I wanted to shoot a quick reminder to everyone about our Taste 2 Towns Passport Checklist (which ends on the 8th). If you want a shot at winning a $50 gift card (we have 4 of them to giveaway) to a local restaurant (keeping which ones a mystery for now, but they’ll be in Mansfield).

The Passport Checklist:

Make sure to take some pictures, let me know which ones you checked off, and email me at [email protected]

Pro Tip: You can check off several of the items on the checklist in one visit! I.e. Stop by Good Times Coffee for breakfast or lunch, grab something savory and a sweet treat, and you’ve knocked out a few right there!

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Nolan, a 2-month-old shepherd-hound pup from Nymeria’s famous nine, foster-spoiled, super social, great with kids and dogs, and already microchipped and medically up to date, basically your future 60-pound best friend with puppy energy.

🏡House of the week: a sun-drenched contemporary with a dramatic vaulted living room, two fireplaces, a remodeled kitchen, a walkout lower-level hangout zone, and the big-ticket updates already done (roof, windows, siding, heat, AC, and even a new septic). Check it out!

🔭Sky report: If you only look up once this week, make it Jupiter. It is the stupid-bright “star” that pops out soon after sunset, and even a cheap little telescope can show you its big moons lined up like tiny dots. One more easy win: late Saturday night (Feb 7) into Sunday (Feb 8), the Moon hangs near a bright star called Spica, so it looks like a clean little two-pack in the sky.

Connecticut Buzz Dinner Club is back on Feb 19 at 6pm in Glastonbury, and we’ve already got 30 people in the mix, so this one’s shaping up to be a good one. If your winter social life has been a little too “me, my couch, and a group chat,” come get matched with a table that fits your vibe and hop in on the fun. Grab your spot now.

Downtown Willimantic is basically turning into a walkable chocolate village on Saturday, February 7 from noon-3pm and honestly… yes please. Hit the Chocolate Chip Stroll (think trick-or-treating, but with Valentine vibes and way better snacks), catch live music popping up around Main Street, and vote on the window decorating contest like you’re on a very sweet jury.

There’s also the “Cupid Made Me Do It” 2-mile run/walk benefiting WAIM, a cake baking contest with legit prizes, plus artists, crafters, and all the downtown shops doing their thing.

Bonus: Willimantic Food Co-op is celebrating its 46th birthday during the festival, and at 12:00pm there’s a Plunge for Hunger to support Covenant Soup Kitchen (jump in or just watch like a responsible adult). More details.

All that snow we just got had me thinking: if Connecticut is going to turn into one giant snowbank, we might as well make it fun. I put together the best sledding spots around Tolland County so you can grab a sled, drag a kid (or your most competitive adult friend), and send it like you have nothing to lose except dignity. If I missed your go-to hill, hit reply and tell me what deserves a spot on the list.

Last week’s word scramble was PUDDIN LANE, and yep, Mansfield really does have a road name that sounds like it belongs on a dessert menu. According to local lore shared by Judge Llewellyn Storrs, the nickname traces back to the late 1700s when neighbors held a road-making “bee” near the Natchaug River and cooked a big kettle of “Indian Puddin” (cornmeal pudding) for the workers. In the chaos, a tripod tipped, the boiling pudding spilled onto a boy, and he was badly burned, so the new road became known as the one where the boy got burned by the pudding and “Puddin Lane” is the version that stuck.

From Hartford to Wilmington N.C for 56 bucks* non-stop roundtrip, early April for a week stay. See the deal!

From Hartford to Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands for 453 bucks* 1-stop roundtrip, end of Feb. for a 10 day stay. See the deal!

From Hartford to Copenhagen, Denmark for 771 bucks* 1-stop roundtrip, end of May for a week stay. See the deal!

*Prices at the time of writing subject to change

Grab your crew and do Galentine’s the correct way: brunch first, chaos later. Galentine’s Day Brunch is happening Feb 15 (10am–12pm) at Hops 44 in Storrs, and your ticket comes with an appetizer + entrée plus your choice of a Bloody Mary or premium mimosa.

LIVE MUSIC

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

Somers | Mid-Winter Concert | 7pm - Support your local young musicians and check out the Somers High School (5 Vision Blvd) music program’s concert. Admission is free, but the self-esteem boost you can give to these kids is priceless!

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Bidwell Tavern - Coventry | Tino & Malone | 6:30-9:30pm

TRIVIA

Bond 124 - Somers | 7-8:30pm

Andover | Puzzles and Pizza | 12-2pm $ - Two things that I love, coming together for an afternoon of entertainment (to me at least) at the Andover Community Center (25 School Rd). A whopping $3/person gets you in - less than a coffee!

Columbia | Book Sale | 12pm - The Friends of Saxton B Little Library are holding a book sale at the Chapel on the Green (321 Rt 87). The sale will be running throughout the weekend, make sure to get some great prices on a huge selection of books!

Coventry | Contra Dance | 7:30-10:30pm $ - Yep, it’s time that again. Time to boogie down at the Patriot’s Park Lodge (172 Lake St) with some called dancing. You can get more info here.

Tolland | Solo Agers Coffee Social | 10:30am – Grab your coffee and meet other solo agers for light conversation and connections at this casual morning social. Register.

