Valentine’s Day is creeping up, which means it’s time to pretend you’re “not doing anything big”… and then casually show up with a charcuterie board that says I tried.

Board + Brie is rooted in Glastonbury and specializes in curated charcuterie boards and grazing tables designed to make every gathering unforgettable. Think: the kind of spread that makes people hover in the kitchen, take pics first, and suddenly “just have one more bite” twelve times.

Date night in, Galentine’s hang, family get-together, or a solo couch feast that you fully deserve… this is the move.

Perk for HartCo Buzz readers: Take 20% off any size board. Yep, any size. Bigger board, bigger bragging rights. Simply fill out the order form and enter BUZZ in the section “How did you hear about us?”

Go drool responsibly (and order ahead) on Instagram: @boardandbrie.gbury

I threw together a quick Valentine’s cheat sheet for Hartford County with the best meals and deals, local florists for the flowers, and small-batch sweets to finish strong. So fellas or ladies, you know what to do, shop local, treat your person, or treat yourself and call it self-care.

On Tuesday, February 10 at 11:30am, E&D Pizza Company (200 W. Main St, Avon) is donating and delivering 20 hot pizzas to House of Bread (27 Chestnut St, Hartford) as part of Slice Out Hunger’s nationwide Pizza Across America push, and it is exactly the kind of “small business does big things” story we need in peak winter. While this is a national initiative tackling food insecurity, the impact here is super local: warm meals going straight to neighbors who need them most during dangerous cold. As owner Michael Androw puts it, “As a small business, we’re rooted in this community, and that comes with a responsibility to show up.” Translation: less talk, more action, more pizza, more people fed.

Connecticut Buzz Dinner Club is back Feb 19 at 6pm in Glastonbury, and we’ve already got 35 people in the mix. If winter’s been feeling a little isolating, like the days are short and so is your list of “people I’ve seen in real life,” consider this your low-pressure reset. We’ll match you with a table that fits your vibe, you show up hungry, and by the end of the night you’ve got a few new faces in your phone and at least one “wait… we should actually do that” plan on the calendar.

No awkward networking. No small talk Olympics. Just a fun night with locals who also wanted something more than the couch. Grab your spot!

February 14th Hartford’s Hearts & Arts for Families runs from 10AM-2PM at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (600 Main St), and it’s the kind of easy family outing that checks every box: free admission, a special family tour, friendship bracelet making, and mixed-media valentine projects centered on love, kindness, and creativity. Then at 2PM, you can keep the day rolling with a free screening of The Wild Robot, which makes this one of those rare plans that feels thoughtful, fun, and genuinely effortless from start to finish. Plus, free culture is tough to beat.

🔥KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot just opened at 475 Flatbush Ave in Hartford with AYCE vibes and a full bar.

☕️Victus Coffee opened at 1001 Hebron Ave. in Glastonbury inside Square Peg, with a drive-thru, pastries, and purpose-driven brews.

✨Sycamore Vintage Home Goods is now open at 2 Railroad Street, Simsbury with curated furniture, decor, pottery, plus plants.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Bagel, a 6-month-old, 30-ish lb mixed-breed pup who already knows sit (especially when snacks are involved) and has major sweet, wiggly energy once he warms up.

🏡House of the week: This one’s a 1786 Colonial with 3 beds, 2 baths, and 1,491 sq ft of “they don’t build ’em like this anymore” character. Bonus: there’s a barn that could be finished into extra space, aka your future workshop, studio, or “I’m totally going to start woodworking” era. Check it!

🎨Indoor gem of the week: Walk through iconic Norman Rockwell originals on a guided tour at the New Britain Museum of American Art (ends 2/15). More.

🔭Sky report: Jupiter is the easiest thing to spot in the evening sky over Hartford County right now, shining bright like a steady “that one” star and hanging up for hours after sunset. Orion is still front-and-center later in the evening (with Taurus nearby and the Pleiades looking like a tiny cluster of glitter), so if you can step outside for five minutes and dodge a few streetlights, you’ll catch a really solid winter-sky lineup.

