market was supposed to happen in the parking lot of our East Lyme, CT cannabis dispensary, the way it did last year, bigger and better. Instead, a nor’easter showed up uninvited and we moved everything indoors. Did that stop us? Absolutely not. Did Dan stand outside at 15 Colton Road in his trademark sunglasses with a bright green umbrella and declare it a “bore-easter” instead of a nor’easter? Also yes, and it may have been the best content we made all day. “Ain’t no rain, we got the suns coming out,” Dan proclaimed.
Inside our Nightjar East Lyme dispensary, the market went on exactly as planned, just cozier. Customers came in from East Lyme, Niantic, Old Lyme, Waterford, Old Saybrook, and beyond, shaking off the rain at the door and staying for hours. That is the kind of turnout that tells you something real about a community.
The Cannabis Brands Who Showed Up at Our East Lyme CT Cannabis Dispensary
Four of our favorite cannabis partners came through for Lifted with the Locals at our East Lyme cannabis dispensary, and all of them are worth a proper introduction if you missed them.
Float House brought their THC-infused beverages, and if you have not tried one yet, this is your sign. Float House makes THC IPA and THC Lite, non-alcoholic beers brewed in Windsor, CT that give you the flavor and feel of a real beer without the hangover. Right now their drinks are dosed at 3 milligrams, but starting October 1st that is increasing to 5 and 10 milligram options. As Katie our taste-tester put it, “these drinks are delicious, you should come try them.” We agree. We carry them in store at our East Lyme location and they sold fast all summer. Follow Float House at @drinkfloathouse.
The Happy Confection brought Lindsay, and Lindsay brought the enthusiasm and vibes per usual! The Happy Confection is a queer-owned, woman-led, family-run Connecticut edible brand out of Westbrook, and their gummies are vegan, gluten-free, and made with strain-specific live resin so you get a consistent, dialed-in effect every time. Lindsay’s favorite flavor right now is the Blissful Berry Lemonade, a THC, CBD, and CBG blend she described as “an uplifting sativa” that brings “euphoria, the giggles,” and some relief from pain and inflammation “without putting you on the couch.” Also worth noting: the gummies are made by a pastry chef, so as Lindsay pointed out, “you know they taste good.”
Shaka and Springtime, cannabis brands grown out of a New Britain, CT cultivation facility, brought Josh to talk flower. Both brands focus exclusively on cultivating, with no concentrates or edibles in the lineup, which Josh explained is intentional. “It gives our cultivators the sole focus of growing really high quality flower,” he told us, “so all of their efforts are grown into just making a really great product.” The brands were running a strong promo at the market too: buy three pre-rolls and get one for a penny, or buy an eighth and add a pre-roll for a penny. Look for their products on our East Lyme dispensary menu.
Select and Jams sent Tim, who walked us through the edible lineup including their Lullaberry indica jam, a nationwide favorite flavor for a couple of years now, plus a Sour Strawberry Lemonade and Select’s Brick 2.0 vape. The Brick 2.0 comes in Sunday Slumber indica strain, and Clementine sativa, and features a digital display that shows your exact dosage per puff, ranging from 1 to 15 milligrams. Tim’s advice, straight from the interview: “we recommend low and slow to start always.” You can find Select and Jams products on our East Lyme cannabis menu as well.
Local Makers Who Made the Day in East Lyme
One of the best parts of Lifted with the Locals has always been the mix of cannabis brands next to jewelry makers next to a bakery that sells out before 3pm. For customers driving in from Niantic, Groton, Mystic, and Old Saybrook, this is exactly the kind of afternoon that makes East Lyme worth the trip. This year was no exception.
Cactus Moon Magic, run by Susanna, filled a table with handmade jewelry made from African beads, recycled glass, and genuinely rare stones, including purple jade from Turkey and copper Laramar beads from the Dominican Republic that Susanna says carry anti-inflammatory properties, “like a lot of cannabis products.” Susanna has been making and selling her pieces for about two years and you can find her work on Etsy at cactusmoonmagic.etsy.com.
Sisters Olivia and Leah brought two crafts in one booth: Olive Hoops. Olivia’s embroidery hoops, a hobby she picked up around 2018, range from quick pieces to ones that take months. Leah’s specialty is resin work using things she finds on hikes, actual lantern flies pressed into earrings, necklaces, and keychains. If you have ever wanted jewelry made from a bug you would normally swat away, this was your booth.
Baking Love Bakery, run by Marissa, sold out of her cookie dozens before the afternoon was even half over. Marissa named her bakery for the years she spent baking gifts for friends before turning it into a business, and her flavor names alone are worth a visit: Caramel Me Away, Monkey Buddy, and the seasonal Pink Pony Club. Her “Basic Bitch” chocolate chip cookie, made with milk and dark chocolate, brown butter, and flaky sea salt, might be the least basic thing on the table.
Dismae Vintage, run by Becky, brought a trunk of thrifted clothing including a genuine 90s Air Jordan shirt, a pair of vintage skater jeans, and an embroidered jumpsuit that half the team had their eye on. Becky has been thrifting since 2018 and now builds entire road trips around finding new stock. She truly has an eye for beautiful pieces!
And if you stopped by for a tooth gem or a set of custom press-on nails, that was Jess at The Pressed Lab, whose semi-permanent tooth gems last anywhere from four months to a year and whose hand-painted press-on nails are 100% gel and reusable. Nightjar’s own Trinity from our East Lyme team got in on the fun and picked gold gems for the occasion and they looked gorgeous!
A Little Nightjar Dispensary Behind the Scenes
Our cannabis dispensary pharmacist, Laurie Zrenda, made her way through the market too, and her reaction summed up the day pretty well. “There’s jewelry, there’s baked goods, which unfortunately I’m a sugar addict, so I’ll be buying some cookies,” she said, before admitting the artwork and cannabis vendors were just as tempting. Between staff popping in for interviews and Laurie sampling her way down the table, it felt less like an event we hosted and more like a neighborhood that happened to gather at our East Lyme, CT cannabis dispensary.
Same Time Next Year, Weather Permitting – BUT FOR NOW, check out videos on Nightjar East Lyme Cannabis Dispensary Youtube Channel!
We will take the nor’easter as a one-time obstacle and not a trend. Lifted with the Locals is officially an East Lyme tradition now, rain, wind, or otherwise, and we already cannot wait for year three. Thank you to every vendor, every maker, every cannabis brand, and every person who drove in from East Lyme, Niantic, Waterford, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Groton, Mystic, and beyond on a Saturday when the sky had other plans. You are the reason this market works.
Missed it this year? If you’re a more visual learner, take a look at our Youtube Channel, NightjarLive, for interviews with our cannabis vendors and local artisans. You should also keep an eye on our East Lyme events page and follow us on Instagram at Nightjar_CT for next year’s date. And if you want to try any of the cannabis products featured, from Float House’s THC beverages to The Happy Confection‘s gummies to Shaka and Springtime’s flower to Select and Jams, you can browse our full East Lyme cannabis menu anytime before you visit.
Nightjar Cannabis is located at 15 Colton Road in East Lyme, CT, serving customers from Niantic, Old Lyme, Waterford, Old Saybrook, Groton, Mystic, New London, and throughout the Connecticut shoreline.
