We’re down to the final matchup in Connecticut Buzz Mutt Madness, which means the dog-parent campaigning, shameless bribery, and aggressively enthusiastic voting have officially brought us to the last showdown.

Big love to Pet Supplies Plus for helping make this whole thing more fun and giving our furry finalists something worth barking about, including a $100 gift card for the winner and $50 for second place.

After weeks of chaos and thousands of votes, we’ve officially got our last pups standing Ginger vs Elvis. Now it’s time to crown the champ.

Camille’s in Tolland is one of those spots that makes it very easy to understand why people get loyal fast. The pizza has that wood-fired thing going on where it feels just fancy enough to be interesting without losing the whole “I would happily demolish this” factor, and Billy’s Bianco was the move for me, with pistachio, garlic cream sauce, goat cheese, ricotta, red onion, and truffle honey somehow all working together without turning into a gimmick. If you haven’t been yet, go fix that and support a local place doing wood-fired pizza really, really well.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Lauderdale, a 3-month-old Aussie mix with a sweet, spunky personality and all the chaotic little sidekick energy you’d want in a pup built for fun, playtime, and an active home.

🏡House of the week: This 1999 Colonial in Tolland brings 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 4,303 square feet, and 1.3 acres, so this thing is playing in full-size family-compound territory. It also has a wraparound porch, in-ground pool, spa-style primary bath, two fireplaces, and a finished lower level with a wet bar, which is a pretty aggressive lineup for one house. Check it out!

🔭Sky report: It’s a solid week to just step outside and look up, with Venus low in the west after sunset and Jupiter shining higher in the evening sky. Before sunrise, the moon moves from Scorpius early in the week toward Sagittarius, hits last quarter on April 10, then reaches Capricornus as a thinning crescent by April 12-13.

he next Connecticut Buzz Dinner Club is officially heading to Wethersfield on Thursday, April 16 at 6:30 pm, because you voted it in. And good news for anyone who does not feel like rolling in solo, you can now bring a plus one. It’s $16 to save your seat, and we’ll handle the matching, the booking, and the little mystery element that makes this a lot more fun than your average “so... what should we do for dinner?” plan.

HOW IT WORKS:

✦ You take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and the kind of people you’d actually want to hang with for a couple hours.

✦ We match you with five other Connecticut Buzz readers based on your answers, so this is not just random dinner roulette.

✦ The morning of the dinner, we’ll text you the restaurant and let you know where your group is headed.

✦ During dinner, everyone gets the secret afterparty location in case you want to keep the night going. Totally optional. If you’re full, peopled-out, or mentally already in sweatpants, you can absolutely call it a night and head home.

Why the "Wait" Might Cost You More

In the current climate, "waiting for rates to drop" is a common mantra. But looking at historical data and the local Connecticut market, the math tells a different story.

Myth: I should wait for 3% rates to return.

Reality: Sub-3% rates were the anomaly, not the rule. Current rates are closer to the 50-year average. Waiting while home prices in Hartford and Tolland counties climb often results in a higher monthly payment due to increased principal costs. The Wall Street Journal named the Hartford region the hottest housing market in America.

The Cost of Waiting: If you wait 12 months for a 1% rate drop, but the home price increases by 5%, you haven’t saved money - you’ve lost equity. In our "walled garden" market, inventory remains tight, keeping competition high.

Last week’s trivia had 58.33% of you get it right: Gay City was burned down twice. Which sounds like a joke Connecticut would make up, but it’s real. The place started in 1796 as Factory Hollow, a small mill village along the Blackledge River founded by followers of religious leader Elijah Andrus. At its peak, it had only about 25 families, and a bunch of them were named Gay, which is how the place ended up with one of the most unforgettable names in the state.

What makes it even better is that the place still has legit ghost-town energy. The village’s wool mill burned in 1830, later industry there burned again, and by the 1880s the whole settlement had basically faded into the woods. Now it lives on as Gay City State Park, a 1,500+ acre park in Hebron and Bolton, where you can still find stone foundations, cellar holes, and an old cemetery hiding out in the trees. Classic Connecticut: weird name, tiny industrial village, multiple fires, and now a state park.

Ellington | Acrylics on Canvas: Tulips | 9 AM | ($) - Paint vibrant spring tulips in acrylics at Ellington Senior Center (40 Maple St). Get Crafty

Hebron | Two Day Clay Workshop: Pour Over + Mug Set | April 7-8 $ - Make your own handmade coffee pour over and matching mug in this beginner-friendly two-night workshop where they walk you through both pieces step by step at the Firestone (14 Main St). Make

Storrs | Justice & Jazz: A Declaration in Seven Movements | 8:00 PM - An original jazz suite composed and performed by UConn Jazz faculty comes to von der Mehden Recital Hall (875 Coventry Rd). More

Vernon Rockville | Vernon 3 Wick Dough Bowl Soy Candle Making | 6 PM - Craft a gorgeous three-wick soy candle at Vernon Adult Education (63 Loveland Hill Rd). Create

Bolton | Brian Thomas Malone Plays Georgina's | 5:30 PM - Live acoustic tunes with dinner at Georgina's Restaurant (275 Boston Tpke).

