Seriously appreciate everyone who took the HartCo Buzz survey - you basically handed us the cheat codes. The big takeaway: you love the Events and New Openings, and you want more insider tips and a little more “make this easier to skim” energy (plus a few more pics). In 2026 we’re tightening the format, adding more exclusive local intel and photos, more local perks, and rolling out a couple small community hangouts so this thing feels even more Hartford County.

If you missed the survey, I want to hear your thoughts. Take Survey!

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Hit reply and send a link to your Instagram/website/portfolio - we’re looking for local photographers to feature your shots in the newsletter.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Jackson, a 7.5-month-old Plott Hound mix with 36-lb zoomies and “let’s go for a run” energy, ready to be your new best buddy.

🏡House of the week: This 1735 Samuel Stoughton-built colonial basically screams “historic charm, but make it livable.” Two working fireplaces, a pond out back, and you can literally walk right to the river. Have a look!

🏛️Indoor gem of the week: Coffee: A Connecticut Story at the Connecticut Museum is a multi-sensory deep dive into how coffee shaped Connecticut from culture to workers’ rights, and it’s way more interesting than your usual “history exhibit” stroll. Learn More.

🔭Sky report: This week, Jupiter is the main event: look east after sunset and you’ll see a super bright “star,” especially around Jan 9-10 when it’s at its brightest. Saturn is your quick early-evening catch, sitting low in the west before it dips out. By Jan 11-12, the Moon is less blinding, so the night sky looks darker and the stars pop more.

Meeting new people is weirdly hard, so we’re making it stupid easy:
CT Buzz Dinner Club hits Manchester on Thursday, Jan 15 at 6pm.
Take a quick quiz, we match you with five other locals you’ll actually click with, and you get the restaurant reveal the morning of dinner. Show up, eat, laugh, and if you’re feeling it, roll to an optional after-dinner spot nearby.
$16 holds your seat for matching, planning, reservations, and reminders, and you just pay for your meal at the end.

From Hartford to San Juan, Puerto Rico for 162 bucks* roundtrip, beginning of March for a week stay. See the deal!

From Boston to Lisbon, Portugal for 500 bucks* roundtrip, beginning of March for a week stay. See the deal!

*Prices at the time of writing subject to change

Two cooking classes are doing laps around my brain this week, and they both beat another boring night of “what should we eat?” on the couch. Thursday January 8th, Simsbury’s Fireside Feast at The Lucky Gut Collective (10 Wilcox St) from 5:30-7:30PM $ is the cozy winter move, Chef Celeste walks you through a naturally gluten-free menu with pesto risotto and rosemary beef tips, then you sit down and eat like a functioning adult.

Saturday January 10th at 5PM $, Tuscan Treasures at The Hidden Kitchen at Hilliard Mills in Manchester (642 Hilliard St) is hands-on Italian comfort, call it therapy with olive oil, you cook, you taste, and you go home with leftovers and the confidence of someone who now “knows a few things” about dinner.

Connecticut Buzz is 100% free to read, independently owned, and run locally (yep, it’s just me and my brothers over here).

If you’ve been enjoying it, a contribution helps keep the whole thing alive, humming, and growing, more stories, more fun, more community.

Seriously appreciate any and all support, friends. - Todd

🍕 Queen St Pizza opened at 350 Queen St in Southington (former Renaldo’s), serving up pizza plus wings, grinders, burgers, wraps, and the full “what should we order?” menu lineup.

South Windsor | Schitt’s Creek Trivia Night | 6:30PM - Time to dust off your Alexis impressions and see who actually remembers what a “bébé” is at Connecticut Valley Brewing Company (765 Sullivan Ave). Expect chaotic team names, deep-cut questions, and at least one person who shows up dressed like Moira.

Windsor | Weekly Bird Walks | 7-8:30AM $ - Start your Tuesday with fresh air and binocular vibes at Northwest Park Warming Shed (145 Lang Rd). You will spot winter birds, pick up some “oh that’s a nuthatch” confidence, and feel wildly productive before most people have answered their first email. Deets

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Manchester - The Hungry Tiger | Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra | 8-10PM

Glastonbury | Artist Reception: Emma Chadwick - Sign of the Times | 6:30-7:30PM - Swing through the opening reception for Emma Chadwick’s latest work at Welles-Turner Memorial Library (2407 Main St). Expect thoughtful art, light mingling, and that calm gallery energy that makes you feel more cultured just by standing there.

