We’re on the hunt for local superheroes. Not the Marvel kind, the real ones quietly showing up every day, helping neighbors, lifting people up, making this place better.

Know someone like that?

Hit reply and tell me about the person or organization, we want to spotlight the folks who deserve a little noise made about them.

Dinner Club is back May 21 at 6:30pm in Manchester.

Last one had 50+ locals show up, and people left with new friends, full stomachs, and significantly better stories than “I watched Netflix again.”

How it works:

Plus-ones are welcome, so bring a friend if you need a social safety blanket. Spots are limited, and once the tables are full, that’s it.

Instead of trivia this week, I went digging and found a crossword puzzle in the New Britain Daily Herald from exactly 100 years ago to the day.

So I spun up a little game so you can take a crack at the same puzzle locals were wrestling with back in 1926. If you manage to finish it, send me a screenshot of your answers and I’ll enter you to win a prize. Old-school brainpower, new-school bragging rights.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Goose, a 1.5-year-old Goldendoodle with a big smile, a happy little prance, and golden-retriever-level “I’m your new best friend” energy.

🏡House of the week: This 1920 West End colonial is basically “old Hartford charm” with receipts: 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, and 4,077 square feet. Think arched doorways, hardwood floors, big fireplaces, and enough room to host Thanksgiving without assigning people to folding chairs. Have a look!

👀Sighting of the week: Spotted a patch of bloodroot on a trail this week and had one of those “oh yeah, this is why we live here” moments.

🔭Sky report: Venus and Jupiter are still showing off in the western sky after sunset, while Leo and the Big Dipper are easy wins overhead. By May 4, the Eta Aquariid meteors start warming up before dawn, so look southeast and pretend you’re the kind of person who wakes up early on purpose.

Hope in Color: Art as Our Voice takes over the Wadsworth Atheneum from May 1–24 with original K–12 student artwork from across Hartford. It’s the 53rd annual Hartford Youth Art Renaissance, which is a fancy way of saying: the kids are wildly talented and we should probably all be taking notes. Find it at 600 Main Street in Hartford.

Just over 50% of you got it right: Albert Pope, the industrialist who helped put Hartford on the map in a very different way before insurance and aerospace took over. After seeing a high-wheel bicycle at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, he bought the American patent rights and soon began producing bikes in Hartford. Pope did not just sell bicycles, he helped change how Americans moved. His Columbia bikes turned cycling into a national craze, and by 1895 his Hartford-based Pope Manufacturing Company had become the largest employer in New England, producing bikes at a scale that helped make personal travel faster, cheaper, and more practical for ordinary people.

He also helped spark bigger changes off the bike itself. Pope backed the League of American Wheelmen and the Good Roads Movement, which pushed for smoother roads across the country and helped lay the groundwork for the transportation system cars would later inherit. That is how Hartford earned the nickname “Bicycle Capital of the World.” Pope’s factories turned out huge numbers of bicycles, employed thousands, and made the city one of the biggest bicycle manufacturing hubs anywhere in the late 19th century.

Hartford | Hartford Yard Goats vs. Reading Fightin Phils | 7:05pm $ - Double-A baseball at Dunkin' Park (1214 Main St, Hartford). Play ball! (daily 4/28-5/2)

Hartford | Learn To Row| 6pm - Free rowing class at Riverside Park Boathouse (300 Leibert Rd, Hartford). Get moving

Windsor | Music Bingo at Beer Garden At Bart's | 7 PM - Test your music knowledge with prizes at this fun pub night (55 Palisado Ave).

Hartford | John Mills Book Launch: The Narrative of Primus | 6-7:30 PM - A powerful story tracing the life of an enslaved boy in colonial CT at Connecticut’s Old State House. Learn

Hartford | Jazz Wednesdays | 7-10 PM - Live jazz takes over Black-eyed Sally’s with local talent and special guests bringing everything from smooth to straight-up electric.

Southington | Broken Jewelry Art Workshop | 6:30 PM | ($) - Transform vintage jewelry into unique art pieces at Witch Doctor Brewing. Upcycle in Style

Canton | The Clairs: Developing the 8 Intuitive Psychic Senses | 6 PM - Explore your intuitive abilities at this spiritual workshop (220 Albany Tpke).

Suffield | Beginner Calligraphy Class | 6 PM | ($) - Learn modern calligraphy basics at Karenough Crafts (11 High St). Perfect Your Pen

Hartford | Bushnell Park Free Arch Tour | 12–1:30 PM - Guided tour of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Bushnell Park (Jewell St entrance, Hartford); free every Thursday May-October. Walk it with a guide!

