IRL: I’m talking with a local brewery about hosting a Connecticut Buzz meetup, which could end up being a tasting, a guided tour, or just a good old-fashioned community hangout with a beer in hand. I’ll keep you posted as the details come together.

Growth: We’ve now got over 6,000 people in this community, which is pretty wild, and we just passed 2,000 on Instagram (yeah I know, not exactly viral, but I’m proud of it… I’m not exactly social media native over here). I’d love to keep growing this as much as we can, so if you’ve been enjoying it, please forward it to friends, family, or even someone you’d like to keep busy at local events so they bother you a little less.

The response to the idea of a Let’s Learn Mahjong event was kind of ridiculous in the best way, which tells me a lot of you are very ready to start slamming tiles and pretending you know what’s going on. I’m now talking with local teachers and trying to get all the moving parts lined up: date, time, location, and what the final price will actually be. My goal is to make this happen in early to mid May, most likely on a Tuesday or Wednesday night... or honestly both, if enough of you want in.

I also heard you loud and clear on pricing. The $50 to $60 range was just me throwing out an early guess, and I think this will likely land closer to $30 to $40 for a two-hour guided session, which feels a lot more reasonable. We’ll most likely start with traditional Chinese-style mahjong, since that gives you the real foundation and makes it easier to branch into American mahjong later. Also, my brother in Shanghai would absolutely roast me if I kicked this whole thing off with American mahjong first, which would put it right up there with the other crimes we’ve committed against Chinese food over here.

Dinner Club has honestly been one of my favorite things we’ve started. Our Wethersfield Dinner Club was a big success, and it was a blast seeing a bunch of strangers show up, loosen up, and leave feeling like they’d known each other way longer than two hours.

Next up, we’re heading to Manchester on May 21st at 6:30 PM, and I’d love to fill this one up, so if you’ve been thinking about coming, this is your sign. You can now add a plus one, and the $16 reservation fee saves your spot at the table.

Now that the weather’s finally getting its act together, these are a few of my favorite patios in the area to post up with a drink, a meal, and a little extra sunshine. I know I missed some good ones, so hit reply and let me know which Hartford County patios deserve a spot on the list.

Market Grille | Manchester

This is the patio for people who want their drink with a side of skyline. Catch it around sunset and the whole place feels like Hartford County showing off a little.

Rooftop 120 | Glastonbury

Rooftop 120 has late-night patio energy written all over it. It’s elevated, buzzy, and built for the kind of night where “just one” turns into a full evening.

Millwright’s | Simsbury

A patio next to an actual waterfall is just a ridiculous flex. Best enjoyed mid-day or in the afternoon, when you can slow down, stare at the water, and pretend you don’t have anywhere to be.

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar | Wethersfield

This is your evening cocktails patio, plain and simple. The river is right there, the view is wide open, and the whole place feels made for lingering after the first round.

GastroPark | West Hartford

GastroPark is less about a quiet meal and more about good daytime chaos. Food trucks, drinks, people everywhere, and that easygoing “let’s hang out for way longer than planned” vibe.

Parkville Market | Hartford

Parkville is the patio move when you want energy, options, and a crowd. It’s a daytime people-watching spot in the best way, with enough food and drink choices to keep everybody happy.

CT “Did You Know”: Local Property Tax Nuances in CT

In Connecticut, no two towns are the same when it comes to property taxes. Every town sets their mill rate in the spring with tax bills typically due on July 1 and January 1.

Want to see a side by side comparison for the towns you’re eyeing to understand how taxes impact your monthly payment and overall buying power? Reach out today for a personalized breakdown so you can shop with confidence.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Charley, a young chinchilla with main-character energy: a tunnel-loving, snack-obsessed little guy who’d happily take dust baths all day and is just waiting for the right home to let his personality really take off.

🏡House of the week: Tucked on 1.44 acres backing up to protected land, this 1,803-square-foot custom home feels more like a private retreat than a house, with a cascading brook, giant boulders, and even a private swimming hole right in the backyard. Inside, the showstopper is the 22-foot cathedral ceiling and south-facing wall of windows. Have a look!

🥾Trail of the week: Talcott Mountain in Simsbury is a solid one if you want a hike with an actual payoff: a moderate climb that leads to Heublein Tower and big views over the Hartford area. Park at Talcott Mountain State Park and take the main trail up. It’s a manageable trek with a legit view at the top.

🔭Sky report: The Lyrid meteor shower peaks the night of April 21 into April 22, and NASA says that is your best shot at catching a legit batch of shooting stars, especially looking toward the eastern sky later at night.

