With Thanksgiving and the holiday season creeping up, it felt like the right time to shine a light on a Hartford nonprofit that’s quietly doing big things: Chrysalis Center. They help folks living in poverty, veterans, young adults, and families who are dealing with mental health challenges, addiction, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, or re-entering the community after incarceration actually get back on their feet with housing, job training, and community-based support.

They’re also a major force in the fight against food insecurity through programs like their Food Hub and Freshplace pantry, which focus on getting fresh, real food; not just shelf-stable leftovers - to people who need it most. If you’re thinking about where to direct some gratitude, time, or resources this season, Chrysalis Center is a very Hartford way to give back.

Know a well deserving non-profit in the area that deserves a shout-out? Reach out and let me know!

I wanted to test something out this week and started digging for cheap flight deals - because let’s be honest, it’s getting cold and half of us are one frost advisory away from fleeing South.

From Hartford to Orlando, FL for 98 bucks* roundtrip, in of end January for an extended weekend. See the deal!

From Hartford to Charleston,SC for 93 bucks* roundtrip, in end of January for an extended weekend. See the deal!

***Price shown above is accurate as of the time this newsletter was sent.

Hartford County’s inner book nerd is clocking in for a full shift at the Connecticut Book Festival, where more than 50 local authors take over the West Hartford Conference Center (50 S Main St) Saturday November 22nd from 10AM-4PM. It’s basically Comic-Con for people who argue about paperbacks vs. Kindle: children’s books, sci-fi, horror, romance, literary fiction, and non-fiction all crammed under one very polite roof. Admission? Free. Parking? Free. The real damage happens when you realize signed books make dangerously good gifts and you’re one tote bag away from needing a new bookshelf. And if you’re an author, remember: CT Authors and Publishers Association runs the show. Heads-up - if someone in the comments says “DM me to secure your table,” that’s your cue to slam the report button, not your credit card.

🛎️ The Beehive Mercantile is officially open, and it’s a vintage-treasure, handmade-crafts, locally-made goldmine packed under one roof at 1141 Stanley Street, New Britain.

Enfield | Pottery Wheel Workshop | 6-8PM $ - Hands-on wheel throwing at Kil'n It Pottery Studio (610 Enfield St). Center 2 pounds of clay, learn the basics of throwing a bowl, vase, cup, or planter, then come back in two weeks to glaze it - firing and return visit are included. Ages 8+ welcome, BYO drinks for 21+ (yes, wine is allowed). Register

Manchester | The Rich Guzzi Comedy Hypnosis Show (21+) | 7PM $ - The Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr) turns your friends into the main event as Rich Guzzi blends stand-up with live hypnosis. Expect wild onstage antics, questionable dance moves, and “did that really happen?” stories for days. Info & Tix

Simsbury | Nutrition Parent Ed: Raising Better Eaters | 8:30-9:45AM - Cobb School Montessori (112 Sand Hill Rd) hosts pediatric dietitian Sarah Ladden for a crash course in raising kids who don’t live on empty carbs and meltdown energy. Learn how to ditch mealtime battles, prioritize what actually matters, and feed with confidence. Free, registration required. More Info & Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ East Hartford - Carmine’s Bar & Grill | Jovan Alexandre Trio (Jazz) | 7:30PM
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | KING 810 | 8PM $
⬢ Rocky Hill - Rocky Hill Library | Joe Flood Sings Bob Dylan | 6PM

Hartford | Ninja Kidz Live: Infinite Possibilities | 7:30PM $ - High-flying flips, stunts, and YouTube-famous ninja chaos at The Bushnell (166 Capitol Ave). All-ages arena show where the kids lose their minds and you lose your voice cheering. Tix

Milldale | Boot Scootin’ Brew - Line Dancing for Beginners | 6-9PM $ - Doors at 6, line dancing at 7 at Kinsmen Brewing Co. (409 Canal St). Country line-dance class, Sauced bites, and just enough liquid courage to two-step without stomping your neighbor. Register