Berlin | The Conscious Plate: Local, Seasonal & Sustainable | 5-6PM - Head to Hungerford Nature Center (205 Farmington Ave) for a chat on eating local, seasonal, and sustainable without turning dinner into homework. Sign Up

Bloomfield | Hearts & Crafts Vendor Fair | 4:30-6:30PM - Swing by Gillette Ridge (1360 Hall Blvd) for an easy browse of local vendors with light fare and a heart-health cause baked in, donations welcome.

Enfield | Music Bingo | 7PM - Bingo, but with song clips, prizes, and the confidence of someone who definitely knows the lyrics at Wood-n-Tap Enfield (49 Palomba Dr).

Manchester | A Valentine’s Tai Chi Experience: Free Class for Couples & Besties | 5PM - Bring your person (or your bestie) for a chill, feel-good class at Academy of Martial Arts (1404 Tolland Turnpike) and call it your healthy date night. Register

Manchester | Lighted Sea Glass Hearts Workshop | 6-8PM $ - Make a glowing sea glass heart at Elicit Brewing Co (165 Adams St). Deets

Milldale | Boot Scootin Brew: Valentine’s Day Line Dancing Edition | 6-9PM $ - You’ll learn enough steps to act like this is your thing now at Kinsmen Brewing Co (409 Canal St).

Enfield | Galentine's Sip & Stitch Crochet Class | 6:30-8:30PM $ - Grab the girls, grab a drink, and pretend you’re “just gonna do one row” at Powder Hollow Brewery (504 Hazard Ave). Secure a Spot

Southington | Beer & Chocolate Pairing | 6:30PM - The only acceptable midweek pairing is beer + chocolate at Witchdoctor Brewing Company (168 Center St). Tix

Berlin | Shake, Sip & Shop Cocktail Class | 6-8PM $ - Learn to mix something dangerous (in a fun way) and browse while you’re at it at Berlin Kiosks (146 Mill St).

Glastonbury | Sunstruck | 6-7:30PM $ - A planetarium night at Glastonbury Planetarium (95 Oak St) that’s basically “space vibes, but make it cozy.” Gain Entry

Hartford | Exhibition Opening Reception: Drawn Here | 5:30-7:30PM - Pop in for a free opening reception for “Drawn Here: Stories from Hartford’s North End” at Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (1 Elizabeth St).

Manchester | Puff & Paint | 6-8PM $ - A little painting, a little puffing, a lot of “wow I’m actually kind of talented” energy at Elicit Brewing Co (165 Adams St). Tix

Hartford | Speed Dating Social 21+ | 8PM $ - If your dating app has started to feel like a part-time job, go meet actual humans at The Webster Underground (31 Webster St). Deets

Hartford | When a Woman’s Fed Up | 7:30PM $ - A night of live-on-stage storytelling and energy at Mortensen Hall, The Bushnell (166 Capitol Ave). Get Access

Manchester | Comic: Frank Caliendo | 6:30PM $ - Impressions so good you’ll start second-guessing reality at Hartford Funny Bone (194 Buckland Hills Dr Suite 1054). Tix

Manchester | Galentine’s Cake Class | 6-8PM $ - Bring your besties and your “I watch baking shows” confidence for a hands-on cake night at Craves by Aves (330 Main St Ste 5). More Info

Berlin | Valentine’s Paint & Sip | 6-9PM $ - Date night, bestie night, or “I just want wine and a canvas” night at The Pearson Events Venue (2590 Berlin Turnpike). Lock In

Glastonbury | Valentine Single Mingle | 1-5PM - Wristbands, low-pressure mingling, and brewery vibes at Hops on the Hill (275 Dug Rd).

Hartford | Valentine’s Day Karaoke, Sip & Paint | 7-10PM $ - Sing like you mean it, paint like you don’t, and vibe out at Red Rock Tavern (369 Capitol Ave). Lock it Down

Manchester | The Fixery: Community Repair Pop-up | 10AM-2PM - Bring your busted stuff and let the fix-it heroes work their magic at WORK_SPACE Manchester (903 Main St). Register

New Britain | Open Reception: Outsider Artist Exhibit | 4-6PM - Pop in, meet the art, and feel cultured for once at Gallery66 (66 W Main St).