Coventry | Mill Brook Presentation | 11:30 AM - Learn about local watershed conservation at Coventry Senior Center (172 Lake St).

Stafford Springs | Celebrating 3 Years - Anniversary celebration with specials all week at Let's Get Wired (64 Main St).

Storrs | Henry David Thoreau: A PBS Documentary Screening & Community Discussion | 4:00 PM - A screening of the new PBS documentary on Thoreau hits Storrs Hall. Learn

Vernon Rockville | Friends of the Hop River Trail Kickoff Event | 6 PM - Join trail enthusiasts to kick off the season at Newhoca Lodge (185 Grier St).

Ellington | The Geological History of CT | 1 PM - Fascinating talk on Connecticut's ancient rocks at Ellington Senior Center (40 Maple St). Call to sign up: 860-870-3133

Storrs | Multicultural Food and Music Festival | 6:00-8:00 PM - Global food, live performances, and a DJ-powered mix of everything from Afrobeats to Bollywood take over the Alumni Center (2384 Alumni Drive). Details

Hebron | Blue Mountain Haze LIVE at Greenleaf Cafe | 8:30 PM - Americana and roots music from Blue Mountain Haze at Greenleaf Cafe (47 Main St).

Stafford Springs | Otan Vargas | 8 PM - Live music on the lakeside patio at Four Seasons By The Lake (65 Old Springfield Rd).

Stafford Springs | Messages from Heaven with Psychic Medium Rebecca Anne LoCicero | 6:30 PM | ($) - Connect with loved ones through medium Rebecca Anne at Let's Get Wired (64 Main St). Connect Beyond

Stafford Springs | Otan Vargas at Four Seasons by the Lake | 8 PM - Live music from Otan Vargas at Four Seasons By The Lake (51 Old Springfield Rd, Stafford Springs, CT). Listen Up

Somers | Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale | | ($) - Stock up on great reads at bargain prices at Somers Library (2 Vision Blvd). Runs 4/10-4/12/. More info

Somers | Karaoke Ball: An Upscale Karaoke Contest | 7 PM | ($) - Dress up and belt it out at this classy karaoke competition (585 Main St). Sing Along

Vernon Rockville | BSP Live on the Patio | 8 PM - Live tunes on the outdoor patio at Rocking Horse Bar & Grill (57 Hartford Tpke).

Bolton | Woodland Friends Rescue and Rehabilitation Visit | 1 PM - Meet rescued wildlife and learn about rehabilitation at Cropley’s Garden Center (1262 Boston Tpke).

Ellington | Customer Appreciation Event | 11 AM - 3 PM - Free treats and specials to thank loyal customers at Kloter Farms (216 West Rd).

Rockville | Lucky Duck Puppet Show: Super Duper Super Heroes | 11 AM - Hilarious puppet show for kids featuring superhero antics at Rockville Library (52 Union St).

Rockville | Elks Blues & Rock n Roll | 7 PM - Blues and rock bands take the stage at Vernon Rockville Elks Club 1359.

Somers | April Open Barn & Craft: Egg Carton Trees | 9 AM - Kids craft adorable trees from egg cartons at The Story Barn (952 Main St).

Stafford Springs | SHYNE | 8 PM - Live music from SHYNE at Four Seasons By The Lake (51 Old Springfield Rd).

Stafford Springs | Setback Night | 6 PM - Grab a cider and play setback with friends at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St).

Storrs | Women of Americana: A Celebration of American Music | 8 PM | ($) - Female artists celebrate Americana roots music at Jorgensen Center (2132 Hillside Rd). Listen Up

Storrs | CT United's Historic Home Opener | 5 PM | ($) - CT United plays their first-ever home match at Morrone Stadium (2095 Hillside Rd). Cheer On

Stafford | Women's Community Wellness Walk | 9:30 AM - Join women for a refreshing morning walk and connection at Hyde Park.

Tolland | New Gold Panning Group Member Meeting | 1 PM - Learn to pan for gold with the CT Prospectors meet at United Congregational Church (51 Tolland Green).

Vernon Rockville | Bon Jovi Night at Rocking Horse w/special guest W.O.W. | 8 PM - Tribute to Bon Jovi's greatest hits at Rocking Horse Bar & Grill (57 Hartford Tpke).

Andover | Paint It Gray: A Minimalist Watercolor Workshop | 9 AM | ($) - Learn serene gray-tone watercolor techniques at Over AndOver CT (415 Jonathan Trumbull Hwy). Get Crafty

Coventry | Screening of THE GETAWAY | 2 PM - Classic film screening at Booth & Dimock Memorial Library (1100 Main St).

Rockville | Spring Music Bingo | 2 PM | ($) - Win prizes while grooving to your favorite tunes (100 Franklin St). Game On

Stafford Springs | Nick Bosse | 2 PM - Sunday afternoon live music from Nick Bosse at Four Seasons (51 Old Springfield Rd).

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