Manchester | Puff N Paint | 6-8PM $ - BYO puff, grab a pint, and paint at Elicit Brewing Co (165 Adams St). Guided canvas night with supplies, good vibes, and zero judgment if your “happy trees” look a little hazy. Tix

Manchester | Wicked: For Good Early Access Screening Fundraiser | 8-10:30PM $ - See Wicked: For Good early at Cinemark Buckland Hills 18 + IMAX (99 Redstone Rd). One-night-only Opera House Players fundraiser with doors at 7:30PM, no trailers, and bragging rights for seeing it before everyone else. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Black-Eyed Sally’s | Tyler Sherman & Payton Edwards Jazz | 7PM
⬢ Hartford - The Brownstone | Marc Aposolides - Eddie Savile - Jon Berman - Lee Totten | 6:30PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Son De Aqui Latin Jazz | 6:30-9:30PM

Manchester | The Listening Room Acoustic Open Mic | 6:30-9PM - 3rd Thursday open mic at The Galleries@WORK_SPACE (903 Main St). Doors open at 6:30PM for sign-ups, then 7-9PM you get two songs or ten minutes to spill your music, poetry, or stories to a friendly room. Free to attend, donations welcome, and BYO snacks while you pretend you’re just there to “support the arts” and not secretly workshop your breakup song.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Bristol - The Carousel Museum | Al Fenton Big Band | 6:15-8:15PM $

Avon | Candlelight Holiday Stroll 2025 | 5-8PM - Cozy night shopping at Farmington Valley Arts Center (25 Arts Center Ln). Stroll candlelit walkways, pop into 18 artist studios and two galleries, and knock out your holiday list with handmade, hyper-local gifts- free & fun for all.

Hartford | Glow Hartford | 4-9PM $ - Opening night of Glow Hartford at the Connecticut Convention Center (100 Columbus Blvd). Wander massive indoor light gardens, help Santa on his Sleigh Adventure scavenger hunt, ride the Glow-comotive train, and hit the holiday market for food, drinks, and gifts. It’s a full-on winter fever dream. Info & Tix

Hartford | Hot Chocolate Soul | 8-10:30PM $ - Music, comedy, and poetry collide at The Bushnell’s Autorino Great Hall (166 Capitol Ave). June Archer’s ultimate performance showcase brings vocalists, spoken-word killers, and a live band for a night that feels like spiked cocoa for your soul. Passes

West Hartford | House Music Party w/ DJ Soul Selektah | 10PM-1:45AM - Monthly house throwdown at Smoke Public House (147 Park Rd). DJ Soul Selektah plus guests spin new house, tech, deep, Afro, and classics, come to party, come to sweat, and pretend this absolutely counts as your gym session.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Berlin - Casa Mia at The Hawthorne | Signature Band | 7PM
⬢ East Granby - Almost Famous Brewing | Face Down | 7-10PM
⬢ Glastonbury - Rooftop 120 | The Savage Brothers | 8PM
⬢ Hartford - Black-Eyed Sally’s | Sister Funk | 8-11PM
⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | The Cast of Beatlemania (Beatles Tribute) | 8PM $
⬢ Manchester - The Hungry Tiger | Blue Mountain Haze | 9PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | The Funky 4 | 5:30PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | Righteous Continental | 7PM
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | Seconds Out (Genesis Tribute) | 8PM $

Berlin | Holiday Shop & Stroll | 9AM-2PM $ - Griswold Holiday Shop & Stroll takes over Griswold Elementary School (133 Heather Ln). $1 admission gets you into a maze of local vendors, raffle prizes, hair tinseling, caricatures, and even pro holiday photos - basically a one-stop shop for gifts, sugar highs, and school fundraising bragging rights.

