Last Thursday’s CT Buzz Dinner Club in Manchester was one of those “oh yeah…this is what being social is supposed to feel like” nights. I ended up at Hungry Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot with a group of awesome people who were genuinely pumped that something like this exists, and within five minutes we were all talking about how the internet has low-key been cooking everyone’s social skills (and not in the fun Korean BBQ way). None of us had ever done hot pot before, so we had this quick little learning curve moment where we went from “wait… do I put this meat in the hot pot or cooking plate now?” to acting like seasoned pros, the food started rolling and the conversation did too.

After dinner, most of us kept it going at Maggie McFly’s where we linked up with people from the other Dinner Club tables, including some repeat offenders from last month (in the best way). The vibe was unreal, I got a bunch of great feedback that I’m already stealing for next month to make it even smoother, and honestly it felt like a throwback to the pre-smartphone era where you actually meet people instead of just liking their stories. My favorite part? Finding out some past attendees started a group chat and are still keeping in touch… because that’s literally the whole point of this thing. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your routine or want something that forces you out of your bubble, come to next month’s Dinner Club. I’m not saying this just because I run it, I’m saying it because it was hilarious, genuinely positive, and the kind of night you leave thinking, “why don’t we do this more often?”

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Lola, a sweet 1-year-old Lab mix (50 lbs) who’s great with kids and dogs and ready to bring nonstop tail wags and “let’s go do something” energy to her forever home.

🏡House of the week: This Windsor 1773 stunner packs 4 beds, 3 baths, and 2,738 sq ft on 1.14 acres, aka colonial charm with room to actually breathe. It’s giving serious “front porch coffee energy” with a side of historic flex. Have a look!

🏛️Indoor gem of the week: Connecticut’s Old State House - A downtown history hit where Connecticut’s big moments happened, and it’s way more interesting than it sounds when you realize what went down inside these walls. Learn more.

🔭Sky report: Jan 20-23 is your best “dark sky” stretch in Hartford County right after the Jan 18 new moon, so go outside after sunset and look east for Jupiter absolutely flexing all night near Gemini (it’s brighter than basically everything up there). Then Jan 22–23 the skinny crescent moon slides by Saturn low in the west, and by Jan 25-26 we hit first quarter, meaning the moon starts brightening things up while Orion and the Winter “greatest hits” stars still steal the show overhead.

A few weeks ago this popped up as a trivia question, and yep, Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill is basically CT’s coolest time machine, with 2,000+ dinosaur footprints discovered in 1966 and over 750 tracks you can still see preserved inside the dome today.

Most of those famous three-toed prints are Eubrontes, which became Connecticut’s official state fossil in 1991, and they’re thought to have been left by a big meat-eater similar to Dilophosaurus. You’ll also find smaller tracks like Grallator, which are often linked to a Coelophysis-like dinosaur sprinting around back when this whole area was a muddy Jurassic playground.

If you’ve been craving a night where you can literally “space out” and call it self-care, Glastonbury Planetarium has you covered. Faster Than Light: The Dream of Interstellar Flight is 90 minutes of cozy, brain-melting wonder at Glastonbury Planetarium (95 Oak St) starting at 6PM $. You’ll kick off with an immersive tour of tonight’s sky, then drop into the full show that makes your problems feel… hilariously small. It’s science, it’s escapism, and it’s the rare weeknight plan that leaves you calmer, smarter, and slightly tempted to Google “how fast is warp speed” on the drive home.

From Hartford to San Juan, Puerto Rico for 177 bucks* non-stop roundtrip, end of Feb. for a week stay. See the deal!

From Hartford to Nashville, Tennessee for 393 bucks* non-stop roundtrip, end of Feb. for an extended weekend stay. See the deal!

From Hartford to San Jose, Costa Rica for 319 bucks* 1-stop roundtrip, mid for a week stay. See the deal!

*Prices at the time of writing subject to change

Manchester | Puff N Paint | 6-8PM $ - Elicit Brewing Co (165 Adams St) turns into a guided paint night with all supplies included, plus the kind of “good vibes” that makes everyone think they’re secretly artistic. 21+ energy. Snag a Spot

Simsbury | Peaceful Guided Imagery Meditation Class | 7:15-8:15PM $ - One hour at Wisdom of the Ages (1618 Hopmeadow St) where someone else does the thinking for you. Show up stressed, leave feeling like your brain just got a software update for only $10. Doors open at 7PM.

