How we doing Hartford County!?
Today is July 28, aka National Milk Chocolate Day, which feels like a perfectly reasonable excuse to eat dessert before dinner. We rounded up a list of local chocolatiers across Hartford County where you can get your fix. Check out the full list below 👇.
In Today’s Hart Co Buzz:
Local Chocolate Goodies
Community Spotlight: Gather55
Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival
Buzz & Tell
Local Events
Let’s dive in!
-Todd DiGiovanni
HOUSEKEEPING:
🍽️ Nearly 100 people had a great time at last week’s Dinner Club, but we’ll own it: the after-party missed the mark, and we’re already working to make next month’s dinner in Avon better from start to finish.
🍳 I’m working on getting a cooking class event on the books. I’ll keep you posted once the details are locked in!
LOCAL CHOCOLATE
Chokaico Craft Chocolate | Avon: A true bean-to-bar chocolatier making small-batch chocolate from cacao beans, along with bars, bonbons and seasonal creations.
Divine Treasures | Manchester: Handcrafted vegan and gluten-free chocolates made with organic dark chocolate, including truffles, caramels, bark and seasonal treats.
Choccodiva Confections | West Hartford: A Brazilian-inspired chocolatier known for handmade brigadeiros, artisan chocolates, cakes and specialty desserts.
Storyline Chocolates | Rocky Hill: A small-batch chocolatier creating handcrafted chocolate bars paired with original stories and tasting experiences. Available through online ordering, local delivery and special events.
Rosie’s Royal Chocolates | Southington: A family-run chocolatier making handmade chocolates, fudge, caramels, peanut butter cups and plenty of chocolate-covered creations.
Snelgrove’s Chocolatier & Florist | Enfield: A longtime local shop making chocolates in-house, including truffles, caramels, turtles, fudge, bark and boxed assortments.
it! Candy | Bristol: A local candy maker specializing in handmade chocolate and peanut butter candies, dipped pretzels, bark, popcorn and customizable treats.
La Famiglia Tedesco | Bristol: A small local maker producing chocolate from cacao beans, along with traditional confections and baked goods. Find them inside The Bristol Bazaar.
🌟 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: GATHER55
Gather55 is the kind of restaurant that makes dinner taste a little better because every meal helps someone else eat, too. Run by Hands On Hartford, the daytime café serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday from 9 AM–2 PM, welcoming guests to pay what they can or volunteer for a meal. At night, it becomes a full-service restaurant Wednesday through Saturday from 5–8:30 PM, with revenue helping sustain that daytime mission.
This August, acclaimed chef, Army veteran and Chopped champion Roshara “Chef Ro” Sanders takes over the guest-chef menu with a Pan-American journey inspired by memory, migration and resilience. Her menu is available all month, and she’ll be in the kitchen on Wednesday, August 12.
Good food, a powerful story and a seat at the table for everyone. Find Gather55 at 55 Bartholomew Avenue in Hartford.
🌟 Know someone or an organization making Hartford County better? Keep those Community Spotlight nominations coming, and yes, nominating yourself is completely fair game.
HART CO TRIVIA🤔
What is Connecticut’s official state insect?
CREDIT SCORE MYTH: THE “30-DAY BOOST”
There’s no trick that guarantees a score jump in 30 days. But if you’re preparing to buy a home, the right moves can matter.
Paying down card balances may lower reported credit utilization after the issuer sends the new balance to the credit bureaus. Reporting timing varies, so your payment due date is not necessarily the reporting date. You do not need to carry a balance or pay interest to build credit.
Review your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute legitimate errors. The score in your banking app may not be the mortgage score a lender uses.
Connecticut buyers should also ask about CHFA’s Time To Own program. As of July 20, 2026, $23.4 million remained available, with eligible buyers able to receive up to $25,000 in forgivable assistance.
Before closing cards or opening new credit, contact Kimberly Joy at PrimeLending for a mortgage-specific game plan.
FEATURED EVENT
Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival
The free festival returns Saturday, August 1, from 1–8:30 PM with authentic island food, icy drinks, live music, colorful costumes, dancing and family-friendly activities along the Connecticut River. It is basically a Caribbean vacation without the airfare. Find the party at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford.
BUZZ & TELL
🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Gizmo, a ridiculously cute, people-loving chinchilla who lives for chin scratches, gentle pets and finding a forever family willing to spoil him properly.
🏡House of the week: This custom ridgeline ranch serves up panoramic Farmington Valley views, a glimpse of the Hartford skyline and serious breathing room on 7.7 private acres. Inside, you’ll find 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 4,627 square feet, plus two fireplaces, a sunroom and a former indoor pool hiding beneath. Check it out!
