Illiano's South Main Street Middletown

Illiano's is a small Connecticut-based chain of Italian restaurants. They are known for their pizza, salads, and grinders but they also have delicious appetizers, soup, and entrees. If only they served cappuccino, in my eyes they would be near perfect. They do have a limited wine and beer menu. 

You can get pizza by the slice and they have lots of choices, we use them frequently for family get-togethers. The Grandma's is a particular favorite. 

The South Main Street location right down the street from the Middletown Senior Center where we exercise on Tuesday. Most weeks we have lunch there after class. You will get a small piece of pizza to sample when you come in. 

Sometimes we get two appetizers, our most recent choices are Caprese and bruschetta. The servings are generous enough that while we clean the plates, we don't need anything else. The last two weeks we have ordered the Caprese and a hot ham grinder. Again, it is plenty of food for the two if us. 

About once a month we order an entree. I love the make my own pasta, you pick the sauce and the pasta and then add up to three items from the free list. For an additional $3 you can add sausage, which I usually do. I love pink sauce. penne, sausage, spinach, and caramelized onions. The entrees come with a salad and bread. Al likes penne with meat sauce. 

I usually eat my salad and bread and a few bites of pasta and bring the rest home. I get at least two more meals from this. 

Is this the best Italian food you will ever eat? Probably not but the food is consistently good and service is usually quite attentive. Now as I said, if they only had cappuccino......

Taino Smokehouse Middletown

Finding good BBQ is not so easy in our neck of the woods. Taino offers delicious smoked meat and all the fresh sides you could want. They also offer some unexpected things but everything can pretty much be classified as comfort food. 

I personally am a big fan of their wings. I usually order them but today I decided to try the bacon pops for an appetizer to share with Al. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, the description in the menu says deep fried squares of bacon. It isn't coated with anything and it is crispy and chewy at  the same time. It comes with dill ranch dressing and is interesting but not my favorite, a little too much chew for me. But I am glad I tried them.

I had the fried chicken for my entree. It is as close to good old fashioned Southern fried chicken as I have found up here in the north. The coating is thick, crunchy and best of all well flavored. You get to choose two sides and I chose the smoky mac and cheese and the coleslaw and a side of cornbread. The coleslaw has no horseradish but it is always crispy and fresh. The mac and cheese is everything you would want in a decadent side, luscious and creamy and in mine a little smoky. 

The meat definitely was not burned I am not sure why the picture looks so dark

Al had the half rack of St Louis ribs, the Alfredo mac and cheese and baked beans. The ribs fall off the bone, just as you would expect. Good flavor, huge portions. 

We always end up taking home enough for another meal. 

The staff is friendly and service is efficient. The decor is simple and a huge TV dominates the wall. They do serve a limited selection of wine and beer. 

The building is small, to the point of being tiny. In the summer this doesn't matter as much since they have picnic tables outside. In the winter, coming at an off time or getting takeout might be preferred. Be patient, however, they have acquired the old Jacoby's restaurant in Meriden and are planning to open a new restaurant there in addition to the one they have now in New York state. 

So small, but so packed with flavor. If you haven't tried Taino Smokehouse, what are you waiting for? 

Hobgoblin Fair Canton

Hobgoblin Fair
Saturday October 29, 2016
10 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Rain or Shine 
Roaring Brook Nature Center

What "critters" will appear on our trails this Halloween? Join us for our annual Hobgoblin Fair held the Saturday before Halloween. The Fair features the 'Track & Treat' Walk, children's crafts, cupcake decorating, face painting, a Country Kitchen of yummy homemade items, and a delicious lunch of homemade soup, bread and apple cider. Children are encouraged to wear costumes IF suitable for walking in the woods and participating in the craft activities. Parents should plan to stay with their children. Please note that there are no refunds and participants should attend the session for which they register. Cost: $8.00 children; $4 adults Fee includes our featured 'Track & Treat' walk, all crafts, and face painting. Other activities available for an additional charge. Suitable for children ages 3 - 8. Click here for registration form. Pre-registration with payment is required. Register in by phone, in person, or by mail. Please specify am or pm session.

