🍽 Six strangers, one table, in Hartford on Wednesday, December 10 at 7 PM.

Here is how it works: you take a quick quiz, we match you with five people who either feel like your kind of crowd or give you a totally different perspective. You choose the lane.

Your restaurant stays a surprise until that morning, then halfway through dinner everyone gets a text with a nearby spot to keep things going for round two with more drinks and laughs.

It is 16 bucks to lock in your seat and support the newsletter. You cover your own food and drinks, we handle the matching and the logistics.

Perfect if you just moved to the area and want to meet people, or you have been here for years and your friend circle could use a refresh.

🛑 Consider this your permission slip to go enjoy yourself before the holiday chaos kicks in.

P.S. Cutoff sign up time is 48hours before the dinner!

Hip-Hop for the Homeless is back for its 12th annual winter tour, turning beats and bars into real support for shelters, warming centers, and food pantries across Connecticut and Massachusetts from Dec 4-20. Founded by Hartford artist and longtime teacher Joey Batts, HH4H has already raised more than $52,000 since 2014 and pulls in 700+ people a year to show up for neighbors when the temperature drops and the need spikes.

2025 TOUR DATES & BENEFICIARIES

Each stop brings together volunteer rappers, DJs, dancers, and poets, collecting cash, winter clothing, blankets, socks, gloves, and nonperishables so frontline orgs have what they need to keep people warm, fed, and seen. So come out and show some support for a great cause.

Holidays on Main in Wethersfield (200 Main St) is what happens when a Hallmark Christmas movie meets the Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce and decides to throw a block party for 5,000 of their closest friends. On Thursday, December 4, Main Street shuts down from 5-9PM and turns into pure holiday chaos in the best way: Santa rolls in on a fire truck, the big tree lighting hits around 6:15 PM, there are horse-and-wagon rides, ice sculptures, a beer tent and wine tasting at Webb Barn, plus a silent auction, food trucks, and more craft vendors than your credit card is ready for. Local shops stay open late, the Hurlbut-Dunham House decks itself out in full Victorian Christmas mode, and the whole street is just this wall of lights, and music -this is why people actually like living here.

If you’re still staring down a half-finished gift list, this little roundup is your last-minute cheat sheet - local makers, farm stores, distilleries, bookshops, and boutiques where you can grab something that actually feels thoughtful (and keeps your dollars in Hartford County). From small-batch maple and spirits to Hartford-themed prints and West Hartford shop gems, you can knock out your shopping and feel good about where the money’s going. If I missed your favorite spot, hit reply and tell me - always looking for more local gems to add.

Artisan’s Marketplace | 120 East St, Plainville | Long-running fine American craft gallery with jewelry, pottery, glass, and one-of-a-kind pieces that basically scream “I did not buy this on Amazon.”

Hartford Prints! | 42½ Pratt St, Hartford | Sister-run shop packed with Hartford + CT-themed prints, apparel, cards, and gifts; perfect if your love language is “hyper-local inside jokes on paper.”

The Bristol Bazaar | 67 Race St, Bristol | Indoor makers market with 70+ local artisans, handmade goods, and a coffee/cocktail bar, so you can shop small and sip something fun while you wander.

Holcomb Farm CSA Farm Store | 111 Simsbury Rd, West Granby | Farm store loaded with local meats, cheeses, honey, jams, soaps, and other CT-made goodies that turn a gift basket into a legit farm-to-table flex.

Lamothe’s Sugar House | 89 Stone Rd, Burlington | Classic maple sugar house with syrup, maple candy, honey, nuts, popcorn, and gift baskets - basically “New England in a box” you can hand someone.

River Bend Bookshop - West Hartford | 161 Park Rd, West Hartford | Indie bookstore big on local authors and curated reads - grab a signed book, a cute card, and you’ve got an easy “thoughtful neighbor” gift. R

Mosaic Sun Studio | 968R Farmington Ave, West Hartford | Boho chic jewelry + crystal boutique with handmade pieces and fair-trade vibes - ideal for the friend who lives in layered necklaces and good energy.

