🏴‍☠️ Pirates invaded Lake Compounce on July 12th, catch the new Splashbucklers stunt show (sword fights, flips, and free eye-patch swag) sailing daily on the lake through Aug 17!

🏠🔥 Hartford just clinched the title of “hottest housing market” in the U.S., with roughly 60 % of homes selling over ask and bidding wars the new block party norm.

🚂 Windsor Locks’ 19th-century depot is getting a $65 million glow-up—and should be boarding passengers again by September, complete with high-level platforms, a café, and a Bradley-bound bus link!

Riverfront Recapture is the scrappy 1981 start-up that hacked Hartford’s concrete moat, peeled back I-91, and dropped 148 acres of riverfront real estate right in the public’s lap, four parks laced together by boardwalks and a skyline-flexing pedestrian bridge. Think Mortensen Plaza pop-up concerts, Riverside Park crew shells slicing past office towers, and charter-oak sunsets that slap so hard even the insurance crowd forgets their spreadsheets. All told, nearly a million wanderers a year now claim front-row seats to the Connecticut River, proof that a nonprofit with zero zoning power can still bully Mother Nature into giving back the view.

And they’re just getting warmed up: the crew just snagged 60 more flood-plain acres for a fifth park and green-lit a 2-mile trail sprint to Windsor because why stop at four when you can build a waterfront empire? Those free festivals (Dragon Boat, Food Truck, Hartbeat Music) and sunrise yoga classes aren’t charity; they’re top-of-funnel magic that keeps sponsors, MDC water money, and donor checks flowing faster than spring runoff. So grab a lawn chair, flex that “I knew them when” swagger, and watch Riverfront Recapture turn Hartford’s once-forgotten riverbank into New England’s coolest back-porch party.

Hartford is going full multiverse. ConnectiCon (July 17-20th) returns to CT Convention Center (100 Columbus Blvd) , and it’s not just a convention, it’s the Super Bowl of fandom. Cosplayers are rolling deep, panels are popping off - The vibes? Immaculate. You’ll witness Deadpool grabbing coffee with Gandalf, Baby Yoda in a Baby Björn, and a literal army of Spider-People navigating the merch booths like it’s a mission. Even if you’re not into cosplay, the people-watching is S-tier. Bonus points if you spot a group of T-Rexes doing the Cha Cha Slide (it’s happened before).

There’s also tabletop games, artist alleys, obscure fan meetups, and panels that range from “Writing Your Own Fantasy Epic” to “How to Make Armor Out of Foam and Hope.” Whether you’re a hardcore cosplayer or just tagging along for the vibes, this is peak summer energy. Bring water, bring a phone charger, and maybe bring a cape, just in case.

🛍 Vagabond Trading Post just rolled into West Hartford’s GastroPark—open Thu-Sun with a truckload of killer closets and swap-worthy finds!

🍦 El Sol Scoops just unlocked 629 Main - piling up creamy cones, choco-tacos, and tres-leches bliss every day noon-9!

☕️ Aroma Joe’s lands on 279 Queen Street in Southington on July 21st slinging java, and a full week of swag-tastic giveaways!

🌭 Steve’s Top Dog & Smokehouse just rolled into 18 Main St, Terryville - grab the loaded dogs now and come back Saturdays for the full pit‑smoked feast!

Samuel Colt was the 19th-century growth hacker who swapped A/B tests for black powder. At 15 he papered Ware, Massachusetts with flyers promising to “blow a raft sky-high on Ware Pond” , then actually did it, drenching the Fourth-of-July crowd and proving he could marry explosives to electricity before most kids mastered cursive. A year later his boarding-school fireworks burned down a building, so Dad shipped him to sea, where the ship’s wheel inspired his revolving-cylinder brainstorm. Fast-forward to U.S. Patent #9430X (Feb 25 1836) and the first commercial six-shooter. Cash-poor, Colt bankrolled R&D by touring as “Dr. Coult of New-York, London & Calcutta,” dosing audiences with nitrous oxide until the Texas Rangers, fresh off gun-toting heroics under Jack Hays and Sam Walker, ordered 1,000 revolvers in 1847, vaulting him from sideshow hustler to defense-industry MVP.

