Next dinner is Thursday, January 15 at 6pm in Manchester or Putnam and yes, this is the thing a bunch of you voted for… so now we’re doing the fun part.

Signup cutoff is TONIGHT at 6pm, so act fast. After that, we lock the list and do the matching.

How it works: take the quick quiz, we’ll match you with 5 other CT Buzz folks, and you’ll get the restaurant reveal the morning of (either Manchester or Putnam). It’s $16 to hold your seat (matching, planning, reservations, reminders) and you just pay your tab at the end.

Why you should do this now: winter has everyone turning into professional homebodies, and this is the easiest way to actually get out, meet a few new interesting people, and have a night that isn’t just “scroll, snack, sleep, repeat.” If you’ve been saying “we should meet more people” and then doing absolutely nothing about it, this is your sign.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Nymeria, a gorgeous, gentle hound mix (60 lbs) who’s wicked smart, super food-motivated for easy training, and ready to trade her “mama duties” era for her new job title: your loyal best friend.

🏡House of the week: This beautifully renovated circa-1837 Colonial near Ellington’s town green has big “historic charm, zero museum vibes” energy, complete with a classic New England barn and an oversized screened-in gazebo for warm-weather nights. Inside you’ve got 4 beds, 3 baths, gorgeous wood floors, and two gas fireplaces for peak cozy season. Have a look!

🕰️Indoor gem of the week: The Legacy of a Lifetime of Collecting: The Carl and Marian Rettenmeyer Story (UConn Storrs) - An underrated, totally free indoor wander in the Gant Science Complex Light Court that drops you into 50 years of jungle research on army ants with interactive stations and an immersive soundscape. Open Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm, so you can squeeze it in before work, between errands, or whenever you need a quick “I did something interesting today” win.

🔭Sky report: The Moon is heading into new moon on Sunday 1/18, so Fri 1/16 through Mon 1/19 should be your darkest, best stargazing nights.
Look up after sunset for Jupiter (the crazy bright “star” that’s out basically all night), and catch Saturn low in the west early evening before it dips out.
No big meteor shower this week, so aim binoculars at the Beehive Cluster (a little “sparkly swarm” of stars) in the eastern sky after dark.

That 3D printer fundraiser for the Willington Public Library that launched back in October didn’t just hit the goal, it lap-danced past it. Led by E.O. Smith senior Abdurahman Pelletier, the campaign closed at $1,529.60 from cash/check donations plus GoFundMe, more than double the original $700 target. The funds will cover the 3D printer plus the supplies and accessories that make it actually usable, and the library even set up a tax-free business account with Bambu Lab to stretch every dollar further.

Next up: the library expects to acquire the printer and supplies in the coming weeks, then work with Pelletier in early 2026 on training guides, best practices, and public policies before launching the first round of intro 3D-printing workshops. In other words: Willington’s library is about to become a mini innovation hub, and we all get to pretend we won’t immediately try to print something ridiculous.

Rockville’s Historic District is basically a “walkable time machine” - it covers 550+ acres and includes 842 buildings, which is why it landed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. One of the showstoppers is the Memorial Building on Park Place: a three-story Richardsonian Romanesque brick-and-brownstone beast that started as a Civil War memorial and municipal HQ, backed by a $75,000 appropriation in 1887 and a total cost of $88,106.05 (and yes, that’s in 1800s dollars). Right nearby, the Rockville Public Library (George Maxwell Memorial Library) is pure “turn-of-the-century flex” - built in 1904, designed by Charles A. Platt, wrapped in white Vermont marble with eight Ionic columns, and the whole project (lot, building, furnishings) ran about $150,000.

And Rockville doesn’t just do civic monuments - it does mills. The Minterburn Mill is a perfect example of how the town grew up around the Hockanum River: the complex includes a stone mill building from 1834 plus multiple reinforced concrete buildings from 1906, all tied into the old waterpower setup along the river. Bonus modern-day “history still working” detail: the Citizens Block (built 1879, about 15,000 square feet) just reopened after a $5.7M renovation, so the historic district isn’t frozen in amber - it’s getting used.

Mansfield | Slow Fiddle Jam | 7-10pm - Take it down a notch, and learn some new fiddles tunes at a more relaxed pace at Waldron’s Studio 88 (114 Mansfield Hollow Rd).