Hartford Flavor Company | 30 Arbor St, Hartford | Woman-owned craft distillery making botanical Wild Moon liqueurs and organic vodkas—excellent for “Connecticut in a cocktail” style host gifts.

Waypoint Spirits | 410 Woodland Ave, Bloomfield | Bloomfield distillery crafting small-batch spirits that lean hard into local flavor - a great pick for the person who’d rather unwrap a good bottle than another candle.

Killam & Bassette Farmstead | 1098 Main St, South Glastonbury | Family-run farm with a seasonal CT Made Gift Shop packed with wreaths, canned goods, maple, honey, and handmade gifts from local Connecticut artisans.

🎾 Pickleball Kingdom is officially serving dinks and drop shots in Manchester on December 6th (169 Hale Rd, 7AM-7:30PM), so go break in those paddles.

🍣 Poke Kitchen just opened at 84 Bridge St, East Windsor with build-your-own poke bowls and boba on Bridge Street, so consider your lunch and dinner plans handled.

🍗 Buffalo Wild Wings is finally landing in Enfield on December 8 at 130 Elm Street, taking over the old TGI Friday’s spot with wall to wall TVs, cold beer, and wings for days.

Bloomfield | Winter Cocktail Class | 6-7:30PM $ - Shake, stir, and sip your way through three winter cocktails at TJ’s Burritos Bloomfield (695 Park Ave). Tix

Manchester | Christmas Candle-Making Workshop | 6-8PM $ - Pour your own holiday-scented candles, then hang out with a beer at Urban Lodge Brewing (47 Purnell Pl). All materials are included, so you just show up and make something that isn’t from Amazon. Get Passes

New Britain | Holiday Tree Lighting After Party | 6PM - Once the lights flip on downtown, the party keeps going at The Assembly Room (222 Main St). Expect a packed crowd, festive vibes, and an easy way to stretch “just the tree lighting” into a full night out.

Vernon | Family Crafternoon (Elementary Kids) | 4-5PM - Bring the kiddos to Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) for an after-school hour of hands-on art and craft projects, designed especially for elementary-age kids (siblings are welcome too). Low-key, creative, and way better than another hour of screen time.

Wethersfield | Guided Meditation w/ Sound Healing | 6:30-8PM $ - Wind down midweek at The Blackbird House (137 Main St, Wethersfield) with a guided meditation led by Erin & Marcel Touponse, featuring wind gong, crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, and tuning forks for a full sound-bath reset. Pre-registration is required, so snag a spot if your nervous system’s begging for a night off. Secure a Spot

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | BooYah (Grateful Dead Tribute) | 9PM $
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Mentorship VI Jazz | 7PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Don De Aqui Latin Jazz | 6:30-9:30PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | Alex Davis | 6PM

Berlin | Introduction to Tea Blending | 6:30-7:30PM - Learn the difference between infusions and decoctions, play with flavor pairings, and get confident creating your own blends at Berlin-Peck Memorial Library (234 Kensington Rd). Registration requested, free to attend. Register

Granby | Holiday Sip n’ Shop at Lost Acres Vineyard | 5-8PM - Sip local wine while you shop one-of-a-kind gifts from local artisans at Lost Acres Vineyard (80 Lost Acres Rd). Three days of stress-free holiday shopping, but this is the Thursday night kick-off.

Hartford | Festival of Trees & Traditions | 12-5PM $ - The Wadsworth Atheneum (600 Main St) turns into a full-on holiday wonderland with decorated trees and wreaths you can actually buy. More Info & Passes

Manchester | Comedy Night: Liza Treyger | 7PM $ - Stand-up comic Liza Treyger headlines a 21+ show at The Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr). National-level comedy without leaving the mall parking lot. Tix

West Hartford | 2025 West Hartford Holiday Stroll | 5-8PM - Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center turn into a New England postcard with Santa, menorah lighting, live music on multiple stages, and wandering carolers. Free, family-friendly, and usually draws a huge crowd. More Info

