🏡 South Windsor’s 06074 just cracked the top 10 hottest ZIP codes in the U.S., landing at No. 9 on Realtor.com’s 2025 list - homes are flying off the market fast! Check out the full list!

🚋 East Windsor’s Connecticut Trolley Museum just landed $750,000 in federal funding to overhaul its visitor center, fix drainage, boost accessibility and parking - making history come alive even smoother!

🌟 A fierce fight is brewing: Boston’s $325 million bid to buy (and relocate) the Connecticut Sun faces stiff competition from a homegrown Hartford bid aimed at keeping the team in-state.

As summer hits the homestretch, I ran Hartford County end-to-end and pulled a tight hit list of local producers - fresh fruit, veg, pasture-raised meats, raw milk, the good stuff. These are the spots locals actually hit (and yep, I checked they’re open), not just pretty pins on Google. Missed your favorite? Tell me and I’ll spin up a bigger, always-updated blog page.

Deercrest Farm | 3499 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury, CT 06033 | Long-running roadside stand with daily-picked veggies and seasonal fruit - easy grab-and-go off Hebron Ave. (Thanks for the suggestion from Karen!)

Belltown Hill Orchards | 483 Matson Hill Rd, South Glastonbury, CT 06073 | Big, bustling market + bakery - pies, cider, and PYO when it’s in season.

Rosedale Farms & Vineyards | 25 East Weatogue St, Simsbury, CT 06070 | Farm stand meets vineyard, fresh produce with a side of weekend wine vibes.

Brown’s Harvest | 1911 Poquonock Ave, Windsor, CT 06095 | Sunflowers to sweet corn, with a lively stand running multiple days a week.

Easy Pickin’s Orchard | 46 Bailey Rd, Enfield, CT 06082 | Low-key gem for PYO and a handy stand - blueberries, flowers, and more in season.

Sub Edge Farm | 199 Town Farm Rd, Farmington, CT 06032 | Regenerative veggies, pasture-raised meats, and eggs in a polished farm shop.

Lost Acres Orchard | 130 Lost Acres Rd, North Granby, CT 06060 | Old-school orchard with a clutch bakery - pies, quiche, soups, and seasonal fruit.

Fair Weather Growers | 1146 Cromwell Ave, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 | Big farm market (May-Dec) slinging veggies, plants, ice cream, and fall fest fun.

Bordua Farms | 1528 Main St, South Windsor, CT 06074 | River-valley produce at a daily-open stand - plus PYO flowers when they’re popping.

Rogers Orchards - Shuttle Meadow Farm | 336 Long Bottom Rd, Southington, CT 06489 | Heritage orchard with a deep bench of apples and a busy farm store.

🌯 Tequila Rio: Mexican Cantina is back at 100 Great Meadow Rd in Wethersfield, sister to River, serving dinner, brunch, happy hour, and serious cocktails.

☕ Coffeefixct is now open at 945 Silas Deane Hwy in Wethersfield - locally owned, pouring specialty coffee with in-house bakes (GF options), baked gelato paninis, iced fruit crème, and solid sandwiches.

🎉 Nova Adventure Park is now open at 940 Silver Lane in East Hartford - a 70,000 sq ft mega-playground with trampolines, zipline, ropes course, hoops, toddler court, playgrounds, obstacle course, soccer, and a “Leap of Faith,” plus 12 themed party rooms.

This was last week’s word scramble answer: Bulkeley Bridge. Nine granite arches of flex stretching about 1,192 feet across the Connecticut River, started in 1903, finished in 1908, and built the old-school way, hand-fitted stone blocks you could park a truck on. It opened as the Hartford Bridge, then in 1922 took the name of Morgan G. Bulkeley (Hartford mayor, CT governor, U.S. senator, and general overachiever).

Hartford went full City Beautiful for its river approaches, and the bridge paid it back by carrying the region for decades - the only highway crossing in town until 1942. In 1964 they widened it to eight lanes, and today it still hauls I-84/US-6/US-44 between Hartford and East Hartford. A century on, it’s still one of the country’s biggest stone-arch workhorses; historic bones, modern hustle.

Manchester | Music Bingo | 6:30-8PM - Bingo meets music clips at Elicit Brewing Co. (165 Adams St); free to play, prizes if you slay.

Windsor | Trivia Night | 6-8PM - Team up at Dudleytown Brewing Co. (1001 Day Hill Rd); craft pours + brain flex = tipsy bragging rights.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Bristol - Rockwell Park | Ace & Friends (Grateful Dead Tribute) | 6:30PM
⬢ Enfield - Higgins Park Band Shell | Diva & The Playboys | 7PM
⬢ Hartford - State House Square | Charlotte Roth | 12-1PM
⬢ Windsor Locks - Veterans Memorial Park | The 860 | 7-8:30PM

Hartford | Yoga Flow on the River | 6-7PM - Sunset vinyasa at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza (300 Columbus Blvd); BYO mat + water. All levels welcome.