Hartford | UConn Women’s Basketball vs. St. John’s | 7:30PM $ - If you need a midweek adrenaline reset, this is it at PeoplesBank Arena (1 Civic Center Plaza). Passes

Milldale | Boot Scootin’ Brew: New Year, New Dances | 7PM $ - Doors at 6PM, dancing at 7PM, and your “I don’t dance” friend will absolutely end up dancing at Kinsmen Brewing’s Clark Hall (409 Canal St). Gain Access

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Anthony Rokosa, Sam Meyer, Akin Hobson | 7-10PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Son De Aqui Latin Jazz | 6:30-9:30PM
⬢ West Hartford - Alfred C. Fuller Music Center | Navy Band Saxophone Symposium Send‑Off Concert | 4-5:30PM

Manchester | Winter Seed Sowing: How to Sow Native Plants | 6:30PM - Learn the low-effort, high-reward “winter sowing” trick at the Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center (153 Spruce St). It’s a free, hands-on workshop and you leave with native seed containers ready to ride out winter like champs.

Simsbury | Fireside Feast Cooking Class: Rosemary Beef & Pesto Risotto | 5:30-7:30PM $ - This is your unwind, cook, and savor the flavors of winter class at The Lucky Gut Collective (10 Wilcox St). You’ll cook a full naturally gluten-free winter menu with Chef Celeste and then eat it, which is the kind of homework we can all get behind. Deets

Southington | Clean the Slate, Recharge the Soul Workshop | 6:30-8:30PM $ - If your brain feels like it has 37 tabs open, go close a few at Sanaré Wellness Center (92 N Summit St). In-person reset-style workshop inside their Energy Enhancement System room, aka maximum “new year, new nervous system” energy. Secure Entry

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | Eaglemania (Eagles Tribute) | 8PM $
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Mike Childs Soul Jazz | 6-10PM

Hartford | UConn Men’s Ice Hockey vs. UMass Lowell | 7PM $ - Friday night hockey at PeoplesBank Arena (1 Civic Center Plaza) is the kind of winter entertainment that actually warms you up. Tix

Manchester | Comic: Steve Byrne (1/9 & 1/10) | 7PM $ - Steve Byrne rolls into The Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr) with the exact kind of standup that makes you forget you ever had a to-do list. Miss Friday and you get a Saturday doubleheader too: 6:30PM and 9PM. Lock it Down

Manchester | Virtual Workshop: Create a Year of Value(s) | 3-4:30PM - Swap resolutions for something that won’t die by February in this free, values-based reset hosted by WORK_SPACE (903 Main St). It’s a virtual 90-minute workshop that helps you actually map out 2026 with intention, not vibes. Register

Rocky Hill | Glow in the Dark Psychic Fair: Glow in the Snow | 6-10PM $ - Get your future read under neon lights at Unassailable Soul (30 Cold Spring Rd) with psychics, healers, vendors, and “why does this feel weirdly fun” energy. If you want round two, Saturday runs 4-10PM. More Info & Passes

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Kendall Street Company | 8PM $
⬢ Enfield - Chicago Sam’s Bar & Grille | Above The Treeline | 7-10PM
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Lowdown | 8-11PM
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Psycopomp | 8PM $
⬢ Manchester - The Hungry Tiger | The Leftovers | 9PM
⬢ Manchester - Ryan’s Sports Bar | Gabe Gandres | 9:30PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Lynn & Vinny Knapp | 5:30-10PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | Corey Reiman & The Dilemma Band | 8-11PM $
⬢ Southington - Kinsman Brewing Co. | Soul Sound Revue | 8-11PM $
⬢ West Hartford - Town Hall | Swing Dance: The Red Satin Band | 7-10:30PM $
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | Wild & Co Presents Graceland (Paul Simon Tribute 7-9:15PM $

Bristol | Adult Chill: Coloring Club (Ages 18+) | 1-3PM - Sit down, color, and remember what it felt like to not look at a screen for a couple hours at Bristol Public Library (5 High St). RSVP: 860.584.7787 x 3.

