Next dinner is Thursday, January 15 at 6pm in Manchester and yep, this is the thing a bunch of you voted for, so now we’re doing the part where you actually show up.

Signup cutoff is TONIGHT at 6pm, so don’t overthink it. After 6, we lock the list and start matching tables.

How it works: take the quick quiz, we match you with 5 other CT Buzz folks, and you’ll get the restaurant reveal the morning of (Manchester or Putnam). It’s $16 to hold your seat (matching, planning, reservations, reminders) and you just pay your tab at the end.

Why now: winter turns all of us into couch goblins. This is an easy, low-pressure way to get out, meet a few new interesting people, and have a night that doesn’t involve doom-scrolling and reheated leftovers. If you’ve been saying “we should meet more people,” this is your moment.

If you’re trying to do MLK Day the right way this year, here are two moves that are both meaningful and actually fun, which is the sweet spot. First up: Hartford’s Amistad for the Culture: MLK Community Day at The Wadsworth Atheneum (600 Main St) from 12-4PM and it’s free. It’s the kind of afternoon that makes you feel like a functional member of society instead of a person who “honors MLK” by reposting a quote and then doomscrolling. You’ve got art-making, performances, tours, and legit kid-friendly stuff like a music workshop and dance recital. Translation: you can bring the whole crew and no one has to pretend they’re having a good time.

Then there’s New Britain with the MLK Day: Access for All Community Day at the New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington Street) from 11AM-2PM, free admission all day. The theme is “Choose Love,” and the lineup is stacked: drumming, a poetry workshop, interactive dance, guided gallery conversations, and drop-in art activities for anyone who wants to participate without committing to a three-hour “introverts in a circle” vibe. This is the perfect play if you want your MLK Day to feel like a community reset - thoughtful, energizing, and still ends with you leaving the house in a better mood than you started.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Cashew, a 7-month-old Plott Hound mix who’s all about playtime, people time, and making instant pawprint memories with her medium-energy “let’s be friends” vibe.

🏡House of the week: This historic 4-bed, 2,451 sq ft New Britain colonial is dripping with old-school charm like wide plank floors, built-ins, FOUR fireplaces, and even a hidden servant staircase off the kitchen. If you’ve ever wanted “New England character” without it feeling like a museum, this one’s got the vibe. Have a look!

🏛️Indoor gem of the week: Windsor Locks | New England Air Museum - Huge planes, history, and pure “kid brain in an adult body” joy. Learn More.

🔭Sky report: The Moon goes new on Sunday 1/18, so Fri 1/16 through Mon 1/19 is your best window for darker skies and easier stargazing. Look east after sunset for Jupiter (it’s the absurdly bright “star” that’s up basically all night in Gemini), and peek southwest early evening for Saturn before it sinks. No big meteor shower peak this week, but if you’re out late or up before dawn you can still catch a few strays, and the Beehive Cluster is a fun binocular target on those darker nights.

If you need one “don’t overthink it” plan this week, make it Disney On Ice: Frozen & Encanto in Hartford at PeoplesBank Arena (One Civic Center Plaza). Opening night is 7PM, and it’s basically a live-action soundtrack party with Olympic-level skating, glittery set pieces, and enough sing-along energy to power the whole city grid. It runs 1/15-1/18 with multiple showtimes, which is clutch because you can pick the slot that fits your life, your kids, or your inner child who still gets chills when the first big chorus hits.

☪️ Shah’s Halal is officially opening at 728 Farmington Ave on Jan 16, and they’re celebrating with free platters from 1-3pm so show up hungry.

☕️ BOP Coffee Roastery is open at 150 Broad St, Windsor (Founders Square), the new flagship for the Pratt Street crew serving their roasted coffees plus light bites and eventually cocktails, cider, and wine.

🥞 Crêpes Choupette is now open at 993 Farmington Ave, West Hartford (old Donut Crazy spot) serving legit French buckwheat galettes and sweet crêpes with major Paris cafe vibes, plus espresso drinks and a menu stacked with both savory and dessert options.

🐔 Chick-fil-A opens at 1249 Farmington Ave in Bristol on Jan 15 at 6:30am, and if you roll up in cow attire you can score a free entrée or kid’s meal, plus they’re kicking things off with a $25,000 donation to Connecticut Foodshare.

Theses shots of the bus stop on Main Street opposite the Wadsworth and the Colt Building from Riverfront Park are courtesy of local shutterbug Al Glass.
Want to be featured next? Hit reply and send us a few of your best shots.

