How we doing Hartford County!?

Today, November 10th, is National Civic Pride Day, and we're celebrating the people, places, and organizations that make Hartford County a great place to call home!

From volunteers and nonprofits making a difference to local artists, community projects, and neighbors going above and beyond, there's a lot of good happening right in our backyard.

We want to hear from YOU! Know a person, organization, or project making Hartford County a better place? Hit reply and tell us about them!

We're looking to feature more of these local heroes and community efforts right here in the newsletter. Big or small, if they're making a positive impact, they deserve a little recognition!

From some of the best local grinders to Thanksgiving takeout options and plenty of fun events around Hartford County, we've got a little bit of everything this week. Let's get into it!

-Todd DiGiovanni

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Call it a sub around here and you might get a look. Hartford County knows its grinders, but we went beyond the usual Italian combo to find 21 sandwiches worth the drive.

🥖 The Classics: My 10/10 chicken parm at Maple Giant Grinder, Franklin's meatball & sausage grinder, and Wethersfield Pizza House's cult-favorite chicken cutlet (bring cash).

🌎 Around the World: A loaded tripleta at Boricua Market, kielbasa & sauerkraut at Roly Poly, and the corned beef and pastrami “Both” Reuben at New York Pickle Deli.

✨ Something Different: Mortadella, pistachio cream & hot honey at Mozz & Co, or fried artichokes and pesto at Avventura.

A big thank you to everyone who came out to our Coffee Meetup at Heirloom Market in Wethersfield this past Saturday! ☕ It was great seeing people connect, share some laughs, and meet a few new faces over coffee. This is exactly why we started doing these events, and we're looking forward to bringing everyone together again soon!

🦃 Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us, and whether you're looking to skip the cooking entirely, order a full feast to go, or just find someone to handle the pies, we've got you covered. We rounded up some great Hartford County restaurants, caterers, and local bakeries, including prices, menus, and ordering deadlines, so you can spend less time stressing and more time eating.

Six Strangers. One Table. A Pretty Good Night Out. 🍽️

Tired of the same old routine? Our next Dinner Club is November 19 in Middletown, where we match you with five other locals for dinner at a mystery restaurant. No awkward networking, no pressure, just good food, new faces, and maybe a few new friends. We've already brought hundreds of Connecticut locals together. Why not be next?

Grab Your Seat →

Last week's trivia stumped quite a few of you! Only 23 of 76 readers (30%) guessed correctly: 10 POUNDS of butter! Amelia Simmons' 1796 Election Cake recipe also called for 30 quarts of flour, 14 pounds of sugar, 12 pounds of raisins, 36 eggs, and plenty of wine and brandy. These massive cakes became such a Hartford tradition that they were eventually known as Hartford Election Cakes. Apparently, Election Day used to be one heck of a party!

Curious what it tasted like? We found the original 1796 recipe and scaled it down to something you can actually make at home.

What to expect: Something between a spiced fruitcake and sweet bread, loaded with raisins and warm spices. Perfect with a cup of coffee, and thankfully, no need to buy 10 pounds of butter!

🧩 Got a few minutes to kill? Don't forget to give our Buzz Games a shot and see if you can keep that brain of yours sharp!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day. If you're looking for a way to honor those who have served, several towns around Hartford County are holding public ceremonies. Here are a few worth knowing about.

Wednesday, November 11 | Local Ceremonies

Something different: The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks is offering free admission to veterans and active-duty military, plus a special D-Day history presentation from 10:00–11:00 AM.

To all our veterans and military families, thank you for your service!

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Jack, a 5-month-old German Shepherd mix who's 30 pounds of puppy love and brains, adores kids and other dogs, and is ready to become your family's new best friend!

🏡House of the week: This 1923 brick Colonial has the kind of character you just can't replicate. Think arched doorways, beautiful hardwood floors, two fireplaces, and a sunroom that's begging for a morning coffee. Add four bedrooms, an updated kitchen, a stone patio, and a bonus parcel of land next door, and you've got a pretty special find. Have a look!

🔭Sky report: Keep an eye out November 11–12 as the Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks, with a chance of catching a spectacular fireball thanks to nearly moonless skies. The real highlight comes November 15–16, when Mars and Jupiter appear just over one degree apart in the southeastern sky before sunrise, close enough to admire together without a telescope. Not a morning person? Saturn is still putting on a show in the southern evening sky.

🍜 Canton | Ramen & Bao (Coming Soon) | Ramen, soup dumplings, bao, Taiwanese fried chicken, and more are coming to The Shops at Farmington Valley. Grand opening November 14!

🕹️ Suffield | Hometown Arcade (Coming Soon) | Retro gaming is making a comeback with classic arcade machines, pinball, Skeeball, air hockey, and modern consoles. Grand opening November 13 at 1 PM!

🎮 West Hartford | Level99 (Coming Soon) | A massive 43,000-square-foot playground featuring 50 interactive games, physical challenges, and a Two Roads restaurant and bar. Opens November 20 at The Corbin Collection!

🐔 Windsor Locks | Chick-fil-A (Now Open) | Bradley International Airport has a new spot for chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and waffle fries. Find it in the food court past security.

🥟 Windsor Locks | Sergio's Go (Now Open) | Cuban-inspired empanadas, sandwiches, and pastries have landed at Bradley Airport, offering travelers another quick bite past security.

Avon | Avon & Farmington’s Soldiers in the Revolution | 6:30 PM - A local historian traces the area’s first Revolutionary War soldiers at Avon Free Public Library. Historic!

Hartford | BOOP! The Musical | 7:30 PM $ - Betty Boop leaps off the screen and into Manhattan in this touring Broadway musical at The Bushnell (nightly through 11/15). Dazzling!