The circus is rolling back into Hartford, and yes, this is still one of those things that somehow feels just as fun as it did when you were a kid. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey takes over PeoplesBank Arena April 23-26 with shows on Thursday and Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 11 am, 3 pm, and 7 pm, and Sunday at 12 pm and 4 pm. The pre-show starts 30 minutes before showtime and is included with admission, so this is one of those rare cases where showing up early is actually the move.

Only 42.86% of you got this one right: Hartford’s earliest European outpost was the Dutch Huys de Hoop, or “House of Hope,” built in 1633 as a fur-trading post along the Connecticut River. Before any of that, the area was known as Saukiog or Suckiaug, the Indigenous name for the land, and the broader region was historically tied to the Wangunk people. When Thomas Hooker’s group arrived in 1635, they briefly called the new English settlement Newtown before renaming it Hartford in 1637, a nod to Hertford, England, where founder Samuel Stone was born. So the city basically went through a full identity shuffle: Saukiog to Huys de Hoop to Newtown to Hartford.

From Hartford to Greensboro, N. Carolina for 78 bucks* non-stop roundtrip, end of August for an extended weekend stay. See the deal!

From Hartford to San Juan, Puerto Rico for 128 bucks* non-stop roundtrip, early May for a week stay. See the deal!

*Prices at the time of writing subject to change

Berlin | Living with Connecticut's Wildlife | 6PM - Learn about black bears, coyotes, bobcats and more at Berlin Peck Library (234 Kensington Rd). Learn!

Hartford | Circus Fire | 7:30PM | ($) - A powerful TheaterWorks production that revisits the 1944 Hartford circus fire through immersive storytelling and multimedia design. Interesting (Running through May)

Hartford | Native Gardens | 7:30 PM | ($) - A sharp, funny neighbor-vs-neighbor comedy where a garden dispute turns into a full-blown turf war at Hartford Stage (50 Church St). Nice (Runs through May 10th)

New Britain | Jazz Mini Concert | 6PM-7PM - New Britain Symphony Orchestra vocalists perform in the library's Periodicals Room.

Berlin | Kokedama Workshop | 6PM | ($) - Learn Japanese moss ball planting with Plant Kiosks' "Cocco the Great" (146 Mill St).

Bristol | 75th Annual Perry J. Spinelli Fishing Derby | 7:30AM-10AM Free youth fishing derby (ages 13 & under) at Rockwell Park Back Pond.

Hartford | Yours Truly: 19th Century Letters from Our Archive | 6-7PM - A free Stowe Center program digging into fascinating 19th-century letters from figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs. Learn

Manchester | Clay Handbuilding: Spring Blooms Mug | 6PM | ($) - Create a slab-built mug with springtime floral designs at The Firestone (1115 Main St). Create!

Newington | Acoustic Wednesdays | 6PM-9PM | - Live music with Brian Walker at The Flying Monkey (2095 Berlin Tpke).

Simsbury | Earth Day Trout Release | 12PM | - Release trout with DEEP Wildlife Biologist at Stratton Brook State Park (149 Farms Village Rd).

South Windsor | Earth Day Trail Walk | 10AM | - Guided trail walk with Whole Foods samples and L.L. Bean at Evergreen Walk (501 Evergreen Way). Explore!

West Hartford | Nature's Pharmacy Lecture | 11AM-2PM | ($) - How modern remedies derive from the natural world at Pond House Cafe (1555 Asylum Ave). Learn!

Glastonbury | Cosmic Extremes Planetarium | 6PM | ($) - Journey to black holes and giant stars at Glastonbury Planetarium (95 Oak St). Explore!

Hartford | Bar Rated Trivia at Dead Language Beer Project | 6:30PM - Weekly themed trivia at Parkville's craft brewery (1429 Park St).

Simsbury | Paint and Sip | 6:30PM | ($) - Step-by-step painting session with Deborah Leonard at Simsbury Free Library (749 Hopmeadow St). Create!

Bristol | Spring/Summer Pop Shop | 4PM-7PM - New arrivals and home goods at Cinder + Salt (409 Broad St).

Farmington | Author Luncheon: Amity Gaige | 11:30AM | ($) - Bestselling author of "Heartwood" at Farmington Polo Club (162 Town Farm Rd). Read!

Hartford | Ringling Bros. Circus | 7PM | ($) - The Greatest Show On Earth returns at PeoplesBank Arena (1 Civic Center Plz). Watch!

Hartford | Fine Art & Flowers | 12PM-5PM | ($) - Floral arrangements inspired by museum art at The Wadsworth (600 Main St). Explore!

Hartford | Bingo Night | 6PM | ($) - 10 games, cash prizes and meet a guide dog at Portuguese Club of Hartford. Play!