Haunted River- Ghostly Tales & Valley Lore

October 28 @ 6:00 pm - October 29 @ 8:40 pm

$9 - $13

At the Connecticut River Museum in Essex

Phantoms, Captain Kidd, and unexplainable phenomena are just a few of the things lurking in the shadows at the Connecticut River Museum this October. Haunted River is a theatrical production that will take place over two nights on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29, 2016.

 A ‘River Spirit’ will be called upon to guide visitors safely from scene to scene while sharing its own dark and mysterious tale. A highlight of the tour will be a special shadow puppet show designed and performed by New London’s Flock Theatre Company. This unique event has been made possible through a generous grant from Connecticut Humanities. Tours leave every twenty minutes between 6 and 8:40pm on both evenings. For tickets please visit the Museum’s online shopfront.

$13, $9 kids ages 7-12

Please note: the Museum parking lot will be closed for this event, parking will be available in town for visitors.

If someone in your party has mobility issues, please let us know so we can make arrangements to accommodate them!

Connecticut Renaissance Faire and Halloween Knights

One weekend is left to enjoy Ye Olde England in New England at the North Haven Fair Grounds, October 29-30, 2016. The Connecticut Renaissance Faire brings a 16th Century Harvest Faire to the 21st Century, Put on your medieval garb, or not and enjoy knights, jousting, royal parades and loads of entertainment suitable for the entire family. 

Enjoy great food and music as well as crafts and lots of shopping. The Faire will be open Saturday and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. followed by Halloween Knights until 9 p.m. 

Getting away to Hartford, Conn.

Hartford, Conn. is a city with very deep roots. It has an amazing amount of history and organizers are making a real attempt to be current and relevant. If you are looking into getting away to Hartford, Conn for a couple of days of art, arts, literature and science you will be very well pleased with what you will find. I actually got to be a tourist while attending a genealogy conference at the Marriott.

Where to stay

Hartford does not have a great selection of hotels. With the demise of the Goodwin Hotel in 2009 the last of the historic hotels has bitten the dust. However, there are some new and modern hotels. I am a big fan of the Marriott. It is attached to the Convention Center and has a great location for walking to many of the downtown attractions. Other hotels in or near downtown include The Crown Plaza, The Hartford Hilton, The Holiday Inn Express and the Residence Inn.

What to see

Wadsworth Atheneum- this museum is a Connecticut treasure. Founded in 1842 it is the oldest public art museum in the United States. Their collection of Hudson River Painting is one of the finest in the world. The most recognizable work in their collection is the Alexander Calder sculpture of a stegosaurus which is outside the museum. They also have old masters, Impressionists,and fabulous furniture.

Mark Twain House- At the time that Samuel Clemens was in Hartford, it was an enclave of artists. He wrote most of his great works while he lived here. The house can be visited on a tour and it takes you through what was above all, a family home. He loved to hang out on the third floor where he had his billiard table and a porch where he could step out to have a smoke and escape from visiting guests.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center- Harriet Beecher Stowe is primarily remembered for her book Uncle Tom's Cabin. While this was quite an achievement is was far from being her only achievement. One thing that you will take away from the Center is the fact that she was a multi-talented and many faceted woman, who was born ahead of her time.

Old State House- 200 years old. This lovely building has been restored to its former glory and is open for visit Monday-Friday year round. You are on your own to tour but just walking in this historic building will give you a sense of the history that was made here.

Connecticut Science Center- The Science Center is Hartford's newest attraction. It offers interactive exhibits that will fascinate children of every age and even those who are only young at heart. Learn about motion, sound and a wide variety of other areas of science. Come and enjoy the fantastic new addition to Hartford's downtown attractions.

Entertainment

Hartford Stage-For almost 50 years the Hartford Stage Company has been bringing music and drama to Hartford. From the works of Shakespeare to cutting-edge productions, the stage has seen it all. There is almost never a time when something won't be playing. Parking is conveniently located right next door.

The Bushnell-When it comes to performing arts center it is hard to beat the Bushnell. Whether it is their Broadway Series, family or children series or visiting artists you can be sure that you will fall in love with this venerable theater. Free parking is available right across the street.

Where to eat

When it comes to food, Hartford is a great place to eat. There are some top-notch Italian restaurants on Franklin Avenue in the South End, excellent pubs and ethnic restaurants of every sort. Among my personal favorites is the Arch Street Tavern where the all American food is taken to new heights and even a simple dish is done so well it is exceptional.