Colt plowed his windfall into a blue-domed Hartford armory that cranked out ≈150 guns a day by 1856 - an assembly line so slick Henry Ford would later crib the playbook. Around it he built “Coltsville,” a 200-acre company town with Swiss-cottage worker housing, a beer garden, social hall, and even the Church of the Good Shepherd (commissioned later by widow Elizabeth) so employees could praise the Lord after polishing triggers. Ever the gadget guy, Colt teamed with Samuel Morse on tar-coated underwater telegraph cables, dreaming of real-time orders from Wall Street to Sandy Hook. By the time pneumonia dropped him at 47 in 1862, his estate stood at $15 million, roughly $400 million today! Elizabeth Colt kept the factory humming for decades, proof that Connecticut’s original SaaS wasn’t software at all; it was a six-shot subscription serviced by world-class marketing.

Avon | Do Re You Me | 11AM - Little ones (and their grown-ups) can groove on the Avon Public Library lawn (281 Country Club Rd) with Ms. Jaimee’s joyful music class. Singing, movement, sunshine - what more could a Tuesday need? Free Registration

Manchester | Speed Dating: 30’s-40’s | 7PM $ - Ditch the DMs and meet IRL at Urban Lodge Brewing (47 Purnell Pl). It’s fast, flirty, and full of potential - good beer helps too. Register

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Bristol - The Rockwell Theater | The Speakers | 6:30PM
⬢ East Hartford - Carmine’s | Paisley’s Allstar Jazz | 7:30PM
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | Dayseeker | 7:30PM $
⬢ Enfield - Town Hall | Bon Jovi Night | 7PM

Hartford | Mystic Dead @ Hartford Athletic Grateful Dead Night | 5:30-7PM - Kick off the night with some Jerry vibes at Trinity Health Stadium during Hartford Athletic’s Grateful Dead-themed match. Free with your game ticket. Secure your spot

Manchester | Comic: Patrick Warburton | 7PM $ - Yep, that voice. Joe from Family Guy and Kronk from Emperor’s New Groove. Patrick Warburton hits the Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr) for a night of deadpan delivery and animated absurdity. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Glastonbury - Riverfront Park | Larry Stevens Band | 6:30-8:30PM
⬢ Hartford - Elizabeth Park | Le' Mixx | 8PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Abreu Latin Jazz & William Mendoza | 6-10PM
⬢ Southington - Town Green | Smokehouse | 7-9PM

Hartford | ConnectiCon (7/17-7/20) | All Day $ - Cosplay, comics, chaos. Connecticut’s biggest pop culture convention lands at the Connecticut Convention Center (100 Columbus Blvd). Fandom lovers unite for a spectacular four-day festival filled with everything geek culture! Info & Passes

Hartford | Riverfront Food Truck Festival (7/17-7/19) | All Day - It’s a three-day food frenzy at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza (300 Columbus Blvd). Tacos, dumplings, BBQ, desserts - if it’s served on wheels, it’s here. Live music, local vendors, and a side of river views. More Info

Manchester | Off-Main Experience | 5-8PM - Main Street energy without the traffic. Follow the music, stay for the vibes. Explore live art, open businesses, pop-up shops, and local flavor during this celebration of all things Manchester at (Purnell Place).

Wethersfield | Sunset Cruise | 6:45PM $ - Climb aboard for golden hour views and chill river vibes on this scenic cruise departing from Wethersfield Cove (160 Middletown Ave). It’s BYO snacks, cozy seats, and Instagram-worthy skies as you float into the summer evening. Reserve your spot early - these seats sail fast.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ East Windsor - East Windsor Park | Drivetime | 6:30PM
⬢ Newington - Mill Pond Park | Still Kickin | 6PM
⬢ Windsor - Windsor Town Green | Netta Waller | 6:30PM

Hartford | Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (7/18-7/20) | 6-10PM - Bushnell Park turns into a jazz mecca. Enjoy sets by Sounds of A&R, Ilya Serov, Ace Livingston & Friends, and more through the weekend. Free, rain or shine.