SEE VETERANS DAY EVENTS ABOVE

Canton | Rustic Homemade Breads with Sur La Table | 10 AM $- Bake crusty artisan loaves from scratch at The Shops at Farmington Valley. Toasty!

Farmington | Sound Healing & Cacao with Kelvin Young | 6 PM $ - A 90-minute sound bath and cacao session at Bridge Healing Arts Center. Blissful!

Glastonbury | Gerry Feeney of Galway | 6 PM - Irish tunes at Cotton Hollow Kitchen. Lilting!

Hartford | Press Play: Classic Rock | 7:30 PM $ - A Hartford Symphony quartet gives rock anthems the string treatment at J Under the Dome. Rocking!

Manchester | Boozy Blanket Workshop | 6 PM $ - Make a cozy blanket with a drink in hand at Elicit Brewing. Cozy!

Manchester | Jimmy Cash | 7 PM $ - Stand-up from Jimmy Cash at the Hartford Funny Bone. Hilarious!

East Windsor | Johnny Folsom 4: Tribute to Johnny Cash | 8 PM $ - The Man in Black’s hits at Broad Brook Opera House. Twangy!

Hartford | Dusty Slay: The Neighborhood Guy Tour | 7 PM $ - Laid-back, sharp stand-up from Dusty Slay at The Bushnell. Funny!

Hartford | Gimme Gimme Disco | 8 PM $ - An ABBA-fueled disco dance party at the Webster Theater. Glittery!

Hartford | UConn Men’s Basketball vs. Ohio State | 7:30 PM $ - The Huskies host Ohio State at PeoplesBank Arena. Courtside!

Manchester | Damon Wayans Jr. | 7 PM & 9:30 PM $ - The New Girl star does stand-up at the Hartford Funny Bone (also Sat). Riotous!

Newington | James Germana | 5:30 PM - Live music at The Flying Monkey Grill & Bar. Easygoing!

South Windsor | Wavelength | 6 PM - Country, classic rock and 2000s sing-alongs at Connecticut Valley Brewing. Singable!

West Hartford | DOOMED Comedy | 8 PM - End-of-the-world stand-up at The Elbow Room. Darkly!

Bristol | Shaded Soul Band | 7 PM $ - R&B and Motown covers at Downtown Live at the Rockwell. Soulful!

East Hartford | UConn Football vs. James Madison | 5 PM $ - Huskies football at Rentschler Field. Tailgate-ready!

East Windsor | Back to the Garden 1969 | 8 PM $ - A Woodstock-era tribute at Broad Brook Opera House. Far out!

Hartford | 4th Annual Connecticut Guitar Guild Festival | 9:30 AM $ - A day of guitar performances at the Mark Twain House. Strummy!

Hartford | Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Springfield Thunderbirds | 7:15 PM $ - AHL rivalry hockey at PeoplesBank Arena. Icy!

Hartford | Sublime Tribute with Garden Grove | 8 PM - Sublime’s sunny ska-punk at Arch Street Tavern. Summery!

Hartford | Tinsley Ellis | 8 PM - Blues-rock guitar at Infinity Music Hall. Electric!

Southington | Handmade Wet Felted Purse | 10 AM - A daylong felting workshop at Southington Community Cultural Arts. Handmade!

Wethersfield | Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair | 9 AM - Handmade gifts at the Little Red Schoolhouse (also Sun). Giftable!

East Windsor | Psychic Medium Patricia Griffin | 2 PM $ - An afternoon of readings at Broad Brook Opera House. Mysterious!

Granby | Mama Train | 1 PM - Afternoon tunes at Lost Acres Vineyard. Sippable!

Hartford | Drawn Here Gallery Talk | 2 PM $ - An interactive tour of the new Drawn Here exhibit at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Illustrative!

Manchester | Brews & Bells Holiday Market | 12 PM - Local artisans and free hot cocoa at Elicit Brewing. Jolly!

South Windsor | Holiday Wreath & Table Arrangement Workshop | 11 AM - Make holiday greenery with Wildflowers & Co at Connecticut Valley Brewing. Evergreen!

Southington | David Taylor Coffee | 2 PM - Solo acoustic set at Witch Doctor Brewing. Acoustic!

Wethersfield | Taste of Time Thanksgiving Dinner | 2 PM $ - The annual historic Thanksgiving dinner at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum. Bountiful!

Hartford | NAZA | 7 PM - Cinestudio screens a new 2026 documentary on the Israeli military’s targeting systems. Thought-provoking!

Hartford | Triadic Memories: Amy Williams Plays Morton Feldman | 7:30 PM - A centennial piano tribute to Morton Feldman at Trinity College. Hypnotic!

Simsbury | Charcoal, Mining and the History Hidden in Our Woods | 6:30 PM - The Simsbury Land Trust digs into local industrial history at Simsbury Public Library. Earthy!

Farmington | Kid’s Night Out | Fri 6 PM $ - Games, crafts, pizza and a movie for ages 6-11 while parents get a night off at Winding Trails. Freeing!

Hartford | NY International Children’s Film Festival | Sat 11 AM - Award-winning kids’ short films at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Imaginative!

Rocky Hill | Preparing for Winter | Sat 2 PM - Hungerford Nature Center shows how local wildlife gets ready for winter, at Cora J. Belden Library. Furry!

Windsor Locks | B-29 Cockpit Experience | Sat 10 AM $ - Climb into a B-29 cockpit at the New England Air Museum. Sky-high!

That’s a wrap for this week’s HartCo Buzz. Go thank a veteran, go try a new sandwich, and tell me which one we missed.

Talk soon,

Todd