If you are staying in downtown, use the Dash Shuttle to get you from your hotel to almost any restaurant in downtown Hartford.

I hope that this has given you a few ideas for spending your next getaway in the Hartford, New England's Rising Star.

Atticus Bookstore and Cafe New Haven

In 2003, Atticus Bookstore and Cafe left Middletown which was in my opinion a tragedy. The cafe had been a favorite spot of mine for the 25 years it was in Middletown. So when I realized that Atticus Cafe was across the street from the Yale Art Museum, I knew exactly where I was going to have lunch. 

One thing I need to say, the menu was familiar to me, not much has changed in twelve years. Wonderful pastries were on display and the sandwiches are served on bread to die for. They still have their signature black bean soup which was always a favorite. 

 It was amazing to get the little loaf of their bread with the butter that was served with Al's meal. That bread is worth the price of admission. 

 Al had the mac and cheese which is served with a side salad. It was truffle mac and cheese with panko bread crumbs on top. 

I got the Atticus Classic, black forest ham. gruyere and dijon mustard. It was delicious. I didn't remember how big it was, I added a side salad. 

In spite of the temptation to get some pastries to go, we didn't. I couldn't  finish my sandwich and Al took some of his mac and cheese home with us too. I did, however, get a large cappuccino to go and enjoyed it on the bus. 

It was very nostalgic to go to Atticus Cafe again and I was in no way disappointed with what we ate. I just wish they were not in New Haven. 

Halloween Fall Festival and Downtown Trick or Treat Middletown

Come to downtown Middletown on October 22, 2016, for an afternoon of fun. 

Plan to trick or treat at all participating business downtown. Those that do participate will be displaying a poster. Put on your best costumes and bring your candy bags to fill. Noon to 3 p.m. Children must be accompanied by their parents. You can get a map at the gazebo on the South Green , at the police station or at the city website.

Before or after, plan to attend the Fall Festival on the South Green: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Petting Zoo, Pony rides, bounce houses, games, food, vendors, face painting, costume parade, temporary tattoos, henna painting, music, 
and more. 


A costume parade and contest will take place at 4:30 p.m. on the showmobile.

Contest categories for kids: 
Funniest, Scariest, Cutest, Most Original, Best Theme, 
Best Disney Characters, Best Superhero, and Best Witch
Contest categories for adults: Funniest, Scariest, Most Original, and Best Duo.
Contest categories for pets: Best Pet Costume

Come and have a great time with your family in Downtown Middletown!!

Halloween Trick or Treat Downtown Portland Conn.

Friday, October 28th from 4-7:30 p.m. Trick or Treat Downtown will take place. Business throughout the downtown as well as those on Route 66 to the Dairy Queen,  will participate. 

Air Line Trail Ghost Run

Save the date: November 5, 2016

The Ghost Run is a 13.1-mile certified half marathon that will pass through three towns, East Hampton, Colchester, and Hebron. The race will begin at 9 a.m. at Hebron Elementary School  and end at Center Elementary School in East Hampton. 

The first 375 people to register will receive a long sleeved tee shirt. The cost is $34 until October 21 and then the price goes up to $40. Mail registration to Hebron Parks and Recreation , 15 Gilead Street, Hebron CT 06248. 

Life of Revolutionary War Soldiers Tour in Wethersfield Conn.

"Soldier's Life Digging Deeper Tours" are being offered at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum in Wethersfield on November 12, 216 at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.  Admission will be charged and space is limited to purchasing your tickets in advance is recommended. 

The tours will offer an in-depth look at the life of a typical soldier during the Revolutionary War. It will also offer special information about the former residents of the three houses that make up the museum. For more information, check out their website.  

Haunted Trail Tour Portland

For the fourth year in a row,  Riverfront Park will be the site of the Haunted Trail Tour in Portland on Saturday, October 15 from 4-10 p.m. The event which is a fundraiser for the park is co-hosted by the Brownstone Quorum and the Park and Recreation Department. 

