Alright Connecticut Buzz crew, the Dinner Club is back and we’re doing it in a way that makes it stupidly easy to meet cool people without having to be the one who texts, “So… what are we doing?” five times.

Next dinner: Wednesday, January 15th at 6pm.
Locations will be either Manchester or Putnam (choose location that works best).

Here’s the deal:

✦︎ Take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and what kind of people you want at the table.
✦︎ We match you with 5 other CT Buzz folks based on your answers.
✦︎ You get your invite the morning of the dinner with the restaurant reveal in either Manchester or Putnam.
✦︎ Roll in at 6pm, eat, laugh, make a few new friends, and then there’s an optional after hang for anyone who wants to keep the good vibes going (and for anyone who refuses to let the night end at “check, please”).

Logistics (aka the fine print that isn’t annoying):
It’s $16 per seat to cover the matching, planning, reservations, and reminders. You pay for your own meal at the end of dinner. I handle everything else. You just show up and be a normal person with a pulse.

If you’ve been saying “we should meet more people” for the last six months and then immediately going back to your couch… yeah. This is for you.

Got 30 seconds to make Tolland County Buzz even better? 🐝

Take our quick 9-question survey so we can tighten up the content,
boost the fun, and deliver a better weekly experience for 2026.
Your feedback steers the ship, we just do the driving.

I’ve been trying to only find non-stop flights from regional airports but if you’re open to multi-stops then I can find more deals. Just hit reply and let me know if this is something you’d like me to look into.

From Hartford to Charleston, South Carolina for 93 bucks* roundtrip, end of Jan. for an extended weekend stay. See the deal!

From Providence to Miami, Florida for 128 bucks* roundtrip, end of Feb. for a week. See the deal!

From Boston to Athens, Greece for 764 bucks* roundtrip, end of March for a week. See the deal!

*Prices at the time of writing subject to change

Last week’s trivia question had me thinking about CT’s low-key superheroes, and Vernon’s Volunteer Fire Department has been doing the most for a long time with Toys for Tikes. The program kicked off way back in 1953, and in the early days firefighters literally fixed and painted used toys for local kids. Now it’s grown into a full-town effort that collects thousands of new toys every holiday season.

This year the need spiked hard: after delivering toys to 250 kids last year, they were working to cover 499 children this season, and they pulled it off with the community stepping up.

🦗🦗🦗

Bolton | Blood Drive | 9am-2pm - Bolton Congregational Church (228 Bolton Center Rd) is holding a blood drive, to provide some needed aid to the Red Cross. Make a difference in someone’s life. Sign Up

Mansfield | New Year’s Party & Open Mic | 7pm - Bring in 2026 making music of your own at Waldron’s Studio 88 (114 Mansfield Hollow Rd). Games & trivia, band from a bag (pick your band and song from a hat), optional White Elephant gift exchange (must bring something to participate), BYOB.

Somers | NYE Party | 4-10pm $ - Pleasant View Café (452 South Rd) is holding a NYE country-style party, with dance lessons and live music. Free raffles, 50/50 drawing, and dinner buffet. Text Marie at (860) 965-9284 to book a table of 8. $60/person.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Redhead | 8-11:55pm
⬢ Pleasant View Cafe - Somers | Cobblestone Road | 4-10pm $

TRIVIA

Bond 124 - Somers | 7-8:30pm

Somers | New Year’s Brunch | 9am-3pm $ - Bond 124 (124 Main St) is hosting an all-day New Year’s Day brunch. All the brunch fixins, adult purchase includes a complimentary Bellini or Mimosa. $36.95/adult $18.50/kids 12 and under.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Square Peg - Vernon | Kt Lay | 6-9pm

Coventry | Contra Dance | 7:30-10:30pm $ - It’s that time of the month again, Quiet Corner Contra is back at Patriot’s Park Lodge (172 Lake St). Put on your dancing shoes and give it a try. More info

Coventry | Open Studio Workshop | 12-1:30pm $ - Create a lasting flower arrangement at Wood & Word Blooms (21 Bread & Milk St). Several sizes and options available - makes a fun group activity! Tix

Hebron | PJ Party | 6:30am-4pm - The Flour Girl (14 Main St) wants to ring in the new year with some cozy goodness. Dress in your PJs for 10% off your cafe order. Breakfast available all day.

Somers | Kids New Years Bal Drop Dance Party | 5:30-7pm $ - Fortune Fuel (11 S Rd) is hosting a kids celebration with music, dancing, and fun. $9/kid. Dance party starts at 6pm, choice of kids shake or tea.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | UnionJack | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Blackledge Country Club - Hebron | Chris Marolda | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Pandemonium | 8pm

TRIVIA

Worthington Vineyard - Somers | 6-8pm

Ellington | HOG Chapter Pancake Day | 9:30-11:30am - Old School Harley- Davidson (398 Somers Rd) is hosting a free pancake breakfast. Grab some grub and meet some new people.

Ellington | New Year Psychic Fair | 10am-5pm $ - Get a spiritual reading at Voices of Enlightenment (19 Pinney St), to help you prepare to focus on the person you want to be in 2026. 25 min for $35. Call/text Kathi (413) 885-0038.

Tolland | Open House - Free Classes | 8am-1pm - Shakeup Makeup (45 Industrial Park Rd W) is holding an open house, so you can get an idea of what they offer! They’ll have free classes every hour, on the hour, starting at 8am, followed by meet & greet times.

Tolland | Tarot Reading/Vision Board Workshop | 3-5:30pm $ - Get a tarot reading, then use that to create a vision board for the year ahead at Be Love Yoga (12 Goose Ln). Tix

Tolland | Winter Circle & Cacao Ceremony | 10am-12pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) is holding a women’s circle full of guided reflection, journaling, and cacao. Tix

Vernon | Kids Tie-Dye | 1-3pm $ - Journey for Nutrition (352 Hartford Tpke) is teaming with The Bitter Glitter Co. for a tie-dying event for little ones. More info/tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Nightshift | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Bidwell Tavern - Coventry | Ruckus Country Trio | 8-11pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | TheLeftovers | 8pm

🦗🦗🦗

Stafford Springs | Psychic Palm Reading | 3-7pm $ - Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St) will be hosting Linda aka That Reiki Chick, for 15-minute reading. Walk-ins welcome, but you can always book a time too.