We had 40+ people come out in Glastonbury last week and everyone loved it, so now we’re wondering… are the Windham County folks down to give Dinner Club another shot in March? We’re thinking a later start in the Willimantic/Mansfield area, and we’d want 30 people to make it the best experience for meeting new neighbors and actually making real connections. We’ve already got another one set for West Hartford on March 19th, but we know that might be a hike for some of you out here.

Scott E. Rhoades is a Connecticut artist with deep roots. Born in Houlton, Maine and raised in Coventry, CT he spent 35 years teaching art in Coventry and worked with 6,000+ K–8 students before building a backyard studio to return to painting. His representational work has been sold across the U.S. and worldwide, with awards and national and international publication credits.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Cortina & Milano are two stunning one-year-old parakeet besties who’ll fill your home with happy chirps and nonstop curiosity.

🏡House of the week: Big “everyone’s invited” energy: 5 bedrooms, 3,400+ sq ft, and a layout with legit in-law potential. The backyard flex is an in-ground pool for summer, plus you’re minutes from parks, golf, and all the easy errands. Check it out!

🔭Sky report: The Moon hits first quarter tonight (Feb 24), so nights get brighter, but you’ll still have plenty of “winter sky” to work with. Look west about an hour after sunset for the late-Feb planet parade vibes, with Venus and Jupiter being the easy bright ones to spot.

The 57th Tolland Antiques Show is back, which basically means it’s time to “just browse” and accidentally fall in love with a 200-year-old chair. Expect a seriously legit lineup of 18th and 19th century American furniture, textiles, Americana, folk art, and all the early-country gems collectors drool over, happening Sunday, March 1, 2026 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Tolland Middle School. $10 entry, and if you want dealer updates and extra programming, check the Tolland Historical Society Facebook page.

Last week’s trivia had 76.36% of you getting it right, and yep, the answer was Valley Falls Park in Vernon. What makes it cool isn’t just the dramatic gorge and the icy rush of Railroad Brook, it’s that this place literally powered early industry, with mills using the brook’s drop for water power before a fire ended operations in 1877.

By the early 1900s, the site shifted from workhorse to getaway. The Beach family transformed it into a landscaped summer retreat with gardens and leisure space, turning former mill grounds into a scenic escape. Industrial grit meets peaceful nature vibes, all in one spot.

Did you know that your first home might be closer than you think? With the CT CHFA Time To Own forgivable loan program, eligible Connecticut homebuyers can receive up to $25,000 in assistance towards down payment and closing costs. As your local PrimeLending mortgage expert, I present solutions to help you transition from renting to owning with confidence.

Contact [email protected] to learn more.

Solo Agers Coffee Social 

Are you over 60 and without a spouse, children, or family in your daily life? Join us at our casual Coffee Social in Tolland on Friday, March 6, at 2 PM. Meet other local Solo Agers in a safe and welcoming environment.  SoloAgersConnect.com is a unique website that was created just for Solo Agers to connect to information, resources, trusted service providers, events, and community.

Start your weekend with us! RSVP HERE.

Ellington | Back to Daytona Week | 10:00 AM - Racing fans, get revved up! Celebrate the return of Daytona with fellow motorsport enthusiasts at Old School Harley-Davidson

Hebron | Toddler Storytime | 10:15 AM - Bring your little ones to Douglas Library for an engaging storytime session. Perfect for toddlers and their caregivers to enjoy stories, songs, and early literacy fun. Link

Storrs | Artist Talk: What is Here? | 2:45-4 PM - Quick, smart art talk at The Benton Museum of Art. Learn

Vernon | Life Drawing Session | 6:30 PM ($) - Artists, grab your sketchbooks! Arts Center East hosts their monthly un-instructed life drawing session. Draw

Andover | Community: Knitting & Crochet Hour | 10:30 AM - Join fellow fiber artists at the Andover Town Hall for a relaxing hour of knitting and crocheting. Bring your current project and enjoy good company. Link

Ellington | Acrylics on Canvas: Barn | 9:00 AM ($) - Paint a beautiful rustic barn scene at this guided acrylic painting class at Ellington Senior Center. More

Ellington | Movie: "Harriet" | 1:00 PM - Catch a screening of the powerful biographical film about Harriet Tubman. A moving tribute during Black History Month. Link

Willington | Hydroponic Herb Jar Class | 6:30 PM | ($) - Learn how to grow fresh herbs year-round with this hands-on hydroponic class. Register

Storrs | Memory & Art Interactive Workshop | 12:30-1:30 PM- Close-looking art session and memory journal activity at the William Benton Museum of Art. Register

Storrs | Preston Trombly: Music for Your Eyes | 1-4 PM - Opening reception at Jorgensen Gallery, bright, bold, and super photogenic. (open daily except weekends - hours vary. More

Vernon | Trivia | 7PM - Test your knowledge at the Rocking Horse.