Two versions of the tour are offered, the fun "before dark" from 4-6 p.m. which is designed for kids 10 and under. The "after dark" version, which begins at 6:30 p.m.  will appeal to those 11 and older. Expect to see spooks, vampires, and monsters at the later version.  

Food vendors will be on hand, Gotta's farm will offer seasonal goodies and Sarah's on Main will offer specialty sandwiches. Entrance is $6 and a repeat visit is $2. 

Spooky Cemetery Tours Colchester

If you like cemetery tours and adore spooky ones, save the dates, Friday,  October 21 and  Sunday, October 23. The tour was such a success last year that it is being repeated this year with new  ghosts characters added to tell their stories along with favorites from Colchester's historic past. 

Tours will be offered in the afternoon and in the evening. The afternoon tours will give gravestone aficionados the opportunity to visit the Old Buying Ground behind bacon Academy. Sunday tours will begin at 3 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m.  Friday evenings tour will begin at 6 p.m. and contine until 8 p.m. 

If yu are coming to the evening tour, bring a flashlight. Wear comfortable shoes, the cemetery has unevn ground and dress for the weather. 

Warm drinks and refreshments will be available for sale. Tickets are $5 per person or $10 for a family of 4. The Colchester History Museum and The Colchester Hayward Fire Company Museum will be open during the cemetery tours. 

Guida's Restaurant Middlefield

Guida's is a fixture on Route 66 in Middlefield. For most of us from the area, it has fond childhood memories. Dining outside on their picnic tables was something that parents in the 50 and 60s counted on. It was casual, affordable and most important delicious. Not much has changed. The picnic tables are still there and so are the affordable and delicious food. 

We stopped by with our grandson Brandon to introduce the next generation to some of the best hotdogs in the area. One thing to keep in mind here, only cash is accepted. They do have a portable ATM but well, I leave that to you, come prepared. 

Al loves his dogs with sauerkraut, Brandon and I have them more simply dressed. I like mustard, relish and onions. If you liked them grilled there is an upcharge here. I also found the large order of French fries smaller than I expected, we needed two for the three of us. We decided to share a strawberry milkshake and Brandon had one too. Total price for 2 milkshakes, 3 hotdogs and two large French fries, $31. 

We enjoyed our meal but found the prices a little high compared to other places we eat hotdogs. Our meal was at least $5-7 more expensive than we feel it should be. That being said, this place is a tradition that none of us is willing to give up and if you can come on Monday night, it is buy one get one free on the dogs. 

Haunted Happenings Hebron

Friday October 11^th Hebron Lion’s Fair Grounds (rain date October 12^th

Trunk or Treat

 Trunk or Treat is a spook-tacular Halloween event that provides a safe and fun way to celebrate Halloween with the whole family. Children will enjoy going from trunk to trunk to receive pre-packaged candy from costumed car owners. All cars are welcome. The spooky evening event includes trick-or-treating, entertainment and much more!Time: 5:30pm-6:15pmCost: Free to all

Haunted Happenings

Come check out Halloween Happenings at the Hebron Lions Fairground, in collaboration with RHAM Middle School Drama Department. Haunted Happenings will have scares, laughs, and more.

Participants will be able to play Halloween games, walk through the Trail of Terror, hop on a hayride for Halloween family fun, and remember the night by taking photos in our photo booth! The entrance will be through Gate 4 at the Fairgrounds. Don’t forget to wear your favorite Halloween attire. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, feel free to contact the Parks and Recreation department. Time: 6:15pm – 8:30pm   Cost: Free to all

A trip to the Buttolph Williams House

The Buttolph-Williams House in Wethersfield was built in 1711. The house is open May-October because it isn't heated. If you happen to visit during October, the stories that you hear during your tour are centered on the prosecution of witches in Connecticut as well as the history of the house. It adds a very entertaining touch.

Many people, especially women, from all parts of the United States, know Wethersfield, Conn. as the setting for the Newberry Award winning book The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. While Connecticut never got into the whole witch hunt frenzy that gripped Salem, Mass. the state does have its own shameful past when it comes to persecuting witches, or should we say suspected witches, because really no one was safe. Connecticut's witch hysteria began in the 1660s through the last trial was in the 1720s.

