First Night in Hartford 2017

For 28 years, Hartford has been offering a great day and evening of entertainment and much more to celebrate the coming and arrival of the New Year. In their own words "The day is a multicultural, artistically unique, alcohol-free New Year’s experience with countless professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhibits that inspire thousands of people of all ages to attend each year.  It’s also an affordable way for everyone to ring in the New Year." 2 p.m. through midnight. 

If you are looking for fireworks, there will be two presentations at Bushnell Park, one at 6 p.m. and one a midnight. 

Events are located all over the city. You can purchase your wristbands online if you have 3-5 days for them to be delivered (they must be ordered in 2016 by December 27) or you can purchase them at one of these locations

PRE-EVENT SALES OUTLET LOCATIONS

Wristbands on sale Tuesday, December 1 – Thursday, December 31, 2016

AAA – West Hartford, Avon, Cromwell, Enfield, Manchester, Plainville, Old Saybrook, Waterford
CBT/Berkshire Bank – Downtown Hartford, Glastonbury, Newington, Rocky Hill, Vernon, West Hartford, Windsor 
CT Transit Information Booth – Downtown Hartford, State House Square
Highland Park Markets – Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, South Windsor, Suffield, Coventry
Old State House – 800 Main Street, Hartford CT

Radisson Hotel Hartford – 50 Morgan Street, Downtown Hartford
Whole Foods Markets – West Hartford Center, Bishops Corner, Glastonbury

Adult tickets are $12 and children $3

To find about where the events will be taking places, times and information check out the First Night website or their Facebook Account. 

Antiques and Collectibles Show New Year's Day Glastonbury 2017

35th Annual New Year’s Day Antique and Collectibles Show,  Sponsored by the Glastonbury Exchange Club                                                                            

Glastonbury High School, 330 Hubbard St. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.                                               

138 Booths with quality dealers from throughout New England and New York.
 
General Admission $8 per person, with a copy of Discount Coupon $7.00. (Click on discount coupon

This is a B&S Auction Show and one that I have enjoyed myself many times. It is very popular so be prepared for crowds of antique and collectible lovers.  

PC Savior Portland CT

I have to admit, for me, Michael Lopez was indeed my savior. My Laptop suffered a catastrophic malfunction. It was a hardware issue,not a software issue and I was desperate for a fix. I brought it into the shop which is on Main Street in the old Coffee Pot building and was assured that it was fixable. 

Michael and his son Michael in the shop

My problem was that in order to see the screen I had to leave my cover at a 45 percent angle. If I opened the cover all the way, the screen went black. Apparently, this is not an uncommon issue with this model. I have had it before on one of my older laptops. 

Within a couple of days, the wire had been ordered and installed and I was back in business and I didn't have to mortgage my home either. The price of $90 seemed quite fair to me since hourly rates are $65. The laptop is only 3 years old and cost over $600 new so I felt was well worth the investment especially since it has Window 7 and also holds a ton of my photos. 

I was very pleased with the professionalism displayed and I would not hesitate to bring my other computers in for service here. It is always nice to know that there are local businesses you can trust. The business gets an A+ rating from the BBB. 

Victorian Inspirations Portland Ct

The shop has permanently closed!!


Victorian Inspirations is an adorable shop on Main Street in Portland. They moved down the street earlier this year, they are now closer to the bridge, between White Dog and Dunkin Donuts. 

To have an idea of some of the wonderful things that she carries, check out their website.  I definitely did some shopping and saw several more things that I would enjoy. I will be back. 

I picked up two glass mugs as gifts. They are hand painted right here in Connecticut. I also bought what I will call a winter decoration that I plan to bring with me to Florida to bring a little piece of the north along. 

The store will be open 7 days a week until Christmas so if you are looking for something special and unique, I suggest you stop in and have a look. 

Lunch on the Connecticut Shore: Lenny and Joe's Fishtail

We have been having unseasonably warm weather here in Connecticut. December is not usually time to be out and around without a winter jacket. Signs of Christmas are in the air and we decided we wanted to enjoy the sunshine in Westbrook at Lenny and Joe's. 

Nothing beats walking in on a sunny afternoon when there are hardly any patrons in the restaurant. It was 2 p.m. which explains the lack of crowds. The restaurant is decorated for the season and service as usual was fast and friendly.

We were soon seated in our booth and laying into a warm loaf of bread with butter. We both ordered a lunch combination that offered a choice of two fried seafood options and two sides. 

I choose the scrod and calamari and Al had the scrod and shrimp. We both chose the boiled potatoes and coleslaw. 

Faster than you can imagine we had generous portions in front of us with cocktail and tartar sauce to round out the meal. 

They have the best boiled potatoes and coleslaw, not to mention the scrod. It was snow white inside and cooked to perfection. The calamari and the shrimp were good but not as good as the scrod. Usually I like to get the crab casserole which is divine but I was taking advantage of what I thought was a great deal, $12.99. 

By the way, if you need any gift cards, from now until Christmas they are 20 percent off.  We took advantage to get a grab bag gift. 

If you are looking a relaxed and delicious seafood meal on Route 1, I highly recommend Lenny and Joe's.