Hartford | Pratt Street Night Market | 5-9PM - One-block retail paradise courtesy of Hartford Prints (57 Pratt St). Food trucks, local makers, cold drinks, music - it’s community buzz on blacktop.

Manchester | Stand-up: Lavell Crawford | 7PM & 9:30PM $ - You’ve seen him in Breaking Bad, Workaholics, and Last Comic Standing - now see him live at the Funny Bone Comedy Club (194 Buckland Hills Dr). Passes

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | EARTH: Black Sabbath Tribute | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | Rare of Breed | 7PM $
⬢ Hartford - Webster Underground | Summer Shutdown | 9PM $
⬢ Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Richard Badowski Blues Band | 8PM
⬢ Milldale - Kinsman Brewing Co | Stevie Nicks Tribute | 8PM $
⬢ Newington - Mill Pond | Spirit Shaker | 6-9:30PM
⬢ Simsbury - Preforming Arts Center | The Music of Tina Turner | 7:30PM $
⬢ South Windsor - CT Valley Brewing Co | The Savage Brothers | 6:30PM

New Britain | Salsa Street Series | 5-8PM - Downtown New Britain (230 Main St) transforms into a Latin dance floor. Free beginner lessons courtesy of Salsa Squad, live salsa bands, and mojito-ready vibes. Don’t just watch, move those hips!

Newington | Carnival & Fireworks | 10AM-10PM - Mill Pond Park (123 Garfield St) turns into midway magic with rides, games, local food, and a fireworks finale to close the night at 9:30PM. Bring $ for funnel cake and funnel dreams.

South Windsor | Kickball Tournament | 11AM-6PM $ - Head to John J Mitchell Field (75 Brookfield St) where Clubwaka hosts this loud, fun, zero-pressure tournament. Teams, trophies, and tailgate vibes - all ages, all laughs. More Info & Registration

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Berlin - Casa Mia at The Hawthorne | Eight To The Bar | 7PM
⬢ Berlin - The Truck Bar | The Avenue | 8PM
⬢ Bloomfield - Dudleytown Brewing Co. | 3 Hours Later | 6PM
⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Zach Nugent’s Glendale Train ft. Wolfman Jack | 8PM $
⬢ Hartford - Parkville Market | Home by Ten | 7-10PM
⬢ Simsbury - Simsbury Farms | The Swing Syndicate | 6:30PM
⬢ West Hartford - Mill Pond Park | Vinyl Countdown | 12:30PM

Hartford | Disney Cosplay Shoot @ ConnetiCon | 1-2PM - Kate the Great Cosplays is hosting a royally awesome Disney/Pixar meetup at the Con Center Garden (same spot as the last 3 years). Show up in costume or just as a fan - photos will be sorted by movie, character, and pure nostalgia. Ends with one epic group shot. No Star Wars or Marvel, this one’s for the mouse.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Manchester - Murphy’s Pub | Chris Mardola | 4:30-8PM
⬢ Marlborough - The Farm at Carter Hill | Jeff Pitchell | 3PM $
⬢ South Windsor - CT Valley Brewing Co | Lower Valley Guys | 2-5PM

Avon | Summer Kids Lego Club | 4:30PM - Avon Library’s (281 Country Club Rd) Summer Kids Lego Club is back and it’s basically Shark Tank for future architects. No screens, just endless bricks, wild imagination, and tiny masterpieces taking over the library tables. Free Registration

Hartford | Monday Movie Night: Wall-E | 6PM - The Marketron is firing up for a family flick night at Parkville Market (1400 Park St). This week? Wall-E rolls in with heart, humor, and a little eco-wisdom. Bonus: kids eat FREE with any adult meal from the same vendor. So grab a bite, snag a seat, and let the robot do the entertaining.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Bushnell Park | Amina Claudine Myers | 7:30-9PM
⬢ New Britain - Walnut Hill Park | BackTrax | 7-9PM