Last week’s vote on adding more Community Spotlights was a resounding yes, so I put together a quick nomination form. You can use it to tell us about local people, nonprofits, artists, educators, chefs, volunteers, community leaders, or organizations doing positive things in the area.

And yes, you can absolutely nominate yourself. Sometimes the best stories start with someone raising their own hand.

Last call for Thursday’s West Hartford Dinner Club! More than 90 people are already coming to meet new friends, share a meal and shake up their usual weeknight routine.

Signups close at 6 PM today, so grab your spot before the door slams shut.

We’re officially in the heart of summer, so don’t let it slip by without a little exploring. Check out the remaining summer festivals, local farmers markets, and Hartford County swim spots before the season starts disappearing on us.

We’ve now got three crosswords waiting for you, including the brand-new Hartford County Summer Crossword packed with local landmarks, food, parks and enough regional trivia to humble even the most confident Nutmegger.

Give the new one a shot, then try the other two if you missed them.

Mahjong people, should we put a monthly Open Play night on the calendar?

No lesson, no PowerPoint, just reserved tables, organized groups and a room full of people who actually want to play. Your ticket would guarantee a seat and help us build balanced tables, so nobody gets stuck awkwardly wandering around holding a rack.

Shark Week is taking over the Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford, from July 26 through August 1, 10 AM to 4 PM daily. Expect the blockbuster Sharks exhibition, scavenger hunts, live science demos, giveaways, themed treats and enough teeth to make you reconsider every beach trip. Most activities are included with general admission or membership.

Mortgage rates averaged 6.55% in mid-July, while Connecticut’s median home price climbed to nearly $485,000 in June. Translation: waiting for a dramatic rate drop could mean paying more for the house later. Focus on the full monthly payment, get pre-approved early and explore options like seller credits or temporary buydowns. Thinking about buying, refinancing or simply figuring out what fits your budget?

Contact Kimberly Joy from PrimeLending for a personalized mortgage check-in.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Ace, a sweet, shy-at-first Border Collie mix who loves kids, other dogs, car rides and sticking close to his favorite people.

🏡Dream house of the week: This 5-bedroom, 8-bath, 8,537-square-foot estate feels like a slice of the French countryside, complete with an infinity pool overlooking the orchards. Downstairs is built for fun with a movie theater, gym, bar and wine cellar, while four heated garages and a separate guest house somehow make it even more over-the-top. Empty your bank account!

🥾Trail of the week: Pick from 28 Hartford County trails and find your next excuse to get outside.

🔭Sky report: Friday night, look south after dark to see the bright waxing gibbous Moon parked beside Antares, the ruby-red “heart” of Scorpius. The two will pass within just 0.6 degrees of each other, making this week’s best naked-eye sky show. Bonus: the Moon reaches its first-quarter phase at 7:05 a.m. Tuesday, almost exactly when this newsletter lands in your inbox.

Last week’s trivia question stumped almost everyone, with only 6.5% getting the answer right. Hartford-Brainard Airport got its start in 1921, when a 350-acre cow pasture in the South Meadows was chosen for what has been called the country’s first municipal airport. Named for Hartford Mayor Newton C. Brainard, the airfield soon welcomed aviation legends including Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh stopped there during his 1927 victory tour following his historic solo flight across the Atlantic.

Brainard later became a commercial airport and served as a major Army Air Forces training center during World War II. As larger aircraft took over, commercial service shifted to Bradley, with the final carriers leaving Brainard by 1958. Not a bad journey for an old cow pasture.

Avon | The Bernadettes Summer Concert | 6 PM - Female vocal trio performs at Avon Recreation's outdoor concert series (60 W Main St).

Bristol | Rock Station Band at Rockwell Park | 6:30 PM - Classic rock fills the air at this free summer concert series (63 Dutton Ave).

East Granby | Music Bingo at Copper Hill | 6:30 PM - Test your song knowledge at The Grill at Copper Hill (20 Copper Hill Rd).

Enfield | Whiskey Traveler Summer Concert | 7 PM - Country and rock hits on the Enfield Town Green (71 N Main St).

Manchester | Aquanett at MARC Summer Concert | 6:30 PM - 80s rock tribute band brings the big hair energy at MARC Inc. (151 Sheldon Rd).

New Britain | Carillon Concert ft. Margaret Angelini | 7 PM - Bell tower concert featuring renowned carillonneur (830 Corbin Ave).

Rocky Hill | Nightshift Summer Concert | 6:30 PM - Rock and dance hits at Veteran's Memorial Amphitheater.

West Hartford | Clay Handbuilding: Flower Press Dish | 6 PM | ($) - Create a beautiful pressed flower dish at The Clay Pen (997 Farmington Ave). Get Crafty

Windsor Locks | Monthei Brothers Band | 7 PM - Americana and country rock on the town green (124 Southwest Ave).

Enfield | Kinusaiga Class at R Dee Winery | 6 PM - Learn the Japanese fabric art at R Dee Winery (504 Hazard Ave). Get Crafty

Glastonbury | The Stevie Experience at Riverfront | 6:30 PM - Stevie Nicks tribute band at Riverfront Park (300 Welles St).

Hartford | Beach Bark: Meet Rescue Dogs | 5-8 PM - Meet adoptable rescue pups on Pratt Street (57 Pratt St).

Stonington | Sip & Quill: Picket Fence Roses | 5:30 PM | ($) - Wine and watercolor painting class (1 High St). Get Crafty

West Hartford | Daniel Salazar & Friends | 6:30 PM - Latin jazz and world music at Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens.