Plantsville | CT Cannabis Expo (2/14 & 2/15) | 10AM-5PM $ - Vendors, education, and a whole lot of curiosity under one roof at Aqua Turf Club (556 Mulberry St). Info

Plantsville | Galentine’s Day Glow Up | 1-4PM $ - Grab your friends and do the “new season, new me” infusion thing at Hydrology Bar (7 W Main St). More Info

Bloomfield | Dog Yoga & Dog Cookie Decorating Workshop | 10AM-12PM $ - Stretch with your pup, then decorate dog cookies at Fidelco Training Center (103 Vision Way). Passes

Broad Brook | Galentine’s Brunch | 10:30AM-12:30PM $ - Brunch, one drink included, and peak “we deserve this” energy at The German Club (75 Depot St).

Manchester | Fat Bike Trail Rides | 11AM-1PM - A weekly group ride that makes winter feel less rude, rolling out from the Line Street Lot at Case Mountain (Line St).

New Britain | Sound Healing & Meditation Spring Concert | 12-1:30PM $ - Hard reset with sound bowls and meditation at First Church New Britain (830 Corbin Ave)

Simsbury | Cross Country Skiing | 12PM - Bring your skis and glide around Rosedale Farm (19 E Weatogue St) with the Simsbury Land Trust crew.

West Hartford | Expressions Songwriters Series | 2-4PM - A Nashville-style songwriter round where the stories hit first at New Park Brewing (485 New Park Ave).

Wethersfield | Tet-Lunar New Year Festival & Marketplace | 12-5PM - Food, culture, and marketplace browsing at Pitkin Community Center (30 Greenfield St) that feels like a mini vacation without the airport.

Hartford | An Evening with Harmonia Rosales | 5:30-7:30PM $ - A can’t-miss artist talk and cultural moment with Harmonia Rosales at The Wadsworth (600 Main St).

2/12
Hartford | Engineers Week (2/12-2/14) | 11AM-2PM $ - Engineers Week kicks off at Connecticut Science Center (250 Columbus Blvd) with hands-on activities that make you feel smarter just for showing up.

2/14
Glastonbury | Valentine’s Day Craft (Ages 2+) | 3-4:15PM - A kid-friendly craft hour that’s basically adorable chaos at Welles-Turner Memorial Library (2407 Main St).

Manchester | Valentine’s Day for Kids | 1-4PM $ - Holiday crafts and kid chaos (the good kind) at Lutz Children’s Museum (247 S Main St).

Simsbury | Valentine’s Day Paint & Sip for Kids | 10-11:30AM $ - A cute, mess-friendly morning of painting at Gather on Hopmeadow (961 Hopmeadow St). Tix

West Hartford | Pinkalicious: The Musical (Gr. Pre-K -2) | 1PM $ - The Bushnell Children’s Theater presents a sugar-rush-in-the-best-way kids show at Mandell JCC, Herbert & Evelyn Gilman Theatre (335 Bloomfield Ave).

Wethersfield | Mrs. Rae’s School of Magic: Potion Class (Ages: under 12) | 2-2:30PM $ - A quick hit of whimsical wizardry for the little spell-casters at The Blackbird House (147 Main St). Sign Up

2/13
Broad Brook - Opera House | The Weeklings (Beatles Tribute) | 8PM $
Bristol - Bleachers Bar | Bass Sabbath (Black Sabbath Tribute) | 8PM $
Hartford - Black Eyed Sally’s | Beyond 1969 | 8PM
Hartford - The Bushnell | HSO Masterworks: Romeo & Juliet | 8PM $
Manchester - The Hungry Tiger | RGB | 9:30PM
Milldale - Kinsman Brewing Co. | The Stevie Experience (Stevie Nicks Tribute) | 6-10 $
West Hartford - New Park Brewing | Jazz Night Open Jam w/ Andrew Wilcox Band | 7PM

2/14
Berlin - The Truck Bar | Blondie & Beyond | 8-11PM $
Hartford - Arch St Tavern | Wolfman Jack | 7PM $
Hartford - The Webster | Loe Shimmy | 8PM $

2/15
South Windsor - CT Valley Brewing Co. | Mass-Conn-Fusion | 2-5PM