Hartford | Toddler Tuesday (Little Learners, Big Fun) | 9AM-1PM $ - The Connecticut Science Center (250 Columbus Blvd) turns into a toddler-friendly playground with hands-on activities, sensory stuff, and crowd-controlled chaos for kids 6 and under. Basically: a winter energy release valve for tiny humans and their brave chaperones. More Info

Hartford | Pratt Street Restaurant Week (Jan 12-18) | 4-11PM $ - Eat your way down Pratt Street with three-course dinner specials from Urban Lodge Hartford, Sunberry Restaurant And Bar, Vaughan's Irish Pub, Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour, Sorella Hartford. Bring a coat, bring an appetite, and bring a friend who will split dessert (this is not a solo mission).

Simsbury | Cozy Crochet Winter Series | 6-8:30PM $ - Grab a seat at Gather On Hopmeadow (961 Hopmeadow St) and learn to make something cozy enough to survive January. No experience needed, just show up ready to vibe and pretend you are the kind of person who owns a yarn basket. Lock It In

East Windsor | Disc Golf Putting League | 6:30PM $ - Midweek stress? Replace it with putts, pints, and a tiny bit of competitive trash talk at Problem Solved Brewing Company (2 N Rd, Unit 4). Show up with a couple putters and pretend you totally meant to hit chain every time. Check-in’s start at 6PM.

Hartford | Riverwood Poetry Series Hosts New Book Launches | 7-9PM - Real Art Ways (56 Arbor St) is serving up book launches, live readings, and an open mic for the first 10 poets who sign up, which is basically a choose-your-own-adventure night for your inner artsy kid.

East Granby | Beatles Night | 7-9PM - Pull up to East Granby Public Library (24 Center St) for Beatles stories, rare bootlegs, and the kind of deep-cut trivia that makes you go “wait, that is insane”. Bring a fellow Beatlemaniac or adopt one at the door. Space is limited so register ASAP. Register

Enfield | Music Bingo | 7PM - Free to play, four rounds, prizes every round, and your brain gets to do the fun kind of work while your hands do the wing-and-fries kind of work at The Yarde Tavern (1658 King St).

Hartford | Disney On Ice: Frozen & Encanto | 7PM $ - Opening night at PeoplesBank Arena (One Civic Center Plaza). Big costumes, bigger music, and the kind of skating that makes you quietly respect people with insane ankle strength. Runs 1/15-1/18 with multiple showtimes. Deets

Hartford | Hidden History: Film Screening & Panel Discussion | 5:30-7:30PM $ - Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (1 Elizabeth St) is doing a reception at 5:30, then the screening and discussion kick off at 6PM with a panel that digs into Native perspectives during the American Revolution. Smart night out energy. Tix

Manchester | Hat Day: Decorate your own | 10AM-12PM $ - Lutz Children’s Museum (247 South Main St) is letting kids decorate a hat and take it home. Hats are available with a $10 donation, which is a pretty solid deal for a wearable craft win.

Southington | New Beginnings Intention Jar Workshop | 6-8PM $ - Witchdoctor Brewing Company (168 Center St) is hosting an intention-jar workshop that feels like goal setting, but with more herbs, seeds, dried flowers, and good vibes. Passes

Enfield | Winter Starry Night for Couples Paint Party | 7-9PM $ - Date night, but you leave with matching Van Gogh-ish winter canvases and a healthy amount of paint-related confidence at Tipsy Paint Brush & Kil'n It Pottery (610 Enfield St). One ticket covers two people and two 16x20 canvases, so yes, this is a two-for-one romance situation. Secure Your Spots

Manchester | Comic: Jiaoying Summers (1/16 & 1/17) | 7PM & 9:30PM $ - Jiaoying just dropped a Hulu special and she’s a viral menace in the best way, turning immigrant life, identity, and motherhood into sharp, crowd-winning standup. Expect big laughs and even bigger “yep, that’s me” moments at Hartford Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr). Deets

New Britain | Mystery at The Museum (1/16-1/18) | 6-8PM $ - New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington St) turns into a live, interactive “who did it” with Hole in the Wall Theater, plus hors d’oeuvres baked into the ticket. It’s 21+, so the suspects can be mildly buzzed, as history intended. Sunday show 2-4PM Gain Entry

Newington | Friends Winterfest | 6:30-9:30PM $ - Lucy Robbins Welles Library (100 Garfield St) is throwing an adults-only tasting night with wine, beer, snacks, auctions, and live music by The Boomers. Tickets are $30, which is basically the price of two trendy cocktails, except this one comes with entertainment and a good cause. More Info