Wethersfield | Holidays on Main 2025 | 5-9PM - Old Wethersfield’s historic Main Street lights up with a tree lighting around 6:15pm, Santa at the firehouse, horse-and-wagon rides, craft and food vendors, a Webb Barn auction, and more. Free to wander, pay-as-you-go for treats and rides. More Info

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | Shakedown Citi | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Battle of The Bands | 6PM $
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Mike Childs Soul Jazz | 6-10PM

Bloomfield | Trivia Night Fundraiser Benefitting Dog Star Rescue | 7-9PM $ - Grab a team and head to Waypoint Distillery (410 Woodland Ave) for a two-hour trivia night that raises money for Dog Star Rescue. BYOB & food, win prizes, and feel smug about all the random facts stuck in your brain. Tix

Collinsville | 2025 Collinsville Charity Craft Fair (12/5 & 12/6) | Times Vary - Christmas in Collinsville means the Town Hall Auditorium (4 Market St) packed with local artisans, handmade gifts, and a built-in good deed: a portion of sales goes to charity. Come shop Friday night, then swing back Saturday if you missed anything. More Info

East Hartford | Holiday Market & Tree Lighting (12/5-12/8) | Times Vary - The Holiday Market on the Town Green (1047 Main St) kicks off at 4PM with vendors, food trucks, kids crafts, and DJ Jimmy Jams. A dance performance helps launch the tree lighting around 5:45 PM, and Santa rolls in on a fire truck about 6:30 PM for the big moment. More Info

Enfield | 1st Annual Jingle Bell Bazaar (12/5 & 12/6) | 4-8PM - Powder Mill Barn (32 S Maple St) turns into a cozy holiday market with handmade, vintage, and festive goods on Friday night, then reopens Saturday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Think crafts, décor, baked goods, and all the “I found this at a bazaar” bragging rights.

Newington | Night of Lights: Tree Lighting Ceremony & Merry Market | 6-8:30PM - Newington fills up with a tree lighting, laser light show, performances, and the 2nd Annual Merry Market (571 Main St) featuring local vendors. It’s one of the town’s biggest holiday nights, so expect crowds, lights, and lots of “hey, I know you!” moments. More Info

Southington | Bright Lights Christmas Festival | 5:30-8PM - Downtown Southington around the Town Green (75 Main St) turns into kid heaven with a Polar Express train ride, candy cane scavenger hunt, Letters to Santa, and more. Free to attend, super family-friendly, and capped off with lighting up the green.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Berlin - Strykers Cafe | Grumpy Old Men | 7PM
⬢ Bloomfield - Back East Brewing | MixTape w/ Pete & Josh | 6-9PM |
⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Mr. Sun Plays Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker | 8PM
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | WimBash Hartford 2025 | 7-11PM $
⬢ Manchester - Elicit Brewing Co | Jukebox Radio | 9PM
⬢ New Britain - Museum of American Art | The Soul Factory | 5:30-8PM $
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | The Funky 4 | 5:30-10PM
⬢ South Windsor - CT Valley Brewing Co | Sunset Drive | 6:30-9:30PM
⬢ Vernon - Rocking Horse Cafe | The PRIEST & Metal Godz | 8PM
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | Little Lies (Fleetwood Mac Tribute) | 7PM $

Bristol | 28th Annual St. Matthew Craft & Vendor Fair | 8:30AM-3PM - Browse rows of crafters, handmade gifts, and vendors at St. Matthew School (33 Welch Dr) for a classic church-hall holiday fair vibe.

East Granby | Holiday Market at Brignole Vineyards (12/6 & 12/7) | 12-6PM - Sip wine and shop local artisans at Brignole Vineyards (103 Hartford Ave) as the tasting room turns into a cozy two-day holiday market.

Granby | Holiday Marketplace (12/6 & 12/7) | 10AM-4PM - Holcomb Farm (113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby) fills its barn with local crafters, food, and festive vibes; Sunday session 10-2.

