Big thanks again to Pet Supplies Plus for sponsoring Connecticut Buzz Mutt Madness and putting up a $100 gift card for the winner plus $50 for second place. We’ve had a strong turnout so far, and now Round 2 voting starts now with just 16 pups left in the bracket.

Also, quick heads-up: our voting software had a bit of a snafu last week, so some of the early votes ran into issues, but it’s all squared away now. Time to get back in there and keep the dog madness rolling.

Maple syrup has deep roots in Connecticut. Long before sugarhouses became a spring tradition, Indigenous people in the Northeast were making maple sugar from the sap of sugar maples, and the state has kept that sweet tradition going ever since. It’s also one of those processes that sounds fake until you hear the math: raw sap is only about 2% sugar, so it takes roughly 43 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup.

Here are the verified Hartford County maple spots worth knowing:

Bottom line: if you see steam pouring out of a little sugarhouse in March, you’re probably very close to one of Connecticut’s best traditions.

Connecticut Buzz works with a small handful of local brands who genuinely care about this community.

Each week, we reach thousands of engaged locals through our newsletters and growing social channels. We’re here to connect neighbors, spotlight the good stuff, and keep CT feeling like CT.

Want in on the next wave of local media?

Last chance to book your spot. Sign-ups close tonight at 6:30pm.

The next Connecticut Buzz Dinner Club is happening March 19th at 6:30pm in West Hartford, and this is your final window to get in. Take the quick quiz, get matched with five other Hive Members, then show up ready to eat, hang, and then unlock the optional after-party details shared during dinner.

After-party only: show up and you’ll get a free DELA Margarita shot - a smooth mix of artisanal tequila, blood orange, lime, and a rich citrus oleo finished with a hint of bergamot 🍹

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Sonny, a 4-year-old, 72-pound pit bull mix who’s incredibly social, affectionate, and ready to find a forever home after being abandoned earlier in life.

🏡House of the week: This 1841 colonial in Unionville has the kind of old-New England character people chase, with 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, and about 2,350 square feet tucked on a quiet cul-de-sac just a short walk from the village shops and restaurants. There’s also a big front porch, a new back deck, and a backyard firepit setup that basically screams summer hangouts. Check it out!

🔭Sky report: Step outside after sunset this week and the brightest “star” you’ll see is actually Jupiter, glowing steadily high in the evening sky and visible for hours. Venus also shines low in the west just after sunset, while the spring equinox arrives March 20, bringing nearly equal day and night as we officially roll into spring.

If you want to see how maple syrup actually gets made, Connecticut Maple Weekend is March 21-22, when sugarhouses across the state open their doors for tours, tastings, and demonstrations of the sap-to-syrup process. In Hartford County, spots like Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington, Sweet Wind Farm and Hartland Hollow in East Hartland, Auerfarm in Bloomfield, and Northwest Park in Windsor will be welcoming visitors to see trees tapped, watch sap boiling in the sugarhouse, and sample fresh maple products right where they’re made. It’s basically the sweetest field trip Connecticut offers all year.

In last week’s trivia, 50% of you got it right. In 1796, Aemilia Simmons published American Cookery, widely considered the first cookbook written and published in the United States. Before that, most recipes used in American kitchens came straight from British cookbooks. Simmons’ book helped define early American food by featuring ingredients that were common here, especially cornmeal, pumpkins, and molasses.

The cookbook included some dishes that still feel very New England today, like Johnny Cakes, Pumpkin Pudding, Apple Slump (or Pandowdy), Molasses Gingerbread, and the celebratory Election Cake, a rich yeast cake baked for Connecticut election gatherings in the 1700s. If you’re curious what one of the earliest American recipes actually looked like, you can check out Election Cake here.

🍣 Lovin’ Sushi & Pho Express now open on 1173 Queen St. Southington, serving all-you-can-eat sushi, pho, banh mi, and the kind of menu that can absolutely ruin your self-control.