🔭Sky report: The Buck Moon arrives Wednesday (7/29), right as two meteor showers hit their late-July peak. Bright moonlight will hide most of the faint streaks, but the Alpha Capricornids can still produce a slow, bright fireball worth losing a little sleep over. Your best shot is between 2 a.m. and dawn on July 30 or 31, facing south with the moon blocked by a tree or building.
BRIEF BITES
🍦 Mr. P’s Frozen Treats opened, serving up 39 hard ice cream flavors, soft serve, shakes, sundaes and P-Storms at 120 North Main Street, Bristol.
📚 Books & Brushes opened its permanent home in Hartford, bringing books, art, story times, crafts and creative community programming together at 1200 Albany Avenue inside The Artists Collective.
🍝 MORE Italian Pasta Lab opened its second location July 27, bringing fresh pasta and Italian favorites to 63 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury.
🍕 The Brownstone begins its soft opening July 28, serving up a new dining option at 7 South Main Street, West Hartford.
BEE LINE EVENTS
TUESDAY (7/28)
Bristol | Rockin Out at Rockwell: Still Pickin' | 6:30 PM - Bluegrass and country vibes at the summer concert series in Rockwell Park (63 Dutton Ave, Bristol).
Enfield | Summer Concert Series: The Yacht Rock Band | 7 PM - Smooth 70s and 80s hits on the Enfield Town Green (71 N Main St, Enfield).
Hartford | Billy Strings | 7:30 PM | ($) - Grammy-winning bluegrass phenom brings his virtuoso guitar to Hartford. Get Tickets
Hartford | Yard Goats vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats | 7:10 PM | ($) - Minor league baseball, family fun and ballpark entertainment at Dunkin’ Park (1214 Main St). Get Tickets (Daily through 8/2)
Manchester | MARC Summer Concert: Shaded Soul Band | 6:30 PM - R&B and soul band performs at the outdoor summer series (151 Sheldon Rd, Manchester).
Manchester | Lighted Sea Glass Trees/Wreaths | 6 PM | ($) - Craft glowing sea glass art at Elicit Brewing Co. (165 Adams St, Manchester). Get Crafty
WEDNESDAY (7/29)
Berlin | Sushi Making Class | 6:30 PM | ($) - Roll your own sushi while enjoying craft beer at Coles Road Brewing (817 Farmington Ave, Berlin). Get Cooking
Southington | Bon Jovi Night | 7 PM - Tribute band rocks the Southington Summer Concert Series on the Town Green.
Southington | Music Bingo at Hawk's Landing | 6:30 PM - Test your music knowledge at this fun country club bingo night (201 Pattonwood Dr, Southington).
Suffield | Upcycled Tee Workshop | 6:30 PM | ($) - Transform old t-shirts into something new at this creative craft session (11 High St, Suffield). Get Crafty
West Hartford | Mass-Conn-Fusion | 6:30 PM - High-energy party band plays Elizabeth Park summer concert series (Prospect Ave, West Hartford).
THURSDAY (7/30)
Avon | Jazz Age Murder: Author Event | 2 PM | ($) - Carolyn Marie Wilkins discusses her Jazz Age mystery novel at Avon Library (281 Country Club Rd, Avon). Read On
East Hartford | Sounds of Summer: Soul Sound Revue | 6 PM - Meet the Mayor at this outdoor concert featuring Soul Sound Revue.
Enfield | Beginner's Forging: Shish Kabob Skewers | 3 PM - Learn blacksmithing basics and make your own skewers (183 Broadbrook Rd, Enfield). Make It
Hartford | Hip-Hop Night @ Parkville Market | 7-10 PM - DJs and live hip-hop at the food hall (1400 Park St, Hartford).
Newington | Silk City Jazz Summer Concert | 6:30 PM - Smooth jazz in the park (123 Garfield St, Newington).
