Westport Winter Farmer's Market

10 Years and growing!

The greenhouse is bursting with food, light and activities each week - this week stands to be the most fun yet.  Julie Moffat will host Qigong in the Lemon Tree greenhouse at noon. This a lovely and special treat that can relax, strengthen and heal your body.  

Paul's Custom Pet Food creators and owners, Lynn and Paul, remain committed to our efforts to bring you (and your pets) real food from real farmers. This Saturday, at 11:30, they will host prominent pet nutritionist Dr. Donna Raditic to share her knowledge on why feeding your animals real food will improve their health and keep you out of the vet's office. They also have the coupon posted here that gives you 10% off your first purchase.

Vendors This Saturday!  

The Local Catch                                   

Two Guys From Woodbridge                                  

Sankow Beaver Brook Farm  

Skinny Pines, LLC 

Riverbank Farm 

Wave Hill Breads

Boxcar Cantina

Oxhollow Farm 

Huckleberry Artisan Pastries 

Aradia Farm  

Fort Hill Farm

Beltane Farm
Arogya
Raus Coffee Company
Om Champagne Tea

Flour City Pasta

The Stand Juice Company - out 

Sport Hill Farm - out for the season

Paul's Organic Pet Food

Muddy Feet Flower Farm 

Simply Delicious

Woodland Farm- out for the season

Rotating Vendors:

Doc's Organic Maple Syrup
All Souped Up

Pine Lake Mushroom Farm

Tasty Eats -Gluten Free Baked Goods  

Nutty Bunny

Jane's Good Food

Saturday 10:00 - 2:00

7 Sylvan Lane, Westport. CT

Popular Connecticut Microbreweries

Connecticut has not been traditionally thought of as a great place for locally brewed beer. That has all changed and here are three popular microbreweries in Connecticut that helped bring about the change.

Thomas Hooker Brewery

For over ten years Thomas Hooker Brewery has been building a national reputation on the back of its great, locally produced ales. Named for one of the founders of Connecticut the ales are as rebellious and free-thinking as their namesake. Produced in the slow old fashioned way, the taste is the proof of the skill of their brewmasters.

They produce a total of 13 brews, 8 ales and 5 lagers. 

If you want to take a tour and have a tasting, they are offered on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. The cost is $5 per person. From 5-8 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month you get a guided tour, the tasting and you get to take home your glass, how great is that for $10?

Thomas Hooker is what local microbreweries are all about, producing the freshest local brew in a small, friendly atmosphere.

They produce a nice variety of ales including the seasonal favorites Watermelon Ale from May-August, Octoberfest during September and October and if you are into winters in New England try the Nor' Easter Winter Lager from Nov-February. 

Old Burnside Brewing

Old Burnside Brewing has taken the Connecticut beer scene by storm. Their Ten Penny Ale has been voted the best in microbrew in Hartford many times over the years. Brewed in the Scottish style of ale, it has due to the naturally fresh quality of their water, a lighter fresher taste than the model. They brew their beers with no additives including stabilizers or preservatives and they are never filtered or pasteurized.

They have added three-year round beers, Dirty Penny Ale, Hopt Scot and Penny Weiz and two seasonal ales Amazing Grace Ale and Father Christmas Highland Ale.

They do not have scheduled tours of the brewery, however, if you are interested you can contact them through their website and they will arrange a tour for you which will include tasting and the ability to purchase directly from the brewery.

Their Brewtanical Garden is open every Saturday, April –November from noon to 4 p.m. The cost is $10 pp with unlimited samples. If you interested in tasting their distinctive brews, they are offered all over Connecticut, most of New England and also in New York. 

Cottrell Brewing

Located in southeastern Connecticut this small family-owned operation has been producing an excellent product for the local market for the last 18 years. Located in an old factory building and owned by a descendant of one of the founders of Westerly Rhode Island, this is a small operation with a big taste.

Cottrell does not offer regular guided tours but they have a tasting room which is open on the weekends. They stuck with one brew, their Old Yankee Ale, for 6 years and made sure it was firmly established in Connecticut and Rhode Island as a local favorite.

They now produce nano brews every week which allows their brew masters to try out new beers, Year round they have added Mystic Bridge IPA, Stonington Glory Pilsner and Perry’s Revenge Scotch Ale to their Old Yankee Ale.

Cottrell is a stellar example of a local microbrewery that has stayed true to its roots and with a slow and steady growth has become a contender in the microbrewery world.

When it comes to microbreweries, Connecticut may not be the first place that comes to mind. It should, however; these are just three of the microbreweries that are giving Connecticut a great reputation for fresh, locally brewed beer.

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.