Suffield | Finger Knitted Chunky Blanket | 6-8PM $ - Learn hand knitting at Karenoughcrafts & Boutique (11 High Street Suite 104) and start a chunky blanket that screams “I’m cozy and I’m thriving.” One skein is included to get you rolling. Tix

Glastonbury | Beginner Chair Yoga | 7-7:45PM - Low-stress movement class at Welles-Turner Library (2407 Main St). Register

Hartford | The Cottage (Multiple Dates) | 7:30PM $ - Hartford Stage (50 Church St) is serving up a fast, funny romantic farce where one messy telegram turns into a full-on “love hexagon” pileup in a 1920s English cottage. Expect secrets, slapstick energy, and a lot of “wait, YOU’RE here too?” moments. More Info

Plainville | Flash Tattoo Night with Lucky Phoenix Ink | 6-9PM $ - Ink meets beer at Transcend Beer Crafters (45 Northwest Dr). Pick a flash piece, pretend it’s “spontaneous,” and leave with a brand new personality trait.

West Hartford | Speed Dating With Wingman Of The Year (Ages 30-50) | 7-9:30PM $ - Bring a friend, grab a drink, and speed-date your way through WeHa Brewing & Roasting Co. (141 Shield St). Check-in is 6-7PM, aka your official window for a pep talk and a confidence beverage. Deets

Enfield | Music Bingo | 7PM - Bingo, but with song clips. 4 rounds, it’s free to play, prizes for winners and the first round kicks off at 7 at The Yarde Tavern (1658 King St). Show up with friends and the confidence of someone who definitely knows the lyrics.

Glastonbury | Faster Than Light: The Dream of Interstellar Flight | 6-7:30PM $ - A planetarium night at Glastonbury Planetarium (95 Oak St) that’s basically “space travel, but comfy.” You get an immersive tour of tonight’s sky plus the full show. Passes

South Windsor | Modern Calligraphy for Beginners | 6-7:30PM $ - Learn the dip pen + ink basics at Connecticut Valley Brewing Company (765 Sullivan Ave) with Sip & Script, then go home and start labeling everything like you’re opening a charming little shop on Etsy. Sign Me Up

Berlin | Connecticut Dodgeball Open Gym | 7-9PM $ - Your official permission slip to relive peak gym-class chaos, minus the bruises…and wrenches. Foam balls, all skill levels welcome, and first-timers are highly encouraged to come see what the crew’s about at Vale Coop (510 Four Rod Rd). $10 registration at the door. Sound off if you’re ready to show up and show out.

East Windsor | Trivia Night: The Office Edition | 6PM - Time to find out who in your friend group is a casual fan and who is a full-blown Dunder Mifflin historian at Problem Solved Brewing Company (2 North Rd, Unit 4). Expect Dundies, Prison Mike energy, and at least one person yelling “THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID” like it’s their civic duty.

Hartford | Wolf Pack vs. Bridgeport Islanders | 7PM $ - PeoplesBank Arena (One Civic Center Plaza) is the move if you want a loud, cold, surprisingly cathartic Friday night. Hockey in Hartford just hits different when you commit and vibe out. Tix

Manchester | Comic: Corey Holcomb (1/23 & 1/24) | 7PM & 9:30PM $ - Corey Holcomb is in town at Hartford Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr, Suite 1054) bringing that brutally honest, no-filter style that turns “going out for a laugh” into “I might need to text my ex after this” energy. More Info

Berlin | Swap Shop: Jewelry & Accessories Swap Day | 11AM-1PM - Berlin-Peck Memorial Library (234 Kensington Rd) is basically doing a free boutique pop-up, except everything is secondhand and you get to feel morally superior about it. First come, first served, and bring your own bag because they do not supply them.

Hartford | UConn Men vs. Villanova | 12:30PM $ - Midday Big East hoops at PeoplesBank Arena (One Civic Center Plaza). This one’s the Coaches vs. Cancer game too, so you can yell at refs and do a good deed in the same afternoon. Deets

Simsbury | Free Public Skate (Free Skate Rentals Too!) | 12:15-2:15PM - Simsbury Farms Rink (100 Old Farms Rd) is doing a free public skate with free rentals, sponsored by BPS Lawyers. Translation: show up, lace up, and pretend you have always been an ice person.

South Windsor | Self Care Market (1/24 & 1/25) | 10AM-4PM - A cozy little “treat yourself” lap around local wellness vendors inside Connecticut Valley Brewing Co (765 Sullivan Ave). Roll in for candles, calm vibes, and a suspicious amount of good-smelling things.

New Britain | The151CardShow | 9AM-2PM $ - Big room, big binder energy at The Grand Alure Banquet & Event Venue (1375 East St). Come ready to buy, sell and trade. Sports cards, Pokémon, TCGs, Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, sealed product, memorabilia, and an entire cast of hobby heavy-hitters. $5 get you in and kids 8 & under get in free.

