What is Happening This Weekend in Connecticut May 30-31

On this last weekend in May, here are just a few things that you may want to do here in Connecticut. 

Coventry Farmer's Market

The 12th and final season of the very popular market on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead will begin on Sunday May 31 at 11 a.m. The market continues every Sunday until October 25th from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. About 5,000 people visit the market every Sunday for great farm fresh produce. It's also a great place to visit a variety of vendors selling bread, granola and a whole lot more  Come hungry and eat some wonderful food.

Les Miz at the Jorgensen Theatre in Storrs

There will be 4 performances this weekend. Friday, Saturday evening at  8 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday and Sunday. Check out the Connecticut Repertory Theatre website for ticket prices and seat availability.

Barnum Sails the Sound

Saturday, May 30, 2015
Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Ferry Dock
Water Street, Bridgeport
Dockside Dining: 5:15 PM
Boat Sails: 7:15 PM

Tickets: $50

Join us for a spectacular evening as Barnum Sails the Sound! Enjoy a delicious dockside dinner, then come aboard and dance the night away to the “WhatUp Funk Band.” Bring your dancing shoes! Grab your family and friends and we’ll see you onboard!

New Haven Food Truck Festival

Located on Long Wharf this family event will take place Saturday and Sunday. In addition to great food there will be activities for children and live entertainment. Tickets are $5 for adults with children under 18 free.
 
 

What Happening in Connecticut Memorial Day Weekend End

Memorial Day is a time to honor our veterans from all  wars. Here are just a few of the events that are taking place this weekend.

Memorial Day Parades

This is only a partial listing of the Parades being offered. 

Ansonia: Sunday at 2 p.m. the parade starts at Nolan Field. 

Avon: Monday at 11a.m. from Sperry Park on Simsbury Road.

East Hartford:  Monday at 10:30 a.m. from East Hartford Middle School.

Enfield: Sunday at 1 p.m. at the corner of Post Office Road and Enfield Street. 

Ledyard: Sunday at 1:15 p.m. beginning at Ledyard Center School. 

Madison:  Monday at 10 a.m. on Route 1 from Samson Road

Middletown: Monday at 10:30 a.m. from St. John Square down Main Street.

Newington: Saturday at 10:30 a.m. beginning at Main Street and East Robbins Avenue.  

Old Saybrook: Monday at 10 a.m beginning on Elm Street

Southbury:Monday at 11 a.m. down Main Street. 

Trumbull: Monday  begin at 10:00 a.m. at Route 111 in front of the Long Hill Green.

West Hartford: Monday at 10 a.m  on Farmington Avenue.

West Haven: Monday 10:30 a.m  on Campbell Avenue.


Wethersfield: Saturday beginning at the Connecticut State Motor vehicle Department on State Street. 

Windsor: Monday 9 a.m. from the Veterans Cemetery.


Other weekend events

Friday-Sunday 

Lime Rock Park in Lakeville will have their Memorial Day Race Weekend 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the Royal Car Show on Sunday. 

Saturday- Monday 

Robin Hood Spring Festival at the North Haven Fair Grounds 11 a.m to 7 p.m. 

Saturday

Brownstone Exploration and Discovery park in Portland will open for the season on Saturday at 8 a.m. 

Sunday 

The Heirloom Festival at Wethersfield's Comstock, Ferre Co. 

Monday

In Guilford a Memorial Day Picnic will be held on the grounds of the Medad Stone Tavern with free tours of the historic tavern. 

Grove St. Cemetery in New Haven will offer a tour at 10:30  am conducted by Myles Alderman. 150 Civil War graves will be the focus.

Westport Farmers Market Opens Tomorrow

For those of you who have been patiently waiting for the Westport Farmers Market to reopen for the season, your wait is over. The Thursday staple is back and will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at their usual location 50 Imperial Avenue.

Among the vendors you will see are Woodland Farm, Aradia Farm, Riverbank Farm, Beltane Farm, Fort Hill Farm, Sport Hill Farm, Sankow's Beaver Brook Farm and Rose's Berry Farm. Additionally there will be bread, pastries, honey, pet products, flowers, coffee, tea  and a whole lot more for sale so come on down and check it out.

Breakfast at Eggs Up Portland, Connecticut

I have to admit it, I am a breakfast person. There is no meal that I enjoy more. It is amazing with the simplicity of the basic breakfast of eggs and toast, how bad it can be at some restaurants. Who would have thought that there were that many ways to make breakfast potatoes bad?

Eggs Up does not suffer from this lack of quality when it comes to breakfast. They have a very basic menu with some interesting additions to their weekend menu. The building that they are located in has gone through several incarnations from its early days as a hot dog stand to previous stints as a breakfast joint. The interior is small and can on the weekend, be very crowded and lines have been known to extend out the door. There are tables for four, one that is a bit larger, several tables for two and a short counter with stools. You do not come here for the atmosphere, you come here for good food and a friendly welcome.

Eggs Up as I said, offers a basic menu of eggs with a daily special that includes two eggs done your way, bacon or sausage, home fries, toast (white, wheat, rye or English muffin) and coffee. All of this for less than you might expect. The regular menu also includes omelets, eggs Benedict, pancakes done several different ways including berries mixed in and French toast.