Hartford | DextaDaps Live | 8 PM $ - Dancehall show at The Webster (31 Webster St). Dance!

West Hartford | Blue Back Bar Crawl | 5-8 PM | ($) - Multi-stop crawl through the Blue Back Square scene in West Hartford Center (Memorial Rd & LaSalle Rd). Sip and mingle

Burlington | Spring Book Sale | 10 AM | ($) - Preview sale with thousands of books at Burlington Library (34 Library Lane). Browse the Stacks

Hartford | Lessons from History | 7:30 PM - Historical presentation at The Bushnell (168 Capitol Ave).

Hartford | In His Footsteps: James Mars Legacy Celebration | 5:30 PM - Free event honoring CT's freedom fighter at the Old State House (800 Main St). Honor History

Hartford | NONPOINT "The Outta Control Tour" | 7:30 PM | ($) - Heavy rock at Webster Theatre (31 Webster St). Get Loud

New Britain | First Friday: Locomotion | 5:30 PM | ($) - First Friday celebration at NBMAA (56 Lexington St). Art in Motion

Newington | Briana Maia & BJ Sparano at Flying Monkey | 6:30 PM - Live acoustic duo at this neighborhood bar & grill.

South Windsor | SWOG Designer Purse Bingo | 6 PM - Win designer bags at this fun fundraiser (161 Nevers Rd). Bag a Win

Southington | Full Moon Goat Walk | 7:30 PM | ($) - Moonlit stroll with goats at Bradley Mountain Farm (537 Shuttle Meadow Rd). Walk with Goats

Wethersfield | Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum Season Opening | 10 AM-4 PM | ($) - 2026 season tours kick off with three historic houses, gardens, and a new 250th-anniversary exhibit at WDS Museum (211 Main St). Step back in time!

Berlin | LiveWired 80's Tribute at The Truck Bar | 8 PM - Big hair, neon, and 80s rock hits all night.

Bristol | Bristol Auto Club Cruise Night & Cars & Coffee | 3 PM - Classic cars gather downtown (10 Main St).

Bristol | Taylorville | 7 PM | ($) - Taylor Swift tribute at Rockwell Theater (70 Memorial Blvd). Shake It Off

Bristol | Factory Brewing 2nd Anniversary w/ Sister Funk | 2 PM - Brewery anniversary party with live funk band.

Bristol | Pathways to Wellness May Market | 10 AM - Artisan and wellness vendors at Pinehurst Farm (50 Pinehurst Rd). Find Your Zen

Farmington | May Market 2026 at Hill-Stead Museum | 10 AM-4 PM | ($) - Flagship two-day spring market with 100+ artisan vendors, plant sellers, food, and live music on the grounds of Hill-Stead Museum (35 Mountain Rd). Fun

Glastonbury | Stained Glass Dog Love Workshop | 10:30 AM | ($) - Create a stained glass pup at RehabK9 (160 New London Tpke). Craft for Your Pup

Hartford | Walking Tour: Hartford Art & Artists | 10 AM | ($) - Guided tour of Hartford's artistic heritage (59 S Prospect St). Discover Hartford Art

Hartford | Eggy at Infinity Hall | 8 PM | ($) - Jam band vibes at the intimate venue. Get Scrambled

Manchester | Wickham Park Tree Tour | 10 AM | ($) - Guided arboretum-style walk through Wickham Park's signature tree collection (1329 W Middle Tpke). Take a breath of fresh air

North Granby | Chakra and Body Mapping | 9 AM | ($) - Wellness workshop at Lost Acres Vineyard (86 Lost Acres Rd). Align Your Energy

Rocky Hill | 384 East Returns to Arch II | 8 PM - Live rock cover band at The Arch 2 Sports Bar (632 Cromwell Ave).

Simsbury | Spring Slate Painting | 10 AM | ($) - Paint spring designs on slate tiles (10 Phelps Ln). Paint on Stone

South Glastonbury | Spring Vendors Market at Hops on the Hill | 11 AM-4 PM - Local vendors plus craft beer at the hop farm (275 Dug Rd).

Southington | Art in the Family: Three Generations | 12:30 PM - Multi-generational art exhibit opening (93 Main St).

Suffield | Hilltop Farm Craft Fair | 9 AM-3 PM - Handmade crafts and farm goods (1616 Mapleton Ave).