Tolland | Valentine’s Candle Workshop | 6-8pm $ - Create your perfect romantic candle with a class at Tolland Red and White (46 Tolland Grn). You’ll get to pick your scent, learn how to make candles, and have an excellent time! Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Greenleaf Cafe - Hebron | Blue Mountain Haze | 8:30pm
⬢ Bidwell Tavern - Coventry | Dave Sobol & Blaze | 8:30-11:30pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Aquanett | 8:30pm $10
⬢ JRego’s - Ellington | Shawn Layne | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Nakeds | 7-10:30pm
⬢ Stillwater Grill - Stafford | The Natural Disasters | 6pm

ALL TOWNS | Take Your Child to the Library Day | Check Hours - Today is the day to bring your little ones (or big ones) to your local library. There are events going on throughout the day (too many to put in this newsletter), so check out your local library’s webpage for more details. Show the next generation how amazing these community resources are!

Columbia | Someone Special Family Dance | 6pm $ - Since I’m a Columbia boy, I had to put this in here. The Horace W. Porter PTO is holding a family dance at Beckish Senior Center (188 Rt 66). Music, dancing (obviously), light snacks, and memories to be made. Tix are $10/person, reach out to the PTO for more deets.

Coventry | $10 Bag Sale | 9am-1pm - If you know of any families looking for gently used children’s clothes, shoes, toys, books, and PJs, send them to Noah’s Closet (1746 Boston Tpke) for a $10 Stuff-a-Bag sale.

Ellington | Chili Cook-Off | 12-2pm - Help stave off this brutal cold, with a chili cook-off at Old School Harley-Davidson (398 Somers Rd). Think you have what it takes to take the spice crown? Sign Up

Ellington | Winter Farmers Market | 9am-12pm - Pick up some last-minute ingredients and goodies for the big game at the Ellington Farmers Market (37 Maple St).

Mansfield | Yoga at the Mill | 8 & 10am $ - Drop into Waldron’s Studio 88 (114 Mansfield Hollow Rd) for a relaxing yoga class run by Jillian Ellefson. $15 for a drop-in or buy a bundle of 5 for $50.

Somers | Comedy Night Fundraiser | 6pm $ - Help support Project SafeGrad for Somers High School, and have a great night of laughs while you’re doing it at the Knights of Columbus (236 Main St). Help some local high schoolers have an unforgettable night! Show is 18+. Tix

Stafford Springs | Love is in the Air Artisan Market | 12-5pm - Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St) is hosting several local artisans at a festive market, perfect for finding the just-right gift for that special someone.

Tolland | Intro to Dance Fitness | 10:15-11am - Boost your confidence and get a heckuva workout at Shakeup Makeup (45 Industrial Park Rd W). This free class is a great way to work up come courage to join a regular class (it’s not as scary as it seems!). RSVP

Vernon | Handcrafting Circle | 1:30-2:30pm - Looking to connect with other people that enjoy handcrafts? This absolutely free circle is happening at Sweet Lotus Yoga Studio (520 Hartford Tpke). Just bring whatever you’re working on and make some new friends!

Vernon | Wellness Walk-In | 11am-3pm - Drop into The BoHo Experience (193 Talcottville Rd) to check out what LV.iQ water is all about, and choose a complimentary wellness experience for participating (Oracle card reading, chair Reiki, or Chakra check-in).

Willington | Lizards at the Library | 10am - So, yes, this falls under the Take Your Child to the Library umbrella, but this one I feel like this one needs a special shout out. Dottie (The Lizard Lady) will be at Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Rd) with some of her amazing reptiles. What kid doesn’t love seeing lizards?

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Three J’s - Bolton | Karaoke | 8pm-2am
⬢ Bidwell Tavern - Coventry | Ruckus Country Trio | 8-11pm
⬢ JRego’s - Ellington | Good Vibes | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Darik and the Funbags | 8:30pm
⬢ The Hidden Still - Ellington | Desert Rain | 8:30pm
⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | The Score | 6:30pm $10 advance, $15 door - Benefit Show
⬢ Four Seasons by the Lake - Stafford | It’s Pat Again | 8pm

Ellington | Pewter Pot Chocolate Demo | 6pm - Pewter Pot’s chocolatiers will demonstrate how chocolate was crafted and enjoyed in early America (in period dress, no less!). Seats are extremely limited! RSVP

Mansfield | Animal Tracks and Tales | 1-3pm - If there’s one thing that snow is good for, it’s checking out animal tracks. Joshua’s Trust wants to take you and your kids on an adventure around Atwood Farm (624 Wormwood Hill Rd), tracking animal behavior and seeing what critters are still in the area. Sign Up

Stafford | Chamber Concert | 1pm - The Quiet Corner String Quarter will be playing a free concert at Middle River Gallery (60 Main St).

Vernon | Galentine Vendor Event | 10am-12pm $ - $5 gets you in the door at A Better Self Fitness & Wellness (500 Talcottville Rd), along with 20 vendors to browse through, complimentary mini-services, discounted shopping, free raffles and giveaways, and a brunch spread. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Four Seasons by the Lake - Stafford | JustJeannie | 2pm

Tolland | Cookie Workshop | 6pm $ - Local baker Joanne Ricardi will be at Tolland Red and White (46 Toland Grn) for a crash course in cookie decorating (those adorable ones you’ve seen all over social media). You’ll get to decorate and take home 5 cookies. Sign Up