Southington | Witchdoctor Brewing 9th Anniversary Mile | 10AM - Various events all weekend. Deets

Berlin | The Great Escape | 8PM - Back by popular demand at The Truck Bar (151 Webster Square Rd).

Bristol | M-PACT | 7PM | ($) - World-class jazz/pop a cappella at The Rockwell Theater, doors 6PM (70 Memorial Blvd). Enjoy

Canton | Grand Bazaar Grand Opening | 10AM-5PM - Antiques, vintage, jewelry and art at Canton Village (220 Albany Tpke).

Hartford | Workshop: Calligraphy that Inspired a Nation | 2-4PM | ($) - Try your hand at Revolutionary-era writing in this hands-on workshop using dip nibs, ink, and historic script. Learn

Hartford | Earth Day Clean-Up at Bushnell Park | 10AM-1PM - Community clean-up before On Earth celebration, meet at 1 Jewell St. Clean

Hartford | On Earth 2026 | 1PM - Annual sustainability celebration at Pratt Street downtown.

Hartford | Hartford Athletic vs. Rhode Island FC | 7PM | ($) - Hot dogs, beer, and a solid Saturday night soccer match at Trinity Health Stadium. Enjoy

Simsbury | Dead Dawgs | 7PM-10PM - Live music at Maple Tree Cafe (781 Hopmeadow St).

Suffield | Tagliatelle Pasta Class | 11AM-1PM | ($) - Learn handmade pasta at Karenoughcrafts (11 High St Suite 104). Cook!

Wethersfield | City Nature Challenge Walk | 10AM | - Guided bio blitz at Wolf Parcel (412 Hartford Ave). Explore!

Windsor | Gemstones and Elements Class | 1:30PM-3:30PM | ($) - Learn stone frequencies for healing at 570 Hayden Station Rd. Learn!

Windsor | Coffee House Concert: Porch Party Mamas | 7:30PM-9:30PM | ($) - Folk, Country, Celtic and Blues at Northwest Park (145 Lang Rd). Listen!

Berlin | FBCC Season Opener Car Show | 11AM-2PM - Mustangs, fast Fords and more at The Truck Bar (151 Webster Square Rd).

Bloomfield | CT Blue & Green Walk/5K | 8AM | ($) - Honor organ donors and celebrate transplant recipients at 340 W Newberry Rd. Walk!

East Windsor | Dutch King's Day & Tulip Picking | 4PM | ($) - Celebrate with games, music and tulips at Broad Brook Blooms (76 Graham Rd).

Hartford | Mosaic Necklace Workshop | 1PM-4PM | ($) - Create handmade necklaces at Mark Twain House (351 Farmington Ave). Create!

Hartford | One Time Weekend Album Release | 8PM | ($) - Rock/funk/jam at Infinity Music Hall. Rock!

Manchester | Hamilton Sing-Along Drag Brunch | 2PM-4PM | ($) - Sing Broadway favorites at Hartford Funny Bone. Sing!

Manchester | Wickham Park Bridal Open House | 12PM - Meet wedding vendors with tastings and carriage rides at 1329 Middle Tpke W.

Southington | Smokehouse Live | 2PM - Country music on fire at Cadillac Ranch (45 Jude Ln).

Wethersfield | Big Thrift Energy Pop-Up | 11AM-3PM - Curated thrift with DJ at Mill Street Marketplace (36 Mill St).

🦗🦗🦗

4/22

Simsbury | Earth Day Trout Release | 12PM - Release trout with DEEP Wildlife at Stratton Brook State Park (149 Farms Village Rd). Kids under 12 with adult.

4/24

Hartford | Ringling Bros. Circus | 7PM | ($) - The Greatest Show On Earth for children of all ages at PeoplesBank Arena. Watch!

4/25

Bristol | 75th Annual Perry J. Spinelli Fishing Derby | 7:30AM-10AM - Free youth fishing derby (ages 13 & under) at Rockwell Park Back Pond.

Simsbury | Spri

ng Paint and Sip for Kids | 10AM-11:30AM | ($) - Paint spring flowers with lemonade, ages 6+. Create!

4/26

Canton | National Crow & Raven Day | 1PM-4PM - Meet Eddie the crow, crafts and storytime at 1:30PM. Free with admission at Roaring Brook Nature Center (70 Gracey Rd).

Hartford | Princess Ball | 1PM-3PM | ($) - Meet princesses, dance and create memories at Parkville Market.

Southington | Goats N' Pajamas | 10AM-11AM | ($) - Dress goats in pajamas and tutus at Bradley Mountain Farm. Play!