🍹 Upstate Lounge & Cafe now open on 537 Farmington Ave in Hartford, bringing smashburgers, beef on weck, good coffee, local brews, cocktails, and a live-music-friendly vibe.

Enfield | St. Patrick's Day Party | 5PM - Irish food, drinks, and live music make this the way to do St. Paddy’s right at The Yarde Tavern (1658 King St).

Hartford | Fuzz & Friends FREE St. Patrick's Day Party | 7:30PM - St. Patrick’s Day live music in downtown Hartford is a pretty strong way to spend a Tuesday at Infinity Music Hall (32 Front St). Celebrate

Hartford | Kinky Boots (3/17-3/22) | 7:30PM $ - Big vocals, sky-high heels, and enough swagger to wake up the whole block at The Bushnell’s Mortensen Hall (166 Capitol Ave). Deets

Milldale | Saint Patrick's Day Official Party | 12PM - All-day Irish bash is leaning fully into the shamrocks, pints, and potato-powered chaos at Kinsman Brewing (409 Canal St)

New Britain | St. Patrick's Day Dark Beer & Dinner Celebration | 4:30PM $ - Dark beer and Irish-inspired dinner is a dangerously good combo at Alvarium Beer Co (131 Dwight St).

Newington | Harlem Wizards Game | 7PM $ - Part basketball, part comedy, part total circus, Harlem Wizards bring the fun to Newington High School (605 Willard Ave). Game On

South Windsor | Trivia: One Direction | 6:30PM - Test your Directioner knowledge at CT Valley Brewing Co (765 Sullivan Ave).

Berlin | Mini Wrestling All-Stars | 8PM $- The shortest fight of them all! Mini wrestling entertainment at The Truck Bar (151 Webster Square Rd) . Fun

Bristol | Beginner Sourdough Starter Class | 6PM $ - Learn to make your own sourdough starter from scratch at Pinehurst Garden (50 Pinehurst Rd). Dig In

East Granby | NEW OPEN MIC Debut Celebration! | 6PM- Celebrate the launch of a new open mic night at Brignole Vineyards (103 Hartford Ave).

South Windsor | Paint Your Own Floral Bowl | 6PM $ - Create a beautiful floral-themed ceramic bowl at CT Valley Brewing Co (765 Sullivan Ave). Paint

West Hartford | Gardening for the Birds by Page Dickey | 11AM $ - Garden expert lecture with lunch at Pond House Cafe (1555 Asylum Ave). Nice

Windsor | Music Bingo at Bear's Windsor | 7PM - Win prizes while testing your music knowledge at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ (2152 Poquonock Ave).

Berlin | The Amazing Abilities of Birds | 6:30PM - Discover how birds do amazing things at Berlin Peck Library (234 Kensington Rd). Register

Canton | Beyond Flower Gardens: Native Woody Plants | 7PM - Learn about native plants for pollinators at Roaring Brook Nature Center (70 Gracey Rd). Register

East Hartford | An Evening with Rick Steves | 5PM $ - Travel expert Rick Steves live at Goodwin University (1 Riverside Dr). Fun

Enfield | Indigo Bonsai Paint Party | 7PM $ - Paint a serene bonsai scene at Tipsy Paint Brush (610 Enfield St). Create

Glastonbury | Unseen Earth | 6PM $ Planetarium show revealing Earth's hidden wonders at Glastonbury Planetarium (95 Oak St). Explore

Hartford | GHFJ Fundraiser: Gary Smulyen Quintet | 7PM $ - Jazz fundraiser with Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams tribute at Black-Eyed Sally's (350 Asylum St). Listen Up

Hartford | Disney Trivia Night | 6:30PM - Test your Disney knowledge with craft beer at Dead Language Beer Project (1429 Park St).

