How we doing Hartford County!?

Today is October 6, aka National Noodle Day 🍝. I'm taking that as a personal invitation, especially with our pasta class one week from tonight (more on that below). And oh boy did I hit the jackpot...

Where's the best plate of pasta in the county? Hit reply and tell me. I'm building a list. Also don’t forget our pasta making class next week if you always wanted to learn the craft.

Plenty to cover this week, so let’s jump in!

-Todd DiGiovanni

SUBSCRIBE | FOLLOW | PARTNER

Your coffee picks last week got me thinking: we should meet up and try one together. I’m thinking every other Saturday at 10 AM, starting October 17, with no ticket needed; vote yes and we’ll add you to the list for the café and any updates.

The trees don’t all turn on the same weekend, so we rounded up 24 Hartford County hikes, drives, and overlooks, with stroller and dog notes to help you pick a spot. Color can shift with the weather, so check the live report before you go, then find your next outing in our Fall Foliage Guide →.

I stopped by Taste of Xi’an (yea yea I know it’s in Cromwell not Hartford County but I wanted to share the love with you), a small spot with just a few tables that mostly does takeout, and got the spicy braised beef hand-pulled noodles aka Biang Biang Mian.

Holy mackerel. The noodles are handmade and had that perfect chewy texture, the beef was incredibly tender, and all those flavors came together into a straight-up flavor explosion. The spicy sauce had a great kick, and every bite was better than the last.

The two women working there were also incredibly kind and welcoming. There was a bit of a language barrier, but Google Translate came through and we figured it out.

Small place, great people, handmade noodles, and seriously good food. If you’re a noodle person, put this one on your list.

Next week we’re getting our hands floury at More Italian Pasta Lab for a hands-on Cavatelli class, Bolognese, chocolate cake, and plenty of carbs. 🍝 12 spots left, so if you’ve been thinking about joining us, grab your spot here

New BUZZWORD and BUZZEYE games just dropped, and today’s BUZZLE is live too, so play now and get on the leaderboard!

HOW IT WORKS:

▲ Take a quick quiz about what you like to eat, what you’re into, and the kind of people you’d like to meet. Nothing complicated.

▲ Get matched with five other people and head to dinner as a table of six.

▲ Find out where you’re going the morning of the dinner. We’ll send you the restaurant and the details.

▲ Keep the night going if you’d like. During dinner, we’ll text everyone the secret afterparty spot. If you’re full and ready for the couch, we get it.

Hartford hockey is back. The Wolf Pack open their home schedule against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 6 PM at PeoplesBank Arena.

The Pack have been playing in Hartford since 1997, and this is their 30th season. They’re also the New York Rangers’ AHL team, so you could see a future NHL player before he makes it to the big stage. Hockey fan or first-timer, opening night is a good excuse to get downtown, grab a seat, and get loud.

Buying in Connecticut? Price the insurance before you fall for the house. Get quotes, especially if the roof or wiring is older. Compare the annual premium, deductible, and replacement cost coverage, not just the monthly payment. Then check flood risk: standard homeowners policies generally exclude flooding, and sewer backup protection may cost extra. Send your quote to your lender early so the monthly cost doesn’t surprise you at closing. Ask Kimberly Joy how insurance affects your payment.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Loving Lucy: a 36-pound social butterfly who’s up for a hike, a game of fetch, and a couch cuddle afterward.

🏡House of the week: This 1862 farmhouse has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and 2,671 sq ft on more than three acres. There’s a screened porch, a barn, and McLean Game Refuge just beyond the backyard. Check it out!

🔭Sky report: The Draconid meteor shower peaks after dark on Thursday (10/8), with little moonlight to get in the way. Find a dark spot and watch for a few slow shooting stars. Saturn is also near its brightest of the year and visible for much of the night.

Pick-your-own is still going strong, and nothing pairs better with a foliage drive than a bag of apples. Our apple orchard guide has every farm in the county. Go picking!

Bloomfield | Prison Arts Program: Art Exhibition & Reception | 4PM - An exhibition and opening reception of work from the Prison Arts Program at Prosser Library. Explore!

Glastonbury | 3rd Annual Shop for a Cause | 5:30PM - Shop, sip, dine, and make a difference at our 3rd Annual Shop for a Cause , brought to you by Cups for a Cause DV and Cotton Hollow Kitchen , with proceeds benefiting Interval House. Join in!

Hartford | A Conversation with Trevor Noah | 3:30PM | ($) - The comedian and former Daily Show host takes the stage for a live conversation at The Bushnell. Laugh!

Bristol | Fall Themed Beaded Tree of Life Suncatcher Workshop | 5:30PM - Join us in person for a fun and creative workshop at The Bristol Bazaar. Create!

Burlington | Sunset Screening: Outdoor Movie Night | 7:30PM - Bring a blanket for a free outdoor movie at sunset on the Burlington Public Library lawn. Play!

Manchester | Cider and Spice Dinner Buffet by Catering Management | 7PM - Join us for a cozy Cider and Spice Dinner Buffet, packed with tasty bites and warm vibes! at Culinary Arts Center Dining Room L294. Sip!

Burlington | Pumpkin Paint & Sparkle at The B. Hive - Celebrate the season with a creative twist at The B. Hive to paint and bedazzle a ceramic pumpkin jar, with all supplies included. Create!