Granby | Introduction to Spoon Carving | 1-4PM $ - If you’ve ever held a fancy wooden spoon and thought “I could totally make this,” congratulations, you’re ready for Colonial Crafts of CT (17 Trout Dr). You’ll learn the basics, carve your own cooking spoon, and walk out feeling like a rugged artisan who definitely owns flannel now. Tix

Hartford | UConn Men’s Basketball vs. DePaul | 12:30PM $ - UConn vs. DePaul at PeoplesBank Arena (1 Civic Center Plaza) is the kind of midday plan that instantly upgrades your whole Saturday. Expect noise, vibes, and Husky pride. Passes

Manchester | Cooking Class: Italy - Tuscan Treasures | 5PM $ - The Hidden Kitchen at Hilliard Mills (642 Hilliard St) is serving up a hands-on Tuscan cooking class, which is just therapy with olive oil. You’ll cook, eat, and leave with enough main-character energy to start calling everything “rustic” again. Deets

Manchester | Julie’s Ultimate 80’s Party | 5-11PM - Audacity British Style Pub (829 Main St) is going full neon for Julie’s Ultimate 80’s Party, so yes, the outfit needs to be loud. There will be 80’s hits and karaoke, which means you’re either singing or aggressively cheering someone else into it.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Berlin - The Truck Bar | The Brothers Project (Allman Brothers Tribute) | 8PM $
⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on The Hill | Kevin Giarnella | 2-5PM
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Woody & the Rebel Alliance | 9PM $
⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | Changes in Latitudes (Jimmy Buffett Tribute) | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | Luciano - Reggae Night | 8PM $
⬢ Manchester - Ryan’s Sports Bar | 384 East | 9PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | The KC Movement | 5:30-10PM
⬢ Simsbury - Old Well Tavern | Chicago Dawg’s (Blues) | 8-11PM $
⬢ West Hartford - Alfred C. Fuller Music Center | Hartt Community Division Chamber Recitals | 4PM & 5:30PM & 7PM

Bristol | Afternoon Board Game Bash | 1-5PM - Teens and young adults can drop in at the Bristol Public Library (5 High St) to play chess and other board games while jamming to tunes.

Granby | VisionBoard Retreat: Reset, Renew, Recharge | 10AM-5PM $ - This is basically a TED Talk for your future self, but with vibes and a vineyard backdrop at Lost Acres Vineyard (80 Lost Acres Rd). It’s includes vision board materials plus lunch and snacks, so you can manifest and munch simultaneously. More Info & Entry

Hartford | Figure Drawing with Peter Cusack | 9:30AM-1PM $ - If your 2026 resolution is “do something that makes me feel like an interesting person,” this is it at the Wadsworth (600 Main St). Space is limited, so show up early.

Hartford | Coffee: A Connecticut Story Exhibit Tour | 2PM-2:30PM $ - Take a guided stroll through the Coffee exhibit at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (1 Elizabeth St) and learn why your daily cup is basically Connecticut lore in liquid form. It’s included with museum admission and this is the last scheduled tour before the exhibit closes, so consider this your final sip.

Plainville | Record Riot: Vinyl Record Sale | 9:30AM-3:30PM $ - A giant pop-up record store takes over the Plainville VFW (7 Northwest Dr), and yes, you are absolutely going to convince yourself you need a seventh copy of Rumours. Passes

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Avon - Public Library | HSO: Brass Quintet | 3PM
⬢ Hartford - Hartford Public Library | Baby Grand Jazz | 3 -4PM
⬢ New Britain - New Britain Museum of American Art | Jon Pousette‑Dart Concert | 3-5PM
⬢ Southington - Kinsman Brewing Co. | Chris Marolda | 2-5PM
⬢ Suffield - The Shamrock Cafe | The Storytellers | 2-5PM

Berlin | Intro to AI | 6:30-7:30PM - If you keep hearing “AI is everywhere” and you’re like “cool, but what does that mean,” pull up to Berlin-Peck Memorial Library (234 Kensington Rd) for a beginner-friendly breakdown of ChatGPT, Claude, and how this stuff actually works. You’ll leave with enough clarity to sound smart at dinner without pretending you read a 40-page whitepaper.

Glastonbury | Living with Connecticut’s Wildlife | 6:30-8PM - Learn how to coexist with deer, coyotes and raccoons as Master Wildlife Conservationist Paul Colburn shares tips at Welles‑Turner Memorial Library (2407 Main St).

Manchester | Glass Fusing: Winter Dish | 6-8PM - Make your own winter-hued mosaic dish at The Firestone Art Studio & Cafe (1115 Main St) and let the kiln do the glow-up part. It’s beginner-friendly, spots are capped at 12, and you’ll pick up your finished piece in about three weeks like a surprise gift from Past You. Deets

Windsor | Watercolor for Beginners (6 weeks) | 5-7PM $ - This is your “I’m becoming a watercolor person” era, kicking off at WAC Studios (35 Central St) with local artist Sage Neighbors. It’s a six-week series that covers materials, color mixing, and composition. More info