Goods and services auction at Zion Lutheran Church Portland

On December 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church will host a Goods and Services Holiday Auction.

Both a live auction and a silent auction will feature a wide range of items, including an African trip, a boat cruise, a classic car ride, antiques, professional landscape design services, artwork, and theme baskets.

There will be certificates to restaurants, golf, sporting events, theater, and local businesses. In addition, jewelry, baked goods, and Christmas wreaths will be offered for sale, and there will also be a 50-50 raffle. Refreshments will be available.

 

Joe Engel of Thomas Barrows & Sons Auctioneers will be the auctioneer. Doors open at 6 p.m. and admission is $5. 

Credit Cards, cash and checks will be accepted.

Zion's auction is a major fundraising event that will help to grow its ministry, provide enriching education and musical programs for its members as well as the greater community, maintain its facilities, and make it possible to offer outreach programs to others. Zion's church facility is used by organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, Alcoholics Anonymous, New England Chamber Choir, and Sunny Hill Preschool.

Craft Fair East Hampton

The VFW Post 5095 Auxilary is having their annual Craft Fair on Saturday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the post home on 20 N.Maple Street across from the High School. 

You will find 16 craft tables featuring a variety of crafts. Food will be served from 7:30 to 2:30 with breakfast sandwiches available from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch starts at 11 a.m. 

Drawings will take place at 3 p.m. for a selection of themed baskets, seasonal items as well as two turkey dinners. 

Victorian Christmas Tea

The Portland Fireworks Committee will offer a special Victorian Christmas Tea at the Waverly Center on Sunday, December 4 from 2-4 p.m. Donna and Ron Lasko will tell attendees how the Victorians blended traditions of both mankind and religion into the celebration of Christmas. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Town Clerk's Office or at Bordenaro's Pharmacy. You can also get tickets through Jill Deane at 860-301-4345. 

Finger sandwiches, the Laskos special blend of tea and mini-desserts will be served. 

Pie Craft and Tag Sale in Marlborough

American Legion 197 Auxiliary of Marlborough will have its annual pie sale on Saturday, November 19, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the post on Route 66. 

The pies are homemade by the ladies of the Auxiliary. 

The craft and tag sale will happen at the same time at the same locations. 

A Christmas Carol Musical coming to Colchester

St Andrew Church in Colchester will present Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol on Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 3 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Call Jeannine Gilbert for tickets at 860-977-9416.  Fr. Richard Breton and Deacon Michael Puscas will both have parts and the cast includes a 60 voice choir. 

Come to Portland Saturday November 19, 2016

Save the date, Saturday, November 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual St Mary Church Holiday Fair. The fair will feature a tag sale, huge raffle, handmade crafts, a bake sale and food gifts and pre-loved jewelry.

Breakfast and lunch will be offered at the cafe. Breakfast sandwiches will be made to order starting at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will include hamburgers, hotdogs, chili, and soup. 

While you are in Portland check out the Portland High School Vendor and Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. . Admission is free and many unique crafters and vendor offering art, crafts, quilts, jewelry, holiday gifts, crocheted and knitted items. food, techie items, clothing, soap and bake sale. sponsored by the Project Graduation Comittee.  

Colchester Holiday Farmers Market

Colchester farmers market will host its fourth annual Holiday Market at St Andrews Church on Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A variety of local artisans and crafters will participate as well as many of the vendors from the summer market. 

Upcoming Holiday/Fall Fairs November 12, 2016

It is that time of year again when you can plan your Christmas shopping by attending some of these great holiday fairs. 

St Francis Church Oak Street in Middletown will hold their Festival of Angels Holiday Fair November 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Come to enjoy the fair vendors, religious table, arts and crafts, farmer's market and Grandma's attic. Plan to have lunch at their Angel's Cafe. 


First Lutheran Church 232 Bristol Street Southington 
6th Annual Craft Fair
Saturday,  November 12  8:30 to 3 p.m.
Raffles, Bake Sale, Vendors

Grace Lutheran Church Randolph Rd Middletown
Christmas Fair and Christmas Tag Sale Novermber 12 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  craft booth, food and drink, kids activities, homemade crafts, candy, baked goods and more

First Methodist Church Middletown 221 Ridge Rd Fall Harvest Fair November 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  

• Bake Shoppe, Sweet Shoppe, Country Cheese,
• Sew 'n' Sew, Hand Crafted items, Jewelry,
• Silent Auction,
• Christmas Corner and more

Lunch at Waves in East Hampton

Restaurant permanently closed.

Waves is a new venture for Angelico's owner Paul Angelico. He has reopened the former Governor's Tavern building on Route 66 in East Hampton. We decided to try it for lunch this past Monday. I was surprised to see the parking lot almost filled at 1 p.m. on a Monday.