Glastonbury | The Boomers | 6PM - Kick back with great food, drinks, and live music by The Boomers , one of Connecticut’s favorite duos for over 20 years at Cotton Hollow Kitchen. Listen!

Hartford | Little Bear Ridge Road | 3:30PM | ($) - A new play opens the fall season at TheaterWorks at TheaterWorks Hartford. Laugh!

Hartford | The Hartford Pancakes & Booze Art Show | 8PM - A hundred-plus local artists, a body-paint station and an all-you-can-eat pancake bar. Explore!

Manchester | Date Night Downtown: Glass Painting | 6:15PM - Choose from a variety of glasses and designs, leave with two one-of-a-kind works of art! at Audacity British Style Pub. Sip!

Newington | Brown Bag it With a Presentation: Creatures of the Sea | 12PM - Bring your bagged lunch and join Vicky Morley, a retired professor from CCSU to explore underwater creatures of the sea at Newington Public Library. Learn!

Wethersfield | SPECIAL EVENT | Turning the Cards: Tarot, Intuition & New Beginnings | 7PM | ($) - On a waning crescent evening, Karen Riccio demystifies the Major and Minor Arcana in a workshop that keeps the practice at WDS Museum. Create!

Bristol | Broken Jewelry Art Workshop | 6PM - Join a hands-on experience focused on the art of assemblage and meticulously arranging broken jewelry and decorative beads into a stunning composition at The Bristol Bazaar. Create!

Glastonbury | Comedy Night at Crystal Ridge WInery | 7PM - Laugh out loud and sip fine wine at Comedy Night at Crystal Ridge Winery—fun vibes guaranteed! Laugh!

Hartford | Dracula | 7:30PM | ($) - Hartford Stage sinks its teeth into the Halloween season with a fresh, fast-moving take on Bram Stoker's Dracula. Laugh!

Hartford | Yacht Lobsters | 8PM | ($) - A smooth-sailing tribute to the breezy 'yacht rock' hits of the '70s and '80s at Infinity Music Hall. Listen!

Plainville | Live Standup Comedy featuring headliner Liz Glazer! | 8PM - Rescheduling our show from this summer, from Netflix's hit show "Funny AF" headliner Liz Glazer comes to Transcend Beer Crafters! Laugh!

South Windsor | Starry Nights in Nowashe Village | 7PM - Experience an evening of guided stargazing with physicist James O'Brien at Nowashe Village. Get outside!

West Hartford | Brian Jarvis "Chapters" EP Release with Canyon | 7PM - Brian Jarvis celebrates the release of his "Chapters" EP with a full-band show at The Green Room inside New Park Brewing. Listen!

Bristol | An Evening of Hocus Pocus: A Spelltacular Cabaret | 7PM | ($) - The Sanderson Sisters land in Bristol for a Halloween cabaret at the Rockwell Theater. Laugh!

Canton | AFFINITY – A Tribute to Journey | 8PM - AFFINITY brings the iconic sounds of Journey to life with a passionate tribute performance at The Rooftop in Canton. Listen!

Hartford | Eversource Hartford Marathon | 7:55AM - The Eversource Hartford Marathon, half and 5K take over downtown — run it or cheer from Bushnell Park at Connecticut State Capitol. Watch!

Rocky Hill | CT Orchid Society Orchid Harvest Show & Sale - The Connecticut Orchid Society's annual Orchid Harvest Show & Sale returns to the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel in Rocky Hill. Play!

West Hartford | Ricci’s Pop The Balloon Comedy series | 8:30PM - The audience controls the comedy! at The Elbow Room. Laugh!

Canton | Awesome Autumn | 1:00PM - Fall-themed nature fun for families at Roaring Brook Nature Center. Get outside!

Hartford | Immersive Art Fest | 12PM - Immersive Art Fest transforms the Bushnell with WORLDS BEYOND: astranova, digital art installations, live music and dance, backstage tours, hands-on workshops, interactive exhibits, and plenty of ways to explore. Celebrate!

Manchester | REAL LOVE: A Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Tribute | 4PM - Live music at Cheney Hall. Listen!

Windsor | Artisan Craft Fair | 10AM - 4PM - Discover unique handmade goods and support local artisans at the Windsor Artisan Craft Fair on Town Green. Shop!

Manchester | Hartford Jazz Orchestra Live Music Every Monday | 7:30PM - Experience the Hartford Jazz Orchestra's weekly Monday night performances at Elicit Brewing Company. Listen!

Simsbury | Wicked Strange New England with Jeff Belanger | 6:30PM - Based on Jeff’s latest book, Wicked Strange: Your Guide to Ghosts, Monsters, Oddities, and Urban Legends from New England, at Simsbury Public Library. Learn!

10/7

Newington | P is for Pumpkin Culinary Class for Kids | 6PM - Come join us for pumpkin recipes! at Stew Leonard's of Newington. Create!

10/10

Farmington | Nature Explorers @ the Farmington Land Trust | 11AM - This program is geared toward children in grades K-3, but siblings of all ages are welcome. Play!

10/11

Hartford | Sea Tea Improv Family Show | 2PM | ($) - All-ages comedy for kids, teens and adults from Hartford's professional improv troupe ($10 / $5). Play!

That’s a wrap for this week’s Hart Co Buzz. If you enjoyed Hart Co Buzz then please share with friends and family who will also benefit from staying in the loop with local happenings. See you next week!

Talk soon,

Todd