South Glastonbury | Cookie Decorating Class | 6PM $ - Learn to decorate beautiful cookies at The Cookie Jar CT (257 Belltown Rd). Dig In

Wethersfield | Beginner Fly Fishing School | 6PM $ - Learn the art of fly fishing at Wethersfield location (30 Greenfield St). Learn More

West Hartford | Turas - Contemporary Irish Music | 6-9PM - Live Irish music and beer is a pretty strong combo, and New Park Brewing (485 New Park Ave) is serving exactly that with this free St. Paddy’s week set.

Avon | PTS SPRINGFEST Bourbon, Beer & Bubbles | 6PM $ - Spring celebration with bourbon, beer, and bubbly at Prince Thomas of Savoy (32 Old Farms Rd). Enjoy

Bristol | Cycle of Persephone - Greek Rite of Spring | 6PM $ - Family event celebrating Greek spring mythology at The Carousel Museum (95 Riverside Ave). Explore

Farmington | Wild & Scenic Film Fest | 6:30PM $ - FRWA's 8th annual environmental film festival at The Hacker Theater at Miss Porter’s School (77 Garden St). Watch

Hartford | Mystic Dead | 9PM $ - Grateful Dead tribute band live at Arch St Tavern (85 Arch St). Listen Up

Hartford | The Best of the 70s with DizzyFish & The Uptown Horns | 8PM $ - Full-blown 70s throwback lands at Infinity Hall Hartford (32 Front St) with a 12-piece band.

Hartford | Righteous Continental | 8-11PM - Free blues-rock with grit, volume, and zero interest in behaving quietly at Black-Eyed Sally’s (350 Asylum St).

Suffield | Dionysus Theatre: Stupid F##king Bird | 7PM $ - Dark comedy with bite lands at Mapleton Hall (1324 Mapleton Ave). See the Show

West Hartford | U2 America St. Paddy's Bash | 7PM $- CT's biggest St. Patrick's celebration with U2 tribute at New Park Brewing (485 New Park Ave). Celebrate

Windsor | Next Stop Comedy at Beer Garden @ Bart's | 7PM $ - Live stand-up comedy at Beer Garden at Bart's (55 Palisado Ave). Laugh Out Loud

Broad Brook | Don Jovi - Music of Bon Jovi | 8PM $ - Bon Jovi tribute band at Broad Brook Opera House (107 Main St). Rock out

East Hartland | Connecticut Maple Weekend | 10AM-4PM - Tour maple sugar houses and sample fresh syrup at Sweet Wind Farm (339 South Rd). Dig In

Hartford | TOOL & AIC Tribute Night | 8PM $ - Rock tribute night at The Webster Underground (37 Webster St). Sweet

Hartford | Gallery Talk: Breaking the Mold - Women Sculptors | 1PM $ - Guided tour of women sculptors exhibit at Wadsworth Atheneum (600 Main St). Learn More

Manchester | Case Mountain Group Hike | 9:45AM - Group hike at scenic Case Mountain (640 Spring St).

New Britain | CT Wedding Expo at NBMAA | 11AM $ - Wedding showcase at New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington St). Explore

Plainville | Painting Pottery with Bunnies | 9-11AM $- Paint pottery with real bunnies from Everybunny Counts Rescue at Potery Piazza (17 Farmington Ave). Paint

Simsbury | Out The Boxx at The Maple Tree | 7PM - Live music at Maple Tree Cafe (5 Plank Hill Rd).

Simsbury | Root & Rise Spring Market | 10AM - Seasonal awakening market at The Lucky Gut Collective (10 Wilcox St).