They have a full range of egg sandwiches as well. You can have them on toast, a hard roll, bagel or a muffin. You can add cheese and breakfast meat as well, they do make a very good breakfast sandwich.

I am always looking for something different however and I can usually find it here. They make the best pumpkin pancakes I have ever tasted. You get two or three of these spicy beauties with a side of butter and syrup. If they are offering their homemade corned beef hash order it, it is phenomenal. I am a hash snob and theirs is really good.

For those with a gluten intolerance, they offer a gluten free menu. This is very popular these days.

Recently I had one of my best breakfasts ever. It was French toast covered with fresh fruit, strawberries, raspberries and bananas and a dusting of confectionery sugar. One thing I especially liked was as soon as we were seated at the counter, we were asked by the owner what we wanted to drink. We had coffee within seconds of entering the building.

Lunch is also served here and there are always daily lunch specials. If you happen to be traveling on route 66 in Portland, Conn. and pass Eggs Up, turn around, you will be glad you did.

What Happening This Weekend May 16-17

May is in full swing here in Connecticut and the weekend offers lots of opportunities to enjoy yourself.

Friday and Saturday

Mashantucket Pequot Museum

The Pequot Museum opens for the season May 15th & 16th ! Join us to celebrate American Indian culture – past and present. You and your family can take an immersive, eye-opening journey through time to learn about the land and its Native people. We promise a powerful, dramatic, unforgettable experience! All activities on opening weekend are free with admission except where indicated below.

• Watch experts create a mishoon (dugout canoe) with fire
• Exhibit tours
• Hands-on family activities
• Bow and arrow demonstrations
• What's an atlatl? Find out on May 15th & 16th.
• Performances (Native American music, dancing, drumming)
• May 16th - Learn about the creation of our ground-breaking exhibits during a presentation by exhibit designer Michael Hanke.
•  

Mystic Food Truck Rally - Mystic Aquarium. Time: Fri. 4 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Inviting all foodies, enjoy this free rally outside the Mystic Aquarium. Indulge in gourmet cuisine prepared by local food truck chefs. Bring your family, friends, and appetite! No admission charged.  

Saturday

Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden in Bethlehem will have their annual Fairy Festival  on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission will be charged but most activities are included in the price. Come in costume and receive $2 off admission.  A parade will wrap up the festivities and prizes will be awarded. Visit vendors. watch craft fairies, paint garden stones and much more. For details visit their website.  http://www.ctlandmarks.org/content/fairy-festival

Saturday and Sunday

Stamford Museum and Nature Center presents Spring on the Farm Festival Weekend Saturday May 16 and Sunday May 17 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.This is a family time on the farm and everyone will enjoy meeting the new additions to Hecksche Farm. Among the activities offered will be sheep shearing and what happens to the wool after that as it is turned into felt or yarn.

Come and enjoy face painting , llama trekking, crafts, live music and a plant and herb sale. Check out their website for a full list of activities as well as dates and times. The museum galleries will also be open and local food trucks will be available to feed the family.

The 30th Annual Outdoor Craft Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. Over eighty artisans gather together to share their unique talents and crafts at this nationally recognized event. Juried exhibitors specialize in ceramics, jewelry, wood, wearable and decorative fiber, metalwork, leather, paper arts and glass, all available for purchase. The Festival also includes fun and educational activities for children, international cuisine, and live musical performances on both days. Admission $8, members and children less than 5, free.

What's Happening This Weekend in Connecticut

Here we are at Mother's Day Weekend and there are lots of things to do around the state of Connecticut.

Saturday

It's time again for the Townwide Tag Sale in Portland 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. rain or shine. The free map will be available on Wednesday, May 6, at the museum in a barrel on the front steps, and at www.portlandhistsoc.com. On Tag Sale Day, the map is also available at the Grange Hall on Sage Hollow Road. Shown on the map will be the Tag Sale locations and items featured at the 120-plus sites. If you love tag sales, it doesn't get any better than this. 

Brownstone Park in Portland will be having a job fair on Saturday May 9 from 10 a.m.  to 2 p.m.

The May Market at the Phelps Hathaway House in Suffield, Conn.will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m to 3 p.m.  The house and attic will also be open for tours.  The Mother's Day tea unfortunately has already sold out but mark your calendar for next year. 

The Connecticut  River Museum in Essex offers Burning of the Ships Day. Come and relive the historic raid on Essex Village by the British. Activities begin at 11am and continue throughout the day.  All activities are free and include family friendly options. 

Fairfield is the site of the Market on the Green Arts and Crafts Fair. 65 quality artisans will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Food vendors, a bake booth and more will be offered.

Families can head to Hebron for a Free Family Fishing Day at Gay City State Park. You can learn how to fish from certified instructors. All equipment will be provided. Admission is free.

Harbor Park in Middletown is the site of Feet to Fire-Riverfront Encounter from noon to 5 p.m. Featuring live music, visual art installations, plein air painting, a kids activity zone, environmental exhibits, and much more to bring you closer to the rich culture, history, and science of the Connecticut River. Admission is free.
 

Sunday

If mom likes wine head to Miranda Vineyard  in Goshen. Do a wine tasting and mom gets her glass free and the vineyard is offering a wine and chocolate pairing class at 5 p.m. What mom could resist. You do need to register for the class so be sure to do that asap.