Simsbury | Hand Dyed Silk Scarf Workshop | 6 PM | ($) - Create your own vibrant silk scarf using dye techniques (961 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury). Create Away
FRIDAY (7/31)
Berlin | 90's R&B Music Bingo | 6:30 PM | ($) - Test your 90s R&B knowledge at this nostalgic bingo night (2590 Berlin Tpke, Berlin). Play Along
Bristol | Neon Nights Float Night | 6-9 PM - Glow-in-the-dark fun at Rockwell Park pool (4 Park Hill St, Bristol). Jump In
Hartford | R&B Under the Stars | 7-11 PM - Soulful summer night of R&B at Parkville (1400 Park St, Hartford). Tune In
Hartford | Drake Bell | 8 PM | ($) - Pop-rock artist performs at The Webster (31 Webster St, Hartford). Get Tickets
Manchester | Mystic Dead | 9:30 PM | ($) - Grateful Dead tribute band jams at Ryan's Sports Bar (485 Hartford Rd, Manchester). Rock Out
New Britain | Art Happy Hour | 5:30 PM | ($) - Cocktails and creativity at the New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington St, New Britain). Create Away
Plainville | Ladies' Night Out: Pottery Painting | 6 PM | ($) - Paint pottery with friends at The Pottery Piazza (17 Farmington Ave, Plainville). Get Crafty
Simsbury | Electric Avenue: 80's MTV Experience | 7:30 PM | ($) - Totally tubular 80s tribute with Hartford Symphony at Simsbury Meadows (22 Iron Horse Blvd, Simsbury). Dance Away
West Hartford | I Petty the Fool (Tom Petty Tribute) | 8 PM | ($) - Tom Petty tribute rocks New Park Brewing (485 New Park Ave, West Hartford). Rock Out
SATURDAY (8/1)
Granby | The Provin Pines (Acoustic) | 6 PM - Local acoustic duo performs at The Bear's Den (18R Hartford Ave, Granby).
Hartford | Spooky Popcorn: Self-Help | 8 PM - Outdoor horror film screening at Constitution Plaza (3 Columbus Blvd, Hartford).
Milldale | DEAD SHOW: Jerry Garcia Birthday | 7 PM | ($) - Grateful Dead tribute celebrates Jerry's birthday at Kinsmen Brewing (409 Canal St, Milldale). Rock Out
South Glastonbury | Another Bad Decision Live | 4:30 PM - Rock band plays the outdoor Elks pavilion (98 Woodland St, South Glastonbury).
Enfield | Blueberry Bowl Wheel Workshop | 6 PM | ($) - Throw your own ceramic blueberry bowl at Kil'n It Pottery Studio (608 Enfield St, Enfield). Make It
Granby | LAFD Car Show | 10 AM - 2 PM - Classic cars, food & more at Salmon Brook Park (17 E Granby Rd, Granby).
Hartford | CONTRAST: Lenore, Glowworm, Pnuttt | 9:30 PM | ($) - Indie night at Arch Street Tavern (85 Arch St, Hartford). Catch the Show
Manchester | Floating Sound Bath | 6 PM | ($) - Meditative sound healing on a private saltwater pool in Manchester. Find Your Center
Newington | Living Art | 10:30 AM | ($) - Creative art experience (3277 Berlin Tpke, Newington). Create Away
Windsor | CT River & Roots: Colin McGovern | 2 PM - Live music celebrating Connecticut's river heritage (40 Mechanic St, Windsor).
SUNDAY (8/2)
Hartford | Summer Soulstice | 4-8 PM - Outdoor soul and R&B celebration on Pratt Street in downtown Hartford.
Simsbury | Candle Making: A Night in All White | 3 PM | ($) - Create custom candles at this elegant all-white themed workshop (926 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury). Make It
MONDAY (8/3)
South Windsor | Eli Terry Night at Turning Times | 4 PM - Paint pottery celebrating CT clockmaker Eli Terry (1735 Ellington Rd, South Windsor). Get Crafty
KID FRIENDLY
7/28
Avon | Learn to Write Your Name Like John Hancock | 3 PM - Kids learn colonial-era calligraphy and sign their name with a quill at Avon Library (281 Country Club Rd, Avon). Get Crafty
7/29
Canton | Butterfly Tea Party | 1-3:30 PM - Kids enjoy tea, treats, and butterflies at Roaring Brook Nature Center (70 Gracey Rd, Canton).
7/31
Manchester | Storytime with Author Heidi Rocha | 10:30 AM - Kids meet the author for a special reading at Lutz Children's Museum (247 S Main St, Manchester).
8/1
East Hartford | Summer Splash Party | 1-4 PM - Pool party fun at Lord Pool in Gorman Park (137 Mallard Dr, East Hartford).
Plainville | CT Clearinghouse Family Wellness Fair | 10 AM - 2 PM - Health resources, activities, and fun for the whole family (334 Farmington Ave, Plainville).
Rocky Hill | Dinosaur State Park Day | 10 AM–3 PM | Free day of Science activities, live animals, games, food and prehistoric family fun (400 West St).
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