Inside, nothing much has changed. Yes, there are oars on the wall and a wave mural but the booths are the same ones that were here previously. We were seated rather quickly but had to wait a long time to get water and place our orders.

We ordered the fried Brussels sprouts as an appetizer and I decided to try the fried fish sandwich and Al had a hamburger.

Our two sandwiches were brought out but no appetizer and when I mentioned it, the pan with them came out so we got all of our food at the same time, not ideal to say the least.

The idea of fried Brussels sprouts sounded so good but in reality it wasn't. They were greasy and hard to chew. The bacon and crispy leaves that had come off, however, were very tasty. It was served with a sauce that was too spicy to use.

The fish was tasty but also a little greasy. The French fries are frozen so nothing special. Al's burger was perfectly cooked but impossible to eat. With all the toppings, including very tasty pickled onions and bbq sauce it was difficult to hold, we ended up removing the lettuce and tomatoes and the bun. The bun was a nice brioche one in both cases.

So what did we think?  Service was slow but our waitress was very friendly which made it more tolerable. The food is served in metal baking pans which are very cute and it certainly had potential. I will definitely go back and try a few more things. They have only been open a week and a half and obviously,  they are still ironing things out.

The menu has some things that looked worth trying. People sitting near us were raving about the chopped salad and the portobello burger. I also saw the quesadillas and they looked quite good.

We will go back and I will write another review to give them a fair chance to get things right.

Dinner Theater at the Yantic River Inn

If you are ready to take a humorous look at the upcoming election, Electile Dysfunction Can Be Fatal is a great opportunity to do just that. Presented at the Yantic River Inn by the Norwich Arts Center, the Murder Mystery begins with a delicious dinner and ends with your guesses about who actually did the killing.

Yes, there is a murder, I won't spoil the fun but let's just say that one of the important characters does die!!

No matter who you support, Donald Rump of the Tighty Righty Party or Stillary Rodman of the Lefty Loosey Party you will see the farce in it all!! A popular favorite Sandy Burners also makes an appearance much to the crowd's approval!! This is a Whodunit that anyone who has had enough of politics in 2016 will enjoy.

The show will be offered Saturday evening November 5, 2016, at 8 p.m. with the meal beginning at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, November 6 at 3 p.m. with the meal beginning at 2.p.m.  Call the Yantic River Inn and pray that there are still some tickets available.

Winchester Cafe Portland

Winchester Cafe is as close to Cheers as you can get in the town of Portland. It is a place where everybody knows you name or at the very least, what you like to drink and eat. For years we ate here every Thursday night with our friends. Once in a while on a whim we just drop in on a Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday. 

The owner and the bartender will notice. Donna will ask us what we are doing here, it isn't Thursday!! lol We just like to keep them on their toes. 

Winchester Cafe is a bar, there is no question about that but it is also a place that serves very good food and where I never hesitate to bring the grandkids. So much so that it is their place of choice for their birthday meals 9 times out of 10. 

Prime rib is a specialty here and Al loves it as well as the prime rib sandwich which the boys also love. I will tell you honestly that the best patty melt ever is made right here. It is always juicy, plenty of onions and delicious rye bread. The coleslaw is the best as well.  Another favorite is their chili, it is excellent. 

On our latest visit, Al had Swedish Meatballs and I had a chef salad. It was a very good chef salad. 

They had special that day as well, it was a Friday and there are more specials on the weekend than during the week. They had steak bruschetta, the Swedish Meatballs,  and eggplant rollatini. 

Of course, since this is a bar you will be glad to know they have an excellent selection of mixed drinks and beer. Alex has gotten a Jameson's here and he found the price better than most places.

Live entertainment is offered as well. So if you are looking for a new place to try, I highly recommend that you give Winchester Cafe a try, you won't be disappointed unless you come on a Monday when they are closed. 

Three Christmas Fairs this Weekend

Can you believe that it is time again for local Christmas fairs to begin? Well yes, it is and here are some for this weekend. 

St Pius X Sleigh Bells Ring Fair will take place in their church hall on Saturday, November 4, 2016 ,from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Lunch will be served and desserts will be available all day. Crafts, White elephant,general store,teacup raffle and more will all be offered. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the fun and get into the holiday spirit. 

Christmas Bazaar Notre Dame Church in Durham Saturday November 49 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday November 6 9 a.m. to noon. Get an early start on your Christmas shopping and your holiday cheer. 

Nutmeg Fair First Congregational Church Cromwell Saturday, November 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Basket raffles, tag sale, flea market, bake sale, vendors and a snack bar with chili and corn chowder.