During that time 43 people were accused and 11 were executed. All you had to be was a widow who had something that someone else lusted after, and usually, that would be your land. A simple accusation could be enough to get you railroaded out of town or much worse. Being a pretty serving girl could also make you a target.

The Buttolph-Williams House is more than three hundred years old and has been restored and maintained beautifully. The second owner was glove maker David Buttolph, and the style of the house has the feeling of old England about it. The diamond panel casement windows and the wood siding that has become almost black with age, gives it all the atmosphere you could possibly want when visiting a colonial period home. It is the finest home of its kind in Connecticut.

In order to visit the Buttolph-Williams House you must sign up for a tour at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. and there is the option of doing all four houses or just the one. Because of time constraints on this visit we just did the Buttolph-Williams House. We took the 2:30 tour.

Tours meet in the courtyard at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. You must be able to walk easily on a path through the woods. No parking is provided at the Buttolph-Williams House, you need to find public parking in downtown historic Wethersfield. It is not too difficult and parking is free. However, a fee is charged for the tour.

The house itself is not handicapped accessible and you need to be able to climb very tight circular stairs to visit the second floor. It is worthwhile to do so, however. The house has been lovingly furnished with period antiques and it has a very authentic feel. From the open hearth in the kitchen to the bedroom on the second floor, it is all very much in keeping with the time period of the home. None of the items in the home are original to the family but there is certainly enough authenticity to make a visit here very enjoyable.

On the walk back to the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, take the time to walk through the cemetery. Many of the important people from the history of Wethersfield are buried here and even more interestingly there are four marked slave graves, which is very unusual.

Cypress Grill Middletown

Restaurant permanently closed.

Cypress Grill hardly needs an introduction to anyone from the Middletown area. It has been around for as long as most of us can remember. It opened in 1936 and in those days, Route 17 was a main artery between Boston and New York. This friendly diner did a hopping business on weekends. It was known for its great service and homestyle food. You will still find both of those but the traffic has certainly calmed down considerably. 

This is our go to restaurant when we can't decide what we are in the mood for. It is also where we g when wee want to do a family dinner. The menu has enough choices to satisfy even the pickiest kid and they have hot buttered lobster rolls, certainly a winning combination in our family. 

Of course, we like all their customers, have our favorites. If you love chili, theirs is outstanding. Not too spicy, just thick and luscious. You really can't miss with their soups French onion and New England clam chowder are also favorites. 

I personally love their egg salad sandwich. Do you know how hard it is to find a good egg salad sandwich? They also have perfect 10-inch hotdogs. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the grilled cheese, it is perfection. 

Kasey and I have had the lobster rolls several times. Is it the best one I have ever had, maybe not but it is good, good enough to have more than once. The grilled pork chop meal is a winner as far as Al is concerned and the sweet potato fries are excellent. 

To make this review totally honest I will admit that the corn chowder disappointed. It was low on corn and not rich the way I like it. But that is the first time I have really not liked what I ordered. It wasn't bad just not inspired.  

Just about everything I have tried is a winner. I love this place. It is casual and has some really good desserts too. To see their complete menu, visit their website. 

Lavender Pond Farm Killingworth, Conn

Chris and Denise Salafia have created something very special on their 25-acre former cattle farm. Thousands of lavender plants add a subtle perfume to the air and you can't help but be enchanted by the rows of plants with butterflies flitting about. It is a magical place with a pretty white gazebo and a giant chess board to draw you in. Welcome to Lavender Pond Farm. 

We visited on a warm September afternoon and I immediately was drawn into the the magic feeling. I had read posts recommending the farm on Facebook and I felt compelled to check it out myself. 

The first thing we actually saw was Chris working on his vintage 1947 Ford truck and it is a beauty. Al kept entertained talking to him while I wandered among the plants. With more than 8,000 plants, there is almost always some variety in bloom. In the fall, it is more likely to be the English varieties. 

The beds are designed to be walked through and it is certainly a pleasant way to spend some time strolling. They even offer yoga on Saturday mornings, check their website for details. 

The store sells all things lavender and I was happy to pick up a few things. I do love the outdoor sculpture which I may just have to come back for. 

If you are looking for some place to visit locally, Lavender Pond Farms certainly is charming and they even have some very cool looking chickens. Feel free to bring your children and leashed dogs are also welcome.