Hartford | Afternoon Tea | 11AM-4PM $ - Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour (54 Pratt St) is hosting a high-tea style afternoon with fragrant teas and dainty bites in a very storybook-feeling Pratt Street setting. Secure a Spot

Hartford | ConnectiConn: Fandom Flea 3 (12/6 & 12/7) | 11AM-5PM $ - Dig through comics, anime, collectibles, games, and fan art at this two-day Fandom Flea inside the Connecticut Convention Center (100 Columbus Blvd). More Info & Tix

Manchester | 10th Annual Manchester CT Jazz Festival (12/6 & 12/7) | 6:30-10:30PM $ - Cheney Hall (177 Hartford Rd) hosts a stacked evening lineup for the festival’s 10th anniversary, with more jazz on Sunday afternoon 1-5PM if you want the full weekend experience. More Info & Passes

Marlborough | Gathering on the Green | 4:30-6:30PM - Head to the Marlborough Town Green (8 N Main St) for holiday music, a lighted firetruck parade, tree lighting, Santa photos, and fireworks to cap off the night.

South Windsor | Holiday Market (12/6 & 12/7) | 10AM-4PM - Connecticut Valley Brewing Co. (765 Sullivan Ave) packs the taproom with local makers for a two-day Holiday Market.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Berlin - The Truck Bar | Completely Unchained | 8PM
⬢ Bloomfield - Back East Brewing Co | Audacity | 6PM
⬢ Bristol - New Cambridge Project | LB4 | 6PM
⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | The Weight Band | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Holiday & Latin Jazz: Papo Vasquez & The Mighty Pirates Troubadors | 7PM $
⬢ Hartford - PeoplesBank Arena | Pentatonix: Christmas in The City Tour | 7PM $
⬢ Manchester - The Hungry Tiger | Home By Ten | 9:30PM-1AM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Theresa Wright | 5:30PM
⬢ Simsbury - Old Well Tavern | Creamery Station | 8-11PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | The Tribulations | 7-10PM
⬢ South Windsor - CT Valley Brewing Co | The Misfit Toys | 6-9PM
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | West End Blend (Steely Dan Tribute) | 8PM $

Avon | Breakfast with Santa | 8AM-12PM $ - Bring the kids to eat pancakes with Santa at The First Company Governor's Horse Guards (280 Arch Rd), plus photos, crafts, and all the holiday chaos in one room.

East Granby | Pints, Paws & Santa Claus Vendor Fair | 1-4PM - Almost Famous Brewing (17 Kripes Rd) turns into a dog-friendly holiday market with local vendors and pet (and human) photos with Santa to support Living The Dream Dog Rescue.

East Hartford | Wreath Making Workshop at Rebel Dog | 2-4PM $ - Cozy up at Rebel Dog Coffee Co. (361 Main St) and build your own winter wreath; ticket includes all materials plus a drink to sip while you get artsy. Tix

Plainville | Digging In The Crates: Vinyl Sale | 9:30AM-3:30PM $ - Dig through 40+ tables of LPs, CDs, and 45s at the Plainville Record Riot inside the Plainville VFW (7 Northwest Dr); early birds can even get in at 8AM for a fee if you’re serious about crates. More Info & Passes

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Sweet Baby James (James Taylor Tribute) | 2PM $
⬢ East Granby - Almost Famous Brewing Co | Jack & His Guitar | 2:30-5:30PM
⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on The Hill | Ali Kat | 2PM
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | Slick Rick | 8PM $
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Stoltz & Co Blues | 5:30-8PM
⬢ Southington - Witchdoctor Brewing Co | Center Stage Jazz | 3-6PM $
⬢ Windsor Locks - Luppoleto Brewing Co | Meadow Blue | 3-5PM

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - TheaterWorks | Briana Maia - Christmas Kisses | 7:30$
⬢ Hartford - Parkville Market | Nat Reeves - Holiday Jazz | 6:30PM
⬢ Plantsville - Aqua Turf Club | Rock This Town Band (50’s & 60’s hits) | 7PM