Plainville | Nug Life: The Hot Ones Fiery Challenge | 3PM-5PM $ - Ten nuggets, ten sauces, and ten questions on the clock. It’s the kind of heat that makes you reconsider every life choice that led you here, plus you get a beer to tamp down the heat. It goes down at Transcend Beer Crafters (45 Northwest Dr). Tickets are limited so Secure a Spot.

Simsbury | Winter Freezer Meal Prep: Soups & Stews | 2PM $ - Cook once, eat all week at The Lucky Gut Collective (10 Wilcox St) with registered dietitian Lisa Cooperman. Peak January survival strategy. Passes

Suffield | Rise & Grind Coffee Meetup for Moms | 9AM-1PM - Casual coffee + mom chat at 1203 North St. Come as you are, stay as long as you want, zero pressure to be “put together.” Casual and kid friendly too.

Windsor | Mystical Moon Pendant | 11:30AM-1:30PM $ - Make your own wire-wrapped moon pendant (gold, silver, or copper) at Mondazzi Book, Bead & Crystal (570 Hayden Station Rd). Crafty and slightly magical. Deets

Southington | Mocktails | 6PM-7PM - Learn about non-alcoholic wines and spirits with Taylor Deegan of Worldwide Wine and Spirits, then taste a few zero-proof mocktails at Southington Public Library (255 Main St). Register

1/20

Manchester | DJ Day: Dance & Sing | 10AM-12PM $ - If your kid has been bouncing off the walls since winter break, this is the socially acceptable place to let it happen. Lutz Children’s Museum (247 South Main St) is doing singing and dancing all morning.

West Hartford | Family Storytime | 10:15-10:45AM - Roll in for stories and music that actually work for mixed ages at Noah Webster Library (20 South Main St).

1/22

Berlin | Toddler Winter Wonderland Dance (Ages 1-3) | 10:30-11:30AM - Party outfits encouraged, toddler boogie required at Berlin-Peck Memorial Library (234 Kensington Rd). There’ll be dancing, winter crafts, and cute photo ops, and yes, you need to register (opens 1/15). Register

Farmington | Let’s Draw Cartoons! (Gr. 3-6) | 6:15PM - If your kid has ever doodled a stick figure and called it “art,” this is their moment. Nationally syndicated cartoonist Rick Stromoski is teaching how to draw real cartoon characters at Farmington Library (6 Monteith Dr) and yes, you’ll want to put this one on the fridge. Registration required

1/25

Hartford | Sensory Friendly Day | 10AM-4PM $ - The Connecticut Science Center (250 Columbus Blvd) dials down the sensory overload so families can explore exhibits in a more comfortable environment. Deets

1/26

Manchester | Art Lab (Ages 2–5) | 10:30AM - Process art for little ones, so yes, dress for a mess at Manchester Public Library (586 Main St).

1/21
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Mentorship VII: Mike Carabello | 7-10PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Son De Aqui Latin Jazz | 6:30-9:30PM

1/22
⬢ Hartford - Asylum Hill Congregational Church | HSO: MLK Tribute Concert | 7PM

1/23
⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Shout Band Presents 80’s Dance Party | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Ghosts of Jupiter Ft. Nate Wilson & John Ferrara | 8PM $ ⬢ Manchester - Cheney Hall | Eagles Experience (Eagles Tribute) | 7-8:30PM $
⬢ Manchester - Elicit Brewing Co. | Sunset Drive | 9PM
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | Hayley Jane w/ Riley Cotton & The Tin Men | 8PM $

1/24
⬢ Berlin - The Truck Bar | The Savage Brothers Band | 8PM
⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Kashmir ft. Jean Violet (Led Zeppelin Tribute) | 8PM $
⬢ Glastonbury - The Spicy Green Baan | Sister Funk | 6-9PM $
⬢ Hartford - Wilde Auditorium | Rock Hearts | 7PM $
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Good Trees River Band & The Trichomes | 9PM $
⬢ Manchester - The Main Pub | Mauve Lloyd (Pink Floyd Tribute) | 9PM $
⬢ Manchester - Ryan’s Sports Bar | Cliffside Push (Phish Tribute) | 9PM
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | Urgent (Foreigner Tribute) | 8PM $

1/25
⬢ Hartford - Hartford Public Library | Baby Grand Jazz: Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet | 3PM
⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | Shwayze | 8PM $

1/26
⬢ Manchester - Elicit Brewing | Hartford Jazz Orchestra | 7:30-9:30PM