Hartford | Wolf Pack Scout Night 2025 | 6PM $ - Cheer on the Hartford Wolf Pack at PeoplesBank Arena (1 Trumbull St) while Scouts flood the stands for a special themed night. Hockey, mascots, and a wall of neckerchiefs - it’s the kind of “family bonding” that comes with nachos and a jumbotron. Passes

South Windsor | Really Really Free Market | 8AM-12PM - Zero prices, maximum chaos at the South Windsor P&R Gym (350 Foster St). Bring what you don’t need, take what you do, and watch capitalism sit this one out while your neighbors restock closets for exactly $0.

West Hartford | Connecticut Book Festival 2025 | 10AM-4PM - A full day of page-turning at the West Hartford Conference Center (50 S Main St). Dozens of local authors, signings, panels, and enough new reads to destroy your “no more books” promise before lunch. Bonus - it’s free to get in.

Windsor Locks | Coats for Kids 2025 | 3-5PM - Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids drive at St. Robert Bellarmine Church (52 S Elm St). New winter coats go straight to local kids who need them, so you can feel good about doing something warm-hearted before the first real cold snap hits.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Berlin - The Truck Bar | The Savage Brothers Band | 8PM
⬢ Berlin - Casa Mia at The Hawthorne | Signature Band | 7PM
⬢ East Granby - Almost Famous Brewing | Whiskey Boulevard | 7-10 $
⬢ Hartford - Black-Eyed Sally’s | Dawgs Road to Memphis | 8PM
⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | Friends Of The Brothers | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | Queenryche | 7PM $
⬢ Manchester - Murphy’s Pub | The Atomic Dogs | 8PM
⬢ Southington - Black Stone Irish Pub | Wrathchild (Iron Maiden Tribute) | 9PM-12:30AM
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | I Will Follow (U2 Tribute) | 7PM $
⬢ Windsor Locks - Polish American Club | Soul Sound Revue | 6-10:30PM $

Bristol | Pick & Paint Your Own Christmas Tree Ceramic Workshop | 2-4:30PM $ - Hands-on holiday craft time at The Bristol Bazaar (67 Race St). Pick your style of ceramic tree; from classic 14" evergreens to gnome trees and trucks with trees, then load it up with paints, glitter, and toppers. Bring friends or roll solo for a low-stress, super-festive afternoon. More Info

Hartford | Instantiations | 2:30PM $ - Live improvised jazz at Real Art Ways (56 Arbor St), where Joe Morris curates a rotating crew of heavy-hitting musicians and builds the whole show in real time. This performance features Rob Brown (alto sax/flute), Anna Webber (tenor sax/flute), Matthew Rousseau (drums), and Joe Morris on bass and compositions; no two sets are ever the same, which is the whole point.

Hartford | UConn Men’s Basketball vs Bryant | 6PM $ - Game night at PeoplesBank Arena (1 Civic Center Plaza) as the Huskies take on Bryant. Expect loud student sections, big-time Big East energy, and tickets starting around the high-twenties if you want in on the action. Get Passes

Southington | Frosty’s Christmas Festival | 9AM-4PM $ - Massive indoor holiday market at Aqua Turf Club (556 Mulberry St) with 170+ artisans, crafters, and food vendors plus 3,000 shoppers cycling through. Admission is $5 for adults (kids 16 and under are free), so it’s an easy way to crush your gift list, eat your way down the aisles.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ East Granby - Almost Famous Brewing | Six Pack of Blues | 2:30-5:30PM
⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on The Hill | A-A-Ron | 2PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Stoltz & Co Blues | 5:30PM
⬢ Windsor Locks - Luppoleto Brewing | Jeff Blaney | 3-5PM

North Granby | Thanksgiving Farmers Market | 1-7PM $ - Load up your Thanksgiving table with farm-fresh veggies, pies, and all the fixings at Lost Acres Vineyard (80 Lost Acres Rd). Stroll the vines, shop local farms, sip a glass of wine, and feel smug knowing nothing on your table came from the freezer aisle.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Parkville Market | Nat Reeves Jazz | 6:30PM