West Hartford | Bonsai Workshop | 6:30-8:30PM $ - Make tiny trees while learning the fundamental skills at WeHa Brewing & Roasting Co. (141 Shield St). Gain Access

Weatogue | Open Mic + Jam | 6-9PM - Take the stage at Talcott Mountain Collective (140 Nod Rd); 6:00 Open Mic (15-min slots), 7:30 Michael Sasportas, 8:15 Open Jam.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Arch St Tavern | BooYah Plays the 70’s | 9PM $
⬢ Hartford - State House Square | Ingrid Gibson | 12-1PM
⬢ Manchester - Wickham Park (Cabin Garden) | Sound Pipers Band | 6PM
⬢ New Britain - Walnut Hill Park | Still Kickin’ & the Big City Horns | 7-9PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey Grill & Bar | Abreu Latin Jazz ft. William Mendoz | 6-10PM
⬢ Southington - Town Green | Eddie Forman Orchestra (Polka) | 7-9PM

Manchester | Comic: Ben Brainard | 7PM $ - The “States at the Table” guy hits Hartford Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr). Passes

Manchester | Puff & Paint | 6-8PM $ - Elicit Brewing (165 Adams St): paint, puff, and call it “art.” Tix

Hartford | Soul of the Drum: Afro-Latino House Block Party | 5-9PM - Pratt Street turns into a dance floor with nonstop Afro-Latino house from Mr. Realistic (WRTC 89.3FM/MyHouseRadioFM) and NYC legend Danny “Buddah” Morales; tropical percussion, timeless house anthems, family-friendly vibes.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Avon - Town Green | The Tradesmen | 6-8PM
⬢ Broad Brook - East Windsor Park | Nightshift | 6:30-8:30PM
⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on the Hill | KT Lay | 4:30-7:30PM
⬢ Hartford - Parkville Market | Acoustic Beat | 6-9PM
⬢ Hartford - Butler-McCook House | Dan Pugach Nonet ft. Nicole Zuraitis | 6-8PM $
⬢ Manchester - Center Memorial Park | Feedback | 6-8PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey Grill & Bar | Mike Childs Jazz | 6-9:15PM
⬢ Vernon - Rocking Horse Bar & Grill | The Best of Led Zeppelin | 7PM

Hartford | Pratt Street Night Market | 5-8PM - Shop, snack, and stroll under the string lights on Pratt Street (Pratt St). It’s like Etsy threw a block party downtown. Vendors rotate weekly.

Manchester | Comic: Gabriel Rutledge | 7PM $ - National headliner, high laughs-per-minute at The Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr). Secure Entry

New Britain | Food Truck Festival (8/15-8/17) | 5-9PM - 30+ trucks, free entry + parking, and the fried-dough perfume of champions at New Britain Bees Stadium (230 John Karbonic Way); show up hungry, leave victorious. More Info

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - The Bushnell | Hot Chocolate Soul | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - Pratt Street Historic District | Jeremy Haddad & Illuminous | 5:30-7:30PM
⬢ Manchester - Elicit Brewing Co. | Bad Habit | 9PM

Bristol | Rockwell Park Summer Festival | 10AM-6PM - Free, full-throttle community day at Rockwell Park (238 Jacobs St): 180+ vendors, 12 bands on 2 stages, 14 food trucks, Kids Zone, arts & crafts. Show up hungry and wander happy.

Farmington | Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides | 6-8PM $ - Float over Hill-Stead’s lawn (35 Mountain Rd). Monet would approve; your camera roll definitely will. Secure your spot

Hartford | Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival | 8AM-4PM - Races, eats, and culture on the river at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza (300 Columbus Blvd). Family-friendly and free. More Info

New Britain | Cornhole Tournament | 12PM - Bags fly at Martha Hart Park (135 Corbin Ave). Grab a partner, toss with some swagger, win prize money. More Info

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Bloomfield - Back East Brewing | Stealhead | 5-8PM
⬢ East Granby - Almost Famous Brewing | Just Go With It | 7-10PM
⬢ Hartford - Arch St Tavern | Contrast ft. Terraphorm, J Stubbs & J-Blu | 10PM $
⬢ Hartford - Infinity Hall | Iris DeMent w/ Ana Egge | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | Barrington Levy | 8PM $
⬢ Manchester - Ryan’s Sports Bar & Grill | Cliffside Push Back (Phish Tribute) | 9:30PM

Southington | Pierogi Palooza | 1-7PM - Fourth annual feast at Polish Plate (1095 West St): unique pierogi fillings, Polish beer & wine, live music, and yard games. Inside/outside stations + a food trailer slinging pierogi tacos, nachos, and quesadillas - less line time, more pierogi & piwo time.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | Ozomatli | 8PM $
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey Grill & Bar | Stoltz & Co | 5:30-8PM
⬢ Southington - Kinsmen Brewing Co. | Hatfield | 3-6PM

East Hartford | Farmers Market Pop-Up | 3-5PM - Fresh-picked produce + pop-up vibes at Gorman Park (280 May Rd); quick shop, big flavor.

Hartford | Movie Night: The Wild Robot | 5-7:30PM - Free indoor screening by the Marketron at Parkville Market (1400 Park St); grab dinner before 8 - kids eat free with an adult entrée.