Tariffville | Glow in The Dark Yoga (Glowga!) | 6:30-7:45PM $ - Blacklights, neon, a fun playlist, and a yoga class that’s actually built for real humans at YDF Center (2 Tunxis Rd, Suite 206). Wear white or neon if you want the full “I am literally glowing” experience. Lock It In

Berlin | Singles Dinner & Dance Party | 7PM-12AM $ - If your 2026 resolutions included “meet humans in real life,” this is your move: 300+ singles, a dinner buffet (8-9:30PM), dessert at 10PM, and a big dance floor at Casa Mia at the Hawthorne (2447 Berlin Tpke). Admission is $48 cash only, pay at the door.

East Windsor | 9-Ball Tri-Annual | 8AM - Pool people, this one’s for you: the 9-ball Tri-Annual is posted at Snaps Billiards & Bar (2 North Rd). Start time is 8AM, and the listing notes times and rounds are TBD, so expect tournament vibes.

Manchester | Silk City Board Game Group for Adults | 12:30-4:30PM - A free adults-only board game hang at Manchester Public Library (586 Main St) where the games are provided and light refreshments show up like a quiet little bonus. Come solo or bring a friend who “doesn’t like board games” (they always end up liking board games).

South Windsor | Artist Market | 10AM-4PM - Wander the vendor tables, sip something from the Birdhouse Coffee and CT Valley Brewing crew (765 Sullivan Ave), and pretend you’re “just browsing.” It’s a one-day market packed with local makers, painters, and designers.

Windsor | CT Field Trip Passport Kickoff + Meetup at Dudleytown Brewing Co | 1-6PM - Kick off the Field Trip Passport season with fellow stamp-chasers at Dudleytown Brewing Company (1001 Day Hill Rd). It’s free to attend, and they’re doing free brewery tours for passport holders (you RSVP for tour slots). Snag your Passport

Enfield | Books & Brews Monthly Book Swap | 12-6PM - Bring a book you’re ready to “emotionally detach” from, swap for something new, and call it self-care at Powder Hollow Brewery (504 Hazard Ave).

Hartford | Herbal Harmony Yoga w/ Sarah | 12-1:30PM $ - An all-levels yoga sesh at Dead Language Beer Project (1429 Park St) that’s sponsored by Fine Fettle, so yes, it’s equal parts stretch, chill, and “I’m doing something healthy-ish today.” Passes

West Hartford | Expressions Songwriters Series | 2-4PM - Slide into New Park Brewing’s The Green Room (485 New Park Ave) for a songwriter hang where the stories hit first and the beer follows immediately after.

East Granby | Soap-Making Workshop at Brignole Vineyards | 6PM $ - New year, new hobby: pull up to Brignole Vineyards (103 Hartford Ave) and make your own soap like the artisanal person you swear you are. It’s the rare Monday night plan that ends with something useful. Tix

Hartford | Amistad for the Culture: MLK Community Day | 12-4PM - Head to The Wadsworth (600 Main St) for a free community day built around art, reflection, and actually doing something meaningful with your afternoon. Expect art-making, performances, tours, and kid-friendly stuff like a music workshop and dance recital.

New Britain | MLK Day: Access for All Community Day | 11AM-2PM - Free admission all day at the New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington St) with a full “Choose Love” lineup: drumming, poetry workshop, interactive dance, guided gallery convos, plus drop-in art activities for anyone who wants to do something meaningful and still have fun doing it.

1/14
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Booyah Plays The Doors | 9PM $
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Maximilian Wilfinger | 7-10PM

1/16
⬢ Bloomfield - Back East Brewing Co | Tino & Malone | 6PM
⬢ Bristol - Bleachers Bar | Aquanett | 9PM
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Friday Funk Night | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - Infinity Music Hall | Railroad Earth | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | F & Blues | 8-11PM
⬢ Milldale - Kinsman Brewing Co. | Presence (Led Zeppelin Tribute) | 7-11PM $

1/17
⬢ Berlin - The Truck Bar | The Great Escape Band (Journey Tribute) | 8PM
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | The Four Horsemen (Metallica Tribute) | 7PM $
⬢ Hartford - Arch St. Tavern | Mystic Dead | 8PM $
⬢ Manchester - The Hungry Tiger | The Boneyard | 9PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | The Grand Apres | 12-11PM
⬢ Simsbury - Old Well Tavern | Creamery Station | 8-9PM
⬢ West Hartford - New Park Brewing | Dumb Love (STP Tribute) | 8PM $