Andover | Family Bingo | 5 PM | ($) - Gather the whole family for an evening of bingo fun at 25 School Rd! Great prizes and good times for all ages.

Somers | Phoenix | 6:30 PM - Enjoy live music at Joanna’s.

Somers | Trivia | 6PM - Test your knowledge at Worthington Vineyard.

Stafford | Backlash | 7PM - Enjoy live music at Four Seasons By The Lake.

Stafford Springs | Al Raebuck Solo Acoustic | 6:00 PM - Live acoustic music at Stillwater Grill!

Vernon | Valentine's Day Couples Tournament | 7:00 PM - Love is in the air! Grab your partner and compete in this fun couples tournament at Racks.

Vernon | Sex & Candy | 9PM - Enjoy live music at the Rocking horse.

Andover | Essential Color: Watercolor Mixing Class | 9:00 AM ($) - Learn the fundamentals of watercolor mixing in this minimalist approach class for beginners at OverAndover Paint

Columbia | Horace W. Porter PTO 2nd Annual Kid Market | 11 AM - 2 PM - Young entrepreneurs showcase their handmade goods at Yeoman's Hall!

Coventry | Museum of CT Glass: How to Clean Antique Glass | 2:00 PM - Greg Mills presents expert tips on cleaning antique glass and bottles. A must for collectors and history buffs at 1267 Main St.

Ellington | Ellington Penguin Plunge | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Take the plunge for a great cause! Join Ellington PD and Resident State Troopers for this chilly but thrilling charity event at Crystal Lake. Plunge

Storrs | Tiger Tales by Chinese Theatre Works | 11:00 am & 2:00 pm ($) - Award-winning puppet tales at Ballard Institute Theater. Fun

Storrs | Asian Nite ‘26 | 7:30 PM ($) – High-energy Asian/Asian American talent showcase at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. Get Tix

Stafford Springs | Puzzle Swap at Stafford Cidery | 2-4 PM - Bring puzzles you've finished, swap for new ones!

Tolland | Integrated Energy Therapy Advanced Training | 10 AM - 5:30 PM - Deepen your healing practice with this advanced IET training session at Resonance Healing Arts. Harness

Vernon | Black & White - Opening Reception | 2-4 PM - Celebrate the opening of "Shades of Silence, Black and White" exhibit at Arts Center East (709 Hartford Tpke).

Willington | Cabaret Dinner | 5 PM ($) - Enjoy dinner while watching the Hall Rising Stars perform! Your attendance supports their confidence and future productions. Register

Bolton | Chef's Tasting | 12:30 PM ($) - Savor a special chef's tasting experience at Villa Louisa. Advanced reservations required (call 860-646-3161 to book your table.)

Hebron | How to Make Your Own Herb & Veggie Garden from Scratch | 10:00 AM ($) - Learn everything you need to know to start your own herb and vegetable garden from the ground up. Grow

Storrs | It’s Different Every Day: Horsebarn Hill (Milton Levin) | 2 PM - Horsebarn Hill photos and stories at The Benton Museum of Art.

Tolland | 57th Tolland Antiques Show | 9 AM - 3 PM - A beloved tradition returns! Browse through amazing antiques and vintage treasures at Tolland High School. A must for collectors.

Tolland | Charm Bar Social | 11:00 AM ($) - Get creative and design your own charm at Tolland Red & White! Mix, match, and clip together colorful charms perfect for bags, keys, or backpacks. Create

Vernon | Museum Miniatures Tabletop Gaming Day | 11 AM - History meets gaming! Recreate The Battle of Morton's Ford with tabletop miniatures at New England Civil War Museum. Register

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