Storrs | Taste of Winter Cocktail Series | 6-9pm $ - Hops 44 (625 Middle Tpke) is holding their Taste of Winter Cocktail Series. You’ll get to try all of their brand-new winter cocktails and some light fare to go along with your drinks. Tix

Tolland | Winter Sowing | 6-7:30pm - Believe it or not, it’s not too early to start some seeds! Learn all about winter sowing at Tolland Public Library (21 Tolland Grn). Bring a clean, empty milk jug, and the soil and seeds will be provided!

TRIVIA

Bond 124 - Somers | 7-8:30pm

Hebron | Fund Raiser | 8am-6pm - The Flour Girl (14 Main St) is going to be donating 10% of their purchases at the bakery to help support Queso (an adorable little pup from Cubby’s Crusade Dog Rescue).

Stafford Springs | Oracle Readings | 3-6pm $ - Hillary of Hany Healing will be at Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St) doing oracle readings. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are suggested. Sign Up

TRIVIA

Rocking Horse - Vernon | 7pm

Andover | Beginner Stained Glass Snowman | 6pm $ - DAB Stained Glass will be leading an intro into the world of stained glass at Andover Community & Senior Center (25 School Rd). Tix

Stafford Springs | Healing Sound Journey | 6:15pm $ - Inner peace awaits you at Middle River Yoga (2 River Rd), led by Kimberly and Jeff. Gongs, singing bowls, and several other vibrational tools with create a calming soundscape to retreat into. To reserve a spot Venmo @yogashelly $30.

Stafford Springs | Spirit Gallery Readings | 6:30-8:30pm $ - Naomi from Hellna’s Pathwork will be at Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St) doing spirit readings. Space is limited. Tix

Tolland | Reiki Share & Fire Ceremony | 6-8:30pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) is holding a Reiki Share with Ali Lukasik. All levels and lineages of practitioners are welcome. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | 384 East | 8:30pm
⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Change-Up | 8pm
⬢ Hilltop - Willington | Good Vibes | 6:30-9:30pm

TRIVIA

Worthington Vineyards - Somers | 6-8pm

Columbia | 250th Anniversary Gala | 7-11pm $ - Get yourself gussied up and head to Wile Hyundai Motors Ballroom (21 Rte 66 E) to celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation. Live music, food provided by Black Dog Grill, drinks, and more. Formal attire or Period Dress (1776 and on) encouraged. Tix

Ellington | “K” Service Demo | 11am-3pm - If you’re motorcycle rider, head to Old School Harley-Davidson (398 Somers Rd) for a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most common maintenance services. Oil change basics, tire change overview, and battery replacement. They’ll also be taking questions.

Hebron | Free Historic Research Crash Course | 11:30am - Douglas Library (22 Main St) will be hosting Romano Ghirlanda of the Marlborough Preservation Society, who will be giving a talk on how to access free resources for those looking into historic research. Given how influential our state was in the formation of this nation, I suggest checking it out!

Hebron | Maple Fest Meeting | 10am - The Town Center Project will be in the community room at Douglas Library (22 Main St) to start talking about the much-loved Maple Festival. If you’re looking to get involved, stop in and chat.

Stafford Springs | Setback Night | 6-9pm $ - It’s been a little while since I’ve posted one of these, but see if you have what it takes to bring home the pot (well, half, the other half goes to a local charity). $5 gets you in the game at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St).

Vernon | Opening Reception | 2-4pm - Arts Center East (709 Hartford Tpke) is holding their opening reception and awards for their annual photography exhibit.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Rockville Elks - Rockville | Strange Alliance | 5pm $5 + non-perishable item
⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | UnionJack | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Booyah | 9-11:30pm

Stafford Springs | Craft Time | 2-4pm - Set out your goals for 2026 with a punch card craft at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). No fee for participating, but donations are welcomed to help cover the cost of supplies. Also, you should probably have a cider or two while you’re there - they’re delicious!

Stafford Springs | Sound Healing | 10-11am $ - Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St) is holding a sound healing journey, led by certified sound healers Charlette Michaud and Corey Hurrle. Tix/deets

Tolland | Vision Board & Tarot | 11am-1pm $ - True North Tarot will be at Tolland Red and White (46 Tolland Grn) doing readings and vision boards. All supplies provided, $65 investment to be Venmo’d.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Worthington Vineyards - Somers | Jay Daly | 1-4pm

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