Tariffville | S&TRR at The Old Well | 8 PM - Live music at the historic Old Well Tavern (20 Tariffville Rd).

West Hartford | May History and Grounds Tours | 10 AM - Guided tour of Elizabeth Park's rose gardens (1561 Asylum Ave).

West Hartford | On The Trail at New Park Brewing | 7 PM | ($) - Live Americana in The Green Room (485 New Park Ave). Sip & Strum

West Hartford | West Hartford Farmers' Market Opening Day | 9am–1pm - First Saturday of the 2026 season at the Town Hall parking lot (50 South Main St)

Windsor | Captured in Copper | 10 AM | ($) - Copper and crystal art workshop (570 Hayden Station Rd). Hammer Away

Bristol | Holistic Benefit EXPO | 10 AM- 5 PM - Wellness vendors and healers at DoubleTree by Hilton.

Farmington | May Market 2026 | 10 AM- | ($) - Annual outdoor market at Hill-Stead Museum (35 Mountain Rd). Market Magic

Farmington | Dough Mama Pop Up Bakery | 10 AM- 2 PM - Fresh baked goods at Hein Farm (303 Meadow Rd).

Hartford | Dar Williams at Infinity Hall | 8 PM | ($) - Folk icon performs live. Folk Forward

Hartford | Instantiations | 2:30 PM | ($) - Contemporary performance at Hartford Ballroom (56 Arbor St). Experience Art

Hartford | The Geeky Bridal Show | 6-10 PM | ($) - Connecticut's first fandom-themed bridal show - 30 vetted geeky-wedding vendors + a string quartet playing video game / anime / movie themes - at Connecticut Science Center (250 Columbus Blvd). Nerd out on wedding planning

Manchester | Brunch with the Princesses in the Park | 12pm $ - Costumed-princess brunch for kids at Wickham Park (1329 W Middle Tpke, Manchester). Royal tea time

Newington | Spring Craft Fair at Karma's | 10 AM-3 PM - Local crafters showcase handmade goods (27 Garfield St). Shop Handmade

Plantsville | Mother's Day Pop-Up Vendor Event | 10 AM- 3 PM - Shop for mom at Karma’s (774 South Main St).

South Glastonbury | May Free Farm Tasting | 1-4 PM - Sample local farm products at Killam & Bassette Farm (14 Tryon St).

South Windsor | Coffee, Tea, Books and Music | 1-3 PM - Cozy afternoon at The Wicked Press bookstore (948 Sullivan Ave).

West Hartford | Hat Burning Workshop | 12 PM - Creative workshop at WeHa Brewing (121 Shield St).

West Hartford | Birds of Elizabeth Park | 8 AM - Birding walk with Hartford Audubon at Elizabeth Park (1561 Asylum Ave).

Windsor Locks | Live Music: Zak Trojano | 3 PM - Singer-songwriter at Luppoleto Brewing (20 Main St). Raise a Pint

West Simsbury | Ava Grom @ Music Mondays | 7 PM - Live music at Simsbury Grange (236 Farms Village Rd). Monday Melodies

5/1

Hartford | Intergalactic Weekend: Space Night w/ Star Wars Fireworks | 7:10 PM | ($) - Yard Goats baseball with fireworks and Coco Baby at Dunkin' Park (1214 Main St). Blast Off

5/2

Bristol | Goats at Manross! | 11 AM - Meet baby goats at Manross Library lawn (260 Central St). Say Hi to the goats

New Britain | NBMAA Art Explorers: Spring into Creations | 10:30 AM - Drop-in family art program at New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington St). Make art together

Windsor Locks | New England Air Museum Aerospace Academy: Destination Moon | 2-3:30 PM - Hands-on lunar-mission program at the New England Air Museum (36 Perimeter Rd). Blast off

Glastonbury | Children's Tag Sale | 8 AM - Kid's clothing, toys, and gear at Irish American Home Society (132 Commerce St). Score Kid Deals

Simsbury | Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer Ice Show | 6 PM | ($) - Figure skating showcase fundraiser at International Skating Center. Glide for a Cause

West Hartford | Family Day at the Museum | 11 AM - Kid-friendly activities at the Noah Webster House (1678 Asylum Ave).

5/3

Hartford | Intergalactic Weekend: Star Wars Day | 1:10 PM | ($) - Yard Goats baseball with Star Wars fun at Dunkin' Park (1214 Main St). May the Fourth

South Glastonbury | Revolutionary Day | 12 PM - Colonial history comes alive at Welles-Shipman-Ward House (972 Main St). Relive 1776