Southington | Early Spring Foraging Class | 10:30AM - Learn to identify edible spring plants at Crescent Lake (699 Shuttle Meadow Rd). Explore

Southington | Ostara Celebration by Panthean Temple | 3-7PM $ - Spring equinox celebration at Bradley Mountain Farm (537 Shuttle Meadow Rd). Find Balance

West Hartford | Bulb & Plant Sale | 9AM - Stock up on spring bulbs and plants at Elizabeth Park (1561 Asylum Ave). Shop Local

West Hartford | NSOS Annual Orchid Show & Sale (3/21 & 3/22) | Times Vary - Orchid people are absolutely in their element here at West Hartford Conference Center (50 S Main St). More Info

Windsor Locks | Open Mic Night | 6PM - Share your talent at Luppoleto Brewing Co (20 Main St). Listen Up

Avon | Sundays at Three: KC Sisters and Family | 3PM - Live concert at Avon Library (281 Country Club Rd).

Bristol | Create-your-own Kokedama Workshop | 10AM $ - Learn the Japanese art of moss ball planters with Jen's Plant Stand at the Bristol Bazaar (67 Race St). Get Crafty

Granby | Treasures of the Baroque | 4PM - Free baroque music performance at Salmon Brook Park (242 Salmon Brook St).

Hartford | Rodney Jones | 3PM - Baby Grand Jazz keeps things classy at Hartford Public Library’s Downtown Library (500 Main St) with a Sunday set from guitar great Rodney Jones.

Simsbury | Spring Equinox Sound Bath | 3:30PM $ - Set intentions, zone out, and let the sound bath do its thing at The Lucky Gut Collective (10 Wilcox St). Find Balance

South Windsor | Think Spring Market | 10AM - Spring vendor market CT Valley Brewing Co (765 Sullivan Ave).

Wethersfield | Intro to Tarot | 9:30AM-3PM $ - Learn tarot basics at The Blackbird House (137 Main St). Connect Beyond

West Hartford | Kris Allen Quartet | 2-5PM - Free Sunday jazz with sax, swing, and just enough cool to make New Park Brewing (485 New Park Ave) feel extra dialed in.

Hartford | Scavenger Hunt: Time Travelers of Hartford | 8AM-5PM $ - A downtown scavenger hunt starting at 168 Capitol Ave is a pretty fun way to pretend you’re both cultured and competitive before lunch. Deets

Hartford | Women’s Woodworking Workshop Series | 6-8PM $ - Learn tools, build confidence, and leave feeling a little handier at MAKERSPACECT (36 Talcott St). Tix

Manchester | Nathan Hale and Family: A New England Family on the Cusp of Revolution | 6:30-7:30PM - If your idea of a good Monday includes Revolutionary-era intrigue, Nathan Hale has you covered at Manchester Public Library (586 Main St)

Farmington | Throw the Burning Bush on the Brush Pile: Overused Plants and Superior Alternatives | 1-2:30PM - A garden talk with Broken Arrow Nursery is a sneaky strong pick for people ready to start bossing around their spring landscaping at Farmington Library (6 Monteith Dr). Register

3/21

Hartford | Monster Jam | 6PM $ - Giant trucks, loud engines, and enough flying dirt to make every kid lose their mind at PeoplesBank Arena (1 Civic Center Plz). Cheer On

Manchester | Paws, Claws, & Smalls Resource Fair | 1PM - Pet resource fair for all animal lovers at Valerie Friedman Program Center (34 Sanrico Dr).

Manchester | ARTOON NETWORK: Cartoon Art Show | 7PM $ - Art show celebrating cartoon art at The Pearl Aura (642 Hilliard St, Ste 1215). Awesome

3/22

Bristol | Ostara Celebration | 1PM - Spring equinox celebration at Church of Eternal Light (1199 Hill St).

Canton | The Frogs Say It's Spring! | 1PM - Family nature program at Roaring Brook Nature Center (70 Gracey Rd). Explore

Farmington | 52nd Annual Pancake Breakfast | 7AM-12PM $ - Community pancake tradition at East Farmington Volunteer Fire Dept (94 South Rd).

Newington | Easter Egg Hunt | 10:15AM - Parish-hosted egg hunt for kids at The Church of the Holy Spirit (183 Church St).

Plantsville | Southington Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt | 12:45PM - Annual community egg hunt at Jaycee Park (Union St).