Festival of Silver Lights Meriden

Hubbard Park is shining brightly during the holiday season with more than 350,000 lights and 200 characters throughout the park. Entrance to the display is free. 

You don't have to wait until dark to visit, the display is available 24 hours a day from November 22, 2016 to January 3, 2017.

Fantasy of Lights New Haven 2016

If you are looking for something to do with the kids this holiday season,  why not head to New Haven. 

November 18, 2016 to January 1, 2017  from 5-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, Lighthouse Point Park will feature Fantasy of Lights. More than 100,000 lights will shine in over 60 animated light displays 

All the proceeds will benefit the Easter Seals Goodwill Industries. You can have an enjoyable evening while helping out. The cost is $10 per car.

Holiday Lunch at Farrell's in Portland

We stopped by Farrell's today for lunch and I have to say that I was impressed. I know it is one of our favorite places in the area but it seems that it is a favorite with another well known couple as well. You just never know who you will bump into at Farrell's. 

Festival of Lights Olde Mistick Village

Festival of Lights

Friday, December 11, 2015 5:30 PM

From dusk until 9:30p.m. over 4,000 luminaries will light the walkways of Olde Mistick Village. Complimentary refreshments will be available in the Meeting House.  Music will also be offered so come and stroll through the village.

Old Saybrook Torch Light Parade

Torchlight Parade 2015

Date: December 12, 2015

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EST

More than 20 different fife and drum corps hailing from as far away as Pennsylvania and Vermont will march along Main Street to the Town Green. Leading the musician groups will once again be the 2nd Company Governor's Foot Guard marching unit.

The marching musicians, dressed in period costumes, will play musical selections that their counterparts might have played more than 100 to 200 years ago. Alongside each corps will be parade volunteers who will carry torches to light the way. In addition to the musicians, more than 20 floats and other marching units plan to participate in this annual parade.

Visit the Hurlbut Dunham House for the Holidays

A big thank-you to guest blogger Meg Furtado for her great post. 

Old Wethersfield, CT, boasts many beautiful and historic houses, and one to visit is definitely the Hurlbut-Dunham House, owned by the Wethersfield Historical Society. The house is located 212 Main St. in Wethersfield (next to the Keeney Center) and will be open every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in December for holiday tours.
 
The house was built in 1790 and changed hands several times before it was purchased by Silas Robbins in 1875. Silas’s son Elisha and his wife Ida moved in in 1879 and lived here with their daughter Jane for many years. The house is furnished in the late Victorian/early Edwardian style, and the majority of the artifacts within are originals belonging to the family.
 
The Wethersfield Historical Society offers free tours of the Hurlbut-Dunham House from May to October every year, on Saturdays and Sundays. However, the house is open for tours during the holiday season to give guests an idea of the splendor and elegance of Victorian Christmases. The house is decorated as Elisha and Ida might have arranged it in the late 1800’s, complete with a Victorian Christmas tree, a relatively new concept at the time. The later addition to the house, the 1930’s kitchen, is styled to represent later Christmases, where an adult Jane would have baked cookies with her elderly mother Ida.
 
Tours at the Hurlbut-Dunham house begin at 1 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, December 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20. A grand Christmas opening will be held during the Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce’s Holidays on Main celebration on Thursday, December 3rd, from 5-8 PM. No photography is permitted inside the house. There is no charge for a tour; however, a goodwill donation to benefit the Historical Society is greatly appreciated.

The Farmers Cow Cafe and Creamery Mansfield

Located in Mansfield, across the street from East Brook Mall and in the same plaza as The Hoot, which is on of my favorite shops, is a cute little cafe. But I digress. 

After a performance at the Connecticut Repertory Company this past summer, we stopped at The Farmers Cow. I have to say, it was a  delicious decision. 

We were there is the late afternoon so it was strictly an ice cream stop but they do offer breakfast, sandwiches, salads and paninis. One unusual offering is The Ploughman's Lunch which is traditional in England but seldom seen in this area. 

If you are in the area, stop by, you won't be disappointed. 

My ice cream

A Victorian Christmas at Roseland Cottage

 Saturday, December 5, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

 Sunday, December 6, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Roseland Cottage, 556 Route 169, Woodstock, Con..

Step back in time and see Roseland Cottage decorated for the holidays, based on the Bowen family's memoir The Christmas of 1887. Costumed guides lead free tours.

 

Wadsworth Atheneum Festival of Trees

The most wonderful time of year will be here before we know it!

Celebrate the holiday season with the Wadsworth Atheneum at the 42nd Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions! Enjoy musical entertainment and festive family activities while surrounded by decorative trees and wreaths.

Every year community members, artists and organizations decorate holiday trees and wreaths to be displayed in the galleries throughout the week. All items are for sale, and profits help fund the museum’s special exhibitions, educational programs, and operating expenses. Purchase a tree or wreath for your home or donate it to a local charity.

A $3 fundraising surcharge is added to ALL regular admissions during Festival of Trees & Traditions.

FOTT is a fundraising event presented by the Women’s Committee of the Wadsworth Atheneum. All proceeds fund the museum’s special exhibitions, educational programs, and operating expenses.

**Please note that the museum is closed on Monday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 8**

December 4-13