Windsor | DJ Bingo at Bear's | 7 PM - Music bingo with BBQ at Bear's Smokehouse (2152 Poquonock Ave).

Bloomfield | Summer Concert Series: Shaded Soul | 7 PM - Free outdoor concert on the town green (800 Bloomfield Ave).

Broad Brook | East Windsor Concert Series | 6:30 PM - Mass-Conn-Fusion Band at East Windsor Park (51 Reservoir Ave).

Burlington | BackTrax Summer Concert | 7 PM - Classic rock covers at Malerbo Soccer Fields (25 George Washington Tpke).

East Hartford | Sounds of Summer: The Score | 6 PM - Free summer concert series continues at Great RIver Park.

Manchester | Tongue & Groove Concert | 6 PM - Free concert at Center Memorial Park (599 Main St).

Plainville | Cover2Cover Summer Concert | 6:30 PM - Live cover band at Norton Park.

South Windsor | SWPRD Summer Concert Series | 7 PM - Free outdoor concert at Evergreen Walk (301 Evergreen Way).

Broad Brook | Greg Hawkes with Eddie Japan | 8 PM | ($) - The Cars keyboardist performs classic hits at Broad Brook Opera House (4 Depot St). Catch the Show

Canton | A Thing Called Dave | 7:30 PM - Live music at Grindstone Tavern (3 River St).

Hartford | 7 Bridges: Eagles Experience with HSO | 7:30 PM | ($) - Eagles tribute with Hartford Symphony Orchestra at The Meadows. Take a Seat

North Granby | Friday Night Yoga at Lost Acres | 5 PM - Sunset yoga at Lost Acres Vineyard (80 Lost Acres Rd).

Berlin | Silent Art Auction | 12-4 PM - Bid on local art to benefit Scholefield Scholarship Fund at Coles Road Brewing (817 Farmington Ave).

Berlin | Best of Times at The Truck Bar | 8 PM - Cover band debut at this popular Berlin venue.

Bloomfield | Deadheads at Back East | 6 PM - Grateful Dead tribute at Back East Brewing Company (1296 Blue Hills Ave).

Broad Brook | NIRVANI - Nirvana Tribute | 8 PM | ($) - Grunge lives on at Broad Brook Opera House (107 Main St). Rock Out

Hartford | Dave Matthews Band | 7:30 PM | ($) - DMB brings the jam to The Meadows Music Theatre (61 Savitt Way). Catch the Show

Manchester | Albee Al | 9 PM | ($) - Live hip-hop performance at Ryan’s (485 Hartford Rd).

New Britain | Caribbean Rum & Food Festival | 1 PM | ($) - Island vibes with rum tastings and Caribbean cuisine at The Grand Alure (1375 East St). Taste It

Newington | Plant Bingo | 6:30 PM | ($) - Win houseplants while playing bingo (3277 Berlin Tpke). Play Along

Plainville | Wing Ding 2026 | 5 PM | ($) - Annual chicken wing competition and festival (7 Northwest Dr). Dig In

South Windsor | Really Really Free Market | 1-3 PM - Give and take freely at this community swap (350 Foster St).

Southington | Heavy Hitter Mafia Car Show | 10 AM - 2 PM - Cars, bikes, and trucks at Southington Drive-in (995 Meriden Waterbury Tpke).

West Hartford | Rob Glassman Band | 7 PM | ($) - Live rock at New Park Brewing. Tune In

Wethersfield | Old Wethersfield Book Walk | 10 AM - 3 PM - Browse books along historic Main Street with 80+ authors, book signings and workshops (235 Main St).

East Hartford | Pollinator Awareness Event | 12-4 PM - Learn about bees, butterflies, and gardening plus vendors, hands-on activities and more at DePietro Park (396 Forbes St).

Farmington | Italy on the Farm | 2 PM | ($) - Italian music with Treva and Casadoro at Sub Edge Farm (199 Town Farm Rd). Savor It

Hartford | NE-YO & AKON: Nights Like This Tour | 8 PM | ($) - R&B icons at The Meadows Music Theatre (61 Savitt Way). Catch the Show

Hartford | RNB Sundaze | 4 PM - R&B day party vibes wearing shades of green on Pratt St.

Simsbury | Doobie Brothers & Steely Dan Tribute | 4 PM - Shout performs at Talcott Mountain Collective.

Windsor | Tree of Life Sun Catcher | 11:30 AM - Create a wire-wrapped sun catcher (570 Hayden Station Rd). Get Crafty

Avon | Wildlife Out Your Window | 6:30 PM | ($) - Learn to identify backyard wildlife at Avon Library (281 Country Club Rd). Discover

7/22

Canton | Ladybug Lunch & Story Time | 1 PM - Stories and nature fun for little ones at Roaring Brook Nature Center (70 Gracey Rd).

7/23

Manchester | Matt Matthews Magic Show | 11 AM - Free children's magic show performance at Wickham Park (1329 Middle Tpke).

7/24

Plainville | Summer Fun Fest | 5:30 PM - Carnival rides, food, and fun (7 Northwest Dr). Join the Fun

Suffield | Outdoor Movies on the Green: Top Gun | 8:30 PM - Free family movie night under the stars at Suffield On The Green (1 N Main St).

7/26

East Hartford | Pollinator Awareness Event | 12-4 PM - Learn about bees, butterflies, and gardening plus vendors, hands-on activities and more at DePietro Park (396 Forbes St).

Hartford | Shark Week | 10 AM–4 PM | ($) - Explore sharks, live science, scavenger hunts, giveaways and ocean-sized fun at the CT Science Center Duh dun duh dun (Runs July 26- Aug 1)